Love At Night Episode 5 Recap
> Love At Night Recap
Mo Lingze drove Xu Qingyou back to her company, where she intended to work overtime. He offered to accompany her upstairs, but she declined, coldly telling him they were quits and thanking him for the ride. She questioned if her thoughts mattered, suggesting he often made decisions for her. Watching her walk away, Mo Lingze was visibly pained and later went to a bar.
There, his friends noticed his preoccupation, teasing him about a "new girlfriend" named Xu Qingyou, calling him "fake" and saying he was "stuck on her." Mo reflected on how Xu Qingyou had repeatedly emphasized maintaining distance between them, wondering what she was worried about. He recalled shared moments, like playing guitar together, his emotions a complex mix as he eventually left the bar.
The next morning, Xu Qingyou learned of an impending company restructuring that would lead to three layoffs in her department. Concerned, she immediately sought out Mr. Zhai, protesting that it was unfair to dismiss any members given her department's strong performance, noting that 80% of their KPIs were met by her and Xia Meng alone. Xu Qingyou admitted responsibility for not fostering their growth faster and requested time to bring them up to speed.
Mr. Zhai informed her that Department One and Department Two would merge, and she was a strong candidate for General Manager. He advised her not to let loyalty hinder her career path. Even as Xu Qingyou considered sacrificing the General Manager position, Mo Lingze interjected, stating that the workplace had its own rules and was no place for emotional decisions.
He asserted that capital injection accelerated operations, making elimination a natural process, and questioned if Xu Qingyou intended to affect company efficiency with her compassion. Convinced that the optimization was Mo Lingze's doing, Xu Qingyou grew even angrier with him. Mr. Zhai then advised her to return to work and adjust her mindset.
Xu Qingyou then gathered her subordinates, including Dong Bao, reminding them of past struggles like handing out countless leaflets to attract customers and establishing chat groups, or working sleepless nights during the "advertorial incident" to fix the community and set up a robust background management mechanism for public praise. She urged them to reclaim their initial fighting spirit, which had helped them overcome previous hardships, and work diligently, promising that they would overcome this challenge too.
Her team responded with renewed resolve. Later, Fan Yunxi, learning of the potential layoffs, called Xu Qingyou. He suggested she seize the opportunity to resign, rest, and focus on their wedding preparations. However, Xu Qingyou firmly rejected the idea, asserting that she could not abandon her department when it was facing difficulties. After her refusal, Fan Yunxi contacted Fang Qi, instructing her to discreetly gather evidence regarding Lemi's potentially unfair layoffs.
He wanted to prepare a lawsuit against Lemi in Xu Qingyou's name but strictly forbade Fang Qi from informing Xu Qingyou, claiming she had enough to worry about already. Xu Qingyou, armed with comprehensive performance data, approached Mo Lingze, hoping to appeal to him. He initially dismissed her, claiming he had no time and wouldn't waste ten minutes of his life on her "favor." Xu Qingyou countered that it wasn't merely a favor but concerned the stability of her team.
She presented detailed profiles of her key staff, like Dapang, who was a careful observer with great market perception and had planned "Grandma's Dinner," and Dong Bao, who excelled at connecting with clients and had secured a notoriously difficult case. She highlighted their six years of dedication to Lemi, emphasizing their deep affection for the company. Mo Lingze, however, remained unmoved, stating that in his view, emotion was the biggest impediment to marketization.
He argued that restructuring led to greater efficiency and implied that if her team were truly excellent, she wouldn't need to stay up all night preparing a presentation to convince him to save them. As her allotted time ran out, he curtly declared she had failed to persuade him. Frustrated, Xu Qingyou directly asked if he was truly so callous and emotionless.
Mo Lingze responded by saying he had seen too many old entrepreneurs lose everything by indulging in favors, concluding that Xu Qingyou was too naive. Undeterred, Xu Qingyou sought out Mr. Zhai once more, finding him in the same location where he had interviewed her eight years prior. She proposed a bet, acknowledging that the personnel streamlining was Shangger's suggestion and ultimately for Lemi's benefit.
She candidly admitted that her department's individual operational capabilities were inferior to those of Department Two. However, she pledged that if given sufficient time, she would guarantee a 30% increase in performance from each of her employees. She sealed the deal by declaring that if she failed, she would resign. Mr. Zhai accepted her "pledge," granting her a three-month period to prove her department's capabilities. Xu Qingyou was satisfied, shaking his hand to confirm the agreement.
The next day, as Xu Qingyou arrived at work, her colleagues excitedly surrounded her, expressing their relief that their jobs were safe, crediting both her and Mo Lingze. They told her that Mo Lingze had also spoken to Mr. Zhai about the personnel restructuring, giving their department another chance to prove itself. They expressed surprise that despite his seemingly cold demeanor, Mo Lingze had shown humanity at such a crucial moment.
Feeling she had misjudged him and spoken too harshly, Xu Qingyou approached Mo Lingze. She attempted to thank him, but he brusquely told her, "You're welcome." She then offered to treat him to a thank you dinner. Mo Lingze initially declined, claiming he was a "callous workaholic" and saw no need for gratitude. Xu Qingyou sincerely apologized for her previous misunderstanding.
Mo Lingze retorted that she owed him a serious apology for judging him without knowing him, before finally agreeing to the dinner but insisting that he would choose the restaurant. Meanwhile, Xu Wei, teaching a painting class, found his male model uninspiring. To engage his students, he decided to pose as the model himself. Unexpectedly, Fang Qi, driving by, spotted him and decided to stop. She playfully walked into the classroom, greeting him as "Miss Goddess."
Xu Wei, startled and embarrassed, tried to shield himself with a drawing board, but Fang Qi laughed, unbothered by his shyness. She teasingly reminded him she had seen him in open-crotch pants as a child. Fang Qi revealed she was suddenly free and offered to pick him up, having driven by. As he changed, his students asked if Fang Qi was his girlfriend, which he dismissed.
Xu Wei later confided in a friend, who, despite being single, claimed extensive research in "young girls-oriented comic books." His friend advised Xu Wei that Fang Qi's actions – like cleaning his hands and asking him to order, signifying a lack of rejection of physical contact and a developing dependency – indicated she was interested in him, urging him to pursue her.
During their dinner, Mo Lingze questioned Xu Qingyou's sincerity, suggesting her gratitude wasn't genuine and that dining with him felt like a mere task. Xu Qingyou admitted she was carrying a mission, apologizing for her previous misunderstanding. Mo Lingze emphasized that true apologies required sincerity and advised her not to jump to conclusions, stating that things are often not as they appear. Xu Qingyou acknowledged that while he had initially humiliated her, he had then offered her help.
She inferred that his decision to give her department three months was a calculated move, allowing him to gain a firm foothold in Shangger if she succeeded, with no loss if she failed. Mo Lingze reminded her of her pledge, cautioning her not to become his biggest risk, to which she confidently agreed.
He then subtly probed why someone as smart as her would "buy in when facing losses" instead of cutting them, a question she dismissed as merely a personal choice unrelated to intelligence. During the meal, Mo Lingze also couldn't help but ask Xu Qingyou why she had suddenly reconciled with her boyfriend, to which she vaguely replied that she simply did as she pleased. Later, as Xu Qingyou drove Mo Lingze back, he feigned sleep in the passenger seat.
She found herself subconsciously gazing at him, lost in a flurry of memories from their past encounters. A blaring car horn jolted her back to reality. Without opening his eyes, Mo Lingze turned his head towards her, telling her to look closely. A deep blush spread across Xu Qingyou's face, and she quickly denied looking at him, claiming she was watching the cars behind them, even when he pointed out there were none.
The next day, a large delivery of hairy crabs arrived at Xu Qingyou’s company, sent by Fan Yunxi. He called her, explaining that hairy crabs were at their best and that she should share them with her colleagues to boost their spirits, especially during their busy work period. Later, a client, Mr. Han, praised Fan Yunxi for being such a thoughtful boyfriend despite his hectic schedule.
Fan Yunxi responded with chilling calculation, stating that maintaining a relationship was akin to managing a client, requiring specific methods. He conveyed absolute confidence in the ongoing acquisition of DDS, asserting that once he set his sights on something – be it a lawsuit or a person – he would never lose it. Later, Xu Qingyou, looking at the hairy crabs, thought of Mo Lingze.
Despite her initial hesitation to thank him too openly, she decided to bring some to him as a gesture of gratitude. However, Mo Lingze immediately refused to accept them, stating there was "no free lunch" and he "dared not accept her gift." This public rejection delighted Lin Siyu, who had just tried to lobby Mo Lingze for investment from Golden Capital and suggested they have French food together. She had even questioned if he was "afraid someone would be jealous."
After Mo Lingze rebuffed Lin Siyu's advances, stating he never mixed emotions with business and that her past employment with him made it against the rules, Lin Siyu turned to Xu Qingyou, mockingly asking if it was her "first time to be an apple-polisher." Xu Qingyou was left deeply embarrassed by the encounter. Later, discussing the DDS acquisition with Mr. Han, Fan Yunxi confirmed that Golden Capital had joined the acquisition.
They discussed the resulting 18% reduction in their shares but noted a corresponding decrease in risk, deeming it an optimal balance. Mr. Han then asked Fan Yunxi if he was familiar with Zhao Lei, identified as the deputy general manager of Investment Department in Golden Capital and a rival of Mo Lingze. Mr. Han hoped Fan Yunxi could bring Zhao Lei over to their side, hinting at greater power within the company.
Fan Yunxi suggested caution, asserting that those desperate to establish themselves inevitably reveal weaknesses, and advised observing whether Zhao Lei was a friend or foe first. As their business discussion concluded, Mr. Han offered early congratulations for Fan Yunxi’s upcoming marriage. Fan Yunxi stated they were still preparing. Mr. Han expressed a desire to meet the fiancée, remarking on Fan Yunxi’s decade-long relationship as a sign of persistence. Fan Yunxi, however, chillingly corrected him, calling "persistence" a childish notion.
He explained that after ten years, his fiancée had been "shaped" precisely to his desires, likening it to customizing a perfectly tailored garment. Mr. Han, intrigued, expressed anticipation to meet this "work." Later, Mo Lingze confronted Xu Qingyou about the hairy crabs. He asked if she was allergic or if she had been hurt by them, then directly accused her of having deliberately brought the crabs to him to embarrass him and show off her popularity.
Xu Qingyou denied it, stating he had misunderstood. She then asserted that regardless of any misunderstanding, her gratitude had already been expressed. Before she could walk away, Mo Lingze, unwilling to be left with the misunderstanding, pulled her into a nearby storage room.
