Reborn as a Cat Episode 21: The Sweet Experience

The episode opens with Ji Miaomiao trapped in an elevator with her boss, Lu Chengze. An unspoken tension hangs between them; both look troubled. Inside Miaomiao's mind, a comical internal debate rages between her "angel" and "devil" selves, one urging bold confession, the other dignified restraint. Lu Chengze breaks the silence with an apology for a company oversight, but Miaomiao reassures him, downplaying the importance of an award.

Just as a fragile peace settles, the elevator lurches violently downwards, lights flickering and dying. Ji Miaomiao and Lu Chengze are thrown to the floor in the sudden, complete darkness. When Lu Chengze recovers, using his phone for light, he immediately checks on a dazed Miaomiao, his concern evident. He swiftly calls for help, his voice calm despite the urgency, reassuring the person on the other end that help is on its way.

In the eerie dark, Lu Chengze offers his jacket to Ji Miaomiao, a small gesture of warmth. He gently inquires about her new role in the design department, a topic that seems to genuinely interest him. When she enthusiastically describes her unique vision for furniture that serves both people and pets, his attention is fully hers. The conversation builds, leading Miaomiao to a moment of raw vulnerability as she asks, "Do you still remember me?"

The spell is broken as the elevator doors unexpectedly open, revealing a concerned colleague and a security guard. Lu Chengze, ever the leader, ensures Ji Miaomiao is helped out first, then calmly dismisses the apologies for the malfunction. As Miaomiao watches him, still shaken, he turns to her, his gaze direct. He states simply, "I remember you," recalling her ambition to design furniture that brings happiness, then offers a quiet "Keep it up."

The narrative shifts to Ji Miaomiao settling into her new role, her days marked by diligent work. She is seen focused at her laptop, sketching ideas on a bus, and working late into the night at her apartment, accompanied only by a sleeping cat. Her dedication continues at the office, where she is frequently absorbed in her tasks, even during busy periods. Lu Chengze is shown observing her from a distance in a meeting, a quiet witness to her tireless effort.

Ji Miaomiao's hard work does not go unnoticed. She confidently presents her designs in a meeting, capturing Lu Chengze's subtle smile from across the room. Later, working late again, her boss Ning Zong and colleague Xiao Bian find her still at her desk. Ning Zong teases Xiao Bian about his newfound diligence since Miaomiao joined the department, a playful exchange that makes Xiao Bian blush. All the while, Lu Chengze watches them from outside the glass office, his expression unreadable.

Outside, as heavy rain falls, Ji Miaomiao stands without a ride, hesitant to trouble anyone. Xiao Bian appears, offering her a lift, his concern clear. Just as she politely declines, citing a preference for waiting out the rain, a man with long black hair, identified by Miaomiao as a friend, steps in, umbrella in hand. She quickly leaves with him, leaving a frustrated Xiao Bian and a deeply concerned, almost angry, Lu Chengze to watch them disappear into the night.