"Break up?" Xu Xin repeated, sounding somewhat in disbelief.
The two kids had always bickered and played around over the years. Although they occasionally had spats, their bond was always strong, and he had never heard those two words come from either of them before.
"Yeah, she actually brought up breaking up with me!" Wang Datou crushed the beer can in his hand with a loud crack, looking exceptionally angry.
"I couldn't stand her bringing up changing partners, so I flew over that very day and asked her to her face if she was serious."
When they met, faced with his questioning, Shasha said she was dead serious, and even mentioned that Liu X and Zhang X from the team were both suitable fits, telling him to discuss it with Brother Long and the coaching staff.
"You guys didn't see how strictly business she was, without a shred of reluctance." Wang Datou tilted his head back to take another gulp of beer, continuing in a low voice.
"I know she was actually just worried about affecting my results and the team's arrangements, not that she genuinely wanted to split up our pairing. What's the big deal about missing a few tournaments? We aren't the only mixed doubles pair on the team. I told her if she wants a partner she can find one herself, and I've decided I'm never playing mixed doubles again until she gets better."
Lin Gaoyuan glanced sideways at Ma Long and asked, "Are you really going to stop playing mixed doubles altogether just for Sun Yingsha?"
As the most senior mixed doubles player on the team, he had partnered with almost every suitable female player, earning him the moniker of "Chinese National Table Tennis Team's Mixed Doubles Sea King." He had zero such attachments, and moreover, his wife Manyu accepted it completely.
They were just playing ball, why get so emotional about it?
Wang Datou raised his head to give Gaoyuan a look; someone like Yuanzi would never understand him. He glanced at Xu Xin next—Brother Xin didn't understand either. He looked at Brother Long again, and Ma Long was giving him a look that combined disdain with exasperation at his failure to reach his potential.
Forget it, none of the three of them understood; none of them could comprehend him.
For him, mixed doubles was only played with Sun Yingsha—it was a form of faith.
"And you two broke up because of this?" Captain Long's voice was a bit unnatural. "Sun Yingsha forced you to change partners?"
"Actually, it wasn't entirely because of that. I told her I wouldn't play mixed doubles anymore and wanted to stay by her side to take care of her. She didn't speak, then asked what we'd do about the German Open. I figured it wasn't a major tournament and dropping out wouldn't be a pity. Then she asked about the World Table Tennis Championships next year, and I said we'd prepare together once she got better. That's when Shasha cried." Wang Chuqin's voice dropped so low it was almost inaudible.
"I panicked then. I didn't know why those words would make her sad; she probably associated them with some bad things."
Yet just as his heart ached terribly and he was fumbling around trying to wipe the girl's tears, Shasha pushed him away with a shove.
"Wang Chuqin, let's break up. You're too immature." Those were the last words the girl left him with before turning and running off.
Next came the hospital security personnel politely "escorting" him out.
"She said break up, and you just agreed? And then you slunk back here with your tail between your legs?" Lin Gaoyuan asked.
Wang Datou raised his head to look at Gaoyuan—what else was he supposed to do? Shasha wanted to break up with him; it wasn't like he wanted to agree, but would it have done any good? Shasha had blocked him on everything, making it clear she was dead set on breaking up and completely ignoring him.
Seeing that foolish expression on his face, Lin Gaoyuan knew he was preaching to a deaf ear. "When a girl says 'let's break up,' she actually wants you to beg her to stay; when she says 'I hate you,' she actually likes you; when she says 'get lost,' she actually wants you to hold her tight," Gaoyuan said lazily.
"Oh, so you could read the expression on Manyu's face showing she hated you, which is why you kept clinging to her like that," Xu Xin still had the mood to tease Gaoyuan.
He turned his head back toward Wang Chuqin and said, "Datou, I think you two just had a misunderstanding. Once you clear it up, everything will be fine. Don't be so stubborn. It's not like you've never changed partners before. Just listen to Shasha; once the anger passes, she might forgive you."
"Brother Xin, none of you understand. Shasha isn't that kind of little girl; she doesn't play games of saying one thing and meaning another. The next day, I ran back to explain to her and apologize, and she said it wasn't my fault, that it was all hers. I told her I'd listen to her on everything, even picking a partner. But she still told me, with absolute sincerity, that taking some time apart would be best for both of us." Wang Datou tilted his head back, pouring the remaining alcohol in his hand into his mouth, tasting only bitterness.
No one knew better than him how hard it was to change a decision Shasha had made with a serious mind. Once she made up her mind about something, no one could make her change it.