Sniper Butterfly Episode 21 Recap
> Sniper Butterfly Recap
Tao Wanwen arrived at Yijiang University to visit Cheng Rui, lamenting that she was already on break while he still had a month of school. As they spoke, Liu Ying, the "belle of the course," approached Cheng Rui and cheerfully invited him to dinner on Saturday. Cheng Rui happily accepted, much to Tao Wanwen's visible displeasure. Just then, Li Wu arrived.
Tao Wanwen, appearing defiant, handed Li Wu a ticket to a city orchestra concert, giving him a meaningful look, which he promptly accepted. After Tao Wanwen departed, Cheng Rui questioned Li Wu, suspecting he and Tao Wanwen were secretly communicating. Li Wu, in turn, teased Cheng Rui about his infatuation with Liu Ying, stating he had only accepted the ticket to save Tao Wanwen embarrassment. Cheng Rui, rendered speechless and frustrated, snatched the concert ticket from Li Wu.
Meanwhile, AusStar company was preparing to film a contact lens commercial, but the scheduled model had an eye infection and couldn't participate. Cen Jin instructed her team to find a good-looking university student online. When Li Wu arrived to deliver milk tea, Cen Jin immediately decided he would fill in as the model. During makeup, Cen Jin repeatedly came over to guide him, and each time Li Wu saw her, he couldn't help but smile.
As Li Wu was changing, Cen Jin came to the fitting room door to urge him to hurry. Li Wu, in a moment of impulse, pulled Cen Jin into the fitting room and kissed her passionately. Later, during the actual shoot, the director asked Li Wu to convey deep affection with his eyes. With Cen Jin standing by the director, Li Wu gazed directly at her, his eyes brimming with love, resulting in a perfect shot on the first take.
On Saturday, Cheng Rui had dinner with Liu Ying, but his mind was elsewhere, constantly thinking about Tao Wanwen and texting her distractedly. Liu Ying began to inquire if Li Wu had a girlfriend, but Cheng Rui, too preoccupied to listen, grabbed his bag and rushed out of the restaurant. He arrived at the theater entrance to find Tao Wanwen, who hadn't yet gone in.
Cheng Rui, misinterpreting the situation, quickly apologized, assuming Tao Wanwen was upset because Li Wu had stood her up. Tao Wanwen, finding Cheng Rui incredibly oblivious, clarified that she had no romantic feelings for Li Wu; she had simply had an extra ticket and invited Li Wu because he was a reliable option. They then decided to enter the concert together. At an industry networking event, Cen Jin encountered Wu Fu.
AusStar had recently secured a cosmetics order, with the initial proposal surprisingly provided by Wu Fu. Wu Fu provocatively accused Cen Jin of plagiarism. Cen Jin, upon learning the original concept was his, retorted that the work was "cheap, inside and out," and that she would "never put that case in my portfolio." Later, Cen Jin met with her boss, Ted, to discuss replacing the proposal.
Ted explained that the initial draft came from the client, and the company had no choice but to follow it. Cen Jin expressed her belief that the company should prioritize creativity, but Ted interrupted, emphasizing that all creativity must be executable and that "what you call old-fashioned might be the safest and most reliable solution in the client's eyes."
He subtly implied Cen Jin was overstepping, telling her not to "get bogged down in details" and not to "run on ideals alone." He admitted to both liking and fearing people like her. Feeling disheartened, Cen Jin returned home and immediately embraced Li Wu. She earnestly advised him to focus on his studies and not rush into the workforce, fearing he would be "eaten alive" by societal pressures and face unavoidable compromises.
Li Wu, however, expressed his desire to start working early so he could protect her and eventually marry her. Touched by his sincerity, Cen Jin finally managed a small smile. Li Wu then helped her to the sofa to rest and went to the kitchen to prepare hangover soup. Later, Cen Jin met with Chun Chang for a meal. When Chun Chang asked about her relationship with Li Wu, Cen Jin's expression softened with affection.
Chun Chang suggested Li Wu move in with her, but Cen Jin insisted he should prioritize his studies. Cen Jin then confided in Chun Chang about her work conflict with Wu Fu, revealing her intention to establish her own MCN company, one that would prioritize creativity, unlike her current role where she felt like "a tiny gear" that was "replaceable any day." She felt Wu Fu was not wrong in saying she had no "worries about the future."
Chun Chang voiced her support, but Cen Jin decided against immediate action, opting instead to first build up her professional network and discuss her plans with a former colleague who had successfully started her own business. That evening, Cen Jin video-called Li Wu, who rushed out of the library to answer. While they chatted, Liu Ying approached Li Wu, but he immediately told her he was on a video call with his girlfriend.
After Liu Ying left, Cen Jin abruptly hung up. Li Wu texted her, playfully guessing she was jealous. Back in his dorm, Li Wu scrolled through their chat, a wide smile spreading across his face. His roommates noticed his lovestruck demeanor and pressed him about his girlfriend. He revealed it was the "Sister" who had helped him enroll, which immediately sparked their curiosity about dating an older woman. Li Wu, however, skillfully deflected their questions, citing a need to read.
A few days later, Li Wu's research paper was approved, an uncommon achievement for a freshman. Cheng Rui proposed a celebration with their roommates. Shortly after, the department director summoned Li Wu to his office. The director informed Li Wu that the university had two full scholarship exchange spots to the University of Pennsylvania in the US. Given Li Wu's outstanding academic performance and upcoming journal publication, the department wanted to recommend him.
Li Wu was pleased but inquired about the program's duration and the possibility of returning home midway. The director explained it was a two-year program starting at the beginning of his sophomore year, and that returning mid-program would be administratively complicated due to visa regulations. The director encouraged him to embrace the opportunity to broaden his horizons and asked him to discuss it with his family and provide an answer soon.
At work, Cen Jin presented a new creative concept to Ted, arguing that merely following trends would eventually lead to stagnation. Ted reiterated the client's desire for a conservative and reliable approach. Unable to sway him, Cen Jin left the office feeling dejected. Upon returning home, she found Li Wu asleep on the sofa. She gently woke him and laid in his arms, expressing her distress over a disagreement with her boss and the possibility of becoming jobless.
Li Wu, surmising she already had a plan, assured her of his unwavering support, whatever she decided. He considered sharing the news about the exchange program but chose to remain silent, sensing her current emotional state. He was trying to protect her from more worries, but unbeknownst to him, Cheng Rui had already sent a message to Li Wu about the Penn exchange program.
