Go Go Squid! Episode 5 Recap
> Go Go Squid! Recap
Tong Nian felt dispirited after Lan Mei's husband speculated that Han Shangyan had established K&K with the intention of winning back Appledog, a woman he once deeply cherished. During a phone call with Lan Mei, Tong Nian recounted the previous night's misunderstanding with Han Shangyan and a dinner at his hotel, but chose to omit the detail of her rejected confession.
Excited that Tong Nian had met her husband's idol, Han Shangyan, Lan Mei's husband arranged for Lan Mei to accompany Tong Nian to Han Shangyan's upcoming match, as he was unavailable. Secretly thrilled, Tong Nian carefully selected an outfit, hoping to appear more appealing. Meanwhile, after concluding a phone call with his grandfather, Han Shangyan learned from Wu Bai that his grandfather's visit to China had deeper motives than just seeing relatives.
Wu Bai also disclosed that he had already heard of Tong Nian, who was a popular online singer. When Han Shangyan questioned why Wu Bai hadn't clarified the team's misunderstanding about Tong Nian being his girlfriend, Wu Bai explained that since Han Shangyan himself had not bothered to address it, and the situation bore no relation to Appledog, he saw no reason to intervene. Han Shangyan, sensing impending trouble, anticipated his grandfather's return would bring him misfortune.
The next day, at the Guangzhou Sports Stadium, Tong Nian and Lan Mei found themselves unable to enter as all tickets were sold out. As they searched for a way in, Team K&K arrived, with Han Shangyan instructing Wu Bai to lead Team One in to familiarize themselves with the venue. Shortly after, Team SP also arrived. Tong Nian was inadvertently pushed by the crowd but was helped up by Wang Hao.
Appledog, who was with Wang Hao, recognized Tong Nian from the previous day. Wang Hao and Appledog instructed their fans to line up in an orderly fashion for autographs after the match. Tong Nian, feeling self-conscious, remarked on Appledog's sophisticated and commanding presence, regretting her comparatively childish outfit. As K&K's team members entered, Grunt and Demo spotted Tong Nian and enthusiastically greeted her as "Sister-in-Law." Han Shangyan, however, walked past without acknowledging her, even when she called his name.
Inside, Han Shangyan noticed Wang Hao and Ou Qiang but pointedly ignored them, leaving without a word, which irritated Ou Qiang. Grunt and Demo, observing Tong Nian's predicament outside, conspired to persuade Han Shangyan to let her and Lan Mei into the VIP area, arguing it would be impolite otherwise. Han Shangyan, feigning annoyance, gestured for Demo to proceed, authorizing their entry. Demo rushed outside with staff passes, addressing Tong Nian as "Sister-in-Law" and stating that "Boss" wanted her inside.
Lan Mei, perplexed by the "Sister-in-Law" title, questioned Tong Nian about her marital status. Tong Nian quickly clarified that Demo was mistaken. She then asked if Lan Mei could also enter, to which Demo readily agreed, emphasizing that "Sister-in-Law's friend" was certainly welcome. Inside, Lan Mei's excitement grew as she realized Han Shangyan was her husband's idol.
Tong Nian confided in Lan Mei that she was pursuing Han Shangyan but had been rejected, asking her not to speak carelessly around him due to his temper. Lan Mei promised discretion, mistakenly believing she was witnessing a budding romance. Meanwhile, K&K's teammates gossiped, marveling at their "Boss'" supposed swift conquest of Tong Nian after only two meetings, before their manager, Su Cheng, intervened and directed them to prepare for the match.
Tong Nian approached Han Shangyan, asking why he had called her. He coolly stated that his team members liked her and wished for her to enjoy the match for free, then gestured for her to sit beside him. Lan Mei encouraged her to take the seat. As Han Shangyan played a game on his handheld console, Tong Nian discreetly observed him, captivated by his features.
Tong Nian pondered whether to clarify the team's misunderstanding that she was Han Shangyan's girlfriend, concerned it might complicate things for him despite her feelings. Sensing her thoughts, Han Shangyan understood she wanted to explain. He gave her one minute to explain to the team, cautioning her not to disrupt their pre-match focus.
Tong Nian, however, felt one minute was insufficient, recalling her past failed attempts to explain, and suggested doing it after the match instead, to which Han Shangyan agreed. Before the match, Tong Nian exchanged greetings with Appledog. Han Shangyan, curious, inquired how they knew each other, revealing Appledog's identity as a former CTF champion and current SP team manager, previously a main offensive player for Team Solo.
Tong Nian was stunned, realizing this was the "goddess" her friend's husband claimed Han Shangyan wanted to win back. Assuming she was an obstacle, Tong Nian offered to leave. Han Shangyan, annoyed by her misinterpretation, curtly stated he was single and had no interest in women, then, seeing her wide-eyed confusion, added that he also had no interest in men.
The Doppler Summit Finals began with commentators introducing the K&K and SP teams, highlighting the return of veterans Little Mi and Ou Qiang. They reminisced about the legendary Team Solo, featuring Han Shangyan (Gun God), Wang Hao (Solo), and Appledog (Ai Qing). The first round saw K&K's aggressive strategy countered by SP's seasoned veterans, with Little Mi and Ou Qiang effectively reversing the situation to secure a win for SP.
K&K quickly adjusted, and Wu Bai, displaying exceptional skill, identified a vulnerability in SP's defense, allowing K&K to capture the flag and win the second round. During a brief interval, Lan Mei pulled Tong Nian aside for a restroom break, seizing the opportunity to interrogate her about Han Shangyan.
She chastised Tong Nian for prematurely confessing her feelings, calling it a taboo in "backward pursuit," and advised her to instead "infiltrate" Han Shangyan's life by subtly showcasing her charm to make him wonder about her feelings. Lan Mei adamantly asserted that Han Shangyan must harbor feelings for Tong Nian, pointing out his failure to clarify the misunderstanding as proof of his interest. Tong Nian, however, maintained his disinterest.
Upon their return, the match concluded with SP securing the final victory. Little Mi and Ou Qiang celebrated their win. Wang Hao approached Han Shangyan, suggesting they catch up, but Han Shangyan walked away without a word. Tong Nian followed him, attempting to console him, assuring him that losing once was not a big deal and they could win next time. Han Shangyan then asked if she still wanted to explain the misunderstanding to the team.
Lan Mei, overhearing, subtly urged Tong Nian not to. Tong Nian hesitated, struggling to articulate an explanation. Han Shangyan, observing her difficulty, told her not to bother, stating it wouldn't matter since they wouldn't meet again. He then explained his singular focus on K&K, emphasizing that his priority was to help his team achieve a world championship, thus proving to their parents that their dedication was worthwhile. He declared he had no time or energy for personal relationships.
He reiterated that she should leave and that they would likely not meet again. Tong Nian's heart ached, and though tears welled up, she bravely held them back, leaving without a backward glance. Back home, Tong Nian was consumed by sadness over her first love ending before it truly began. She navigated through her phone, moving all photos related to Han Shangyan to the recycle bin, yet found herself unable to permanently delete them.
At the K&K Esports Club, the team members gossiped about why Han Shangyan always seemed displeased when he encountered Wang Hao. Ling Shan recounted the history of Team Solo, founded by Han Shangyan, Wang Hao, and Appledog. Wang Hao and Appledog were a couple, but the team disbanded when Wang Hao's ex-girlfriend reappeared, causing Appledog to break up with him and retire, and Wang Hao to retire out of guilt.
This led to the collapse of Team Solo just as they were on the cusp of a world championship. The team was then shocked to learn that Wang Hao's ex-girlfriend was K&K's current manager, who walked in and scolded them for gossiping. She reminded them about the expensive English classes Han Shangyan had arranged to prepare them for international competitions, urging them to study diligently.
Elsewhere, Tong Nian's mother attempted to subtly arrange a dinner date for Tong Nian with her senior, Zheng Hui. Tong Nian, however, was preoccupied with her upcoming lecture. She later delivered an impromptu, captivating lecture on Artificial Intelligence to new students at her university, which Zheng Hui had helped organize and promote. During this time, Han Shangyan returned home with his grandfather, arranging for Demo to entertain the elder. His grandfather then arranged a matchmaking meeting for Han Shangyan with a woman named Hu Yuejiao.
