Go Go Squid! Episode 3 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recap
During a late-night gaming session, Han Shangyan continued playing with Tong Nian, who was using the ID "Little Squid." When his cousin Wu Bai questioned why he was playing with a "kid," Han Shangyan found it "nice" and "exciting," like playing "four against five." Wu Bai noted how handsome Han Shangyan looked playing after such a long time.
In the game, Han Shangyan declared Tong Nian as "my kid" and took responsibility for her, telling his teammates to "take care of yourselves." Tong Nian, worried her ID "Little Squid" sounded "strange," asked if she should register a new account. Han Shangyan simply instructed her to "protect me, talk less," which she enthusiastically agreed to. They played through the night, with Tong Nian eventually falling asleep, still online.
The next morning, Tong Nian excitedly told her cousin, Dounan, about playing games all night with Han Shangyan. She nearly revealed too much to her parents, quickly covering it up by mentioning her trip to Guangzhou for an offline music promotional event.
She also sent an in-game message to Shen Zhe (Grunt), believing he was Han Shangyan, saying she would be in Guangzhou for a few days and would look for him when she returned, hoping to be a better "teammate." Meanwhile, Han Shangyan visited an old flatbread shop, recalling the early days of Team Solo. A flashback showed him, Wang Hao, Appledog, Ou Qiang, and Little Mi.
Wang Hao had once reassured his struggling team that he wouldn't let them go hungry, even buying fifty flatbreads. Han Shangyan, then known as Gun God, had offered to borrow money for the club, but Wang Hao had refused, stressing the importance of training for results. They had discussed their dreams: Wang Hao yearned for a championship, while Han Shangyan envisioned making Cybersecurity Tournaments as popular as ping pong, becoming a "cornerstone" of the industry.
Back in the present, Han Shangyan bought flatbreads for his K&K team, waking them early and challenging them to decide if they wanted to be "champions or losers." Later, in a team meeting, 97 provided a detailed history of Team Solo, highlighting that all original members except Han Shangyan were now with the rival SP Team. The K&K members expressed sympathy for their "Boss," who now faced his former teammates.
Their manager, Su Cheng, rallied the team, emphasizing that after losing to SP in the group stage, they "must win" the upcoming Doppler Summit. In Guangzhou, Tong Nian arrived for her music event. At the airport, she noticed a group in black team uniforms, initially thinking they were a basketball team, but then spotted Han Shangyan among them. Excited, she followed the K&K team to their bus.
The players noticed her and assumed she was a fan, but Han Shangyan remained oblivious. After receiving a text from her friend Lan Mei reminding her about the promotional event, Tong Nian hurried to the NetEase Music festival. She apologized for her delay and began signing autographs with Lan Mei. Afterward, Tong Nian inquired about sports competitions, and Lan Mei mentioned her husband's beloved Cybersecurity Tournament was also taking place nearby.
Tong Nian quickly realized Han Shangyan was a CTF player and confirmed with event staff that the black-uniformed team was K&K, competing in the sports arena. She immediately set off for the venue, dragging her luggage. At the arena, Shen Zhe (Grunt) was suffering from severe stomach pain, showing symptoms of gastric bleeding. Despite Su Cheng's suggestion of a substitute, Shen Zhe insisted on playing, declaring he would "die on the battlefield" if necessary.
Han Shangyan instructed Su Cheng to keep a close eye on him. Tong Nian arrived but was unable to buy a ticket, as sales had closed. She refused a scalper's offer. She then met Appledog, a former professional player and current SP staff member. Tong Nian, still believing Shen Zhe was Han Shangyan, expressed her admiration for him and her desperate wish to see him, "if only I take one look."
Recognizing Shen Zhe's name, Appledog agreed to bring Tong Nian inside as an "SP Club guest," guiding her to a seat. K&K successfully won their semifinal match. Tong Nian, seated in the audience, fixated on Han Shangyan. Feeling her intense gaze, Han Shangyan looked over and recognized her from the internet cafe. He approached her, asking if she specifically came to watch the competition and where her "boyfriend" from the internet cafe was. Tong Nian, flustered, feigned ignorance.
Han Shangyan, assuming he had scared her, simply said he just wanted to say hello and turned to leave. In a sudden impulse, Tong Nian grabbed his sleeve and, struggling for words, awkwardly reminded him about "winning the prize" at the internet cafe. Han Shangyan's teammates, observing the interaction, immediately concluded that Tong Nian was their "Boss's woman," their "Sister-in-Law."
After the match, Tong Nian overheard staff discussing Shen Zhe's stomach pain and mistakenly thought they were referring to Han Shangyan. She tried to re-enter the venue, but security blocked her, explaining that once a ticket was used, re-entry was not allowed. Other fans of Grunt, touched by her determination, gave her a fan sign that read "Grunt Love." Meanwhile, Han Shangyan had sent Demo to get hot water for Shen Zhe.
Su Cheng reported that Shen Zhe had been vomiting all morning and exhibited signs of gastric bleeding. Han Shangyan instructed her to find a doctor and nurse. Outside, 97 spotted Tong Nian and, convinced she was "Sister-in-Law," ushered her into the K&K resting lounge. Tong Nian approached Shen Zhe, who was resting, and was surprised by his appearance, asking, "Who are you?" Han Shangyan entered and, seeing Tong Nian with the "Grunt Love" sign, misunderstood the situation entirely.
He assumed she was another girl who had been deceived by Shen Zhe and was now trying to protect him by not being truthful. He questioned why his teammates were calling her "Sister-in-Law," to which Tong Nian truthfully replied she didn't know. She tried to explain that she had "accidentally" learned about the competition and was "just seeing the fun," but Han Shangyan, seeing through her shy attempts to cover her true intentions, retorted, "Accidentally? See the fun?"
He sarcastically recounted her journey, ending with, "And then you suddenly heard that a player named Grunt had a stomachache. . . so you came into Team K&K's resting lounge to see this unlucky fella. . . who is someone you don't even know." Realizing her profound misunderstanding about Shen Zhe's identity, Tong Nian hesitantly asked Han Shangyan if he was also a professional player and why his teammates called him "Boss."
He clarified that he didn't count as a player but managed the team's "housing and food," comparing it to an event planner, a role Tong Nian found admirable and challenging. As Han Shangyan was about to elaborate, 97 interrupted, saying the team was hungry. Han Shangyan then instructed 97 to take Tong Nian to the hotel for their celebratory meal.
Afterward, he spoke with Su Cheng, confiding his belief that Shen Zhe had a complicated "love affair" and that the "little girl" (Tong Nian) was protecting him by refusing to tell the truth. He complained that 97 had called her "Sister-in-Law," treating her as his wife, which he found "outrageous." Su Cheng playfully dismissed his concerns as "children's affairs" to be handled privately, but praised Han Shangyan for his underlying care for his team. She advised him to monitor their diet and ensure they rested on weekends, jokingly calling him the "mom-of-the-group."
