Love Me Like I Do Episode 12 Recap
> Love Me Like I Do Recap
After Liu Xilai's awkward confession following his blind date, Tian Tian told him she needed time to consider their relationship. The Qiansheng Group announced a precious opportunity: a three-month designer toy master training course hosted by Toy Buring, a top designer toy company in the UK. This company annually selects six renowned designer toy masters worldwide as instructors. The Director, Zheng Qian, informed the design department that the company would internally select one excellent designer to represent them.
The selection criteria included being under 30 years old, having experience in independent designer toy planning, and providing a design draft for internal review. The competition for this spot would last three days, during which designers could gather inspiration but had to complete their creative ideas independently. Tian Tian was determined to compete for this rare chance. Meanwhile, Liu Xilai was furious with Assistant Tang, threatening to send him to Africa because his "Big Data 3.
0" advice had only pushed Tian Tian further away, even leading her to call Liu Xilai a "weirdo." Assistant Tang insisted that Tian Tian's reaction to Liu Xilai's blind date showed she was jealous. He urged Liu Xilai to resolve the misunderstanding quickly, invoking the "golden twenty-four hours principle of crisis communications." Annoyed, Liu Xilai reluctantly tasked Assistant Tang with finding Tian Tian's current whereabouts. Liu Xilai found Tian Tian on a field trip, taking photos to gather design inspiration.
He approached her, holding out a cotton candy, saying they might be "connected" by heart. Tian Tian, focused on work, initially dismissed him, suggesting he find Assistant Tang if he was bored. Liu Xilai clarified that he had kept Assistant Tang busy so he could accompany her. He offered her the cotton candy, thinking she wanted it because she was photographing it.
Tian Tian revealed she was actually photographing the "mythical beast behind the cotton candy stall," making Liu Xilai realize he had misunderstood her again. Despite this, Tian Tian tasted the cotton candy and admitted it was sweet, though she still feigned annoyance. Liu Xilai then tried to apologize with some cheesy jokes, before sincerely admitting his feelings for her were real, and his previous "strategy was wrong" due to "inexperience."
Tian Tian, still focused on work, said she didn't want to discuss it now. Liu Xilai, seizing the opportunity, offered to take her for a meal. Later, Liu Xizhao stopped drawing with Wen Xian, stating his allocated hour was up. Feeling hungry, Wen Xian suggested they invite Liu Xilai to lunch. Liu Xizhao was skeptical, thinking his busy brother wouldn't come, but Wen Xian confidently declared Liu Xilai had a "brother complex" for him and would never refuse his requests.
Liu Xizhao called Liu Xilai, who surprisingly agreed. Wen Xian was pleased, but her mood soured upon seeing Tian Tian accompanying Liu Xilai to lunch. At the restaurant, Wen Xian subtly tried to provoke Tian Tian, commenting on her "matsutake with eggplant" dish and using it as a metaphor to imply that people from different worlds, like Tian Tian and Liu Xilai, wouldn't fit together and would appear "out of place."
Tian Tian calmly retorted that whether a pairing fit was not up to Wen Xian, but up to the "eggplant and matsutake." Liu Xilai immediately showed his support for Tian Tian by tasting her dish and declaring it "delicious," "unique," and "good together." Wen Xian then remarked that different people simply have different tastes. Changing the subject, Liu Xizhao reminded Wen Xian that her birthday was approaching and offered to treat her.
Wen Xian, however, turned to Liu Xilai, reminding him that he usually mailed her gifts, but this year she wanted him to present it to her in person, to which Liu Xilai readily agreed. Later, as Liu Xilai drove Tian Tian home, he pressed her about her feelings for him, asking if she believed he was sincere.
Tian Tian confirmed her belief but expressed concern that their "thinking system and behavior are parallel," making it "hard for us to cross paths." Liu Xilai understood this to mean they weren't "on the same page," but optimistically noted it was a significant improvement from when she previously said they were "across a food chain," suggesting their distance was closing. Tian Tian, still a little overwhelmed, asked for time to think.
Liu Xilai then, with a hopeful tone, asked if this meant their relationship was entering a "probationary" period. Tian Tian nodded, seemingly agreeing. Liu Xilai enthusiastically promised to interact with her in a new way, to be "on the same page" with her, and reminded her that she had agreed to go gift shopping with him for Wen Xian's birthday the next day.
After dropping her off, Liu Xilai sent Tian Tian a playful text, reminding her not to stick her head out the window and to rest early, which Tian Tian found endearing, thinking this "stupid boss" had a cute side.
The next morning, Assistant Tang advised Liu Xilai to adopt a more "meticulous and considerate" persona, like a "boy next door," to shower Tian Tian with "spring-like warmth" during his "probationary boyfriend" phase, suggesting even a "domineering boss" must "come down from his pedestal" to find love. Liu Xilai enthusiastically tried this new approach, opening the car door for Tian Tian and offering her freshly squeezed soy milk.
However, Tian Tian found it "uncomfortable all over" and "very awkward," telling him to "just be yourself," as forced alignment was meaningless. Liu Xilai quickly agreed that the "boy next door" image didn't suit him. Tian Tian then accompanied Liu Xilai to buy Wen Xian's birthday gift. Their tastes immediately clashed.
Liu Xilai first picked a large golden floral piece, thinking it was what girls liked, but Tian Tian corrected him, emphasizing that gifts should be chosen based on the recipient's preference. She then suggested an elegant diamond jewelry set, calling it suitable for Wen Xian's "Snow Queen" style. Liu Xilai dismissed the small diamonds as "ordinary," insisting on something "valuable and beautiful." He then picked out a magnificent "imperial jade" piece, which Tian Tian labeled as having "straight man taste."
While they were debating, Liu Xizhao entered the store and was overheard discussing a unique "Little Prince" themed snowflake design for a necklace. Liu Xilai, overhearing Liu Xizhao's idea, immediately got inspired. At Wen Xian's birthday party, Liu Xizhao presented his thoughtful, "exclusive custom-made" snowflake necklace, proclaiming it was for the "one and only" Wen Xian. To everyone's surprise, Liu Xilai then presented an almost identical box.
He revealed his gift was "one of a pair," with subtle differences, containing letters representing himself, Liu Xizhao, and Wen Xian, symbolizing their "Golden Trinity" friendship. A furious Liu Xizhao questioned how Liu Xilai knew his design. Liu Xilai smugly admitted to using "clever tricks," having secretly inquired with the store staff about Liu Xizhao's purchase. As Wen Xian prepared to make a wish, Liu Xilai prompted her to share it, promising to grant it if he could.
Wen Xian then wished to be his girlfriend. Liu Xilai, feigning shock, gently rejected her, stating he had always viewed her as a sister. Wen Xian quickly claimed it was a joke to test his acting skills, though Liu Xilai warned her against such jokes. Wen Xian suggested they "get drunk," and Liu Xizhao, visibly upset but composed, offered to drink with her. Liu Xilai, citing urgent company matters, left, entrusting Wen Xian to Liu Xizhao's care.
After Liu Xilai departed, Liu Xizhao watched a visibly drunk Wen Xian, silently lamenting that despite all his years of dedicated companionship and care, her eyes were only for Liu Xilai, questioning if her affection was true love or mere childhood admiration. Back at the company, Liu Xilai noticed Tian Tian still working late. Remembering she disliked being disturbed while focused, he discreetly returned to his office.
He ordered a midnight snack for her, sending a text that read, "Dear Ah Tian, your midnight snack has arrived. You will be more energetic after some food." Tian Tian, receiving the thoughtful gesture, felt a surge of inspiration and thanked him. Liu Xilai promptly replied, "Your probationary boyfriend is on call. Welcome to place your order." Tian Tian felt a warm connection, realizing that being "on the same page" wasn't as difficult as she thought.
The next day, the company intranet announced the results of the master training course competition. Tian Tian was selected to represent the company for the three-month training. Assistant Tang expressed concern to Liu Xilai about Tian Tian's impending absence so early in their "probationary boyfriend" phase.
Liu Xilai, however, confidently stated that he had promised Tian Tian to be "on the same page" with her, and that "no matter how far the distance is, it won't be wider than my wavelength," implying their hearts would always be connected. He reflected on how he had learned to let go of his need for control and instead accompany Tian Tian in a way that made her comfortable, concluding that "liking is indulgence, love is restraint." He then texted Tian Tian, inviting her to dinner that night to celebrate her success.
