Dream Garden Episode 6 Recap
> Dream Garden Recap
Huo Lang, recently promoted to deputy design director, faced a reprimand from Mr. Chen. Chen confronted Huo Lang for using identical designs for two clients' wedding houses, suspecting he was rushing to earn money for his own wedding home. Chen demoted Huo Lang to assist Li in another department and reassigned his current projects to others.
Upon returning home, Chai Qian enthusiastically informed Huo Lang that she had been hired by a public relations firm under Dianfan Group, her former profession. Instead of celebrating, Huo Lang subtly picked at her, first asking for hot water, then ice water, and finally complaining that the water was both hot and cold, reflecting his irritable mood. Chai Qian found herself reflecting on her college days, where she first met Huo Lang.
She recalled him appearing gentle and handsome in the library, wiping her dirty glasses, and instantly captivating her. On his birthday, Huo Lang had asked her to spend it with him, revealing that his parents divorced when he was young and he had never had anyone to celebrate with since his mother left. He expressed a desire for her to be present for all his future birthdays.
He then likened himself to the Little Prince meeting his unique rose, asking Chai Qian to be his one-of-a-kind rose, and for them to "tame" each other. Xiao Xiao and Lin Shen were having dinner when Xiao Xiao overheard a man at a nearby table flirting on the phone with another woman, despite his girlfriend being absent. She remarked harshly that men are liars, to which Lin Shen gently countered that not all men are like that.
Later, Chai Qian visited Xiao Xiao, apologizing for not accepting the job offer from Dianfan Group, a decision Xiao Xiao had initially encouraged. Chai Qian confessed to feeling immense pressure and depression, despite her boyfriend treating her well. She also shared recurring nightmares: one of being trapped in a forest where wolves tore each other apart, and another of being a butterfly specimen with her wings nailed to a basement wall, unable to escape.
She couldn't see the face of her captor. While Chai Qian did not reveal the details of her conversation with Huo Lang to Xiao Xiao, the viewer learns that Huo Lang had convinced her not to take the job, arguing that as a former leader, starting from the bottom in a public relations firm (Party B) would expose her to "tough clients" (Party A) and make her suffer.
He used gentle words, claiming it was "for her own good" and that he would be heartbroken if she struggled again, reminding her of a previous high-pressure job she quit. Xiao Xiao, after hearing the dreams, could only offer general advice to break free from her self-imposed confines and invited her for a formal psychological consultation. When Chai Qian returned home, Huo Lang darkly questioned her whereabouts.
She explained she had been feeling down and talked to a friend who worked at a psychological studio to alleviate her mood. Huo Lang, without a word, demanded that she call that friend immediately and tell her she would never see her again, reminding Chai Qian that she used to always listen to him.
Later, while Xiao Xiao and Lin Shen were having hotpot, Xiao Xiao expressed a newfound confidence in her potential as a psychologist after her conversation with Chai Qian, jokingly boasting that she had found Lin Shen a new client. However, she then received a call from Chai Qian, who stated she no longer wished to pursue psychological counseling. Xiao Xiao was deeply disheartened, lamenting how Chai Qian, once such an independent woman, now seemed to have lost her spark.
Lin Shen, understanding her feelings, advised her that as professionals, they couldn't force their will upon a client who chose not to continue. He subtly acknowledged Xiao Xiao as his apprentice by posting information about Shenjiang University's in-service psychology graduate program on a social media platform, visible only to her. Inspired, Xiao Xiao attempted to audit one of Lin Shen's classes.
However, she was mistaken by other female students for someone trying to deliberately get close to Lin Shen and was subsequently escorted out by security. Lin Shen, constrained by university regulations, could only instruct her to wait for him elsewhere until his class ended. Later, Xiao Xiao, determined to pursue an in-service graduate degree, pleaded with Lin Shen for tutoring.
She boldly proposed a bet: if she got accepted, he would have to grant her one request; if she failed, she would work for him indefinitely. While studying, Xiao Xiao pondered Chai Qian's transformation from an opinionated individual to someone who now seemed to obey her boyfriend's every word. She sought out Lin Shen, sharing her concern that Chai Qian's current state was linked to her boyfriend.
Lin Shen analyzed Chai Qian's dreams, noting that wolves, as pack animals with deep bonds, tearing each other apart in a dream could signify deception or a trust crisis in a real-life partnership. He agreed with Xiao Xiao's observation that Huo Lang was using phrases like "I'm for your own good" and "I care about you" to subtly suppress Chai Qian psychologically, rather than offering encouragement as a supportive partner should.
Lin Shen further elaborated on this dynamic, referring to it as the "gaslight effect" – a purposeful emotional manipulation within an intimate relationship that gradually erodes a person's confidence, sense of self, and independent thought, leading them to doubt their own perceptions.
He drew a parallel to an old movie where a man systematically destroyed his wife's mental well-being to gain her inheritance, explaining that any action within a close relationship that undermines a partner's confidence, identity, or restricts their ideas constitutes this form of manipulative control. Chai Qian invited Xiao Xiao to her home for dinner as a thank you for helping her with her mood. Xiao Xiao brought Lin Shen along. Huo Lang was not home at the time.
Xiao Xiao commented on Chai Qian's new residence, recalling she used to live downtown. Chai Qian explained they moved so Huo Lang could build a new home through his own efforts. Chai Qian then apologized again for canceling her therapy, but Xiao Xiao noted her seemingly improved spirits. Chai Qian glowingly revealed that Huo Lang had proposed to her, and since then, her mood had significantly stabilized, and she could sleep without melatonin.
Xiao Xiao and Lin Shen, though sensing underlying issues, chose not to disrupt her happiness. Chai Qian then recounted their college romance in detail, beginning with her instant infatuation with the gentle and handsome Huo Lang in the library. She described how on his birthday, he confessed his lonely childhood after his parents' divorce, asking her to fill that void by spending every future birthday with him.
He expressed a desire for them to "tame" each other, with her as his "unique rose" and him as her "Little Prince." Later, when her company offered an MBA opportunity requiring weekend classes in Beijing, Chai Qian hesitated, knowing it would mean less time with Huo Lang. He gently discouraged her, pleading that he didn't want to be a "lonely Little Prince" again. Softened by his words, Chai Qian relented and passed up the opportunity.
As her work progressed and she became a manager, the increased stress led to insomnia, overeating, and hair loss. Huo Lang remained by her side, telling her that work was "no big deal" and urging her to quit, promising to support her. Their conversation was interrupted by Huo Lang's unexpected return. Before Chai Qian could fully introduce her friends, Huo Lang instructed her to pack his luggage for an immediate business trip.
He then asked Xiao Xiao how she knew Chai Qian. Xiao Xiao candidly expressed her regret that Chai Qian was no longer working, citing her past success as a public relations manager. Huo Lang defensively stated he was simply "protecting" Chai Qian, implying her current "stress tolerance" was insufficient for a return to her former career.
Xiao Xiao retorted that he was using "love" as a guise to "restrict" Chai Qian, but Lin Shen quickly intervened to prevent her from saying more. Enraged, Huo Lang ordered them out of his house, injuring Xiao Xiao's hand as he forcefully shut the door behind them. Meanwhile, Fan Qi silently grieved the death of his elder brother, a tragedy that seemed to contradict his outwardly gentle demeanor. Later, Xiao Xiao and Sun Kele celebrated Yan Luo's housewarming.
Yan Luo was surprised to find a lamp she admired, but couldn't afford, mysteriously appear in her shopping cart and delivered to her home, leading Sun Kele to playfully suggest she had a "Daddy-Long-Legs" admirer. Sun Kele then delivered some bad news to Xiao Xiao: her popular emotional advice account, "Xiao Beibei," had dropped out of the top ten in monthly traffic rankings.
It had been surpassed by a new account called "Free Wandering," which taught men how to pursue women. Intrigued and concerned, Xiao Xiao attempted to register for the "Free Wandering" forum. Discovering it was exclusively for men, she signed up using Lin Shen's identity, which resulted in Lin Shen receiving an unexpected registration text message in the middle of the night.
The next day, Xiao Xiao went to Lin Shen to "apologize" for signing him up, but quickly explained her suspicion that Huo Lang was using PUA tactics on Chai Qian. She asserted the need to investigate the "Free Wandering" course, threatening to go undercover herself if Lin Shen refused, and playfully questioned if he wasn't worried about his "beautiful, cute, and sexy apprentice" falling victim to a "scumbag."
Lin Shen, unfazed, quipped that he was more concerned about the "scumbag" being outsmarted by Xiao Xiao, but agreed to attend the course. The course taught attendees the principles of PUA, including "warm-up, communication, honesty, and practice." After the initial lesson, a male participant, eager to "practice," approached Xiao Xiao, who was observing. He attempted to use the techniques taught, boasting about his sports car club and implying wealth.
Xiao Xiao feigned interest, but when he got physical, she lost her patience and exposed his manipulative tactics, sarcastically questioning why men always resorted to a "dying mother" sob story. Enraged, the man lunged at her. Suddenly, Fan Qi appeared, intervening in the escalating altercation and de-escalating the situation, effectively saving Xiao Xiao from the aggressive man.
Fan Qi, who claimed to be leaving a business meeting, recognized Xiao Xiao and offered to treat her to dinner to calm her nerves. During their meal, Xiao Xiao explained the entire incident, including her plan to write an article exposing the PUA organization. Fan Qi, seemingly curious, inquired about her romantic history, subtly suggesting that being single was his own biggest problem. Meanwhile, Lin Shen, having been searching for Xiao Xiao, spotted her dining peacefully with Fan Qi.
Without a word, he turned and left, clearly upset. Xiao Xiao quickly rose to follow him, while Fan Qi, with a dark look in his eyes, silently drank the remaining soup from Xiao Xiao's bowl.
