Episode Summary
In Episode 16, the choir gathers for a major rehearsal, with Shen Zhuoran waiting in vain for Nie Juanjuan, who mysteriously fails to show up. Later, she's found unconscious at home and rushed to the hospital, where it's revealed her cancer has spread to her brain. Shen Zhuoran is devastated, haunted by memories of his late wife. Despite eventually regaining consciousness, Nie Juanjuan emotionally distances herself from him, asking him not to visit again. The episode blends lighthearted moments with a deepening sense of emotional urgency.
Spoiler Alert
"Love Again" – Episode 16 Recap & Spoilers
Episode 16 of Love Again packs an emotional punch, blending choir rehearsals, awkward flirtations, and a medical emergency that leaves everyone reeling.
The Rehearsal That Took a Turn
The day kicks off with the choir’s big pre-show rehearsal. Shen Zhuoran invites Nie Juanjuan to come by at 2 PM to help guide the team. Meanwhile, Sun Baoqin and her husband, along with Peng Yulan, whip up a massive homemade lunch for the choir. Liu Lina drives over with her son Shen Duole to deliver stage outfits, conveniently giving Peng Yulan a ride—who’s gone all out with her appearance in hopes of impressing Shen Zhuoran. Sun Baoqin, always scheming, suggests Peng should be the last to appear, like a grand finale.
At the theater, lunch is served, and Sun Baoqin makes a scene praising Peng Yulan’s handmade dumplings like they’re Michelin-starred. She even arranges for Peng to sit next to Shen Zhuoran and serve him her lovingly homemade chicken soup. Gou Bingqiang teases the pair, then drops a bombshell—he and Tian Zhenyang are getting married! The room erupts in congratulations.
Where’s Nie Juanjuan?
After lunch, Sun Baoqin spots Liu Debao sneaking off to take a call and orders him to wait at the gate for Nie Juanjuan. Shen Zhuoran also heads to the school gate, showing up a full 30 minutes early to greet her. But 2 PM comes and goes, and there’s no sign of her. Shen Zhuoran returns to the theater, doesn’t see her, and heads back out to the gate to wait again. Still nothing.
He tries calling—no answer. He waits until nightfall, still no Nie Juanjuan. Gou Bingqiang suggests going to her house, but Shen Zhuoran doesn’t even know where she lives—just her phone number and email. Sun Baoqin and Peng Yulan, however, do know her address from a previous visit. Afraid to admit it, they sneak off to check on her—and find her collapsed on the floor. They immediately call an ambulance.
Hospital Heartbreak
When Shen Zhuoran finds out Nie Juanjuan was hospitalized, he rushes there with Liu Lina, who also alerts Shen Qing. Shen Qing ditches a meeting with investor An Ruifeng and heads straight to the hospital. But the news is grim: Nie Juanjuan has fallen into a coma due to brain metastases from cancer. Shen Zhuoran is devastated—his late wife Jingmin died from cancer as well. Shen Qing tries to reassure him, reminding him their company develops targeted cancer therapies.
But when Shen Qing speaks with the doctors, the truth hits hard—Nie Juanjuan’s condition is far worse than Jingmin’s ever was, and there's almost nothing they can do. Stunned, Shen Qing is left speechless. Thankfully, one of Nie’s former colleagues manages to contact her son overseas. His wife is about to give birth, but he promises to return as soon as possible.
Gou Bingqiang, worried for Shen Zhuoran’s mental state, convinces him to go home and rest. Meanwhile, Liu Lina grows suspicious—how did Sun Baoqin and Peng Yulan really know where Nie Juanjuan lived? Sun clumsily brushes it off.
Desperation and Determination
A deeply distracted Shen Qing meets with Ice Li and, fueled by alcohol and desperation, begs Dr. Qin to fast-track the development of their cancer drug. It's a subtle but powerful moment—Shen Qing’s business ambitions suddenly feel personal.
A Glimmer of Hope?
At last, Nie Juanjuan wakes up. She quickly guesses her cancer has progressed. Sun Baoqin and Peng Yulan bring her a homecooked meal, joined by Shen Zhuoran. Nie Juanjuan learns they were the ones who found her and thanks them. Sun Baoqin, never one to miss a chance to pry, starts peppering her with questions. Shen Zhuoran, sitting awkwardly nearby, can barely get a word in.
He notices her listening to opera on a tiny radio and offers to bring over his old cassette player. But something’s off—Nie Juanjuan is distant. Sun Baoqin senses it too and pulls Peng Yulan away to give the two some privacy.
Shen Zhuoran gently checks on her, but she brushes him off. When he shows her a video of the previous day’s rehearsal, she refuses to watch and tells him not to come to the hospital again. She doesn’t want him to see her in such a fragile state. Heartbroken, Shen Zhuoran quietly leaves.
Final Thoughts
Episode 16 is full of heart and heartbreak. What starts as a day of music and camaraderie spirals into a sobering confrontation with illness, unspoken feelings, and emotional limits. As Shen Zhuoran faces the possibility of losing another woman he loves to cancer, the stakes for everyone just got a lot higher.
Love Again continues to explore the complexities of later-life relationships with maturity, warmth, and no small amount of heartache.
