Episode Summary
Wen Yifan disappears, prompting a frantic search by Sang Yan. Flashbacks reveal Yifan's traumatic past, including repeated sexual harassment and assault by her aunt's brother, Che Xingde. Yifan reports the abuse, but her mother dismisses it. After a time jump, a violent confrontation occurs between Sang Yan and Che Xingde, fueled by Xingde's past actions and continued harassment.
Spoiler Alert
This episode dives deep into Wen Yifan's traumatic past and her desperate attempts to escape it. Sang Yan, heartbroken and frantic, searches everywhere for Yifan after she disappears. Zhong Siqiao informs him that Yifan called her to say she's safe, but Sang Yan's worry intensifies, realizing that Yifan is likely running away to shoulder her burdens alone, just as she's done for the past six years.
Yifan, carrying her meager belongings, finds a cramped new living space, immediately triggering memories of her first arrival at her aunt Che Yanqin's house. Back then, she had to clear out a storage room just to have a place to sleep. The situation is made worse by the arrival of Che Yanqin's brother, Che Xingde, who immediately gives off a predatory vibe, leering at Yifan during meals. One night, while Yifan is studying, Xingde enters her room uninvited, sits beside her, and touches her shoulder, terrifying her. Fortunately, Che Yanqin returns, and he leaves.
Despite the darkness at home, Sang Yan is a ray of sunshine in Yifan's life. They make a pact to study hard and attend Nanwu University together, as Yifan wants to leave Beiyu and be with Sang Yan. To focus on their studies, Yifan tells Sang Yan to stop traveling back and forth and wait until their acceptance letters arrive. The relentless rain in Beiyu mirrors the oppressive atmosphere Yifan feels. One day, when Yifan's family is away, Che Xingde lures her out of her room and sexually assaults her. Yifan fights him off, and just then, Che Yanqin and her husband return, witnessing the scene but doing nothing.
Yifan, in tears, begs her mother, Zhao Yuandong, to take her away, but her mother dismisses her concerns and hangs up. Later, after the college entrance exams, Xingde sneaks into Yifan's room while she's sleeping. When he tries to lie down next to her, Yifan jumps up, grabs a utility knife, and points it at him. Xingde's hand is cut, but he becomes even more aggressive, cornering Yifan on the balcony. In a moment of sheer desperation, Yifan opens the security window and, seeing Xingde still advancing, jumps from the second floor. In the struggle, Xingde falls with her.
Unable to endure it any longer, Yifan reports the assault to the police. Che Yanqin throws a tantrum, complaining to Zhao Yuandong that her brother was merely drunk and went to the wrong room, and now he has a broken leg and is being accused of attempted rape. Zhao Yuandong sides with her sister, believing that Yifan is overreacting and that Xingde is a "good person." Because Yifan is a minor, she needs a guardian to accompany her for the police statement, but Zhao Yuandong makes an excuse and leaves, leaving Yifan to limp out of the police station with only an officer's support.
Later, Xiang Lang spots Yifan wandering by the river and calls Zhong Siqiao. Though Yifan is in Nanwu and Sang Yan is in Hong Kong, they share the same sky and the same longing. Yifan sees countless missed voice messages from Sang Yan but doesn't respond. Half a year passes, and Yifan is still living a solitary life.
The episode concludes with a violent confrontation. Sang Yan sees Xingde harassing a female customer at work. He drags Xingde outside, and Xingde, unrepentant, taunts Sang Yan, then smashes a bottle over his head. Enraged, Sang Yan brutally beats Xingde until he can no longer move.
