Episode Summary
Ye Xining narrowly avoids arrest for bribery thanks to Xiang Beichuan swapping her bag of cash for books. Despite being saved, she breaks up with him and leaves the country after her company goes under. She returns a year later, successful but receives a cold shoulder from Xiang Beichuan. He, in the meantime, loses his job because of a thinly veiled novel written by Tong Tong.
Spoiler Alert
The Bribe and the Bag Swap
A Very Close Call
Alright, let's get into it. This episode kicks off with Ye Xining walking into a massive mess. She goes to Shan Huajing’s apartment carrying a briefcase. That briefcase is stuffed with cash. She’s there to bribe him, plain and simple. They’re making small talk when the doorbell rings.
It’s the Commission for Discipline Inspection. You can think of them as the anti-corruption cops. Someone reported Shan Huajing for taking bribes. Ye Xining immediately knows she’s in deep trouble. She tries to make a run for it, but the officials stop her at the door. They tell her they need to inspect her bag. She starts to panic, and the sweat pours. This isn't just bribe money; it's her entire life savings. She completely breaks down and starts crying.
The Old Switcheroo
Just as the officials agree to let her go, Ye Xining opens her eyes. She looks inside the briefcase. It’s filled with nothing but books. She’s safe. It takes her a second to piece it all together. She remembers that while she was talking with Shan Huajing, Xiang Beichuan knocked on the door. He pulled her out into the hallway and grabbed the bag from her hands. She chased him down the stairs and found her bag sitting there. She now realizes he must have swapped the bags. Xiang Beichuan saved her from total disaster.
The Fallout
Breaking Up and Shutting Down
That night, Ye Xining is still reeling. She sits at her desk, cries, and writes a breakup letter to Xiang Beichuan. The next day, she tries to get back to work. She calls customs to ask when her shipment will finally get approved. The answer is not good. Any business connected to Shan Huajing is now completely frozen. Everything needs to go through a new audit.
So, Shan Huajing’s arrest didn’t solve anything for her. In fact, it made things worse. The company is hit hard by this. The factory director is buried in debt. He has no choice but to dissolve the company and move back to his hometown.
A Cold Reunion
Sometime later, Ye Xining hears that Xiang Beichuan has published a new book. She goes to see it and feels a genuine sense of pride for him. She remembers his early struggles and gets emotional. Meanwhile, Xiang Beichuan receives her breakup letter. He immediately runs to her apartment to find her, but she’s already gone.
With the clothing company seized, Xiang Beichuan decides it's time to leave, too. He gathers all his savings and prepares to skip town. Before he goes, he runs into Ye Xining. He gives her his contact information and tells her to call him if she ever needs help.
Ye Xining heads to Eastern Europe. She’s always been a fighter. After a year of hard work, she’s done well enough to buy a nice car. When she returns to China, she sees Xiang Beichuan. She joyfully runs up and gives him a huge bear hug. He is completely cold and barely reacts. She excitedly tells him that she has money now and wants to buy him new clothes and a car. He just mutters that she’s crazy and walks away.
Old Faces, New Troubles
Business and Betrayal
Yan Jun is also back in Shanghai, and he’s as rich as ever. His foreign trade company is still operating out of the same old building. Ye Xining goes to him to discuss a business deal. Xiang Beichuan agrees to the business on the spot, saying he will give his full support since it's her first order back in the country.
Then there’s Tong Tong. She has written another novel. While the story is fictional, she based the characters' appearances and personalities on real people from their school. The gossip starts spreading like wildfire. This puts Xiang Beichuan in an impossible position at his job. He is left with no choice but to resign.
