Episode Summary
Xu Zhi's "forgotten" charger leads to more interactions with Chen Luzhou, fueling Zhu Yangqi's suspicion that she's intentionally creating opportunities. Chen Luzhou agrees to film a promotional ad for a local tea garden, with Xu Zhi and Cai Yingying as models. A conflict arises when Chen Luzhou's younger brother, Chen Xingqi, throws a tantrum and his artwork nearly hits Cai Yingying, leading to a confrontation and a call with Chen Luzhou's mother that reveals more about their strained family dynamics and Chen Luzhou's past. Xu Zhi overhears and shares her own maternal experiences, leading to a deeper connection. She later gives Chen Luzhou a four-leaf clover for luck. At dinner, Cai Yingying confesses she lied about Xu Zhi having a boyfriend. Xu Zhi expresses a wish to meet Chen Luzhou's mother due to a vocal resemblance to her own. The tea garden owner, impressed with Chen Luzhou's work, offers him post-production tasks and questions his plans to go abroad, which Xu Zhi defends as his right to choose.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 3 Recap & Spoilers: Connections and Conflicts
The episode kicks off with Chen Luzhou texting Xu Zhi. She replies, explaining that she accidentally left his charger at the restaurant and offers to buy him a replacement. Her friend, Zhu Yangqi, is immediately suspicious, suggesting Xu Zhi left it behind intentionally to create more excuses to see Chen Luzhou. Chen Luzhou himself admits he feels a certain pull towards Xu Zhi, finding himself unable to refuse her requests. Zhu Yangqi, ever the pragmatist, scoffs that the only thing "different" about Xu Zhi is her (supposed) boyfriend, implying Chen Luzhou is merely drawn to the thrill of a complicated situation.
Later, Chen Luzhou and Zhu Yangqi are grabbing breakfast. Zhu Yangqi, enjoying the fine weather, proposes a walk, an idea Chen Luzhou readily agrees to. However, Zhu Yangqi makes it clear he’d prefer not to include Chen Luzhou's younger brother, Chen Xingqi, and Chen Luzhou consents. Their plans are soon interrupted by Xu Zhi, who arrives with the restaurant owner. The owner, recognizing Chen Luzhou, asks if he’s ever filmed a commercial. Chen Luzhou confirms he has, sharing a brief memory of his mother taking him to commercial shoots as a child, where he was often doted on by the older kids for his cuteness.
It turns out the owner has a job offer. Xu Zhi explains he’s looking for someone for a project. Chen Luzhou jokes that while he’s in need of money, he hasn’t quite reached the point of "selling his looks." Xu Zhi clarifies the offer: the owner wants Chen Luzhou to film a promotional advertisement for the local tea garden. Chen Luzhou accepts.
At the picturesque tea garden, Xu Zhi and Cai Yingying take on the roles of models for the advertisement. During a break in filming, as Xu Zhi and the others rested, the owner brought over some water, asking Xu Zhi to take a bottle to Chen Luzhou. The owner commented that while he, as the boss, was perfectly fine with his team taking a breather, Chen Luzhou preferred to remain in a corner, insisting he didn't want to disrupt anyone's workflow.
Meanwhile, a different kind of drama unfolds with Zhu Yangqi and Chen Xingqi, who are attempting to draw. Chen Xingqi's artistic efforts are, to put it mildly, not great, and Zhu Yangqi doesn't hold back a few critical comments. This enrages Chen Xingqi, who impulsively throws his drawing downwards. At that very moment, Xu Zhi and her group are returning from the shoot. The falling artwork narrowly misses Cai Yingying, who was about to snap a photo. Chen Luzhou, witnessing the scene, sternly tells Chen Xingqi to apologize. However, Chen Xingqi stubbornly refuses, defiantly claiming Zhu Yangqi had "bullied" him first. Chen Luzhou issues an ultimatum: apologize immediately, or pack his bags and go home. Furious, Chen Xingqi storms off.
This incident leads Cai Yingying to observe that Xu Zhi's earlier assessment of the two brothers might be spot on – their personalities are indeed worlds apart. Shaken by the confrontation, Chen Luzhou calls his mother. She attempts to smooth things over, explaining that Chen Xingqi deeply idolizes his older brother, often going into Chen Luzhou's room and even trying on his clothes, all in an effort to be more like him. She adds that life isn't always easy for Chen Xingqi and advises Chen Luzhou not to be overly critical or demanding. Chen Luzhou retorts with a hint of cynicism, "So, it's a case of whoever seems weaker is automatically in the right, is it?"
His mother, however, curtly dismisses his concerns, stating she's far too busy to get entangled in their "sibling dramas and disputes," and abruptly ends the call. As Chen Luzhou hangs up, he discovers Xu Zhi has been nearby, having overheard the conversation. He asks how long she’d been listening. Xu Zhi, rather than being embarrassed, confides that her own mother has a similar way of communicating – rarely speaking gently, yet it doesn't diminish her underlying love. Chen Luzhou, however, expresses a more jaded view, suggesting that for some, family connections are merely transactional, a matter of mutual benefit. He then reveals a painful childhood memory: he once asked his mother if his grandmother's claim was true – that he had been adopted primarily to act as a kind of shield against misfortune for his younger brother. His mother’s unsettling response at the time was that if he wished to remain with her and the family forever, he must always obey his grandmother and father.
The conversation also touches upon Chen Luzhou's strained relationship with his father, particularly concerning his plans to go abroad. His father had apparently reacted with lectures, his words filled with demands for gratitude. Sensing his turmoil, Xu Zhi later takes Chen Luzhou for a ride on her motorcycle to a quiet spot. There, she picks a four-leaf clover and gives it to him, offering a simple, heartfelt sentiment: "Now you have my luck too."
That evening, the group gathers for dinner. Zhu Yangqi, never one to beat around the bush, directly asks Xu Zhi if she actually has a boyfriend. Before Xu Zhi can answer, Cai Yingying quickly jumps in, taking the blame. She confesses she'd made up the story about Xu Zhi having a boyfriend because she was worried the others wouldn't agree to join them for dinner otherwise.
Later, Xu Zhi makes an unusual request: she wants to meet Chen Luzhou's mother. She explains that, for reasons she can't quite articulate, his mother's voice and tone, as heard over the phone, are strikingly similar to her own mother's, and she feels a compelling need to meet her in person. Chen Luzhou, perhaps moved by her sincerity or his own complex feelings, promises to try and arrange a meeting when an opportunity arises.
Professionally, things are looking up for Chen Luzhou. The tea garden owner reviews the footage from the promotional shoot and is thoroughly impressed with the quality. He’s so pleased, in fact, that he suggests Chen Luzhou also handle the post-production work. Chen Luzhou agrees to take on the additional responsibility.
The episode concludes with the owner learning about Chen Luzhou's intentions to move abroad. He questions the decision, remarking that career prospects are currently quite promising domestically. Xu Zhi, who overhears their conversation, steps in to gently assert that everyone possesses the fundamental right to choose their own path in life.
