Go Go Squid! Episode 10 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recap
As Han Shangyan stormed out of the cafe in a fit of anger, Ai Qing hurried after him, followed closely by Little Mi. Ai Qing eventually lost sight of Han Shangyan, only to find herself confronted by several intoxicated foreign men who insisted she drink with them. Frightened, she cried out Han Shangyan’s name and screamed for help.
Hearing her desperate cries, Han Shangyan emerged from the shadows, pushing one of the men away and grabbing a stick as a makeshift weapon. However, Ai Qing, worried about further complications, immediately scolded him, demanding he put the weapon down and accusing him of only knowing how to solve problems with violence.
She suggested the men might have simply wanted to offer her a drink and that a language barrier was the issue, echoing a past sentiment about how she protected Solo. This only intensified Han Shangyan's fury. When Little Mi arrived to comfort Ai Qing, Han Shangyan left abruptly without a word. Back at the hotel, after reassuring Ai Qing, Little Mi gathered the cake, coffee, and ointment that Ai Qing had prepared for Han Shangyan's birthday.
He went to Han Shangyan’s room, where Han Shangyan, visibly frustrated, opened the door with a gloomy expression. Little Mi inquired why Han Shangyan chose to join K&K instead of staying with Solo, as he had chosen to join SP with Solo. Little Mi explained that for him, Solo wasn't just a person; he represented a spiritual symbol, the very beginning of his dream, and someone he and Han Shangyan had always looked up to as their sole captain.
He implored Han Shangyan not to condemn Solo and Ai Qing for a single mistake, urging him not to hold them accountable for a lifetime. He then placed the coffee and cake on the table and offered Han Shangyan the ointment for his scratches, remarking that Han Shangyan still loved to act tough. Little Mi concluded by delivering a heartfelt message from himself, Solo, and Ai Qing: "Happy birthday, Han Shangyan." His words visibly softened Han Shangyan's demeanor.
Shortly after, Han Shangyan listened to a voicemail from Tong Nian. Having learned his birthday from his grandfather, she sweetly wished him a happy Valentine’s Day and a happy birthday, adding that she hoped his work in Norway would be smooth and that he should be joyful on his special day, reminding him to make a wish while eating his cake.
Han Shangyan, clearly touched by her message, lit a candle on the cake by himself, made a silent wish, and then blew it out. He then went to Little Mi’s room, asking him to celebrate his birthday together. They headed to a local Norwegian bar, where they encountered Judy and Alice, former acquaintances of Han Shangyan. Judy playfully pointed out Han Shangyan’s unchanging affection for cats.
During their conversation, Little Mi expressed his admiration for Han Shangyan's resilience and entrepreneurial spirit in establishing K&K after Team Solo's disbandment, acknowledging his true passion for CTF, and sensing his deep desire to achieve something great. Han Shangyan asked about Little Mi's experience at SP, probing if there was any internal competition or exclusion. Little Mi reassured him, stating the atmosphere at SP was excellent, reminiscent of the old Team Solo, attributing it to Solo’s leadership.
Han Shangyan then encouraged Little Mi to perform well in the upcoming competition to make his boss proud. Little Mi confidently affirmed he would give his best performance the next day. As Little Mi wished him a happy birthday again, Han Shangyan called it "cliché." Little Mi countered by saying that one wouldn't truly appreciate happiness without experiencing unhappiness, encouraging him to embrace life fully. They continued to enjoy their drinks, sharing an easy camaraderie.
The following day marked the start of the CTF All-Star One-on-One Invitational, where both K&K and SP teams represented China. Han Shangyan rallied his players, emphasizing that while losing due to inferior skill was acceptable, giving up before the match concluded was not. Wu Bai, as team captain, reinforced that they were fighting not for themselves, but for China's global recognition in the CTF scene. Together, they chanted, "Go! Team China!"
The commentators, KK, Archie, and Furis, introduced the event, highlighting that fifty top players from thirty-four countries would compete for a place in the prestigious Hall of Fame. Players used their phones for a random match-up draw. Commentator Archie expressed excitement for a potential match between China’s DT (Wu Bai) and Norway’s Naya, whom he considered the two best players in the world.
The match pairings were displayed, including DT (Wu Bai) versus VDMT from Germany, Inin against ICER from France, and ALL (Ou Qiang) facing PLAY from Columbia. Little Mi was matched against Naya, drawing concern from his teammates. Ou Qiang triumphed over PLAY, demonstrating his enduring skill as a veteran. Commentators noted that despite a hiatus, Ou Qiang maintained peak form, significantly boosting China’s chances for the championship.
Watching the livestream, Solo and his staff acknowledged that DT (Wu Bai) was the overwhelming favorite, consistently ranked world number one in individual CTF competitions. Solo also recognized Wu Bai's exceptional talent, noting his resemblance to Han Shangyan in his prime. However, Little Mi suffered a defeat against Naya and was eliminated. Commentators observed that Little Mi seemed to lose his composure during the mid-game.
After his loss, Little Mi expressed regret and a sense of growing old, having hoped to be celebrated on stage. Han Shangyan found him, reassuring him there were still many opportunities. Little Mi spoke of Wu Bai's impressive demeanor, likening it to Han Shangyan's past self, though Han Shangyan playfully dismissed it as still being "unskilled" compared to him. Despite the personal setback, they both affirmed their shared support for China.
Meanwhile, Ai Qing found Wu Bai in his quiet preparation spot. She wished him good luck, acknowledging his talent and hard work, expressing her certainty that he would win the championship for China. Wu Bai confided in her that his ambition wasn't just to demonstrate China's prowess to the world, but specifically to win a world championship on the international stage for her.
He recalled being a high school student when Team Solo won their championship, and witnessing Ai Qing shine so brightly on stage inspired him to vow that one day he would achieve the same. He confessed that his path in CTF was entirely because of her, and therefore, winning the championship held profound personal significance.
Ai Qing, touched by his words, thanked him for his past affection and assured him that in her eyes, he was already a radiant star, encouraging him to give his all. In the finals, Wu Bai (DT), the world's number one ranked player, faced Naya from Norway, ranked number two. Commentators highlighted Naya's extensive preparation and slightly better win record that season, anticipating a tough battle for Wu Bai.
The mixed-mode game began, and Wu Bai initially chose a problem-solving strategy, swiftly clearing the first six problems, astonishing the commentators. However, Naya adopted an aggressive "Viking" attack style, relentlessly assaulting Wu Bai's server and quickly taking three nodes, forcing Wu Bai to switch from problem-solving to defense. But this apparent defensive posture was a brilliant ruse. Wu Bai had perfectly lured Naya into a pre-set trap. Naya's defenses suddenly crumbled, and he lost five nodes in an instant.
Wu Bai seized control, forcing Naya into a desperate and ultimately futile defense. As the score reached 9-9, Wu Bai displayed incredible multi-tasking, continuing his high-frequency attack while simultaneously solving the remaining problems. In a dramatic conclusion, he solved the final problem concurrently with breaching Naya's server, securing a magnificent victory. The arena erupted in cheers for China.
Commentators proudly announced DT (Wu Bai) as the champion of the CTF All-Star One-on-One Invitational, noting that China also clinched third place with Inin. Watching the live broadcast, Tong Nian excitedly called Han Shangyan to congratulate him and the team. Elated, Han Shangyan put his phone on speaker so she could hear the thunderous cheers from the crowd.
After hanging up, Tong Nian continued to watch the award ceremony, tears welling up as she saw Han Shangyan, lamenting that he too could have been a world champion. During the ceremony, Han Shangyan handed Wu Bai a Chinese national flag he had prepared, which Wu Bai and Inin proudly unfurled on stage amidst widespread celebration.
Later, Nan Wei congratulated Han Shangyan and, as a friend, subtly inquired about Little Mi’s form, hinting that he hadn't performed as well as the other excellent Chinese players. Han Shangyan suspected Little Mi was struggling under pressure. Concerned for his friend, Han Shangyan tracked down Ou Qiang and Little Mi. He gathered them, proposing a wild night out "wherever you want to go" to help Little Mi relax. With Ou Qiang behind the wheel, they drove off exuberantly, singing and joking as they celebrated their victory.
