My Dear Lady Episode 1 Recap
> My Dear Lady Recap
Ling Xunxun, a 29-year-old woman, was once the envy of many, known as a school belle from a prestigious university with a combination of beauty, wisdom, and excellent grades. After graduation, she chose to forgo a big company offer and married her love, enjoying life as a housewife and raising a lovely son, Dudu. However, Ling Xunxun had to admit that her once-proud life was now a thing of the past.
Her husband's infidelity led to an immediate divorce, and in a fit of pride, she refused any compensation. This decision proved foolish as she soon found herself without an income, unable to gain custody of her son, Dudu, who remained with her ex-husband. She was forced to live with her best friend, Zhou Quan, and embarked on a job search, feeling even worse off than a fresh graduate.
Despite the challenges, Ling Xunxun was determined to find a job and regain custody of her son, vowing to depend on herself. One day, while heading home, Ling Xunxun accidentally collided with a luxury car. The car's owner, Cheng Li, sternly told her she was fully responsible and handed her a business card, instructing her to contact his assistant for a private settlement.
Ling Xunxun initially tried to offer a small sum of 2,000 yuan but quickly realized the immense value of his car and the potential cost of repairs. To her dismay, her car insurance had just expired, making her fully liable for what her friends in the industry estimated would be over half a million yuan in repairs.
Meanwhile, her best friend, Zhou Quan, tirelessly helped her search for employment, but Ling Xunxun's seven-year absence from the workforce made it challenging for this highly-educated woman to find a suitable position, leading to comments from others about her underachievement. The following morning, Ling Xunxun dressed professionally and asked Zhou Quan for a ride, explaining she needed to negotiate the car compensation.
Upon arriving at the address on the business card, she discovered the company’s boss was holding interviews for a private assistant position. The role demanded 24/7 standby and involved managing both business affairs and domestic duties. Many aspiring candidates, hoping to secure a wealthy partner, emerged from their interviews in tears. Ling Xunxun, learning of the position, decided to try her luck. The car owner turned out to be Cheng Li, the young boss of the company.
After reviewing Ling Xunxun’s resume, Cheng Li immediately dismissed her, citing her age (29), her marriage right after graduation, and her complete lack of professional experience. Ling Xunxun, desperate, called out to him. She explained that she had caused the accident, but her car insurance had expired, leaving her responsible for over half a million yuan in repairs. Having just divorced without any financial compensation, she was destitute.
She pleaded for the private assistant position, promising to dedicate herself to the job and work tirelessly to repay him, framing it as a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, Cheng Li remained unmoved, stating her story wasn't touching and he was not impressed, concluding that she was simply not qualified for the demanding role. He even suggested she wear a neater coat for future interviews.
Ling Xunxun felt a pang of regret, wondering if her life would be different had she not abandoned her career seven years ago. The next morning, Ling Xunxun returned to Cheng Li's office and waited persistently, even after being removed by security. Annoyed by her unwavering presence, Cheng Li eventually called her in. He acknowledged her persistence but reiterated that she was not suitable for the job, advising her to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Ling Xunxun, however, insisted that this was her only chance and pointed out that he still hadn’t found a suitable candidate despite interviewing over a hundred people. She offered to work on a free trial basis. Finally, Cheng Li, out of options, gave her a daunting task: to clean the entire company, including the bathrooms, as a test of her capabilities. Ling Xunxun readily accepted the challenge.
Later, Cheng Li returned to his office to find Ling Xunxun still diligently cleaning. He expressed his annoyance, admitting he had assigned the strenuous tasks hoping she would quit, as he desired no further connection with her beyond the accident. Ling Xunxun countered by reminding him of the substantial debt she owed him, insisting that this financial obligation was indeed a connection. Their conversation was interrupted by the furious arrival of Cheng Li’s mother, who was upset about missed calls.
Observing the tense mother-son dynamic, Ling Xunxun cleverly intervened, reminding Cheng Li of an important business dinner he was about to miss. Impressed by her quick thinking, Cheng Li, in front of his mother, declared that Ling Xunxun had just been officially hired as his personal assistant, explaining it as a test she had passed with flying colors. Ling Xunxun was ecstatic, while Cheng Li’s mother remained skeptical.
Cheng Li then insisted they leave for the dinner and told Ling Xunxun to drive him home. Zhou Quan vehemently opposed Ling Xunxun taking the personal assistant role, arguing that moving into Cheng Li’s house to manage his domestic life was akin to becoming a maid, and posed safety concerns for a single woman living with a man.
Ling Xunxun countered by showing Zhou Quan Cheng Li’s business card, revealing that he was the 23-year-old heir of the powerful Meicheng Group, a cosmetics giant. She confidently dismissed Zhou Quan’s worries about romantic complications, remarking that Cheng Li, who looked like a star and was surrounded by many beautiful people, surely wouldn't be interested in her, given her current "outdated" appearance. Ling Xunxun explained that despite Zhou Quan's concerns, she couldn't rely on her forever.
Given the difficulty of finding a job and Cheng Li's good pay, she saw this as her best opportunity to regain independence and eventually bring Dudu home. Zhou Quan reluctantly agreed, making Ling Xunxun promise to leave if she ever felt wronged. As Cheng Li’s official private assistant, Ling Xunxun moved into his spacious, yet empty, home. Assistant Wang meticulously briefed her on Cheng Li’s extensive and peculiar daily habits and preferences.
Cheng Li had a severe aversion to germs and disliked people being close to him, often requiring Ling Xunxun to maintain an "invisible" presence. His room needed daily disinfection, but the scent had to be masked with a rose oil spray. No personal items or even plants were allowed on his tables. For breakfast, he required skimmed milk imported from New Zealand.
His clothing had strict care instructions: all coats dry-cleaned, and underwear washed in a specialized machine with specific unscented detergents. Ling Xunxun was advised to never appear unless called, never walk ahead of him, and ensure all lights in the house remained on at night, as Cheng Li preferred constant brightness, necessitating regular checks of the backup power. Despite Cheng Li's efforts to keep Ling Xunxun at a distance, she unexpectedly impressed him.
One morning, she prepared his coffee, which, to his surprise, perfectly matched his taste. Both Assistant Wang and Bao Xiaojing were astonished, as Ling Xunxun was the first new assistant not to be scolded or dismissed for making Cheng Li’s coffee incorrectly. However, Cheng Li continued to find fault, admitting to Assistant Wang that he didn't like Ling Xunxun because she wasn't "attractive," and he was looking for an excuse to dismiss her.
Yet, he couldn't deny her competence, as she consistently performed all her tasks well, leaving him with no valid reason to fire her. To solidify her role and manage his expectations, Cheng Li had Assistant Wang present Ling Xunxun with a comprehensive commitment contract. This contract stipulated that she would be on call 24/7, effectively eliminating her personal time. After a moment of heartfelt reflection, prioritizing her goal of reuniting with Dudu, Ling Xunxun signed the agreement.
During Cheng Li's daily two-hour "no disturbance" break at noon, Ling Xunxun would often meet Zhou Quan for lunch. One day, during their meal, Assistant Wang urgently messaged Ling Xunxun on her phone, informing her that Cheng Li was hosting a party at his residence that evening and she needed to return immediately to prepare. At the party, Ling Xunxun encountered Mike, the company’s R&D director and a flamboyant figure in the fashion industry.
Mike, dissatisfied with the general appearance of the staff, pointedly suggested that the party resembled a "village woman cosplay" and demanded that Ling Xunxun change into a maid outfit. Assistant Wang explained that Mike had made a bet with Cheng Li, and if Ling Xunxun refused, Cheng Li would lose face. Humiliated, Ling Xunxun angrily began to pack her belongings, ready to quit.
However, a series of heartfelt voice messages from Dudu, expressing how much he missed her and longed for her to pick him up, softened her resolve. Realizing she would do anything to bring her son home, Ling Xunxun put on the maid outfit. Cheng Li and Assistant Wang were visibly stunned when she appeared. As Cheng Li quietly questioned her self-respect, Ling Xunxun defiantly retorted, "Don't you have a bottom line? I will accompany you till the end!"
After the party, Ling Xunxun was left alone to clean up the extensive mess. As she worked, she shed tears, feeling like a clown in a ridiculous play. She cursed Cheng Li, calling him a "bastard." The next morning, a heavy rain began, and Cheng Li's car broke down on the way to an important meeting. He told Ling Xunxun he cannot be late.
Ling Xunxun quickly called a taxi for him and, without hesitation, handed him her only umbrella before he left. Later, during his meeting, Cheng Li became distracted and asked Assistant Wang about Ling Xunxun's whereabouts. He was informed that she had taken the car for repairs and then gone to the hospital. Cheng Li rushed to the hospital, where he was immediately confronted by a furious Zhou Quan.
Zhou Quan berated him for Ling Xunxun's condition, revealing the immense effort Ling Xunxun had put into her work. She explained that Ling Xunxun had sought out Cheng Li's former housekeeper to meticulously learn his bizarre habits, and, having been out of the workforce for seven years, spent sleepless nights learning office equipment from Zhou Quan after Cheng Li had gone to bed. Zhou Quan accused Cheng Li of humiliating and torturing Ling Xunxun.
Cheng Li apologized for her illness and promised to cover all medical expenses and grant her a week's leave, stating that he had not humiliated her and that her performance justified her salary. He then showed Zhou Quan a video of Ling Xunxun in the maid outfit from the party, asserting that Zhou Quan didn't truly know her friend. Zhou Quan was mortified by the video and, upon returning to Ling Xunxun's room, resumed scolding her for her actions.
