Episode Summary
Shu Tu tries to stop her younger self, Xu Tutu, from dating Zhao Youzuo by throwing away two knitted hats and confronting him directly. Xu Tutu and Zhao Youzuo have a date where they realize their plans for the future don't align. The older Zhao Liao secretly watches over Shu Tu, arranging for her to have her favorite meal before appearing to say a final goodbye.
Spoiler Alert
The Hat Saga Begins
Shu Tu's Desperate Measures
The episode kicks off with a phone call. Zhao Liao hears Shu Tu's voice and panics. He's so afraid of giving himself away that he just hangs up. Shu Tu gets a weird vibe from the call. She warns her younger self, Xu Tutu, not to answer calls from strangers. She also tells Xu Tutu to focus more on herself. Stop wasting time on people who don't matter.
The next day, the younger Zhao Youzuo is all hyped to meet up with Xu Tutu. But Shu Tu is having none of it. She sees the hat Xu Tutu knitted for him. She forbids her from giving it away. Then she goes on a tirade. She criticizes Xu Tutu's plain clothes and lack of makeup. She even tells her to go get a new hairstyle. To stop the meeting cold, Shu Tu grabs the hat and literally runs out of the house with it.
She calls Xun Weilai for backup. She wants him to help stop Zhao Youzuo. He refuses to get involved. This just makes Shu Tu angrier. So, she throws the knitted hat away in frustration.
A Father-Son Moment
We get a quick scene with Zhao Youzuo and his dad, Zhao Donglai. They're at home eating instant noodles for New Year's. The dad tells a story about his past. He had to save up for a long time just to afford one Western-style dinner for his wife when they were dating.
The Cafe Date and a Crushing Blow
A Bitter Coffee and a Sweet Gesture
Shu Tu gets home and finds Xu Tutu knitting anotherhat for Zhao Youzuo. She loses it all over again. She grabs the new hat and throws it out too. She's desperate to keep Xu Tutu from making the same mistakes she did. But Xu Tutu is completely smitten. She only sees the good in Zhao Youzuo and runs out the door to meet him anyway.
This is where the timelines get busy. The older Zhao Liao sees the first hat Shu Tu threw away. He climbs onto a roof to get it. But some kids move his ladder while he's up there. He has no choice but to jump down. He then sprints to the cafe, hoping to give the hat to Xu Tutu. He gets there just in time to see his younger self meeting her. Watching them walk into the cafe together, all happy, gives him a warm feeling.
Inside, Xu Tutu is so giddy she doesn't even notice her coffee is bitter. Zhao Youzuo, on the other hand, hates bitter drinks. But he doesn't want to ruin the mood. So he chugs the entire cup.
The Future Gets Real
Xu Tutu works up the courage to talk about the future. She suggests they both apply to Changlin University. It's close, so they could go home easily. Zhao Youzuo shoots that down. He wants to go to a university in Beijing. Xu Tutu is clearly let down by this.
On her way home, she finds the hat. She starts to regret not giving it to him. She wonders if things would be different if she had. Right then, she decides she's going to change. She vows to become the more confident, put-together person Shu Tu wants her to be.
Shu Tu Drops Some Truth Bombs
Shu Tu decides to intervene directly. She finds the younger Zhao Youzuo. She starts by complimenting his writing. He gets a big head and assumes she's a publisher. He even asks for her contact info to send a thank-you note.
Then she flips the script. She lays into him. She calls him out for having zero ambition and no sense of responsibility. She tells him he always runs from his problems. He hurts everyone who loves him. She even throws some of Xun Weilai's flaws in his face. The verbal beatdown works. Zhao Youzuo is completely crushed and goes home heartbroken.
A Final, Bittersweet Goodbye
The Perfect Meal
Shu Tu walks around her old school, feeling nostalgic. She remembers her days at the campus radio station. This makes her crave her favorite spicy hot pot. She goes to her old spot and orders her usual. But they're sold out of lotus root slices, her favorite ingredient. Just then, a server runs over. Someone apparently just delivered a fresh batch of lotus root to the back door. Shu Tu gets her perfect meal. You know exactly who was behind that delivery. Zhao Liao was in the background, making sure she got what she wanted.
The Last Farewell
Later, Shu Tu is by a lake. She takes out a lollipop and makes a familiar gesture. Suddenly, Zhao Liao runs up to her. He calls her "Tutu." He's there to say a real, heartfelt goodbye to her.
