Pretty Man Episode 13 Recap
> Pretty Man Recap
To preserve Han Group, Han Ruchu went to great lengths. She summoned Qiao Anhao to the hospital and distorted the truth, asserting that Lu Jinnian and Xu Jia Mu shared the same biological father. She explained that when Uncle Xu and Lu Jinnian's mother separated, she was pregnant and insisted on giving birth just to continuously pester Uncle Xu.
Han Ruchu then exaggerated the Xu family's generosity, stating that Lu Jinnian had suffered from leukemia at age five and was only alive because Xu Jia Mu donated bone marrow. After his mother passed away, Lu Jinnian grew up with the Xu family's substantial support.
She then painted Lu Jinnian as ungrateful, claiming he still held a grudge against his father, believed his mother was abandoned, and felt being an illegitimate child was dishonorable, thus refusing to acknowledge his connection to the Xu family. Qiao Anhao expressed her surprise at not knowing any of this.
Han Ruchu then proposed her plan: since Qiao Anhao and Xu Jia Mu were engaged and would have married eventually, Lu Jinnian would act as a stand-in for Xu Jia Mu at the wedding. Qiao Anhao would still be legally married to Xu Jia Mu. Overwhelmed, Qiao Anhao asked for time to consider. Han Ruchu agreed, but sternly instructed her to keep the matter a complete secret, not even telling Qiao Anyi or her uncle and aunt.
As Qiao Anhao left the hospital, Lu Jinnian arrived to visit Xu Jia Mu. Han Ruchu informed Lu Jinnian that the doctor said Xu Jia Mu's brain injury was severe, and he might become a vegetable, with no clear timeline for waking up. When Lu Jinnian tried to leave, stating there was nothing to discuss between them, Han Ruchu stopped him, hinting it was about Xu Jia Mu.
Lu Jinnian initially refused the idea of being a stand-in, saying he was an actor who never accepted "rotten scripts," and believed the lead actress—Qiao Anhao—would not agree. Han Ruchu surprised him by saying Qiao Anhao had already agreed, claiming Qiao Anhao loved Xu Jia Mu so deeply that she would even pretend to be the wife of a stranger who didn't love her, willing to do anything for him.
Lu Jinnian wished them happiness but reiterated his refusal to marry someone he didn't love. Han Ruchu then resorted to emotional blackmail, reminding him that Xu Jia Mu saved his life and they shared blood. She threatened that if he didn't help, not only would Han Group be in trouble, but Xu Jia Mu would also be hurt.
She sarcastically questioned if his "deep sibling affection" was just talk and threatened to reveal his "true colors" to Xu Jia Mu once he woke up, ensuring Xu Jia Mu would distance himself. Cornered, Lu Jinnian reluctantly agreed and signed an agreement guaranteeing utmost secrecy, with legal liability for any leaks. Returning home, Qiao Anhao, still deeply troubled, conversed with a mysterious online friend.
She confided in the stranger, asking if, given a last chance to be near the man she loved, she would take it. The friend's response, "If I love him, why not?" seemed to solidify her decision. Qiao Anhao then called Han Ruchu, informing her that she agreed to the marriage. Han Ruchu expressed her gratitude and promised to treat Qiao Anhao like her own daughter.
Meanwhile, when Lu Jinnian informed his assistant Ming Zhe about the fake marriage, Ming Zhe vehemently opposed it, calling it a trap designed to use Lu Jinnian's celebrity status for the Han Group's benefit before discarding him. He even criticized the "fake wife" as crazy or having ulterior motives. Despite Ming Zhe's strong objections and attempts to clarify the matter, Lu Jinnian insisted on honoring his word.
Separately, Qiao Anhao shared the news of her upcoming fake marriage with Lu Jinnian to Zhao Meng. Zhao Meng was shocked, exclaiming that Qiao Anhao's life was like a melodrama, and comically offered to take Lu Jinnian herself since Qiao Anhao was so conflicted. Qiao Anhao clarified that she was doing it to help Xu Jia Mu and his family, but Zhao Meng continued to playfully suggest a swap.
Soon, the news spread on the internet that Xu Jia Mu and Qiao Anhao would marry at the renowned Moonlight Church within a month. Song Xiangsi saw the announcement on television during her work. Visibly distraught, she canceled her remaining commitments and went home to drink alone.
As she drank, she reminisced about her first encounter with Xu Jia Mu, when he acted as her hero, and their cherished memories, like their first kiss and riding a carousel together, expressing her heartbreak and resolve to stop missing him after this last glass. The Xu and Qiao families formally met to finalize the engagement. Han Ruchu, orchestrating the deception, introduced Lu Jinnian—wearing a mask—to Qiao Anhao's uncle, aunt, and brother, Qiao Anyi, as Xu Jia Mu.
To explain the mask, she claimed Xu Jia Mu had injured his vocal cords and face in the accident, requiring him to wear a mask and rest without speaking. Qiao Anyi was concerned about the scar and asked about plastic surgery, to which Han Ruchu assured him they would find the best surgeon to restore Xu Jia Mu's appearance.
Qiao Anhao was filled with mixed emotions, wishing all the deceptions were real and that she and Lu Jinnian were truly meant to be. Later that evening, Qiao Anhao approached Lu Jinnian in his room. She spoke of "their" wedding taking place the next day, but Lu Jinnian corrected her, stating it was her wedding with Xu Jia Mu. The wedding ceremony commenced. Lu Jinnian, still wearing a mask, stood beside Qiao Anhao.
As the moment for the kiss arrived, he leaned in but stopped just short of her lips, instead gently kissing her forehead. Han Ruchu’s words echoed in his mind: "Always remember that you're just acting. You're only Jia Mu's stand-in." Despite the proximity of living under the same roof, a distance would have to be maintained between them.
Qiao Anhao often found herself gazing affectionately at Lu Jinnian, for whom this charade felt like a beautiful dream she wished to never wake from. Unbeknownst to her, Lu Jinnian harbored similar feelings, yet both deeply loved each other while carrying their own burdens of pain, making their situation heart-wrenching. Following the wedding, Lu Jinnian, Qiao Anhao, and Ming Zhe moved into a villa together.
Ming Zhe, despite his previous opposition, assumed the role of Lu Jinnian's manager, making sure his needs were met. He made it clear to Qiao Anhao that he handled all of Lu Jinnian's daily affairs and she shouldn't interfere. One morning, as Qiao Anhao watered flowers in the courtyard, Lu Jinnian watched her, lost in thought, but quickly reverted to his usual stoic expression when she turned her head, sensing his gaze.
Later, Qiao Anhao offered Lu Jinnian a glass of freshly made juice. Ming Zhe rushed over, stopping Lu Jinnian and exclaiming that he was severely allergic to fruit acid, and even a single grape could be fatal. Qiao Anhao apologized, explaining she didn't know. Ming Zhe reiterated that he would handle all of Lu Jinnian's needs, asking her not to interfere. Lu Jinnian downplayed it, saying it wasn't her fault, and added that he was used to not eating fruits.
Ming Zhe then provocatively commented on Qiao Anhao's lack of knowledge about Lu Jinnian despite being his fan for so many years. Qiao Anhao, puzzled, suddenly recalled an incident in high school where Lu Jinnian had drunk her juice and developed a rash. She wondered if he had been unaware of his allergy back then, or if he had intentionally kept it from her.
Later, Ming Zhe pointed out a goldfish in the house, mentioning it was Lu Jinnian's pet for eight years, having been with him since his first year of high school, signifying a deep bond. Ming Zhe initially forbade Qiao Anhao from feeding it, but Lu Jinnian permitted her, allowing her to share a small moment with his cherished pet.
