Episode Summary
The episode focuses on the rivalry between Li Wu and Dr. Lu, which culminates in a tense dinner after Cen Jin leaves for work. A fire drill mishap leads to a romantic moment where Li Wu rescues Cen Jin's shoe. Li Wu stays at Cen Jin's apartment due to a broken lock, where he discovers she has kept his old room exactly as he left it. The night ends with a flashback to 2016, revealing the depth of their bond through New Year's celebrations and a comedy show outing.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 12 Recap
The Most Awkward Archery Date Ever
Cen Jin decides to bring Li Wu along for her date with Dr. Lu. The activity is archery. Li Wu has zero experience with a bow. Cen Jin steps up to teach him. She guides his posture and adjusts his grip. It looks intimate.
Li Wu picks it up fast. He starts hitting the target with impressive accuracy. He matches Dr. Lu’s skill level in minutes. Cen Jin watches Li Wu with a proud look on her face. Dr. Lu notices this dynamic immediately. He stares at Li Wu and seethes with jealousy.
Dinner for Two (Minus One)
Work calls. Cen Jin gets an alert about an emergency at a filming location. She rushes back to the company. This leaves the two men alone. They stop shooting arrows instantly. Dr. Lu decides to take Li Wu to dinner at Cen Jin's favorite spot.
The power struggle continues at the table. Dr. Lu orders several dishes. He claims these are Cen Jin's go-to choices. Li Wu shakes his head. He tells the doctor that Cen Jin doesn't like those things anymore. Dr. Lu argues that people change over time. Neither man backs down. They trade barbs over who knows her best.
The Cinderella Incident
Cen Jin handles the crisis at work. She sends her exhausted colleagues home and stays behind to wrap up. A fire alarm blares through the building. She grabs her laptop and sprints for the exit.
Disaster strikes on the stairs. Her shoe gets stuck in a narrow crack. She can't pry it loose. She abandons the shoe and runs down barefoot. Security meets her at the door. It was just a drill. The building posted a notice days ago. Cen Jin missed it because it was her first day.
She waits at the entrance. Li Wu arrives to pick her up. Cen Jin refuses to leave without the shoe. It was a special purchase from a personal shopper. Li Wu solves the problem. He lets her stand on his feet to keep hers off the ground. Once the drill ends, he runs back inside and retrieves her heel.
The Time Capsule
They head back to Li Wu's apartment complex. His electronic lock malfunctions. Customer service can't send a technician until the next day. He needs a place to crash. He suggests Cen Jin's place.
They arrive at her door. Li Wu punches in the code. It opens. The password is still the date of her divorce. Only the two of them know this number.
Cen Jin lends him a pair of oversized pajamas. He sleeps in his old room. Nothing has changed in there. He opens a drawer and finds his old school diary. A puzzle they built together is still there too. Cen Jin brings him a pillow and realizes she never cleaned the room out. She tries to take the items. Li Wu blocks her. She warns him to behave himself or she will kick him out.
Memories of 2016
Neither of them can sleep. Li Wu flips through his diary. He finds a small ID photo of Cen Jin tucked inside. His mind drifts back to 2016.
It was New Year's Eve. Li Wu was up late studying. Cen Jin gave him a sheet of ID photos for school forms. He secretly stashed one in his pencil case. Later, she brought him fruit. She saw him spinning his pen and tried to copy him. She rummaged through his pencil case. Li Wu panicked. He snatched the case back to hide the stolen photo.
Midnight hit. Cen Jin fell asleep on the couch. The TV countdown woke her up. They wished each other a Happy New Year. She dragged him to the window to watch fireworks. She remembered their first photo together in Yunfeng Village and sent the file to his phone.
A Birthday Wish
The flashback continues. A year had passed since she brought him from the village. Cen Jin wanted a new photo for good luck. Li Wu was nervous. They took a selfie.
That same night, she took him to a comedy show. There was a Q&A segment. Cen Jin wrote a question on a slip of paper. She asked how to make her little brother smile more. The comedian teased them from the stage. Li Wu blushed and looked down.
A few days later, they celebrated his birthday. He made a wish. He simply wanted Cen Jin to be well. They ate cake together.
