A Love So Romantic Episode 9 Recap
> A Love So Romantic Recap
Su Xiaowan and Qiu Xiang hurried back to their room, relieved that their pursuers were not immediately behind them. Qiu Xiang, confused by their sudden flight, asked Su Xiaowan what was wrong. Su Xiaowan revealed her arm, showing Qiu Xiang that her birthmark was fading. She explained that Lady Ru had been trying to check her birthmark and was likely suspicious of her identity.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Su Xiaowan decided she needed to find Gu Yanxi for help. Qiu Xiang worried about Lianxin guarding the outside, but Su Xiaowan declared she would use their "old trick" of swapping clothes. Despite Qiu Xiang's hesitation, Su Xiaowan insisted, saying she was counting on her, and the two quickly exchanged outfits, with Qiu Xiang lying in bed to impersonate Su Xiaowan.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaowan, disguised in a man's robe, ventured into the Men's Spa Area. There, she unexpectedly ran into Xin Ziqian, who recognized her despite her attire and questioned why a girl was in the men's area. Su Xiaowan quickly fabricated a story about sneaking in to taste the allegedly better wine served there.
Xin Ziqian offered her a drink, and when she tried to involve Gu Yanxi, Xin Ziqian mentioned that his elder brother was listening to music and wouldn't join them. Spotting Gu Yanxi nearby, Su Xiaowan feigned sleepiness and excused herself from Xin Ziqian, refusing his offer to walk her back. She then approached Gu Yanxi, urgently explaining that the bathing pool's medicinal water was causing her birthmark to bleach, and Lady Ru had become suspicious.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yanxi immediately summoned his attendant, Yuan He, to prepare some items. Gu Yanxi led Su Xiaowan to a private room for safety. He informed her of his plan to make the fake birthmark real through a tattoo. Su Xiaowan, alarmed, asked him to wait.
She expressed her fear, acknowledging the pain and risk involved, and implored him to promise to take care of her for life, to be kind, not to bully her, and to provide her with good food and drink, ensuring her lifelong peace. She stressed the severe consequences if Lady Ru discovered her impersonation, saying she would be "doomed" and her sacrifice "not worth it."
Gu Yanxi dismissed her dramatics, reminding her it was "just a tattoo," but he promised to fulfill her requests. She reiterated her demand for his promise, even if she survived, to which he again agreed. During the painful tattooing process, Gu Yanxi tried to distract her by asking about her favorite foods, and Su Xiaowan listed various dishes like candied hawthorn, sweet tangyuan, red bean zongzi, and many meat dishes, including osmanthus chicken wings, braised pork trotters, and beggar's chicken.
Unaware of the new tattoo, Lady Ru sent a maid to check on Su Xiaowan. The maid reported that "Miss Wan'er" was still sleeping. Lady Ru then went to the room herself and called out to "Wan'er." Qiu Xiang, pretending to be Su Xiaowan, feigned a hoarse voice and claimed she had caught a cold and couldn't get out of bed. Lady Ru, unconvinced, forced her way in and quickly discovered Qiu Xiang's deception.
Qiu Xiang tried to cover for Su Xiaowan by saying she went for a walk due to illness. Enraged, Lady Ru vowed punishment for the trick. As Lady Ru left the room, her maid noticed Yuan He acting suspiciously outside a nearby room, knowing he was usually inseparable from Gu Yanxi. Lady Ru, her suspicions heightened, decided to investigate. Yuan He frantically tried to stop them, claiming Gu Yanxi was bathing.
Lady Ru scoffed, pointing out it was the women's spa area. She barged into the room and was met with a shocking sight: Gu Yanxi and Su Xiaowan in a compromising position. Mortified, Lady Ru quickly apologized for the interruption and retreated, instructing Yuan He to continue guarding the door and ensure no one disturbed Gu Yanxi. Once Lady Ru was gone, a relieved Su Xiaowan quickly left the room. Despite the apparent evidence, Lady Ru remained unconvinced.
She sent Lianxin and another maid back to "Su Xiaowan's" room with "calm sachets" and "medicines for injuries," instructing them to thoroughly check if Su Xiaowan had truly returned. Qiu Xiang, still in bed, allowed them in, asking them to be quiet as "Miss Wan'er" was sleeping. Lianxin meticulously checked Qiu Xiang's arm and reported back to Lady Ru that the birthmark was still present and had not faded. Later, Lady Ru met with the mysterious man.
He expressed lingering doubts, questioning if Su Xiaowan could indeed be the real Wan'er, meaning the girl they buried might still be alive. Lady Ru, determined to eliminate any threat, advised him to leave the residence for a while and await her message, assuring him that she would not be implicated even if past events came to light. She declared her resolve to eradicate the problem "once for all."
Meanwhile, back at the Gu residence, the Old Madam praised the Bliss Hot Spring Pool, regretting their early departure. She mentioned that Gu Yanxi had to submit his jewelry design drawing for a competition at the Commandery Prince Mansion. At the mansion, Gu Yanxi presented his design among other jewelers. His design was chosen by the Commandery Prince, bringing honor to the Gu family's Yunxin Hall. All participating artisans were awarded one hundred taels of silver.
Gu Yanxi then signed the letter of commission. The steward emphasized the critical importance of the order, revealing it was a birthday gift for the Noble Consort, and stressed that any delay or flaw would incur the Commandery Prince's severe displeasure, given his deep affection for his sister. Gu Yanxi assured the steward he would bear it in mind and not be negligent.
Back home, Qiu Xiang excitedly informed Su Xiaowan that Cheng Qianyu, Gu Yanxi's childhood sweetheart from the prestigious jeweler family in Jiangnan, was coming to visit. Qiu Xiang speculated that it was an engagement visit, adding that rumors suggested Cheng Qianyu had already arrived in Lin'an some time ago and had been secretly dating Gu Yanxi.
She even recounted a rumor about a "night date" at the Bliss Hot Spring Pool, where Lady Ru reportedly found them "half-naked," describing the scene as "a delightful and intimate scene." Su Xiaowan, realizing the "woman" in that rumor was herself during the tattooing incident, rushed off in a daze. Before she could get far, a maid intercepted her, saying the Old Madam wanted to see her.
Su Xiaowan joined the family gathering, where the Old Madam happily announced Cheng Qianyu's impending visit. She reminisced about her close friendship with Cheng Qianyu's grandmother and how Qianyu used to play at Gu Mansion as a child, expressing her fond longing for her.
The Old Madam explained she had invited Qianyu to stay for a while, now that her health had improved, hoping Su Xiaowan would have a girl her age to talk to, as Gu Yanxi was quiet and Xin Ziqian was busy with his studies. She specifically instructed Gu Yanxi to take good care of Cheng Qianyu, given their childhood friendship, and asked him to personally pick her up.
Su Xiaowan, feeling overshadowed and jealous, questioned her brothers about the true nature of Cheng Qianyu's visit, asking if the Old Madam intended to adopt her. Xin Ziqian bluntly stated that the Old Madam was trying to find a sister-in-law for Gu Yanxi. Su Xiaowan confronted Gu Yanxi directly about marrying Cheng Qianyu. Gu Yanxi dismissed it as Xin Ziqian's "made-up" speculation, saying nothing was certain.
Su Xiaowan pressed further, asking if he remembered a "piece of jade" and a "little girl" from his past, but Gu Yanxi claimed he had forgotten, stating that if it were important, he wouldn't have forgotten it.
