Sniper Butterfly Episode 18 Recap
> Sniper Butterfly Recap
Cen Jin accompanied Li Wu to his university enrollment. He met his roommates, Xu Shuo from Suzhou and Zhong Wenxuan. While Li Wu was independently tidying his bed, another parent praised his self-sufficiency, asking Cen Jin how she taught him. Cen Jin, beaming with pride, explained that she never explicitly taught him; he had always been excellent and sensible, even taking care of household chores.
Li Wu mentioned that Cheng Rui would arrive later, as Tao Wanwen's parents were looking for him. Cen Jin noted the strong connection between Li Wu and Cheng Rui, sharing the same high school dorm and now attending the same university, both having chosen the same major. Cen Jin soon returned home for work. Li Wu and Cheng Rui explored the campus, capturing photos of various landmarks to send to Cen Jin, sharing their initial excitement.
Cen Jin texted Li Wu, expressing her hope that he would "run freely" at this "new crossroads" without her guidance. Li Wu thanked her and promised to become independent as soon as possible. Later, on Li Wu's birthday, Cen Jin came to Yijiang University with a gift. During their dinner, Cen Jin asked about his university life.
Li Wu shared that he was managing his courses well and had joined a new project with a professor, keeping him very busy even during the New Year holiday. He also mentioned joining a bridge club, to which Cen Jin playfully teased him about having "a twenty-year-old face and a forty-year-old heart," wishing him a "Happy 30th birthday."
Li Wu informed her that Cheng Rui had already given his gift and was in Yan City for an internship, hence couldn't join their celebration. Cen Jin was very pleased to hear about Li Wu's fulfilling life. At AusStar, Cen Jin's team was brainstorming advertising proposals. A colleague presented an innovative idea for a large-scale contact lens art installation, incorporating acrylic materials, visual interaction, and virtual reality technology to encourage self-exploration.
However, Ted expressed concerns about its practicality and client acceptance, causing the team to feel disheartened. Cen Jin encouraged them not to be discouraged, reminding them that they'd faced rejections before and assured them that an optimal solution would be found if they continued to refine their approach.
That evening, Li Wu returned to Cen Jin's house to prepare for his part-time job at the milk tea shop the next day, explaining it was more convenient from there and that he'd manage his studies. While Cen Jin was working late on the proposal, Li Wu thoughtfully brought her a glass of water. Overwhelmed with happiness, Cen Jin gazed at him for a few moments, remarking on how beautiful his eyes were.
Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she declared him her "muse of inspiration." She quickly drafted a concept about emotions showing through eyes and shared it with her team, who immediately recognized its potential, with one suggesting to refine it to focus on "love." The following day, Li Wu skillfully drove Cen Jin to her destination, earning her commendation for his improving driving. That evening, as strong winds blew, Cen Jin went to Li Wu's room to close the window.
While doing so, she accidentally knocked over some items on his table, revealing a diary filled with her name. She confronted Li Wu, who, without hesitation, directly confessed his feelings, stating he had liked her for a long time. Cen Jin immediately rejected him, insisting that he couldn't like her. She explained that he was too young, at only twenty-one, to distinguish between liking and gratitude, suggesting he was merely acting on impulse.
She further clarified that her initial decision to take him in and support his studies was not solely for him, but also for herself, as his arrival had provided spiritual support and distracted her from her difficult divorce. She stressed their relationship was strictly familial, like an elder sister and younger brother, and urged him to clarify his emotions. Li Wu, however, firmly asserted his adulthood and clear understanding of his feelings.
Cen Jin then told him she wouldn't accept his feelings. In response, Li Wu declared that he would continue to like her for his entire life, vowing never to marry or seek another girlfriend, promising only to silently accompany her without bothering her. Cen Jin dismissed his words as youthful immaturity, stating that with time he would change his mind.
Li Wu retorted that he would also grow and become someone she could rely on, but Cen Jin expressed that she couldn't wait. She apologized if her actions had ever misled him, denying any intention to. Li Wu, hurt, asked if she was trying to distance herself from him just because of his confession. Distressed, Cen Jin confided in her friend, Chun Chang.
Chun Chang, playfully remarking on Li Wu's "ambitious" nature, noted that it was natural for a young adult like him to be attracted to an outstanding woman like Cen Jin, who was beautiful, wealthy, and supportive. However, Cen Jin firmly stated that she only saw Li Wu as a younger brother and their bond was purely familial, not romantic.
Chun Chang then suggested that Li Wu's feelings might simply be a case of "hormones acting up," predicting that he would likely change his mind after encountering other attractive senior or junior students at Yijiang University. The news of Li Wu's part-time job at the Meete Store, a milk tea shop located directly beneath AusStar, quickly circulated among Cen Jin's young female colleagues. Charmed by his handsome appearance, they deliberately placed orders for him to deliver to their office.
During a meeting announced by Ted, Li Wu delivered the milk tea, and Cen Jin's colleagues openly admired him and tried to get his contact information, while Cen Jin feigned ignorance. Later, a power outage on their floor forced Cen Jin to relocate her team meeting downstairs to the very same milk tea shop. There, while Cheng Rui was animatedly recounting how he helped Tao Wanwen reconcile with her family, Li Wu remained distracted and unresponsive.
One of Cen Jin's colleagues, noticing Li Wu's good physique, openly suggested he pursue modeling and offered her assistance, causing an awkward silence between Li Wu and Cen Jin. Afterwards, Cen Jin texted Li Wu, asking him to meet her outside. She urged him to quit his job, arguing that the twenty-kilometer commute would interfere with his studies, and that the nature of the work was beneath him.
Li Wu defended his decision, stating he only worked one day a week and it didn't impact his academics, emphasizing his desire for independence. Cen Jin offered to transfer 100,000 yuan back to him, instructing him to focus on his studies. However, Li Wu, hurt by her previous attempts to distance herself, questioned why she was still interfering and declared he would no longer appear before her.
He then cycled away in a flurry of emotions, leaving a bewildered Cheng Rui struggling to keep up. When Cheng Rui finally caught him, he found Li Wu on the verge of tears, confessing that he had messed up by telling Cen Jin he liked her, only to be denied "the right to like her" and told she no longer wanted to see him. Cheng Rui's attempt to suggest liking someone else was met with a resolute refusal.
Days passed without any contact between Cen Jin and Li Wu. While Li Wu was in class, Cheng Rui noted that Tao Wanwen was slow to reply, implying a quiet period for them all. Suddenly, Chun Chang called Li Wu, informing him that Cen Jin had fallen down the stairs at work and was now recovering at home from a bone fracture.
Concerned, Li Wu immediately asked Cheng Rui to handle his belongings and arrange leave from school, then rushed to Cen Jin's house. Cen Jin, who had been discussing her predicament with Chun Chang, was reluctant for Li Wu to care for her, given their strained relationship, and also wished to keep the accident from her parents.
Chun Chang, who needed to return to her store, insisted that Li Wu was the "best choice" to care for her, citing his strength, handsome appearance, genuine care, and his immediate rush back after her call. She left Li Wu in charge, instructing him to take care of his sister. Despite Cen Jin's discomfort, she reluctantly accepted the arrangement.
Li Wu immediately focused on her well-being, gently elevating her injured foot, explaining that it would improve blood circulation and prevent swelling, drawing on his extensive experience caring for his grandfather, who also had mobility issues. Cen Jin was surprised by his knowledge. Afterward, he sat silently by her bed, offering water or food, which she declined, leaving him unsure of what else to do.
