My Girlfriend Episode 23 Recap
> My Girlfriend Recap
Ding Xiaorou completed her task in the small mountain village and bid a heartfelt farewell to the landlord's family. The landlord's young son, Xiaotian, asked if she would visit again, to which she promised she would. Chi Xin then drove her back to the city.
During the ride, Ding Xiaorou enthusiastically recounted the inspiration behind her "Ginkgo tree window" display, explaining how graffiti led to the idea and how the story behind the artwork was far more compelling than the final product. She also shared her belief that the relationship between a woodpecker and a tree symbolizes protection, an innate desire to guard those one truly cares for.
She expressed seeing a similar "tree" in Chi Xin's heart, implying he, too, harbored a deep protective instinct for someone or something. The next morning, Ding Xiaorou was abruptly woken by a phone call from SA Yi, who, upon finding out Ding Xiaorou had returned to the city without contacting them, instructed her to immediately come to a cafe. SA Yi hyped the news as "nuclear bomb-level," coming from He Mingzhu.
At the cafe, both He Mingzhu and SA Yi immediately started grilling Ding Xiaorou about her relationship with Chi Xin, teasing her about eloping. Ding Xiaorou clarified that Chi Xin was assigned by their boss, Mr. Mao, to assist with the window display, and that they were simply good friends and neighbors.
SA Yi, citing theories from American TV shows, claimed Ding Xiaorou was lying because her eyes darted to the right when she spoke, and insisted that no pure friendship exists between men and women. Ding Xiaorou dismissed their "theories," eager to hear He Mingzhu's big news. He Mingzhu then dramatically announced that she was getting married to Zhen Zheng. He Mingzhu elaborated on Zhen Zheng's proposal.
She revealed that Zhen Zheng, who notoriously dislikes sweets, surprised her by buying a super-sized ice cream, eating it with her, and proposing right then and there. Initially, she found the proposal lacking in grandeur, but seeing his genuine effort to do something he detested, combined with his earlier concerns about her well-being due to her overworking, deeply touched her, and she tearfully accepted. SA Yi humorously remarked on how love makes people irrational.
SA Yi then revealed that one of her patients was skilled in tarot card reading and could supposedly identify one's true love. Ding Xiaorou, intrigued, asked SA Yi to introduce her. Seizing the opportunity, SA Yi playfully demanded gifts from Ding Xiaorou, who, having earned well from her recent project, readily agreed to buy expensive presents for her friends. Meanwhile, Chi Xin was busy searching for a new office, specifying a prime location with good lighting and immediate occupancy.
He dismissed a real estate agent's suggestions for places that were too remote or small and refused to increase his budget. Zhen Zheng called Chi Xin, teasing him about how Ding Xiaorou's social media posts made his recent trip look like a relaxing vacation, despite Chi Xin's insistence it was more work than usual. Zhen Zheng also pointed out Chi Xin's telltale sign of looking to the right when lying, a trick he learned from He Mingzhu.
Later, Ding Xiaorou and SA Yi went shopping for the "bribe" gifts. They chose three distinct clavicle chains: a red one for SA Yi, a blue one for Ding Xiaorou, and a pink one for He Mingzhu, which Ding Xiaorou believed He Mingzhu would love. SA Yi confirmed their appointment with the divination master for 3 PM that afternoon, limited to a thirty-minute session.
During the divination session, the master first spoke to SA Yi, revealing that she possessed great charm but was self-sabotaging her romantic life. The master explained there was someone in her heart whom she couldn't or wouldn't approach for her own reasons, urging her to open her heart to more possibilities. SA Yi acknowledged the truth of this but offered no further details.
Ding Xiaorou then eagerly took her turn, recounting the story of the Ginkgo tree display and how it made her question the meaning of the tree and the identity of the person she was waiting for in her heart. However, the master interrupted, stating that their thirty-minute appointment was over.
Despite SA Yi's attempts to extend the session, the master declined, instead offering Ding Xiaorou a special "remedy": a test that, if answered truthfully, would reveal the person she was waiting for. The master even offered a 50% discount on the test. Ding Xiaorou felt duped by the test and wished she could retrieve the expensive gifts she had bought. SA Yi, however, encouraged her to at least try the test.
Still skeptical, Ding Xiaorou eventually gave her gifts to He Mingzhu and sought her advice on love. He Mingzhu, now deeply in love with Zhen Zheng, shared her philosophy: she had once thought she needed a "sweet cone machine" in a partner but discovered she needed a "juicer" to process all her complex "emotional balls" into the rich tapestry of life's experiences.
She concluded that love is ultimately "without any reason" and that Zhen Zheng, despite being different from her ideal, was the one who could bring out all her emotions. Meanwhile, Zhen Zheng, having learned that Chi Xin was planning to start his own company, had resigned from his job. He visited Chi Xin, who was preparing to move his belongings from his apartment, claiming it was just a change of office.
Zhen Zheng presented Chi Xin with his life savings, declaring his unwavering commitment to join Chi Xin's venture. He explained that after Chi Xin's departure from their previous company, he had reflected on his own career purpose. It wasn't until He Mingzhu brought up marriage that he realized his desire to provide her with happiness, which propelled him to work hard alongside Chi Xin. He swore his loyalty, promising to face success or failure together as brothers.
Chi Xin, deeply touched, accepted his offer. Back in her apartment, Ding Xiaorou reluctantly completed the divination test but remained unconvinced by its premise, tossing it into the trash. She continued eating ice cream until she experienced chest discomfort, prompting a visit to the hospital. The doctor confirmed her discomfort was due to excessive consumption of cold desserts, but also noted alarming spikes in her heart rate data, recorded by her smart bracelet.
The doctor pointed out several specific dates and times when her heart rate had significantly accelerated. Cross-referencing these times with her memories, Ding Xiaorou was shocked to realize that the person the test indicated as her "true love" was Chi Xin, as those dates coincided with significant interactions she had with him. Just as this revelation dawned on her, Chi Xin knocked on her door, claiming he needed to retrieve his tablecloth.
Flustered and trying to hide her emotions, Ding Xiaorou quickly handed him the item and curtly dismissed him, insisting she needed to focus on her "creation." Chi Xin, confused by her strange behavior, left. Later, as she worked, Ding Xiaorou mused about her complex feelings for Chi Xin, recalling his arrogant and obsessive-compulsive traits, and past incidents like him tricking her into eating daffodil seeds. Despite her reservations, the realization that he might be her fated person deeply unsettled her.
Suddenly, Zheng Ze called, urgently requesting her presence at the company for a new window display, despite the late hour. Ding Xiaorou complained, wishing she could just eat ice cream and noodles. Looking at her finished artwork, the phrase "My promise to you" seemed to resonate with her newfound emotional turmoil.
