My Dear Lady Episode 16 (Ending) Recap
> My Dear Lady Recap
After Cheng Li discovered the photo of himself and Gao Wei from their childhood, Ling Xunxun revealed everything she knew about the past accident. While Cheng Li admitted he was scared to remember, Ling Xunxun reassured him, stating that Gao Wei's mother, who had been waiting for a conclusion, didn't seek blame but closure.
Ling Xunxun emphasized that no matter the truth, whether Cheng Li had inadvertently harmed his friend or not, she would stand by him, even if it meant he would spend a lifetime making amends to Gao Wei and caring for his mother. Cheng Li then visited Gao Wei in the hospital, accompanied by Ling Xunxun. Gao Wei's mother was overcome with emotion upon seeing him, expressing relief that after ten years, the two boys finally met again.
She implored Gao Wei to wake up if he loved her. Gao Wei's fingers twitched, a significant sign. The doctor confirmed brain movement, indicating progress. Cheng Li, deeply apologetic to Gao Wei's mother, promised to remember everything and make every possible reparation, regardless of the accident's cause. Gao Wei's mother, in turn, urged him to live a full life, carrying the hopes of both himself and Gao Wei.
Cheng Li confided in Ling Xunxun the immense, indescribable pain of carrying the burden of a life, finally understanding why his own mother had chosen to let him misunderstand rather than reveal the truth. Cheng Li then took Ling Xunxun to his mother's house, a place he hadn't visited often since returning from abroad. While Ling Xunxun helped the housekeeper, Auntie Du, prepare dinner, Cheng Li joined his mother and Uncle Wen for a game of mahjong.
Uncle Wen, whom Cheng Li had started calling "Dad," had been secretly caring for Cheng Li's mother for years, having once been a university professor who posed as a housekeeper. Uncle Wen shared that he was terminally ill, with only about six months left, finding solace in mahjong over medication. Cheng Li thanked Uncle Wen for his years of care, prompting Uncle Wen to clarify that his dedication was out of love for Cheng Li's mother.
Cheng Li playfully confronted his mother, revealing he had uncovered her past secrets, having learned her "tricks" as her son. To acknowledge their enduring relationship, Cheng Li presented his mother and Uncle Wen with a "Platinum Travel Shoot" package to Switzerland for wedding photos, emphasizing that they should finally have a proper title after so many years. He also arranged a trip to Europe with a local guide for Ling Xunxun's parents.
Ling Xunxun called her mother, expressing that she was finally ready to have an honest conversation. Meanwhile, Mike discovered a handmade mask on his desk, a nostalgic memento from his first online fan, a young girl named Coco from California. This fan, later known as Bao Xiaojing, had suffered from a congenital cleft lip and severe self-consciousness. Mike, an online makeup artist, had previously encouraged her, emphasizing inner beauty and confidence, and even sent her cosmetics and a makeup manual.
After undergoing corrective surgery and returning to China, Bao Xiaojing sought out Mike and, despite her overseas education, insisted on working at Cheng Li's company as a front desk clerk to be near him. Mike later found her at her home, discovering she had been in China all along, having lied about remaining in the US. He apologized for his past harsh comments about her plastic surgery.
Bao Xiaojing, still deeply fond of him, bravely confessed her feelings for him for a third time, asserting her determination. Despite Mike's initial hesitation regarding her family's wealth and his fear of meeting her father, she affectionately coaxes him into going home to meet her parents, undeterred by his past pursuit of Ling Xunxun or his flamboyant personality. To fully uncover the truth of the accident, Ling Xunxun took Cheng Li to a hypnotist.
Ling Xunxun waited outside while Cheng Li entered a trance, reliving the moment ten years ago when he and Gao Wei explored a dark, humid cave. In his memory, he and Gao Wei playfully dared each other to go deeper until startled by bats, causing them to panic and crash into a rock while fleeing.
During the hypnosis, Cheng Li had a vivid flash of a young Ling Xunxun, realizing she was the one who found them and called for help. Waking up, Cheng Li tearfully thanked Ling Xunxun for saving him, confirming that the incident was indeed an accident, and he hadn't intentionally harmed Gao Wei.
Overwhelmed with relief, he visited Gao Wei again, expressing his joy that he was not responsible for the injury and pledging to care for Gao Wei and his mother. He also thanked his own mother for her unwavering protection over the years. Ling Xunxun's marketing genius shone when Hui Yiwang and Zhou Quan returned with news of their product spokesperson, Jin Hui, who was rumored to be pregnant due to weight gain.
Cheng Li confronted Jin Hui, who revealed her emotional eating due to her boyfriend Wang Dong being on a mission. Jin Hui publicly addressed the rumors in a livestream, denying pregnancy and attributing her weight gain to stress and endocrine issues. Ling Xunxun immediately seized the opportunity, utilizing Mike's internet marketing resources to turn the scandal into a successful promotional campaign. The strategy significantly boosted sales, earning Ling Xunxun Cheng Li's enthusiastic praise.
To help Cheng Li experience the youth he missed, Ling Xunxun donned a school uniform and convinced him to do the same. They spent a joyful day at a school, reliving youthful moments, and later visited a local restaurant Ling Xunxun frequented in her student days. She shared a fond memory of the owner letting her and Zhou Quan pay later when they were short on cash.
The owner's compliment on Cheng Li's handsomeness delighted Ling Xunxun, who felt her own youth was finally complete. Back at the company, their colleagues, noticing their bright demeanor, playfully demanded a treat, which Cheng Li happily provided. Hui Yiwang, stressed by wedding planning, complained to Cheng Li about Zhou Quan's changing demands, from wanting no wedding to insisting on a romantic outdoor ceremony.
Cheng Li, however, expressed envy, noting Ling Xunxun's tendency to avoid any talk of marriage, wishing she would also eagerly anticipate a wedding. At Hui Yiwang and Zhou Quan's wedding, as Cheng Li, the best man, was retrieving the rings, he accidentally pulled out his own engagement ring. Ling Xunxun, Hui Yiwang, and Zhou Quan shared a knowing smile. After the happy ceremony, Cheng Li knelt and proposed to Ling Xunxun.
While she professed her deep love for him, she declined the proposal, explaining that marriage is a worldly and complex commitment, not an impulse. Having recently escaped a failed marriage, she felt she needed more time to grow, become stronger, and find her independent value as "Ling Xunxun" before she could confidently accept his ring.
Cheng Li, understanding, pledged to wait for her, no matter how long it took, revealing that she had captured his attention from the very first time they met. Ling Xunxun later enrolled in an advanced course at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, attending classes on weekends. Cheng Li, ever smitten and protective, frequently followed her, playfully asserting his claim to ward off any potential admirers.
