Episode Summary
Cheng Xu's attempt to introduce Li Lefan to his parents as his girlfriend backfires when Li Lefan, overwhelmed by their wealth and fearing a repeat of past heartbreak due to family differences, rejects him. Meanwhile, Ye Lang bares his soul to Xiao Min, recounting his past struggles and confessing his love; Xiao Min accepts, and they become a couple, much to the delight of their colleagues. Feng Qingming and Qin Tianyue successfully mediate between Hu Yunfeng, Hu Xiaoyun, and Hu Yunfeng's reluctant parents, who finally give their blessing to the couple. In a shocking turn, Xia Wanqing finds herself locked out by Zhuo Yue, who is adamant about divorce; a distraught Xia Wanqing is taken in by Xiao Min.
Spoiler Alert
Cheng Xu's Big Swing and a Miss with Li Lefan
Our guy Cheng Xu decided to shoot his shot after work, inviting Li Lefan for what she thought was a casual dinner. Plot twist! He took her straight home to meet the parents. Smooth, Cheng Xu, real smooth. He tried to play it cool, telling Li Lefan not to worry, that he hadn't spilled the beans about them, and to just treat it like dinner at a colleague's place. Yeah, right! Cheng Xu's mom, who clearly knows her son better than he thinks, immediately clocked Li Lefan as the potential daughter-in-law. Turns out, Cheng Xu doesn't just bring any girl home.
Now, Cheng Xu's family is comfortably well-off, and his parents were totally charmed by Li Lefan. So charmed, in fact, that Mama Cheng whipped out a seriously pricey welcome gift – we're talking several months of Li Lefan's salary kind of pricey! To Mom, it was just a little something for her future daughter-in-law, but Li Lefan, understandably, couldn't accept it. Thankfully, Cheng Xu stepped in and smoothed things over.
Later, after dinner, Cheng Xu walked Li Lefan out, and this is where it got heavy. Li Lefan laid it out straight: they just weren't a good fit. She reminded him (and us!) about her last relationship ending precisely because of family disparities. The gap between Cheng Xu's family and hers was just too vast, and she felt it was an impossible situation. Having been burned once, she confessed she just couldn't go through that kind of heartbreak again. With that, she literally ran off, leaving a stunned and tearful Cheng Xu behind. Ouch, my heart!
Ye Lang Pours His Heart Out, and Xiao Min Listens
Meanwhile, Ye Lang took Xiao Min on a trip down memory lane, showing her where he lived when he first arrived in Ningzhou. He opened up completely, sharing his story of being an outsider with average skills, desperately trying to make it in the big city, not just for himself but to bring his parents over for a better life. It was a tough grind, and his dream didn't materialize quickly, but he never gave up. He also acknowledged the good people he met along the way, like Feng Qingming, who took him in when he had nowhere else to go (he even cheekily admitted to crashing at Feng Qingming's for a whole year!).
Eventually, he got a place at Yuexia Qiushen and moved out, because, as Ye Lang put it, a man can lose anything but his dignity. He talked about playing the clown, trying to please everyone, until Xiao Min came into his life. She made him feel human again, and he cherished every kindness she showed him. He admitted that before, he saw her as an older sister, nothing more. But after her divorce, his feelings shifted, and he realized he was in love with her.
This was it, his final confession. If Xiao Min couldn't accept his feelings, he vowed to leave and never bother her again. Talk about high stakes! Xiao Min, visibly moved by his vulnerability and understanding his struggles, decided to take the leap. She's in! They're going to "please each other and warm each other" (get a room, you two lovebirds!). Later, Ye Lang proudly introduced Xiao Min as his girlfriend to their colleagues at Si Ting Ni, and everyone was genuinely thrilled for them, showering them with blessings. Aww!
Operation: Get Hu Yunfeng's Parents On Board
Feng Qingming and Qin Tianyue were still hard at work playing matchmakers (or rather, family-mediators) for Hu Yunfeng and Hu Xiaoyun. They took Hu Yunfeng's parents to the school where Hu Yunfeng teaches baking and Hu Xiaoyun also teaches. The parents were genuinely pleased seeing their son in his element, looking like a real teacher. But when it came to watching Hu Xiaoyun teach, they basically tuned out. They got what Feng Qingming and Qin Tianyue were trying to do, but they still weren't sold on Hu Xiaoyun as a daughter-in-law.
After the parents left, Qin Tianyue gave Hu Yunfeng and Hu Xiaoyun a little pep talk, reminding them that happiness is something you have to fight for. The couple, grateful for the help, decided to confront the issue head-on. They approached Hu Yunfeng's parents directly. Hu Yunfeng pleaded for their blessing, and Hu Xiaoyun passionately promised to be the best wife, daughter-in-law, and mother she could be, if only they’d give her a chance. Seeing their determination and love, Hu Yunfeng's mom finally caved and convinced his dad. Touched by the young couple's devotion, Dad decided to let them follow their hearts and live their lives. Success!
Xia Wanqing's World Turned Upside Down
And just when you thought the emotional rollercoaster was slowing down, Xia Wanqing returned home to a nightmare. The door code? Changed. A new nanny? Hired. Her luggage? Packed and waiting. Zhuo Yue was dead serious about the divorce. He told her if she didn't leave, he would, and she'd never find him. Harsh!
With nowhere else to go, Xia Wanqing ended up at the office with her bags, where she bumped into Xiao Min. Ever the supportive friend, Xiao Min took Xia Wanqing home with her. The next day, the news of Xia Wanqing's marital implosion was all over Si Ting Ni. Feng Qingming and Ye Lang offered to try and talk some sense into Zhuo Yue. However, Li Lefan and Cheng Xu had a more pragmatic take, suggesting that if a marriage is broken, maybe divorce isn't such a terrible thing. Food for thought, I guess.
