Episode Summary
Nie Xiguang goes on a family trip to Changbai Mountain, but her dad is acting distant. Lin Yusen changes his own family's travel plans to follow her. At the ski resort, Xiguang runs into Zhuang Xu and his new friend Kris. The encounter is filled with awkward tension and stolen glances. Zhuang Xu denies his feelings during a drinking game and later scolds his sister for orchestrating the meetup.
Spoiler Alert
Family Drama and Holiday Blues
Nie Chengyuan is in a serious mood. He hears Nie Xiguang is heading to Changbai Mountain the next day. He complains that she spends too little time at home. Grandma steps in immediately. She defends her granddaughter. She thinks Xiguang should travel while she has time off. Grandma even scolds Nie Chengyuan for being unreliable and making Xiguang run back and forth every New Year.
Jiang Rui picks Xiguang up for the trip to the countryside. He notices she looks down. He guesses the meeting with her dad went south. Xiguang confirms it. Her dad has been weird ever since Jiang Rui accidentally called him "former uncle-in-law." That title clearly hit a nerve. Nie Chengyuan even skipped family time to play Mahjong with neighbors. He feels like a stranger to her now.
Later that night, the family gathers at Jiang Ping’s house. Lin Yusen sends a punctual New Year text. His mom catches him checking his phone constantly. She suspects a new romance. She mentions a family ski trip to Chongli for the next day. Lin Yusen hears the word "skiing." He immediately suggests they go to Changbai Mountain instead. He clearly has an ulterior motive.
The Setup
The family arrives at the mountain. Xiguang and Jiang Rui bicker the whole way to the ski resort. It reminds Jiang Ping of his own childhood fights with his sister. They always made up quickly.
Lin Yusen keeps the digital conversation going. He texts Xiguang about naming a photovoltaic garden. Jiang Rui watches Xiguang typing away. He assumes she is chatting with a boyfriend.
They reach the hotel area that evening. Xiguang asks Jiang Rui to snap a photo of her. She sends it to Lin Yusen. He replies with a simple "Thanks." This confuses her. She doesn't get the context.
Awkward Encounters on Ice
The next day starts with snowmobiles. The older adults can't handle the speed. They decide to hit the hot springs in the afternoon. Xiguang wants to join them. Jiang Rui has other ideas. He drags her to the ski slopes for some excitement.
They go to a shop to rent gear. Then the worst-case scenario happens. Zhuang Xu and Kris walk into the same store. Jiang Rui spots them first. He suspects Zhuang Fei leaked their location to set this up. Xiguang sees Zhuang Xu too. She panics. She dives into a fitting room to hide.
Kris helps Zhuang Xu with his gear. They look close. Jiang Rui worries this will upset Xiguang. He tries to change the subject. They leave the shop, and he suggests canceling the ski session. He thinks bad moods lead to accidents. Xiguang refuses. She says she is fine. She just wonders why Ye Rong isn't there.
Photo Ops and Stolen Glances
Xiguang is terrible at skiing. Her movements are stiff. Jiang Rui has to keep holding her up. Zhuang Xu’s group is nearby. Kris wants a group photo. She spots Xiguang. She asks Xiguang to take the picture. It is incredibly awkward.
Jiang Rui steps in. He grabs the phone and takes the picture for them. Then he hands the phone back. He asks Zhuang Xu to return the favor. He wants a photo of himself and Xiguang. Zhuang Xu looks through the lens. He stares at Xiguang for a long moment. Lin Yusen texts Xiguang right then. Zhuang Xu hands the phone back.
Jiang Rui is confused about the vibe. He remembers Zhuang Xu visiting their house over the summer. His mom told Zhuang Xu that Xiguang went abroad. That might have caused a misunderstanding. Zhuang Xu shuts it down. He says none of that matters anymore.
Truth, Dare, and Denial
Back at the hotel, the group drinks and plays games. They play Truth or Dare. Zhuang Xu loses a round. Kris asks if he has someone he likes. He refuses to answer. He drinks instead.
He goes outside to sober up. Kris follows him. She apologizes for being pushy at the ski resort. She sensed the tension earlier. She has a woman's intuition about these things. Xiguang and Jiang Rui walk past them below. Kris is curious. Zhuang Xu lies. He says there is no history between them. He claims Xiguang already has a boyfriend.
Zhuang Xu returns to his room. His sister, Zhuang Fei, calls him. She asks if he liked the "surprise." He realizes she set the whole thing up. He is not amused. He tells her to stop messing with his life.
