Lie to Love Episode 3 Recap
> Lie to Love Recap
As Huo Jian prepared to leave Li Zeliang's residence late in the evening, the doorbell suddenly rang. He decided to stay, curious about the unexpected visitor. Ji Yingsong opened the door to find Su Xieyi, who explained she needed Li Zeliang to sign several documents. Li Zeliang suggested she return the next day, but Huo Jian, intrigued, insisted on seeing the files.
Upon reviewing them, he questioned how Su Xieyi, a new hire, already knew Li Zeliang's home address and had come so late. Su Xieyi clarified that her assistant duties required her to know her boss's itinerary, habits, and address, which she obtained from another staff member. Impressed, Huo Jian praised Li Zeliang's choice, stating that Su Xieyi was more exceptional than he had anticipated.
Li Zeliang downplayed her capabilities, claiming she was merely a random candidate from the General Manager's Office on a trial basis. After a warning from Huo Jian about being cautious with rock climbing, Huo Jian departed, escorted by Ji Yingsong. Once Huo Jian left, Li Zeliang asked Su Xieyi why she had come so abruptly when she had earlier refused his invitation.
Su Xieyi explained her work wasn't finished, as the documents needed immediate signing to be sent out the next day. As Li Zeliang signed the papers, Su Xieyi feigned a sudden stomachache to use his restroom. Her true intention was to find a contract her father had left behind, which she believed might be in Li Zeliang's study, and she needed an excuse to stay longer.
After using the restroom, Su Xieyi started to leave, but Li Zeliang, sensing she wanted to stay, offered her an opportunity. Citing his uncle's complaint about the mess, he suggested she help clean his house, doubting her ability to do so. Su Xieyi, however, enthusiastically declared herself a "gold-medal house manager" and began cleaning the kitchen.
Su Xieyi offered to clean the guest room and study next, but Li Zeliang deliberately directed her to the bedroom first, tasking her with changing the bedsheets, mopping the floor, and cleaning the windows. After she completed these chores, he sent her to clean the living room. While cleaning, she accidentally broke a decorative accessory and cut her hand on the shards. The moment reminded them both of a similar incident on the mountain where he had been more caring.
This time, Li Zeliang simply tossed her a bandage and told her to go home. Determined to get into the study, Su Xieyi insisted she was fine and would not leave until she had cleaned every room. Seeing her resolve, Li Zeliang finally allowed her to proceed to the study. In the study, as Su Xieyi tidied the bookshelves, she discovered a photo of herself and Li Zeliang from their time on the mountain.
Li Zeliang entered and confronted her, revealing that he knew she was faking amnesia. He pointed out that a truly amnesiac person would have questioned why their photo was there, not simply put it away. He accused her of orchestrating their encounter at the bar, the exposure of his former secretary, and getting hired as his assistant, all as part of an elaborate performance.
Pained, Su Xieyi challenged his right to doubt her, explaining that for years, people had falsely claimed to know her with malicious intent. She had learned to remain silent because, in others' eyes, an amnesiac is no different from a liar, and showing her vulnerability only invited mockery, not sympathy. She insisted that he, having never lost his memory, could not understand the torment of feeling like a lone ship abandoned by the world.
Apologizing for the disturbance, she declared that she would only treat him as her superior from then on. Feeling a pang of guilt, Li Zeliang remarked that her visit was reckless. Meanwhile, Huo Jian tasked his assistant with investigating Su Xieyi's background. He expressed his suspicion, noting that his nephew never allowed anyone into his home, yet Su Xieyi, a new hire, had gained access. He felt their relationship was unusual and wanted it thoroughly investigated.
His assistant assured him it would be done quickly. Huo Jian then mentioned his assistant's upcoming birthday, revealing he had prepared a surprise for her. Later, Li Zeliang was drinking alone when his friend, Hou Xiaodong, joined him. Li Zeliang recounted how the girl he met two years prior on a rock-climbing trip—the one he considered his soulmate—had reappeared as his assistant but claimed to have amnesia while actively trying to get close to him.
Hou Xiaodong analyzed their past encounters, confirming they had experienced love at first sight, a sense of having met too late, a meeting of minds, and even physical intimacy. He was astonished, having thought they had only met once. He then cautiously brought up Shi Chuchu's imminent return, but Li Zeliang dismissed any connection, stating Shi Chuchu had explicitly told him she didn't like him. Li Zeliang’s main concern remained whether Su Xieyi was truly amnesiac.
Hou Xiaodong theorized that she might still love him and was using amnesia as a unique strategy to recapture his attention. In a vivid flashback, Li Zeliang recalled his time with Su Xieyi on the mountain. She explained she was secretly taking photos of the sunrise as a birthday gift for her busy father. This made Li Zeliang recall with sadness that he had never prepared a special gift for his own father.
Su Xieyi comforted him, musing that life is short and that departed loved ones become stars to light our way. She suggested they write their names on a leaf and hide it in a tree hollow so the tree would remember them forever. After they did so, Li Zeliang took a photo of them together. Referencing her wish to make time stand still, he leaned in and kissed her.
Separately, Xie Minghao called Su Xieyi, noticing the weariness in her voice and urging her to prioritize her safety. Su Xieyi expressed concern that her sister, Xie Qing, would be a lifelong burden to him. Xie Minghao firmly stated that despite only being engaged, he had promised to never abandon Xie Qing. He offered to buy mung bean cakes for Xie Qing and invited Su Xieyi to join, but she declined, asking him to pass on her love.
Xie Minghao then visited Xie Qing at the psychiatric rehabilitation center, where nurses were struggling to calm her during an episode. He gently coaxed her into taking her medication by offering her the mung bean cakes. As she calmed down, he reminisced about their happy times together in Germany and reassured her he would protect Su Xieyi. Dr. Zhu praised his dedication, noting it surpassed that of many husbands, let alone a fiancé.
Xie Minghao humbly replied that it was his duty, as they were family. As he spoke, he looked at a group photo of the three of them, his gaze lingering on Su Xieyi.
