The Quirky and the Charming Recap, Plot, Synopsis

The Quirky and the Charming Synopsis

Struggling to survive at the bottom of society, Yi Ran, a street-smart girl who uses negative reviews as both an outlet and a means to assert her rights, is given a serendipitous opportunity to experience a five-star hotel. During her stay, she encounters Xiao Muchen, the meticulous manager of Yingman Hotel, who is a perfectionist with no tolerance for "negative reviews."

Together, they grow and help each other succeed, facing numerous challenges with unwavering determination and passion for their work and lives. Ultimately, as Yi Ran overturns the pessimistic label of "Miss Negative Review," the two also find inspiration in a story of love, family, and friendship.

The Quirky and the Charming Recap

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The street-smart girl Yi Ran, who struggles to make a living at the bottom of society, works part-time at a convenience store. Dressed in a mascot costume, she energetically hands out flyers at the entrance. During her break, she texts her boyfriend, Jiang Chen, to ask if he has time, only to receive a reply that he has to work overtime. Unhappy, Yi Ran pouts and complains—it’s Valentine’s Day, after all.

Before she can rest for long, the boss calls her to stock the shelves. She notices the boss selling expired bread to customers and feels that it’s wrong, but the boss is indifferent. When a child tries to buy expired bread, Yi Ran quickly stops them, but the child gets scared and starts crying. The child calls their mother over to stand up for them, and the boss ends up getting slapped.

Furious, he turns his anger on Yi Ran and tells her to get lost. Yi Ran demands her salary for the month, but the unscrupulous boss claims that since they didn’t sign a contract, there’s no labor relationship, let alone any wages. Thinking quickly, Yi Ran pulls out the quality inspection report from a boxed meal she bought at the store last month and threatens to report the boss for switching labels.

Only then does she manage to get her wages. Most of Yi Ran’s life has been spent battling against hardships, yet life always seems to hit her harder. But for Yi Ran, leaving a bad review is her way of taking a stand! Life only happens once—if you don’t defend it, it’s as if you never lived.

Quan Hai Resort Hotel.As the Director of the Housekeeping Department, Xiao Mucheng deals with all kinds of guest complaints as soon as he starts work each day. To him, his life has no room for bad reviews. Mrs. Liu finds stains on the showerhead while taking a bath in her room. To reassure her, Xiao Mucheng fills a cup with water from the showerhead and drinks it right in front of her. Mrs. Liu is left speechless.

He then upgrades her room and offers free meals, completely appeasing her anger—though his own stomach pays the price. When the laundry department loses a button from Mr. Chen’s clothing, Xiao Mucheng already has a solution—he’s asked a friend to find an identical button. Yi Ran discovers that Jiang Chen has been cheating on her. Enraged, she storms into a café and splashes two cups of water on him before leaving in a huff.

Her best friend, Leng Yishu, gives her a room card for a five-star hotel as a birthday gift, telling her to enjoy a luxurious experience. Yi Ran is deeply touched. Coincidentally, the button Xiao Mucheng ordered through his friend ends up in Leng Yishu’s hands, which she got from Yi Ran. Xiao Mucheng calls, saying he wants to pick up the button in person, but Leng Yishu is in a rush to start her livestream.

Yi Ran tells her to leave first and waits in her place. After finishing his meeting, Xiao Mucheng arrives to retrieve the button. Meanwhile, Yi Ran, slightly tipsy, watches as he starts having stomach trouble. She takes him to an extremely shabby restroom and then sneaks away. While using the restroom, Xiao Mucheng accidentally drops the button into the toilet.

Disgusted but determined, he retrieves it and brings it back to the hotel, instructing that it must be thoroughly disinfected before being given to the client. Yi Ran deletes all contact information related to Jiang Chen and heads to Quan Hai Resort Hotel with the room card, finally getting a moment of relaxation. However, her drunken wailing leads to guest complaints, forcing Xiao Mucheng to handle the issue personally.

He never expected to find Yi Ran, completely drunk, mistaking him for Jiang Chen. Before he can react, she smashes a beer bottle over his head, knocking him out—only to fall asleep herself immediately after. The two end up sleeping in the same bed until morning. The next day, Yi Ran wakes up, touching Xiao Mucheng’s abs. To prevent any misunderstanding, he quickly explains the situation. Yi Ran, embarrassed and furious, throws him out.

At checkout, Yi Ran is told she has a 600-yuan minibar charge. Heartbroken but resigned, she pays and leaves. Later, while using the restroom, she overhears the front desk mocking her for being stingy. Enraged, she goes home and leaves a scathing review, even posting about it online, attracting a small wave of attention.

In the morning, the alarm clock rings. Yi Ran wakes up in her rented apartment, brushes her teeth, washes her face, eats breakfast, and then rushes out for work. Before leaving, she quietly wishes herself a happy birthday. Meanwhile, Xiao Mucheng wakes up in a five-star hotel suite, carrying himself with elegance and composure. Today, he attends an industry exchange conference, where the event organizer, Leng Yishu, swiftly handles an old troublemaker.

When she sees Xiao Mucheng arrive, her eyes light up, but it’s clear that he is still unaware of the negative review about Quan Hai Hotel. During the meeting, the PR department of Quan Hai Hotel repeatedly calls Xiao Mucheng, but he has no time to answer. When Leng Yishu takes the stage to share hotel management insights, she deliberately and "accidentally" displays Yi Ran’s online complaint post about Quan Hai Hotel.

Xiao Mucheng quickly skims through it, then calmly stands up and explains that Yi Ran was an invited offline test sleeper for the hotel. He acknowledges that the observations in the pictures are indeed real but argues that the presence of criticism is precisely what drives Quan Hai’s progress. After handling the PR crisis, Xiao Mucheng returns to the hotel and fires the receptionist who made inappropriate remarks about Yi Ran, as such behavior is unprofessional.

He checks the guest records for Yi Ran’s contact details and is informed by her best friend that she is filming on Chunfeng Road. Without hesitation, he heads there alone. That day, Yi Ran is playing an extra in a horror movie. Because she is dressed in a loose robe with exaggerated makeup, Xiao Mucheng does not recognize her at first. However, Yi Ran misunderstands his intentions, assuming he wants to pay her for inappropriate reasons.

She grabs a horror prop and gives Xiao Mucheng a good scare, making him flee on the spot and decide to change his approach. Xiao Mucheng tracks down Yi Ran’s best friend and sincerely expresses his wish to apologize to Yi Ran, but she refuses to give him the chance. Instead, she gives him Yi Ran’s home address and hints that today is her birthday—bringing a birthday gift would surely make Yi Ran happy.

Xiao Mucheng goes to a mall, purchases some cosmetics, and prepares to visit Yi Ran. At that moment, Yi Ran is lying in bed, waiting for the cake she ordered. The delivery rider is late by a full thirty minutes. Although dissatisfied, Yi Ran softens when she sees the female rider delivering food while carrying a child. She still gives a positive review and even shares a piece of cake with the child.

Before Yi Ran can close her door, Xiao Mucheng dashes into her room at lightning speed, explaining the issues she encountered at the hotel and formally inviting her to be a test sleeper. All expenses would be covered, and she would be paid at market rates. Yi Ran initially has a sour expression, but upon hearing that the pay is $200 per day, she instantly brightens up, immediately asking what a test sleeper needs to do.

Xiao Mucheng’s request is simple: stay at the hotel and provide honest reviews—whether positive or negative—for three days. Meanwhile, the receptionist who was fired is feeling lost and, upon learning that Yi Ran has been invited back as a test sleeper, hopes to plead with her for help. Xiao Mucheng arranges a VIP service package for Yi Ran at the hotel, ensuring that everything is of the highest standard.

Returning to Quan Hai, Yi Ran experiences luxury transportation and a high-end suite. However, when she tries to extend her work duration to seven days, Xiao Mucheng refuses. In response, she begins nitpicking at every detail, forcing Xiao Mucheng to relent and approve the seven-day stay. After signing the contract, Xiao Mucheng leaves the room. The hotel staff specially prepares a cake and red wine to celebrate Yi Ran’s birthday.

The next morning, Yi Ran begins her first official day as a test sleeper, thoroughly inspecting every detail of her stay from all angles. Meanwhile, Xiao Mucheng is following up on an important contract that was nearly finalized—only for it to suddenly go silent due to the negative review scandal.

Xiao Mucheng decided to let Yi Ran experience the music room, but she firmly refused—music always made her sleepy. The assistant tried to persuade her by saying that Xiao Mucheng would also be going with her. Yi Ran relayed the former receptionist’s words to Xiao Mucheng, but she had no intention of pleading on her behalf. Xiao Mucheng also refused to reconsider, as the hotel had just received its worst-ever review, and this was a matter of professional conduct.

However, Yi Ran didn’t want someone to lose their job and future because of her. In other words, she saw herself as God, and God's requests should always be fulfilled. So, Xiao Mucheng had no choice but to let the receptionist return to work. Meanwhile, Leng Yishu ran into someone named Lin, who had gotten into the wrong car, leading to a perfectly orchestrated misunderstanding. Yi Ran and Xiao Mucheng attended the music performance together.

Throughout the concert, Yi Ran kept dozing off, her head unconsciously leaning against Xiao Mucheng. By the end, she hadn’t heard a single note. After the concert, she asked someone to help buy a photo of them together as a souvenir. Inspired by the experience, Xiao Mucheng decided to establish two private music halls in the hotel to cater to guests who had a passion for music. As they were leaving, he realized he was hungry.

In gratitude for the concert, Yi Ran offered to treat him to a meal. Yi Ran dragged Xiao Mucheng to a familiar snack street, where every vendor knew her well. Thanks to her suggestions, many had improved their food, and their businesses were thriving. She took him to a tiny, rundown eatery and ordered two plates of dumplings—one of the rare places that had earned her approval. Initially, Xiao Mucheng was skeptical, but after tasting the dumplings, he fell silent.

Yi Ran shared a story: her family used to run a guesthouse. Although the place was small, it was always packed. Once, they hosted a tour group, but providing meals was a challenge. In the end, her parents took the group to this very restaurant, and even ended up cooking alongside the guests. The experience was heartwarming. However, with the rise of chain hotels, many small inns couldn’t survive.

Inspired by this, Xiao Mucheng decided to host special interactive events, where chefs and pastry masters would engage with guests on select days. He even invited a chef from India. Later, Yi Ran noticed a hotel cleaning staff member crying. The girl had bought a skincare set online for her mother, but it caused a severe allergic reaction. The seller refused to take responsibility. Being just an intern with a small salary, the girl was too upset to even argue.

Yi Ran decided to stand up for her. As Yi Ran passed by the staff lounge, she overheard the former receptionist gossiping about her again, complaining that Yi Ran was freeloading at the hotel just because of one bad review, without the slightest gratitude. Yi Ran immediately burst through the door, scaring the receptionist so much that her legs nearly gave out. She frantically promised to work hard as long as Yi Ran didn’t tell Xiao Mucheng.

Yi Ran didn’t say a word—she simply took the allergy-inducing skincare cream and applied it to the receptionist’s face. With that, she avenged the girl. While taking the elevator, Yi Ran waited for an elderly janitor, showing her respect, but also encountered an unreasonable guest. Thanks to Yi Ran’s persistence, the seller finally refunded the girl's money, leaving her deeply grateful. Yi Ran then visited her grandmother at a nursing home.

Though her grandmother’s memory had faded, she still secretly slipped some of her saved-up money into Yi Ran’s hands. Meanwhile, Xiao Mucheng entertained a major client before returning to the hotel and eating a bowl of noodles. The familiar taste brought him a sense of comfort. Yi Ran never stopped looking for a job, but due to her lack of experience, she faced constant rejection. Without realizing it, she wandered to her family's old guesthouse.

Memories of the joyful times spent there resurfaced, filling her heart with inexplicable sadness. When she returned to the hotel entrance, she saw Xiao Mucheng waiting for her. The moment she arrived, he uttered something that left her completely stunned.

Xiao Mucheng asked Yi Ran to date him, claiming it was because the restaurant department’s Qixi Festival event had too few participants and was encouraging staff to join. Yi Ran felt like she was being played and was very unhappy. A guest reported Yi Ran for occupying the guest elevator, but she believed people should be considerate of each other.

She even mocked Xiao Mucheng, saying he wasn’t genuinely trying to solve the hotel's problems and was just putting on a show—so hypocritical! Xiao Mucheng was momentarily speechless with anger, but when he got home, he couldn’t stop thinking about what Yi Ran had said. Eventually, he called her to ask about the suggestions she had made in her trial-stay report, but Yi Ran was too busy sleeping and ignored him completely.

Xiao Mucheng and Leng Yishu were currently competing for Tengyue’s project. Tengyue’s executive, Lin Youjia, decided to let them fight it out, hoping to gain more benefits for himself. When Leng Yishu returned from a business trip and heard that Xiao Mucheng had organized an open kitchen event and invited Tengyue’s executives, she immediately stormed over and, with an air of absolute confidence, declared that she would win.

Meanwhile, Yi Ran discovered that a male guest in one of the rooms had a heart condition and hoped the hotel could help purchase his medication. However, hotel policy prohibited staff from buying prescription drugs for guests. The moment Yi Ran heard the words heart disease, her expression changed, and she rushed out of the hotel to buy the medicine.

When she was a child, her father had passed away due to a heart attack because he didn’t receive timely treatment. Yi Ran hurried back to the hotel and handed the medicine to the elderly guest. Before the Hotel Awards, evaluators would disguise themselves as guests to assess the service. In an attempt to regain Xiao Mucheng’s favor, Gu Xindi decided to go above and beyond in serving the evaluators.

She mistakenly assumed that the arriving guest, Young Master Lin, was one of them and treated him with over-the-top enthusiasm while checking him in. Faced with Lin Youjia’s charming smile, she almost fell head over heels. Young Master Lin was handsome, wealthy, and had a gentle demeanor. He even helped the staff adjust their name badges, instantly making everyone swoon. Yi Ran received a puzzle from the hotel staff, who said someone had asked them to deliver it.

She mistakenly assumed the sender was Xiao Mucheng and secretly followed him to the laundry room to ask why he had given her a puzzle. To her surprise, he denied it. Yi Ran didn’t notice that the laundry room door was broken, and before they knew it, they were locked inside together. Xiao Mucheng didn’t have his phone, so he had to use Yi Ran’s to call his assistant.

However, his calls kept getting mistaken for spam and were repeatedly hung up on. With no other choice, they lit a few candles. Yi Ran found the environment quite cozy, but for Xiao Mucheng, it was clear that he had never experienced living in a basement. The two spent the night in the hotel’s laundry storage, only to be discovered the next day when staff came to clean the storeroom.

In front of everyone, Yi Ran was sleeping soundly on Xiao Mucheng’s arm. Rumors about the two spread like wildfire. As the gossip circulated, the story got even more outrageous—soon, people were saying that Xiao Mucheng had married young and even had twins! Because of these rumors, Yi Ran instinctively avoided Xiao Mucheng whenever she saw him. Meanwhile, Xiao Mucheng also felt uneasy, to the point where he even mistook other people for Yi Ran during meetings.

The hotel rumors eventually reached Yi Ran, but what she heard was that Xiao Mucheng had been married for a long time and already had kids—completely unaware that the rumored "wife" was actually her! Yi Ran received a job interview invitation. As she was preparing to leave, she ran into Xiao Mucheng and couldn’t help but roll her eyes dramatically at him.

Lin Youjia, curious about Yi Ran, asked the front desk for her room number, but the receptionist refused due to guest privacy policies. However, he coincidentally ran into Yi Ran in the lobby. On instinct, Lin Youjia started to chase after her, only to see Xiao Mucheng pull up in his car and pick her up. Yi Ran, looking absolutely annoyed, glared at Xiao Mucheng and called him a scumbag.

Yi Ran drove to her interview location and told Xiao Mucheng to go back on his own. As she was getting out of the car, she struggled to unbuckle her seatbelt. Instinctively, Xiao Mucheng leaned in to help her, and the atmosphere between them gradually became ambiguous. Meanwhile, Lin Youjia ran into Leng Yishu again in the parking lot.

Leng Yishu had taken up two parking spaces but refused to move her car, then swaggered away as if nothing had happened. Yi Ran's interview was for a customer service position, but the environment seemed off. Before she was even hired, they were already asking her to pay a fee. Furious, Yi Ran slammed the table and walked out.

Leng Yishu had arranged a meeting with Tengyue’s representatives but was caught off guard when she realized that the client she had always disliked—Lin Youjia—was actually Tengyue’s contact person. Seeing that Lin Youjia showed no real interest in their hotel, she lost motivation to follow up and left. However, Young Master Lin was not so easy to deal with. As Leng Yishu was leaving, she discovered that her car had been towed due to a parking violation.

Inside the hotel lobby, Lin Youjia and Yi Ran finally crossed paths. They had been friends for many years, and Yi Ran finally learned that the puzzle was actually a gift from Young Master Lin. Yi Ran was doing well, and she revealed to Lin Youjia that she was the hotel’s mystery guest, meaning he could report any issues to her directly. Yi Ran was about to attend a singles cocktail party, which was part of her job.

Lin Youjia instinctively told her not to go, so Yi Ran decided to bring him along instead. Leng Yishu approached Xiao Mucheng, saying she had decided to give up on Tengyue’s project and let him take it. Xiao Mucheng was surprised but didn’t fall into her trap. After all, the client had the final say, so how could she claim to be handing them over to him?

At the singles cocktail party, Lin Youjia—the center of attention—immediately caught the interest of two gold diggers. Feeling uncomfortable, he instinctively moved closer to Yi Ran. Midway through the event, Lin Youjia received a work call and had to step away. Yi Ran then became the target of the two women, but she wasn’t one to be bullied easily—she smashed a cake onto their dresses. Enraged, the two women caused a scene.

Hearing about the commotion, Xiao Mucheng rushed to the party, only to be splashed in the face with a drink the moment he arrived. Yi Ran took out a tissue to help wipe his face, but in doing so, she accidentally wiped off his concealer, exposing his dark circles for all to see. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, Xiao Mucheng wished everyone could just forget what they had seen.

Meanwhile, Gu Xindi was scrolling through social media when she stumbled upon a photo of Yi Ran accepting a tip from a guest. She immediately took the picture to Xiao Mucheng to report her. Yi Ran had gone to the office to explain the incident at the cocktail party, but Xiao Mucheng wanted to make it clear what was and wasn’t acceptable. “This is a five-star hotel, not your family’s little inn! ” he snapped.

Xiao Mucheng ultimately decided to terminate Yi Ran’s contract. Dragging her suitcase behind her, Yi Ran left the hotel. Sometimes, life was even more absurd than a TV drama—but she could only force herself to keep moving forward. After much hesitation, Xiao Mucheng still chased after her in his car. However, what he saw stopped him in his tracks—a dazed Yi Ran standing in the middle of the road, nearly hit by an oncoming car. At the last second, Lin Youjia rushed in to save her. Xiao Mucheng lost the courage to step forward.

Yi Ran and Young Master Lin went to a street food stall for a meal. Feeling down, Yi Ran ate bowl after bowl of luosifen, while Young Master Lin, sitting beside her, was nearly overwhelmed by the pungent smell. He comforted Yi Ran, saying that if she couldn't bear to leave her job, he could introduce her to other opportunities—there was no need to be so upset. But Yi Ran wasn’t grieving over the job itself.

Over the years, she had tried all sorts of jobs, but this was her first time working in the hotel industry. It was the closest she had ever been to her dream. Now, that dream was shattered—how could something so good ever happen to her? Early in the morning, Xiao Mucheng went out for a run. Although he didn’t want anyone to mention Yi Ran, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease in his heart.

With nowhere else to go, Yi Ran spent the night at the nursing home, squeezing onto the same bed as her grandmother. The next morning, afraid of being caught by the nurses, she lied and said she had just arrived early. After she left, Old Cui found a note Yi Ran had left behind, reminding him to take care of his health. Even the hotel’s front desk staff, when dealing with a broken printer, couldn’t help but think of her.

Xiao Mucheng finally had a formal meeting with Lin Youjia and immediately recognized him as the man who had been with Yi Ran that day. When they shook hands, Xiao Mucheng couldn’t help but tighten his grip. Lin Youjia had been staying at Quan Hai Hotel for the past two days and was fairly satisfied with their service, so he was willing to collaborate with them.

However, his only condition was that Yi Ran be reinstated as the hotel’s mystery guest. If she came back, he would cover all her expenses for the next three years. Quan Hai had no reason to refuse such an offer, but Xiao Mucheng rejected it anyway, emphasizing that Yi Ran was not a bargaining chip in his negotiations. Xiao Mucheng received Yi Ran’s mystery guest report, and her review post had also garnered a great response.

A guest whom Yi Ran had helped buy medicine left a gift at checkout, asking Xiao Mucheng to pass it on to her, as she had essentially saved his life. Only then did Xiao Mucheng realize that he had misunderstood Yi Ran. Reflecting on the things she had said, he began to feel something stir inside him. In the past few days, Yi Ran had taken on work as a designated driver and a florist assistant, but she kept facing setbacks.

When her grandmother called to check on her, she even lied, saying that her boss had treated her to a meal and that she was eating well. Because of Yi Ran, Xiao Mucheng started to see things he hadn’t understood before in a new light. Yi Ran got a job at a café, handing out coffee samples outside to promote the shop. At first, no one paid any attention, but suddenly, a crowd appeared, eager to buy coffee.

Yi Ran soon discovered the truth—all those people had been sent by Xiao Mucheng. Furious, she couldn’t understand why he was doing this. That evening, Yi Ran met up with her good friends. Though they were exhausted from drifting through an unfamiliar city alone, they felt that as long as they were doing what they loved, all the hardship was worth it. Xiao Mucheng went to the café where Yi Ran was working and saw that her boss was harassing her.

Unable to hold back, he slapped the man across the face. The boss, in retaliation, withheld Yi Ran’s one-month advance salary. Xiao Mucheng paid off her debt and took her away from the café. He then formally invited Yi Ran to join the hotel.

He had finally come to understand that she had been right all along—what customers paid for wasn’t just luxurious facilities and services; they simply wanted to leave with a feeling that would make them want to return. But Yi Ran refused. To her, this was nothing more than charity from Xiao Mucheng. She turned and walked away. Seeing him also turn and leave without hesitation, she grumbled about his lack of sincerity.

On the bus, Yi Ran saw Xiao Mucheng standing on top of his car, holding a giant sign apologizing to her and promising to do better. She lowered her head, stifling a laugh, and muttered under her breath, "Lunatic. "Quan Hai’s financial situation wasn’t great, making it the perfect time for an outsider to step in. Lin Youjia had his own plans.

He decided to partner with Leng Yishu, with the same condition—that Yi Ran join the hotel as a mystery guest. But just as he left, he was informed that Yi Ran had already rejoined Quan Hai.

Leng Yishu came to Quan Hai to seek a partnership with Xiao Mucheng and took the opportunity to show off his newly secured collaboration with Teng Yue. However, when he saw Lin Youjia staying at Quan Hai, his face turned green. Meanwhile, a guest at Quan Hai was causing a scene. After going through a divorce, he stood on the balcony crying and threatening to jump.

To stop him, Yi Ran rushed over, crying as well, and claimed that she had only discovered on her wedding day that her partner was already married—with twins! Her dramatic performance successfully talked him down. Xiao Mucheng hurried over upon receiving the news, but instead of being relieved, he was angry at Yi Ran for her unconventional approach.

Yi Ran officially became a housekeeping staff member, but her colleagues believed her story about being deceived by a scumbag and secretly felt sorry for her. Yi Ran’s good intentions were misunderstood, leaving her in a foul mood. Seeing her unhappy, Lin Youjia offered to arrange another job for her, but she stubbornly stayed to prove a point. Xiao Mucheng mistakenly thought Yi Ran had an ex-husband named Li Lei. Yi Ran rolled her eyes—it was just a made-up story.

Xiao Mucheng told Yi Ran she had to attend housekeeping training the next day and could only become a full-time employee after passing. He arranged a dormitory for her, and with its good lighting, Yi Ran took an instant liking to it. The next morning, Yi Ran received a call from Gu Xindi, saying that Xiao Mucheng had arranged for her to attend the training. The trainer, Sister Man, was strict—only those who passed the assessment could officially join.

Xiao Mucheng scheduled Yi Ran to take a test in his office every night at 8 p. m. , leaving her with no room to complain. Gu Xindi was dragged along to celebrate with Yi Ran, as they were now colleagues. She also formally apologized for what had happened before. For hotel financing, Leng Yishu sought investment from Baisman, only to discover that the real boss behind Baisman was also President Lin.

Lin Youjia found Leng Yishu amusing—anything related to Quan Hai, he had to fight for. At 8 p. m. , Yi Ran arrived punctually at Xiao Mucheng’s office for her test. From then on, her days were filled with reciting, practicing her smile, and tackling English—the hardest part. Struggling with English, Yi Ran sought help from Gu Xindi, who taught her a few foolproof phrases.

So whenever she met foreign guests, she would say her English wasn’t great but managed to get by just fine. After two days of training, Yi Ran felt confident in her housekeeping skills. However, Xiao Mucheng nitpicked at every detail, telling her to start with turndown service and report back that night for inspection. Yi Ran misunderstood turndown service, thinking it was some inappropriate hidden rule.

Outraged, she vowed to expose the hotel’s dark secrets and planned to catch Xiao Mucheng in the act. Determined, she wrapped herself in a bathrobe and, embracing the spirit of self-sacrifice, seductively sprawled on the bed—though deep down, she had a bit of anticipation. Xiao Mucheng only arrived a long while after Yi Ran sent her message. Seeing her dressed like that, he was utterly confused. Yi Ran, unable to hold back, lunged at him. As they tussled, they rolled off the bed and onto the floor.

Xiao Mucheng was livid at Yi Ran’s actions, his face dark with anger. He called Xiao Lu over and asked her to properly explain what housekeeping service actually was. Only then did Yi Ran realize she had completely misunderstood. Xiao Mucheng instructed Xiao Lu to teach Yi Ran thoroughly, as he would be back to inspect her work the next day. Meanwhile, Yi Ran also had to memorize all the vehicles near the hotel.

After saying this, Xiao Mucheng struggled to stand up and left in pain. Leng Yishu heard that Quan Hai would be hosting a gratitude banquet in three days, which happened to coincide with their own event. Worried about being overshadowed, Leng Yishu decided to move their event forward by one day and swiftly set all preparations in motion. Xiao Mucheng received an invitation from his competitor but remained unfazed.

Yi Ran had memorized everything he had asked her to, even Sister Man approved her performance. Yet, when it came time for her official confirmation as a full-time employee, Xiao Mucheng still blocked her. Furious, Yi Ran cursed him for being overbearing—did he think the hotel belonged to his family? Only then did the others reveal an open secret: the hotel really did belong to Xiao Mucheng’s family.

Xiao Mucheng summoned Yi Ran and instructed her to attend Pokan’s event that afternoon. Since everyone else was unfamiliar with the attendees, she was the most suitable person for the task. He even prepared an evening gown for her. Yi Ran arrived at the event in an unfamiliar dress and high heels, meticulously reporting every detail to Xiao Mucheng, nearly driving him insane with her constant messages.

While at the event, Yi Ran took advantage of freebies and unexpectedly ran into Lin Youjia, who had also been invited. Lin Youjia was caught up dealing with Leng Yishu, and the next thing he knew, Yi Ran had disappeared. Xiao Mucheng received a call from Yi Ran, and amidst the sounds of screaming, he assumed something had happened to her.

Without hesitation, he rushed over, only to find Yi Ran squatting in a corner, rubbing her sore feet from wearing heels. Xiao Mucheng wanted to take her away, but when he noticed Leng Yishu nearby, he made sure to clarify that he had not sent Yi Ran here. Yi Ran thought Xiao Mucheng was deliberately making things difficult for her and became even more unwilling to leave.

The event featured a grand prize segment, and Yi Ran dragged Lin Youjia on stage to participate. Unwilling to be left out, Xiao Mucheng shamelessly followed and threatened Yi Ran not to abandon her boss. Seeing both Lin Youjia and Xiao Mucheng so eager to participate, Leng Yishu also joined in. Thus, the pairs of Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran, along with Lin Youjia and Leng Yishu, formed two competing teams and had a blast on stage.

However, the friendly competition led to a grudge between Xiao Mucheng and Lin Youjia. Yi Ran tried her best to ease the tension, but her efforts fell flat. During dinner, Lin Youjia and Xiao Mucheng fought over who could serve food to Yi Ran, while Leng Yishu watched in exasperation. The spicy dishes made Xiao Mucheng sweat profusely, revealing his dark circles.

Yi Ran quickly pointed it out, prompting the two of them to find an excuse to leave the scene. Inside the car, Yi Ran carefully helped Xiao Mucheng touch up his makeup, and the atmosphere grew increasingly ambiguous. Leng Yishu couldn’t understand what was so special about Yi Ran that both Xiao Mucheng and Lin Youjia were competing over her. However, in Lin Youjia’s heart, Yi Ran was truly different from anyone else.

Yi Ran refused to take Xiao Mucheng’s car home and insisted on dragging him onto the bus with her. Xiao Mucheng found the environment unbearable, but Yi Ran handed him an earbud, sharing her music. Without realizing it, the two fell asleep together and didn’t wake until they reached the final stop. After getting off the bus, Yi Ran playfully complained that her feet hurt and she couldn’t walk.

Xiao Mucheng hailed an elderly man’s tricycle, placed Yi Ran on it, and pushed her along from behind. Meanwhile, Leng Yishu and Lin Youjia spent the night at a karaoke lounge. When Leng Yishu woke up the next morning, she found her hands tied. Lin Youjia looked aggrieved—if she hadn’t gotten drunk and started swinging punches, he wouldn’t have had to restrain her. Suddenly, a chilling rumor spread in the hotel—there had been a supernatural incident. While everyone else was scared, Yi Ran was the only one thrilled by the news.

Lin Youjia invited Yi Ran to dinner. She felt a little uneasy in such an upscale restaurant, but Lin Youjia told her that today was an important day and he had something to say to her. Before he could finish speaking, Yi Ran encountered a foreign guest from the hotel who was very interested in their restaurant’s wine and had even taken some.

The guest, David, angrily confronted the restaurant owner with the wine in hand, questioning why they had been given sample wine instead of actual cooperation. Yi Ran slammed the table and stepped forward to argue with the restaurant owner, while Lin Youjia stood by recording the owner’s ugly behavior. At the front desk, a call came in about persistent knocking on the wall from the adjacent room.

Xu Yuan went to investigate alone, but according to the system, that room was unoccupied. Gathering her courage, she stepped inside, only for the lights to flicker eerily. Terrified, she bolted, only to run into a girl with long hair and a white dress in the corridor. Xu Yuan immediately hid in the stairwell, but from there, she saw a strange shadow downstairs. Little did she know, the shadow in the stairwell actually belonged to Old Cui.

The next day, convinced she had really encountered a ghost, she decided to take leave. The rumors of hauntings at the hotel grew increasingly exaggerated, even reaching Leng Yishu’s ears. However, she found such talk absurd. With Yi Ran’s introduction, David and Xiao Mucheng successfully reached a cooperation agreement. David was extremely grateful to Yi Ran, though she couldn’t understand what he was saying. As a reward for her successful recommendation, Xiao Mucheng decided to give Yi Ran a raise.

Regarding the ghost rumors, Xiao Mucheng held a meeting to warn everyone not to spread false stories. Yi Ran noticed that Xiao Mucheng’s wound was still unhealed, so she secretly brought some medicinal patches to his office. She intended to leave them quietly and slip away, but Xiao Mucheng caught her in the act. During Yi Ran’s working hours, Lin Youjia called her into a room, saying he had something to show her.

When Xiao Mucheng heard that Yi Ran had been called away for “housekeeping service” by Lin Youjia, he immediately panicked. Lin Youjia had prepared a candlelit dinner for Yi Ran. She gave an awkward smile, then casually cut the heart-shaped steak in half and divided the heart-shaped cake into eight pieces. Just as Lin Youjia was about to confess, Xiao Mucheng rushed in, determined to take Yi Ran away. Once again, Lin Youjia’s confession attempt failed.

To keep Yi Ran from being summoned by Lin Youjia again, Xiao Mucheng assigned her the task of inventory counting. While in the storage room, the two of them heard a mysterious crying sound. Yi Ran, filled with curiosity, dragged Xiao Mucheng toward the source of the sound. There, they discovered a hidden door and found a man sleeping inside. Startled, Xiao Mucheng fell on his backside.

It turned out that this man was a former hotel security guard who had been fired for sleeping on the job and had no choice but to sleep there since then. Xiao Mucheng encountered a tour group that had been left stranded due to their reserved hotel refusing to check them in. The travel agency was shirking responsibility, so Xiao Mucheng arranged a meeting with Leng Yishu.

Leng Yishu had always believed that Xiao Mucheng had feelings for her, so she meticulously dressed up for their meeting, only to realize that he was actually there to discuss business, not to confess his feelings. Meanwhile, Lin Youjia took the opportunity to meet Yi Ran alone. Confirming that no one would interrupt their moment, he finally mustered the courage to confess his feelings.

Yi Ran remained unfazed—she had known since she was six years old that Lin Youjia liked her, but she had always seen him as a brother. In an attempt to save face, Lin Youjia quickly claimed that he was just practicing for his real confession to someone else. Leng Yishu stormed out of Quan Hai in a fury. In the elevator, she encountered a girl with long hair who spoke to her in a chilling tone.

The moment the elevator doors opened, Leng Yishu ran away in panic. Lin Youjia, seeing her flustered figure, turned to Yi Ran and confessed that the person he truly liked was actually Leng Yishu. Yi Ran encouraged him to pursue his love bravely. Turning around, Yi Ran saw the long-haired girl and gently braided her hair before taking her out for mango mousse. The little girl explained that she was waiting for her mother because her parents had divorced.

However, after finishing the mango cake, she suddenly collapsed and had to be taken away in an ambulance. When her mother arrived, she was furious, while Yi Ran panicked—she had no idea that the girl was allergic to mango. Xiao Mucheng told Yi Ran to stay at the hotel, assuring her that he would handle the situation.

Lin Youjia and Leng Yishu were drinking at a bar together. Lin Youjia was heartbroken after being rejected by Yi Ran, while Leng Yishu kept convincing herself that what she saw at the hotel earlier must have been a mistake. The two were completely out of sync. Leng Yishu then received a call informing her that Yi Ran had given a child the wrong food, causing an allergic reaction and sending her to the hospital.

She immediately instructed her contacts to alert the media and spread ghost stories about the hotel. Lin Youjia blamed her for involving the media, arguing that this would only put Yi Ran in the spotlight. But Leng Yishu didn’t care—at worst, Yi Ran would be fired. Besides, wasn’t Lin Youjia also hoping for her to leave Quan Hai? The little girl with the mango allergy was out of danger but still needed observation. Xiao Mucheng repeatedly apologized to her mother.

Meanwhile, Lin Youjia found Yi Ran, who had been hiding away in guilt. She felt like she couldn’t do anything right and had now even brought trouble upon the hotel. Just then, a lawyer arrived with someone to speak with the little girl’s mother. They claimed to be fellow victims and wanted to seek justice together. These people were actually arranged by Leng Yishu—she was eager to see how Xiao Mucheng would protect Yi Ran.

The girl’s mother refused any discussion and demanded that Yi Ran be fired. Hearing this, many colleagues worried that Yi Ran would have to leave. They jointly wrote a petition to Xiao Mucheng, hoping to keep her. However, Yi Ran voluntarily submitted her resignation, knowing that she had to take responsibility for the incident. Xiao Mucheng decided to suspend her for now, saying that an official decision would be made in a couple of days.

Xiao Mucheng was unsure of the correct way to handle the situation. Only after being reminded did he realize that the child was also a guest of the hotel. He brought a gift to visit the little girl, but her mother was furious and immediately chased him away. The girl then told her mother that she had chosen the mango cake herself that day. Her mother, enraged, scolded her for causing unnecessary trouble.

In the end, she decided to settle things with the hotel. Yi Ran visited the little girl and asked her why she ate the cake when she knew she was allergic. The girl burst into tears, saying she only wanted her mother to pay more attention to her. She felt guilty for causing trouble for Yi Ran because, during this time, Yi Ran was the only one who had shown her any care.

With the misunderstanding resolved, Xiao Mucheng agreed to let Yi Ran stay at the hotel, though she still had to face consequences. Yi Ran’s salary for the month was deducted as punishment for violating hotel regulations. Yi Ran then received a call saying that her grandmother was missing. She immediately set out with Xiao Mucheng and Lin Youjia to search for her.

After a long search, they finally found her—she was going around asking strangers if they had seen “Ranran,” yet even when she saw Yi Ran, she didn’t recognize her. Her grandmother was safely returned to the nursing home. As Yi Ran ate the dumplings her grandmother had gone out to buy, she felt a deep sorrow in her heart. In reality, Yi Ran and her grandmother were not blood relatives.

Back when her family ran a guesthouse, the elderly woman was a long-term resident. Since she had no children, Yi Ran’s father gradually treated her like family. After losing her father, Yi Ran and her grandmother relied on each other for support. This was the first time Yi Ran had ever talked about her grandmother to Xiao Mucheng. His eyes gradually turned red as he recalled his own mother.

With tears streaming down her face, Yi Ran said that ever since her father passed, she would feel hungry very easily—eating had become her simplest way of showing love for herself. The next morning, Yi Ran woke up in Xiao Mucheng’s room. Panicking, she quickly put on her shoes and ran back to her dorm, unable to figure out why she had slept there in the first place.

Later, Xiao Lu and the others ganged up on Yi Ran, gossiping about her and Xiao Mucheng. Last night, Yi Ran had gotten so drunk that she tormented Xiao Mucheng for hours. Left with no choice, he had let her sleep in his room for the night.

Yi Ran was devastated after hearing about what she had done to Xiao Mucheng the night before—he must have wanted to kill her! However, everyone thought Xiao Mucheng seemed quite normal, except for the fact that he was doing whatever Yi Ran asked him to do. That was what seemed abnormal! They all assumed that the two of them were together; otherwise, Xiao Mucheng would have already kicked Yi Ran out. Xiao Mucheng had Yi Ran on his mind all day.

When she knocked on his office door, he pretended to be extremely busy. Yi Ran hoped he would just pretend nothing had happened the previous night—after all, who hasn’t been bitten by a dog before? Xiao Mucheng, on the other hand, had nowhere to vent his frustration and couldn’t even put his grievances into words.

No one wanted to take responsibility for editing short videos, so Xiao Mucheng assigned the task to Yi Ran, who was convinced that he was using his power for personal revenge. Determined to figure out what she had actually done to him, Yi Ran went to the security office to check the surveillance footage—only to discover that in the elevator that night, Xiao Mucheng had kissed her!

Yi Ran couldn’t quite make sense of it, but there was a trace of smugness on her face. That night, she lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to figure out why Xiao Mucheng had kissed her. So, she called him. Xiao Mucheng had been anxiously waiting for Yi Ran’s call, but before he could pick up, she hung up. When he called her back, she was so flustered that she turned off her phone.

Frustrated and unable to understand his own feelings, Xiao Mucheng told Yan Xu to accompany him to the gym in half an hour to blow off some steam. At a bar, Lin Youjia was drowning his sorrows and intended to call Yi Ran, but he accidentally dialed Leng Yishu instead. Leng Yishu rushed over to drink with him, and the two posted photos together on social media.

Yi Ran was in low spirits all day, unable to figure out why Xiao Mucheng had kissed her. After agonizing over it for hours, she finally went to his office, but Xiao Mucheng acted cold and distant, ignoring her. After hesitating for a while, Yi Ran left. Everyone assumed Lin Youjia and Leng Yishu were now together and that Yi Ran was just a backup option.

They gathered to comfort her, but Yi Ran was completely confused and quickly explained that she and Lin Youjia were childhood friends who had grown up as neighbors. Meanwhile, everyone was curious about why Old Cui, despite his age, was still working at the hotel. Old Cui revealed that he was waiting for his wife. Years ago, she had been sent to work in Europe and lost contact with him.

Later, his home was relocated, and the site became Quan Hai Hotel. Since then, he had stayed there, hoping that one day, his wife would return to find him. It was because of this story that Xiao Mucheng had made an exception and allowed Old Cui to keep working at the hotel. That day, a famous guest, Miss Bei, checked into Quan Hai. She was an astrology master with ten million followers.

Leng Yishu went to find Xiao Mucheng and insisted he treat her to a meal. When they arrived at the restaurant, they spotted Lin Youjia and Yi Ran dining together. Leng Yishu suggested that they all eat together, and Lin Youjia immediately sat beside Yi Ran. Xiao Mucheng was so angry that he was practically grinding his teeth to dust. In reality, Leng Yishu and Xiao Mucheng had also grown up together.

She even claimed that she knew exactly how many birthmarks Xiao Mucheng had on his backside. Hearing this, Yi Ran was instantly jealous. The two slammed the table and stormed off. Leng Yishu and Lin Youjia’s plan had failed, and they ended up having a huge argument. Miss Bei’s room was filled with flowers. She claimed they were gifts from her fans and that she didn’t want to disappoint them.

Xiao Mucheng visited her room to discuss the matter, but Miss Bei used the excuse that she had lost an earring and asked him to help her find it. While he was distracted, she suddenly hugged him from behind, startling him. Hearing about the situation, Yi Ran rushed over and pulled Xiao Mucheng away from Miss Bei.

Yi Ran was originally sent to talk to Miss Bei, but when she arrived at the door, she saw Miss Bei clinging tightly to Xiao Mucheng, refusing to let go. Without hesitation, she delivered a flying kick to rescue him. Although Xiao Mucheng was also furious, he could only apologize to the guest. Miss Bei explained that Xiao Mucheng looked a lot like a friend of hers.

Yi Ran was about to curse her out, but Xiao Mucheng forcibly dragged her away—no matter what, Miss Bei was still a guest. Yi Ran grumbled the whole way, calling Xiao Mucheng a “central air conditioner. ” Xiao Mucheng then told Yi Ran to hand over the video to Hua Jie the next day. Yi Ran stayed up all night to complete the task, only to be called again to deliver documents to him.

Xiao Mucheng took the documents from Chen Mo and brought them home from the hotel. Chen Mo emphasized how important the documents were, wearing an expression as if he were marching to his doom. When Xiao Mucheng saw Yi Ran arrive, he was noticeably happy and told her to amuse herself while he handled some matters. Yi Ran unknowingly dozed off and woke up to find herself on the sofa at Xiao Mucheng’s house.

Xiao Mucheng had prepared a feast and invited Yi Ran to stay for dinner as a reward for her hard work. Starving, Yi Ran immediately dug in, praising his sweet and sour pork, saying it was just as good as her father’s. As she ate, a warm feeling grew in her heart. She looked at Xiao Mucheng, wanting to bring up the incident in the elevator, but Xiao Mucheng simply said he had already forgotten about it.

Yi Ran hesitantly mumbled that she liked Xiao Mucheng. He repeatedly confirmed he hadn’t misheard. Xiao Mucheng didn’t reject Yi Ran because he, too, had proven that he liked her as well. Meanwhile, Lin Youjia was discussing investment matters when he overheard that Leng Yishu was also entertaining clients next door. She had been drinking heavily, toasting one executive after another just to secure a contract. With no other choice, she excused herself to the restroom.

Unhappy with what he heard, Lin Youjia ordered a large amount of alcohol and walked into the private room—if they liked drinking so much, then he would drink with them. By the time Leng Yishu returned, the other executives had already been sent away, leaving only Lin Youjia behind. Leng Yishu had had too much to drink, so Lin Youjia stayed to take care of her.

She had always believed that Xiao Mucheng was the most perfect person she knew, someone who naturally belonged to her. However, Lin Youjia argued that she didn’t actually like Xiao Mucheng. To help her understand what it really felt like to like someone, he leaned in close—at that moment, both of them could hear each other’s heartbeats. Later, while Lin Youjia was driving Leng Yishu home, she sat in the passenger seat, still drunk.

Suddenly, she grabbed his face and kissed him. That night, after confirming their relationship, neither Xiao Mucheng nor Yi Ran could fall asleep. Lin Youjia brought Leng Yishu back to the hotel, and as he looked at her lips, he felt a slight urge. The next morning, Xiao Mucheng had breakfast delivered to Yi Ran, making her heart swell with happiness. Leng Yishu woke up with a hangover and found her face covered in doodles drawn by Lin Youjia.

At that moment, Lin Youjia was taking a shower. Realizing she was in his home, she was completely shocked. Since the employee handbook strictly prohibited workplace romances, Yi Ran was terrified of anyone finding out about their relationship. However, Xiao Mucheng constantly took advantage of their alone time to get close to her. Lin Youjia originally planned to have a serious conversation with Leng Yishu about the previous night, but she didn’t want to hear it.

Meanwhile, Quan Hai’s chairman—Xiao Mucheng’s father—arrived. As soon as Leng Yishu heard about it, she rushed over, seeing him as her trump card. Xiao Mucheng’s father had always regarded Leng Yishu as his daughter-in-law. However, Xiao Mucheng firmly told him that he already had someone he liked. Unwilling to accept this, Leng Yishu declared that whether or not Xiao Mucheng liked her was irrelevant—what mattered was that she liked him.

To confirm her feelings, she leaned in close, only to realize that her heart wasn’t racing. Unwilling to give up, she attempted to forcibly kiss him—only to be caught by Yi Ran, who angrily threw a rag at them and stormed off. Xiao Mucheng immediately ran after her to explain. Yi Ran went to visit her grandmother, who, despite her poor memory, still deeply cared about her.

However, when her grandmother brought up Yi Ran’s mother, Yi Ran became resistant—because of her parents’ divorce, she had never been able to understand her mother. At the hotel, Xiao Mucheng’s father was smoking when Yi Ran appeared and put out his cigarette, firmly stating that no one, no matter who they were, had special privileges. Furious, Xiao Mucheng’s father demanded that his son fire her. However, Xiao Mucheng stood his ground and refused.

Xiao Lu rushed over in shock, saying that Xiao Mucheng had just been bullied by an old man and had even been slapped hard. Yi Ran immediately grabbed a bottle of wine and rushed over without saying a word. Xiao Lu thought it over and decided to gather more people, not wanting Yi Ran to suffer any harm. Xiao Mucheng and his father, Xiao Fu, had a confrontation over Yi Ran.

Yi Ran barged in with the wine bottle to defend Xiao Mucheng. Xiao Mucheng quickly stopped her and informed her about Xiao Fu's identity. Yi Ran quickly changed her expression to a smile. Xiao Fu was very dissatisfied with Yi Ran and demanded that she leave, but Xiao Mucheng firmly disagreed, stating that if Yi Ran were to leave, he would leave with her. Yi Ran left the room feeling downcast and uncertain. In the hallway, she encountered a woman.

Upon seeing her face clearly, Yi Ran froze. A little boy jumped around, calling her "Mommy. " Yi Ran was stunned—it was her long-lost mother. Leng Yishu realized that whenever she got close to Lin Youjia, her heart would race. However, she didn’t want to admit that she liked him, so she angrily splashed him with a bottle of water. While Yi Ran was cleaning, a little girl passed by and got her clothes dirty with soap water.

The girl angrily blamed Yi Ran, and her mother quickly arrived to deal with the situation. When Yi Ran saw her face, she quickly turned her head, not wanting to be recognized. Yi Ran offered to wash the clothes or buy her a new one, but the little girl continued to complain. Xiao Mucheng arrived to handle the situation, and the mother recognized Yi Ran.

Later, Yi Ran's mother specifically came to confirm her identity and cried, saying she had left the family out of necessity. Yi Ran’s mother had been gone for over twenty years, and since she left, Yi Ran had no mother. Xiao Lu overheard their conversation by chance and was greatly surprised, feeling sympathetic for Yi Ran. Xiao Mucheng overheard the conversation as well and was deeply shocked.

Leng Yishu came to offer favors to Xiao Fu, and Xiao Fu wanted to arrange a meeting with her father to discuss matters. He also mentioned that she was someone he approved of. After offending the chairman, Yi Ran unexpectedly met her biological mother. Feeling distressed, she went to a food stall to drink away her troubles, stubbornly saying that she didn’t matter to herself and that the woman wasn’t her real family.

After drinking, she woke up and found Xiao Mucheng sitting next to her. Xiao Mucheng had learned about Yi Ran’s mother and decided to take her to a place to vent. Yi Ran’s mind was filled with the images of her mother leaving and her father being taken away by an ambulance. In the end, she cried in Xiao Mucheng’s arms for a long time.

After venting, Yi Ran felt much better but still worried that Xiao Mucheng might be put in a difficult position by Xiao Fu because of her. At worst, she would leave, but Xiao Mucheng vowed to protect her with all his strength. Everyone was gossiping about Miss Bei when they noticed Yi Ran and still showed concern for her. Yi Ran nodded and then called Xiao Lu over to chat privately.

To secure an investment from Beisman, Xiao Mucheng was exhausting all his efforts to devise a plan. Yi Ran was called by Xiao Fu to help at the restaurant, and after confirming, she rushed over. Xiao Fu had arranged to have dinner with Leng Yishu’s parents and invited Xiao Mucheng as well. Yi Ran was specifically assigned as the server. Seeing this, Xiao Mucheng became anxious and refused to let Yi Ran serve, but it was to no avail.

Yi Ran, with a serious face, helped them set the table and watched as both families discussed their matters. Xiao Mucheng quickly took him out. Yi Ran didn’t want to be caught in the middle like this. Xiao Mucheng’s attitude had been ambiguous—was it really so hard to clear things up face to face? Lin Youjia’s true target was Quan Hai, and he had been plotting against him all along. Yi Ran, feeling frustrated, went to the beach to walk.

When Lin Youjia received a message from Leng Yishu, he rushed over to comfort her. Yi Ran thought they were sympathizing with each other, but Lin Youjia’s real target had always been Yi Ran. Yi Ran was called by the little girl to clean the room, but the girl deliberately caused trouble, trying to make Yi Ran’s job more difficult. Yi Ran could no longer tolerate it. Yi Ran's mother discovered what was happening and slapped her daughter.

She said she wanted to talk to Yi Ran and that they were going to leave the next day. Yi Ran’s mother said she would leave the next day and probably wouldn’t come back. She wanted to take Yi Ran with her to start a new life. Yi Ran had been waiting for this moment for a long time, but it was now too late.

On the day Yi Ran's mother left, Yi Ran did not show up. Xiao Mucheng held a box, saying that Yi Ran had entrusted him to pass it on. While cleaning the room, Yi Ran found a letter left by her mother. In the letter, she wrote that she was not a perfect mother. She married for happiness, and she divorced for the same reason.

At that time, she and Yi Ran’s father constantly argued, and she did not want to be trapped in that situation. After the divorce, she had no stable place to live, so she was unable to take Yi Ran with her. She did not expect Yi Ran to forgive her but hoped that Yi Ran would never doubt her love. Yi Ran's mother also left her a bank card, knowing how exhausting it was to survive in society.

She hoped that this money would help Yi Ran live a better life. Standing on the rooftop, Yi Ran read the letter, tears streaming down her face. Miss Bei suddenly appeared and, noticing Yi Ran's distress, remarked that she must be facing her own challenges. Miss Bei said that the only person who could heal her was herself. After Miss Bei left, Yi Ran chose to throw away the bank card. Yi Ran went to visit her grandmother.

Her mother was doing well, with a new family and a daughter. Now, Yi Ran had come to terms with everything. The night before, Miss Bei had placed a wreath in the hallway, causing complaints to flood in. Hearing that Miss Bei had gone to the rooftop again, Yi Ran rushed up in panic, fearing she might be thinking of ending things. However, Miss Bei was not there to jump.

Three years ago on this day, she met her boyfriend there, and they had a wonderful time together. But later, he disappeared, and they never saw each other again. Over the years, Miss Bei never gave up trying to use fortune-telling to find him, but now she had finally let go. Yi Ran was deeply moved and went to ask Xiao Mucheng for help in finding her lost lover.

Yi Ran believed that love should not be left unresolved, even if the reason for separation seemed ridiculous. These words were also meant for Xiao Mucheng to hear. Chen Mo brought news about Beisman, but Xiao Mucheng was extremely cautious—he didn’t believe in free lunches. Yi Ran’s friend, Pan Yiyi, kept facing obstacles in pursuing her dreams, while her mother constantly called to pressure her into marriage. Unable to handle the stress, she fainted.

Yi Ran, who had been searching for a wedding planner named Huang Jiawei, rushed to the hospital upon hearing that Pan Yiyi had collapsed and scolded her for singing during the day and live streaming at night without caring about her health. Pan Yiyi, feeling low, simply said she wanted to eat and asked Yi Ran to buy her some food.

Xiao Mucheng sent people to find Huang Jiawei and, before Miss Bei left, brought the wheelchair-bound Huang Jiawei in front of her. The reason Huang Jiawei disappeared was that he had been diagnosed with ALS and didn’t want to burden Miss Bei. However, for Miss Bei, having him by her side was the most important thing. Xiao Mucheng made a special trip to the hospital to visit Huang Jiawei and persuaded him to meet Miss Bei.

Xiao Mucheng suggested that Yi Ran try out the resort’s activities as a way to relax while he handled the other matters. That evening, while Yi Ran was tidying up her room, Lin Youjia arrived with a cake she liked. Upon hearing that Yi Ran was going to experience the resort’s activities, Lin Youjia immediately decided to tag along.

The next day, when Xiao Mucheng heard that Lin Youjia had taken Yi Ran away, he became furious and decided to go after them himself. However, he ran into Xiao Fu and Leng Yishu. Xiao Fu suggested that Leng Yishu accompany Xiao Mucheng on the trip. The four of them met at the resort, creating an incredibly awkward atmosphere.

Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran bickered with each other, while Lin Youjia and Leng Yishu decided to wait for the right moment to act. Xiao Fu had not expected all four of them to go together. He didn’t necessarily insist on Xiao Mucheng being with Leng Yishu—he just wanted to see whether Xiao Mucheng would stick to his choice.

That night, Xiao Mucheng sneakily came to Yi Ran’s room to ask for a disposable toothbrush, making several trips back and forth until Yi Ran got annoyed. Meanwhile, Lin Youjia was worried about Xiao Mucheng, fearing that this troublemaker would get too close to Yi Ran. The next day, when they went out to play, Xiao Mucheng shoved Yi Ran into the back seat and took the passenger seat next to Lin Youjia.

Xiao Mucheng, Leng Yishu, Yi Ran, and Lin Youjia went out together in pairs. However, Xiao Mucheng kept inching closer to Yi Ran, while Leng Yishu and Lin Youjia did their best to separate them. Along the way, they saw people dancing. Lin Youjia, reminiscing about his childhood, grabbed Yi Ran and rushed into the crowd. Seeing this, Xiao Mucheng also pulled Leng Yishu in to dance. Suddenly, it started to rain.

Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran took shelter together, while Leng Yishu and Lin Youjia got separated from them, much to Xiao Mucheng’s relief. Meanwhile, Leng Yishu and Lin Youjia found themselves in two separate tents, blaming each other for the situation. Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran heard about the legend of the "Lover’s Lock" here, which was said to be very effective. An enthusiastic vendor tried hard to sell them one, but Yi Ran refused.

Eventually, after much insistence, Xiao Mucheng had no choice but to buy one. When the rain stopped, Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran hung the Lover’s Lock together. Meanwhile, Lin Youjia twisted his ankle as he came out of the tent, and Leng Yishu took him back. Leng Yishu then asked Yi Ran to help massage Lin Youjia’s ankle. Seeing this, Xiao Mucheng’s eyes practically burned with anger.

Without saying a word, he replaced Yi Ran and grabbed Lin Youjia’s legs, as if ready to teach him a lesson. That evening, each of the four prepared a dish. Xiao Mucheng and Lin Youjia fought over Yi Ran’s fish balls, while Leng Yishu’s premium salmon was left untouched. At the same time, Gao Xu and her assistant checked into Quanhai Hotel.

A fan of Miss Bei was taking photos as a keepsake but accidentally captured Gao Xu in the background. The assistant made a scene, demanding the fan delete the photo, but Gao Xu stepped in to resolve the matter. In reality, Gao Xu was a fading actress. Though she appeared kind and approachable, the truth was that many celebrities and their assistants played the classic good-cop, bad-cop routine—one acting friendly while the other stirred up trouble.

Leng Yishu confided in Yi Ran, admitting that she was jealous of her—of her free-spirited nature and carefree attitude. In return, Yi Ran admitted that she, too, envied Leng Yishu, who was seen as the ideal wealthy and beautiful woman, while she herself had nothing. Leng Yishu envied that Yi Ran had Xiao Mucheng and even asked if she could give him up. But Yi Ran refused—he was someone she couldn't give away.

At that moment, Leng Yishu finally understood Lin Youjia’s feelings. They were just two clowns suffering the same fate. The hotel receptionist informed Gao Xu that the restaurant was now empty, so she could go down to eat. She and her assistant finally headed downstairs, unaware that someone was following them. Yi Ran and Lin Youjia visited her grandmother, bringing a foot bath as a gift.

However, the grandmother mistook Lin Youjia for Xiao Mucheng, saying that Xiao Mucheng had been visiting often and even giving her massages. Yi Ran also bought vitamins for Pan Yiyi, reminding her to take care of herself. However, Pan Yiyi revealed that she wanted to leave—she was tired and no longer had the strength to keep drifting. What once seemed like a cool dream now felt like a joke.

Seeing that Pan Yiyi had already made up her mind, Yi Ran felt sorry for her but didn’t try to stop her. Meanwhile, Xiao Fu took Yi Ran to a private collection room. He coldly remarked that she and Xiao Mucheng came from completely different worlds—like the clouds and the mud. To him, Xiao Mucheng’s feelings for her were nothing more than a fleeting novelty.

At the same time, Lin Youjia, as the head of Beisman, entered negotiations with Quanhai, offering very tempting terms. However, Xiao Mucheng rejected them once again. Chen Mo was growing concerned—if things dragged on any longer, Xiao Mucheng might not be able to hold onto Quanhai.

Yi Ran wasn’t interested in Gao Xu; she was more focused on the upcoming evaluation and even considered that having a part-time job might not be a bad idea. During dinner, she deliberately picked up a knife and fork to give them a try. After all, Xiao Fu had mentioned that Xiao Mucheng had been using them since childhood, but Yi Ran clearly wasn’t used to it.

Gao Xu attended a brand event, and while inviting fans on stage for a group photo, a crazed fan suddenly rushed up and harassed her. Xiao Mucheng stepped in to restrain the person and protect Gao Xu, but in the process, he was hit by a falling advertisement board and sent to the hospital. Xiao Lu, upon hearing the news, rushed in a panic to inform Yi Ran.

When Yi Ran arrived at the hospital, a nurse told her that the injuries were severe and that they had done their best. Yi Ran cried by his bedside for a long time. But then, Xiao Mucheng suddenly appeared in a wheelchair—it turned out that the person the nurse was talking about had also been hit by the falling board, but unfortunately for him, his was much larger.

Yi Ran let out a sigh of relief and scolded Xiao Mucheng for recklessly charging in, unable to hide the worry in her eyes. When she saw the blood-stained white bedsheet earlier, she had been absolutely terrified. Xiao Mucheng held her tightly and promised that nothing would ever separate them. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Xiao Mucheng was fine.

However, they couldn't help but wonder—Gao Xu had been out of the limelight for quite some time, so where did such an obsessed fan come from? The incident had already gone viral, and the internet was flooded with news about Gao Xu. While helping to clean Gao Xu’s room, Yi Ran noticed a black plastic bag and assumed it was trash. But when the assistant saw her holding it, she immediately snatched it away and threatened her to leave.

Yi Ran caught a glimpse inside—it was filled with cash. Suspicious, Yi Ran secretly followed the assistant into the stairwell and discovered that everything had been orchestrated by Gao Xu’s team to build a public persona for her. Yi Ran recorded their misconduct, but when they realized what she had done, they desperately chased after her, and the commotion led them all back to Gao Xu’s room.

Gao Xu offered Yi Ran a price to stay quiet, but Yi Ran was unfazed. She pointed out how much damage this had done to the hotel’s reputation. Yi Ran demanded that Gao Xu publicly reveal the truth and apologize to the hotel—after all, Xiao Mucheng was still lying in the hospital because he had tried to protect her! However, Gao Xu had no intention of apologizing.

She argued that everyone in the industry operated this way, all in pursuit of fame and fortune. Yi Ran later visited Xiao Mucheng in the hospital and told him the truth, but he didn’t want her to get involved. The two playfully wrestled on the hospital bed, and at that moment, Leng Yishu arrived carrying flowers to visit Xiao Mucheng. Seeing the intimate scene, she turned and left in disappointment. That night, Leng Yishu ran into Lin Youjia at a bar.

Although she was in a terrible mood, she convinced herself that even without a man, she could still live an exciting life. After being discharged from the hospital and returning to the hotel, Xiao Mucheng learned that Gao Xu had announced her retirement from the entertainment industry. Yi Ran encountered Gao Xu by the seaside. Gao Xu opened up about her past, revealing that she had been reflecting deeply on her life these past few days.

In the end, she decided to move forward. Yi Ran sought out Xiao Fu—she had something to say to him. She declared her decision to stand by her relationship with Xiao Mucheng and vowed never to let go so easily. Gao Xu left the hotel, while Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran, watching her departure, felt a sense of understanding. They believed that Gao Xu’s future would only get better. Meanwhile, Pan Yiyi had decided to return home.

That night marked her final livestream. She sang of her unyielding dreams in front of the camera, refusing to stop even as the rain poured down. Before leaving, Pan Yiyi gifted her guitar to Yi Ran as a keepsake. Yi Ran was reluctant to part with her, but she knew she had no power to make her stay. The only thing she could do was respect her decision.

Yi Ran saw Pan Yiyi off as she got into the car, and the two reluctantly bid farewell. Sitting in the car, Pan Yiyi couldn’t hold back her tears. She had accepted her fate, but she hoped Yi Ran wouldn’t do the same—that she would persist in chasing her dreams and keep moving forward. On the way, Pan Yiyi received a call from Yi Ran.

It turned out that Pan Yiyi’s livestream from the previous night had gone viral, and suddenly, there was a chance for a turnaround. Leng Yishu asked Xiao Mucheng to take a walk with her that evening. There was something she had always wanted to say to him face-to-face. Leng Yishu had once liked Xiao Mucheng and always believed that he liked her as well.

She had quietly waited for his confession, convinced that they were the only ones truly meant for each other. But now, she finally realized that what she felt wasn’t real love. To her, Xiao Mucheng was a great rival, a great friend—nothing more. She let go of him completely. Pan Yiyi’s livestream had taken off, and suddenly, she had many fans. The version of herself who stayed behind was no longer alone.

Yi Ran and Lin Youjia went to the beach they used to visit as children. Lin Youjia had thought he would have a lot to say to her, but at that moment, his mind went blank. On the surface, Yi Ran seemed brave and strong, but deep down, she was actually very lonely. In the end, Lin Youjia decided to stay by her side and be her best friend.

At the hotel, Lao Cui was grabbed by a guest, who accused him of drinking his liquor. Lao Cui denied it, and when Xiao Mucheng arrived to handle the situation, the guest continued to curse and cause trouble. Frustrated, Xiao Mucheng decided to fire Lao Cui. Yi Ran was upset about the situation, but Lao Cui reassured her that he had chosen to leave on his own. He was already seventy-two years old—it was time for him to step away.

Lao Cui didn’t want them to misunderstand Xiao Mucheng. He was a good person and had always treated them like family. Realizing she had wrongly blamed Xiao Mucheng, Yi Ran quickly brought him a late-night snack as an apology and even handed him a "universal coupon," allowing him to ask for anything he wanted. Xiao Mucheng requested a massage, and Yi Ran reluctantly agreed, massaging him for a long time—only for the whole situation to end with her feeling annoyed.

Suddenly, Quan Hai started receiving a flood of negative reviews. Many guests were deliberately causing trouble, and the online buzz was spiraling out of control. Xiao Mucheng decided to take a calm approach and prepare internally for further developments. Investigating the security footage, Xiao Mucheng noticed a familiar-looking man. He was the head of a PR firm, and among the companies behind him was Teng Yue.

Xiao Mucheng was convinced this wasn’t a coincidence and stormed into Lin Youjia’s home, demanding to know what he was trying to do. Lin Youjia, caught off guard, was completely clueless—he had no reason to go after Quan Hai. When Lin Youjia called to investigate, he found out that it had all been orchestrated by his father. Xiao Fu and Chairman Lin met in person—they were old acquaintances.

Years ago, when Quan Hai was founded, Chairman Lin had been involved, but due to differences in business philosophy, he eventually left and made his fortune in real estate. Over the years, he had kept a watchful eye on Quan Hai. This time, Chairman Lin had returned to force Quan Hai into a partnership with Teng Yue. Xiao Fu understood that it was because of an old grudge, but even so, Chairman Lin had no intention of reconciliation.

Lin Youjia confronted Chairman Lin, questioning his actions. They had agreed that he would be in charge of Quan Hai’s affairs, so why was he suddenly retracting that decision? Chairman Lin berated him, calling him useless and incapable. Recently, Xiao Mucheng had been exhausted from handling the crisis at Quan Hai. To help him recover, Yi Ran specially ordered herbal flower tea to restore his energy. Yi Ran suggested working with local fruit farmers to hold events that would attract customers.

Xiao Mucheng thought it was a great idea—she had a keen business mind. The next day, Yi Ran had an important interview. She stayed up late reviewing in Xiao Mucheng’s office, and the two of them worked side by side. The following morning, Xiao Mucheng held Yi Ran’s hand as he walked her to her interview. However, they soon learned that Xiao Fu had convened a board meeting regarding Teng Yue’s acquisition of Quan Hai.

Chairman Lin intended to buy out Quan Hai and transform it into a smart hotel, reducing human staff by 90%. Yi Ran performed excellently in her interview, but in the end, she still failed—on Xiao Fu’s orders. Xiao Mucheng was devastated to learn that Xiao Fu planned to sell Quan Hai to Teng Yue. To him, Quan Hai was more than just a hotel—it was a legacy built by him and his late mother.

Xiao Fu had once promised to protect it, but now, he had broken that promise. In anger, Xiao Fu slapped Xiao Mucheng, arguing that despite his recent improvements to Quan Hai, it was still no match for modern smart hotels. Heartbroken and disappointed in his father, Xiao Mucheng walked away. When he learned about Yi Ran’s interview results, she tried her best to hide her disappointment. Seeing her like this, Xiao Mucheng suggested they take a vacation to unwind—and get a hotel room together.

Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran arrived at the smart hotel together. The entire way, Yi Ran nervously stared at her toes while walking. There was only one type of room available. Xiao Mucheng told Yi Ran to sleep on the bed while he took the sofa, but Yi Ran flatly refused. It wasn’t like they hadn’t shared a bed before, and besides, wasn’t the bed big enough for both of them?

That night, the two of them lay on opposite sides of the bed, staring at each other. Yi Ran suggested that since they couldn’t sleep, they should have a drink together. As the alcohol took effect, Yi Ran started crying, lamenting her failed interview—she was so frustrated she wanted to quit everything and leave. Xiao Mucheng wouldn’t let her go. No one was allowed to leave. Yi Ran didn’t understand—what exactly was he holding on to?

Xiao Mucheng answered, "Quan Hai is proof that my mother once existed. It holds my memories. If Quan Hai disappears, then the traces of my mother will disappear too. "Hearing this, Yi Ran deeply empathized with him and firmly declared that she would help him protect Quan Hai. Touched by her words, Xiao Mucheng leaned in and kissed her. After a passionate night, the next morning, Xiao Mucheng was startled awake by Yi Ran, who hadn’t slept a wink.

Xiao Mucheng had trouble sleeping in an unfamiliar environment and had spent the night grinding his teeth and snoring. When Leng Yishu heard about Teng Yue’s plan to acquire Quan Hai, she immediately sensed that things weren’t as simple as they seemed. Meanwhile, Xiao Mucheng asked Yi Ran how she felt about last night’s experience. Yi Ran felt awkward—was this really the right place to talk about such things? Flustered, she vaguely replied, "Good energy, but poor endurance.

"However, Xiao Mucheng completely misunderstood her, thinking she was critiquing the hotel experience. He began to complain about the hotel’s shortcomings, and only then did Yi Ran realize—he had been talking about the hotel all along! As they chatted, they overheard an elderly man grumbling about how this hotel was completely unsuitable for seniors. Leng Yishu, convinced that Lin Youjia was using public affairs for personal revenge, stormed over and gave him a beating.

Lin Youjia shrieked in protest, insisting that this was all his father’s doing! To make things worse, Lin Youjia’s father had also frozen his credit card. Yi Ran proposed an idea—to sell the same mattresses and pillows used at Quan Hai, turning the hotel into a showroom with an e-commerce strategy. Xiao Mucheng was thrilled by her creativity. Just then, Xiao Mucheng received word that Xiao Fu would be officially signing the contract with Teng Yue the next morning.

Without hesitation, he swapped seats with Yi Ran and moved to the front passenger seat to start drafting a proposal. The next day, before Xiao Fu could finalize the deal with Teng Yue, Xiao Mucheng stood up and fought for a chance. He laid out the disadvantages of smart hotels and presented a new project plan, asking for three months to prove himself. Although he managed to secure this opportunity, public opinion online remained negative.

Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran sought out Lin Youjia, who confessed that his original assignment had been to sideline Quan Hai—but he had no idea why. Yi Ran hoped Lin Youjia could help, but he was powerless in this situation. However, when it came to PR crises, Bo Can was the real expert. With that, everyone dedicated themselves to saving Quan Hai. Three months later.

Xiao Mucheng had indeed achieved some results, but Lin Youjia’s father still wouldn’t give up—he was determined to take over Quan Hai. Although profits had improved, they hadn’t reached the level Xiao Mucheng had promised. He refused help from Lin Youjia and Leng Yishu, and Yi Ran didn’t know what to say either. But she believed—so long as there was no despair today, there would still be hope tomorrow. Xiao Fu felt that the outcome was inevitable.

Though he was reluctant, times had changed, and they needed to look forward. That evening, Xiao Fu attended Chairman Yu and his wife’s golden wedding anniversary banquet. It brought back memories of his time with his own wife—how they had built Quan Hai together, and how, before she passed away, she had entrusted him with taking care of Xiao Mucheng and protecting Quan Hai. After the banquet, Yi Ran approached Xiao Fu. She had something she wanted to say to him.

Xiao Mucheng’s project did not meet expectations. At the board meeting, he still hoped that everyone would give Quan Hai a chance. During the vote, Xiao Fu cast a veto vote against the acquisition. As the founder of Quan Hai, he had the right to a final say. Lin Fu was stunned and tried to incite the board members, but Xiao Fu countered with solid data, proving that Xiao Mucheng’s project was effective.

As a father, he had to support his son. Furious, Lin Fu stormed out, only to learn that over the past few months, his own son, Lin Youjia, had been helping Quan Hai by introducing valuable resources to them. That night, everyone celebrated together. Xiao Mucheng sincerely thanked Leng Yishu and Lin Youjia. If it weren’t for Lin Youjia bringing in resources and Leng Yishu handling public relations, his journey would have been much more difficult.

Xiao Fu prepared two bowls of noodles and sat down to eat with Xiao Mucheng. Tears welled up in Xiao Mucheng’s eyes—the taste reminded him of his mother. Xiao Fu admitted that it was his wife who had taught him how to cook, but after they got married, he never cooked again. Xiao Mucheng asked why Xiao Fu had changed his mind.

Xiao Fu recounted what Yi Ran had said to him that night—she reminded him of Xiao Mucheng’s mother, bold and determined. No wonder Xiao Mucheng liked her. However, Xiao Mucheng couldn’t afford to let his guard down. If he couldn’t meet his targets on time, Xiao Fu wouldn’t be able to justify it to the shareholders. Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Fu suddenly collapsed to the ground.

Meanwhile, Lin Fu went to confront Lin Youjia but got so enraged that his high blood pressure acted up, landing him in the hospital as well. At the hospital, Lin Fu overheard Xiao Mucheng scolding Xiao Fu next door, reminding him not to eat so much sugar, as he was well aware of his high blood sugar. Lin Fu pulled back the curtain—what a coincidence!

Xiao Fu, with just a few words, infuriated Lin Fu even more, nearly sending him into another episode. Later, Xiao Mucheng and Yi Ran went on a date. He told her he had reserved a restaurant for the next evening and invited her to celebrate together. With Lin Fu back home to recover and the issues at Quan Hai settled, Leng Yishu asked Lin Youjia about his future plans.

Lin Youjia hadn’t decided yet, but he was sure he wouldn’t stay here. Without warning, Leng Yishu threw herself into his arms, saying, “Consider this my farewell gift. ”Yi Ran dressed up carefully for the dinner at the restaurant Xiao Mucheng had reserved. Throughout the meal, Xiao Mucheng hesitated, struggling to bring up what he wanted to say. Finally, he confessed—her interview rejection had been his doing.

He had felt that Yi Ran shouldn’t be tied down to the housekeeping department. Yi Ran then revealed that she was leaving for a while. She had made a promise to Xiao Fu—he believed that if she and Xiao Mucheng wanted a long-term future together, they needed to work hard for it. Xiao Fu had arranged for her to study abroad for two years, and she had agreed. She hoped Xiao Mucheng would support her decision.

After much internal struggle, Xiao Mucheng eventually agreed. He had always believed Yi Ran deserved a bigger stage than just the housekeeping department. Before leaving, Yi Ran visited her grandmother. Seeing her memory improving, Yi Ran found herself reluctant to go. Sensing this, Grandma pretended to be confused again, acting as though she had forgotten Yi Ran, hoping she would pursue her dreams. But after Yi Ran left, Grandma couldn’t hold back her tears.

Xiao Mucheng suggested visiting Yi Ran’s childhood home, so she took him to the place filled with memories from her past. The house was overflowing with nostalgia. Sitting by the fire on the terrace, Yi Ran told Xiao Mucheng stories from her childhood—how no matter the weather, no matter how late she came home, there was always someone waiting for her. Meanwhile, Leng Yishu decided to take a trip. At the airport, she unexpectedly ran into Lin Youjia again.

Two people with no set destination decided to travel together, and naturally, Leng Yishu linked arms with Lin Youjia. Before Yi Ran left for her studies abroad, Xiao Mucheng had planned to see her off. However, an important client visit came up, which was crucial to Quan Hai’s evaluation. Left with no choice, he asked Chen Mo to take Yi Ran to the airport instead. Everyone gathered to bid farewell to Yi Ran.

She pretended to be indifferent, but once in the car, her eyes turned red from crying, cursing Xiao Mucheng under her breath. However, the "driver" couldn’t take it anymore—because it was Xiao Mucheng himself. He had planned to surprise Yi Ran at the airport, only to be insulted by her the whole way there. Yi Ran felt wronged—why did he have to be so dramatic? After a reluctant goodbye, Yi Ran left for her studies abroad.

In the following months, Xiao Mucheng balanced work and taking care of Grandma. However, because of the time difference, he and Yi Ran struggled to stay in touch. Every time they started talking, the call would be cut short. A year later, at the prestigious hotel awards ceremony, Quan Hai won first place. The moment he received the trophy, Xiao Mucheng snapped a photo to send to Yi Ran. But he waited and waited, and Yi Ran never replied.

Instead, Leng Yishu and Lin Youjia returned, shamelessly showing off their love in front of him and even handing him a wedding invitation. Xiao Mucheng was so jealous he nearly flipped the table. Noticing his expression, Leng Yishu and Lin Youjia fanned the flames, saying that Yi Ran was living alone abroad and probably having a hard time—plus, wasn’t she known for getting bored easily and moving on?

The new marketing manager assigned by the group was set to arrive in an hour, but there was no available information about them yet. Meanwhile, Xiao Mucheng still had no word from Yi Ran. Frustrated, he stared at his phone for a long time. An hour later, Xiao Fu arrived at Quan Hai with Yi Ran, who had just returned from studying abroad. And she was the new marketing manager.

Xiao Mucheng glared at Yi Ran, nearly grinding his teeth to dust. He asked why she hadn’t told him she was coming back. Maintaining a strictly professional demeanor, Yi Ran coolly replied that she had work to do and could discuss personal matters after office hours. After work, Yi Ran dressed up as Santa Claus and brought back little mementos of their shared memories for Xiao Mucheng. Xiao Mucheng wanted to know why she had suddenly disappeared months ago.

Yi Ran didn’t answer. Instead, she ran off and returned wearing a wedding dress—proposing to Xiao Mucheng. This past year, she had been incredibly busy, studying day and night to finish two years’ worth of coursework in just one year—just so she could come back to him sooner. Choking up, Xiao Mucheng knelt on one knee, raised a ring, and, in front of their friends and family, sealed their love with a vow.

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