My Lonely Planet Episode 16 Recap
> My Lonely Planet Recap
Li Zhizhi, Miao Yu’s ex-girlfriend, visited Fluffeee, ostentatiously purchasing every clothing item not designed by Miao Yu. She openly stated that she was shopping and that it was not her money, hinting at a wealthy new boyfriend. When Wang Chen assisted her, Li Zhizhi inquired about her relationship with Miao Yu, to which Wang Chen clarified they were merely business partners. Li Zhizhi then commented that Miao Yu was a good man who deserved love.
After her departure, Wang Chen's colleagues remarked on Li Zhizhi's extravagant spending, noting it amounted to almost a week's sales, and drew comparisons to Miao Yu’s past generosity with her. Miao Yu, however, assured Wang Chen that he was unaffected, having moved on, which led to some playful banter between them about their past relationships.
To help Miao Yu and Wang Chen develop a romantic connection, Ken and Luo Li concocted a plan to send them on a business trip, believing it would create opportunities for them as a single man and woman. During a team meeting, Ken proposed attending an upcoming international fabric exhibition, emphasizing its benefits for discovering new trends, sourcing unique materials, and cutting costs by directly engaging with foreign suppliers. Both Miao Yu and Wang Chen agreed the trip was necessary.
When selecting attendees, Ken and Luo Li fabricated elaborate excuses for their unavailability, effectively ensuring Miao Yu and Wang Chen would have to go together. They argued that Wang Chen, as the boss focused on fabric, was essential, and Miao Yu, despite his "aesthetic deviation," was an excellent negotiator, making them the "best partners" for the job.
Later, Miao Yu attempted to go alone, citing the poor accommodation conditions at the exhibition site and wanting Wang Chen to remain at the store. Wang Chen rejected this, insisting it was a work trip, not a vacation, and expressed concern that his solo decision-making might lead to "ugly fabrics" and financial losses, prompting Miao Yu to playfully question her own taste.
A text message from Bi Guan unexpectedly reminded Miao Yu and Wang Chen that it was New Year’s Eve, prompting Miao Yu to organize a celebratory gathering with their support group friends. At the party, Wang Chen reflected on the past year, acknowledging the growth of their brand and the unexpected friendships forged because of the comet’s influence.
Bi Guan then announced exciting news: based on verifiable observations, Comet WTF666 had altered its trajectory and was set to collide with Jupiter in four months, which would cause its effects on them to disappear. Although initially skeptical, the group celebrated this prospect with a toast, even as some admitted to finding unforeseen benefits in their animal connections. Ling Sansan and Bi Guan engaged in a humorous argument about her diet and his unromantic responses, culminating in a playful chase.
Luo Li also shared her good news about an upcoming screen test for an acting role. As the crowd began the New Year's countdown, a man tried to flirt with Wang Chen, but Miao Yu quickly intervened, claiming her as his girlfriend. After the countdown, the group exchanged New Year wishes, with Ling Sansan pointedly encouraging Miao Yu and Wang Chen to be more honest in the coming year.
The night before their trip, Wang Chen secretly tried on a scarf she had knitted for Miao Yu, but hesitated to give it to him, feeling it was too romantic. Concurrently, Miao Yu bought a necklace and travel-sized toiletries. He corrected a sales assistant who assumed the necklace was for his girlfriend, insisting it was for a "male friend."
Later, he visited Wang Chen and presented her with the toiletries, then awkwardly offered her the necklace, claiming it was a "free gift" from his purchase, though he had forgotten to remove the price tag, which Wang Chen subtly noticed. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Chen gave Miao Yu the scarf, feigning that it was intended for Ling Sansan but didn’t fit her. Miao Yu accepted it with thanks.
As he helped Wang Chen put on the necklace, he stood close behind her, creating an intimate moment that left Wang Chen flustered. She quickly made an excuse about being sleepy and retreated to her room. Both were later seen privately admiring their respective new gifts, with Wang Chen still breathless from their close encounter. Miao Yu and Wang Chen began their business trip by bus, entrusting Lady Meow and Coffee to Ling Sansan.
En route, the bus unexpectedly broke down in a remote area. Miao Yu became visibly stressed, complaining about the delay and predicting a "ripple effect" of subsequent problems, expressing concern about missing the exhibition. In contrast, Wang Chen remained calm, utilizing the unexpected downtime to sketch a new dress design. Miao Yu observed her, noting that the color she was using was "forest green," a detail he remembered from a previous conversation.
He remarked that even an accident could bring inspiration, and Wang Chen agreed that "surprise can come from unexpected events." They shared a banana and reminisced about a barista who spoke of "patience" in making filter coffee, concluding that "good taste comes from patience." When the replacement bus finally arrived, Miao Yu received a call informing him that their pre-booked rooms had been given away due to their delayed arrival, confirming his earlier fears of a ripple effect.
The only available options were two empty rooms. Upon entering one, they were shocked to discover it was a lavishly decorated "couple's room" or "honeymoon suite." Neither wanted to stay there, so they decided to share the other available room for the night, with the intention of securing separate accommodations after the exhibition. Attempting to sleep in the same bed, Miao Yu and Wang Chen lay rigidly, avoiding any contact due to intense awkwardness.
The next morning, Wang Chen awoke to find Miao Yu had moved to sleep on the floor, a gesture that brought a sweet smile to her face. At the fabric exhibition, they found a unique, exclusive fabric that perfectly matched Wang Chen's design. However, the vendor informed them that all the stock had been pre-ordered by "Walnut," a company recently acquired by Antong.
The mention of "Walnut" instantly triggered Miao Yu into a "Lady Meow mode," making him agitated and confrontational with the vendor. He dismissed the rock climbing competition prize as trivial and accused them of extortion. As he began to make a counter-offer, starting with "five. . ." , he suddenly collapsed, his eyes rolling back.
This was a direct physical manifestation of Lady Meow undergoing gastric lavage surgery after accidentally swallowing one of the "Big Dipper" pieces (a "little star" or "fortune stone") from Ling Sansan's merchandise. Ling Sansan had earlier rushed Lady Meow to the vet, where she was warned that the cat would be weak and unable to perform strenuous activities due to the anesthesia.
Back in their hotel room, Miao Yu was severely weakened and unable to feel his legs, his condition clearly linked to Lady Meow’s anesthesia. Despite his incapacitation, Miao Yu was determined to secure the fabric. With him unable to move and Wang Chen admitting her lack of athletic ability, they reluctantly concluded that she would have to participate in the rock climbing competition as their last resort.
In a desperate attempt, Wang Chen posted a plea on social media for help in acquiring the specific fabric, which caught the attention of Qin Sirui, who fell into deep thought.
