Episode Summary
Lin Anran has a mental breakdown during a forced livestream, leading to her exit from the industry. Boss Chang immediately recruits Zhang Ran back. Zhang Ran tries to recruit Liu Bo, but he prefers selling fish. Zhang Ran decides to have a baby for content, which annoys her husband. Li Daoqi forces a risky investment deal through with his partners to fund a new contract.
Spoiler Alert
The Internet Is a Cruel Place
The online hate mob has a new target. Xiao He posted some inflammatory comments, and the heat shifted instantly from Zhang Ran to Lin Anran. It’s ugly. Qian Dan meets with Lin Anran to try and salvage the situation. She even got Xiao He to delete the posts. But the damage is internal now. Lin Anran is spiraling. Her anxiety is severe. She’s hallucinating and thinks stalkers are everywhere.
Boss Chang doesn't care about mental health. He cares about breach of contract fees. He forces the issue. Lin Anran has to stream, or she pays up. Qian Dan hates it, but she knows the financial reality. She caves. Lin Anran knows she’s cornered. She agrees to go live.
The Meltdown
It goes exactly as badly as you’d expect. Lin Anran turns on the camera. The comments section immediately fills with insults. People demand she apologize to Zhang Ran. The pressure cooks her. She snaps. She has a full-blown breakdown live on air. It’s a disaster.
Boss Chang sees red. He lost money on this stunt. He blames Qian Dan for not controlling her client. Qian Dan and Lin Anran get into a screaming match. The bridge isn't just burned; it’s incinerated.
The King is Dead, Long Live the Queen
With Lin Anran out of the picture, Boss Chang shows his true colors. He immediately calls Zhang Ran. He throws Qian Dan under the bus and begs Zhang Ran to come back to save the company. Zhang Ran doesn't say yes right away.
Instead, she goes to see Lin Anran. She’s actually the first person from the company to check on her. Lin Anran is sitting at home, looking at her own house like a stranger. She spent so much time grinding for views she forgot to live. Stopping the hustle actually gives her clarity. She realizes she has a real friend in Zhang Ran.
Liu Bo Chooses Fish Over Fame
Zhang Ran heads to the market to find Liu Bo. He’s helping his dad at the fish stall. She wants him back on her team. She asks if he’ll return to the streaming world with her.
Liu Bo isn't interested. He’s found peace gutting eels. He likes the simple math of manual labor: you work, you get paid. Streaming is a gamble where you can work hard and still lose everything. He stays with the fish.
Content Babies and Business Risks
Zhang Ran returns to the company anyway. Boss Chang throws a huge welcome party. They sit down to brainstorm her new "persona." Boss Chang pitches four ideas. Zhang Ran picks the "motherhood" angle.
She goes home to Fu Yudong that night. She tries to initiate intimacy. She tells him she wants to make a baby. Fu Yudong is into it until he realizes why. She wants a baby for the clicks and the cash. He loses interest immediately.
Side Hustles and Bad Deals
Lu Xinying opens her Malatang shop. Zhang Ran’s family shows up to support her. It’s a nice moment, but Lu Xinying misses her own parents. She texts them. Zhou Ailing sends Zhou Aiying over with a lucky cat gift to smooth things over.
Meanwhile, Li Daoqi buys flowers for Cheng Man. He apologizes for the school enrollment mess. Cheng Man forgives him instantly. They are good. But then Li Daoqi pivots to business. He needs money to fulfill a contract with "Sister Wanwan." They need raw materials for a big launch. Cheng Man shuts him down. She won't give him the cash.
Desperate, Li Daoqi takes Fu Yudong to see Xing Kai. They need an investment. Michael shuts it down. He thinks the deal is too risky. Xing Kai stays silent. Fu Yudong plays hardball. He says if they don't support Li Daoqi, the partnership is over. Xing Kai finally caves. He agrees to invest, but only if Li Daoqi puts up his own money too.
