Smile to Life Episode 4 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
Jiang Nan's mother, Caiyun, who has been receiving treatment for a mental illness at a nursing home, was found sitting by the river, causing concern among the nurses. When Jiang Nan arrived in his work uniform, Caiyun mistook him for her husband, Jianghai, and immediately calmed down, leaning on his shoulder and reminiscing about their past. Though their early life was hard, Caiyun expressed her hope that their son would grow up to be a strong, independent man.
Jiang Nan assured her that he would not disappoint her. Meanwhile, Xu Duocheng, sent by Bao Rui to deliver keys to Jiang Nan, arrived at the nursing home. Inside, she spotted a beautiful piano and, unable to resist, began to play. Her music drew both Jiang Nan and Caiyun to her. Xu Duocheng was also surprised to see Jiang Nan dressed in a worker's uniform.
Caiyun, still mistaking Jiang Nan for Jianghai, questioned why Xu Duocheng was playing "her husband's piano." Xu Duocheng explained her love for the instrument. After handing the keys to Jiang Nan, she apologized for the intrusion and left. Jiang Nan introduced Xu Duocheng to Caiyun as his new assistant. Later, Jiang Nan received a call from the doctor, who informed him that Caiyun's condition was unstable and her medication wasn't fully effective.
The doctor noted that Xu Duocheng's piano playing seemed to soothe Caiyun's emotions and suggested it might evoke special feelings in her, advising Jiang Nan to consider bringing Xu Duocheng to play for his mother regularly. Jiang Nan discussed the situation with Xu Duocheng, explaining that his mother believed she was still in her twenties and saw him as his father. He asked Xu Duocheng to play the piano to help ease Caiyun's mood.
Xu Duocheng agreed to help and visited Caiyun at the nursing home. After playing for some time, Caiyun grew very fond of her, which made Jiang Nan feel very happy about their harmonious interaction. Upon her return, Caiyun recognized Xu Duocheng and welcomed her in. After listening to Xu Duocheng play, Caiyun admired her shining nail polish.
Xu Duocheng offered to do Caiyun’s nails next time and suggested Caiyun call her "Chengcheng," while Caiyun, preferring not to be called "Mrs. Jiang," asked to be called "Caiyun." The two quickly bonded, sharing "girls' secrets." Jiang Nan observed how well Xu Duocheng got along with his mother, playfully calling her "friendly and adorable" and skilled at easing the worries of her "rumored boyfriend."
He then offered to grant Xu Duocheng a wish, promising to accompany her no matter what she wanted to do. Later, Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng went to an arcade, where Jiang Nan skillfully won many dolls for her from the claw machines. Xu Duocheng chose to go shopping, watch a movie, and have dinner with Jiang Nan. After the movie, she confessed that it felt like a real date but reminded herself that it was just an illusion.
For dinner, they went to a Sichuan restaurant. Xu Duocheng, concerned about spicy food, refused the dishes. Jiang Nan jokingly asked if she had hemorrhoids, to which she replied that she was a "healthy girl" who preferred a healthy lifestyle. When the boss stated he couldn't make non-spicy food, Xu Duocheng offered to cook a dish herself. Jiang Nan vouched for her, and the boss reluctantly agreed. Xu Duocheng prepared her specialty, "Coke Chicken Wings," which Jiang Nan found acceptable.
He mentioned that his mother used to make them when he was a child, but he hadn't had them since she fell ill. Xu Duocheng then suggested that Jiang Nan try her father Xu Daqiang's cooking someday, as her father was a professional chef. Xu Duocheng thanked Jiang Nan for helping her fulfill her dream date, calling it "as real as a dream" and asking him to "dream a little longer" with her.
He agreed, for the sake of her chicken wings. They decided to sneak into an amusement park so Xu Duocheng could fulfill her wish to ride the Ferris wheel and see the stars up close, a fantasy she often had. However, they were caught by security guards.
Jiang Nan quickly concocted a story: Xu Duocheng was his terminally ill girlfriend whose last wish was to ride the Ferris wheel, and they had to come at night because she had surgery the next day. To their surprise, Xu Duocheng actually had a bottle of medicine in her pocket, which she claimed was for her "health-preserving" habits, but which the guards mistook for medication for her "terminal illness." Sympathizing with her, the guards allowed them to ride.
On the Ferris wheel, Jiang Nan, despite his fear of heights, was gently guided by Xu Duocheng, who openly admired the beautiful night view and teared up. After the ride, Xu Duocheng thanked Jiang Nan again, revealing that his 300,000 loan, advanced through Bao Rui, had saved her father's business. Jiang Nan was shocked, realizing Xu Duocheng had signed the contract because of the money, though she insisted she wanted to help him and would pay him back.
Upon returning to the studio, Jiang Nan confronted Bao Rui about withholding this information. Bao Rui admitted to lending Xu Duocheng 300,000 from his personal marriage fund (life savings) to help both Xu Duocheng’s family and Jiang Nan's career, arguing it was "the best of both worlds" as it eliminated gossip and allowed Jiang Nan to focus on music. He joked that Jiang Nan would now have to support him.
Meanwhile, Gu Jiayi, seeing photos of Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng, speculated to her assistant that the relationship was fake, orchestrated by Jiang Nan to hurt her, convinced that he still harbored feelings for her. Later, Jiang Nan bought Xu Duocheng a pair of earrings, telling her not to be "too moved" but that he needed her to look presentable as his "girlfriend."
Xu Duocheng’s mother then visited her, bringing a new bottle of vitamins because she noticed Xu Duocheng's old bottle was nearly empty. She reminded Xu Duocheng that health also required exercise, not just supplements, and reassured her that parents always worry about their children, no matter their age. The next day, Bao Rui called Xu Duocheng, explaining that Gu Jiayi's sudden press conference was a ploy to expose their fake relationship and embarrass them.
He urged Xu Duocheng to attend with Jiang Nan to boost his confidence, promising to handle all the reporters with his "glib tongue" and assuring her she wasn't an ordinary person anymore, with him and Jiang Nan supporting her. Xu Duocheng, though worried about making mistakes in front of the media, eventually agreed. At Gu Jiayi's press conference, a reporter asked about the rumors between her and Jiang Nan.
Jiang Nan dismissed them as false, stating he had a girlfriend and wished the focus to be on his work. Qin Shan, a chief editor, then provocatively asked if Jiang Nan was considering his girlfriend's feelings by singing love songs with his ex, Gu Jiayi. Jiang Nan responded that his relationship with Gu Jiayi was purely professional. To prove his point, he brought Xu Duocheng on stage, introducing her to everyone as his girlfriend.
Qin Shan continued her aggressive questioning, asking Xu Duocheng how she felt about Jiang Nan and Gu Jiayi's interaction, implying she wasn't truly jealous and suggesting Jiang Nan was merely using her for career hype. Bao Rui attempted to interject, but Qin Shan pressed on, questioning the authenticity of their relationship and whether they would have gone public if their photos hadn't already leaked. She accused them of using the conference for "crisis PR." As Bao Rui grew flustered, Xu Duocheng suddenly embraced Jiang Nan and kissed him directly, stunning the entire room and leaving reporters to exclaim that the relationship must be real.
