My Girlfriend Episode 22 Recap
> My Girlfriend Recap
Ding Xiaorou and Chi Xin arrived at the lively town market, and Ding Xiaorou was immediately captivated by the array of goods. Spotting her favorite ice cream, Chi Xin promptly bought two. As Ding Xiaorou enjoyed her treat by the roadside, Chi Xin naturally wiped a smudge from the corner of her mouth, making her feel incredibly happy. Ding Xiaorou exclaimed how wonderful the market was, with so many things to see, and Chi Xin agreed it wasn't bad.
She commented on how delicious the ice cream looked before they clinked their treats. A song played. Its lyrics described a spell, a desire to stay close, to feel a racing heart, to share everything, and to just be by her side. Having bought all the necessary materials, the two began their walk back, with Ding Xiaorou feeling exhausted.
Chi Xin encouraged her, fanned her, and offered her water, to which Ding Xiaorou remarked that he was becoming a more competent assistant. Upon their return, the landlady's wife handed Ding Xiaorou her wallet, which she had left in the driver's car. Ding Xiaorou was relieved to find her black card, and Chi Xin gently reminded her to be more careful in the future.
Ding Xiaorou then asked Xiaotian to call Fat Tiger, a little boy known for his drawings, to help them fold paper. While Xiaotian and Fat Tiger were skilled at origami, Chi Xin struggled, producing a messy result. He tried to excuse himself by mentioning Einstein's supposedly poor folding skills but being praised for making two, but Ding Xiaorou told him to be serious and refold.
Fat Tiger playfully asked Chi Xin why he kept staring at Ding Xiaorou and if she was his girlfriend, causing Chi Xin to blush and stammer a denial, claiming he was just trying to learn how to fold the ginkgo leaves. The children continued to tease him. Later, Chi Xin borrowed Ding Xiaorou’s paper cup phone, intending to confess his feelings.
Ding Xiaorou, however, quickly interrupted him, citing that it was time to eat, as she was wary of falling under a "curse" again. She was confident in the technical aspects of her design for General Manager Mao's project but worried that he might not connect with her artistic concept. She specifically recalled a woodpecker in the photo General Manager Mao provided and wondered about its meaning.
Chi Xin suggested it represented protection, an instinctual desire to guard someone or something cherished, even at the cost of personal sacrifice. Ding Xiaorou was deeply moved by his words and realized how to infuse her work with emotion, seeing a serious and dedicated side of Chi Xin for the first time. That night, as the mountain air was quiet and clear, Chi Xin called Ding Xiaorou using the paper cup phone, offering to fulfill her dreams.
Ding Xiaorou then wished that the ginkgo tree installation would go smoothly. Chi Xin, on his end, assured her her wish had been received. Ding Xiaorou mused about General Manager Mao’s cryptic phrase, "a tree, yet more than a tree," and pondered the flower language of ginkgo: "lifelong companionship and eternal love," realizing this might be the core message he desired.
When it was Chi Xin’s turn for a wish, he expressed a desire to stay in the serene mountain village longer, enjoying the fresh air, beautiful scenery, delicious fish, and the peaceful absence of phone signal. Ding Xiaorou teased him for having no exciting secrets. She then asked if he remembered the unanswered question from their Ferris wheel ride, wanting to know if their kiss that night was real or just a dream.
Chi Xin, after a pause, confirmed that it was "a real event," not a dream or illusion. The revelation overwhelmed Ding Xiaorou, causing her heart to race and triggering a Sudden sleep episode, where she fainted. The next morning, Chi Xin was already up, helping Ding Xiaorou arrange the wall. They worked cheerfully, and Chi Xin even bought ice cream, playfully feeding it to her.
Xiaotian and Fat Tiger also lent a hand, and the four of them collaboratively completed the artwork. Meanwhile, in the city, Tong Liang was harshly criticizing Zhen Zheng's latest proposal, dismissively calling it "a lump of shit" and asserting that Zhen Zheng and his team were incapable of producing quality work. Zhen Zheng demanded specific critiques and solutions, but Tong Liang merely stated they couldn’t do anything well, clarifying he was there to see results, not to educate them.
He then declared he had his own "Plan B" and "secret weapon" ready, taking a call and then instructing Zhen Zheng and his team to resume work as his "secret weapon" had arrived. Outside, he met Zheng Ze. That evening, General Manager Mao finally arrived at the small mountain village. Ding Xiaorou activated the power, illuminating the wall. The colorful origami ginkgo tree glowed brilliantly in the night, complete with a painted woodpecker.
General Manager Mao was visibly emotional, his mind drifting to sweet memories of dating Lily under a ginkgo tree years ago. He shared that he and Lily grew up in the village, sharing countless pranks, bets, and even favorite singers. The ginkgo tree was particularly significant to Lily, planted by her late father, and symbolized their connection. He had carved the woodpecker as a promise to protect her, just as the bird guards the tree.
He recounted how Lily left the village shortly after he did, seemingly to sever all ties, and he had been unable to find her since. Yet, he returns every year, believing she must too, especially with their second ten-year anniversary approaching. He was certain she would come back.
When Ding Xiaorou asked what he would do if she didn't, General Manager Mao replied that he would wait there indefinitely, asserting that "pain is a part of love," and that Lily was worth waiting for. He concluded that the true "flower language of ginkgo" is a lifelong wait for love.
As Ding Xiaorou walked General Manager Mao off, he remarked that a truly excellent artist creates with emotion and that he saw "a tree" needing protection in her heart too. Ding Xiaorou acknowledged the sentiment, realizing she also carried such a tree within. Shortly after, Zheng Ze drove into the small mountain village. He lauded Ding Xiaorou's artwork, calling it even more amazing than he had imagined, and expressed his continued confidence in her.
He then openly challenged Chi Xin, declaring that his real competitor was not among the other guests. He revealed that Tong Liang had approached him about getting Chi Xin and Ding Xiaorou on his show. Zheng Ze then theatrically tore up his confidentiality agreement with Ding Xiaorou right in front of Chi Xin, stating it no longer existed, despite the hefty penalty. He then admitted that he knew Chi Xin had feelings for Ding Xiaorou.
Later, Zheng Ze was seen telling stories to Fat Tiger and Xiaotian about Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates Regiment, the most powerful pirate in the world. Meanwhile, Ding Xiaorou looked up at the starry sky, with Chi Xin sitting beside her. She reflected on how the light from distant stars takes thousands of years to reach them, meaning the stars they see might no longer exist.
She felt a "greedy" desire to cherish these star lights, as if they were meant just for her. Chi Xin called her romantic. Ding Xiaorou shared that as a child, she would look at the stars when lonely, believing that in this vast world, someone would be waiting for her to watch the stars together. She hoped she wouldn't have to wait for thousands of years. Chi Xin, who had always considered himself a materialist, confessed that he now believed that what is meant to be, will eventually be.
