Episode Summary
Episode 8 sees several storylines intertwine. Xue Xiaozhou publicly rejects Qiu Lisu, potentially ruining a business deal Hu Manli spent years cultivating, and reveals Qiu Lisu's connection to his father's past. Meanwhile, Sun Jie discovers her widowed mother is dating a much younger man, A Dong, and worries about her inheritance, especially after learning her mother has early-stage Alzheimer's. Hu Manli faces her own family drama, trying to convince her estranged husband, Ding Zhiyuan, to attend a family camping trip for their son, Ding Da'er, while fending off Qiu Lisu's interference. Hu Manli and Xue Xiaozhou attempt to sell insurance to Sun Jie's mother but fail. To investigate A Dong, Hu Manli and Xue Xiaozhou follow him, discovering he is married while dating Sun Jie's mother. Desperate to get Ding Zhiyuan to the camping trip, Hu Manli forges a depression diagnosis for Ding Da'er, which unexpectedly earns her some respect from Xue Xiaozhou.
Spoiler Alert
Recap: Episode 8 - Awkward Encounters and Desperate Measures
The episode kicks off with some serious secondhand embarrassment. Qiu Lisu spots Xue Xiaozhou at a book club event and, thinking he's there for her (delusional much?), rushes over. In front of potential big client Wei Yuanxiang, she proudly declares Xue Xiaozhou is basically her kid. Uh, record scratch. Xue Xiaozhou, who clearly despises this woman, shuts that down immediately, denies knowing her, and storms off. Smooth. Naturally, Wang Xue is on the phone to Hu Manli faster than you can say "drama alert."
Hu Manli is livid. She's spent five years cultivating Wei Yuanxiang, and Xue Xiaozhou might have just torpedoed the whole thing. She lays into him, initially thinking he was just Qiu Lisu's boy toy. But then comes the plot twist: Xue Xiaozhou reveals the real tea – Qiu Lisu didn't sponsor him, she apparently stole his father! Whoa. Despite this bombshell, Hu Manli tells him to suck it up for the sake of business, though neither knows how to fix this mess with Wei Yuanxiang.
Meanwhile, in another corner of messy lives, Sun Jie gets word from neighbors that her recently widowed mother is dating A Dong, a guy about 20 years younger and a former neighbor. Sun Jie confronts her mom, who totally admits it and even plans a trip to Europe with him! Sun Jie is not having it – she's worried her mom's getting scammed (especially with her dad barely gone), but Mom's already decided.
Unable to sway her mother, Sun Jie calls the ultimate fixer (or maybe meddler?), Hu Manli, for help.
Hu Manli's own life isn't exactly smooth sailing. Picking up her son Ding Da'er from school, she learns about a mandatory family camping trip. Problem? She and Ding Da'er's dad, Ding Zhiyuan, are separated. Worse, other moms are fans of Ding Zhiyuan and start grilling her. Hu Manli puts on a brave face, lying that Ding Zhiyuan is busy with "creative work" and suggesting she'll take Ding Da'er alone. Ding Da'er flat-out refuses – he wants his dad there.
Hu Manli texts Ding Zhiyuan, but guess who's whispering poison in his ear? Qiu Lisu. She badmouths Hu Manli, killing any lingering sympathy Ding Zhiyuan might have had. He lies about a meeting and ignores Hu Manli's calls. Ouch.
Later, Hu Manli meets Sun Jie, bringing Xue Xiaozhou along. Sun Jie vents about her mom and A Dong. Hu Manli zeroes in on the fact that Sun Jie's mom has about a million in savings – prime target for a potential gold-digger like A Dong. Xue Xiaozhou, bless his heart, keeps trying to steer the conversation to insurance, annoying Sun Jie. Hu Manli plays mediator.
After Sun Jie leaves, Hu Manli scolds Xue Xiaozhou for almost blowing the potential client relationship. She explains the subtext: Sun Jie wants Hu Manli to convince her mom to use that million to buy an education annuity insurance policy for her granddaughter, Nan Nan.
So, Hu Manli and Xue Xiaozhou pay Sun Jie's mom a visit. Hu Manli tries her usual charm and small talk, but Mom's not biting and tries to kick them out. Xue Xiaozhou cuts to the chase, explaining the 1 million premium insurance plan for Nan Nan. Mom shuts it down hard and walks out, leaving them hanging.
Hu Manli is stunned by the mother's personality change, remarking on A Dong's powerful influence. Just then, A Dong shows up with flowers, all smiles, and whisks the mom away. Hu Manli can only watch, low-key impressed by his game. Xue Xiaozhou is just annoyed and wants to find new clients. Hu Manli then asks him for a huge favor: could his girlfriend, Wu Ya (who works at a hospital), fake a depression diagnosis for Ding Da'er? Xue Xiaozhou, showing he does have principles, flatly refuses to forge documents.
Spoilers & The Plot Thickens
Things take a turn when Sun Jie takes her mom for a check-up and gets devastating news: early-stage Alzheimer's. She calls Hu Manli again. Adding fuel to the fire, Hu Manli hears rumors that A Dong might be juggling other women. Time for Operation: Catch A Dong!
Hu Manli drags a reluctant Xue Xiaozhou to stake out A Dong's place. He thinks it's ridiculous, but Hu Manli boasts about landing an 8-million deal once by catching a client's cheating spouse. Fair enough?
A Dong zooms off on his scooter, leading Hu Manli and Xue Xiaozhou on a hilariously exhausting chase... on bicycles. They follow him right to Sun Jie's mom. The couple goes on a date – square dancing! Hu Manli gets Xue Xiaozhou to run interference while she secretly films them.
The surveillance continues. A Dong takes Mom to dinner, then a movie, with Hu Manli and Xue Xiaozhou tailing them, hungry and bored. This goes on for a week, and A Dong seems devoted only to Sun Jie's mom. Xue Xiaozhou is ready to call it quits. But then, Hu Manli spots another woman seeing A Dong off from his home with an air kiss! Busted!
Hu Manli pulls a classic move: pretending to be from the neighborhood committee doing a census, she confirms the other woman is A Dong's wife. Yikes.
Armed with this info (and clearly deciding rules are optional), Hu Manli goes to a print shop and gets a fake depression diagnosis for Ding Da'er forged. Her plan? Use it to guilt Ding Zhiyuan into finally showing up for the family camping trip.
Seeing Hu Manli go to such lengths – stalking, forging documents – all for her son, Xue Xiaozhou starts to see her in a new light. Maybe she's not just a ruthless businesswoman; she's also a fiercely protective mother.
Phew! What an episode! We've got potential fraud, family secrets, a health crisis, infidelity, and some seriously questionable detective work. Can't wait to see how Hu Manli's fake diagnosis plays out and what happens when A Dong's double life inevitably blows up!
