Episode Summary
Gan Yang and Ding Zhitong clash over funding. Ding Zhitong seeks alternative shareholders, facing resistance. Gan Yang intervenes in Ding Zhitong's dealings. Relationship tensions rise as old feelings resurface. Corporate drama unfolds with data disputes and recruitment attempts. Personal lives intertwine with professional ambitions.
Spoiler Alert
"Eat Run Love" Episode 18: The Funding Frenzy and Lingering Feelings
Episode 18 dives deep into the high-stakes world of funding and the messy complications of unresolved feelings. Gan Yang and Ding Zhitong meet for dinner, but it's less about catching up and more about Gan Yang trying to figure out what Ding Zhitong was doing in Hong Kong. He also notices her changed tastes and acknowledges that she must have worked incredibly hard to get where she is in seven years. Ding Zhitong pushes Gan Yang to accept Wang's investment, but Gan Yang is confident their new design will be a hit and doesn't want the money. Ding Zhitong insists she won't give up, reminding Gan Yang that she's still as determined as ever.
The dinner ends on an awkward note. Restaurant owner Annie, a friend of Gan Yang, offers to cover the bill, but Ding Zhitong insists on splitting it. Annie then brings Gan Yang a cake to celebrate his successful launch, hoping for a social media shout-out. Gan Yang declines, but Annie makes it clear she's not giving up on her feelings for him.
Back at the office, Gan Yang and Wang Yi are celebrating their data surpassing the competition when Xu Chenxi confronts them about the fake data issue, wielding a stick! They make a run for it.
Knowing Gan Yang won't be easily swayed, Ding Zhitong and her assistant split up to target the other shareholders, attempting to bypass Gan Yang altogether. Ding Zhitong finds Li Zong playing tennis in Xiamen and tries to pitch the investment. However, Li Zong insists they play tennis first. Ding Zhitong gets pummeled on the court until Gan Yang shows up, furious. Gan Yang takes over, beating Li Zong so badly that he gives up. Ding Zhitong tries to talk business with Li Zong in private, but he's too afraid of Gan Yang to accept the deal. Ding Zhitong storms off, and Gan Yang chases after her.
Meanwhile, Bo Ting sells out "Mo Qi" for money, infuriating Song Mingmei, who insists that this was the one thing he shouldn't have done. Elsewhere, Shu Chi's people offer Wang Yi a huge sum of money to join them. Wang Yi immediately regrets it and demands that Gan Yang treat her to a meal. Gan Yang agrees. Then, Sun Hao reveals that Ding Zhitong was the one who got Gan Yang drunk and sent him to the hospital last time. Sun Hao, now out for revenge, plans to make Ding Zhitong pay. Gan Yang, worried, rushes to find Ding Zhitong, apologizing to Wang Yi for canceling their dinner.
Gan Yang arrives to find Sun Hao drunk and Ding Zhitong having had quite a bit to drink herself. Sun Hao proudly proclaims he got Ding Zhitong drunk. Ding Zhitong mistakenly believes Gan Yang set her up. Gan Yang denies it, and Ding Zhitong demands he stay away when she meets with the other shareholder to prove his innocence.
Ding Zhitong struggles to find a taxi. Gan Yang offers her a ride, concerned about her. Ding Zhitong explains she threw up in the restroom. Gan Yang worries about her health and buys her medicine, reminding her of when he did the same during her job interview. To avoid softening, Ding Zhitong gets out of the car and leaves on her own. Gan Yang returns to find her gone and ends up at their old place. Nothing has changed, but both Ding Zhitong and Gan Yang are sleepless. They both end up exercising – Gan Yang goes for a run, while Ding Zhitong hits the gym to vent.
At the gym, a man next to Ding Zhitong gets a cramp. Ding Zhitong helps him, reminding him to warm up and teaching him breathing techniques that Gan Yang taught her. When the man drops his phone, Ding Zhitong lifts the treadmill so he can retrieve it.
It turns out the man was sent to find Gan Yang's weakness – Ding Zhitong. He's surprised by her strength and understands why Gan Yang can't forget her.
Back in the office, Song Mingmei suggests Ding Zhitong play the emotional card with Gan Yang to win him over as a client, as she doesn't want anything to hinder her promotion to DM.
Gan Yang's company celebrates the record-breaking launch of their new shoes. Gan Yang announces a celebratory dinner and a month's salary bonus for Jiang Li.
Gan Yang takes everyone to a small restaurant, the original starting point for Langteng. Wang Yi recalls how Gan Yang kept pushing her to not give up. Xu Chenxi, knowing Gan Yang invited Ding Zhitong to Beijing, gets upset, thinking he wants to relive old times. Gan Yang assures her that the company's success is due to all three of them and that he won't let personal feelings harm the company.
Finally, Song Mingmei discovers a weight record on her smart scale that isn't hers, suspecting another woman. She calls the security office and learns that a woman went to Deng Bo Ting's place.
Annie brings Gan Yang food, but Wang Yi intercepts it. Xu Chenxi arrives with pig intestines from her mother, which she reluctantly gave to Gan Yang, who complained about them. Wang Yi, craving pig intestines, insists they eat them together that night. Xu Chenxi jokes that Shu Chi's people should have used food instead of money to lure Wang Yi.
