Let's Meet Now Episode 1 Recap
> Let's Meet Now Recap
Ji Qiu was meticulously preparing for the recording of the "New Star Is Born" reality show, coordinating staff and arrangements. The Moment Group, a team of nervous contestants, approached her to ask if the judges had arrived, and Ji Qiu reassured them. A crew member then urgently informed Ji Qiu that contestant Ye Qiao was insisting on wearing a blue dress, despite all other guests being in red.
Xiao C had pleaded with Ye Qiao to change, but to no avail, and the crew member worried that other guests would be upset and refuse to film. Ji Qiu learned that a crew member had indeed been informed about the request for a different outfit previously but had forgotten amidst a flurry of messages. Approaching Ye Qiao, Ji Qiu was met with a dismissive "I just don't like it."
Ji Qiu calmly explained that the show's backdrop was blue, and if Ye Qiao wore a blue dress, she would "become part of the background." Though initially skeptical, Ye Qiao agreed to change after Ji Qiu assured her that another custom-made dress was available and future costumes would align with her preferences. Afterward, Xiao C expressed her frustration, calling Ye Qiao "mean" and predicting her temper would lead to her downfall, but Ji Qiu advised focusing only on work-related matters.
Later, another colleague sympathized with Ji Qiu about Ye Qiao's difficult personality, prompting Ji Qiu to express a fervent hope of never having to see Ye Qiao again after the show concluded. Seeking to unwind, Ji Qiu went to a shooting range. After her electronic target failed to register scores, she offered to investigate, but a friend insisted on checking it herself.
While shooting, Ji Qiu accidentally hit the target next to her, which belonged to a young man named Zhou Ziqian. Zhou Ziqian, initially surprised by a score of 8. 9, thought he had achieved it until he realized he hadn't even pulled the trigger. Ji Qiu apologized and, noticing it was his first day at the range without guidance, offered to teach him. Following her instructions on posture, Zhou Ziqian's first shot yielded an impressive 9.
5, astonishing Ji Qiu and making her realize she had a knack for teaching. Zhou Ziqian mentioned he had recently returned to Jiangyi and was looking for someone to practice with, then directly asked for her contact number to shoot together again. Ji Qiu suspected he was being deliberate but, charmed by his good looks, gave him her phone number, musing that hitting the wrong target had led to a pleasant encounter.
They introduced themselves as Ji Qiu and Zhou Ziqian. Suddenly, Ji Qiu's friend, Fu Qile, arrived. Learning that Ji Qiu was instructing Zhou Ziqian, who had achieved a 9. 5 on his first try, Fu Qile seemed annoyed. He challenged Zhou Ziqian to a shooting match. Despite Ji Qiu's protest that Zhou Ziqian was a novice, Fu Qile insisted he could "teach him by the way."
Zhou Ziqian accepted, but in a surprising turn, consistently hit the third ring for five consecutive shots, losing the match. Fu Qile, with a smug air, told Zhou Ziqian he lacked talent and was not suitable for his instruction. Zhou Ziqian humbly agreed but then asked Ji Qiu to continue teaching him. Fu Qile immediately interjected, asserting that he "can still teach him" himself.
Zhou Ziqian, however, quietly wondered if hitting the third ring five times in a row might actually be a more difficult feat. Moments later, the shooting range owner informed Zhou Ziqian that Coach Zhang was calling him. Taking the call, Zhou Ziqian was playfully scolded by Coach Zhang for returning from abroad a month ago yet neglecting to report back to the shooting team, instead choosing to spend time at the club.
Coach Zhang even joked that people might mistake the club owner for Zhou Ziqian's coach. Zhou Ziqian promised to report to the team after he finished his current task. After hanging up, Zhou Ziqian asked the owner if Ji Qiu frequented the range. He learned she visited about once a week on weekends, while Fu Qile was a regular but "a poor shot."
Ji Qiu then received an urgent phone call, learning that Ye Qiao's diva behavior had become a trending topic online. She hastily departed, accidentally leaving her bag behind. Zhou Ziqian, overhearing her ask for directions to Daxi Japanese Restaurant on Yulin Road, offered to deliver her forgotten bag.
Ji Qiu soon confronted Xiao C, who tearfully confessed to filming Ye Qiao's backstage incident and sending it to a friend to vent, unaware it would then be posted online and go viral. Ji Qiu sternly reprimanded Xiao C for violating Ye Qiao's privacy, emphasizing the serious consequences of malicious editing and public misinterpretation.
While acknowledging her own shared responsibility as Xiao C's supervisor, Ji Qiu instructed Xiao C to report the full situation to Zheng Hui at the company, while Ji Qiu herself went to speak with Ye Qiao. Ye Qiao's assistant, Yang, blocked Ji Qiu, stating Ye Qiao would not see her. Undeterred, Ji Qiu waited outside the door, bowing and apologizing, pleading for a chance to rectify the situation and promising to wait until Ye Qiao made a decision.
From a distance, Zhou Ziqian observed Ji Qiu repeatedly entering and exiting, seemingly rehearsing her approach to Ye Qiao, sometimes appearing to cry and other times laughing. After eight such attempts, Ji Qiu finally emerged, having successfully resolved the issue with Ye Qiao. She noticed Zhou Ziqian, thanked him for returning her bag, and offered to treat him to dinner the following day as a token of her gratitude.
As he drove her home, Zhou Ziqian mentioned he had been studying abroad, which impressed Ji Qiu. The next day, Zhou Ziqian playfully disguised himself as a delivery man, presenting a package to Coach Zhang that read: "Expedited delivery! This delivery has been stuck in France for 1 year and 2 months." Coach Zhang recognized Zhou Ziqian, playfully scolding him for the trick and for not reporting to the team sooner after his return.
Zhou Ziqian brought food for the team, and Coach Zhang formally introduced him, explaining that Zhou Ziqian had joined the team during training in France, rapidly becoming a "shooting star." He was now back to represent Jiangyi City alongside Gao Yuan in the upcoming five-province shooting league and would be training with the team for the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, at work, Xiao C expressed profound gratitude to Ji Qiu, as, thanks to Ji Qiu's negotiations, the company had issued a serious warning instead of terminating her. Ji Qiu reiterated the critical importance of confidentiality in a director's role. Later, Ji Qiu's colleague, Song Rongrong, offered front-row tickets to a weekend shooting competition, but Ji Qiu declined, stating she had an appointment.
That evening, Ji Qiu met Zhou Ziqian at a small, popular tavern he had never visited but found charming. Ji Qiu, teasingly asking if he was underage, learned he would be twenty-two in a few months. When she challenged him to guess her age, he correctly stated twenty-six. Dismissing it as a coincidence, she asked her most hated food, and he accurately replied "raw garlic," having noticed she avoided it.
Growing more suspicious, she then asked for her zodiac sign, and he correctly guessed Scorpio, explaining he deduced it from her name, "Qiu," meaning the ninth lunar month. Finding this explanation disappointingly simple, Ji Qiu then challenged him with her favorite band, which he also correctly identified as L. N Party, adding that he liked them too. This precision led Ji Qiu to jokingly accuse him of being a "private investigator."
During their dinner, Fu Qile texted Ji Qiu, asking if she was home and offering her a ride, noting her proximity. Ji Qiu, however, suggested they finish their drinks first. After more conversation, Zhou Ziqian insisted on driving her home. As Zhou Ziqian was dropping Ji Qiu off, he expressed a desire for her to teach him shooting, believing her methods were effective, and asked if she was free that weekend.
However, Fu Qile suddenly appeared and immediately interjected, declaring that Ji Qiu was not available as they already had plans to attend a shooting competition together that weekend. Zhou Ziqian acknowledged this, mentioning he had also purchased tickets for the same competition, though his seats were "a bit far from the front row."
Fu Qile, with a hint of pride, remarked that while seats weren't the most important thing, it was a pity they couldn't sit together, as he and Ji Qiu had front-row seats in Zone A. Zhou Ziqian simply replied, "There will be a chance." As Fu Qile saw Zhou Ziqian off, Ji Qiu tried to downplay Zhou Ziqian, calling him just a "younger brother" and asserting she wouldn't "lose anything" even if he deceived her.
Fu Qile, however, cautioned her about her trusting nature, stating that as a psychology lecturer, he had a "sixth sense." Ji Qiu jokingly challenged him to find her lost watch with his intuition, to which he replied that he lacked such a function. Later, Zhou Ziqian reached out to his brother, Zhou Yubei, asking if he would attend his upcoming competition, but Yubei declined, citing classes, leaving Zhou Ziqian disheartened by his brother's unyielding nature.
Meanwhile, at the school where Fu Qile taught, his colleagues were actively trying to set him up with a new teacher, Xiao Chen, praising his character and accomplishments. Xiao Chen, seizing an opportunity, tried to initiate a conversation with Fu Qile about relationships, even bringing up zodiac compatibility. Fu Qile, however, was direct, dismissing astrology as unscientific and stating that as a psychology lecturer, he "sees things more clearly than others."
When Xiao Chen persisted, Fu Qile pretended to receive an urgent call for a consultation at his private counseling office to hasten their errand. When Xiao Chen directly asked if he was intentionally avoiding her and if he understood her advances, Fu Qile admitted he did. He explained that emotional matters should unfold "naturally" and that they were not a suitable match.
He also stated that if he were to reciprocate her feelings, it would be irresponsible both to her and to his "future girlfriend," whose potential jealousy he feared. Xiao Chen understood she had been rejected and pondered what kind of woman Fu Qile would truly fall for. Ji Qiu received a message from Fu Qile stating he had an urgent matter and couldn't attend the shooting competition.
She then discussed with Song Rongrong her unsuccessful attempts to contact Zhou Ziqian, the young man from the shooting range, to offer him Fu Qile's extra front-row ticket, as he had mentioned having seats further back. On the way to the venue, their taxi driver enthusiastically spoke about a "hot contender" from Jiangyi participating in the match, though he couldn't recall the athlete's name.
Upon arrival, the announcer highlighted Zhou Ziqian, identifying him as a "dark horse" from France, making his debut competition since returning to China. Ji Qiu watched as one of the contestants, Gao Yuan, was eliminated after two poor shots. Gao Yuan expressed disappointment that "she" (implied to be Ji Qiu) had promised to come but hadn't shown up. Observing the competition, Song Rongrong nudged Ji Qiu, pointing to the shooter at target number one and asking if he looked familiar.
Ji Qiu's eyes widened in surprise as she realized that the "younger brother" she had offered a spare ticket to, Zhou Ziqian, was actually one of the main contestants in the five-province shooting league finals. Seeing her astonished face, Zhou Ziqian, from the shooting line, broke into a wide smile.
