Episode Summary
Episode 9 saw Shi Laoshi worrying about Xiaoxia's future. Yu Shi bluntly told Guan Xu she wasn't looking for romance, which surprisingly relieved him. Meanwhile, a hypochondriac patient, Lin Shushu, pressured Shen Xinxin for a clean bill of health. Guan Xu's attempt to fix Yu Shi's cabinet led to a discovery about Lao Zhao's neglect of Zhao Dongcheng. An awkward shirtless encounter for Guan Xu was followed by an equally awkward dinner. The episode also featured Shen Xinxin's father buying a "miracle" jade bed, which Guan Xu's estranged father, Guan Shan, tried to scam him with, leading to a police station confrontation and Guan Xu reflecting on his difficult relationship with his father. Zhao Dongcheng and Guan Xu found common ground in their experiences with less-than-ideal fathers.
Spoiler Alert
"My Doctor" Episode 9 Recap: Awkward Encounters and Father Figures (or Lack Thereof)
The episode kicked off with Zhao Dongcheng having a chat with Shi Laoshi (Teacher Shi), and it seemed to lift her spirits. But beneath the surface, Shi Laoshi was looking at Xiaoxia, who was busy tidying up the kitchen, and her heart ached for this poor kid. Xiaoxia's had it rough, you know? Her parents divorced when she was young, and with neither wanting to take her in, Shi Laoshi stepped up. Now, with Shi Laoshi's illness, she feels like she's just holding Xiaoxia back. Talk about a heavy start!
Meanwhile, Yu Shi and Guan Xu were out for a meal. As fate would have it, the heavens opened up just as they finished. Seizing the rainy moment, Guan Xu decided to test the waters and asked Yu Shi if there was any chance of her and Zhao Dongcheng becoming a thing. Yu Shi, in her wonderfully direct way, basically said she views the men in her life as candidates for "enslavement" well into their seventies or eighties. Ouch? Or refreshingly honest? Whatever it was, Guan Xu seemed to have a lightbulb moment, and a wave of relief washed over him. Guess that clears things up for him!
Over at the hospital, we met Lin Shushu (Uncle Lin), a patient who previously battled liver cancer and thankfully recovered because it was caught early. However, the poor guy is now living in constant fear of a relapse. He's been making life miserable for his family and has now turned his anxieties towards the hospital staff. His latest demand? He wants Shen Xinxin to sign an official document guaranteeing he's in perfect health. Yeah, Shen Xinxin, being a responsible doctor, wasn't exactly jumping to put her name on that. Can you blame her?
Back to our main trio: a screw had come loose in one of Yu Shi's cabinets at home. Zhao Dongcheng was on his way to Shi Laoshi's, so he said he'd swing by Yu Shi's later to fix it. Guan Xu, ever the opportunist (or maybe just genuinely helpful this time?), overheard and immediately volunteered for the handyman job. Yu Shi was quite surprised by his eagerness. While attempting the repair, Guan Xu took a bit of a tumble, landing on the bed (he was fine, thankfully!), but the cabinet's contents – a cascade of Yu Shi's old school books and exam papers – came spilling out.
This is where it gets juicy! Guan Xu noticed a familiar signature on Yu Shi's papers: Lao Zhao (Old Zhao). He then found out that Yu Shi's brother (who, if you're connecting the dots, is likely Zhao Dongcheng's father, Lao Zhao) is apparently a master forger of signatures. Yu Shi then dropped a little bomb, mentioning that Lao Zhao never really cared about Zhao Dongcheng. She even suggested Guan Xu should ask Zhao Dongcheng about his childhood. This definitely left Guan Xu with a lot to chew on.
Later, Guan Xu was trying to enjoy a shower at his place when, surprise! Yu Shi and the gang (presumably including Zhao Dongcheng) showed up unannounced. He walked out of the bathroom, shirtless, right into everyone's view. Awkward! Dinner was equally cringey. Yu Shi started peeling shrimp for Guan Xu, commenting that he was too thin and needed to "bulk up." Not to be outdone, Zhao Dongcheng also made a point of piling food onto Guan Xu's plate. Poor Guan Xu was visibly uncomfortable and finally had to tell Zhao Dongcheng to maybe, just maybe, give him a heads-up next time he's bringing guests over. You think?!
But the award for "Most Unexpected Family Drama" goes to Shen Xinxin's storyline. Her dad had bought one of those "miracle" jade beds, the kind that supposedly cures all your ailments if you just sleep on it. Shen Xinxin's mom was, understandably, furious when she saw it and decided to sell the thing. While she was talking about it at the supermarket, Guan Shan (yes, Guan Xu's father!) overheard. Sensing an opportunity to make a quick buck, Guan Shan hatched a plan.
The irony? He ended up trying to pull his scam on the original owner! Guan Shan was in a park, hyping up this amazing bed to a group of elderly men, when Shen Xinxin's father happened to be there and recognized the spiel. Curious, he followed Guan Shan to "see the bed," only to realize it was at his own son's (Shen Xinxin's) house! An argument naturally erupted, and the two of them landed at the police station.
Guan Xu, learning about the commotion, went down to the station, and who does he see? His "father," Guan Shan. The resentment Guan Xu feels towards Guan Shan is palpable, but it's mixed with a heavy dose of conflict. He remembers that after his mother passed away, Guan Shan did raise him, even sacrificing his own chances of remarrying. Yet, as a father, Guan Shan majorly dropped the ball on his responsibilities.
In a moment of shared understanding, Zhao Dongcheng also opened up to Guan Xu about his own complicated relationship with Lao Zhao. The sad truth they both seemed to land on? Neither of them really had what you'd call a "qualified" father.
