With You Recap, Plot, Synopsis
With You Synopsis
The drama tells about the people and events of the Chinese military and civilians in the fight against COVID-19.
Among them are the medical and nursing workers from all sides who recklessly built a "great white wall" for the people.
There are the ordinary but great take-away boys and special bus volunteers.
There were ordinary citizens who saved themselves and helped each other.
There were builders who were actively involved in the Hospital construction.
There are the CDC, community, and public security personnel who joint prevention and control work.
There are young people who have mistakenly stayed in Wuhan to become volunteers in the fight against the epidemic.
There were those who overcame all the difficulties to switch production to masks and contributed to the "resumption of production and work".
These ordinary people formed the main force in the fight against the epidemic in all walks of life and made an indelible contribution.
With You Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Liu Yiming and Yang Yun's wedding ceremony was in full swing, with the host passionately describing their perfect union. However, the event was abruptly interrupted when three women stormed the stage. A video began to play, displaying footage of Liu Yiming in compromising situations with multiple women. Liu Yiming hastily ordered security to remove the disruptive women, claiming the video was "Photoshopped" and urged everyone not to believe it.
A while before the wedding, Zhao Xiaolei, then Liu Yiming's fiancée, received a call from her mother about her younger brother, Xiao Jun, wanting to find work. Zhao Xiaolei hoped her brother could come to Xinzhou to be closer to her, believing that Liu Yiming agreeing to marry her was already a great fortune. She told her mother that Liu Yiming had promised to help Xiao Jun with arrangements, though the wages might not be as high as expected.
Zhao Xiaolei's friends expressed concern, asking if she was rushing into marriage for her family's benefit, but she insisted it was simply her age for marriage. As a university teaching assistant with a modest income, she was happy Liu Yiming didn't mind her situation. Her friends, however, asserted that Liu Yiming was lucky to marry her.
Later, as she admired a wedding invitation, she mentioned Liu Yiming was out dealing with business, and she wanted to surprise him with her bridal gown on the wedding day. Unbeknownst to Zhao Xiaolei, her supposedly devoted fiancé was with another woman. This was accidentally captured by her close friend, Han Shuang. Earlier, in a Western restaurant, Han Shuang had just rejected her own boyfriend's marriage proposal, reminding him they had agreed to only date, not marry.
She then coolly walked out, only to see Liu Yiming intimately entering a hotel with another woman. Han Shuang quickly recorded a video to show Zhao Xiaolei. Zhao Xiaolei initially refused to believe Han Shuang's video, as Liu Yiming had told her he was out for a business meeting. When Zhao Xiaolei still wanted to try on her wedding dress, Han Shuang angrily confronted her, saying Liu Yiming was cheating and Zhao Xiaolei was pretending not to know.
Han Shuang insisted that men either stray countless times or never, and if Zhao Xiaolei ignored it now, it would happen again after marriage. The friends then persuaded Zhao Xiaolei to go to the hotel to confirm the truth. Upon arrival, a prepared Han Shuang opened the hotel room door and sprayed pepper spray at Liu Yiming, causing chaos. She then recorded the scene for evidence.
Zhao Xiaolei's friends berated Liu Yiming for his infidelity right before his wedding, calling him an animal. As Liu Yiming tried to apologize to Zhao Xiaolei, her other friends rushed in, grabbing the other woman, who screamed for her "husband," Liu Yiming, to save her. Witnessing this, Zhao Xiaolei, realizing the full extent of his betrayal, slapped Liu Yiming across the face.
Distraught, Zhao Xiaolei holed herself up in her room, prompting her friends to agree she needed time to process her emotions. While her friends praised her for slapping Liu Yiming and Xia Yan for stepping on him, Han Shuang felt she hadn't done enough. They concluded that marriage between Zhao Xiaolei and Liu Yiming was impossible, but they needed to understand when he met the other woman and his intentions regarding his marriage to Zhao Xiaolei.
Xia Yan offered to speak with Liu Yiming. He casually admitted it was his first time with the woman, blaming Zhao Xiaolei and her friends for their "feudal" and "old-fashioned" principles. He dismissed his actions as a "normal man's normal needs" and even proposed a "trial marriage" to Xiaolei before they held the wedding as planned, stating he was still choosing between Zhao Xiaolei and Miss Yang Yun. Xia Yan was appalled, calling him a "monster."
Heartbroken by Xia Yan's account and the video evidence, Zhao Xiaolei felt lost and stupid for even considering forgiving him, questioning if her principles were too inflexible. Her friends reassured her, emphasizing that her choice not to have premarital sex was her right, and Liu Yiming's actions stemmed from his own low character. Just then, Han Shuang received a wedding invitation from Liu Yiming.
It was for the exact same date and venue Zhao Xiaolei had chosen, with only the bride's name changed to Yang Yun. This blatant challenge infuriated the friends, with Xia Yan agreeing they couldn't ignore it. They decided to "play his game." At Liu Yiming and Yang Yun's wedding, Han Shuang secretly approached the videographer she had previously hired for Zhao Xiaolei, asking him to expose Liu Yiming and the other woman during the ceremony.
She also had Zhao Xiaolei, dressed in a beautiful wedding gown, stand at the venue, presenting her as the true bride who was supposed to be getting married that day. As Liu Yiming and Yang Yun exchanged vows, the video exposing Liu Yiming's infidelity played for everyone to see. Despite Liu Yiming's protests that it was Photoshopped, the chaotic scene, with Zhao Xiaolei standing gracefully in her gown, clearly embarrassed him and Yang Yun.
After their act of revenge, the friends compensated the wedding planners for the disruption. They affirmed that Zhao Xiaolei, stunning in her wedding dress, had truly overshadowed Yang Yun, teaching Liu Yiming a harsh lesson. They encouraged Zhao Xiaolei to move on, assuring her that she was too good for such a "jerk" and would find a better man. Han Shuang humorously offered to help her find a new husband, even a mixed-blood one, to which Zhao Xiaolei laughingly declined.
Meanwhile, Xia Yan encountered President Xu Chengyi, the General Manager of SG Technology, in an elevator while doing a live stream. She didn't recognize him and initially rebuffed his attempt to introduce himself. Later, she realized he was the "President Xu" she was scheduled to meet, and apologized to him in the office. Xia Yan presented her "Love Yoga" app, highlighting its features and social interaction capabilities.
President Xu was initially skeptical, pointing out many similar apps on the market and questioning its unique advantages. However, Xia Yan persuasively argued that integrating "Love Yoga" with SG's "Show Me" platform would create a win-win situation due to its strong user communication, which ultimately convinced him. President Xu agreed to the collaboration, assigning his Director of Operations, Director Xue, to work with Xia Yan.
Zhao Xiaolei's mother called again, pressing for the rescheduled wedding date and updates on Xiao Jun's job with Liu Yiming. Unable to explain the breakup, Zhao Xiaolei dodged her mother's questions, claiming the wedding was postponed and letting Xiao Jun handle the call about his job. At work, Xia Yan faced difficulties collaborating with Director Xue, who repeatedly refused to meet with her, citing the disparity in their positions as Director vs. ordinary employee.
Xia Yan's boss, President Sun, advised her not to worry about Director Xue, reminding her that President Xu's decision was final. During a company meeting, President Sun announced the promotion of a new Director of Operations, Qiao Sisi, instead of the expected Xia Yan. Colleagues gossiped that Qiao Sisi's promotion was due to an inappropriate relationship with President Sun. Later, Xia Yan encountered President Xu again while trying to connect with Director Xue.
President Xu, aware of Xia Yan's situation, subtly inquired if she was interested in working for his company. Xia Yan, however, felt it was inappropriate for him to poach employees while collaborating with her current company. Xia Yan later spoke with her boyfriend, Lin Hao, on the phone, expressing her frustrations about work, how her promised promotion and salary raise were stalled, and her projects were being taken away.
Lin Hao suggested she resign, confident in her abilities, and told her he would be flying to Xinzhou soon to be with her. Xia Yan, though tempted, was hesitant due to financial concerns, mentioning wanting to save money for their future, her parents' upcoming visit, and buying a car. Her friends, Han Shuang and Zhao Xiaolei, sensing her stress, offered unwavering support, telling her not to worry about rent and that they would financially support her if needed. Zhao Xiaolei's cousin remarked that if Xia Yan had a better choice, resigning might actually be a good idea.
Episode 2 Recap
Xia Yan felt a strong attachment to Star Technology, where she had worked since graduation. However, her friend Han Shuang urged her to leave, pointing out that despite her efforts, President Sun consistently assigned her menial tasks and would not promote her. Han Shuang also warned Xia Yan to be cautious of Qiao Si Si, who appeared cheerful but was full of wicked tricks.
Xia Yan confessed that she was disappointed in President Sun and felt like a "frog being boiled in warm water," afraid to face the outside world. Han Shuang encouraged her, stating that hesitation leads to more regrets than wrong decisions. After much thought, Xia Yan decided to resign and submitted her resignation letter to President Sun. He tried to persuade her to stay, promising a bonus and a salary increase, even offering a director position after the Tokyo Olympics.
However, Xia Yan reiterated that her personal growth aspirations no longer aligned with the company's plans and thanked the company for the platform it had provided. Just then, Qiao Si Si entered, prompting President Sun to ask Xia Yan to leave and reconsider.
After Xia Yan left, Qiao Si Si advised President Sun to let her go, but he worried about who would handle the "Love Yoga" project with SG Technology and feared Xia Yan might join SG Technology and cause trouble. Qiao Si Si dismissed this, believing Xia Yan lacked the ability to join SG Technology.
Later, Qiao Si Si, as Star Technology's Operations Director, represented the company in a meeting with President Xu of SG Technology to discuss taking over Xia Yan's previous work on the "Love Yoga" project. President Xu found Star Technology's change of personnel unprofessional. He sarcastically suggested President Sun might consider SG Technology undeserving of his own involvement, though he still directed Qiao Si Si to liaise with relevant individuals before abruptly leaving, which embarrassed Qiao Si Si.
Xia Yan's boyfriend was supportive of her decision to resign, assuring her not to panic and that they had enough savings to manage. He expressed that her well-being was more important than work pressure. Soon after, Star Technology quickly approved Xia Yan's resignation. She then received an interview invitation from SG Technology. At the interview, she met Director Xue, who was one of the interviewers. Xia Yan presented her ideas on "Show Me," a social e-commerce platform, with confidence.
While another interviewer found her impressive, Director Xue expressed reservations, citing concerns about hiring a former representative from a collaborating company and the potential for accusations of "stealing talent," and instructed her staff to politely decline Xia Yan. Meanwhile, Han Shuang, the daughter of Chairman Han, started a job as a sales associate at a furniture store. Her boss, Uncle Pai, was initially skeptical of her unconventional ideas, such as setting up a bar counter in the store.
Han Shuang, with her 200,000 online followers, convinced him to give her three months to significantly boost sales through live-streaming, otherwise the bar would be removed, and any spills on furniture would be her responsibility. Simultaneously, Zhao Xiaolei received a phone call from her younger brother, Xiao Jun, informing her that he was coming to Xinzhou in a few days and expected her husband (who doesn't exist) to pick him up from the airport.
This news caused Zhao Xiaolei to panic, fearing her lies about her engagement would be exposed. Xia Yan was celebrating her new job with Han Shuang and Zhao Xiaolei when she received a phone call from SG Technology's HR, informing her that she did not pass the interview without providing a specific reason. Xia Yan was confused, confident in her performance, and suspected Director Xue was behind it due to their previous interactions and Director Xue's strange glances.
Encouraged by her friends, she decided to confront Director Xue. The next day, Xia Yan went to SG Technology and found Director Xue and President Xu. She directly asked why she was eliminated, given her strong performance in the first two rounds. Director Xue claimed Qiao Si Si had confirmed that Xia Yan was fired from Star Technology for incompetence, and SG Technology had a policy against hiring employees with "bad records."
Xia Yan immediately refuted this, stating she resigned voluntarily. Director Xue then demanded a valid certificate of resignation as proof, giving her only two and a half hours, until noon, to provide it before the hiring list was finalized. President Xu acknowledged Director Xue's procedure was correct but was surprised by Xia Yan's situation, also pointing out that if Xia Yan was indeed framed, it showed a lack of personal connections and self-protection awareness.
Xia Yan rushed back to Star Technology to obtain her resignation certificate. She first approached Qiao Si Si, who feigned ignorance about the "fired" status and then claimed to be too busy to process the certificate, subtly implying President Sun was unavailable and his personal signature was required. Xia Yan saw President Sun about to leave the building and chased after him.
She called Han Shuang, asking her to impersonate President Xu's assistant and call President Sun, arranging a fake meeting at the office. This forced President Sun to return. Initially, President Sun tried to withhold the certificate, accusing Xia Yan of causing the company losses due to her "personal emotions" and work mistakes. However, Xia Yan played a recording of President Sun and Qiao Si Si being intimate in the office, threatening to expose their affair.
Panicked, President Sun immediately ordered Qiao Si Si to process Xia Yan's resignation certificate. Xia Yan returned to SG Technology just in time with the certificate. However, Director Xue presented another challenge, accusing Xia Yan of "stirring up trouble" by disrupting Liu Yi Ming's wedding, deeming such behavior unsuitable for a listed company like SG Technology.
Xia Yan defended her actions, explaining that Liu Yi Ming had cheated on her friend before their wedding and then planned to marry another woman at the same time and place. She stated that they went to expose Liu Yi Ming's true colors and seek justice for her friend. Xia Yan asserted that if defending a friend was considered "stirring up trouble," then SG Technology was not the right fit for her.
As she prepared to leave, President Xu stopped her. He pointed out that while files shouldn't deny someone, neither should one person's words deny a company. He offered her a position with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan, a fifteen-month salary package, and a three-month probation period, with a start date of the following Monday. Xia Yan accepted and completed the entry procedures. In another development, Ma Ke meticulously planned a public proposal to Ma Xiangnan.
He expressed his long-standing devotion and how their complementary personalities made them a perfect match. However, Ma Xiangnan rejected his proposal. She plainly told him she didn't like men younger than herself, preferring mature, stable, and responsible partners. She also stated she didn't want to marry someone in the same profession, as their busy schedules would leave no time for family.
Finally, and most importantly, she admitted she had no feelings for him, suggesting his feelings for her might be a misconception. Later, Xia Yan celebrated her new job at SG Technology with her friends Han Shuang and Zhao Xiaolei at Han Shuang's furniture store. Her boyfriend, Mr. Lin, called, and she excitedly told him she had good news to share and would see him tomorrow.
Episode 3 Recap
Xia Yan’s long-distance relationship with her boyfriend, Lin Hao, continued with frequent calls. Han Shuang, Xia Yan’s friend, found their constant affection, even after seven years, a bit much, though others envied their enduring love. Lin Hao, who had just returned, promised Xia Yan that he would handle all the housework, including cooking, cleaning, and laundry, envisioning her as his pampered "little princess."
He humorously suggested that instead of eating food, he'd rather "eat his little princess," before heading to take a shower. Zhao Xiaolei, their other friend, conveniently decided to stay out that evening, leaving the couple to their privacy. On her first day at SG, Xia Yan introduced herself to the operations department, mentioning her previous role at Star Technology.
Director Xue immediately set a stern tone by outlining the company’s "bottom-tier elimination" policy: employees ranking last for two consecutive months receive a warning, and a third month means termination. She demonstrated this by informing Qi, who had been last for three months, to submit his resignation to HR. Director Xue emphasized SG's focus on results, stating that efforts without achievement were meaningless.
She then critiqued Yoyo’s team’s plans as uncreative and assigned Xia Yan to take over Qi’s unfinished task of finalizing the guest list for the upcoming "Security Information Elite Forum," giving her a strict one-week deadline for her three-month trial period. Feeling sympathetic, Xia Yan caught up with Qi as he left and offered him a contact for an advertising agency, providing her own phone number for any assistance.
Meanwhile, Han Shuang faced a confrontation with her boss, Uncle Pai, who accused her of not making any sales in a month and bringing "unsavory people" to the shop after hours, as seen on surveillance cameras. He confiscated her door access card, asserting he would handle the shop’s opening and closing himself. Undeterred, Han Shuang declared her intention to start a live stream to sell furniture.
Later, Uncle Pai was ecstatic when Han Shuang’s live stream successfully sold three of their most expensive furniture sets. Han Shuang explained the potential of live-stream marketing. Uncle Pai quickly apologized, returned her keys, and promised to support her, even allowing her friends to visit and keeping the bar counter he had threatened to remove. Han Shuang cynically accepted, attributing his change of heart to profit.
Back at SG, Yoyo warned Xia Yan that Director Xue's assignment regarding Professor Yuan Da Hai was a "mission impossible," a task that had led to Qi's termination. Xia Yan, however, was determined, asserting that "impossible" was not in her vocabulary. She learned that Professor Yuan was a highly respected expert in cybersecurity. Xia Yan attended one of Professor Yuan's university lectures and, afterward, approached him to discuss her ideas for a custom security lock system.
Professor Yuan initially showed interest but, upon learning she was from SG and seeking his participation in their event, he became enraged. He called security and had her removed, adamantly refusing to engage in any "commercial events." Despite Xia Yan’s attempts to explain their forum wasn't commercial, she was dismissed. Xia Yan persisted, even falling while chasing him one day as he returned home, but he remained unwilling to listen.
Frustrated, Xia Yan discussed the issue with Han Shuang, who, drawing a parallel to Zhao Xiaolei's quirky stubbornness (refusing a high-paying job to care for kittens), suggested that even stubborn people have "soft spots." This prompted Xia Yan to call Qi for more information. Qi revealed that Professor Yuan had previously only collaborated with companies linked to his students or academic institutions and had even fought with university leaders for a student's research sponsorship.
Xia Yan realized that Professor Yuan's "soft spot" was his students. She quickly drafted a proposal for a university intern recruitment program, hoping to present him with an offer he couldn’t refuse. However, Director Xue immediately rejected the proposal, telling Xia Yan to focus on her core responsibilities instead of HR matters. Later, Yoyo enlightened Xia Yan about SG's "talent incentive policy," which allowed employees to submit cross-departmental suggestions for a bonus if adopted.
Xia Yan was elated, realizing this was her chance to resubmit her recruitment plan. Soon after, President Xu Chengyi complimented Xia Yan on her recruitment proposal, recognizing her shrewd analysis of Professor Yuan and her clever use of company policy. He did, however, express concern about her prominent dark circles, playfully advising her to rest properly to avoid looking unattractive and risking her relationship.
Armed with her approved university recruitment proposal, Xia Yan waited for Professor Yuan, who, upon seeing her again, accused her of persistent efforts for "capitalists" and even "lying." Xia Yan, despite falling while chasing him, presented her "SG Recruitment Plan for Xinzhou Institute of Technology," explaining it was specifically for his students and had already been approved by SG, ensuring its implementation regardless of his participation in their event.
When Professor Yuan still expressed skepticism about the company's commitment, Xia Yan pledged that if SG failed to uphold the plan's charitable spirit and content, it would face significant compensation and public discrediting by a notary, and she herself would never appear before him again. Convinced by her determination and the security of the notarized proposal, Professor Yuan finally agreed to participate in the forum.
Xia Yan reported her success to Director Xue, who, though initially surprised, grew irritated upon learning that Xia Yan had negotiated university recruitment as a condition. Director Xue accused Xia Yan of making unauthorized decisions. Xia Yan calmly countered that the recruitment proposal had been approved and filed by HR prior to the agreement. Silenced, Director Xue then questioned the operations department's progress on the "Show Me" talent show, learning they were fifteen participants short.
Annoyed by the low efficiency, Director Xue publicly reassigned Emmy's talent show tasks to Xia Yan, stating that "the capable ones can take on more duties" and no one would be allowed to hinder the company's progress, much to the surprise of her colleagues. Later that evening, Lin Hao arrived at Xia Yan's apartment with groceries, ready to celebrate her achievements. He and Zhao Xiaolei began cooking, but Xia Yan was still working late.
When Lin Hao called her, she apologized, explaining she had lost track of time due to work and asked them to eat without her, promising to return as soon as she could. Simultaneously, President Xu brought Xia Yan a late-night meal at the office. Xia Yan explained she was reorganizing the "Show Me" talent show plan, noting that the current pool of internet celebrities lacked diversity. She proposed inviting a wider variety of talents to challenge societal standards.
Xu Chengyi encouraged her ideas and told her to organize them for him to review the next day, but insisted she eat first, even giving her an egg from his meal. He playfully commented on her working late and suggested the company might need to offer "emotional compensation" if her relationship suffered. Back at the apartment, Lin Hao and Zhao Xiaolei ate.
Zhao Xiaolei confided in Lin Hao about her younger brother, a junior college graduate in marketing management, struggling to find a job. Lin Hao readily offered to help him, saying it was no trouble to assist Xia Yan’s close friend and a fellow student union alumnus, earning Zhao Xiaolei’s heartfelt gratitude.
Episode 4 Recap
When Xia Yan finally returned home late, she found that Lin Hao had already left, but he had thoughtfully left peeled shrimp and hot soup for her. Zhao Xiaolei relayed Lin Hao’s message, assuring Xia Yan that he would always be by her side, regardless of her decision on marriage, which deeply touched Xia Yan. She reflected on their seven-year relationship, feeling they were already like a married couple, needing only a marriage certificate.
She vowed to commit herself to Lin Hao, but also felt driven to work hard to ensure a stable and happy future for their potential children. Meanwhile, at SG Technology, Xu Chengyi suggested to Director Xue that Xia Yan’s proposal to rebrand "internet celebrities" as "experts" for wider appeal was a strong idea, a suggestion that only deepened Director Xue’s animosity towards Xia Yan.
During a subsequent meeting, it was revealed that five top influencers, who had only verbally agreed to participate, were now demanding a 50% increase in commission due to a conflicting event, threatening to withdraw if their demands weren’t met. Director Xue, furious at the team’s failure to secure signed contracts, lashed out at her staff.
Xia Yan attempted to explain the last-minute nature of the problem, but Director Xue cut her off, assigning her full responsibility for the talent show coordinating team and tasking her with resolving the crisis. Xia Yan diligently sought out the influencers, successfully negotiating a contract with Miss Cai by emphasizing the "Show Me" talent show's three-month duration and extensive first-page advertising across SG Technology platforms, contrasting it with the perceived saturation of other events.
At home, Zhao Xiaolei’s younger brother, Xiao Jun, arrived unexpectedly, looking for work. Zhao Xiaolei was visibly uneasy, knowing Xiao Jun's original intention was to seek opportunities through her former wealthy boyfriend, Liu Yiming, a relationship she had kept secret from her family. Lin Hao, upon arriving with Xia Yan, immediately offered to help Xiao Jun find a job at his own company.
Xia Yan later expressed her concern to Lin Hao, explaining Xiao Jun’s true motivation and the difficulty of concealing the truth about Liu Yiming. Lin Hao reassured her, suggesting they settle Xiao Jun into a job first, then Zhao Xiaolei could reveal the truth at an opportune moment.
However, Xiao Jun was unimpressed with Lin Hao, complaining to Zhao Xiaolei that he expected his "brother-in-law" (Liu Yiming) to find him a job and rent him an apartment, not Lin Hao, whom he dismissed as a "lousy boyfriend." Zhao Xiaolei tried to explain Lin Hao's professional background and the company's offer of an apartment. Xia Yan achieved a significant breakthrough by securing a partnership with NetEase Music for the "Show Me" talent show.
She proposed them as joint producers, highlighting their shared goals of supporting original musicians and young talent. NetEase Music agreed to provide all music and promotional resources, including song authorizations, which would save SG Technology substantial costs. Director Xue, impressed by this financial advantage, approved the collaboration. Back home, Xia Yan confided in her friends about the difficulties at work, specifically mentioning a "picky female director" and a "male boss who acts weird," often making flirtatious comments.
Her friends immediately suspected "office sexual harassment," warning her of its potential escalation and offering to intervene. While Xia Yan clarified that her boss was not old and was, in fact, popular, Han Shuang eagerly volunteered to "deal with" him, vowing to make him fall solely for her. Meanwhile, Ma Ke met with Xu Chengyi and recounted his recent romantic rejection by Dr. Xiang, who cited his youth and lack of romantic feelings.
Xu Chengyi offered relationship advice, but Ma Ke brushed it off, joking that he actually enjoyed being "hurt" by women. Ma Ke then playfully accused Xu Chengyi of recently "hurting a girl," to which Xu Chengyi cryptically replied that he was "saving a girl." Despite Ma Ke's persistent questions, Xu Chengyi refused to reveal her identity.
Zhao Xiaolei told her friends that her parents had arranged a blind date, explaining her desire to settle down due to parental pressure and their health. Han Shuang advised against marrying for her parents, but Zhao Xiaolei saw marriage as a natural life stage. On the date, Mr. Liu was very direct, outlining his wealth (three apartments, two luxury cars) and his desire for a son, revealing he already had a daughter.
Zhao Xiaolei, uncomfortable with the revelation of his daughter, quickly excused herself and left. Han Shuang later visited Xia Yan at SG Technology and was surprised to see Xu Chengyi, whom she found handsome, not the "old pervert" Xia Yan had described. She jokingly called him a "handsome pervert" and expressed her intent to pursue him.
Their conversation was interrupted by a phone call from Director Xue, who informed Xia Yan that influencer Wang Yi Ting had gastroenteritis and was pulling out of the event, demanding Xia Yan find a replacement within the hour. Xia Yan immediately rushed back to the company. After Xia Yan left, Han Shuang called her agent, confirming an event for SG Company and offering to step in as a substitute.
Upon returning to the company, Xia Yan was relieved to learn from her colleague Youyou that a beauty makeup expert had agreed to replace the absent influencer. At the "Show Me" talent show opening ceremony, Xia Yan delivered a speech introducing the event. To her astonishment, Han Shuang then appeared on stage as one of the makeup experts, introduced as "Coco."
Afterward, Han Shuang proudly told Xia Yan that she had stepped in to help when she heard about the trouble. She immediately asked for Xu Chengyi's whereabouts, announcing her plan to "take him down" and make him exclusively interested in her, despite Xia Yan's plea to focus on the event. Later, Han Shuang followed Xu Chengyi into an elevator, introducing herself as Coco and complimenting him as "Prince Charming," hinting at a fated encounter.
Xu Chengyi stated he wasn't responsible for talent acquisition. Han Shuang persisted, mentioning that Xia Yan had spoken about him, but she wished to speak with him directly. Xu Chengyi, likely sensing her flirtatious intentions and connecting them to Xia Yan's previous comments, simply declared, "I'm not interested," and exited the elevator. Zhao Xiaolei went on a second blind date, meeting a man who looked older. He introduced himself as a friend covering for the original date, Zhang Lian Chun.
He carried an unpublished book that Zhao Xiaolei had been searching for. He gifted her the book, and they spent the afternoon engrossed in reading. He then formally introduced himself as Fei Tianming, and she as Zhao Xiaolei, clarifying the specific Chinese character for "Xiao" in her name. Noticing her love for reading, Fei Tianming recommended a nearby book bar that stocked out-of-print books, describing its owner as either "silly or an idealist."
Lin Hao brought Xiao Jun to his company for a job interview with a colleague, "Brother Zhang." Brother Zhang was highly critical of Xiao Jun, calling him "dumb," unprepared, and lacking qualifications, initially refusing to hire him for a sales agent position. The tense interview was interrupted by the arrival of President Chen and President Hao (Hao Jie).
Lin Hao was visibly uncomfortable, as Hao Jie was his former boss and was now there to discuss a business deal, specifically requesting Lin Hao to be in charge. Hao Jie observed Xiao Jun, commenting that he seemed smart, "like Lin Hao back then," and subtly pressured Brother Zhang by offering to take Xiao Jun herself if they wouldn't hire him. Brother Zhang immediately conceded, stating they "must hire someone President Hao likes."
Later, a delighted Xiao Jun arrived at Lin Hao's office with his new work card, full of enthusiasm. He pledged to work hard, aiming for a promotion and an office next to Lin Hao, affectionately calling Lin Hao his "real brother" who treated him better than his own family.
Episode 5 Recap
Hao Jie visits Lin Hao's new office, immediately sending Xiao Jun away for water. She critiques the office's furniture, insisting Lin Hao needs the best equipment to impress clients, though Lin Hao expresses contentment with his current setup. They later share coffee from a downstairs shop, with Hao Jie subtly implying she’s refined his taste. Hao Jie observes Lin Hao's distraction and jokingly suggests he still harbors feelings for her, which he denies.
She inquires about his relationship with Xia Yan, and Lin Hao states it's "not bad," but they live separately and rarely see each other, though marriage is planned soon. Hao Jie then asks if he will cook his signature braised shrimp for Xia Yan. Lin Hao assures her he will not, calling it their "unique memory." After discussing work matters, Hao Jie brings up a past meeting Lin Hao missed, implying he was avoiding her.
She then reveals she nominated him for manager, expressing concern he might feel awkward due to their shared past, before finally disclosing that she got divorced yesterday. Meanwhile, Xu Chengyi questions Xia Yan about her proposal to reduce the number of talents from 50 to 30, suggesting 20 talents be cut by the graduation party. Xia Yan confirms her plan, which she submitted to Director Xue, noting it hasn't yet been approved.
She explains that based on training data and platform feedback, 50 talents are excessive. The remaining 30, chosen for their diverse styles and unique qualities, are sufficient, and more would be redundant. Regarding contracts, Xia Yan clarifies that only initial talent show agreements were signed, with further collaboration contracts intended post-program. She admits this initial condition requires her to explain the change to the talents.
Xu Chengyi, while praising her thorough report, provocatively suggests she's undermining her own previous efforts, implying she’s trying to indirectly remove a friend. Xia Yan maintains that her decision is purely professional and for the company's benefit. Xu Chengyi urges her to complete her plan and prioritize the graduation party, setting aside personal life.
Xia Yan asserts her ability to manage her personal life, but Xu Chengyi hints that "someone" in her life is a constant source of concern for him. Zhao Xiaolei encounters Fei Tianming, the man from her previous blind date, again at the bookstore. He invites her for coffee, and she expresses admiration for the bookstore's ambiance and unique ornaments. Fei Tianming reveals that he himself crafted the various handmade stationery items she admires.
Zhao Xiaolei is particularly captivated by a painted alloy forest, reflecting on how even ordinary materials like printing alloy, often constrained by rules, can be transformed into beautiful works, much like individuals navigating life's restrictions can still achieve greatness. Fei Tianming praises her profound interpretation. He then reveals that he owns both the bookstore and a development museum, offering her a membership card for discounts and access to his rare book collection.
He explains that seeing her deeply immersed in a book during their last encounter inspired him to theme his development museum's latest exhibit "Islands Scattered in the River of Time, Who Remain Unchanged in a Changing World," a concept he believes her temperament embodies, and he intends to operate the bookstore with her temperament as its theme. Zhao Xiaolei accepts the card.
At SG Technology, Xia Yan informs Han Shuang that she is among the 20 talents facing elimination, citing performance data. Han Shuang expresses outrage, reminding Xia Yan she joined as a favor. Xia Yan explains that while not explicitly stated, the contract allows termination for unmet evaluation standards. She points out Han Shuang's failure to meet the required five daily video posts, having posted fewer than ten in two weeks.
Xia Yan suggests Han Shuang, already a successful celebrity, might find an exclusive contract with SG burdensome, as the company seeks new talents with high potential. Han Shuang, unwilling to be outshone by new social media stars, offers to increase her posting, but Xia Yan states the decision is final. Suddenly, Cai Xin bursts in, angrily confronting Xia Yan about her own name on the elimination list.
Cai Xin argues she met all fan and posting requirements and accuses Xia Yan of favoritism towards Han Shuang. Provoked, Han Shuang reveals she is also fired and signs her termination papers in front of Cai Xin. Xia Yan tells Cai Xin there's a mistake on the list and she is not eliminated, asking her to return. Director Xue Ning then arrives, taking responsibility for Cai Xin's elimination.
Xue Ning explains that despite Cai Xin's hard work, she barely met fan requirements and lacked true potential. In contrast, Xue Ning praises Han Shuang, noting that despite her temper and lack of effort, her posts consistently garner significant retweets, making her a genuinely valuable talent. Xue Ning criticizes Xia Yan for not prioritizing the company's commercial interests, but acknowledges Han Shuang has already signed her termination.
Later, Han Shuang confides in her friends, expressing frustration about being eliminated from SG Technology despite her half-million Weibo fans. Xia Yan clarifies that Han Shuang’s independent nature made it difficult for her to adhere to the daily account maintenance required by an exclusive contract, emphasizing that the elimination was a directive from above. Han Shuang then asks if her flirtatious "trick" on Xu Chengyi failed and if he is now "taking advantage" of Xia Yan.
She directly asks if Xia Yan has a crush on him. Xia Yan firmly denies it, reiterating her commitment to Lin Hao and their upcoming marriage. She admits that after their initial negative encounter, she still feels a "thrill of fear" whenever she sees Xu Chengyi. Zhao Xiaolei, intrigued by the mysterious man, asks for his identity, and Ma Xiangnan reveals it's Xu Chengyi, Xia Yan's boss. Xia Yan invites Han Shuang to the graduation party.
Although initially resistant, Han Shuang changes her mind upon learning that Xu Chengyi will be present. At the graduation party, Xia Yan and her friends arrive. Han Shuang, upon spotting Xu Chengyi, decides to approach him. However, Xu Chengyi, seeing her, subtly directs Ma Ke to intercept her. Ma Ke introduces himself to Han Shuang, and they share a drink. Han Shuang attempts to leave, but Ma Ke playfully tries to keep her engaged.
Ma Xiangnan then steps in, formally introducing Ma Ke as her colleague to Han Shuang and Zhao Xiaolei. This distraction allows Han Shuang to slip away and search for Xu Chengyi, only to find he has already taken the stage to deliver a speech. Xu Chengyi expresses his gratitude to everyone, particularly the talents, whom he declares are the stars of the night as SG partners.
The host then announces an interactive segment where SG employees can send screenshots of their NetEase Music app levels to determine who performs with Xu Chengyi. Director Xue Ning, confidently expecting to win, is visibly stunned when the results are announced: Xu Chengyi and Xia Yan have tied for first place. Xia Yan is called to the stage, where she humbly states she is not a good singer.
Xu Chengyi, recalling from her resume that she plays piano, suggests she accompany him while he sings. His soulful performance, with Xia Yan on piano, captivates the audience. Employees are moved by his singing, with some expressing envy for Xia Yan’s position next to him, though they acknowledge that Director Xue Ning is known to have a crush on Xu Chengyi, making him "off-limits." After their performance, Xu Chengyi formally introduces Xia Yan as SG Technology’s newest team member.
He commends her dedication to the Talent Project and the graduation party, acknowledging her significant sacrifices for the operations department. He then announces her immediate regularization, making her a full-time employee ahead of schedule. This unexpected promotion visibly shocks and displeases Xue Ning, who promptly exits the event. As they descend from the stage, Xu Chengyi maintains his hold on Xia Yan's hand, prompting her to express concern about potential misunderstandings. Xu Chengyi, however, dismisses her worries.
Xia Yan then plainly states that she has a boyfriend and is on the verge of getting married. To her astonishment, Xu Chengyi directly advises her to "break up with him," asserting that her current partner doesn't deserve her and she has superior options. Confused and slightly perturbed, Xia Yan cryptically suggests he educate himself by reading "The Story of Gathering Wheat."
Observing their seemingly intimate conversation, Han Shuang intervenes, asking Xu Chengyi if he's available to chat, providing Xia Yan an opportune moment to depart. Zhao Xiaolei and Ma Xiangnan approach Xia Yan, congratulating her on her early regularization. Noticing Xia Yan’s discomfort, they inquire about her conversation with Xu Chengyi. Xia Yan reveals that Xu Chengyi boldly told her to break up with Lin Hao. Her friends are shocked, deeming his suggestion outrageous and questioning his motives.
They connect this to Ma Xiangnan’s earlier suspicions, suggesting Xu Chengyi’s early regularization of Xia Yan and his initial recruitment of her might be part of a calculated plan to test her limits. Concerned about potential harassment, they urge Xia Yan to be cautious, document any incidents, and inform Lin Hao, believing he could provide a solution. Xia Yan reassures them she will consider their advice.
Han Shuang engages Xu Chengyi in conversation, telling him she has never met a man quite like him. She observes a similarity between them, suggesting they both project an image of strength while hiding behind "masks." Xu Chengyi acknowledges her perceptive "analysis." Han Shuang further details her own public persona as an independent, flirtatious woman who enjoys romance but shies away from long-term commitments, explaining that her pursuits are always driven by genuine attraction, albeit to varying degrees.
She then applies her analysis to Xu Chengyi, describing his ambiguous humor and apparent conceit as mere facades, beneath which lies a yearning for traditional love that he sometimes fears. She warns him that prolonged masking can make genuine expressions of affection seem insincere. Xu Chengyi is impressed by her insights, asking if she’s a psychologist.
Han Shuang clarifies her primary goal is survival, while her secondary passion is "studying men," asserting her resilience against his deceptions and her lack of fear towards him. Xu Chengyi commends her expertise. Han Shuang then challenges him, asking if he understands women. After a brief back-and-forth, she provocatively asks what she would do to him once he was drunk. Xu Chengyi, intrigued, states he "looks forward to it."
Later, Xia Yan and her friends realize both Han Shuang and Xu Chengyi are nowhere to be found and become very anxious. Han Shuang then sends Xia Yan a message suggesting she has taken Xu Chengyi away to get a room. Concerned, Xia Yan and her friends immediately try calling Xu Chengyi, who doesn’t answer. They then reach Han Shuang, who assures them she is fine and that Xu Chengyi has already left.
Episode 6 Recap
Han Shuang went back and said that Xu Chengyi had truly given her a surprise, asking Xia Yan if she was genuinely concerned for her or if she regretted letting Xu Chengyi go to her. They were best friends, there was no need to know that Xu Chengyi liked Xia Yan and then pretend not to know; that feeling should be very enjoyable for Xia Yan. Xia Yan was very confused listening to Han Shuang.
Ma Xiangnan told Han Shuang to stop talking, telling Xia Yan not to take it to heart, as Han Shuang was drunk. Han Shuang told them not to worry about her and left. Afterwards, Ma Xiangnan told Xia Yan and the others to leave first, and she would go after Han Shuang. Xu Chengyi recorded everything Han Shuang said when they were together. Ma Ke thought Xu Chengyi was quite something. Xu Chengyi said that wasn't his talent.
The next morning, Xia Yan went to find Xu Chengyi and told him that his words and actions had severely interfered with her life, and Han Shuang would no longer bother him in the future. She hoped that from then on, they would only discuss business matters. But Xu Chengyi did not agree, saying they still had many things to discuss. So Xia Yan said she wanted to resign.
Xu Chengyi told Xia Yan to complete her current tasks first, but not to mention her resignation to anyone during this period. Director Xue was very unhappy, so he called Xia Yan to his office and told her that her early promotion to a permanent position was due to her outstanding abilities.
From now on, Xia Yan would report directly to Director Xue, and she would be responsible for any issues, so Xia Yan had to clear everything she did with Director Xue. Although Xu Chengyi was the Chief Operating Officer, Director Xue was Xia Yan's direct superior, and she should not bypass him to report issues in the future. Xia Yan knew what Director Xue meant and said that seeing Xu Chengyi earlier was a personal matter.
However, Director Xue was still displeased, stating that personal matters could not be discussed during working hours. Xia Yan bought some cosmetics as a gift for Han Shuang, and then told her that she was about to resign, not wanting outsiders to affect their sisterhood. Han Shuang told Xia Yan not to do that, saying she regretted saying those things earlier.
Xia Yan asked Han Shuang what had provoked her to be so agitated that day when she was with Xu Chengyi, but Han Shuang told Xia Yan not to ask again, as she didn't want to bring up that matter anymore. Hao Jie invited Lin Hao out for a drink, saying that she had now lost not only her marriage but also her career and family.
Lin Hao felt that Hao Jie had the ability to work at a company in the city, as her connections and capabilities were still there. Just then, Hao Jie saw Xu Chengyi and Ma Ke also at the bar and went over to greet them. Afterwards, she introduced Xu Chengyi and Lin Hao to each other.
Lin Hao felt a little nervous after hearing that Xu Chengyi was Xia Yan's boss, so he simply greeted Hao Jie and left the bar. While Xia Yan was tidying Lin Hao's clothes, she found a lipstick in his pocket. However, Lin Hao said he didn't know whose it was. Xia Yan felt that things weren't that simple and demanded that Lin Hao explain what was going on, especially since it was a half-used lipstick.
Xia Yan went to Ma Xiangnan to talk about it, feeling a bit scared. Seeing the lipstick in Lin Hao's pocket reminded her of what Xu Chengyi had said, telling her to break up with Lin Hao. Ma Xiangnan told Xia Yan not to overthink it and to clarify the situation first.
Afterwards, Lin Hao found Xia Yan, saying he was almost frantic, and that he had finally found the owner of the lipstick: it belonged to the girlfriend of Xiao Qiang, his former roommate in Beijing. He said if Xia Yan didn't believe him, he could call Xiao Qiang for a confrontation, but Xia Yan didn't do that. Huo Kai went to the hospital for an X-ray, carrying his bag; his leg was injured.
Ma Xiangnan said that he needed hospitalization and surgery, and his family should be there to accompany him, but Huo Kai said his family was all abroad and he was currently alone in the country. Afterwards, while hospitalized, Huo Kai was very lively, always playing the piano and singing for his fellow patients. Although Ma Xiangnan felt that such behavior was inappropriate in a hospital and would disturb other patients' rest, she did not blame Huo Kai.
Ma Ke arranged for his grandfather to go to the hospital to see Ma Xiangnan. Ma Ke had his grandfather sit in a wheelchair and then said that he was near death, hoping to use an emotional plea to move Ma Xiangnan to agree to his request. At this moment, Han Shuang stood aside and directly exposed their trick, even finding the script Ma Ke had written for his grandfather on his person.
This made the grandfather unable to bear it any longer; he stood up from the wheelchair and walked away. Han Shuang told Ma Ke not to pursue Ma Xiangnan anymore, saying she had already left a long time ago, and he shouldn't bother her again in the future. Xiao Jun went to Zhao Xiaolei and directly questioned her why she broke up with Liu Yiming.
Everyone in the family knew that Zhao Xiaolei was getting married, the wedding banquet money had been collected, and relatives all knew. Now they told Zhao Xiaolei to go and apologize to Liu Yiming. But Zhao Xiaolei said that Liu Yiming was already married, and even if he wasn't, she wouldn't be with him anymore. Xiao Jun said that Liu Yiming's conditions were so good, and Zhao Xiaolei was truly too difficult.
As soon as Han Shuang heard this, she cursed Xiao Jun, saying that his own sister had been bullied, yet he didn't stand up for her, but instead came to her house to throw a tantrum. Xiao Jun was kicked out by his sister. Afterwards, Han Shuang and Xia Yan chased him out, wanting to teach him a lesson, stating that any job he had now was because of his sister.
However, Xiao Jun remained ungrateful, saying that none of the friends Zhao Xiaolei hung out with were good people. Zhao Xiaolei told them not to be angry and apologized to them for Xiao Jun's words.
Episode 7 Recap
Huo Kai took Ling outside to play soccer, where Ling excitedly asked him to "head" the ball. When Ma Xiangnan discovered them, she quickly instructed Ling to return to her hospital room, noting that Ling had been outside for too long and that it was very dangerous for her. Ma Xiangnan then confronted Huo Kai, expressing her anger.
She emphasized Ling's extremely fragile health, explaining that catching a cold could lead to unimaginable consequences, and that Ling needed to stay in bed to recover. When Huo Kai asked about Ling's condition, Ma Xiangnan revealed that Ling had a bone tumor, which was discovered a year ago and had already spread throughout her entire body.
Later at work, Xia Yan approached Xu Cheng Yi to discuss her resignation, reminding him that the price comparison site project was in its final stages and could be launched next week. She expected him to honor his previous promise.
However, Xu Cheng Yi informed her that he had already arranged for HR to transfer her to the company's anniversary celebration team, reminding her of her interview statement about wanting an extensive career, which he now presented as an opportunity for her to be involved in various company functions. He also mentioned that bonuses for past projects would be distributed after the anniversary celebration, suggesting this money could sustain her until she found a new job.
Xia Yan, however, privately dismissed the importance of money. Back home, Xia Yan told Lin Hao about the upcoming company anniversary celebration next Friday and hoped he would attend with her, as many colleagues were bringing partners. Lin Hao, however, declined, stating he might have to work overtime. Xia Yan then shared her decision to resign after the celebration, explaining that Xu Cheng Yi had been making unsettling comments, including telling her to break up with Lin Hao.
Lin Hao dismissed Xu Cheng Yi's words as a joke and accused Xia Yan of overthinking. He urged her not to resign, highlighting their financial burdens, including a mortgage, and questioning her ability to find another job quickly in Xinzhou. Xia Yan countered by saying she had savings and confidence in her ability to find new employment, reminding Lin Hao of his promise to support her. Feeling frustrated, Lin Hao abruptly ended the conversation, stating he had a meeting.
Meanwhile, Ma Xiangnan entered Huo Kai's empty hospital room and noticed numerous music scores and lyrics scattered on his bed, finding him quite interesting. Later, Ling's condition took a sudden turn for the worse. Ma Xiangnan desperately tried to revive her, while Huo Kai watched helplessly from the side. Despite Ma Xiangnan's strenuous efforts, Ling's heart stopped, and she passed away. Deeply heartbroken, Ma Xiangnan sought solace by a lake.
Huo Kai found her there and gently offered an earphone, sharing his thoughts on mountain climbing. He explained that reaching a mountain's summit makes one realize the insignificance of human worries compared to the eternal mountains, helping him forget his troubles. He vividly described an imaginative scene of misty mountains clearing to reveal sunlit leaves, which gradually soothed Ma Xiangnan's grief.
At the SG anniversary party, Director Xue gave toasts, praising several colleagues for their contributions and progress, but noticeably omitted Xia Yan. Feeling ignored and disheartened, Xia Yan tried to call Lin Hao, but he didn't answer. Unknown to Xia Yan, Lin Hao was with Hao Jie, and his phone was ringing unanswered in her room.
Hao Jie informed Lin Hao that her new company would be officially established next week with a cocktail party and invited him to help her, "just like old times." Lin Hao hesitated, stating they were "no longer who we used to be." Hao Jie agreed, revealing she was now divorced.
She confessed that after Lin Hao left, she realized that nothing remained between her and her ex-husband except common interests, and that she had truly fallen in love with Lin Hao. Lin Hao, too, admitted he had been serious about her. However, he then insisted that he was with Xia Yan and they were getting married, expressing his regret for past events and his desire to not let Xia Yan down.
Hao Jie argued that marrying someone while loving another would be even more irresponsible, pressing him to admit his feelings for her. Lin Hao remained silent. Meanwhile, a heavily intoxicated Xia Yan was playing a drinking game at the party. Xu Cheng Yi approached her, scolding her for drinking excessively if she couldn't handle it. Xia Yan explained that she was silently saying goodbye to her colleagues, as she loved her challenging and passionate job.
When Xu Cheng Yi questioned why she would leave a job she loved, Xia Yan pointed at him and drunkenly declared it was "because you're here," adding that she had something more important she couldn't lose. She further muttered that there was a "wolf named Xu Cheng Yi" and "Xia Yan in the zoo."
Xu Cheng Yi, after assuring Director Xue he had only been drinking water, supported the stumbling Xia Yan out of the party, a scene that Director Xue observed with jealousy. As Xu Cheng Yi helped Xia Yan to Lin Hao's apartment door, she confirmed it was her boyfriend's home. Observing her extreme intoxication, Xu Cheng Yi felt suspicious and didn't want Xia Yan to get hurt, sensing there might be a problem at Lin Hao's home.
Inside, Lin Hao and Hao Jie heard the knocking. Lin Hao, through the peephole, saw Xia Yan with Xu Cheng Yi and was visibly shocked. He quickly asked Hao Jie to hide, but she refused, challenging him to reject her in front of Xia Yan if he truly wanted her to give up. Hao Jie then also peered through the peephole and commented that Xia Yan seemed to be facing the same problem as Lin Hao.
Concerned for Xia Yan, Xu Cheng Yi decided to take her away, as she was too drunk to be left alone. Lin Hao watched them from his window. As Xu Cheng Yi helped Xia Yan into a car, he glanced back and noticed Lin Hao at the window and Hao Jie's car parked nearby, confirming his suspicions. Hao Jie then emerged from hiding, questioning why Lin Hao was hiding when Xu Cheng Yi was openly escorting Xia Yan.
Lin Hao tried to explain that it was not what it looked like and that he and Xia Yan were merely colleagues. Hao Jie dismissed this, stating that a CTO personally driving a junior clerk home would lead to more, implying that innocent girls like Xia Yan are easily swayed by powerful, wealthy, and single men like Xu Cheng Yi. Lin Hao then expressed insecurity, asking if he was truly so far behind Xu Cheng Yi.
Hao Jie reassured him, suggesting that once he became the legal representative of her company, he would be a boss, and Xia Yan would regret missing out on him because of Xu Cheng Yi. Lin Hao asked why Hao Jie treated him so well, to which she replied that she returns kindness tenfold, but also promised to return hurt tenfold. The next morning, Xia Yan woke up in a hotel room, disoriented.
When Xu Cheng Yi entered, she panicked, but he calmly handed her new clothes, instructed her to pay the 1200 yuan room fee, granted her a day off, and then left. Believing she had slept with Xu Cheng Yi, Xia Yan was distraught and cried. Ma Xiangnan, finding Xia Yan feverish and looking terrible, offered her congee and comforted her. Despite feeling unwell, Xia Yan went to the office to pack her belongings, intending to leave the company.
Xu Cheng Yi approached her, but Xia Yan curtly informed him she had already taken the day off for private matters. Later, Xia Yan confided in Ma Xiangnan about her belief that Xu Cheng Yi had "slept with her." Ma Xiangnan suggested calling the police, but Xia Yan was unsure, recalling Xu Cheng Yi's unexpected praise for her work the previous night, which made her drop her guard and question her prejudice against him.
She confessed to feeling foolish and paranoid about Lin Hao, never imagining she would find herself in such a situation. Ma Xiangnan dismissed Xu Cheng Yi's compliments as a "tactic." When Xia Yan and Ma Xiangnan returned home, Zhao Xiaolei, visibly upset, informed Xia Yan that the hotel had called. Xia Yan had forgotten her cell phone, and it kept ringing.
Zhao Xiaolei had answered it and learned from the hotel clerk that Xu Cheng Yi had taken Xia Yan's dry-cleaned underwear to the laundry, providing her number for pickup. This revelation clarified that Xu Cheng Yi had simply brought her to a hotel to recover, but the mention of her underwear added a layer of humiliation and further complicated Xia Yan's perception of him.
Episode 8 Recap
Zhao Xiaolei confronted Xia Yan, demanding to know what she had been doing. She questioned why Xia Yan, whose relationship with Lin Hao was admired by their group, would put Lin Hao in such a difficult position. Zhao Xiaolei added that she had received a call from the hotel about Xia Yan’s underwear left at the dry cleaners, which Xu Cheng Yi had sent there.
She then asked if Xia Yan had developed feelings for Xu Cheng Yi, given she had stayed at SG Technology despite knowing his intentions. Xia Yan, deeply upset, admitted her fault and vowed to bear the consequences. Watching Xia Yan walk away, Zhao Xiaolei turned to Ma Xiangnan, wondering if she had been too harsh.
She confessed her hope that Xia Yan wouldn't easily give up her happiness and asked Ma Xiangnan to keep the details from Han Shuang for the time being. Later, Director Xue discovered Xia Yan's leave request and became furious. She questioned Emmy, who explained that Xia Yan had briefly come to the office but then left again. Emmy speculated that Xu Cheng Yi might know where Xia Yan went and suggested they might have left together.
Director Xue grew even angrier, stating it was unacceptable for Xia Yan to leave without her approval, leaving only a request on her desk. Xu Cheng Yi arranged to meet Lin Hao, telling him it was their third encounter. He recalled seeing Lin Hao with Hao Jie in Beijing and expressed surprise that Lin Hao was Xia Yan's boyfriend. Lin Hao nervously asked if Xu Cheng Yi had told Xia Yan about his affair.
Xu Cheng Yi replied that he couldn't easily speak about such a sensitive matter. Lin Hao tried to cover up, claiming Hao Jie was merely drunk that night. Xu Cheng Yi promptly dismissed the lie, revealing that Hao Jie had told him she divorced for Lin Hao. He urged Lin Hao to be honest with Xia Yan soon, so as not to betray a good girl's heart, even offering to help if Lin Hao found it difficult to confess.
Lin Hao, in turn, lashed out, accusing Xu Cheng Yi of being a "stealer of hearts." Xu Cheng Yi then countered, asking if Lin Hao had seen him on the balcony the previous day, implying Lin Hao knew about him and Xia Yan, and provocatively asked if Lin Hao knew where he had taken Xia Yan after that. Lin Hao waited for Xia Yan outside their building, looking distraught. Xia Yan appeared, visibly apologetic.
Lin Hao immediately questioned why she hadn't answered his calls all day, asking if something had happened. Xia Yan suggested they talk inside. Lin Hao pressed her for the truth, asking if Xu Cheng Yi was the "male supervisor" she had previously mentioned who interfered with her private life and tried to break them up. He then demanded to know where she spent the night after getting drunk at the anniversary party.
Xia Yan asked for a couple of days to compose her thoughts before answering, but Lin Hao relentlessly insisted on an immediate answer, repeatedly asking if she was with Xu Cheng Yi that night. Xia Yan tried to explain that she was drunk and couldn't recall everything clearly, but Lin Hao cut her off, stating that they were both adults who understood what happens when a man and woman are together in a hotel room.
He voiced his hurt, mentioning he had given up everything in Beijing to be with her in Xinzhou. Lin Hao accused Xia Yan of having feelings for Xu Cheng Yi, given she continued to work at the company despite knowing his intentions. Xia Yan vehemently denied this, affirming her love for Lin Hao alone and begging him to trust her.
She explained that she had drunk heavily on the night of the anniversary party because Lin Hao hadn't responded to her calls or messages. Despite knowing Xia Yan was innocent, Lin Hao refused to listen to any further explanations, saying he didn't want to hear it right then, and suggested they both calm down, seemingly trying to find fault to justify a breakup. He then stormed out of the room, angrily slapping himself and calling himself a "bastard" and "scum."
Later, Xia Yan went to Lin Hao’s apartment, hoping to clear things up. While fumbling for her key, she realized she had left it in his door lock after visiting with Xu Cheng Yi. Just then, an elderly neighbor approached her, mentioning that Lin Hao had brought a different girl home a couple of nights prior. This revelation made Xia Yan realize that Lin Hao, too, had been hiding something from her.
Ma Xiangnan, Zhao Xiaolei, and Han Shuang discussed Lin Hao’s disappearance. They noted that their mutual friends hadn't heard from him. Han Shuang insisted they find Lin Hao to confront him about his treatment of Xia Yan. Meanwhile, Xiao Jun, Lin Hao’s colleague, observed Lin Hao packing his belongings at the company. Xiao Jun spoke to Lin Hao, promising not to tell Zhao Xiaolei and their friends that Lin Hao was moving to a new company.
He told Lin Hao that he should have broken up with Xia Yan long ago, implying she had an affair with her boss, Xu Cheng Yi. Xiao Jun also asked if Lin Hao could take him to the new company, promising to work hard. Later, the friends saw photos of Lin Hao and Hao Jie together in Hainan on their social media.
The person who found the photos explained that Hao Jie was a well-known company manager whose husband was the president, and that Lin Hao had worked for their company in Beijing and had been linked to Hao Jie for a year or two, always by her side. Zhao Xiaolei initially tried to justify it as a professional relationship, trusting Lin Hao, but Han Shuang strongly disagreed, accusing Lin Hao of being a "male gold-digger."
Xia Yan, who had been listening nearby, quietly took Zhao Xiaolei's phone to view the photos. Han Shuang expressed her intent to seek revenge for Xia Yan, but Xia Yan told her not to bother. Zhao Xiaolei then shifted the blame to Xu Cheng Yi, stating that if he hadn't taken Xia Yan to the hotel, none of this would have happened. Hearing this, Han Shuang was deeply hurt, realizing her friends had hidden the hotel incident from her.
She felt like a fool, previously ready to defend Xia Yan, but now feeling like a "clown" realizing Xia Yan and Xu Cheng Yi might be a "perfect match." Han Shuang tearfully expressed her loyalty to her friends but felt betrayed by their secrecy. Ma Xiangnan then advised Zhao Xiaolei to let Han Shuang leave to cool down.
Ma Xiangnan also shared his belief that Lin Hao's selfish actions meant Xia Yan wouldn't be truly happy with him, suggesting her sadness was about the loss of the relationship itself rather than Lin Hao. At work, Emmy informed Xu Cheng Yi that Director Xue had not approved Xia Yan's leave and planned to fire her for absenteeism. Xu Cheng Yi immediately told Emmy to inform Director Xue that he had personally approved Xia Yan’s leave.
Emmy pleaded with Xu Cheng Yi to convince Xia Yan to return, stating that everyone missed her. Later that evening, Xia Yan sat alone, scrolling through old photos of her and Lin Hao on her phone, tears streaming down her face. She also saw a message from Lin Hao on her phone stating "Let's break up." Han Shuang appeared with an umbrella, joining her.
After listening to Xia Yan's story, Han Shuang's heart went out to her, urging her to let go of such a "bastard." Han Shuang lamented that Lin Hao had ended their seven-year relationship with a simple message. Han Shuang then confessed her own secret: the night she tried to get Xu Cheng Yi drunk and took him to a hotel, nothing actually happened, and he had merely pretended to be inebriated to fool her.
She admitted she had been too embarrassed to tell her friends. Xia Yan calmly revealed that she already knew, as Han Shuang had spilled the details while drunk that very night. Han Shuang was surprised, realizing she didn't remember telling them. They then decided to go get something to eat. Xia Yan's parents arrived for a visit. Her father commented on how thin she looked, while her mother urged her to eat more, saying plump cheeks brought good fortune.
They asked about Lin Hao's whereabouts. Xia Yan lied, telling them he was on an overseas business trip and would return in a few days. Her parents discussed the couple's busy schedules and future marriage, with her father worrying about who would manage the family. Xia Yan's mother reminded her father not to be so solemn when they eventually meet Lin Hao's parents, but Xia Yan clarified that Lin Hao was still in her "testing phase."
Episode 9 Recap
Xia Yan's parents arrive for a visit, unaware she and Lin Hao have broken up. To avoid upsetting them, Xia Yan hasn't told them the news. Xia Yan treats her parents to dinner, where her father, Xia Xue Li, steps away to wash his hands. He then sees Lin Hao with another woman, Hao Jie, acting intimately. Xia Xue Li confronts them, demanding to know Hao Jie's relationship to Lin Hao. Hao Jie brazenly states she is Lin Hao's girlfriend.
Xia Xue Li, knowing Lin Hao is Xia Yan's long-term boyfriend, is shocked. Lin Hao admits to Xia Xue Li that he and Xia Yan broke up some time ago and asks if she hasn't told them. Xia Xue Li accuses Lin Hao of lying, saying Xia Yan invited them specifically to meet her future son-in-law and that Lin Hao must have been seeing Hao Jie behind Xia Yan's back, perhaps even faking a business trip.
He demands Lin Hao come to their table to explain everything to Xia Yan. When they arrive at Xia Yan's table, her mother asks who Hao Jie is. Lin Hao again states Hao Jie is his girlfriend and admits to Xia Yan's parents that he and Xia Yan have broken up. Xia Xue Li demands to know why. Hao Jie interjects, telling Xia Yan's parents there's no need to be upset as they'll soon have a new son-in-law.
This enrages Xia Xue Li, who accuses Hao Jie of slandering his daughter and tries to physically confront Lin Hao. Xia Yan intervenes, shouting that she no longer likes Lin Hao, trying to de-escalate the situation. Back at the table, Xia Xue Li presses Xia Yan, questioning why she would end a seven-year relationship with Lin Hao, especially after all the effort and resources her parents invested in it, including her traveling between cities for him.
He demands to know why they broke up. Xia Yan's mother tries to interject, noting Xia Yan's sadness, but Xia Xue Li insists it's Xia Yan's fault. Xia Yan finally snaps, telling her father to stop. She reminds him of his strict parenting throughout her life, recounting how he never offered comfort when she was bullied or wronged, always treating her like a student he needed to discipline.
She explains that she hid the breakup from them precisely because she didn't want to be scolded before the situation settled. Xia Xue Li, however, fixates on Xia Yan's admission of fault, demanding to know the specifics. Frustrated and overwhelmed, Xia Yan leaves. Her mother then chastises Xia Xue Li for his harshness and for always blaming his own family first, emphasizing that he doesn't truly understand their daughter. Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaolei meets with a man.
He introduces himself as a 41-year-old Capricorn with AB blood type, divorced with a seven-year-old son who lives with his mother. He admits he hadn't planned on remarrying but changed his mind after getting to know her. Zhao Xiaolei, however, expresses her reluctance to date a man who has been married before, apologizing if it sounds traditional.
She explains her difficulty with complex interpersonal relationships, stating she values the complete integration of two people's inner worlds without compromise and desires a simple, straightforward love. She also reveals that just a few months prior, she almost married Liu Yiming, a man she didn't love, pressured by her family, only for Han Shuang to discover his affair days before the wedding. Her younger brother, Xiao Jun, then appears, surprised to see her with the man.
He immediately confronts Zhao Xiaolei, asking about the nature of their relationship. When Zhao Xiaolei insists they are just friends, Xiao Jun warns her, suspecting the man is only looking for a stepmother for his son and doesn't genuinely love her, referencing "terrible examples" he has witnessed. He attempts to pull her away to go shopping and have hotpot instead. Xia Xue Li then seeks out Lin Hao, apologizing for his earlier outburst.
He suggests that Lin Hao's relationship with Hao Jie might have been a ruse to make Xia Yan jealous, perhaps even orchestrating their "coincidental" meeting at the restaurant. Lin Hao, however, informs Xia Xue Li that he knows who Xia Yan is now interested in. Furious, Xia Xue Li returns home and immediately confronts Xia Yan about her relationship with "President Xu" from her company. Xia Yan realizes her father has been speaking with Lin Hao.
Xia Xue Li sternly reminds her that their family upholds principles and accuses her of disgracing them by "luring" her superior for a promotion. When he asks if she was forced or if she initiated it, Xia Yan defiantly retorts that she "lured him willingly" and "initiated it," prompting Xia Xue Li to slap her. A neighbor, hearing the commotion, enters to intervene.
She praises Xia Yan for her hard work and resilience, explaining that Xia Yan often works late into the night and gets only a few hours of sleep, always shielding her parents from her difficulties. The neighbor also reveals that Xia Yan, to maintain appearances and make her parents happy, even ordered a car for Lin Hao before their visit. Stunned by this revelation, Xia Xue Li immediately storms out, ostensibly to find Xu Cheng Yi.
Xia Yan's mother tries to console her, checking the slap mark on her face. She gently asks Xia Yan if her feelings for Xu Cheng Yi are genuine, reassuring her not to be afraid. Her mother explains that as they are far away, it's hard for them to be there for Xia Yan in times of trouble. She acknowledges Xia Yan's self-reliant nature and her tendency to hide her struggles, but emphasizes that this only makes them more worried.
Her mother advises Xia Yan to protect herself and be discerning when choosing a partner, reiterating that they prioritize her safety and well-being over any financial success. She also admits that Xia Xue Li's temper is bad, but he worries about Xia Yan deeply and asks her not to blame him. Xia Yan tells her mother she understands and is fine.
Later, while Xia Yan, her mother, and friends are making dumplings, Xia Yan's mother expresses concern about Xia Xue Li still not being home after hours. She recalls him leaving with "a card with a black string" from Xia Yan's room. Xia Yan immediately recognizes it as her employee badge and realizes her father must have gone to Xu Cheng Yi's company. Xia Yan, Han Shuang, and her mother quickly leave for the company, while Zhao Xiaolei stays behind.
At the company, Xu Cheng Yi and Ma Ke are playing video games and discussing Xia Yan and Lin Hao. Xia Xue Li arrives outside Xu Cheng Yi's office door and overhears their conversation. Xu Cheng Yi explains to Ma Ke that he had seen Lin Hao and Hao Jie together multiple times in Beijing, realizing they were "obviously lovers" despite Lin Hao being Xia Yan's boyfriend.
He had tried to subtly warn Xia Yan to prepare her for the breakup, although she ultimately discovered the truth herself. Xu Cheng Yi recounts that on the night of the company anniversary, he took a drunk Xia Yan to Lin Hao's apartment. He saw the lights on and Hao Jie's car downstairs, implying Lin Hao and Hao Jie were inside, but Lin Hao refused to open the door.
Because Xia Yan was wet from the rain, Xu Cheng Yi took her to a hotel, where he asked a female staff member to help her change and dry her clothes; nothing else happened. He concludes that this incident also contributed to Xia Yan's breakup with Lin Hao. Outside the door, Xia Xue Li, having heard this entire conversation, collapses, murmuring accusations that Xu Cheng Yi "hurt my daughter."
Xu Cheng Yi hears the noise, finds Xia Xue Li, and upon seeing Xia Yan's employee badge on him, realizes he is Xia Yan's father. He immediately rushes him to the hospital. On their way to Xu Cheng Yi's company, Xia Yan receives a phone call from Xu Cheng Yi, directing them to the hospital instead. There, Ma Ke explains to Han Shuang that Xia Xue Li fainted after overhearing Xu Cheng Yi's conversation with him in the office.
Xia Yan immediately confronts Xu Cheng Yi, demanding an explanation for her father's collapse. Xu Cheng Yi responds that everything Xia Xue Li heard was the truth and urges her to focus on her father's condition. He also mentions he used Xia Xue Li's ID and wallet for the hospital formalities. A doctor informs them that Xia Xue Li is in a coma due to a rapidly enlarging brain aneurysm, requiring immediate, urgent surgery to prevent rupture.
The doctor presents two options: craniotomy or minimally invasive intervention surgery. Xia Yan chooses the minimally invasive option, despite its potentially higher cost, and asks that her mother not be informed due to her high blood pressure. The doctor then details the significant risks associated with the surgery, including neurological dysfunction, hemorrhage, and even shock. Terrified by the possibilities, Xia Yan hesitates to sign the consent form.
Ma Xiang Nan, her doctor friend, gently but firmly encourages her to sign, reminding her that all surgeries carry risks. After a difficult moment, Xia Yan tearfully signs the form. Ma Xiang Nan tries to comfort a distraught Xia Yan, who blames herself for not knowing about her father's health, having only just quarreled with him that morning.
Ma Xiang Nan assures her that Xia Xue Li was sent to the hospital in time and that the surgeon, Dr. Liu, is highly skilled. Zhao Xiaolei and other friends arrive, offering their support and further trying to comfort Xia Yan. Moments later, Xia Yan's mother, having learned of Xia Xue Li's hospitalization, arrives distraught and agitated.
She immediately asks about her husband's condition, shocked to hear he is in surgery for a hemangioma in his head, a term Xia Yan used to simplify the actual condition for her mother's benefit. She demands to know what happened and who brought him there. Han Shuang prompts Xu Cheng Yi to explain. Upon hearing Xu Cheng Yi introduce himself, Xia Yan's mother recognizes him as the "President Xu" her husband had confronted. She becomes even more furious, directly accusing Xu Cheng Yi of being responsible for Xia Xue Li's hospitalization and demanding a full explanation.
Episode 10 Recap
Xia Yan's mother, distraught, confronted Xu Cheng Yi, asserting that he was the one who had caused all of Xia Yan's problems. As she demanded an explanation, a nurse interrupted, announcing that Xia Xue Li was in critical condition and needed a signature for the notice. This news caused Xia Yan's mother to faint in shock. Xu Cheng Yi stood by, looking helpless.
Han Shuang urged Xia Yan to stay where she was and wait for news, while Han Shuang herself went to check on Xia Yan's mother. Xu Cheng Yi approached Xia Yan, offering comfort and advising her to take care of herself, reminding her that if she collapsed, no one would be left to look after her parents. Xia Yan was overwhelmed with guilt, regretting her argument with her father.
She wished she had simply humored him, acknowledging that job issues like a bullying boss could be resolved by resignation, but now with both parents ill, she felt powerless. As Xia Yan wept, Xu Cheng Yi watched her, his expression complex, unsure of what to say. Xia Yan then dropped her father's wallet, which sent a wave of foreboding through her. Moments later, the doctor arrived to announce that Xia Xue Li's surgery was a success.
Simultaneously, Han Shuang returned with the good news that Xia Yan's mother had also woken up and was doing well, only suffering from high blood pressure. Relieved, Xia Yan finally let out a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Hao Jie noticed Lin Hao struggling with Old Li's case and offered to step in. However, Lin Hao insisted on handling it himself, determined to prove his worth and avoid being seen as "just a pretty boy."
Hao Jie affirmed her trust in him, saying she hadn't misjudged him. Lin Hao then reminded her of her earlier promise to make him a legal owner of the company, which he believed would change how others perceived him and prevent him from being bullied. Hao Jie reassured him, promising to fulfill her word and begin the process the very next day.
Zhao Xiaolei's younger brother, Xiao Jun, informed her that he had quit his job and found a new one with Lin Hao and Hao Jie. He suggested that Lin Hao had found happiness after leaving Xia Yan. Xiao Jun urged his sister to quickly find someone to marry, even suggesting the older man she recently met, as he seemed caring, mature, and in his "golden years" compared to men her age. Later, Xiao Jun went to the man's book bar.
His behavior and comments about the book bar's lack of profitability and the possibility of converting it into a restaurant were clearly off-putting. He even offered to help manage the book bar, but the owner, who publishes books and cherishes his establishment for fostering literary discussions, politely but firmly told Xiao Jun that he needed someone who loved and understood books, implying Xiao Jun was not that person.
Back at the hospital, after Xia Xue Li regained consciousness, he and Xia Yan's mother discussed Xia Yan returning to Anshan to work. They also stressed that the final decision was hers, not wanting to force her. Xia Yan, not wanting to cause her parents any more distress, agreed to move back to Anshan. Her friends were saddened by the news.
Han Shuang speculated that Xia Yan was leaving because of Xu Cheng Yi, but Xia Yan clarified that her decision was solely for her parents, who were accustomed to the north and she feared for their health. The friends shared a tearful embrace, reluctant to part ways, though Xia Yan admitted her reluctance to leave the vibrant city she had lived in for ten years.
Xia Yan later sought out Mark, pressing him to reveal everything he knew about Lin Hao. Armed with this information, she confronted Xu Cheng Yi, demanding to know why he hadn't informed her earlier about Lin Hao's infidelity. Xu Cheng Yi countered by asking if she would have believed him then, to which Xia Yan conceded she probably wouldn't have.
He then explained that his subtle hints were prompted by his own similar past experience: he was also treated as a "backup" in college when his girlfriend, who was studying abroad, began a relationship with another man. Xu Cheng Yi reflected that Xia Yan, having grown up in a loving home, was fortunate to still believe in love despite being betrayed by a "scumbag" like Lin Hao, a belief he himself no longer held.
After this candid confession, Xu Cheng Yi left. Upon Xia Xue Li's recovery and discharge, Xia Yan presented her father with a gift: his cherished walnuts that her mother had intended to discard. Xia Xue Li was delighted, praising Xia Yan for being a thoughtful daughter and grateful for her and her friends retrieving the walnuts. Xu Cheng Yi then met with Xia Yan downstairs, ostensibly to discuss the hospital bills he had initially covered.
He suggested she could repay him in installments deducted from her salary if she continued working at the company. He argued that her parents weren't yet at an age requiring constant care (perhaps not for another ten or twenty years), and that her youth was precious and shouldn't be spent with regrets.
He reiterated that he wasn't foregoing the money, but offering a flexible repayment plan, and pointed out that her hometown might not offer the same opportunities as Xinzhou for her talents. Unbeknownst to them, Xia Xue Li overheard their conversation from upstairs and found Xu Cheng Yi's arguments quite reasonable. Later, Xia Yan's parents called her into their room, wanting to discuss her return home.
They made it clear they wanted to know her true feelings, not just their wishes, acknowledging that Han Shuang's earlier words about her staying might reflect Xia Yan's own desires. After a moment of hesitation, Xia Yan expressed her desire to remain in Xinzhou, believing that a big city offered the necessary opportunities and space for her professional growth and development, which she couldn't achieve in their hometown.
Episode 11 Recap
Xia Yan's parents supported her decision to remain in Xinzhou, telling her they had already discussed it and agreed. Xia Yan, thrilled, asked about their plans, but her father reassured her not to worry, saying they weren't so old that she needed to care for them. He admitted their main concern was her being bullied again, specifically mentioning Lin Hao. Xia Yan's mother interjected, telling him not to dwell on the past.
Her father then praised Xia Yan's friends, Xiang Nan and Xiao Lei, for their kindness, noting they visited him in the hospital and even helped find his beloved walnuts. Feeling reassured by her supportive friends, he encouraged Xia Yan to stay. Xia Yan promised to work hard for the next three or four years and bring them to Xinzhou, but her parents revealed their own plans to travel across their homeland and enjoy the scenic beauty.
After her parents departed, Han Shuang declared a celebratory shopping spree for Xia Yan staying, wanting to spend a lot of money. However, she then admitted her mother had stopped all her credit cards after a recent argument. Despite this, Han Shuang insisted she could still pay for everyone through her live-streaming and furniture store jobs. As they browsed, Han Shuang spotted Lin Hao and Hao Jie. She confronted Hao Jie, calling her an "old and ugly vixen."
Lin Hao attempted to intervene, but Han Shuang retorted that her words weren't nearly enough to describe Hao Jie's actions. Xia Yan tried to pull Han Shuang away, but Lin Hao lashed out at Xia Yan, accusing her of pretending to be innocent and claiming she had been flirting with Xu Cheng Yi for a long time. Xia Yan clarified that Xu Cheng Yi was merely her boss and their relationship was strictly professional.
Han Shuang threatened to beat Lin Hao if he continued to insult Xia Yan. Lin Hao, however, persisted, accusing Xia Yan of looking down on him and being a social climber, confidently stating she would one day see him in a new light before storming off with Hao Jie. Zhao Xiaolei confessed she was terrified by the near-fight, but Han Shuang remained unfazed, willing to confront Lin Hao. Xia Yan, however, felt he wasn't worth the trouble.
Zhao Xiaolei, still defending her former senior, suggested there might have been a misunderstanding and that long-distance relationships were difficult. Her friends countered, pointing out Lin Hao's egotism and lack of shame for quickly moving on. Xia Yan speculated that Hao Jie might be able to help Lin Hao's career, but noted his vanity and excessive concern for his image would likely lead to his downfall.
Reflecting on the encounter, Xia Yan realized she felt no lingering pain or fear, confirming she had finally let go. Her friends encouraged her newfound freedom. From a rooftop, Xia Yan loudly declared she had given up on Lin Hao, never wanted to see him again, and branded him "obsolete furniture." Meanwhile, Lin Hao was at home, replaying his arguments with Xia Yan, evidently still wrestling with his feelings.
Hao Jie tried to get him to relax and watch a movie, but he was engrossed in reviewing business contracts for an upcoming negotiation. He explained he needed to learn to do things himself, implying he couldn't rely on Hao Jie forever, and contrasted his current self-employment with his past as an employee, where he could "put off work" to "make the boss happy."
Hao Jie, perceiving this as a jab, questioned if he only spent time with her to appease her. Lin Hao quickly corrected himself and agreed to watch a movie. Hao Jie then pressed him about his visible anger when Xia Yan and Xu Cheng Yi were mentioned, asking if he still had feelings for Xia Yan.
Lin Hao claimed it was just "out of habit" and that he broke up with Xia Yan because of his love for Hao Jie, insisting his relationship with Xia Yan was merely "familial affection." Hao Jie asked about his parents' opinion of Xia Yan. Lin Hao stated his mother disliked Xia Yan, believing women age faster. Hao Jie then revealed she had already booked a wedding venue for autumn, a Japanese garden, because Lin Hao liked the color red.
Lin Hao expressed concern that it was happening too quickly, citing his seven-year relationship with Xia Yan before they even planned marriage and the demands of his newly established company. Hao Jie reluctantly agreed to postpone the wedding but insisted he inform his parents about their relationship and arrange a meeting with them. Lin Hao consented and returned to finding a Greta Garbo movie for her, struggling to recall details.
Back at the office, Director Xue congratulated her team on their recent success and announced a call for original project ideas, promising bonuses and leadership opportunities for adopted proposals. Xia Yan arrived late, explaining she was finalizing her holiday leave application, not resignation. Director Xue, visibly annoyed, questioned who approved the leave. Xu Cheng Yi immediately interjected, stating he approved Xia Yan's holiday leave but admitted to forgetting the proper procedures, which he had already explained to HR.
Director Xue quickly apologized for her oversight and welcomed Xia Yan back, telling her to find a seat. Later, Director Xue summoned Yoyo, emphasizing the need for a strong project proposal for the annual collection to avoid the Operations Department submitting a blank. Yoyo struggled for ideas, pointing out the saturated market in women's fashion software platforms.
Director Xue then handed Yoyo materials for "Beauty Online," instructing her to draft a plan within two days and submit it under her own name, stressing that someone from their department needed to step up and take responsibility. Xia Yan presented Xu Cheng Yi with a "Ground Rules (Conduct Code)" agreement outlining her conditions for staying at the company.
She acknowledged her limited bargaining power but insisted on preconditions that included: no non-work-related discussions, no flirting (emotional or physical), no physical contact, and that "debts should be paid." She described it as a "gentleman's agreement" that she hoped he would respect for a harmonious working relationship. Xu Cheng Yi playfully remarked that she could channel her "extra energy" into project planning.
After signing the agreement, Xu Cheng Yi handed her a copy, lightly tapping her hand and reminding her of the "no physical contact" rule, wishing her good luck with her project. Xia Yan's colleagues welcomed her back warmly, mentioning that Amy had informed them about her father's illness and expressing relief for his recovery. They commented that brainstorming sessions had felt incomplete without her. Xia Yan noticed Amy seemed upset.
Her colleagues explained that Amy had consistently been at the bottom of the performance reviews for two months and was in danger of being eliminated. Director Xue had spoken to Amy, highlighting her poor performance and noting that while Xia Yan's absence also placed her at the bottom, Amy and Xia Yan would ultimately be the two lowest performers.
Director Xue acknowledged Xia Yan's superior talent but expressed her reluctance to see Amy, whom she had brought into the company, leave. She sternly warned Amy that only hard work could ensure her continued employment. Xia Yan approached Amy to ask about the categories and themes of previous annual projects. Amy began to respond but then recalled Director Xue's words about their competition and gave vague guidelines about "conformity, feasibility, potential ability to replicate and promote" within SG's business scope.
Xia Yan, sensing Amy's distress about her performance review, tried to reassure her. Amy, however, responded by saying Xia Yan didn't need to worry because she was smart and had "President Xu supporting [her] from behind," implying Amy lacked such a powerful advantage. Amy then apologized for her words. Ma Xiang Nan, undergoing physical therapy, encountered Huo Kai, another patient recovering from an injury.
She jokingly remarked that every time she saw him, some "disaster" seemed to occur, to which he replied that as a surgeon, people only came to him when "something terrible happened." He then advised her not to approach a boxer without making a sound and asked about her recovery from the physical therapist he recommended. He extended an invitation for her to see him perform at the bar.
Later, Ma Xiang Nan attended his performance, joining the enthusiastic crowd in welcoming Huo Kai back after a two-month absence, during which he was hospitalized but gained "new realizations." After his set, Huo Kai asked if she used NetEase Music and sent her a friend request, explaining a new "Listen Together" feature that would allow them to listen to music together and show their physical distance.
He also suggested she listen to a demo song his friend wrote, claiming it expressed his inner feelings. As Ma Xiang Nan drove home, she listened to his music, visibly captivated. At the hospital, a nurse showed Ma Xiang Nan a photo of Ma Ke looking disheveled and drunk. Later, Ma Ke angrily confronted Han Shuang about posting the picture on Weibo, which had garnered numerous comments. He accused her of trying to embarrass him.
Han Shuang, unfazed, claimed the comments were "kind" and that people were simply impressed by his "handsome, confused appearance." Ma Ke expressed alarm, explaining that "Internet gangsters" were attempting to crowdsource information to report him to his hospital superiors. Han Shuang found his discomfort amusing, defending the caption "Young surgeon, born with a silver spoon, indulges in night clubs and gets wasted," calling it "very exciting."
Ma Ke chastised her for crossing basic ethical lines and for not pixelating his face. Han Shuang defiantly told him to "sue me," suggesting it would only bring her more media attention and prolong her popularity. Ma Ke warned that his "Uncle Pai" would have her fired. Han Shuang bet against it, promising to delete the video if she was fired, but until then, she would let people enjoy "Dr. Ma's colorful nightlife."
She offered him a specialized Yakult drink, subtly hinting at the expensive furniture in her store and how a spill would mean another sale for her. Ma Ke, frustrated, called her "lowly" and declared that "karma" would eventually deal with her. Han Shuang, undeterred, bid him farewell, jokingly calling him "Fahai."
Episode 12 Recap
Lin Hao returned home late, attempting to mask the scent of alcohol, but Hao Jie immediately noticed he had been drinking. She urged him to stop meeting with President Fang, a man known for heavy drinking, fearing it would harm him for business. Lin Hao insisted that President Fang was a famous and successful industry figure he couldn't afford to ignore. Hao Jie countered that doing business with him was too difficult, and they weren't in need of money.
Lin Hao, though furious, controlled his anger, stating he didn't want to constantly rely on her resources and needed to build his own career as a man. Hao Jie retorted that if she had wanted a rich or career-driven husband, she wouldn't have divorced. To appease her, Lin Hao quickly promised to accompany her and go out to play.
Hao Jie then suggested they travel to Europe for three months and have a romantic wedding upon their return, but first, she wanted to meet his parents before they left. Lin Hao tried to delay, explaining it was too soon after his breakup with Xia Yan and he worried about his parents forming a bad impression. Hao Jie dismissed his concerns about her age but insisted on meeting them, saying she cared about him acknowledging their relationship.
Lin Hao reluctantly agreed to her wishes. Moments later, Lin Hao saw a prenuptial agreement on the coffee table. Hao Jie explained her lawyer had just sent it and she would show him the finalized version, confidently stating he would agree to whatever she decided, as he had promised before. Lin Hao fumed internally, realizing she wanted him to be a companion without allowing him to pursue wealth or share in her property.
He understood he had to keep her happy without revealing his true anger, as he still needed her support to achieve his goals. Xia Yan, meanwhile, told her friends that since signing an agreement with Xu Cheng Yi, he had stopped bothering her, allowing her to focus entirely on her career. A conversation about women's empowerment and career ambition, combined with her friends discussing online sales and exclusive services, sparked an idea.
Xia Yan, full of inspiration, announced she was going to the office to work overtime, even though it was Sunday, leaving her friends surprised by her sudden enthusiasm. At a company meeting, two proposals for the Operations Department's next project were presented: Maggie's "Beauty Online" and Xia Yan's "Confidante Planet." Maggie described "Beauty Online" as a platform for fashionable young women to trade cosmetics, authenticating products to address the issue of non-refundable used items.
Xia Yan presented "Confidante Planet" as an online networking app, acknowledging the abundance of such apps but arguing for its potential in a niche market. She used NetEase Music's comment section as an example, highlighting how "like-minded people" gathered there, resonating over shared interests. She envisioned a "Confidante Planet" where girls could share everything from lipstick colors to love stories, creating a unique community.
While some colleagues questioned its necessity, comparing it to the existing "Show Me" platform, Xia Yan argued it would drive traffic and increase user retention for "Show Me." When Director Xue asked for opinions, Amy, fearing for her position, cautiously praised "Confidante Planet" but implied it lacked substance.
Xu Cheng Yi, however, strongly favored "Confidante Planet," declaring it more suitable to become SG Technology's most important project than "Beauty Online," which he suggested could be incorporated into a future update of "Show Me." He made his decision final, dismissing the meeting. Word quickly spread among colleagues that Xu Cheng Yi and Director Xue had argued over the projects, with Xu Cheng Yi ultimately insisting on "Confidante Planet."
Employees were surprised that Xu Cheng Yi had even made a pledge to the Chairman, taking full personal responsibility for the project and promising to reach ten million users within a month, a goal many found impossible. Xia Yan approached Director Xue to report on her work and team selection for "Confidante Planet."
However, Director Xue informed her that Xu Cheng Yi had instructed Xia Yan to report directly to him on all matters concerning the project, stating she didn't need Xue's opinion. Xia Yan expressed concern that removing team members might cause trouble for Director Xue's other projects, but Xue dismissed her worries, telling her to focus on forming her own team.
Later, Xia Yan thanked Xu Cheng Yi for his support, to which he replied it was his duty to champion valuable projects, but that success ultimately depended on her. He then revealed that he had already transferred her 20,000 yuan, the project reward, before it was officially announced, jokingly mentioning that others might suspect favoritism. Xia Yan then seized the opportunity to propose abolishing the Operations Department's ranking system.
She argued that the system fostered competition and concealment among colleagues, rather than collaboration. She gave an example of a colleague struggling with a project and another, not in charge, choosing whether to help or let them fail to avoid elimination. Xu Cheng Yi acknowledged her points but noted the system had been Director Xue's plan and had been in place for a year, promising to consider it.
Before Xia Yan left, Xu Cheng Yi gave her and her team company cards to cover meals for the next two months, anticipating long hours of overtime. Xia Yan assured him that her team would do their best. Han Shuang, with her credit cards frozen by her parents, tearfully prepared to sell her beloved designer bags. Ma Ke appeared, mocking her predicament and demanding she delete some old videos, threatening to badmouth her items to potential customers if she refused.
Han Shuang, defiant, challenged him to do his worst, even offering him a drink to "cure his boredom." Ma Ke, getting drunk, accidentally spat on a luxurious bed set. The shop owner, furious, forced Ma Ke to pay for the entire expensive set, which he did using his card, costing him over 18,000 yuan. After paying, Ma Ke heard the shop owner was planning to sell the shop.
He later called someone to pick up the entire bed, despite Han Shuang's surprise, proclaiming it was his business. At home, Ma Xiang Nan was surprised to find Huo Kai in her kitchen. Her mother explained that Huo Kai had helped them fix their broken speakers during square dancing the previous night, even accompanying them on guitar.
She praised his good character and passion for music, and even prepared chicken soup for him, showing an unusual level of affection, much to Ma Xiang Nan's bewilderment. Her mother playfully hinted that Huo Kai was interested in Ma Xiang Nan. Meanwhile, Amy, who Xia Yan had selected for her "Confidante Planet" team, was struggling to find new employment, having sent out numerous resumes without success.
She tearfully approached Xia Yan, apologizing profusely for her past rude behavior and for purposefully alienating her. Amy admitted she had felt immense pressure and jealousy because Xia Yan, despite being a newer employee, seemed to perform better, making Amy fear for her job. Xia Yan reassured her, stating that everyone experiences stress differently and that their past issues were forgotten.
She encouraged Amy to work hard with the team, highlighting Amy's strengths in developing creative and heartwarming ideas, which "Confidante Planet" needed. Amy, touched, promised to do her best, her trust in Xia Yan evident. That evening, Hao Jie, feeling bored, proposed to Lin Hao that they travel to Italy and ride motorbikes, ready to leave in two days, as her visa was prepared.
Lin Hao, however, said he couldn't go, as he was close to signing a big deal with President Fang. Hao Jie became frustrated, accusing him of not listening to her warnings about President Fang's character and his demanding drinking habits. She believed he was too young and naive to handle such a large project and questioned if he was working hard for the company or to impress Xia Yan.
Hao Jie asserted that he had changed since she gave him company shares and legal status, spending all his time drinking with clients and neglecting her, fearing he would become like her ex-husband who had affairs. She insisted they leave in two days and threatened to go alone if he refused. Hao Jie emphasized her no-nonsense attitude, reminding him that she ended her ten-year marriage abruptly when she wanted to.
Enraged, Lin Hao accused Hao Jie of not truly loving him but merely seeking a subservient partner. He called her a discarded old woman who was manipulating him by withholding property while demanding his presence, making it impossible for him to leave. He angrily confessed that he hadn't introduced her to his parents because he didn't want them to think he was with an older woman just for money.
He claimed he was with her for love and needed to prove his worth through his career. Hao Jie then asked if they would still be together if they were both poor. Lin Hao defiantly declared that he would never be poor; he would become richer than her, making her sign agreements in the future. He then told her to go to Europe for as long as she liked. The next morning, Hao Jie packed her bags.
She paused, looking at Lin Hao sleeping on the sofa with a hint of sorrow, then left him a letter, stating she had left him all her company shares and transferred 300,000 yuan, asking him never to call her again.
Episode 13 Recap
Lin Hao sought out Xiao Lei to inquire about Xia Yan. Xiao Lei informed him that Xia Yan had returned to SG Tech and had no involvement with Xu Cheng Yi, clarifying that their interaction that night was merely a misunderstanding. Xia Yan's return to SG Tech was solely for work, and she was also caring for her ailing father.
Xiao Lei observed that Xia Yan had been looking after her father, getting very little sleep, and had lost a lot of weight, always internalizing her struggles and not letting others see her negative energy. Xiao Lei then accused Lin Hao of profoundly hurting Xia Yan, causing her immense difficulty.
Lin Hao, in turn, blamed Hao Jie, stating that Hao Jie was shameless and that he had clarified his intentions while in Beijing, planning to propose to Xia Yan the following year. He also accused Xu Cheng Yi of instigating misunderstandings between him and Xia Yan. Lin Hao admitted he had initially tried to anger Xia Yan but found he couldn't go through with it.
He asserted that he had cut all ties with Hao Jie and desperately hoped Xia Yan would give him another chance. Xiao Lei, however, refused to intervene, reminding Lin Hao of the sadness Xia Yan had endured. Ma Ke finalized the acquisition of Uncle Pai's coffee shop. Uncle Pai expressed concern that Han Shuang might quit upon learning of the new ownership, but Ma Ke confidently declared he would ensure she stayed, asserting that he understood Han Shuang's personality well.
Upon seeing Han Shuang, Ma Ke immediately adopted the persona of the new boss, declaring her fired. Han Shuang, feigning indignation, challenged him, claiming she had a contract that prevented arbitrary dismissal and reminding him his parents' plastic surgery earnings funded the purchase. Ma Ke pretended not to know about any such contract. Uncle Pai then intervened, corroborating Han Shuang's claim and stating that Ma Ke was legally bound to honor her prior agreement.
Ma Ke, appearing to concede, was pleased. Han Shuang then suggested a farewell drink with Uncle Pai, subtly excusing Ma Ke. Once he was gone, Han Shuang revealed to Uncle Pai that she had seen through their charade, recognizing it as a tactic to provoke her into staying. She admitted the shop was her favorite and she was merely playing along, intending to let Ma Ke enjoy his triumph for a while before asserting her true control.
Uncle Pai found their dynamic both amusing and endearing. Xiao Jun, noting that Lin Hao and Hao Jie had broken up and Lin Hao had gained some wealth, tried to manipulate Xiao Lei into reconsidering Lin Hao. He met with Xiao Lei and urged her to visit Lin Hao more often, discouraging her from associating with Fei Tianming. Xiao Jun dismissed Fei Tianming as a burden due to his child and accused him of being inconsiderate.
Xiao Lei was surprised by Xiao Jun's sudden change of heart, as he had previously praised Fei Tianming for his talent. While they were talking, Xiao Lei overheard Xiao Jun on a phone call attempting to sell a pen holder. She then confronted Xiao Jun, revealing that he had taken and sold an item from Fei Tianming's book bar, leaving him speechless.
Later, Xiao Jun made another attempt, inviting Xiao Lei to a grand hotel under the pretext that Lin Hao was suffering greatly, having barely eaten and looking increasingly gaunt. He hoped this plea would move Xiao Lei to console Lin Hao. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Xiao Lei went upstairs to Lin Hao's room. She found him sitting in a dazed state, appearing truly forlorn.
Lin Hao immediately expressed deep remorse for hurting Xia Yan, viewing his loss of her as deserved punishment. He confessed that he couldn't let go of his feelings, stating his love for Xia Yan had never wavered. Lin Hao lamented his inability to provide for Xia Yan, fearing he could only bring her hardship. Xiao Lei tried to comfort him, expressing belief in his capabilities and assuring him that persistence could reunite them.
Lin Hao, however, was consumed by sadness and frustration, feeling that his diligent efforts in networking and enduring sacrifices like excessive drinking were insignificant compared to the power wielded by those from privileged backgrounds. He poured out his despair, questioning the fairness of a society where his hard-earned master's degree amounted to nothing, while others achieved success with minimal effort. This moved Xiao Lei to tears.
Lin Hao reflected on his past as the sole graduate student and pride of his village, and how Xiao Lei once told him he was Xia Yan's pride too. He admitted he once believed it, but later lost confidence, realizing he could offer Xia Yan nothing that others couldn't provide with ease. Lin Hao confessed that his involvement with Hao Jie was merely a fleeting connection, devoid of genuine feeling.
He explained that due to his position in the company, he felt compelled to compromise and endure humiliation when Hao Jie made demands, all in an effort to quickly establish a stable home and warm relationship for Xia Yan. He acknowledged his error, regretting that his pursuit of what he thought was best ultimately led him to lose the "most beautiful her." Xiao Lei, tears streaming down her face, smiled faintly.
She mused that life is rarely smooth sailing, and one only truly grows by navigating through adversity and low points, recalling Lin Hao's own words to her during their college days. Seeing him, Xiao Lei felt that despite everything, Lin Hao was still the person she once knew. Moved by their conversation, Xiao Lei made a phone call, pretending she needed to see Xia Yan, and asked her to come downstairs to her company. Lin Hao was waiting outside.
Xia Yan initially wanted to avoid him but decided it was time for a clear discussion. She expressed her astonishment that the person she had waited for had casually ended their relationship. Lin Hao took her hand, repeatedly apologizing. At that moment, Xu Cheng Yi witnessed their interaction from afar and turned to leave. Xia Yan, tears welling up, pulled her hand away.
She recalled Lin Hao's past promise that he would never say "I'm sorry" to her because he would never do anything to hurt her or make her sad. Now, she pointed out, he had said "sorry" multiple times. Xia Yan calmly stated that her purpose in meeting him was to bring closure.
She accused him of willingly believing she had an affair with Xu Cheng Yi to justify his own departure, and now, with Hao Jie gone, he was willing to believe it was a misunderstanding because he had no better options. Lin Hao tried to interject, asserting his love for her, but Xia Yan firmly declared that he only believed he still loved her because he currently lacked alternatives.
She calmly stated that from that moment on, they would have nothing more to say to each other and would be completely unrelated. She wished him a bright future. Meanwhile, Han Shuang discovered that Fei Tianming was a well-known but incredibly low-key designer, having won a prestigious international design award. Xiao Lei was surprised, as Fei Tianming had only ever told her he worked in publishing and owned a bookstore, never mentioning his significant achievements.
She wondered if he had withheld this information because he feared she had ulterior motives. Han Shuang dismissed this, explaining that Fei Tianming was simply a very pure and notoriously low-key individual in the design world, emphasizing that true love transcends status and wealth. Despite Han Shuang's reassurance that Fei Tianming genuinely admired her, Xiao Lei still felt a significant gap between their backgrounds and capabilities.
Xiao Lei went to Fei Tianming's book bar to return the pen holder that Xiao Jun had taken. Fei Tianming graciously dismissed her apology, saying that Xiao Lei was not Xiao Jun and that as an adult, Xiao Jun should be responsible for his own actions. He revealed he was aware of Xiao Jun being spoiled at home and expressed concern over the fact that Xiao Lei's parents had sold her favorite books when she was younger.
He recounted hearing that they believed girls didn't need extensive education, as their ultimate purpose was to find a husband. Fei Tianming sympathized deeply with Xiao Lei, acknowledging the challenges she faced growing up in such a family. He invited her to dinner, but she declined, suggesting the weekend instead. As Xiao Lei left, she saw Fei Tianming's ex-wife, Wang Meng, arriving with their son, Dou Dou. Fei Tianming greeted his child with immense affection.
Witnessing their familial interaction, Xiao Lei offered a quiet smile and discreetly departed. Lin Hao's company encountered severe financial difficulties as three major companies dissolved their cooperation, resulting in minimal liquidated damages. His secretary informed him that the company's public account lacked sufficient funds to pay salaries the following Monday. Lin Hao promised to cover the salaries by drawing from his personal account that weekend.
The secretary then announced her resignation, citing a myriad of personal reasons including her mother wanting her to take a civil service exam, her father's poor health, her grandmother's rheumatism, and her boyfriend proposing marriage and buying a house. Lin Hao, resigned, accepted her resignation and asked her to hand over her work directly to him.
Adding to his woes, Lin Hao received a phone call from his stockbroker, who informed him that his investments in the rare metal market had been continuously falling, contradicting earlier promises of profit, though the broker still insisted prices would eventually rise. Later, Wang Meng, Fei Tianming's ex-wife, visited Xiao Lei, offering a gift from Shanghai. Wang Meng explained that she and Fei Tianming divorced when their son, Dou Dou, was three years old.
Now older, Dou Dou was increasingly questioning why his parents didn't live together and yearned for his father's constant presence. Wang Meng admitted she had considered reconciling with Fei Tianming for Dou Dou's sake, but Fei Tianming had told her he was with Xiao Lei. Wang Meng then requested that if Xiao Lei and Fei Tianming were to build a future together, Xiao Lei would be considerate of Dou Dou's feelings, especially during his critical developmental stage. Feeling overwhelmed and uncomfortable, Xiao Lei quickly rose and excused herself.
Episode 14 Recap
Zhao Xiaolei confessed to Han Shuang that she felt she wasn't good enough for Mr. Fei, who was an outstanding man. His ex-wife had even approached her, making Zhao Xiaolei feel like a homewrecker. Han Shuang, however, urged her not to overthink it, reminding her that Mr. Fei was divorced and she shouldn't feel guilty about pursuing her own happiness.
Zhao Xiaolei admitted she had initially used her "ten taboos" to judge him and thought they were unsuitable, but after getting to know him, she found him quite nice, scoring him 60 points despite him not meeting all her requirements. She felt some of her rules wavered, and she wanted to give them a chance. However, she concluded that "Heaven, this proctor, is stricter than I am," believing Mr. Fei deserved someone better, as they were from different worlds.
Han Shuang suspected Zhao Xiaolei was giving up due to Mr. Fei's identity, but Zhao Xiaolei clarified that seeing his ex-wife with their child had truly solidified her decision not to disrupt what she perceived as a "warm family of three." Han Shuang countered that he was divorced, and Zhao Xiaolei was in love with the current man, not his past.
She advised her to trust her intuition in love and never give up on someone she liked, dismissing Zhao Xiaolei's "proctor" and "destroyer" talk as annoying. Zhao Xiaolei then asked Han Shuang not to tell Xia Yan or Cousin Xiang about this, not wanting them to worry. Meanwhile, Xu Cheng Yi brought Xia Yan to a gathering with several business owners. The bosses praised Xu Cheng Yi for dominating the app market and now venturing into the "Confidante Planet" app.
Xu Cheng Yi clarified that Xia Yan was the primary person responsible for the project, leading to playful remarks about him having both business and beauty. Xia Yan stood up to toast them, requesting their future support. Amy, who was also present, joined in the toasts. Xia Yan tried to signal her to slow down, but Amy was already too inebriated to notice and continued drinking with the bosses.
When the bosses suggested Xia Yan also drink, Xu Cheng Yi quickly intervened, explaining that while Xia Yan excelled at project work, she was not a strong drinker and offered to drink on her behalf. The bosses accepted, implying he would have to drink more than just three cups. Later, Zhao Xiaolei met Mr. Fei and brought up his ex-wife's visit.
Mr. Fei asked her not to mention his ex-wife, asserting they had no relationship, and Zhao Xiaolei shouldn't let it bother her. He acknowledged her discomfort and her wish to travel, assuring her she could visit the book cafe anytime as he would be away next month to gather materials for his "Museum of Changes" project. Zhao Xiaolei felt he liked her but explained she couldn't continue the relationship, fearing she would become a "sinner" by preventing a family reunion.
She bid him farewell, but Mr. Fei, with tears in his eyes, hurried after her. He offered her his award-winning sculpture, which she declined, deeming it too valuable and an "undeserved reward." He then presented her with a small engraved seal bearing the character "Xiao," representing her name, as a memento. He reiterated that he hoped he hadn't caused her too much trouble and that he was happy she was happy.
Zhao Xiaolei expressed her happiness at having met him and promised to visit his museum. After the gathering, a tipsy Xu Cheng Yi was escorted home by Xia Yan. Amy sent Xia Yan a text message, urging her to get him home safely, noting how much he had drunk for the sake of "Confidante Planet."
Despite his intoxication, Xu Cheng Yi was still focused on work, instructing Xia Yan on the app's final development stages and the importance of user diversion. He collapsed into Xia Yan's arms, falling asleep, but not before reiterating his belief that if the business deals went through, "Confidante Planet" would surely thrive. Back at her apartment, Zhao Xiaolei visited her senior classmate, Lin Hao.
Lin Hao warmly welcomed her, insisting on showing her around his home, including his bedroom, which he jokingly called his "Emperor and Empress sleeping quarters." Zhao Xiaolei felt awkward, but Lin Hao assured her there were no other women in his life, even opening a closet door to prove it. Zhao Xiaolei suspected he was drunk, but Lin Hao denied it and even attempted to dance.
To get him to rest, Zhao Xiaolei cleverly told him to "guard the sofa" so it wouldn't run away. Lin Hao found this a profound insight and dutifully lay down on the sofa to watch it, telling her to get water for herself from the kitchen. As he quickly fell asleep, Zhao Xiaolei gently covered him with a blanket. Xia Yan tried to leave Xu Cheng Yi's place, but he grabbed her arm, preventing her departure.
He insisted she couldn't leave SG Technology unless a truly better opportunity arose, stating he would even "drive her away" if she didn't pursue it. He shared that he had once encouraged Ling Wei to go to the U. S. , a decision he didn't regret despite later events, as it was her chance.
Xia Yan acknowledged that she had encouraged Lin Hao to go to Beijing and that both their experiences were failures, though Xu Cheng Yi corrected her that they "just failed" but "weren't wrong." Xia Yan then asked if he admitted to failure, to which he responded by showing her a desk covered with files—all his failed projects.
He explained that he kept them to remind himself not to forget past mistakes, asserting that truly successful people experience more failures, while only those who do nothing have a perfectly smooth journey. Xia Yan was surprised, having always thought he was effortlessly successful. As he spoke, he drifted off to sleep. Xia Yan noticed a framed "Three-point Covenant" she had signed with him hanging formally on the wall. She also found her lost bracelet on his desk.
She moved him to the sofa and couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked. Later that night, Zhao Xiaolei was waiting up for Xia Yan. When Xia Yan finally arrived home, Zhao Xiaolei chided her for being out so late, then inquired about Xu Cheng Yi. Xia Yan then posed a hypothetical question: what would be the mindset of someone who kept a lost item for many years without returning it, especially if it was of little monetary value?
Zhao Xiaolei speculated that it must hold significant "sentimental value," explaining that an item's worth is not always measured in money; something worthless to one person could be a priceless treasure to another. Xia Yan, recalling her cheap bracelet found at Xu Cheng Yi's, found it hard to believe it could hold such value for him. The next morning, Xu Cheng Yi awoke to find a blanket over him, realizing Xia Yan must have covered him.
Xia Yan, who had not slept well, replayed the previous night's events in her mind: Xu Cheng Yi defending her at the banquet and his impassioned plea for her to stay at SG. She felt a new, unfamiliar emotion stirring within her for him. At work, Xia Yan attempted to meet President Yan of NK Technology to pitch a collaboration. However, his secretary quickly dismissed her, stating he was busy and suggesting she return another time.
Undeterred, Xia Yan went back to Xu Cheng Yi, informing him she had learned President Yan frequently played golf and believed that could be a channel to reach him. Xu Cheng Yi revealed that he and President Yan were schoolmates from Xinzhou University of Technology, a year apart, but they mutually disliked each other and President Yan would never cooperate with SG Technology. Xia Yan, however, insisted on trying again, having only been rejected once.
She then asked Xu Cheng Yi if they had met before, hinting at finding her lost bracelet at his place. Xu Cheng Yi suggested they talk outside the office, then revealed they had met three years ago at Xinzhou airport. He remembered her crying on the phone about a canceled trip. During his recollection, he suddenly felt dizzy. Xia Yan immediately recognized his low blood sugar and offered him a supplement from her bag, giving him the whole package.
This triggered her memory, and she realized he was the one from the airport who had suffered low blood sugar. She also remembered dropping her bracelet that day while rushing for her flight, realizing Xu Cheng Yi had picked it up but couldn't return it then. She understood now why he had stared at her in the Star Technology elevator. Xia Yan assured him she could handle the NK Technology matter.
Episode 15 Recap
Xia Yan found Mr. Yan, inviting him to a golf competition for new entrepreneurs. She praised his exceptional golf skills, stating it would be a shame for a master like him not to participate. Mr. Yan, however, dismissed her compliments, telling her not to flatter him like Xu Cheng Yi.
He then discovered the competition was sponsored by SG Technology and flatly refused to attend, advising Xia Yan to tell Xu Cheng Yi that if he wanted to collaborate, he should come in person. Back home, Xia Yan confided in her friends, expressing her frustration that Mr. Yan was even more difficult to deal with than Xu Cheng Yi. She explained that his company's Hua Xin app was the ideal partner for their Confidante Planet project, and desperately sought advice.
Her friends debated Xu Cheng Yi's character, with one suggesting his gesture with the bracelet showed he was a romantic, while another thought he simply collected old items. Ma Xiangnan suggested that Mr. Yan’s coldness likely stemmed from an unresolved issue with Xu Cheng Yi, and that Xu Cheng Yi should resolve it himself. Later, feeling overwhelmed, Xia Yan's colleague Emmy encouraged her to relax by watching videos on her phone, where Xia Yan unexpectedly found a new opportunity.
Meanwhile, Director Xue Ning approached Xu Cheng Yi, proposing to take over the negotiation with Mr. Yan, believing Xia Yan was incapable of securing the deal. Xu Cheng Yi refused, explaining that while he had indeed put Xue Ning in charge of the overall project launch, he deliberately sent Xia Yan to Mr. Yan.
He reasoned that Mr. Yan viewed him as an "imaginary enemy," and sending a junior employee like Xia Yan might cause Mr. Yan to lower his guard, whereas Xue Ning's involvement would make Mr. Yan realize SG's desperation and treat them even more ruthlessly.
Xue Ning reminded him of his promise to the board to secure over ten million users upon launch, emphasizing that this was no time to "train a newbie" and asking if he was staking the company's future on Xia Yan. Xu Cheng Yi's silence indicated his unwavering commitment.
Driven by her newfound opportunity, Xia Yan raced to a lecture given by Mr. Yan Chang Jun at Xinzhou University of Technology, only to find it was by appointment only and fully booked. Undeterred, she snuck in through a back door. When Mr. Yan briefly left the stage to use the restroom, Xia Yan intercepted him, apologizing for the unconventional timing but insisting she needed just three minutes to pitch her project.
Mr. Yan sarcastically remarked on Xu Cheng Yi's apparent change in taste, now fancying "girls like her." Xia Yan passionately argued that SG's Confidante Planet and NK's Hua Xin were complementary and a collaboration would be a win-win, crucial for preventing foreign companies from monopolizing the domestic market. Mr. Yan dismissed her patriotic appeal, stating that internet competition was international and only the fittest survive.
He then countered by asking if she knew Xu Cheng Yi once sold a piece of software to a foreign firm, also mentioning Xu Cheng Yi's former partner, Ling Wei. Xia Yan immediately began researching online, discovering information about an International Programming Competition where two "code buddies" from Xinzhou University of Technology, both campus legends, were champions. When Xu Cheng Yi arrived, having been called by Mr. Yan, Xia Yan directly confronted him.
She asked if selling the software years ago was Ling Wei's idea and if he took the money, asserting that Mr. Yan's judgment could be clouded by bias. Xu Cheng Yi, impressed by her insight, admitted she was right. Xia Yan then deduced that Ling Wei was the girl both Xu Cheng Yi and Yan Chang Jun liked, leading to their rivalry over technical disagreements and romantic interests.
Xu Cheng Yi confirmed that he and Yan Chang Jun had competed for Ling Wei, who ultimately chose him after winning a competition they had set up. He then informed Xia Yan that he would take over the NK negotiation, telling her not to worry about that matter. Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaolei's brother approached Lin Hao, worried about rumors of the company shutting down due to lack of orders and financial difficulties following President Hao's departure.
Lin Hao reassured him, admitting the company was in a tough period with cash flow problems, but he had secured a one-million-yuan investment this week, with more potentially coming from other large companies. He urged his employee to focus on business and not worry about money, telling him that those who lacked faith could leave. Zhao Xiaolei's brother, convinced by Lin Hao's confidence, pledged his unwavering loyalty, promising never to leave.
Xu Cheng Yi later met Yan Chang Jun for coffee, attempting to bridge their seven-year-long rift. Xu Cheng Yi acknowledged Yan Chang Jun as a past friend and teacher. Yan Chang Jun, however, was cynical, mocking Xu Cheng Yi as an executive of a listed company while he ran a small one, claiming he never dared be an enemy. When Xu Cheng Yi inquired about NK's rumored IPO, Yan Chang Jun dismissed it as gossip.
Xu Cheng Yi subtly suggested NK wouldn't want to make an enemy of SG, but Yan Chang Jun retorted, accusing Xu Cheng Yi of being the fearful one. He criticized Xu Cheng Yi for sending a "rookie" like Xia Yan instead of someone experienced like Director Xue Ning, implying Xu Cheng Yi's true motive was to have Xia Yan rejected so he could blame Yan Chang Jun for the failed cooperation.
Xu Cheng Yi defended Xia Yan's ability, but Yan Chang Jun suspected Xu Cheng Yi had a personal interest in her. Xu Cheng Yi insisted his interest was solely in her work ability and then declared he would personally handle the collaboration details. Yan Chang Jun sensed Xu Cheng Yi's unease and suggested he was worried about Xia Yan.
Despite Xu Cheng Yi's emphasis on the business benefits for NK's IPO and not letting personal issues hinder their companies, Yan Chang Jun stated he would only work with Xia Yan, not Xu Cheng Yi. Xu Cheng Yi, in turn, refused, citing Yan Chang Jun's earlier dismissal of Xia Yan as a rookie. Xu Cheng Yi then promised not to tell Xia Yan about his and Ling Wei's past, but Yan Chang Jun warned that secrets couldn't be kept forever.
Yan Chang Jun concluded that Xu Cheng Yi hadn't changed, still lacking straightforwardness and being "too exhausting" to work with. Xu Cheng Yi left, emphasizing the importance of the collaboration for NK. Zhao Xiaolei met Lin Hao, offering him comfort and reminding him of his past academic brilliance, urging him to pull himself together.
Lin Hao expressed his deep regret and desire to reconcile with Xia Yan, asking Zhao Xiaolei to speak to her on his behalf and give their "seven years of love a chance." Zhao Xiaolei agreed to try. Later, Xu Cheng Yi finally opened up to Xia Yan about his past with Yan Chang Jun and Ling Wei. He revealed that he and Yan Chang Jun had indeed made a bet on a programming competition, with Ling Wei as the "stakes."
However, Ling Wei also won the championship, and chose Xu Cheng Yi, causing the rift between the two men. Ling Wei later went abroad. Xu Cheng Yi then connected this to their past encounter at the airport three years ago, confirming that he was waiting for Ling Wei, who never showed up, just as Xia Yan was waiting for someone who didn't return.
He recounted how Xia Yan's candy and spontaneous smile in the midst of her tears had left a lasting impression on him, stating her candy "saved" him. He confessed to feeling despair that day and admired Xia Yan's ability to openly express her emotions and quickly find joy. He decided to keep her bracelet and candy as a memento, hoping to learn from her and eventually let go of his past.
He reflected on his passive relationship with Ling Wei, wondering if things would have been different had he taken initiative. He concluded that sometimes one meets "the right person at the wrong time." That evening, Xia Yan arrived home to a room filled with candles and music, playing a song she and Lin Hao used to love. Lin Hao appeared, reminiscing about their shared memories and pleading for another chance, calling their seven years together his happiest.
Xia Yan, however, took the remote, turned off the music, and declared that their story, which began with that song, would also end with it. Lin Hao continued to plead, but Xia Yan firmly confronted him about his past betrayal, his unfounded accusations of her cheating with Xu Cheng Yi, and his recent relationship with Hao Jie. She accused him of lying to Hao Jie, using her for her money and company, and then breaking up with her.
Xia Yan stated she no longer recognized the man he had become, seeing him as "shrewd and also more stupid" than the person she knew at school. She reminded him of her unwavering support for his past aspirations but declared she could no longer help him with his current ambitions. When Lin Hao offered to change anything she disliked, Xia Yan challenged him to return everything he gained from Hao Jie, including the company.
Lin Hao vehemently refused, claiming he "earned it" and "won't let go of it." Seeing his lack of true remorse, Xia Yan concluded that despite her reluctance to let go of their seven years, she could not be with someone who lacked a clear conscience and whose actions she couldn't forget. She definitively told him there was no "us" anymore and asked him to leave.
Episode 16 Recap
After Lin Hao left Xia Yan's apartment, Zhao Xiaolei returned to the room where Xia Yan was, still upset about Lin Hao's attempt to reconcile. Xia Yan admonished Zhao Xiaolei for helping Lin Hao, remarking that she was responsible for eating the food she set out. Xia Yan questioned if Zhao Xiaolei would ever go back to her ex, Liu Yi Ming, if he returned. Zhao Xiaolei quickly replied that she wouldn't, agreeing with Xia Yan's stance.
Zhao Xiaolei apologized, explaining that she was softhearted and Lin Hao had helped her a lot during their school days, but she confirmed she had told Lin Hao this was the absolute last time she would assist him. Xia Yan told her not to apologize, simply asking that she understood her point. They then sat down to eat the prawns Lin Hao had made, finding them quite delicious.
At a performance venue, Huo Kai was informed by his bandmate, Leo, that their drummer, Xiao Peng, had been in a car accident and couldn't perform. Huo Kai suggested changing the program. He then took the stage and apologized to the audience for the absence of their drummer, explaining he would perform a solo song he wrote before forming the band. Many audience members were displeased, demanding rock and roll and their money back.
Just as the situation grew tense, Ma Xiangnan appeared on stage and skillfully took over the drums. Huo Kai, initially surprised, quickly adapted and began to sing. Later, at a celebration with the band, Huo Kai thanked Ma Xiangnan for saving their performance. Ma Xiangnan expressed that she enjoyed playing but couldn't continue as she had work commitments.
Huo Kai and his bandmates praised her drumming, with Huo Kai admitting he was surprised, as his aunt had mentioned Ma Xiangnan hadn't played instruments since middle school. Ma Xiangnan revealed that her father taught her, and she occasionally practices for relaxation, but keeps it a secret from her mother because anything related to her father upsets her. Huo Kai suggested she consider joining a band, given her talent, but she reiterated that drumming was only for her relaxation.
He then playfully accused her of being a secret fan, given how well she knew their songs. As a "reward," Huo Kai invited her to be a special guest drummer for a charity performance next month at the Jingxin Nursing Home in Xinzhou, noting he would be away for a month and she'd likely miss him. Ma Xiangnan declined and left.
After she departed, Huo Kai's bandmates teased him about Ma Xiangnan, calling her captivating and urging him to pursue her, but Huo Kai stated that he doesn't date. Mark visited Han Shuang's store. Finding her sleeping on a bed, he mischievously used his phone to play a loud sound, waking her abruptly. Before confronting her, he had complained to someone else about her treating his place like a hotel and wondered why no one could manage her.
He then scolded her for sleeping during working hours and her generally "unreliable" attitude. Han Shuang defended herself, explaining she worked a night shift. Mark then brought up their contract's Key Performance Indicators and offered an extension, but Han Shuang insisted she would meet them. Mark tried to engage her in a "conversation about life," questioning her lack of interest in dating or a stable job.
Han Shuang retorted that if he were "reliable," Ma Xiangnan might like him, advising him to sort himself out first. She emphasized that she lives authentically and that her friendship with Xia Yan thrives because Xia Yan understands her, unlike Mark, who is "exhausting." Han Shuang then left the store, ignoring Mark's reminders about her employment contract. Huo Kai later showed up at Ma Xiangnan's house, intending to make dumplings.
Ma Xiangnan was surprised by his presence, especially his attempt at making dumplings, which she playfully described as his "first masterpiece." He claimed he'd be an excellent chef if it were his dream. Huo Kai remarked that he felt they had known each other for a long time and that she understood him well, to which Ma Xiangnan responded that his thoughts were simple enough for anyone to understand.
Huo Kai explained his visit was to keep her mother company, emphasizing the value of family meals. Ma Xiangnan reminded him to keep her drumming a secret from her mother. Soon after, her mother returned. During dinner, Ma Xiangnan's mother doted on Huo Kai, offering him food despite Ma Xiangnan's protests about hygiene. Huo Kai then mischievously put wasabi in a dumpling, which Ma Xiangnan ate, prompting a playful exchange about secrets.
Huo Kai brought up the upcoming charity performance at Jingxin Nursing Home, mentioning Ma Xiangnan declined his invitation. Her mother, proud of her own singing achievements, enthusiastically volunteered to go instead. As Ma Xiangnan walked Huo Kai out after dinner, she thanked him for keeping her secret. She explained that her mother would cry whenever she saw a drum set in the past because it reminded her of Ma Xiangnan's late father, and they never spoke of him.
Huo Kai suggested that after so many years, her mother's feelings might have changed, recounting how her mother had fondly shared stories of Ma Xiangnan and her father with him, implying a desire to talk about him. He believed her mother would be happy to know she still played the drums. In a job interview, a company manager expressed great satisfaction with Han Shuang and was eager to hire her.
Han Shuang, however, presented a series of unconventional demands: flexible hours to get her beauty sleep and avoid rush hour traffic, and at least a month off each year for international travel. To her surprise, the manager agreed to all her requests, praising her potential and emphasizing the company's flexible culture. When pressed to sign a contract, Han Shuang stated that she simply didn't like the company, despite its bright, spacious office with French doors, and walked out.
The manager then revealed to a colleague that Han Shuang was the daughter of the Hualan Group's chairman, explaining their extraordinary willingness to accommodate her. Later, Han Shuang received a phone call from her mother, who was furious about her refusal to work. Han Shuang calmly told her mother that she knew what she wanted to do, and if her mother didn't want her to do it, she shouldn't bother with her.
Her mother threatened to cut off her financial support, to which Han Shuang politely responded, "Okay, thank you. Bye bye." Zhao Xiaolei's brother, Zhao Xiaojun, approached her to inquire about Lin Hao. Zhao Xiaolei spoke highly of Lin Hao, calling him the "Prince Charming" of their student union. She recounted how Lin Hao had encouraged her, a shy new student, to join the union and patiently taught her things when others wouldn't.
Zhao Xiaojun, observing her animated description, inferred that she was interested in Lin Hao. He suggested that since they were both single, they should pursue a relationship, praising Lin Hao's potential business success and noting he didn't have complicated personal entanglements like Zhao Xiaolei's ex, Fei Tian Ming, who had a child. Zhao Xiaolei quickly shut him down, clarifying that she only had respect for Lin Hao and that his recent visit was purely for Xia Yan.
She then warned her brother not to speak ill of Xia Yan. Meanwhile, Lin Hao secured a mortgage on his car. The lender reassured him that the car would remain his if he repaid the loan within six months, or he could apply for repayment in stages, noting their bank offered the lowest interest rates. Lin Hao appeared distressed as he signed the contract, reflecting internally that he couldn't give up what he had worked so hard to achieve.
After a meeting with Emmy, Xia Yan was picked up by a man, which Emmy later informed Xu Chengyi. Xu Chengyi, suspecting it might be Lin Hao, was visibly concerned. However, Xia Yan had been picked up by Yan Changjun. Yan Changjun led her to a building and presented her with an employment contract, offering her a director position in a new cloud operation and maintenance department at New Key Technology, complete with her own office.
He implied that he valued talent more than Xu Chengyi, who should have anticipated such a recruitment. Xia Yan politely declined the offer, explaining that she felt a debt of gratitude to Xu Chengyi for inviting her to SG Technology and genuinely enjoyed her current role and colleagues. She stated she would not proactively leave SG Technology as long as they wished for her to stay. Yan Changjun found her response "interesting."
Back at the office, Xu Chengyi confronted Xia Yan, noting that Emmy had reported on her meeting much earlier, implying he knew she had been gone for a long time. He sarcastically asked if she had used the extra hours to "clear things up," and told her to arrange a half-day leave with HR. Xia Yan, however, offered to treat him to dinner to discuss a "private matter." Xu Chengyi agreed.
During dinner, Xia Yan revealed she had met with Yan Changjun. Xu Chengyi expressed his displeasure, believing she shouldn't have gotten involved in the Confidante Planet project negotiations, which he considered his responsibility. He went on to explain Yan Changjun's ambition and the pressure from investors, reassuring her that he had his own plans for the project. Xia Yan then clarified that Yan Changjun had offered her a job at New Key Technology, which she had refused.
At that moment, Yan Changjun called Xia Yan's phone. Xu Chengyi took the phone, informed Yan Changjun that Xia Yan had other missions and would no longer be involved in their collaboration, and explicitly stated that Xia Yan would not be joining New Key Technology. Yan Changjun then directly asked Xu Chengyi if he liked Xia Yan. Xu Chengyi openly admitted, "I do like her," which visibly startled Xia Yan.
Xu Chengyi then warned Yan Changjun not to bother Xia Yan with any personal issues between them. As Xu Chengyi drove Xia Yan home, he presented her with a bracelet, which was her own lost bracelet. He explained that he had kept it in his wine cabinet because seeing her contagious smile, captured in the memory of their first meeting at the airport, gave him strength during his own struggles.
He confessed he should have returned it earlier and couldn't sleep until he did so. Xia Yan, calling it "just an old bracelet," suggested he keep it, but Xu Chengyi insisted she needed it more. He revealed that the bracelet had once been his "medicine" to help him move past a previous relationship, but now that he was "cured," he no longer needed it, especially since he could see "that girl" (Xia Yan) every day.
Xia Yan observed that Xu Chengyi had gotten angry twice that day, noting his "headstrong" behavior and calling him a "special" boss. Later, Han Shuang asked Ma Xiangnan to tell Mark to stop calling her, reminding him that their contract excused her from attendance. She threatened him if he continued. Xia Yan suggested that Mark might be in love with Han Shuang, but Han Shuang dismissed the idea.
Han Shuang then turned the conversation to Xia Yan, mentioning that Zhao Xiaolei had seen Xu Chengyi drive her home multiple times and speculating about the nature of their relationship. Xia Yan admitted that while nothing significant had happened, her attitude towards Xu Chengyi had changed; his flirting, which once gave her "goosebumps," now made her "heart beat a little faster." Han Shuang described this as the "flirting stage," where two people like each other but haven't defined the relationship.
Xia Yan, still uncertain, wondered if Xu Chengyi's current expressions were genuine, given his past "condescending" remarks. Han Shuang playfully made a suggestive comment about them needing a "bed," which Xia Yan found rather shocking.
Episode 17 Recap
Ma Ke confronted Han Shuang about dismantling the bar, asserting his authority as the boss and criticizing her frequent absences, which he claimed negatively impacted the store's image. Han Shuang retorted by suggesting a marketing campaign featuring a large poster of Ma Ke holding the "Dismantle" sign at the store entrance, referring to a popular image of him online. This made Ma Ke quickly back down.
He agreed to let her keep the bar, waived her clock-in requirement, and even offered to hire another girl to manage the bar, allowing Han Shuang to simply focus on his guests when she is present. Han Shuang apologized for her absences and then invited Ma Ke out for a drink as a gesture of goodwill. She led him to an empty, windy rooftop.
As Ma Ke questioned her choice of venue, she cryptically stated it was convenient and had "another advantage"—it was windy. She then locked him inside the cold, windy space, claiming it was a "surprise." Ma Ke, now trapped and cold, desperately apologized and promised not to dismantle the bar, pleading with her to open the door. Huo Kai and his band, with Ma Xiangnan playing drums, performed a charity concert at the Yangshan Senior Apartment.
Ma Xiangnan's mother arrived and encouraged her daughter to perform. Though some elderly attendees initially found the sound check confusing and loud, the main performance was well-received. Afterwards, Ma Xiangnan’s mother commended the teamwork and praised Huo Kai, implying her approval of him to Ma Xiangnan. She then told Ma Xiangnan to stay with Huo Kai to clean up and have dinner, declining to go home with her daughter and leaving with another elderly resident, Grandpa Zhang.
Huo Kai then prompted Ma Xiangnan to start packing up the equipment. Huo Kai drove Ma Xiangnan home. During the drive, Ma Xiangnan reflected on how she has overcome her past fears of loss after her father’s death and now openly pursues her passions. Huo Kai observed that despite this, her desire to travel and avoid staying in one place for too long indicated a fear of being tied down, which Ma Xiangnan acknowledged as perceptive.
Suddenly, Ma Xiangnan recalled Grandpa Zhang’s dizzy spell earlier and worried he might be having a stroke, urging Huo Kai to turn back to the nursing home. Upon arrival, a security guard refused them entry, citing non-visiting hours and questioning Ma Xiangnan’s credibility as a doctor given Huo Kai's previous mention of their band. Convinced of the emergency, Huo Kai and Ma Xiangnan scaled the wall to enter. They found Grandpa Zhang collapsed in his room.
Ma Xiangnan immediately called an ambulance, and Huo Kai assisted by opening a window, reassuring Grandpa Zhang that help is coming. Ma Xiangnan returned home late to find her mother looking through old photos of her deceased father. Ma Xiangnan asked if her drumming made her mother sad, but her mother reassured her, saying she had a great time and that Ma Xiangnan’s drumming reminds her of her father, making it feel like he is still with them.
Her mother explained that while she once found it painful to think of her husband, she now cherishes only happy memories of him. She admitted her previous reluctance to discuss him stemmed from a fear of making Ma Xiangnan sad, but Ma Xiangnan revealed her own fear was that her mother might forget him. Ma Xiangnan reassured her mother that their father lives on in their hearts.
They shared nostalgic and humorous memories from old photos, like Ma Xiangnan spilling noodles after her father insisted she eat independently, or him accidentally causing her to fall from a tricycle, with her mother fondly recalling how much he spoiled her. Huo Kai gifted Ma Xiangnan a medical hand cream, explaining it would protect her hands, which are exposed to disinfectants in her profession.
Ma Xiangnan updated him on Grandpa Zhang's recovery, expressing gratitude for his help in accessing the nursing home. Huo Kai revealed that Xinzhou is his hometown, and he regularly visits the elderly at the nursing home since he no longer has relatives there. He then announced his imminent departure for Africa, explaining that Grandpa Zhang's medical emergency reinforced his belief that life is short and one should travel while young and healthy.
Ma Xiangnan, however, highlighted the difference between brief visits and prolonged stays, implicitly preferring a more rooted life. Huo Kai proposed a future "appointment": if they ever grew tired of their current lifestyles, they should exchange them—he would settle down, and she would travel. Ma Xiangnan agreed to explore the world upon retirement, while Huo Kai vowed to settle only when he can no longer walk.
They shared a poignant farewell, acknowledging their contrasting paths: "Bye, Huo Kai, who is always on the road. Goodbye, Xiang Nan, who always stands her ground." Han Shuang met with her mother, Han Mingzhu, who criticized her busy schedule and dismissive attitude, contrasting Han Shuang with her own subordinates. Han Mingzhu suggested Han Shuang move back home, but Han Shuang declined, citing their differing schedules and jokingly calling her mother's large house "haunted."
Han Mingzhu then expressed disapproval of Han Shuang's job at a furniture store, questioning its seriousness for her daughter. Han Shuang defended her passion for the work, which her mother interpreted as a deliberate attempt to annoy her. When Han Shuang mentioned her unique selling method, live broadcasting, her mother dismissed it as "pornography or cheating" and questioned if Han Shuang was ashamed to be associated with it.
Offended, Han Shuang confronted her mother, accusing her of being narrow-minded, considering her "shameful," and trying to control her life. She asserted her independence, stating she was not her mother's doll. Han Mingzhu argued she was trying to help, but Han Shuang insisted she could manage on her own.
Her mother then revealed she knew Han Shuang had been staying in the family's hotel for free and that her salary could not cover the expenses, exposing that she had investigated her daughter. Infuriated, Han Shuang threw her credit card at her mother, vowing to pay her own bills and demanding an end to the surveillance. Han Shuang returned to the store after her argument with her mother.
Ma Ke, who had been released from Han Shuang’s blacklist, had prepared an elaborate setup with drinks and music, claiming it was a "special meal of gratitude" for her. He offered a sincere apology for his attempt to dismantle the bar, further explaining that her act of locking him on the cold rooftop led to a profound realization about her "caring" for him. He presented her with several elaborate cocktails, promising to dance "only for you."
However, the night took an unexpected turn when Ma Ke ended up severely drunk and nauseous, while Han Shuang remained completely sober. Han Shuang confronted him, correctly inferring he tried to exact revenge. Ma Ke confessed he initially planned to get her drunk and leave her in the cold, but later had a change of heart and decided to compete fairly in a drinking contest.
He then wildly exaggerated Han Shuang's drunken behavior, claiming she was "crazy the whole night," crying for her mother, and insisting on hugging him while falling asleep. Han Shuang denied these accusations, pointing to the store's cameras as proof. Ma Ke, still feeling ill, regretted his "kindness" for not leaving her outside.
He attempted to end their drunken standoff, but Han Shuang, enjoying her sobriety, insisted on continuing to drink and teach him the true meaning of "kindness," thoroughly intimidating Ma Ke, who recognized he could not outdrink her. Xia Yan declined her colleague Amy's invitation to go singing after work, explaining she must attend an award ceremony at Xinzhou Technological University where Yan Changjun was the presenter.
She noted the significance of the event, as it marked the first time Xu Chengyi and Yan Changjun, both alumni who had avoided each other since graduation, would appear together. Meanwhile, Xue Ning advised Xu Chengyi against attending the ceremony, warning of Yan Changjun's vengeful nature and potential ulterior motives due to the heavy media presence.
Xu Chengyi, however, asserted his decision to go, viewing it as an invitation from his alma mater and a strategic move to prevent Yan Changjun from slandering him, also acknowledging the importance of cooperating with NK. When Xue Ning offered to accompany him, Xu Chengyi declined, choosing Xia Yan instead, citing her prior experience and familiarity with Yan Changjun. This decision visibly angered Xue Ning, who then directed her subordinates to work overtime, making an exception for only one.
Upon arriving at the ceremony, Xu Chengyi and Xia Yan were immediately surrounded by reporters. After greeting Yan Changjun, they fielded questions about their past rivalry and potential collaborations. Yan Changjun skillfully deflected, emphasizing the focus should be on the students and promising answers during the ceremony. Xu Chengyi introduced Xia Yan as a key professional from SG’s Operations Department overseeing the upcoming "Confidante Planet" project, indicating her future prominence.
Episode 18 Recap
At the ODC International Programming Contest award ceremony, Yan Chang Jun took the stage. He began his speech by humbly stating he had nothing new to share, having already given a detailed industry talk a month prior. However, he mentioned the dean had urged him to speak again to broaden the students' horizons.
He then announced that an important person was in the audience: his junior schoolmate, Xu Cheng Yi, the CEO of SG Technology and the winner of the very first ODC gold award. Yan Chang Jun proposed that instead of him rambling, he and Xu Cheng Yi should have an on-the-spot competition to serve as practical learning for the students. The crowd responded enthusiastically, and Xu Cheng Yi was invited to the stage.
Watching the live broadcast on TV, Xue Ning immediately recognized Yan Chang Jun's move as a ploy to challenge Xu Cheng Yi. She instructed her subordinates, Maggie and Yoyo, to each draft a public announcement in preparation for Xu Cheng Yi's potential loss, emphasizing that winning was less important than being prepared for a defeat. She also told Amy to monitor online discussions and extract significant comments regarding the event.
Yan Chang Jun then revealed details about the upcoming "Confidante Planet" app, co-developed with SG Technology, and announced an extensive collaboration between NK Technology and SG Technology. Xu Cheng Yi agreed about the mutual benefits of such a partnership. Yan Chang Jun then suggested they use their competition to iron out "minor discrepancies" in their collaboration policies. He presented a challenge: if Xu Cheng Yi won, they would adopt SG's collaboration plan, and NK would provide funding for "Confidante Planet."
If Yan Chang Jun won, they would follow his plan, with an additional requirement: Xia Yan, an outstanding operations talent at SG Technology who led the "Confidante Planet" project, would join NK Technology in a leading role. Yan Chang Jun emphasized that in the 21st century, the fight was for talent. Xia Yan, sitting in the audience, immediately stood up and objected.
Yan Chang Jun tried to reassure her, saying she would still manage "Confidante Planet" at NK Technology and that her move would benefit both companies. He even provocatively questioned if she lacked confidence in Xu Cheng Yi. However, Xu Cheng Yi firmly refused the challenge, stating that SG Technology also highly valued its employees and he would not risk losing such an outstanding talent in a bet.
Observing this turn of events on television, Xue Ning looked visibly disheartened, and those around her noticed her disappointment. On their way back from the event, Xia Yan asked Xu Cheng Yi why he had been so quiet. She questioned his refusal to compete, admitting her own opposition had been impulsive.
Xia Yan worried that finding another partner for "Confidante Planet" would be difficult, as NK Technology was the most suitable collaborator and the app was due to launch in a week. Xu Cheng Yi explained that from SG Technology's perspective, they had already profited from the pre-launch marketing generated by Yan Chang Jun. He clarified that Yan Chang Jun would have collaborated with SG Technology regardless, driven by market demand; the only variable was the business plan.
By refusing to compete, Xu Cheng Yi forced Yan Chang Jun to take the initiative in contract negotiations, securing more favorable terms for SG Technology. Xia Yan wondered if this whole scenario was a collaboration between the two men to deceive everyone. Xu Cheng Yi confirmed that Yan Chang Jun benefited too, as NK Technology was seeking financing and preparing to relist on the stock market.
Xia Yan pressed him, asking if Yan Chang Jun was so confident in Xu Cheng Yi's refusal because of some past event. Xu Cheng Yi responded that everything he said on stage was genuinely true, indicating his sincerity about not wanting to lose Xia Yan. He then informed her that he would be away on a business trip to America for about a week, reassuring her not to worry about the fallout from the day's events, promising, "I'm here.
I won't let you face it alone." Xia Yan later reflected on Xu Cheng Yi’s words, feeling a deeper connection with him. Meanwhile, Xue Ning summoned Cai Xin, a talent signed by SG Technology. Xue Ning informed Cai Xin that her contract was being terminated due to a report of her privately accepting an advertisement from a small company without approval and publishing false propaganda on "Show Me."
Cai Xin admitted to the ad and offered to return the money, delete the vlog, handle PR, or post an apology, pleading for the contract not to be terminated. Xue Ning then added that Cai Xin was also reported for falsely inflating expenses, showing her an inconsistent invoice and spending record. Cai Xin questioned the accusation, dismissing the amount as trivial and asking for evidence.
She then asserted that Xia Yan had helped pay for most of her expenses and could prove her innocence. Xue Ning then revealed that it was Xia Yan who had reported Cai Xin for violating the rules regarding private work. The next morning, Xia Yan arrived at the office to find everyone there unusually early.
Amy explained that after witnessing Xu Cheng Yi's actions towards Xia Yan the previous night, Xue Ning's mood had been terrible, prompting everyone to arrive early to avoid her wrath. At a team meeting, Xue Ning announced that Xia Yan had ranked first in the internal promotion interviews and would soon be promoted to supervisor, commending her outstanding results despite her short tenure and encouraging others to learn from her.
Maggie, one of Xia Yan's colleagues, felt disheartened, but Xia Yan tried to reassure her that their scores were only one point apart. Shortly after, Li Jing from the Internal Investigation Department arrived and asked to speak with Xia Yan about some financial irregularities related to Cai Xin's accounts, which Xia Yan had managed. Li Jing stated that Cai Xin had reported Xia Yan, accusing her of instructing her to submit falsified accounts and split the income.
Xia Yan denied the charges, asking for evidence and calling it "fabricated slander." Li Jing presented records of four transfers totaling over ¥14,000 from Cai Xin to Xia Yan. Xia Yan explained these were repayments for items she had paid for with her own card, insisting that Cai Xin had indeed purchased the items. Li Jing also brought up Xia Yan's father's recent surgery, implying financial difficulties.
Xia Yan confirmed the surgery but stated she had sufficient savings and would never resort to such dishonest means. Li Jing questioned why Cai Xin would harm both her own and Xia Yan's reputation if the accusations were false, especially after posting about it online. Xia Yan maintained her innocence, insisting that the investigation would reveal the truth.
Li Jing informed her that a full investigation would be launched, emphasizing the importance of public opinion for a listed company like SG Technology. Xia Yan reiterated her denial, stating she would not admit to something she didn't do. Li Jing warned that if the company couldn't find evidence to refute Cai Xin's claims within 72 hours, legal action would be pursued. Xia Yan tried to call Cai Xin, but her phone was off.
Seeing Xue Ning watching her from her office, Xia Yan recalled previous incidents where Xue Ning seemed to be targeting her, suspecting Xue Ning might be orchestrating the current situation. Xue Ning called Xia Yan into her office, leaving the door open. She demanded to know why Xia Yan hadn't informed her about Cai Xin's report, dismissing Xia Yan's explanation that the investigation department had asked for confidentiality.
Xue Ning asserted that Xia Yan, as her subordinate, should report all issues to her immediately, even if Xu Cheng Yi had requested secrecy. She warned Xia Yan about the severe consequences this matter could have for both her and Xu Cheng Yi. Xue Ning urged Xia Yan to resign at once, promising to suppress the matter for her. Xia Yan firmly denied any wrongdoing.
Xue Ning retorted that verbal denial was insufficient, demanding proof of being framed; otherwise, the entire operations department and SG Technology would face humiliation. She warned that further investigation could lead to legal proceedings, and potentially to the public security bureau. Xia Yan countered, suggesting Xue Ning should be more concerned about the consequences, as the receipts in question had passed through Xue Ning's hands as well.
She accused Xue Ning of risking her own professional reputation just to force her out of SG Technology. Xue Ning dismissed Xia Yan, stating they would soon discover the truth, and then angrily told Xia Yan to leave. Shortly after, Xia Yan received messages from Amy confirming that Cai Xin was unreachable, had moved, and was rumored to be signing with NK Technology.
Xia Yan immediately set out to find Cai Xin, also sending a message to Xu Cheng Yi about her predicament. Xu Cheng Yi, in America, then called Xue Ning to inquire about the investigation. Xue Ning explained that an influencer had reported falsified accounts handled by Xia Yan, accusing Xia Yan of instructing her to create them. Xu Cheng Yi quickly dismissed the accusation, stating Xia Yan would never do such a thing.
Xue Ning insisted she couldn't be sure and that they should await the investigation results. She deflected Xu Cheng Yi's concern, telling him to focus on his forum, calling the matter trivial, and reiterating that the investigation department would handle it within 72 hours. Xu Cheng Yi acknowledged her words.
Xu Cheng Yi then instructed his assistant to book a flight for him to return early the next morning, despite having a scheduled speech on the Sedop algorithm and important client meetings requested by the chairman. He moved the client meetings to that same evening, prioritizing his return. He then called Xia Yan, reassuring her that he believed in her and urging her not to feel pressured.
He promised to be back soon and vowed not to let her face the situation alone. Next, Xu Cheng Yi called Yan Chang Jun, inquiring about Cai Xin and her potential signing with NK Technology. Yan Chang Jun confirmed Cai Xin was negotiating with his company and had told him the "truth." Xu Cheng Yi then asked Yan Chang Jun for a favor.
Yan Chang Jun, surprised by Xu Cheng Yi's request, demanded that Xu Cheng Yi publicly apologize for "betraying" him and "privately selling" the software they had co-developed years ago. Xu Cheng Yi flatly refused, and Yan Chang Jun ended the call. Xia Yan, however, met with Yan Chang Jun shortly after. Yan Chang Jun offered her a contract for collaboration with NK Technology, but Xia Yan instead asked for his help in finding Cai Xin.
Yan Chang Jun expressed skepticism, believing Cai Xin, who intended to frame her, wouldn't easily give up. Xia Yan insisted she still wanted to try. Impressed by her determination, Yan Chang Jun noted her unwavering confidence. He then offered his help on the condition that after completing the first season of their collaboration, Xia Yan would join NK Technology.
Xia Yan refused this condition, even as Yan Chang Jun warned of the lasting damage this scandal could inflict on her career if not properly handled. Xia Yan asserted that as long as she worked hard, she would have a clear conscience regardless of the outcome. Yan Chang Jun, intrigued by her resolve, then gave her Cai Xin's new address, telling her not to disappoint him.
Xia Yan found Cai Xin, who was arguing with her boyfriend over a parking ticket. Xia Yan attempted to talk to Cai Xin, showing her the receipts she had collected from stores, proving that Cai Xin had indeed purchased the items Xia Yan had paid for. She urged Cai Xin to clarify the matter with the company to avoid legal consequences. Cai Xin's boyfriend intervened, dismissing Xia Yan's concerns and insulting her. Just then, Lin Hao arrived.
Outraged by the boyfriend's words, Lin Hao confronted him, demanding an apology. A fight ensued. Xia Yan desperately tried to stop them, telling Lin Hao that violence was not the answer and that his actions were for his own ego, not for her. She told him not to seek her out again. Lin Hao, agitated, then revealed his deeper insecurities, explaining that he had pursued graduate school in Beijing to become stronger than her, to prove he was not inferior.
He expressed resentment that she would ask him to abandon his hard-won achievements in Beijing to return to Xinzhou. He also misinterpreted her offer to buy him a car as a condescending gesture, believing she viewed him as a "free driver." He accused her of abandoning him like a "rag" after meeting Xu Cheng Yi and lamented feeling unworthy to even associate with her friends.
Xia Yan, realizing how deeply she had misunderstood Lin Hao during their seven years together, found him "beyond reason." Despite his desperate pleas for another chance, Xia Yan firmly told him, "There is no 'us' anymore." Meanwhile, Xu Cheng Yi held his client meeting. He explained the concept of their Sedop algorithm but stated it was still under confidentiality and could not be demonstrated or officially released.
The guests, who had heard rumors that SG Technology planned to sell the algorithm, were surprised and questioned how he intended to sell it if it remained confidential. Xu Cheng Yi clarified that while they had been developing the algorithm for six years, they were not in a hurry to sell it. Their immediate goal was to understand the clients' views and expectations regarding the algorithm, without disclosing specific details.
Episode 19 Recap
Zhao Xiaolei discovered that Lin Hao, her senior, had blocked her number after a recent phone call. Worried he might do something drastic, potentially even commit suicide, given his company's current struggles and his distressed state, she and her younger brother, Zhao Xiaojun, rushed to his apartment. After knocking repeatedly without a response, Zhao Xiaojun went to check with the property manager.
Once he was gone, Lin Hao finally opened the door, revealing he had been in a fight and injured his waist, making it difficult for him to get out of bed. Zhao Xiaolei, seeing his injuries, offered to make him some food. Lin Hao explained that he had fought a man he saw yelling at Xia Yan, but Xia Yan had not appreciated his intervention.
Instead, she had scolded him for interfering and then told him to stop contacting Zhao Xiaolei, which led him to block Zhao Xiaolei's number. He apologized for causing her to misunderstand. Zhao Xiaolei reassured him, stating that Xia Yan wasn't the kind of person to get angry about her taking care of him, especially since he was badly hurt. She believed Xia Yan might have misunderstood the situation and would calm down and eventually come to see him.
As she made him noodles, Zhao Xiaolei asked if Xia Yan had contacted him after his injury. Lin Hao sadly replied that she hadn't, but urged Zhao Xiaolei not to blame Xia Yan, insisting his actions were his own choice. He expressed that he didn't blame anyone and just wanted to cherish his past years with Xia Yan as a beautiful memory.
He then tearfully requested that Zhao Xiaolei not tell Xia Yan about her visit, to avoid causing any more trouble for her. During her workday, Xia Yan was instructed by Xue Ning to organize and archive her computer data and hand over all physical documents to Maggie, as she was an SG employee "for now." Soon after, internal investigation staff arrived to take Xia Yan to an office for questioning.
They informed her that the investigation results were unfavorable, her accounts were incomplete, and the additional material she provided couldn't definitively prove she hadn't manipulated accounts. With the 72-hour deadline approaching, they suggested her best option was to resign voluntarily for personal reasons, promising to appease Cai Xin if she complied.
Xia Yan refused to resign, arguing it would be an admission of guilt, but the investigators pressed her, warning that refusing would lead to her termination, public discredit, and a potential lawsuit for "tens of millions" in economic and reputational losses. An attorney further explained that this could force her to work for 30 years to pay off indemnities, and her family would also be implicated.
They urged her to reconsider, offering a chance to change her and her family's fate if she signed the resignation application by 5 PM. Alone in the office, Xia Yan contemplated the severe consequences. She briefly called her mother, but quickly hung up, claiming she had dialed the wrong number, to avoid worrying her.
As the deadline approached, the investigators returned, intensifying their pressure by suggesting that her refusal could also implicate President Xu, who recruited her and entrusted her with projects, potentially ruining his long-standing career over a minor past oversight. Visibly distressed, Xia Yan picked up the pen to sign the resignation application but then, with a sudden surge of resolve, tore up the document. She firmly declared that she would not resign or admit to a charge she never committed.
In response, the investigators officially notified her of her dismissal, instructing her to complete the HR process the following morning. As they left, one of them received a call about Cai Xin's arrival, signaling a new development. Returning to her office, Xia Yan began to pack her belongings, observed by her sympathetic colleagues. Meanwhile, Xue Ning also received news of Ms. Cai's unexpected arrival at the company.
Just as Xia Yan was about to leave, the investigation staff intercepted her, delivering surprising news: Ms. Cai had come forward, admitted her mistake, and confirmed Xia Yan's innocence in the matter. They clarified that no dismissal notice had been issued and Xia Yan was not fired. They further explained that Xue Ning, having known the truth but failing to intervene, was deemed derelict in her duty and had voluntarily resigned.
The entire issue was successfully settled within the 72-hour timeframe, and Xia Yan was instructed to rest that day and return to work the next. Overwhelmed with relief, Xia Yan then received a phone call from Xu Chengyi. He informed her that he was back from his trip, currently at the airport, and asked her to meet him at King's Restaurant. Xia Yan immediately burst into tears of relief and joy, then quickly headed out to meet him.
On her way, she saw Xu Chengyi's car crashed into a roadside barrier. He had been rushing to meet her but was distracted by a phone call from Ling Wei, who announced her return to China and intention to see him soon. Despite his bleeding head from the crash, Xu Chengyi, hearing Xia Yan call his name, endured the pain and ran towards a pedestrian bridge.
They finally met there, and Xia Yan embraced him, pouring out all her pent-up emotions. Xu Chengyi, seeing her distress, apologized for not being by her side during the investigation, reiterating his promise to never let her face challenges alone. He vowed to clear her name, even if it meant his own resignation. Xia Yan, however, assured him that everything had already been resolved.
Overjoyed by this news, Xu Chengyi confessed his feelings, telling her he had liked her since their first meeting at the airport. He admitted to trying to deny his feelings for a while, initially focusing on helping her leave her previous relationship, but realized he couldn't treat her as just a colleague. He deeply regretted not confessing sooner, thinking she would have confided in him during her recent troubles if they had been together.
He then asked her to let him accompany her through all future joys and sorrows. Moved by his words, Xia Yan leaned in and kissed him, solidifying their new relationship. The next morning, Xia Yan and Xu Chengyi lay in bed, reflecting on their newfound relationship. Xia Yan confessed that she initially found him annoying, but her feelings began to change when he took her father to the hospital and provided constant support and comfort.
She realized then that he made her feel at ease, and she liked having him by her side. She also admitted that hearing him say he "couldn't afford to lose" her in front of many people solidified her feelings. When Xu Chengyi expressed his boundless love for her (gesturing with an infinity sign), Xia Yan playfully responded, showing a small space with her hands, but added that her heart, though "this big," was entirely filled with him.
Xu Chengyi got up early to prepare breakfast. When he returned to the bedroom, he affectionately woke Xia Yan with a kiss, despite her playful protests about not having washed up yet. During breakfast, Xu Chengyi confirmed that the "Confidante Planet" project was ready for launch. He suggested that Xia Yan take over Xue Ning's former responsibilities, urging her to manage the crucial aspects and delegate other tasks, learning not to shoulder every burden herself.
Xia Yan continued to address him as "President Xu" in a professional setting, to which he playfully questioned what she would call him at home. Meanwhile, Ma Ke encountered Han Shuang with her extensive luggage, humorously remarking on her being "driven out of the hotel" after a significant fight with her family. He poked fun at her "hedonistic, live-in-the-moment lifestyle."
Han Shuang initially proposed staying in Ma Ke's furniture store, citing slow business, but he rejected the idea, fearing she would scare away customers. Instead, he offered her the empty guest room at his house until she found a suitable place. Han Shuang, despite her initial protests about being "demanding when it comes to living space," readily accepted. Soon after, movers arrived to transport all her belongings to Ma Ke's home.
Episode 20 (Ending) Recap
After a busy moving day, Ma Ke was exhausted by the sheer volume of Han Shuang’s belongings. Han Shuang, however, felt his home was too cluttered with "lousy toys" and demanded he discard them to make room for her things. Ma Ke refused, explaining that his collection of clivia miniata, cactus, and small daisy pots were precious mementos of flowers he had cherished, embodying years of companionship in his heart, even if the flowers themselves were no longer there.
Han Shuang teased him about his inability to keep plants alive, boasting about her grandmother's successful hydrangea, but Ma Ke sternly forbade her from attempting to grow his favorite flower, accusing her of "murdering" them. Han Shuang then declared the room to be hers and instructed Ma Ke to buy two boxes of face masks, treating him like her personal assistant. Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaojun tried to convince his sister, Zhao Xiaolei, to pursue Lin Hao.
He showed off a new phone, claiming Lin Hao had bought it for him, suggesting it was a sign of Lin Hao's affection for Zhao Xiaolei. Zhao Xiaolei was hesitant, citing Lin Hao's long history with Xia Yan as a reason it would be awkward. Zhao Xiaojun dismissed her concerns, arguing that her friends didn't truly prioritize her happiness and that she shouldn't sacrifice her own for others.
He called her foolish for valuing her friends' opinions over her own potential happiness, asserting that if she gave up on her joy for them, her head must be "filled with water." At the office, as Xue Ning prepared to leave, an awkward silence fell over the department. Xu Cheng Yi arrived with Xia Yan and directed Xia Yan to head to her desk while he spoke with Xue Ning. Back at their desks, colleagues discussed Xue Ning’s departure.
Amy remarked that Xue Ning's wrongdoings had finally caught up to her, stating that "good and evil will be recompensed." Another colleague, Meiqi, speculated that Xue Ning's resignation was due to her reluctance to see Xia Yan and Xu Cheng Yi together, or perhaps because she was being courted by other companies given the success of "Show Me." She even suggested that Xia Yan might be considered for Xue Ning's vacant position.
On the rooftop, Xu Cheng Yi confronted Xue Ning, acknowledging her resignation. He criticized her actions as "too far" and "stupid," explaining that he wouldn't forgive her. Xue Ning defended herself, claiming her actions stemmed from his change after Xia Yan joined the company, believing he had become "frivolous" and lost his distinction between public and private interests.
She revealed she had even had someone tell Xia Yan that if she didn't resign, Xu Cheng Yi would face bad luck, but Xia Yan remained "unmoved," which Xue Ning attributed to Xia Yan being similar to Ling Wei. Xu Cheng Yi clarified that Xue Ning misunderstood Xia Yan, asserting that Xia Yan would never harm others to achieve her goals.
He explained that Xia Yan's refusal to resign was a stance against compromising with those who had "ulterior motives," as resigning would imply their guilt. Xue Ning then asked if they were "already together," to which Xu Cheng Yi confirmed they were. He criticized Xue Ning's management philosophy of intimidation and "last-place elimination," arguing that true potential is unleashed by passion, not fear.
Xue Ning, in turn, called him a "fool whose head is muddled with love" and expressed her regret for having followed him for so many years. Back in the office, Xu Cheng Yi gathered the team to announce Xue Ning's resignation and that he would temporarily oversee the Operations Department. He declared that "Confidante Planet" would officially launch at daybreak and that Xia Yan would now be formally responsible for all matters related to the project.
He urged everyone to focus on the launch and not be distracted by personnel changes. Later, Lin Hao and Zhao Xiaolei were talking. Lin Hao confided in her about his difficulty moving on from his past relationship, comparing himself to someone lost in a desert. He expressed gratitude for Zhao Xiaolei, calling her a "constant and warm" presence in his world.
Just then, Zhao Xiaolei received a phone call from Zhao Xiaojun, who frantically reported that a crowd had gathered at their company demanding Lin Hao return money, fearing he had "absconded." Zhao Xiaolei reassured her brother that Lin Hao was with her and ended the call, promising to deal with the situation. As midnight approached, critical problems arose with "Confidante Planet" just before its scheduled launch.
Xu Cheng Yi rushed to address the issue, instructing everyone to put all their effort into ensuring a timely launch. Amidst the chaos, Ling Wei unexpectedly arrived at the company, announcing that she had been invited by the chairman to temporarily fill the director's position in the Operations Department following Xue Ning’s sudden resignation. Xu Cheng Yi, recognizing her expertise in finding bugs, immediately enlisted her help.
Xia Yan, seeing Ling Wei, felt a pang of unease, recalling seeing Ling Wei's photo at Xu Cheng Yi's home. She asked Amy to prepare midnight snacks for the team. When they returned, Xu Cheng Yi and Ling Wei were deeply engrossed in their work, oblivious to their surroundings.
Xia Yan noticed Xu Cheng Yi was developing a headache and went to get an ice pack, but Ling Wei had already retrieved one and was gently applying it to his head, leaving Xia Yan feeling a silent frustration. With Ling Wei’s swift help, a new program segment was written and the bug was resolved, much to everyone’s relief.
Xu Cheng Yi then dismissed the operations department for rest, introduced Ling Wei to Xia Yan and Emmy, and then left with Ling Wei for breakfast. During breakfast, Ling Wei expressed her satisfaction with their efficient collaboration, noting their shared mentor and similar thinking patterns.
She revealed that her move to SG Technology was not connected to him; the company had approached her months prior about a different role, and then offered her the director position upon her decision to return to China. She admitted contacting him to gauge his feelings. Xu Cheng Yi welcomed her return to China’s burgeoning internet industry but expressed "reservations" about her joining SG Technology, particularly the operations department, which he believed was not suitable for her.
Ling Wei then asked if he still harbored any "grudges" from their past. Xu Cheng Yi frankly admitted he once did, but stated that it was "the past" and that he had since moved on, having found a "new relationship." When Ling Wei asked if he had a girlfriend, he openly revealed it was Xia Yan, and Ling Wei congratulated him, calling Xia Yan a "nice girl."
Ling Wei then shared that she, too, had a new boyfriend after a recent divorce. She reflected on her nostalgic nature, preferring "acquainted people" over "new clothes," but Xu Cheng Yi countered that persistence eventually turns any new acquaintance into a familiar one. After their conversation, they both returned to work. Later, Xia Yan returned to find Han Shuang fuming over Xue Ning's past scheme, vowing revenge if she ever saw her.
Zhao Xiaolei was engrossed in revising her brother Zhao Xiaojun’s monthly work summary. Xia Yan gently admonished Zhao Xiaolei not to constantly protect her brother, reminding her that everyone must be responsible for their own life and that Zhao Xiaojun didn't seem to appreciate her efforts.
Han Shuang suddenly twisted her waist, and when Zhao Xiaolei tried to apply ice, Han Shuang refused, explaining that hot compress was needed instead, and insisted she couldn't go to the hospital because she needed to maintain her makeup, proclaiming, "If you have the heart, the whole world is the red carpet!" Meanwhile, Han Shuang returned home and confronted her mother, asserting her independence and that she was no longer staying in a hotel.
Her mother, however, had already discovered that Han Shuang had moved into a man’s house and chastised her for her lack of "self-respect and self-love," especially when she had her own home. Han Shuang angrily accused her mother of invading her privacy, of never showing genuine maternal care beyond professional reports and assistant notifications, and of failing to teach her what love was. Frustrated, Han Shuang stormed off, leaving her mother exasperated.
