Episode Summary
A series of events, including a comical misunderstanding at a café and the revelation of shared family trauma, brings Ye Meng and Li Jinyu emotionally closer. Their budding connection is tested when a persistent Cheng Kairan confronts them, leading Ye Meng to use Li Jinyu as a "shield" by confessing her feelings for him, a confession she later admits to him was genuine.
Spoiler Alert
"Deep Affection Eyes" Episode 3: A Comical Misunderstanding Sparks a Deeper Connection
The story picks up with Ye Meng chasing after Li Jinyu, who has just finished his part-time job. She sincerely apologizes for causing him to lose his position. However, Li Jinyu remains cold, reiterating that he has no interest in a romantic relationship and doesn't want to cause trouble with Cheng Kairan. He makes it clear that he only wants a quiet life in Ningsui to care for his grandmother.
Meanwhile, Fang Ya'en, playing matchmaker, sends Li Jinyu's contact information to Ye Meng. The next morning, a chance encounter with Cheng Kairan forces Ye Meng to leave Fang Ya'en's side. Later at the hospital, Ye Meng meets Grandma Dou, who also tries to set her up with her grandson, Li Jinyu. Grandma Dou shares the heartbreaking story of Li Jinyu's childhood, revealing he was abandoned abroad by his mother. This revelation stirs a deep sense of compassion in Ye Meng for him.
Feeling bored in the hospital, Grandma Dou insists on going out. Ye Meng, unable to refuse, secretly takes her to a coffee shop. There, they spot Li Jinyu meeting with a wealthy woman. Ye Meng jumps to the wrong conclusion, thinking he is becoming a male escort to get ahead. She immediately steps in to "save" him, leading to a hilarious and awkward misunderstanding. It turns out, Li Jinyu was merely interviewing for a job as a hand model.
The commotion draws both Ye Meng's and the wealthy woman's attention to a scar on Li Jinyu's wrist. Ye Meng recalls seeing antidepressants at his home and suspects he may have had suicidal thoughts in the past. The wealthy woman bluntly states that the scar makes him unsuitable for hand modeling and tells him to deal with it before contacting her again.
Thanks to Grandma Dou's maneuvering, Ye Meng gets some alone time with Li Jinyu. She takes him to a friend's studio to have the scar treated. As they talk, Ye Meng opens up about her own past, sharing that her mother also took her own life due to depression. This shared experience of pain and loss creates a powerful bond between them, bringing them closer.
On the walk back, Li Jinyu works up the courage to ask for Ye Meng's WeChat contact. From this point on, his attitude towards her softens noticeably. He becomes more playful and teases her, and his rare smiles reveal a side of him that Ye Meng has never seen.
In a parallel storyline, Cheng Kairan confesses to Fang Ya'en that he still has feelings for Ye Meng and never resented her. Fang Ya'en advises him to accept reality.
Later, Ye Meng asks Li Jinyu to help her retrieve her car. She then drives him to the seaside, where she tries to take his picture, but he refuses. She encourages him to live in the moment and not worry about others' opinions, while also making it clear that she and Cheng Kairan were never romantically involved.
The episode culminates in a dramatic confrontation. A drunk Cheng Kairan shows up at Ye Meng's door, just as she and Li Jinyu are returning. Unhappy to see them together, Cheng Kairan makes his displeasure known. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Meng uses Li Jinyu as a shield, boldly declaring that her heart belongs to him. After a stunned Cheng Kairan leaves, Ye Meng confesses to Li Jinyu that he wasn't just a convenient excuse—her feelings for him are real and she is willing to commit to him.
That night, as they browse each other's WeChat Moments, Ye Meng notices Li Jinyu's feed is filled with ads for alcoholic drinks and lacks personal posts. The reason is revealed: Cheng Kairan had hired him at the bar primarily for his looks to attract female customers and forced him to add new contacts and post promotional content daily.
