Smile Code Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

Smile Code Synopsis

Gu Yi, a Shanghai-based stand-up comedian, works at a magazine by day and performs stand-up at night. She has no grand ambitions—her only goal is to make her audience laugh. One night, however, a man named Liang Daiwen sits in the front row, and no matter what she tries, she can’t make him smile. Frustrated, Gu Yi vows to win over his laughter, sparking a playful romance between the cheerful comedian and the stoic audience member.

Meanwhile, at Ounce Bar, a group of young professionals in Shanghai gather to find moments of happiness amidst the struggles of urban life. Each has their own work-related challenges, but they all enjoy the stand-up routines that humorously address the trials they face, providing both comic relief and optimistic perspectives. Through her commitment to comedy, Gu Yi ultimately wins over the “unsmiling” Liang Daiwen, and as she finds love, she also establishes her roots in the city.

Smile Code Recap

Episode 1 Recap

Gu Yi, a new-generation female stand-up comedian, is quite socially anxious during the day, while at night, she’s just another corporate worker. Her small ambition is to make the people around her happy. Liang Daiwen, on the other hand, is someone who never enjoys laughing and thinks that life holds no funny moments. He keeps a serious face all day.

Following a friend’s suggestion, he decides to try out stand-up comedy to experience a joyful atmosphere and maybe feel a bit of happiness. Liang Daiwen is emotionally distant from his parents, and his father’s remarriage was a significant blow to him. One day, Gu Yi finds her bicycle locked up, so she carries it to the police, hoping they’ll help unlock it. However, the police tell her she’s broken traffic rules and needs to pay a fine.

While she’s negotiating the fine, she notices Liang Daiwen crossing the street on a red light. Gu Yi quickly grabs the officer and explains she isn’t the real rule-breaker, urging the officer to catch Liang Daiwen instead. In the evening, Gu Yi is in high spirits as usual. She always starts her routine with a quick snack of instant noodles, but tonight, while eating in the hallway, she suddenly spots the incredibly handsome Liang Daiwen.

Gu Yi is momentarily stunned, even letting food drop from her mouth. When she goes on stage, she can’t help but keep glancing at Liang Daiwen in the audience, determined to make every single audience member happy tonight. Yet, Liang Daiwen sits there without a trace of emotion, like a wooden figure with no smile.

Liang Daiwen admits he doesn’t know how to smile, so Gu Yi seizes the opportunity to ask for his WeChat, promising to share funny content with him. After freshening up at home, Gu Yi feels like she’s had a pretty good day. Liang Daiwen, however, feels his day has been just as dull as ever, without any emotional highs or lows.

Meanwhile, Zhang Junjie, a young female leader, is known for her tough personality despite being a woman; she’s fiery and lucky, like one of the guys. Everyone thinks of her as a bit of a demon boss. Liang Daiwen works with children with disabilities, expressing his intent to discuss with group leader Li Bin about continuing to collaborate with Project Hope to help more children.

Gu Yi, on the other hand, finds her roommates downright bizarre; they’re each eccentric in their own way, even setting up offerings as if for a ritual. Gu Yi receives a new assignment to work with a designer from another company. Seeing that it’s Liang Daiwen’s company, she eagerly accepts. People generally find Liang Daiwen a bit of a loner, leading many to sympathize with Gu Yi. Liang Daiwen admits to being highly controlling.

During an interview, he even sets a timer on his phone to keep track of time, constantly reminding Gu Yi to stay on schedule. Gu Yi finds his manner a bit odd and his responses rather unorthodox, with a face that lacks any friendly expression. She initially thinks she’s offended him, only to realize that Liang Daiwen simply has a stiff expression without much emotion.

In the middle of the interview, Gu Yi receives a sudden phone call, learning that the position she had been competing for has been given to someone else. She feels deeply hurt. Her new assignment is to investigate Xu Guanrui, a renowned director and singer, but she still can’t understand why her supervisor would give the position to someone else. Though confused about the task, Gu Yi quickly dives into her work after a moment of surprise.

Episode 2 Recap

Gu Yi tells her close friend that her promotion opportunity was taken by someone else, and now she’s tasked with interviewing a very famous person, Xu Guanrui. Sometimes, Gu Yi feels that performing is like nailing herself to a pillar of shame, and in life, she has to struggle for every bit of income.

She recounts how, during her recent interview with Liang Daiwen, she didn’t even get to finish before he had her escorted out and asked her to leave on her own. When her friend remarks that she shouldn’t have taken the interview with him in the first place, Gu Yi realizes they might be right. She remembers saying goodbye to Liang Daiwen just before she left.

Gu Yi’s friend didn’t expect Liang Daiwen to show up, but just as they finished saying so, Liang Daiwen arrived. Gu Yi immediately felt that this was her chance to regain her pride and make up for what she’d lost. Determined to make this expressionless man laugh tonight, she gives her best performance. However, while everyone else laughs, Liang Daiwen just claps along with the crowd, expressionless.

After finishing, Gu Yi considers venting about how unusual this person is, only to realize that Liang Daiwen had overheard her. When Liang Daiwen invites Gu Yi to watch a show, she’s delighted. She can’t understand why he never laughs, so she straightforwardly asks if her stand-up comedy isn’t funny. Liang Daiwen explains that he simply doesn’t enjoy smiling and tends to be expressionless. At this moment, Gu Yi realizes she may have misunderstood this seemingly aloof person.

Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin sneaks off during a meeting to push forward some work progress, only to be caught by the director, who directly questions her in front of the whole team. Embarrassed and downcast after being kicked out of the meeting, Guan Xingxin notices someone taking photos nearby. She sees Laila taking photos and approaches to strike up a conversation. Laila finds Guan Xingxin a bit strange, especially after she hands back her work badge.

Gu Yi then arrives at the meeting place with Liang Daiwen, who is his usual cool and silent self. She finds his aloofness both handsome and mysterious. Complimenting his handwriting, she notices a slight, unnatural twitch in his expression. After copying his notes, Gu Yi observes a change in Liang Daiwen’s face—he seems displeased. She worries she may have offended him, but Liang Daiwen simply says he’s naturally expressionless.

Liang Daiwen explains that the presentation didn’t resonate deeply with anyone, so it lacked meaning. If people watched with intent, it could be more impactful. After sending Liang Daiwen off, Gu Yi rides away on a shared bike, and Liang Daiwen, watching her leave, feels an inexplicable tension in his arm. Gu Yi goes home and studies photos of Liang Daiwen, puzzled by why he never smiles.

Meanwhile, Liang Daiwen sees his therapist and describes how his hand shook uncontrollably when he saw a girl. The therapist observes that Liang Daiwen seems more animated than usual, almost illogical. Though Liang Daiwen insists he’s not unhappy, the therapist points out that someone has likely entered his “blind spot,” making him feel unexpectedly vulnerable and alive.

During her stand-up set, Gu Yi jokes about how her material never made this particular person laugh and quips that she wishes she could be that person’s other half—just as Liang Daiwen arrives, making her feel embarrassed. Gu Yi shares stories of her eccentric roommates, which leads to one of them warning her. Laila, at home, feels weighed down by family responsibilities. Later, Gu Yi, drunk, pretends to cry and causes a scene beside Liang Daiwen, who kindly offers to take her home.

Episode 3 Recap

Liang Daiwen brings Gu Yi home but, upon arrival, notices a man inside her apartment. Sensing something amiss, he instead takes her to a friend’s place, deciding she can go home after sobering up. Back at his own place, Liang Daiwen glances at himself in the mirror and feels a strange sense of unease as he looks down at his wrist.

When Gu Yi wakes up, Guan Xingxin tells her that Liang Daiwen brought her home but noticed something off inside, so he took her elsewhere. Remembering her wild behavior from the night before, Gu Yi feels deeply embarrassed. She wants to present herself better, but Guan Xingxin teases her, saying that Liang Daiwen must be interested in her. When Xu Guanrui returns and sees Gu Yi’s comedy show, he’s thrilled.

Gu Yi later runs into Liang Daiwen, and although she’s a bit nervous, she asks if he brought her home and then took her elsewhere. Liang Daiwen explains it as a “risk transfer. ” Gu Yi, unsure if she did anything offensive, finds comfort when Liang Daiwen reassures her it wasn’t an issue. When a group of people approaches, startling Liang Daiwen, Gu Yi pats his head, telling him not to be afraid.

Liang Daiwen feels his emotions start to shift. Gu Yi invites Liang Daiwen over, but when they encounter her eccentric roommate, he suspiciously starts filming on his phone. Gu Yi quickly drags him to her room, embarrassed by the mess and frustrated as she tidies up. Liang Daiwen bluntly tells the roommate that he won’t be staying there. Feeling confined by her financial struggles, Gu Yi can’t afford to move elsewhere and feels Liang Daiwen’s decision was overly presumptuous.

In contrast, Liang Daiwen casually offers to share his place, mentioning there’s plenty of room. Gu Yi is momentarily stunned. When Liang Daiwen calls a large moving truck for her, she’s surprised, given she doesn’t have many belongings. She finds his logical, almost robotic mindset perplexing. Liang Daiwen helps her settle in, and Gu Yi notices his place is filled with specimen displays and adorable cats, revealing his slightly obsessive and meticulous personality.

Curiosity leads Gu Yi to his bedroom, where the stark cleanliness and chilliness surprise her. She gains insight into his personality, unaware that before her arrival, Liang Daiwen had already replaced a sofa he felt was poorly designed. Inviting Liang Daiwen back, Gu Yi is amused by his initial reluctance, surprised to see he’s genuinely pleased when she reassures him. Meanwhile, Laila is outraged by her ex-husband’s recent visit, only to find he’s posted about her online.

Episode 4 Recap

When Gu Yi was at work, she saw Leila being cyberbullied, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. Guan Xingxin was also implicated, making her a target of attacks as well. Zhang Junjie, who was also at work, saw this and immediately tore down the posters on the wall, urging his coworkers to return to work. Gu Yi had thought Zhang Junjie disliked Guan Xingxin, but surprisingly, Zhang Junjie was the only one helping her in this situation.

Gu Yi felt that the "female villain" she once knew was now like a bright and fierce protector. Guan Xingxin remained unfazed by the commotion. Liang Daiwen came to see Leila, aware that this incident had greatly upset her, yet he assured her that it wasn’t her fault. Hearing him say that, Leila teared up. She explained that she, too, had been deceived, not knowing the man was married.

As soon as she found out, she ended the relationship, but people still criticized her relentlessly. Guan Xingxin sincerely told Leila that she hadn’t known any of this and had no intention of hurting her. Leila sensed Guan Xingxin’s honesty and realized she may have misunderstood her. Due to a copyright issue with someone else’s video, Gu Yi was temporarily muted and couldn't perform her stand-up routine that evening.

Liang Daiwen didn’t comment on it but took the chance to clarify to Gu Yi that he and Leila weren’t romantically involved. Gu Yi was taken aback, but then her mother Wang Meixia called, easing the awkward atmosphere. Gu Yi knew her mother missed her, and after hanging up, she felt hopeful about the future. As she packed her things, she accidentally fell, prompting Liang Daiwen to rush over.

Gu Yi mentioned she’d be away for a couple of days, and while packing, she started sharing stories from her childhood. She told Liang Daiwen that her parents divorced when she was young, and her mother worked tirelessly to support her. Mid-sentence, she noticed Liang Daiwen looking stunned, reminded of his own difficult childhood, which made him feel uneasy. Returning home, Gu Yi found Wang Meixia with He Yongjun.

She didn’t mind her mother dating, as long as it brought her happiness. Liang Daiwen consulted his therapist, expressing interest in a girl. The therapist, however, advised that Liang Daiwen might not be ready for a relationship, as he wasn’t yet in the right emotional state, though Liang felt that his feelings wouldn’t interfere with his life. The therapist warned him against idealizing things too much, as it could lead to harm.

Back home, Gu Yi’s mother pressured her to go on a blind date. Gu Yi returned and found Liang Daiwen acting overly concerned, seeming different from before. Living with him felt surprisingly comforting, though Gu Yi felt a bit embarrassed when he caught her secretly recording him. At night, she even dreamt about Liang Daiwen and felt herself increasingly drawn to Xu Guanrui at work.

Meanwhile, Liang Daiwen bought a strange indigo bowl at the supermarket, so peculiar that even the shop assistant commented it might affect one’s appetite. Xu Guanrui felt Gu Yi was unique, while Gu Yi felt that Liang Daiwen looked more attractive each day. Gu Yi liked the idea of having a complete family. Liang Daiwen, however, had a tragic childhood, haunted by nightmares every night.

Episode 5 Recap

Leila returned home to relentless criticism from her mother. Before meeting that man, she hadn’t known he was married; she had been a victim herself. Yet her family felt disgraced and reprimanded her, while the online abuse became too much to bear. Leila’s mother, controlling and obsessive, pressured Leila to follow her demands. She felt she couldn’t lose another daughter, as one was already gone, so she became determined to protect this daughter no matter what.

Gu Yi looked over the design drafts and felt overwhelmed as she tried to work with her colleagues on revisions. Xu Guanrui suggested she take the time to understand the music background before proceeding with the design, as that insight would add value to her work. Liang Daiwen offered to treat Gu Yi to dinner, but his behavior struck her as odd. To Gu Yi, Liang Daiwen seemed robotic, always expressionless.

He explained that he simply couldn’t feel happiness the way others did. Then he received a sudden call and rushed out, with Gu Yi following by taxi. Shen Zhimin, aware of Liang Daiwen’s agitation, called to help calm him down. Leila attempted suicide but was fortunately saved. She felt trapped in endless apologies, living under constant pressure. Gu Yi felt like Liang Daiwen only needed her when it was convenient, dropping her when it wasn’t.

Liang clarified that he didn’t mean to treat her that way; he was simply anxious and often drove too fast, making it unsafe for passengers. Gu Yi seemed to understand him better. She realized that, despite Guan Xingxin’s hardships, she didn’t harbor any particular resentment from the online hate directed at her. When Liang returned, Leila clarified to Gu Yi that she didn’t like him romantically, and that they were just friends.

Gu Yi felt a little exposed, realizing her feelings for Liang Daiwen had been obvious to Leila. The two had an open-hearted conversation. Leila admitted that Liang Daiwen wasn’t a great partner and that his home life was too stifling. Gu Yi’s mood dimmed as she pondered this. News of Leila’s suicide attempt spread online, drawing endless commentary and fueling a new wave of gossip. Zhang Junjie suggested they gather evidence to fight back.

Xu Guanrui invited Gu Yi to dinner, and while chatting with Liang Daiwen, she noticed he seemed emotionally troubled. Xu Guanrui advised Gu Yi to find hobbies beyond work. Leila, determined to clear her name, asked Gu Yi for help, and Gu Yi agreed to support her.

Episode 6 Recap

To protect her rights, Guan Xingxin decided to take the initiative. She felt that the person she once liked was completely different from the person she now knew to be a scoundrel. There was no reason for her to endure this kind of harm. Guan Xingxin publicly revealed that she had been with Chen Yijin without knowing the truth, as Chen Yijin had persistently claimed he was single. Naively, she believed him, and they even recorded videos together as evidence.

Chen Yijin had a disturbing habit: every time he was with a girl, he would record a video and keep it as a kind of trophy. Guan Xingxin posted the video online to protect other potential victims, though she withheld other evidence that might harm innocent parties. After seeing the news online, everyone felt Chen Yijin was incredibly fake, especially since he even used a false voice when singing. Public opinion swiftly turned against him.

Yu Dule sometimes doubted his stand-up performance, feeling it wasn't very good. However, Gu Yi thought he had improved. Yu Dule asked when Gu Yi planned to return to performing, but she replied that she didn’t want to come back under such pressure and preferred to wait. Yu Dule mentioned he was interested in pursuing a girl. At first, Gu Yi thought she’d misheard, but then she wished him success.

When Gu Yi went home to cook, she found that the oil was already hot and the stove had caught fire. Liang Daiwen happened to come by and quickly covered the fire with a lid. Liang Daiwen signaled for Gu Yi to hand him a bowl, but she misunderstood and ended up touching his face, which puzzled Liang Daiwen, though he oddly felt a bit pleased.

Gu Yi kept praising Liang Daiwen, which made him feel that her intentions were not entirely innocent. Guan Xingxin went to see a therapist, expressing her desire to live her own life, continue dating, and not worry about her parents' expectations. Although she had made mistakes, she still hoped to find someone who would love her. Lao Shen advised her to first find someone she truly trusted.

Gu Yi woke up to find Liang Daiwen sneaking a drink of water, and when he sat on the sofa, he accidentally sat on her, creating an awkward moment. Gu Yi confided in Yu Dule, admitting that while she really liked Liang Daiwen, she felt she had no chance if she made the first move, fearing he’d shut her out. Yu Dule found Gu Yi’s personality puzzling, as she was both conflicted and at peace with herself.

Back home, Gu Yi saw Liang Daiwen preparing to go out because he thought his hair was too long and wanted to go to the salon. Gu Yi offered to cut his hair herself, assuring him that her skills were excellent. While giving Liang Daiwen a haircut, he explained that he always helped those in need and didn’t treat them any differently just because they were vulnerable. His statement made Gu Yi feel a bit disheartened but still accepting.

Curious, Gu Yi noticed that Liang Daiwen hadn’t gone out. He admitted he had emotional barriers. Gu Yi expressed her understanding, feeling somewhat defeated because she wanted so much to see him smile, and she kept trying to bring that out. Gu Yi, however, was determined like an "unstoppable force," convinced she could eventually bring out Liang Daiwen’s emotions. Liang Daiwen, somewhat afraid of facing Gu Yi, opted to sneak away.

Meanwhile, Gu Yi got scratched by a cat and, though she wanted to charm Liang Daiwen, she didn’t have the courage. Liang Daiwen seemed to lose control emotionally again, returning to that dark and suffocating place from his childhood. Gu Yi noticed something was off; Liang Daiwen was repeatedly chopping something, unresponsive when she spoke. His expressionless face made Gu Yi feel like he was sleepwalking, and she was startled when Liang Daiwen suddenly experienced a severe headache.

Episode 7 Recap

Liang Daiwen explained that he occasionally experiences sleepwalking episodes when under too much pressure. He dislikes doctors, so he never went to the hospital for treatment. Additionally, due to traumatic memories from childhood, he has an aversion to hospitals. Liang Daiwen thought these episodes were rare, and Lao Shen often joked that it was because of his sharp tongue that such things happened.

Gu Yi teased Liang Daiwen, saying that when he sleepwalks, it’s like he's chasing her around like a little tail. Gu Yi wanted to ask Liang Daiwen who he dreams about, but he glanced at her and made an excuse to leave. It was clear to Gu Yi that he didn’t want her to know. When Gu Yi was scratched by a kitten, it was Liang Daiwen who helped treat her wound.

Liang Daiwen thought she looked radiant and confident on stage, and he found it admirable. Liang Daiwen touched his forehead to hers, just to see if he had a fever. Although Gu Yi felt a bit shy, she was secretly pleased. Liang Daiwen’s mother had often warned him not to expect much from the future even at the special school he attended, so he had long ago given up on high hopes. Meanwhile, Gu Yi finally finished her work.

As Yu Dule walked down the street, he noticed people mocking Guan Xingxin. Unable to bear it, he ended up fighting them. Touched by his support, Guan Xingxin quickly realized they were taken away by the "Uncle with the Hat. "Xu Guanrui shared his favorite music with Gu Yi, hoping she would understand him better. He actually cared a lot about her and couldn’t help but notice her every move.

When Yu Dule and Guan Xingxin got detained, they naturally needed someone to bail them out. Gu Yi and Liang Daiwen showed up one after another. Gu Yi wanted Liang Daiwen to pretend to be a lawyer to intimidate the others, but he didn’t understand her signal. When they got in the car, Liang Daiwen offered Gu Yi the front seat. Knowing him since childhood, Guan Xingxin took the back seat, understanding his gesture.

Gu Yi was delighted by this thoughtful act. Gu Yi specifically gave Liang Daiwen a digital watch to prevent him from following people around while sleepwalking. Liang Daiwen had another nightmare, and Gu Yi noticed something was off, so she quickly went to check on him. She found him sitting and putting on his shoes, trying to coax him back to bed. Suddenly, he collapsed and fell asleep right there.

Gu Yi quietly covered him, and as she watched him sleep, she thought he looked more handsome than ever. Gu Yi’s stand-up performance didn’t go well that day, and Liang Daiwen, thinking he might be the cause, tried to smile to encourage her. He felt that his lack of a smile might be pressuring others. Seeing him touch his own head, Gu Yi felt happy.

After work, Liang Daiwen offered to walk Gu Yi home and even took her to the entrance. Guan Xingxin realized Gu Yi was very sincere in her care for Liang Daiwen. Guan Xingxin suggested that novelty and strong stimulation might be good for Liang Daiwen, sparking Gu Yi’s curiosity. She asked for Guan Xingxin's advice, and Guan suggested thrilling amusement park rides, as they could possibly stir up emotions in him.

Hearing this, Gu Yi decided to try it if it might help Liang Daiwen experience more normal emotional responses. So, Guan Xingxin and Gu Yi brought Liang Daiwen to an amusement park, tricking him into going. They rode the giant swing ride, but Liang Daiwen remained expressionless the whole time, showing no fear—as if he hadn’t been involved at all. Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin and Gu Yi were screaming in terror.

Episode 8 Recap

Gu Yi had an intense time at the amusement park and was exhausted afterward. Guan Xingxin, still full of energy, suggested they try more rides, but Gu Yi, out of energy, declined and told Liang Daiwen and the others to continue without her. She decided to sit and wait for them, surprised when Liang Daiwen left without saying anything. Suddenly, Gu Yi felt a little queasy, and just then, Liang Daiwen returned with a bucket of popcorn for her.

Gu Yi retracted her earlier words, realizing Liang Daiwen did have a caring side. Meanwhile, Yu Dule held out a flower to give to Guan Xingxin. Although Guan understood his intention, she hesitated due to past heartbreak and her fear of trying again. After thinking it over, she simply smiled in response rather than giving a direct answer. Gu Yi encouraged Liang Daiwen to practice smiling, but his attempt was stiff and awkward, as if he were furious.

Gu Yi demonstrated her smile, hoping he’d imitate it, but he bluntly praised her looks and wiped some ice cream on her face. Gu Yi couldn’t help but find his cluelessness somewhat charming. Gu Yi spruced up her home, hoping to surprise Liang Daiwen with a candlelight dinner. She eagerly awaited his return, praying in front of the flowers.

To her dismay, a candle accidentally lit the flowers on fire, and the flames grew as the rain leaked in through the ceiling. When Liang Daiwen returned, he found a rather disheveled Gu Yi. Gu Yi admitted her intentions had been to prepare a candlelit dinner, not to set the place ablaze. Liang Daiwen understood that if she had truly wanted to start a fire, she wouldn’t have done it this way.

When he noticed the handwritten message, his hand tensed slightly. Liang Daiwen confessed he had dated two girls before, but neither was happy with him, and they eventually drifted apart. He felt certain that being with him would not bring any woman happiness and added that Gu Yi was the only woman he had gotten to know well so far. Curious, Gu Yi wanted to know if she held any special place in his heart, but his response left her disappointed.

She told him she’d look for her own place soon, since otherwise she might misinterpret his feelings. Liang Daiwen felt conflicted and uncomfortable, his heart racing, but he didn’t know how to handle the situation. Xu Guanrui, testing Gu Yi’s feelings for Liang Daiwen, brought her breakfast and asked if she liked him. Startled, Gu Yi choked and clarified they were just friends.

Gu Yi approached Guan Xingxin, expressing her desire to meet with Liang Daiwen’s psychologist to understand his situation better. Lao Shen patiently explained, noting that Liang Daiwen’s mind often felt blank, a result of traumatic experiences. Gu Yi didn’t pry further, and Lao Shen remarked it would take some time for Liang Daiwen to learn to feel and express emotions. Listening nearby, Liang Daiwen felt torn. Hearing Gu Yi’s plan to move out saddened him.

Gu Yi thought that living without feelings must be quite convenient for him. That night, she dreamed of Liang Daiwen jumping from a building and woke to find him sleepwalking, searching for her. When she asked him about his condition, he fell asleep again without responding. Liang Daiwen felt conflicted about whether to reject Gu Yi’s affections. Gu Yi told Guan Xingxin that Liang Daiwen was avoiding her, and Guan advised her to use a straightforward approach.

When Liang Daiwen attended Gu Yi’s comedy show, she asked him if he’d be happier if she moved out. Liang Daiwen seemed hesitant and conflicted. Gu Yi then asked if she could stay for one more month, and Liang Daiwen agreed.

Episode 9 Recap

Ever since Gu Yi arranged to extend her stay with Liang Daiwen for another month, her mood had been at an all-time high. Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin finally resigned from all her positions at the company. She even bought a large cake, cut into 999 slices, to celebrate her "happy breakup" with each of her colleagues. Guan Xingxin remarked that she used to just hold a title at the company and rely on her fans to stay relevant.

But now, her fans had grown to dislike her, and her account was suspended. She realized it was more important to be true to herself. While Gu Yi was secretly doing other things during a meal, her supervisor caught her. Zhang Junjie instructed Gu Yi to work with Xu Guanrui to go over the company's design content. Xu Guanrui shared that he had once dated someone but didn’t appreciate her enough in his younger years, something he now somewhat regretted.

Gu Yi hadn’t expected that such a handsome teacher like Xu would have such a touching first love. Yu Dule was determined to pursue Guan Xingxin. Gu Yi thought he was a bit overconfident but still gave him some advice, suggesting he use a “man’s approach” to win her over. She felt that she and Yu Dule were both on a long journey, and if only she could easily win over Liang Daiwen, that would be perfect.

Gu Yi, the type to “conquer through actions,” quickly began researching online about guys, wanting to fit in more. Liang Daiwen now visited Gu Yi anytime he felt hungry; his routine before had been very simple, and his meals were often irregular. He shared that the most painful thing he experienced was losing his mother, and his biggest regret was wasting the time of the girls he had dated.

Gu Yi suddenly sensed that Liang Daiwen might have a lot of hidden feelings. Liang Daiwen turned the question around on her, saying he wanted to know her answers too, for fairness. Gu Yi admitted that despite years of performing stand-up, she still hadn’t achieved true honesty. She felt that she and Liang Daiwen had built a foundation of trust. Liang Daiwen agreed and gave her a fake smile in response.

Gu Yi placed her hand on his face, encouraging him to smile, but he immediately turned away and ran off. Gu Yi found him peculiar and wondered if he disliked her. She urged Liang Daiwen to make some good friends, hinting at herself, but he responded unexpectedly. Gu Yi wrote up a plan and posted it by the door, hoping to influence Liang Daiwen positively. Guan Xingxin advised Gu Yi to pursue him using a “man’s approach.

” Gu Yi stated that, although she really liked Liang Daiwen, she wouldn’t lose herself for him. And so, the two of them began their daily routine together. Gu Yi wanted to help Liang Daiwen engage with the world around him, hoping that spicy foods might help stir up his emotions. Xu Guanrui noticed that Gu Yi could now easily talk about her favorite things with him.

The conversation between Gu Yi and Xu Guanrui flowed naturally, so much so that Gu Yi missed Liang Daiwen’s call. Xu Guanrui felt a bit disappointed as he watched her leave with Liang Daiwen, given he had developed strong feelings for her. Gu Yi had originally planned to go camping with Liang Daiwen, but her mother showed up unexpectedly, and Liang Daiwen seemed a little upset by the change in plans. Gu Yi noticed he might be showing some emotion.

Liang Daiwen offered to pick up Gu Yi’s mom for her. During the drive, Gu Yi’s mother kept urging him on, which visibly made Liang Daiwen tense, and he started to drive faster. Seeing this, Gu Yi placed her hand on his shoulder, and only then did Liang Daiwen regain his composure.

Episode 10 Recap

Yu Dule was seeing everything through rose-colored glasses, thinking Guan Xingxin looked more beautiful each time he saw her. Sitting nearby, Guan Xingxin didn't notice how Yu Dule kept glancing at her. It wasn't until a friend reminded him that he snapped back to reality. Meanwhile, Gu Yi called to ask a colleague to pass a message that she wouldn’t be able to come because her mother was arriving, hoping that Yu Dule wouldn’t get upset.

When Gu Yi's mom arrived at the hotel and saw her message, she was a bit annoyed but quickly forgave her daughter. However, Gu Yi's mom felt some discomfort in her stomach. As Yu Dule warmed himself by the fire, he kept lingering around Guan Xingxin, to the point where even their friends started to feel he was overdoing it. Uncle Lu commented on feeling like a “third wheel,” and Yu Dule silently wished Uncle Lu would leave.

Yu Dule explained that he’d lost his sight temporarily, making him especially attuned to people's emotions through sound. Guan Xingxin shared her own fears about unwrapping a bandage layer by layer each day, worried that when she finally removed the last one, she might still be unable to see. Guan Xingxin said she felt like a test subject in a glass case, with her parents constantly trying to control her life, afraid she’d lose her vision again.

She felt they were overly involved in her daily life, leaving her unsure of how to handle it all. Yu Dule encouraged her not to look down on herself and to try to see things positively. Frustrated, he remarked that the campsite was falsely advertised since no meteors were visible that night. Noticing Liang Daiwen seemed down, Gu Yi wanted him to see her as someone he could confide in.

Liang Daiwen started to talk about his childhood, but was interrupted by a message from Yu Dule. Liang asked if it was from "Auntie," but Gu Yi explained that Yu Dule had just seen a star while camping. Liang then opened the sunroof of his car, and they lay there quietly, gazing up at the stars. In the morning, Gu Yi couldn’t resist inching closer to Liang Daiwen, but she quickly pulled back, embarrassed when he noticed.

Upon arriving at work, she discovered a major issue with her project. Zhang Junjie, furious, scolded her—despite being a senior, she’d let her trainee make such a critical mistake. Meanwhile, Gu Yi’s mom went to Liang Daiwen's place and began cleaning. Gu Yi was doing her best to salvage the project at work. Xu Guanrui had planned to bring her lunch but, seeing that she’d already gone home, decided to visit her there instead.

Gu Yi’s mom, concerned about her daughter being alone in the big city, had started having some extreme thoughts. Though seeing her daughter’s life brought her some happiness, she suddenly felt a pang of stomach pain. Upset over the work incident, Gu Yi was comforted by Liang Daiwen, who took her home.

Drunk, Gu Yi held tightly onto Liang as she babbled on the way, and though he seemed exasperated, he walked along, pushing his bike with her clinging to him. Xu Guanrui, coming by to see Gu Yi, was uncomfortable when he saw the two of them together, looking so close, and he left feeling uneasy. Gu Yi’s mom, still experiencing stomach discomfort, took some medicine before forcing herself to sleep.

When Gu Yi got home, she was too sick to let it out, and as she was about to scream, Liang Daiwen quickly covered her mouth. She was about to kiss him but passed out mid-way. Liang Daiwen was aware of Gu Yi’s feelings for him, yet he believed he couldn’t reciprocate her love at his current stage in life.

However, he remembered how Gu Yi had helped him through a breakdown once and thought that she might indeed hold a special place in his life.

Episode 11 Recap

Gu Yi woke up the next morning, groggy and feeling like something was off, as if the events of last night were repeating themselves. Remembering what happened when she got drunk, she felt a mix of regret and sweetness. Later that morning, Gu Yi was discussing a design topic on love with her colleagues, but her ideas were repeatedly dismissed. Feeling she was right, Gu Yi firmly defended her views.

Xu Guanrui, quietly supporting her, noted that the type of love people seek between 20 and 30 years old is entirely different. Zhang Junjie saw love as a popular topic and urged Gu Yi's team to stay on trend, suggesting that Gu Yi learn a thing or two from Xu Guanrui. Over lunch, Xu discussed ways to tie the design theme into real-life scenarios to enhance its impact, sharing his own experiences.

However, Gu Yi barely registered his words, looking distracted and unfocused. Gu Yi valued her boss’s sincerity and didn’t believe he would abandon her. During one of her stand-up performances, she noticed her audience included her mom, Liang Daiwen, and Xu Guanrui. She shared stories from her childhood, talking about her kind mother, who often taught her philosophical lessons. This moved Gu Yi's mom to tears, helping her understand her daughter’s struggles over the years.

She realized she’d been holding on too tightly, and that Gu Yi had grown up, different from the past. After talking with her mom on the phone for a while, Gu Yi was surprised when her mom left abruptly. When Xu Guanrui looked for Gu Yi, she was preoccupied with her mom’s sudden departure and barely noticed him there. Her mom, aware that Liang Daiwen was Gu Yi’s roommate and seeing the young man taking many medications, felt concerned.

Sitting in the car, she chatted with Liang, knowing he wasn’t just a janitor but Gu Yi’s roommate. She felt a pang of sympathy, realizing he had endured so much. Understanding her daughter had grown up, Gu Yi's mom decided to let go and quietly returned to her hometown. When Gu Yi got home, she saw the table set with a meal her mom had prepared and started talking with Liang Daiwen.

She shared her worries about her mother, admitting her deep sense of guilt for not being able to resolve their issues, as her mom raised her alone and was a proud woman. Later, Gu Yi and Liang crawled under the bed, looking at the lights scattered beneath. Liang felt this light could drive away all the shadows in their hearts and make them brave enough to move forward.

As a child, Liang had always wanted to see stars, but gradually even the stars faded, leaving him with many losses. Gu Yi sensed that Liang’s childhood must have been painful. Seeing him about to leave, she asked him to stay a little longer. Liang, who had likely felt something for her early on, looked at Gu Yi with his heart racing, only just realizing his feelings.

Gu Yi took her details to a park for a matchmaking event but was dismissed by the critical mothers there. She painted a bleak picture of herself, but no one was interested. Liang Daiwen visited Shen Zhimin for another therapy session. Shen noticed that Liang was changing; although Gu Yi’s influence on Liang’s treatment was minimal, the fact that he hadn’t pushed her away showed he was starting to accept and even enjoy her company.

Guan Xingxin and Xu Guanrui discussed her career, with Guan doubting her comeback potential due to her lack of skills in singing and dancing, not to mention the frequent rumors. However, Xu expressed confidence in her. Xu was aware of Gu Yi’s feelings for Liang but wasn’t willing to let her go so easily. Guan asked Gu Yi about Yu Dule’s character, and Gu Yi openly told her everything.

Guan felt uncertain about her options; she was also being pursued by Uncle Lu, who had a child. Gu Yi joined a role-playing game event, only to find herself unable to shake off her nerves. Everyone praised Xu's acting. Guan later asked Yu Dule to walk her home.

Episode 12 Recap

Xu Guanrui jokingly said that Gu Yi was like Jinifers, more like the Foolish Old Man who moves mountains, trying to open someone’s heart, but picking stars still seemed more romantic. Gu Yi felt like Xu was laughing at her, but the two of them continued to chat and laugh together. Liang Daiwen, who was nearby, noticed how happily Gu Yi and Xu were talking and couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

Xu suddenly felt that Liang Daiwen’s face looked extremely displeased, and he began to openly mock him. Gu Yi told Liang Daiwen that she thought she understood why Chen Shu insisted on doing stand-up comedy. Some people find joy in suffering, while others are enjoying life, but both ways are equally important. Liang felt a bit jealous but didn't realize it, and he sarcastically commented that Xu Guanrui was actually more devoted in his performance.

Gu Yi listened, and seemed to have an epiphany, smiling and telling Liang that if he felt any emotions, he should try to experience them and accept them. Only by expressing emotions could one truly understand how they felt. Gu Yi looked at Liang Daiwen as if she thought she had figured something out, so she gave an example to help him understand more about emotions.

However, Liang Daiwen simply said that it would be better for him to lie down on the floor and sleep peacefully. Gu Yi seemed to realize that Liang was jealous but was unaware of it himself. Inside, she felt happy that her efforts in recent days were finally bearing fruit. Guan Xingxin was curious when Yu Dule had started to like her. To her surprise, Yu Dule honestly admitted that he had been observing her since he joined the company.

Guan Xingxin didn't hide anything either, telling Yu Dule that she had never experienced love and didn't know how to express it. Having been oppressed by her parents since childhood, she had always wanted to break free. Her current therapist also told her that she wasn’t suited for a romantic relationship. Yu Dule believed these were not "hardware" issues, meaning they weren’t fundamental problems. That night, Gu Yi had forgotten to cover herself with the blanket.

Liang Daiwen, as always, was thoughtful and came over to cover her, sitting next to her and starting to work. Gu Yi woke up and realized that she hadn’t heard her alarm. She nervously went to Liang Daiwen’s room to listen for sounds, but to her surprise, Liang came out from behind her. Gu Yi said she could take care of Liang Daiwen, but Liang Daiwen thought her words were just empty talk.

When Gu Yi got back to the office, she found that the female boss seemed to have been provoked by her ex-husband and was now speeding up the work progress. The atmosphere in the office was tense. When Xu Guanrui came to find the female boss, he saw that her emotions were off, and she was snapping at people. Xu knew the boss’s character very well.

Gu Yi was caught up in work at the office, being pulled around by her boss. The boss’s ex-husband had plans to flirt with the female staff at the company. President Zhang looked for Liang Daiwen, and Liang said he didn’t want to work there anymore and was planning to quit. President Zhang wanted to persuade him to stay, but Liang Daiwen was resolute in his decision to leave.

While walking on the street, Liang Daiwen suddenly realized it was Christmas Eve. He bought a Christmas apple and went home to wait for Gu Yi, but she didn’t return. Xu Guanrui came to find Gu Yi and offered to accompany her to dinner. Just then, Liang Daiwen passed by downstairs and saw the scene, feeling a rush of emotions. Shen Zhimin, knowing that Liang was uncomfortable, understood the situation but pretended not to admit it.

Liang told Shen Zhimin that Gu Yi had taught him to express his emotions. Liang said he felt like he had bought an apple, only to find it was taken by someone else. Shen Zhimin encouraged him to go after the apple. Liang Daiwen ran into Xu Guanrui and looked at him with hostility. Gu Yi was in the middle of renovating when the power went out.

When the lights came back on, she was startled to find Liang Daiwen standing behind her, and the two ended up standing together. President Zhang was investigating the people around Liang Daiwen. Liang Daiwen explained to Gu Yi that President Zhang was actually his senior from school, and there was no special relationship between them.

Gu Yi admitted that she had felt a flutter in her heart when Liang Daiwen lay down beside her, but when he pulled out the apple, she was once again surprised and delighted.

Episode 13 Recap

Gu Yi suddenly came home and found that the teaching tools she had bought were gone. Liang Daiwen wasn’t surprised; he calmly told Gu Yi that Shen Zhimin thought her therapy hadn’t had any good results, and in fact, had even negated the effects of Shen’s own therapy. Gu Yi felt awkward and sat quietly for a moment, then couldn’t help but sit on the sofa and reflect.

Liang Daiwen came out, noticing that Gu Yi seemed upset, and couldn’t help but ask what was wrong. Gu Yi felt a bit apologetic and regretted that Shen Zhimin always seemed to end up helping in the wrong way. However, when Liang Daiwen said that she hadn’t gained nothing from it, Gu Yi wanted him to give more examples. Liang Daiwen hesitated, trying to find words.

Gu Yi broke the silence and encouraged him to try again to express his feelings. In fact, Liang Daiwen could express his emotions quite well when alone in his room. Liang Daiwen had another nightmare, recalling scenes from his childhood that terrified him awake. When he opened the drawer to take his medicine, he hesitated and stopped himself. Gu Yi sensed something was off and hurried to Liang Daiwen’s room.

To her surprise, she bumped straight into him when he opened the door. Gu Yi saw that Liang Daiwen had secretly taken medicine, but instead of responding directly, Liang asked her why she was still working overtime. Liang Daiwen looked at Gu Yi’s design drafts and offered to help if she didn’t mind. Gu Yi was afraid he would mock her, but Liang reassured her that he wouldn’t.

The two discussed the designs together, and Liang Daiwen found being with Gu Yi very enjoyable. Meanwhile, President Zhang discovered that the girl around Liang Daiwen was a stand-up comedian and decided to inform Jie Kuilin and ask Liang Daiwen to join them for a meal. Gu Yi achieved excellent results in her presentation, leaving her competitors stunned. Since Gu Yi had grown close to Liang Daiwen, people around him started investigating her.

The female boss was desperate to protect her reputation, but the higher-ups felt that Gu Yi’s involvement in stand-up comedy was unprofessional. President Zhang came directly to the company to find Gu Yi and told her to go speak with Liang Daiwen, suggesting that she reschedule for another time. When Gu Yi arrived at the venue, she realized the reservation was for a couple’s set meal, clearly meant to embarrass her.

She felt jealous, knowing that Liang Daiwen had previously shared a couple’s meal with this woman. Gu Yi told Liang Daiwen that she was very angry tonight, and Liang Daiwen realized it wasn’t appropriate for him to take her to the same couple’s meal set that Zhang Qingya had used.

Gu Yi knew that Liang Daiwen must have a lot of things he couldn’t express, so she pretended to call 10-year-old Liang Daiwen, telling him not to blame himself because of his mother’s issues, and not to reject the love of those around him—it would only hurt the people who loved him. Gu Yi told Liang Daiwen that none of this was his fault and that he shouldn’t continue punishing himself.

Liang Daiwen had another nightmare, and Gu Yi woke up to find his heartbeat was abnormal. She rushed to his room and found he was still taking medicine and lying beneath the bed. Gu Yi sensed that something was wrong with him. As she was about to leave, Liang Daiwen pulled her back. Guan Xingxin was harassed on the street, and Yu Dule came to take her away.

He told her that he had been in a relationship six years ago, but it had been a naïve kind of love. Meanwhile, Gu Yi discovered that Liang Daiwen had sleepwalked, dragging him back to the room to sleep. Gu Yi originally planned to let Liang Daiwen rest, but he was actually awake and felt that she was treating him like a dog.

Gu Yi went to see President Zhang and, upon opening the door, found the place lively and bustling. She realized she had no choice but to wait outside.

Episode 14 Recap

Gu Yi was still pursuing her side career as a stand-up comedian, which was relatively successful with many fans. However, today, President Zhang spoke of a "high-level situation" at the event. The people in the audience seemed to view the performer as a clown, showing no signs of amusement. Gu Yi quickly realized that this was a setup designed to embarrass her. Looking at the expressions of the people around her, she felt a wave of despair.

She walked out into the hallway, tears in her eyes, feeling gloomy. Liang Daiwen, dressed in a tree costume, came to find her. Gu Yi was curious about why Liang Daiwen was there. He said that he was worried Gu Yi might mess things up, so he came to support her. Someone nearby called for Liang Daiwen to perform.

Gu Yi followed him out of curiosity and saw that Liang Daiwen was standing there like a puppet, struggling to show the right expressions, merely trying to cooperate with the performance. Gu Yi asked him why he had come back, and Liang Daiwen simply adjusted his tie, gently advising her that it was okay to express her unhappiness rather than keeping it bottled up inside. It would make her feel better. At that moment, President Zhang approached them, looking quite aggrieved.

He explained that his intention was for Gu Yi to perform a stand-up show, but the audience had been so unresponsive that he felt embarrassed. Gu Yi could sense the underlying hostility from him but felt unable to refuse. Liang Daiwen didn't say much but took Gu Yi's hand, and they quickly left together.

Gu Yi told Liang Daiwen that she might need to learn some etiquette for social gatherings, so she wouldn't be so out of place next time and wouldn't cause such awkwardness. However, Liang Daiwen believed that the life he had adapted to was the best one. He advised her not to change herself just to fit into an environment or force herself into things.

Gu Yi suddenly felt that Liang Daiwen was quite considerate and caring, and she felt happy inside. Liang Daiwen naturally fell asleep with his head resting on Gu Yi’s shoulder. When Gu Yi returned, she told Liang Daiwen that the people in the audience were all dressed in formal suits, and when they saw her in such casual attire, it was clear they would mock her. She felt that her stand-up performance hadn’t been taken seriously.

Liang Daiwen, lying in bed, was still awake. In fact, he had gone to bed early but had seen Gu Yi's performance. Meanwhile, the female boss was still being pestered by her ex-husband, as if they were in some sort of bitter, life-and-death struggle. Gu Yi had made a mistake at work, and the people in the company had lost respect for her.

She was frustrated and went to find the female boss, questioning whether work was really just about pleasing others and needing constant changes to fit in. Gu Yi felt that the female boss was a bad leader, forcing her to conform to public opinion, and she couldn’t accept it at that moment. Xu Guanrui, sensing that Gu Yi was in a bad mood, came over to comfort her.

Gu Yi suddenly realized that Xu Guanrui’s advice about having her own hobbies was right. She couldn’t help but burst into tears. Xu Guanrui took her to sit in a shopping cart, hoping to cheer her up. Gu Yi understood that Liang Daiwen had dressed up as a tree and even paid for her stand-up performance to support her, which brought her a lot of comfort. She cautiously asked Liang Daiwen if he liked her.

Liang Daiwen, being honest, admitted that he wasn’t sure when his feelings had developed but acknowledged that he had started to feel something for her. He just wasn’t quite used to it yet. As they talked, snow began to fall. Gu Yi found the snowy scene beautiful, but Liang Daiwen felt that the snow was a kind of stimulation for him.

Gu Yi wanted to get closer to him but was met with resistance when Liang Daiwen pulled away, making her feel a bit disappointed. She felt as though she had made another mistake. Gu Yi sensed that Liang Daiwen had been avoiding her lately, either intentionally or unintentionally, and decided to seek help from Guan Xingxin. She believed that Liang Daiwen had started to open up.

Guan Xingxin suggested that Gu Yi create some sense of crisis to make Liang Daiwen feel like there was something at stake, which would encourage him to express his true feelings. When Liang Daiwen saw Gu Yi’s outfit, he felt a little uncomfortable. They both awkwardly tried to make small talk. When Liang Daiwen saw Gu Yi in danger, he rushed to pull her back, but in doing so, he ended up tugging at her tie.

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