Episode Summary
The Orange God Worship Festival becomes the backdrop for the escalating rivalry between brothers Shen Yanzhou and Shen Yanqing for Xiu Ju's affection. Shen Yanzhou's romantic lantern surprise for Xiu Ju is intercepted by Shen Yanqing, who creates his own special moment with her. This leaves Shen Yanzhou disheartened. In a parallel storyline, Shen Zhile and Xiao Ye confess their mutual feelings and share a kiss. The episode concludes with a drunken Xiu Ju revealing to a stunned Shen Yanzhou that she has dreamt of marrying him.
Spoiler Alert
Girls Fighting Fate Ep. 17: A Festival of Hidden Feelings
The simmering tensions between the Shen brothers, Yanzhou and Yanqing, come to a head at the Orange God Worship Festival, with Xiu Ju caught squarely in the middle.
The episode kicks off with a tender moment as Xiu Ju finds Shen Yanzhou standing alone in the snow and shares her umbrella with him. Their connection deepens when Shen Yanzhou uses his language skills to help Xiu Ju secure a major overseas contract for her orange grove. He reminds her of his promise to help her achieve anything she desires, leaving her feeling grateful.
However, the harmony is short-lived. During a planning session for the upcoming Orange God Worship Festival—an event they hope will promote the grove—a conflict arises. Shen Yanqing criticizes their modern approach, arguing it abandons tradition. To Shen Yanzhou's dismay, Xiu Ju agrees with his older brother, giving Shen Yanqing a moment of quiet triumph. Aware of his brother's growing closeness to Xiu Ju, Shen Yanqing privately vows that he will not lose her to him.
The festival night is filled with romantic gestures and missed connections. Shen Yanzhou arranges a beautiful surprise for Xiu Ju: a path of orange lanterns, each painted with her portrait, leading to a gauze curtain where he waits with an outstretched hand. Just as she is about to reach for him, she is startled by someone approaching from behind. When she turns back, Shen Yanzhou has vanished, leaving only a single small lantern.
The interruption comes from Shen Yanqing, who seizes the opportunity. He finds Xiu Ju and guides her, blindfolded, through a festival game. Her delight at completing it with his help is a painful sight for Shen Yanzhou, who watches from a distance. Later, as they release wish lanterns into the river, their conflicting desires become clear. Seeing Shen Yanzhou nearby, Xiu Ju changes her personal wish to a more formal one for the Shen family's prosperity. Shen Yanqing, however, writes a deeply romantic wish: to grow old with the one he loves.
Amidst the central love triangle, a second romance blossoms. Shen Zhile boldly confesses her love to Xiao Ye. To her surprise, he reciprocates, admitting he fell for her despite her "young lady" status and that he should have been the one to confess first. Overjoyed, Shen Zhile kisses him.
The night ends with a successful celebration for the orange grove's sales. After drinking, a tipsy Xiu Ju falls asleep on Shen Yanzhou's shoulder. Startled, he gently rouses her. In her drunken state, she recalls a dream of them getting married and murmurs to him, "You were in my dream," leaving him stunned and flustered.
