Let's Meet Now Episode 3 Recap
> Let's Meet Now Recap
Ji Qiu was in a predicament, tasked with finding a charismatic athlete for her show, when a message from Zhou Ziqian popped up, inviting her to an amusement park. Her colleagues pressed her, arguing that finding a suitable candidate was difficult, and Zhou Ziqian, having just returned from overseas, perfectly fit the criteria. Despite his refusal of many invitations, they believed if their show succeeded, it would be even better, urging Ji Qiu to use her charm.
Although Ji Qiu initially resisted the idea, she couldn't shake the task. Meanwhile, Zhou Ziqian's friend Gao Yuan, on the phone, tried to convince him to join their usual weekend shooting practice, but Zhou Ziqian was clearly making excuses, leading Gao Yuan to suspect he was going on a date. Although Ji Qiu verbally disagreed with the idea of using her charm, she still prepared meticulously for her meeting with Zhou Ziqian.
He noticed her efforts, commenting that she looked different today, though Ji Qiu insisted she was always this way. Internally, Ji Qiu felt conflicted, chastising herself for exploiting Zhou Ziqian's obvious affection for her. Her guilt deepened when she entered Zhou Ziqian's car; he had thoughtfully prepared her favorite music and snacks. Overwhelmed by his consideration, Ji Qiu resolved to properly compensate him after they discussed work matters. At the amusement park, Ji Qiu spotted a couple taking pictures.
Seeing Zhou Ziqian’s interest, she offered to take a picture with him, but quickly clarified it would strictly be a photo between friends, with no matching accessories. When she turned to find him, he was gone, only to reappear with a freshly made cotton candy. The vendor, impressed by Zhou Ziqian's skill, praised him and remarked how lucky his "girlfriend" Ji Qiu must be.
Ji Qiu quickly interjected, explaining they were not a couple, though she secretly wondered if Zhou Ziqian had orchestrated the comment. Later, Ji Qiu found an opportunity to discuss the work matter, explaining that their crew was planning an indoor game show requiring an athlete guest. Since their previous candidate, Liang Chuan, was unsuitable, they hoped to invite Zhou Ziqian.
She assured him there was no rush to reply, offering to send him the show's materials to review at his leisure. When Zhou Ziqian suggested they go on a roller coaster or a pendulum ride, Ji Qiu indicated she preferred the carousel. He told her to pick whatever she wanted, emphasizing that her feelings were paramount that day.
Suddenly, Zhou Ziqian called her "Grape Ji," a familiar nickname from childhood, and revealed how he had been following her social media, discovering her Saturday shooting range routine, and had spent two weeks there before their "accidental" reunion. He listed her preferences—grapes, her aversion to raw garlic and coriander, her birthday, and her love for fluffy animals, especially cats. Ji Qiu was stunned, concluding he had harbored a long-standing crush on her.
Zhou Ziqian then urged her to look closely at him, asking, "Who am I, Grape Ji?" This jogged Ji Qiu's memory, and she realized he was Zhou Yue, the chubby, shortest boy who used to trail her, constantly calling "sister." She was astonished by how much he had changed and grown so tall. Zhou Ziqian expressed his sadness that she hadn't recognized him, playfully adding that he was in his twenties and expected to change.
Ji Qiu, still reeling, bombarded him with questions about his name change, his shooting career, his time abroad, and his parents, wanting to know everything about his life since they last met. Back home, Ji Qiu found a childhood photo of them and called her mother. She excitedly shared stories about Zhou Ziqian, marveling at how the little crybaby boy had transformed into a tall, handsome shooting athlete.
Her mother then recounted how he cried when his family moved and couldn't say goodbye to her. Her mother noted Ji Qiu's obvious happiness at having reconnected with him. The next morning, Fu Qile drove his sister, Tian Tian, to school and also gave Ji Qiu a ride to work, which Ji Qiu greatly appreciated as an alternative to the subway.
Tian Tian, however, playfully accused her brother of primarily wanting to give Ji Qiu a ride, while she was merely a convenient passenger. Fu Qile then confiscated a keychain featuring Zhou Ziqian from Tian Tian, teasing her about her idol. As they continued, Tian Tian spotted her classmate, Zhou Yubei, hurriedly getting out of a car. She chased after him, teasing him about his long legs and messy face.
In class, Tian Tian gushed about Zhou Ziqian, a 21-year-old genius shooting athlete who had just won second place in a regional league and was heading to the national championship. Unaware that Zhou Yubei was Zhou Ziqian's younger brother, Tian Tian wistfully wished Zhou Ziqian was "her" brother, implying that her actual brother was incompetent and dull.
Later, during his shooting practice, Zhou Ziqian recounted to Gao Yuan how Ji Qiu had taken so long to recognize him, admitting he deliberately kept his identity a secret to "tease" her, a payback for her bossy behavior when they were children. He then received a call from Ji Qiu, inviting him to dinner on her rooftop that evening and asking for his help with grocery shopping.
Gao Yuan, overhearing, advised Zhou Ziqian to dress formally, reminding him how elegantly Ji Qiu had dressed for their amusement park date. Taking Gao Yuan's advice to heart, Zhou Ziqian donned a formal suit, only to find Ji Qiu waiting for him at the supermarket in casual clothes. Feeling awkward and overdressed, Zhou Ziqian complimented her earlier dress and asked why she wasn't wearing it now.
Ji Qiu explained the difference in "treatment": she dressed up for "Zhou Ziqian the athlete," but for "Zhou Ziqian the younger brother," casual attire was perfectly acceptable. As they shopped, Ji Qiu found herself momentarily captivated by Zhou Ziqian's serious demeanor while choosing groceries, noting how handsome he looked and how different he seemed from his childhood self. Feeling underdressed, she quickly adjusted her hair and clothes.
Her fleeting impression of his maturity was soon shattered when Zhou Ziqian began playfully startling her and shaking the food items, confirming her suspicion that he was still as childish as ever, if not more so. That evening, Song Rongrong and Fu Qile joined Ji Qiu and Zhou Ziqian on Ji Qiu's rooftop for dinner. Ji Qiu officially announced that Zhou Ziqian was her long-lost younger brother.
Fu Qile was initially relieved to hear "brother," but his spirits fell when he realized they weren't biologically related. The group engaged in lively banter, with Song Rongrong observing how close Ji Qiu and Zhou Ziqian had become in such a short time. Fu Qile, still harboring jealousy, questioned why Zhou Ziqian hadn't revealed his identity at the shooting range. Zhou Ziqian playfully responded that if he had, Fu Qile wouldn't have challenged him to a shooting contest.
He then added that he wanted to wait for Ji Qiu to recognize him first. Ji Qiu, in turn, teased Zhou Ziqian, threatening to reveal his embarrassing childhood stories, including a time he cried after getting into a fight in sixth grade. As the evening concluded, Fu Qile offered to drive Zhou Ziqian home. Zhou Ziqian, however, insisted his house wasn't far and got out midway, leading Fu Qile to believe him and drive off.
Just as Zhou Ziqian found himself alone on the roadside, Ji Qiu appeared on an electric scooter, intending to drive him home herself. Her driving skills, however, were less than ideal, prompting Zhou Ziqian to take the handlebars, with Ji Qiu as his passenger. He humorously questioned her childish driving, to which she retorted it was an accident. Ji Qiu then offered to show him a special place.
Taking a turn as she instructed, they arrived at a secluded spot with a breathtaking view. Ji Qiu shared that this was her secret base, a place she rarely showed anyone, where one could gaze at the stars and overlook the entire city of Jiangyi. She recounted how she discovered the spot in her second year abroad and visited it whenever she felt happy or sad.
Zhou Ziqian inferred that her bringing him there meant she was happy about his return. Ji Qiu then asked about his life abroad, expressing concern about the challenges he must have faced, to which Zhou Ziqian modestly replied that initial language barriers and training differences were overcome after his coach joined him. Finally, Ji Qiu declared that this secret place was her long-overdue welcome gift to Zhou Ziqian, formally acknowledging his return after years of separation.
