Episode Summary
Li Daoqi pressures Fu Yudong into hiring a fake wife for a business deal, causing a massive fight between Fu Yudong and Zhang Ran. Boss Chang encourages Zhang Ran to use her marital troubles to rebrand herself as a single, independent woman. Meanwhile, Ge Kaiyang, Fran, and Lu Xinying enjoy a peaceful trip to the beach to watch the sunrise.
Spoiler Alert
Back to the Origin Episode 34 Recap
Li Daoqi Rolls the Dice
Li Daoqi is tired of playing it safe. He decides to go all in on a risky venture. His friend, Lawyer Wang, helps draft the plan but gives him a serious reality check. Wang warns him the risk is massive. Li Daoqi doesn't seem to care. He is desperate for a win.
Fu Yudong is feeling the distance at home. He watches Zhang Ran rush off to another busy livestream. She has zero time for him. He feels lonely in his own house. While he is tidying up, Li Daoqi texts him. He wants to hang out.
The "Mrs. Fu" Problem
Fu Yudong and Li Daoqi meet with Wanwan Jie to sign a contract. Just when things look good, Wanwan throws a curveball. She adds a new requirement. She wants Fu Yudong to bring his wife along. She wants to market a specific "Mrs. Fu" persona to distinguish their brand from others.
This is a disaster. Zhang Ran runs a rival network company. She is also a famous influencer with her own brand. The image Wanwan wants for "Mrs. Fu" is the exact opposite of who Zhang Ran is online. Wanwan suggests a shady solution. She wants Fu Yudong to hire an actor to play his wife.
Fu Yudong shuts this down immediately. He refuses to cooperate. But Li Daoqi is frantic. He has invested his entire fortune into this deal. He basically begs and threatens Fu Yudong. He says he will be ruined if Fu Yudong doesn't agree. Fu Yudong is trapped.
Auditions and Accusations
Li Daoqi takes the fake wife idea to Xing Kai. Xing Kai thinks it's brilliant. They start scouting women behind Fu Yudong's back. They go through several rounds of selection before they even tell him. Fu Yudong is forced into the final round of interviews. It is incredibly awkward. These women are trying way too hard to prove they can be the perfect "Mrs. Fu."
Fu Yudong goes home and comes clean to Zhang Ran. It does not go well. She thinks he is doing this to get revenge on her. She is furious. Fu Yudong tries to explain. He says he is only doing it to save Li Daoqi from bankruptcy. He wants the product to sell. They get into a huge fight.
The Divorce Angle
Zhang Ran takes her anger to her livestream. She starts venting to her fans about the value of marriage. She complains about her relationship. Boss Chang sees an opportunity here. He thinks Zhang Ran should pivot her brand. He suggests she become "Independent Zhang Ran."
He implies that getting a divorce would actually make her more popular. Zhang Ran hates the idea of divorce. She still loves Fu Yudong despite the fighting. But she looks at the comments. Her fans are overwhelmingly on her side. They are asking when she will leave him. She starts to hesitate.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Things are much calmer for Ge Kaiyang. Fran helps him land a good job at the zoo. They are enjoying their time working together. In the evening, they take the dog and go find Lu Xinying. The three of them hang out at Zhang Ran's spicy hot pot shop. They drink and talk about their old days in Canada.
Fran gets a sudden urge to see the sunrise in her hometown. Lu Xinying and Ge Kaiyang agree to go with her. They drive to the beach. They sit in the sand, feel the sea breeze, and just talk. The sun comes up. It is a peaceful moment away from all the business drama.
