Smile to Life Episode 5 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
Reporters quickly captured the moment Xu Duocheng kissed Jiang Nan at the press conference. Jiang Nan then addressed the media, stating that a relationship is a private matter between two people and doesn't require public explanation or proof. However, he chose to announce their relationship publicly because he now has someone he likes and who cares about him, hoping for understanding and blessings, and requesting privacy. After the conference, Xu Duocheng acknowledged her bravery, revealing it was her first kiss.
After the conference, Zhan Zhilin approached Jiang Nan, but Bao Rui quickly intervened, ushering Zhilin away and noting their long time apart. Xu Duocheng questioned Jiang Nan why he and Zhilin, who were once close, were now at odds, but Jiang Nan dismissed it as Zhilin trying to bully her because she seemed silly. He refused to elaborate, telling her it was "none of her business" and urging her to leave before more reporters arrived.
At the music store where she teaches, Xu Duocheng patiently instructed a student, reassuring them that consistent practice would lead to improvement. During their lesson, an online influencer began live-streaming in the store. The influencer recognized Xu Duocheng as Jiang Nan's newly public girlfriend and attempted to film her. Xu Duocheng politely but firmly refused, asking the influencer not to disturb her class or her students.
The influencer then turned her camera towards Zhan Zhilin, who was playing guitar nearby, and he readily agreed to be filmed. Jiang Nan, upon seeing the live stream, was concerned about Xu Duocheng being harassed. He instructed Bao Rui to contact the live-streamers and warn them to stop bothering Xu Duocheng. Jiang Nan then left, pretending to go to a nursing home, but actually headed to the music store to collect her.
He grabbed Xu Duocheng and insisted she leave, explaining that the live stream would only attract more trouble and reminding her of their "relationship." Xu Duocheng, however, stressed her responsibility to her work and contract with the store manager, calling her students "the flowers of the motherland." Just then, Zhan Zhilin appeared, urging Jiang Nan to treat women with compassion and playfully suggesting Xu Duocheng consider him instead, as he had an "empty girlfriend spot."
He provoked Jiang Nan, calling him a former popular singer now resorting to publicity stunts. Xu Duocheng immediately defended Jiang Nan, who told Zhilin not to be self-righteous, which Zhilin found "interesting." Despite her contract, Xu Duocheng eventually left with Jiang Nan. As they drove, Xu Duocheng informed Jiang Nan that she had borrowed 300,000 yuan from Bao Rui and needed to earn money to repay him.
Jiang Nan offered to repay Bao Rui himself, but Xu Duocheng insisted on upholding her credit. While they talked, Jiang Nan noticed paparazzi following their car. To avoid leading them to Xu Duocheng's home, he sped away, shaking off the photographers, and took her to his own house instead. Xu Duocheng, worried about her absence from work, sent a message to her boss apologizing for forgetting to ask for leave.
Entering Jiang Nan's apartment, Xu Duocheng observed its messy state, filled with concert costumes and props. She recognized a hat from his first concert, reminiscing about him kissing the stage. She commented on his sloppiness, to which Jiang Nan retorted that even idols are human and sometimes don't tidy up.
He then ordered her to cook him coke chicken wings, exactly like the ones she made last time, and wanted them ready in half an hour, acting as if she owed him. Meanwhile, Gu Jiayi, still suspicious that Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng's relationship was fake, decided to visit Jiang Nan's apartment. Her assistant cautioned her about reporters likely being outside his building, but Gu Jiayi was resolute, believing Jiang Nan was merely trying to provoke her.
She asserted that she would turn his public announcement of a girlfriend into an announcement of him being single again, implying she would use the paparazzi to her advantage. When she arrived, Jiang Nan, at his doorway, tried to turn her away, saying there was no need for her to come in. Just then, Xu Duocheng emerged from the kitchen, announcing dinner was nearly ready. Gu Jiayi realized Xu Duocheng was living with him.
Jiang Nan, to make their relationship seem genuine and deter Gu Jiayi from bothering Xu Duocheng, unexpectedly kissed Xu Duocheng. This angered Gu Jiayi, who accused Jiang Nan of changing greatly, but he replied that people constantly told him he changed but never asked why. He then firmly told her he didn't want his girlfriend to misunderstand and asked her to leave.
As Gu Jiayi stormed off with her assistant, Xu Duocheng wondered aloud to the assistant why Jiang Nan and Gu Jiayi had broken up, noting they were a well-matched couple. While Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng ate, Bao Rui, having successfully diverted the paparazzi outside with a "small scoop" of information, discreetly left. Inside, Jiang Nan was surprised by the variety of dishes Xu Duocheng had prepared from his fridge.
He initially worried about his diet, but the food was too tempting, and he ended up enjoying it thoroughly. They playfully squabbled over the last chicken wing, with Jiang Nan ultimately winning. Xu Duocheng chided him for his large appetite as an idol who needed to control his diet, but Jiang Nan insisted that chicken wings were his "inspiration" for writing songs. He apologized for getting sauce on her and suggested she make more next time.
Later, as Xu Duocheng prepared to leave, Jiang Nan warned her about the paparazzi still lurking outside his apartment. He threatened to terminate their contract and demand the 300,000 yuan back if she left and accidentally revealed her home address to the media. Xu Duocheng reluctantly agreed to stay and called her father, lying that she was staying at a friend's house for the night. Jiang Nan, overhearing, questioned her honesty.
She then asked where she should sleep, and he told her to use the tent in his room. In the middle of the night, Xu Duocheng began doing yoga, which Jiang Nan, still awake, misinterpreted as something sinister due to his overactive imagination, imagining her as a ghost. She explained it was a "health-preserving skill" and mocked his fear. She then put on a horror movie, which terrified Jiang Nan so much that he hid under the covers.
Seizing the opportunity, Xu Duocheng leveraged his fear to get him to agree to her keeping her part-time job at the music store, threatening to continue playing the horror movie if he didn't. He finally conceded. Jiang Nan then settled on the sofa for the night, instructing Xu Duocheng to prepare him a sandwich and milk the next morning. The following morning, Xu Duocheng prepared an unusual-looking sandwich for Jiang Nan.
He joked that she must have been scared senseless by the ghost movie, but upon tasting it, he declared it surprisingly delicious and requested it be made that way from now on. Just then, Bao Rui walked in and casually greeted Xu Duocheng as "sister-in-law" before quickly leaving, much to Jiang Nan's confusion. Jiang Nan pondered if the sauce in the sandwich was causing his stomach ache.
Meanwhile, Xu Duocheng's father, Xu Daqiang, saw photos of Xu Duocheng and Jiang Nan together on his phone. Enraged, he threatened to confront Jiang Nan but was physically restrained by his boss and a colleague. He then called Xu Duocheng, demanding she come home immediately. Upon her arrival, her parents angrily confronted her, upset that she hadn't told them about her relationship.
Her mother criticized singers as irresponsible, lacking stable jobs or income, and unwilling to commit to marriage, worrying that Jiang Nan would waste Xu Duocheng's time. Xu Duocheng defended Jiang Nan, praising him for going to bed and waking up early and having no bad habits. Her mother, realizing from this detail that they were living together, became even more furious and threatened to hit her, accusing her of being ungrateful.
Xu Daqiang intervened, suggesting that since the situation was already public, they should invite Jiang Nan over for dinner to properly meet him and "vet him." Later, Bao Rui updated Jiang Nan on his schedule, mentioning potential interviews due to Gu Jiayi's anticipated actions. Jiang Nan, seemingly unfazed, stated he had Xu Duocheng now and was not worried about Gu Jiayi's tricks. Just as he said this, Xu Daqiang called him directly.
He introduced himself as Xu Duocheng's father and firmly invited Jiang Nan to dinner at the Hejiahuan restaurant the following evening at 7 p. m. , saying, "Be there or be square." Jiang Nan was flustered by the unexpected call. He told Bao Rui about the dinner invitation, expressing reluctance because their relationship wasn't real and meeting her parents would complicate things.
However, Bao Rui urged him to go, emphasizing that Xu Duocheng had already sacrificed a lot for him and they should help each other. Elsewhere, Gu Jiayi was having her makeup done. Zhan Zhilin arrived and commented on her choice of lipstick color, even suggesting a more suitable shade, showcasing his detailed observation.
Gu Jiayi questioned if he was there for her or another woman, but he stated he came to "congratulate" her on "reuniting with an old friend," which she recognized as an attempt to annoy her. Gu Jiayi wondered why Zhan couldn't forget Jiang Nan, to which he retorted she was no different. She blamed him for Jiang Nan's recent career difficulties, but Zhan countered that Jiang Nan was "at his wit's end," although he admitted to suppressing him.
Gu Jiayi inquired about the true reason their once-close brotherhood had dissolved. Zhan simply stated that solo careers were an inevitable trend for a band, and they could have developed separately. He handed her a card. Gu Jiayi pointed out Jiang Nan's new relationship and expressed her discomfort with Xu Duocheng, then questioned why Zhan was also interested in her. Zhan declared that he was interested in anything Jiang Nan was interested in.
They then agreed to collaborate: Zhan would "pry away" Xu Duocheng, and Gu Jiayi would "get" Jiang Nan. Zhan asserted that he knew exactly what he wanted and that it was up to Gu Jiayi to seize the opportunity, adding that no one could stop him. He reiterated his makeup advice to Gu Jiayi before leaving. Back at Jiang Nan's apartment, Xu Duocheng pleaded with him to meet her parents, explaining they wouldn't let her off the hook otherwise.
Jiang Nan mockingly told her to "beg him." She initially gave a half-hearted plea but then earnestly begged him to consider. He said he needed time to think, as meeting parents for the first time made him nervous, but then firmly refused to go. Xu Duocheng stopped him, threatening to expose his "pigsty" home and the "ladies' room incident" to the media if he didn't comply. Jiang Nan, alarmed, reminded her that she had promised not to reveal those details.
