Episode Summary
A health scare lands Liu Jun in the hospital, where his father plants seeds of distrust about his friend, Qian Hongming. This, combined with Cui Bingbing's impending move to Shanghai for a new job and a heartfelt, late-night conversation with the soon-to-be-married Lin Chuan, forces Liu Jun to realize his true feelings. He confesses to Cui Bingbing, and they finally begin a relationship. The episode concludes with a new family drama, as Liu Jun correctly suspects his father is secretly dating Qian Hongming's sister, a truth Qian Hongming reluctantly accepts.
Spoiler Alert
Created in China, Episode 17: Hospital Beds and Heartfelt Confessions
The episode kicks off with Liu Jun being rushed to the hospital with stomach bleeding after a business dinner. When he wakes up, his father, Liu Shitang, is at his bedside. Instead of just showing concern, Liu Shitang uses the opportunity to badmouth Qian Hongming, blaming him for Liu Jun's condition and the factory's troubles. He drops a bombshell, claiming that Qian Hongming, despite his intelligence, has character flaws and is secretly supporting a female college student in Shanghai. Though Liu Jun is skeptical, his father's conviction plants a seed of doubt.
Once discharged, Liu Jun is picked up by Qian Hongming himself. Liu Jun confronts him about the rumor. Qian Hongming vehemently denies it, explaining that while he sometimes needs female companions for business dinners, it's all for show. He admits to buying a house in Shanghai which he rented to a female student, and the story got twisted. He swears his loyalty to his wife, Shen Jiali, declaring she is the most important person in his life.
Meanwhile, the long-simmering tension between Liu Jun and Cui Bingbing is about to boil over. Frustrated by their undefined relationship, Cui Bingbing is at a crossroads. Liu Jun, planning to buy land for a new R&D center, seeks her professional advice on securing funds, and she provides a detailed, expert analysis. Just as they finish, she tells him she's been offered a great job in Shanghai. Liu Jun respectfully supports her career move, but Cui Bingbing knows a long-distance relationship is a non-starter for them. This is her way of forcing a resolution.
In a parallel storyline, Lin Chuan is preparing for her wedding, assisted by her sister-in-law, Xia Haiping, who is moving to the US with her child. That evening, Lin Chuan brings a wedding invitation to Liu Jun, but he's away on business. Instead, she suggests they share a drink to make up for the missed celebration. After a few drinks, Lin Chuan opens her heart, asking Liu Jun if they might have ended up together if not for their families' past conflicts.
Her question hits Liu Jun hard. After she leaves, he has a sudden epiphany about who he truly loves. In a dramatic turn, he races off to find Cui Bingbing before she can leave. He lays everything on the line, explaining his history with Lin Chuan and confessing his true feelings for her. Moved by his sincerity, Cui Bingbing accepts, and they finally become a couple.
The story then jumps to the New Year of 2003. Liu Jun and Cui Bingbing are enjoying their new relationship, though an awkward moment arises when Liu Jun hesitates at the idea of her meeting his father. Later, the new couple visits Qian Hongming. Liu Jun shares a new suspicion: he thinks his father, Liu Shitang, is secretly dating Qian Hongming's sister, Qian Hongying. Qian Hongming dismisses the idea, unable to believe it given the past humiliations his sister endured.
However, the truth comes out when Qian Hongming brings a gift of apples from Liu Jun to his sister and sees an identical basket already in her home. The realization dawns on him. Qian Hongying confesses that she genuinely likes Liu Shitang and has never felt as comfortable with anyone else. Unable to control his sister's heart, a conflicted Qian Hongming agrees to turn a blind eye to their relationship, asking only that they keep it out of his sight.
