Episode 23 recap: Old Chen's Return in Search of Xian
Late at night, Zou's father visits the factory to see Zou Jie. Proudly, he tells Zou Jie that his daughter-in-law is Zhi, hoping to convince the kids to come home. The guard lets Zou's father in, and Zou Jie is pleasantly surprised by his father's arrival, especially when he hears that his father wants them to move back home. Zou's mother is also delighted to see Zhi and shares that Zou's father has been proud of her, even framing her photo from the newspaper and hanging it in their room. They have cleaned up the space, and while it's small and lacks soundproofing, they are finally together.
While Xian is working, Aunt Wang calls her to the office, scolding her for not disclosing details about her overseas connections. Upon noticing the name Bai Mengzhi on the document, Xian quickly denies any connection, suggesting it might have been sent to the wrong address. Aunt Wang is left speechless by Xian’s rebuttal, but Xian knows deep down that the document was indeed meant for her, as Meng Yu Nong had mentioned she was Bai Mengzhi.
After returning home, Xian is lost in thought, reminiscing about the past. She digs out old photos of herself with Meng Yu Nong, fearing that her overseas connections might implicate her. In a moment of distress, Xian burns all the photos and movie posters.
Old Chen seeks out Zhi again, giving her the pictures he took during the competition. He hopes she can take some photos for a promotional video showcasing the workers, but Zhi declines, saying she is too busy.
Old Chen waits outside the factory, and when he sees Zhi and Zou Jie leave together, he hurries to greet them, urging Zhi to reconsider his proposal. Zou Jie thinks it’s a positive opportunity, and with his encouragement, Zhi agrees. Old Chen praises Zhi's talent, noting that she takes great photos. He subtly inquires about her family background, but Zhi denies having any actors in her family and doesn’t reveal her home address, leaving Old Chen a bit disappointed.
Meanwhile, Tie Dan and his mother are waiting for Old Chen to return for dinner. Tie Dan wishes his mother could reconcile with Old Chen, who once saved him. However, Tie Dan's mother is worried about opposition from her eldest son. Just as they chat, Old Chen comes home, embracing Tie Dan and apologizing for being late as he has already eaten.
Xian makes a special trip to Aunt Wang's office, hoping to steal the letter but finds nothing. Aunt Wang, bemused, wonders why Xian is up so early. After studying Zhi's photos for a long time, Old Chen visits Xian’s place, looking at the second-floor window and recalling the time he threw stones at it, remembering the moment Xian's head peeked out.
Old Chen walks into the photo studio and seems to see Xian at the bar, but now there’s someone else there. Zou Jie feels it has been a long time since they last visited Xian and suggests going to see her, but Zhi opposes, using the excuse that she needs to do laundry.
Old Chen visits Zhi again, asking her to help with another photoshoot since the last one didn't go well. He takes her to his studio for the shoot. When Tie Dan sees Zhi, he mistakenly thinks she isn’t a worker, as he believes workers should be dark and strong. Underestimating Zhi’s strength, he challenges her to an arm-wrestling match, but he quickly realizes he is no match for her.
During dinner, Tie Dan mentions that he wants to see Zhi, finding her beautiful. Tie Dan's mother counters that beauty doesn’t matter and suggests they should just change models for the shoot; otherwise, the leaders won't be satisfied. Old Chen, however, has no intention of replacing Zhi, which makes Tie Dan's mother a bit jealous. She then proposes taking Tie Dan out for some fun, and Old Chen agrees.
While Zhi is doing laundry, Zou's mother believes Zhi doesn’t know how to wash clothes and offers to teach her. After returning home, she complains to Zou's father, but he thinks that if Zhi can’t do housework, she shouldn’t win any awards. He feels that housework shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Zou's mother suggests that Zou Jie and Zhi should contribute to the household expenses, but Zou's father disagrees, as he is quite satisfied with his daughter-in-law. Zou Jie and Zhi go back to visit Xian, but Xian is upset and blames Zhi for not coming back since she left. Zou Jie immediately promises to visit more often, which calms Zou's mother down, regardless of whether it’s true or not—it sounds nice.
Upon hearing that Zhi struggles with using a toilet, Xian advises her to get used to it, as very few homes in Shanghai have flush toilets. Zou Jie shows Xian the photos of Zhi, but Xian feels they don’t capture her as a hard worker. Zou's mother specifically comes to talk to Zou Jie, insisting they should pay for their meals.
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