YiPing showed up unexpectedly at the engagement party. Feeling sad and yet trying to appear calm and happy, YiPing smiled and congratulated the couple. While ShuHuan felt just as distressed as YiPing because he still could not forget YiPing's love, RuPing, who knew nothing about their feelings, was glad that YiPing came to give them blessings. RuPing told YiPing that it was as if ShuHuan and herself were on a boat that had gone through a storm but have just come ashore, she still felt a bit seasick. YiPing remembered what ShuHuan used to say that he was a doctor trying to cure her hatred, she sarcastically told RuPing that ShuHuan is the best doctor and will cure her seasick. Upon hearing this, ShuHuan recalled his time with YiPing and felt really uneasy. YiPing then asked ShuHuan to introduce her to his parents, whom she missed the chance to meet when she did not go to Nanjing back then. ShuHuan's parents apparently have confused YiPing and RuPing and have just realized that ShuHuan is not engaging with the girl in the picture which ShuHuan had showed them before. This again reminded ShuHuan of his time with YiPing and could not help feeling sad.
After singing a song to congratulate the couple, YiPing, whose tears kept falling while singing, could not hold herself together anymore. She fainted on the stairs but soon regained consciousness. DuFei gave her some wine to make her feel better. Seeing this, FangYu suggested YiPing should go home first. ShuHuan could not help himself but followed YiPing to the gate. DuFei, ErHao, FangYu and ZhenHua also came out from the house and made sure ZhenDe would take YiPing directly home. However, shortly after they walked back to the house, YiPing asked ZhenDe to take her to the bridge where she and ShuHuan had gone to watch the sunset together. Keeping his promise to YiPing's mother, ZhenDe insisted on taking YiPing home. YiPing became angry and jumped off the rickshaw. She injured her forehead and was almost hit by a car. Hearing the noise of the car, ShuHuan ran to YiPing and held her in his arms. YiPing, in a mess, told him to go back to his RuPing and not to worry about her. The anxious ZhenDe lifted YiPing back to his rickshaw and started pulling it off. Meanwhile, DuFei and ErHao dragged ShuHuan away from YiPing and back to the engagement party. But ShuHuan pushed them all aside. He took a bicycle and followed the rickshaw to the bridge. RuPing watched all these sadly by the gate.
YiPing was drunk and acting crazily. She climbed onto the rails of the bridge to watch the sunset. When ShuHuan arrived, she was singing the song "Seeing you in the Rain", which she wrote especially for ShuHuan back then. Seeing this, ShuHuan was heart broken and told YiPing that actually, he could not forget her all along. He knew that she felt just as painful as him. ShuHuan begged YiPing not to torture him in this way and to come down from the rail. The drunken YiPing did not seem to understand what ShuHuan said. She told him that as a member of the Lu family, she would not kill herself and that she was like a porcupine with spines pulled out. She was there just to look for her "spines" so she could live on. Seeing YiPing in such a confused state, ShuHuan tried his hardest to ask her to come down and remind her again who he was. But she still could not recognize him. She even warned ShuHuan that he could pretend to be anyone except ShuHuan himself. She continued to say that her ShuHuan went to the battlefield and would not return. Suddenly, one of YiPing's shoes fell into the river. Wanting to get it back, YiPing jumped off the bridge. ShuHuan jumped into the river right after YiPing and rescued her. Although injured and wet, the confused YiPing insisted to go home.
RuPing's mother, XueQin was very upset that the engagement party ended up this way. Realizing that this was not the first time ShuHuan had chased after YiPing and left her behind, RuPing finally accepted the fact that ShuHuan's heart would never go to her. Meanwhile, XueQin kept insulting YiPing for taking ShuHuan away. ZhenHua told RuPing that she had to take responsibility for what had happened. RuPing admitted that she knew ShuHuan was still in love with YiPing. But she purposely went to the battlefield to win ShuHuan's heart when he was depressed after breaking up with YiPing. Responded in anger, ZhenHua ordered RuPing to marry DuFei. DuFei declined and told him that unless RuPing was truly in love with him, their marriage would just be another tragedy.
RuPing decided to go see YiPing and ShuHuan and fix the complicated relationship between them. FangYu went with her. They arrived at YiPing's house only to find that she had not yet returned home. FangYu begged RuPing to give up ShuHuan. RuPing replied that she would give up as long as ShuHuan admitted he only loves YiPing, otherwise, it would be a fight between two women.
All of a sudden, ShuHuan rushed in with YiPing in his arms. ZhenDe told everyone what happened and WenPei was very worried. In a half conscious state, YiPing kept saying that ShuHuan did not want her anymore and he hated her. ShuHuan then cried out aloud, "I love you! I have never stopped loving you. I think about you every minute, every second! You fill my thoughts and my heart! Deep inside, you have never left! It was just because I am so deeply in love with you, I cannot stand you not loving me. YiPing, I was wrong! Why can't you open your eyes to see me, hear me and feel me? Why?" Everyone was so moved by ShuHuan's confession. At that moment, RuPing knew that ShuHuan had never loved her. He did not even notice that she was in the room. She decided to give up on ShuHuan.
RuPing ran home to tell her father what happened and told him that YiPing was dying. ZhenHua quickly went to see YiPing. The doctor suspected that YiPing could be infected with a deadly disease and should be hospitalized immediately. Fearing YiPing might not survive in the hospital just like her other daughter, XinPing, WenPei refused. Hardly conscious, YiPing repeatedly shouted that she was very painful and she wanted her spines back.
ShuHuan could not understand YiPing's words. FangYu explained to him that YiPing compared herself to a porcupine. She had been using the spines to defend herself and her mother against the ill treatment of the "other side". But because of her love for ShuHuan, who did not want her to live in hatred with those spines, she decided to change to become loving and kind, just the way ShuHuan wanted her to be. So despite of the great pain, she pulled off all her spines, leaving holes all over her body and making herself look so awkward as a porcupine without spines. But still, ShuHuan had left her. So YiPing thought in order for her to live on without ShuHuan, she must find her spines and put them back and be the YiPing she used to be, the strong and sharp YiPing before she met ShuHuan. Upon knowing this, ShuHuan felt extremely guilty and upset at himself.
Episode 32
ZhenHua insisted on sending YiPing to the hospital. At the hospital, the doctors tried their best to save the unconscious YiPing but her condition was still in danger. Due to poor health, her body was very weak. They had to wait and see if she could come out of the coma within the next 48 hours. ZhenHua asked WenPei why YiPing's health was so poor. WenPei explained that YiPing had not been eating much in the last two months. Sometimes she even vomited whatever she ate. ShuHuan was heart broken. He sat by the bed, holding YiPing's hand and told her that he would be there for her, not only for 48 hours, but also for the rest of his life.
RuPing finally managed to pull herself from her blind love for ShuHuan. She knew that she was "defeated" the moment she saw ShuHuan walked into WenPei's place with YiPing in his arms. She understood that ShuHuan would never leave YiPing again. She knew if YiPing would die, ShuHuan would not live either and if YiPing would become crazy, ShuHuan would not be normal anymore.
FangYu told RuPing that YiPing's chance of survival would be less than 20 percent. RuPing felt guilty for what she had done to YiPing. She went with ErHao and DuFei to the hospital to see YiPing. On the way, they stopped by the church to pray. At the hospital, RuPing gathered her courage and went in to see YiPing. At this time, YiPing's condition suddenly turned worse and doctors rushed in to give her emergency treatments. ShuHuan was totally broken down. He kept on screaming and told YiPing not to leave this world without giving him a chance to explain. Everyone was worried that YiPing would die but was relieved to know her condition was under control again shortly after the emergency treatments. Seeing how ShuHuan cared for YiPing without taking his eyes off her face for a second but did not even notice her arrival, RuPing quietly left the hospital.
DuFei followed her and tried to cheer her up. However, RuPing felt that she was such a failure with her fiance walking out from the engagement party. She became a joke in school and did not know how to face her friends and most of all, life, anymore. DuFei comforted her and reminded her that she still had friends that would love and care for her.
ShuHuan refused to leave YiPing's bedside. He asked FangYu to tell his parents what happened. He also asked FangYu to get him YiPing's diary and her letter to him. ShuHuan knelt before WenPei and ZhenHua to ask for their forgiveness for hurting both YiPing and RuPing. ZhenHua told ShuHuan to stay by YiPing's bed so he can be the first person YiPing sees once she wakes up.
Meanwhile, XueQin had doubts about YiPing's sickness. She believed that YiPing was trying to pretend to be sick to win ShuHuan back. She scolded RuPing and hit her for defending YiPing. DuFei could not bear watching RuPing being insulted. He spoke for her and told XueQin that the most tragic thing happened to RuPing was being XueQin's daughter.
ShuHuan finally got to read YiPing's letter and diary. He was really touched by them and regretted that he had not read them earlier. He read them over and over again by YiPing's bedside.
Episode 33
YiPing finally woke up from the coma and the doctor determined that she has fought through the most dangerous period. However, the weak YiPing could not remember anything and was confused to see ShuHuan by her bedside. She soon felt into a deep sleep again.
ZhenDe's family went to see YiPing. On the way to the hospital, KeYun ran into ErHao and FangYu. Seeing KeYun still living in her own memory, ErHao told her that FangYu is his girlfriend. Surprisingly, KeYun said that she knew that FangYu is ErHao's girlfriend "in the past 6 years". She said YiPing told her that she was ErHao's "6 years ago girlfriend" while FangYu is ErHao's present girlfriend. However, sometimes she still got confused. She told ErHao that she just wanted to be a maid by his side and asked FangYu not to chase her away. FangYu knew that KeYun's heart was still with ErHao and did not want to hurt KeYun. So she suggested breaking up with ErHao. ErHao finally understood ShuHuan's distress, that is, being torn between the loves of two women.
YiPing finally woke up from the deep sleep. She started remembering what happened on the engagement party. She told ShuHuan that she did not want to see him anymore and he should go back to RuPing. Her mother tried to tell YiPing that ShuHuan and RuPing's engagement was cancelled. YiPing was still emotionally disturbed. Seeing this, WenPei asked ShuHuan to leave first and come back when YiPing had calmed down. Slowly walking to the door, ShuHuan suddenly remembered YiPing had once told him that every time she told him to leave, her heart actually wanted him to stay. He then turned around and told YiPing that he heard her heart calling him to stay. ShuHuan also begged YiPing to give him one more chance to prove his love for her. YiPing was finally moved and accepted ShuHuan again with a kiss.
ShuHuan went to the Lu's house to apologize to RuPing. XueQin was angry and started throwing things at him. ShuHuan apologized to ZhenHua and asked to speak to RuPing along. Seeing ShuHuan did not know how to start the conversation, RuPing told him that she did not blame him and YiPing for what they have done, for she knew that they both acted instinctively and not intentionally. ShuHuan was grateful for her generosity and told her that he would leave a corner in his heart for her. RuPing told him not to because she knew YiPing would not like that. ShuHuan finally understood the differences in characters between the two sisters.
YiPing recovered from her sickness and went home. A surprise party was held to celebrate her twentieth birthday. ZhenHua gave YiPing a piano as a birthday gift. YiPing played the piano while ZhenHua, WenPei, ShuHuan, DuFei, FangYu, ErHao and ZhenDe's family all gathered around singing. Though unsure if she would be welcomed, RuPing walked in and joined the group later on. The two sisters hugged each other and asked for each other's forgiveness. They also decided to celebrate their 83rd birthday together in the year 2000.
Episode 34
At school, RuPing could no longer stand the way people talking behind her back about cancellation of her engagement. She wanted to quit school. DuFei tried to comfort her. As they walked by the Red Cross Association, RuPing decided to volunteer to become a nurse. ShuHuan felt responsible that RuPing could not complete her college studies. Realizing ShuHuan was still thinking about RuPing at times, YiPing said that she would understand if he wanted to engage with RuPing again. ShuHuan refused and confirmed his love to YiPing.
ZhenHua went to see WenPei. He expressed the desire to buy a house and move to live with her and YiPing. WenPei was touched and overjoyed. She told ZhenHua that all these years she had been waiting and had never hated him. ZhenHua also told ZhenDe to move in with them once they have brought the house. ZhenDe was excited to hear the news.
XueQin found out that WeiGuangXiong, her secret lover had another woman staying with him. On the same day, she went home just to know that ZhenHua wanted to move out. XueQin felt extremely hurt that both men did not want her any more.
YiPing and ShuHuan just got to learn about ZhenHua's decision when ZhenDe went to tell WenPei he had found the perfect house for them to move in. Thinking WenPei purposefully destroyed her relationship with ZhenHua, XueQin went to WenPei's house and started to yell at WenPei and ShuHuan. At first, ShuHuan thought she came over for him. So, he let XueQin yell and hit him. But YiPing lost her control and tried to stop XueQin by threatening to reveal her relationship with WeiGuangXiong. XueQin was not afraid and asked YiPing for proof. ZhenDe confronted her with WeiGuangXiong's name but XueQin denied to know such a person. YiPing was finally forced to reveal that ErJie is the evidence to XueQin's affair with WeiGunagXiong. However, what she did not know was that ZhenHua was on the other side of the door to hear all the conversations. He kicked the door open and dragged XueQing home.
ErHao, RuPing and MengPing did not know what actually happened. They begged ZhenHua not to beat up their mother. ZhenHua told RuPing angrily that her mother is an adulteress. But XueQin swore that she never has any love affair with another man.
Episode 35
Since XueQin denied everything, ZhenHua insisted on taking ErJie to have the blood tested to see if ErJie is really his son. XueQin would not let ZhenHua do so. She insulted ZhenHua in everyway she could and indirectly admitted her relations with WeiGuangXiong in front of her children. ZhenHua could not believe what he heard. He was so angry that he locked XueQin and ErJie in the storage room and ordered everyone to stay away from the room. He wanted to starve XueQin and ErJie to death.
ErHao, RuPing and MengPing could not believe what they heard. They were ashamed of what their mother did to their father. RuPing went to ask XueQin again. XueQin told RuPing to accept ErJie like the way she had accepted YiPing. By then, RuPing knew that ErJie is not ZhenHua's son. RuPing tried to bring food to XueQin and ErJie but was caught by ZhenHua.
YiPing and ShuHuan went to find ZhenHua who was heart broken with his pride and dignity completely lost. ZhenHua asked YiPing to tell him everything she knew about WeiGuangXiong. YiPing refused to disclose anything about him except that he is the leader of a group of gangsters. She was afraid her father might seek revenge on WeiGuangXiong and get hurt.
XueQin kept on yelling and screaming with insulting words. Her voice was so loud that it could be heard in the whole neighborhood. It was really embarrassing for ZhenHua and his children. Finally ZhenHua could not take it anymore. He took out his gun and wanted to kill XueQin. His children stopped him. ShuHuan told RuPing to take the gun and hide it from her father.
ZhenHua went to talk with ZhenDe who offered to take revenge on WeiGuangXiong on ZhenHua's behalf. ZhenHua told him that Shanghai is a civilized society now and everything goes by law, unlike the Northeastern Province they used to live in. He also told ZhenDe not to get involved because ZhenDe has a family to take care of.
ShuHuan, DuFei and ErHao came up with a plan to get XueQin and ErJie out. In the storage room, ErJie became very sick. XueQin told RuPing to contact WeiGuangXiong to save them. WeiGuangXiong was furious to learn that his son was sick and being locked up. He made a rescue plan with his fellow gangsters.
