In the team's training hall, the other players saw that Wang Yi still hadn't arrived, and they began whispering among themselves.
"What's going on with Brother Yi? Why hasn't he shown up yet?"
"Could he be throwing his weight around?"
"Bullshit. Brother Yi's competed in so many tournaments. I've heard from his former teammates that he's easygoing. He even went to amusement parks and karaoke with the other players. How could he throw his weight around?"
"You really have no sense of humor. Can't you tell I'm joking? I'm Brother Yi's biggest fan."
Gong Luming heard their whispers and eventually shook his head. He turned to an assistant coach beside him and said, "Go and get Wang Yi."
When the assistant coach reached Wang Yi's room, he found that Wang Yi wasn't there.
After looking around, he found Wang Yi in the weight room.
"Um... Wang Yi, Director Gong and everyone else are waiting in the training hall. Do you think you could join practice now?"
Wang Yi didn't stop what he was doing. He spoke to the coach with complete seriousness. "Coach Wang, if Pang Bo can't play, then neither will I."
Wang Yi's words were resolute.
Coach Wang saw there was no way to persuade him, so all he could do was sigh.
"Alas..."
He glanced at Wang Yi once more, then turned and headed for the training hall.
When he arrived, he quietly whispered a few words to Director Gong.
Director Gong furrowed his brow and said to Coach Wang, "I'll go see him. You get practice started."
As they watched Director Gong leave, the other players began whispering among themselves again.
Coach Wang could only wave them off. "Enough chatter. Start warming up. After that, the other coaches will each take you through specialized drills."
Pang