A Robot in the Orange Orchard Episode 13 Recap
> A Robot in the Orange Orchard Recap
Fu Yang informed his team that it was time to pack up, which they misinterpreted as a sign that they were leaving. His team members pleaded with him, arguing that Lu Sen was not a "freak" and treated robots well, suggesting there must be a misunderstanding and urging Fu Yang to reconsider.
Fu Yang then clarified that he had no intention of leaving; he merely wanted them to pack the equipment so they could continue their work, which brought immense joy and relief to the team. Yang Shanshan, alone at home, found herself restless and unable to sleep, feeling a sense of unease after leaving Lu Sen's house.
Meanwhile, Richard Li, a subordinate of Li Jingcheng, informed him over the phone that Fu Yang had unexpectedly backed out of their agreement to sell the robot, despite previously appearing to be in need of funds. Richard Li expressed his skepticism about Fu Yang's advanced robot project, noting that no investor had actually seen a physical robot, only video footage, making the project's authenticity questionable. Fu Yang's team later went to Lu Sen to finalize their official cooperation agreement.
Lu Sen presented them with custom-designed clothing featuring their new Alpha Science Laboratory logo. In return, Fu Yang’s team members enthusiastically invited Lu Sen to join their esteemed "Alpha Science Laboratory," suggesting he refer to them as "Senior" based on the scientific community's tradition of seniority by joining order, aiming to foster a closer bond.
Although Lu Sen's assistant, Si, cautioned them to address Lu Sen as "Mr. Lu," Lu Sen himself didn't mind the informal titles, even using them himself. On the way back, Fu Yang expressed his displeasure at his team's unilateral decision to accept Lu Sen as their junior without his prior consultation. His team argued that it was a clever way to build rapport with their future boss, pointing out that Fu Yang's silence during the interaction implied his consent.
Fu Yang, unable to dispute this, redirected their focus to the urgent task of repairing Friday and preparing for the switch with Yang Shanshan. The next morning, Lu Sen noticed that Friday seemed unusually subdued, attributing her low spirits to Fu Yang possibly forgetting to charge her battery. He advised her to conserve power as they had an outing planned. He then led her to a specially decorated room, which he called her "exclusive cutie" room, filled with new clothes.
He explained that this room was the closest to his, signifying her special place among his "cuties," and invited her to pick an outfit. Yang Shanshan, still in her role as Friday, felt awkward with Lu Sen lingering in the room as she was to change. She assured him an expensive robot like her wouldn't easily break. Internally, Yang Shanshan briefly found the idea of being Friday appealing, but quickly reminded herself of her true purpose.
After changing into a new outfit, Yang Shanshan, as Friday, descended the stairs. Lu Sen was visibly captivated by her appearance. However, she missed a step and nearly fell, but Lu Sen quickly caught her in his arms, leading to a moment where both felt their hearts race. Flustered, Yang Shanshan quickly excused herself to do some chores. Lu Sen, however, stopped her, not wanting her to exert herself.
He brought her a stool and urged her to sit, expressing how much he had realized he cherished her after thinking she might leave, calling her his "treasure." He also announced the relaunch of the Youth Creativity Competition, stating his success came from sincerity and he wanted to spread that happiness. He then gave Friday a direct command to "be sincere to your master forever."
Feeling immense pressure, Yang Shanshan nervously attempted to confess her true identity, saying, "My name is not Friday. My name is Yang Shanshan." Lu Sen, surprised, momentarily paused before seemingly brushing aside her confession, changing the subject by asking his smart speaker to turn on the TV, and then reiterated his command for Friday to be sincere. Later that evening, Yang Shanshan was restless and couldn't sleep. Fu Yang called her, also still awake.
He apologized for not yet fixing her "Love Lamp" and assured her he would do so after Friday was fully repaired. He confirmed that his discussions with Lu Sen had gone smoothly. Yang Shanshan then expressed concern, asking if fixing Friday in five days was "too slow," but quickly corrected herself, implying it was "too fast." She suggested they could take more time, citing concern for their health and stating she was "fine with it."
Fu Yang reassured her that the new parts had arrived, and the repair would be swift. The following day, Kang Li'er visited Fu Yang's lab, bringing a generous collection of rare, antique mechanical parts as gifts for his team. The team was overjoyed, recognizing the parts' value for their research, particularly for upgrading their robot Xiaosai. Fu Yang, however, urged them not to accept such valuable gifts.
Kang Li'er dismissed his concerns, explaining she had no use for them and was happy to see them utilized for scientific advancement. Later, Kang Li'er directly confessed her feelings to Fu Yang, asking if she could be his girlfriend. Caught off guard, Fu Yang was silent, which Kang Li'er interpreted as acceptance, declaring that his lack of refusal meant consent. She then left, considering the parts a "love token" and promising to visit often.
Separately, Lu Sen drove to pick up Friday, explaining he wanted to conserve her battery life and instructing her not to move unnecessarily. He playfully called her "scheming," to which Friday retorted that she was "kindhearted" and "clever." Lu Sen confessed he preferred her more spirited responses. They were on their way to Boya Hospital for Lu Sen's check-up with Dr. Ou.
Lu Sen mentioned he usually visited the hospital at midnight to avoid crowds, which Dr. Ou suggested was beneficial for him to adapt to being around people after recovering from his Haphephobia. Dr. Ou prepared to conduct a skin examination, which required Lu Sen to undress. Lu Sen, a VIP patient, explained that Dr. Ou always performed his check-ups personally.
Friday (Yang Shanshan), feeling uncomfortable with the situation, excused herself, stating that as a robot in the testing phase, her eyes had "image storage function" and her leaving would "better protect his privacy." Lu Sen agreed, asking her to wait outside and promising to call her when he was done. While waiting in the corridor, Yang Shanshan overheard her Aunt bringing her young cousin, Enbao, to the hospital for a peanut allergy.
Her Aunt was scolding Enbao for secretly eating a piece of peanut cake that had been specifically saved for Yang Shanshan. Enbao expressed how much she missed Yang Shanshan, and her Aunt suggested they call her that night. Hearing this made Yang Shanshan feel a heartwarming sense of being missed and cared for by her family. Later, Yang Shanshan brought her best friend to visit the lab.
Her friend was astonished by Friday’s uncanny resemblance to Yang Shanshan, even remarking that Friday's "skin" and "hairstyle" were superior. Fu Yang initially refused to allow photos, but one of his team members, clearly smitten with Yang Shanshan's friend, quickly intervened, promising she could take as many pictures as she desired once Friday was sent for testing in two days. This confirmed Friday's imminent departure, marking the end of Yang Shanshan’s temporary role.
Yang Shanshan’s friend playfully noted that she would soon conclude her "working as a maid with free food and accommodation" and return to her "freelancer" career. The team member also tried to get Yang Shanshan's friend’s contact information, but the friend cleverly redirected him to her coffee shop, hinting that he should support her business if he intended to pursue a "professional woman." After leaving the lab, Yang Shanshan's friend asked if she truly felt no reluctance about leaving.
Yang Shanshan downplayed her feelings, insisting it was "just a job." However, she later reflected on how Lu Sen had protected her with his own body during her near-fall, acknowledging that his actions were more profound than simply caring for a robot. Her friend, sensing Yang Shanshan’s hidden feelings, pointed out that people don't risk injury for mere objects, emphasizing that Lu Sen's actions indicated genuine affection.
Yang Shanshan, however, remained hesitant, still believing Lu Sen was meant to marry his childhood sweetheart and might treat the real Friday just as well. Her friend then urged Yang Shanshan to confess her true identity to Lu Sen, highlighting the rarity of finding mutual affection and assuring her that any past deception would be inconsequential if her feelings were sincere.
