Episode Summary
In this episode, Luo Man's unexpected rejection leaves Zhou Musun upset, while Chen Kaixi experiences a similar disappointment with her husband. The following day, both women pretend everything is fine during a brief call. Meanwhile, Zhong Qingcheng, with Luo Man's strategic advice, successfully mends fences with Chen Kaixi. Luo Man later encounters her ex-boyfriend, Wu Hao, whose career has declined as hers has risen. The episode ends with Luo Man on a movie date with Wu Hao, where she spots Zhou Musun with another woman.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicked off with things getting… well, not hot and heavy between Luo Man and Zhou Musun. It seems Luo Man had a last-minute change of heart, and just when Zhou Musun was clearly expecting things to progress, she slammed on the brakes. He was so annoyed by the abrupt rejection that he didn't even let her crash at his place and sent her straight home. Ouch! You could tell Luo Man and Zhou Musun were kind of testing each other, playing a bit of a cat-and-mouse game, so maybe she anticipated some fallout. Still, getting booted out like that had to sting a little.
Luo Man wasn't the only one having a rough night. Chen Kaixi also faced a harsh rejection from her husband after putting in the effort for a special evening. So, we had two leading ladies feeling pretty down, both instinctively reaching for their phones, probably to check in on each other. Chen Kaixi saw a message from Luo Man but, after mulling it over, decided not to reply. Radio silence.
The next morning, both women tried to put on a brave face. Chen Kaixi called Luo Man, feigning concern. Luo Man, playing it cool as a cucumber, insisted she was fine and flipped the script, asking how Chen Kaixi was doing. Chen Kaixi also pretended everything was peachy. But, as you know, forced pleasantries and unspoken truths don't make for a long chat, and Luo Man soon found an excuse to end the call.
Meanwhile, in the world of our male characters, Zhou Musun was hitting the badminton court with Chen Mian. Of course, business talk wasn't far behind. Zhou Musun's investors were dragging their feet on a project he was really excited about, and he was hoping Chen Mian could pull some strings to help move things along.
Chen Kaixi found herself at a rather posh event, mingling with a crowd of influential, wealthy wives. And who should make an appearance but Zhong Qingcheng! She initially lurked in the background, seemingly too intimidated to approach the busy Chen Kaixi. It wasn't until someone pointed her out that Chen Kaixi pulled Zhong Qingcheng aside for a private conversation.
This is where Zhong Qingcheng laid her cards on the table – or some of them, anyway. She confessed that her own vanity had driven her to act a bit too chummy and flirty with Chen Mian. To really tug at Chen Kaixi's heartstrings, Zhong Qingcheng even shared a sob story about her tragic childhood. Let's be honest, though, Zhong Qingcheng was clearly making a calculated move to repair her relationship with Chen Kaixi. Why? Because Chen Kaixi was her only link to the high-society world she craved, and with Luo Man also becoming a significant player, these were connections Zhong Qingcheng desperately wanted to cultivate.
So, what's a social climber to do? Zhong Qingcheng went straight to Luo Man, practically begging for advice on how to win back Chen Kaixi's favor. Luo Man, ever the strategist, clued her in about an upcoming art exhibition Chen Kaixi would be attending. She even coached Zhong Qingcheng on the perfect things to say to get Chen Kaixi's forgiveness. And just like that, Zhong Qingcheng "coincidentally" showed up at the art exhibition. Armed with Luo Man's script, her words worked like a charm, and Chen Kaixi, with her compassionate nature, seemed to soften towards her once more.
Shifting gears back to Luo Man, she received another offer to write a script. The meeting for this new gig was set at a place where she had an unexpected reunion – with her ex-boyfriend, Wu Hao! It had been years since they last saw each other, but Luo Man handled the encounter with a surprising amount of grace. They even exchanged WeChat info.
Later, when Luo Man met up with Zhong Qingcheng, she spilled the details about running into Wu Hao. Zhong Qingcheng, always up for some gossip, immediately asked why they had broken up in the first place. The truth? Back in the day, they were worlds apart in terms of status. Wu Hao was a big deal in their industry, while Luo Man was just a little-known editor struggling to make ends meet.
But that breakup? It turned out to be a major catalyst for Luo Man. She hunkered down at home for six months, poured herself into her writing, and produced her very first script. That was the beginning of her journey to becoming a sought-after writer. Now, fast forward to the present, and the tables have dramatically turned. Luo Man's career is on a serious upswing, while Wu Hao's star seems to have faded considerably; he's definitely not the hotshot he once was.
Right as they were discussing him, Wu Hao sent Luo Man a message, asking if he could pick her up for a date the next day. After Zhong Qingcheng left, Luo Man briefly considered telling Chen Kaixi about Wu Hao. But then she remembered Chen Kaixi's earlier comment – that not everyone is Luo Man, and that the "actors" in real life don't always follow the script you write for them. So, she decided to keep this development to herself.
And how does the episode leave us hanging? Luo Man is out on her movie date with Wu Hao when she spots none other than Zhou Musun in the same theater... and he’s with another woman! Cue the dramatic music!
