Episode Summary
Shen Haoming and Xu Yan both end up in Gubei Town, where they are forced to partner in a tie-dye workshop. Xu Yan discovers Haoming is her neighbor and suspects he's following her. After a failed attempt at a dramatic gesture, Haoming helps Xu Yan try to recruit a retired wax-dye master. Their investigation into the master's past forces Haoming to reflect on his own divorce, leading to a small but meaningful moment of connection between him and Xu Yan.
Spoiler Alert
A "Coincidental" Getaway
An Awkward Partnership
So, Shen Haoming is feeling pretty low after Xu Yan called him out. His assistant gives him an idea. Go relax in Gubei Town. It's scenic, and they have some business there anyway. Haoming isn't sold until the assistant mentions a food festival and a tie-dye workshop. That's all it took.
At the same time, Qiao Lin tells Xu Yan to go to that exact same town. She needs to learn about the local crafts for work and, more importantly, just chill out.
Xu Yan arrives and the place is genuinely charming. The people are friendly. It seems like the perfect spot to unwind. Then she sees Shen Haoming. He's already been there for days. He's settled in and even learned how to row a boat. She spots him, they make eye contact for a second, and she just keeps walking.
Later, Xu Yan is at a tie-dye workshop to do her research. Guess who walks in. Yep, Haoming. She's completely floored. To make things worse, she has to partner with him for the class project. All the other groups were already full. You just know he planned that. The whole thing is incredibly awkward. They have to work together on the fabric, which means they're constantly bumping into each other. The one annoying thing is that Haoming is actually good at it. He clearly did his research before coming. Their final piece even gets praise from the teacher.
Neighbors and Suspicions
The real kicker comes that night. Xu Yan discovers that Haoming is staying in the room right next to hers. This is not a coincidence. She confronts him immediately. She accuses him of having a hidden agenda and basically stalking her. He doesn't really deny it.
She calls Qiao Lin to complain about the whole situation. Qiao Lin, as always, has the perfect take on it. She says a guy acting this clingy is either a romantic hero or a total creep. It all depends on whether you actually like him. Xu Yan thinks calling Haoming a creep is a bit much, which tells you everything you need to know.
Games and Hidden Motives
A Little Drama on the Side
While all this is happening, we get a quick check-in with the B-team. Lin Tao goes to see Qiao Lin, and the vibe is just uncomfortable. Then, Yu Yiming shows up. Qiao Lin's face lights up and she leaves with him. Lin Tao is left standing there, and the jealousy is written all over his face. It's a mess. Later, Qiao Lin gets sick. Lin Tao steps up and insists on taking her to the hospital. He even answers her phone when Yu Yiming calls, telling him not to worry or get the wrong idea.
The Stage and the Scooter
Back in Gubei Town, Haoming doesn't show up for the tie-dye class the next day. Xu Yan is completely distracted without him there. She can't focus on the lesson at all. She starts asking around about him. She thought he was only there for her, and now she feels a little foolish. But a local shopkeeper gives her a look. It makes her think Haoming is playing some kind of game.
That night, there's a public performance in the town square. And who is on stage but Shen Haoming. He's acting in a local opera. He's playing the part of Chen Shimei, a famous historical figure known for abandoning his loyal wife to marry a princess. The irony is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
He sees Xu Yan in the audience, stops his performance mid-sentence, and walks off the stage. He finds her and says he has to leave town. He claims it's because she clearly doesn't want him around. This is a total guilt trip. Xu Yan does not fall for it. She just gives him a look, gets on her electric scooter, and rides off into the night. Haoming is left standing there, realizing his dramatic gesture was a complete failure.
The Stubborn Master
A Closed Door
The plot then pivots. Xu Yan sees a beautiful piece of wax-dye art, also called batik. She wants to license the unique technique for her company. The problem is, the master craftsman who made it went into seclusion three years ago.
Haoming, trying to be helpful again, manages to get them a meeting. He takes Xu Yan to the old master's house. Xu Yan is direct. She tells him who she is and says she wants to buy the rights to his technique. The master's face changes instantly. He gets angry, pours out the tea he just served them, and tells them to leave. He says he's done with that craft forever.
Uncovering the Truth
They find out the real story from the locals. The master's wife was the true artist. He only knows the process, but she had the skill. Xu Yan realizes he's not angry about the business. He's in a fight with his wife.
Xu Yan confronts him again. She tells him he isn't afraid of the craft. He's afraid of facing his own heart. He still kicks them out. As they leave, Xu Yan says you can never wake up a person who is only pretending to be asleep.
This hits a nerve with Haoming. He quietly admits that he was the same way during their divorce. He was also pretending, refusing to face the truth. Xu Yan hears him, but she just pretends she didn't and keeps walking.
A Small Thaw
The episode ends with a small but important moment. Xu Yan finds out that Haoming's younger brother, Shen Haochen, is also in town. Haoming secretly pulled him out of school for the trip. She jokes that she finally understands where Haochen gets his mischievous side from. It leads to a real, open conversation between them. For the first time in a long time, it feels like the ice is starting to break.
