Sweet Combat Episode 3 Recap
> Sweet Combat Recap
Cheng Yanan burst into the bathroom, discovering Ming Tian and Fang Yu in a compromising situation, which immediately led her to overthink. Both Ming Tian and Fang Yu quickly tried to dispel her wild imaginings. Moments later, He Xiaofeng entered, seeking out Fang Yu. Seeing Fang Yu as her ultimate rival, He Xiaofeng vehemently declared that Fang Yu must choose her as her opponent for the finals. Later, as Fang Yu walked, she couldn't shake off Ming Tian's dismissive tone.
She reflected on how she felt like a "monster" every time she entered a women's restroom, facing whispers and stares. Lost in thought, she recalled past embarrassing incidents and inadvertently bumped into Sun Hao. Sun Hao, immediately captivated by her aloof demeanor, pursued her, attempting to strike up a conversation. However, Fang Yu responded by effortlessly flipping him over her shoulder and onto the ground. Far from being deterred, Sun Hao found himself even more intrigued by her.
He later recounted the incident to his mother, marveling at how Fang Yu's speed was so great he couldn't even see it, and how she flipped him to the ground before he could react. At a sweet shop, Song Xiaomi, Fang Yu, and Cheng Yanan comically wrestled over a strawberry ice cream cone, with Cheng Yanan ultimately emerging victorious. Meanwhile, Ming Tian, while on a food delivery, witnessed a group of thugs bullying a young boy.
He urged the boy to flee, but in doing so, he drew the thugs' attention and found himself in trouble. As the three girls left the sweet shop, they spotted the unfolding scene and rushed to intervene. The thugs, confident that Zhengze students wouldn't dare to fight outside of school, were openly provocative. Unable to stand by any longer, the girls dropped their bags and bravely engaged the thugs. They quickly subdued several of them.
When Song Xiaomi was nearly ambushed, Ming Tian swiftly kicked a soccer ball, saving her, which left her visibly moved. Fang Yu and Cheng Yanan shared a victorious high-five, signifying the end of the skirmish. Observing Ming Tian's apparent weakness, Fang Yu advised him, stating he didn't even have the ability to protect himself and should quickly join a club to learn self-defense.
Ming Tian, however, timidly declined, explaining he didn't believe violence resolved problems and that the incident was his fault. He expressed a desire to never discuss it again. When questioned why he attended Zhengze if he disliked fighting so much, Ming Tian simply replied, "Because I need the scholarship." He then gathered his delivery box, mounted his bicycle, and rode away, leaving the three girls to ponder his solitary departure.
At the Fang Group, young master Fang Zhou engaged his employees in a lengthy discussion about a "girly heart" before heading to the elevator to await his delivery. Ming Tian's bicycle had been knocked over by the thugs, causing a delay in his delivery. He had to personally explain the situation to Fang Zhou.
Fang Zhou, displeased, berated Ming Tian for being late and not delivering his order, demanding he acknowledge his "first taste of failure" by making an online post. Just as Fang Zhou was about to escalate the situation, his sister, Fang Yu, appeared and sternly reprimanded him. Ming Tian later stood outside his home, dejected, recalling how his younger brother, Ming Lang, had thrown a tantrum that morning because there were no nuts to eat.
Ming Lang had accused Ming Tian of lying about buying daily nuts, pork jerky, and dried mangoes, claiming they only ever had eggs. With the meager change in his hand, Ming Tian decided he would buy some nuts for his siblings. Around the same time, Fang Yu, at home, found herself inexplicably annoyed as she reflected on her recent interactions with Ming Tian. Despite trying to dismiss it by asking, "Who is he? Why should I care about him?"
, she began to realize she was paying more attention to him. Ming Tian, clutching a bag of nuts, eagerly returned home hoping to surprise Ming Zhu and Ming Lang. To his dismay, they were already asleep. He gently went upstairs to tuck them in and felt a wave of warmth in his heart upon seeing Ming Lang’s drawing, which read, "Big Brother, I'm sorry. I love you." The next morning, Fang Yu and Fang Zhou playfully bantered over breakfast.
Fang Yu listened as her brother teased her about her lack of a "girly heart," comparing her to a "steel-hearted queen" who would regret not embracing her youth by age thirty. This prompted Fang Yu to reflect on her own demeanor. Later, she ordered a bouquet of flowers, preparing to visit Uncle Ji's grave, a ritual she observed whenever she felt particularly troubled.
She remembered the first time she wore a dress, only to be called a monster by her classmates. It was Uncle Ji who comforted and reassured her, telling her that monsters were defined not by outward appearance but by evil thoughts within the heart. From that day forward, Fang Yu had considered Uncle Ji her life mentor.
She also recalled an elder telling her that relying on others would only make her weaker and that she needed to grow up to help her younger brother. She lamented that after Uncle Ji's passing, even the rabbit doll he had given her had been taken away by her grandfather, making her feel utterly helpless. After bowing deeply at Uncle Ji's tombstone, Fang Yu turned and walked away, unaware that Ming Tian was approaching from behind.
Ming Tian, also carrying a bouquet of flowers, arrived at Uncle Ji's grave. He introduced himself as Ming Hai's son and apologized for not visiting sooner. Ming Tian, Fang Yu, Cheng Yanan, and Song Xiaomi were called to the director's office for fighting outside of school. The director stated that Zhengze was under too much attention and he had to punish them.
Ming Tian quickly tried to take all the blame, insisting he was the cause of the fight and that the seniors had only acted out of love for a fellow classmate. However, the director instead praised Ming Tian for standing against evil, saying he should be rewarded. The director then announced that, as a "punishment," the three girls would be required to use their free time to personally train Ming Tian in combat, ensuring he became stronger quickly.
Song Xiaomi enthusiastically accepted the punishment, thanking the director. However, Ming Tian, showing little interest in combat, tried to leave, stating that becoming strong was not important to him as he had other things to do. Cheng Yanan questioned his stubbornness, asking why he was unwilling to train despite the director's decision. In a classroom discussion on "sexes getting along," Song Xiaomi openly challenged Cheng Yanan and Fang Yu, claiming they lacked a "youthful, girly heart."
Cheng Yanan immediately defended herself, asking Fang Yu to vouch for her. Song Xiaomi countered by remarking that asking Fang Yu, who had even less of a "girly heart," was like asking a bandit to testify for a robber's kindness. Fang Yu, embodying her "Combat Queen" persona, firmly stated she had no need for a "youthful, girly heart."
Despite her outward confidence, Fang Yu couldn't help but reflect on whether her perceived lack of "girly heart" was why others saw her as a monster and if growing her hair out wasn't enough to prove she was a girl. As Ming Tian walked through the school, he noticed students casting sympathetic glances his way. Confused, he hurried to the bulletin board.
There, he saw a shocking announcement: Fang Yu had designated him as her opponent in the Zhengze League Match finals. Other students murmured their lack of confidence in his chances against Fang Yu, and Ming Tian once again felt a wave of self-doubt. Later, he confronted Fang Yu, demanding to know why she chose him as her opponent.
He explained that between classes, work, and caring for his younger siblings, he had no time to train, and his skills were clearly no match for hers. He felt she was trying to humiliate him. Fang Yu countered that it wasn't humiliation; as a Zhengze student, he should embrace combat to protect himself from trouble outside school. Frustrated, Ming Tian asked if there was no way to make her cancel the match.
Fang Yu confirmed her decision, adding that if he had the ability, he should just transfer to another school. In response, Ming Tian declared he would simply drop out this time. Fang Yu, Cheng Yanan, and Song Xiaomi discussed Ming Tian's extreme reaction. Fang Yu revealed that Ming Tian had asked her to give up the idea of the match, and she had suggested he transfer schools if he could, leading to his abrupt departure.
Cheng Yanan noted Ming Tian's surprising impact, remarking that he had managed to turn a "thousand-year-old iceberg mountain" like Fang Yu into a "fiery volcano" in a short time. Curious, they decided to visit Ming Tian at his workplace. However, upon arrival, they were informed that Ming Tian had quit his job, feeling guilty for a previous late delivery caused by an incident with thugs.
Meanwhile, at the Zhengze Academy tournament hall, He Xiaofeng formally issued a challenge against Fang Yu, declaring it was according to Zhengze's rules. A junior student, witnessing the dramatic scene, asked Cheng Yanan about the significance of such a challenge. Cheng Yanan explained that the hall was where outsiders could openly challenge students, warning that one should have insurance and an ambulance on standby due to the extreme nature of the fights.
Fang Yu, however, was not at school that day. Cheng Yanan informed He Xiaofeng that Fang Yu was absent and that her challenge would be fruitless. Later, Ming Tian went to the Director’s office with a withdrawal application. He stated that he did not want to be in the competition.
The Director tried to dissuade him, even offering to let him wear a ski-mask during the match to hide his face if he were defeated, emphasizing the school's tradition and pride.
