Sweet Combat Episode 11 Recap
> Sweet Combat Recap
The atmosphere grew subtly ambiguous as Ming Tian and Fang Yu's eyes met across the room, past the others. Song Xiaomi observed their budding closeness, silently seething with annoyance. Ming Tian returned home with a smile, but his spirits soon dropped as Fang Yu's earlier denial of her feelings for him replayed in his mind. Meanwhile, the principals of Zhengze Academy and Zhiying University reached a consensus for a joint event.
The director enthusiastically announced that the schools would "meet friends with martial arts," exciting the students. However, to their dismay, it was soon clarified that the event was a "dance to make friends," dampening their enthusiasm. Fang Yu approached Ming Tian, seeking his help to assist her in teaching the younger students. Sun Hao, eager to join Fang Yu, suddenly appeared but was swiftly turned away by her.
At the Zhiying Boxing Club, an awkward tension hung between Luo Guanyan and He Xiaofeng. Their exchange was interrupted by Ma Yichen's arrival with his entourage. Luo Guanyan encouraged Ma Yichen to intensify his training, only to be met with a sharp retort. Later, Ming Tian and Fang Yu visited the taekwondo club at Minglang's school. Fang Yu impressed the children with a powerful spinning kick, drawing cheers.
The two then spent an enjoyable time teaching, easily becoming the kids' favorites. Before leaving, Fang Yu signed autographs for the eager children, while Ming Tian discreetly observed. On their way from the taekwondo club, they spotted a child's kite entangled in a tree. Fang Yu immediately stepped forward to help. Ming Tian, puzzled, asked why she was willing to assist the child but not the elderly woman in Macau.
Fang Yu explained that she had no choice but to kick the fruit cart to protect a child hidden behind it. Understanding his misunderstanding, Ming Tian promptly apologized to her. It was Song Xiaomi's turn to train Ming Tian in taekwondo. Fang Yu delegated the task to Song Xiaomi, instructing her to teach him well.
Song Xiaomi eagerly agreed, explaining that they would focus on lower body attacks and defense exercises, emphasizing that leg attacks are far stronger than hand attacks and proper defense is crucial to avoid a knockout. She then asked Cheng Yanan, whom she affectionately called "Food Fanatic Nan," to demonstrate foot attacks with her.
Their demonstration quickly devolved into a bickering match as Cheng Yanan complained that Song Xiaomi was stepping on her, and Song Xiaomi retorted that Cheng Yanan was a "pig teammate" for not understanding the demonstration of seven-directional attacks. Despite their playful arguments, Ming Tian continued to practice diligently nearby, absorbing the lessons. Song Xiaomi visited Sun Hao, who was suffering from a fever, bringing him a homemade bento box.
Both expressed concern over Ming Tian and Fang Yu's growing closeness, unsure how to prevent their relationship from deepening. After confirming Sun Hao's condition was stable, Song Xiaomi persuaded him to go shopping, but unfortunately, he suffered another fever relapse midway. During a subsequent training session, Fang Yu, Cheng Yanan, and Song Xiaomi prepared to intensify Ming Tian's regimen. Sun Hao humorously made an entrance, wrapped in a large military coat, demanding that Fang Yu train him as well.
However, due to his poor health, the four of them tied him to a chair to ensure he rested. Fang Yu launched a relentless series of attacks against Ming Tian, yet he steadfastly refused to retaliate. When Fang Yu questioned his passivity, Ming Tian remained silent, haunted by the memory of Ji Gang collapsing before his father—an event that had shattered his family.
Fang Yu, frustrated by his reluctance, tried to motivate him to fight back, but Ming Tian remained lost in his painful recollections. Upon returning home, Ming Tian found Ma Yichen blocking his doorway, provocatively taunting him. Ma Yichen, still sore from their previous encounter, blamed Ming Tian for his injuries and dismissed the food poisoning incident as "just diarrhea." Ming Tian's patience finally snapped when Ma Yichen began making light of his family.
He declared his desire to hit Ma Yichen, acknowledging that he had gone "insane" the last time he fought at Zhiying, and had vowed never to hit anyone again. However, seeing Ma Yichen, he felt an overwhelming urge to strike him. Despite Ma Yichen’s further taunts and attempts to attack, Ming Tian skillfully dodged. Bound by Zhengze's school rules against fighting on campus, Ming Tian did not physically strike Ma Yichen.
Instead, he punched the nearby wall, asserting that he would fight Ma Yichen honorably and with all his might in the preliminary match. Ma Yichen, visibly intimidated, retreated and fled. Ming Tian felt an immense sense of relief and empowerment, having finally confronted his psychological barrier and found the strength to protect his family.
He reflected that despite the pain, he felt happy because he now knew he could use his own strength to protect his younger siblings from being wronged or bullied again. He felt incredibly proud, realizing he had achieved something significant. Overwhelmed by this newfound feeling of strength, Ming Tian yearned to share it with someone but was unsure who to confide in. He found himself walking to a cafe, where he saw Fang Yu enjoying ice cream.
In that moment, he realized the depth of his feelings for her, wondering if she was the person he truly wanted to share his feelings with. Fang Yu, simultaneously, was also contemplating how to help Ming Tian overcome his fear of fighting back. Song Xiaomi expressed her eagerness for the upcoming dance, but Cheng Yanan and Ming Tian remained uninterested, preferring not to attend.
The principal, however, had issued a clear directive: all students must attend the ball in formal attire, or face punishment. The director emphasized the principal's strict orders, stating that "plans can't catch up to changes, and changes can't catch up to things the president says." Resigned, Cheng Yanan went looking for a suitable outfit, even calling her father to inquire about the tuxedo he wore at his wedding.
At a shop, she asked for a dress that would make her "slim and elegant." There, she had a hostile encounter with He Xiaofeng. He Xiaofeng rudely commented on Cheng Yanan's typically masculine attire, suggesting she looked like a "cross-dresser," and predicting she'd be a "wallflower" at the dance. Cheng Yanan retorted sharply, threatening to "beat her into a gecko" at the Zhengze League Match.
He Xiaofeng accused Cheng Yanan of seducing Luo Guanyan, pointing out that Cheng Yanan had told him to train at her father's gym. Cheng Yanan vehemently denied any interest in Luo Guanyan, dismissing him as "nothing more than a blade of grass" and turning the accusation back on He Xiaofeng, correctly deducing that He Xiaofeng herself harbored feelings for Luo Guanyan.
Cheng Yanan further taunted He Xiaofeng, implying that love makes one "dumber" and jealousy makes one "uglier," stating she had no reason to argue with a "stupid and ugly gecko." He Xiaofeng, fuming, promised to see her at the dance. Back at school, Fang Yu's training regimen for Ming Tian grew increasingly rigorous, much to Song Xiaomi's distress.
Song Xiaomi frequently intervened, trying to lighten the intensity, leading to playful squabbles with Cheng Yanan, whom she called a "selfish, dumb cat." Fang Yu, however, insisted on strictness to ensure Ming Tian passed the preliminaries. After a particularly intense session, Song Xiaomi tried to give Ming Tian a new suit she had bought for him to wear to the dance.
Ming Tian politely declined, explaining that she already provided so much support to his family by giving them food and drinks, and he couldn't continually accept her generosity. He then offered her money for groceries, insisting it was only fair payment for her excellent cooking and her assistance with his work.
Despite Song Xiaomi's protests, Ming Tian maintained that while he valued her help as a friend, he couldn't take her kindness for granted, as it would make him feel like "a jerk." He thanked her again and left for class, politely refusing the suit one last time. Watching him go, Song Xiaomi's heart swelled with affection, realizing she was falling deeper in love with him, marveling at his ambitious yet handsome nature.
On the day of the dance, the principal, wearing his own formal attire, checked on Ming Tian, who had planned not to attend due to his training focus. The principal insisted Ming Tian must attend, stating the dance was held because of him, and even lent him the suit he wore to pursue his wife. Ming Tian reluctantly agreed. The director took charge of the welcoming committee, demanding high standards of etiquette and dress.
He initiated strict security checks at the entrance, confiscating any items that could be deemed "weapons." One male student's sword prop was taken, and another had something removed from his hat. Song Xiaomi, dressed in a light gown, had her matching fan confiscated, deemed a "weapon used to kill." She was then forced to swap her stylish high heels, which had "pointy things," for flat slippers.
Amidst the chaos, Cheng Yanan arrived, dressed sharply in a men's suit, to the admiration of other students. The director, exasperated, confronted her for wearing men's clothing, but Cheng Yanan coolly countered that the rules only specified "formal wear," not gender-specific attire. Song Xiaomi teasingly commented on Cheng Yanan's handsome appearance and wondered why Sun Hao and Ming Tian hadn't arrived yet, joking that Cheng Yanan's handsomeness might have scared them off.
The Zhiying principal arrived with his students, including Luo Guanyan, whom he praised for his sharp dressing. Sun Hao then made his grand entrance in an extravagant, royal-wedding-like outfit, garnering a comment from Fang Yu about his overly formal attire for a school dance. Sun Hao proudly stated he dressed to impress as he intended to dance with girls.
As everyone gathered, the Zhengze principal delivered an inspiring speech, warmly welcoming the Zhiying students and expressing his joy that everyone had set aside their "MMA fighting auras" for the "friendship school dance." He hoped they would enjoy the food, desserts, and drinks, and put aside past grudges to coexist peacefully. The Zhiying principal echoed these sentiments, presenting a scroll bearing the words "Long Last Our Friendship" as a gift. The dance officially began.
Ming Tian arrived late, explaining that the principal had compelled him to come and even lent him the very suit he wore to court his wife, much to everyone's amazement at its significance and Ming Tian's handsome appearance. Song Xiaomi immediately vied for a dance with Ming Tian, offering to teach him since he couldn't dance.
Cheng Yanan quickly interjected, pulling Song Xiaomi aside and proclaiming she would dance with Ming Tian instead, leading to a comedic quarrel between the two girls, while Sun Hao also tried to get Ming Tian's attention. Fang Yu intended to ask Ming Tian to dance, but the director unexpectedly pulled her away to dance with him. Meanwhile, He Xiaofeng hoped Luo Guanyan would invite her to dance. However, Luo Guanyan approached Cheng Yanan, despite her wearing a man's suit.
Cheng Yanan eagerly accepted his invitation. As they danced, Luo Guanyan playfully teased Cheng Yanan about her "fetish" for dancing with men, acknowledging that to others, they might look like two men dancing. But he confessed that in his eyes, he was dancing with a "very special girl," showing he recognized and appreciated her true self. Cheng Yanan, still defiant, retaliated against He Xiaofeng by dancing with Luo Guanyan, declaring it was her way of getting revenge for He Xiaofeng's earlier insults.
