Be Yourself Episode 9 Recap
> Be Yourself Recap
Xia Langlang arrived at an interview for an assistant position, where she noticed the other candidates were all male and casually dressed, yet they were all accepted. When it was her turn, the male interviewers posed unusually difficult questions, leaving her bewildered. However, Moli, a second-year graduate student and one of the interviewers, immediately decided to hire her. Moli, who was tired of her male colleagues' gender discrimination, was impressed by Xia Langlang's lively and cheerful personality.
Moli mentioned that Mr. Mai, Xia Langlang's counselor, had said she was very cute, which led Xia Langlang to realize that Moli was actually Mr. Mai's girlfriend. Moli clarified that while Mr. Mai liked Xia Langlang, Moli hired her because she herself was impressed and believed Xia Langlang was much more capable than the other male candidates. To celebrate Xia Langlang securing an office assistant position at the Training College, Mr. Mai invited Moli and Xia Langlang out for dinner.
During the meal, Mr. Mai officially introduced Moli as his girlfriend to Xia Langlang, much to Xia Langlang's surprise. Xia Langlang discretely took photos of the affectionate couple and shared them with her roommates, Fan Xiaoyu, Huangfu, and Dongdongqiang, who were intrigued by the news and gossiped about it in their dorm. Xia Langlang then pressed for details about their romance, and Mr. Mai eagerly recounted their love story.
He explained that he fell for Moli on the first day of their undergraduate studies and pursued her relentlessly, even taking notes for her and faking her attendance in classes when she skipped to play games. Moli was the "department flower" and difficult to win over, but after years of persistent effort, they finally began dating in graduate school. Touched by their story, Xia Langlang raised a toast with them.
After Mr. Mai left to pay the bill, Moli quietly asked Xia Langlang not to reveal their relationship to others, explaining that she wished to avoid any unnecessary discussions that might affect Mr. Mai's professional standing as a teacher. Xia Langlang readily agreed to keep it a secret. Upon Xia Langlang's return to the dorm, Fan Xiaoyu, Huangfu, and Dongdongqiang eagerly awaited her, demanding details after seeing the photos.
Xia Langlang shared the entire "divine love story" of Mr. Mai and Moli, which left her roommates deeply envious. They reiterated their promise to keep the relationship secret, acknowledging Mr. Mai's current role as a teacher. The following day, as Xia Langlang helped Moli prepare for the Training College's awards ceremony, she accidentally dropped and broke a trophy.
Moli calmly took charge, reassuring Xia Langlang and instructing her to present an older, replacement trophy to Gao Yuan, one of the recipients, promising to handle any issues. Later, Xia Langlang overheard Moli and Gao Yuan arguing, with Moli asserting that her relationship with Gao Yuan was none of his business. Feeling guilty, Xia Langlang approached Gao Yuan and confessed that she was responsible for breaking his original trophy, explaining Moli's quick decision to substitute it.
Gao Yuan, however, dismissed it as "just a trophy" and assured her it was unimportant, comforting her and leaving without further incident. That evening, while Xia Langlang was on duty alone in the office, Mr. Mai unexpectedly appeared with a cake, having assumed Moli was on duty. Upon realizing his mistake, Mr. Mai chuckled, explaining that Moli's favorite cake would now "go to waste," and left it for Xia Langlang before leaving.
Fan Xiaoyu, while discussing user experience feedback for an app with Fan Qingzhou, unexpectedly spotted Moli and Gao Yuan together. She promptly informed Xia Langlang, who vehemently denied it, insisting Fan Xiaoyu must have been mistaken or that Moli was simply having a casual chat. Fan Xiaoyu, however, was certain, pointing out the man's distinct appearance and the woman's clear resemblance to Moli. Despite this, Xia Langlang struggled to accept that Moli could be cheating on Mr. Mai.
The following night, a slightly inebriated Mr. Mai approached Xia Langlang with a diamond ring, revealing his intention to propose to Moli and asking for her help to plan a surprise. Xia Langlang was overjoyed and enthusiastically committed to assisting him. She meticulously planned a cinema proposal and discussed the arrangements with Mr. Wang, the cinema manager. Feeling confident that everything was in place, Xia Langlang turned around, only to witness Moli and Gao Yuan entering the cinema hand-in-hand.
Moli quickly dropped Gao Yuan's hand when she saw Xia Langlang and attempted to explain, but Xia Langlang was too shocked to speak. At that moment, Mr. Mai emerged from the supermarket, mistook their gathering as a "Training College meeting," and casually took Moli's hand. Thinking quickly to prevent Mr. Mai from discovering the truth, Xia Langlang grabbed Gao Yuan and claimed she and Gao Yuan came to watch a movie together, pulling him into the cinema.
Inside, neither Xia Langlang nor Gao Yuan could focus on the film, and Gao Yuan soon left. Xia Langlang struggled with whether to inform Mr. Mai about Moli and Gao Yuan. She encountered Moli outside Mr. Mai's office, and Moli thanked her for not exposing the truth.
Moli explained that the situation was "very complicated" and not what it seemed, asking for time to resolve it, insisting she did not want to hurt Mr. Mai, who had always been very kind to her, and even claimed she still loved him. Xia Langlang, unable to refuse Moli's request, later confronted Gao Yuan, urging him to cease his involvement in Moli and Mr. Mai's relationship and not to be a third party.
Gao Yuan, however, simply shook his head and walked away, advising Xia Langlang not to meddle if she didn't understand the full story. Upon hearing Xia Langlang's full account, her roommates, who had initially believed Gao Yuan was a new love interest for Xia Langlang, were outraged, labeling Gao Yuan a "scumbag" and Moli a "cheating woman." Dongdongqiang further fueled the suspicion by confirming she also saw Moli and a "hot guy" holding hands at the cinema.
They were especially shocked to learn that Mr. Mai was planning to propose, and collectively decided to help him with a "desperate measures" plan. The plan unfolded in a cinema where Mr. Mai projected a heartfelt video of himself, expressing his profound love for Moli. He then approached her with a bouquet of roses and the diamond ring, proposing marriage in front of their classmates. However, Moli, visibly distressed, apologized and rejected his proposal.
Witnessing Mr. Mai drowning his sorrows in alcohol, Xia Langlang was overcome with guilt, believing that if she had revealed Moli and Gao Yuan's affair earlier, Mr. Mai might have been spared such public heartbreak. Mr. Mai, however, remained remarkably composed. He revealed that Gao Yuan was Moli's boyfriend before him. They were in the same department in undergrad, and Moli only liked Gao Yuan.
When Gao Yuan went to a UK exchange program for his postgraduate study, their long-distance relationship ended, which was when Mr. Mai, recognizing an an opportunity, intensely pursued Moli. He admitted he always suspected Moli didn't truly love him, but he didn't care. He says he started to panic when Gao Yuan returned, feeling Moli would leave him. Mr. Mai confessed that he had followed Moli to the cinema that day and witnessed her holding hands with Gao Yuan.
He chose not to intervene, hoping Moli would make her own decision. He felt like a "thief," having stolen something that didn't belong to him, constantly fearing its return. He explained that in the "gamble of love," he had wagered everything – his time, patience, and dignity – only to lose it all. He concluded that he was the true "third wheel" because "the one who isn't loved is the third wheel."
Despite his profound loss, Mr. Mai managed a faint smile, accepting his fate. Later, a deeply inebriated Xia Langlang, overwhelmed with sorrow, confronted Moli and Gao Yuan directly. She tearfully questioned Moli's decision to abandon Mr. Mai, accusing them of validating their love at his expense. Moli, composed despite the accusations, explained that while Mr. Mai was a wonderful, down-to-earth man suitable for a stable life, he was "not for me."
She confessed that despite her efforts to avoid Gao Yuan since his return, seeing him still made her "heart pump" – a feeling she struggled to deny. Moli admitted her weakness and fault, telling Xia Langlang she could hate her, but suggested that one day, when Xia Langlang found someone who truly made her heart race and whose eyes held a special light for her, she would understand. Xia Langlang burst into tears, heartbroken by Moli's words.
Xia Langlang felt more devastated than during her own past heartbreaks, carrying the burden of responsibility for a long time. To help her recover, Fan Xiaoyu decided to enlist Fan Qingzhou to teach Xia Langlang Tai Chi.
