Smile to Life Episode 16 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
Bao Rui found Jiang Nan distressed over Xu Duocheng's departure and came to offer support. Jiang Nan was confused, feeling Xu Duocheng genuinely liked him despite her rejections, especially after her dedicated care for his mother. Yet, she abruptly moved out. Bao Rui suggested Xu Duocheng was "running away from her feelings" and advised Jiang Nan to seek help from Xu Daqiang, Xu Duocheng's father, at his restaurant, He Jia Huan.
Jiang Nan went to He Jia Huan and confessed to Xu Daqiang that he deeply cherished Xu Duocheng and her family, as they brought warmth back into his solitary life. He admitted to making a mistake and asked Xu Daqiang to help arrange a meeting so he could cook Xu Duocheng's favorite dishes as an apology. Xu Daqiang, noticing a bouquet of roses Jiang Nan brought, initially wondered if it was a proposal.
Jiang Nan clarified it was purely an apology and requested Xu Daqiang to put in a good word for him. Jiang Nan then set out to buy fresh perch, as it was Xu Duocheng's favorite ingredient for Tinfoil perch, despite being told by Lin, Xu Daqiang's assistant, that the restaurant was out of stock until the afternoon. Shortly after Jiang Nan left, Xu Duocheng arrived at He Jia Huan.
Lin, mistakenly believing Jiang Nan's bouquet was for a proposal, blurted out to Xu Duocheng that Jiang Nan intended to propose. Overhearing this, Xu Duocheng, visibly upset, immediately left the restaurant. Later, Xu Duocheng messaged Jiang Nan, asking to meet at the amusement park at 8 PM to talk. Meanwhile, Yu Keqin was conducting an interview with an entrepreneur named Mr. Wang at a restaurant. Zhu Linfeng, working as her bodyguard, was seated nearby.
Mr. Wang made inappropriate advances, touching Yu Keqin's hand and offering her an expensive gift while expressing a desire to "get to know her better." Zhu Linfeng intervened, grabbing Mr. Wang's hand and confronting him, leading to a physical altercation where Zhu Linfeng punched Mr. Wang, and Yu Keqin also landed a kick. At the hospital, Yu Keqin reprimanded Zhu Linfeng for always causing trouble, despite acknowledging his kick was "handsome." She worried about her sister's reaction.
Qin Shan, Yu Keqin's sister, arrived and was furious. She scolded Yu Keqin for beating an interviewee, which could generate negative headlines. Zhu Linfeng tried to take the blame, but Qin Shan docked Yu Keqin's salary by half to cover Mr. Wang's medical expenses and forbade them from appearing before her again. Inside Mr. Wang's room, he demanded significant compensation.
However, Qin Shan skillfully threatened to release surveillance footage of his sexual harassment during the interview, along with a damning news headline. Faced with exposure, Mr. Wang quickly backed down. Later that evening, Jiang Nan met Xu Duocheng at the amusement park. Xu Duocheng urged him to stop pursuing her, saying their relationship had been a mistake and a "forced act," and it should end quietly.
She apologized if her past concern had caused any misunderstandings, clearly stating they couldn't be together. When Jiang Nan pressed her for her true reasons, offering to face any problems together, Xu Duocheng insisted, "I have someone I like." Jiang Nan refused to believe her, thinking she was lying. Just then, Zhan Zhilin appeared, and to prove Xu Duocheng's words, he dramatically kissed her, leaving Jiang Nan shocked and heartbroken. Zhan Zhilin drove a distraught Xu Duocheng home.
Xu Duocheng was distraught, crying on the floor upon arriving home. She questioned why he chose to kiss her to help her resolve the situation with Jiang Nan. Zhan Zhilin asked if she would regret cutting ties with Jiang Nan. Xu Duocheng affirmed there would be "no future" between them, and she declined his offer to drive her to the hospital the next morning.
Jiang Nan, devastated by the encounter, returned home and spent the night drinking alone, unable to sleep. The next morning, Bao Rui found Jiang Nan disheveled and urged him to throw himself into work to heal his heartbreak, mentioning a meeting with an influential producer named Alex for a promising project. Jiang Nan reluctantly agreed but insisted on visiting Doudou at the hospital first, as he had promised. At the hospital, Jiang Nan gave Doudou a book.
Doudou mentioned his dog, Pudding, had eaten all the dog food Jiang Nan had brought and expressed his wish for Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng to visit him together, as they had promised. Jiang Nan promised they would next time. While helping Doudou take his medicine, Jiang Nan noticed the name of the medication, recognizing it as the same one Xu Duocheng takes.
Unbeknownst to Jiang Nan, Zhan Zhilin had earlier accompanied Xu Duocheng to the hospital pharmacy to pick up her medication. Zhan Zhilin had offered to drive her back to Yu Keqin's house and even act as a decoy if Jiang Nan was waiting downstairs, but Xu Duocheng insisted on going alone. Later, at the meeting with Alex, Bao Rui pitched Jiang Nan as a talented musician.
Alex, however, suggested that to meet market expectations and "go viral," Jiang Nan needed to incorporate his personal life and relationship with Xu Duocheng into his public persona during the show. Jiang Nan firmly refused, stating his private life was not a variety show and he only wished to focus on his music. Jiang Nan then walked out of the meeting. Bao Rui apologized to Alex, promising to persuade Jiang Nan, describing him as stubborn about his music.
Bao Rui chased after Jiang Nan, urging him to prioritize his career as a way to overcome his romantic disappointment, but Jiang Nan stated he was not in the mood for such discussions. Concurrently, Mr. Liang, dissatisfied with Gu Jiayi's disobedience, attempted to provoke her by openly favoring and showering attention on a newcomer, Xiao Fu, even giving her flowers on set. Gu Jiayi confronted Xiao Fu, reminding her that raw talent, not connections, matters on screen.
During filming, Gu Jiayi delivered a stellar performance, earning praise from the director. Later, Mr. Liang tried to flatter Gu Jiayi, implying her performance was fueled by their relationship. Gu Jiayi brushed him off, calling it professionalism, and told him she didn't care who he promoted. Mr. Liang hinted that if she cooperated, she would remain his "best actress."
Gu Jiayi defiantly stated that he wouldn't even be nominated as her "best male lead," and her true male lead, Jiang Nan, would soon return to her. She also dismissed Xu Duocheng as no competition for her. Liang Zhe, who harbored resentment towards Jiang Nan over Gu Jiayi's affections, later informed Mr. Liang about Jiang Nan's failed collaboration with Alex. Liang Zhe also reported that "Truth Media" was facing financial difficulties and considering a share transfer.
Mr. Liang decided to acquire Truth Media, believing its influence would be useful, and instructed Liang Zhe to arrange a meeting with Alex to discuss investment opportunities. Jiang Nan was sifting through his belongings, visibly distressed, when his aunt called. She informed him that she found an earring while cleaning his house and asked if it belonged to Xu Duocheng.
Jiang Nan's mind flashed back to a moment of intimacy with Xu Duocheng where she implicitly confessed her feelings, asking him to "stay by my side all the time." The discovery of the earring, coupled with this memory, solidified his conviction that Xu Duocheng indeed loved him. Overjoyed, he immediately called his aunt back to arrange for someone to pick up the earring, confirming it belonged to Xu Duocheng, and determined to find her.
As Zhan Zhilin was driving Xu Duocheng, they suddenly saw Jiang Nan. Zhan Zhilin quickly reversed and sped away, with Xu Duocheng urging him to drive "anywhere" to avoid Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan, recognizing Zhan Zhilin's car, pursued them through the streets. Zhan Zhilin managed to evade Jiang Nan at a traffic light, leaving Jiang Nan feeling helpless as they disappeared. Zhan Zhilin reassured Xu Duocheng to rest if she was tired, as they still had a long journey, and gently asked her to stop apologizing and thanking him.
