Love's Ambition Episode 4 Recap
> Love's Ambition Recap
Upon being asked if she was from Shanxi, Xu Yan confirmed she was, adding that her grandmother was from Yunlai Village in Dayun County. Meanwhile, Qiao Lin, at work, was harassed by a man claiming to be the procurement manager from Dayun County's largest fertilizer factory. When he touched her hand inappropriately, she reacted by hitting him, leading to her arrest. Her fiancé, Lin Tao, picked her up from the police station.
Back home, Lin Tao's parents, particularly his mother, immediately began chastising Qiao Lin for her actions. Lin Tao presented a detailed breakdown of their wedding expenses, emphasizing his parents' financial contribution and his bank's regulations on wedding sizes, as well as the need to maintain a respectable image for his career advancement as a future bank manager. His mother sarcastically questioned if Qiao Lin's frequent visits to the police station would affect his career.
Qiao Lin retorted, calling her sarcastic and stating the man had harassed her first. Lin Tao’s parents continued to emphasize the potential negative impact on his career, ultimately suggesting that agreeing to their marriage might have been a mistake. Exasperated, Qiao Lin broke off the engagement, telling Lin Tao to go on his honeymoon by himself. Later, Qiao Lin's parents discussed Lin Tao's betrothal money and Qiao Lin's upcoming study trip to Jingzhou.
Her parents insisted she inform Lin Tao about her trip and prioritize their relationship, cautioning her not to be like her younger sister, Xu Yan, who they felt was as good as non-existent. Qiao Lin arrived at Xu Yan's workplace in Jingzhou, announcing she had called off her wedding and intended to stay with Xu Yan. Shen Haoming, Xu Yan's boyfriend, arrived to pick her up. To Shen Haoming, Xu Yan introduced Qiao Lin as her "cousin."
Shen Haoming politely greeted Qiao Lin before Xu Yan quickly arranged a hotel for her, explaining that Qiao Lin was tired. After Shen Haoming left, Qiao Lin confronted Xu Yan, demanding to know why she had introduced her as a cousin and implying Xu Yan was embarrassed by her due to Shen Haoming's wealth. Xu Yan then revealed her true identity, stating her surname was Xu, not Qiao, and that she and her grandmother shared a household registration.
She emphasized that her grandmother was her only family and that she had no obligation to care for Qiao Lin. Qiao Lin was deeply shocked and hurt, believing Xu Yan was abandoning her for her new wealthy life. Xu Yan's mind drifted to painful childhood memories. She recalled a gas poisoning incident where her father, Qiao Jianbin, had rushed to save Qiao Lin first, only remembering Xu Yan later.
In another memory, neighborhood children taunted young Xu Yan, calling her a "wild child" with no parents, until Qiao Lin bravely defended her, proclaiming, "You're my sister now." She remembered her grandmother firmly insisting to Qiao Jianbin and his wife, Yazhen (Qiao Lin's mother), that Xu Yan, then a small child, be taken back from the village and enrolled in a county school, criticizing them for neglecting their parental duties.
Her grandmother also revealed Xu Yan was telling others her parents were abroad and reminded them that Yazhen's health suffered from trying for a boy after Qiao Lin, leading to Xu Yan's birth with congenital heart disease, questioning if they felt any guilt for not saving her life. Qiao Jianbin and Yazhen promised to treat Xu Yan well.
Upon moving into their home, Xu Yan's grandmother advised her to be independent and not to fight with Qiao Lin for food, reflecting the existing favoritism. She also remembered her family leaving her instant noodles while they rushed out to deal with one of Qiao Lin's fights, and another birthday where her family forgot her, only her grandmother remembered, calling to sing her "Happy Birthday" over the phone.
The most painful memory was when her high school teacher praised Xu Yan's excellent mock exam scores, predicting her admission to a top university in Jingzhou. However, Qiao Jianbin declared that Xu Yan would not take the college entrance exam, citing family financial difficulties and the inability to afford two college students, with the resources designated for Qiao Lin. Xu Yan confronted him, demanding to know why he was depriving her of a university education.
Qiao Jianbin asserted his authority as her father and head of the family, then slapped her. Devastated, Xu Yan fled to her grandmother, crying, "Why do you always prove how much you don't love me? Why do I have to be your daughter?" Her grandmother gently comforted her, understanding her deep sorrow. Lost in these somber thoughts while riding in a taxi, Xu Yan received a call from Shen Haoming, inviting her to his studio.
He excitedly showed her a sixty-year-old agave plant that had grown a flower stalk and was about to bloom that night. Shen Haoming explained that agaves bloom only once in their lifetime, expending all their stored nutrients to create a single magnificent flower before dying, a "swan song."
Xu Yan felt a profound sadness, seeing parallels to her own life: constantly overcoming adversity, growing strong, and enduring hardship for a moment of glory, a path she felt she had no choice but to take. Shen Haoming then connected the agave's life cycle to human relationships—meeting, loving, marrying, and having children—explaining that just as the agave's pollen scatters to create new life, human love continues through generations.
He described the agaves' "two-way rush" for each other, even at the cost of their lives, because their love was "worth it," just like his love for Xu Yan. He asked if she regretted anything. Xu Yan, smiling, confessed she only regretted not marrying him sooner. Shen Haoming then suggested placing another agave in the pond so the blooming plant wouldn't be alone, to which Xu Yan readily agreed.
