Definitely Not Today Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Definitely Not Today Synopsis
The homebody Mi Chong had planned to end his useless life at the river, but because of the accidental rescue of a drowning girl Zhi Liao and interrupted the plan.
A few days later an accident, led the two people to embark on the journey of escape.
A series of unbelievable encounters entwine their destinies, while two marginalized hearts gradually come closer and closer, finding long-lost sunlight and hope from their respective gray youthful dilemmas.
Definitely Not Today Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Mi Chong introduces himself as a man who has considered himself lucky since childhood. When he was still an embryo, his family eagerly awaited his arrival. His story began with his mother's resolute declaration that she must give birth to him. Upon Mi Chong's cries after birth, his family sighed in relief, but his paternal grandpa, overcome with joy, passed away.
At six years old, Mi Chong discovered his maternal grandma had become an expert at hide-and-seek, her disappearance sparking his curiosity about the outside world. His mother, who believed in leading by example, burned his maternal grandma's photo, explaining that the deceased should not be kept around as it is not good for future generations. What was once a happy and warm family of seven was reduced to just Mi Chong and his father.
His father, the strongest man in their family, spent 23 years proving himself to be the household's pillar, often drowning his sorrows in alcohol. During those years, Mi Chong's paternal grandma and maternal grandpa also died one after another. His father remained strong, but due to a drunk driving accident, he became a vegetative state. Last week, after 23 years in that state, Mi Chong's father woke up, only to pass away shortly after.
This made 23-year-old Mi Chong, whose name literally means "rice worm" (a slang term for a lazy person), truly an orphan. During these 23 years, Mi Chong gradually lost his social skills due to long-term home confinement, making him unable to integrate into his surroundings. He found young people's vigor boring, treating everything with indifference and lack of interest, living a slow and timid life like his father's ECG.
He believed his family's deaths conveyed that losing control is the essence of life, and the only way to regain order is to reset everything. Considering it a good day, Mi Chong chose June 13th, the same date Osamu Dazai committed suicide, as his own. He was content to share this date. He wrote a letter asking someone to care for his cat, despite believing its life, like his own, was meaningless.
He clarified that there is a vast difference between wanting to die and not wanting to live, identifying with the latter. With only five minutes left until his chosen time, Mi Chong, at a lake, tied a large stone to his waist, prepared to jump. However, just as he was about to, a woman suddenly jumped into the river. Mi Chong quickly dropped his stone and rescued her.
He later described this as an extremely painful beginning to a story, his first meeting with the woman, Zhi Liao. Thirteen hours earlier, Zhi Liao, whose name translates to "cicada" and implies a vibrant summer energy that symbolizes genetic evolution's allure to men, identifies herself as an expert in scamming, a skill taught by Qiang, who is like a father to her. She was at Qiang's bar.
Her partner, Jin Jie, helps clean up after she "hooks a fish," and they work seamlessly together. Most of their earnings go to Qiang, with the rest split evenly between them. That night, Zhi Liao, despite Qiang's warning that one must be "bad enough" to avoid encountering worse people, forgot his advice. She unknowingly drank a spiked drink from a client. She was carried out of the bar by two men, while Jin Jie followed behind them.
In the car, her phone rang, rousing her, but one of the men quickly hung it up. Unable to move, she heard a man remark on her being "pretty hot" and his inability to hold back. Determined to prevent sexual assault, Zhi Liao recalled hearing of girls defecating in their pants to deter attackers, but she couldn't do that. She decided to do something to make them lose their sexual desires.
She intentionally vomited in the car, leading the men to argue about her making a mess on one's clothes and scratching the car. Seizing the opportunity while they were distracted, Zhi Liao used all her strength to open the car door and jumped into the river, where she encountered Mi Chong. Zhi Liao later reflected on this as an "extremely horrible beginning" to her story with Mi Chong, though her remembered first meeting was different.
After waking, Zhi Liao demanded 3,000 yuan from Mi Chong, threatening to tell Qiang if he refused. Mi Chong, wondering if he hadn't saved her, found her self-righteous expression made him doubt his own memory. When the tenant auntie knocked to pay rent, Zhi Liao swiftly took off her pajama pants, pretending to be Mi Chong's intimate partner to ensure the rent money would be handed to her.
She then took the money, asserting that it was "fated" to be hers, and put on Mi Chong's clothes. She then tried to justify taking the money by accusing Mi Chong of either touching or looking at her when he changed her clothes, sarcastically suggesting he keep her "worn clothes" as keepsakes, implying he was someone who might buy such items online. She then left. As she departed, Zhi Liao's phone accidentally broke, making her unable to contact Jin Jie.
She thought he would be worried about her and considered him the person she trusted most in the city, though she admitted to calling him a "scoundrel" when he was unhappy. She noted his strength and musculature, acknowledging his lack of intelligence and scary temper, but found him a sufficient partner. Jin Jie, however, yearned for more than a partnership, having pursued her for many years without success, and had repeatedly proposed to her.
Zhi Liao had an instinctive fear of love, but her recent near-death experience made her realize she wanted to embrace him and accept his proposal. However, upon reaching his place and pressing the doorbell, she found Jin Jie talking with the two men who had drugged her. She realized Jin Jie was complicit in the incident. This betrayal felt like dropping an ice cream she deeply desired, knowing it had become too dirty to eat.
Mi Chong was irritated that Zhi Liao had made him miss the chance to share Osamu Dazai's death date, wondering if he would have to wait another year. Despite this, he proceeded with a meticulous plan for a "decent death." He had secretly practiced tying knots for hanging, discarding ones that were too loose or too small for his head, or too "effeminate." He ensured both himself and his house were clean.
He had also established a good relationship with his neighbor, the neighbor lady, to ensure she would visit regularly and discover his body promptly, hoping she wouldn't suffer a heart attack. He prepared a noose, which he considered his best work, and waited for the sunset's last rays to pass through his eyes. Just as he was moments away, Zhi Liao burst in.
She claimed she only wanted to hang her clothes and found his noose sturdy, a "crappy lie" Mi Chong knew only an "idiot would fall for." She then announced she would stay for a few days because she didn't want to be alone, asking about his schedule and meal preparations. She then threw the money she had taken, declaring it her rent payment. Mi Chong was speechless, thinking that the money and clothes were originally his.
He concluded that she was ruining his plans, and had she been just five minutes later, he would have been successful. He resolved that he must die tonight, regardless of her presence, and would let her fulfill the role his neighbor was supposed to. He reaffirmed his determination to succeed this time because he considered himself a lucky person.
Episode 2 Recap
Mi Chong prepared to end his life, gathering sleeping pills and believing he had enough. His ritual was abruptly interrupted by Zhi Liao, who appeared and asked if he had any sleeping pills, declaring, "I'm not staying anymore. I want to die." She then turned to Mi Chong, asking if he also wanted to die, stating, "I want to kill myself." Mi Chong observed that Zhi Liao seemed like the type who would ultimately regret such a decision.
When she inquired again about pills, he admitted he had none, having been startled into dropping them into the trash. Consumed by her own rage over betrayal, Zhi Liao exclaimed, "Why? Why did you betray me? You should never trust anyone." She then borrowed Mi Chong's phone, screamed "You bastard! You piece of shit! Go to hell!" and hurled it out the window.
The crash of the phone and a flower pot was heard by Ms. Lu next door, who yelled, "Who's that? ! Who did that? !" Zhi Liao responded that it was her phone, leading Ms. Lu to sarcastically ask if she wanted to throw hers too. Mi Chong privately noted Zhi Liao's slightly neurotic behavior, but found it acceptable since his own phone had been destroyed earlier, just a step before him.
Later, Mi Chong, having waited for Zhi Liao to fall asleep to enjoy his most alert time of the day, was once again thwarted. Zhi Liao, brimming with energy, suggested, "Let's go out and have fun." Despite Mi Chong's inward reluctance and questioning, "Now?" , he found himself unable to refuse, thinking, "Only a ghost would go out now." At a bar, Mi Chong, who usually abstained from alcohol, gradually felt dizzy.
He observed Zhi Liao in the crowd, oblivious to a man in the corner who had been watching her. Mi Chong felt immediate regret for coming, predicting he would regret the drink he was about to have in twenty minutes. Zhi Liao, seizing the stage, announced, "Today, I'm going to introduce our special guest for today's concert. Mi Chong! To thank you for taking me in, I'm going to sing you a song of praise."
Mi Chong reflected on Zhi Liao as the most uninhibited person he had met, someone who imposed herself everywhere. Her off-key singing was so profoundly disruptive that it ironically sparked a will to survive in him, a man seeking death. He felt like a soldier desperately fleeing a battle, with Zhi Liao's voice a fighter plane carpet-bombing his surroundings within two kilometers.
His sole desire was to get home as fast as possible and permanently shut out her and her noise. Back at their residence, Ms. Lu's voice pierced the night, complaining, "Are you mad? ! What are you singing for in the middle of the night? ! If you continue, I'm going to call the police!" Zhi Liao defiantly yelled back, "Call the police then! If you dare! You dare!"
The next morning, approaching noon, Mi Chong awoke to find Zhi Liao sleeping beside him. A voice was heard on a phone call, asking someone if they had seen Jin Jie and to tell him that he was being looked for concerning Zhi Liao. In Mi Chong's eyes, only the rope knot hanging from the beam, bathed in sunlight, appeared exceptionally comfortable, attracting him to walk forward and put it around his neck.
Seeing Zhi Liao still asleep, Mi Chong thought, "What's going on?" and decided he needed to proceed with his suicide plan "as soon as possible." However, Zhi Liao woke up, forcing Mi Chong to casually pretend to read a book to cover his embarrassing aborted attempt. Later, at a restaurant, where they ordered noodles, Mi Chong pondered what he could say to make Zhi Liao leave, thinking, "Maybe saying it will make her leave sooner."
He pointed to a family photo, asking, "Is that little fatty you?" When she affirmed, he then asked, "Where is everyone else?" Zhi Liao calmly replied, "I killed them." Mi Chong expected her to be scared, perhaps planning her escape, but she simply said, "Oh. I like that." Zhi Liao then noticed Mi Chong's detached demeanor, asking him, "Why do you keep following me? Do you want me to die in front of you?"
She prompted him to eat, but Mi Chong explained, "I'm used to eating alone." Their meal was interrupted by Mi Chong's cousin, Zhi Xian, who had been looking for Mi Chong at his place. He asked about Mi Chong's phone, which Mi Chong admitted he "threw it away." Zhi Xian, assuming Zhi Liao was a stranger, introduced himself and immediately tried to sell Mi Chong a risky investment, touting "Annualized profits, 50%," and urging him to pay a 5,000 deposit.
He even reminded Mi Chong that it was the day Ms. Lu typically paid rent. Zhi Liao, disgusted by Zhi Xian's schemes, pretended to gag and then provocatively wiped Mi Chong's face with a napkin, making Zhi Xian uncomfortable and prompting Mi Chong to wonder, "What kind of plot is this going?" She then suggested Zhi Xian should invest his own money, questioning if he even understood how to spend such large sums.
Calling for the Boss, Zhi Liao requested separate bills, explaining that Zhi Xian was merely "sharing tables." After Zhi Xian left, Zhi Liao confronted Mi Chong, asking if he couldn't see Zhi Xian was trying to cheat him. Mi Chong confirmed, "I know." Zhi Liao, perplexed, asked, "If you knew, why weren't you retaliating? Do you like to be cheated?"
As Zhi Xian left the restaurant, he was overheard muttering to someone, "I heard his whole family died because of his bad luck. He looks like a jinx." Mi Chong wished he hadn't heard the cruel words, but they "crawled into my ears," making him fantasize about crawling into Zhi Xian's ears, impregnating him, and making him explode like an alien.
Despite Zhi Liao often bullying Mi Chong, she possessed a fiercely protective nature, embodying a "I can hit others, but no one else can touch them" mentality. This unexpected protectiveness ironically brought Mi Chong a sense of warmth. Compared to his past experiences of bullying from classmates and hostility from outsiders, Mi Chong gradually adapted to Zhi Liao's presence, becoming confident that he would not feel any repulsion towards her before his planned suicide.
Zhi Liao then playfully asked if her "fees are much more reasonable, right?" Mi Chong inquired how her actions were different from Zhi Xian's, to which she responded, "How's it the same? I'm bullying you. He was bullying my friend." Mi Chong paused at the word "friend," then reflected that those with friends might be caught in "the biggest lie of the century." He compared friends to clothes—one couldn't wear too many—and he himself didn't even want a single piece.
He concluded that friends were tiring, and discerning true friends was even more so, lamenting, "When would I be able to end this pointless life?" Later, Mi Chong, feeling an overwhelming desire for rest, saw it as "a good opportunity to kill myself." He vowed, "This time, no matter what she says, I won't allow myself to be interrupted. Absolutely." He filled the bathtub, turned up the music, and prepared a razor blade for his wrist.
His attempt was interrupted by the doorbell. Zhi Liao answered, expecting Ms. Lu, but Jin Jie burst in. Zhi Liao confronted him, "How did you find this place? You dare show up here? Get lost." Jin Jie ignored her, asserting, "You thought you could hide? You're too naive, Zhi Liao. You sold me! I trusted you so much. You sold me." Zhi Liao repeatedly demanded he let go, but Jin Jie insisted, "Go back with me.
Apologize to Qiang and we can move on." Zhi Liao cried, "No way! Get lost! Stay away from me!" thinking internally, "This scene is too bloody." Jin Jie, warning her to "Don't be ungrateful," demanded she return with him. Mi Chong emerged from the bathroom, internally asking, "Hold up. What's going on? Where's the background music coming from? No, no, no. This isn't what I wanted." He realized he had walked into "another even more gruesome scene."
Jin Jie called Mi Chong a "loser" and began beating him, pinning him on the sofa. A bloody taste filled Mi Chong's mouth, and he felt the arrival of death, especially as Jin Jie took out a dagger and approached. Zhi Liao intervened, yelling, "Why are you hitting him? He has nothing got to do with us. Hurry, leave. Hurry, run." Jin Jie taunted her, "You're protecting him, huh?"
As Mi Chong faced what he believed was his final moment, he thought, "Again? Don't tell me. . . this is my fate?" He found solace, "So this is the last moment of my life. Thank God. I no longer need to take action myself. Bring it on. Let all of this end quickly." Unexpectedly, Zhi Liao grabbed a vase and struck Jin Jie, knocking him to the ground. Zhi Liao, asking Mi Chong, "Do you think. . .
he's dead?" Mi Chong, knowing Jin Jie had completely lost his breath, lied to comfort her, stating, "He. . . he. . . could have fainted." Zhi Liao immediately took action, grabbing clothes and urging Mi Chong to "Change your clothes, quickly," take some money, and "We should leave now before he wakes up," and then, "Come around, dude! Let's go." Mi Chong inwardly questioned why he was running and carrying her, admitting he still didn't understand.
He concluded that "losing control is the essence of life" and he was "straying from my intended path." Zhi Liao asked if it was "fine just dumping him here." Mi Chong replied, "What else can we do? We'll be in more trouble once he wakes up." She then handed him Jin Jie's car keys. As they fled on a motorcycle, Ms. Lu witnessed their hasty departure.
Mi Chong narrated that some journeys have clear beginnings, destinations, and plans, but others do not, with companions forced together. He felt they were unknowingly embarking on a journey, simply fleeing from one place without any idea of what lay ahead.
Episode 3 Recap
Mi Chong and Zhi Le continued their escape on an electric vehicle. Despite the silent night, their situation was anything but romantic, feeling more like a scene from a movie. Mi Chong experienced a familiar sense of unease, a profound feeling stemming from the sudden loss of loved ones, which made him desperately want to distance himself from Zhi Le.
He mused internally that he felt unsafe with her, and even more so if he were to take her along, believing she wouldn't survive two days. Zhi Le, however, found herself surprisingly trusting of Mi Chong, feeling a sense of reliability from him. When Mi Chong suggested she contact friends or relatives, Zhi Le dismissed the idea, stating it was too late and she didn't want to bother anyone, insisting they just needed to get through the night.
Meanwhile, at a hotel with a private room for the boss, one of Qiang's henchmen knelt before him, attempting to explain Jin Jie's disappearance. Qiang, known for his love of birds and strict rules, was furious. The henchman recounted that he had entrusted Jin Jie with Qiang's beloved bird to take it to the vet that afternoon, but Jin Jie, along with the bird, had since vanished. Qiang cut short his henchman's apologies, dismissing any further explanations.
After a long ride, they stopped at a simple hotel. Inside, Mi Chong attempted to check in, but as Zhi Le didn't have an ID, she engaged with the hotel owner, Huang, claiming she was merely accompanying Mi Chong and would leave once he was settled. Huang, however, insisted that visitors also needed to register, leading Zhi Le to cleverly question whether delivery people or police officers were also subjected to such rules. Eventually, Huang directed them to room 205.
In the room, Mi Chong checked Zhi Le's ankle and bandaged it. Zhi Le found this moment beautiful yet fleeting, questioning why she, despite being a victim, was forced to live as a fugitive. She also reflected on how she often doubted her memories and whether she deserved good things, and why she was always the one running away when others were in the wrong. Mi Chong attempted to call someone, but the number was unavailable.
Zhi Le felt a sudden urge for rebellion. She mused that awful things always seemed to happen to her, as if by gravity, and she wanted to do something to defy it. She teasingly asked Mi Chong if he had ever kissed a girl and if he wanted to try. As she leaned in to kiss him, Mi Chong’s heart raced, and he panicked, pushing her away and rushing out of the room.
He realized Zhi Le was disrupting his carefully maintained sense of peace, which greatly troubled him, noting that such an event was clearly not part of his plan. Mi Chong went to the registration desk, intending to get another room. Before he could finish his request, Zhi Le, hurt and angry, walked down the stairs, hoping Mi Chong would call out to her. Her hopes were dashed.
Mi Chong, consumed by his fear of loss, preferred never to possess something than to eventually lose it, a lesson he felt he'd known since childhood. He even thought that he should have been like Jin Jie, lying dead at home. Zhi Le, in defiance, went to a nearby bar, where she started drinking and initiated a conversation with a designated driver, using her usual flirtatious tactics. This designated driver, however, was not as decent as he appeared.
He revealed a dark, perverse side, bragging about secretly filming intoxicated women and posting their private photos online. Zhi Le was disgusted and tried to leave the room. The driver became aggressive, preventing her escape and smashing objects in the room. Just then, Huang, the hotel owner, appeared, scaring the driver away. The man fled downstairs, riding off on Mi Chong's electric vehicle, which was parked outside. As he sped off, a birdcage tumbled from the back of the scooter.
Mi Chong, hearing the commotion, rushed back. He heard Zhi Le's cries and recognized her voice, realizing she was in trouble. He later understood this new trouble was a consequence of his earlier failure to reach out to her, which led her to seek solace with the next person who entered the hotel. When Mi Chong found Zhi Le and Huang, Huang demanded compensation for the damaged room.
Mi Chong, wanting to help Zhi Le, tried to claim her as his girlfriend but awkwardly corrected himself to "friend." Huang, wielding a hammer, insisted they pay for the damage. Mi Chong, realizing he was outmatched, pulled out all his savings, about sixteen hundred yuan, which Huang deemed insufficient. The hotel owner then made a bizarre demand: Mi Chong's socks. Mi Chong was surprised, but Zhi Le urged him to comply, as Huang threatened to involve the police.
Mi Chong reluctantly handed over both socks. Soon after, Qiang's henchmen arrived at the hotel, having tracked Zhi Le's whereabouts. They apprehended Zhi Le and, by extension, Mi Chong, restricting their freedom. Huang then called Qiang, reporting the night's events. He informed Qiang that Zhi Le was "doing that kind of business" at his hotel and that she was the girl who had been with Jin Jie.
Huang then mentioned that Zhi Le was not alone but with two men and had been "hooked up with them for the night." Mi Chong, overhearing this, realized the situation was spiraling into bigger trouble and feared he was finished. Qiang, misinterpreting Huang's fragmented account and perhaps distracted by the mention of Jin Jie, merely instructed Huang to "serve them well," without pressing for more details about Zhi Le or the men.
Qiang was focused on his missing bird and finding Jin Jie. After the call, one of Qiang's henchmen discovered the birdcage, which had fallen from the electric vehicle, recognizing it as Qiang's beloved bird. Zhi Le, despite the chaos, calmly suggested they take the bird with them. Mi Chong pondered the strange turn of events, marking it as the second day since he met Zhi Le.
He began to wonder if luck and fate existed and if there was a deeper meaning to his saving Zhi Le from the river that day. He also speculated that Qiang would regret his hasty decision by tomorrow, overlooking the crucial details Huang had relayed.
Episode 4 Recap
After leaving the hotel, Zhi Le and Mi Chong found themselves aimlessly wandering, trying to find a place to rest and recuperate. Zhi Le admitted she had never truly run away before, so she tried to recall tactics from television shows, like disguising her appearance, conserving their remaining money, and avoiding unnecessary involvement. While on the run, she often acquired stale steamed buns for Mi Chong to eat, simply because they were free.
She emphasized that money was always a problem for runaways. Mi Chong, however, found himself with multiple opportunities to leave Zhi Le, yet he inexplicably wasted them, as if his subconscious was holding him back. They found temporary shelter in a deserted skating rink warehouse. Zhi Le meticulously calculated their daily expenses, noting that out of their initial three thousand yuan, three hundred had been spent on the hotel, meaning they couldn't travel far.
Exhausted from their recent hardships, Mi Chong leaned against Zhi Le and fell asleep. True to his home-bound nature, he developed a fever, prompting Zhi Le to go out and buy a fever patch for him despite her injured leg. This act of care, a first for Zhi Le, deeply touched Mi Chong, making him feel a shift in their dynamic.
Mi Chong reflected that he yearned to be with the bird more than Zhi Le, forever, and he was starting to miss his sleep. Meanwhile, Qiang received a tip about Jin Jie's whereabouts and arrived at the location. The room was empty, the broken vase fragments from before had been cleaned up, and only a few men's clothes were piled in a corner. As Qiang surveyed the room, someone suddenly opened the door.
A dagger flashed, but Qiang, reacting swiftly, managed to subdue the assailant. To his surprise, it was an injured Jin Jie. After regaining consciousness, Jin Jie confessed to Qiang that Zhi Le and a boy had attacked him and stolen Qiang's bird. Concerned about being found by Jin Jie, Zhi Le realized they couldn't stay hidden forever and needed to make changes. She decided to get a haircut, drastically altering her appearance.
Mi Chong commented that her new look was "a little" ugly, then asked what changes he should make. Zhi Le dismissed his concern, pointing out that no one knew him anyway. She continued to contemplate their next move, wondering where they could go that Jin Jie wouldn't know. The thought of returning home crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it, believing she wouldn't be welcomed. Mi Chong noticed a necklace she wore and asked about its significance.
Zhi Le explained it was a gift from her grandmother, whom she mistakenly believed had passed away. Mi Chong corrected her, saying her grandmother was fine and still sent her food every month without fail. He encouraged Zhi Le to visit her, but Zhi Le explained she hadn't been back in too long due to certain circumstances. Still, Mi Chong insisted it wasn't too late to go home.
Qiang, now armed with Jin Jie's confession, deployed his men to search all train station platforms and airports, closely monitoring the flow of people. Money continued to be an issue for Zhi Le and Mi Chong. Zhi Le handed the birdcage to Mi Chong, instructing him to guard it while she went to sell their skateboard. While trying to sell the skateboard, she overheard Qiang's men discussing Jin Jie.
They stated that Qiang was determined to get rid of Zhi Le and mentioned Jin Jie was "lying there, unable to move." Zhi Le misinterpreted this, believing Jin Jie was dead and that she was responsible. This sudden truth was a great blow to Zhi Le; even though Jin Jie had betrayed her, their years of partnership meant she couldn't be indifferent to his supposed death.
Upon returning to Mi Chong, Zhi Le confronted him, asking if he truly heard Jin Jie's heartbeat that night. Mi Chong initially lied, confirming he did. Zhi Le pressed him for details, asking if it was "thump, thump" or "thump thump thump." When he couldn't answer and claimed to have forgotten, she accused him of lying. Realizing he couldn't keep the truth from her, Mi Chong admitted, "I didn't hear it."
Zhi Le exploded in anger and disbelief, demanding to know how he could have lied and acted as if nothing happened after witnessing a death. From Zhi Le's perspective, this quiet, reserved boy also lied, or perhaps all the men she knew were liars. Mi Chong coldly replied that everyone dies, and she was being childish.
He stated that if she was so upset, she shouldn't have killed Jin Jie, and then neither of them would be in their current predicament. Enraged and heartbroken, Zhi Le retorted that she should have let Jin Jie kill Mi Chong, then she'd be rid of two jerks. Mi Chong responded harshly, saying he never asked for her help and she was being nosy, though he instantly regretted his words. Zhi Le, utterly disillusioned, turned and walked away.
Mi Chong watched her go, reflecting that his plan to escape Zhi Le had finally come to fruition, passively. Yet, Zhi Le's departure didn't bring him the joy he expected. He realized that while he wasn't used to having company when she was around, he also wasn't used to being alone now that she was gone.
He pondered how he had done many things against his will while with her and had even started to feel anger and jealousy, particularly towards Jin Jie, who, despite being a scoundrel, still had people mourning his death. He wondered if anyone would mourn him. Overwhelmed by loneliness, Mi Chong walked to a river, intending to end his life. As he plunged into the cold water, he suddenly thought of Zhi Le and her recent questions about Jin Jie.
A sudden realization struck him: she must have encountered Qiang's men at the train station. Concerned for her safety, he fought his way back to shore, determined to figure out what happened before he could consider dying again. Meanwhile, Detective Lu Ming, having tracked a damaged cellphone, arrived at Mi Chong's residence. She began questioning neighbors, including an elderly woman, explaining that she was looking for the phone's owner.
Lu Ming stated that the girl was a teenager her department had been regularly observing. She expressed her dual purpose: to check on Zhi Le's well-being and to deliver some extremely important information, fearing that delay could lead to trouble.
Episode 5 Recap
Many people, including officer Lu Ming, Qiang's subordinate Scarface, and a dejected Mi Chong, were searching for Zhi Le. Mi Chong regretted the unfair words he had spoken to Zhi Le and that he hadn't followed her. He wondered where a girl with a crippled leg could possibly go.
As he searched, Mi Chong realized that he would never simply run into Zhi Le, so he drew her portrait and printed missing person notices to post, hoping that even if he wasn't the first to find her, she would at least understand his apology. The notice included a message from Mi Chong, asking Zhi Le to meet him at their usual spot by 6 p. m. if she saw it, to retrieve her bird.
Feeling desperate, Mi Chong contacted his Uncle Zhao via phone. Since his mother's death, his uncle had cut ties with them, openly despising Mi Chong's poor and useless father, a description he now applied to Mi Chong himself. Zhao, a former gangster who had since reformed and opened an aquatic products shop, was well-connected and known for gathering information.
Mi Chong admitted he didn't know who else to turn to and asked Zhao for help finding Zhi Le, reminding him that his mother had left money with him. He described Zhi Le as a girl with a crippled leg, wearing a brown jacket, whom he last saw at the train station. Zhao callously refused, telling Mi Chong that his mother's death severed their family ties.
He suggested Zhi Le had simply used the argument as an excuse to leave Mi Chong, calling Mi Chong and his father useless. Mi Chong was deeply hurt by Zhao's words but left without complaint, accepting the truth in his uncle's harsh assessment. Meanwhile, Lu Ming and an elderly neighbor arrived at Mi Chong's apartment. The room was empty and cold, save for several boxes of books by Osamu Dazai piled against a wall.
The neighbor asked who Dazai was, and Lu Ming explained that he was a Japanese author known for his numerous suicide attempts, often with women, where the women died but he survived. Suddenly, a man with glasses, who introduced himself as Mi Chong's cousin, appeared, admitting he had hidden due to nervousness. He recognized Lu Ming, recalling that she had once pretended to be Mi Chong's representative to collect rent from him.
Lu Ming showed him a picture of Zhi Le, stating her belief that Mi Chong might have run off with a girl. The cousin confirmed he had seen Zhi Le just yesterday, recalling that she had vomited on him at his deli. He then revealed that Mi Chong had sent him a suicide letter before his disappearance, in which Dazai was mentioned. He expressed concern that Mi Chong might have taken the girl with him in a suicide pact.
Elsewhere, a hungry Zhi Le walked past a bakery, imagining the loaves inside beckoning to her. She considered smashing the display and grabbing some bread, but instead, she began taking small sample pieces, one after another, until the kind old baker, wearing glasses, noticed her. The baker, seeing her hunger, not only forgave her but offered her a freshly baked loaf and packed some extra bread for her.
He explained that his bakery was about to close down permanently, and it made him happy that someone still enjoyed his pastries. Zhi Le was touched by his kindness, finding herself reminded of Mi Chong, whom she considered another good person. She felt a strong desire to do something good, realizing she had often acted like a self-justifying bad person. Just then, a debt collector arrived, demanding 5,000 from the baker. Zhi Le, determined to make amends, intervened.
She handed the collector the few hundred yuan she had, which was all she carried. For the rest of the debt, she wrote down the address of her workplace, Qiang's bar, and instructed the collector to go there and collect her entire month's salary from Qiang. The baker asked how he could repay her, but Zhi Le simply said he already had. She reflected on her past actions, regretting losing their escape fund and Mi Chong, realizing her foolishness.
Moments later, she spotted Mi Chong's missing person poster, featuring the bird he carried and a message to meet at their usual spot by 6 p. m. Overwhelmed with joy and renewed hope, her injured leg seemed to bother her less as she rushed towards the bridge. Zhi Le arrived at the bridge, initially fearing she was too late and Mi Chong had left. But then she spotted him, sitting quietly on the steps in his characteristic introspective manner.
They greeted each other. Mi Chong apologized for his unfair words and for blaming her for saving him, while Zhi Le also apologized for her part. He showed her a portrait he had drawn of her. Zhi Le playfully asked if she was really that ugly, then admitted it was an exact likeness. Mi Chong confessed that he had spent all their money buying her "the most delicious bread in the world," leaving them with only one loaf.
Zhi Le worried aloud about how they would travel to his grandmother's house without money, but Mi Chong confidently stated he had a plan. Mi Chong's plan involved taking Zhi Le to his Uncle Zhao's aquatic products shop. He felt no guilt about taking money from his uncle, viewing it as reclaiming money his mother had left behind. Following Mi Chong, Zhi Le went into the shop.
Qiang was also there, and Zhi Le presented the IOU she had written earlier, asking Qiang to pay her month's salary to settle the debt. Qiang then asked his subordinate how much Zhi Le's salary was, and the subordinate confirmed it was 2,000. Understanding the situation, Qiang instructed his subordinate to pay the amount.
Episode 6 Recap
Mi Chong and Zhi Liao sped down the road in a stolen pickup truck. Zhi Liao exclaimed that road movies always start this way and that their reunion, after parting ways, was happier than she expected. Mi Chong mused that the more time he spent with Zhi Liao, the more his troubling feelings about past events faded, and this new feeling wasn't bad at all.
Zhi Liao, still excited, asked if the owner of the aquatic products shop would pursue them, to which Mi Chong confidently replied that he wouldn't dare. She praised him, saying she never knew he had such potential. As they drove, Mi Chong, reflecting on the situation, thought that everything seemed good, for now. Meanwhile, Zhi Xian discussed Mi Chong and Zhi Liao’s disappearance with Lu Ming. Lu Ming affirmed her intention to find them and bring them back.
Zhi Xian wondered if Mi Chong might force Zhi Liao to harm herself. Lu Ming quickly dismissed the idea, stating that Zhi Liao was not one to back down or harm herself easily. Zhi Xian then pointedly referred to Mi Chong as the cousin Lu Ming had bullied for years.
Lu Ming then outlined two possibilities for Mi Chong's state of mind: either he was a bad person with suicidal tendencies whose plan changed to include Zhi Liao, putting her in danger; or he was a good person whose suicidal thoughts were stopped by Zhi Liao's appearance. In the latter scenario, they must have encountered an unexpected situation, forcing them to flee hastily, leaving Lu Ming to ponder what they were running from.
Mi Chong and Zhi Liao’s joyride led them to an abandoned theme park. Zhi Liao, who had never been to one, was thrilled and eagerly asked if they could go in. Mi Chong agreed, letting her take the wheel. They were disappointed to find it dilapidated, with Mi Chong noting it had clearly been closed for a long time. Zhi Liao remarked that fate never failed to disappoint, but quickly suggested they spend the whole afternoon there anyway.
In the bumper car arena, Zhi Liao was excited, eager to "have fun" and dance, but Mi Chong pointed out the lack of electricity. Undeterred, Zhi Liao insisted that the bumper cars were still cars and could be played with, even without power. Mi Chong began pushing her car, bringing a laugh to her face as she enjoyed the ride. Suddenly, a car horn startled them. Mi Chong noticed a strange car parked unusually, motionless.
Zhi Liao questioned what he was doing, as he seemed to be checking for followers. She believed no one would follow them to such an abandoned place. They then witnessed a woman getting out of the car, and from the trunk, she took out gasoline and poured it onto the vehicle. While on the phone, the woman declared her intention to vanish along with her child. Mi Chong and Zhi Liao realized she was planning a murder-suicide.
Zhi Liao, alarmed, suggested they leave immediately. Mi Chong noted the woman looked very dangerous. After a moment of hesitation and a brief internal struggle for Zhi Liao, who stated that if they didn't stop her, she would likely die, they decided to intervene. Mi Chong approached the woman, trying to distract her by asking for help with his shoelace. The woman became enraged, calling him crazy and telling him to mind his own business and go away.
Mi Chong tried to express understanding, but the woman lashed out, saying he knew nothing of her feelings or the desperation that would drive a mother to die with her child. Mi Chong, in a fleeting thought, wondered if there could be a woman fiercer than Zhi Liao. While Mi Chong continued to hold the woman's attention, Zhi Liao quietly opened the car door and retrieved the sleeping child whose hands were tied.
The woman, noticing her child was gone, chased Zhi Liao frantically, screaming for her baby to be returned. Once safe, the child, Mei, woke up. Zhi Liao gently reassured her not to be afraid and began to untie her. Seeing the innocent child, Mi Chong was reminded of his own childhood, specifically his alcoholic father. He wondered if his own inaction made him as useless as his father and if death was truly the answer.
Just then, a black car pulled up, and a man emerged, whom Mei called "Daddy." The father, overjoyed, thanked Mi Chong and Zhi Liao profusely, explaining that his wife suffered from severe depression and often acted irrationally, expressing his fear of what might have happened without their intervention. Mi Chong, thinking of his own family, advised the man, "You should take good care of the people you love." With that, Mi Chong and Zhi Liao departed.
Mi Chong reflected that meeting Zhi Liao was like finding the last piece of an unfinished puzzle, bringing order to his life and clearing the skies after a long period of internal turmoil, making him see the beauty in the world. Meanwhile, Lu Ming visited Zhao, Mi Chong's uncle, at his aquatic products shop. Zhao informed her that he knew where Mi Chong and Zhi Liao were because his pickup truck had GPS tracking.
He also explained that he had been reluctant to help Mi Chong earlier because he heard Zhi Liao's background was complicated and feared offending Brother Qiang. Zhao also expressed his hope that they would return his vehicle once found. Mi Chong and Zhi Liao continued their journey, with Zhi Liao noting they were only a hundred kilometers from her hometown. She grew anxious, asking Mi Chong what if her grandmother didn't want her back, feeling she only brought trouble.
Mi Chong reassured her, saying that while she had caused him trouble too, meeting her was the most special thing that had ever happened to him. Finally, they arrived at a courtyard house, as they had little money left and there were no other accommodations available within ten miles. Zhi Liao, nervous, asked Mi Chong how she looked, before going to the door.
He told her she looked like "Bonnie Parker, a super cool female lead in a road movie," and that her grandmother would be overjoyed. A young woman holding an infant opened the door, a stranger to Zhi Liao. Shortly after, a man, who bore a resemblance to Zhi Liao, appeared from behind the woman.
His expression shifted from confusion to shock to joy, but upon seeing Zhi Liao's undisguised disgust towards him, he suppressed his joy and eagerly invited her in. Though Zhi Liao wished she had never come and wanted to leave immediately, she used her reason to dismiss the thought, recognizing that circumstances were different now, and she was no longer the little girl she once was. He exclaimed, "Zhi Liao! Why did you come back?"
Episode 7 Recap
Mi Chong noted that Zhi Le had not mentioned having an older brother, and it seemed she might have more than one. Zhi Le's brother pointed to height markings on the wall, identifying them as belonging to Hong Yuan, Hong Jie, Xiang Yuan, himself, and Zhi Le. He remarked that Zhi Le's mark hadn't been updated in five years. Zhi Le, surprised, confronted him, stating she wasn't aware he had gotten married.
Her brother explained it happened last year, rather quickly, and he had intended to tell her. Zhi Le then pressed him on why he was back. He countered, asking if she thought he would abandon his child, just as their parents had abandoned them. He clarified that Grandma had asked him to return because his own place was too small.
When Zhi Le asked about Grandma, her brother said she was at Hong Yuan's place and offered to call her back, but Zhi Le declined, asking him not to inform Grandma of their presence. Mi Chong sensed an underlying tension. Zhi Le's brother then offered them dinner, mentioning some salted vegetables Grandma had prepared. While Zhi Le was getting ready, Mi Chong accompanied her brother downstairs to a shop. Her brother apologized for Zhi Le's difficult demeanor.
He confided that their parents had divorced soon after they were born and had since formed new families in the city. This had deeply affected Zhi Le, especially during her puberty. He admitted he might have been too strict with her. He also recounted that five years prior, Zhi Le had trouble with some people in town, and he hadn't taken her side, which led to her becoming the person she is today.
Mi Chong could see that the brother cared deeply for Zhi Le, a heartfelt care that made him a little envious. The brother then asked about Mi Chong's family, and Mi Chong revealed that everyone in his family had passed away. The brother expressed his sorrow but then added that marriage offers a second chance to choose one's family, mistakenly assuming Mi Chong and Zhi Le were a couple. Mi Chong quickly corrected him, clarifying they were not getting married.
Mi Chong paid for a few popsicles and two packs of cigarettes from their limited funds, a total of 17 yuan. As they walked back, the brother reminisced about a song that Zhi Le and Grandma loved to sing together when Zhi Le was a child. Soon after they left the house, Qiang located Zhao and, under threat to his son's life, forced Zhao to reveal Mi Chong's whereabouts, which he could track via a GPS device in the car.
Back at the house, Zhi Le's brother's wife expressed surprise to Mi Chong about a man she saw on the street, stating Zhi Le used to like him a lot. When Mi Chong returned with her brother, Zhi Le was furious, demanding to know where he had been. Her brother tried to de-escalate, saying he was just showing Mi Chong around. Zhi Le then noticed the cigarettes and angrily asked if her brother had bought them himself.
His wife defended him, saying he didn't complain, and Mi Chong added that he was okay with it. Zhi Le retorted that it was "not okay at all," reminding them of their current precarious financial situation. Her brother tried to calm her, offering to soak her leg in a herbal bath he had prepared, apologizing for his past actions and promising to consult her in the future.
Zhi Le, however, refused, stating there was no need for them to pretend to be a close family. This, she reflected, was one of the reasons she didn't want to come home. When Mi Chong tried to intervene and suggest that her brother simply missed her because she hadn't been home for so long, Zhi Le angrily told him to stop being a busybody, asserting that her brother was "nothing" more than just her brother.
Mi Chong observed Zhi Le's familiar temper and admitted to himself that he didn't truly understand what a family was, feeling an increasing distance between them in her hometown. Zhi Le herself pondered whether holding onto past mistakes was a mistake in itself, and which was harder: letting go of a grudge or letting go of herself. The next morning, Mi Chong reminded Zhi Le that he had promised her brother they would eat breakfast before leaving.
Her brother then mused, expressing uncertainty about when they would be able to meet again. Zhi Le, however, told Mi Chong that if he wished to stay, he could, but she would not be dragged along. Zhi Le's sister-in-law announced that breakfast was ready, subtly reminding Zhi Le that she should not take out her anger on her. To everyone's surprise, Zhi Le complimented her sister-in-law's cooking, which pleased Mi Chong.
Her brother then offered to pack some extra food for their journey. A knock at the door startled Zhi Le, who initially thought it was Grandma. Mi Chong cautioned her, reminding her about her recently recovered leg.
When Zhi Le opened the door, she was instantly frozen by the sight of a man—her blood or nominal father—who possessed a flippant demeanor and scrutinized her body with a repulsive gaze, reminiscent of the sexual assault five years prior in a warehouse for which he had served prison time, and yet he still acted brazenly. He remarked that she had grown, making Zhi Le recoil as she demanded to know why he was there.
The man claimed he was there to discuss the shop's accounts with her brother and, in a disturbing manner, to "check on his daughter." Zhi Le's brother urged her to let go of the past, mentioning that "Dad" (Uncle Zeng) felt guilty and "Fen" had apologized multiple times for the incident, and even pointed out that Zhi Le herself had "hurt him" and wasn't around when he tried to find her after his release from jail.
Her sister-in-law quickly intervened, pushing the man out the door and telling him to leave and talk another day. Zhi Le's brother then insisted that, as the eldest sibling, she should listen to him and "let go." Enraged, Zhi Le screamed at her brother, asking how he could say such a thing, and began to hit him. Her sister-in-law desperately tried to stop her. Amidst the violent outburst, her brother shockingly confessed, "He raped you and I raped his daughter.
Isn't that avenging you?" Mi Chong was stunned by Zhi Le's unprecedented fury. Zhi Le cried out that she had gone along with his "act." Zhi Le's sister-in-law then brought out Grandma's portrait and a stack of money, revealing it to be Grandma's inheritance and the savings Zhi Le had sent home over the years, suggesting Zhi Le should discuss it with her brother.
Mi Chong and Zhi Le abruptly left in their car, driving to a secluded mountain forest where they found Grandma's grave. Shortly after they departed, Qiang and his men arrived at the house, only to see Zhi Le's brother angrily smashing birdcages.
Episode 8 (Ending) Recap
Lu Ming was driving hundreds of kilometers from one city to another when her car broke down. A local resident offered her a ride. Upon arriving at Zhi Le's former home, she found a crowd gathered. Medical personnel were carrying a man on a stretcher, covered in blood and unconscious, into an ambulance. This man was Zhi Le's older brother.
Disturbed by the scene, Lu Ming then received a phone call from the Xiao'an Village police station, who informed her they had found surveillance footage of the car she had reported lost. Realizing that Qiang might be tracking Zhi Le, Lu Ming quickly considered where Zhi Le would go or who she would want to see most before leaving the city.
Meanwhile, Zhi Le and Mi Chong arrived at Zhi Le's old family home, a dilapidated house that had been abandoned for five years, near her grandfather's tomb. Mi Chong reflected on Zhi Le's grief, feeling that he finally understood her emotions, even if true empathy is rare. He asked Zhi Le if she felt such profound pain when other family members passed.
Zhi Le confided that she was too young to fully comprehend loss as a child, but her father's death was the hardest. She admitted she thought about him every day. She then shared the last thing she said to her father before his accident: "I don't want a useless father." For a long time, she wondered if her harsh words had led to his death or if he had already planned to leave.
She felt she shouldn't have lived on by herself. Mi Chong reflected that they both shared the mistake of feeling abandoned by the world, like a dilapidated, forgotten house, but they were the ones trapping themselves, while the world remained open to them. He emphasized that she alone should decide her fate, not the words of others or their actions. Zhi Le, realizing the truth in his words, pondered if this was the answer she had been searching for.
As night fell, Mi Chong observed that even in the darkness, there was still so much color. As night deepened, Zhi Le and Mi Chong pitched a tent, using straw mats to rest. Their journey had instilled in them a sense of inner peace, helping them realize that their perceived abandonment by the world was, in fact, self-abandonment, and that life held much meaning if they dared to look.
Within their small tent, they found mutual solace, opening up about their past and gazing at the night sky. The following morning, Zhi Le woke with a premonition, searching for Mi Chong who was gone. Mi Chong narrated that life often delivers its hardest blows when least expected. Soon, Qiang's men found and apprehended both Mi Chong and Zhi Le. A henchman sneered at Mi Chong, asking if he knew how long they had been looking for him.
Zhi Le desperately cried out for Mi Chong to run. Mi Chong was bound and thrown into a deep pit, while Zhi Le was taken to the seaside to confront Qiang. She accused him of using her and desperately pleaded for Mi Chong's life, shouting to Qiang that he should come at her instead, as Mi Chong had nothing to do with it.
Zhi Le explained that her altercation with Jin Jie, which resulted in him being hit, was unintentional and in self-defense. Qiang, however, revealed that his true anger stemmed not from Jin Jie's death—who he confirmed was not dead—but from the death of his bird, which he cherished as a dying wish from his mother.
He declared that Zhi Le owed him for this loss and expressed his disappointment in her for leaving without a word, after all the years he raised her. Zhi Le angrily retorted, asking if a "family" would sell her into prostitution, to which Qiang cruelly responded that she was never pure anyway and should know her worth. Zhi Le, defiant, said that his words reminded her of how to deal with "trash" like him.
At the pit where Mi Chong was held captive, the scar-faced man told him they were waiting for a phone call to determine if he lived, accusing him of taking Qiang's bird. Lu Ming, guided by the police over the phone, arrived at the graveyard area where the two had been last seen. She found Mi Chong and freed him from the pit.
She urged him to wait for the police, who were on their way, but Mi Chong, fearing for Zhi Le's life, asked, "What if Zhi Le only has one minute left?" Overriding Lu Ming's caution, he insisted on searching for Zhi Le, prompting Lu Ming to agree to split up.
Simultaneously, at the seaside, Qiang, still furious about his bird's death, presented Zhi Le with a cruel choice: he could end Mi Chong's life with a single phone call, or she could sacrifice herself. Zhi Le remained stubborn, refusing to yield to Qiang's demands. His patience wore thin, and he sarcastically remarked on her weakness, saying he couldn't teach her better.
Zhi Le bravely retorted that everything he taught her was wrong, and that he was the real weakling, calling her association with him her biggest mistake. When Qiang questioned if Mi Chong was worth it, Zhi Le declared that Mi Chong had opened her eyes and shown her unconditional kindness. Enraged by her defiance, Qiang ordered his men to throw her into the sea.
As she sank, struggling for breath, she accepted her impending death, but not without a wistful wish for one last look at Mi Chong. She silently thanked Mi Chong for teaching her about warmth, saying goodbye. Mi Chong, having just been freed by Lu Ming, immediately rushed to save Zhi Le, plunging into the sea after her. He narrated that this moment, like their first encounter, was about water, but now his mindset had completely shifted.
His powerful will to survive enabled him to pull Zhi Le from the brink of death. Lu Ming then quickly intervened, identifying herself as Prosecutor Lu Ming to Qiang, while the police arrived, bringing an end to the crisis. Lu Ming reflected that she felt calm facing Qiang, as she was no longer alone and had the law on her side.
Later, Lu Ming spoke to Zhi Le, reminding her that the person who hurt her couldn't dictate her future, and that Jin Jie, though out of prison, was not worth sacrificing her youth for, especially with Mi Chong by her side. With the legal issues resolved due to Jin Jie being alive and his attempted murder and illegal intrusion, Mi Chong and Zhi Le were cleared of wrongdoing and found both love and peace.
Mi Chong suggested they move to a small seaside town and open a bakery, making the world's best bread. Zhi Le, touched and serious, considered the idea, and Mi Chong offered to be her assistant, or even open a hair salon if a bakery wasn't possible, since he could cut hair. He assured her that she would handle customer relations and that it would only happen if she was willing.
Zhi Le expressed her preference for a bakery, and they playfully decided Mi Chong would manage the finances. Both Mi Chong and Zhi Le, in separate narrations, declared themselves lucky people. Mi Chong, seeing Zhi Le's happy expression, asked what was wrong, and she simply replied that she was happy.
