Smile to Life Episode 6 Recap
> Smile to Life Recap
Jiang Nan, preparing to meet Xu Duocheng's parents, tasked Bao Rui with buying health care products. Bao Rui, however, felt this wasn't sufficient and insisted on selecting new clothes for Jiang Nan and offering advice for impressing a mother-in-law. Jiang Nan found the preparations tiresome, though Bao Rui, despite being single, provided extensive guidance, emphasizing the importance of dressing "steadily" for parental visits.
Bao Rui bluntly pointed out Jiang Nan's "bleak work" and "bad temper," making Jiang Nan wonder if he was truly so flawed. Bao Rui concluded that the overall impression depended on Jiang Nan's performance, particularly with Xu Duocheng's mother, advising lavish praise. Meanwhile, Gu Jiayi learned that Mr. Liang had cut off her advertising resources. She called her manager, confirming that Mr. Liang was indeed behind it.
Rather than being upset, Gu Jiayi decided to take a holiday, declaring her intention to enjoy life and love, effectively thwarting Mr. Liang's attempt to control her career. Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng went to Xu Duocheng's parents' restaurant, Hejiahuan, for dinner. Initially, Father Xu was quite stern, interrogating Jiang Nan about his age, zodiac, blood type, constellation, and past relationships. He scoffed at Jiang Nan's claim of only one past college relationship. Mother Xu also joined in the questioning.
Jiang Nan, following Bao Rui's advice, lauded Xu Duocheng's helpful, kind, and selfless nature, and promised to take good care of her. Father Xu continued to be skeptical, humorously listing menu items with suggestive names like "Smooth-Tongue," "Stir-Fried Flowers," "Big Pig's Trotter," and "Tortoise," implying Jiang Nan was insincere.
However, Jiang Nan's persistent compliments towards Mother Xu, even comparing her to a dancer (to her amusement, as she claimed to be a mere accountant), eventually won them over, and they all shared a cheerful meal. Xu Duocheng wished their nominal relationship could be genuinely true.
On the drive home, Jiang Nan couldn't stop smiling, prompting Bao Rui to observe that he seemed genuinely fond of Xu Duocheng and her family, as he hadn't seen Jiang Nan this happy in a long time. Jiang Nan, attributing his cheerfulness to being "tipsy," dismissed Bao Rui's observations. Later, Jiang Nan messaged Xu Duocheng, promising to pick her up for work the next day.
The following morning, as Jiang Nan drove Xu Duocheng to work, he looked at her with newfound warmth. During his morning run, Bao Rui unexpectedly encountered Gu Jiayi. She informed him of her breakup with Liang Zhe and asked him to persuade Jiang Nan to reconcile with her, believing Jiang Nan was merely trying to provoke her. Bao Rui, however, was resolute in his refusal, reminding Gu Jiayi that she had abandoned Jiang Nan for her career.
Gu Jiayi defended her past choice, explaining that as an "18-star" actress, she was powerless to help Jiang Nan then. Now, with her fame and resources, she felt she could support him. She declared she would not give up on Jiang Nan and intended to show him who truly loved him most. Bao Rui advised her to let go, asserting that a bad heart was incurable, unlike lost money or physical appearance.
Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng then visited Caiyun at the nursing home. Xu Duocheng brought nail polish and a phototherapy machine, offering to do Caiyun's nails. Caiyun, delighted, chose to "add" (a nail art technique) multiple colors. She then asked Xu Duocheng to play "Island" on the piano, which Xu Duocheng did. Jiang Nan watched the two, feeling touched by their growing bond. Back at the Hejiahuan restaurant, Father Xu and Mother Xu expressed their satisfaction with Jiang Nan.
However, Qiangzi informed them that Jiang Nan's ex-girlfriend was the famous actress Gu Jiayi, who was reportedly seeking a reconciliation. This news unsettled Father Xu and Mother Xu, who promptly called Jiang Nan, insisting he return to the restaurant immediately. They again probed Jiang Nan about his intentions, asking if he would choose Xu Duocheng or Gu Jiayi if both fell into water.
Jiang Nan reassured them that his relationship with Gu Jiayi was long over and he would be wholeheartedly devoted to Xu Duocheng. His sincerity assuaged their fears, though Xu Duocheng privately noted that her parents seemed to have forgotten the temporary nature of her and Jiang Nan's relationship. Xu Duocheng received a call from a young friend, Doudou, who informed her that she was hospitalized. Jiang Nan and Xu Duocheng immediately went to Binhai Hospital.
Doudou explained she had fallen while using her walker and would now permanently need a wheelchair. Despite this, Doudou remained optimistic, expressing excitement about visiting an aquarium and a science museum, promising to protect Xu Duocheng when she grew up. Xu Duocheng explained to Jiang Nan that Doudou was an ALS patient she had met through the Woodenhead Association website, and the disease had progressed rapidly.
Seeing a doctor approach, Xu Duocheng discreetly signaled to Jiang Nan, asking him to leave first to prepare for his "tomorrow's work" while she spoke with Dr. Sui about Doudou's condition. Dr. Sui advised Xu Duocheng to inform her family about her own condition, highlighting the monthly medical expenses of over 4,000 yuan and the inevitable impact on her daily life. Xu Duocheng confessed that she, too, suffered from ALS, having been diagnosed three months prior.
She explained her determination to live life to the fullest without burdening her parents with her worries. As Xu Duocheng left Dr. Sui's office, Zhan Zhilin arrived for a business meeting with Dr. Sui. He noticed Xu Duocheng and, after Dr. Sui was called away to bed No. 8, Zhan Zhilin covertly accessed Xu Duocheng's medical records, discovering her ALS diagnosis. Zhan Zhilin later found Xu Duocheng and apologized for looking at her private information, expressing his sympathy.
Overwhelmed, Xu Duocheng broke down in tears, collapsing into Zhan Zhilin's arms. She shared her despair upon receiving the diagnosis shortly after graduating, feeling as though her future was stolen. Jiang Nan, returning to the hospital to check on Xu Duocheng, witnessed her embracing Zhan Zhilin. Misunderstanding the scene, he became angry and silently left. Xu Duocheng asked Zhan Zhilin to keep her illness a secret from her parents and others.
Zhan Zhilin agreed, but set a condition: Xu Duocheng had to have dinner with him. After parting ways, Zhan Zhilin drove Xu Duocheng home, reiterating his promise to keep her secret and offering his support if she ever felt unhappy. Xu Duocheng, feeling she could trust him, thanked him. Meanwhile, Jiang Nan, still concerned about Xu Duocheng, searched for her.
Bao Rui, observing Jiang Nan's unusual behavior, joked that "their iron tree was about to blossom," implying Jiang Nan was genuinely falling for Xu Duocheng. Upon arriving home, Xu Duocheng tried to call Jiang Nan, but he didn't answer. She sent him a voice message explaining her phone had died and she was safely home. Jiang Nan, still upset from seeing her with Zhan Zhilin, was even more frustrated that Xu Duocheng seemed oblivious to his anger.
Zhan Zhilin, at home, reflected on Xu Duocheng's words, recalling her despair upon learning of her illness three months prior, feeling her dreams were shattered. Yet, she chose to live bravely without burdening her parents, a decision that made him question his own mother's suicide, which he had never understood, especially seeing someone so young determined to live. The next morning, Xu Duocheng called Jiang Nan again, but he abruptly hung up, leaving her surprised and confused.
