Episode Summary
Xiguang struggles with her thesis but rejects Zhuang Xu's help, believing he is only acting out of guilt for his girlfriend. She supports Jiang Rui during entrance exams, but Zhuang Xu turns their interactions into cold transactions to avoid owing her favors. Xiguang passes her thesis defense while Zhuang Xu secretly watches. The episode ends with the two of them stranded together at a bus stop after saying goodbye to a graduating friend.
Spoiler Alert
Thesis Trouble
Nie Xiguang heads to the Zhixing Building to get feedback on her thesis. It does not go well. The professor tears her paper apart. He hates the structure and the perspective. He doubts she can even pass the defense. Zhuang Xu happens to be in the room. He speaks up for her. He suggests that a few edits could fix the problems.
Xiguang isn't having it. She assumes Zhuang Xu is only helping her to apologize for the drama with Ye Rong. She snaps at him. She says she doesn't need his help. The teacher scolds her again for her bad temper. They leave the office. In the elevator, Zhuang Xu tries again. He tells her to ask if she needs help finding research materials.
Old Wounds
Xiguang runs into Siliang on the way back to the dorms. Siliang wants her to move back in. She says they could help each other with problems. Xiguang refuses. She remembers a painful conversation she overheard. Siliang once asked Ye Rong if she saw Xiguang as a love rival. Ye Rong laughed it off. She said Xiguang was just a "touchstone" to test Zhuang Xu's loyalty. Xiguang knows Siliang means well now, but she can't forget that moment.
The Deleted Email
Xiguang studies with Jiang Rui. Her phone buzzes. Zhuang Xu sent an email. It is full of data for her thesis. He even translated international documents for her. For a second, she feels grateful. Then the doubt creeps back in. She suspects this is just another apology for Ye Rong.
She calls his dorm to check. His roommate picks up. He says Zhuang Xu pulled several all-nighters and is finally sleeping. Xiguang makes up her mind. She decides he did all that work for his girlfriend's conscience, not for her. She hangs up the phone. She deletes the files without using them.
Exam Season
A month passes. Xiguang reworks her paper. The teacher is finally happy. She gets the green light for her defense. Outside, students are taking graduation photos.
It is time for the college entrance exams. Xiguang supports Jiang Rui because her mother bailed on her. Jiang Rui has other plans though. She wants to set Xiguang up. She waits for Zhuang Fei to come out of the exam hall. She hopes his brother, Zhuang Xu, will pick him up. She wants to manufacture a romantic meeting. It fails. Zhuang Xu doesn't show up. The three of them eat lunch together instead.
Tit for Tat
During lunch, Zhuang Fei looks sick. He says he felt dizzy during the exam. Xiguang comforts him. She tells him about her own fever during her exams and how she still scored high.
The next day, Zhuang Xu actually shows up. He brings a massive, expensive lunch. It is much fancier than what they ate the day before. Xiguang realizes what he is doing. He is paying her back. It reminds her of when she lent him money for his mother's medical bills. He paid her back instantly with interest. He refuses to owe her anything. She hates this transactional relationship. She leaves the area to avoid the awkwardness.
Graduation Approaches
Jiang Rui is still proud of her matchmaking attempts. Xiguang shuts it down. She explains that Zhuang Xu is just clearing debts. He isn't interested.
Xiguang nails her thesis defense. She passes easily. She doesn't notice that Zhuang Xu is sitting in the back row watching her. Later, Siliang asks Xiguang to dinner. She apologizes for being distant in the past. She admits the wealth gap made things hard. She saw Xiguang casually lend a huge amount of money to Zhuang Xu once. It made her feel inferior. Xiguang understands. She holds no grudges.
Left Behind
Graduation is finally here. The roommates say goodbye to A-Zhen at the train station. It is an emotional scene. The guys from Zhuang Xu's dorm come along too. They try to catch the last bus back to school. It is packed. Xiguang doesn't make it on. She stands alone on the platform. She looks over. Zhuang Xu is standing there too.
