Episode Summary
Ding Zhitong and Gan Yang grow closer through shared moments, from bus rides to countryside visits. Conflicts arise with Li Fei, who is eventually put in his place. Meanwhile, Song Mingmei schemes for a summit invitation. After an injury and computer trouble, Gan Yang goes out of his way to support Zhitong, deepening their bond — though a sudden call from the school interrupts their budding romance.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 4 of Eat Run Love is all about small moments carrying big emotions — and surprisingly fast laptop repairs.
We open with Ding Zhitong doing something oddly therapeutic — endlessly riding the city bus. She gets off at the terminal, then immediately hops back on from the front door, lost in her thoughts and clearly enjoying the peace it brings. A message from Gan Yang pops up, asking where she is. But Zhitong doesn’t rush to reply. Instead, she just smiles and holds her phone, soaking in the quiet joy of the moment.
Turns out, Gan Yang is waiting at the bus stop with a bouquet in hand. When Zhitong finally arrives, they sit together on one of those long bus-stop benches, chatting about how they each decompress — him through running along rivers and streets, her through bus rides. It’s a sweet, spontaneous connection that neither of them saw coming.
They had plans to hang out, but life has other ideas. Zhitong gets a call reminding her to submit a paper, so she rushes off. Gan Yang insists on giving her a ride — and tells her not to even think about paying him for gas this time. Cue the mutual grins.
Back at the dorm, Zhitong walks in with flowers, and her roommates waste no time teasing her. She doesn’t admit to anything, but does hint that if Gan Yang is still giving her flowers five years from now, she might be open to the idea.
The next day, Zhitong heads to a farm for a little countryside escape — and what do you know, Gan Yang pops up there too. Despite their very different backgrounds, the two share a surprising amount of overlap in taste and temperament. They’re kindred spirits, clearly.
But not everyone is as charming. At a convenience store, Zhitong overhears Li Fei and a friend talking trash about Gan Yang. She’s not having it. In a petty but satisfying move, she "accidentally" spills water on Li Fei, exposing his fake designer gear. Furious, Li Fei shoves her — just as Gan Yang walks by. He steps in immediately, forcing Li Fei to apologize. Later, Zhitong fills him in on who Li Fei really is. Instead of getting upset, Gan Yang is touched by how much Zhitong cares.
Meanwhile, Song Mingmei is scheming hard to get into an upcoming summit. She gifts drinks to Qin Chang, her professor, under the guise of thanking him for his academic support. But Qin is all business. When he later announces that only the top student from a simulated competition will get an invite to the summit, Mingmei is furious — briefly — then determined. She vows to win fair and square.
Back to Zhitong: after a late shift, she’s walking down a poorly lit path when she gets spooked and takes a nasty fall. She limps back to the dorm to patch herself up. The next morning, Wang Yi finds her homemade jam missing — surprise! Gan Yang took it to cheer up Zhitong. He notices her injured hand and, learning what happened, recruits Wang Yi to investigate the creepy path that night.
Sure enough, things get weird again. Li Fei tries to scare Zhitong, but Gan Yang and Wang Yi are ready. They confront him with security footage and shut him down. Gan Yang even gives him a verbal whooping for good measure.
Worried Zhitong might still be shaken up, Gan Yang and Wang Yi return to the path the next night, loudly chatting to make her feel safe. Zhitong catches them in the act, and Wang Yi sheepishly retreats.
One casual walk later, Zhitong muses whether Gan Yang’s shoe designs could make even non-runners fall in love with running. That sparks an idea — he wants her to be his test subject.
Next stop: a café date. They’re discussing interview prep when Zhitong’s ancient laptop gives up the ghost. Gan Yang boldly claims he can fix it. Spoiler: he can’t. But he gets creative — he bribes Wang Yi with steak to check it out. Wang Yi, also not a tech genius, suggests taking it to a repair shop. The technician says it’s a relic, but Gan Yang has a plan: keep the shell, gut the inside.
The result? Zhitong is stunned. Her laptop now runs like a dream. She offers to treat him to the school cafeteria, but Gan Yang shoots higher — he wants a movie date. Zhitong hesitates at the price, but Gan Yang lures her in with the magic words: “student discount.”
Just as they arrive at the theater, Zhitong gets a call. Her school tells her there’s a court summons for her uncle — and if it’s not handled properly, it might affect her graduation. She rushes off, apologizing, leaving Gan Yang behind once again.
Final Thoughts:
Episode 4 is packed with quiet romance, a little petty revenge, and a surprisingly emotional laptop repair arc. Gan Yang and Zhitong’s relationship continues to blossom in these small, unflashy moments — and it’s those details that make Eat Run Love such a comforting, slow-burn ride.
