Episode Summary
Li Lingbai's conspiracy to frame Li Jinyu for the Hailan Port collapse and take over his project is publicly exposed and thwarted by the collective efforts of Ye Meng, Zhou Yu, and others. As Li Jinyu and Ye Meng's relationship strengthens, a new mystery emerges connecting Ye Meng's late mother to Li Lingbai. The episode ends on a cliffhanger as their pursuit of a crucial USB drive, believed to hold key evidence, leads them to a dead end when it turns out to be empty.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Li Jinyu holding a press conference to address the collapse at the Hailan Port construction site. He promises a thorough investigation, but things take a sharp turn when Li Lingbai interrupts. She attempts to seize control by publicly claiming Li Jinyu has a mental illness, stripping him of his authority over the project and announcing her decision to sell it to the Lin Group.
Just as she finishes speaking, a video from the construction site appears on the screen behind her. Ye Meng then walks in, exposing that the collapse was caused by someone deliberately swapping out the building materials. When Li Lingbai argues that Ye Meng has no right to interfere, Ye Meng confidently presents her marriage certificate, asserting her authority as Li Jinyu's legal wife.
Though some attendees, prompted by Li Lingbai, accuse Li Jinyu of orchestrating the incident himself, the situation is flipped when Zhou Yu arrives unexpectedly. Zhou Yu provides video evidence that proves someone intentionally replaced the materials to frame Li Jinyu.
Backed into a corner, Li Lingbai dismisses the incident as a misunderstanding but still insists on removing Li Jinyu from his position, citing concerns for the project's safety and his mental state. However, Li Jinyu's psychiatrist, Yang Bingzhang, stands up from the audience and professionally confirms that Li Jinyu is in stable mental condition and perfectly capable of working.
With the tables turned, Ye Meng demands that Li Jinyu be reinstated to see the project through and give the public a proper resolution. The drama escalates when Grandma Dou arrives, publicly revealing Li Lingbai's history of abusing Li Jinyu, which sends a wave of shock through the room. Seeing through the conspiracy, Lin Yangyang of the Lin Group declares she will not take over such a problematic project, scorning Li Lingbai for trying to use her as a pawn. Li Lingbai's scheme is completely shattered.
Later that night, Ye Meng picks up a released Li Jinyu from the police station. Deeply moved by everything she has done for him, their bond deepens. Back home, as Li Lingbai watches a recording of the press conference, Ye Meng vows to protect Li Jinyu from now on, and he lovingly agrees.
In a side story, Cheng Kairan accompanies Chen Jiayu to a school performance. When he notices Chen Jiayu being treated differently because he comes from a single-parent family, Cheng Kairan stands up for him. His help makes their anti-fraud skit a huge success, and Chen Jiayu is touched by his kindness and patience.
Soon after, Zhou Yu visits to apologize and brings Ye Meng some old photos of her mother. To their surprise, they discover that Ye Meng's mother and Li Lingbai knew each other. Puzzled, Ye Meng visits an old orphanage, where the former director reveals that her mother and Li Lingbai were once inseparable friends, only losing touch after Li Lingbai was adopted by the Li family and moved to Jiangbei.
Meanwhile, Li Jinyu confronts Li Lingbai about her connection to Ye Meng's mother. She denies any involvement in the mother's suicide and speaks contemptuously about both mother and daughter.
Just as Ye Meng and Li Jinyu struggle with how to discuss this newfound connection, they receive a call from Fat-headed Monk, who tells them that the missing Wang Xingsheng left behind a USB drive. They immediately set out to find it but realize they are being followed by Li Lingbai's men. At the same time, the captive Wang Xingsheng, desperate to survive, reveals a secret to his captors.
Li Jinyu creates a diversion by playing a recorded conversation in a room, luring their pursuers in for a fight. This allows Ye Meng to sneak away and retrieve the USB drive. However, when she finally gets her hands on it, she discovers it's completely empty.
