Sniper Butterfly Episode 9 Recap
> Sniper Butterfly Recap
As night fell after evening study, Cheng Rui had not yet returned to the dorm. His roommates worried, remembering Cheng Rui’s phone being confiscated at the start of school and a recent incident where he was caught trying to steal a sports card from the teacher’s office. If caught again, he faced expulsion.
When they heard the dormitory administrator approaching for a surprise check, Li Wu immediately jumped onto Cheng Rui’s empty bed to cover for him, leaving his own bed empty. The administrator recorded Li Wu as absent for the night. Afterward, his roommates praised Li Wu for his loyalty, to which Li Wu explained he acted quickly to prevent Cheng Rui from being expelled.
The next morning, Mr. Qi called Cen Jin, informing her that Li Wu had not returned to school all night. Cen Jin, concerned, rushed to the school. She found Li Wu in Mr. Qi’s office, attempting to explain his absence. Li Wu subtly gestured for Cen Jin to corroborate his lie, implying he had gone home and Cen Jin, having worked late, wouldn't have known he had left for school that morning.
Cen Jin, however, called Li Wu into the hallway for a private conversation, where he confessed to covering for his roommate due to a "special situation." Cen Jin expressed her disappointment, reminding him that his primary goal in Yi City was to study, and that school was not the time to prioritize misguided loyalty to friends. She sternly told him she could not take his college exams for him. Despite her seriousness, Li Wu found comfort in her concern.
Cen Jin then revealed the truth to Mr. Qi, explaining that Li Wu had covered for a roommate. She suggested transferring Li Wu to a different dorm, expressing concern that having just come from the mountains, many things were new and potentially tempting, and that his environment and peers could significantly influence him, which would be detrimental to his crucial college entrance exams.
Mr. Qi acknowledged her worries but believed Li Wu was a sensible student with clear goals who wouldn't be easily swayed. He also felt that excessive restrictions might backfire with students today, but assured her he would pay closer attention to Li Wu and guide him appropriately. Later, Mr. Qi privately reprimanded Cheng Rui. Back in class, Cheng Rui was furious.
He confronted Li Wu, accusing him of feigning loyalty by covering for him only to turn around and report him to the teacher. Li Wu tried to explain, but Cheng Rui refused to listen, believing Li Wu was also trying to get his dorm changed. Soon after, Cheng Rui's father arrived at school, compounding Cheng Rui’s embarrassment. Li Wu felt deeply wronged by the accusation. That weekend, Cen Jin picked up Li Wu to take him home.
Li Wu remained unusually quiet throughout the drive. When Cen Jin asked about his exam results, he responded vaguely. Pressed further, Li Wu mentioned that she had told Mr. Qi about the dorm incident. Cen Jin grew frustrated, feeling her good intentions were misunderstood, but Li Wu countered that his roommates were his friends and he didn't want to jeopardize their relationships. Disheartened, Cen Jin went to Chun Chang’s house to unwind.
Li Wu, worried, called her repeatedly, but Cen Jin intentionally ignored his calls. Eventually, Chun Chang messaged Li Wu, assuring him that Cen Jin was fine. That night, Li Wu studied tirelessly and left a note for Cen Jin before returning to school the next morning, promising to study hard and never upset her again. During PE class, Li Wu and a few other boys were sent to the equipment room to retrieve volleyballs.
There, a male student, later revealed in dialogue to be Fatty Zhang, began throwing volleyballs at Li Wu, with others joining in. Li Wu silently endured the bullying. Just then, Tao Wanwen, a girl from the Rocket Class and one of Mr. Qi's top students, entered the room, demanding to know what they were doing and threatening to report them. The boys quickly dispersed.
Tao Wanwen then approached Li Wu, explaining that she felt partially responsible for his ostracism because Cheng Rui’s overnight absence was actually to help her with college applications. Later, Tao Wanwen privately confronted Cheng Rui about his behavior. She urged him to explain his overnight absence to his father and Mr. Qi instead of letting Li Wu take the blame.
She then revealed a significant detail to Cheng Rui: Mr. Qi had inadvertently mentioned Li Wu's situation to her, and it was the first time Cheng Rui learned that Li Wu's parents and grandfather had passed away, and that Cen Jin was not his biological sister but the daughter of his benefactor.
Tao Wanwen chastised Cheng Rui for his "big ego" and for being used as a pawn by Fatty Zhang, who was pretending to defend him while actually venting his own anger. She tried to convince Cheng Rui to apologize to Li Wu, but Cheng Rui, unwilling to lose face, refused. Meanwhile, Cen Jin quickly adapted to her new company, AusStar.
Her boss informed her that Bei'ao Motors was opening a public tender for the promotion of a new car model and tasked Cen Jin with securing the collaboration. Cen Jin, recalling a contact at Bei'ao, assured her boss she would try her best. The following weekend, Li Wu was unable to contact Cen Jin as he hadn't brought his phone. Cen Jin, attending a mandatory work dinner designated by her boss, couldn't pick him up from school.
Li Wu waited at the school gate until dark, eventually returning to the school dorms when the security guard prepared to lock up. Cen Jin met with Manager Chen of Bei'ao Motors. Manager Chen noted that Bei'ao typically chose promotional companies from its existing supplier network, which AusStar was not a part of.
He also mentioned that several top industry firms, including Yiwen Creative Dream, were competing for the project, making it difficult for AusStar to even pass the initial qualification review. Cen Jin, however, highlighted AusStar's advantages as a new company with strong business capability, a vibrant team, excellent creativity, execution, and cost-effectiveness. She explained that their application for supplier registration had already been submitted and met Bei'ao's requirements.
Impressed by Cen Jin's presentation and their past acquaintance, Manager Chen agreed to give AusStar a chance to participate in the pitch if they could finalize their supplier registration documents within two weeks, acknowledging that the final selection would be based purely on merit.
Later, while still dealing with work matters, Cen Jin received a call from Mr. Qi, who informed her that Li Wu had been running a fever of 39 degrees Celsius for two days, and that medicine hadn't helped. Cen Jin immediately rushed to the school, picked up a shivering Li Wu from his dorm (giving him a jacket she grabbed from his room), and took him to the hospital. At the registration desk, a man tried to cut in line.
Cen Jin politely pointed out that others were waiting, but the man retorted aggressively. Li Wu, despite his fever, stepped forward to confront the man, who then sheepishly returned to the end of the line. Cen Jin chided Li Wu for being reckless while sick but was secretly touched by his protectiveness. She then called her work to request half a day off to stay with Li Wu.
As Cen Jin went to buy food, Li Wu sent her a WeChat message apologizing for his earlier behavior. Cen Jin, not truly angry, soon returned with congee, shredded chicken noodles, and wontons. She encouraged him to eat so he could recover quickly. Li Wu, relieved, asked if she was still mad at him, to which she replied that she had already answered him on WeChat. Cen Jin then helped him with the food, encouraging him to eat well.
