Miss Crow with Mr. Lizard Episode 22 Recap
> Miss Crow with Mr. Lizard Recap
After noticing his watch was missing, Gu Chuan, preoccupied with the urgent need to recharge, rushed home. Once settled in his charging station, he began to reflect on the day's unsettling events. He wondered why even a gentle impact had caused his mechanical heart to malfunction and its battery power to drop, fearing the issue was more severe than before. Meanwhile, Xu Cheng Ran received an alarm on his phone and hurried to Gu Chuan’s house.
He found Gu Chuan safely recharging in his room, which brought a sigh of relief. A doorbell rang, and Gu Chuan correctly deduced that Jiang Xiaoning, having found his lost watch, was at the door, making any further concealment of his condition impossible. Xu Cheng Ran opened the door for Jiang Xiaoning before discreetly leaving to give them privacy. Upon entering the charging room, Jiang Xiaoning was bewildered by the sight of Gu Chuan connected to a power source.
Gu Chuan revealed his mechanical heart, explaining that he needed to recharge to survive. He clarified that he was not a robot, but an ordinary person with a mechanical heart that sometimes experienced glitches, particularly an electric discharge if his heart rate became too high. Jiang Xiaoning quickly connected this to past incidents, realizing he was the one who had inadvertently damaged her car and even electrocuted her and He Sheng.
Gu Chuan explained he had planned to reveal his condition and their connection that day. He shared that the doctor developing his mechanical heart, Dr. Peel, had promised to resolve all its issues within three months, allowing him to live a completely normal life, apart from needing to recharge. This was why he had asked her to wait. Jiang Xiaoning then inquired about the origin of his mechanical heart. Gu Chuan recounted a severe car accident from ten years prior.
He described driving on a mountain road, witnessing a truck hit another car, and then being struck by the truck himself while attempting a rescue, plunging them all down a cliff. When he awoke in the valley, he found a little girl trapped in a car nearby, unable to see her parents. Despite knowing her parents might have perished, he couldn't tell her, especially since it was her birthday.
He remembered using his last bit of strength to encourage her to live, even giving her a strawberry from a cake and asking her to make a wish. Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoning, her eyes welling with tears, realized Gu Chuan was the "big brother" she had been searching for all these years. Overwhelmed with emotion, she embraced him, apologizing for not recognizing him sooner.
She expressed gratitude for finding him after a decade of searching, proclaiming they would never be separated again. Their emotional embrace, however, led to an unexpected electric discharge from Gu Chuan as his heart rate spiked. Jiang Xiaoning, who previously hadn't felt pain from his discharges, was shocked. Both were surprised by this new sensitivity. Despite the electric shock, Jiang Xiaoning assured him she wasn't afraid.
She expressed joy at finally knowing what her long-sought "big brother" looked like, believing that all encounters are reunions after a long separation. As it was getting late, Jiang Xiaoning decided to return home to avoid worrying her grandmother and aunt, though she joked about staying if she couldn't manage alone. Gu Chuan offered to walk her home. Before leaving, Jiang Xiaoning confirmed with him that Dr. Peel was indeed confident about solving the leakage issue within three months.
Gu Chuan confirmed his belief in the doctor's promise. On a bright spring day, Zhao Yan initiated a casual outing with Xu Cheng Ran. During their time together, Xu Cheng Ran surprised Zhao Yan by showcasing his guitar skills. He mentioned composing his own music, though he hadn't added lyrics yet, and shared that he had secretly learned guitar as a child because his mother preferred classical music, leading him to also learn piano, violin, and cello.
While he enjoyed listening to music, he clarified that he preferred business and even once dreamed of being a mathematician, indicating he was more complex than he appeared. Zhao Yan acknowledged his varied and seemingly perfect facets. Later, at home, Jiang Xiaoning confided in Zhao Yan, revealing the astonishing truth: Gu Chuan, her crush, was also the "big brother" who had saved her ten years ago.
Zhao Yan was utterly surprised, exclaiming how coincidental and like a "plot twist" it was that the person Jiang Xiaoning had been longing for was also the one she secretly admired. Zhao Yan then cleverly deduced that Gu Chuan had accepted Jiang Xiaoning's feelings, despite Jiang Xiaoning's playful attempt to suggest Xu Cheng Ran might have revealed it, dismissing Xu Cheng Ran as still "none the wiser" about Gu Chuan's secret.
Zhao Yan, however, cautioned Jiang Xiaoning not to underestimate Xu Cheng Ran, noting his popularity, even mentioning that their colleague Qiao Meng Jia seemed quite keen on him. Zhao Yan then turned the conversation to Jiang Xiaoning's own romantic hesitation, urging her to be direct about her feelings, as it was unlike her resolute nature to "play hard to get."
Jiang Xiaoning admitted she liked Gu Chuan but confessed to being scared, saying she had experienced love once and didn't want to be foolish again. Zhao Yan, interpreting Jiang Xiaoning's fear as being about Xu Cheng Ran's wealth, reassured her that it wasn't his fault and that he was genuinely sincere, unlike "that scumbag" from a past hurtful relationship. She then shifted focus back to Jiang Xiaoning's budding relationship with Gu Chuan, asking about its progression.
The growing closeness between Gu Chuan and Jiang Xiaoning became the subject of much office speculation and excitement among their colleagues. They observed the pair acting "weird" and gossiped about the "sparks" between them. For instance, employees from the Admin Department commented on the Design Department's affairs, while Kai Kai Wang continued to flirt with Qiao Meng Jia, offering her special "love design" fruit juice. However, Su Manlin observed their interactions with clear resentment.
Meanwhile, Tang Zheng Cheng arrived unannounced at Reindeer Group, seeking to speak with Tang Xu. He identified himself as Tang Xu's father and an old friend of Xu Guo Xiang, but the receptionist refused him entry without an appointment. When Tang Xu finally appeared, he immediately showed his displeasure. Despite Tang Zheng Cheng's attempts to make small talk and suggest meeting Xu Guo Xiang or having lunch together, Tang Xu remained cold and dismissive, claiming to be too busy.
Tang Zheng Cheng lamented his lonely existence since his release from prison, expressing his desire for Tang Xu to visit him at home, but Tang Xu brusquely reiterated his lack of time and his busy schedule, effectively dismissing his father. After their profound "reunion," Jiang Xiaoning's affection for Gu Chuan deepened significantly.
She candidly declared that they were a perfect match, citing her insensitivity to pain as a counterpoint to his electric discharge, asserting that no one else was better suited to be with him. Gu Chuan, though slightly teasing her for her lack of reserve, eventually affirmed his acceptance of her feelings. He then led her to a university campus, which surprised her given the late hour.
There, he showed her a building called the "Clock of Time," revealing that he discovered its designer, Jiang Guang Da, was indeed her late father after cross-referencing old personnel records. Jiang Xiaoning was deeply moved to find a tangible connection to her father. Gu Chuan explained that the campus would be demolished in about two years due to rising land costs, and the "Clock of Time" might not remain.
He clarified that designers often left subtle "marks" in their work, as their contributions usually went unnoticed by the public. He then surprised her further by stating that his company would be responsible for the new project's design on the site. As a gift, he offered her the opportunity to participate in the design, ensuring that her name would be engraved alongside her father's on the new structure. Jiang Xiaoning was profoundly touched by his thoughtful gesture.
As they were leaving, some students joked about them cuddling, prompting them to quickly depart. On the way home, Jiang Xiaoning commented on her broken seatbelt, revealing Zhao Yan had taught her some playful tricks. Gu Chuan, however, told her she no longer needed those tricks, playfully confessing that she was the one he liked. Jiang Xiaoning spent the night at Gu Chuan's house. They decided to share the sofa, wanting to be close.
The next morning, Jiang Xiaoning woke up feeling well-rested at 9:30 AM, realizing she had overslept. Gu Chuan revealed he had deliberately turned off her alarm, wanting her to get more sleep, and informed her that he was preparing porridge for breakfast. Despite her desire to sleep in and dream of early retirement, Jiang Xiaoning knew she had to go to work.
Suddenly, Su Manlin called, angrily demanding to know where Jiang Xiaoning was and accusing her of being late and neglecting work, specifically asking for a latte. Jiang Xiaoning attempted to explain that she hadn't arrived at the office yet but would get the coffee later. Seeing Jiang Xiaoning distressed, Gu Chuan took the phone, curtly informing Su Manlin that Jiang Xiaoning was at his home handling matters and would come to the office once finished.
He then told Jiang Xiaoning to go back to sleep, though she confessed to being too on edge to rest. Moments after hanging up, the phone rang again. Gu Chuan, assuming it was Su Manlin once more, answered ready to lecture her, but it was Tang Xu. Tang Xu asked for Jiang Xiaoning, explaining that Tang Zheng Cheng, his father, had been released and wanted to cook a meal for her.
Jiang Xiaoning readily agreed, asking for the details and requesting it not interfere with her working hours. After Jiang Xiaoning ended the call, Gu Chuan, with a hint of jealousy, remarked on her many friends. Jiang Xiaoning playfully observed that Gu Chuan seemed perpetually angry and suggested looking up foods that could help with bad temper. Jiang Xiaoning arrived at Tang Zheng Cheng's home, where Tang Xu was also present.
Tang Zheng Cheng warmly welcomed her, noting how much she had grown in the ten years since they last met. He expressed his pleasure at her visit and began serving the meal he had prepared, emphasizing the cleanliness of home-cooked food. Jiang Xiaoning inquired about his adjustment to life outside, confirming that she was aware he had briefly stayed at her home after his release. Despite Tang Zheng Cheng's attempts to make her eat, Jiang Xiaoning's focus was elsewhere.
She cut straight to the point, reminding him of her previous unsuccessful attempts to visit him and stating she still had critical questions. She directly asked if the "truth" about the past incident was really as it seemed and if her father had truly embezzled money. She stressed that as her father had passed away, Tang Zheng Cheng was her only source of answers.
Jiang Xiaoning asserted her belief in her father's character, urging Tang Zheng Cheng to reveal the full truth, even if it meant confirming her father's wrongdoing or clarifying any misunderstandings. She emphasized that she had waited ten years for this answer. Tang Zheng Cheng became visibly distressed, claiming he couldn't remember the details due to the passage of time. As Jiang Xiaoning pressed him further, he complained of a severe headache, apologizing and excusing himself to rest.
After he left, Jiang Xiaoning apologized to Tang Xu, regretting her aggressive approach and admitting she hadn't intended to upset Tang Zheng Cheng. She then chose to leave, stating she needed some time alone. As Gu Chuan's lawyer friend continued to investigate Chen Ao, and Jiang Xiaoning once again sought answers from Tang Zheng Cheng, Xu Father received a concerning report from his assistant. He realized the situation was rapidly spiraling out of his control.
Reflecting on the fact that both Jiang Xiaoning and Gu Chuan were survivors of the same valley incident from ten years ago, and now Jiang Xiaoning was even working at Gu Chuan's company, Xu Father dismissed it as an impossible coincidence. He concluded that their convergence meant they had likely uncovered significant information and were actively investigating the events of that fateful day.
He even began to suspect that Gu Chuan's friendship with his son, Xu Cheng Ran, might have been a calculated move to get closer to him. Viewing Gu Chuan as a dangerous threat, Xu Father declared that if they were allowed to continue their investigation, it would inevitably lead to major trouble. He adamantly stated that such a development could not be permitted and that they needed to "tie up loose ends" to prevent the truth from being exposed.
