Early in the lab, Greg storms in furious that Adam failed his dissertation proposal, and he directs his anger at Olive for dating Adam. Chase mediates and explains Greg’s urgency to graduate with his wife, leaving Olive unsettled about how others perceive her connection to Adam.

That night, Olive texts Adam. He confirms the proposal’s deficiencies but refuses to coddle students, arguing his job is to enforce rigor. Olive challenges his delivery and reputation; he remains unmoved. Frustrated and hurt, Olive ends with “fuck you,” and Adam doesn’t reply.

Three days later, Olive rides to the department picnic with Anh, Jeremy, and Malcolm, debating skipping but deciding to maintain their visibility. At the farm, she sees Adam shirtless playing Ultimate Frisbee. After Anh douses her with sunscreen and calls Adam over, Olive is pressured into applying it on him in public.

While Olive spreads lotion on Adam’s back and shoulders, they exchange strained but playful banter. Adam notes such situations will keep happening; Olive jokes about their nosy friends. Tom arrives, mentions a brief Boston trip with Adam next week to finalize grant matters, and asks Olive to deliver her report by Saturday. Panicked but agreeable, she commits; Adam returns to the game.

Later under an oak, friends probe Olive about Adam and how they met amid rumors (Tinder, Craigslist). Olive defends that Adam can be different with her, and her friends reassure her, teasing that they’re happy she’s finally getting laid.