Plot Love Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Plot Love Synopsis
Su Bei, a fashion designer who was once framed and forcibly sent abroad, returns to China as a gold medal model agent after seven years.
In order to investigate the truth about the suicide of her only relative, Aunt Lan, Su Bei has to curb herself and approach her ex-husband, Lu Nan, who sent her abroad and has not contacted her for seven years, in the guise of a virtuous wife.
Su Bei only wants to find out the truth at that time.
With the help of Lu Nan, she finally undoes her heart knots in her mind and regains the original heart.
Finally, they resolve their misunderstanding and reunite.
Plot Love Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Seven years ago, on a cross-sea bridge, Lu Nan, dressed in a suit, approached Auntie Lan. Auntie Lan appeared terrified of him and, in desperation, she leaped off the bridge and fell into the sea. Su Bei rushed forward, calling out "Auntie Lan," but it was too late. Seven years later in Milan, Italy, Su Bei watched news about Eminence, a domestic company about to go public.
The reports highlighted its CEO, Lu Nan, and company model Su Manni, who were seen together at a hotel late at night, suggesting an upcoming marriage. Su Bei, with a determined expression, decided to return to Nanxi, declaring that it was time to settle the "old and new grudges, the seven years of marital discord." Her assistant, Ye Ting, provided documents related to Auntie Lan's orders.
Su Bei confirmed her intention to accept Eminence's invitation, believing that by getting close to Lu Nan, she could find the fragrance brocade and uncover the truth about Auntie Lan, who meant everything to her. She suspected Lu Nan, noting that Auntie Lan had told her Lu Nan repeatedly tried to buy the brocade. Shortly after her refusal, Lu Nan's associate, Zhang Yuan, appeared, and then a factory fire broke out on the eve of a delivery.
These coincidences made Su Bei believe Lu Nan was involved. Ye Ting reminded Su Bei that she had signed a divorce agreement for a clean break, but Su Bei was resolute, stating that since the divorce never finalized, she wouldn't let Lu Nan go now. She recalled his ruthless words from seven years ago, promising to repay his coldness with interest.
Meanwhile, at Eminence's office building in Nanxi, Zhang Yuan, one of the company's senior managers, stood on the rooftop, threatening to jump if he didn't receive company shares. He demanded to see Lu Nan, claiming that Lu Nan had driven Yu Qinglan, a company veteran, to death. When Lu Nan arrived, he presented what appeared to be a share transfer contract. Zhang Yuan rushed forward to grab it, only to find it was just blank papers. Security guards apprehended him.
Zhang Yuan cried out that he had already reported the Yu Qinglan matter to the group and Lu Nan had not intervened, so he shouldn't be blamed for the losses. He accused Lu Nan of being ruthless over a small financial loss. Lu Nan's assistant reminded Zhang Yuan that Lu Nan never gave second chances, and Zhang Yuan was then taken to the police station.
Later, at the IN fashion banquet, Su Manni made a grand entrance to the cheers of reporters and fans. Su Bei followed shortly after, wearing an identical gown. When they met, Su Bei greeted Su Manni as "dear sis," stating that while Su Manni sought her brother-in-law, she was there for her husband. Su Manni, visibly shocked and angered, tried to slap Su Bei, but Su Bei blocked her hand.
Su Bei declared that she was no longer the weak Su Bei from seven years ago and that it was time for Su Manni to return what she had taken. To the gathered reporters, they then put on a facade of sisterly affection. Inside, Su Bei rendezvoused with Ye Ting, who was disguised as a server and handed her Su Manni's room key.
Su Bei then changed into a cleaning uniform and entered Su Manni's hotel room to install a hidden camera. Lu Nan arrived at the banquet. Su Manni, seeing him, feigned being bumped and injured by an obsessive fan, acting distressed and asking Lu Nan to personally escort her to her room, which he reluctantly agreed to.
To buy Su Bei more time to install the camera, Ye Ting pressed the elevator button on every floor as Lu Nan and Su Manni ascended. Just as Lu Nan and Su Manni entered the room, the camera installation was complete. Su Bei, still disguised as a cleaner, casually walked past them with a garbage bag.
Inside the room, Su Manni sent Lu Nan to the bathroom for a towel, then secretly added a drug to a glass of water from her bag. However, when she offered Lu Nan the drink, he saw through her deception. He sarcastically remarked that he was used to women trying to drug him to marry him or sleep with him, stating that such tricks didn't work on him.
He challenged her to drink the water herself if she denied drugging it. Su Bei, monitoring the scene via her phone, was disappointed that Lu Nan didn't fall for it and activated "Plan B." Lu Nan warned Su Manni to stop her schemes if she wanted to remain at Eminence. As Lu Nan left the room, Su Manni intentionally fell, tearing her dress strap to further entice him.
At that moment, Su Bei, having changed back into her gown, entered the room. She confronted Lu Nan, accusing him of pretending not to know her, despite their seven-year marriage. Lu Nan, however, seemed genuinely not to recognize her, responding that she was "overdoing it." Moments later, reporters, alerted by Su Bei, swarmed the room.
Su Bei and Su Manni, once again, put on a show for the cameras, with Su Manni claiming she was injured by a fan and Lu Nan was merely helping her. Su Bei presented herself as Su Manni's elder sister, and they clarified they were half-sisters, thus diffusing the potentially scandalous situation. After the hotel incident, Su Bei called Ye Ting.
She explained that while they hadn't gotten the desired compromising footage of Lu Nan, the video of Su Manni trying to seduce her "brother-in-law" would still make headlines, which was a decent "Plan B." She reiterated her mission to find Auntie Lan's fragrance brocade, believing Lu Nan was the most likely person to have taken it. Later, Lu Nan, perplexed by Su Bei's claims, asked his assistant if Su Bei was indeed his wife.
The assistant confirmed Su Bei's identity but refused to elaborate on their marriage, citing a promise made to Lu Nan's grandmother. He revealed that Lu Nan had been in a car accident five years prior, which resulted in a five-year coma and subsequent memory loss, and that Su Bei had never visited him during that time despite many calls. The assistant advised Lu Nan to ask his grandmother directly when she returned.
Lu Nan, finding Su Bei's sudden return suspicious, ordered an investigation into her activities abroad and her reasons for coming back. At the hospital, Su Bei visited Auntie Lan, who remained in a vegetative state. She tearfully promised Auntie Lan that she had returned to uncover the truth and find the real culprit. Yu Jia, Auntie Lan's apprentice, was also present and expressed joy at Su Bei's return, stating Auntie Lan would be happy.
The investigation into the incident revealed further suspicious details: on the day of the factory fire, all surveillance cameras were coincidentally out of order, leaving no evidence. It was also learned that Zhang Yuan, now detained by Lu Nan, had initiated contact with Auntie Lan shortly before the incident. Su Bei found these successive coincidences too suspicious to be unrelated and planned to visit Zhang Yuan after his release.
The following day, Su Bei, under the alias "Annie," a renowned model agent, began her new role at Eminence. The administrative director, Tang Xin, showed her around, mentioning that the company's models were eagerly awaiting her. In the model training room, Su Bei overheard models gossiping about Annie's strict nature and veiled appearance, speculating she might be an "old, ugly" woman. Su Manni then entered the room, greeted by a swarm of fawning models. One model urged the "newcomer" (Su Bei) to greet Su Manni. Their eyes met, sparking a silent, intense rivalry between the two half-sisters.
Episode 2 Recap
The atmosphere in the model dressing room was charged as all the models, except for Liu Qianying, fawned over Su Manni, hailing her as their "head." Su Manni, spotting Su Bei, feigned ignorance and remarked that she only knew of an "unknown model" before realizing it was Su Bei. She then proceeded to mock Su Bei, asking if she "couldn't make a living abroad" and sarcastically offering her "resources," implying she should "sleep around."
Liu Qianying attempted to interject, reminding Su Manni that Annie was arriving soon. Su Bei retorted, agreeing that Annie was indeed "very picky," especially with models "like you." She chastised Su Manni for her "obscenities" and "rude manners," questioning her audacity. Su Manni proudly asserted her favored status with Boss Lu, the surrounding models, and numerous brand endorsements. Unfazed, Su Bei declared, "I'm very good at depriv[ing] others of what they own."
She informed Su Manni that her contracts for the next quarter would not be renewed and that upcoming collaborations with Gu's Group and Eminence on the KOOG brand would all be terminated. She sarcastically suggested that "models like you deserve better opportunities." Su Manni's entourage, angered, tried to remove Su Bei, but Manager Tang intervened, asking, "How can you treat Annie like this?" The models were shocked to realize Su Bei's true identity.
Su Bei then formally announced her new role as CEO of Eminence Starlight Agency and stated her intention to select and personally train one model from among them who would "follow my words, and work hard" to achieve international recognition. Afterward, Su Bei entered Lu Nan's office. Believing the 'fragrance brocade' was hidden there, she began searching. Lu Nan walked in on her, and Su Bei quickly fabricated a story about looking for a lost earring.
Lu Nan, cynical about her previous encounters, accused her of concocting various schemes to attract his attention and presented her with a divorce agreement, demanding she sign it and asserting that she held no value for him. Su Bei agreed to sign but immediately insisted they discuss how to divide their properties. Lu Nan, thinking to himself that her true aim was money, was interrupted by Special Assistant Yun's arrival, who addressed Su Bei as "Annie."
Realizing Su Bei was the renowned agent he'd hired, Lu Nan, surprised, discarded the divorce agreement. Su Bei challenged Lu Nan, asking if he now recognized her value. Lu Nan remained defiant, claiming many other agents were more capable. Su Bei then presented a detailed analysis of Eminence Starlight's dire financial situation, noting its 27 models, high operating costs, and reliance on Su Manni's mostly free "brand friend" endorsements, primarily within Asia.
She suggested this was not the outcome Lu Nan desired. Su Bei proposed a wager: within three months, she would transform Eminence Starlight into the top model agency in the country, fostering more models who would surpass Su Manni. Lu Nan countered, demanding results within two months, which Su Bei accepted.
As she left, Lu Nan reminded her to "never forget who you are," to which Su Bei responded that professionalism meant separating her work from her personal life and that he should "wait to see the final results." Lu Nan later complained to Special Assistant Yun about Su Bei being "so hard to deal with." Special Assistant Yun initially dismissed Su Bei as "easy to deal with," a "soft bun" that "anyone can manipulate."
Lu Nan retorted, questioning if a "soft bun" would immediately demand property division. Special Assistant Yun, recalling Su Bei's absence during Lu Nan's long illness, labeled her "heartless" and unworthy of his money, vowing she wouldn't receive "a penny" from him. Lu Nan then instructed Special Assistant Yun to find a lawyer to ensure Su Bei left with nothing, and sarcastically told his assistant to "go to deal with her for me." Special Assistant Yun agreed.
Anticipating Lu Nan's actions, Su Bei spoke with her confidante on the phone, noting Lu Nan's apparent unawareness of their divorce agreement was to their advantage. She confirmed her employment paperwork was being processed and that "someone will come to me soon." True to her prediction, Special Assistant Yun met Su Bei for coffee. He expressed surprise at her identity as Annie and remarked, "You've changed."
Su Bei explained that "seven years ago, I got smeared for no reason, and was kicked out by my beloved husband. So, if I'm still the same, I'll be a joke to everyone." Special Assistant Yun mentioned missing her in Italy, to which Su Bei clarified, "Actually, I was avoiding you on purpose." Su Bei then called him out, asking if Lu Nan had sent him to "find out why I come back."
She then feigned a desire to reconcile, claiming she had returned "neither for divorcing with him, nor for getting his properties. I just want to reconcile with him." She questioned why Lu Nan seemed to have "forgotten me." Special Assistant Yun vaguely responded that "it's too miserable for him to remember you," intentionally omitting any mention of Lu Nan's amnesia. Su Bei then asked if it was "greedy to resume my marriage with him."
Meanwhile, Lu Nan held a meeting with lawyers, demanding a solution to ensure Su Bei received no property in the divorce. Frustrated by their legal limitations, he threatened to fire them if they couldn't find a way. A lawyer suggested that strong evidence of infidelity combined with ethical public opinion could pressure her to relinquish her claim.
Dismissing the lawyers, Lu Nan later received a box from Special Assistant Yun containing items from his and Su Bei's seven years together, intended to help him understand her better. During the model assessments, Su Manni arrived late and demanded to postpone her turn, citing her busy schedule. Su Bei, however, declared the assessment concluded and immediately canceled all of Su Manni's business activities.
An enraged Su Manni confronted Su Bei, boasting about her value to the company and her numerous brand endorsements. Su Bei coolly corrected her, pointing out that Su Manni's endorsements were mostly unpaid "brand friend" deals limited to Asia, and assured her that under her management, the company would no longer solely rely on one model. Su Manni then spread rumors that Su Bei had "slept around to get endorsements," claiming many in the industry knew.
Su Bei challenged her to name specific individuals, listing prominent figures like William (founder of CG), Leo (Design Director of Double C), and Ken from L. She then revealed that she had once supported William financially when he was struggling, and Leo was a former model under her care who retired due to injury.
To refute the "Ken from L" accusation, Su Bei called Ken, who was revealed to be a woman named Kennie, with whom Su Bei had a close, non-romantic relationship. Su Bei demanded an apology, but Su Manni refused, instead announcing her contract with Eminence was expiring and other agencies were eagerly pursuing her. Su Bei calmly congratulated her and promptly declared that Liu Qianying, the top performer in the assessment, would become Eminence's chief model once Su Manni left.
She instructed her assistant to reassign all of Su Manni's activities to Liu Qianying or terminate the contracts. Su Manni threatened Su Bei with Lu Nan's wrath, but Su Bei reminded her that her employment terms granted her "independent decision-making power over the entire brokerage company," including contract renewals.
Su Manni vowed to reclaim everything Su Bei had "stolen" from her, but Su Bei confidently proclaimed that within a month, Liu Qianying would replace her as the next "national model star." Lu Nan and Special Assistant Yun, having overheard the entire exchange, agreed that using Su Bei to curb Su Manni was "indeed a good idea."
Later, Su Manni complained to Lu Nan's sister, Lu Fei, about Su Bei's "insolent" behavior, accusing her of acting like the "Chairman's wife" and having "slept with many men" to climb to her current position. She also reminded Lu Fei of how Su Bei's presence had caused Lu Nan to be distant with her in the past.
Lu Fei initially feigned subservience, reminding Su Manni that Annie was her brother's hire and that without evidence, neither she nor even their grandmother could challenge Su Bei. Su Manni, however, insisted she possessed "all the evidence he wants" and vowed to expose Su Bei's true colors to Lu Nan.
Once Su Manni left, Lu Fei, her meek facade dropping, angrily shredded flowers and called someone, demanding a thorough investigation into Su Bei's activities and records from her time in Italy. At the Gu's Group KOOG brand launch, CEO Gu Chengze, the founder of the KOOG brand, introduced the company's new vision. Su Bei and Liu Qianying were seen getting refreshments.
Su Bei encouraged Liu Qianying to have confidence in herself regarding the KOOG endorsement, despite Liu Qianying's hesitation, mentioning President Gu's preference for Su Manni. Su Manni approached them, scoffing at Su Bei for bringing "a drag alongside" and confidently stating that her existing relationship with President Gu made securing endorsements "quite easy." Gu Yan, Gu's project manager, then approached Su Bei, introducing himself as the intermediary from Gu's whom she had "declined three times."
Su Bei apologized for her previous "disrespectful" actions and expressed a desire for future cooperation, asking him to call her "Su Bei." Gu Yan noted she was "not the same as I imagined" and "really not like others." Overhearing their conversation, Su Manni disparaged Gu Yan as "the illegitimate child of Gu's family," implying he was beneath Su Bei's attention. Later, Su Manni directly approached President Gu to secure the KOOG endorsement.
As she offered a toast, President Gu made an inappropriate advance, suggesting the endorsement was conditional on her cooperation. Su Manni, concerned about "so many people here," struggled to push him away, accidentally spilling wine on him. An enraged President Gu accused her of "patronizing" him and threatened to ruin her career if she didn't provide an explanation.
Su Bei quickly intervened, apologizing on Su Manni's behalf and subtly suggesting that Su Manni's recently "injured arm" had caused her to drop the glass. Su Manni, seeing Su Bei take responsibility, smirked. Su Bei then tried to de-escalate the situation, implying her own job was on the line if her employee offended President Gu on her first day. She offered to "apologize to you for Manni."
President Gu, recognizing Su Bei as the Annie who had previously rejected his company, found her "not like others" and accepted her offer. He then demanded that Su Bei "finish all three of them," referring to three glasses of alcohol, in exchange for forgiving Su Manni. Su Bei looked distressed at his demand.
Episode 3 Recap
At a fashion event, President Gu offered Su Bei three shots of liquor, promising that if she drank them, Su Manni's recent issue would be overlooked, and the endorsement for Kong would go to Eminence's model. Su Bei clarified the terms with President Gu, who confirmed his word. When Liu Qianying offered to drink in her stead, Su Bei politely refused, stating the endorsement hinged on her personal consumption. She then promptly drank the three shots.
President Gu was impressed by Su Bei's resolve and expressed regret at not having recruited her earlier. Su Bei pointed out that working for him would mean he paid her, whereas now, she was putting in great effort to secure his cooperation, which was likely more gratifying for him. She then introduced Liu Qianying, promoting her as an ideal candidate for Kong's youthful image. President Gu agreed to consider "Annie's" recommendation and suggested further discussions that evening.
Su Manni approached President Gu, asking him to look after her "sister" (Su Bei), and he instructed an assistant to exchange contact details. As Su Bei walked away, Su Manni taunted her, accusing her of faking drunkenness to manipulate men and questioning what Lu Nan would think if he knew her true nature. Lu Nan and Yun Fan observed the scene.
Yun Fan playfully remarked to Lu Nan that he had fallen for a "wild horse" and would end up cuckolded, which visibly angered Lu Nan. As Yun Fan drove Lu Nan away, he made an "unreasonable request" for Lu Nan not to get angry, then revealed that he had put a "drunk" Su Bei in Lu Nan's car, citing concerns for her safety if left alone in the garage.
Lu Nan angrily demanded she be removed, but Yun Fan refused, claiming it would be ungentlemanly to dump a drunk woman by the roadside and ruin his own reputation. He insisted Lu Nan deal with Su Bei himself and then quickly drove off, leaving Lu Nan with Su Bei in the car and jokingly saying "Love you!" Lu Nan was frustrated and annoyed, taking Su Bei home while warning her not to vomit in his car.
Upon arriving at Lu Nan's house, Su Bei, who was merely feigning intoxication, quickly regained her composure. While Lu Nan went upstairs to shower, she began searching the house for the "fragrance brocade." During her search, she stumbled upon a bottle of medication for brain damage and neurological deficits, causing her to wonder why Lu Nan, who appeared so healthy, would need such drugs. Coincidentally, Lu Nan came downstairs after his shower.
Su Bei, startled, pretended to be thirsty and swayed towards him, accidentally tripping and falling into him, resulting in a close physical contact. As Lu Nan stood there, Su Bei deliberately pulled down his bath towel, prompting him to exclaim "Crazy woman!" and hastily retreat upstairs. The next day, news headlines splashed across the internet and newspapers, accusing "golden agent Annie" (Su Bei) of "sleeping her way to the top."
Yun Fan suspected Su Manni was behind the fabricated news, aiming to undermine Su Bei and generate buzz for her own alleged affair with Lu Nan. However, Lu Nan believed Su Bei herself was the manipulator. He reasoned that if their marriage were exposed, Su Bei would be the biggest beneficiary. Instead of a strong public relations offensive to remove the false news, Lu Nan decided to wait, letting Su Bei "play her game" to uncover her true intentions.
He believed Su Bei had deliberately fueled the scandal to serve her own agenda. Su Bei, on the phone with Ye Ting, discussed Lu Nan's unusual medication, wondering if he had any health issues, though Ye Ting hadn't heard anything. Su Bei then confirmed her plan was in motion, noting that within twelve hours, the news would fully escalate, delivering a "big surprise" to the public, implying Su Manni would be caught unaware.
Later, Lu Nan confronted Su Bei, demanding an explanation for the scandalous headlines. Su Bei, referring to her professional name Annie, calmly presented her achievements: Su Manni was trending, and Liu Qianying had secured a new project. She suggested Lu Nan should be pleased with her results and implied he knew who was truly behind the negative news about her. When Lu Nan asked if he should give her an award, Su Bei boldly said she would "deserve it."
Lu Nan gave her 24 hours to resolve her negative publicity, stating that as long as Eminence's reputation wasn't affected, he didn't care what she did. Su Bei then challenged him, questioning why, as her legal husband, he offered no trust or concern. Lu Nan retorted that he couldn't trust a woman he hadn't seen in seven years, who claimed to still have feelings for him yet aggressively sought a divorce and property.
Su Bei reminded him of her forced departure years ago, but Lu Nan maintained he had forgotten everything, considering her a "stranger." He warned her not to play emotional games for financial gain, to which Su Bei sarcastically agreed that he "scoffed at emotions." Meanwhile, Zhang Yuan was abducted after his release from detention. Ye Ting, who was tracking him, immediately called Su Bei, who instructed her to obtain surveillance footage to locate Zhang Yuan.
True to Su Bei's plan, the news escalated. Capitalizing on the "sleeping her way to the top" scandal, Su Bei strategically leaked the information about her seven-year marriage to Lu Nan. This, combined with the earlier rumors of Lu Nan's affair with Su Manni, painted Lu Nan as a "love rat" in the public eye. With Eminence's IPO imminent, Lu Nan had no choice but to accept Su Bei's demands and publicly acknowledge their marriage.
During a company meeting, Su Manni angrily confronted Su Bei, accusing her of being responsible for the media storm and questioning her with the implication of being a home-wrecker. Su Bei responded by questioning Su Manni's right to accuse her, given her own involvement in Lu Nan's marital affairs. Lu Nan intervened, telling Su Manni to sit down.
Su Bei then presented a PR plan, explaining that while the previous day's news was suppressed, today's leak necessitated a quick decision to mitigate damage to Eminence.
Her plan involved: acknowledging her and Lu Nan's seven-year marriage, attributing the hidden status to personal reasons, and denying any marital discord or separation; releasing photos of her and Su Manni to refute rumors of a love triangle or sisterly conflict; issuing warnings to overly aggressive netizens; and having Su Manni herself create and post a video explaining her alleged affair with Lu Nan, using a script provided by Su Bei.
Furthermore, Su Bei announced the suspension of all of Su Manni's domestic endorsements until the news subsided, despite Su Manni's protests about a newly secured endorsement. Lu Nan supported Su Bei's plan and dismissed everyone except Su Bei. Alone with Su Bei, Lu Nan directly asked if she was behind the news.
Su Bei admitted it, explaining her motivations: first, to assert her authority as Annie within Eminence Starlight and not be overshadowed by Su Manni; second, to proactively manage the inevitable revelation of their marriage by the public. She argued that he would have done the same in her position. Lu Nan, while acknowledging her capability, expressed his dislike for her manipulative tactics.
He agreed to cooperate with her in publicly acknowledging their marriage, but demanded she "play the role of Mrs. Lu well." Outside the company, Su Bei and Lu Nan staged a public display of affection for reporters, affirming their love and denying any ambiguity with Su Manni. Their synchronized performance successfully shifted public opinion. That evening, Su Bei moved into Lu Nan's house.
After signing a cohabitation agreement that stipulated the party who initiated divorce would forfeit all assets to the other (a clause Lu Nan quickly dismissed, stating legal precedent would apply), Lu Nan laid down rules, telling her to stay in her second-floor room and out of his sight. Su Bei defiantly locked him out of the house, feigning that the door was broken and she couldn't open it. She then used the opportunity to search for a hidden safe.
She tried Lu Nan's birthday and then his grandmother's birthday as passwords, but both attempts failed, and she hesitated to try again for fear of triggering an alarm. Lu Nan, left outside, called Yun Fan, complaining about Su Bei's audacity. Yun Fan tried to placate him, suggesting that having Su Bei under his roof would make it easier to uncover her true motives.
He offered Lu Nan a place to stay for the night, and Lu Nan reluctantly accepted, threatening Yun Fan with termination if he ever spoke of the incident. Separately, Su Bei called Ye Ting, asking her to prepare certain items and send her a list via WeChat, likely for cracking the safe. The next day, Su Manni complained to Lu Nan's sister, Lu Fei, about losing contracts and Lu Nan taking Su Bei's side.
Lu Fei accidentally let slip that her brother and Su Bei were in the process of divorcing and dividing assets, a detail she had heard from their grandmother. Lu Fei expressed concern that if Su Bei were to get pregnant, the divorce might be derailed. Su Manni was shocked to hear about the divorce. Lu Fei offered to visit her brother's house to investigate the situation. Later that day, Su Bei returned to Lu Nan's house.
She tried the door's password again, failing multiple times. Lu Nan, who was inside, playfully mocked her from an upstairs balcony. Su Bei then entered through the back door, much to Lu Nan's frustration. Su Bei "apologized" for locking him out the previous night, claiming it was an accident and she couldn't open the door herself. Lu Nan, irritated, accused her of faking it to get his attention.
Su Bei insisted she was telling the truth and eventually offered a formal apology. Still fuming, Lu Nan resorted to drinking. He became drunk and, upon seeing Su Bei, forcefully pulled her towards him, initiating an intimate encounter. Su Bei, trying to provoke him, mocked his physique and masculinity, daring him to prove himself.
Episode 4 Recap
The morning after, Su Bei was seen calmly drinking on the sofa as Lu Nan woke up in her bed, disoriented and in disarray. He warned her not to harbor any illusions, stating that sleeping together didn't make their relationship special. Su Bei, however, merely replied that she wouldn't hold him responsible. Lu Nan retorted that, by normal standards, he wouldn't touch her at all and accused her of plotting.
Su Bei, unfazed, reminded him she was indeed Mrs. Lu and dismissed his warnings, affirming that she was no longer the weak person she had been seven years ago. Later, at a KTV, Yun Fan met Zhang Yuan and handed him a check, explaining it was from Lu Nan. Yun Fan instructed Zhang Yuan to keep quiet and know what to say and what not to say, given Lu Nan's temper.
Zhang Yuan readily agreed, promising to keep the secret and "forget" everything, acknowledging that trouble for Lu Nan would not benefit him either. Yun Fan's playful teasing of Lu Nan earlier resulted in him being assigned the arduous task of organizing financial reports. While carrying a stack of documents, he collided with Ye Ting.
She introduced herself as Annie's assistant from Eminence Starlight and offered her contact details, but Yun Fan, noting her lack of adherence to company protocol, advised her to report to HR for a week of training. Ye Ting, however, insisted that as Annie's direct subordinate, her work could only be arranged with Annie's prior approval, leading to an unpleasant first encounter. Ye Ting quickly called Su Bei to inform her that Lu Nan would be working overtime that night.
Meanwhile, Gu Chengze faced reprimand from his family elders for having previously drunk with Su Bei. His younger brother, Gu Yan, approached him regarding a cooperation contract between Gu's Group and Eminence Starlight. Gu Chengze, in a hostile manner, dismissed Gu Yan as an illegitimate son with no right to meddle in Gu's Group affairs.
Gu Yan also relayed their father's instruction for Gu Chengze to play modestly at a golf game the next day with Mr. Xian and Mr. Liu of Ji Cheng, which Gu Chengze angrily rejected. Su Bei, introducing herself as Annie, President of Eminence Starlight, visited Gu's Group to renegotiate a canceled contract. She was initially turned away, being told Mr. Gu was busy in a meeting.
While waiting, she encountered Gu Yan, who inadvertently disclosed that Gu Chengze would be playing golf in the eastern suburb the following day. With the confirmation of Lu Nan's overtime, Su Bei returned to his home to attempt opening his safe. After several failed attempts, she recalled their wedding registration date, May twentieth, and tried it. The safe clicked open. Before she could examine its contents, Lu Nan unexpectedly returned home.
Su Bei quickly closed the safe and ducked into the bathroom. Lu Nan entered his room. Su Bei then emerged from the bathroom, wearing his shirt, her hair wet. She explained that there was no hot water in her room and she had forgotten her clothes, promising to wash his shirt and return it. Lu Nan coldly told her to throw it away, as he wouldn't wear clothes worn by others.
Flustered and suspicious, Lu Nan tried to act nonchalant by reading a book, only for Su Bei to point out that he was holding it upside down. Exasperated, Lu Nan immediately called Yun Fan, instructing him to hire someone to install surveillance cameras throughout the house the next morning. At the golf course, Gu Chengze and Gu Yan were playing with Mr. Xian and Mr. Liu.
Gu Yan deliberately played poorly as instructed by their father to allow the clients to win, leading to Gu Chengze losing the first game despite his skill. Su Bei arrived and offered to help Gu Chengze win the match in exchange for signing their contract. He verbally agreed. Su Bei then displayed exceptional golfing prowess, leading their team to victory.
However, Gu Chengze then went back on his word, mockingly calling her "Mrs. Lu" and stating she was too naive to trick him, offering her only the standard fee for a professional sparring partner. Meanwhile, Yun Fan’s investigation into Su Bei’s past in Italy uncovered a shocking detail: medical records from a private hospital indicated she had an induced abortion eight months after arriving in Italy, with the fetus being nine weeks old.
The identity of the father could not be determined due to the passage of time and Su Bei's many male acquaintances. Yun Fan instructed his subordinate to keep this sensitive information strictly confidential. Distracted by the revelation that Lu Nan's safe password was their wedding anniversary, Su Bei pondered why he would remember it if he had truly forgotten her. She also received project investment information about Gu Chengze, hinting at internal turmoil within Gu's Group.
Armed with this knowledge, Su Bei decided to crash Gu Chengze's KTV gathering, where Su Manni was desperately pleading for the IN endorsement. Upon Su Bei's arrival, Gu Chengze openly disparaged Su Manni's intelligence in comparison to Su Bei's. He offered a drink, proposing a "friends first, business later" approach. Su Bei confidently drank it, but Su Manni refused, claiming she had a big show the next day and feared her face would swell.
Gu Chengze, feigning agreement, announced that the IN endorsement would go to Su Bei, causing Su Manni to storm out in a rage. Anticipating Gu Chengze's trickery, Su Bei presented him with confidential documents revealing he had pledged company shares for a loan. Shocked by this exposure, Gu Chengze agreed to sign the cooperation agreement, extracting a promise of silence from Su Bei.
In the underground parking garage, an enraged Su Manni attempted to run over Su Bei with her car. Gu Yan quickly intervened, pulling Su Bei out of the vehicle's path, saving her but causing her to twist her ankle. Gu Yan then drove Su Bei to the hospital and, afterwards, offered to take her home. Su Bei thanked him for providing the confidential documents about Gu Chengze's loan, recognizing him as her informant.
Gu Yan explained that his actions were for the good of his brother and Gu's Group, as he felt marginalized and lacked a voice within his own family. Finding common ground in their similar predicaments, they agreed to become friends. As Gu Yan was helping Su Bei into the house, she feigned inability to walk after seeing Lu Nan's car. Lu Nan rushed over, took Su Bei from Gu Yan, and curtly warned Gu Yan to stay away from her.
Inside, Lu Nan sternly told Su Bei to remember her identity as Mrs. Lu and to avoid any physical contact with other men. Su Bei playfully accused him of jealousy, but Lu Nan vehemently denied it, insisting he merely wanted to avoid embarrassment. He then revealed that surveillance cameras had been installed throughout the house and threatened severe consequences if she continued her "tricks," ominously referring to her past departure to Italy and implying jail time.
Su Bei challenged his possessive attitude, asserting her independence as an individual capable of independent thought. Lu Nan retorted that marrying her was the most absurd thing he had ever done and vowed that she would not get what she desired from him.
Episode 5 Recap
Su Bei and Lu Nan were in the midst of an argument when Lu Fei arrived, carrying fish maw soup for Su Bei. Instantly, the couple put on an elaborate show of affection, feeding each other soup and offering massages. Overwhelmed by their display, Lu Fei, who had intended to subtly probe their relationship, quickly excused herself, citing the late hour.
As soon as Lu Fei departed, Su Bei and Lu Nan dropped their pretense, returning to a cold standoff and continuing their argument. Meanwhile, Su Manni called Lu Fei, distraught, believing she had accidentally hit Su Bei with her car. Lu Fei calmly assured her that Su Bei was perfectly fine and at home. Just then, Su Manni received a text message about Su Bei’s abortion, causing her to abruptly end the call.
Alone, Lu Fei revealed a sinister smirk, musing to herself that if both Su Bei and Su Manni intended to vie for her brother, she would simply let them destroy each other. The following day, Su Bei found herself at the center of a media storm as news of her abortion, with a falsified date, plastered across all major outlets. Reporters swarmed her outside Eminence Group, but Ye Ting quickly escorted her inside.
Moments later, an enraged Lu Nan confronted Su Bei, accusing her of carrying another man’s illegitimate child and declaring her soul and body to be "dirty." Su Bei vehemently denied his accusations, retorting that he was even "dirtier." In his fury, Lu Nan demanded a divorce. Su Bei agreed but insisted he apologize for his harsh words, leading to a heated argument before they parted ways. Yun Fan tried to intervene, urging Lu Nan to reconsider the hasty divorce.
He revealed that he had dispatched people to Italy to investigate the rumors and expected results soon, pleading with Lu Nan to wait. However, Lu Nan, infuriated by Yun Fan’s perceived overreach, angrily dismissed him, reiterating his firm decision to divorce and ordering Yun Fan to merely execute his commands. Elsewhere, Lu Fei complacently watched Eminence’s live press conference on her tablet while arranging flowers, anticipating Lu Nan’s decisive announcement of divorce.
To her shock, Lu Nan suddenly appeared with Su Bei, pulling her hand in his. He declared that he and Su Bei had married seven years ago out of love, trusting and supporting each other. He denounced all rumors of separation, divorce, illegitimate children, and abortion as malicious slander, vowing that Eminence would pursue legal action against anyone who continued to defame their marriage. What was meant to be a crisis management event transformed into a public display of affection.
Witnessing this, a furious Lu Fei swept the flowers and her tablet to the floor, questioning why Lu Nan continued to protect Su Bei even after all that had happened. After the conference, Lu Nan confronted Su Bei, suggesting she had some information she wasn't disclosing and mentioning the KOOG endorsement contract.
He then stated that for the sake of Eminence's upcoming IPO, he would not divorce her, but demanded she move out, as he no longer wished to see her. Su Bei coldly agreed, saying the feeling was mutual. Later, Yun Fan informed Lu Nan that the investigators sent to Italy had returned. The abortion news was indeed true, but the child was Lu Nan’s.
He explained that seven years prior, after arriving in Italy, Su Bei suffered from heartbreak syndrome due to extreme grief. By the time she discovered her pregnancy, her condition was already severe, forcing her to terminate the nine-week-old fetus, which had been conceived in China. Lu Nan found Su Bei at home, drowning her sorrows in alcohol. He attempted to stop her, but she defiantly told him to mind his own business.
He then revealed that he knew the child was his, asking why she had not told him. Tearfully, Su Bei reminded him of his cruel words and the immense pain she endured, calling him a "bastard" and questioning if he was there to mock or pity her. Overcome with guilt, Lu Nan apologized, offering to move out the next day if she never wished to see him again.
Su Bei then began to reveal a secret about their child before losing consciousness. Yun Fan arrived, and Lu Nan asked him to investigate who was truly behind the leak, believing Su Manni lacked the capability to act alone. The next morning, Lu Nan, adopting a softer demeanor, made breakfast for Su Bei and again expressed his apologies.
He informed her that Su Manni was the one who leaked the news, stating that as Su Manni’s boss and sister, Su Bei was free to handle the situation as she saw fit. Su Bei promptly summoned Su Manni to her office, presenting a contract for the termination of her employment. Su Manni refused to sign, storming off to seek help from Lu Nan.
However, Lu Nan severely reprimanded her, clarifying that his past support for her was solely for Eminence's benefit, not out of any personal affection. He sternly warned her against speaking ill of Su Bei, threatening to blacklist her from the fashion industry if she persisted. He then advised her to leave Eminence gracefully. A furious Su Manni departed. Later, Ye Ting updated Su Bei, confirming that Lu Nan had effectively blacklisted Su Manni, leaving her unable to find work.
Su Manni was now attempting to charm Gu Chengze, who, preoccupied with family matters, paid her no mind. Su Bei reiterated her resolve to reclaim everything Su Manni had taken from her. That night, Su Bei met Zhang Yuan at a KTV. She wasted no time proposing a deal: she intended to remove Lu Nan from power and take control of Eminence.
Knowing Zhang Yuan’s long history with Lu Nan, she offered a substantial sum for any useful information he possessed. Zhang Yuan seemed intrigued but did not commit immediately. Later, Ye Ting called Su Bei to inform her that Chris had returned to Nanxi City. At Eminence Group’s entrance, Chris, a young boy playing with a ball, spotted Lu Nan and was about to shout "Dad!" when Ye Ting quickly pulled him away.
Lu Nan, seemingly oblivious, dismissed it as a child’s playful antics. Su Bei later met Chris, who explained he missed his "Dad" and had cleverly convinced his teacher to change his summer camp location to Nanxi City. It was then revealed that Su Bei had not aborted her and Lu Nan's child; Chris was their son. Su Bei apologized to Chris for the danger he put himself in, but he insisted he only wanted to see his dad.
Ye Ting suggested enrolling Chris in a local school and transferring his records. Subsequently, Su Bei received a text from Zhang Yuan confirming their meeting for that evening. She then called Chris, promising to try to return early to sleep with him. Unbeknownst to her, Lu Nan overheard the conversation. He confronted Su Bei, demanding to know who this "friend" was that she was addressing so affectionately. Su Bei dismissed his questions, leaving for her appointment. Suspicious, Lu Nan immediately called Yun Fan, instructing him to investigate Su Bei's schedule for the night.
Episode 6 Recap
Upon receiving information that Su Bei had gone to a nightclub, Lu Nan immediately had Yun Fan track her itinerary, suspicious of her motives. When Yun Fan asked if he was jealous, Lu Nan denied it, claiming he was only concerned about Eminence's reputation, as a nightclub was "no place for a decent woman." Yun Fan remained unconvinced. Meanwhile, inside the M1 KTV, Su Bei met with Zhang Yuan to discuss their partnership against Lu Nan.
Zhang Yuan acknowledged he knew some undisclosed facts about Lu Nan but expressed concerns about the high risks of working with Su Bei. He demanded five percent of Eminence's shares upon completion of their plan. Su Bei agreed, promising to give him even more. Just as they were about to formalize their agreement, Lu Nan arrived at the nightclub with Yun Fan. Ye Ting, stationed outside, quickly alerted Su Bei to Lu Nan's presence.
As Lu Nan and Yun Fan tried to force their way into the KTV area, Ye Ting bravely blocked their path, even physically pulling Yun Fan away to stall for time. Su Bei, informed of the situation, swiftly left the private room and, upon encountering Lu Nan in the hallway, feigned dizziness and collapsed into him. To further delay him and allow Zhang Yuan to escape, she kissed him.
Lu Nan, asserting that she had provoked him, responded with a passionate kiss in the public corridor. During their embrace, a fight erupted in an adjacent room, and a flying bottle threatened them both. Instinctively, Su Bei pushed Lu Nan out of the way, shielding him with her back and sustaining an injury. Lu Nan, visibly moved by her protective gesture, carried her out and insisted on taking her to the hospital.
Later, as Lu Nan tended to Su Bei's wound, he inquired about whom she was meeting at the nightclub. Su Bei claimed it was just "a distant relative," dismissing his questions as jealousy. He vehemently denied it, insisting he merely wanted to remind her that a nightclub was "no place for a decent woman." That night, Su Bei discovered she couldn't reach Zhang Yuan.
Discussing the matter with Ye Ting, Su Bei wondered if Lu Nan's sudden appearance at the club was out of jealousy. Ye Ting noted Zhang Yuan's disappearance after Lu Nan showed up, suggesting Lu Nan might be involved, and stressed the urgency of finding Zhang Yuan as he was a crucial lead. Su Bei also clarified that her act of shielding Lu Nan was instinctual, but acknowledged it was a good opportunity to influence him.
She then worried about her son, Chris, who had expressed understanding after being told his mother was working overtime. Meanwhile, Chris, observing other children playing soccer with their fathers, felt a deep longing for his own. After a playful argument with another boy named Pang about whose father was stronger, Chris was determined to meet his father.
He confided in Auntie Yang, his nanny, asking her to keep his plan a secret from Su Bei, tearfully explaining his desire for a father. Moved by his distress, Auntie Yang reluctantly agreed. Chris later approached Lu Nan outside his house, repeatedly calling him "Dad" and identifying Su Bei as his mother. Lu Nan, perplexed, denied having a son.
Chris presented Lu Nan with a large Superman toy, claiming Lu Nan had given him a smaller one for his fourth birthday and this was his gift in return. When Lu Nan refused the toy, they struggled, and it broke, causing Chris to cry hysterically. To pacify the boy, Lu Nan gave Auntie Yang 100 Yuan to buy Chris a new toy. Upon visiting Chris, Su Bei learned he had met Lu Nan and was distraught.
Chris tearfully asked if his father didn't know him and expressed his desire to play soccer with him like Pang did with his dad. He declared he no longer wanted such a "bad dad" who didn't recognize him and had broken his toy. Su Bei apologized for his suffering due to her and Lu Nan's conflicts, promising she was acting for his own good. While comforting Chris, Su Bei recalled her past.
Seven years ago in Italy, after discovering her pregnancy and being told the baby might not survive, she desperately called Lu Nan. However, his sister Lu Fei answered, coldly telling her that Lu Nan wanted her to stop bothering him and that it would be "better if the baby doesn't survive," as they had "no ties anymore." Overwhelmed, Su Bei collapsed and started bleeding, but was thankfully rescued by Ye Ting, who called for an ambulance in Italian.
Later, Su Bei confided in Ye Ting, questioning if she was wrong to let Chris believe his father loved him. Ye Ting reassured her, emphasizing that Chris needed a loving father figure, even if it was a fabricated reality. They decided that once their current mission was complete, they would take Chris and leave, never returning to their "sad place." Su Bei tearfully expressed her gratitude for Ye Ting's unwavering friendship.
That evening, Lu Nan, concerned by Su Bei's late return and ignored calls, anxiously waited for her. He gently reproached her for drinking while injured and carefully tended to her wound. They spent the night together. The next morning, Lu Nan, appearing uncharacteristically thoughtful, had Yun Fan peel an apple. Lu Nan mused about the mysterious nature of relationships, likening them to an apple peel that must remain unbroken to endure.
He then expressed his confusion over Su Bei's detached attitude, wondering why she wasn't "stalking" him after they had slept together. Yun Fan, sensing Lu Nan's unacknowledged feelings, playfully accused him of having a crush on Su Bei, which Lu Nan vehemently denied, attributing his concern to her "irresponsible attitude" as the president of Eminence. During a company meeting, Lu Nan was visibly distracted, lost in thoughts of the previous night.
When a presenter discussed Eminence Fashion's plan to enter the high-end market and the luxury brand Sia's interest in China, Lu Nan could only tersely approve. Yun Fan, noticing his distraction and a "mosquito bite" on his neck, told an assistant to get mosquito repellent along with coffee, subtly hinting at Lu Nan's recent romantic encounter. Later that night, Su Bei sought out Lu Nan.
She reiterated her morning assertion that "nothing happened" and jokingly asked if he expected her to be "responsible." Lu Nan, annoyed, questioned why she had sought him out if she wanted to keep her distance. Su Bei then claimed that she had to "hide her feelings" and "like him" in secret to get close to him.
When Lu Nan asked if she was admitting to having ulterior motives, Su Bei falsely insisted she had "had a crush on him for a long time." She then asked him to help her apply a new gauze to her shoulder, claiming she had "accidentally gotten water on it." When he agreed, Su Bei deliberately stated she had "forgotten" the gauze, sending Lu Nan downstairs to retrieve it.
While Lu Nan was downstairs, Su Bei quickly opened his hidden safe and retrieved a file labeled "Sanglan Costume." However, before she could examine its contents, Lu Nan returned empty-handed. She quickly put the file back, discreetly closed the safe with her foot, and pretended to be engrossed in another document. She asked Lu Nan about the "thorough dyeing" technology mentioned in it.
Lu Nan, seemingly unaware of her true intentions, explained that it was a classified, yet unfinished, dyeing technique from their R&D department. Su Bei then asked about the gauze she had sent him for. Lu Nan, after noting she had never told him where to find it, directed her to the kitchen cabinet.
Episode 7 Recap
While Lu Nan stepped downstairs to retrieve gauze, Su Bei took the opportunity to open the safe and caught a glimpse of a Sanglan Costume contract. However, Lu Nan quickly returned, asking what she was doing. Su Bei faked hurting her ankle, claiming it was an accident. Lu Nan expressed concern and offered to check.
He then teased her, remarking that it was improper to run away after flirting and that such a way of thanking him was "a little dangerous." He hoped she would be responsible for her actions. Su Bei politely declined his help and chose to apply the gauze herself. The next day, Su Bei asked Ye Ting to duplicate a key to Lu Nan's bedroom.
She revealed that she had found a mortgage contract between Lu Nan and Auntie Lan in his safe, but had lacked time to examine its contents. Su Bei also informed Ye Ting about Eminence's newly discovered "thorough dyeing" process, a pure natural plant-based dyeing technique. She suspected this technology might be linked to the fragrance brocade's unique production.
Su Bei explained that major companies had long coveted the fragrance brocade because its unique processes—from reeling and printing to dyeing—were each groundbreaking enough to revolutionize the entire clothing industry. However, its extremely high production costs made it unprofitable to produce, which is why neither Eminence nor Gu's Group had managed to mass-produce it.
Su Bei concluded that since only Auntie Lan had ever seen the fragrance brocade, she couldn't be certain of the connection, but intended to "elicit the truth." Later, Su Bei presented Lu Nan with Eminence's proposal for collaborating with Sia. She mentioned that while Sia currently favored Gu's Group, Eminence still had a chance, especially since she knew Sia's director, Amy.
Lu Nan gave Su Bei full authority over the matter, even permitting her to concede profits to secure the deal. Su Bei suggested focusing on fabric technology, an area where Gu's Group was weak, as Eminence held no other significant advantage. Lu Nan agreed, recalling his own past attempt to acquire core technology. He recounted that three months prior, he had sought to partner with a factory producing brocades and silks.
The person in charge, in urgent need of money, offered their core technology as collateral. However, after Lu Nan paid the deposit, the person suffered an accident and fell into a vegetative state, halting the cooperation. Su Bei questioned why Eminence didn't claim the mortgaged technology. Lu Nan explained that the core technology was only known to the manager, who was now in a coma.
Su Bei realized Lu Nan was referring to Auntie Lan, but noted that Auntie Lan's accounts showed no record of the deposit. She sarcastically remarked on his investment "failure." Lu Nan assured her of his full support for the Sia deal, offering Eminence's thorough dye technology. Su Bei thanked him. Lu Nan then, trying to be engaging, asked if Su Bei noticed anything different about him. Su Bei, however, commented that his tie did not match his shirt.
Su Bei later reviewed the thorough dye data and found significant differences when compared to her knowledge of fragrance brocade. This puzzled her; if Lu Nan truly possessed the fragrance brocade, there would be no reason for him to waste time on a different, less developed technology. At the hospital, Su Bei visited Auntie Lan. She told Auntie Lan's apprentice to rest, but the apprentice insisted on caring for her "Master," her only family.
Su Bei then asked the apprentice if she was aware of a mortgage contract Auntie Lan had signed with Eminence. The apprentice appeared startled and claimed no knowledge of such a contract. Unbeknownst to Su Bei, Auntie Lan was actually awake. In a private conversation, her doctor noted her good recovery and shrinking blood clot, though memory recovery was uncertain. The doctor warned that if the blood clot moved, it could lead to blindness or even another vegetative state.
Auntie Lan understood and requested that her conscious state remain confidential, a request the doctor honored, citing doctor-patient confidentiality. Coincidentally, Lu Nan also appeared at the hospital. Su Bei quickly made an excuse about seeking medicine for insomnia due to stress. Lu Nan, in turn, claimed he was there for similar reasons. Later, Lu Nan spoke to a colleague on the phone, asking about Auntie Lan (referred to as Yu Qinglan). He was informed she was still in a coma.
He expressed concern about his investment, noting the thorough dye technology faced bottlenecks and the fragrance brocade remained missing, requiring further follow-up. His colleague mentioned seeing Su Bei at the hospital, joking that she was suffering a nervous breakdown from his "oppression." Lu Nan, slightly irritated, suggested his colleague report to the security section if he felt too much pressure. That night, Lu Nan entered Su Bei's room.
He noticed she seemed uncomfortable and brought her a cup of brown sugar water, urging her to drink it. Su Bei declined, stating she "didn't need to drink this." Lu Nan was visibly annoyed, reminding her he cared for her and disliked being ignored. Su Bei, exhausted, explained she was simply very tired. He then inquired about the Sia deal, curious if it was progressing well without the fragrance brocade. Su Bei assured him she was handling it.
He also commented on her thinness. Before leaving, he gave her a bag of health supplements, claiming a salesperson had told him they were beneficial for women's health. Su Bei drank one, declaring it "tastes good." Lu Nan instructed her to drink all of them, then watched her sleep, pondering his complex feelings for her. The next day, with Lu Nan at work, Su Bei obscured the view of the home monitor.
Using the duplicated key, she entered Lu Nan's room and opened the safe. She retrieved the mortgage contract and immediately called Ye Ting, confirming that Auntie Lan had indeed mortgaged the fragrance brocade to Lu Nan. She instructed Ye Ting to urgently investigate Auntie Lan's company accounts to determine if the payment had been received. She also reminded Ye Ting to continue pursuing the Sia cooperation. Su Bei then met with Amy, Sia's representative.
The two old friends exchanged warm greetings. During their discussion, Su Bei presented Eminence's innovative "thorough dyeing" technology, emphasizing its eco-friendly and colorfast properties. She shrewdly highlighted Sia's recent issues with product fading among its high-end clientele, pointing out that Eminence's technology offered a direct solution. Su Bei also stressed Eminence's superior profit-sharing offer compared to Gu's Group. Amy acknowledged Eminence's sincerity but raised concerns about the thorough dye technology's immaturity and Gu's Group's stronger market presence.
Su Bei countered that while Eminence might lack Gu's Group's "hardware," Gu's struggled with innovation, whereas Eminence was a dynamic, creative company targeting young consumers, aligning perfectly with Sia's brand philosophy. Impressed, Amy agreed to suspend negotiations with Gu's Group for one month and report Eminence's proposal to her headquarters, giving Eminence a month to demonstrate further progress. After the meeting, Gu Yan offered Su Bei a ride home.
As they arrived, Chris ran up to Su Bei, affectionately calling her "Bei Bei" and declaring his intention to protect her, a moment that visibly surprised Gu Yan. Gu Yan then returned, having come back to give Su Bei her phone, which she had left in his car. Su Bei thanked him and discreetly urged him to forget what he had just witnessed. Gu Yan, understanding, obligingly stated he had a poor memory.
Chris, meanwhile, passionately told Su Bei he didn't want a new father, believing his current dad could be "saved" and that he needed to protect their family. Gu Yan lightheartedly agreed with "Mr. Su." Ye Ting contacted Su Bei with an update on Auntie Lan's accounts. She confirmed that Lu Nan's payment had indeed been received, but it was quickly transferred to an account belonging to a 24-year-old rural woman named Qiao Yufeng.
Ye Ting explained that the accounts had been tampered with, which was why the transaction hadn't been discovered earlier. She was still trying to locate Qiao Yufeng. Su Bei instructed her to continue the search for the mastermind behind the scheme. Suddenly, Su Manni stormed into Su Bei's office, angrily accusing Su Bei of stealing her endorsements and attempting to blacklist her. Su Bei calmly dismissed the accusations, stating that Su Manni was not worth her time or effort.
Enraged, Su Manni lashed out, claiming Su Bei was abusing her power as a "President's wife" and the renowned "Annie." Su Bei simply responded, "Yes." Su Manni vowed revenge. Later, a friend advised Su Manni against competing with Su Bei. Su Manni briefly considered exposing Su Bei's plagiarism from seven years ago, which had allegedly caused a death.
Her friend immediately cautioned her, explaining that such a revelation would involve Eminence and that Su Bei, no longer a designer, wouldn't be significantly impacted. Frustrated, Su Manni asked what she could do. Her friend then playfully suggested, "Make her disappear?" Su Manni's expression hardened as she contemplated this, deciding that "as long as she disappears." The next day, outside Eminence, Chris again approached Lu Nan, calling him "Nan Nan" and accusing him of ignoring him.
Chris advised Lu Nan to treat his wife well to avoid losing her. Lu Nan, irritated, stated he was busy, not Chris's father, and threatened to tell Chris's mother. Su Bei then appeared and explained to Lu Nan that Chris was "Ye Ting's sister's child." Lu Nan accepted the explanation and left. He later commented that Chris was "quite cute," but Su Bei remarked that he was cute but "lacked love," having been abandoned by his father.
Lu Nan seemed unsettled by this and quickly departed. Later, Su Bei apologized to Chris for having to keep his identity a secret. Chris, understanding, told her he no longer wanted a father and only wished for his "Bei Bei" (mom) to be happy. He then took out a picture of Lu Nan and drew all over it, calling him a "mean dad." The following morning, Chris was seen defacing Lu Nan's car.
A security guard caught him taking a picture of his vandalism and chased him as he fled. Shortly after, Su Manni held a press conference, tearfully alleging years of harassment from Lu Nan during her time at Eminence. She claimed she had hoped Su Bei's return would end her suffering, but instead, "they are all demons," escalating their bullying. She appealed to the public for help.
Lu Nan's colleague informed him and Su Bei that public opinion was being manipulated and the board demanded an explanation. Lu Nan instructed the PR department to hold off on any action and called for an emergency meeting. As Lu Nan and Su Bei sped to the company, the car's brakes suddenly failed. To avoid an oncoming van, Su Bei swerved, and the car crashed through the median. In the chaos, Lu Nan shielded Su Bei, sustaining a head injury. Su Bei, distraught, cried out for Lu Nan.
Episode 8 Recap
Lu Nan is rushed to the hospital after the car crash. The attending doctor informs Su Bei that Lu Nan had a previous brain surgery seven years ago due to a car accident, which left him in a coma for five years with blood stasis in his brain. The current head injury has exacerbated this old wound, causing the blood stasis to shift, and there's a possibility of new complications.
Stunned by this revelation, Su Bei demands answers from Yun Fan. He reveals that on the very day Su Bei left for Italy seven years ago, Lu Nan was in a severe car accident that left him in a vegetative state. He remained in a coma for five years and, upon waking, lost all memories of Su Bei.
This truth brings Su Bei to tears as she realizes that Lu Nan's apparent abandonment and silence were due to his incapacitation, not indifference. She stays by his side, grappling with the depth of his past suffering. Yun Fan advises her to rest as the company needs her, explaining that he has already informed the staff that Lu Nan is abroad on urgent business and that she will temporarily take charge of Eminence.
At a company meeting, board members express discontent that Su Bei is representing the company in Lu Nan's absence, especially during the critical time of Eminence's listing. Su Bei, acting as the interim President of Eminence, sharply rebuts their complaints. She asserts her authority as President of Eminence Starlight and Lu Nan's wife, the largest shareholder, questioning why they, as senior managers, are panicking over unconfirmed news.
She declares that she will personally handle the Su Manni scandal and that they should await the results. Despite a director challenging her qualifications, Su Bei firmly states that her competence is recognized by Lu Nan and that they, as a couple, will bear all consequences. Later, Lu Fei calls Yun Fan after seeing news about the scandal.
Yun Fan reassures her that Lu Nan is handling things while on a business trip to the US and advises her not to worry their grandmother. Yun Fan confirms to Su Bei that Lu Nan's car was tampered with and gives her the surveillance footage. Reviewing the video, Su Bei sees someone meddling with the car but also notices Chris was there. At home, she finds photos on Chris's phone that he took of the culprit tampering with the car.
Chris explains he only doodled on the car to scare his father for bullying Su Bei. Touched by his concern, Su Bei tells him his only job is to grow up happily. She then gives the photos to Yun Fan as crucial evidence for the police. At the hospital, Su Bei is confronted by Lu Fei.
Su Bei questions why Lu Fei lied to her seven years ago, intercepting her call to a comatose Lu Nan and falsely claiming he despised her and wanted her to abort their child. Dropping her gentle facade, Lu Fei viciously admits she did it because she hates Su Bei. She claims that before Su Bei appeared, she was the most important person to Lu Nan, and that Su Bei's presence only brings him misfortune.
Meanwhile, Chris secretly persuades his nanny, Ms. Yang, to take him to an audition for child actors at Gu's Group. After being initially eliminated, a disheartened Chris coincidentally meets Gu Yan. Impressed by the boy's personality, Gu Yan offers him a contract but explains it requires a parent's signature. Chris asks Gu Yan to keep the job a secret from his mother, and Gu Yan agrees.
Later, Chris visits the unconscious Lu Nan, gently washing his face and playfully chiding him for not caring for himself. He then secretly presses Lu Nan's unconscious handprint onto the contract. At her press conference, Su Manni tearfully accuses Lu Nan of sexual harassment, claiming that after she signed with Eminence seven years ago, he threatened to blacklist her if she didn't comply. She condemns Su Bei for aiding Lu Nan instead of helping her.
Just then, Su Bei dramatically appears and challenges her sister to provide specifics. When Su Manni falters, Su Bei plays a video showing Su Manni feigning an injury to lure Lu Nan to her hotel room and attempting to seduce him with drugged water. As the reporters' focus shifts, Su Manni frantically claims the video is fake. Su Bei condemns her for framing them when her plot to seduce her brother-in-law failed.
As Su Manni remains unrepentant, police officers enter, identify her as a suspect in a car accident murder case, and take her away for investigation. Later at the hospital, Lu Fei arrives with Lu Nan's grandmother. The grandmother coldly denies recognizing Su Bei as her granddaughter-in-law. She angrily accuses Su Bei of abandoning a comatose Lu Nan, being absent for seven years, and causing his relapse upon her return.
Ordering Su Bei to leave, the grandmother feigns chest pain and dizziness. As Su Bei reluctantly agrees to go, a barely audible whisper of "Su Bei" escapes from Lu Nan's lips.
Episode 9 Recap
As Lu Nan awoke in his hospital bed, he called out to Su Bei, pleading with her not to leave. With Lu Nan's grandma present, Su Bei reassured him, "I'm not going. Grandma's not going." Later, Su Bei confided in Ye Ting about Lu Fei'er's recent actions. She explained that she hadn't revealed Lu Fei'er's maliciousness to Lu Nan's grandma because she feared the older woman wouldn't be able to handle it.
Ye Ting, curious about Lu Fei'er's motives, heard from Su Bei that Lu Fei'er was adopted from an orphanage by the Lu family, and she might harbor romantic feelings for Lu Nan. Ye Ting was shocked, asking if Lu Nan knew. Meanwhile, Lu Nan, despite appearing to be recovering, enlisted Yun Fan's help to feign a headache, hoping to lure Su Bei back to his side.
Yun Fan made a dramatic phone call to Su Bei, exaggerating Lu Nan's condition, which prompted Su Bei to rush to the hospital. Upon her arrival, Su Bei quickly saw through Lu Nan's act, teasing him about his supposed weakness and suggesting that soon his hands and feet might also be paralyzed. Lu Nan, realizing his charade was exposed, dropped the pretense and admitted he simply wanted her to stay.
They shared a heartfelt conversation where Lu Nan gently chided Su Bei for turning the wheel to the left during the car accident, which put her in danger. Su Bei, in turn, reproached him for unbuckling his seatbelt to shield her, arguing he shouldn't have gotten hurt. Lu Nan confessed that he would deeply regret it if he hadn't protected her. Chris, who had recently become a junior model for Gu's Group, finished a photo shoot and received his payment.
He gave some money to Auntie Yang, his tutor, and asked her to take him to the hospital to see his "dad," Lu Nan. Believing Lu Nan was still unconscious, Chris crept into the room and told him to get well so "Bei Bei" wouldn't be taken away, tucking his remaining earnings into Lu Nan's hand. Lu Nan then opened his eyes and caught Chris's hand, revealing he was awake.
Chris, still calling him "Dad," then "Daddy," eventually settled on "Nan Nan" when Lu Nan corrected him. Chris questioned if Nan Nan played soccer, had soccer-playing friends, or could lift him high. Lu Nan replied no to all, stating his only skill was making money. Chris, unimpressed, showed his own money and offered to take care of Nan Nan. Just as Lu Nan was about to question Chris further, Su Bei and Ye Ting arrived to take Chris away.
Before they could leave, Lu Nan feigned another headache, prompting Su Bei to stay and ultimately agree to go home with him. Upon their arrival at the Lu residence, Lu Nan's grandma immediately confronted Su Bei, ordering her to leave and instructing the servants to clear out her belongings. Lu Nan quickly intervened, stating firmly that Su Bei was his wife and this was her home. He threatened to move out himself if his grandma insisted on Su Bei's departure.
Faced with his unwavering stance, Lu Nan's grandma was unhappy but momentarily silenced. Lu Nan then, privately, feigned a dizzy spell and a headache, claiming he felt compelled to personally handle the critical Eminence-Sia project if Su Bei were sent away. Witnessing his apparent ill health and determination, Lu Nan's grandma, concerned for his well-being, reluctantly relented and allowed Su Bei to stay.
Later, Lu Fei'er confronted Su Bei in the living room, bluntly telling her that since Lu Nan's grandma had made her disapproval clear, Su Bei should stop clinging. Su Bei recognized that Lu Fei'er had dropped her pretense of cordiality. Lu Fei'er declared Su Bei unworthy of her energy, asserting that Lu Nan no longer loved her and her presence was merely a nuisance. Su Bei retorted sharply that Lu Nan actually "enjoyed" her presence.
She then revealed that the reason she hadn't exposed Lu Fei'er's manipulative phone call from seven years ago was not out of respect or fear, but to spare Lu Nan's grandma heartache and to prevent Lu Nan from being caught in the middle of their conflict. Following his discharge, Lu Nan returned to work. Su Bei informed him that Amy had relayed positive news: several individuals at Sia's headquarters were leaning towards cooperating with Eminence.
She stressed that a breakthrough in thorough dyeing technology at this juncture would significantly increase their chances, even if Gu's Group offered more favorable terms. The crucial next step, Su Bei emphasized, was to locate the Pixiang Jin, which had mysteriously vanished after Auntie Lan's accident. Earlier, Yun Fan had questioned Lu Nan about his deception of his grandma regarding the Sia contract, noting that the project's lead wasn't even in China, which could cause issues later.
Lu Nan merely brushed off the concern as an "urgent situation." That evening, Su Bei met Gu Yan for dinner as previously arranged. Their conversation was lighthearted, with Gu Yan playfully teasing her about having "ruined his business," and Su Bei promising a lavish meal as compensation. Gu Yan praised Eminence's knowledge of thorough dyeing, subtly probing for information, but Su Bei deftly deflected. Their flirtatious banter was abruptly interrupted by Lu Nan's uninvited arrival.
He insisted on joining their table, ignoring Gu Yan's veiled objections and the numerous other available seats. Throughout the meal, Lu Nan and Gu Yan engaged in a subtle but intense battle for Su Bei's attention, performing chivalrous acts like cutting her steak and making thinly veiled jabs about each other's age, marital status, and desirability. Later that night, Lu Nan confronted Su Bei about her dinner with Gu Yan.
Su Bei, recognizing his jealousy, pointed out his "childish" behavior at the restaurant. Lu Nan admitted his jealousy and asserted that he did not like her having any contact with Gu Yan. Su Bei teasingly called him "sour," to which he replied, "You be sweet." The next day at the office, Yun Fan observed Lu Nan's lovestruck expression, remarking that it was identical to his demeanor seven years prior when he spoke of Su Bei.
Lu Nan, intrigued, asked for details of his past self. Yun Fan then played their wedding video, revealing joyful footage of Su Bei walking down the aisle and Lu Nan tearfully confessing his undying love. Overwhelmed, Lu Nan suffered a headache, dropping his phone, as fragmented memories of their shared happiness resurfaced. He expressed sorrow for forgetting such an important part of their past.
Yun Fan, offering comfort and pragmatic advice, urged him not to dwell on his amnesia but to bravely pursue Su Bei again. Lu Nan, convinced, tasked Yun Fan with creating a "plan" to win Su Bei back. Yun Fan, after some playful negotiation that secured him a lavish European trip and double bonus, gave Lu Nan simple but effective advice: women are inherently soft-hearted. That evening, Lu Nan put Yun Fan's plan into action.
He used a hot water bottle to artificially raise his body temperature, then dramatically collapsed onto the sofa as Su Bei entered. Feigning chilliness, he got Su Bei to help him to his room. Once there, he held onto her, begging her not to leave. Su Bei, who had seen the hidden hot water bottle, instantly understood his ruse. The following morning, Lu Nan was tender, serving Su Bei a fried egg he had prepared and gently wiping a smudge from her mouth.
Episode 10 Recap
As Su Bei and Lu Nan were about to share a morning kiss, the doorbell interrupted them. Lu Nan answered the door to find Chris, who demanded that Lu Nan accompany him to a weekend football match as his father. Chris threatened that if Lu Nan refused, he would cling to Su Bei, preventing her from being with Lu Nan. Reluctantly, Lu Nan agreed.
At the football field, Lu Nan displayed his terrible soccer skills, fumbling and falling, which earned him and Chris ridicule. On the way home, Chris complained that Lu Nan was useless, contrasting him with Gu Yan, who Chris said was handsome, rich, got him a modeling job, and commanded respect. Chris even quipped that he had to earn money to support Lu Nan. Back home, Lu Nan informed Su Bei and Ye Ting about Chris's modeling work.
Su Bei gently scolded Chris for doing it secretly. Chris, however, burst into tears, accusing Lu Nan of being disloyal for snitching and praised Gu Yan for not being like that. Seeing Chris upset, Lu Nan suggested Ye Ting handle Chris's education. Su Bei, however, explained to Lu Nan that she treats Chris as her own son, imagining him to be the same age as the child she had lost.
She urged Lu Nan to show Chris more love and care, to which Lu Nan agreed. In an underground parking garage, Zhang Yuan met with a mysterious man who handed him a large sum of money and gave him instructions for a new task. Zhang Yuan expressed concern that if Lu Nan found out about his previous actions at Eminence, he would be in deep trouble.
The man, however, countered that if Zhang Yuan didn't comply, their boss would also not let him go, reminding him that he had embezzled a significant amount of money and they were "in the same boat." Though Zhang Yuan voiced a desire for a stable life, he reluctantly accepted the money and the assignment. For Lu Nan's grandma's birthday, Su Bei tried on a formal gown, but Lu Nan deemed it too revealing.
He rejected several other elegant dresses, claiming they were "not elegant enough," and eventually picked out a sportswear outfit for her. When Su Bei questioned wearing athletic wear to a birthday party, Lu Nan insisted they would both wear it. At the birthday banquet, Lu Nan's grandma initially gave Su Bei a cold reception, openly stating she was unhappy to see her and didn't want her gifts. Lu Nan quickly intervened, clarifying that he had paid for the gift.
Grandma's attitude instantly softened, and she happily accepted the present, praising Lu Nan's filial piety and his impressive management of the company, which was nearing its IPO. Zhang Yuan arrived with his new girlfriend, Qiao Qiao, showering Grandma with compliments. Grandma noted that Qiao Qiao was "much prettier than the previous one." Su Bei became thoughtful upon hearing Qiao Qiao's name.
Qiao Qiao, claiming to be pregnant and feeling a bit unwell, and Zhang Yuan excused themselves for some fresh air. Su Bei followed Zhang Yuan, attempting to discreetly inquire about the source of the eight million he used to cover his deficit, but he quickly evaded her questions. In their absence, Lu Fei Er seized the opportunity to tell Lu Nan's grandma that Su Bei had aborted Lu Nan's child seven years ago when she first arrived in Italy.
Enraged, Grandma accused Su Bei of being vicious and killing the Lu family's offspring, demanding that Lu Nan divorce her and kick her out. When Lu Nan and Su Bei returned, Grandma confronted Su Bei. In a moment of desperation, Lu Nan lied, announcing that Su Bei was pregnant with their child, her great-grandson. He warned Grandma that if she made Su Bei angry, their great-grandson could be in danger. Grandma's anger immediately turned into doting concern.
She seated Su Bei and fussed over her, instructing Lu Nan to ensure her well-being. Su Bei stepped out of the banquet hall to call Ye Ting. Ye Ting informed her that Auntie Lan had deposited the fragrance brocade in a safe at 318 Qing'an Road before her accident, but it was taken afterward. The place only operated with passwords and kept no customer records, making it impossible to trace the person who retrieved it.
Su Bei then asked Ye Ting to investigate Zhang Yuan's girlfriend, Qiao Qiao. Su Bei suspected a connection, noting that Zhang Yuan's ability to cover an eight-million deficit coincided with the timing of a transfer from Auntie Lan's account. She also found it suspicious that Qiao Qiao shared the same surname and age as a key detail from her investigation.
Ye Ting also reported that a witness to the factory fire saw someone enter the warehouse before the blaze, and she was now searching for surveillance footage from that day. Unbeknownst to Su Bei, Lu Fei Er had followed her and overheard the entire conversation. Later, at home, Lu Fei Er retrieved the fragrance brocade from a hidden cabinet.
It was revealed that years ago, Auntie Lan had sent Lu Nan a text message containing the deposit location and password for the fragrance brocade. Lu Nan's phone was not with him at the time, and Lu Fei Er intercepted the message, deleted it, and then collected the item herself. She realized that Su Bei's return was driven by her search for the fragrance brocade. Su Bei confronted Lu Nan about his lie concerning her pregnancy.
Lu Nan explained he had no choice but to protect her from Grandma's wrath. He then proposed that they make the lie a reality and have their own child. He remarked that despite Su Bei's affection, Chris was "someone else's kid after all," and "a sweet-talker and not serious," suggesting Chris was only close to her because his mother was absent. Angered by Lu Nan's dismissive comments about Chris, Su Bei banished him from the bedroom for the night.
Feeling dejected, Lu Nan met Yun Fan for a late-night martial arts session. He recounted his failed attempt to "make it real" with Su Bei. Yun Fan clarified that Su Bei was likely angered by Lu Nan's disparaging remarks about Chris and his overly hasty approach.
He explained that after seven years apart, their relationship was akin to starting over, requiring a "sincere confession" and genuine emotional connection before rushing into having children, calling Lu Nan's behavior "acting like a hooligan." Lu Nan finally understood and declared his resolve to win Su Bei over, ensuring she "won't leave me." He instructed Yun Fan to stop investigating Su Bei, stating that having chosen her, he would no longer doubt her.
He also ordered all surveillance cameras removed from their home the next day. To further demonstrate his commitment, Lu Nan prepared a divorce agreement. The document stipulated that in the event of a divorce, Su Bei would receive 99. 9% of his shares in Eminence. He had already signed it, giving Su Bei the power to activate it if he ever wronged her, reserving the remaining 0. 1% as his chance to pursue her again. Meanwhile, Lu Fei Er made a phone call, instructing someone to thoroughly investigate all of Su Bei's activities since her return to China, promising payment for detailed information.
Episode 11 Recap
Ye Ting urged Su Bei to reconsider her feelings for Lu Nan, highlighting his devotion: he fell in love with her twice, risked his life for her, and was willing to give up all his assets. Su Bei admitted she felt attracted to him but was also afraid because she had returned with the purpose of getting close to him, lied about Chris's existence, and even intended to ruin him.
She feared that Lu Nan might be responsible for Auntie Lan's incident, yet also worried if he wasn't. Reflecting on their interactions, Su Bei felt Lu Nan wasn't inherently mercenary and wondered if they had misunderstood him about Auntie Lan. She decided she couldn't think about it anymore and needed to uncover the truth first, for Auntie Lan and for her own peace of mind.
Later, Gu Yan called Su Bei to confirm their lunch appointment for the next day, which she accepted. Soon after, Lu Nan, driving Su Bei, attempted to invite her to lunch as well, suggesting they take things slowly after his big first step last night. Su Bei declined, explaining she already had an appointment with Gu Yan. At lunch, Gu Yan asked if Gu Chengze knew about their meeting, and Su Bei confirmed.
Gu Yan then inquired if Lu Nan knew about Chris, and Su Bei admitted he didn’t. Gu Yan promised to keep Chris’s identity a secret, but expressed concern about Su Bei raising a child alone, remarking that it wasn't fair to Chris. Su Bei questioned what fairness truly meant. Gu Yan became emotional, reminiscing about his own childhood and how he was abandoned in an orphanage and bullied for being an illegitimate son.
Su Bei comforted him, assuring him that everything was in the past and he was now very successful, and things would only get better. Meanwhile, Yun Fan reported to Lu Nan that Zhang Yuan might be collaborating with Gu Chengze, as the eight million yuan Zhang Yuan used to cover the company’s deficit came from an unknown source, possibly linked to Gu Chengze. Yun Fan also mentioned that Gu Chengze was inviting Lu Nan to discuss a tripartite cooperation.
Lu Nan, already annoyed by Gu's Group’s professional obstacles and Gu Chengze’s previous overtures to Su Bei, grew furious when Yun Fan mentioned seeing Su Bei laughing and dining with Gu Yan. Yun Fan, observing Lu Nan’s distress, advised him to stop sulking and go reclaim his turf. Eager to please Su Bei, Lu Nan also asked Yun Fan to buy some toys for Chris. Lu Nan and Su Bei were at a restaurant waiting for Gu Chengze.
Lu Nan was impatient, but Su Bei urged him to wait. Gu Chengze eventually arrived late, with Gu Yan apologizing on his behalf. Gu Chengze quickly asserted Gu's Group's market dominance, claiming that Sia needed them to enter the domestic market and disparaging Eminence’s thorough dyeing technology as a "half-finished product" that was "cheating" or "fraud." He suggested Lu Nan sell the technology to Gu's Group for a guaranteed profit.
Lu Nan, who had come to discuss a serious tripartite cooperation, realized Gu Chengze's true intention was to pressure Eminence out of the deal. He angrily refused, calling Gu Chengze's ideas ridiculous and his intelligence "completely brainless." The heated argument escalated into a physical altercation, during which Su Bei twisted her ankle. Gu Yan immediately expressed concern for Su Bei, but Lu Nan scooped her up and carried her out.
Later, Chris was bored at home, having watched all his cartoons three times, wishing for Su Bei and Lu Nan to return. Yun Fan arrived with a large pile of toys for Chris, claiming they were from "Nan Nan." Ye Ting, who was with Chris, expressed her annoyance at Yun Fan, but Chris was excited about the toys.
While looking for the bathroom, Yun Fan accidentally stumbled into a hidden room adorned with newspaper clippings about Auntie Lan (Yu Qinglan) and her "Sanglan Costume" company, along with Su Bei's plans. Ye Ting quickly pulled him out. On his way home, Yun Fan, recalling the details, immediately called his subordinate and ordered them to continue investigating everything about Su Bei.
Back home, Lu Nan gently applied medicine to Su Bei's injured ankle, expressing how much he didn't want her to get hurt, especially given her "pregnancy." Su Bei reminded him that he had lied about her pregnancy, and they needed to figure out how to keep up the charade, as Lu Nan's grandma was old and couldn't handle shocks. Lu Nan playfully suggested they "make it real."
Their moment was interrupted by the arrival of Lu Nan's grandma and Lu Fei Er. Grandma, seeing them in an intimate position, immediately scolded Lu Nan for being impatient, reminding him that Su Bei was less than three months pregnant. Lu Fei Er also pointed out that safflower oil was bad for the baby. Grandma was very concerned about Su Bei's well-being and insisted on moving in to care for her and her unborn great-grandson.
Lu Nan quickly refused, suggesting that Grandma should rest at her own house and save her energy to care for the baby after it was born. While going upstairs to find a loose dress for Su Bei, as per Grandma's instruction, Lu Fei Er secretly placed a document related to the "thorough dyeing" technology in Lu Nan's cabinet. Lu Nan successfully convinced his grandma to stay in her own home, promising to take excellent care of Su Bei.
That night, Lu Nan complained about the uncomfortable sofa but eventually ended up sharing the bed with Su Bei. The next day, Su Bei and Ye Ting discussed Gu's Group's sudden invitation for Liu Qianying, Eminence’s chief model, to participate in their fourth-quarter fashion show as the finale model, wearing the signature outfit.
Su Bei suspected it was an attempt at retaliation from Gu Chengze after his loss to Lu Nan, but agreed to the invitation, instructing Ye Ting to be extra vigilant. At the fashion show, Lu Fei Er accompanied Su Bei. They expressed mutual suspicion about the unexpected invitation. Su Bei reassured Lu Fei Er that Ye Ting was keeping a close eye on everything backstage.
Backstage, Liu Qianying changed into the season’s signature outfit, drawing praise from the designer, who commended her professionalism and ability to perfectly embody the garment's elegance. As Liu Qianying was preparing to go on stage for the finale, a staff member accidentally stepped on her dress in the rushed backstage environment, tearing it significantly. A designer cried out in alarm, and a staff member rushed to inform a worried Su Bei that there was an emergency backstage.
Episode 12 Recap
As news broke of an incident backstage, Lu Fei Er tried to stop Su Bei from going, reminding her that Lu Nan’s grandma had strictly instructed her not to go to crowded places. Lu Fei Er claimed her role was to care for Su Bei, but Su Bei saw through her intentions, warning her not to interfere with her work or try to cause trouble.
In the backstage area, the designer, An Zi, was furious, exclaiming that she had spent a year designing the dress only for it to be ruined. She threatened that the model, Liu Qianying, would never walk the runway again and demanded an explanation from Eminence, threatening a lawsuit if the show was jeopardized. Su Bei quickly arrived and understood someone had deliberately sabotaged the dress.
She stressed that finding the culprit was less important than fixing the dress and ensuring Liu Qianying could successfully appear on stage to avoid being labeled unprofessional. Seeing the extent of the tear, Su Bei proposed an immediate alteration, as merely sewing it would compromise the design's flow.
An Zi was reluctant to change her "heart and soul" design with such limited time, but Su Bei highlighted the severe consequences for An Zi's career compared to Eminence's loss of just a model and a breach of contract fee with Gu's Group. When An Zi challenged Su Bei to do it herself, Su Bei took up the task, showcasing an unexpected talent in fashion design. The redesigned signature outfit was well-received, and the fashion show was a great success.
After the show, Gu Yan approached Su Bei backstage and apologized. He had just learned that his brother, Gu Chengze, had orchestrated the dress-ripping incident to embarrass Eminence and disrupt its collaboration with Sia by making Eminence appear unprofessional. As Su Bei and Gu Yan were leaving, Lu Fei Er, seeing a rack of clothes being pushed by a staff member, deliberately tripped the staffer, sending the clothing rack toppling towards Su Bei.
Gu Yan managed to block some of the impact, but Su Bei was still injured and rushed to the hospital. Lu Nan’s grandma, upon hearing the news, rushed to the hospital, anxiously asking about Su Bei and her "baby." The doctor informed them that Su Bei only had superficial wounds, was not pregnant, and merely needed some comfort due to shock. Angered by this revelation, Lu Nan’s grandma's attitude towards Su Bei immediately turned cold and critical.
Lu Nan arrived and quickly intervened, claiming that faking the pregnancy was his idea. The shock caused Lu Nan’s grandma to faint. As Su Bei apologized, Lu Nan comforted her, assuring her they would apologize to his grandma together once she recovered. Meanwhile, Gu Yan confronted Lu Fei Er at the hospital. He revealed her original name was Wang Ying, and recounted how she, then "Xiao Yingzi," was an exceptionally cunning child at the orphanage they both grew up in.
Lu Fei Er denied being Wang Ying, insisting Gu Yan had mistaken her for someone else. Lu Nan also found Lu Fei Er and, frustrated by her actions, told her to either go abroad and never return or find someone to marry. He pulled away from her grasping hand and left without looking back. Undeterred, Lu Nan decided to formally confess his feelings to Su Bei.
He called her, confirming her adherence to a conservative dress code for her upcoming live interview and inviting her to Yunxi Restaurant for a sweet surprise after the broadcast. Su Bei agreed, playfully calling him "Mr. Jealousy." Later, Lu Fei Er, still at the hospital with Lu Nan’s grandma, attempted to console her. She mentioned Lu Nan looking at an old family photo album, which his grandma cherished.
Lu Fei Er then called Su Bei, asking her to bring the album to the hospital at Lu Nan’s grandma's request. While searching Lu Nan's wardrobe for the album, Su Bei discovered a catalog for the fragrance brocade, which Lu Fei Er had secretly planted there. Recalling previous evidence, all signs pointed to Lu Nan's involvement in Auntie Lan's incident. Although she struggled to believe it, the facts seemed undeniable.
Ye Ting confirmed that Qiao Yufeng was indeed "Qiao Qiao," and the deposit for the fragrance brocade had circulated back to Eminence, further strengthening the suspicion against Lu Nan. Just as Su Bei and Ye Ting were discussing these troubling discoveries, a call came from the hospital: Auntie Lan was in critical condition. At the hospital, Su Bei was devastated and enraged upon receiving the critical illness notification for Auntie Lan, who had raised her like a daughter.
Believing Lu Nan’s actions were the cause, she resolved to expose him during her live interview. As the interview began, Su Bei started to declare her intention to divorce Lu Nan, mentioning their seven-year separation due to incompatibility.
However, Ye Ting, having just received new evidence—a photo of a man who drove an Audi at Auntie Lan's factory on the day of the fire, now identified as Gu Chengze's subordinate—realized Lu Nan might be innocent and that Gu's Group was likely involved. Ye Ting quickly pulled the plug, interrupting the live broadcast. When the broadcast resumed, Su Bei changed her narrative, affirming her trust in Lu Nan and declaring him her partner and lover for life.
Meanwhile, Lu Nan, who was meticulously preparing Yunxi Restaurant for his romantic proposal to Su Bei with fresh roses, received a text message, falsely informing him that Su Bei had returned to avenge Auntie Lan and destroy both Eminence and him. Lu Nan was heartbroken, feeling his love and efforts meant nothing to Su Bei.
Su Bei rushed to the restaurant, having just learned from Ye Ting that the man linked to Auntie Lan's factory fire was indeed Gu Chengze's associate, making her feel foolish for suspecting Lu Nan. She found Lu Nan alone. Upon seeing her, Lu Nan, his eyes filled with bitterness and sarcasm, stood up to leave. Su Bei tried to stop him and explain, but a deeply hurt Lu Nan confronted her.
He declared that he had imagined countless reasons for her return, even revenge, but never that she would treat him as a suspect. He revealed his plans to tell her how much he still loved her despite seven years apart and how his heart would always remember her even if his mind forgot, but now, he felt only mockery.
As he turned to go, Su Bei desperately asked if his past actions, like protecting her in the bar and preserving Eminence while she was in a coma, were sincere or merely calculated schemes. Her question, confirming his fears about her suspicion, was the final blow. Unable to bear the pain, Lu Nan walked away, leaving a weeping Su Bei behind.
Episode 13 Recap
Lu Nan, still troubled by recent events involving Su Bei, unleashed his anger on his subordinates, reprimanding them for their work and dismissing seven employees in a single morning. Yun Fan then approached Lu Nan with an investigation report, revealing that Zhang Yuan had been in constant contact with Gu Chengze’s assistant, Zhao Long.
The eight million yuan Zhang Yuan used to cover the company's losses was, in fact, part of the Fragrance Brocade collateral money that Lu Nan had provided to Auntie Lan (Yu Qinglan). After Lu Nan approved its transfer to Sanglan Costume's public account, the money was then transferred to a woman named Qiao Yufeng, who is Zhang Yuan's girlfriend, Qiao Qiao.
Yun Fan explained that Su Bei had received this information right before her live broadcast, along with the devastating news that Auntie Lan was critically ill, which led her to impulsively expose what she believed to be Lu Nan's true intentions. Lu Nan, infuriated, initially accused Yun Fan of defending Su Bei, but Yun Fan clarified that he only wanted Lu Nan to calm down and consider if someone was deliberately creating misunderstandings between him and Su Bei.
Lu Nan instructed Yun Fan to quickly find Zhang Yuan and uncover the full truth. Later, Yun Fan and Ye Ting tracked down Zhang Yuan. A brief comical struggle ensued as both tried to apprehend him, with Ye Ting ultimately gaining control. Once subdued and questioned, Zhang Yuan confessed that he was acting under Gu Chengze's orders. He revealed that Gu Chengze’s assistant, Zhao Long, and Qiao Qiao were from the same hometown, and Gu Chengze had orchestrated their connection.
Zhang Yuan also admitted that a recording used to bribe him was real, and it was part of Gu Chengze's plan to force him to conceal Lu Nan's seven-year comatose state. Hearing this, Lu Nan decided to pursue legal action, instructing his legal team to sue Zhang Yuan. Meanwhile, Lu Nan experienced severe dizziness. During a hospital visit, Director Wu explained that a blood clot, a consequence of Lu Nan's past car accident, was shifting to a dangerous position.
He warned that Lu Nan's recent emotional fluctuations were exacerbating the condition and urged him to undergo surgery immediately to avoid potential blindness. Despite the dire warning, Lu Nan refused, citing company matters and stating it was "not the right time," even though Director Wu stressed that nothing was more important than his health. Yun Fan met with Su Bei and handed her a USB drive.
He explained that Lu Nan was not doing well and advised her that if she couldn't give him the love he deserved, she should leave him forever. Su Bei then watched the video on the USB drive, which contained Lu Nan’s heartfelt confession of love. In the video, recorded when he was preparing a romantic surprise for her, Lu Nan expressed that he had never thought he would be so deeply influenced by his feelings for someone.
He confessed that he was like a fool, constantly thinking of her, and that her every word, action, and emotion deeply affected him. He told her that her happiness brought him joy and her sadness brought him pain, and he pleaded with her to stay with him. Watching the video, Su Bei broke down in tears.
She later visited Auntie Lan at the hospital, lamenting that she had made a terrible mistake, hurt someone who loved her deeply, and that he might never forgive her. She worried about how Chris would feel if Lu Nan could no longer be a part of his life. Amy, a representative for Sia, returned to Nanxi and called someone, mentioning she had both good and bad news.
She then held a meeting with Lu Nan, Gu Chengze, and their respective teams at a spa resort. Gu Chengze, showing disdain for Lu Nan and boasting about Gu's Group, was quietly advised by his assistant to be more restrained. Amy explained that Sia's headquarters had evaluated both companies, finding advantages in each. Eminence's thorough dyeing technology was appealing but still unrefined, while Gu's Group held a strong market share but had demanding terms for profit distribution.
She announced Sia's decision to hold a design competition, a "two out of three" series, focusing on Chinese elements. The company that could best align with Sia's design concept for the Chinese market within the given timeframe would secure the partnership. Su Bei later met with Gu Yan, expressing her distress over making a mistake and not knowing what to do. Gu Yan advised her to "just follow your heart, because your heart will never lie to you."
Su Bei praised his insight and asked for his help to learn more about Gu Chengze's hidden aspects, offering to owe him a favor in return, which he accepted. At the hotel, Su Bei attempted to speak with Lu Nan, hoping he would visit Chris. However, Gu Chengze and his assistant emerged, with the assistant rudely pushing Su Bei aside.
Su Bei verbally sparred with Gu Chengze, and Lu Nan stepped in to defend her, telling Gu Chengze to mind his own business and stop arguing with women. Lu Nan then dismissively told Su Bei that the Sia case was not her concern and that she should stick to her duties. Unfazed, Su Bei later went to Lu Nan’s office, warning him that their current design approach would lead to defeat.
She explained that Gu's Group excelled in Chinese-style designs, and Eminence lacked a unique highlight. Lu Nan rejected her input, stating it was not her responsibility to interfere. Su Bei insisted she was acting for Eminence's benefit, but Lu Nan became agitated, accusing her of faking concern and reminding her of past betrayals. His head began to ache as he angrily ordered her to leave.
During the first round of the design competition, Amy found Eminence's designs unremarkable and, despite her friendship with Su Bei, declared Gu's Group the winner of the first round. Gu Chengze gloated, asserting Gu's Group's dominance with the best designers in China and scoffing at Eminence's chances. Su Bei countered that the competition was just beginning, prompting Gu Chengze to declare his intention to acquire Eminence once it collapsed.
Lu Nan remained defiant, reassuring Su Bei that they still had opportunities. That night, Su Bei found Lu Nan at his home. She reiterated that without a change in their design strategy, Eminence would lose the next round, as their current designers couldn't match Gu's, and there was no time to hire a new team. She proposed one solution: for him to give her a chance to lead Sia's design.
She offered to act as the designer herself, personally creating the drafts, and promised to beat Gu's. Lu Nan was skeptical, noting her previous agreement to live with him and questioning her true motives. Su Bei responded that she knew he wouldn't believe anything she said now and offered to bet her marriage and career on it.
She presented a signed agreement stating that if she failed to secure the Sia partnership, she would divorce him without any compensation, resign from the company, and disappear from his life forever. Lu Nan, after considering her proposition, signed the agreement.
Episode 14 Recap
Su Bei officially dedicated herself to Eminence's clothing design competition, working tirelessly day and night. An assistant brought Lu Nan a special tea prepared by Su Bei, noting he was under immense stress, and Su Bei discreetly asked that she not be credited for it. Under Su Bei's guidance, Eminence successfully won the second round of the design competition. After the victory, Su Bei approached Lu Nan, asking if he had forgiven her.
Lu Nan, however, coldly stated he was merely checking on the design progress and admonished her for overworking, suggesting she shouldn't feign difficulty and make Eminence appear to exploit its employees. Su Bei assured him she was diligently working on the second draft and would secure the cooperation with Sia. One evening, Chris, keenly aware of the growing estrangement between his parents, directly asked Su Bei if she and Lu Nan were getting a divorce.
Su Bei admitted she had made a mistake that had angered Lu Nan, suggesting he might not be able to forgive her. Chris, however, insisted that Su Bei was the best person in the world and that if there was any fault, it must lie with his father. He had waited up for her, falling asleep on the sofa, and upon waking, shared a dream of them visiting an amusement park as a family.
Su Bei, feeling guilty for her long work hours, acknowledged she wasn't being a good mother but reassured Chris that having him made all the hard work worthwhile. Eminence went on to win the third and final round of the competition, securing the highly coveted cooperation with Sia, whose representative praised Eminence's design for its perfect blend of Chinese and Sia elements. This triumph sent Gu Chengze into a rage, and he stormed out of the event.
The day after Eminence and Sia officially partnered, a shocking scandal erupted. Online reports accused Su Bei, one of Eminence's presidents, of plagiarizing the work of defending champion Zhao Rui seven years ago during a design competition. The allegations further claimed that Su Bei, with the backing of her husband's family, used powerful connections to force Zhao Rui to her death. Eminence’s building was immediately swarmed by reporters and protestors.
Su Bei remained outwardly calm despite the online vitriol, recognizing it as a targeted attack from someone holding a grudge. During an emergency board meeting, senior executives pressured Lu Nan to fire Su Bei, demanding she compensate Eminence for the damage to its reputation and the potential loss of the Sia partnership. Lu Nan fiercely defended Su Bei, arguing that her efforts were crucial in securing the Sia cooperation and that as her husband, he would personally bear all consequences.
He chastised the board for being so quick to cast her aside. An assistant reported that Sia was already considering terminating their cooperation. Su Bei, determined not to be a victim as she was seven years prior, declared her intent to prove her innocence.
Lu Nan instructed his team to contact mainstream media to remove negative posts and issue a legal statement against those spreading false information, while also initiating an investigation into Gu's Group, suspecting their involvement due to the suspicious timing. Despite Lu Nan's strong defense, Su Bei presented him with a signed divorce agreement. She explained that with the scandal still unresolved, divorcing would shift all responsibility onto her, thereby protecting Eminence from further harm.
Lu Nan, furious and seeing this as another abandonment, signed the papers, angrily calling her an "ungrateful woman." The emotional strain, coupled with the vivid memory of Su Bei leaving him seven years ago under similar circumstances, caused Lu Nan to collapse from a severe headache. Lu Nan was rushed to the hospital. Yun Fan, visiting the unconscious Lu Nan, expressed his frustration at Lu Nan's unwavering loyalty to Su Bei, who he noted wasn't even present.
When Su Bei arrived, genuinely worried about Lu Nan's condition, Yun Fan confronted her about the pain she had caused, reminding her of Lu Nan's defense of her at the board meeting. Upon regaining consciousness, Lu Nan coldly dismissed Su Bei, reiterating that he would send her the signed divorce papers and rejecting her offer to find expert doctors for his condition.
Su Bei, deeply hurt by his words, later confided in Ye Ting, realizing that seeing Lu Nan in a coma had awakened her true feelings for him; she couldn't bear the thought of losing him. She was determined to win him back, with both Ye Ting and Chris offering their support. The next day, after Lu Nan's discharge, Chris mischievously informed him of Su Bei's "blind date," providing the address. Lu Nan, feigning disinterest, nonetheless went to the restaurant.
There, he found Su Bei being approached by another man. Driven by jealousy, Lu Nan intervened, accusing her of being impatient to find a new man and telling her she should at least wait until their divorce was finalized before dating. Su Bei then revealed that her "blind date" was, in fact, Lu Nan, and she had been waiting for him.
She confessed her feelings, apologizing for past deceptions rooted in misunderstanding, and explained her latest divorce proposal was an attempt to protect Eminence. She asked for a fresh start in their relationship. Lu Nan, despite his inner happiness, maintained a stern facade and rejected her. During a company meeting, Lu Nan was noticeably distracted, lost in thought about Su Bei's confession. Yun Fan commented on his unusual behavior, speculating it was due to Su Bei.
Lu Nan confirmed her confession but admitted he still questioned her motives. Later, Yun Fan reported that Amy, Sia's representative, was frequently meeting with Gu's Group. Lu Nan, in a meeting with Amy, highlighted Sia's interest in the Chinese market and offered significant concessions to keep the partnership. Amy acknowledged the generous offer and promised to consult her headquarters.
She later called Su Bei, informing her that she had secured a one-week extension for Su Bei to publicly clear her name, after which the cooperation would be terminated if her innocence remained unproven. Amy praised Lu Nan, remarking on Su Bei's fortune to have such a supportive husband. Su Bei, still determined to win Lu Nan back, tried to make him breakfast at his home. Despite her earnest attempts to apologize and embrace him, Lu Nan remained cold.
He rejected her food and, grabbing her, physically carried her out of his house. However, once she was gone, he returned to the table and began to eat the breakfast she had prepared, revealing his feigned anger. Meanwhile, Gu Chengze was celebrating at a KTV when he received a furious call from his father, who had discovered Gu Chengze's embezzlement of company funds for a failed investment.
Enraged, Gu Chengze accused Gu Yan of leaking the information, which Gu Yan denied. Later, Gu Yan provided Su Bei with definitive evidence of Gu Chengze's financial misconduct and his past commercial fraud involving Sanglan Apparel. Su Bei promptly handed the evidence to the police, ensuring Gu Chengze's arrest for both commercial fraud and misappropriation of funds, which she jokingly referred to as "interest."
A brief encounter between Su Bei, Gu Yan, and Lu Nan at Eminence's lobby saw Lu Nan display clear jealousy, questioning Su Bei's meeting with Gu Yan. Su Bei explained it was related to Gu Chengze, leading to a playful exchange where both admitted to feeling jealous. Despite this, Lu Nan reiterated that he had not yet forgiven her, to which Su Bei calmly responded that she would endure his anger for as long as it took.
The following day, a man claiming to be Zhao Rui's father appeared outside Eminence's building, holding a sign and loudly demanding "a life for a life," accusing Su Bei of causing his daughter's death and stirring up a crowd of onlookers.
Episode 15 Recap
Zhao Rui’s father appeared at the Eminence building, shouting that Su Bei had killed his daughter and demanding she pay with her life. Su Bei went downstairs to confront him, but Zhao Rui’s father immediately swung a plank at her. Lu Nan quickly stepped in front of Su Bei, taking the blow himself.
Lu Nan assured Zhao Rui’s father that they were investigating to uncover the truth and would provide an explanation, but he would not allow anyone to harm Su Bei before the truth was known. Zhao Rui’s father continued to accuse Su Bei of causing his beloved daughter’s death seven years ago, insisting that she should pay for it with her life, until security guards escorted him away. Later, Su Bei recounted the events of seven years prior to Lu Nan.
Soon after their marriage, she had represented Eminence in a fashion design competition, while Zhao Rui, newly employed by Gu's Group, also participated. Both successfully reached the final, competing for the championship. To their shock, their final designs were identical. The organizers demanded evidence of originality. Su Bei had meticulously preserved all her drafts, from initial concept to final product, which initially established Zhao Rui’s plagiarism.
However, Zhao Rui, a stubborn individual, tragically took her own life to prove her innocence. Overnight, public opinion turned, branding Su Bei as the plagiarist who had driven Zhao Rui to suicide, and turning Eminence into a target of public criticism. Su Bei confessed that while she knew she was innocent, seeing Zhao Rui’s father in his grief made her question her own innocence, as a life had still been lost.
Yun Fan provided Lu Nan with details from his investigation. The champion of the design competition seven years ago was Sun Yulin, who had studied under the same master as Zhao Rui. After Su Bei and Zhao Rui were disqualified due to the plagiarism scandal and Zhao Rui’s death, the championship title went to Sun Yulin.
Curiously, despite winning the competition and having a promising career in the fashion industry, Sun Yulin chose to leave it entirely and open a restaurant. Lu Nan sought out Sun Yulin. He noted a news report still blaming Su Bei for the plagiarism and Zhao Rui’s death. Lu Nan confronted Sun Yulin, asking why a successful designer would abandon his career for a restaurant.
Sun Yulin initially claimed ignorance and denied having any evidence, saying everyone believed Su Bei was the plagiarist. Lu Nan suggested that Sun Yulin might have benefited from the scandal. When Sun Yulin asked him to leave, Lu Nan pointed out that sometimes a single word of truth could save a life.
Unable to persuade Sun Yulin, Lu Nan subtly orchestrated a situation where hired customers complained of severe food poisoning from Sun Yulin's restaurant, accusing him of using tainted ingredients. Sun Yulin, facing false accusations and unable to defend himself, finally understood the feeling of being wronged and slandered. Lu Nan then pressed him, highlighting how Su Bei's dream was destroyed and she bore a false reputation for seven years.
He reminded Sun Yulin of his shared tutelage with Zhao Rui and how his silence seven years ago led to Zhao Rui's death and ruined the careers of all three. Sun Yulin, remorseful, admitted he never expected Zhao Rui to commit suicide and regretted his silence. Lu Nan gave him a deadline to attend the upcoming press conference and reveal the truth, emphasizing that Su Bei's current despair mirrored Zhao Rui's from back then.
Su Bei, still concerned, attempted to speak with Sun Yulin, but Lu Nan intervened, assuring her he would handle it and asking her to trust him. He declared he would protect her. Lu Nan later took Su Bei to the seaside, comforting her with philosophical words and affirming his affection. He then fell ill with a fever, and Su Bei lovingly cared for him, sharing a tender kiss.
The next morning, Chris visited, playfully asking if they had kissed and then role-playing as a small superhero with Lu Nan as his dad. Su Bei tried to tell Lu Nan something important about Chris, but Lu Nan, sensing her hesitation, gently told her he would wait until she was ready to share it. Su Bei apologized again for the trouble caused to Eminence.
Lu Nan reiterated his role as her husband and his responsibility to face all challenges with her. Eminence held a press conference regarding the plagiarism allegations. Reporters aggressively questioned Su Bei and Lu Nan, with Su Bei struggling to respond. Lu Nan stated he was not covering for Su Bei and that her trip abroad was unrelated to the incident.
He admitted to lacking current definitive proof of her innocence but expressed respect for the deceased and a desire not to pursue the matter further. Journalists interpreted this as an indirect admission of guilt. At this critical moment, Sun Yulin and Zhao Rui’s father arrived. Zhao Rui's father bowed and apologized to Su Bei, admitting he had wrongly accused her.
He then revealed to the stunned journalists that Su Bei was innocent and that the true plagiarist was his own daughter, Zhao Rui. Zhao Rui's father explained that seven years ago, his daughter, newly graduated, had just started working at a major company when he fell gravely ill, and they couldn’t afford the exorbitant medical fees.
A person approached Zhao Rui, offering her Su Bei’s design drafts and promising to pay her father’s medical bills if she plagiarized Su Bei’s work. He presented a notebook containing a list of people who had "donated" money to his family, with Lu Fei Er’s name prominently listed, having contributed the largest sum.
Sun Yulin then presented Zhao Rui's preliminary manuscript for the competition, complete with her signature and date, proving it was her original work before she succumbed to the temptation of money and her father's illness, ultimately copying Su Bei's design for the final. Sun Yulin also confessed his regret for staying silent, fearing that Su Bei would once again give up her dream if the truth remained hidden.
Zhao Rui’s father apologized again to Su Bei, who comforted him in return. Lu Nan swiftly ended the press conference, entrusting Yun Fan to secure the evidence and manage the reporters. In a flashback, Gu Yan, recalling the past, had confronted Zhao Rui, informing her of the significant losses her plagiarism had caused Gu’s Group. He presented her with two choices: either compensate the company or prove her innocence, adding that the public always sympathized with the weak.
This pressure, following the plagiarism accusation, contributed to Zhao Rui’s subsequent suicide. Later that evening, Lu Nan confronted Lu Fei Er, accusing her of bribing Zhao Rui to frame Su Bei seven years ago. Lu Fei Er defiantly admitted her actions, claiming she did everything out of her love for Lu Nan, believing he belonged to her and that without Su Bei, they would have been together forever.
She argued she only wanted Su Bei to leave and denied forcing Zhao Rui to die, insisting Zhao Rui chose suicide and that she merely provided money. Lu Nan denounced her as hopeless, reminded her that Su Bei's mercy was the only reason she wasn't in prison, and then revealed he had already purchased plane tickets for her. He told her to leave immediately, as he no longer wanted to see her.
Lu Fei Er refused to leave, asserting her place in the Lu family. Lu Nan gave her an ultimatum: either go abroad for further study to save face, or he would sever all sibling ties. Enraged, Lu Fei Er smashed a flower vase in frustration. Su Bei confided in Lu Nan about her past and her adoptive mother, Auntie Lan.
She described a childhood marked by being labeled a "bastard child" and Auntie Lan's selfless sacrifice, including giving up her engagement and never marrying, all for Su Bei. Su Bei explained that when Auntie Lan became a vegetable due to a stroke, she had approached Lu Nan with revenge in mind, regretting her choices. Lu Nan acknowledged his own share of responsibility, regretting that his amnesia prevented him from extending help to Auntie Lan when she needed it most.
With the truth finally out, they resolved to put the past behind them. Lu Nan vowed to protect and cherish Su Bei, ensuring no one would ever harm her again. They celebrated their reconciliation with a toast, a dance, and a passionate embrace, affirming their unwavering commitment to each other. Meanwhile, at the airport, Lu Grandma, unaware of Lu Fei Er’s schemes, expressed disappointment that Lu Nan wasn’t there to see her off.
Lu Fei Er, pretending to be a dutiful granddaughter, offered heartfelt advice to her grandmother, who shed tears, reluctant to say goodbye. After a tearful farewell, Lu Grandma departed, leaving Lu Fei Er to board her flight. The next day, Eminence and Sia formally signed their cooperation agreement. Amidst the celebration and photo opportunities, Lu Fei Er, who was supposedly abroad, surprisingly appeared at the event, discreetly posing as a reporter.
Episode 16 Recap
Despite his father resolving his legal issues, Gu Chengze was expelled from Gu's Group. His father arranged for Gu Yan to take him abroad to avoid trouble, but Gu Chengze's hatred for Lu Nan remained strong. Gu Yan fueled this animosity by informing him that Eminence had officially partnered with Sia, and Lu Nan and his "family of three" were currently thriving, implying they were beyond their reach.
Puzzled, Gu Chengze pressed Gu Yan for details on the "family of three." After receiving an explanation, Gu Chengze drove off alone, leaving Gu Yan to smile slyly. Meanwhile, Lu Nan presented Su Bei with a new clothing design studio, emphasizing that talent, like water, needs to be aggressive to flow into the vast ocean. He encouraged her not to waste her abilities, to follow her heart, and pursue her true passions.
Su Bei, delighted, thanked him for the surprise, to which Lu Nan playfully corrected her, stating it was a surprise from "Mr. Lu to Mrs. Lu." He also mentioned she could manage Starlight temporarily until a suitable replacement was found. Gu Chengze then picked up Chris. In the car, Chris was a non-stop talker, initially expressing concerns about his mother's pregnancy and feeling neglected, then excitedly demanding fried chicken since his mother wasn't around.
Gu Chengze, overwhelmed by the constant chatter, eventually bought him hot wings. Chris, however, complained about the spicy food, further irritating Gu Chengze, who stepped out of the car. Gu Chengze then called Lu Nan, threatening that he had his son. Lu Nan, believing it was a prank, hung up and blocked the number. Frustrated and still subjected to Chris's incessant complaints about wanting to go home, Gu Chengze tied Chris to a chair.
Earlier, Su Bei met with Gu Yan, who sought her help to prevent Eminence's chief model, Liu Qianying, from terminating her contract with Gu's Group. Gu Yan explained that the company was in a precarious state, and such a termination would lead to a more severe crisis. Su Bei agreed to do her best but cautioned against high expectations as she couldn't control company decisions.
Gu Yan feigned surprise upon receiving a phone call, informing Su Bei that Gu Chengze had escaped while being taken abroad after his release from detention. He warned her to be careful, as Gu Chengze was vindictive and might seek revenge. Agitated by Chris's continuous remarks about the consequences of kidnapping, Gu Chengze, unable to reach Lu Nan, called Su Bei.
He threatened to kill Chris if she and Lu Nan didn't immediately come to the construction hovel without calling the police. Su Bei, in a panic, first made a call to confirm Chris was missing, then urgently called Lu Nan, instructing him to rush to the hovel. Gu Yan, feigning concern, offered to report the incident to his father. After Su Bei left, Gu Yan smiled triumphantly, pleased that his plan was unfolding as intended.
Lu Nan and Su Bei arrived at the construction hovel. Chris, tied and gagged, cried for help. Gu Chengze held Chris hostage, demanding that Lu Nan kneel and slap himself repeatedly, threatening to post a video of the humiliation. Lu Nan complied, enduring the abuse for his son's safety. Just as Gu Chengze declared his satisfaction, police sirens blared. Enraged, Gu Chengze accused them of calling the police and threatened to kill Chris.
Lu Nan tried to calm him, promising to send the police away. At that moment, Gu Yan intervened, pushing the knife away from Chris and shielding him, getting slashed in the arm. Lu Nan then fought Gu Chengze, who was quickly subdued by the arriving police. Su Bei comforted Chris, who was visibly shaken, and admitted to Lu Nan that she had called the police.
Gu Yan, holding his injured arm, appeared satisfied that his plan had worked, making him appear as Chris's hero. Back home, Su Bei comforted Chris, who wanted to return to Italy and felt unloved by his father. Su Bei apologized, revealing it was her fault for not telling Lu Nan that Chris was his son. Later, Lu Nan expressed remorse, vowing to love and make up for Chris. He then asked Su Bei why she had hidden the truth.
Su Bei explained that seven years ago, after discovering her pregnancy, she called him, but Lu Fei Er answered, claiming Lu Nan never wanted to hear from her again. Unaware that Lu Nan was in a vegetative state from a car accident, Su Bei was heartbroken and nearly miscarried. Upon returning years later, she feared Lu Nan would fight for custody, as Chris was her sole reason for living.
Lu Nan criticized her selfishness, emphasizing Chris needed a father, and he needed to fulfill his paternal responsibilities. Su Bei confessed she wanted to tell him but never found the right moment, fearing his reaction and affecting his recovery. Lu Nan gently reproached her, implying he desired her trust and love, not just apologies. The next day, Lu Nan's grandma visited, showering Chris with affection.
She immediately noticed his resemblance to the Lu family, proudly declaring him her great-grandson and similar to a young Lu Nan. While doting on Chris, she gently chided Su Bei for hiding him for six years, expressing relief that he was healthy. Chris, enjoying the attention, offered her an egg, explaining Su Bei had taught him to peel it for her. Since learning the truth, Lu Nan transformed into an overly doting father.
At breakfast, he tried to engage Chris, who initially refused to eat and told Lu Nan he had no appetite at the sight of him. Despite Chris's persistent resistance and declarations of wanting a new dad, Lu Nan remained patient, dotingly eating the chicken drumstick Chris deemed "ugly." At work, Lu Nan was in high spirits, reflecting on the profound joy of fatherhood.
He jokingly offered Yun Fan time off to "have a son" and enthusiastically showed him a secretly taken photo of Chris. Yun Fan teased him, noting how much he now adored the child he once disliked. Lu Nan then tasked Yun Fan with buying all suitable toys for a six-year-old by the end of the day, stating he would skip the celebration party to be with his son.
That evening, at the celebration party in Lu Nan's absence, Yun Fan and Ye Ting's characteristic bickering provided entertainment. Yun Fan grandly declared himself the "prettiest guy" there, provoking Ye Ting to mock his age. Yun Fan retaliated by calling her unfeminine. Ye Ting, calling him a "sissy boy," raised her fist, causing Yun Fan to back down. Their colleagues teased them about being a "nice couple," finding their dynamic a good match. Both were flustered but eventually joined the dancing.
Episode 17 Recap
The celebratory atmosphere of the Eminence team’s success in their collaboration with Sia came to an abrupt halt when Lu Nan, who was supposed to be at home with Chris, unexpectedly arrived. He immediately pulled a bewildered Su Bei away, and only after their departure did the staff resume their lively party.
Lu Nan gathered his employees for tea, where he offered to fulfill their reasonable requests as a reward for their hard work and asked them to share their upcoming work goals and life plans. One employee expressed a desire to be a winner like Mr. Lu, wishing for a wife and child, while a female employee lamented her single status despite her diligent work, pointing out that many of her peers already had children.
Taken aback by the comments about personal lives, Lu Nan declared that starting next week, the company would adopt a 996 work schedule. Su Bei quickly intervened, assuring everyone that Lu Nan was just joking and that they needed to leave to be with Chris. After Lu Nan and Su Bei departed, the relieved employees vowed not to speak so freely again. Yun Fan, finding the tea gathering boring, rallied everyone to return to the party.
When Ye Ting expressed a desire to go home, Yun Fan provoked her, suggesting she was afraid to drink against him. Annoyed, Ye Ting accepted the challenge, calling him a "sissy boy" and vowing to teach him a lesson. The two engaged in a fierce drinking game involving dice, each refusing to back down. The next morning, Yun Fan woke up naked in a hotel room, Ye Ting nowhere to be found, only to discover 249 yuan on the table.
He was furious. Ye Ting later confessed to Su Bei that nothing had actually happened between her and Yun Fan; she had deliberately pranked him. She explained that she left him the money as a "symbolic tip" because he "served" her all night, and that 249 yuan was all she had. Later, Yun Fan confronted Ye Ting in a conference room, demanding to know why she paid him. He asserted that he was the one who "slept with her."
Ye Ting casually dismissed it as a one-night stand, implying that the roles didn't matter. Yun Fan was particularly insulted by the 249 yuan, believing it implied he wasn't even worth "250 yuan" (a Chinese slang term for "fool"). Ye Ting, realizing his concern was about the amount, nonchalantly handed him another yuan, making it 250, and quipped that "with his skills, 250 yuan is worth it."
Their heated exchange was overheard by other employees through the glass door, quickly spreading the news that Yun Fan had become "Assistant 250." Humiliated, Yun Fan angrily demanded that Lu Nan fulfill his promise of a two-week vacation in Europe so he could escape the embarrassment. Lu Nan agreed, then immediately shifted the conversation to the situation at Gu's Group.
Yun Fan reported that Gu Yan, the second son of the Gu family, had successfully taken control of Gu's Group, completely reorganizing the company. Lu Nan noted that Gu Yan had benefited the most from the internal struggles, confirming his suspicion that Gu Yan was far more cunning than he appeared. He warned Yun Fan to be cautious.
Yun Fan, in turn, urged Lu Nan to focus on his own well-being, reminding him that doctors were pressing him to undergo an eye surgery. Lu Nan, however, expressed that he valued remembering Su Bei more than restoring his eyesight. Meanwhile, at Gu's Group, Gu Yan entered the CEO's office, triumphantly tossing Gu Chengze's belongings into a trash can, proclaiming that he had finally waited for this day.
That night, Gu Yan met with Yu Jia, Auntie Lan's apprentice, revealing their secret romantic relationship. Yu Jia expressed her desire to be with Gu Yan every day and to help him at Gu's Group, having learned much from her master. Gu Yan, however, instructed her to first find a way to get close to Su Bei, a task Yu Jia initially resisted but ultimately agreed to, professing she would do anything for him.
The following day, Yu Jia approached Su Bei, feigning innocence and explaining her master's stable condition and the company's liquidation. She admitted that after years with Auntie Lan, she only knew how to make clothes and humbly asked Su Bei to help her find a job. Unsuspecting, Su Bei offered Yu Jia a position at Eminence, working on the Sia case, confident in her experience.
Yu Jia gratefully accepted, promising not to disappoint Su Bei, who, in turn, jokingly warned her that she was even stricter than Auntie Lan. Lu Nan and Su Bei took Chris to a new underwater world. Chris, still annoyed with Lu Nan for not having recognized him earlier, rejected all the toys his father bought, deeming them noisy, boring, or childish. He only brightened up when Su Bei arrived, showering her with affection and showing off his video game progress.
Su Bei suggested an amusement park, but Chris dismissed it as being "for kids." However, when she proposed visiting the new underwater world, Chris enthusiastically agreed, though he insisted Lu Nan not join them, as it would "upset his mood." At the aquarium, Chris enjoyed a small cake bought by Lu Nan after Su Bei gently encouraged him to forgive his father. From a distance, Lu Fei Er observed the happy family, her face contorted in anger.
That evening, Gu Yan visited the Lu family home, much to Chris's delight, who greeted him warmly as "Uncle Gu" and happily accepted the food and building blocks Gu Yan brought. Su Bei thanked Gu Yan for saving Chris, and Gu Yan replied that they were "family" and he also liked Chris. Chris, in front of Lu Nan, declared his fondness for "Uncle Gu."
Gu Yan congratulated Su Bei on her recent achievements and expressed his desire to collaborate with her again. However, Lu Nan interjected, stating Su Bei was busy. Gu Yan then invited Chris to see a giant model sometime, and Chris eagerly agreed. Lu Nan, becoming increasingly irritated, stood up and coldly told Gu Yan to leave and stop disturbing their family life.
As Gu Yan was leaving, Lu Nan, in a direct and hostile tone, stated that he did not appreciate Gu Yan's presence, would not thank him for saving Chris, and warned him to stay away from his wife and son. Gu Yan claimed he only wished for Su Bei and Chris's happiness as a friend, but Lu Nan firmly retorted that he would ensure their happiness himself and did not need Gu Yan's concern.
Lu Nan further added that he, being an "excellent person," did not befriend boring people. After Gu Yan left, he muttered to himself that Lu Nan might have forgotten everything, but he (Gu Yan) had not. Later, Lu Fei Er met with Gu Yan. She complimented him on becoming president and expressed her interest in the design director position at Gu's Group. Gu Yan initially dismissed her, remarking that people should know their limitations and contribute according to their value.
In response, Lu Fei Er presented him with a copy of the "fragrance brocade," a highly sought-after design, as a token of her sincerity. Impressed, Gu Yan acknowledged her astuteness, observing that she had obtained something so many desired. Lu Fei Er pressed her case, asking how she could prove her abilities if not given a chance. She then confidently asked if she was now qualified to be the design director of Gu's Group.
Gu Yan, still calling her "little Yingzi," noted her insatiable ambition, to which Lu Fei Er retorted that he was no different, and in their pursuit of power, no one remained entirely upright. The two then shook hands, agreeing to a partnership. Meanwhile, on his vacation, Yun Fan tried his hand at flirting by the pool, only to be rebuffed. He then unexpectedly encountered Ye Ting again.
His confident demeanor instantly crumbled, and he became visibly nervous, stuttering as he spoke. Ye Ting grabbed him, stating she had something to say. Yu Jia officially joined Eminence's collaboration team with Sia as a tailor. Su Bei, trusting her completely, entrusted her with the cutting and sewing of a significant design, setting a strict three-day deadline for completion before the product launch. Yu Jia, though initially hesitant about the sewing aspect, promised not to disappoint. The collaboration quickly intensified.
One day, Lu Fei Er visited Yu Jia at the hospital where Auntie Lan resided, asking for a specific item. Yu Jia, growing suspicious, questioned Lu Fei Er's relationship with Gu Yan. Lu Fei Er evasively stated they were merely "cooperating," clarifying that she was simply a messenger and that Yu Jia should address any reluctance directly to President Gu. Yu Jia warned Lu Fei Er not to pretend to be someone she wasn't, or she would face severe consequences. As Lu Fei Er departed, Su Bei arrived, glimpsing her back and feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Episode 18 Recap
Su Bei found the retreating figure very familiar, but Yu Jia quickly dismissed it, claiming the person was merely asking for directions. Not sensing anything amiss, Su Bei dropped her suspicions, and the two went to visit Auntie Lan. Meanwhile, Yun Fan and Ye Ting returned to Nanxi. At the airport, Yun Fan, exasperated by carrying both their bags, loudly declared he was a man and wouldn't be Ye Ting's bag-carrier, even threatening to hit her.
In his imagination, Ye Ting immediately adopted a sweet tone, apologizing and offering to carry the bags herself, worrying about his hands if he hit her. Yun Fan, however, wasn't easily swayed and demanded a kiss. A sharp slap from the real Ye Ting snapped him out of his daydream. Furious at her real-life arrogance, Yun Fan angrily declared he would abandon her and her luggage. When he tossed her expensive bag, Ye Ting chased him, furious.
Later, at the company, Su Bei noticed Ye Ting’s unusually gentle demeanor and teased her, asking if a spark had ignited between her and Yun Fan. Ye Ting blushed, quickly denying it and threatening Su Bei if she continued to jest. Back in the office, Yun Fan confronted Lu Nan, complaining about being forced to vacation with "that violent girl" at the same hotel.
Lu Nan calmly explained that it was a group purchase, offering "50% discount for the second person," which further irritated Yun Fan. He lamented his bad luck, wishing for a gentle woman, not someone who constantly resorted to threats. As Ye Ting entered to have Lu Nan sign documents, Yun Fan childishly made faces behind her back, then pretended to swat a mosquito when she turned.
Lu Nan, noticing Yun Fan's behavior, advised him to go see Ye Ting if he wanted to, since she wasn't far. Yun Fan vehemently denied any interest, stating he'd rather stay with Lu Nan. Su Bei was struggling with her latest design, feeling something was missing despite her passion. Lu Nan, seeing her distress, told her she was working too hard and needed a break, planning a special outing for her that evening.
Su Bei initially hesitated, wanting to focus on work, but Lu Nan insisted, emphasizing that nothing was more important to him than her well-being. That night, Lu Nan surprised Su Bei with a romantic dinner in a hotel, a floor entirely reserved for them and adorned with rose petals. Su Bei, touched by his gesture, confessed her intention to leave the design department after the Sia project.
She felt that passion alone wasn't enough; designers needed continuous inspiration and ability, and she was currently at a bottleneck. Lu Nan, however, reminded her how radiant she was when designing, praising her unique talent. He suggested her current pressure was limiting her creativity, urging her to revisit her original vision and disregard constraints, especially her current focus on Chinese elements for Sia's bold style.
This sparked a breakthrough for Su Bei, who excitedly rushed off to work, leaving Chris with his "super daddy." A flashback showed a younger Su Bei and Lu Nan also discussing design, with Lu Nan proposing to her after she completed a project, which she playfully deflected. With renewed inspiration, Su Bei successfully completed her designs. Her colleagues enthusiastically praised the new collection.
Su Bei promised each team member two complimentary pieces after the launch, and Lu Nan, ever supportive, announced double salaries for the entire design department, much to everyone's delight. After celebrating, Yun Fan presented Ye Ting with an expensive bag he had specifically acquired from abroad as a reward for her hard work. Ye Ting, however, feigned anger, scolding him for spending over 20,000 yuan on a bag when she never spent more than 500.
She threatened to "beat him up" if he ever splurged on her again, though a hidden smile betrayed her true feelings. The next day, just before Eminence’s new collection launch, an employee rushed in with alarming news: Gu's Group had already released an identical collection, featuring their new design director, Lu Fei Er, promoting it in a live stream. The designs, from color and style to materials and patterns, were virtually identical.
Amy, from Sia, called Su Bei, demanding an explanation, stressing the severity of the situation and her inability to help stall headquarters. Su Bei, distraught, understood that an "inside job" was at play. Lu Nan rationalized that only four people knew the details of the "fragrance brocade" fabric: himself, Su Bei, Auntie Lan, and Yu Jia, Auntie Lan's apprentice.
While Su Bei immediately defended Yu Jia, whom Auntie Lan treated like a daughter, Lu Nan advised her to think rationally, free from emotional bias. Su Bei then recalled the familiar retreating figure she had seen with Yu Jia at the hospital. Su Bei scheduled a meeting with Gu Yan to confront him about Lu Fei Er's appointment as Gu's design director and the copied designs.
Gu Yan feigned surprise and ignorance, claiming he was unaware of the design overlap and only hired Lu Fei Er due to her talent and Gu's need for staff. He presented himself as a victim, focused solely on reorganizing Gu's internal chaos, implying he had no time for sabotage. Su Bei sensed a change in him, describing it as a "heavier scent of money," but couldn't quite articulate the shift.
Gu Yan, however, assured her he would never act to harm her. Meanwhile, Lu Nan held a video conference with Sia’s representatives. They expressed their disappointment and demanded a prompt solution, or they would take legal action for damages. Lu Nan took a firm stance, offering to bear all losses if Eminence failed to resolve the issue given sufficient time but also threatening legal recourse if they were not given the chance to investigate.
The Sia representatives conceded, granting a deadline for a solution but insisting on the scheduled launch. After the call, Lu Nan and Su Bei discussed the implications. Lu Nan noted that Lu Fei Er leaking the fragrance brocade might connect to Auntie Lan's accident, and Zhao Long's confession was highly suspicious. He tasked Yun Fan with investigating Zhao Long. Lu Nan also deduced that Gu Yan was the biggest beneficiary of the design theft.
He described Gu Yan as a "smiling fox," a contrast to Gu Chengze whom he called a "husky," highlighting Gu Yan's cunning nature and deep schemes. He warned Su Bei to be cautious and forbade her from having any further contact with Gu Yan, saying "Mr. Jealousy" had spoken. Later, Lu Fei Er contacted Lu Nan for a meeting, but Su Bei arrived in his place.
Lu Fei Er expressed her disappointment at not seeing Lu Nan and falsely claimed that Lu Nan himself had given her the fragrance brocade. Su Bei refuted this, asserting that she knew Lu Nan harbored no romantic feelings for Lu Fei Er and that Lu Fei Er was simply deluding herself. Lu Fei Er, consumed by her unrequited love for Lu Nan, revealed her long-standing obsession.
She explained that before Su Bei's appearance, her life revolved around pleasing her brother and grandmother, hoping to earn his affection. When Lu Nan fell for Su Bei instead, Lu Fei Er became determined to surpass Su Bei in every way, learning design to prove her superiority to him. She firmly believed that her actions were for Lu Nan's own good and that Su Bei was detrimental to him, while Lu Nan was simply unable to recognize her true devotion. Su Bei concluded that despite all her efforts, Lu Nan would never reciprocate her feelings.
Episode 19 Recap
Su Bei stayed up late working on her design drafts. As she flipped through old sketches, she came across a design from a competition seven years ago, which brought back a painful memory. At that time, she was wrongly accused of plagiarism. Instead of trusting her, Lu Nan ordered Yun Fan to book her a ticket to Italy. Su Bei confronted him, asserting her innocence with her original drafts, but Lu Nan was unyielding.
He argued that the accuser was dead, making it impossible to prove her innocence, and that her staying would only invite public criticism and ruin Eminence. Heartbroken, Su Bei questioned if she could ever be a designer again and if Lu Nan intended to blame everything on her once she was gone.
In a fit of rage and disappointment, Su Bei proposed a divorce, declaring that he had no right to force her abroad if she was no longer his wife. Lu Nan scoffed at the idea but still demanded she stay overseas. Hurt that the person she trusted most didn't believe her, Su Bei vowed to leave honorably after proving her innocence. Reflecting on that memory, she mused that they were both very young and hot-headed back then.
Inspired by her past, Su Bei began designing a new collection with the concept of "seeking your pure self." Lu Nan, concerned about her working late, joined her and playfully vowed to find the person who caused her so much trouble. She explained that the collection was inspired by her younger self seven years ago, when she experienced a pure love and designed these clothes for her beloved.
Now, facing a crisis, she aimed to use this collection to preserve that love. Lu Nan, deeply moved, reaffirmed his enduring love for her, recalling their wedding anniversary date, a number he remembered even after losing his memory. Su Bei, still focused on work, politely declined his advances, promising to make it up to him after the launch. At the office, the Eminence design team worked tirelessly.
Su Bei instructed her assistant, Yu Jia, to prioritize quality by using high-precision embroidery and premium fabrics, even if it meant sacrificing profit, to uphold Eminence's reputation. Later, Lu Nan brought late-night snacks for the team, but his affectionate gestures towards Su Bei earned teasing remarks from Ye Ting. The next afternoon, Eminence's new collection, the "Pure" series, was successfully launched during a live stream. Su Bei appeared as the designer, sharing her inspiration.
Watching the live stream, Gu Yan praised Su Bei's talent and resilience to a resentful Lu Fei Er, suggesting any man would eventually fall for Su Bei. He subtly mocked those who tried to win through plagiarism, implying Lu Fei Er. The live stream was a massive success, with sales doubling expectations, thrilling the Eminence team. Ye Ting was so excited she almost hugged Su Bei, but Lu Nan playfully intervened, joking that his jealousy extended even to women.
He then complimented Su Bei, saying he was more concerned with her hard work than her achievements, which he always expected to be excellent. However, the board was not satisfied. They pressured Lu Nan to find the internal mole responsible for the leak, threatening to suspend him if he failed. Lu Nan presented evidence pointing to Ye Ting, including a bank statement showing a sudden deposit of 500,000 yuan into an account in her name.
Ye Ting denied any knowledge of the account or the money, but she had no way to prove her innocence. Su Bei vehemently defended Ye Ting, expressing her absolute belief in her. Lu Nan, while defending Su Bei's integrity to the skeptical board, was ultimately forced to concede to their demands, announcing that Ye Ting would be handed over to the police for investigation. This angered Su Bei, who saw it as a betrayal.
She declared that doubting Ye Ting was tantamount to doubting her, and she defiantly walked out of the meeting with Ye Ting and her design team, assuring them that she would take full responsibility. Later, in his office, Lu Nan confronted Su Bei about her "self-centered" behavior, accusing her of disrespecting him in front of the board. Su Bei retorted, questioning his integrity for deciding to send Ye Ting to the police.
She reminded him of the past seven years when Ye Ting stood by her through her plagiarism crisis, childbirth, and work struggles, while Lu Nan was absent. She firmly stated that Ye Ting was not an "outsider" but a trusted friend, unlike the selfish and self-serving Lu Nan. He argued that people can change and that her blind faith was irrational.
Feeling deeply disgusted by his actions, Su Bei declared their marriage irredeemable and proposed divorce, to which an enraged Lu Nan agreed. That night, Ye Ting drowned her sorrows in alcohol when Yun Fan arrived with a bottle, expressing his unwavering belief in her innocence. Moved by his trust, Ye Ting spontaneously kissed him. The next day, a colleague informed Su Bei that the board had decided to remove her from the collaboration project with Sia.
Su Bei immediately confronted Lu Nan in his office, accusing him of discarding her now that the crisis was solved. Lu Nan coldly suggested she return home to focus on their family and have more children. Su Bei saw through his attempt to sideline her and accused him of being self-serving, just as he was seven years ago. The argument escalated, with Su Bei declaring she would have her lawyer draft the divorce papers.
Lu Nan callously responded that upon divorce, she would receive no money and no custody of Chris. This was the final straw; Su Bei announced her decision to leave Eminence and start her own brand, MISS. Her loyal design team, including Ye Ting and Yu Jia, immediately pledged to follow her. As Su Bei prepared to leave Lu Nan's home with Chris, Grandma Lu tearfully pleaded with her to stay and begged Lu Nan to intervene.
Lu Nan remained cold, stating that Su Bei was free to leave but Chris should stay. Grandma Lu, distraught, collapsed. Chris, seeing his great-grandmother in distress, decided to stay with her. Su Bei, with a heavy heart, entrusted Chris to Grandma Lu, promising to pick him up later. At the grand opening of MISS Studio, Su Bei gave an inspiring speech about turning dreams into reality and building a successful enterprise based on mutual trust and hard work.
Her former colleagues cheered her on. Later, Gu Yan invited her to a celebratory dinner, where he apologized that his company’s business decisions had inadvertently caused such a large conflict in her marriage. He then offered her a substantial project: designing the clothing for an upcoming environmental conference, including daily wear, evening gowns, and promotional outfits with Chinese characteristics. He emphasized the immense publicity this would bring to MISS Studio.
Su Bei, cautious because she had just told Lu Nan she wanted a divorce, expressed concerns about public opinion and requested time to consider the offer, which Gu Yan readily granted. Meanwhile, Chris, observing Lu Nan's regretful demeanor at home, encouraged him to pursue Su Bei, noting that Lu Nan was clearly jealous. Following Chris's advice, they waited outside Su Bei's apartment. When Gu Yan dropped Su Bei home, they encountered Lu Nan and Chris.
Chris innocently revealed Lu Nan's jealousy to Su Bei. Gu Yan then offered to play soccer with Chris on the weekend. Lu Nan, visibly annoyed, intervened, declaring that he would spend time with his own child and that Su Bei, as his legal wife, deserved respect. Gu Yan retorted that he was fully aware of Su Bei's marital status and would patiently await her divorce. Lu Nan further antagonized Su Bei, accusing her of moving on too quickly. Su Bei, exasperated, informed Lu Nan that her lawyer was already handling the divorce proceedings and that she wished to avoid seeing him until everything was finalized.
Episode 20 Recap
Lu Nan confronted Su Bei, accusing her of being overly eager to find another man and hinting that her actions could be used as evidence of an affair. Su Bei, however, brushed off his accusations. Their young son, Chris, tearfully pleaded with Su Bei not to abandon Lu Nan, fearing the heartbreak it would cause.
Lu Nan declared his love for Chris but announced that Chris would live with him moving forward, and his legal team was handling the divorce, so he didn't wish to see Su Bei until it was settled. Su Bei arrived at Gu's Group with her studio team to advance their collaboration. Lu Fei Er greeted Su Bei with feigned enthusiasm, addressing her as "sister-in-law" and noting they would be working together for a long time.
Su Bei, however, found her act tiresome, prompting Lu Fei Er to insist on her sincere welcome as Gu's design director, praising Su Bei's competence. Su Bei expressed that she valued actions more than words, to which Lu Fei Er responded that Su Bei would see her actions soon enough. Gu Yan then instructed Lu Fei Er to vacate her office for Su Bei's use.
In front of the team, Lu Fei Er cheerfully complied, stating that her larger office would facilitate better work communication. Later, Lu Fei Er confronted Gu Yan in his office, demanding to know why he had outsourced part of the environmental project to Su Bei, which she felt undermined her authority as the new design director. Gu Yan reminded her that merely changing her name wouldn't change her essence, and pointed out their employer-employee relationship.
He emphasized that their priority was to sow discord between Su Bei and Lu Nan to sabotage Eminence, as its listing was now inevitable. He concluded by warning Lu Fei Er to focus on her performance, or she would be fired. During a meeting, Gu Yan interrupted a presentation to deliver Su Bei her favorite cake, expressing concern for her health and insisting she eat on time.
Colleagues noted his unprecedented attentiveness, playfully suggesting they were benefiting from Su Bei's presence. When Su Bei mentioned her stomach hurt due to the cold cake, Gu Yan immediately offered to cancel the meeting and take her to the hospital. Su Bei, declining, insisted she only needed a short rest to continue working, citing the urgent deadline for the environmental conference project. Gu Yan, still showing concern, gave her hot water and apologized.
Yu Jia later brought stomach medicine for Su Bei, whom Su Bei introduced as her valued tailor and like a sister. Gu Yan, however, took the medicine from Yu Jia and personally handed it to Su Bei. That evening, Su Bei, noticing Lu Nan's sour expression, sarcastically compared his coolness to Gu Yan's ardent and public displays of affection, remarking that he was "as insensitive as a stone" who froze any passionate heart.
Stung by her words, Lu Nan challenged her, promising to show her just how passionate he could be. Su Bei, however, pushed him away, accusing him of becoming addicted to their pretense. Lu Nan countered that he felt she was genuinely planning to leave him for Gu Yan. Su Bei then received a phone call from Gu Yan, who inquired about her well-being.
Lu Nan, clearly irritated, warned Gu Yan of severe consequences if he continued, prompting Su Bei to intervene and remind him they needed to maintain their act. Later that night at Su Bei's home, Lu Nan confronted her, questioning if she had become addicted to their charade and was seriously considering leaving him for Gu Yan.
It was then revealed that Su Bei and Lu Nan's recent arguments and preparations for divorce, seemingly triggered by the issues with Ye Ting, were, in fact, an elaborate pretense. They had devised a plan to feign marital discord to trap Gu Yan and expose his true intentions.
Meanwhile, Yu Jia questioned Gu Yan if his feelings for Su Bei were genuine, confessing that even though she knew it was an act, she felt uneasy and feared he might actually fall for Su Bei. Gu Yan reassured her, clarifying that it was purely a performance and urged her to focus on her own tasks, promising a proper explanation once their plan concluded.
He then reiterated that even if Eminence's listing couldn't be stopped, their priority was to destroy Su Bei and Lu Nan's relationship to benefit Gu's Group. He asked Yu Jia for confirmation on whether Su Bei and Lu Nan were truly proceeding with a divorce. Yu Jia, satisfied that their arguments seemed genuine and Su Bei had consulted lawyers multiple times, expressed excitement for the day they could be openly together.
Gu Yan, however, urged her to expedite matters and advised her to avoid meeting him for a while to prevent their plans from being discovered. The next morning, Gu Yan arrived at Su Bei's home with breakfast. Lu Nan, who had spent the night, quickly hid to avoid being discovered by Gu Yan, much to his chagrin. Gu Yan presented Su Bei with stomach-warming porridge, promising to bring her breakfast every day as he was seriously pursuing her.
As Lu Nan, still hiding, accidentally made a noise, Su Bei skillfully diverted Gu Yan's attention. After Gu Yan left, Lu Nan secretly returned home, only to be confronted by Chris, who was upset about his father's overnight absence and accused him of cheating, threatening to tell Su Bei. Chris then found Su Bei and Gu Yan, tearfully proclaiming that both his father and mother were cheating. Gu Yan, feigning kindness, comforted Chris and offered him a hug.
Chris, however, directly implored Gu Yan not to break up his family, emphasizing that he had only recently reunited with his father. Su Bei apologized for Chris's outburst. Gu Yan, taking advantage of the situation, offered to wait while Su Bei took Chris to wash his face, now convinced that Su Bei and Lu Nan were indeed heading for divorce. To welcome Su Bei's collaboration, Gu Yan organized a team-building event for Gu's Group employees at Yonghong.
Upon hearing the news from Yu Jia, who referred to Su Bei as "Su Su," Lu Nan strategically moved his dinner meeting with Mr. Qian to the same venue. At the event, Lu Nan audaciously joined Gu's Group's dinner table, insisting on sitting between Su Bei and Gu Yan. He engaged in a sharp verbal sparring match with Gu Yan, much to the amusement of some onlookers.
As colleagues commented on how well Gu Yan and Su Bei seemed to get along, calling them a "perfect couple," Yu Jia watched, visibly jealous. Lu Nan, asserting his presence, then tried to poach Gu's Group employees, touting Eminence's family-friendly policies. Gu Yan countered, reminding Lu Nan of Su Bei's imminent divorce and questioning his role as "family." The two men continued to compete for Su Bei's attention, each offering her food.
Lu Nan eventually declared, "She's my wife, I'll take care of her, no need to trouble you." After the team-building event, Gu Yan offered to drive Su Bei home, but Lu Nan interjected, stating Su Bei was leaving with him. Su Bei, however, accepted Gu Yan's offer, thanking him. Gu Yan encouraged her to simply call him by his name.
Instead of taking her home, Gu Yan drove Su Bei to the spot where Lu Nan had first confessed his love to her. He had arranged a fireworks display, which he asked if she found beautiful. He then shared his philosophy that all beautiful things are replicable, and encouraged her to look forward to finding something even better.
Confessing his admiration for a girl he found excellent, cute, and unique, he expressed his apprehension about pursuing her further, unsure if she returned his feelings. Su Bei, however, sidestepped his confession, stating it was late and she needed to prepare for work the next day. Back at Su Bei's home later that night, Lu Nan, frustrated by her absence with Gu Yan, complained about waiting for her and asked for a neck massage.
Su Bei then revealed that Gu Yan had taken her to the very spot where Lu Nan had first confessed his love, and there, he had confessed his own feelings for her. Lu Nan was incensed, demanding to know how Gu Yan dared to confess his love while they were still married, as if Lu Nan was dead.
Su Bei quickly reminded him that any rash action would jeopardize their entire plan, as Gu Yan was now deeply entangled in their deception, and all their efforts would be wasted if they stopped now.
Acknowledging his crucial role, Lu Nan agreed to continue their act, but only under several conditions: Chris would sleep with him only once a week to foster independence; Su Bei must constantly consider his mood and comfort him when he was upset, a courtesy he would reciprocate; she was not to go out with other men at night unless he was present; they would institute daily goodnight kisses for marital harmony; and finally, Chris's surname would be officially changed to Lu, as Lu Nan's grandma wished.
Su Bei readily agreed to the name change, assuring Lu Nan that Chris was his child and promising they would make up for past hardships, ensuring their family of three remained inseparable. Su Bei then gave him a kiss, but Lu Nan deemed it unsatisfactory, insisting goodnight kisses were strictly for bedtime. When Su Bei suggested he go home, he declared, "This is my home."
He sternly reminded her to maintain the seriousness of their act and avoid any slip-ups, revealing that Gu Yan had almost discovered him earlier because the lights were off. Lu Nan then added one final condition: Su Bei was forbidden from mentioning other men in his presence. Lu Fei Er visited Lu Nan's grandma, presenting herself as sweet and dutiful. Grandma doted on her, expressing concern for her weight loss while abroad.
She proudly introduced Chris, Lu Nan's son, to Lu Fei Er. Lu Fei Er feigned delight at becoming an aunt and tried to coax Chris into addressing her, but he shyly retreated, claiming he had homework. When Lu Fei Er inquired about Su Bei, Grandma revealed that Lu Nan and Su Bei were arguing and considering divorce, prompting Lu Fei Er to feign sadness, suggesting Su Bei wouldn't be so heartless given Chris's young age.
Later, Lu Nan returned home to find Lu Fei Er, despite his previous warnings for her to stay away from Grandma. That night, Lu Fei Er approached Lu Nan in his study for a private conversation. She provocatively recalled his study being off-limits, like his heart, until Su Bei entered his life. Lu Nan, cutting to the chase, asked about the "fragrance brocade" manuscript.
Lu Fei Er initially pretended not to know, but then admitted she had intercepted a text message from Yu Qinglan to Lu Nan regarding the book. Knowing Yu Qinglan's importance to Su Bei, Lu Fei Er claimed she acted out of kindness to spare Lu Nan any distress. Furious, Lu Nan warned her to cease her schemes immediately, threatening more severe consequences than merely sending her abroad if she dared to harm his family again.
Lu Fei Er retorted, questioning if she was not considered family and if he always saw her as an outsider. Lu Nan ordered her to leave. Lu Fei Er persisted, asserting that Su Bei was now with Gu Yan and did not truly care for Lu Nan, drawing parallels to how Su Bei had abandoned him seven years prior. She declared herself the one who genuinely loved him.
Lu Nan vehemently rejected her advances, stating that even if he divorced Su Bei or if Su Bei had never existed, a relationship with Lu Fei Er was utterly impossible. He sternly commanded her to show respect for Su Bei, who was still his wife, and warned against any further slander. Lu Fei Er defiantly asked why Su Bei was acceptable but she was not, to which Lu Nan coldly replied that she could never compare to Su Bei.
He again ordered her to stay away from Grandma, revealing he had concealed Lu Fei Er's past misdeeds from Grandma to protect her from heartache. Lu Fei Er, in a final desperate plea, stated she could accept his lack of love for her, but not his love for another woman.
Episode 21 Recap
In the Gu's Group office, Gu Yan presented Su Bei with a bouquet of lilies and confessed his feelings, asking her to be his girlfriend. Su Bei politely declined, stating she was a married woman and that a man as excellent as him surely had many admirers, urging him not to break their hearts. Yu Jia, observing from outside the door, quickly intervened, pretending there was an urgent document for Su Bei to sign.
Before leaving, Su Bei reiterated that she did not like lilies, prompting Gu Yan to instruct Yu Jia to discard them, much to Yu Jia's resentment. Word of Gu Yan's pursuit of Su Bei spread throughout Eminence Group, with employees comparing Gu Yan's pleasant demeanor to Lu Nan's consistently stern expression. Lu Nan, overhearing their comments, became furious and jealous, feeling as if he had been made a cuckold.
He demanded an immediate halt to their plan and for Su Bei to return, but Yun Fan convinced him to persevere, reminding him that prematurely ending the charade would ruin everything they had worked for. Yun Fan reassured Lu Nan of Su Bei's loyalty and his own charm, dismissing the employees' opinions as blind. Meanwhile, Lu Fei Er approached a resentful Yu Jia, subtly fanning the flames of jealousy by highlighting Gu Yan's current pursuit of Su Bei.
Lu Fei Er suggested that if Su Bei and Gu Yan were to genuinely unite, Yu Jia would lose Gu Yan forever. She proposed helping Yu Jia orchestrate a situation where Su Bei would appear to be unfaithful, causing both Lu Nan and Gu Yan to abandon her, thus benefiting Yu Jia and Lu Fei Er. After some hesitation, Yu Jia, intrigued by the idea, asked Lu Fei Er for details.
Later, Su Bei reprimanded Yu Jia for a sample dress. Inspired by Monet, the dress was meant to be light and environmentally themed, sewn with special thread. However, Yu Jia had used machines and chemical polyester thread to save time, resulting in a stiff, rigid, and incomplete design. Gu Yan, witnessing the scene, openly sided with Su Bei, even suggesting she could fire anyone in the company she found unsatisfactory, further humiliating Yu Jia.
That evening, a dejected Yu Jia went to Gu Yan's house, her arrival secretly captured by a camera planted by Su Bei and Lu Nan's people. Yu Jia tearfully confronted Gu Yan, questioning if he was truly falling for Su Bei after allowing her to be publicly shamed. Gu Yan reassured her that his actions were merely part of their scheme to get revenge on Lu Nan, promising to marry her once their goal was achieved.
He affirmed his love and commitment, stating that she had been with him through his darkest times, and he would never let her down. Su Bei, upon reviewing the photographs, realized Yu Jia was Gu Yan's accomplice, confirming her suspicions about Yu Jia's involvement in the Eminence design leak and Auntie Lan's critical condition. The next day, Yu Jia called Su Bei, informing her that the bank clearance for Auntie Lan's factory was complete and required Su Bei's signature.
Yu Jia also requested a private meeting to apologize. At the restaurant, Yu Jia offered Su Bei a pre-sweetened coffee, professing sisterly affection and apologizing for the dress incident, asking Su Bei not to hold a grudge. She then abruptly left, citing urgent bank matters. Shortly after, as Su Bei headed to the parking garage, she felt dizzy. Realizing she had been drugged, she quickly activated location sharing with Lu Nan on her phone before collapsing.
Lu Fei Er arrived in the garage, triumphantly moving the unconscious Su Bei to a KTV room, and then summoned Gu Yan. Lu Nan, guided by Su Bei's shared location, burst into the KTV, angrily attacking Gu Yan. Gu Yan claimed he, too, was tricked into coming by Lu Fei Er. Lu Fei Er, unapologetic, declared her intent to ruin Su Bei and her indifference to Lu Nan's retaliation.
Lu Nan ordered Yun Fan to take Lu Fei Er away, vowing never to see her again and forbidding her from using the Lu family name. However, Lu Fei Er managed to escape while being escorted. Later, at home, Lu Nan, relieved Su Bei was safe, insisted she stop working at Gu's Group due to the risks. Su Bei, however, was resolute in continuing, promising to be more cautious and expressing unwavering faith in his protection.
Lu Nan then informed his grandmother of Lu Fei Er's malicious actions. Lu Nan's grandma was deeply saddened and apologized to Su Bei for years of misunderstanding, particularly for past accusations regarding a miscarriage. She declared she was too old to interfere further, leaving the handling of Lu Fei Er to them.
Having nowhere else to go, Lu Fei Er approached Yu Jia, blackmailing her with knowledge of Yu Jia's past involvement in stealing design drafts and drugging Su Bei, forcing Yu Jia to take her in. Soon after, Yu Jia received a call from the hospital informing her that Auntie Lan was showing signs of waking. Panicked, Yu Jia immediately contacted Gu Yan, who coldly advised her to eliminate Auntie Lan to prevent exposure.
At the hospital, Yu Jia attempted to remove Auntie Lan's oxygen mask but was caught in the act by Su Bei. Cornered, Yu Jia lashed out, confessing her long-held resentment. She recounted how Auntie Lan had "suppressed" her design dreams by pushing her into tailoring and confining her to the factory. She then revealed her collaboration with Gu's Group: placing a fraudulent large order with Auntie Lan's factory, then burning it down, intending to destroy it completely.
When Auntie Lan mortgaged the fragrance brocade to Eminence to cover the factory's debts, Yu Jia confronted her. In the ensuing struggle, Auntie Lan suffered a heart attack, leading to her vegetative state. Yu Jia confessed her belief that Auntie Lan valued Su Bei more and intended to leave the precious fragrance brocade to her.
Su Bei, shocked by the confession, clarified Auntie Lan's true intentions: she had encouraged Yu Jia in tailoring because she saw no talent in her design, fearing she would struggle. Auntie Lan kept Yu Jia by her side to pass on the legacy of brocade-making, and most poignantly, the fragrance brocade's password and a will leaving both the brocade and the factory were already set to Yu Jia.
Devastated by the truth, Yu Jia remained unyielding, refusing to implicate Gu Yan and claiming sole responsibility for everything, still believing he truly loved her. Su Bei, while acknowledging her inability to forgive, urged Yu Jia to surrender to the authorities, hoping for leniency, as she believed Auntie Lan would want Yu Jia to redeem herself and eventually find peace.
Su Bei tried to open Yu Jia's eyes to Gu Yan's manipulation, explaining his true motive was to use their conflict to frame others and consolidate his power at Gu's Group. However, Yu Jia vehemently denied this, accusing Su Bei of seducing Gu Yan and maintaining her unwavering belief in his love.
Episode 22 Recap
Having identified the person responsible for harming Auntie Lan, Su Bei felt a temporary sense of relief. She shared with Lu Nan that things were finally over and Yu Jia had agreed to surrender. Su Bei expressed her sadness, feeling like she had lost another family member, especially with Auntie Lan still in the hospital.
Lu Nan comforted her, saying not everyone is worth cherishing and that he would hold her hand and handle everything for her, promising he would never let her go again. The couple returned home, where Chris was also present. Su Bei affectionately kissed Chris, which made Lu Nan playfully jealous, demanding a kiss for himself. Chris teased Lu Nan for being childish.
The three enjoyed a warm family moment together, completely unaware that Lu Fei Er was watching them from outside, her face contorted with fierce jealousy. Before surrendering, Yu Jia attempted to contact Gu Yan, but he had already blocked her calls and WeChat. Earlier, upon hearing that Yu Jia was exposed, Gu Yan angrily called her "stupid" and immediately instructed his subordinate to destroy all evidence linking him to her.
Heartbroken and realizing her calls to Gu Yan were futile, Yu Jia stood outside the police station, weeping as she recalled her past moments with him. She then called Su Bei, who reassured her that she, Chris, and Auntie Lan would wait for her to come out and would always be there for her. With this, Yu Jia walked into the police station, ultimately taking sole responsibility for all the crimes.
Su Bei wanted to meet Gu Yan, and Lu Nan insisted on accompanying her, stating he wouldn't let her out of his sight again. Gu Yan admitted he had initially believed their divorce was genuine, not a strategic setup to expose the mole within Eminence. Su Bei expressed her disappointment, unable to believe that her once-trusted friend, a man she considered honorable, would stoop to using a woman to achieve his vile objectives.
She directly confronted him, asking that if his motive for framing Gu Chengze was to seize control of Gu's Group, then what was his true intention behind meticulously targeting Lu Nan? Gu Yan feigned ignorance, denying any involvement with Yu Jia, claiming she was merely a tailor he had met a few times, and pretending not to understand Su Bei's accusations against Lu Nan.
Su Bei then presented him with previously taken photographs, concrete evidence of his association with Yu Jia, and warned him to "watch out." She and Lu Nan then left together. Meanwhile, Lu Nan's recurrent dizzy spells were worsening, and his vision was becoming increasingly blurry due to the blood clot in his brain.
Yun Fan reported the good news that Eminence had successfully gone public and its stocks were soaring, but Lu Nan, struggling with his vision, asked Yun Fan to help him review documents. Yun Fan urged him to undergo surgery as soon as possible, emphasizing that his condition could not be delayed. However, Lu Nan refused, explaining that despite Eminence's successful IPO, not all obstacles had been cleared.
He also felt he owed Su Bei a great deal and wanted to give her a "happy life without burdens," free from worries about his health. He explicitly forbade Yun Fan from telling Su Bei about his condition. Yun Fan pressed him, arguing that as husband and wife, they should face difficulties together and that Su Bei was not as fragile as he thought.
Lu Nan, however, remained firm, promising Yun Fan that he would undergo the surgery only after he had eradicated all remaining obstacles, ensuring Su Bei could smoothly take over Eminence. He also made a poignant request to Yun Fan: to show him a picture of Su Bei on their wedding day before his surgery, as he had forgotten what she looked like. Yun Fan, moved, agreed to arrange it.
True to his word, Lu Nan arranged a surprise for Su Bei, inviting her to a hotel. Upon entering the room, Su Bei was greeted by a romantic scene: the space was filled with fresh flowers and balloons, and a television screen displayed a montage of their cherished photos from the past. Lu Nan appeared and, with a heartfelt confession, reiterated his deep love and apologized for his past shortcomings, promising to strive to be the best for her.
He vowed to love her every day of his life, acknowledging that their reunion had not been easy and asking for another chance to start anew. He formally introduced himself and then proposed marriage once more. Overcome with emotion, Su Bei tearfully accepted his proposal.
The following morning, Su Bei playfully chided Lu Nan for wanting to skip work after their romantic night, reminding him that they couldn't rest until the "big bad guy" was caught and that Gu Yan would be brought to justice. She then left for work, while Lu Nan, feigning exhaustion, stayed behind. Instead, he met with Yun Fan to finalize wedding plans, teasing him about Ye Ting.
Shortly after, Lu Nan headed to the factory to pick up Su Bei and have dinner with their son. Meanwhile, Su Bei received an urgent call about an incident at the Eminence Environmental Clothing warehouse and rushed there. Upon arrival, she was shocked to find only Lu Fei Er inside. Lu Fei Er, seeing Su Bei, immediately kicked over a gasoline barrel, spilling its contents across the floor and preparing to ignite it.
Su Bei tried to reason with her, offering to meet any demands and involving Lu Nan, but Lu Fei Er angrily blamed Su Bei for destroying her family and demanded she pay a price. As Lu Nan arrived, finding the warehouse doors locked from the outside and people attempting to force entry, Su Bei, fearing he would be implicated, remained silent. Lu Fei Er, realizing Su Bei's protective instincts, threatened to die with her.
Lu Nan broke into the warehouse and confronted Lu Fei Er, calling her hopeless and demanding she release Su Bei. Still consumed by her obsession, Lu Fei Er insisted that if Lu Nan left Su Bei and pledged to be with her forever, traveling the world and never returning, she would stop. Lu Nan vehemently rejected her, declaring he had disowned her and found her transformation terrifying.
Enraged, Lu Fei Er blamed Su Bei, believing that if Su Bei died, everything could revert to the past. She attacked Su Bei, but Lu Nan managed to snatch the lighter from her. In a violent struggle, Lu Fei Er then choked Su Bei. As they fought, a shelf was knocked over.
In a desperate act to protect Su Bei and Lu Fei Er, Lu Nan pushed them both out of harm's way, taking the full force of the falling goods himself. He collapsed, severely injured and unconscious. The police soon arrived and apprehended Lu Fei Er. At the hospital, Lu Nan regained consciousness, and surprisingly, the trauma triggered the recovery of his memories from seven years ago, including the plagiarism incident that led to Su Bei's departure.
He tightly clasped Su Bei's hand, repeatedly apologizing for sending her away, for not protecting her, for forgetting her, and for doubting her after her return. He also expressed regret for his "greedy" decision to prioritize Eminence's reputation over proving her innocence at the time. Su Bei comforted him, assuring him that it was all in the past and that she and Chris would be there for him. However, as he spoke, Lu Nan's vision began to blur again.
Feigning only dizziness and hunger, he managed to get Su Bei and his grandmother to leave the room. He then confided in Yun Fan, admitting that he "can't see anything." The attending doctor informed them that the recent head trauma had severely worsened his condition, with the blood clot now pressing on his brain's nerves, causing temporary blindness due to emotional fluctuations.
The doctor strongly recommended immediate surgery, but Lu Nan, still resistant, insisted on more time to consider and implored the doctor to keep the true severity of his condition a secret from Su Bei. Yun Fan attempted to intervene and urge him to tell her, but Lu Nan quietly signaled for him to remain silent. Unbeknownst to them, Gu Yan was busy forging a new alliance.
He met with Director Guo, a major shareholder of Eminence, over a game of golf. Gu Yan subtly praised Director Guo's business acumen and golf skills, then directly revealed his true intentions: he wished to befriend him and, more importantly, assist him in taking over Eminence. When Director Guo initially demurred, claiming to be merely a minor shareholder without such ambitions, Gu Yan pressed him, questioning if he was truly content with always "taking a back seat" to Lu Nan.
Gu Yan then openly disclosed his personal motives, declaring his goal to "Destroy the hero, and win the beauty" – clearly indicating his desire for Su Bei and his intent to seek revenge for his brother, Gu Chengze, whom he believed Lu Nan had framed. He proposed a partnership to jointly acquire Eminence, hinting at greater financial rewards and unexpected surprises.
Director Guo, after some hesitation, seemed to agree to consider the collaboration, acknowledging that taking down Eminence would not be easy but Gu Yan's help could make a difference. Troubled by Lu Nan's evasiveness regarding his health, Su Bei sought help from Ye Ting. She explained that Lu Nan was not being truthful about his condition and asked Ye Ting to distract Yun Fan the following day so she could discreetly test Lu Nan.
Ye Ting playfully remarked on Yun Fan being easily manipulated and feigned disinterest, but Su Bei, recalling her own regrets over lost years due to misunderstandings with Lu Nan, urged her to cherish finding someone she liked. The next day, Su Bei found Lu Nan and Yun Fan together. She pulled out a contract, claiming it was an urgent follow-up cooperation agreement with Sia that required Lu Nan's immediate signature to discreetly gauge his visual impairment.
Lu Nan, whose vision was already severely compromised, attempted to pretend his eyes were just strained from reading and asked for a break. However, Su Bei pressed him to sign, insisting on its urgency. As Lu Nan struggled to locate the signature line on the document, his difficulty in seeing became evident, confirming Su Bei's growing suspicions that his physical condition had indeed taken a serious turn for the worse.
Episode 23 Recap
Upon Su Bei's insistent questioning, Lu Nan reluctantly reveals his deteriorating eyesight, explaining that he woke up blind but can still perceive blurry images. He admits he withheld this information to spare her worry. Su Bei is deeply saddened, imagining his suffering alone in the dark, but Lu Nan assures her that her presence alleviates his pain and acknowledges her own hardships. Su Bei urges him to undergo surgery immediately, confident he will recover.
However, Lu Nan, concerned about external threats to Eminence, states he must first eliminate all "toxic people" and stabilize the company before going abroad for treatment. Distraught, Su Bei dismisses his concerns about the company and its "toxic people," emphasizing that her sole wish is for his prompt recovery. She tearfully reminds him of his past seven-year absence and Chris, urging him not to abandon them again. Seeing her distress, Lu Nan finally promises to have the surgery.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Yun Fan and Ye Ting walk along the corridor, with Ye Ting playfully controlling Yun Fan's pace. Suddenly, Gu Yan's henchman emerges from an elevator. Thinking quickly to avoid being recognized, Yun Fan pulls Ye Ting into a kiss against the wall. After the henchman passes, Yun Fan immediately calls Lu Nan to alert him. Anticipating Ye Ting's anger for the sudden kiss, Yun Fan begs her not to hit his face.
To his surprise, Ye Ting kisses him again, saying the hospital is not a suitable place for such interactions and pulls him home. Later, at home, Ye Ting scolds Yun Fan for lying about Lu Nan's condition and for her unpleasant experience with durian, demanding he break a durian shell with his knees as punishment.
Yun Fan apologizes, explaining his actions at the hospital were an emergency to protect Lu Nan, arguing that neither of them would want to see their loved ones in danger. Ye Ting then coyly asks if his kiss had any deeper intentions beyond their cover. Yun Fan, seizing the moment, enthusiastically affirms his intentions and leans in for another kiss, but Chris interrupts them, commenting that their actions are "inappropriate for kids."
Ye Ting and Yun Fan quickly invent an excuse about mending clothes and retreat. Despite his vision growing increasingly blurry, Lu Nan, with Su Bei's assistance, presides over a high-level meeting. He announces Eminence's successful collaboration with Sia and their plan to expand into the European market, requiring his personal presence for reconnaissance. During his absence, Su Bei will temporarily assume his role as Chairman.
This sudden announcement draws skepticism from some directors, particularly Director Guo, who questions the haste of expanding into Europe when the domestic market still holds significant potential. Lu Nan firmly asserts that broadening their horizons is necessary for a listed company, emphasizing that the strategy's success hinges on leadership, not the concerns of individual directors. He stresses the importance of establishing their high-end NS brand to leverage the Sia collaboration in Europe.
He concludes with a stern warning to the board to remain calm and not be exploited by malicious individuals, or risk making regrettable decisions. When Director Ding challenges Su Bei's veiled warning, Su Bei skillfully deflects, implying Director Ding's eager response makes him seem suspicious. Separately, Director Guo, having aligned himself with Gu Yan, expresses his suspicion about Lu Nan's sudden European trip, revealing that Lu Nan is likely concealing a health issue based on his hospital inquiries.
Gu Yan confirms he has been discreetly acquiring Eminence's odd lots and asks Director Guo to facilitate introductions to more Eminence shareholders. Gu Yan unabashedly declares his ambition to make Gu's Group the largest shareholder of Eminence, driven by a desire to "step on Lu Nan" and prove his superiority to Su Bei.
He sweetens the deal for Director Guo by offering him management control of Eminence once acquired and the option to exchange Eminence shares for Gu's Group shares, presenting it as a far more advantageous position than being a minor Eminence shareholder. He emphasizes that time for such a lucrative opportunity is limited.
Before his "departure," Lu Nan tells Su Bei that he needs to continue acquiring Gu's Group's odd lots, even if it delays his surgery by a few days, as Eminence's crisis is not fully resolved. He will only pretend to leave with Yun Fan while secretly carrying out his plan. He instructs her to act as his proxy, manage the board, and maintain business as usual. Su Bei agrees, reiterating her promise to wait for him.
She then warns Lu Nan that Gu Yan's henchman was spotted outside, indicating they are under surveillance. Lu Nan prepares for his staged departure. Chris gives him his beloved Superman toy, instructing him to hug it whenever he misses his son, and promising to be a man and protect Su Bei in his father's absence. Lu Nan thanks Chris, reassuring him he will get better. At the airport, the family bids farewell.
Ye Ting jokingly chides Yun Fan to "be a man" and give her a proper hug. Yun Fan, while teasing her about not "messing with other men" while he's away, receives a warm embrace from her. Su Bei encourages Lu Nan to take care, promising she and Chris will await his return, to which Lu Nan reciprocates. As Lu Nan and Yun Fan leave, Su Bei reaffirms her commitment to protecting Eminence for him.
She then questions Ye Ting about the progress in finding a senior designer for the NS brand, highlighting the urgency of its launch. During a phone call while he is supposedly abroad, Lu Nan asks Su Bei about the NS project, and she updates him on her ongoing search for designers, assuring him the project will advance once a selection is made. Under Director Guo's coordination, Gu Yan secures equity transfer agreements with several Eminence directors, offering them attractive compensation.
Simultaneously, the results of his investigation into Lu Nan's health are revealed. The following day, news breaks across all media platforms, exposing Eminence Chairman Lu Nan's critical condition and his alleged transfer overseas for urgent treatment. Eminence's stock plummets, prompting a mass sell-off by shareholders. Su Bei immediately deduces Gu Yan's involvement, noting the deliberate effort to unearth old information. She instructs the PR department to issue a statement to mitigate the public outcry.
However, concerned about the plummeting stock and Lu Nan's unreachability, shareholders gather, demanding explanations. At the tense shareholder meeting, Su Bei attempts to reassure the agitated directors, reminding them of Lu Nan's prior notification about his trip and casting doubt on the authenticity of a medical report provided by Director Guo.
She passionately appeals to their collective contributions to Eminence's success, suggesting the damaging news is a calculated attack by a competitor, and warns that internal discord would jeopardize the company's future. Her efforts are undermined when Gu Yan, accompanied by Director Guo, confidently strides in and declares himself a new Eminence director, having acquired a significant number of shares.
Director Ding, now openly aligned with Gu Yan, dismisses Su Bei's attempts to redirect the conversation and demands Lu Nan's immediate presence. He then proposes a vote to recall both Lu Nan and Su Bei, branding them a "cheating couple." At this critical juncture, Lu Nan makes a dramatic and unexpected return, asking the room, "Who wants to recall me?" A shocked Director Guo stammers, asking if Lu Nan wasn't "dying."
Lu Nan rebukes him for spreading malicious rumors and, in response to questions about the online medical report, presents his own, proving his sound health. He then challenges Director Guo's right to speak in the meeting, questioning if he still holds any Eminence shares, and dismisses him. Gu Yan, still defiant, asserts his position as Eminence's largest shareholder with "total authority" and arrogantly advises Lu Nan to resign with dignity.
Su Bei, with a look of fierce determination, warns Gu Yan that he will soon "regret it." Lu Nan then asks Gu Yan when he began planning such an elaborate scheme. Gu Yan, still confident, dismisses it as a mere business maneuver, stating that the commercial world demands constant vigilance and expressing his disappointment at winning so easily, without a true challenge. Lu Nan then dramatically reveals his true counter-move: an equity certificate showing his 24% ownership in Gu's Group.
A stunned Gu Yan cries out in disbelief, demanding to know how Lu Nan could possibly own shares in his family's company. Lu Nan replies with a smirk that he simply prefers the domestic scenery over being abroad. He explains that he began to suspect Gu Yan after the "fragrance brocade" leak, realizing Gu Yan was the primary beneficiary.
A flashback shows Lu Nan instructing Yun Fan to covertly acquire Gu's Group's odd lots, describing it as a preemptive strike while Gu's Group's foundation was unstable, especially after Yun Fan complained about employees job-hopping to Gu's Group and Gu Yan taking over Gu Chengze's position. Lu Nan further reveals his masterstroke: Gu Yan, in his frantic efforts to acquire Eminence, had mortgaged 18% of his own Gu's Group shares with Shangyuan Finance—a financial company that Lu Nan secretly owns.
This, combined with his direct acquisitions, made Lu Nan the largest shareholder of Gu's Group. Lu Nan then warns a stunned Gu Yan to prepare for an upcoming Gu's Group shareholder meeting, where Lu Nan intends to be "as active" as Gu Yan was today. A terrified Director Ding tries to backpedal, blaming Gu Yan for forcing his hand, but Lu Nan instructs Ye Ting to remove all "irrelevant people" from the meeting, including Director Guo.
With the crisis finally resolved, Lu Nan, after declaring his relief, suddenly collapses into Su Bei's arms, unconscious. He is immediately rushed to the hospital. The doctor informs Su Bei that Lu Nan's condition is critical and highly dangerous; he could revert to a vegetative state or even worse.
The brain surgery, if performed now, has a success rate of less than 50%, and his current fragile physical state means there is a high risk he might not survive the operation. The doctor advises the family to consider their options very carefully. Later, as Lu Nan regains consciousness, Su Bei reassures him that Eminence is stable, Gu Yan has been fired, and Gu's father has fallen ill.
She eagerly suggests they can now safely go abroad for his treatment, with her and Chris by his side. She offers solutions for company management, such as hiring a professional manager with Ye Ting and Yun Fan supervising, if he's still worried. Lu Nan remains silent, so Su Bei interprets his silence as agreement and threatens to call Yun Fan to make arrangements. Lu Nan finally speaks, asking her to stop, as he doesn't want to hear it.
He confesses that he cherishes his current life too deeply to risk an uncertain surgery, fearing the potential loss of everything they have. Su Bei reminds him of the dire consequences of "not" having the surgery and questions how he could abandon her and Chris. Lu Nan reiterates that it's precisely because he cannot bear to lose them that he fears gambling with his life.
Su Bei desperately begs him to undergo the surgery, promising to find the best doctors and questioning their luxury of time to hesitate. She tearfully expresses her agony, living in constant fear of his sudden departure, emphasizing that while he might find peace, she and Chris would be left in unimaginable pain. Overwhelmed by emotion, Su Bei cries and runs out of the hospital room, leaving a heartbroken Lu Nan behind.
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
Lu Nan's health continued to decline, and his vision deteriorated so severely that even simple daily activities became challenging. Despite this, he agreed to accompany Chris to the ocean park. Observing his parents' strained relationship, Chris, wise beyond his years, suggested a family outing to the ocean park, hoping to mend their rift.
In the hospital, Chris asked Lu Nan if he was going to die, comparing him to a dog he knew that had passed away after a hospital stay. Lu Nan reassured Chris, promising he would not leave him, and they decided to go home. At home, Lu Nan struggled to pick up food during dinner, prompting Chris to encourage Su Bei to feed him. Su Bei, after some hesitation, obliged.
Chris then proposed the trip to the ocean park, and Lu Nan, despite his failing eyesight, insisted he was well enough to go. Sensing tension between his parents, Chris asked if they had fought. Lu Nan and Su Bei quickly denied it, with Lu Nan claiming they were just looking at each other with love, and they agreed to take Chris to the ocean park the next day.
At the ocean park, Chris instructed Su Bei to hold Lu Nan's hand to prevent him from getting lost, before running off to see the baby sharks. Su Bei told Lu Nan to stay put while she went after Chris. Feeling disoriented and vulnerable alone, Lu Nan anxiously called out for Su Bei and Chris, his vision blurring. He stumbled and bumped into a glass partition before collapsing. Chris and Su Bei found him, deeply distressed.
Not wanting to experience such helplessness again, Lu Nan decided to undergo surgery abroad and asked Su Bei to accompany him; she tearfully promised he would recover. Lu Nan retrieved a will from his safe, intending to discreetly entrust it to Yun Fan. Su Bei noticed the document on the table but pretended not to, instead giving Lu Nan a custom-made watch with a GPS tracker, assuring him she would always be able to find him.
Lu Nan promised Su Bei that he would be fine and would stay with them forever, and Su Bei made him promise not to give up. He confessed that he used to prioritize Eminence and his family's expectations, missing out on time with her and Chris. Now, he only wished to be a good husband and father, and Su Bei vowed to protect him.
Meanwhile, Ye Ting arrived at Chris's kindergarten, only to discover that Gu Yan had already picked Chris up. Gu Yan had posed as Su Bei's good friend, presenting an authorization to the teacher, who, believing him, allowed Chris to leave. Ye Ting immediately called Su Bei. Shortly after Su Bei and Lu Nan received the news, Gu Yan called Lu Nan, arranging a meeting at a coffee shop.
Lu Nan went to the location, while Su Bei waited in a car across the street. A passing truck momentarily obstructed her view, and when it moved, Lu Nan was gone. Su Bei promptly called the police. In a car, Gu Yan took Lu Nan's phone and blindfolded him. Lu Nan cunningly slipped off the GPS watch Su Bei had given him and kicked it under the car seat. Gu Yan drove Lu Nan to a derelict building.
He pressed Lu Nan to recall the place from 22 years ago, which Lu Nan remembered as Central Park. Gu Yan, frustrated that Lu Nan seemed to have forgotten him, revealed their shared past. In a flashback, a young Lu Nan intervened to protect an orphaned boy named "Little mouse" from bullies at a welfare institute. Lu Nan introduced himself and promised to be "Little mouse's" friend and protector. "
Little mouse," who had no parents, was thrilled when Lu Nan promised to have his own parents adopt him, imagining a life where he would live with Lu Nan and never be bullied again. However, when Lu Nan's parents visited the orphanage, "Little mouse" was ill and thus not on the list of children eligible for adoption.
Unaware of this, Wang Ying, who would later be known as Lu Fei'er, deliberately presented herself as a well-behaved child and was chosen by Lu Nan's parents for adoption. Lu Nan tried to insist on "Little mouse," but his mother convinced him that "Little mouse" might have already been adopted and that he would have a pretty little sister instead. From his window, "Little mouse" watched in anguish as Lu Nan left with Wang Ying, feeling utterly betrayed and abandoned.
Back in the present, Gu Yan, now revealed to be "Little mouse," recounted his miserable life with the Gu family. He was treated like a servant, enduring constant abuse and starvation from Gu Chengze and others. He described how he would visit their old meeting spot at Central Park, only to see Lu Nan happily playing with Lu Fei'er and even sharing his favorite burger with her, intensifying his hatred.
Lu Nan explained that he had returned to the orphanage, but the dean informed him that "Little mouse" had been adopted by his biological father and was living happily. Gu Yan vehemently dismissed this as a lie, refusing to believe it was a misunderstanding. He declared he was no longer the naive "Little mouse" and vowed to seize everything from Lu Nan: his career, his love, and his family.
As their heated argument escalated, Chris suddenly ran towards them, calling for his "Dad," oblivious to an open construction pit in his path. Both Gu Yan and Lu Nan rushed to save him. Gu Yan leaped over the pit, grabbing Chris and pulling him to safety. Simultaneously, Lu Nan's vision blurred, and he stumbled, falling into the deep pit. Police sirens wailed as officers arrived.
From the pit, Lu Nan thanked Gu Yan for saving Chris, acknowledging his selfless act despite their animosity. Gu Yan dismissed it as an impulsive act, stated that the truth of their past no longer mattered, declared them even, and wished for no further connection. Lu Nan, using Gu Yan's childhood nickname, "Little mouse," urged him to serve his sentence well, promising to await his release. Su Bei, Chris, and the police then rushed to Lu Nan's side.
Six months later, Lu Nan had successfully recovered from his surgery. One evening, he affectionately greeted Su Bei, proposing a romantic getaway for just the two of them to Fuxi Island. Their son, Chris, however, burst in, revealing that Su Bei was pregnant and warning Lu Nan not to bother his mother. The family shared a warm, loving moment. Elsewhere, Ye Ting and Yun Fan continued to shoulder greater responsibilities at Eminence.
Yun Fan, still unable to win Ye Ting over, attempted to flirt, but she playfully rebuffed him, reminding him of his independent nature and jokingly suggesting he go watch wild cats if he was feeling too "hormonal." He tried to kiss her, but she stopped him. Later that night, Lu Nan told Su Bei a story about a once-sunny young man who, at 18, tragically lost his parents in a car accident.
He was forced to become cold and ruthless to manage his family's company, believing his life would remain bleak and solitary. However, he met a girl, Su Bei, whose smile melted his cold heart and became the radiant light in his dark life. Su Bei was deeply moved by his words. The family enjoyed a blissful vacation on Fuxi Island, where Chris befriended a charming little girl.
Lu Nan playfully chided Su Bei for wearing a revealing outfit, reminding her she was a married woman, but Su Bei asserted her autonomy. Together, they taught Chris a song. Lu Nan then expressed his enduring love to "Ms. Su," wishing to spend the rest of his life with her. She lovingly accepted, affectionately calling him "Dear Mr. Jealousy," a nod to his possessive nature. After years of trials, misunderstandings, and betrayals, their love had triumphed, promising a bright future for them all.
