Plot Love Episode 18 Recap
> Plot Love 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.
