Episode Summary
In this episode, Xu Zhixia leaves Zhang Hao after his mother's repeated provocations, forcing Zhang Hao to confront his family issues. Meanwhile, Shen Mingzhu and Feng Meiqi are burdened with caring for both the hospitalized He Lihua and Ding Hong's abandoned son, Xiao Qi. The episode ends with Ding Hong returning to settle her affairs with the Feng family for good.
Spoiler Alert
Xu Zhixia and Zhang Hao Hit Rock Bottom
The Hotel Hideout
So, Xu Zhixia is done. She packed her bags and left. She is not taking Zhang Hao’s calls. Instead, she’s hiding out in a hotel with her colleague, Mao Dou. They’re literally working from the hotel room. Zhang Hao is freaking out and can’t find her. He texts her an apology. He begs her to come home. She just ignores him. Cold.
Later, the hotel tells her the room payment is due. She can't afford to stay. So she and Mao Dou pack up and move into their own office studio. Mao Dou keeps telling her to just go home already. Xu Zhixia refuses. She is still furious about her mother-in-law's obsession with having a grandson.
Zhang Hao's Big Realization (and Bigger Fight)
Zhang Hao goes looking for Xu Zhixia at her parents' house. He ends up eavesdropping at the door. He hears her brother, Xu Zhidong, talking about making his own life choices. Zhang Hao finally gets it. He realizes how much pressure Xu Zhixia is under. She manages her own household and her parents' problems.
He goes home alone to his mom. She immediately starts complaining about Xu Zhixia's attitude. Zhang Hao has had enough. He sends his daughter, Jiaojiao, to her room. Then he lets his mom have it. He calls her out for her blatant preference for boys. His mom fires back. She says if Xu Zhixia has a boy, she can use it for "asset allocation" with the old family home. They get into a massive screaming match. It's ugly.
Jiaojiao hears everything from her room. She texts her mom, worried. Xu Zhixia lies and says she's on a business trip to calm her down.
The Campout
Zhang Hao tracks Xu Zhixia down at her new studio hideout. He shows up with a bunch of supplements for her health. She won't even open the door. He pleads with her. He even brings up their daughter, Jiaojiao. Nothing works. Xu Zhixia is a brick wall.
So, Zhang Hao does the only logical thing. He sets up a military-style cot right outside her studio door. He’s literally camping out. He is not leaving until she talks to him.
The Family Scrambles to Pick Up the Pieces
An Unexpected Houseguest
While all this is happening, other family members have their own problems. Ding Hong shows up and dumps her son, Xiao Qi, on Shen Mingzhu. Then she just leaves. Shen Mingzhu has no choice but to take the kid home. Her brother, Shen Minghui, tries to play with him, but Xiao Qi just cries. Shen Minghui eventually gets him to smile, though.
The next day, Shen Mingzhu calls Ding Hong. She tells her to come get her son. Ding Hong just makes a bunch of excuses. It looks like Xiao Qi is staying for a while. This puts a huge strain on Shen Mingzhu and Feng Meiqi. They're already juggling hospital visits for He Lihua. Now they have a kid to look after, too.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
The stress gets to Feng Meiqi. She comes home from the hospital to find Xiao Qi jumping all over the place. She completely loses her temper and screams at him. To make things worse, a real estate agent shows up with a buyer for their family home. Seeing her childhood house being sold is a tough pill for her to swallow.
But over time, things change. Shen Mingzhu and Feng Meiqi are actually very good to Xiao Qi. The kid starts to really like them. He even says he hopes his mom doesn't come back.
Eventually, Ding Hong does return. She sold the shop that Feng Zhi left her. She gives half the money to He Lihua. She thanks Shen Mingzhu and Feng Meiqi for taking care of her son. Then she gives Shen Mingzhu a bank card and declares that she is officially cutting all ties with the Feng family.
Shen Mingzhu later finds a gold lock in the safe. She thought it was for her unborn baby. It's not. It has Xiao Qi's birthday engraved on it. She gives the lock to Ding Hong before she leaves.
A Few More Fires to Put Out
Xu Zhidong's Big Move
Xu Zhixia's brother, Xu Zhidong, has his own news. His partner, Bichen, got a great job offer in another city. It comes with a promotion, a raise, and a two-bedroom apartment. Xu Zhidong decides he's going to quit his job and go with her. He wants to be a stay-at-home dad. His parents hate the idea. He tells his mom not to call Xu Zhixia for advice. He wants to be the man of his own house.
Of course, his mom calls Xu Zhixia anyway. She tells her about Xu Zhidong's plan. Xu Zhixia is at the end of her rope. She snaps and blurts out that she and Zhang Hao are getting a divorce. Her mom is left completely stunned.
Family Support and Future Plans
Shen Shengli is still working hard at his restaurant. But he comes home and builds a beautiful swing and crib for Shen Mingzhu's baby. Even Shen Minghui is impressed by his dad's skills.
He Lihua is slowly getting physically better in the hospital. Her spirits are low, though. She's depressed after everything that has happened. Shen Mingzhu visits and tries her best to cheer her up.
Meanwhile, Shen Minghui gets his mock exam scores back. He only got a 326. He calls an admissions hotline. They tell him that score isn't high enough to get into a university.
