Episode Summary
Bai Xiao accepts a controversial bribery case, proving her professionalism. Zhou Nian admits he likes Yan Fei but refuses to pursue her due to "risk assessment." Jiang Chen tries to save his relationship by offering to quit his program, but Ren Jiatong takes offense and breaks up with him. Jiang Chen and Yan Fei get drunk together, leading to office gossip about a potential love triangle.
Spoiler Alert
Professionalism Over Petty Grudges
Guo Xiaoyu needs a reality check. She is convinced Bai Xiao will refuse the case involving Gao Lang’s current girlfriend out of spite. She is wrong. Yan Fei and Ren Jiatong know better. They argue that Bai Xiao puts work first. They are right. Zhou Nian drops the news that Bai Xiao officially took the Xia Jun bribery case. The files are already on the way.
Guo Xiaoyu looks stunned. Yan Fei just acts cold and walks away without a word. This icy exit grabs everyone's attention.
The Cowardly Boxer
Zhou Nian is struggling. He sees Yan Fei working late and tells her to go home. He watches her leave and feels miserable. He heads to a boxing gym to punch out his frustration. He clearly wants to reach out to her. He just can’t find the guts to do it.
The Reluctant Matchmakers
Ren Jiatong and Jiang Chen are busy playing Cupid. They decide to push Zhou Nian and Yan Fei together. They hatch a plan. Jiang Chen sets up a meeting with Zhou Nian under the pretense of discussing evidence. Meanwhile, Ren Jiatong leaks a little secret to Yan Fei. She mentions that Zhou Nian constantly checks Yan Fei’s social media.
This works. Yan Fei lights up. She immediately hunts down Ren Jiatong to get the details.
Love is a Liability
Jiang Chen runs into Song Yifan before his meeting. He asks about the firm's stance on office romance. Song Yifan says Jun'an doesn't encourage it. But he also says young people shouldn't live with regrets.
Jiang Chen takes this advice to lunch with Zhou Nian. They talk about feelings. Zhou Nian admits he likes Yan Fei. But he kills the mood with logic. He talks about their different backgrounds and family expectations. He claims that at thirty, love isn't his whole life. He views relationships like a lawsuit. He assesses the risk. If the risk is too high, he won't file the case. Jiang Chen hates this perspective.
The Breakup
Jiang Chen tries to be the hero. He meets Ren Jiatong on the street and makes a proposal. He offers to quit the "Shijun Plan." He thinks this will save their relationship and guarantee her a job.
He miscalculates badly. Ren Jiatong doesn't hear love. She hears charity. She feels insulted. She tells him she can win her spot on her own merit. She breaks up with him right there on the sidewalk. They part ways angry.
Misunderstandings and Hangovers
Yan Fei deals with her own family drama. She meets a girl her brother, Yan Da, was dating abroad. Yan Da ghosted the poor woman. The ex-girlfriend flew all the way back just to find him. Yan Fei sympathizes. She knows how much that silence hurts.
Later, a heartbroken Jiang Chen calls Yan Fei. They meet at a bar. They drink and complain about their love lives.
The next morning, the office vibe is terrible. Everyone is quiet. Guo Xiaoyu senses the tension. She wrongly assumes Ren Jiatong, Jiang Chen, and Yan Fei are stuck in a love triangle. She is too scared to ask, so she just watches them in silence.
