About Is Love Recap, Plot, Synopsis
About Is Love Synopsis
At the age of eighteen, Wei Qing suffered from a serious cleanliness disorder.
Despite the shining aura of a company executive, Wei Qing was unable to contact and interact with females. He was deeply disturbed by this, struggling to find the “princess” who can save him.
Ten years later, because of nonsensical drunkenness, Wei Qing accidentally met a nineteen-year-old art student, Zhou Shi. After being touched, Wei Qing thought he was in trouble but he found nothing happened.
As a result, an agreement was made for the purpose of healing, and they helped each other and developed a mutual affection for each other.
Wei Qing gradually got better and became attached to Zhou Shi, while Zhou Shi also put aside the unrequited love, and have a new life goal in the process of helping Wei Qing to eliminate his disease.
Bi Qiujing and Lin Fei Fei have also reaped their own love, while Zhou Shi and Wei Qing also met again after their respective growth and eventually became a couple.
About Is Love Recap
Episode 1 Recap
At Guanghua Visual Arts College, during the 2009 summer Yun Ma Scholarship award ceremony, Zhou Shi inwardly lamented that such honors were luxurious dreams, far removed from her reality. She believed her luck had run out the moment she enrolled in the third-tier art institution. To her utter disbelief, the final recipient announced by Dean Xiao, whom she knew well from his persistent calls for overdue tuition fees, was Zhou Shi from the Fine Arts and Drawing department.
Her friend, Lin Feifei, was visibly astonished, and Zhou Shi reflected that if she possessed even half of Lin Feifei's femininity, she wouldn't still be single. Despite arriving late, Zhou Shi, prodded by her classmates, ascended the stage to accept the award. She was shocked to find that the presenter was Wei Qing, a representative from Yun Ma Group.
Just as she processed this unexpected turn, the stage plunged into darkness due to a sudden power outage, pulling Zhou Shi's thoughts back a month earlier. A month prior, Zhou Shi had sought an internship at the Mountain Art Gallery Hotel, a property under the Yun Ma Group. Her true intention was to orchestrate a romantic Chinese Valentine's Day with her childhood friend, Li Ming Cheng.
The supervisor, Supervisor Wang, initially suspected she was a paparazzi or a fan of the young, handsome, and charismatic Wei Qing, who was admired by many women. Zhou Shi quickly disproved his theory by effortlessly replacing a heavy water bottle for a male employee, proudly stating her strength came from routinely moving plaster figures. She emphasized that her primary goal was to secure a position at the hotel before August 28th, the date of Chinese Valentine's Day.
On the morning of Chinese Valentine's Day, Li Ming Cheng and his friends were en route to the Mountain Art Gallery Hotel by car. News reports confirmed that the Perseid meteor shower would peak that night. His friends playfully suggested that Zhou Shi must harbor feelings for him, having arrived a month early to secure staff discounts and stage a confession. Li Ming Cheng dismissed their teasing, clarifying that Zhou Shi was merely his neighbor's younger sister.
He firmly stated that she hadn't even passed her CET-4 English exam, implying she wasn't qualified for a relationship. His friends countered, arguing that not everyone could be as smart and beautiful as their university's star student, Zhang Ran Yu. Distracted by their banter, Li Ming Cheng inadvertently crashed their car into a pickup truck. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but their vehicle was immobile.
Meanwhile, at the hotel, Zhou Shi carefully placed a pink envelope containing her confession letter and a ring under a pillow in room 1208, silently wishing for her declaration of love to succeed. Soon after, Li Ming Cheng called, assuring her that he and his friends would arrive before nightfall. Zhou Shi excitedly offered to prepare their room and an ideal stargazing spot for just the two of them, to which Li Ming Cheng cordially agreed.
Stranded on the roadside, Li Ming Cheng and his friends attempted to hitchhike. During their wait, they were surprised to see Zhang Ran Yu speeding past in a luxurious Maserati, identified by his friends as belonging to Wei Qing, whom they knew to be notoriously promiscuous. Inside the car, Wei Qing informed Zhang Ran Yu they were heading to one of his group's secluded hotels for a private vacation, having already booked a suite and arranged her university leave.
Back at the Mountain Art Gallery Hotel, Zhou Shi was engrossed in photographing artworks by Xun Ran when Supervisor Wang frantically pulled her aside, announcing the imminent arrival of the hotel's "big boss." The entire hotel staff was put on high alert, instructed to meticulously clean their designated areas and prepare for a "business handover," a phrase Supervisor Wang interpreted as a warning for those who might displease the boss to pack their bags.
He explained that Chairman Wei, also known as Wei Qing, suffered from mysophobia a hundred times more severe than anyone else, often choosing unconventional rooms, even a warehouse, during his visits. Upon his arrival, Wei Qing directly chose room 1208. Inside, he donned gloves, a mask, and a white lab coat, then proceeded to thoroughly re-clean the entire room himself. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the bed, a decade of living with mysophobia weighing heavily on him.
He desperately hoped that Zhang Ran Yu was the girl who had saved him years ago. He then instructed his assistant, Wei An, to clear out all the stock from the hotel's logistics department and nearby convenience stores. He also called Supervisor Wang, severely chastising him for the unacceptable hygiene of room 1208 and demanding a personal housekeeper. Supervisor Wang, seeing an opportunity for Zhou Shi to compensate for her earlier cleaning performance, assigned her to the task.
Zhou Shi immediately rushed back to room 1208, hoping to retrieve her confession letter, unaware that it had already passed her by in a trash cart. Believing the room to be empty, she spotted a pink envelope sticking out of a jacket pocket in the wardrobe and lunged for it. Suddenly, Wei Qing emerged, startling her. Zhou Shi stumbled, accidentally stepping on his foot, and her hands reflexively grabbed his face.
Wei Qing, having never experienced such intimate contact with a stranger, recoiled in horror and immediately rushed to the bathroom to vigorously scrub himself. Later, upon learning that Zhou Shi was his newly assigned personal housekeeper, he disdainfully tossed her a phone and laid down two strict rules: she must be at his beck and call when needed, but stay as far away as possible when not.
Zhou Shi, bewildered by his eccentric demands, quickly fled the room, mentally questioning what kind of person he was. That afternoon, Wei Qing and Zhang Ran Yu were on the balcony, enjoying drinks and conversation. Wei Qing recalled their first meeting by the river a month ago, expressing gratitude to Zhang Ran Yu for saving him when he was drunk and almost fell into the river.
Zhang Ran Yu's eyes briefly flickered with confusion, but she quickly brushed it off as "nothing." Wei Qing subtly attempted to touch her face, but she deftly blocked his hand. He then presented her with a simple, old necklace, asking if she recognized it. When she commented on its plain appearance, uncharacteristic of Yun Ma's style, Wei Qing quickly exchanged it for a beautiful, new Yun Ma design, which delighted Zhang Ran Yu.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shi, observing from a distance, was harshly warned by Wei Qing to maintain a distance of at least ten meters, an order that left her seething with frustration. As they strolled, Zhang Ran Yu recounted her version of that fateful night on the bridge. She claimed to have recognized a heavily inebriated Wei Qing and called out to him. Upon waking, he had immediately asked her to be his girlfriend.
Sensing an opportunity, Zhang Ran Yu deliberately faked a sneeze, feigning a cold, and embraced Wei Qing from behind. Zhou Shi, who had just been summoned by a message from Wei Qing to "take her away," appeared promptly. Zhang Ran Yu shot Zhou Shi a resentful glare before reluctantly leaving. Wei Qing then rewarded Zhou Shi with 300 yuan for her swift intervention.
Wei Qing's mind, however, was consumed by painful memories from a decade ago when he first developed severe obsessive mysophobia. This condition had progressed to the point where any physical contact with another person caused him to break out in rashes. Despite leading the prestigious Yun Ma Group, he felt profoundly isolated. He recalled a night he sought solace in a bar, only for his then-girlfriend to accuse him of philandering, dousing him with wine and calling him a scoundrel.
Devastated, Wei Qing had stumbled to a bridge, where, in a drunken haze, he remembered nearly climbing over the railing. He distinctly recalled being saved by a girl with incredible strength. Yet, when he regained consciousness, it was Zhang Ran Yu by his side. He had been thrilled that his body showed no allergic reaction to her, prompting him to plan a candid confession with her on Chinese Valentine's Day.
However, his doctor had subtly warned him to prepare a backup plan, a contingency Wei Qing had already considered. His earlier attempt to touch Zhang Ran Yu was a deliberate test, which now, seeing the rashes on his own body, confirmed his suspicion: Zhang Ran Yu was not the girl who saved him that night. While Wei Qing was in the shower, Zhou Shi seized the chance to search for her letter.
Wei Qing discovered her rummaging through his closet and immediately accused her of theft, forcefully pulling her out. As he did, Zhou Shi inadvertently caught sight of the rashes covering his body. Enraged, Wei Qing reached for his phone to call security. Zhou Shi frantically lunged and hung up the call, desperately explaining that she was only trying to retrieve her lost letter and ring. Unmoved, Wei Qing sternly ordered her to vanish within ten seconds or face immediate termination.
Zhou Shi, left with no choice, quickly fled the room. Just as she escaped, Li Ming Cheng called, apologizing for his phone's dead battery and their earlier complications. He reassured her that everything was resolved and they could proceed with their original plans, inviting her to watch the meteor shower together that night. Zhou Shi was ecstatic, believing he was deliberately giving her an opportunity to confess her feelings.
However, she suddenly remembered her confession letter was still in Wei Qing's possession. Desperate, she sought out Zhang Ran Yu, explaining her predicament. Zhang Ran Yu agreed to help retrieve the letter and ring, but only if Zhou Shi performed a favor for her: buying condoms. Zhou Shi was surprised, asking if the hotel lacked them. Zhang Ran Yu explained that the large hotel inexplicably had no contraceptives in stock, and the supervisor was waiting for a restock.
She emphasized that Wei Qing was very cautious and wouldn't be intimate without them, especially on Valentine's Day. Zhou Shi expressed concern about leaving her post during working hours, but Zhang Ran Yu promised to vouch for her, urging her to hurry as night was falling.
Episode 2 Recap
Overhearing Zhang Ran Yu and Zhou Shi's conversation, Wei Qing found it foolish that Zhou Shi would buy contraceptives for Zhang Ran Yu. He called his assistant, Wang An, and ordered him to fire Zhou Shi, expressing suspicion that she was either a paparazzi or had ulterior motives. He made it clear he did not want to see her in the hotel again.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shi, on her bicycle trip to the convenience store, became distracted, fell, and ended up covered in mud with a sprained ankle. Limping into the store, she was informed that all related products within a ten-mile radius had been bought out by one person. Just as the store owner offered to sell her some from his personal inventory, Zhou Shi received a call from Wei Qing.
He told her not to bother with the purchase, bluntly stating that Zhang Ran Yu was no longer his girlfriend and that Zhou Shi was fired. Shortly after, Wei Qing told Zhang Ran Yu he was breaking up with her, claiming he had mistaken her for the person who had saved him.
Despite Zhang Ran Yu's attempts to explain that she had not intentionally impersonated anyone, Wei Qing remained unmoved, stating he was not interested in her "internal struggles" and telling her to leave. He added that she wasn't the first person he had dumped and would have to queue for any retribution. Meanwhile, a furious Zhou Shi, still carrying the bag of contraceptives and covered in mud, arrived at the hotel to confront Wei Qing.
She was intercepted by Wang An and two security guards. Undeterred, Zhou Shi decided to stake out Wei Qing's car. She saw him and Zhang Ran Yu approaching, with Zhang Ran Yu pleading softly. Wei Qing dismissively told her to consider him "tired of her" and walked directly towards the car. Left with no escape, Zhou Shi slipped into the back seat. During the drive, they narrowly missed a vehicle carrying Li Ming Cheng.
Zhou Shi attempted to answer a call from Li Ming Cheng, but Wei Qing braked abruptly, exposing her presence. Startled, Wei Qing demanded to know her intentions. Zhou Shi insisted she only wanted her belongings back from him. When Wei Qing refused and ordered her out, she lunged as if to search him. Enraged, Wei Qing threatened to force her out, but Zhou Shi, noting their isolated location, pleaded with him to take her to a populated area.
Instead, Wei Qing accelerated, announcing he was taking her to the police station and calling her a stalker. Zhou Shi furiously demanded he stop, and when he refused, she grabbed the steering wheel. Their struggle caused the car to collide with a large rock, blowing a tire. Knowing she was at fault, Zhou Shi fled into a nearby field. Wei Qing pursued and tackled her, causing them both to tumble into the mud.
Wei Qing, who suffers from severe mysophobia, was distraught by their muddy appearance. Zhou Shi tried to use her phone, only to find it missing, while Wei Qing's phone was out of battery. When Zhou Shi again demanded her items, Wei Qing refused. Frustrated, Zhou Shi physically restrained him in the mud and searched him, finding only her pink envelope. Wei Qing mockingly revealed that its contents had been thrown away and were likely "reduced to ashes" by now.
As Zhou Shi was left devastated, a heavy rain began, causing Wei Qing to become lethargic and weak. Zhou Shi offered to carry him, but he refused, insisting on walking despite his condition. Meanwhile, Li Ming Cheng and his three astronomy club friends arrived at the hotel, dismayed to learn that Zhou Shi had been fired and her phone was off. Anxious, he and his companions went out to search for her.
They encountered Zhang Ran Yu, who had slipped and sprained her ankle while hiding from the rain. She claimed she was merely out for a walk due to a bad mood. Li Ming Cheng introduced himself and his friends from Kwang Hua University's astronomy club. Zhang Ran Yu, taking an interest in Li Ming Cheng, asked them to escort her back to the hotel. Covered in mud, Zhou Shi and Wei Qing sat at a bus stop.
Wei Qing teased Zhou Shi about the letter, correctly guessing it was a love letter and callously confirming he had thrown it out while cleaning the room. He mocked her naive romantic ideals as useless. Zhou Shi angrily called him a "perverted playboy," prompting Wei Qing to retort by detailing her aggressive actions in the mud. Overwhelmed, Zhou Shi covered her ears, but Wei Qing pulled her hands down to reveal a stunning meteor shower.
Enchanted, Zhou Shi made a wish, which Wei Qing cynically dismissed as wishing on "space junk." As a bus approached, Wei Qing made his own "wish" for a bus to take him away, which was immediately granted. On the bus, their argument continued. Wei Qing warned her that being seen in his car was akin to being intimate with him in the public eye.
Zhou Shi scoffed at his reputation for having enough new girlfriends each month to fill a "calendar." They bid each other sarcastic goodbyes, both wishing to never see the other again. After getting off the bus, Wei Qing borrowed a phone and called his assistant, who informed him that Zhang Ran Yu had twisted her ankle and was safely back at the hotel with schoolmates.
Crucially, the assistant confirmed that Zhou Shi was not a paparazzi but had been scouting locations for her astronomy club friends. Hearing this, Wei Qing instructed his assistant to have the hotel manager cancel Zhou Shi's firing and to find her lost letter. Upon returning to his room, Wei Qing was astonished to find he had not developed any rashes from his extensive contact with Zhou Shi.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shi returned to the hotel and was overjoyed to see Li Ming Cheng, though her mood soured upon seeing Zhang Ran Yu with him. That evening, Li Ming Cheng and his friends set up telescopes to watch the meteor shower with Zhou Shi and Zhang Ran Yu. Li Ming Cheng noticed Zhou Shi sitting alone and approached to ask what she had wanted to tell him on the phone, but Zhang Ran Yu cunningly intervened, pulling him away.
Later that night, Wei Qing had another nightmare of a past trauma. He was awakened by a knock; his assistant had found Zhou Shi's letter and a ring. Wei Qing's suspicion grew as he realized the ring seemed to match a necklace dropped by the girl who saved him, leading him to believe Zhou Shi might be his savior.
Simultaneously, Zhou Shi sat alone, melancholically observing Li Ming Cheng and Zhang Ran Yu's closeness, reflecting that love can be as fleeting as a meteor shower. The next day, Zhou Shi returned to her campus dormitory. She ran into her friend Lin Feifei, who teased her for working so hard instead of dating. Just then, Lin Feifei's boyfriend, Gao Yang, arrived and made a condescending remark about Zhou Shi's plain clothes.
Annoyed, Zhou Shi headed to her dorm, where she found her roommates had piled boxes on her bed. They mocked her artwork and cheap supplies, taunting her about her scholarship being in jeopardy. When they demanded she pay for a quarter of the utility bills, Zhou Shi snapped. Declaring she was done living in their "pig sty," she angrily began throwing her roommates' boxes off her bed.
A physical altercation ensued, after which Zhou Shi grabbed her luggage and defiantly left. Lin Feifei, witnessing the chaos, offered Zhou Shi a storage room in her shared apartment, cautioning her that the other housemate was a "weirdo." Desperate, Zhou Shi accepted the offer.
Episode 3 Recap
Lin Feifei brings Zhou Shi to her shared apartment, only to find their roommate has changed the entry password again. Lin Feifei ingeniously holds up an egg tart to the security camera, prompting the roommate to unlock the door. Upon learning Zhou Shi can cook, the roommate immediately welcomes her, enlisting her to be responsible for all three meals a day, to which Zhou Shi readily agrees.
Shortly after, Li Ming Cheng calls, reminding Zhou Shi about a summer sketching assignment that she is the only one in their class yet to submit. Zhou Shi assures him she will complete it that very night. Struggling for creative inspiration, she suddenly recalls the night she spent watching a meteor shower with Wei Qing, and uses that memory as the subject for her painting. This artwork, chosen by Wei Qing, later leads to her winning the Yun Ma Scholarship.
On the award stage, a power outage occurs. Wei Qing pulls Zhou Shi aside, leans close, and enigmatically tells her they will meet again. As Zhou Shi exits the auditorium, she discovers her long-lost necklace in her pocket. She is then flooded with the realization that she and Wei Qing had indeed met before, and he was the person she saved on the bridge that fateful night.
Later, Zhou Shi is browsing at a bookstore when she spots her favorite Sufang paints, which are always too expensive for her to afford. As she stands on a stool, admiring a box of the paints, she is accidentally knocked into a shopping cart. However, the boy pushing the cart ignores her and continues selecting paints until his cart is full. As he leaves the bookstore, he gives Zhou Shi a box of Sufang paints.
Eagerly, she opens the box, inadvertently splashing paint on her white hoodie. Back at school, Zhou Shi asks Zhang Shuai, who is skilled in ink wash painting, to help transform the paint stain on her hoodie into an artistic design. Just then, Lin Feifei arrives with a campus reporter to interview Zhou Shi. The reporter eagerly photographs Zhou Shi's uniquely painted hoodie.
Spotting Teacher Xiao approaching, Zhou Shi quickly ducks under a desk, pleading with Zhang Shuai to shield her from view. Zhang Shuai timidly agrees to help her. Afterward, when asked by Lin Feifei about Zhou Shi, he shyly rates her beauty as "100 points." Lin Feifei learns that Zhou Shi has again fallen behind on her tuition and is being chased by Teacher Xiao.
She scolds Zhou Shi for refusing to take living expenses from home and making things difficult for herself. Zhou Shi explains her family's financial struggles and that art is an expensive major, so she does not want to burden her parents. Lin Feifei knows that Zhou Shi came to this city specifically for Li Ming Cheng. Zhou Shi then receives a call from Li Ming Cheng and immediately rushes off to meet him.
Meanwhile, Wei Qing informs his doctor that he has found the person he was looking for—Zhou Shi. He states his intention to win her over within a month, having identified her financial vulnerability as her primary weakness. Elsewhere, the boy who gave Zhou Shi the paint receives two express deliveries at his home, one of which turns out to be women's underwear, much to his surprise and confusion.
Zhou Shi arrives at Kwang Hua University’s Go Club and watches Li Ming Cheng intently playing, just as focused and handsome as when he tutored her in high school. Li Ming Cheng congratulates Zhou Shi on her enterprise scholarship and asks her to treat him to dinner. During their meal, he encourages her to consider applying for graduate school at Kwang Hua University.
Envisioning a future where they could eat together in the cafeteria and study in the library, Zhou Shi eagerly agrees. Li Ming Cheng expresses his satisfaction, promising to study and work on projects with her if she gains admission, a prospect that deeply excites Zhou Shi, although it differs from her initial imaginings. Mid-conversation, Zhou Shi receives an unsettling call from an unknown number, the caller asking if she left underwear at his place.
Believing it to be a pervert, Zhou Shi angrily hangs up the phone. As Li Ming Cheng and Zhou Shi leave the restaurant, they encounter Zhang Ran Yu sitting in her car. Zhang Ran Yu makes a snide remark about Zhou Shi’s university, "Kwang Hua Vision," highlighting its perceived inferiority to "Kwang Hua University," stating that while they are only one word apart, one is a national key university and the other a third-tier college.
As Zhou Shi stands embarrassed, Li Ming Cheng reassures her, saying that once she gets into Kwang Hua, they will be alumni even if they take the same bus. He then reminds Zhang Ran Yu's driver not to drive after drinking. Zhou Shi discovers that her shared apartment roommate is a brilliant chemistry student from Kwang Hua University.
Zhou Shi is greatly impressed by her high intelligence and asks Lin Feifei to help her find a job to save money for her own Kwang Hua aspirations. Lin Feifei readily agrees, offering to take her to her bartending job that very night. Lin Feifei then asks Zhou Shi if she received an expected express delivery of underwear.
Their roommate explains that their first-floor apartment used to be a storage room for the art studios on the second and third floors, which the landlord later separated and rented out, hence the shared mailing address. She suggests that since the upstairs owner is back and their room was empty, the package might have been sent upstairs. Lin Feifei connects this to Zhou Shi's earlier "pervert" phone call, convinced it must be the upstairs tenant.
Just as Zhou Shi prepares to call, loud banging sounds erupt from upstairs. Lin Feifei pulls Zhou Shi upstairs to confront the noise, only for Zhou Shi to surprisingly find that the upstairs resident is the same boy from the bookstore. She asks him about the misdelivered package. He admits it was sent to his address but vaguely states it's "inside" and he forgot where he put it.
Upon entering the boy's apartment, Zhou Shi and Lin Feifei discover it to be a chaotic art studio filled with paintings. While searching for the underwear, Lin Feifei accidentally knocks over and breaks a ceramic paint bowl. Seeing his broken bowl, the boy suddenly sits on the floor and bursts into tears. Feeling terrible, Lin Feifei quickly pulls Zhou Shi away from the scene.
Back in their apartment, Lin Feifei feels immense guilt and decides to go immediately to buy a new bowl to compensate him, asking Zhou Shi to cover her bartending shift that evening. At the bar, Zhou Shi feels very uncomfortable in Lin Feifei's short skirt work uniform. Director Sheng introduces her to the staff as "Xixi."
Soon after, someone reports that Young Master Wei has arrived, prompting Director Sheng to immediately instruct the doorman to prevent any new guests from entering. Zhou Shi and the other servers form two lines at the bar entrance to greet the VIP. To her surprise, the VIP is Wei Qing. She tries to hide her face with her hand, fearing he might recognize her. However, Director Sheng specifically assigns her to serve in Wei Qing's private room.
Zhou Shi nervously enters to deliver drinks. As she turns to leave, Wei Qing calls her back. Zhou Shi assumes he has recognized her, but he simply reminds her that she forgot to take the tip. Outside the room, Zhou Shi opens the small box and finds a valuable necklace as her tip, causing her to dance with joy. Just then, she notices two unfamiliar, burly masked men approaching the private room, appearing to be plotting an assault.
Zhou Shi immediately follows them. Inside the private room, Wei Qing learns from Director Sheng that Zhou Shi's bar alias is "Xixi." Suddenly, Zhou Shi bursts in, grabbing Wei Qing and urging him to leave. The two masked strong men also storm in, driving out the other occupants. They declare they were hired to beat Wei Qing. Fearlessly, Wei Qing swiftly subdues both men, easily defeating them.
Episode 4 Recap
Following the altercation at the bar, Zhou Shi, driven by a strong sense of justice, intervened when two thugs attacked Wei Qing. She was hit by a chair and fell onto Wei Qing, but his assistant arrived promptly, apprehended the assailants, and rushed them both to the hospital. At the hospital, the doctor informed Zhou Shi that she only had a grazed arm and a sprained ankle.
Despite this, Wei Qing insisted she undergo a full body check-up and be admitted to a sterile ward. He questioned her motives for getting involved, asking what she stood to gain. Zhou Shi explained she simply did what she felt was right. Wei Qing offered her cash and then a bank transfer as compensation, both of which Zhou Shi adamantly refused, stating her body was "priceless." Wei Qing then challenged her to name a short-term wish he could grant.
After initially suggesting postgraduate studies, which was too long-term, Zhou Shi settled on passing her Art Theory exams. Wei Qing implicitly agreed, telling her to "shut up and wait." The next day, Zhou Shi, exhausted from the previous night, fell asleep at her desk before class began. Unbeknownst to her, Wei Qing was the guest lecturer. During the Q&A segment, Zhou Shi woke up and stretched, a motion the host mistook for raising her hand.
Confused, Zhou Shi stood up and, misreading a note passed to her by her classmate Zhang Shuai, blurted out, "What's for lunch?" , causing the entire hall to erupt in laughter. Following the lecture, Principal Yan summoned Zhou Shi to his office and ordered her to apologize to Wei Qing.
It was then that Zhou Shi learned of the Wei family's prestigious reputation, Wei Qing's father Wei Heng's accomplishments in oil painting, and Wei Qing's own PhD from the Royal College of Art. Dismissing the principal, Wei Qing spoke with Zhou Shi alone, stating he was there to "repay her favor." He confirmed he would help her pass her exams, having already noted her low grades in Art History and Introduction to Art.
In return, he demanded she create the presentation for his speech the next morning, threatening to reveal her part-time job at the bar to Principal Yan if she refused. Reluctantly, Zhou Shi agreed and rushed to the library. As Zhou Shi left, she received a frantic call from Lin Feifei's boyfriend, Gao Yang, who complained that Feifei was obsessively buying countless bowls and had maxed out his credit card, prompting him to abandon her.
Later, their roommate explained the situation to Zhou Shi: Feifei had gotten into a stubborn rivalry with the boy upstairs. After Feifei broke one of his bowls, she bought a replacement, but he smashed it in front of her. When she offered to pay, he shut the door. After she continued to pester him, he demanded an identical replacement, threatening to call the police.
In a fit of pride, Feifei refused his money and vowed to find a perfect replica, returning all the bowls she had bought and purchasing the most expensive one she could find. Annoyed by the boy's pettiness, Zhou Shi decided to confront him. She saw him entering the library and followed. The boy, a fellow Fine Arts student who claimed his talent exempted him from classes, noticed her.
Zhou Shi apologized on Feifei's behalf, but the boy remained silent and walked away dejectedly. Zhou Shi then received a call from Wei Qing, instructing her to meet him at the bar that evening with her laptop to work on the presentation. Meanwhile, at the Yun Ma Group office, Wei Qing was dissatisfied with the new product designs. His designer suggested a collaboration with Xun Ran, a renowned yet reclusive artist.
The designer revealed that He Yun, a director at the company and Wei Qing's mother, had already acquired Xun Ran's domestic brokerage rights. Surprised and irritated that he had to learn of his mother's return from others, Wei Qing ordered his team to prepare a collaboration proposal. Complaining that his mother always favored the "stray cat" over him, he canceled his afternoon meeting to clear his head. That evening, Lin Feifei intercepted the boy, Ning Fei, in the hallway.
She offered him the 107th bowl she had bought, explaining it was the best she could find and that the issue had caused a fight with her boyfriend. Ning Fei, however, simply told her she didn't need to compensate him and confirmed he hadn't called the police. Wei Qing arrived at the bar early to meet Zhou Shi. They briefly sang karaoke together before discussing art.
Zhou Shi argued that the creator's thoughts and self are the best work of art, while Wei Qing countered that art is a business where popularity is paramount. When Zhou Shi admitted to being a five-year "hardcore fan" of Xun Ran, Wei Qing was dismissive. Zhou Shi passionately defended Xun Ran, describing his art as a reflection of someone who is gloomy yet innocent, shrewd yet perceptive, crazy yet strict—a combination of a child, an adult, and a devil.
This description stirred a memory in Wei Qing: his childhood art teacher praising a young Ning Fei's drawing as a "masterpiece" while calling his own a mere "fine work." The realization struck Wei Qing: Ning Fei, the boy living upstairs from Zhou Shi, was Xun Ran. In a sudden motion, he pushed Zhou Shi onto the sofa and asked her to read his face.
Startled, she reminded him they were there to work, and Wei Qing declared "game over" before they resumed the task. The next day, both Wei Qing and Zhou Shi had coughing fits during his lecture. Later, Lin Feifei recounted her frustration that Ning Fei wouldn't even look at her when she apologized, jokingly asking if he expected her to "restore" the broken bowl.
This sparked an idea for Zhou Shi: since finding a replacement was impossible, she could use her skills from her pottery minor to repair it. As they spoke, water began leaking from the ceiling. They hurried upstairs to Ning Fei's apartment and, getting no response, Zhou Shi climbed through the window. They were horrified to find Ning Fei unconscious in a bathtub filled with what looked like blood.
Zhou Shi stopped a panicking Lin Feifei from calling for help, realizing the red liquid was only paint. A doctor soon arrived and explained that Ning Fei's collapse was likely due to severe malnutrition from not eating for at least three days, and he may have hit his head when he fell. Lin Feifei went to the hospital with Ning Fei, while Zhou Shi stayed to clean his apartment.
As she cleaned, she noticed his painting style was remarkably similar to Xun Ran's, making her wonder if he was the artist himself. That night, Wei Qing's assistant reported that Xun Ran, whose real name was Ning Fei, had returned to the country two weeks prior. He was studying at Guanghua Vision University and living in his late father's studio, an arrangement made by Wei Qing's mother, He Yun.
The assistant added that Ning Fei had just been hospitalized after being found unconscious by a neighbor, and He Yun was on her way there. At the hospital, He Yun immediately arranged a VIP ward for Ning Fei. Heartbroken to see him unconscious, she listened as Lin Feifei explained the doctor's diagnosis and confessed to breaking the bowl. He Yun, showing no anger, explained the bowl was a treasured relic from Ning Fei's father, a late master potter.
The Ning and Wei families were old friends, and the "Blessing Bowl" was one of a pair made for Ning Fei; the other was lost. Lin Feifei later relayed this significant information to Zhou Shi.
Episode 5 Recap
Lin Feifei explained to Zhou Shi the significance of Ning Fei's bowl, revealing it was an heirloom from his deceased father, a skilled potter, who had crafted it as a special "safe bowl" for him. There had originally been two such bowls, with one now missing.
Lin Feifei confessed to accidentally breaking the bowl Ning Fei currently possessed, and she expressed grave concern that Ning Fei, who regarded the bowl not merely as a valuable collectible but as a precious memento of his father, would starve himself to death if an exact replacement could not be found. Zhou Shi reassured her, promising to handle the matter and urging Lin Feifei to remain at the hospital with Ning Fei. Wei Qing visited Ning Fei in the hospital.
Upon learning that Ning Fei was on a hunger strike because his bowl was broken, Wei Qing recalled vivid childhood memories. He remembered his mother introducing a young Xiao Fei, ten years his junior, as a new student who would live with them, instructing Wei Qing to care for him. He also recalled Xiao Fei fiercely guarding his bowl during meals, refusing to let anyone touch it.
A more painful memory surfaced of his father punishing him, accusing him of throwing Xiao Fei's bowl into a lake and nearly causing Xiao Fei to drown while retrieving it. Wei Qing had vehemently denied the accusation, feeling his father always favored Ning Fei. Back in the present, Wei Qing looked at an identical bowl in his private collection, realizing with a hint of cynical amusement that this piece, acquired on a whim, had become Ning Fei's lifeline.
He mused about how it would look if it were shattered. Despite her best efforts, Zhou Shi found the broken bowl beyond her repair. Discovering an online advertisement for a Porcelain Repair Exhibition in Ninghai, showcasing ancient pottery handicrafts, she eagerly rushed to the venue.
Managing to enter what she initially thought was a public exhibition, she was soon confronted by Wei Qing, who revealed it was a private display and he was the exhibitor, with all items originating from his extensive family collection. Zhou Shi was captivated by the Kintsugi repair technique used on the exhibits.
Wei Qing explained that Kintsugi involves using precious materials like natural gold powder to mend broken ceramics, intentionally highlighting the imperfections, thus transforming the cracks into a unique form of art. Zhou Shi, desperate, pleaded with him to help her find a master craftsman to fix a valuable ceramic for a friend, emphasizing the dire situation and promising to repay him. Wei Qing initially declined, then proposed she become his girlfriend.
When Zhou Shi firmly refused, he changed his demand to a five-second kiss. With Ning Fei's life hanging in the balance, Zhou Shi reluctantly agreed, closing her eyes and quietly apologizing to Li Ming Cheng before fulfilling the unusual request. Keeping his promise, Wei Qing gave her an address to send the broken item, assuring her he would arrange the repair.
After Zhou Shi left, Wei Qing, examining his hand, noted with satisfaction that his body had no allergic reaction to her touch, a crucial discovery for him. Wei Qing, having contemplated his distant relationship with his mother, He Yun, decided to take the initiative and visit her at the art gallery. However, He Yun remained professional, immediately presenting him with the gallery's financial reports.
Wei Qing clarified he wasn't there for business, reassuring her he understood the gallery's sentimental value as the place she and his father met, and promised to protect it. He then offered her a gift, but He Yun, burdened by her perceived failures, rejected it and tried to dismiss him. Wei Qing then revealed he knew she was seeking a particular auctioned item and produced the other, intact bowl from Ning Fei's set.
He stated that while it was merely a "toy" to him, it was Ning Fei's "life savior." He Yun, surprised, demanded the bowl, asserting it rightfully belonged to Ning Fei. Wei Qing retorted bitterly, questioning why she would shout at her own son for an "outsider" when he would normally give her anything she desired, but now he felt no such obligation. He Yun tried to snatch the bowl, and in the ensuing struggle, Wei Qing accidentally pushed her.
Enraged, He Yun ordered him to leave. As he departed, Wei Qing defiantly declared that if she wanted the bowl, Ning Fei must personally come and beg him for it. Later, at a bar, a visibly troubled Wei Qing was drinking alone when he encountered Zhang Ran Yu. She feigned lingering affection for him, expressing her inability to move on from their past relationship.
Wei Qing abruptly cut short her performance, exposing her as the one who had hired the assailants who attacked him a week prior, having obtained their phone numbers from the hospital. Cornered, Zhang Ran Yu admitted her role, trying to justify it as a means to vent her anger after their breakup. Wei Qing then revealed he had recorded her confession and demanded she apologize to Zhou Shi, who was inadvertently injured during the attack.
He threatened to post the recording online, leveraging her status as a celebrity influencer, if she refused. He promised to drop the matter if she complied and avoided further trouble. As he left, Wei Qing informed her he had a girlfriend and sent her a photo. Zhang Ran Yu was shocked to see it was Zhou Shi. Lin Feifei called Zhou Shi, updating her that Ning Fei was awake but still refusing to eat, sustained only by IV fluids.
She urged Zhou Shi to retrieve the repaired bowl quickly. Zhou Shi went to Wei Qing, expressing gratitude for the swift repair. As she unwrapped the tightly packaged parcel, Wei Qing realized the broken item was Ning Fei's cherished bowl and that they were neighbors. Resentment flared in Wei Qing as he reflected on Ning Fei's privileged life, where countless people, now including Zhou Shi, always rushed to his aid even after his mistakes.
Feigning a final check, Wei Qing claimed the perfectly mended bowl had undetectable cracks and, as Zhou Shi reached for it, deliberately dropped it, shattering it once more. Zhou Shi was distraught, fearing for Ning Fei's life and feeling personally responsible. Wei Qing, observing her distress, offered a solution, hinting at another identical bowl from the same set. He led her to his vast, museum-like private collection warehouse, warning her not to touch anything she couldn't afford to replace.
He then presented her with an exact replica of Ning Fei's bowl. To ensure its safe transfer, Wei Qing instructed Zhou Shi to perform a "ceremony": holding the bowl behind her back with both hands, closing her eyes, and chanting the "previous owner's name"—his name. As Zhou Shi, eyes closed, dutifully chanted "Wei Qing," he was overcome and kissed her deeply. Zhou Shi, startled and physically constrained, eventually placed the bowl down, pushed him away, and fled.
Wei Qing, momentarily disoriented, stumbled backward into a display stand, causing numerous valuable collectibles to crash to the floor and shatter. Assistant An arrived, shocked by the damage, and inquired if Wei Qing intended to call the police. Wei Qing dismissed the idea of publicizing the incident, but then, with a subtle shift, calmly took photos of the destruction and sent them to Zhou Shi, who reacted with a mix of anger and dismay on her bus ride home.
Wei Qing then confided in Assistant An that despite being rejected, he was content. After ten years, he had finally found someone whose touch did not trigger an allergic reaction in him, confirming she was a precious discovery he would not easily let go. At the hospital, Ning Fei continued to refuse food, despite He Yun's fervent pleas.
He strictly adhered to his older brother's childhood admonition: to only eat what was placed in his own bowl and never to accept food from others, as only family could be truly trusted. Ning Fei finally agreed to eat when Lin Feifei brought him the bowl Zhou Shi had acquired. He Yun was immensely relieved and grateful to Lin Feifei, believing she had found a remarkably accurate imitation of the original bowl.
She admitted her previous misunderstanding of Lin Feifei's intentions, now seeing her genuine care for Ning Fei. Although Lin Feifei tried to downplay her involvement, stating they were just neighbors, He Yun insisted on giving her a substantial sum as a token of her appreciation, asking her and her roommate to continue looking after Ning Fei, who lacked friends and self-care skills.
He Yun also discreetly inquired about the source of the impressive imitation, which she referred to as a "starlight glazed porcelain" replica. Later, Zhou Shi researched the value of Wei Qing's shattered collectibles online and was horrified to discover they were priceless, with individual items valued in the millions, far exceeding anything she could ever hope to repay. That night, she was tormented by a vivid nightmare, reliving a traumatic childhood memory of creditors demanding money and threatening her family.
The following morning, she received an unexpected notification regarding the Yun Ma Scholarship, offering a glimmer of hope amidst her financial despair. Meanwhile, Assistant An presented Wei Qing with an invitation to a charity ball hosted by a celebrity magazine. He informed Wei Qing that Xue Zi, the Chief Representative for the Snow family's SG Group in Greater China, would be attending.
Assistant An noted Xue Zi's youth and her strong position as a contender for the Snow Group heir, despite her infrequent public appearances. Wei Qing expressed surprise at the significant influence of He Wei, who had managed to secure the presence of such a high-ranking executive from an international luxury brand. Recognizing the event's importance, Wei Qing decided he would need to stay longer than his usual brief appearances and contemplated attending with a female companion.
Episode 6 Recap
Wei Qing expected Zhou Shi to avoid him after he sent her photos of his broken antique collection, but she arrived at Yun Ma Group first thing in the morning. Assistant An informed Wei Qing that Zhou Shi was already waiting in the reception room. He also mentioned that Ning Fei had been discharged from the hospital and was staying in the studio that once belonged to Wei Qing's late father.
Wei Qing, asserting that Ning Fei was not worthy of staying there, ordered Assistant An to make him move out. In the reception room, Wei Qing confronted Zhou Shi, telling her that with her current income, compensating for the broken artifacts would take until her great-great-grandchildren's generation. He mockingly suggested that no man would marry a girl with such immense debt.
Zhou Shi, however, stood her ground, declaring she would bear any responsibility, even if it meant jail time, as she hated owing others. Wei Qing then proposed a way for her to clear her debts: sign a contract to stay by his side and obey his every command. After a one-month trial period, he would pay her a substantial monthly sum, allowing her to clear her debts within her lifetime.
If she refused, she would have to pay the same amount into Yun Ma's account monthly. Wei Qing gave her until the next day for a reply. Zhou Shi then angrily asked why he had kissed her. Wei Qing casually dismissed it as a "small experiment," claiming anyone else would have sufficed. Incensed by his disrespect, Zhou Shi’s intense reaction amused Wei Qing, who teased her about it being her first kiss.
Feeling both humiliated and furious, Zhou Shi argued that his kiss was the reason she broke the items, making him partly responsible. Wei Qing, with a slight smile, agreed to a fifty percent discount, stating she would only need to repay the debt for thirty years. Meanwhile, He Yun visited Ning Fei at the studio, recalling Wei Qing's deceased father as she watched Ning Fei immersed in his painting.
She praised Ning Fei for sharing his teacher’s single-minded devotion to art, contrasting it with Wei Qing, who she said was full of money-driven and selfish thoughts. She briefly mentioned another of the teacher's apprentices before changing the subject. Ning Fei declined her offer to stay and help, but He Yun, knowing he disliked being taken care of, informed him she had asked the young women downstairs to assist him while she was on a business trip.
She emphasized that sometimes, one must accept help, even if it's paid for. Assistant An later reported to Wei Qing that the damaged collection had been inventoried. Wei Qing, unconcerned, expressed his satisfaction that this incident allowed him to keep Zhou Shi by his side. He admitted to taking advantage of the situation, stating he would use any means necessary to achieve his goals, especially since Zhou Shi had inadvertently helped the person he disliked the most.
Assistant An confirmed that Ning Fei would be moving out that day as ordered. Lin Feifei, despite her roommate's advice, was eager to spend the money He Yun gave her on new clothes. As she stepped out, she saw Ning Fei struggling with the apartment building's entry password, which kept showing an error. She realized someone had changed it.
With nowhere else to go, Ning Fei climbed the wall to retrieve his belongings, just as Feifei had once done to get into his home, before departing with a forlorn expression. Bi Qiu Jing, Zhou Shi’s studious roommate, arrived at the astronomy club looking for Li Ming Cheng. Instead, she was pulled into the club's entrance exam. As she diligently worked on the questions, Zhang Ran Yu came to submit her own test paper.
Zhang Ran Yu’s answers astonished the examiners, prompting them to ask a few more questions. Her responses were wildly off-topic, causing Bi Qiu Jing to burst out laughing. She mocked Zhang Ran Yu, supposedly Guang Hua University's celebrated talent, by calling her a "barred spiral galaxy." Unaware of the insult, Zhang Ran Yu asked the examiners for clarification, becoming furious upon learning its meaning (the "SB" classification).
Bi Qiu Jing then found Li Ming Cheng at the Go club, playing against a computer. Just then, Zhou Shi arrived, and Li Ming Cheng immediately approached her, pressing a bank card into her hand for emergencies. Zhou Shi, however, politely refused the money and quickly left. During this brief interaction, Bi Qiu Jing took over Li Ming Cheng's game and won it within minutes.
Zhou Shi saw Bi Qiu Jing running after her and, thinking she was asking about dinner, immediately ran off to buy groceries. On her way back, passing by a kindergarten, she was suddenly reminded of her childhood, when she was pursued by debt collectors. She instinctively entered the kindergarten and unexpectedly saw Ning Fei sitting alone on a slide. Guessing that he had been forced out of his home, she kindly invited him to join them for dinner.
Lin Feifei was displeased by Zhou Shi bringing Ning Fei home without her consent. Zhou Shi explained that Ning Fei’s apartment had been forcefully repossessed and He Yun was abroad and unreachable. Feifei inadvertently blurted out that He Yun was so generous to them, questioning how she could be behind on rent. Under Zhou Shi’s persistent questioning, Feifei confessed that she had spent almost the entire 30,000 yuan He Yun had given her.
Zhou Shi and Bi Qiu Jing concluded that since Feifei had received money on Ning Fei's behalf, he had every right to stay. That evening, Zhou Shi set up a curtain in the living room, creating a private space for Ning Fei. As she finished, Ning Fei unexpectedly leaned on her shoulder and fell asleep. Zhou Shi then received a call from her mother, who informed her that her father had incurred more gambling debts.
Back in her room, Zhou Shi struggled with her finances; even with her scholarship money, it was barely enough, especially after sending money home. She was frustrated, as her hope of repaying Wei Qing’s interest now seemed impossible. Ning Fei then knocked, saying he was hungry. Zhou Shi quickly made him a bowl of noodles. Noticing that Zhou Shi hadn't eaten much earlier, Ning Fei considerately offered her his noodles.
Zhou Shi confided in Ning Fei, sharing how her father’s debts forced their family to flee to Ninghai when she was young. She expressed her current despair, having accumulated even more debt than her father and feeling she could never repay it unless she gave something up. Ning Fei encouraged her not to give up or agree to such terms.
At four in the morning, Wei Qing was jolted awake by a nightmare and resorted to alcohol to fall back asleep. Early the next morning, Zhou Shi arrived at Yun Ma Group, informing Wei Qing of her decision to stay by his side until her debts were repaid. Wei Qing reiterated his terms: she must obey his every order, be available at his beck and call, and stay within ten meters of him at all times.
Zhou Shi, gritting her teeth, agreed. As they shook hands to seal the deal, Wei Qing pulled her into a brief embrace. When she quickly pulled away, Wei Qing laughed, explaining it was to help her get accustomed to their future interactions, assuring her he wouldn't make any further inappropriate moves. He then instructed her to get an access card. After obtaining her temporary access card, Zhou Shi was led by Assistant An to Wei Qing’s office.
Wei Qing informed her that she would attend a charity gala with him the following evening as his partner. Zhou Shi expressed her concern about handling such a high-class event, but Wei Qing reminded her it was work and she merely needed to follow instructions. He demanded she thoroughly memorize the provided guest list and information, threatening to terminate their debt-repayment contract if she failed to do so. That night, Zhou Shi furiously tried to memorize the extensive gala materials.
Wei Qing expected her to know the appearance, identity, profession, and social connections of every attendee. Overwhelmed, Zhou Shi groaned in frustration. In the kitchen, Lin Feifei prepared a bowl of noodles for Ning Fei, but he took one bite and spat it out, declaring her noodles were "poisonous."
Episode 7 Recap
Zhou Shi tirelessly worked into the night, striving to memorize the extensive guest list for an upcoming banquet, including each person's face, identity, profession, and connections. Meanwhile, Lin Feifei, with good intentions, prepared a bowl of noodles for Ning Fei. To her dismay, he took a single bite before spitting it out and declaring her noodles "poisonous." He then curtly reminded her that it was her day to take out the trash.
As Lin Feifei, laden with two bags of garbage, attempted to open the door with her foot, she lost her balance and nearly fell. Fortunately, Ning Fei swiftly caught her from behind. Feeling a blush of embarrassment, Lin Feifei watched as Ning Fei left without a word. She followed him, remarking that he behaved like a stray cat, to which Ning Fei's expression darkened as he asserted that he indeed was one.
Amidst her discomfort, Lin Feifei suddenly spotted her ex-boyfriend, Gao Yang, approaching with a bouquet of flowers. Quick-thinking, she affectionately pulled Ning Fei closer and, to Gao Yang's face, introduced him as her live-in boyfriend. After watching Gao Yang storm off in a huff, Lin Feifei gleefully commented on how useful Ning Fei, a "young handsome guy," proved to be, even speculating about why a certain "Madam He" would go to such lengths to keep him.
Ning Fei, upon hearing this, became enraged. He grabbed Lin Feifei by the neck, fiercely warning her never to speak ill of his "Auntie" again. The following morning, Zhou Shi confidently recited the guest information, ready for Wei Qing's inspection. However, Wei Qing informed her that the names on the list were irrelevant; his sole objective was to find Xue Zi, the new successor of the Snow Group and the event's hidden guest.
He revealed that her task was to use the process of elimination to identify Xue Zi, as she wasn't on the official list. Observing Zhou Shi's exhaustion, Wei Qing decided she needed a transformation. He personally oversaw her full-body spa treatment, applied her makeup himself, and took her to a lavish dressing room, typically reserved for Wei family women, to select a gown. He even humorously declared her face his "first creation" for makeup.
As the evening banquet commenced, Zhou Shi felt uneasy in her low-cut gown. Arriving at the venue, she was visibly nervous, overwhelmed by the flashing camera lights. Wei Qing reassured her, complimenting her stunning appearance and confirming that he had already arranged for the media to delete any photos of her from their news releases. He instructed her to discreetly confirm Xue Zi's presence and immediately notify him once she did.
Later, Wei Qing subtly exchanged information with He Wei's assistant, confirming Xue Zi's attendance in exchange for details about his own itinerary. While getting some food, Zhou Shi accidentally bumped into a lady. Realizing this person was not on the guest list she had memorized, Zhou Shi suspected she might be Xue Zi and decided to follow her out of the main hall. As she did, He Wei, Wei Qing's uncle, intercepted her.
He recognized her dress as a 10-year-old couture piece, noting that in China, only Wei Qing's mother, his own sister, had ever worn it, and he questioned Zhou Shi's relationship with Wei Qing. Meanwhile, Wei Qing, unable to locate Zhou Shi, noticed Zhang Ran Yu had also arrived at the banquet. He made a pointed remark that Zhang Ran Yu's dress would be much better suited for the elegant lady he had just seen across the room—Xue Zi.
Observing Xue Zi taking food, Zhang Ran Yu maliciously approached and deliberately stepped on the hem of Xue Zi's dress, causing it to tear when Xue Zi tried to move. As Xue Zi found herself in an awkward predicament, Wei Qing calmly walked over, elegantly folded and tucked her torn skirt, earning her heartfelt gratitude. When Wei Qing overheard an assistant address her as "Miss Xue," he realized he had found the person he was looking for.
Faced with He Wei's persistent questions, Zhou Shi stammered, unable to provide a coherent answer. He Wei mockingly suggested she was merely another "front" for Wei Qing, explaining that Wei Qing used such "toys" to create a facade of being constantly in demand whenever he was single or wished to avoid serious relationships. He warned that these arrangements rarely lasted more than half a month and advised Zhou Shi to prepare for being discarded at any moment.
Zhou Shi, unperturbed, stated that her sole purpose for being with Wei Qing was money. He Wei, surprised by her candor, wondered aloud how someone of her "appearance" could possibly catch Wei Qing's eye. He then lightly cupped her chin, scrutinizing her features. At that moment, Wei Qing appeared, telling his uncle to remove his hand. Undeterred, He Wei defiantly placed his hand back on Zhou Shi's face. Infuriated, Zhou Shi slapped him across the face.
Wei Qing, secretly pleased, feigned anger and insisted Zhou Shi apologize to her "uncle." When Zhou Shi refused, He Wei provoked her, asking if she truly wished to know why Wei Qing had chosen her. Wei Qing, with surprising tenderness, picked up Zhou Shi and carried her away. On the car ride home, Wei Qing coolly assessed Zhou Shi's performance that night as "barely passing."
He acknowledged that her timely message about Xue Zi, which led to Xue Zi owing him a favor, was the evening's most significant gain. He promised to transfer a sum of money to her account the next day, though he clarified it would be immediately redirected to Yun Ma's account to offset her debt. He advised her not to be negative, suggesting that if she continued to perform well, she might even clear her debt before she turned sixty.
The next morning, Zhou Shi saw the news reports, relieved that none of her front-facing photos had been published, noting Wei Qing's "watertight" control over the media. As soon as she stepped out, she was met by individuals dispatched by Wei Qing, who whisked her away for a complete makeover, providing her with new clothes and makeup.
Gao Yang sent Lin Feifei a designer bag, then called to arrange a meeting that evening, which Lin Feifei readily accepted, playfully commenting on how easily Gao Yang could be "coaxed." Gao Yang later encountered Zhou Shi at the university entrance and, startled by her dramatic transformation, almost didn't recognize her, asking if she'd had plastic surgery. Zhou Shi's striking new look astonished her entire class, prompting classmates to tease Zhang Shuai about his sudden increase in rivals.
Just then, Li Ming Cheng approached Zhou Shi, requesting Bi Qiu Jing's contact information. He then unexpectedly ordered Zhou Shi not to wear such "exposed" clothes in front of him again, telling her to change and wipe off her makeup, even saving a photo of it as her "dark history."
Meanwhile, Xue Zi prepared to return to the United States and extended an invitation to Wei Qing for a small pre-departure salon party, indicating her interest in a potential collaboration with Yun Ma Jewellery. Knowing Xue Zi's eagerness to repay his earlier favor, Wei Qing instructed Assistant An to politely decline the invitation, stating his schedule was full, wanting to keep her "in his debt."
Assistant An had already researched Xue Zi's preferences, noting her low-key nature and frequent visits to galleries and auction houses. She held a particular fondness for Xun Ran's artwork, having recently paid a high price for one of his paintings. As Xun Ran was a low-production artist, his most recent work, "Starry Sky" from several years prior, was currently housed in the group's Mountain Art Gallery Hotel.
Wei Qing directed Assistant An to send that very painting to Xue Zi as an apology for his absence and a farewell gift, informing her that any discussions regarding collaboration would be held upon her return to China. Wei Qing mused aloud about the irony of having to use "that guy's painting as a stepping-stone." Wei Qing's demands on Zhou Shi intensified.
Besides formal events, he required her to be available at his beck and call, even privately, and to adhere to a vegetarian diet to maintain her figure. Consequently, Zhou Shi spent her after-class hours accompanying Wei Qing to movies and dinners, leaving her utterly exhausted. Soon, candid photos of them were leaked to a media outlet, propelling Zhou Shi into the "hot search" trending topics.
Her classmates began to openly gossip about her, and the next day, as she waited for Wei Qing outside the university, even Zhang Shuai, usually friendly, pointedly ignored her. Her former roommates cornered her, mockingly calling her "Yun Ma's future mistress" and deliberately spilling juice on her clothes. Quickly, the department dean summoned Zhou Shi for a talk, advising her to take a temporary leave of absence until the public controversy surrounding her subsided.
Assistant An later visited Zhou Shi at the university, informing her that the article, considered a "breach of personal privacy," would soon be removed from websites, and Yun Ma's public relations department was working to minimize the damage to her reputation. He conveyed Wei Qing's apologies and assured her that any requests she had would be met.
Zhou Shi acknowledged that such incidents were inevitable when associated with a public figure like Wei Qing, but she couldn't shake the question of why he had specifically chosen her as his female companion. Assistant An admitted he could not provide an answer to that. That evening, Zhou Shi tearfully confided in Lin Feifei and her other roommates, revealing the immense debt she had incurred.
Both Lin Feifei and Bi Qiu Jing immediately and selflessly offered their personal savings to help. Ning Fei, too, presented her with a bank card, telling her to use it freely, only to sheepishly admit he had forgotten the password. Lin Feifei couldn't help but laugh at Ning Fei's innocent earnestness.
Zhou Shi, though grateful for their kindness, gently declined their offers, explaining that she didn't even know the exact amount she owed, as the sum was increasing daily, too daunting for her to even look at. Resigned, she stated that her life would "be like this forever" and quietly retreated to her room.
Episode 8 Recap
Students at Kwang Hua University gossiped about Zhou Shi's recent absence, speculating that she was suspended due to the scandal surrounding her massive debt to a ruthless creditor. Overhearing Lin Feifei and Bi Qiu Jing worry that Zhou Shi would be "squeezed dry," Ning Fei approached Bi Qiu Jing and asked for a favor. Meanwhile, Wei Qing allowed Zhou Shi two days of rest.
He then learned from Assistant An that Xue Zi had rejected Yun Ma's new design, seemingly dissatisfied with their provided designers. When Assistant An hinted that Xue Zi had a specific designer in mind—one not from the jewelry world—Wei Qing immediately deduced it was Xun Ran. Annoyed by Xun Ran's pervasive influence, Wei Qing decided to contact him directly.
He found Xun Ran at Kwang Hua University and sarcastically greeted him, accusing him of being a parasite constantly relying on others, especially women. Wei Qing suggested he abandon his current "host" to work for him, offering to pay for his paintings, but Xun Ran expressed disgust at the idea. Wei Qing then warned that since Xun Ran had signed with Yun Ma, he must comply with company arrangements.
He threatened to use his resources to expose Xun Ran’s hidden past and dark history, which his mother had worked to conceal, ensuring he would become a viral sensation if he refused to cooperate. Wei Qing then told Xun Ran that Assistant An would follow up with the specifics. Later, Zhou Shi, suffering from a high fever, called Lin Feifei for help. Feifei arranged for her boyfriend, Gao Yang, to deliver medicine.
Upon entering Zhou Shi’s home, Gao Yang made unwanted advances, pinning her to the sofa. He insinuated that Zhou Shi was playing innocent despite her public association with Wei Qing and suggested she extend her openness to him, even offering to dump Lin Feifei for her. Zhou Shi warned him to stop, threatening to call the police and invoking Wei Qing's name as a deterrent. Just as Gao Yang became more aggressive, Lin Feifei unexpectedly returned home.
Gao Yang immediately attempted to shift blame, claiming Zhou Shi had faked her illness to seduce him. Lin Feifei, however, did not believe him and angrily struck him with an object. That night, Ning Fei checked on Zhou Shi, who was wrapped in a blanket to induce sweating. Zhou Shi confided that inexplicable events had led to a massive, life-altering debt.
Ning Fei, intuiting Wei Qing's involvement, warned her to be careful, implying Wei Qing might be manipulating her, and urged her to reflect on the true cause of her debt. The following day, prompted by Ning Fei's words, Zhou Shi visited an exhibition. She was stunned to find the "broken" artifacts Wei Qing had sent her pictures of, now perfectly intact and on display.
After confirming with the staff that the items were authentic and had never been damaged, she stormed to Yun Ma to confront Wei Qing. Bursting into his office, Zhou Shi demanded to know why the artifacts were now on display, accusing him of fraud. Wei Qing unapologetically admitted his trickery, claiming he never stated the vases were real and that she had panicked herself into the situation. Zhou Shi, infuriated, demanded an apology.
Wei Qing refused, brazenly stating he would have found other means to keep her by his side because she was too important to him, and promised to compensate her. Disgusted, Zhou Shi condemned his arrogance, asserted her independence, and confessed she had someone she liked, rejecting any nominal relationship with him. Unfazed, Wei Qing seized the opportunity, declaring their previous agreement void and announcing she was now his "real girlfriend."
Zhou Shi, reiterating her disinterest and threatening to call the police if he continued to harass her, stormed out. After Zhou Shi's departure, Wei Qing instructed Assistant An to stop having the car follow her and to cease all media reporting on their alleged scandal. When Assistant An questioned if this meant he was giving up, Wei Qing's reply made it clear he had no intention of letting her go.
That evening, Lin Feifei decided to sell the bag Gao Yang had given her on a second-hand luxury website. Meanwhile, Zhou Shi was packing numerous Hermes bags into cardboard boxes to return them to Wei Qing, denying any real relationship despite the gossip and expensive gifts. Shortly after the courier collected the boxes, Zhou Shi received a call informing her that she could resume classes, and she was overjoyed.
The next day, Zhou Shi returned to class in her usual casual attire and immediately became the subject of her classmates' gossip. They speculated she had been dumped by Wei Qing, calling her one of his "month-long girlfriends." Their mockery was interrupted when Zhang Shuai dramatically stumbled into the classroom, drawing all attention. After class, Zhou Shi thanked him for diverting the attention, but Zhang Shuai denied intentionally helping her. She then confronted him about his recent coldness.
Zhang Shuai asked if she had truly stopped being Wei Qing's "kept woman." Annoyed, Zhou Shi told him to believe whatever he wished and walked away, leaving Zhang Shuai to wonder if he had misjudged her. Later, Li Ming Cheng, struggling to beat Bi Qiu Jing's speed in a computer chess game, discovered her identity as a third-year chemistry student.
Classmates recounted that Bi Qiu Jing was a genius who had gained admission to the university despite accidentally leaving one exam blank after falling asleep. It was also revealed that she had rejected an invitation to the Astronomy Club, deeming it unworthy. Zhou Shi then approached Li Ming Cheng, who asked for advice on how to add the mysterious chess player as a friend.
Noticing he had been blocked, Zhou Shi suggested he send a mind-challenging message to attract the intelligent girl's interest. Zhou Shi returned home and confided in Bi Qiu Jing her worry that Li Ming Cheng and the female chess player might develop feelings for each other. Just then, Bi Qiu Jing received another friend request from Li Ming Cheng, embedded within a complex mathematical problem.
As she instinctively began to solve it, Zhou Shi stopped her, realizing that replying would grant him access. Simultaneously, a deluge of courier packages—the items Zhou Shi had just sent back—arrived at their door, along with an overwhelming amount of fresh flowers. Exasperated, Zhou Shi called Wei Qing, demanding he remove the unwanted items, but he calmly asserted his right to send gifts to his "girlfriend."
Zhou Shi condemned his "boring displays of wealth" and hung up, vowing to return everything again. The next morning, Zhou Shi loaded the flowers onto a tricycle to return them. Wei Qing soon caught up to her in his car, questioning why she was wasting his "feelings." Zhou Shi retorted that feelings only count if accepted. As she challenged him to return the flowers himself, Wei Qing exited his car and stared intently at her, complimenting her beauty.
In her flustered state, Zhou Shi accidentally tumbled backward into the tricycle cart. Just then, city management officers appeared, prompting Wei Qing to swiftly hop onto the tricycle and pedal away with Zhou Shi still in the cart, confidently proclaiming that there was nothing he couldn't do. Later, Lin Feifei mused aloud why she couldn't forget Gao Yang.
Ning Fei presented her with a drawing of a crying rabbit, explaining that, like a cunning rabbit that has lost its safe burrows, she was not crying for the loss of a great love, but for the loss of the sense of security Gao Yang had provided. Feifei had an epiphany, finally understanding the true source of her sadness.
Episode 9 Recap
Lin Feifei reflected on her feelings for Gao Yang, realizing her sadness stemmed not from deep affection for him, but from the loss of the sense of security he had provided. Ning Fei, listening to her, sadly remarked that at least she had experienced that feeling, while he never had. Feifei then noticed Ning Fei secretly drawing Zhou Shi. She confronted him, threatening to reveal his secret to his benefactor unless he bought her an expensive bag.
When Ning Fei admitted he had no money, Feifei challenged him to find a way to make her happy without spending a dime. Ning Fei left briefly and returned with a large bubble wand, which he used to create a giant bubble that enveloped Feifei. She reacted with childlike wonder, and they spent the day joyfully playing with bubbles on the grass. When some dirt got into Feifei’s eye, Ning Fei tenderly held her face to blow it out.
In that moment, Feifei felt a subtle, newfound happiness, realizing joy could be found without material things. Meanwhile, Wei Qing continued to engage with Zhou Shi after their tricycle escape. He had brought her to a flower market, where he proceeded to give away all the flowers from his tricycle. He then lifted Zhou Shi off the vehicle, but she struggled, causing them both to fall to the ground with her landing on top of him.
Zhou Shi’s heart pounded rapidly from the unexpected contact, and she quickly rose, mortified and flustered, attempting to flee. In her haste, she accidentally twisted her ankle. Wei Qing, showing concern, offered to examine her injury. He once again proposed that she become his girlfriend, but Zhou Shi promptly refused. Wei Qing, astute as ever, asserted that her refusal wasn't about him, but because her heart already belonged to someone else, a relationship she likely had little hope for.
He pointed out that among all the flowers, she only kept sea lavender and daisies, even carving them onto her confession item – a ring she had prepared for Li Ming Cheng while working at the gallery. Wei Qing revealed he had read her confession letter and understood her choice of these flowers; their combined meaning could signify either a long-lasting secret love or an enduring friendship, providing a fallback option of friendship should her confession fail.
He further accused her of choosing the expensive Fine Arts Faculty at Guanghua Vision University solely for Li Ming Cheng, deeming her first love a self-destructive endeavor that burdened her family. Zhou Shi vehemently denied his accusations, stating she earned her own money and had never relied on her parents financially. Wei Qing, undeterred, offered to wipe their slate clean and start fresh.
He returned the ring to her, reiterating his determination not to give up on her, despite her frustrated warnings to stop harassing her. Later, Zhou Shi realized her blue wallet was missing. After meticulously searching her room and the entire house, she frantically recalled it must have fallen out of the tricycle and been given away along with the flowers.
The following day at lunch, Zhou Shi, short on money, ordered only a small, inexpensive meal, claiming she was on a diet. Lin Feifei, on the other hand, was unusually attentive to Ning Fei, constantly piling food onto his plate. Observing this, Bi Qiu Jing quietly remarked to Zhou Shi that they had a "wealthy person" right beside them.
That evening, Bi Qiu Jing spoke with Feifei, confirming that Ning Fei had intentionally sought her out in the park after noticing her bad mood, choosing that spot to draw and keep her company. Bi Qiu Jing also shared her observation that Ning Fei meticulously returned all bathroom items to their original places after use, despite seeming unaccustomed to such tasks. She theorized that this behavior suggested he was accustomed to living cautiously in others' homes.
Bi Qiu Jing then mysteriously pulled Feifei into her room, revealing that Ning Fei was, in fact, incredibly wealthy. She explained that she had successfully cracked the password to his bank card, which he had asked her to do, and discovered a massive sum of money. Feifei was astonished, but Bi Qiu Jing confirmed the funds were legitimate and belonged to Ning Fei himself.
She elaborated that Ning Fei's father, a renowned artist, had lived in destitution, and his works only gained recognition and value decades after his death. Given that the Ning and Wei families had known each other for generations, Madam He treated Ning Fei with exceptional kindness. Learning that Ning Fei was a true tycoon, Feifei expressed regret that they had let him sleep in the living room.
Later that night, Zhou Shi was working at a bar, feeling ravenous as she tidied a private room. Just as she was about to eat some leftover cake from a customer, Director Sheng entered and instructed her to immediately prepare the large VIP room for incoming guests. Zhou Shi also learned that the bar’s accountant was out of town, meaning her salary would be delayed until the following week, leaving her secretly lamenting her financial woes.
Unbeknownst to her, Wei Qing had been sitting in the inner section of the VIP room the entire time and had witnessed her attempt to eat the leftover cake. The next morning, Wei Qing reviewed Ning Fei's (known as Xun Ran) artwork, expressing his admiration for the strong creative concepts. He stated his intention to integrate the art into the company's new seasonal product promotions, linking them to Ning Fei's upcoming art exhibition.
Shortly after, Zhou Shi received a large number of express deliveries from Wei Qing. Furious, she immediately called him. Wei Qing feigned a bad signal and insisted she come to his location to speak in person, even sending her the address. Zhou Shi, angered by the distance, threw her phone in frustration, only to immediately pick it up, worried about the cost of repairs. Zhou Shi took a taxi to Wei Qing’s location, complaining about the significant fare.
Upon her arrival, Wei Qing had prepared an elaborate spread of delicious food and tea. As Zhou Shi was about to dig in, she suddenly realized this was a “sugar-coated bullet” meant to win her over. She adamantly declared she would never forgive him, and despite her hunger, she resisted the temptation of the food and swiftly left, fearing falling into his trap.
Wei Qing, annoyed, complained to his assistant, Manager An, that no one had ever so directly rebuffed him. He mused that he wouldn't waste so much time on her if his body didn’t have a unique reaction to her presence. Manager An advised Wei Qing to apologize to Zhou Shi, emphasizing that after a decade spent searching for someone like her, he shouldn't lose her over a simple apology.
Wei Qing, though reluctant and admitting he didn't know how to apologize, chased after Zhou Shi. He found her walking, exasperated by the lack of public transport. He caught up to her and, after some hesitation, formally apologized. Zhou Shi, surprised by his rare act of humility, agreed to get into his car.
She asked him to arrange for the immediate retrieval of the parcels he had sent, but Wei Qing insisted she open them first, promising to take them back if she didn’t like the contents. Upon returning home, Zhou Shi eagerly opened the packages to find they were entirely filled with various food items. Overjoyed, she called Wei Qing to thank him profusely, promising to repay him as soon as she received her salary.
Wei Qing observed that she was more receptive to kindness than force, concluding that apologizing might be a strategy he should use more often. Later that evening, Bi Qiu Jing asked Ning Fei if he felt cold sleeping in the living room, given the dropping temperatures. Lin Feifei immediately jumped in, offering her own room, stressing its warmth and spaciousness.
After Ning Fei moved to her room, Feifei secretly mused that while Ning Fei seemed a bit silly, his immense wealth made him a desirable target, and she resolved to win him over. The next morning, Zhou Shi was frantic, fearing she would be late for her class. Wei Qing, casually dressed, arrived on a bicycle, offering to take her via a shortcut.
Impatient with his slow cycling, Zhou Shi quickly took the lead, speeding off on the bicycle with him as her passenger. Wei Qing explained that he had cycled to match her lifestyle and avoid accusations of flaunting his wealth. At the university, Li Ming Cheng found Bi Qiu Jing and expressed his admiration for her ability to solve a well-known Go endgame from the campus forum in record time.
He eagerly invited her to join the Go club, believing her talent could secure Guanghua the inter-school championship. However, Bi Qiu Jing stated that she played Go merely for entertainment and had no interest in competitive rankings or "boring clubs." Li Ming Cheng challenged her to a game, asserting that only winners had the right to dismiss the importance of ranking. Bi Qiu Jing accepted, on the condition that he would not disclose the game's outcome to Zhou Shi.
Finally, Zhou Shi arrived at school, still flustered and worried about being late. Wei Qing then revealed to her that her phone was actually running an hour fast due to its damage. He lent her his own watch, telling her to use it temporarily and return it the "next time" they met, subtly hinting at their continued encounters.
Episode 10 Recap
After being informed by Wei Qing that her phone was an hour fast and Old Yan's class had just begun, a relieved Zhou Shi accepted the loan of his Patek Philippe platinum watch, which he told her to return at their next meeting. As he left, she mused that for him to wait an hour in the cold, he must either have too much free time or no friends at all.
Meanwhile, Wei Qing visited Director Xiao at the university, using the pretense of checking Yun Ma Scholarship files to find Zhou Shi's home address, after which he assigned a task to his assistant, Wei An. Later, Zhou Shi found Li Ming Cheng looking distraught. He confessed he was upset about a recent Go match he had lost to Bi Qiu Jing. He recounted that she found his playing style technically good but "boring," preferring the emotionless challenge of an AI.
However, she did praise his good sportsmanship. When she was leaving, he had asked if she would join his club if it became more interesting, and she had tentatively agreed. Not sharing these details with Zhou Shi, Li Ming Cheng instead offered to treat her to lunch. He noticed the expensive men's watch she was wearing, and Zhou Shi quickly lied, claiming it belonged to Lin Feifei's ex-boyfriend and was just a temporary loan while her phone was broken.
That evening, Zhou Shi coordinated the alibi with Lin Feifei, who scoffed at the idea. She revealed the watch was a Patek Philippe so valuable it could buy a house or two in a second-tier city—far beyond the means of Feifei's ex. Lin Feifei warned that Wei Qing's calculated gestures, like sending food and lending a watch, were part of a systematic plan to ensnare her, just as he had with past girlfriends.
She shared a cautionary tale of a former student who, after dating Wei Qing for a month, became a "super materialistic woman" and was abruptly dumped. Unable to readjust to a less lavish lifestyle, she had attempted suicide multiple times. Feifei strongly advised Zhou Shi to return everything if she wanted to avoid any real involvement with him. The next day, Wei An confirmed he had completed Wei Qing's "risky" task.
Wei Qing was unconcerned, stating he needed to show Zhou Shi that he was in control of their dynamic, and he could always apologize later if she found out. Just then, Zhou Shi arrived to return the watch and the money for the food. Wei Qing told her to keep the watch, but she insisted on settling her debts. He then handed back her phone, which looked suspiciously new.
As she wondered about it, her mother called, sobbing that the debt collectors were back. Zhou Shi rushed out to take the call, and Wei An quickly brought her bag. Wei Qing then told his assistant that with Zhou Shi trying so hard to push him away, this was the only way to bind her firmly to him. That night, Zhou Shi packed to go home, asking Lin Feifei to keep the details from Ning Fei.
On the bus, she had a nightmare where Wei Qing cornered her at home, demanding she repay him for everything, including "fake antiques." He threatened to involve her parents and suggested she could pay him back with her body. Waking up startled, she blamed the dream on the lingering trauma of him kissing her. She arrived home to find debt notices plastered over the door and in the stairwell.
Her mother explained that after seeing Zhou Shi and Wei Qing on a "hot search" news item, her father had bragged that Wei Qing was his son-in-law. He used this false connection to secure a large, unsecured loan for a business venture, which quickly failed, leading to the new debt. As they spoke, the collectors burst in, presenting the IOU. Zhou Shi denied being Wei Qing's girlfriend and claimed to have no money.
When they searched her bag, a large stack of cash fell out. She instantly realized Wei An must have planted it in her bag on Wei Qing's orders. The collectors seized the cash as a partial payment, giving her one month to pay the remainder and threatening to find Wei Qing at his company if she failed. Back at the apartment, Ning Fei had taken to sitting by the window, waiting for Zhou Shi's return.
Bi Qiu Jing noted his devotion to Lin Feifei, who decided to simply maintain her friendship with him since his feelings for Zhou Shi were unrequited. Meanwhile, Li Ming Cheng sent Bi Qiu Jing a Go puzzle, and she, finding him "interesting," began conversing with him regularly, eventually adding him as a friend. Ning Fei, hearing a noise, rushed to the door, only to be disappointed it wasn't Zhou Shi.
Lin Feifei suggested he go visit her, but he revealed he had donated all his money after Zhou Shi refused to take it. Annoyed, Feifei immediately reclaimed her room, banishing him back to the living room. The next morning, Lin Feifei woke to find Ning Fei in her bed, surmising he had sleepwalked there out of habit. Startled, they both woke up, and she promptly kicked him out. Just then, an exhausted Zhou Shi returned.
Feifei immediately complained about Ning Fei donating his money, which could have been used to help her. Later, Bi Qiu Jing discovered that Ning Fei had been anonymously donating large sums to a private autism treatment center in the U. S. for the past five years. Feifei lamented being the "only layman" in the house and gave up on pursuing Ning Fei, assuming he preferred someone like Zhou Shi.
She decided to focus on a modeling interview to meet a new, successful man. For her interview, Lin Feifei borrowed Wei Qing's watch from Zhou Shi, who explained she hadn't managed to return it because Wei Qing had made the excuse that it needed servicing, which she couldn't afford. After warning Feifei to be careful, Zhou Shi went to Yun Ma Group to confront Wei Qing.
He admitted to planting the money in her bag, saying he saw her distress and knew she would need cash. He then proposed a deal: she would become his girlfriend, available whenever he needed her, in exchange for a generous monthly payment. Zhou Shi furiously accused him of using money to trample on people's dignity. Despite her desperate financial situation, she refused to bow to him. Wei Qing then produced a blank check, telling her to fill in any amount. Enraged, Zhou Shi tore it to pieces, declaring it was impossible. Unfazed, Wei Qing said he would wait and see how long she could last on her own.
Episode 11 Recap
During her model interview, Lin Feifei's knock-off bag led to an awkward encounter with fellow candidate Wang Yuqi, who owned the authentic version. When Wang Yuqi mocked her, Lin Feifei deftly turned the tables, claiming her bag was real and offering to help authenticate Wang Yuqi's, subtly implying the other might be fake. From the surveillance room, Chairman He noticed Lin Feifei wearing a watch identical to Wei Qing's.
Intrigued, he instructed his assistant to hire her directly without an interview, believing she was Wei Qing's new "toy." He intended to keep her close, relishing the thought of exploiting the situation. That evening, Zhou Shi arrived at the bar for work, only to be informed by Director Sheng that a long-term server had permanently taken her position. He advised her not to anger Wei Qing, implying it was unwise to offend their "God of Wealth."
Zhou Shi immediately suspected Wei Qing's involvement. As she left, she bumped into Chairman He. Director Sheng explained that Zhou Shi was a temporary worker he had just fired and was Wei Qing's girlfriend. Chairman He corrected him, stating she was more accurately Wei Qing's ex-girlfriend and surmising that his nephew had ruthlessly discarded her for a new romance. Leaving the bar, Zhou Shi spotted the two men who had recently harassed her family for a debt.
She hid and overheard them discussing how Wei Qing had paid off the debt, but only as part of a scheme. Their instructions were to frighten her first so that when he "saved" her, she would be immensely grateful. Furious, Zhou Shi confronted the men and forced a confession: Wei An had orchestrated the entire plan.
After paying off her father's debt, he had given them additional money to harass the family one last time, with strict orders to only scare, not harm them, and to never lend money to her father again. The next morning, an infuriated Zhou Shi stormed into Yunma Group, shouting for Wei Qing and knocking down a security guard. She confronted him about harassing her family.
Wei Qing admitted to sending the men but argued that her father had borrowed the money, and he had simply paid it back while trying to scare him straight. Outraged that his actions had deeply distressed her mother, Zhou Shi was unmoved by his immediate offer to apologize in person. Wei Qing claimed his extreme actions stemmed from his desperate desire to be with her.
Seething, Zhou Shi declared she would repay the debt in installments but wanted nothing more to do with him. As she turned to leave, she spun back and raised her hand to strike him, but Wei An intervened. Zhou Shi warned Wei Qing not to repeat such acts if he was afraid of the consequences. Later, Teacher Xiao urged Zhou Shi to pay her outstanding tuition fees to avoid losing credits.
Desperate, she was relieved when Director Sheng called, offering her a part-time job at Chairman He's bar. That evening, Chairman He's assistant encouraged her to work in the private rooms, where tips were substantially higher. Needing the money, Zhou Shi accepted and was soon coerced by customers to drink alcohol for tips. Meanwhile, Chairman He sent a video of Zhou Shi drinking to Wei Qing. At home, Ning Fei waited anxiously by the door for Zhou Shi.
When Lin Feifei returned, she found him burning with a high fever, yet he remained determined to go find Zhou Shi. As Zhou Shi became heavily intoxicated, Wei Qing arrived to take her away. He told her that if she had to drink with someone, it should be him, and he would cover the cost.
Later, as he watched her vomit in the restroom, he was perplexed that she refused his blank check but would drink herself sick for a few hundred yuan, questioning if this was her idea of dignity. Believing he was only there to mock her, Zhou Shi defiantly insisted on returning for her tips and rejected his money.
The inebriated Zhou Shi mistakenly stumbled into the men's changing room, where she was cornered by Director Chen, Chairman He's assistant, who intended to assault her. Wei Qing arrived just in time, slapping Director Chen and chastising him for daring to touch "his woman." When the assistant claimed he thought they had broken up, Wei Qing asserted that unless he said otherwise, she was still his.
He then gently draped his coat over Zhou Shi and led her out, suggesting that becoming his girlfriend would prevent such humiliation. Crying, Zhou Shi lashed out, blaming him for her plight: losing her job, falling into debt, and being mocked at school as his "pitiful ex." She declared she would never trust him again, convinced his smiles hid deceit, and begged him to leave her alone. Just then, Ning Fei rushed forward to shield her.
Wei Qing blocked their path until Lin Feifei also arrived, allowing them to leave. Lin Feifei tossed the coat back at Wei Qing and told Ning Fei to take Zhou Shi home. She then bluntly told Wei Qing that Zhou Shi valued respect over money and advised him to drop his "CEO facade" and genuinely consider her feelings, or stay away to avoid causing more harm.
Back home, after putting Zhou Shi to bed, Lin Feifei found that Ning Fei had collapsed. As he regained consciousness, he pleaded with her not to send him away. Pained by his fear, she reassured him that this was his home. Lin Feifei then recalled a friend's observation that Ning Fei's cautious behavior suggested he was used to living under someone else's roof, making her wonder about the past traumas that made him so afraid of being a burden.
The next day, Wei Qing reviewed company reports, confirming massive losses from his mother's art galleries. Her impeccably managed accounts, despite her lack of business acumen, made him suspect she was being manipulated. He confided in Wei An, who called him "socially awkward" and advised him to offer Zhou Shi a genuine apology. Wei An pointed out that their impatience had eroded her trust and urged Wei Qing to understand and help solve her real problems—the ones money couldn't fix.
Resolved to find a new job, Zhou Shi was looking for work at convenience stores when Ning Fei offered her a connection, introducing her to He Yun. When Zhou Shi arrived to apply, He Yun was delighted to meet Ning Fei's friend and showed her some newly acquired artworks. Zhou Shi was astonished to see they were all the latest pieces by the artist Xun Ran, including his famed "Starry Sky" series. He Yun explained that Xun Ran cared little for commercial value, preferring to sell his works to those who genuinely loved them, adding that the artist was still a child.
Episode 12 Recap
Director He explained her philosophy that while art might seem abstract to most, the feeling of liking it is tangible, and her purpose is to assign value to this liking and enhance the commercial worth of artworks. She emphasized that "liking" is expensive, a concept a child cannot grasp. Director He then revealed that Xun Ran is younger than Zhou Shi and expressed surprise that Ning Fei, whom Zhou Shi knew, hadn't told her.
This led Zhou Shi to the stunning realization that Ning Fei was Xun Ran all along. Impressed by Ning Fei's recommendation, which she deemed more authoritative than any test, Director He immediately hired Zhou Shi, who accepted the position and promised to start the next day. Later, Zhou Shi expressed distress to her roommates, realizing that Li Ming Cheng's birthday on November 6th was less than a week away and she hadn't prepared a gift.
She explained their long-standing tradition: she gives him a gift she thinks he'd like, and if she guesses correctly, he gives her a gift she'd like on her birthday. However, she hadn't guessed right in years, recalling the previous year's "CET-4 vocabulary" book and fearing this year he might give her a pass for a cram school.
Lin Feifei suggested asking Li Ming Cheng's friends, but Zhou Shi lamented her lack of connection with his academic circle, noting how they ignored her, especially when senior Zhang Ran Yu was around. Observing Li Ming Cheng's recent late nights, they speculated he had a new online chess friend, possibly a girl, leading Bi Qiu Jing to volunteer to join his club to gather intelligence. Bi Qiu Jing arrived at the astronomy club, surprising everyone, especially Zhang Ran Yu.
Despite Zhang Ran Yu's hostile reception, calling her a "barred spiral galaxy," Bi Qiu Jing’s perfect score on the admission test secured her entry. When Zhang Ran Yu continued to question her qualifications, Bi Qiu Jing retorted with a string of chemical terms which Li Ming Cheng recognized as a coded insult. He pulled Bi Qiu Jing aside, urging her to get along with other club members.
However, Bi Qiu Jing declared she was only there for him and bluntly asked if he had a girlfriend. Observing no change in his pupils or heartbeat, she concluded he had no romantic interests. She then directly asked what he wanted for his upcoming birthday. Li Ming Cheng listed a full set of expensive deep space photography equipment.
Bi Qiu Jing deemed these too impractical, and after spotting his calligraphy on the wall, she declared that a set of calligraphy would be his "ideal" birthday gift, instructing him to tell Zhou Shi exactly that. She then promised to somehow acquire the expensive items he truly desired on her own terms.
Zhou Shi began her first day at the gallery, where Director He simply instructed her to stand by the entrance and smile, explaining that the gallery had few customers. Soon after, Wei Qing arrived, much to Director He's annoyance. She sent Zhou Shi to dismiss him, claiming to be ill. Zhou Shi was shocked to realize the unwelcome visitor was Wei Qing, who, amused, claimed to be there on official business as the chairman.
Zhou Shi was then surprised to learn that the gallery was part of Yun Ma Artwork, meaning she was now working under Wei Qing. He remarked on their frequent "fated" encounters, noting how she always ended up near him despite trying to avoid him. Inside the gallery office, Wei An confided in Zhou Shi that Wei Qing and Director He were biological mother and son, but their relationship was complicated.
Wei Qing presented Director He with a report detailing the gallery's financial deficit, warning her that she would be held accountable at the upcoming shareholder meeting, which could lead to budget cuts and her dismissal. He proposed recruiting established artists to boost revenue, but Director He vehemently opposed it, arguing that Yun Ma Artwork was founded to nurture new talent, not prioritize profit.
Wei Qing countered that her method had only produced one successful artist, Ning Fei, and accused her of improperly accounting for the gallery's high operating costs, which burdened other Yun Ma branches. He declared his intention to commercially package Ning Fei to maximize his value. Furious, Director He insisted that Ning Fei was a true artist who should focus solely on creation.
Wei Qing angrily retorted that Ning Fei's artist father had starved to death and Ning Fei himself had been rescued from an orphanage, arguing that his own "money-oriented" approach had built Yun Ma into an empire that allowed her the luxury to "play with art." Enraged, Director He slapped Wei Qing and ordered him out. Wei Qing vowed to see her at the board meeting, hinting the gallery itself might cease to exist.
Visibly hurt, he reminded her that her husband was also his father, and he didn't want to see the gallery destroyed either. After he left, Director He warned Zhou Shi not to pity him, dismissing his emotions as "crocodile tears." Wei Qing instructed Wei An to cancel the afternoon board meeting. Wei An also informed him that Xue Zi had returned and purchased one of Ning Fei's paintings at a high price.
Wei Qing then sent Wei An away, wishing to be alone. He reflected on his childhood, recalling how his father frequently criticized his drawings as inferior to Ning Fei's. A frustrated young Wei Qing once questioned why his father bothered having him if he preferred the adopted Ning Fei, earning a slap. A past confrontation where Wei Qing defied his father tragically led to his father's sudden illness and death.
After his father's passing, the will stipulated that Wei Qing would assume full control of Yun Ma Artwork, a decision his mother never forgave him for. Early in the morning, Lin Feifei bumped into Ning Fei. He noticed she was running a fever and offered her medicine. The brief contact left Feifei flustered, and she mused that being single for too long had made her "love-starved" and that she needed to find a new target.
Shortly after, she received a call for a photo shoot. At the studio, the makeup artist initially ignored her, but when He Wei subtly draped his coat over her, the artist's attitude changed immediately. Later, in the dressing room, as Feifei struggled with a zipper, He Wei quietly entered and helped her. When her hair got tangled in his corsage, he gently freed it and pinned the flower in her hair.
Bi Qiu Jing called Zhou Shi to inform her that Li Ming Cheng now desired a set of calligraphy for his birthday. Meanwhile, Zhou Shi spotted Wei Qing on a lawn. He approached her, admitting he was in a bad mood and asking for her company. Zhou Shi shared her own coping mechanism: shopping and eating with friends. Wei Qing revealed he had no true friends, explaining, "Because I can't bear the touch of others."
He sincerely apologized for his past actions and asked if they could be friends. Feeling it was too easy, Zhou Shi challenged him: if he could move her without giving her food, gifts, or flowers, she would agree. Wei Qing confidently accepted.
Episode 13 Recap
At the photo studio, while Lin Feifei was changing, Editor He entered the dressing room and helped with her zipper, apologizing for the intrusion. He gave her his brooch, insisting it suited her and complemented the brand's attire. Editor He then informed her he had a meeting with the brand's director on the sixth and wanted to introduce their models for potential collaborations, asking if she was available.
Lin Feifei readily agreed, and Editor He took her phone to send her the details, advising her to be more relaxed and natural next time they met. Back home, Lin Feifei excitedly recounted the encounter to her roommates, Zhou Shi and Bi Qiu Jing. She admitted that despite knowing Editor He's flirtatious tactics were just a routine, she was charmed by his natural approach and the "stars in his eyes" when he smiled.
Bi Qiu Jing and Zhou Shi, however, were skeptical. Ning Fei, engrossed in his cake, was oblivious until Lin Feifei noticed cream on his face and affectionately wiped it off. The gesture reminded Zhou Shi of Wei Qing's similar attentiveness, making her wonder about the bond between Lin Feifei and Ning Fei.
Lin Feifei then playfully held a chocolate stick in her mouth for Ning Fei to take, and he leaned in to bite off the other half, prompting Zhou Shi and Bi Qiu Jing to jokingly warn them not to play with fire. Embarrassed, Lin Feifei shifted the conversation to Zhou Shi's progress with Wei Qing. Zhou Shi explained that she and Wei Qing were becoming friends.
She reasoned that although he had lied, he never harmed her and even helped her father repay his gambling debts, so she felt she should thank him. Bi Qiu Jing suggested Zhou Shi might have Stockholm syndrome, but Zhou Shi defended Wei Qing, describing him as a pitiful man with no friends and a strained relationship with his mother. Her friends cautioned her to remain vigilant and not forget her feelings for Li Ming Cheng.
Reminded of her goal, Zhou Shi pulled Bi Qiu Jing into her room to brainstorm gift ideas. Left alone with Ning Fei, Lin Feifei also felt awkward and quickly retreated to her room. Wei Qing met Xue Zi for dinner, where she revealed she was now in charge of her company's expansion into the Chinese market.
She expressed great interest in Xun Ran's designs, noting that the artist was internationally sought-after and that it was a coup for Yun Ma Artwork to have signed him. Wei Qing was surprised to learn Xun Ran was their biggest asset in a potential partnership with Xue Zi's company. When Xue Zi pointed out that he had worn gloves on both occasions they met, Wei Qing removed them, realizing he had to overcome his mysophobia to secure the deal.
Immediately after, Wei Qing visited his psychologist. He reported sleeping only four to five hours a night, with nightmares of screams, blood, and his mother occurring two to three times a week. He again refused hypnotherapy. When he mentioned he and Zhou Shi were now friends, the doctor was amazed, noting it was the first time in their ten-year history that he had spoken of having a friend, and he seemed remarkably relaxed when discussing her.
The doctor recalled Wei Qing's first visit. In a flashback, Wei An explained that Wei Qing's severe mysophobia caused red rashes after skin contact. The 18-year-old Wei Qing refused to visit a hospital, deeming it dirty, and bitterly stated that his mother cared more for a stray cat than for him. During that session, he took a call to attend a party.
Despite the doctor's warning that his severe allergy could trigger shock, Wei Qing insisted on going, hoping to find a woman he could touch without a reaction, and told the doctor to cure his illness but stay out of his private life. Returning to the present, the doctor expressed her happiness at his progress, calling Zhou Shi his "lucky star."
Wei Qing asked for advice on how to be kind to a girl without spending money or giving gifts, a test from Zhou Shi. The doctor advised him to learn her current needs, noting that women often confide their true desires in their close friends. To learn Zhou Shi's plans, Wei An went to a shoe store and bought every pair of shoes that Lin Feifei tried on.
He then reported his findings to Wei Qing: Zhou Shi intended to confess her feelings to Li Ming Cheng at his birthday party. Wei Qing reacted with a surprised "Again?" Speculating that Zhou Shi prioritized a successful confession over any gift, he instructed Wei An to send several staff members from the publicity department to her college to help.
Bi Qiu Jing met Li Ming Cheng and presented her gift: a 2D solar system model and a stack of 2,700 sheets of A4 paper. She pointed out that his hand-drawn diagrams were proportionally inaccurate and challenged him to redraw the solar system to scale on the provided paper. Defeated, Li Ming Cheng vowed to win against her one day, but Bi Qiu Jing dismissed him as uninteresting and "unworthy of Zhou Shi" before leaving.
Moments later, a campus reporter approached him for an interview. Wei Qing showed Zhou Shi the video of the interview, in which Li Ming Cheng described his ideal girlfriend: smart, with glasses, short hair with a fringe, little makeup, and a casual, tomboyish style. Wei Qing suggested she adopt this look and took her for a makeover. After many outfits, they found a perfect match.
He told her the real reason her past confessions failed was a lack of confidence and began a special training session. He later admitted to Wei An that he knew Li Ming Cheng didn't like Zhou Shi but wanted to help her try so she would have no regrets. Back home, Zhou Shi saw Ning Fei drawing and commented that his style resembled the famous artist Xun Ran. Ning Fei confirmed he emulated him.
Knowing Ning Fei learned from Wei Qing's father, she asked about Wei Qing's past. Ning Fei shared a memory of his uncle (Wei Qing's father) praising his art for its "passion" while criticizing Wei Qing's technically proficient but passionless work, declaring Ning Fei his true artistic heir. This angered Wei Qing. Ning Fei explained his uncle was just trying to motivate Wei Qing, but he never understood.
He also revealed that the hostility between Wei Qing and his mother stemmed from his father's death, for which his mother blames him. Just then, Bi Qiu Jing returned, looking exactly like Li Ming Cheng's ideal type. Zhou Shi had a sudden realization. The next day, Zhou Shi asked Li Ming Cheng if he liked anyone, and he said no. When asked about Bi Qiu Jing, he called her a formidable "rival" he hoped to surpass, but nothing more.
Reassured, Zhou Shi returned to Wei Qing to resume her training. To make it more realistic, Wei Qing put on glasses to impersonate Li Ming Cheng, making Zhou Shi laugh. Under his guidance, she finally delivered an emotional confession. She spoke of her childhood crush, her efforts to catch up to him, and her exhaustion from the chase. She tearfully asked "Li Ming Cheng" to stop and wait for her.
Deeply moved, Wei Qing pulled her into a hug, telling her to "stop running" and that she was "good enough," before softly saying, "I like you." Overwhelmed, Zhou Shi cried happily. They embraced and leaned in for a kiss, only to be interrupted by Wei An.
Episode 14 Recap
Following their emotional practice session, Wei Qing confessed his feelings for Zhou Shi, telling her she no longer needed to run. Encouraged by Wei An, who assured her the confession to Li Ming Cheng would be a success, Zhou Shi spent three days and nights meticulously practicing calligraphy. She prepared Su Shi's "The Latter Ode of the Red Cliff" as a birthday gift for Li Ming Cheng, noting how exhausted the effort left her.
She also set aside another piece she'd written in a bad mood, intending to give it to "the most annoying person" she knew. On the night of Li Ming Cheng's birthday, Wei Qing picked Zhou Shi up, wishing her luck and handing her a gift to open later. At their apartment, Lin Feifei told Ning Fei she was leaving to meet a brand collaborator with Director He. A visibly upset Ning Fei silently closed the curtain on her.
After Feifei left, Ning Fei went to a convenience store, but after chasing a stray cat, he found himself lost. Meanwhile, Lin Feifei was about to join Director He at his home to sample new red wines when she received a distressed call from Ning Fei. She lied to Director He that a friend's ill-tempered cat was lost and needed her help.
When he suggested the cat should be left to suffer a bit to learn its lesson, Feifei's heart softened. Seeing a stray cat on the steps, she abruptly canceled on Director He, promising to reschedule, and left to find Ning Fei. A surprised Director He muttered about being stood up by "Wei Qing's ex-girlfriend." When Zhou Shi arrived at the astronomy club, dressed as Li Ming Cheng's ideal type as Wei Qing had suggested, she found him celebrating with classmates.
Her arrival went unnoticed until she shouted into a microphone. Bi Qiu Jing found her appearance strange, and Zhang Ran Yu mocked her for wearing a wig, prompting an annoyed Zhou Shi to tear off her disguise. Back at his house, Wei Qing examined the calligraphy scroll Zhou Shi had left with him and realized she had taken the wrong one to the party. He immediately drove to the club to deliver the correct gift.
At the party, Zhang Ran Yu presented Li Ming Cheng with an expensive, latest-model camera as a gift for the club. When it was Zhou Shi's turn, she unrolled her calligraphy scroll, revealing the words "Forever Alone," stunning everyone. Deeply embarrassed, Zhou Shi pulled Li Ming Cheng aside to explain she had brought the wrong piece, one she wrote for fun.
Li Ming Cheng, while acknowledging her effort, mused that someone like him, dense about romance, might indeed be "destined to be alone." Just then, Zhang Ran Yu pulled him away to sing. Feeling defeated, Zhou Shi watched them, thinking how well-matched they seemed. In the restroom, she lamented being inferior to Zhang Ran Yu in looks and to Bi Qiu Jing in intelligence, feeling unworthy of Li Ming Cheng.
Yet, she affirmed that her feelings for him were deeper than anyone's, even if she lacked the courage to confess. Lin Feifei frantically searched for Ning Fei, eventually finding him on some steps. She chided him for not waiting at the convenience store as instructed, but he insisted she had only told him to wait in place. He then remarked that her perfume "smelled," prompting her to retort that it was expensive.
Seeing him shivering, she wrapped her scarf around both their necks to share warmth as they walked home. Wei Qing found a tearful Zhou Shi in a school hallway and took her to his house, where they began drinking by his swimming pool. Zhou Shi lamented her unrequited love, recalling how Li Ming Cheng had taught her to swim and how she only ever got drunk around him because she trusted him to protect her.
Wei Qing teased her dedication and challenged her to a drinking contest. Elsewhere, Li Ming Cheng couldn't reach Zhou Shi. He noticed Zhang Ran Yu asleep on a sofa and considerately covered her with his jacket. Seeing this, Bi Qiu Jing sarcastically commented on his tenderness, angry that Zhou Shi's devotion was being wasted.
She then revealed she knew Zhou Shi's location via a tracking software she had created for Zhou Shi's safety during her night shifts, which could even access surveillance footage. Li Ming Cheng, shocked, accused her of invading Zhou Shi's privacy, but Bi Qiu Jing retorted that he should care more about her safety. At that moment, a power outage hit the area, announced as circuit maintenance that would last an hour.
As they drank, Wei Qing lit special candles with a unique scent. A very drunk Zhou Shi correctly identified the notes of white musk, jasmine, rose, and ambergris, ignoring Wei Qing's warning that there might be an issue with them. Feeling dizzy, she leaned on him and drunkenly confronted him, asking if he liked her.
Though he denied it, she listed his actions—the contract, paying her father's debts, wanting to be friends—as "men's tactics" used on her because she was "so adorable." Wei Qing countered that if she were so confident, she should have confessed to Li Ming Cheng. Zhou Shi praised Wei Qing's looks but declared he had no chance, as she was set on Li Ming Cheng.
When Wei Qing insisted his actions were "to treat his sickness," she comically misinterpreted it as "love sickness" and demanded he confess what he liked about her. He then listed her qualities: her non-allergic touch, beauty, strength, honesty, and independence, concluding that she didn't need to change for anyone. Deeply moved, Zhou Shi passionately kissed him. As he returned the kiss, he accidentally knocked a jewelry box into the pool.
The splash triggered a childhood memory for Zhou Shi of a perfect test paper falling into water, and she instinctively moved to retrieve it. Wei Qing held her back, and they continued to kiss in the water. After the power came back on, Li Ming Cheng suggested he and Bi Qiu Jing go look at the full moon.
Worried about Zhou Shi, Bi Qiu Jing initially refused, but Li Ming Cheng calmly stated that Zhou Shi must trust Wei Qing to drink with him. He then confessed that he had watched Zhou Shi grow up and saw her "just like my own sister." Hearing this, a disappointed Bi Qiu Jing realized a relationship between them was impossible and agreed to go see the moon.
The next morning, Zhou Shi awoke in Wei Qing's bed, wearing his pajamas and with no undergarments on. Flashbacks of the night flooded her mind. Furious, she got up to confront him. Meanwhile, Wei Qing was preparing for a video board meeting. Wei An briefed him on talent recruitment and Director He's absence due to illness. Wei Qing instructed him not to rush appointing a new personal assistant, hinting he had someone in mind.
During the meeting, the board raised concerns over Yun Ma Artwork's operating deficits, especially the gallery business, and proposed dismissing Director He. Wei Qing defended him, stating no one in the group was more qualified. A board member then revealed that the Snow Group was interested in acquiring Yun Ma Artwork.
Episode 15 Recap
During a video conference, Wei Qing was being challenged by the board members, who expressed concern over the Yun Ma Group's art gallery business operating at a loss. They also mentioned the Snow Group's interest in acquiring Yun Ma Artwork. The discussion was abruptly interrupted when Zhou Shi burst into the room, demanding to know if Wei Qing had undressed her the previous night. Startled, Wei Qing quickly ended the video call.
Zhou Shi then realized the board members had likely seen her, leading to immense embarrassment and anger. She blamed Wei Qing, who retorted that she was the one who entered without knocking. Still unsettled, Zhou Shi pressed Wei Qing for details about the previous night. Wei Qing explained that after Zhou Shi had gone to give a calligraphy gift to Li Ming Cheng, he found her drunk.
He had intended to take her home, but she insisted on coming to his house to continue drinking. She subsequently fell into the swimming pool, and he rescued her, brought her to a room, and had the housekeeper change her clothes, as Zhou Shi had vomited on herself. Reassured that nothing untoward had occurred, Zhou Shi praised Wei Qing as a gentleman, contrasting it with her previous negative perceptions of him. She agreed to continue interacting, but strictly as friends.
During breakfast, Wei Qing saw a notification on his phone, revealing that Li Ming Cheng had applied for Yun Ma Group's annual talent scheme. Wei Qing expressed skepticism, noting Li Ming Cheng's physics background and lack of competitive experience for a business role. Zhou Shi, however, passionately defended Li Ming Cheng, urging Wei Qing to grant him a personal interview.
Despite his policy of never personally interviewing candidates, Wei Qing relented to Zhou Shi’s persistent pleas, agreeing to the interview but emphasizing Li Ming Cheng's success would depend solely on his own merit. Meanwhile, Bi Qiu Jing discovered that Zhou Shi's phone location had remained stationary since the previous night, concluding she had stayed at Wei Qing's house. While she was discussing Zhou Shi's whereabouts, Li Ming Cheng secretly hacked her computer and deleted the location tracking code.
Undeterred, Bi Qiu Jing quickly updated her system with an upgraded code, commenting on Li Ming Cheng's foolishness. Shortly after, Li Ming Cheng texted Bi Qiu Jing, inviting her to unbox a newly arrived planetarium projector with him. As they lay together on the floor, enchanted by the projector's vivid display of stars and meteor showers, Bi Qiu Jing explained her lifelong dream of being a seafarer, which was thwarted by her parents' insistence on a bachelor's degree.
She recounted how she reluctantly chose chemistry at Guang Hua Academy as a recommended student, and even took the college entrance exam just for the "experience," missing the Chinese exam due to seafood poisoning that required a stomach pump. She playfully asserted that studying should be "fun," a perspective that began to influence Li Ming Cheng. Soon after, Li Ming Cheng received a call for an interview at Yun Ma Group that very afternoon.
Wei Qing later suggested Zhou Shi consider working as a front desk receptionist at Yun Ma. Zhou Shi was hesitant, feeling she shouldn't betray Ning Fei's kindness, as he had helped her get the gallery job. Wei Qing, sensing her connection to Ning Fei and probing their relationship, gave her a day to decide, implying he wouldn't always be so generous.
Later, Zhou Shi discovered numerous missed calls and returned one to Lin Feifei, who scolded her for staying out all night. Zhou Shi reassured her she was fine and promised to treat their friends to barbecue. Wei Qing, overhearing her conversation, commented on Lin Feifei's loud voice. Meanwhile, Teacher Xiao found Zhou Shi, who initially tried to avoid him, fearing he was chasing her for tuition fees.
To her joyous surprise, Teacher Xiao announced that Yun Ma Group had increased its scholarship amounts, and after deducting her outstanding tuition, a significant surplus remained. Overwhelmed with relief and happiness, Zhou Shi immediately called Wei Qing to express her profound gratitude for the timely scholarship. Wei An reported to Wei Qing that Yun Ma Artwork's stock price had crashed.
He explained that a rumor had circulated online the previous night, stating that Yun Ma Group intended to sell Yun Ma Artwork as a negative asset. This led to a significant sell-off by stockholders when the market opened. Upon discovering the source of the large sell orders, Wei Qing was stunned to realize his own mother, He Yun, was responsible. Wei An suggested contacting Xue Zi directly, as He Yun would likely avoid him.
Li Ming Cheng arrived for his interview with Wei Qing, expressing nervousness at the Chairman's personal presence. Wei Qing acknowledged his impressive academic record in physics but questioned his shift to a completely new field. Li Ming Cheng candidly admitted he was only skilled at exam techniques, not true academic talent, and believed his opportunistic approach aligned with the boldness and quick thinking required in finance.
He revealed he'd been preparing for this for months and genuinely wanted to join Yun Ma because Wei Qing was his idol, praising Wei Qing's ability to transform a debt-ridden company into a comprehensive conglomerate in just ten years. Wei Qing dismissed the flattery, asking for a concrete reason to hire him.
Li Ming Cheng then presented a detailed analysis of Yun Ma, noting its success in other areas but persistent negative publicity and financial struggles in Yun Ma Artwork, save for the signing of artist Xun Ran. He offered a comprehensive proposal for Yun Ma Artwork's investment direction.
Impressed by his thorough preparation and understanding that Li Ming Cheng sought a role in the investment department, Wei Qing immediately hired him, instructing him to start the next day and stating he wanted Li Ming Cheng to "wake up" the ignorant company staff. Zhou Shi gathered her roommates, Lin Feifei and Bi Qiu Jing, along with Ning Fei and Li Ming Cheng for a hot pot celebration.
Zhou Shi tried to serve Li Ming Cheng, but he insisted on getting food from her while showing more attention to Bi Qiu Jing. Li Ming Cheng announced that he had secured a job at Yun Ma Group, revealing that Wei Qing himself interviewed him, which he correctly attributed to Zhou Shi's intervention.
He explained his decision to join Yun Ma, abandoning his initial plans for academia, was inspired by someone's advice to focus on enjoying the process rather than just winning or losing. Everyone raised a toast to his new career. Suddenly, Zhang Ran Yu arrived and announced she also got a job at Yun Ma, specifically in the administrative department, making her Li Ming Cheng's colleague.
Bi Qiu Jing and Lin Feifei reacted with annoyance, trying to hurry Zhang Ran Yu away. Provoked, Zhou Shi then stood up and declared that she too would be joining Yun Ma, though in a front desk position, much to the surprise of Li Ming Cheng and the others.
Zhou Shi returned home and informed Ning Fei of her decision to resign from the art gallery and join Yun Ma, explaining that Li Ming Cheng and Zhang Ran Yu would also be working there. Ning Fei supported her choice, stating she should do whatever makes her happy. The next day, as Zhou Shi prepared to submit her resignation at the gallery, she encountered Xue Zi. Xue Zi, despite a previous meeting, didn't recognize Zhou Shi.
They bonded over their shared appreciation for Xun Ran's art. Xue Zi, having studied his works extensively, revealed a secret: Xun Ran subtly embeds the character "Ran" into every one of his paintings, a detail most overlook. Zhou Shi was astonished and confirmed it upon inspection. Xue Zi also casually mentioned that the gallery was soon to have a new owner, a comment that intrigued Zhou Shi.
Later that evening, at a convenience store, Ning Fei quibbled with Lin Feifei about her excessive purchases, questioning if they could fit it all in the fridge or even carry it home without a car. Lin Feifei playfully teased him about his wealth. Their bickering was interrupted by the arrival of He Wei, who expressed surprise at seeing Lin Feifei in a supermarket.
He Wei then suggested they share a shopping cart due to the narrow aisle, explicitly stating it was an excuse to get "closer," much to Lin Feifei's obvious delight. He revealed the large quantity of meat he bought was for his cat. After submitting her resignation, Zhou Shi saw Wei Qing and Xue Zi engaged in a conversation and discreetly hid to listen.
Xue Zi, acknowledging Wei Qing's proposal, stated that Snow Group's intended acquisition of Yun Ma Artwork was a headquarters decision and that her influence was limited. Wei Qing challenged this, asserting that given Yun Ma's scale, such an acquisition wouldn't require headquarters approval, implying Xue Zi had more power as the presumed heir of Snow Group.
Xue Zi retorted that if Wei Qing truly wished to halt the acquisition, he should first persuade his mother, He Yun, to cease her massive stock sell-off, which she claimed was the real impetus. Xue Zi also revealed a rumor that Wei Qing himself intended to separate Yun Ma's art gallery operations and terminate artist contracts, which would explain He Yun's desperation.
Wei Qing vehemently denied these allegations, emphasizing the gallery's importance as Yun Ma's origin and his father's legacy, and the artists as invaluable assets. He dismissed the claims as rumors, perhaps fueled by his mother's misunderstanding. Xue Zi then brought up another rumor: Wei Qing's strained relationship with the prominent artist Xun Ran and his past threat to sell the gallery established for him.
Suddenly, a noise from behind the wall revealed Zhou Shi, who had accidentally knocked something over while eavesdropping. Xue Zi, noticing Zhou Shi, abruptly concluded their discussion. She bid Wei Qing farewell with a kiss on the cheek, whispering her preference for "more intimate cooperation" with him rather than just focusing on Yun Ma Artwork. After Xue Zi departed, Zhou Shi was surprised to see Wei Qing's neck and ears covered in red rashes.
Episode 16 Recap
Zhou Shi was surprised to see Wei Qing’s ear turn red after his interaction with Xue Zi. As she tried to take a closer look, Wei Qing stopped her. Learning that she was there to resign from the art gallery, he instructed her to report for work at Yun Ma the following day. At the convenience store, He Wei paid for Lin Feifei’s items and offered to drive her home. Noticing Ning Fei’s displeased gaze, He Wei discreetly excused himself.
Feifei chastised Ning Fei for ruining her plans, but Ning Fei insisted that He Wei, who is their landlady He Yun's younger brother, was not a good person. Frustrated by his claims, Feifei stormed off. Meanwhile, He Wei, observing Feifei's connections with both Wei Qing and Ning Fei, decided to continue pursuing her, curious to uncover what made her so captivating.
Later, after Lin Feifei relayed Ning Fei’s negative comments about He Wei, Zhou Shi also warned her that He Wei was a known playboy who changed girlfriends frequently. Feifei retorted that Wei Qing was similar, but Zhou Shi defended Wei Qing, stating he had always been respectful towards her and that their drunken encounter was an isolated incident. She added that her heart belonged to Li Ming Cheng.
Feifei, however, sensed a subtle connection between Bi Qiu Jing and Li Ming Cheng. Zhou Shi dismissed the idea, believing they were simply academic equals "caring for each other" and knowing that Bi Qiu Jing was a "black hole in relationships" with no interest in dating. Ning Fei was focused on a design for galaxy-themed jewelry.
He recalled Wei Qing's past instructions to create a design that would impress Xue Zi, warning that if he failed, many art galleries would be forced to close. Wei Qing had given him half a month to help protect his father's legacy. While observing Ning Fei's artwork, Zhou Shi was surprised to find the character “Ran” hidden within it, a secret she had learned about from Xue Zi. Ning Fei quickly claimed he had merely imitated it.
Zhou Shi then commented that Xun Ran’s recent works felt more humane, unlike his previous, often gloomy pieces, as if he had "found a place where he belongs." The next day, Zhang Ran Yu and Zhou Shi reported to Yun Ma Group. While sharing an elevator, Zhou Shi asked Zhang Ran Yu why she hadn't chosen to work in the investment department with Li Ming Cheng.
Zhang Ran Yu bluntly stated she wasn't content with just Li Ming Cheng, dismissing him as someone who was only impressive within the confines of Kwang Hua University. Her true ambition was Wei Qing, whom she considered "the main course," and her purpose in joining Yun Ma was to create opportunities to get closer to him. Afterwards, Zhang Ran Yu attempted to meet Wei Qing at the chairman’s office but was stopped by Assistant An.
Wei Qing appeared at the reception desk, instructing Zhou Shi that she must address him as "Chairman" at the company. He then ordered her to summon Li Ming Cheng. When Zhou Shi questioned the order, Wei Qing reprimanded her, emphasizing that as an employee, she must execute instructions without asking questions. Zhou Shi obediently went to call Li Ming Cheng, and Wei Qing watched her leave, struggling to suppress a smile.
Wei Qing informed Li Ming Cheng that his analysis regarding the internal issues at Yun Ma Artwork was spot on. He explained that the situation was complex and required a thorough investigation. However, he warned that the person leading the investigation would likely face threats and ostracism, and in a desperate situation, might even need to be "sacrificed." He needed someone he trusted implicitly for the task, and Li Ming Cheng willingly accepted.
While eavesdropping outside the door, Zhou Shi was caught by Wei Qing, who then reassigned her from the investment department reception to his own office. At a photoshoot, He Wei's deliberate intimacy with Lin Feifei led to her being ostracized by a fellow model, who accused the part-timer of using the official models' area. After Feifei argued back, He Wei promptly arrived, suspended the model for "unfit behavior," and gifted the expensive designer clothes Feifei was wearing as compensation.
He then offered her a new position as his process editor, which Lin Feifei delightedly accepted. Assistant An expressed concern that Zhou Shi lacked the experience for the personal assistant role. To motivate Zhou Shi, Wei Qing arranged for Zhang Ran Yu to work alongside her for a one-month trial period, after which only the best candidate would be chosen. Spurred on by the challenge, Zhou Shi accepted. Zhang Ran Yu quickly adapted to her role, but Zhou Shi struggled.
She attempted to mimic Zhang Ran Yu by answering a call but was mocked for her poor English. Later, Zhang Ran Yu suggested to Wei Qing that he dismiss Zhou Shi directly, but Wei Qing reprimanded her for questioning his decision and instructed that future document deliveries be handled by Zhou Shi. After this, Zhang Ran Yu's attitude towards Zhou Shi softened, and Zhou Shi began to humbly seek her guidance. Zhou Shi worked diligently, staying late to study.
Wei Qing encouraged her, telling her not to embarrass him. Privately, he confided in Assistant An that if Zhou Shi could last the month, she might become a valuable helper. Wei Qing also acknowledged that placing Li Ming Cheng in his role was a "risky move," hoping it was the right decision. That evening, Feifei returned home to find Zhou Shi studying business English. A knock on the door revealed Li Ming Cheng.
Bi Qiu Jing, who answered, tried to shut the door on him, but Feifei let him in. He had come to ask Bi Qiu Jing for help with confidential Yun Ma accounts. Bi Qiu Jing was initially reluctant but agreed at Zhou Shi’s pleading. As they worked, Li Ming Cheng tenderly fed a snack to Bi Qiu Jing, leaving Zhou Shi with a pang of discomfort.
Soon, Bi Qiu Jing identified several issues, and the two launched into an intense discussion, making Zhou Shi feel completely excluded. Disheartened, she quietly left the room. Wei Qing went to see his mother, He Yun, and found Ning Fei already there. Wei Qing confronted his mother about her private transfer of company shares, but she was defiant, retorting that the board was pushing her out anyway.
She explained that she transferred the shares to protect her late husband’s artistic legacy from the group's commercialism. Wei Qing countered that he had never interfered with her management and was actively working to resolve the gallery's deficits, reminding her that Xue Zi's company wouldn't acquire a losing asset for charity. He Yun insisted Xue Zi had promised to preserve the gallery's artistic freedom, angering Wei Qing that she trusted an outsider over him.
She then accused him of using Xun Ran as a gimmick for a cross-over design project, which caused the artist to miss his exhibition. Ning Fei interjected, clarifying that he had designed the jewelry voluntarily to prevent the gallery from being sold. He Yun gently told Ning Fei that the gallery was being handed to someone who understands art and that his talent was meant for painting.
Episode 17 Recap
He Yun accused Wei Qing of using Xun Ran for commercial gain by involving him in cross-industry designs, which she claimed disrupted Xun Ran's own art exhibition. Ning Fei interjected, stating that he participated willingly because he didn't want his uncle's gallery to be sold. He Yun, however, dismissed the artistic value of luxury goods, contrasting them with paintings whose value, she argued, was truly appreciated by buyers, unlike luxury items bought merely by those with money following trends.
He Wei then stepped in, revealing that he was now the manager of Yun Ma Artwork and that his sister, He Yun, the largest shareholder, only managed the gallery section. He arrogantly boasted that he could easily manipulate Xue Zi through Xun Ran's brokerage contract, as she was a loyal fan of the artist. Tired of the confrontation, He Yun asked them to leave.
Wei Qing tried to appeal to his mother to resolve their issues, but she firmly refused, stating that some problems could only be avoided, not solved. He Wei advised Wei Qing to stop meddling with the acquisition, asserting that Wei Qing lacked the influence to make Xue Zi relinquish her shares. Wei Qing scoffed, claiming superior skill in dealing with women.
He Wei countered by listing Wei Qing's past relationships, including Lin Feifei, who, he provocatively stated, was now "under his spell" despite Wei Qing's expensive gifts like a limited-edition Patek Philippe watch. He Wei then taunted him further, producing a watch and sarcastically offering to lend it to him.
Wei Qing fiercely warned He Wei to stay away from Lin Feifei, but He Wei remained unfazed, expressing growing interest in her and revealing that, thanks to Wei Qing's ex-girlfriends, he now knew why Wei Qing wore gloves. Wei Qing, fuming but restrained by the fear of angering his mother, could only glare as He Wei promised a "huge present" for him at Xue Zi's upcoming mini salon party.
After Wei Qing departed, Ning Fei confronted He Wei, warning him not to touch Lin Feifei. However, Ning Fei's warning only fueled He Wei's determination to pursue her. He Yun, in her room, gently touched her late husband's photograph, feeling it was her duty to bring Yun Ma Artwork to an end on her own terms, rather than see it destroyed in someone else's hands.
She recalled the reading of Wei Heng's will, which designated Wei Qing as the sole person in charge of Yun Ma Artwork after his passing. He Yun vehemently opposed this, claiming Yun Ma belonged to them. Wei Qing initially refused the inheritance, stating he would only ruin the company and suggested his mother manage it. However, the lawyer revealed a condition: Wei Heng had left a letter for Wei Qing to be opened only if he declined the inheritance.
Wei Qing then accepted the responsibility, citing it as his father's will. He Yun pleaded with him to reconsider, emphasizing that Yun Ma held all her memories with her husband and that she would be left with nothing without it. She offered Wei Qing money, urging him to pursue his own interests, but insisted on having Yun Ma. Wei Qing refused to give her the letter.
He Yun, enraged, accused him of using Yun Ma to threaten her due to her past strictness. Despite Wei Qing's denial, He Yun stormed out, tearfully blaming him for his father's death and stating she couldn't face him. As Wei Qing watched her car drive away, he was overcome with a splitting headache, a recurring sensation that brought visions of his hands covered in blood. These unsettling visions frequently haunted his nightmares.
Awakening from such a dream, Wei Qing reread his father's letter, his resolve firm to prove his father's choice was correct. Bi Qiu Jing and Li Ming Cheng worked tirelessly through the night, finally uncovering the financial discrepancy within the gallery. Li Ming Cheng explained that the gallery had manipulated its books by counting advance payments as profit, making the actual profit less than half of what was officially reported.
This method allowed them to conceal capital outflows from other projects, leading to a deficit in the main company's accounts, while Yun Ma's financial statements appeared consistent. Li Ming Cheng described the person behind this scheme as "too cunning" and stated their next step was to identify the legal entity receiving the suspicious capital flow. He then thoughtfully covered a sleeping Bi Qiu Jing with a blanket. Afterwards, he found Zhou Shi waiting for him in the living room.
Zhou Shi offered him to rest, but Li Ming Cheng politely declined, eager to return home and urged her to get some sleep. In the company elevator, Wei Qing noticed Zhou Shi yawning and remarked that she seemed to have insomnia, much like himself, who had suffered a nightmare. He invited her to his office for coffee. Soon after, Wei An presented the first batch of Xun Ran's "Starry Sky series necklace."
Wei Qing expressed admiration for Xun Ran's ability to infuse artistic flair into commercial products and instructed Wei An to deliver the necklace to Xue Zi. Later, he found Zhou Shi asleep and gently carried her to the sofa in his office. Zhou Shi, while sleeping, dreamt of Wei Qing questioning her affections and why she "pestered" him. She awoke with a jolt, accidentally scalding herself with coffee before spraying Wei Qing in her startled reaction.
He made her promise not to reveal the coffee incident to anyone. Outside his office, Zhang Ran Yu, noticing Wei Qing's perfume on Zhou Shi, along with her messy hair, red face, and rapid breathing, assumed an intimate encounter had occurred and grew furious with resentment towards Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi, mortified by the memory of her drunken kiss with Wei Qing, resolved to keep that secret at all costs.
Meanwhile, Xue Zi received the necklace, expressed her profound appreciation, and extended an invitation to Wei Qing for a mini salon party at her villa the following day. In her workroom, Lin Feifei was taking selfies when He Wei deliberately positioned himself next to her. He encouraged her to post their photo together, offering to edit it for her social media.
Lin Feifei excitedly shared her plans to attend a class reunion the next day, explaining that such gatherings were like "shows" to display one's achievements. She confirmed she would bring a male companion to avoid mockery, proudly announcing that her "Mr. Perfect," He Wei, had agreed to accompany her. After work, Wei Qing summoned Zhou Shi to his office and presented her with a beautiful necklace.
Zhou Shi was captivated by Xun Ran's design, particularly his use of moldavite, and asked to try it on, declaring it a guaranteed future "hit." Wei Qing teasingly told her she was fortunate merely to wear it, as such expensive pieces were meant for VIP clients like Xue Zi. When Zhou Shi attempted to remove it, she found it wouldn't come off.
Wei Qing then claimed he had forgotten the necklace's initial passcode and that the only way to remove it was to "disassemble" it. He warned that each bead alone was worth months of her salary and that disassembly would render it irreparable. Terrified by the prospect of immense debt, Zhou Shi panicked.
Wei Qing, amused by her distress, casually told her she could keep her head for one more day if she agreed to accompany him to a party the following afternoon. Later that evening, back at home, Zhou Shi asked Ning Fei for help with the necklace just as a sudden power outage occurred. When the lights flickered back on, Lin Feifei emerged in a striking, low-cut gown, excitedly boasting about bringing her "Mr. Perfect," He Wei, to her class reunion.
Visibly upset by the mention of He Wei, Ning Fei abruptly left. Zhou Shi followed him outside, where Ning Fei revealed that He Wei was a "bad man" who had frequently bullied Wei Qing in their childhood and tried to involve Ning Fei in his schemes. Zhou Shi suggested Ning Fei try to talk sense into Lin Feifei.
Ning Fei then easily unclasped Zhou Shi's necklace, explaining that the "combination lock" was merely a deceptive facade; the actual lock was a simple hook, designed to mislead people into focusing on the complex "password." The next morning, Zhou Shi confronted Wei Qing about his prank with the necklace. Wei Qing, ignoring her complaints, gently put the necklace back on her, reiterating his expectation for her to attend the afternoon banquet.
He assigned her the role of his "bodyguard," not a "vase," and laid out three strict rules: she must remain within one meter of him at all times, prevent anyone, regardless of gender, from approaching him within half a meter, and absolutely no one was to touch him. He explained that unlike large public events, a private party offered less room to maintain distance, thus making her primary duty to act as his "human shield."
Wei Qing then took her hand and walked out of the office. Watching this, Zhang Ran Yu seethed with anger just as she received a phone call from He Wei. At Xue Zi's salon party, Zhou Shi entered hand-in-hand with Wei Qing, diligently fulfilling her role as his bodyguard. She intercepted Xue Zi's attempt to shake Wei Qing's hand, only stepping aside when Wei Qing physically moved her.
While snacking, Zhou Shi overheard He Wei instructing someone to ensure Wei Qing had a miserable time. Meanwhile, at her class reunion, Lin Feifei anxiously awaited He Wei, who was conspicuously absent. Inside the party, Wei Qing engaged Xue Zi in a discussion about Yun Ma Artwork. He proposed a mutually beneficial collaboration, warning that he could easily inflate her acquisition costs by spreading false rumors about a potential partnership or by introducing other bidders.
Xue Zi, intrigued, gently removed Wei Qing's glove, stating that while her initial interest in acquiring Yun Ma was due to Xun Ran, she was open to stopping if presented with a better proposition. Just as Wei Qing prepared to respond, Zhang Ran Yu dramatically led a group of Wei Qing's ex-girlfriends towards him, a "huge present" orchestrated by He Wei.
Zhou Shi confronted He Wei about standing up Lin Feifei, but he callously dismissed the reunion, stating there was a "more interesting show" unfolding right there. Realizing Lin Feifei was in trouble, Zhou Shi quickly pulled out her phone to warn her as Wei Qing found himself pursued by his enraged former partners.
Episode 18 Recap
At Xue Zi's party, Zhou Shi found He Wei had stood up Lin Feifei, so she sent Lin Feifei's class reunion address to Ning Fei, asking him to notify Lin Feifei since her own phone was dying. Meanwhile, Wei Qing was being relentlessly pursued by his ex-girlfriends, almost falling into the pool. Zhou Shi quickly came to his rescue, pulling him behind a pillar.
She playfully remarked that he had already swam twice in just a few days, which made Wei Qing realize Zhou Shi had recalled their drunken encounter at his house. Seeing the ex-girlfriends still approaching and Wei Qing's leg cramping, Zhou Shi put him onto a small cart and pushed him away to escape. Upstairs, He Wei watched the chaotic scene with Xue Zi, who seemed indifferent to the spectacle.
He Wei stated that Wei Qing always wore gloves and that his relationships with those ex-girlfriends only involved hand-holding, with no other physical contact before they quickly broke up, suggesting something was problematic. He acknowledged Xue Zi's affection for Wei Qing and expressed concern that Wei Qing might trick her, affecting their collaboration, adding that Wei Qing couldn't give her anything.
Xue Zi cut him off, asserting that what she truly desired, He Wei couldn't give her, but assured him that their collaboration would not be affected. At the class reunion, Lin Feifei was being mocked by her classmates for He Wei's absence, with some even questioning if her designer clothes were rented, pointing out the tag was still on. Just as she was cornered and embarrassed, Ning Fei arrived, apologizing for being stuck in traffic.
He boldly declared himself Lin Feifei's boyfriend. The classmates, impressed by his handsome looks and tall stature, asked if he was a model, to which Ning Fei replied he was into art and not yet nineteen. Lin Feifei, playing along, feigned annoyance, chiding him for his lateness, which had led her classmates to call her a pitiful single woman and a liar. Ning Fei apologized and offered to pay the bill.
When Lin Feifei later claimed to be tired, Ning Fei playfully offered to carry her, much to her feigned embarrassment but inner delight. She jokingly told him he would have to sleep in the living room that night. After dropping Wei Qing at his home, Zhou Shi confronted him about his unusual behavior. She pointed out his inconsistent actions and recognized his recent reaction as a severe allergic reaction. She directly asked if he was allergic to people.
Wei Qing admitted it was more or less like that, revealing that since he turned eighteen, he developed rashes whenever he touched someone, regardless of gender or age, with no exception—except for her. He recounted how Wei An had once knocked him unconscious to take him to the hospital for tests, but the issue was left unsettled due to the numerous potential causes.
Zhou Shi realized that all of Wei Qing's previous advances were merely experiments to test his condition, without any real feelings for her. Disappointed, she initially refused to cooperate with his treatment. However, Wei Qing cornered her on the sofa and explained that his doctor believed his illness was primarily psychological, stemming from an inner rejection of human contact. He suggested that if his psychological issue could be resolved, his physical condition would also improve.
As Zhou Shi was the only person he didn't react to, he hoped her help could enable him to accept others. Zhou Shi agreed to cooperate with his treatment, strictly limiting it to physical contact. Wei Qing playfully teased her, promising not to do anything as long as she didn't get drunk and force a kiss on him, leading to Zhou Shi playfully pinching his ear as they both burst into laughter.
The following day, Wei An informed Zhang Ran Yu that she was dismissed, stating Wei Qing's decision was final and that she would receive thirteen months' salary as compensation. Zhang Ran Yu confronted Zhou Shi, resentfully telling her, "Don't be so pleased with yourself. One day, he will eventually dump you." Shortly after, Wei An announced to a surprised Zhou Shi that she had officially become the Chairman's Special Assistant.
He Wei came to Lin Feifei's workplace, presenting her with flowers and inviting her to dinner to apologize for missing the reunion. However, Lin Feifei refused both, returning the dress he had given her. She told him not to involve her, an outsider, in his grudges with Wei Qing. Lin Feifei revealed that Ning Fei had told her how He Wei had always liked to bully Wei Qing since they were young and take his things.
She deduced that He Wei, jealous of Wei Qing's success, had continually instigated his own aunt, He Yun, to suppress Wei Qing. Lin Feifei explained that He Wei would pursue any woman Wei Qing dated, then break up with them shortly after winning them over. She finally understood that He Wei had pursued her only because she had worn Wei Qing's watch to her job interview, leading him to mistakenly believe she was Wei Qing's girlfriend.
He Wei, unflustered by being exposed, admitted that he had indeed pursued her for that reason. However, he then claimed that he was now genuinely interested in her not because of her association with anyone else, but because she was unique. Li Ming Cheng reported to Wei Qing on his investigation into the missing funds.
Wei Qing cautioned him that someone likely already knew about his investigation and would soon formulate a counter-strategy, stating his intention was to lure them out. He instructed Li Ming Cheng to avoid the company for the time being, telling him to contact Wei An if anything came up. Wei Qing specifically told Wei An not to inform Zhou Shi about Li Ming Cheng's mission. Later, Wei An discussed Wei Qing's treatment plan with Zhou Shi.
To help Wei Qing experience being in a crowd, Zhou Shi took him to a lively street food stall. She meticulously disinfected the table and chairs before Wei Qing would sit down. Their unusual behavior led other diners to mistake them for a famous actor and his assistant, resulting in many photos being taken. Wei Qing, a germaphobe, insisted on personally inspecting the kitchen's hygiene.
After their meal, Wei Qing complained his throat was itchy, suspecting the oil used in the food. Later, in the company lobby, Wei Qing almost tripped, and Zhou Shi quickly caught him, an action that again drew curious glances and photos. During a board meeting, a director reported that a newbie, Li Ming Cheng, was suspected of reselling the company's stock research report and leaking company secrets.
Zhou Shi, entering the meeting room with coffee, overheard this and was so shocked that she spilled coffee all over the table. She immediately tried to call Li Ming Cheng but his phone was off. After the meeting, Zhou Shi earnestly defended Li Ming Cheng to Wei Qing, vouching for his character as a righteous person who had never even cheated before. Wei Qing, however, stated that with evidence present, Li Ming Cheng was suspended.
He warned Zhou Shi that if she kept pleading, he would call the police to arrest him immediately. Frightened, Zhou Shi stopped, though Wei Qing assured her he had already asked Wei An to investigate and would prove Li Ming Cheng's innocence if he was not at fault. Returning home, Zhou Shi burst into tears, confiding in Bi Qiu Jing about her worry for Li Ming Cheng.
Bi Qiu Jing calmly presented two possibilities: either the person who made the fake accounts discovered Li Ming Cheng and deliberately discredited him, or Li Ming Cheng actually sold the account details and was caught. Zhou Shi wanted to confront Li Ming Cheng, but Bi Qiu Jing cautioned against it, reminding her of the confidentiality agreement he had made her sign.
Bi Qiu Jing argued that the key to the issue lay not with Li Ming Cheng but with Wei Qing. She reasoned that a newbie like Li Ming Cheng could only access such confidential files if someone had put him up to it, suggesting Wei Qing was involved. She further speculated that Wei Qing might have chosen Li Ming Cheng because he was insignificant, making him less noticeable to the perpetrators and easily discarded if something went wrong.
Hearing this, Zhou Shi wept inconsolably, realizing Li Ming Cheng had been drawn into a dangerous storm. Later, Bi Qiu Jing met Li Ming Cheng at the astronomy club, where they observed star projections. Bi Qiu Jing told him that Zhou Shi was very worried about him. Li Ming Cheng stated, "Success or failure will be determined today."
Bi Qiu Jing astutely guessed that he had found out where the funds went and that it was part of a scheme he had made with Wei Qing. Li Ming Cheng acknowledged that he now had a choice: to announce the truth or pretend that he knew nothing, admitting the latter would be safer. Bi Qiu Jing encouraged him, comparing people to stars, each with their own orbits and paths.
She urged him to march forward bravely and not hesitate, saying that even if he became a shooting star, there was beauty in its fleeting moment. The next day, Zhou Shi anxiously asked Wei An if Li Ming Cheng had been arrested since his phone was still off. Wei An calmly reassured her, asking if she thought Li Ming Cheng was a villain. When Zhou Shi said no, Wei An advised her to continue to believe in him, explaining that her current worries demonstrated a lack of trust.
Episode 19 Recap
Zhou Shi continued to worry about Li Ming Cheng, whose phone remained off. Assistant An tried to reassure her, explaining that her worries indicated a lack of trust in Li Ming Cheng. Soon after, Assistant An was called into Wei Qing's office. Inside, Wei Qing directly confronted Li Ming Cheng, accusing him of betraying the company. However, Li Ming Cheng calmly reported that the investigation confirmed Wei Qing's suspicions: the issues were connected to Director He.
Li Ming Cheng revealed that Director He had secretly sought buyers for Yun Ma's art division shortly after returning to China months ago, and was later introduced to Xue Zi through He Wei. Furthermore, over the years, He Wei had continually instigated Director He to make numerous unnecessary investments, all recorded under He Wei's name, effectively keeping financial gains within his grasp.
Wei Qing acknowledged that someone had accused Li Ming Cheng of stealing company information right after he was assigned the investigation, confirming that He Wei had indeed planted numerous spies around him. Wei Qing expressed his dilemma, explaining that exposing this internal scheme would not only bring shame and financial loss to Yun Ma but also make him a laughing stock.
When asked what he would do in such a situation, Li Ming Cheng, drawing from the game of Go, advised that sometimes, to achieve overall victory, one must sacrifice pawns, especially those without powerful backgrounds. After Li Ming Cheng left Wei Qing's office, Zhou Shi, seeing his subdued demeanor, mistakenly believed he had been fired. She impulsively rushed into Wei Qing’s office, offering to do anything short of murder or arson if he would spare Li Ming Cheng.
She emphasized that Li Ming Cheng was like a brother to her and she would not let him be harmed. Zhou Shi even tried to leverage Wei Qing’s treatment, suggesting that her unhappiness over Li Ming Cheng’s fate would negatively impact her ability to assist his recovery. Wei Qing, amused by her persistent pleas, agreed to resolve Li Ming Cheng’s matter in the fairest way, though he secretly intended to let Zhou Shi worry for a few more days.
Afterwards, Wei Qing instructed Assistant An to quickly prepare the upstairs studio, as he planned to move in soon. That evening, Zhou Shi and Lin Feifei noticed numerous trucks arriving at their residence. Assistant An confirmed that it was Wei Qing who was moving into the apartment above them. Zhou Shi spent the night restless, agonizing over whether to call or text Li Ming Cheng.
Lin Feifei and Bi Qiu Jing advised her to let Li Ming Cheng have his space, pointing out that her interference could feel like "sprinkling salt on his wound." Lin Feifei then expressed her bewilderment as to why Wei Qing would move from his spacious villa with a swimming pool.
Zhou Shi was startled by the mention of the pool, prompting Bi Qiu Jing to admit she had seen it using tracking software when they were trying to locate Zhou Shi previously. Zhou Shi quickly made an excuse that Wei Qing simply desired a change of scenery and retreated to her room, leaving Lin Feifei and Bi Qiu Jing to suspect a hidden connection between her and Wei Qing.
The next morning, Zhou Shi approached Li Ming Cheng, still believing he had been terminated, and began to offer words of comfort. When she learned he was perfectly fine, she stormed into Wei Qing’s office. Wei Qing calmly explained that he had not only not fired Li Ming Cheng but had actually given him a promotion. He rebuked Zhou Shi for her ungratefulness and for shouting at him.
To "atone" for her behavior, Wei Qing granted her a day off to supervise the cleaning and preparation of his new studio, explaining that his move was primarily to be closer to Zhou Shi for more convenient treatment. Meanwhile, He Wei received news that the mole he had planted in Wei Qing's inner circle had been fired by Yun Ma Group and expressed his dissatisfaction with the mole's failure.
Later that day, He Wei tried to invite Lin Feifei to dinner. Lin Feifei, noticing another dinner invitation pop up on his phone, pointedly remarked that she was only free that day. She candidly told He Wei that despite what many people thought, she was not a gold-digger and invested her heart into every relationship, utterly despising deceit.
He Wei tried to salvage the situation, claiming he saw a unique future with her, but Lin Feifei was unyielding, declining his invitation. Wei Qing then met He Wei for dinner, where he produced Li Ming Cheng's detailed investigation report along with a stack of incriminating photos. Wei Qing offered to buy back He Wei's company shares at a premium and asserted that He Wei lacked the influence to disrupt his collaboration with Xue Zi.
He Wei retaliated by invoking his sister, Wei Qing’s mother, claiming that she and Wei Qing's father had co-founded Yun Ma and questioned why the Wei family now owned everything. Wei Qing retorted that Yun Ma was on the brink of collapse when he took over, and it was he who single-handedly expanded the group to its current scale.
He sternly warned He Wei that he would systematically remove every spy He Wei had planted around him, urging him to cease his petty schemes. In the newly refurbished upstairs studio, Lin Feifei admired the grand new space. Zhou Shi, who was there to supervise the cleaning, advised her friend to stop fixating on marrying into a wealthy family and instead seek a genuinely good man.
She playfully suggested Ning Fei, recounting how he had angrily left the house when he learned He Wei didn't attend Lin Feifei's reunion, implying he was jealous. As they discussed Ning Fei, who had been gone for two days on a sketching trip, he suddenly burst into the studio, tracking mud across the recently cleaned floor. Zhou Shi, exasperated, immediately shooed him outside. Ning Fei later presented Zhou Shi and Lin Feifei with paintings he had made for them.
Zhou Shi noticed that his paintings lacked the distinctive "Ran" character, a signature element of the artist Xun Ran. This detail, combined with her recollection of past conversations and Ning Fei’s peculiar behaviors, finally led Zhou Shi to a stunning realization: Ning Fei was in fact Xun Ran, her long-admired idol. Overjoyed, she found herself living under the same roof as him.
When Ning Fei emerged for a snack, Zhou Shi, still processing her discovery, cryptically told him that she was "ready" for whatever he wanted to tell her. Ning Fei, understanding her meaning, later discreetly asked Lin Feifei for help. He explained that Zhou Shi seemed to know his secret but he still wanted to tell her himself.
Lin Feifei, misunderstanding completely, assumed Ning Fei wanted to confess his romantic feelings for Zhou Shi and promised to help him set the right "atmosphere." After Ning Fei left, Lin Feifei felt a pang of sadness, lamenting that even a "good man" like Ning Fei was not destined to be hers. The following morning, He Wei waited outside for Lin Feifei, attempting to present her with a new car.
Just then, Ning Fei emerged, slung an arm around Lin Feifei, and declared himself her boyfriend. Lin Feifei quickly clarified that Ning Fei was just her roommate and proceeded to get into He Wei’s car. Ning Fei, enraged, grabbed He Wei, warning him not to hurt Lin Feifei. He Wei defiantly retorted that in a relationship, it takes two to tango, implying Ning Fei had no right to interfere.
Later, Li Ming Cheng chatted with Zhou Shi, promising her a special birthday gift and encouraging her to learn from Wei Qing. Zhou Shi, however, launched into a lengthy complaint about Wei Qing constantly teasing her and acting like an overbearing CEO. Unbeknownst to her, Wei Qing and Assistant An were passing by and overheard her entire tirade, barely stifling their laughter.
Wei Qing, maintaining a poker face, sarcastically told Zhou Shi that she was free to leave if she felt "wronged," prompting a flustered Zhou Shi to quickly apologize. That evening, Ning Fei invited his roommates to a karaoke session. Partway through the night, Lin Feifei pulled Bi Qiu Jing away to the restroom. In the main area, Ning Fei finally confessed to Zhou Shi that he was indeed Xun Ran.
Zhou Shi, elated, embraced him warmly and promised to keep his identity a secret. Meanwhile, in the restroom, Lin Feifei found herself in a heated verbal altercation with a girl who turned out to be Gao Yang's girlfriend. They and Gao Yang began to gang up on her. Seeing the commotion, Ning Fei intervened, wrapped an arm around Lin Feifei and again declared himself her boyfriend.
He then held her face and kissed her passionately, much to Gao Yang's furious shock. Lin Feifei enthusiastically returned Ning Fei's kiss. After hearing Gao Yang make crude remarks, Ning Fei kicked him and swiftly pulled Lin Feifei away, making their escape.
Episode 20 Recap
After Ning Fei kicked Gao Yang and fled with Lin Feifei, the two were quickly cornered by Gao Yang and his friends outside the KTV. Lin Feifei called Zhou Shi for help, and she arrived with Bi Qiu Jing to find Ning Fei being beaten. Zhou Shi rushed to help, ignoring Bi Qiu Jing's warning. Just as the situation escalated, Wei Qing arrived and swiftly subdued the aggressors, warning them to leave.
After they fled, Zhou Shi noticed red rashes on Wei Qing’s neck from an allergic reaction, but he dismissed her concern. Back at the house, Wei Qing was furious to learn that Ning Fei was living on the first floor, having been previously kicked out of his upstairs room by Wei Qing. He declared that the entire property was his and demanded Ning Fei leave, despite Lin Feifei's protests that Ning Fei had paid rent.
At that moment, Ning Fei’s guardian, He Yun, arrived, called by a concerned Zhou Shi. Seeing Ning Fei's injured hand, He Yun immediately assumed Wei Qing was responsible. Without waiting for an explanation, she slapped Wei Qing, accusing him of causing his father’s death and now trying to harm Ning Fei.
Wei Qing, deeply hurt, pointed out that he was her biological son, but He Yun retorted that she wished Ning Fei were her son instead, believing her husband would still be alive. Despite Zhou Shi’s attempts to explain, a heartbroken Wei Qing stormed out, followed by a sympathetic Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi found Wei Qing suffering from a headache and helped him to his room.
There, Wei Qing saw a childhood painting his father had kept, which brought back painful memories of his father constantly criticizing his art and comparing him unfavorably to Ning Fei. He recalled a childhood outburst where he threatened to return to America, causing his father to fall ill. Wei Qing was moved that his father had secretly kept the painting all these years.
Worried when Wei Qing didn't answer his door, Zhou Shi climbed through his window, only to find him emerging from the bathroom in just a towel. After he dressed, Zhou Shi applied medicine to his allergic rash. She told him that Ning Fei had shared his story with her, including how Wei Qing had found Ning Fei unconscious in a bathtub after a hunger strike.
Zhou Shi pleaded with him not to hate Ning Fei, who felt guilty and was only a child at the time. Frustrated that everyone seemed to side with Ning Fei, Wei Qing asked her to stay a while longer, then leaned on her and fell asleep like a child. Meanwhile, Lin Feifei thanked Ning Fei for his help at the KTV. When she asked if he had confessed to Zhou Shi, Ning Fei said yes, and that she was happy.
Misinterpreting this as a romantic confession, a slightly disappointed Lin Feifei congratulated him. The next day, Zhou Shi learned from her professor that due to her prolonged absence, she was at risk of delayed graduation if she failed her exams. Panicked, she sought help for her CET-4 exam from Bi Qiu Jing, who found her vocabulary too poor to teach.
Lin Feifei suggested she ask Li Ming Cheng for tutoring, but he was leaving for a half-month business trip and had to cancel their planned birthday celebration. Lin Feifei then suggested Zhang Shuai, who agreed to help. Zhou Shi requested a half-month leave from Wei Qing, who surprisingly approved it, reassuring her that her treatment could wait. Five days into her grueling study sessions with Zhang Shuai, Wei Qing, missing Zhou Shi, visited the school with Wei An.
They overheard Zhang Shuai expressing frustration at Zhou Shi's slow progress. Wei Qing then secretly intervened by speaking with Professor Yan. Later, Zhang Shuai regretfully told Zhou Shi he had been reassigned to another project and couldn't tutor her anymore. As she despaired, Wei An "coincidentally" appeared and suggested a tutor he knew. Zhou Shi was astonished when Wei Qing revealed himself as the tutor.
He laid down strict conditions: she had to obey his commands 24/7 or the tutoring would cease, starting that night at his house for "training from hell." That evening, after a test, Wei Qing declared that Zhou Shi must move into his house for the next two weeks, as she would have no time to sleep. As Zhou Shi packed, Lin Feifei teased her about Ning Fei's potential jealousy.
The conversation revealed Lin Feifei's misunderstanding: she had tried to orchestrate what she thought was a love confession from Ning Fei, but was frustrated to learn Zhou Shi already knew Ning Fei's secret (his identity as the artist Xun Ran) and felt foolish. Zhou Shi called Ning Fei her "idol," and Lin Feifei wished them well, though she remained suspicious of Wei Qing and surprised by Ning Fei's calm demeanor.
Upon arriving at Wei Qing’s, Zhou Shi’s hopes for a shower and sleep were dashed. Wei Qing made her discard Zhang Shuai's notes, stating traditional methods were too slow. His plan involved three stages: first, rote memorization of key exam questions; second, understanding the overall exam structure; and third, "adaptive response to stress" training, which he bluntly compared to "training a dog." He intended for her to complete twenty practice tests a day until her body reacted to questions automatically.
When Zhou Shi called the method cruel, Wei Qing compared it to circus trainers starving tigers to force them to perform, insisting that intense pressure was the only way to guarantee results.
Episode 21 Recap
Wei Qing subjected Zhou Shi to an intense training regimen, declaring that he would teach her like training a dog. He explained that she would need to complete twenty sets of practice questions daily until she was exhausted, not memorizing with her brain, but with her entire body, so that she could instantly recall answers upon seeing a question.
To underscore his strict approach, he produced an old ruler, explaining that his father used it to punish him as a child, and now he would use it on her. He then demanded she memorize all the provided materials by the end of the day, or she would not be permitted to sleep. Zhou Shi looked overwhelmed by the stacks of books and papers. That evening, Bi Qiu Jing chatted online with a chess friend.
Her friend shared how a helpful and unique girl had recently assisted him. Bi Qiu Jing encouraged him to confess his feelings, unaware that the friend was actually Li Ming Cheng, who was expressing his admiration for Zhou Shi. The next morning, Wei Qing woke Zhou Shi after she had barely five hours of sleep, telling her he was going to work and leaving Assistant An to supervise her continued studies.
Zhou Shi, exhausted, pleaded for just an hour more of sleep. Assistant An, however, told her that Wei Qing had been just as relentless when he first took over Yun Ma Group, often staying awake for days, and it was this tireless effort that built the company. He then revealed that despite his success, Wei Qing now struggled with sleep due to recurring nightmares, urging Zhou Shi to redouble her efforts.
During a Yun Ma Group board meeting, directors enthusiastically reported that Xun Ran's "galaxy series" jewelries had sold out instantly upon pre-booking and were still in high demand. They suggested ramping up factory production and continuing with follow-up designs. However, Wei Qing immediately ordered a halt to production and suspended plans for a second series. He asserted that the series' success stemmed from its artistic value, which would be lost through mass production, rendering the products worthless.
He then instructed the publicity department to arrange an art exhibition for Xun Ran at Xun's Galleria and stated he would personally discuss the arrangements with Director He. Later that day, Wei Qing found Zhou Shi napping and used the ruler to rouse her. At dinner, Wei Qing ate a full meal while Zhou Shi was given only a sandwich, a punishment for completing merely three sets of practice questions that morning.
Despite her frustration, Wei Qing then assigned her a new task: to inform Xun Ran that an art exhibition was being held for him at Xun's Galleria and that he should go there to coordinate the arrangements himself. Zhou Shi, excited by the prospect, immediately hurried off. Zhou Shi met Director He, Ning Fei’s aunt and guardian, and relayed Wei Qing's message about the exhibition, emphasizing the company's full cooperation.
Director He seemed surprised that Wei Qing hadn't spoken to her directly. When Zhou Shi tried to offer further explanation, Director He stopped her, asserting that it was a private family matter that outsiders couldn't understand. Shortly after, Ning Fei arrived. Zhou Shi delightedly told him that Director He had once predicted she would meet Xun Ran in person, and it had finally come true.
Director He expressed her happiness at seeing Ning Fei form friendships, noting his usual quietness and lack of friends. She then warmly asked Zhou Shi to take good care of Ning Fei, offering any necessary support, which Zhou Shi readily accepted, assuring Director He that Ning Fei was like a younger brother to her. After leaving Director He’s office, Ning Fei confided in Zhou Shi that his aunt was actually very kind.
Zhou Shi then admired Ning Fei's paintings displayed in the gallery, and Ning Fei generously offered to give her all of them. He then explained his artistic name, "Xun Ran," which means "seeking Ran," was chosen to find his older brother, Ning Ran. He recounted how they grew up in an orphanage, and one day a wealthy couple wanted to adopt him, but he refused because his biological father had told him to wait for someone.
His brother, Ning Ran, then offered to go in his place, promising to return once he had a better life. A month later, Ning Fei’s uncle adopted him, and he never saw his brother again. Zhou Shi comforted him, assuring him they would surely meet again. Just then, Wei Qing arrived, and Ning Fei respectfully bid farewell.
Zhou Shi excitedly reported to Wei Qing that Director He had agreed to send the exhibition proposal and was visibly touched by Wei Qing's initiative. She added that Director He had even smiled upon hearing that Wei Qing had vetoed the plan for Ning Fei to continue designing jewelry. Wei Qing, despite seeming pleased, abruptly told Zhou Shi he wasn't interested in such details, to which Zhou Shi playfully accused him of being too proud to admit his feelings.
She then requested a reward for her successful negotiation, and Wei Qing stingily offered an extra slice of ham for her sandwich. Back at home, Wei Qing reviewed Zhou Shi's practice papers, criticizing her for too many mistakes. He tore up the completed papers and demanded she finish all the new practice questions he had bought from the market that night. Zhou Shi dutifully began working. Later, Wei Qing brought her a bowl of noodles.
After checking her progress, he noted that despite only completing two-thirds of the new questions, she had already scored forty-eight points, suggesting she could pass if she maintained her effort. He then led her to his personal collection room, explaining that hands-on experience was more valuable than just reading. Zhou Shi was astonished to find her own paintings displayed there. Wei Qing confirmed he had purchased them before he even knew her.
He acknowledged her weak foundation but praised her innate talent and artistic flair, stating that her lack of experience could be overcome with effort. He admitted buying her paintings for their future appreciation, based on his keen business sense, believing she would become an excellent artist. He encouraged her not to lack confidence, asserting that in art, she surpassed Bi Qiu Jing and Li Ming Cheng and was even comparable to Xun Ran.
Suddenly, Wei Qing received a phone call and left, instructing Zhou Shi to continue looking around. Alone, Zhou Shi discovered a hidden door leading to a secret room filled with items belonging to Wei Qing's father, Wei Heng. She picked up a photo, but Wei Qing unexpectedly returned and angrily ordered her out. In her shock, she dropped the photo, shattering its glass frame.
After Zhou Shi left, Wei Qing sorrowfully picked up the broken photo, his hand bleeding from the shards, apparently unnoticed. It was a family portrait that included Ning Fei. The next day, Zhou Shi messaged Wei Qing an apology. Later, she confided in Lin Feifei, telling her that people might only see Wei Qing as a businessman, but he was incredibly knowledgeable across many fields, even more so than their university professors.
Lin Feifei teased Zhou Shi about starting to admire him. However, after seeing the detailed, hand-drawn study notes Wei Qing had prepared, Lin Feifei acknowledged his sincere dedication to Zhou Shi's progress. That evening, Zhou Shi stood outside Wei Qing's door, wanting to apologize in person, but lacked the courage and turned back. To her surprise, Wei Qing knocked on her door early the next morning, asking her to come upstairs to study.
He informed her that her professional knowledge was now sufficient, and they would officially begin a focused assault on the CET-4 English exam. He presented her with a customized book of the most frequently used CET-4 words, categorized for easy memorization, instructing her to spend mornings memorizing and evenings practicing with test questions. Later, He Wei cancelled his afternoon appointments and took Lin Feifei to an event.
Lin Feifei initially thought it was a work-related photo shoot, but it turned out to be a surprise celebration of their one-month anniversary. He Wei had arranged roses to form the number "30," creating a romantic atmosphere. He then earnestly confessed his deep feelings for her, asking her to be his girlfriend. Overwhelmed, Lin Feifei asked for time to consider. He Wei graciously accepted, stating he would wait for her answer, and then invited her to dinner.
At five in the morning, Wei Qing woke Zhou Shi for vocabulary practice. He biked alongside her as she jogged, quizzing her on English words. To further enhance her listening skills, Wei Qing even brought in two foreign employees from Yun Ma Group to converse with her, explaining that real human interaction was more effective than recordings for developing a "visual sense" when listening to questions during the exam.
Episode 22 Recap
Under Wei Qing's guidance, Zhou Shi made significant progress in her studies. Wei Qing, acting as a strict tutor, pushed her through rigorous training, ensuring she memorized every detail. After days of intense preparation, Wei Qing finally assured her she could confidently face her exam the next day. That evening, just before midnight, Wei Qing surprised Zhou Shi with a large cake and a birthday song.
He revealed that he had specifically asked Lin Feifei and others not to message her to avoid disrupting her studies, and that he had secretly decorated the room while she was asleep. Touched by his thoughtfulness, Zhou Shi embraced him and thanked him before they made a wish and blew out the candles together. The following day, during the exam, Wei Qing appeared in the room to supervise, even attempting to subtly help Zhou Shi with a question.
After completing her test, Zhou Shi met Zhang Shuai, excitedly sharing that her excellent performance was the result of a "hellish training" regimen, during which she barely ate or slept and even "got hit" for not keeping up. She credited Wei Qing for his help and expressed her desire to thank him properly. Zhang Shuai, however, questioned if their relationship was truly just platonic.
Zhou Shi later went to Yun Ma Group to thank Wei Qing, but Assistant An informed her that he was out meeting a client. Meanwhile, Wei Qing visited Lin Feifei and requested that she organize a belated birthday party for Zhou Shi in her name. He insisted that Lin Feifei, as Zhou Shi's best friend, was the most suitable person to host it and offered to cover all expenses.
Lin Feifei confronted Wei Qing, pointing out that his actions toward Zhou Shi had gone far beyond typical friendship. She pressed him on his true intentions, asking if he loved Zhou Shi. Wei Qing acknowledged he had a personal reason he couldn't disclose but affirmed that his feelings for Zhou Shi were sincere and that he would never hurt her.
Convinced, Lin Feifei agreed to help but firmly declined any payment, stating that arranging the party was already a great favor to Zhou Shi on his behalf. Later, Li Ming Cheng returned from his business trip and inquired about Zhou Shi's exam results. Zhou Shi initially played a prank, pretending she had done poorly, but then happily revealed her success. Pleased, Li Ming Cheng offered to celebrate her belated birthday with her over the weekend.
Just then, Lin Feifei called, urging Zhou Shi to come to a surprise venue. Lin Feifei led Zhou Shi and Bi Qiu Jing to a grand banquet hall, announcing it was for Zhou Shi's birthday dance party. When Zhou Shi balked at the expense, Lin Feifei falsely claimed the hotel had a partnership with their magazine, making the cost negligible. Lin Feifei excitedly planned to invite all their classmates, including Zhang Ran Yu, to let Zhou Shi "show off."
Zhou Shi invited Wei Qing to her birthday party and confided in him her plan to confess her feelings to Li Ming Cheng there. She explained a long-standing agreement they had: if she could guess his birthday wish—which she believed was related to calligraphy—he would grant all her wishes on her birthday. Wei Qing asked if she could be with someone who might not genuinely like her, but seeing her determination to get closure, he wished her success.
As guests arrived, the magnificent party drew admiring comments. Lin Feifei confided in Bi Qiu Jing that Wei Qing had funded the entire event, prompting Ning Fei, who overheard, to promise a similar party for Lin Feifei's birthday. When Zhou Shi told Lin Feifei about her plan to confess to Li Ming Cheng, Lin Feifei, misunderstanding, reminded her about "Xiao Fei." Zhou Shi then revealed her secret: Ning Fei was the genius painter Xun Ran, her idol.
Lin Feifei was stunned and then delighted by the revelation. The party commenced with Zhou Shi's first dance with Li Ming Cheng, as Wei Qing played the piano. Zhang Ran Yu arrived with Zhang Shuai, growing agitated and drinking heavily as she watched. For the second dance, Zhang Ran Yu's invitation to Li Ming Cheng was declined. He instead invited Bi Qiu Jing, who accepted after he playfully challenged her.
Wei Qing then invited Zhou Shi to dance, while Ning Fei asked Lin Feifei. As the couples danced, Zhang Ran Yu watched with bitter resentment. In the restroom, Li Ming Cheng practiced his confession to Bi Qiu Jing, deciding to use the scientific formulas printed on his T-shirt. He approached Bi Qiu Jing, but before he could speak, Wei Qing pulled him away.
Wei Qing cryptically warned him not to confess yet, explaining that someone had a "surprise" planned, and an immediate confession would ruin it. He promised to help organize another party for Bi Qiu Jing's birthday so Li Ming Cheng could confess then. Reluctantly, Li Ming Cheng agreed. Nearby, Zhang Shuai confronted Wei Qing, revealing he knew Wei Qing had organized the party.
He accused Wei Qing of having stolen his ex-girlfriend, Zhou Xin Yao, in the past and warned him not to hurt Zhou Shi in the same way. Wei Qing forcefully told him to stay out of his business. Zhang Ran Yu witnessed the exchange and stoked Zhang Shuai's anger. Later, as Zhou Shi danced with Li Ming Cheng, her shoe strap broke just as she was about to confess.
While she stepped aside to fix it, a drunken Zhang Ran Yu forcibly pulled Li Ming Cheng onto the dance floor. He resisted, stating he only danced with people he liked. In their struggle, Zhang Ran Yu tore open his jacket, revealing the message on his T-shirt. While Zhang Ran Yu was confused, Bi Qiu Jing instantly deciphered the equations as "I love you."
Thinking it was for her, Li Ming Cheng looked at Bi Qiu Jing and said, "As expected, you are the only one who understands me," before declaring, "Bi Qiu Jing, I like you." Zhou Shi, having just returned, overheard everything. Heartbroken, she fled the hall in tears. A shocked Bi Qiu Jing lashed out at Li Ming Cheng for being oblivious to Zhou Shi's feelings, while Zhang Ran Yu cynically remarked, "Best friend steals boyfriend, what a show."
Zhou Shi ran into the pouring rain, threw her heels aside, and boarded a passing bus just as Wei Qing caught sight of her. Back at the party, Bi Qiu Jing flatly rejected Li Ming Cheng, stating that relationships were a waste of time and, more importantly, that Zhou Shi loved him. On the bus, Zhou Shi wept as the reality of her unrequited love sank in. At the final stop, she collapsed barefoot in the rain.
Wei Qing, who had tracked the bus, arrived and rushed to her side, frustrated that she hadn't answered her phone. As he tried to comfort her, he gently picked her up. " Why did you bully me?" she cried. Filled with tenderness, Wei Qing admitted, "It's my fault. I won't bully you ever again," and leaned in to kiss her passionately.
Episode 23 Recap
After the eventful night, Wei Qing brought Zhou Shi to his home, assuring her that he would never bully her again. He then contacted Lin Feifei, informing her that Zhou Shi was emotionally stabilizing and advised them not to visit, fearing it might cause further distress. Meanwhile, at their apartment, Lin Feifei expressed her frustration over the day's chaos, blaming Li Ming Cheng.
Bi Qiu Jing defended him, arguing he had the right to pursue his feelings and was unaware of Zhou Shi's long-standing affection. She also confessed her own aversion to romantic entanglements, finding them troublesome. Lin Feifei, however, insisted that Bi Qiu Jing and Li Ming Cheng were a good match due to their similar intellectual natures and playfully urged them to become a couple.
Overwhelmed, Bi Qiu Jing tried to shift the focus back to comforting Zhou Shi, but Feifei pointed out that she had effectively "stolen" the man Zhou Shi admired for over a decade. Lin Feifei impulsively suggested she could try to make Li Ming Cheng like Zhou Shi, but Ning Fei dismissed the idea as impossible. He reassured a worried Bi Qiu Jing that Zhou Shi wouldn't hold a grudge, though Qiu Jing still felt a strong need to make amends.
After some persuasion from Feifei, she reluctantly texted Li Ming Cheng to let him know Zhou Shi was safe. Later that night, Zhou Shi, unable to sleep, asked Wei Qing to talk. She revealed that her affection for Li Ming Cheng stemmed from an incident during her middle school years when they were trapped in a power-outage elevator. While Zhou Shi was terrified, Li Ming Cheng calmly used a flashlight to do his homework and even tutored her.
His help led her to score her first-ever perfect 100 on an exam the next day. Though she accidentally ruined the test paper before she could show him, she had been captivated ever since, seeing him as her idol. She confessed that she had chosen Guang Hua Vision University to follow in his footsteps, hoping to one day tell him that the frightened girl from the elevator had grown up and wished to be with him.
However, all three of her attempts at confessing had failed, leading her to believe she was too foolish to be worthy of him. Wei Qing listened to her story and questioned if her long-held feelings truly constituted love. After a moment's hesitation, Zhou Shi insisted that they did, passionately defending her devotion. At the same time, Bi Qiu Jing also lay sleepless, her mind replaying Li Ming Cheng's confession and her friends' advice.
She sought guidance from an online friend, explaining that while she didn't dislike the person who confessed, she didn't like him either, finding him boring. Her friend suggested that perhaps only "fun people and things" could truly capture her interest and claimed to understand her dilemma, a conclusion Bi Qiu Jing herself found perplexing. The next morning, Zhou Shi was moved when Wei Qing gently helped her put on her shoes.
He then produced the confession letter she had written for Li Ming Cheng, which a cleaner had accidentally thrown away but he had retrieved. Despite Zhou Shi's initial chiding for his delay in returning it, Wei Qing urged her to make one final, formal confession to Li Ming Cheng. He argued that after more than a decade of unrequited affection, she deserved closure and a chance to give her childhood crush a proper farewell.
Moved, Zhou Shi took the letter and rushed off. She found Li Ming Cheng and, holding out a symbolic test paper, declared her fifteen years of love and asked him to be her boyfriend. Li Ming Cheng gently reaffirmed that he had always viewed her as a younger sister and would continue to protect her like an elder brother, revealing his deep affection for Bi Qiu Jing.
Understanding, Zhou Shi asked for a hug, thanking him for the fifteen years of hope he had given her. She wished him success in pursuing Bi Qiu Jing, though she teased that he wasn't her type because he was "too foolish." As Zhou Shi walked away, she opened the letter and saw Wei Qing's annotations, confirming he had read it.
With a surge of mixed emotions, she tore the letter into pieces, scattering them into the air, and cried out, "Brother Ming Cheng, I don't want you anymore!" finally bidding farewell to her childhood and her long-held crush. That evening, Zhou Shi returned home to a delightful surprise: her apartment was filled with artificial snowflakes. Lin Feifei revealed it was Bi Qiu Jing's idea, and Bi Qiu Jing sincerely apologized for the previous day's incident.
Zhou Shi tearfully embraced her, reassuring her that their friendship remained strong. Lin Feifei and Ning Fei joined their embrace, creating a warm, touching moment. When Zhou Shi wondered how the snow was made, Bi Qiu Jing enthusiastically explained it was a simple chemical reaction. Lin Feifei then suggested Bi Qiu Jing treat them to dinner, but Ning Fei interjected, insisting he would pay as he was holding his art exhibition the next day.
This unexpected announcement stunned Bi Qiu Jing, who exclaimed, "You're Xun Ran!" Ning Fei apologized for keeping his identity as the genius artist a secret. Lin Feifei quickly forgave him, while Bi Qiu Jing jokingly took photos, remarking she was capturing "Xun Ran's future old home" to auction off later. Later, Zhou Shi visited Wei Qing to discuss her confession.
She acknowledged her painful unrequited love for Li Ming Cheng had ended, thanking Wei Qing for his encouragement, which helped her move on. She admitted she had long known about Li Ming Cheng's feelings for Bi Qiu Jing but had been deceiving herself. Zhou Shi then presented Wei Qing with a sum of money, her first salary payment towards repaying him for settling her father's gambling debts. Wei Qing accepted.
When Zhou Shi asked if he would attend Xun Ran's art exhibition, he replied that he had arranged for Wei An to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony in his stead. That evening, Ning Fei surprised Zhou Shi with a birthday present: a legally binding authorization granting her full ownership of all his future paintings as Xun Ran.
Overwhelmed by the valuable gift, Zhou Shi tearfully accepted after Ning Fei insisted he would stop painting if she refused, exclaiming she was the luckiest fan in the world. The day of Xun Ran's exhibition drew a large crowd. Xue Zi arrived later, preferring to avoid the rush. When introduced to Ning Fei, both felt an immediate sense of familiarity, though Xue Zi denied having met him before.
Ning Fei was intrigued when Zhou Shi mentioned that Xue Zi had been the one to spot the hidden "Ran" character in his paintings. When Ning Fei directly asked if she knew Ning Ran, Xue Zi unequivocally responded "no" before excusing herself. Despite her denial, Ning Fei felt an undeniable connection as he watched her leave.
Unbeknownst to him, Xue Zi was indeed Ning Ran, his long-lost "brother" from the orphanage, who had cut her hair and presented as a boy to improve her chances of adoption. Xue Zi had recognized Ning Fei instantly but chose to hide her identity. Shortly after, she was overheard on the phone instructing someone to continue acquiring shares in Yun Ma Artwork. Meanwhile, Zhang Shuai prepared for the Yun Ma design competition and asked Zhou Shi to model for him.
Zhang Ran Yu had persuaded him, arguing that winning would allow him to sign with Yun Ma, work under Wei Qing, and find opportunities to expose Wei Qing's weaknesses while protecting Zhou Shi. During the sketching session, Zhou Shi’s opinion of Wei Qing had improved, and she acknowledged his professional expertise. As she tired and fell asleep, Zhang Shuai leaned in to kiss her, but Wei Qing arrived and intervened.
He angrily accused Zhang Shuai of preying on a sleeping girl, contrasting it with his own "upfront" actions. Wei Qing then gently carried the sleeping Zhou Shi out, sternly warning Zhang Shuai to find a new model and never let it happen again. Enraged, Zhang Shuai ripped up the portrait of Zhou Shi. After leaving the studio, Zhou Shi woke up in Wei Qing's car.
He explained that her problem was resolved, and now it was time to address his own—his illness. He brought her to meet his psychologist, Dr. Chen. Zhou Shi asked if psychologists enjoy observing people, and Dr. Chen replied that she was particularly interested in observing the girl who had "conquered" Wei Qing. Zhou Shi quickly clarified they were just friends.
Dr. Chen explained that the therapy would require physical contact, which Zhou Shi agreed to as long as it wasn't excessive. Dr. Chen expressed her hope that someone Wei Qing truly trusted could finally help him break his "physical curse."
Episode 24 Recap
Dedicated to his treatment, Zhou Shi meticulously studied the books Dr. Chen recommended. Early the next morning, she loudly called for Wei Qing from downstairs. When he didn't respond, she climbed through his window, alarming the community security. Believing a thief had broken in, they quickly surrounded Wei Qing's house and called the police. A groggy Wei Qing, annoyed by the early disturbance, was woken by Zhou Shi.
Upon learning how she had entered, he simply told her to explain the situation to the security guards herself. Zhou Shi then explained Wei Qing's condition based on her readings. She described allergies as the body's overactive defense mechanism and detailed the four levels of interpersonal distance, explaining the concept of a safe zone where only trusted individuals could enter without triggering his symptoms.
She proposed a "systematic desensitization" therapy, asking Wei Qing to list people or things he dislikes, from most to least, so they could work on eliminating his resistance to each. Wei Qing's list included "cats," "He Wei," "Zhang Shuai," and even "you," much to Zhou Shi's indignation. Before they could proceed, Wei Qing received a call and, instructing Zhou Shi to eat quickly, asked her to accompany him.
Wei Qing learned from Wei An that Xue Zi had summoned him to Xun's Galleria to discuss Yun Ma Artwork. Wei An also informed him that Chairman He had transferred all her shares to He Wei, making him the largest shareholder. Wei Qing saw this as an opportunity to confront He Wei without restraint. Citing their therapy, he playfully pulled Zhou Shi into an embrace, claiming it was for "daily contact" practice since a handshake was insufficient.
Meanwhile, He Wei instructed a reluctant Lin Feifei to initiate physical contact with Wei Qing to test his condition. Upon arrival, Wei Qing insisted Zhou Shi wait in the car, but seeing He Wei and Lin Feifei enter the gallery, she discreetly followed them. Inside, Xue Zi announced she wanted to discuss Yun Ma Artwork's future. He Wei interjected that his sister, Chairman He, had always managed the company.
At that moment, Lin Feifei extended her hand to Wei Qing, but he recoiled. As Xue Zi playfully urged Wei Qing to be more courteous, Zhou Shi dramatically intervened, pulling Lin Feifei away and feigning that Wei Qing was upset with her for interrupting. She then explained to Lin Feifei that He Wei had been using her to test Wei Qing, and the two friends found a quiet corner to exchange information.
Xue Zi then revealed her true intentions: she had acquired enough stock to hold 35% of Yun Ma Artwork, making her the new majority shareholder, surpassing He Wei's 33% and Wei Qing's 32%. Citing the company's persistent losses, she declared her plan to take full control, with her first act being to dismiss Chairman He. Both men strongly objected, and He Wei accused Xue Zi of deception. Xue Zi coolly dismissed his complaints, stating that "times change."
When Wei Qing reminded her that Yun Ma Artwork was part of the Yun Ma Group, she retorted that it operated independently and provocatively suggested renaming it "Snow Artwork." She then outlined her plans to reduce the number of galleries and launch a collaborative jewelry line before departing. Furious, He Wei cursed Xue Zi for tricking him, while Wei Qing calmly rebuked He Wei for his overconfidence and warned Lin Feifei not to get too close to him.
In the car, Wei Qing commended Zhou Shi for her quick thinking. Zhou Shi expressed her concern over Xue Zi's plans for Chairman He. Wei Qing analyzed that by warning them in advance, Xue Zi likely had ulterior motives beyond simply firing his mother. He admitted he hadn't fully grasped her objective but assured Zhou Shi he had a counter-plan and anticipated He Wei would devise one as well.
He then told her not to worry about business matters and to focus solely on his treatment. To continue his therapy, Zhou Shi took Wei Qing to a bustling mall to confront his aversion to crowds. Though he initially resisted, she gave him sunglasses, told him to close his eyes, and led him through the throng, asking him to imagine she was the only one there. Afterward, Wei Qing was genuinely surprised and pleased by how far he had walked.
Zhou Shi then bought some egg waffles and convinced him to try them. However, her attempt to get him to eat stinky tofu was met with firm refusal, resulting in a playful scuffle that ended with the snack spilling all over him. On the way home, Wei Qing noticed a bruise forming on Zhou Shi’s hand from his earlier tight grip and sincerely apologized.
He expressed immense gratitude, crediting her with allowing him to experience normal activities like walking through a crowd and eating street food, and declared his full commitment to her treatment plan. To facilitate the treatment, Zhou Shi moved into Wei Qing's house. Upon arrival, she found a whiteboard filled with strict household rules. Wei Qing then surprised her by insisting she share his bed, explaining that he slept better with her nearby and that it would aid their therapy.
Zhou Shi firmly declined, citing potential misunderstandings, and opted for the guest room. Later that night, unable to sleep, Wei Qing found Zhou Shi still awake past 2 AM. He convinced her to play the retro game "Contra" with him. Afterward, he pleaded that he couldn't sleep without her, and despite her protests about his "hooligan" behavior, she agreed to share the sofa with him. He quickly drifted off to sleep, feeling secure in her presence.
Meanwhile, a furious Chairman He confronted her brother about Xue Zi's takeover. He Wei calmed her, revealing his suspicion that Wei Qing and Xue Zi were secretly collaborating to seize Yun Ma Artwork for themselves. Convinced by his theory, Chairman He urged him to act. He Wei called Wei Qing, proposing that Wei Qing transfer 3% of his shares to him, which would make He Wei the majority shareholder. Wei Qing counter-proposed that He Wei transfer "his" shares instead.
When He Wei refused, Wei Qing hung up. He Wei called back, warning that if Yun Ma Artwork fell to Snow Group, the entire Yun Ma Group would be at risk. He appealed to Wei Qing’s "filial piety," suggesting his mother might forgive him if he complied. Wei Qing's response was a simple demand: have his mother speak to him personally.
Episode 25 Recap
After settling into their new living arrangement, Wei Qing asked Zhou Shi if she had already bathed as they prepared to turn in for the night. She teasingly offered for him to smell her to confirm, but he declined and wished her goodnight. The following morning, Zhou Shi gave Wei Qing a task: he needed to take the public elevator.
Despite his initial resistance, stating he couldn't do it without her, Zhou Shi reassured him that Assistant An would accompany him, encouraging him to overcome this challenge. As they prepared to leave, Lin Feifei, Bi Qiu Jing, and Ning Fei appeared, explaining they were worried about Zhou Shi after she stayed at Wei Qing's place and came to check on her.
Bi Qiu Jing noticed the same cologne scent on Zhou Shi as on Wei Qing, prompting Zhou Shi to quickly claim she merely walked past him while he was spraying it. She then used checking her university exam results as an excuse to rush away. Bi Qiu Jing and Lin Feifei concluded that nothing significant had happened between Wei Qing and Zhou Shi for the moment.
Assistant An had cleared the public elevator, leaving only two employees to accompany Wei Qing. News of Chairman Wei taking the public elevator quickly spread through the company’s group chat. Both Assistant An and Wei Qing acknowledged Zhou Shi's positive influence, with Wei Qing expressing hope that her unique treatment might lead to his complete recovery. Zhou Shi was ecstatic to learn she had passed all her exams and eagerly sought to share the news with Wei Qing.
Zhang Shuai tried to catch her to ask about the department's upcoming trip to an ancient town for painting, but Zhou Shi, focused on meeting Wei Qing, promised to reply later and hurried off. Wei Qing surprised her by arriving on a humble electric bicycle, a stark contrast to his usual ostentatious style, which delighted her but sparked resentment in Zhang Shuai.
Wei Qing then took Zhou Shi to meet his mother, Director He, hoping she would transfer her Yun Ma Artwork shares to him. Director He flatly refused, criticizing her previous decision to transfer shares to He Wei, whose incompetence, particularly his mishandling of Xue Zi, had put Yun Ma Artwork in crisis. Wei Qing guaranteed that if he received the shares, his mother would retain full control and he would not interfere.
Director He, however, suspected a conspiracy between Wei Qing and Xue Zi to seize control of Yun Ma Artwork. Wei Qing realized He Wei must have fueled his mother's suspicions. Zhou Shi intervened, highlighting Wei Qing's dedication to Yun Ma Artwork through his efforts for Xun Ran's art exhibition and emphasizing his genuine intentions beyond profit. She appealed to their mother-son bond and the wishes of Wei Heng, Wei Qing's late father.
Director He expressed that holding Yun Ma Artwork made her feel her husband was still with her, and transferring it would mean truly losing him. Wei Qing assured her the company would still belong to her and his father. Director He then proposed a condition: if she could get He Wei to transfer his shares back to her, would Wei Qing transfer his shares to her? Wei Qing agreed without hesitation.
Outside, Wei Qing revealed to Zhou Shi that he had already instructed Assistant An to transfer his shares to his mother once He Wei returned his. He explained that a direct offer would have made his mother suspicious, so he had to be indirect. He clarified that he keeps the shares to protect Yun Ma Artwork in a crisis, acting as a shareholder if needed.
He suspected Xue Zi understood this, but her continued share acquisition puzzled him, making him acknowledge her as a true opponent. After the meeting, Wei Qing treated Zhou Shi and her roommates to a movie, having Assistant An buy out most of the surrounding seats. He also arranged for them to dine at separate tables.
Lin Feifei complained about Wei Qing's behavior, but Bi Qiu Jing astutely observed his severe mysophobia, noting his gloves, aversion to touching objects, and extreme pickiness. She deduced that his fear of human contact was a psychological issue, not just an allergy, given he rarely touched anyone except Zhou Shi. Wei Qing, having overheard their discussion, quietly left. Realizing she couldn't hide it any longer, Zhou Shi disclosed Wei Qing's condition to her roommates.
Both Bi Qiu Jing and Lin Feifei offered their full support. Later, Wei Qing insisted Zhou Shi sleep in the same bed with him again. He reasoned that a pure mind negated any issue with sharing a bed. Zhou Shi, confident she could handle any improper advances, agreed. That night, Wei Qing slept soundly on her arm, while Zhou Shi struggled, counting sheep to fall asleep. The next morning, Zhou Shi woke to find Wei Qing embracing her.
Startled, she jumped out of bed, her heart racing and face flushed, attributing her reaction to the room's warmth. From then on, they became inseparable. Wei Qing's condition gradually improved, progressing from only tolerating Zhou Shi in the elevator to allowing a few employees to join them. Bi Qiu Jing and Lin Feifei observed them feeding each other popcorn and huddling under one umbrella, concluding their relationship had become ambiguous.
As He Wei continued to refuse to transfer his shares, Wei Qing and Assistant An held strategy meetings. Zhou Shi took the opportunity to reunite with her roommates. Bi Qiu Jing noted Wei Qing's improved comfort with others in enclosed spaces and increasing tolerance for crowds. However, she pointed out that even in private, Zhou Shi and Wei Qing remained unusually close. Zhou Shi quickly defended their relationship as mere friendship.
Yet, Bi Qiu Jing and Lin Feifei observed the subtle shifts in Zhou Shi's demeanor when she answered Wei Qing's calls, signaling developing feelings. They cautioned her not to repeat the years of confusion she experienced with Li Ming Cheng, urging her to clarify her feelings for Wei Qing. That night, lying in bed with Wei Qing, Zhou Shi, influenced by her roommates' words, tentatively asked his opinion of her.
Wei Qing replied that the longer he knew her, the more his good impression grew, expressing surprise at her question. Zhou Shi, blushing, turned away. Unfazed, Wei Qing rested his head on her arm and fell asleep. The next morning, Wei Qing photographed Zhou Shi smiling in her sleep and showed her the picture. Zhou Shi vaguely recalled dreaming of marrying Wei Qing in a church and him kissing her, which had caused her smile. The realization shocked her, and she immediately splashed cold water on her face, admonishing herself that she couldn't continue like this.
Episode 26 Recap
After an unsettling dream of a wedding where the groom was someone she never imagined, Zhou Shi found herself in turmoil. The next morning, she confided in Dr. Chen, who not only lauded Zhou Shi's exceptional progress in treating Wei Qing, achieving in a month what Dr. Chen couldn't in ten years, but also advised her to gradually increase the intensity of Wei Qing's treatment.
When Zhou Shi hesitantly brought up her dream, Dr. Chen explained that dreams often reflect subconscious feelings and suggested that Zhou Shi's emotions towards this particular person were deeper than she believed, urging her to carefully examine her true feelings. That evening, Zhou Shi told Wei Qing that Dr. Chen had suggested increasing the treatment intensity. Wei Qing readily agreed, finding current challenges too easy.
Zhou Shi proposed the "hardest one" and, keeping it a secret, led him blindfolded to a new training ground. Despite his unease about the strong smell and the presence of others, Wei Qing trusted her. Once he removed his blindfold, he was horrified to find himself surrounded by cats.
The sight triggered a traumatic flashback to his childhood, where his father furiously interrogated him about a cat's death, accusing him of lying, and struck him when he callously dismissed the cat as merely a stray, like Ning Fei, picked up from the street. Wei Qing, distraught, questioned why he was born if they preferred "picked up" things. The memory, coupled with the real cats, overwhelmed him, causing him to collapse with a splitting headache.
He was rushed to the hospital, where Zhou Shi was consumed by guilt. Dr. Chen arrived, admonishing Zhou Shi for her reckless approach, emphasizing that cats were Wei Qing's greatest fear. Wei Qing was stable but required several days of observation. Later, in his hospital room, Wei Qing re-entered a nightmare. He was chased by a menacing cat, leading him to his father's bloodied body.
His father then sat up, grabbing Wei Qing by the neck and accusing him of murder. Wei Qing awoke in a cold sweat, screaming "I didn't do it!" repeatedly. Doctors had to sedate him to calm him down. Dr. Chen informed Zhou Shi that Wei Qing's treatment would have to restart from scratch due to his emotional instability.
Despite Wei An urging her to rest, Zhou Shi insisted on staying by Wei Qing's side, feeling responsible, and sent Wei An back to handle company matters. News of Wei Qing's hospitalization quickly leaked to the media, drawing a swarm of reporters to the hospital corridors the next morning. Luckily, Wei An spotted them in time and secured Wei Qing's room.
Zhou Shi quickly devised a plan: Wei An would disguise himself as Wei Qing and leave through the main entrance to create a diversion, allowing Zhou Shi to discreetly escort Wei Qing out through a different exit. The plan was successful, and Wei Qing was safely brought home. That night, while watching TV, a cat on screen startled Wei Qing, causing him to instinctively hug Zhou Shi. Both felt a blush of embarrassment.
As he had done before, Wei Qing found comfort sleeping with his head resting on Zhou Shi's arm. The following morning, Lin Feifei, seeing the news about Wei Qing online, immediately visited Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi confessed her motivation for the intense therapy: she felt her relationship with Wei Qing was becoming too ambiguous, and she wanted to quickly cure him so they could separate and clarify their boundaries.
She expressed anger at the paparazzi for fabricating stories based on intimate photos. Lin Feifei revealed that the photos were sent to "Celebrities" magazine, and she could only persuade He Wei to mosaic Zhou Shi's face, but nothing more. Just then, Wei Qing called, demanding Zhou Shi's immediate return. Upon her return, Zhou Shi found Wei Qing withdrawn, playing video games.
She chastised him, reminding him of his responsibilities as Yun Ma's chairman and the dire rumors circulating—that he had gone crazy, and Yun Ma was collapsing. She recalled his usual aura of superiority and control, how he had always effortlessly identified and exploited his opponents' weaknesses. Now, facing himself, he seemed to be giving up too easily. Wei Qing grew agitated and cut her off, refusing to listen. A knock on the door revealed Ning Fei.
Despite Wei Qing's objections, Zhou Shi opened it. Ning Fei, desperate, explained that his aunt, He Yun, had been dismissed from Yun Ma Artwork and was ill. He pleaded with Wei Qing to help her. After much persuasion, Wei Qing emerged, assuring Ning Fei that he would not let anything happen to Yun Ma Artwork and instructing him to tell He Yun. Zhou Shi gently guided Wei Qing to the Yun Ma Artwork gallery.
After tending to business, she led him to the spot where they first had their memorable mud fight, and they playfully reenacted the scene. Then, in an unexpected move to help him overcome his deep-seated fear, Zhou Shi donned a large cat helmet and costume, urging Wei Qing to "defeat" the "cat" with his own hands. Touched by her efforts, Wei Qing embraced her, apologizing for causing her so much worry. Later, Wei Qing met with Xue Zi.
Xue Zi directly expressed her astonishment at Wei Qing's decision to transfer his shares to He Wei, stating she had expected him to compel He Wei to transfer them to him, thereby securing his position. She admitted her initial plan was to collaborate with him once he had ascended to power, to jointly expand Yun Ma Artwork.
However, she was disappointed by his impetuous decision, which, in her view, led to Yun Ma Artwork falling completely into the hands of He Wei and He Yun. She criticized his clemency, believing it would ultimately lead to Yun Ma Artwork's demise. Nevertheless, Xue Zi proposed a solution: she offered to transfer her shares to Wei Qing, stating her only desire was a genuine collaboration.
Following He Wei's share transfer, Wei Qing also transferred his shares to his mother, He Yun, allowing her to regain full ownership of the gallery. He Yun was overcome with emotion, joyfully weeping as she gazed at a photo of herself and her late husband in her office. The next day, Zhou Shi signed up for a fieldwork activity with Zhang Shuai, organized by her department.
That evening, she confided in Lin Feifei and Bi Qiu Jing that she intended to use the trip to clear her head, simply telling Wei Qing that she was moving back to her own place. She firmly stated that her relationship with Wei Qing was purely professional, asserting that he didn't like her, nor could she claim to like him. She attributed her previous confusion and panic to their close proximity and her friends' "psychological hints."
As the three prepared for a best-friend mask night, they saw Ning Fei also packing. Ning Fei then surprised them by announcing he, too, was joining the fieldwork trip. That night, in Zhou Shi's absence, Wei Qing found himself unable to sleep, passing the long hours by playing games and drinking alone.
Episode 27 Recap
Wei Qing found himself unable to sleep, consumed by thoughts of Zhou Shi. He spent the long night playing games and drinking. The following morning, he knocked on Lin Feifei's door, explaining he couldn't sleep without Zhou Shi, claiming she had been sleeping with him lately and he wasn't accustomed to her absence. Lin Feifei informed him that Zhou Shi had gone on an art trip with her department, led by Zhang Shuai.
She questioned Wei Qing's intense concern, reminding him he had previously stated their relationship was merely for treatment. Wei Qing insisted he had a right to know her whereabouts since she disappeared without notice while treating him. He explicitly instructed Lin Feifei not to tell Zhou Shi he was looking for her. After Wei Qing left, Lin Feifei and Bi Qiujing immediately texted Zhou Shi, revealing that Wei Qing liked her.
Upon receiving her roommates' messages, Zhou Shi ignored Wei Qing's calls and turned off her phone. Unable to reach her, Wei Qing instructed Wei An to contact Li Ming Cheng. Li Ming Cheng called Zhou Shi under the guise of a casual check-in, though Zhou Shi suspected Wei Qing's involvement. She told Li Ming Cheng she was in an old town next to Ninghai for her art trip.
Armed with this information, Wei Qing and Wei An immediately set off for the ancient town. Once there, Wei An arranged for the inn owner to evacuate all guests except Zhou Shi's classmates, offering double compensation. As a result, the students' rooms were upgraded to suites free of charge for the night. Zhou Shi returned to her upgraded room and was startled when Wei Qing suddenly appeared.
She explained that her abrupt departure was due to overwhelming stress and guilt over the cat incident, and she needed time to relax. She assured him her absence wouldn't impede his treatment but expressed a desire for it to conclude quickly so they could both return to their normal lives. Feeling hurt, Wei Qing retorted that he would leave the next day if helping him was such a burden.
Zhou Shi then asked him to move to the adjacent room for the night, explaining that her classmates were present. Wei Qing agreed. As he was leaving, he encountered Zhang Shuai and Ning Fei, who had come to invite Zhou Shi to dinner. Wei Qing decided to join them. At the small restaurant, Zhou Shi noticed Wei Qing's discomfort and suggested he return to the hotel. Wei Qing defiantly took a bite of food.
When Zhou Shi asked Wei An to escort him back, Wei Qing stood up, declared his intention to be with her, and forcefully pulled her outside. Once outside, Wei Qing felt unwell. Zhou Shi expressed concern about him forcing himself to eat. Wei Qing claimed he was cooperating with her treatment and that she was free to leave if she truly didn't want to help him.
He admitted he had thought she no longer disliked him, but now realized she had been forcing herself. Zhou Shi quickly clarified that she was merely afraid their ambiguous relationship would eventually lead to problems. Wei Qing dismissed her fears. Zhou Shi then tentatively asked him to define their relationship: were they friends, patient and healer, or lovers? Wei Qing laughed, calling her paranoid and stating it was "simply a treatment relationship."
He implied that her recent actions stemmed from fear. Zhou Shi pressed him, asking if he had any "other feelings" for her. Wei Qing explicitly stated he saw her only as a friend, clarifying that any intimate contact was solely for treatment purposes, and apologized if he had caused any misunderstanding. Wei Qing's words deeply pained Zhou Shi. He then left, needing time alone. Later, Wei Qing sat by the river, deep in thought. A woman named Sherry approached him.
Wei Qing told her he was allergic to people, but to his surprise, he had no allergic reaction to Sherry. Sherry revealed she was a dermatologist specializing in allergies. She explained that a small percentage of people are "non-secretors," meaning the substances in their blood do not disperse into other bodily fluids, which could be why Wei Qing wasn't allergic to her. She noted that this rare trait accounts for only 20% of the population.
Wei Qing realized that Zhou Shi was not his "only hope," as he had previously believed. He admitted he had thought Zhou Shi was irreplaceable, which was why he couldn't stand the sight of her with other men. Now, knowing there were others like Sherry, he questioned Zhou Shi's significance to him. Sherry asked how Zhou Shi compared to her. Wei Qing candidly stated that Sherry was prettier and had a better figure.
Sherry then suggested he leave Zhou Shi and be with her. However, observing his pained expression, she concluded that Wei Qing actually liked Zhou Shi. Wei Qing admitted that due to his condition, he had never truly experienced love. Sherry encouraged him to confess his feelings to Zhou Shi, warning that he would surely regret it if he didn't. Wei Qing returned to Wei An and declared that he had finally "figured it out": he truly liked Zhou Shi.
Meanwhile, Bi Qiujing visited Li Ming Cheng at the astronomy club. He asked about Zhou Shi and Wei Qing's relationship. Bi Qiujing described their current emotional state as being in a "Schrödinger's cat" phase, a state of "life and death superposition," which she found particularly intriguing. Li Ming Cheng pointed out her keen interest in others' romantic relationships while seemingly avoiding her own, suggesting it was due to the "difficulty of practical application" in real life.
Bi Qiujing found Li Ming Cheng's comment surprisingly "interesting," which excited him, though she playfully added that he was still "boring." Later, Zhou Shi received a message from Wei Qing, asking if she still intended to continue his treatment. Moments later, Wei Qing appeared at her window, urging her to accompany him to Dr. Chen's office. Dr. Chen informed them that Wei Qing was still in a recovery phase and needed emotional adjustment and further consolidation of treatment.
She suggested a trip to a quiet new resort, revealing she had already booked them a room as compensation for pushing Zhou Shi to use "extreme measures" earlier. Dr. Chen specifically booked only one room to facilitate the treatment, despite Zhou Shi's strong objections. Wei Qing quickly pulled Zhou Shi away.
It was then revealed that Wei Qing had secretly sought Dr. Chen's help, confessing that his desire to be with Zhou Shi stemmed not from her ability to cure him, but from genuine affection. That evening, Ning Fei, upon hearing about Zhou Shi's impending trip, arranged to go on an art trip to the same location with his aunt. Elsewhere, Bi Qiujing's online friend invited her to meet the following day, an invitation she accepted.
The next day, He Wei arrived at the resort with Lin Feifei. He privately persuaded Lin Feifei to pretend to be his girlfriend for three days, asking her to help him put on a show of being an infatuated lover for his sister's benefit. Flattered, Lin Feifei agreed. When they encountered He Yun and Ning Fei, He Wei introduced Lin Feifei as his girlfriend, provocatively stating they had been together for "over two months," which visibly irritated Ning Fei.
A short while later, they also spotted Bi Qiujing hiking nearby. At the resort restaurant, Wei Qing and Zhou Shi were having a meal. Wei Qing spotted Ning Fei and He Yun approaching and tried to avoid them. However, Zhou Shi convinced him to stay, suggesting it would be beneficial for his treatment. Shortly after, He Wei also entered the restaurant, further displeasing Wei Qing. Zhou Shi then firmly instructed Wei Qing to remain seated, asserting that the presence of the very people he disliked made it an ideal opportunity for his treatment.
Episode 28 Recap
Zhang Ran Yu secretly brought Zhang Shuai to the resort, aiming to break up Wei Qing and Zhou Shi. She confirmed their presence and reminded Zhang Shuai of their deal: Zhou Shi for him, Wei Qing for her. Zhang Shuai expressed doubt, but Zhang Ran Yu urged him to have confidence, emphasizing that if good looks were enough, they wouldn't need a plan. During lunch, He Yun called Zhou Shi to join their table.
Bi Qiu Jing seized the opportunity to confront Wei Qing, revealing that he had orchestrated the entire vacation with the intention of confessing his feelings to Zhou Shi. Wei Qing acknowledged her intelligence, even offering her a job at Yun Ma, which Bi Qiu Jing declined. Bi Qiu Jing then astutely analyzed Zhou Shi's feelings, asserting that Zhou Shi liked Wei Qing but was currently unsure, especially after his previous rejection of her confession.
She advised Wei Qing to reassure Zhou Shi of his affection, confident that Zhou Shi would then reciprocate. At the same table, He Wei confronted Zhou Shi, warning her that Wei Qing was a playboy. Wei Qing, losing his patience, tried to pull Zhou Shi away. He Wei then suggested to his sister, He Yun, that Zhou Shi and Ning Fei would make a good match.
He Yun readily agreed, urging Zhou Shi to consider it, but Zhou Shi clarified that her relationship with Ning Fei was merely that of an idol and a fan. Exasperated, Wei Qing declared Zhou Shi to be his girlfriend, confessed his love for her, and then dominantly embraced and kissed her. Flustered, Zhou Shi pushed him away and ran off. Witnessing this, Lin Feifei sternly informed He Yun that she was not He Wei's girlfriend.
She explained that he had been relentlessly pursuing her, but his current behavior disgusted her, and she was severing all ties with him. When He Wei tried to grab her, Ning Fei stepped in to protect Lin Feifei, causing He Wei to retreat awkwardly. Zhou Shi returned to her room and angrily confronted Wei Qing, questioning why he would publicly kiss and confess to her after previously claiming to have no feelings.
Wei Qing calmly explained that he had been unsure of his emotions earlier but had since thought everything through. He then sincerely asked Zhou Shi if she liked him. Zhou Shi hesitantly admitted she "probably" liked him but needed more time to be certain. She then realized that the vacation was not for his treatment but a plan prearranged with Dr. Chen. Wei Qing jokingly admitted he had bribed Dr. Chen with a barbecue in Turkey.
Now certain of his feelings, he promised to sleep on the sofa. That evening, Wei Qing, Zhou Shi, and Ning Fei went go-karting, with Bi Qiu Jing and Lin Feifei watching. When He Yun arrived, she witnessed Wei Qing's kart collide with Ning Fei's. He Yun immediately rushed onto the track to check on Ning Fei, accusing Wei Qing of intentionally bumping him.
Observing this from above, Zhang Ran Yu decided to exploit the strained relationship between Wei Qing and his mother for her own scheme. Wishing to avoid He Wei, Wei Qing declined to attend the bonfire party. He specifically warned Zhou Shi to keep her distance from Zhang Shuai, revealing that Zhang Shuai liked her. At the bonfire, Bi Qiu Jing and Zhou Shi celebrated Lin Feifei's liberation from her "jerk" ex.
Frustrated by her track record with bad men, Lin Feifei shouted to the sky for a good man. To her surprise, Ning Fei appeared directly behind her. The others playfully suggested Ning Fei was a good man, and Lin Feifei teasingly leaned on his shoulder. Meanwhile, Zhang Ran Yu, noting Wei Qing's absence, planned to force a romantic encounter in his room. She instructed Zhang Shuai to confess to Zhou Shi and keep her occupied.
When Zhang Ran Yu entered Wei Qing's room and embraced him, Wei Qing, caught off guard in his bathrobe, immediately broke out in red rashes. Shocked, Zhang Ran Yu pulled back. Wei Qing seized the opportunity to feign a contagious illness, claiming that since she had been "infected," they should now be together. Terrified, Zhang Ran Yu fled the room, leaving Wei Qing amused that his condition could be so useful.
Zhou Shi expressed concern that Zhang Ran Yu might spread rumors, but Wei Qing dismissed her fears, analyzing that Zhang Ran Yu valued her reputation too much to admit she tried to seduce him and caught a "contagious disease." He saw the incident as a warning for her to back off. However, Zhang Ran Yu, determined to retaliate, recalled a mountain slope.
She instructed Zhang Shuai to impersonate Wei Qing the next day, lure Ning Fei to that spot, and push him down the slope. She would then lead Wei Qing there to frame him for the incident, falsely assuring Zhang Shuai that Ning Fei would only suffer minor scratches. The next day, Zhang Shuai proceeded with the plan. Ning Fei arrived at the location but sensed the figure was not Wei Qing.
As he got closer, Zhang Shuai turned and pushed him down the slope. Meanwhile, Zhang Ran Yu overheard that Zhou Shi had a cold. Seizing the moment Wei Qing left to get medicine, she lied to Zhou Shi, claiming that Ning Fei and Wei Qing were fighting in the mountain forest. Despite her weakened state, Zhou Shi rushed out to find them. Bi Qiu Jing arrived at the agreed meeting point to meet her online friend, "Bai."
Li Ming Cheng appeared and invited her to play chess. During the game, Bi Qiu Jing realized that Li Ming Cheng was Bai. Distracted by this, she lost. Li Ming Cheng confessed that pursuing her, despite her finding love uninteresting, had brought him immense joy. He then knelt, presented a diamond ring, and proposed marriage, framing it as a new, more complex game with multiplied joys. Bi Qiu Jing smiled and accepted.
Wei Qing, who witnessed the proposal, then asked for cold medicine for Zhou Shi, which Li Ming Cheng provided from his bag. Weakened by her cold, Zhou Shi made her way to the mountain slope, calling for Ning Fei. Upon spotting him at the bottom, her urgency caused her to lose her footing and fall down as well. Meanwhile, He Yun discovered Ning Fei was missing and reprimanded the hotel staff.
Wei Qing overheard the commotion and was about to join the search when Lin Feifei rushed in, announcing Zhou Shi was also gone. The unfolding crisis reminded He Yun of a past farewell, and she prayed fervently for Wei Qing's safe return. Zhou Shi awoke to find Ning Fei's leg severely injured. Ning Fei explained that someone posing as Wei Qing had arranged the meeting. He knew it wasn't Wei Qing because the person fled immediately after he fell, something Wei Qing would never do. Zhou Shi immediately suspected He Wei was the culprit.
Episode 29 Recap
Ning Fei lay injured on the slope, his leg badly hurt, as Zhou Shi tended to him. He recounted that the person who had lured him there was not Wei Qing, his senior, because the individual had covered their face and fled as soon as he fell. Zhou Shi speculated whether He Wei was involved, noting his persistent animosity towards Wei Qing.
Ning Fei revealed that He Yun had told him Wei Qing was responsible for his uncle's death, though he himself was unclear on the specifics. Overcome by his pain and guilt, Ning Fei confessed his long-held desire to apologize to Wei Qing. He explained that after his uncle took him in, he feared being cast out due to Wei Qing's presence.
To secure his place, he admitted to deliberately acting out, hoping to make his uncle and aunt dislike Wei Qing. However, as they grew fonder of him, Wei Qing became increasingly rebellious. Ning Fei longed to apologize but was terrified of being expelled if he revealed the truth, never imagining his uncle would die. He expressed deep remorse, claiming it was an unintentional consequence.
Soon after, Ning Fei fainted from a combination of blood loss and overwhelming grief, leaving Zhou Shi desperately calling for help. Meanwhile, Wei Qing and Fei Fei discovered Zhou Shi's room card, which guided their search for her. Separately, Li Ming Cheng and Bi Qiu Jing called out Zhou Shi's name as they searched in a different direction. Zhang Shuai, hearing them, confronted Zhang Ran Yu, accusing her of involving Zhou Shi in their scheme.
Zhang Ran Yu retorted that Zhou Shi had been constantly with Wei Qing, even sleeping in his room, which had enraged her and led her to reveal Ning Fei's plight. Furious, Zhang Shuai rushed to join Li Ming Cheng and Bi Qiu Jing. He also sent Fei Fei a text with their location. Wei Qing and Fei Fei soon found Zhou Shi and the unconscious Ning Fei.
Fei Fei insisted on carrying Ning Fei, confidently stating her strength, while Wei Qing carried Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi recounted Ning Fei's earlier apologies, mentioning his remorse for "taking" Wei Qing's parents and his references to Wei Qing's father's death. She advised Wei Qing to speak with Ning Fei upon his recovery, speculating that Wei Qing's own illness might be connected to his father's passing.
As Li Ming Cheng, Bi Qiu Jing, and Zhang Shuai arrived, the group immediately transported Ning Fei and Zhou Shi to the hospital. At the hospital, Bi Qiu Jing revealed to Fei Fei and Zhou Shi that she and Li Ming Cheng were officially a couple and that he had proposed to her, which she accepted. Both Fei Fei and Zhou Shi happily congratulated her. Shortly after, He Yun arrived, deeply concerned by Ning Fei's severe injury.
She began to scold Wei Qing, but Zhou Shi quickly stepped in, falsely claiming responsibility for Ning Fei's fall, stating she had asked him to accompany her up a slippery path. This prevented He Yun from openly blaming Wei Qing. Seizing the opportunity, Wei Qing asked to speak with his mother privately about his father's death, expressing a persistent feeling of being connected to it despite his lack of memory.
He Yun confessed her own torment, constantly seeing visions of his father covered in blood, a sight Wei Qing confirmed he also experienced in his dreams. She admitted her deep-seated hatred for Wei Qing, believing he had "taken" her husband from her even before his death. She explained that his father, suffering from cancer, had refused treatment and insisted on traveling to America to see Wei Qing, who wouldn't return home.
He Yun felt her husband chose Wei Qing over her in his final moments, leaving her behind. This intensified her resentment when Wei Qing also inherited Yun Ma, leading her to oppose him constantly as a way to "prove" to her late husband that she was his only true choice. Overcome with regret, He Yun lamented treating her husband and son as enemies, only to lose both.
Noticing the red rash on Wei Qing's hand, she realized his suffering, a stark contrast to her previous assumption that he was living a decadent life. She encouraged him to uncover the truth about his father's death and asked for his forgiveness for her irrational actions over the years. Mother and son finally reconciled, sharing a tearful embrace. As He Yun departed, Wei Qing wept, and Zhou Shi tenderly held him.
Inside the room, Ning Fei awakened and thanked Fei Fei for her care. Overcome with emotion, he pulled her into a passionate kiss. Witnessing this, Wei Qing turned to Zhou Shi and shared an equally intimate moment. Zhou Shi later playfully remarked that everyone else found love on their vacation, while she only caught a cold, to which Wei Qing teased her about their own developing relationship.
The next day, Zhang Shuai intercepted Zhou Shi to apologize, explaining that he had acted as he did to make her dislike Wei Qing, as he wrongly believed Wei Qing had an infectious disease. Zhou Shi clarified that Wei Qing was indeed sick but not with an infectious illness, and she told Zhang Shuai that Ning Fei had already forgiven him. When Wei Qing arrived, he told Zhang Shuai to stop interfering.
Undeterred, Zhang Shuai produced a photo of Zhou Xin Yao, accusing Wei Qing of stealing his first love, heartlessly abandoning her, and driving her to suicide. Initially dismissive, Wei Qing decided to explain the situation when he saw Zhou Shi's curiosity. He stated that he had only met Zhou Xin Yao once at a Yun Ma event. After the event, she had approached him, offering a room card.
Upon his refusal, she claimed to have a sick brother, an art student, who desperately needed money for medical treatment, which was why she resorted to such desperate measures. Wei Qing noted that the photo Zhou Xin Yao showed him then was identical to the one Zhang Shuai now held, implying Zhang Shuai might be the "sick brother."
He gave her a sum of money, but she returned soon after, asserting that her boyfriend had left her because of Wei Qing and threatening suicide if he didn't enter a relationship with her. Wei Qing recounted the significant effort it took to disengage from her. As Zhang Shuai vehemently rejected Wei Qing's account, Wei Qing suggested he consult Zhang Ran Yu, as they shared the same social circle and should be aware of the full story.
Seeking to uncover the truth about his father's death, Wei Qing underwent hypnosis with Dr. Chen. Dr. Chen warned him that this memory was sealed due to extreme pain, but Wei Qing insisted he was ready. Under hypnosis, Wei Qing's deeply buried memories from eighteen years ago resurfaced. He recalled his father visiting him in America, sternly reprimanding him for his rebellious behavior and lack of academic focus.
A heated argument ensued, after which Wei Qing defiantly retired to his room. Later that night, he heard commotion outside his door but found it inexplicably jammed. Desperate, he escaped through the window. He discovered a trail of blood leading from the living room upstairs. By the time he reached his father, he was already dead. The memory of the sealed door and his inability to help haunted him.
Awakening from the hypnosis, Wei Qing was overcome with anguish, sobbing and blaming himself for his father's demise, believing his mother's accusation that he caused it. Zhou Shi shared the details of Wei Qing's recently recovered memory with their roommates. Dr. Chen suggested that Wei Qing's allergies stemmed from his deep-seated guilt over his father's death, and that resolving this emotional block was crucial for his recovery.
Bi Qiu Jing pointed out a strange detail: if Wei Qing had indeed locked his door, then even after he unlocked it, it shouldn't have remained jammed. This implied someone outside must have physically blocked the door, preventing him from exiting. Ning Fei, feeling a need to clear the air, went to speak with Wei Qing. He reassured Wei Qing that despite his past feelings, he now understood that his uncle and aunt never truly "left" Wei Qing for him.
Ning Fei confirmed that Wei Qing's father, knowing he was terminally ill, went to America primarily to see Wei Qing one last time. He explained that Wei Qing's father's strictness was a way of nurturing him and that he would not have blamed Wei Qing for not saving him, but rather would have been relieved that Wei Qing himself was safe. Ning Fei urged Wei Qing not to shoulder the guilt.
Zhou Shi, also present, supported this, suggesting that the person who blocked the door was likely Wei Qing's own father, trying to protect him. She advised Wei Qing to seek the truth by reviewing the police records from that time. Ning Fei then sincerely apologized to Wei Qing for his past childhood misdeeds, finally mending their fraternal bond. Wei Qing then shared a letter his father, Wei Heng, had left for him.
The letter revealed Wei Heng's deep love and his regret for his harsh parenting, especially after Ning Fei joined their family, which made Wei Qing resistant to taking over Yun Ma. Wei Heng confessed his initial desire to mold Wei Qing into a great artist but eventually realized Wei Qing enjoyed art but disliked the act of painting itself. He wished he had released Wei Qing from this burden earlier, hoping Wei Qing would hate him less.
Wei Heng lamented that his realization came too late, leading Wei Qing to seek solitude in America rather than staying with his parents. He acknowledged that Yun Ma, a culmination of his and Wei Qing's mother's efforts, was poorly managed and barely sustained by old friends. However, he also knew of Wei Qing's secret collaborations with galleries, helping classmates sell their art, recognizing Wei Qing's innate business acumen that he himself lacked.
He expressed his belief that Wei Qing could expand Yun Ma significantly. If Wei Qing couldn't be a great artist, Wei Heng implored him to become an outstanding businessman and safeguard Yun Ma, which would allow him to "leave peacefully." The letter concluded with a plea not to show it to his mother, as it would cause her distress, and was signed, "The father that loved you but couldn't tell you, Wei Heng."
Reading the letter, Wei Qing was overcome with sorrow, lamenting that he never had the chance to give his father that last hug, believing it to be his father's greatest regret. He broke down, missing his father immensely.
Episode 30 (Ending) Recap
A letter from his deceased father, Wei Heng, urged Wei Qing to become a successful businessman and protect Yun Ma Artwork if he couldn't be an outstanding artist. The letter also asked him to care for his mother and Yun Ma, expressing a father's unspoken love. The next day, after this emotional revelation, Wei Qing decided to go to the United States to investigate the truth of his father's death.
Before leaving, he informed Zhou Shi of his departure and told her firmly that he expected an answer from her upon his return. Zhou Shi readily agreed, promising to take care of herself, confident that Bi Qiu Jing and Ning Fei would look after her. Later, Zhang Shuai approached Zhou Shi to apologize. He admitted that when applying to American universities, he had submitted some of Zhou Shi’s paintings without her permission.
To his surprise, the schools were highly interested in her work and offered her admission with a full scholarship, provided she passed a language test. Zhang Shuai strongly encouraged her not to miss this excellent opportunity, and Zhou Shi promised to seriously consider it. Li Ming Cheng and Bi Qiu Jing officially registered their marriage and celebrated with a simple wedding.
During a celebratory hotpot dinner with their roommates, Bi Qiu Jing playfully teased Zhou Shi and Ning Fei about getting married themselves, to which Zhou Shi jokingly claimed her relationship with Ning Fei was just a casual fling. Zhou Shi then announced her decision to study abroad. She confessed she hadn't told Wei Qing yet, feeling uncertain about her true feelings for him, and sought advice from her friends on what it felt like to love someone.
Bi Qiu Jing described it as having a "cotton candy" heart, while Li Ming Cheng likened it to "reading comprehension" and "writing poetry." Ning Fei quipped that if Zhou Shi had a tail, she would be wagging it at the thought of Wei Qing. Meanwhile, in the United States, Wei Qing meticulously reviewed the case file concerning his father’s death. The documents detailed that his father, Wei Heng, was shot during a robbery.
Despite his injuries, Wei Heng dragged himself upstairs and used a chair to barricade Wei Qing’s bedroom door, preventing the robbers from reaching him, before he was fatally shot again. Visiting the dining room, Wei Qing was haunted by memories of his father preparing a lavish birthday meal for him. He was overcome with regret, realizing that his absence on that day, due to being out with friends, had led to a lifelong sorrow.
Wei Qing decided to extend his stay in America to further investigate. He instructed Wei An not to disclose his contact information to anyone, including Zhou Shi. Wei An later relayed this message to a concerned Zhou Shi, assuring her that Wei Qing was fine but providing no contact details. Six months passed. Zhou Shi sat for her language exam.
During the test, a vivid memory of Wei Qing helping her study surfaced, leading her to realize she had fallen in love with him. Immediately after the exam, Wei An met her and handed her a plane ticket to the United States from Wei Qing. Excited but indignant about Wei Qing’s prolonged silence, Zhou Shi declared her intention to confront "that bastard Wei Qing" about why he hadn’t replied to her messages for months.
Upon arriving in the United States, Zhou Shi, still resentful of Wei Qing’s half-year silence, decided to stay at a hotel near his residence and secretly follow him. Unbeknownst to her, Wei Qing had noticed her presence from the moment she started tailing him but chose to play along. That evening, Wei An called Wei Qing, informing him that He Wei had transferred all his shares to Xue Zi, effectively selling Yun Ma Artwork.
Hearing this, Wei Qing immediately booked a flight back to China for the next day. Simultaneously, Zhou Shi, planning to finally meet Wei Qing the following morning, received a message from Wei An notifying her of Wei Qing’s imminent return and that he had booked her on the same flight. At the airport, Zhou Shi finally reunited with Wei Qing.
She was initially enraged upon realizing he had known her whereabouts all along, but her anger softened slightly as she observed him naturally interacting with a child nearby, a sign of his complete recovery. However, her resentment quickly returned. She confronted Wei Qing, expressing her frustration that he always acted as the "controller" in their interactions. She demanded equality in their relationship to genuinely feel his care.
Wei Qing insisted he cared deeply for her, but Zhou Shi, feeling his words were hollow, stormed off angrily. Wei Qing promptly arranged a meeting with Xue Zi. He proposed to buy back Yun Ma Artwork at double the price and promised higher returns from future collaborations. Xue Zi flatly refused, revealing her plan to demolish all Yun Ma galleries except Xun's and develop them into luxury shops. Wei Qing, undeterred, declared he would never give up.
Meanwhile, Li Ming Cheng and Bi Qiu Jing excitedly shared that they had received acceptance letters from multiple overseas universities and decided to embark on a "study tour" as a unique honeymoon. Ning Fei then informed Zhou Shi that Xue Zi had acquired Yun Ma and wanted him to continue designing for her new company.
He intended to refuse, but Zhou Shi advised him that renewing his contract might be the only way to save the gallery, revealing that his contract had already expired a month prior. Ning Fei and Zhou Shi visited Xue Zi at her luxurious villa, where Ning Fei was stunned to discover childhood photos of himself. Xue Zi revealed she was his "brother" from the orphanage, having been sent there as an infant with only the character "Ran" on her clothing.
She met Ning Fei when she was eight and took his surname. She expressed her desire for Ning Fei to work under her, promising to maximize his talent. Ning Fei pleaded with her to return Yun Ma Artwork to preserve his uncle's life's work. Xue Zi admitted she acquired Yun Ma for Ning Fei but refused to simply hand it over.
Zhou Shi intervened, warning that if Yun Ma wasn't returned, they would prevent Ning Fei from doing any commercial design for Snow Group. She exposed Xue Zi's true motive: she was interested in Xun Ran's "golden signboard" and commercial value, not just their sibling connection. Producing a notarized authorization, Zhou Shi declared herself the sole legal holder of Xun Ran's works.
She then revealed Xue Zi's fear that acknowledging Ning Fei would expose her adopted status and jeopardize her position as the Snow Group heir. Under this pressure, Xue Zi agreed to sell Yun Ma back, albeit at a very high price. When Wei Qing later inquired why, Xue Zi told him to ask his girlfriend. Wei Qing found Zhou Shi at a swimming pool, arriving just as she was accidentally bumped into the water.
He immediately jumped in to rescue her. As they got out, Wei Qing recalled that ten years ago, he used to live nearby and once saved a little girl in that very pool. Zhou Shi's eyes widened in realization; she explained that today was her "drowning anniversary." It dawned on her that Wei Qing was the one who had saved her all those years ago. Overcome with emotion, Zhou Shi passionately kissed him.
Exhilarated, Wei Qing loudly declared to everyone at the pool, "From today onwards, Zhou Shi is my girlfriend!" He promised to wait for her, no matter how long it took. The two embraced and kissed, drawing cheers from the onlookers. Zhou Shi finally understood that the drowning incident that destined her to a rocky love life was also the moment she first learned to swim.
All her experiences were tests of fate, and her destined protector had always been by her side. As she reflected, she believed if anything had guided their reunion, it was love.
