Smile to Life Episode 18 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
Jiang Nan diligently crafted a daily schedule for Xu Duocheng’s recovery, promising to exercise with her every morning, give her nightly massages, and accompany her to every future medical re-examination. Xu Duocheng found this unwavering commitment almost surreal, but Jiang Nan reassured her that he would always be by her side. He then presented her with a fragrant wild fungus chicken soup, explaining its medicinal value.
He encouraged her to practice her health-related social media content by describing the benefits of Morchella and Agrocybe aegerita, to which she enthusiastically obliged. Xu Duocheng occasionally felt the intensity of Jiang Nan’s care was overwhelming, but he continuously affirmed his presence. Despite Jiang Nan's concern that she might be overworking, Xu Duocheng insisted on continuing to teach at Zhan Zhilin’s piano class, unwilling to disappoint her students who specifically requested her as their instructor.
Jiang Nan then surprised her with an invitation to his music production studio. Xu Duocheng was awestruck, as it was her first time in a recording studio. Jiang Nan meticulously walked her through the entire music production process, from composition and demo creation to lyrics, arrangement, recording vocals and instruments, and finally the technical steps of retouching, mixing, and mastering. He then suggested they record "Coke Chicken Wings" together.
Though hesitant, Xu Duocheng was persuaded by Jiang Nan's reminder of her dream to leave a mark on the world. He promised that her voice would be integrated into all his future songs, symbolizing her preciousness to him. Inside the recording booth, Jiang Nan calmed her nerves, guiding her through deep breaths and encouraging her to imagine their song echoing in various public spaces, emphasizing the joy and fulfillment of their collaborative creation.
With renewed confidence, they began recording the song. At Truth company, Qin Shan announced that due to a change in company ownership, Liang Zhe was now the new proprietor, and Qiqi would join her as co-editor-in-chief, instituting a dual leadership structure. The staff were surprised by Qiqi's swift ascent. Qiqi had been openly obstructive, rejecting all of Qin Shan's team's proposals.
Zhu Linfeng, upon hearing of Qiqi's increasingly troublesome behavior towards Qin Shan, contacted his friend Bao Rui, who happened to live in the apartment above Qin Shan, enlisting his help in managing Qiqi. To address Qin Shan's stress and subtly introduce her to Bao Rui, Zhu Linfeng organized a badminton game. He playfully encouraged a match between them, remarking on their compatibility.
However, Bao Rui, visibly exhausted after playing against Qin Shan, humorously complained that Qin Shan was too "fierce" for him to handle, jokingly stating he wouldn’t survive a romantic relationship with her. Keqin, concerned about Jiang Nan's application to "Cool Singing Producer," secretly informed Xu Duocheng that Alex, the show's director, would be at Truth for an exclusive interview. Xu Duocheng immediately seized the opportunity, introducing herself to Alex as Jiang Nan's assistant and girlfriend.
She fervently appealed to him, presenting a comprehensive dossier of Jiang Nan's creative journey and his unique musical philosophy, hoping it would sway his decision. Despite Alex's initial dismissal and attempts to leave, Xu Duocheng’s relentless pursuit and passionate advocacy eventually compelled him to take the materials. The next morning, Xu Duocheng approached Alex again, sharing how Jiang Nan's music had profoundly impacted her life, giving her strength in the face of her fear of death.
She then played their co-recorded version of "Coke Chicken Wings," explaining Jiang Nan's belief that this rendition would bring more happiness to his fans, and reiterated her unwavering support for his musical endeavors. Alex kept the demo. Later, Liang Zhe met Alex, proposing a substantial investment in "Cool Singing Producer" in exchange for excluding Jiang Nan from the program. While Alex welcomed the investment, he firmly asserted his independence in creative and selection decisions.
Subsequently, Alex signed a contract with Jiang Nan, but specifically told him to express his gratitude to Xu Duocheng, admitting that her persistent efforts and their "Coke Chicken Wings" duet had been instrumental in changing his mind. Jiang Nan explained that the song was a cherished personal tribute, not meant for public release, and that Xu Duocheng herself was more valuable than any music.
He established that his participation in the show was contingent on her remaining undisturbed and protected, a condition Alex readily accepted. Later, Gu Jiayi, worried that Jiang Nan's potential resurgence in popularity would eliminate her chances with him, consulted with Zhan Zhilin. She expressed her apprehension about Jiang Nan joining "Cool Singing Producer," foreseeing that his renewed fame would lead to her complete loss of hope.
Meanwhile, at home, Jiang Nan struggled with a new composition, feeling creatively stagnant and disconnected from his original musical passion. Observing his frustration, Xu Duocheng played a melody from her student’s homework. Jiang Nan immediately recognized its raw, unpolished charm, realizing it embodied the "pure feeling" he had been searching for, confirming that their encounter was destined. Xu Duocheng then played a half-finished tune on the piano, which surprised Jiang Nan.
He confessed it was an original, yet "failed," composition from a time when he was deeply out of form, unable to complete a single piece. He recalled that Mr. Dong had once expressed doubts about any producer accepting such an unfinished work, highlighting his long period of creative stagnation. Inspired anew by Xu Duocheng's presence and the raw melody, Jiang Nan resolved to revisit his "failed" composition. Xu Duocheng then suggested they rewrite the song together, affirming her belief that he had rediscovered his musical inspiration.
