Love The Way You Are Recap, Plot, Synopsis

> Love The Way You Are

Love The Way You Are Synopsis

Yin Yike, who seems to have a perfect life, is living her 35-year-old life as a matter of course. Whether at work or at home, she is always able to take care of everyone around her like the never-tired Wonder Woman, but she forgets to warm herself.

Till she comes across the sunny boy Xu Guangxi in a convenience store, sunshine shines into her heart. Xu Guangxi often scrounged free meals off her family.

When Xu Guangxi returns home from his studies overseas, his childhood dependence on Yin Yike turns into an overwhelming heartbeat. But chasing after Yin Yike is not an easy task for Guangxi, as it means enduring the pressures of a fast-paced life and an overload of reality.

But because of love, Guangxi became more and more mature over the long years, readjusting his paces and moving firmly towards Yin Yike. They are getting closer and closer, and they understand that the best love is not mutual sacrifice, but mutual attraction and respect, and making each other a better one!

Love The Way You Are Recap

Episode 1 Recap

Yin Yike, a successful marketing manager known as "Wonder Woman," meticulously arranges a poster at her company. Her colleagues remind her it's her birthday and encourage her to leave work early to celebrate. She thanks them and departs, but a colleague has to run after her with the phone she almost forgot. Yin Yike meets her best friend, Qin Yiran, who hands her a designer suit she bought on her behalf as a gift for Yin Yike's boyfriend, Li Zelin.

Qin Yiran playfully remarks she'd marry Yin Yike if she were a man, to which Yin Yike replies she prefers to remain unmarried and childless for peace of mind. On Qin Yiran's insistence that a birthday girl should be more dressed up, Yin Yike buys a new pair of high heels before heading to the airport. Now in her new shoes, Yin Yike eagerly awaits Li Zelin's arrival at the airport.

Meanwhile, Xu Guangxi lands in Shanghai after a flight from the UK, via Beijing. As Yin Yike talks to her father on the phone, her lipstick falls to the floor. Xu Guangxi picks it up, but before he can return it, his driver arrives and ushers him away. On the phone, Yin Yike's battery is critically low as her father presses her to ask Li Zelin when he plans to move to Shanghai and to bring him home for dinner.

She evades this by claiming she and Li Zelin already have dinner plans. Yin Yike finally connects with Li Zelin, only to learn he is still in Beijing because his parents made a surprise visit. He apologizes for missing her birthday, promising to return in a few days. Deeply disappointed, Yin Yike is left heartbroken. Her brother, Yin Yibo, calls to wish her a happy birthday, telling her to stay out late and enjoy her night.

Overwhelmed, Yin Yike retreats to her car to weep before heading to a convenience store for instant noodles. Meanwhile, at her family home, her father proudly discusses the expensive golf clubs Li Zelin gifted him and boasts about Li Zelin's recent promotion to a law firm partner. Her brother complains about having to live in the small attic, while their mother worries about the long-distance relationship if Yin Yike marries Li Zelin.

At the convenience store, Yin Yike's phone dies, and she borrows Xu Guangxi's to call her father. Xu Guangxi overhears her fabricating a story about dining at a Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant to prevent her family from worrying. Seeing Yin Yike's distress, Xu Guangxi offers her his last can of iced cola. In return, she gives him a sample of her company's perfume, explaining it's an occupational habit.

He asks for her name with a cliché pickup line, which she dismisses, stating that in a city as big as Shanghai, they are unlikely to meet again. Undeterred, Xu Guangxi retorts that he will "disturb her" when they do meet a second time. Xu Guangxi returns to the apartment he shares with his friend and former university senior, Chen Musen.

Chen Musen, on a video call with his girlfriend, proudly introduces Xu Guangxi, exaggerating his "Oscar" win, which Xu Guangxi clarifies was a Student Oscar. Chen Musen's girlfriend, learning Xu Guangxi is single, enthusiastically offers to set him up with a friend. To feign a celebratory night out, Yin Yike applies heavy blush before going home. However, her father reveals Li Zelin had already called to apologize for his absence and had gifts delivered, including a bouquet of roses.

He scolds Yin Yike for turning her phone off and not being more understanding. Her mother and brother defend her, with Yin Yibo pointing out that Li Zelin forgot Yin Yike is allergic to pollen and promptly throws the roses out. Later, Li Zelin texts an apology. That night, Yin Yibo secretly places a can of cola and a sweet note in Yin Yike's mini-fridge, bringing a genuine smile to her face.

The next morning, Yin Yike learns their brand spokesperson is embroiled in a pregnancy scandal, requiring an immediate recall of all advertisements. Rushing to her office, she accidentally reverses her car into Chen Musen's. In a hurry, she gives him her business card and promises to handle it later. Chen Musen grumbles about the "arrogant superwoman," but when Xu Guangxi arrives, he takes the business card from Chen Musen.

Seeing Yin Yike's name, a smile spreads across his face, strengthening his resolve to stay in China. Xu Guangxi begins his new role as animation director at the animation company founded by Chen Ye, where Chen Musen also works, requesting to work exclusively on the "Fengqi Shendu" project. That evening, Yin Yike goes to their office to handle the car accident issue. She finds a crowd of agitated fans and is accidentally pushed down while trying to calm them.

Xu Guangxi helps her up, marking their third encounter. She then takes a call from Li Zelin and his mother, who both apologize for the ruined birthday plans. Later, at a company team-building event, Yin Yike witnesses Chen Musen's cringeworthy public proposal to his girlfriend. His gift of a scarf in summer and lack of financial stability lead to a humiliating public rejection.

To console a heartbroken Chen Musen, Yin Yike starts drinking with him, and Xu Guangxi joins them, offering cynical advice about women. After a night of heavy drinking, Yin Yike awakens the next morning in an unfamiliar hotel room. Startled, she sees clothes strewn across the floor and is shocked by the situation.

Episode 2 Recap

Yin Yike, attempting to leave a hotel discreetly, unexpectedly encountered her best friend, Qin Yiran. When Qin Yiran inquired about Li Zelin, Yin Yike, clearly uncomfortable, dismissed the topic, mentioning he hadn't returned on her birthday. This led them into a deeper discussion about various definitions of cheating, stemming from a hypothetical friend's situation. Yin Yike skillfully sidestepped her friend's probing questions, and they soon hurried off to work, running late.

Upon arriving at her office, Yin Yike instructed her subordinate, Shen Xin, to prepare for a meeting. In the meeting, Yin Yike, the Marketing Department manager, passionately defended her decision to choose the artist Li Li as the spokesperson for their brand's new product, Lian Yu. She emphasized targeting well-educated professionals, contrasting their brand's approach with competitors who use idol groups, which she believed were merely seeking quick profits and often faced reputation issues.

However, Mr. Kong and Frank presented data showing the impressive sales performance of a popular idol, Chen Zicheng. Mr. Kong ultimately decided to assign the perfume series to Chen Zicheng while keeping Li Li for the scented series. Though he initially asked Jiang Man to contact the agent, he quickly reassigned the task to Frank. Later, Yin Yike delivered the revised contracts to Mr. Kong.

He complimented her appearance, stating she looked prettier and that the dress suited her, suggesting she dress similarly in the future as the Marketing Department represents the company's image. Meanwhile, at another company, Chen Ye showed his colleagues a video of a very inebriated Yin Yike, making light of her drunken ramblings about "workplace psychological suggestions" and how bosses manipulate employees. Xu Guangxi, who recognized Yin Yike, approached Chen Ye and demanded he delete the video.

Chen Ye agreed on the condition that Xu Guangxi help him with a challenging client case that required "breaking the mold and creating with love." Despite his reservations, Xu Guangxi agreed, and Chen Ye then instructed his team that all previously released news articles and advertisements featuring the video were to be recalled and replaced. Yin Yike received a call from her stepmother, Aunt Lan, who asked for her help with grocery shopping.

Yin Yike readily agreed and met Aunt Lan, who was excited because her son, Lele, was coming home for his first dinner. They happily shopped for hot pot ingredients, with Aunt Lan mentioning Lele had grown to almost 1. 9 meters tall. That evening, Lele arrived at the family home and was warmly greeted.

He presented thoughtful gifts: a neck massager for Yin Yike's father, donkey-hide gelatin for Aunt Lan, and new Li Ning Wudao shoes with initials on the heels for Yin Yike's brother, Yibo. He then offered Yin Yike liquor-filled chocolates, which she mistook for alcohol. During dinner, Yin Yike's father inquired about Lele's work as an animation director. Lele revealed that his company was located directly above Yin Yike's.

This revelation shocked Yin Yike, who suddenly realized that "Lele" was actually Xu Guangxi, the man she had encountered while drunk. Aunt Lan, unaware of their prior meeting, enthusiastically encouraged Yin Yike to take care of Xu Guangxi. Throughout the meal, Yin Yike continuously served Xu Guangxi food, desperately trying to prevent him from mentioning their embarrassing encounter. After dinner, Yin Yike insisted on walking Xu Guangxi out. Once outside, she confronted him.

Xu Guangxi admitted he had thought she looked familiar at a convenience store and later confirmed her identity through a business card she had given a colleague. He explained he had been waiting for the "right time" to reveal himself. He then playfully recounted her drunken state the previous night: her insistence on more drinks, her refusal to go home to avoid her father's discovery, and their subsequent trip to a hotel.

He teased her about "indescribable" events, including her attempting to remove her clothes due to feeling hot. He eventually clarified that nothing untoward had happened, but jokingly accused her of snoring loudly. Yin Yike tried to grab his phone, suspecting he had recorded her, but he revealed he hadn't. He finally confessed that his earlier comment about her getting "more energetic the more you drink" referred to coffee, and mentioned he had found her lost lipstick.

They then agreed to keep their shared secret. As they chatted, Li Zelin suddenly appeared, having driven from Beijing to make up for missing Yin Yike's birthday. He introduced himself as her boyfriend to Xu Guangxi, acknowledging him as "Aunt Lan's son" and thus her "brother." Li Zelin apologized and proudly presented a car trunk full of roses.

Yin Yike immediately sneezed from her pollen allergy, a fact Li Zelin was oblivious to, stating his secretary had told him all girls love roses. Yin Yike silently closed the trunk. Since Li Zelin hadn't eaten and she didn't want him to disturb her parents, she agreed to go eat with him. Xu Guangxi watched them leave with a look of sadness. Back at his apartment, Xu Guangxi found Aunt Lan tidying up.

He tried to give her money for the meal, but she refused. When the conversation turned to Yin Yike, Aunt Lan shared that she and Li Zelin had been together for four years and were planning to marry this year, expressing relief that they had made up after a recent fight. Aunt Lan then reminded Xu Guangxi that at home, he should refer to Yin Yike as "sister." After she departed, Xu Guangxi, alone in his room, softly whispered "sister" to himself.

Episode 3 Recap

During dinner, Li Zelin prioritized his own preferences, ordering two seafood sets to celebrate his promotion to partner, despite Yin Yike’s subtle hints about other dishes. He revealed that he had secured a case from a colleague at the Shanghai office to extend his stay, allowing him to be with her.

Li Zelin then instructed Yin Yike to dress up for his important client’s new store opening, where his significant friends would be present, emphasizing she should not wear her usual casual attire. Yin Yike simply acknowledged his words. The following day, Yin Yike faced a crisis at work when she discovered that 500 promotional gifts had been printed with information about the outdated spokesperson, Li Li.

Although she had submitted the correct modification requests, a crucial signature from Mr. Kong was missing. When Yin Yike approached Mr. Kong to re-sign the document, he refused, shifting blame onto her for not ensuring every signature was present. He coldly told her to resolve her own mistakes, leaving her to cover the costs and personally arrange for the reprinting.

Despite her assistant Shen Xin’s apologies for the oversight, Yin Yike insisted Shen Xin go home to celebrate her mother's birthday, offering to handle the task alone. Soon after, Li Zelin called, pressing Yin Yike to meet him at 7 PM for the client event. Yin Yike explained her work emergency, but he dismissed her concerns, questioning her constant busy schedule and lack of money or time.

He grudgingly told her to finish her work and join him when she could. Later that evening, in the company lobby, Yin Yike ran into Xu Guangxi and Chen Musen. Xu Guangxi initially mistook her for the person who had hit his car, but Yin Yike quickly clarified she was his "sister," prompting Chen Musen to realize she was the "unrelated sister" Xu Guangxi often spoke of.

When Chen Musen invited Yin Yike to a company team-building event, she declined, citing her unexpected overtime and having to cancel plans with her boyfriend. Despite his friends leaving for the event, Xu Guangxi stayed behind, claiming the nightclub would be too noisy and he preferred a quiet drink. Xu Guangxi then found Yin Yike outside her office, who was trying to make the best of her overtime by listening to music, dancing, and having a drink.

He joined her, revealing he carried band-aids for her cut hand and offered to help. Together, they quickly finished packing the 500 gifts. Just as they finished, Shen Xin unexpectedly arrived, having been scolded by her mother for leaving early while her boss was still working. Yin Yike quickly hid Xu Guangxi under a desk and assured Shen Xin that everything was done, prompting them to leave the office together.

After seeing Shen Xin off, Yin Yike hurried back into the office, where she found Xu Guangxi. He playfully pretended to faint, startling her before revealing it was a prank. They then engaged in a lighthearted chase and playful fight, a kind of carefree joy Yin Yike had not experienced with Li Zelin. Xu Guangxi then drove Yin Yike home. To express her gratitude, Yin Yike offered to treat him to dinner.

Xu Guangxi promptly suggested they go the next evening and proposed they walk home together every day after work. She jokingly asked if he was afraid of being bullied, and he retorted that he was afraid of being bullied himself, prompting Yin Yike to jokingly offer her "protection" for a fee. Upon arriving home, Yin Yike received a call from a drunk Li Zelin.

He angrily berated her for standing him up, claiming she had embarrassed him in front of everyone. He then boasted about his ability to provide for her, asking if his status was insufficient for her. Yin Yike, feeling reduced to a "little animal" to be summoned or dismissed at his will, tried to calmly discuss their relationship, but he hung up on her.

Meanwhile, Xu Guangxi stayed up late that night, meticulously revising his artwork to ensure it was perfect for his client. The next day, Yin Yike's superior, Director Zheng, learned of Yin Yike's personal payment for the gifts and confronted Mr. Kong. Director Zheng chastised Mr. Kong for his unprofessional conduct.

Although Kong tried to deflect by claiming he had been holding the department together during her absence, Director Zheng asserted her authority and compelled him to sign Yin Yike's reimbursement form, expressing her disapproval of Yin Yike having to pay out of her own pocket. Later, as Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi prepared to go to dinner, Li Zelin appeared, announcing he had won his case and wanted to celebrate with Yin Yike at her favorite restaurant.

Seeing Yin Yike's dilemma, Xu Guangxi smartly suggested that all three of them go together. At the restaurant, Xu Guangxi deliberately ordered many expensive dishes, much to Li Zelin’s thinly veiled discomfort. During the meal, Li Zelin tried to project his own food preference onto Yin Yike by referencing her childhood tastes, but she called him out for using her as an excuse for what he wanted.

Li Zelin then proposed that Yin Yike quit her job and move to Beijing with him, a suggestion Xu Guangxi overheard. Xu Guangxi observed Yin Yike's reaction, discerning that this was not what she desired. Li Zelin then tried to downplay the seriousness of Yin Yike's hand injury and her late-night work—both of which Xu Guangxi had brought up—insisting that their relationship was what truly mattered. Yin Yike later attended the Hundredth Day Banquet for Lin Mengtian's baby.

Lin Mengtian, a former colleague who had married into a wealthy family, appeared visibly unhappy, with a bandage on her arm. Her mother-in-law openly chastised her for her clumsiness while handling the baby, implying she was a poor mother. Colleagues noted that Lin Mengtian seemed to have aged, with a distinct lack of sparkle in her eyes. As the banquet concluded, Yin Yike witnessed Lin Mengtian's husband intimately embracing another woman outside.

She took a photograph but hesitated on whether to tell Lin Mengtian. When she called Li Zelin for advice, he coldly told her not to meddle, dismissing the situation by saying "men are all like this" and suggesting it might be a silent understanding between the couple. His indifferent response left Yin Yike feeling both surprised and deeply saddened.

Episode 4 Recap

Xu Guangxi was waiting for Yin Yike, feeding her dog as he assumed she was out for a banquet. When she arrived looking troubled, he suggested they get a proper meal, as he hadn't eaten either. At a Japanese restaurant, Yin Yike wanted to try both the Pork Bone Set and the Chicken Meatballs. Seeing her hesitate after learning the pork set was spicy, Xu Guangxi, who had initially ordered a Grilled Eel Rice Bowl, changed the order.

He selflessly gave up his own choice and ordered one Pork Bone Set and one order of Chicken Meatballs, ensuring she could have both dishes she desired. They shared the food and conversed easily, a stark contrast to Yin Yike's usual demeanor. She confessed that her mood was due to witnessing a friend's difficult situation, where a mother was struggling at home while the father was out with another woman.

Xu Guangxi offered comfort, wishing he could have been there to intervene. As they left, Yin Yike sprained her ankle in her high heels. Xu Guangxi offered to carry her, but she declined, revealing she had a pair of sneakers with her. After changing, she jokingly claimed to possess a lightness skill as she felt nimble again. Xu Guangxi complimented her, saying she looked even more beautiful in sneakers.

The next morning, Aunt Lan woke Yin Yike, urging her to get up as Li Zelin had arrived early and was waiting. Li Zelin had brought numerous gifts, including a pair of shoes for Yin Yibo that were far too large. Recalling a promise he made on her last birthday, he presented movie tickets and insisted she dress formally for a "very special day." At the cinema, Li Zelin briefly left to take a call.

Upon returning, he revealed he had rented out the theater to propose on the 1314th day of their relationship, with his colleagues present as witnesses. He presented a large bouquet of red roses, causing Yin Yike to sneeze from her flower allergy, a detail he completely overlooked. He then knelt and asked her to marry him and move to Beijing so he could protect her.

Yin Yike rejected Li Zelin's proposal, returning the roses and apologizing before walking away, leaving him stunned in front of his colleagues. She sought refuge at her friend Qin Yiran's home. There, she confided in her friend about the proposal. Qin Yiran retrieved Yin Yike's old "dream bed," which she had bought long ago to build a "love nest" with Li Zelin, who instead went to Beijing to sleep on a "luxurious bed."

Qin Yiran criticized his public proposal as self-serving and noted that inviting only his colleagues and not her friends or family was very much "his style." She also pointed out that his plan to bring her to Beijing with a single ticket was a calculated move to "uproot" her. Yin Yike admitted she just wanted to escape the situation. Qin Yiran reassured her, celebrating her "glorious graduation from Love School" and encouraging her to move on.

That night, Yin Yike, unable to sleep, painfully deleted her entire chat history with Li Zelin. Meanwhile, a distracted Xu Guangxi was playing video games with Yin Yibo. Sensing his unease, Yibo mentioned that Yin Yike wouldn't be home that night as Li Zelin had picked her up.

Yibo then playfully speculated about Xu Guangxi's love life, asking if he was dating an older woman, perhaps someone aged 32 like his sister, and joked about the craziness of such a relationship. Unsettled, Xu Guangxi abruptly left. Later, while waiting outside, Yibo found him still looking down the street, and remarked that neither of them would see her that night.

Elsewhere, Li Zelin, reflecting on their four-year relationship, decided to postpone his return to Beijing in an attempt to salvage things. The next day, Qin Yiran dropped Yin Yike at work and encountered Chen Ye, the man whose car she had nearly hit. She teased him about his serious attire, calling him an "uncle," while he introduced himself as an entrepreneur whose company was located two floors above theirs.

He tried to arrange a group blind date with the "excellent single men" from his company, but his overbearing manner prompted Qin Yiran to comment that he had a "fatherly vibe." Later, Xu Guangxi and his partner Chen Musen were at a coffee shop when Chen Musen declared he was "in love again." He approached a woman, offering to buy her coffee. She recognized them from the elevator and knew they worked at the movie company upstairs.

After Chen Musen revealed that Xu Guangxi's sister, Yin Yike, worked at her company, the woman was surprised they had different surnames. Chen Musen explained their complex family dynamic: Yin Yike's stepmother is Xu Guangxi's biological mother, making them step-siblings with no blood relation. The woman's interest clearly shifted to Xu Guangxi, but he, sensing the situation, made an excuse and left abruptly.

In a meeting, Yin Yike's boss, Ms. Zheng, assigned her to meet the agent of artist Chen Zicheng at 6 PM to finalize details for a major ad campaign. As Yin Yike prepared to leave, Li Zelin intercepted her, insisting they talk immediately. He accused her of avoiding a real conversation, referencing her past complaints about his superficiality. Yin Yike explained she had an urgent client meeting, but he refused to listen and forcefully grabbed her arm. Trapped, she threatened to call the police and report him for harassment if he didn't let go, a tense confrontation that Xu Guangxi happened to witness.

Episode 5 Recap

Yin Yike, a professional in her company, had an urgent meeting scheduled to discuss advertisement details with an artist's agent. Before she could leave, her boyfriend, Li Zelin, cornered her, upset that she was prioritizing work over their relationship. He claimed he had rejected a major client and postponed his trip to Beijing just to see her.

Yin Yike calmly explained that they needed time apart to think things through, but Li Zelin grew aggressive and refused to let go of her arm. Xu Guangxi intervened, threatening to call the police for public harassment if Li Zelin didn't release her. After a brief standoff, Yin Yike pleaded with Li Zelin to leave, as she truly had an important work commitment.

During the struggle, Yin Yike's phone was smashed on the ground, so she had to ask Xu Guangxi to call a taxi for her. Xu Guangxi secretly watched from a distance as Yin Yike professionally handled her meeting with Chen Zicheng's agent. The agent explained that Chen Zicheng was about to start a demanding film role and could not easily take time off for the ad shoot.

Yin Yike argued that any delay would significantly impact their projected profits and Chen Zicheng's exposure. She offered to request a higher budget to place his ads on billboards in prime commercial areas. The agent then suggested filming at Che Dun, which was near Chen Zicheng's drama set, allowing him to shoot after his regular work. Yin Yike agreed, promising to arrange the Che Dun shoot and asking that Chen Zicheng spare as much time as possible.

After the meeting, Xu Guangxi approached Yin Yike, who jokingly told him not to use his usual flirting tactics on her. He presented her with a new, fall-proof phone, calling it a belated birthday gift. When Yin Yike tried to pay him, Xu Guangxi insisted that a phone's true value lies in the memories it holds and suggested she use it for a fresh start.

After Yin Yike finished her work, Xu Guangxi was waiting for her and suggested she treat him to dinner. She apologized for being preoccupied, but he reassured her, remarking that she looked beautiful while working. As they settled down for a barbecue, Yin Yike revealed that she had broken up with Li Zelin. Seeing Xu Guangxi's barely concealed delight, she playfully accused him of gloating.

He then showed her a "new feature" on her phone, guiding her to the photo album to choose a new screensaver. There, she discovered a manga-style drawing of herself. Xu Guangxi confessed he had sketched it while watching her work, calling it an "occupational hazard" of being an artist. Yin Yike affectionately called him a "kid with many tricks," and they celebrated her new beginning. Meanwhile, Xu Guangxi's former student, Xia Xiaomian, unexpectedly arrived at his apartment.

She explained that after failing to get into community college in the UK, she returned to China. Having heard Xu Guangxi was also back, she came to him for help. She complained that she was unappreciated as a model abroad but believed she could become a star in China. Xu Guangxi's roommate, Chen Musen, insisted she couldn't stay.

Xu Guangxi gently tried to explain the inconvenience of a young woman living with two men and offered her money for a hotel. However, Xia Xiaomian successfully played on Chen Musen's sympathy by portraying herself as a helpless girl alone in Shanghai. He relented and agreed to let her stay for seven days, much to Xu Guangxi's dismay.

Xia Xiaomian gratefully thanked "Uncle" Chen Musen, who was left puzzled as to why he was an "Uncle" while Xu Guangxi was a "Brother." The next day, as Yin Yike headed to Che Dun for the shoot, her mother visited Xu Guangxi's apartment, bringing breakfast and boasting to Chen Musen about Yin Yike's successful career working with celebrities.

At the set, Yin Yike greeted the star, Chen Zicheng, with an iced coffee, but he was impatient and urged her to start shooting immediately. A problem arose when the team learned Chen Zicheng was allergic to flowers, which were a key part of the set design. They decided to use fake flowers in the foreground to minimize his exposure. As Yin Yike coordinated the changes, Chen Zicheng's girlfriend secretly arrived.

Overwhelmed by the stress of their hidden relationship, Chen Zicheng suggested they go public. Yin Yike overheard and stepped in to prevent a PR disaster for her project. After confirming their relationship was serious, she devised a plan to help them escape the lurking paparazzi. She would act as a decoy by leaving with Chen Zicheng, while his girlfriend, disguised with a staff ID, would hide in a large equipment case.

The girlfriend worried this would create a new scandal for Yin Yike, but Yike assured her that their professional relationship was easily provable with on-set footage, unlike a secret romance. The girlfriend reluctantly agreed and hid in the box. The paparazzi photos of Yin Yike and Chen Zicheng quickly spread online, sparking vicious comments from his fans. Xu Guangxi saw the harsh online backlash against Yin Yike.

Back at her company, the situation escalated when an online influencer leaked Yin Yike's personal information. In a crisis meeting, a rival director, Mr. Kong, harshly criticized Yin Yike for not maintaining a professional distance. However, her boss, Frank, saw an opportunity, arguing the increased attention was a form of pre-campaign publicity. He approved a plan to release Chen Zicheng's new ad materials along with a clarification video to turn the crisis into a positive marketing event.

Meanwhile, reporters swarmed the building's entrance. To escape, Yin Yike and her friend, Qin Yiran, devised a "cicada shedding its shell" strategy. Wearing matching hats and sunglasses, they ran out in different directions, successfully tricking the reporters into chasing Qin Yiran. While fleeing, Qin Yiran collided with Chen Ye, who, finding himself also being chased, ran with her. They found refuge behind a large trash bin.

Once safe, he complimented her quick thinking and helped her find a lost contact lens. Qin Yiran teased him, calling his company's name "childish" for a "middle-aged" man, which he found charming. He explained his own escape was a "tactical retreat" to avoid "social death" online. Thanking him, Qin Yiran promised to treat him to dinner someday. Yin Yike was confronted in the parking garage by Li Zelin.

He had received a call from his boss, warning that the scandal was reflecting poorly on him and his new partnership at the law firm. He angrily demanded an explanation, complaining that his colleagues and friends were mocking him. Fed up with his self-centered and accusatory tone, Yin Yike officially broke up with him.

Stunned, Li Zelin questioned if this was because she was unhappy with his marriage proposal or if the rumors were true, condescendingly telling her that a woman with her looks should know better than to get so close to other men. Just as reporters swarmed them, Xu Guangxi arrived, pulling Yin Yike into his car and speeding away.

Unlike Li Zelin, Xu Guangxi expressed his complete trust in Yin Yike, comforting her that he knew she must have had a good reason for her actions, likely to help someone else. When she claimed her watery eyes were from exhaustion, not crying, he gently teased her, saying the rumors were only believable because her "face is too striking."

He praised her for being like a "small blanket that warms others but leaves itself cold" and urged her to take better care of herself, assuring her that the internet's memory is only "seven seconds" long. Yin Yike called Qin Yiran to confirm she had escaped safely, then told Xu Guangxi she would find a hotel. Concerned for her safety, he offered to take her somewhere secure. In the car, she noticed he was playing a song from her playlist.

He jokingly claimed he'd had it for "800 years" before quoting a line from "La La Land" about how people support each other through life. Yin Yike agreed but said she preferred "Titanic", a film she remembered watching as a child at the "Happiness Theater" in their old neighborhood alley—a fond memory Xu Guangxi revealed he shared.

Episode 6 Recap

Yin Yike hesitated to return home, concerned that reporters might find and involve her family. Xu Guangxi drove her to the serene seaside, where she fell asleep in his car. She awoke just in time to witness the sunrise, and the two made wishes together. Yin Yike, initially skeptical about wishes, hoped for a new start. Xu Guangxi, in turn, wished for Yin Yike's aspirations to come true.

He commented on her peaceful sleeping expression and, after she called his car a "pirate ship," playfully called himself one too. Back at her company, a palpable tension had spread among employees due to a lawyer's letter sent by Li Zelin. The letter accused the company of inaction regarding Yin Yike's situation, causing widespread gossip among colleagues, who even referred to her as "the heroine of a drama about an overbearing CEO."

The boss, Frank, was furious, but Ms. Zheng, a director who knew Yin Yike well, understood that the lawsuit was not her intention. Meanwhile, Kong Xianzhe seized the opportunity to exacerbate the situation and fuel the internal discord. Ms. Zheng summoned Yin Yike, informing her of Li Zelin's letter and Frank's anger, which Kong Xianzhe was fanning. Yin Yike offered to take full responsibility, but Ms. Zheng had already intervened on her behalf.

To protect Yin Yike, Ms. Zheng arranged for her transfer to a new department: the Live Stream Department. She explained this new venture would be the company's future focus for sales, a crucial and promising area, and that tasking Yin Yike to lead its development would significantly aid her future promotion, assuring her of full support. Yin Yike then personally met with Li Zelin, urging him to withdraw the lawyer's letter.

He refused, boasting of his influence and criticizing her company's lack of action. Yin Yike challenged his tendency to make decisions on her behalf without consulting her. Li Zelin insisted his actions stemmed from care, attributing their disagreement to "the difference in thinking between men and women." He suggested she move to Beijing with him, offering to add her name to his property certificate and citing his recent promotion to partner as a reason for his cautiousness—all for their future.

Yin Yike, however, stated that she had never been his first concern, as he always gave her what "he" thought was best, not what "she" truly desired. With too much disappointment accumulated, she saw no hope and declared it was time for them to part ways. Li Zelin warned her that if she walked out, their relationship would be irrevocably over. Later, Yin Yike was in a coffee shop when Xu Guangxi approached with ice cream, sensing her mood.

He asked if the lawyer's letter had impacted her work, noting the news had spread throughout the company. Yin Yike admitted she was affected but had decided to "restart" her life. She confided that she had broken up with Li Zelin and, despite anticipating immense pain, felt a profound sense of relief. She spoke of finding joy in simple things, like the setting sun or the evening breeze, to which Xu Guangxi complimented her literary flair.

Meanwhile, Yin Yibo was delivering duck eggs to Xu Guangxi's place for Aunt Lan. He noticed female clothing outside the door and mistakenly assumed Xu Guangxi was living with a girlfriend. When he knocked, he was unexpectedly embraced by Xia Xiaomian, who mistook him for Xu Guangxi. Startled, Xia Xiaomian accidentally kicked Yin Yibo, causing him to drop the eggs and collapse in pain.

After apologizing profusely, she revealed she was the online personality "Little Xiaomian," who had exposed the scandal involving Chen Zicheng. This led Yin Yibo to furiously conclude that Xu Guangxi was involved in leaking information about his sister. An enraged Yin Yibo confronted Xu Guangxi, but Yin Yike intervened. Xu Guangxi brought them back to his apartment to sort out the confusion.

Under pressure, Xia Xiaomian initially became defensive, but after Xu Guangxi explained the legal repercussions of exposing private information, she confessed. An unknown individual had commissioned her to expose Chen Zicheng's "girlfriend," identifying her as the marketing manager of SC's Fragrance Department. The person provided Yin Yike's company details and promised money and followers in return. She claimed not to know the person's identity, as they had since blacklisted her.

Hearing the details, Yin Yike realized Kong Xianzhe was behind the scheme. The plot orchestrated by Kong Xianzhe succeeded. His subordinate, Jiang Man, who had exaggerated and spread the false information, boasted to him about leaving no trace of their involvement. Soon after, Jiang Man was officially promoted to head of the Marketing Department, replacing Yin Yike. Later, Xu Guangxi and Chen Musen encountered Jiang Man at a coffee shop.

Reveling in her new position, she proudly announced her promotion, gloating about how she had "defeated" the former Manager Yin. Hearing this, Xu Guangxi immediately understood Yin Yike's demotion and rushed to find her. Yin Yike was pioneering the new Live Stream Department, which was just a messy storage room with no workspace. As she began the arduous task of organizing the chaos, Xu Guangxi arrived to help.

He initially mistook her watering eyes for tears of gratitude, but she clarified it was a dust allergy. He then diligently helped her clean and arrange the space. As a gesture of encouragement, Xu Guangxi drew two dolphins on a wall, symbolizing "wisdom and happiness," and wished her smooth sailing in her new role, leaving the final stroke for her to complete as a finishing touch. After they finished, a heavy rain began.

Xu Guangxi went to buy an umbrella and returned with only one, claiming it was the last available. They shared it, walking closely and bantering playfully. Upon reaching her home, the rain had stopped. Xu Guangxi gave her the red umbrella, remarking that good things happen with them. Yin Yike gratefully accepted it and carefully stored it away.

She reflected on her journey, realizing that despite life not turning out as imagined, she had gained a "strong heart" and found a happiness with Xu Guangxi that she had never experienced with Li Zelin. Later, Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi watched a video together. In it, a remorseful Xia Xiaomian apologized to Chen Zicheng and the "young lady in the photo," admitting she was "blinded by money." The video also showed someone accusing her of being a hypocrite. Xia Xiaomian then directly addressed Yin Yike, offering to take her to the aquarium as an apology.

Episode 7 Recap

Xia Xiaomian went live to apologize for a previous incident, admitting she was "blinded by money" and expressing sorrow to Chen Zicheng and the woman in the photo. She explained she was also a victim who was tricked and then blacklisted by Chen Zicheng, suggesting his rival orchestrated the whole situation for publicity. The comments section was filled with harsh criticisms, with netizens calling her shameless and demanding she be jailed.

Concerned by the vitriol, Yin Yibo located her at an internet cafe. He rushed to her side, warning her against engaging with the online trolls. Xia Xiaomian initially accused him of following her but then tearfully expressed her regret, explaining she didn't know the person she framed was his sister and misspeaking that she was more wronged than Dou Wei, whom Yibo corrected to the historical figure Dou E.

Despite their initial conflict, Yin Yibo offered her food, and they began to connect. When he teased her about framing his sister, she countered that she had helped clear Yin Yike's name. Acknowledging her desire for popularity, Yibo, calling himself an "8G internet surfing boy," told her that "being famous with anti-fans also counts" and showed her that her follower count was indeed rising.

Overwhelmed by comments praising her looks after her face reveal, Xia Xiaomian cried, and Yibo comforted her. She explained she returned to clear her name because her family of "new money pig farmers" raised her with a tradition of honesty. After Yibo saved her number to ensure she wouldn't flee again, she gave him a handwritten apology letter for his sister, believing older people appreciate letters. Later, Yibo was on the phone with his sister, Yin Yike.

Xiaomian, fearing Yike was angry, was relieved when Yibo relayed that his sister was not upset and had told him to take good care of her. That evening, Yin Yibo and Xia Xiaomian went to Xu Guangxi's apartment. Although Yibo said they had just eaten, Xia Xiaomian pretended to be hungry so they could share noodles Xu Guangxi had prepared. She hesitantly asked if she and Guangxi were still friends, and he replied they were "master and disciple."

Xia Xiaomian offered to help with housework and promised to move out once she found a job. The three then shared a drink to "let go of grudges," solidifying their newfound friendship. The next morning, Yin Yike arrived at the Live Stream Department, complaining about her coffee until Xu Guangxi handed her a double espresso. To her surprise, her former colleagues appeared, having transferred to the department.

They expressed their strong belief in her vision, asserting that live stream e-commerce was the "future Blue Ocean" and that their "bomb disposal team" always had a forward-thinking perspective. Deeply moved, Yin Yike promised to lead them to a comeback with a doubled year-end bonus. Elsewhere, Chen Musen tried to convince Xu Guangxi to take on a "quick-money" project, but Xu Guangxi was only interested in their long-term dream project, "Fengqi Shendu."

To Chen Musen's astonishment, Xu Guangxi and his team revealed they had already secretly completed the entire scene design for "Fengqi Shendu." Impressed, Chen Musen agreed to help find an investor but refused a raise, offering to pay for dinner and karaoke instead. Meanwhile, Qin Yiran was accosted by two crude men in an elevator who made inappropriate comments about her appearance.

Chen Ye arrived just in time and sarcastically rebutted the men, stating that an employee's value comes from their performance, not their appearance. After he defended her, Qin Yiran's attitude towards him softened. Inside the elevator, Chen Ye tried to get her WeChat, but a poor signal prevented the connection before she departed. Later, Yin Yike met with her employee Mengtian, who was resigning to become a full-time housewife.

Yin Yike sensed Mengtian's unhappiness, but Mengtian insisted she was choosing a slower life. When Mengtian advised Yin Yike not to break up with her well-off boyfriend, Yike revealed they had already split, refusing to settle. The conversation was cut short when Mengtian's mother-in-law called, scolding her for being out. As Yin Yike was leaving, she spotted Mengtian's husband with another woman. Enraged, she decided to follow them, and Xu Guangxi, seeing her, followed out of concern.

Yin Yike devised a plan, taking the keys to the husband's Maserati by claiming to be his wronged wife. To create a diversion when the husband almost returned, she deliberately bumped into a man on his phone. She then planted incriminating feminine belongings in the car. Xu Guangxi pulled her into hiding just as the husband returned. They watched as the mistress found the items, slapped the husband twice, and stormed off.

Afterward, Yin Yike made Xu Guangxi promise to keep her scheme a secret between them. That evening, after seeing her father humorously practicing golf indoors, Yin Yike met with Xu Guangxi. She playfully teased that he must watch too many soap operas after he helped with her scheme. He took her to their childhood haunt, an abandoned carousel.

He revealed he first brought her there when her father forbade her from going to the ocean park, but she corrected him, recalling he was afraid of the dark and needed her for courage. As he leaned in to kiss her, she playfully pushed him away. Startled by a noise, he reassured her, calling her his "wolf teammate" in guarding his "secret base."

As dawn broke, they noticed other couples leaving, but Xu Guangxi insisted she was the only girl he had ever brought there. Later, Yin Yike's younger sister approached her, upset that their father had forbidden her from going on a school trip to the ocean park, fearing she would lose her friends. In a touching, childish gesture, the little sister offered to be Yike's friend and even proposed to take her to the ocean park.

Episode 8 Recap

Yin Yike returned home late one evening, finding her father still awake and exercising. He questioned her whereabouts, assuming she had been on a date with Li Zelin. Yin Yike, however, claimed she had been working overtime. Her father, unaware of their breakup, mentioned Zelin's recent return to Beijing and even suggested buying a house in the suburbs for them, emphasizing the importance of marriage. Overwhelmed by the secret, Yin Yike evaded the topic and retreated to her bedroom.

Aunt Lan, sensing Yin Yike’s distress, approached her with a glass of warm milk. Noticing Zelin's recent absence and the packages he had sent back, she gently pressed Yin Yike about their relationship. Yin Yike confessed that Zelin had wanted her to move to Beijing with him, a request she refused, adding that other long-standing issues had surfaced between them. She then revealed the truth: they had broken up.

Aunt Lan immediately offered her unwavering support, asserting that Yin Yike's happiness was paramount. During the conversation, Aunt Lan expressed her hope for her own son, Xu Guangxi, to find a partner who was of a similar age and with whom he could connect. Hearing this, Yin Yike, who had begun to sense a deeper connection with Xu Guangxi, resolved to distance herself from him. Later that night, Xu Guangxi messaged Yin Yike.

Recalling Aunt Lan's words, she hesitated and ultimately decided not to reply, leaving a disappointed Xu Guangxi staring at his phone. The next morning, they met in the elevator, where Yin Yike's demeanor was noticeably colder. Oblivious to her internal conflict, Xu Guangxi playfully asked about his unanswered message and suggested they get a drink that evening. Yin Yike curtly declined, stating her floor had arrived and telling him to focus on work.

Throughout the day, his messages to her went unanswered. Seeking advice, Xu Guangxi confided in his friend Chen Musen about a "Miss Fairy" he believed liked him but was too shy to admit it. Chen Musen encouraged him to "take the initiative." Inspired, Xu Guangxi arrived at Yin Yike's home for dinner that evening, bearing braised food for the family.

While her father openly praised his thoughtfulness, Yin Yike consciously reinforced their sibling dynamic, pointedly calling him "brother" and referring to herself as "sister" to create distance. The following day, Xu Guangxi sent coffee to Yin Yike's office. Her colleagues commented on his kindness, with one even asking if he had a girlfriend. Yin Yike found her cup adorned with a note: "Wish you a happy day today. Green and hassle-free concern from your younger brother."

Reading this, the tension in her face eased into a small smile. That evening, Chen Musen arranged to meet Jiang Man, but her attention was clearly on Xu Guangxi. She cleverly maneuvered her colleagues into Chen Musen's car, ensuring she could ride alone with Xu Guangxi.

Driving past, Yin Yike witnessed Jiang Man showing off a new pink dress to Xu Guangxi, tenderly wiping his sweat, and taking a cheerful selfie with him, which sparked an inexplicable surge of anger in her. Later, while having dinner with her friend Qin Yiran, Yin Yike saw the selfie on social media, fueling her irritation. She sought advice, describing a hypothetical scenario of a man who, after being rejected by one woman, immediately pursues another.

Qin Yiran labeled such a man an "Aquaman"—a player with a "fish pond" of potential partners—and advised Yin Yike to either move on or vent her anger. Convinced Xu Guangxi was an "Aquaman," Yin Yike went to his home to confront him but missed him. Back home and still fuming, she ignored his text asking for a late-night snack and instead sent a cryptic message about "Aquaman," leaving him bewildered.

The next morning, while Xu Guangxi was complaining to his brother Yibo about her moodiness, Yibo mentioned that Yin Yike had come looking for him the previous night. This news instantly lifted Xu Guangxi's spirits, and he rushed to find her. He found Yin Yike about to discard an umbrella he had given her and stopped her.

He finally had the chance to explain the misunderstanding, clarifying that he was merely acting as a "cover" for Chen Musen, who was the one actually pursuing Jiang Man. They playfully bickered, with Yin Yike teasing him about how his "lovely smile" made him such an effective cover. With the misunderstanding cleared, they returned to their easygoing dynamic.

They went to a movie, laughing together during a romantic scene, and then ate at a noodle shop where he playfully served her and she drew a caricature of him. They continued their date with a scenic bus tour and ice cream. As the evening wound down, Xu Guangxi asked if she had any other wishes. Yin Yike simply replied, "Good night." They parted ways, each sending the other a "Good night" text from their respective rooms.

Episode 9 Recap

At the office, Frank approaches Yin Yike to get approval for funding live streamer candidates, highlighting the bright future of live stream e-commerce. Yike agrees to review his proposal. Shortly after, her colleagues celebrate a project's success. Yike promises to treat them to dinner after they finish their overtime work and sends the necessary documents to Frank.

Annoyed after overhearing her rival Jiang Man bragging about a dinner invitation from Chen Musen's group, where Xu Guangxi would also be, Yike impulsively decides to take her team to join that same dinner. Meanwhile, Jiang Man discusses the dinner plan with her colleagues, asking if her lipstick looks good and drawing comments on her obvious interest in Xu Guangxi. That evening, Yin Yike's team joins Xu Guangxi's group.

Jiang Man remarks that Yike seems to be constantly monitoring Guangxi, a claim Yike dismisses. The conversation shifts to work, with Jiang Man complaining about being too busy for makeup since Yike’s transfer. After Jiang Man mentions she lives in Wujiaochang, Yike adds that she also bought an apartment there after university, to which Guangxi chimes in that he lives nearby. The group then teases Guangxi about his love life, claiming he has a near-perfect success rate with women.

Jiang Man presses him about the "1%" he couldn't win over. Guangxi admits there is someone he likes, but he is unsure of her feelings and fears rejection. Realizing they aren't officially a couple, Jiang Man sees an opportunity for herself. In response, Yin Yike discreetly takes Xu Guangxi's hand under the table. Surprised and pleased, Guangxi firmly holds her hand when she tries to pull away. Elsewhere, Chen Ye's children tease him about failing to win over Qin Yiran.

Chen Ye confidently declares that he is close to getting her WeChat contact. Acting on a tip from Chen Musen that Qin Yiran is a "Club Queen," Chen Ye finds her at a popular nightclub. Qin Yiran confronts him for asking for her WeChat previously and then disappearing.

He explains it was due to a poor signal in an elevator and that he came to find her because his company wants to organize a joint event with hers, and her presence is essential. To get his contact, Qin Yiran challenges him to a dance-off. Chen Ye impresses her with his skilled moves, earning the nickname "Prince of the Ballroom." Impressed, Qin Yiran finally agrees to add him on WeChat.

Just as they are about to leave together, Chen Ye receives an urgent call from his child, who is suffering from a stomach ache. He rushes off immediately, sending Qin Yiran a quick message to apologize and confirm the location for the joint event. Reading the message, Qin Yiran feels she has been stood up for a second time and becomes furious.

Later, Qin Yiran and Yin Yike meet up, both angry about their respective situations with Chen Ye and Xu Guangxi. They decide to handle it the same way: by ignoring their messages and deleting the chat conversations. Separately, Chen Ye advises Xu Guangxi on pursuing Yin Yike, stating that all women have a "girlish heart" that needs attention. In her conversation with Qin Yiran, Yike expresses her anxieties about the age and status gap between her and Guangxi.

Qin Yiran scoffs at her hesitation, advocating for a more direct approach while reaffirming her own stance of remaining unmarried and childless. Meanwhile, Yin Yibo is at home, livestreaming as "Dan from Xiafei Road," where he discusses e-commerce trends and sales data like an experienced online personality. After the group dinner, Yike declines to go to KTV, and on a later day, Xu Guangxi intercepts her leaving work.

He insists on hitching a ride in her car to get "even" for her holding his hand. After the ride, as Yike tries to hurry away, Guangxi stops her and questions why she is running. She claims it is late, but he brings up the hand-holding, stating that they are adults now and not children. He declares that by him getting a ride, they are now "even." Yike agrees the matter is settled and leaves, leaving Guangxi frustrated.

Around the same time, one of Xu Guangxi's female colleagues moves out to find a new job, encouraged by Yin Yibo, and promises to treat everyone to a meal once she is successful. Later, after failing an interview because she lacks a bachelor's degree, she sees a recruitment ad for live streamers at SC, Yin Yike's company, and decides to apply. The family, including Yin Yike, Xu Guangxi, Yin Yibo, and their mother, has dinner together.

The mother and Yike pressure Yibo about his postgraduate entrance exams and his lack of a job, threatening to cut his allowance. After dinner, Guangxi invites Yibo to play basketball. While Yibo complains to Guangxi about the pressure from his family, Yike watches from the sidelines. During a break, Guangxi approaches Yike, takes her lemonade, and drinks it all. She calls him rude, but he simply thanks her, remarking that it was "a little sour, but good."

Episode 10 Recap

Yin Yibo, known online as "Dan from Xiafei Road," was live-streaming about limited edition sneakers when Xia Xiaomian unexpectedly appeared, recognizing him despite his efforts to maintain a low profile. Having seen his Moments, Xia Xiaomian knew he was at Yin Yike's company and teased him about his secret internet celebrity status, which he had hidden from his sister by claiming to be studying at the library.

Xia Xiaomian then pleaded with Yin Yibo to help her get an interview at Yin Yike's company, admitting to previous misunderstandings with Yike. Yin Yibo initially refused, fearing his sister's reaction, but Xia Xiaomian insisted, explaining her desperate situation: after defending Yin Yike online, she was attacked by Chen Zicheng's fans and could no longer work as an influencer or afford rent. Under her relentless pleas, Yin Yibo reluctantly agreed to help.

Yin Yibo later called Yin Yike downstairs, where he attempted to persuade her to hire Xia Xiaomian. Yike noticed a kiss mark on his face, correctly deducing it was from Xiaomian. Despite Yin Yibo's exaggerated claims about Xia Xiaomian's plight, Yike firmly stated she would not allow anyone to "take a shortcut" but would give Xia Xiaomian a fair chance in the interview process.

During the auditions, Xia Xiaomian presented a unique style, describing a perfume that devolved into the smell of a "high-class club toilet," earning her the label of a "comedian." Following her, an interviewee named Yurou directly addressed Yin Yike, stating they had met before. Yurou revealed she had seen Yike in a parking lot and was grateful for her actions, which helped her see the true nature of the "jerk," Zhou Nanyang.

Yurou expressed understanding that Yike, being Zhou Nanyang's wife's superior, might choose not to hire her. After the interviews, Yin Yibo and other colleagues debated the candidates. While some found Xia Xiaomian's lively and comedic approach appealing, others favored Yurou's more stable demeanor. Yin Yike concluded she needed more time to decide. That evening, as Yin Yike returned home, Aunt Lan was preparing dinner. Yin Yibo exaggerated Xu Guangxi's condition, claiming he was severely ill from a cold.

Overhearing this, Yike immediately offered to accompany Aunt Lan to deliver food to Xu Guangxi, disregarding Yin Yibo's attempt to draw attention to his own minor finger injury. Upon arriving at Xu Guangxi's apartment, Aunt Lan found him looking perfectly fine. Xu Guangxi admitted he was well, and Aunt Lan noted his normal voice, realizing Yin Yibo had exaggerated. Aunt Lan explained that Yike had accompanied her but was waiting downstairs on a phone call, seemingly hesitant to come up.

Inside, Aunt Lan expressed her deep concern for Yike's recent breakup and wished she could help her move on. Seizing the opportunity, Xu Guangxi suggested Aunt Lan use a traditional parental method: introducing potential partners to Yin Yike. Meanwhile, Qin Yiran, seeking to retaliate against Chen Ye for standing her up, concocted a "pigeon poop" scented perfume as a gift for him.

However, his colleagues, mistaking it for a regular luxury perfume, sprayed it, causing a bizarre and unpleasant odor to permeate the office. Elsewhere, Yin Yibo secretly met with a representative for his sister's upcoming blind date. The man mistook Yin Yibo for Yike's brother, and Yibo played along, mischievously encouraging the man to be completely blunt and list all of his demanding criteria during the meeting.

Later, Aunt Lan tricked Yin Yike into a dinner at a Western restaurant, claiming she wanted to try new creative dishes. Instead, Yike found herself on a blind date with Chen Shuo. Following Yin Yibo's covert advice, Chen Shuo immediately presented his strict criteria for a wife, emphasizing a gentle, family-oriented, and thrifty woman, while openly criticizing Yike's age and lack of a house. Exasperated, Yike countered with an equally demanding list for her ideal partner.

At that moment, Aunt Lan messaged Yike, revealing that Xu Guangxi had supposedly helped choose Chen Shuo. Furious at both of them, Yike stormed off to confront Xu Guangxi. Yin Yike barged into Xu Guangxi's apartment, demanding to know why he interfered in her life. Xu Guangxi playfully responded that it was only natural for a brother to help his sister, to which Yike retorted that she had no desire to be his sister.

Xu Guangxi then confessed that he no longer wanted to be just her brother either. He pulled her into his arms, reminding her of how she had hastily left his apartment before, leaving her brooch behind. He playfully called her a "little fool" and asked what she would do without him. Just as they embraced, Aunt Lan unexpectedly arrived, forcing Yike to hide in the wardrobe.

Xu Guangxi deflected his mother's questions, claiming the clothes in the wardrobe belonged to Chen Musen. While hidden, Yike overheard Aunt Lan express profound concern for her, lamenting that Yike had to grow up too quickly and shoulder all family responsibilities since her mother's early passing. Aunt Lan's heartfelt words brought tears to Yike's eyes. After Aunt Lan left, Yike was too emotional to come out, so Xu Guangxi joined her at the wardrobe, calling it their "secret tree hole."

Yike apologized for her hesitations, feeling it was unfair to him. Xu Guangxi reassured her, urging her to prioritize her own feelings and reminding her that she had "infinite rights to be childish" with him. He then explicitly confessed his love, praising her kindness and persistence. Acknowledging their seven-year age difference, he vowed to prove it was not an issue and promised to support her through all of life's challenges.

As Yike received a call from her father, she prepared to leave, but not before sharing a deep embrace with Xu Guangxi, solidifying their new relationship. That night, after returning home, Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi immediately engaged in a video call. Lying in their respective beds, they chatted late into the night, playfully teasing each other and basking in the newfound happiness of their relationship.

Episode 11 Recap

Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi have officially begun their relationship, immersing themselves in a sweet, romantic phase. One morning, Xu Guangxi arrived outside Yin Yike's home to take her to work. Yin Yike, who had already pulled her car out, quickly reversed back into her parking spot and ran inside, only to re-emerge, feigning a fresh departure. Xu Guangxi, having witnessed the entire maneuver, was endeared by her adorable attempt to make it seem like she hadn't been eagerly waiting.

Meanwhile, Yin Yike's aunt, Lan, expressed concern over Yin Yike's late-night calls, assuming she was talking to a man named Zelin and pondering their marriage prospects, completely unaware of Yin Yike's new relationship. Transformed by love, Yin Yike displayed a newfound cheerfulness at work. Her usual strictness regarding proposals and product selections softened significantly, leading her employees to speculate that something wonderful must have happened to her.

In a moment of generosity, she uncharacteristically approved both the "girl series" and "mature women series" for product selection. Later, Zheng Ying, the general manager, called Yin Yike into her office, noting her improved disposition and assigning her a critical task: to meet a major client from a live-stream platform in Fengxian District. Zheng Ying emphasized that as her representative, Yin Yike would be speaking for the entire SC market department.

Despite this vote of confidence, some colleagues gossiped that Yin Yike, having been transferred to the live stream department, was surprisingly happy about what they perceived as a demotion. Meanwhile, Chen Ye opened the perfume Qin Yiran had given him, only to be met with complaints from his employees about its pungent smell. He then discovered that Qin Yiran had blocked him on WeChat and decided to confront her—not to apologize, but to lecture her.

He criticized her for sending the perfume, stating it disrupted his workplace and forced him to pay expensive cleaning fees. Qin Yiran called him cheap and questioned his mysterious business dealings. She reminded him of when he stood her up, and Chen Ye countered that he had already apologized for it, but she couldn't have seen the message since she had blocked him. He then lectured her on the importance of sincere apologies versus seeking revenge.

Their heated discussion was cut short when Chen Ye received a call from Ms. Zhang, his son's kindergarten teacher, informing him that Chen Yu had been in a fight. Chen Ye hastily departed, leaving Qin Yiran behind once again, who was left enraged and vowed to get even. Upon arriving at the school, Chen Ye learned that Chen Yu had fought a classmate who mocked him for not having a mother—an insult that had happened for the third time.

Instead of scolding his son, Chen Ye praised him for winning the fight, believing it was sometimes necessary to teach a bully a lesson. He proudly told his son that while fighting is wrong, one should not be the first to start a fight but should defend oneself against arrogant bullies. Afterward, Chen Ye happily took his son out for hamburgers. Elsewhere, Xia Xiaomian visited Yin Yibo, expressing her frustration about being unemployed after a failed interview.

She tried to persuade him to move in with her and split the rent on a large apartment, suggesting it would be a safe and convenient place for his "secret business." Yin Yibo saw through her ploy and playfully dismissed her as lacking the "intellect and culture" of a true beauty. Despite this, Xia Xiaomian's fortunes turned when Yin Yike personally welcomed her to the company.

Yin Yike emphasized that her humorous style and experience as a live streamer were exactly what they were looking for and encouraged her to develop her unique brand. Overjoyed, Xia Xiaomian hugged Yin Yibo, promising to become a "cultured beauty" who would make him proud. After work, Yin Yike’s plan to meet Xu Guangxi for a drink was interrupted by an urgent call from Chen Ye requiring her to work overtime on a revised proposal.

Understanding, she suggested joining Xu Guangxi at his office so they could work together. As Yin Yike went to grab snacks, a drunk Chen Musen stumbled into Xu Guangxi’s office, lamenting that he had been stood up and insisting Xu Guangxi drink with him. Just then, Yin Yike arrived with snacks.

As Xu Guangxi tried to get Chen Musen to leave, Chen Musen drunkenly revealed that Xu Guangxi had cried for three days and three nights when a woman named Jiang Jun got married. Xu Guangxi tried to silence him, but the secret was out. After Xu Guangxi saw Chen Musen off, Yin Yike, who had been waiting in the office, playfully startled him while wearing a mask.

She then confronted him about Jiang Jun, jokingly threatening to get the full story from Chen Musen over lunch. Xu Guangxi quickly clarified that there was nothing serious between them, explaining that his emotional reaction was simply a display of passionate love, as intense as fire. He argued a relationship should be all-consuming; otherwise, it would be a disservice to both people. Amused, Yin Yike called him a "love expert."

They spent the evening working together, with Yin Yike affirming her belief in his talent and encouraging him to pursue his creative vision, even if it defied client demands. The next day, Yin Yike informed Xu Guangxi about her business trip to meet a client, which would keep them apart until the weekend. Concerned, Xu Guangxi playfully suggested taking leave to join her, but Yin Yike reminded him of his own important proposal.

He then showed a hint of jealousy, asking if her client was male or female. Yin Yike reassured him it was purely work and promised to be careful. As she headed to the airport, her colleague, Mr. Kong, appeared, stating Ms. Zheng had sent him to accompany her. On the way, Mr. Kong arranged a drinking party with the client, Mr. Xu, dismissively telling a visibly uncomfortable Yin Yike that such social engagements were a necessary part of the job.

Simultaneously, Xu Guangxi presented his project, "Fengqi Shendu," a story about a fox-demon killer in the Tang Dynasty infused with modern female empowerment themes. The client, Mr. Xie, was impressed but immediately stated his intention to buy out the project, which would remove Xu Guangxi and his team from its future development. Xu Guangxi firmly refused, declaring their bottom line was to lead the project they created to completion.

Unwilling to compromise his artistic integrity, Xu Guangxi abruptly left the meeting. Chen Ye, though apologetic to Mr. Xie for Xu Guangxi's temper, stood firm, refusing to sell out his team's work. Mr. Xie then resorted to threats, mocking Chen Ye's struggling company and predicting its bankruptcy. Chen Ye defiantly retorted that the film’s success depended on his own ability and that he intended to live a long life to see it through, showing his unwavering loyalty to his team.

Episode 12 Recap

Yin Yike attended a dinner with her superior, Mr. Kong, who introduced her to a potential partner, Mr. Xu. Mr. Kong emphasized that Yin Yike, now heading the new Live Stream Department, would need Mr. Xu’s support. Mr. Xu immediately commented on Yin Yike's beauty, suggesting she had the looks to be a streamer herself and that he could help promote her to the homepage.

Trying to steer the conversation back to business, Yin Yike mentioned the talented streamers her department had already signed, but Mr. Xu interpreted this as her attempting to bargain. Mr. Kong encouraged her to be receptive, noting Mr. Xu's experience and the value of his approval. Mr. Xu continued his inappropriate advances by offering to read her palm and grabbing her hand.

Just then, Xu Guangxi, disguised as a waiter, "accidentally" spilled a drink on Mr. Xu's suit, forcing him to let go of Yin Yike's hand. Undeterred, Mr. Xu then challenged Yin Yike to drink an entire pot of baijiu, promising that if she did, he would agree to all of her new department's conditions. In response, Yin Yike threw the baijiu in Mr. Xu's face and walked out. Mr. Kong followed, scolding her for jeopardizing the company's platform resources.

Yin Yike retorted, questioning if the company expected to meet its KPIs by sacrificing its female employees, and stated she would handle the fallout herself. Outside, Xu Guangxi met Yin Yike and playfully asked if she had been "cosplaying." He had come after hearing about the dinner, worried about her but also proud that she had learned to stand up for herself.

Xu Guangxi revealed that he had also confronted a difficult client that day, choosing to "stand" rather than "kneel." They agreed that being true to oneself is a source of happiness. Xu Guangxi then gave Yin Yike a drawing titled "Little Guangxi and Little Yike" and the last can of iced cola from a shop, confessing that he regretted not telling her his feelings sooner and holding her hand first.

He then suggested they do something big, which turned out to be a bike ride. As they rode, he promised to always be behind her, and they later shared a lighthearted moment over his impressive shrimp-peeling skills. The next morning, Mr. Xu's company sent a cancellation letter. The company leader, Frank, was furious with his team's lack of discipline. Mr. Kong blamed Yin Yike, claiming she was ungrateful and only listened to a Ms. Zheng.

Yin Yike defended herself, stating that Ms. Zheng was not involved and that she believed Mr. Xu was a risky partner due to rumors of his involvement in "obscene deals" and an ongoing investigation into his company. Frank dismissed her concerns about public sentiment, asserting that business has "grey areas" and is not charity. Yin Yike then revealed she had a backup plan, having already contacted the head of Waku for online promotion.

Surprised but focused on the bottom line, Frank declared that he only cared about results, not the process. Later, Yin Yike's team welcomed two new streamers. One of them, aiming to boost morale, confidently promised to attract a million fans and complete their mission. Xu Guangxi visited Yin Yike's company to deliver a bento box, running into Qin Yiran. Qin Yiran informed him that Yin Yike was on the rooftop cooling off after being reprimanded by her boss.

Xu Guangxi asked her to deliver the bento for him and left in a hurry. As he departed, Qin Yiran noticed a shell bracelet on his wrist with a knowing look. Later, Yin Yike found the bracelet in her delivery. She put it on, remarking that it was made from the "reward" she had given him and hoped it would make every day feel like a vacation.

Meanwhile, Chen Ye's company faced a crisis with power and water outages, leading his employees to panic about unpaid salaries and the company's future. After pretending to be an angry boss, Chen Ye revealed he had just paid the bills, restoring services and his team's faith. In a separate encounter, he ran into Qin Yiran, who taunted him for looking like a "defeated cock" after his project seemingly failed.

They exchanged sharp words, with Chen Ye defiantly stating he is the type of person who smashes through walls instead of turning back. Desperate to save his project, "Fengqi Shendu," Chen Ye went to Mr. Xie's company. After being repeatedly turned away, he finally met Mr. Xie and profusely apologized for his previous attitude, bowing deeply and pleading for another chance. He stressed his team's talent and passion and asked to retain creative control.

Mr. Xie was dismissive, even criticizing Chen Ye's bowing posture. Seeing this, Xu Guangxi stepped in and proposed a deal: if Mr. Xie gave them one week, they would refine the project's character models and world-building to prove their capabilities. Mr. Xie agreed to reconsider, on the condition that he would not pay them if the result was unsatisfactory, a term Xu Guangxi accepted.

Recognizing the cost of the upcoming work, Xu Guangxi offered to forgo his own pay, insisting the rest of the team be compensated. Chen Ye assured him he had other ways to secure funds. At home, Chen Ye asked his son, Chen Yu, for a loan from his piggy bank to feed the team.

Chen Yu, after complaining that his father had disturbed his limited-edition perfume, readily agreed, asking only for double the repayment, an extra drumstick, and a horse ride upon the project's success. The team then worked tirelessly through the night, with Chen Ye bringing them a late-night meal of chicken wings. Later, Xu Guangxi picked up Yin Yike from her company's parking garage, teasing her for working overtime for free.

As they headed to dinner, Yin Yike called her father, lying that she was still at the office. Unbeknownst to her, her father was waiting outside the building, and finding it dark and empty, he grew frustrated that his children only tell their mother their plans. In the car, Yin Yike discussed her strategy for her two streamers, who have different strengths, while Xu Guangxi playfully "recharged" her with affection.

Episode 13 Recap

Yin Yike answered a call from her father, who was waiting directly outside her company. She quickly went to a downstairs convenience store to buy some food to appease him. Her father, however, was unimpressed by the "junk food" she offered, instead launching into a lecture about her long working hours and single status.

He expressed strong disapproval of her relentless dedication to work, which he believed caused her to neglect her relationship with Li Zelin, whom he viewed as an ideal son-in-law. He questioned why she, at thirty-two, was still unmarried and urged her to prioritize marriage over her career. Her father also voiced concern that Zelin had returned to Beijing without informing him, wondering if the couple had quarreled.

Despite Yin Yike’s reassurances, her father remained insistent on interfering, also briefly criticizing her brother, Yin Yibo, for his academic struggles and Yin Yike's habit of giving him money. Later, Xu Guangxi video-called Yin Yike, proudly showing off the suit she had bought for him, which fit perfectly. Their lighthearted conversation turned to Yin Yike's recent interrogation by her father.

Xu Guangxi offered a different perspective, suggesting she view it as a "sweet burden" and expressing a touch of envy for her lively family, as he rarely saw his own father. Their call was abruptly interrupted when Yin Yibo burst into Yin Yike's office with milk, startling her. He claimed he couldn't get her attention by knocking because he heard her giggling with someone.

He then subtly offered to help her manage their father's concerns about her relationship with Li Zelin, but only for a fee. In Yin Yike's live stream department, the initial performance assessment for new streamers Yurou and Xia Xiaomian showed a significant gap. Yurou's sales were impressive, while Xia Xiaomian's numbers were disappointingly low, though not zero.

Analyzing the data, Yin Yike realized their 2-5 PM time slot coincided with work and school hours, so she proposed shifting to a 12-2 PM lunchtime slot to capture a larger audience, which the team agreed to. During the next stream, a determined Xia Xiaomian adopted a "cute" persona. When sales still remained stagnant, she secretly purchased her own products to artificially boost the numbers.

While her colleagues praised her for the impressive data, she was left with a precarious bank balance. Desperate, Xia Xiaomian approached Yin Yibo for a loan to cover her self-purchases, but he, feigning unemployment, refused. She then pleaded with him to teach her live streaming techniques, admitting her weakness in selling products like perfume despite being a beauty blogger.

Yin Yibo firmly rejected the idea, explaining that he couldn't let his sister discover his own involvement in live streaming and warned Xia Xiaomian to keep their interactions secret. Meanwhile, Xu Guangxi's team secured Mr. Xie's project. During the negotiation, when Mr. Xie hesitated due to the project's scale, Chen Ye cleverly applied pressure by mentioning other companies awaiting their proposal and then producing a contract form on the spot, securing Mr. Xie's commitment and a deposit.

To celebrate, Chen Ye announced bonuses and a team outing, deciding on an RV camping trip for the weekend. He enthusiastically suggested they bring female companions, specifically mentioning his "fairy Jiang Man." Later, seeing Yin Yike studying late, Xu Guangxi invited her to the camping trip, suggesting it would be a good way for her to relax. Yin Yike was hesitant until he revealed he had rented a separate motorhome just for the two of them.

Alarmed but excited by how fast their relationship was progressing, she accepted and immediately began a rigorous beauty and fitness regimen, much to Yin Yibo's amusement. Noticing his sister's sudden transformation—a new youthful style, perfume, and commitment to exercise—Xia Xiaomian suspected Yin Yike was in a new relationship. She proposed a bet to a skeptical Yin Yibo, who still believed his sister was with Li Zelin.

Xia Xiaomian, trusting her "female intuition," wagered that if she was right about Yin Yike's new romance, Yin Yibo would have to become her free live stream assistant. Confident, Yin Yibo accepted the bet. Yin Yike asked Qin Yiran to join the camping trip as a "cover." Qin Yiran immediately deduced the new romance, having noticed Yin Yike's new bracelet and seeing a matching one on Xu Guangxi's wrist.

She initially refused, mockingly calling their friendship "plastic" for being used as a shield and stating she didn't want to see a "certain middle-aged man," implying Chen Ye. However, she had a change of heart after Yin Yike relayed Xu Guangxi's advice about prioritizing one's own feelings. Deciding not to avoid her own issues, Qin Yiran agreed to go. Later, she spotted Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi at a mall and smiled, genuinely happy to see her friend moving on and finding happiness.

Episode 14 Recap

Yin Yike informed her family that she would be attending a company outing at a camping base for two days and one night. Her father, unhappy about her missing their family plans, questioned the necessity of a weekend trip. Her brother, Yin Yibo, had also noticed several unusual changes in Yin Yike, such as her extended nightly beauty routines, including using two face masks and meticulously shaping her eyebrows.

His suspicion grew when he found a lacy nightgown she had packed. Worried she was seeing someone behind her family's back, he called her colleague, Xia Xiaomian, who confirmed there was no company outing. Concerned, Yin Yibo confronted Xu Guangxi, listing his sister's strange new habits. Xu Guangxi, secretly pleased, realized Yin Yike's efforts were for their relationship. When Yin Yibo mentioned the lacy nightgown, Xu Guangxi blushed.

Convinced his sister had broken up with Li Zelin and was now seeing someone else, Yin Yibo declared his intention to go to the camping base to vet the new man. Xu Guangxi subtly dissuaded him, suggesting that Yin Yike had her reasons for being secretive, especially since their father didn't know about her breakup.

He convinced Yin Yibo that his role was to provide cover at home, while Yin Yibo resolved to secretly protect his sister's "weak sparks" of romance. At the camping base, Chen Ye's father expressed disappointment that his son and Chen Musen hadn't brought any female companions, as he had rented a luxurious coach for the occasion. Xu Guangxi then arrived with Yin Yike, which only partially appeased Chen Ye's father, who had expected a girlfriend, not a sister.

The group was completed by Qin Yiran, who was annoyed by the early start and the male-dominated gathering. Before the group set off on boats, Qin Yiran confronted Yin Yike, accusing her of deliberately "stirring up trouble" by showing up. During the subsequent boat ride, Qin Yiran was paired with Chen Ye and drew an imaginary "38th Parallel" between them, warning him to keep his distance.

Later, during a barbecue, a group of younger women, including one named Yuanyuan, approached Yin Yike, admiring her youthful appearance. Yin Yike graciously shared her age and offered some advice, stating that life's greatest failure is living a life one doesn't desire and that marriage is not a guaranteed refuge from life's pressures. As the evening progressed, a drunk Chen Musen entertained everyone with a dance. To lift Qin Yiran's spirits, Chen Ye publicly dedicated a song to her.

Afterward, Xu Guangxi led Yin Yike to a motorhome he had secretly rented for them. The atmosphere was shy and awkward, as it was their first time truly alone together. Xu Guangxi suggested Yin Yike shower first. While in the bathroom, she decided against wearing the new lacy nightgown, opting for her usual pajamas out of modesty, a fact Xu Guangxi understood when she emerged.

Their quiet evening was suddenly interrupted by a very drunk Chen Musen, who was yelling outside after discovering that Yuanyuan, a woman he had just met, was married. Xu Guangxi brought him into the motorhome, where Chen Musen drunkenly lamented his love life and proclaimed they would remain "single dogs" together, oblivious to Xu Guangxi and Yin Yike's relationship. Meanwhile, fueled by alcohol and the romantic song dedication, Chen Ye and Qin Yiran had a private conversation.

He confessed that he liked her, warning that his life was like a "shaky boat," but he was determined to become its master navigator. This led to a passionate kiss, but their moment was shattered by a phone call from Chen Ye's sister. Panicked, Chen Ye abruptly pushed Qin Yiran away and rushed off after a hasty apology, leaving her furious at being stood up yet again.

Episode 15 Recap

Xu Guangxi returned to the RV to find Yin Yike asleep. He carefully covered her with a blanket, kissed her, and drew her peaceful sleeping face. When Yin Yike woke the next morning, she saw the drawing and Xu Guangxi sleeping beside her, feeling deeply moved. Yin Yike playfully accused Xu Guangxi of eavesdropping on her, asking what "evil thoughts" he might harbor.

He sweetly deflected, joking that the RV hadn't lived up to its "sexy pajamas" potential, while Yin Yike admitted she was quite satisfied, feeling he had "sneaked into and stayed in her dream." He then magically conjured breakfast, much to her delight. Later that day, at home, Yin Yike's father was fretting over her late return from a supposed company trip. Convinced there was trouble between Yin Yike and Li Zelin, he intended to call Li Zelin to check.

Yin Yibo intervened, suggesting that pushing them about marriage would only pressure Li Zelin. He then volunteered to go downstairs to meet Yin Yike, subtly preventing his father from learning the truth about her trip. Downstairs, Yin Yibo witnessed Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi sharing an embrace. Furious, he confronted Xu Guangxi, accusing him of daring to pursue his sister. Yin Yibo was especially angry because he had just helped Yin Yike cover for her absence.

When Yin Yibo accused him of coveting his sister's beauty, Xu Guangxi calmly admitted the accusation was not unfounded. Yin Yike tried to de-escalate the situation by urging Xu Guangxi to leave, while a seething Yin Yibo threatened to beat Xu Guangxi every time he saw him. Yin Yibo demanded to know if Yin Yike had cheated on Li Zelin. Yin Yike revealed she had broken up with Li Zelin long ago, a fact their Aunt Lan was aware of.

Yin Yibo was shocked and felt betrayed that his own sister hadn't confided in him while Aunt Lan knew. Yin Yike explained that at her age, she didn't need to report every relationship detail, and clarified that Aunt Lan only knew about the breakup, not her new relationship. Yin Yike pleaded with her brother to keep her secret, but Yin Yibo refused, accusing Xu Guangxi of being a schemer.

He couldn't accept her "seamless transition" to Xu Guangxi, his own friend, and found their relationship absurd. Yin Yike countered that they shared no blood relation and that Xu Guangxi cherished her more than she cherished herself. Yin Yibo threatened that their sibling relationship would be over if she revealed the truth to their parents now and sternly declared that Xu Guangxi was unworthy of becoming his brother-in-law.

That evening, during dinner, Yin Yibo maintained a sullen expression and made pointed remarks about Xu Guangxi, even though Xu Guangxi wasn't present. Aunt Lan mistakenly thought the two had a conflict. Their father, who admired Xu Guangxi as sensible and filial, found Yin Yibo's behavior inexplicable and scolded his son for his rudeness. Feeling ganged up on, Yin Yibo left the table in anger.

Later, Aunt Lan visited Xu Guangxi, bringing him food and asking about the conflict with Yin Yibo. Xu Guangxi cleverly fabricated a story about beating Yin Yibo too many times in basketball, causing Yin Yibo to get mad. Aunt Lan, believing his words, dismissed it as typical childish rivalry. Yin Yike later video-called Xu Guangxi, expressing concern about Yin Yibo's hostility.

Xu Guangxi advised against trying to explain things to him yet, revealing Yin Yibo hadn't accepted a red packet he'd sent. Suddenly, Yin Yibo burst into Yin Yike's room, snatched her phone, and sternly warned Xu Guangxi not to use his "good looks" to "seduce" his sister. He chastised Yin Yike for pushing her luck, reminding her he was only keeping their secret to prevent their parents from being upset, before hanging up.

Afterwards, Yin Yike sent Yin Yibo a red packet for his cooperation, and he replied that while he took the money, it didn't change his stance. Separated by the screen, Xu Guangxi resolved to remain a steadfast presence for Yin Yike and never give up. Separately, Chen Ye encountered Qin Yiran in the elevator and again attempted to apologize for his previous behavior. Qin Yiran, however, suggested he save his coaxing words for "other girls."

She scornfully acknowledged his talent for persuasion but firmly stated she "wouldn't buy it." She declared her stance of "not getting married or having children" and asserted that they should stay out of each other's lives. Meanwhile, at the Live Stream Department, Yin Yike rigorously trained her team, announcing a critical Double Seventh Festival special live stream as their last chance to meet KPI targets.

After reprimanding a sleepy Xia Xiaomian, Xia Xiaomian expressed her understanding of Yin Yike's stress, noting her "Desert Thorn" scent that signaled a bad mood. Feeling the pressure, Yin Yike sought out Xu Guangxi on the rooftop, her "power bank." She admitted her anxiety about the upcoming sales figures, and Xu Guangxi lovingly reassured her. Xia Xiaomian then confronted Yin Yibo during one of his live stream sessions as "Dan from Xiafei Road."

She revealed she knew about the "team building" lie and his sister's new boyfriend. Citing their seven-year age gap, Yin Yibo scoffed at the relationship, but Xia Xiaomian countered that age doesn't matter in love. Having won their earlier bet, she demanded Yin Yibo serve as her assistant. Yin Yibo refused, adamantly stating that the relationship wouldn't last because he would not agree to it. Xia Xiaomian, however, declared herself a "couple fan" and vowed to always support them.

Later, Yin Yibo found Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi together, armed with a fly swatter. He declared his intention to "disperse the flies" around his sister and accused Xu Guangxi of feigning brotherhood while secretly aiming to be his brother-in-law. Xu Guangxi, understanding the situation, allowed Yin Yibo to take his sister home. Desperate to boost her sales for Yin Yike's KPI, Xia Xiaomian sought out Xu Guangxi.

She revealed that Yin Yibo, as "Dan from Xiafei Road," was a top-tier fashion blogger with millions of followers, and pleaded with Xu Guangxi to persuade him to be her assistant for the live stream. Citing his conflict with Yin Yibo, Xu Guangxi hesitated but ultimately agreed to find a way to help. Xu Guangxi challenged Yin Yibo to a one-on-one basketball game to conquer him "in a man's way."

During the match, Xu Guangxi revealed his knowledge of Yin Yike's struggles in the Live Stream Department and Yin Yibo's secret blogger identity. He mocked Yin Yibo for only meddling in his sister's private life while doing nothing to help her professionally, calling him a coward. Xu Guangxi then proposed a bet: if Yin Yibo won their game, Xu Guangxi would break up with Yin Yike.

But if Yin Yibo "screwed up" his attempt to help his sister, Xu Guangxi would take her from him. Confident in his online influence, Yin Yibo accepted. Xu Guangxi handed him the live stream materials, leaving Yin Yibo to ponder his next move. Later, during a successful live stream, products sold rapidly. One enthusiastic customer spent 3,890 yuan, only to then regret her impulsive purchases.

Episode 16 Recap

Concerned by Yin Yibo's troubled demeanor, Aunt Lan encouraged him to follow his heart, whether it was his postgraduate studies or another passion. She expressed her faith in him, sure he would reconcile with those he had quarreled with. Later, Xia Xiaomian urgently requested an emergency training session from Yin Yibo for the upcoming Double Seventh Festival live stream.

He agreed, but gave her a serious warning to perform well, threatening to retaliate for her leaking his secret if she failed. During their training, Yin Yibo taught Xia Xiaomian the importance of creating a "sense of empathy" for product introductions. Using a perfume as an example, he had her imagine him as her ideal romantic partner and had the onlooking Xu Guangxi imagine him as a beloved goddess to demonstrate the technique.

Impressed, Xu Guangxi praised Yin Yibo's sales prowess. Yin Yibo stressed that their collaboration must remain a secret from his sister, Yin Yike, and made it clear to Xu Guangxi that this was a one-time arrangement. The next morning, Aunt Lan expressed worry over Yin Yike's late nights and suggested she tell their father about her breakup. Yin Yike deflected, citing her commitment to the live stream.

At the office, Yin Yike stressed the stream's importance for their mid-term data, but Xia Xiaomian tried to convince her to rest, suggesting her presence might make the team nervous. As the stream was about to begin, Yin Yike's continued presence created a problem. Yin Yibo had Xu Guangxi distract her by offering the team coffee and then pulling her aside, fabricating a need for her advice on a script and hinting at a surprise.

Though suspicious, Yin Yike gave him ten minutes. The distraction worked, allowing Yin Yibo to slip into the live stream room and be introduced as Xia Xiaomian's "special assistant" and "sales elixir." However, Yin Yike returned sooner than expected. When she questioned Xu Guangxi again, he feigned that he was preparing a latte art surprise for her.

With Yin Yike back in the main office, Yin Yibo was forced to hide in a nearby bathroom and quickly adapt, deciding to remotely coach Xia Xiaomian via an earpiece after getting a link to the backstage data. Guided by Yin Yibo, Xia Xiaomian performed with a newfound confidence that astonished Yin Yike, who noted the impressive sales data but was curious about the high number of male fans.

Yin Yike's suspicions grew when she heard Yin Yibo's voice from Xia Xiaomian's dropped earpiece. She tried to follow the sound, but Xu Guangxi intercepted her again, feigning ignorance. Convinced something was amiss, Yin Yike went to the live stream room. There, she discovered Yin Yibo had joined the broadcast, linking his famous "Dan from Xiafei Road" account to Xia Xiaomian's stream.

He appeared via video, cross-promoting to his millions of followers and causing their sales to skyrocket past their KPI. After the stream, Yin Yike confronted her brother. While Xia Xiaomian defended his hard work, Yin Yibo openly expressed his desire to pursue live streaming as a career and asked for his sister's support. Yin Yike agreed on one condition: he must keep her relationship with Xu Guangxi a secret from their father.

She confessed that Xu Guangxi made her feel cherished and helped her learn to value herself, rather than living only to please others. Touched by her vulnerability, Yin Yibo agreed to support her choice, though he vowed to conduct a long-term "inspection" of Xu Guangxi. In return, Yin Yike acknowledged his exceptional talent in the live-streaming industry. Ms. Zheng commended Yin Yike's department for their strong mid-term results, despite a setback with a major client due to workplace politics.

Yin Yike affirmed her commitment to success and suggested creating "signature products" to stand out. Ms. Zheng then revealed an opportunity to collaborate with "Flower World," a popular mobile game company. Yin Yike proposed a win-win co-branded launch: integrating their fragrances into the game and selling physical merchandise via their stream. At the meeting with Mr. Ma from Flower World, Yin Yike and her new streamer, Wu Yurou, presented the detailed plan.

Impressed, and noting the approaching summer vacation peak season for his game, Mr. Ma agreed to sign the contract immediately. Elsewhere, a young boy named Chen Yu caused a commotion at a fragrance counter, covering perfume bottles because he claimed his dad's smelled bad. Qin Yiran, an employee, intervened. Just then, Chen Ye and Xu Guangxi arrived. The boy, Chen Yu, called out "Dad" to Chen Ye.

Seeing Qin Yiran, a panicked Chen Ye lied, claiming Chen Yu was Xu Guangxi's son. Qin Yiran jokingly offered Xu Guangxi time off, and he played along, taking the boy for ice cream. Unaware of the truth, Xia Xiaomian witnessed this and rushed to tell Yin Yike that Xu Guangxi had a son who appeared to be six years old. Yin Yike was stunned, recalling Xu Guangxi's earlier promise of a "surprise" and now fearing it was a "scare."

Episode 17 Recap

On the Double Seventh Festival, Qin Yiran, convinced that Chen Ye was hiding a family and lying to her, arranged to meet him, intending to teach him a lesson. She had seen a child with him and, correctly assuming it was his son, believed she was being set up as the "other woman." Despite her anger, Chen Ye was genuinely fond of Qin Yiran and, eager to make amends for his recent unreliability, gladly accepted her invitation.

He called Xu Guangxi, begging him to babysit his son, Yu, explaining he needed the time to apologize and clarify his misunderstandings with Qin Yiran. Xu Guangxi reluctantly agreed but warned Chen Ye to be honest, cautioning that the romantic holiday could easily turn into a disaster if he wasn't careful.

Meanwhile, Yin Yibo juggled covering for his sister, Yin Yike, and helping Xu Guangxi avoid their inquisitive Aunt Lan, finding some consolation in the red packets he received for his troubles. At dinner, their father complained about Yibo being glued to his phone and criticized Yin Yike's supposed lack of ambition. Yibo defended his sister, arguing that modern independent women forge their own paths and that her job required her to be busier on holidays.

His father, unconvinced, accused them both of lying for her. When Aunt Lan learned from Yibo that Xu Guangxi was working overtime and couldn't join them, her suspicions were aroused. She pressed Yibo about whether Xu Guangxi was dating someone, but he feigned ignorance, claiming to be focused on his studies.

Spotting him tapping red packets on his phone, he quickly distracted her by asking about her square dancing and her coveted lead dancer position, sending a worried Aunt Lan off to prepare and leaving Yibo to muse about his limited "free cover" services. Yin Yike, aware that a child was at Xu Guangxi's apartment, felt uneasy on her way there, as he hadn't explained the situation.

Unbeknownst to her, Aunt Lan followed and watched from a distance as Yike keyed in the security code and entered the apartment. Recalling Yibo's evasiveness, Aunt Lan's suspicions deepened, but she ultimately left without confronting them. Inside, Yike was startled to meet Yu but was immensely relieved when the boy called Xu Guangxi "Godfather" and her "Godmother," especially after hearing that Chen Ye had previously tried to get him to call her "Mom."

Realizing the child wasn't Xu Guangxi's, Yike found Yu endearing, calling his presence an "unexpected gain" and admitting her fondness for children. Unaware of their breakup, Uncle Yin called Li Zelin to ask about his work and his intentions toward Yin Yike. After congratulating him on his promotion, he pressed him about their marriage plans. Realizing Yike hadn't told her father the truth, Li Zelin played along, vaguely confirming they'd had a fight.

Uncle Yin scolded him for quarreling with a "little girl" but was reassured when Li Zelin affirmed that his feelings for Yike were serious. Qin Yiran suggested celebrating at Chen Ye's house, a proposal he repeatedly refused, claiming his place was too messy. His firm resistance only fueled her suspicions. He suggested a bar instead, but she found his sudden desire for a cozy, romantic evening uncharacteristic.

Eventually, he convinced her to go out for dinner, promising he had something important to tell her. At a public square, unaware of her plan, Chen Ye began a heartfelt public declaration of love. He confessed his insecurities and past unreliability, explaining he wanted to be completely honest with her. Just as he poured out his heart, a nearby fountain erupted on a timer, drenching him completely as Qin Yiran had planned.

Mocking his "silly" display, she called him a hypocrite and publicly warned him that he wasn't qualified to be a playboy who abandons his family. Chen Ye desperately tried to explain that he was divorced with a child, not cheating, but she refused to listen, asking why he waited until she was nearly a "mistress" to tell her, especially knowing her "unmarried and childless for peace" stance. She then turned and walked away, ignoring his pleas.

Wanting to thank Yin Yibo for his help with her live streams, Xia Xiaomian invited him to dinner. When he declined, citing work, she called back in a panic, claiming a pervert was knocking on her door. A concerned Yibo rushed to her apartment, only to find she had tricked him with a "surprise"—a lavish meal and a heart-shaped cake. Annoyed but touched, he listened as she thanked him for his support.

After he made her pinky swear never to pull such a prank again, he mistook the cake for a birthday celebration, only for her to clarify it was for the Double Seventh Festival. Later that night, a drenched and dejected Chen Ye arrived at Xu Guangxi's to pick up a sleeping Yu.

He confirmed that Qin Yiran now knew about his son and explained that Yu's mother had left for someone else shortly after his birth, leading to a peaceful separation where he gained full custody. As he was leaving, a drowsy Yu told his father he would forgive him if he brought the "pretty lady" home as his new mother. Chen Ye sadly remarked that he didn't deserve her and apologized to his son for "losing your mother again."

After he left, Xu Guangxi showed Yin Yike a surprise he had prepared: a collection of mementos chronicling their shared "destiny." The box, labeled "Yin Yike Exclusive," contained the lipstick he found when they first met, a reminder of her borrowing his phone, a picture of a swing, and the red umbrella from a rainy day he now found beautiful because of her. The final item symbolized their "first cola-flavored kiss" by the sea. Deeply touched, Yin Yike playfully asked how to repay him, and he assigned her the task of blow-drying her hair from then on, a duty he happily accepted.

Episode 18 Recap

Everyone is said to be born incomplete, constantly searching for their lost half, a pursuit from which love is born. Early one morning, Aunt Lan reminds Yin Yike that her father's birthday is in two days and asks her to come home early. Yin Yike reassures her that she has already made plans with Xu Guangxi to celebrate with her father. Later, Chen Ye brings his son, Chen Yu, to the office.

In the lobby, Chen Yu spots Qin Yiran and, despite Chen Ye's efforts to stop him, loudly calls her "Mom," noting her pale expression and encouraging Chen Ye to try harder with her. Qin Yiran, annoyed, ignores them and enters the elevator. Chen Ye gathers his team, including Chen Musen and Xu Guangxi, for a surprising announcement. He introduces Chen Yu, shocking everyone by revealing he has a child.

The team, especially Chen Musen, expresses their disbelief at being kept in the dark for so long. Chen Yu playfully greets Xu Guangxi as "Godfather No.2" and Chen Musen as "Godfather No.1," asking when Chen Musen will treat him to a perm. Chen Ye apologizes for the secrecy, explaining he was worried the news would affect his pursuit of Qin Yiran, given her close friendship with Guangxi's sister.

He adds that with the tight schedule for Mars Animation and Chen Yu being on summer vacation, he decided to bring him to work, promising the boy would be well-behaved. The team agrees, and Chen Yu excitedly declares himself their "little boss," vowing to supervise their work. Meanwhile, Yin Yike is at work discussing brighter packaging designs with her team. She is then informed that Frank has called a meeting for all manager-level staff.

In the meeting, Frank announces a major issue: Flower World has released a statement denying any collaboration or authorization of co-branded products with SC, and a lawyer's letter demanding compensation has been sent. Yin Yike, surprised, states they have a clear authorization agreement and asks for time to investigate. Frank urges her to resolve the matter quickly.

Later, Xu Guangxi waits for Yin Yike, surprising her with a birthday cake from a popular shop for her father and a neck massage device for her. He notices her troubled expression, and Yin Yike reveals that the co-branded product with Flower World is in jeopardy because the gaming company claims they never authorized it. An internal check revealed that their contact person had resigned from Flower World long ago.

Guangxi assures her it's not entirely her fault, pointing out that the Legal Department also bears responsibility. Yin Yike laments that her live-streaming plan for the product is now useless and confides that she had planned to tell her father about their relationship after this project. Guangxi, however, tells her not to rush, emphasizing her happiness is what's most important. As they arrive at Yin Yike's father's house for his birthday, they find it full of guests.

Yin Yike explains her father invited old acquaintances to show off. Her father proudly introduces the beautiful Yin Yike and then Xu Guangxi, whom he presents as her boyfriend who queued for a long time to buy the cake. Suddenly, Li Zelin arrives, apologizing for his late flight. Yin Yike's father is thrilled and introduces Li Zelin, a partner at Chengtian Law Firm, as his "son-in-law." Li Zelin presents expensive gifts, including a watch, Cordyceps, and bird's nest.

Her father boasts to his friends that Li Zelin flew in specially for him, will be moving his firm to Shanghai, and that he and Yike will marry this year. After dinner, Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi see Li Zelin off. Li Zelin admits he came because her father's call made him think she regretted their breakup. Yin Yike clarifies that her father invited him without her knowledge and thanks him for playing along.

Li Zelin nonchalantly mentions he was also in Shanghai for business. Xu Guangxi interjects, claiming he hasn't eaten enough and asking Yin Yike to join him for more food. As they leave, he subtly remarks that Li Zelin’s presence was useful for driving away "mosquitoes and flies." While they eat, Yin Yike suggests they should tell her father about their relationship.

Xu Guangxi reiterates that her happiness is paramount and there's no need to rush, reminding her they have plenty of time. He offers to peel shrimp for her and jokes about his company's "left ear in, right ear out" method for dealing with nagging.

When Yike mentions she plans to return the money for the expensive watch Li Zelin gave her father, it prompts Xu Guangxi to playfully feign jealousy, contrasting the cost of the watch with his own earnings as an artist. Late that night, Aunt Lan visits Xu Guangxi and asks if he has a girlfriend. He confirms he does but explains it's not the right time to make their relationship public.

Aunt Lan urges him to treat her well and not be like his irresponsible father. Xu Guangxi reassures her he will be very serious with the girl he loves, realizing Aunt Lan likely knows about his relationship with Yin Yike. The next day, Li Zelin's assistant, Annie, questions his decision to take on SC's difficult lawsuit against Flower World when a larger client is available.

Li Zelin insists he will ensure everything goes according to his plan, hinting at a personal motivation. Meanwhile, a stressed Yin Yike discusses alternative live-streaming plans with her team. She's then called into a meeting where Li Zelin introduces himself as the Chengtian Law Firm partner assisting SC. He points out the company's significant potential losses. Yin Yike explains that a resigned Flower World employee used a fake seal, suggesting the legal department bears more responsibility.

Li Zelin redirects, stating the focus should be on solving the problem, not assigning blame. He suggests Yin Yike's expertise in public relations would be vital, and Frank pressures her to cooperate fully. Later, SC employees excitedly discuss the news that "Yike's boyfriend," renowned lawyer Li Zelin, is handling the case, cheering for a "hero rescuing a beauty." Others who support Yike and Guangxi lament that their ship has "sunk."

Li Zelin asks Yin Yike why she didn't tell him they had broken up before he took the case. She admits she was afraid he would refuse. Li Zelin clarifies that taking the case is purely a professional arrangement, as his firm has always served SC, and their past is irrelevant. In his office, Yin Yike suggests admitting fault to reduce compensation, but Li Zelin dismisses the idea, stating that in his cases, there's no "win-win," only his side winning.

Back at the animation company, Xu Guangxi encourages Chen Musen's team as they work on a rendering project that is three hours from completion, promising to bring them food and drinks. After her meeting, Li Zelin offers Yin Yike a ride. He asks if she is angry over their professional disagreement, expressing regret for not having been able to drive her when they were together and offering to make up for it now as a 'partner.'

She declines, saying she has her own car. Later, Xu Guangxi tries to call Yin Yike, but her phone is off. He rushes to her company and finds her dozing on a sofa in the lobby. Relieved, he sits beside her, and her head gently comes to rest on his shoulder.

Episode 19 Recap

At a convenience store, Yin Yike carefully informed Xu Guangxi about a significant development at her company. She revealed that her company had hired a lawyer, Li Zelin, to handle the legal dispute with Flower World. Despite her initial disagreement, the decision was made by Frank and other higher-ups, leaving her no choice. She earnestly promised Xu Guangxi that her interactions with Li Zelin would be strictly professional, with no personal contact, asserting there was nothing between them.

She admitted she was anxious about his reaction, but Xu Guangxi, amused by her serious explanation, laughed, reassuring her he was not petty and was quite confident in their relationship. He even expressed regret for not having studied law, wishing he could have been the one to help her. The next morning, Xu Guangxi arrived at Yin Yike's residence with a homemade breakfast, including a heart-shaped fried egg, only to find Li Zelin already there.

Li Zelin claimed he was picking Yin Yike up for an early meeting with Flower World, showcasing his efficiency. Xu Guangxi, however, pointed out Li Zelin's illegal parking and threatened to report him, adding a playful jab about Li Zelin being a lawyer who should uphold the law. Ultimately, Yin Yike chose to ride with Xu Guangxi, citing a prior promise to give him points for his navigation app.

As they drove, Yin Yike observed that Xu Guangxi transformed into a "devil brother" whenever he encountered Li Zelin. Upon reaching the company, after Yin Yike went inside, Li Zelin approached Xu Guangxi, addressing him as "designated driver" and implying that only he could truly handle the critical matters facing Yin Yike and SC. He emphasized his role in protecting SC's interests, subtly asserting his importance. Meanwhile, at Chen Ye's company, his son, Chen Yu, was doing his homework.

He overheard employees discussing a new investor and, to their astonishment, declared that he was the "boss" and that his father, Chen Ye, had paid the company's previous utility bills using Chen Yu's tuition fees. Just then, Chen Ye returned from a client meeting, prepared to deliver both good news about a successful demo and bad news about client revisions.

To his surprise, the employees, now aware of Chen Yu's revelation and motivated by their loyalty, enthusiastically agreed to all the revisions, leaving Chen Ye stunned. Chen Yu proved to be an unexpected ally in Chen Ye's pursuit of Qin Yiran. Despite Chen Ye's earlier instruction not to call her "Mom," Chen Yu went to Qin Yiran's company and, in front of her colleagues, loudly addressed her as "Mom."

A mortified Qin Yiran quickly clarified that Chen Yu was her "godson." Chen Yu then mischievously claimed to have a cold, leading a kind-hearted Qin Yiran to buy him medicine and accompany him back to Chen Ye's company. There, they discovered it was children's medicine and that Chen Yu had orchestrated the entire situation, as it was Chen Ye who was actually sick.

Taking advantage of the moment and Chen Ye's busyness, Chen Yu insisted that Qin Yiran accompany him for dinner, successfully convincing her with his persistent and pitiful pleas. During dinner, Chen Yu confessed to Qin Yiran that the real reason Chen Ye had stood her up before was due to Chen Yu's own unexpected situation. He further shared a "secret": Chen Ye had used his tuition fund to pay employee salaries, prioritizing the company's "other children."

Chen Yu expressed his fear of becoming a "wild child" if he couldn't attend school after the summer. He then touchingly recounted that his biological mother had left shortly after his birth, and he never knew what she looked like, feeling that she loved neither him nor his father. He spoke of his father raising him alone, despite small mishaps like mixing up his socks.

Chen Yu confided in Qin Yiran that for his birthday, he wished for a "mom who loves my dad and loves me incidentally," explaining that his father would be alone when Chen Yu eventually grew up and married. Qin Yiran was visibly moved by the boy's story. Later, Chen Ye arrived and genuinely apologized to Qin Yiran for having stood her up, admitting Chen Yu was the reason but taking full responsibility.

Qin Yiran, understanding it was a misunderstanding, accepted his apology and urged him to let it go. However, when Chen Yu playfully told Chen Ye that Qin Yiran was "considering being my mom," he also teasingly added that Chen Ye still needed to "work harder," implying his performance was key to winning her over, before demanding an ice cream cone. In a meeting with Flower World's representative, Li Zelin and Yin Yike represented SC.

The representative adamantly demanded two million in compensation. Yin Yike, drawing on her professional expertise, argued for a lower settlement, highlighting that Flower World's official seal had been counterfeited, which could damage their public image. She also pointed out SC's previous successful promotional efforts, which had indirectly benefited Flower World, and proposed transforming the "false cooperation" into a "real one." Li Zelin, visibly irritated by Yin Yike's proactive approach, interrupted her afterward in private.

He stated her proposals were outside the legal scope of the discussion and criticized her for disrupting his pre-planned negotiation strategy. He asserted his leadership, emphasizing that without a firm compensation agreement, there would be no fallback if a cooperation deal failed. Yin Yike responded calmly, suggesting they simply had different perspectives and reminding Li Zelin that his role was to serve SC, and her goal was to secure the best outcome for the company.

Li Zelin then reluctantly proposed a dual strategy, including preparing for a lawsuit by proving Flower World's employee was responsible for the counterfeiting. As the workday drew to a close, Yin Yike texted Xu Guangxi to let him know she would be working late. Li Zelin used the opportunity to keep her at the office, offering to get food and claiming he had already arranged it. While retrieving the food, Li Zelin encountered Xu Guangxi waiting downstairs.

He informed Xu Guangxi that Yin Yike would be working overtime with him and that Xu Guangxi shouldn't wait. Li Zelin then returned some money to Xu Guangxi, scoffing at his "private work" as an artist "bowing to bread for love."

He provocatively told Xu Guangxi that he also didn't want to give up Yin Yike, implying that Xu Guangxi's relationship was just a temporary "vacation" for her, and she would eventually realize that "love without bread is useless" and return to him. Li Zelin further asserted his superiority, claiming he was the one who could truly help Yin Yike, unlike Xu Guangxi, who could only take away trivial things like the right to drive her.

He attempted to provoke Xu Guangxi by suggesting that if he were to confront Yin Yike now, she would perceive him as childish, jealous, and a hindrance to her work, as she never flaunts things or people she lacks confidence in. Despite Li Zelin's deliberate taunts, Xu Guangxi maintained his composure. Li Zelin then returned to Yin Yike with her favorite chicken kebabs and udon, mentioning he went a long way to get them.

After her overtime, Yin Yike tried to contact Xu Guangxi but couldn't reach him. Concerned, she called his roommate, Chen Musen, who informed her that Xu Guangxi had returned home but had locked himself in his room after encountering Li Zelin. Yin Yike immediately went to find him. She asked Xu Guangxi if he was angry, and he replied that he wasn't. As Yin Yike prepared to leave, Xu Guangxi emerged and asked her to go home together.

Episode 20 Recap

Yin Yike was touched to find Xu Guangxi secretly researching "Flower World" to help with her case. Just then, Chen Musen arrived, wondering why Yin Yike hadn't answered his calls, and noticed the close interaction between her and Xu Guangxi. Chen Musen remarked that if he didn't know they were siblings, their behavior could easily be mistaken for a romantic relationship. Seizing the opportunity, Yin Yike introduced Xu Guangxi as her boyfriend, a revelation that shocked Chen Musen.

Struggling to process the news, he admitted he felt "stupid" for not realizing it sooner and comically declared he should "run away from home" to give them space. Later, Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi shared a private moment. He explained he was trying to find ways to help her with the "Flower World" case from a different angle, hoping to "save the beauty with talent."

He also jokingly confessed that his phone, which he'd claimed was out of battery, "came to life" the moment she called him her boyfriend. The next morning, Chen Musen humorously asked if his hotel expenses would be reimbursed, to which Xu Guangxi promised to pay him double in a red envelope when he eventually found a girlfriend. Chen Ye questioned Xia Xiaomian about Li Zelin, who had recently joined Yin Yike's company as a legal consultant.

Xia Xiaomian playfully likened Li Zelin to "chocolate-flavored shaved ice"—classic and sweet—and Xu Guangxi to "matcha flavor"—fragrant and healing. In response, a jealous Chen Ye sarcastically remarked that matcha was indeed "quite green" and declared he would never eat chocolate or matcha ice cream again. Meanwhile, Qin Yiran informed Yin Yike that "Flower World" had surprisingly agreed to a settlement, a breakthrough she credited to Li Zelin’s personal efforts.

Qin Yiran wondered if this "hero-saving-beauty" act had made Yin Yike waver, but Yin Yike reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to Xu Guangxi, stating that she is slow to make decisions but never changes her mind once it's made. Later, when Yin Yike received an invitation from Li Zelin to discuss the settlement, Qin Yiran sensed it was a personal overture and offered to accompany her. Yin Yike declined, insisting she had to go for business and wasn't worried.

Yin Yike attended a gathering at Li Zelin's law firm, where he introduced her to his colleagues and the firm's director, implying they were a couple. His colleagues remarked that he must have taken the difficult "Flower World" case for her. Yin Yike immediately and publicly clarified that they had "broken up long ago." Stating that the gathering was clearly not for business, she tried to leave.

Li Zelin followed, insisting he had "real business" to discuss and that the settlement contract was in his car. Elsewhere, a worried Xu Guangxi, unable to reach Yin Yike, called Qin Yiran. She told him Yin Yike had gone to meet Li Zelin and sent him the address, while Chen Ye lent Xu Guangxi his car to go find her. In the car, Yin Yike asked for the contract, but Li Zelin stalled.

He explained that to secure the settlement, he had agreed to become "Flower World's" legal consultant with halved service fees and was officially transferring back to Shanghai. He then revealed his true intention: to "start over" with her and get their lives back on their "original track." Yin Yike thanked him for his professional help but firmly stated that their personal and professional lives should remain separate. She reasserted that their breakup was due to fundamental incompatibility, not his location.

Growing agitated, Li Zelin accused her of being "childish" and reminded her of the sacrifices he'd made. Yin Yike calmly stated she wasn't being childish and that she already had a boyfriend, whom Li Zelin dismissively referred to as her "little brother." Li Zelin then produced Yin Yike's household registration booklet, revealing her father had "happily gave it to me" so they could go directly to get their marriage certificate.

He taunted her, claiming she wouldn't dare tell her father about them breaking up and being with her "little boyfriend" because he would never approve. Enraged, Yin Yike called him "crazy." She retorted that she hadn't told her father only to avoid worrying him, but she would tell him everything if Li Zelin stopped the car. He accused her of ruining his life plans and offered to "pretend nothing happened."

When she demanded he stop, he threatened that the "Flower World" case would be ruined. Just then, Xu Guangxi called. Li Zelin grabbed Yin Yike's phone and threw it into the back seat. As she struggled to retrieve it, a physical altercation ensued, causing Li Zelin to lose control of the car and crash. Fortunately, Yin Yike sustained only minor scratches.

Xu Guangxi, Qin Yiran, and Chen Ye rushed to the hospital, where Xu Guangxi expressed profound relief, telling Yin Yike, "I can't even imagine what would happen if I lose you." Her father and Aunt Lan also arrived, with her father confusedly asking how they got into a car crash on the way to get a marriage certificate. When a police officer asked Yin Yike about her relationship with the driver, Li Zelin, she stated they had no relationship.

The officer then gestured to Xu Guangxi and asked about him, and Yin Yike publicly declared, "He's my boyfriend." Her father was stunned and enraged. He confronted Xu Guangxi, belittling him as a "just graduated kid" with "no money, no car, no house." When he tried to hit Xu Guangxi, he accidentally struck Yin Yike instead.

Distraught, Yin Yike finally unleashed years of frustration, accusing her father of never listening to her or caring about her happiness, only his own "dignity." As Xu Guangxi held her, he vowed to never let her go. At the hospital, Yin Yike told the police that Li Zelin had not coerced her, choosing not to press charges to protect his career.

Qin Yiran, however, furiously confronted Li Zelin, accusing him of professional misconduct and attempted murder for using a lawsuit to threaten Yin Yike into a forced marriage. Li Zelin threatened to sue her for defamation before a police officer told them to be quiet. Meanwhile, Aunt Lan tried to reason with Yin's father, revealing that Li Zelin had tricked him to get the household registration booklet.

Chen Ye added to the argument, pointing out that Li Zelin didn't even know Yin Yike was allergic to pollen and that his gift of a golf bag was more for his own status than for her father's enjoyment. Yin's father then speculated that Yin Yike might be using Xu Guangxi as a front to escape Li Zelin, a theory Chen Ye immediately shot down.

Later, Xu Guangxi apologized to Yin Yike for his impulsive actions in front of her father, but she reassured him she had no regrets, calling his behavior "cool." They reflected that the chaotic revelation might have been the best possible outcome. Yin Yike decided to go home to talk to her father, and Xu Guangxi suggested he should probably keep his distance for a while.

He then recalled a time when his mother, Aunt Lan, had advised him to protect the girl he likes without naming anyone, making them both suspect she had known about their relationship all along.

Episode 21 Recap

Yin Yike stood outside her father's closed door, speaking to him about her unwavering decision. She conveyed her self-awareness regarding her choices and her capability to take responsibility for them, urging him to rest. As was her custom, Aunt Lan brought Yike warm milk and took the opportunity to speak with her. Aunt Lan admitted that initially, she too struggled to accept Yike's relationship with Xu Guangxi, given their perceived sibling relationship and the differences in their ages and careers.

However, she emphasized that her only wish was for their happiness. Aunt Lan pressed Yike about the seriousness of her intentions, asking if they were planning for a future with marriage and children, or simply dating casually. Yike, acknowledging the uncertainty of the future, expressed her firm resolve at that moment to continue her journey with Guangxi and asked for Aunt Lan's support. Aunt Lan replied that only Yike's own heart could guide her.

She then confided in Yike, comparing her determination to her own youth when she chose Yike's father despite societal gossip surrounding their blended family. Aunt Lan recalled how Yike’s father always protected her and worked hard to provide for their three children, including a young Guangxi. Vowing her unwavering support, Aunt Lan encouraged Yike to be brave. Yike, still concerned about her father, was reassured by Aunt Lan, who promised to handle household matters.

Meanwhile, Yike's father, who had been eavesdropping, declared he would disown Yike if she moved out, only for Aunt Lan to retort that he usually found Yike annoying and should enjoy the peace. To give her father space to cool down, Yike decided to move out temporarily. She initially considered staying with Qin Yiran, but Xu Guangxi invited her to stay with him instead.

He emphasized the importance of facing challenges together and expressed his need for an opportunity to show Yike’s father their commitment. Yike worried about Chen Musen, Guangxi's housemate, but Guangxi assured her he would handle it. Later, as Yike settled into Guangxi’s apartment, she confided in him that she felt like a rebellious child doing crazy things, and found it hard to insist on being herself. Guangxi comforted her, promising to always be by her side.

He playfully asserted his protective nature, demanding she report her whereabouts, and assured her that their relationship would only improve. Guangxi diligently prepared the bedroom for Yike, changing the sheets and placing warm milk by the bed, while he made his own bed on the living room floor. He also planned to "buy off" Chen Musen with a big meal to ensure his acceptance of Yike's stay. Meanwhile, Aunt Lan began her own "special measures" to manage Yike's father.

She declared him the new head of the household, stopping her cooking and tasking him with all domestic responsibilities, including paying bills, buying groceries, and managing daily necessities. Yike's father was left bewildered, realizing Yike had handled all these tasks previously. Aunt Lan then left to join her friends for square dancing, leaving him to fend for himself with frozen dumplings. Trouble also brewed at Yike's workplace.

Following the collapse of the professional arrangement with Li Zelin, her company's dealings with Flower World were in jeopardy. Rumors spread among colleagues, with some hoping Yike's Live Stream Department would be dissolved. Frank, Yike's superior, summoned her, demanding an explanation for Li Zelin's unexpected withdrawal and Flower World's refusal to continue negotiations. He criticized her for relying on personal relationships and suggested disbanding the Live Stream Department.

Yike clarified that she had no personal relationship with Li Zelin and assured Frank that a new plan was underway. Frank revealed that Ms. Zheng had resigned, taking responsibility for the situation, and warned Yike that her entire department could be dismissed. Yike then met with Ms. Zheng, her mentor, expressing her sorrow. Ms. Zheng explained that she resigned to secure an opportunity for Yike and to maintain her dignity against Kong Xianzhe, who had been eyeing her position.

She advised Yike to be strong, to "throw a hard punch," and to pursue her career path with conviction. Back with her team, Yike's subordinates showed their unwavering support, promising to face the impending "storm" with her. They discussed the situation, debating whether to concede to avoid further conflict. Yike apologized for their worries and immediately began formulating a new strategy.

She tasked Yu Rou with finding alternative lawyers, Shen Xin with reorganizing Flower World documents, another team member with compiling online public opinion reports, and Chacha with finding new media writers. Separately, Xia Xiaomian called Yin Yibo, complaining about the troublesome Li Zelin and urging Yibo to help Xu Guangxi, prompting Yibo to agree to pick up his sister. Seeking advice on how to win over Yike's father, Xu Guangxi enlisted Chen Ye and Chen Musen as consultants.

They were soon joined by Yike, Qin Yiran, and Xia Xiaomian, with Yin Yibo also arriving to pick up Yike, leading to a group discussion at a coffee shop. Chen Ye jokingly suggested they elope, but Yike dismissed the idea, predicting her father would retaliate aggressively. Xia Xiaomian's "shotgun wedding" proposal was also quickly rejected. Chen Musen, speaking from a father's perspective, advised against aggressive approaches with elders, stressing the importance of sincerity.

Qin Yiran suggested they "give him what he likes," which Chen Ye elaborated to mean making Yike's father genuinely feel Guangxi's love and care for Yike, demonstrating that they could be happy together. Guangxi expressed his determination to show his sincerity. Qin Yiran noted Yike's growth and increased strength, and Yike reaffirmed her belief that all challenges could be overcome.

In a lighter moment, Yike teased Qin Yiran about a perceived shift in her views, which Yiran quickly denied, reaffirming her core values. Yike then playfully asked for a ride on Qin Yiran's motorcycle, only to learn she hadn't ridden it that day.

Episode 22 Recap

Yin Yibo discussed with Xia Xiaomian how to help his sister, Yin Yike, with her struggling company, with Xia Xiaomian suggesting they first work on stabilizing the live stream traffic. Yin Yibo proposed that he could handle the company's live streams, allowing his sister to focus on her family matters. Later, as Yin Yike emerged from her shower, she was surprised to find Xu Guangxi had prepared a large array of dishes.

He asked her to taste them, and she immediately noticed they tasted just like Aunt Lan's cooking. Xu Guangxi admitted he had specifically called his mother to learn the recipes, hoping to impress Old Yin. Yin Yike happily told him that while she wasn't sure about winning over her father, he had certainly won her over. Xu Guangxi, beaming, then presented her favorite dish, reassuring her that he knew her preferences without any prompting.

He expressed his desire to cook for her every day. Meanwhile, Yin Yibo was secretly live-streaming a new perfume from his sister's company, the "Good Night Series," describing it as a spicy men's fragrance. Suddenly, Old Yin burst into the room without knocking, furious that Yin Yibo was live-streaming instead of studying. He accused Yin Yibo of trying to make money and disrupting the room.

Yin Yibo explained he was trying to attract traffic for Yin Yike, but Old Yin wouldn't listen and began pulling at his live-streaming setup. A heated argument ensued, with Yin Yibo questioning why he was forced to study and couldn't pursue other paths, while Old Yin angrily mocked him for being lazy and told him to move out like his sister. Just then, Aunt Lan arrived home and heard the commotion.

She quickly intervened, telling Yin Yibo to ignore his father and leave with her. Enraged, Old Yin turned his anger on Aunt Lan, accusing her of siding with the children. Aunt Lan calmly retorted that he couldn't always have his way and needed time to reflect alone, before leading a defiant Yin Yibo out of the house.

Later, as Xu Guangxi and Yin Yike were grocery shopping to make dried scallop porridge for Old Yin, Aunt Lan called with urgent news: Old Yin had been rushed to the hospital. At the emergency department, Yin Yibo confessed that Old Yin's collapse was due to their fight, and Aunt Lan blamed herself for provoking him. The doctor confirmed Old Yin had fainted due to high blood pressure exacerbated by emotional stress but was largely fine.

However, Old Yin immediately began feigning chest tightness and difficulty breathing, insisting on being admitted for a comprehensive check-up. Concerned, Yin Yike agreed, and Xu Guangxi proactively handled the admission procedures. That night, while Old Yin feigned sleep, Xu Guangxi sat by his bedside and spoke softly. He revealed how much Yin Yike missed her father, secretly calling Aunt Lan for updates and reminding Yin Yibo to ensure all his medicines were prepared.

Xu Guangxi emphasized that despite moving out, Yin Yike deeply cherished her father, seeing him as greater than heaven itself. Hearing this, Old Yin quietly opened his eyes. The next morning, Aunt Lan and Yin Yibo arrived at the hospital. Old Yin, still demanding attention, complained that the soup was cold and refused to eat, telling them to figure out what he wanted since he was the patient.

He then jokingly admitted to the others that he had exaggerated his symptoms out of fear, having called the emergency services simply because he was "timid." Both Aunt Lan and Yin Yike playfully scolded him for pretending. As Old Yin prepared to be discharged, the doctor returned with unsettling news: while his blood pressure was stable, the CT scan revealed a shadow on his lung.

The family's mood shifted dramatically to deep concern, and a stunned Old Yin muttered that this was "retribution" for his feigned illness. Yin Yike tried to reassure everyone that it might just be inflammation. Yin Yibo volunteered to stay with Aunt Lan to care for Old Yin, urging Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi to focus on their work, particularly his sister's "tough battle" at the company.

Old Yin agreed, but insisted that Yin Yibo must prioritize studying for his graduate exams. With Yin Yike busy managing her company's public relations crisis, Xu Guangxi took primary responsibility for Old Yin's care. At the hospital, Aunt Lan expressed her full confidence in her son's character and left him in charge. Xu Guangxi brought various food items, including dried scallop porridge and dumplings, as well as warmer pads.

Old Yin was deliberately difficult, refusing the porridge and questioning the need for warmer pads in summer. He bluntly told Xu Guangxi to stop trying to win him over, reiterating that a relationship with Yin Yike was out of the question. Despite his gruff demeanor, Old Yin did show a subtle shift, finding use for a hand massager Xu Guangxi brought. Xu Guangxi remained patient and respectful, assuring Old Yin he would be nearby if needed.

Later that night, as Yin Yike worked on a "self-mockery" video for her company, Xu Guangxi called to update her that Old Yin, though stubborn, was allowing him to provide care. While Yin Yike was preoccupied, Xu Guangxi diligently reviewed Old Yin's medical reports in the hospital corridor, eventually falling asleep. Stepping out of his room, Old Yin discovered Xu Guangxi asleep with the reports in his hand.

He quietly took the documents, a silent acknowledgment of the young man's dedication. The next morning, Yin Yike arrived with breakfast and overheard a profound conversation between Old Yin and Xu Guangxi. Old Yin spoke of his anxiety over his uncertain health and his worries for his children's futures—Yin Yike's unmarried status and Yin Yibo's graduate studies. He recounted Yin Yike's childhood, remembering her as an exceptionally obedient child who helped care for her younger brother.

He sadly recalled the only time he ever hit her was when she accidentally lost her brother, noting that even then, she tearfully found him. Xu Guangxi then reminded Old Yin of Yin Yike's childhood dream of learning to dance, revealing he once saw her secretly practicing in a park, twirling beautifully. Old Yin's voice softened as he fondly agreed his daughter looked beautiful doing anything.

Xu Guangxi then spoke of Yin Yike's more vulnerable side—her forgetfulness and tendency to get sick from overworking—emphasizing her need for care. Old Yin expressed doubts about Xu Guangxi's youth and ability to protect a woman. However, Xu Guangxi responded powerfully, stating that words were pale, and he would use his actions and time to prove his love for Yin Yike. He vowed to protect her and let her live freely as "the happiest and most joyful Yin Yike." Overhearing this heartfelt exchange from the doorway, Yin Yike was deeply moved.

Episode 23 Recap

Yin Yibo begins to mature as a result of his father's recent illness. He had initially struggled with his father's constant nagging, feeling that he and his sister were treated like toddlers despite being adults. Fortunately, Xia Xiaomian helps him see the situation from a new perspective. Xia Xiaomian confesses to Yibo that she envies his family, especially having a father who cared enough to nag him, as her own father was constantly away on business trips.

She expresses deep affection for her father, understanding that he was also experiencing fatherhood for the first time and worked hard to provide for their family. Touched by her words, Yibo decides to contribute to his father's medical expenses. He reluctantly sells his prized limited-edition clothes and shoes, including a pair of artificial diamond-studded centenary edition sneakers he had once fought to acquire, asking the buyer to find them a good home.

Meanwhile, Yin's father awaits his medical test results in the hospital. Aunt Lan reminisces with him about their long companionship, and he reveals he had been secretly saving money for their future travels together. Yin's father worries about becoming a financial burden, noting that Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi had paid the bills and that Xu Guangxi had diligently cared for him. Despite this, he still harbors reservations about Yike's relationship with Guangxi due to their age difference.

Aunt Lan, however, urges him to trust Guangxi and let his children live their own lives. When the test results arrive, indicating no major issues, Yin Yibo misinterprets the doctor shaking his head as a sign of a grim prognosis. Overcome with emotion, he rushes into his father's room, tearfully apologizing for upsetting him and promising to excel in his postgraduate studies, get married, and give him a grandson.

His father, amused by the dramatic outburst, playfully questions his son's intentions. Xu Guangxi and Yin Yike soon arrive and clarify that he is fine, and Aunt Lan is already preparing a celebratory meal at home, putting Yibo's fears to rest. After Yin's father is discharged, the family enjoys their first meal together since Yike and Guangxi publicly acknowledged their relationship.

During the drive home, Yin's father critiques Xu Guangxi's driving, a habit he usually reserved for his own children, much to Yibo's amusement. At dinner, Aunt Lan gently pushes Yin's father to accept Guangxi. The father’s evolving acceptance is evident when he, citing high cholesterol, gives his share of eggs to Guangxi, prompting Yibo to remark on his father's "cross-leap development" in acknowledging him.

Later, Aunt Lan cleverly creates an opportunity for Yike and her father to speak privately by taking Guangxi and Yibo to the supermarket. Alone with her father, Yin Yike initiates a heartfelt conversation. She reminds him of how he and Aunt Lan had always faced life's pressures together, assuring him their family had always thrived.

She gently expresses her desire to make her own choices, especially regarding her marriage, unlike in her childhood when her father decided everything from her lessons to her career path. Yin Yike passionately describes Xu Guangxi as a beacon of courage, a "light guiding her forward" who enables her to embrace life without compromise and love the person she has become.

She acknowledges their path might be challenging but declares her willingness to face any hardship that comes from choosing her own life. Moved by his daughter's sincerity and reflecting on his past protectiveness, Yin's father finally concedes. He agrees to let Yike and Guangxi "try" being in a relationship, adding that he will still be there for her if it doesn't work out. Overjoyed, Yike tearfully thanks her father.

With her relationship enjoying a positive turn, Yin Yike shifts her focus to her career. She continues to manage the trademark infringement dispute with Flower World. Despite their company's controversial "self-criticism video" campaign boosting their public image, Flower World remains uncooperative. Yike goes to Flower World's office to propose a win-win solution to its head, Ms. Xu. She waits all day and is finally granted a brief meeting.

Ms. Xu dismissively states that if Yike's company wishes to settle, they should just pay, expressing distrust in their ever-changing negotiation tactics. As Ms. Xu prepares to leave, she takes a ticket from her assistant, which Yike notices is for an "Original Animation Exhibition." Determined, she decides to follow Ms. Xu there to continue negotiations. Meanwhile, Xu Guangxi works late on a "private job," evasively declining to give details to a colleague, hinting at his own efforts to support Yike.

Later, Aunt Lan and Yin's father reflect on their children's newfound independence. While ordering takeout, Yin's father admits to feeling a void in the house now that they have left. Aunt Lan encourages him to embrace their own lives, reminding him of their unfulfilled dream to buy an RV, raise an alpaca, and travel the country together. Yin's father, now more relaxed, eagerly agrees, ready to pursue their own adventures.

Episode 24 Recap

Yin Yike went to the Original Animation Exhibition to pitch a co-branded product collaboration to Ms. Xu of Flower World. She proposed that if her team achieved satisfactory sales of game skins during live streams, Flower World might consider withdrawing a previous tort compensation claim or entering a long-term partnership. Yin Yike pointed out that their data identified game skins as Flower World's current sales bottleneck and even offered to accept a valuation adjustment agreement.

However, Ms. Xu politely declined, stating her company lacked a suitable product for such a co-branding effort. Just then, Xu Guangxi arrived with a painting of a new game skin design he created for Flower World. He impressed Ms. Xu by contrasting his dynamic, Chinese-style artwork with their current skins, noting their known difficulty in finding a suitable key animator for such a style.

When Ms. Xu learned Xu Guangxi was a director from another animation company, she grew concerned about potential intellectual property conflicts. Chen Ye, Xu Guangxi's boss, suddenly appeared and resolved the issue by offering to sign an agreement that waived the intellectual property rights for Xu Guangxi's contribution, framing it as a straightforward company-to-company deal. Intrigued, Ms. Xu agreed to give the "free" artist a trial run.

Soon after, Ms. Xu personally invited Yin Yike to her company to discuss the next steps, her attitude completely transformed. Yin Yike noticed artwork signed by Xu Guangxi on the table, realizing he had subtly helped her secure the deal. Back at her own company, Yin Yike convinced her boss, Frank, to sign the valuation adjustment agreement. During a management meeting, Frank praised Yin Yike's achievement.

When another manager raised concerns about the vacant marketing director position affecting staff morale, Yin Yike confidently assured them her department's performance would speak for itself. Pleased, Frank approved the Live Stream Department's move back to their original workstations on the 20th floor. Yin Yike’s colleagues, who had feared they were being fired, were overjoyed.

Later, Yin Yike informed her team that Ms. Xu wanted to slightly adjust the co-branded skins, selecting one popular and one hidden style, and hinted that Flower World might send an artist to work with them. Meanwhile, Yin Yibo was dutifully studying in the library, having decided to obey his father and prepare for the postgraduate entrance examination, even though it wasn't his passion. Xia Xiaomian, watching him, felt he was giving up on his true calling.

She recalled how his eyes lit up when he talked about live streaming and encouraged him not to abandon his years of hard work. Yin Yibo explained that he couldn't risk upsetting his father again, especially since his father didn't recognize his live streaming success as a real achievement. He recounted how he had started streaming for extra money and poured immense effort into it, often staying up all night to coordinate with foreign brands across time zones.

Moved by his dedication, Xia Xiaomian decided she would try to convince his father. That evening, Yin Yibo held what he intended to be his final live stream. Unbeknownst to him, his father, guided by Xia Xiaomian, was watching from the living room. Seeing viewers send gifts, his father decided to send a "yacht" himself but was shocked to see it cost over 1,000 yuan. He angrily called Yin Yibo out to demand a refund.

However, upon learning that over 300,000 people were watching and supporting his son, his anger turned to pride. He relented, telling Yin Yibo he could continue live streaming as long as he also passed the postgraduate entrance examination. Xu Guangxi joined Yin Yike at her company for another late night of work. She had prepared a cozy "overtime corner" and a special "exclusive coffee" for him.

Their team for the project expanded to include Chen Ye and Qin Yiran, giving the two a chance to grow closer. During a meeting about the Otome Game collaboration and a sweet perfume, Chen Ye grew bored with the perfume discussion. His phone rang with a call from his son, Chen Yu, who wanted Qin Yiran to tell him a bedtime story.

Despite not being a mother, Qin Yiran patiently promised to tell Chen Yu three stories if he went to bed. After work, Qin Yiran went with Chen Ye to his home to tell Chen Yu his stories, a routine that had become a comfort to the child. Qin Yiran observed what a responsible father Chen Ye was, learning he had even taken classes to make wooden figures for his son’s school projects.

She wondered why a successful man like him was still single and always relied on her for help. Chen Ye confessed that because his circumstances were comfortable, he held out a "fantasy" of finding someone he truly loved to spend his life with, rather than just finding a mother for Chen Yu.

Later, at her home with Xu Guangxi, Yin Yike discussed the pair, speculating that Qin Yiran’s carefree attitude was a defense mechanism against getting hurt, as she had yet to meet someone she truly loved. Ms. Xu was very satisfied with the collaboration proposal but expressed to Yin Yike her disappointment that Xu Guangxi hadn't presented his work himself.

On a call, Yin Yike relayed the good news to Xu Guangxi, adding that Ms. Xu praised him as handsome and talented and wished she could recruit him. Xu Guangxi modestly attributed his insight to his long experience as a vendor. He then abruptly ended the call, claiming he needed to get back to his own company to work on the "Fengqi Shendu" project.

Back at her office, Ms. Xu signaled a change in her interests by switching her usual coffee order from Blue Mountain to the more delicate Geisha. Her growing fascination with Xu Guangxi was confirmed as she began searching for his information online.

Episode 25 Recap

Yin Yike's work in the Live Stream Department progressed efficiently, as the Product Department worked quickly to prepare goods, and applications for popularity boosts on their live stream platform were approved. Yin Yike also reviewed quotes from leading gaming streamers and beauty bloggers for KOL advertorials. For their first joint live stream with Flower World, they secured an active game player with a large fanbase but limited streaming experience, who was to be mentored by Yurou.

A more experienced gaming streamer was also brought on board to alleviate broadcasting pressure on Xia Xiaomian. During the live stream, Yin Yike introduced their new customized perfume series for all heroes, which included a mysterious hidden design. Viewers were invited to participate in a prize-giving quiz. The live stream quickly garnered nearly 10,000 average concurrent viewers. Xu Guangxi arrived with a thoughtful gesture, bringing her a drink while she worked.

The perfumes, especially when purchased in discounted bundles, sold out completely. This success meant they had fulfilled their valuation adjustment mechanism, ensuring their performance assessment for the next quarter would be stress-free, and allowing the Live Stream Department to finally stand tall. Celebrating their achievement, Yin Yike offered to treat her team to a celebration party.

At the celebration, Ms. Xu from Flower World congratulated Yin Yike on her team's impressive data but declined to join the celebration, instead requesting a private conversation with Xu Guangxi. She formally invited him to join Flower World, praising his refreshing and spiritual artwork, which her company, despite having many illustrators, desperately needed. Xu Guangxi, having already researched Flower World, noted that their main collaborations were with Mars Animation, while other projects were minor, essentially making them a small studio.

Ms. Xu countered by offering a clear promotion path and a salary that would not disappoint, ready to sign a contract immediately. However, Xu Guangxi explained that accepting the offer now would be betraying the trust of his current boss and team, and that he might treat Ms. Xu the same way in the future.

Ms. Xu questioned if he wouldn't even give her a chance, but Xu Guangxi maintained that while such opportunities could recur, he would only consider future collaborations. Observing from afar, Yin Yike's colleague, Yiran, suspected Ms. Xu had ulterior motives, though Yin Yike believed they were simply discussing work. Yiran teased Yin Yike for intently watching Xu Guangxi.

After the celebration, as Yiran playfully nudged Yin Yike to go on a date with Xu Guangxi, the couple headed out for ice cream. Xu Guangxi brought up Ms. Xu's offer, and Yin Yike immediately deduced that Ms. Xu wanted to poach him, acknowledging Ms. Xu's admiration for his talent. When Xu Guangxi asked if she wanted him to be poached, Yin Yike clarified that his career choices were his own, and she wouldn't interfere.

She denied being jealous, playfully calling jealousy "sour." Xu Guangxi then teased her, suggesting that if she were jealous, she could be quite formidable. Yin Yike, in turn, playfully declared that he would have to do all the housework that night as punishment, joking that she had planned to "trap" him from the start. Meanwhile, Yin Yibo and Xia Xiaomian celebrated the successful live stream over a late-night meal.

Yin Yibo toasted Xia Xiaomian, thanking her for helping him, a "rebellious child," find his way back. Xia Xiaomian, in turn, thanked Yin Yibo for boosting her to become roughly the top female streamer in their live stream. As they enjoyed their spicy hotpot, Xia Xiaomian described it as being like love—hot, passionate, and irresistible. Yin Yibo, however, grew suspicious when she started using four-character idioms, anticipating she was about to "make a scene."

Despite Xia Xiaomian’s playful insistence on talking about love as a "pretty girl," Yin Yibo became fixated on a soccer game on TV, telling her not to lean on him. When their favorite team scored, Yin Yibo erupted in cheers, joining strangers at a nearby table in celebration, leaving Xia Xiaomian feeling completely ignored and frustrated. Later, as Yin Yibo became increasingly intoxicated, Xia Xiaomian yearned for a "kiss in the summer night breeze."

She playfully challenged him, suggesting he was still holding onto his first kiss and didn't even know how to kiss, teasing him as a "modern living fossil" who had been "single since birth." Provoked, and in a moment of drunken exuberance prompted by another goal, Yin Yibo suddenly grabbed Xia Xiaomian's head and kissed her, then declared it was his first kiss and she had to be responsible for him before passing out.

Xia Xiaomian was initially stunned but soon became overjoyed, realizing her wish had come true. The joy was short-lived. The next morning, Xia Xiaomian arrived at Yin Yibo's place with porridge and hangover medicine, hinting at their "first day of being in a relationship" by changing her hairstyle, wearing a new lip color, and not wearing her usual colorful protective gear.

However, Yin Yibo, suffering from a memory blackout from the night before, claimed to remember nothing beyond eating barbecue and drinking. Despite Xia Xiaomian’s attempts to jog his memory by mentioning the street stall and the soccer match, he insisted he had no recollection of the kiss or anything else. Heartbroken, Xia Xiaomian accused him of pretending not to know to hurt her, called him a "bad guy," and declared she would no longer like him.

Yin Yibo was left confused by her sudden anger, genuinely unaware of what had transpired. Yin Yike finally enjoyed a leisurely weekend after a demanding work week. With Chen Musen visiting his mother in his hometown, she had the entire weekend free. She joked about sleeping on the floor for days due to work and wanting to make good use of her bed at home, playfully teasing Xu Guangxi.

She then lovingly prepared dumplings, some deliberately shaped to resemble her own face. Xu Guangxi captured beautiful moments of her on his phone, explaining that he realized he lacked enough good photos of her. He then recited a romantic poem, wishing for someone like her—bright, refreshing, and warm—to encompass his life. He concluded by suggesting they take a photo together, noting they didn't have any.

Chen Ye and Xu Guangxi prepared for another meeting with Mr. Xie from Mars Animation, who had repeatedly demanded revisions without committing to payment. Chen Ye discussed with his team ways to make this the final revision. His team proposed outlandish ideas, from a cross-dressing "honey-trap" (which Chen Ye humorously countered with a suggestion to remove leg hair first) to an "Infernal Affairs"-style undercover operation, and even "playing hard to get" by not submitting the proposal at all.

Ultimately, they decided to resubmit their original, best version, hoping Mr. Xie wouldn't notice. At the meeting, Xu Guangxi confidently presented their "final version," boasting its "main line is a blast," "twists are fantastic," and "characters are incomparable," with "details down to every strand of hair." Mr. Xie, however, remained unsatisfied, praising the work but claiming "something is still missing."

He pressed for more details, particularly the "climax part" of the script, implying that fancy concepts were not enough and he wanted to see the substance. Xu Guangxi calmly stated that a more detailed plan was in progress but required a formal contract signing and payment first, as they had only received a deposit.

When Mr. Xie implied that things should be open for negotiation since he was delivering real money, Chen Ye firmly backed Xu Guangxi, describing their director as "straightforward and tough." He reiterated their willingness to meet requests but stressed the urgent need to finalize the contract and secure the second payment. Mr. Xie then proposed a "time-out" to discuss further with his team.

As they left, Chen Ye, usually more cautious, surprised his team by declaring he wouldn't compromise, asserting their work was solid and they didn't need to depend on Mr. Xie. Xu Guangxi was praised for his newfound ability to "advance and retreat," demonstrating significant character growth. During their discussion, Shen Yao, a member of Chen Ye's team, received a frantic call from a loan shark.

He had borrowed a small amount but was now being extorted for tens of thousands, with threats to contact his colleagues, boss, and even his mother if he didn't pay. Mr. Xie, having clearly overheard the conversation, approached Shen Yao under the guise of concern, offering his help in exchange for seeing the "climax part of the script."

Despite Shen Yao's initial resistance, echoing Xu Guangxi's earlier demand for payment first, Mr. Xie pressured Chen Ye, warning that he would "lose everything" if he didn't cooperate. Chen Ye, however, stoically responded that he had plenty of cooking utensils to sell, confidently emphasizing the quality of their work and talent.

Impressed by their resolve, Mr. Xie relented, stating he "cherished talent" and agreed to finalize the contract and payment after they completed the plot details, particularly for the "offline part." Yin Yike received commendation from Frank for her Live Stream Department's excellent sales data and successful completion of the valuation adjustment.

Frank announced her promotion to Vice Director, placing her on the same level as Kong Xianche, explaining that with Ms. Zheng's departure, Kong Xianche needed support, and Yin Yike's proven performance warranted a higher title. Yin Yike thanked Frank, pledging to work diligently and report directly to him. Kong Xianche, while superficially congratulating Yin Yike, subtly advised her that the Director position was challenging and that she should "know when to retreat," implying her new role was precarious.

Yin Yike sharply countered, stating that performance would speak for itself and the best person would prevail. Her team celebrated her promotion exuberantly, proclaiming her an "awesome CEO" and planning a high-profile display, believing that those prone to jealousy would be so regardless of their discretion. Yin Yike, however, reminded them to maintain professionalism during work hours, emphasizing the importance of the quarter's performance assessment and promising big red packets if they succeeded.

Xia Xiaomian, surprisingly, announced her intention to apply for extra live streaming hours to boost performance, stating that as a woman in the new era, she needed to prioritize her career, a stark contrast to her usual focus on romance, which Yin Yike noted. Later, Chen Ye and his team rejoiced over their successful negotiation with Mr. Xie, already fantasizing about their newfound financial freedom, from buying new laptops to ordering extravagant takeout.

Chen Ye playfully offered to treat them to a 100-yuan meal, teasing them about their modest aspirations. As they walked, Chen Ye suddenly rushed off, explaining he had another appointment. Simultaneously, Xu Guangxi appeared, running to greet Yin Yike, expressing his desire to be the first to congratulate and cheer for her. Just then, Yin Yike received a distressing call from an "auntie" pleading with her to "save Zelin."

Yin Yike, clearly unwell and sweating profusely, excused herself to the restroom, attributing her discomfort to her period. Xu Guangxi, noticing her distress, followed her. He thoughtfully provided her with a hot pack for her stomach, warm brown sugar water, and painkillers, having quickly researched online how to help.

He also affectionately pointed out that she had "dismantled the smiley face" he drew on the hot pack, and even noted down in his phone that she couldn't eat cold food around this time next month, demonstrating his attentive and caring nature.

Episode 26 Recap

An anxious Aunt Lan calls Yin Yike, pleading for help with her son, Li Zelin. She reveals that Li Zelin has been diagnosed with glioma, a condition that will leave him with sequelae even if cured. Due to his immense pride, Li Zelin refuses treatment and has been causing a disturbance at the hospital, even expressing a desire to die.

Aunt Lan and his father are at their wit's end, begging Yin Yike to persuade him by appealing to their past relationship. Yin Yike hesitates, acknowledging their breakup, but tells Aunt Lan she will think about it. Xu Guangxi, having overheard the conversation, asks Yin Yike what she's truly thinking. Yin Yike expresses shock at the sudden, severe illness and admits that despite their past, she has known Li Zelin for many years.

Xu Guangxi gently points out that Li Zelin's mother's request feels like a moral imposition and reminds Yin Yike that Li Zelin had once endangered her life. However, understanding Yin Yike's compassionate nature, he assures her that he will support her decision, whether she chooses to go or not. He promises to accompany her if she decides to face Li Zelin. Upon arriving at the hospital, Xu Guangxi waits outside Li Zelin's room while Yin Yike goes in.

Inside, Li Zelin is clearly distressed, feeling marginalized by his law firm due to his illness. A colleague attempts to reassure him, but Li Zelin angrily accuses them of trying to sideline him and calls his colleague ungrateful. The colleague calmly explains the firm's cutthroat nature, where only current winning rates matter. Li Zelin then lashes out at Yin Yike, accusing her of coming to gloat over his misfortune.

He calls himself "half-dead" and sarcastically suggests Yin Yike and Xu Guangxi are happy to see him this way. Yin Yike urges him not to speak like that, but Li Zelin, feeling his hard-earned career has been destroyed, dismisses her as having a "Mother Teresa complex."

Yin Yike tries to motivate him by arguing that the very people who "kicked him when he was down" would be delighted to see him give up, so he should recover to prove them wrong. Li Zelin dismisses her, but she retorts that giving up is the easy path for the weak and reminds him that his mother's call proves people still care for him.

Meanwhile, Xia Xiaomian, grappling with a breakup, dedicates herself to her career by requesting additional live streaming sessions. Yin Yibo watches her stream and hears her mention the "scourge of love," which makes him suspect something happened during their recent drunken night out. He revisits the street stall they went to, where the owner recognizes him and asks about his "girlfriend."

The boss playfully recounts how they shared a passionate kiss that night, which he believes brought their team good luck in the game they were watching. Embarrassed by the revelation, Yin Yibo quickly sends Xia Xiaomian an apology message, but she does not reply. Yin Yike calls Xu Guangxi, frustrated that Li Zelin is too emotional to listen.

Xu Guangxi advises patience and reaffirms his unwavering support, giving her a portable power bank so he can always reach her for his own peace of mind. The next day, Yin Yike returns to the hospital. Instead of discussing his treatment, she seeks Li Zelin's legal expertise for a case about a delivery driver injured in an accident, whose company is denying him a labor agreement and social insurance. Li Zelin quickly devises a solution.

Yin Yike then reveals this was his very first case, presenting the legal document his mother saved. She reminds him of his initial passion for law, when he saw it as a way to help people, not just a tool for money and fame. Touched, Li Zelin reflects on how he strayed from his ideals.

He fears the surgery's risks, but Yin Yike reminds him of the 50 percent chance to be himself again and that his parents and many others still need him. Li Zelin notices her newfound confidence, and she admits she's no longer timid and has learned to be herself. While at the park, Old Yin overhears a group of women gossiping about Yin Yike's relationships, first with the "big lawyer" Li Zelin and now with her "younger brother," Xu Guangxi.

Incensed, Old Yin confronts them, asserting that his daughter's happiness is her own business. He proudly declares that with Xu Guangxi being Aunt Lan's son and Yike being his daughter, their relationship is "the icing on the cake," and warns them never to speak ill of his daughter again.

Chen Ye and his team celebrate the approval of their game project, "Shendu," but their joy is short-lived when they discover Mars Animation has released a nearly identical project, having plagiarized their work. The legal director of Mars Animation brazenly confirms this, offering them a paltry compensation contract and daring them to sue, citing the difficulty of IP lawsuits and his company's superior legal team. Enraged, Chen Ye threatens violence but is restrained.

He warns the director that he will do whatever it takes to protect his team's work. This setback devastates Xu Guangxi. Chen Ye apologizes for getting him involved in a failed project, but Xu Guangxi is stoic. Later, Yin Yike finds Xu Guangxi tearing up his project drawings outside a convenience store. He laments that his hope has only led to disappointment. After he leaves, Yike carefully gathers and reassembles the torn pages.

When Xu Guangxi returns home, he is surprised to find Yin Yike waiting. She apologizes for learning about his professional setback from someone else and presents the reassembled drawings, urging him not to discard his work again. She reminds him of his own words—that choosing to stand with dignity, even if it leads to suppression, is not childish. She affirms that true strength lies in maintaining a kind heart after being hurt, which is what makes him special.

Relieving his worries, Yin Yike shares the good news that Li Zelin has agreed to treatment, meaning she will now have more time for him. She then unveils a "feast of eggs," featuring "fried eggs with green peppers" to banish bad energy, her favorite "fried eggs with tomatoes," and a dish she playfully calls "Guangxi stir-fries Yike," symbolizing their entwined relationship.

Episode 27 Recap

Chen Ye's company faced a severe crisis, with employees expressing worry about their jobs. Despite their concerns, Chen Ye, referred to as "Dad Chen" by his team, assured them that the company would not collapse and urged them to remember their dream and continue fighting. To secure his employees' livelihoods, Chen Ye decided to sell his house urgently, requesting a full cash payment and a quick transfer.

A buyer quickly emerged, willing to pay in full but demanding immediate possession, forcing Chen Ye and his son, Yu, to find new living arrangements right away. Yu was saddened by the move, but Chen Ye explained it was necessary for his colleagues' dreams and his own career. When Yu suggested moving in with his mother, Qin Yiran, Chen Ye reluctantly agreed to ask her.

Witnessing Chen Ye's sincere plea and Yu's direct appeal, Qin Yiran's heart softened, and she agreed to let Yu stay with her. While Yu was settling in, Qin Yiran overheard some of Chen Ye's employees discussing the company's precarious situation and Chen Ye's recent absences. When she asked Yu about his father, he simply stated Chen Ye was busy.

Qin Yiran found it challenging to care for Yu, who struggled to adapt and constantly asked for snacks and games she didn't have. Meanwhile, Chen Ye worked tirelessly from his office, taking on any available project, including a tedious green screen keying job from a large animation company. He assured the client that his company excelled at such tasks, viewing even the smallest jobs as essential.

To keep his company operating, Chen Ye took on various small projects, including a children's animated series based on the "Three-Character Classic." His team toiled day and night, with one employee complaining of severe aches from exhaustion. Yin Yike visited them with food, encouraging their dedication. In her own role, Yin Yike was also burdened with work amidst corporate politics.

A senior executive, Frank, prioritized the Live Stream Department, prompting employees from other departments to request transfers, much to the chagrin of Mr. Kong, who advocated for fairer resource distribution. Mr. Kong then instructed a subordinate to monitor Yin Yike's department for any missteps. Meanwhile, Jiang Man, a rival colleague, frequently harassed Yin Yike's team, but Xia Xiaomian, working tirelessly despite being sick, staunchly defended their improved performance data.

During a meeting, Yin Yike discreetly inquired if a potential client produced animated films, explaining she was asking for a friend. The client replied that his company focuses on advertising videos, deeming animated films too high-risk. Yin Yike was deeply concerned about Xu Guangxi, who was overworked and despondent after his project was plagiarized. During dinner with her parents, Father Yin and Aunt Lan, she explained Xu Guangxi's predicament.

Though he initially grumbled about her dating a younger man, her father expressed genuine concern. Reassuring her that setbacks are a part of growth for ambitious young people, he insisted she take his bank card as a gesture of family support. When Yin Yibo tried to ask for funds for his own live stream, his father dismissed him, citing the family rule of raising a son with austerity and a daughter with wealth.

Visibly distraught, Yin Yibo later asked Yin Yike why Xia Xiaomian had stopped replying to his messages. Though he initially denied his feelings, he confessed that she was different from other girls, always rushing to his aid, even offering her savings when his father was hospitalized. Yin Yike concluded that he was drawn to Xia Xiaomian's protective nature and revealed that she was sick with a fever.

Prompted into action, Yibo bought medicine, food, and a T-shirt and rushed to Xia Xiaomian's home. She reacted with hostility, but he noticed her high fever and insisted on caring for her. When she questioned his sudden kindness, he claimed they were friends. Pressed further, he admitted, "I think we are closer than friends," but was cut off before he could explain. Before leaving in a fluster, he left the gifts and meticulously explained the medicine dosages.

The next day, Xia Xiaomian called Yin Yike, upset about the T-shirt Yibo had given her, which was printed with characters for "unreasonable" and "to make a scene." She complained that he had also feigned memory loss about their recent kiss. Yin Yike explained it was a homophonic pun, "wúlǐ qǔ nào," meaning "unreasonable to marry you"—a clumsy confession. Realizing the true meaning, a shy Xia Xiaomian hurried back to work.

Meanwhile, Yin Yibo's father, guessing he had fought with Xia Xiaomian, praised her warm-hearted nature and advised his son to win her over with sincerity. Aunt Lan also encouraged Yibo, reminding him that Xia Xiaomian had once carried him home when he was drunk. Inspired, Yin Yibo went to Xia Xiaomian's office. However, as he arrived during her live broadcast, a fan named Dan from Xiafei Road interrupted the stream to publicly declare, "I like you," to a stunned Xia Xiaomian.

Episode 28 Recap

Dan from Xiafei Road was hosting a live stream when Yin Yibo interrupted, determined to confess his feelings to Xia Xiaomian. Xiaomian initially thought he was drunk, but Yin Yibo, admitting his clumsiness in expressing emotions, poured out his heart. He described feeling a profound emptiness when she was angry and ignored him, leading him to obsessively review their past conversations and social media, realizing he couldn't stop thinking about her.

He confessed his love and asked her to be his girlfriend, which she accepted. Overjoyed, Yin Yibo echoed her acceptance. On the live stream, viewers reacted with excited comments, and Mr. Qiao offered to pay for everyone. Yin Yibo then playfully told the audience they'd have to pay to keep watching. He later told Yin Yike that he would respectfully call her "sister-in-law" in his heart, acknowledging her dislike for company nepotism. Yin Yike later found Qin Yiran in distress.

Yiran complained that her carefree bar-hopping days were behind her, as she had become a full-time babysitter to Chen Ye's son, Chen Yu. She expressed her frustration at being a single woman tormented by a child who was "as energetic as a monkey" when awake. Despite Yin Yike’s suggestion that she might grow to love domestic life, Yiran adamantly reaffirmed her life motto: "No marriage, no kids. Stay safe."

However, Yin Yike playfully teased her, pointing out that a woman who doesn't want marriage or kids might be a perfect match for a single father like Chen Ye, predicting interesting developments in their story. Their conversation was abruptly cut short as Chen Yu repeatedly called for "Mom," demanding food, highlighting Yiran's new, albeit reluctant, maternal role. Chen Yu, seeing Yiran struggle awkwardly with cooking, called Chen Ye to "save" him and his "mom."

Chen Ye promptly arrived at Yiran’s apartment, bringing a bounty of ingredients and cooking utensils, and quickly prepared a lavish meal for them. Yiran was surprised by the amount of food, and Chen Ye explained it was his way of showing appreciation for using her kitchen. He assured her the food was healthy, noting it was prepared with less oil and salt. Yiran complimented his cooking, humorously asking if he had "graduated from Le Cordon Bleu."

Chen Ye explained that he had to take care of Yu, who also cared for him in return. He modestly called himself an "all-rounder" and stated that a wife should be cherished for love, not for household chores. After they ate, Yiran asked about his tired appearance and when he would pick Yu up.

Chen Ye, clearly in a rush to get to his office, simply told Yu not to bother Yiran and quickly departed, leaving Yiran to wonder about his mysterious haste. Later that night, Xu Guangxi and Chen Musen were working late at the office, attempting to gather evidence against the company that plagiarized their project. Chen Ye showed up, claiming he was just checking on them and brought them toiletries, despite having his own set in hand.

He then tried to leave, using Chen Yu as an excuse. However, Chen Musen and Xu Guangxi were already suspicious. They recalled Chen Ye’s strange late-night visits, his evasiveness, and the fact that he was carrying toiletries, soon realizing he might be living at the office. An investigation on a property app confirmed their fear: Chen Ye had sold his house. Xu Guangxi was furious upon learning this, vowing to find the mole responsible for their company's plight.

Xu Guangxi devised a plan to "lure the snake out of the cave." He announced to the team that he had a "better version" of their project's ending, which, once released, would definitively expose the plagiarizer. To execute the plan, Chen Musen was tasked with keeping Chen Ye away from the office. Chen Musen called Chen Ye, fabricating an urgent need to discuss a new project.

Chen Ye, however, quickly noticed Chen Musen's uncharacteristic focus on work and his constant checking of his phone. Pressing him for the truth, Chen Ye revealed that he had already suspected an internal mole. Under pressure, Chen Musen confessed their plan and their suspicion, which stemmed from discovering that Mars Animation had used original drafts that were never released to them. That night, Xu Guangxi's plan proved effective. Damai was caught red-handed at the office, attempting to retrieve data.

Chen Ye confronted Damai, demanding to know why he betrayed them. Damai confessed that the company's irregular pay made him unable to afford rent, forcing him to borrow from a moneylender. The compounding interest became unmanageable, and when threatened, he was coerced into working with Mr. Xie, the head of Mars Animation. Damai expressed deep regret, stating he never intended for things to escalate this way.

While Xu Guangxi and Chen Musen were ready to confront Damai physically, Chen Ye intervened. He apologized to Damai, taking responsibility for the company's mismanagement that led to their hardship. Chen Ye explained that suing Mars Animation would only drag them into a prolonged legal battle, potentially ruining their company and leaving Damai with a criminal record, so he told Damai to leave. Though initially upset, Xu Guangxi and Chen Musen understood Chen Ye's compassionate decision.

Chen Ye then rallied his team, reaffirming his unwavering belief in their dreams and promising to overcome their current challenges. Meanwhile, Yin Yike took the initiative to help. She met with Xu Yuan, the head of Flower World, to persuade her to partner with Chen Ye's company instead of Mars Animation. Xu Yuan admitted her interest in expanding into the entertainment sector and having already been in contact with Mars.

Yin Yike countered that Flower World needed a trustworthy partner to build its "animation kingdom," not a "wolf" like Mars. Impressed by Yin Yike’s conviction, Xu Yuan asked what price Yin Yike was willing to pay to help Xu Guangxi and set a condition: all employees of Chen Ye’s company, especially Xu Guangxi, must relocate to Guangzhou to work with her.

Later, Qin Yiran spoke to Chen Yu, reassuring him that she wasn't abandoning him, but that he would eventually live with his father. When Chen Ye arrived, Yiran confronted him, asking if he had sold his house. She mentioned the building cleaner had seen him using the company’s public restroom for personal hygiene. Chen Ye admitted the company was facing temporary difficulties.

Yiran then handed him keys to a friend’s vacant apartment, offering it as a temporary residence for him and Chen Yu, rent-free. She emphasized that while he could support others’ dreams, he shouldn’t let Chen Yu suffer. Chen Ye was deeply touched by her generosity. The next morning at the office, with Damai’s desk now empty and a resignation letter left behind, the team’s morale was low. Chen Ye, who had already dealt with Damai the previous night, gathered everyone.

Acknowledging their respect in calling him "Dad," he took responsibility for their hardship but affirmed that he had never doubted their shared dream for a second. He declared it was time to move forward and make their "big picture" a reality, assuring them that with him, they would overcome this. His team, moved by his words, wholeheartedly pledged their loyalty. Just then, Xu Yuan’s secretary arrived, inviting Chen Ye and his team to Flower World.

Separately, Dan from Xiafei Road's father was seen participating in her live stream, attempting to sell his walnuts to a young audience while humorously struggling to grasp internet slang and trendy sales pitches.

Episode 29 Recap

Xu Yuan of Flower World invited Chen Ye's team to discuss a partnership, expressing strong approval for their capabilities, particularly noting Xu Guangxi's involvement. Xu Yuan revealed her intention to expand into the film and television sector by establishing an Animation and Film Business Department within Flower World, with Chen Ye's team serving as its vanguard.

She committed to acquiring all their previous projects and increasing investment, a prospect that led one excited team member to call her a "living Buddha." The sole condition for this collaboration was for the entire team to relocate to Flower World's Guangzhou headquarters. Xu Yuan directly addressed Xu Guangxi's potential hesitation, stating her decision was firm and that his choice would determine the fate of the cooperation.

She urged him to consider carefully, reminding him of his recent, painful experience of losing a dream and adding that for a mature woman like Yin Yike, this shouldn't be a major issue. Xu Guangxi understood that refusal would mean the end of this significant opportunity. Later, he returned home and confirmed his suspicion that Yin Yike had helped arrange the meeting.

When he pressed her on whether she wanted him to go, she pragmatically praised the offer but evaded answering about her personal feelings, creating a difficult choice for him between love and career. Meanwhile, Chen Ye also grappled with a tough decision: pursue the dream of his team and friends, or stay for Qin Yiran. After confiding in his dog, he decided to ask Qin Yiran to an amusement park the next day to confess his feelings.

He resolved that if she accepted, he would stay; if she refused, he would take the team to Guangzhou. Qin Yiran arrived at the amusement park, and she, Chen Ye, and Yu enjoyed their time together. However, Chen Ye struggled to find the right moment to confess.

When he finally had a chance to speak with Qin Yiran alone, just as he was about to profess his love, she preempted him by stating their relationship could only be that of friends, citing her principle of "no marriage, no kids for safety." A stunned Chen Ye feigned composure, claiming he had anticipated this outcome. Qin Yiran, though outwardly stoic, was deeply disappointed, as she had secretly hoped he would persist.

She admitted to herself that while she questioned her ability to be a good mother and wife, she was trying to change for him and would have accepted him and Yu if he had been more insistent. Upset about Xu Guangxi's situation, Yin Yike called Qin Yiran to a bar for drinks. There, Qin Yiran recounted the day's events and her reflexive rejection of Chen Ye.

As a close friend, Yin Yike urged her not to miss out on a suitable partner due to fear. Yin Yike understood that Qin Yiran’s fear of being hurt was what prevented her from opening up. Reflecting on her actions, Qin Yiran lamented that she had missed her chance and there was no point in looking back. As they became intoxicated, Chen Ye called, and Yin Yike answered, telling him to come and pick up Qin Yiran.

Upon seeing Chen Ye, a tipsy Qin Yiran revealed her true feelings. She tearfully asked why he hadn't told her about Guangzhou and confessed that if he had been more proactive, she wouldn't have run away. She explained that growing up in an unhappy family had made her distrustful of love, leading her to adopt her "no marriage, no kids for safety" belief.

Falling for Chen Ye had intensified her fear, as she worried the happiness would be fleeting and that she would be left alone if he and Yu ever abandoned her. She felt it was better to avoid the pain of loss by never having anything to lose in the first place. Watching a tearful Qin Yiran, Chen Ye was heartbroken. He took out the ring he had prepared and put it on her finger, assuring her he wasn't leaving.

As they embraced, Yin Yike watched with a look of relief and happiness for her friends. Separately, Xu Yuan's assistant informed her that preparations for the Guangzhou department were nearly complete but that Xu Guangxi's team not signing would impact company plans, especially with other animation companies vying for the spot. In response, Xu Yuan arranged individual meetings with Xu Guangxi and Yin Yike. Before his meeting, Xu Guangxi's team argued about the move.

Some were enthusiastic, while others worried about the strain of a long-distance relationship on him and Yin Yike, noting her previous breakup was due to similar circumstances. Xu Guangxi silenced them, affirming he knew what he was doing. During her meeting with Yin Yike, Xu Yuan was direct, asserting her undefeated track record in getting what she wants. She stated she was determined to take Xu Guangxi to Guangzhou and hoped Yin Yike would not stand in her way.

Yin Yike matched her directness, promising to handle all arrangements for Xu Guangxi's move so he could focus on work without worry. While admitting she would have personal concerns, Yin Yike expressed her belief that true love means supporting a partner's growth and dreams, arguing that a relationship reliant on "binding" is too fragile. She concluded by stating her trust in Xu Yuan's character, to which Xu Yuan, intrigued, playfully challenged, "What if I can't control myself?"

Later, at an aquarium, Chen Ye pointed out the happy penguin families to Yu and Qin Yiran. Qin Yiran cynically retorted that many penguins are unfaithful, citing the Emperor penguin's "annual monogamy" as proof for her "no marriage, no kids for safety" mantra. In response, Chen Ye brought up the flatfish, first quoting a classical poem where the fish symbolizes inseparable lovers. When Qin Yiran looked confused, he humorously pivoted, clarifying he meant he liked eating them—steamed or braised—because they have few bones and are delicious.

Episode 30 (Ending) Recap

Yin Yike expressed her strong belief in her relationship with Xu Guangxi to Xu Yuan, stating that if a relationship relies on control, it is too fragile. She asserted her own confidence, explaining that before meeting Guangxi, she used to believe that taking care of others was the same as taking care of her love. However, Xu Guangxi helped her realize her own worth, making her more confident and unafraid of short separations or future uncertainties.

Xu Yuan, finding Yin Yike an interesting opponent, admired her self-assurance and cryptically remarked that the coffee beans had a sweet aftertaste. Xu Guangxi, sitting with Yin Yike on a swing, revealed he had overheard her conversation with Xu Yuan, which explained Xu Yuan's comment about the coffee’s sweet aftertaste. He admitted he was initially considering not going to Guangzhou, especially after she seemed to readily agree to his move.

In response to her playful teasing, Yin Yike earnestly expressed how much she would miss him. He confessed that her newfound confidence, evident in her conversation with Xu Yuan, inspired him to also become a better version of himself. Vowing to protect her, he promised that distance would not hinder their relationship.

To formalize this commitment, he presented her with a "Long-distance Relationship Regulations" manual, reading its articles aloud, which mandated constant contact, daily shared activities, and regular updates on their well-being. Their long-distance relationship began with strict adherence to Xu Guangxi's regulations. They ensured constant communication, exchanging good morning messages and daily check-ins, with Xu Guangxi often reminding Yin Yike to carry her power bank. They shared virtual movie nights and commented on films as if they were side-by-side.

Regular updates on their sleep and meals were mandatory, and even work deadlines didn't exempt them from surprise takeaway deliveries he would arrange. They maintained their romance by sharing all aspects of their daily lives, including updates on visits to family. The routine was broken when Xu Guangxi suddenly became unreachable. He had actually returned to Shanghai early, as his company granted a day off after their film submission.

He surprised Yin Yike at a restaurant, explaining he had missed her and wanted to create a small surprise. Touched by his effort, Yin Yike thanked him for his silent support, quoting the sentiment that behind every successful woman stands a supportive man. News reports confirmed the success of Xu Guangxi’s project, "Fengqi Shendu," which outperformed "Double-faced Fox Spirit" at the box office, bringing joy and financial reward to the team.

Dad Chen, their leader, celebrated their triumph by distributing bonuses and immediately announcing a new project. Xu Yuan, highly satisfied, directed her team to quickly proceed with the next phase. Meanwhile, Yin Yike was promoted to Marketing Director. In a reversal of roles, Vice President Kong, who previously dictated to her, now had to seek her instructions.

When he brought urgent documents for her signature, Yin Yike, mirroring his past actions, instructed him to label them with yellow sticky notes and place them on her desk, a directive he promptly followed. On Yin Yike's birthday, her colleagues showered her with well wishes. However, Xu Guangxi sent a message apologizing that he couldn't make it back from Guangzhou due to urgent work. Feeling lonely, Yin Yike tried to contact her friends and family.

Her best friend, Qin Yiran, was at a prenatal check-up, where her partner Chen Ye was meticulously, if excessively, caring for her. Next, Yin Yike called her brother, Yin Yibo, who was busy with a couple's live stream with Xiaomian. Finally, her attempt to connect with her father and Aunt Lan was thwarted as they were excitedly embarking on a long-awaited trip with a tour group.

Feeling her birthday was cursed, Yin Yike ended up at a convenience store, resigned to spending the evening alone. As Yin Yike was about to eat her solitary dinner of instant noodles, she received a call from Xu Guangxi. She tried to lie, claiming to be at a fancy Michelin Japanese restaurant, but Xu Guangxi, who had been watching her, caught her in the act, teasing her about her forgetfulness and her secret beer.

He then revealed he had finished his work early and hurried back, emphasizing that her birthday was his top priority. He presented a birthday cake, and as Yin Yike made a wish, he kissed her. Yin Yike later realized that Xu Guangxi had orchestrated her friends and family being busy to ensure they could have an intimate celebration. Walking past a bridal shop, Xu Guangxi playfully asked about her ideal proposal.

Yin Yike expressed a preference for something simple and private. Taking a can tab, Xu Guangxi slipped it onto her finger, promising that this temporary token would one day become a real ring.

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