The ongoing period C-drama Tender Light, featuring Zhang Xincheng and Tong Yao in the lead roles, aired episode 25 on May 9, 2024. The episode focuses on Nan Ya (Tong Yao) and Zhou Lou’s (Zhang Xincheng) fondness for each other.
Nan Ya visits Zhou Lou’s family store. She comes to know from Zhou Lou’s mother that her stepmother, Hu Xiu, is selling her family house. Zhou Lou’s mother advises her to get half of the house so she has a roof over her head after leaving her husband. While leaving the store, Nan Ya runs into Zhou Lou, who asks her to go to the movies with him. Nan Ya refuses at first but hesitantly agrees after her daughter starts throwing tantrums.
On the day of the movie date, Nan Ya reaches the theater with her daughter. Soon, Zhou Lou joins them. But their date gets interrupted when Zhou Lou’s friends also come to see the movie. Feeling uneasy, Nan Ya leaves the theater with her daughter. Zhou Lou follows her outside and cheers her up. After the movie ends, Zhou Lou and his friends meet Nan Ya for a meal.
Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves until Qin Li brings up Xu Yi hitting Nan Ya. She asks her if she believes in the concept of falling in love twice. Zhou Lou is heartbroken when Nan Ya answers that she has never been lucky enough to find true love. After Nan Ya leaves for home, Zhou Lou goes to visit her. He apologizes for his friend’s behavior. Nan Ya gets a little envious to see Zhou Lou pleading for his girlfriend.
Tender Light ep 25: Why did Zhang Xincheng apologise to Tong Yao?
Zhou Lou is amused to see Nan Ya getting jealous. He urges her not to think too much about the age gap between them. He wants her to see him as her lover who has traveled back in time, and that is why he is younger than her. Zhou Lou wishes to experience more setbacks and difficulties, which will help him become more mature.
The next morning, Zhou Lou visits Nan Ya’s boutique and asks her for a gift. He mentions his birthday is coming up and asks her to wait for him on the bridge at midnight. Qin Li has started to get suspicious of Zhou Lou’s growing acquaintance with Nan Ya.
Nan Ya reaches home to find Xu Yi sitting in the living room. He asks her for a favor. Nan Ya turns down his request at first, but then agrees to comply if Xu Yi signs the divorce papers. Xu Yi is so desperate that he agrees to her condition right away and signs the papers. He asks for Nan Ya’s ID card in return for registering a new company that he will use to launder money. When Nan Ya hears this, she refuses to lend him her ID card. Xu Yi hits her and storms out.
On the night of Zhou Lou’s birthday, she waits for him on the bridge. Zhou Lou cuts the cake and wishes to meet 19-year-old Nan Ya. He tells her he is not afraid of criticism and wants to roam the streets, hand in hand, with her. Zhou Lou tears up after Nan Ya opens up about her hardships when she was 19. Zhou Lou wishes to go back to that year to protect her, and the duo share an affectionate embrace.
Tender Light is available to stream on Youku throughout the week.
