Falling Into Your Smile Episode 21 Recap
> Falling Into Your Smile Recap
Following Lu Sicheng's unexpected confession, Tong Yao stood stunned for a moment. Then, feeling a lack of confidence, she intentionally raised her voice, retorted a few times, and tried to leave, but Lu Sicheng called her back. The two sat down to discuss the matter. Tong Yao accused Lu Sicheng of being too aggressive with his tone, and he softened, agreeing to talk calmly.
However, Lu Sicheng's patience wore thin with Tong Yao's evasiveness, and his tone hardened again, only to revert immediately when she called him out. He repeatedly asked for a clear answer, but Tong Yao remained noncommittal. Lu Sicheng asked her to give him a chance, setting a deadline of 9 PM that night for her answer, claiming it would affect his sleep. He also told her to dry her hair before their upcoming interview.
During the interview, the hosts noted the lack of interaction between Lu Sicheng and Tong Yao, speculating about internal conflict. When asked about Korean players, Tong Yao praised skilled individuals, but Lu Sicheng countered that relying on them was a "temporary solution" and that the local scene needed to improve from within. They also differed on solutions to issues in the esports industry, with Tong Yao favoring player self-awareness and Lu Sicheng advocating for better club management.
On the topic of relationships between pro gamers and fans, Tong Yao stressed the need for a proper distance, condemning "third parties" and fans with "possessive" behavior. Lu Sicheng added that young players are easily misled and need self-control, firmly stating his own lifestyle was "not problematic" and that he was "someone you can entrust your future with." Finally, when asked about dating within the esports circle, Lu Sicheng openly responded, "Why not?"
and turned to Tong Yao, asking, "Don't you want to?" Tong Yao, flustered, simply replied, "I don't know," sparking whispers among the audience. After the interview, Tong Yao went to the restroom and overheard women outside calling her and Lu Sicheng a "despicable couple" and her a "third wheel" and a "vicious woman." Distraught, she wondered if she had "ruined him" and hid until they left.
Later that evening, Lu Sicheng texted Tong Yao, reminding her of the 9 PM deadline. At 8:58:30 PM, he texted the time and asked for her answer. When she hesitated, he sent another message at 8:59:30 PM, revealing he had brought a "cat hostage" from the DQ. Five base, threatening to abduct the cat if he was "still single after 30 seconds." This prompted Tong Yao to rush downstairs and embrace him.
He cheekily asked why she didn't hug him back sooner, declaring, "Both the cat and you are mine." When she called him out for his methods, he justified himself by saying, "All is fair in war. Without this cat, I would've never been able to hug you." Tong Yao playfully called him a "stupid thug" and settled into his embrace. The next morning, Tong Yao excitedly called Chen Jinyang to announce the news.
Chen Jinyang rushed to the ZGDX base, where Tong Yao introduced the cat, which Chen Jinyang recognized as the one formerly belonging to Xu Tai Lun. Tong Yao explained that Lu Sicheng had adopted it and she had named it "Little Shallot." She then confessed that she and Lu Sicheng were now in an "indescribable relationship." Chen Jinyang shrieked with excitement, teasing Tong Yao about "sleeping with General Lu" before conquering the esports world.
Tong Yao clarified that they hadn't slept together yet. She explained their relationship was in a "probation period," quoting that "practice is the sole criterion for testing truth" to determine if he truly was a "good man," unlike others. Chen Jinyang sarcastically likened the arrangement to an "experiment" with a "refund" option, a "three-month probation," and a "five-year warranty." Later, Tong Yao found Lu Sicheng on the phone with Hierophant.
He explained that due to the recent scandals, OPL clubs were tightening rules, and YQCB had imposed a 10 PM curfew. Tong Yao then tattled to Xiao Rui that Lu Sicheng had just tried to tempt Hierophant to go out for a drink. As revenge, Lu Sicheng playfully grabbed Tong Yao's hand and intertwined their fingers, refusing to let go. Xiao Rui, completely distracted by the new cat, failed to notice their intimate gesture.
Lu Sicheng continued to tease Tong Yao about her "soft hand," prompting her to call him a "stupid thug." After escaping his grasp, Tong Yao received a teasing text from him saying that even the neutered cats had a companion to sleep with, while she "only had Onmyoji Arena." She then saw online comments targeting Chen Jinyang, accusing her of being jobless and financially dependent on her boyfriend, Ai Jia.
To address the rumors, Ai Jia went live, vehemently defending Chen Jinyang and clarifying that he was the one who pursued her. Chen Jinyang then boldly appeared on the stream, showing off her expensive designer items and a luxury car, sarcastically claiming Ai Jia bought them for her and declaring herself "Queen." A frantic Ai Jia had to interject that he couldn't possibly afford the car. That night, Lu Sicheng texted Tong Yao, asking if she missed him.
He then used the excuse of getting her water to go to her room. The moment she opened the door, he abandoned his usual cool demeanor and embraced her tightly. Tong Yao expressed her anxieties about how the recent controversy was affecting even "normal relationships," mentioning the criticism Chen Jinyang faced. Lu Sicheng reassured her that fan opinions didn't represent his own and he wouldn't force her to go public.
He acknowledged he "broke the rules first" and would take full "responsibility." He then hugged her again, gave her a kiss, and jokingly called her an "accomplice," saying her skills, professional attitude, and cuteness had "seriously enticed" him. Embarrassed, Tong Yao pushed him out of her room. The next day, Tong Yao went to the arena to watch Ai Jia's match and was recognized by fans. She enthusiastically signed autographs and took photos with them.
Chen Jinyang joined her, vowing to attend all of Ai Jia's matches and sit in the front row to "show off her long legs." Some fans gave Tong Yao a support bracelet, thanking her for speaking up for female gamers, which made her feel proud. From a distance, Lu Sicheng watched her and texted that she was "smiling like an idiot."
When she excitedly told him about her new fans, he replied dismissively, calling her response "perfunctory," before telling her to "raise your head, your hubby is here." Fans soon spotted him, causing a stir. Before leaving, Lu Sicheng leaned in and warned Tong Yao not to "flirt with other people" when he wasn't around, "not even girls."
