Smile to Life Episode 2 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
After Qin Shan started her workday, she was surprised by the return of Zhu Linfeng, her brother. Her sister was happy to see him, but Keqin quickly approached Qin Shan, informing her that Jiang Nan, the celebrity they had been tracking, had appeared. All the photographers were busy, and they needed someone to go with her for an interview.
At that moment, Zhu Linfeng, noticing Keqin's sweet appearance, suggested that since he was also a photography student, he could accompany her. When Keqin and Zhu Linfeng arrived at the restaurant, they were surprised to find Xu Duocheng and Jiang Nan together. Zhu Linfeng, recognizing Jiang Nan, became worried that Keqin might accidentally expose Jiang Nan's secrets.
He feigned equipment malfunction and quickly exited, then covertly sent a message to Xu Duocheng, urging them to leave immediately as they had been discovered. Jiang Nan returned Xu Duocheng's notebook, and he was delighted to learn that she was his loyal fan. Just then, Xu Duocheng received Keqin's message, which she relayed to Jiang Nan, prompting both of them to quickly leave the restaurant.
Back at the office, Keqin was reprimanded by Qin Shan for failing to get good photos and was told to cease her pursuit of interviews with Jiang Nan, which left Keqin feeling helpless as she walked away. Immediately after Keqin left, Zhu Linfeng approached her, revealing that he was "Fatty Zhu" from their childhood. He showed her old photos of them together, and Keqin finally recognized him.
Zhu Linfeng told Keqin that if Qin Shan ever scolded her again, she should mention his name, but Keqin felt that Qin Shan wasn't wrong and that she herself had simply not performed well. Meanwhile, at a party, Liang Zhe mocked Gu Jiayi, suggesting she was constantly pursuing Jiang Nan without success. Gu Jiayi sharply retorted that her affairs were her own and that they had already broken up.
She then remarked that Liang Zhe and his model girlfriend always seemed perfectly matched. Although Gu Jiayi’s words annoyed Liang Zhe, he was confident she couldn't escape his grasp, threatening to "break her wings" if she tried. Later, Gu Jiayi met Zhan Zhilin for drinks, where he advised her not to provoke Liang Zhe, warning that doing so could lead to her downfall. Upon returning, Xu Duocheng was questioned by Keqin about her relationship with Jiang Nan.
Keqin admitted that seeing Xu Duocheng with Jiang Nan in the restaurant had thrown her into a panic, forcing her to instruct the photographer to take only general shots of the restaurant's background to submit as proof. This resulted in a severe scolding from Qin Shan. Xu Duocheng clarified that she and Jiang Nan had merely run into each other to exchange something and that they had no further connection.
As they continued drinking, Xu Duocheng expressed her belief that a star like Jiang Nan and an ordinary person like herself could never have a romantic story. She explained to Keqin that she had found a half-finished music score, which she had picked up months ago and kept in her old notebook. She wished she could meet its owner to encourage them not to give up on their dream, as not everyone gets the chance to pursue one.
Just then, Jiang Nan called Xu Duocheng. Hearing she was drunk, he drove over. Before leaving with Jiang Nan, a tipsy Xu Duocheng insisted Keqin take a photo of her with her idol. After Jiang Nan took Xu Duocheng away, Keqin herself eventually passed out at the table. Jiang Nan asked Xu Duocheng for her address to drive her home, but shortly after getting into the car, she vomited.
Jiang Nan, resigned, drove on, pinching his nose due to the overwhelming smell. Later that night, Xu Duocheng's parents grew worried when she hadn't returned home. Her father called her, but her phone was off, intensifying their concern about her safety. The next morning, Xu Duocheng woke up in a hotel room, surprisingly wearing a bathrobe. Feeling awkward, she found Jiang Nan outside.
He calmly explained that she had been very drunk and vomited the night before, so he brought her to the hotel and had the staff help her change and wash her clothes. While preparing breakfast for Xu Duocheng, Jiang Nan discovered news on his phone: the photo Keqin had taken of them the previous night had been published online, leading to a scandal. Xu Duocheng was utterly shocked. Keqin also saw the news the next morning and realized her mistake.
She had intended to send the photo to Xu Duocheng but accidentally sent it to Qin Shan, causing the public leak. She rushed to Qin Shan, pleading with her to retract the photos, explaining that Xu Duocheng was her good friend. Qin Shan, however, harshly rebuked her, emphasizing the need to keep work and personal matters separate, and dismissed Keqin. After Keqin left, Zhu Linfeng entered, urging his sister not to be angry.
He then confessed that Keqin was the "goddess" he had secretly admired during his time abroad. Qin Shan was surprised by his revelation but cautioned him not to expect her to show Keqin any leniency just because of his feelings. Meanwhile, Liang Zhe summoned Qiqi, commending her for exposing Jiang Nan's latest news. However, Qiqi clarified that the scoop actually came from Qin Shan's team.
Displeased, Liang Zhe instructed Qiqi to find a way to insert herself into Jiang Nan's story and leak more information, threatening to fire her if she failed to act. Jiang Nan’s agent, Bao Rui, discussed the escalating scandal with Jiang Nan. He suggested that a direct approach to a relationship, particularly with Xu Duocheng, might yield better results.
He believed that if Jiang Nan were seen with Xu Duocheng, it might finally make Gu Jiayi give up her persistent pursuit, potentially leading to smoother career prospects for Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan then sought out Xu Duocheng, proposing that since she also bore some responsibility for the current scandal, she could help him by pretending to be his girlfriend. His goal was solely to make Gu Jiayi stop bothering him. Xu Duocheng was stunned by the request.
While she secretly harbored a longing, she tried to maintain her composure and initially refused, feeling it was too sudden and casual. Jiang Nan quickly clarified that it was just a pretense, not a real relationship. Even with this clarification, Xu Duocheng was hesitant to accept.
Bao Rui then made an appearance, introducing himself and trying to persuade Xu Duocheng, assuring her that Jiang Nan was a good person despite his seemingly cold demeanor and encouraging her to agree to the plan. Xu Duocheng, however, reiterated her reluctance, expressing concerns about her parents' disapproval and the potential negative impact on Jiang Nan's career. Jiang Nan, sensing her apprehension, left the bookstore, with Bao Rui making a final attempt to get Xu Duocheng's WeChat contact.
