Sniper Butterfly Episode 1 Recap
> Sniper Butterfly Recap
Cen Jin, a partner at Shengcan, was preparing for an upcoming environmental art exhibition. On her way to a meeting with the collaborating company, Tongchen Technology, she was on the phone, mentioning how she had pulled two all-nighters but was accustomed to it in their line of work. She expected to catch up on sleep once the proposal was approved and reminded the person on the other end not to stress, as their talent was sufficient.
During the call, she briefly saw a man in traffic who reminded her of an old friend but dismissed the thought as she hurried to the company. Upon entering the meeting room, Cen Jin was surprised to find that Tongchen Technology's representative was Li Wu, a young man she had once sponsored.
She composed herself and began her presentation for the "Earth at the Critical Point Environmental Art Exhibition," explaining that its core theme was "bond"—the bond between Earth and humanity, and among all living things. She elaborated that humans and nature are interconnected, not isolated, and that all living beings are interdependent, a connection often forgotten. After her presentation, Li Wu questioned whether a few images would adequately convey the concept of "bond."
Cen Jin clarified they would use multi-media presentations, interactive experiences, and physical exhibits to create a richer understanding. Li Wu then asked for Cen Jin's personal interpretation of the word. She described "bond" as the connection and entanglement between lives, an inseparable responsibility and tie, like a kite held by a string—as long as the string remains unbroken, the bond exists.
Li Wu subtly challenged this, asking if such ties would disappear if the string were cut, either by circumstances or intentionally, and how intangible feelings could be confirmed. Shengcan's Ms. Shen intervened, smoothing over the moment, and Li Wu stated that with a long period of cooperation ahead, they would have ample opportunity to explore the topic further. After the meeting, Cen Jin went to the restroom.
Seeing herself in the mirror, her thoughts drifted back years to Yunfeng Village when she and her then-husband, Wu Fu, first met Li Wu, who was then a shy boy. Emerging from the restroom, she encountered Li Wu by the elevators. After a moment of silence, Li Wu remarked that a "bond" could be love or hate, but never indifference. He then added that she had not contacted him once in all those years, implying a deep, unresolved past.
That evening, Ms. Shen hosted a dinner for Li Wu and Cheng Rui from Tongchen, informing them that Cen Jin would be the main point of contact for their project. She praised Cen Jin's capabilities, mentioning her successful work on Bingdian Technology's promotions. During the meal, Li Wu and Cheng Rui sampled signature dishes like yellow croaker with rice cake and goose liver lotus root sandwich. After dinner, Cheng Rui drove Li Wu home.
Ms. Shen created a WeChat group for the four of them. While in the car, Li Wu borrowed Cheng Rui's phone and scrolled through Cen Jin's social media, noticing a man named Dr. Lu in her photos. Meanwhile, Ms. Shen also hinted to Cen Jin about her relationship with Dr. Lu, asking why she didn't call him to pick her up. The scene then shifted to a flashback, several years earlier.
Cen Jin was in the midst of divorcing Wu Fu when she received a call from Li Wu, using a borrowed phone. He introduced himself as the student from Yunfeng Village whom her father, Mr. Cen, had sponsored. He explained that his grandfather had passed away a year ago, and his uncle had forced him to drop out of school and work in a mine, causing him to miss the college entrance exam.
He desperately wanted to resume his studies but his aunt and uncle refused, stating he must work to earn money. Li Wu confessed he had initially called Wu Fu, who, after informing him that he and Cen Jin had separated, had given him Cen Jin's contact information. Upset, Cen Jin immediately called Wu Fu, confronting him for pushing Li Wu's situation onto her.
Wu Fu coldly retorted that the sponsorship had been her father's initiative, and since they were no longer together, he had no obligation to continue. He dismissed Li Wu's plight, describing such children as those who "voluntarily give up the exam to work" and then "find the work too hard," returning pitifully to ask for help. He cynically added that human relationships, in his view, were merely "contracts that can be terminated anytime," suggesting their marriage was no different.
Cen Jin, furious at his harshness and mercenary perspective, hung up. Determined to help, Cen Jin drove to Yunfeng Village. She inquired about Mayor Yan Changsheng, the former village head involved in the sponsorship, only to learn he had been promoted to mayor and was no longer in the village. She was then assisted by Cheng Lixue, a reserve cadre who asked Cen Jin to simply call her Cheng.
Cheng Lixue confirmed Li Wu's situation, revealing that after his grandfather's death, his uncle had indeed sent him to work at a mine. She expressed sorrow for the intelligent and hardworking boy whose promising future was derailed by his uncle. Cen Jin also learned that her sponsorship funds, intended for Li Wu, were no longer reaching him. They arrived at Li Wu's aunt's house to find his uncle verbally and physically assaulting Li Wu for attempting to leave.
Cen Jin intervened, pulling Li Wu away from his uncle. Li Wu confirmed that his uncle had taken all the sponsorship money. Cen Jin confronted the uncle, offering to cover all of Li Wu's future tuition fees, an extra year of preparatory study and his entire college education, stating that his good foundation would ensure he excelled and would bring a greater return to the family in the long run.
However, the uncle flatly refused, asserting that Li Wu was an adult and must contribute to the family's income, declaring that Li Wu had "no such fate" to attend college. Frustrated and angered by his stubbornness, Cen Jin stepped outside for air. Cheng Lixue advised Cen Jin that village family matters were complex and, despite appearances, Li Wu's aunt and uncle were still his family.
Given the late hour, the heavy rain, and unsafe roads due to ongoing construction, Cheng Lixue arranged for Cen Jin to stay overnight in a temporary school dorm. She reassured Cen Jin that hot water was available and offered to provide anything else needed before returning to the village committee. Later that night, the village experienced a power outage during the rain.
Li Wu, having secretly saved some pocket money, arrived at Cen Jin's dorm with candles and mosquito coils he had purchased, concerned she would be inconvenienced. Cen Jin invited him in. She asked why he had sought her out. Li Wu explained his desire to continue his studies to repay those who had been kind to him and to escape the mountain. He admitted he didn't have a clear plan but felt compelled to explore every possibility.
Cen Jin asked if he believed in fate; Li Wu replied no, and Cen Jin echoed his sentiment, stating she only believed in herself. She encouraged him to maintain his belief, asserting that "as long as one doesn't give up on oneself, there's always a way to solve problems." As Li Wu prepared to leave, he noticed that the dorm room's door lacked a latch. Concerned for her safety, he offered to stand outside and guard the door for her.
