Episode Summary
Xu Yan shifts her focus from just pleasing her future mother-in-law, Yu Lan, to strategically winning over the most influential woman in her social circle, Mrs. Qu. By creating a new TV show that serves everyone's interests, she gains a small victory with Yu Lan but also attracts suspicion from an office rival. The episode ends with a shocking reminder of her past when she sees her estranged father on television.
Spoiler Alert
The Battle to Impress Mom
You Can't Sit With Us
Xu Yan is still trying everything to win over her future mother-in-law, Yu Lan. It is not going well. Yu Lan is completely convinced that Xu Yan is a fake. She is constantly testing her, just waiting for her to slip up. She thinks Xu Yan is smart, which makes her dangerous.
The latest test happens while Yu Lan is out with her wealthy friends. Xu Yan gave her a cashmere towel as a gift. Yu Lan's friends openly mock it. They talk about how they only use expensive Italian brands. They say the towel's color is boring and you could never match it with an outfit. The message is loud and clear.
Xu Yan tries to get some inside information from the family's housekeeper. No luck. The housekeeper has been told to keep her mouth shut. Xu Yan does learn one useful thing, though. Yu Lan has a history of getting rid of her son's girlfriends. She discusses them with her friends and then finds a way to push them out.
A New Target
The whole group goes to play tennis. Xu Yan acts like a ball girl, running around trying to look helpful. She notices that Yu Lan isn't the real leader of this group. When a woman named Mrs. Qu arrives, all the friends flock to her. Yu Lan is suddenly left on the sidelines. You can see she’s not happy about it, even though she tries to hide it.
Xu Yan sees an opportunity here. She learns from a coach that Mrs. Qu is a huge fan of Kunqu opera. Xu Yan actually learned a little opera when she was a kid. She decides to use this. She finds the studio where Mrs. Qu practices and signs up for a class. She focuses only on the one style Mrs. Qu likes and practices relentlessly.
Eventually, Mrs. Qu notices her. She's impressed by how hard Xu Yan is working. Mrs. Qu is planning an opera competition and thinks about inviting her. Then, she takes a phone call. She's stressed about getting her child into a good school. Xu Yan overhears this. When Mrs. Qu asks what Xu Yan does, she says she's a TV host. She mentions a new program idea to interview interesting, intellectual women. Mrs. Qu immediately gets suspicious. She thinks Xu Yan is just using her and walks away.
Turning the Tables
Making an Offer
Xu Yan doesn't give up. She talks to the coach again and learns there are rivalries within the friend group. She goes back to her company with a formal proposal. She wants to create a new show featuring influential women. She argues it will boost the show's ratings and the company's profile.
With the show approved, she goes back to Mrs. Qu with a real offer. She explains that an interview on her show would look great on her child's school application. It would also be great publicity for Kunqu opera. Mrs. Qu is impressed. She sees that Xu Yan has cleverly connected everyone's needs. She has maximized the benefits for everyone, especially herself. Mrs. Qu agrees to do the show.
A Small Victory
Xu Yan's plan works perfectly. She uses the TV show to bring all these powerful women together. She even gives one of the interview slots to one of Yu Lan's friends. She makes it seem like it was all Yu Lan's influence. For the first time, Yu Lan sees that Xu Yan might be useful. She finally lets Xu Yan sit next to her. It’s a small win, but it’s a start.
New Threats
The new show is a hit. Xu Yan's bosses are thrilled. This creates tension with her office rival, Sun Siwei. They are now in direct competition. Sun Siwei is convinced that Xu Yan is hiding something about her background.
The episode ends with Xu Yan's boyfriend, Shen Haoming, picking her up from work. She talks about her dream of becoming a news anchor. He is supportive, but he doesn't understand her struggle. His life has been so much easier. While they are at his house, Xu Yan sees her biological father on a TV news report. She has to completely hide her reaction. It’s a stark reminder of the past she is desperately trying to leave behind.
