Miss Crow with Mr. Lizard Episode 14 Recap
> Miss Crow with Mr. Lizard Recap
Chen Wenwen initiated a conversation with Gu Chuan, who then invited her into his office. Su Manlin, noticing the unusual interaction, quickly dismissed Jiang Xiaoning to busy herself. Inside the office, Gu Chuan and Chen Wenwen, old acquaintances, reminisced about their past. Chen Wenwen inquired about Gu Chuan's heart condition, recalling the day of his accident when she rushed to the hospital and only saw the red light of the operating room.
She had tried to visit him numerous times afterward, but Gu Chuan consistently refused to see her, unwilling to let her witness his vulnerable state. Gu Chuan’s aunt had also advised Chen Wenwen at the time to give up hope, stating that Gu Chuan would need a long time to recover, and even then, might not lead a normal life. Despite understanding Gu Chuan’s pride and reasons for avoidance, Chen Wenwen felt estranged by his actions.
Realizing Gu Chuan was unable to articulate a farewell, Chen Wenwen took the initiative to end their relationship, acknowledging that her life couldn't remain stagnant. Their relationship as lovers concluded when Chen Wenwen, then twenty years old, received an admission offer to study abroad. Reflecting on these past events, Gu Chuan assured her he held no resentment, affirming she had made the right decision for a twenty-year-old. He even acknowledged her leaving a message, not disappearing without a word.
He reassured her that she didn't need to worry about working with his company as he wasn't overseeing her project, suggesting she could approach Jiang Xiaoning or Su Manlin for any issues, and even offered a discount. Su Manlin, who had been listening in, later approached Chen Wenwen and subtly invited her to dinner under the guise of discussing design direction.
At dinner, Su Manlin wasted no time in directly questioning Chen Wenwen about her past relationship with Gu Chuan, confirming she was his first love. Su Manlin admitted she had deduced their past connection from the way Gu Chuan looked at Chen Wenwen in the office. Su Manlin noted that their current interaction seemed like two long-lost friends, or even less, and expressed curiosity, having worked for Gu Chuan for six or seven years without seeing him in any relationship.
She wondered if his previous relationship had hurt him deeply. Chen Wenwen, however, directly addressed Su Manlin's compliments about Gu Chuan's taste, stating she didn't need to flatter her as it didn't match her usual sharp style. Chen Wenwen then bluntly stated that Gu Chuan would not choose Su Manlin, believing Jiang Xiaoning was a more suitable match for him, as Gu Chuan would never be interested in an "overbearing and wily" woman.
When Su Manlin asked how Chen Wenwen knew the relationship was ten years old, Chen Wenwen implied Su Manlin had been eavesdropping. Su Manlin watched Chen Wenwen leave, seething with unspoken frustration. Later, as Jiang Xiaoning drove Gu Chuan home, she contemplated confessing her feelings, remembering Chen Wenwen's earlier encouragement to be brave. She was also pondering Su Manlin's words to Chen Wenwen, "I can tell you like Gu Chuan. But he will never choose you."
Just as Jiang Xiaoning was about to speak, her phone rang. It was Su Manlin, who began to insinuate that Chen Wenwen was using Jiang Xiaoning to rekindle her past relationship with Gu Chuan. Su Manlin claimed that Chen Wenwen’s qualifications, knowledge, demeanor, social standing, and even her history with Gu Chuan made Jiang Xiaoning appear naive and easily manipulated, serving merely as a "powder keg" to reignite their old flame. Stunned by the malicious words, Jiang Xiaoning froze.
Gu Chuan, noticing her distress, moved closer to inquire, but Jiang Xiaoning quickly dismissed it as a call from her aunt and hastily departed. Distraught, Jiang Xiaoning sought comfort from Zhao Yan. As Jiang Xiaoning wept, Zhao Yan, concerned, opened her social media and saw Xu Cheng Ran's post: a bottle of wine accompanied by scattered pills and a caption about keeping things bottled up.
Fearing the worst, Zhao Yan immediately headed to the Huayi Hotel, room 3909, where Xu Cheng Ran was staying. Meanwhile, Xu Cheng Ran was leisurely enjoying a bath, seemingly content that his elaborate ploy was unfolding as planned. A knock at the door prompted him to pour red wine into the bathtub, simulating a more dire situation. However, it was a hotel staff member Zhao Yan had called.
Upon seeing Xu Cheng Ran seemingly unconscious in the wine-stained water, the staff member panicked and rushed out to call the police. Realizing his misunderstanding, Xu Cheng Ran quickly got out of the tub and chased after them, only to be stopped by a furious Zhao Yan in the living room.
Xu Cheng Ran then resorted to childish behavior, embracing Zhao Yan’s leg and refusing to let go when she tried to leave, claiming she had seen him naked and was now responsible for his life. Zhao Yan, exasperated by his pestering, tried to get him to release her, warning him about the security cameras. She declared she wouldn't fall for his "Boy Who Cried Wolf" tricks again.
Unable to escape his grasp, Zhao Yan eventually had to wait until Xu Cheng Ran had fallen asleep from exhaustion at the door before she could quietly slip away. Jiang Xiaoning returned home later that night, her aunt immediately noticing the tear stains on her face. Under her aunt's persistent questioning, Jiang Xiaoning confessed that she was heartbroken. Her aunt, misunderstanding, assumed Jiang Xiaoning was upset over a failed celebrity crush, asking if it was Andy Lau.
Relieved that it wasn't a more serious issue, her aunt advised her to be more realistic and not pursue "wishful fantasies," even jokingly declaring herself "Mrs. Lau" and Andy Lau as Jiang Xiaoning’s new "uncle." Despite her aunt's attempts to console her, Jiang Xiaoning still felt a profound sense of loss as she gazed at her reflection. However, a newfound determination sparked within her; even if love had stumbled, she resolved to redouble her efforts in her career.
She replayed Su Manlin's hurtful words about her qualifications and class, reaffirming to herself that she must focus on her work. The following day, Jiang Xiaoning picked up Gu Chuan for work as usual, but Gu Chuan sensed that her mood was off, despite her attempts to conceal it. He keenly observed her behavior throughout the day. That evening, for their colleague Wang Kai's birthday, Gu Chuan insisted on treating everyone to dinner.
At the celebration, Gu Chuan couldn't help but frequently glance at Jiang Xiaoning. Lost in her own thoughts, Jiang Xiaoning reached for a glass of wine and, encouraged by her colleagues, drank glass after glass, much to Gu Chuan’s growing concern. As her drinking continued, a colleague suggested playing Truth or Dare. The spinning bottle repeatedly landed on Jiang Xiaoning.
When asked about her first love, Jiang Xiaoning quietly replied that her first love was "now," and that it had "ended before it even began," a statement that deeply resonated with Gu Chuan. As the birthday cake was brought out and the birthday song began, Jiang Xiaoning was suddenly overwhelmed by a flashback of the day of the car accident from her childhood. Overcome with fear, she discreetly slipped away from the party.
Su Manlin intercepted Gu Chuan, who was about to follow, assuring him she would check on Jiang Xiaoning, claiming Jiang Xiaoning was stressed due to the ex-girlfriend's sudden appearance. Su Manlin found Jiang Xiaoning and continued to undermine her, suggesting that facing a "powerful rival" like Chen Wenwen made retreating a wise choice, implying Jiang Xiaoning was like "a moth to the flame."
However, Jiang Xiaoning, having processed the earlier phone call and recalling Su Manlin's own subtle affections for Gu Chuan, firmly told Su Manlin that she was an adult and could discern right from wrong. She acknowledged Su Manlin's help in getting her the job and her gratitude to Gu Chuan, whom she regarded as her "starry sky"—a miracle just to observe, let alone approach. She then pointedly asked Su Manlin if she also liked Gu Chuan.
Su Manlin, caught off guard, could only manage a flustered response. Jiang Xiaoning concluded that perhaps "fantasy might lead to a miracle" and decided she needed some fresh air. As Su Manlin left, Jiang Xiaoning reaffirmed to herself that since she had already created a miracle by getting closer to her "starry sky," she should now be brave and approach that "shining star."
Later, at home, a very drunk Jiang Xiaoning complained to her aunt about Gu Chuan not liking her, which meant no raise, no bonus, and no promotion. Despite her aunt's attempts to get her to sleep, Jiang Xiaoning insisted, slurring, "Boss. . . He must like me."
