My Dear Lady Episode 2 Recap
> My Dear Lady Recap
Feeling a surge of goodwill towards Cheng Li for giving her a week off, Ling Xunxun returned to work meticulously prepared. Cheng Li, however, immediately challenged her, demanding she secure the Inglemirepharm agency rights within a week or face termination. Seizing the opportunity, Ling Xunxun countered by requesting a salary increase and improved living arrangements. Cheng Li initially resisted, suggesting he hire a separate housekeeper and have Ling Xunxun merely supervise them daily.
Ling Xunxun shrewdly pointed out Cheng Li's aversion to strangers and his need for a 24/7 personal assistant, a role she could fulfill completely. Impressed by her bold yet logical arguments, Cheng Li conceded to her demands, not only raising her salary but also allowing her to move from the storage room into a more comfortable suite with a window. Later, over milk tea, Bao Xiaojing elucidated the complex situation surrounding the Inglemirepharm project.
She explained that Yumeiling, their company, was an aging cosmetic brand on the brink of collapse. Director Lin had been hired specifically for her extensive network, with the primary goal of securing the Inglemirepharm deal. However, a sudden management change at Inglemirepharm had complicated matters, leaving Director Lin struggling to leverage her connections. Bao Xiaojing surmised that Cheng Li’s assignment of the project to Ling Xunxun was a strategic move to pressure Director Lin.
She warned Ling Xunxun that this could either be a tactic to make her resign out of frustration or to get Director Lin to push her out, indicating her position was far from secure. Bao Xiaojing then offered a crucial lead: Inglemirepharm’s new brand director was named Eric. Ling Xunxun promptly went to Inglemirepharm’s office to meet Eric, but she was denied entry without an appointment.
Though tempted to call her close friend Zhou Quan for assistance, Ling Xunxun decided she couldn't depend on her perpetually. Instead, she devised a plan: she ordered takeout for Eric, specifically requesting that he personally pick it up. Unbeknownst to Ling Xunxun, at the same time, Cheng Li was leisurely playing a video game with Mike, discussing Ling Xunxun's new assignment.
Cheng Li remarked to Mike that Ling Xunxun was "cannon fodder," implying she had to prove herself to become a "comrade." Ling Xunxun patiently waited for Eric to leave the office building. When someone she believed to be Eric emerged, she approached him, introduced herself as Cheng Li's assistant, and requested ten minutes of his time. The man, who told her to get into his car, made inappropriate advances once inside.
Ling Xunxun quickly realized her mistake and demanded to be let out. She confronted him, learning that he was not Eric, but Peter, Eric's assistant. Ling Xunxun, quick on her feet, pretended to have recorded their conversation and threatened to expose him if he didn't arrange a meeting with Eric. Peter, cornered, reluctantly agreed to introduce her to Eric at Inglemirepharm's store the next morning.
Just as she was reeling from the encounter, Ling Xunxun received a message from Cheng Li, indicating he was leaving work soon, prompting her to rush to pick him up. On the drive home, Ling Xunxun vaguely informed Cheng Li that she had successfully made an appointment to meet Eric the following day, carefully omitting the day's dramatic events. The next morning, Cheng Li informed Ling Xunxun he was tired of porridge for breakfast.
Ling Xunxun went out to find breakfast options and was mistaken by the clubhouse staff for Cheng Li’s girlfriend. The staff, thinking she was preparing a special meal for him, offered to deliver "breakfast full of love" to them daily at 7:30 AM, which Ling Xunxun gratefully accepted. Later, Ling Xunxun arrived at the appointed Inglemirepharm store, pretending to browse products. Peter appeared with Eric, subtly signaling Ling Xunxun before excusing himself.
Ling Xunxun approached Eric, who surprisingly already knew her. He revealed he was a friend of Zhou Quan and handed her his business card, revealing his Chinese name: Hui Yiwang. Ling Xunxun realized she finally met the person she had often heard about through Zhou Quan. Hui Yiwang readily agreed to give Yumeiling a chance to submit a new proposal.
He explained that their previous proposal had been excluded not due to its content, but because Director Lin was too closely associated with his former executive, who had resigned due to financial issues. He suggested Yumeiling put a different contact person in charge, explicitly stating that either Cheng Li or Ling Xunxun would be suitable. Overjoyed, Ling Xunxun immediately reported the good news to Cheng Li.
Though outwardly composed, Cheng Li was clearly pleased, instructing her to prepare a new proposal report. Later, in a private conversation, Cheng Li dissuaded Director Lin from resigning, reminding her of the high salary she received. He acknowledged that Ling Xunxun had "stolen her chance" but revealed his strategy: Ling Xunxun was merely a "pawn" in his game, to be "used well" by Director Lin.
While working on the new proposal, Cheng Li surprisingly suggested incorporating resources from his mother's company, a connection he usually avoided. Ling Xunxun, noting his shift, questioned him. Cheng Li casually responded that "this is a business, it's not a time to fight my mom," adding that his mother should feel "privileged" to be used by him from time to time.
During late-night overtime, Ling Xunxun, trying to save electricity, turned off some lights, irritating Cheng Li who revealed his fear of the dark. When Ling Xunxun asked to meet a friend after dropping him home, Cheng Li correctly guessed Zhou Quan and remarked on her "unfeminine" demeanor. Ling Xunxun playfully retorted, calling him a "cold and stone-hearted man" despite his "sunny and young boy" face.
Later, Ling Xunxun met with Zhou Quan, who questioned why she hadn't simply called her to resolve the Inglemirepharm issue, especially since Hui Yiwang was her friend. Ling Xunxun explained that while Cheng Li encouraged using personal connections, she wanted to prove her independence. She revealed her deep-seated desire to thrive in the workplace after years away, seeking the sense of achievement she had lost. She stated she couldn't rely on Zhou Quan for everything, especially as a mother.
She admitted she hadn't yet told her own mother about her divorce. After the successful meeting with Inglemirepharm, Ling Xunxun connected with Peter on WeChat. She then sent him a message, clarifying that she never had a recording of their previous encounter and advised him to "behave well in the future." Meanwhile, Hui Yiwang discussed Cheng Li with Peter, expressing his observation that Cheng Li was unlike other privileged second-generations, finding him to be quite capable and "interesting."
With the Inglemirepharm agency looking highly promising, Cheng Li celebrated by treating his team to a karaoke session. Noticing Ling Xunxun was not present, he went outside to look for her. He found her being harassed by two drunk men. Cheng Li immediately intervened, forcefully fending off the assailants. Afterward, in the car, Ling Xunxun gently disinfected and bandaged a cut on Cheng Li's hand. The close physical contact and the shared moment created a palpable shift in their dynamic.
Subsequently, Yumeiling successfully acquired the Inglemirepharm agency rights. Cheng Li then discreetly met with Zhou Quan, revealing that he had recognized her from a past business forum where she spoke as a guest. He admitted to conducting background research on her, discovering her status as a renowned lawyer and her decade-long friendship with Hui Yiwang, as well as her previous role as legal counsel for Hui Yiwang's company.
Cheng Li acknowledged that he had intentionally used Ling Xunxun to leverage Zhou Quan's connection to Hui Yiwang, calling it a "risky" but ultimately successful maneuver. Zhou Quan, impressed by his calculated move, then listened as Cheng Li proposed a professional collaboration: he offered Zhou Quan's team a five-year legal advisory contract with his company, promising to introduce them to his headquarters within six months, once their current headquarters' contract expired. Zhou Quan agreed to the deal, signaling a new partnership.
