Episode Summary
In this episode, Xu Yan and Shen Haoming get married in a tense ceremony where Xu Yan constantly fears her fake parents will be exposed. After the wedding, Haoming's old friend Fang Lei tests his loyalty, but he rejects her advances while Xu Yan secretly watches. A trip to Xu Yan's hometown reveals her father is seriously ill, and a thoughtful gesture from Haoming helps heal one of her childhood wounds.
Spoiler Alert
The Wedding from Hell
So, Xu Yan sees her new husband, Shen Haoming, chatting with a girl named Fang Lei.It immediately sets her on edge. She doesn't make a scene. Instead, she just texts Haoming to come meet her. Cool on the outside, but you know she's spiraling.
Later, Xu Yan "accidentally" runs into Fang Lei. She makes a point of introducing herself as Haoming's fiancée.She’s testing the waters, trying to see what this girl's deal is. Fang Lei is clearly stunned by the marriage news.But she's not dumb. She picks up on Xu Yan's vibe. She knows Xu Yan is showing off and trying to push her buttons.
The wedding itself is a complete nightmare for Xu Yan. Her biggest problem is her parents. Or, her "parents." She hired actors to play the part, and she's terrified of being exposed. To make things worse, her friend's parents, who were supposed to be the stand-ins, actually show up. Her new in-laws start talking to them and they all get along great. For Xu Yan, this is a disaster movie playing out in real-time.
She gets so stressed that she has to get them out of there. During the toasts, she signals one of her contacts. This person "accidentally" spills a drink on the fake parents, giving them a perfect excuse to leave. It works, but the whole thing leaves Xu Yan exhausted. She pulled it off, but just barely.
Old Flames and New Tests
The drama doesn't end after the wedding. That night, Fang Lei sends Haoming a desperate text. She threatens to drown herself if he doesn't come meet her. Real subtle.
Haoming sees that Xu Yan is asleep. He decides it's probably fine to go deal with his old friend.He thinks he's being sneaky. But Xu Yan is awake. She watches the whole thing from a distance.She sees Fang Lei confess her feelings for Haoming.And more importantly, she sees Haoming shut it down.He tells Fang Lei that he's married and she needs to respect that.Honestly, a huge relief for Xu Yan. Her fake marriage passed its first real test.
A Trip Home and Hard Truths
Xu Yan takes Haoming to her hometown to visit her grandmother.Grandma is sweet and welcomes Haoming warmly.Haoming is curious about Xu Yan's past. He wants to know more about her. But every time he gets close to asking a real question, Xu Yan skillfully changes the subject.
Grandma pulls Xu Yan aside for a serious talk. She reveals that Xu Yan's biological father has a severe lung tumor. Even though he was a terrible father, Grandma thinks she should go see him. Xu Yan doesn't promise anything. She clearly has a lot of pain tied up with her father.
Later, Grandma tells Haoming that Xu Yan has some "bad habits" he'll need to help her fix. Haoming just kind of brushes it off. He's more focused on the fact that Grandma said Xu Yan is always praising him.
Despite her hesitation, Xu Yan does the right thing. She secretly gives her father money for his medical bills. She also gives her sister money for a dowry.
Healing Old Wounds
While touring the town, Haoming finds a quiet spot he thinks would be perfect for an office for Xu Yan. Inside the building, he spots height marks for a child left on the wall by the previous owners. He gets nostalgic about his own childhood.
For Xu Yan, this brings back a painful memory. She remembers her family always measuring her sister's height but completely ignoring her.Seeing her expression, Haoming understands something is wrong. He takes out her lipstick, pulls her against the wall, and makes a mark for her height.
It's a small gesture, but it hits her hard. A simple childhood wish she never got to experience was just fulfilled by her husband.She is incredibly moved. They just stand there for a moment, looking at each other. It feels like maybe, just maybe, something real is starting to grow between them.
