Although Xie Linhui fails to catch Xiao Tong, she stumbles upon something unexpected: videos and data analyses on a computer. To her surprise, Zhou Zhou and the others display a certain level of professionalism in internet-related matters. Xie Linhui asks Zhou Zhou to pass on a message to Xiao Tong, warning her that their parents will find out sooner or later. Surrendering now is her best option, and if she doesn’t take this chance, no one will be able to plead for leniency on her behalf in the future.
Yang Weixi appears on Bai Lu’s program, where they put on a victimhood act. Yang Weixi claims she was misled and failed to control her emotions, which led to hurting Bai Lu. Instead of blaming her, Bai Lu adopts the stance of a journalist, stating her intention to investigate the truth behind the incident. Together, they shift the blame onto Zhongshang Langchao, accusing the company of publishing false reports that damaged Wu Yueting’s reputation. They also announce their intention to pursue legal action. Watching the program, Xie Linhui quickly realizes that the three of them—Yang Weixi, Wu Yueting, and Bai Lu—must have struck some kind of deal. Bai Lu’s conciliatory stance is likely a desperate bid to salvage her career after failing to climb higher.
Jiang Yidi’s work situation is also spiraling downward. She loses the chance to collaborate with Xiao Yue, who explicitly states he doesn’t want her involved in the project, citing perceived risks. Many suspect Jiang Yidi of having an ambiguous relationship with Wu Yueting, who has always valued her at work. This suspicion, fueled by Yang Weixi and Bai Lu’s scheming, leads to Jiang Yidi being labeled as a “third party.” While no one openly accuses her, the doubt lingers in everyone’s mind.
Jiang Yidi is summoned by Zhang Hongda, who acknowledges the unfair treatment she’s facing. He encourages her not to let the fallout from the company’s internal politics affect her. Instead, he advises her to embody resilience and stay focused on her goals. Zhang Hongda urges her to persevere through this difficult time.
However, Jiang Yidi faces disappointment not just at work but also in her personal life. Her boyfriend Wei Liang breaks up with her, unable to tolerate her workaholic lifestyle any longer. Over the years, he has struggled with feeling excluded and unsupported. Whenever he faced difficulties or rejection, Jiang Yidi was either away on business trips or too engrossed in work discussions. Wei Liang confesses that he needs love and attention too and no longer wants to continue the relationship under these circumstances.
In Beijing, Zhou Hang manages to meet Gao Tian briefly after the financial forum, but the tight schedule prevents them from having a proper conversation or meal. Meanwhile, Chief Editor Li is still intent on replacing Xie Linhui and now aims to promote Deputy Editor Lü Jian. However, he isn’t sure if Lü Jian is up to the task. Despite Lü Jian’s outward obedience to Xie Linhui, he harbors ambitions of his own and has been quietly maneuvering to secure a better future for himself.
Lily Sauce, on the other hand, faces her own crisis. She refuses to cooperate with the company’s marketing plans and is harshly reprimanded by her manager, Sister Zhang. For the first time, Lily Sauce learns that her livestream viewership figures aren’t as high as she believed. The company has been orchestrating the numbers, even using internal accounts to send her virtual gifts. This revelation is a wake-up call for Lily Sauce, who had always thought she was genuinely popular. Worse still, a web influencer imitating her online has gained more traction than she has.
Sister Zhang bluntly tells her that the company isn’t investing in her just for fun. With so many streamers out there, merely acting cute and coquettish on camera won’t take her far. Lily Sauce, still naïve about the industry’s harsh realities, realizes she has much to learn if she wants to stay relevant.
