Lie to Love Episode 5 Recap
> Lie to Love Recap
Li Zeliang arrived at Su Xieyi's home, explaining his visit was primarily to apologize for doubting her. He revealed that he had recognized her from the very first day they met, but kept the truth from her due to her amnesia, fearing the revelation would be too sudden. Now, however, he was certain she was the same girl he had met before. Su Xieyi, having considered the matter, decided not to pursue the past, stating that life must move forward.
Given his initial resistance, she assumed any past connection must have been unpleasant and expressed her intention to let things go. Li Zeliang suggested that even if she didn't want to recall the past, they could have a fresh start as friends. When he sat closer, Su Xieyi playfully questioned his proximity. She then explained that her home and its furnishings were left by her father, and she cherished them too much to change anything.
Li Zeliang offered to help her recover her memories through medical friends, but she reiterated that it was an accident she preferred not to remember. He also asked if she recalled him giving her a business card with his contact information two years ago, which she denied. After he confronted her for lying, she offered him coffee.
While there, Li Zeliang noticed a scrap of an old newspaper on the floor with a headline about "Chairman Shen Zhi Hong committing suicide due to corporate fraud." After finishing his coffee, he remarked on the clarity it brought and reminded her to take good care of the limited-edition coat he had given her, suggesting she wear it the next day.
Once he left, a wary Su Xieyi suspected he had ulterior motives, even wondering if he had bugged her house. Later, based on the newspaper clipping, Li Zeliang instructed Ji Yingsong to investigate Xie Minghao, discovering he was Zhiwei's former commercial lawyer. He expressed concern that Xie Minghao's connection with Su Xieyi might interfere with their plans. Li Zeliang visited Uncle Bai, presenting him with a watch that belonged to his late father.
He asked Uncle Bai if he had arranged the business dealings between his father and the Zhiwei Group years ago and inquired if he recalled anyone named Su connected to the company. Uncle Bai eventually remembered that Shen Zhi Hong's late wife's surname was Su. He shared that she had passed away from an illness over a decade ago, leaving behind a daughter who was taken abroad at a young age.
When Li Zeliang asked if the daughter's name was Su Xieyi, Uncle Bai confirmed it. At that moment, Li Zeliang realized Su Xieyi's true purpose for joining Ocean Group was to investigate her father's death. The next morning at Ocean, a colleague teased Su Xieyi about her new coat, guessing it was a gift from Li Zeliang's driver, Ji Yingsong. Their chat was interrupted by Shi Chuchu, who called a meeting.
During the meeting, Shi Chuchu criticized the bidding plan for the Fujiade Auction for failing to highlight the advantages of Yunfeng Hotel, Ocean's new signature property, and ordered a complete redo within one day. She also questioned the declining minibar sales. Su Xieyi explained that while sales volume was stable, the low value of individual purchases was the issue.
Shi Chuchu instructed the team to push expensive champagne and red wine and assigned Su Xieyi to conduct market research on salty snacks to encourage alcohol sales. Later, during lunch with her colleague Gong Mingyue, Su Xieyi learned that Chen Hengsheng, the General Manager of Yunfeng Hotel, was a "legend" who rose from being Li Zeliang's assistant.
Upon hearing Chen Hengsheng was also invited to Hengye Bank's upcoming cocktail party, Su Xieyi quickly excused herself, claiming she had an urgent email to send. Ji Yingsong reported to Li Zeliang that Su Xieyi had booked a double room at the hotel and that multiple men had been seen entering and leaving. Rushing to her room, Li Zeliang found her surrounded by numerous deliveries.
He questioned her decision to stay at the hotel instead of going home, reminding her of the need to maintain a professional image. Su Xieyi clarified the "men" were delivery personnel for her market research and asked how he knew her location, suspecting he was investigating her again. Understanding her tragic past as an orphan, a softened Li Zeliang offered to get her a better room.
Noticing she was only eating snacks for her assignment, he offered to order a proper meal. Su Xieyi then subtly mentioned his close relationship with Shi Chuchu, noting that everyone saw them as a "match made in heaven." Li Zeliang immediately clarified that there was nothing serious between them. During their conversation, Su Xieyi spotted an invitation to the Hengye Bank cocktail party in Li Zeliang's pocket. Intending to steal it, she suggested they drink together to relieve work stress.
However, Li Zeliang, seeing through her plan, drank her portion of alcohol himself. He then directly asked if she had any wishes he could fulfill and offered her the invitation. Feigning disinterest, Su Xieyi declined. Before leaving, Li Zeliang told her she could charge any future drinks to his room account and that he would keep the hotel room available for her whenever she worked overtime, leaving her unsettled by his unexpected kindness.
At a subsequent meeting, Shi Chuchu commended Su Xieyi for her thorough snack research report but then abruptly fired her, offering double compensation and a recommendation letter. When Su Xieyi asked if Li Zeliang was the reason, Huo Jian entered and interrupted. Expressing admiration for Su Xieyi's skills, Huo Jian overruled the dismissal and transferred her to his department as an assistant for Yi Fei. Shi Chuchu reluctantly agreed.
Huo Jian then mentioned he had received his invitation to the Hengye Bank party and thanked Shi Chuchu's father. Later, Shi Chuchu informed someone that her attempt to fire Su Xieyi had failed due to Huo Jian's intervention.
In a separate meeting, Li Zeliang met with Shi Chuchu and, as a "first and last" personal request, asked her to fire Su Xieyi, stating he did not want her at Ocean Group and threatening to stop coming to the office if she stayed. Meanwhile, Yi Fei discussed the confusing situation with Huo Jian. She theorized that Li Zeliang had initially placed Su Xieyi to use her and the Zhiwei Group against him.
Huo Jian, recalling how Su Xieyi had secretly entered the archives, agreed something was amiss and decided to keep her close to observe her and uncover Li Zeliang's true strategy. Su Xieyi met with Xie Minghao, explaining that Huo Jian had saved her job. She saw this as an opportunity to gain his trust and further her investigation. She then asked Xie Minghao to help her get into the Hengye Bank cocktail party, as his law firm was a partner.
Her goal was to find Chen Hengsheng, who, as the former Food and Beverage manager, had signed a key contract two years ago and might hold vital information about her father's death. Though Xie Minghao urged her to let go of her quest for revenge, Su Xieyi insisted, promising to stop her investigation after confronting Chen Hengsheng. He agreed to help, making her promise not to act impulsively.
Meanwhile, Ji Yingsong suggested to Li Zeliang that he should tell Su Xieyi the truth now that her identity was confirmed. Li Zeliang refused, fearing she would confront Huo Jian directly, endangering herself and alerting their adversary. He recounted the suspicious details of his father's death: the hospital's surveillance was broken, and a verbal agreement of a one-percent share for Huo Jian had mysteriously become ten percent in the final contract.
Lacking concrete evidence, Li Zeliang explained he couldn't risk provoking Huo Jian. He believed Huo Jian was keeping Su Xieyi close to investigate her connection to him, but concluded that Su Xieyi was still dangerously unaware of the formidable enemy she was truly facing.
