You Are My Lover Friend- Episodes 5-8
Episode 5: Tang Yang’s high school friend, Zhou Mo, invites her out for dinner, sparking Jiang Shiyan's protective instincts. When he learns that her blind date is not only charming but also quite successful, Jiang can't shake the feeling of competition. Seeing them hitting it off, he immediately texts his close friends, calling them over for backup.
Cheng Hui and Feng Weiran, thinking it was an emergency, arrive at the Western restaurant, only to realize Jiang Shiyan’s real plan—to disrupt Tang Yang's date. With his "reinforcements" in place, Jiang eagerly asks Zhou Mo to switch seats, separating him from Tang Yang. But Zhou Mo quickly wins over the group, impressing everyone with his connections, especially when he arranges a lesson with a sought-after piano teacher for Feng Weiran's child. That night, Tang Yang’s friends and family chat excitedly about Zhou Mo's looks and charm, with the women particularly captivated.
Jiang’s original plan—to undermine Zhou Mo—backfires as everyone raves about him. Meanwhile, Feng Weiran’s wife pulls out a compatibility app, eager to test everyone’s “match” scores. Jiang, hoping for a high score with Tang Yang, is embarrassed when their score lands at a mere 52, the lowest of the group, to everyone’s amusement.
Later, during a reunion dinner, Zhou Mo and his friends talk about Tang Yang, with one former dormmate praising her as driven and ambitious. Zhou Mo learns that she even bought a house post-graduation, taking on a short repayment term to avoid long-term debt, which deepens his respect for her.
Tang Yang jokes with Jiang Shiyan, asking him to play “hero” again on Saturday to help her dodge more blind dates set up by her mother. Always willing to oblige, Jiang sets an alarm but ends up oversleeping. Jolted awake by thoughts of his ideal woman meeting strangers, he practically races to her side. With his help, Tang Yang breezes through the dates her mother organized.
Later, as they walk home together, Jiang Shiyan complains of being starved, having missed a meal for her. Seizing the moment, Tang Yang invites him over to share a meal, ending the day on a warm note.
Episode 6: At dinner, Tang Yang’s mother subtly hints to Jiang Shiyan to avoid calling her daughter “Yang Ge,” fearing the nickname might make her feel too much like “one of the guys.” This comment catches Jiang off-guard, and he realizes the casual way he addresses her might not convey his deeper feelings. When he later asks Tang Yang what she’d prefer to be called, she casually replies that any name would do, leaving Jiang still wondering about their relationship.
Tang Yang and Jiang had plans to play tennis that Sunday, but early that morning, Tang Yang receives a message from her senior, Zhou Mo, asking for help. Not wanting to let him down, she changes her plans and heads out to meet him, messaging Jiang Shiyan about the change. At the tennis courts, Jiang’s excitement dims when he learns Tang won’t be coming and instead will be meeting Zhou Mo. The thought of her spending time with someone else leaves him unsettled, especially after hearing a prediction that Tang might find love this year—with someone she knows but isn’t particularly close to. It frustrates him, as he realizes their deep connection doesn’t quite fit that description.
Meanwhile, actress Sheng Nina, who has often collaborated with Jiang Shiyan’s company, is now in high demand with film offers. Though her agent warns her to prioritize these opportunities, Nina, with a soft spot for Jiang, agrees to help him with another live broadcast, boosting his company’s struggling viewership.
Over coffee at Feng Weiran’s café, Zhou Mo asks Tang Yang for her thoughts on a collection of figurines—a topic he knows she’s passionate about. The two spend hours chatting, and Tang, realizing she hasn’t checked her messages in a while, worries she may have upset Jiang. To make it up to him, she surprises him the next day with his favorite fish-flavored shredded pork rice at his office. Jiang, who had been feeling left out, immediately brightens up at her gesture, his frustrations melting away.
Back at the bank, Tang Yang processes a loan application from a woman widowed after her husband’s military service. Tang feels deeply for her, wanting to help approve the loan, but a colleague warns her that being a single widow could add financial strain. That evening, Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan take a relaxing walk together, allowing Jiang to unwind from his usual hectic schedule. They pass a sports hall, and on a whim, Jiang suggests sneaking in to play tennis. Laughing, they both climb over the wall, only to find the main door locked.
When a security guard suddenly spots them, Jiang swiftly pulls Tang into a hiding spot. Squeezed together in a small storage room, they find themselves face-to-face, close enough to hear each other’s breaths. Embarrassed, Jiang apologizes for getting her into such an awkward situation. Tang Yang laughs it off but admits that they’re really quite different—his work is dynamic and adventurous, while hers is structured and requires her to stay composed. In that quiet moment, they both begin to realize that maybe, just maybe, their parallel lives aren’t so far apart after all.
Episode 7: Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan share a quiet moment, reflecting on why their friendship feels so natural and comforting. Jiang admits that, despite being surrounded by countless charming people over the years, Tang Yang has always been the brightest part of his life. As he leans in, almost as if to kiss her, Tang Yang suddenly looks away, feeling a bit flustered, and quickly makes an excuse to leave.
To lighten the mood, Tang Yang takes Jiang to a nearby night market to fulfill his tennis wish. The market is lit up beautifully, creating a perfect setting for their friendly match. Later that night, Jiang sits in his courtyard, sipping tea and replaying their time together. Tang Yang subtly hints that he should cherish their friendship, which leaves Jiang with a nagging sense of urgency. With Zhou Mo clearly showing interest in Tang Yang, he realizes he might need to confess his feelings soon—or risk losing her.
At work, Tang Yang presents her first major project proposal, which surprisingly receives immediate praise from Gan Yiming. After the meeting, however, her colleagues warn her of potential risks, suggesting she tread carefully. Tang’s motivation comes from her empathy for a military widow client, but she begins to realize the challenges ahead. Meanwhile, Zhou Mo sends her a package of collectible figurines. Though excited, Tang feels uneasy—these aren’t exactly the kind of gifts Jiang would give her. To avoid any misunderstandings, she insists on reimbursing Zhou Mo, who accepts after a bit of reluctance.
Jiang, who had hoped to take Tang to a Michelin-star restaurant but was canceled on due to her work, hands his reservation to Feng Weiran. Cheng Hui eagerly jumps in to tag along. Instead, Jiang decides to bring a lunchbox to Tang’s place, where he notices the figurines. He “accidentally” breaks one, giving him the perfect excuse to replace it with a figurine he recently bought. His plan works, and now, a piece of him will stay with Tang even while she treasures her new gift.
Tang throws herself into her loan project, observing a small eatery’s business as part of her research. She realizes that although the food is great, the bland decor and formal menu don’t match the flavor or vibe. To help, she and Jiang buy a bunch of takeout and bring it to his company, hoping to give the place a little publicity boost.
One evening after work, Jiang spots a group of boys picking on another kid and immediately records the incident. He lifts the boy off the ground and warns the bullies that if they continue, he’ll post the video online, marking them as bullies for life. The group scatters, leaving the boy, Min Lin, grateful yet shaken.
Jiang learns Min is the son of the small restaurant’s owner; his father had died in service, and Min is often bullied for being from a single-parent family. The encounter stirs something in Jiang, as he remembers Tang Yang standing up for him when they were young. Her constant support and lack of judgment have always comforted him, and in that moment, he realizes just how deep his feelings truly go.
Episode 8: Jiang Shiyan’s desire to help promote the small "Zhilan" shop led him to invite a popular food vlogger to review it. But when the vlogger showed up, he seemed more interested in grabbing free products than in promoting the humble shop. He even questioned Jiang’s dedication to such a small, unprofitable business. Unbothered by the skepticism, Jiang remained steadfast, determined to give the small eatery its moment to shine.
Meanwhile, Sheng Nina tried to make amends with Cheng Hui for accidentally breaking his smart glasses. She invited him to dinner, but when she arrived, she was greeted by a group of seven or eight engineers—all with eager smiles, but no Cheng Hui in sight. One of them sheepishly explained that they were actually the creators of the glasses and that Cheng Hui had coordinated the gathering as a way for his tech team to meet her, fulfilling their dream of seeing a celebrity up close. Awkward but amused, Sheng Nina graciously entertained them, expressing her “interest” in high-tech products.
At work, Tang Yang found herself facing a challenge. Gan Yiming pushed her to approve loans for three factories, praising them as top clients. But upon visiting the sites, Tang Yang was troubled by what she found: idle machines, thick dust, and clear signs of neglect. Her instincts told her that these were risky investments, and she refused to recommend the loans. Gan Yiming, however, pressured her relentlessly, warning of the trouble that would follow if she denied the loans.
Undeterred, Tang Yang conducted a deep dive into the factory owner’s financials, uncovering a staggering trail of luxury purchases, gambling, and online shopping sprees. Armed with hard data, she presented her findings in a public meeting, revealing that the factory owner was neither committed to running his business nor capable of repaying a loan. Her evidence was undeniable, and any attempt to cover up the truth was swiftly dismantled.
Later, Jiang brought over the figurine he had bought to replace the one he broke at Tang Yang’s place. Initially impressed by his “repair skills,” Tang Yang soon realized the figurine was brand new. The code on its base didn’t match her original, leading her to discover that Jiang had purchased it well before their little mishap. Torn between curiosity and confusion, Tang Yang couldn’t help but wonder if his thoughtfulness hinted at something deeper.
Tang Yang confided in a friend, describing the situation as if it involved a “colleague.” Her friend’s response was immediate: he must be interested! A guy doesn’t buy high heels, lipstick, and an expensive collectible unless he’s serious, right? Following her friend’s advice, Tang Yang decided to subtly test Jiang’s feelings by inviting him shopping and observing his reactions.
To her surprise, Jiang didn’t respond in the predictable ways—no flirty banter, no matching couple accessories. Instead, he gifted her a delicate bracelet, carefully tied her shoelaces without a second thought, and treated her with a warm, natural tenderness. Was this just a brotherly closeness, or was there more beneath the surface? Tang Yang found herself lost in her thoughts, wondering if their connection was meant to be something more than friendship.
DramaZen's Opinion
It feels like Yang has gotten way too comfortable with Shiyan’s pampering—she practically leans on him like he’s her personal support system. While it’s sweet, maybe it’s time she stops pulling him into these “just-friend” favors, like calling him to play buffer with her senior. Every time he steps in, he just reinforces the “bro-zone” he’s boxed himself into… poor guy, he set his own trap!
Her mom had a point when she told him to stop calling her “brother”; it’s definitely step one in breaking free from that friend label. As much as I’m rooting for him to carefully pursue his feelings so he doesn’t look back with regret, there’s a fine line here. With someone clearly out to sabotage his company, Shiyan needs to stay sharp and not get too wrapped up in just the romance angle.
I had a hunch that Nina’s manager was meddling with her work connections, especially with Shiyan. The more I see of Yue Ya, the more I’m glad Shiyan cut ties—Nina's genuine foodie passion and her honest feedback really connect with viewers, unlike the staged antics of Yue Ya’s crew. It’s about time they get exposed for the frauds they are, but I can already feel they’re going to stir up more drama before that happens. Shiyan really needs to start taking a stronger stance against her antics.
And can we talk about sulky Shiyan? He folded the second she brought him food—no willpower whatsoever! 😂 But when she opened up about how his friendship is her one safe space where she can truly be herself? That confession wwas beyond heartwarming, honestly. I didn’t realize her life was that restricted, though; maybe it’s the pressures of her financial auditing job? Makes me wonder if I missed a clue about just how much she’s juggling.
By episode 8 you can tell she is starting to second guess the friendship and his intentions, thus comes the testing her friend recommends. However, she is looking for gestures that would be grander than his subtle actions that he has always treated her with down through the years. So obviously she would still think he is just acting like a friend. The man has had years of perfecting loving her under the guise of being just friends.
Tang cat is so absolutely adorable and is the perfect example of subtly caring for her! 🥰