Episode Summary
Zuo Qian Dai attempts to confess her feelings to Ye Qi but chickens out, only managing to say she's a fan. Ye Qi gives her an autograph and surprisingly invites her to his home. There, she discovers he's an artist, mistaking his work-related ailments (dark circles, wrist pain from tendonitis) for signs of a "bad boy" lifestyle. Later, Zuo Qian Dai realizes Ye Qi is the famous comic artist she often criticizes online, leading to much anxiety. At school, her attempts to avoid him are misinterpreted as her not wanting to be his assistant, a job he offers her. After clearing up the misunderstanding (though he remains unaware of her online critiques), she agrees to be his assistant, impressed by his dedication to his craft, even as her second confession attempt also comically fizzles out into another autograph moment.
Spoiler Alert
"The Comic Bang" Episode 1: Confessions, Comic Books, and Utter Confusion
Our story kicks off with Zuo Qian Dai, who's gathered all her courage to confess her feelings to the guy she's crushing on, Ye Qi. But, you know how these things go. The moment she's face-to-face with him, all those carefully planned words just... poof! Vanish. Instead of a heartfelt confession, she blurts out that she's just a really big fan. Smooth, Qian Dai, real smooth. Ye Qi, being a pretty decent guy, kindly gives her an autograph. So, attempt number one at confessing ends with her accidentally becoming a "fan." But just when Qian Dai is trying to salvage the situation and maybe, just maybe, explain herself, Ye Qi throws a curveball and invites her back to his place. Qian Dai is, understandably, a little stunned but totally thrilled.
Once they get to Ye Qi's apartment, things get even more wonderfully awkward. Qian Dai finds herself in his room, and when Ye Qi casually mentions he's going to change clothes, her mind starts racing. She gets a sudden urge to bolt, but then the thought hits her: what if she leaves and he just brings some other girl over? The horror! While she's busy debating her escape plan versus guarding her potential man, Ye Qi reappears, fully clothed. Phew. But the surprises don't stop there. Just as Qian Dai is bracing for... well, who knows what, Ye Qi asks her for help with some drawing. Turns out, the guy's an artist!
This is a major revelation for Qian Dai. She’d noticed bruises on Ye Qi's wrist and around his eye and had, quite frankly, pegged him as a bit of a bad boy, which, let's be honest, was part of the appeal. But Ye Qi clears things up: the dark circles are from pulling all-nighters drawing, and the patch on his wrist is for tendonitis – a common battle scar for artists.
Later, back in her own room, Zuo Qian Dai takes a proper look at the autograph Ye Qi gave her. And that's when it hits her. This isn't just any Ye Qi; this is the Ye Qi, a super famous comic artist whose work she... frequently roasts online. The realization leaves her completely floored and more than a little mortified. The next morning, her bus ride to school is basically one long anxiety spiral as she wonders how on earth she's going to face him now.
At school, Zuo Qian Dai goes into full avoidance mode. Every time she spots Ye Qi, she practically sprints in the opposite direction. Ye Qi, however, has apparently recognized some talent in her (though we're not quite sure how yet!) and thinks she's dodging him because she doesn't want to be his assistant. So, he starts chasing her, earnestly trying to convince her. Qian Dai, on the other hand, is convinced he's found out about her online critiques and is about to unleash some kind of revenge. She’s practically begging him to spare her, while he’s just trying to offer her a job! Thankfully, the wires eventually get uncrossed. Zuo Qian Dai realizes he wants her as an assistant, and more importantly, he seems completely oblivious to her online吐槽 (tǔcáo - ranting/roasting) alter ego.
To help her get a feel for the job, Ye Qi takes Zuo Qian Dai out on a tandem bike to find some inspiration. During a break, he immediately whips out his sketchbook and gets to work. Watching his passion, Zuo Qian Dai starts to see him in a new light. She’d previously thought hand-drawing comics in this day and age was a bit old-fashioned, but his dedication is actually pretty admirable. Feeling a bit braver, she tries to subtly pry into his personal life. Given that he draws such sweet and romantic comics, she assumes he must have a long list of ex-girlfriends. Plot twist: Ye Qi has never actually been in a relationship. Zuo Qian Dai is, understandably, pretty stoked to hear he's single. Seeing him engrossed in his drawing, she gears up for another confession attempt. But alas, just as she's about to get those three little words out, her courage fails her again. And what does Ye Qi do? He gives her another autograph. Bless his heart. Despite the hilariously awkward autograph encore, Zuo Qian Dai finally agrees to become his assistant.
And that, folks, is where episode one leaves us! It's a whirlwind of misunderstandings, near-confessions, and the budding connection between an aspiring confessor and a clueless comic artist.
