[Mainland Chinese Drama 2019] Gank Your Heart 陪你到世界之巅

[Lynne]

@themarchioness @angelangie it took me awhile for me to find it.. but here it is.... 

Its from the cut of Ep 09 that Themarchiones is going to recap next..

 

 

Hahahaha the scene you felt unreal angie is on 4.30's minute mark... The goblinesque walk.... 

This is actually one of mine and themarchiones's fav scene lols 

Because what it says for JI Xiangkong as a character....

Spoiler

He might have had a low opinion of Qiu Ying [for now] but he knows Zhao Yang, his manager is the worst kind of people...

Xiang Kong is a good guy.. he came just right in time to rescue Qiu Ying.. and even take care of her when she's drunk.... 

 

Oooh, btw I noticed that MangoTV youtube has aired ep 01-14 cut scene but they haven't made any playlist yet.. that's why it skipped my radar...lols

Here's a link for the playlist I've made as a companion piece for Themarchione's recap.. 

 

 

[themarchioness]

 

I suspected the scene @angelangie wanted to discuss was the Goblin scene.  Hahahaha.  As I said allllllll the way back when I first watched that scene and shared the video clip: Yes, it's incredibly cheesy but it's still a hot and amazing, hella entertaining scene - even with its riffs off of Goblin.  I love rewatching it.  Like @lynne22 said, it's a fave! 

 

And @lynne22, yeah, I don't know why MangoTV is just releasing those cut scene episodes.  Just give us the whole episodes!  But maybe it's because they eventually plan on releasing them with English subs?  For now, we can find the full episodes on their official Thai channel (with Thai subs):

 

 

 

P.S. I got too late of a start with my recaps tonight, so I'll have to finish Episode 9 tomorrow.  The Goblin must wait!   

[themarchioness]

20 hours ago, angelangie said:

i told @lynne22 it would have feel more surreal if the guy had rushed in instead of taking it 'goblinesque walk' like @lynne22 term it lols

 

It would not have been nearly as fun if Xiang Kong had just run in there to save the day.    His slow stride demonstrates purpose and determination, and it just feels full of controlled anger.  Not gonna lie.  It's hot.  *fans self*  LOL.  Anyway, I'm sorry, but I'm stealing the back the term "Goblin-esque," as she heard it from me and I had to use it again for today's recap.  I just this episode so much.  Next ep will be great as well -- @lynne22, I'm finally going to be able to start my head pat count!!!  LOL.  I think his hand brushing down her hair counts as a pat, don't you?     Anyway, here's the recap for...

 

Episode 9

 

Spoiler

 

Episode 9

 

The lawyer arrives and it must be someone YY knows and is introducing to QY, as the lawyer greets YY first while YY introduces QY to the lawyer.

 

The lawyer apologizes for arriving late and having let them wait.  YY tells him it’s not a problem and invites him to have a seat, while QY points out the coffee.  After they’re all seated YY asks the lawyer what’s going on with QY’s business.  He answers honestly and tells QY that currently, things aren’t looking favorable for her because she doesn’t actually have any proof that she’s innocent.  He also tells her that the more noise there is made over the matter, the bigger it gets and that anyone who’s associated with the matter can claim damages.  He guesses that the claimed damages aren’t going to be some small amount either.  YY asks him what they should do and whether they’re supposed to just sit and wait for their death.  The lawyer tells them that currently, QY’s best option is to reach a settlement agreement.  QY, however, tells him that an agreement between her and JXK is an impossibility.  [Until it’s a possibility in every way – mwahahaha!]  She then asks whether, apart from her seeking out JXK, the lawyer can think of any other options.  After thinking about it for a minute longer, the lawyer tells them that the lawyer’s letter came from the Legends team and JXK is also one of their contracted players.  He says that maybe JXK would be willing to listen to them and suggests QY try meeting with one of the higher ups at Legends to see if that would be of any help.

 

Xia Ling (QY’s younger stepbrother) is waiting for QY when she arrives home to her apartment.  She asks him why he’s there.  He holds up the papers in his hand and says, “You’re in a lot of trouble and you wouldn’t answer my WeiXin, how could I not come?”  QY takes the paperwork from him and it’s a bank notice.  He asks if she doesn’t have money to pay her home loan, and QY tells him that he needn’t concern himself with her business.  Xia Ling tells her that he’s been watching over her and knows that she was fired from Planet Video and that “Legends, or whatever they’re called”, is preparing to sue her.  He tells her that it’s not just he who’s concerned for her, their father is as well.  He asks her to come home with him, but she tells him that’s enough.  She tells him not to talk about her father with her, and she’s even less interested in hearing about their “family.”  She then tells him that she’s not as lucky as him; he has a family, but she doesn’t.  He calls her, “Sis,” and she tells him to not call her that.  She then tells him that she doesn’t need their charity and asks him not to come again. 

 

That night, Xia Ling stares at his phone and asks his sister (in his head) what he’s supposed to do to help her.  His (step)father (QY’s father) knocks on the door to bring him milk.  After he sets down the milk, he asks Xia Ling what he was looking at and whether he has something that he’s worrying over.  At first Xia Ling tells him that nothing’s wrong, but Dad doesn’t believe him.  He says if Xia Ling didn’t have something on his mind, he wouldn’t be sitting around looking like he’s lost his mind which is apparently what he’s been doing ever since he returned home earlier in the day.  He asks if Xia Ling has gotten into a quarrel with one of his classmates, and when he notices Xia Ling hesitating, he tells him not to worry as his mother’s already asleep so he can talk directly with him.  Xia Ling finally confesses it’s not his business that’s troubling him, it’s “Jie Jie’s” (older sister’s).  He tells Dad that QY’s in a lot of trouble right now, and when Dad asks what kind of trouble, he explains that she’s been fired from Planet Video.  Dad reacts by saying that’s great.  It doesn’t sound like he was a believer in her previous employer as he calls it dishonest work.  Xia Ling then tells Dad, “But QY still owes a lot of money on her home loan,” and at that, Dad is surprised.  “Home loan?”  When Xia Ling confirms it, he angrily retorts that that’s a problem of her own making and sarcastically comments that she’s supposed to be self-capable.  He reminds Xia Ling of how she’d given up on the family, saying she didn’t want it anymore, and then moved out on her own.  It’s obvious that even as Dad berates his child, he’s actually quite worried about her.  Xia Ling responds by telling Dad that QY electing to move out was all his fault, and asks him not to blame her.  Dad, however, tells him that he needn’t try and speak up for her as it’s got nothing to do with him.  He then tells Xia Ling that, in the future, he should have less communications with her and they should just consider their family as not having her in it.  Xia Ling tells him not to be like that as he knows, Dad has always been thinking about her with concern.  Plus, he points out, QY really needs them right now.  Dad merely responds that it’s late and he should hurry up and get some rest, but as he exits Xia Ling’s room, we see how worried he is.

 

The next morning, QY’s pouring herself a drink when the doorbell rings.  She asks who it is and when no one answers, she opens the door to find Xia Ling.  She starts to say, “Didn’t I tell you…” but then the door opens wider and we see her father’s there as well.  She asks him why he’s there and Xia Ling answers that their father wanted to come see her.  Dad asks if they can go in and have a seat.  She walks back in the house without answering and they follow.  Dad looks around and when he notices that the curtains are drawn, he asks why they’re still down when it’s broad daylight out and walks over to pull them back.  He then notices the picture of QY’s mother and says, “I’ve heard about all the stuff you’re going through.”  As he walks over to her computer, he reminds her that he’d once offered to help her find a job, but instead she’d opted to “fiddle with this” (pointing to the computer equipment).  He also comments on her having been fired.  QY shoots back that all she did was “fiddle with this” and she was able to buy a house.  At her response, Dad looks around and comments that even though it’s a little small, it’s pretty nice.  He wonders, however, whether she still has money for the loan now that she’s without a job.  When she hears that, she turns to Xia Ling and tells him he’s quite impressive, having run to tattle on her.  Xia Ling tries to reassure her it wasn’t like that.  He just wanted to help her.  Her dad chimes in that “Di Di” (little brother) was just concerned about her, but QY answers that she doesn’t have a younger brother and that her mother only had one daughter; her.  Xia Ling tries to brush past the awkward moment by telling them that he’ll wait outside while they talk.

 

After Xia Ling exits, her dad takes a seat and says he knows QY probably feels some resentment towards him, but he reminds her that he’s still her father.  He then changes the subject and says if she’s been fired, she’s been fired, and that’s great.  She can now take the time to find respectable work.  But QY asks him how her work wasn’t respectable.  He asks her if she knows how all the people online are talking about her, and QY tells him that what people are saying about her online has nothing to do with him.  If it’s face shaming, that’s her business.   She then tells him that she remembers when she left their home, she’d already cut their father-daughter relationship.  Therefore, he doesn’t have the right or the duty to control her.  Her dad responds that he’s not trying to control her, but  asks her to think of her mother and how she’d feel if she knew about QY’s current situation.  QY cuts him off though and tells him not to talk about her mother with her.  She tells him that her mother is very clear on how she’s been living all these years, and that her mother’s proud of her.  But him, on the other hand, she tells her father that his conscience should be very aware of what he’s done.  Her dad asks her what he’s done and QY says, “When my mother was in the hospital, when she was lying in the sick bed by herself, you didn’t take care of her or think of her.  Instead, you were with that woman.”  Dad stands up then and tells QY that it didn’t happen like she thinks, but she doesn’t want to hear his explanations.  Dad realizes they’re at an impasse and says if that’s going to be her attitude, that’s fine.  He starts to leave but then turns back to tell her that he’s leaving behind a bank card and she should use to pay off the loan.  QY responds that she has no use for it and reminds him that she’d previously said: the road she chooses for herself is the one she’ll finish on her own.  It has nothing to do with anyone else, especially him.  Dad really does leave then.  Outside in the hallway, Xia Ling greets him, but Dad just walks wordlessly to the elevator.  Inside the house, QY cries and thinks back to a happier time when it’d been her (as a little girl) and her parents.  It’s clear they were once a very close and loving family as we see QY reading a book with both parents next to her, her father helping her with homework, and her father complimenting her on her dancing.  Now all she has is a picture of her mother, the letter from the Legends team’s lawyer, and the bank notice. 

 

Xia Ling runs to catch up with his dad outside QY’s apartment building.  He says it’s obvious they care about each other and wonders why they can’t talk without fighting.  Dad tells Xia Ling that he knows he’s spent these past few years hoping QY would come home and that she and he would make-up.  He then thanks Xia Ling for everything he’s done.  Xia Ling asks if it’s him and his mother who’s caused rift, but Dad shakes his head and says it has nothing to do with them.  He then says, “You still don’t understand the adults’ business.” 

 

Over at the Legends training center, YX receives a phone call.  He’s so surprised he apparently doesn’t answer and as a result, starts receiving a series of text messages from YY who calls him out for not answering his phone.  She then tells him that she’s at the coffee shop next door and he’d better not leave her there waiting for very long.  YX quickly replies that he’ll be there immediately.  As he tries to leave the exercise room without the others noticing, he bumps into Huo Yao who asks him what he’s doing.  YX says he’s going to buy everyone some coffee and asks if Huo Yao wants anything.  He says he’s not drinking and waves YX away.  Lu Feng asks where YX’s going and Huo Yao says he doesn’t know. 

 

YY and YX are at the coffee shop and it looks like she’s trying to butter him up, while YX is relishing having the upper hand for once.  After YY sits down, she finally gets to the point by saying she was hoping to get Zhao Yang’s phone number from him.  When she tries to offer coffee to “Xuan Ge” though, he holds her off and tells her there’s no need to be like this, as it doesn’t matter who she tries to find, it’s going to be of no use.  He asks her if she knows how, for the past two days, all the teams’ sponsors have been arguing with them and tells her that the only recourse is for QY to come forward and clear the misunderstandings and apologize.  YY responds by asking how many times she’s going to have to keeping saying: QY was framed.  YX asks her if she has proof and she admits that at the moment, they don’t have any.  YX mockingly laughs and asks why he should believe her then.  When YY asks what’s up with his attitude, he returns to his usual YX mode and tells her that in reality, it doesn’t matter whether he believes her not.  It’s the leadership above him that needs to believe her for it to matter.   YY vows that when she finds the proof, they can see how she’ll get back at that faker, JXK.  YX tells her to keep her voice down and asks her how she can be cursing out his “Kong Ge” when this matter has put XK in a really difficult position.  YY asks how bad of a position he can be in when it’s QY who’s been fired from Planet Video.  While this is clearly news to YX, YY just continues arguing on QY’s behalf.  She points out that XK once accused QY of using him to increase her viewership, but asks what good increasing her viewership does if it gets her fired.  She asks if they’re all pig-heads and points out that there’s no way QY would have the ability to forge a video like that.  She adds that even if QY did have the ability, there’s no way she’d be so stupid as to use her own computer to upload the video.  YY then tells YX that it’s quite obvious there’s someone who’s trying to harm his “Kong Ge” while QY is being used. 

 

After listening to YY, YX admits she has a point.  YY says of course she has a point!  She asks him to think carefully about who XK might have offended, and I have to laugh as YX admits XK’s offended quite a number of people.  He says, “Let me count.”  Right at that moment, YY gets a phone call from QY.  Whatever QY says has YY standing up as she asks, “What?”  She then tells QY to wait for her to meet her at her house before saying anything more.  When YX asks YY where she’s going, she hits him with her purse and tells him QY’s sold her house.  She then asks if JXK will be satisfied now. 

 

The scene cuts to The King where we hear XK asking, “Fired by her employer and sold her house?”  YX confirms it by saying he heard QY say so to YY with his own ears.  YX adds that YY had also asked him for Zhao Yang’s phone number with the intention of trying to settle matters with Zhao Yang.  He finishes his report by telling XK that the more he thinks about it, the less he thinks QY had anything to do with the video.  Sun Ze Yi agrees that he also thinks there’s a problem.  He points out that as things grow increasingly out of hand, that only means there must be someone fanning the flames from behind the scenes.  YX asks XK if he remembers QY saying that her computer had been blacklisted, and wonders if this is the work of one of their rival competitors.  XK answers, however, that if it wasn’t QY who did it, it doesn’t seem like something one of their rival competitors would do either.  He observes instead that Zhao Yang has been acting unusual.  Sun Ze Yi asks what Zhao Yang has been doing and XK tells them, Zhao Yang’s ability to handle a public relations crisis is normally quite strong.  But this time, it’s been the opposite.  He hasn’t even posted a statement to the team’s official Weibo.  XK then observes that when he suggested looking up Jeffrey for a solution, Zhao Yang was instead quite energetic about that and offered to take the lead on contacting Jeffrey so he could keep training.  Sun Ze Yi guesses that Zhao Yang doesn’t want XK to meet with Jeffrey, and YX agrees he has a point. 

 

QY is packing up her apartment.  YY says she doesn’t understand how QY can just sell her apartment after she was so determined to buy it back in the day.  QY tells her that perhaps she had too much of a desire for her own home.  But now, she understands.  Having one’s own house doesn’t mean that one will have their own family.  YY reminds QY that having this house has always been her dream and asks if she can bear to give it up.  QY tells her that earlier today, her father and Xia Ling stopped by.  YY is surprised to hear this as QY hasn’t met with her father ever since she moved out of their home.  QY tells YY that after all these years of not seeing each other, on their first meeting, her father told her he could help her pay off her loan but she’d have to give up on her mess of a job.  YY tells her that actually, her father treats her pretty well and entreats her not to sell her house rashly just because she feels wronged.  QY tells her she’s not just doing this because she feels wronged, she’s doing it because apart from selling her house, she has no other option.  She adds that this is why she must prove herself and show how she can carry the weight of everything.  YY responds by saying this is why she doesn’t admire anybody but QY, and then offers to let QY move in with her.  When QY says she knows YY is the one who always treats her the best, YY says, “If I don’t treat you well, who’s going to treat you well?  Silly.”  [Whispers: JXK]

 

Zhao Yang and Wang Bin are up to no good, spying on things going on outside their office.  Zhao Yang tells Wang Bin that if anyone comes looking for him, he should tell them that Zhao Yang has left to go looking for Jeffrey.  XK arrives at this moment, surprising Zhao Yang.  He apologizes and Zhao Yang says it’s okay.  He then invites XK to have a seat, but XK says that’s okay.  He only came because he wanted to ask if Zhao Yang had met with Jeffrey yet.  Zhao Yang lies that they’ve been in touch and have an appointment for dinner that night where they plan on discussing the video.  XK responds, “Then I’ll go with you tonight,” and says that if there’s anyone who’s going to apologize, it should be him who does it.  Zhao Yang says that’s fine but Wang Bin quickly jumps with an “aw, drats!” hand slap to say, he forgot to mention earlier, but he already arranged for XK to have two practice competitions that day.  Zhao Yang stands up, calling his assistant a fool, and then walks over to XK to say he knows they’ve had their differences over some small things in the past, but XK should trust him when it comes to their current matter because for this matter, they are of the same mind.  Zhao Yang promises that he’ll do everything he can to make Jeffrey step forward to help clear up the video because it’s not just XK who’s affected but their whole company, too.  He tells XK to spend the rest of the evening practicing with his teammates so that they’ll be sure to win the upcoming competition, and then pats XK on the shoulder and tells him to work hard so that he can silence all the people who’ve criticized him in the past.  XK thanks Zhao Yang and agrees to go back to his training.  It’s his turn to place his hand on Zhao Yang’s shoulder, as he says he’ll leave everything in Zhao Yang’s care.  Zhao Yang responds that he’s just doing what he ought to do. 

 

YX is waiting for XK and asks how it went.  XK updates that Zhao Yang arranged for him to have two practice competitions that evening, and that it’s obvious Zhao Yang is trying to put him off.  As YX reacts with a scoff, XK tells him to substitute in for him later as he wants to see whether Zhao Yang will actually go to meet Jeffrey.     YX says he’s got it.

 

QY and YY are making a bed together and finish when YY announces that the final step is for her to put the pillow down.  As brushes off her hands, she tells QY that they’re just about done and in the next two days, she’ll help her finish unpacking her things.  She also tells her friend that in the future, this will be her room, although she hopes she won’t object to it being a little small.  QY responds that she’s fortunate YY was around and willing to take her in.  She then looks around and says she has nothing to gift YY in exchange and, in the end, offers her some product placement face masks.  YY accepts them saying it’s great because she’d just been thinking about buying some face masks.  After she thanks QY for the masks, she confesses she went to find YX but he wasn’t willing to help them.  QY says it’s fine as she plans on going to Legends herself to find Zhao Yang.  YY asks if she isn’t afraid that all the people at Legends will treat her poorly but QY just smiles and grabs her phone to show her something.  YY looks at the picture of a car and asks what it is.  QY says it’s Zhao Yang’s car, and when YY still doesn’t get what her friend is trying to say, QY just says that soon she’ll understand.   

 

Instead of trying to find Zhao Yang at the Legends office, she plans on approaching him in the parking garage where there won’t be other people around.  The only problem is, when QY arrives to the parking garage, she realizes, “There are so many cars.  How should I find his?”  As she looks around, she spots one vehicle and recognizes it immediately.  She walks towards it and says, “Aha,  JXK . . . JXK . .  you’ve let me find you.” She then takes out her lipstick and after looking around to make sure no one’s watching, draws a pig face one of his side mirrors.  She then fake spits at the motorcycle before continuing on her search for Zhao Yang’s car.  She finally finds him when she hears him on the phone talking to someone. 

 

QY runs over to Zhao Yang and introduces herself.  He recognizes the name and asks her what’s up.  She tells him she was hoping to borrow a few minutes of his time, but she doesn’t know whether it’d be convenient for him.  He asks her what it’s about, and she says she was hoping to discuss the matter of Legends sending her the lawyer’s letter.  Around this time, XK also arrives in the parking lot.  He sets his helmet down on his bike and is startled to find the pig face on his side view mirror.  He then looks around and that’s when he spies QY in the distance and hears Zhao Yang ask, “Aren’t you coming?” followed by the noise of a car engine starting. 

 

Zhao Yang and QY are riding the car in silence unsure of what to say when QY finally begins.  She tells Zhao Yang that it really wasn’t her who posted the online video of XK beating someone up and asks if he can help her out with his company.  Zhao Yang pretends to consider her words and then tells her that actually, he’s also been of the thought that she was incapable of doing something like this.  QY smiles in relief and then asks him what he thinks of her idea to post an official statement where she explains that XK never hit anybody.  As she says this, Zhao Yang parks his car and unbuckles his seat belt.  He asks her why she’s so anxious and then comments that she probably hasn’t eaten yet.  He points to the building behind him and says it’s a clubhouse owned by a close friend of his.  He suggests they go in and have a chat while they eat at the same time, but as he starts running his hands across hers, he makes it quite clear that’s not all he would like to do inside.  QY pulls her hand back and tells him not to be like that.  She then points in front of them and says she knows a good steakhouse just up ahead and offers to treat him to dinner there.  She adds, “Let’s go, it’s really close!”  But Zhao Yang’s not interested in steak.  He’s interested in her.  He says, “QY, people who are born beautiful should know how to behave in a delicate situation.”  [Classy fellow, isn’t it?]  He then locks the car’s doors and asks if she really thought this was something she would be able to clear up with just one meal.  QY tells him it’s not like that and as he grabs at her hand, asking her what’s not like that, she tells him to stop being like this.  She asks him what he’s trying to do and again tells him not to be like this.  When she tries to get out of his car, he pulls her back by the wrist and asks her what she’s trying to do.  She tells him not to touch her and orders him to let her go.  She even threatens to report him to the police if he’s going to keep being like this.  Zhao Yang just dares her to report him as he lunges at her.  Her cries grow increasingly agitated as he starts assaulting her, and she continues to cry for him to stop being like that and to let her go. 

 

It’s at this moment that XK arrives in the darkness.  [Ahahaha, one of my favorite scenes of the drama.]  This scene is so Goblin-esque with the way they have him strutting forward in slo mo with what sounds suspiciously like the opening credits of Goblin playing in the background [if it’s not the actual song, it’s definitely a riff off the song].  XK strides forward and saves the day by smashing his bike helmet onto Zhao Yang’s windshield.   The loud crack of glass has Zhao Yang finally looking up as he asks, “WHO?!!”  He then hurries to get out of his car, but XK is there waiting for him.  XK pulls him out from the driver seat and starts laying into him.  When Zhao Yang finally realizes who’s beating him up, he asks XK if he’s crazy.  He can’t believe XK is actually hitting him, but XK just says to him, “Manager Zhao, I thought you were going to meet Jeffrey.”  It’s at this time that QY, who’d been cowering in fear in the car, finally gathers enough wits about her to run away.  She tumbles when she hurries out of the car though and XK throws Zhao Yang aside to run over and help her up and ask if she’s okay.  She pushes him away though and tells him not to touch her.  As she runs off, Zhao Yang calls out to XK and threateningly tells him and QY to just wait and see.  [You’re such a snake, Zhao Yang.]  XK, on the other hand, just runs after QY while calling her name.

 

As QY walks, XK follow from a respectable distance behind.  When she stops, so too does he.  She turns around so she knows he’s there, but she turns back around and ignores him.  He finally races to catch up to her, grabbing her by the upper arm to make her stop while calling her name, but QY just flings his arm aside and tells him to let go of her.  She then enters a convenience store, grabbing two cans of beer off the shelf and sits down at a window bar where she starts to drink.  XK can only stand outside and watch over her helplessly as she drinks and breaks down into sobbing tears.  After she opens her second can, she gets up and ends up falling to the ground.  That’s when XK heads inside.  Inside the store, the convenience store worker reaches her first and asks if she’s okay.  When QY reaches above her head calling for more beer, the convenience store worker tells her that she can’t drink anymore.  She suggests instead that QY settle her bill and that’s when XK arrives.  On the ground, QY says, “Settle the bill?  I have money.”  XK tells her not to drink anymore while she gets up, reaches for her purse, and falls right back down to the ground.  XK’s only trying to help her from hurting herself, but she drunkenly asks him why pushed her and tells him she’s trying to pay her bill.  XK apologizes to the convenience store worker and tells her he’ll settle the bill in a bit.  The convenience store worker leaves and XK bends over to help retrieve all the items QY has scattered from her purse.  He tells her to slow down and she flips a picture out of her wallet while looking for money, he picks it up and spies the QY’s necklace around the woman’s neck.  He flashes back to the time he’d returned QY’s necklace to her and after asking her to name her price in compensation, she’d asked him if he knew what the word “priceless” meant.   Back in the present, QY tells him to go pay the bill.  He looks at her and thinks, “This is her mother’s necklace.  She wasn’t putting on an act.”  As he finishes gathering he belongings she asks him again to help her pay her bill and he agrees, “Pay bill, pay bill, pay bill, I’ll help you pay the bill.”  He then speaks to her in a much kinder, gentler tone, a tone one would use to speak with a small child, and tells her not to sit on the ground because it’s cold.  She tells him not to concern himself with her and he’s like, “Me?  I’m just going to pay your bill.”  He then helps her up and asks her to sit, while she tells him not to touch her.  He finally manages to get her into the chair and tells her to stay seated while he goes to pay her bill.  She uses the moment of distraction, however, to dash out of the convenience store and so XK tells the convenience store worker not to bother with the change and runs after her. 

 

XK catches up to QY right outside the convenience store.  She again yells at him to not touch her.  He holds his hands up and says, “Okay, I won’t touch you.  But tell me where your house is.  I’ll send you home.”  She tells him she doesn’t have a home and it’s all his fault.  She then describes him as the kind of blackguard who always thinks he’s in the right to the point where he makes other people vomit.  XK responds (rather adorably, IMO) by reminding her that he just saved her, but QY tells him that if it hadn’t been for him, she wouldn’t have reached this point in the first place.  She cries that all she did was pretend to be Gu Fang’s fan and ride in his car, and asks if he needed to go through all these lengths to bury her.  She then grabs at him and cries that he buried her.  She cries that she no longer has a home, she no longer has a job, and all her hard work is gone too.  She asks him if he’s happy and satisfied.  XK apologizes and says he behaved wrongly.  He encourages her to say whatever she’d like and yell at him however she’d like, but QY tells him not to apologize to her.  She says she has nothing to say to him.  She points at him and says, “You, Zhao Yang, there’s not a single person on your team who’s a good person.”  Then she asks him if he hadn’t wanted to sue her.  She tells him to bring it on and sue her because she’s never been afraid of anything before.  She then tells him that one day, she’ll make all of them one by one apologize to her. 

 

End

 

[themarchioness]

Hooray for holidays.  Hope to recap more episodes later today, but for now, here's episode 10.  I just love the opening of this episode and, of course, it's great to see XK and QY finally resolve their first roadblock by the end of this episode.  (Yes, I have to say "first," for there will be more along the way.  Sigh.)

 

Episode 10

 

Spoiler

 

Episode 10

 

QY starts to walk away and XK asks her where she’s going down and tells her to slow down.  When she falls to the ground, he hurries over and tells her again to slow down.  She cries that she can’t even hold onto it [her purse] anymore, as XK reaches for the purse that had fallen to the wayside when she tumbled.  He then helps her stand (while telling her to stand up) and asks if It’ll be okay if he takes her home.  [I love how tenderly he treats Drunk QY.]  She pushes him away again though and tells him not to touch her.  She tells him she hurts from where she’s fallen and says, “I really hurt, don’t you know that?”  The look on XK’s face is priceless as he starts to point out that it wasn’t he who pushed her, but really, there’s no reasoning with someone who’s as drunk as her so he gives up mid-sentence and apologizes instead.  He again tries to get her to stand up, but she yells back that she’s not standing.  He then tells her to get up so they can go home, and she yells back that she’s not getting up and she doesn’t have a home.  When she starts sobbing and asks, “What home am I supposed to return to?” XK gives up and hauls her up.  She then says she can go home by herself and XK asks, while lifting her onto his back, “Can you go home by yourself?  Get up.  Let’s go.”  As he starts to walk off with QY on his back, she tells him not to move her and describes herself as pitiful.  She orders him to put her down, but XK just asks how he’s supposed to do that when she’s so drunk.  QY curses him out by asking him why he’s carrying her when he’s such a rotten jerk and orders him again to put her down.  XK just responds, “Me put you down?  If you want to come down, you can come down yourself.”  QY then threatens to bite him if he doesn’t put her down and when he tells her not to bite, she starts biting him.  We then hear him yelp in pain as he tells her it hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts! 

 

They’re in a cab and XK is looking out his window while QY sleeps on the opposite side of the backrow passenger seat.  She bobs around and eventually falls onto his shoulder; he looks down. 

 

He lays her down carefully on to a bed and tells her to take it slowly.  She’s completely asleep though.  He tucks the covers around her, takes off her shoes, and when he’s pulling up the bedcover, she grabs onto his hand and cries in her sleep, “Ma, I really did work hard already.  Why am I still like this?”  XK bends over and comforts her by saying, “It’s okay.  Hurry and sleep.  Be good.”  He lifts her arm from over her head to put under the bedcover, and she says, “I really don’t want you to be disappointed.”  XK tells her, “I know,” and then he wipes the tears from the corner of her eyes while she asks, “Ma, can you see?”  He caresses her cheek lightly before turning off the side lamp and leaving her to sleep. 

 

The next morning, QY wakes to find herself in a strange and unfamiliar place.   She checks but finds she’s still completely clothed, LOL, and then looks around for her shoes which she quickly finds near the foot of the bed.  After she puts them on, she walks out of the room and runs into YX.  They both cry out in shock and surprise.  Meanwhile XK wakes up behind them, from where he’d been sleeping on the living room couch, and asks them why they’re being so noisy first thing in the morning. 

 

YX looks from QY to XK and from XK to QY and repeats, “You guys, you guys, you guys… this fast?”  XK ignores him and merely asks, “You’re awake?”  [The look on YX’s face.  LOL.]  QY responds, “Why am I here?”  XK answers back, “Why do you think?”  She has a moment of realization after thinking about it for a few seconds and asks if she drank too much.  XK yawns and says it’s fortunate she can still recall it.  YX then walks over and hits XK on the shoulder, asking him how they came home.  XK nods his chin in QY’s direction and says, “I carried her on my shoulder.”  (He might as well have added, “like, duh,” based on the tone of his voice. Haha.)  YX asks after his motorcycle, and XK tells him he left it on the side of the street but he’ll go and fetch it in a little bit.  He treats this like this is no big deal, but it clearly is as YX comments with amazement that XK was willing to leave his motorcycle behind in order to carry QY home.  He gives XK the thumbs up.  That’s when XK slaps at him and tells him to go back into his room to sleep.  YX tells him he understands and says he won’t disturb them anymore.  As he walks past QY, he purposefully greets her by saying, “Hello, Sao Zi”  (Sao Zi = the colloquial way to refer to one’s elder brother’s wife; sister-in-law.)  That provokes a hiss out of XK and YX just responds by giving him another thumbs up before running back into his room.  XK then gets up from the couch and tells QY not to worry because he has absolutely zero interest in a drunkard.  He then hands her purse to her and explains that her phone ran out of battery so he had no way of reaching her friend.  QY apologizes for the trouble she gave him and points in a direction, asking him if that’s the way out.  He confirms it and she takes her leave.  Just as she’s about to reach the exit, he tells her to hold up.  He then instructs her to call her lawyer for a meeting at 10am.  She clearly thinks this is meeting where she receives more bad news, as she finally answers, “Okay.  Be there or be square.” 

 

After she leaves, XK yawns and heads back into his room for more sleep.  YX immediately pops out from his room though and after making sure QY’s already gone, runs into XK’s room.  XK’s like, “Why are you in here again?  Get out.”  YX tells him he overheard everything the night before, so he’d better not say… before he can finish that thought, XK ask him what he overheard and kicks him back out.  LOL. 

 

At 10am, XK meets QY, YY, and their lawyer with his own.  His lawyer asks him if he’s thought things through and XK just responds, “Of course.”  At that, his lawyer speaks up to say he’s there to represent XK regarding the video stuff and QY’s lawyer says they’re willing to make reasonable reparations for the incident.  XK asks what she would consider to be an appropriate amount.  QY takes a deep breath and then asks him to say.  He then says, “One million, that’s not a lot, right?”  [One million RMB is about 145,500 USD.]  Both QY and YY parrot back in shock, “One million?” and look to their lawyer.  XK asks, “What, is my reputation not worth one million?”  When YY accuses him of trying to extort money under false pretenses, XK protests and reminds her that she should be careful when she’s speaking in front of two lawyers.  QY’s lawyer tells her to calm down and then asks XK if there’s any room for discussion.  XK’s lawyer looks to XK for an answer, and he gives him (his lawyer) the subtle head nod.  XK’s lawyer says they considered QY’s financial situation and as a result, his client is offering the biggest concession that he could.  He hands over the settlement agreement papers and when the other side takes a look at it, they’re startled to see the damages amount listed as, “0.00.”  XK responds with his trademark smirk/smile. 

 

As XK climbs onto his bike, QY calls out to him.  She runs over with YY next to her and says, “Thank you.”  He asks her how she plans on thanking him and when thinks over how to answer, he says, “Please don’t say you’ll give yourself to me, otherwise I might actually agree.”  At that, YY cuts in to point out that their lawyer hasn’t gone far and what he’s doing right now is taking liberties with a woman.  QY, on the other hand, says that whatever his reasons were, she’s grateful.  XK tells her there’s no need for thanks though, as he was only trying to rid himself of one less problem.  He then adds, “Oh right, let me one more piece of advice.  In the future, you should drink less.  When you’re drunk, you really are terrifying.  You’re a chatterer.”  QY asks him what she said, and he responds that everything she should have mentioned and everything she shouldn’t have mentioned, she all mentioned.  He then tells her to take her time in thinking things over and leaves.  QY repeats XK’s parting words and asks YY what she thinks she might have said.  But YY answers, “I don’t care about what you said.  But did you forget to say something to me?”  When QY pretends not to know what she’s talking about, YY tells her to stop playing innocent.  She’s stunned to learn that QY was out drinking with XK the night before when QY had lied to her and told her she was out with friends.  QY answers, “Isn’t he one of my friends?”  She then hurries off while YY is still complaining that QY dared to trick her. 

 

To make things up to YY, QY ends up taking her to a products placement snack shop to hopefully smooth things over by buying her friend a lot of snacks.  As they walk around the store, YY orders QY to be honest and tell her everything that happened the night before.  QY tells her to relax as nothing happened.  YY doesn’t believe her that nothing happened, considering how comfortably XK settled with them today.  QY’s just as surprised though and swears nothing happened.  She says all she did was drink a little too much.  YY accuses her of daring to drink too much, and so QY tries to distract her with a snack.  The distraction doesn’t work and YY asks her to be honest while asking if XK forced her to drink. At that, QY very seriously insists that he did not.  YY then asks her why she drank that much when she knows she has a poor alcohol tolerance.  It’s sweet; YY’s being fussy but it’s because she’s worried something might happen to QY while she’s drunk.  QY tells her that she was just feeling down, and that’s why she drank.  She didn’t realize how much she was drinking.  YY tells her that if she was feeling down, she shouldn’t have gone to find XK for a drinking partner.  She should’ve at least come to her.  QY just piles more snacks in the shopping basket as a conciliatory gesture.

 

Back at the Legends home base, loud noises are emanating from the conference room.  It’s Zhao Yang who’s raising a fuss.  The coach arrives and asks CEO Jin what’s going on.  CEO Jin, in turn, asks the coach if he’s aware of the settle agreement between XK and QY.  The coach is equally surprised to hear of this news though and asks when it happened.  Zhao Yang angrily responds that it happened the day before and if they don’t believe him, to go ask the lawyer.  CEO Jin asks for XK to be called in and says he wants to cancel their contract.  The coach immediately gets to work calming down CEO Jin and points out that XK must’ve had his reasons for doing this.  Zhao Yang tells him to stop trying to shield XK though, and tells CEO Jin that CEO Bai (their main sponsor) is really upset.  He says if they don’t cancel their contract with XK, this matter will never quiet down and if this matter doesn’t quiet down, that will affect their whole team.  The coach just responds by expressing amazement that Zhao Yang would try and push out one of their team members just because they ran into some trouble.  He asks if that’s this is how they normally operate.  To CEO Jin, he insists that it’s obvious someone must be targeting XK as well as the team and he doesn’t think it’s right that they’re not taking the time to figure out what’s wrong and what’s right before terminating their contract with XK.  He warns how others will look upon them for this.  Zhao Yang argues that if they terminate XK’s contract, they won’t be able to justify themselves to their sponsors.  He angrily asks which is more important.  [Talent, duh.  You can’t have sponsors with talent, Zhao Yang!]  The coach then asks whether  Zhao Yang contacted Jeffrey and Zhao Yang postures that he did, but Jeffrey wouldn’t respond.  The coach insists that additional efforts be made to contact Jeffrey, as he knows it’s only through Jeffrey’s assistance that XK will be saved.  After Zhao Yang and the coach go a few more rounds, CEO Jin finally cuts in.  He tells them to arrange a press conference for Monday.  If things aren’t settled by then, they’ll declare at the press conference that they’re canceling XK’s contract. 

 

The coach is with YX who’s trying to reach XK by phone.  When XK picks up, he asks if XK’s met with Jeffrey yet.  XK says no, and it seems like he may have been misinformed as it’s possible Jeffrey may not be staying at the hotel where he’s currently waiting for Jeffrey.  YX tells him that Zhao Yang caused trouble for him in front of CEO Jin, and then the coach asks for the phone.  The coach gets on and asks XK how he could make such a huge decision without discussing things with him first, and instead just went and settled things with QY on his own.  XK answers by telling his coach that the video wasn’t posted by QY.  The coach asks him if he has proof and XK has to admit that he doesn’t.  He adds a “but,” but his coach cuts him off and asks how he could take the initiative to settle with QY if he didn’t have any proof.  His coach points out that by doing that, it’s equivalent to him tacitly admitting to all the online rumors about them having a relationship and that’s something Zhao Yang can use against him in order to cancel his contract with the team.  XK merely responds by saying that QY is innocent and observing that she’s already lost her job and had to sell her home.  Given Zhao Yang’s character, he’d reduce her to poverty and ruins and XK says he couldn’t sacrifice an innocent just to preserve his own interest.  The coach gives up by saying it looks like XK thought things through before signing the settlement agreement, so whatever he says now is useless.  YX rushes to pacify him and tells XK that CEO Jin originally wanted to cancel his contract today but it was because of the coach’s effort that he was given an extra two days.  He tells XK not to speak to their coach like that.  XK apologizes to the coach for causing him trouble and the coach just sighs.  He tells XK that if they can get Jeffrey’s help before the press conference on Monday, maybe there will be a different outcome. 

 

At this moment, Jeffrey walks into the hotel.  XK hangs up on the coach and flags down Jeffrey.  XK asks if he can speak alone with him, but Jeffrey tells him he knows why he’s there.  He seen the online video and it’s fake.  XK says he hopes Jeffrey will help him clear the air on the matter, and Jeffrey responds that he’s heard if this video is treated as real, there’s a possibility XK may be expelled from the team.  Knowing he has the upper hand, Jeffrey says that XK’s attitude that day left him feeling not well so XK should pay a little price for his actions that day.  He then concludes by saying he doesn’t want to help him, as he’s his defeated opponent.  That’s when XK regains Jeffrey’s attention by asking him if he’s willing to have everyone believe that he was beat up brutally by XK, which is what will happen if he doesn’t help clear things up.  Jeffrey makes a face and we see he’s not any happier with that idea.

 

Over at YY’s apartment, she tells QY to stop looking at her computer and clean up in preparation for their meal.  QY responds that she’s almost done and YY walks over with more product placement instant hot pot.  As she hands over the bowl and reaches back for chopsticks, she scowls at the computer and comments that QY’s always focused on her computer and asks when she’ll eat her meals on time.   She tells QY that it’s a good thing she has an angel like her around.  QY accepts the chopsticks YY gives her and thanks her “angel.”  She then tells YY that whoever marries her in the future will be incredibly lucky. [Hear that, YX?]  YY tsks over QY’s sweet mouth and then takes her to task for hogging the bowl.  

 

As they eat, QY asks YY to look at the article she has pulled up on her laptop.  It’s an online poll asking whether XK should be kicked out of the Legends team and 70 percent of the voters have answered “yes.”  QY says that they only settled yesterday, but already the news has made it online.  She also thinks it’s weird that rumors about them having a relationship have also been swirling like mad on the Internet.  YY asks how she can be laughing when there are rumors about them online, but QY denies that she was laughing while YY insists she was.  YY then returns to the matter at hand and says she’s afraid XK won’t be able to turn things around this time.  She tells QY that she heard once his company found out about the settle agreement, they were angry beyond belief and it’s quite possible that at tomorrow’s press conference, they’re going to announce the termination of his contract.  QY is shocked to hear this. She asks what they should do and whether they should try and help him.  YY asks how they should help him, as it’s a lot easier said than done.  She points out that even if they stepped forward on his behalf, nobody would listen to him.  She asks again how they should help him and QY says she doesn’t know either, but given how he helped her, she can’t just leave him be.  Plus, she points out, everything started out because of her.  YY reminds her that right now the Internet is full of their rumors.  If she steps up to say that XK is innocent, nobody would believe her and it’d only make things look more suspicious.  QY then has the idea to post the original video online, but YY points out her video only captures the first half of the run-in where they grabbed at each other’s throats.  She didn’t get the part where the coaches rushed in and pulled the guys apart, so posting it online wouldn’t be persuasive either.  QY then asks YY what else they should, and as she doesn’t have an idea, she gives up and tells QY she can have the rest of the hot pot. 

 

As YY sips her drink, something else in the video captures her attention.  She calls QY over to look at it.  It’s a group of Chinese tourists in the background of the video and YY has noticed that one of them is also taking a video of the altercation.  She points out there may be a possibility that the person videotaped the entire thing and suggests they try and track this person and down.  She explains if they can bring that person’s original video to the press conference, that will be able to help prove XK’s innocence.  QY doesn’t think this is such a great idea though given that the person in the video is a foreigner.  She asks how they’re supposed to track them down and whether they’re supposed to go to Canada.  YY calls her a fool and tells her to look again.  She points out that since it’s a tour group in the video, that means they’ll had to have returned to the country.   Therefore, all they have to do is track down this tour group and then they’ll be able to find the person.  QY points out though that there are many tour groups in China, and asks how they are going to find the one.  YY tells her not to forget that she’s a professional news reporter and this is a small matter for someone like her; therefore, she tells QY not to worry about it and hurry up and finish eating as she’s got it covered.

 

QY arrives at the airport and updates YY over the phone.  She’s found the tour group, but they’re on a trip and won’t be returning until the afternoon.  YY says they just have to hope their plane won’t run into any delays and no sooner does she say that, an announcement pops up on the board that the flight’s been delayed.  YY says XK must really be unfortunate if even the fates aren’t willing to help him. She tells QY that Legends has already notified the press that tomorrow morning, there will be a press conference to discuss the termination of XK’s contract.  QY refuses to give up though and tells YY she’s going to keep waiting. 

 

XK is hanging out and studying at The King when YX comes running in asking if he hasn’t seen the WeiXin he sent him.  He tells XK that their coach received a message that Jeffrey wouldn’t be attending the press conference and is instead leaving China that day.  XK says he knows and tells YX to head back first.  YX doesn’t understand XK’s reaction and emphasizes that Jeffrey is, even as they speak, leaving but XK just repeats that he knows already and YX needn’t be worried on his behalf.  He tells YX that he should go back and train and no matter whether his contract is terminated, they have to win the upcoming competition.  YX’s like, “What’s up with you?” and when XK turns back to his notebook, he gives up and tells him that he’s leaving and reminds him that Jeffrey is also leaving.    

 

QY is still waiting at the airport but now she’s joined by YY.  They’re moaning and groaning about the plane still being delayed and YY comments that it hasn’t even departed yet.  QY says that’s okay because so long as the plane doesn’t get canceled, they still have hope.  YY says if that’s the case then she’ll continue keeping her company, to which QY says she’s the best.  YY passes over some product placement sports drinks to boost their energy, but even as she sips it, she comments that she’s tired and then the next time we see her, she’s laid out on the chair sleeping.  QY’s still awake on the opposite side of the aisle.  She stands up to look at the arrival board and YY falls from the chairs.  YY wakes up and asks what time it is.  She then takes a look at QY’s face and starts tsking over it, telling her that if she keeps staying up like this, she’s going to turn into ginger.  QY tells YY to go home first while she’ll continue to wait, but YY tells her not to wait anymore as it’s already 3am and the press conference is set to begin in just a few hours.  She also points out that even if she meets the leader of the tour group, there’s no guarantee that she’ll still have the video given how long it’s been already.  But QY tells her that so long as there’s even a shred of hope, she’s going to continue waiting.  YY asks her if she has a fever or if XK has slipped her some sort of medicine.  She asks QY if all her efforts on XK’s behalf are worth it.  QY tells her it’s none of those things; she just feels like she ought to do something otherwise she too will have this unbearable feeling.  She again tells YY to go home considering how there’s still the press conference on the morrow.  YY gives up and agrees to head home first in order to prepare.  They promise to stay in touch and QY tells YY to be careful on the way home. 

 

It’s the next morning and YY greets her viewers as she reports from outside the site of the Legends team’s press conference.  She invites her viewers to follow her inside.  Zhao Yang steps out and invites the media in.  He couldn’t look any happier this morning, I swear.  He starts praising Wang Bin for the arrangements and Wang Bin responds that it was all due to Zhao Yang’s excellent guidance.  He also tells Zhao Yang that he’s already leaked the news that Legends will be terminating their contract with XK.  Zhao Yang praises him by saying that’s exactly what they should do, make the scale of the problem as big as possible because the thing CEO Jin loves the most is his face.  That means even if XK is later cleared of any wrongdoing, it’ll be too late as CEO Jin will want to keep saving his face.  Wang Bin celebrates this idea by telling Zhao Yang that he’s already prepared the contract termination paperwork.  Zhao Yang then looks him up and down and angrily asks what Wang Bin is still standing there for.  He orders Wang Bin to find XK in order to make him sign it.  Wang Bin agrees to do just that and runs off.

 

XK is standing in front of the trophy display case and mulling over Gu Fang’s ring when his other team members and the coach join him.  XK tells them that the press conference is about to begin and his team members ask what they should do.  YX says he really doesn’t understand what the point of having this press conference is, and that’s when Wang Bin arrives.  He greets everybody and then tells XK that he’s already got the termination contract prepared.  He suggests XK look it over and if there aren’t any problems, they can sign it.  YX grabs the contract and pushes Wang Bin away. He asks why XK should sign it and asks Wang Bin why he’s in such a hurry when the press conference hasn’t even yet begun.  Recognizing that there will be no cooperation from these quarters, Wang Bin picks up the contract and says he’ll leave first and tells them to keep talking.  XK calls out to him and says, “Tell Zhao Yang, signing [the contract] is not a problem, but they should at least let him finish out his play acting first and do it in front of him.” 

 

At the press conference, all the reporters are milling about muttering about how it’s about to begin. YY checks her phone but there’s still no word from QY.  She then video chats QY in order to show her that almost everyone’s already at the press conference, which is about to start soon, and asks her for an update from her end.  QY tells her that the plane has already landed but she still hasn’t seen any passengers from the flight.  She worries that she really will be too late.  YY asks what they should do and then says it’s fine, as she’ll keep waiting for news from QY. 

 

QY nods off after having stayed up all night waiting and it is, of course, right at this moment that the tour group walks past her.  When she comes back to attention, the last members of the tour group are just stepping outside the airport.  QY chases after them but when she exits the double doors, she sees the group has splintered off.  She takes a chance and runs after the group that had turned right.  She calls out to them asking them to wait.

 

Back at the press conference, Zhao Yang is invited onto the stage.  He greets the media by thanking them for making the time to attend.  He starts to explain the purpose for today’s meeting when a member of the press cuts him off by saying they received reliable information that the day before, XK and QY reached a settle agreement.  He asks whether this is true.  Another member of the media asks if they can infer from that action that the video QY posted is real and that XK did, in fact, beat up Jeffrey in Vancouver.  A third member of the media stands up to ask if XK’s contract is terminated, and she emphasizes her if, does that mean they’ll be bringing in someone new to the team.  She finishes by saying this is what they all really want to know and everyone chimes in to agree.  Zhao Yang tells everyone to calm down and have a seat.  Then he tells them that he’s there in front of them today to sincerely apologize on the behalf of his company and JXK.  The whole entire time this is going on, YY keeps checking her phone and when Zhao Yang bows in apologize, she looks at him in utter disgust.  [I totally understand how she’s feeling!]

 

QY arrives at the airport parking lot where she’s still chasing after the tour group.  She finally manages to flag some of them down, but when she asks after the leader, they point her in a different direction.  She then spies a woman from the tour group in the distance and chases after her.  In doing so, she runs into the path of an oncoming car.  The woman she’d been chasing tells her to watch out and QY falls to the ground just as the car breaks.  One of the passengers in the car runs out to ask if she’s okay and finally, the fates smile upon them as QY realizes this was the person she’d been trying to find.

 

At the press conference, QY’s got her laptop out on her lap and she is obviously agitated as she keeps telling it to hurry up.  Just as Zhao Yang is telling the room that their company will be officially terminating their contract with XK, YY stands up to cut him off.  She says she has in her hand a video that will prove XK’s innocence, and asks him if he’s interested in looking at it.  Zhao Yang responds, “Do you?” and YY turns around to ask the rest of the room if they would also like to se it.  Of course everyone wants to see it, so YY holds her laptop up high and starts the video.  As it runs, the other press reporters realize that XK never hit anybody.  They ask Zhao Yang to explain, as one member of the press points out that even though the quality of the video isn’t great, it clearly shows that XK never hit anybody.  He asks Zhao Yang if he’s seen this video before.  YY also holds up her laptop to him in great satisfaction and says, “Look at it.”  The other members of the press start up again as they repeat that XK never hit anybody and ask whether XK has seen this video.  They again demand an explanation from Zhang Yang and YY also invites him to try saying something.  Zhao Yang holds up his microphone and tells the room that he and their company haven’t seen this video, but he also tries to explain away the video by saying the company’s not going to change the decisions they’ve already made based on a low quality video that they don’t even know where it originates from.  He tries to make it sound like he’s looking out for the other players.  YY asks him, however, if what he’s saying right now represents the view of the team.  She emphasizes that what she has in her hand is something that can prove XK’s innocence and she asks why he isn’t checking first before declaring that he’s not going to recognize the video.  She again asks whether it’s him or the team that doesn’t care about pursuing the truth.  The other reporters agree with YY’s question and Zhao Yang answers that his every word and every action is entirely on the behalf of the company.  He says they value highly their players, but they do not tolerate and won’t put up with anyone who acts dishonorably by beating up other people.  He says their company will only follow what’s been fact-checked.  He then patronizes YY by referring to her as cute, little kiddo reporter and tells her that if she had actual strong proof from the people involved, instead of just this blurry video, then they could consider it.  Really.  YY’s starts to respond in outrage, but he steamrolls over her by telling the rest of the room that Jeffrey’s already no longer in the country. 

 

XK arrives at that moment and says what Zhao Yang is saying is true.  All the reporters turn their attention to his direction and start throwing out questions.  XK just walks up to Zhao Yang, joining him on stage and smiles.  He tells the room to calm down and says, “This video that randomly turned up, it does seem like there’s a motive behind it.  Therefore we can’t just settle on it.”  Zhao Yang whispers to him, “Who allowed you to come here?”  He tells XK that his being there will only make things more difficult and drag the team down further.  But XK responds by asking the room if there’s anybody would know better what really happened than him.  He then tells the press reporters that he’s sure they would like to hear the answers from him.  YY nods her head and people start calling out, asking him to explain what exactly happened in Vancouver.  XK tells them to calm down once more and says everything he would want to say, they’ve already seen from the video just now.  He then adds if they don’t believe him, they can just go and ask Jeffrey directly.  Zhao Yang responds that Jeffrey’s already returned to his country and asks how Jeffrey’s supposed to help him out now.  But XK just turns to him and asks what age they’re in.  He asks whether a person must be present in order to clear up matters and then holds up a flash drive.  He tosses the flash drive to YX and tells the room that he brought with him another video and invites everyone to take a look at it.  YX plays the video and we see Jeffrey on screen saying that the online video is fake.  He asks, “How could I have been beaten up by JXK?  What a laughable idea!” and then adds, “JXK, I admit your tactics are strong, and I’ll be waiting for you at the next world championships.”  After the video plays, all the members of the media realize that the other video was fake and XK was wronged.   One of the reporters pipes up to ask XK what kind of a relationship he has with QY and why she would do something like that.  XK snaps his finger at Zhao Yang (LOL) and motions for the microphone, which Zhao Yang grudgingly hands over.  XK tells the room, “With regard to the video where I’m beating someone up, I trust you’re all clear on that matter now.  As for everyone’s interest about my relationship with some female reporter, there’s actually not much there for everyone to be so intrigued about.  As for that edited video, that wasn’t posted by her either.  Both QY and I are victims in this matter.”  He then looks at Zhao Yang’s direction as he says, “As for the person who tried to slander me with that video, Legends and I will make sure to find that person and punish them according to the law.”  After he finishes, a reporter asks Zhao Yang about the purpose of today’s press conference.  Originally, it was to announce the company’s contract termination with XK, but now that it’s been proven that he was innocent she wonders what he’ll do now.  XK holds up the microphone for him as Zhao Yang is forced to respond, “I said earlier, if it was shown that JXK was innocent, then of course our company would have no reason to terminate his contract.”  XK takes back the microphone to thank Zhao Yang for being so highly principled.  To the rest of the room, he says he hopes the all the reporters present today will help Legends find the blackguard who was manipulating matters behind the scene, and finishes by directing any remaining questions to Zhao Yang and leaves arm-in-arms with his teammates. 

 

Outside the press conference site, YY video chats with QY tells her that finally, everything’s been settled.  QY is still at the airport where she sits back in the waiting room chair with a heavy sigh of relief and says, “Finally, it’s all settled.”  YY continues chatting and says it’s a good thing XK had some conscience otherwise it would have been a wasted effort on QY’s part to spend the entire night at the airport.  QY just continues settling into her chair and tells YY that she’s about to die and has to sleep for a little bit.  YY watches her start to drift off and immediately starts to fuss that if she’s going to sleep, she shouldn’t do it at the airport.  She tells QY not to hang up and to wait for her, as she’ll be right over.  The episode ends with QY fully laid out on the airport chairs using her purse for a pillow.

 

End.

 

[themarchioness]

The first half of this episode is a particular favorite of mine.  I don't think I will ever tire of watching XK and QY turn their relationship around from animosity to friendship, and then something more. 

 

Episode 11

 

Spoiler

 

Episode 11

 

YY is hurrying off to find QY at the airport when XK and YY come running up from behind and flag her down.  XK calls out, “Reporter Lu!”  She turns and asks him what he wants, but XK just wants to thank her assistant just now.  YY tells him to forget about it, as she can’t bring herself to accept his thanks.  She says instead, “I beg with you, plead with you, thank you to stop causing trouble for QY.”  She then tells him that in order to help him, QY spent the entire night at the airport and almost got into trouble.  XK asks with immediate concern, “What happened?  Where is she now?”  But YY tells him she’s fine now and warns him against bringing more harm onto QY.  At that, YX tries to intervene on his friend’s behalf and tells YY that XK’s being sincere.  He says she shouldn’t speak like that.  YY responds that as long as he doesn’t keep trying to bury her friend, then that’ll be the most sincere form of thanks.  XK asks if that’s QY’s opinion or her own opinion, and YY responds by asking if there’s a difference.  Her opinion is QY’s opinion.  She then tells him that QY is innocent/naive, simple/pure, and kind-hearted.  She entreats him to not have anything more to do with QY, and warns him that she won’t let him off if he does.  She then turns her attention to YX and points her finger to say, “Also, you!”  YX asks what he’s got to do with this business, but YY just turns and leaves.  YX calls out from behind to ask if she’s leaving and tells her to take care while adding, “Remember to send me a WeiXin.”  XK looks at him and smirks, as he comments, “Looks like there’s something going on.  How interesting.”  YX, at first, denies that there’s anything going on but then immediately asks whether it’s obvious.  Haha.  XK takes out of his phone and pats YX on the shoulder with it.  He tells YX that his own conscience know the answer to that question, and then walks off.  YX asks him, “You’re leaving?” before racing after him.

 

YY and QY are finally home, and QY is laid out exhausted on the couch.  YY comments on how it’s been an exhausting sort of day and tells QY that she shouldn’t do anything more and should just go to bed early.  She comments on how QY didn’t get any sleep the day before.  QY reassures her that she’s fine as she’d catnapped at the airport, although her waist is a little sore from those airport chairs.  YY comments that as uncomfortable as those airport chairs are, it’d be odder if her waist didn’t hurt.  QY says that after seeing all the people online apologizing to XK, she at least feels like hard work and efforts weren’t wasted.  YY says she doesn’t understand what his injustices have to do with QY, such that she’s always worrying over him.  As soon as she finishes speaking, her belly starts to ache.  YY tells her that she’s going to use the bathroom as her stomach’s not feeling well and QY just tells her to go while YY looks for her phone along the way.  As she opens the bathroom the door, YY tells QY again to make sure she goes to sleep early. 

 

Right at that moment, QY gets an incoming text.  She sits up in surprise when she sees who it’s from.  It’s XK who very politely asks if she’ll do him the honor having dinner with him in order for their relationship to move forward [in other words, he’s inviting her out so he can apologize for past misdeeds].   QY immediately replies that he’s being polite and that it ought to be her who treats him to dinner.  She looks in YY’s direction and then smiles secretly over the text exchange.  He soon replies with an address and tells her the address for a barbecue place that’s pretty good.  She replies that she’ll be there or be square.  She then starts sniffing her hair and clothes and wrinkling her nose over the fact that it’s probably been more than 24 hours since she last washed.  She tiptoes towards her room and then pops her head back out to call out to YY and tell her friend that she’s suddenly tired and going to bed, so YY shouldn’t bother her later. 

 

Inside her bedroom, QY starts getting ready for her dinner date.  YY walks out of bathroom and when she finds the living room, she asks if QY really went to sleep.  She puts her ear towards QY’s bedroom door and then opens the door where she finds YY holding up a dress as she preens in front of a mirror.  She asks QY what she’s doing.  QY swirls around and hies the dress behind her back.  YY enters and comments that QY’s acting suspicious.  She asks if QY wasn’t going to bed and QY says she was suddenly hungry, so she was going to go out to by ramen.  YY points out they have lots of ramen at home, but QY says they don’t have the seafood flavor she’s craving.  YY doesn’t believe her and demands to know what she’s hiding in her hand.  When QY reveals the dress, YY comments on the fact that she was planning on going out to buy ramen in a dress and asks her who she was trying to fool.  YY asks her if someone invited her out, and when QY responds with a suspicious smile, YY guesses that it’s JXK.  QY gives up and goes to sit on her bed while YY remarks (not in a complimentary way) on his persistence.  She tells QY that it was only just this afternoon that she turned him down on her behalf, but now he dares to still ask her out.  QY tells her that she’s overreacting, as it’s just one meal.  But YY objects to the lateness of the hour.  She asks how come he’s not inviting her out for tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon.  She’s convinced that XK can’t be up to any good by asking QY to meet with him at this hour.  QY tells her that she’s overthinking things, as they’re just meeting for a simple meal.  YY tells QY to be honest with her and asks if she likes him a little bit.  QY protests the question (a little too hard, if you ask me) asking YY what kind of a joke that is.  She insists they’re just regular friends and asks how they could possibly be anything more.  She swears that they’re planning on having just a simple meal.  YY says, “Fine,” and then holds up the dress before throwing it onto the bed.  As she walks over to QY’s closet, QY asks her what she’s doing.  YY tells her that if she wants to change her outfit, that’s okay.  But she should wear this, and then she hands over a baggy pink sweatshirt while telling her to keep on the pants she’s wearing.  LOL.  She tells QY that she wants her to wear an outfit that will ward off any interest, and that she definitely can’t wear something as showy as the dress.  QY agrees to her friend’s condition.

 

YX is wiping down a motorcycle helmet when he gets a phone call from YY.  She asks him if XK is planning on going out, and he asks her how she knows.  She asks him where he’s going and he answers that XK’s going to a barbecue place that they frequently visit.  YY’s like, ‘Barbecue place?” and then tells him to send her the address and wait for her there.  YX asks if she’s inviting him out to eat and she asks him what he’s talking about.  She tells him to be quick and hangs up. 

 

QY is waiting outside the barbecue place when XK drives past and honks, surprising her.  When he gets off his bike, he turns around and asks if he was handsome just now.  She responds, “What do you mean ‘handsome?  You scared me!”   He then looks her up and down and asks how she could dress like that to have dinner with him.  She stutters and responds, “This is next year’s trend, what do you know?”  As she stalks off, he mimics behind her back, “Next year’s trend.” 

 

They enter the restaurant and XK recommends they sit on the side where it’ll be quieter.  After the waiter brings them their menu, QY tries to settle the bill at the outset by saying tonight’s on her as she wants to thank him for his willingness to settle with her.  He tells her that settling was something he ought to have done (as a matter of course).  He then brings up the fact that she spent all night at the airport and helped him out in a big way, and insists tonight’s meal is on him.  When she starts to protest, he tsks and tells her to stop arguing with him.  QY backs down as a result, but adds that since he’s being so insistent, she’ll let him pay for this meal, but the next meal is definitely on her.  XK laughs that they only just sat down and she’s already inviting him out for a second meal.  She retorts that his decentness only lasts for about three seconds.  After they laugh and smile at each other, they turn their attentions back to the menu.  XK tells her to hurry up and order whatever she’d like. 

 

YY and YX arrive at the restaurant.  When she asks him if this is the place, he says it is and points out XK’s motorcycle which YY proceeds to hit.  YX asks her why she’s looking for him and says he’s not there, as he stands on the curb and scans the inside of the restaurant.  She tells him to get down so they won’t be discovered and continues creeping along the side of restaurant to look through its windows (surprising other restaurant customers the way).  They finally find XK and QY and YY comments that the fact that they’re sitting off to the side means that XK must be up to no good.  YX cuts in to ask if he can ask a question.  He then asks her what they’re doing there.  She asks him if he’s dumb when it’s so obvious and after he thinks about it for a second he asks, “You’re following them?  I thought you were asking me out to eat.” [Awww, YX…]  YY turns back and asks him what he was saying, and he responds, “Nothing.”  YY then tells him that she has to go inside so she can listen in on their conversation.  YX, on the other hand, points out that given that they’re on a date, it would hardly be the thing if they sat on the side and listened in on their conversation.  YY starts hitting at him, repeating the word “date” and comments on the fact that he’s also referring to it as a “date.”  She then asks whether he realizes how dangerous a date is and insists she has to keep a close eye on the matter.  He asks her what this has to do with her, and she just asks, “Are you coming or not?”  YX says, “I’ll go,” and so she drags him along.

 

Inside the restaurant, QY looks at all the food on their table and asks if they ordered too much.  She tells him that normally, she doesn’t eat at this hour since she’s trying to lose weight.  He wonders why she’s dieting when she’s already so thin and tells her to eat up.  QY responds that she won’t be polite then and starts to dig in.  She asks if they should start with “this” and XK tells her he’ll do it [he’s referring to cooking the meat at their table].  On the other side of the restaurant, YY and YX crawl their way through the front door.  She then tumbles her way to the table while he hurries after her.  They’re spying on the table on the other side of the dividing wall when the waiter walks up to them and knocks on the table asking them what they’re doing.  They pretend like they have stomach aches and the waiter passes them menus, asking them what they’d like to eat.  YY tells the waiter they’ll just have some meat to barbecue and anything’s fine.  YX, however, stops the waiter and tells him they don’t barbecue.  They’ll just have something warm to drink like congee or something else they can refill.  When the waiter leaves, YY asks him what was up with his order and when YX tells her that he came there after eating, she yells at him that she hasn’t eaten yet.  He tells her it’s okay as they can sort it  out later. 

 

Back on the other side of the wall, XK says, “Oh right, do you want to order some drinks?  Beer would be okay too.”  QY smiles and says she probably shouldn’t drink.  XK tells her it’s okay though and if she drinks too much, she can just tell him her address and he’ll send her home.  [Bud, if you want her address, just say so!]  He adds, “Besides we can consider ourselves as ‘bu da bu xiangship’.”  (A well known phrase that means: out of blows friendship grows).  He then says he wants to apologize to her for breaking her mother’s necklace.  QY asks how he knows it was her mother’s necklace and that’s when he confesses that the night she was drunk, she mistook him for her mother.”  She reacts in both surprise and embarrassment when she hears that, but XK just continues with his apology by saying he never imagined the necklace would be so important to her.  He admits he misunderstood her.  He also apologizes for the dual match and the reality show, and says all the things he said to her were overly excessive.  QY laughs and tells him she can barely recognize him with him being like this.  She shows him the necklace and reassures him that it’s been fixed already.  [I swear that’s relief I see on his face.]  She then adds that actually, she should apologize to him as well.  She tells him she shouldn’t have used the methods that she used to ride in his car or used such selfish methods to get him to agree to the dual match.  Therefore, he was right to have scolded her.  [It’s worth noting that although I have chosen to use the word “scold” in this context, the phrase she actually uses is “educate/teach,” which means that in all those times that XK was yelling at her and taking her to task for what he described as her scam artist ways, QY is now accepting them as his teaching lessons to her.]  XK asks if this means they’re even now, and QY nods her head yes.  They then cheer with drinks.

 

After listening in on their conversation, YY comments to YX that something’s not right as the script seems to have gone off course.  YX responds by asking her if this isn’t a good thing and whether she’d prefer to them fighting.  Their food arrives then and when the waiter starts placing plate after plate of food on their table, which is definitely not the congree that YX had ordered, YY tells the waiter they didn’t order all this but he answers back that they did.  YX tells him not to worry about it and to just leave everything.

 

On the other side of the wall, QY offers XK a piece of meat to express her gratefulness towards him.  XK responds by asking how he can allow a woman to lift her finger for him and says he should be the one serving her.  He offers to “wrap one” for her and returns the favor by wrapping the piece of meat she gave him in a piece of lettuce to give back to her.  When she hesitates over it, he asks if it’s hard to hold or whether she needs him to feed it to her.  At that, she quickly takes the wrap from him and bites into it.  That’s when he remembers something else and reaches into his bag saying he almost forgot.  He hands her a notebook saying he’s giving it to her and she needn’t be too thankful.  She asks him what it is and as takes it and starts flipping through the notebook, she gasps in wonderment.  XK tells her that even though the video she made was “manufactured in a rough and slipshod way” and had a lot of mistakes and omissions, it was actually pretty good for a novice like her.  “Manufactured in a rough and slipshod way,” mistakes and omissions,” QY recognizes both phrases from that online comment she once received and guesses that he must’ve been that anonymous commenter.  When he coughs in answer and looks down, she tells him he’s not allowed to deny it because she’s certain it was him. 

 

XK tells her that now that the online video of him hitting someone has been cleared up, he’ll meet with the people over at Planet Video so that she can go back and continue working towards fulfilling her mother’s dream and become an outstanding show host.  QY thanks him, but tells him that actually she doesn’t really want to go back there.  She explains that if she stayed there, the most she’d be able to become is the hostess of a livestream show and she wouldn’t actually learn anything.  She’d just be a “flower vase.”  She tells him that in that moment when she sold her house, she’d thought things through and decided that no matter what she did in the future, she’d make sure to be the best at it and the most professional so that others wouldn’t be able to criticize her.  XK asks if she’s ever considered becoming an esports commentator.  She asks him, “Esports commentator?”  And he says yes, because right now the esports industry is gaining a lot of attention from the public and there are quite a number of good esports athletes, but finding someone who knows how to properly explain a competition, understands game strategies, and understands the positive points of the various athletes in order to speak about them is a rare find.  He adds that it’s especially hard to find a female commentator and that any who currently exist are like those “flower vase” types.  She gives him a look when he says “flower vase” and he reassures her that he wasn’t speaking of her.  All he meant to say was, if she was willing to work hard, he looked forward to her future.   QY asks, “Can I really?” and he asks back, “Why can’t you?”  He points out that if a klutz like him can enter the world championships at Vancouver, then she can definitely do it too. 

 

YX burps from overeating and YY nags at him, asking why she bothered to seek him out when all he knows how to do is eat, eat, eat.  YX burps and answers that if he hadn’t eaten the food, it would’ve gone to waste.  On the other side, a similar conversation is taking place as XK comments that he’s full.  He asks QY what she thought and she agrees it was pretty good.  He calls for the check and the waiter walks over saying it was 460 RMB.  XK thanks him and then, pointing to the table on the other side of the wall, says the two tables will be paid together.  He then stands up and pulls YX up by the hood of his sweatshirt, and pointing to YX tells the waiter that “he’ll” pay the bill.  YX pretends like this is all a coincidence and acts surprised to see QY as well, but XK tells him to stop acting so suspicious in front of him.  YY tries to escape unnoticed, but QY turns her head right at that moment and is surprised to find her on the other side of the wall as well.  She asks YY what she’s doing there and I just love the expression on XK’s face as he looks at her.  YY turns around and XK tells “Reporter Lu” that he’s “wan bi gui zhao”-ing QY to her.  [“Wan bi qui zhao” is an idiom for “return the jade intact to the State of Zhao,” which means to “return something to its owner in a perfect condition.”  I find his use of the idiom here hilarious, which is why I’ve chosen to share the literal translation rather than trying to translate the essence of his comment.]  YY shoots back that she doesn’t know what he’s talking about and then scolds QY for being out at this late hour.  She tells QY to go home with her and says she’ll be waiting for her outside.  QY says to XK, “I guess I’ll head home first then.”  She thanks him for the meal and the notebook, and after she leaves, XK turns to YX and tells him he’s leaving too.  He instructs YX to see to the bill.  YX is in disbelief that XK would really leave both bills to him but when he tries to chase after XK, he’s just waved away.  He has no choice but to stay behind when the waiter calls out to him.  The waiter tells him that the other table was 460 RMB and his own table was 600 RMB.  When YX hears the total amount, he asks the waiter if he’s familiar with the Legends team and when the waiter says no, he asks if he plays computer games, to which the waiter also says he doesn’t.  YX then tells him his name and says he can ask around, but the waiter’s like, “I don’t know who you are.  Who are you?” 

 

As QY and YY walk home, YY tries to convince QY to cut off all contact with XK even as she acknowledges that they just had a dinner to make-up for their past differences.  QY, however, is not listening to her as she’s lost in her own thoughts.  She doesn’t even react when YY tries to gain her attention.  Eventually, QY stops mid-walk and turns to her friend.  She tells her that she’s made a decision; she wants to become a professional commentator.  YY responds, “There you go again,” and asks if she has a fever, but QY says she’s being serious.  She’s decided she wants to become like Luo Tian.  YY doesn’t understand where she’s suddenly coming up with this idea and then it occurs to her, and she asks, “Did JXK coax you into this?”   But QY tells her that the first time she ever saw Luo Tian, she started having these thoughts.  She then proclaims that starting from today, she’s going to set out towards her dream.  YY doesn’t want to hear about dreams though, she says she understands dreams better than QY.  QY then asks her if she really it content with everything as they are (i.e., the status quo), and YY responds that she has to be.  She likes how peaceful her life is, which is unlike QY who’s always dreaming about dreams.  QY tells her thought that if she was really content with the status quo, then she wouldn’t have behaved as she did at the press conference.  YY asks her how she behaved and QY starts parroting words she’d spoken about finding the truth, etc.  YY tells her to stop, clearly embarrassed and insists she wasn’t like that.  But QY tells her to stop faking it and tells her friend that she knows she can do it [i.e., be the hard hitting reporter that she knows her friend secretly wants to be].  YY gives up and tries to end the conversation instead by rushing QY home.

 

The next day YY arrives to work and finds everyone busy cleaning; she asks her boss what’s going on.  He has his own question for her, however, as he shows her an article from the Legends press conference with her front row and center in the attached photograph.  She asks if that isn’t her and wonders why she’s there.  Her boss tells her that she’s on her way to becoming a hot online search topic, and YY can hardly believe it as she jumps up and down and says this is great news.  Her boss, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to share in the same opinion.  Instead, he shows her a banner that a Legends fan delivered out of appreciation of her efforts.  She asks if these aren’t all positive things and wonders why he doesn’t look very happy.  Her boss asks if she really can’t tell whether he’s praising her or being sarcastic towards her.  He then explains that because of her, he’s been getting phone calls all afternoon and how their higher ups even plan on visiting him that afternoon.  [Which explains why everyone is busy running around cleaning the office.]  He remarks that his peaceful days of reading books are coming to an end.  YY apologizes and he asks her what’s the point of her apologizing now.  He reminds her that they’re just a small magazine company within a conglomerate, but she just had to go through all those efforts.  Now all their upper management will be visiting, and he finds it completely useless because no matter how many times they visit, it won’t change the fact that they’re just a small magazine company where they’re not used to actually doing any work.  He comments that GDV wants them to go over and participate in some interview, but none of their employees have ever gone out to conduct interviews before.  He asks YY what he’s supposed to do and she volunteers for the opportunity, saying she’s willing to give it a try.  Her boss responds by asking her if there was anyone else but her who could do it.  Since she created the problem, of course she must handle it.   He sends her off, but YY turns back to ask him where she’s supposed to go, and he tells her (in a very annoyed voice) where else would she go but to the multistoried building where GDV is housed.   Poor YY.  As she walks away, she comments on the confusing conversation that just occurred.  She doesn’t understand why she was criticized when she was just trying to do her work.

 

QY is running around the GDV building while on the phone with YY.  She tells YY that she’s arrived but this place is too big and every floor belongs to GDV.  She asks her where she is.  YY tells her to keep heading in the inward direction [which is really not a helpful direction] and tells her that her interview’s about to begin.  She tells QY that if she doesn’t hurry up and deliver the material she brought with her, it’s going to be the end of her.  As QY tells her she understands and asks YY to at least tell her what floor she’s on, a billboard catches her eye and distracts her.  She comments that YY left the house without taking her stuff and it’s a good thing she was around.  By now, she’s standing in front of the poster and we see it’s an announcement for an upcoming competition to find Luo Tian a new co-commentator.  YY on the other hand is still freaking out because she’s lost her connection to QY, and that’s when she realizes her phone battery has died.

 

A receptionist approaches QY and asks if she needs any help.  QY says she’s fine as she found the person she was looking for.  Amazingly, the two friends really do find each other by the elevators.   YY grabs hold of her and starts running and expresses relief at having found her.  She explains her phone battery died, and QY comments that she’s supposed to be professional reporter but she left her materials at home.  YY tells her this was a last minute assignment and these materials were something she put together when she was studying in case she ever got sent for an interview.  When they finally arrive at the place she’d originally been waiting at, YY leaves her there and says she’s going in for her interview. She tells QY to wait for her there and have some water or something.  After YY leaves, QY continues to walk the hallways and have a look around.  She finds the studio with where the esports commentators would normally report from and walks in to have a look around.  After a while, she pulls out her phone and starts taking selfies.  She then pretends to give a broadcast of her own where she’s reporting on a competition.  As she begins, Luo Tian walks through the hallways and overhears her and stops in his track.  He walks in just as she says (as part of her fake broadcast), “Luo Tian, what do you think?”  He comments from behind, “Do all interns practice as they like these days?  Or is it that you think oral commentaries are something you just open your mouth to say and the words flow out?”  QY apologizes and tells him she’s not an intern.  She says makes the excuse that she took a wrong turn and runs out of the room. 

 

She ends up waiting for YY at an outdoor café.  By the time YY arrives, she is thoroughly exhausted.  She tells QY that it’s a good thing she brought those materials to her or else she doesn’t know how she would’ve gotten through the interview.  As she slumps over the table, she asks what’s up with QY’s blank expression.  QY reminds her of how she’s been spending her time lately researching on how to become a commentator, and then tells her that she has happened upon an amazing opportunity.  She tells YY that GDV is putting on a competition called, “Tomorrow’s Star,” and the winner will be able to work as Luo Tian’s partner and report on the iConquer competitions.  YY doesn’t think this is necessarily such a great thing though, as Luo Tian is known for being the best at having a poisoned tongue.  But QY says that for someone who’s as good as he is at what he does, it’s normal for him to be as stern as he is.  Plus, she’s already registered anyway.  Rather than encouraging her, YY tells QY that if she attends the competition in her current state, she’ll just end up being everyone’s denominator.  QY tells her that no matter what she’s not planning on returning to Planet Video, and she’s not ready to leave this industry yet either.  She points out that with an opportunity like this one staring at her right in the face, she doesn’t want to give it up and can’t give it up.  She then asks YY to accompany her to the bookstore after she finishes her coffee so she can buy some books on the matter.  YY doesn’t want to go and says she doesn’t have the energy.   When QY begs her, she remembers that she knows of a product placement app where QY can buy the books she wants. They’re genuine products, will be delivered by tomorrow, and it’ll be even cheaper than going to the bookstore.  Because it’s so cheap, QY ends up opting to buy all the books.  [Like I said: product placement!] 

 

After YY places the book order, QY says this is great.  She’s figured out a way to help expand her knowledge and understanding of the theories involved in the computer game, but now she wonders how she can quickly gain experience at commenting on computer games.  She asks YY to help her think of a way.  YY says she doesn’t know either, but then she has a thought.  She tells QY that within their industry, she’s heard of an Internet café that regularly holds some sort of event where they review matches played.  She thinks it would be suitable for someone like QY who wants to do similar work.  YY is amazed to hear this and asks YY to take her there immediately. 

 

That’s how they end up at Dream Journey Internet cafe.  As they peer through the window, YY asks her what QY thinks.  She asks, “It’s different from the norm, isn’t it?”  QY points inside and says there are a lot of people there.  YY tells her to come with her, but just as they reach the door, she stops her and tells her to wait a second, as she has something to say to her.  YY tells her that in this kind of a place, there will be a lot of people from the esports circle so they should do their best to fit in with them, although of course she should speak less and listen more.  QY objects that YY needn’t give her these sorts of lessons, and then heads into the café.  Except when she enters, she turns left and YY runs after her to tell her she’s going in the wrong direction.  She should’ve turned right. 

 

As they walk through Dream Journey, they gasp over everything they see.  YY comments on how it’s all decked out in the color of the iConquer game and QY asks if she hasn’t been there before.  YY says she has been there before, but the last time she was there, she didn’t know enough to appreciate what she was seeing.  We see a skinny guy stand up from a computer and QY points him out to YY.  She says she knows him; his nickname is Fei Mao (fat cat) and he used to be number one of his server.  But now he’s been knocked out of his first place position by someone nicknamed Shou Hou Zi (skinny monkey). That’s when Fei Mao calls out to Shou Hou Zi, asking if he wants something to drink, and the girls follow his line of vision to find that Shou Hou Zi is also present; he’s a fat guy.  They’re obviously close friends as Shou Hou Zi can’t believe that Fei Mao wouldn’t know what he wants to drink without asking him.  Shou Hou Zi then tells him to hurry up with their drink order as the competition’s about to start.  As they listen to the two guys talk, QY asks if they aren’t supposed to be sworn enemies.  She’s surprised to find they talk to each other like they’re friends.  YY, on the other hand, is impressed by all that QY knows.  QY remarks that of course she has to know, and YY tells her, “Forget about that, let’s reflect on the fact that the one who’s called fat is actually skinny and the one who’s called skinny is actually fat.  They’re a match made in heaven.”  The girls laugh and then notice that everyone is huddled around a computer.  They wonder what’s going on and go over to have a looksee as well. 

 

Pushing through the crowd, they discover that one of the people playing is a female.  She wins and her opponent is clearly annoyed.  Shou Hou Zi remarks that this is the first time he’s encountered such a skilled female.  Fei Mao asks her if her name has made it onto the server’s list of posted names and says that if it has, then she meets the requirements noted on Dream Journey’s recruitment ad.  The female player stands up though and tells him that she doesn’t carry tea and pour water for others.  She then tells him to step aside, and he rushes to comply.  After she leaves, QY and YY whisper to each other that she seems cool while Fei Mao and Shou Hou Zi describe her as aloof.  The crowd disburses and QY approaches the two, telling them that she recognizes them.  Shou Hou Zi’s like, “She knows us?”  And Fei Mao guesses they must be fans, which QY confirms.  She then asks them what they were talking about earlier about a recruitment ad.  Fei Mao says he was talking about Dream Journey’s recruitment ad and Shou Hou Zi points it out to her. 

 

As they stand in front of the recruitment ad, YY marvels over the fact that in order to work there, the individual has to be first in their server.  While she thinks it’s crazy, QY says this means that Dream Journey has high standards and that, who knows, the people who are carrying tea and pouring water might all be top players.  That’s when YY points out someone walking through the door.  They turn to look; it’s PX.  YY’s remembers how he treated QY during the dual match and complains about him, but QY tells her to forget about it as it all happened in the past.  She then wonders what he’s doing there while wearing a server’s apron.  That’s when YY remembers, the owner of Dream Journey is his older cousin, Summer.  QY says, “No wonder.”  YY, however, wonders what a top pro player like him is doing here as a café server.  As they don’t have an answer to that question, QY tells her who cares and pulls her away.

 

XK walks into CEO Jin’s office where Zhao Yang is already waiting.  He asks if CEO Jin called for him, and CEO Jin invites him to have a seat.  He tells XK that he called the two of them in before him not for any big reason, but he noticed that during the most recent press conference, there seemed to be some misunderstandings between the two of them.  CEO Jin says he’d like to represent the company in apologizing to him while also hoping that he understands how after that video was posted online, things were messy for the company.  He explains to XK that the decisions the company made at the time were ones made because they didn’t have a choice either.  XK tells CEO Jin that it’s okay and that it’s all in the past.  He says all he needs is for Zhao Yang to apologize to him.  CEO Jin laughs and says, of course, Zhao Yang would like to sincerely apologize to him as well.  Left without a choice, Zhao Yang apologizes to XK and says everything was his fault.  XK responds by pretending like he can’t hear from having worn headphones for too long.  He says he didn’t hear clearly and Zhao Yang is forced into apologizing again.  This time XK tells him he’s being much too polite and it’s okay.  He tells CEO Jin that he knows everything Zhao Yang did was out of the team’s best interest, and that they understand.  Completely understand.  CEO Jin laughs and says they’re all their own people, so he hopes Zhao Yang won’t take it to heart.  He then adds that right now, their most important thing is.. and XK finishes the thought for him. It’s the upcoming finals competition.  XK tells them not to worry, as he promises to not let them down.  Zhao Yang says if that’s the case, then they’ll wait for XK’s triumphant return.  As he gets up to leave, CEO Jin stops him by reminding him again that they’re all their own people.  He tells Zhao Yang to shake hands with XK and after that, they’ll consider this matter done.  Obviously feeling triumphant already, and clearly amused, XK stands up immediately and holds out his hand.  After some pause, Zhao Yang laughs an empty laugh and shakes the offered hand.  He then storms into his office and shoves aside Wang Bin’s offer of tea.  Wang Bin tells Zhao Yang to not be angry and that they should just consider this time as him having good-luck.  Zhao Yang still can’t believe that he was made to apologize.  He then turns and asks Wang Bin if he had carried out the matters cleanly.  Wang Bin promises that he did and that no investigation will find its way to them.  Zhao Yang then looks towards the door and threatens, “JXK, you want to play with me?  I’ll see you dead.” 

 

End

 

[themarchioness]

As we delve deeper into gaming portion of the drama, the recaps are taking me even longer than they already do.  So much technical speak!  And even then, I'm not going to lie, it goes over my head.  It's too much industry-speak.  But I'm doing the best I can and glossing over where I have to; I hope you guys understand.  I promise that no matter what, I'll always share the gist of the moment as best I understand it, at the very least.   

 

Meanwhile, there's quite a bit to be excited about in this episode.  We get to see XK and QY finally hanging out as friends, as well as XK trying to help QY advance towards her dreams.  I find the latter part especially sweet considering how he was so adamant in the beginning about not helping her and being afraid of her trying to use him just to get ahead.  Now he's willingly offering to be used, and she's the one who doesn't want to make use of his connections.  I really do admire these two.  Finally, probably the most exciting thing to happen in this episode, which I know @lynne22 will also be excited about: the first head pat.  After the false alarm from two episodes back, my head pat count finally commences in . . .   

 

Episode 12

 

Spoiler

 

Episode 12

 

 

YY sighs as she watches QY play and comments that QY is currently placed 735 in her current server.  QY tells her that she needn’t remind her of that, and comments that given her current skill level, she can forget about winning the “Tomorrow’s Star” competition when she can’t even become a server at Dream’s Journey.  YY pats her on the shoulder and says all she can say is that dreams are plentiful, but reality is stark. She asks whether QY should reconsider the competition, but QY shakes her head and says she knows she can do it.  YY asks her if she’s being serious and QY asks her when she’s ever joked around.  She then tells YY that if she hopes to improve her skills, she has to gain more experience through practicing.  She starts up a character and says she’s about to begin.  YY asks her, “Begin what?” and she tells her, “Practicing this hero.”  YY looks at her phone and comments that it’s already 12:30am but QY doesn’t even listen, as she’s focused on her game.  YY gives up and retreats to her room with her product placement face mask. 

 

The next day finds QY back at Dream Journey.  PX walks by and watches her play. He then pulls up a chair and when she’s defeated, tells her that she plays horribly.  She’s surprised to find him next to her and asks if he’s speaking of her.  He nods and tells her to try playing with a priest.  She’s surprised by his suggestion and asks why.  Before he can even answer she continues on and admits that actually, she also felt that she wasn’t very smooth playing with a shooter, but if she were to play with the priest, she wonders which one she should play with.  She then tells PX that she knows he’s the first priest and asks him to recommend a few good ones for her to use.  But then she adds that the only problem is, if she goes with using a priest, she’ll have to start over from the beginning.  As she continues rambling about her various logistical concerns, PX grows increasingly bored and finally digs out a lollipop that he holds up in front of her.  She asks him if he’s giving it to her and he nods yes.  She thanks him and comments on how cute it is (since it’s shaped like a dog).  She then asks him why he’s giving her a lollipop, and he answers, “Because you talk too much.  Eat it.”  As he walks away, he tells her to assemble all her questions together and then send them to him.  QY turns back to her computer and considers his suggestion of using a priest.  She then says that she remembers PX once used the Creator before, and decides to give it a try.

 

YY looks at the wall clock; it’s 1:30.  She asks QY if she’s still not going to bed.  QY tells her that she doesn’t have a lot of time before the competition starts, so she has to make use of all of her time.  Once more, YY gives up and heads off to bed first while telling QY to not stay up too late.

 

The next day at Dream Journey, QY walks over to find PX where he’s playing a match.  She claps when he wins and tells him he was great.  She then calls him “Pei Xi Lao Shi” (Teacher Pei Xi) and hands over the questions she put together concerning the Creator character; she asks him for his help.  After he looks over her long list of questions, he sighs and tosses them aside.  He tells her to watch him.  He means for her to watch him play, but QY takes him at his literal word and starts to stare at him intensely.  (LOL)  PX sighs again and says, “I meant for you to watch the computer.”   When he finishes playing a second time, she claps again and tells him that this is the difference between a top player and a novice.  He merely asks her if she understands now and she tells him that his fingers were moving much too quickly just now and her eyes couldn’t keep up.  She asks if he can do  it again and he tells her to go watch a replay on her own.  After he walks off, she runs to catch up to him again and says in order to thank him for his instruction, she’s willing to remain at Dream Journey and help him make coffee, clean up, and other chores of that ilk.  She even tells him that she doesn’t need any pay and that she’s very capable.  PX responds, however, that she’s not the first on her server and therefore doesn’t have the right to be a server at Dream Journey.  She doesn’t let it go though and insists she can help move furniture, mop floors, etc., and that’s when PX holds up another lollipop to make her stop talking. 

 

XK has his laptop out and a game video running on the large screen in their training room when the coach enters with YX, Lu Feng, and Li Nan.  The coach comments that XK must’ve prepared the materials already, which he confirms.  The coach says they can start then and then realizes Huo Yao’s not with them.  He asks the members if they know where he is and Li Nan answers that they were just eating together.  Huo Yao told him that he had something to do and was going out for a bit.  The coach asks him where he went, but Li Nan said he didn’t say.  The coach decides to put the matter aside and tells the others to begin. 

 

XK begins by saying that everyone knows, VNG’s main skill is “four protect one,” and says that if they can hold PX back from growing [his character, I assume], then they’ll have a chance at winning the competition.   He then pulls up something else on his laptop and says he’s prepared a compilation of all of PX’s videos for them to watch.  Huo Yao arrives at that moment and apologizes for being late. The coach tells him to watch the video, but Huo Yao sits to the side and flashes back to the conversation he just had with Zhao Yang.  I’m just going to summarize this part by explaining that Huo Yao’s contract is up in two months.  Technically, Zhao Yang is meeting with Huo Yao to discuss the resigning of his next year’s contract but Zhao Yang being Zhao Yang has ulterior motives.  He basically starts to prick at Huo Yao’s pride by asking him how he feels about the selection process for the team’s next leader and indicating that, in his opinion, the position should have gone to him.  He tells Huo Yao that the only reason XK was picked was because Gu Fang had insisted upon it, but if it had been left up to him, he would’ve recommended Huo Yao to their CEO.  Huo Yao’s not sure where Zhao Yang is going with this and points out his skills are only so-so, but Zhao Yang tells him that’s not the point.  He reminds Huo Yao that the lifespan of a pro gamer in the competitive world is of only a short duration and warns that CEO Jin has been eying Huo Yao’s position with a lot of thoughts and interest.  He then tells Huo Yao that if he keeps following XK and his messing around ways, then he won’t be able to help him. 

 

Zhao Yang doesn’t give Huo Yao any directives, but he tells Huo Yao that he’s a smart person and should be able to read between the lines to know whether he should aim to be the next team leader or wait around awkwardly to be kicked out of the competitive world.  As he leaves the café, Zhao Yang tells him that he looks forward to seeing how he performs at the upcoming competition, and then asks him to not let him down.

 

Back in the training room, XK is continuing with his observations on how PX likes to play.  He comments that PX likes to fight alone, doesn’t like enter into groups with others, and doesn’t frequently coordinate with his team members to wander about, which is why that’s going to be their breach point.  He adds that their strategy will be to harass PX on the front end.  The coach says this is a good idea and invites Huo Yao to share his thoughts, but Huo Yao is lost in his own thoughts.  He apologize and tells the coach that he’s not feeling well.  Li Nan asks if he has a fever and walks over to test Huo Yao’s forehead, but Huo Yao blocks his hand and says it’s nothing.  The coach tells him that if he’s not feeling well, then he should go and get some rest.  Huo Yao agrees to the idea and says he’ll head back first to get some rest.  He then tells the members that once they’ve settled on a strategy, he’ll practice it that night and apologizes. 

 

QY lifts the cover of her product placement instant hot pot and sniffs deeply, eager to dive into her dinner.  As she eats, she watches a game replay on her computer screen and pouts that it’s too hard.  XK arrives at that moment, slapping the back of her chair.  She’s been staring at the computer screen for so long her eyes are a little bleary as she looks at him.  He smiles and asks if she’s gone blurry-eyed from seeing a handsome guy.  That snaps QY out of her trance as she asks him why he’s there.  He  explains that he heard from YX that she’s been spending a lot of time at Dream Journey and as he happened to be passing by today, he thought he’d stop by and never imagined that he really would find her there.  He comments that she’s so “fei qin wang shi” (an idiom for: forget to eat and sleep), but she tells him that she’s only “fei qin” (forgetting to sleep), and not “wang shi” and points to her bowl of hot pot.  He laughs and pulls over a chair, asking her what she’s watching.  [As he starts to watch the computer screen, I can’t help but notice how she watches him instead.  Who can blame her?]  After a few seconds, he comments, “Aiyo, that move by PX was not bad.”  QY asks him how he knew it was PX playing, and XK scoffs that with those two moves of his, all he had to was take one look and he could figure it out.  He then asks her why she’s watching it, and QY tells him that PX’s teaching her how to play the mid-solo position.  [The way XK’s eyes travel around in response to this news is hilarious.]  XK reacts loudly, “That’s too harsh!”  He says PX is obviously just trying to show off his moves and asks how a novice like her could possibly learn from that.  QY responds that clumsy birds like her have to start flying earl, and reminds XK that he’s the one who’d told her she could do it, so that means she must be able to do it.  That’s when he puts it all together and says, “Oh, so you came to Dream Journey to learn?”  She confirms it and explains that since she wants to become a commentator and also plans on entering the “Tomorrow’s Star” competition, she figures she’ll be able to improve her skill quickly with so many top players there.  XK nods his head with what I swear is a sulky look on his face, but when he spots QY rubbing her eyes, he pulls her hand away and tells her not to rub them.  He asks if she’s been watching a long time and when she says yes, he tells her not to watch anymore.  He tells her that PX’s just fooling around and she wouldn’t understand even if she watched.  He then takes her by the wrist and says, “Let’s go.  I’ll take you for a stroll.”   [THEY WALK OUT WITH HER WRIST IN HIS HAND.]

 

Elsewhere PX keeps sneezing and wonders, “Is someone scolding me?”

 

QY and XK are walking around at night when a dressed up character hands them each a rose.  She thanks the dressed up character and then says to XK, “How nice.  Someone even gave us flowers.”  He asks if she would consider herself as having experienced a perfect day today, and when she asks him why, he explains, “Because at night time, you got to walk around with a handsome guy like me.”  QY laughs and asks how he can be so narcissistic.  He jokingly reminds that he has tens of thousands of fans.  QY changes the topic by saying she has something serious to discuss.  She brings up the fact that his final competition is coming up soon and asks if he’s nervous.  XK asks how he could possibly be nervous.  He tells her that originally, he could earn 90 points.  If he adds his tens of thousands of fans, he’ll be able to earn 99 points.  QY asks about the remaining one point, and he hands her his rose and says it’s her.  He tells her that if she comes, he’ll be able to earn full points and it’ll be perfect.  QY objects that she’s worth only one point, but he tells her that one point is already high.  He tells her she can think of it as being his number one groupie.  At that, she says to him, “Then Teacher JI, can you give her number one groupie some tutoring lessons?”  He answers that it’s not a problem and that he’ll give her all the top secret tutorial lessons in order to help her become an exceptional master.  [He’s also probably thinking, “It’s about time you asked me instead of PX!”]  He then tells her to follow him.

 

They end up at the product placement snack shop (the one where QY had previously taken YY).  She asks him why he brought her there, and he tells her that she’ll understand shortly.  As they walk around the store, she mutters that he’d said he would help her become a master but it looks more like he’s there to buy things.  That’s when XK turns around and reminds her that she’d watched PX’s maneuvers earlier.  He asks her what the core of his actions was, and she answers, “Fast.  Accurate.  Ruthless.”  XK tells her that’s right, and explains that in addition to the playing tactics that separate a pro player from an ordinary player, the other more important difference is in their operating speed.  Which is why that is their most basic training skill.  QY points out she switched to a job that she wasn’t trained in and asks if she’ll be able to manage it, but XK responds by asking her why she wouldn’t be able to.  He reminds her that she’s not playing the computer game to win a competition, but to elevate her professional skills.  After he finishes his explanation, she tells him that she’ll accept whatever training method he wants to use.  He then hands her the shopping basket and says they’ll begin with the first lesson, which is to train her hand speed and reaction skills.  He then starts calling out items for her to grab from around the store, e.g., “Five bags of dried mangoes.”  At the same time, he starts throwing items at her for her to catch or leaving them around the shelves for her to pick up.  He tells her to hurry up and then for the last item, he holds it up high over his head and out of her reach.  She jumps for it and a box falls out of her basket, which she then has to retrieve.  That’s when he tells her, “Every hero has its strong points and its weak points, which is why, when you reach that point where you’ve exceeded the scope of your own abilities, you have to work in coordination with your teammates.”  He then places the last item in her basket. 

 

QY asks XK how come it feels like he’s not teaching her, but is instead messing around with her.  XK asks if what he said just now didn’t make sense.  As she can’t say that it didn’t, she gives in and says, “Fine.  You’re the master.  The master of battleground tactics.  Everything you said is correct.”  He then looks across the store and calls out another item for her to run and fetch, and follows her from behind while smiling. 

 

As XK walks QY home, he comments that her speed and reactionary skills today were pretty good.  He tells her to practice some more and that next time, he’ll take her to hit ground mice.  She asks him if that would be useful and he answers that for her, it would probably be useful.  She laughs and then tells him that she’s arrived [home] so he should just walk her to this point.  He hands her the bag of snacks and when she asks if he’s giving them to her, he says yes and asks if girls don’t like snacks like these.  He then tells her to just make sure to not eat too much, as they’ll make her gain weight easily.  [Ugh, I could’ve done without that line in the script.]  QY thanks him and then asks what he likes to eat so she can treat him next time.  He tells her that he likes to drink milk tea; the strawberry flavored kind.  This surprises QY to hear as she comments on a grown man like him liking strawberry milk tea, and says it doesn’t quite fit the image.  XK’s only response is that it’s up to her whether she wants to believe it.  She laughs and says, “Anyway, thank you for today.”  He tells her she’s being polite and that, in the future, should she have any more questions she shouldn’t hesitate to ask him, as he’s the encyclopedia.  He adds that asking PX questions won’t be of any use to her since he only knows how to play by himself.  She asks if he’s certain and he nods his head yes.  That’s when she asks how come she remembers, during the Q&A portion of the reality show they were on together, “her Teacher Ji” answered all 6 questions incorrectly while PX . . . XK jumps in quickly to cut her off and says, “That was just a misunderstanding, okay?”  He then adds, “Here, to make it up to you, I prepared two tickets to the [upcoming final competition].  I hope you’ll come.”  QY accepts them and asks if it’s to cheer him on.  He says, “Mm, I said it before.  The support I get from my tens of thousands of fans only adds up to 99 points.  The last point is in your possession.”  After that, he lifts his chin towards the apartment building and tells her it’s late and she should head in already.  She sends him off and they part.  As she watches him leave though, she thinks to herself, “My God, why is my heart beating so quickly?  My face feels warm too.  Don’t think crazy thoughts.  Please don’t think crazy thoughts.  QY, you need to calm down.  Calm down.” 

 

QY arrives home to a dark house.  She calls out for YY and wonders her friend is, and then has the shock of her life when she turns on the light and finds YY sitting in the living room.  She asks her what she’s doing there.  YY responds by telling her she saw everything.  QY asks her what she saw, and YY asks back, “What would you say I saw?”  She comments with annoyance that QY was given flowers , and QY tells her that it just happened to be on the way.  YY can’t believe she’d actually believe that., and QY tells her that he really is good-hearted.  She then asks what she would do if a pretty girl like her ran into a letch [on her way home]?  YY responds that she thinks “he” looks like the biggest letch.  QY laughs and then holds up the tickets she was just given, saying that XK gave her two of them.  She asks if YY wants to go, but YY refuses to be bought by them.  QY reminds her that these are tickets to one of the biggest events in the esports world, and asks if she’s sure she doesn’t want to go.  When YY insists she won’t attend, QY says that’s fine.  She observes that YY can just stay at that nursing home of hers [remember, she’d once referred to her workplace as a nursing home] and duplicate her news from elsewhere, and then asks where the trash can is.  At that, YY snatches the tickets back and justifies her changed tune by saying she needs to attend for QY’s sake [to protect her from XK].  QY then sits down next to her and tells her not to be angry, while YY says she hasn’t yet forgiven her.  QY calls her, “My little angel, and YY says she’s not her little angel.  That’s when QY tells her she bought her her favorite dried mangoes, and YY is finally won over.

 

QY and YY arrive to the site of final competition for XK’s current tournament and when QY observes YY enjoying herself as she looks around, she comments on how YY hadn’t wanted to attend and asks if she’s feeling excited now.  YY refuses to admit that she is and says instead that since she’s there already, she might as well take some pictures.  As she runs ahead saying she’s going to check something out, she runs into YX who calls out to her.  He looks her up and down and asks her what she’s wearing, and then tells her that if she came to watch him play, she would’ve worn something nicer and more formal.  YY objects to his suggestion and tells him it’s none of his business what she wears as she came to watch his match, not him.  When she asks if really is that narcissistic, he tells her to mind the way she speaks and to be more respectful, but that only has YY threatening to hit him.  YX holds up his hands and tells YX stop, reminding her that there are he has a lot of fans who are present, but she tells him she’s not going to look and runs off while YX runs after her saying she can’t not look.  (LOL) 

 

After the Bickering Duo run off, XK arrives looking in their direction and comments on how lively they’re being.  QY tells him they’re just being a quarrelsome but loving couple and will be back in a bit.  XK turns his attention back to her and says she can’t forget what she’s there to do today.  He then turns her around and shows her a trio of people sitting inside the auditorium; it’s: Li Mao’s director, GDV’s senior manager, and Teacher Luo Tian.  He tells her these are all the biggest names in the industry and asks whether she isn’t going to go over there and familiarize herself with them.  QY answers that she’d feel embarrassed going over there and trying to talk to them when she doesn’t know anything, but he reminds her of the idiom, “Yi Hui Sheng, Er Hui Shu” (which means: strangers at the first meeting, friends at the second; ill at ease the first time, at home the second; difficult the first time, easier the second time) and says that all she has to do is meet with them a few times and then they’ll all be familiar with each other.  QY tells him, however, that if she relies on this sort of method, other people will just label her as a “flower vase” again and she doesn’t want that.  He teases by asking if she’s letting down his invitation, but when she answers, “Thank you for your invitation, but…” he lets her off the hook and says he understands; they’ll follow her pace.  [HEAD PAT]  He then tells her he’s heading back in to prepare for the competition and reminds her to cheer for him.  She answers that’s a for sure thing and tells him to “add oil.” 

 

QY asks where YY’s gone to, and PX surprises her by approaching from behind.  He asks what kind of a relationship she has with XK, and she’s so caught off guard, she asks him, “What?”  He repeats his question.  She answers they’re just friends and when he only nods in response, she asks him why he’s asking.  He says he was curious. 

 

Inside the Legends waiting room, Huo Yao and Lu Feng are sitting while YX is pacing.  When XK arrives, YX runs over to admit that he’s feeling a little bit nervous.  XK pushes him away and asks why he’s nervous about an insider’s competition.  YX asks him how can’t be nervous when this competition decides whether he’ll continue to be their team leader.  He adds that even though XK’s not nervous, he’s nervous.  XK tells him to relax and just play well.  He tells him not to be nervous.  YX responds that it’s a lot easier said than done.  XK notices that Huo Yao is looking spacey; he asks what he’s thinking about and asks if he’s feeling nervous like YX.  Huo Yao says he’s not, he’s just not feeling very well.  This news alarms everyone as YX immediately passes over some water for him to drink.  When he looks at the water bottle, YX asks him what he’s waiting for and asks whether he needs him to open it for him.  Huo Yao responds quickly that he can do it himself and when they see him guzzle the water, YX comments that he must’ve been thirsty.  Huo Yao tells them that perhaps it’s because he didn’t sleep well.  He then tells XK that he’s going to go to the bathroom to wash his face, and that once he does that, he’ll be fine. 

 

Inside the auditorium, QY checks her ticket to find her seat.  She’s amazed to discover she has front row seats and wonders if XK prepared it especially for her.  

 

Huo Yao is washing his hands when Zhao Yang approaches from the side.  He reminds Huo Yao that the competition’s about to start and that he should perform well.  He tells him that he definitely won’t treat him poorly. 

 

The competition begins and Luo Tian and A Can walk out onto the stage to greet the audience.  As QY watches Luo Tian MC the event, she dreams about a day when it’s her standing next to him on stage with everyone cheering her on.  She returns to the present and promises herself that one day, she too will stand on that stage and tells herself to “add oil.”  Back on the stage, Luo Tian is introducing the new heroes that have been released as part of the current tournament.  He explains that these are heroes that iConquer has designed specifically for the Chinese market while A Can introduces each one in turn, explaining that they’re designed after the five elements: gold, wood, water, fire, and land.  Luo Tian continues the explanation by noting that the stories and mythology attached to these characters were created with the Chinese audience in mind, and A Can then talks about how the Legends and VNG teams will soon be bringing them an exciting game to watch.  [To be honest, without looking up every word they’re saying in this segment, it’s difficult for me to fully understand as well what’s being said, but this is pretty much the gist of what’s going on at this moment.] 

 

Both teams are invited out onto the stage and then it is announced that the game has begun.  As the teams select their heroes, the person sitting next to QY comments that he took a look earlier and it seems about 70% of the people have predicted that PX will win.  When his friend agrees, QY can’t help herself and butts in to ask why that’s the case when Legends was the runner-up winner at the world championship.  The person next to her replies that Legends is now without Gu Fang, and that means they’re way worse. 

 

Right at that moment, the Legends team makes a play that has QY cheering.  As the commentators marvel over the move, QY turns back to the guy next to her and says, “Weren’t you just saying that Legends without Gu Fang, means they’re way worse?”   Even he’s surprised, as he responds, “Did I?” 

 

The game continues on and we see that in addition to the spectators at the event, Sun Ze Yi is also following the game from his Internet café.  At a certain point, the two teams meet up and start fighting.  Just as the commentators are getting revved up for the moment, A Can asks what’s going on with Huo Yao.  He messed up and missed an opportunity and A Can comments that it was a real shame.  Over at The King, Sun Ze Yi wonders aloud what’s going on with Huo Yao.  The camera cuts to the Legends team and we see XK giving orders for them to stop fighting and to retreat.  He then tells Huo Yao specifically to move backwards.  When YX asks Huo Yao what he’s doing, he responds that he’s retreating.  Over on the VNG side, even Lu Sheng looks over the Legends team and then asks his teammate why it feels like Legends is playing poorly today.  They continue playing and then the VNG team then starts commenting that they’re about to win while XK asks his team if they can make a change, but YX tells him no.  Shortly thereafter, A Can announces that VNG has broken through the final line and will soon be taking down Legends’ crystal.  The game ends and we see Shu Wen clap and smile for her team, while Zhao Yang does the same.  YX takes off his headset and turns to Huo Yao, asking what’s up with him today.  When Huo Yao doesn’t answer, YX tells him to wake up and reminds him that they’re at the final round of their tournament. 

 

The team gets up to return to their waiting room and we see Sun Ze Yi sending a text message to XK that there’s a problem with Huo Yao. 

 

Inside the Legends waiting room, Lu Feng walks past YX who’s draped himself over a chair and tells him that the second match is about to start so he should perk himself up.  YX just sighs instead and asks Huo Yao what’s going on with him, asking him why he didn’t move forward earlier.  Lu Feng also comments on Huo Yao’s play.  At this moment, Sun Ze Yi’s text arrives.  Huo Yao apologizes to the team saying he didn’t sleep well the night before and his condition’s not good.  XK reads his text while Lu Feng begs Huo Yao to get his act together for the next match.  He starts to comment on what will happen if they lose the second match, but he doesn’t complete the thought because everyone knows what’s at stake.  YX reminds him that this is just an insider’s competition and their opponent is VNG, a team they’ve beaten many times over.  He adds that that they’ve played together many times and he’s never seen Huo Yao nervous before.   Then he yells that if they lose the next match, XK will have to leave and he begs Huo Yao to put some heart into it.  XK cuts in finally to tell them that now’s not the time to be fighting over this.  He then tells Huo Yao to hurry up and adjust his condition.  Zhao Yang arrives at this moment and starts chewing them out for how they played in the first match.  He asks them if there’s a problem and XK tells him not to worry, as there’s nothing wrong with them.   Zhao Yang then walks over to Huo Yao and asks him what he’s nervous about and whether there’s a problem.  Huo Yao answers there’s no problem, and Zhao Yang pats him on the shoulder, telling him to relax and that he’ll watch over him in the next match.  He then tells the entire team to “add oil” before exiting.  The coach then leads them back out for their second match.  After everyone else exits, XK lingers and then turns back to Huo Yao to tell him it’s okay as they can still win the second match.  He adds that Huo Yao shouldn’t feel burdened as he doesn’t care whether he serves as the team leader; what’s more important to him is that he stands shoulder to shoulder with his brothers as they fight.  Huo Yao tells XK not to worry as he promises not to lose the second match. 

 

Over at The King, Sun Ze Yi gets a reply text; it says: He’s been my brother these past two years.  I trust him.  Sun Ze Yi just rolls his eyes.

 

The second match begins and the teams start picking their characters. 

 

End

 

Head Pat Count: 1

[Lynne]

Ahahaha.. @themarchioness I can feel your giddinesss lols.. likewise I am giggling and laughing while reading your recaps... Finally Head Pats No. 1 !!! This show have the sweetest head pats ever! 

Pei Xi and Qiu Ying's interaction always makes me chuckle... 

And LoL, Ji Xiang Kong did I detect a slight feeling of jealousy there?  

Lastly ugh!! Zhao Yang the creepster strikes again... Sigh! 

 

Let me share some of the stills for ep 12

1. Head Pat #1

2. Sweet training lesson that ends with roses.. awww... 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

3. Cute YY HAHAHHAA...

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

[themarchioness]

6 hours ago, lynne22 said:

Ahahaha.. @themarchioness I can feel your giddinesss lols.. likewise I am giggling and laughing while reading your recaps... Finally Head Pats No. 1 !!! This show have the sweetest head pats ever! 

Pei Xi and Qiu Ying's interaction always makes me chuckle... 

And LoL, Ji Xiang Kong did I detect a slight feeling of jealousy there?  

Lastly ugh!! Zhao Yang the creepster strikes again... Sigh! 

 

Hahaha, @lynne22, I think it is indisputable that we are BOTH incredibly giddy (and have been for the past several weeks now) over this drama.  I love that we are.  And, if I may steal a page from XK's narcissism for a second, I daresay we're the perfect duo for this thread between my recaps and your stills.  I love the ones you've chosen to share from Episode 12!  They're perfect. 

 

And totes!  JXK is definitely feeling jealous and territorial, I daresay.  He may not be able to see it right now or be willing to admit it, but his actions demonstrate how he is already sunk.  I mean, just listen to that whole 99 points vs. 1 point chatter.  If that wasn't him flirting with QY, I don't know else you'd call it!  Fortunately for him, QY's already sunk and has already admitted that to herself.  Get on board, JXK!

 

As for Zhao Yang . . . *rage*  (He's probably the nicest guy in real life, but I really hate him here.  LOL.)

[Lynne]

@themarchioness

 

 

[themarchioness]

Ugh, @lynne22, you know the gif to my heart!  How am I supposed to get any recapping done if you distract me with moments like that?  I can't look away!    Fortunately, I worked on my recap before checking the message board so I bring you all...

 

Episode 13

 

Spoiler

 

Episode 13

 

The episode picks up with the teams taking turns to pick their heroes for the second match.  The selection of which heroes to play and ban is part of each team’s strategies, so there’s a lot of talking within each team as the members react and adjust their own strategies based on the choices made by the other team.  Luo Tian and A Can also provide commentary regarding the decisions made.

 

YY finally arrives and joins QY in the audience.  She exclaims over the seats and QY tells her that sitting where they are, they can even see clearly the players’ expressions.  QY then says YY went to take some pictures and asks why she was gone for so long.  YY replies back that she did go to take pictures, but she didn’t realize the event venue was as large as it was.  YY then tells QY she overheard someone say that XK had announced in a meeting with upper management that if he lost today’s competition, he’d leave Legends.  That’s why for him, today’s competition, is a life and death battle.  QY asks if that’s for real, and YY asks if her information can be unreliable. 

 

The game has begun already and XK tells his teammates to handle PX as they had before in order to break up VNG’s “four protect one” strategy.  XK continues calling out instructions and this time when he calls upon Huo Yao, Huo Yao reacts.  Across the aisle, PX starts calling out instructions but one of his teammates can’t do what he wants him to do because they’re stuck dealing with someone from the other side.  PX then calls upon Qi Yue for assistance and he begrudgingly moves to help PX.  In the end, it’s the Legends team who wins this particular engagement.  The game continues on suddenly, Li Nan announces that Qi Yu and PX have come over.  Huo Yao reports that Qi Yue’s protecting PX, so they can’t attack PX as they’d planned.  YX insists they still can while XK calls out more instructions.  At a certain point, the commentators comment that XK has lost a lot of blood while the VNG members say that XK’s likely going to have to go back to home base to boost his lifespan, but back on the Legends side, XK says that they must have assumed he’d go back home.  In fact, he’s still playing and then he makes a sudden appearance.  The Legends team prepares for the next battle and at that moment, Huo Yao freezes. 

 

Huo Yao flashes back to during the break when he’d run into Zhao Yang again in the bathroom.  Zhao Yang had told him that he’d played well in the first match, while Huo Yao had told him he wouldn’t sell out his brothers again.  Zhao Yang responded that he’d already sold them out and asked if Huo Yao didn’t want to be the team leader anymore.  When Huo Yao told him no, Zhao Yang asked him about his contract and whether he didn’t want to keep training with the team.  Huo Yao had reacted in anger then, but Zhao Yang cut him off and told him he’d better think things through clearly.  He said he was giving him one final reminder, which was if JXK didn’t leave then it’d be him (Huo Yao) who would have to leave.  Huo Yao then responded, “Let me also be clear with you.  Even if you terminate my contract, I won’t sell out my brothers again.”  Zhao Yang wiped his hands clean, clearly unfazed, and said, “Don’t be in such a hurry to reply to me.  Take the time to think things clearly.” 

 

Back in the game, the XK is calling out instructions left and right.  He tells Huo Yao to release the big one, but he’s still zoned out.  XK yells at him again and Huo Yao finally snaps out of it and gets back in the game.  It’s too late though, as he’s missed his moment and everyone from YX to the commentators asks what’s going on while Qi Yue celebrates.  Out I the audience, Zhao Yang looks smug thinking that Huo Yao had changed his mind, while QY asks YY what’s going on and why things turned out like that.  YY looks over and is surprised to find QY as anxious as she is.  She asks her why she’s so worried, and QY reminds her of what she’d said earlier about this match being the deciding factor in whether XK stayed or would have to leave the team.  YY responds, “So?” and QY tells her that of course, as his friend, she hopes he’ll win.  When YY expresses shock that QY is actually expressing concern over XK, QY tells her she’s not talking to her anymore and is going back to watch the game.

 

As we turn back to the game, we can see things aren’t going well for the Legends team.  QY asks YY what’s going on when things were going well just a little while ago.  The guy sitting next to her overhears her question and tells her that it’s because Huo Yao messed up earlier and didn’t take down PX as he was supposed to.  He comments that it’s a shame.  Meanwhile, on stage, the commentators are observing that XK is stuck by QY and PX, and suffice to say, things aren’t going well for the Legends team.  YY notices how QY is grabbing onto her hand tightly and tells her not to worry too much.  She tries to comfort her by saying that her information wasn’t verified so it could be false.  

 

A few seconds later, though, it’s all over and Zhao Yang claps triumphantly from the audience.  YX yanks off his headset and confronts Huo Yao asking if there’s something wrong with his brain.  His teammates rush to hold him back as XK tells him to calm down.  As the commentators congratulate VNG on their win, Zhao Yang is still celebrating in the audience.  The coach asks him why he’s so happy, and he’s like, “They played well.”  [He is such a sleaze bag.] 

 

Back in the waiting room, YX is venting at Huo Yao.  He calls him a traitor and tells him he did it on purpose.  Lu Feng, ever the peacemaker interjects that Huo Yao just made a mistake, but YX refuses to believe it as he starts to identify all the errors that Huo Yao made.  They’re such basic errors that he asks how Huo Yao can dare to call himself a pro player.  He’s reminding them that XK has to leave now when the coach enters the room and calls for YX to stop.  The coach orders the other three out of the room while asking Huo Yao to stay, but YX says he refuses to leave as he wants to hear his “dearest” Huo Yao explain how he buried his brother.  He then yells for Huo Yao to speak.  XK steps in then to order YX out of the room, and when YX says he’s not leaving, XK yells at him to leave.  Lu Feng and Li Nan quickly drag YX out of there.  After the others leave, XK tells Huo Yao that he hopes he (Huo Yao) can provide him with a reasonable explanation as he’s hoping that what he’s guessing is incorrect.  Huo Yao finally speaks and says that he knows, no matter what he says now, it’s all over.  He confesses then that Zhao Yang had come to find him previously and hung his contract renewal over his head.  The coach angrily asks whether he didn’t care about his brothers then, and Huo Yao tells his coach it wasn’t like that.  He admits that during the first match he did throw the game but it was because he really wants to stay with the team.  He reminds them that he’s already 28 and that he’s been in this business for 10 years already, all for the sake of the world championship title.  He was worried that if Legends didn’t resign with him, then his pro career would have to end just like that.  As for the second match, Huo  Yao insists that really was an error on his part.  He tells them that before the second match, he’d already made an oath that he wouldn’t betray his brothers again as he’d rather be the one to leave than be the one who betrayed all those whom he’d fought alongside for so many years. 

 

After a moment of silence in which nobody knows what to say, Huo Yao turns to XK and tells him it was his entire fault.  He adds that he knows no matter what explanation he offers right now, it won’t change the fact that it was him who let everyone down, and especially XK.  He tells them not to worry though as he’ll go before the Board of Directors and explain how all the blame lies with him and has nothing to do with XK.  The coach asks him what he’s going to say though; that Zhao Yang threatened him and that he purposely lost the match?  He points out that they might believe him, but the Board of Directors won’t and that once he does that, he won’t be able to stay with the team.  XK has nothing to say and just walks out of the room.

 

Zhao Yang is meeting with PX.  He tells him that the contract was drafted according to all his wishes, and invites him to take a look at it.  After flipping through the pages and reading it over, PX signs on the dotted line and asks when he should report to Legends.  Zhao Yang tells him that so long as he concludes his matters with VNG, he’s welcome to join them at Legends whenever he’d like.  Zhao Yang’s so excited by this moment that he insists they take a photo together so he can post it to his Weibo.

 

XK rides his motorcycle alone at night.  When he finally stops for a break, he gets a text on his phone.  It’s QY who asks if he’s doing alright.  Rather than answering, he clicks the screen shut.  I think it’s safe to say he’s not doing alright and honestly, who could blame him.  This stinks royally.

 

The next day at Legends, the coach meets with CEO Jin and tries to take responsibility for Huo Yao’s mistake by saying that Huo Yao had told him before the competition that he wasn’t feeling well, but he hadn’t listened to him.  CEO Jin tells him, however, that he doesn’t need to help him find an excuse because he already knows who’s to blame.  He then says that all of Huo Yao’s mistakes were the result of XK’s game commanding.  When the coach hears that, he tells CEO Jin that even if he doesn’t trust him, he should trust Gu Fang’s insight.  He reminds CEO Jin of how Gu Fang had wanted to protect XK to the point that he was willing to sign a contract requiring him to leave the industry for good.  CEO Jin doesn’t want to hear it though. 

 

At that moment, Zhao Yang arrives to remind them of what XK had previously stated at their board meeting.  The coach replies that he thinks this is something they should find time to talk about, but  Zhao Yang asks him what there is to talk about.  The coach answers by emphasizing that the mistakes from their most recent competition weren’t XK’s responsibility and asks him if isn’t clear in his conscience about that.  Zhao Yang pretends he has no idea what the coach is talking about and the coach turns back to CEO Jin to remind him that the Fall Championships are just around the corner and apart from XK, there’s no one else on their team who can take on the position of team leader.  He asks CEO Jin to think things over and that’s when Zhao Yang pushes him aside – literally – to present CEO Jin with PX’s contract.  As CEO Jin looks it over, Zhao Yang says to the coach, “Who can and who can’t, this game has already given us the answer.”

 

YX calls XK while Li Nan asks him if he still hasn’t been able contact XK and wonders if something might have happened to him.  When XK still doesn’t answer and he’s forced to hang up, he looks across the room.  Li Na knows exactly what he’s about to and tries to stop him preemptively, but YX shoves him aside and stalks across the room to grab Huo Yao by the collar.  He tells Huo Yao to go with him to meet with the board of directors.  Li Nan tries to stop YX, pointing out that their coach is already meeting with CEO Jin and optimistically observes that maybe they’ve already settled matters.  YX knows better than that though and says that Li Nan does too.  He points out how long their coach has been gone already and says that if things were settled, he would’ve come back by now.  He then tells Li Nan to stay out of it and turns back to Huo Yao, basically telling him to man up and take responsibility.  Lu Feng, ever the peacemaker, steps in to remind YX that they’re all brothers, and YX responds by asking if Huo Yao had viewed him as a brother, and whether he’d viewed XK as a brother.  Lu Feng asks how YX can treat Huo Yao like that, and YX again responds by asking how Huo Yao had treated him and how he’d treated XK.  He then tells Lu Feng that if he’s going to insist on standing by Huo Yao’s side, then from that day forward, he’s not going to recognize him as his brother anymore either.  Lu Feng cries that he doesn’t want XK to leave either, and that he doesn’t want Huo Yao to leave either.  He wants them to stay together as they’d once promised each other to win the world title together.  YX shoves him aside in frustration and finally Huo Yao gets up.  When Lu Feng tries to hold him back, Huo Yao throws him off and says that XK can’t leave.

 

Huo Yao approaches CEO Jin’s office, but just as he’s about to enter, XK grabs him by the arm. 

 

Inside the office, CEO Jin finishes reviewing PX’s contract.  He compliments Zhao Yang on a job well done and then tells the coach that once PX joins them, the next tournament title would be just around the corner.  Zhao Yang sucks up by saying that everything was possible because he had CEO Jin’s support and then says he worries that once PX joins them, there will be some people who might be jealous of him.  The coach asks him what he means by that and Zhao Yang says he has no meaning.  He then suggests that if their company is to grow, the should pay particular attention in how they mete out rewards and punishments.  He asks if there shouldn’t be someone who steps forward to take responsibility.  The coach confronts him angrily, as he knows exactly what – or who – Zhao Yang is after.  He tells Zhao Yang that he’s well aware, the loss of the competition lies squarely on Huo Yao’s head and not XK’s, but Zhao Yang replies similarly to the CEO by saying that Huo Yao has always been a steady player, something he should be well aware of since he’s their coach, and that if hadn’t been for XK’s rubbish directions Huo Yao wouldn’t have messed up.  When the coach would object again, Zhao Yang cuts him off and suggests that they call both Huo Yao and XK into the room and ask them for their opinions as to who’s at fault.  He says whoever claims fault will be the one who leaves, and asks if that would be fair enough for the coach.  The coach, on the other hand, can’t believe he would make the two of them confront each other like that and asks if Zhao Yang is trying to create internal conflict within the team.  Zhao Yang responds by looking to CEO Jin for help.  He says the coach has picked up bad habits as he finds this unacceptable and that unacceptable.  He doesn’t know what else to do.

 

XK arrives at that moment and announces, “I’ll take responsibility.”  He tells the room that the loss was based on his poor commanding and has nothing to do with anyone else.  He then thanks the coach and CEO Jin for their help in his growth and adds that he never goes back on his words.  His coach asks him why he’s bothering to do this and insists the blame for the competition loss isn’t with him.  He then starts pleading with CEO Jin again, but XK cuts him off and says a loss is a loss.  He made the bet and now he must be pay the price; he’s leaving on his own accord.  Zhao Yang wastes no time in recommending to CEO Jin that they hurry up and sort out XK’s contract given that he’s made his decision. 

 

XK walks out of the meeting and stops well short of the training room where his teammates/friends are waiting.  He looks around the place he’s lived and trained, and then walks away.  He stares at the wall of trophies and then goes to the parking garage where his motorcycle is waiting for him.  As he sits on his bike with his keys in his hand, he flashes back to the conversation he’d had with Huo Yao.  He’d told his “Yao Ge” to stay, and when Huo Yao had said everything was his mistake and he should be the one to leave, he’d reminded him that Zhao Yang had an axe to grind with him so even if he stayed today, sooner or later, he’d still be chased out.  He asks Huo Yao what would happen to YX and the others if that happened, and whether he would be able to feel at ease.  Huo Yao starts to speak and XK cuts him off telling him not to say anything more.  He tells him to stay and complete Gu Fang’s dream on his behalf.  He also tells him that no matter where he goes, they’ll always be brothers. 

 

When XK finishes his flashback, he finally starts his bike and rides out of the Legends parking garage for the final time.  Inside the training center, the coach goes to find the team members.  They ask him what’s going on and he tells them, with the competition lost, they had to find someone to be responsible for that loss.  Lu Feng asks if Huo Yao is really leaving, and the coach tells them it’s not Huo Yao; it’s XK.  YX goes running out of the training room followed by Lu Feng and Yi Nan.  They arrive outside just as XK is about to drive past the Legends entrance.  YX goes running straight into XK’s path forcing XK to stop and places his hands on the handlebars of his friend’s bike.  XK asks YX if he’s gone crazy, but YX tells yells that he’s the one who’s gone crazy.  He says, “You once told me you’d take me to win the world title together.  Now you’re leaving by yourself.  You’re just a big liar!  Do you know that, you big liar?”  Li Nan also asks how they’re supposed to keep playing if XK leaves, and Lu Feng grabs at XK’s hand telling him to follow him back inside so they can clarify things with CEO Jin.  Lu Feng says he can’t let XK leave, but XK tells them there’s nothing more to be said.  He gambled and lost, and now he has to pay the price.  YX then takes him to task for leaving without a word while they were all inside waiting for him, and says, “You said you took me for your brother, but have you ever treated me like your brother?  You’re just as big liar.  You’re just a big liar!”  XK responds by telling him to lift his hands and XY tells him he won’t.  XK tells the others to drag him away and YX tells them to just try.  XK starts his bike up again and tells YX to let go.  YX says he won’t, and XK yells at him to let go.  When YX yells back that he won’t, Lu Feng and Li Nan finally drag him away while XK rides off without a backwards glance.  YX yells at him, “You big liar!” one more time before he falls to the ground with his friends.

 

Somewhere, Huo Yao is sitting by himself somewhere and then it’s night time.  XK has stopped alongside a river somewhere.  He looks at Gu Fang’s ring and then the camera cuts back to Huo Yao.  A minute later, it’s morning again and we see Gu Fang sitting at a café somewhere.  He calls XK who’s out for a morning jog.  When XK sees the name on the screen he takes a moment before answering and then pretends nothing is the matter by asking his team leader how everything is going over there and then telling him to stop sending pictures from his travels as they’re making him jealous.  Gu Fang cuts in and tells him he’s already heard about his contract termination so he needn’t pretend like there’s nothing wrong.  He tells XK that he’s already purchased return plane tickets for the next day and that once he’s back, he’ll help him find a new team.  XK responds by asking if Gu Fang really thinks nobody will want him when he’s a former Legends member; he tells him not to worry.  Gu Fang says the new competition season’s about to start in a month so XK needs to hurry and find a new team.  XK apologizes for not being able to fulfill the promises he’d made to him.  Gu Fang asks how things have become like this, and XK tells him not to worry and hangs up. 

 

Summer is pacing his office at Dream Journey obviously upset with PX.  He grabs the phone out of his cousin’s hand and asks if he called him back to play with his phone.  PX asks why he called him back, and that’s when Summer goes off on him about transferring teams without discussing such an important matter with him.  PX says that he did mention it to him, and Summer asks him when.  PX tells him the prior week and Summer’s like, “Huh?”  That’s when Summer has a flashback to a moment when he’d been trying to play a game and PX had come to find him.  PX had asked him what Summer thought about Legends, and Summer had responded that they were pretty good.  His attention is clearly divided though as he’s more focused on the computer game and it’s while Summer is reacting to events taking place in the game that PX says behind him, “Then I’m going to sign with them.”  Summer says, “OKAY!”  But it’s clear he’s reacting to the game, while PX accepts is as Summer giving his blessing.  Back in the present, Summer asks if PX actually consider that as “talking to him about the matter” and PX asks if it’s his fault that his cousin didn’t hear him.  Summer gives up and asks why he has such a weirdo for a younger cousin.  He then asks PX what was wrong with VNG that he didn’t want to stay there.  He points out Shu Wen has been raising him these past three years and now he’s leaving; he asks PX how he’s supposed to face Shu Wen.  PX answers that her objective is the world title, but that’s impossible given VNG’s current state.  He then adds that there’s no meaning in staying at VNG.  Summer, I swear, looks like he’s doing everything he can to hold onto his patience as he asks, “Legends has meaning?”  And that’s when PX looks at him and says, “Yes, because they have JXK.”  Summer can’t believe what’s hearing and starts laughing.  When PX asks him what he’s laughing about, his cousin explains: because PX took issue with XK over the team leader position, XK gave it up for him by ending his contract and leaving.  He then asks whether PX still wants to go to Legends.  When PX hears what his cousin has to say, he asks Summer what he’s talking about and whether JXK really left.  Summer tells him that if he doesn’t believe him, he can ask around himself.  PX grabs his phone and gets up to leave.  Summer tries to hold on to him and ends up calling after him, “I told you to ask and you’re really going to go ask?  I haven’t finished talking to you yet!”

 

QY is also at Dream Journey and when she sees PX walking past, she gets up and asks if he’ll teach her how to play the Creator character.  He continues walking and tells her he doesn’t have the time.  Fei Mao then approaches him and asks, “Such a happy occasion, shouldn’t you treat us to a meal?”  Next to him, Shou Hou Zi adds, “That’s right.  Pushing out JXK and becoming Legend’s team leader, only you could do such thing!”  PX just tells them to step aside as he continues on.  QY, who’d been standing behind them and listening, approaches Fei Mao and Shou Hou Zi and asks if they were just saying PX pushed out JXK.  Fei Mao says that’s right, PX’s now the team leader for Legends and that the news is all over their circle.  He asks if she didn’t know.  QY shakes her head still reeling from this news, and Shou Hou Zi comments that in actuality, he’s always felt that PX was better suited to be Gu Fang’s successor while JXK should’ve given up a long time ago.  After Shou Hou Zi and Fei Mao sit back down at their computers, QY pulls out her phone and sees the news. 

 

XK arrives at The King where PX is waiting outside for him in order to ask why he left Legends.  XK takes off his bike helmet and observes that he doesn’t think his reasons have anything to do with him.  PX tells him that he just signed a contract with Legends, and XK tells him, “I know.  You’re Legends’ new team leader.  My brothers are all good people.  I hope you can lead them to good results.”  PX answers that it doesn’t matter where he goes as it’s all the same and it doesn’t matter who he plays with.  XK rolls his eyes and tells him that even if he’s a strong individual player, iConquer is a team sport; therefore, he should lead everyone by charging through the enemy lines together and not just act like a hero who only knows how to fight alone.  He reminds PX that he’s a team leader and the backbone of the entire team.  PX shakes his head and says this wasn’t his original intention in joining Legends.  He says, “What I need aren’t people who’ll just rely on my glory.   I find those kinds of people burdensome.  JXK…”  I honestly think what he was going to say next was, “JXK, what I need is you.”  But XK was so angered by what he heard, he cut PX off and started yelling at PX about whether he even knows how his individual actions will affect everyone else’s professional careers.  He reminds PX that they’re competitive pro athletes and asks him to have a more professional attitude as well as a more responsible attitude towards his brothers, or else he won’t be able to have any respect for him.  Since he’s just been yelled at, instead of saying what he originally came to say, PX says, “JXK, I’ll see you at the competition site.”

 

Back at Dream Journey, Shou Hou Zi stands up to stretch.  He looks at the time and then calls out to Fei Mao, announcing that it’s 7:30pm and he’s starving.  They agree to grab some dinner and try to invite QY, but she’s so focused on her game she doesn’t respond and they give up.  After they leave, the camera cuts to QY and we see how worried she looks.  She takes off her headset and ponders what to do.  She picks up her phone and thinks about what to say.  At first, she texts, “I heard you left Legends,” but she erases it observing how that would be a pointless question (since she already knows the answer).  Then she texts, “Don’t be sad,” but ends up erasing that as well.  Finally, she texts, “I know of a place that has good-tasting milk tea, and it’s even strawberry flavored.  If you have time, I’ll treat you.”  XK responds almost immediately, “Okay.” 

 

QY is sitting by herself at Hellolala Pink Café.  Just as a waitress delivers her order of strawberry milk tea, XK arrives to swoop it up.  QY says to him, “You came,” while XK comments on how she remembered and how that must mean she has a conscience.  As QY watches XK drink his strawberry milk tea, she asks if he’s doing okay and says she’s been worried about him.  He stirs his drink and says, “Originally, I was feeling sad and inconsolable but now that I’ve had this cup of milk tea, I’m feeling a lot better.”  QY tells him that so long as he’s happy, she’s willing to treat him every day and not just to a cup of milk tea. 

At that, XK’s eyes grow big and he asks, “You’ll treat me every day?  Are you going to raise me?”  QY responds without thinking, “I’ll raise you,” and then pauses when she realizes what she just said.  She finishes her thought by saying, “So long as you don’t object to earing instant noodles every day,” and XK responds, “Then forget about it.” 

 

After XK takes another sip of his drink, it occurs to him to ask about QY’s progress in the computer game and says she must be in the top 100 of her server by now.  QY tells him not yet because she’s too stupid.  He laughs and says, “You seem to understand yourself pretty well.”  She objects to that and points out that for pro players like him, playing games within the server are naturally a piece of cake, but for regular players it’s actually still quite hard.  XK gives her comment some consideration and then says because she treated him to milk tea today, he’ll give her some lessons.  QY asks excitedly, “Really?” and he tells her, “I’ll take you to Dream Journey.  The equipment there is the best.”  When QY hears that, her face deflates a little and she tells XK, “Maybe we should just forget about it then.  After all, I’m just a beginner so it doesn’t really matter.”  He asks her, “Why?  Is there someone at Dream Journey who’s pursuing you and you’re afraid they’ll misunderstand?”  She answers, “No, how would there be anyone pursuing me?”   XK then guesses, “Then it must be you’re afraid that it’ll be embarrassing to go with me.”  She tells him that’s not it and to stop thinking crazy thoughts, so he says, “Then let’s go.”  Since he then stands and doesn’t give her a choice, she says, “Okay.” 

 

As they XK and QY walk through Dream Journey, two random strangers start gossiping about XK when they see him.  One of them comments on how XK was kicked out of the Legends team but seems to still have the mood to date, and the other comments that she heard before Gu Fang retired, he tried to make sure that he would be named the team leader and she doesn’t understand what Gu Fang sees in him.  XK ignores them and merely asks QY if she’s ever been to the private members’ room.  She tells him no and that she’s heard it’s only open to pro players.  XK smiles and says that today, he’ll let her experience the sort of treatment that pro players receive and takes her to Dream Journey’s private members’ room.  As QY walks through its doors, she gasps and asks how this is an Internet café.  After she continues into the room, the camera remains on the entryway and we see that PX is in the common area and has noticed them.  Back in the private room, XK explains that Summer will frequently invite pro players to play offline games.  When QY takes a seat next to XK, he tells her to play a game while he watches.  [The alarmed look that spreads across her face in response is pretty adorable.]  She asks if he isn’t going to teach her a little bit first, but he tells her that “actual combat” is the best learning method.  As she starts clicking around, he tells her to hold up so he can take a look first at her data/information.  As he leans over and takes control of her computer, QY turns and notices his side profile and becomes mesmerized.  [Girl, I feel you!]  Not realizing that he’s being stared at, XK continues looking at her data/information and comments, “This isn’t bad!  It’s very good.”  Finally, he turns back to her and as their gazes meet, the episode ends.  [OF COURSE IT DOES.  Sigh.]

 

 

Head Pat Count (episode): 0

Head Pat Count (total): 1

[nasaan ka Alex?]

love and appreciate your recaps @themarchioness 

[themarchioness]

 

Aw, thanks @nasaan ka Alex?, I'm glad you're enjoying the recaps and hope others are finding them useful too. I'd love for more people to be able to watch, understand, and participate so I don't feel like I'm the only one going crazy over this drama.   I'm so glad you chimed in!  Here's today's recap for . . .

 

Episode 14

 

 

Spoiler

 

Episode 14

 

When XK notices QY gazing at him, he asks her why she’s looking at him.  She denies it awkwardly and redirects his attention to the computer screen and asks if her game stats show her playing is acceptable.  He nods and says it’s not bad.  He then hands her a pair of headsets and tells her that if she wants to get into the server’s top 100, she has to issue a challenge.  QY reacts in shock as she’s afraid she’ll be dragged through mud, but he tells her it’ll be okay and not to worry because she has him.  [It’s not a head pat, but he gives her a shoulder pat.  We want HEAD PAT, JXK!]  Right at that moment, there’s a loud knock at the door.  It’s PX who’s come to deliver them drinks.  XK says they didn’t order any drinks and PX tells him they’re freebies.  XK reacts in surprise and asks when Dream Journey became so generous, while PX tells him Dream Journey has always been this generous.  XK doesn’t look like he believes him but he thanks him anyway and both he and QY take a sip of their drinks.  Right then, someone accepts QY invitation for a match and XK tells her to pick it up.  PX also leans in and asks whether he’s teaching her how to climb the ladder.  XK just turns around looking him up and down and asks why he hasn’t left yet.  PX, in turns, tells him he’s wasting his time (which has QY looking around like, “Did he just diss me?”)  XK tells him that what he has right now is time.  PX finally leaves while XK turn back to the game and tells QY to pick a hero. 

 

As PX returns to the food counter, he notices another waitress about to walk off with a cake.  He takes it from her saying he’ll handle it and asks her whether there are any more strawberries.  She tells where to find them and then we see him adding extra strawberries to the cake.  Summer walks over and looks wonderingly at what his cousin’s up to, while PX just continues on oblivious.  When he finally finishes, he starts to walk off with the cake again.  The other waitress chases him down to tell him that the cake is supposed to go to a person sitting nearby, so PX tells the person he’ll take this cake to the VIP room first and then he’ll come back and make an even tastier cake for her.  The waitress apologizes to the customer and then Summer approaches her asking if there’s someone using the VIP room.  She tells him JXK came, which has him repeating his name in question, and then the waitress adds that there’s also “that girl who spends her every day here trying to become first in her server, QY.”  Summer reacts to this news with great interest.

 

Back in the VIP room, XK is reacting to QY’s playing telling her that she shouldn’t be making certain moves and that how she’s playing the Creator hero isn’t the correct way.  He tells her what moves to make instead and when she asks him if she really should given that she’s already lost a lot of blood, he tells her to listen to him.  She does as he asks and he continues to call out instructions.  When she successfully completes a play, she celebrates by lifting her hand for a high five but he tells her hand not to leave the keyboard and to continue.  He calls out more instructions and then tells her to hit the water crystal.  At last, she wins the game and then she remarks in surprise, “XK, I’m placed 65th now!  You’re too cool.”  He responds that she’s not bad and should have more confidence in herself.  [HEAD PAT]  

 

PX knocks and enters again and QY tells him excitedly that she’s now 65th in her server.  PX merely delivers the cake and tells XK that it’s a new product, so he should give it a try.  QY thanks him while XK just looks at him like he’s a weirdo and asks, “Free again?”  When PX makes a sound of assent, XK tells him that he won’t be polite then and then both he and QY turn to the cake.  PX looks at the computer screen where he sees “Cherry” in 65th place.  QY marvels over the number of strawberries on the cake and tells that that it looks different from the picture she noticed on the menu.  XK tells PX to thank his cousin on his behalf.  PX asks him if he’s found a new team yet and XK responds by saying, “Why haven’t you left yet?  Also, what does it have to do with you, what team I go to?”  PX comments that it can’t be that there’s no team that wants him and XK asks him if he isn’t being a little overly concerned about this.  PX responds that he’s just worried in the next competitive season, he won’t meet a worthy opponent.  XK thanks PX for having such a high opinion of him, but asks if he shouldn’t be spending time with his (XK’s) brothers learning how to get along rather than randomly strolling about here.  PX, in turn, responds that XK should be trying to find a new team and not having a date there.  As the two men stare at each other openly defiant, QY pipes up in an attempt to smooth things over.  She tells them not to fight anymore and to not be angry.  XK smiles at her and says to PX, “Let me give you a tip.  In the future, you shouldn’t make this kind of a face in front of a girl.  It’ll scare them.”  PX responds that he doesn’t have the time like XK, and finally leaves.

 

Back in the common area, Summer delivers a cake to that other customer and apologizes for her having to wait for so long.  He tells the customer that he makes it better than PX and then watches PX return from the VIP room, but when PX walks past his cousin, he tells him, “Don’t ask!”  Summer responds, “But I hadn’t even yet asked!”  but then walks over to nudge PX and ask in a very insinuating tone, “What’s the situation?”  PX, in turn, just sticks a lollipop in his mouth and looks really irritated.

 

It’s night time and QY and XK are out on a walk.  QY says that thanks to XK, she got to enjoy the VIP room and free food and drinks.  XK asks her how the freebies can be considered his credit when he feels the only reason PX kept entering was because he found XK offensive to the eye.  QY asks him what he means by that and he tells her that it’s obvious PX is interested in her.  While she looks confused, he looks at the space in between them and jokes that he should maintain some distance from her lest he block her love affair.  QY responds by telling him that ever since they were caught up in those online love scandal rumors, she hasn’t had a single love affair.  He asks if that means he should be responsible for her for as long as she lives [yes, yes you should] and she laughs and says, “You wish!”  After they finish their joking around, QY tells him that actually, she too is really curious about which team he’ll go to next.  XK asks her if she wants to hear the truth and reveals that, in actuality, no team has contacted him yet.  When she reacts in surprise, he tells her, it’s funny.  When he’s in front of others, he can pretend like he’s fine, but for some reason when he’s in front of her, he ends up revealing everything.  [It’s because you LUFF her!]  She tells him that’s why they’re friends who can be frank and open with each other. 

 

Right at that moment, XK gets a call.  It’s Leo, the manager for Inceptions, wants to invite XK to join their team.  XK thanks him for the invitation but rejects the offer and tells him that his dream is to win the world championship title as a Chinese player.  After he hangs up, QY reacts in surprise that received a phone call from Inception.  She asks him what’s going on and he explains that Inception had made him an offer, but he rejected them.  She asks him why and asks if Inception isn’t ranked third out of all the teams.  He tells her that it’s a bit of a long story, but she tells him to share it anyway as she’s his most sincere audience.  Through a flashback, he explains that when he was in his third year of college, he attended an iConquer exchange competition.  At that time, he overheard a foreign player sneering at the Chinese players.  He couldn’t restrain himself and so challenged that player to a match.  During the game, the foreign player keeps trash talking XK, but XK never responded other than to smirk and keep playing.  In the end, it was XK who defeated the foreign player.  As the bystanders celebrated, one of them shook XK’s hand and complimented him for seeking revenge on the Chinese players’ behalf.  That’s when someone approached and asked if he had any interest in becoming a professional player.  Back in the present, QY asks if that’s when he joined a professional team.  He tells her that after he graduated, he formally entered a professional team.  At that time, his favorite Chinese team, the Pioneers had already broken up and China had never won another world championship title.  Foreigners kept laughing at the Chinese teams saying they didn’t have any strategy and he, who had just graduated, joined a club and started his professional career.  QY asks whether it has always been his stance to reject offers from foreign teams and he tells her that if he ever has the fortune to hold the world championship cup in his hands, then it will definitely belong to a Chinese team.  He tells her that has been his original aspiration ever since he began his professional career as well as his promise to Gu Fang.  QY responds by telling XK that what she most admires are people who have dreams and that she has faith he will one day stand at the top of the world.  [Look at ‘em looking at each other!!!  How could they not fall in love???]  XK responds, in turn, that he hopes when that day happens, it’ll be her who’s standing on the commentator’s stage telling everyone that a Chinese team who won the world championship title.  She holds up her fist bump and tells him that’s a deal. 

 

The camera cuts to a fantasy scene where QY stands on stage congratulating the Legends team for winning the world championships, and XK and YX look back at her as they accept the trophy.  As they walk back towards QY, she congratulates XK specifically and he pushes YX away (LOL) before continuing on to give her a hug in front of a cheering crowd.  And then it’s the next morning, and we see this fantasy scene was QY’s dream.  QY wakes up when she rolls over and her hand hits YY who’s lying next to her with a face mask on watching her sleep.  QY says she scared her and asks YY what she’s doing.  YY asks her what kind of a beautiful dream she was having given how she was smiling like a love struck fool in her sleep.  QY retorts that she must be the one who’s been having beautiful dreams considering that she’s using a face mask first thing in the morning.  YY points out these are face masks that QY gifted her, and then she gives a product placement description as to all the wonderful effects once receives when they use the facemask and says that’s why she has to use them more often.  After she takes off the mask, she asks if she doesn’t look good and QY responds by saying she looks so good, she’s jealous.  YY then tells her to stop talking about useless things and says, “Tell me, what time did you get home last night?”  When she guesses 11, YY asks if that really was the case, so QY admits it was midnight.  YY grouses that she came home at such a late hour and commands her to share what she was doing.  QY tries to evade the question by saying she’s going to put on a face mask, but YY yanks her back and refuses to let her off the hook.  She tells QY that she’d better not say she was at Dream Journey, but because she went there to look for her.  That’s when QY admits she was with JXX, and YY fumes, “Him again.  I just knew it.”  QY tells her it was because he was teaching her how to climb the ladder and shares she’s now placed 65th in her server.  She asks if that isn’t impressive and credits XK, who also rejected an invite from the third-ranking e-sports team.  When YY observes QY waxing poetic over XK, she tells her friend to have some control and reminds QY that she used to have some hundred thousand fans herself and asks how she can now be behaving like of JXK’s fangirls.  [Because she’s his #1 Fangirl, duh!  (I’m #2).]  QY just grins and laughs, so YY gives up saying she can’t stand it anymore and tells QY she’s going to work.  

 

PX is at VNG cutting cake while Tong Wu (the scaredy cat, but most sincere member of that team) thanks PX for his care during all this time and promises to work hard even in his absence.  Qi Yue (the most arrogant and obnoxious member) arrives with his sidekick, Shen Yue, and greets PX by saying, “Hello Team Leader.  No, that’s not right.  It’s Legends’ team leader.”  He then picks up a piece of cake, calling out to ask who bought it and whether they’re throwing a farewell party.  He then gives a sarcastic send-off to the “team leader who suddenly ran off.”  PX responds that the cake was his treat, and Qi Yue responds with amazement that their high and mighty, cold team leader actually treated everyone to cake.  He then drops the cake on purpose while saying he’s too surprised.  He holds up his hand saying it hurts, while PX throws down his plastic knife.  Shen Yu comments that the next time they meet, they’ll be opponents and asks if all this is necessary.  Li Gan, the team’s director arrives and asks Qi Yue what he’s doing.  He then turns to PX and says, “To tell you the truth, when you were here at VNG, both Shu Wen and I gave all our efforts to develop you,  All our strategies and plays revolve around you.  After developing you into the top mid-solo player, and with the new competitive season right around the corner, you say you want to leave?  Have you ever considered everyone else’s feelings?”  Qi Yue answers that his selfish type will never consider others and points out that just the evening before, everyone had met to discuss how they were going to use their “four protect one” strategy for the upcoming competitive season in order to make PX the MVP without any problems and give VNG a hope at winning the world championship title.  But the next day, he threw himself into the arms of Legends.  Qi Yue sarcastically compliments PX on this “amazing” move.  PX responds that they both want to win the championship title; however, with their current playing methods, that’s impossible.  He adds that if they just keep continuing playing as they are, they’ll only hold back each other’s professional careers.  Qi Yue scoffs and asks if everyone understands what he’s saying. He reminds PX that all of their strategies and methods of protecting him were all decided by him, and says that now that he was unable to succeed, he’s turning his back on all of the hard work everyone else put in on his behalf in order to betray them and go to their opposing team.   Shen Yue asks PX if he would have his current fame if it hadn’t been for their sacrifices.  Shu Wen rushes in and asks what’s going on.  Li Gan tells her nothing, but Shen Yu adds, “Furthermore, Shu Wen Jie has always treated you well and this is how you repay her?  Ungrateful.”  Shu Wen tells them to stop talking and being the bigger person that she is [yes, Li Gan, that was me making a direct comment at you], she tells PX that she respects his decision.  She also thanks him for all the efforts that he made on VNG’s behalf and holding her hand out for a handshake, wishes him well.  PX responds, “Thank you, Coach.  I will always remember you.  You’re my teacher.” 

 

Lu Feng and YX are in the Legends exercise room when YX reads an article on his phone that looks to be about KX.  It upsets him and he starts to storm out of the room until Lu Feng holds him back.  YX tells him to leave him alone, but Lu Feng tells him he understands.  He’s angry too and he also really wants to beat up Zhao Yang, but there’s no point.  XK’s already gone and PX’s already signed a contract.  There’s nothing they can do to change any of that and if he keeps making a fuss, Zhao Yang will make life difficult for him.  Lu Feng reminds YX that when XK left, he’d also said that they have to keep training and competing; and then he pleads with YX, saying that he keeps behaving this way, he (Lu Feng) won’t be able to hold on.  YX responds, “Team Leader (Gu Fang) has left.  Kong Ge (XK) has left.  What competition should I participate in and what training should I do?”  Lu Feng holds him by the shoulders and reminds him, “You and I both have two years left on our contracts with Legends.  If you keep being like this, you’ll just ruin the brotherhood.”  At that, YX gives in saying he understands and takes the rest of his anger out on a punching bag.  Li Nan runs in to announce that Zhao Yang has brought PX with him.

 

CEO Jin and the coach are standing in front of the wall of trophies to welcome PX to Legends.  When CEO Jin holds out his hand, PX sticks both of his in his pockets.  The others chuckle to smooth over the awkwardness and CEO Jin says, “It’s okay.  From now on, we’ll all be one family so there’s no need to be so reserved.”  He also PX that if there’s anyone in the team who doesn’t cooperate, he shouldn’t hesitate to tell him.  Zhao Yang brags that the minute the news of PX signing with them went out, two large sponsors contacted him immediately to say they wanted to work with them in the upcoming competitive season and said they’d give them a lot of support.  CEO Jin responds happily that the minute PX joined them, the sponsors did as well and it looks like the world title will soon follow as well.  PX asks if it was because of him that XK left and Zhao Yang tells him that XK’s leaving had nothing to do with him so he needn’t worry about it or feel any sense of burden.  Zhao Yang then offers to give him a tour of their training center, but PX asks, “If it has nothing to do with me, then who does it have to do with?”  Just as Zhao Yang is figuring out how best to answer, YX comes rushing in with a baseball bat while Lu Feng and Li Nan try to drag him back.  Both Zhao Yang and their coach ask what he’s trying to do, although the coach at least is just trying to make sure his players don’t come to any sort of trouble.  Zhao Yang asks YX what he intends on doing with that baseball bat and YX says to him, “I see you found a new team leader, huh?  I should greet him properly, shouldn’t I, Manager Zhao?”  The coach tries to calm YX down by emphasizing that from now on that they’ll all be brothers and they should focus on the upcoming season.  CEO Jin laughs and gives Zhao Yang the head nod, so Zhao Yang tries to hurry up and close this welcome moment so everyone can move on, but YX walks up to PX and tells him to just wait and see.  As YX stalks off, Zhao Yang shakes his head and tries to blame it on YX being young, too young.  He then tells PX that it’s just that they don’t know each other yet, but once they’re all familiar with one another it’ll all work out.  He looks to the coach for agreement and CEO Jin starts to say something to PX, but PX just turns around and walks off, so CEO Jin asks Zhao Yang what’s going on.  Zhao Yang can’t exactly admit that it’s ALL HIS TRICKERIES that have led everyone to this current state, so he blames it on PX being a genius and says that geniuses are all like this, independent in mind and action.  That doesn’t exactly help make things better with CEO Jin though, as he holds up his hand and yells, “That’s too much though, isn’t it?” before storming off.  After he leaves, Zhao Yang says to the coach, “Coach Luo, how embarrassing.  Is this how you manage things?”  [Really, Zhao Yang?  Who’s the embarrassing one here.]  He then asks why the coach hasn’t already hurried off to see to matters, and says he’s going to see to PX.

 

XK meets with a director from the Newlands team and invites him to look at the materials he’s prepared after studying how Newlands plays.  As the director reviews the materials, XK comments on their game stats from the last season and based on that, shares what he thinks the team needs to do for the upcoming season to give them hope of advancing to Vancouver.  The director nods but puts down the materials and says that today, they won’t talk strategy.  He offers XK a contract instead and says that if looks okay to him, they can just sign it directly.  XK smiles, but as he reads it over, the director shares that Gu Fang personally called him.  He then says that Newlands has always had their eye on him, but every team has their different systems for strategy.  He points out that if XK joins them and immediately starts asking the team to follow his direction, that’s not exactly reasonable.  The director reassures XK, however, that if after one or two seasons he performs well, the board of directors will absolutely consider letting him be the commander for the team.  XK realizes he’s not going to be able to achieve what he wants through Newlands, so he says, “Director Chen, I don’t actually care what position I play in.  But what I do hope for is the ability to bring into play my strong points.  If my strategies have no value to you all, then it’d be equally pointless for me to join your team.”   The director smiles and says, “Xiang Kong, as your friend, your senior, let me give you a word of advice.  Don’t be too idealistic.”  XK also smiles and answers, “But I’m willing to gamble on this dream.”  He then thanks the director for the cup of coffee and takes his leave.

 

Back at The King, Sun Ze Yi (who you will start hearing me refer to more often as Sun Ge, probably) finishes setting the dinner table.  XK exclaims over all the dishes and asks if he guessed from the get go that his negotiations with Newlands would fail.  Sun Ge responds by saying, “Newlands temple is too small.  They can’t handle a venerable Buddha like you.”  XK tells him not to exaggerate like that or else he’ll become embarrassed.  It surprises Sun Ge to hear that XK’s capable of being embarrassed given that he spends his every day eating, drinking, and living off of him.  He says he’s never seen XK embarrassed before.  When XK hears what his friend says, he says, “How about this, starting from tomorrow, I’ll work for you,” but Sun Ge tells him, “No matter what, you’re still a national champ.  How can I afford you?”  After they start eating, Sun Ge tells XK that speaking seriously, he’s given it some thought and if Newlands doesn’t need his strategies, there’s one team that’s particularly well-suited for him.  XK ask him which team and Sun Ge answers, “VNG.”  XK responds, “Wen Jie’s team?”  He then comments that after knowing Sun Ge for as long as he is, this is the first time he’s ever brought her name up voluntarily.  Sun Ge asks how he can be behaving so cheekily he’s already reached critical point.  That makes XK return to business mode as he asks Sun Ge to continue.  Sun Ge asks XK how he thinks of Shu Wen.  XK responds that she’s a person of exceptional ability and a hero among women.  In the iConquer circle, the only person he admires apart from him (Sun Ge) and Gu Fang is Wen Jie.  When he finishes speaking, Sun Ge tells XK that right now, in the esport circle, the only person who’s similar to Gu Fang in that they’re willing to take risks and throw down the gauntlet is her.  XK agrees and says that of the strongest teams, the only one he hasn’t contacted is VNG.  He observes that their gaming strategy has for the most part revolved around PX, and with him now gone, they’re probably not having an easy time right now either.  But he’s also afraid with his negative reputation, that he’d just be a further burden if he went there.  Sun Ge asks if the matter of him being a burden to someone or not is something he should be worrying about.  He then uses PX as an example and says PX may be stronger than XK at making plays, but XK’s understands people better and then he points out that when the iConquer competition reaches its end, the most important thing is the ability to guess what the other team is thinking.  Sun Ge then tells XK that if he goes to VNG, they’ll be able to climb the steps again.  XK responds that if Wen Jie needed him, she would’ve contacted him already and tells Sun Ge that maybe they should just forget about it.  Sun Ge then tells him, “XK, if you’re feeling terrified, then just come home and take over the running of this small Internet café.  But if you really want to try again, you’ll give Shu Wen a call and tell her you can give her a whole new VNG.”

 

Li Gan and Shu Wen, the founders of VNG, are having lunch.  She tells him that yesterday, she received a phone call from Director Yuan.  Li Gan says he knows, he’s gone with PX to Legends.  Li Gan then says that the reality of the way sponsorships work is that they’ll follow the person with the most valuable careers.  When Shu Wen notices him grabbing at his side, she asks him if his stomach’s hurting again.  She guesses that he must’ve had drinks with Director Yuan and others the day before, but he tells her he’s fine and says that so long as their team can produce some results, even if they lose some sponsorship, others will return.  He then tells her not to worry because he’s still working hard.  Shu Wen comments on the difficult time they’re going through right now and acknowledges his efforts by saying, “You’ve worked hard.”  [That makes Li Gan happy to hear since he’s in love with her, but just ugh.  We all know who Shu Wen belongs with!]  Li Gan then starts to tell her about a rookie that he’s interested in and suggests that if they spend some effort developing him, he may turn into the next PX.  Shu Wen, however, responds that what she wants isn’t the next PX.  When he looks questioningly at her, she explains that once PX came to VNG, their strategies never changed and was always “four protect one.”  Therefore, she now thinks that maybe PX leaving was a good thing.  When Li Gan points out that they had pretty good results with this strategy, she’s responds, “Sure.  And that’s why when PX left, it’s like all the heavens came tumbling down.”  She tells Li Gan this isn’t the team she’s dreamed about, and he responds that there’s always going to be a gap between dreams and reality.  He then tells her that his plan is to bring on that rookie he told her about earlier and let Qi Yu be the team leader in the meantime.  This idea does not, however, meet with Shu Wen’s approval.  She admits Qi Yue’s abilities are good, but points out his personality is not suited for being a team leader.  [Truer words were never spoken!]  Li Gan answers that they don’t have anyone else suitable for the role right now, and she tells him to let her think about it.  Right at that moment, Shu Wen gets a text from XK who asks if she has time to meet with him tomorrow as he has something to discuss with her.  She smiles.

 

In the Legends practice room, the team is practicing and YX is completely slouched in his chair looking annoyed and bored.  He wonders what the point of practicing is when all they do is practice the one mood.  He refuses to practice anymore.  Huo Yao leans forward and tells him to stop talking, to which YX asks if he’s said anything wrong.  Lu Feng walks over and tells him that the practice competitions are about to begin soon.  He hands over some water and suggests maybe he get some rest first.  CEO Jin arrives and tells PX that he’s like his good luck charm, as Director Yuan who’d previously supported VNG was now going to support the Legends team.  PX answers that it’s not like he had anything personal to do with it, but CEO Jin doesn’t care so long as the outcome is favorable to him.  He then announces that in three days, all the equipment in their training room will be upgraded and tells the others they should make sure to thank PX as these are the benefits that came with their new team leader.  Li Nan and Huo Yao express their thanks to CEO Jin and PX like well-trained robots, while YX looks like he would rather spit nails.  CEO Jin then takes his leave, but not before telling the others to work hard and work with PX. 

 

After CEO Jin leaves, YX stands up and comments how in the past, XK always felt it was beneath his dignity to try and curry favor with sponsors in order to beg for help to install new equipment.  But their current team leader is amazing.  Instead of spending his days studying strategies, he just studies how to curry favor with sponsors.  At that, PX hangs up his headset and reminds them that he’d already said he had nothing to do with Director Yuan’s sponsorship, but YX refuses to be so easily won over.  PX, in turn, retorts that he’s never wanted to win him over.  He tells YX that whether he wants to play or not is up to him as there are plenty of people who can play the support position.  YX asks if he’s looking down on the support position, and Huo Yao interjects that there’s only five minutes until their practice competition suggesting that everyone calm down.  But YX just says to PX, “Aren’t you supposed to be amazing?  I’m not playing.  Let’s see how you play.”  As he walks off, the others try to call him back but PX orders them to let him go.  Li Nan asks how they can play four against five without a support, but PX confidently asserts they can still win. 

 

YY’s boss calls everyone over and announces that he got a call from VNG’s Director Li who asked if they would send someone over to interview their Qi Yue.  The boss said he tried to shove off the assignment, but wasn’t successful and asks if there is anyone who’d be willing to do the assignment.  Naturally, YY is the only one willing and volunteers.  When the boss asks if there’s anyone else, a coworker points out that YY is willing and so the boss gives the assignment to her. 

 

The Legends team is playing their practice competition without YX and when they win, Huo Yao smiles and says he’s impressed.  Li Nan also expresses amazement it was possible to play four against five.  PX, on the other hand, just gets up and walks out of the room.

 

QY is at home eating her product placement instant hot pot while she reads all the negative comments under an article regarding XK.  She wonders how strong of a mental state one must have to withstand all the online name calling.  She then asks herself what she can do for him.  As she reads through the comments, she notices that there are actually people who support him as well and decides to screenshot them.  QY arrives home at that moment complaining of how tired she is, and QY hurries to snap her laptop shut.  YY asks her what she was doing and QY denies that she was doing anything.  YY doesn’t believe it though, given her furtive behavior so QY tells her she was just busy with a little something.  She then asks YY why she’s so tired when she normally has a lot of free time at her small magazine company.  YY responds that they’re the ones who had free time, but she was the miserable one.  As QY gives her a massage, YY tells her that tomorrow, she has to go to VNG to interview Qi Yue.  QY asks if this isn’t a good thing and YY tells her the problem is she didn’t know anything about Qi Yue, so she had to do last minute work to prepare for the interview and spent all day researching Qi Yue.  She then complains about how even though it was VNG who asked for the interview, she had to adjust her schedule three times because he kept changing it.  Suffice to say, YY is already annoyed in advance of her interview the next day and can’t wait to learn what kind of a person this Qi Yue is.  [He is as terrible as you are anticipating, my friend.]  After QY listens to YY, she tells her that Qi Yue is VNG’s team leader one of their oldest players, and their boss’s disciple; therefore, it’s only normal that he would act the part of a megastar.  YY turns and asks, “He’s Shu Wen’s disciple?”  [There’s no way Shu Wen would ever allow one of her disciples to be so arrogant!]  QY corrects her, “Li Gan’s disciple.”  When YY realizes that QY knows quite a bit actually, she invites QY to go with her to the interview as her assistant.  She tries to play it off like she’s doing QY a huge favor and that by going with her. QY will learn a lot for her competition, but QY says it’s more like YY doesn’t dare go to the interview.  YY asks why she would be afraid to go, and QY tells her, “You just are.”  Since she doesn’t have anything to say in response, YY looks to QY’s laptop and says, “You still haven’t told me what you were so secretly looking.”  When she reaches for the laptop, QY grabs it out from under her and says, “Fine, I’ll go with you.  Happy?  I’ll be your assistant.”  She then runs away saying she’s busy.  YY’s still yelling that she must be up to something with the way she’s behaving, and the episode ends.

 

End

 

 

Head Pat Count (episode): 1

Head Pat Count (total): 2

[Lynne]

Sigh..... Zhao yang is such a sleaze! Ugh!!!!  Seriously.. what an annoying and evil person..... Ugh!!!!! so Ugh!!!!!!!! I want him jailed!!!!! PREFERABLY UNDER TONS OF CONCRETE UNDERGROUND!!!!

 

Pei Xi is an interesting character right? LOL... He obviously really admire XK, but he just doesn't know how to express it... and his reputation makes is hard for XK to undertand PX lols.. luckily now they both have QY to bridge them unintentionally  

lol... XK if you didn't notice that free cake is totally for you hahahahahha....

Spoiler

not gonna lie... how everyone misunderstood PX liking QY is so funny.. HAHAHAHA...

 

@themarchioness Ep 13-15 are episodes that makes me fell alot of thing, because how they show us Xiang Kong's ups and down. Still, I really like how natural XK and QY started to get closer.... sometimes just being there is already enough.... How they progressed just makes me feel warm...

There's a lot more side character I want to talk about like Sun Ge and YX, etc but maybe next time.. lol..

 

Anyway.... awww Head Pat #2

 

And Qiu Ying's dream hug

 

So cute... but I gotta say... the real hug that happen in ep 35 is even better because of how much they’ve been through 

 

Few stills from Official weibo for ep 13-14... lols.... I'll add more tomorrow...

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

[themarchioness]

@lynne22 , what do you say?  You mix the concrete and I'll dig the hole -- a big one so that we can give Zhao Yang some company underground.  Work for you?    

 

PX is, indeed, an interesting character.  And to be honest, the first time I watched...

Spoiler

I assumed, as XK (and Summer) did, that PX was interested in QY.  It was such a great twist when it was finally revealed that his interest was in XK and not QY.  I mean, I did get that he was interested in competing alongside XK (the drama makes that clear from the get-go).  I just thought he wanted that and was interested in QY, and just didn't know how to express his romantic interest given how socially awkward he was.  It's been fun though going back to rewatch all those earlier scenes, like PX gifting them free food and drinks, with the "correct" lens.  It all seems so obvious once you know it!  But like I said, it was a twist and one i thoroughly enjoyed -- in many ways this drama is actually quite predictable, so it was nice that there was one thing I did not see coming from a mile away.   

 

I also enjoy how natural XK and QY are as a couple.. I can't wait to hear what else you have to say about the side characters/couples! 

 

For now, the next set of recaps (alas no head pats in this episode, but there was still plenty that went on that provoked me into making a lot of side comments while recapping, haha):

 

Episode 15

 

Spoiler

 

Episode 15

 

XK and YX hanging out a bar together, and YX is lamenting that he just can’t seem to get used to not having XK in his life every day.  XK responds, “Sure, I haven’t yelled at you for three days.  Is it really that hard to bear?”  YX responds he has a point, and the two friends laugh.  YX then tells XK that he actually thinks it’d be a good idea if he went to a foreign team, as the coach told them the team that was interested in XK is currently ranked third in the entire world.  He also adds that the fact they were willing to pay XK as much money as they were means they must be sincere.  XK doesn’t want to hear it though, and tells YX he has his own plans while YX should just focus on the game instead of worrying about him.  XK then says to him, “By the way, do you know why I called you out today?”  YX thinks for a second and then says XK needn’t praise him as he knows he should work hard.  That’s not what XK was going to say though, so YX tells XK that he needn’t listen to the coach making a mountain over a molehill.  YX then starts comment on XK going to another team . . . and XK immediately tells him to hold up.  Without letting YX continue, he tells YX to make sure he at Legends and not have thoughts about going anywhere else.  YX laughs and asks who said anything about him following XK.  What he was going to say is, if XK goes to another team and they run into each other in a match, XK had better hide from him.  XK finds this threat comical as he asks, “Me?  Hide from you?”  As they laugh, YX points out that XK taught him everything that he knows so, if they run into each other, doesn’t that mean he’ll (YX’ll) lose miserably?  XK responds, “Look at how terrified you look.”  And that’s when YX tells XK that actually, he needn’t persuade him about not transferring teams because he’s thought about it and he still has two years left on his contract.  If he leaves, he’ll have to pay a fee to break the contract and he doesn’t have that much money.  XK mutters, “You miser.”  He then looks at his watch noticing the time, says, “Looks like I don’t have to persuade you.  Just stay put.”  He then calls for the check and when YX thanks XK for the drinks, XK tells the water that it’s on him (YX).  After XK leaves, YX says, “Until I’ve thoroughly investigate who it was who framed, I’m not going anywhere.”  [AWWWW, YX!!!!  Love, love, love this loyal and loving bromance!]

 

As XK steps outside of the bar, he gets a text on his phone.  It’s a message from QY who put together a whole thing for him (I don’t know what to call it, but I suppose it’s kind of like an animated e-card).  She says, “If all the people in the world understood you, then what kind of an ordinary person would you become?”  [I’m not positive about the second clause, but I think what she’s trying to convey is that because he’s trying to achieve great things, people don’t always understand him.  Which means that if everyone did understand him, then he’d be just another ordinary person.]  XK smiles and says, “Childish.”  [But we know he LUFFS it.]  QY, in the meantime, is lying in bed with her phone on her lap smiling happily over the message she just sent.  A reply finally comes.  He says “thank you” with a smiley face and it makes QY really happy to see.  She picks up the rabbit (that she won from that reality show) and hugs it close.

 

The next morning, XK arrives at VNG where he runs into Qi Yue who greets him in his typical insulting manner and asks how XK has the time to visit them.  XK tells him that he’s there to meet with “Wen Jie” to discuss something, and Qi Yu responds, “Wen Jie?  Your mouth is so sweet!”  [Don’t be a jerk, Qi Yue.  Of course she’s his “jie,” they’ve known each other for years.]  He then adds, “It hasn’t been long since you were swept out of Legends with a broom, and now you’re here to find our Coach Wen?  Are you here to beg her to allow you to join our team?  That’s ridiculous.”  Rather than rise to Qi Yue’s provocation, XK merely responds that whether it’s ridiculous or not, QI Yue will find out after he’s finished talking with Shu Wen.  When XK tries to walk past, QI Yue puts his arm out to stop him and says that as the team’s future leader, he can say with great responsibility that they will never look to a klutz like him to drag them down.  He then tells XK that if he wants to save his face, he’ll turn around and leave. 

 

QY and YY are waiting for the interview with Qi Yue, and YY is growing increasingly impatient as they’ve been waiting for a long time.  QY asks what time the appointment was supposed to be, and YY tells her two o’clock – and she confirmed it three times.  After she finishes saying that, she pounds her first on the table and says she gives up.  She’s not doing the interview and they can leave.  QY holds her back and asks whether she’s really not going to do the interview.  YY responds by asking whether their time isn’t precious just because his time is precious, and QY does her best to calm YY down pointing out they’ve already waited for one hour so they should wait a little bit longer. That’s when Qi Yue finally arrives.  He greets them in a casual manner and apologizes (off-handedly, I daresay) for being late while saying they must be the reporters who are there to interview him for their magazine.  He then sits down and says, “Come, the little prince of the e-sports industry will follow your questions.”  His obnoxiousness coupled with his tardiness has YY reacting in temper, but QY pulls on her arm and shakes her head as if to remind, “This is not the time for this!”  So instead of telling Qi Yue off as she’d like to, she grits her teeth and formally introduces herself.  Just as she’s about to ask her questions, Qi Yu tells her to hold up and points to QY and says, “You’re QY.”  The girls look at each other in surprise and QY asks if he knows her.  He tells her she’s quite popular, which leads her to think he’s paying her compliment, until he adds that she’s the reporter who couldn’t stay on at Planet Video and asks who wouldn’t know her.  YY then cuts in to sternly remind that they had arranged for a two hour interview, and all that remains is 40 minutes.  She asks him to help her make the best use of their time together, but he waves her off and says all they need is 10 minutes since he’ll tell them everything they need to know about his plans for the upcoming season in leading VNG to the world title.  When they hear that, YY asks him to hold up a minute and asks if that means he’ll be taking over PX’s role as VNG’s new team leader.  He holds out his hands as if to say, “Of course,” and asks who else it would be.  He then tells her to have a try at naming someone who she thinks could be the new team leader.  Instead of giving him an answer, she holds out her tape recorder (while clearly annoyed) and tells him to start.  QY then flips the tape recorder around for her, while Qi Yue tells her not to be nervous as it’s understandable that she’d be a little excited upon seeing an idol.  

 

XK meets with Shu Wen and says he’ll get straight to the point; he wants to join VNG.  Shu Wen asks him to share first his opinion of VNG.  He responds, “It’s success and failure are both due to PX.”  Shu Wen tells him to continue, and he tells her he’s sure she’s already realized it too.  With PX’s departure, it’s a big problem that the team only knows how to play “four protect one.”  He asks if what she really wants is a team whose successes and failures lie with one person.  Shu Wen tells him he’s the first person who’s ever dared to say such things to her, and he smiles and says that’s why he’s not very likable.  He then tells her that she’s won the world championship title before so there’s no way she can’t know that this game is a team sport and not a one-man show.  He then tells her that what VNG lacks isn’t outstanding players, but strategy.  She tells him that the remaining members are just holding in their breath right now, and XK asks her to believe in him, as he’ll give her a whole new VNG.  Shu Wen says she has just one question.  She tells him that he’s very clear about their current situation, and then asks why he still wants to come.  He smiles and says, “Because Sun Ge told me, you still yearn for the world championship title.”  She also smiles and then holds out her hand while saying, “VNG’s team leader position is yours.”  He accepts the offers and promises to not let her down.  Then she hands him back the materials he prepared and asks him to tell her about it.

 

Qi Yue’s lackey, Shen Yue, spies on XK and Shu Wen in their meeting.  The camera finally pans back and it turns out the other remaining members are there too (apart from Qi Yue who’s in his interview).  Lu Sheng is sitting off to the side (as he’s a loner), but Tong Wu hands Shen Yue a bottle of water. Shen Yu wonders what XK and Shu Wen could be talking about for such a long time and asks if she might actually let XK join their team.  Tong Wu stammers out that he doesn’t know the answer to that question, but trusts that their coach (Shu Wen) will have her own thoughts on the matter.  Shen Yue says talking to Tong Wu is pointless and then asks Lu Sheng for his opinion, but he just says he doesn’t know.  Qi Yue arrives then and asks what they’re doing.  He asks if they’re waiting to be interviewed or something and sends them back to practice.  As they all head back in, they cross paths with YY and QY who are also exiting the interview room.  Qi Yue sends them off by telling YY to relax and not be so nervous the next time.  Once he’s gone, YY finally lets out all the pent up frustration she was feeling about Qi Yue.  She tells QY that if it hadn’t been for her holding her back, she probably would’ve let him had it.  [I feel you, YY.]  QY entreats YY to let it go, and that’s when YY notices XK.  She asks who the person next to him is and then asks, “Shu Wen?”  The camera shows them sitting close to each other while Shu Wen is smiling over whatever it is that XK is saying, and then the camera pans to QY.  YY wonders what the two of them could be talking about for them to look so happy.  When the camera shows Shu Wen patting XK on the shoulder while smiling broadly, QY says it’s enough and they should go outside to talk.  YY comments that there’s definitely something not right about this situation, while QY drags her out. 

 

As they walk away from VNG, YY is still wondering why XK would be there.  She finally guesses that XK may be joining VNG and tells QY that her reporter’s instinct is telling her that something’s going on. She wants them to go back in so she can find out, but QY pulls her back and asks why she’s being so gossipy.  She says YY has no basis for her guess and warns that if tries to go back in now, they’ll just be chased out.  YY calls her a fool and points out that if that’s not the reason for XK being there, then what other reason could there be.  She then observes that it would actually be pretty good for XK to join VNG, considering they’re one of the four top teams in the country.  She points out they were even the runner-up winners twice in a row, and are inferior only to the Legends team.  QY responds by reminding her of Qi Yue’s attitude, which they just saw, and tells YY that in spite of everything she just said, VNG might not be the best place for XK.  YY nods her head that she has a point and then it occurs to her to asks, “When did you become so concerned about JXK?”  She then commands QY to explain why she’s concerned about JXK.  QY denies that she is and when YY continues to put up a fuss next to her asking if she’s going to speak or not, she distracts YY by pointing to the sky and saying there’s a flying saucer.  When YY turns around asking where it is so she can capture a picture of it, QY runs off.  YY ends up running after her while telling her to stay put and explain herself. 

 

Qi Yue meets with Li Gan (whom he always refers to as Master, since he is Li Gan’s disciple) and Shen Yue and asks if they can settle the matter of the team leader position today.  When Li Gan asks him to give them more time, Qi Yue reminds him that back when he was in Taiwan and aspiring to enter into a professional team, it was he (Li Gan) who discovered him and brought him to the mainland in order to develop.  He asks them to be reassured that, even though PX’s gone, he has the confidence to lead his brothers to win the world championship title.  [I’m pretty sure the only thing Qi Yue has is confidence… just saying…]  Li Gan avoids saying anything by telling Qi Yue to go back to the practice room first since their practice match is about to begin.  Shu Wen merely sips her coffee.  When he notices their reaction, Qi Yue asks them again to have confidence/trust in him.  He adds that apart from him, there is no better choice.  [Shu Wen and I respectfully disagree!]  Qi Yue then concludes by saying he’s going back to practice.

 

After Qi Yue leaves, Shu Wen tells Li Gan that she’s decided to sign JXK.  Li Gan tells her that he’d already guessed that’s what she would do.  He tells her she can sign whoever she wants, but JXK, he doesn’t recommend.  She reminds Li Gan that he knows about their team’s prior problem; therefore, he should know, it doesn’t matter how strong of a player they bring in.  Even if they find someone like PX, without strategy, they still won’t be able to get far.  She then brings up XK’s strategy and says he should be clear on that matter as well.  Li Gan tells her this isn’t an ability problem; it’s his person that’s the problem.  There’s too much negative news about him out there.  He says if Shu Wen brings him into their team, it’s going to make things difficult for him.  He asks her what they’re going to do about their sponsors.  Shu Wen’s view, however, is that given the team’s current situation, it’s more important for them to have a capable team leader than sponsorship.   She asks if Li Gan would admit that much, and he does, but he adds that if they lose more sponsors, VNG’s business operations will run into problems.  Shu Wen merely responds by asking if he isn’t an expert at winning over sponsors, and Li Gan can only smile (with a grimace) in response.  [I will admit from a business standpoint, I do feel Li Gan’s pain in this moment.  Shu Wen is perhaps being a little naïve about business matters, but on the other hand, I still support her because if they gave XK a proper opportunity to turn the team around, sponsors would naturally follow a winning team.]  Shu Wen then reminds Li Gan that when they started VNG together, their vision was to raise another team that would win the world championship title.  That’s why even if she has to risk her everything in order to make that happen, she’s not afraid.  Li Gan’s got nothing to say to that, so she says that’s fine and he’s going to go watch the practice match. 

 

XK and Sun Ge drink outside The King.  XK tells Sun Ge he never imagined that things with Shu Wen would go that smoothly.  This makes Sun Ge happy to hear, as he observes that Shu Wen is a far-sighted person who once she sets her mind on something, will press forward with an indomitable will.  [Kind of like when she set her sight on you, Sun Ge?]  He tells XK that he’s going to have a lot of room to develop at VNG.  XK thanks his Sun Ge for his help and the care he provided during this time.  He adds that if it hadn’t been for his encouragement, he wouldn’t have had the courage to meet with Shu Wen.  After he swigs his beer, Sun Ge sighs heavily and says, “My roommate just moved in for a few days and is leaving already.  I’m going to be left all lonely and sad now.”  XK cheekily responds by asking if the reason he’s still single is because he’s waiting for Shu Wen.  Sun Ge calls him a rascal and asks him what crazy talk he’s talking when he notices that Li Gan has come to call on them.  When Li Gan sees him, he tells Sun Ge that even though they haven’t seen each other in a long time, he hasn’t changed.  Sun Ge says he hasn’t changed either and invites him to sit.  After he sits, Li Gan tells XK that he came to see him in the capacity of VNG.  Sun Ge gives them room to talk under the pretense of going in to get another pair of chopsticks for Li Gan. 

 

After Sun Ge leaves, Li Gan starts by offering his apologies on behalf of the team and then tells him that they can’t sign a contract with him.  He also says, however, that he personally hopes XK will be the one who tells Shu Wen that he can’t sign the contract.  When XK says he doesn’t understand what Li Gan’s trying to say, Li Gan explains that it’s been three years since they started VNG and Shu Wen’s already endured countless suffering to get to where they are today.  But now they’ve reached another critical point where PX’s left and taken with him three of their biggest sponsors, while two others are wavering.  Those same two sponsors also called Li Gan that afternoon after learning of Shu Wen’s meeting with XK and told him that if Shu Wen insists on signing with XK, they’ll be cutting their ties as well.  Li Gan tells XK that Shu Wen genuinely admires him, to the point where she’s willing to risk everything in order to protect him.  He asks if XK can bear to watch her possibly lose everything she’s worked hard for and then says that if he has any sense of loyalty to their friendship and her being his senior, then he’ll personally tell her that he can’t sign the contract.  XK tells him he doesn’t need to say anything more; he understands.  He adds that it was he who gave them trouble.  Li Gan thanks XK for being so principled and takes his leave, just as Sun Ge walks back out.  When Sun Ge asks if he’s leaving, Li Gan says he owes him a drink and will make it up to him next time.  [Methinks, however, that “next time” will never come.]

 

The next morning, Shu Wen shows Li Gan the contract she prepared for XK and asks him to take a look at it.  He tells her, however, that since she’s made her decision he’ll respect it.  [LIES]  In response, Shu Wen starts to tell him about how she wants to prepare a big signing event for the occasion and asks him to contact the media, but that’s when XK’s text arrives.  He tells her that he’s not suited for the VNG team and that he won’t be signing any contract.  She asks what’s going on and shows Li Gan the text, telling him that XK changed his mind.  She then tries to call XK and it goes straight to voicemail.  As she hangs up, she angrily asks what he means by this.  Li Gan tries to calm her down and says that perhaps XK has learned about their current situation and knows they haven’t the resources or finances as compared to Legends.  He says that XK is a smart kid and they should respect his decision to not come to them.  Shu Wen says that’s not right though because XK’s not that kind of a person.  She then says she’s going to find him in order to persuade him.  Li Gan holds her back though and tells her not to go because he won’t come.  Shu Wen asks him how he knows that, and when he doesn’t answer and lets go of her arm instead, she realizes: Li Gan went to find him.  She snatches the contract away from him and storms off.

 

Shu Wen arrives at The King.  As she parks her car, she see Sun Gu in the distance walking towards her with a box on his shoulder.  She gets out of her car and he notices her too.  It’s their first meeting in a really long time.  They don’t say anything until he finally guesses that she came to find XK.  She nods her head, so he leads her inside where she takes a look around as she walks.  They reach the counter and she asks where XK is.  He tells her he’s upstairs and hurries to put down the box he’s carrying so he can show her the way. 

 

XK is surprised when Shu Wen appears in front of him.  She throws down the contract that she tells him she put together and asks if he’s going to sign it or not.  XK looks to Sun Ge who motions for him to sit, as Shu Wen also takes a seat.  XK picks up the contract and says to Shu Wen that if it’s because of him that VNG incurs more troubles to their existing troubles, then he’d rather not sign and returns the contract to her.  Instead of taking it from him though, she asks if sponsors withdrawing means adding more troubles.  She then tells him that in her opinion, if they don’t win the world championship title, no matter how many sponsors they have, VNG’s existence will be meaningless.  When XK starts to say he understands how she feels, she cuts him off and says he doesn’t understand.  She tells him that it’s already been five years since the Pioneer team won the world championships and in the hearts of veterans/old-timers like her, they’ve waited too long for the next title.  XK starts to add a “but,” but she tells him to rest easy because even if all their sponsors withdraw their support, she’ll still find a way to ensure that VNG can compete in the next season.  She tells him, “JXK, I need you,” and then in a sterner voice , she reminds him, “You promised me, you’d give me a whole new VNG.”  XK takes back the contract and after he looks it over, he says he’s not satisfied with the annual salary.  Sun Ge looks at Shu Wen for her reaction, but she just coolly tells XK, “Name whatever figure you’d like.”  He writes a number down and tells her, “This makes me more satisfied.”  She looks down and sees that he’s crossed through 500000 RMB and written “1.00” above.  [500000 RMB = 72550 USD; 1 RMB= 0.15 USD.]  She asks with some surprise, “One dollar?” and XK just smiles in Sun Ge’s direction.  He then tells Shu Wen, “From today forward, I give myself to VNG to advance.” 

 

At Dream Journey, QY is battling against Shou Hou Zi with everyone crowded around them to watch.  PX carefully makes his way through the crowd and crosses his arms with a smile when he sees QY playing.  QY ends up winning and as the crowd behind her claps, she lifts her hands to high ten the person closest to her – and then draws her hands back when she sees it’s PX.  A random person standing behind QY compliments her on her maneuvers while the person next to him comments that he never imagined she’d be able to defeat someone like Shou Hou Zi, which is not an easy thing to do.  QY leans forward to gloat by telling Shou Hou Zi, “Sorry about that.”  As Shou Hou Zi crosses his arms in annoyance, we hear a female voice calling out to ask how they could all be bluffed by such insignificant skills.  The crowd steps back and we see it’s that female gamer who we saw in an earlier episode when she was playing a match against someone else.  (I don’t think the drama ever gives her a name, so we’ll just refer to her as Female Gamer as necessary.)  She challenges QY to a one-on-one match, and QY accepts.  When PX hears this, he suggests that since they’re fighting for the top spot of their server, they have an open (public) match. While QY looks shocked, Fei Mao comments on how this is a great idea.  PX asks QY if she’s afraid, but with that many people watching her, she can only respond by asking back what she has to be afraid of since if she loses, she loses, pointing out that it’s not exactly something to be embarrassed about.  The crowd cheers in support and the next thing we see are the two women making their way to their opposite battle station in VNG’s public events room (where there is a big screen so everyone can watch). 

 

QY and the Female Gamer sit down to begin their match and Fei Mao immediately pipes up that he’s supporting QY.  Shou Hou Zi disagrees and says he thinks the Female Gamer will still win.  He then suggests they make a bet with the loser having to treat the winner to a month’s worth of instant hot pot.  Fei Mao asks if they can pick whatever flavor they want, and Shou Hou Zi agrees.  Fei Mao then immediately runs over to QY and tells her she has to “jia you” because his months’ worth of food is dependent on her.  QY stares at him and then looks annoyed as she tells him not to worry.  Poor thing, the extra pressure was probably the last thing she needed. 

 

The game begins and it’s at this moment that Summer returns.  As he walks through the common area, he notices how unusually empty it is.  XK also arrives then and asks Summer why there’s nobody at Dream Journey today.  Summer says he doesn’t know and then nods his chin in the direction of the event room.  He leads XK over to have a look.  When he enters, he sees there’s a match going on and then XK looks over and gets the surprise of his life when he sees QY is one of the competitors.  He’s like, “What?  She’s playing an open match?  That’s courageous.”  The Female Gamer makes a play that has QY cringing in her seat as she throws up her arms, and that’s when Summer walks over to one of the crowd watchers to ask what’s going on.  The crowd watcher explains that the person who’s currently number one on the server challenged QY to a match.  Summer walks back to XK and says, “Wow, you’re little girlfriend’s not bad.  She’s playing one-on-one against the server number one.”  XK looks back at QY in more surprise and then says to Summer, “That’s not it.  She and I are just ordinary friends.”  Summer nods his head in understanding and repeats “ordinary friends” as if he’s trying to reassure XK that he believes him, even though he doesn’t believe a single word of it.  He then throws an arm around XK’s shoulder and says, “Ordinary friends, but you teach her personally, huh?”  XK explains that QY wants to be an esports commentator and wants to work there in order to study.  When Summer hears that he comments that QY’s not bad.  He says she could very clearly rely on her looks, but instead she chooses to rely on talent.  He then tells XK that in the future, when it comes to matters like this, he should just speak with him directly as there’s no need to exert so much effort.  XK responds that he didn’t do that because he didn’t’ want to break their rules at Dream Journey, which makes Summer laugh.  They refocus their attention on the game and things are not going well for QY.  Summer tells XK not to worry though because even if she fails, he’ll still give her a chance.  XK tells him not to worry because she can definitely win.  The game continues on and then suddenly Fei Mao calls out to QY that she’s almost out of blood and should hurry home and stop roaming around.  PX countermands that instruction by calling out for her to go directly after the crystal (the last step of the game).  XK also runs over and tells her not to go home and to push at the crystal.  When she stares at him in surprise, he slaps the counter in front of her and asks her why she’s looking so stupefied and tells her to hurry up and push at the crystal.  She gets to work immediately and the two men exchange glances.  Their instructions work and the next thing we see is QY winning the match; hurray!  

 

QY runs over to give XK a high five and tells him she finally reached the number one spot of her server.  After he congratulates her, she walks over to PX and tells him that she has the qualifications now to work there.  PX asks if the reason she wanted to become server number one was to be a server at Dream Journey, and she answers, “Yes, although that’s not the only reason.”  He asks her what her real reasons are and she tells she wants to become a commentator.  She explains that if she works at Dream Journey, she’ll be able to learn from all the top players who hang out there.  She points out additionaly that during this time in which she battled to reach the number one spot of her server, she also gained a deeper understanding of how the iConquer game worked.  PX, who’s like a wet blanket, tells her that becoming a commentator isn’t an easy thing to do, but QY’s not deterred.  She tells him that everything has to start from somewhere, so she’ll take it step by step.  Summer walks over then to slap his cousin on the back and says, “That’s right.  This girl here has the right idea of it.  Why are you trying to pour cold water over it?”  XK introduces QY to Summer, telling her that he’s the owner of Dream Journey, but QY says she knows.  He’s one of the original five members of the Pioneer team where he played the assist position and because his game ID was Summer, after he retired, everyone continued calling him by that name.  Summer smiles delightedly at her enthusiasm and says he’s almost embarrassed while XK praises her for doing her homework well.  She responds, “Of course!” and then greets Summer by saying, “Hello, Boss!”  PX comments her use of the word “boss” when they haven’t even said they want her, but Summer interjects that he hasn’t said he doesn’t want her either.  He then says to QY, “Congratulations on joining Dream Journey.”  QY thanks Summer and asks if they can take care of the paperwork now.  He says sure and invites her to his office, leaving XK and PX to chat.   

 

After QY and Summer leaves, PX asks, “Do you really like her?”  while XK responds, “What?”  PX repeats his question and XK asks him what it has to do with him.  PX replies, “You’d best keep your distance from her,” which has XK asking, “You like her?”  PX crosses his arms and says he heard XK joined VNG.  XK sighs and comments on how coincidental this matter is – after circling and turning around, his former employer became PX’s new employer while PX’s old employer became his new employer.  PX responds that it looks like they’re fated to be opponents and when XK says that’s great, he adds that he’s not as irresolute as him.  That has XK feeling confused after PX walks off.

 

QY comes racing out of Dream Journey to meet up with XK who’s waiting for her outside.  She tells him she finally became one of Dream Journey’s official employees and shows off her ID badge.  He takes it from her to look at and says it’s not bad.  He then adds that since she found a job, she should treat him to a meal.  She responds, “Of course!” and then suggests one of the strawberry cakes from Dream Journey.  XK does not like this idea as he holds her ID card over the side of the balcony and asks what she wants to eat.  She then holds up two fingers and says, “Two strawberry cakes,” while XK’s like, “Two cakes?”  He then asks her how she can be even stingier than YX and when she only smiles in response, he tells her to forget about it because he also found a job today, so he’ll treat her. 

 

After XK finishes placing their order and the waiter walks away, XK tells QY that he never imagined she’d be able to make it to the top spot of her server so quickly.  She tells him that the “Tomorrow’s Star” competition is coming up soon so she has to work hard.  She also tells him that Summer will frequently invite Luo Tian and other important people within the industry to provide commentary on game replays and now she’ll have a justified reason to stay and listen.  After talking about herself, she asks him what his new job is.  He tells her he signed a contract with VNG and she asks him if he’s for real, pointing out that VNG is one of the top four teams.  She then tells him that this is news they have to celebrate with wine.  When she calls for the waiter, he hurriedly asks if she’s sure about this and reminds her of what happened the last time with her low tolerance.  QY just looks at him and calls out to the waiter an order for two beers.  After they finish eating and drink their beers, the waiter delivers a warm towel to XK.  QY asks him why he wanted a warm towel and he just smiles at her before getting up to move his chair closer to her.  He asks her if her hands don’t hurt and then takes one of her hands and wraps the warm towel around it.  He tells her that the intensity with which she played is almost equal to how they are when they train, and counsels her to play no longer than 3 hours at a time in the future.  He tells her she has to learn how to take care of herself.  He then asks for her other hand and asks if she feels any better.  She nods and says it’s a lot better.  He tells her he has some ointment, which he’ll bring to her next time.  She thanks him, which prompts him to ask why she’s being so polite given their brotherhood. [ACK!  JXK, you’ve been hanging out with your teammates for too long!  At least say you’re friends . . . you don’t tell a girl she’s like one of your bros!  LOL!]   XK then tells QY that with him going to VNG this time, he made a pledge of oath: he absolutely must win the world championship title.  He then adds that she has to do the same; when she participates in the “Tomorrow’s Star” competition, she can’t lose and has to win.  He tells her not to forget the promise they’d previously made: to go the iConquer finals.  They fist bump and tell each other to “jia you.” 

 

YY is waiting at home and looks to the clock.  She complains that it’s already 9pm an QY still hasn’t come home.  Behind her, the dinner table is completely set with food and waiting bowls.  QY walks through the door then and calls out to YY, saying she’s home.  She looks around and wonders where her friend is and then finds YY sitting with her arms crossed while fuming.  She asks YY why she’s sitting over there and YY just turns away from her asking how she can dare to say.  QY asks her what’s going on and when she sees that YY has led her over to the kitchen/dining area, she exclaims over all the food on the table.  YY tells her that in order to celebrate QY becoming server number one, she’d started cooking from 3pm that afternoon.  She then asks QY to check out the current time and comments on how she’s only just returned home.  QY says, “You didn’t tell me beforehand,” but that only further irritates YY as she asks why she should have to say something when they’ve always celebrated their big events together.   QY walks over and tries to calm her friend down, but YY just looks at her and asks if she went on a date with XK again.  QY tries to justify herself by saying it was a special situation today; she got a job at Dream Journey and he went to VNG.  It was a “double happiness” so they had just a very small celebration.  YY just looks at her and complains that now that she has a boy, she lacks a sense of humanity.  She then tells her, “Cold war!  I’m not talking to you!”  As YY walks up the stairs and away from QY, QY tells her fine, if you want to have a cold war, we’ll have one for 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, you come back down, but YY calls down that she’s serious this time.  QY then responds that’s fine, if she wants to be serious, she’ll give her 15 minutes.  That’ll be just long enough for her to reheat the food as she guesses YY hasn’t yet eaten and tells her she’ll keep her company by eating again.  

 

As QY gets to work in the kitchen reheating YY’s dinner, YY comes back down.  She coughs loudly to gain QY’s attention and QY asks if the cold war has ended.  YY tells her it hasn’t ended and then tells her to hurry up and come over.  QY asks her what’s up, but rather than tell her, YY passes a tablet to her and tells her to have a look herself.  It’s an online post where the subject line says XK hugged Shu Wen’s thigh (it’s an expression, not literally) in order to become the next team leader for VNG, and the remainder of the post suggests there’s something going on between the two of them.  YY reminds QY of when they’d seen the two of them together at VNG and asks if they hadn’t appeared intimate.  She says she knew then there was something not right about the situation, but when she’d wanted to go back to investigate, QY hadn’t let her.  QY replies that if the two of them really are together, then it’ll be great that they can work together and support each other.  She plays it off like this news does not concern her, but YY tells her to not pretend with her and asks what this makes QY.  She tells her, “Don’t tell me that you still just think of him as only an ordinary friend.” 

 

Later that same evening, QY struggles to fall asleep.  She flashes back to the image of XK and Shu Wen at VNG where they were laughing and Shu Wen was patting XK on the shoulder.  She finally gives up trying to sleep and sits up and turns on the bedside lamp.  She then asks her stuffed bunny why it’s looking at her.  Putting the bunny on her lap, she asks it if it doesn’t also want to know what sort of a relationship he has with Shu Wen.  In a deeper voice, she makes the bunny reply, “Whatever kind of relationship they have, it has nothing to do with you.”  She asks the bunny back, “Then why are you tossing and turning so restlessly, unable to sleep?” and then she sighs and hugs the bunny close while saying, “I just want to know.”  She adds with a pout, “He’s in a relationship now and my heart just doesn’t feel right.”  The bunny replies back to her, “Even if you knew, how would that be useful to you?  Doesn’t JXK just think of you as his brother?”  She tells the bunny to go stand as punishment and sets it aside, and then she turns the lamp back off and says, “Good night, Jiang Jiang!” 

 

At a bar somewhere, the four original members of VNG are drinking.  Sheng Yue pats Qi Yue on the back and tells him to not be angry.  He then calls out to Tong Wu who promptly pours more alcohol into Qi Yue’s cup.  When he spills the drink, Qi Yu jumps out of his seat and Tong Wu rushes to apologize. [I swear this is such an abusive relationship.]  QY asks him if he’s an idiot and pushes him away before taking his seat again.  Sheng Yue asks Qi Yue if he thinks there really is something going on between XK and Shu Wen and points out that because of XK, she offended two big sponsors.  Qi Yue flicks him on the forehead and asks what he’s talking about.  He asks if Sheng Yue wants to make a scene just because outsiders are talking crazy.  I’d be impressed with Qi Yue for his insight in this moment except the only reason he’s sticking up for XK and Shu Wen is because of Li Gan.  This is evidenced by when he also asks whether it’s possible for his master to be “made green.”  [In Chinese “wearing a green hat” is an expression for when a woman cheats on her husband/boyfriend because the phrase sounds similar to the word for cuckold.]  He then vows to his teammates that he’s not going to make things easy for XK once he arrives and tells the others they have to be on the same page about this.  He says he’d like to see how much patience XK has.  As he speaks, the camera pans to Lu Sheng who’s sitting at the end of the row playing on his phone.  Qi Yue calls out to him and asks if he’s listening to him speak.  Lu Sheng answers that he he is, and Qi Yue concludes, “So long as the four of us don’t cooperate, I’d like to see how he plans on operating a team leader.”  Sheng Yue holds up his cup and says whatever Qi Yue says, they’ll follow.  He then calls out to Tong Wu who also agrees to listen to Qi Yue (because he knows he’ll be beaten up if he doesn’t).  Tong Wu then pokes at Lu Sheng who throws down his phone and says, “Whatever, I’m fine with whatever you guys say.” 

 

 

Head Pat Count (episode): 0

Head Pat Count (total): 2

 

[themarchioness]

I love all episodes of this drama, but if I had to pick a least favorite, it would be this Episode 16 - it has a lot to do with the fact that QY and XK have zero interactions in this episode (and my head pat count does not advance, *sobs*) - but it's a necessary episode because it sets the drama up for its second story arc, which is XK trying to make a team for himself at VNG and QY beginning her journey towards "Tomorrow's Star." 

 

Next episode will be pretty great though when all those misunderstandings related to XK and Shu Wen are cleared up -- I'm sitting here with a giddy look on my face just thinking about it!  -- unfortunately, I probably won't be able to post it tomorrow.  I'm finding these episodes are taking me much longer to recap than when I first started and, as I haven't been able to start working on Episode 17 yet, I doubt it'll be completed in the span of one evening, but like QY and XK, I'll do the best I can!   Until then...

 

Episode 16

 

Spoiler

 

Episode 16

 

The next day at VNG, XK arrives with his belongings.  As Shu Wen shows him to the dorm, they witness Qi Yue ordering Tong Wu to go buy food for him and Sheng Yu and then yelling at him to hurry up.  Shu Wen tells XK that it looks like he has a tough battle ahead of him, but he’s not daunted and reminds her that she signed him so he would battle.  Plus, he adds, this isn’t exactly unfamiliar territory given that they’ve crossed paths through competitions before so he has an inkling as to Qi Yue’s personality.  Shu Wen nods okay and then offers him the use of bedroom number 2, which has been empty ever since PX’s departure.  XK, however, asks if there any shared rooms.  She thinks about it and then tells him that Lu Sheng’s room has an empty bed, but his personality is a bit unsociable and eccentric.  It sounds perfect to XK, however, as he tells her that’s fine and he can get to know him.  Shu Wen smiles and offers to show him in, but he tells her he can go in by himself.

 

XK enters his new room and looks around as he strolls over to Lu Sheng, who hadn’t even acknowledged his existence.  He introduces himself and says they’ll be roommates from now on and Lu Sheng just says okay before putting on his headset to continue working on his computer.  

 

Meanwhile, in XK’s old room at Legends, PX is going around cleaning and wiping things down.  He opens the drawer the bedside table and finds a brown notebook.  Just as he’s turning it over in his hand wondering what it is, YX walks past the open door and recognizes what PX has in his hands.  He walks in asking what PX’s doing and PX tells him he’s Legends’ new team leader and that from now on, this will be his bedroom.  XY responds that he won’t allow PX to live there and then asks why PX’s holding his Kong Ge’s notebook.  PX asks if XK didn’t leave it there on purpose so he’d see it, which causes YX to try and take the book back except he’s shorter so all PX has to do is hold it over his head to keep it out of YX’s reach.  The others come running in and ask what’s going on.  YX tells them that PX stole XK’s notebook, and when he rushes at PX again, the other have to drag him back and tell him to quit making a fuss.  PX suggests a match to settle their differences and YX accepts the offer while commenting that he’s not afraid.  He then asks what they’re going to compete over and PX leaves the choice up to him.  YX turns around and tells the others that they heard him; he’s left the choice to him.  He then tells PX the room is too small, so he’ll wait for him in the living room. 

 

Out in the living room, YX walks around a small table before taking a seat and tells the others that he has no other purpose than to let them be witnesses in case someone’s not happy when they lose in a bit.  As he takes a seat, Lu Feng reminds him that when all is said and done, PX’s still their team leader and warns him not to do anything bad.  YX shakes him off and reminds that it was PX who said he’d leave things to him.  He adds that all he wants to do is find something that’ll have everyone entertained and make them happy.  PX tells him he can do whatever he wants.  That’s how PX ends up suggesting that they compete over who can make the other person laugh first.  While YX’s still yammering on about the game and asking what the others think, PX just sits stone faced in front of him and says, “Let’s start.”  [Seriously, of all games, why would you choose this one to play with PX?  He’s notorious for not having a funny bone!]  Suffice to say, no matter how many faces YX makes, even though his other teammates can’t stop laughing, PX doesn’t move an inch.  He even leans over at one point to ask the others if this is funny.  When it’s his turn, PX surprises everyone by bringing forth his best effort.  Which is how he ends up squatting on the small table at one point which causes YX to erupt into laughter.  PX announces he’s the winner and takes back the notebook.    

 

Back at VNG, Shu Wen is waiting with the team for them to have their first meeting with XK.  When Qi Yu finally arrives, she asks him where Li Gan is and he tells her that his master said his stomach was hurting and wouldn’t be attending.  SHu Wen starts the meeting and announces that XK has officially joined their team.  When the others clap, Qi Yue shoots them a look which causes them to immediately subside.  XK doesn’t let it bother him and instead greets the others by asking them to please take care of him (a common greeting in China when starting a new job, joining a new class at school., etc.).  Shu Wen continues by telling the others that XK’s not just a new teammate, he’s also their new team leader.  Qi Yu reacts immediately by asking if she shouldn’t have discussed such an important matter with his master first, but Shu Wen (who has nerves of steel, and which I greatly admire) reminds Qi Yue that she’s their coach so her decision is VNG’s decision.  XK cuts in to try and help smooth things over by telling Shu Wen it’s a good thing that his appointment is being questioned; as it means everyone cares about the team while at the same time motivating him to prove himself after having been put into the role from out of nowhere.  Qi Yu bolts up from his chair to tell XK to stop talking pretty; and asserts that  he’s the one who’s better suited to be the team leader.  Shu Wen stands up as well in an effort to block him, but Qi Yu challenges XK to a game instead.  XK accepts the challenge and says they can form a team, while he’ll lead a substitute team.  Qi Yu accepts this as well and says he’ll call XK “team leader” if he loses and asks what XK will do if he loses.  XK says he’ll withdraw from the team, which causes Shu Wen to look up sharply.  Qi Yue points out XK said it himself; therefore, nobody can disagree, and so Shu Wen has no choice but to go along with it as well.  After Qi Yue leads the others out of the room with his trash talking, XK tells Shu Wen not to worry. 

 

Inside the training room, Qi Yue tells his teammates how they they’re going to play and what strategies they’ll use (“four protect one” – it’s all the VNG team knows how to use). Sheng Yue tells him not to worry as they’ll do as he commands.  Qi Yue then takes his seat and comments on the fact that they’ll be competing against a “hand klutz” and four substitute players.  It’s clear he thinks this is the most ridiculous match ever and that he’ll have no problem winning.   Over on the other side, one of the substitute players asks how they’re going to play and observes that since they’re playing against Qi Yue, they’re no way they’ll be able to win.  XK responds, however, that Qi Yue will undoubtedly use the “four protect one” strategy so they’ll use the “dual core” strategy.  The others ask that what is and XK gives them a quick and short rundown of what that means and how they should play.  As they prepare to begin, he tells them to relax and just listen to his commands. 

 

Shu Wen is inside her office watching the game when Li Gan enters.  She asks him if his stomach wasn’t feeling well, and he tells her it’s feeling a bit better.  He asks if what she’s watching is QY and XK PK-ing and she says yes, because Qi Yue couldn’t accept [XK being named their team leader].  She then explains that that XK is leading a team of substitute players.  As Li Gan watches the game, he comments on how XK has left the middle area open and this is very dangerous, but Shu Wen disagrees and says that’s not necessarily the case.  She then explains to Li Gan what XK is doing (which is exactly what XK had explained to the substitute players they would be doing), and says it’s not the least bit harmful.  She then goes on to comment on Qi Yue’s strategies which she states, in essence, are not as creative as XK’s. 

 

The camera cuts back to the two teams playing against each other with Qi Yue and XK each calling out commands to their respective teams, after a few back and forth scenes, we see it’s Qi Yue who’s growing more and more animated.  Back in Shu Wen’s office, she turns off the screen when the game hasn’t even concluded because she’s seen enough to know who will emerge the victor.  She points out that Qi Yue never even managed to get his team to make any plays because all he did was rely on their “four protect one” strategy, and Li Gan tells her, “It looks like you were right.”  She responds, “I hope you’ll understand.  Everything I do is for the sake of VNG.”  She then takes out XK’s contract and asks Li Gan to take a look.  He reacts in surprise when he sees XK’s annual salary is only one dollar and Shu Wen shares with him what XK had said about wanting to work with VNG in order to advance.  When she adds that she has faith XK won’t let them down, Li Gan can only go along with it and tells her that he’ll go and finish processing the transfer paperwork.

 

The game continues and, as Shu Wen predicted, XK and his substitute team wins.  Qi Yue is, suffice to say, not a happy camper as he unleashes his anger by blaming others for the loss.  He’s poking at Sheng Yue asking him what his brain contains when Li Gan walks in.  When he sees Li Gan, the sore loser asks to be allowed to play another match because he can’t accept what just happened.  Li Gan merely responds by asking if there’s any end to his nonsense and when Qi Yue starts up again, Li Gan tells him to shut up.  XK walks in and Shu Wen tells him he won beautifully.  She then walks over to the other members and basically tells them to let it go.  She points out that one match doesn’t necessarily say anything, but what she does hope is that they can see the strategies, especially when strategies are so important to their competitions.  She then calls out Qi Yue specifically and says, “You should know this time where it was exactly that you lost.”  She then asks if there’s anyone else who can’t accept [the results] and when she gets no response, she announces (once more) that XK is their team leader and that they need to follow his commands and his strategies in their training.   She then turns the stage over to XK who starts to tell them that they all played really well just now and it was only their strategy aspect that was problematic.  That’s as far as he gets though because Qi Yue storms out of the room and Li Gan has to chase after him saying that he’ll try to persuade him.  [Can you imagine what it must be like to be his roommate?  I bet Sheng Yue has to listen to his angry complaints all the time.  I’d rather move in with Tong Wu.] 

 

Li Gan catches up to Qi Yue outside and orders him to stand still.  Qi Yue turns around and tells his master that he doesn’t want to play anymore as he just can’t accept it.  He says that when PX was there and they wanted him to play “four protect one,” he was willing to do so.  But now they want him to call XK “team leader” and that’s not happening.  Qi Yue asks if XK would be able to beat him in a one-on-one match, and Li Gan tells him that the game they played just now proves that even though his individual ability may be strong, XK is more suitable to be the team leader.  He reminds Qi Yue that iConquer is a team sport.  When Qi Yue hears that, he complains that he can’t believe even his master is helping that “hand klutz” to speak.  Li Gan tells him to shut up and says that if one loses, they should just accept it.  He warns Qi Yue against letting his ambition and pride get too far ahead of him, and scolds him, “You’re my disciple and one of VNG’s founding members.  You should be broad-minded and have a sense of responsibility!”  He then comforts Qi Yue and says, “I hope you’ll set aside those distracting thoughts and focus on the game.  Don’t let the fact that you were in a position of authority for a short while ruin your future.  The days ahead of you are still long.  If you want to prove that you’re stronger than JXK, then prove it to him through the competitions.  Do you understand?!” 

 

Qi Yue is walking somewhere and then we see Qiao Xin in the distance.  They meet halfway and she asks him why he’s there.  As she can tell he’s not in a good mood, she asks him what’s wrong and who’s been mistreating him.  He asks who else it could be: JXK.  Qiao Xin says she heard XK stole his team leader position away from him and Qi Yue pretty much blames it on Shu Wen protecting XK to get the position.  Qiao Xin is as offended by this idea that XK could just come from out of nowhere to be VNG’s team leader and it turns out that’s because she’s Qi Yue’s girlfriend.  When he asks her to keep him company (to help cheer him up), she pushes his hand aside and tells him they have to keep up their appearances.  He responds by asking if she’s going to go meet with PX again and then objects to her going to look for another man when her “handsome” boyfriend is standing right in front of her.  Qiao Xin asks if he really believes all those online rumors and reminds him that it’s all because of that dual match.  It’s through this moment (and Qi Yue’s explanation that follows) that we finally learn, back then, Qi Yue had stolen PX’s ID to play with Qiao Xin against QY and XK and after that match everyone started assuming PX was Qiao Xin’s boyfriend.  (This would explain why during that game, XK had said it didn’t seem like PX was playing.)  After they discuss the dual match, Qiao Xin tries to placate Qi Yue by promising to spend the next day with him, just the two of them, and explains that she really can’t be with him today because she has to go meet with one of the sponsors of the “Tomorrow’s Star” competition.  Qi Yue asks if she’s planning on participating in the competition and she says yes, she starts to take out his phone saying he knows people at GDV and will give them a call.  She tells him there’s no need for that as she already found a connection.  [I swear, these two are such a sleazy pair.]  Her phone rings and we see the incoming caller is A Can, although she quickly hides the phone from Qi Yue and then takes her leave.

 

QY reports to Dream Journey for her first day on the job and Summer explains how the shift schedule works.  He then tells her he’ll find someone who can show her around the place to better understand how everything works and calls on PX, who looks like he’d rather be doing anything other taking QY around.  He tells his cousin that he’s busy and Summer asks him what he could be busy with.  When PX insists he’s really busy, Summer drags him aside and says he’s trying to create an opportunity for him. When PX asks him what he’s talking about, Summer says he already asked and QY and XK are not a couple.  PX asks him how he knows that and Summer says he heard it personally from XK.  PX smiles when he hears that and says he gets it now, and then he asks Summer what he meant by “opportunity.”   Summer gives up and asks PX if he just has water in his head.  He then tells PX to just listen to him and leads him back QY.  When he tries to leave them alone together again, PX asks why he has to be the person who takes her around.  Summer sighs and finally says, “Because I’m the boss and you’re the employee so you have to listen to me.”  Matter settled.  PX finally takes QY around but he sounds so unenthusiastic about it, she suggests maybe they should just forget about it and she can figure things out for herself.

 

YY walks out of her office with a coworker and, after the coworker leaves first, YX surprises her from the side.  She asks him if he’s crazy and he responds by saying that he should treat her to a meal if he scared her.  YY sees right through him though and guesses that he’s really there to seek her assistance with something.  She invites him to speak and although YX tries to deny at first that he was issuing her a dinner invitation because he needed something from her, he finally admits that he did come looking for her for a specific purpose and tells her he’d like her to investigate Zhao Yang.  When YY hears this, she admits there’s nothing good about Zhao Yang, but on the other hand it’s not like she and YX are familiar with each other either so she doesn’t know why she should help him.  When she tries to leave, YX drags her back and tries to appeal to her sense of professional pride and responsibility.  He tells her this is a wonderful opportunity, one he wouldn’t give to anyone else, and that if she investigates the matter and brings the truth to light, he bets she’ll receive a lot of accolades.  YY, however, takes a page from her Buddhist boss and points out that she just works at a small magazine outlet so she doesn’t feel a sense of responsibility to get to the bottom of this truth.  She again tries to leave, but YX hangs onto her and they go another round of bickering, and that’s when YY finally gives up and agrees to help.  YX says that’s great and suggests they go to dinner (his treat) where they can talk things over while they eat, but a thought suddenly occurs to YY.  She asks him kind of a relationship she has with that Shu Wen from VNG and YX responds, “Of course I’m familiar with Shu Wen. She’s my former sister-in-law.”  When YY hears this she explodes and calls XK a bastard while hitting YX and runs off.  Poor YX is left calling after her asking what this has to do with his Kong Ge, and confused as to their current situation.  He doesn’t even know if they’re still going to dinner although I’d guess not.

 

Two customers at Dream Journey poke at each other saying, “She’s coming, she’s coming,” right before we see QY deliver two cups of coffee to their table.  They then start laughing at her, recognizing her to be QY, and ask why she’s there working as a server.  They also say they’ve heard about her rumors with JXK and are curious as to whether those rumors are true.  She tells them it’s none of their concern and tries to leave, but they pull her back.  They then start teasing her about the rumors between XK and Shu Wen and ask if she’s been left out in the cold.  One of them grabs her notebook out of her apron pocket (it’s the notebook XK gave her), which falls to the ground when she tries to grab it back.  When she bends over to retrieve it, they step on it.  PX arrives at that moment and kicks them out of the Internet café.  After they leave, he picks up the notebook for her and when he opens the cover he sees it’s, “JXK’s.”  She takes it back while thanking him and he tells her that in future, if she has any problems, she can come directly to him for help.  He adds that so long as he’s around no one will be able to mistreat her. 

 

At home that night, YY slams down an orange and bursts out, “Former sister-in-law!”  She then tells QY about how she heard from YX that Shu Wen was his former sister-in-law.  Since XK is his “Kong Ge,” that can only mean one thing.  She also guesses that his going to VNG means that they’re getting back together.  She calls him a big faker.  QY, on the other hand, asks if she would not ask YK about these sorts of things in the future, but YY justifies herself by saying it’s because she’s afraid of QY being played for a fool.  QY tells her she’s overthinking things though as she doesn’t even have the time to think about those sorts of matters.  Instead, she’s thinking about the fact that she had to sell her house to repay her debt, the upcoming “Tomorrow’s Star” competition, and being a server at Dream Journey.  She reassures YY that she’s very clear on what she needs to be doing each day and knows that in order to become a professional commentator, this may be her only chance so she’s putting in all her efforts and isn’t going to waste her time.  YY says that’s fine then, but asks QY to not meet with him again and instead focus on preparing for her competition.  QY tells her not to worry and then they call it a day while they both head off to bed.

 

XK walks around his new dorm room and notices that Lu Sheng seems to have an interest in basketball.  He’s holding Lu Sheng’s deflated basketball in his hand when Lu Sheng walks in without any sort of acknowledgment.  XK tries to strike up a conversation by asking him if he likes basketball but Lu Sheng says he doesn’t play anymore.  When XK offers to fix the deflated basketball, Lu Sheng grabs it from him and throws it into the trashcan telling him not to bother as he’d meant to throw it away.  XK then says he has a question he’d wanted to discuss with Lu Sheng, and when Lu Sheng gives him the go ahead, he tells him that he’s taken a look at his data and noticed that he’s played every position before and also played each of them well.  He asks Lu Sheng if his current position suits him.  Lu Sheng asks what he means by this, and asks if XK’s trying to suggest that his skill levels aren’t good enough for his current position and whether he’s trying to suggest that he’s dragging the team down.  He then tells XK to take a good look at his data and tell him when he’s ever had a problem in one of his games.  This is not at all what XK meant though and he tells Lu Sheng perhaps he didn’t explain himself well.  As he tries to clarify his original meaning, Lu Sheng gets up and climbs onto his bed, clearly not interested in what XK has to say, but XK doesn’t give up.  He tells Lu Sheng that in every position he’s played and in every move he’s made, he’s always steady.  Therefore, if they look at it from a different direction, that means he has a lot of untapped potential that he can still develop.  Lu Sheng replies that he can understand why XK would feel motivated to shake things up upon arrival at VNG but that’s not his style.  He’s blunt and likes to get straight to the point, so he asks XK not to waste any more of his time and efforts on him and tells him to take care of himself instead.  XK tells him he was just trying to have a casual conversation after having looked at his data, and not trying to change him as a person, but Lu Sheng cuts him off and says this is their rest time and asks if he can go to sleep instead.  XK apologizes and after Lu Sheng climbs into bed and turns the other way, he adds, “Good-night.”  [This team… they are really making XK hard for that one dollar!!]

 

The next morning at the VNG cafeteria, XK watches as Tong Wu set the table for two people with hamburgers, soup (?), and some sort of crepe type roll.  XK interrupts to ask if he’s planning on eating all that food by himself and Tong Wu tells him it’s for Qi Yue and Sheng Yue.  As if on cue, the other two arrive and when they sit down they sit down Sheng Yue complains that it’s the same three items again.  Qi Yue tells him to be more creative next time and tells him to buy pork buns and other stuff instead.  XK watches Tong Wu automatically agree without any emotion.  When they notice him watching, Qi Yue calls out a greeting and XK returns it by lifting his orange juice in acknowledgment.  Qi Yue then starts immediately trash talking again by asking XK how he’s going to have energy to play against him later if he’s not eating breakfast.  He tells Sheng Yue that tomorrow’s hot headline will be about how he knocked down the “hand klutz” XK.  Shu Wen arrives then and comments on Qi Yue and Sheng Yue’s abundant breakfast before walking over to XK and inviting him out for a chat.  After they leave, Qi Yue wonders what they could have to talk about so early in the morning.  It causes him to lose his appetite and he stalks off. 

 

As Shu Wen and XK take a walk outside, she counsels him that he just came to their team and he needs to give them time to get used to him.  As for Qi Yue, she explains that he’s too brash and sometimes too direct speaking.  XK’s not bothered by this though; he gets it.  He’s comments that Qi Yue is one of the founding members of their team, ambitious and prideful, and he suspects Qi Yue had a hard time accepting things when PX was around too.  As for Sheng Yue, XK says he’s a little bit of a slippery one.  He seems to be on the same page as Qi Yue, but that may not actually be the case all the time.  Shu Wen then asks for his opinion on the other members.  Lu Sheng’s game stats, he tells her, are comprehensive but he seems to have this disillusioned aura about him which results in him seeking to remain steady instead of striving for progress.  As for Tong Wu, he’s the youngest and his courage is also the smallest.  XK finishes by reassuring Shu Wen that when you put them all together, they’re actually a pretty tough team.  Shu Wen is impressed that after only a few days, XK was able to accurately figure out each of their personalities and characteristics.  He tells her that that the next season is about to begin and time is tight, but he’s already familiarized himself with their game stats and all that’s left to do is work with them to come up with a plan.  Shu Wen warns that he’s probably going to have to put in a little bit more effort in order to make sure his ideas are executed properly, but also reassures that she’ll be the first to help if he runs into any problems.  XK thanks her but tells her he knows what to do.  He says it might be risky, but he asks her to be reassured, and says that no matter what he does to let him persevere to the end.  She tells him that given that she invited him to their team, she will of course give him full support. 

 

It turns out while Shu Wen and XK were talking, Li Gan and Qi Yue were watching them from inside.  Qi Yue denounces XK as a pretty boy and says that with the way Shu Wen trusts him, XK must’ve used some sort of method to put a spell on her.  Li Gan asks if he really believes all the fabricated stories in the media, and Qi Yue counters by asking if Li Gan really isn’t worried that there might be something between Shu Wen and Qi Yue.  [Of course he’s not worried about XK.  Li Gan knows Xk’s not his competition; it’s somebody else.  DUH.]  Li Gan tells QY that’s enough and says there’s nobody who understands Shu Wen better than him.  [I think Sun Ge would disagree with you, but continue on.]  When QY asks him why he’s suffering in silence, that finally irritates Li Gan enough to tell Qi Yue to stop concerning himself with his (Li Gan’s) personal business and focus instead on training and the upcoming competitions. Thoroughly chastened, Qi Yue says he’s going back to practice and then runs off.

 

PX is working at Dream Journey when Qiao Xin walks in.  She greets him enthusiastically and asks how come he never returned the messages she sent him.  He responds clearly and directly, “I have no time,” but Qiao Xin can be a bit of a barnacle and lets his surly reply roll off by saying she knows he’s busy, which is why she came to find him.  She asks if he’s eaten yet, but he tells her not to get in the way of his work.  She then tells him that she actually came to Dream Journey for her studies, as she came to listen to Luo Tian give his game replay commentary.  He asks is she isn’t already a show host and wonders what the replay has to do with her.  Qiao Xin tells him, however, that it absolutely has everything to do with her because she plans on entering the “Tomorrow’s Star” competition and transition from being a show host to a commentator.  [Hm, sounds kind of like someone else we know, doesn’t it?]  She also tells him that in the future, they’ll be able to see each other during competitions too.  PX’s only response is to ask, “You’re going to be a commentator too?” to which she says, “That’s right!” and then after he walks away, asks, “Is there someone else?”  She’s still wondering who else there could be other than her when she notices QY running around seeing to the needs of various customers.  She asks, “QY?”  and then we next see her sitting at a computer while she calls out for a server’s assistance.  QY calls back that she’s on her way and then she runs over to find Qiao Xin.  [Ugh, I share your pain, my friend.]  QY asks Qiao Xin what she’d like to order and when Qiao Xin says she’s feeling a little thirsty and asks her to make some recommendations, she hands her a menu instead.  Qiao Xin refuses to accept the menu, making the excuse that the letters are to small, and asks QY to read it to her.  After QY tells her some of the options, she asks if there’s coffee.  QY tells her they have cappuccino, which Qiao Xin agrees to, but then she starts expounding on all her preferences, like: the water can’t be too hot or too cold, and she’s on a diet so she doesn’t want milk or sugar.  QY tells her without milk she might as well be drinking an Americano, and Qiao Xin responds, “But what I ordered was cappuccino.”  QY then tells her, “So sorry, but we don’t know how to a cappuccino without milk!”  As she storms off, Qiao Xin stands up and asks what kind of a server has an attitude like hers.  PX then walks over, so she starts complaining to him too, but he just puts down a cup of coffee and says, “Today we only have one kind of coffee; latte.  It’s free.”   

 

After PX returns to the counter where QY is hiding out, she thanks him for his help in resolving that matter.  He, however, answers that she’s overthinking things as he wasn’t helping her.  Rather, it was simply the fact that they have few employees to begin with so he was just helping out so their customers wouldn’t have to wait so long.  He then leans over and tells her, “Remember, just do your own things well.”  She tells him she will and then at that moment, some people walk in asking where the game replay event will be taking place and she steps aside to show them the direction.  When she finishes with that, another customer calls out for help because there’s a problem with his computer and so she goes running over.  Summer walks out of his office and when he sees PX staring after her, he walks over with a knowing smile/laugh and asks if it’s hard having to make a choice.  PX says he doesn’t know what he’s talking about and Summer slaps at him saying he should at least make a choice in order for him to know how to help him.  When PX he doesn’t need Summer’s help and thinks he must be bored, Summer interprets this to mean that PX wants both of them.  He praises PX for being as impressive as he was back in the day and asks if PX would like him to share some of his opinions, but PX says, “No. I. Don’t.”  Summer is not to be put off though and merely says that he’s a good kid, adding that his little cousin has grown up and now knows how to think things over for himself.  He asks if PX would like him to share some pointers as one who’s experienced the same in the past.  PX asks if he has a lot of free time or something and points out they’re short-handed at the moment.  He suggests his cousin step in to help, but Summer asks if he looks like he has a free time.  He tells PX that he’s currently in a terrible state trying to help him out with his romantic life.  Fortunately for PX, Luo Tian arrives at that moment.  He greets Luo Tian with a level of enthusiasm that I’ve never seen from PX before and then runs away.  LOL. 

 

Luo Tian asks Summer what he’s doing to PX, and Summer says PX’s just being shy and going through puberty.  Luo Tian guesses Summer must be gossiping about people’s personal lives again, but Summer objects to this characterization.  He asks how this can be considered gossiping when he’s just trying to be an older brother.  He asks if he shouldn’t be showing some responsibility, and Lou Tian can only laugh.  Summer then asks for the time and when looks at Luo Tian’s watch and sees the time, he says it’s about time and suggests they go in [for the game replay event].  Luo Tian notices the signs advertising the upcoming event and comments on how big it is, and Summer tells him spent a lot of effort on it.  He then tells Luo Tian to follow him as a lot of people are waiting for him.

 

The crowd cheers for “Teacher Luo” as he enters the room and Summer kicks off the event by introducing the room to Luo Tian, whom he describes as the most famous commentator of the pro e-sports circle.  When he asks if everyone recognizes him (Luo Tian), the room answers back that they do.  Summer then explains that this is Luo Tian’s first time doing this, but from now one, he’ll visit Dream Journey ever week to go over game replays.  Just as they’re about to begin, Qiao Xin stands up and introduces herself to Luo Tian.  She tells him that she really, really, really admires him (which has QY sneering in the background) while Summer chuckles and hands over equipment to Luo Tian and tells him, “I also admire you.”  [LOL.  I adore Summer.] 

 

Luo Tian begins his lecture and the game he wants to explain to them today is the final match of the insider’s competition.  That’s the one where Legends lost to VNG and, as a result, XK got squeezed out of Legends.  Since we know how that game ended, I won’t go into the details of Luo Tian’s narration except to observe that at one point he makes the point that it was actually Legends’ strategies that were more impressive than VNG’s (but of course we know what happened and why that failed).  As Luo Tian lectures, QY stands off to the side and takes notes.  PX comes over and tells her that jotting down notes like a crazy person is a useless endeavor.  She asks him what would be more useful, and he tells her to just ask Luo Tian directly.  He says that with an expert right in front of her, asking him directly would be ten times more useful than her taking notes.  She replies he has a point and PX sighs, “And you still want to be a commentator with that brain of yours.” 

 

After QY and PX finish their side conversation, Luo Tian makes a few more comments and then pauses the screen asking the audience if they can see something.  Qiao Xin raises her hand and says she has a question.  When Luo Tian comments on her enthusiasm, she stands and says it’s because she wants to be a commentator like him so she plans on studying hard just like him.  He says that’s great and then asks her what she sees on the video screen.  She tells the room that after JXK entered [she doesn’t say entered what, the Chinese language doesn’t like to use subjects sometimes.  It just assumes you know what they’re talking about. I’m guessing he entered either a final battle or some area of the game map in order to engage in a battle], he was able to deliver and after he died, he couldn’t match with his teammates and that’s why they suffered a setback.  Luo Tian motions for her to sit back and down and asks if there’s anyone else who sees things different.  QY raises her hand and says, in her opinion, the reason for the setback resided with the team and had nothing to do with JXK.  She points out it was his teammate who didn’t provide good support, which then resulted in them not having good control over VNG’s actions and their ultimate loss.  Luo Tian tells her she’s correct and the real reason for the loss resided with Huo Yao, as he messed up during the game’s critical moment.  Luo Tian continues lecturing and as the camera pans on PX, we see from his expression that he is just realizing that there is something greater going on in the background.  He thinks to himself, “It wasn’t just a simple mistake,” and hurries out of the room just as Luo Tian is finishing up his game replay lecture. 

 

When the lecture ends, Qiao Xin asks if she can take a picture with him and then others join in while the remaining audience members file out of the room.  Soon everyone has departed and only QY remains.  She tells him that Summer had said he would be waiting at the bar for him and when they arrive at the bar only to find Summer not there, she offers to show him to their break room to wait, but he tells her he’ll just wait at the bar.  As he sits down, he pulls out his phone and QY stands to the side awkwardly unsure what to do next.  She offers to fix him a drink, but he tells her there’s no need and adds that she should go about her business and just let him know when Summer’s back.  Holding onto her notebook and unwilling to give up, she finally takes a deep breath and falls into a deep bow while holding out her notebook and calling out his name, “Teacher Luo.”  He leans back in surprise and asks if she wants an autograph, and she responds that he’s her idol, so she not only wants his autograph but she also has a lot of questions concerning being a sports commentator.  With her arms still extended, she tells him that’s her notebook.  Luo Tian then takes a good look at her and asks if they haven’t met previously.  He then flashes back to that day they’d crossed paths at GDV, and tells her, “I remember now.”  With her head still bent over, QY apologize for that day saying it wasn’t on purpose.  Luo Tian just stands up and sighs (obviously biased against her from his unfavorable first impression) and says, “How would you like me to believe that you have the confidence to stand on a commentator’s stage when you’re a person who doesn’t even dare to lift her head?”  He then walks away from her.

 

Summer’s in his office on the phone when Luo Tian walks in.  He rushes to finish his call and then take a seat while calling out his friend’s name.  Luo Tian pours himself a cup of water and observes to Summer, “Your employees at Dream Journey all seem to have dreams.”  Summer laughs and says, “You’ve figured it out,” and then he admits that he purposely arranged it that way because he didn’t want him to think that he was trying to walk through back doors.  Luo Tian asks if this wasn’t called walking through a back door and then suggests that QY must have used some sort of trick on Summer in order for him to be motivated into helping her find a way to approach him (Luo Tian).  Summer replies that it wasn’t tricks, but her hard work that moved him.  He explains how in order to come to Dream Journey to study, she spent a month battling her way to be the number one spot of her game server and noted that she came every day and was the first to arrive and the last to leave.  He referred to her as a rare type, but Luo Tian can’t believe this was enough to sway Summer into helping her.  He tells Summer that he’s seen tons of amateurs show hosts like her.  On their face, they pretend to be hard working but in the end they still rely on their looks and talents.  He then tells Summer that his circle doesn’t want this kind of “flower vase.”  Rather than taking offense, Summer merely slaps his knee and says he understands where his friend is coming from but points out, all he did was create an opportunity for her.  Whether she would be able to do anything with that opportunity would still depend on how hard she was willing to work.  Having said that, he adds that in his opinion, QY is definitely not as Luo Tian described.  Luo Tian asks if he can be certain about that, and when he makes a noise of assent, he says, “Summer, I haven’t seen you set your store by someone like this in a long time.”  Summer reassures him that he really does just admire her.  He points out she’s good-looking and clearly would have no problem relying on her looks, but she’d rather rely on her skills and talents instead, which is not something they commonly see.  He also points out that Luo Tian is always saying they need people, but Luo Tian just looks at him and says, “Be honest.”  That’s when Summer smiles and joins Luo Tian on the couch, and says, “It’s PX!  You know, PX, he seems to be interested in her.”  Luo Tian replies, “You should’ve just said so!  So it was because of a future sister-in-law.”  Summer says he doesn’t know about, as it’s too early to talk like that, but in any event, he admires the girl too.  Luo Tian responds by reminding Summer that he has high standards and it’s not just anybody who’s worthy of his notice, and Summer starts trying to placate his friend by pouring him tea and saying he knows.  He then tries to convince Luo Tian that he’s the type who can carry anyone because he’s that talented. 

 

Meanwhile, QY is standing outside of Dream Journey on the phone with YY.  She asks YY’s opinion on how she should handle Luo Tian, and YY tells her it’s only when they’re thick-skinned that they can achieve great things.  As a result of YY’s advice, when she sees Summer walking Luo Tian out, she calls after Luo Tian and apologizes for her poor performance earlier.  She then tells him that she’s sincere about wanting to be a professional commentator and although he may find her reckless right now, she promises to persevere in her pursuits, so… when she trails off, he asks her, “So what?”  She looks at Summer and then says, “So I want to acknowledge you as my master.”  [In other words, she’s asking him to take her on as his disciple, although she’s not really giving him a say in the matter as she’s not asking so much as telling him.]  Summer looks impressed while Luo Tian looks lightly taken aback.  He crosses his arms and asks, “A title is something anyone can call [as in calling out a name], and determination is something anyone can deliver, so tell me what’s so special about you?”  When she hesitates and can’t seem to find the words to answer, he pats Summer on the arm and says, “Okay then, if there’s nothing further, I’ll leave first.”  

 

After Luo Tian leaves, Summer turns back to QY and pats her on the shoulder in comfort.  He tells her it’s no big deal and that Luo Tian’s always been this strict with everybody.  He then adds that Luo Tian’s never accepted a disciple before and says she has a lot of guts.  QY asks if this means she doesn’t have a chance anymore and Summer tells her that it’s not that she doesn’t have a chance anymore, but rather he thinks what Luo Tian was trying to say is that she shouldn’t act with empty words, but should instead put forth real effort to prove what sets her apart from others.  She asks if that’s really the case, and Summer insists that it is by pointing out he’s known Luo Tian for a long time and he’s always been like this.  QY then asks, “Then that means I still have a chance?”  And Summer says, “You do, but opportunities are something you have to strive for personally.”  He then offers her a tip and tells her that Luo Tian is going to be the chief examiner for the “Tomorrow’s Star” competition.  He tells her since she’ll be participating in the competition, she should work hard for Luo Tian to see.  QY asks, “Then that means he’ll be at the competition too?” and Summer responds, “Don’t say you heard it from me.”  She thanks him (while calling him “boss”) and promises to work hard.  Summer tells her that’s enough and that, in the future, she’s not allowed to call him “boss” and should call him, “Summer Ge” (Brother Summer). 

 

 

Head Pat Count (episode): 0

Head Pat Count (total): 2

 

[Lynne]

@themarchioness Thank you for all the recaps.... and take all the time you need.... seriously.... you've been very kind with writing it for us

 

On 7/9/2019 at 8:34 AM, themarchioness said:

@lynne22 , what do you say?  You mix the concrete and I'll dig the hole -- a big one so that we can give Zhao Yang some company underground.  Work for you?  

 

LOL... lets add some more shalll we?????? Wang Bi... Qi Yue... Qiao xin.... ughhh!!!

 

Xiang Kong's time in VNG is rough.. but these episodes really shows his leadership skill and also his drive to make the best team to represent China....

Qiu Ying!!!!!! Jiayou!!!!! You can do it!

Argh... YX and YY are so cute....

 

Sigh... I've been waiting to share this pic from Ep. 15 Shu Wen's meeting with Sun Ge...

 

 

[themarchioness]

@lynne22, guhhhhhhhh, that first meeting between Sun Ge and Shu Wen after so many years.  You can just feel the emotions reverberating between them.  Did you notice how it's as if their emotions are so deep and raw that they can't even say anything unless absolutely necessary?  I'm so glad they were given a second chance and can't wait to see them find their way back to each other!

 

As for our concrete pile, definitely all those characters you named belong in it!  Zhao Yang and Wang Bin are just evil, horrible people who take perverse pleasure in witnessing the downfalls of others, but what I dislike about  Qiao Xin and Qi Yue is that nothing is ever their fault.  Instead of doing the work to learn and get things right or actually improve themselves as professionals, they would rather take the easy way otu and blame their faults on others.  That drives me bonkers!  They really are a match made in heaven.

 

I agree that watching XK at VNG is some of the hardest parts of this drama to watch (and definitely the parts that I rewatch the least), but you're also correct in that it's a great showcase of his leadership skills.  I especially enjoy watching him turn his VNG roommate around.

[Lynne]

5 hours ago, themarchioness said:

@lynne22, guhhhhhhhh, that first meeting between Sun Ge and Shu Wen after so many years.  You can just feel the emotions reverberating between them.  Did you notice how it's as if their emotions are so deep and raw that they can't even say anything unless absolutely necessary?  I'm so glad they were given a second chance and can't wait to see them find their way back to each other!

I knoww right???? especially when their eyes lock into each other...  

 

 

[themarchioness]

On 7/10/2019 at 10:35 PM, lynne22 said:

I knoww right???? especially when their eyes lock into each other...  

 

 

Yaaaas, and the way Sun Ge's walk slows when he sees her . . .

 

I sometimes wonder if the thought runs through his head, "Darn it, after all these years, the first time she sees me I'm hefting a box on my shoulder!"  Meanwhile, I bet the only thing she's thinking is, "It's him.  He's right there.  He still looks so good and I miss him."

[Lynne]

@themarchioness 

Its like there's so much Shu Wen and Sun Ge wants to say.. but they don't know how to say them... It took Shu Wen awhile before she can say anything.. sigh.... "Why did you leave the team? Why did you leave me?"