Episode Summary
Episode 21 throws the Destiny matchmaking agency into chaos. He Ah Yi aggressively pushes her daughter He Huanhuan onto matchmaker Xia Wanqing. Meanwhile, Qin Tianyue successfully pairs anime enthusiasts Jiang Fangyuan and Cao Zixuan, only to later uncover signs their relationship might be staged. The agency debates the merits of prioritizing elite "985" university graduates versus wealthy clients like the demanding Ma Jie. Elsewhere, bank employee Luo Xiaotong endures intense pressure and scrutiny from the relentless He Ah Yi. The episode highlights the clash between traditional expectations, modern dating metrics like education and wealth, and the potential for deception within the matchmaking world.
Spoiler Alert
"Home About Us" Episode 21 Recap: Matchmaking Mayhem & Suspicious Signals
So, picture this: He Ah Yi (think ultimate meddling mom) literally drags her daughter, He Huanhuan, into the Destiny matchmaking agency. The manager, Feng Qingming, probably felt his blood pressure spike. He tried a classic move – quoting a hefty membership fee to scare her off. Plot twist: He Ah Yi whips out her phone and transfers the money like she's buying groceries. Oof. Feng Qingming, seeing this disaster unfold, immediately dumps this hot potato onto Xia Wanqing, basically saying, "She fits your client profile perfectly, work your magic!"
Poor He Huanhuan is practically merging with the sofa cushions, trying to disappear, while her mom launches into full sales mode. "My Huanhuan has a stable job at a state-owned enterprise! And her hobby? Watching Animal World – very refined!" You could almost hear Xia Wanqing's polite smile cracking under the pressure. Feng Qingming just claps her on the shoulder like, "You're our star matchmaker, you got this!" Xia Wanqing's probably thinking, "Star matchmaker? More like lion tamer!"
Meanwhile, our other matchmaker, Qin Tianyue, is scrolling through her phone and nearly drops it when she sees a video of some guy named Jiang Fangyuan dancing. Why? Because he's basically the spitting image of Cao Zixuan's anime obsession (think a real-life Gojo Satoru, Jujutsu Kaisen fans!). The next day, Qin Tianyue stakes out the dance studio. She spots Jiang Fangyuan sporting a Demon Slayer Nezuko keychain and pounces. "Hey, wanna be set up? Specifically with someone who breathes anime, comics, and games?"
Jiang Fangyuan's eyes light up when he sees Cao Zixuan's cosplay photos. When the three meet, he seals the deal by declaring, "Nezuko and Tanjiro are endgame!" causing Cao Zixuan to squeal with delight. Qin Tianyue watches them instantly bond over collectible figures and thinks, "Piece of cake." Seriously, the chemistry seems electric, like fate tied them together with an anime-themed red string.
Back to He Ah Yi's quest. She spots Luo Xiaotong's bank employee ID and her eyes gleam like a Wall Street broker finding a blue-chip stock. She launches into an interrogation about Luo Xiaotong's housing fund contributions and promotion prospects. Luo Xiaotong is visibly stressed, gripping her coffee cup, while Xia Wanqing's attempts to gently interrupt are totally ignored amidst He Ah Yi's calculations about state-job benefits.
Later, at a Destiny strategy meeting, Qin Tianyue proposes a matchmaking event exclusively for graduates of elite "985" universities. People scoff. Feng Qingming's like, "What do you think this is, an investment bank recruitment drive?" But Qin Tianyue pulls up the data: "83% of highly educated female clients require partners with at least a Master's degree." Mic drop. Suddenly, everyone realizes education is the hot new currency in the marriage market. This isn't just dating; it's becoming a high-stakes hunt where resumes are hotter than real estate deeds.
Qin Tianyue feels a wave of relief when she sees Cao Zixuan flashing a fancy "magic" ring on her social media – looks like the anime couple is official! Her stress about the slow-moving "985" project fades... until Feng Qingming bursts her bubble. "Nice ring shot," he smirks, "but where are the pictures of them together?" Qin Tianyue realizes Jiang Fangyuan's social media is locked down tighter than Fort Knox, visible only to an "anime-only" group. His latest post? A cryptic quote from Spy x Family's Loid Forger: "A perfect disguise requires a 0.1% flaw." Uh oh, red flags waving?
Then, Xia Wanqing notices something interesting: Cao Zixuan has been liking posts from accounts offering "paid cosplay photoshoots." Suddenly, she remembers seeing a competitor agency's business card peeking out of Jiang Fangyuan's suit pocket the day he supposedly gave Cao Zixuan the ring. The horrifying thought dawns: Is this perfect anime romance just... an act? Are these two high-level players staging a relationship in this cutthroat dating scene, like a real-life Truman Show romance?
The pressure cooker intensifies for Luo Xiaotong when He Ah Yi shows up at the bank's VIP room with homemade soup. It feels less like a kind gesture and more like a thinly veiled message about securing a stable future (and son-in-law). He Ah Yi's promise to visit again tomorrow hangs in the air like a deadline for Luo Xiaotong's "get married" KPI.
And just when you think things can't get wilder, a guy named Ma Jie slams his adult education certificate on Feng Qingming's desk, demanding access to the elite 985-graduate dating pool. "I own three bubble tea shops! Isn't that worth an entry ticket?" Feng Qingming, perhaps swayed by the "self-made man" narrative, bends Qin Tianyue's strict rules. The episode culminates at a mixer where the lines blur completely. Ma Jie, flashing his expensive belt, tries to impress a female lawyer by bragging about being a "Chai Er Dai" (someone whose family got rich from demolition compensation) and offering to add her name to one of his properties. It's crass, it's transactional, and it perfectly captures the dark humor of this "elite" dating game, where sometimes it's hard to tell who's the hunter and who's the prey.
