Episode Summary
Ying Tao learns about the recent struggles Jiang Qiaoxi and his family have endured. Following a dramatic confrontation with his cousin's disloyal former colleague, Ying Tao steps in to save the family from an embarrassing financial situation at a hotel. The episode concludes on a hopeful note as Ying Tao wins a small lottery prize and plans to use the money for a thoughtful gift.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Ying Tao's heart aching for Jiang Qiaoxi as he finally opens up about the immense hardships he's faced over the past two years. From family tragedies and thwarted plans to study abroad to the constant stress of supporting his cousin, he has been carrying a heavy burden alone. With tears in her eyes, Ying Tao gently chides him for not telling her sooner, wishing she could have been there to share the weight of his struggles.
Their conversation is cut short by a frantic call from Jiang Qiaoxi's cousin's wife – his cousin has disappeared. They rush out to search for him, eventually finding him at the site of their family's former large house, which has since been replaced by a tiny, cramped apartment. Overwhelmed with guilt, the cousin feels he has become a burden to his family. His wife, however, embraces him tightly, reassuring him through her tears that his recovery is their greatest hope and he is anything but a burden.
Later, when Ying Tao visits the cousin in the hospital, he greets her with a warm smile, telling her that although they've just met, he feels like he's known her for a long time from Jiang Qiaoxi's stories. The mood sours when one of the cousin's former subordinates stops by. While he appears grateful and respectful in person, he later makes a cruel and mocking phone call about his former boss's downfall.
Jiang Qiaoxi overhears the ungrateful colleague's vicious words and, consumed by rage, attacks the man. Ying Tao and the cousin's wife quickly intervene, pulling Jiang Qiaoxi away. Shaking with anger, the cousin's wife strides up to the man, delivers a resounding slap across his face, and furiously tells him to get lost. Ying Tao is in awe, seeing her as a powerful, heroic figure.
To lift everyone's spirits and welcome Ying Tao, the cousin's wife treats them to a meal at a lavish hotel. Jiang Qiaoxi feels it's an unnecessary expense, but Ying Tao understands her intention: to help them remember the better days they once had. The evening takes an awkward turn when it's time to pay. The cousin's prepaid card has been frozen, and Jiang Qiaoxi realizes he doesn't have enough cash.
Noticing his predicament, Ying Tao smoothly steps in and pays the bill with her UnionPay card. The act of kindness leaves the cousin's wife with a complex mix of emotions. To break the tension, she buys three "liuhecai" lottery tickets and insists Ying Tao pick one first. Jiang Qiaoxi dismisses it as a waste of money, given the astronomical odds, but Ying Tao plays along, happily tucking the ticket away like a cherished hope.
When the lottery results are announced, Jiang Qiaoxi's skepticism turns to shock. To everyone's delight, Ying Tao has won the fourth prize. Beaming with joy, she decides to use her unexpected winnings to buy a new pair of glasses for Yu Qiao, wanting to share her good fortune with him.
