Go Go Squid! Episode 21 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recaps
Han Shangyan’s grandfather, commonly referred to as Grandpa Han, learned from Tong Nian's great-aunt that Tong Nian and Han Shangyan had supposedly broken up. The great-aunt praised another young man, Zheng Hui, describing him as diligent, pursuing a Ph. D. , and highly regarded by Tong Nian’s parents, implying he was a suitable match for Tong Nian.
Grandpa Han was surprised, having thought Tong Nian was still dating his grandson, and mentioned that Tong Nian had visited him recently, where he observed her clear affection for Han Shangyan. However, the great-aunt insisted that Tong Nian and Han Shangyan had parted ways long ago and advised Grandpa Han to tell his grandson to move on, suggesting there were plenty of other good women for him.
Meanwhile, at the K&K club, the team members were buzzing with the news that their “Sister-in-Law,” Tong Nian, had given their boss, Han Shangyan, a cat. Doubting Han Shangyan’s interest in pets, Shen Zhe bet his new e-reader that the cat wouldn’t last a week. To their astonishment, Han Shangyan not only kept the cat but ordered numerous pet supplies, clearly doting on it. The team members, peeking at him, found him in his room cuddling the cat.
When he caught them, he playfully asked if the cat was cuter than him. Later, as Han Shangyan prepared to leave the country for a week, he meticulously instructed Auntie Zhao, the housekeeper, on how to care for the cat, emphasizing keeping windows closed as cats might jump. Grandpa Han, seeing this, scolded Han Shangyan for his "trifling destroying the will," adding that playing computer games wasn't enough, and now he was raising pets.
Han Shangyan also asked Auntie Zhao to look after his grandfather. Still upset about the supposed breakup, Grandpa Han confronted his grandson, blaming him for making Tong Nian cry. He asserted that Han Shangyan deserved to be alone and shouldn’t hurt others. Han Shangyan simply agreed, remarking that he did deserve to be alone. Undeterred, Grandpa Han announced he had arranged a meeting with Tong Nian’s mother for 8 PM and insisted Han Shangyan drive him.
On the way to the Tong residence, Grandpa Han urged Han Shangyan to stop arguing, confessing he was tired of their constant bickering, and reminded him that they were the last two remaining members of the Han family. He also told Han Shangyan to "open his eyes" and appreciate what a good child Tong Nian was. Upon their arrival at the Tong family home, Zheng Hui and his mother were already present.
Zheng Hui, whose mother was having surgery arranged by Tong Nian’s father, warmly greeted Grandpa Han and explained that he was a student in a combined bachelor's-master's-doctorate program. He proudly mentioned that he and Tong Nian had won second place in the world finals of the International Collegiate Programming Contest, and that they frequently socialized. Grandpa Han, however, remained cool towards Zheng Hui, questioning his purpose there and stating they weren't that familiar.
Tong Nian’s mother, who clearly favored Zheng Hui, then took Han Shangyan outside for a private conversation. She directly told Han Shangyan that he and Tong Nian were incompatible due to their age difference, disparate careers, and his character. She openly expressed her disapproval of his past and his esports profession, stating that no parent, having learned of his upbringing, would entrust their daughter to him.
Han Shangyan admitted his past mistakes, but when she brought up Tong Nian’s specialization in neural networks and questioned if he could understand it, he stated that he respected Tong Nian's endeavors. Tong Nian’s mother criticized his unsociable nature and highlighted Tong Nian’s innocence in relationships compared to Han Shangyan’s worldly experience.
She accused him of exploiting Tong Nian’s tender heart during their previous breakup, which had left Tong Nian heartbroken, and firmly demanded that he cut off all ties with Tong Nian and cease giving her any romantic illusions. Feeling untrustworthy in her eyes, Han Shangyan promised he would not bother Tong Nian again or lead her on.
Following the conversation, Han Shangyan chose not to enter the house and instead drove to New World, a bar he and his former teammates often frequented. He called Mi Shaofei (Little Mi) using a backup phone, and they met. Han Shangyan confessed his regret over his past "absurd" actions, realizing they were not forgotten. Little Mi, in turn, lamented his own decision to retire from his professional career when his skills were at their peak, calling it a waste.
Han Shangyan told him this was like "sticking a knife" into his own heart, as he understood that feeling of regret all too well. Little Mi further labeled Han Shangyan’s retirement as "courting death," emphasizing how many fans had supported him and how heartbroken they were by his sudden departure. This led Han Shangyan to question the true purpose of his return to Shanghai. Meanwhile, Tong Nian, unaware of her mother’s conversation with Han Shangyan, waited for him at home.
She had offered Grandpa Han some Earl Grey black tea, and Grandpa Han asked her to buy some for him next time. When she learned Han Shangyan was waiting outside, she rushed out to find him but he had already driven away and didn’t answer her phone calls. Her mother eventually found her and urged her to come back in. Back at the bar, Han Shangyan heard from Mi that Tong Nian had gone out to look for him.
Worried for her safety, he quickly left to find her and soon spotted her waiting by the road near her home. She playfully tried to scare him by hiding behind his car, but he sharply reprimanded her for the dangerous act.
Tong Nian, sensing his distance, asked why he was avoiding her and quickly explained Zheng Hui and his mother’s temporary stay: Zheng Hui's mother was ill, Tong Nian's father, a doctor, was helping, and due to a lack of hospital beds, they were staying at their home but would leave the next day. Han Shangyan remained aloof.
When Tong Nian inquired about the cat she had given him, he lied that it had almost bitten him and he had given it to his housemaid, adding that he disliked cats and considered her gift "self-willed and annoying." Tong Nian was disheartened and offered to take the cat back or write game code for him as an apology. Han Shangyan, however, coldly stated he preferred to be alone and instructed her to go home.
Later, Tong Nian’s mother confided in her husband, expressing guilt for speaking so harshly to Han Shangyan. However, she reaffirmed her belief that Han Shangyan was entirely unsuitable for Tong Nian. Her husband dismissed her concerns, arguing that a thirty-year-old man shouldn't be so fragile. Grandpa Han went to the kitchen to speak with Tong Nian’s mother. He defended Han Shangyan, explaining that his grandson was not good with words but was kind-hearted.
He pleaded with her to give Han Shangyan another chance, but she politely refused, insisting it was best to let the young people decide their own fates. Back home, Han Shangyan prepared a soothing tea for Grandpa Han, who complained it wasn’t as fragrant as the tea Tong Nian made. As Grandpa Han continued to criticize him, Han Shangyan feigned acute appendicitis to escape the lecture.
He called his cousin, Wu Bai, tricking him into coming over to keep Grandpa Han company by watching Peking Opera. That night, Tong Nian sent a message to Han Shangyan, asking, "It's so cute, why don't you like it?" Han Shangyan, conflicted by his promise to her mother, stared at the message, unsure how to reply.
