Original subtitles

[Fireworks of My Heart]

[Adapted from the novel "A City, Waiting for You" by Jiuyuexi]

[Episode 27]

His son is not as impressive as you are.

But he has the upper hand when it comes to socializing.

You know he's not as good as me.

Yet Mom still set Qin Qin and him up for a blind date.

He's not as good in terms of capabilities, but has good character.

If you're the bar, how many in Yancheng can actually meet it?

If we're so strict, your sister won't be able to get married.

Then don't get married. It's not like we can't support her.

What are you talking about?

I really don't know how you young people think.

Mr. Gu's daughter is a fine girl.

But you have no interest.

What are you busy with these days? You haven't been coming home on the weekends.

The year is wrapping up.

- So things are busier. - Same with Qin Qin.

Since coming back from the earthquake, she hasn't come home once.

She kept saying she was busy when I called.

No idea what you guys are so busy with.

She didn't come back last weekend?

No, she didn't.

We're leaving, Dr. Xu.

Bye-bye.

Are you done with work? I'm on my way.

I'll be a little late today. Leaving in 10 minutes.

Okay.

[Xu Qin]

Yan Chen?

Go upstairs.

Come home with me.

Meng Yan Chen.

You're her brother.

You two cannot be together.

As long as our parents don't agree,

there's no good outcome for you two.

Since you two got together, she hasn't been home once.

She's avoiding reality.

Don't you get it?

Save your concern.

Whether or not I can keep her is solely up to me.

Right. Keep her.

Then what?

Make her give everything up for you,

so you could satisfy your own selfish desires.

Does that make you feel good?

Song Yan.

Be honest with yourself.

Are you deserving of her?

Look at the neighborhood you're in.

Then take a look at yourself.

Do you really not get it?

Back then, when our parents said no, you were dumped.

If you had one bit of loyalty or integrity,

you would've surely found some way to better yourself so you could be worthy of her.

But look at yourself. What do you have?

What can you give her

that you're making her stand against everything she's ever known.

Song Yan.

What gives you the right?

Meng Yan Chen.

Do you know her?

Aside from the fact that she's sensitive and clumsy,

what else do you know of her?

You don't actually understand her at all.

Yes.

Ten years ago, you hated me.

You hate me for teaching her how to smoke, drink, fight.

But the truth is,

she made me take her to bars.

When I wouldn't use my fists, she picked fights with other people.

Do you know why?

She wanted to have fun.

She wished to let loose, go crazy.

She wanted to be free.

When one is suppressed for too long,

they resort to extreme methods.

At least then,

she would be alive.

So,

you asked what right do I have.

I say, based on her laughter just now.

At least she was somewhat like a human before.

But now?

It's been ten years.

She's been suppressed so much she's become a shell.

Don't you know how she is?

She looks cold and uncaring on the surface.

But in fact,

she's just a coward.

No matter how good she is at pretending, she's still just a softie.

Even if she was pushed to the brink,

she would never complain to you guys.

She thinks of you all as family.

But what do you all take her for?

A pawn?

Someone to be married off for business reasons,

to smoothen the road for your family enterprise?

I will never use her to make gains.

Can you make sure of that?

You're in deep waters yourself, Meng Yan Chen.

My parents

aren't as terrible as you said.

Yes, they do have their own set of rules.

And those rules are suffocating me as well as Qin Qin.

But, Qin Qin is her daughter.

They treat her like their own daughter.

Meng Yan Chen.

You know it yourself.

She is not only Meng Qin,

she's also Xu Qin.

Go back.

You and your family

need to stop tormenting her.

She has insomnia.

She needs medication in order to fall asleep.

Did you know that?

You said this neighborhood is good.

I agree.

The apartment is good, too.

It's tall.

Meng Yan Chen.

Look up there.

Based on the condition she was in before,

do you think she would

one day jump from there?

No one in your family has the right to tell me about worth.

You two didn't fight, did you?

Go on.

Go down and check.

What's up with you lately?

Nothing.

You think I believe that?

What do you want me to say?

Liquor isn't meant to be consumed like that.

You're supposed to savor it slowly.

It's meant to make you happy, not drown in despair.

Who's the culprit?

Nobody.

I just feel like drinking.

Really?

Why are you tormenting yourself?

There were two caterpillars,

living in a dark cave.

There was no light.

It was suffocating.

They were just caterpillars.

Neither one was able to escape.

But thankfully there were two of them.

They depended on each other.

Although it was dark,

they had companionship.

But one day,

one of them started to transition.

It turned into a butterfly and flew away.

As for the other caterpillar,

it remained in the cave.

There was no light to be seen.

Well, the other caterpillar will also turn into a butterfly.

There are too many butterflies out there.

No matter how hard it searched,

there was no way to find the caterpillar again.

In the past, you two shared the oppression from your mother.

Now Qin is pursuing her own happiness.

The pressure she and Song Yan has to face is a thousand times more than yours.

In comparison, they're braver than you.

No matter what,

as long as you dare to take flight, the outside world is full of possibilities.

It can't be worse than staying forever in the dark.

He's always been a reasonable person.

So I was surprised by what happened today, too.

I know.

I've always known.

Known what?

I know you're having a hard time being a part of that family.

I wouldn't say it's hard.

When you're with family, it's difficult to say who's right or wrong.

You must think my mom is very strict.

It's true.

She's very controlling.

But you know what?

When I was younger and I fell sick,

she was the one who stayed up all night taking care of me.

When I got bullied outside,

she'd always stand up for me.

Hard to imagine, huh?

That's just how my mom is.

She treats both me and Yan Chen the same way.

My brother and I are really similar.

We are like a caterpillar that hid ourselves in a cocoon.

We thought it would be safe there.

Once the zone experienced any changes,

we'd suddenly feel lost and unsafe.

My brother must be thinking that

one of the caterpillars had left.

It lost its companion.

It was abandoned.

That's why he's feeling insecure.

Your safe zone from now on

is me.

Hot water.

Where's the liquor?

The one you had belonged to the boss.

I'll buy a bottle.

- What would you like? - Anything will do.

Okay.

I'm in the shop.

Okay, got it.

Wait a minute.

Okay, I'll reply right away.

- Who's the liquor for? - Mr. Meng.

Who said you could get him liquor?

He paid for it, so what's the problem?

Are you going to be responsible if he gets drunk?

Fine.

Fine?

Ye Zi.

Aren't you from a good school?

It's almost graduation season, right?

Why are you still doing this part-time job and not looking for a serious one?

Jobs are hard to find.

I thought you're now an influencer.

Why do you care so much about this job?

Is it wrong to be serious at work?

Listen up, young lady.

You're still wet behind the ears.

You better not think about unrealistic things.

To say you look like somebody, I have to disagree.

Similar in form, but not in spirit.

Totally wide of the mark.

After you finish work today, go and get your salary.

Don't come back tomorrow.

Zhou.

Put this back.

Get me some water, and my coat.

I have to leave soon.

Call a driver for Mr. Meng.

Sure, will do, boss.

What do you think happened? How come he's so fierce today?

He said, "Similar in form, but not in spirit."

And "wide of the mark"?

Who did he mean?

This is pure vodka.

Try it.

Do you think I'm stupid?

Take this as an intermission. Drink some water to cool down.

My old man just called. He wants me home.

So I have to go.

Enough drinking. I better not see you when I come back later.

I'm warning you.

Hello, Mr. Meng. Ka Ming Chauffeurs at your service.

Please put on the seat belt.

I thought you quit being a driver.

No one would say no to making money.

You haven't put on the seat belt.

Did you drink a lot?

Take the next left turn.

Better switch lanes.

Looks like you didn't drink a lot.

I guess people like you don't ever get themselves drunk.

What kind of a person am I?

Extremely self-disciplined.

You even held back when you tried to drink your worries away.

Guess today's an exception.

Don't expose yourself to wind after you drink.

Are you all right?

Are you okay?

Here's tissue.

I caused trouble for the cleaning lady.

I'm sorry.

Is something bothering you?

No.

That sounds like a lie.

I'm not lying.

I just don't have anything to be happy about.

What can make you happy, then?

I will never be happy again.

Never again.

I will never be happy again.

- This is the place. - This shop?

Hello.

Anyone in?

Excuse me, who called for help?

Where's the person?

It was me!

Hello. What's the matter?

I...

There's a spider upstairs.

It's huge!

But... I don't dare to catch it.

Please help me catch it.

Don't worry. We'll take care of it.

Da Peng.

Are you scared of spiders?

You can hide behind me if you are.

Miss, where did you see the spider?

Over there.

Pi Pi, Da Peng, Ge. Go check.

Okay.

Please be careful.

That's expensive.

Ge, be gentle moving the things.

Got it.

Be gentle with the things.

Careful. That's even more expensive.

Excuse me.

Are you sure it's here? We didn't see it anywhere.

I'm very sure.

I saw it. It was right there.

Miss.

Was the spider really this big?

It was quite big.

Chi, Yi, I didn't find any spider.

- Nothing on that side. - Nothing here either.

Could it have gone down?

It's here!

- It's on your back! - Don't move, Da Peng.

It's only this big.

Pi Pi, catch it.

Miss, is this the one?

Yes, that's the one.

Ma'am. We've resolved the problem.

We'll leave now.

Okay, thanks a lot.

You're welcome. It's what we do.

- Pack up. - Let's go.

What a big spider.

See you.

Hold on!

Umm...

Do you have a girlfriend?

I do.

Thank you for coming.

Thanks.

Goodbye.

- It's done. - Okay.

Please disperse, guys.

I mean, Ge Zheng has a girlfriend but I don't.

Too bad for you.

Helped to catch a spider in the middle of the night.

Incredible.

Last time, Squad Two helped to catch a gecko.

Tell me about it.

- Ge. - What is it?

Look, it's that your girlfriend?

It is her.

- Yeah. - Call her!

No way, there are so many cars.

Feeling shy?

This is serendipity. You're dumb if you don't greet her.

Lu Xiao Qiu!

She's working.

Do we have any drinks or snacks?

Li.

Give her a drink.

Are you cold?

No, I'm good. What mission did you guys have today?

To catch a spider.

A spider?

Oh, right. Take this.

- When are you getting off work? - In another hour.

One more hour?

Make sure you keep warm.

- I will. - Put on more clothes!

That made our mission today worth it, no?

Not for me. I even gave up two bottles of drinks.

I'll pay you back.

I feel like I'm a lone dog walking on the street and suddenly got kicked in the gut.

Not "like". You are that dog.

You're up.

Why are you here?

This is my house.

Why am I at your house?

Did you forget? You were drunk last night.

I'm asking you why I'm at your house.

I put down my house address on the order.

Just because you're a rich young master,

you think I was trying to take advantage of you?

You were the one who refused to get off the car.

You wouldn't get out when we reached your garage.

You said to go anywhere but home.

I didn't know where to take you.

I'm sorry.

I don't remember a thing.

You say you're sorry, but you think I'm lying, don't you?

Was this the first time you blacked out?

You should have just left me in the garage.

Where's my coat?

- I should go. - Wait.

I bought two sets of breakfast. Don't waste food.

A guy who would apologize to the cleaner for vomiting on the floor

showed no basic respect and courtesy to me who works as a part-time waitress at a bar.

Mr. Meng, you're quite the character.

You stayed at the dorm last night?

What do you think?

I got a toothbrush and toothpaste for you.

You will only be using them once, so I bought the cheapest.

There's the bathroom.

Thanks.

Did you rent this place by yourself?

With a friend.

She had class last night, so she wasn't home.

Have you finished repaying the student loan?

Almost there.

Are you curious about the rent?

Last month, we managed to get more followers. Job opportunities increased, too.

The dorm would be packed if I got too much goods.

I'm graduating soon anyway.

So it's better to rent a house now to save the hassle next time.

How come university students these days all want to be influencers?

Not even students of good universities are spared.

What did you think?

Should we live on air, then?

When it comes to dreams,

you first need to have the necessary material conditions.

Where I am right now, I can't afford to pursue my dream.

I won't comment on your viewpoints.

Smells good.

You're up early.

It's done.

Come and eat breakfast.

Are you going back to work next Monday?

I've taken quite a long sick leave.

Here.

Then, I won't be able to see you for a while.

Are you worried about living alone?

Of course not.

I lived by myself for many years.

Having you stay with me made me more uncomfortable.

I'll be back next weekend.

One week passed by just like that.

The management nowadays is pretty humane.

There's something even more humane.

- How so? - Listen.

Local staff who are married

gets even more leave days.

Really?

Are you interested?

Eat your food.

[Mom]

Let me take this call.

- Hello? - Qin Qin.

Mom.

Where are you?

I'm at home, Mom. I'm about to go to work.

You're working on a weekend?

You didn't come home when I asked you to last weekend.

I'm quite busy these days.

Too busy to come home?

Too busy to meet suitors?

Does that mean you'll be too busy to get married, too?

Mom, I can handle my own matters.

Tonight, I want you home.

You haven't been back in a month.

Tomorrow, then.

Tomorrow is my off day. I'll go back in the morning.

If you're that busy, until you can't come home for more than month,

I guess I'll call your superior and ask for a day off.

All right.

Here. It's getting cold.

I just got a call from my mom.

She's urging me to go home.

Go then.

So, I won't be coming back here tonight.

I'll look for you tomorrow.

Okay, I'll wait for you.

Here you go.

Captain Song, eat more.

Doctor! Over here, someone's hurt.

Quickly, over here.

Her hand is bleeding.

It's okay. It's not serious.

Thinking back, the fire was pretty scary.

Right you are.

Thank goodness. No one is seriously hurt.

There was a really amazing girl on the bus.

She immediately broke the window with the hammer and led us out.

If she hadn't done that, things could've been bad.

That's right. She's young, but she was calm during an emergency.

There she is! The young lady talking to the driver.

Yes, that's the one. She saved us.

I'll go then if there's nothing else.

You may go.

- She's the one who saved us. - That's her.

Thanks to her.

Sis-in-law.

Zhai Miao.

You were on the bus, too?

She got us out to safety. She was great.

You're young but so brave. Such a smart girl.

I'm a firefighter's family dependent.

If I couldn't even handle such a small matter, I'd be embarrassing Yan, then.

Am I right, sis-in-law?

Just call me Xu Qin.

No way. Yan said I mustn't be rude.

I don't want to get beaten up when I get home.

What on earth did he tell you guys?

Sis-in-law, we had some misunderstandings in the past.

But that was because you were an outsider.

Now, we are one family.

I promise to treat you nicely.

So can we bury the hatchet and start over?

Are you hurt?

I'm fine. Don't worry about me.

Your clothes are burned.

I have extra. I'll bring it to you.

It's okay. You go ahead.

I won't trouble you.

Bye-bye.

After you leave, make sure not to get the wound wet.

Watch what you eat.

Get enough sleep.

Should we go shopping after work later?

I'll pass. My mom is visiting. I'm going to pick her from the airport.

I'll pass, too. I have an appointment later.

Don't tell me you're going on a date with that firefighter guy?

What's his name again?

Zhan Da Peng.

Oh, right. Is there any progress with you two?

I was only answering her question just now.

I didn't say there was anything going on between us.

I'm warning you guys. Don't make up stories.

I'm just going for a reunion.

But I think that guy is quite good.

It doesn't matter. I can't handle it.

What? 120 can't handle 119?

It's even a bigger number. Surely you have the upper hand.

And my age is an even bigger number than his.

That's a good thing.

A young guy has more positive, cheerful energy.

Also childish.

You don't even know him that well. How do you know he's childish?

That's right. It's always worth a try.

You're always worrying too much. Don't overthink it.

That's right. If you don't take the first step, how will you know how it'll end?

Moreover, when you choose to do it,

you'll then work hard towards the outcome you want.

It's true that you can avoid a bad ending if you don't start.

But it also means you won't get a good ending.

Dr. Xu is a person with few words, but when she speaks, it's full of meaning.

Dr. Li.

You should learn from her.

But what if all the signs point to a bad outcome?

Why still bother going through with it?

Although there's no outcome, at least you experienced it.

We'll regret things we didn't do way more than the things we did do.

I'm off.

- Bye, Dr. Xu. - Bye, Dr. Xu.

Dr. Xu is actually gossiping with us.

Did I imagine it?

Better buckle up.

- Let's go. - We're leaving. Bye.