Episode Summary
In this episode, tensions escalate between Fang Ya'en and her abusive ex-husband, Chen Jian, leading to a confrontation where Cheng Kairan defends her. This pushes Cheng Kairan to confront his budding feelings for Fang Ya'en, which are noticed by her perceptive son. Meanwhile, Li Jinyu reveals his true family background to Ye Meng after a conflict with Qiao Maimai, who is desperate for money to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. The bond between Li Jinyu and Ye Meng deepens through this shared vulnerability.
Spoiler Alert
"Deep Affection Eyes" Episode 9 Spoilers
The episode kicks off with Cheng Kairan picking up Chen Jiayu from school as usual. However, Jiayu spots his father, Chen Jian, inside the shop and decides to wait in the car, sensing an impending argument between his parents. Inside, Chen Jian is relentlessly pressuring Fang Ya'en to get back together. When she refuses, he becomes furious. Fang Ya'en confronts him, stating that his domestic abuse during their marriage was the reason for her decision to divorce. Chen Jian insists he has changed, but then immediately threatens her, warning her not to even think about fighting for custody of their son.
Just as Chen Jian is about to get physical, Cheng Kairan arrives and stands up for Fang Ya'en. The two men nearly come to blows, but the fight is cut short when Chen Jiayu walks in. Not wanting to create a traumatic scene for his son, Fang Ya'en gently explains that she and his father were just having a disagreement. To her surprise, Chen Jiayu calmly states that he thinks they should have separated a long time ago.
Later that evening, after Jiayu is asleep, Fang Ya'en vents her frustrations to Cheng Kairan over drinks. She seems to trace all her misfortunes back to her decision to drop out of school years ago. Her story deeply moves Cheng Kairan, who feels a pang of guilt himself. He recalls how, even after she left school and faced so many hardships, she still smiled and encouraged him to study hard. As Fang Ya'en gets drunk, Cheng Kairan carries her to bed. Watching her up close, he feels his heart flutter, but the moment is interrupted by Chen Jiayu's voice from behind, startling him. Jiayu admits that he likes Cheng Kairan, but points out that nothing can happen while his parents are still married. A flustered Cheng Kairan quickly denies having any feelings for Fang Ya'en and retreats to his car, though he can't hide the emotions stirring within him.
Meanwhile, a subplot unfolds involving Qiao Maimai, who dreams of becoming a singer. She has been scouted by an agency, but she needs to pay a hefty training fee of 100,000 yuan before her debut.
Elsewhere, Li Jinyu takes Ye Meng to the hospital to visit Grandma Dou. They run into Qiao Maimai, who is also there with a fruit basket. Grandma Dou is overjoyed to learn that Li Jinyu and Ye Meng are officially a couple. She is incredibly pleased with her future granddaughter-in-law and eagerly urges them to get married and have children soon.
Desperate for money, Qiao Maimai attempts to steal Grandma Dou's flower nursery contract to use as collateral for a loan. Li Jinyu catches her in the act and harshly reprimands her. Enraged, Qiao Maimai lashes out, spitefully revealing that Li Jinyu is not Grandma Dou's biological grandson. The two have a bitter falling out. When Ye Meng returns, she finds Li Jinyu in a depressed state. To get him to open up, she playfully steals a piece of his puzzle, prompting him to seek her out to talk.
Li Jinyu, realizing he shouldn't be cold to Ye Meng, takes her out to eat. Prodded by her questions, he finally reveals his identity. It turns out that Grandma Dou's son, Li Mu, was actually his stepfather. After his stepfather died in a car accident, Grandma Dou adopted him and raised him as her own. He explains that he was initially very withdrawn, but a young Qiao Maimai, like a little angel, helped bring him out of his shell. Their bond as siblings strengthened one day when he fought off some thugs who were harassing her. Ye Meng listens to his story and realizes this was the incident Cheng Kairan had mentioned, where Li Jinyu had put someone in the hospital. On the way back, Ye Meng and Li Jinyu are laughing and talking, and she finds herself increasingly drawn to his gentle charm.
The next morning, Cheng Kairan visits Fang Ya'en with a gift, trying to clear the air about the previous night. He explains that nothing happened between them, much to the relief of Fang Ya'en, who had worried she might have taken advantage of him while drunk. Chen Jiayu steps in to clarify the misunderstanding and then privately asks Cheng Kairan, with the maturity of a tiny adult, if he has thought things through, leaving Cheng Kairan at a loss for words. The episode ends at the hospital, where Ye Meng and Li Jinyu are keeping Grandma Dou company, who grows fonder of Ye Meng by the minute.
