Go Go Squid! Episode 15 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recaps
On Tong Nian's birthday, her senior Zheng Hui approached her, intending to confess his feelings and give her a gift. He asked her about her plans, but Tong Nian, still reeling from her recent heartbreak, internally thought there was nothing to celebrate now that Han Shangyan had a girlfriend. As Zheng Hui stammered through his confession, Han Shangyan suddenly appeared, asking Tong Nian why she looked upset and if Zheng Hui had bullied her.
Zheng Hui, intimidated, quickly clarified that he was her senior and they were fellow coding competitors. He recognized Wu Bai, who was with Han Shangyan, as an ACM World Champion. Han Shangyan announced that he was there to take Tong Nian out, promising to bring her back by 9 PM. Tong Nian eagerly followed him.
In the car, she asked how he knew where to find her, and Han Shangyan explained that he learned from Lan Mei's husband, who got the information from Lan Mei. Tong Nian, impressed, asked if he was truly an ACM World Champion, to which he modestly replied it was "not a big deal," hoping she wouldn't "bully" him later.
As they arrived at Han Shangyan's grand house, Wu Bai sensed the impending awkwardness and opted to find an excuse to leave, borrowing the car. Tong Nian, despite knowing Han Shangyan had only picked her up because his grandpa wanted to see her, was overjoyed, feeling her long-held longing for him finally easing. Inside, Grandpa warmly greeted Tong Nian, who inquired about Wu Bai's absence.
Han Shangyan simply said he "escaped," which Tong Nian clarified was due to him visiting friends. Grandpa, surprised, wondered when Wu Bai had made friends. During dinner, Grandpa revealed that while the cake was from Han Shangyan for Tong Nian's birthday, the steak was takeout because Han Shangyan had refused to cook it. Tong Nian was surprised to learn Han Shangyan could cook steak, to which he responded that living alone taught him "a bit of everything."
Grandpa then announced his impending return to Norway next week, explaining that his "old bones" could no longer handle long-haul flights, implying he wouldn't be returning to China frequently. He brought up a previous conversation with Tong Nian's parents, who had claimed she had a fear of flying. Tong Nian quickly corrected him, stating she often flies for school competitions and suspected her mother had fabricated the phobia out of concern for her safety as a girl traveling alone.
Relieved, Grandpa declared this "reduced many troubles," as it simplified discussions about where to hold "your wedding"—either in China or abroad. Tong Nian was taken aback by the sudden mention of a wedding. Feeling embarrassed by his grandpa's wedding talk, Han Shangyan abruptly declared he was full and excused himself for a "conference call," retreating upstairs to secretly listen to the conversation.
Downstairs, Grandpa, frustrated, chastised Han Shangyan for "only caring about playing the computer" since childhood, deeming him an "unaccomplished grandson" and apologizing to Tong Nian for his behavior. Tong Nian, however, quickly came to Han Shangyan's defense, assuring Grandpa that she wasn't bothered and actually "liked seeing him work in this field."
She clarified that Han Shangyan wasn't just "playing" but was competing in "official competitions" and "gaining glory for the country," highlighting the arduous years of hard work behind his achievements. She detailed the challenging beginnings of the cybersecurity (CTF) industry over a decade ago in China, with no coaches or established clubs, yet Han Shangyan and his team, Solo, had carved out their own path, making China known globally in the field.
Tong Nian expressed immense pride and a pang of sadness for Han Shangyan, especially when recalling his retirement speech, which she understood was born from deep passion. She then recited his famous declaration: "In the two years and three months that have passed, there have been wins and losses, laughter and crying, we've been questioned and gossiped about, we've been criticized and blacklisted. We never had to give explanations, there was no need to explain.
Tonight's feast finally comes to an end. Success and fame are blinding folly." Moved by Tong Nian's heartfelt explanation and fierce loyalty, Grandpa apologized, admitting his past anger and regret. He acknowledged that while he had tried to understand the evolving industry, it was a "new product" for his generation. Tong Nian agreed, stating she too had no prior exposure to "Cybersecurity" and deeply admired Han Shangyan's unwavering persistence in such a niche profession.
Grandpa echoed her sentiments, also praising Tong Nian and reflecting on how lucky their generation was to pursue their passions, unlike his own. Despite his understanding, Grandpa explained he often got carried away by anger, only to regret his words later. He then cautiously broached the topic of Tong Nian's parents' potential disapproval of Han Shangyan, anticipating future discussions about marriage.
Tong Nian assured him her parents hadn't mentioned any concerns, and Grandpa noted that Han Shangyan had many virtues that only revealed themselves with time. Tong Nian affirmed that she always found "everything about Han Shangyan good." Grandpa wished her a happy birthday, and Tong Nian confessed she was "extremely happy today," blushing as Grandpa correctly guessed it was because she was spending her birthday with Han Shangyan.
Unbeknownst to them, Han Shangyan, having overheard the entire conversation, was deeply affected. He later found his old retirement video online, lost in reflection of his younger self and marveling at Tong Nian's profound understanding. Later, while Tong Nian was helping Grandpa settle for his afternoon nap, Grandpa demonstrated his emergency call bell. Moments later, Han Shangyan rushed downstairs, alarmed by the bell, only to find that Grandpa had merely been showing Tong Nian how to use it.
Relieved, Han Shangyan invited Tong Nian to the courtyard and offered to cut some fruit, suggesting mangoes. Tong Nian, despite her mango allergy, readily agreed, not wanting to refuse a gesture from him. Han Shangyan then began a deeply personal self-introduction, revealing details beyond what was publicly known. He confessed to an unsociable personality, finding peace only in the world of coding.
He admitted his dislike for certain foods but his love for candy, which he used to curb his bad temper and prevent himself from yelling. He expressed his disdain for being restrained, his frustration with his grandpa for trying to dictate his future, and his anger towards those who doubted the dreams of young Cybersecurity players. Tong Nian was deeply touched, feeling as though he was inviting her into his private world.
Han Shangyan, after revealing his many flaws—lack of gentlemanly manners, disinterest in romance, a life solely dedicated to K&K and his team with no time for leisure or holidays—then asked her directly, "Do you still want to break up?" Without hesitation, Tong Nian emphatically replied, "I don't want to break up." Han Shangyan gently patted her head, saying, "Then we won't," and asked for her patience with his shortcomings as they began to get to know each other.
He jokingly warned her that he was unreliable and she might find nothing to like, but Tong Nian simply smiled. Han Shangyan then began a video conference. Tong Nian, eating the mangoes he cut, found herself captivated, staring at him intently. Han Shangyan, momentarily distracted by her gaze, forgot he was on a call and spoke to her, causing his colleagues on the conference to comment on the "sweet" interaction.
Although they couldn't understand the Chinese, they clearly discerned a girl was present. One colleague playfully reminded Han Shangyan that he "finally admitted" she was his girlfriend, recalling a past instance in Norway where he had denied it. Embarrassed, Tong Nian retreated to the kitchen to tidy up. Han Shangyan quickly hung up the call. Moments later, Wu Bai arrived home.
Han Shangyan immediately approached him to borrow money, explaining it was for Tong Nian's birthday, to which Wu Bai reluctantly handed over his card. In the kitchen, Han Shangyan noticed a mark on Tong Nian’s face and asked if a mosquito bit her; she quickly lied to conceal her mango allergy. Grandpa then came to see Tong Nian off.
As they drove away, Tong Nian presented Han Shangyan with her birthday gift for him: a gun-shaped keychain, a thoughtful nod to his "Gun God" nickname, which he genuinely appreciated. She then initiated a conversation about his past relationships, but he reiterated his unromantic nature.
Tong Nian, however, gently encouraged him to ease the immense pressure he put on himself to win world championships, emphasizing the importance of having someone to confide in during difficult times, and offered to be his steadfast listener and companion. As it was the first relationship for both of them, they were navigating uncharted territory. Han Shangyan, in his characteristic straightforward manner, took Tong Nian to his favorite game store.
Despite her protests that she wasn't good at games and it would be a waste, he insisted on buying her a game console and a selection of game discs. He meticulously labeled each game by difficulty, using "Turtle" for easy, "Pig" for medium, and "Panda" for hard, instructing her to play them in sequence. He playfully suggested this would give her "an excuse to come and see him" if she needed help.
He then teasingly labeled the medium-difficulty games with her name on a pig sticker. After declining his offers to buy more items, Tong Nian again confessed that he was her first love. Driving her back to her university, Han Shangyan informed her of his upcoming closed training in Sanya, explaining he would be gone for a week and wouldn't provide his flight details.
He set strict contact hours, allowing her to call between 9 PM and 3 AM, but not at other times due to his training and meetings. He encouraged her to continue studying diligently, even after she mentioned completing her postgraduate credits, quoting the adage, "Learning is like a sea without boundaries; only through hard work can one reach the shore." Finally, standing at the school gate, he hesitantly asked for a hug.
Tong Nian, blushing deeply and acutely aware of the many people around, shyly declined. Han Shangyan quickly clarified that a hug was "a necessary process" in dating, not that he insisted on it. Noticing Tong Nian hadn't eaten much, Han Shangyan impulsively stopped at a popular sweet potato stand near her school. He bought her a large assortment of snacks, apologizing for her missed meal and reassuring her that he bought a variety since he didn't know her preferences.
Tong Nian happily accepted all the food and the new game console, waving goodbye as he drove away. Back in her dormitory, Tong Nian was beaming with happiness, her heart full of love. Her roommate, Yaya, immediately noticed the vast amount of food and Tong Nian's radiant mood, teasing her about her "peach tree finally blossoming" and "showing off affection." Yaya then spotted the video games and questioned why Han Shangyan would buy them for someone who didn't play.
Tong Nian, however, declared her unwavering devotion, stating, "He likes to play them. Whatever he likes to play, I can learn it." She proudly showed Yaya the game discs, explaining that Han Shangyan had thoughtfully labeled them by difficulty to be played in a specific order, emphasizing its importance when Yaya tried to tamper with the labels.
