Episode summary for Go Go Squid! (亲爱的, 热爱的) from episode 1 to 41. A light-hearted Chinese romance drama to keep you entertained with nothing too melodramatic to spoil your mood. I have tried to write out a full recap of the whole drama below. Hopefully, you will find it helpful especially if you are too impatient to know what happens next! Alternatively, you can skip everything here and head straight to my Go Go Squid! review to check out my thoughts if this is worth a watch or otherwise.
Episode 1
Han Shang Yan’s team, K&K, has just lost the Cybersecurity Tournament (CTF) to team SP. He used to be a professional gamer and a legend in his field. Now, he is the owner of a cyber club and in charge of a group of young gamers. His task is to train them to be the best and he takes his job very seriously. Although he is strict and gives them a lot of pressure, Han also cares a lot about them. His team leader is Wu Bai, who is also his cousin.
When K&K only managed to get second place in the tournament, the members start quarreling on the bus. Feeling angry, he gets down and ends up in an internet cafe. He meets Tong Nian who is helping to look after the cafe for her cousin, Hu Dou Nan. Tong Nian is a computer science graduate student majoring in cybersecurity. She immediately has a crush on Han when he steps into the cafe. Through devious means, Tong Nian manages to get Han’s WeChat number. She keeps sending him promotional messages for the internet cafe hoping for a reply.
Zheng Hui is Tong Nian’s senior in university. He is interested in Tong Nian and requests her good friend, Sun Ya Ya, to help him to woo her. Han goes to look for his old friend, Mi Shao Fei, who also used to be a gamer. He tries to persuade Shao Fei to join K&K. Shao Fei brings him for dinner to meet Ou Qiang, a team member from SP.
Episode 2
When Solo also turns up, Han immediately leaves. Solo is SP’s China representative. He used to be the team leader of which Han, Shao Fei, Ou Qiang, and Ai Qing were members 10 years ago. They were very close to each other and had just won a championship when Han quit abruptly due to a disagreement with Solo. Han told Solo that he shouldn’t lead a team anymore due to a mistake that he had made and Solo agreed. With Han retiring from competition, Shao Fei also quit the team. 10 years later, Han is still unable to forgive Solo and has nothing much to say to him. But Solo is now handling team SP and has got Ai Qing and Ou Qiang onboard. He is also persuading Shao Fei to join SP. Shao Fei agrees.
Tong Nian tries to contact Han through an online game that he plays. Dou Nan manages to get Han’s username for the game by going through the security cameras while Han was at the internet cafe. That night, he was playing under the username Grunt. This allows Tong Nian to add him as a friend and communicate with him.
Episode 3
Han knows that Tong Nian is just a novice and assumes that she is just a kid playing the game. So, he accommodates and plays with her for a night. The next day, Tong Nian has to fly to Guangzhou for an online musical promotional event. She notices Han and his K&K team at the Guangzhou airport. They are there to attend a competition. Tong Nian tries to catch up with Han but they have already boarded a bus. But members of the team did catch sight of her.
After her event, Tong Nian rushes over to the gaming competition to try to look for Han. He notices her and they exchange a few words since he recognizes her as the girl from the internet cafe. His team members assume that Tong Nian must be his girlfriend. After the competition, Tong Nian hears that Grunt is having stomach cramps. Feeling anxious, she sneaks back into the venue. A K&K team member, 97, notices her and lets her in. The members start referring her as the boss’ wife. Tong Nian then discovers that Grunt is not Han but another team member. On the other hand, Han thinks that Tong Nian is Grunt’s girlfriend and that she purposely flies to Guangzhou to watch them compete. He tells his manager, Su Cheng, that they need to talk to Tong Nian.
Episode 4
The director of the competition wants to arrange a lunch with both Solo and Han. But Han declines as he is still angry with Solo. Tong Nian is invited to go for lunch with the K&K team. On arrival at the hotel, she is told to meet Han in his room. Once inside the room, she is questioned together with Grunt if they are in a relationship. This forces Tong Nian to admit that she is actually looking for Han rather than Grunt when she turns up at the competition and that she likes him.
After clearing up the misunderstanding, they have lunch together with the team. She tells them that she is a graduate student as well as an online singer. Checks reveal that she has more than a million fan base online which leaves the youngsters impressed. However, Han appears indifferent and requests for a driver to send Tong Nian back to her hotel.
Wu Bai informs Han that their grandfather is looking for him. Han calls him back to hear him nagging about Han’s obsession with computers and lack of love life. His grandfather wants him to get married and have kids. Tong Nian goes back to her hotel and starts searching information about Han. She hears from a friend’s husband that Han was rumoured to be the third party in Solo and Ai Qing’s relationship 10 years ago which caused the team to disband. So, Han starts K&K to try to get back Ai Qing.
Episode 5
Wu Bai tells Han that he has met Tong Nian before as they have entered the same coding competition previously. The next day, K&K is battling SP for the championship. Tong Nian is at the venue with her friend, Lan Mei but they do not have tickets. Han allows his team members to admit Tong Nian. During the competition, Tong Nian sits next to Han which makes her uncomfortable as it will deepen the misunderstanding that she is Han’s girlfriend. She explains to Han that she should move away as it will create trouble between him and Ai Qing. However, Han tells her that her information is inaccurate as he is single and uninterested in any relationship.
K&K lost the competition to SP who has recruited veterans Shao Fei and Ou Qiang into the team. Before leaving, Han tells Tong Nian that she doesn’t have to bother clearing up the misunderstanding of them being a couple with his team as they will never meet again anyway. He has no plans to get involved in a relationship as he only wants to train up the youngsters to be world champions. His team members are also gossiping about their boss’ bitter relationship with Solo. The talk is that Solo and Ai Qing was a couple until Solo’s ex-girlfriend came into the picture. Ai Qing left the team as a result and so did Solo. Apparently, Han is angry with Solo because the team got disbanded due to his personal issues. Su Cheng is also the mother of Solo’s daughter.
Back in Shanghai, Tong Nian tries to get over her crush on Han. She is invited to give a talk on Artificial Intelligence at the university with Zheng Hui.
Episode 6
Zheng Hui wants to express his feelings for Tong Nian. But he is too shy and does not have the courage to do so although Ya Ya tries to prod him along. Tong Nian is still thinking of Han and goes by K&K Club to have a look before hurrying off.
It is the new year celebrations and everyone in K&K is going back to their hometown except for Demo. He has nowhere to go as his parents are divorced. Han brings him back to his house with Wu Bai. He thinks it will be good to have someone who can distract and make his grandfather happy. During dinner, when Demo offers Han a chicken drumstick, he turns moody and retreats to his room. The drumstick reminds him of the past when he was starting out with Solo, Ai Qing, Shao Fei, and Ou Qiang in the gaming field.
It was a struggle then as they had little money and experience. They started out in Beijing and eventually moved to Shanghai. Han used his education trust fund set up by his late father to help with the team’s expenses. A knock on the door wakes Han up from his reverie.
Episode 7
Demo has brought food for Han. Han apologizes for his rudeness. The next day, they go together to pick up Grandpa Han from the airport. At night, Grandpa Han visits Tong Nian’s parents. They are old friends. The purpose of the visit is to matchmake Tong Nian’s cousin sister, Hu Yue Jiao, with Han. Han is forced to go with him into the house. When Han and Tong Nian see each other, both are completely taken by surprise. Grandpa Han thinks that Tong Nian will be a good match for his other grandson, Wu Bai.
On the way to dinner, Yue Jiao, Dou Nan, and Tong Nian end up in Han’s car. Han is rude to Yue Jiao and he bluntly tells her that he isn’t interested in her. He also mentions to Tong Nian that there is no point acting that they are strangers because Wu Bai will be joining them for dinner and the secret would get exposed anyway. When Wu Bai turns up and Grandpa Han tries to matchmake him with Tong Nian, Han keeps quiet to enjoy the show. In retaliation, Wu Bai tells everyone that Tong Nian is referred to as Han’s wife among K&K team members giving the impression that they are dating. With the elders at the table, it is also hard for Han and Tong Nian to explain their complicated relationship when Dou Nan chimes in that Tong Nian likes Han.
This makes things awkward for everyone. Han’s coldness towards Tong Nian also angers her mother. On the way back, Tong Nian suggests that they should just announce their breakup the following month. Han says that he will leave it to her to decide.
Episode 8
On New Year’s day, Grandpa Han orders Han to pick up Tong Nian and drive her over for dinner. Han goes over to Tong Nian’s house with fruits but her mother is not so welcoming while her father is more understanding. On the way to Han’s house, they stop by to do some grocery shopping with Demo. Han makes them dumplings for dinner. Tong Nian is also able to please Grandpa Han with her singing. Grandpa Han prepares a necklace as a gift for Tong Nian and asks Han to give it to her.
After the new year holidays, all the team members are back at K&K Club. They find out that Demo had spend the new year with Han. An individual’s competition is going to be held in Norway and Grunt and 97 have been selected to participate. They will be traveling together with the SP team to Norway.
Episode 9
Han opens an account with an online music app and started following Tong Nian. She is ecstatic about it and calls Han. But he is already falling asleep then. Han informs Tong Nian that he will be flying to Norway the next day and also gives her his return date. On the flight to Norway, Han sits next Ai Qing who is leading the SP team. He mainly ignores her for the duration of the flight. Ai Qing and Solo used to be lovers. But on the night before the finals of the national championship 10 years ago, Han already knew that Solo would quit the team after the competition for a wrong that he had done towards Ai Qing. Han was also angry that Ai Qing seemed to have forgiven Solo.
Han’s dream back then was to be the world champion. Solo was supposed to help each team member achieve their dreams as team captain. They had a very close relationship with each other until the team got disbanded. While in Norway, Han is ordered by Han Jia Jia to collect a necklace from an antique shop on her behalf. When he arrives back at the hotel, Ai Qing is waiting for him. She invites Han for a drink as it is his birthday. When Ai Qing brings up the past, Han gets angry and leaves. Ai Qing chases after him and gets stopped by a few men who are trying to take advantage of her.
Episode 10
Han fights them off and then Shao Fei arrives asking him to calm down. There is still a lot of anger in Han towards things that happened in the past. Ai Qing had actually prepared a birthday cake for Han earlier. So, Shao Fei offers to bring it to Han. Han asks Shao Fei why he chooses to join SP instead of his team to which Shao Fei replies that it was where he started and he only knows Solo as team captain. Shao Fei also advises Han that he cannot be blaming Solo and Ai Qing forever for a mistake done in the past.
In the competition, both SP and K&K are there to represent China. Shao Fei lost in the first round and Han offers some comforting words. Before the final, Ai Qing seeks out Wu Bai to encourage him. Wu Bai has always admired and liked Ai Qing since his days in high school. He hopes to win the tournament not only for the country but also for Ai Qing to personally witness his achievement. In the end, Wu Bai defeats the second-ranked player to win the championship.
Han acknowledges that Shao Fei’s skills are just average. With the tournament over, Han invites Shao Fei and Ou Qiang for a drive to relive the the feeling of brotherhood of the past.
Episode 11
While Han is angry with Solo and frustrated with Ai Qing, Ou Qiang argues that at least Solo continues to develop the industry in China and increase its exposure. Ou Qiang is also angry at Han for retiring abruptly and running away 10 years ago. After arguing and expressing their thoughts, they feel better and remain friends. As for Ai Qing, she feels that the meaner Han is, the more he cares about someone. This is because he doesn’t know how to express himself as his parents died while he was still young and he is brought up by his stepmother.
When Han arrives back in China, Tong Nian goes to the airport to try to welcome him back. But she misses him and bumps into Wu Bai instead. Wu Bai brings her to their bus and she follows them back to K&K Club. During lunch, Tong Nian hears about reaction speed testing as a training method for the players. She offers to develop a software to help them out and works the whole night through to get it completed.
Su Cheng and Solo have a daughter, Xiao Ai. She lives with Solo and doesn’t like her mother. Xiao Ai blames Su Cheng for abandoning her father years earlier when he was still poor. She also has a hearing problem and wears a hearing aid. Su Cheng needs to look after Xiao Ai for a few days and brings her to K&K Club. Han feels that Xiao Ai needs to be disciplined and Solo has not done a good job at parenting. They argue and then end up agreeing to go to the amusement park.
Episode 12
Han asks Tong Nian to come along to accompany the problematic Xiao Ai. Tong Nian and Xiao Ai are able to get along quite well. Xiao Ai even sets up opportunities for Tong Nian and Han to be together and helps to take pictures of both of them. After the trip, Han sends Xiao Ai and Su Cheng back to SP’s office. Solo tells Ai Qing that Shao Fei will have to buck up if he wants to be in SP’s top team. The coming competition will be his final chance to be among the top rated players.
Tong Nian wants to show Han her software and so, they go back together to K&K Club. While Tong Nian instals the software and tests it out, Han returns to his room. But he falls asleep and by the time, he returns to the guest room, Tong Nian has been waiting for him. Han offers her beer while he tests out the software. It is Tong Nian’s first time drinking beer and she gulps it down. Then, she gets a little drunk and starts getting close to Han which makes him uncomfortable.
Tong Nian then follows Han to his room when she is supposed to sit still. She notices the necklace Han collected for Han Jia Jia and thinks it is for her. Tong Nian grabs the necklace and then falls asleep in Han’s room. Han uses Tong Nian’s phone to call her friend to send her home.
Episode 13
Lan Mei and her husband who is a fan of Han, wait outside Tong Nian’s house. Han sends a drunk Tong Nian to them so that they can bring her home to avoid any misunderstanding with her parents. The next day, Tong Nian recalls her embarrassing antics the previous night. She sends a message to Han to apologize and then suggests that they should breakup. After all, their relationship is a fake one and she doesn’t want to trouble him anymore.
Han’s stepmother requests for the necklace which is bought on Grandpa Han’s orders. But since he has given it to Tong Nian, he needs to pay back Han Jia Jia for it. As he is short of cash, he borrows from Wu Bai and tells Wu Bai not to say anything about the necklace. Tong Nian is feeling sad over the breakup. While Han agrees to breakup, he also feels affected over the decision. Demo’s parents are divorcing and he is unhappy that neither of them wants him. Han relates that his own parents died early. He consoles Demo that he is old enough not to let their divorce affect him. When Han goes back to his own house, he tries to sneak in to avoid his grandfather. However, Han fails to get past him.
Episode 14
Grandpa Han asks about the necklace. Han replies that he has lost it. Grandpa Han isn’t happy and suspects that Han is short of money. But Han assures his grandfather that he will repay back his stepmother for the necklace. The CTF tournament wants to record a theme song and invites online singers for an audition. Tong Nian and Lan Mei are participating. Among the judges are Solo and Han. Han arrives late but is just in time to listen to Tong Nian. He suggests a song for her to sing and she sings it with full of emotions. Tong Nian and Lan Mei are both chosen to be the singers as a result.
During the recording session, Tong Nian takes a few tries to get into the mood required for the song. Solo and Director Xiang come by to watch her. But she is disappointed that Han didn’t turn up. However, Han did drop by the studio. He just didn’t go in to see her. Instead, he buys all of them bottled drinks and left a note on one of them for her. Tong Nian sees the note and rushes out to find Han. But he has already left by then. Later, she hears from Director Xiang that Han is rumoured to have a new girlfriend in recent days.
Han falls sick and feels moody over the breakup. Grandpa Han wants to see Tong Nian as she has not drop by for a while. On Tong Nian’s birthday, Grandpa Han insists that Han picks her up and drives her over to their house. Han agrees with the condition that Wu Bai follows him. At the university, Zheng Hui wants to celebrate Tong Nian’s birthday with her.
Episode 15
Zheng Hui has prepared a present for Tong Nian but she is in no mood to celebrate. Then, Han turns up with Wu Bai to pick her up. Upon reaching home, Wu Bai goes off and leaves Han with Tong Nian to entertain Grandpa Han. During their meal, Grandpa Han starts mentioning about marriage which leaves Han feeling frustrated. He leaves the table and Tong Nian tries to talk to Grandpa Han. She relates to him Han’s dream and experiences to make him understand his grandson better. Han hears Tong Nian’s explanations about him as she talks to his grandfather.
Later, Han approaches Tong Nian and starts telling her more intimate details about himself. He informs her all his flaws and that all his time is spent on K&K. Han gives Tong Nian another chance to choose if she still wants to breakup with him or otherwise given that he is not a romantic guy. Tong Nian chooses not to breakup with him.
Since it is Tong Nian’s birthday, Han borrows more money from Wu Bai to buy her a present. He brings her to a mall and buys her video games to get her to learn about gaming. When it is time to drop her off at the university, both of them sit in the car and start to feel awkward about what to do next. Eventually, Han gets down to buy Tong Nian some food before she leaves to go back to her dormitory. The next day, K&K team members are mentioning that it is Shao Fei’s birthday.
Episode 16
Shao Fei celebrates his birthday with Solo and Ou Qiang. Han sends him a birthday cake and his wishes. During the birthday meal, Solo tells Shao Fei that he will need to improve his rankings quickly. Otherwise, he will be kicked out from the top team.
Both the SP and K&K teams make their way to Sanya for training. Zhou San is in charge of handling the event. She is the editor of CTF Weekly and also interested in Han. They have known each other for a long time. But Han has no interest in her at all. At night, Tong Nian messages Han for a chat but he is not the type who likes to communicate via messages. So, she suggests that they do a video call and just leave it on as they go about their activities since he doesn’t like to talk much.
The door bell rings and Zhou San forces her way in. She fawns over Han and tries to get him interested by mentioning that she can help Shao Fei. Being an editor, she can give Shao Fei more publicity to help him maintain his place in the team. Han gets angry over her unethical proposal and throws her out. But Tong Nian has seen Zhou San in Han’s room. Fearing that Tong Nian might misunderstand and feels insecure, Han books a flight and hotel room for her and asks that she flies in to meet him in Sanya. While in Sanya, Tong Nian meets Ai Qing and they have a chat over coffee.
Episode 17
Ai Qing tells Tong Nian stories about Han’s past. She also says she is pretty sure that Tong Nian is his first girlfriend and that she would be good for him. As Han would be busy training with his team, Tong Nian has to entertain herself. Zhou San finds her sitting alone and invites her for a meal. But during the meal, Zhou San keeps telling Tong Nian that she is too young for Han and that they are incompatible. When Han arrives at the restaurant, he purposely shows Zhou San that he has a very close and sweet relationship with Tong Nian.
When Han and Tong Nian arrives back at the hotel and strolling along the beach, they see Su Cheng having a serious discussion with Solo. Su Cheng wants back custody of Xiao Ai to which Solo says he will consider. Tong Nian asks Han about Xiao Ai and is told that the girl was born after Su Cheng and Solo have already broken up. But they got married to register Xiao Ai’s birth and gain citizenship before divorcing. Solo has been taking care Xiao Ai ever since the divorce.
Han asks Shao Fei to consider joining K&K because he knows SP might not be able to accommodate him due to his low rankings. But Shao Fei rejects him. Wu Bai also tells Han to consider the team before friendship as only one team can be a champion. As Han is busy, Tong Nian spends the day in her room to prepare a gift for him while he tries to make time for her at night. Han also invites Tong Nian to join his team for training the next day.
Episode 18
During the training session, Zhou San makes an appearance. Tong Nian feels a little jealous and finds out that she will often be around to monitor the training. There is also a friendly competition between SP and K&K players during the session with Shao Fei losing to Wu Bai. As Han and Tong Nian spend more time together, she tells him about her projects and what she has achieved in the field of artificial intelligence. Tong Nian also accepts that Han has a busy schedule and often needs to work late. Thus, Han suggests that Tong Nian brings her laptop to his room so that they can have each other’s company as they work.
When Tong Nian falls asleep on the sofa, Han stares at her and lightly touches her face. His feelings for her starts to deepen and he finds her very different than what he has expected. The next morning, the team goes for an outing. Han tells the youngsters to self-train when they arrive. 97 gets a little frustrated but Han tells him to remember his enthusiasm when he first joined and how hard he had worked then.
While the boys go off on their own, Tong Nian shows Han what she has been doing for the past 2 days. She has created a game for him to enjoy. He tries to kiss her but shouts from the youngsters make him pull back. Tong Nian also discovers that Han is afraid of heights during the outing. After Tong Nian has left Sanya, Zhou San tries to hit on Han again but he rejects her outright. Back in university, Ya Ya is afraid that Tong Nian’s boyfriend might be a good-for-nothing fellow who is just lying to Tong Nian to impress her.
Episode 19
Ya Ya finds it hard to believe that Tong Nian’s boyfriend is Han. When Tong Nian invites Ya Ya to play an online game together with members of the K&K team, then only she realizes that Tong Nian’s boyfriend is really Han. Ya Ya has been a long time fan of CTF since high school and is particularly fond of Shao Fei. Hence, Tong Nian asks Han to help her out.
Solo is supposed to bring Xiao Ai to meet Su Cheng for a meal together. However, Xiao Ai is unwilling to go and Solo cancels the appointment. Back at the office, He Na Na, SP’s Global Operations Director, wants to discuss with Solo about Shao Fei’s low scores. Solo is told to make the decision on what to do with Shao Fei.
Tong Nian and Lan Mei are holding an autograph-signing session for fans. Han arrives a day earlier than expected from Sanya and surprises Tong Nian with his presence. After the session, Han brings Tong Nian to the university. Shao Fei is already there to give Ya Ya a surprise at Han’s request after Tong Nian asks him to help out. Ya Ya is ecstatic to meet her idols in person. Together with Ou Qiang, the 5 of them go back to Han’s house. Ya Ya asks Shao Fei about his past and what he has been doing since retiring 10 years ago.
Episode 20
Shao Fei says that he has been helping his mother and has not achieved as much as Han. But Ya Ya tells him that he still has many fans who support him. Later, the 5 of them go for a picnic. Tong Nian tells Han to open his heart a little to give space for himself and for her rather than always worrying about work. She holds his hand and asks him to concentrate on the present. Tong Nian also shows Han that she is wearing the necklace that he has given her as a bracelet. Although Han tells Tong Nian not to lose it, he gives her the impression that it is something cheap that he bought at a stall.
Zheng Hui’s mother is sick. He asks Tong Nian if her father could be kind enough to look at his mother’s ailment. Her father suggests Zheng Hui brings his mother to Shanghai for a checkup. They are also pleased to offer her a place to stay in their house while in Shanghai. Tong Nian’s mother is very fond of Zheng Hui and didn’t know that her daughter has got back together with Han. She doesn’t like Han and tells Tong Nian not to contact him again. Tong Nian feels for Han as she thinks that many people seem to misunderstand him. She gives him a cat as a gift as she found out from Shao Fei that he likes the animal.
Solo informs Shao Fei that he is going to be demoted to the second team after the next competition. Shao Fei gives Ya Ya a ticket to the tournament after meeting her for a meal. Tong Nian’s aunt goes to visit Grandpa Han and mentions about Zheng Hui being a suitable match for Tong Nian.
Episode 21
Tong Nian’s aunt tells Grandpa Han that his grandson and Tong Nian has broke up. Feeling anxious, he orders Han to send him to see Tong Nian’s parents that night. Tong Nian’s mother pulls Han aside and talks to him privately. She tells him that he is incompatible with Tong Nian and that her daughter is young and inexperienced. Hence, he should stay away from her as he will just end up hurting her. Han promises Tong Nian’s mother that he will do as she says. When Tong Nian finds out that Han has sent his grandfather over, she goes outside her house to look for him. But he is nowhere to be seen. Han sees her waiting for him but he chooses not to appear.
Shao Fei is feeling down as he is getting nowhere in his CTF comeback. Han goes to meet him at a bar and they have a chat. Shao Fei says that he regrets retiring 10 years ago when he was at his peak. After meeting Shao Fei, Han goes back to Tong Nian’s house as he is afraid she may still be waiting outside. Tong Nian tries to talk to Han but he is rude and abrupt. He also tells her that he has given away the cat that she bought for him to his housemaid. Tong Nian tries to cheer him up but he orders her to get down from his car instead. After tricking Wu Bai to come and keep their grandfather company at home, Han heads back to K&K Club.
Episode 22
While Han ignores Tong Nian’s messages, he quietly goes to have a peek at her without her noticing. Tong Nian is clueless as to why Han is ignoring her and possibly angry with her. She goes to look for him at K&K Club the next day only to learn that he has gone to Norway. Han is in Norway as his stepmother is remarrying. Han Jia Jia pesters Han about his girlfriend and the necklace. He refuses to say much leading his stepmother to guess that he has been dumped.
Han asks Su Cheng’s husband to pump more money into the China branch of K&K. In return, he promises to make them world champion and attract more business. Ou Qiang hears that Shao Fei will be dropped from the first team. But Ou Qiang assures Shao Fei that he will support him and win the next day’s competition.
Xiao Ai goes to the university to look for Tong Nian. She is feeling unhappy about her mother whom she feels is trying to take her away from her father. Tong Nian informs Solo that she will send Xiao Ai to the competition venue the next day so that he can then pick his daughter up from there. At the same time, Han rushes back from Norway to watch Shao Fei compete.
Episode 23
While Team SP wins the competition, Shao Fei suddenly announces his retirement. Han is angry with Solo for not taking good care of Shao Fei. He starts scolding Solo but Shao Fei tells them not to fight anymore. Han tries to get Shao Fei to join him at K&K again but Shao Fei is not interested. He says that his score is too low and it will not do him any good to join Han’s team. Ou Qiang is sad that Shao Fei chooses to retire but respects his decision. Solo feels responsible and quietly doubles Shao Fei’s compensation by using his own money when SP terminates Shao Fei’s contract.
Tong Nian feels helpless as Han is unhappy over Shao Fei’s retirement and yet, she doesn’t know how to comfort him. Demo’s mother also wants his son to withdraw from K&K. This adds more pressure on Han. After terminating his contract, Shao Fei wants to meet Han. Tong Nian brings him and Ya Ya to K&K Club. They end up in a park and Han and Shao Fei run their hearts out to release all the pressure.
Then, they move to a restaurant. After a few drinks, Shao Fei stumbles out as he feels like vomiting. Ya Ya accompanies him and tries to advise him to look ahead rather than at the past. While Shao Fei is angry at Han for retiring 10 years ago which made him follow suit, he also loves Han as a brother and Han is the one whom he is closest to. Back at the restaurant, Han tells Tong Nian that he was in Norway for matchmaking purposes. He also says that he doesn’t like her and there is no point forcing things to work when they are not compatible.
Episode 24
Tong Nian leaves the restaurant in tears. Ya Ya tries to comfort her. As they are walking away, they see Han’s car. Tong Nian suggests that they should wait for the men as they have been drinking and it is not safe for them drive. Shao Fei advises Han not to bully Tong Nian. Han tells Shao Fei that Tong Nian’s parents don’t like him and it is not worth it for her to risk her family ties over him. When they reach the university, Han tells Tong Nian to forget him as he is not a good boyfriend and that she should spend her time doing something useful apart from dating.
Back at K&K Club, Han has to handle Demo’s mother who keeps insisting that she wants her son out gaming. He convinces her to allow Demo to follow his dream by drawing up a very generous contract that she cannot refuse. Feeling guilty for hurting Tong Nian, Han passes Lan Mei and her husband some money and asks them to use it to buy Tong Nian something to cheer her up. Lan Mei then tells Tong Nian about the money.
However, Tong Nian doesn’t want any of it. When she hears that the team is at the airport en route to a competition in Beijing, she rushes there to return the money to Han. She tells Han that although their time together is short, she was happy while it lasted. While she doesn’t agree with his attitude towards relationships, she will still continue to support his team. Han obviously still cares for her but refuses to show it to keep his promise to Tong Nian’s mother. In Beijing, Director Xiang wants Han to record a clip with Tong Nian for promotional purposes but Han turns him down.
Episode 25
Ya Ya goes to look for Shao Fei to check up on him. Shao Fei is planning to return to his hometown in the next few days. But Ya Ya and Tong Nian manage to convince him to stay in Shanghai. Ya Ya also helps him to look for a place to rent. As Tong Nian is still feeling down over Han, Shao Fei tries to help Ya Ya to reconcile the couple.
Shao Fei invites everyone to his housewarming party and tries to create opportunities for Han and Tong Nian to be together. When Tong Nian offers to go to the supermarket to buy stuff, Shao Fei gives her a long list of things to buy. Since she can’t possibly carry so many things on her own, he forces Han to go with her. After unloading Shao Fei’s groceries, Han informs them that he would need to go back to the club for work. Tong Nian tries to get him to stay for dinner but he declines. She goes back up to Shao Fei’s apartment with a disappointed look.
Sitting in his car, Han reminds himself of the promise he made to Tong Nian’s mother. But Ya Ya comes down to tell Han that Tong Nian is a good girl and that he shouldn’t make her suffer. She also shows Han the website that Tong Nian has created for the team. Tong Nian has to leave the gathering early to go to the hospital as Zheng Hui’s mother is scheduled to undergo surgery.
Episode 26
Han follows Tong Nian to the hospital. Zheng Hui tries to express his feelings for Tong Nian again but Han appears. They go for a meal together. Later, Tong Nian urges Zheng Hui to go back to the hospital to take care of his mother. After Zheng Hui left, Han tells Tong Nian that he went to Norway to attend his stepmother’s wedding. During a stroll after dinner, he further tells her that it has been a bad time for him recently and that he has said certain things that he regrets. Tong Nian then says that it is good to take a walk and talk. They have a great time together.
Ya Ya helps Shao Fei to clear his apartment after the housewarming party. Shao Fei tells Ya Ya not to treat him as an idol anymore as they already know each other well. Solo agrees to let Su Cheng take Xiao Ai abroad. He feels that it is better for a mother to look after a daughter as it may not be convenient for a father to do so when she is growing up. However, Xiao Ai doesn’t want to follow her mother and runs off again to the university to look for Tong Nian.
Solo and Han arrive at Tong Nian’s dormitory. Solo tries to talk to Xiao Ai but she is unwilling to listen. She feels abandoned by her father and she hates her mother for giving up on her when she was a baby. Tong Nian suggests to Solo to let Xiao Ai stay with her a few days until she has calmed down. After Solo left, Han asks Tong Nian to bring Xiao Ai to him. Han tells Xiao Ai that he will tell her Solo and Su Cheng’s story.
Episode 27
Han relates to Xiao Ai about her parents’ past. Solo and Su Cheng started dating 13 years earlier. 3 months after breaking up, Su Cheng found out that she was pregnant. 2 years later, she came back and begged Solo to take care of the baby as she has no money to raise her. Su Cheng believed that Solo would be able to give their daughter a better life as his team was doing well then. But by then Solo and Ai Qing were already dating.
Between the baby and team mates, Solo chose the former. Han was angry because Solo’s choice would affect Ai Qing and hence, the whole team. All their hard work would amount to nothing. Hence, Solo made the decision to leave the team and eventually, the whole team was disbanded. Su Cheng arrives later to have a talk with her daughter. She relates that she broke up with Solo because he had no time for her then. Her decision to have Xiao Ai was selfish and she apologized to her daughter for her mistake. Mother and daughter start to understand each other better then.
Su Cheng looks for Ai Qing to apologize about the past. Her decision had caused Ai Qing and Solo to breakup. But Ai Qing says that she doesn’t hold grudges. She only blames Solo for not discussing things with her before accepting Xiao Ai. Ai Qing advises Su Cheng that it is better to ask Xiao Ai’s opinion if Xiao Ai wants to go to Norway or otherwise. Han tells Tong Nian that he wasn’t in Norway for matchmaking. When Tong Nian finds out that Han hasn’t given away their cat, she probes why he had lied earlier. But Han replies that certain things are better not expressed.
Episode 28
Tong Nian is happy with how things are progressing with Han. However, she is worried that her mother has an utter dislike of him. So, she suggests that they bring Grandpa Han back to their old village for a day trip. Grandpa Han and Tong Nian’s grandfather are from the same village. This way, she hopes her mother will be able to get to know Han better.
While at the village, Han is pressured by the elders about marriage and kids. To avoid being the focal of attention, he excuses himself and sneaks away. Tong Nian quickly takes the opportunity to follow him. They end up going around the village together. When it is time to get back to the family, Han suggests to Tong Nian that they should return separately to avoid any misunderstanding. Han then sees a cute cat figurine at a stall and buys it for Tong Nian. After the village trip, it is time for Grandpa Han to go back to Norway. He is sad about leaving as he will miss his grandson.
Episode 29
Before leaving, Grandpa Han tells Han that he is proud of his achievements and will always support him. Su Cheng is also going back to Norway after helping to establish and oversee the China branch of K&K. The team members are sad to see her go. Su Cheng also goes to meet Shao Fei before leaving. She convinces Shao Fei to take over her position at K&K as team manager. The most important thing is Shao Fei understands Han and will be able to work with him. Shao Fei agrees although he was also hurt 10 years ago when Han decided to retire and the whole team disbanded.
Shao Fei seeks out Han and informs him that he wants to be his team manager. Han is surprised but happy to accept him. However, the youngsters in his team are not so accepting of Shao Fei’s presence. Han asks Wu Bai to help smooth things over.
Episode 30
Due to Shao Fei’s experience as a player, he is able to provide intel on other competitors. Wu Bai also puts in a few words to back Shao Fei up in front of the other team members. They are going to face Team Buff in the semifinals of the National Championship. Buff used be Han’s fiercest rival in the old days and he has lost to them before.
Tong Nian drops by K&K Club. She wants to watch Team K&K compete and asks Han for a ticket. Han says that if she follows him to the venue, she doesn’t need a ticket. This leads Tong Nian to ask Han if she is now considered his girlfriend. Han confirms it with a kiss. On the day of the competition, Tong Nian could only follow the competition at home through live streaming. Her mother notices what she is watching.
The Buff and Han have a war of words with each other before competition begins. In the end, K&K wins and so did Team SP in the other semifinals. This is the last competition for Team Buff as the players are all veterans who came back to achieve a dream.
Episode 31
Although Buff feels dejected over the loss, he still respects Han and wants him to lead a team to win the championship. The K&K team is happy with their victory as well as Shao Fei’s contribution to the team. With Tong Nian hanging around K&K Club and being around Han, she finds out that the China branch has exceeded their budget. Han is short of money and Tong Nian offers to help. But Han insists that he will be able to solve the issue on his own. Tong Nian reassures Han that she wouldn’t mind even if he is penniless and that she will support him.
Han sends Tong Nian back and kisses her before she goes into the house. He sleeps in his car until the next morning. When Tong Nian realizes Han is still outside in the morning, she sneaks out to sit with him in the car. Tong Nian is also surprised that Han seems to know that her parents dislike him when the subject of marriage is accidentally brought up. When her father comes out to walk the dog, they panic. Han distracts her father so that she can sneak back into the house. Later, he tells Tong Nian’s mother that Han may not have forgotten their daughter but she is still prejudiced against him.
Han suggests to Shao Fei that they should get Buff to join their team. Right now, Team K&K has unequal strength in its members. Buff who is ranked 4th would be able to balance things out in the team. So, Han wants to meet Buff to discuss the possibility.
Episode 32
Buff agrees to join K&K. But he will only be included in the team after the National Championships to avoid affecting the morale of the current players. To celebrate Buff’s inclusion, they have a gathering at Shao Fei’s apartment. A drunken Buff thanks Han and Shao Fei but also says that it was a waste that Han retired early. Otherwise, the world champion would have been a Chinese team back then.
With the subject of marriage being brought up with Tong Nian, Han asks Shao Fei for his opinion. This is overheard by 97 who then spreads the news that Han and Tong Nian are getting married. At the same time, Tong Nian is worried about her parents objection when they meet Han. In actual fact, Tong Nian is in no hurry to get married. She doesn’t want to put any more pressure on Han as he is already short of money for his team and has a lot on his plate. She tries to bring up the issue with Han but the direction of the conversation takes a heated turn as both misunderstand each other. This leads to a quarrel and Han storms out. Tong Nian ends up falling asleep in Han’s room.
After calming himself down, he goes back into his room and finds Tong Nian already asleep. He wraps the quilt around her and ends up sleeping on the floor. The next morning he gives her a light kiss on the lips and heads out to buy her favorite food. Han returns to his room to a smiling Tong Nian. He apologizes for his temper and Tong Nian forgives him.
Episode 33
As Tong Nian clings to Han, he realizes that she has been drinking while he was out. Then she falls into a drunken sleep. At home, Zheng Hui comes visiting with his mother. Tong Nian’s mother keeps calling her but there is no reply. When Tong Nian finally picks up the phone, she mumbles incoherently that she is sleeping and Han is beside her. This causes her mother to rile up while her father is more understanding.
When Han sends Tong Nian home, it is time to face her parents. Han spins the story around that he is the one who has been pursuing Tong Nian. Although Tong Nian has rejected him, he couldn’t forget her. He asks her parents for a chance to love their daughter. Tong Nian’s father is more accepting of Han but her mother is still angry that Tong Nian had slept at his place and that she has changed for the worse because of him. Han asks his stepmother to come to Shanghai to meet Tong Nian’s parents.
When Han talks to Shao Fei about him getting married, Shao Fei displays pity towards Tong Nian. This is because the man she is dating has not done with her all the things that a normal couple would do such as bringing her to the movies and doing things together at university. So, the next day, Han turns up at Tong Nian’s university and enters the lecture room with her.
Episode 34
Tong Nian’s professor enters the lecture room and starts questioning Han. Everyone thinks Han is going to get grilled. It turns out that Han and the professor have known each other for a long time. Tong Nian assumes that Han is looking for her because of specific issues that he wants to see her about. But Han explains that he just wants to see her. He says further that he is a first time boyfriend and hence, he doesn’t really know what he should do. Tong Nian replies that they should learn together as Han is also her first love.
Zheng Hui tries to express his feelings for Tong Nian but Han stops him again. This time, Han pulls Zheng Hui aside and tells him bluntly that Tong Nian is his girlfriend and soon-to-be wife. But Zheng Hui is unwilling to accept defeat until Tong Nian expressly rejects him. In the meantime, the team is training hard for the finals and Han invites Tong Nian to go with him to Beijing.
Han Jia Jia arrives in Shanghai and meets up with Tong Nian’s parents. Han didn’t inform Tong Nian until the last minute which causes her to miss the meeting. His stepmother tries to impress her parents about Han’s achievements and explains his background. When she suggests an engagement, her parents are reluctant. This pushes Han to suggest marriage instead. Tong Nian’s mother wants to talk to Han privately then. Han assures her mother that he will love and cherish Tong Nian all the way and asks for a chance. She reluctantly relents. Han also asks for her parents’ permission to bring Tong Nian to Beijing.
Episode 35
Tong Nian arrives home to ask her parents about their meeting with Han’s stepmother. They did not say much but there is a surprising change of attitude in her mother towards Han. His stepmother also wants to visit Solo’s mother who had taken care of Han when they were starting out a decade ago. Solo’s house is the old bungalow that they used to lived in as a team. When Han steps inside the house, it brings back a lot of memories and he can see that Solo has maintained the place as it is. Xiao Ai contacts her father to let him know that Han is at their home. Solo then calls Han. He tells Han that he doesn’t have the heart to sell the place and asks for a meeting in Beijing the next day.
Han brings Tong Nian to see his stepmother before she flies back to Norway. She has a chat with Tong Nian and tells her that Han is mean on the outside but cares a lot in his heart. The team is also flying to Beijing for the finals. When they arrive at the hotel, Solo is waiting for Han. He invites Han and Tong Nian to a meal at the old restaurant that they used to frequent. After a drinking session, Han brings Solo back to his hotel room. They express all their pent-up feelings for the last 10 years. Solo apologizes to Han for letting him down. Ai Qing also comes by and say that she is sorry for the past. They hug and reconcile.
Episode 36
After the emotional meltdown in the hotel room, Tong Nian keeps Han company. Han tells her that it feels good to have her around and to drop him a hint if she wants to marry him one day. When they return to the hotel, Han gives a pep talk to the youngsters before their match the next day. Tong Nian falls asleep in Han’s room and wakes up feeling anxious that he is sleeping next to her. But Han did not take advantage of her but just holds her hand as they go back to sleep.
Before the match, the result of a poll is announced which lists the players that the fans want to watch the most. At the top is Han followed by Solo. Their original team members were all the top listed players in the poll. A celebrity match is scheduled to be held later that day which is totally unexpected. During the finals, Team SP manages to win the championship. After the match, the old players get together for a meal as Han and Solo buries the hatchet. As they chat, Shao Fei excuses himself to call Ya Ya. Then, it is time for their match to start.
Episode 37
The celebrity match is a success. Solo, Ai Qing, Shao Fei and Ou Qiang want to party but Han excuses himself. He brings Tong Nian to the railway station which is the place that he first set foot in Beijing in his CTF journey. Han proposes to Tong Nian with his first Championship ring. However, Tong Nian is taken completely by surprise and doesn’t know how to react. Her hesitation causes Han to think that she is rejecting him. So, he keeps the ring back and tells her that he will propose another time as he has been too impulsive this time round.
After her rejection, things become a little awkward between them as each doesn’t know what the other might be thinking. After sending Tong Nian back to the hotel, Han goes to join the rest of his gang. They find out that Tong Nian has rejected her proposal. On the other hand, Tong Nian seeks out Wu Bai to ask for his opinion. Wu Bai advises her that rejecting Han’s proposal is not necessarily a bad thing because it will make Han know what it means to lose her and learn how to love her.
During the flight back to Shanghai, Han and Tong Nian talk things over. Han says he will try harder to be a better person for her as Tong Nian has been too accommodating of him to the extent that she will lose herself. They manage to patch things up between them.
Episode 38
Han sends Tong Nian home from the airport. She invites him to come in. Both are nervous as it is the first time Han is at her home as her boyfriend. Gradually, they begin to talk and relax. They are hugging when her father returns which make them panic and quickly move apart. Her father invites Han to stay for dinner. After dinner, Han does the dishes for them. Tong Nian’s mother begins to accept Han and tells her daughter that she has misunderstood him earlier.
Zheng Hui goes to see Tong Nian to express his feelings for her. He is desperate for a chance as he has loved Tong Nian for 2 years. However, she rejects him and apologizes for hurting his feelings. Seeing Zheng Hui feeling miserable, Tong Nian also realizes that she loves Han not because he is a famous CTF player but because she truly cares and feels for him.
Buff joins K&K. The team members will have to compete among themselves to retain their spots. While they are not happy, they also understand that it is for the best for the team. That is the only way to win. Han tells 97 to try to unify everyone with Buff’s inclusion. As the Asian Championships approaches, the training intensifies and so is the pressure on the players.
Episode 39
To choose the best 5 players to represent the team, Han has arranged for them to challenge him one by one. Only Wu Bai’s place is confirmed as he is the top ranked player. The result is One has been eliminated. The final team consists of Wu Bai, Buff, Grunt, 97, and Demo. Although One is unhappy over his performance, Han advises him to keep fighting as he is still young and there are many opportunities ahead. Tong Nian buys a coffee machine for the club and makes the boys cups of coffee as Han looks on jealously.
Team SP and K&K are drawn to meet in the semifinals of the Asian Championships. K&K manages to defeat SP to enter the finals against Australia. The first 3 teams would qualify for the World Championships which means that K&K is already guaranteed a place. However, SP would have to fight for its spot. Shao Fei asks Han if he really has given up competing. Han replies that the past is the past and he would rather train the next generation of players. Tong Nian and Ya Ya are feeling nervous over the next day’s finals and 3rd placing playoffs.
Episode 40
Tong Nian and Ya Ya are having a sleepless night. They are already at K&K Club early the next morning. An emergency arises for the team when Grunt falls sick. Grunt still insists on playing but Han tells him to rest and there is still the World Championships to come. So, One is moved up to replace Grunt. SP manages to clinch the 3rd spot.
While they are seated for the final match to begin, Tong Nian tells Han that they should get married and that whether the team wins or loses, she will always support him. In the end, K&K is the Asian champion. After the match, everyone is in a celebratory mood and they are planning a party at K&K Club. But Han quietly seeks out Solo to exchange his T-shirt for Solo’s suit. Nobody seems to know what he is doing including Tong Nian.
Shao Fei calls home to tell his family the good news about K&K’s win. He lets Ya Ya to talk to his grandmother and parents who assume that she is his girlfriend. Shao Fei didn’t object to that assumption as he has already regarded Ya Ya as his girlfriend.
Episode 41
Han brings Tong Nian back to meet her parents. He promises them that he will love and take good care of their daughter. His words are touching which make Tong Nian cry. She also didn’t expect him to do that. Han asks Tong Nian’s parents for her hand in marriage. They agree to accept him as their son-in-law and hands him Tong Nian’s residence permit so that they could register the marriage.
Then, Han and Tong Nian head back to K&K Club for the victory celebration. When they are caught kissing at the entrance, Han announces that he has got Tong Nian’s residence permit which means that they are getting married. Later, they make their way to the marriage registration office and calls Grandpa Han to tell him the good news.
The next tournament is the World Championships and both teams are heading there together. Their dream is to win the championship for the country.
Images Credit: Tencent
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