Episode Summary
Ren Jiatong navigates guilt over work errors while Jiang Chen helps Yan Fei test Zhou Nian's feelings. Zhou rejects Yan to keep things professional, leading to a painful missed connection in the rain. Jiang clears up a misunderstanding with Ren, leading to their first kiss. The legal team finds a strategy for the Xia Jun case, while Song Yifan gets jealous over Bai Xiao's ex-boyfriend.
Spoiler Alert
Office Politics and Romantic Fumbles
Ren Jiatong is feeling the pressure. She messed up a presentation deck, but Bai Xiao fixed it herself without screaming. That silence is almost scarier than yelling. Zhou Nian steps in to explain the situation. He says Bai isn't attacking anyone personally. She just demands perfection because the job matters that much. Ren feels terrible. She realizes her lack of preparation forced her boss to work overtime.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen is playing matchmaker. He spots Yan Fei working late and calls her out. She isn't there for the paperwork. She is there for a guy. Yan admits she likes Zhou Nian but can't read him. Jiang comes up with a plan. He takes a photo of Yan with a finger in the frame. He tells her to post it and make it visible only to Zhou. If he likes her, he will react.
The trap works. Zhou Nian stares at the photo repeatedly. But this leads to a mess. Zhou goes to buy food and leaves his phone on the table. Ren Jiatong walks by. She sees Yan's picture on his screen. She immediately assumes the worst about the office dynamics.
Hard Truths and Rainstorms
Bai Xiao finally takes a break. She opens up to Ren about her personal life. She feels guilty about her daughter, Niuniu. She misses important moments because of work. But she has to pay the bills as a single mom. She also admits she loves the validation her career gives her.
The next day is rough. The team loses a case. Bai comforts the client's family, but the mood is heavy. Ren takes it hard. Zhou Nian offers some perspective. He compares lawyers to doctors. You can't save everyone. Sometimes the job is just standing by the client while they go through hell.
Guo Xiaoyu is actually killing it at work. She sends a legal opinion to Song Yifan about AI risks. It matches his thinking perfectly. He promises to boost her evaluation score.
Then comes the heartbreak. Yan Fei tries to get a late-night snack with Zhou Nian. He shuts her down. She pushes for answers about a deleted text message. He gives her the "let's keep it professional" speech. It is a soft rejection, but it still hurts. Yan leaves. It starts pouring rain. Zhou grabs an umbrella and runs after her. He is too late. She is already driving away.
Finally, Some Action
Yan Fei tries to play it cool with Guo Xiaoyu later. She mentions getting rejected. Guo completely misinterprets this. She thinks Yan is talking about Jiang Chen. Now Guo thinks Jiang is a two-timing jerk who hurt both Yan and Ren.
Ren Jiatong comes home to find Jiang Chen waiting outside. He wants to know why she blocked him. He plays the sympathy card and pretends to be sick. Then he explains the photo on Zhou's phone. It wasn't what she thought. They realize Zhou actually likes Yan but is too scared to admit it.
Jiang walks Ren home. He stops playing games. He asks if she is serious about him. Ren tries to kiss him, but her phone rings. Jiang doesn't let the moment die. He ignores the call and pulls her in for a kiss. They both go home buzzing.
Back to Business
The next morning, Jiang is in full boyfriend mode. He leaves hand warmers and sugar for Ren.
The team gets back to work on the Xia Jun case. The prosecution claims a large tennis bag was full of cash. Bai Xiao spots a hole in the evidence. There is no proof the bag actually contained money. That is their angle.
Song Yifan gets jealous when Bai's ex-boyfriend, Gao Lang, sends flowers. The office gossip mill starts turning. Guo Xiaoyu reveals the truth. Gao Lang isn't trying to win Bai back. He wants her legal help for his current girlfriend. Guo takes the opportunity to make snarky comments at Jiang, still thinking he is a cheater.
