Way Back Into Love Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Way Back Into Love Synopsis
Lu Jia had a crush on Xu Jiaxiu during her high school years, but they lost contact as they went their separate ways after graduation.
After years of working abroad, Lu Jia returns to her hometown of Dongzhou to continue her career. She finds that Xu Jiaxiu is the founder of her company and that they have become neighbors by mistake.
Lu Jia, who thought that time had changed, finds herself falling in love with Xu Jiaxiu again in her work and life afterward.
Ye Angyang, who had a crush on Lu Jia in high school, joins the same company and pursues Lu Jia at once, but Lu Jia is only in love with Xu Jiaxiu.
After a series of misunderstandings and twists and turns, Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu finally enter into a relationship.
However, the appearance of Yang Shanni, Xu Jiaxiu's "first love", creates a new obstacle to their relationship.
Song Junxi, a business elite who has been rejected by Lu Jia, approaches Lu Jia again on the pretext of cooperation, which also triggers a crisis of trust between Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu.
In the end, they work together to resolve their career and emotional crises.
Way Back Into Love Recap
Episode 1 Recap
My name is Lu Jia, and I am 25 years old. I was born in Dongzhou but came to Beijing seven years ago. Tonight marks my final night in Beijing, a bustling and vibrant city where I have lived for seven years. Before I leave, I feel compelled to confront someone. I visited a luxurious hotel bar to address my former employer, whom I consider a jerk posing as a decent person.
I bluntly told him that I, Lu Jia, was quitting. My decision stems from a desire to return to my original aspirations and truly be myself, believing that a better future awaits me. With nowhere else to go, I decided to head home. Unbeknownst to me, as I exited one elevator, my high school classmate Xu Jiaxiu was ascending in another, and our paths briefly crossed.
Later, Xu Jiaxiu received a call from his high school friend, Zhong Jin, who was getting married and invited him to be a groomsman. Simultaneously, Zhong Jin's fiancée, Meng Tiantian, called Lu Jia, asking her to be a bridesmaid. Lu Jia initially agreed, but upon learning the groomsman was Xu Jiaxiu from Class 10, she immediately refused to participate. Similarly, Xu Jiaxiu, after finding out Lu Jia from Class 9 was the bridesmaid, also declined Zhong Jin’s invitation.
Upon my return to Dongzhou, my father, Lu Hongwei, was initially delighted but became upset when he learned I had quit my job without a new offer. To appease him, I fabricated a story about having already secured a better job in Dongzhou and wanting to spend more time with him. He seemed somewhat relieved but pressed for details about my new workplace, which I quickly deflected. My job search in Dongzhou proved frustrating.
My first interview required a high alcohol tolerance and the ability to create false accounts, which I found preposterous. I promptly left, even threatening to call the police. Other companies also presented unreasonable demands. I then received a call from a headhunting company that demanded a 1,888 yuan membership fee, so I immediately hung up, feeling disheartened by the lack of credible opportunities.
Meanwhile, a team of developers stormed into Voya Technology's office, mistakenly believing it to be Wode Technology, which owed them money. Xu Jiaxiu, Voya's boss, clarified that his company was Voya and Wode Technology was located upstairs. The team rushed to the Wode office but found it empty; the owner, Zhou Yunbo, had already fled. Xu Jiaxiu quickly deduced that Zhou Yunbo had swapped the company signs and was hiding outside a window.
Xu Jiaxiu subtly alerted the team, who then feigned departure, only to gather downstairs and corner Zhou Yunbo. With no escape, Zhou Yunbo emerged and claimed he, too, had been cheated by his client and therefore had no money to pay the team. Just as the team was about to take him to the police, Zhou Yunbo offered Xu Jiaxiu a reduction in Voya's rent, prompting Xu Jiaxiu to intervene on his behalf.
My luck seemed to turn when I went for a final interview with a company. The interviewer, Lan, assured me that they were a legitimate company, unlike the others I'd encountered. She praised my resume and my desire to contribute to my hometown, which aligned with their founder's vision. Lan described it as a young, innovative mobile internet company with great potential.
Despite my auditing background, I expressed reservations about my ability to excel as a finance supervisor in the internet industry. Lan encouraged me to take my time to consider the offer. Later that day, Zhong Jin and Meng Tiantian’s wedding reception was held at their newly opened hot pot restaurant. I arrived on time and helped Meng Tiantian collect red envelopes. During the banquet, Xu Jiaxiu arrived late, and our eyes met, stirring old high school memories.
As the celebration continued, I noticed a table of guests eating excessively, constantly ordering more food. Meng Tiantian, worried about her new restaurant’s expenses, desperately pleaded with me to find a way to make them leave. I discreetly went to the fuse box and turned off the air conditioning. The heat soon became unbearable for the guests, who quickly paid and departed. Meng Tiantian praised my clever, albeit devious, solution.
After the other guests left, only our Dongzhou High School classmates remained. Ye Angyang recognized me and greeted me warmly, asking about my return from Beijing. Still embarrassed about being unemployed, I fumbled for an answer. Just then, I received an offer notification from the internet company, providing the perfect opportunity to boast. I enthusiastically described my new company as a promising internet firm with an innovative, foreign-educated boss who had forsaken opportunities abroad to develop his hometown.
Meanwhile, Xu Jiaxiu received a message from Lan confirming the successful hire of a finance supervisor, implicitly confirming my new role at his company. He observed my elaborate fabrication with a knowing smile, choosing not to expose my lies. Fueled by alcohol and newfound confidence, I drank heavily and, in a drunken stupor, impulsively kissed Xu Jiaxiu, then, with a playful declaration of "You too," proceeded to kiss Ye Angyang.
The next morning, I woke up feeling energetic for my first day, until I received a message from Meng Tiantian. It included photos of my drunken kisses with Xu Jiaxiu and Ye Angyang from the wedding. Mortified, I frantically begged her to delete them. Upon arriving at the office, I was given my employment contract.
While waiting for Lan, I was greeted by Zhou Yunbo, who introduced himself as the CEO of Wode Technology and praised my youth and new role as finance supervisor. When I inquired about the relationship between Voya and Wode, Zhou Yunbo explained that Wode provided Voya's office space and pointed to Voya’s CEO. To my utter shock, I saw Xu Jiaxiu, realizing he was my new boss, and I immediately fled in a panic.
As I rushed out, I collided with Ye Angyang. Xu Jiaxiu quickly joined us. With nowhere to hide, I stammered, claiming I needed more time to consider the job. However, Xu Jiaxiu promptly used my own words against me, playfully quoting my embellished description of my new company and its noble, foreign-educated boss who returned to develop his hometown. He admitted he hadn't interrupted my boast the previous night because I seemed so happy.
Ye Angyang eagerly urged me to accept the offer, emphasizing the trust and strong long-term partnership that came with working with old classmates. Xu Jiaxiu then added that news travels fast in a small town like Dongzhou, and if I didn't take the job, everyone would soon know I was a "liar," ruining my reputation. Faced with this social pressure, I reluctantly agreed but asked for a company tour before signing the contract.
Ye Angyang, thrilled, led the tour, proudly explaining that Voya was the "fruit of his friendship" with Xu Jiaxiu, founded when Xu Jiaxiu returned from abroad, with Ye Angyang providing the capital and Xu Jiaxiu the effort. During the tour, I silently pondered Xu Jiaxiu's intentions in all this. The episode concludes with a flashback. Ye Angyang boasted to Xu Jiaxiu about receiving a stack of letters from female junior high classmates.
While Ye Angyang was distracted, Xu Jiaxiu stealthily pocketed one of the pink letters. Ye Angyang later noticed a letter was missing from his count, but Xu Jiaxiu feigned ignorance. Afterwards, Xu Jiaxiu is seen alone with the stolen letter as a final on-screen note reads, "One letter, sent to two people," hinting at its shared history.
Episode 2 Recap
Lu Jia visited Voya Company, with Ye Angyang enthusiastically describing his and Xu Jiaxiu's journey in establishing the startup, its company culture, and employee benefits. Ye Angyang explained that Voya, despite its small size and single-floor office, was well-equipped and advocated for a humanized management concept, always prioritizing employees. He proudly showed her the "reading, recreation and workout area," which included a modest wooden bucket for arm strength and a shuttlecock.
Lu Jia was unimpressed, and her skepticism grew as they moved to the staff cafeteria. There, she discovered it was a small self-service area equipped with a microwave, where employees were expected to prepare their own meals. Lu Jia candidly expressed her doubts about the company's operating philosophy, finding it vastly different from her expectations.
Ye Angyang acknowledged Voya was smaller than the large companies in Beijing but insisted it was a legitimate startup, and Lu Jia would simply need to adapt. He then took her to the office area, which housed only four desks arranged face-to-face. Wang Di, one of the programmers, explained their primary business was providing mobile internet services, developing apps and mini-programs for clients, creating websites, and offering information systems, effectively an outsourcing model.
Ye Angyang added that their priority was to generate revenue to fund independent research and development in the future. Lu Jia then inquired about the HR department. Ye Angyang informed her that Lan, her interviewer, was an external hire and did not work in the office. He explained that outsourcing HR saved costs during their startup phase.
When Lu Jia asked about the CFO, expecting to hand over her work, Ye Angyang hesitantly revealed that the CFO had resigned that very morning. Feeling deceived by what seemed like false recruitment information, Lu Jia stormed into Xu Jiaxiu's office, relieved she hadn't yet signed the contract. She directly stated she would not take the job, citing the misleading job posting and the company's unaligned atmosphere and culture.
Xu Jiaxiu, who had meticulously orchestrated her recruitment by instructing Lan to hire her specifically, calmly tried to persuade her to reconsider. He offered an immediate promotion to Chief Financial Officer with a 30% salary increase, tempting Lu Jia. Playing hard to get, Xu Jiaxiu advised her to think it over, mentioning that Lan had already posted new job advertisements. Just then, Lan called Xu Jiaxiu to confirm an interview with another applicant for 2 PM.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Lu Jia swiftly accepted the offer and signed the contract. Xu Jiaxiu then casually reminded her to carefully read the employee handbook, specifically highlighting a recently added clause prohibiting office romance—a rule he instituted after an uncomfortable interview with a prospective employee who had deliberately spilled water on him. Ye Angyang then led Lu Jia to her new office space, providing her with supplies and proudly showing her the employee handbook.
He introduced her to her new colleagues: programmers Wang Di and Zhang Liang, and cashier Xiaoda. Her new colleagues warmly welcomed her but immediately began complaining about Xu Jiaxiu's incredibly strict and demanding nature, emphasizing his sharp eyes, excellent memory, and tendency to hold grudges, likening him to a "Scorpio." Lu Jia initially dismissed their warnings, recalling how Xu Jiaxiu had been pleasant to her earlier despite her directness.
However, Ye Angyang, who identified himself as Xu Jiaxiu's childhood friend, cautioned her not to upset him. This triggered a realization in Lu Jia: she wondered if drunkenly kissing Xu Jiaxiu at Meng Tiantian's wedding had already created a "feud" between them. Later that evening, upon returning home, Lu Jia's father, Lu Hongwei, eagerly asked about her new job.
Lu Jia proudly told him she was working at Xu Jiaxiu's company and had been promoted to CFO with a 30% raise. Lu Hongwei, a former Director of Studies at Dongzhou High School, vividly remembered catching Xu Jiaxiu and a girl named Yang Shanni dating in the woods and then publicly criticizing them throughout the school. This revelation further worried Lu Jia, who feared Xu Jiaxiu might take out his past grievances on her.
Just then, Xu Jiaxiu called Lu Jia. He questioned why she hadn't replied to his WeChat message and then assigned her the task of completing the financial statement for the previous quarter by the end of the next day, as the former CFO had left it unfinished. Lu Jia tried to explain that the timeline was too tight, especially since she was new and unfamiliar with the company's business.
However, Xu Jiaxiu cut her off, stating that based on her resume, she was capable of completing the work on time and hung up before she could say more. Frustrated, Lu Jia muttered that Xu Jiaxiu was exploiting her and suspected he was blaming her for the past incident with Yang Shanni. The next morning, Xu Jiaxiu was already at the company entrance, meticulously noting employee arrivals in a small notebook.
Lu Jia, rushing to avoid being late, arrived one minute past the official start time. Xu Jiaxiu, adhering to company policy, informed her that she would be docked two hours' pay for being late. Lu Jia argued that the deduction was unfair for a mere minute's delay, proposing a more precise, minute-based calculation. Just then, Ye Angyang arrived, casually eating breakfast, and Xu Jiaxiu did not record his lateness. Lu Jia immediately pointed out the unfairness.
Xu Jiaxiu explained that Ye Angyang had voluntarily agreed to sacrifice a quarter of his monthly salary to be allowed two hours of lateness each day. Lu Jia suggested implementing a punch-in recorder, but Xu Jiaxiu dismissed the idea, stating that for a company of their small size, manual attendance tracking was more efficient and cost-effective, before redirecting her to focus on the financial statement. Lu Jia grumbled, calling him an "old fogy" for using manual attendance.
Despite the old computer, Lu Jia, leveraging her extensive experience from a reputable accounting firm in Beijing, quickly started working on the financial statement and made significant progress. However, the computer suddenly crashed, and all her unsaved data was lost. She desperately sought Ye Angyang's help, but even after an hour, he couldn't fix it. Just then, Xu Jiaxiu summoned her to his office, demanding the financial statement.
Lu Jia explained her computer malfunction and the loss of data, but Xu Jiaxiu bluntly stated he didn't believe her, quoting her former teacher: "Not submitting your homework means you didn't do it. Not doing it means you couldn't do it." Infuriated, Lu Jia accused him of insulting her character and professional integrity, announcing her intention to resign.
Xu Jiaxiu calmly directed her to review her employment contract, reminding her that as a director-level employee, she was required to give one month's notice or pay a breach penalty equivalent to three months' salary. Left with no choice, Lu Jia had to continue. Zhang Liang later confirmed that Lu Jia's computer was beyond repair and suggested scrapping it. Ye Angyang offered his laptop to Lu Jia to complete her work.
Lu Jia realized that the breach penalty clause was a new addition to the contract, solidifying her belief that Xu Jiaxiu was deliberately targeting her. She racked her brain, eventually remembering her drunken kiss at Meng Tiantian's wedding. Ye Angyang confirmed her fears, explaining that Xu Jiaxiu was a germophobe, and the incident was undoubtedly "on his grudge list." Lu Jia, feeling doomed, resigned herself and resumed working on the report from scratch.
As Lu Jia worked late into the night, her colleagues, Xiaoda, Wang Di, and Zhang Liang, expressed concern about Xu Jiaxiu's harsh treatment of her, wondering if there was a personal vendetta. Ye Angyang, observing Lu Jia's diligent work, thought she was attractive and wished he had recruited her sooner. He moved a chair outside her office and began sketching her focused profile. When Lu Jia finally completed the financial report, Ye Angyang offered to walk her home. During their walk, Lu Jia suddenly confessed her feelings to him, asking if they could be together, leaving Ye Angyang completely stunned.
Episode 3 Recap
Lu Jia, determined to escape her current employment, deliberately proposed a relationship with Ye Angyang, aiming to violate the company’s strict no-office-romance policy and get herself dismissed by Xu Jiaxiu. Ye Angyang, initially stunned by her sudden proposal, listened as Lu Jia explained that she simply wanted to regain her freedom.
She stated that while she wished to pay the penalty and throw the money at Xu Jiaxiu's face, her recent stock losses made her short on funds, and she refused to endure working for him for a full month. Ye Angyang, eager to be with Lu Jia, readily agreed to help, assuring her that as a company partner, Xu Jiaxiu would never fire him, thus ensuring she would be the one dismissed.
Lu Jia enthusiastically suggested they immediately change to couple head portraits and wear couple clothes to work the next day, along with a high-profile bouquet of flowers. However, Ye Angyang, believing these "little tricks" wouldn't fool Xu Jiaxiu, insisted they follow his own, more subtle approach. The next morning, Lu Jia arrived at work and presented Xu Jiaxiu with the financial statement she had supposedly worked on overnight, complete with self-imposed dark circles.
To her annoyance, Xu Jiaxiu calmly informed her he had already reviewed the report an hour ago. Lu Jia then discovered her computer's host unit in his office; he had fixed her old computer and extracted the data himself. She internally cursed him for being cheap, refusing to buy a new computer, and for seemingly causing her to work late on purpose. Xu Jiaxiu merely told her to take her host computer and leave his office.
Later, in an attempt to make their fabricated relationship known, Ye Angyang spoke to Xu Jiaxiu in his office, subtly mentioning he was dealing with "personal emotional problems." Simultaneously, Lu Jia intentionally sent a message to the company group chat saying, "Why are you guys still talking about work? I miss you," only to quickly retract it and claim it was a mistake.
Colleagues like Xiaoda, Zhang Liang, and Wang Di, having seen the message, immediately began speculating about a possible office romance, with many pointing to Mr. Ye due to their known history as high school classmates. Confident that her plan was working, Lu Jia confronted Xu Jiaxiu, confirming the company's rule about one party being dismissed in an office romance and announcing her relationship with Ye Angyang, expecting to be fired.
Instead, Xu Jiaxiu directed her to page eight of the employee handbook, which outlined rules against non-work-related messages in the group chat, imposing a 500 yuan fine, doubled if not paid within 24 hours. Lu Jia, frustrated, grudgingly sent the red envelope to the group, only to recoup a measly 0. 25 yuan.
She then learned that Janice, the CTO and head of the Project R&D Department, had won the most money from the red envelope and didn't even have to clock in daily, which Lu Jia found incredibly unfair. Venting her frustration, Lu Jia tried to drink many cups of coffee to make up for her financial loss, muttering under her breath about Xu Jiaxiu's "shamelessness" and how "good looks" don't pay bills.
Xu Jiaxiu, overhearing her, pointed out that her compliment was merely a statement of fact and calculated how many 1. 3 yuan coffee packets she would need to drink to break even. Recognizing that her initial "Plan A" failed because Xu Jiaxiu was "a complete straight man" when it came to "relationships and flirtation," Lu Jia decided with Ye Angyang to implement "Plan B"—a more "drastic" and open display of affection.
They followed Xu Jiaxiu to a coffee shop where he was meeting clients, knowing he always chose cost-effective places to save time and money. Despite Ye Angyang's suggestion to go inside, Lu Jia insisted they couldn't jeopardize corporate business. As Xu Jiaxiu met with a stream of clients, Lu Jia and Ye Angyang waited outside, enduring numb legs from their prolonged public display.
Eventually, they went inside, making a heart shape with their hands and sitting opposite Xu Jiaxiu, only to be interrupted by a waiter asking for their orders. They quickly left when Xu Jiaxiu finished his meeting. As they continued their performance outside, sand blew into Lu Jia’s eye, and Ye Angyang leaned in to help her. Xu Jiaxiu, observing this moment as he escorted his last client, misinterpreted their closeness. He simply told them to "continue" and walked away.
Lu Jia, desperate, chased after Xu Jiaxiu, jumping into his car. She explicitly declared her relationship with Ye Angyang, reminding him of the company’s anti-office-romance policy and demanding that he fire her so she could "pack her things and get lost." Xu Jiaxiu, however, stated that the company would do "whatever it costs to retain talents" and calmly threatened to simply break them up, rendering their relationship non-violating.
Frustrated, Lu Jia demanded the driver pull over and got out, only to realize she had lost a shoe in her haste and left her bag and phone with Ye Angyang. Ye Angyang, who had been calling Xu Jiaxiu in concern, cursed "Grumpy Xu" for being "inhumane" when he learned Lu Jia had been dropped off. Later, Lu Jia met with Meng Tiantian, lamenting her "doomed" connection with Xu Jiaxiu, calling him a liar and vindictive.
Meng Tiantian speculated Xu Jiaxiu’s grudge might stem from Lu Jia’s father, Lu Hongwei, having ruined his first love with Yang Shanni years ago in the woods, or from Lu Jia drunkenly kissing him at Meng Tiantian’s wedding, given his known neat-freak tendencies. Lu Jia vehemently denied the possibility of falling for Xu Jiaxiu again, vowing she "would never fall for the same man twice."
She also complained about the "crappy contract" that mandated a three-month salary penalty if she resigned before a month's notice. Meng Tiantian suggested she "laze away" her remaining time, but Lu Jia explained Xu Jiaxiu kept her overwhelmed with tasks. Meanwhile, at home, Lu Hongwei was having his pants stitched by Jiang Wenting, a neighbor.
Their relationship was a secret, as Lu Hongwei feared Lu Jia’s disapproval, acknowledging his daughter's sensitivity since her mother's passing and promising Jiang Wenting he would find the right time to tell Lu Jia. Lu Jia arrived home to find Jiang Wenting leaving and making excuses about sewing her father’s pants. Lu Jia, who had long been aware of their relationship but chose to say nothing, silently observed the scene before retreating to her room.
Lu Hongwei then noticed Lu Jia was wearing Meng Tiantian's shoes. The next day, Lu Jia was late again due to her long commute. She offered to have two hours of her pay deducted, despite being only a minute and 59 seconds late. Ye Angyang, attempting to maintain the illusion of their office romance, loudly returned her lost bag and shoe, hinting that she had left them at his place overnight.
Lu Jia, however, decided to end the pretense, telling Ye Angyang that Xu Jiaxiu’s refusal to dismiss her, preferring instead to break them up, indicated he "definitely" couldn't find a replacement. Ye Angyang expressed sadness over the abrupt end of their "transient relationship." Determined to leave, Lu Jia realized she had to find another way. At that moment, Zhou Yunbo, representing his "dummy company" Wode Technology, tried to pitch a "can't-lose" project to Xu Jiaxiu.
Xu Jiaxiu, citing a shortage of staff, was initially hesitant. Lu Jia, seizing the opportunity, volunteered to take on the project. She proposed a bet: if she completed the outsourcing project on time, Xu Jiaxiu would release her from her contract; if she failed, her resignation notice period would extend from one to three months. Ye Angyang immediately offered to help her, boosting Lu Jia’s confidence that they would win.
Xu Jiaxiu agreed to the bet, wishing her good luck, and Lu Jia confidently told him to prepare a "farewell dinner." As they began selecting a project, Lu Jia discovered Ye Angyang couldn't program, meaning she would be doing most of the work, focusing on her specialty in design and interface. They chose a project involving transferring an Android program's interface to iOS.
Zhou Yunbo then revealed the project had a tight deadline of one week, much to Lu Jia's dismay. Despite Ye Angyang's plan to split the design work and finish in five days with 12-hour workdays, Lu Jia calculated her grueling schedule: 12 hours of work, 4 hours commuting, 2 hours for eating and showering, leaving less than six hours for sleep. She also worried about disturbing her father and Doctor Jiang's dates at home.
She sought advice from Lan, a representative from the personnel outsourcing company, who suggested renting a nearby apartment to save travel time. However, Lu Jia calculated that an apartment, costing at least 3,000 yuan a month, wasn't cost-effective for her 8,000 yuan after-tax salary, even factoring in reduced tardiness penalties. Lan then mentioned that Janice, the company's CTO, was looking for a roommate.
Just then, Janice made a dramatic entrance on a motorcycle, dressed in black leather, her short, messy hair complementing her cool demeanor. She was immediately surrounded by admiring colleagues like Xiaoda, Zhang Liang, and Wang Di, all calling her "Master." Later, Lu Jia had a vivid dream where she again confessed her relationship with Ye Angyang to Xu Jiaxiu.
In the dream, Xu Jiaxiu shockingly declared he would fire Ye Angyang, not her, claiming he had wanted to get rid of him for a long time. Ye Angyang, horrified, then begged Xu Jiaxiu to fire him instead. Lu Jia woke up, realizing it was all just a dream.
Episode 4 Recap
Lu Jia, who had recently returned to Dongzhou from Beijing, announced it was time to move. Her father, Lu Hongwei, prepared breakfast and tried to persuade her to stay, offering to cook for her every day. Lu Jia, however, gently declined, explaining that her moving out would give him and Ms. Wenting more freedom. Soon, Janice arrived with Zhang Liang and Wang Di to help Lu Jia with the move.
Meanwhile, Ye Angyang called Lu Jia, apologizing for not coming to help. He claimed he had a stomachache but then admitted to Lu Jia that he was genuinely afraid of her father, who had been his school teacher, leaving him with a lasting fear. Lu Jia reassured him that they had nearly finished moving. After hanging up, Ye Angyang realized he had forgotten to warn Lu Jia about her new neighbor.
Janice drove Lu Jia to her new apartment, making a comical wrong turn on the way, which Janice dismissed as "the same." Upon their arrival, Lu Jia noticed a convenience store employee delivering a birthday cake to the apartment directly across from hers, realizing with dismay that Xu Jiaxiu was her new neighbor. Janice and the others were already aware of Xu Jiaxiu's popularity, noting that many admirers, like the convenience store worker, frequently confessed their feelings to him.
Xu Jiaxiu politely but firmly rejected the cake, stating he did not celebrate his birthday on the solar calendar and did not eat cakes. Later, Lu Jia found the crying employee downstairs and comforted her. The employee then offered the cake to Lu Jia, who, after some initial hesitation, accepted it.
Back in the apartment, Lu Jia and her friends decided to eat the cake, rationalizing it as fulfilling the girl's wish and celebrating Xu Jiaxiu's "getting on for 30" birthday, complete with three candles and a loud rendition of "Happy Birthday to Boss." During the ensuing playful cake fight, Lu Jia accidentally smeared cream on Xu Jiaxiu, who had entered their unlocked apartment after hearing the commotion.
Xu Jiaxiu promptly took off his coat and instructed Lu Jia, "The person who smeared it should wash it." Lu Jia later returned the cleaned coat to Xu Jiaxiu, remarking, "I had eaten cakes before. But I had never eaten your cake." Xu Jiaxiu then handed her a mirror, showing her the cake still on her face, leading Lu Jia to lament, "You really are my bane."
The next morning, Lu Jia was once again running late for work due to her late-night activities. Fortunately, Janice gave her a ride on her motorcycle, ensuring she arrived on time. Janice boasted about the benefits of being her roommate, promising Lu Jia would never be late again. However, their joy was short-lived as Xu Jiaxiu immediately assigned Janice to a long business trip.
Lu Jia felt disheartened, wondering what she would do without Janice, who offered her an alarm clock before leaving. Xu Jiaxiu then reminded Lu Jia about their bet, urging her to admit defeat early if she couldn't handle the pressure. Lu Jia, however, defiantly vowed to prove him wrong and complete the project to leave the company. Lu Jia was assigned image editing tasks, but her computer proved to be frustratingly slow.
When Xu Jiaxiu tried to install image processing software, the computer screen went black. Exasperated, Lu Jia confronted Xu Jiaxiu, requesting a new computer, emphasizing that the frequent malfunctions were not only hindering her work but also potentially damaging Voya's reputation.
Xu Jiaxiu agreed but made her "go through the procedure," which involved collecting signatures from all seven colleagues in the company, a tedious task that kept Lu Jia running around the office and even required her to get approvals via WeChat from absent colleagues. After much effort, Xu Jiaxiu finally signed off on her new computer. By 2 PM, Lu Jia had received her new computer and was eager to start her image editing work.
However, Xu Jiaxiu immediately assigned her another task: to organize six months of financial statements and submit them by Friday. He warned that if she failed, she would have to stay at the company for another three months. Lu Jia vehemently refused to back down, proclaiming that she had "never lost any bet in my life," despite Xu Jiaxiu's retort that she simply "never admitted that you lost."
Working late into the night, Lu Jia had only completed 38% of the financial statements when Ye Angyang joined her. She lamented the impossible workload, calling Xu Jiaxiu "Scumbag Xu" for intentionally sabotaging her with so many tasks, especially knowing she was working on Zhou Yunbo's project. When Ye Angyang heard a stomach grumble, Lu Jia denied it was hers, implying it came from Xu Jiaxiu's nearby office.
To lure him out, Lu Jia and Ye Angyang loudly discussed going for night snacks at a new seafood BBQ restaurant, detailing a mouth-watering menu of crayfish, Chinese mitten crabs from Yangcheng Lake, Bei Fung Tong fried crabs, and steamed sea urchins and eggs. Unable to resist, Xu Jiaxiu eventually emerged and joined them.
At the restaurant, Lu Jia confirmed with Ye Angyang that company policy dictated the boss would pay for overtime meals, and she proceeded to order generously, aiming to "eat him out of house and home." During the meal, Ye Angyang, complaining about his long commute, asked if he could stay at Xu Jiaxiu's apartment for a few days.
Xu Jiaxiu flatly refused, meticulously recalling past incidents where Ye Angyang had caused trouble at his home, including spilling instant noodle soup on his couch in 2017 and loudly playing games in 2018. Ye Angyang called Xu Jiaxiu petty and finally relented when Xu Jiaxiu suggested he could use a sleeping bag in the company's storage room. Despite Xu Jiaxiu's stomach ache, Lu Jia and Ye Angyang returned to the office for another grueling night of work.
They pushed through to complete the financial statements and image resizing tasks. Exhausted, they eventually dozed off at their desks. While they slept, Xu Jiaxiu quietly entered the office, checked Lu Jia's computer, corrected some errors, and saved her work. He then left, feeling a sudden, intense stomach pain. Later, Lu Jia and Ye Angyang woke up, proud of their achievement. They sent the completed project to Zhou Yunbo before heading home to rest.
As Lu Jia exited the elevator in her apartment building, she discovered Xu Jiaxiu on the ground, groaning in agony. Realizing he had a fever, she immediately helped him up, chiding him for his "grudge holder" behavior and mistakenly attributing his illness to lingering resentment over her father's past interference in his relationship with Yang Shanni. Xu Jiaxiu, clearly hurt, asked if that was truly how she saw him.
Despite his reluctance and fear of hospitals, Lu Jia insisted on taking him, trying to motivate him to "overcome his fear," and eventually succeeded in getting him to the hospital. Afterwards, Lu Jia received a text message from Xu Jiaxiu, reminding her that her recent overtime meal expenses had exceeded the company's "dining standard" by 687. 5 yuan, a detail that left her bewildered.
Episode 5 Recap
Lu Jia rushed Xu Jiaxiu to the emergency room, where he was in extreme pain. A doctor diagnosed him with acute appendicitis, requiring immediate surgery, and instructed Lu Jia to handle the admission formalities. Lu Jia was taken aback by the sudden serious condition, lamenting that she barely knew his family. The surgery was successful. As Xu Jiaxiu rested, Lu Jia, who had fallen asleep during the long wait, was woken by a nurse.
She clarified that she was his subordinate, not a relative, remarking that simply being there was enough. She then found cat food in his pocket, realizing he had a pet cat. Looking at his sleeping face, she thought about how handsome he was and wished he would always behave. Xu Jiaxiu soon woke up to find Ye Angyang and the entire company team visiting him. Lu Jia, exhausted and starving from the morning's activities, began eating the fruit they brought.
Ye Angyang, trying to be helpful, attempted to feed Xu Jiaxiu some porridge, but a nurse quickly stopped them. She explained that Xu Jiaxiu could not eat anything, not even drink water, until he passed gas, to prevent intestinal adhesions. She advised them to help him pass gas as soon as possible, suggesting only moisturizing his lips in the meantime. Soon after, members of the Mosaic team arrived, presenting Xu Jiaxiu with a pennant and a large bowl of crayfish.
They profusely thanked him for helping them track down their elusive client and successfully recover their outstanding payment, considering it a significant favor. Xu Jiaxiu humbly replied it was "not a big deal." With the delicious crayfish present, Ye Angyang noted that Xu Jiaxiu couldn't eat it yet and suggested they eat it before it got cold. Lu Jia reminded them not to eat without her.
However, upon her return with Xu Jiaxiu's report, she found that her colleagues had already devoured all the crayfish. She was annoyed, but the group then discussed how to care for Xu Jiaxiu since his family was not in Dongzhou. Ye Angyang proposed they draw lots, following company regulations for rotating care. Lu Jia unluckily drew the first slot.
Her colleagues immediately dispersed, leaving her to reluctantly take on the initial care, despite Ye Angyang's brief, quickly dismissed offer to stay and help. Determined to help Xu Jiaxiu pass gas, Lu Jia accompanied him on a brisk walk in the hallway, carrying his IV drip. She pushed him to walk faster, even when his slippers fell off. Back in the room, she found an "infant gas passing exercise" online and insisted he follow it.
Xu Jiaxiu struggled and asked Lu Jia to massage his belly, specifying three centimeters above his belly button. As she prepared to massage him, Ye Angyang called, informing her that it was normal for some patients not to pass gas for several days and advising her not to overdo it. Relieved, Lu Jia quickly ended the call, citing a low phone battery. Later, Xu Jiaxiu, needing privacy, sent Lu Jia home to feed his cat and clean its litter box.
Janice, expressing great curiosity about Xu Jiaxiu’s private life, insisted on accompanying Lu Jia. They were both surprised by how immaculately clean his apartment was, particularly the spacious bedroom. Suddenly, a large grey cat appeared, startling Janice, who shrieked and began running around. The frightened cat, equally alarmed, also ran wildly, knocking over bottles and jars, turning the tidy room into a chaotic scene.
Stunned by the mess, Lu Jia and Janice quickly cleaned the apartment after Xu Jiaxiu messaged to check on the cat. To reassure him, they staged a video: Lu Jia pretend-dried the cat's fur, making it look recently bathed, and fed it. Janice recorded these scenes and sent them to Xu Jiaxiu.
Xu Jiaxiu, who was diligently trying to move around to help himself pass gas, watched the video and, despite his condition, messaged back to remind Lu Jia not to bathe the cat too frequently. The next morning, Lu Jia received a call from Ye Angyang, who informed her that the outsourced project they had worked on overnight had been approved by the client, and the payment was already in Voya Technology's account.
After verifying the transfer, Lu Jia immediately went to the hospital to submit her resignation to Xu Jiaxiu. However, Xu Jiaxiu, already aware of the project's completion, claimed she hadn't independently completed it. He revealed that he had helped correct numerous errors in her section while she and Ye Angyang were asleep. Citing this, he unilaterally extended her resignation notice period from one month to three months.
Lu Jia, initially trying to politely persuade him to let her go, appealing to their old school ties, was met with his firm refusal. Enraged, Lu Jia declared she would leave immediately. Xu Jiaxiu retorted that she would then owe three months' pay as a breach penalty. Lu Jia argued she hadn't even received a month's salary, to which he advised her to at least complete a full month.
In a moment of frustration, Lu Jia impulsively gestured towards his surgical wound. Startled, Xu Jiaxiu recoiled and fell to the floor. Lu Jia quickly insisted she hadn't touched him, accusing him of trying to "blame her for this." Xu Jiaxiu confirmed he was not badly hurt. Lu Jia then quickly left the room. Back home, Lu Jia vented her frustrations to her father, who made her a special soup to calm her.
Meanwhile, Meng Tiantian messaged Lu Jia with gossip, revealing that Yang Shanni had broken up with her flight attendant boyfriend, William. Meng Tiantian had even used the Intimate Index app to calculate that Yang Shanni's intimacy with a new admirer, Wang Hao from Class 8, was higher than with William.
Intrigued, Lu Jia used the app to calculate her father's Intimate Index with Jiang Wenting, noticing a surprisingly high score, which made her feel a little jealous, especially as her father playfully denied anything was going on. Later, when Lu Jia recommended the Intimate Index app to Xiaoda and other colleagues, she learned that Wang Di had developed it merely for fun, never intending it to be a serious company project. Despite this, the app had unexpectedly become very popular.
Janice explained that company project bonuses could range from three to six months' salary, even up to eighteen months if profits were exceptionally high. This sparked an idea in Lu Jia: she realized the Intimate Index had great commercial potential and decided to propose its development into a profitable project, hoping to use the bonus money to pay off her breach penalty and leave the company. Meanwhile, Xu Jiaxiu had still not passed gas after three days.
Ye Angyang, concerned, visited him, bringing a makeshift belly band made of heating patches. Xu Jiaxiu found it too hot, prompting Ye Angyang to go get him a hot water bottle instead. Lu Jia then arrived at the hospital, ready to pitch her idea to Xu Jiaxiu. She concisely presented a detailed business plan for developing and marketing the Intimate Index app, explaining the company's reward structure for profitable projects.
However, Xu Jiaxiu showed no interest and flatly refused to let her pursue the project, stating he had his own plans for the company. Lu Jia was enraged, questioning why he would ignore such a profitable venture when employees wanted to earn money, and accused him of being selfish and prioritizing his own whims over the company's financial well-being. She then directly confronted him, asking if he was refusing solely because she proposed the project.
Xu Jiaxiu admitted that he was. Furious, Lu Jia accused him of "abusing his power to get even with her" and sacrificing Voya Technology's future for a personal grudge, declaring the company would "close down" before she could resign, then stormed out. Left alone, a frustrated Xu Jiaxiu suddenly passed gas, a mix of annoyance and relief on his face.
Episode 6 Recap
Lu Jia approached Janice for assistance, asking her to help persuade Xu Jiaxiu to monetize the Intimate Index software. Lu Jia expressed her frustration with Xu Jiaxiu, calling him selfish and petty, and questioned why anyone would be loyal to a boss who neglected a "profitable asset" like Intimate Index in favor of outsourcing.
She then presented a business plan and profit initiative she had prepared for Intimate Index, estimating a profit of at least a million yuan, with no upper limit if it became popular, promising substantial employee bonuses. Janice agreed to help, but first suggested they feed Xu Jiaxiu’s cat to curry favor with him.
She advised Lu Jia that Xu Jiaxiu, despite appearing somewhat petty due to his excellent memory of everyone’s mistakes, was ultimately a boss with "breadth of mind and has vision" who provided employees with opportunities for self-improvement, which is how Intimate Index came to be. Janice noted that Wang Di also had a hand in its development.
Dismissing the idea that Wang Di or Ye Angyang could convince Xu Jiaxiu alone, Janice proposed that she, Lu Jia, and Ye Angyang "work on it together," advocating a "soft approach" as Xu Jiaxiu "yields to soft approach, and rejects force." The next morning, Lu Jia arrived at the hospital to pick up Xu Jiaxiu, showering him with apologies for her "harsh" tone during a previous incident.
She explained that she had purposefully provoked him out of concern for his health, to make him "pass gas" and avoid a serious "intestinal adhesion," claiming her actions made him "so refreshed and energetic." Xu Jiaxiu sarcastically asked if she was his "savior." Lu Jia then passionately declared her "sincere" loyalty to Voya, emphasizing her expertise in "reducing expenditure" and her ability to "increase income" to "make our business better."
Xu Jiaxiu, however, simply told her to focus on her "duty first" and "listen to your Boss," which he deemed "a sort of loyalty." As they made their way to his apartment, Lu Jia continued her fawning, offering to help him walk and mind the table corners. At his door, she boasted about cleaning his home and feeding his cat, to which Janice added that Lu Jia had lost weight from the effort, though Xu Jiaxiu observed her "bouncy" appearance.
However, Xu Jiaxiu only allowed Ye Angyang to enter, shutting the door on Lu Jia and Janice. Left outside, Lu Jia complained that her face was "stiff" from smiling and that since the "soft approach doesn't work on him either," they should "strong-arm him." Meanwhile, inside the apartment, Ye Angyang volunteered to help Xu Jiaxiu scrub his back in the shower as the wound was still painful.
Xu Jiaxiu, initially "shy" and "acted stubborn," eventually relented and agreed to let Ye Angyang stay for a few days to continue helping him. Ye Angyang secretly planned to "take advantage of the opportunity" to improve his relationship with Lu Jia. Soon, Xu Jiaxiu felt hungry. Ye Angyang quickly left to "buy food," reporting his success to Lu Jia and Janice, declaring he had "successfully becoming his house guest."
Lu Jia instructed him to "keep us posted" so they could "find a perfect solution" and "nail him." The trio then brainstormed food ideas, deciding that fish and fish soup would be nutritious and easy to digest, hoping to make Xu Jiaxiu "sleepy" so they could "seal the deal." Despite their plan, Lu Jia, Ye Angyang, and Janice got distracted by their own cravings at the supermarket.
Lu Jia picked her favorite ice cream, while Ye Angyang and Janice selected their preferred cakes, and the three of them feasted on their treats, completely forgetting about Xu Jiaxiu's meal. As it grew dark, a starving Xu Jiaxiu called Ye Angyang, asking if he was "buying food or growing food" and urging him to return immediately. Back at Xu Jiaxiu's apartment, none of them knew how to cook fish soup.
So, Xu Jiaxiu donned an apron and, despite his recent surgery, cooked a large and impressive meal for everyone. The trio showered him with praise. Seizing the moment, Ye Angyang and Janice brought up the Intimate Index project. Xu Jiaxiu, however, pressed them on their "true purpose" for promoting the project.
Lu Jia eloquently articulated her vision: Intimate Index could prove Voya's independent research and development capabilities, establish it as a brand project, and secure its market share in mobile internet, benefiting the company, Xu Jiaxiu, and the employees. Xu Jiaxiu, in turn, challenged her, asking why such vital points weren't in her business plan, suggesting she wasn't fully confident and had written the plan more for herself.
He stressed the importance of knowing "why you decided to do it" to overcome inevitable obstacles. Lu Jia agreed to revise the plan based on his feedback. Satisfied, Xu Jiaxiu approved the project, but with a crucial condition: they needed to obtain authorization from Wang Di, the other developer, and it had to be a genuine, willing agreement from Wang Di, with "no tricks." The next day, Lu Jia and Janice immediately sought out Wang Di at work.
They enthusiastically pitched the Intimate Index project, asking if he wanted to "get rich" and "reach the peak of your life." Wang Di, however, hesitated, claiming to be a "law-abiding citizen." Lu Jia then passionately described Voya as a "small company" in a "third-tier city" with a "big ambition," emphasizing that Wang Di's significant efforts in developing Intimate Index deserved "to be paid back."
She presented her profit initiative, assuring him that he only needed to "entrust me with the operation," guaranteeing substantial company earnings that would lead to employee bonuses, so much so that they'd be "counting our bonus." She also mentioned Xu Jiaxiu's approval, saying he thought the plan was "brilliant." Despite their fervent pleas, Wang Di rejected their proposal, stating he had never intended to make money from Intimate Index, found Lu Jia's plan incomprehensible, and refused to commercialize it.
He revealed that he had already rejected "many investors" who had approached him previously. Lu Jia was visibly frustrated, exclaiming, "This is different from what I expected." Later, at Xu Jiaxiu's house where she was cleaning, Lu Jia asked him why Wang Di was so resistant to commercialization. Xu Jiaxiu explained that for Wang Di, Intimate Index "represents his past," and "no one would be willing to sell his past," unless someone "can help him get over it."
When Lu Jia pressed for details about this "past," Xu Jiaxiu defined the difference between "gossip" and "care" and cut the conversation short, telling her to go to work or risk a pay cut. Lu Jia grumbled that her hard work cleaning the house would "go in vain." Wang Di, meanwhile, was constantly harassed by phone calls from investors, refusing to sell.
One day, a man named Bao Qingfeng arrived at the office, holding a banner and addressing Wang Di as "brother." Bao Qingfeng revealed himself to be the ex-fiancé of Wang Di's former girlfriend, explaining that Intimate Index had exposed his fiancée's infidelity, leading him to decisively break off their engagement. He enthusiastically invited Wang Di to celebrate, practically dragging a reluctant Wang Di to a restaurant. Lu Jia, concerned, followed them.
At the restaurant, Lu Jia clarified the "messy" situation, noting they had a shared experience. Bao Qingfeng raised a toast, expressing his gratitude to Wang Di for creating Intimate Index. He then revealed his true intention: to buy Intimate Index.
He claimed to have "channels" with "phone companies" to "preload 'Intimate Tree' in everybody's phone," with the goal of publicly shaming cheaters by making them "ashamed forever" and ensuring they "pay big price for being unfaithful," driven by his desire to "vent my anger." Wang Di firmly reiterated that he developed Intimate Index "just for practice and for fun," not for profit, and that its popularity was merely due to people's "curiosity."
He sharply contrasted his purpose—to "protect those victims who get hurt in love"—with Bao Qingfeng's desire for revenge, emphasizing that their "purposes are completely different" and refusing to sell. Lu Jia supported Wang Di, condemning Bao Qingfeng as "arrogant" and encouraging Wang Di not to let his past "hold you back." She reaffirmed that Voya would be his "strong support" to "stick to our dreams." With that, Wang Di and Lu Jia left.
Back at the Voya office, colleagues, upon learning of Wang Di's past, hastily removed "all the green stuff" from the office, assuming he would be sensitive to the color associated with infidelity. However, Wang Di returned, assuring everyone he was "really fine" and even found their concern a bit unusual. He explained that Bao Qingfeng's visit had made him realize that "holding grudge against the past is so pointless" and that it "will only make me become more narrow-minded."
He credited Xu Jiaxiu for teaching him this lesson, admitting he was "too dumb to understand" it earlier. A flashback then revealed the origins of Intimate Index. Wang Di's girlfriend had broken up with him, simply saying, "We don't belong to each other," without further explanation. Devastated and unable to understand why, Wang Di confided in Xu Jiaxiu, revealing that his girlfriend had cheated on him and was marrying someone else. He was furious that she had "cheated on me!"
and that he didn't even know "who her fiancé is," fearing he would "die as a fool, a cuckold fool!" Xu Jiaxiu asked if knowing the identity of the other man would bring him some closure. Wang Di agreed, borrowing Xu Jiaxiu's computer. Using data, Xu Jiaxiu quickly identified Bao Qingfeng as the man. Wang Di was shocked by Bao Qingfeng's appearance, asking if his ex-girlfriend was "blind."
Driven by his pain, Wang Di decided to develop an app to ensure no one would have to wear a "cuckold" hat again, initially proposing to name the app "Cuckold." Xu Jiaxiu, however, suggested "Intimate Tree" instead, explaining, "You can't give up on love just because you got hurt once." Wang Di, impressed by Xu Jiaxiu's profound insight, raised a toast to him.
Episode 7 Recap
Wang Di recounted the story behind Intimate Tree to his colleagues, explaining that while he was the developer, Xu Jiaxiu was its spiritual godfather. Recalling a conversation with Lu Jia during dinner, Wang Di asked if she was serious about operating Intimate Tree to not only make money but also pursue their dreams.
Lu Jia confirmed this, and Wang Di, expressing trust in her, agreed to grant authorization for its continued promotion, stating that if Intimate Tree could help Voya grow, he would gladly authorize it. Colleagues celebrated Lu Jia’s success, with some commenting on her cleverness, while Ye Angyang defended her, calling it sincerity and high emotional intelligence. Lu Jia also acknowledged Xu Jiaxiu's earlier guidance that genuine care opens hearts and dreams play a vital role in unexpected ways.
Lu Jia and Wang Di then signed the authorization agreement. Lu Jia, accompanied by Ye Angyang and Janice, met with Xu Jiaxiu to discuss the project. Xu Jiaxiu agreed to pay her a commission according to company policy, but cautioned her not to be too optimistic, suggesting she consider what they would do if the project lost money. Lu Jia, full of confidence, told him to "wait and see," and then vigorously began large-scale promotion of Intimate Tree.
With the full support of Zhang Liang, Xiaoda, and Ye Angyang, Lu Jia quickly earned the first sum of money, ecstatic about the success. Xu Jiaxiu returned to work after recovering from his illness, and Zhou Yunbo immediately sought to ingratiate himself. Zhou Yunbo claimed many people were interested in Intimate Tree and wished to meet Xu Jiaxiu. He even suggested changing the app's name to "Fortune Tree."
When Xu Jiaxiu refused to meet a friend of Zhou Yunbo's, Zhou Yunbo discreetly took a photo with him, which he then posted to his social media with the caption "My buddy!" Meanwhile, Lu Jia was swamped with work, with more and more clients coming in. She was so busy she often missed meals, but her heart was full of joy.
She called Meng Tiantian to share the good news, saying she had made enough money to "redeem herself" after covering her three months' salary, and expressed her desire to celebrate with a big meal at Meng Tiantian's hot pot restaurant. Meng Tiantian invited her to come over, offering to reserve a table for her. Lu Jia invited all her colleagues to a spicy beef tallow hot pot dinner, making sure to personally deliver an invitation to Xu Jiaxiu.
Knowing he had just undergone surgery and couldn't eat spicy food, Xu Jiaxiu internally grumbled about her unreliability. However, Lu Jia had thoughtfully ordered a double-flavor pot, specifically selecting a nutritious broth for Xu Jiaxiu. Meng Tiantian playfully teased Lu Jia about this contradictory gesture. Xu Jiaxiu arrived late with his own takeout meal. Lu Jia deliberately flaunted the deliciousness of the hot pot in front of him, but Xu Jiaxiu remained unfazed, calmly eating his own food.
Meng Tiantian jokingly confronted Xu Jiaxiu about ordering takeout at her restaurant, but he remained unbothered. Lu Jia continued to mock his choice, to which he retorted about her inviting a post-surgery patient to hot pot. To enliven the atmosphere, Ye Angyang suggested playing "Pat Seven," where players count sequentially but must pat the next person for numbers containing or being multiples of seven, with a drink as a penalty for mistakes.
Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu, seated next to each other, lost repeatedly. Lu Jia quickly became intoxicated, while Xu Jiaxiu, as a patient, opted to drink tea for his penalties, wishing to leave early. However, a drunken Lu Jia clung to him, unleashing a torrent of complaints. She accused him of being a "Scorpio guy who tends to hold a grudge," a label she attributed to Wang Di.
She repeatedly emphasized his "small mind" and brought up their high school days, claiming he had always picked on, bullied, and tormented her, even docking her pay excessively for minor lateness. She dramatically blamed him for her impending departure from Voya. When Xu Jiaxiu tried to leave, Lu Jia, still inebriated and insisting she wasn't drunk, physically restrained him, asserting she could drink fifty more glasses and still needed to pay the bill.
With no other option, Xu Jiaxiu carried her home. Colleagues, observing the scene, worried about Lu Jia's fate the next day, predicting Xu Jiaxiu would surely "make things difficult" for her. After they left, the colleagues learned Xu Jiaxiu had already paid the bill and continued to order more, putting it on his tab. Meng Tiantian, meanwhile, resolved to put up a "Do not bring takeout in here!" sign.
Xu Jiaxiu managed to get Lu Jia home and settled her on the sofa. He muttered about her drunken kissing habit and her unconscious insults, like calling him a "petty, narrow-minded monster." Later that night, a groggy Lu Jia woke up and went to Xu Jiaxiu's apartment to feed the cat, but kept entering the wrong password. Xu Jiaxiu, alerted by her attempts, came to open the door.
While feeding the cat, Lu Jia continued to grumble about Xu Jiaxiu's bad temper, his constant bullying, and his grudge-holding nature, wondering if it stemmed from her father separating him from Yang Shanni. Xu Jiaxiu, having overheard, asked if she truly wished to know. The next morning, Lu Jia woke up properly, feeling body aches and finding a bruise on her forehead. Unable to recall the previous night's events, she decided Xu Jiaxiu must have hit her.
At work, still in pain and confusion, she formally submitted her resignation to Xu Jiaxiu, proposing that any liquidated damages be deducted from her Intimate Tree project bonuses. To her surprise, Xu Jiaxiu signed the document without hesitation. He dryly congratulated her on her wish to leave Voya coming true and assured her he would manage the Intimate Tree project himself.
Despite achieving her long-sought goal, Lu Jia felt an unexpected sense of loss and was not as happy as she had imagined. Ye Angyang and Janice were reluctant to see Lu Jia leave and tried to persuade her to stay. When Lu Jia remained resolute, Ye Angyang confronted Xu Jiaxiu, questioning his decision to let her go so easily despite their long-standing acquaintance.
Xu Jiaxiu, in response, showed Ye Angyang a complaint letter detailing how Intimate Tree could be removed from the platform due to user complaints that it caused discord in family relationships. Only then did Ye Angyang understand Xu Jiaxiu's true intentions for letting Lu Jia resign. Lu Jia packed her belongings, said her goodbyes to her colleagues, who expressed their sadness and gratitude, and then left in a taxi, telling them not to be sentimental.
Lu Jia went directly to Meng Tiantian's hot pot restaurant to celebrate her new freedom, but she couldn't find joy. Meng Tiantian, noticing her unhappiness, gently advised her, suggesting that she and Xu Jiaxiu were destined to be together. Lu Jia, however, refused to discuss their past, having realized that Xu Jiaxiu's persistent "bullying" stemmed from a high school incident: she had written him a love letter that received no response, then modified it and gave it to Ye Angyang.
When Xu Jiaxiu learned of this, he decisively distanced himself from her. Meng Tiantian analyzed that Xu Jiaxiu's long-held grudge indicated his deep feelings for Lu Jia, asserting that if he hadn't discovered she wrote the same letter to two people, they might have become a couple.
Lu Jia dismissed this, stating that being with Xu Jiaxiu would drive her crazy and that she wanted no further connection with him, clarifying her current distress was solely about not yet finding a new job. Suddenly, Lu Jia found she could not open Intimate Tree. Alarmed, she called Janice, only to be stunned by the news that the app had been forcibly removed from the platform.
A flashback then shows Lu Jia confronting Xu Jiaxiu, asking why he always picked on her, and he responded by asking if she remembered writing the same love letter to two different people.
Episode 8 Recap
Lu Jia grew increasingly suspicious of Xu Jiaxiu's quick acceptance of her resignation and his urging her to leave, believing he must have known in advance about the issues with Intimate Index. Instead of going to a spa as suggested by a friend, she asked her driver to take her to the pioneer park.
Arriving at Voya, Lu Jia found her colleagues in a chaotic state, overwhelmed by calls from clients and netizens, many of whom were confused about the company's name, Voya, often mistaking it for "Wode." She immediately confronted Xu Jiaxiu, demanding to know why Intimate Index was removed. He explained that the app's rapid user growth far exceeded their and the platform's expectations, leading to an unforeseen social impact and a crisis of trust among users.
To prevent an uncontrollable situation, the platform had to suspend the service. Lu Jia, as the project proposer, offered to take partial responsibility for any compensation. However, Xu Jiaxiu firmly stated that she had already resigned and was not involved in the matter, asserting that as the approver and person in charge, he would take full responsibility. He then left for an appointment, suggesting it was not a big deal and could be handled by paying an indemnity.
Xu Jiaxiu headed to meet with the platform supervisors, and Ye Angyang insisted on accompanying him. Ye Angyang declared that as a company partner, he would face the criticism alongside Xu Jiaxiu. Outside the company, Lu Jia encountered Zhou Yunbo, who remarked on her fortunate timing in resigning before the crisis, implying she knew something. Lu Jia, however, denied prior knowledge, stating Xu Jiaxiu claimed it was just a fine.
Flattered by her request for his expertise, Zhou Yunbo explained the "two-edged sword" nature of Intimate Index: while it initially brought Voya significant profit and users, its negative impact on relationships, causing suspicion and conflict among couples, led to numerous complaints. The platform, fearing escalating issues, ordered its removal. He warned that if Voya mishandled the aftermath, they could be blacklisted, potentially leading to the company's shutdown.
He suggested Xu Jiaxiu's calm demeanor was either a facade or an attempt to shield Lu Jia. Zhou Yunbo then quickly excused himself for his own urgent appointment. At the platform meeting, Xu Jiaxiu and Ye Angyang endured a severe reprimand from the leaders, who accused them of being irresponsible and solely focused on immediate profit, neglecting corporate social responsibility. After a tense exchange, Xu Jiaxiu humbly accepted the criticism and agreed to pay compensation, resolving the immediate crisis.
Afterward, a parched Xu Jiaxiu and Ye Angyang quickly rehydrated, with Ye Angyang acknowledging Xu Jiaxiu's ability to resolve issues with money while lamenting the project's brief success. Lu Jia returned to Voya, confronting Xu Jiaxiu again. She meticulously calculated her share of the indemnity, determining she owed Voya 64,098 yuan after deducting her project bonus. She proposed paying in installments, admitting she was currently unemployed and financially tight.
Xu Jiaxiu initially rejected installments, prompting Ye Angyang to accuse him of being unreasonable. Xu Jiaxiu then revealed his intention to rehire Lu Jia, offering to reduce her debt to 60,000 yuan as an incentive. After some consideration, Lu Jia reluctantly accepted the offer. On her first day back, Lu Jia half-expected to face her colleagues' resentment for the Intimate Index debacle.
Instead, she was touched to find the office walls adorned with welcoming and encouraging sticky notes from them, with Xu Jiaxiu also leaving a reminder about the onboarding process. Xu Jiaxiu then led a brief but warm welcome-back ceremony. Ye Angyang shared the good news: Xu Jiaxiu had secured a patent for Intimate Index's core algorithm and attracted new investment, marking Voya's entry into an exciting new phase.
The team, including Lu Jia, erupted in cheers, happy that Voya didn't go broke. After signing her new employment contract, Lu Jia reflected on the situation. She suddenly realized that with a patent and new investment, Intimate Index was far from a total loss and might even be profitable. This meant she likely didn't owe any money, concluding that Xu Jiaxiu had tricked her out of 60,000 yuan.
During a team meeting, Xu Jiaxiu lightened the mood by asking everyone to share their first love stories. Lu Jia humorously claimed hers was a "cute, well-behaved" boy with a "charming mole" from kindergarten. Xu Jiaxiu eventually shared that his first crush was in high school, leading Lu Jia to speculate it was Yang Shanni.
Shifting to business, Xu Jiaxiu announced that Voya would transition to a model primarily focused on independent R&D, leveraging Intimate Index's core algorithm in all future projects. He called for a brainstorming session on the product planning and development direction for their new app, instructing everyone to share their ideas with him and Janice. After the meeting, Xu Jiaxiu summoned Janice, a typically tomboyish and direct individual.
He unexpectedly advised her to act more femininely and even suggested she "try to wear a dress," reminding her of her feminine given name, Lin Jiaojiao. Although he quickly dismissed his suggestions, Janice was bewildered and later confided in colleagues and then Lu Jia, wondering if Xu Jiaxiu was romantically interested in her. However, Lu Jia, rushing home for her father's dinner, couldn't stay to hear the full story.
At home, while eating, Lu Jia playfully probed her father about his relationship with Wen Ting, hinting at a previous incident where Ms. Jiang mended his pants. Her father, however, skillfully dodged her questions. Later, Lu Jia went for a walk at her old high school, reminiscing about being a student. She soon encountered Mr. Zhang, her former teacher, who immediately enlisted her help to test new math papers. To her surprise, Xu Jiaxiu was also there, assisting Mr. Zhang.
When a student approached with a difficult math problem, Lu Jia confidently offered to help but quickly got stuck. Xu Jiaxiu stepped in, taking her hand to guide her through the solution on the blackboard. Mesmerized by his focused expression in the fading light, Lu Jia spontaneously flirted with him, calling him "so handsome." He curtly told her to focus on the test.
After completing the test papers, Mr. Zhang thanked them and instructed Xu Jiaxiu to ensure Lu Jia got home safely. Xu Jiaxiu escorted her downstairs. Lu Jia thanked him for helping her out, but he replied he was just completing Mr. Zhang's task and didn't want to delay the teacher. She remarked that he was a "good student" and "good boss," saying goodbye. Not long after Lu Jia entered her home, Xu Jiaxiu arrived at her doorstep, laden with health supplements, and was warmly welcomed by her father, Director Lu.
Episode 9 Recap
Xu Jiaxiu, from Class 10, visited Lu Jia's home, bringing gifts. Lu Jia's father, Lu Hongwei, welcomed him warmly and called for Lu Jia to join them in the living room. Lu Jia expressed surprise at seeing Xu Jiaxiu. When Lu Hongwei mentioned that Lu Jia worked for Xu Jiaxiu, he asked Xu Jiaxiu to be understanding if Lu Jia didn't perform well.
Xu Jiaxiu, however, spoke highly of Lu Jia, noting her independence in advancing projects, bringing profit to the company, and getting along well with colleagues. He even mentioned her visiting him in the hospital, which surprised Lu Hongwei, who remarked that Lu Jia didn't even wash dishes at home. Lu Jia quickly chided her father for speaking that way in front of her boss.
Lu Hongwei then praised Xu Jiaxiu for his academic excellence and successful entrepreneurship, urging Lu Jia to learn from him. As it grew late, Xu Jiaxiu prepared to leave, and Lu Hongwei asked Lu Jia to see him out. Outside, Lu Jia thanked Xu Jiaxiu for speaking so favorably about her to her father, acknowledging that he had been "selective" in his praise. Xu Jiaxiu then said goodbye, indicating he would see her on Monday.
Lu Jia was pleased by Xu Jiaxiu's compliments and found her old feelings for him rekindled, especially after reflecting on his recent considerate actions. Her friend, Meng Tiantian, good-humoredly chided her for "falling for the same person twice" after Lu Jia confessed her renewed affections for Xu Jiaxiu.
Lu Jia listed various instances of Xu Jiaxiu's kindness, such as taking her for food during overtime, secretly editing her photos, and joining her for hot pot while he could only eat congee after being hospitalized. Meng Tiantian called her shameless for shifting the blame to Xu Jiaxiu, then encouraged Lu Jia by suggesting that Xu Jiaxiu's seven-year grudge over a past incident indicated he had feelings for her all along.
Lu Jia expressed doubt, but Meng Tiantian insisted that even if he didn't like her now, it didn't mean he wouldn't in the future. Feeling confident and "full of wisdom," Lu Jia decided to pursue Xu Jiaxiu again. Remembering that Xu Jiaxiu disliked overweight girls, she enthusiastically bought a tight-fitting black dress, costing a month's rent, vowing not to let her investment be in vain.
Returning to her apartment, Lu Jia found Janice remarkably changed, wearing new "girly" clothes and even attempting a face mask—though it was just the mask lining. Lu Jia eagerly changed into her new black dress to show Janice, but was startled when Xu Jiaxiu unexpectedly arrived to borrow a spanner. She quickly hid.
Xu Jiaxiu noticed a book titled "A Kind of Love Called Brotherhood" on the table, and Janice, to cover for Lu Jia's presence, falsely claimed it was Lu Jia's favorite book. Xu Jiaxiu left, seemingly disappointed. Janice then confided in Lu Jia, explaining her sudden interest in feminine attire. She revealed that a man had suggested she wear dresses, and asked Lu Jia what his intentions might be. Lu Jia instantly concluded that the man liked Janice.
Upon persistent questioning, Janice reluctantly confirmed that the man was Xu Jiaxiu. Lu Jia was deeply disheartened by this revelation, lamenting her wasted efforts and the costly dress. Janice, though seeing Xu Jiaxiu only as a brother, resolved to "lay her cards on the table" and tell him to give up, wanting to be direct and decisive. Lu Jia accompanied her, but at Xu Jiaxiu's door, Janice's courage failed, and she retreated.
Mustering her own resolve, Lu Jia knocked and confronted Xu Jiaxiu, clarifying that Janice only saw him as a "bro" and held no romantic feelings, urging him to abandon any hopes. Xu Jiaxiu, however, appeared utterly confused, asking what she meant and even wondering if they were "out of their minds," then inquired about someone named Lin Jiaojiao. Lu Jia realized it was a complete misunderstanding, which Xu Jiaxiu acknowledged as a "beautiful misunderstanding" that was "even a bit scary."
He was glad the air was cleared so future interactions wouldn't be awkward. Lu Jia, overjoyed, couldn't contain her laughter, prompting Xu Jiaxiu to tell her to "get out." Later, Lu Jia reflected that it was "just a false alarm," while Janice, relieved, decided that her "tomboy style is better." After resolving the misunderstanding with Xu Jiaxiu, Janice felt unburdened, declaring her newfound freedom from love.
However, her carefree mood quickly changed when she spotted a new barista, Ouyang Xuan, in the downstairs coffee shop. Mesmerized by a mole near his eye, Janice became convinced he was her childhood crush from kindergarten. Wang Di and Zhang Liang eagerly joined her, helping her covertly take several photos of Ouyang Xuan. Ye Angyang happened to pass by and openly mocked Janice for her sudden infatuation.
Janice, ever the technician, insisted on meticulous verification, explaining that Ouyang Xuan was merely a "first love suspect" and they shouldn't rush in. Lu Jia sought Meng Tiantian's advice on how to pursue Xu Jiaxiu.
Meng Tiantian, now Lu Jia's "love strategist," outlined a three-step plan: first, "create opportunities" for alone time, suggesting scenarios like being stuck in an elevator or a car breaking down; second, "clear obstacles," emphasizing that any person, regardless of age or gender, who "pesters Xu Jiaxiu" should be considered a rival and dealt with; and third, if Xu Jiaxiu still feigns ignorance, directly "tell him how you feel."
Lu Jia found these tactics uninspiring and offered her own "play it by ear" approach. Meng Tiantian then added a crucial piece of advice: a woman must appear "delicate" to stir a man's "desire to protect her." The next morning, Lu Jia decided to join Xu Jiaxiu and Ye Angyang's morning run, hoping to create an opportunity to interact.
Ye Angyang, who had just bought new running shoes to help Xu Jiaxiu with his rehabilitation, also saw Lu Jia from afar and was eager to run with her. When Lu Jia, dressed in new sportswear, approached them, Xu Jiaxiu made a cold remark about her "quite new" outfit and warned her about his fast pace. Lu Jia, covering her intentions, claimed she was there "to run with Ye Angyang" and urged him to start.
As they ran, Lu Jia, lacking regular exercise, quickly became breathless. Xu Jiaxiu noticed her struggle and advised her not to force herself, even gently massaging her sore leg. While staying on Xu Jiaxiu's couch, Ye Angyang misinterpreted Lu Jia's words during their morning run, convinced she was specially seeking him out. Back at the office, Lu Jia prepared a cup of tea, which Ye Angyang mistakenly believed was brewed specifically for him. He made a heart gesture in response.
When Xiaoda was about to deliver financial statements to Xu Jiaxiu, Lu Jia, eager for alone time with Xu Jiaxiu, volunteered to take them, claiming she had other items to deliver. Before entering Xu Jiaxiu's office, she secretly touched up her lipstick, but a bump from a colleague caused her to apply it messily outside her lips.
Inside, as she delivered the reports, Xu Jiaxiu noticed the misplaced lipstick and, to Lu Jia's blushing surprise, gently wiped it off her face himself. Observing that Ye Angyang, Wang Di, and Janice were all absorbed in a mobile game, Lu Jia decided to play to their interests.
After Ye Angyang expressed his frustration with mobile games and his love for console games, especially those with motion sensor features, stating he could play for days without going out, Lu Jia realized how "easy to occupy" these "homebodies" were. She then presented Janice with a new handheld console, claiming it was a reward for her hard work. Ye Angyang, overjoyed, called Lu Jia his "angel" and reiterated his vow to marry anyone who gifted him a console. As Janice, Ye Angyang, and Wang Di eagerly immersed themselves in the new game, Lu Jia smiled, confident that with them distracted, Xu Jiaxiu would be hers to pursue.
Episode 10 Recap
Lu Jia, determined to pursue Xu Jiaxiu, used a game console to keep Ye Angyang, Janice, and Xiaoda occupied. She saw an opportunity when Xu Jiaxiu received several large packages. Knowing she needed to approach him, Lu Jia went downstairs to retrieve them, thinking to herself that this was her chance to see Xu Jiaxiu. Upon seeing the many heavy boxes, she called Xu Jiaxiu, feigning weakness and claiming her hands would hurt if she carried them alone.
Xu Jiaxiu suggested she call Janice, who was stronger, but Lu Jia insisted on trying to carry them. Eventually, Xu Jiaxiu came down to help. As they moved the packages, Lu Jia asked for a cup of tea, and Xu Jiaxiu reluctantly agreed, telling her to leave once she finished. Inside, Xu Jiaxiu began unpacking a new bed, explaining it was for Ye Angyang, as he felt bad about Ye Angyang sleeping on the sofa.
Lu Jia, annoyed by Ye Angyang's continued presence, subtly hinted that allowing him to stay permanently would lead to him never leaving, filling the apartment with his belongings. Xu Jiaxiu, however, dismissed her remarks, accused her of talking nonsense, and told her to leave. Meanwhile, Ye Angyang, firmly believing Lu Jia bought the game console because she liked him, played all night with Janice.
Xu Jiaxiu, kept awake by Lu Jia's earlier comments and recalling Ye Angyang's past annoying habits and messy incidents, grew suspicious of Ye Angyang's sexual orientation. The next morning, Ye Angyang looked tired, telling Xu Jiaxiu he hadn't gone home to sleep. Xu Jiaxiu, clearly annoyed, closed the kitchen door on him, told him to eat and then leave, and to not stay at his house anymore.
Seeing Xu Jiaxiu's frustration with Ye Angyang, Lu Jia was in a remarkably good mood. Later that day, Xu Jiaxiu locked Ye Angyang out of his apartment. Ye Angyang then tried to stay at Lu Jia’s, but she too jokingly rejected him. Defeated, Ye Angyang went to Janice. Lu Jia called Janice and learned she was having a "send-off dinner" with Ye Angyang.
Sensing another opportunity, Lu Jia deliberately wet her hair, got dressed up, and knocked on Xu Jiaxiu's door, claiming her hairdryer was broken and Janice didn't have one due to her short hair. Xu Jiaxiu allowed her in and gave her his hairdryer. As Lu Jia dried her hair, she subtly moved closer to him, but Xu Jiaxiu consistently tried to maintain distance.
Suddenly, Mimi, Xu Jiaxiu's cat, made a ruckus, and Xu Jiaxiu realized it was in heat and needed to be sterilized. The following morning, Lu Jia saw a fashionable woman easily entering Xu Jiaxiu’s apartment using a passcode. Curious, Lu Jia rushed home to tell Janice, who noted the woman must have an unusual relationship with Xu Jiaxiu since she knew his door code.
Together, they went to Xu Jiaxiu's, making a flimsy excuse about needing to borrow an electric drill and a hairdryer. Inside, they met the woman, who introduced herself as Jiaxiu's grandma. Xu Jiaxiu quickly warned Lu Jia and Janice not to say or ask anything unnecessary and to leave after their tea. Xu Jiaxiu's grandma explained that she had raised him since his parents lived abroad and claimed to possess the ability to read his mind, understanding his emotions instantly.
She demonstrated this by accurately guessing his preference between two biscuits. Janice then asked what Xu Jiaxiu was most afraid of. Lu Jia, emboldened, directly asked if Xu Jiaxiu was in love with someone. Worried about his feelings being exposed, Xu Jiaxiu tried to stop his grandma, insisting he needed his dignity as their boss. His grandma, however, encouraged him to confess his feelings. Xu Jiaxiu denied it and tried to distract everyone by bringing out a heavy, wrapped gift.
Grandma also mentioned that she didn't live in Dongzhou and had only returned for Mimi's sterilization surgery, clarifying that Mimi was her cat, temporarily staying with Xu Jiaxiu. Later, at the veterinary clinic, Grandma expressed her reluctance to take Mimi into surgery herself, fearing the cat would hate her for it. Janice also refused, being afraid of cats. Lu Jia, eager to earn favor with Xu Jiaxiu and his grandma, bravely volunteered to take Mimi in.
However, Xu Jiaxiu ultimately took Mimi in himself, ostensibly because he didn't trust Lu Jia. His grandma, observing this, interpreted his action as a protective gesture towards Lu Jia, not wanting Mimi to direct its post-surgery hatred towards her. She praised him, saying he would be a considerate husband and father. After the surgery, Lu Jia helped carry Mimi home. As predicted, Mimi held a grudge against Xu Jiaxiu.
The next morning, he discovered that the cat had defecated and urinated on his bed and scattered its food everywhere in protest. Lu Jia came over and helped him clean up the mess and feed Mimi, expressing her fondness for animals and her happiness in caring for the cat. Seeing this, Grandma invited Lu Jia to stay for dinner.
Lu Jia declined, claiming she never ate after 7 PM and needed to go home for yoga—a statement Xu Jiaxiu internally questioned, recalling her eating habits during overtime. Later, Grandma, intrigued by their company's "Intimate Tree" social software, suggested Xu Jiaxiu develop a similar app for pets, or even pet-specific phones. Xu Jiaxiu found the idea absurd. As he tried to retrieve his phone from Mimi, the cat enacted its physical revenge, scratching his face.
Sometime later, Janice, Ye Angyang, and Xiaoda were in the coffee shop, comparing a photo of Janice's kindergarten crush to Ouyang Xuan, the new waiter. They noted a similar mole but little else. When Xu Jiaxiu arrived, Lu Jia and the others immediately noticed the fresh scratches on his face. Lu Jia correctly deduced it was Mimi's retaliation for the sterilization.
As they talked, a stylish young man named Shao Yifeng, who also had a mole, entered the coffee shop but went unnoticed by the group. As Grandma prepared to return home, Lu Jia and Janice accompanied her outside. Grandma, feigning forgetfulness, sent Janice back upstairs to retrieve her sunglasses. Holding Lu Jia’s hand, Grandma then quietly asked if she liked Xu Jiaxiu.
Episode 11 Recap
After Xu Jiaxiu's grandmother cornered Lu Jia to inquire about her feelings for Xu Jiaxiu, Lu Jia initially feigned disinterest. Disappointed, Grandma mentioned having a "written tip" for winning Xu Jiaxiu's heart, but said it would be useless if Lu Jia didn't like him. Hearing this, Lu Jia quickly changed her tune, enthusiastically admitting her strong affection for Xu Jiaxiu and eagerly accepting the mysterious "tip" from Grandma.
As Grandma was preparing to leave, Janice offered to retrieve her sunglasses, which Grandma claimed to have forgotten, but Grandma soon produced them from her own bag, playfully remarking, "I have faith in you" to Lu Jia before departing. Lu Jia eagerly opened the "tip" and found only a drawing of a crab.
Later that evening, while having dinner with her father, Lu Hongwei, who had prepared a feast of shrimp and crabs, she finally deciphered the drawing: Xu Jiaxiu loves crabs, and the "tip" was simply to win his heart through his stomach. Lu Hongwei also mentioned a friend had sent the seafood and tried to set Lu Jia up on a blind date, which she promptly dismissed. That night, a power outage plunged Lu Jia's apartment into darkness.
Panicked, she called out for Janice, who was not home. Xu Jiaxiu appeared with a flashlight, and Lu Jia, feigning fear of the dark, persuaded him to stay in her room. She then offered him the crabs and shrimp, hoping to put Grandma's "tip" into action. They went to the rooftop, where they enjoyed the starlit sky, admiring the Big Dipper.
Mesmerized by Xu Jiaxiu in the moonlight, Lu Jia misinterpreted his gaze, believing he was about to kiss her and that Grandma's "tip" was working. She impulsively leaned in and kissed him. Xu Jiaxiu was startled, asking if she was drunk again, and quickly made his exit. Alone, Lu Jia was overcome with embarrassment, wishing it was all a dream and desperately hoping Xu Jiaxiu would forget the incident, or that she could blame it on being drunk.
The following morning, Lu Jia brought the leftover crabs and shrimp to the office, which her colleagues, including Ye Angyang, eagerly enjoyed. Xu Jiaxiu, however, pointedly avoided Lu Jia and refused to touch the seafood, instructing Ye Angyang to fetch financial statements from her instead, stating he didn't want to see her. Later, in the elevator on their way home, Lu Jia attempted to apologize, once again feigning drunkenness. Xu Jiaxiu sharply rebuked her for treating feelings as a game.
Offended, Lu Jia stopped him, confessing that she hadn't been drunk, that she had simply misunderstood his intentions, but that her feelings were genuine. She admitted to liking him since high school and asked him directly if he would be her boyfriend. After a moment of silence, Xu Jiaxiu simply replied, "As a girl, you should be reserved," before entering his apartment and closing the door, leaving Lu Jia feeling utterly rejected.
Heartbroken, Lu Jia immediately called Meng Tiantian, who joined her at a KTV. There, Lu Jia sang a series of sad songs, trying to vent her feelings. During their outing, Lu Jia received a call from her father, informing her that her second aunt had arranged a blind date.
Lu Jia was uninterested, but Meng Tiantian snatched the phone, agreed to the date on Lu Jia's behalf, and then urged her friend not to "hang herself on one tree" like Xu Jiaxiu. Out of spite and a desire to move on, Lu Jia reluctantly agreed to go on the blind date. Unbeknownst to Lu Jia, Xu Jiaxiu was ecstatic over her confession.
Back in his apartment, he was so excited he could hardly speak, gulping down water to calm his racing heart. Realizing she had formally confessed, he knew he needed to act on his feelings and began fantasizing about sweet dates they could have. Meanwhile, Lu Jia arrived at the designated amusement park for her blind date. She grew impatient, almost hailing a taxi to leave, when Zhao Linzhi, her date, arrived. He was handsome and polite, apologizing for the traffic.
He had already purchased the tickets, and they entered the park together. At the office, Xu Jiaxiu, who had dressed up to see Lu Jia, learned from Ye Angyang that she had gone to an amusement park for a blind date with Zhao Linzhi. Startled, he immediately rushed out. At the amusement park, Zhao Linzhi suggested popular rides like the pirate ship and roller coaster, but Lu Jia demurred.
He then played a game and won a large stuffed animal for her. All the while, Xu Jiaxiu frantically called Lu Jia's phone, but she deliberately ignored and hung up on him, leaving him increasingly anxious. While Zhao Linzhi stepped away to buy food, Xu Jiaxiu confronted Lu Jia about her unreturned calls and demanded to know where her date was. Lu Jia was annoyed, telling him not to meddle in her personal life.
When Zhao Linzhi returned with a bouquet of roses, Lu Jia introduced Xu Jiaxiu as her boss. Taking advantage of the situation, Xu Jiaxiu boldly claimed Lu Jia was his girlfriend, implying they were merely having a lovers' quarrel. Lu Jia, flustered, called him "Grumpy Xu," but he quickly reminded her not to use their private nicknames in public.
Zhao Linzhi, sensing the situation, gracefully offered the roses to Lu Jia as a friend's gift and departed, leaving Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia alone. Xu Jiaxiu then chastised Lu Jia for being fickle, dating another man just a day after confessing to him. Lu Jia retorted that he had rejected her.
Xu Jiaxiu clarified that his serious expression had actually meant acceptance, but he had been displeased that she had confessed first, as he believed that gesture should have been his. Lu Jia argued that his expression clearly conveyed rejection, not joy, which gave him a headache. When Lu Jia asked about their current relationship, Xu Jiaxiu firmly declared, "You are my girlfriend." Playfully, Lu Jia responded, "In your dreams," and then challenged him to ride the roller coaster with her.
Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia spent the rest of the day enjoying various rides at the amusement park, culminating in a ride on the carousel. Lu Jia reminded Xu Jiaxiu that he still owed her a proper confession. With a sincere expression, Xu Jiaxiu officially declared their relationship, stating they had become a couple on September 20, 2019. Lu Jia, still playfully wanting more, prompted him further.
To indulge her, Xu Jiaxiu took her to a flower shop, where he chose a bouquet of Chinese peonies, which symbolize friendship and love. At checkout, he realized he had forgotten his wallet and phone. Lu Jia, amused, paid the 520 yuan (a number sounding like "I love you" in Chinese), jokingly telling him he owed her the money back with interest.
As they left the flower shop, Lu Jia almost stumbled, but Xu Jiaxiu quickly scooped her up and carried her to the car, playfully remarking that he would have to tell Meng Tiantian to reduce Lu Jia's hot pot consumption. Lu Jia then told him she had won his heart with a crab, showing him Grandma's drawing.
Xu Jiaxiu, with a tender smile, called her silly and explained the true meaning of the "tip": his grandma meant that if Lu Jia took just one step towards him, he would take the remaining ninety-nine. He emphasized that the important part was Lu Jia, the person holding the crab, not the crab itself. Delighted, Lu Jia gave his heartfelt confession "ninety-nine points," playfully deducting one point to prevent him from becoming conceited.
She then mentioned she needed to return home to explain to her father that her blind date had failed, and Xu Jiaxiu, with a loving gaze, asked about his place in that story.
Episode 12 Recap
Xu Jiaxiu drove Lu Jia home. Upon entering, Lu Jia, beaming with joy, declared to her father, Lu Hongwei, that her blind date had failed. She then happily carried the flowers into her room. Lu Hongwei, bewildered by her cheerful demeanor despite the news, wondered if she had been too affected by the situation and regretted pressuring her into dating. Once in her room, Lu Jia excitedly messaged Xu Jiaxiu, even sending him a beautiful selfie.
Xu Jiaxiu responded by casually transferring 520 yuan to her. Misinterpreting this gesture, Lu Jia felt unappreciated and thought he was angry, quickly calling him. To her delight, Xu Jiaxiu was already downstairs. Overjoyed, she quickly changed into a warm sweater before heading out. Xu Jiaxiu took Lu Jia for a walk through the campus of Dongzhou High School.
As they strolled, he held her hand, but Lu Jia gently reminded him to let go, not wanting to set a bad example for any students around. He also offered to pick her up for work the next morning. Lu Jia was happy but expressed concern about their office romance becoming public and the potential for colleagues to tease her, especially considering the company's policy against such relationships.
Xu Jiaxiu, however, confidently declared he would fire anyone who dared to stand in their way. The next morning, as Xu Jiaxiu drove Lu Jia to the company, he leaned in for a kiss, but they were interrupted when Janice unexpectedly appeared on her motorcycle. Lu Jia quickly exited the car, pretending they had just had a fight and Xu Jiaxiu had dropped her off.
Janice, oblivious to their real relationship, then proceeded to badmouth Xu Jiaxiu, with Lu Jia reluctantly agreeing to maintain their facade. Once inside the office, Xu Jiaxiu called Lu Jia to his office, pulling the curtains closed, hoping for a moment of intimacy. He had also bought breakfast for them. However, their private moment was interrupted when Ye Angyang burst in, unknowingly disrupting the mood and then absconding with their breakfast.
Seizing a brief opportunity after Ye Angyang left, Xu Jiaxiu pulled Lu Jia into a tight embrace. Later, Janice presented the development concept for their new project, an evolution of their existing app "Intimate Tree" that would allow users to add "friends of friends." Xu Jiaxiu then asked the team to brainstorm names for this new project. After various suggestions like "Intimate Tree No.2," "Luoluo," "Making Friends," and "Throw the Hankie," they eventually settled on "Amber" by consulting a dictionary.
As quitting time approached, Lu Jia, through a text message, suggested Xu Jiaxiu treat the team to dinner and specifically requested hot pot. To everyone's surprise, Xu Jiaxiu, who notoriously needed "three baths" after eating hot pot to get rid of the smell, agreed. He took his colleagues to Meng Tiantian's hot pot restaurant.
Throughout the meal, Xu Jiaxiu was noticeably attentive and caring towards Lu Jia, a fact that Meng Tiantian quickly observed, subtly teasing Lu Jia about their relationship. Janice also noticed Xu Jiaxiu's special care for Lu Jia. During dinner, as Xu Jiaxiu ate an apple, Janice suddenly recalled biting her childhood crush's arm and declared she would use his tooth marks as a clue to find him.
Meanwhile, Lu Hongwei and Jiang Wenting also arrived at Meng Tiantian's hot pot restaurant. Spotting Lu Jia from afar, they quickly changed their plans and left to avoid being seen. Later that evening, in the elevator on their way home, Xu Jiaxiu secretly held Lu Jia's hand. Lu Jia quietly asked him not to go to sleep right away.
After making sure Janice was asleep, Lu Jia covertly went to Xu Jiaxiu's apartment, intending to spray him with deodorizer and give him some new personal care products to remove the hot pot smell. To her surprise, he had already showered. Xu Jiaxiu, amused, then offered to take another bath. The following day was the weekend and also the anniversary of Lu Jia's mother's passing. Lu Hongwei and Lu Jia visited the cemetery early in the morning.
While there, Lu Hongwei spoke to his late wife, lamenting Lu Jia's single status and jokingly wishing for a son-in-law. Just then, Xu Jiaxiu arrived, claiming he was there to pick up Lu Jia to "work overtime" at the company. Lu Hongwei, surprised by the quick appearance after his wish, chuckled that Xu Jiaxiu arrived faster than intra-city express mail.
As they drove away, Lu Jia pointed out that his "coincidental" arrival was too deliberate and risked exposure to her father, especially since she wasn't ready to go public with their relationship. Xu Jiaxiu explained he just wanted a reason to greet her mother. Lu Jia then acknowledged her mother would be happy. They then headed off for their date. Meanwhile, Janice, still determined to identify Ouyang Xuan as her childhood crush, enlisted Zhang Liang and Wang Di.
They hatched a plan to get Ouyang Xuan to roll up his sleeves so she could check for the tooth marks, even though she couldn't remember which arm she had bitten. During their encounter, Wang Di accidentally spilled water on Ouyang Xuan. Janice rushed over to help clean him up, but as Ouyang Xuan rolled up his wet sleeve, they discovered his arm was bandaged due to a recent burn, foiling Janice's plan to verify his identity.
Later, as Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia continued their date by driving around, he affectionately called her his "boss's wife." A radio show discussed the notion that men only experience true love once, usually with their first love. Xu Jiaxiu agreed with this sentiment, which immediately sparked a flicker of doubt in Lu Jia, making her wonder if he still harbored feelings for Yang Shanni. They stopped at a roadside coffee shop.
Lu Jia observed Xu Jiaxiu's striking good looks, noting that time seemed to have spared him. She felt a surge of pride as other women openly admired him, and she proudly declared him her boyfriend. However, her pleasant mood was shattered when she suddenly saw Yang Shanni nearby, leaving Lu Jia stunned.
Episode 13 Recap
Xu Jiaxiu had ordered coffee, but when he turned back, Lu Jia was nowhere to be found. Earlier, Lu Jia had spotted Yang Shanni in the café and, not wanting her to meet Xu Jiaxiu, quickly pulled Yang Shanni away to a nearby mall. Lu Jia feigned excitement, claiming she hadn't seen Yang Shanni in a long time and wanted to catch up. Xu Jiaxiu, meanwhile, searched for Lu Jia and called her, but she deliberately didn't answer.
As Xu Jiaxiu approached, Lu Jia quickly steered Yang Shanni into a clothing store and had her try on a random dress, thinking she had successfully dodged him. Yang Shanni, however, sensed Lu Jia's strange behavior, but Lu Jia brushed it off. Suddenly, the mall's public address system blared an announcement from Xu Jiaxiu, looking for "child Lu Jia." Mortified and worried Yang Shanni would hear, Lu Jia quickly put headphones on her.
Seeing Xu Jiaxiu still searching, Lu Jia then dragged Yang Shanni to a nail salon. Xu Jiaxiu eventually found them there. As Xu Jiaxiu and Yang Shanni began to talk, Lu Jia fretted over them reconnecting. She silently expressed her frustration about these "old lovers" meeting and talking where she couldn't hear. Soon after, Xu Jiaxiu walked over, put an arm around Lu Jia, and introduced her as his girlfriend to Yang Shanni.
Yang Shanni shared that she had just gotten engaged and would invite them to her wedding. With pleasantries exchanged, Yang Shanni then said her goodbyes and left. Back at the café, Xu Jiaxiu pointed out that his coffee had gone cold and demanded an explanation from Lu Jia for her sudden disappearance. Lu Jia countered by asking him to explain the "woods incident" at Dongzhou No. 1 High School.
Lu Jia recounted the date, April 12, 2011, noting how she had observed Yang Shanni and her friends discussing a Jay Chou concert. Later that evening, while in evening self-study, she noticed more unusual details. The next morning, a buzz spread through the school about students caught in the woods, with a public notice posted.
Lu Jia rushed to see it and was shocked to find that the students involved were the 12th-grade English class representative, Yang Shanni, and Xu Jiaxiu. She dramatically dubbed it the "412 woods incident." Lu Jia further asserted that Yang Shanni appeared completely unfazed the next day, leading her to deduce that Xu Jiaxiu and Yang Shanni were "into each other." She then pressed Xu Jiaxiu to reveal what truly happened in the woods.
Xu Jiaxiu admitted he went to the woods and met Yang Shanni but denied it was a date, arguing that "meeting and dating are two different things." He then recounted the events from his perspective: on April 12, 2011, after the third class, he was playing basketball with friends from Class 10 against Class 9. A Class 9 student approached him, asking him to meet their "class belle" in the woods that evening.
Xu Jiaxiu initially showed no interest but was persuaded to go as a favor. At 7:10 p. m. , curiosity led him to the convenience store to buy a strawberry-flavored yogurt, and by 7:23 p. m. , he was at the designated tree in the woods. He noted it was raining that night as well. At 7:30 p. m. , he saw a figure approaching. Lu Jia interrupted, declaring it was Yang Shanni, the "heroine" of the incident.
Xu Jiaxiu clarified that he had no idea it was Yang Shanni; he had only been told he was meeting the "class belle." Xu Jiaxiu then confessed that he had expected Lu Jia to be the "class belle," which was why he had agreed to go and even bought a strawberry-flavored yogurt, knowing it was Lu Jia's favorite. Lu Jia was delighted by this revelation.
She quickly changed the subject from the new project, now saying the name "Woods" was unsuitable. Xu Jiaxiu then proposed the name "Pickup", explaining it meant "to find past time," as a way to commemorate their beautiful youth. Moved by the moment, Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu leaned in to kiss, only to be abruptly interrupted by Lu Hongwei. Initially stern, Lu Hongwei was secretly thrilled to discover Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu together.
He surprisingly adopted a more lenient view on interactions between male and female students, expressing his satisfaction with Xu Jiaxiu. Later, he excitedly shared the news of Lu Jia finding a boyfriend with Xu Jiaxiu's former homeroom teacher, praising Xu Jiaxiu as a top student and remarking that he was handsome, excelled in academics and sports, and was a perfect match for Lu Jia. He felt incredibly lucky that Lu Jia had found a boyfriend "right in Dongzhou."
The teacher jokingly recalled how many girls used to chase Xu Jiaxiu, with "several stacks" of love letters confiscated, adding that Xu Jiaxiu must have met the girls in the woods instead of replying to letters. Lu Hongwei tried to defend Xu Jiaxiu, stating he was always "focused on study." During the morning meeting, Xu Jiaxiu officially announced "Pickup" as the new project name, publicly crediting Lu Jia for the inspiration.
He elaborated on the concept, explaining that "Pickup" aims to help people re-experience cherished, forgotten moments. To show his appreciation, Xu Jiaxiu offered Lu Jia a generous bonus. Lu Jia, however, declined to accept the full amount, instead proposing they split the bonus evenly. Janice quipped that they were "treating each other with respect," a phrase typically used for married couples, causing Xu Jiaxiu to swiftly deny they were a couple.
Later, Lu Jia was caught online shopping during work hours by Xu Jiaxiu. Janice, seeing the expensive items in Lu Jia's cart, commented on her apparent wealth, while Lu Jia explained she was just browsing. When summoned to Xu Jiaxiu's office, Lu Jia immediately apologized for "using the company's network data" to shop, attempting to soften him by professing her "genuine love." Xu Jiaxiu maintained a serious demeanor, telling her to "stand straight."
Lu Jia, jokingly reminding him that she was "the future wife of Voya's boss," complained about being punished for "skimming company resources." Xu Jiaxiu then took her phone. Lu Jia, worried about her privacy, warned him not to delete her shopping app or look at personal information, reassuring him that her phone's password was his birthday and her gallery was full of his pictures.
Ignoring her pleas, Xu Jiaxiu proceeded to clear her entire shopping cart by purchasing all the items. Lu Jia was overjoyed, thanking "Mr. Xu," until she realized he had mistakenly sent the items to her father's address. He then asked if her cart contained anything inappropriate for her father to see, to which Lu Jia hesitantly replied that there wasn't. Lu Jia excitedly called Meng Tiantian to brag about Xu Jiaxiu's generosity.
However, Meng Tiantian quickly turned the tables by revealing that Xu Jiaxiu had removed all photos of Lu Jia from the hot pot restaurant's photo wall, even showing her surveillance footage as "hard evidence." Meng Tiantian mockingly called him a "jealous" person, lamenting that love only makes people stupid. Lu Jia reminded Meng Tiantian of her promise to give her a super VIP card if she found a boyfriend.
Meng Tiantian insisted that Xu Jiaxiu must "apologize to me in person" at the hot pot restaurant for his actions. Lu Jia then texted Xu Jiaxiu, asking him to join her for hot pot. Xu Jiaxiu flatly refused, citing his dislike for the smell and having recently eaten it, even warning her about pimples. Lu Jia became visibly angry, causing Xu Jiaxiu to eventually agree.
On their way, in the car, Lu Jia noticed lipstick on her face and, thinking it was a mosquito, tried to wipe it off. Xu Jiaxiu gently helped her clean it, making her beautiful again, and they set off for the hot pot restaurant.
Episode 14 Recap
Lu Jia brought Xu Jiaxiu to Meng Tiantian's hot pot restaurant, having reminded him to be agreeable with Meng Tiantian. At the counter, Meng Tiantian presented Xu Jiaxiu with a "super VIP card," explaining it as a way to appease Lu Jia. When Xu Jiaxiu indicated he would get one, Lu Jia quickly interjected, reminding Meng Tiantian that the VIP card was supposed to be automatically activated since she brought her boyfriend.
Meng Tiantian playfully accused Lu Jia of being on Xu Jiaxiu's side and questioned her motives for finding a boyfriend. Lu Jia proudly declared she wanted both the card and her boyfriend. Meng Tiantian, joined by her boyfriend, then congratulated Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia on officially being together and offered to treat them to the meal. As a playful jab, Meng Tiantian informed them that only spicy hot pot was available that day.
During the meal, Meng Tiantian intentionally gave Xu Jiaxiu the spiciest condiments, but he endured it well, although he later complained it was too spicy and promised to "settle a score" with her. Meng Tiantian then confronted Xu Jiaxiu about the photo wall in her restaurant, which now had a large empty space where photos used to be.
Xu Jiaxiu claimed it was "blank-leaving" in art, but then quickly asserted that she couldn't display photos of his girlfriend with other people, citing his copyright over the pictures he took and Lu Jia's portrait rights. Lu Jia tried to calm him, but Xu Jiaxiu remained firm. Meng Tiantian, amused by his "king of jealousy" act, declared he had "passed the test" and expressed her relief that Lu Jia was with him.
She then happily announced her pregnancy, revealing she was three months along, and Lu Jia expressed her delight at the news. All the items from Lu Jia's shopping cart were delivered to Lu Hongwei's house. The deliveryman brought numerous packages, which Lu Hongwei signed for, commenting that Lu Jia, usually frugal, was now spending lavishly since she started dating. He noticed makeup and shoes, attributing it to the saying, "A woman only dresses up for those who appreciate her."
Upon discovering several relationship advice books among the packages, including one titled "Taming Husband Guide," Lu Hongwei realized Lu Jia was trying to "tame" Xu Jiaxiu. Deciding to intervene, he called Lu Jia and invited her to bring Xu Jiaxiu home for a meal that weekend, intending to help her handle him. After receiving her father's phone call, Lu Jia expressed nervousness to Xu Jiaxiu about the upcoming meeting, but Xu Jiaxiu calmly assured her it would be fine.
As they walked home hand-in-hand after their hot pot meal, they spotted Ye Angyang approaching, causing them to quickly release each other's hands. Ye Angyang noticed they both smelled of hot pot, which Lu Jia laughingly attributed to the strong, "contagious" smell. Ye Angyang admitted he was there to play games with Janice.
Xu Jiaxiu immediately scolded him for wasting time on games, citing Ye Angyang's father's request to Xu Jiaxiu to look after him so that Ye Angyang would be capable of managing the family business in the future. Xu Jiaxiu declared himself Ye Angyang's "half-guardian" and ordered him to go home and not play games. Despite Ye Angyang's protest about his freedom, he dejectedly left after Xu Jiaxiu's stern warning and refusal to let him into the building.
Lu Jia brought Xu Jiaxiu to her home for dinner. Lu Hongwei had prepared a lavish meal and insisted on drinking with Xu Jiaxiu. He then feigned a craving for "marinated duck tongue" from a distant store, sending Lu Jia on a lengthy errand to get it, despite her protests about the travel time. He declined Xu Jiaxiu's offer to go instead, emphasizing that Xu Jiaxiu was a guest.
As Lu Jia left, reminding them not to drink until she returned, Lu Hongwei and Xu Jiaxiu began drinking heavily. Lu Hongwei plied Xu Jiaxiu with wine, noting their shared zodiac sign. With alcohol loosening his tongue, Lu Hongwei recounted catching Xu Jiaxiu twice: seven years ago with Yang Shanni in the woods, and recently with Lu Jia.
Xu Jiaxiu clarified that the first incident was a misunderstanding and the second time he was caught was to explain the first to Lu Jia. Satisfied, Lu Hongwei dropped the issue but warned Xu Jiaxiu against dating any other girls, a promise Xu Jiaxiu swore to uphold. Under the influence of alcohol, Lu Hongwei presented Xu Jiaxiu with a document titled "Ten Requirements For My Son-in-law."
Xu Jiaxiu read through the list, which covered everything from having a career and being responsible to protecting Lu Jia and ensuring her financial security, promising to care for her for a lifetime and never leave her alone. Xu Jiaxiu agreed to all the conditions and signed the agreement, adding that he would treat Lu Jia well even without the document, because he had "fallen in love with her ever since high school."
Lu Hongwei, surprised by this revelation, then gave his approval and they continued drinking. Meanwhile, Lu Jia arrived at the duck tongue store only to find it had closed and moved. She called her father, who, now quite drunk, urged her to return quickly, saying Xu Jiaxiu was nearly passed out. Lu Jia rushed home, finding both her father and a completely inebriated Xu Jiaxiu asleep.
She helped her father put Xu Jiaxiu into her bed, while Lu Hongwei, briefly conscious, ordered Lu Jia to sleep on the sofa for the night. In the middle of the night, Lu Jia tried to sneak a look at Xu Jiaxiu but was caught by Lu Hongwei, who threatened to switch places with her if she didn't behave.
Later, Xu Jiaxiu woke up disoriented, explored Lu Jia's room, admiring photos, and then found Lu Jia asleep on the sofa in the living room. He sat beside her, speaking softly, recounting a dream about their high school days and confessing his long-standing feelings for her. Lu Jia, who had been feigning sleep, heard his sweet words and felt overjoyed. When she "woke up" and joked about sleepwalking, Xu Jiaxiu leaned in and kissed her.
Just then, Lu Hongwei cleared his throat loudly from his room, startling Xu Jiaxiu, who quickly dropped to the floor and pretended to be asleep. The next morning, Janice, Ye Angyang, Wang Di, and Zhang Liang went to a coffee shop. Seeing Ouyang Xuan still had a bandage on his arm, Ye Angyang wanted to remove it to verify his identity, but Janice strictly forbade him.
Back at the office, Xu Jiaxiu called a meeting to discuss the "Shi Guang" project's operational plan. Ye Angyang eagerly presented his design draft for the icon, which featured a pair of innocent young children. He proudly claimed the boy was modeled after himself, but Xu Jiaxiu, observing that the girl strongly resembled Lu Jia, immediately rejected Ye Angyang's design. Undeterred, Ye Angyang followed Xu Jiaxiu to his office, trying to argue for his icon design.
He elaborated on his creative process, but Xu Jiaxiu remained unimpressed and pointed out various flaws. Annoyed, Xu Jiaxiu demanded more options and, as he left, threw Ye Angyang's digital pen, breaking it. Ye Angyang, realizing his pen was broken, despaired at the need to rework his design overnight. Later, while playing games at home, Janice complained to Lu Jia about Xu Jiaxiu's recent "weird and unpredictable" behavior.
She mentioned seeing him smiling at his phone in his office and contrasted his generous attitude a few days prior with his abrupt rejection of Ye Angyang's design today. Janice speculated that Xu Jiaxiu was experiencing mood swings, while Lu Jia, feigning ignorance, insisted she hadn't noticed anything unusual.
Episode 15 Recap
Lu Jia found out Ye Angyang and Zhang Liang were still staying up for several nights to revise their designs. She wondered if Xu Jiaxiu's recent drinking had affected his judgment and temper, expressing concern that such a direct and harsh approach could lead to talent loss and hinder the company's growth. As the "unknown partner" of the boss, she felt she had to intervene and secretly hoped Xu Jiaxiu would be moved by her efforts.
Lu Jia brought night snacks, including steamed buns stuffed with crab meat and cellophane noodles with beef, to the office for the employees working overtime. Ye Angyang was touched, calling her "beautiful and kind." She went to Ye Angyang, who was upset that his pressure-sensitive pen was broken.
He explained that Xu Jiaxiu had just broken it, and since the pen and its digital tablet had been out of production for years, he couldn't get it repaired or find original replacement parts. Lu Jia suggested buying other parts and altering them to fix it, which made Ye Angyang realize a solution. He revealed the pen was a special lucky charm he won in a design contest, having faced family opposition to his passion.
He confided in Lu Jia, asking her not to tell Xu Jiaxiu, as he feared Xu Jiaxiu would find him pretentious. Lu Jia agreed to keep it "our little secret." They then went to a digital store, where Ye Angyang bought several types of nibs and discussed different glues. While in the store, Lu Jia mischievously defaced a poster of Song Juanxi. After running around for the night, Lu Jia returned home very late. Xu Jiaxiu immediately questioned her whereabouts.
She first claimed she went for a run, then changed her story to taking out the trash. Xu Jiaxiu, unconvinced by her attire for running or the late hour for trash, pressed her further until she finally admitted to having gone out for night snacks. When he continued to ask for details, she tried to deflect by offering him a kiss, but he insisted on the truth.
The next morning, Lu Jia arrived at the company early and successfully repaired Ye Angyang's pen, sharing that the annoyed-looking little man in his design resembled Xu Jiaxiu. Xu Jiaxiu, meanwhile, had waited downstairs for Lu Jia but was told by Janice that she had already left.
Upon arriving at the office, Xu Jiaxiu overheard Zhang Liang and other colleagues praising the delicious night snacks Lu Jia had brought them the previous night—steamed buns stuffed with crab meat and cellophane noodles with beef. He then learned that Lu Jia had not eaten with them but had left with Ye Angyang.
Moments later, he saw Lu Jia and Ye Angyang laughing together while discussing design modifications, with Ye Angyang noting that Lu Jia's "female perspective" made them work better together. Filled with anger and jealousy, Xu Jiaxiu told Lu Jia to come to his office. When Lu Jia was late to his office, Xu Jiaxiu stormed out to confront her. He pressed her about her whereabouts with Ye Angyang the previous night.
She explained she had only taken a walk and chatted with him because he was in a bad mood, assuring Xu Jiaxiu she had not betrayed him. When he asked why she hadn't told him the truth earlier, she hesitantly admitted it was "a little secret between me and him." This revelation infuriated Xu Jiaxiu, who couldn't tolerate her having "little secrets" with another man, reminding her he was her boyfriend.
Lu Jia tried to explain that she didn't want him to blame himself. Ye Angyang repeatedly submitted revised designs, but Xu Jiaxiu rejected each one, often without even a glance. After modifying the design more than ten times, Ye Angyang grew exasperated, accusing Xu Jiaxiu of going too far and demanding specific feedback beyond a vague "it felt wrong." Xu Jiaxiu merely told him to "change the whole thing."
Witnessing this, Lu Jia asked Ye Angyang to leave so she could speak with Xu Jiaxiu alone. Xu Jiaxiu pulled Lu Jia into his office and closed the curtains. Lu Jia admitted she was wrong to go out with Ye Angyang and lie, but accused Xu Jiaxiu of letting personal feelings affect work.
Xu Jiaxiu revealed his true anger by pointing out that the cartoon girl in Ye Angyang's design resembled Lu Jia, and she was "kissing another man" in the company's icon. He expressed his frustration that his girlfriend was being depicted in such a way for the whole world to see. Lu Jia tried to downplay the resemblance and appease him, promising to only kiss him and asking for a punishment.
Xu Jiaxiu subtly indicated his desire for marriage by asking her to "change her boyfriend's situation." Their argument was interrupted when Ye Angyang burst in, having heard their raised voices. He passionately defended Lu Jia, accusing Xu Jiaxiu of picking on her and acting like he was "on his period."
In response, Xu Jiaxiu embraced Lu Jia and publicly declared, both to Ye Angyang and then to other curious colleagues, that Lu Jia was his girlfriend and they were officially dating. When a colleague questioned the company's no-office-romance policy, Xu Jiaxiu clarified that while dating was prohibited, marriage was not, and announced that he and Lu Jia would "get married soon," which Lu Jia quickly pointed out she hadn't agreed to.
Xu Jiaxiu then explicitly told a heartbroken Ye Angyang to change his design, either making the boy character resemble Xu Jiaxiu or changing the girl character. Overwhelmed with emotion, Ye Angyang cried, declared, "I quit!" , and lamented how Xu Jiaxiu had gone too far by making him work on a design that celebrated their love. Xu Jiaxiu then sternly warned Janice not to interfere or mistreat Lu Jia again. Feeling profoundly hurt, Ye Angyang left work, declaring he quit.
Janice tried to console him, explaining that Xu Jiaxiu was simply "in love." Ye Angyang then went to Meng Tiantian's hot pot restaurant to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Zhong Jin joined him and listened as a drunken Ye Angyang lamented the situation. Ye Angyang confessed he knew Lu Jia had written a love letter to Xu Jiaxiu in high school and toasted to their "happy marriage" with feigned cheer.
Zhong Jin then dropped a bombshell: Lu Jia had also written a love letter to Ye Angyang in high school, but he had never received it. Ye Angyang was shocked and vehemently denied receiving any such letter. Zhong Jin insisted, citing Meng Tiantian as his source. This made Ye Angyang suspect that Xu Jiaxiu had intercepted and hidden the letter.
Janice later tried to advise Ye Angyang by asking if he was "not following the script" and encouraged him to fight for Lu Jia, rather than being jealous of Xu Jiaxiu. Ye Angyang, however, continued to lament his lack of "sweet love," to which Janice offered her "reliable friendship." Now officially dating, Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia engaged in playful banter.
However, their newfound openness was challenged when Ye Angyang stormed in, angrily confronting Xu Jiaxiu and demanding the love letter Lu Jia had written to him in high school. Lu Jia was genuinely confused, denying she had ever written him one. Ye Angyang, citing Zhong Jin and Meng Tiantian as his sources, accused Xu Jiaxiu of being a "thief, liar, and robber" for having stolen and hidden the letter.
Xu Jiaxiu then confessed he had taken the letter and "threw it away a long time ago." Ye Angyang was furious, asserting that if not for Xu Jiaxiu's interference, he and Lu Jia would have been together. Xu Jiaxiu dismissed Ye Angyang's feelings as "one-sided love" and challenged Lu Jia to choose between them. When Lu Jia remained silent, Xu Jiaxiu stormed out, slamming the door.
Ye Angyang then pressed Lu Jia to reveal the letter's contents, but she was interrupted by a call from Meng Tiantian. Meng Tiantian apologized for Zhong Jin having revealed the letter's existence, but Lu Jia assured her the misunderstanding with Xu Jiaxiu was resolved. Meng Tiantian then allowed Zhong Jin, who was wearing a maid outfit as punishment for his gossip, to change his clothes, cautioning him against spreading rumors again.
Meanwhile, Lu Jia found that Xu Jiaxiu had changed his door password, leaving her unable to enter his apartment. Ye Angyang continued to complain to Janice about Xu Jiaxiu's "immoral" and "shameless" act of stealing the letter, feeling betrayed that Xu Jiaxiu, who he had confided in about everything, including his crush on Lu Jia, had only seen him as a rival. Janice offered him another drink, reinforcing her support as his "reliable friend."
Episode 16 Recap
Lu Jia returned home to find her father, Lu Hongwei, absent. She called him, learning he was having dinner with Jiang Wenting at school. Not wanting to disturb him, Lu Jia left. Meanwhile, Ye Angyang confided in Janice, speaking ill of Xu Jiaxiu. Just then, debt collectors arrived, demanding money from Zhou Yunbo.
Ye Angyang insisted this was Xu Jiaxiu's company and directed them upstairs to find Zhou Yunbo, but the men were unrelenting and stormed into the office, smashing and throwing things. Ouyang Xuan, who was downstairs delivering coffee to Janice, quickly intervened, falsely claiming Zhou Yunbo had just fled. The debt collectors immediately gave chase. After Ouyang Xuan delivered the coffee, Ye Angyang followed him to the restroom.
He noticed the gauze on Ouyang Xuan’s arm had been removed, and there were no bite marks underneath. Ye Angyang then reported this to Janice, who remained unconvinced. Soon after, Zhou Yunbo returned to explain the situation. He had invested all his money in a finance application with a partner, who then absconded with the funds, leaving Zhou Yunbo to face angry investors. Ye Angyang recognized it as an illegal fund-raising scam.
Penniless, Zhou Yunbo had to terminate the office lease, urging them to move out quickly. Ye Angyang immediately tried to call Xu Jiaxiu. Lu Jia eventually found Xu Jiaxiu at the swimming pool. Her pleas were useless, so she jumped into the pool to stop him, challenging him to a swimming race. She proposed that if he lost, he would have to come home with her. Xu Jiaxiu agreed and later provided her with clean clothes.
Xu Jiaxiu brought Lu Jia home. Lu Jia repeatedly tried to explain that the old love letter was a misunderstanding. Xu Jiaxiu, not wanting to hear her lengthy explanations, told her to shower first. While she showered, Xu Jiaxiu closed the curtains and straightened the bedsheets, imagining a romantic night with Lu Jia, his heart filled with excitement. He drank water to calm himself.
When Lu Jia emerged from the shower, Xu Jiaxiu was captivated by her beauty and offered to blow-dry her hair. Lu Jia earnestly tried to appease Xu Jiaxiu, emphasizing that she had no relationship with Ye Angyang. Xu Jiaxiu brought up the love letter, which still infuriated Lu Jia. She recounted how she had poured all her writing talent into a love letter for Xu Jiaxiu, only for it to go unanswered.
Shortly after, Xu Jiaxiu was seen with Yang Shanni in the woods, which deeply angered and embarrassed Lu Jia. In a fit of pique, she hastily modified the letter and gave it to Ye Angyang, placing all the blame on Xu Jiaxiu. Xu Jiaxiu admitted he had intended to reply, but upon seeing the same letter given to Ye Angyang, he felt annoyed and assumed she was making fun of him, so he deliberately didn't reply.
With the misunderstanding finally cleared, they shared a heartfelt embrace. Meanwhile, Ye Angyang and Janice searched everywhere for Xu Jiaxiu, but to no avail. Xu Jiaxiu went downstairs to a convenience store to buy condoms, but the female clerk, a loyal fan of his, refused to sell them to him. He had to go to another store. Upon returning home, Xu Jiaxiu found Lu Jia had set out red wine and lit candles.
As they clinked glasses, Xu Jiaxiu excused himself to change into his pajamas and put on a generous amount of cologne. Lu Jia waited for a long time, but when he didn't emerge, she drank the entire bottle of wine by herself. When Xu Jiaxiu finally came out, he found Lu Jia completely drunk and unconscious. His carefully planned romantic evening was ruined. Later, Ye Angyang walked Janice home and, needing to use the restroom, stopped by Xu Jiaxiu's place.
Suddenly, he heard Lu Jia’s voice inside. Janice called Xu Jiaxiu, but he hung up and turned off his phone. She then called Lu Jia, but Xu Jiaxiu turned off Lu Jia’s phone as well. Believing Lu Jia was held hostage, Ye Angyang and Janice frantically banged on the door. When there was no response, Janice retrieved an axe to break down the door. Just then, Xu Jiaxiu opened it.
They rushed in to find Lu Jia fast asleep, and, relieved, they left. Before going, Ye Angyang mentioned Zhou Yunbo’s plight to Xu Jiaxiu. The next morning, Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia went to work together. Lu Jia repeatedly apologized for getting drunk and promised to make it up to him. Downstairs, Zhou Yunbo earnestly pleaded with Xu Jiaxiu for help. As Xu Jiaxiu spotted employees from Sixinte Group arriving, he quickly led Lu Jia to meet CEO Song Junxi.
Song Junxi praised Xu Jiaxiu’s "Intimate Tree" project and offered constructive feedback. He glanced at Lu Jia before departing. Xu Jiaxiu then presented Ye Angyang with eight boxes of children's milk to repay him for the milk Lu Jia had consumed years ago. Ye Angyang, offended by the "children's milk" and the implicit insult, declared his intention to withdraw his shares from the company.
Xu Jiaxiu immediately instructed Janice to clear out Ye Angyang's office for Zhou Yunbo, who had just joined Voya. Enraged, Ye Angyang went to pack his belongings. Lu Jia tried to calm him, but he refused to listen, stating it was a matter between him and Xu Jiaxiu, and left.
Episode 17 Recap
Lu Jia expressed her concern to Xu Jiaxiu about Ye Angyang withdrawing his shares, emphasizing her reluctance to lose him as a talent. She asked if he was truly letting Ye Angyang leave, pointing out that no one understood Xu Jiaxiu's designs like Ye Angyang, and questioned how he could discard such a long-standing friendship. Xu Jiaxiu dismissed her worries, confident that Ye Angyang would soon forget his anger.
Meanwhile, Wang Di and Zhang Liang successfully completed the design of the Pickup software, allowing the team to proceed with closed beta testing. Using her own childhood name, Lin Jiaojiao, Janice used the newly completed Pickup software to post a message searching for her kindergarten crush. In her message, she vividly recalled biting his arm during playtime and wondered if a scar remained, apologizing for the pain.
Hesitant at first because she had forgotten his name, she decided to send the message anyway. Days later, she was ecstatic to receive an email from him, setting up a meeting. In a morning meeting, Xu Jiaxiu announced that Voya had resolved Wode Technology's debts and officially acquired the company. This expansion meant the entire building would now serve as Voya's office space, a revelation met with cheers from the staff.
Xu Jiaxiu then introduced Zhou Yunbo as a new member, leading many to believe he was replacing Ye Angyang, who was absent that day. When Ye Angyang finally arrived, Xu Jiaxiu instructed Lu Jia to prepare the shares settlement documents for him. In a defiant gesture, Ye Angyang tore up the papers, declaring he would not withdraw his shares and intended to stay and challenge Xu Jiaxiu, much to the delight of his colleagues.
The misunderstanding about Zhou Yunbo’s role was soon clarified; Xu Jiaxiu had actually tricked Ye Angyang with a copy of the employee handbook. He assigned Zhou Yunbo to work as the company's receptionist. Zhou Yunbo, taking his new role with zealous responsibility, meticulously questioned every delivery person and courier, demanding their identification and recording their details. This thoroughness caused delays, leaving Janice and Xiaoda, among others, hungry.
Zhang Liang was sent to the front desk to hurry the food, where he found Zhou Yunbo still interrogating a delivery person. He and his colleagues urged Zhou Yunbo to let the delivery person through, eventually retrieving their overdue lunch. Janice, who had been impatiently awaiting her own visitor, saw Ouyang Xuan, a coffee shop staffer, arrive with her order. She had ordered from him hoping to discreetly check his arm for a bite mark.
Zhou Yunbo made Ouyang Xuan sign in before allowing him to deliver the coffee. Shortly after Ouyang Xuan left, another man, Shao Yifeng, arrived, also seeking his kindergarten schoolmate, "Lin Jiaojiao." Zhou Yunbo noticed the uncanny resemblance between Shao Yifeng and Ouyang Xuan. Zhou Yunbo escorted Shao Yifeng to Janice's workspace. Shao Yifeng loudly declared himself as "Jiaojiao's" kindergarten friend and, to prove his identity, rolled up his sleeve to reveal a distinct bite mark on his arm.
Janice was taken aback, realizing her long-lost first love wasn't the refined Ouyang Xuan, but the lively Shao Yifeng. Her colleagues, including Ye Angyang, playfully teased her. Janice, feeling awkward, led Shao Yifeng away, asking him to call her Janice at work. Shao Yifeng, undeterred, expressed a desire to tour the company. Janice gave him a brief, almost dismissive, overview of the office and its staff before telling him to look around on his own.
Noticing Janice hadn't eaten, Shao Yifeng invited her to lunch. Despite her reluctance, she eventually agreed, pulling Ye Angyang along to join them. During the meal, Shao Yifeng recounted childhood anecdotes, such as Janice's aversion to coriander and how she comforted him when he cried, or their bubblegum-blowing contests. Janice's initial reserve melted away as they reminisced, their conversation flowing easily while Ye Angyang struggled to interject. Feeling the renewed connection, Janice invited Shao Yifeng to visit the company anytime.
When Shao Yifeng suggested playing games, an activity Janice loved but rarely found companions for, she eagerly agreed. Overcome with nostalgic affection, Shao Yifeng spontaneously put his arms around Janice's neck, just like he used to as a child, leaving Ye Angyang dumbfounded. Janice’s successful reunion with her first love through Pickup deeply inspired Xu Jiaxiu. He convened a meeting, announcing that the closed beta test had already begun and, if successful, Pickup would officially launch as planned.
He assigned tasks to various departments, including Ye Angyang, who was tasked with redesigning the icon. Ye Angyang decided to abandon his previous ideas and start fresh on the design. That night, Xu Jiaxiu and Ye Angyang met on a basketball court, engaging in an intense match that ended in a tie. After their game, Xu Jiaxiu finally admitted he had intercepted Lu Jia’s love letter to Ye Angyang years ago.
Ye Angyang, already aware of Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia's current relationship, accepted the apology gracefully. He recounted how he had once confided in Xu Jiaxiu about his crush on Lu Jia, describing how he would secretly deliver milk to her with hand-drawn cartoons. He then realized that Xu Jiaxiu had subtly discouraged him from pursuing Lu Jia by emphasizing that she was the daughter of Lu Hongwei, the Director of Studies, implying it would lead to trouble.
Ye Angyang confronted Xu Jiaxiu, accusing him of using this information to scare him off and clear his own path. Xu Jiaxiu countered that he had merely stated facts. Despite the past manipulation, Ye Angyang, acknowledging Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia’s mutual affection, extended his blessings. Xu Jiaxiu then expressed his profound gratitude, stating that Lu Jia was the woman he loved and Ye Angyang his best friend, and he never wanted to lose either of them.
The two friends, having cleared the air and reaffirmed their bond, finally reconciled. Ye Angyang’s new design for Pickup, featuring a grand tree with spreading branches, perfectly symbolized the social networking app's connections and was quickly approved by Xu Jiaxiu. With Pickup officially entering its online operation phase, everyone worked tirelessly. Shao Yifeng stopped by to see Janice, but Zhou Yunbo informed him that everyone was working late, prompting Shao Yifeng to leave.
Seeing how exhausted Xu Jiaxiu was, Lu Jia urged him to take the upcoming weekend off to rest. The following Saturday morning, as Lu Jia prepared a meal at home, she affectionately told Xu Jiaxiu to go out and enjoy the day, promising that a delicious meal would be waiting for him when he returned.
Episode 18 Recap
Xu Jiaxiu went to a convenience store to buy drinks. An elderly man asked for his help in choosing chocolate for his wife, who was allergic to alcohol. Xu Jiaxiu carefully selected a liquor-free option for him. Returning home with two bottles of drinks, Xu Jiaxiu noticed Lu Jia blocking the kitchen entrance. Peeking inside, he saw a chaotic scene, realizing she hadn't finished preparing the meal.
Lu Jia insisted he wait on the rooftop, promising the food would be ready soon. On the rooftop, Lu Jia presented him with a homemade cake, which Xu Jiaxiu devoured, praising her cooking. He promised to be her "most reliable portable power source," always supporting her. The next day, Xu Jiaxiu brought Lu Jia to a golf course, surprising her by revealing a meeting with Song Juanxi. Xu Jiaxiu introduced Lu Jia as Voya Technology's CFO and his girlfriend.
Lu Jia felt awkward and discreetly moved away. Song Juanxi approached her, apologizing for past events in Beijing and mentioning upcoming collaborations with Xu Jiaxiu. Lu Jia calmly stated there were no misunderstandings, and anything unpleasant had ended when she left Beijing. Xu Jiaxiu then called her over to teach her how to play golf.
Later, on their way home, Lu Jia confessed to Xu Jiaxiu that she had worked with Song Juanxi's company, Sixinte, during her time in Beijing, and knew him to be a philandering man. Xu Jiaxiu, however, dismissed it as Song Juanxi merely fulfilling "social needs" by bringing different female companions to various events, without genuine emotional investment. Xu Jiaxiu then took Lu Jia to watch a movie.
They unexpectedly ran into Lu Hongwei, Lu Jia’s father, and Jiang Wenting, who were also there, excitedly buying popcorn and soda. Lu Hongwei was visibly embarrassed to be seen by his daughter. To ease the awkwardness, Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu decided to switch to a different film. After the movie, in the car, Lu Jia dozed off, repeatedly calling out for her mother in her sleep. Xu Jiaxiu felt a pang of sympathy for her.
Lu Jia then recounted how her mother had passed away when she was six. She described her childhood grief and her initial fierce rejection of any new "step-mother," even trying to wash her dirty skirt herself to prove she didn't need one. However, she eventually realized her father's sadness was deeper, a permanent loss of a loved one. Seeing her father happy with Jiang Wenting now brought her immense joy and relief.
Xu Jiaxiu, understanding her journey, promised to always protect her. That day marked the official launch of the "Pickup" application. Janice, despite being incredibly nervous, pressed the launch button. Downloads immediately surged, exciting the entire team. Meng Tiantian happily found many old classmates through the app, and even Xu Jiaxiu's grandmother downloaded it. Unfortunately for Zhou Yunbo, creditors quickly located him via Pickup, causing him much distress.
While Pickup's download numbers rapidly increased, Xu Jiaxiu worried about the company's future financial stability. Ye Angyang reported having preliminary discussions with five potential investors, highlighting Sixinte as the most professional, offering the best platform and financial resources. Zhou Yunbo enthusiastically endorsed Sixinte as an "industry leader," launching into a lengthy, often-ignored monologue about investment strategies and the upcoming "roadshow" and "primary selection" phases, complete with analogies like "the tortoise and the hare race."
Xu Jiaxiu instructed Ye Angyang to prepare a business plan specifically for Sixinte. Later, Shao Yifeng visited the office, claiming to enjoy the "snack-eating atmosphere." Janice, busy, gave him some snacks and dismissed him. However, Shao Yifeng commented on Pickup's interface, pointing out that it wasn't convenient for one-handed operation. He demonstrated how other apps offered a swipe-to-exit function, which immediately enlightened Janice.
She profusely thanked him, offering to buy him any snacks he desired, and promptly instructed her team to prepare Pickup's first update to include single-handed operation. Back home, Lu Jia observed her father, Lu Hongwei, and Jiang Wenting returning from grocery shopping, with her father asking Jiang Wenting to go home.
Frustrated by her father's "stubborn" and "ambiguous" behavior, Lu Jia firmly encouraged him to formalize his relationship with Jiang Wenting, assuring him that she fully supported it and believed her late mother would too. When her father hesitated, citing Jiang Wenting's own children as a concern, Lu Jia boldly declared she would "handle it." She then called out to Jiang Wenting from downstairs and directly asked if she would mind having "another daughter," moving Jiang Wenting to tears.
Witnessing this, Lu Hongwei finally invited Jiang Wenting to come home for dinner. Meanwhile, Ye Angyang announced that Pickup had successfully passed Sixinte's primary selection, reducing their competitors by half. However, this news caused Lu Jia internal conflict. She found herself distressed about the renewed connection with Song Juanxi and Sixinte, worrying whether Xu Jiaxiu might misunderstand her past association with Song Juanxi, and if Song Juanxi's presence in Dongzhou had "ulterior purposes" beyond business.
Pickup's download numbers continued to soar, soon surpassing 500,000. Janice, deeply appreciative of Shao Yifeng's "enlightenment," now treated him as the company's "mascot," indulging his requests for snacks. When asked to buy snacks for him, Lu Jia volunteered, further emphasizing that Shao Yifeng was to be "spoiled." As Lu Jia left a convenience store, she encountered Song Juanxi.
He complimented Pickup's success and its recent update, then offered his help for the upcoming roadshow, hinting at a desire to rekindle their past relationship by suggesting they could "hang out as we used to." Lu Jia firmly declined his help and clarified that their relationship had always been strictly professional, dismissing his attempts to initiate a friendship. With the roadshow approaching, Xu Jiaxiu began his preparations.
Lu Jia, unable to attend as his "girlfriend," tried to tie his tie as a gesture of support, but struggled. Xu Jiaxiu patiently guided her hands, teaching her the proper technique. Later, it was revealed that Xu Jiaxiu had quietly removed the "banning office romance" clause from the employee handbook, implicitly acknowledging his relationship with Lu Jia within the company.
Episode 19 Recap
Xu Jiaxiu, accompanied by Ye Angyang, attended Sixinte's bidding meeting. Ye Angyang remarked that Shenyu Technology's "Crisscross" software appeared to outperform "Pickup" based on current data, indicating a direct competition for Sixinte's investment. However, Xu Jiaxiu remained confident, asserting that investors prioritize factors like user engagement, market share, user acquisition methods, and future market potential over immediate user numbers.
After Yu Bo, the leader of the Crisscross research and development team, concluded his presentation, Xu Jiaxiu took the stage to introduce Pickup. He began by engaging the audience with a discussion on the Six Degrees of Separation theory, explaining that anyone in the world could be connected through six social layers.
To illustrate, he conducted an impromptu experiment, selecting a volunteer who then described how they would connect with the current UN Secretary-General through a chain of just four people: their tutor, their university president, a Harvard professor friend of the president, and a former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations who previously served as the counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the United States.
Xu Jiaxiu then linked this theory to Pickup's core concept, explaining that the application was designed to help users reconnect with old friends, schoolmates, and rekindle lost connections, emphasizing that Pickup represented the past, present, and future. His compelling presentation earned him warm applause, with Ye Angyang being the first to stand and clap. Back at the office, as the team anxiously awaited the investment results, Lu Jia tried to help Xu Jiaxiu relax.
She massaged him and suggested he rest, noting that the outcome was already determined, similar to a college exam where the results are set the moment the paper is submitted. Meanwhile, the office buzzed with tension; some colleagues complained about each other's nervous habits, while Janice, in an effort to cope, had knitted a long red scarf.
Lu Jia, upon seeing it, learned from a colleague that red signified anger for Janice, but Janice herself clarified that red represented passion, only signifying anger when she was in a bad mood. The waiting continued until Ye Angyang received a call from Sixinte. After a moment of dramatic silence while his colleagues anxiously waited, he finally announced the triumphant news: "Pickup" had successfully secured the investment!
The office erupted in cheers, and Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu shared an emotional hug amidst the celebratory atmosphere. To mark their success, Xu Jiaxiu treated everyone to a hotpot dinner at Meng Tiantian's restaurant and promised a weekend team-building trip. At the dinner, Ye Angyang questioned Shao Yifeng's presence and his plan to join the team-building event, but Xu Jiaxiu defended Shao Yifeng, crediting him for his contributions to the recent update.
Speculating on the investment amount, Ye Angyang, drawing from Sixinte's past investment patterns in successful projects, conservatively estimated an investment of fifty million yuan. This figure sparked dreams of newfound wealth among the team, with one colleague comically envisioning buying a car, a house, and "buying a wife" before correcting himself to "finding a wife." They all toasted enthusiastically to the prospective fifty million.
That weekend, Xu Jiaxiu led the Voya team to a charming suburban wooden villa offering deluxe lake-view rooms. When it came to room assignments, Ye Angyang initially suggested sharing a room with Xu Jiaxiu, but Xu Jiaxiu preferred a room to himself. Wang Di and Zhang Liang opted to share a room so they could play video games.
Shao Yifeng, who confessed to only knowing Janice well among the group, insisted on sharing a room with Ye Angyang, reasoning that a friend's friend should also be a friend. Meanwhile, Lu Jia, Janice, and Xiaoda decided to push their two beds together to share a single room. The male colleagues later engaged in a video game that ended in defeat, prompting them to head for dinner.
In the yard, while Wang Di and others tirelessly barbecued, Xu Jiaxiu relaxed in the sun. Lu Jia joined him, and they listened to music together. Shao Yifeng, with Janice by his side, asked Ye Angyang to take pictures of them, but Ye Angyang, engrossed in his own activities, annoyed Shao Yifeng with his unresponsiveness. After the food was ready, a lighthearted stone-skipping contest ensued by the lake, sparked by Shao Yifeng reminiscing about his skills.
Amidst the joyful atmosphere, Xu Jiaxiu gathered everyone and expressed his gratitude for their dedicated work in establishing Voya. He viewed the recent investment and their new product as a significant recognition of their collective efforts, then invited each person to share their thoughts about the company. Ye Angyang spoke first, recounting how he had followed Xu Jiaxiu, his "good brother," since high school, right from the company's early days when it was just the two of them.
He then highlighted how the team gradually grew with the addition of Janice, Wang Di, Zhang Liang, Xiaoda, and finally, Lu Jia. He expressed his joy at knowing everyone and considered them all close friends, not just colleagues. Ye Angyang wished for Voya's continued success and, turning to Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu, offered his heartfelt blessings for their happiness, mentioning that he was happy to see the "one he liked before" with Xu Jiaxiu.
Xiaoda, a recent college graduate and the youngest, thanked Xu Jiaxiu for the opportunity and expressed gratitude to her colleagues, who treated her like family, especially Lu Jia, who greatly assisted her with her Certified Public Accountant exam studies. She shared her deep affection for the company, finding a sense of warmth within the team. Zhang Liang, also a fresh graduate, acknowledged his initial inexperience and love for gaming, thanking everyone, especially Wang Di, for their patience and guidance.
Wang Di then shared his belief in staying true to one's passions and felt fortunate to have found a group of like-minded individuals at Voya. He reflected on their shared journey, embracing both the joys and hardships as cherished memories. Janice, despite not planning to stay in Dongzhou long-term, expressed how she unexpectedly found happiness and camaraderie with her colleagues, admitting she could be harsh to some but truly loved them.
She playfully added that a raise from Xu Jiaxiu would make her even happier. Zhou Yunbo thanked Xu Jiaxiu for his help during difficult times and confessed that, unlike his previous jobs where he longed to go home, he now cherished his time at Voya and believed the company, and he, would achieve great financial success.
Shao Yifeng shared his joy at finding a childhood friend and building new friendships through Janice, who he said was the only one who protected and cared for his feelings. Finally, Lu Jia expressed her focus on living in the present, cherishing every day and the playful camaraderie with her colleagues.
She even mentioned keeping a notebook to remember their shared moments, like Xu Jiaxiu's tantrums or playful squabbles among the team members, emphasizing her desire for them all to stay together forever. Xu Jiaxiu then took his turn, revealing that when he first conceived "Pickup," his true intention was to find one specific person. He then looked at Lu Jia and declared, "I have found her now. It's you, Lu Jia."
Turning to the rest of the team, he called them the "surprises" in his life and expressed his profound wish to continue their journey together, forever. Everyone raised their glasses in a toast, sharing laughter and heartfelt conversation. After the team-building trip, as the team returned to work, Xu Jiaxiu received an unexpected phone call. Teasing his colleagues, he asked them to guess the new investment amount.
After their guesses of two million and twenty million proved incorrect, he revealed the astonishing news: Sixinte had decided to invest a staggering two hundred million yuan, leading to another round of ecstatic cheers from the team. Soon after, Sixinte's legal and audit teams arrived at Voya for a due diligence assessment. Lu Jia reassured her nervous colleagues that this was a standard procedure for large investments.
To her surprise, the head of the assessment team was Zhu Yali, her former university classmate and colleague. Zhu Yali immediately asserted her impartiality, stating that their past relationship would not influence her professional duties. Lu Jia promised full cooperation from Voya, acknowledging Zhu Yali's straightforward nature. Later, Lu Jia invited Zhu Yali to lunch. During their meal, Zhu Yali probed about Lu Jia's boyfriend, and Lu Jia confirmed it was Xu Jiaxiu.
Zhu Yali immediately reacted with suspicion, accusing Lu Jia of engaging in "hidden rules" with company bosses, referencing past rumors about Lu Jia and her former boss, Mr. Song, at their previous company. Lu Jia angrily dismissed these accusations as baseless gossip, stating that her personal life was not for outsiders to comment on. Offended at being called an "outsider," Zhu Yali angrily left the restaurant without eating, believing her good intentions had been unappreciated.
Episode 20 Recap
Xu Jiaxiu returned home late after having dinner with the Sixinte company's representatives. He found Lu Jia already asleep on the sofa. As Lu Jia woke up, Xu Jiaxiu asked if she had been waiting for him. Lu Jia confirmed it, noticing he had been drinking. Xu Jiaxiu explained that Sixinte's people had traveled a long way, so he had to entertain them, though he felt outnumbered and had to give in.
He then expressed how lucky he felt to have her waiting for him. He shared that the day's negotiation went well, with Sixinte offering generous and sincere terms. He planned a trip for them after this busy period was over, asking Lu Jia where she would like to go. She replied that she would go anywhere with him.
Seeing how tired he was, Lu Jia offered to get a towel for him to wipe his face, but he fell asleep on the sofa, leaning on her. She gently rested her head on his shoulder. Following Voya's successful assessment by Sixinte, Xu Jiaxiu and Song Juanxi officially signed the contract. At the celebratory dinner, Xu Jiaxiu thanked Song Juanxi and everyone present for their hard work and raised a toast to them.
Zhu Yali then toasted Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu, wishing them happiness and revealing that she and Lu Jia were university classmates and former colleagues, mentioning Lu Jia was once their department's belle. Xu Jiaxiu returned the compliment, praising Song Juanxi and his wife's beautiful love story, to which Song Juanxi publicly announced that he was divorced. Later, at a karaoke bar, Zhu Yali urged Lu Jia to sing, but Lu Jia, admitting she was off-key, hesitated.
Xu Jiaxiu then joined her, intentionally singing off-key, and the two happily sang together, much to Zhu Yali's dismay. While packing her luggage to go home, Zhu Yali told Lu Jia that Crisscross, developed by Shenyu Company, was actually superior to Pickup. She believed Song Juanxi's decision to partner with Voya was because of Lu Jia, suggesting he was partial to her.
Lu Jia vehemently denied this, stating that her relationship with Song Juanxi was purely professional and that previous rumors were baseless. She urged Zhu Yali not to jump to conclusions and that her personal life was none of an "outsider's" business. Zhu Yali, feeling that her good intentions were misunderstood, angrily left. Lu Jia returned to Xu Jiaxiu's home, feeling upset, but Xu Jiaxiu, unaware of her argument, simply thanked her for her efforts.
Back at the office, colleagues were bustling with work. Janice, looking tired, was eating instant noodles after another all-night shift. Lu Jia offered her CPA study materials to Xiaoda, who was preparing for the exam, wishing her good luck. Xu Jiaxiu, with a list of five potential partner companies, asked Ye Angyang to review it. Ye Angyang eliminated one and used four phones to schedule meetings with the remaining four companies, which Xu Jiaxiu then approved.
The team was busy meeting clients, and their hard work paid off when Juemi, a renowned advertising company, proactively reached out to Ye Angyang for a partnership, offering excellent promotional resources. This news brought joy and renewed confidence in Voya's future. A financial news report later highlighted Sixinte's investment in Pickup, mentioning Crisscross as a strong competitor and suggesting that if Crisscross had secured the investment, the situation would be entirely different.
Lu Jia repeatedly watched the news, thinking Xu Jiaxiu looked even better in person than on screen. The next morning, Xu Jiaxiu drove Lu Jia to work. Lu Jia brought her CPA study notes for Xiaoda. Janice messaged Lu Jia asking for sanitary pads, so Lu Jia got out at a convenience store. While waiting, Xu Jiaxiu casually looked through Lu Jia's notes and found Song Juanxi's signature.
Comparing it to Song Juanxi’s signature on the contract document, Xu Jiaxiu realized they were identical. This discovery triggered a series of flashbacks for Xu Jiaxiu: their first meeting with Song Juanxi where Lu Jia pretended not to know him, and the subsequent success of Pickup over Crisscross. These thoughts left Xu Jiaxiu increasingly uneasy. Later, Chen Han, the manager of Juemi advertising company, arrived to finalize the contract.
Xu Jiaxiu, despite his inner turmoil, proceeded with the signing, exchanging words of mutual admiration with Chen Han, who praised Pickup and predicted Voya's bright future. Meanwhile, Shao Yifeng visited Janice for snacks. Ye Angyang playfully offered him a wasabi-flavored biscuit, which caused Shao Yifeng to gasp for water, drawing a scolding from Janice for Ye Angyang's teasing. Shao Yifeng then commented that Crisscross was more practical and popular than Pickup. Intrigued, Lu Jia asked him why.
Shao Yifeng explained that Crisscross’s core development team, having started with forums, understood user needs better. He highlighted their ability to cultivate community celebrities and push engaging content, making users more likely to keep the app. He concluded that while he emotionally favored Pickup, if forced to choose, he would pick Crisscross. His words made Lu Jia recall Zhu Yali's earlier insinuation about Song Juanxi's partiality, and she sank into deep thought.
Troubled, Lu Jia secretly arranged to meet Song Juanxi, telling Xu Jiaxiu she was meeting a friend at Dongzhou Square. At a noodle restaurant, she went straight to the point, asking if his decision to choose Pickup for Sixinte's investment was truly objective or influenced by her.
Song Juanxi admitted that while Pickup's strength was evident and he considered both the project and the team, he also had a selfish bias in favor of Pickup at the last minute because he wanted Voya to be better, for her. He confessed that he had always wanted to care for and help her, and couldn't give up this opportunity. Lu Jia expressed her discomfort, stating she didn't want to win in such a way.
Song Juanxi apologized for any past unpleasantness caused by Mr. Yamamoto. Lu Jia, however, expressed gratitude to Mr. Yamamoto, as his actions led her to reconnect with Xu Jiaxiu. Just then, a heavy rain began, and Xu Jiaxiu, concerned for Lu Jia, left the office to find her.
Episode 21 Recap
Lu Jia met with Song Juanxi at a restaurant. Song Juanxi tried to apologize for a past misunderstanding involving Mr. Yamamoto and reminisced about their first meeting. Lu Jia, however, told him the past was behind them and she was grateful to Mr. Yamamoto, as his actions indirectly led her to reunite with Xu Jiaxiu. Song Juanxi mentioned trying to contact her many times after she left Beijing, but Lu Jia dismissed his past messages as unimportant.
As they were leaving, it began to rain, and Song Juanxi offered to drive Lu Jia, but she declined, saying she had booked a ride. Just then, Xu Jiaxiu arrived with an umbrella to pick her up. Song Juanxi remarked on Lu Jia's good fortune. Xu Jiaxiu, feigning politeness, inquired about the noodle shop, then commented that he thought Dongzhou specialties would be best for Song Juanxi, who has experienced all kinds of delicacies.
He then dismissed Song Juanxi, telling him to rest and pack, and that he would not see him off before taking Lu Jia away. In the car, Lu Jia felt conflicted, debating whether to tell Xu Jiaxiu the real reason for Song Juanxi's investment in Pickup. She worried that if Xu Jiaxiu found out, he would cancel the contract, jeopardizing all of Voya's hard work and leading to significant financial losses due to breach of contract.
She attempted to explain to Xu Jiaxiu that she had only met Song Juanxi to clarify some issues and swore that nothing inappropriate had occurred. However, Xu Jiaxiu, clearly upset, told her not to speak, stating he could not always remain rational if she would not tell him the truth. He warned her not to challenge his limits. Understanding his frustration, Lu Jia suggested they give each other some space for a while.
Later, Janice, Shao Yifeng, and Ye Angyang played a video game together. Ye Angyang was quickly eliminated, much to his annoyance, while Janice and Shao Yifeng continued to cooperate, eventually winning the game. Upon arriving home, Xu Jiaxiu remained silent, only wanting the truth from Lu Jia, who felt she could not explain. She went directly to her room and closed the door. Janice noticed Lu Jia's mood and suspected an argument with Xu Jiaxiu.
Moments later, Xu Jiaxiu appeared at their door, giving Janice cold medicine and ginger tea for Lu Jia, confirming Janice's suspicion. Janice delivered the items to Lu Jia's door, assuring her that Xu Jiaxiu still cared for her and urging them to reconcile. Xu Jiaxiu then went to meet Song Juanxi, stating he wanted to properly say goodbye. Song Juanxi, however, sensed Xu Jiaxiu had more to say and urged him to be direct.
Xu Jiaxiu, cutting to the chase, told Song Juanxi to let go of his past with Lu Jia in Beijing, just as Lu Jia had. Song Juanxi questioned if Xu Jiaxiu might become Lu Jia's past and he her future. Xu Jiaxiu firmly rejected this, telling Song Juanxi to stop his vain attempts and not to use his investment in Voya to get close to Lu Jia.
He declared that he committed to Lu Jia seven years ago and that she was, is, and will be his only one. Song Juanxi expressed his sole regret was letting Lu Jia go so easily, which allowed her to leave Beijing and meet Xu Jiaxiu again. Xu Jiaxiu countered that he developed Pickup specifically to find Lu Jia and that he would have found her anywhere, even thanking Song Juanxi for returning her to him ahead of schedule.
Song Juanxi then called Xu Jiaxiu naive, asserting that naive individuals could not go far in business. He revealed that most judges in the investment competition had initially favored Crisscross, but after consulting him, they ultimately voted for Pickup. Song Juanxi concluded by telling Xu Jiaxiu that while self-confidence is good, he should also understand his true capabilities. At work, Lu Jia, still unsettled, was told by Xu Jiaxiu to focus on her tasks.
However, she soon received a phone call from Song Juanxi, who informed her that Xu Jiaxiu was terminating their cooperation agreement. Furious, Lu Jia confronted Xu Jiaxiu, confirming the termination. She chastised him for being impulsive, highlighting the massive financial penalties Voya would incur for breaching numerous contracts, including those for publicity and new server leases. She questioned how they would fund project development and external employment without the investment, warning of a potential capital chain rupture.
She also accused him of being selfish for making such a unilateral decision on Pickup, which represented everyone's hard work and hopes. Xu Jiaxiu, however, declared that he would find a way to secure funds and that he could not be so generous as to trade Lu Jia for his career success. Lu Jia was incensed, asking how he could believe she had begged Song Juanxi for the investment.
Despite Xu Jiaxiu's attempt to clarify, Lu Jia, feeling utterly misunderstood, stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Her colleagues were bewildered by the sudden outburst. The news of Xu Jiaxiu unilaterally terminating the investment agreement with Sixinte left Ye Angyang and other colleagues stunned and dismayed, realizing their months of effort might be wasted. Xu Jiaxiu, however, told them to focus on their work, assuring them he would provide a satisfactory explanation.
Meanwhile, a distraught Lu Jia hailed a taxi but, unsure of her destination, asked to be dropped off at a bus stop. As she rode the bus home, a pervert began harassing her. Lu Jia bravely fought him off with her phone, prompting other passengers to intervene and the bus driver to stop the vehicle. The police arrived and arrested the pervert.
Reporters tried to interview Lu Jia, but she, annoyed by being called a "manly woman" and discovering her phone was broken, left abruptly. Lu Hongwei watched the news of Lu Jia bravely fighting the pervert on the bus, expressing immense pride in his daughter and preparing a special meal for her, including braised fish in brown sauce. However, Lu Jia, looking pale and lacking an appetite, went to her room after mentioning her phone broke during the incident.
Lu Hongwei suspected she had argued with Xu Jiaxiu. Meanwhile, Xu Jiaxiu desperately tried to reach Lu Jia, but her phone was unreachable. In her room, Lu Jia retrieved an old phone she had mailed back from Beijing. Upon turning it on, she discovered numerous unread messages from Song Juanxi. In these messages, he apologized for Mr. Yamamoto's actions, which he claimed to be unaware of, and explained he only learned of her resignation after returning from France.
He expressed concern for her well-being, stating he could not reach her and asked her to call back. Later messages confessed his love for her, explaining his feelings had grown uncontrollably and he had wanted a chance to explain. He also clarified that he had been divorced before meeting her, urging her to disregard any rumors. Reading these, Lu Jia realized she had misunderstood Song Juanxi. Lu Jia, wanting to vent her emotions, went for a run at the track.
Her father, Lu Hongwei, concerned for her, joined her. He gently observed her emotional troubles and offered his help as a former Director of Studies, but Lu Jia assured him she could handle her trivial disagreement with Xu Jiaxiu. Lu Hongwei then shared his wisdom, comparing love to a long-distance race, advising her to rest when tired and communicate rather than struggling alone. Lu Jia, however, playfully turned the tables, urging her father to finalize his relationship with Wenting.
As they returned home, they found Xu Jiaxiu waiting downstairs. Lu Hongwei quickly found an excuse to leave them alone. Xu Jiaxiu immediately embraced Lu Jia, repeatedly apologizing. He expressed his deep worry after seeing the news video of her fighting the pervert on the bus, especially since he could not reach her. He admonished her for acting so impulsively, to which Lu Jia retorted that there were plenty of people to help her.
Xu Jiaxiu promised to protect her, even childishly suggesting a pinky-swear. They sat down, and Xu Jiaxiu admitted his disappointment in himself for losing control and cold-shouldering her. Lu Jia, in turn, confessed her own fault for not being honest with him, acknowledging that honesty is paramount in a relationship. She then began to fully explain her history with Song Juanxi, starting from her college junior year internship at Yamamoto Accounting Firm, which collaborated with Sixinte Group. She explained how she frequently studied at the firm's downstairs coffee shop to prepare for her CPA exam, which is where she often encountered Song Juanxi.
Episode 22 Recap
After Lu Jia confessed the truth about her past, she began to tell Xu Jiaxiu everything that happened between her and Song Juanxi, acknowledging that there could be more than one type of surprise. She explained that she was a college junior, interning at Yamamoto Accounting Firm, which partnered with Sixinte Group. She frequently studied for her CPA exam at a coffee shop below the firm.
She and Xu Jiaxiu confirmed he already knew Song Juanxi's name from her CPA materials. Lu Jia recounted meeting Song Juanxi for the first time when he needed an umbrella during a heavy rain. He introduced himself as a client from Sixinte Group and asked to borrow her umbrella, promising to return it quickly. He then wrote his phone number on her CPA study materials.
Later, Song Juanxi returned the umbrella and offered to drive her home, but Lu Jia declined, stating she wouldn't get into a stranger's car. She told Xu Jiaxiu that if she hadn't encountered Song Juanxi again at the Yamamoto Accounting Firm, she would have forgotten him completely. At the firm, Lu Jia saw Song Juanxi again.
Her colleagues gossiped about him, revealing he was Song Juanxi, the director of Sixinte Group's Investment and Acquisition Department, and the biological nephew of the Sixinte founder. Zhu Yali mentioned he had great potential, but his family had already arranged his marriage. Mr. Yamamoto then presented the due diligence results for seven companies Sixinte planned to acquire, praising their profit structure and growth potential.
When asked for opinions, Lu Jia, despite being an intern, spoke up from the perspective of an ordinary user. She affirmed the positive financial assessments but highlighted that one company’s cosmetics app sold counterfeit products under the guise of group buying, and the platform failed to regulate these products. She warned that such practices disregard consumer rights, damage the industry, and would eventually lead to users abandoning the app.
She emphasized Sixinte's commitment to corporate social responsibility, arguing that such investments could harm its reputation. Song Juanxi praised her deep thinking and called her an "excellent" intern, promising to report the issue to the group's executives and assure her that Sixinte would implement unified platform management after acquisition to resolve such problems. Her colleague, Zhu Yali, congratulated her on her luck, but Lu Jia insisted she was only stating facts for the client's benefit.
Later that day, as Lu Jia was leaving work, it started to rain. Song Juanxi also forgot his umbrella, and Lu Jia offered him hers. He accepted and, once again, left his contact information on her CPA materials. Soon after, Mr. Yamamoto announced a new three-year contract with Sixinte Group and invited the firm's employees to Sixinte's year-end party at a holiday resort, highlighting the importance of their partnership.
At the party, Lu Jia was pressured to drink by her colleagues. She was observed singing off-key, which amused her coworkers. Song Juanxi, now introduced as Sixinte Group's new CEO, watched her from a distance through a partially open door, clearly amused by her performance. Later that evening, after being plied with drinks by her colleagues, Lu Jia became heavily intoxicated. A hotel staff member helped Lu Jia to his room, handing her the room card.
Lu Jia, disoriented, lay down on the bed. When Song Juanxi emerged from the bathroom, Lu Jia awoke, startled and confused. She exclaimed, "Why are you here? This. . . This is my room," and panicked, fleeing the room. Lu Jia later explained to Xu Jiaxiu that she realized Yamamoto had orchestrated the situation, sending her to Song Juanxi's room to secure a long-term partnership with Sixinte now that Song Juanxi had taken over.
Angered by Yamamoto's actions, Lu Jia publicly resigned and even pulled off Yamamoto's wig, then promptly left Beijing. She told Xu Jiaxiu that this incident was the main reason she had returned to Dongzhou, but stressed that it was all in the past. Lu Jia asked Xu Jiaxiu if he was still giving up the investment. Xu Jiaxiu reassured her that he never doubted her relationship with Song Juanxi.
He explained he didn't want the investment because he felt it didn't belong to Voya and they hadn't won fairly in the roadshow. Lu Jia acknowledged that she initially felt the same way, disliking what she saw as Song Juanxi's "alms," and believed Voya could manage without the investment. However, she explained the situation was different now as they had already signed numerous contracts for new servers, publicity, and outsourcing.
Canceling them would mean breaching contracts and facing a severe shortage of funds. Lu Jia assured him that Voya could overcome the crisis and that he shouldn't let everyone's efforts go to waste. Xu Jiaxiu then addressed his employees, reiterating that he abandoned the investment from Sixinte due to the unfair roadshow, emphasizing that Voya hadn't won fairly.
He warned of impending financial hardships due to a shortage of funds but urged everyone to understand and to work together to overcome the crisis. His employees, including Wang Di, expressed their unwavering support for his decision. Soon after, Wang Di discovered that Pickup was inaccessible. He diagnosed the problem as a server crash due to heavy traffic, explaining that the number of servers had been cut by half.
He lamented the lack of funds, noting that while people used to flock to them for cooperation, now no one came after they lost the investment, reflecting on the fickleness of people. Wang Di then rushed to inform Xu Jiaxiu that Sixinte had changed its mind and invested in Crisscross, their competitor. Xu Jiaxiu calmly stated he already knew, explaining that they couldn't control others' decisions and could only focus on their own work.
Wang Di remarked on his "run a business like you don't care" attitude. Lu Jia presented Xu Jiaxiu with a new financial budget, highlighting a severe shortage of funds. She pointed out that paying Juemi for the second time would leave them unable to pay their employees that month. She suggested negotiating with Juemi to modify the contract object to reduce publicity spending based on their current financial conditions.
Xu Jiaxiu agreed to handle the matter but insisted that employees must be paid on time. Meanwhile, Janice fumed over an article by a renowned critic named Sam, which praised Crisscross and criticized Pickup, titled "Pickup falls as Crisscross rises: Ten reasons for Sixinte to change its mind and invest in Shenyu." She denounced it as a paid advertorial and accused Sam of being corrupted by money, ordering everyone to unfollow him. Just then, Shao Yifeng entered.
Instead of unfollowing Sam, he had pinned the article, defending Sam's reputation and suggesting the article was an "objective" analysis and "a guide to defeating Crisscross." He argued that the real issue between Voya and Shenyu wasn't money. He criticized Pickup's interface for its "self-centered" and "repetitive" animations, urging the team to consider the user experience more.
Ye Angyang, who designed the animations, defended his work as a "surprise" for users, leading to a heated argument before Ye Angyang angrily told Shao Yifeng to leave. Xu Jiaxiu, having overheard, asked Wang Di to send him Sam's article. After reading it, he instructed Ye Angyang to optimize the app for a better user experience. Ye Angyang, frustrated, questioned what kind of optimization Xu Jiaxiu meant.
Xu Jiaxiu then met Chen Han, manager of Juemi Publicity Company, to discuss the contract. Chen Han apologized for the delay, citing too many projects, and dismissively suggested Xu Jiaxiu had a "strict budget" if he was pursuing "projects of this scale" only suitable for interns. Xu Jiaxiu proposed a 90% reduction in the contract amount for publicity.
Chen Han, angered, took a call from Mr. Yu, who informed him of a video conference with Sixinte, to be attended by Mr. Song himself, where Chen Han was to present the publicity plan for Crisscross. Chen Han then curtly dismissed Xu Jiaxiu, stating he would have an intern take over the project, and left without offering him coffee. Later, Lu Jia called Xu Jiaxiu to check on his negotiation with Juemi.
He admitted it didn't go well but was "within his expectations" and that he had made arrangements with another publicity company as a backup. Lu Jia encouraged him not to put too much pressure on himself. That night, Ye Angyang struggled with his design choices, drinking heavily and wondering if his "opening animation" truly wasn't liked by anyone. Janice found him and tried to cheer him up, telling him not to take criticism too seriously, as design is subjective.
She acknowledged that he proactively raised user expectations but advised that constant surprises could lead to users growing tired. She explained that some apps simply focus on functional designs to avoid raising user expectations. Inspired, Ye Angyang realized he should stick to his vision of continuously surprising users. Janice then showed him a hidden level in a video game, emphasizing that there could be "more than one type of surprise" and urging him to use his "stupid brain."
Meanwhile, at a video conference for Crisscross, Chen Han presented the "Dandelion Plan" for publicity, involving incubating potential users and community celebrities in vertical communities to spread the app like dandelions. Song Juanxi found the plan good but wanted faster progress and disliked the name "Crisscross," finding it not easy to understand and seeking suggestions for a new name.
Mr. Yu, the CEO of Shenyu, initially expressed frustration off-screen about Song Juanxi discarding their name, but then publicly praised Song Juanxi's suggestion of "Lost Time" as poetic. He elaborated on its rich cultural allusions, such as Tang Xianzu's "You are a beautiful woman, but lost time can't be found again" and Proust's "In Search of Lost Time," explaining how it could evoke emotional resonance in users wanting to preserve beautiful memories.
He argued that it perfectly aligned with the app's "socialize with their acquaintances" positioning and its theme of not forgetting "old friends and old times." The other attendees, including Chen Han, quickly agreed, praising the name as artistic, catchy, and an excellent promotional starting point. Song Juanxi then instructed them to adjust the publicity plan according to the new name immediately.
Chen Han and Mr. Yu had no choice but to comply, with Mr. Yu lamenting that they were under Song Juanxi's control as he was the investor. As Xu Jiaxiu drove Lu Jia home, they passed a large "Lost Time" advertisement. He noticed Pickup posters discarded on the ground, making him feel disheartened. Later, Xu Jiaxiu gave Lu Jia a small gift: a personal defense spray. He told her it could protect her in his stead when he wasn't around. Lu Jia expressed her delight, noting that he was just like her father.
Episode 23 Recap
Song Juanxi made an exception to grant a media interview for the "Lost Time" software, previously known as "Crisscross." During the interview, he openly discussed his past romantic life, acknowledging that he had missed out on a girl he deeply loved.
When asked about the resemblance between Lost Time and Pickup, especially given Sixinte's prior connection to Pickup, Song Juanxi publicly declared that "Lost Time" stood on an entirely different level, positioned to become an essential part of daily life, unlike Pickup. He arrogantly compared it to Mount Everest, asserting that only the first is remembered, not the second. Xu Jiaxiu, Janice, and their team watched the interview, reacting with frustration at Song Juanxi's challenging remarks.
Xu Jiaxiu responded by declaring they would meet the challenge head-on and push Lost Time out of the top rankings, a sentiment echoed enthusiastically by the entire team, who vowed to fight back. Inspired by Janice, Ye Angyang had been working on optimizing Pickup's user interface.
He proudly demonstrated his work, explaining that while opening animations would now only play once and loading times were shortened, he had introduced a new, simplified friend discovery animation where leaves, flowers, or stars would be added to a "Friend Tree" as users accumulated more friends, making the tree more luxuriant. He revealed that he had also designed "Easter eggs"—hidden interactive elements that would trigger unique animations when a user long-pressed certain spots or dragged specific icons.
Janice, impressed by his creativity, hugged him around the head in praise. Ye Angyang, startled and blushing, accidentally touched her chest, creating an awkward moment between them. Meanwhile, Chen Han was in a meeting with Yu Bo, confidently outlining their extensive publicity plans for a major project, highlighting broad advertising reach both offline and online through their "Dandelion Plan." His phone rang, and despite being in a meeting, he took the call, speaking impatiently to an employee.
He casually dismissed a "small order" from Voya, instructing the employee to assign an intern, Xiao Guo, to handle it. Yu Bo, overhearing this, became visibly displeased, confronting Chen Han about his company, Juemi, taking on Voya's order while also managing their significant project, accusing them of being overly ambitious. Chen Han tried to justify it, explaining that Juemi needed to accept all orders to maintain its reputation in the industry.
Yu Bo, however, was not convinced and threatened to reconsider their cooperation if Juemi continued to operate in such a manner. Realizing his error, Chen Han quickly apologized and promised to resolve the situation to Yu Bo's satisfaction. Upon learning that Juemi had rejected his proposal to reduce expenses for Pickup's promotion, Xu Jiaxiu called an emergency meeting.
He informed the team that they would have no choice but to terminate their contract with Juemi, which would incur a substantial penalty. Lu Jia presented a grim financial assessment, calculating that after paying the termination fee, Voya would only have enough operating funds to last for one month. Despite the dire situation, Xu Jiaxiu remained resolute.
He explained that while they would make their own visual and graphic materials in-house to save money, they would need to invest their limited funds in securing the most cost-effective promotional channels. He then outlined a revised plan, assigning Ye Angyang to graphic design, Wang Di and Zhang Liang to video content, Janice to H5 page creation and debugging, Lu Jia to handle the copywriting, and Zhou Yunbo and Xiaoda to manage the contract termination aftermath.
Xu Jiaxiu then tasked Lu Jia with refining the promotional text for the H5 pages, noting that the external company had already revised it seven times but still failed to capture the essence of Pickup, likening their draft to a blind dating app's slogan. He challenged Lu Jia, reminiscing about her excellent writing skills in high school and playfully suggesting that even his own past eloquent attempts couldn't win her heart.
Lu Jia, recognizing the need, agreed to take on the copywriting, noting that it would also save the company money. Shortly after, Lu Jia received a call from Meng Tiantian, who was eager for her to visit the hot pot restaurant. However, Lu Jia, overwhelmed by work, abruptly hung up before Meng Tiantian could finish. Meng Tiantian then complained to Zhong Jin that Lu Jia was not being a true friend.
As the team continued to work late into the night, hunger set in. Ye Angyang offered to order takeout for everyone, but each time he opened a food delivery app, he was met with intrusive advertisements for "Lost Time." The pervasive ads for their competitor frustrated the team, particularly when they realized Lost Time was rapidly climbing the rankings.
Declaring that Lost Time's strategy of "burning money" was irrational and dangerous, and that true long-term success depended on technological innovation and user experience, the team, now too disheartened to order from ad-laden apps, decided against takeout altogether. Later, Ye Angyang secretly prepared the last bowl of instant noodles in the office for Janice, claiming he wasn't hungry. However, the rest of the team discovered them. Janice, caught, had no choice but to share the noodles.
Everyone took a small portion, leaving only a bit of soup for Janice. Ye Angyang, after taking a sip, watched Janice drink from the same spot, leading him to ponder if it constituted an "indirect kiss." Unfortunately, Zhou Yunbo did not get any, and the meager shared meal left everyone feeling even hungrier. Lu Jia, subsisting on an apple, was approached by the still-hungry Ye Angyang and others, but she had no more food to offer.
Just then, Lu Jia caught the familiar scent of hot pot. They followed the enticing aroma to find Xu Jiaxiu, who, having been alerted by Meng Tiantian about Lu Jia's busy schedule, had arranged for Meng Tiantian and Zhong Jin to personally deliver a feast of hot pot to the office. The team was overjoyed, devouring the food. In that moment, despite Voya's difficult circumstances, Lu Jia felt a profound sense of happiness and inspiration.
A new idea for the promotional text sparked in her mind, and she immediately rushed back to her office to jot it down. During the meal, Wang Di, Zhang Liang, and Zhou Yunbo playfully singled out Ye Angyang, making it difficult for him to pick up food with his chopsticks as a humorous form of retribution for the earlier ramen incident.
Janice, noticing their teasing, intervened by generously scooping a large bowl of food for Ye Angyang, making him feel defended and admired. Meng Tiantian observed that Xu Jiaxiu, who was typically sensitive to spicy food, was now eating the hot pot without blinking, remarking that his tastes must have shifted to align with Lu Jia's preference for spice.
Xu Jiaxiu then personally took a bowl of food, carefully selecting some vegetables and meat, to Lu Jia in her office, insisting she eat. He even fed her a bite. Lu Jia, eager to finish her writing, playfully warned him not to "disapprove" her draft and urged him to return to the others, promising to join them soon.
As he left, Xu Jiaxiu reminded her firmly to eat everything and jokingly asked her to portray him well in her copywriting, mentioning he had ensured her portion was extra spicy with no vinegar, just as she liked it. As it approached 3 AM, Xu Jiaxiu declared it was time for everyone to rest, suggesting they all make makeshift beds in the office. Ye Angyang thoughtfully covered Janice with a blanket.
Lu Jia, still immersed in her writing, tried to continue working, but Xu Jiaxiu gently but firmly guided her to the sofa, insisting she sleep. He then lay down on the floor beside the sofa, holding her hand. When Lu Jia attempted to subtly get up to resume writing after he appeared to fall asleep, Xu Jiaxiu tightened his grip, silently stopping her before wishing her goodnight.
In a flashback, a younger Lu Jia is shown in high school, diligently practicing writing a heartfelt love letter to "Esteemed Classmate Xu," introducing herself as Lu Jia from Class 9 and apologizing for her "presumptuous" gesture. Her father then entered her room, offering her fruit and reminding her to get some rest.
Episode 24 Recap
Lu Jia continued to work on the promotional copy early in the morning, despite Xu Jiaxiu's attempts to stop her. She told him he didn't have to stay with her and should go to sleep. Later that morning, Xiaoda woke up to find Xu Jiaxiu and Lu Jia asleep on the desk. As other colleagues also began to stir, they decided not to wake the sleeping couple, recognizing they had probably stayed up all night.
Xiaoda then told Zhou Yunbo that she needed him to go out with her to deposit 20,000 yuan at the bank. Clutching the money tightly, Xiaoda expressed concern that even one yuan was crucial for the company and feared being robbed if she spoke too loudly. Zhou Yunbo, amused, dismissed her worries, saying, "Who will rob you? It's just 20,000 yuan."
Meanwhile, Chen Han led Lost Time employees in a large-scale street promotion, promising a 10-day tour through Europe to lucky registrants, which drew a large crowd. Zhou Yunbo, observing Lost Time's deep pockets, saw an opportunity to promote Pickup. Despite Xiaoda's warning that he would disgrace their company by doing so, Zhou Yunbo insisted he would make Pickup known in their competitor's territory.
He distributed business cards with QR codes to passersby, claiming Pickup was superior to Lost Time, helping users rediscover their youth and childhood sweethearts. He even used Xiaoda as an example of Pickup successfully reuniting first loves. Chen Han soon recognized Zhou Yunbo, mockingly calling him "the receptionist" and scolding him for trying to steal customers. Realizing they had been caught, Zhou Yunbo and Xiaoda quickly fled the scene.
Lu Jia published the promotional copy she had written through the night, which immediately garnered significant online attention. The article detailed her and Xu Jiaxiu's relationship journey from high school to the present. Reactions varied, with some calling it shameful that Lu Jia portrayed Xu Jiaxiu as the one constantly thinking of her, and others betting that the proud Xu Jiaxiu would never utter such words. Song Junxi saw the article and felt a pang of bitterness.
When Yu Bo and Chen Han reported the booming sales of Lost Time, Song Junxi was far from pleased. He highlighted that Lost Time spent ten million yuan for only two million new users, while Pickup achieved one million downloads with less than 200,000 yuan in promotional expenses. Despite Yu Bo's explanations that Lost Time already had a large user base making further growth difficult, Song Junxi was unwilling to listen, demanding solutions.
He gave them one month, stating that if Lost Time's input-output ratio couldn't surpass Pickup's in the next phase, he would cease all investment. Yu Bo, in turn, vented his frustration on Chen Han. Chen Han, however, remained confident, believing they could defeat Pickup because Voya was running out of money. He proposed that by injecting more capital into promotion, they could suppress and put an end to Pickup.
He reasoned that once Pickup was gone, Song Junxi wouldn't care about the input-output ratio anymore. Yu Bo then agreed to give Chen Han one more chance. Lu Jia's online post quickly gained traction, causing Pickup's downloads and registrations to soar. Xu Jiaxiu was pleased, acknowledging that Lu Jia's "good promotional text" was a key factor.
He also admitted that while Lost Time had deep pockets and a larger user base, Pickup's achievements with limited resources showed their ability to compete. He encouraged everyone to prepare for a protracted war with Lost Time, urging them to raise money and update the app to versions 2. 0 and 3. 0 to get ahead. He emphasized the goal of making Pickup an "irreplaceable" product in users' minds. The team was invigorated, shouting "Go for it!"
The next morning, Lu Jia woke to find Xu Jiaxiu already at work and complimented how attractive he looked. Noticing how tired everyone was from working overtime, she suggested to Xu Jiaxiu that they all take a day off. Xu Jiaxiu, teasing her about being a "considerate Mrs. Xu," agreed to give them a break. Early that morning, Zhou Yunbo brought a single pancake for breakfast, which was shared among the team.
Lu Jia then announced Xu Jiaxiu's decision to give everyone a day off. However, the team, including Ye Angyang, who declared himself a company partner, declined, insisting they needed to keep working to develop the 2. 0 version of Pickup as quickly as possible. Lu Jia respected their dedication, telling them they could take the day off another time. Soon after, Shao Yifeng arrived, expressing concern for Janice's many days of overtime and suggesting she relax by playing a game.
Janice, however, was busy and told him to go home. Other colleagues, including Ye Angyang and Wang Di, forcibly escorted him out. In the commotion, a box of paper clips was knocked over. Shao Yifeng loudly urged everyone to "see the outside world," warning them not to get stuck in a fixed way of thinking. Xu Jiaxiu emerged, inspired by Shao Yifeng's words.
He asked Janice about her project, and she detailed how they had refined classifications for finding classmates to make searches more precise for users. Xu Jiaxiu then scattered two more boxes of paper clips to illustrate a new idea. He pointed out that while paper clips could be divided into two boxes by number, their two boxes couldn't accommodate users who might want to divide them by five colors or ten shapes.
He explained that Janice's approach of "making boxes" (i. e. , predefined classifications) was finite, while user demands were random and potentially infinite. When Janice suggested adding a feedback mechanism, Xu Jiaxiu pointed out that it would take too long to keep up with user demand. He proposed a radical change: shifting from "making rules" to "breaking rules" by giving the initiative to the users.
This new vision for Pickup would move beyond just finding first loves, embracing "infinite possibilities" for connections between people. Lu Jia immediately grasped his idea, prompting Xu Jiaxiu to assign tasks to everyone, emphasizing that "this update must be kept secret." The team enthusiastically agreed, ready to work on "Pickup 2. 0." As the CFO, Lu Jia noted that this major update would require significantly more funds, worsening their already strained financial situation.
She announced her plan to approach banks for the largest possible loan, while Xu Jiaxiu decided to seek out more investors. Observing everyone multitasking, Zhou Yunbo expressed his unwillingness to remain "just a receptionist." He proactively offered to return to his "old job" of client acquisition and sales, a request Xu Jiaxiu readily approved. Zhou Yunbo began his search for investors.
Upon seeing a Mr. Hu, who had just invested in another project, Zhou Yunbo eagerly approached him to pitch Pickup. Mr. Hu expressed his general agreement with Pickup's design concept but felt that the market for such apps was already saturated. Zhou Yunbo, introducing himself as Voya Technology's COO, passionately guaranteed a new version next month, detailing their pioneering "self-created community function" which would give users the initiative.
Just as he was elaborating, Chen Han, passing by, maliciously disparaged Pickup, claiming that Zhou Yunbo, "just a receptionist," pursuing investments was proof of Voya's desperate financial state. Offended by Chen Han's interruption and insult, Mr. Hu abruptly left. Chen Han informed Yu Bo about Pickup's impending update. Concerned about Song Junxi's potential displeasure, Yu Bo instructed Chen Han to find a way to stop Pickup's update, even if it meant stealing their ideas.
Meanwhile, Lu Jia calculated a capital deficit of at least two million yuan. Her application for a bank loan was rejected, and Xu Jiaxiu also faced repeated rejections from potential investors, with one Mr. Fan citing the saturated social app market and the high risk of investing in Pickup. Both were anxious. Xu Jiaxiu suggested mortgaging his house and car, but Lu Jia proposed an alternative: investing in stocks.
Initially, Xu Jiaxiu dismissed it as a "gambler's psychology" and too risky, pointing out that "mock exams and the college entrance exam aren't the same." Lu Jia, however, insisted it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, citing her analysis of market trends and her past first-place win in a college mock stock market competition. She impressed Xu Jiaxiu by showing him a new watch she claimed to have bought with stock earnings, prompting him to call her a "strategist."
Despite Xu Jiaxiu's continued reluctance to use company money for such a high-risk venture, Lu Jia relentlessly pleaded for just 500,000 yuan, promising to double it within a week and take full responsibility if she failed. Finally, Xu Jiaxiu reluctantly agreed to let her try for one week. Lu Jia invested the 500,000 yuan into the stock market and meticulously monitored the fluctuations, while her colleagues gathered around, watching with tension.
Some were skeptical, with one remarking that he'd have a better chance winning the lottery. Xu Jiaxiu, however, defended Lu Jia, saying she was "good at investing in stocks." Despite his agreement, Xu Jiaxiu was also arranging to mortgage his house. Ye Angyang, seeing this, confronted Xu Jiaxiu, expressing doubts about Lu Jia's investment.
When Ye Angyang accused him of being unprincipled due to his relationship with Lu Jia, Xu Jiaxiu revealed his true perspective: the 500,000 yuan, even if doubled, would be "a drop in the bucket" compared to the two-million-yuan deficit. He only allowed Lu Jia to invest to avoid "discouraging her," explaining that solving the fundamental problem still required "new investments."
To reassure his colleagues, Xu Jiaxiu then exaggerated Lu Jia's stock market prowess, claiming she was a "rich girl" who had bought expensive items, including the game console they all played on, with stock earnings. However, when asked about the game console's origin, Janice conspiratorially replied, "It's a secret," making the others realize the story might be embellished. Xu Jiaxiu, remaining pragmatic, continued his discussions about mortgaging his house, showing the property deed to the agents.
Episode 25 Recap
Xu Jiaxiu’s house was appraised for a mortgage, estimated to yield only 500,000 to 600,000 yuan, which was significantly less than his expectations. He expressed his disappointment to the bank staff but decided to await their final assessment. Despite this, he bought lunch for the team, personally delivering a meal to Lu Jia, who was intently focused on her stock trading. Lu Jia, feeling dejected, told Xu Jiaxiu she had only earned a little over 1,600 yuan that day.
He consoled her and, concerned for her well-being, gently suggested she cease trading. However, Lu Jia, reminding him of their one-week agreement, insisted she would not give up and would "fight again tomorrow" after a good night's sleep. Her determination was quickly tested when, during a brief trip to the bathroom, her stocks dropped, causing her to lose 1,200 yuan, leaving her greatly annoyed. Meanwhile, Xu Jiaxiu had also been seeking other investors.
An old acquaintance offered him a personal loan, but Xu Jiaxiu politely declined, stating that he was looking for like-minded partners who shared his vision, not just money. The following day, Lu Jia triumphantly announced she had made 68,000 yuan, exclaiming that she had regained her confidence and power, and vowed to make even more in the coming days. Encouraged by this, Xu Jiaxiu decided to revisit Fan Xing of Daxing Assets, an investor who had previously rejected them.
He recognized Daxing Assets as one of East China's top firms, professional and with keen investment insight, and was unwilling to give up after a single refusal. Impressed by his persistence, Ye Angyang offered to accompany him. Due to his wife being away, Fan Xing invited them to his home, where he was caring for his son, Shuwen, who had autism and was typically withdrawn from strangers.
Fan Xing candidly pointed out that Pickup, despite its merits, lacked distinctiveness and was unlikely to become a "phenomenal app." Observing Shuwen struggling to mix colors, Ye Angyang, a designer, stepped in and helped the boy find the right shade, earning Shuwen's rare gratitude. Seizing the opportunity, Xu Jiaxiu presented Fan Xing with Pickup’s latest project plan, detailing an upcoming major update that would address the app’s uniqueness.
He explained that everyone, much like Shuwen, has needs, but many do not receive timely or accurate responses, leading to user churn—a prevalent issue in social applications. Pickup’s update would revolutionize this by "breaking rules" instead of setting them, giving users the initiative and providing accurate, customized services. Impressed by this vision, Fan Xing agreed to present the project to his company's shareholders.
However, he imposed a strict condition: his company would invest three million yuan if, within a week of its update, Pickup surpassed Lost Time's download volume. Xu Jiaxiu confidently accepted, believing Pickup could reach 20 million users. On their way back, Ye Angyang voiced his concerns, noting that Lost Time already had 18 million users to Pickup's 15 million, requiring a gain of at least 5 million users in a week to catch up.
He also worried about Lost Time potentially releasing its own update. Xu Jiaxiu, however, remained resolute, stating he had anticipated these challenges and urged Ye Angyang to focus on his design work. Later that day, Xu Jiaxiu received an urgent call from Janice, informing him that Lu Jia had fainted from overwork. He rushed back to the office to find her regaining consciousness. Lu Jia, still somewhat disoriented, apologized for "only" making 367,892.
56 yuan, as she had fallen short of her personal goal. Her colleagues, however, were astonished and hailed her as the "goddess of Voya" for her impressive achievement in just one week. Despite this significant sum, Lu Jia felt it wasn't enough to fully close their financial gap. Ye Angyang then shared the good news that he and Xu Jiaxiu had secured a new investment.
Xu Jiaxiu confirmed that Fan Xing's company intended to invest three million yuan for 10% of their shares, acknowledging that while the official process would take time, Lu Jia's successful trading had provided crucial immediate relief. The team rejoiced at this dual triumph. Soon after, Fan Xing unexpectedly arrived at Voya to personally deliver the investment contract. He reiterated the stringent condition: Pickup's download numbers must exceed Lost Time's within a week of its update.
With Lost Time now at 19 million users, Voya needed to attract at least 5 million new users. Fan Xing stressed that he had personally vouched for Voya to his shareholders and warned that if they failed, the three million yuan investment would automatically convert into a debt. Xu Jiaxiu acknowledged the high stakes, stating that Voya was "going for broke" but remained confident in their update.
After Fan Xing's departure, Ye Angyang again expressed his anxieties to Xu Jiaxiu, particularly about the possibility of Shenyu releasing a new version of Lost Time, further complicating their target. Xu Jiaxiu, undeterred, emphasized his belief that "crises and opportunities are intertwined" and that they must "go for broke" rather than face defeat without a fight.
Just as Voya prepared for its update, Lost Time preemptively released its own new version, heavily promoted by celebrities, causing its download numbers to surge past 20 million. To Voya’s dismay, Lost Time’s new features included a customer customization service, advertised with slogans identical to those Xu Jiaxiu had used for Pickup's unreleased update. The team immediately suspected blatant plagiarism.
While Janice checked their system for hacks, Zhou Yunbo was horrified to realize he might have inadvertently leaked their update plans to a client, Mr. Hu, during a sales pitch, with Chen Han of Shenyu overhearing. Xu Jiaxiu quickly intervened, urging the team not to panic or blame Zhou Yunbo, as they lacked concrete evidence for a legal challenge.
He redirected their focus to implementing "differentiated adjustments" to Pickup and ensuring its timely release, calling Ye Angyang and Janice to his office to strategize. Overwhelmed by guilt, Zhou Yunbo left a heartfelt letter to his "comrades," apologizing for being a burden, and then departed without a trace. His concerned colleagues immediately set out to search for him. Meanwhile, Yu Bo of Shenyu, having learned about Voya's new investment, worried about Pickup's potential for a resurgence.
Chen Han proposed a cunning strategy: cripple Pickup by poaching its Chief Technology Officer, Janice, arguing that without her, the app would be "hopeless." At Voya, the search for Zhou Yunbo proved fruitless, and Xu Jiaxiu advised the team to give him space, believing he needed time to process his remorse. He then refocused everyone on Pickup's update plan.
Janice reported their analysis of Lost Time's new features: although Shenyu had indeed stolen their "self-created community" concept, their implementation was limited, only allowing friends to form communities, thereby remaining largely "closed." Pickup, in contrast, was designed to be "open," enabling strangers to connect. This meant they didn't need a complete redesign but still required "differentiated adjustments." Xu Jiaxiu encouraged the team to accelerate development for the scheduled update.
At this critical juncture, the Mosaic team unexpectedly arrived, offering their assistance. With renewed purpose, everyone at Voya united, committing to the intensified work. Janice later received a suspicious phone call from a man claiming to have hit her beloved electric bike. She rushed out to investigate, only to find her vehicle undamaged. Yu Bo then appeared, revealing the call was a ruse to draw her out.
He tried to poach Janice, extolling the financial benefits at Shenyu, where programmers could drive sedans after three years, unlike Voya. He warned her against betting her future on Voya, which he called a "boat that will turn over anytime," arguing that while men could easily recover from failure, a young woman like her could not afford such risks and should make a "correct choice" for her future.
Janice firmly rejected his offer, emphasizing her desire to work with "like-minded people" on "interesting projects" and implicitly criticizing Shenyu's "shameless" plagiarism. She countered Yu Bo's cynical outlook by comparing Voya to a small boat that sailed with opportunity and danger, and Shenyu to the "Titanic," reminding him that even grand ships could sink.
Infuriated, Yu Bo retorted that Pickup’s days were "numbered," Voya would "close down sooner or later," and if she waited until Voya failed, "no one would hire her." Janice shot back that his desperate attempt to recruit her only proved his fear of Pickup as a threat to Lost Time, warning him against "making a cocoon for himself" and suffering retribution. Enraged, Yu Bo stormed off. Later, as Janice rode her electric bike home, its brakes suddenly failed.
She screamed for Ye Angyang as the bike careened out of control and crashed into a guardrail, leaving her with a dislocated arm. Back at the office, Ye Angyang fussed over her, trying to prevent her from working. Despite her injury, Janice was determined to finish the new version. Unexpectedly, Shao Yifeng arrived with snacks, expressing concern. Although Janice was initially skeptical, Shao Yifeng demonstrated astonishingly fast and accurate coding skills, revealing he had previously studied programming.
Impressed, Xu Jiaxiu entrusted Shao Yifeng with completing Janice's tasks. Ye Angyang, observing Shao Yifeng and Janice's seamless collaboration, felt a pang of jealousy. He also found the electric bike's sudden brake failure highly suspicious and decided to investigate the cause himself.
Episode 26 (Ending) Recap
Ye Angyang meticulously examined Janice's motorcycle and quickly discovered that its brakes had been deliberately tampered with. Janice recalled a recent encounter where Yu Bo had tried to poach her with a high-paying offer, which she refused. She concluded that Yu Bo was behind the sabotage. Concerned for Janice, Ye Angyang, along with Wang Di and others, took matters into his own hands and removed the tires from Yu Bo's car in an act of retaliation.
Meanwhile, Shao Yifeng had been working on Janice's code, not only shortening it but also significantly enhancing its stability. Impressed by his IT prowess, Janice complimented him and playfully offered him a shoulder massage. Shao Yifeng reacted playfully, saying he was ticklish and to not grab his chest. Ye Angyang witnessed their interaction upon his return and, feeling a pang of jealousy, quietly slipped away. Janice noticed his departure and followed him out.
Ye Angyang admitted his jealousy, lamenting that he couldn't help her with programming like Shao Yifeng could. Janice reassured him of his capabilities, telling him he was the most capable. Despite her efforts to cheer him up, Ye Angyang remained sulky. Frustrated, Janice playfully swatted his head, accidentally hitting his eye. Ye Angyang feigned pain and demanded a chance to hit her back.
Janice closed her eyes in resignation, and Ye Angyang took the opportunity to kiss her, leaving her utterly stunned. Ye Angyang then confessed his feelings, declaring he no longer wanted to be her "brother" but her man. Janice, flushed with shyness, playfully reversed the roles, insisting she would be his "man," to which Ye Angyang happily agreed to be her "little wife." It was the day Pickup's updated software was launching.
The team anxiously watched as Xu Jiaxiu solemnly pressed the launch button. Downloads immediately began to soar. Xu Jiaxiu, pleased with the initial success, dismissed everyone, urging them to go home and rest. Lu Jia and Xu Jiaxiu sought solace by the river, where they looked forward to Pickup's comeback. Later, back at the office, Ye Angyang fed the still-recovering Janice her bitter medicine.
When she complained, he silenced her with a kiss in front of the entire team, leaving everyone stunned. The new couple then proudly revealed matching couple's shirts, officially announcing their relationship to the cheers and congratulations of Lu Jia and their friends. Pickup's new community feature was becoming a sensation. A viral story about a "Bus Route 101 Girl" who used Pickup to find a boy she had admired resonated deeply with users. This story demonstrated how Pickup 2.
0 allowed users to create self-defined communities based on any shared interests or locations, turning previously isolated experiences into opportunities for connection. This feature, articulated by Xu Jiaxiu at a press conference as a solution to "urban autism" by creating "dots" of connection, significantly boosted Pickup's popularity. The app's downloads continued to climb, quickly exceeding twenty million. Xu Jiaxiu started preparing for the next round of financing and soon secured new investment.
As downloads approached twenty-nine million, even Sam, a respected industry commentator, published a positive review of Pickup. To celebrate, Xu Jiaxiu took the entire team to Meng Tiantian's hotpot restaurant. The joyous occasion took an unexpected turn when Meng Tiantian suddenly went into labor. Lu Jia and the others quickly sprang into action, rushing her to the hospital while Zhong Jin was still preoccupied with counting money. Meanwhile, Yu Bo grew increasingly frantic as he watched Pickup's download numbers skyrocket.
Chen Han proposed a desperate measure: faking data. Unbeknownst to them, this conversation was secretly recorded by Zhou Yunbo, who was working as a waiter in the restaurant. Overnight, Lost Time's download numbers inexplicably surged past Pickup's. Xu Jiaxiu suspected data fraud but lacked concrete evidence. Soon after, an anonymous report, accompanied by the video of Yu Bo and Chen Han's meeting, was leaked online. Consequently, Lost Time was ordered to be removed from app stores.
Upon learning the tipster's identity, Xu Jiaxiu brought Ye Angyang to the restaurant to find Zhou Yunbo. He extended a heartfelt invitation for Zhou Yunbo to return to Voya. Zhou Yunbo, feeling immense guilt over his past actions, was hesitant to rejoin. Xu Jiaxiu and Ye Angyang playfully pretended to leave, prompting Zhou Yunbo to chase after them and accept the offer. The team joyfully welcomed Zhou Yunbo back.
Xu Jiaxiu then prepared a new office for him, appointing him as Voya's Deputy General Manager. Elsewhere, Song Juanxi made the difficult decision to terminate his investment in Lost Time. He reflected in a café, the falling rain reminding him of his first encounter with Lu Jia and the chain of events that followed. On a brighter note, it was the wedding day of Lu Hongwei and Jiang Wenting.
Janice, riding a new large motorcycle, picked up Ye Angyang to attend. Wang Di also arrived in a newly purchased car, bringing Xiaoda and Zhang Liang to the venue. All of Voya's staff attended, dressed in their finest, to welcome guests. Shao Yifeng surprised everyone with a new short haircut and a sharp suit. Their amazement grew when it was revealed that he was the renowned commentator, Sam.
Meng Tiantian and Zhong Jin also arrived with their newborn son, to everyone's delight. Amidst the blessings of family and friends, Lu Hongwei and Jiang Wenting exchanged vows. Xu Jiaxiu led the Voya team in a vibrant song and dance performance, celebrating both the newlyweds and the promising future of Voya.
