Love's Ambition Episode 19 Recap
> Love's Ambition Recap
Yao expressed concerns about the substantial investments made in clothing materials and filming equipment for their venture, noting the lack of positive feedback from their online videos. She felt guilty about the financial strain on the team, but Qiao Lin encouraged her to focus on her styling role, assuring her that they would handle the other challenges.
Xu Yan, however, continued to feel uneasy and secretly sought out investors on her own, attending various meetings and events, prioritizing securing funding over her own comfort. Shen Haoming, witnessing Xu Yan intoxicated and staggering alone, felt worried. Qiao Lin, observing Shen Haoming following her sister, confronted him.
She reminded him of his past indifference when Xu Yan truly wanted to reconcile, accusing him of being insincere and "cheap" in his current display of concern, especially now that Xu Yan had moved on and was working hard to secure investments through various engagements. After a disappointing meeting where an investor, Mr. Zhang, rejected her proposal due to insufficient video engagement, Xu Yan encountered Jiang Liang. He introduced himself as Mr. Liang and suggested she call him that.
He surprised her by directly referencing her separation from Shen Haoming, demonstrating an unexpected familiarity with her personal life. He then critically analyzed her short video and clothing project, citing detailed market statistics and concluding that the fashion-related short video market was oversaturated. Jiang Liang critiqued her designs, calling them "superficial" and "lacking soul," but also advised her to tailor her proposals to the specific investment philosophies of different firms.
Although he declined to invest from an investor's standpoint, he offered to introduce her to a talented photographer for free as a friend. Later, during a work session where Xu Yan was intensely focused on her designs despite the cold, Jiang Liang offered her his jacket, remarking on her captivating demeanor. Xu Yan casually dodged his gesture, stating her sole focus was on design. Jiang Liang found her unique and compelling.
He later explicitly told Xu Yan that Shen Haoming was shallow and heartless, and that she was better off without him. He then generously offered his help, asking her not to refuse, and she accepted, and they exchanged contact information via WeChat. Meanwhile, Shen Haoming returned to headquarters, having successfully revitalized the difficult Cheng'an County project.
His next critical objective was to secure a partnership with the influential Russian real estate tycoon, Mr. Baraikin, who was vacationing in Jingzhou with his Chinese wife at Yanbo Resort. Mr. Baraikin was known for valuing family harmony and insisted on avoiding business discussions during his vacation. Shen Haoming contemplated calling Xu Yan for help but hesitated and did not dial. Shen Haoming eventually contacted Xu Yan by phone, asking for her assistance with the Baraikin deal.
Qiao Lin, overhearing the call, immediately advised Xu Yan not to agree. Xu Yan, however, met with Shen Haoming. She directly challenged his condescending attitude, pointing out that he was the one in need of her help, not the other way around. Shen Haoming, taking her words to heart, quickly changed his posture and presented the details of the Baraikin deal, emphasizing the tycoon's strong family values and the necessity for them to appear as a devoted couple.
He asked her to name her price. Knowing his potential earnings from the deal were in the billions, Xu Yan requested a fee of one million yuan. Shen Haoming, shocked by the amount, attempted to counter-offer with a ten-million-yuan investment in her company. Xu Yan firmly refused, insisting that she wanted a fee for her services, not an investment or a partnership, and reiterated her demand for one million yuan.
Shen Haoming reluctantly agreed, reminding her of the absolute need to portray an exceptionally loving relationship to the Baraikins. To capture the Baraikins' attention, Shen Haoming and Xu Yan devised several elaborate plans. First, they staged a theatrical "Plan A" at check-in, pretending to have forgotten their IDs, causing a scene that drew the Baraikins' notice. Next, with "Plan B," they feigned being a couple reminiscent of "Edward and Bella" from the movie "Twilight", a favorite of Mrs. Baraikin.
Finally, under "Plan C," Shen Haoming ordered a lavish romantic package, including a cake and champagne, to be delivered to the Baraikins' room by mistake. When Xu Yan and Shen Haoming "discovered" the error, they went to the Baraikins' room. Mrs. Baraikin, charmed by the surprise, accepted the package as a gift from her husband. Xu Yan, playing her role, smoothly flattered the Baraikins, calling them a role model for young couples.
Impressed, Mr. Baraikin invited them to join him and his wife for drinks at the hotel's evening lawn show. Later, back in their shared hotel suite, Xu Yan and Shen Haoming briefly discussed their sleeping arrangements, with Xu Yan taking the bed and Shen Haoming opting for the sofa. At the lawn party, Xu Yan and Shen Haoming formally introduced themselves to the Baraikin couple, and Mrs. Baraikin immediately admired Xu Yan's horse-face skirt.
While they watched the stage games, the tension between them escalated into a heated argument. Xu Yan confronted Shen Haoming about his condescending attitude and his past belittlement of her. She asserted her newfound independence, stating that many investors were interested in her project, and accused him of using her now that they were divorcing. Shen Haoming tried to defend himself, claiming he had truly loved her, but Xu Yan retorted that it was too late for reconciliation.
Following their argument, the Baraikins invited them onstage to participate in the "Couples in Sync" game. Despite her annoyance, Xu Yan agreed to play the part. In the first round, which involved turning their heads in the same direction with a water-splashing penalty for mistakes, Xu Yan used the game as an outlet for her resentment, deliberately splashing Shen Haoming multiple times, even when their movements matched.
The game then transitioned to a "You Act, I Guess" round, where Shen Haoming struggled to guess the words Xu Yan was miming. For the final word, however, Xu Yan simply pointed to her wrist, recalling a past shared moment. Without hesitation, Shen Haoming correctly guessed "Band-Aid," demonstrating an unexpected moment of shared history and understanding between them.
