Episode Summary
Wen Yifan abruptly leaves Sang Yan, leaving behind only a note. Sang Yan, devastated and confused, embarks on a journey to uncover the reasons behind her departure. He discovers her past struggles, including workplace harassment and a difficult family life. His search leads him to Che Xingde, who he confronts. Ultimately, Yifan contacts Zhong Siqiao, revealing she left out of love and fear.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Sang Yan at a graduation dinner with his classmates, who envy his high-paying and easy job. Meanwhile, Wen Yifan is interviewed by a Yihe Daily reporter about her reasons for not returning to her hometown after graduation, but she remains tight-lipped. She receives a call from Zhao Yuandong, urging her to return to Nanwu, but Yifan insists on staying in Yihe.
Later, Sang Yan finds Wen Yifan drenched and gives her a towel. He mentions his upcoming trip to Yihe to check on his sister's new boyfriend. Yifan, hiding her distress, kisses Sang Yan and retreats to her room, where she breaks down in tears. The next morning, she accompanies Sang Yan to the airport, and they share a reluctant farewell. Back home, Yifan is overwhelmed by memories of her life with Sang Yan and Dian Dian. She's deeply in love with him, but the threat from Che Xingde forces her to leave. She tearfully apologizes to Sang Yan in silence.
Zhong Siqiao, checking in on Yifan's cat, discovers that Yifan's room is empty. Su Haoan immediately contacts Sang Yan, who rushes back to find an empty apartment and a farewell letter from Yifan. She explains that she has reasons for leaving and asks him not to look for her. Sang Yan reports her disappearance to the police, but after contacting Yifan's mother, they inform him that she often throws tantrums and goes missing, suggesting it's nothing to worry about.
Sang Yan is heartbroken, realizing he knows very little about Yifan. Zhong Siqiao reassures him that they are all Yifan's family, but Sang Yan feels that Yifan doesn't trust them enough. He asks Su Haoan to cover for him at work as he sets out to find answers.
Sang Yan travels to the place where Yifan and her grandmother lived, trying to understand her past and find clues about her whereabouts. He talks to neighbors and Yifan's former classmates, but learns little, discovering that Yifan was introverted and kept to herself. He then visits Yihe TV station, where colleagues reveal that Yifan had been sexually harassed by a former editor-in-chief, leading to her resignation.
With no sign of Yifan in Nanwu or Yihe, Sang Yan visits Che Yanqin's house. Che Yanqin is absent, but Wen Ming reveals that Yifan had run away once before, after her college entrance exams. Sang Yan presses for details, but Wen Ming remains silent. Sang Yan examines Yifan's former room, a cramped storage space barely fitting a bed. He's deeply affected by her past hardships. He finds an old draft paper of Yifan's, marked with a red pen, stating her goal: Nanwu University.
Sang Yan spots Che Xingde leaving Zhao Yuandong's house on an electric bike and follows him to Nanwu TV station. Fu Zhuang informs Sang Yan that Yifan has quit her job and that Che Xingde started working there as a security guard about a month ago. Che Xingde provokes Sang Yan, who nearly runs him over with his car but manages to brake in time. Che Xingde smirks and leaves.
Zhong Siqiao reflects on not having truly connected with Yifan. Just then, Yifan messages her. Zhong Siqiao immediately calls, and Yifan assures her she's safe, explaining that she left because she cares too much.
