Sweet Combat Episode 21 Recap
> Sweet Combat Recap
Fang Yu pulled back her punch and awkwardly embraced a dizzy Cheng Yanan, then retreated, leaving Ming Tian standing alone and bewildered. Later, at a party held at Sun Hao’s mother’s food stall, Sun Hao successfully won round-trip tickets to Macau in the lucky draw, thanks to the collective efforts of the neighbors. Fang Yu sat alone in her office, lost in thought as she gazed at a photo taken with everyone at an amusement park.
At the same time, Ming Tian at home also zoomed in on that same photo. Fang Yu’s joyful smile was precious to him. He felt that if Cheng Yanan had finished her sentence earlier, he would have admitted his jealousy. Fang Yu's grandfather moved up her business trip to Dubai, preventing her from joining Cheng Yanan and Song Xiaomi in Macau.
At the Taekwondo club, Song Xiaomi was relieved that Fang Yu wasn't going to Macau, while Sun Hao expressed some disappointment. Ming Tian, unsure of his role as the trio's coach, sought advice from Zhang Chunhua. He was inspired to become their "eyes," helping them understand their opponents and devise strategies. After teaching Taekwondo to Ming Zhu and Ming Lang, Fang Yu took them out for char siu rice.
There, she learned that Ming Tian disliked the dish ever since his mother left, as she had taken them to eat it the day before she disappeared. Seeing the children's sadness, Fang Yu's heart ached for Ming Tian, realizing he had endured a different kind of pain than her own. She promised to secretly take the siblings for char siu rice whenever they craved it.
Meanwhile, Ming Tian visited the boxing club at Zhiying University to observe He Xiaofeng's training, concerned his teammates might underestimate her. Luo Guanyan continued to list reasons why he liked Cheng Yanan, having now accumulated 56 points. Ming Tian found him in the men’s restroom and inquired why he had forfeited his match.
Luo Guanyan explained that he felt it was his duty to make Ma Yichen understand the true meaning of combat and wanted Ming Tian to defeat Ma Yichen so he could experience the taste of failure. Luo Guanyan then suggested that Ming Tian fight He Xiaofeng to learn her capabilities, a challenge Ming Tian accepted. During their sparring match, He Xiaofeng launched a fierce offense with remarkably fast punches.
Ma Yichen and other club members provoked from below the ring, but Luo Guanyan noted Ming Tian's swift progress. Back at Zhengze Academy, a bruised Ming Tian urged Cheng Yanan and Song Xiaomi not to underestimate He Xiaofeng. He explained that He Xiaofeng's speed now surpassed Cheng Yanan's, and her strength exceeded Song Xiaomi's, with well-tuned endurance. Cheng Yanan admitted speed was her weakness, and Song Xiaomi complained about her height affecting her strength.
Ming Tian advised them that an athlete's strengths and weaknesses are relative and can change based on the opponent. He believed that by mastering their strengths, avoiding weaknesses, and not underestimating their opponent, their chances of winning would be high. Both Cheng Yanan and Song Xiaomi agreed they had found the right coach and jokingly argued over who he belonged to. Later, Wang Shiwei, frustrated after failing to win over Fang Yu, spoke with Ma Yichen.
He felt his luck had been bad ever since he lost to Ming Tian. Ma Yichen suggested finding people to teach Ming Tian a lesson, but Wang Shiwei scoffed, stating that Ming Tian was protected by three S-rank competitors, including Fang Yu. Noting her personal coaching and intervention at Zhiying, he concluded their relationship was more than just senior and junior, and his own chances with Fang Yu were slim.
Wang Shiwei then elaborated on his new strategy: instead of direct confrontation, he would strike indirectly by exploiting others' weaknesses to achieve his goals. Cheng Dafu, Cheng Yanan’s father, confessed to his daughter that he accidentally hit Sun Hao’s mother with his bicycle a few days prior. Feeling indebted because she didn’t demand hospital fees, he wished to apologize properly.
Cheng Yanan directed him to Hao's Mother's Noodle Stall, explaining that Sun Hao’s father had passed away early and his mother managed the stall alone. Fang Yu, Cheng Yanan, and Song Xiaomi, accompanied by Ming Tian as their coach, gathered for a meal where Song Xiaomi continued to joke about Fang Yu not going to Macau. Later, at the Zhengze boxing club, Fang Yu asked Ming Tian about Luo Guanyan’s well-being.
Ming Tian, honoring Luo Guanyan's request, reassured her that he was fine. Meanwhile, Cheng Yanan, worried about Luo Guanyan, went to Zhiying herself to look for him. She was shocked to discover that He Xiaofeng had become the boxing club president, and Luo Guanyan had been demoted to overseeing the entire school's cleaning. Upset, Cheng Yanan confronted He Xiaofeng, who mocked her and threatened to reveal something that would cause her endless pain.
At Zhengze Academy, as the Macau trip approached, the director tasked Cheng Yanan and Song Xiaomi with upholding the school's honor, instructing Ming Tian to take good care of them. Sun Hao revealed he would be joining them, paying for his own ticket. As they departed, Sun Hao had an internal monologue, reminding himself to tell Ming Tian not to let Song Xiaomi find out that he had revealed Fang Yu’s feelings for him.
Elsewhere, Luo Guanyan, still diligently cleaning, continued to write down reasons why he liked Cheng Yanan, noting that he didn't have to worry about her safety like other girls. Ming Tian later met Fang Yu and brought her strawberry ice cream. Fang Yu lamented that she couldn't go to Macau with the others, a sentiment Ming Tian shared.
He then asked her directly if she had ever liked him, referencing how he'd heard someone say she liked him, but had also heard her deny it with his own ears. Fang Yu, after some hesitation, confessed that she did like him. Ming Tian, in turn, admitted that he liked her too, and had for a very long time. He then revealed his insecurities, feeling unworthy due to his combat skills, poverty, and years away from school.
Fang Yu quickly dismissed each concern, saying his skills could improve, she didn't need money for dates, and she could even take a leave of absence to be in the same class as him. Ming Tian then admitted his jealousy when he saw Fang Yu in Wang Shiwei's car and when she was making stir-fry noodles with Sun Hao.
He also mentioned seeing Song Xiaomi kiss her, stating he disliked others taking advantage of Fang Yu and wished to be the only one to do so. The two then shared a kiss. The next morning, Fang Yu's brother, Fang Zhou, seemed confused by her unusually cheerful behavior. Ming Tian’s siblings also wondered if he was sick due to his strange demeanor after returning home. Meanwhile, at the airport, Fang Yu was informed by her grandfather's secretary that due to problems with her original flight to Dubai, she needed to change airlines.
