Ms. Cupid in Love Episode 17 Recap
> Ms. Cupid in Love Recap
Shangguan Ya was still furious with Bo Yan. Ouyang Jing urged her not to stay upset with Bo Yan, suggesting that he might not return at all. Shangguan Ya defiantly declared that if he dared not return, he should never come back. Seeing her distress, Xu Yunchuan offered to take her somewhere fun to cheer her up, but she initially refused. Ouyang Jing encouraged her to go, saying it would stop her from overthinking at home.
At a puppet show, after watching the tragic tale of "The Butterfly Lovers," Xu Yunchuan tried to console Shangguan Ya by saying the protagonists eventually turned into butterflies and found eternal love. However, Shangguan Ya expressed profound sympathy for Young Master Ma, questioning why childhood sweethearts should always win against those who come later. She asserted that love isn't about who arrives first and that a bold pursuer could still win a heart.
She herself would persevere in love, believing that in time, her good qualities would be recognized. Xu Yunchuan, hearing this, wondered if Shangguan Ya was subtly encouraging him to continue his pursuit, feeling a renewed sense of hope. Meanwhile, Bo Yan's injuries were severe. Li Fu announced he would seek elixirs and help from other deities, warning Bo Yan to control his temper while he was gone, as he didn't want to return to a dead body.
Bo Yan claimed he knew what to do, but Li Fu, exasperated, reiterated his caution against reckless actions. Tong Er, in an attempt to rekindle their past, transformed Bo Yan’s room with flower petals, reminiscent of his palace in the Sky Palace. Bo Yan, however, was clearly annoyed, remarking on the mess and ordering her to clean it. Tong Er reminded him they only had two days left in their agreement.
Frustrated by Bo Yan's coldness, she questioned the effectiveness of the stone pendant around her neck, wondering if it held any real power to make Bo Yan love her, and resolved to find another way if it proved useless. Later, Shangguan Ya, still worried about Bo Yan, went to his small courtyard with a food box. Two burly men spotted her alone and attempted to rob her. Shangguan Ya threw the food box and fled, screaming for help.
Her cries reached Bo Yan, who, despite his severe injuries, appeared and drove the thugs away. Weakened, he had to lean on Shangguan Ya for support as they returned to his room. Shangguan Ya rushed to get medicine for him, but Bo Yan stopped her, claiming Li Fu was already out looking for a physician and he would recover in a few days.
She pressed him for details about his injuries, expressing deep concern and urging him not to be reckless. She then asked him to come home with her, as she worried about him alone. Bo Yan promised he would return in two days, with Li Fu, by the morning of the day after tomorrow. Shangguan Ya agreed to wait for him at home.
Still reeling from his unrequited love, Xu Yunchuan, influenced by Shangguan Ya's earlier words at the puppet show, decided to take drastic action. He confided in his servant Xi that Shangguan Ya's comments about brave successors had given him hope. He then declared his intention to present a betrothal letter to Shangguan Ya, aiming for a swift marriage proposal that would bypass royal interference. Xi expressed admiration for his courage but also cautioned against rashness.
Xu Yunchuan then presented a betrothal letter to Shangguan Ya. She refused to accept it, but he insisted she didn't have to promise anything immediately, only to exchange letters so the Emperor wouldn't arrange his marriage. Shangguan Ya gently told him she believed he would find love in the future. Xu Yunchuan, however, reminded her of her earlier words about Young Master Ma and pursuing love boldly, believing she had been hinting at him.
Shangguan Ya clarified that she was talking to herself and feared Bo Yan would misunderstand if they continued discussing the matter, especially since he was returning. She then promptly left. Heartbroken, Xu Yunchuan drank alone all day, questioning why Shangguan Ya chose Bo Yan over him and if deities had enchanted her. His servant, Xi, tried to console him, but Xu Yunchuan was desperate to find a way to make Shangguan Ya love him.
Unbeknownst to them, Tong Er, also unsuccessful in her attempts to win Bo Yan, was similarly desperate. Both Xu Yunchuan and Tong Er separately overheard a storyteller recounting the legend of Love-locking Mountain: a place where if a man and woman destined by the Hongluan Star and Tianxi Star simultaneously locked a love lock, they would be fated to be together forever.
Tong Er, believing this could make Bo Yan acknowledge her as his chosen one and sever his ties to Shangguan Ya, decided to try it. Xu Yunchuan, also convinced by the legend that he, as the imperial censor of the Hongluan Department, and Shangguan Ya, a Tianxi matchmaker, were meant to be, refused to give up on her. Back at Top Matchmaker, Shangguan Ya prepared for Bo Yan's return.
Her maids noted her improved mood and her preparations for his arrival. However, when Bo Yan didn't appear by noon as promised, Shangguan Ya's anxiety grew, fearing he had been delayed by Tong Er again. Xu Yunchuan found her distraught and, echoing his servant Xi's cynical view that men's promises were unreliable, convinced her to go out and clear her mind.
Just as Bo Yan was about to leave his temporary residence to return to Top Matchmaker, Tong Er intercepted him. She insisted he accompany her to one last place before she would return to the Sky Palace. Bo Yan reluctantly agreed. Both pairs—Bo Yan and Tong Er, and Shangguan Ya and Xu Yunchuan—found themselves climbing Love-locking Mountain.
Tong Er had persuaded Bo Yan by pointing out the mountain's spiritual energy might aid his recovery, while Xu Yunchuan had vowed to Shangguan Ya that he would always protect her as a friend. At the summit, Shangguan Ya was stunned to see Bo Yan and Tong Er together, with Tong Er holding two love locks. She confronted Bo Yan, accusing him of lying about returning to Top Matchmaker. Tong Er, in turn, questioned Shangguan Ya's presence with Xu Yunchuan.
Xu Yunchuan then revealed his own love lock, announcing they were also there to secure their destinies. Shangguan Ya denied this, but Xu Yunchuan insisted that if they hadn't arrived, Bo Yan and Tong Er would have already locked their fates. Unable to tolerate the absurd situation, Bo Yan snatched Shangguan Ya's love lock from Xu Yunchuan's hand. Taking Shangguan Ya's hand, he walked to the stone railing of Love-locking Mountain and forcefully smashed the lock against it.
Tong Er's obsession turned to rage. She declared that if she couldn't have Bo Yan, no one would. With a powerful shove, she sent Bo Yan and Shangguan Ya hurtling towards the cliff edge. As the mortal Shangguan Ya fell, Bo Yan plunged after her without hesitation.
In that moment, Shangguan Ya looked at Bo Yan reaching out to her and was flooded with memories of her childhood, realizing that he was the one who had saved her from a similar fall years ago, and that the stone pendant was indeed made from his original spirit. Sensing the danger, the pendant on Tong Er's neck broke free and formed a protective shield around Bo Yan and Shangguan Ya, bringing them back to safety.
Enraged, Bo Yan confronted Tong Er. Just then, Li Fu arrived, warning Bo Yan to calm down, revealing that Tong Er was the daughter of the Emperor of Heaven. Tong Er, leveraging her divine status, dared Bo Yan to harm her, challenging him to face her father's wrath. Shangguan Ya, despite Tong Er's actions, intervened, preventing Bo Yan from further harming her, stating that she was fine.
However, she firmly declared that she wanted nothing more to do with Tong Er. Tong Er, her pride wounded, scornfully stated that Bo Yan, a god who had fallen for a mortal, was no longer worthy of her. She announced her return to Heaven, leaving them to their fate. Fearing the Emperor of Heaven would discover their unauthorized mortal affairs, Li Fu quickly intercepted Tong Er.
He blackmailed her into keeping their secret, reminding her of the consequences for a deity who causes trouble. Tong Er reluctantly agreed, eager to witness the "unhappy ending" of Bo Yan and Shangguan Ya's relationship. Heartbroken, Xu Yunchuan left Love-locking Mountain, lamenting his failure. Shangguan Ya and Bo Yan discussed his celestial origins and his role in the chaos of marriage in Yueyang City, which he took responsibility for.
Shangguan Ya forgave him for his "accident," acknowledging his earlier rescue and how his spirit pendant had saved her ten years ago. Now aware of his true identity, Shangguan Ya playfully demanded that since he was a deity, he should fly her around instead of walking. Back home, Ouyang Jing confronted Shangguan Ya, who revealed she knew about both Bo Yan and Li Fu being deities and expressed frustration at being the last to find out.
Shangguan Ya and Ouyang Jing, excited by their boyfriends' divine powers, then demanded a taste of celestial life. Bo Yan admitted he couldn't return to the Sky Palace yet due to his exile. So, he and Li Fu took Shangguan Ya and Ouyang Jing on a magnificent journey, flying over the capital, where they, wearing masks, happily enjoyed the bustling lantern festival and released river lanterns, delighting in their new experiences.
