Pretty Man Episode 18 Recap
> Pretty Man Recap
Qiao Yi frantically searched for Lu Jinnian, calling out his name and knocking on doors in desperation. She eventually located him in a small house, severely injured and delirious with fever, muttering for his mother. She carefully tended to his infected wound, applying medicine, and then used water from her mouth to help him swallow anti-inflammatory pills. Qiao Yi remained by his bedside throughout the night, sleeplessly watching over him.
The next morning, Lu Jinnian woke to find Qiao Yi making porridge. She gently told him his fever had subsided and urged him to rest, feeding him the warm porridge. He asked when she arrived, and she explained she came around midnight, entering because he had opened the door for her while in his feverish state, which she doubted he remembered. He realized she had stayed by his side and fed him medicine all night.
Qiao Yi then asked why he risked his life to save her, especially with such a severe back injury. Lu Jinnian responded that it was "for Jia Mu" and that he had a "duty to protect" her. Qiao Yi was visibly disappointed by this answer. She then asked why he refused to go to the hospital.
He revealed that he had witnessed his mother's death in a hospital, and the experience left him deeply traumatized, making him relive the pain of loss every time he entered such a place. Qiao Yi sympathized, mentioning her own parents and apologizing for bringing up painful memories. She gave him more medicine and told him to rest further. As they recovered, Qiao Yi noticed the many trophies in Lu Jinnian's small house, including one for "Best Newcomer."
She fondly recalled that arthouse film, remembering it as the one that brought him recognition and her personal favorite of his works. Lu Jinnian admitted it was also his favorite, but simultaneously his "most hated" because on the day he won that award, he "lost something very important." This alluded to the night he planned to confess his feelings to her, which had been thwarted by Han Ruchu.
He dismissed it as the past, and Qiao Yi reassured him that things would get better, to which he agreed, expressing contentment with the present. Later, Lu Jinnian's condition having improved, he and Qiao Yi returned to the villa. Shen Mingzhe was overjoyed to see Lu Jinnian back and healthy, jokingly vowing never to leave his side again. Lu Jinnian, however, ordered him back to the office.
When Shen Mingzhe asked Qiao Yi where she found Lu Jinnian, she deferred the question to Lu Jinnian, who remained silent. Lu Jinnian then met with Producer Sun, demanding an update on the swing incident investigation. Producer Sun confirmed that the rope had been intentionally snapped, indicating someone had targeted Qiao Yi. Despite the lack of cameras or witnesses, Lu Jinnian warned Producer Sun that he would be fired if he failed to find the culprit.
Producer Sun assured him that a private investigator friend would help them catch the perpetrator, having found a few dyed hairs on the broken swing. Meanwhile, Song Xiangsi diligently cared for the unconscious Jia Mu. She brought him fresh flowers, played his favorite songs, and tenderly wiped his hands. She showed him a pair of matching necklaces, reminding him how he had spent two weeks searching for them, which was one of the qualities that had attracted her to him.
She reflected on his playful nature, but asserted that she knew his true, emotional self, recalling his heartfelt promises to be her girlfriend and take her to every carousel in the world, vowing they would always be together and never part. Producer Sun, having found a few dyed hairs on the broken swing, informed Qiao Yi that the culprit’s hair was recently dyed, making it easier to identify.
Lin Shiyi, realizing she was the culprit, tried to secretly retrieve the hair, but Producer Sun caught her. She confessed to causing the swing accident out of jealousy towards Qiao Yi and begged Producer Sun not to tell Lu Jinnian. When he insisted on her confessing, she blackmailed him, threatening to accuse him of rape. She then offered him a deal: she knew he desired Qiao Yi and would help him get her, as he couldn't do it alone.
Producer Sun agreed to her scheme. That evening, for a night scene, Producer Sun announced that all actors would stay in a nearby hotel for convenience. Lin Shiyi volunteered to collect Qiao Yi's room key along with hers. Later, Qiao Yi entered what she believed was her room, only to find Producer Sun waiting for her. He locked the door, claiming it was his room, and attempted to assault her, ignoring her screams for help.
Meanwhile, Lu Jinnian, unable to reach Qiao Yi, went to her assigned room, 116. Lin Shiyi attempted to mislead him there, confirming the room number, but he remained suspicious. He then inquired about room 119 and discovered it was Producer Sun's room. Realizing the deception, Lu Jinnian rushed to room 119, kicked open the door, and found Qiao Yi struggling with Producer Sun, with Lin Shiyi also present.
Enraged, Lu Jinnian brutally beat Producer Sun before carrying the unconscious Qiao Yi out. Back in Lu Jinnian's suite, he ordered Shen Mingzhe to call the police. Producer Sun, in a desperate attempt to avoid arrest, falsely claimed that Qiao Yi had seduced him. Shen Mingzhe then confronted Producer Sun with the hotel key discrepancy, revealing two keys for room 119 and questioning why Qiao Yi had one.
Pressed by Lu Jinnian to tell the truth, Producer Sun confessed that Lin Shiyi had orchestrated the entire plot: she gave Qiao Yi the wrong room key to lure her into his room. He further admitted that Lin Shiyi did this because he had discovered she was responsible for the swing accident, and she wanted him to cover it up.
Lin Shiyi then attempted to shift all blame onto Producer Sun, claiming he forced her, but Producer Sun retaliated by revealing he had recorded their conversation, proving her lies. Lin Shiyi then pleaded with Lu Jinnian not to involve the police, fearing it would damage Qiao Yi's reputation. Lu Jinnian silenced her, his face stern.
He dismissed both Lin Shiyi and Producer Sun, ordering them out and warning them never to appear before him again, threatening severe consequences if word of the incident leaked. After they were forcibly removed, Lu Jinnian returned to Qiao Yi, who was disoriented and frightened. He gently woke her and held her close, reassuring her that everything was now fine.
The next morning, Zhao Meng was furious about Lin Shiyi's actions and expressed her desire for revenge, but Qiao Yi, while acknowledging that Lin Shiyi deserved punishment, preferred to avoid further conflict. Lu Jinnian took decisive action, instructing Shen Mingzhe to issue an official statement to the crew. The statement announced Lin Shiyi's contract termination for intentionally causing the swing accident to harm Qiao Yi, and ordered the screenwriter to rewrite the script, ensuring Lin Shiyi's character was killed off.
However, Producer Sun retaliated by rallying three other investors to withdraw their investments, plunging the production into chaos. Sister Zhen, concerned by the substantial financial loss, confronted Lu Jinnian, suggesting he privately reconcile with Producer Sun to avert a crippling 50% budget deficit. Lu Jinnian vehemently refused to concede, asserting that he would use the company's treasury to cover the shortfall, despite Sister Zhen's protests that Qiao Yi was not worth such a risk.
Lu Jinnian dismissed Shen Mingzhe's attempts to mediate. Lu Jinnian then told Shen Mingzhe to go talk to Qiao Yi about transferring companies. Later, Shen Mingzhe called Producer Sun on his phone, relaying Lu Jinnian's message to leave with his investors, and threatening to publicize incriminating photos from the previous night's incident to humiliate him if he didn't comply. Producer Sun angrily hung up. Later, Qiao Yi visited Lu Jinnian to thank him.
He answered the door in a bathrobe and invited her in. She expressed her apologies for Producer Sun's withdrawal of investment, acknowledging the significant impact on the production. Lu Jinnian reassured her that everything would be fine with him there. After thanking him, Qiao Yi wished him rest and left. Unbeknownst to them, Lin Shiyi observed their interaction from a distance and photographed Lu Jinnian in his bathrobe with Qiao Yi, vowing Qiao Yi's downfall.
