Episode Summary
Dean Lv unknowingly wears a training uniform with a restaurant advertisement on the back, causing embarrassment for the marathon team. Wang Gaosheng and Qin Wenbin try to use flattery to get Dean Lv to review a thesis, but fail. Liu Ziyi and Ding Hao's budding romance hits a snag when he retreats. Jiajia's stress-induced health problems reveal her mother's overbearing pressure. He Yingzi collapses, and Xiao Hu calls Qin Wenbin for help. Gu Shiyi advises Liu Ziyi to provoke Ding Hao on social media. Lulu confronts Xiao Pang with a photo of Liu Ziyi.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with the gang gathering for marathon training, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their Dean, Lv. Qin Wenbin advises Wang Gaosheng, who's known for his excessive flattery of the Dean, warning him that his brown-nosing might backfire. Wang Gaosheng, however, remains steadfast in his ways. Jiang Yu shows up with new team uniforms, courtesy of her third sister. Dean Lv finally arrives, and Wang Gaosheng immediately launches into praise mode, promising to participate in every training session and race. The others are visibly exasperated.
As Dean Lv tries on the new uniform, disaster strikes. The team realizes the back of the shirts are emblazoned with a restaurant logo and QR code, turning them into unwitting walking advertisements. Dean Lv and the oblivious Wang Gaosheng are too busy with their grand pronouncements to notice. It's only when Wang Gaosheng takes a photo that the embarrassing truth is revealed. During their run, Dean Lv becomes a mobile billboard, attracting curious onlookers who scan the code. The team desperately tries to cover up the logo, all to no avail. All of their many attempts to get the Dean to take off the shirt fail. When Dean Lv offers to treat everyone to a meal, they all make excuses to escape, leaving only Qin Wenbin and Wang Gaosheng behind.
At dinner with Dean Lv, who can barely walk after the run, Wang Gaosheng and Qin Wenbin work together, resuming their flattery in a desperate attempt to get the Dean to review Wang Gaosheng's thesis. However, Dean Lv skillfully deflects their attempts, revealing that he was aware of the logo on the uniform all along, leaving the two schemers dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Liu Ziyi, finished with training, gets dolled up and rushes to Ding Hao's art exhibition, becoming its first visitor. The two enjoy each other's company as they explore the show. On the top floor, Ding Hao unveils a special surprise dedicated to Ziyi: a romantic water exhibition titled "Like Water, Flowing Years." Just as their feelings for each other deepen, Ding Hao gets cold feet and pulls back.
The next morning, Qin Wenbin is shocked to see in the group chat that Wang Gaosheng and others have discovered Ding Hao has set a photo of Liu Ziyi as his WeChat profile background. Ziyi, seeing the messages, confronts Ding Hao, and also notices Qin Wenbin acting strangely.
Back at the hospital, Jiajia's mother brings her back in, suffering from blurred vision due to stress. It turns out the pressure from her previous brain tumor is affecting her optic nerve, requiring immediate surgery and forcing her to postpone her art school entrance exams until next year. Through conversations with Jiajia and her mother, Liu Ziyi learns that Jiajia's stress stems entirely from her mother's failed dreams, which she's now projecting onto her daughter. Ziyi tries to counsel Jiajia's mother, urging her to let Jiajia pursue her own passions instead of imposing her own expectations.
Tragedy strikes when He Yingzi suddenly collapses at work and is rushed to the hospital. Xiao Hu, the only contact in Yingzi's phone, receives the call and rushes to the emergency room, begging Qin Wenbin to save her.
After work, Liu Ziyi and Gu Shiyi meet for drinks. They discuss Ding Hao, who hasn't replied to Ziyi's messages all day. Gu Shiyi, after analyzing the situation, believes Ziyi should take action and tries various methods to get Ziyi to post something on WeChat that will get Ding Hao's attention. Ziyi, though claiming reluctance, eventually posts a message visible only to Ding Hao after Shiyi leaves.
Finally, Lulu arrives at the hospital, catching Xiao Pang in a lie about not being there. She shows him the photo Ding Hao took of Liu Ziyi, demanding answers...