Hello Mr. Gu Episode 9 Recap
> Hello Mr. Gu Recap
Following through on her idea to base her manga character on Gu Nanzhou, Zhou Jianqing provides detailed instructions to her colleagues on how to subtly annoy their boss, such as giving him iced water without a coaster or leaving a slight gap in the curtains. Amused, they decide to create a "Let's Mock the Boss" group chat. Soon after, Jiang Jingxuan finds Zhou Jianqing drawing a caricature named "Dugu Nanzhou," clearly modeled after Gu Nanzhou.
After a brief jest, Jiang Jingxuan advises Zhou Jianqing about a secluded spot on the third floor where she can draw undisturbed, leaving Zhou Jianqing to marvel at Jiang Jingxuan's unpredictable personality, which fluctuates between being a "hypocrite" and a "kind-hearted girl." Meanwhile, Su Youxia finds Zhou Zixuan working as a chef at a restaurant. He is dealing with a difficult customer aggressively complaining about the Japanese fried chicken and the thinly sliced Spanish ham.
Su Youxia intervenes, offering to pay for the meal, but Zhou Zixuan insists on handling it himself by remaking the dish. Later, he explains to Su Youxia that despite his UK hotel management degree, he enjoys cooking and it pays well. His true motivation is to quickly repay Gu Nanzhou to prevent Zhou Jianqing from being "forced to sell herself."
He dreams of saving enough to reopen his father's stores, ensuring he can provide strong family support for his sister so she won't have to suffer any grievances from Gu Nanzhou. With a 2:00 PM meeting with Yingqi looming and his car at the service center, Gu Nanzhou panics. Zhou Jianqing suggests the bus rapid transit, but Gu Nanzhou reveals his fear of crowded places. Unfazed, she buys him headphones and sunglasses and pulls him onto the bus.
On the crowded bus, passengers notice Gu Nanzhou's disorientation and express pity for the handsome but seemingly disabled man. Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Jianqing spins a tale of being a devoted sister working three jobs to support her mentally impaired brother, successfully eliciting sympathy and a seat from fellow passengers. While on the bus, she realizes in a panic that she has brought the wrong USB drive and desperately calls for help. They arrive just in time for the meeting.
As Gu Nanzhou begins his presentation on "Lake Xingling," he calls for the USB to show a teaser, only for his own caricature, "Dugu Nanzhou," to appear on screen. Thinking fast, Zhou Jianqing claims the drawing is a "negative example" to show their animators what to avoid, emphasizing their commitment to artistic integrity. The client, Mr. He, is impressed. Building on this, she fabricates an elaborate love story, claiming "Lake Xingling" is inspired by her and Gu Nanzhou's "real experience."
She describes them as childhood acquaintances who recently reconnected and had a "flash marriage," embellishing the tale with a romantic anecdote about watching fireworks, a moment she connects to the animation's core themes. The clients are deeply moved, and even Gu Nanzhou is almost convinced by her performance. After the meeting, Gu Nanzhou, pleased with securing the investment, tells Zhou Jianqing she has made a "great contribution" but denies her request for a bonus, listing her recent mistakes.
He speculates her erratic behavior is due to her impending departure. Just then, a fully recovered Jiang Xiaochuan returns. Gu Nanzhou pulls him aside, confiding that Zhou Jianqing seems to have "become deeply engrossed" in their fake relationship and developed feelings for him, cautioning Jiang Xiaochuan to be gentle during the work handover. Zhou Jianqing's colleagues bid her a fond farewell. Gu Nanzhou observes her lack of sadness and dismisses it as her "pretending to be happy."
Later, Zhou Jianqing's editor calls to praise the popularity of her "heartless boss" character. As she happily scrolls through positive comments, Gu Nanzhou sees one identifying him as the character's inspiration. He snatches her phone and joins the "Let's Mock the Boss" group chat. After a tense argument over their contract, he successfully enters the group, causing panic.
The colleagues' awkward attempts to placate him are interrupted when one, Yuanyuan, questions why the boss was with Zhou Jianqing at midnight to see her phone. To end the confusion, Gu Nanzhou posts a video from the awards ceremony in the chat, revealing to everyone that Zhou Jianqing is his fiancée. That night, Zhou Jianqing orders a large takeout meal to fuel her overtime work. The next morning, a haggard Zhang Yin arrives with proofread manuscripts and breakfast.
Suddenly, Zhou Jianqing realizes she accidentally threw Gu Nanzhou's Rubik's Cube in the trash, which has since been collected. Enraged that she touched his belongings against his explicit warnings, Gu Nanzhou grabs her arm and furiously demands she move out. Zhang Yin immediately steps in to intervene.
