Love is Sweet Episode 22 Recap
> Love is Sweet Recap
The company was abuzz with news of Qiao Na’s significant error in the Yuanyang Group’s financing plan, which had resulted in client losses and put her job at risk. Employees openly speculated that her dismissal was inevitable. However, Yuan Shuai stepped in, preventing her termination and pledging to deliver an entirely new financing plan within 24 hours. Colleagues whispered that if he failed, he would be sacked alongside Qiao Na.
Jiang Jun overheard this, her brow furrowed in worry as she watched Yuan Shuai walk away with a determined stride. Just as he closed the blinds to his office, Yuan Shuai subtly glanced back at her. Xiaochuan offered a cake to Xu Li, mentioning it was a "buy one, get one free" deal, which Xu Li found less appealing. Xiaochuan then approached Du Lei to discuss a perceived "fund problem" with Western World.
Du Lei quickly identified that it wasn't a genuine issue but rather Xiaochuan's misclassification of fund expenditure ratios, a common metric for startups. Xu Li, present during the conversation, proposed that the three of them meet for dinner that evening to discuss it further, and Du Lei agreed. That evening, Jiang Jun was alone with Wealth, the dog.
She diligently completed all the household chores, assuring Wealth that its father, Yuan Shuai, was very busy and they needed to be understanding. Despite her efforts, Yuan Shuai did not return home. Instead, she received a voice message from him telling her not to wait up and to get her beauty sleep, ending with an "I love you" and "good night."
Jiang Jun, though outwardly claiming not to be jealous that Yuan Shuai was spending the night with a "beautiful girl," couldn't help but clutch Wealth tightly, her brow furrowed in evident frustration. Yuan Shuai and Qiao Na spent the entire night developing the new proposal. Qiao Na expressed deep gratitude for his help, admitting he wasn't obligated to assist her. Yuan Shuai, in turn, explained that as her superior, he bore responsibility for her errors, and he valued her capabilities.
He considered her a "comrade-in-arms" and a trusted "right-hand," just like Su Chang, emphasizing their long-standing work partnership. Qiao Na thanked him for his candor. She then showed him photos on her phone of him and Jiang Jun, cautioning him to be mindful of their relationship's impact within the workplace. She promised to delete the photos, effectively settling their mutual debts. Yuan Shuai responded that he would take full responsibility for his decisions, and they reaffirmed their bond as "comrades-in-arms."
Jiang Jun arrived at the office with breakfast but, upon seeing Yuan Shuai and Qiao Na working together, she tightly clutched the breakfast bag and gave it to a colleague named Xiang Ding before retreating to her desk, clearly upset. Shortly after, she received a call from Secretary Xia, the board secretary of Xinshuo Technology, who expressed interest in an initial public offering (IPO) and wished to meet with her.
Jiang Jun agreed to the meeting, requested the address, and quickly informed Xiang Ding that she was leaving to see a client, asking him to relay the message to Yuan Shuai if needed. Yuan Shuai and Qiao Na presented the new, thoroughly revised proposal to the clients from Yuanyang Group. The clients were highly impressed by MH's professionalism in developing such an improved plan within 24 hours.
Yuan Shuai emphasized that it was their duty to rectify the error and expressed gratitude for Yuanyang Group's renewed trust. To further demonstrate their commitment, Yuan Shuai offered to serve as a free technical consultant for Yuanyang Group for an entire year. Following the successful presentation, Qiao Na once again thanked Yuan Shuai and asked if he had time to speak with her, to which he agreed.
Du Lei received an anonymous call and an accompanying image showing Jiang Jun, well-dressed, lying unconscious on a bed. Deeply disturbed, he immediately called the number back. The mysterious caller claimed it was "just a test," assuring him that Jiang Jun was "very safe" and merely "sleeping quietly," before sending him a location. Du Lei, without hesitation, rushed to the specified hotel.
He ignored staff who tried to stop him from parking and, at the room door, brushed past an attendant asking for identification. He instructed them to contact their "Mr. Luo," informing him that Du Lei was responsible and would apologize later. He then forcefully kicked open the door, found the unconscious Jiang Jun, and carried her out, disregarding the bewildered staff. He then took her to the hospital. Back at the office, Yuan Shuai inquired about Jiang Jun's whereabouts.
Xiang Ding informed him that she had left earlier to meet a client. Yuan Shuai immediately tried to call her, but his calls went unanswered. At the hospital, Du Lei was present when a doctor explained that Jiang Jun had taken a dose of sleeping pills and had low blood sugar, though her condition was stable and she was expected to wake up soon.
When Xu Li and Xiaochuan arrived, Du Lei composed himself and reiterated that Jiang Jun had fainted due to low blood sugar and that he had brought her in. Relieved that they were there, he entrusted Jiang Jun to their care, specifically asking Xu Li to ensure she drank water upon waking. He then left the room to call his sister, Linda. Xiaochuan messaged Yuan Shuai, urging him to come to the hospital because Jiang Jun had an accident.
Meanwhile, Xu Li and Xiaochuan discussed how lucky Jiang Jun was to have two men protecting her and joked about Yuan Shuai being her "100% match" from Western World. True to prediction, Yuan Shuai rushed into the hospital, breathless and visibly worried. Xiaochuan explained that Jiang Jun had low blood sugar and that Du Lei had brought her in, which immediately caused Yuan Shuai's brow to furrow in suspicion at the mention of Du Lei's name.
Just then, Jiang Jun regained consciousness, asking where she was. Yuan Shuai quickly pulled her into a tight embrace, apologizing profusely for neglecting her due to work. Xu Li and Xiaochuan discreetly left the room. Jiang Jun, in turn, gently reassured Yuan Shuai, telling him not to blame himself as she was fine. Outside the hospital room, Xu Li mused about how "truly in love" couples boost their serotonin through physical intimacy like hugs or kisses.
She then turned to Xiaochuan and innocently asked if he had ever kissed a girlfriend. Xiaochuan, visibly flustered and blushing, quickly made an excuse about needing to "run code" and hastily departed, leaving Xu Li to find his shyness rather endearing. Yuan Shuai confronted the doctor about Jiang Jun's condition, learning that her fainting spell was not due to low blood sugar as Du Lei had stated.
Instead, her blood tests showed a significant dosage of sleeping pills in her system. This information, combined with Xiaochuan's earlier mention of Du Lei bringing Jiang Jun to the hospital, sparked a deeper concern in Yuan Shuai. Du Lei met Linda at a café and confronted her angrily, demanding to know why she had harmed Jiang Jun. Linda, however, merely provoked him further, stating she enjoyed seeing him upset.
She then launched into a tirade, accusing him of hypocrisy regarding "bottom lines," reminding him of his past actions: helping Wan Shan manipulate Jiang Jun and, most significantly, his involvement in the annexation of "Jiangnan Flavor" five years prior, which she claimed "forced her father to his death."
Linda then revealed that the very person Du Lei was now trying to help, Jiang Jun, was the daughter of the late Mr. Jiang, the owner of "Jiangnan Flavor," whose death Du Lei had indirectly caused. She taunted him, wondering if Jiang Jun would ever forgive him if she knew the truth.
A flashback to five years earlier showed a younger Du Lei expressing deep suspicion about the sudden "food safety accident" at "Jiangnan Flavor," particularly their popular "Yixianqian" rice noodle brand, which had an impeccable record until they resisted an acquisition. Linda, however, coldly dismissed his ethical concerns, asserting that "capital markets have always given priority to profit" and that investment banks were not "charities." She pressured him to finalize the acquisition, promising it would secure his promotion to Vice President.
Swayed by the prospect of career advancement, Du Lei expedited the acquisition. Jiang Yaoming, Jiang Jun's father and the legal representative of "Jiangnan Flavor," signed the acquisition contract, but only after securing a promise that none of his 112 employees would be dismissed and that his secret recipe would remain protected. This forced acquisition and the subsequent compromise of his brand's integrity led to Jiang Yaoming suffering a fatal heart attack.
Back in the present, Du Lei, now devastated by Linda's revelations, realized his past suspicions had been correct, but he had never imagined she was the mastermind. Linda persisted in her attack, claiming they were both individuals who would "do anything to get what we want" and that he had chosen his own future over ethics. Overwhelmed with self-loathing, Du Lei stared at Linda with contempt, lamenting how hateful his past self had been.
Seeking to release his pent-up frustration, Du Lei arrived at a Thai boxing gym, only to find Yuan Shuai already waiting for him. Yuan Shuai immediately confronted Du Lei, blaming him for Jiang Jun's recent incident. Du Lei, however, dismissed it as a mere coincidence and denied causing her any harm, vowing that he would "never hurt her."
He then confessed his love for Jiang Jun, acknowledging Yuan Shuai's feelings for her as well, and declared his intention to compete fairly for her. Yuan Shuai, dismissing Du Lei's intentions, curtly announced that he and Jiang Jun were "officially together" and warned him that from now on, only he had the right to protect her, making it clear that Du Lei's involvement was unwanted. Du Lei silently fumed, grinding his teeth as Yuan Shuai walked away.
At home, Yuan Shuai tasked Su Chang with investigating the true mastermind behind Jiang Jun's incident. Su Chang reported that the person who drugged Jiang Jun, an accountant named Xia, claimed it was a spontaneous act, but Yuan Shuai scoffed at the idea of carrying sleeping pills on a whim, insisting someone had orchestrated it and urging Su Chang to get the truth.
Meanwhile, Jiang Jun emerged from the shower, prompting Yuan Shuai to begin a doting, yet nagging, lecture about her health. Their tender moment was interrupted by a video call from Jiang Jun's mother. To conceal Yuan Shuai's presence, Jiang Jun quickly pushed him to the floor, pretending her dog, Wealth Yuan, had barked loudly. Her mother inquired about her New Year's plans, mentioning she was preparing Jiang Jun's favorite rice noodles.
Jiang Jun cut the call short with a fabricated excuse. Yuan Shuai then expressed his disappointment about not being introduced to her mother and his loneliness if she were to go home alone for the New Year. He fondly recalled her father's delicious rice noodles. Jiang Jun's demeanor saddened, and she tearfully revealed that her father had passed away five years prior from a sudden heart attack.
She explained that his popular rice noodle brand, "Yixianqian," had been acquired by C Group with MH's help, but C Group subsequently devalued her father's cherished work into cheap, "self-heating rice noodles," leading to his fatal illness. This tragedy, she confided, was why she entered the investment banking world: to understand if the capital market truly prioritized profit above all else.
Yuan Shuai, in response, shared his philosophy that while he too dealt with capital, he prioritized a long-term vision over short-term gains, believing that respecting and nurturing capital ultimately yields greater benefits. He then reiterated his desire to accompany her home for the New Year.
Jiang Jun agreed, but stipulated that he must first pass her mother's "test" before their relationship could be revealed, humorously reminding him that her mother's "number one enemy" was still the person who had stolen her speech manuscript—a clear jab at Yuan Shuai. Xu Li and Xiaochuan shared a meal of barbecue. Xiaochuan proposed a new feature for Western World: a virtual plant that couples could jointly cultivate.
Xu Li suggested using a "forget-me-not" for its symbolism of "eternal love," which Xiaochuan adopted. Their conversation then shifted to New Year's celebrations. Xiaochuan expressed cynicism, but Xu Li countered that holidays provided cherished opportunities for family reunions and personal enjoyment, stressing the importance of "a little ritual" in life. Xiaochuan confessed his aversion to returning home due to his numerous relatives trying to set him up. Xu Li playfully advised him to prioritize his career.
She, however, planned to go home, as her mother missed her dearly. Cao Heng was engrossed in a gambling game when Du Lei repeatedly called him. Annoyed, Cao Heng finally answered. Du Lei mentioned Linda's name, proposing a meeting. Cao Heng, wary of past entanglements with the Du siblings, hastily tried to distance himself, stating that previous events had "nothing to do with" him. He then made an excuse, claiming he was "out of town" and unavailable before abruptly hanging up. As the call ended, a chillingly cold expression settled on Du Lei's face.
