Episode Summary
Liu Bo faces snobbery at his new job while Li Daoqi struggles to keep peace between his wife and mother. Lu Xinying runs out of money and discovers Ge Kaiyang is working multiple low-paying jobs to survive. After seeing his living conditions and meeting his grandmother, she finally understands his disappearance.
Spoiler Alert
Back to the Origin Episode 11 Recap
Office Politics and Fishy Deals
Zhang Ran’s mom is making waves at the market. She helped the fishmonger’s son, Liu Bo, land a job. The fish boss is thrilled. He tries to give her free fish as a thank you. She turns it down, but the favor is done. Liu Bo is now at Giant Wave Network. He is working as Zhang Ran’s assistant.
The office environment is shallow. Liu Bo takes a break. Other employees spot the new face. They start fishing for information. They assume he works for the big star, Li Anran. They suck up to him immediately. Liu Bo doesn't get the hierarchy yet. He calls Zhang Ran "Sister Ran" in front of them. The vultures realize their mistake. He isn't Li Anran’s assistant. He’s nobody to them. The crowd disperses instantly.
Family Tension
Li Daoqi’s mother comes to visit. She wants to see her son and grandchild. Cheng Man puts on a happy face. It doesn't last long. Grandma brought snacks for the kid. Cheng Man clearly disapproves. She makes up an excuse and takes the food away. She won't let the child eat it. Grandma sees right through this. She complains to Li Daoqi. He is stuck in the middle. He agrees with his mom to soothe her. Then he turns around and defends Cheng Man. He manages to cool things down for now.
Zhang Ran has her own family drama. She hosts a dinner for her aunt and uncle. The aunt pulls out a photo of Lu Xinying. She shows it off to the group. Zhang Ran’s mother has sharp eyes. She spots a problem in the picture immediately. It gets awkward. Zhang Ran and Lu Xinying’s father have to team up. They make up a story and smooth over the mistake.
The Hustle is Real
Lu Xinying hits a wall. Her hotel raised its rates. She is broke. She has no choice but to move in with her best friend, Ge Kaiyang. She isn't grateful. She blames him for her homelessness. She hits the job market. It goes poorly. An interviewer mocks her resume. She gets furious and snatches her paperwork back.
Ge Kaiyang is grinding. He delivers food during the day. He works as a designated driver at night. He is exhausted. Fate brings them together at a restaurant. Ge Kaiyang is embarrassed. He lies about his outfit. He claims he is rehearsing for a show. He tells her he slipped out for a bite. Lu Xinying isn't easily fooled. She found his designated driver business cards earlier. She keeps his number.
The Truth Comes Out
Ge Kaiyang gets a lucky break the next night. A colleague can't handle a Ferrari. Ge steps in. He drives the luxury car and pockets a fat tip. He finishes the job and gets another request. It’s Lu Xinying. She hired him specifically to force a conversation.
They meet up. She calls him a liar. She isn't screaming, though. She is calm. She asks why he vanished into thin air. He finally explains. He didn't know what was happening with his parents. He got a call from a lawyer. He thought it was a scam. He ignored it until it was too late.
Lu Xinying is skeptical. She doesn't buy the story. Ge Kaiyang decides to show her instead of telling her. He takes her to his home. It’s a reality check. His grandmother is there. She ignores both of them completely. Lu looks at the poverty around her. She stops asking questions. The reality of his life sinks in.
The next morning, the mood shifts. Grandma speaks to Ge Kaiyang. She likes Lu Xinying. She calls her a good girl. Ge Kaiyang tries to downplay it. He insists she is just a friend visiting. Grandma ignores him. She walks up to Lu Xinying. She hands the girl a bankbook. It’s a quiet, heavy gesture of trust.
