Go Go Squid! Episode 17 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recaps
At the Atlantis Hotel, Appledog shared insights into Han Shangyan’s past with Tong Nian, suggesting that Tong Nian might be his first love. Appledog recalled that Han Shangyan had deeply cared for a cat when they were on Team Solo, and when it died, he forbade anyone from mentioning it. This led Appledog and Wang Hao to believe he possessed a "first-love complex."
Appledog described Han Shangyan as possessive and prone to jealousy, yet capable of childlike happiness over small things, while also becoming profoundly conflicted in love. Seeing how Han Shangyan looked at Tong Nian—much like he had looked at his beloved cat—Appledog felt confident in her deduction, telling Tong Nian it was "90% true." Ou Qiang briefly interrupted to tease Tong Nian, but Appledog quickly sent him away.
Before leaving, Appledog thanked Tong Nian, explaining that Han Shangyan, without family support, was solely driven to win gold for China. His friends worried about his temper and obsession with CTF, but she noted that with Tong Nian, things seemed "great." Deeply moved, Tong Nian contemplated how Han Shangyan’s family failed to understand his sacrifices. She walked to his training base and, catching sight of him through a window, called his name.
When he came to the door, she explained her earlier silent gestures were to let him know she understood he was working hard. Han Shangyan gently cautioned her about public displays of affection to avoid unwanted attention that could put her at a disadvantage. She offered him coconut water, and he suggested she explore the beach, assuring her she could charge anything to his room and playfully warning her not to get lost.
She handed him a bag of fruit for the team, adding that she had bought only one coconut water, specifically for him. Later, while on the beach, Tong Nian encountered Wang Hao and Mi Shaofei. She recognized them as Han Shangyan's former teammates but sat out the water activities as she hadn't brought a bikini. Mi Shaofei introduced himself, but Tong Nian said she already knew of them from her research on Han Shangyan.
When Mi Shaofei went to buy drinks, Wang Hao sat with Tong Nian. Noticing she seemed troubled, he mentioned hearing her sing sorrowfully the other day and deduced she and Han Shangyan might be having issues. When he asked how they met, she lied, claiming they connected through online chatting around 2005 and that he traveled from Norway just to meet her.
Mi Shaofei returned with peach-flavored fruit wine for her, but just as she was about to drink it, Han Shangyan arrived. He took the cup, sniffed it, and scolded her for drinking alcohol before downing it himself, telling his friends, "Thanks for taking care of my kid." Back at the hotel, Zhou Shan invited Tong Nian to a seafood dinner.
Meanwhile, Han Shangyan met with Mi Shaofei, trying to persuade him to join K&K by arguing that Wang Hao, being just an employee at SP, couldn't truly protect his career. Mi Shaofei declined, refusing to abandon his team. After Mi Shaofei left, Han Shangyan used his phone to locate Tong Nian. At the seafood restaurant, Zhou Shan interrogated Tong Nian about her relationship with Han Shangyan. Tong Nian confirmed she was his girlfriend and that their parents had already met.
Zhou Shan dismissed this, asserting that she, having known Han Shangyan longer and possessing skills relevant to his career, was a better match and could have helped him become a world champion within three years. Annoyed by Zhou Shan’s "buzzing," Tong Nian’s mood lifted when she saw Han Shangyan approach. He walked up, pulled Tong Nian's chair closer to his, and asked Zhou Shan, "If she doesn't suit me, then who does?"
He dismissed the meal as a "feast of intimidation," causing a slighted Zhou Shan to leave in a huff. Han Shangyan then explained that Zhou Shan was just a fanatic fan and he didn't like her. Noticing his wet shirt, he admitted he had rushed over in the rain because he was worried. They then enjoyed the meal, feeding each other.
As Han Shangyan and Tong Nian strolled along the beach, they spotted Wang Hao and Su Cheng in a secluded area. They overheard Su Cheng pleading for a chance to raise their daughter, Little Ai. Su Cheng confessed that Wang Hao was her first love and that she gave birth to Little Ai out of love for him after they had broken up.
She emphasized the unique role a mother plays in a daughter's development, but Wang Hao remained noncommittal, promising only to "carefully consider it." After Su Cheng left, Mi Shaofei approached a distressed Wang Hao and confided that Han Shangyan had offered him a spot on K&K. Mi Shaofei explained that he had refused because he didn't want to escape his responsibilities to his current team and vowed to work harder to improve his ranking.
Wang Hao, moved, reassured him that he was "the best." Later, at the aquarium, Wu Bai was seen observing the belugas, wishing he could forget his worries like a fish. In another part of the aquarium, Tong Nian joined Han Shangyan and, after seeing the couple on the beach, asked about Little Ai's parents.
Han Shangyan shared the full history: Wang Hao and Su Cheng were first loves who separated, after which Su Cheng gave birth to Little Ai without Wang Hao's knowledge. When she could no longer afford to care for the child, she sought out Wang Hao. They briefly married to secure Little Ai's household registration before divorcing, leaving Wang Hao to raise their daughter alone. Han Shangyan gently deflected Tong Nian's further questions, telling her not to pry.
Tong Nian then admitted to having a headache, likely from Zhou Shan's earlier provocations. That night, Tong Nian stayed in Han Shangyan's room until he fell asleep. When he briefly woke up, he gave her his room card for the next day's expenses, jokingly warning her not to sneak in while he was asleep. She retorted that she was "not a pervert."
The following day, Han Shangyan, during K&K training, checked Tong Nian's location and found she hadn't left her room. Concerned, he went to her door but hesitated, instead calling to tell her he was back in his own room. Delighted, she rushed over to see him. As they walked through the hotel, Tong Nian revealed she had stayed in all day to create a special surprise gift to commemorate their relationship.
Hearing he would be busy with work all evening, she looked slightly disappointed, so he invited her to join the team at their training internet cafe the next day. Later that evening, Wu Bai asked Han Shangyan about Mi Shaofei, and Han Shangyan confirmed the rejection. Wu Bai then questioned his cousin's ultimate goal, asking whether he prioritized K&K winning the championship over his old friendships with the members of SP, reminding him that there could only be one champion.
Annoyed, Han Shangyan curtly told him to go to sleep. The next morning, Tong Nian accompanied Han Shangyan to the beach to watch the K&K team's rigorous running drills. Wu Bai explained to her that while their training methods on Team Solo were less professional, their dedication was just as intense. Tong Nian shared her own story of learning to appreciate exercise, boasting about her 800-meter sprint time as Han Shangyan continued to push his team.
