Smile to Life Episode 21 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
As reporters clamored with questions about the "Cool Singing Producer" incident and accusations of his driver leaking a song, Jiang Nan arrived at the concert. He took the stage, asserting that he owed everyone an explanation and, as his girlfriend Xu Duocheng had advised, "since it's true, we have to say it out loud and let everyone hear it."
Jiang Nan then spoke affectionately of Xu Duocheng, calling her "the bravest and most optimistic girl I've ever met," who had helped and taught him "what love is." He dedicated the entire performance as a gift to her, affectionately calling her "Xu Duocheng," among other playful names, and declared, "thank you for being in my life. I love you." He then went off stage and gave Xu Duocheng a tight embrace.
The audience was deeply moved, remarking that the press conference had instantly transformed into a declaration of love. Meanwhile, Zhan Zhilin listened to heartfelt voice messages from his mother on his phone. She reminded him to eat, asked about his day, and expressed her joy over his new song, acknowledging how difficult it had been for him and Jiang Nan to debut. She emphasized, "You must be fine. You must be fine."
Zhilin, however, felt a pang of regret, thinking, "Mom, you've always hoped that Jiang Nan and I can make music well. But I messed everything up." Back on stage, Jiang Nan announced that he was about to perform a song with a friend, a wish of Xu Duocheng's. He spoke of them as "best brothers" who had performed on that very stage before their debut, expressing how much he missed those days.
Just as the audience speculated he meant Zhan Zhilin, Zhilin himself appeared, electrifying the crowd as the duo reunited. Later, at an art exhibition, Zhan Zhilin found himself captivated by a painting titled "Back." The artist, Zheng Feng, approached him. Zhilin recognized the style and accused Zheng Feng of being responsible for his mother, Liang Shuqian's, suicide, stating she became obsessed with Zheng Feng's art and then took her own life after being abandoned by him.
Zheng Feng vehemently denied this, explaining that his relationship with Liang Shuqian was purely about shared interest in art, not romantic. He revealed that Liang Shuqian came to him to learn painting and to pass the time, and her paintings were consistently of Zhan Zhilin's father, while Zheng Feng's were of her.
Zheng Feng then produced chat records, stating that Liang Shuqian had contacted him before her death after seeing messages Zhan Zhilin's father sent to a woman named Tian Caiyun, which she couldn't accept, and that his father had falsely accused her of cheating. These were Liang Shuqian's last messages, and without them, he and Liang Shuqian would have been "misunderstood forever." Disturbed by this revelation, Zhan Zhilin immediately called his father.
He confronted him about sending messages to Tian Caiyun and promising to care for her and her son before his mother's death. His father initially claimed Liang Shuqian no longer loved him and initiated the divorce. However, Zhilin retorted that his mother couldn't accept his father's commitment to Tian Caiyun, and that all her paintings were of his father, proving her enduring love.
He accused his father of making her suffer and of being "obsessed" with Tian Caiyun to the point of saying he'd rather divorce and care for her for life, while being "lukewarm" to Liang Shuqian and falsely accusing her of cheating. His father, in a moment of remorse, admitted, "It's my fault. I didn't expect that. I always thought your mom had someone else in her heart. I didn't expect things to turn out this way."
He then confessed to Liang Shuqian that he wanted a divorce because he loved someone he shouldn't, and claimed she too loved someone she shouldn't. Zhilin was left to ponder the implication that his mother had been referring to him in her last moments. Meanwhile, Xu Daqiang's restaurant, He Jia Huan, was struggling due to a new, popular "online-famous shop" across the street, which attracted customers with flashy gimmicks rather than good food.
His mother suggested inviting a celebrity to promote their restaurant. Though Xu Daqiang initially scoffed at "magic tricks" and "roses," insisting He Jia Huan wins by taste, his mother reminded him they had a celebrity in the family: Jiang Nan. Xu Daqiang called Jiang Nan via video chat, and after he and Xu Duocheng explained the situation, Jiang Nan immediately offered to help, dismissing their concerns about bothering him as "our own business."
Xu Duocheng's father was thrilled, acknowledging that "youngsters have a lot of ideas." Xu Duocheng proposed doing a live stream from the restaurant using her health channel, which had over 100,000 followers. Jiang Nan playfully argued that he was "ready-made traffic," teasing that his usual "cold" persona often "crashed" when he was with her. He reasoned, however, that he could promote He Jia Huan without worries, given its genuine quality. They decided to do the live stream together.
Later, while Qin Shan was jogging at night, two men ambushed her, taunting her for "helping others in need" and questioning if anyone would come to her aid. Just as they threatened her, Bao Rui appeared with his dog, intervening in the fight. Seeing Bao Rui struggling, Qin Shan quickly shouted that she had called the police and they would arrive soon, startling the attackers into fleeing.
Bao Rui chastised her for not running away, explaining his phone was broken and that her safety was paramount, but also revealed his hidden strength from working out and fishing. They deduced the attackers were "Liang Zhe's men." Bao Rui then declared he would be responsible for all her future travel since they lived in the same neighborhood, prompting Qin Shan to exasperatedly tell him to "Shut up! Don't argue," though she accepted his protective gesture.
Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng went grocery shopping. Jiang Nan, without a mask, was quickly recognized by fans who demanded photos. He tried to politely decline, citing his private time with Xu Duocheng, but agreed to a single picture to avoid disappointing them. Concurrently, Bao Rui and Qin Shan were also shopping for ingredients for Jiang Nan, with Bao Rui meticulously selecting beef and chicken wings for Jiang Nan's favorite dishes.
Qin Shan teasingly remarked that he was "all talking about Jiang Nan" and the "most competent agent." Bao Rui admitted he was used to it and chose not to answer his ringing phone. He explained to Qin Shan that the "Cool Singing Producer" team, who previously hindered Jiang Nan, were now "chasing me to apologize."
He planned to "put on airs" and selectively arrange Jiang Nan's schedule, acknowledging that while it was annoying, it was a welcome change from when Jiang Nan was less popular. The topic of relationships arose. Zhu Linfeng, struggling to win Keqin's affection, sought advice from Bao Rui, who, along with Qin Shan, seemed to be making progress. Bao Rui advised "playing hard to get" or "doing whatever she likes".
Zhu Linfeng despaired, feeling like a "small nail" attracted to Keqin's "magnet," and lamenting that Keqin had told him not to expect the same from her, which left him feeling helpless. Bao Rui suggested using a "secret account," which Zhu Linfeng confirmed he had. Later, during a gathering, Xu Duocheng went downstairs to get some wine. Jiang Nan was concerned, and rushed after her.
He found her falling due to her illness, but managed to catch her before she hit the ground. Bao Rui jokingly remarked that this was an "idol drama" moment, lamenting that they "didn't kiss each other." At dinner, everyone enthusiastically urged Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng to get married, noting how sweet they were. Jiang Nan insisted Xu Duocheng eat more for "nutrition" and, after she mentioned her hand was hurting, he bandaged it.
Zhu Linfeng, observing Bao Rui and Qin Shan's affectionate interactions, expressed envy, though he later received a reply from Keqin on his secret social media account, hinting at progress. Xu Duocheng's health was worsening. At the hospital, a doctor revealed that besides her calf, the muscle in her left hand was also wasting, explaining her recent fall.
The doctor warned that if the situation continued to develop, her hand could become a "chicken claw hand," a term that deeply unsettled Xu Duocheng. She worried about how to hide her condition, especially from her parents. Back at He Jia Huan, Xu Duocheng tried to conceal her ailing hand from her parents, claiming she had merely "sprained" it. Jiang Nan, aware of her condition, showed concern and silently supported her.
The live stream, hosted by Duoduo and featuring Jiang Nan, commenced. Jiang Nan praised He Jia Huan's "fresh and distinctive" ingredients, emphasizing the "feel like at home" atmosphere. Gu Jiayi watched, clearly irritated that Jiang Nan would do such a thing "for the sake of Xu Duocheng," insisting on watching to see how they would promote the restaurant.
After the successful live stream, Zhan Zhilin, also watching, immediately instructed his secretary to arrange all future company dinners at He Jia Huan, claiming the expenses to him, as a way of supporting Xu Duocheng's family business. Despite Gu Jiayi's attempts to stealthily like and then unlike the live stream, the restaurant's business boomed, with subsequent live streams announcing significant discounts. Amidst the newfound success, Gu Jiayi unexpectedly appeared at He Jia Huan.
Xu Duocheng was surprised, as were her parents, who wondered if Gu Jiayi was there to help. Gu Jiayi requested a table and ordered cold spinach, explicitly stating her peanut allergy. Xu Duocheng went to the kitchen and carefully instructed Lin, the chef, "Don't put peanuts in it. The customer will be allergic if she eats it." Her father also cautioned them to "not forget and make no mistake."
Despite Xu Duocheng's care, after the dish was served and Gu Jiayi initially complimented the food, she suddenly suffered a severe allergic reaction. Xu Duocheng and Mr. Liu immediately called an ambulance, and the entire family was thrown into a panic.
