Episode Summary
In this episode, Liu Yan recovers and starts a new life, selling pork at a market with support from Lu Tianchi. Her birthday is marked by heartfelt gifts from her brother, Li Zan, and a successful date invitation from Lu Tianchi, advancing their romance. The plot intensifies when Liu Yan discovers her mother, Jiang Fang, is alive after finding a dandelion left for her. However, this hope turns to heartbreak as Lu Tianchi confirms Jiang Fang is nearby but has cruelly decided to remain distant, leaving Liu Yan devastated.
Spoiler Alert
With Liu Yan recovering from her injuries, Lu Tianchi provides constant, meticulous care. Her brother, Li Zan, though finding Lu Tianchi's diligence overwhelming, is relieved to entrust his sister to him. As Liu Yan gets better and can walk again, she teaches Lu Tianchi how to cook, and his skills improve daily.
A month passes with no sign of Jiang Fang, prompting Liu Yan to think about making a living. After failing to get a job as a chef, she starts a pork stall at the local market. Her first attempts are clumsy, as she gets complaints for choosing the cuts for her customers. Seeing her struggle, Lu Tianchi secretly pays an old woman to buy pork from her stall to boost her confidence. Determined to succeed, Liu Yan begins studying the different cuts of pork and the best ways to prepare them.
One evening, Liu Yan visits a bowling alley where Li Zan is working. The sight triggers a memory for him of how his mother died from a heart attack because his father was too poor to afford medical treatment, reinforcing his deep-seated drive to make money. Later that night, as Liu Yan is at home calculating her debts, she hears a suspicious noise outside. On alert, she swiftly neutralizes two figures at her door, only to realize they were delivering a birthday cake sent by Wang Yang, which is now smashed. When Li Zan returns, he complains about the mess before noticing the date. He then quietly prepares a heartfelt birthday surprise for her: a bowl of longevity noodles, carefully tying the strands together as a symbol of a long life.
Lu Tianchi also rushes over with a gift. But before he arrives, Li Zan gives Liu Yan their mother's heirloom necklace, a deeply emotional moment that brings her to tears. Afterwards, Liu Yan gets a text from Lu Tianchi but ignores it, assuming it's about their contract, and goes to sleep. The next day at the market, Lu Tianchi surprises her with a different gift: a treasured photo of her from a past competition. He then musters the courage to ask her on a date, and a delighted Liu Yan accepts.
Meanwhile, Lu Tianchi has been secretly investigating Jiang Fang's whereabouts, discovering she was seen near the "Da Huang Lou" (Big Yellow Building). Elsewhere, Tang Shuangshuang invites Liu Yan to a party where her boyfriend plans to propose. After giving Liu Yan a makeover, Tang Shuangshuang confides in her about Lu Tianchi. She admits that while "Lao Lu" provides a great sense of security, she feels she never truly won his heart.
Liu Yan's world is turned upside down when she finds a single white dandelion at her doorstep, instantly guessing it's a birthday message from her mother, Jiang Fang. Overjoyed, she rushes to Lu Tianchi's place to tell him her mother is alive. She is unaware that he already knows. Jiang Fang had visited while Liu Yan was unconscious but chose to abandon her again. When Liu Yan shares the news with Li Zan, he is deeply suspicious, believing his mother has only resurfaced now that he has helped clear Liu Yan's debts.
The next day, Lu Tianchi tracks Jiang Fang down to a casino. She coldly admits she only left the dandelion and has no intention of seeing her daughter. Baffled by her cruelty, Lu Tianchi tries to convince Liu Yan to stop searching. Liu Yan senses he knows more and, after learning her mother has been gambling, presses him until he gives her the address. She rushes to the location and knocks, but there's no answer. A frantic search of the area yields nothing, leaving her utterly heartbroken and lost.
