Episode Summary
Episode 22 sees newly divorced Zhao Xiaoman urgently seeking a new wife through the Destiny matchmaking agency, while Cao Zixuan begins a seemingly romantic relationship with Jiang Fangyuan. A matchmaking event is disrupted when Ma Jie's credentials are questioned, sparking conflict between Qin Tianyue and Feng Qingming. Meanwhile, Dong Jiajia and Zhang Shiqi bond over shared professional interests. He Huanhuan faces intense pressure from her mother regarding her career and dating life, finding escape in her art and a growing connection with Cao Zixuan. The episode culminates with Qin Tianyue and Feng Qingming discovering that Jiang Fangyuan is secretly dating multiple women, putting Cao Zixuan at risk.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 22 Recap: Matchmaking Mayhem, Secret Dates, and Family Drama
Alright, buckle up, because episode 22 was packed.
First off, we have Zhao Xiaoman, fresh off her divorce and wasting no time. She practically bursts into the Destiny matchmaking agency demanding a new wife, like, yesterday. Cheng Xu tries to help, but the formidable Xia Wanqing swoops in and takes the case. Zhao Xiaoman's got two main requirements: the future wife must be filial (dutiful to parents), and not just normally filial, but exceptionally filial. Good luck with that, Xia Wanqing!
Meanwhile, love is officially in the air for Cao Zixuan and Jiang Fangyuan. They've kicked off their relationship, and Jiang Fangyuan is pulling out all the stops – singing, dancing, constant surprises. He seems like quite the romantic catch!
The agency also hosted a matchmaking event specifically for "high-level talent." It was buzzing, but things got awkward when Ma Jie, who only has a vocational degree, tried to blend in. Qin Tianyue spotted the discrepancy, and suddenly the event turned into an intense debate about background checks and who dropped the ball. Talk about killing the mood!
Amidst the matchmaking chaos, Dong Jiajia, a sharp and stunning diving club operations manager, was a special guest. She definitely caught the eye of Zhang Shiqi, a tourism group exec. Seeing her looking a bit tired in her heels, he smoothly invited her for a chat on the stairs. They instantly clicked, geeking out over everything from diving gear specs to shipwreck archaeology. It was clear they had professional chemistry, and Zhang Shiqi seemed particularly intrigued, his eyes occasionally flicking to the dive watch on her wrist. Onlookers Li Lefan and Ye Lang were already whispering that these two were hitting it off big time.
Then there's the saga of He Huanhuan and her overbearing mother, He Ayi. Mom shows up at the agency with Huanhuan's resume, ready to play matchmaker. Xia Wanqing has to gently intervene, pointing out that He Ayi showing up unannounced at her daughter's workplace with food (as she apparently did) is a major social no-no in a professional setting. Xia Wanqing advises waiting until Huanhuan figures out her career path before pushing the dating angle. Thankfully, He Ayi actually listened and agreed to pump the brakes for now.
Later, we find He Huanhuan seeking refuge by the sea, trying to let the ocean breeze blow away her stress. Who should appear but Cao Zixuan? Turns out, this rocky spot is Cao Zixuan's secret sanctuary – she even carved her name there with seashells. As they chatted, Cao Zixuan showed off pics of her boyfriend Jiang Fangyuan climbing mountains and encouraged Huanhuan to use the agency to meet people... but maybe ditch the mom-chaperone on dates, warning that "too much parental involvement can really kill the vibe." Wise words!
Elsewhere, Chen Meishu and Teacher Meng orchestrated a supposedly "accidental" run-in dinner, maneuvering Feng Qingming and Qin Tianyue to join their table. Oblivious at first, the two quickly fell back into arguing about the Ma Jie incident at the matchmaking event. The debate spiraled from "procedural loopholes" to "who's responsible," getting louder and more intense, drowning out everyone else trying to calm them down.
The argument got so heated that Qin Tianyue's father, who was also there, finally snapped. He slammed his hand (and a cup) on the table, furiously asking if dragging up old issues was worth ruining dinner, before storming out. Well, that effectively ended the meal. Awkward!
We also get a glimpse of Xiao Min, the cafe owner, who's been seriously out of sorts lately, even nearly burning herself making coffee. Ye Lang went to check on her but found out she'd already packed up and left town overnight. Hmm, wonder what's going on there?
The next day, Feng Qingming tries to smooth things over by submitting a formal self-criticism report about the Ma Jie incident. Qin Tianyue accepted it, saying they should drop the matter, though her slightly trembling fingers suggested she was still affected.
But then, Qin Tianyue and Feng Qingming noticed something odd: despite Cao Zixuan and Jiang Fangyuan being "official," there were no pictures of them together online. Their suspicions raised, they did some digging... and caught Jiang Fangyuan on camera dating three different women on the same day, acting super couple-y with each! Qin Tianyue was horrified, realizing her bestie Cao Zixuan might be walking straight into a trap with this serial dater. Oh boy.
Finally, poor He Huanhuan had to endure her job interview day with He Ayi basically glued to her side. Mom was drilling her on pre-planned answers in the waiting area, making Huanhuan incredibly anxious. Using the classic "need to touch up my makeup" excuse, Huanhuan made a break for it and fled the office building, heading straight for her usual cliffside spot by the sea. She found Cao Zixuan there again, sketching. Huanhuan confessed her frustrations, showing Cao Zixuan some of her unpublished animation work and admitting that while she could technically support herself drawing portrait commissions, she felt suffocated by the constant pressure to find a "real" job. Cao Zixuan, looking at Huanhuan's lively character designs, gently advised her to "hide in her hobbies and catch her breath." When Huanhuan got home, her mom was waiting at the door, but Huanhuan just waved her phone with its blank screen, mumbled "battery died," and slipped past the inevitable interrogation.
Phew! So, Jiang Fangyuan is a major player, Qin Tianyue and Feng Qingming are still clashing but might uncover this scandal together, and He Huanhuan is struggling under parental pressure while finding solace in her art and a budding friendship with Cao Zixuan (who desperately needs a heads-up about her own boyfriend!). Can't wait to see what happens next!
