Smile Code Recap, Plot, Synopsis

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gu Yi was texting with Guan Xingxin, feeling that last night had been quite awkward, almost like pulling out a four-bedroom apartment, but before she could finish the thought, she overheard her colleagues at the company gossiping about her. They were saying some really juicy things. Gu Yi, impulsively, was about to go up and argue with them, but her partner stopped her.

They were saying that Panny was being kept by a rich man, and now Gu Yi was also being kept by a handsome guy. These rumors were spreading like wildfire. They said that Panny's situation was because she was supported by Roger, and now, Gu Yi was apparently involved with a wealthy man too. People seemed to think that both women had risen to their positions purely through their relationships.

Gu Yi wanted to tell them that she was actually in a relationship with the handsome guy, but then she hesitated, feeling suddenly unsure. She realized that the rumors online were too costly for women to deny. Liang Daiwen, wanting to minimize the damage, secretly tried to clear up some misunderstandings online for Gu Yi. Later, Gu Yi performed again, bringing much joy to the audience. President Zhang was present, sitting quietly in the audience, observing the situation.

He kept glancing at Liang Daiwen, whose expressions were complex as he listened to Gu Yi on stage. When Gu Yi mentioned that she lived with a handsome guy—one sleeping on the bed, the other on the couch—President Zhang's expression became even more complicated as he kept looking at Liang Daiwen. Liang Daiwen was clearly taken aback by her words. Yu Dule advised Gu Yi to stop pursuing Liang Daiwen.

Gu Yi saw a commotion outside and realized that Liang Daiwen had been knocked to the ground and was injured. She wanted to help, but President Zhang stopped her. Gu Yi watched as President Zhang skillfully tended to Liang Daiwen's wounds. She tried to tell herself that she wasn’t bothered, but it was a lie. For a moment, Gu Yi felt that she couldn't compete with President Zhang.

Xu Guanrui, noticing that Gu Yi was feeling down, brought some fireworks to cheer her up. Liang Daiwen, watching from a distance, felt a sudden tremor in his hands. He didn’t know why, but he looked unhappy. Gu Yi was thrilled to return home and see that Liang Daiwen had come back. She greeted him with a smile, but he seemed indifferent. Liang Daiwen went to his room and removed the bandages that Senior had put on him.

Then he came out and asked Gu Yi to help him re-bandage. Liang Daiwen also directly told her not to take President Zhang’s words to heart. Gu Yi suddenly felt that Liang Daiwen had changed, and she was grateful for this change. Liang Daiwen suddenly realized that Gu Yi’s smile was beautiful. Gu Yi had learned from Guan Xingxin that Liang Daiwen rarely celebrated his birthday, so she wanted to plan a special birthday party for him.

Liang Daiwen went to his mother’s grave and told her that he had met a girl and had many interesting experiences, but he seemed deeply sad. Everyone came to celebrate Liang Daiwen’s birthday, but to their surprise, he wasn’t happy at all and seemed angry. Why were they celebrating his birthday? It was as if he saw his younger self, and his emotions reached a breaking point.

Suddenly, he shouted for everyone to leave and then collapsed on the ground, gasping for air in pain. Old Shen visited Liang Daiwen and knew that he had received a package. He seemed conflicted but tried to comfort Liang Daiwen. Guan Xingxin thought Liang Daiwen was being selfish, pushing away everyone who cared about him. Was he going to live with this guilt forever?

Old Shen knew that Liang Daiwen’s mother had been in a wheelchair since he was young, and when Liang Daiwen went to pick up his father, his mother passed away. So, for Liang Daiwen, birthdays were always a painful reminder. Gu Yi felt that they had argued, but she couldn’t leave for good and then come back. To her surprise, Liang Daiwen started packing to leave. Gu Yi suddenly felt like she was less important than a dog.

Liang Daiwen was just leaving without considering anyone else. Guan Xingxin tried to make Gu Yi understand Liang Daiwen’s behavior. Gu Yi said she also wanted to understand, but it seemed like Liang Daiwen didn’t appreciate it. Old Shen kept trying to persuade Liang Daiwen. He suggested that Liang Daiwen should answer Gu Yi’s questions directly. He told Liang Daiwen not to ignore his feelings just because he didn’t know how to handle them.

Gu Yi pressed on Liang Daiwen's wound, applying pressure. She told him that she was also hurt, emotionally. Liang Daiwen wanted to explain, but Gu Yi cut him off, saying she wasn’t angry—just heartbroken. She went downstairs. Liang Daiwen suddenly felt like he didn’t have a home anymore.

Shen Zhimin watched as Liang Daiwen stood still, seemingly trying to reconstruct the image of his old home in his mind. Shen knew that Liang wanted to renovate his new house to resemble his old one, as that was the only way it would feel like home. After his thoughts were laid bare, Liang feigned composure and said he wasn’t used to his new place yet.

Shen, however, didn’t buy the excuse—it was obvious that what Liang missed wasn’t the house but Gu Yi. Having grown accustomed to Gu Yi’s presence, Liang was now forcing himself to push her away. Liang also knew deep down that his recent lack of appetite was because of Gu Yi. Shen wasn’t surprised by this. Previously, having Gu Yi around gave Liang a sense of normalcy, and thus he could eat. Now that she was gone, his anorexia had returned.

Shen believed that if Liang was struggling to adapt to his current life, it meant his body had already embraced the life he shared with Gu Yi. Shen advised Liang to follow his heart and accept his feelings for her. Gu Yi, meanwhile, was furious and wanted to leave because of President Zhang. Liang suspected that Zhang Qingya’s decision to reclaim her house wasn’t simple—it had to be a move to force Gu Yi out.

Shen disagreed, pointing out that Zhang was Liang’s senior and even a mentor of sorts. Despite this, he urged Liang to be cautious. Zhang Junjie noticed Gu Yi’s calmness and decided to have a conversation with her. He explained that the reason for not promoting her was to allow her to remain true to herself. He feared that being bound by an official position would rob her of her original vitality.

Guan Xingxin overheard President Huang complaining incessantly, and Zhang Junjie couldn’t help but retort. Left speechless, President Huang resorted to sending mocking text messages to Zhang behind his back. Yu Dule felt that Guan Xingxin was truly someone who resonated with his heart, to the point where he wanted to capture every moment of her walking.

Guan, a stand-up comedian, was constantly pressured by her family to attend matchmaking dates but couldn’t muster the courage to tell them she already had a boyfriend. She felt stifled by her family’s suffocating warmth and sometimes envied Gu Yi’s carefree lifestyle. Liang Daiwen couldn’t resist returning to his old house, haunted by memories of Gu Yi’s angry departure and the look of betrayal and hurt in her eyes. Those moments lingered vividly in his mind.

Gu Yi, lying in bed, reflected deeply, suspecting that she was the source of the pressure Liang had mentioned. At work, she couldn’t help but glance at messages from Liang. Yu Dule realized Gu Yi had approached him for help with her comedy performance. He also knew she wanted to win Liang back. Gu Yi asked Yu if he thought she didn’t fit Liang’s aesthetic preferences.

Xu Guanrui noticed Gu Yi’s sudden change in clothing style and couldn’t help but laugh. She wasn’t suited for high heels and rushed to take them off backstage, just as Xu walked in. Seeing Xu seriously tend to her injured feet, Gu Yi was touched. For a fleeting moment, Gu Yi almost thought she might fall for Xu Guanrui. He encouraged her to look further afield, suggesting there might be someone else worth noticing.

But Gu Yi merely said that the person she secretly loved was oblivious to her feelings, and she was willing to wait. Just then, Liang Daiwen appeared with an umbrella and saw Gu Yi and Xu chatting happily. Something in his heart felt off—a mix of complexity and displeasure that he couldn’t put into words. Gu Yi successfully rented a spacious new apartment. She reflected that while Liang Daiwen’s body seemed real, his soul felt empty.

Determined, she kept trying to understand what was going on in Liang’s mind, attempting to break through his emotional barriers. Liang, on the other hand, was conflicted, unsure of what to do next. He seemed to have made some progress with his emotional expression, finding himself speaking his thoughts aloud to a potted plant. Deep down, Liang missed Gu Yi terribly.

As the New Year approached, Gu Yi’s mother called to ask when her daughter would come home. However, Gu Yi couldn’t help but notice her mother’s penchant for vanity, as she was always wearing a face mask during their calls. Gu Yi wasn’t intentionally picking a fight; she was subconsciously avoiding certain issues. She even suspected her mother might be starting a new relationship, especially since someone was helping her fry fish. This piqued Gu Yi’s curiosity.

Her mother, noticing Gu Yi seemed troubled, pressed her for answers and eventually learned that Gu Yi had moved out of her previous home. Later, lying in bed, Gu Yi found herself missing Liang Daiwen’s couch—it was more comfortable than her own bed. Thoughts of Liang consumed her mind, making her feel as if she had been bewitched by him. Meanwhile, Gu Yi’s mother, after hanging up with her daughter, called Liang and even prepared some food for him.

Liang was stunned, noticing that Gu Yi’s mother seemed thinner. After the call, he suddenly felt he could express himself a bit more clearly. Gu Yi’s mother, unbeknownst to her, was hiding an illness. She kept urging her daughter to attend matchmaking events, hoping Gu Yi could find someone to rely on in the future. Gu Yi, oblivious to her mother’s condition, continued her days cheerfully.

On stage, Yu Dule encouraged Gu Yi to perform her best, hinting that there were familiar faces in the audience. Gu Yi was curious but received no further explanation. During her stand-up routine, she joked about not trusting drunk men’s words, subtly alluding to Liang Daiwen. Xu Guanrui confronted Gu Yi about her decision to look for Liang. He couldn’t understand why she would pursue someone so emotionally unavailable when he was there for her, ready to provide unwavering support.

Yet, Gu Yi rejected Xu without hesitation. Determined, she rushed home to see Liang but found the door locked. Liang, sitting in his car, felt a chill. He had prepared a gift for her but had left it outside in the cold, only for a motorcyclist to accidentally knock it over. Chasing after it, Liang found the cake ruined. Gu Yi, however, was delighted that Liang had gone to the trouble of buying her a cake to celebrate her birthday.

She jokingly asked if he had wrestled it from someone else, leaving Liang embarrassed. As Liang drunkenly vented his frustrations, Gu Yi suddenly realized she had never seen him this candid before. Liang paused, sensing a shift in himself. He confided to Gu Yi that he had started to feel emotions—he could now recognize unexplainable sadness and realized that Gu Yi had managed to influence his feelings.

Liang revealed that during his temporary blindness, he told Shen Zhimin he felt no connection to or desire for the outside world. But experiencing sunlight again had shown him how dark and lifeless his existence would be without it—a profound metaphor for Gu Yi’s impact on his life. Gu Yi felt disheartened when Liang couldn’t openly express his feelings, suggesting he change the lock code on his door.

Liang handed her a task from her mother, teasingly calling her a “stubborn mule,” which prompted Gu Yi to playfully bite him. Liang understood how deeply he had hurt Gu Yi but felt constrained by his emotional struggles, unable to commit to a relationship with someone so wonderful. Watching Liang walk away, Gu Yi couldn’t hold back her tears. Both turned their backs and walked in opposite directions.

Gu Yi realized she might never be able to warm the heart of a soulless shell. At work the next day, she was distracted, and Xu Guanrui covered for her. Guan Xingxin, noticing Gu Yi’s low spirits, suggested she do stand-up to vent her emotions. Gu Yi gave a stirring performance, deliberately engaging the audience to provoke Liang. Hesitating, Liang watched as Xu stepped in to rescue the situation.

Seeing Gu Yi’s exhaustion and the emotional toll on Liang, Xu felt conflicted. When Liang finally arrived, Xu, in an attempt to push him, directly challenged him. Finally, Liang admitted he truly liked Gu Yi.

Gu Yi woke up feeling that something was off. Seeing her clothes had been changed, she became furious, got out of bed, and confronted Liang Daiwen. However, Liang remained calm and insisted he hadn’t done anything inappropriate. Gu Yi accused him of being despicable, especially for acting indifferent while making such a bold claim. Liang explained that Gu Yi had been heavily intoxicated the previous night, so he had carried her home. He clarified that he hadn’t changed her clothes.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi examined her outfit again and her earlier aggression dissipated. Trying to hold her ground, she questioned why Liang hadn’t just taken her back to her own place. Liang, unbothered, replied that he had asked for her home’s passcode, but she was too drunk to answer, leaving him no choice but to bring her to his home. Looking around, Gu Yi noticed the room’s decor and realized Liang hadn’t moved out after all.

The layout mirrored their old home, a clear sign he still had lingering attachments to their shared past. With a smile masking her complicated feelings, Gu Yi left. Liang had an appointment with Professor Li Ai, while Gu Yi was absent-minded at work, unsure of what to do. Zhang Junjie was upset with Gu Yi for bypassing him and reporting directly to higher-ups. To make matters worse, Gu Yi realized she had committed a workplace taboo in front of others.

She quickly apologized to Zhang Junjie, promising to revise her submission. Yu Dule helped Gu Yi edit her work, though he, too, seemed out of sorts. Both shared the same struggles in their love lives, feeling like kindred spirits in their misfortunes. Yu joked about Gu Yi being too distracted, as she kept looking at her phone instead of focusing on work. While performing at a stand-up comedy event, Gu Yi spotted Liang Daiwen working as a bartender at the bar.

Liang, teasing her, unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the bite mark she had left, demanding she take responsibility. Just as he finished, Xu Guanrui arrived, and Liang cheekily showed him the bite mark as well. Xu thought to himself that Liang seemed even more mischievous than most people, sometimes acting like a bigger troublemaker than usual. Xu asked Gu Yi why she continued to endure such a difficult relationship when she could choose someone warm and reliable, like himself.

Gu Yi gave no definitive response, only admitting that she seemed incapable of letting go of Liang. Gu Yi visited her mother, only to learn that Liang Daiwen planned to drop by as well. Worried Liang would criticize her messy room, she hastily tidied up. When she discovered Liang had installed surveillance cameras near her home, she suspected he intended to monitor her. Liang firmly denied having such sinister intentions.

He explained that he was worried someone might be stalking her, even leaving a pair of men’s shoes outside her door as a deterrent. Gu Yi told Guan Xingxin about Liang’s recent odd behavior. Guan joked that stolen sweets always taste better. Gu Yi, however, seriously pointed out that Liang didn’t even like sweets. Later, during her comedy set, Gu Yi humorously referred to Liang as a "scoundrel," a joke that visibly annoyed him.

Gu Yi told Liang that if their conversations continued to feel so cold and distant, even couples would break up immediately. Liang immediately adjusted his attitude, becoming more engaged. At work, Gu Yi noticed colleagues staring at her, assuming something was wrong with her face. When collaborating on tasks, she was set up by her coworkers and had to redo the work, staying late to fix it.

Despite these challenges, Gu Yi found herself delighted to exchange a few words with Liang each time she returned home. These small moments brought her unexpected joy. One night, Liang dreamed about his childhood, but before he could fully immerse himself, Gu Yi woke him up. Through the surveillance camera, Gu Yi confessed her feelings to Liang. She admitted that moving out of their shared home had left her with a sense of loss and discomfort.

Life without him, she said, felt incomplete. Hearing Liang finally respond, Gu Yi felt a surge of happiness. While playing frisbee with friends, Gu Yi was accidentally hit by a flying disc. Despite the small mishap, her spirits remained high.

Gu Yi was hit in the tooth by a frisbee, losing a tooth and being sent to the hospital. Outside, Liang Daiwen seemed deeply troubled, his emotions heavy, though he was unaware of how apparent this was to others. Guan Xingxin noticed his unease but chose not to comment. Later, Gu Yi prepared grilled meat for Liang, who reluctantly ate it. Despite his inner turmoil, Liang thoughtfully wiped Gu Yi's hands.

Gu Yi suddenly felt touched by his attentiveness and, hearing him share stories from his difficult childhood, encouraged him to move on from the past and start anew. Gu Yi secretly took out the tooth she had just lost and vowed to herself that no matter how hard it was to pursue Liang, she would persist. That night, Liang and Gu Yi kissed.

As they made their way home, Liang felt as though he were dreaming, finally aware of a nervous excitement he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Before leaving the company, Liang was pressured by President Zhang into signing a contract that Zhang intended to use against him later. Although Liang initially refused, Zhang threatened him by involving Roger. Confused and frustrated, Liang didn’t understand why his senior insisted on clinging to him so tightly.

To keep Gu Yi safe, Liang called Roger, pretending his relationship with Gu Yi was just a bet he had with Shen Zhimin, dismissing its significance. At the same time, he discussed countermeasures with Shen and announced his plan to leave the country for treatment. Shen, surprised by Liang’s sudden cooperation, noted that Liang had previously been resistant to the idea. Liang admitted that he now had someone he cared about and couldn’t take risks.

At work, Gu Yi couldn’t stop herself from thinking about Liang and even wanted to call him. She appeared unusually cheerful, which made Zhang Junjie suspicious. Zhang wondered why President Zhang insisted that Gu Yi attend the day’s meeting. Gu Yi, oblivious, didn’t think much of it until she saw Liang sitting beside President Zhang at the meeting. Liang appeared expressionless, answering reporters’ questions with a blank face and showing no reaction toward Gu Yi.

When Zhang used Liang’s professional reputation to pressure him into taking the blame for a scandal, Gu Yi overheard and found it outrageous. Despite knowing the accusations were unfounded, Liang chose to shoulder the blame, much to Gu Yi’s disappointment. Unable to understand his silence, she left the meeting and confronted Liang. However, Liang dismissed her concerns, stating there was no need for such efforts between them and that they should simply go back to being friends.

Hurt and confused, Gu Yi wondered what she had done to deserve being abandoned so ruthlessly time and again. At times, she even suspected Liang was deliberately toying with her emotions. Seeing Liang’s indifferent demeanor, she slapped him and left. Zhang Junjie, noticing her distress, comforted her, though it was clear Gu Yi had reverted to the disheartened state she thought she’d left behind. Later, President Zhang visited Gu Yi’s company and specifically requested her for an interview.

Gu Yi felt Zhang’s actions against Liang were unjust and questioned him, but Zhang’s ambiguous responses only deepened her doubts. Determined, Gu Yi asked Xu Guanrui to help her find Liang. When she met Liang, he revealed his decision to go abroad. Although Gu Yi didn’t want him to leave, Liang firmly insisted on the necessity of his departure. He admitted he wasn’t worthy of Gu Yi in his current state.

Gu Yi, now disheartened, told him that it no longer mattered where he went, as it had nothing to do with her anymore. Liang, realizing how deeply he had hurt her, felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. In truth, Liang had approached Zhang Junjie to report himself for plagiarism, hoping to sever President Zhang’s control over him. He was even willing to ruin his own reputation to gain freedom. Deep in his heart, Liang vowed to achieve something significant and return to Gu Yi as a better man.

After collecting her emotions, Gu Yi looked in the mirror and prepared for work. On her way out, she passed by the surveillance camera and unplugged it. She considered herself someone who always retaliated against harm and never gave those who hurt her a second chance. Since her heartbreak, Gu Yi had thrown herself entirely into her work. Watching her, Xu Guanrui felt a pang of sympathy. Zhang Junjie, aware of her emotional struggles, advised her to take things easier.

He paired Gu Yi and Xu Guanrui as a team for their next project, encouraging her to give her best and leave the rest to fate. President Huang encouraged Guan Xingxin to let down her guard and embrace new opportunities with an open heart. He told her to simply be herself without trying to adopt any particular persona. Guan felt inspired and started to seriously consider returning to the spotlight.

Xu Guanrui comforted Gu Yi, saying that love wasn’t about right or wrong. Sometimes, you simply don’t resonate with the wrong person, but there are always others around you. Gu Yi seemed to relax, her emotional knot loosening. Seeing her regain her former energy, Xu felt genuinely happy. Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin wrestled with doubts about her manager’s advice. She thought about discussing it with Gu Yi but held back when she noticed Gu Yi was feeling down.

Guan Xingxin later informed Gu Yi that the plagiarism scandal involving Liang Daiwen was rapidly spreading online, with many people boycotting him. She added that Liang had rushed back to Dalian because his father had suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage. Although Liang made it just in time to see his father, the man survived after emergency treatment. Liang had been struggling during this period, barely eating in the hospital. Hearing this, Gu Yi froze, her thoughts a whirlwind.

She borrowed an electric bike from Yu Dule to clear her mind by riding around, only to be stopped by traffic police, who confiscated the bike. Xu Guanrui came to her rescue, and Gu Yi laughed through tears, feeling like she was becoming someone entirely different from her carefree old self. Later, at a fountain, Gu Yi played around and dragged Xu into the fun. The two laughed and played until Gu Yi felt her mood lighten.

Still, she couldn’t resist plugging the surveillance camera back in and speaking to Liang Daiwen through it, offering him comfort. She reflected on her feelings for Liang, comparing them to her newly implanted ceramic tooth—a strange new experience. She claimed not to want any further ties with him, but deep down, she knew that the real separation would only come when Liang left her life completely.

Gu Yi likened her turbulent love for Liang to a flood—a disaster that had gradually drained her affection. At the hospital, Liang sat near his father but didn’t know how to face this estranged man. Inside, Liang still harbored resentment toward him. He recalled when his mother was rushed into surgery and didn’t survive. Liang, just ten at the time, was told to “please accept condolences” by the doctors. He vividly remembered looking up at his father’s unnervingly calm face.

Liang had always wanted to know the truth about how his mother died. Yu Dule took care of Gu Yi when she came down with a fever. She admitted to him that heartbreak left a lingering ache and that living carefree might be better. Yu Dule argued that love wasn’t essential to life and that quickly detaching from it was the best way to prioritize oneself.

When Yu returned from buying groceries, he found Gu Yi sobbing uncontrollably in front of the surveillance camera, mourning Liang. She felt utterly useless. However, during her feverish state, Gu Yi had drawn comics that went viral online. Zhang Junjie informed her that if she continued down this creative path, a promotion to deputy director might not be out of reach. President Huang, impressed by her drawings, teased her about them. Gu Yi, irritated, found him insufferable.

The New Year arrived, bringing joy and celebration everywhere. Everyone went home for the holiday, including Gu Yi. As soon as Gu Yi got home, she saw her mother carrying some groceries on the street. The two of them greeted each other like close friends. Guan Xingxin also came home with Gu Yi for the New Year. Gu Yi’s mother was delighted and prepared a large table of food to welcome her daughter and her friends.

Gu Yi and Yu Dule were amused by Gu Yi's mother’s witty remarks and immediately pulled out their phones to record them. Gu Yi’s mother found the two kids adorable and quickly urged them to try her cooking. Meanwhile, Xu Guanrui messaged Gu Yi, inviting her out for a meal. While Gu Yi’s mother drank with Yu Dule, Xu arrived. Gu Yi’s mother warmly welcomed him, expressing her hopes for her daughter to find a boyfriend.

Xu Guanrui, with his polite and humble demeanor, easily won Gu Yi’s mother’s approval. When Gu Yi’s mother pretended to hit her daughter, Xu instinctively tried to shield Gu Yi, further impressing her mother. Liang Daiwen, on the other hand, saw his father happily interacting with his stepmother, making him feel like an outsider. Without looking back, he chose to leave. Despite it being the New Year, Gu Yi couldn’t stop thinking about Liang Daiwen.

Meanwhile, Liang visited his mother’s grave and recalled what his father had told him: his mother had been gravely ill before her death and had chosen suicide. For years, Liang had harbored resentment, but he now felt he might have blamed the wrong person. At the grave, Liang told his mother he had decided to pursue a different path in life. Gu Yi and her friends decided to play an escape room game.

Gu Yi was terrified from the start, but her mother remained calm and led everyone through the challenges. Everyone marveled at how brave she was, managing to outwit the NPCs on her own. In truth, Gu Yi’s mother was suffering from a serious illness. While playing the game, she couldn’t help but open up emotionally while interacting with the game characters.

She shared that she had spent the first half of her life working hard to raise her daughter, but she regretted not spending enough time with her. This realization weighed heavily on her heart. Liang Daiwen later met Shen Zhimin and expressed his desire to start a new chapter in life. Yu Dule and Gu Yi planned to grab a drink together.

During their conversation, Yu revealed that their business, Ounce, was on the verge of collapse due to major losses. The bar had been relying on alcohol sales, but the revenue wasn’t enough to keep it afloat. This left Gu Yi feeling disheartened, but Yu encouraged her to look forward to new goals in the coming year. Guan Xingxin later teased Liang Daiwen, saying that if he didn’t recover and return soon, Xu Guanrui might steal Gu Yi’s heart.

Liang immediately felt a sense of urgency. Gu Yi’s mother commented that although Xu Guanrui seemed meticulous and thoughtful, he might not be the right match for her daughter. She acknowledged that Liang Daiwen was more reserved, but she believed he was the one Gu Yi truly loved. She felt it was important for her daughter to be with someone she genuinely cared about, and as a mother, she wouldn’t support a relationship without love.

Gu Yi herself was unsure if Liang Daiwen would ever return. Meanwhile, Liang decided to collaborate with a like-minded teacher to return to Donghai and continue building their business. Liang shared that his mother had lost her will to live after losing her legs, which led her to choose suicide. This inspired him to work on barrier-free designs, hoping to help people with disabilities find hope in life again.

Guan Xingxin had guessed that Yu Dule was about to confess his feelings, leaving her somewhat unsettled. She later confided in Gu Yi, sharing that as a child, she had been adopted by her godparents due to corneal issues. Over the years, they had imposed many restrictions on her, and she had come to rely on them. Guan felt like her only purpose was to fulfill their expectations of a daughter, leaving no room for her own aspirations.

Gu Yi was deeply moved by Guan’s story. Gu Yi returned to the place where she and Liang Daiwen had once lived. The familiarity of it all overwhelmed her, but she forced herself to stay composed, determined to forget everything tied to that chapter of her life. Yu Dule had planned a surprise, but a sudden power outage in the remote town seemed to ruin everything.

Guan Xingxin initially thought the surprise had fallen apart, but Yu had prepared so much for her that she didn’t know how to respond. In the end, she accepted his confession. Gu Yi watched the two from a distance, feeling like a third wheel, and quietly left. Meanwhile, Liang Daiwen sadly watched Gu Yi’s words and actions through the surveillance footage, his heart filled with sorrow.

When Gu Yi returned home, she found her mother chatting happily with Uncle Yun and suspected they might be in a relationship. Her mother, noticing Gu Yi’s arrival, hurriedly sent Uncle Yun away. Gu Yi thought her mother’s behavior was unusual—talking about love and even taking the initiative to get a health check-up. Feeling reassured, Gu Yi went to take a shower, unaware of her mother’s hidden condition.

In reality, Gu Yi’s mother was aware that her illness had worsened, but she chose not to tell her daughter. Instead, she planned to leave quietly. Zhang Junjie mentioned that they still hadn’t found the right person for the advertisement, so they should prepare plans in advance to familiarize everyone with the materials. He assured them that the rest of the work would proceed as scheduled, though the team felt overwhelmed by the workload.

Xu Guanrui advised Gu Yi not to work herself to exhaustion like Zhang Junjie. Gu Yi then performed a stand-up comedy set, joking about how she recently took on an advertisement for a real estate project—a job she felt completely unqualified for. She shared with the audience that their stand-up performances were coming to an end, leaving everyone disheartened.

Gu Yi explained that their small theater had always struggled, and now even Uncle Lu was deep in debt, borrowing money to make ends meet. Gu Yi admitted that her side jobs were meant to gather material for her performances, but now that she had enough material, the stage was gone. The crowd grew somber hearing this. Feeling down, Gu Yi was comforted by Xu Guanrui, who had been by her side during her tough days.

Grateful for his support, Gu Yi thanked him. At that moment, Xu Guanrui confessed his feelings for her. Just as Gu Yi was about to respond, she noticed that Liang Daiwen had returned. Gu Yi felt a mix of emotions—frustrated that Liang Daiwen treated her so flippantly, coming and going as he pleased, expecting her to wait for him whenever he decided to return.

Liang Daiwen couldn’t understand why Gu Yi rejected him so coldly after he came back in good spirits. Gu Yi’s mother decided to have a chat with Liang, and he happily agreed. Determined to win Gu Yi back, Liang even sought advice from his colleagues. Gu Yi later told Yu Dule and Guan Xingxin about Liang Daiwen’s return and how it coincided with Xu Guanrui’s confession, leaving her with complicated feelings.

Yu Dule advised her not to dwell on the past or make a U-turn in her decisions. While chatting, Gu Yi stumbled upon a video of Liang Daiwen online. His stylish demeanor captivated her, and the video garnered a lot of positive reactions. Gu Yi found herself watching the video repeatedly on her way to work every day. Gu Yi’s mother visited Liang Daiwen, and to her surprise, Liang recognized the taste of her cooking.

He reminisced about his childhood when his mother, despite her struggles in a wheelchair, rarely cooked for him. Gu Yi’s mother initially thought her daughter was immature but realized that Liang Daiwen, too, was stubborn and clueless about compromise. Liang confessed that after his mother passed, he felt like an emotionless machine, drained of energy. Gu Yi’s mother kindly offered to be his second mother.

However, Liang declined, saying he couldn’t accept her as his mother until Gu Yi forgave him. One night, Gu Yi spoke to Liang Daiwen through the surveillance camera, asking if he would leave again this time or if he intended to stay. Her feelings were conflicted, and she didn’t know what to do. During a meeting with Zhang Junjie, Gu Yi unexpectedly received numerous deliveries, all accompanied by sweet notes. The entire office quickly caught on to the situation.

Furious, Gu Yi called Liang Daiwen to confront him, but Liang justified his actions, claiming she had ignored him and left him no choice. Gu Yi became annoyed seeing Liang trying to act cool in front of her. Liang asked what he could do to make her forgive him. Just as Gu Yi considered letting go of her anger, she spotted a woman coming out of Liang’s office, and her smile vanished instantly.

Liang was shocked when Gu Yi told him she wouldn’t give up, thinking he might have misheard her. Meanwhile, Gu Yi’s mother continued to hide her worsening illness from her daughter. Gu Yi began to feel that Liang Daiwen had changed, becoming too polished, as though he no longer belonged in her world. At the same time, Guan Xingxin was stunned when her adoptive parents unexpectedly showed up.

Xu Guanrui called Gu Yi, asking her to help pick up a package, explaining that he had strained his back and couldn’t return to the office. When Gu Yi arrived, Xu expressed that he had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to confess to her in the most ideal way. However, what Xu didn’t expect was that as Gu Yi saw the starry setup he had prepared, her thoughts drifted to Liang Daiwen. Without hesitation, she rejected Xu’s confession.

Feeling deeply hurt, Xu realized that despite all his efforts, Gu Yi still chose Liang Daiwen. He told her that he would continue to stay by her side as an older brother figure and promised to always be there for her if she needed him. Gu Yi, however, was very clear about who she truly loved, which is why her rejection was so decisive. Liang Daiwen took Gu Yi to his company, introducing her to all his team members and partners.

Gu Yi was stunned when Liang openly admitted, in front of everyone, that he liked her. The people around them couldn’t help but feel like they had been fed a mouthful of “dog food. ” Liang shone brightly on stage, impressing the reporters with his presentation on technology, which they found refreshingly innovative. After finishing his speech, Liang returned to his room only to find it covered in rose petals, making him feel something was amiss.

He quickly called his assistant, who revealed that the setup was specially prepared for Gu Yi. Feeling flustered, Liang resorted to drinking a bottle of alcohol to muster the courage to face her. Drunk and emboldened, Liang stumbled over to Gu Yi, acting like a "dominant CEO," claiming to be a robot he had transformed, complete with thoughts and emotions.

As Liang leaned closer to Gu Yi, she felt uneasy, but he merely traced her eyebrows with his hand and then pretended his empty bottle was a phone, repeatedly “calling” her. Liang drunkenly begged Gu Yi not to accept Xu Guanrui’s confession and then took her to a restaurant, where he bombarded her with cheesy pickup lines. Gu Yi felt embarrassed, especially with the other patrons enthusiastically cheering them on.

She later discovered that Liang had been searching online for ways to make her happy and had even written her heartfelt letters. This made her realize that Liang had genuinely changed. Seeing how seriously he responded to her words, Gu Yi began to believe he might be sincere this time. Liang told Gu Yi that all he wanted now was to be with her. As they leaned in for a kiss, Liang unexpectedly fell asleep halfway through.

Back at home, Gu Yi’s mother questioned her. Unable to hide it any longer, Gu Yi confessed that she still loved Liang Daiwen but assured her mother that she wouldn’t cling to him as stubbornly as before. Meanwhile, their stand-up comedy performances continued in a new venue, still drawing a large audience. On stage, Gu Yi joked about her recent heartbreak, even mentioning a serious illness she had experienced. Liang Daiwen listened attentively, feeling a deep pain in his heart.

After the show, he immediately sought her out. Gu Yi explained that she hadn’t meant for things to turn out this way and asked for forgiveness. She admitted that her sadness wasn’t about the events themselves but about feeling like a disposable object, discarded at will, with no sense of security. Hearing this, Liang broke down in tears, finally understanding the depths of sorrow. Gu Yi soon became a top editor-in-chief.

Inspired by hearing her boss’s story of love, she realized her own love life couldn’t be handled so casually. She believed that material circumstances shouldn’t dictate their decisions and resolved to approach her relationship more thoughtfully. Meanwhile, Zhang Junjie got drunk and ran into Gu Yi. To her shock, he was stumbling around, hugging two women on the street. Unsure of where Zhang lived, Gu Yi struggled to deal with the clearly intoxicated man.

Liang Daiwen told Gu Yi’s mother about a careless remark he had made to Gu Yi in the past, implying that she was as easy to discard as a stray cat. This had caused a misunderstanding and hurt Gu Yi deeply. Her mother, now understanding why her daughter hadn’t forgiven Liang, thought his words were indeed too harsh. Liang earnestly asked for advice on how to make things right, admitting that he felt emotionally numb.

Gu Yi’s mother remarked that Liang was like a child—naive and short-sighted, but pure at heart and someone who could be trusted with her daughter’s happiness. Gu Yi and Yu Dule managed to drag Zhang Junjie to the stand-up comedy venue. However, Zhang, still drunk, kept causing a scene, vomiting and driving both of them to their wits' end.

After throwing up again, Zhang suddenly sobered up enough to lament that he had no friends before passing out on a chair. Soon after, President Huang arrived to take him away. After finishing her errands, Gu Yi returned home to find her mother and Liang Daiwen drunkenly singing together. Despite their intoxicated state, the scene was heartwarming and filled Gu Yi with happiness. Liang found her mother adorable, happily playing along with her jokes about him being a "robot.

" The two were chatting animatedly. Gu Yi, watching Liang lean against her shoulder, felt a mix of emotions. The next morning, when Zhang Junjie sobered up, she felt embarrassed to see her ex-husband. Though reluctant, she awkwardly accepted his concern. However, Zhang lashed out at him with sharp words, recounting the painful memories of having to terminate a pregnancy under pressure from her mother-in-law, which eventually led to their divorce despite their deep love for each other.

Holding back tears, she left. Meanwhile, as Gu Yi was leaving for work, Liang Daiwen hugged her tightly, pleading for forgiveness. Caught off guard, Gu Yi felt embarrassed, especially when her mother witnessed the scene. Guan Xingxin was about to head out when her adoptive parents stopped her, firmly insisting that she stay home. Though they didn’t explicitly forbid her from leaving, their tone was unyielding. Knowing her adoptive mother’s controlling nature, Guan had no choice but to retreat quietly.

At home, Liang Daiwen was working on his art, while Gu Yi’s mother went for a medical follow-up and discovered her condition had worsened, leaving her with only six months to live. She endured the physical pain, determined to ensure her daughter’s future happiness. On a whim, she entered a shoe store and decided to buy herself a new pair of high heels.

Xu Guanrui vented to Zhang Junjie about how unreasonable Guan Xingxin’s adoptive mother was, mentioning setbacks in their advertising campaign despite their hard work. Zhang Junjie, who secretly admired Gu Yi, was invited by her to join her for a barbecue. During the meal, Zhang confided that there was no chance of reconciling with President Huang.

She disliked his controlling nature and declared that if she ever got drunk again, she didn’t want him to be the one to take her home. Zhang encouraged Gu Yi to boldly pursue her career goals without relying on anyone. Later, when Gu Yi was about to head home, it started raining heavily. Liang Daiwen suddenly appeared, surprising her.

The two walked together through the streets, and Gu Yi noticed that Liang seemed to have changed—he was more expressive and open about his emotions. When he moved closer, Gu Yi instinctively backed away, but Liang reassured her, saying he had promised her mother not to act impulsively. Then, as if discovering a new world, Liang suddenly confessed his feelings, leaving Gu Yi momentarily stunned.

Gu Yi was taken aback when her mother announced she wanted to transfer the house to her. Although Gu Yi felt something was off, she didn’t realize her mother’s condition had worsened. The next day, Gu Yi planned to take her mother back to their hometown in the Northeast. Upon learning this, Liang tried to express his reluctance to be left behind, feigning a pitiful look to convince Gu Yi to let him join them. Gu Yi initially refused but eventually gave in after her mother insisted on taking Liang along.

Liang Daiwen accompanied Gu Yi and her mother back to their hometown. Along the way, the villagers warmly welcomed them. Gu Yi happily introduced her relatives to Liang. When Liang arrived at Gu Yi’s house and saw pictures of her childhood, he couldn’t help but feel deeply drawn to her. Gu Yi shared that her father had divorced her mother when she was young due to an affair, even having children with someone else.

Seeing Liang gently pat her head with a sorrowful expression, Gu Yi reassured him that she had long moved past it and didn’t mind anymore. During dinner, Gu Yi’s mother suggested they were like a family of three, which made Gu Yi uncomfortable but secretly pleased Liang, who eagerly drank all the wine her mother poured.

Liang shared a childhood memory of his mother, who had been confined to a wheelchair, and his father, who sleepwalked at night, being startled awake by his mother banging a basin nearby. Gu Yi’s mother finally understood why Liang was attracted to her daughter, joking that their families both seemed to have a masochistic streak. While Gu Yi was folding blankets, Liang caught sight of her and found her actions unexpectedly adorable.

Later, Gu Yi’s mother bought Liang a shaving kit, which delighted him. Liang expressed a desire to revisit Gu Yi’s childhood hangouts, believing her mother must have been quite adventurous in her youth. He proposed taking her on an outing the next day. During the outing, Gu Yi noticed her mother was particularly fond of Liang and felt a bit jealous.

That night, while Gu Yi was showering, her mother shared all of Gu Yi’s preferences with Liang, who carefully jotted them down in a notebook. Gu Yi’s mother asked Liang to open up about his family, insisting that her daughter shouldn’t be the only one revealing everything while Liang kept secrets. Liang disclosed that his mother had suffered from cancer when he was young but had kept it from the family, eventually choosing to take her own life slowly.

This revelation left Gu Yi’s mother shaken, realizing how painful Liang’s childhood must have been. With tears in her eyes, she told Liang that her daughter hadn’t lived a life of luxury either and urged him to treat Gu Yi well in the future. Liang and Gu Yi shared a kiss. Gu Yi’s mother, meanwhile, assigned her daughter all the household repair tasks, hoping to foster her independence.

However, neither Gu Yi nor Liang knew what they were doing, turning the house into a chaotic mess. Her mother, amused, urged Liang to develop their relationship further, even throwing in phrases like “slow and steady wins the race,” which Liang took literally. At night, Gu Yi’s mother often endured severe pain, but one evening, she noticed Liang amusing himself with peculiar antics while trying to be helpful.

She found it so funny that she recorded it on her phone, only for Liang to get startled when he noticed her. Gu Yi’s mother teased that Liang was clueless about the meaning behind “slow and steady wins the race. ” Early the next morning, she dragged Gu Yi to join her for square dancing. Liang took the opportunity to show off his “masculine charm,” trying to catch Gu Yi’s attention.

To be honest, Gu Yi found Liang’s behavior endearing, though she hadn’t expected him to playfully nibble her. Gu Yi and Liang shared joyful times together. Her mother, seeing their growing bond, felt reassured. The three of them took many photos together, capturing their happy moments. Gu Yi’s mother even performed an er ren zhuan (a traditional Chinese comedic folk duet) for them, making Gu Yi feel like her mother was reliving her youth.

Later, Gu Yi’s mother handed her the property deeds to two houses, jokingly telling her that if she and Liang ever broke up, she could “crush him with money. ” Gu Yi couldn’t help but laugh at her mother’s boldness. Her mother also advised her not to change her plans for anyone and to carefully choose a life partner. If things didn’t work out, she reminded Gu Yi that it was okay to part ways.

Despite the lighthearted moments, Gu Yi began to notice her mother behaving a bit strangely and couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Yu Dule came to find Gu Yi, his face full of emotion. Gu Yi could tell that something was bothering him. After mentioning it to her mother, she went out to speak with him. Yu Dule asked Gu Yi to help him figure out what was going on with Guan Xingxin. He wanted to know why she suddenly insisted on breaking up with him and avoided seeing him. Gu Yi speculated that Guan Xingxin must have something she couldn’t easily explain.

Yu Dule expressed that in a relationship, the two of them should face difficulties together rather than avoiding each other. He was frustrated, not even knowing what he might have done wrong. Watching Yu Dule walk away, Gu Yi could see how upset he was. Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin was having dinner with her adoptive parents, who imposed strict rules on her. They controlled everything, even her phone calls and outings.

Guan Xingxin resented their constraints but felt unable to defy them because she owed them. When they criticized her friends as bad influences, she couldn’t hold back and retorted that it was their behavior that had driven her to this point. After that, she stormed out, feeling suffocated. When Yu Dule finally saw Guan Xingxin again, he didn’t know what to say. The distance between them felt like an insurmountable gulf, making them seem like strangers.

Guan Xingxin admitted that she didn’t want to stay at home anymore and suggested living with him instead. Yu Dule, however, said he was emotionally drained and couldn’t give her the support she needed. Guan Xingxin realized that their relationship was growing increasingly distant. Liang Daiwen dreamt again about the time his mother passed away. When he woke, he sensed something was wrong. Gu Yi’s mother had been acting strangely, and her words seemed off.

After Gu Yi returned to work following her vacation, Liang began spending more time with her mother, noticing her peculiar behavior. One day, he found her laughing alone at a potted plant. Liang tried sharing his own experiences, hoping to dissuade her from considering any drastic actions. Gu Yi’s mother, however, made Liang promise not to let her daughter know about any of this.

When Gu Yi learned that her mother had been hospitalized, she discovered it was due to breast cancer. She struggled to accept it and asked the doctors if there might have been a misdiagnosis. Her mother, aware of Gu Yi’s difficulty in coping, insisted on accepting reality. She explained that the illness was incurable and she didn’t want Gu Yi to spend a fortune on treatments.

Instead of prolonging her life with medication that would leave her bedridden, she preferred to face each day with a positive spirit. Liang Daiwen comforted Gu Yi, who suddenly realized that her mother’s actions—bringing her back to their hometown and giving her the savings passbook—had all been signs she had overlooked. Gu Yi blamed herself for not noticing sooner. She recalled that when she first saw the medical report, she only asked briefly about it instead of looking closer.

Liang empathized, sharing that he had felt similarly when his own mother passed away, realizing too late what was happening. Gu Yi’s mother then took the stage for a stand-up comedy performance, determined to live her life to the fullest before leaving this world. She even joked about going on a honeymoon tour. Liang Daiwen, meanwhile, kept calling Gu Yi on the surveillance monitor until she relented and stepped out, only to be “forced” by him to have a meal together.

Guan Xingxin asked Liang Daiwen to help her deal with her mother, who had become obsessed with arranging blind dates for her. Guan felt completely lost about what to do next. Meanwhile, Gu Yi waited for her mother’s calls, trying to maintain her best mood to encourage her. Despite facing a terminal illness, Gu Yi’s mother stayed remarkably optimistic, confronting each day with courage. Liang Daiwen, moved by her resilience, wanted to capture her essence in a painting, preserving her strength and spirit on canvas.

President Huang shamelessly left Guan Xingxin at his ex-wife Zhang Junjie’s home. Zhang Junjie wanted to refuse, saying it wasn’t her responsibility, but seeing her ex-husband leave immediately, she had no choice but to look back at Guan Xingxin in the house. Guan Xingxin felt awkward and looked around to ease the tension.

Zhang Junjie stated that she wasn’t used to living with others and insisted that Guan Xingxin should leave as soon as she found a new place, so neither of them would be uncomfortable. Guan Xingxin explained that she had fallen out with her family and had no money. She promised to move out as soon as she secured housing. Listening quietly, Zhang Junjie couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

She muttered to herself that she should’ve saved some money before running away from home. The next morning, as she left for work, Zhang Junjie asked her ex-husband to help find housing for Guan Xingxin, hoping to get rid of this "hot potato" and stop wasting her time. President Huang arranged a meeting between Guan Xingxin and a director. When Guan saw the director, she thought Huang was joking with her and angrily tried to leave.

To her surprise, the director approached her, saying all she had to do was play the romantic lead since the rest was scripted. After considering her financial situation, Guan Xingxin reluctantly agreed. Gu Yi told Liang Daiwen she planned to stay home to wait for her mother, wanting to see her the moment she returned. Watching Liang lying on her sofa, just as he used to, Gu Yi couldn’t help but smile.

Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin struggled with indecision and asked Zhang Junjie for advice on whether she should join the variety show. Zhang Junjie bluntly pointed out that since Guan Xingxin had accepted the environment provided by her adoptive parents, she couldn’t fully escape their psychological pressure and had no choice but to compromise rather than confront them. Zhang Junjie shared that she had a similarly overbearing aunt but admitted she couldn’t teach others how to handle such situations.

Zhang suggested using public perception to make the show meaningful and gradually breaking free from her current life as people gained understanding. Curious, Guan Xingxin asked Zhang Junjie how she and President Huang ended their marriage. Zhang Junjie recalled catching her ex-husband with another woman shortly after she became pregnant. She decisively divorced him and had to terminate the pregnancy because the child couldn’t have been born healthy.

Now, Guan Xingxin began to understand why Zhang Junjie appeared cold on the outside but was soft-hearted within. Gu Yi discovered that Liang Daiwen was sleepwalking. She tried to guide him back to bed, but he instinctively ran off. That night, Gu Yi also dreamed—of her mother dancing in her youth. Waking up to Liang’s voice, she hugged him tightly.

Instead of going to work, Gu Yi went to a quiet place and sang the songs her mother used to sing. She deeply missed her mother and regretted not learning the duet songs her mother loved. Later, Gu Yi’s mother called her, singing softly to lull her daughter to sleep while holding back a flood of emotions. Guan Xingxin decided to stay and take care of Gu Yi.

At night, Liang Daiwen, still prone to sleepwalking, ended up sharing Gu Yi’s bed. Xu Guanrui tried to comfort Gu Yi, but he couldn’t understand the depth of her sorrow. Gu Yi lamented that some regrets could never be resolved. She felt that only she and Liang Daiwen could understand such feelings because they had both endured similar experiences. Liang Daiwen’s condition worsened, and he struggled to control his emotions. He called his boss, requesting a few days off.

Yu Dule found Liang’s sleepwalking unsettling. Meanwhile, Gu Yi heard that Zhang Qingya had taken over a new property. Her expression shifted but she said nothing. Lately, Gu Yi often woke up in the night thinking of her mother. One evening, finding Liang Daiwen gone and unable to reach him by phone, she grew worried. She sought out Shen Zhimin, who explained that Liang might be trying to sort out his emotions alone, not wanting to burden others.

Shen also revealed that Liang had been deeply scarred by failing to save his mother in the hospital corridor years ago. This guilt and sorrow had weighed on him ever since. Hearing this, Gu Yi suddenly realized where Liang Daiwen might be.

Gu Yi knew that Liang Daiwen would eventually call her. She also understood that Liang, aware of the severity of his condition, was likely avoiding her on purpose. When Liang called, he apologized for being out of touch while staying at his mother’s grave and promised to return after finishing his painting. Gu Yi reassured him, saying she would wait for him to come back. Liang Daiwen was curious about how his father had managed to find him.

Despite the years of resentment he harbored, he realized it wasn’t something that could easily dissipate with a few words. Seeing his father continuously apologize and admit his mistake in thinking that remarrying would reduce the harm to a child, Liang began to feel conflicted. His father’s tears struck a chord in his heart, stirring emotions he wasn’t sure how to process.

After completing a painting of his late wife’s expression, Liang’s father handed it to him and left hastily, looking disheartened. As his father turned to leave, Liang Daiwen finally acknowledged him, softly calling out, “Dad. ”Liang Daiwen returned to his childhood home and noticed that his childhood room was still intact. Memories of the time he spent with his mother came flooding back. In the room, he found a package.

His father explained it was a birthday gift left for him by his mother. Deep in thought, Liang opened the package and read a letter from his mother. Though she had never met Gu Yi, her description of the girl was strikingly accurate. Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin was preparing to participate in a reality dating show. Torn between wanting her boyfriend not to misunderstand and ensuring the show proceeded smoothly, she struggled with her emotions.

She sent Yu Dule her location, but he was too busy to notice the message. President Huang reassured Guan Xingxin, promising to find her a suitable boyfriend from the show. He also mentioned there were three male contestants, at least one of whom would surely be a good match for her. Huang added that given Guan’s troubled upbringing, meeting these men was a better opportunity than attending matchmaking events in the park.

Infuriated by his words, Guan stormed out, only to unexpectedly run into her boyfriend. Gu Yi noticed how unwell her mother seemed and gently encouraged her to lie down and video call her instead. The mother and daughter quietly stayed on the video call, finding comfort in each other's presence. Guan Xingxin grew frustrated as Yu Dule remained silent and didn’t ask her anything.

She expressed to him that her current actions were an effort to break free from her family’s control and succeed in building a life together with him. Yu Dule felt a heavy weight in his heart and suggested meeting her parents, but Guan insisted there was no need. Gu Yi lay under the bed, gazing at the starry sky until she dozed off. When she noticed Liang Daiwen had returned, she finally came out.

Liang promised Gu Yi that no matter what happened in the future, he would always stay by her side. Back at home, Yu Dule sent a message in a group chat, looking for side jobs to earn extra money and provide a better life for his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Liang Daiwen tried calling Guan Xingxin, but she didn’t answer. Xu Guanrui was surprised when Liang reached out to him to talk.

Riding his beloved motorcycle, Xu took Liang on a fast ride through the streets. As they sped along, Liang held onto Xu tightly. Xu felt that Liang’s apology sounded robotic and thought he was a bit odd—too mechanical in their interactions. Still, Xu advised Liang to make up his mind about giving Gu Yi a stable home. When Gu Yi saw that Liang Daiwen had returned, she was secretly delighted.

She had even placed a cute cartoon decoration on the bed. Liang told Gu Yi that he would support her dreams and encouraged both of them never to give up on their goals. Hearing this, Gu Yi felt deeply understood and happy. Later, Liang confessed his feelings to Gu Yi again, making it sound almost like a proposal. He spoke about wanting to give her a home and invited her to officially become his girlfriend. Gu Yi didn’t hesitate and quickly agreed.

Gu Yi wanted to use print media to convey information, allowing more readers to receive knowledge in a tangible, physical format. Zhang Junjie acknowledged that while this approach was relatively straightforward, its limited reach made it less effective. He pointed out that continuing down this path might lead to significant financial losses. Gu Yi, however, explained that she had studied competitors' sales data and found that they mainly leveraged celebrity endorsements and hot topics to drive sales.

She also mentioned that she had some connections with celebrities. Zhang Junjie eventually agreed to the proposal but insisted that Gu Yi must surpass the sales target. After some bargaining, they reached an agreement. In Zhang Junjie's eyes, Gu Yi was like a younger sister, and he couldn’t help but spoil her. President Zhang also attended Liang Daiwen's new product launch event.

Gu Yi noticed that Zhang seemed a little off, but seeing her boyfriend passionately presenting on stage made her very happy. Suddenly, she overheard Huang Wenda talking to Guan Xingxin. His words were overly manipulative, even bordering on emotional blackmail. Unable to stand it any longer, Gu Yi interrupted the conversation. Unexpectedly, Huang shamelessly started arguing with Zhang Junjie, seemingly trying to get his attention. Zhang Junjie found Huang’s childish behavior infuriating and refused to engage with him.

When the situation threatened to ruin Liang Daiwen's event, Gu Yi quickly worked to redirect everyone’s focus. Gu Yi was worried about Guan Xingxin, who reassured her that once she finished participating in the reality show, she would finally have the ability to be with her boyfriend for real. Meanwhile, Yu Dule was secretly working overtime to earn more money and give his girlfriend the perfect future.

However, when he reviewed a video he was editing, he realized it was footage of Guan Xingxin from the dating show. He couldn’t help but feel conflicted. Zhang Junjie caught Gu Yi secretly watching Liang Daiwen’s speech and earnestly reminded her that Liang’s emotional expression difficulties could bring challenges to their life together. He asked if she was certain about continuing the relationship.

Meanwhile, Huang Wenda took Guan Xingxin to meet a client, only to discover that the man was a sleazy old lecher. Guan firmly rejected him and left, but she collapsed outside. Huang, surprisingly protective, took care of her and encouraged her, saying that once she gained popularity through the reality show, she would no longer have to rely on her family and could live a freer life.

Gu Yi had been waiting for her mother’s call, but all she received was a short message. Liang Daiwen apologized to Gu Yi, but when she didn’t open the door for him, he cutely apologized in front of the camera. Gu Yi couldn’t help but find him adorable and quickly forgave him. She even edited Liang’s speech into a video, planning to post it online to attract more attention.

Xu Guanrui invited Gu Yi to his music party by sending her his location. Gu Yi informed Xu that she was now with Liang Daiwen. To her surprise, Xu wasn’t upset and even seemed genuinely happy for her. However, Gu Yi felt something was off. On stage, Xu gave a heartfelt confession to her, singing a song to express his feelings while sincerely wishing her happiness. Gu Yi quietly snapped a photo as a keepsake.

Gu Yi repeatedly messaged her mother but received no response. Knowing her health was deteriorating, her mother called her instead. Gu Yi held back her tears during the call but broke down sobbing once it ended. She later told Liang Daiwen through the surveillance camera that her mother’s condition had worsened and that she hadn’t been calling her, which was difficult for her to process. At that moment, the door suddenly closed, amplifying her feelings of loneliness.

Gu Yi later discovered that Liang Daiwen had found a locksmith for her and ran out to look for him. Feeling unwell, Gu Yi wanted to take a leave of absence. Zhang Junjie told her that if the comic project was approved, he would grant her time off. Meanwhile, Yu Dule began suspecting that Guan Xingxin was hiding something from him due to her increasingly suspicious behavior.

Gu Yi advised him to open up and have an honest conversation with Guan. When Gu Yi heard that Liang Daiwen was going to work with President Zhang, she didn’t oppose the idea, which surprised Liang Daiwen.

President Zhang listened intently as Liang Daiwen enthusiastically introduced his design concepts and layouts. She felt conflicted and told Liang that if he ever wanted to return, he would always be welcome. Before Liang could respond, Gu Yi arrived with Yu Dule, deliberately calling Liang "darling" in an overly affectionate tone to provoke jealousy. She acted as though she was extremely happy.

President Zhang remarked that Liang hadn’t worked so hard when he was by her side and blamed Gu Yi for pushing Liang so much, saying it made her feel distressed for him. Gu Yi firmly stated that Liang Daiwen was her boyfriend now and that it had nothing to do with President Zhang. Later, Gu Yi, Yu Dule, and Liang Daiwen were sitting in a car together.

Gu Yi suddenly changed her tone, joking that earning money from President Zhang wasn’t a bad idea since money is tempting. Yu Dule, tired of their public displays of affection, felt he couldn’t endure their lovey-dovey behavior anymore. When Liang Daiwen brought Gu Yi home, they were shocked to see his uncle holding a box of ashes. Gu Yi’s expression froze instantly, unable to process what she was seeing.

The uncle explained that Gu Yi’s mother had been unwell from the beginning of her trip. She had pushed herself to continue traveling, wanting to distance herself from her daughter before quietly passing away. Gu Yi understood that her mother did this to lighten her emotional burden and reduce her stress. Sitting on her bed, Gu Yi looked through their past chat history and couldn’t help but break down crying.

Liang Daiwen was deeply distressed for Gu Yi, but he knew that this was something she had to overcome on her own. Holding her mother’s ashes tightly, Gu Yi wept bitterly, expressing her desire to bring her mother back. She couldn’t accept that all she had left was this cold box of ashes. Eventually, Gu Yi decided to scatter her mother’s ashes into the sea, allowing her mother to live freely in another world.

While sorting through her mother’s belongings, Gu Yi found her mother’s phone. She discovered that after her mother’s condition worsened, she had blocked Gu Yi to avoid troubling her and had only sent occasional text messages. Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin threw herself into work, determined to escape her family’s control. Despite her dislike for being around the other male participants, she had to endure physical contact with them while filming the show.

Yu Dule, unaware of this, was editing videos of Guan Xingxin. He overheard colleagues gossiping about her, which upset him deeply. He firmly told them to show some kindness and stop speaking ill of her. Gu Yi informed her boss that she wanted to resign. Zhang Junjie, overhearing this, suspected that Gu Yi was dealing with something significant.

He told the team to go easy on her and temporarily take over her responsibilities until Gu Yi returned to make a final decision. Gu Yi and Liang Daiwen returned to his home, but she felt uneasy. She told Liang’s father that her mother had recently passed away. Liang’s father, understanding her pain, tried to lighten the atmosphere and comfort her. Gu Yi began to feel a sense of family again and asked Liang to tell her stories about his mother.

With a smile, Liang described how his mother had a cheerful personality, was talented at painting, and had great hands-on skills. He fondly remembered how she used to build games for him to play at the beach. However, she rarely left the house and spent most of her time sitting by the window. Liang shared that although his mother’s passing had been difficult, it made him grow up and gave him the courage to face anything.

Touched by his words, Gu Yi couldn’t hold back her tears. She asked Liang to take her to visit his mother’s grave. At the grave, Gu Yi told Liang’s mother that Liang had been doing well. She even played videos of her own mother, hoping that the two mothers could “meet” in another world and keep each other company. Gu Yi then accompanied Liang to the hallway where he often had nightmares.

Liang revealed that it was where his mother had passed away, and the memory had haunted him ever since. Gu Yi comforted him, telling him to cherish life and remember that he was loved. Gradually, Liang seemed to begin letting go of his pain.

Gu Yi immersed herself in work again, hoping to use her job to support Liang Daiwen. Seeing Liang hang his mother’s portrait on the wall warmed her heart, making her feel as though her own mother was still by her side. Returning to the office, Gu Yi directly told Zhang Junjie that her earlier emotional outburst was due to her mother’s passing and apologized for losing control. Zhang Junjie expressed his understanding and encouraged her to focus on her work.

Gu Yi proposed abandoning print media and transitioning to an app format to reach more young readers. She pointed out that their test articles on public platforms had steadily gained views, proving their content was solid but that audiences were moving away from traditional print. Gu Yi suggested creating a paid knowledge section within the app to carve out a new niche and reignite young people's interest in their essays.

Zhang Junjie agreed this was the right direction and urged Gu Yi to complete the project within two months. Xu Guanrui visited Liang Daiwen, expressing concern as he hadn’t seen Gu Yi for a while. Sincerely apologizing, Xu admitted he had been too extreme in the past and had doubted Liang’s ability to care for Gu Yi. Now, he realized he had been wrong. Liang found Xu’s tone oddly paternal, almost as if he were an elder giving advice.

Xu told Liang that Gu Yi needed his kind of love and urged him to cherish her. Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin secluded herself in her room, overwhelmed by the hateful comments she saw online. Hearing her manager berate her loudly outside only made her retreat further. Unable to hold back, Zhang Junjie stepped in and scolded her ex-husband, sending him away. Yu Dule watched the videos Guan Xingxin had recorded, feeling his heart ache for her.

Yet, he silently continued editing the footage, despite the pain. Liang Daiwen reflected on how much Gu Yi had taught him, especially about love. Gradually, Gu Yi also began moving past her grief over losing her mother. Her public essays resonated with many readers, earning widespread admiration. Even Zhang Junjie praised her work.

One day, although Gu Yi and Yu Dule hadn’t planned to perform stand-up comedy, the eager audience persuaded Yu Dule to take the stage and say a few words. Afterward, Gu Yi overheard Huang Wenda mocking Yu Dule. She felt disgusted by his behavior, thinking Zhang Junjie had been right about him. When Gu Yi presented a contract to Yu Dule, he immediately suspected there was something shady about it.

Gu Yi felt momentarily disheartened as her attempt to revive their collaboration seemed to backfire. However, Gu Yi’s essay about family touched countless readers, sparking widespread empathy and earning her even more fans. Zhang Junjie commended her and encouraged her to visit Guan Xingxin, who hadn’t been in good spirits lately. He mentioned that the "dog" surnamed Huang had been frequently visiting Guan’s home, causing trouble. When Gu Yi met Guan Xingxin, she sensed her regret and confusion.

Guan admitted she felt remorseful about some of her decisions but didn’t explain further. Gu Yi questioned why Guan hadn’t stopped her adoptive parents from hurting Yu Dule, but Guan didn’t respond directly. Gu Yi reminded her, “Your life is your own. Don’t let others control it. ”To celebrate Liang Daiwen’s recent professional success, Gu Yi invited him out for dinner. She shared her thoughts about pursuing stand-up comedy full-time.

Liang supported her decision, saying he didn’t mind whether she made it her primary career. Despite Guan Xingxin’s rising popularity, she remained melancholic. Meanwhile, Huang Wenda praised a recent editor for their skillful work, noting how they had helped turn public opinion in Guan’s favor. When Guan overheard that the editor’s surname was Yu, she had a hunch about who it might be. Gu Yi, meanwhile, went to an interview and was nearly persuaded by the interviewer’s eloquent pitch.

She successfully signed with the company, completely unaware of the peculiar nature of the person sitting across from her.

Yu Dule warned Gu Yi that Liu Ran was running a shell company and often made deals without any real backing. He advised her not to trust anything Liu Ran said too easily. When Gu Yi called Liu Ran, he claimed to be away on a business trip and asked her to discuss any urgent matters over the phone. Gu Yi asked Liu Ran for specifics about how the four performances each month were arranged.

Liu Ran explained that only well-known performers would be scheduled for shows, while less popular ones would remain in the background for now. He justified this by saying that only after assessing an actor’s consistent skill level could they satisfy clients and produce stable results. Gu Yi began to suspect that Liu Ran was operating on false promises.

When she questioned him, Liu Ran warned her that quitting midway would count as a breach of contract, requiring her to pay a penalty. After being swindled out of her money, Gu Yi returned home. Liang Daiwen, noticing her secretive behavior through the surveillance footage, immediately guessed what had happened. When he confronted her, Gu Yi admitted she had been scammed. She insisted she didn’t need Liang’s help and could handle the matter herself.

However, seeing Liang’s decisiveness in offering support, Gu Yi hesitated and asked him to encourage her when she felt disheartened. Guan Xingxin confronted Yu Dule, asking why he had been editing her shows without telling her. Yu Dule felt awkward and deliberately tried to avoid her. Guan pulled him aside and admitted she had been wrong, begging for his forgiveness.

She confessed that she had allowed her parents’ expectations to weigh on Yu Dule and acknowledged that it had caused him harm. Guan shared how exhausted she had been lately and expressed her hope for reconciliation. After a moment of thought, Yu Dule firmly refused, and the two parted ways. Liang Daiwen approached Shen Zhimin for help with Gu Yi’s case, determined to shut down Liu Ran’s company.

He exposed the company on social media, revealing reports of sexual harassment within the workplace. Liang insisted that Gu Yi should never return to such an environment. Left with no choice, Gu Yi returned to her old company and sought Zhang Junjie’s forgiveness. Zhang criticized Gu Yi for becoming complacent and relying on the company as her safety net after being deceived. Nevertheless, he ultimately agreed to let her come back.

Xu Guanrui thought Gu Yi had been foolish and advised her to think things through more carefully in the future to avoid being scammed again. “The bigger the circle, the more types of people you’ll encounter,” he remarked. Gu Yi then noticed a surge in followers on her social media account, finding it unexpectedly heartening. However, CEO Zhang had set a trap for Gu Yi, using Liu Ran to ensnare her and remove her from the industry entirely.

When CEO Zhang saw Gu Yi’s posts on social media exposing their actions, he realized it was damaging their reputation. Reluctantly, he called Gu Yi in for a private negotiation, but his hardened stance only made the situation unfair for Liang Daiwen. Gu Yi knew that Liang Daiwen still cared deeply about the time he was falsely accused of plagiarism. She told Liang not to forgive CEO Zhang.

CEO Zhang, on the other hand, was baffled by the pressure he had put on Liang that caused him to avoid him so strongly. What was supposed to be a gradual mending of relations kept being interrupted by unexpected twists. In the end, CEO Zhang relented and paid the penalty fees, severing all ties. With the matter resolved, Gu Yi returned to the stage with confidence. To her surprise, Liang Daiwen also went onstage to perform stand-up comedy.

His sweet words charmed the audience, making them gush over his heartfelt expressions. Yu Dule pulled Gu Yi onto the stage, allowing everyone to witness Liang’s public declaration of love for her. When Liang attempted to kneel and propose, Gu Yi quickly stopped him, flustered by the sudden gesture. Meanwhile, Guan Xingxin, heartbroken over her failed relationship, remained despondent.

Gu Yi published an article that received an overwhelming number of likes and positive feedback from users, marking another success in her career.

Yu Dule finally finished editing the projects he was working on. When he heard there was a celebration party, he used an excuse to leave. Deep down, he didn’t know how to face Guan Xingxin and chose to avoid the situation. Meanwhile, Gu Yi felt Liang Daiwen was too much, accusing him of even winning over her mother’s friends and taking them for himself.

Liang, unbothered, retaliated by pointing out that even her father calls to check on Gu Yi first before asking about him. Yu Dule, who rarely celebrated his birthday growing up, was surprised when Gu Yi decided to throw him a proper birthday party. However, the first person to arrive at the celebration was Guan Xingxin. When Yu entered and saw the birthday cake his friends had prepared, he was overjoyed, happily chatting with his friends while almost entirely ignoring Guan.

Guan felt guilty and even a bit self-conscious, as if she had let Yu down. Gu Yi suggested they each write their thoughts on paper. After Yu finished, he quietly left. Gu Yi hinted at Guan to follow him and take the opportunity to talk things through, hopefully rekindling their relationship. Guan Xingxin seemed to realize her mistakes, acknowledging that Yu must have seen her selfishness and her attempts to escape her own family issues by projecting her emotions onto him.

Guan admitted she had placed unreasonable expectations on him. Yu, however, had likely long given up on the relationship. Even though Guan apologized, he saw no future in their relationship. Guan was heartbroken and completely at a loss for how to mend things with him. Deciding to leave quietly, Guan’s choice earned Liang Daiwen’s support, as he encouraged her to live a brighter life. That same night, Gu Yi drank too much and had to be escorted home by Liang.

The next morning, Gu Yi, still half-asleep, was startled awake by her alarm clock and thought she heard Liang talking at her bedside. When she groggily noticed her clothes had been changed, she awkwardly questioned Liang, feeling embarrassed. Liang simply laughed it off, and Gu Yi pretended she didn’t remember what happened. Gu Yi and Liang Daiwen decided to move in together again.

Liang took the time to arrange photos of his loved ones into a heart shape on the wall and filled the fridge with food, bringing warmth and liveliness back into the home. Every phone call between them now radiated happiness. Meanwhile, Huang Wenda visited Zhang Junjie for a heartfelt conversation. Huang revealed he was returning to Beijing and wanted to see Zhang one last time. Although they still loved each other, unresolved conflicts had driven them apart.

Huang expressed regret over the past, wishing he could scold his younger self. He reminisced about how Zhang, in his early days, had been so eager to embrace big-city life. But now, when Zhang reflected on that version of himself, it felt ironic, as if Huang was mocking him. Huang wanted to leave the past behind and make peace with Zhang. At the same time, Gu Yi returned to the small home her mother had left her.

Standing there, she felt her mother’s presence and believed her mother would give her blessings. When Gu Yi arrived at Liang’s home, she saw him decorating with festive wedding symbols. Seeing the wall of photos Liang had prepared for her, Gu Yi couldn’t help but feel touched. Liang joked that he wouldn’t propose recklessly again. Gu Yi was shocked to learn that Zhang Junjie planned to resign. She struggled to accept the news.

Zhang, though reluctant to part with her and the others, knew he had to make a choice. Everyone felt the loss of his departure and came to bid him farewell. Zhang reminded them that all gatherings must eventually come to an end. He expressed his hope that the team he had nurtured would grow into strong leaders and looked forward to seeing that day. As he spoke, Zhang couldn’t hold back his tears and quietly exited the stage.

Zhang Junjie returned to a familiar place and couldn’t help but take out the box holding her wedding ring. Memories of that time came flooding back to her. She recalled the pain of having to undergo an abortion and vowing to become an independent and strong woman. Huang Wenda, knowing Zhang still had feelings for him, found the ring box among the photos but admitted that the wedding ring they once had was now lost.

He blamed himself for being such a terrible person back then, which led to Zhang leaving him. Seeing his self-recrimination, Zhang couldn’t hold back and revealed the truth: she had discovered a tumor, which made keeping the baby unsafe, forcing her to choose the abortion. Huang was devastated to learn the truth, and his guilt only deepened. He told Zhang that he would soon leave Beijing and promised never to disturb her life again.

Guan Xingxin visited Gu Yi, who admitted that Liang Daiwen’s sudden proposal left her completely unprepared and even felt a bit like he was being overly impulsive. Guan shared that in relationships, it isn’t always about who’s right or wrong. Some things need to be discussed openly. For example, she had hidden the conflict between her boyfriend and her parents, which eventually led to an irreparable situation.

Gu Yi then went to find Xu Guanrui, who had decided to terminate his contract and leave. While Gu Yi wasn’t surprised, she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. That evening, Xu and Gu lit sparklers by the roadside and had a heart-to-heart. Xu shared that once he finished handing over his work, he planned to travel the world, meeting new people and experiencing different things.

He reminisced about how his relationship with Liang Daiwen had started off like a rivalry but gradually evolved into a close partnership. Xu admitted that he had come to terms with letting go of things that didn’t belong to him and had found peace with it. Guan Xingxin bought several birthday gifts for Yu Dule, explaining that since she wouldn’t be around in the future, she had to prepare everything in advance.

When Yu opened the gifts, he realized how much he would miss Guan and began to feel he couldn’t live without her. Meanwhile, Gu Yi secretly researched tips on managing a household, eager to prepare for the future. Just as she was learning, Liang Daiwen unexpectedly walked in. Curious, he tried to check her phone, which made Gu flustered and attempt to distract him with excuses.

Gu Yi was shocked to learn how much money Liang Daiwen could earn, finding it hard to believe. Later, Guan visited Zhang Junjie to inform her that she was moving out. Despite Zhang’s cool demeanor, Guan hugged her warmly, inviting her to visit her new place anytime. Guan understood that beneath Zhang’s cold exterior was a kind heart. Yu Dule surprised Guan with a truck full of fresh flowers and invited her on a date.

During their conversation, Guan confided that she envied Gu Yi for having such a wonderful mother and had always longed for the warmth of family. However, in chasing that ideal, she neglected her own growth and overlooked many important things around her. Yu shared his own regrets about not cherishing his time with his ex-girlfriend. He reflected that had they planned for the future, they might have made it together.

This time, he wanted to be serious about his feelings and envision a future with Guan. Gu Yi made her return to the stage of Qi Pa Shuo (The U Can B Debate), boldly declaring that she wanted to take control and confess to Liang Daiwen. Zhang Junjie, sitting in the audience, wholeheartedly supported her. On stage, Gu Yi said, “If Liang Daiwen is willing to walk the rest of life’s journey with me, please smile.

” Liang, who had rarely smiled before, broke into a genuine grin. Gu Yi then took out a ring and proposed to him. Amid the cheers and blessings of everyone present, Gu Yi and Liang officially became a couple. Yu Dule and Guan Xingxin, along with everyone else, showered the happy couple with their congratulations.

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