Episode 17 recap: Chen Mai Dong personally visited the parents.
Because Zhuang Jie stayed out all night, Liao Tao got angry and vented his anger on Zhuang Yan. Zhuang Jie's younger sister, He Niao Niao, quickly sent a message to Zhuang Jie, informing her to come back quickly and take responsibility for her actions. Chen Mai Dong was curious that the Liao family actually had a curfew, and Zhuang Jie reluctantly explained that there was no such rule before until her mother found out about their relationship and suddenly imposed this rule.
Zhuang Jie wanted Chen Mai Dong to go back with her since it's inevitable for an ugly daughter-in-law to meet her in-laws. However, Chen Mai Dong was afraid at the thought of Liao Tao and wasn't mentally prepared. Nevertheless, Chen Mai Dong rode his bike to accompany Zhuang Jie back, and inevitably encountered Liao Tao, so he had no choice but to reluctantly go upstairs and be a guest.
Zhuang Jie quietly reminded Liao Tao in the kitchen to be more polite, as he was her prospective son-in-law. On New Year's Eve, the lights were brilliant, and households were filled with joy and laughter. However, the atmosphere in the Liao family was overly solemn. The table was filled with delicious dishes but lacked the presence of the most important person—the two fathers' portraits stood side by side, evoking immense sadness in Liao Tao.
Liao Tao noticed that Zhuang Jie was absent-minded and prepared to go out and celebrate with friends. He guessed that she had made plans with Chen Mai Dong and felt extremely upset. Zhuang Jie didn't want to argue at this moment, so she tried to suppress her emotions as much as possible. However, Liao Tao didn't want to calm down and began recounting how Zhuang Jie had spent very few days at home over the years. Even to this day, she was still a source of worry.
In Liao Tao's view, decent people wouldn't go out at this hour. Going out to have fun on New Year's Eve would ultimately disadvantage the girl. But Liao Tao was anxious, and as soon as he became anxious, his words became harsh. He never thought about how much these words would hurt Zhuang Jie.
Similarly, Zhuang Jie didn't hesitate to retort, saying that she had been held back by this relationship for a long time. Even if she wanted to have fun, it depended on whether others were willing. After saying this, she stormed out of the house. Zhuang Yan saw this and hurriedly followed, persuading her elder sister not to be angry with their mother and revealing that there had been an accident at the factory, which had put their mother in a bad mood.
Although Zhuang Jie was accustomed to it, having heard countless compliments and criticisms since childhood, and being able to shield herself from some hurtful words, sometimes she would decide which aspect of her character to release 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 mother who never resigned herself to difficulties and always faced them head-on. This 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 at the same time, they naturally became weapons for attacking each other.
Chen Mai Dong prepared a lot of New Year's fruit and felt relieved after seeing his grandmother and Grandma Chen happily video chatting. He then left and arranged to meet Zhuang Jie at a square bar.
Zhuang Jie had a few drinks and was slightly tipsy. She leaned against Chen Mai Dong's neck and started speaking flirtatiously. However, she ended up having her buttocks touched by a stranger. The suppressed anger within her erupted, and she grabbed a chair and smashed it towards the person. Luckily, the security guards arrived in time to stop any tragedy from occurring. Chen Mai Dong then took Zhuang Jie away from the bar, heading straight to the new house they had bought two years ago.
It was Zhuang Jie's first time visiting Chen Mai Dong's new home. She comfortably enjoyed his thoughtfulness and unexpectedly discovered the tree-shaped clay figurine that he had already made, representing the two of them. When the atmosphere reached its peak, Zhuang Jie sat on Chen Mai Dong's lap, kissing him while unbuttoning his shirt. Her mind was filled with Liao Tao's accusations, and her rebellious thoughts grew stronger. It felt as though only by doing this could she relieve the overwhelming emotions within her.
Initially, Chen Mai Dong thought it was an impulsive act caused by Zhuang Jie's drunkenness. However, he realized that Zhuang Jie genuinely wanted to take the next step, so he stopped controlling 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 forcing her. Chen Mai Dong couldn't believe what he was hearing, watching her dress and leave, smashing the clay figurine out of anger, leaving a cold feeling in his heart.
That night, Chen Mai Dong rode his motorcycle to escort Zhuang Jie home. The two remained silent throughout the journey until they reached Zhuang Jie's doorstep. Chen Mai Dong seriously considered their relationship and admitted that he couldn't enjoy life as spontaneously as Zhuang Jie. He couldn't treat relationships as casually as she did. Therefore, he decided to end this fleeting romance.
Upon returning home, Zhuang Jie saw the card her younger sister had written for her. Her sister hoped that she and their mother wouldn't argue and didn't want to see them both cry. He Niao Niao's thoughtfulness made Zhuang Jie feel uneasy. The next morning, she took the initiative to cook for Liao Tao and planned to go to Chengdu to order some braised seasonings on her behalf. Surprisingly, Liao Tao didn't object and thought it would be a good opportunity for her to relax.
Wang Xi Xia encountered an impolite man while taking out the trash. At a crucial moment, Cui Ge stepped forward and spoke up for her, earning her favor. As a result, Wang Xi Xia invited Cui Ge to her house for a while. Zhuang Jie proactively called Wang Xi Xia to confide in her, but to her surprise, Wang Xi Xia scolded her, stating that this was a matter between consenting adults and Zhuang Jie shouldn't put all the blame on Chen Mai Dong. After all, she had initially seduced him, so there was no need to act like a victim.
Although Wang Xi Xia used to admire Zhuang Jie's inherent self-confidence, she now believed that sometimes excessive confidence could turn into arrogance, which could harm oneself and others. Therefore, she urged Zhuang Jie to apologize and not always act like a feminist.
After hanging up the phone, Wang Xi Xia looked at the considerate Cui Ge beside her and suddenly felt an impulse to pursue a romantic relationship. They went on their first date.
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