Smile to Life Episode 22 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
Zhan Zhilin was informed that He Jia Huan was temporarily closed, canceling the company dinner he had planned. He promptly went to the restaurant, where Xu Duocheng's mother explained that Gu Jiayi had suffered a severe allergic reaction after eating there, necessitating the closure. Concerned, she worried if Gu Jiayi would cause trouble for Xu Duocheng, who had accompanied her to the hospital.
Xu Duocheng's mother also mentioned that Jiang Nan was not called due to his status as a public figure, to avoid involving him in the incident. At the hospital, Gu Jiayi's assistant praised her acting, confident that Xu Duocheng and her family were terrified. Xu Duocheng was perplexed, having carefully noted Gu Jiayi's allergies and reconfirmed dishes before serving. Dalin, the chef, also affirmed he hadn't put peanuts in his cooking.
When Xu Daqiang and his family came to apologize, acknowledging the incident occurred at their restaurant, Gu Jiayi's assistant aggressively claimed the restaurant was at fault, calling it a "gangster restaurant" that exploited Jiang Nan's fame. She even accused Xu Duocheng of intentional harm out of jealousy. Jiang Nan arrived, telling everyone to stop arguing as the matter would be investigated. He offered to cover all medical expenses and losses.
Gu Jiayi then feigned magnanimity, stating she wouldn't pursue the matter and would handle the online backlash, claiming she owed Jiang Nan a favor. As others left, Gu Jiayi asked Jiang Nan to stay. Alone, she tried to elicit his sympathy, reminiscing about his past care and expressing that her "forgiveness" was for him. She then hugged him and asked him to help her back to bed. Xu Duocheng, returning after fetching water, witnessed this intimate moment through the door.
Upset by what she saw, Xu Duocheng later received a call from Keqin, who informed her that public opinion online was harshly condemning both He Jia Huan and Xu Duocheng, urging her to be careful. Jiang Nan, who had also learned about a similar incident involving Qin Shan, found the coincidences suspicious. He found Xu Duocheng looking distressed and assured her of his support, telling her not to worry.
Xu Duocheng expressed concern that her family's troubles would "get him into trouble" and negatively impact his developing career, especially as it forced him to interact with Gu Jiayi again. Jiang Nan dismissed her fears, explaining that his immediate concern upon hearing about the incident was her well-being. He firmly told her never to use the phrase "get me into trouble" again, vowing to always be by her side.
Back at the restaurant, Xu Duocheng's family was relieved that Gu Jiayi seemed to drop the issue and even offered to help with online damage control. Jiang Nan, however, expressed his suspicion about the situation. Inside the restaurant, Xu Daqiang ordered immediate installation of kitchen surveillance as there was only one camera in the lobby. He was distraught by the lack of customers and a recent visit from the Health Bureau, prompted by reports of hygiene issues and food poisoning.
Mr. Zhan reassured him, explaining that attracting customers would naturally restore reputation. He confirmed he had arranged for his company employees to dine and leave positive reviews, affirming that good quality would lead to success. Later, Jiang Nan thanked Zhan Zhilin for his help, but they both felt something was amiss and decided to re-examine the single surveillance footage, as others wouldn't suspect a popular celebrity like Gu Jiayi.
After repeatedly scrutinizing the blurry video, they noticed a fleeting moment where a person's hand appeared to touch the dish near Gu Jiayi, but the evidence was inconclusive. Meanwhile, Gu Jiayi released a video online, apologizing for the "big storm" caused by her mistake of eating allergic food, which inadvertently "popularized" He Jia Huan.
She asked the public to stop "maliciously speculating" about her relationship with Xu Duocheng and to cease negative comments about the restaurant, stating she accepted their apology. Jiang Nan, however, was furious. He called Gu Jiayi, accusing her of manipulative "little tricks." He pointed out the suspicious sequence of events: her endorsement, followed by the ingredient switch, and then her "apology" video. He warned her not to make him hate her further.
Jiang Nan continued to provide emotional support to Xu Duocheng, making her feel grateful. He informed her that he and Zhan Zhilin had identified a person in the surveillance footage who had potentially tampered with the dish by bumping into her, though further confirmation was needed. He chose to tell her now to encourage her optimism and ensure they faced the challenge together.
Just then, Zhan Zhilin called, excitedly reporting that someone on Weibo claimed to have a video of the He Jia Huan incident, filmed from a crucial angle, and he was trying to contact them. Simultaneously, Gu Jiayi's assistant revealed to her that a livestreamer, "Friends Crisp and tasty," might have inadvertently captured the assistant's actions of tampering with the dish. Gu Jiayi, panicking, urgently instructed her assistant to acquire that video before it jeopardized their plans.
Soon after, Zhan Zhilin obtained the video from "Friends Crisp and tasty" and sent it to Jiang Nan, but the poor quality obscured the person's face. Jiang Nan then confronted Gu Jiayi, accusing her of malicious intent, but she denied everything. Jiang Nan, however, was resolute, stating that irrespective of Xu Duocheng, he would never reconcile with her due to her dishonest character.
Back at He Jia Huan, Dalin informed Xu Daqiang that the allergy was caused by peanut powder deliberately sprinkled into Gu Jiayi's dish by someone who purposefully bumped into Xu Duocheng. Xu Daqiang was overjoyed, especially as customers began to queue outside the restaurant. Upset by the escalating situation, Gu Jiayi met with Liang Zhe. He advised her studio to release a statement attributing the incident to "anti-fans" to conclusively resolve the matter.
Gu Jiayi promptly followed this advice, issuing a strong warning to her alleged anti-fans. Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng saw the statement, but Jiang Nan remained skeptical, finding the "anti-fan" explanation too convenient. He pressed Xu Duocheng to recall any distinctive features of the person who had bumped into her that day. She remembered a finger-length scar on the person's arm. This detail immediately made Jiang Nan realize the culprit was Gu Jiayi's assistant.
