Lie to Love Episode 23 Recap
> Lie to Love Recap
Xie Minghao, concerned that Li Zeliang might uncover information from Xie Qing, swiftly removed her from the hospital and concealed her in another location. Xie Qing was visibly distressed and frightened, longing for her own home, but Xie Minghao assured her that she would only be safe by his side at this new residence. He then pressed her about a bank account, which she denied knowing anything about.
He gently coaxed her to take her medicine with the promise of mung bean cakes and sternly warned her to tell him immediately if she remembered anything important. Later, Xie Minghao informed Su Xieyi that Xie Qing’s emotional state was unstable and required quiet rest, forbidding any visits to prevent further shock, thus preventing Su Xieyi from seeing her sister. Meanwhile, Su Xieyi returned to Ocean Hotel, intending to contribute to the Lantian Bay project.
Li Zeliang playfully offered her his chairman's office and the role of his executive secretary, but Su Xieyi preferred her original desk to remain close to him. Their affectionate moment was interrupted by the arrival of Shi Chuchu. Su Xieyi, sensing they had important business, excused herself. Shi Chuchu presented Li Zeliang with a proposal for the Lantian Bay project, specifically concerning the urgent procurement of construction materials. Expressing full trust, Li Zeliang instructed Shi Chuchu to manage it directly.
However, regarding the commercial dispute cases left by Huo Jian, Li Zeliang decided to personally oversee them due to their critical nature, opting not to involve corporate lawyer Xie Minghao. Li Zeliang then asked Shi Chuchu to mentor Su Xieyi on the project, and Shi Chuchu agreed, though she jokingly warned she might be very strict. Afterward, Su Xieyi approached Shi Chuchu, eager to contribute.
Shi Chuchu assigned her the task of selecting gifts for partners, suggesting it was a fitting role for Li Zeliang’s girlfriend. Feeling the task was not central to the project, Su Xieyi confronted Shi Chuchu, stating her admiration but also sensing a grudge. Shi Chuchu bluntly asked if Su Xieyi was Shen Zhihong’s daughter and had infiltrated Ocean Hotel for revenge.
Su Xieyi admitted her initial intentions but asserted that the past was over and her current motivation was her passion for the industry and her desire to help Li Zeliang, confirming he was aware of everything. Shi Chuchu conceded that she had spoken to Li Zeliang but cautioned that love often blinds people. She issued a stern warning: if Su Xieyi dared to harm Li Zeliang or Ocean Hotel, she would face severe consequences.
Su Xieyi acknowledged Shi Chuchu's advantages but emphasized that her and Li Zeliang’s shared life experiences were the foundation of their deep love. Dismissing this, Shi Chuchu advised Su Xieyi to perform well at work, secretly resolving to expose what she believed were Su Xieyi's true intentions. Later, while Su Xieyi had lunch with colleagues who were complaining about the demanding Lantian Bay project, a customer, He Jianghua, began taking photos in the dining area.
After a staff member courteously reminded him of the no-photography policy, He Jianghua disputed it and demanded a manager. Su Xieyi intervened, explaining the rule was recently implemented to protect guests' dining experience from being disrupted by influencers. He Jianghua accepted her explanation, and Su Xieyi then offered to take photos for him. During their interaction, he mentioned he had rhinitis. Meanwhile, Ji Yingsong reported to Li Zeliang that the owner of Yunxiao Fishery, Tang Zheng, was difficult to locate.
However, he had found a lead on a former employee named Qin, who was close to Tang Zheng. Li Zeliang instructed Ji Yingsong to prioritize locating Qin. Concurrently, Dai Ziang introduced He Jianghua, the chief editor of "Hotel World" and his "secret trump card," to Xie Minghao. Dai Ziang commended He Jianghua for successfully photographing Su Xieyi as planned, and they toasted to the "exciting show" to come.
Later that evening, Shi Chuchu met Xie Minghao to inquire if Su Xieyi had ulterior motives. After some hesitation, Xie Minghao revealed that Su Xieyi was behind the "Lin Tai" incident, confirming Shi Chuchu’s suspicions that Su Xieyi was formidable and posed a threat. He Jianghua then "coincidentally" encountered Su Xieyi at a bookstore.
Learning she was buying cookbooks to make soup for her boyfriend, he enthusiastically shared his knowledge of "old fire soup" as a metaphor for nurturing a relationship through patient effort. Impressed, Su Xieyi exchanged contact information with him, unaware their interaction was being secretly filmed. That night, Su Xieyi meticulously prepared the soup for Li Zeliang, who was deeply touched by her gesture. They engaged in playful banter, with Su Xieyi teasingly questioning Li Zeliang's honesty.
When she asked if he preferred sons or daughters, he admitted to wanting enough children for a "football team," starting with a "goalkeeper." The next morning, an anonymous article was published online, detailing Huo Jian’s past scams involving fake liquor and artwork. More critically, the article exposed the Lantian Bay project’s cost estimation list, alleging that Ocean Hotel planned to use artificial hot water instead of natural hot spring water to deceive consumers.
This caused significant turmoil and a drop in the company’s stock price. Li Zeliang, Shi Chuchu, and Su Xieyi convened to address the crisis. Li Zeliang insisted on full transparency, believing honesty was the only way to restore trust. He tasked Shi Chuchu with arranging a press conference to clarify the situation. Shi Chuchu noted the leak likely came from an internal "spy" who fed the information to He Jianghua and vowed to investigate.
Noticing Shi Chuchu's nasal discomfort, Li Zeliang offered to have an air purifier sent to her. Shi Chuchu then questioned Su Xieyi about her encounter with He Jianghua at the restaurant. Su Xieyi admitted meeting him but was unaware of his identity. Li Zeliang defended her, but privately, Su Xieyi grew concerned and tried to contact He Jianghua, who was unreachable.
Later, Shi Chuchu found an online forum post containing clear photos of Su Xieyi with He Jianghua, solidifying her belief that Su Xieyi was the leak. She confronted Su Xieyi, who maintained her innocence, explaining the bookstore encounter was a coincidence focused on soup-making. Finding the repeated coincidences too suspicious, Shi Chuchu demanded Su Xieyi call He Jianghua to prove it, but he still didn't answer.
Shi Chuchu presented her case: the anonymous tip to He Jianghua, the photos, and the fact that only Su Xieyi had access to the Lantian Bay proposal at Li Zeliang’s home. Li Zeliang firmly defended Su Xieyi, confirming she had been learning to make soup and explicitly stated that she had not seen the proposal. Shi Chuchu accused Li Zeliang of being emotional.
He retorted that she was the emotional one, arguing that the multiple "coincidences" and conveniently timed photos strongly suggested a deliberate frame-up. Dismissing his reasoning, Shi Chuchu announced she was taking a long break to investigate further and find definitive evidence. After she left, Su Xieyi privately asked Li Zeliang why he lied about her seeing the proposal when she had.
Li Zeliang explained that he denied it because he trusted her completely and refused to let her be slandered, affirming that unwavering trust was the only way they could build a life together.
