Girlfriend Episode 20 Recap
> Girlfriend Recap
Ye Feimo permitted Han Hui to enter the Anning building, much to the excitement and speculation of the employees who believed she was declaring her status as the "new proprietress" after recent rumors. Wen Xiaonuan, however, reminded herself to focus on her career rather than office gossip. Han Hui approached Ye Feimo, returning his dry-cleaned and ironed clothes, but he stated he would no longer wear them.
Han Hui, feigning innocence, explained that she delayed issuing a statement to avoid disrupting his plans, implying that he didn't trust her. Ye Feimo countered, suggesting her delay was intentional. Han Hui then dramatically brought up a past incident where she fell into the water, hinting at a sacrifice she made for him. This triggered a realization for Ye Feimo, confirming something Cheng Anya had told him.
Han Hui continued to manipulate him by reminiscing about their first meeting, but Ye Feimo cut her off, firmly stating that Wen Xiaonuan was the one he intended to spend his life with and warned Han Hui not to hurt her. Han Hui tried to imply he had once made similar promises to her, but Ye Feimo dismissed her, ordering her to leave, even as she tried to invite him to dinner.
Undeterred by Ye Feimo's rejection, Han Hui sought out Wen Xiaonuan to provoke her. She subtly taunted Wen Xiaonuan, implying that despite her good foundation, Wen Xiaonuan would always be "just close" but never truly measure up to her, whether in talent, luck, or destiny. Han Hui further claimed that Wen Xiaonuan had put in a lot of effort in both acting and relationships but had yet to succeed, concluding that Wen Xiaonuan would forever live in her shadow.
Wen Xiaonuan, frustrated, told her to leave and resumed her training, though Han Hui's insinuation about her being a substitute deeply provoked her. Meanwhile, Jiang Ling'er eagerly prepared for her wedding to Jiang Fang. Having bandaged her hand from cooking for him, she expressed excitement about having already signed up for cooking classes.
She then enthusiastically detailed her wedding dress ideas, including a "fairy dress" for welcoming guests, another for toasting, and a "stepping-out dress," highlighting desirable features like creamy white fabric, crystal shoes, and lace designs. Jiang Fang, though cautious about her cooking, was visibly touched by her sincerity and efforts, which left him feeling a pang of guilt. Gu Yunzhou and Jiayi were on a date when Jiayi brought up the rumors about Ye Feimo and Han Hui.
Gu Yunzhou quickly dispelled them, assuring her that Ye Feimo's true affection was for Wen Xiaonuan and that the rumors were a result of Ye Feimo being framed and Wen Xiaonuan refusing to give him a chance to explain. Concerned for Wen Xiaonuan, Jiayi abruptly ended their date to go to her, leaving Gu Yunzhou annoyed that Ye Feimo's scandal had ruined his plans. Ye Feimo, meanwhile, repeatedly tried to contact Wen Xiaonuan, but she avoided his calls.
Later, Ye Feimo encountered Gu Yunzhou, who had just been cruelly abandoned by his own girlfriend. Gu Yunzhou, still irritated, suggested they find a quiet place to discuss their emotional woes, jokingly attributing Ye Feimo's recent erratic behavior to love. Jiayi found Wen Xiaonuan and tried to reassure her about the rumors.
However, Wen Xiaonuan recounted seeing Han Hui in the elevator leaving Ye Feimo's apartment in his clothes that morning and Han Hui's strange behavior at the office, which made her believe the rumors were true. Jiayi directly asked Wen Xiaonuan if she had fallen for Ye Feimo. Wen Xiaonuan vehemently denied it, listing all his perceived flaws, but internal flashbacks showed moments of Ye Feimo's underlying care for her.
She concluded that Ye Feimo had only signed her to Anning to provoke Han Hui. Jiayi pressed her, saying that denying one's feelings was self-deception, but Wen Xiaonuan refused to discuss it further. As Jiayi was suggesting they watch a meteor shower, they noticed Ye Feimo and Gu Yunzhou entering the same cafe. The two women quietly hid, listening to the men's conversation.
Gu Yunzhou teased Ye Feimo about drinking mocha instead of his usual black coffee, attributing the change to Wen Xiaonuan, which Ye Feimo denied. Their discussion turned into a playful bickering match. Ye Feimo brought up Gu Yunzhou's past pretense of being a designated driver to pursue Jiayi.
Gu Yunzhou defended his actions, claiming he wanted Jiayi to get to know him first, and then shifted to questioning Ye Feimo's constant rumors and Han Hui's persistent advances, which Ye Feimo dismissed as a misunderstanding due to Han Hui's intoxication. Gu Yunzhou then provocatively asked Ye Feimo if he truly desired the girl or merely enjoyed the "pursuit itself."
Gu Yunzhou went on to openly explain his dating "playbook," admitting his enjoyment of the chase and detailing how he had "courted" Jiayi by adapting to her interests, such as buying a camera for her photography hobby, making reservations for trendy restaurants, attending operas, pretending to be an "optimistic poor boy," and accompanying her to bookstores. He confidently asserted that these "routines" guaranteed success.
Overhearing this, Jiayi became furious, believing Gu Yunzhou had been insincere and merely playing games to satisfy his desire for conquest. Heartbroken, she confronted him, asking which version of him was real and expressing her belief that he never truly treated her as a friend or sought to understand her, concluding they were from different worlds. In tears, Jiayi rushed out of the cafe, with a panicked Gu Yunzhou chasing after her.
Ye Feimo then stopped Wen Xiaonuan, who had also tried to leave. He attempted to explain, but Wen Xiaonuan cut him off, her words expressing a deep hurt that belied her claims of indifference. She revealed that she had once believed her opportunities at Anning—becoming an S-lister, starring in "Blue Sky Galaxy," and dining with Miss Cheng—were due to her own luck.
However, she now realized that all her perceived good fortune was merely a means to an end for Ye Feimo's own agenda. Having spoken her mind, Wen Xiaonuan walked away decisively. Ye Feimo, left alone, was filled with joy as he finally understood that Wen Xiaonuan's emotional outburst proved she cared for him. Meanwhile, Jiayi remained deeply upset by Gu Yunzhou's words, leading to an irreparable misunderstanding between them, and they ended their relationship.
With renewed determination after his realization, Ye Feimo began a persistent pursuit of Wen Xiaonuan. He tried various tactics, including feigning a stomachache and asking her to take him to the hospital, but Wen Xiaonuan dismissed his act, telling him her contract did not cover his health and advising him to contact her manager for work-related matters. She even sarcastically noted that as he was in a "honeymoon phase," it would be inconvenient for him to enter her house.
Unable to win her over, Ye Feimo turned to an online "Emotional Consultation Tree Hole" forum, asking why the girl he cared for wouldn't admit her feelings. The forum users mockingly called him a "little fish" and a "fallback man." He then posted an urgent plea for advice on how to appease a cold girlfriend. Online suggestions included shopping, romantic gestures in the rain, cooking a candlelight dinner, or a luxury vacation in the Maldives.
However, Ye Feimo rejected each idea, citing practical constraints like having already tried shopping, his aversion to getting sick in the rain, his inability to cook, and his busy work schedule preventing a long vacation. The frustrated users ultimately chastised him, declaring he deserved to be single.
