Episode Summary
Tang Zhenmin and Liu Xiaoling fake a suicide attempt to force their families' approval, but it backfires. He Jiahuan and her new neighbor, Fang Tao, grow closer through shared meals, despite his past marriage. Yan Hongyu and He Jiaxi fall in love. Liu Meixin starts a successful pickle business.
Spoiler Alert
Family drama and new romances are brewing! Zhang Qiufang is in a dilemma. She's happy that her youngest, Tang Zhenmin, has found love with Liu Xiaoling, but she's worried about their future. Knowing Xiaoling's headstrong personality, Qiufang fears the young couple might not be ready for the hardships of life. She seeks advice from He Jiali, only to discover that Zhenmin and Xiaoling are already living together.
Desperate to get her family's approval, Xiaoling takes a dangerous gamble. She and Zhenmin stage a fake suicide attempt by carbon monoxide poisoning. The plan backfires, and Zhenmin ends up unconscious from the fumes. Luckily, Jiali and others arrive in time to save him. Witnessing the depth of their love, Jiali and Qiufang finally relent and agree to let them date freely.
Meanwhile, He Jiahuan, living a solitary life in her dormitory, survives on a simple diet of porridge and pickles due to her lack of cooking skills. Her quiet routine is disrupted by a new neighbor, Fang Tao, who works for the Grain Bureau's transport team. Initially, Jiahuan is annoyed by the noise from Fang Tao moving in. However, his considerate nature—pausing his moving and patiently waiting on the stairs until Jiahuan's nap is over—wins her over.
Fang Tao's culinary skills further impress Jiahuan. Noticing she hasn't been cooking, he prepares a delicious meal and brings it to her door. Grateful, Jiahuan invites him to share the meal. They enjoy the food and each other's company, with Jiahuan even pouring them both drinks. He Jiawen, Jiahuan's second sister, arrives with food and notices a change in her sister behavior around Fang Tao. She makes a mental note to have her husband, Chen Weiguo, investigate Fang Tao.
Love is in the air as Xiaoling and Zhenmin's wedding finally arrives. Friends and family gather to celebrate the happy couple, dancing the night away at the reception. Jiali toasts Qiufang, acknowledging her as a mother figure and asking her to look after Xiaoling. Qiufang readily agrees, understanding that despite Xiaoling's stubbornness, she has a good heart.
Yan Hongyu can't get He Jiaxi out of his mind after their first encounter. He urges his mother, Wang Huaimin, to play matchmaker. While Huaimin has reservations about Jiaxi being spoiled, she agrees to help her son. She casually chats with Jiaxi the next day, subtly mentioning her son to gauge Jiaxi's interest. Jiaxi doesn't give a clear answer, but the sparkle in her eyes reveals her feelings.
Hongyu seizes the opportunity to confess his feelings to Jiaxi while delivering apples. The two quickly fall in love, sharing movie dates and supporting each other. Hongyu's gentle nature brings Jiaxi unprecedented happiness, while Jiaxi's vibrant personality brightens Hongyu's life. Huaimin, seeing their happiness, happily takes on the role of their matchmaker.
Chen Weiguo, following his wife's request, discreetly investigates Fang Tao's background. He discovers that Fang Tao has a failed marriage in his past. Jiawen hesitates to tell her older sister but eventually decides to talk to Jiahuan directly. She reveals Fang Tao's past, but Jiahuan is unfazed. She believes that past experiences don't define a person's future, and what matters is Fang Tao's current character. Jiawen, seeing her sister's resolve, advises her to get to know Fang Tao better before making any decisions.
Jiahuan and Fang Tao agree to become "meal buddies," with one cooking and the other making rice, further strengthening their bond. Jiahuan cleverly uses a conversation about celebrity divorces to express her own views on the matter, making it clear to Fang Tao that she doesn't mind his past.
Colleagues at the market, seeing Liu Meixin alone, try to set her up. Jiali, after discussing it with Zhang Jianguo, decides to respect her mother's choices. Meixin, now retired, takes up He Wen's suggestion to make and sell "Eight Treasure" pickles to pass the time. Unexpectedly, Meixin's pickles become a huge hit.
