Episode Summary
Xu Kaixin, a resilient single mother, navigates life after being cheated out of her home by her ex-husband, Qian Hao, and former best friend, Hu Xiaojiao. An awkward airport luggage mix-up introduces her to Mei Chengyi, who is coincidentally also facing personal and professional pressures, including fending off his in-laws' matchmaking attempts by pretending to have a girlfriend. Kaixin is further stressed when her daughter, Dami, shows loyalty to Qian Hao during a parent-teacher meeting, leading to a public confrontation. It's revealed Qian Hao, now infertile, wants custody of their son, Xiao Mi, for his own mother's sake. The episode ends with Kaixin's friend, Li Xiaoxiao, sending her Mei Chengyi's dating profile, whom Kaixin recognizes from the luggage incident.
Spoiler Alert
"Double Happiness" Episode 1 Recap & Spoilers: Misunderstandings and Lingering Resentments
Xu Kaixin, a 33-year-old single mother of a daughter and a son, lives a life that ironically contrasts with her name, which means "happy." Raised by her aunt, whom she lovingly calls Sister Lili, after her own birth mother disappeared, Kaixin was given her name in the hopes she would lead a joyful life. Though not her biological mother, Sister Lili has been more than a mother to her.
Kaixin's current living situation is a stark reminder of a painful betrayal. She had once saved enough for a down payment on a spacious 140-square-meter apartment and was diligently paying the mortgage. However, her former best friend seduced her ex-husband, and together they schemed to kick Kaixin and her children out of their home. Now, Kaixin, Sister Lili, and the children live in a rented apartment.
To make ends meet, Kaixin runs a cake shop where she wears multiple hats: owner, clerk, delivery person, and even hauler. The episode kicks off with a mix-up at the airport. Kaixin had mistakenly taken someone else's luggage and arranged to exchange it back in front of airport staff. Having opened the suitcase and found it filled with condoms, she jumped to conclusions about its owner, Mei Chengyi. Mei Chengyi, in a rush to get to work, tried to explain, but Kaixin wasn't interested, and he had to let the misunderstanding slide.
Meanwhile, Kaixin notices her daughter, Qian Dami, has been acting strangely, often hiding in the study for video calls. One morning, Dami skips breakfast and heads to school unusually early. A call to Dami's homeroom teacher reveals a parent-teacher conference that Dami never mentioned. Kaixin rushes to the school after the luggage exchange, only to find the conference already underway. Her daughter is on stage, reading an essay she wrote – and sitting right there, beaming, is Kaixin's despicable ex-husband, Qian Hao, as Dami recites a piece about him.
In another storyline, Mei Chengyi is facing potential layoffs at his company. He pleads his case to Director Li, who grants him a three-month probationary period. As a thank you, Chengyi gifts Director Li's son a limited-edition building block set he had bought abroad, originally intended for his own daughter.
After the parent-teacher conference, Kaixin secretly follows Qian Hao and Dami. She overhears Dami expressing resentment towards her and Lili Jie, while showing affection and longing for Qian Hao. The final straw comes when Kaixin hears Qian Hao making empty promises to Dami. Unable to contain her anger, Kaixin walks up and pours a drink over her ex-husband's head.
The backstory of their breakup is revealed: Qian Hao had an affair with Kaixin's then-best friend, Hu Xiaojiao. They tricked Kaixin into a sham divorce under the pretext of buying a property in a good school district. Once the house was secured, they threw Kaixin and her two children out. The divorce agreement stipulated that half of the assets, roughly sixty thousand yuan, would be a one-time child support payment. However, in the two years since, Qian Hao hasn't paid a single cent.
Confronted by Kaixin, Qian Hao has no defense. To Kaixin's dismay, Dami, seemingly ungrateful, sides with her father. Hurt by Dami's earlier words, Kaixin angrily declares she will change the custody agreement and proceeds to call Dami's teachers to cancel all her tutoring classes. Dami then turns to Qian Hao, asking if she can live with him. Qian Hao, skilled at making empty promises, easily placates his naive daughter without any real intention of taking her in.
Later, Kaixin reflects on why Qian Hao and Hu Xiaojiao, who were supposedly doing well abroad, have suddenly returned to the country and are now interested in child custody. Her friend, Li Xiaoxiao, speculates it's likely because they can't have children of their own. Their guess is accurate. Qian Hao is indeed unable to have more children, but his mother desperately wants a grandson. Therefore, Qian Hao hopes to use Dami to get closer to his son, Xiaomi. However, Xiaomi was born after the divorce and has no bond with Qian Hao, making it difficult for him to gain custody of his son.
Mei Chengyi visits his in-laws to pick up his child. His parents-in-law try to persuade him to remarry, suggesting he marry his deceased wife's younger sister, Youyou. Youyou, however, is child-free by choice and had previously confirmed with Chengyi that he wasn't interested in her, much to her relief. To put an end to his in-laws' matchmaking attempts, Chengyi lies, claiming he already has a girlfriend.
To make his charade convincing, Mei Chengyi registers with a dating agency. Coincidentally, this is the same agency where Kaixin's friend, Li Xiaoxiao, works. Li Xiaoxiao immediately sends Chengyi's profile to Kaixin, who instantly recognizes him as the man from the airport luggage mix-up.
