Encounter with You Episode 23 Recap
> Encounter with You Recap
Wan Xinxin found herself repeatedly unable to secure employment, suspecting that Liu Wei was actively sabotaging her job search. Observing her distress, Hua Ming took her to a boxing gym, urging her to confront the challenges head-on. He encouraged her to "face it, recognize it, understand it, and find a chance to knock it down," a mantra she eventually echoed with determination.
Despite her efforts, Wan Xinxin continued to face polite but firm rejections from numerous companies, which she believed were influenced by Liu Wei's near-monopoly in the design industry. Frustrated by her inability to escape Liu Wei's control, Wan Xinxin worried about her upcoming custody battle and the need for a stable income. Hua Ming then reminded her of her past talent in painting, suggesting she open her own art gallery and become her own boss.
Wan Xinxin expressed concern about the significant financial investment required, but Hua Ming reassured her, promising to handle all the practicalities so she could focus solely on her art. The following day, Hua Ming surprised Wan Xinxin by informing her that he had secured a warehouse to be converted into her art studio and gallery. He explained that artists require a spacious environment to foster inspiration and expressed confidence that this new space would reignite her creative spark.
Wan Xinxin, having not painted for a long time, decided to test the waters by setting up a street art stall with her old paintings to gauge public reception. Her works quickly attracted attention, including a couple who requested a portrait. Wan Xinxin, stating she did not paint portraits, declined, leading to an argument. A young woman, Jiang Xiaoyu, intervened on Wan Xinxin's behalf, for which Wan Xinxin offered her a free painting.
Jiang Xiaoyu, in turn, requested a custom landscape with a figure, and Wan Xinxin agreed. However, upon seeing Wan Xinxin's sketch, Jiang Xiaoyu dismissed it as inferior to even amateur street art, criticizing its lack of style and creativity. She then tore up the painting, brazenly accusing Wan Xinxin of being a fraud, claiming the impressive paintings on display were not truly hers.
Wan Xinxin vehemently denied the accusation, but Jiang Xiaoyu, introducing herself and leaving a business card, challenged her to have the "actual artist" contact her if she disagreed. Back home, Wan Xinxin researched Jiang Xiaoyu, discovering she was a prominent art critic, a young PhD from Southeast Art Academy, and a highly followed social media influencer.
Not giving up, Wan Xinxin drew another painting the next day and presented it to Jiang Xiaoyu, who, after reviewing it, tore it up again. After several such encounters, Wan Xinxin's fighting spirit was further ignited. She publicly challenged Jiang Xiaoyu on social media, leaving comments of doubt on her Weibo, prompting Jiang Xiaoyu to respond with the proverb, "What's fake can't become real."
This escalated into a social media firestorm, with Jiang Xiaoyu's followers accusing Wan Xinxin of seeking fame. Hua Ming warned Wan Xinxin that such negative publicity could severely impact her custody case. Undeterred, Wan Xinxin arranged yet another meeting with Jiang Xiaoyu. At this meeting, Jiang Xiaoyu once again tore up Wan Xinxin's new painting, reiterating her belief that Wan Xinxin's current work was inconsistent with the displayed pieces and that she was a fraud.
Wan Xinxin found herself frustrated, admitting to Hua Ming that Jiang Xiaoyu's core accusation—that her current self wasn't the artist of her acclaimed past works—felt true, leaving her without a counter-argument. Overwhelmed by the mounting criticism and feeling like a "joke," Wan Xinxin started to lose confidence in her gallery venture. Hua Ming, however, refused to let her give up, emphasizing that the investment was already made and she had to see it through.
He reassured her that she had never disappointed him. Meanwhile, Qin Gang learned of Wan Xinxin's damaged reputation and the negative public perception of her gallery. He anticipated that her lack of legitimate income would guarantee him victory in the custody battle, enabling him to take their son, Xiaobao, to America to present to his mother, thus securing his inheritance. Despite the challenges, Wan Xinxin, with Hua Ming's unwavering support, proceeded with the gallery's grand opening.
On this day, Qin Gang made an unwelcome appearance, contemptuously offering a small sum of money—107 yuan—to "buy a painting" and sarcastically "open her for business." Wan Xinxin was furious, but Hua Ming calmly accepted the money. With a flourish, he drew a simple pig-head sketch and handed it to Qin Gang, implying it was his self-portrait and a charm to "ward off evil spirits." Qin Gang left in a fit of pique.
Separately, Jiang Kaiyang, still working under Qin Gang, complained to his wife, Xu Chunli (Wan Xinxin's sister), that Wan Xinxin's public confrontation with Qin Gang put his job at risk. Xu Chunli defended her sister, reminding Jiang Kaiyang that Qin Gang's behavior had been outrageous at the gallery opening. Jiang Kaiyang, however, was unsympathetic, claiming he endured humiliation and abuse at his job, and callously suggested he should have divorced Xu Chunli by now.
He then dismissively called her a "haggard housewife." Distraught by his words, Xu Chunli later asked Wan Xinxin if she truly looked haggard. Xu Ke, a friend who overheard, vehemently disagreed and offered to take Xu Chunli shopping to help her regain confidence. Xu Ke advised Xu Chunli on the importance of self-love, suggesting she embrace modern fashion, makeup, and perfume to keep her husband's interest alive, especially after years of marriage.
Xu Chunli hesitated, worrying about her husband's reaction if she didn't cook dinner. However, Xu Ke insisted on a complete transformation. Later, Jiang Kaiyang came home to drawn curtains and no dinner, only to be "shocked" by Xu Chunli's new slip dress and bold makeup. He angrily criticized her appearance, told her to remove it, and stormed out to get noodles, complaining about his job worries and loss of appetite.
At work, Qin Gang further pressured Jiang Kaiyang, threatening him with a demotion to the reception desk if he failed to secure major deals to boost the company's performance. Jiang Kaiyang, staking his reputation, vowed to succeed. Finally, the day of the court hearing arrived. Wan Xinxin, accompanied by Hua Ming and their single attorney, Attorney Chen, faced Qin Gang, who arrived with an imposing team of elite lawyers.
Qin Gang confronted Wan Xinxin outside the courthouse, arrogantly telling her to give up and hand Xiaobao over to him. Wan Xinxin, however, stood firm, declaring she would never surrender her son. Inside the courtroom, Qin Gang's lawyer immediately attacked Wan Xinxin's financial stability, stating that she had been repeatedly fired and unemployed for months, relying on friends and family for her basic living expenses. The accusation left Wan Xinxin speechless.
