Episode Summary
Cen Jin and Wu Fu's marriage hits a breaking point as Wu Fu admits he felt inferior the whole time. In the present timeline, Li Wu makes work difficult for Cen Jin, leading her to hand the project to her boss. Li Wu gets drunk, confronts Cen Jin about avoiding him, and forces a kiss. Flashbacks show a younger, broke Li Wu feeling embarrassed while Cen Jin supports him financially and academically.
Spoiler Alert
The Marriage Is Officially Toast
Cen Jin tries to leave the restaurant, but Wu Fu isn't done yet. He chases her down. You might expect a groveling apology, but he doubles down instead. He tells her to stop being emotional. They argue again. Cen Jin thinks he is still bitter about the miscarriage. Wu Fu corrects her. He says marrying "up" was a mistake from day one. He is exhausted from catering to her family's feelings. He doesn't see a point in fixing things.
Cen Jin walks home alone. A cyclist clips her grocery bag. Fruit spills all over the pavement. It feels like a perfect metaphor for her messy divorce. She gets home feeling numb. Her dad shows up shortly after. He brings dumplings for Li Wu. He pulls Cen Jin into the bedroom for a serious talk.
Dad Steps Up
Dad has been busy. He contacted Teacher Qi for Li Wu. This is the best educational resource in Yi City. He can even help with the transfer paperwork. But Dad really wants to know about the marriage. Cen Jin is honest. She says reconciliation is unlikely. Wu Fu bottled up his resentment for years and exploded after she lost the baby.
Her dad takes a practical stance. He says you should accept a partner's flaws. But he also says you shouldn't drain yourself if it's broken. He reminds her that her parents are her shield. He offers to bring Li Wu to their house for tutoring. Cen Jin hesitates. She worries her mom is still angry. Plus, Li Wu will move to a dorm soon anyway.
Office Games in 2024
We jump to the present. Cen Jin’s company, Sheng Can, has a plan ready. She presents it. Li Wu picks it apart. He has a lot of opinions. Her colleague Cheng Rui thinks Li Wu is being too harsh. He interrupts the critique.
Later, Li Wu accidentally "pats" Cen Jin’s profile on WeChat. It’s awkward. Cen Jin replies in the group chat to smooth it over. Chun Chang calls her for dinner. Cen Jin says she is working late with Li Wu. Chun Chang guesses Li Wu is doing this on purpose to get close to her. Cen Jin is too tired to analyze his motives.
The Contract Mess
Li Wu calls a morning meeting. Cen Jin presents the plan again. She is ready to sign the contract. Suddenly, Old Yi bursts in. He is another partner at Tong Chen. He interrupts everything. Cen Jin steps out to let them fight it out. She sends her assistant back to the office but stays behind herself.
Old Yi thinks hiring professional planners is a waste of money. Li Wu insists they need it. While they argue, Cen Jin waits in Li Wu’s office. She spots a pen on his desk. It’s the one she gave him years ago. She looks at a display cabinet full of photos. Li Wu rushes back in. He hides the photos before she can look too closely. She misses the fact that every photo has a picture of the two of them hidden on the back.
Drunken Mistakes
Cen Jin worries she is blocking the deal. She talks to Boss Shen back at her office. Shen agrees to take over the account. The assistant confirms the contract is ready. Shen goes to sign it. Li Wu runs into the conference room. He looks crushed when he sees Shen instead of Cen Jin.
He signs the deal anyway. Then he gets drunk. He waits outside Cen Jin’s apartment building. A man drops her off. Li Wu intercepts her. He demands to know why she quit the project. He asks why she always leaves without asking him. The alcohol does the talking. He forces a kiss on her. Cen Jin shoves him away. She tells him to sober up before talking about work.
The Broke Student Days
That night, Li Wu can’t sleep. He thinks back to eight years ago. Cen Jin takes him to meet Teacher Qi. He has no entrance exam scores. The teacher suggests a review period. He asks about Li Wu's math skills. Li Wu is usually a physics guy, but he claims he loves math. Cen Jin realizes he isn't as dull as he seems.
She takes him shopping for clothes. Chun Chang calls. Cen Jin says things are better with her parents, but Li Wu is a handful. Chun Chang invites them to dinner. In the store, Li Wu checks every price tag. He only has a few bucks in his pocket. He feels humiliated. Cen Jin doesn't notice his panic. She pays for everything. They meet Chun Chang. She calls Li Wu handsome. He blushes hard and buries his face in a crab.
