Sweet Combat Episode 23 Recap
> Sweet Combat Recap
"""[Recap]""" Ming Tian, Song Xiaomi, Cheng Yanan, and Sun Hao embarked on their journey to Macau. Song Xiaomi harbored thoughts of seizing the opportunity for a major counter-attack in Fang Yu's absence, while Sun Hao secretly hoped Ming Tian wouldn't reveal his earlier tip-off about Fang Yu's feelings. Cheng Yanan received a message from Luo Guanyan, listing "the 74th reason why he liked her" and urging her to take care of herself.
Meanwhile, Ming Tian's thoughts were with Fang Yu, who was supposed to be leaving for Dubai, but her flight had encountered a malfunction, requiring her to change plans. Upon their arrival in Macau, the four friends enjoyed a grand meal. During their meal, Ming Tian momentarily mistook a passing girl for Fang Yu, deepening his longing for her. Back home, Mingzhu and Minglang were left in the care of Hao's mother. The two siblings obediently ate noodles at her stall.
Cheng's father soon arrived, intending to use the excuse of applying medicine to discreetly check for moles on Hao's mother's foot. However, Mingzhu and Minglang's playful interruptions prevented him from doing so, forcing him to simply sit down and eat noodles. Cheng's father, while adding Hao's mother's special chili sauce to his noodles, resolved to try again in a few days. The noodles, however, were so spicy that he was left speechless.
At the Macau observation match, Cheng Yanan and Song Xiaomi prepared to enter the ring. From Hong Kong, Fang Yu, whose flight was temporarily grounded there, was watching the match live. On the stage, Cheng Yanan and Song Xiaomi traded blows and verbal jabs, while Ming Tian analyzed their every move. Both women reflected on their childhoods, where they had studied piano and dance, but ultimately found their passion and true brilliance in combat.
The intense match concluded in a draw. Back home, Fang Zhou grew frantic after learning Fang Yu was out of contact. He immediately called Song Xiaomi, who, upon hearing the news, rushed to find Ming Tian. However, Ming Tian was not in his hotel room; he was having dinner with Uncle Bao, who had always looked out for him, at the restaurant where he used to work. Later, Cheng Yanan sat alone on a street.
Luo Guanyan sent her yet another reason for liking her. However, Cheng Yanan recalled He Xiaofeng's words, realizing that Luo Guanyan had only approached her to learn the "Death Strike." Heartbroken, she pressed the delete button on her phone, despite the countless reasons he had given her for his affection, knowing his true motive was solely to master that fighting technique.
When Ming Tian returned to the hotel, Song Xiaomi approached him, hoping he would accompany her to buy gifts to reciprocate his past kindnesses. However, Ming Tian, having developed feelings for Fang Yu, could no longer accept Song Xiaomi's affections in that way. He gently but firmly told her, "I have someone that I like. I'm unable to pay you back with the same kind of feeling."
He explained, "There are some feelings of gratitude that can be repaid by giving gifts. There are some feelings of gratitude that, no matter what you give, you are never able to repay. I don't want and I can't accept that kind of feeling." Disheartened, Song Xiaomi retreated to her room, where Sun Hao was waiting for her. Still dejected, Song Xiaomi insisted that Sun Hao join her for a late-night supper, despite his earlier meal, and he reluctantly agreed.
Ming Tian later visited a wishing fountain, tossing a coin into the air. Suddenly, Fang Yu appeared behind him. Hearing her voice, Ming Tian quickly turned around, and their eyes met, sharing a smile. Fang Yu took out a coin of her own, hoping her beloved would appear. Ming Tian reached out and caught the coin, and they embraced tightly. Sitting by the wishing fountain, they reflected on their unpleasant past memories of Macau, now replaced with cherished new ones.
Fang Yu and Ming Tian, dressed in matching couple's shirts, went shopping. They spotted a rabbit doll on the street, strikingly similar to the rabbit costume Ming Tian had worn for his part-time job. Recalling that special rabbit, they exchanged a knowing smile, acknowledging the deep connection that had begun with it. Song Xiaomi poured out her heartbreak to Sun Hao, expressing her confusion as to why Ming Tian didn't like her.
As she broke down crying, Sun Hao could only offer comfort. Meanwhile, during a dinner with Fang Yu's grandfather, Wang Shiwei seized the opportunity to subtly disparage Ming Tian and his relationship with Fang Yu, implicitly accusing Ming Tian of impure intentions. Fang Yu's grandfather was visibly angered by Wang Shiwei's remarks. Ming Tian and Fang Yu then walked seven full circles at the pier.
Ming Tian presented Fang Yu with the small rabbit he had just bought, wishing for it to keep her company in his absence, and gently kissed her forehead. Fang Yu then turned to leave, unaware that Aunt Ji had passed by them, recognizing Fang Yu, though Fang Yu did not notice her. Later, Song Xiaomi, still drinking, made her way to the hotel rooftop, with Sun Hao secretly following to ensure her safety.
In her heartbroken state, Song Xiaomi was irritable and couldn't tolerate anyone else's presence. She decided to go out alone to buy more alcohol. Sitting at a roadside food stall, Song Xiaomi reflected on her past with Ming Tian. Suddenly, she overheard a conversation between Aunt Ji and the wife of a Hong Kong fighter, referred to as Ah Can's wife.
Aunt Ji confessed that her husband, Ji Gang, had not died due to Ming Tian's father's actions, but rather from his own pre-existing health condition. She admitted to having used this fact to commit insurance fraud and was now encouraging Ah Can's wife, whose husband had terminal cancer, to do the same.
Aunt Ji also revealed that Ji Gang had once worked as a bodyguard for the Fang Family Group and mentioned seeing Fang Yu twice this month, which made her uneasy. Meanwhile, Cheng's father, recalling his embarrassing moment earlier, secretly vowed never to bring up the topic of the seven moles again. The next day, Sun Hao learned that Fang Yu and Ming Tian were officially together and offered his sincere blessings to Ming Tian.
Song Xiaomi, however, remained dejected and quiet. Sun Hao remarked on her unusual silence, teasing her about not being rejected by Ming Tian. Song Xiaomi denied it, stating she was merely deep in thought. She then shared with Sun Hao what she had overheard the previous night, describing the two women discussing insurance fraud, whose husbands were boxers, and mentioning Fang Yu. She specifically noted that one of the husbands used to be a bodyguard for the Fang Family Group. Song Xiaomi added that one of the women's voices sounded eerily familiar to her, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
