Miss Crow with Mr. Lizard Episode 9 Recap
> Miss Crow with Mr. Lizard Recap
Jiang Xiaoning, representing Chuan Design Studios, visited Ms. Cheng Yu to discuss the ongoing design project. Jiang Xiaoning explained that despite many drafts, a particular wall in the design could not be integrated harmoniously. She proposed its demolition, believing it would allow them to deliver a surprising result. However, Ms. Cheng firmly rejected the idea, stating the wall was her absolute "bottom line" and she had no obligation to explain her reasons.
Jiang Xiaoning then mentioned that Ms. Cheng's husband had already agreed to the wall's demolition, hoping this would persuade her. This revelation instantly enraged Ms. Cheng. She furiously questioned her husband's decision, accusing the studio of employing unscrupulous methods by approaching him when they couldn't convince her. In her anger, Ms. Cheng demanded to cancel the order immediately and ordered Jiang Xiaoning to leave her home.
Following the incident, Su Manlin confronted Jiang Xiaoning, criticizing her for causing a client to cancel the order, especially a renowned artist like Ms. Cheng Yu, which would lead to significant losses for the company. Jiang Xiaoning tried to explain, but Su Manlin dismissed her explanation as an attempt to shift blame, implying it was a character issue, and suggested Jiang Xiaoning resign.
Su Manlin then called Gu Chuan, informing him of the situation, including Ms. Cheng's threat to sue the studio for breach of contract. During a subsequent meeting, Gu Chuan directly asked Jiang Xiaoning if she had argued with Ms. Cheng and if the cancellation was made in her presence. Jiang Xiaoning confirmed both. Gu Chuan then stated that, according to company rules, Jiang Xiaoning would have to leave the company. At this point, Xu Cheng Ran, an investor, intervened.
He challenged Gu Chuan's decision, asserting his right to modify company rules as a stakeholder. A tense argument ensued between Gu Chuan and Xu Cheng Ran, with Xu Cheng Ran accusing Gu Chuan of being domineering. Xu Cheng Ran ultimately took charge, announcing that he would give Jiang Xiaoning a second chance, providing her one week to resolve the issue beautifully. He expressed that he valued employees who showed an "always striving to improve" attitude.
Later that day, feeling overwhelmed by disappointment and the weight of her mistake, Jiang Xiaoning broke down and cried to Zhao Yan. Zhao Yan tried to console her, noting how courageously Xu Cheng Ran had defended her in the meeting. Unbeknownst to Jiang Xiaoning, Xu Cheng Ran later visited Gu Chuan, where it was revealed that their public argument in the meeting was an elaborate act orchestrated by Gu Chuan himself.
Xu Cheng Ran proudly recounted his "award-winning" performance, while Gu Chuan acknowledged his good acting. Xu Cheng Ran then probed Gu Chuan about his true feelings for Jiang Xiaoning, describing her impact on Gu Chuan's "still lake" heart as a "meteorite crash," implying a profound and permanent change. Xu Cheng Ran encouraged Gu Chuan to acknowledge his feelings, regardless of his physical condition, offering his protection.
After Xu Cheng Ran left, Gu Chuan, deep in thought, contacted Wang Kai and requested Ms. Cheng Yu's address and contact information. Late into the night, Jiang Xiaoning’s grandmother found her awake and crying. Grandma gently comforted her, likening Jiang Xiaoning's work mistake to a wrong answer on a school test. She assured Jiang Xiaoning that such mistakes could be "erased" and redone, just like with an eraser, and encouraged her not to let her worries weigh her down.
Grandma fondly recalled Jiang Xiaoning's stubbornness, which she shared with her father, and urged her not to bottle up her feelings. The next day, Jiang Xiaoning returned to Ms. Cheng Yu’s home with a bouquet of flowers and gifts, intent on apologizing again. However, she was met with refusal at the door. Coincidentally, Gu Chuan passed by and witnessed Jiang Xiaoning's rejection. He approached her, bluntly stating that merely apologizing would not solve her problem.
He advised her that a designer's strength lies in their design, not in empty gestures. As tears welled up in Jiang Xiaoning’s eyes, Gu Chuan offered her a tissue. Jiang Xiaoning noticed the unique pattern on the tissue, recognizing it as identical to the folded paper star she had found on her desk, implying Gu Chuan had left it for her.
This small act of understanding and encouragement from Gu Chuan seemed to ignite a new determination in Jiang Xiaoning, making her resolve to find a more effective solution. Meanwhile, Xu Cheng Ran arrived at Zhao Yan’s workplace with a comically large bouquet of roses, seemingly to confess his feelings. Zhao Yan found his grand gesture amusing yet annoying, but Xu Cheng Ran explained he was there to return Jiang Xiaoning's notebook.
As they playfully bickered, Zhao Yan surprised Xu Cheng Ran by taking a single rose from the bouquet, a gesture that filled him with quiet hope for their future. Driven by a new approach, Jiang Xiaoning visited the museum, hoping to discover clues or stories behind the controversial wall. There, she unexpectedly encountered Gu Chuan. Jiang Xiaoning shared her intention to speak with Mr. Mu, Ms. Cheng Yu's husband, believing he might reveal the wall's hidden significance.
As they walked down the mountain together, Gu Chuan tentatively asked Jiang Xiaoning if she resented him for agreeing to fire her during the meeting. Jiang Xiaoning, initially startled by the question, smiled and reassured him that she held no ill will, which visibly eased Gu Chuan's unspoken concern. Back at the office, Su Manlin brought documents for Gu Chuan's signature.
She subtly brought up his changed demeanor towards Jiang Xiaoning and voiced her suspicion that his earlier argument with Xu Cheng Ran was staged to protect Jiang Xiaoning. Gu Chuan admitted her suspicion was correct, but Su Manlin expressed feeling like an "outsider" due to his secrecy. Gu Chuan then challenged her by questioning her motive for assigning such a difficult project to Jiang Xiaoning, who wasn't even a qualified assistant.
Su Manlin, becoming emotional, hinted that Gu Chuan's actions were driven by personal feelings rather than professional ones. Their tense conversation ended unhappily, with Su Manlin feeling dismissed from Gu Chuan's personal affairs. Jiang Xiaoning finally met with Mr. Mu, who revealed the tragic reason behind the wall: his five-year-old son had drowned, and the art gallery was being built in his memory. Mr. Mu explained that the wall held many cherished memories of his son.
Understanding Ms. Cheng Yu's profound grief, Jiang Xiaoning candidly shared her own experience of losing her parents in a car accident ten years prior and how she initially tried to hide their belongings to avoid pain, only to find that suppressing memories made the pain worse.
She explained that truly letting go isn't about forgetting, but about confronting memories, and that her grandmother and aunt eventually encouraged her to embrace the presence of her parents' belongings, which helped her to heal. Jiang Xiaoning described seeing crayon drawings on the wall, like a rainbow, with small footprints and handprints, which she correctly deduced were left by their son.
She passionately argued that preserving the wall would allow Ms. Cheng to revisit precious moments with her child, offering a path to healing rather than prolonged suffering. Jiang Xiaoning concluded by sincerely apologizing for her earlier brashness and implored Mr. Mu to keep the memory-filled wall, regardless of who designed it, because it deserved to remain.
Unknown to them, Ms. Cheng Yu had been listening from the living room, profoundly moved by Jiang Xiaoning's honesty and perspective, tears welling up in her eyes as she heard the heartfelt conversation.
