Episode Summary
Jiang Mu returns to Nanjing and discovers a cafe that perfectly matches her dream. She realizes the owner is likely Jin Chao. After a series of near-misses, they finally meet. The reunion is painful; Jin Chao admits he bought her old house, but stays silent about his relationship status, leading Jiang Mu to lie about being engaged.
Spoiler Alert
Coffee, Dogs, and Lies
Old Habits and New Dreams
Jiang Mu is back in Nanjing and getting comfortable. She’s hanging out with Gu Zhijie and drops a specific coffee order. She wants a vanilla latte with a hint of cinnamon. Gu Zhijie asks about the taste. Jiang Mu admits she can’t quite remember it. Gu Zhijie isn't dumb. He figures it out immediately. She doesn't miss the flavor. She misses the guy she used to drink it with.
Jiang Mu opens up about her big dream. She wants to open a cafe called Moon. It needs to be on a street lined with plane trees. She wants to smell osmanthus flowers in the autumn. She actually has the money saved up. But she isn't ready yet. She has unfinished business to handle first.
The House and the Near Miss
Jin Chao is in town too. He grabs breakfast at a street stall. Jiang Mu shows up right after he leaves. They completely miss each other.
Jiang Mu goes to a real estate agent. She wants to buy back her old family house. The agent has bad news. A rich boss from Beijing already bought it. He paid cash on the spot. Jiang Mu is desperate. She begs the agent to set up a meeting with the buyer. She is willing to pay extra to get that house back.
We also learn about her past pain. Six years ago, she wanted to take her dog, Lightning, with her when she left. San Lai told her the dog ran away. That loss still stings. Lightning was family.
The Universe Pulls Strings
Jiang Mu settles into her new routine. The agent manages to schedule a meeting with the mysterious house buyer. Things look up.
She goes for a run one morning. A Golden Retriever spots her. It barks and runs straight to her. It reminds her of Lightning. Then Gu Zhijie calls with weird news. He was on a business trip near Purple Mountain. He saw a cafe called Moon. It sits right on a street with plane trees. It matches her dream description perfectly.
Jiang Mu goes to the address. She sees the same Golden Retriever from her run. She takes a chance and calls out "Lightning." The dog loses its mind. It sprints to her. Then it leads her straight into the cafe.
Investigating the Owner
The cafe is small. The dog’s current name is Mendan. There is a telescope inside. The coffee tastes exactly like her memory. She asks to see the boss. The staff says he isn't there. Jiang Mu leaves her contact info in the guestbook. She deliberately leaves her pen behind too.
She goes home and digs around online. She finds photos of the cafe. The owner looks exactly like Jin Chao. But the comments section is brutal. People claim the owner is married. They say his wife and kids live abroad.
The Sunday Setup
A week passes. No one calls her. Jiang Mu goes back to the cafe to get her pen. The staff says the boss took it. He wants to return it personally on Sunday. The real estate agent calls right after. The house buyer also wants to meet on Sunday. The timing is suspicious.
Jiang Mu finishes a work meeting and rushes to the cafe. The person is upstairs. She walks up slowly. Her eyes tear up. It is Jin Chao. He stands up. He says, "It really is you."
A Messy Reunion
Jin Chao tries to be nice. He orders her a strawberry cake. Jiang Mu decides to be difficult. She says she hates that flavor now. Jin Chao looks panicked. He tries to switch it. She cuts him off and says she is hungry anyway.
They start talking. Jin Chao says he didn't contact her because he wanted to make things easier. Jiang Mu asks the big question. Is he married? He stays silent. Jiang Mu takes that as a yes. She decides to hurt him back. She lies through her teeth. She says she is getting married. She claims she only came back for her boyfriend.
Jin Chao just says, "That's good." This makes her furious. She gets up to leave. She pauses at the door and asks for his number. He finally admits the truth about the house. He is the one who bought it.
Jiang Mu leaves. Jin Chao sits there with red eyes. Outside, Jiang Mu looks at her pen and breaks down crying.
