Episode 17 recap: Qin Qin Takes the Initiative to Withdraw from the Show
In Episode 17, Qin Qin returns to the resort at night and finds He Si Yue waiting at the door. He Si Yue wanted to cook noodles together, but Qin Qin is still upset over the events of the day and has no interest in it, taking a cup of instant noodles back to her room. He Si Yue is confused about what has caused such a drastic change in her attitude.
Qin Qin confides in her close friends about the day's events. Chen Zhu, known for her fiery temper, immediately wants to confront He Si Yue but is thankfully stopped. Shen Xing Ruo worries that if this is a misunderstanding, it could ruin any chance of Qin Qin and He Si Yue getting along in the future. Once Chen Zhu calms down, she suggests that Xu Cheng Zhou and Lu Xing Yan, as good friends, should go talk to He Si Yue to get his side of the story. Qin Qin and Shen Xing Ruo agree.
Unfortunately, Lu Xing Yan and Xu Cheng Zhou fail to accomplish their mission. He Si Yue is not a liar and doesn’t want to hide anything, but he also can’t divulge the full truth. When Chen Zhu finds out, she once again labels He Si Yue as a scumbag.
Feeling capable of handling the situation, Qin Qin takes the initiative to meet with Lawyer Zhai to ask what the two of them have been doing. Lawyer Zhai admits that they have been meeting weekly for ten years, just for meals and conversation. Qin Qin learns that He Si Yue has been by Lawyer Zhai's side all these years, leaving her feeling very disheartened.
As the new round of recording for the show begins, the guests reach the final selection moment. Evan praises the three female guests and ultimately decides to withdraw from the show. Lawyer Zhai chooses He Si Yue, prompting an outraged outburst from Chen Zhu, who believes they are behind a deceptive scheme.
When it’s He Si Yue's turn to make a choice, Qin Qin unexpectedly steps in and declares her own withdrawal. After saying this, she runs out, with He Si Yue chasing after her and everyone else soon following. Qin Qin is quite emotional; since He Si Yue is so close to Lawyer Zhai, he shouldn’t have chosen her to begin with. Faced with this situation, she believes that withdrawing is the best outcome for her.
Chen Zhu lost control of her emotions and threw a water bottle at He Si Yue, prompting Lu Xing Yan to quickly take He Si Yue away. Shen Xing Ruo called for a halt to the recording, warning the crew to delete all footage taken with unofficial equipment. She was concerned that, since the show hadn’t been promoted yet, someone might exploit this material.
He Si Yue met with Lawyer Zhai, explaining that the reason he has been accompanying her all these years is that she has mental health issues. He wanted to support her during her therapy sessions, which is why he kept it a secret; Lawyer Zhai didn’t want others to know she was undergoing counseling.
However, Lawyer Zhai also revealed her true feelings: she joined the show because of He Si Yue. Years ago, He Si Yue saved her when she was contemplating suicide. Lawyer Zhai had endured years of pressure and blame from her mother, who couldn’t have more children after giving birth to her. Her father favored sons, which left her feeling unappreciated. She desperately wanted to prove herself and repay her mother, but no matter what she did, her mother was never satisfied, only offering endless criticism.
One day, after overhearing a heated argument between Lawyer Zhai and her mother, He Si Yue followed her when she ran out of the house. He stopped her just as she was about to jump into the sea. Later, after noticing her self-harm behaviors, He Si Yue suggested she see a psychologist, but she was too scared. He continued to accompany her to therapy sessions until now.
Lawyer Zhai mistakenly interpreted this friendship as love, but He Si Yue made it clear that he didn’t have feelings for her and that he was interested in someone else.
Lu Xing Yan learned from Xu Cheng Zhou that the resort would be hosting an event—a funeral for Shen Xing Ruo’s father. Due to complications with repatriating the body, they would be cremating him abroad. The family would bring the ashes back to hold a memorial service in China.
Although Shen Xing Ruo had a strained relationship with her father, Lu Xing Yan felt a deep pain in having to share this news with her. The suddenness of it all left Shen Xing Ruo unable to accept the situation; she couldn’t eat and wanted to go home. Lu Xing Yan offered to take her back.
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