Hello, the Sharpshooter Episode 12 Recap
> Hello, the Sharpshooter Recap
Tang Xin's rap livestream project faces a setback after being rejected by Mr. Zhou. Her brother, Tang Liqi, suspects that a colleague named Ai gave Mr. Zhou pernicious advice, describing Ai as someone who appears gentle and friendly but secretly harbors ulterior motives. Tang Xin recalls that Ai also behaved strangely in Mr. Zhou's presence and had even called her during a livestream the previous night.
Tang Xin, who has been stuttering for several days, decides to skip lunch to revise her plan, opting for instant noodles to save time. Tang Liqi assures her that he and their other brother will keep an eye on Ai. Unable to come up with new ideas, Tang Xin decides to seek inspiration from the shooting team.
Meanwhile, Tang Liqi takes the initiative to speak with Mr. Zhou, presenting him with the impressive viewership numbers from Tang Xin's recent rap livestream. Initially dismissing it as nonsensical, Mr. Zhou is stunned to see the view count has reached 1,060,000, exclaiming that they've never achieved such high numbers and have a hit on their hands. While he still needs time to consider, he tells Tang Liqi to bring him any other fresh ideas in the future.
Separately, Chen Hai is overheard on the phone, reassuring his mother that he will find a way to raise money and that any temporary disruption to his training will not set him back. At the shooting range, Tang Xin asks various team members for advice on how to make her livestream more engaging. Jiang Yitian suggests interactive videos, while others mention enjoying streamers who engage with the live comments.
Shen Qingyuan offers her a bottle of water and suggests that streamers are motivated by expensive virtual gifts, which lead them to give shout-outs and fulfill extra requests from viewers. Tang Xin is momentarily confused by his focus on attracting the streamer rather than the audience, then expresses surprise that someone who barely uses WeChat would know about virtual gifting. Chen Hai approaches Shen Qingyuan, requesting a personal leave for the afternoon's second training session.
Shen Qingyuan refuses, stating that Chen Hai has already taken a leave this week and must complete his weekly training requirements. Chen Hai angrily retorts that Shen Qingyuan usually ignores him but adopts a stern captain's demeanor when he needs help. Tang Xin attempts to mediate, but Chen Hai sharply tells her to mind her own business. Unmoved, Shen Qingyuan remains firm in his refusal, insisting that Chen Hai go to practice, which leaves Chen Hai visibly frustrated and angry.
With renewed inspiration, Tang Xin completes her revised livestream plan and sends it to Mr. Zhou. To her delight, he approves it but with a specific instruction: she must incorporate rap, as he believes it works well. He further directs her to use rap during the upcoming 2v2 match livestream, with Ai taking over when it is Tang Xin's turn to shoot.
Stressing the importance of striking while the iron is hot, Mr. Zhou assures Tang Xin that he will remember her efforts. Tang Xin is overjoyed by the approval, though she remains puzzled by his sudden change of heart. As her livestream is scheduled for the next day, Tang Xin attempts to persuade Shen Qingyuan to help her answer fan questions during the broadcast.
She subtly tries to win his favor, first suggesting they walk home instead of him biking, then guiding him to a supermarket under the pretext of needing rice. Inside, she tries to engage him in choosing various items to learn his preferences. When he repeatedly asks what she is trying to do, she directly asks what he likes. He simply replies that he likes whatever she gives him.
Seeing an opening, Tang Xin offers to make him breakfast the next morning, and Shen Qingyuan agrees. At the training ground, Xiaoci surprises a visibly exhausted Du Lingfeng by presenting him with printed copies of all his recent training targets. Du Lingfeng is thrilled, reminiscing about the sense of ritual that paper targets offered compared to modern electronic ones, and promises to treasure them.
Xiaoci emphasizes that treasuring them is secondary; what's important is for him to remember that she likes to win. She muses that the fun of competition extends beyond merely defeating an opponent and that the process of winning can be enjoyable. Du Lingfeng admits he hadn't considered this perspective and proposes they play games together. Xiaoci agrees but firmly reiterates that winning still matters most, snapping her fingers and prompting Du Lingfeng to call her a "treasure girl."
Back in his room, Du Lingfeng pastes all the paper targets on his wall. As he gazes at them, he is struck by how each target strangely resembles Xiaoci's face, a sight that fills him with a peculiar mix of nervousness and delight. The next morning, Tang Xin prepares breakfast for Shen Qingyuan, consisting of warm milk in a cartoon thermos and two pieces of bread.
Jiang Yitian and Yang Zhou tease Shen Qingyuan about the thermos, joking that this special treatment must be his "remuneration" and calling it "love of worship." Later, at the competition venue, Tang Xin apologizes to Ai for taking over the livestream they had agreed Ai would host.
Ai is gracious, explaining that Mr. Zhou had already informed her of the change and that Tang Xin should host while she is popular, assuring her there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. In the locker room, Jiang Yitian and Yang Zhou, aware of Shen Qingyuan's feelings for Tang Xin, eagerly urge him to confess. They offer to plan an unprecedentedly romantic and surprising confession for him on a nice day.
Shen Qingyuan initially dismisses them, telling them to focus on training for the upcoming provincial competition. However, seeing their disappointment, he relents, agreeing to plan the confession after the competition. Meanwhile, Xiaoci tells Du Lingfeng that despite her usual desire to frustrate him, she wants to win this specific competition because she is a participant. She dismisses his concerns about the future, and after he denies being nervous, she playfully calls him glib but acknowledges it implies he is clever.
They then begin mindfulness training, where she starkly reminds him that if they lose this time, they will have no future together. As Xiaoci leads Du Lingfeng in mindfulness practice, his gaze repeatedly drifts to her. Though Xiaoci scolds him to concentrate, a subtle smile reveals her amusement. Meanwhile, Shen Qingyuan is in the workshop adjusting a gun for Tang Xin, noting that the grip is a little large for her.
Jiang Yitian and Yang Zhou notice the rare, subtle upturn of his lips, interpreting it as a sign of extreme happiness. They call Tang Xin over to see, dubbing her the "catalytic agent" for his mood and joking that having him personally modify her gun is a treatment reserved for Olympic champions. As the competition approaches, the team deals with an unstable Wi-Fi connection for the livestream. Mr. Zhou arrives to oversee the preparations.
Coach Zhang announces the special rules for the 2v2 competition: the two teams will take turns shooting within a time limit, following a three-minute test period. The match begins, and Du Lingfeng scores a nine on his first shot. Tang Xin follows with a four-ring shot, drawing comments that at least she didn't miss the target. Feeling a pang of self-reproach, Tang Xin looks to Shen Qingyuan, who reassures her with a confident smile.
As the second round begins, Ai takes over as the substitute host for the livestream. In a strategic move, Shen Qingyuan shoots first and compresses his shooting time, achieving an impressive 10. 8-ring shot to deliberately create a "breathing spell" for Tang Xin. This allows Tang Xin to settle into a stable rhythm, and her scores suddenly improve. Meanwhile, Du Lingfeng's performance falters as his stability and endurance diminish.
Under increasing pressure and needing a two-ring shot to stay in the match, he nervously misses the target entirely. The match concludes, and the team of Shen Qingyuan and Tang Xin are declared the winners. Shen Qingyuan celebrates their victory with a high-five with Tang Xin. Coach Zhang then brings up the upcoming provincial competition. Xiaoci expresses her belief that she and Shen Qingyuan are the more reliable partners and confirms her diligent preparation.
Overhearing this, Du Lingfeng appears disheartened and walks off to play basketball. Coach Zhang finds him there and notes his unusual mood. Du Lingfeng admits he feels he held Xiaoci back despite her near-perfect performance. The coach observes that Du Lingfeng seems unfamiliar with losing, especially after putting in so much effort. Though acknowledging his inexperience, Du Lingfeng asserts that he refuses to give up. Following the match, a Q&A session begins.
A winning fan asks Shen Qingyuan, "What kind of girl do you like?" Shen Qingyuan describes his ideal type as a girl who doesn't have long hair, has a small but chubby face, and is timid and easily flustered, yet remains positive and optimistic. Listening intently, Tang Xin feels a surge of nervousness, secretly wondering if he is describing her.
