Deep Affection Eyes Episode 7 Recap
> Deep Affection Eyes Recap
Ye Meng, accompanied by Li Jinyu, visited Mr. Jiang, an antique dealer, to inquire about a specific ring. Introducing herself as Cheng Kairan's friend, Ye Meng showed Mr. Jiang a ring, asking if he had ever seen it. Through him, they identified a middle-aged man surnamed Wang from Jiangbei. Mr. Jiang recalled this man had brought the ring to him for appraisal a few years prior but was unwilling to sell, and he couldn't provide further contact information.
After exchanging contact details with Mr. Jiang, Ye Meng and Li Jinyu left. Outside, Ye Meng pondered if the man Mr. Jiang described could be the same man her mother had met before her death. Li Jinyu offered to have his friends in Jiangbei investigate, and Ye Meng mentioned she would also ask her former colleague, Tai Mingxiao. Li Jinyu commented on Ye Meng's strange tone, prompting her to tease him about being jealous.
She pressed him, suggesting he desired to find a partner, which he denied. Ye Meng then teasingly brought up their dog, Ping'an, suggesting that even Ping'an was out looking for a girlfriend, implying Li Jinyu was becoming a "lonely old man." Li Jinyu joked that Ping'an might be looking for a job instead.
To settle their disagreement, Ye Meng proposed a bet: if she won, Li Jinyu would have to admit his jealousy and his desire for a partner, which Li Jinyu accepted. Li Jinyu found Ping'an's situation pitiful, as Ye Meng had installed a dashcam on the dog's neck to monitor its activities. Li Jinyu teased Ye Meng about her determination to win, to which she playfully retorted by noting his red ears.
As New Year's Eve approached, Li Jinyu arrived at Ye Meng's home with Spring Festival couplets. Together, they meticulously affixed the couplets, with Li Jinyu assisting in reaching the higher spots. During this time, Li Jinyu received a call from Ms. Ke, who informed him that he shouldn't come to the hospital that night because she was playing mahjong with friends and had arranged for him to spend New Year's Eve at Ye Meng's house.
Inside, the Ye family was bustling, preparing "tangyuan". Ye Meng was on a video call with her father, who was still at work in the bank, promising to return home after the New Year. Her grandmother urged Ye Meng to move back into the family home, explaining that an empty house would deteriorate, though she herself later denied ever saying this. Realizing they were out of peanut butter for the "tangyuan", Li Jinyu volunteered to go buy some.
Upon his return, Ye Meng's aunts arrived, quickly noticing Li Jinyu. They greeted him politely but immediately began to probe, asking his name, age, and profession. Li Jinyu introduced himself as Li, stated he was 27, two years younger than Ye Meng, and mentioned he didn't have a fixed job but did "a little bit of everything." The aunts then recognized him as Ms. Ke's grandson and the repairman who had once helped fix a leak at their old house.
Their questioning continued, delving into his family background, to which he revealed his father had passed away and he lived with his grandmother. The aunts subtly expressed their disapproval, discussing among themselves that his reserved nature and lack of a stable job made him unsuitable for their niece, Ye Meng, whom they considered innocent and vibrant. Ye Meng, overhearing their critical remarks, defended Li Jinyu, warning them to stop.
During the New Year's Eve dinner, the family shared red envelopes and lively conversation. Ye Meng assured Li Jinyu that despite her family's focus on appearance, their excitement upon seeing him signified their acceptance. Li Jinyu, in turn, expressed that her family was quite endearing and different from what he had previously imagined, prompting Ye Meng to tease him about having imagined her before.
After the meal, outside, Ye Meng offered to set off fireworks with him after he visited his grandmother, mentioning she had many stored for his birthday. Li Jinyu, however, only offered a vague "later" and started to leave. As he walked away, Ye Meng called out, "Li Jinyu, Happy New Year!" He paused, turned back, and softly uttered, "I'm sorry." When Ye Meng asked him to repeat, he simply said, "Happy New Year!"
again and urged her to go inside before departing. Later, in the hospital, Li Jinyu was seen weeping silently by Ms. Ke’s bedside. Ms. Ke, sensing his distress, also shed quiet tears, as he reflected on his own struggles and feeling unworthy of a bright person like Ye Meng. Elsewhere, Cheng Kairan visited Fang Ya’en and her son, Jiaoyu, bringing New Year's gifts and a red envelope.
Jiaoyu, initially wary, jokingly asked if Cheng Kairan was there to collect a debt. Cheng Kairan presented Jiaoyu with a toy, claiming it matched the boy's temperament, but Jiaoyu, mature beyond his years, politely stated that making money was difficult and Cheng Kairan shouldn't waste it. Fang Ya’en observed Cheng Kairan's increasingly strange behavior, noting his recent desire to mend a suit and remove a scar, which led her to suspect he had found a new girl he liked.
Cheng Kairan nervously denied her suspicions and hastily made an excuse to leave, claiming his father was waiting for him to make "tangyuan". Fang Ya’en offered him a book as a return gift. As he was leaving, Cheng Kairan uncomfortably encountered Chen Jian, Fang Ya’en's ex-husband, who had arrived to visit their son. Late that night, Li Jinyu returned home and observed his fish tank.
On a call, he explained to Ye Meng that the black goldfish she once said resembled him was not naturally black; its dark color was due to a contagious "black spot disease," which had now spread to another fish. He used this as a metaphor, gravely advising her that if one encountered a "sick goldfish," the most crucial action was to distance oneself, to never approach or attempt to pull it closer, as it would only drag them into darkness.
He articulated that the person standing by her side should not be someone like him, incapable of even setting off fireworks with her or spending New Year's Eve with her family. His words served as a harsh rejection, instantly extinguishing their budding romance. Ye Meng, disheartened and frustrated, sent him a voice message.
In it, she angrily expressed her incomprehension of his inability to be brave, stating that she had taken ninety-nine steps toward him, yet he refused to take the final one, and warned him that she might truly give up on him. Li Jinyu listened to her message, tears welling in his eyes, but ultimately chose not to respond.
As the New Year officially began, Li Jinyu carefully removed the Spring Festival couplets Ye Meng had put up at his home, and in doing so, discovered that Ping'an had lost the dashcam. Meanwhile, a downhearted Ye Meng confided in Fang Ya’en at her shop, lamenting her decision to give up on Li Jinyu. She explained that he had rejected her, claiming he didn't want to drag her down and wished for her to find someone more deserving.
Fang Ya'en, exasperated by her ex-husband Chen Jian's frequent visits to her shop, commiserated with Ye Meng, agreeing that Li Jinyu was "hard to please" and supporting Ye Meng's decision to move on. Just then, Cheng Kairan appeared, feigning a coincidental visit, and offered them sugar-free hot milk teas. He casually mentioned that Li Jinyu had returned to work.
Ye Meng dismissed the information, stating Li Jinyu's work was none of her concern, but Cheng Kairan persisted, hinting that Li Jinyu had caused her unhappiness. To defuse the brewing tension, Fang Ya’en quickly intervened, stating she had a nail appointment and needed someone to watch her shop and pick up Jiaoyu. She enlisted Cheng Kairan for the task, then promptly took Ye Meng out for manicures, suspecting Cheng Kairan's true intentions were focused on Ye Meng.
At the hospital, Dr. Gao confirmed he had a meeting with Ye Meng, whom he referred to as the relative of his patient. He clarified it was not a date but an opportunity to seek her help for his nephew's internship. Ms. Ke, whose leg had almost fully recovered, expressed her frustration to Li Jinyu, scolding him for not seizing the opportunity with Ye Meng and ruining a potential good match.
Li Jinyu merely stated that the Ye family was "different," but Ms. Ke inferred that it was likely Ye Meng's "picky old lady," presumably her grandmother, who had found fault with him. Li Jinyu seemed indifferent to the criticism. Later, Fang Ya’en confronted Ye Meng, pointing out that despite her claims of giving up, she clearly couldn't let go of Li Jinyu.
Fang Ya’en strongly advised Ye Meng to invite Li Jinyu to meet and talk to resolve any misunderstandings before she regretted it. Meanwhile, Cheng Kairan, left to watch Jiaoyu, found himself stumped by a second-grade Math Olympiad problem. He called Li Jinyu for assistance, who deliberately instructed him to come to the restaurant where Ye Meng was currently dining. That evening, Fang Ya’en accompanied Ye Meng to the restaurant to meet Dr. Gao.
Unbeknownst to them, Li Jinyu and Cheng Kairan were already outside. Cheng Kairan, attempting to offer unsolicited advice, warned Li Jinyu about Ye Meng's past romantic patterns, claiming she pursued handsome men only to leave them heartbroken, often with her ex-boyfriends begging for her return. Li Jinyu sharply retorted that he was still better than someone who didn't even know who he liked. Soon, Ye Meng noticed Li Jinyu, startled by his unexpected presence.
Li Jinyu and Cheng Kairan then entered and took a seat at an adjacent table. As Dr. Gao thanked Ye Meng for her help with his niece and offered her flowers, Fang Ya’en, trying to ease the palpable tension, enthusiastically praised Dr. Gao, describing him as gentle, handsome, and financially stable – an "excellent choice for many girls." Dr. Gao then inquired about Ye Meng's past preference for younger men. With a pointed glance toward Li Jinyu, Ye Meng declared that while she "used to like younger men," she had decided to "return to reality" after the New Year.
