Episode Summary
In this episode, Ding Hong leaves for good, creating some finality. The core of the story, however, is the parallel downfall of the Shen siblings. Mingzhu loses her job at the hotel just as her brother, Minghui, gets himself expelled from school to pursue business. Both are now on uncertain paths, while side characters like Feng Meiqi and Xu Zhidong make life-altering decisions of their own.
Spoiler Alert
A Few Goodbyes and a Lot of New Problems
Ding Hong Makes Her Exit
The episode kicks off with some closure. Ding Hong is ready to move on. She sells the shop that Feng Zhi left her. She gives a fair cut of the money to He Lihua. Then she comes to pick up her son, Xiao Qi, to go back to their hometown.
Shen Mingzhu and Feng Meiqi see them off at the station. It’s a pretty civilized goodbye. Mingzhu promises to send over Feng Zhi’s insurance money as soon as it comes through. They even add each other on WeChat, which is a nice touch. Xiao Qi says his goodbyes, and just like that, they’re gone.
Mingzhu's Job Disappears
He Lihua is finally out of the hospital. Mingzhu and Meiqi get her settled back at home. Mingzhu tells Meiqi to stick with He Lihua and help with her physical therapy. She plans to head back to work at the Nanxi Hotel the next day.
But there’s a nasty surprise waiting for her. She gets to the hotel and finds out it’s shut down. The place was losing money, so it's "undergoing rectification." That’s just a fancy way of saying they’re firing a lot of people. Her boss, Mr. Zhao, tells her to just go home and rest. Mingzhu is pregnant and now she's terrified. She knows she'll be totally jobless after the baby arrives.
The Shen Siblings Are in a Mess
Minghui's Side Hustle Backfires
While Mingzhu is losing her job, her brother is trying to make money for her. Shen Minghui starts live-streaming from his parents' restaurant. He’s actually great at it. His commentary brings in tons of online viewers. The family restaurant is suddenly packed.
The problem is his schoolwork. His grades completely tank. His good friend Lu Bing also sees her grades drop out of the top five. Their teacher, Hu Gang, is losing his mind. He was counting on Lu Bing to get into a top university. Lu Bing, however, says she’s sticking by Minghui. This makes Minghui feel awful. He decides he has to put some distance between them so he doesn't drag her down.
The Fight That Ends It All
Things at school get worse. A classmate named Fan Xiaobo starts taunting Minghui. He publicly calls him "Money-grubber Shen." Minghui just snaps. He lunges at the kid and they get into a huge fight. Lu Bing tries to stop them, but Minghui ends up injuring Fan Xiaobo.
This brings Fan Xiaobo's father to the school. He's furious and demands that the school expel Minghui. Another teacher, Ni Dani, shows up and immediately gets what’s happening. She figures out Minghui started the fight on purpose. He wanted to get kicked out. Later, Minghui admits it to his parents. He saw his mock exam scores. He knew he had zero chance of getting into college and was done trying.
A Tearful "See You Later"
After getting expelled, Minghui starts working at the restaurant. Lu Bing comes to find him. She brings him study materials and suggests he go to a cram school for the entrance exams. He refuses. He tells her to focus on her own future and get into a great school. He promises he won't be a distraction for her anymore.
Lu Bing just breaks down and starts sobbing on the ground. It's a rough scene. Minghui tries to comfort her. He swears he's going to work hard and become a successful entrepreneur. He says if they're meant to be, they will see each other again. Lu Bing swears she will wait for him.
Family Drama All Around
Xu Zhixia's Hotel Hideout
Mingzhu is having a terrible day. She sees court officials putting new seals on the Feng family house because it failed to sell at auction. She feels completely defeated. She goes to a hotel to find Xu Zhixia, who has run away from her own home.
Mingzhu asks Zhixia for help finding a job. Zhixia is realistic. She knows nobody wants to hire a pregnant woman. But she promises to find Mingzhu some part-time work she can do from home. Zhixia then vents about her own problems. Her mother-in-law is obsessed with having a grandson, and it's driving her crazy.
Her husband, Zhang Hao, eventually shows up with backup. He brings Zhixia's brother, Xu Zhidong, and his girlfriend, Bichen. They all beg her to come home. Zhang Hao even uses their daughter, Jiaojiao, to guilt-trip her. It works. Zhixia agrees to go back.
A Few More Twists
Back at the house, Feng Meiqi is helping He Lihua with her rehab. While Mingzhu is cooking, Meiqi smells the meat and suddenly feels sick. She runs off to vomit. This seems like a pretty big hint about her future.
And speaking of big moves, Xu Zhidong quits his job. He decides to follow Bichen to Qianhu. He's too afraid to tell his parents, so he just leaves a note and disappears. His mom, Yu Jingxiang, finds the letter and is heartbroken.
Trying to Settle Debts
The Insurance Money Arrives
Mingzhu finally gets the insurance payout from Feng Zhi's policy. The first thing she does is go to pay back Xu Zhixia. Zhixia knows Mingzhu is broke. She only accepts half of the money. She tells Mingzhu to keep the rest as payment for teaching Jiaojiao piano. Mingzhu agrees to teach the girl but says she won't take any money for it. At the same time, He Lihua and Feng Meiqi go to the Shen family's restaurant to pay back the money they owe.
A Final Plea
Mingzhu is still fixated on her job. She knows that once her maternity leave is over, she'll officially be laid off. She can't let that happen. She goes back to her boss, Mr. Zhao, and begs him to help her. He tells her his hands are tied. There's nothing he can do.
