Plot Love Episode 23 Recap
> Plot Love 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.
