Episode Summary
Cen Jin reveals she never planned to go abroad and forces a breakup to make Li Wu pursue his career in the US. Years pass, and both are miserable apart. In 2024, during a heavy rainstorm, Li Wu finds a stranded Cen Jin, and they finally reunite.
Spoiler Alert
Sniper Butterfly Episode 23 Recap
The Big Lie Explodes
Li Wu is being the supportive boyfriend. He is busy packing clothes for the big move and helping Cen Jin sort through her things. But then he knocks over her handbag. A contract falls out. It isn't a visa application or a plane ticket. It is a partnership agreement for a new company between Cen Jin and Shen Yun.
Cen Jin stops pretending. She admits she never planned to go abroad. She staged the whole thing. She was terrified Li Wu would give up his future for her again, so she lied to push him out of the nest.
The Breakup Ultimatum
Li Wu is furious. He wasn't just daydreaming about America. He actually rented an apartment there. He feels completely played. He tells her he doesn't care about "seeing the world." He just wants to be with her.
Cen Jin digs her heels in. She argues that distance doesn't mean they have to break up. She claims her pushiness is the only reason he got out of Yunfeng Village in the first place. When Li Wu refuses to accept this logic, she drops the hammer. She breaks up with him right there. If he won't go willingly, she will force him away. Li Wu begs her to stop. She ignores him and locks herself in the bedroom. They stand on opposite sides of the door, both miserable.
A Lonely Birthday
Li Wu wakes up to an empty house. Cen Jin is gone. She left a note saying she is staying at Chun Chang’s place until he flies out.
Cen Jin is a wreck. She spends her days at Chun Chang’s house sleeping or working. She barely speaks. Chun Chang tries to salvage the mood by throwing a birthday party for her. She even uses the decorations Li Wu bought beforehand. Cheng Rui and Tao Wanwen show up to celebrate. Cheng Rui tries to pass along a birthday message from Li Wu, but Chun Chang shuts him up immediately. She doesn't want Cen Jin crying again.
Life Goes On (Sort Of)
Li Wu finally leaves for the US. Cen Jin returns to their apartment. It feels massive and empty without him. She wanders into his room and finds his study notes and a handwritten card. The dam breaks, and she cries her eyes out.
Time starts to blur. Cheng Rui is working overtime with Tao Wanwen. They bicker constantly. A stranger tells them to keep it down, and Cheng Rui almost mistakes the guy for Li Wu. Then reality hits him. His friend is halfway across the world.
Cen Jin and Shen Yun get their new company running. They set up the office, but the victory feels hollow. On her way home, Cen Jin sees a massive electronic billboard. It’s playing the beauty ad Li Wu shot. She stares at his face and feels nothing but loneliness.
Three Years Later
It is 2024. Li Wu is back to his routine. He watches a talk show after work. He remembers the first time Cen Jin took him to see one. The memory kills his laughter instantly.
Meanwhile, things heat up for the side characters. Shen Yiyang drives a tipsy Chun Chang home. She flirts with him, and he gets flustered enough to spill his milk tea. While cleaning up, she finds an old greeting card she mailed him years ago in his car. He kept it. The tension snaps. They hook up. The next morning, he leaves her breakfast and a note. Chun Chang assumes he is playing hard to get.
The Rain Reunion
At Shengcan Company, the team reviews copy for a dating app. The text about love hits Cen Jin hard. She realizes her time with Li Wu wasn't just about gratitude or kindness. It was love.
A massive storm hits the city. Cen Jin drives home, but her car breaks down. She tries to call Li Wu to vent, but the signal cuts out. Li Wu, apparently back in the picture, gets worried. He asks her colleagues where she is and rushes out.
Cen Jin stands by the road waiting for a tow truck. The wind rips her umbrella from her hand. Before she can chase it, someone else picks it up. It’s Li Wu. She doesn't say a word. She throws herself into his arms. They go home together.
