The Early Spring Episode 7 follows Shang Zhitao as she tries to put the complicated situation with Luan Nian behind her and concentrate on building her career at Lime Advertising. After obtaining the Qipai source files with Luan Nian's help, Zhitao reveals that she agreed to assist him with a presentation for an important automotive client in return. Alex quickly realizes that Luan Nian's team has shifted its attention toward the Yueteng Auto account, creating a new opportunity and a new source of competition between the teams. At the same time, Zhitao attends a farewell dinner with Yao Bei, who is preparing to leave Beijing for Hong Kong after the painful end of her relationship. The two women reflect on their experiences in Beijing and the difficulties they have faced while trying to build better lives for themselves. Yao Bei discovers an old note connected to an earlier dream of living in a high-rise apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows in Chaoyang District. Their conversation becomes a reminder that setbacks in love and life should not prevent ambitious people from continuing forward. Back at Lime, the company formally discusses the Yueteng Auto project. Luan Nian explains that a competing agency lost the business partly because it selected an unsuitable printing supplier. He emphasizes that supplier selection cannot be treated casually and proposes creating a standardized supplier evaluation system. The system is intended to help Lime assess vendors more carefully, reduce dependence on individual suppliers and identify smaller companies that may have strong potential. Lumi offers to collect supplier information for the project, but she needs someone who is highly capable with spreadsheets and data organization. Zhitao volunteers for the assignment because of her strong Excel skills. Her willingness to take on the difficult task impresses Lumi and gives Zhitao another opportunity to prove that her abilities are not limited to ordinary account work. Zhitao later meets Luan Nian in his office to discuss the supplier database project. Luan Nian deliberately keeps the office door open, showing that he is aware of the rumors and professional boundaries surrounding their relationship. He explains that building the supplier evaluation system will require extensive research and careful judgment because the information can affect important business relationships. He also warns Zhitao that the assignment will be tedious and may temporarily keep her away from other projects. Instead of backing down, Zhitao confidently accepts the responsibility. She requests access to sensitive company information from the IT department and begins gathering supplier data. She spends long hours researching companies, visiting different locations and organizing information into structured spreadsheets. The work is repetitive and demanding, but Zhitao refuses to give up. She also uses templates and methods learned from experienced colleagues to improve the quality of her database. As Zhitao works late into the evening, she notices that Luan Nian is also still working inside his glass office. His determination motivates her to continue despite her exhaustion. Their relationship remains distant on the surface, but their shared commitment to work creates another subtle connection between them. As rain begins to fall heavily, Luan Nian offers Zhitao a ride home. During the journey, he notices that her feet are covered with blisters after spending the day visiting suppliers in high heels. He tells her to submit an online overtime claim and makes it clear that he will approve it. His practical concern contrasts with the emotional distance he has maintained since Zhitao transferred to Team 2. During the drive, Luan Nian continues explaining why strict supplier standards are important. In a competitive advertising industry, unreliable vendors can damage an entire project, so Lime needs a systematic way to evaluate quality, reliability and business potential. Zhitao listens carefully and begins to understand that the difficult database assignment is not simply administrative work but an important part of the company's long-term strategy. Meanwhile, Sun Yuanzhu calls Zhitao and offers to pick her up. She tells him that she is already on her way home with Luan Nian. The conversation further complicates Luan Nian's mood. Shortly afterward, Luan Nian receives a call from his mother about a potential blind date. Irritated by Zhitao's continued effort to keep her distance from him, he initially agrees to the arrangement. When they arrive near Zhitao's apartment, Luan Nian notices that she is struggling to walk through the rain because of her injured feet. He helps her across a large puddle and offers to accompany her upstairs. Zhitao politely refuses. At that moment, Sun Yuanzhu arrives carrying an umbrella and walks toward her. Seeing Zhitao leave with another man under the umbrella visibly affects Luan Nian. He becomes jealous and throws his own umbrella aside before returning to his car. Luan Nian's mother later asks whether he intends to confirm the blind date. After seeing Zhitao with Sun Yuanzhu, he initially seems determined to move forward with the arrangement, but he ultimately changes his mind and cancels it. His reaction reveals that his feelings for Zhitao are becoming increasingly difficult for him to suppress, even though he continues to struggle with direct communication. Luan Nian later meets Tan Mian for a drink and vents his frustration. Tan Mian recognizes that Luan Nian is caught between wanting Zhitao close to him and fearing the vulnerability that comes with genuine intimacy. He points out that Luan Nian's habit of using coldness, sarcasm and material compensation to protect himself may be pushing Zhitao further away. The conversation forces Luan Nian to confront the possibility that his own behavior is responsible for the distance between them. Meanwhile, Zhitao remains focused on completing the supplier database. Despite the emotional tension surrounding her relationship with Luan Nian, she continues working toward her professional goals and refuses to let personal complications derail her progress. Episode 7 ends with Zhitao demonstrating her determination and independence while Luan Nian becomes increasingly aware that his jealousy and guarded behavior may cost him the relationship he secretly wants.