Episode Summary
Zhang Ran endures a humiliating dinner party and a predatory job interview where she is warned to flee a sketchy streaming company. Meanwhile, Fu Yudong has an awkward reunion with his father and realizes his overseas credentials are worthless in the current job market, leaving him feeling directionless.
Spoiler Alert
The Dinner Party Disaster
Fu Yudong and Zhang Ran head over to their friend Li Daoqi’s place. He lives in a high-end gated community. The place is a maze. They wander around for ages. Zhang Ran finally finds the right door. Li Daoqi’s wife, Cheng Man, answers. She takes one look at Zhang Ran and assumes she is the wine delivery girl. She starts complaining immediately. She doesn't let Zhang Ran get a word in.
Fu Yudong shows up just in time. Li Daoqi comes out and smooths things over. But the damage is done. Zhang Ran feels small. They sit down for dinner. Zhang Ran throws out little verbal jabs to provoke Cheng Man. Cheng Man plays the bigger person. She ignores the snark completely. The conversation shifts to their love story. Cheng Man beams with happiness. Li Daoqi gets excited describing his romantic proposal. It is a perfect picture of domestic bliss. It makes Zhang Ran feel even worse.
The Interview From Hell
Zhang Ran visits Giant Wave Network to talk business. Manager Qian Dan gives her the grand tour. She introduces the boss, Lin Chang. Everyone is all smiles and enthusiasm. Then Qian Dan takes Zhang Ran into a conference room. The vibe shifts instantly. Qian Dan drops the nice act. She starts tearing Zhang Ran down.
Zhang Ran goes from excited to crushed. The contrast is brutal. She gets desperate. She lowers her head and begs for a chance. She promises she can do the work. Qian Dan finally reveals the catch. They don't want her talent. They want to sign her because she became a meme. They want to exploit her viral embarrassment.
Zhang Ran wanders the office alone later. She films some of the streamers. She walks into one broadcast room. A streamer secretly holds up a handwritten sign. It says "Run." That is a massive red flag.
Reality Checks All Around
Zhang Ran realizes this opportunity is a trap. She leaves feeling hollow. She takes the bus home. She spots a poster of Yuan Yuan outside. That stings. That fame should have been hers. Now she is just getting kicked around by life.
Fu Yudong deals with his own family drama. He goes home to see his father. The reunion is cold. They have nothing to talk about. It feels like a formal visit between strangers. Fu Yudong makes small talk for a few minutes. Then he leaves. There is no warmth there.
Lost in Translation
The couple meets back up in bed that night. Zhang Ran lies about her day. She tells Fu Yudong the streaming company is amazing. She says everyone is busy and successful. Fu Yudong looks at the photos she took. He sees the exhaustion on the streamers' faces. He feels bad for them.
His mind drifts back to a conversation with Li Daoqi. Li told him the hard truth about the job market. Being a "sea turtle" returning from abroad means nothing now. Companies want practical skills. Degrees don't matter. Fu Yudong realizes he made a mistake. He came back to China solely to support Zhang Ran’s dream. He never thought about his own career. He has no plan. He feels completely adrift.
