Cute Programmer Episode 17 Recap
> Cute Programmer Recap
For an afternoon meeting, Jiang Yicheng personally applied makeup for Lu Li. She was surprised by his skill, which he attributed to having two women in his family, his mother and his sister Jiang Zitong, who never leave home without makeup. Jiang Yicheng even mentioned he used to style Jiang Zitong’s hair when she was a child. After a few touches, Lu Li wore a fresh and dignified look that perfectly complemented her outfit.
Lu Li, impressed, looked at Jiang Yicheng with admiration. Jiang Yicheng arrived at the summit with Lu Li, stating he wanted to show her around. Before the official start of the exchange, Li Man approached them, offering to introduce Jiang Yicheng to investors. While Li Man networked with Jiang Yicheng and various influential figures, Lu Li sat alone at a table. Xiao Liu, Mr. Li’s assistant, noticed her and struck up a conversation.
Xiao Liu initially mistook Lu Li for Jiang Yicheng’s secretary, but Lu Li corrected him, revealing she was a programmer. Xiao Liu playfully challenged her to prove it by sharing a secret to dealing with programmers—never point out their mistakes. Observing their cheerful conversation, a jealous Jiang Yicheng abruptly told Lu Li to go pay the bill. Mr. Li, noticing his assistant's apparent interest in Lu Li, began to suggest a match between them.
Jiang Yicheng’s expression darkened, and he formally introduced Lu Li to everyone as his wife, leaving Li Man looking stiff and embarrassed by his confident declaration. As Li Man stepped out of the room, she encountered Lu Li returning after paying the bill. Li Man adopted a condescending tone, asserting that she could provide Jiang Yicheng with valuable connections and business opportunities, while Lu Li was merely a dependent, a fake wife.
She subtly implied that Jiang Yicheng's efforts to secure investments were to escape his parents' control and avoid regrettable choices. Lu Li, however, remained unaffected by Li Man’s words. When the two women returned to the room, they found Jiang Yicheng inebriated and sprawled on the sofa. Li Man attempted to help him up, but Jiang Yicheng instinctively pushed her hand away.
Despite his drunken state, he accurately pulled Lu Li into his arms, repeatedly muttering that he wanted to go home. Lu Li, observing Li Man still holding onto Jiang Yicheng’s hand, subtly suggested that Li Man should go home as well. Witnessing Jiang Yicheng’s clear rejection, Li Man had no choice but to leave. Lu Li managed to get the heavy Jiang Yicheng back home.
However, he remained disoriented, repeatedly mistaking her for Li Man and insisting on going home, even though he was already there. Lu Li patiently clarified, "I am Lu Li. You're already home. This is your home." After her repeated assurances, Jiang Yicheng finally recognized her and, his face softening into a smile, he began to call out her name before pulling her close. The next morning, Lu Li lay in Jiang Yicheng’s arms.
She gently touched his face as he stirred, softly murmuring "LÃ." Lu Li froze, her heart sinking as she immediately assumed he had mistaken her for Li Man, whose name shares the same sound, believing that was the reason they had spent the night together. Overwhelmed by this thought, she lost all desire to remain beside him. She quietly collected her clothes, changed the bedsheets, and left his room.
Moments after the door closed, Jiang Yicheng, still half-asleep, mumbled again, "Don't want Li Man. I want to go home with Lu Li." Later that morning, Jiang Yicheng woke up disheveled and went to Lu Li’s room. He asked if she was the one who brought him home. Lu Li confirmed it, adding, "Who else could it be?" He recalled fragmented memories of Li Man insisting on taking him home, followed by blacking out.
He then tentatively asked if "something happened." Lu Li calmly stated that she had helped him onto his bed and then returned to her own room, claiming she had no idea what happened after. When he questioned why his bedsheets were changed, she simply explained that he had thrown up and she changed them to avoid being scolded. She firmly denied anything else had occurred.
Jiang Yicheng, still trying to piece things together, wondered aloud if it was all just a dream. Lu Li observed his seemingly oblivious smile, and her heart shattered, his earlier drunken murmurings crushing her spirit. Gu Mo and his godmother visited Gu Xiaoqi, who was still holding a grudge against him.
Gu Xiaoqi’s room was filled with objects Gu Mo had given her over the years—a music box bought with his first salary, a painting for her eighteenth birthday, and a stuffed rabbit from high school—signifying his deep presence in her life. Gu Mo earnestly sought her forgiveness, stating he had been part of every stage of her life and they were the closest people to each other.
However, Gu Xiaoqi still couldn't forgive his overbearing control, accusing him of interfering in her relationships and treating her like his "rag doll." She then told her mother not to let "outsiders" like Gu Mo into her room. Lu Li sought out her former professor and revealed she was working at Enchant Technology and had initially disguised herself as a man. Her professor smiled, expressing admiration for her determination.
Lu Li then cautiously inquired about Li Man, confirming she was also one of his students. He reminisced about how Jiang Yicheng and Li Man were a renowned couple during their university days, adding that Li Man’s departure had severely impacted Jiang Yicheng, even leading to a car accident. The professor then remarked on the striking resemblance between Lu Li and Li Man, noting their shared diligence, determination, and even the "LÃ" sound in their names.
Lu Li remained silent, accepting the bittersweet truth with a sip of her tea. Back at the company, Lu Li found Leader Zhang's programming team and Li Man’s subordinates fiercely arguing over a new server. As the dispute escalated, Lu Li proposed a coding competition to decide ownership. She suggested they each write an AI program for a space-shooter game, with the winner determined by the number of enemy planes shot down within a time limit.
Lu Li directly challenged Li Man. During the intense simulation, Jiang Yicheng, observing from the side, quickly saw through Lu Li's ingenious strategy: she deliberately lowered her aircraft’s health to appear weak, luring enemy planes closer for more kills, even if it meant sacrificing her own plane. Lu Li ultimately won the competition 39-35, and Li Man conceded defeat gracefully. Just as Lu Li’s team celebrated, Jiang Yicheng intervened, declaring that the server would go to Li Man's team.
He then announced that Lu Li would no longer be involved in the development of "Xuan Zhong Ji", but would instead represent the company in the Netfalse Game Design Competition. Her team was furious, reminding him of his earlier promise to make Lu Li the lead programmer. Confused, Lu Li requested to speak with him in his office. Li Man deliberately followed, sitting by to observe.
Inside, Jiang Yicheng informed Lu Li that the company’s sole demand for the competition was that she secure first place. Lu Li, recalling Li Man’s earlier words about Jiang Yicheng seeking investments to escape his parents' control, mistakenly believed he was merely using her as a tool to attract investors. Enraged by this perceived manipulation, Lu Li stormed out. Chen Yiming, who then entered, questioned Jiang Yicheng's decision.
Jiang Yicheng explained his hands were tied by EG, and by extension, Li Man. He revealed his deal with her: if Lu Li won the Netfalse competition, EG would allow her to return as lead programmer for "Xuan Zhong Ji". Chen Yiming advised him to communicate this to Lu Li, but Jiang Yicheng sighed, stating he couldn't while Li Man was present.
Feeling distressed, Lu Li went to find Gu Xiaoqi, who was venting her anger on a doll with Gu Mo’s picture on it. When Jiang Yicheng called, Lu Li immediately rejected the call and turned off her phone. During their hangout, Gu Xiaoqi noticed Lu Li’s forced smile and speculated if Jiang Yicheng and Li Man had rekindled their romance.
The innocent guess struck a nerve, and Lu Li grabbed a bottle of beer, drinking it down to hide her turmoil as Gu Xiaoqi mused that unlike machines, humans are swayed by emotions and cannot always remain rational.
