Go Go Squid! Episode 39 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recap
After two weeks, K&K Team's coordination scores were released, and the team anxiously awaited Han Shangyan's announcement of the official lineup for the upcoming competitions. To ensure everyone not only understood but also accepted the decisions, Han Shangyan arranged a series of one-on-one duels against himself for all team members, except for Wu Bai, who was already ranked first. The team members were nervous, asking Han Shangyan to reveal the results quickly.
However, the team suggested keeping the rankings a secret to make the duels more exciting. Han Shangyan agreed. When the players questioned how the rankings would be decided if they all lost to him, Manager Little Mi proposed using a "reverse analysis" to determine their final ranks. Han Shangyan then told everyone except Wu Bai to consider themselves in last place and fight him in one-on-one duels.
Shen Zhe was the first to face Han Shangyan, followed by 97, then Buff. One was quickly defeated, and Demo, despite putting up a good fight, also lost. Ultimately, One was confirmed as the last-place player. Han Shangyan explained to his team that professional leagues are both appealing and cruel, with winners enjoying the glory and losers stepping aside. He emphasized that his team members must be resilient.
Han Shangyan told One not to be disheartened because Buff, an older player, would likely retire in two years, giving One an opportunity to improve. Han Shangyan challenged One to work hard and reclaim a main position within a year, warning him of consequences if he were to lose to newer players. Tong Nian observed that Han Shangyan's words were like "brainwashing," instantly lifting the spirits of the team.
Han Shangyan later explained to Tong Nian that for professional players, a proper live match to determine rankings was more effective than any leaderboard. Soon after, Tong Nian arrived at the K&K Esports Club with a new, expensive coffee machine. When Han Shangyan questioned why she bought it, given the club already had one, Tong Nian insisted her machine was the best and wanted to provide the best for him.
She skillfully prepared latte art coffee for the team, earning unanimous praise. Even the club's aunt urged Han Shangyan to marry Tong Nian quickly, fearing he might miss out. Tong Nian playfully made personalized coffees for the team members first, delaying Han Shangyan's. When she finally offered him a cup, she made a pig design. Han Shangyan jokingly addressed the pig as "Tong Nian" and then elegantly drank it, causing Tong Nian to feel both annoyed and amused.
The team members, witnessing their interaction, commented that Tong Nian's act was a "fancy declaration" of her love. The Asia-Pacific quarter-final competition was set to begin, and the K&K team watched the live draw with anticipation. Their excitement quickly turned to disappointment when the draw revealed that SP Team and K&K Team would face each other in the semi-finals, meaning only one Chinese team could advance to the finals.
The commentators expressed regret that this "clash of titans" would happen so early, preventing a potential all-Chinese final. The K&K members lamented this unlucky draw, but Han Shangyan urged them to focus on training. When asked about his thoughts, Han Shangyan simply stated, "Must win." He reflected privately that he had hoped for an all-Chinese final, but now they would face SP sooner than expected.
Meanwhile, Wang Hao took his daughter, Little Ai, to the airport for her trip to Norway, where she would stay with her mother, Su Cheng. Little Ai expressed her frustration that Wang Hao, despite being busy with the upcoming semi-finals, still took time to see her off. She urged him to prioritize himself, while Wang Hao spoke of his dreams for her future happiness, including finding love and walking down the aisle.
He recalled a past conversation where he convinced a younger Little Ai to visit her mother, telling her that "time is merciless" and her mother needed her more. Little Ai, in turn, made Wang Hao promise to beat K&K and win the championship, declaring him the "world's best dad" and capable of winning anything. Back at the SP club, Wang Hao and Ai Qing expressed their regret about the draw.
Wang Hao's assistant then informed him of immense pressure from the headquarters: SP must defeat K&K to advance, or Wang Hao would be replaced as team leader, placing him in a difficult position between his team's aspirations and his friendship with Han Shangyan. On the day of the Asia-Pacific semi-finals, Tong Nian and Yaya arrived early to cheer for K&K. They excitedly chanted slogans and even wrote "K&K" on their faces with lipstick.
In the restroom, they encountered SP fans and engaged in a playful shouting match of team slogans. Han Shangyan and Little Mi were amused by their enthusiastic support. Before the match, Han Shangyan led a team cheer, acknowledging that while he once considered their celebrations childish, he hoped it would motivate them today. The highly anticipated semi-final between K&K and SP commenced. The commentators highlighted K&K's enhanced combat power with the addition of Buff.
The match was intense, with both teams fiercely battling for control. After two rounds, the score was tied at 1:1. In the decisive third round, Wu Bai demonstrated exceptional skill, circumventing SP's defenses and ultimately securing the victory for K&K. The K&K fans, including Tong Nian and Yaya, erupted in cheers. SP's players graciously congratulated K&K, with Wang Hao expressing that they were "willingly admitting defeat" and wishing K&K success in the finals.
He also rallied his team, reminding them that they still had a chance to secure third place, which would qualify them for the World Finals. After the match, Han Shangyan and the K&K team encountered Shu, the leader of Australia's VIPO team, their opponent for the next match. Han Shangyan, confident as ever, mentioned his long history of competing against Shu for over a decade without a single loss, encouraging his team to maintain their strong performance.
Later, Tong Nian and Yaya were still consumed with worry, not for K&K, who had already secured a ticket to the World Finals by being in the top three, but for SP. They checked horoscopes and considered tarot cards, concerned about SP's "on the line" match for third place. Tong Nian expressed her anxiety, knowing that if SP failed to qualify for the World Finals, Han Shangyan and Mi Shaofei would be deeply saddened.
