Episode Summary
Li Wu proves to be an exceptional caretaker for the injured Cen Jin, managing her meals and mobility while navigating a close call with her father. After a month of domestic routine, Cen Jin confronts her feelings and the practical obstacles of their relationship. She proposes a pact: if they are both single in one year, they will be together. Li Wu happily accepts, marking a major shift in their dynamic.
Spoiler Alert
Sniper Butterfly Episode 19 Recap: The One-Year Deal
Domestic Bliss and Chicken Soup
Li Wu is taking this caretaker role seriously. He isn't just heating up leftovers. He cooks multiple dishes for every meal. Cen Jin can barely finish the food, but he keeps it coming. He carries her to the bathroom whenever she needs to go. He stays in her room until she falls asleep.
Chun Chang texts to check in. She offers to come over and help. Li Wu intercepts the message on his own phone. He shuts that down immediately. He tells her he has everything under control.
He turns to the internet for medical advice. The search results say chicken soup helps bone fractures. So, he makes chicken soup. He sits by her bed while she naps. He picks up a random book. The text talks about overcoming fear. He knows she is faking sleep. He takes the chance to call her beautiful out loud. Cen Jin stays quiet. She doesn't know how to handle the compliment.
The Bathroom Close Call
Cen Jin’s dad breaks the bubble. He shows up with food and he is not happy. He scolds her for hiding the injury. He wants to pack her up and take her home. Li Wu steps in. He insists he can take care of her. Her dad sees the determination and backs off.
Later, things get messy in the bathroom. Cen Jin drops a skincare bottle. She tries to pick it up and slips. Li Wu rushes in. He scoops her up. The proximity is dangerous. He stares at her. He leans in. He clearly wants to kiss her.
Then the front door opens. Her dad forgot his keys. The mood shatters. Cen Jin panics. She turns on the faucet and pretends to wash her face. She lies and says Li Wu went to the store. It was a near miss.
School Life and Work Drama
We jump forward a month. Cen Jin is moving around better. Li Wu is essentially running a double life. He preps breakfast and lunch before he leaves for school. Cen Jin just has to heat it up. She gets a work notification. Bei Ao Auto swapped their person in charge. She texts Shen Yun to get the details.
Over at school, Li Wu gets roped into social activities. The "school beauty" is organizing a club event. Cheng Rui wants to go. He has a crush on the organizer. He is too chicken to go alone, so he drags Li Wu along as a wingman.
The Ultimatum
Chun Chang visits the apartment. It is spotless. She sees how well Li Wu maintains the place. She pushes Cen Jin to stop overthinking. Cen Jin admits she cares about him. She just fears the fallout. She doesn't want to ruin their dynamic. Chun Chang suggests a trial run. If it doesn't work, Li Wu will eventually give up.
That night, they have a serious talk via text and voice notes. Cen Jin asks the big question. Does he like her? He says yes. No hesitation.
Cen Jin lays out the reality. The age gap is real. Their lives are in different places. Her parents would freak out. She admits she feels a little proud that someone like him likes her. But she needs to be the rational adult.
She proposes a deal. They both need to cool off. They will wait one year. If they are both single a year from now, she will accept him. Li Wu takes the deal. He is ecstatic. He decides to move back to the dorms once her cast comes off.
The Morning After
The next morning, Cen Jin summons him to her room. She asks how he slept. He didn't. He stayed up all night smiling. She tells him to get a grip. Her parents will notice if he walks around grinning like that. He can't help it. She needs to brush her teeth. He picks her up and carries her to the bathroom again. The dynamic has definitely shifted.
