Go Go Squid! Episode 14 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recaps
Han Shangyan returned home quietly, trying to avoid his grandfather, but was quickly caught. His grandfather questioned him about an antique necklace he was supposed to buy for his aunt, who was getting married soon. Han Shangyan insisted he had lost it, but his grandfather suspected he might have sold it to cover his K&K Esports Club's financial losses.
Han Shangyan admitted the club was indeed losing money but clarified that other branches generated enough profit to cover the losses, so he wouldn't sell his aunt's necklace. He promised to transfer the full amount to her immediately. After making the ¥950,000 transfer, his account balance was a mere ¥207, leaving him feeling financially strapped.
Later, Han Shangyan saw a post from Tong Nian on NetEase Music, featuring a photo of a rollercoaster and a caption expressing a heart like a rollercoaster, rising, falling, and currently rushing towards the bottom. This clearly affected him, leading him to cook a large, spicy meal for his grandfather and Wu Bai to vent his emotions, though he couldn't bring himself to eat. His grandfather commented on the excessive spiciness of all the dishes, including the braised pork.
Meanwhile, Tong Nian met her friend Lan Mei at a café, where Lan Mei reminded her about the upcoming tryouts for the CTF tournament theme song, sponsored by NetEase Music. Lan Mei mentioned that Tong Nian was the most popular singer on the charts and that Han Shangyan was a spokesperson for the tournament. When Lan Mei brought up Han Shangyan, Tong Nian revealed she had broken up with him.
Lan Mei was surprised and recounted how Han Shangyan, when Tong Nian was drunk, had said he didn't know her well and it would be hypocritical to claim to like her, but then added, "All things in time. Sooner or later feelings will come." Lan Mei thought Han Shangyan's honesty was endearing, but Tong Nian felt his words implied settling, which she found unbearable.
She clarified that she initiated the breakup and he had agreed, which confirmed her suspicion that he had only pretended to date her to appease the elders. Lan Mei expressed concern that Tong Nian was "suffering for her pride" by breaking up with someone she liked, but Tong Nian insisted on letting go. Lan Mei encouraged Tong Nian to prioritize her independence and focus on their upcoming tryouts.
Tong Nian and Lan Mei headed to the music company for the NetEase Music tryouts. While signing in, they encountered Wang Hao and Director Xiang. Wang Hao thanked Tong Nian for accompanying Little Ai to the amusement park, noting how happy Little Ai was. Lan Mei was surprised Tong Nian knew the legendary Wang Hao.
Director Xiang welcomed the participants, explaining they were selecting two singers for the CTF tournament theme song based on tone, bearing, stage style, and on-the-spot reactions. He also mentioned waiting for one more judge. After a brief delay, the competition began without him. Tong Nian introduced herself, expressing her love for singing for the person she liked and her hope that her songs would bring him joy, even if her feelings weren't reciprocated.
Just as she finished, Han Shangyan arrived, apologized for his lateness, and stated he would only observe without his score being recorded. Director Xiang introduced him as the Founder of K&K Esports Club and the future promotion ambassador for CTF in China, adding that he would also attend fan meetings with the selected singers. Han Shangyan then provocatively asked Tong Nian to sing "Little Donkey" using the "flowery method" she had just described.
Tong Nian sang the children's song with profound emotion, tearfully explaining that "Little Donkey" symbolized her lost lover. The judges tallied their scores, and Tong Nian and Lan Mei were selected. Han Shangyan questioned whether Tong Nian's "clean, childlike" voice suited the "hot-blooded and lively" theme song. However, Director Xiang and Wang Hao defended her selection, emphasizing her high score and unique charm, with Wang Hao suggesting a youthful voice could interpret the theme well.
Director Xiang then insisted that Han Shangyan, as the promotion ambassador, must cooperate with Tong Nian and Lan Mei. Han Shangyan flatly rejected the ambassador role, explaining his lateness was due to a team member's car accident and that he only attended as a favor to Director Xiang before abruptly leaving. Director Xiang assured Tong Nian and Lan Mei that Han Shangyan would still attend the next recording session.
As they left, Lan Mei observed the stark contrast between Wang Hao's and Han Shangyan's personalities, admitting she found Han Shangyan intimidating. Tong Nian, however, seemed to defend him. Though Han Shangyan's car drove past them, he was seen watching Tong Nian from a distance. At the recording studio the following week, Tong Nian was visibly uneasy, hoping Han Shangyan would appear. Her performance lacked emotion, prompting her teacher to suggest a break.
Lan Mei encouraged her to imagine Han Shangyan watching her performance to regain her confidence. While Tong Nian and Lan Mei were recording, Han Shangyan arrived quietly. He went to the front desk to exchange a ¥100 bill for one hundred coins to use in the vending machine, as it didn't accept paper money. After buying several juices, he left them for the group, writing "Keep fighting!" on a "Confession" brand bottle.
When Tong Nian finished recording, Lan Mei spotted the bottle and recognized Han Shangyan's handwriting. Driven by an emotional impulse, Tong Nian rushed outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Director Xiang, noticing Tong Nian's sweet demeanor, expressed his interest in pursuing her, but Wang Hao, seeing Han Shangyan observing from his car in the distance, quickly warned Director Xiang to "give up" and "save your life," implying that Tong Nian was already attached to Han Shangyan.
Back at the K&K Esports Club, Han Shangyan, looking unwell, asked his manager, Su Cheng, for his monthly subsidies, which he usually declined. Su Cheng teased him about his sudden need for money. Han Shangyan admitted he had lost his stepmother's antique necklace and had used all his savings, plus some borrowed money from Wu Bai, to pay her back.
He also asked Wu Bai to retrieve his car from Jiaodong University and fill it with gas, as he was feeling ill. The cleaning lady also noticed Han Shangyan's poor complexion and feverish state. Wu Bai quickly deduced Han Shangyan's sickness was due to heartbreak, not poverty, pointedly asking if he was sick because he broke up. Han Shangyan retorted, "Do you even know how to talk?"
Wu Bai further highlighted Han Shangyan's lovesick state by mentioning that his car had been driven to Jiaodong University, Tong Nian's school, until it ran out of gas. Han Shangyan admitted he wasn't going home that day to avoid his grandfather's lectures. At the recording studio, Tong Nian, Lan Mei, and Director Xiang discussed Han Shangyan. Director Xiang mentioned that he heard from a K&K insider that Han Shangyan seemed to have gotten a girlfriend recently.
This news deeply upset Tong Nian, while Lan Mei grew furious, convinced that Han Shangyan had never truly cared for Tong Nian if he moved on so quickly after only two weeks. Separately, at Han Shangyan's home, his grandfather, while watching a news report about facial recognition software developed by Jiaodong University, was reminded of Tong Nian and asked Wu Bai why she hadn't visited in a long time.
Wu Bai, after some hesitation, confirmed there seemed to be an issue in their relationship but directed his grandfather to ask Han Shangyan for specifics. Upon Han Shangyan's return home, his grandfather revealed it was Tong Nian's birthday and insisted Han Shangyan go pick her up from school. Han Shangyan initially refused, protesting that it wasn't appropriate to constantly pick her up while she was studying.
His grandfather, angry that Han Shangyan had forgotten, revealed that he himself had to ask Tong Nian's mother for the date in a roundabout way, and then threatened a hunger strike. Seeing his grandfather's resolve and realizing Wu Bai had likely informed him about the breakup, Han Shangyan reluctantly agreed, but on the condition that Wu Bai accompany him. Han Shangyan and Wu Bai drove to Jiaodong University, where Han Shangyan found Tong Nian overseeing a self-study session. He called her out to talk, implying she had forgotten her own birthday.
