Please Love Me Episode 21 Recap
> Please Love Me Recap
Youyou, still upset, returned to her old rental apartment. Her landlady, Auntie Wu, encouraged her not to rush into returning the apartment, emphasizing that it's important to have a personal space when couples bicker. Youyou settled on renting the apartment for ¥3,000 a month, paying three months upfront with a one-month security deposit. Despite her emotional state, Youyou continued to work normally at her nail salon.
At the salon, she showcased an exclusive traditional nail art style, explaining its meticulous, elaborate-style painting technique and the health benefits of their products, which were durable and easy to remove. Meanwhile, Yi Han was anxious about Youyou. He called someone to check on her, and the person reported that Youyou seemed to be working and eating as usual, showing no abnormalities, perhaps aware she was being monitored.
Yi Han then encountered Lu Ming, Youyou's younger brother, who was furious, accusing Yi Han of bullying his sister. Lu Ming furiously declared that Yi Han would never see his sister again, but Yi Han pleaded with him to help bring Youyou back. When Lu Ming asked why Youyou hadn't answered his calls or stayed home for days, Yi Han admitted he didn't know where she was, though her nail shop confirmed she was working.
Yi Han then confessed that he had withheld Youyou's competition invitation, but insisted he never meant to hurt her. Lu Ming, however, emphasized that his sister's feelings were what truly mattered. Ran Zishu, Youyou's best friend, eventually contacted Youyou, and she and Lu Ming visited Youyou at her rental apartment. Youyou, despite being with her supportive friends, remained conflicted.
She expressed that while she understood Yi Han's perspective on her potential three-year study in France, she was hurt that he believed others over her. Ran Zishu acknowledged Yi Han's wrongdoing but urged Youyou not to hold a grudge since the contest was over. Youyou felt that Ran Zishu, much like Yi Han, couldn't fully grasp her situation, as they both had lived privileged lives without struggle.
She spoke passionately about her profession as a nail artist, explaining her dream of elevating Chinese nail art to be respected globally, a dream Yi Han had once acknowledged. The irony, she lamented, was that Yi Han was the one who destroyed that dream. Youyou confessed her exhaustion from constantly trying to resolve their differences, believing they were from two different worlds. She felt their marriage was too rushed and that its significance was overwhelming.
Ran Zishu found Youyou's views a bit extreme, suggesting solutions. Lu Ming understood Youyou's pressure in the relationship. Having seen the difficulties between Yi Han and Youyou, Lu Ming and Ran Zishu cherished each other even more, promising to become better for one another. Youyou believed her own relentless efforts to better herself were partly due to Yi Han. Both friends hoped Youyou and Yi Han could overcome their crisis.
After her friends left, Youyou began drafting a divorce agreement, searching for templates online. The next morning, Youyou was woken by movers entering her apartment. They addressed her as "Mrs. Yi" and began moving in furniture, explaining that her husband, Mr. Yi, had ordered them because he knew she started work at ten.
Youyou, enraged by Yi Han's unsolicited arrangements, tried to refuse the delivery, but the movers insisted on completing the job, offering to leave the door open while she was at work. Youyou called Yi Han, demanding to know how he found her and what he wanted. He explained he had no ill intentions, merely wanted to ensure she had basic necessities like a fridge and a bed, knowing she wouldn't forgive him quickly.
He told her to live comfortably and he would pick her up when her anger subsided. Youyou thanked him for his efforts but then expressed her belief that they were not suitable for each other. She proposed an amicable farewell, suggesting they keep the divorce private for his public image, and informed him she would sign the agreement and send it to him, along with the furniture he bought.
Yi Han was stunned and furious, questioning if she was insane for wanting a divorce and if buying furniture was a mistake. Youyou then revealed her true underlying motivation for striving for success: her deep-seated low self-esteem that erupted after falling for his bright and brilliant persona. She desperately wanted to be worthy of him, to stand confidently by his side. However, despite their efforts, their relationship always seemed to go against their hopes.
She told him she was exhausted and wanted to remember their time as a beautiful memory, then truly let each other go. Yi Han vehemently refused to be just friends and insisted he would come to talk face-to-face, but Youyou disconnected the call. Devastated, Yi Han rushed to Youyou's apartment, calling her name, but Auntie Wu informed him Youyou had left. He then went to her nail salon, only to find she had taken time off.
Unable to find her, and with the film crew waiting for him, he reluctantly returned to work. Later, his assistant, Dawei, handed him an envelope from Youyou containing the divorce agreement. Yi Han, heartbroken, tore it up. Kan Di wanted to comfort him, but Lin Tiannuo intervened, wisely suggesting that human emotions are not always shareable and it was better for Yi Han to process his feelings alone.
Yi Han then went to a bar and drank himself into a stupor, wishing it all a dream. He awoke the next morning in an unfamiliar room, his clothes scattered. Sun Qingqing appeared, greeting him and taunting him about their "hard labor" from the night before. She then showed him compromising photos on her phone. Yi Han furiously smashed her phone, but Sun Qingqing smirked, revealing she had already made copies and intended to make his life a living hell.
She cryptically reminded him that "failure is the mother of success," implying this was part of a larger plan. Kan Di, informed of the situation, angrily berated Yi Han for being repeatedly manipulated. Despite her harsh words, she had already contacted friendly media outlets, who reported no immediate news of the photos. She discussed options with Yi Han: either claim the photos were photoshopped or pursue a lengthy lawsuit against Sun Qingqing. Yi Han chose the latter.
However, Dawei then called Kan Di, reporting that the photos had already been released on a WeChat official account named "Gao Lang Says," an independent account operated by a former website employee. Gao Lang was unreachable. Kan Di immediately arranged an emergency teleconference with their legal and public relations teams as public outrage mounted online over Yi Han's alleged misconduct, including accusations of him sleeping with an actor from the same film.
