Go Go Squid! Episode 28 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recap
While Han Shangyan was packing his suitcase, preparing to stay at the club to personally oversee the team after Su Cheng's departure for Norway, Tong Nian asked why the club's cleaning lady couldn't help him. Han Shangyan explained that the lady was getting older and was One's mother, and her family needed the job, which was his way of giving One's family an extra salary. He added that his room was usually tidy as he wasn't there often.
Tong Nian praised his conscientiousness, and he clarified that he preferred his team to call him "boss" instead of being seen as just an employer. Tong Nian noticed his preference for black clothes and suggested white might also suit him, but he dismissed it. While he was packing, she accidentally glimpsed his underwear, feeling very shy. Later, as Han Shangyan drove Tong Nian back to her university, she asked when they could see the cat.
He said he would take her in a couple of days once he had "Little Squid" settled. Tong Nian was amused to learn the cat's name was "Little Squid," as her online handle was also "Little Squid." She thought it was intentional and found it amusingly twisted that a cat named "Little Squid" would eat little squids. Han Shangyan playfully asked if she would like to be called "Tong Shangyan," and she surprisingly agreed.
He then called her "Han Nian," much to their mutual delight. Back at her dormitory, Tong Nian shared her concerns with Yaya. Despite having broken up twice, Tong Nian wondered if she and Han Shangyan could truly get back together because her mother strongly disliked him. Yaya reassured her that their breakups were more like "playing house" and that Han Shangyan was a good man, perhaps better than anyone else Tong Nian knew.
Yaya suggested that Tong Nian's mother just needed more opportunities to interact with Han Shangyan, as his good qualities were hidden and only revealed through deeper connection. Meanwhile, Zheng Hui arrived at Tong Nian's home with gifts, using his lab bonus money. Tong Nian's mother and aunt were very pleased with Zheng Hui, seeing him as a suitable match for Tong Nian, especially since he helped with chores like picking beans.
Tong Nian then took her mother into the kitchen to inform her about Grandpa Han's imminent return to Norway. Her mother initially suspected she was still in contact with Han Shangyan and grew angry. Tong Nian quickly clarified that she was concerned for Grandpa Han, suggesting they take him to their ancestral home in Suzhou, which was also Grandpa Han's old village, to alleviate his homesickness before his long journey.
Her mother agreed but told Tong Nian not to meddle, promising to handle the arrangements. The next weekend, both families set off for Suzhou in two cars, with Tong Nian's family leading the way. Though Tong Nian's mother still held reservations about Han Shangyan, she kept her feelings in check for her daughter's sake.
When Grandpa Han suggested Tong Nian ride with Han Shangyan to relieve the crowd in their car, Tong Nian's mother subtly intervened, sending Tong Nian's cousin Dounan instead. During a rest stop, Han Shangyan got a popsicle for Tong Nian, but Dounan swiftly snatched and ate it, much to Tong Nian's annoyance. Grandpa Han, seeing the tension, took Dounan with him to wash his hands, leaving Han Shangyan and Tong Nian alone.
Han Shangyan then tenderly shielded Tong Nian from the sun with his hand, a small, heartwarming gesture. Upon arriving at their shared ancestral village, Grandpa Han was warmly greeted by an old female relative. Inside, the elders fondly recounted childhood anecdotes of Tong Nian and Dounan. The Great-Grandma, seeing Han Shangyan, inquired about his age and expressed concern for Grandpa Han, noting that his grandson was almost thirty without a wife or children. Han Shangyan politely excused himself.
Tong Nian and Dounan followed him, but Han Shangyan cleverly maneuvered to get some alone time with Tong Nian, leaving a distracted Dounan behind. Han Shangyan and Tong Nian took a stroll and encountered some elderly men playing chess. Han Shangyan joined a game and, despite his opponent's claim of forty years of experience, won several bottles of juice. Tong Nian secretly photographed him drinking, and later asked him to find the "highlight" in the pictures.
He noticed the words "Current Boyfriend" on the juice bottle, prompting a slight smile. To further delight Tong Nian, Han Shangyan then rented a small guitar from a young street musician for twenty yuan. As they floated along the waterway in a small boat, he strummed the guitar and sang a heartfelt song for her.
He shared a poignant memory of learning guitar from a former team substitute who lived in a water town like this, lamenting that his original plan to form a new team for his substitutes never materialized due to their team's disbandment. Tong Nian, sensing his lingering sadness, encouraged him to sing another song. As the afternoon drew to a close, Han Shangyan sent Tong Nian back to the family dinner first, wanting to avoid her mother's potential displeasure.
He used the excuse of returning the guitar, though he actually bought a toy cat as a gift for Tong Nian before heading back. When both finally returned to the dinner table, they were scolded by their respective elders for being late, which they found thrilling, like a secret elopement. That evening, after returning home, Grandpa Han had a heart-to-heart with Han Shangyan. He reflected on his past misunderstandings of his grandson and felt a pang of guilt.
The next morning, on the day of his departure for Norway, Grandpa Han, reluctant to leave Han Shangyan and Wu Bai, insisted on having a cup of the tea Tong Nian had given him, brewed by Han Shangyan himself. At the airport, Grandpa Han, needing a restroom break after the tea, was carefully escorted by Han Shangyan.
While waiting outside, Han Shangyan received a text from Tong Nian expressing her wish to see Grandpa off but being unable to due to an exam. He responded by inviting her to visit Grandpa in Norway during the summer holidays. Moments later, sensing something was wrong, Han Shangyan burst into the restroom to find Grandpa Han suffering from an angina attack.
After Grandpa Han recovered, the two exchanged loving accusations, both admitting their habit of hiding their worries – Han Shangyan about his career struggles and Grandpa Han about his health. They acknowledged that as family, they support each other, even through arguments.
