Lie to Love Episode 2 Recap
> Lie to Love Recap
Lin Tai reported to Mr. Huo that Yunfeng Hotel had become one of the three candidates for Fujiade Auction's partner selection. Their meeting that day was to discuss the latest bidding tender, a crucial opportunity for Yunfeng Hotel's publicity. However, before the meeting could begin, Mr. Huo saw a video revealing that an entire floor of hotel rooms had been closed off to the public.
He was furious, questioning why rooms were being reserved during peak season when he had explicitly instructed they remain available. Lin Tai attempted to explain that he feared keeping an entire floor vacant would appear suspicious, but Mr. Huo cut him off, demanding he destroy all correspondence and relevant documents and then come to his office. Su Xieyi watched the exchange, while Li Zeliang remained silent, implying his involvement in the video's release.
Su Xieyi, a University of Hannover graduate in hotel management, attended her job interview for Ouman Hotel, her top choice. She performed exceptionally, even offering a unique perspective on hotels by stating that a hotel could not be a "second home" because "home is one and only, it is irreplaceable." Meanwhile, in his office, Mr. Huo raged about the incident, suspecting that Li Zeliang was behind the leak because it occurred right after he joined the company.
Mr. Huo ordered Uncle Bai to check the control room's surveillance footage for the past twelve hours. Later, a secretary brought Li Zeliang new resumes from the HR Department following Lin Tai's dismissal. She warned Li Zeliang that the candidates sent by HR were likely "moles" arranged by Mr. Huo, who was eager to plant a new one. She also pointed out that the incident occurring so soon after Li Zeliang's arrival would undoubtedly make Mr. Huo suspect him.
Li Zeliang silently looked through the resumes, recalling Su Xieyi's statement about Ouman Hotel being her primary career aspiration. The next day, Su Xieyi received a notification of her successful interview and reported to the General Manager's Office at Ouman Hotel. She greeted her new colleague, Gong Ming Yue, who immediately launched into office gossip.
Gong Ming Yue explained that Lin Tai and Chen Shan, the Housekeeping Department manager, were behind the private reservation of hotel rooms, and both had been fired. Gong Ming Yue openly admired the anonymous person who exposed them, wishing she could reward them. Su Xieyi was assigned as Li Zeliang's temporary assistant. In his office, Li Zeliang gave her an access card and then showed her surveillance footage of herself in the elevator.
He directly confronted her, asking if she was the one who exposed Lin Tai. Su Xieyi admitted it, explaining that as a newcomer witnessing such "filthy affairs" at Ouman Hotel, her sense of justice compelled her to act, especially since Ouman Hotel was her top priority. She then returned the access card, thanked him for hiring her, and declared that they were now "even." As soon as she left, Li Zeliang called Ying Song, instructing him to "look into someone."
Simultaneously, Mr. Huo's investigation of surveillance footage from the day before the incident found nothing unusual. However, he uncovered that Li Zeliang, despite his seemingly idle work ethic, had secretly been investigating Lin Tai. Concluding he "underestimated this nephew," Mr. Huo instructed Uncle Bai to copy the video for him. Observing Su Xieyi playfully toying with documents, Li Zeliang was reminded of a girl from his past.
He recalled a time they ate together and he taught her how to use Shaoxing wine to improve the flavor of crab roe, a memory that brought a subtle smile to his face. Later, Su Xieyi stealthily entered Li Zeliang's office to search for a contract but found nothing. As she reached the underground parking lot, Li Zeliang sent her a text message, inviting her to dinner and including the address, leaving her no opportunity to decline.
Li Zeliang took Su Xieyi to a noodle shop and ordered one bowl of crab roe noodles to share, a dish he had once shared with the girl from his past, intending to test Su Xieyi's memory. He discussed the proper way to cook crab roe, mentioning the use of Shaoxing wine or plum wine to eliminate any fishiness, a detail he had previously shared with the girl.
He then brought up an old custom: dropping chopsticks meant receiving three symbolic taps—the first for being foolish, the second a blessing, and the third to preempt a worse punishment. Su Xieyi recognized his tricks to probe her memory. Li Zeliang noted her easygoing personality and the familiar feeling she evoked, suggesting they might have met before and eaten from the same bowl.
Su Xieyi deflected, attributing it to "déjà vu" and a "mental projection," feigning no prior acquaintance but expressing pleasure at knowing him now. Li Zeliang then hinted at taking her to a place where they could see the sunrise, suggesting a deeper connection. Before he could press further, Su Xieyi received an urgent phone call, which she used as an excuse to depart quickly, declining Li Zeliang's offer to drive her.
Su Xieyi met with Ming Hao and Mr. Xie, who had just provided free legal aid to a family. Ming Hao expressed deep concern about Su Xieyi's decision to work at Ouman Hotel, warning her that her situation was dangerous and that the perpetrator could harm her if her true identity and motive were discovered. Su Xieyi, however, dismissed his concerns, believing no one would recognize her after living overseas for ten years.
She insisted on her need to infiltrate Ouman Hotel to find a specific "poison contract." She explained that the contract's penalty for breach had inexplicably increased more than tenfold between the draft and the final signing, a clear indication of foul play. Believing the contract was likely hidden at Li Zeliang's home, since he rarely frequented the office, Su Xieyi was resolute in her decision to "enter the tiger's lair to catch the tiger cub."
Unexpectedly, Mr. Huo visited Li Zeliang's messy home. He commented on Li Zeliang's disheveled appearance and perceived idleness, offering to have his assistant, Yi Fei, clean and bring plants. Li Zeliang feigned incompetence, telling his uncle he "can't even manage his subordinates," playing up a sloppy attitude to make Mr. Huo relax his guard. Mr. Huo then brought up the Lin Tai incident, subtly questioning if the culprit was an insider, since an outsider would have left traces.
Li Zeliang offered to help investigate, but Mr. Huo declined, advising him to focus on his work. Mr. Huo then informed Li Zeliang that he would personally arrange for a new assistant, revealing his continued distrust. During their conversation, Ying Song arrived with Li Zeliang's repaired climbing gear. This immediately piqued Mr. Huo's suspicion.
Li Zeliang quickly improvised, claiming he was getting his old, broken gear replaced to go to a climbing club soon, a cover for his ongoing rehabilitation training. Mr. Huo then noticed a painting in the room. A nervous Li Zeliang offered it as a gift, but Mr. Huo declined, stating a senior shouldn't take things from a junior. Satisfied that Li Zeliang appeared harmless, Mr. Huo left, but his lingering suspicion was evident as he turned back for one last look.
