Episode Summary
This episode focuses on the aftermath of Feng Jianqi's death. Shen Mingzhu is targeted by vicious rumors calling her a jinx after a fire breaks out at a friend's house, leading her father to take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, Feng Jianqi's mother, He Lihua, spirals into a mental health crisis, culminating in her disappearance. Xu Zhixia starts her own business but struggles with a lazy employee and puts increasing academic pressure on her daughter, Jiaojiao.
Spoiler Alert
Xu Zhixia's Work-Life Juggle
The Useless Assistant
Xu Zhixia finally opened her own studio. That's the good news. The bad news is her only employee, Mao Dou. This guy is a total slacker. He's lazy, careless, and always late. So, even though Xu Zhixia is pregnant, she has to do everything herself. She even has to rewrite the terrible ad copy Mao Dou submitted for a wine promotion.
Her home life isn't much easier. Her husband, Zhang Hao, is always working late. He asks his mom to help with their daughter, Jiaojiao, but his mom just complains. Zhang Hao ends up bringing Jiaojiao to his office just to cope.
Pushing Zhang Hao
Xu Zhixia picks up Jiaojiao from Zhang Hao's work one night. She notices his company is hiring for a director position. She immediately tells him he needs to go for it. She doesn't want him to miss another opportunity. But Zhang Hao isn't interested in promotions. He's a simple guy. He just wants to take good care of his family.
Xu Zhixia is also putting a ton of pressure on Jiaojiao. She wants her to be perfect. She makes her practice piano and demands she get over 95 on her exams. Jiaojiao is clearly stressed. They have a talk and agree to "let each other off the hook." Later, Zhang Hao comes home with donuts he bought on sale. Xu Zhixia uses this as another reason for him to get the promotion. She wants Jiaojiao to have "donut freedom." The next morning, Jiaojiao cleverly reminds her mom about their deal when the exam pressure starts up again.
Shen Mingzhu's Grief and a Vicious Rumor
A Terrible Fire
Shen Mingzhu is still reeling from Feng Jianqi's death. She's pregnant with his child and doesn't know if she can raise it alone. She visits Ni Dani and meets her adorable little sister, Ni Xiaoni. Seeing the sweet kid makes her think maybe she can do it.
But things take a dark turn. One night, Shen Mingzhu wakes up to fire trucks. Ni Dani's house is on fire. The family gets out, but the house is destroyed.
The Town Turns Against Her
The neighborhood gossips immediately start their thing. They decide Shen Mingzhu is a jinx. They claim she caused her husband's death. And now, because she visited Ni Dani, she caused the fire too. It's cruel.
Shen Mingzhu hears the rumors and starts to blame herself. She's heartbroken. Ni Dani, to her credit, doesn't believe any of it. She scoffs at the people spreading lies. Shen Mingzhu's brother, Shen Minghui, is furious. He grabs a kitchen knife, ready to confront the gossips, but his family holds him back.
A Father's Revenge
Shen Mingzhu's father, Shen Shengli, has a different plan. He borrows a big motorcycle from Xu Dacheng. He takes Shen Mingzhu out for a ride to clear her head. Then, he deliberately drives toward the group of neighbors who were spreading the rumors. He bumps into them and uses the opportunity to threaten them. He makes it clear they need to stop talking about his daughter. It's a pretty satisfying moment.
The Feng Family Spirals
He Lihua Goes Missing
He Lihua, Feng Jianqi's mother, is not handling her grief well. She becomes controlling, trying to force Shen Mingzhu to have the baby. Shen Mingzhu can't take it, so she moves back in with her own family. This makes He Lihua even angrier. She complains constantly to her husband and daughter, Feng Meiqi. She says she regrets ever letting her son marry Shen Mingzhu.
Feng Meiqi goes to a class reunion to get away from her mother's non-stop calls. She gets so annoyed that she just turns her phone off. When she gets home, she finds her mom's phone, but her mom is gone. She panics and calls Shen Mingzhu.
A Cry for Help
The whole family starts searching. They check the security cameras and see that He Lihua left the building. Shen Mingzhu is the one who figures it out. She believes He Lihua wouldn't do anything drastic because she wants to help raise the baby. She guesses He Lihua went to the river where Feng Jianqi died.
They all rush there. They find He Lihua by the water, shouting at some kids to stop swimming. They manage to calm her down and bring her home. Shen Mingzhu suggests that He Lihua needs to see a doctor. She thinks her mother-in-law is having a serious psychological breakdown.
