Party A Who Lives Beside Me Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Party A Who Lives Beside Me Synopsis
The intern designer Ye Xuan with a dream joined a small advertising agency 88 Aide.
She did not expect that she couldn’t only become a regular worker after half a year, but also only process small orders.
The job was not as good as it should be, and she just moved to meet her oddball neighbor, Li Zenan. Their first meeting was unhappy.
At this time, Ye Xuan’s boss took over the design of a new poster for the milk tea of the Aoke Group.
Ye Xuan thought the opportunity to showcase her strength had finally arrived, but she was actually given a hard time by her Party A.
Because of their tacit understanding of each other’s workplace problems, Xuan Ye and her neighbor Li Zenan have a love feeling while releasing workplace pressure.
But Ye Xuan never thought that Li Zenan is the person who contact her of Aoke Group, and the B party he said who has the low ability is herself.
After experiencing the switch relationship of the workplace, neighbor, the sweet couple life between them also unfolded, but the new workplace challenges also came too.
By coincidence, they have the same client and become a side-by-side relationship.
Party A Who Lives Beside Me Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Ye Xuan, a twenty-three-year-old from Sichuan, arrived in Shanghai, a bustling international metropolis of twenty-four million people. She was captivated by the city's iconic landmarks like the Oriental Pearl, the Huangpu River, and the Bund, which were just as she had seen on TV as a child. She had always dreamed of living and striving there, believing she could one day shine as brightly as the city itself, finding both career and love.
However, the sight of 88 Ed, located on a somewhat remote and dilapidated street, made her question if she had taken the wrong path. Upon entering 88 Ed, she was largely ignored by the employees, one of whom even snatched the bun she was holding, thinking she was a delivery person. Ye Xuan clarified that she was there for a job interview. Upstairs, she met Xu Guoren, the erratic general manager, who startled her with his abrupt manner.
He quickly scanned her impressive resume, noting her graduation from a 985 university with an art design degree and her internships at major companies like Ogilvy & Mather and Coca-Cola. Xu Guoren explained that 88 Ed was a small, creative company with no overtime, performance reviews, or attendance checks, but also no project bonuses, overtime benefits, or paid leave. The internship was for six months, with a salary of four thousand yuan per month, which was low.
Despite this, he painted a grand vision of the company going public soon, promising Ye Xuan a position as a "veteran employee." Ye Xuan, expressing her preference for a creative company with more room for expression, accepted the offer. The four thousand yuan salary proved challenging for renting a place in Shanghai, even with her scholarships and part-time earnings. After viewing seven or eight unsatisfactory apartments, an agent attempted to charge her a five hundred yuan room fee.
She cleverly dodged the fee by feigning forgetfulness and attempting to escape by climbing over a locked gate, as the complex only had one exit. Stuck atop the wall, she called for help from a young man, Li Zenan, who was nearby. He mistakenly thought she had dropped her bag and tossed it back over the wall. Ye Xuan explained her predicament, and Li Zenan awkwardly guided her down, almost causing her to fall.
He then boastfully declared, "A great kindness needs no words of thanks," and ran off. The agent caught up to Ye Xuan, and the original five-hundred-yuan fee had now doubled to a thousand. She didn't realize that the real landlord was Li Zenan, and Mao Tianyu was just the agent.
Ye Xuan negotiated the eight thousand yuan rent down to four thousand, promising Mao Tianyu that she wouldn't cook or bring strangers home and would take good care of the place, on the condition that he buy her a TV. Mao Tianyu called "Nan Ge" (Li Zenan) to relay the offer, and Li Zenan reluctantly agreed, warning Mao Tianyu of consequences if there were any issues.
On her first day at 88 Ed, as she posed for her badge photo, the company photographer, He Yucheng, confided that the company was on the verge of collapsing, contrasting Xu Guoren’s talk of going public. He Yucheng showed her candid badge photos of other colleagues, including Guo Tianlei, the frugal accountant; Li Xinxia, the hot-tempered chief designer; and Yan Lina, the beauty-conscious marketing specialist, capturing their unique personalities, while describing himself as a photographer with a free spirit.
During a company meeting, Xu Guoren announced two "bad news" items: mandatory overtime for two weeks, and that Aoke Group had chosen them to design the packaging for their "bean shell milk tea" brand. While this sounded like good news, Xu Guoren warned them that the client's liaison, Director Li from Aoke Marketing Department, was notoriously strict, known for a low approval rate, and frequent changes in suppliers.
He assigned the core team members to the Aoke project: Li Xinxia for overall design, Guo Tianlei for production and cost control, He Yucheng for photography, and Yan Lina for client liaison. Ye Xuan, however, was assigned to the "Boss Zhang Boiled Fish" project. Although she diligently started her work, she was puzzled why no one seemed happy about landing the prestigious Aoke project.
He Yucheng explained that Aoke's design department, led by Chief Designer Zhang Bowen, was top-notch, making it nearly impossible for a small company like theirs to compete. Furthermore, passing Director Li's stringent approval was a monumental task, as he was infamous for demanding countless revisions and making designers "cry" in his office, despite his exceptional capabilities. It was soon revealed that the formidable Director Li was none other than Li Zenan.
At Aoke, Mao Tianyu complained to Li Zenan that Zhang Bowen was making a fuss and criticizing the marketing department's artist selection. Zhang Bowen, in turn, argued that the chosen artist, Ji Ruxing, was having contract disputes, which could jeopardize their client. Li Zenan swiftly produced a signed endorsement contract for Ji Ruxing, asserting that the artist was chosen based on data-driven metrics like fan purchasing power and target audience matching.
Zhang Bowen was left speechless and promptly departed with his team. Meanwhile, Ye Xuan stayed late at 88 Ed, diligently completing her design for the boiled fish project. She proudly shared it in the work group, but received an angry message from Boss Zhang, who vehemently rejected her design. He criticized her for not understanding his boiled fish and suggested she eat his homemade boiled fish to "replenish her brain."
Feeling disheartened, Ye Xuan went to the market to buy a grass carp, only to encounter Li Zenan, who also wanted the same fish. Their previous animosity from the wall incident flared up, with Ye Xuan calling him a "big silly guy." Amidst their bickering, Ye Xuan received a call from Li Xinxia, who demanded three design drafts that night.
Shortly after, her mother called, and Ye Xuan, trying to put on a brave front, lied, claiming she was out having French food with colleagues and didn't cook at home. As she finished the call, Li Zenan emerged from behind the elevator doors, having overheard her conversation, and mockingly questioned her "French meal." He then pressed the button for the fourth floor, the same as hers, and entered the apartment directly across from her.
Ye Xuan was aghast and filled with regret at the shocking realization that her landlord was not only Li Zenan but also her direct neighbor. When he asked if she lived alone, she quickly concocted a story about living with her boxing coach boyfriend, who would be back in five minutes. Frustrated by the day's events, Ye Xuan angrily chopped a cucumber for dinner, only to suddenly remember that her landlord didn't allow cooking.
At the same time, Li Zenan, bothered by the pungent, spicy aroma from her apartment, called Mao Tianyu, complaining about his tenant cooking and instructing him to warn her. Mao Tianyu informed him that Ye Xuan had already sent an apologetic message. Later, Li Zenan opened a package, only to find it contained women's underwear addressed to "Four Zero One," realizing it was Ye Xuan's misdelivered parcel.
Episode 2 Recap
Ye Xuan was on the phone with her university friend, discussing work in Shanghai as she enjoyed a bowl of the boiled fish she had made. She mentioned her new project, a brochure for a large food company, and her friend praised her for securing such a significant client so early in her career. Her friend also shared that she was designing special clothing for a luxury brand.
Meanwhile, Li Zenan, who had accidentally received Ye Xuan's package in the previous episode, was conflicted. He carefully placed the items back into the parcel and practiced how he would return it to her. After some thought, he changed into dark clothes, making him look even more suspicious. Peeking through her peephole, Ye Xuan saw him lurking outside her door and, convinced he was up to no good, opened the door to confront him.
Li Zenan awkwardly thrust the package at her. Ye Xuan, insisting she hadn’t ordered anything, tried to refuse it, but as they grappled, the lingerie inside accidentally spilled out. Her impression of Li Zenan worsened considerably; she furiously accused him of being a pervert and a creep, threatening to call the police. Although they argued fiercely about going to the police station, they ultimately didn't, with Li Zenan stating he was too tired.
Ye Xuan, still fuming, warned Li Zenan to stay away. Later, as she vented to her friend on the phone about the "pervert" next door and the "flower underwear," she was surprised to learn that the lingerie was actually a housewarming gift from her friend. Despite the misunderstanding being clarified, both Ye Xuan and Li Zenan concluded that the other was nothing but trouble.
The next day, after Ye Xuan had submitted a new design draft, Boss Zhang remained unsatisfied, saying, "No, not good, not satisfied. Redo." Feeling frustrated, Ye Xuan fantasized about being a Chief, much like Li Xinxia, delegating all work to interns. Suddenly, a strange noise came from outside her door. Taking an umbrella, she cautiously stepped out to investigate, but a gust of wind slammed her door shut, locking her out.
Without her keys, Ye Xuan had no choice but to ask Li Zenan for help. She explained her predicament, proposing to climb from his balcony to hers, and offered an apology for their previous misunderstanding. Li Zenan led her to his balcony, seemingly amused by her plan. To his surprise, Ye Xuan, with remarkable agility, quickly scaled the railing and made it across before he could even react.
Only then did Li Zenan casually reveal that he actually had a spare key to her apartment. Ye Xuan, believing he had been prying open her door earlier with the key he claimed to have, angrily accused him of being a thief and began hitting him. Li Zenan quickly clarified that he was her landlord.
After he handed over the spare key, they agreed to avoid each other except for rent payments, each still viewing the other as a significant nuisance. At the office, Ye Xuan presented a stack of designs to Li Xinxia, who barely glanced at them before scolding her. Li Xinxia admonished her not to submit designs she wasn't confident in, as it wasted everyone's time.
She then told Ye Xuan to smile and look pleasant when Boss Zhang arrived so it wouldn't appear that she (Li Xinxia) had been bullying her. Soon after, Boss Zhang arrived, carrying a pot of boiled fish for the Design Department. Ye Xuan greeted him with a polite smile, but Boss Zhang immediately criticized her drawing skills, telling her she didn't know how to paint an advertisement.
He insisted that she needed to understand his boiled fish to create a compelling ad that would make people "drool and want to eat." He made her consume a large, spicy portion of his famous fish. Just as Ye Xuan was struggling through the meal, her mother called, expressing concern that Ye Xuan, being young and inexperienced, might be getting bullied in Shanghai.
Ye Xuan, however, quickly reassured her mother that she was doing well and that her colleagues and even her landlord were very kind to her, urging her not to worry. After the call, He Yucheng approached, offering to help her finalize the boiled fish project, but only if she agreed to go on a blind date with him.
As part of their "blind date," He Yucheng then took a series of photos of Ye Xuan, explaining it would save the company model fees, which were only 200 yuan. He then disclosed the crucial detail that Li Xinxia's favorite drink was the limited-edition Bean Shell Pudding from Bean Shell Milk Tea, which sold out daily and the store closed promptly at 5:30 PM. He noted it was already 5:00 PM, urging her to hurry.
Meanwhile, in another department, Zhang Bowen confronted Li Zenan, accusing him of overstepping by involving an outside design company, 88 Ed, in their projects. Li Zenan calmly explained that the market department sought diverse creative ideas for the project's benefit. He subtly pointed out that the chief designer position in Zhang Bowen's department had been vacant for three months, implying dissatisfaction with their current talent.
He also mentioned that a previous design had upset artist Ji Ruxing, justifying their decision to seek outside collaboration. Zhang Bowen angrily interpreted this as the Market Department actively undermining his Design Department by forcing them to compete with 88 Ed. An older colleague tried to intervene, but Zhang Bowen stormed off, dismissing an offer of tea.
After Zhang Bowen left, Mao Tianyu expressed his hope that the Design Department would lose to 88 Ed, calling Li Zenan a "business genius" for his strategy. Li Zenan revealed his backup plan: if 88 Ed lost, they would publicly announce that Aoke Group had initiated a fierce, three-round competition among multiple designers for Bean Shell Milk Tea's fifth-anniversary project, and Aoke's own Design Department emerged victorious, ultimately benefiting the group's image.
Li Zenan then took Mao Tianyu on a patrol of a Bean Shell Milk Tea store. While there, Li Zenan sent Mao Tianyu to a second store, instructing him to note any issues, implying that he himself had spotted something. As he left, Ye Xuan rushed into the store, purchasing a red bean milk tea and, crucially, the last Bean Shell Pudding. Elated, she prepared to return to the office, hoping to appease Li Xinxia.
However, Li Zenan, engrossed in his phone, bumped into her, causing the precious Bean Shell Pudding to spill onto the ground. Ye Xuan, furious, demanded he compensate her, explaining it was the last one. Li Zenan, initially defensive, eventually agreed to pay, but with no more puddings available, he called Mao Tianyu, who still had one, and took it for Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan, in the nick of time, successfully delivered the Bean Shell Pudding to Li Xinxia before the office closed. Later that evening, as He Yucheng walked Ye Xuan home, he noticed suspicious "thief marks" on her door, indicating that thieves were "ready for action soon." He also spotted a similar mark on Li Zenan's door, which, according to online information, meant "this family is not easy to mess with, stay away."
Ye Xuan was horrified, lamenting that she was "poor as hell" and that thieves should target Li Zenan's apartment instead. He Yucheng tried to lighten the mood by jokingly suggesting the thieves might even "send her warmth" given her poverty. Panicked by the thief markings, Ye Xuan immediately messaged Li Zenan photos of both doors and a picture of herself holding a new heavy-duty lock, then called him.
Ye Xuan, asking for "activity funds," initially requested 400 yuan, but Li Zenan, hearing her distressed tone and seeing the lock photo, mistakenly believed she was being held for ransom. He frantically asked her location and if she was okay, quickly transferring a generous 1000 yuan to her before rushing home. At Ye Xuan's apartment, He Yucheng was helping her replace the aging lock cylinder. They heard a noise from Li Zenan’s apartment.
As Li Zenan sped home, he also heard strange sounds from Ye Xuan's apartment. Believing she was in danger, he grabbed what he considered a "weapon"—a heavy chain with a lock—which Ye Xuan had just purchased and which the hardware store owner claimed would require a 'Dragon Slaying Saber' to break. He climbed from his balcony to hers and burst through the door, yelling, "Don't move!" Both men, mistaking each other for thieves, immediately engaged in a furious fight.
Just then, Ye Xuan arrived home to witness the chaotic scene. Without clearly seeing who was who, she picked up her newly purchased, heavy lock and swung it, accidentally striking Li Zenan squarely on the forehead. Bleeding and defeated, Li Zenan simply told them he wanted to rest and asked them to close the door and turn off the lights when they left. Embarrassed, Ye Xuan walked He Yucheng downstairs.
As they were leaving, they heard a group of elderly residents shouting, "Catch the thief!" He Yucheng, invigorated, declared it the "first exciting thing" in his life (after their earlier scuffle with Li Zenan, which he had called the "second most exciting"), and both of them joined the chase. The thief attempted to fight back, but Ye Xuan, revealing her martial arts training, swiftly apprehended him.
The grateful elderly residents thanked her, and Ye Xuan proudly introduced herself as "Ye Xuan from 88 Ed, a designer." Upon returning home, Ye Xuan found a bandaged Li Zenan standing outside her door, insisting she let him in. Hesitantly, Ye Xuan apologized for hitting him and offered to take him to the hospital, but he pushed past her. To her surprise, Li Zenan went straight to her balcony and efficiently installed the new lock, preventing further unauthorized entry.
He commented, "I'm afraid some people will turn over my balcony again," jokingly adding that he might raise his own balcony to keep out "stray cats and dogs." As his stomach rumbled, Ye Xuan, feeling grateful, made him instant noodles, preparing them with elaborate "ritualistic" care. She thanked him for his help. Li Zenan, ever so proud, simply stated it was "all written in the contract, just a small favor."
Their peace was short-lived, however, as Li Xinxia messaged Ye Xuan, demanding her design draft immediately, threatening her job if it wasn't submitted that day. Panicked, Ye Xuan exclaimed, "The grim reaper of deadlines is here! I have to work!" She quickly apologized to Li Zenan, pushing him out of her apartment with the pot of half-eaten noodles, telling him to finish them at his place. He left, looking bewildered.
Episode 3 Recap
Ye Xuan prepared a meal in a thermal lunchbox and left it at Li Zenan's doorstep as compensation for the ride he gave her. As Li Zenan drove to work, carrying the lunchbox, he spotted Ye Xuan running frantically by the road. Since they were headed in the same direction, he offered her a ride. Ye Xuan struggled to fasten her seatbelt, so Li Zenan leaned over to help her, a sudden closeness that made her breath catch.
Noting that Li Zenan's head injury still hadn't healed, Ye Xuan worried he might try to exploit the situation, suggesting they go to the hospital after work, to which Li Zenan responded with an exasperated eye-roll. She also commented that her bag contained "love, dreams and hopes," but Li Zenan wryly noted that those couldn't pay the rent. Meanwhile, Mao Tianyu remarked on 88 Ed's history of taking on "low" projects like boiled fish and foot washing places.
Li Zenan revealed he was already aware of this. He added that Zhang Bowen was known for his arrogance, suggesting that even as a love rival, his overconfidence would not serve him well. Elsewhere, Li Xinxia was furious about being told to submit a draft the next day, threatening to quit. Xu Guoren quickly intervened, berating the other Director Li (not Li Zenan) and pacifying Li Xinxia with a raise and annual leave.
After the meeting, Ye Xuan visited Xu Guoren, who advised her to be cautious when working with Li Xinxia due to her quick temper. Ye Xuan then presented her research on bean shell milk tea, expressing her desire to join the project and gain experience. Xu Guoren agreed, telling her to discuss it with Li Xinxia.
Ye Xuan was delighted and went downstairs, observing Li Xinxia leading a meeting where, despite it being a discussion, Li Xinxia's word was clearly final. During lunchtime, Li Zenan opened the lunch Ye Xuan had prepared. It was a pink, girlish lunchbox, containing a spicy dish fitting for her Sichuan background. Mao Tianyu, seeing the meal, was curious and, upon learning Ye Xuan made it, commented that such "love lunch" was something usually seen in idol dramas.
Just then, Zhang Bowen nonchalantly handed them a USB drive, claiming it held a "surprise." Later, as Ye Xuan prepared to present her design to Boss Zhang, she discovered her work USB drive was missing from her bag. Boss Zhang became furious, slammed his hand on the table, and walked out, ending their contract. Since Boss Zhang was the company's only client that month, Li Xinxia was enraged, while Xu Guoren remained calm.
Despite Ye Xuan's repeated apologies, Li Xinxia refused to relent, stating that if Ye Xuan didn't leave, she would. Li Zenan and Mao Tianyu opened Zhang Bowen's USB drive, which contained an advertisement video. They critiqued the poor quality, assuming it was from an inferior design department, only to be shocked when it was revealed to be 88 Ed's work.
Ye Xuan seemed on the verge of losing her job when He Yucheng reminded her that she might have left the USB in Li Zenan's car. She urgently called Li Zenan, who confirmed he had sent his car for cleaning that morning, suggesting the USB might have been discarded then. Devastated, Ye Xuan blamed herself. Li Zenan, however, coldly stated that it was her fault for not backing up her files and for losing the drive.
He then ended the conversation, saying he had work to do. Upon returning to his office, Li Zenan noticed it was raining heavily. He took an umbrella and went to find Ye Xuan, discovering her sketching at a convenience store with He Yucheng sitting opposite her. Li Zenan watched discreetly as He Yucheng gently touched Ye Xuan's head, comforting her. The two then left together to meet Boss Zhang.
Arriving at Boss Zhang's boiled fish restaurant, Ye Xuan insisted on going in alone, stating that it was her mistake and she needed to resolve it herself. Inside, Boss Zhang barely glanced at her new design. Instead, he handed her a bowl of boiled fish and a vague address, instructing her to deliver an order. To secure Boss Zhang's business and keep her job, Ye Xuan dutifully carried the boiled fish, searching frantically for the address.
After running around for a long time, she still couldn't find "Xiao Zhang restaurant." Ye Xuan felt disheartened and received another call from Boss Zhang, who scolded her for the delay, causing her to break down in tears. At that moment, Boss Zhang appeared behind her. He led her to the delivery location, "Creative Restaurant," which was subtly labeled.
He used the experience to teach Ye Xuan about advertising, explaining that while he didn't understand art or design, he knew how to make a snack shop stand out on a busy street. He offered feedback on her new design, noting that the base color lacked "impact" and encouraged her to revise it, emphasizing that her new design was better than the previous one.
Reinvigorated, Ye Xuan returned to the company with a new chocolate crème brûlée milk tea for Li Xinxia, complete with no ice, no sugar, milk foam, and her favorite pudding. Li Xinxia initially dismissed her efforts, but Ye Xuan humbly admitted her lack of understanding of client needs and her design's immaturity. She expressed her desire to stay and continue learning from Li Xinxia, sincerely asking for forgiveness.
Moved by Ye Xuan's renewed determination and efforts, Li Xinxia eventually allowed her to stay and continue with the project. In the end, Ye Xuan successfully created a design that satisfied Boss Zhang.
Episode 4 Recap
Ye Xuan profusely apologized to Li Zenan for being late, explaining she was caught in heavy traffic as they were heading to the hospital for his head injury. Li Zenan remained silent as they entered the elevator. Suddenly, the elevator made a piercing noise and then plunged into darkness, trapping them. Li Zenan, visibly terrified, crouched down and hugged Ye Xuan's leg. Once the power was restored, he quickly scrambled out of the elevator.
Ye Xuan, finding his reaction amusing, teased him about being afraid of the dark or heights. After doctors confirmed Li Zenan's head injury was not serious, Ye Xuan jokingly declared that any future ailments would not be her responsibility, while Li Zenan, still nursing his head, retorted that he would ignore her calls if she ever needed help. On their way home, Ye Xuan excitedly spotted a billboard featuring her idol, Ji Ruxing, and insisted on taking photos.
When Li Zenan playfully offered to get her signed photos, Ye Xuan confidently announced that she didn't need his help. She revealed that her company, 88 Ed, was handling the advertising campaign for bean shell milk tea, which Ji Ruxing had just endorsed, meaning she would soon meet him. Li Zenan initially scoffed, expressing sympathy for Ji Ruxing having to collaborate with someone "unreliable" like her, but a moment later, a look of realization crossed his face.
He asked for her company's name, and upon hearing "88 Ed," he appeared stunned. The next morning, Ye Xuan was rudely awakened by a phone call from Li Xinxia, who demanded her immediate presence at the office, noting it was already past ten. Rushing out in a panic, Ye Xuan accidentally collided with a delivery rider, who tried to extort 100 yuan from her for spilled food.
Li Zenan, conveniently passing by, intervened, accusing the rider of speeding and threatening to check surveillance footage. The delivery rider, flustered, quickly apologized and left. Li Zenan cautioned the rider to "be careful with your bike" and reminded him, "ten car accidents, nine fast." Ye Xuan thanked Li Zenan before hurrying off to work, shouting back about her lost takeout money.
At the office, He Yucheng greeted a breathless Ye Xuan, mistakenly thinking her proposal had been approved due to Li Xinxia's unusual tone. However, Li Xinxia harshly informed Ye Xuan that Aoke Group had rejected her design, finding it lacked "bright spots," "desserts," and "high points," remarking that "these three points were too flat."
Reminding Ye Xuan, an intern with six months left on her probation, that a creative company needed immediate results, Li Xinxia ordered her to redo the design by the day after tomorrow. Later, Li Xinxia privately expressed her doubt to a colleague about 88 Ed's ability to deliver a satisfactory proposal. That evening, Ye Xuan arrived home only to realize she had forgotten her keys. Li Zenan, seeing her squatting outside her door, invited her into his apartment.
She haughtily refused, stating she wasn't in the mood for his "poisonous chicken soup." After calling a locksmith, she learned it would take three hours for them to arrive. Li Zenan, amused, teased her about enduring the wait, suggesting she might get thirsty or need to use the restroom. Defeated, Ye Xuan finally accepted his invitation to come inside, on the condition that she wouldn't attempt to climb over the balcony to her own apartment.
To express her gratitude, Ye Xuan cooked a spicy meal for Li Zenan, explaining that where she came from, spicy food was for all emotions – happiness, sadness, excitement, and grief. She then passionately vented her frustration about Aoke's Director Li, who had dismissed her all-nighter plan as not "impressive enough." During her rant, Li Zenan nervously tucked his work badge out of sight. Ye Xuan then declared that she had painstakingly created the entire plan herself.
Li Zenan, aware that Li Xinxia's name was on the proposal, offered some advice: "Don't always think things so simple, the truth of many things not necessarily what you see." He suggested that instead of trying to impress Party A, she should first impress herself. He urged her to revisit the initial inspiration behind her design, refine it, and find stronger emotional connections to resonate with the audience.
After the locksmith finally arrived, Ye Xuan left, pondering Li Zenan's surprisingly profound words. Inspired by Li Zenan's advice, Ye Xuan worked tirelessly to create a new design. The next day, Xu Guoren praised her revised proposal, telling her it was "very good," and instructed her to present it alongside Chief Li Xinxia at Aoke Group the following afternoon. Overjoyed, Ye Xuan shared the good news, but then worried about what to wear, as all her clothes were casual.
Her friend, Yan Lina, came to her aid, guiding her to a clothing rental shop. Yan Lina convinced Ye Xuan that dressing elegantly would positively influence Party A's perception, making their requirements simpler and helping her "kill the competition." Although the elegant white dress Ye Xuan chose was expensive, Yan Lina assured her she could rent it for the day, which Ye Xuan gratefully accepted.
The next morning, Ye Xuan was still deep in sleep when He Yucheng called, urgently informing her that Aoke Group had rescheduled the proposal to the morning, and Chief Li Xinxia had already left without telling her. Panicked, Ye Xuan scrambled to get ready. As she rushed out, she spotted Li Zenan, who jokingly asked if she was eloping.
Ye Xuan quickly explained her predicament and begged him for a ride to Aoke Group on Huazhou Road, urging him to drive fast to avoid making Party A wait. Li Zenan's intuition suggested Party A might not have arrived yet, but he told her to "sit tight" and sped off. Upon arrival, Ye Xuan quickly thanked Li Zenan and dashed into the Aoke building. Li Zenan, who had not revealed his true identity to her, followed a few minutes later.
Inside, Ye Xuan apologized profusely to Chief Li Xinxia for being late, only to be coldly informed that Xu Guoren had likely forgotten to update her, and Li Xinxia would handle the presentation alone, dismissing Ye Xuan. As Ye Xuan stood stunned, seeing her own proposal with Li Xinxia's name on it, Li Zenan was told by the front desk that the 88 Ed team had arrived half an hour early.
He then entered the meeting room, where he found only Li Xinxia, who confidently introduced herself as the sole presenter, claiming responsibility for the design's "idea of inheritance." Devastated and feeling betrayed, Ye Xuan left the meeting. She later recounted her ordeal to Yan Lina, noting that while the rented dress was fine, she felt "particularly bad." In her distress, she accidentally damaged the expensive dress and had to pay for it.
Heartbroken, she wandered the streets, buying an extra-sweet ice cream but spilling it as she reflected, "I thought as long as I worked hard, used all my enthusiasm and energy, I could take root and realize my dreams in this city. But reality is often a cruel hit. Sometimes, it's not how lucky you are as hard as you work." As she broke down crying, Li Zenan appeared by her side, holding a cotton candy.
Li Zenan took Ye Xuan to a restaurant, ordering her favorite boiled fish with extra spice and two beers. Ye Xuan poured out her heart, expressing how painful it was that her tireless work ultimately amounted to nothing. Li Zenan explained that her lack of "the right to speak" was the root cause, and that she needed to become stronger.
He encouraged her by suggesting that if someone was stealing her work, it meant her designs were good, and she had the inherent ability to grow powerful enough to protect them. As the evening progressed, Ye Xuan became heavily intoxicated and launched into a drunken rant about her "stupid design" and "plan" that brought her no money or credit.
She loudly declared she was quitting, much to Li Zenan's chagrin, who tried to quiet her down and coax her into the car. On the way home, she continued to complain about Party A, asking Li Zenan if they even knew she was the real designer. He reassuringly told her they did. Suddenly, she vomited on his shoes.
Li Zenan gently carried her home and tucked her into bed, listening as she continued to curse all Party A, wryly remarking to himself, "I'm a bastard, Party A, that's really kind." The next morning, Ye Xuan awoke with a blush, having dreamed about Li Zenan. When He Yucheng called, she asked him to request a temporary leave, stating she felt unwell and was too angry at Chief Li to face work.
Episode 5 Recap
Feeling dejected, Ye Xuan took a leave of absence and went to the rooftop to release her emotions, exclaiming, "It's too hard!" Li Zenan was already there with his dog, questioning why she wasn't at work and why she was hiding from her problems. Ye Xuan declared her intention to confront the situation and reclaim everything she had lost. Li Zenan agreed that shouting was useless and action was required to solve problems.
Later, Li Zenan presented Mao Tianyu with two new design proposals from 88 Ed, noting the significant stylistic differences and suspecting they were "selling dog meat under the guise of sheep." Mao Tianyu, finding it odd that only Li Xinxia was listed in 88 Ed’s team information, initially wondered if it mattered as long as the work was from 88 Ed. However, Li Zenan stressed that potential copyright disputes could damage Aoke Group's credibility.
He instructed Mao Tianyu to thoroughly investigate 88 Ed. When Mao Tianyu playfully questioned Li Zenan’s sudden interest, Li Zenan simply told him to stop asking so many questions. Driven by her desire to reclaim her lost recognition, Ye Xuan approached Xu Guoren with coffee. She praised his reputation for encouraging young talent and respecting employee rights, especially concerning project authorship. To her surprise, Li Xinxia was already in Xu Guoren's office.
Li Xinxia intercepted the conversation, implying that Ye Xuan was there to discuss early Confirmation (transfer to permanent employee status) and stated that Xu Guoren had entrusted the decision to her. Li Xinxia advised Ye Xuan to perform well and she would consider her request, effectively preventing Ye Xuan from voicing her true concerns. Meanwhile, Li Zenan, having sketched a comic of his encounters with Ye Xuan, found her looking despondent on the rooftop.
He subtly tossed a crumpled paper note in her direction. After exchanging "Good night," Ye Xuan picked up the note, which read, "Beginnings are always hard, but things will get better." The following day, Mao Tianyu visited 88 Ed for his investigation. He was visibly unimpressed by the studio's modest appearance, mistaking it for a warehouse or a wholesale market. Ye Xuan greeted him, thinking he was a salesperson or a prospective renter, and tried to usher him out.
Mao Tianyu quickly clarified his identity as the Deputy Director of Aoke Group's marketing department. He questioned Li Xinxia about the creative source of their latest design, particularly the "inheritance" theme. Li Xinxia struggled to answer, glancing at Ye Xuan for help. Ye Xuan stepped in, explaining that Li Xinxia's insight into the "Bean Shell Milk Tea" entrepreneurial story had provided inspiration. Mao Tianyu noted Ye Xuan's articulate response.
After the meeting, Mao Tianyu reported to Li Zenan that Li Xinxia was "entirely ignorant" and "faltering" when questioned, while Ye Xuan was "quite interesting." Li Zenan quickly warned him not to harbor "wrong intentions." Ye Xuan reflected on her experiences and realized that Confirmation and authorship were not her ultimate goals; she simply wanted to "work happily." Later, on the rooftop, Ye Xuan startled Li Zenan, who was exercising, and he accidentally twisted her arm.
He apologized, explaining that martial arts practitioners are wary of being approached from behind. Ye Xuan, in a good mood after receiving affirmation at work, shrugged off the incident. She then suffered a sudden nosebleed, attributing it to the stress of her "unlucky Party A" and constant overtime. Li Zenan went to fetch an ice pack for her, assuring her it was merely due to being "upset" (上火).
Ye Xuan confessed that while she used to design purely for her own enjoyment, being forced to be more diligent had broadened her perspective. She realized that "only by liking is simply not enough" and that even on a challenging path to success, "the scenery along the way is still beautiful." She thanked Li Zenan for his kindness.
The next morning, Li Xinxia called Ye Xuan, instructing her to deliver "original materials" to Aoke Group, claiming she was too busy with design work. Ye Xuan was ecstatic, believing she was finally getting involved in the Aoke project. On her way, she was so elated that she accidentally bumped into someone, scattering her documents.
After delivering the materials, which felt more like an errand, she unexpectedly met Mao Tianyu, who was puzzled as Aoke had not requested any "original materials." Realizing that neither Li Zenan nor Mao Tianyu had requested the documents, they suspected an internal issue. Later, as Ye Xuan walked home, she pressed Li Zenan about his profession, sensing his insightful nature. He cryptically responded, "Secret."
Just then, Li Zenan received a video call from Mao Tianyu, who impatiently demanded to give his report. Hearing "Director Mao" address Li Zenan, Ye Xuan was stunned, realizing that Li Zenan was her Party A. Furious that Li Zenan had known her identity as his Party B all along and had not told her, Ye Xuan decided to exact some "retaliation."
She ordered a plate of "roast spicy brain flowers," knowing Li Zenan disliked spicy food, and compelled him to eat it. Despite his visible discomfort and choking, Li Zenan ate the entire plate as an apology, his face flushed and eyes watering from the spice. The investigation into the original materials revealed that the requesting email was from a private address, whose user was unknown but had logged in from a computer within Aoke's Design Department.
Li Zenan took charge of the situation. Ye Xuan, taking leave, insisted on handling the matter herself, unwilling to involve her company in the potential trouble. At Aoke, security initially denied her entry, as she lacked an appointment and couldn't identify the specific female employee she sought. Li Zenan arrived and intervened, confirming Ye Xuan had an appointment with him. Inside, he questioned Ye Xuan's decision to come, reminding her he would handle it.
Ye Xuan reiterated her desire to resolve it personally and maintain secrecy about their connection. They proceeded to the Design Department, where they were confronted by Zhang Bowen, a director. Li Zenan introduced Ye Xuan as the 88 Ed designer competing for the "Bean Shell" project. Zhang Bowen, clearly nervous, tried to block Ye Xuan from entering and accused her of attempting to plagiarize their designs.
Ye Xuan countered that the email requesting the materials originated from an IP address within the Design Department. Zhang Bowen, to prove his innocence, gathered all his employees and challenged Ye Xuan to identify the woman she remembered. After a thorough search, Ye Xuan couldn't locate her. Li Zenan apologized to Zhang Bowen for the intrusion. Zhang Bowen, however, dismissively warned Li Zenan against bringing "messy people" to his department again.
As they left, Ye Xuan apologized to Li Zenan for causing trouble, but he reassured her that the fault lay internally with Aoke. To prevent a disaster at the upcoming bid, Ye Xuan decided to inform her 88 Ed colleagues about the stolen design. She felt they needed to rework their proposal, despite concerns about time.
In the meeting, Xu Guoren, after hearing Ye Xuan’s account, empathized with her, attributing the mishap to her youth and inexperience with such industry tactics. However, Li Xinxia aggressively demanded Ye Xuan take full responsibility, criticizing her and other young people for lacking accountability. Li Xinxia suggested Ye Xuan should simply resign. Ye Xuan, taking responsibility, promised to deliver a new proposal, and if it failed, she would resign.
Suddenly, Li Zenan arrived, asserting that the problem was internal to Aoke and not Ye Xuan’s fault. When Li Xinxia sarcastically questioned his motives, Li Zenan turned to Xu Guoren and requested to "borrow" Ye Xuan for three days, promising she would produce an even better proposal. Li Xinxia scoffed at the idea. Li Zenan then challenged Ye Xuan, asking, "Do you still want to win?"
Episode 6 Recap
Li Zenan took Ye Xuan to Aoke Group's tea production area, where they were warmly greeted by Uncle Liu. He mistakenly thought they were a couple, prompting Ye Xuan to clarify that their relationship was purely professional, as Party A and Party B. Li Zenan explained that he frequently visited Uncle Liu, whom he deeply admired for rejecting industrialization and insisting on traditional handmade tea production, dedicating his life to perfecting one craft.
He revealed that Bean Shell Milk Tea gained its reputation from the quality of its tea, not the milk. This insight provided Ye Xuan with the crucial brand origin she had been searching for. Feeling inspired, Ye Xuan later told Li Zenan that her new goal was to hear him personally say "continue to push forward" to her one day, a term more meaningful than "design adopted" for a designer, as it signifies the possibility of execution.
Despite his significant help, Li Zenan downplayed his actions, claiming he was only assisting himself to keep Zhang Bowen quiet for a while if she won, which Ye Xuan recognized and was amused by his two-faced nature. The next day, Li Zenan and Ye Xuan arrived in Shanghai for the competitive presentation. A bus breakdown and a dead phone caused their slight delay, but Ye Xuan had managed to revise her proposal.
In the meeting room, Zhang Bowen immediately launched into sarcastic remarks upon their arrival. Remaining composed, Ye Xuan prepared for her turn as Zhang Bowen presented his team's design. His proposal focused on a "national style" theme for the anniversary celebration, integrating it into the UI and creating a retro national costume for spokesperson Ji Ruxing, along with a "national wind filter" for beauty applications.
He argued this approach would counter the "cultural shortcomings" of a fast-moving consumer brand and enhance consumer connection. Ye Xuan then presented her own "Chinese style" design, emphasizing a different interpretation of the concept. She critiqued generic Chinese-style designs that merely leveraged nostalgia without offering unique brand characteristics.
To develop her proposal, she had visited the tea garden that supplied Bean Shell Milk Tea, where she met Uncle Liu and learned about tea picking and making, finding a deep sense of inner peace. Her innovative idea was to have Ji Ruxing personally experience the tea garden, make milk tea, and document the process in a series of short videos.
This approach, she explained, would highlight the brand's unique identity and infuse each cup of milk tea with "love and stories." Mr. Wang, Aoke's general manager, found Ye Xuan's proposal quite interesting. At this point, Zhang Bowen interrupted, accusing Li Zenan and Ye Xuan of having an "improper relationship" and insinuating that Li Zenan was receiving kickbacks from Party B. He cited Li Zenan's recent "vacation" with Ye Xuan as proof.
Li Zenan confirmed that he had indeed gone with Ye Xuan. Ye Xuan swiftly confronted Zhang Bowen, acknowledging her acquaintance with Li Zenan but strongly denying any improper relationship. She clarified that she had repeatedly requested Li Zenan to take her to the tea garden to gain a deeper understanding of the brand culture, viewing the trip as an "investigation." She then challenged Zhang Bowen, asking if he knew the specific fermentation and baking methods required for the tea.
When he dismissed these as irrelevant to a designer, Ye Xuan sharply retorted that his understanding of the brand was inferior to that of the tea farmers themselves. Mr. Wang intervened, stopping Zhang Bowen from further irrelevant comments. After considering both presentations, Mr. Wang chose 88 Ed, telling them to "continue to push forward" with their proposal. As the meeting concluded, Li Zenan made an "unsolicited request" to Mr. Xu, asking to "borrow" Ye Xuan again.
Mr. Xu generously agreed, saying he would even "give her away," and told Ye Xuan she wasn't needed back at the office immediately. Li Zenan then asked Ye Xuan how she planned to thank him for his help, requesting a treat of Spicy Roast Pork Brain. They went to Zhejiang Jas Pouch, a restaurant Li Zenan clearly held in high regard.
There, they encountered Hu Yani, the owner of Zhejiang Jas Pouch and an old acquaintance of Li Zenan, which created an immediate awkward tension. Sensing the discomfort, Ye Xuan tried to politely dismiss Hu Yani, who then extended a handshake, stating that the restaurant held "too many beautiful memories" for her and Li Zenan before leaving. Li Zenan, visibly upset, quickly pulled Ye Xuan away from the restaurant.
Ye Xuan struggled to find a taxi, and Li Zenan had to repeatedly call her to get her into his car. In the car, Ye Xuan pressed him about the awkward departure from Zhejiang Jas Pouch, noticing his nervousness by his habit of turning his watch. She playfully complained about not finishing her meal and began to gossip about Hu Yani.
When Li Zenan vaguely referred to Hu Yani as an "old friend," Ye Xuan quickly deduced she was his ex-girlfriend. She teased him, describing Hu Yani as "white skin, beautiful and long legs" and confidently speculating that Li Zenan must have been dumped, before laughing and running out of the car, leaving her lunchbox behind. Moments later, in the parking lot, Li Zenan encountered Hu Yani again.
She informed him she was there to discuss marketing for Zhejiang Jas Pouch with Zhou Feng. Li Zenan declined to take on her project due to his current workload and suggested Zhou Feng refer her to other project teams. Hu Yani coldly remarked that he had "changed a lot" since their breakup, becoming "less refined" and having his "taste changed," casting a disparaging glance at the lunchbox in his hand.
She then stated she would simply find someone else who was willing to work with her. Ye Xuan, seeing Li Zenan's lingering discomfort, offered him her lunch and decided to eat with her colleagues. Back at 88 Ed, following the successful signing of the Bean Shell Milk Tea contract, Mr. Xu decided to promote Ye Xuan to full employment ahead of schedule.
As her colleagues celebrated with pizza, Li Xinxia stormed in, scolding everyone for celebrating before the project was fully executed and paid. She then confronted Mr. Xu in his office, strongly disagreeing with Ye Xuan's early confirmation, arguing it violated company rules and set a bad precedent. Mr. Xu defended his decision, highlighting Ye Xuan's excellent work on the proposal and the client's satisfaction, citing it as a creative company where talent should be recognized.
Li Xinxia became furious, slamming the table and declaring that Ye Xuan would not be confirmed as long as she was there. Meanwhile, outside the office, colleagues commented on the loud argument, noting that it was a common occurrence between company elders Mr. Xu and Chief Li, who sounded like a quarreling couple. At that moment, Hu Yani arrived at 88 Ed to discuss a new project for Zhejiang Jas Pouch.
Colleagues were impressed, recognizing her as the founder of the prominent restaurant chain. Mr. Xu welcomed Hu Yani. During their discussion, Hu Yani specifically requested Ye Xuan to lead the marketing project for Zhejiang Jas Pouch. Mr. Xu, delighted by Ye Xuan's ability to attract two major clients in a month, informed her that she would lead the Zhejiang Jas Pouch project, emphasizing its importance for future catering clients.
To ensure her full focus, he directed her to temporarily withdraw from the Bean Shell Milk Tea project, which would be handed over to Li Xinxia, and for Lina to handle the liaison with Li Zenan for the time being. Ye Xuan expressed her commitment to the Zhejiang Jas Pouch project. Separately, Zhou Feng commended Li Zenan for the outstanding Bean Shell Milk Tea project and announced his intention to propose a promotion for Li Zenan at the quarterly meeting.
Li Zenan, while grateful, expressed his desire for more collaboration with 88 Ed and his concern for Zhang Bowen after the design department's recent setback. Zhou Feng then revealed that Zhang Bowen had been fired from Aoke Group due to severe plagiarism that significantly damaged the company, and that he himself would now oversee the design department. Li Zenan was surprised by the severity of the decision, noting Zhang Bowen's past contributions to Aoke.
However, Zhou Feng, reminding Li Zenan that he was his apprentice, firmly stated that he would always protect him within Aoke. Later, Li Zenan received a chilling text message from Zhang Bowen, saying, "My present is your future. Take care of yourself." This message triggered a flashback for Li Zenan, recalling a past conversation where Zhou Feng had vowed to expel Zhang Bowen from Aoke within two years, using the exact phrase "My present is your future."
Disturbed by these events, Li Zenan instructed his colleague to identify any design department staff who wished to leave following Zhang Bowen's departure and direct them to him. Meanwhile, He Yucheng invited Ye Xuan to a department dinner, but she declined, explaining that Hu Yani had invited her to an archery hall to discuss the Zhejiang Jas Pouch proposal. Ye Xuan expressed apprehension about not knowing how to shoot and feared saying the wrong thing.
He Yucheng advised her to simply "praise and flatter" Hu Yani to keep her happy. At the archery hall, Hu Yani insisted Ye Xuan call her "Sister Yani." Instead of discussing the proposal immediately, Hu Yani began to ask Ye Xuan about her relationship with Li Zenan, inquiring how long they had known each other and what Ye Xuan thought of him.
Episode 7 Recap
Hu Yani asked Ye Xuan for her thoughts on Li Zenan, to which Ye Xuan replied that he was a good person but sometimes a little harsh. Hu Yani found this quite amusing. Hu Yani never listened to Ye Xuan's marketing plan, eventually claiming she was out of time due to a friend's birthday and inviting Ye Xuan to join her there to review the plan. The party continued late into the night.
Ye Xuan, clutching her laptop, struggled to stay awake while Hu Yani, energized by the festivities, eventually joined her. Ye Xuan tried to initiate the plan discussion, but Hu Yani insisted that public opinion mattered more than her own. She then instructed a nervous Ye Xuan to present her plan to everyone at the party. Though initially hesitant, Ye Xuan, recalling Li Zenan's encouraging words about facing her emotions and believing in herself, bravely took the microphone.
She began her presentation by asking if the attendees had eaten well that day, explaining that in today's fast-paced world, eating often gets deprioritized despite its importance in daily life and memory-making. She then highlighted that Hu Yani's Zhejiang Jas Pouch, embodying its owner's love for life, offered a place for people to eat well and live well, which was the brand spirit they aimed to convey. Her presentation was met with enthusiastic applause from the guests.
Later that night, Li Zenan, worried by Ye Xuan's prolonged absence, fabricated an excuse to go downstairs. Ye Xuan arrived home to find him rummaging through a garbage bin, claiming he had mistakenly thrown away important documents. She happily informed him that her Zhejiang Jas Pouch proposal had been unanimously approved and that she would immediately start preparing the shooting script.
She also reminded him about the revised bean shell milk tea plan she had emailed him, confidently assuring him of 88 Ed's capabilities. Li Zenan, stating that he only valued results, abruptly stopped searching for his papers, leaving Ye Xuan to find his behavior rather peculiar. Back at the office, Li Zenan expressed severe dissatisfaction with the new proposal for bean shell milk tea, demanding it be redone and that their contact person be summoned.
Meanwhile, Ye Xuan was struggling with writer's block, unable to produce more than a few words for her promotional script. He Yucheng invited her to lunch, offering a fresh perspective on Zhejiang Jas Pouch's appeal. He explained that patrons cherished the historical narrative embedded in each dish, illustrating how a simple steamed bun could evoke the arduous work of a baker or the fresh harvest of a farmer.
Inspired by this, Ye Xuan declared that she now understood how to craft her story and insisted on paying for their meal. Li Xinxia and Yan Lina subsequently announced their takeover of the bean shell milk tea project from Ye Xuan. Li Zenan was furious, questioning the unannounced change in personnel, which could cause significant delays, and demanding accountability. He cut short Yan Lina's attempt to praise Li Xinxia's experience, insisting they discuss the plan directly.
Li Xinxia began her presentation, but Li Zenan quickly exposed her core creative ideas as blatant plagiarism, referencing works by Norman Rockwell and N. C. Weiss, and emphasizing that bean shell milk tea, as a Chinese brand, required its own unique identity. He then challenged Li Xinxia's genuine connection to the brand, asking if she truly "liked" the milk tea and which flavors she would choose in different moods, leaving her speechless.
Concluding that she hadn't fully grasped the concept, he dismissed them, suggesting they all take time to reconsider. Meanwhile, Ye Xuan was elated that Party A loved her Zhejiang Jas Pouch script and would provide the necessary venues and props, with He Yucheng offering to help secure costumes. However, Guo Tianlei informed her that since it was merely a trial shoot, no budget was allocated for actors, requiring an "internal solution."
After jokingly dismissing other male colleagues, Ye Xuan desperately tried to convince He Yucheng to act, lavishing him with praise. When he steadfastly refused, Ye Xuan theatrically threatened to resign and inform Party A of the project's failure. This prompted He Yucheng to finally agree, on the condition that he could personally select his female co-star, pointing directly at Ye Xuan. Guo Tianlei quickly approved, calling it her "honor."
Ye Xuan and He Yucheng successfully filmed the Zhejiang Jas Pouch short video about "Smelly wax gourd," which rapidly gained popularity, reaching over 100,000 views. Hu Yani, pleased with its success, promptly sent the video to Li Zenan.
Enraged by this and the unapproved change in project personnel, Li Zenan called Ye Xuan, sternly reminding her of his right as Party A to be fully informed of all developments and personnel changes regarding the bean shell milk tea project, threatening to terminate 88 Ed's contract otherwise. Annoyed, Ye Xuan ended the call, muttering about his aggressive tone.
Later, He Yucheng and Ye Xuan were waiting for the bus, where he praised her beauty before asking to borrow her bus card. Just as Ye Xuan, feigning annoyance, handed him her card, Hu Yani drove up and offered her a ride. Ye Xuan accepted, getting into Hu Yani’s car.
Hu Yani revealed she had intentionally come to thank Ye Xuan, calling her a "great hero" for the significant increase in Zhejiang Jas Pouch's customers, showing her the impressive numbers on her phone. Ye Xuan expressed her enjoyment of Hu Yani's company. When Ye Xuan mentioned her address as Yuyuan Community, Hu Yani's smile briefly faltered, but she still drove her home. Upon arrival, Ye Xuan invited Hu Yani up for a drink.
As they exited the elevator, they encountered Li Zenan, who was going to dispose of trash. Hu Yani suggested they all go to Ye Xuan’s apartment. Inside, Ye Xuan went to the kitchen to prepare milk tea, leaving Li Zenan and Hu Yani in the living room. Li Zenan questioned why Hu Yani had assigned Ye Xuan to her project. Hu Yani retorted by asking what Li Zenan, known for his pickiness, saw in Ye Xuan.
Li Zenan asserted that Ye Xuan earned her project, while Hu Yani countered that she saw Ye Xuan's potential and proactively gave her the opportunity. Li Zenan then firmly declared Ye Xuan "his person" and asked Hu Yani to find another designer. Hu Yani, with a sarcastic tone, reminded him that he had used that exact phrase with her in the past.
She then proposed that if Li Zenan agreed to Aoke's cooperation with Zhejiang Jas Pouch, Ye Xuan could return to his project, dismissing his concern about Ye Xuan serving two Party As. After bringing out the milk tea, Ye Xuan tactfully excused herself to the bathroom.
Hu Yani then admitted to Li Zenan that she initially doubted Ye Xuan's abilities but now admired her greatly, especially the viral video she made with the photographer, declaring them her "royal CP," which visibly infuriated Li Zenan. Before leaving, Hu Yani made a pointed comment about Li Zenan's change from milk tea to Coke since their breakup, hinting at past intimacy. On her way out, she casually mentioned that something was burning in the kitchen.
Li Zenan rushed to turn off the gas, discovering Ye Xuan had forgotten to, creating an awkward silence between them. The next day, Yan Lina was vividly recounting Li Xinxia's embarrassing proposal to Li Zenan to their colleagues, emphasizing how Li Zenan had relentlessly challenged her. Li Xinxia suddenly appeared behind them and sternly called Ye Xuan to the conference room.
There, Li Xinxia admitted that her Aoke proposal had failed, and they needed another version immediately to avoid losing the crucial bean shell milk tea project. To everyone's surprise, Li Xinxia humbly sought Ye Xuan's advice on the design plan. Meanwhile, Zhou Feng, having seen the viral Zhejiang Jas Pouch video, confronted Li Zenan, informing him of Zhejiang Jas Pouch's five-million-dollar new media advertising budget.
He ordered Li Zenan to secure this project for Aoke, disregarding his past relationship with Hu Yani. Left with no other option, Li Zenan called Hu Yani, who, from a spa, instructed him to meet her there. Upon arrival, Li Zenan sincerely pitched Aoke as Zhejiang Jas Pouch's exclusive new media supplier, highlighting their expertise and promising to transform Hu Yani and her restaurant into an "online celebrity symbol" of the city.
He also apologized for his previous refusal to collaborate. However, the person on the spa bed was Amy, not Hu Yani. Hu Yani emerged, revealing she had made a bet with Amy about whether Li Zenan would recognize her, then sarcastically commented on how men change after a breakup.
Amy further informed Li Zenan that Zhejiang Jas Pouch was holding a competitive presentation for four 4A companies the next day, with Hu Yani's condition being that 88 Ed also participate as Aoke's executive company. After Ye Xuan finished helping Li Xinxia revise the plan, Li Xinxia thanked her, urging her to go home and rest while she stayed to work.
News of their unexpected reconciliation quickly spread, with He Yucheng and other colleagues playfully crediting Ye Xuan for successfully working with Li Xinxia. To celebrate, He Yucheng proposed a group dinner, suggesting Ye Xuan share the story of their newfound camaraderie. After some humorous banter about working without overtime pay, Xu Guoren generously offered to pay for the celebratory meal, announcing he had "something big" to discuss. He attempted to persuade Li Xinxia to join, but she politely declined, citing "family matters," though her colleagues insisted on her presence.
Episode 8 Recap
The team gathered for a company dinner, where Xu Guoren, known for his frugality, ordered a table full of vegetarian dishes. Many remarked on the "green" spread, jokingly calling him the stingiest boss in the industry. During the meal, Xu Guoren praised Ye Xuan and He Yucheng for their hard work on the Zhejiang Yaxuan case, and Ye Xuan for assisting Li Xinxia in securing the Aoke proposal.
However, he then announced the disappointing news that they had lost the Zhejiang Yaxuan project, as the client preferred a top domestic company. Ye Xuan immediately offered to try and convince Hu Yani again, but Xu Guoren confirmed he had exhausted all efforts. He then revealed a piece of good news: Aoke had agreed to let 88 Ed act as the executive company to continue working on the Zhejiang Yaxuan case.
Xu Guoren assigned Ye Xuan to lead this project, as she had been in charge from the beginning. He explained that they would be collaborating with Aoke for a competitive presentation to Hu Yani the following day, facing off against other leading domestic companies apart from Aoke Group. Ye Xuan declared her determination to secure the deal for 88 Ed.
After the celebratory toast, someone quipped about needing to "feed wolves meat" to unite them, leading Xu Guoren to eventually order some meat. As the dinner concluded, Xu Guoren and Li Xinxia left together. Yan Lina and He Yucheng departed separately, while Guo Tianlei claimed he had forgotten his keys at the office but secretly planned to sleep there to save money, aspiring to buy a house and marry his beloved Yueyue.
The narrator reflected on the diverse lives of people after work, emphasizing perseverance and moving forward. Later, Ye Xuan found herself unable to write a single word for the competitive presentation. She visited Li Zenan, bringing instant noodles she claimed were his favorite. Li Zenan corrected her, explaining that his "instant noodle day" was merely a weekly cheat day from his fitness regimen and offered her a salad instead.
Ye Xuan confessed she was stuck on the "entry point" for presenting Zhejiang Yaxuan and Hu Yani. Li Zenan showed her his own draft, explaining that Chinese cuisine, from a grand Manchu-Han banquet to simple instant noodles, is deeply interwoven with human emotion. He believed that people remember food not just for its taste but for the person who made it and the ambiance.
He proposed telling the story of Zhejiang Yaxuan from its "source," focusing on the history and legacy of each dish. Inspired by his words, Ye Xuan hurried back to write her proposal. The next morning, on the balcony, Ye Xuan enthusiastically read her draft to Li Zenan, even mimicking Hu Yani's voice.
Li Zenan took the manuscript and read a passage detailing Hu Yani's journey to find traditional folk chefs and a simple, heartfelt bowl of noodles that became particularly memorable. He affirmed that her manuscript was well-written, to which Ye Xuan, gazing at him, couldn't help but remark that he looked "a bit handsome." The outcome was positive: Hu Yani ultimately decided to partner with Aoke and 88 Ed, expressing her satisfaction after reviewing various proposals.
Surprised by the smooth success, Ye Xuan impulsively invited Li Zenan and He Yucheng to an amusement park. At the park, Ye Xuan wanted to ride the roller coaster but couldn't due to her high heels. Li Zenan and He Yucheng reluctantly boarded the ride together. Afterward, Ye Xuan expressed a desire to ride the Ferris wheel, but Li Zenan seemed hesitant, hinting at a fear of heights.
Their outing was cut short when Xu Guoren called Ye Xuan, informing her that Hu Yani wanted to shoot the first video the following day, requiring them to immediately return and prepare. Ye Xuan hastily began packing for the business trip while on a phone call with her mother, who reminded her to stay safe and send her location.
Li Zenan arrived and, after chiding her for packing too many unnecessary items, removed them from her large suitcase, declaring that they were "going to work, not on vacation." He then filled the empty space with his own belongings, asserting his authority as the "client." At the filming location, Hu Yani's styling was admired. Guo Tianlei, revealing his cost-saving measures, enlisted He Yucheng's help to move equipment, prompting He Yucheng to jokingly compare his stinginess to Xu Guoren's.
As filming preparations continued, a man unexpectedly appeared, demanding upfront payment for "field workers." Ye Xuan was about to comply, but Li Xinxia quickly intervened, recognizing the man as a fraud and sending him away. The filming of Hu Yani's first video went smoothly, with the director giving instructions for her hand gestures and camera focus. The shoot wrapped up successfully and ahead of schedule.
While Ye Xuan and Li Zenan were discussing the day's work, a prop behind them suddenly toppled. Li Zenan swiftly pulled Ye Xuan to safety, but she still sprained her ankle. He immediately carried her on his back and asked her to keep her injury a secret from the others. As everyone else prepared to leave, He Yucheng noticed Ye Xuan and Li Zenan were missing and went to look for them, finding Li Zenan carrying Ye Xuan back.
At the hospital, He Yucheng coached Ye Xuan to feign extreme pain to ensure Xu Guoren would cover her medical expenses. However, Li Zenan arrived and announced that Aoke would fully fund Ye Xuan's medical costs since her injury occurred during the shoot. Ye Xuan noticed he also had a minor hand injury, which he brushed off as nothing serious.
Undeterred, He Yucheng continued to instruct Ye Xuan to exaggerate her pain to the doctor, who, seeing through their "act," sternly informed them that the hospital would not partake in forging false medical records. The doctor confirmed Ye Xuan had suffered soft tissue damage but no broken bones, advising her to minimize walking. While He Yucheng went to fetch a wheelchair, Li Zenan unexpectedly picked up Ye Xuan and carried her out, leaving He Yucheng looking dejected upon his return.
Li Zenan then left, entrusting Ye Xuan to He Yucheng. As He Yucheng pushed Ye Xuan in the wheelchair, they encountered Xu Guoren and Li Xinxia. Xu Guoren casually referred to "our mom" being asleep at home, a revelation that stunned both He Yucheng and Ye Xuan as they exchanged surprised glances, realizing the unexpected connection between Li Xinxia and Xu Guoren. He Yucheng took Ye Xuan home, carefully applying a compress to her leg before leaving. Moments later, Li Zenan knocked on Ye Xuan's door and then entered, creating a tense atmosphere between him and the departing He Yucheng.
Episode 9 Recap
Li Zenan entered Ye Xuan's apartment, looking down at He Yucheng, who could only bid Ye Xuan farewell before leaving. Li Zenan, carrying groceries, explained that his home's gas was out and he needed to borrow her kitchen. Ye Xuan generously told him to use it, saying it was "originally his" anyway. Li Zenan attempted to cook boiled meat slices, mentioning a recent client in Sichuan cuisine, but found the dish too spicy.
Ye Xuan quickly stepped in to help, boasting that Sichuan cuisine was her specialty. After they finished cooking, Ye Xuan suggested taking a photo to commemorate their first time making a dish together, and they posed closely, creating a subtly intimate moment. While they ate, Li Zenan asked Ye Xuan about the next project, proposing 88 Ed for it.
The following morning, Ye Xuan's foot had recovered, and she remarked that youth was great, but upon seeing Li Zenan, she quickly pretended it still hurt. She needed to go to the editing room to review the film but was wary of Li Zenan's opinions. He promised not to interfere, prompting Ye Xuan to agree to let him accompany her.
At the editing room, Ye Xuan and He Yucheng were diligently working when Li Zenan, breaking his promise, began offering constant, contradictory opinions, much to He Yucheng's frustration. Ye Xuan quickly reminded Li Zenan. Annoyed, He Yucheng threw up his hands and declared they should just follow Party A's wishes. Ye Xuan suggested using Ji Ruxing's song for the background music, noting that he was an endorser and it suited the video well.
He Yucheng also reminded them to be mindful of copyright. After the film was finalized, both Li Zenan and He Yucheng vied to drive Ye Xuan home. Caught in an awkward position, Ye Xuan ultimately chose Li Zenan, explaining to He Yucheng that she needed to prioritize Party A. On the drive back, Li Zenan tried to discuss the promotional video's direction, making suggestions that Ye Xuan found vague and unnecessary, leaving her speechless.
Later that evening, He Yucheng called Ye Xuan to tell her that she had gone viral. A video of her falling and Li Zenan saving her had been uploaded by a passerby and shared online, leading to widespread speculation about them as a couple. At the office, colleagues Guo Tianlei and Yan Lina openly encouraged Ye Xuan and Li Zenan to get together, but He Yucheng, clearly upset, interjected that he thought they were incompatible.
Li Xinxia then sternly reminded everyone of the industry rule forbidding romantic relationships between Party A and Party B, warning of severe consequences. Mao Tianyu also saw the viral video of Li Zenan's "hero saves the beauty" moment and jokingly asked him if he and Ye Xuan were truly dating. Li Zenan brushed him off and sent him back to work, but then he himself watched the video with a soft, affectionate smile.
The office was then visited by an elderly woman, who introduced herself as Xu Guoren’s mother and asked for her daughter-in-law, Li Xinxia, inadvertently revealing that Xu Guoren and Li Xinxia were married. The other employees were stunned, quickly making excuses to clear the room, while Ye Xuan and He Yucheng exchanged knowing glances, confirming their suspicions from seeing the couple at the hospital earlier. Xu's mother had brought chicken soup for Li Xinxia.
Xu Guoren and Li Xinxia admitted they had initially wanted to keep their relationship private, but since everyone now knew, there was no longer a need to hide it. The recently uploaded video had performed well, and everyone was preparing to celebrate when a legal letter arrived. They were being sued for copyright infringement by Ji Ruxing's company because his music was used in the video without a license.
Ye Xuan recalled that the sample she showed Li Xinxia was un-soundtracked. She explained that she had suggested Ji Ruxing's music and mentioned the copyright issue to Li Xinxia at the time, assuming Li Xinxia had handled it because she seemed satisfied with the music choice. While Ye Xuan acknowledged her own significant responsibility as project lead, she also noted that Li Xinxia was the final approver.
He Yucheng stepped in to defend Ye Xuan, stating that the immediate priority was to resolve the issue, not assign blame. Guo Feng called Xu Guoren and Ye Xuan to a meeting, informing them the video had been taken down due to the copyright issue. Ye Xuan asked for more time to secure the music rights, despite Guo Feng's warning that Ji Ruxing's agency was notoriously difficult to deal with, and Ji Ruxing himself had a strange personality.
Ye Xuan confidently guaranteed she would obtain the rights, and Guo Feng gave them three days, after which they would proceed according to the contract. However, as soon as Ye Xuan and Xu Guoren left, Guo Feng instructed Li Zenan to begin drafting a compensation agreement, reminding him to remember his identity as Party A. Meanwhile, Yan Lina, searching for a contract, discovered something in Li Xinxia's drawer, realizing Li Xinxia was pregnant.
She quickly took over Li Xinxia's physically demanding tasks, like changing water bottles, and advised her to drink her mother-in-law's chicken soup. Separately, Li Zenan consulted a lawyer, who confirmed that the only solution was to negotiate directly with the opposing party. Hu Yani invited a despondent Ye Xuan to dinner, encouraging her to eat well regardless of the challenges, explaining that "eating well means you can continue to fight."
Coincidentally, Li Xinxia and her mother-in-law were at the same restaurant. Ye Xuan overheard Li Xinxia’s mother-in-law mentioning that Li Xinxia shouldn’t be picky with food for the sake of the baby, revealing the pregnancy to Ye Xuan, who was visibly shocked. After an awkward glance between the two groups, Hu Yani, noticing Li Xinxia's strong sense of self-esteem, prevented Ye Xuan from approaching her.
Feeling down about the day's events, He Yucheng took Ye Xuan to the rooftop to clear her head. There, Ye Xuan expressed her sadness and vulnerability, lamenting that despite being in a big city, she didn't even own a small house. Later, on a phone call with her mother, Ye Xuan put on a brave face, assuring her that she was doing well, had taken on a big project, and was respected at work.
Li Zenan overheard this call and teased her about eating steak. Privately, Ye Xuan admitted to Li Zenan that she felt unsure about resolving the Ji Ruxing issue, and Li Zenan regretfully stated that Aoke's existing partnership with Ji Ruxing prevented him from directly assisting them, meaning she had to handle it herself. However, he did help by finding Ji Ruxing’s current itinerary.
Ye Xuan quickly informed Li Xinxia that she was going to Duxi Hotel on Yajing Road, where Ji Ruxing was currently being interviewed with his agent. Li Xinxia, sensing Ye Xuan's anxiety, handed her some marshmallows, explaining they help with nervousness and offering encouragement. At the Duxi Hotel, Ye Xuan found herself blocked by security and a crowd of fans. She called Li Zenan, telling him she couldn't get in and planned to wait outside indefinitely.
Li Zenan told her to wait in the lobby and he would come. Just as he was about to leave, Li Zenan heard He Yucheng's name mentioned on the phone, suggesting He Yucheng was also at the hotel.
Episode 10 Recap
He Yucheng took Ye Xuan to dinner, telling her that he had also invited a friend, Ji Ruxing. Ye Xuan's eyes lit up with excitement, but after waiting an hour and Ji Ruxing still not arriving, she started to doubt if He Yucheng truly knew the idol. She even declared she would tell Ji Ruxing directly that she was going to "unfan" him when he arrived.
Soon after, a crowd of fans could be heard, and Ji Ruxing entered the private room. After a playful exchange with He Yucheng, he naturally sat down to eat, leaving Ye Xuan stunned. Ji Ruxing generously offered not to pursue the copyright issue, stating he would even give them all his songs if they added two more plates of meat.
Ye Xuan later took a photo with Ji Ruxing and showed it to Yan Lina, who then eagerly tried to curry favor with He Yucheng, expressing her desire to meet Ji Ruxing. Meanwhile, Guo Tianlei felt that Xu Guoren and Li Xinxia had been acting strangely, believing they were hiding something. Ye Xuan and Yan Lina exchanged knowing glances. Because of the copyright issue, Aoke's reputation in the industry suffered.
Mr. Zhou reiterated to Li Zenan that if a collaborating company's capabilities were limited, there was no need to continue the partnership to avoid future criticism, and Li Zenan acknowledged this. The Zhejiang Jas Pouch video account had been experiencing low traffic and negative comments. Hu Yani was away on a business trip and had Ye Xuan fill in, but audiences were not receptive to the change, causing the account's popularity to decline.
Li Zenan immediately called a halt to the videos and contacted Hu Yani. As Party A, Hu Yani was uncooperative, stating that solving the traffic problem was Li Zenan's responsibility. Li Zenan went to 88 Ed to find Ye Xuan, who was about to continue filming with He Yucheng. With a stern face, Li Zenan told them to stop filming, asserting that their actions would only destroy Zhejiang Jas Pouch, and his tone was harsh.
Ye Xuan decided she wouldn't record anymore, but Li Zenan stopped her, insisting they discuss the plan. Ye Xuan was already upset, and Li Zenan's words made her feel even more wronged. He Yucheng, defending Ye Xuan, angrily showed Li Zenan her detailed, tightly-packed notebook, revealing that she had been staying up late every night for Zhejiang Jas Pouch's operations, something Li Zenan, her neighbor, was unaware of. He then rushed after Ye Xuan.
Feeling a pang of concern after Ye Xuan's tearful accusations, Li Zenan messaged her to apologize, but after a long pause, he still inquired about the progress of her proposal. Ye Xuan, who was having steak dinner with He Yucheng, was overwhelmed by the message. He Yucheng advised her to separate life from work, reminding her that she needed to eat well to have the energy to strategize.
Ye Xuan considered Li Zenan's point valid and recognized Hu Yani's trust in her to manage the video channel. She decided she needed to work hard to live up to that trust. When Li Zenan hadn't received a reply from Ye Xuan for a while, he was about to call her when she arrived at his door to apologize for the day's events and ask for another chance.
Li Zenan also apologized, admitting his fault, and hinted that their relationship wasn't just limited to Party A and Party B. Feeling down, Ye Xuan expressed a desire for beer to numb herself, so Li Zenan found two cans in his fridge. Ye Xuan then found dried noodles in his kitchen and cooked Sichuan shredded chicken cold noodles, which they ate together.
When asked why he liked drawing comics, Li Zenan explained that as a child, with his parents working away, he was often alone at home and drew to entertain himself. Later, when he moved to Shanghai and was short on money, he began submitting his work to magazines for payment, gradually turning it into a habit.
Before going to bed, Ye Xuan received a message from Mao Tianyu, who explained that Mr. Zhou was very displeased with them and that Li Zenan had taken on all the pressure himself, which was why he had lost his temper with her. Ye Xuan tried to get Guo Tianlei to approve expenses for a male model, but he steadfastly refused, citing budget limitations.
Mr. Zhou considered assigning another team to the Zhejiang Jas Pouch project, but Li Zenan requested more time, assuring him he could resolve the ongoing popularity issues. Mr. Zhou agreed, observing that Zhejiang Jas Pouch's "good tea" indeed required Li Zenan's "cup" to be "just right." Li Zenan subsequently made Ye Xuan revise the proposal daily, leaving her mind consumed by work.
Yan Lina speculated that Li Zenan might genuinely like Ye Xuan, but quickly dismissed the idea, reasoning that if that were the case, Aoke and 88 Ed would have already formed a strategic partnership. As the two women were having a meal, Li Zenan entered the cafe. Ye Xuan and Yan Lina tried to sneak away, but Li Zenan spotted them, revealing he was there to supervise their upcoming shoot.
The male actor for the video then canceled at the last minute, throwing the team into a panic. Li Zenan offered to step in as a "guest chef." Ye Xuan worried this could cause him unnecessary trouble, but Li Zenan assured her he was not afraid of any complications.
He proficiently prepared Dongpo pork for the video, explaining that it was the first dish he learned to make, intending to cook it for the person he cared about most, while gazing meaningfully at Ye Xuan. He Yucheng conspicuously rolled his eyes. After filming, everyone gathered for a hot pot meal. Li Zenan's recently filmed video had become popular. Li Zenan, adhering to dietary restrictions, ate from a clear soup pot, which dampened everyone else's appetite.
They quickly found another pot and prepared a spicy hot pot base. Seeing Li Zenan looking a bit left out by the clear soup pot, Ye Xuan put a piece of meat from the spicy pot into his bowl. Yan Lina jokingly suggested they were dating, causing Ye Xuan to vehemently deny it. Later that night, Ye Xuan returned to the company to retrieve her forgotten lunchbox and heard strange noises. Li Zenan, hearing the commotion, quickly came in, but they found nothing amiss. From his hiding spot, Guo Tianlei breathed a sigh of relief after they left.
Episode 11 Recap
Days before payday, Ye Xuan, like many in the "moonlight clan," found herself in dire financial straits. Seeing her resorting to spicy strips for breakfast, Li Zenan kindly treated her to a hearty meal. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Ye Xuan playfully drafted a written promise, swearing to treat him to a lavish feast once she became rich. Li Zenan, finding her antics rather childish, nevertheless accepted her earnest gesture.
Later at the office, Ye Xuan dramatically recounted her encounter with a supposed thief the previous night, claiming Li Zenan's timely arrival had prevented her from calling the police. This prompted Yan Lina to suggest installing security cameras, a proposal Guo Tianlei immediately opposed.
Appearing uneasy, he offered to move into the office to guard 88 Ed himself, implying he needed the money for a down payment, but his suggestion was quickly rejected by the team, who believed the company's funds should benefit everyone, not just one individual. Xu Guoren then gathered everyone for an exciting announcement: 88 Ed had secured a commercial TV advertisement for Bean Shell Milk Tea.
The project boasted a significant budget and featured the popular celebrity Ji Ruxing, much to the delight of Ye Xuan and Yan Lina. To ensure the ad's success, Xu Guoren had hired the renowned advertising director Xiang Qian, known for his early fame and work with international brands, for a fee three times the market rate. The team scrambled to clean the office in anticipation of Xiang Qian's arrival for detailed discussions.
However, Xiang Qian proved to be notoriously unpunctual and difficult. He arrived late into the night, visibly intoxicated, complaining about not being picked up. After Xu Guoren's attempts at flattery, Xiang Qian, still in a drunken stupor, demanded foreign liquor. Resourcefully, Guo Tianlei instructed Ye Xuan to procure iced black tea and discreetly mix it with Erguotou to pacify him.
During their discussion, Xiang Qian laid out his stringent conditions: guaranteed budget, timeline, and equipment, the replacement of 88 Ed's production team with his own, a ban on anyone viewing the final cut before completion, and half of his remuneration paid upfront during the preparatory phase. He also belittled Guo Tianlei's past work, asserting that 88 Ed's team should merely observe and learn from his crew.
Everyone was upset by Xiang Qian's demands and questioned why Xu Guoren insisted on hiring him. Li Xinxia then clarified that the client's true interest lay in Xiang Qian's reputation, not 88 Ed's, which explained Xiang Qian's audacious demands, and Xu Guoren reluctantly agreed to his terms. Mao Tianyu expressed concerns to Li Zenan about 88 Ed handling the high-profile project, particularly given Xiang Qian's reputation for being difficult.
Li Zenan, worried that Ye Xuan and her team might struggle, proposed personally overseeing the production. Mao Tianyu teased him, suggesting his concern stemmed from romantic interest in Ye Xuan, which startled Li Zenan, causing him to spit coffee and accidentally stain Ye Xuan's cherished written promise. Enraged, Li Zenan promptly ejected Mao Tianyu from his office.
Xiang Qian further imposed unreasonable demands, including a motorhome, a maximum six-hour workday with overtime pay, and meals featuring no fewer than ten dishes. Despite these excessive requests, Xu Guoren continued to tolerate them. Ye Xuan confided in Li Zenan, feeling that their role had devolved from Party A to being even lower than Party B in front of Xiang Qian.
Li Zenan reassured her, explaining that enduring this humiliation would elevate 88 Ed to a top-tier domestic supplier and attract more renowned directors, making the current grievances a worthwhile sacrifice for greater value. When Guo Tianlei was unable to provide a motorhome as demanded, Xiang Qian abruptly halted production and insisted on an overtime payment for the delay. The escalating costs had already depleted the company's emergency funds and absorbed everyone's salaries.
Xu Guoren, contemplating bearing all the losses himself and discussing it with Aoke, was stopped by a furious Guo Tianlei. Guo Tianlei, unable to stomach the injustice, defiantly presented his 300,000 yuan house down payment, urging Xu Guoren to let them produce the ad themselves. Ye Xuan, He Yucheng, and Yan Lina quickly echoed his sentiment, offering to work without pay and confidently stating their ability to deliver.
Deeply moved, Xu Guoren initially hesitated to let them take such a risk, but the team’s unwavering solidarity and conviction that their intimate knowledge of the creative concept would guarantee success swayed him. He finally agreed, but Li Xinxia pointed out the critical absence of a director. Guo Tianlei then introduced an artistic bun shop owner, a friend with a distinctive look, to impersonate Xiang Qian.
Despite the owner's nervousness and protestations of never having watched TV, the team, led by Ye Xuan's emotional plea, convinced him. Xu Guoren quickly taught him four simple hand gestures—open palm for "start," scissors for "cut," fist for "hold," and a thumbs-up for "pass"—to navigate the shoot. The entire 88 Ed team worked tirelessly through the night, meticulously setting up the studio for the next day's shoot. On the day of filming, Ji Ruxing arrived at the set.
He Yucheng introduced the team members, including Ye Xuan as the art director. As filming commenced, Xu Guoren and Li Xinxia repeatedly whispered instructions to the fake director to minimize his dialogue. However, their nervous charade was almost exposed when Mr. Wang, accompanied by Li Zenan, arrived to oversee the production. The bun shop owner, overwhelmed by their presence, struggled to maintain the facade, fumbling his lines and gestures.
Xu Guoren subtly guided him with hand signals, but Li Zenan, observant, quickly noticed the discrepancy. During a break, Li Zenan, carrying a stack of lunchboxes, sat opposite Ye Xuan. Guo Tianlei, visibly panicked, made a hasty exit. Ye Xuan, flustered, tried to make small talk, but Li Zenan cut to the chase, directly asking her how much they had paid the "director." He acknowledged the danger if Mr. Wang discovered the deception and offered his assistance.
Their playful banter was not lost on He Yucheng, who watched them with evident sadness. As filming progressed, the fake director inevitably made more gaffes, but Li Zenan consistently stepped in, expertly providing artistic interpretations of the bun shop owner's unusual comments to Mr. Wang, effectively covering for the ongoing deception.
Episode 12 Recap
Mr. Wang questioned the authenticity of the director, demanding that the man he believed to be Director Xiang Qian answer him directly about his filmmaking experience. Startled, the fake director tried to excuse himself by saying he needed to use the restroom. Just then, Ji Ruxing intervened, reassuring Mr. Wang that "Director Xiang" was a renowned figure in their circle, a director she had collaborated with numerous times, always loving his work. Reassured, Mr. Wang permitted the filming to continue.
The commercial for Douke Milk Tea was eventually completed, and Mr. Wang acknowledged its quality. However, his suspicion returned, and he confronted Xu Guoren, realizing they had hired someone to impersonate Director Xiang Qian. The real Xiang Qian then appeared, furious at the impersonation, threatening to sue and immediately terminate the collaboration with 88 Ed, emphasizing the importance of integrity in business.
A dejected Xu Guoren returned to 88 Ed, where the hopeful faces of his team deepened his sense of disappointment. He bowed deeply, then, to everyone's surprise, announced that their film had been recognized by the client. He explained that when Mr. Wang was about to terminate the contract, Li Zenan had arrived, revealing Director Xiang Qian's past misconduct and arguing that he was unfit to direct the commercial.
Li Zenan also presented evidence that their commercial had been shortlisted for the finals of the Star Mang Advertising Competition. This turn of events meant that what seemed like a disaster had actually brought good fortune: the advertisement was acclaimed, and Aoke designated 88 Ed an S-class supplier. To celebrate, the team planned a dinner, but Ye Xuan excused herself, having already made plans with Li Zenan.
Later, Ye Xuan eagerly pointed out their commercial playing on a street advertisement, watching it intently. She mentioned how she had reviewed it hundreds of times during production, but seeing it publicly displayed felt "super good." She wondered if her mother would see it. Li Zenan found her reaction endearing, admitting he was even more excited when his first work aired, watching it alone for hours.
He explained that for an advertiser, the greatest achievement is seeing their work "hit the streets." He congratulated Ye Xuan on her swift success, noting it took him three years at Aoke to have his first credited work. Ye Xuan thanked Li Zenan, acknowledging that the project wouldn't have been possible without him. Li Zenan playfully asked how she would thank him, then suggested a hug. They embraced, celebrating their shared accomplishment.
Unbeknownst to them, a hidden camera captured this moment. That night, Ye Xuan was watching a horror movie when a power outage plunged her apartment into darkness, causing her to scream in terror. Li Zenan, her landlord, rushed to her door. He tried to fix the power but couldn't, promising to call property management later. Ye Xuan teased him, saying he'd be like a "robot" if he were always perfect.
Li Zenan then invited her to his apartment, but realized he had forgotten his keys. Ye Xuan, familiar with her building, easily climbed over the balcony to his unit, only to discover that Li Zenan had locked his balcony door from the inside. He confessed he locked it daily ever since he learned she could climb over. With the locksmith company unresponsive, Ye Xuan suggested Li Zenan sleep on her sofa and tossed him a blanket.
Li Zenan, too tall for the small sofa at nearly 1. 9 meters, was kept awake by outdoor cats. He tried to wake Ye Xuan to ask for an eye mask and earplugs, but she slept soundly. Admitting his fear of the dark, he resigned himself to sleeping on the floor next to her bed. The next morning, Ye Xuan accidentally stepped on him as she got out of bed, and both screamed in surprise.
Soon after, the property management, which Li Zenan had called earlier, arrived to address the power issue. The next day, Li Zenan still felt unwell. Mao Tianyu, upon hearing he had spent the night at Ye Xuan's, immediately made a teasing assumption, even offering to buy him supplements. Li Zenan denied it, clarifying they had slept separately. He then asked Mao Tianyu what young women think about, a question Mao Tianyu said all men wished they knew the answer to.
Mao Tianyu then probed about Li Zenan's relationship with Ye Xuan, but despite Li Zenan's denial, a subtle smile played on his lips when Ye Xuan's name was mentioned, which Mao Tianyu noticed before playfully leaving. Meanwhile, Ye Xuan, who had dozed off at her desk, was roused by Xu Guoren.
He informed her that the final payment from Aoke was a week overdue and asked her to personally visit Li Zenan to collect it, handing her a box of mooncakes as a gesture of sincerity. Ye Xuan, feeling troubled, ate at a convenience store. He Yucheng joined her, observing her reluctance to see Li Zenan. He correctly guessed that something must have happened between them the previous night, remarking on how obvious her discomfort was.
Ye Xuan expressed surprise, but He Yucheng's bitterness surfaced as he stopped himself from revealing his own feelings for her. Unable to articulate his unspoken love, He Yucheng left to "heal his heart" at a hotpot restaurant, confiding in a doll that if he couldn't give a girl happiness, he would give her his blessings.
At the same restaurant, a drunken Hu Yani was looking for a single young man, and the waiter, spotting He Yucheng, asked if he would be willing to share a table. The two drunkards, initially exchanging playful insults through their food, soon recognized each other. With a resolved mind, Ye Xuan arrived at Aoke with the mooncakes, but the receptionist informed her that Li Zenan was in a meeting and directed her to the pantry, giving her peculiar looks.
As she walked, she noticed many colleagues staring at her, making her feel uneasy. In the pantry, she checked her makeup, confirming it was fine, which only deepened her confusion. Unbeknownst to her, a photo of her embracing Li Zenan had been widely circulated online, leading to industry-wide rumors that 88 Ed's project was secured through "special means." During a meeting, Aoke leaders discussed the scandal.
Zhou Feng, visibly upset, instructed Li Zenan to contact the public relations department to manage the crisis, but another senior leader clarified that their primary concern wasn't the "ambiguous relationship" but a significant financial discrepancy: the commercial was quoted at 800,000 but cost less than 590,000, implying corruption on Li Zenan's part. Li Zenan presented detailed account statements, including all expenses related to Director Xiang Qian and even the funds advanced by all 88 Ed employees.
He asserted there were no "gray accounts" and that Aoke still owed 88 Ed the final payment. The leaders accepted his explanation for the finances but issued a stern warning that such incidents affected the company's image and leadership's bottom line. Any recurrence would have severe consequences for Li Zenan. Zhou Feng assured them he would handle the matter cautiously. Mao Tianyu found Ye Xuan and informed her about the anonymous email and Li Zenan's meeting with the "big boss."
When Ye Xuan expressed a desire to clarify things, Mao Tianyu warned her against it, stating she was now "the public enemy of all Aoke" and should worry about herself. Ye Xuan, despite her nervousness, insisted she still needed to collect the final payment. Meanwhile, Li Zenan, back in his office with Zhou Feng, covertly messaged Mao Tianyu, instructing him to escort Ye Xuan out.
Zhou Feng then steered the conversation to a former employee who was dismissed for similar issues, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's position. He directly asked Li Zenan about his relationship with "that girl." Li Zenan admitted he was both her Party A and her landlord. Zhou Feng then reminded Li Zenan, his protégé, that he should know "what to keep and what to let go" and explicitly advised him to maintain distance from Ye Xuan, asking for his assurance.
Episode 13 Recap
Li Zenan refused his master Zhou Feng's request to distance himself from Ye Xuan, stating he could not make such a promise. As a result, he was tasked with organizing files as a punishment. Mao Tianyu found Li Zenan there and joked about sacrificing his own charm to help Ye Xuan escape, but assured Li Zenan that Ye Xuan was safely out. Li Zenan, however, remained troubled, suspecting that the recent paparazzi incident was an inside job within their company.
Mao Tianyu concurred, suggesting they investigate. Later that evening, Ye Xuan, worried about Li Zenan, anxiously waited for him to return home. She tried calling him, and when he finally answered, they met on their balconies. Concerned about further exposure and its impact on his career at Aoke Group, Ye Xuan proposed they maintain a strict distance, perhaps ten meters apart. Li Zenan pulled her closer, noting her concern for him.
He apologized and assured her he would handle the situation. Ye Xuan suggested they could explain their relationship to everyone as simply business partners and ordinary neighbors. Li Zenan was visibly disappointed by her characterization of their bond. That night, Ye Xuan dreamt of confessing her love to Li Zenan and wanting him as her boyfriend, only to wake up to the stark reality of their differences, leaving her with a bittersweet feeling.
Meanwhile, Li Zenan was engrossed in drawing a comic about their story, which he titled "Party B Who Lives Next Door." The next morning, Li Zenan, suffering from a full-body allergy rash, woke Ye Xuan, asking her to accompany him to buy medicine. He threatened to call Xu Guoren about a case revision if she didn't comply, prompting Ye Xuan to reluctantly agree.
On their way back, they encountered Hu Yani, who, noticing their intimacy, immediately assumed they were a couple and congratulated them on their fast progress. Ye Xuan tried to explain that Li Zenan was simply allergic and they were just neighbors, but Li Zenan remained silent, seeming to enjoy the misunderstanding. Hu Yani mentioned she was busy with renovations for the second Zhe Ya Xuan store and wondered if the Aoke situation might cause problems for their business.
After their encounter, Li Zenan insisted Ye Xuan cook for him, claiming instant noodles or takeout wouldn't help his allergies heal. Ye Xuan, annoyed, begrudgingly went to cook, feeling exploited despite their relationship no longer being strictly professional. Elsewhere, He Yucheng was pestered by his mother about blind dates, but he tried to put her off, mentioning a fictional girlfriend, Xiao Hong.
At a blind date corner, Hu Yani, who was looking to hire a famous Jiangzhe cuisine chef for Zhe Ya Xuan, enlisted Ye Xuan's help. The chef refused to work until his son found a partner, so Hu Yani offered 88 Ed all marketing and promotion for the next three years if Ye Xuan could facilitate a match. Ye Xuan was thrust into the bustling blind date corner, quickly surrounded by matchmakers.
She obtained the chef's conditions, which included a blind date with his son. To avoid the actual blind date, Ye Xuan cleverly invited her colleague, Lina, to pose as her. Lina and the chef's son hit it off, successfully securing the chef for Zhe Ya Xuan. Upon seeing Ye Xuan's social media posts about her popularity at the blind date corner, Li Zenan grew jealous and sarcastically announced he would visit the blind date corner himself the next day.
Ye Xuan retorted and continued to chat with the chef's son in front of a frustrated Li Zenan. The following day, Xu Guoren was in high spirits, having landed the Huanongyuan Hotel advertising project. He confirmed that all advertising accounts were in order and the public relations campaign was effective, though rumors about Li Zenan's difficult situation at Aoke still circulated. On their way to meet the Huanongyuan client, Xu Guoren asked Ye Xuan to check his phone.
She accidentally stumbled upon a group chat with derogatory comments about her and Li Zenan, alleging that 88 Ed had secured the Aoke project through her "special means." Xu Guoren promptly defended Ye Xuan in the chat, telling her to disregard the gossip as she was a valuable employee. He Yucheng's blind date that day was Hu Yani.
Meanwhile, Zhou Feng informed Li Zenan that he would soon be transferred to headquarters and intended to fully support Li Zenan in taking over his position. However, he strongly advised Li Zenan to prioritize his career over personal relationships, suggesting that once his position was secure, he would have no trouble finding a suitable partner. At the client meeting, Xu Guoren and Ye Xuan met Mr. Lin of Huanongyuan. During dinner, Mr. Lin's gaze lingered on Ye Xuan.
He praised 88 Ed's previous campaigns, especially Zhe Ya Xuan's, in which Ye Xuan confirmed her involvement. Mr. Lin then made a specific request: he wanted the person who handled the Aoke account to manage his project, and insisted that Ye Xuan personally deliver the contract, citing his meticulous work style and desire to discuss advertisement details directly with her. Xu Guoren and Ye Xuan, pleased with the new project, readily agreed.
Later, as Ye Xuan returned from the restroom, Mr. Lin deliberately took her hand and caressed it suggestively. Ye Xuan realized with growing disgust that Mr. Lin, influenced by the industry rumors, believed she had used "improper means" to advance her career and was now making inappropriate advances. She recognized his implied threat to the advertising deal if she didn't comply.
Episode 14 Recap
At a dinner, Mr. Lin verbally attacked Ye Xuan, accusing her of using illicit means to secure Aoke’s project. Witnessing this, Li Zenan immediately confronted Mr. Lin, retaliating physically. Xu Guoren rushed in, seemingly bewildered, and promptly escorted Mr. Lin back to a private room. Initially, Xu Guoren thought Ye Xuan was to blame for the altercation.
However, Mr. Lin’s subsequent vulgar rant, in which he spoke disrespectfully about women and accused Ye Xuan of illicit dealings, made Xu Guoren realize the truth. Angered by Mr. Lin’s hypocrisy and insults, Xu Guoren closed the private room door and then beat him up. Afterward, Li Zenan checked if Ye Xuan was alright, and she confirmed she was fine. Li Zenan later informed Zhou Feng that he had made a clear decision about their earlier conversation: he was resigning.
He stated he would submit his resignation report by email the next morning. Zhou Feng, surprised by this, asked what Li Zenan truly desired. Li Zenan responded that while he hadn't known before, he did now, and would steadily pursue his new goals. He thanked Zhou Feng for his mentorship. As they left, Li Zenan took Ye Xuan’s hand.
Ye Xuan reflected that the world felt vast, where no one would notice an ordinary person like her, yet in that moment, it also felt intimately small, as if all the world’s fortune had descended upon her. She acknowledged not fully understanding "love" but knew she wanted to walk hand-in-hand with Li Zenan forever. Li Zenan assured Ye Xuan that her safety was the greatest blessing of the day.
Ye Xuan confessed that she had been terrified when she stood up to Mr. Lin, worrying about losing her job and the project, and how she would manage in Shanghai. Yet, she concluded that even if she ended up on the streets, she wouldn't let that scoundrel get away with it. Li Zenan jokingly reassured her about paying rent. Ye Xuan then asked if he found her impulsive for intervening.
Li Zenan admitted "a little bit," wondering what she would have done if she were alone. He then shared his own experience upon first arriving in Shanghai. He often ate at Sister Xia's restaurant, appreciating her cooking as a treat during his penniless days. He recalled an incident where two drunk men harassed Sister Xia, and despite his hands trembling, he stood up for her. Sister Xia confirmed the story, adding that he nearly got disfigured.
Moved, Ye Xuan commented that fewer people were willing to stand up for others these days. Li Zenan, taking a sip of wine, earnestly told her, "You're no one else." The tender moment was quickly defused when he teasingly reminded her she was his tenant and he needed her proposals. Li Zenan, however, privately reflected on the difficulties women face alone in the city, fearing they might lose hope without support.
He expressed his desire for Ye Xuan never to lose her youthful courage, a quality he deeply admired. The following morning, Ye Xuan arrived at the office early, determined to pursue legal action against Mr. Lin if he caused further trouble. She told Yan Lina not to be afraid if anyone came to cause a scene, as she would handle it.
Shortly after, the manager of Huanongyuan called, offering apologies and explaining that Mr. Lin was hospitalized but would apologize in person once recovered. Xu Guoren, overhearing, took the phone and forcefully rejected their apology, stating they would not be cooperating with Huanongyuan. Ye Xuan was taken aback. When Yan Lina looked confused, Xu Guoren fabricated an excuse, claiming Huanongyuan’s scale was insufficient for their company, which had partnered with Aoke.
Later, Ye Xuan apologized to Xu Guoren for any negative impact on their business. He reassured her that it wasn't her fault, as they disdained cooperating with such a company. He advised her to protect herself by gathering evidence against "respectable devils" and suing them until they were ruined. He then urged her to secure the new Zhejiang Ya Xuan store project by "holding Hu Yani’s thigh."
Xu Guoren also continued to follow the web series "The Tenant Next Door," finding the latest updated plot very familiar but without any suspicion. The news of Li Zenan’s resignation was hardest for Mao Tianyu, who, unable to get a clear explanation, declared he would also resign and follow Li Zenan "to the ends of the earth."
Li Zenan chuckled, clarifying he was joking about Mao Tianyu being fired, and instructed him to remain at the company, promising to take him along once he had settled everything. He Yucheng debuted a new, strikingly retro haircut, which Ye Xuan found amusing. Her amusement quickly turned to surprise when Hu Yani appeared with an even more retro hairstyle.
Hu Yani explained to Ye Xuan that her business partner had suddenly withdrawn funding, causing a capital crunch for her new restaurant. This led her to seek investors through blind dates, where she encountered "all sorts of strange individuals." She recounted a particularly disastrous blind date with a boastful man whom He Yucheng, seated at a nearby table, overheard. He Yucheng intervened by pulling Hu Yani away, accidentally disarranging her hair, and took her to Uncle Zhang's barbershop.
Despite Hu Yani’s intention to simply wash her hair, she was persuaded by Uncle Zhang and He Yucheng to get a perm, resulting in a voluminous, retro style jokingly called "money rolling in." As immediate revenge, Hu Yani insisted He Yucheng also get a new perm, leading him to sport a similar, equally retro look. Li Zenan packed his belongings, preparing to leave.
Zhou Feng reflected on their seven-year mentor-protégé relationship, admitting he hadn't always been fair, recalling an instance where he had unfairly blamed Li Zenan for a failed project. Li Zenan, however, dismissed the past, thanking Zhou Feng for his cultivation and addressing him as "master" for the final time. Before exiting, Li Zenan recommended Ye Xuan to the Design Department. Upon returning home, Ye Xuan found Li Zenan eating noodles by the roadside.
Learning of his resignation, she mistakenly assumed he had been fired due to their recent troubles. Li Zenan quickly clarified that it was his personal decision. However, Ye Xuan became increasingly anxious when he stated his immediate plan was merely to "play," worrying about his finances and the long-term implications of leaving his director position. She even urged him to reconsider his decision.
Still concerned that Li Zenan had resigned because of her, Ye Xuan began searching online for job openings for him. To her delight and surprise, she found an invitation for an interview at Aoke in her email, feeling as though she had been "hit by a pie." The next day, Ye Xuan presented Li Zenan with the list of job postings she had diligently prepared overnight, urging him to apply for each one.
Li Zenan, however, barely glanced at the list, insisting that if she truly wanted to help him, she should accompany him on an outing. They embarked on a hike, but Li Zenan soon collapsed halfway up the mountain, claiming exhaustion and expressing a desire to go home. Ye Xuan playfully teased him for being "weak." To prove her wrong, Li Zenan immediately got up, took all their gear, and with great effort, made it to the summit.
Just as they prepared to camp, it started raining. Li Zenan, determined to use a tent he had bought seven years ago but never used, insisted on camping in the rain. Seeing his unwavering resolve, Ye Xuan, unable to make him abandon his rain-soaked plan, eventually set up the tent indoors at home, adorning it with fairy lights. She then invited a surprised Li Zenan inside, telling him they could comfortably enjoy camping and stargazing right there at home.
Episode 15 Recap
Ye Xuan, feeling a sudden intimate atmosphere with Li Zenan, nervously suggested getting some food, but Li Zenan stopped her, saying he only wanted her to lie down and chat with him. Li Zenan revealed that he, like Ye Xuan, had studied design but initially joined Aoke's marketing department to establish himself quickly in Shanghai. He had made a bet with himself to return to design after seven years, and this year marked that seventh year.
His resignation was merely the beginning of his pursuit of his dream. Ye Xuan admitted feeling lost, wondering if she was even good at design. She then showed Li Zenan Aoke's job offer, expressing her dilemma, as she didn't want to seem ungrateful to 88 Ed. Li Zenan told her that 88 Ed had reached its limit for her, but for her, this was just the beginning. She would face many more choices in the future.
Ye Xuan, seeing his conviction, asked if he had ever been confused, to which he replied that when he first arrived in the city, there was no time for confusion. Emboldened, Ye Xuan decided to face the challenge and went to Aoke to interview with Wu Kai, the new Marketing Director. Wu Kai initially rejected her, stating that she was from the design department and he didn't want to poach talent from there.
However, just as Ye Xuan was leaving, Wu Kai's assistant abruptly quit, clearing the way for Ye Xuan to successfully join the marketing department. Back at 88 Ed, Xu Guoren announced Ye Xuan's promotion to "First Senior Preparatory Chief Designer" and encouraged her to continue her hard work. Ye Xuan's brief moment of emotion quickly turned to disappointment when she realized her raise was only 100 yuan.
Meanwhile, Aoke's offer included double her current salary, along with various benefits and an annual overseas team-building trip. Feeling conflicted, Ye Xuan requested a few more days to consider. Li Zenan advised her to trust herself, saying she would never know if her decision was right unless she made a choice. Later, Guo Tianlei unexpectedly discovered Ye Xuan's resignation letter. At the same time, Aoke called, pressing Ye Xuan to accept the offer soon or risk forfeiture.
Ye Xuan was unsure how to explain herself to Guo Tianlei, but he openly told her that if he were in her shoes, he would leave immediately. He stressed that Aoke was a much larger platform where she could learn more and go further in her career. Carrying the resignation letter, Ye Xuan hesitantly entered Xu Guoren's office, only to find him consulting with a lawyer.
Xu Guoren was passionately discussing suing the individual who had sexually harassed Ye Xuan, vowing to support her. This display of kindness deeply moved Ye Xuan, making her feel incredibly ungrateful for contemplating leaving the company. Despite her attempts to hide it, Xu Guoren spotted the resignation letter behind her back.
He was incredulous at her intention to resign, and when he learned her next potential employer was Aoke's marketing department, he became deflated and asked her to leave his office so he could process the news. He Yucheng, having heard about Ye Xuan's potential resignation, sought her out. He observed that they had grown distant, as she used to tell him everything immediately. Ye Xuan smiled, affirming that He Yucheng was her first and best friend in Shanghai.
She expressed her reluctance to leave her colleagues at 88 Ed. He Yucheng told her that if she stayed simply out of sentiment, it might not be what her friends truly wanted, and assured her of his support regardless of her decision. Separately, Guo Tianlei spoke with Xu Guoren, agreeing that Ye Xuan should move on.
Xu Guoren also conceded that Aoke, being a large corporation, was a better fit for Ye Xuan's talents, acknowledging that "there are no permanent goodbyes." After consoling Ye Xuan, He Yucheng received a call from his family regarding a tenant who wanted to significantly alter the property layout. He humorously remarked that his family was so "poor they only had money left," and was surprised to learn the tenant was Hu Yani of Zheyaxuan.
He later encountered Hu Yani at a hair salon. She was frustrated, complaining about her superstitious landlord preventing her from renovating her second shop. After his haircut, Hu Yani playfully called He Yucheng a "kid" and advised him to pay attention to his hairline, giving him an idea. He Yucheng then called his family, promising to handle the difficult tenant.
Ye Xuan's mother called, encouraging her to try Aoke, reminding her that the workplace is not about personal friendships and not to be overly emotional. Shortly after, Li Xinxia arrived at Ye Xuan's home. Ye Xuan initially thought there was a work problem, but Li Xinxia was there to discuss the Aoke opportunity. Li Xinxia emphasized that Aoke was a dream for any advertising professional and that, from every perspective, Ye Xuan should go.
She explained that Xu Guoren, being too emotional to dismiss Ye Xuan himself, had sent her to "be the bad guy." Li Xinxia then formally presented Ye Xuan with a termination letter, ensuring she could move forward without guilt, affirming that 88 Ed would always be her home. Ye Xuan was deeply touched and emotional.
Li Zenan then revealed to Ye Xuan that Xu Guoren and Li Xinxia were also former Aoke employees, in the marketing and design departments respectively, before they resigned to establish 88 Ed. This explained why Zhou Feng had entrusted them with the "Douke Milk Tea" project, as Xu Guoren had a strong reputation in the industry. Li Zenan encouraged Ye Xuan to pursue her dreams, given everyone's support. Ye Xuan clarified that she was joining Aoke's marketing department, not design.
She expressed her desire to shift from being a "Party B" designer to a "Party A" decision-maker, preferring to engage with clients, understand brand stories, and guide a brand's future direction, aspiring to become a "Director Ye" as formidable as Director Li. Li Zenan simply warned her that the new marketing director was not easy to deal with and wished her good luck. Ye Xuan's mother called again, announcing her imminent arrival in Shanghai the next day, causing Ye Xuan to jump in alarm as she looked around her messy apartment.
Episode 16 Recap
Ye Xuan received a phone call from her mother, who announced she would be arriving in Shanghai the next day, catching Ye Xuan completely off guard. Panicked by her messy apartment, Ye Xuan frantically shoved clothes into her closet to tidy up. Her neighbor, Li Zenan, disturbed by the commotion, knocked on her door.
Ye Xuan was busy cleaning because she had previously told her mother that her apartment was luxurious, spacious, and spotless, a "white lie" she confessed to Li Zenan. Ye Xuan asked Li Zenan to help her cram the remaining clothes into the closet, but their combined effort accidentally tore the closet door off its hinges. Seeing her predicament, Ye Xuan tried to persuade Li Zenan to let her stay at his place.
He initially resisted, even as she playfully banged on his door and threatened to "hit herself to death" if he didn't comply. Eventually, he relented, and Li Zenan reluctantly agreed to swap apartments with Ye Xuan for a few days to help her maintain the illusion for her mother. However, Li Zenan was dismayed to find a mountain of Ye Xuan's belongings already moved into his apartment.
Ye Xuan, however, left him to sort through the chaos alone, saying she needed to pack her own necessities and thanking "Boss Li" before rushing off. After Li Zenan tidied up Ye Xuan's apartment (the messy one he was temporarily occupying), he went to his own apartment, where Ye Xuan was already fast asleep on the sofa. He gently covered her with a piece of clothing.
He was looking for his razor, and as Ye Xuan tried to help him, she stumbled, falling into his arms. The moment was charged with an unspoken tension, which Ye Xuan quickly diffused by suggesting they go out for dinner and pick up some groceries to make her temporary home look presentable before her mother arrived. The next day, Li Zenan drove Ye Xuan to the high-speed rail station to pick up her mother.
Upon spotting her mother, Ye Xuan hastily urged Li Zenan to leave, saying she and her mother could take a taxi home. Sensing her discomfort, Li Zenan, ever the quick thinker, got out of his car and approached them, pretending to have "coincidentally" run into them at the station. He greeted Ye Xuan's mother, who was pleased to meet him, and offered them a ride home, which she readily accepted.
During the drive, Ye Xuan's mother openly admired Li Zenan, telling Ye Xuan that she should find a capable boyfriend in Shanghai and settle down so her mother could move in with her. She then began to subtly probe Li Zenan about his background, discovering he was not only Ye Xuan's former colleague but also her neighbor, a fact that seemed to delight her even more. Ye Xuan repeatedly tried to distract her mother, clearly embarrassed by her matchmaking attempts.
Upon arriving at the apartment building, Ye Xuan struggled with her mother's heavy luggage, attempting to carry it up herself. However, Ye Xuan's mother enthusiastically called out to Li Zenan for help, which he promptly offered, ignoring Ye Xuan's silent pleas. Once they reached the door, Li Zenan instinctively reached for his keys to open "his" apartment, but Ye Xuan quickly pulled him back, preventing him from giving away their apartment swap.
Ye Xuan's mother then invited Li Zenan to stay for dinner. He politely declined, citing work, but under her expectant gaze, he revealed that he actually lived right across the hall. This only further endeared him to Ye Xuan's mother, who gushed about the "deep fate" between them. Ye Xuan, feeling exasperated, commented that her mother was judging him solely on his appearance. Meanwhile, Hu Yani was still dealing with her store's landlord issues.
She was frustrated to learn from the current occupant that they didn't hold the property deed. The occupant eventually provided her with the WeChat contact for the real landlord, He Yucheng. Hu Yani immediately messaged him, introducing herself as a tenant of Zhe Ya Xuan, but He Yucheng simply ignored her texts, dismissing her as having an "urgent temper." Back at Ye Xuan's apartment, her mother was very satisfied with her "luxurious" living space.
Later, knowing Li Zenan didn't like spicy food, she prepared a meal specifically catering to his taste, excluding the water-boiled meat slices Ye Xuan had hoped for. She then instructed Ye Xuan to invite him over for dinner. Throughout the meal, Ye Xuan's mother showered Li Zenan with attention, constantly serving him food, making Ye Xuan feel like an outsider. After dinner, Ye Xuan's mother asked if Li Zenan had a girlfriend, hoping to set him up with Ye Xuan.
To deter her mother's matchmaking efforts, Ye Xuan vaguely suggested that she didn't even know if he was interested in girls, noting his delicate silk pajamas and impeccable style. Though initially disappointed, her mother eventually conceded, concluding that if he "doesn't like girls," then there's "no cure." She told Ye Xuan that she wasn't pressuring her to find a partner, only that she wished for her daughter to find someone who would truly care for her.
As a divorced woman, she understood that ultimately, one must rely on oneself for happiness in this world. Hu Yani met He Yucheng for dinner. As they waited, a man approached Hu Yani, attempting to get her WeChat contact. He Yucheng quickly stepped in, claiming Hu Yani as his girlfriend and sending the man away. He then proposed to Hu Yani that she become his fake girlfriend to appease his mother, who constantly arranged blind dates for him.
The plan was simple: Hu Yani wouldn't even need to meet his mother, just have dinner with his "big-mouthed" cousin, who would spread the news. In exchange, He Yucheng offered to share the WeChat contact for his "National Warm Man" mother, whom Hu Yani hoped to secure investment from. Without hesitation, Hu Yani agreed to the arrangement. Separately, Xu Guoren, Ye Xuan's former boss, began interviewing candidates to fill positions at his company, 88 Ad.
He found that most applicants had high salary demands and were generally unsatisfactory. Later, at the market, Li Zenan encountered Ye Xuan, who was buying ribs to make soup for her mother. He gently stopped her, explaining that ribs weren't the best for medicinal soup, and proceeded to select more suitable ingredients like barrel bones and black-bone chicken. As Ye Xuan watched him, a wave of happiness washed over her.
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Ye Xuan's mother discovered a man's razor, sparking her suspicion about who else might be living there. When Ye Xuan and Li Zenan returned home, they found Ye Xuan's mother collapsed on the floor. They rushed her to the hospital, where the doctor informed them she suffered from severe iron-deficiency anemia, which caused her arrhythmia and sudden fainting spells. Ye Xuan was distraught, blaming herself for not paying enough attention to her mother's health.
The doctor reassured them that with a couple of days of rest, her condition would improve. Ye Xuan insisted on staying by her mother's side and urged Li Zenan to go home and rest. Concerned for her, Li Zenan returned home to prepare a nourishing soup before coming back to the hospital to support her.
Episode 17 Recap
Li Zenan returned to the hospital with the soup he had prepared, much to Ye Xuan's emotional gratitude. She confessed that she was beginning to doubt if coming to Shanghai was the right decision. After graduation, her uncle had arranged a stable job for her in Mianyang, but she had always yearned to see the wider world.
Her mother had supported her ambition, leading Ye Xuan to Shanghai, but now she regretted it, thinking she could have cared for her mother better if she had stayed home, rather than being unaware of her mother's illness. Suddenly, Mr. Wu called, demanding Ye Xuan come to the company immediately, regardless of what she was doing. Li Zenan reassured her, telling her to go and that he would handle things at the hospital.
Ye Xuan thanked him again, admitting she wouldn't know what to do without him by her side. The next day, Ye Xuan arrived at the hospital only to be informed that her mother, Zhang Hongying, had been moved to a different room. Li Zenan had arranged it, worried that the patient in the same room snored too much. Zhang Hongying, concerned about the expense, insisted on being discharged, but Ye Xuan, fearing for her health, refused.
This experience made Zhang Hongying even fonder of Li Zenan, and she even made sure to ask Li Zenan if he liked women, then reported this to Ye Xuan. Regarding a razor found at home, Ye Xuan explained it was hers for shaving her legs, which her mother reluctantly accepted, though she clearly sensed an unusual connection between Li Zenan and Ye Xuan.
Despite Ye Xuan’s repeated assertions that they were merely neighbors, her mother couldn't fathom a man being so attentive to someone he wasn't closely related to. Zhang Hongying expressed her worry for Ye Xuan, hoping she would be responsible for herself and others. Ye Xuan admitted she wanted to sort out her feelings quickly, but with changes in both their careers and her mother's arrival in Shanghai, she felt it wasn't the right time.
Her mother didn't press further, only advising Ye Xuan not to resist when love comes, and not to regret it if things don't work out after trying. Li Zenan confirmed to Ye Xuan that he hadn't told Zhang Hongying about them swapping apartments, which relieved Ye Xuan. She then explained that Mr. Wu had called her because he wanted to acquire shares in Zhejiang Jas Pouch while they were facing a funding shortage.
However, his terms were very demanding, putting Ye Xuan in a difficult position, but she felt obliged to follow her superior's instructions. Meanwhile, Xu Guoren was avidly following a comic series. After reading the latest update, he left his usual comment and was surprised to receive a message from the author, inviting him to meet. Excited, Xu Guoren arrived at the meeting spot and instinctively tried to hide when he saw Li Zenan there.
To his shock, Li Zenan walked directly towards him, revealing that he was indeed the author of "Party B Who Lives Next Door to Me" and stated his intention to apply for the design director position at 88 Ed. Later, noticing her mother’s worn clothes, Ye Xuan bought her a new dress. However, Zhang Hongying, seeing the price, refused it, insisting Ye Xuan return it, not wanting to be a burden on her daughter.
Ye Xuan was upset, just wanting to be good to her mother. Her mother’s constant worry that Ye Xuan couldn't take care of herself, let alone her, frustrated Ye Xuan. She felt that if she were wealthy, her mother might not refuse her kindness. Li Zenan advised Ye Xuan that parents are more perceptive than we think.
Even though Ye Xuan always told her mother she was eating lavish meals and living in a luxurious apartment, her mother could see through her bravado. The more Ye Xuan tried to appear strong, the more worried her mother would become. Li Zenan urged Ye Xuan to be honest and open about her real situation, which gave Ye Xuan a sense of clarity, realizing sincerity was the best approach.
That evening, as they shared drinks on the rooftop, Li Zenan, emboldened by alcohol, finally confessed his true feelings, saying, "I like you." The next morning, Ye Xuan and Li Zenan woke up in the same bed, only to be startled by Zhang Hongying standing at the foot of the bed. Enraged, Zhang Hongying grabbed a green onion and chased after them.
Li Zenan quickly explained that nothing had happened between him and Ye Xuan; they had both drunk too much the previous night, stumbled home together, and simply fell asleep in bed. Zhang Hongying reluctantly believed him, but warned them to know what was acceptable and what wasn't. Li Zenan suggested to Ye Xuan that she should still tell her mother about their apartment swap. Shortly after they returned home, Mao Tianyu arrived.
He clicked his tongue in disbelief upon learning Li Zenan had even changed apartments for Ye Xuan's sake, cautioning him that without a mutual confession or confirmed relationship, Ye Xuan might not actually like him, despite their closeness. Mao Tianyu then announced he had resigned and would now be working for Li Zenan. Hu Yani was astonished to hear that Ye Xuan had moved to the Aoke Marketing Department and Li Zenan had resigned.
Aoke wanted to invest in Zhejiang Jas Pouch, but Hu Yani steadfastly refused, unwilling to lose her freedom. The mention of a second branch angered her further, as she had finally discovered the landlord's identity: He Yucheng. Hu Yani immediately left Ye Xuan to confront him. Facing Hu Yani's full wrath, He Yucheng seemed a bit flustered, claiming he wanted to "bully" her back because she had always acted like an older sister, bossing him around.
Frustrated, Hu Yani pleaded with him for the property deed, as she urgently needed it to apply for a business license. He Yucheng acted coy, prompting Hu Yani to threaten to spread rumors to his cousin, claiming he had cheated her financially and emotionally before dumping her. This left He Yucheng speechless. Back at Aoke, Mr. Wu was unsurprised by Hu Yani's rejection, so he brought Ye Xuan to meet two other people: Xu Guoren and Li Zenan.
Ye Xuan was speechless at the sight. It was revealed that Li Zenan and Xu Guoren had partnered with Mr. Wu. Since Zhejiang Jas Pouch wouldn't accept Aoke's direct investment, 88 Ed would invest instead. Mr. Wu tasked them with securing Zhejiang Jas Pouch, promising 88 Ed all of Aoke's outsourcing projects for the next three years if they succeeded. Mr. Wu then left, instructing Ye Xuan to handle the liaison with Li Zenan. Xu Guoren, sensing the awkwardness, quickly excused himself, leaving Ye Xuan alone with Li Zenan.
Episode 18 Recap
Ye Xuan confronted Li Zenan about his surprising acquaintance with Wu Kai and his new role as 88 Ed’s design director. Li Zenan explained that he and Wu Kai had worked together previously and that he had applied to 88 Ed to pursue design. Xu Guoren, who had been actively recruiting, readily accepted him. Li Zenan and Xu Guoren reviewed 88 Ed’s recent projects and decided to continue their partnership with Aoke.
Li Zenan informed Wu Kai that Aoke alone couldn't sway Hu Yani, suggesting that Ye Xuan's involvement in the Zhejiang Jas Pouch project was merely a formality. Ye Xuan reacted with annoyance, calling them "old slickers." Li Zenan then revealed his agreement with Wu Kai: if he could convince Hu Yani, 88 Ed would secure the advertising for Zhejiang Jas Pouch.
He clarified that he joined 88 Ed because he wanted to focus on design and needed a highly cooperative team, believing he could elevate the company, even if it might not offer further growth for Ye Xuan. Li Zenan asserted they had many dreams to pursue, leaving no room for indecision. However, Ye Xuan’s anxiety boiled over, and she confessed her worries for him. The journey home was quiet.
After exiting the elevator, Li Zenan finally broke the silence, expressing his desire to speak with Ye Xuan. Ye Xuan, flustered, tried to dismiss their conversation from the previous night, claiming she didn't remember it. Li Zenan, however, insisted he was "very, very serious" about the question he had asked. Unable to give an answer, Ye Xuan stammered and rushed back to her apartment. Both spent the night waiting for the other to make a move.
Ye Xuan, distressed, consulted her friend Yan Lina, who prompted her to acknowledge her feelings. Realizing her heart wouldn't lie, Ye Xuan admitted she liked Li Zenan and wanted to be with him. Simultaneously, Mao Tianyu advised Li Zenan to be more gentle and patient, suggesting he invite Ye Xuan out.
Both opened their phones to text, but to Ye Xuan’s utter dismay, Li Zenan, seemingly oblivious to the romantic tension, messaged her about coordinating Zhejiang Jas Pouch's follow-up work the next day. The following morning, Ye Xuan made breakfast, delighting her mother who felt her daughter had matured. Ye Xuan then confessed the truth about living in Li Zenan’s apartment. Her mother, as Li Zenan had predicted, revealed she had already guessed, having known Ye Xuan since childhood.
She forgave Ye Xuan but urged her to be honest about future matters. In the hallway, Li Zenan offered Ye Xuan a ride, which she declined, preferring to take the subway. He then deliberately joined her in the elevator. Inside, Ye Xuan received a message from her mother, who, as an experienced observer, had sensed the awkwardness and correctly inferred that Li Zenan had confessed his feelings. Mortified, Ye Xuan quickly exited the elevator and hurried away.
That day, Ye Xuan officially started at Aoke Group. However, her first day was chaotic; she found no workstation and was immediately dispatched by Wu Kai to "handle Hu Yani," embarking on a long chase in high heels. At 88 Ed, Xu Guoren was organizing a grand welcome for a new colleague, praising the incoming individual. He kept the new hire’s identity a secret, even as his staff speculated.
Li Zenan called Xu Guoren, explaining he would be meeting with Hu Yani that morning and wouldn’t come to the office, requesting that his arrival be kept low-key. Xu Guoren promptly ordered the celebratory banner to be taken down. Meanwhile, Ye Xuan, who had anticipated Wu Kai's tough approach, confidently told Li Zenan that she had watched all the Hollywood workplace movies in preparation for Wu Kai's "duel."
Li Zenan warned her that many under Wu Kai, despite initial "naive fantasies," either ended up fired or quit, but Ye Xuan remained undeterred, declaring she would see it through, even if it meant "dying with him." Li Zenan then showed her the contract for Aoke’s investment in Zhejiang Jas Pouch, which he said contained the "most favorable conditions" he'd negotiated with Wu Kai after three hours, representing Aoke’s final concession.
Ye Xuan expressed a concern about one particular clause but affirmed her trust in "the most terrible Director Li." He Yucheng had tricked Hu Yani into meeting his mother instead of his cousin, announcing their imminent marriage, which nearly made Hu Yani choke. Afterwards, on the street, Hu Yani pursued He Yucheng, demanding the property deed. She sternly told him that meeting his mother was her bottom line and she wouldn't agree to anything else.
Their playful struggle for the deed led to them falling into a close, intimate embrace. They then arrived at Zhejiang Jas Pouch, surprised to find Ye Xuan and Li Zenan already there. The four sat together in an awkward silence, with Ye Xuan and Li Zenan quickly sensing the unusual dynamic between Hu Yani and He Yucheng. Hu Yani clarified that they were merely landlord and tenant.
Li Zenan was shocked to discover that He Yucheng owned all the properties in that commercial area, revealing his identity as a "relocated household" who worked at 88 Ed simply because he enjoyed "doing things." Ye Xuan and Li Zenan excitedly gossiped about the "demolition second generation" and the "female boss" before shifting to business discussions. Li Zenan offered to meet all of Hu Yani's conditions for Aoke's investment in Zhejiang Jas Pouch.
He reflected on their past, including their breakup five years prior, and admitted that his decision to join the marketing department wasn't solely for her. Hu Yani, however, was not eager to sign the contract. She explained that she had changed from her previous profit-driven self, recognizing the importance of camaraderie. She preferred slow, independent growth for Zhejiang Jas Pouch rather than losing control.
She declared that she would only agree if Aoke guaranteed "non-interference" in all of Zhejiang Jas Pouch’s operational activities. Li Zenan, understanding Wu Kai would "never agree" to such a term, knew his efforts were in vain. He Yucheng then inquired about Ye Xuan and Li Zenan’s relationship progress. Ye Xuan felt embarrassed, believing she couldn't offer Li Zenan any practical help.
He Yucheng reassured her that genuine affection is pure and unconditional, and her desire to help was a natural expression of her feelings, not a responsibility. As Li Zenan dejectedly left the meeting, He Yucheng prompted Ye Xuan to follow him. In the car, Li Zenan received a call from a real estate agent about selling his house. He explained to Ye Xuan that as a partner in 88 Ed, he needed to invest capital.
Ye Xuan grew alarmed, realizing that Hu Yani’s refusal would cost 88 Ed its cooperation with Aoke and jeopardize Li Zenan's hard-earned success. She suggested talking to Wu Kai again, but Li Zenan stubbornly insisted that further discussions would be futile and told her to stop interfering. Annoyed, Ye Xuan exited the car, declaring that he shouldn’t meddle in her affairs either. Ye Xuan suspected there was a history between Li Zenan and Wu Kai.
She approached Mao Tianyu, who confirmed her intuition. Mao Tianyu revealed that when Li Zenan first joined Aoke Group, he took the fall for Director Zhou Feng's mistake on a project. Wu Kai, known for his volatile temper, had insisted on escalating the issue, causing Li Zenan's promotion to be delayed by two years. This incident was the origin of their long-standing animosity.
Mao Tianyu expressed his belief that they were "heroes who cherished each other" and should have resolved their differences long ago. Ye Xuan acknowledged that this explained the strange dynamic she had observed between them.
Episode 19 Recap
Ye Xuan, despite her determination to help Li Zenan, told herself that her willingness to assist him had nothing to do with feelings or responsibility; it was simply because he was Li Zenan. She then bought Director Wu his favorite steamed buns, which she proclaimed to be the best in Shanghai, and charmingly presented them to him. When Director Wu questioned if she was trying to bribe him, Ye Xuan immediately brought up the Zhe Ya Xuan contract.
She informed him that Hu Yani would agree to sign if she retained operational control. Ye Xuan argued that such a condition was feasible, citing previous projects Director Wu had handled and noting that Aoke didn't prioritize complete control over small companies like Zhe Ya Xuan, especially since 88 Ed would handle future promotional work. She also skillfully flattered Director Wu, praising him as a good leader who provided compensation and recommendations to departing employees, unlike Li Zenan.
Director Wu, impressed, promised to consider the matter. Later, Li Zenan met with Wu Kai to discuss the contract. To his surprise, Wu Kai was open to further discussion, hinting that Li Zenan should thank his assistant, Ye Xuan, for her discerning eye for people. They both acknowledged how people change, and their once rivalrous relationship had evolved. As Ye Xuan's mother prepared to leave, Li Zenan came to see her off.
Ye Xuan’s mother, entering a taxi, entrusted Ye Xuan’s care to Li Zenan. Still a bit upset with Li Zenan, Ye Xuan walked away as soon as her mother left, ignoring him. Li Zenan hurried after her, apologizing for his arrogance and stubbornness. He promised to listen to her opinions and consult her on all future decisions. Ye Xuan, mollified, finally called him her "boyfriend," much to Li Zenan’s delight.
He pressed her to confirm his identity, and she playfully called him "Party B," causing him to tease her back. Their relationship now confirmed, Ye Xuan and Li Zenan were overtly sweet with each other. While enjoying brown sugar glutinous rice cakes that Ye Xuan’s mother had brought, Li Zenan playfully asked if his "girlfriend adult" would agree to him visiting her hometown in Sichuan. Ye Xuan told him to wait and see.
She then asked if Li Zenan’s house had sold. He mentioned an agent was bringing a serious buyer the next day. Concerned about his finances, as his money was now tied up in 88 Ed, Ye Xuan suggested he sell his house and move in with her to save on rent. She playfully insisted, declaring herself "Party A" and demanding he listen. Li Zenan happily agreed to "listen to Party A."
The following day, during the house viewing, Ye Xuan enthusiastically acted like a professional real estate agent. She meticulously showcased the apartment, highlighting its features like being "over five unique," a "classic apartment," and having "north-south transparent lighting." Her impressive sales pitch captivated a young couple, and the agent, observing her talent, even offered her a business card and an invitation to join IKEA Estate.
After the successful viewing, Ye Xuan excitedly told Li Zenan that his house was selling quickly so they could move in together sooner. Meanwhile, at 88 Ed, Xu Guoren was visibly stressed by Li Zenan's absence, while other colleagues like Yan Lina, Guo Tianlei, and He Yucheng speculated about the mysterious new employee. Xu Guoren then dramatically introduced Li Zenan as 88 Ed’s new Chief Advertising Designer and a company partner, having brought capital to invest.
He also introduced Mao Tianyu as the new administrative manager. Li Zenan addressed his new colleagues, acknowledging his past role as their "Party A" but expressing his dedication to design, stating that 88 Ed was "the place to start over." Back at Aoke, Ye Xuan, still without an assigned workspace, boldly set up her own table and chair in Director Wu’s office, much to his exasperation.
Later, during a meeting with an external client from Letter Collection Advertising for the Zhe Ya Xuan project, Ye Xuan accidentally handed over her 88 Ed business card. The client, noticing this, questioned whether she would favor her former company. After the meeting, Ye Xuan confronted Director Wu, asking why Aoke was pursuing the Zhe Ya Xuan project when it had already been assigned to 88 Ed.
Director Wu, visibly angered, reprimanded her, reminding her that Aoke was paying her salary and she needed to uphold her loyalty to them. Out on the streets, the 88 Ed team was conducting market research by distributing questionnaires. Yan Lina, struggling with her high heels, complained of leg pain and dragged Guo Tianlei to a coffee shop.
Guo Tianlei, who was meticulously saving every penny for a house down payment for his first love, Yueyue (who had promised to reconnect only when he achieved his goal), initially refused to pay for coffee. Yan Lina, frustrated, called him a "simpleton" for believing such a condition, then angrily paid for her own coffee, leaving him to pay for his. Elsewhere, Li Zenan was also distributing flyers when Ye Xuan playfully jumped onto his back.
Startled, he instinctively performed an over-the-shoulder throw, sending her to the ground. She feigned pain, and they continued their playful banter about their "Party A" and "Party B" roles. He Yucheng, also seeking assistance with his market research, convinced Hu Yani to help him distribute survey forms by offering her a year of free rent if she accompanied him to a certain event. He immediately promised to prepare the contract.
Li Zenan, after reviewing the market feedback, decided to revise his plan for Zhe Ya Xuan to enhance brand recognition. Ye Xuan, ever supportive, joined him in analyzing the data, playfully switching roles and exaggerating her "Party A" authority over him. The mood shifted when Li Zenan received a call from his real estate agent, confirming his house had been sold and he needed to move out that very day.
He Yucheng requested Hu Yani to accompany him to a class reunion. He explained his intention to maintain a humble facade, portraying himself as "unsuccessful" despite being a "demolition rich second generation," valuing self-made achievements over inherited wealth. He even provided Hu Yani with a plain outfit to wear, which she begrudgingly accepted, reminding him about the year's rent. At the class reunion, classmates boasted about their achievements, mockingly speculating about He Yucheng’s supposed lack of success.
He Yucheng, sticking to his humble persona, introduced Hu Yani as Zhe Ya Xuan's foreman, claiming they had been together for six months and were about to marry. Unexpectedly, Hu Yani encountered her client, Zhang Qiao, a wine salesperson. Zhang Qiao, recognizing her and flustered, almost revealed her true identity, but she quickly silenced him.
Later, Zhang Qiao's girlfriend, observing his deference to Hu Yani and fueled by jealousy, insulted Hu Yani and dramatically offered her expensive handbag as a gift. Zhang Qiao quickly pulled his girlfriend away, ending the awkward confrontation. As the day ended, Ye Xuan helped Li Zenan pack his belongings from his first house in Shanghai. Reflecting on selling it for his dreams, they shared a tender moment, vowing to buy it back once they were successful. With his house sold, Li Zenan moved into Ye Xuan's apartment, marking the beginning of their sweet cohabitation.
Episode 20 Recap
After leaving the class reunion, He Yucheng and Hu Yani walked side by side. Hu Yani expressed her confusion about He Yucheng's actions at the reunion, noting that while others engaged in superficial displays for vanity, he chose to embody the lowest social tier. He Yucheng replied that perhaps their classmates were aware, but the unspoken rule of adult society was to "see through and not say through."
He suggested that people live so deeply in reality they prefer to believe illusions rather than face the truth. When Hu Yani challenged him on whether he dared to face reality himself, he offered no direct answer. They soon reached Hu Yani's house, and He Yucheng lamented how quickly their walk had passed. Unwilling to part ways first, they agreed to leave simultaneously, heading in opposite directions.
As Hu Yani watched him go, He Yucheng turned back to see her getting into a taxi not far away. As the night grew late, Ye Xuan, anxious about her breath, practiced various scenarios in her mind and decided to brush her teeth again. Li Zenan, equally nervous, joined her. When faced with the room's single bed, Ye Xuan suggested Li Zenan take the sofa, but he confidently claimed the bed.
Ye Xuan, insisting she wasn't scared in her own home, reluctantly lay beside him. She asked him to turn off the light. In the darkness, Li Zenan kissed her, but Ye Xuan, overcome by nerves, promptly kicked him off the bed, suggesting he sleep on the sofa instead. The next morning, Li Zenan prepared a lavish breakfast. Ye Xuan, however, had an early meeting with Wu Kai and had to rush off with her meal.
Li Zenan reluctantly bid her farewell, feeding her a ginger slice and packing American ginseng for her, encouraging her to take it if she got tired from working overtime. At the meeting, Wu Kai lectured the team about a 10% decrease in clients and a 30% reduction in fast-moving consumer goods, showing data models that revealed most advertisements were unqualified. Bored, Ye Xuan messaged Li Zenan to complain that Wu Kai's speeches made her sleepy.
Li Zenan playfully responded by suggesting she take the American ginseng. Unfortunately, her phone was connected to the big screen, projecting their private exchange, including Li Zenan's question about how many steamed buns Wu Kai had eaten. Wu Kai saw the messages and, with a straight face, typed a response directly into the chat, telling Li Zenan to "go back" and questioning his "bad habit."
Ye Xuan, mortified, profusely apologized, promising to be a "determined, confident, hot-blooded employee" for the company. Just then, she suffered a sudden nosebleed, prompting Wu Kai to remark that her "blood had already overflowed," leading to a second wave of embarrassment for Ye Xuan, who quickly excused herself. Li Zenan announced that based on previous feedback, he had adjusted the survey questionnaire, making it more targeted, and asked the team to continue distributing them.
Xu Guoren supported him, emphasizing the importance of early client research. Xu Guoren then surprised everyone by distributing overdue bonuses, explaining that Li Zenan's investment had significantly improved the company's financial standing. The team, energized by the unexpected payment, thanked Li Zenan and eagerly committed to working harder for the company's future listing. Guo Tianlei, particularly enthusiastic, rushed off to hand out flyers.
Wu Kai then showed Ye Xuan a script for a new product placement for "bean shell milk tea" and instructed her to urge Li Zenan to complete 88 Ed's proposal as quickly as possible. Ye Xuan, subtly advocating for 88 Ed, suggested that thorough preliminary work would lead to a better outcome. However, Wu Kai sharply reminded her to prioritize Aoke's interests as its employee.
Ye Xuan then asked about the male lead for the show, "Hu Yunhao," seemingly disappointed that it wasn't "Ji Ruxing," and criticized the female lead, Wang Zixuan, claiming she was only cast because she was cheap. Wu Kai, annoyed, redirected her to call Li Zenan and focus on her work. Meanwhile, Guo Tianlei, realizing he had finally saved enough for his house down payment, wondered aloud how Xu Guoren knew his financial situation.
Lena sarcastically suggested he message Yueyue, his former girlfriend, to see if she would even respond, implying she wouldn't. Guo Tianlei, eager to share the good news, sent Yueyue a message despite Lena's doubts. To Lena's astonishment, Yueyue replied, stating she would come to Shanghai the next day. Guo Tianlei was ecstatic, thanking Lena as his "koi" and excitedly planning to book a hotel and dinner for Yueyue, carefully checking various "movie apartment" options online before dismissing one as "terrible."
Ye Xuan was working late when Li Zenan appeared, giving her a fright by surprising her from the office bathroom. He apologized for startling her but explained he wanted to give her a surprise. He noted how comfortable Aoke's office was and observed Ye Xuan working on advertisement placements. Ye Xuan reflected on how she used to dislike product placements but was now creating them, acknowledging the challenges of being a "Party A." Li Zenan offered to cook for her.
Ye Xuan confirmed the product placement script was finalized and, much to Wu Kai's surprise, asked if she had any other tasks. Impressed by her speed, Wu Kai granted her the day off. Ye Xuan eagerly asked if she could use the time to "supervise" Li Zenan. Wu Kai reminded her that Xinji's new proposal had already been submitted and warned her about 88 Ed, but Ye Xuan assured him she would handle it and left.
Later, Li Zenan was distributing flyers on the street when Ye Xuan playfully jumped onto his back. He instinctively performed an over-the-shoulder throw, leading to a long period of playful sulking from Ye Xuan. A street band then confronted Li Zenan, accusing him of stealing their audience. The situation escalated, with Li Zenan trying to assert himself by saying he had "practiced" and threatening to call the police.
Ye Xuan bravely stepped in front of Li Zenan, protecting him and challenging the band members, warning them not to "push" her as they were now "two people." Passersby recognized Ye Xuan as a "female online celebrity" from short videos. Capitalizing on her fame, Ye Xuan streamed live, offering photos and interactions with Li Zenan, whom she jokingly called her "tool man," to anyone who filled out their survey.
Li Zenan endured carrying several people on his back, playfully calling for help. Having collected numerous surveys, Ye Xuan teased Li Zenan about how much he needed her. She then reminded him about the "once-in-a-century Pisces meteor shower" that night, urging him to finish their work quickly so they could go home to watch it. Suddenly, Wu Kai called, demanding that 88 Ed submit their proposal for Zhe Ya Xuan by 5 PM.
Despite Li Zenan's initial estimate of "tomorrow," Ye Xuan, adopting a firm "Party A" persona, assured Wu Kai they would deliver by 5 PM. Wu Kai praised her for her assertive stance. Back at 88 Ed, Li Zenan and his team (including Tianyu and Xu Guoren) immediately entered "battle mode," dividing tasks to meet the tight deadline.
Ye Xuan diligently helped, delaying Wu Kai by claiming her USB drive was missing, then that her computer had a virus that might infect his, before finally "finding" her USB drive in her pocket. Against all odds, 88 Ed successfully submitted their proposal just before the deadline. After a tense wait, the news arrived: Zhe Ya Xuan had chosen 88 Ed.
The team erupted in cheers, thanking Li Zenan for his leadership and Ye Xuan for her crucial assistance, expressing hopes that she might return to 88 Ed. They suggested celebrating that night, but Li Zenan proposed celebrating another day, noting that it was the night of the meteor shower, and everyone likely had dates. Xu Guoren and Li Zenan quickly departed, eager to join their respective plans.
He Yucheng went to find Hu Yani and mysteriously told her he wanted to take her somewhere. The two drove to a campsite, where He Yucheng had prepared many things for camping. He Yucheng was in charge of the barbecue, but his cooking skills were poor. He secretly swapped the meat with pre-ordered takeout when Hu Yani wasn't looking. Unexpectedly, when he turned around, Hu Yani had gotten her hair caught in a fan.
He Yucheng couldn't help but burst out laughing, but after laughing, he seriously helped her resolve the problem. Hu Yani looked at him so intently and closely for the first time. Lena was still working late when a dejected Guo Tianlei returned. He told her Yueyue wasn't coming, showing her a message where Yueyue explained that her years of silence meant their relationship was over, and she believed he should have understood.
She wished him well and asked him not to contact her again. Guo Tianlei frantically tried to call her, but her phone was consistently unavailable. Lena asked him what he planned to do now, and he mumbled "buy the house," then lamented that the deposits for the restaurant and hotel were non-refundable, so he was going to eat alone.
Episode 21 Recap
Guo Tianlei was reeling from a devastating romantic blow and drank heavily. Through tears, he repeatedly asked Yan Lina why she had broken up with him, leaving her with an expression of unspoken pain under the curious gazes of others. He poured out his heart, revealing that for three years he had slept at the company, unwilling to rent a house, all to save money for their home.
He spoke of pretending to work late and sneaking out early to avoid colleagues knowing his plight, even joking that his desk had developed a "patina" from his sleeping on it. He called himself an idiot and a big fool. Yan Lina, feeling a pang of sympathy, took the heavily intoxicated Guo Tianlei to the hotel he had originally booked for his fiancée. She thoughtfully poured him water and looked after him.
Unbeknownst to her, Yan Lina had already fallen in love with Guo Tianlei, believing he would surely find happiness. As she leaned in to gently kiss his cheek, Guo Tianlei stirred and opened his eyes in a daze. Meanwhile, Ye Xuan and Li Zenan were on a rooftop, eagerly awaiting a meteor shower. Ye Xuan, playfully boasting about being only twenty-three, teased Li Zenan, calling him an "uncle" and an "old man" whose mind couldn't grasp what she thought.
Li Zenan chased her around the rooftop in mock retaliation. Separately, He Yucheng surprised Hu Yani with a memorable birthday celebration, complete with a cake, even though she herself had forgotten it was her birthday. Later, as the meteor shower began, Ye Xuan expressed her wonder, having never seen one before. They closed their eyes to make wishes.
Ye Xuan claimed her wishes had mostly come true, except for one, but she wouldn't say what it was, explaining that wishes don't come true if spoken aloud. Li Zenan insisted he knew her wish, and with a tender kiss, they sealed a sweet night. After their romantic evening, Li Zenan went to take a shower. While he was in the bathroom, Yan Lina called Ye Xuan, claiming she needed to report urgent work to Li Zenan.
When Ye Xuan informed her that Li Zenan was showering, Yan Lina's "gossip radar" immediately became active. She quickly surmised that Ye Xuan and Li Zenan were together and even bathing. It turned out Yan Lina was making a playful bet with colleagues about their relationship. Li Zenan, overhearing the conversation from the shower, emerged to chastise them, declaring that everyone would have to work overtime the following week and that Ye Xuan would no longer answer their calls.
Ye Xuan playfully complained that she wouldn't be able to face them again, prompting Li Zenan to affectionately kiss her, soothing her concerns. The next day, Ye Xuan, who had been temporarily stationed in Wu Kai's office for a month and three days, was finally told to "pack up and leave." Her initial alarm turned to excitement when Wu Kai directed her to her own new workstation.
However, her new colleagues seemed perpetually busy, evading her requests for help, even with something as simple as using the printer. Feeling helpless, Du Xiaoyun came to her aid. Ye Xuan recognized Du Xiaoyun as the person who had previously taken the original materials during a company incident. Du Xiaoyun, embarrassed, apologized and explained that Zhang Bowen had forced her to do it when she was an intern, fearing for her confirmation if she refused.
Ye Xuan, acknowledging that the misunderstanding was cleared and Zhang Bowen had already left, assured her that she held no grudges. Du Xiaoyun then explained that after Zhang Bowen's departure, his former team members in the Design Department felt uncomfortable, so she transferred to the Marketing Department, hoping to secure a full-time position next month if she performed well. Ye Xuan offered her support, happy to have her as a potential colleague.
Hu Yani called He Yucheng to her studio for advice on outfits for an upcoming catering industry event, as she needed professional photos. He Yucheng initially seemed a bit miffed that she hadn't asked him to be her photographer. However, upon seeing her in a stunning pink suit, he couldn't resist. He quickly took over the camera from the assigned photographer, insisting on taking the pictures himself. The results were impressive, and he openly admitted to photographing her "with love."
Hu Yani was taken aback but responded by saying she preferred "mature and steady boys" and didn't feel that way about "younger boys" like him. He Yucheng, disbelieving, gently turned her head towards him, asserting that he, however, "did" have feelings for her. Faced with his sudden kiss, Hu Yani, flustered, ran off shyly. Later, Li Zenan was engrossed in a proposal while waiting for Ye Xuan to finish work.
He planned to transform Zhejiang Jas Pouch's second store into a concept completely different from its first. He mentioned an impressive case of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine shop called "Renxintang" that successfully transitioned into a medicinal cuisine restaurant, suggesting its relevance. He asked Ye Xuan to help him find more detailed information in Aoke's database, jokingly making her his "undercover agent" once more.
Wu Kai continued his strict management style, even with Du Xiaoyun, prompting Ye Xuan to offer her a friendly word of encouragement. Du Xiaoyun, in turn, helped Ye Xuan search for the "Renxintang" proposal. They found it and immediately messaged Li Zenan. To their surprise, the designer credited on the proposal was Xu Guoren. Li Zenan and Ye Xuan, having previously underestimated Xu Guoren, expressed their astonishment at his low-key demeanor. Xu Guoren, without denying it, recounted the story.
He explained that Li Xinxia, fresh out of university, had just joined Aoke's Design Department as an intern. She was outspoken and somewhat hot-headed, constantly offending people. When the head of the Design Department started creating obstacles for the Marketing Department's "Renxintang" project, Li Xinxia, naive and straightforward, stood up for her colleagues, incurring the wrath of her superior. As a result, she became alienated and isolated by other colleagues.
Xu Guoren, then in the Marketing Department, admired her spirit and started inviting her to meals. When rumors of their relationship spread, the director, in a company that at the time frowned upon "office romances," suggested firing Li Xinxia while keeping Xu Guoren. Unwilling to see Li Xinxia wronged, Xu Guoren resigned. Li Xinxia followed suit, and together they left Aoke to establish 88 Ed.
Although the original "Renxintang" project documents were lost over time, Xu Guoren presented a bold new vision: instead of a second Zhejiang Jas Pouch restaurant, they should create a new beverage brand using the existing second store as its concept flagship. Li Zenan enthusiastically supported the idea, noting Zhejiang Jas Pouch's strong beverage sales and the advantage of developing within their expertise, especially with current funding limitations.
He also confidently stated that Hu Yani, having given them full authority over the second store, would simply appreciate the surprise. Later, Ye Xuan observed Li Zenan working diligently, lost in admiration. Li Zenan noticed her staring, jokingly suggesting she find a boyfriend to distract her. When she described her ideal partner as "down-to-earth and steady," Li Zenan playfully pointed to Guo Tianlei.
Guo Tianlei and Yan Lina, visibly uncomfortable, quickly deflected the conversation, making Ye Xuan realize their reactions were "strange." After work, Guo Tianlei waited for Yan Lina at the entrance, eager to apologize for his drunken behavior the night before. He hinted that he remembered her kissing him, but Yan Lina quickly interjected, assuring him that nothing had happened and that she had left immediately after he fell asleep. Guo Tianlei accepted her explanation.
He then tried to talk to her again, but she repeatedly cut him off, as if anticipating his words. As Ye Xuan and Li Zenan were leaving, Ye Xuan remarked on how much Xu Guoren seemed to have changed, yet still retained his "timid, stingy, and henpecked" traits.
Li Zenan reframed these as positive qualities: his timidity was carefulness in managing 88 Ed's projects; his henpecked nature was a loving deference to Li Xinxia; and his stinginess had ensured the company's survival. Ye Xuan, admitting she was "learning," conceded that "the client is always right." Li Zenan expressed his admiration for Xu Guoren's happiness in working with his loved one towards a common goal.
Ye Xuan reflected that her time at 88 Ed had been the happiest period since she arrived in Shanghai, and she now understood and respected all of Li Zenan's past decisions, which she had once questioned. Li Zenan then asked Ye Xuan about her vision for the future. She replied that she wanted to be with someone she loved, working together towards a shared goal, and cherishing their hard-won happiness.
Li Zenan then shared his ambition: to make 88 Ed a renowned name in the industry within three years, and then to "poach" Ye Xuan, the "future advertising world's number one demon client," back to work with him. Ye Xuan playfully responded that it would depend on whether they could afford her then, before complaining of hunger and demanding he treat her to a meal.
That evening, Guo Tianlei took Yan Lina to a makeup store, intending to buy her a lipstick as an apology gift. Yan Lina, initially selecting an expensive "man-slaying" shade, put it back to save money, noting she could get it cheaper from a reseller. Guo Tianlei, however, insisted on buying it for her. He mused that he used to think lipsticks were very expensive, but now realized they only cost "three or four hundred."
Yan Lina shyly thanked him, and in a fleeting moment, Guo Tianlei tried to confess his feelings, attempting to say "be a boyfriend." But Yan Lina, sensing his intention, quickly thanked him again and hailed a taxi, leaving before he could finish his thought.
Episode 22 Recap
Late at night, a heavily inebriated Hu Yani pounded on Ye Xuan and Li Zenan’s door. Once inside, she vented her frustrations, indignantly questioning He Yucheng's character. She tearfully recounted how He Yucheng had kissed her, but then, for sixteen and a half hours, he hadn't made any further contact or clarified his intentions. Ye Xuan and Li Zenan were both shocked and entertained by this dramatic confession. Hu Yani, frustrated by He Yucheng's silence, labeled him a "love rat."
Ye Xuan promised that she and Li Zenan would help Hu Yani confront him. The next day, Li Zenan met He Yucheng for a game of basketball and subtly brought up the topic of Hu Yani. He Yucheng tried to leave, but Li Zenan pressed him to take responsibility for his actions. He Yucheng explained that Hu Yani always treated him like a child, referring to him as "brother," which made him uncertain of her true feelings.
He confessed that the kiss was an attempt to provoke a reaction, but when she ran off angrily, he assumed he had ruined his chances and didn't follow up. Li Zenan dismissed his excuses, telling him that if he couldn't even understand whether she liked him, he truly was a "kid" and urged him to bring closure to their relationship.
Meanwhile, at Aoke, Wu Kai publicly reprimanded Ye Xuan for accessing the data room without proper authorization, warning her that another offense would lead to her dismissal. Du Xiaoyun offered to speak up for Ye Xuan, but Ye Xuan, mindful of Du Xiaoyun’s upcoming confirmation, took full responsibility, which touched Du Xiaoyun. Grateful, Du Xiaoyun invited Ye Xuan to dinner that weekend.
Later that day, Wu Kai gave Ye Xuan some cryptic advice about being more discerning in choosing her friends. Ye Xuan later confided in Li Zenan that her Aoke colleagues believed she had caused his departure, leaving her feeling isolated with only Du Xiaoyun as a friend. Li Zenan, upon seeing a photo of Du Xiaoyun, grew suspicious and asked Mao Tianyu to investigate her.
Wu Kai assigned Ye Xuan the task of securing a recommendation for Zhejiang Jas Pouch from the reclusive food critic, Tao Tianlan, within a week. Ye Xuan requested Du Xiaoyun's assistance, which Wu Kai approved, warning that failure would result in both their dismissals. Li Zenan, hearing about the task, cautioned her that Tao Tianlan was known for her eccentric personality and refusal to participate in commercial promotions, making the task extremely difficult.
Du Xiaoyun, always appearing helpful, even brought Ye Xuan breakfast. Despite earlier labeling He Yucheng a "love rat" for his silence, Hu Yani accepted his invitation to meet at the city center garden. After some lighthearted conversation, He Yucheng directly asked her if she liked him. Hu Yani, flustered, nearly lost her balance, and He Yucheng caught her, gently putting his arm around her waist.
She attempted to assert her seniority, telling him to show more respect to his "older sister." However, He Yucheng, disliking the "brother" label, boldly confessed, "I like you." This time, when he kissed her, Hu Yani did not pull away. Ye Xuan and Li Zenan were overjoyed to see Hu Yani and He Yucheng publicly announce their relationship.
They immediately tried to video call them, but Hu Yani, busy on her date, quickly hung up and sent a text saying she would chat later. Undeterred by the challenge of contacting Tao Tianlan, Ye Xuan, with Du Xiaoyun's assistance, meticulously analyzed Tao Tianlan's limited social media posts. By cross-referencing her comments about nearby restaurants and views from her window, they successfully pinpointed Tao Tianlan’s residence as Qilin Mansion.
However, they realized that Tao Tianlan never showed her face online, only posting pictures of food, leaving her appearance a mystery. Shortly after this discovery, Ye Xuan’s expression changed while looking at Du Xiaoyun's social media, prompting her to ask Hu Yani for a favor. Later, as Ye Xuan picked up Li Zenan from 88 Ed, she noticed Mao Tianyu's suit looked oddly familiar.
Inside the office, Guo Tianlei and Yan Lina were the last ones remaining, communicating solely through written notes. Yan Lina playfully challenged Guo Tianlei to hit Xu Guoren three times if he wanted to have dinner with her. Guo Tianlei, for love, bravely entered Xu Guoren’s office and slapped the sleeping Xu Guoren once, then again under the guise of giving him a neck massage, which greatly amused Yan Lina. Ye Xuan’s suspicions about Du Xiaoyun grew.
She presented a photo from Du Xiaoyun's social media, clearly showing Mao Tianyu’s distinctive custom-made suit in the background. Cornered, Li Zenan confessed that he had asked Mao Tianyu to investigate Du Xiaoyun, suspecting her of being the one who had previously leaked information and filed the anonymous complaint. Mao Tianyu had been driving Du Xiaoyun to and from work, confirming that her home's IP address matched the source of the malicious email.
Initially, Ye Xuan was upset, feeling that Li Zenan doubted her ability to navigate workplace politics. However, she revealed that she also suspected Du Xiaoyun. She recalled a barrage of negative comments during her time working on Zhejiang Jas Pouch's video account, particularly one account consisting of a string of letters ending in "0605." She recently discovered that Du Xiaoyun's Weibo account shared the same "0605" suffix, confirming it was the same account.
Furthermore, Hu Yani’s review of Zhejiang Jas Pouch's surveillance footage showed Du Xiaoyun secretly recording their conversations. Ye Xuan decided they should continue with their plan, using Mao Tianyu to extract more information from Du Xiaoyun. Back home, Li Zenan playfully tried to win over Ye Xuan, who, not truly angry, captured a humorous "ugly photo" of him, showing their sweet dynamic.
Ye Xuan then informed Du Xiaoyun that she had successfully contacted Tao Tianlan, claiming that Mao Tianyu had provided the address, and asked Du Xiaoyun to keep this information confidential until the deal was finalized. Moments later, Du Xiaoyun immediately called Mao Tianyu, falsely claiming Ye Xuan was too busy and asking him to arrange a meeting with Tao Tianlan for her instead. The entire conversation was recorded. Ye Xuan instructed Mao Tianyu to proceed as Du Xiaoyun requested.
For the meeting, Ye Xuan and Li Zenan arranged for Yan Lina to impersonate Tao Tianlan. During her meeting with the fake Tao Tianlan, Du Xiaoyun, eager to take the lead, offered to treat "Tao Tianlan" to dinner and disclosed that Zhejiang Jas Pouch's negative reviews were actually the result of paid online trolls.
Episode 23 Recap
Du Xiaoyun, believing she had successfully signed a contract with Miss Tao, ignored Ye Xuan the next day at work. Ye Xuan confronted her, pretending to have waited late for Miss Tao and expressing disappointment that Du Xiaoyun had signed the contract that afternoon. Ye Xuan urged her to apologize, promising not to tell the director, but Du Xiaoyun remained defiant.
Du Xiaoyun stated that the contract was signed by her personally on behalf of the marketing department and no longer concerned Ye Xuan. Ye Xuan questioned if she was sure about her actions. After being dismissed by Wu Kai, a crestfallen Du Xiaoyun approached Ye Xuan, realizing that Ye Xuan had known about her schemes all along.
Ye Xuan reminded her that she had been given multiple chances, from the incident with Zhang Bowen to maliciously attacking Zhejiang Jas Pouch, secretly reporting Li Zenan, and finally taking credit for the Tao Tianlan contract. Du Xiaoyun, without remorse, explained that there was only one position for Wu Kai's assistant, implying that as long as Ye Xuan was there, she would never advance in the marketing department.
Ye Xuan then told her to pack her things and leave, wishing her well. Meanwhile, the company's investigation into Li Zenan's past issues concluded that he was a victim of malicious slander, and all involved perpetrators had been fired as a warning. The marketing department issued a sincere apology to Li Zenan, with the results to be publicly announced for seven working days on the Aoke Group official website.
Later, Li Zenan surprised Ye Xuan by picking her up from work. Ye Xuan, feeling a surge of renewed fighting spirit from her work, joked about Wu Kai's "chicken blood." Li Zenan then asked if she wanted to be even happier, revealing that he had managed to contact Miss Tao Tianlan by visiting Kirin Mansion and inquiring one by one, and they were going to have dinner with her. Overjoyed, Ye Xuan praised him and hugged him tightly.
Their joyful moment was interrupted by a call from Hu Yani, informing Li Zenan that a decorator had fallen off a scaffold at Zhejiang Jas Pouch. Hu Yani explained it happened in a surveillance blind spot but confirmed there was no life-threatening injury, only a slight calf fracture. They immediately went to the hospital, but upon arriving at the ward, they found the worker, referred to as Worker Wang, was no longer there.
The Zhejiang Jas Pouch incident quickly spiraled out of control, becoming a major public relations crisis overnight. Wu Kai furiously called Ye Xuan, demanding that Li Zenan immediately "put out the fire" at Zhejiang Jas Pouch, threatening to unilaterally terminate Aoke's cooperation with 88 Ed if it wasn't resolved promptly. Ye Xuan tried to reason with him but failed. The team felt helpless as public opinion was overwhelmingly against them, and any rebuttal would be quickly suppressed.
Li Zenan, admitting this was his first time encountering such a situation, worked through the night to prepare a crisis public relations plan, instructing Mao Tianyu to distribute it and for everyone to unify their statements and respond to various channels. Xu Guoren reviewed Li Zenan's crisis public relations program but immediately recognized that its standard approach would be too slow, especially with Aoke likely to shift blame. He suggested internal coordination first to prevent further escalation.
He then shared a story about the "Wine Industry on the Cloud," which faced a similar crisis years ago, nearly abandoned by Aoke. He revealed that he was the young man who, in just one week, not only resolved their crisis but doubled their sales. After a brief, humble exchange, Xu Guoren explained he brought it up to reassure them, having faced similar situations before. He rallied the team, stating, "There are always more ways than difficulties."
He quickly assigned tasks: Yan Lina was to control online public opinion, Guo Tianlei was to investigate Wang Jianguo's whereabouts after discharge, Mao Tianyu was to handle client inquiries and explain the situation, and He Yucheng was to go to Zhejiang Jas Pouch to support Hu Yani. Li Zenan thanked Xu Guoren, who confidently assured them he had it covered and urged everyone to work efficiently according to Li Zenan's plan.
Due to the escalating crisis, headquarters dispatched Zhou Feng to handle the matter. He and Wu Kai convened a meeting with representatives from Zhejiang Jas Pouch and 88 Ed. Li Zenan, Hu Yani, and Xu Guoren presented the facts: a construction worker named Wang Jianguo had fallen from a scaffold and, despite a minor calf fracture, had discharged himself from the hospital without permission and was unreachable. More critically, the construction team lacked insurance.
Hu Yani recounted that she and Guo Tianlei had met Wang Jianguo's wife the previous night, who claimed Wang had returned to his hometown and, upon hearing the calculated compensation of 57,000 yuan, furiously demanded one million yuan, refusing to compromise. When Hu Yani declined, workers quickly appeared to block Zhejiang Jas Pouch's entrance. Xu Guoren attempted to explain that there must be a misunderstanding, but Zhou Feng cut him off, stating he wasn't there for explanations.
Zhou Feng announced that the incident had already caused losses to Aoke, and the group had decided to re-evaluate its investment in Zhejiang Jas Pouch. He then delivered the devastating news: 88 Ed would be added to Aoke Group's supplier blacklist.
Xu Guoren argued that 88 Ed was not responsible for the worker's injury, but Zhou Feng countered that as 88 Ed was Aoke's entrusted executive company for Zhejiang Jas Pouch's promotional work, their failure to immediately manage the crisis and allowing it to escalate made them accountable. He asserted that someone had to take responsibility, and Aoke would not. Li Zenan conceded to Aoke terminating their cooperation but pleaded with Zhou Feng, acknowledging their long-standing relationship, to reconsider the blacklist.
He explained that a place on Aoke's supplier blacklist was a death sentence, as no company had ever recovered from it, leading to severed partnerships, potential lawsuits, and ultimately, bankruptcy. Zhou Feng remained firm, simply telling Li Zenan to "take care of himself" now that they were strictly Party A and Party B. Waiting anxiously outside the meeting room, Ye Xuan overheard the dire outcome.
She cornered Zhou Feng, admitting that she was the one who had found Zhejiang Jas Pouch's renovation team and was responsible for the inadequate background check. She desperately asked him not to terminate the contract with 88 Ed. Zhou Feng curtly acknowledged her, mentioning that two people had already come to intercede for Li Zenan and 88 Ed.
He told Ye Xuan that the group's decisions were beyond his control, and neither she nor anyone else could shoulder the fate of 88 Ed and Zhejiang Jas Pouch, asserting that Aoke and 88 Ed had their own destinies. He then advised her to find a more "decent reason" next time she tried to help Li Zenan. Ye Xuan pleaded for him to reconsider, but it was to no avail.
Following the blacklisting, 88 Ed was bombarded with calls from partners requesting contract terminations. The team was in despair, with Mao Tianyu eventually unplugging the main phone line in frustration. He Yucheng tried to lighten the mood by bringing steamed buns, reminding everyone that business could be ruthless but they needed to stay united. Xu Guoren, though admitting he had no immediate solution, echoed this sentiment and encouraged everyone to go home and rest, promising to keep brainstorming.
Later that night, Ye Xuan made dinner for Li Zenan, who was working late. She found him asleep on the sofa, having returned late to avoid disturbing her. The next morning, over breakfast, Ye Xuan noted Li Zenan's surprisingly calm demeanor amidst the crisis. He joked that he turned anxiety into appetite, confident that he could handle it because he was "tall enough to hold up the sky."
Ye Xuan confessed that she had tried to take the blame for 88 Ed with Zhou Feng, risking her job. Li Zenan, while appreciating her gesture, told her it was too risky, but she simply stated she didn't care about the risk at the time. Relieved to see his enduring strength, Ye Xuan told him he was the powerful Li Zenan she knew.
Back at the office, Mao Tianyu worriedly informed Li Zenan that Guo Tianlei, Yan Lina, and He Yucheng had all mysteriously taken leave, speculating they were looking for new jobs in light of the company's impending doom. Mao Tianyu also mentioned seeing Xu Guoren red-eyed and sleep-deprived, fielding numerous calls from brand and advertising companies, constantly apologizing and explaining the blacklist situation, making him fear the worst. Li Zenan, however, adamantly believed his team wouldn't abandon 88 Ed.
Li Zenan received a message from Ye Xuan, who had gone with the construction captain to the police station, filed a case, and obtained Wang Jianguo's home address. Li Zenan immediately took leave, ignoring Mao Tianyu's playful accusations of job-hunting. Upon finding Wang Jianguo, Li Zenan and Ye Xuan tried to talk, urging him to return to the hospital for proper treatment to avoid long-term issues. Wang, however, was unyielding, repeatedly demanding payment and refusing to discuss anything else.
Li Zenan warned him that a legal battle based on his minor injury wouldn't yield the large sum he sought, but Wang remained stubborn, eventually telling them to leave if they wouldn't pay. As they left, Li Zenan noticed the Su Ya Ge logo nearby, making him realize the restaurant, which had previously copied Ye Xuan's dishes, might be involved in instigating the crisis.
Ye Xuan later expressed her anger to He Yucheng, confirming that Li Zenan had pointed out Su Ya Ge's connection to the incident. While He Yucheng and Hu Yani went to investigate Su Ya Ge, Guo Tianlei made a drastic decision to help 88 Ed. He went to a real estate agent to sell his newly acquired, never-lived-in house, insisting on a quick, full-cash transaction. Just as a deal was being made, Yan Lina rushed in, vehemently objecting.
She argued that his house wasn't worth enough to significantly help the company and that he had worked too hard for it. She then produced her own property deed, declaring that her house was more valuable and she would sell it instead. When Guo Tianlei asked where she would live, Yan Lina, with a fierce embrace, playfully responded that she would live with him.
Xu Guoren frantically called his old connections, even offering to work for half price, trying to save 88 Ed. However, his contacts, like Mr. Zhang, explained that being on Aoke's blacklist was akin to a death sentence, and further collaboration would damage their own reputations. Just as he faced this rejection, Xu Guoren received a panicked call from his mother, informing him that Li Xinxia had fallen at home. He rushed to the hospital, drenched in sweat from worry.
Li Xinxia assured him that she and the baby were fine, trying to calm him. Despite her own condition, she was more concerned about the company. She told Xu Guoren that if they couldn't overcome this hurdle, they should simply close the company, find regular jobs to pay off debts, or even move back to their hometown and open a restaurant to utilize his cooking skills.
Seeing his despair, she offered him her savings, her dowry money, but Xu Guoren refused, insisting that 88 Ed started with him and would end with him, and he would find a way. Meanwhile, He Yucheng and Hu Yani, staking out Su Ya Ge, witnessed Wang Jianguo's wife meeting Mr. Su. They overheard her confirming that she and her husband had followed Mr. Su's instructions, asking if they would indeed get the money. Mr. Su confidently replied that 88 Ed wouldn't last a few more days, confirming his involvement in orchestrating the crisis.
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
After struggling with various solutions, Xu Guoren was on the verge of closing 88 Ed, bringing him back to the office where his dream had begun. He reminisced about the early days when he and Li Xinxia had excitedly envisioned their future in the newly opened 88 Ed, and the subsequent arrivals of Guo Tianlei, Yan Lina, He Yucheng, Ye Xuan, Li Zenan, and Mao Tianyu. Opening the door to the office, Xu Guoren found everyone waiting for him.
Heartbroken, he was about to announce the company's dissolution, but his team preempted him by offering to work without pay. They even collectively pooled money to help 88 Ed overcome the crisis, with a voluntary letter signed by all. He Yucheng informed Xu Guoren that they had found the mastermind behind the crisis, identified as Su Ya Ge's boss, and possessed evidence of Su Ya Ge's illegal activities on a mobile phone.
The situation with the injured worker was also clarified; he had been manipulated by Su Ya Ge's boss and was now deliberately avoiding them. Li Xinxia, on a video call, encouraged Xu Guoren not to cry, reminding him that with such trust from everyone, they could not abandon their initial dreams. Xu Guoren, overwhelmed, shed tears, and Ye Xuan, too, became emotional, asserting that 88 Ed had made them who they were, and they would never let it fail.
Everyone then chanted, "88 Ed, fighting!" Xu Guoren and Guo Tianlei confronted Mr. Su of Su Ya Ge. Xu Guoren accused him of instructing worker Wang Jianguo to extort Zhejiang Jas Pouch and disturbing market order through improper means, stating that sufficient evidence had been collected and submitted to the police. He declared that justice would prevail.
Mr. Su vehemently denied the accusations, claiming he had merely acted out of good intentions by warning Wang Jianguo and his wife that their actions were illegal and wrong, but they chose not to listen. He even offered to testify for the police to apprehend them. Meanwhile, Wang and his wife were attempting to flee in a taxi to the long-distance bus station but were intercepted by Li Zenan.
Li Zenan informed them that the police had already filed a case and Mr. Su had fully confessed, warning them of imprisonment for slander and extortion, urging them to pull back from the brink. The construction team continued to cause a disturbance at Zhejiang Jas Pouch, but Li Zenan arrived with Wang, who assured his colleagues he was fine, effectively resolving the crisis.
Hu Yani expressed her happiness that Zhejiang Jas Pouch could now operate normally, despite the collaboration with Aoke falling through. He Yucheng, describing himself with admirable qualities, offered to invest in Zhejiang Jas Pouch. Hu Yani playfully hesitated, wondering if he would have enough money left to buy her a diamond ring. Later, Aoke officially removed 88 Ed from its blacklist, marking the end of the crisis.
Xu Guoren celebrated with his team, returning the money they had pooled and announcing that he would equally split the company's shares, making every employee a shareholder. Li Zenan suggested bringing Ye Xuan back as 88 Ed’s Market Director, a sentiment Xu Guoren shared.
However, at Aoke, Wu Kai offered Ye Xuan an early confirmation of her position and a promotion to Deputy Director, with the condition that she work with him in the Beijing branch for a year to help build its marketing department. Wu Kai acknowledged it was a rare opportunity but would not force her decision. Upon her return, Ye Xuan excitedly shared the news with Li Zenan.
Although he initially seemed hesitant, Li Zenan encouraged her to seize this "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," emphasizing that it would allow her to become a better person, despite the year-long separation. He promised to visit frequently and made the decision for her, stating, "we go." Ye Xuan then thanked him, asking him to also convey her gratitude to Wu Kai for lifting 88 Ed from the blacklist.
Li Zenan's decision to let Ye Xuan go to Beijing was met with disapproval from his colleagues, who warned that long-distance relationships were prone to failure. During a visit by Ye Xuan to 88 Ed, the team's persistent remarks about breakups caused Li Zenan to accidentally "slip of the tongue and said to break up" with her. Upset, Ye Xuan rushed home and locked her door.
Li Zenan quickly followed, explaining through the door that his words were merely a slip of the tongue due to the pressure from their colleagues. He expressed his deepest desire to spend every moment with her, seeing her face in the morning and before bed, sharing meals and daily life, and even exploring the world together. However, he admitted that keeping her by his side would be selfish, as he prioritized her becoming a better person.
He then confessed, "Ye Xuan, I love you." Ye Xuan, although still playfully accusing him of using a "routine," understood his sincerity and decided to follow his advice, moving to Beijing to become a better version of herself. While Ye Xuan was in Beijing, Li Zenan, meticulously dressed up, aroused suspicion among his colleagues, including Yan Lina, He Yucheng, and Guo Tianlei, who worried he might be seeing someone else and set out to "catch him in the act."
They followed him to a restaurant, where they observed him intimately feeding someone and kissing the screen, confirming their fears. Rushing over, they were shocked to discover he was merely on a video call with Ye Xuan. They greeted Ye Xuan on screen, expressing how much they missed her. Amidst this, news arrived that Li Xinxia was in labor. The entire team anxiously gathered outside the delivery room at the hospital.
Xu Guoren confirmed he was the father, and soon, the doctor announced that both mother and daughter were safe, to the immense relief and joy of everyone present. Back in Beijing, Ye Xuan, having achieved success and recognition as Aoke's Deputy Director of Marketing, realized her true desire was to return to 88 Ed and pursue her dreams alongside her loved one.
She submitted her resignation to Wu Kai, who, respecting her decision, wished her well and assured her that Aoke's doors would always be open. Meanwhile, 88 Ed received a substantial 30 million RMB investment. However, Li Zenan was distracted and worried because he couldn't reach Ye Xuan. The team, aware of Ye Xuan's return, playfully tricked Li Zenan into interviewing a "newcomer."
Ye Xuan arrived at 88 Ed with her luggage, filled with nostalgia for the place where her dreams had first begun. Her colleagues excitedly directed her upstairs, eager to witness Li Zenan's surprised reaction. However, Li Zenan, unaware of the plan, was unexpectedly angry, scolding her for not answering his calls and calling her childish. Ye Xuan, heartbroken that her carefully planned surprise had been ruined, burst into tears and fled downstairs.
Seeing her distress, Li Zenan smiled, revealing he also had a surprise for her, which he had been preparing for a long time. He Yucheng, who had been waiting outside, handed him a ring box. Li Zenan knelt on one knee and proposed, asking, "Ye Xuan, would you like to be my Party A for the rest of my life? Marry me."
The entire team, including Xu Guoren, Li Xinxia, He Yucheng, Hu Yani, Guo Tianlei, and Yan Lina, cheered for him. They confessed that Li Zenan had "threatened" them into revealing Ye Xuan's surprise return to Shanghai. With tears and laughter, Ye Xuan said, "I do," and they embraced amidst the joyous celebration. Later, Ye Xuan purchased the apartment next door to Li Zenan's, the one he had sold, declaring that from now on, she would be Li Zenan's Party A for life.
