Episode Summary
Li Daoqi refuses to stop his scheming despite Cheng Man's warnings. Boss Chang pushes Zhang Ran into a reality show where a fake romance is manufactured with a two-faced celebrity named Wang Haoran. Fu Yudong moves into a hotel, while Li Daoqi tries to broker peace between the estranged couple during a drunken phone call that Fu Yudong secretly overhears.
Spoiler Alert
Li Daoqi Doubles Down
Li Daoqi needs to figure out the logistics for picking up the kid. He tries to talk to Cheng Man about it. She isn't interested in logistics. She is still stuck on the disaster with Fu Yudong and the fake wife. The whole charade sits wrong with her. She tells Li Daoqi to drop the fantasy and stop pretending.
He refuses to listen. Li Daoqi acts like a man possessed. He sees this scheme as a gamble he has to win. He refuses to fold his hand now. This stubbornness leads to a massive blowout argument between the two of them.
The Reality TV Sellout
Boss Chang sees dollar signs. He wants to squeeze more traffic out of Zhang Ran. His big idea is a reality TV show. He tells her to bring her livestream persona to the big screen.
The home front is crumbling while this happens. Fu Yudong rents a hotel room near his office. He claims it makes streaming with Sister Wanwan easier. Zhang Ran hears this news and doesn't even blink. She agrees to let him go. She asks one simple question. She wonders if there is any point in dragging this marriage out any longer. Li Daoqi follows suit and decides to sleep at the office for his streams too.
Fake Smiles and Backstage Drama
Boss Chang drags Zhang Ran to the reality show set. He lectures her on obedience. He wants her to do exactly what the director says. The director is hungry for ratings and focuses the cameras entirely on Zhang Ran.
A male celebrity named Wang Haoran walks in. He recognizes Zhang Ran from her internet memes. The cameras roll. Wang Haoran acts incredibly enthusiastic toward her. The director sees a spark. He smells a ratings explosion. Boss Chang hears the director's plan to exploit this connection. He agrees immediately. He has no bottom line when it comes to money.
Zhang Ran sits alone that night. She overhears a conversation between Wang Haoran and the director. They are plotting a fake romance angle. Wang Haoran is actually furious. He hates that Zhang Ran gave him the cold shoulder on camera. He also hates that she admitted she is married.
Zhang Ran walks away disgusted. Boss Chang steps in to conspire with Wang Haoran instead. The next day, Wang Haoran tries to fake intimacy with her again. Zhang Ran knows the truth now. She can't fake it. She gets into a fight with him. Boss Chang tries to intervene. He dangles success in front of her face to get her to agree to the fake couple narrative.
The Drunken Confession
Fu Yudong and Li Daoqi are back at the house. They drink and watch soccer. Li Daoqi feels the weight of his actions. He wants to fix things between Fu Yudong and Zhang Ran.
Fu Yudong passes out on the sofa. Li Daoqi calls Zhang Ran. He starts with small talk but eventually gets to the point. He apologizes. He claims the friction between her and Fu Yudong is all his fault. He begs for her forgiveness.
Zhang Ran doesn't take the bait. She doesn't blame him. She tells him that if he hadn't caused trouble, another friend would have. She believes things happen naturally. Li Daoqi tries one last defense. He tells her Fu Yudong only ever wanted her to have a better life. Zhang Ran admits she doesn't know how they drifted so far apart. She hangs up.
Fu Yudong wasn't asleep. He lay there on the couch and heard every single word.
