Pretty Man Episode 23 Recap
> Pretty Man Recap
Lin Qianqian returned to the country and immediately called Xu Jia Mu's home. Han Ruchu answered the phone and, upon learning it was the Lin family's daughter, became visibly pleased, expressing a warm welcome. After hanging up, Han Ruchu mused maliciously about the situation: with Qiao Anhao's ambiguous relationship with Lu Jinnian and the Qiao Family Group's recent decline, she decided it was time for Xu Jia Mu to discard Qiao Anhao and marry Lin Qianqian.
Meanwhile, Qiao Anhao, experiencing abdominal pain, was leaving to buy some things when she encountered Lu Jinnian. Seeing her haggard appearance, Lu Jinnian's heart ached. He insisted on going to the supermarket himself and later discreetly left the purchased items at her doorstep, watching from a distance as she collected them. Qiao Anhao opened her door and, struggling with her emotions, asked Lu Jinnian about the surgical consent form, questioning if it had merely been a dream.
Lu Jinnian remained silent. She then turned and closed the door, both of them left in sorrow. Qiao Anhao's manager, Zhen Jie, secured her a role in a new drama that required filming in the highlands. While this was a rare and excellent opportunity for a new actress like Qiao Anhao, Lu Jinnian was concerned about her health and the potential for altitude sickness. Without consulting Zhen Jie, he contacted the screenwriter and requested that all highland scenes be changed.
Zhen Jie was furious, accusing Lu Jinnian of disrespecting the original script. Lu Jinnian defended his decision, citing the high costs, risks, and the unnecessary danger for the entire crew, stating the desired effect could be achieved without filming in the highlands. Ignoring Zhen Jie's continued protests, Lu Jinnian then departed to visit Qiao Anhao on set. At her film set, Song Xiangsi received a bouquet of roses and, surprisingly, stinky tofu from Xu Jia Mu.
She was amused by his unique gift and smiled sweetly, unable to control her feelings for him. After her scene, she joined Xu Jia Mu in his car, and they shared a lighthearted conversation. Xu Jia Mu, aware of her upcoming kiss scene, playfully remarked that he'd rather "eat" her than "vinegar." Lin Qianqian still considered Qiao Anhao her rival.
Upon learning that Qiao Anhao had adopted the stage name Qiao Yi and begun an acting career, Lin Qianqian dismissed it with disdain. Her casual remarks about Qiao Yi were overheard by Lin Shiyi, who then joined Lin Qianqian in plotting to ruin Qiao Anhao's reputation. Lin Qianqian later visited Han Ruchu, still unable to reach Xu Jia Mu.
She told Han Ruchu that Qiao Anhao, as "Qiao Yi," was in the "corrupt" entertainment industry and often disappeared for months during filming, implying such a person was unsuitable for Xu Jia Mu. Han Ruchu, already believing Qiao Anhao was unworthy of Xu Jia Mu due to her supposed affair with Lu Jinnian and the Qiao family's business troubles, agreed. She found Lin Qianqian, with her beauty and influential family, to be a promising alternative for Xu Jia Mu.
Lu Jinnian went to the beach where Qiao Anhao was filming and quietly watched her perform. Qiao Anhao, however, ignored him, seemingly unconcerned by his presence. After finishing her scenes, Qiao Anhao, who had just had a phone conversation and felt tired, lay down on a lounge chair and fell asleep, unaware that the crew was packing up and leaving. By the time she awoke, the tide had risen, and she found herself adrift in the water.
Lu Jinnian quickly spotted her, rushed into the sea, and rescued her. However, they soon realized they were stranded together on a deserted island. On the uninhabited island, Lu Jinnian gathered branches and built a fire. Overwhelmed by emotion, Qiao Anhao tearfully confronted him, demanding to know why he had been so cruel as to "not want their child" and why he made her undergo surgery.
Lu Jinnian knelt, pulling her into an embrace, and explained that he didn't "not want" their child; the fetus had already been stillborn when her pregnancy was discovered, and the surgery was medically necessary. He explained he hadn't told her the truth to spare her the heartache. Qiao Anhao was stunned, realizing she had terribly misunderstood him. They clung to each other, both deeply emotional.
The next morning, Lu Jinnian managed to catch a fish and was roasting it over the fire. Soon after, Shen Mingzhe and a search party arrived, safely bringing them back. Qiao Anhao, weak from the ordeal, was rushed to the hospital for examination. Fortunately, she was deemed fine, having only suffered from panic and exhaustion. Shen Mingzhe attempted to question Lu Jinnian about the incident, but Lu Jinnian simply dismissed him, indicating there was nothing to say.
Han Ruchu, meanwhile, privately reassured Xu Jia Mu via a phone call that she would send people to find Qiao Anhao, while secretly wishing that Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian had perished on the island, saving her future trouble. After ensuring Qiao Anhao was stable and would be discharged soon, Lu Jinnian returned to work.
