Cute Programmer Episode 16 Recap
> Cute Programmer Recap
Following up on the revelation about Li Man's past, Jiang Yicheng returned home late one evening and was immediately confronted by his sister. Lu Li, awakened by their argument, overheard Jiang Yicheng explain the truth: three years ago, it was Li Man's father who sold the company's code, and Li Man was detained for 15 days trying to stop him. After her release, she left out of guilt.
Hearing Jiang Yicheng confess his long-held misunderstanding and assure his sister he would never cheat, Lu Li was filled with complex emotions, her usual trust now shaken by a deep sense of unease. The next morning, Jiang Yicheng teased Lu Li about her dark circles from a poor night's sleep. Lu Li countered by pointing out that he had carried her to her room, a clear violation of their cohabitation agreement which designated the bedroom as her private space.
As a penalty, she demanded he treat her to dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant they had previously visited. Jiang Yicheng readily agreed, amused by her simple request. Their day started on a high note, with Lu Li distributing small orange "mascots" to her colleagues. However, their team leader, Zhang Zhiyuan, was in a desperate situation. His wife was diagnosed with mid-stage gastric cancer, requiring surgery and treatment estimated at 200,000 yuan.
After failing to borrow money from friends, a desperate Zhang Zhiyuan overheard one of them, Yu, mention making a profit from Bitcoin, seeing it as a potential last resort. Later, Gu Mo borrowed Lu Li's phone to call Gu Xiaoqi, but she hung up the moment she heard his voice. Lu Li correctly surmised that Gu Mo's overbearing control stemmed from his romantic feelings for Xiaoqi.
Gu Mo admitted as much, explaining he had vetted all her potential partners, including "Da Huang," because he felt none were good enough. He described his ideal partner for Xiaoqi—someone understanding, tolerant, caring, handsome, and financially stable—essentially describing himself. Lu Li gently warned him that his actions were only pushing Xiaoqi away. Afterwards, Lu Li told an amused Jiang Yicheng that the stoic "Robot Gu" was dealing with "relationship problems."
Li Man officially returned to the company as the EG representative to sign a collaboration contract with Jiang Yicheng. Seeing her enter his office left Lu Li feeling uneasy. After the signing, Chen Yiming expressed his concern to Jiang Yicheng about Li Man's presence affecting his relationship with Lu Li. Jiang Yicheng admitted to feeling guilty over the past misunderstanding but insisted that while he could be friends with Li Man, he had no romantic feelings for her.
Chen Yiming warned him about office gossip and advised him to clarify things with Lu Li, a suggestion Jiang Yicheng deflected by accusing Chen Yiming of being overly concerned. As Li Man was leaving, Lu Li intercepted her and invited her for coffee. During their tense conversation, Li Man hinted at her deep history with Jiang Yicheng. Lu Li cut her off, asserting her status as "Mrs. Jiang."
Li Man retorted that the title was meaningless and that she was the one Jiang Yicheng truly needed. She accused Lu Li of being the "third wheel" in their relationship and, to prove her point, brazenly called Jiang Yicheng, asking him to accompany her to confront her father that evening. Moments later, a text from Jiang Yicheng arrived on Lu Li's phone, canceling their dinner due to an emergency. The message shattered Lu Li's composure, leaving her devastated.
Separately, Gu Mo visited Gu Xiaoqi and found her eating instant spicy hot pot, which he deemed "junk food." His attempt to take it away sparked a comedic struggle, during which Xiaoqi accused him of trespassing and yelled for help, claiming a stranger was abducting her. Although a frustrated Gu Mo left, he returned with healthier instant meals. Xiaoqi, however, remained defiant, telling him not to expect forgiveness just because he brought her food.
That evening, Jiang Yicheng accompanied Li Man to confront her abusive father, using evidence of the man's past crimes to force him to accept a monthly alimony of 5,000 yuan and cease his harassment. After Jiang Yicheng left, eager to get back to Lu Li, Li Man's father reappeared, revealing their confrontation had been an elaborate act.
Li Man coldly handed her father a bank card with 100,000 yuan as a "performance fee" and warned him to stay out of her life. When Jiang Yicheng returned to the apartment with Lu Li's favorite meal, he found her already eating. Lu Li confronted him about canceling their date for Li Man. Jiang Yicheng explained he was helping with a family emergency and invoked their "no meddling" agreement.
Lu Li retorted by citing his own violation of their contract when he publicly announced their marriage. After a heated exchange, Jiang Yicheng promised to clear up any rumors at work. Lu Li then set a new rule: he was not to meet Li Man alone, and she must be present for any future meetings involving her. Jiang Yicheng immediately agreed.
The next morning, Jiang Yicheng drove Lu Li to work, stating there was no need to hide their relationship anymore. On the way, Li Man called to invite him to an industry summit, an invitation he brushed off as he was already planning to attend. He then asked Lu Li to accompany him, specifying she wear a blue formal dress to match his tie. Panicked, Lu Li called Gu Xiaoqi for help.
Rushing over from a comic convention, Xiaoqi helped her find a suitable blue dress in her messy wardrobe. As she got ready, Lu Li reflected on her situation, acknowledging that even when the answer seems clear, one still clings to the hope of being able to turn things around.
