Episode Summary
Ming Sheng secretly protects Qiao Qingyu by hospitalizing a thug who was harassing her. As Qingyu prepares for her crucial college entrance exams, she must also confront her mother's worsening depression. After successfully passing her exams and getting into university, Qingyu learns the truth about Ming Sheng's sacrifice for her. The episode concludes with her family moving to a new city, her mother agreeing to treatment, and Qingyu looking toward a new beginning, inspired by a dream of her late sister.
Spoiler Alert
A Secret Protector and a Glimmer of Hope
As Qiao Qingyu focuses on her future, Ming Sheng takes matters into his own hands. Haunted by the thought that Qingyu deserves a much better life, one where she can achieve her dream of attending Jiangzhou University and moving her family away from their troubled past, he decides to do something for her. He ambushes Brother Hei, the local thug who has been harassing Qingyu, and gives him a severe beating. The next day, Qingyu is relieved to find the harassment has stopped, learning from her father that Brother Hei was hospitalized. She has no idea that her silent protector was Ming Sheng.
While one problem is solved, another deepens at home. Qingyu's mother has fallen into a severe depression following the death of her other daughter, Bei Yu. Consumed by her own investigation into her sister's death, Qingyu realizes she has neglected her mother's silent suffering. She finds her mother often sitting in a daze or standing perilously on the rooftop. A doctor confirms her fears, diagnosing a serious depressive disorder that requires immediate treatment. The situation escalates when her mother overdoses on her antidepressants, yet still can't find peace. Terrified of losing her mother just as she lost her sister, Qingyu holds her hand, pleading with her to hold on and get help after her upcoming college entrance exams (the Gaokao).
With the Gaokao just days away, the family prepares to close their noodle shop for good. On a rainy night, Ming Sheng appears for one last bowl of noodles, a quiet, unspoken farewell.
The day of the exam arrives, and Qingyu, with her family's full support, calmly fills out the test that holds the key to her future. Her hard work pays off when she receives her acceptance letter from the university. As the family celebrates, a sense of freedom and maturity blossoms in Qingyu. She takes her mother shopping, and in a touching moment, her mother encourages her to live life for herself.
It's only then that Qingyu learns the truth from a friend: Ming Sheng never went to France. He stayed to ensure she could take her exams in peace, confronting Brother Hei and getting him sent back to prison. Though he was injured in the fight, it was ruled self-defense. Qingyu rushes to the old tree where they used to meet, but he isn't there. The only trace of him is a wind chime he once hung by his window, now left for her.
As the episode closes, the family prepares to move to the city. The restaurant is closed, and her mother has finally agreed to receive professional treatment. In a dream, Qingyu sees her sister, Bei Yu, one last time. Bei Yu smiles, telling her it's time to let go and encouraging her to bravely embrace her new life, carrying her sister's memory with her into a brighter future.
