Smile to Life Episode 17 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
Zhan Zhilin took Xu Duocheng to his home, a mountain villa he bought many years ago, to relax. Aunt Fen, who had cared for Zhilin since he was four, was also there, looking after the house. Aunt Fen was delighted to see Zhilin bring a young woman home and affectionately welcomed Xu Duocheng, preparing a special meal for them. She told Xu Duocheng to make herself at home, noting that Zhilin rarely brought anyone so special.
During dinner, Zhilin noticed Xu Duocheng's hand was weaker than before and expressed concern, suggesting she should inform her family. Xu Duocheng, however, resisted, explaining that telling them would only cause them more pain as they would spend all their savings and borrow money for her treatment, with the outcome ultimately remaining the same. She believed it was better to spare her loved ones the prolonged sorrow. Meanwhile, Jiang Nan repeatedly tried to call Xu Duocheng without success.
He then contacted Keqin, asking her to urge Xu Duocheng to return home and avoid Zhan Zhilin. Keqin, initially annoyed by the disturbance, agreed after hearing Xu Duocheng had left with Zhilin and was unreachable. Keqin called Xu Duocheng, who confirmed she would not be coming home that night, citing a confused mind and complicated situation.
Though Xu Duocheng wouldn't disclose her exact location, Keqin insisted she send a selfie every hour to confirm her safety, to which Xu Duocheng agreed. Jiang Nan later called Keqin again, requesting the photos to pinpoint Xu Duocheng's whereabouts. At Zhilin's villa, Xu Duocheng saw a portrait of his mother and inquired about her. Zhilin explained it was one of two portraits his mother had commissioned years ago.
He then revealed the painful truth behind his animosity with Jiang Nan: his father had an affair with Jiang Nan's mother, which ultimately led to his own mother's suicide. He bitterly noted that Jiang Nan had known about the affair all along but had kept silent to protect his mother.
Zhilin confessed his genuine feelings for Xu Duocheng, stating that while he initially pursued her out of spite for Jiang Nan, he had come to truly care for her and wanted to ensure her happiness, promising to be there for her if Jiang Nan could not. Xu Duocheng, overwhelmed, offered no response and quietly left the room. The next morning, Zhilin discovered Xu Duocheng was gone.
Aunt Fen informed him she had left early, even forgetting to take her medicine, which immediately sent a worried Zhilin out to search for her. Jiang Nan, having received the selfies from Keqin, recognized the wallpaper in the background as belonging to the guest bedroom in Zhilin's mountain villa, a detail he remembered from helping Zhilin's mother choose it during renovation. He immediately set off to find her.
Jiang Nan eventually caught up to Xu Duocheng on the road and confronted her, questioning why she lied about her feelings and ran away, reminding her of their kiss. Xu Duocheng tearfully insisted she had never liked him and that the kiss meant nothing, urging him to leave her alone. As they argued, Zhilin arrived, accusing Jiang Nan of harassing Xu Duocheng. The two men erupted into a fight, during which Xu Duocheng fainted.
Both Zhilin and Jiang Nan immediately stopped fighting and rushed her to the hospital. At the hospital, Xu Duocheng spoke with a young patient named Doudou. Doudou candidly shared that doctors had told her she only had ten years left to live, but she chose to embrace life and love. Her words deeply resonated with Xu Duocheng, who herself had been struggling with a similar prognosis.
Jiang Nan later spoke with Dr. Sui, who explained that Xu Duocheng had ALS, an irreversible condition that progressively worsens and can only be delayed, not cured, by current medical means. Dr. Sui confirmed that her recent fall was a symptom of the disease, which typically begins with muscle weakness and twitching, and emphasized the importance of preventing further falls. Jiang Nan realized Xu Duocheng's prior evasiveness and her taking medication were all related to her illness.
Recalling a past encounter where he had seen her using a finger exerciser and a medicine bottle, he was deeply saddened. Jiang Nan then angrily confronted Zhilin, accusing him of knowing about Xu Duocheng's illness and keeping it from him. Zhilin retorted that Xu Duocheng had trusted him enough to share her condition, unlike Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan then went to Xu Duocheng's hospital room.
He kissed her, confessing his love and reassuring her that he knew about her illness and still wanted to be with her, asking her to give him a chance and stop running away. Xu Duocheng, heartbroken, admitted she didn't want to burden him. Jiang Nan passionately countered that she shouldn't carry such a heavy burden alone, expressing his deep worry and pain at her attempts to hide her struggles.
He apologized for his own impatience and promised they would face the future together. Xu Duocheng, moved by his unwavering commitment, agreed. Unknown to them, Zhilin witnessed their reconciliation from outside the door and left, his face etched with disappointment. Later, Xu Duocheng asked Jiang Nan how he found her at the mountain villa, since she had unbound their location.
Jiang Nan explained that he recognized the unique wallpaper in her selfie from Zhilin's guest bedroom, which he had helped Zhilin's mother select in the past. Xu Duocheng remarked on the closeness Jiang Nan and Zhilin once shared, noting they both cared deeply for each other. Jiang Nan, however, maintained that Zhilin's understanding of their past was too one-sided, leading to misunderstanding, and reiterated that their unresolved issues could not be fixed.
He urged Xu Duocheng to focus on her health. Zhan Zhilin returned home and looked at his mother's portrait, his heart heavy with sadness, especially after seeing Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng together. Xu Duocheng was discharged from the hospital.
Jiang Nan was preparing a meal for everyone when Bao Rui, who had been trying to get Jiang Nan to feature in the "Cool Singing Producer" show, reminded him of the producer Alex's interest and that they should use his and Xu Duocheng's "loving couple" public image. Jiang Nan firmly refused to exploit their private lives for the show and instructed Bao Rui not to worry Xu Duocheng about this.
Just then, Gu Jiayi arrived at Jiang Nan's door, having heard a rumor that he and Xu Duocheng had broken up and intending to "fill the void." Her intentions were cut short when Xu Duocheng appeared at the door. Surprised, Gu Jiayi quickly retreated, with Xu Duocheng advising her to find someone who reciprocated her feelings. As Jiang Nan cooked a feast for his friends, Keqin arrived, playfully scolding Xu Duocheng for worrying her.
At the dinner table, Keqin shared news from her company: it had been acquired by Liang Zhe, and Qin Shan's role as editor-in-chief was now split with her assistant, Qiqi. From now on, all proposals would require the approval of both editors. Jiang Nan mused that Qin Shan was in for a tough time under Liang Zhe's leadership, despite acknowledging her work efficiency and strong principles. Later, Jiang Nan sent Xu Duocheng various materials about ALS, reaffirming his dedication to caring for her and ensuring she remained vibrant.
