When judging a shop’s business success, it’s not just about the number of customers but the turnover rate—the frequency with which a single table is reused. The higher the turnover rate, the better the business. Lately, Cao Zhiyong notices that half of his audience consists of stand-up comedians who come to watch Xiu Ya. The problem is, they order just one drink and linger all night, causing low turnover and poor daily earnings. Cao Zhiyong is worried. First, because Xiu Ya is too busy with overtime to come and perform. Second, these stand-up fans are hurting his business. He asks Xiao Lan to talk to Xiu Ya, hoping that she can stop by “Bang He” and do a set, even as a cameo, to attract real customers. Xiao Lan promises to pass the message along.
Actually, Xiu Ya isn’t working overtime. She’s avoiding “Bang He” possibly because she doesn’t want to run into Shi Ye, doesn’t want to compete with her friend Xiao Lan over the same man, or maybe because she just got out of a relationship and isn’t ready to start a new one so soon. Xiao Lan assumes that Xiu Ya’s not performing at “Bang He” because she’s scared, and Xiu Ya does not bother to explain. That night, after work, Xiu Ya goes to “Bang He.” Cao Zhiyong greets her like a lifesaver, and Xiu Ya goes on stage for a set. Afterward, she and Shi Ye talk privately and both agree that what happened on that rainy night was just an accident. They shake hands and remain friends. Right then, they overhear some people accusing Xiu Ya of plagiarism. When they ask for details, they learn that these two had heard a performer named Liu Qi tell the same bit at Fengzhang Club.
So, Shi Ye and Xiu Ya head over to Fengzhang Club to hear Liu Qi’s stand-up. The first joke he tells is exactly the “classroom-style” stand-up routine Xiu Ya invented. Liu Qi turns out to be the man who had listened to Xiu Ya’s private set at the bar that night. After his show, Shi Ye and Xiu Ya confront Liu Qi, hoping he’ll admit to plagiarism. Liu Qi is slippery and denies everything. Shi Ye’s phone recording doesn’t capture any confession. Soon, the stand-up community is buzzing with the rumor that Xiu Ya plagiarized Liu Qi, and people keep slandering her. Her qualification for “The Alpaca” show is revoked. Shi Ye can’t stand this and goes to confront Liu Qi. People jump to conclusions, thinking Liu Qi got beaten up. Three men rush to “Bang He” demanding an explanation. Surprisingly, Shi Ye readily admits fault and even offers to treat everyone to a meal at Riverside Park to apologize to Liu Qi in person.
News of this spreads, and everyone skips “The Alpaca” to watch the drama unfold at Riverside Park. Xiu Ya asks Shi Ye what really happened. It turns out Shi Ye never beat Liu Qi. Instead, he wrote the word “Plagiarist” on Liu Qi’s forehead with a stubbornly permanent marker. Feeling guilty, Liu Qi covered it with gauze and lied to his friends that Shi Ye hit him. Shi Ye seizes this opportunity to set a trap: At Riverside Park, he plans to have both Liu Qi and Xiu Ya perform the contested bit in front of their peers. Professionals in the stand-up scene have sharp eyes. They’ll know instantly who the joke truly belongs to. All Xiu Ya needs to do is remember it’s hers.
As expected, Liu Qi, who only knows how to copy, can’t deliver the material naturally. Meanwhile, Xiu Ya’s effortless performance captivates the crowd. There’s no need to say more. The truth is plain as day, and everyone recognizes who the real plagiarist is. With this, Xiu Ya cements her place in the stand-up community. She also catches the eye of a billionaire named Xu Yunfeng, who searches her name online and discovers that she works for Zhonghe Group.
