Episode Summary
Shen Yanzhou's investigation into the fire is derailed when the prime suspect, Liu Ruyan, announces she is pregnant. The news delights Shen Yanqing but devastates his first wife, Zhuang Hui, and causes Xiu Ju to fear for her own future. While Shen Yanqing and Xiu Ju share a series of romantic moments, tensions in the household simmer, culminating in a dramatic confrontation where Zhuang Hui accuses Liu Ruyan of faking her pregnancy.
Spoiler Alert
Girls Fighting Fate: A Pregnancy, a Pact, and a Shocking Accusation
The investigation into the workshop fire takes an unexpected turn when Shen Yanzhou's suspicion falls on Liu Ruyan, who was seen at the Orange grove. Cornered, Liu Ruyan makes a stunning announcement that changes everything: she is pregnant. Her alibi is that she was at the grove to pray for the child. A doctor quickly confirms the pregnancy, and an ecstatic Shen Yanqing promises to find the real culprit behind the fire to give Xiu Ju justice.
The news sends ripples through the Shen household. Liu Ruyan uses her condition to monopolize Shen Yanqing's attention, leaving the other women to grapple with the new reality. Zhuang Hui, who has been childless after twenty years of marriage to Shen Yanqing, is particularly devastated. She recalls a fortune-teller's warning that she would be without heir if she married him, and now sees Liu Ruyan's pregnancy as a cruel twist of fate. Witnessing this, Xiu Ju begins to fear for her own future, worrying that she too will be cast aside and end up like Zhuang Hui.
Meanwhile, a separate, tentative romance is budding. Xiao Ye can't seem to stay away from the "First Orange" shop, hoping for a glimpse of Shen Zhile. When they finally cross paths on the street, the encounter is brief and awkward, with both struggling to find the right words before parting in mutual regret.
Tensions at home escalate during dinner. With Shen Yanqing away, Liu Ruyan taunts Xiu Ju's status as a servant. When Shen Yanzhou leaps to her defense, Liu Ruyan feigns a stomach ache to force Xiu Ju to wait on her, a demand Zhuang Hui makes Xiu Ju fulfill. Later, Shen Yanzhou finds a subdued Xiu Ju in the kitchen, noting how much she has changed, but she pushes him away, fearing gossip.
In a tender contrast, Shen Yanqing whisks Xiu Ju away to visit her mother's grave. There, under a sudden snowfall, he vows to always protect her from harm. They take shelter, and in an intimate moment, he teases her and cooks her Yangchun noodles, lamenting that she has started calling him "Master" ever since his brother returned. The moment is broken when Shen Yanzhou arrives with urgent news: they must return home immediately. On the ride back, a sudden stop causes both brothers to instinctively reach out to protect Xiu Ju, a silent testament to the love triangle forming around her.
They arrive to a scene of chaos. Zhuang Hui is in the middle of interrogating Liu Ruyan, leveling a shocking accusation: she believes the pregnancy is a lie.
