Go Go Squid! Episode 27 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recap
He recounted events from thirteen years ago, when Su Cheng and Wang Hao first met and fell in love through CTF competitions. After a match where Wang Hao's team won, Su Cheng approached him, expressing that while she wasn't upset about losing, she was utterly convinced by his skill. She questioned why he had intentionally yielded to her several times during the match, pointing out specific instances where he could have easily won.
She felt more embarrassed by his gestures than by losing. Wang Hao admitted he had won many rounds and didn't want to be overly serious in the final games. Su Cheng, on the verge of tears, confessed she didn't want to appear weak or disappoint him, emphasizing her strong feelings for him. He then recounted events from ten years ago, when Han Shangyan was alone at the team base and Su Cheng arrived with Little Ai.
He noted it had been two years since they last met. Su Cheng asked for Wang Hao, and upon learning he wasn't there, asked to wait inside. Han Shangyan reminded her that Wang Hao now had a girlfriend, Appledog, the team's top female offensive player. As they spoke, Little Ai, a toddler, cried out for her "Mommy."
When Wang Hao returned, he was enraged, demanding to know why Su Cheng had hidden their child from him, asserting his right to know. Su Cheng tearfully explained her desperation, confessing she couldn't afford to raise Little Ai, who was sick and needed treatment. She pleaded with Wang Hao, reminding him of his team's success and financial stability, and emphasizing that Little Ai was his daughter, even offering a birth certificate and proposing a DNA test.
Wang Hao, still reeling from the shock, stated he didn't doubt the child's identity but wanted to know why she never told him. Su Cheng revealed she discovered her pregnancy three months in, after their breakup, and feared she and the child would become a burden to his burgeoning career. Suddenly, Appledog arrived and demanded an explanation about the child. Wang Hao tried to send her away, promising to explain later, but Appledog insisted.
Mi Shaofei and Ou Qiang tried to calm Appledog, suggesting the child might not be Wang Hao's and asking for a DNA test. However, Wang Hao cut them off, embracing Little Ai and declaring, "She is my daughter. She is my, Wang Hao's, daughter." Appledog burst into tears and fled. Little Ai then asked Han Shangyan if her father had chosen her over his team, and if that was why Han Shangyan disliked her father. Han Shangyan confirmed both.
He then recounted how he had tried to help Wang Hao by offering to claim Little Ai as his own child with Su Cheng, raise her, and take the blame, hoping Wang Hao could reconcile with Appledog and lead Team Solo to the national finals. Wang Hao questioned how Han Shangyan would raise a child and what he thought of him. Han Shangyan reminded him of their years of hardship and their shared dream of a national championship.
He stressed that Team Solo was more than just Wang Hao, including Appledog, Mi Shaofei, Ou Qiang, and substitutes. He insisted it was no time for guilt, warning that if Wang Hao and Appledog broke up, the entire team would be over, rendering all their hard work meaningless. He appealed to Wang Hao's feelings for the team they had built together.
Wang Hao asked for time to think, but Han Shangyan urged him to follow the plan, only for Wang Hao to stubbornly insist on thinking. Little Ai commented that her dad was a good father but a poor captain, though he had tried to make amends by bringing Mi Shaofei and Ou Qiang back. Han Shangyan countered that it was too late, as a professional player's golden years, which were squandered, are fleeting.
Seeing the situation, Tong Nian decided that Su Cheng needed to speak with Little Ai. Han Shangyan was curious about their conversation, and Tong Nian noted his unusual focus on them. Little Ai clarified that her new hearing aid was a spare she kept, as Han Shangyan, though he wanted to buy her one, didn't understand they weren't like simple headsets.
Su Cheng admitted she had been angry with Wang Hao in the past for neglecting her, just as Little Ai was now. Little Ai asked if Su Cheng had loved her father, and Su Cheng confirmed he was her first love, and she believed she was his first love too. Su Cheng proposed they speak as friends, as she lacked motherly experience.
Little Ai then asked why Su Cheng gave birth to her if she didn't love her or her father. Su Cheng explained she deeply loved Wang Hao, and Little Ai was a "remembrance" of that love. Little Ai challenged her, asking if she was merely a memento. Su Cheng apologized, admitting her youthful naivety in thinking she could raise Little Ai alone. Little Ai sarcastically questioned if Su Cheng abandoned her because she became "troublesome and not healthy."
Su Cheng clarified that her team was struggling, but she wanted a good life for Little Ai, believing she would be happier with Wang Hao. Little Ai argued that Su Cheng had ruined Wang Hao's career. Su Cheng admitted her selfishness and that she hadn't anticipated the harm caused or Team Solo's disbandment. Little Ai questioned if Su Cheng then moved on to someone else.
Su Cheng explained her current husband was her former team captain, whom she knew before Wang Hao, and he supported her when she was alone. Little Ai then asked about Su Cheng and Wang Hao's breakup. Su Cheng said Wang Hao was entirely focused on the team's success, which she admired but also resented, as she longed for simple moments like holding hands.
She blamed her own youth and their constant arguments, acknowledging his career's importance but also her need for companionship. Tong Nian observed that despite Little Ai's words, her feelings for Wang Hao were deep, and she suspected Han Shangyan had already forgiven Wang Hao, though he denied it. Han Shangyan then asked how Tong Nian wanted to be rewarded for her "merit" in helping.
As heavy rain began, Han Shangyan drove Su Cheng and Little Ai towards Wang Hao's house, stopping short of the destination. Little Ai explained that he didn't drive further because it was the old Team Solo dormitory and training base, and he feared it would "bring back memories." Little Ai then playfully nudged Tong Nian to seize the opportunity to capture Han Shangyan's "fragile little heart" while he was in a pensive mood.
Su Cheng then accompanied Little Ai to the door. Little Ai continued to tease Han Shangyan, remarking how her dad already had an adult daughter while he was still single. Su Cheng told Little Ai she wouldn't go inside and thanked her for respecting her decision and for the lesson learned. They agreed Little Ai would contact Su Cheng directly in the future instead of through Wang Hao. Little Ai acknowledged her father's pitiful situation, and Su Cheng concurred.
Before entering, Little Ai turned and hugged her mother, bringing a look of comfort to Su Cheng's face. Inside, Wang Hao, suffering from a cold, greeted Little Ai, concerned about her wet hair and noting her recent hair growth. She found him about to eat a non-nutritious boxed lunch.
Little Ai chastised him for his unhealthy eating habits and, treating it as an apology, demanded he cook her a proper meal, listing tomato and egg stir-fry, sweet and sour spare ribs, and braised pork. Wang Hao lovingly agreed and then helped her dry her hair. Meanwhile, Su Cheng informed Han Shangyan and Tong Nian that she wanted to walk back in the rain alone and asked them to be careful on the road.
Shortly after, Tong Nian received a WeChat message from Little Ai, informing her of Wang Hao's cold, which Tong Nian attributed to Little Ai's absence. Han Shangyan reflected on the transformed industrial park, recalling when it was merely factory buildings with muddy roads where Wang Hao used to piggyback Appledog to keep her shoes clean. He mused about what Appledog saw in Wang Hao.
Tong Nian asked how Appledog and Wang Hao met, to which Han Shangyan revealed Appledog had fallen in love with Wang Hao at first sight in an internet cafe, much like Tong Nian had with him. Han Shangyan quickly added that he wasn't suffering from heartbreak at the time, unlike Wang Hao, who had just broken up with Su Cheng.
Back at home, Little Ai gave Wang Hao the cold medicine she prepared, telling him not to say he was wrong, asserting that he was never wrong in her eyes. She tearfully expressed that without her, he would have long ago won a world championship, but then affirmed he was still the best captain in China. Wang Hao hugged her, thanked her, and went to cook.
He wondered if they would have made different choices if they had known the outcome. Little Ai revealed that "Uncle Han" had driven her home. Wang Hao then stepped out to thank Han Shangyan and invited him in, but Han Shangyan declined, citing Su Cheng's imminent return to Norway and pending club matters. Wang Hao wished him a safe journey in the rain, and a subtle thawing in their long-strained relationship was palpable.
Later, Su Cheng met Appledog at a café, apologizing for calling her out. Appledog reassured her that the past was behind her and clarified her anger was never directed at Su Cheng for bringing Little Ai. Instead, she was upset with Wang Hao for deciding to raise Little Ai without consulting her, a decision that made her unable to continue with the team.
She was also hurt that Wang Hao’s decision to leave the team, leading to its disbandment, was conveyed to her last. Appledog felt that every member of Team Solo was more important to Wang Hao than she was, his girlfriend. However, she found comfort in knowing Wang Hao took in Little Ai, as it meant he would dedicate himself to her care.
She acknowledged Wang Hao's struggles in learning to be a father, recalling a past moment where Wang Hao lovingly fed Little Ai and asking Su Cheng if he planned a comeback. Appledog stated she quickly moved past her anger but stressed that the concealment of crucial matters had ultimately separated two people deeply in love. She concluded that it was precisely because of their profound past love that they could now work together rationally.
Su Cheng then confided her worry that Wang Hao would be saddened if she took Little Ai to Norway for ear treatment and education, despite his verbal consent. Appledog advised Su Cheng to ask Little Ai directly, pointing out that while Su Cheng cared for Little Ai for two years, Wang Hao had raised her for ten years through her entire childhood, implying where Little Ai's deeper emotional bond lay. Han Shangyan brought Tong Nian back to his house.
She initially hesitated to go inside, concerned that his Grandpa would get the "wrong idea" again and feeling they shouldn't keep lying to him. Han Shangyan casually dismissed her worries. His Grandpa was overjoyed to see them return together and urged them to go upstairs to watch movies. He also instructed Han Shangyan to take the cat food to the club, reminding him that the cat was there. Tong Nian realized that Han Shangyan had never given the cat away.
Upstairs, Tong Nian helped Han Shangyan clean up spilled cat food, noting the distinctive "man's bathroom" when retrieving a rag. She confronted him about lying about giving the cat away, and he admitted he was in a bad mood and "casually said it." She then asked about his supposed matchmaking trip to Norway, which he also confirmed was a lie, explaining he had gone for a debriefing at headquarters and to visit his stepmom. With these truths revealed, Tong Nian felt happy doing chores with him in his house, and the small flame of their love was rekindled.
