You Are My Lover Friend- Episodes 13-16

Episode 13:

Tang Yang never imagined she’d be squaring off against Zhou Mo at work. Despite her detailed investigative report, Zhou Mo had already charmed the bank manager with his strategies, leaving her at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, Jiang Shiyan was determined to spend New Year's Eve with Tang Yang, using every excuse to drop by her house—from fixing the water purifier to bonding with her aunt and keeping tabs on her family’s plans.

When he overheard Tang Yang’s parents discussing holiday plans, he immediately suggested a trip to the south. But her mother hesitated, not wanting to leave her sister behind. Switching gears, Jiang Shiyan floated the idea of a cruise, only for her parents to voice concerns about seasickness. Undeterred, he promised to find an even better option.

Determined to make it work, Jiang Shiyan pulled some strings to secure an exclusive New Year’s Eve dinner package in a presidential suite—complete with ten rooms, a hot spring, and facilities for group dining and entertainment. Knowing his mother’s frugal habits, he concocted a story about receiving the suite as a gift from a resort in exchange for company promotions. After some convincing, his mother finally agreed to the plan. Excited, Jiang Shiyan spent his morning meticulously organizing everything: small gifts for Tang Yang’s family, new outfits for himself, and festive attire for his mom.

But just as Tang Yang was preparing to drive her family to Shallow Water Bay, she received a disappointing call. Jiang Shiyan’s grandfather had sprained his ankle, and after a hospital visit, insisted on spending New Year’s back in his hometown. Heartbroken, Jiang Shiyan had to tell Tang Yang he couldn’t make it and wished her a great holiday.

Later, as Jiang Shiyan was helping his mother care for his grandfather, he heard an unexpected voice—Tang Yang’s. To his delight, she had brought her family to visit his hometown, surprising him with their thoughtfulness. Tang Yang’s parents arrived with gifts for Jiang Shiyan’s family and even packed a New Year's Eve dinner. The once-quiet courtyard was now bustling with warmth and laughter, as Tang Yang handed his mother a small jacket from her own mom, which she gratefully accepted, exclaiming how perfect it was for cooking.

As tradition called, everyone began writing spring couplets to welcome the New Year. Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan picked up brushes and joined in, their friends grinning as they noticed how seamlessly the two complemented each other. Amid the laughter, they playfully teased the pair, urging them to turn their “pure revolutionary friendship” into something more.

Under the glow of New Year’s fireworks, Jiang Shiyan couldn’t hide his happiness. His long-held wish had finally come true, and the joy was reflected in his beaming smile.

Episode 14:

With everyone pitching in, the New Year’s Eve dinner was finally ready, and the joyful family gathered around the table to enjoy the meal. Jiang Shiyan was grinning from ear to ear all day, clearly thrilled to have Tang Yang and her family join them. During dinner, everyone joked that since neither Tang Yang nor Jiang Shiyan was married, they should sit at the “kids’ table” — according to rural tradition, unmarried people are still considered children.

Tang Yang couldn’t resist sharing some of Jiang Shiyan’s most embarrassing childhood stories, much to his chagrin and everyone’s delight. Meanwhile, over at the company, Cheng Hui was stuck on duty, unable to make it home for dinner. He sent Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan tiny red envelopes, just over a penny each, which prompted them to message him asking for a bigger New Year’s gift. Cheng Hui explained the bad luck of the app he used, but on the other end of the city, Sheng Nina received a generous 188 yuan from him! She, too, was working late and missed New Year’s Eve dinner, settling for instant hotpot at the office and sharing her meal online.

Seeing her post, Cheng Hui couldn’t resist copying her. He prepared frozen dumplings to recreate Sheng Nina’s tom yum hotpot, finding comfort in the shared experience.

After dinner, Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan took a nostalgic walk through the village, stopping at a small shop where an elderly man was selling fireworks. Tang Yang picked up a few fireworks and a pack of “Da Da Juan” bubble gum—the same kind she and Jiang Shiyan used to enjoy as kids. They laughed, competing to see who could blow the biggest bubble, and it was as if they’d stepped back in time to their childhood.

When they returned, Jiang Shiyan’s mother asked him to take Tang Yang upstairs to collect some gifts. For Tang Yang, this was her first glimpse into the room where Jiang Shiyan had grown up. She couldn’t help but laugh at his old toys and baby photos. Then, Jiang Shiyan’s mother gave Tang Yang a pearl necklace as a New Year’s gift. Tang Yang asked Jiang Shiyan to help her put it on, and as he fastened the clasp, he felt himself drawn to her, leaning in for a kiss.

Just then, a shadow flickered by the window, startling Tang Yang, and she quickly stepped back. Jiang Shiyan felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him, realizing he might have crossed a line. Thankfully, someone downstairs called them to watch the fireworks, providing a perfect escape from the moment’s awkwardness.

That night, Jiang Shiyan went to bed early, feeling a bit disappointed and worried that he had overstepped. Tang Yang was equally flustered, trying to brush off the unexpected moment as just a random lapse.

The next morning, Tang Yang and her family prepared to leave early. By the time Jiang Shiyan woke up, they were nearly out the door. He caught up just in time to hand Tang Yang a forgotten box of jujube cakes. Tang Yang sensed his hesitation and reassured him, saying there was no need to dwell on what happened the previous night, and they could just move past it.

After the New Year, Feng Weiran suggested a gathering for all their friends. During a quiet moment at the event, Jiang Shiyan finally got the chance to talk to Tang Yang alone. He wanted to know if he could take things to the next level with her, hoping she felt the same way he did. But Tang Yang, afraid it had just been a fleeting impulse for him, gently let him down. She told him that after all these years, he had become her closest confidant and friend, and she couldn’t imagine anything changing that.

With a bittersweet smile, Jiang Shiyan responded that he wouldn’t call her “Yang Ge” anymore. Tang Yang, confused by his words, could only assure him that no matter what happened, he would always hold a special place in her life.

As they left the gathering, both of them couldn’t help but feel a shift. For Jiang Shiyan, it was a quiet, unspoken hope, and for Tang Yang, a resolve to protect the friendship she held so dear—even if it meant ignoring her own feelings.

Episode 15:

Jiang Shiyan couldn't shake off his confusion over Tang Yang pushing him away on New Year's Eve. After days of mulling it over, he decided to ask his cousin Jiang Yanan for advice. Popping by her restaurant under the guise of grabbing a meal, he casually brought up the situation, framing it as a story about a friend.

Listening patiently, Jiang Yanan shrugged and suggested that maybe the girl only saw him as a friend and had never thought of him romantically. Her words hit Jiang Shiyan like a cold shower, making him question if he had really misread everything and if his feelings had only embarrassed Tang Yang.

Meanwhile, Sheng Nina was dealing with a broken internet connection and called Feng Weiran for help. He roped Cheng Hui into the task since Cheng Hui was still at the office and, honestly, the most tech-savvy person around. Packing a bag with a router and a few extras, Cheng Hui arrived at Sheng Nina’s place, only to find her chatting with a group of friends. They quietly giggled about how handsome Cheng Hui was, but agreed he seemed way too serious and "robotic" when it came to romance.

Besides fixing her internet, Cheng Hui had thoughtfully brought a selection of flavored sauces, knowing Sheng Nina often resorted to fast food due to her busy schedule. The sauces would add a bit of flavor to her quick meals, though he made no mention of his thoughtfulness. Sheng Nina, a bit surprised, thanked him, and her friends eyed him with new curiosity.

Ever since Jiang Yanan’s candid comment, Jiang Shiyan had been avoiding Tang Yang. When he heard she had stopped by his company one day, he quickly ducked into a corner, emerging only after she left. Cheng Hui noticed him hiding and raised an eyebrow, but Jiang Shiyan stammered out an excuse about taking a phone call.

Tang Yang’s bank was scheduled to meet with Jiang Shiyan’s company for a collaboration, so he had Feng Weiran attend the meeting in his place to keep his distance. During the dinner banquet that followed, the conversation turned to a famous local liquor, a rare treat that typically required months of waiting to reserve. The bank executives lamented that they hadn’t had a chance to try it, only for the server to bring out a bottle of that very liquor. As it turned out, Jiang Shiyan had reserved it months prior specifically for Tang Yang’s birthday, though she hadn’t made it to the celebration.

This thoughtful gesture made Tang Yang realize just how much she mattered to him, and she found herself feeling more conflicted than ever.

Later, at home, Tang Yang heard from Feng Weiran that Jiang Shiyan had gone on a business trip. She considered messaging him, even typed out a quick “Why didn’t you tell me?” on WeChat, but deleted it before hitting send. She knew he’d been avoiding her, and yet, she wasn’t quite ready to confront why.

The next day, Tang Yang found an excuse to swing by Jiang Shiyan’s place, hoping to catch him when he returned. Sure enough, she spotted him arriving home, suitcase in hand. Their eyes met, and Jiang Shiyan’s face lit up in a warm smile. Tang Yang felt an immense sense of relief—here was her old friend, the same comforting presence from high school, and for a moment, it felt as though nothing had changed between them.

At a bank wine-tasting event, Tang Yang attended with her department head and ran into an intern, Lin Lang, who was dressed to impress in a daring crop top. Lin Lang had recently gotten close to a certain handsy colleague, Gan Yiming, and Tang Yang couldn't shake a feeling of concern as she watched Lin Lang greet him eagerly. She gently warned Lin Lang not to drink too much, sensing that her young colleague might be getting into more than she bargained for.

Episode 16:

At the wine party, Lin Lang clung to Gan Yiming, who eagerly kept her glass filled. Noticing that she looked unsteady, Tang Yang quickly escorted her out, letting Lin Lang lean on her as they made their way to the restroom. After helping her through a miserable bout of nausea, Tang Yang told her to go home and not to worry about anything else. Gan Yiming, however, clearly hadn’t intended for his night to end that way. Frustrated by Tang Yang’s interference, he began to resent her even more.

Later in the evening, with his plans spoiled, Gan Yiming called Tang Yang outside under the pretense of discussing work. When they were alone, he took a step too close, putting his hand on her shoulder and murmuring that the stronger a woman is, the more it fuels his urge to “conquer” her. Tang Yang’s eyes flashed with anger, and when he still didn’t back off, she grabbed a metal fork from a nearby cart, pressed it against his neck, and warned him to stay still. She let him know in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t afraid to make a scene, and he certainly wouldn’t want to face the fallout.

Jiang Shiyan, who had been mingling at the party, noticed Tang Yang was missing and instinctively scanned the crowd. His eyes landed on her outside, holding a fork to Gan Yiming’s neck, her face hard with anger. As she threw the fork aside and walked away, Jiang Shiyan’s blood boiled. He’d seen Gan Yiming act inappropriately before, and now he knew the man’s behavior hadn’t changed. Without a second thought, he stormed over and delivered a swift, satisfying beating to Gan Yiming.

Gan Yiming left the party in disgrace, his face bruised and swollen. Tang Yang, spotting Jiang Shiyan just after, quickly realized he’d been the one to step in and defend her. All the awkwardness between them over the past few days faded instantly. Jiang Shiyan had been quietly watching over her all along. Tang Yang helped him clean and bandage his hand, smiling at his “tough guy” exterior as she noticed how he’d hurt himself in the process.

Meanwhile, Zhou Mo had seen the fight and calmly helped Gan Yiming into a cab afterward. He had a reason: Gan Yiming’s estranged wife was a leader at Zhou Mo’s company, and she’d called him to ensure her husband got home. Though they hadn’t lived together in years, Gan Yiming’s wife only contacted him when she needed money, and he would go to any lengths to secure loans for her company. As she helped him inside, she warned him about letting other women be his downfall, but Gan Yiming just laughed bitterly. He reminded her that every loan he’d taken out for her was borderline illegal, so they were both in deep—if their finances were ever investigated, it’d spell disaster for them.

Meanwhile, Jiang Shiyan was gearing up to confess his feelings to Tang Yang. Just as he gathered his courage, his phone rang—it was his mother, asking him to come home to help with something. And, in a perfectly timed twist, Tang Yang’s mother also called her, and both had to rush off before anything more could be said.

Later, as Jiang Shiyan and his mother paid a visit to Tang Yang’s home, he kept trying to pick up where he left off at the wine party, hoping for a moment alone with Tang Yang. But time after time, he was interrupted. Finally, on the way back with his mother, he couldn’t take it anymore. Stopping her mid-sentence, he said he had something important to tell Tang Yang and insisted she go on without him. With resolve in his eyes, he turned back toward Tang Yang’s house, determined to lay everything out once and for all.

DramaZen's Opinion

Shiyan’s meticulous planning to spend New Year with Yang’s family was nothing short of genius—equal parts smooth and hilariously shameless! From casually suggesting vacation spots to “helping out” around her house, he covered every angle to make it happen. But when things didn’t go as planned, I was thrilled to see Yan show up to save the day, supporting Shiyan so he could still enjoy the holiday.

It feels like their friends and family are finally catching on to what’s been brewing between these two, sensing there’s more than just friendship here. Fingers crossed that they’ll rally behind them and give them the nudge they need to move their relationship forward. Yang and Shiyan have been circling each other for so long—it’s time for the romance to officially begin!

Director Gan’s inferiority complex reaches new heights of sleaze! His slimy, chauvinistic antics made it so satisfying to see Shiyan land that well-deserved punch. Honestly, Gan’s behavior was beyond disgusting, and I was cheering right along with Shiyan.

As for Shiyan and Yang… can they ever catch a break? I guess I spoke to soon with my wishful thinking earlier. Every time they’re about to have a real moment, whether it’s an interrupted kiss or a cut-off heart-to-heart, something or someone always gets in the way! It’s so obvious to us that they’re both working through their feelings, yet everyone around them (except Cheng Hui) seems completely oblivious.

I’m hoping this is the turning point, that we’re finally moving into a new chapter for them—and we better get a proper kiss soon!