Pretty Man Episode 14 Recap
> Pretty Man Recap
In the hospital, Han Ruchu and Xu Nian De were diligently caring for the unconscious Jia Mu. However, Han Ruchu remained uneasy about Lu Jinnian, fearing that he and Qiao Anhao might genuinely fall in love during their fake marriage. She expressed her desire to personally monitor the couple, suggesting, "Let's go see Qiao Qiao and bring her some daily necessities." Xu Nian De quickly interceded, stating, "I don't think right now is a good time."
Han Ruchu articulated her concern, explaining that while she had seen Qiao Anhao grow up and trusted her, she was uncertain of Lu Jinnian's character. She worried that if anything went awry, it would negatively impact the Xu family and complicate matters with the Qiao family. Xu Nian De suggested sending a housekeeper, but Han Ruchu dismissed the idea, believing it would convey distrust and hurt Qiao Anhao's feelings, especially since Qiao Anhao was helping them significantly.
Reluctantly agreeing, Xu Nian De conceded, but Han Ruchu remained resolute, declaring that she would keep a close eye on Lu Jinnian and make him regret any inappropriate actions. Meanwhile, at the villa, Lu Jinnian, who had been observing his fish and musing that their seven-second memory span allowed them constant happiness, and Qiao Anhao were discussing his new drama script, which Qiao Anhao found challenging to memorize despite its quality.
Lu Jinnian then turned his attention to Shen Mingzhe, asking if he really needed to "hang around here." Shen Mingzhe, initially questioning "Why can't I?" , quickly apologized after observing Lu Jinnian and Qiao Anhao moving aside to discuss lines, stating he would find something else to do.
Lu Jinnian then instructed Shen Mingzhe to return to the Jewel Apartment Complex, explaining that if his assistant also lived there, it would make it obvious that Lu Jinnian resided in the villa, potentially exposing the fake marriage. Shen Mingzhe understood and agreed to return, promising to mislead paparazzi into believing Lu Jinnian still lived at the apartment.
He did, however, express concern about who would handle Lu Jinnian's daily needs, but Lu Jinnian assured him he could manage and that Shen Mingzhe could visit occasionally. Soon after, Qiao Anhao was on the phone with her friend Meng Meng, revealing that she and Lu Jinnian were not even sharing a room, let alone a bed, because it was a fake marriage. Meng Meng found this unbelievable, but Qiao Anhao had to hang up, explaining she was cooking.
Qiao Anhao, a wealthy young woman with no culinary experience, attempted to prepare congee. She accidentally burned the congee and scalded her finger, crying out in pain. Lu Jinnian rushed to her side, immediately rinsing her hand with cold water. Seeing her predicament, Lu Jinnian decided to cook himself. Lu Jinnian prepared a delicious meal, and the two sat down to eat.
As they dined, Qiao Anhao received an urgent phone call from An Yi, who informed her that he, along with her uncle and aunt, were almost at the villa. Qiao Anhao was shocked, as family visits were typically expected after three days, with the newlyweds greeting them. An Yi explained that their uncle and aunt missed her terribly and insisted on seeing her, so they were already en route.
Panic-stricken, Qiao Anhao quickly worked with Lu Jinnian to rearrange things, making it appear as if they lived together. Lu Jinnian then hid in a large closet, and Qiao Anhao went to open the door to greet her family. As the family waited at the door, An Yi wondered why they weren't opening it, prompting his aunt to suggest they might still be asleep, a normal occurrence for newlyweds.
Qiao Anhao finally opened the door, welcoming her uncle, aunt, and An Yi inside. Her aunt expressed how pretty Qiao Anhao looked now that she was married and shared how much she had worried after Qiao Anhao left home. Qiao Anhao reassured her aunt that she was fine and invited them to sit down for drinks.
An Yi jokingly mentioned that "Brother-in-Law" might not agree to Qiao Anhao visiting often, which led his aunt to playfully scold him for being heartless. Soon, the uncle inquired about Jia Mu's whereabouts, wondering why he hadn't come down to greet them. Qiao Anhao quickly fabricated a story, explaining that Jia Mu had to rush out for an urgent matter at the e-sports club.
Her aunt expressed disapproval, noting that Jia Mu had just gotten married and already left his wife alone. Qiao Anhao offered to give her family a tour of the new house. As they went upstairs, her aunt admired the comfortable and uniquely decorated room. An Yi pointed out a wedding photo, commenting that Jia Mu was "photoshopped too much."
Qiao Anhao explained they had been in a hurry and planned to retake photos in a romantic location like the Aegean Sea or the Maldives once the "scare on his face" was gone, to which An Yi added, "You'll be a whole family by then, right?" implying children. An Yi then enthusiastically noticed the large bathtub and, more concerningly for Qiao Anhao, the wardrobe.
Just as he was about to open the closet door, Qiao Anhao quickly stopped him, claiming it was a mess inside because they hadn't finished unpacking. Her aunt urged An Yi to stop rummaging through Qiao Anhao's belongings. The aunt then suggested they all stay for dinner, offering to cook while Qiao Anhao prepared vegetables. During dinner preparation, An Yi questioned why "Brother-in-Law" still wasn't back, calling it cruel to leave Qiao Anhao alone.
Qiao Anhao reiterated her previous lie, saying Jia Mu was too busy to return for dinner. An Yi, still unconvinced, attempted to call Jia Mu's phone, but Qiao Anhao swiftly intercepted him. An Yi noted Qiao Anhao's strange behavior and suspected something was amiss. Qiao Anhao then pulled An Yi aside and explained that Jia Mu had recently recovered and didn't want his uncle and aunt to see his current state, so he had purposely gone out.
She implored An Yi not to tell their uncle and aunt, fearing they would worry. An Yi agreed to keep the secret. While An Yi was momentarily in the restroom, a nervous Lu Jinnian accidentally knocked over some clothes in the closet, making a sound. An Yi, heading back towards the closet to investigate, was immediately called downstairs by Qiao Anhao for dinner. He quickly descended.
After dinner, as the family prepared to leave, An Yi, being clever, secretly returned to the villa. He then stumbled upon Lu Jinnian, who was now out of the closet. An Yi, whose relationship with Jia Mu was always very close, was furious to find someone impersonating him. He immediately confronted Lu Jinnian.
Qiao Anhao quickly pulled her brother aside and patiently explained the situation, detailing how Lu Jinnian was impersonating Jia Mu to help the Xu family overcome a financial crisis, as Jia Mu was unconscious with an uncertain prognosis. She stressed that fewer people knowing was better and that their uncle and aunt would never have allowed her to marry a "fake Jia Mu."
Qiao Anhao tearfully begged An Yi not to reveal the truth to anyone, to which he reluctantly agreed, promising not to tell their parents. However, An Yi expressed concern that if the truth were to come out, Jia Mu would be the most hurt. He then turned to Lu Jinnian, apologizing to Qiao Anhao for her suffering in a loveless cohabitation.
He sternly warned Lu Jinnian that he was merely Jia Mu's stand-in and, despite living with Qiao Anhao, should not dare to overstep his boundaries. Lu Jinnian affirmed his understanding and his intention to "behave." An Yi reiterated that Qiao Anhao remained Jia Mu's wife and threatened surprise visits at any time. Lu Jinnian responded with a calm, "You're welcome anytime."
Before leaving, An Yi promised Qiao Anhao that he would limit their parents' visits to prevent them from getting caught. After An Yi left, Qiao Anhao expressed her remorse to Lu Jinnian, feeling guilty that he had to endure such humiliation and compromise his dignity, wishing for Jia Mu's swift recovery. With a full understanding of the situation, An Yi went to the hospital to visit the still-unconscious Jia Mu.
Seeing Jia Mu in such a state, An Yi teared up. He then contacted Han Ruchu on the phone, confirming he knew about Lu Jinnian and Qiao Anhao. Han Ruchu reiterated that Jia Mu's condition was uncertain, and they had no other choice but to involve Lu Jinnian to handle the financial crisis. An Yi responded that as long as Jia Mu recovered, everything would be fine. Han Ruchu then brought up the e-sports club, which Jia Mu cherished.
She mentioned considering selling it or transferring management rights. An Yi, remembering Jia Mu's dedication, proposed taking over the club himself, convinced Jia Mu wouldn't want it in other hands. Han Ruchu questioned if his parents would agree, but An Yi was confident they would. An Yi promised Han Ruchu he would visit Jia Mu often and, looking at his unconscious friend, vowed to manage the e-sports club and keep him updated on its developments.
Shortly after, An Yi arrived at the e-sports club, introducing himself as Qiao An Yi, the new vice-manager. When staff questioned his presence, he directed them to an email from Xu Jia Mu, which announced that due to health reasons, all club matters would now be managed by Mr. Qiao. After confirming his authority, An Yi confidently challenged the staff to a game of "Dota," demonstrating his aptitude.
Meanwhile, Lu Jinnian's assistant, Shen Mingzhe, informed him that Zhen Xi was persistently calling, urging Lu Jinnian to return to work immediately to prevent the company's dissolution. Lu Jinnian instructed Shen Mingzhe to tell her he would return tomorrow, then changed his mind, deciding to make her "suffer for a few hours" first. Qiao Anhao, overhearing, asked if he would indeed return to work the next day. Lu Jinnian confirmed.
Qiao Anhao then stated her intention to ask Zhao Meng to arrange her work to avoid being seen publicly with him, emphasizing the need to prevent their fake marriage from being exposed. Lu Jinnian remained silent, leading Qiao Anhao to muse about the "stand-in never seeing the light." Lu Jinnian clarified that was not what she meant, to which she simply replied, "I got it."
Qiao Anhao then thanked Lu Jinnian for earlier, and he told her not to mind any rumors, wanting the news to be gone by tomorrow. He offered to personally handle her next drama, but Qiao Anhao expressed concern that his direct involvement would expose their relationship, to which he assured her he knew how to handle it.
Shen Mingzhe, misinterpreting the interaction, then interjected, calling Qiao Anhao an "unknown supporting actress" and implying she was overthinking the chances of appearing with a "star actor Lu." Lu Jinnian abruptly cut him off. Shen Mingzhe, observing Lu Jinnian's reaction, recognized his pained expression and directly asked him, "Do you like her?" Lu Jinnian immediately denied it. However, Shen Mingzhe reflected on Lu Jinnian's actions: "Star actor Lu rejected so many blockbusters just to be a stand-in.
If it's not love, what else could make someone do something stupid like this?" Lu Jinnian, exasperated, told him, "Shen Ming Zhe. Just jump off a cliff." Through these interactions, Shen Mingzhe clearly understood that Lu Jinnian harbored deep feelings for Qiao Anhao, a fact Lu Jinnian persistently refused to admit, while Qiao Anhao, in her innocence, remained completely unaware of his affection.
