Episode Summary
Hong Ning causes chaos in the celestial realm, breaking rules and getting into trouble. Jinxiu shows unexpected leniency, while Apricot Immortal plots against Hong Ning. A surprising encounter in Jinxiu's bath reveals his true form and a connection with Hong Ning. The Emperor and Empress discuss Jinxiu's fate and a looming calamity.
Spoiler Alert
"Love Never Fails" Episode 2: Recap & Spoilers
Okay, so things are getting interesting in the celestial realm! In this episode, we see Hong Ning causing all sorts of delightful chaos, and Jinxiu is starting to look like he might actually have a heart under that stoic exterior.
The episode kicks off with Jinxiu telling Hong Ning to come down from… somewhere high, I guess. Hong Ning is worried Jinxiu is going to boot her out of the heavens, but Jinxiu promises he won't. She comes down but then gets confused because Jinxiu isn't wearing the right sash, making her think he's not a real immortal. She even accuses him of sneaking around to steal booze! When other fairies show up, she quickly hides a flower clock to avoid getting caught.
Meanwhile, Apricot Immortal (who's a real piece of work) is badmouthing Jinxiu to Zi Teng, revealing that she deliberately locked Lu Luo in the Hundred Flower Diagram. Jinxiu assigns Apricot Immortal the task of brewing wine, but she just pawns it off on other lesser fairies. After they leave, Hong Ning finds herself trapped, but Jinxiu uses his magic to put the flower clock back where it belongs.
Hong Ning, never one to leave well enough alone, samples the wine and decides it's awful. She adds mint, declaring it much better. Jinxiu points out she's now broken three heavenly rules. Hong Ning pleads her case, saying she can't leave because she wants to repay the flower goddess who saved her. Jinxiu transforms Hong Ning back into her original form (which is apparently some kind of plant?) and leaves her on a table, where an unsuspecting fairy accidentally puts her in tea!
Chrysanthemum Official arrives looking for Jinxiu, and Hong Ning pops out of the tea, demanding to know why Jinxiu tried to steep her. Jinxiu tells Chrysanthemum Official not to write anything down about the incident. Jinxiu then grills Apricot Immortal about some herbs, and then about the wine-making, threatening to give the job to someone else if she can't handle it. Apricot Immortal quickly assures him she can.
Chrysanthemum Official questions Jinxiu about why he isn't sending Hong Ning back to the mortal realm after her misdeeds. Jinxiu believes Hong Ning has a chance to become a great immortal if she cultivates properly, but for now, she only has the potential to be a minor deity. He tasks Chrysanthemum Official with teaching Hong Ning manners and taking her to endure lightning tribulation (sounds fun, right?).
Things escalate when Shao Yao and Hong Ning run into Apricot Immortal, who accuses Shao Yao of failing to control a lowly demon. Apricot Immortal decides to punish both of them, even though Hong Ning insists it's all her fault. Apricot Immortal whips them until Chrysanthemum Official intervenes and takes Hong Ning away, promising that Apricot Immortal has already punished her. Chrysanthemum Official takes Hong Ning to face the lightning tribulation, suggesting she use her transformation abilities to avoid getting hit, but Hong Ning has no idea how to do that.
Later, Hong Ning makes some herbal medicine and asks Shao Yao to apply it to her wounds. Before Shao Yao can even touch her, the injuries magically heal themselves! Hong Ning is just as surprised as Shao Yao. Apricot Immortal, upon learning that Jinxiu only punished Hong Ning with cleaning duties, is furious. Zi Teng suggests that they need to find a way for Hong Ning to offend Jinxiu again.
Zi Teng tricks Hong Ning into cleaning Jinxiu's private residence, knowing he hates people being there. Jinxiu happens to be bathing when Hong Ning arrives. Due to the mist, Hong Ning doesn't realize anyone is there and hops into the pool. Jinxiu, shocked, transforms into his true form – a golden peony with scars. Hong Ning, seeing his true form and the scars, is moved by his past suffering and hugs him.
Chrysanthemum Official witnesses this and is completely shocked, telling Hong Ning to let go. Jinxiu petitions the Emperor to end the suffering of innocent people in the mortal realm. The Emperor finds Jinxiu too merciful for a punisher. The Empress believes Jinxiu is wise and has his reasons. The Emperor agrees to consider ending the punishments.
The Emperor thinks the Empress is too lenient with Jinxiu and too harsh with Kunlun. The Empress argues that Jinxiu is well-behaved, while Kunlun is wild and unruly. She believes that Jinxiu imprisoning Kunlun in the Water Moon Mirror was a true act of kindness. Grand Master Taiyi informs the Emperor that two stars have been equally bright, but now a cloud of mist has appeared between them. The Emperor fears a calamity and believes that Jinxiu must remain detached from love to overcome this crisis.
