Lie to Love Episode 1 Recap
> Lie to Love Recap
Li Zeliang, the heir to the Ocean Hotel Group, has adopted the facade of a listless and irresponsible young master, seemingly having lost all interest in the family business. In reality, he is secretly observing his uncle, Huo Jian, the current chairman. Huo Jian, skeptical of Li Zeliang's sudden decline, constantly tests him. He invites Li Zeliang for a game of badminton, where he plays aggressively, striking Li Zeliang with the shuttlecock.
Huo Jian admonishes him for his lack of vigor, telling him to stop acting like a "good-for-nothing" and to stay away from alcohol and games. Despite the pain and his assistant Ji Yingsong's pleas to stop, Li Zeliang insists on continuing the match. Seeing his nephew's persistence, Huo Jian reminds him of the legacy his father built, emphasizing that Ocean Hotel belongs to the Li family and that Li Zeliang must shoulder his responsibilities.
He then orders Li Zeliang to return to the company. Meanwhile, Su Xieyi, a young woman seeking revenge for a family tragedy she believes was orchestrated by Huo Jian, infiltrates the Ocean Hotel. She sneaks into the office of Lin Tai, Huo Jian's secretary, and secretly records a compromising conversation he has with an assistant about illicitly holding back rooms during peak season to make extra money.
When Lin Tai almost discovers her, she quickly pretends to be a job applicant looking for the interview room and makes a hasty exit. Suspicious, Lin Tai pursues her, but Su Xieyi cleverly evades him by changing her entire outfit inside the elevator. Lin Tai's pursuit is cut short by Huo Jian's return. Huo Jian dismisses Lin Tai's concerns about the hotel's malfunctioning booking system, instructing him instead to keep a close watch on Li Zeliang.
He explains that he brought Li Zeliang back to both placate the Li family loyalists on the board and keep his nephew under his thumb. Upon his return to the office, Li Zeliang questions Lin Tai about the frequent customer complaints and the booking system issues, but receives only vague and evasive answers, deepening his suspicion. Later, Ji Yingsong suggests getting rid of Lin Tai, but Li Zeliang decides to keep the secretary around for the time being.
At home, Su Xieyi reviews clues left by her father, determined to find a "poison contract" she believes was used to frame him and led to his downfall. She recalls seeing Huo Jian confidently taking over as the new chairman, vowing to lead the company to new heights. To get close to Li Zeliang, Su Xieyi orchestrates an encounter at a bar. She hires a woman and a man to pose as a couple.
The woman feigns drunkenness and approaches Li Zeliang, prompting the "husband" to appear and accuse him of harassment. As a fight is about to break out, Su Xieyi intervenes, incapacitates the man with pepper spray, and pulls Li Zeliang away. In his car, Li Zeliang notes her resemblance to a girl he met before and asks if they know each other. Feigning a poor memory, Su Xieyi denies it.
She then claims to have dissociative amnesia from a past trauma, finding comfort in forgetting unpleasant things. Upon learning Li Zeliang manages Ocean Hotel—her top career choice—she expresses excitement. In return for her help, Li Zeliang gives her his business card, promising to grant her a favor. This encounter triggers Li Zeliang's memory of their actual first meeting. Years ago, while rock climbing, he was nearly knocked off a cliff by Su Xieyi, who mistook him for a wild hog.
After getting to safety, they bickered playfully. When Li Zeliang got a stress-induced toothache, Su Xieyi offered him painkillers. They discovered a small hedgehog, and when Su Xieyi mentioned she was camping alone after returning from abroad, Li Zeliang offered to stay and protect her. They introduced themselves, with him giving his full name and her asking to be called "Yi." Su Xieyi's deception is revealed as she recalls the true events surrounding her father's death.
After receiving an urgent call, she rushed home only to witness her father falling from a tall building. On the rooftop, she saw the silhouette of Li Zeliang, leading her to believe he was the murderer. A medical voiceover explains a patient's diagnosis of dissociative amnesia, but Su Xieyi's own clear memories betray her act. Alone, she speaks to her pet hedgehog, the same one from the mountain, confirming she is indeed "Yi" and has not forgotten their past. Her feigned amnesia is merely a tool in her quest for the truth and revenge against the man she holds responsible for her family's ruin.
