Episode Summary
In this episode, Li Jinyu successfully thwarts Lin Yangyang's scheme and wins the approval of Ye Meng's father, Ye Kang, through a fishing trip and a shared meal. A major revelation unfolds as Ye Meng discovers her mother's tragic connection to the Hailan Port project and her subsequent suicide, leading to a painful but necessary reconciliation with her father. The episode ends on a cliffhanger with Grandma Dou's sudden collapse and a serious medical diagnosis.
Spoiler Alert
Deep Affection Eyes: Episode 20 Spoilers
The episode opens with Cheng Kairan driving Fang Ya'en home. He subtly tries to gauge her thoughts on future relationships, but Fang Ya'en makes it clear that her sole focus is on protecting her son and enjoying her freedom. Overcome by the moment, Cheng Kairan impulsively leans in for a kiss, but Fang Ya'en quickly warns him to stop. He snaps back to reality and watches her as she heads upstairs.
Meanwhile, Lin Yangyang orchestrates a dinner, inviting both Li Jinyu and Ye Meng's father, Ye Kang. Her plan is to sabotage Li Jinyu's relationship with Ye Meng by confessing her feelings for him in front of Ye Kang. Once Li Jinyu realizes Ye Kang's identity, he becomes disgusted with Lin Yangyang's manipulative behavior and sternly tells her to focus her energy on their project.
Later, a dejected Li Jinyu goes to the Sapphire Bar alone. Cheng Kairan finds him and assumes he's had another fight with Ye Meng. However, Li Jinyu explains that Ye Meng's father saw him having dinner with Lin Yangyang and now considers him a cheater. Cheng Kairan advises Li Jinyu to win over his father-in-law by learning about his interests and catering to his hobbies.
Back at home, Li Jinyu discovers that Ye Meng is already aware of Lin Yangyang's confession and begs for her help in mending things with her father. Following Ye Meng's advice, Li Jinyu joins Ye Kang for a fishing trip. He uses the opportunity to explain the misunderstanding and the real reason for keeping his marriage to Ye Meng a secret. The day proves successful when Ye Kang catches a large fish, lifting his spirits. Later, Ye Meng sees Li Jinyu's soaked trousers and mistakenly thinks her father made him jump in the river. That evening, Li Jinyu impresses everyone by cooking dinner with Ye Kang's guidance. He gives all the credit to his father-in-law, and the three share a warm, happy family meal.
The plot thickens as Cheng Kairan's investigation into Zhou Yu's past yields results. He confirms that Zhou Yu grew up in an orphanage and was never adopted due to a scandal involving Wang Xingsheng. Years ago, Wang Xingsheng, under the guise of charity, scammed investors to acquire land for the Hailan Port. His subsequent arrest and imprisonment tarnished the orphanage's reputation, causing the family that had intended to adopt Zhou Yu to withdraw their offer.
Ye Meng and Li Jinyu visit the orphanage and meet Zhou Yu, who is cold and hostile, believing they are associated with Wang Xingsheng. The orphanage director reveals a shocking truth: the Hailan Port project was originally called Tianhui City. Wang Xingsheng, a real estate developer, had invested in Ningsui. A partner had convinced the orphanage to invest their land, but this partner then used the orphanage's name to commit investment fraud. That partner was none other than Ye Meng's mother, Shu Yi.
The immense pressure from this situation led Shu Yi to take her own life. Devastated by this revelation, Ye Meng confronts her grandmother and becomes furious with her family for hiding the truth for so long. That night, Li Jinyu sits with Cheng Kairan on a balcony, listening as she talks about the past.
Elsewhere, Li Lingbai's interest in the relationship between Lin Yangyang and Li Jinyu is revealed to be purely strategic; he wants to offload the Hailan Port project to the Lin family.
To help ease the tension between Ye Meng and her father, Li Jinyu prepares another meal. With his encouragement, Ye Meng and Ye Kang finally have a heart-to-heart conversation. Ye Kang confesses that his wife's death was a devastating blow and his only instinct was to shield their daughter from the pain by never speaking of it. He admits he was terribly wrong. Ye Meng understands that she cannot blame her father, and the two reconcile, much to Li Jinyu's relief.
As Li Jinyu walks a content Ye Kang out, he is officially accepted as a son-in-law. Just then, a sound from nearby catches his attention. He investigates and finds Grandma Dou collapsed on the ground. After rushing her to the hospital, the doctor delivers grim news: Grandma Dou is seriously ill.
