Smile to Life Episode 12 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
The next morning, Xu Duocheng woke up to find herself in bed with Jiang Nan, even lying on top of him. Jiang Nan told her she had sleepwalked and climbed onto the bed during the night, which made Xu Duocheng embarrassed. Later, a hotel staff member called, worried that Jiang Nan hadn't returned and mentioning that Bao Rui had been unreachable. Xu Duocheng explained they had gone to Huxin Island.
Jiang Nan brushed off the concern, saying there was nothing to worry about for an adult like him. Jiang Nan then gave Xu Duocheng a new phone, explaining she had lost hers. Xu Duocheng initially refused, stating she had a spare phone at home and that the new one looked expensive. Jiang Nan insisted it was an "employee welfare" that everyone in the company received, and later, as a thank-you gift for the MV.
He then instructed her to bind their location once she got home so he wouldn't lose her again. After dropping Xu Duocheng back at Family Fun, Jiang Nan instructed his driver to take him to the nursing home. Unbeknownst to them, Zhan Zhilin was sitting in his car nearby, looking saddened by their closeness. At home, Xu Duocheng distributed local specialty snacks from Jiang Nan to her parents and Uncle Liu.
However, Dalin, the chef, who secretly admired Xu Duocheng, was visibly uncomfortable seeing her with Jiang Nan. He refused the sweets, claiming he didn't eat sweet food, and questioned Jiang Nan's intentions, saying that flowery gestures were useless and that they needed to observe Jiang Nan to see if he was truly good to Xu Duocheng. Later, while Xu Duocheng practiced piano at the music store, she found her fingers were becoming increasingly uncooperative, causing her distress.
A student arrived, and Xu Duocheng patiently began her lesson. Back at the office, Jiang Nan showed the finished MV to Bao Rui, who was so moved he exclaimed he wanted to fall in love. Jiang Nan told Bao Rui to send the MV to Chen Dong as a thank-you gift, adding that his own chance at love would have to wait. Meanwhile, Zhu Linfeng continued his relentless pursuit of Keqin.
He waited for her after work, insisting on driving her home. Keqin, though annoyed, reluctantly agreed. She found his presence irritating, which made Zhu Linfeng feel uncertain. His attempt to help her fasten her seatbelt was met with a sarcastic "I'm not paralyzed." Shortly after, he accidentally crashed the car into a tree. Keqin was furious, accusing him of having a vendetta against her and demanding he leave her alone and "get lost."
Just then, Xu Duocheng arrived, and Keqin quickly took her upstairs to cook dinner together. Desperate, Zhu Linfeng called Jiang Nan, complaining that Jiang Nan's "girl" (Xu Duocheng) had abducted his "girl" (Keqin), leaving him without dinner. Zhu Linfeng then went to Jiang Nan’s place for help. Bao Rui was also there. Jiang Nan told Zhu Linfeng to ask Bao Rui for advice. Zhu Linfeng knelt before Bao Rui, begging for suggestions.
Bao Rui, observing Zhu Linfeng's desperation, advised him to "fight with his back to the wall" and to "ignore Keqin for a while, not contacting her," explaining that by doing so, she would realize she lost "more than just a man, but an entire spiritual pillar." He admitted he got these insights from watching idol dramas.
Keqin, while having dinner with Xu Duocheng, eagerly asked about what happened in Jingcheng, especially regarding the MV and whether there was a "kissing scene." Xu Duocheng clarified that she and Jiang Nan were just acting in a "play within a play" and it shouldn't be taken seriously. When Keqin asked if she felt anything different when Jiang Nan kissed her, Xu Duocheng replied honestly, "I can't tell.
I've never kissed anyone before," leading Keqin to playfully lament being surrounded by "pure girls." Later, Bao Rui, Jiang Nan, and Zhu Linfeng had dinner. Zhu Linfeng complained about the food, saying it wasn't as good as Xu Duocheng's. Bao Rui teased Jiang Nan, asking when he would confess to Xu Duocheng, then corrected himself, asking when he would propose.
He suggested Jiang Nan was "rejuvenated" and recounted the rumors of Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng's "hotel stay," "sweet filming," "outing together," and "staying out all night" on Huxin Island. Jiang Nan dismissed it, but Bao Rui pressed him, pointing out how angry Jiang Nan was to see Xu Duocheng with Zhan Zhilin earlier. Jiang Nan denied being jealous, claiming he was just worried Xu Duocheng, with no dating experience, couldn't handle Zhan Zhilin's tricks.
Bao Rui retorted that it had nothing to do with them since they weren't a real couple, then told Jiang Nan to stop pretending and "go all out and take the initiative" before Zhan Zhilin stole Xu Duocheng. The next day, Zhu Linfeng, emboldened by Bao Rui's advice, confronted Keqin at work again. He told her he was there to make a "clean break," acknowledging his foolishness and that he wasn't good enough for her.
He expressed his desire to be better and wished her to find someone who loved her as much as he did. Meanwhile, at the music store, Zhan Zhilin visited Xu Duocheng. He admired her piano playing but then noticed her Lin Yaoyin CD, which he loved, and tried to take it. As they playfully struggled over the CD, Jiang Nan arrived to pick Xu Duocheng up. Seeing the interaction, he became furious and stormed off.
Later, Bao Rui mocked Jiang Nan, saying he must truly like Xu Duocheng to react that way. Though Jiang Nan denied it, Bao Rui urged him to stop pretending, or Zhan Zhilin would steal Xu Duocheng, and he would regret it. Convinced, Jiang Nan confronted Zhan Zhilin, warning him not to hurt Xu Duocheng. However, Zhan Zhilin retorted that since Jiang Nan's mother had once pursued his own father, it was only natural for him to pursue Xu Duocheng.
Enraged, Jiang Nan began to fight with Zhan Zhilin. Just then, Mr. Zhan (Zhan Zhilin's father) arrived and separated them. Zhan Zhilin, further angered by his father's intervention, turned and left. Jiang Nan, still fuming, decided not to go home and instead stayed at Bao Rui’s apartment. He instructed Bao Rui to call Xu Duocheng and tell her he was on a week-long business trip.
Xu Duocheng found Jiang Nan's sudden departure strange and tried calling him, but he ignored her calls. Restless and unable to sleep, Jiang Nan remembered Bao Rui's warning that he would regret it if Zhan Zhilin took Xu Duocheng. He then sent Xu Duocheng a message, saying he was coming home for dinner and wanted her to cook his favorite cola chicken wings. Later, Jiang Nan picked Xu Duocheng up at the supermarket near her home.
Xu Duocheng was concerned about an injury on his lip, but Jiang Nan playfully lied, claiming a "cockroach" had hit him. Back home, as they prepared dinner, Xu Duocheng tried to do most of the cooking, but Jiang Nan insisted on helping, leading to some playful banter where he teasingly suggested she might "do something" to the food. Xu Duocheng then innocently remarked that Jiang Nan was the most difficult to please in "our family."
Jiang Nan was delighted by her use of "our family," seeing it as a sign that she considered his home her own. Just as they were enjoying dinner, Xu Duocheng's father unexpectedly arrived at their door.
