When I Fly Towards You Episode 23 Recap
> When I Fly Towards You Recap
Su Zaizai found herself outside, having been encouraged to leave a work event. She tried to order food, but the restaurant was reservation-only. A colleague approached her, bringing a few cold buns, and advised her to go home. She explained that their manager, Mr. Chen, had given permission for her to depart, suggesting it was best to avoid their boss, Mr. Wei, who was heavily drinking inside and might cause trouble if he saw her.
Su Zaizai thanked her colleague and left. Soon after, Zhang Lurang called Su Zaizai. She attempted to sound cheerful, describing a supposedly lavish dinner with roasted duck, brined chicken, candied apples, and spicy boiled meat slices. However, Zhang Lurang immediately detected the sadness in her voice and asked why she was crying. She admitted to feeling homesick after seeing a bus stop sign for "Jiangyi Road."
Zhang Lurang offered to come pick her up, but she insisted it was too late and that she would buy the earliest ticket home the next day. She then asked him if she had done anything wrong, to which he firmly reassured her that she hadn't before her phone died. Later, at a bus stop, Su Zaizai watched the last bus leave. The driver advised her to go home, but she explained she didn't live there.
Alone, she wished for an "Anywhere Door" to take her home. A voice from her memory echoed, questioning her inability to handle such social gatherings. Suddenly, Zhang Lurang appeared in his car, explaining he knew she had been mistreated and came to take her home. Back at home, Zhang Lurang prepared a meal for Su Zaizai. As she ate, she worried he might be tired from the three-hour drive and wondered if she was a nuisance.
He tenderly told her he wouldn't have slept soundly if he hadn't come for her, emphasizing that not everything should be judged by its "worth." He wished for her to trouble him more often. Su Zaizai, touched, playfully covered her ears, remarking that by covering them, his words would stay in her mind. Zhang Lurang then asked if the noodles were too salty, as it had been a while since he last cooked.
Su Zaizai smiled, saying they weren't salty at all, but rather sweet, suggesting the cook himself was "overloaded with sweetness." Meanwhile, Gu Ran called Jiang Jia to invite her to a new couples' restaurant opened by his friend, but she had prior plans. Not wanting to waste his reservation, Gu Ran brought Zhang Lurang and Guan Fang instead. To his dismay, Jiang Jia arrived at the same restaurant with a male friend.
Zhang Lurang and Guan Fang immediately noticed Gu Ran's distress, with Zhang Lurang pointedly asking why Gu Ran hadn't confessed his feelings, stating it was "too obvious." Gu Ran confessed his fear, believing Jiang Jia preferred someone kind and thoughtful and worried that a failed confession would ruin their friendship. However, in a sudden burst of resolve, he declared his intention to confess.
He sought advice from his friends, but Zhang Lurang had no experience, and Guan Fang offered only a history of failed attempts. Realizing he was on his own, Gu Ran decided his strategy would be to discuss Jiang Jia's favorite foods. Later, Gu Ran waited at a street corner for Jiang Jia. When she appeared, he engaged her in small talk about her dinner before abruptly saying good night and leaving. Jiang Jia was left speechless.
Gu Ran later recounted the encounter to his friends, convinced Jiang Jia's "good night" was a positive sign, though they dismissed it as wishful thinking. When Guan Fang mentioned an upcoming high school alumni gathering, Zhang Lurang stated he and Su Zaizai would be too busy to attend.
However, upon hearing from Su Zaizai that Jiang Jia would be there, Gu Ran instantly canceled his prior plans to drink with friends and called Jiang Jia, asking her for help picking out an outfit. At the alumni gathering, Gu Ran meticulously positioned himself to display his "perfect side profile." Jiang Jia approached him, noting his altered appearance, and he in turn complimented her new dress.
Their conversation was cut short when an alumnus, Sun Yuan, asked Jiang Jia to dance. Gu Ran tried to interject, claiming Jiang Jia wasn't a good dancer, but she surprisingly agreed to dance with Sun Yuan, leaving Gu Ran disappointed. Later, Sun Yuan's friend approached Gu Ran, seeking details about Jiang Jia and revealing that Sun Yuan had a long-standing crush. Gu Ran feigned ignorance, claiming he didn't know Jiang Jia well.
Soon after, Fu Yao approached Gu Ran and casually revealed that Jiang Jia had liked him "for ages." Gu Ran was baffled, but Fu Yao clarified, explaining that Jiang Jia had once expressed reluctance to date a good friend, but then added, "But if it's Gu Ran, that'd be nice." The truth dawned on Gu Ran, and he immediately ran to find Jiang Jia. He found her finishing a conference call.
Gu Ran confessed that there was something he didn't finish telling her the night before they watched the sunrise. He then produced a love letter he had written five years ago after leaving the country, explaining he had tried countless times to give it to her but never found the courage. He asked for the honor of reading it aloud.
In the letter, Gu Ran poured out his heart, describing how he never wanted to be "cured" of his feelings for her. He confessed that he once thought he'd loudly declare his love, but instead became timid when he actually fell in love. He revealed he secretly kept a photo of her for five years and how seeing her dance with another man filled him with a jealousy that went far beyond friendship.
He concluded simply by stating, "I like you." Jiang Jia responded, acknowledging that she too didn't see him as "just a friend." The friends reunited after the gathering. Guan Fang humorously lamented his single status, playfully demanding the game console Gu Ran had promised him. Gu Ran, now playfully asserting that Jiang Jia was "in charge" of him, agreed to give Guan Fang the console but refused to play with him.
Guan Fang then pressed Zhang Lurang and Su Zaizai about their marriage plans, claiming he already had their wedding gift money ready. Zhang Lurang revealed his intention to propose to Su Zaizai as soon as he completed his current project. Later, before Zhang Lurang's "new product theme talk" at Luming Technology, Su Zaizai called to say she couldn't attend due to work.
At the talk, Zhang Lurang, introduced as Luming's youngest engineer to build a flying machine, presented the new CW-003 drone and its innovative system. During the Q&A, a reporter asked what belief sustained him through the drone's challenging research. Zhang Lurang confessed that he used to be a self-conscious person who expected a mediocre life, until he met someone.
He spoke of her cheerful spirit, how her eyes always reflected him, and how she would tell him, "It's okay, you are the best for me," whenever he faced failures or wanted to give up. He admitted that having never received such unconditional favoritism before, he felt compelled to persevere because of her "unreserved faith."
He then glanced at a tearful Su Zaizai in the audience, who had managed to come after all, and thought to himself that he had made her cry again and would need to comfort her when they got home.
