Episode Summary
Gu Yunsu and Xu Wenbin end up at a police station because of Li Yan, sparking a confrontation and a flashback to Gu Yunsu's difficult childhood, marked by financial struggles, bullying, and her mother's resilience. Misunderstandings arise between Li Yan, Xu Wenbin, and Gu Yunsu, while family secrets are exposed through Gu Yunsu's online novel.
Spoiler Alert
This episode dives deep into the past and present struggles of Gu Yunsu and her mother, Wu Limei, while also stirring up some romantic (and potentially misconstrued) tension.
The Police Station Incident:
The episode kicks off with Xu Wenbin and Gu Yunsu at the police station. Li Yan's drunken outburst at a bar, resulting in property damage, landed them there. Gu Yunsu, acting as Li Yan's older sister, pays the fine and is tasked with writing a letter of apology. Xu Wenbin, feeling responsible, stays to write one as well. Gu Yunsu, a pro at writing apologies due to her childhood antics, finishes quickly. Xu Wenbin struggles, but Gu Yunsu smooths things over with the officer, and they both end up putting their fingerprints on the same apology letter. Outside, Li Yan confronts Xu Wenbin, declaring a competition for Gu Yunsu's affections. Xu Wenbin dismisses this as immature and toxic masculinity, stating he won't participate in objectifying Gu Yunsu. Li Yan seems to take Xu Wenbin's words to heart.
Gu Yunsu's Childhood Hardships:
A significant portion of the episode flashes back to Gu Yunsu's childhood. We see a young Gu Yunsu, aware of her mother's financial struggles, selling collectible cards at school to help make ends meet. This entrepreneurial spirit gets her in trouble, leading to a public shaming and a letter of apology read in front of the class. Her mother, Wu Limei, is called to the school, where the teacher insensitively blames the family's problems on Wu Limei's divorce.
The situation escalates when neighbors, angered by Gu Yunsu's candid Polaroid photos exposing their children's misbehavior, retaliate by throwing eggs and rotten vegetables at their home. Wu Limei tries to shield her daughter, but the harassment continues at Wu Limei's workplace. Her boss, instead of supporting her, criticizes Wu Limei and calls Gu Yunsu a troublemaker. Fed up, Wu Limei quits her job and physically confronts the neighbors.
The final straw comes when Gu Yunsu's card-selling scheme is exposed at school again. The teacher cruelly insults Gu Yunsu, calling her fatherless. Wu Limei, overhearing this, is furious and decides to pull Gu Yunsu out of school, planning to move and start fresh.
Gu Kangqi to the Rescue (Sort Of):
Wu Limei seeks help from Gu Kangqi, Gu Yunsu's father, telling him about the difficulties Gu Yunsu is facing at school. Gu Kangqi, with a few of his buddies, goes to the school to confront the teacher. However, upon realizing the teacher is a woman, they become surprisingly polite. Gu Kangqi identifies himself, and the teacher, Yang, promptly takes him to the office for a scolding, which he meekly accepts.
Gaming and Misunderstandings:
Li Yan takes Xu Wenbin to an arcade, intending to show off his skills. However, Xu Wenbin turns out to be a natural, quickly mastering the games. Later, Li Yan delivers a letter from Xu Wenbin to Gu Yunsu. Gu Yunsu, observing the strange dynamic between Li Yan and Xu Wenbin, jumps to the conclusion that Li Yan might have feelings for Xu Wenbin. She assures Li Yan that she supports him no matter what. Li Yan is utterly confused.
The Divorce Certificate and Online Drama:
Gu Yunsu opens the letter and finds Xu Wenbin's divorce certificate. She looks up his ex-wife online, discovering she's a beautiful and accomplished doctor. Meanwhile, Li Yan is secretly following Gu Yunsu's online novel. Li Jianxiong, Li Yan's father, also starts reading it. When Wu Limei catches Li Jianxiong reading the novel in bed, she's furious that Gu Yunsu is airing their family's dirty laundry online.
