BOSTON – They have been partners for 10 years, since Sui Wenjing was 12 years old and Han Cong 14, and the longevity of that relationship is a critical part of what makes this Chinese team so good.

But when the question of how long it took for their chemistry to develop came up, Sui made it very clear that being a pairs skating team does not make them a couple.

Her reaction to a question meant to be about chemistry on the ice turned into a little comic interlude in the press conference that followed their dazzling performance to win Friday’s short program in the World Championships at TD Garden.