Episode 8 recap: Qin Da Di and Yu Tao were ranked joint first as test pilots.
On the third day of the competition, it was Yu Tao's turn to face off against Qin Da Di. These two were widely seen as having the greatest disparity in their chances of victory, as Qin Da Di's test flight experience was unmatched by others. Furthermore, he was the star pupil of the esteemed General Yu Zhao Nian. However, Yu Tao's teammates were brimming with confidence in him, encouraging him that if he won the final, he would become the top test pilot.
Kang Yan Cheng also paid close attention, inquiring with Xie Zhen Yu about his assessment of this decisive match, wondering whose chances of winning were greater. When the final day arrived, Xie Zhen Yu stared intently at the screen, his right hand unconsciously mimicking the control stick movements, catching the attention of Xia Chu.
In the end, Yu Tao was ordered to return to base. Upon reviewing the videos of Qin Da Di's three matches against Wu Jing Tian a decade ago, Yu Tao suddenly realized that his victory over Xie Zhen Yu was purely a stroke of luck. Despite his excellent combat skills, he still could not represent the Air Force in aerial combat.
From Yu Tao's perspective, Xie Zhen Yu had emulated Qin Da Di's tactics and blended them with Wu Jing Tian's ingenious maneuvering. Yet, even with this, Yu Tao had still not grasped the essence of it all, meaning that his strategy against Xie Zhen Yu would not be enough to defeat Qin Da Di.
His teammates encouraged Yu Tao not to be discouraged at this time, and Yu Tao thought about the military strategies of "enemy engagement" and "positioning." Xia Chu lay awake at night, torn over whether to give up his military identity for the sake of marriage.
Yu Tao approached Qin Da Di and requested to stop the competition, but Qin Da Di refused, telling him that the winner would be decided in the air that day. On the day of the match, the sky was clear and cloudless, and the anticipated final began. It was a clash not only of individual piloting skills, but also of tactical coordination and strategic thinking between the Air Force and Navy.
Weijing arrived at the command center, accompanied by the Air Force Deputy Commander Ma Chong, to observe the match. Before takeoff, Yu Tao confided to Geng Jian Lin that he and Qin Da Di had an equal chance of victory, and they both held half the initiative.Tao Si Yong also reminded Qin Da Di to give it his all, but not to overexert himself.
As the showdown officially began, everyone focused intently on the screen, not wanting to miss any exciting moments. Xie Zhen Yu furrowed his brow and stared fixatedly at the movements of the two pilots, his right hand unconsciously mimicking the control stick movements, immediately catching Xia Chu's attention, who quickly jotted something down in his notebook.
In contrast, Yu Tao and Qin Da Di were circling and engaging in aerial combat, with every action precise and every decision swift and decisive, leaving the spectators in awe. After several thrilling rounds, the two were evenly matched, with Ma Chong favoring Yu Tao, while Yi Zhengbang leaned more towards Qin Da Di, quietly cheering for his own candidate.
At that moment, Yu Tao's voice came through the intercom, and the opposing side suddenly called for an end to the competition. Everyone was puzzled, and Ma Chong directly went to question them. Yu Tao explained that they could not determine a winner because Qin Da Di had given up several opportunities to lock onto him, while Qin Da Di expressed his suspicion that Yu Tao had not activated his locking system.
As a result, Ma Chong immediately declared both pilots as joint first place, and the others had no objections. After the superiors left, Yu Tao and Qin Da Di tentatively tested each other, viewing the other as a worthy opponent. Yu Tao told Qin Da Di that even though they were joint first place, it still represented a victory for their air force, and he had completed the task assigned by the superiors. Qin Da Di responded with a thumbs up.
Back at the test pilot squadron base, Qin Da Di highly regarded Yu Tao and decided to announce the competition results. Since they were joint first place, there was no second place, which meant that Xie Zhen Yu had placed third in the competition. This significant psychological gap left Xie Zhen Yu's emotions on the verge of collapse, as he reflected on his previous boasts and aspirations, realizing he had ended up defeated, and even considering whether he should have joined the test pilot squadron in the first place.
Kang Yan Cheng came to comfort Xie Zhen Yu, telling him that a momentary win or loss does not define one's future, and that there would be similar competitions in the future where he would eventually claim first place. Although Kang Yan Cheng's words were warm, Xie Zhen Yu still could not accept the fact of his defeat and ultimately submitted a request to leave the squadron.
Upon learning this, Qin Da Di became furious and immediately went to confront Xie Zhen Yu, criticizing him for deserting and ordering him to be placed in solitary confinement. Tao Si Yong persuaded Qin Da Di to control his temper and try to convince Xie Zhen Yu to stay, as self-reflection alone would not be enough.
Influenced by Tao Si Yong's words, Qin Da Di decided to personally have a heart-to-heart talk with Wu Jing Tian.
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