For years, the boys, rigorously trained day after day by the empire's system, prepared for battle and sharpened their skills, all vying for the brightest jewel in the table tennis crown. Along the arduous road to the summit, some rose from the ashes to become phoenixes, some hit rock bottom and never recovered, and many more were mercilessly eliminated by time, leaving the stage in disappointment. There is only one jewel representing the supreme glory of the table tennis kingdom, and in each generation, only one boy earns the honor of holding it! Born around the turn of the millennium, this generation of young players was destined to be tested and tempered through the Tokyo, Paris, and Los Angeles Olympic cycles. Guided by the dazzling stars who came before them, driven by their dreams of becoming champions, and pursued at every turn by injuries and setbacks, what thrilling, tumultuous stories will Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Wang Chuqin, and Lin Gaoyuan experience? How much pain and how many private worries will they endure, unknown to the world? This story is written to record their journey, and to cherish it: for this generation of young players, and for all of us who care about them!
Theme: In the pursuit of honor and dreams, the inevitable setbacks and pain are all precious memories.
