Sweet Combat Episode 14 Recap
> Sweet Combat Recap
Song Xiaomi was relieved she had covered Ming Tian's shift, fearing what might happen if Fang Yu and Ming Tian had progressed further. She and Sun Hao decided to seize the opportunity to win over their respective crushes. Meanwhile, Ming Tian continued his intense home workouts. His younger siblings, Ming Zhu and Ming Lang, secretly created a booklet to evaluate whether Song Xiaomi or Fang Yu would be a better girlfriend for Ming Tian, finding them equally matched.
Late at night, a troubled Fang Yu sought out Cheng Yanan. Cheng Yanan confronted Fang Yu about her feelings, asking, "When did you start to care so much about Song Xiaomi's feelings?" Fang Yu denied it, but Cheng Yanan pointed out that if Song Xiaomi had made a meal for anyone else, Fang Yu wouldn't "even bat an eye at it." She concluded, "Stop lying to yourself. The one you care about isn't Song Xiaomi, it's Ming Tian!"
Fang Yu vehemently denied it, but Cheng Yanan insisted that bystanders see clearly and that they would talk when Fang Yu was ready to admit her true feelings. As Cheng Yanan left, Fang Yu called after her to ask if Song Xiaomi's cooking was truly good. Cheng Yanan confirmed it was "very delicious," adding it was why she had become friends with Song Xiaomi "against my conscience."
Cheng Yanan advised Fang Yu to pretend not to know about Ming Tian's feelings and to be even stricter with him during training. Fang Yu, in an internal monologue, admitted that it wasn't that she didn't want to confess, but rather she felt it was useless because Ming Tian didn't like her back. Feeling dejected, Fang Yu spotted Song Xiaomi and Ming Tian chatting. Panicked, Fang Yu feared Song Xiaomi had revealed her secret crush to Ming Tian.
She rushed to intercept Ming Tian, trying to explain away "nonsense" Song Xiaomi might have told him. However, Ming Tian revealed that Song Xiaomi had only told him about Fang Yu's suggestion for everyone to chip in to buy him new sneakers as a birthday gift, a kind gesture he planned to handle himself once he got his paycheck. Relieved, Fang Yu checked his old sneakers, confirming they needed replacing, and dismissed Ming Tian.
Ming Tian, reflecting on the conversation, wondered how "Senior Sis got drunk enough to think about giving me sneakers," still unaware of Fang Yu's true feelings. Back at the boxing club, Fang Yu realized Song Xiaomi had deliberately tricked her and was annoyed, vowing to get her back. Song Xiaomi, on the other hand, admitted to Ming Tian that bothering Fang Yu was satisfying, "even more satisfying than hitting her in the ring!"
Ming Tian led the team's warm-ups and formally welcomed Fang Yu back. During the exercises, Ming Tian sensed an awkward atmosphere among his teammates, but they all denied it when he questioned them. Later, Ming Tian prepared for training with Fang Yu, who, following Cheng Yanan's advice, was exceptionally harsh with her punches, drawing admiration from onlookers.
Luo Guanyan explained to Ming Tian that aside from strength and speed, a fighter's psychological composure is key, especially among equally skilled S-rank players. He advised Ming Tian to get used to Fang Yu's strength, speed, and formidable aura to prepare for future opponents. After the brutal training, Ming Tian and Sun Hao showered. Sun Hao complained his body was falling apart from the harsh training, but Ming Tian, despite the intense pain inflicted by Fang Yu, felt no resentment.
Instead, he was inwardly delighted, knowing that the pain signaled his gradual path to becoming stronger. Cheng Yanan continued to urge Fang Yu to express her feelings for Ming Tian, but Fang Yu refused, convinced Ming Tian didn't like her. Cheng Yanan was exasperated by Fang Yu's "cowardice" in love, contrasting it with her courage in the boxing ring.
She argued that love and boxing were similar, both requiring the courage to step into the arena, or one would be "only worthy of giving Song Xiaomi your blessings." Meanwhile, on his way to work at the coffee shop, Ming Tian was intercepted by Sun Hao. Sun Hao, claiming it was his lifelong dream to wear a mascot costume, offered Ming Tian enough money to cover his shift, convincing Ming Tian to let him take over.
At the coffee shop, Song Xiaomi, thinking the rabbit mascot was Ming Tian, approached it to confess her feelings. She admitted to being shy despite her usual demeanor and confessed, "I admit it. When I first pursued you, it was for the sake of succeeding, but. . . now that we've spent some time together, I've realized that I really like you." Sun Hao, terrified, finally ripped off the mascot head, revealing himself.
Furious, Song Xiaomi immediately chased him, ready to fight. Sun Hao, fleeing, promised to keep her confession a secret, knowing "Dead people can't talk!" The next day, Sun Hao grimaced in pain from his injuries, which were mistaken for an illness. Fang Yu, spurred by Cheng Yanan's previous scolding, had regained her confidence but still struggled with how to approach Ming Tian. She practiced her confession, asking, "Ming Tian, what do you think of me. . . ?"
News arrived that Ming Tian was assigned to a challenging group for the preliminaries, including Ma Yichen, whom he sought revenge against, and Luo Guanyan, for whom he needed extensive preparation. Song Xiaomi called it a "death group." Ming Tian learned from Cheng Yanan that Fang Yu had won her first competition in just thirty-seven seconds, causing all her opponents to forfeit and earning her fame.
Cheng Yanan suggested Ming Tian ask Fang Yu for tips, leading him to approach her. Seeing this, a jealous Song Xiaomi challenged Cheng Yanan to a spar, while Ming Tian, observing their conflict, mused that "love is poisonous." Ming Tian asked Fang Yu for advice on preparing for matches, specifically about mental strategy. Fang Yu explained that she was not more gifted, but possessed stronger willpower.
She emphasized that a fighter's true drive comes from telling oneself "I won't lose" when entering the arena, thereby strengthening resolve and courage. She also taught him how to absorb punches by shortening arm distance and defending weaker spots. Fang Yu stressed that overcoming the natural instinct to avoid danger, and losing the fear of being hit, was key to becoming stronger. Ming Tian thanked her profusely for her invaluable tips.
After Ming Tian finished his questions, Fang Yu gazed into his eyes, trying to gather the courage to speak her true feelings. However, Ming Tian, oblivious, announced he had to go to class, abruptly ending their conversation. Fang Yu later expressed her frustration over the phone to Cheng Yanan, saying it wasn't that she wouldn't confess, just that she wasn't ready yet, and insisted she had her own plan.
Back home, Fang Yu tried her hand at cooking again, but the result was a burned mess. Her family, upon seeing her failed attempt, offered cooking advice. Fang Yu then called Sun Hao, asking for a favor, and he readily agreed to help her with cooking lessons, even tasting her efforts and offering encouragement. Ming Tian continued practicing his boxing, focusing on the techniques Fang Yu taught him to overcome fear and become stronger. After a training session, Ming Tian invited Fang Yu to eat at the cafeteria, but she politely declined, saying she had something to do at home, and quickly left.
