Love's Ambition Episode 1 Recap
> Love's Ambition Recap
Xu Yan had always meticulously crafted the narrative of her life, dreaming of a happy, prosperous family with a powerful background. To ensure she made a good impression on Shen Haoming's parents, she hired strangers to impersonate her parents, providing them with a detailed script to memorize and ensuring they wouldn't reveal the truth. She believed her plan was flawless and would easily get her through the meeting.
Xu Yan's inner thoughts revealed this wasn't her first time fabricating her identity; she had changed her name from Qiao Yan to Xu Yan at eighteen to take her grandmother's surname, determined to give her a better life. At the meeting, her fake parents smoothly introduced "Xu Yan," explaining her name meant "promise of gold" and "beauty inside and out," reflecting their expectations for her.
Shen Haoming thanked them for entrusting Xu Yan to him, calling himself lucky to marry her. The fake father then complimented Shen Haoming's impressive career and role in Jinda Group. Yu Lan, Shen Haoming's mother, remained calm, sipping tea while listening. She mentioned visiting Syracuse University’s architecture program, where Xu Yan’s fake parents supposedly taught, and subtly probed their knowledge of future trends. The fake parents, in turn, praised Jinda Group's leading position in the industry.
When Yu Lan asked about their current research, the fake parents stumbled over the term "Eviro" (Environmental Building), requiring Xu Yan to prompt them. She had given them detailed materials to memorize and even offered the fake mother perfume, cautioning against the cheap, alcohol-smelling variety. After they confidently recited their "specialty," Shen Haoming's father praised them, remarking that only such high-intellect parents could raise an excellent daughter like Xu Yan.
Yu Lan then described her campus visit, including the bad dorm food and a Chinese restaurant on Marshall Street famous for its Peking duck, asking if they had eaten there. The fake parents, recalling Xu Yan's strict coaching about campus specifics—like the Ernest Bird Library, the two diners, and the "only" Chinese restaurant (P. F. Chang's) which served Sichuan cuisine—deftly corrected her, noting that the restaurant served Mapo Tofu, not Peking duck.
Yu Lan then pressed further, saying she couldn't find their names on Baidu or recall meeting them among Chinese-American professors. Xu Yan explained that her father, as a researcher at a campus institute rather than a professor, wouldn't be listed on Baidu. The fake father, playing his role, asserted that researchers, though less visible than industrialists, possessed their own value beyond fame and fortune. Shen Haoming's father agreed, calling them "true intellectual nobility." Yu Lan apologized for being forward.
The fake father then presented his "recently published work" as a gift, but Yu Lan noticed one book lacked a signature and asked him to sign it, observing his consistent handwriting. He signed it, and Yu Lan complimented his "cultural refinement" once more before they moved to dinner. At dinner, Yu Lan noticed Xu Yan didn't eat eggs, a detail unknown to her "parents."
This solidified Yu Lan's suspicions, and she directly asked Xu Yan if the two were her biological parents, noting the lack of familiarity between them. She pointedly questioned how a mother could be unaware of her daughter's dietary preferences. Later, while walking, Yu Lan bluntly told Xu Yan, "What's true can't be faked. What's fake can't be real," demanding the truth. Xu Yan, after a moment, confessed that she had lied.
She revealed she grew up with her grandmother because her parents, pursuing their careers, had left her behind to work overseas, making her feel unloved and unseen. She admitted she only contacted them for the wedding, for Shen Haoming's sake, as she wanted to make a good impression and appear to come from a loving family.
Yu Lan listened and empathized, sharing that Shen Haoming also studied abroad alone from childhood, and she often felt she owed him for their limited time together. Back at work, Xu Yan's colleague, Huanhuan, informed her that her application to become a host for "Family Feast" was rejected again due to Sun Siwei's interference. Xu Yan remained determined, believing it was just the beginning.
Sun Siwei publicly chastised Xu Yan, criticizing her scripts as "convoluted" and her guest choices as "worse and worse." She mockingly accused Xu Yan of "clinging to a rich second generation" and warned her to "know her place," threatening to have her fired.
Despite the pressure, Shen Haoming, who had "informants" in Xu Yan's workplace, offered his help by arranging a meeting with Mr. Sanmu, a founder of a famous art museum whom Xu Yan had been trying to contact for an interview. When Xu Yan asked for his parents' opinion of her "parents," Shen Haoming simply said he was "perfectly happy" regardless of what they thought, reaffirming his love for her, which she deeply felt for the first time.
Meanwhile, Xu Yan continued struggling to secure an interview with the owner of a trendy plant store. The owner was known for being secretive and rejecting all requests. Xu Yan decided to go to the store disguised as a job applicant named Amy. To her surprise, the owner was Shen Haoming. He had recognized her and knew her intentions, remarking on her "superb acting" and detailed research on agave cultivation.
He then revealed that her assistant, Huanhuan, had posted their photo on Weibo, exposing her facade. Despite rejecting the interview, Shen Haoming was impressed by her profound philosophy on agave cultivation—her desire to shape the plants according to her will, controlling every aspect to maximize their value. Before she left, Xu Yan presented him with pruning shears crafted by renowned botanist Mr. Yiding, which she had learned about from a staff member at the store.
In return, Shen Haoming gave her a jar of osmanthus jam, revealing he had read her online article about her grandmother making the jam. He told her her writing was full of emotion, deeply moved him, and that he didn't believe someone with such a story could possess a lonely heart. Xu Yan realized her every move had been under his watchful eye, and he had tacitly allowed her efforts.
The next day, Xu Yan's colleague, Huanhuan, expressed concern about her pale complexion, urging her to go home. However, Sun Siwei confronted Xu Yan again about the unconfirmed interview with the plant store owner, demanding an explanation. Xu Yan tried to explain she would expedite it, but Sun Siwei, interpreting her illness as an excuse, coldly told her to collect her salary and leave, warning her that any repercussions from the director would not be her responsibility.
Just as Xu Yan felt cornered, Shen Haoming sent her a text message, stating he was available for an interview that day at Jinda Group. Arriving at the formidable Jinda Group, Xu Yan was surprised to learn from Cathy at the front desk that "Mr. Shen" was Shen Haoming, the group's vice president and Chairman Shen's eldest son.
She was escorted to a waiting area, where she saw Shen Haoming deeply engaged in a meeting, his focused expression striking her as unique. He glanced up, making eye contact, acknowledging her presence.
