Episode 15 recap: On New Year's Eve, Chen Mai Dong and Zhuang Jie had a disappointing breakup.
That night, Zhuang Jie and Chen Mai Dong were drinking and the atmosphere was at its best. They passionately kissed and embraced, but stopped at a crucial moment. Chen Mai Dong made a joke about taking off Zhuang Jie's prosthetic limb, which deeply hurt Zhuang Jie and caused her to push Chen Mai Dong away and storm out of the room.
Liao Tao had been waiting at home for most of the night. When she saw Zhuang Jie, who reeked of alcohol, she couldn't help but burst out with emotions and scolded her, saying that using the New Year's celebration as an excuse to drink and have fun was just an excuse. In the end, it's the girl who suffers. Wang Xi Xia knew about Zhuang Jie and Chen Mai Dong's situation and believed that it was a consensual matter between adults, and Zhuang Jie didn't need to blame Chen Mai Dong so much.
Furthermore, in Wang Xi Xia's opinion, it was Zhuang Jie who seduced Chen Mai Dong in the first place, so why was she pretending to be the victim? Chen Mai Dong decided to confront Zhuang Jie and express his willingness to give up, as he couldn't continue with this chaotic and ambiguous relationship.
On New Year's Eve, the lights were brilliant, and thousands of households were filled with laughter and joy. Only the atmosphere at Liao's home was excessively solemn. The table was filled with delicious dishes, but the most important person was missing. The images of the two fathers were placed side by side, evoking a deep sense of sadness in Liao Tao. Liao Tao noticed that Zhuang Jie was absent-minded and prepared to go out with friends to celebrate the New Year. She speculated that Zhuang Jie had made plans with Chen Mai Dong, which made her extremely unhappy.
Zhuang Jie didn't want to argue at this moment and tried to suppress her emotions as much as possible. However, Liao Tao was not willing to be quiet and began to recount how Zhuang Jie had spent very few days at home over the years. Even today, she was still so troublesome. In Liao Tao's view, a decent person wouldn't go out at this hour and use the New Year as an excuse to have fun. In the end, it's the girl who suffers.
But Liao Tao got carried away when she cared too much, and her words became very harsh. She never thought about how much damage those words would cause Zhuang Jie. Zhuang Jie, likewise, didn't hesitate to retort and said that her life had been delayed by this leg, and even if she wanted to have fun, it depended on whether others were willing. Then she stormed out.
Zhuang Yan quickly followed and persuaded her older sister not to be angry with their mother. He also revealed that there was an accident at the factory, which had put their mother in a bad mood. Although Zhuang Jie was used to it, having heard countless positive and negative comments since childhood, she could shield herself from some hurtful remarks. However, sometimes she would decide which aspect of her character to unleash based on the environment she was in.
Compared to Zhuang Yan, who resembled their father with his refined and scholarly demeanor, Zhuang Jie was more like a strong-willed mother. She never accepted her fate in the face of difficulties and always confronted challenges head-on. That was the reason she wanted to leave Qingping Town. In the same family, these character traits could be seen as survival weapons. If both family members possessed them simultaneously, it would naturally become a weapon for attacking each other.
Chen Mai Dong prepared a lot of New Year's fruit and felt at ease after video chatting happily with his grandmother and Grandma Chen. He then left and arranged to meet Zhuang Jie at a bar in the square. Zhuang Jie had a few drinks and was slightly intoxicated. She playfully talked to Chen Mai Dong and ended up having her buttocks groped by a stranger. Her suppressed anger erupted, and she grabbed a chair and smashed it at the person.
Fortunately, the security guards arrived in time to stop the situation from turning into a tragedy. Chen Mai Dong then took Zhuang Jie out of the bar and headed straight to the new house he had bought two years ago. It was Zhuang Jie's first time visiting Chen Mai Dong's new home, and she felt at ease enjoying his thoughtfulness. She unexpectedly discovered the clay figurine that he had already customized, which was a representation of the tree they both played.
When the atmosphere reached its peak, Zhuang Jie sat on Chen Mai Dong's lap, kissed him, and unbuttoned his shirt. Her mind was filled with Liao Tao's accusations, and her rebellious nature grew stronger, as if only through this could she find relief from the unbearable emotions inside her.
Initially, Chen Mai Dong thought that Zhuang Jie's actions were influenced by alcohol, but he realized that she genuinely wanted to take the next step. He no longer restrained his emotions and reached out to help her remove her prosthetic limb. It was this action that made Zhuang Jie suddenly sober, and she pushed Chen Mai Dong away, angrily rebuking him for not forcing her and leaving him in disbelief. As she dressed and prepared to leave, she impulsively smashed the clay figurine, leaving a chilling feeling in her heart.
Later that night, Chen Mai Dong rode his motorcycle to take Zhuang Jie home. Both remained silent throughout the journey until they arrived at Zhuang Jie's doorstep. Chen Mai Dong carefully considered their relationship and acknowledged that he couldn't engage in carefree enjoyment like Zhuang Jie. He couldn't treat their relationship lightly, so he decided to end this fleeting romance.
Upon returning home, Zhuang Jie saw the card her younger sister had written for her, expressing a wish for their mother and older sister not to argue and not to see them cry. Zhuang Jie was deeply moved by He Niao Niao's thoughtfulness. The next morning, she took the initiative to cook for Liao Tao and planned to go to Chengdu to order some seasonings on her behalf. Liao Tao didn't object, allowing Zhuang Jie to take some time to relax.
Wang Xi Xia encountered an impolite man when she went downstairs to throw away the trash. At a critical moment, Cui Ge stepped forward and spoke up, earning her favor. As a result, Wang Xi Xia invited Cui Ge to come to her home for a while. Zhuang Jie proactively called Wang Xi Xia and poured out her feelings, but to her surprise, Wang Xi Xia scolded her, believing that it was a consensual matter between adults and that Zhuang Jie didn't need to blame Chen Mai Dong so much. Wang Xi Xia used to admire Zhuang Jie's inherent self-confidence, but she now believed that excessive confidence could lead to arrogance, which would ultimately harm oneself and others. She urged Zhuang Jie to apologize and not act like a feminist all the time.
After hanging up the phone, Wang Xi Xia looked at the considerate Cui Ge beside her and suddenly felt the impulse to pursue a romantic relationship. They went on their first date.
Comments(Episode 15)