Episode Summary
Liu Guoning accidentally becomes the lead in the school play and discovers a passion for acting, much to his parents' concern. Liu Guobao gets into a fight with her friend over promises related to her famous father's job. Meanwhile, new mother Tingting feels a loss of identity and decides to invest in a business to find purpose again.
Spoiler Alert
The School Play Fiasco
The school is putting on a play about the historical figure Qu Yuan. Sun Jiayu wanted to play the lead role. The teacher said no. The part had to go to a boy.
Liu Guoning heard that being in the play gets you out of class. He signed up right away. Then, the student who was supposed to be the star twisted his ankle. So, Liu Guoning stumbled his way into the main role.
His mom, Dai Jing, was thrilled. She thought his inner artist was finally waking up. His dad, Liu Xiangshang, was not so sure. He questioned his son and found out the truth. Liu Guoning just wanted to skip his lessons. Dai Jing got worried he would embarrass himself on stage. She almost decided not to go to the performance.
A Star Isn't Born. He's Pushed.
Liu Guoning was a disaster in rehearsals. The teacher, Mr. Wu, was getting a major headache. Days went by. He still couldn't remember his lines.
Then he learned the entire school would be watching. All the teachers, students, and parents. He got really nervous and wanted to quit. But it was too late to find a replacement. Mr. Wu told him to just do his best. Otherwise, he was going to be humiliated in front of everyone.
Showtime. Liu Guoning was terrified. He stood on stage and completely froze. He couldn't get a single word out. Luckily, Sun Jiayu was on stage with him. She improvised and performed her part first. This gave him a moment to breathe. After her lines were done, she turned off her mic. She whispered to him to just let go and act.
And he did. Liu Guoning delivered an incredible performance. His parents were in the audience with tears in their eyes. After the show, the school leaders and parents gave a standing ovation. His little sister, Liu Guobao, was so proud. She yelled from the crowd, "That's my brother!" She even ran backstage to give him a bouquet of flowers. For the first time, she saw her brother as more than just a clumsy kid. She realized he had hidden talents.
An Actor's Life for Me?
After the play, Liu Guoning had a new goal. He decided he wanted to become an actor. He figured it was perfect since his dad is a screenwriter.
Liu Xiangshang and Dai Jing thought this was a terrible idea. They didn't believe he was cut out for acting. But Liu Guoning was serious. His dad decided to compromise. He told his son he could pursue acting on one condition. He had to learn a practical trade first. Liu Guoning was confused. Liu Xiangshang explained that if acting didn't work out, he'd have a skill to fall back on. That way, he wouldn't end up begging on the street.
The Problem with a Famous Dad
Liu Guobao's friends are all big fans of her dad's TV shows. One of them, Xu Mengyao, wanted her name to appear on TV. She basically bribed Liu Guobao to make it happen. Liu Guobao agreed for her dad without even asking him.
She went home and told her father. He was not happy. He told her she can't make promises for other people. He instructed her to go back and explain to Xu Mengyao that it wasn't possible. He warned her that if you give people an inch, they'll take a mile.
He was right. Xu Mengyao didn't just want her name on TV. Now she wanted to be in the show. This led to a huge fight between the two girls. They were on the verge of ending their friendship. Liu Guobao told her dad what happened. He was disappointed that she lied and made promises she couldn't keep. He told her again to clear things up with her friend.
A New Mom's New Plan
Tingting is struggling after giving birth. She feels useless. Her days are spent resting or taking care of the baby. Everyone else plans her life for her. She feels like she has no purpose anymore. People just give her small tasks to do. They always say she isn't busy with anything else anyway.
She decided she needs to do something for herself. She wants to invest in Tang Xiaowei's nail salon. At first, Tang Xiaowei thought she was joking. Tingting seems to live a life most people would envy. But Tingting explained that only she knows how trapped she really feels.
