Episode Summary
Episode 20 sees Ding Zhitong navigating career pressures and sabotage while dealing with lingering feelings for Gan Yang. Song Mingmei confronts her own romantic past and tries to protect Ding Zhitong from further heartbreak. Hidden agendas and surprising alliances emerge as the characters grapple with love, ambition, and the consequences of their choices.
Spoiler Alert
"Eat Run Love" Episode 20: Running in Circles
Okay, things are getting complicated in "Eat Run Love." Episode 20 is a rollercoaster of hidden agendas, rekindled feelings, and some serious career drama.
We start with Ding Zhitong at the gym, pounding away on the treadmill. Remember that guy she almost had a run-in with (literally) before? He's back! He strikes up a conversation, sensing that things aren't going smoothly for her. Ding Zhitong admits she's in a tough spot. He tries to give her some "don't sweat it" advice, but she's determined to land this Langteng project. Mr. Mysterious even pulls a fake fortune-telling stunt, predicting a turnaround in five days. Ding Zhitong doesn't buy it, but agrees to buy him dinner if he's right.
Back at the office, Vivian's team is basking in the glory of a successful project, complete with a little "look what we did" delivery to Ding Zhitong's team. Ouch. Then Mr.Zhang drops a bomb: Ding Zhitong needs to nail Langteng to have a shot at the MD position. Otherwise, Vivian might snag it. Gan Yang isn't an option, so she needs to find another way.
Speaking of Gan Yang, he's at home with Xu Chenxi and Wang Yi, supposedly having a meeting. But his eyes keep drifting to Ding Zhitong's apartment across the way. Xu Chenxi is not thrilled about this distraction.
Meanwhile, in Sanya, Song Mingmei is drowning her sorrows in booze by the pool. She's replaying Bo Ting's accusations that she doesn't really love him, that she's more attached to their business partnerships. They had a fight about it, with Song Mingmei arguing that she wouldn't be schmoozing clients while pregnant if she didn't care. Suddenly, she snaps back to reality when her colleagues call her. She joins them for champagne, but then she spots Qin Chang in the distance and gets totally distracted. So distracted, in fact, that she gets bumped into the pool. Qin Chang pulls her out, but then vanishes. Song Mingmei wonders if she imagined the whole thing.
The next day, Song Mingmei finds Qin Chang at a restaurant, chatting with a starstruck female classmate. She boldly goes over to say hello, but Qin Chang pretends not to remember her! She's forced to reintroduce herself.
Later, Song Mingmei calls Ding Zhitong to spill the tea about Qin Chang. She's desperate to keep Qin Chang from knowing about the divorce, wanting him to think she's doing great. She even buys a huge diamond ring to flash. She and Bo Ting are now in the property division stage. She also wants Ding Zhitong to help her come up with a plan to deal with Qin Chang.
Later, Song Mingmei, feeling feverish, calls the front desk for a thermometer and medicine. Guess who shows up? Qin Chang! He claims a friend owns the hotel and sent him because he knew they knew each other. Song Mingmei, trying to play it cool, brags about being married and shows him a family photo. Qin Chang compliments her daughter but throws shade at her husband.
In another part of town, Wu Xun, after a few too many drinks, twists his ankle while running. He blames it on Langteng's shoes, claiming they have faulty data. This blows up into a PR nightmare, with people returning the shoes left and right. Ding Zhitong sees an opportunity, thinking it could be the key to getting funding for the training box project.
Here's the twist: that mysterious gym guy is actually Mr.Wang from Wang's Group, and he's been pulling the strings behind the scenes to help Ding Zhitong get the training box deal! Shu Chi's people try to talk business with Mr.Wang, but he's not interested. He's got his eye on Gan Yang's skills.
Ding Zhitong secretly meets with Langteng's minority shareholders, pitching them on funding and getting some signatures. She runs into Gan Yang and Xu Chenxi, who are meeting with a video platform executive. Xu Chenxi suspects Ding Zhitong is behind the whole thing. Ding Zhitong, in a fit of pique, admits it and declares she's out to destroy Gan Yang's dream. Gan Yang doesn't get mad; he's just happy she remembers his dream.
Ding Zhitong is secretly trying to shift the entertainment industry's focus. While at the gym, she vents about how she shouldn't have met Gan Yang at this time, and she's angry that she's still upset about him. Gan Yang overhears her. He gets word that they've caught Wu Xun and rushes to confront him, demanding he clear things up about the shoes. Wu Xun, feeling guilty and intimidated by Gan Yang's presence, agrees.
The Langteng situation is quickly resolved, which Ding Zhitong expected. She's glad she already convinced some minority shareholders to sign, so Gan Yang will have to think twice before vetoing anything.
Gan Yang and Wang Yi are heading to a hotpot restaurant when they run into Feng Sheng and Ding Zhitong. Feng Sheng was supposed to be there with his fiancée, but she's off dealing with wedding stuff. Gan Yang is uncomfortable seeing Ding Zhitong and Feng Sheng so friendly. He butts in to find out what's going on, but Ding Zhitong grabs Feng Sheng's arm and pretends they're married, leading Gan Yang to believe he should move on and stop interfering in Ding Zhitong's life.
Ding Zhitong is a mess after that encounter. She admits she feels like she's not helping Gan Yang by getting him funding, but destroying his dreams. She doesn't want to hear his explanation, afraid she'll soften and get hurt again. Song Mingmei, feeling for her friend, confronts Gan Yang, berating him for breaking Ding Zhitong's heart in the first place, causing her to lose weight, sleep poorly, and rely on sleeping pills. She says Ding Zhitong is finally doing better, but now Gan Yang is back in her life, and she's back on the pills. Mingmei reveals that Ding Zhitong didn't want to take on Gan Yang's project because she remembers his dream, but her boss forced her to. Song Mingmei just wants Gan Yang to stay out of Ding Zhitong's life so she can be happy.
After Song Mingmei leaves, Gan Yang calls his assistant and orders a meeting with all the training box shareholders for tomorrow.
