Love Unexpected Episode 16 Recap
> Love Unexpected Recap
Little Fan attempted to orchestrate a reunion between her sister, Fan Fan, and Liu Ruochen. She messaged "Brother" (Liu Ruochen), asking him to buy her a backup phone. Fan Fan discovered her efforts to "ship couples" and threatened to confiscate her phone, even deleting Liu Ruochen's number from Little Fan's device. Despite this, Little Fan had already secretly jotted down the number. Meanwhile, Fan Fan visited her old comic bookstore, only to find that it had been sold.
She learned that Uncle Xiang, the previous owner, had won the lottery after receiving winning numbers from someone who could foresee the future, a detail that piqued her curiosity. The next morning, Liu Ruochen arrived at Fan Fan's house with flower seeds, intending to plant them in her yard as a symbol of their friendship. Fan Fan, however, felt uneasy, stating that as long as the matter involving Gao Ruwen remained unresolved, she couldn't fully relax.
Liu Ruochen understood her concern but insisted that their friendship could continue regardless. Later, Fan Fan was lost in thought, pondering Gao Ruwen's whereabouts. She realized that after the incident with Yu Li Qing, becoming friends with him was impossible, yet she couldn't allow him to harm others. Observing her pensive sister, Little Fan mistakenly concluded she was suffering from lovesickness.
She called Liu Ruochen, urging him to be more proactive in showing care, asserting that Fan Fan still thought of him. Liu Ruochen hesitated, explaining that his attempts to approach Fan Fan only seemed to upset her and make her feel burdened. Little Fan, however, insisted that they couldn't allow Fan Fan to move on. Believing Fan Fan still liked him, Little Fan proposed an offline gathering to either soften Fan Fan's heart or spark a sense of crisis.
Liu Ruochen found merit in her plan and agreed to bring his friends. Following Little Fan's instructions, Liu Ruochen called Qin Yang, inviting him to hang out the next day instead of doing his Hall effect experiment. Liu Ruochen also specifically asked Qin Yang to bring Zhu Yixiao, explicitly stating his intention to create a "sense of crisis" for Fan Fan.
At home, Little Fan's father, Mr. Lu Fen Jin, playfully lamented about love, upset that his wife, Madam Li Yaxi, hadn't rewarded him with a hug after he thoroughly cleaned the kitchen. Little Fan interrupted their playful banter, asking her mother for a day off from school for "Sister Lu's matter," which her mother eventually granted after some persuasion. Madam Li Yaxi and Mr. Lu Fen Jin noticed Fan Fan's forced smiles and worried about her.
Madam Li Yaxi comforted Fan Fan, explaining that everyone remains a child when they have someone to lean on, regardless of age, but becomes an adult when they have no one. She reassured Fan Fan that their home would always be her sanctuary, where she could always be a child. Touched by their words, Fan Fan admitted that she was indeed feeling aggrieved, and her mother encouraged her to cry if she needed to.
The next day, Little Fan took Fan Fan to a real Counter-Strike game, explaining it was a great way to relieve heartache. She revealed a local legend: the winner of the game receives a mysterious city number that can provide answers to any question. She added that Uncle Xiang supposedly won this number before hitting the lottery. Fan Fan, initially skeptical, conceded that if it were true, she would ask about her future with Liu Ruochen.
As they registered, the staff informed them they needed more players and would match them with others. Just then, Liu Ruochen arrived with Qin Yang and Zhu Yixiao. Zhu Yixiao immediately faked a sprained ankle, prompting Liu Ruochen to attend to her, even producing flat shoes for her to change into. Observing their apparent closeness, Fan Fan felt a pang of sadness and internally labeled Liu Ruochen a "bad guy."
Zhu Yixiao then invited Fan Fan to join their team, but Fan Fan politely declined. The staff announced a 3-on-3 match, with themselves as the sixth player. Fan Fan initially refused to play, but Little Fan eventually convinced her. The teams were set: Fan Fan, Liu Ruochen, and Zhu Yixiao on the red team, and Little Fan, Qin Yang, and the staff member on the blue team.
Zhu Yixiao reminded Liu Ruochen about her "injured ankle" and asked him to protect her and Fan Fan. Fan Fan, asserting her strength, told them not to count her as weak. Liu Ruochen then proposed a strategy where those with weaker shooting skills go first, with him providing cover and offense. Zhu Yixiao, feigning too much pain, decided to sit out and watch, subtly giving Fan Fan and Liu Ruochen an opportunity to interact.
Left with just the two of them, Liu Ruochen reassured Fan Fan they could still win. They worked together, with Fan Fan covering Liu Ruochen. During the game, Liu Ruochen eliminated Qin Yang. In the heat of the moment, Liu Ruochen accidentally shot Fan Fan, attributing it to "instinctive reaction." Despite the friendly fire, they continued to cooperate and ultimately won the game.
After their victory, Liu Ruochen tried to share the "gift" (the mysterious number) as a collective team achievement. Fan Fan, realizing she had been subtly "schemed against," stated she only played for relaxation and refused to be included in the shared reward. She vowed to settle things with Liu Ruochen later and left abruptly with Little Fan. Zhu Yixiao took the prize.
Liu Ruochen turned to Qin Yang and Zhu Yixiao, wondering if they had "overacted" their plan and if Fan Fan had discovered their intentions. Qin Yang expressed reluctance to continue the "fake affection" charade, fearing Fan Fan's anger. Liu Ruochen worried that Fan Fan might have made up her mind to leave him, but Qin Yang and Zhu Yixiao reassured him, offering their support and encouraging him to stay positive.
Meanwhile, a subordinate reported to Gao Ruwen that Liu Ruochen and his companions had obtained the mysterious number from the Counter-Strike game but had given it away. Gao Ruwen, already aware, used the opportunity to explain that not everyone is willing to work hard for achievements, and he simply exploits their weaknesses.
He then instructed the subordinate to closely monitor Liu Ruochen and his friends, especially Fan Fan, and to report her every move, leaving the subordinate to wonder why Fan Fan was the primary target.
