Episode Summary
Chen Luzhou faces pressure from his mother to study abroad, a plan he resists, leading to an argument. His feelings for Xu Zhi become more apparent through small gestures, like a special chair he keeps for her. Meanwhile, exam results day brings both anxiety and joy. Xu Zhi scores exceptionally well (738), likely securing her place at Hua University, while Chen Luzhou also achieves a good score (713). As Xu Zhi researches university programs on Chen Luzhou's computer, she discovers his search history, hinting at his concern for her future.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 8 Recap & Spoilers: Confrontations, Exam Nerves, and Quiet Revelations
The episode opens with Chen Luzhou's mother noticing his injured hand and urging him to remove any covering before his father sees it. She then pulls him aside, mentioning Cai Yingying and how her voice strikingly resembles Xu Zhi's mother's – a similarity Xu Zhi herself had pointed out earlier, much to Chen Luzhou's mother's initial disbelief.
Meanwhile, Xu Zhi reflects on her own mother, who, despite her nagging, is ultimately understanding and accommodating, even buying her new rain boots after Xu Zhi ruined several pairs playing in puddles as a child. Cai Yingying observes that Chen Luzhou's mother, though soft-spoken, seems quite overbearing, leading her to jokingly wonder if Chen Luzhou might actually be adopted.
The conversation between Chen Luzhou and his mother takes a serious turn as she informs him that preparations for his study abroad are nearly complete; the university has been contacted, and only the visa remains. Chen Luzhou tentatively asks if he can choose not to go. His mother firmly dismisses the idea, stating that after so much preparation, neither she nor his father would agree. Desperate, Chen Luzhou suggests alternatives: he could attend a different university instead of the prestigious Hua University, opt for an unpopular major, or even write a formal guarantee that he wouldn't rely on their family's assets. His mother cuts him off, instructing him to end any romantic involvements before his departure. Visibly upset, Chen Luzhou leaves and walks out in the rain to buy a bottle of water.
Later, Cai Yingying discovers Chen Luzhou's phone, which he had left to get a screen protector applied. Xu Zhi offers to return it to him. Cai Yingying seizes the moment to tease Xu Zhi about her feelings for Chen Luzhou, pointing out that Xu Zhi is willing to venture out in the rain – weather she detests – just to return his phone. Xu Zhi waits for Chen Luzhou at his doorstep, and he sees her there when he gets back.
Adding to the romantic intrigue, Cai Yingying spots a photo on social media of a girl who appears close to Chen Luzhou. Claiming Zhu Yangqi owes her a hotpot meal, she arranges a get-together to subtly investigate. At the meal, Zhu Yangqi clarifies that the girl is Chen Luzhou's cousin. He then lets slip to Cai Yingying (who immediately messages Xu Zhi) that Chen Luzhou keeps a small blue chair at his home, specifically as a "special seat" for Xu Zhi. Remembering a previous conversation, Xu Zhi later finds this very chair at Chen Luzhou's place. The following morning, Chen Luzhou wakes up to find ginger soup that Xu Zhi had prepared for him, and she offers him words of comfort.
The tension shifts as exam results day arrives. Xu Zhi's father, in an attempt to ensure smooth internet access, buys a new high-speed router but ends up installing it incorrectly, causing a power outage. Although he manages to restore electricity, the new router is fried. Customer service lines are swamped with repair requests, leaving them without immediate help. Xu Zhi shares her predicament with Chen Luzhou, who offers to check her results if she provides her exam admission ticket number.
She agrees, and Chen Luzhou delivers the good news: Xu Zhi scored an impressive 738, which should comfortably secure her a spot at Hua University. When Xu Zhi asks about his score, Chen Luzhou reveals he got 713, a result she also praises. Xu Zhi's father is ecstatic upon hearing her score and eagerly talks about celebrating. However, Xu Zhi pragmatically reminds him that they still need to decide on their university program choices, cautioning against celebrating prematurely.
Later, Xu Zhi brings some food over to Chen Luzhou's place, where Zhu Yangqi is also present. Zhu Yangqi suggests inviting Cai Yingying to join their impromptu celebration. He also mentions he has already decided on his university. This news leaves Cai Yingying feeling despondent, as she laments that her score, also in the 400s, isn't even enough to get into a second-tier undergraduate program.
In a private conversation, Chen Luzhou and Xu Zhi discuss her university plans. While Hua University seems certain, Xu Zhi expresses some uncertainty about the highly competitive Architecture Department. Chen Luzhou advises her to research the various specializations within architecture to make an informed decision. He then offers her his computer for the research. As Xu Zhi opens his laptop, she is greeted by a screen full of his recent search history, hinting at his own deep investment in her future.
