Cute Programmer Episode 2 Recap
> Cute Programmer Recap
Despite her acrophobia, Lu Li bravely climbed a daunting wall, reaching the top and securing a star, an impressive feat that earned Jiang Yicheng's acknowledgment that she had passed his test. Jiang Yicheng, who proudly stated that only mediocre people rush to find a partner, expressed relief that Lu Li had helped him deal with his blind date.
However, this calm was shattered when a pigeon suddenly landed nearby, causing Jiang Yicheng to descend into a panic, screaming and losing all composure. Seeing his intense fear, Lu Li calmly instructed him to close his eyes and gently guided him away from the birds, leading him out of the park. As a result, Jiang Yicheng agreed to allow Lu Li to join his company, on the strict condition that she would handle all his future blind dates.
Lu Li internally saw this as a pivotal moment, a "master key" bringing her one step closer to her goal. On her first day of work, Lu Li maintained her male disguise with encouragement from Gu Xiaoqi, who assured her that no one would see through her act. Lu Li arrived at the programming department and was greeted by Zhang Zhiyuan, the team leader known as Old Ape.
He introduced her to quirky, logic-driven programmers like Lin Shutian and Brother Lei. Lu Li noted the team's fondness for checkered shirts, which they jokingly claimed helped "reduce the number of bugs." She also learned the department was an all-male environment because of Jiang Yicheng's past negative experience with a female programmer. Later, while completing her onboarding paperwork, a female staff member in administration was instantly charmed by Lu Li, openly flirting and trying to see her ID card.
Lu Li narrowly avoided exposure by pretending the ID was expired and snatching it back. The crises continued when Zhang Zhiyuan, noticing something odd about Lu Li, suspected she was wearing a wig. He quickly dismissed the idea, instead concluding Lu Li had premature hair loss, a common "occupational disease" among programmers, and even offered to send her links for anti-hair loss shampoos.
To celebrate Lu Li's arrival, Old Ape organized a "highest level of welcome"—a team gaming session at an e-sports center. Lu Li showcased exceptional skill, leading their team to decisive victories that frustrated their opponents. One disgruntled player provoked Lu Li, and the confrontation escalated until he threw a headset and verbally assaulted her, calling her a "sissy" before attempting to throw a punch.
Jiang Yicheng swiftly intervened, grabbing the attacker's fist and declaring that Lu Li was his person, forcing the man to apologize. He then intimidated the group by revealing his "superpower"—being "super rich"—and threatening to sue them with the best lawyers, pointing out the 360-degree cameras. Afterward, Lu Li questioned Jiang Yicheng about his tendency to attract trouble, to which he countered that the man had insulted him first and challenged the notion that a man must be traditionally "manly."
Concerned that her disguise was wearing thin after being questioned about her lack of an Adam's apple, Lu Li and Gu Xiaoqi devised a plan. The next day, Gu Xiaoqi staged a dramatic scene at the company, acting as an overly clingy girlfriend. In front of the captivated programmers, Lu Li sternly rebuffed her, telling her never to come to the company again and coldly walking away from her tearful pleas.
The performance solidified Lu Li’s image as a decisive man who couldn’t be tied down, earning him the admiration of his colleagues and placing him at the "top of the programmers' chain of contempt." However, the act was witnessed by Gu Mo, the company's Art Director and Gu Xiaoqi's protective older brother. Shocked, he angrily confronted his sister, who playfully claimed Lu Li was her "boyfriend" and told Gu Mo to "look after your brother-in-law," much to his fury.
To formally welcome Lu Li, Chen Yiming invited her and Jiang Yicheng to dinner, introducing Lu Li as their junior from university. When asked about her idol, Lu Li, hiding her feelings for Jiang Yicheng, named Chen Yiming. Annoyed, Jiang Yicheng placed a shrimp on Lu Li's plate. Despite her severe allergy, Lu Li ate it, not wanting to refuse a gesture from him.
She quickly had an allergic reaction, and Chen Yiming, noticing her discomfort, discreetly gave her an ointment. Later, Jiang Yicheng summoned Lu Li to his office to debug code. As Lu Li worked, she kept stealing glances at him. Noticing her distraction, Jiang Yicheng approached from behind, leaning closely over her shoulders to guide her, causing Lu Li's heart to race.
As Lu Li was about to leave work, Zhang Zhiyuan announced a mandatory weekend team-building event at a hot spring resort, to the dismay of the other programmers. Lu Li then returned home and recounted the day to Gu Xiaoqi, confirming their fake breakup was a success. Gu Xiaoqi then explained the "little accident": her encounter with her meddlesome brother, Gu Mo. She warned Lu Li to be cautious around him, promising her godparents would intervene if he caused trouble.
Gu Xiaoqi also informed Lu Li that she would be out of town for an anime exhibition for a few days, reminding her not to slip up and reveal her identity. Alone, Lu Li reflected on her feelings for Jiang Yicheng, thinking, "Liking you isn't a bug, so there's no need to debug it."
