Sniper Butterfly Episode 16 Recap
> Sniper Butterfly Recap
Li Wu woke up again at Cen Jin's house. As he was preparing breakfast, he suddenly heard the door lock opening, accompanied by Cen Jin's mother's voice. Li Wu quickly hid in the bedroom. Cen Jin's mother had arrived earlier than expected, wanting to check what groceries were needed. She also brought gifts of rice, eggs, and flaxseed oil from an insurance company.
Upon hearing that Dr. Lu was coming for dinner, Li Wu emerged from the bedroom, claiming he had come to borrow a power strip. Cen Jin's mother didn't think much of it and informed Cen Jin that Dr. Lu was invited for dinner on Saturday. Cen Jin's mother had struggled with the digital lock, complaining about the small characters, to which Cen Jin promised to get a face recognition lock by Double 11.
Li Wu offered to help Cen Jin's mother prepare for the meal, and she, surprised to see him still there, heartily agreed, even suggesting he "vet" Dr. Lu. Meanwhile, Shen Yiyang was preparing for a business trip. The night before, he went to Chang bar where Chun Chang was entertaining guests. He stepped in and drank heavily on her behalf. Afterwards, back in the lounge, he told her about his upcoming trip.
Chun Chang, sensing his growing affection, leaned in to kiss him, but found he had already fallen asleep. Earlier, customers at the bar had teased Chun Chang, implying Shen Yiyang was her "boss," to which she simply stated he was her "friend." Chun Chang had also asked Shen Yiyang if his earlier gesture of drinking for her was "claiming territory." He had simply replied, "What do you think?"
On Saturday, Cen Jin's mother and Li Wu arrived at Cen Jin's home early to prepare for the dinner. Cen Jin's mother asked Li Wu, who was around 25 or 26, if he had a girlfriend and advised him to be more proactive. Li Wu expressed concern that being too pushy might backfire. When asked what kind of girl he liked, he said he preferred "pretty ones." Cen Jin's mother offered to help him with matchmaking if he found someone.
Cen Jin, who was washing vegetables nearby and listening to their conversation, subtly turned down the water flow. Cen Jin's mother then asked Cen Jin about the ribs she bought, reminding her to use the clay pot and wash it thoroughly. Dr. Lu arrived with gifts: a Phalaenopsis for Cen Jin and imported honey for her and her mother, suggesting it could improve sleep. Cen Jin's mother immediately urged Cen Jin to sit with Dr. Lu.
When Cen Jin went to the fridge for mineral water, Li Wu preempted her, opening it to reveal strawberry jam. He remarked that Cen Jin didn't eat sweet things and it might spoil, implying to Dr. Lu that Cen Jin had neglected it. Cen Jin, slightly embarrassed, corrected him and told him not to touch her belongings. Dr. Lu then mentioned he had brought a special wine, but Cen Jin couldn't find the corkscrew.
She easily opened Li Wu's digital lock next door to borrow one, a detail Dr. Lu noticed, hinting at the close familiarity between them. During dinner, Cen Jin accidentally spilled hot soup on her hand. Li Wu quickly helped her wipe it, while Dr. Lu promptly offered burn medicine. Cen Jin's mother praised Dr. Lu's thoughtfulness and, at the same time, lamented Cen Jin's clumsiness with housework.
Dr. Lu, however, suggested it wasn't an issue, as they could simply hire a cleaner, remarking that "living together is always about both people." During dinner, Li Wu casually reminded Cen Jin that Dr. Lu was allergic to shrimp, making Cen Jin apologize for not remembering. Dr. Lu then proposed a toast to Cen Jin's mother, inviting them to his new housewarming party next month, which Cen Jin's mother readily accepted.
Cen Jin then cautioned Li Wu not to drink as he was on medication. He explained it was for weakened immunity due to recent overtime, and that his condition had improved. Later, Cen Jin walked Dr. Lu to the entrance of the residential complex. Dr. Lu, despite initially planning to wait until after Cen Jin met his parents, unexpectedly asked her how she felt about him and if he met her expectations.
Cen Jin responded that she found him "really nice." Dr. Lu elaborated that he also thought highly of her, believing their hobbies, careers, families, and values were all "compatible." He suggested they could take their time to get to know each other better. Cen Jin was taken aback by his suddenness. Dr. Lu then asked if she was willing for their relationship to "move a step further."
Cen Jin, feeling she needed more time, admitted that while she always felt "comfortable and safe" with him, she required additional time to consider. Dr. Lu accepted this, asking her to inform him as soon as she made up her mind. He then urged her to go upstairs quickly, as it was getting cold, reminding her that his driver would arrive shortly. Upon returning home, Cen Jin found Li Wu had already tidied the dining table.
She noticed his medication was untouched and questioned why he wasn't taking care of himself. Li Wu confessed that he didn't actually need any medication, but had used his insomnia as an excuse to get closer to her. He challenged her, asking if she would still care about him if his "headache was gone" and if she had taken him back "because of guilt."
He declared that she didn't need to feel guilty and could frankly say if she wanted to "cut him out as a problem," though he admitted he didn't want that "problem to disappear." He anticipated her calling him "immature" and "unwilling to accept it," but asserted he was "not a child anymore."
He then revealed that in the half-year after they had separated, he dreamt of her every single night, simultaneously fearing and longing for those dreams, which led to him staying awake for entire nights. A school psychologist had told him that "time will solve everything" and "time will fade everything away," but for him, "time does not work."
He had realized that "letting go of you was futile," so he "tried his hardest" to gain "the qualification to stand in front of you." Cen Jin interjected, recalling their "consensus" that she wanted to move forward and his "duty" was to help her do so. Li Wu questioned if it was "just duty" and asked if she would have come closer if he hadn't used that excuse.
He admitted he "lied to you" and felt "ashamed," but he "just can't help but approach you." He knew what he was doing and pressed Cen Jin, asking if she could truly guarantee it was "just duty" and that she was "just treating me as a younger brother." Overwhelmed, Cen Jin simply told him it was too late and she needed to sleep, advising him to return to his own room.
Despite returning to their respective bedrooms, separated only by a wall, neither of them could sleep. In 2017, after the NCEE concluded, several top universities, including Yanbei, University of Science and Technology, Jiaotong, and Fudan, called Cen Jin to inquire about Li Wu's application intentions. Cen Jin experienced a feeling of "pride" from being a "parent of a top student." She immediately called Li Wu to invite him to dinner to discuss his choices.
He hadn't finalized anything, noting that many schools had contacted him but he hadn't decided on any. He asked Cen Jin about her own university experience, and she told him she attended Yijiang University in Yi City, boasting that her journalism faculty was the best. She mentioned that Yijiang University had even offered him early enrollment after his third mock exam, but he had chosen to focus on the NCEE.
Cen Jin then encouraged Li Wu to aim for more prestigious universities like Yanbei or Huaqing, emphasizing that Huaqing's physics department was the best in the country and would allow him to meet more accomplished people. Li Wu expressed reluctance to move too far from home. Cen Jin reminded him that everyone grows up and eventually moves away, teasing him, "You're not reluctant to leave me, right?"
She reassured him that leaving for college didn't mean he wouldn't return, and that his exceptional performance deserved a broader platform for growth. She even offered to connect him with a friend who was a teacher at Huaqing if he was interested in physics, but Li Wu politely declined the offer for now. During this dinner, Cen Jin also noticed Li Wu reacting to something he ate, asking "What's wrong with you? You're allergic to it?"
He then wiped his hands. Cen Jin assured him he still had over twenty days to consider his options. That night, Li Wu, unable to sleep, stared at Cen Jin's photo. The next day, at noon, the NCEE scores were released. Li Wu eagerly logged onto his computer to check, finding he scored an impressive 718, exceeding everyone's expectations.
He immediately sent a screenshot to Cen Jin, who rushed out of her bedroom and hugged him tightly, while he awkwardly patted her back. He also called his father to share the good news. Later, Cen Jin's mother visited Cen Jin and inquired about Li Wu's university plans. Cen Jin confirmed that even Huaqing University would be a secure option for him.
Cen Jin's mother stated that Li Wu's academic journey was well underway, and now it was time for Cen Jin to focus on her own "life matters," implicitly criticizing Cen Jin's housekeeping skills by praising Li Wu for his abilities. When Cen Jin suggested that being single was perfectly fine, her mother strongly disagreed, asking who would be there for her when she was old.
Cen Jin's mother mentioned that Cen Jin's third aunt frequently brought up potential suitors, including those who had never been married, and suggested Cen Jin should meet some of them. Cen Jin countered by saying she felt "very fulfilled" by her job, which brought her money, a sense of achievement, and a comfortable life where she only had to focus on doing her work well.
Her mother insisted she "socialize more" and "meet more people," even comparing her to a college classmate who had a happy life. Cen Jin, trying to end the conversation, said she had to go to work and jokingly reminded her mother about her afternoon mahjong game. Cen Jin then told Li Wu that she would likely be home late for dinner, but her mother interjected, saying she would cook for herself and Li Wu.
As Cen Jin left for work, she booked a ride for her mother. Later, Li Wu received a call from Cheng Rui. Their classmate, Wen, had gone missing. Her parents were frantic because Wen had unilaterally applied to Yanbei University's Journalism program and other journalism programs in different provinces, then disappeared without a trace, leaving her room clean and her phone turned off.
Cheng Rui told Li Wu that Wen had messaged him, informing him she was in Yan City and warning him not to tell her family, threatening to cut ties and disappear further if he did. Cheng Rui asked Li Wu to accompany him to Yan City to find her. Li Wu tried to call Cen Jin but couldn't reach her, so he sent her a text message saying, "Sister, Cheng Rui and I are going to Yan City. We'll be back soon. Don't worry." Cen Jin later tried to call Li Wu back, but his phone was off.
