Falling Into Your Smile Episode 13 Recap
> Falling Into Your Smile Recap
Tong Yao woke from a dream where she married Lu Sicheng. Shaken, she tried to wash the image away but it persisted. She mentally reminded herself that she was a professional player, not there for romance, and that she had set a goal not to date an e-sports player. Determined not to be influenced by her friends, she got up to research opponents and make notes. The next morning, Xiao Rui discovered Tong Yao's detailed notes on Team King.
Impressed, he and God Ming praised her efforts. God Ming noted that such analysis is typically a data analyst's job, adding they hadn't planned such deep preparation for a newly-promoted team like King, wanting the team to rest. Tong Yao argued that they shouldn't underestimate any opponent. God Ming clarified it was about prioritizing stronger opponents like a reborn YQCB, but he acknowledged her hard work.
As Tong Yao continued her work, Lu Sicheng approached, teasing her for being "so free" while grabbing her notebook. He questioned her precise calculations, revealing he had glanced at her notes. Although his words were dismissive, he thoughtfully brought her breakfast and slippers, showing concern for her well-being. He then asked to borrow her "diary," which contained her analysis of Team King, despite having previously dismissed the need to study them.
On the bus to the competition, Lu Sicheng reviewed Tong Yao's notes. He read aloud Ah Guang's predicted jungle path and gank patterns to K, who found Tong Yao's handwritten commentary on where to counter-gank confusing. Lu Sicheng playfully suggested Tong Yao was a natural drama queen, explaining her theatrical additions. At the venue, commentators introduced Team King's Jungler, Ah Guang, praising his talent. Ah Guang, on screen, declared his team's fierce determination, stating they would crush ZGDX.
As players settled in, the team compositions were revealed: ZGDX picked Ibaraki-doji for Top, Yoto Hime for Jungler, Ootengu for Mid, Dodomeki for AD, and Ichimokuren for Support. Team King countered with Shuten Doji for Top, Mannendake for Jungler, Menreiki for Mid, and a bot lane of Hakuro and Kuro. Before the match, God Ming reiterated the strategy: focus on the jungler and ensure the top, mid, and jungler work together.
Lu Sicheng jokingly stated he would "sit back," while K assured him they would carry him to victory. Tong Yao, feigning modesty, claimed she was just a "minor Mid" afraid of the opposing Jungler, to which Lu Sicheng confidently retorted that Ah Guang should be the one truly afraid. In the team's resting area, Lu Yue watched the match intently.
The first game commenced with an unusual move from ZGDX: K and Tong Yao, instead of farming, concealed themselves in a brush. This puzzled the commentators, who noted the team's puzzling decision to fall behind. Soon after, Team King's Jungler, Ah Guang, moved to invade ZGDX's jungle. As he entered, K and Tong Yao sprung their ambush, catching him completely off guard and securing First Blood.
A frustrated Ah Guang chastised his teammates for their lack of vision and timely callouts. The commentators questioned how ZGDX had anticipated his movements, while ZGDX's players openly praised the effectiveness of Tong Yao's handbook. As the game progressed, ZGDX's complete mastery of Ah Guang's jungle patterns allowed them to anticipate his every move, creating an overwhelming advantage. ZGDX consistently oppressed Team King, who struggled to mount any effective resistance, and swiftly destroyed their crystal to win the first game.
The second game followed a similar pattern. Unable to adapt, Team King was easily dominated, and ZGDX secured a flawless 2-0 victory. After the match, the players met for the traditional handshake. A dejected Ah Guang approached Lu Sicheng, expressing his admiration for ZGDX's thorough preparation. Lu Sicheng, however, humbly deflected the praise, crediting the effort to Tong Yao's meticulous analysis. This revelation caused Ah Guang to look at Tong Yao with newfound respect.
As Lu Sicheng was called away for the MVP interview, he playfully asked Tong Yao if she had just been "bad-mouthing" him to Ah Guang. During the post-match interview, Lu Sicheng was asked about ZGDX's in-depth preparation. He again attributed their success to Tong Yao, humorously suggesting she was overly anxious and feared their team would "get trounced" if they underestimated anyone.
While he praised her strength and serious attitude, his lighthearted tone visibly annoyed Tong Yao, who silently packed her belongings in the resting room. Her teammates then began discussing the rampant online criticism from fans directed at Team King. The discussion revealed that Ah Guang was being singled out and "bashed the worst" for his performance, with the public overlooking the strategic reasons for his struggles.
Tong Yao, feeling empathy for him, asked why the audience was so harsh, and her teammates explained the brutal reality of e-sports fandom. Disturbed by the unfairness, Tong Yao quietly went to the washroom. On her way, Tong Yao heard muffled sounds from an exit passageway. She discovered Ah Guang hiding and crying by himself. She approached to comfort him, and Ah Guang poured out his feelings of humiliation, stung by the online criticism after his team's crushing defeat.
He expressed frustration at being unable to explain the strategic nuances of his performance to the public. Tong Yao, understanding his pain, shared her own experience of being utterly defeated by Ah Tai of Team TAT, admitting she still felt nervous seeing his ID. She empathized with the feeling of falling hard after being highly praised, comparing it to her own past overconfidence. She encouraged him, reminding him that his team's professional journey had just begun.
She confessed the immense effort she put into studying his team, having watched dozens of their matches, highlighting her dark circles as proof that ZGDX's victory was far from "easy." She urged Ah Guang not to belittle himself and to embrace the hard-earned position his team had secured. This realization, she shared, was something she herself had come to understand while comforting him. Thankful for her words, Ah Guang began to feel better.
As Tong Yao and Ah Guang emerged from the passageway, they ran straight into Lu Sicheng. Visibly irate, he confronted Tong Yao, demanding to know why she hadn't answered his calls and accusing her of "making the opponent's Jungler cry" while hiding away with him. He continued his rapid-fire accusations, sarcastically asking if she was "collecting" team captains. His sharp words left Tong Yao too stunned to respond.
Back in the team car, while chatting with her teammates, Tong Yao suddenly declared her intention to challenge Ah Tai to another match. This stunned her teammates, but to everyone's surprise, Lu Sicheng, despite his anger just moments before, agreed to arrange it for the very next afternoon. As her teammates cheered her on, no one noticed the subtle, affectionate smile that touched Lu Sicheng's lips.
