Return of the Queen Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Return of the Queen Synopsis
Amidst a glamorous world of wealth and power, Ye Haimeng, the cherished heiress of a prominent family, falls into an abyss of hatred due to a doomed engagement. On one side, Lu Siyu—the younger brother of her enemy—is determined to pull his "sister-in-law" out of the darkness; on the other, Lu Sinan, the mastermind who pushed her into the ruin of her family, lurks in the shadows. Love is a lie, hatred a shackle. Can this forbidden, obsessive passion burn away all sin?
Return of the Queen Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Three years ago, Ye Haimeng, the only daughter of Cloud Sea International Hotel Group Chairman Ye Mingzhi, entered into a powerful business alliance through marriage with Lu Sinan, the eldest son of Changlu Group Chairman Lu Changdong. This union connected two prominent families. While on their honeymoon overseas, tragedy struck when a car accident claimed Lu Sinan's life. Ye Haimeng was severely injured and subsequently disappeared. The devastating news reached Ye Mingzhi, who suffered a fatal heart attack.
Ye Haimeng's mother, Luo Yanxin, collapsed from grief and was hospitalized, later transferred to an unnamed sanatorium, her whereabouts becoming unknown. Under the pretext of managing the couple's shared assets, the Lu family swiftly seized control of Cloud Sea International Hotel Group. Lu Siyue, Lu Sinan's younger sister, and her husband, Jiang Lin, were appointed as acting presidents. This "interim management" effectively made the Lu family the true power holders of Cloud Sea International.
It was also rumored that the Lu family had already begun contacting an overseas consortium, planning to change Cloud Sea International's ownership soon. After three years had passed, Lu Sinan and Ye Haimeng were legally declared missing, and their families held a public funeral to officially announce their deaths.
Reporters flocked to cover the event, speculating that the Ye and Lu families must have learned the precise whereabouts of the missing Ye Haimeng, though many believed she couldn't possibly return after so long. They also questioned if Cloud Sea International's shares would entirely fall to the Lu family, with some noting that the Lu family had already reached out to an overseas consortium, suggesting Cloud Sea International was about to change hands.
Lu Siyue, feigning sorrow, bid farewell to her brother and sister-in-law. However, the funeral took an unexpected turn when Ye Haimeng, clad in red, appeared alive and well, shattering the Lu family's ambitions to completely dominate Cloud Sea International. Her sudden return shocked the attendees, including her uncle Ye Yuezhi, and prompted an emotional outburst from Du Meiyun, Lu Siyue's mother, who ordered security to remove her, convinced she couldn't possibly be alive.
As reporters clamored, demanding to know her true identity, Ling Ke stepped forward, presenting Ye Haimeng's DNA test report, unequivocally confirming her identity. Standing before everyone, Ye Haimeng defiantly addressed her uncle and aunt, stating there was no need for their concern as she would not "die that easily," and declared her intention to speak publicly.
She asserted her former position as president of Cloud Sea International and demanded that Lu Siyue, the acting president, hand over all Cloud Sea International's shares and controlling rights. Lu Siyue refused, questioning Ye Haimeng's sudden return after three years of being reported dead, and arguing that even with identification documents, it wasn't enough to simply hand over the company's ownership.
Lu Siyue pointed out that since Ye Haimeng married her brother, half of Cloud Sea International was his, and they had already reached a sales agreement for his half with an overseas consortium, with the letter of intent already signed and soon to be effective.
In response, Ye Haimeng produced the letter of intent, exposing it as "illegal, privately arranged" and therefore "invalid" due to a lack of board approval, regulatory filing, and proper legal procedures for selling nearly 30% of Cloud Sea International's shares. She boldly declared that as Lu Sinan's wife and Cloud Sea International's president, as long as she was alive, no one could sell their jointly owned shares or divide and sell her company.
She vowed to reclaim every part of Cloud Sea International that had fallen into the Lu family's hands. A flashback revealed a conversation between Lu Siyu and Mo, who showed Lu Siyu a painting commissioned by his late brother, Lu Sinan, for Ye Haimeng before their wedding.
This painting depicted "Haimeng's tree," which Lu Sinan had lovingly described as a symbol of her growth and strength, always filled with hope and passion, eventually becoming a great tree to shelter the Ye family and Cloud Sea International. He had told her that he believed she would make him happy, assuring her she would definitely be happy.
One night, Ye Haimeng was pushed into the water and resurfaced to see Lu Sinan, who appeared to have just saved her, causing her to wonder if he was the one who pushed her. She then heard sounds of a struggle. Lu Sinan quickly subdued two masked assailants and rushed Ye Haimeng into a car, sternly warning her that if anything happened to them, she must not contact, ask for help from, or trust anyone.
Moments later, their speeding car was struck by a truck at an intersection, resulting in the tragic accident. Ye Haimeng awoke in a missionary hospital, where she met Ling Ke, the hospital's assigned interpreter. Ling Ke informed her of her severe injuries, including a spinal compression fracture and multiple hand fractures, necessitating immediate bone pin surgery to avoid lifelong paralysis. Ye Haimeng was initially reluctant to sign the consent form, asking about her family and husband.
Ling Ke then delivered the devastating news: Lu Sinan had died instantly in the crash, her father Ye Mingzhi had passed away from a heart attack, her mother Luo Yanxin was gravely ill and comatose in an unnamed sanatorium, and Cloud Sea International had been taken over by the Lu family. Ling Ke concluded by saying, "You have nothing left." Distraught and disbelieving, Ye Haimeng attempted to call her parents, but her calls went unanswered.
While watching a news report on TV that confirmed Ling Ke's account—detailing Lu Sinan's death, her father's passing, her mother's critical condition, and the Lu family's takeover citing a property custody agreement signed by her and Lu Sinan—she also tried contacting her uncle, Ye Yuezhi, who sounded distant and unhelpful, even asking if she knew another girl.
Realizing her uncle had sided with the Lu family, Ye Haimeng understood she had no one to trust, just as Lu Sinan had warned. Ling Ke reiterated that no one wanted her alive and that she had no other option but to trust her. Recalling both Lu Sinan's and Ling Ke's warnings not to contact anyone, ask for help, or trust anyone, Ye Haimeng found resolve.
Ling Ke urged her to survive, stating that only by living could she reclaim everything that belonged to her. Ye Haimeng, recalling her father's words about growing into a strong, independent tree, signed the surgery consent form. Back in the present, Lu Siyue, still shaken by Ye Haimeng's return and her interference with the overseas consortium agreement, expressed her worries to her mother, Du Meiyun, even fearing for their residence at Cloud Manor.
Du Meiyun dismissed her concerns about the manor, stating it was purchased by Lu Changdong for Lu Sinan, making it rightfully theirs now that Sinan was gone. She also asserted that half of Cloud Sea International was the Lu family's due to its status as marital property. Du Meiyun then revealed their "ace up their sleeve": the property custody agreement bearing both Lu Sinan's and Ye Haimeng's signatures.
Lu Siyue pondered how to acquire Luo Yanxin's shares, currently held in trust by Ye Yuezhi. Du Meiyun subtly implied that if something "unexpected" were to happen to Luo Yanxin during her recovery, it "wouldn't be unusual." She instructed Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin not to panic and to maintain their positions, assuring them that the family would find a way to keep all of Cloud Sea International.
Du Meiyun also stressed that their youngest son, Lu Siyu, should not be involved in these matters due to his youth and naive nature, to which Lu Siyue grudgingly agreed to be the "villain." Meanwhile, Mo praised Lu Siyu's progress during his years away, acknowledging Lu Sinan's efforts. Just then, Ye Haimeng returned to Cloud Manor, stating to Mo that it was her home, and encountered Lu Siyu, greeting him with a firm, "Long time no see, Lu Siyu."
Episode 2 Recap
Ling Ke provided Ye Haimeng with a comprehensive overview of both the Ye and Lu families. She explained that Ye Haimeng’s father, Ye Mingzhi, was deceased, and her mother, Luo Yanxin, was missing, with a secret police investigation underway. Her uncle, Ye Yuezhi, had represented the Ye family since the accident involving Ye Haimeng and her father, handling the funeral and taking over some affairs of Mare Nubium. However, Ye Yuezhi was not present when Luo Yanxin was taken away.
Ye Haimeng's cousin, Ye Bochen, diligently maintained his position as Construction Department Manager, a role Ye Haimeng had entrusted to him. Ling Ke then detailed the Lu family. Lu Changdong, the patriarch, was the chairman of Changlu Capital and a long-time collaborator with Ye Mingzhi. His health had declined since his eldest son, Lu Sinan, died in an accident, and he now rarely returned home from his prolonged treatments abroad.
Lu Sinan's biological mother, Lu Changdong's ex-wife, had passed away years ago. Du Meiyun, Lu Changdong's current wife, was the biological mother of Lu Siyue and Lu Siyu. Lu Siyue was married to Jiang Lin, a live-in son-in-law carefully chosen by Du Meiyun. Ling Ke highlighted Lu Siyu as Du Meiyun’s favorite youngest son.
He had developed a passion for archery at seven, competed in youth tournaments by nine, and went on to become a top professional athlete in the field, studying and competing abroad. Due to Du Meiyun’s protection, Lu Siyu had been shielded from the Lu family's business operations, transactions, and company affairs, making him the only "clean slate" in the family.
Ling Ke revealed that after the accident involving Ye Haimeng and her parents, the Lu family produced a fabricated property custody agreement that Ye Haimeng and Lu Sinan supposedly signed during their marriage. Using this document, they seized control of Mare Nubium and appointed Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin as acting presidents. They also intended to use this agreement to claim the 37% stake in Mare Nubium that Ye Haimeng and Lu Sinan jointly owned.
Ling Ke asserted that the agreement was fake and that Ye Haimeng needed to retrieve her authentic signed property custody agreement from the Lu family. She also informed Ye Haimeng that the entire Lu family had moved into Cloud Manor, which Ye Haimeng and Lu Sinan had jointly owned, and had deliberately hidden her mother's location. Furthermore, the Lu family was likely coveting Luo Yanxin's shares, which Ye Yuezhi was holding on her behalf.
Ling Ke cautioned Ye Haimeng that despite her high-profile return at her own funeral, she faced a complex and difficult situation. Ye Haimeng, however, declared her unwavering determination to turn the tables. Ling Ke then instructed her to return to Cloud Manor, locate her mother, and recover the genuine property custody agreement. Upon returning to Cloud Manor, Ye Haimeng was greeted by Mr. Mo, who expressed surprise at her reappearance. Ye Haimeng confidently stated it was her own home.
She then encountered Lu Siyu, exchanging greetings. Lu Siyue soon emerged, angrily confronting Ye Haimeng and questioning how she dared to return. Ye Haimeng firmly asserted her right to be there, prompting Lu Siyue to retort that Cloud Manor belonged to her brother, Lu Sinan, and Ye Haimeng had no right to speak if she did not share the Lu surname.
When Ye Haimeng attempted to go upstairs, Lu Siyue blocked her, claiming the rooms belonged to her and her mother. Du Meiyun intervened, instructing Lu Siyu to stay out of the conflict and return to his room, which Chen Mo then facilitated. Ye Haimeng proceeded to one of the rooms, only for Lu Siyue to confront her again, insisting it was her private space and warning her not to touch her belongings.
Lu Siyue then claimed all the jewelry and items within the room as her own. Ye Haimeng, with a smug smile, challenged Lu Siyue to identify which letters on the custom-made jewelry spelled her name, explaining that each piece was uniquely engraved with "Ye Haimeng." Lu Siyue stubbornly insisted a specific item was hers, a birthday gift from her father. Ye Haimeng then dared her to repeat that claim.
She instructed Ling Ke to empty out all the bags and clothes in the room, revealing which items bore her name and which were exclusive custom pieces gifted by Lu Sinan. Du Meiyun, witnessing the scene, ordered them to stop and demanded to know what Ye Haimeng truly wanted. Ye Haimeng retorted, "What do you think I want?"
Du Meiyun reminded her that Lu Sinan was dead and that her return changed nothing, asserting that Mare Nubium, as a jointly owned asset, could not be simply seized back. Ye Haimeng, unfazed, told Du Meiyun she was underestimating her. She affirmed her intention to return to Cloud Manor and Mare Nubium, vowing to slowly expose all the hidden schemes of Du Meiyun and Lu Siyue and see how they planned to take the Ye family's Mare Nubium from her.
Du Meiyun questioned if Ye Haimeng was merely after Lu Sinan's legacy, again asking her true intentions. Ye Haimeng cryptically responded that she would find out one day. Meanwhile, Chen Mo tried to pacify a worried Lu Siyu, telling him to leave matters to Du Meiyun and Lu Siyue. Lu Siyu, however, expressed frustration at being kept in the dark about everything.
After this, Ye Haimeng instructed Ling Ke to clear out the room, stating her intention to move back into it that night. At Mare Nubium, Ye Yuezhi berated a security guard for the lapse during the funeral, suggesting dismissals. Ye Bochen stepped in, reminding his father that the incident was unexpected and not the security team's fault. He emphasized that the priority should be understanding the former president's return, not firing the entire security team.
Ye Yuezhi angrily questioned if his son was trying to teach him how to do his job, insisting that Ye Bochen address him as "Vice President Ye." He emphasized the gravity of Ye Haimeng's return, warning of major upheaval for both the Ye and Lu families, and chastised Ye Bochen for defending the security. Ye Bochen acknowledged the significant changes Ye Haimeng's return would bring to Mare Nubium.
Ye Yuezhi sternly ordered him to understand his place and what he had the right to say. Later, at a bar, Ye Bochen thought he saw Ling Ke through a fish tank, but she vanished, leaving him to wonder if he had imagined her. Back at Cloud Manor, Ling Ke reiterated to Ye Haimeng that the study had yielded no clues about the agreement. Ye Haimeng considered Du Meiyun's possessive nature, certain the agreement was still within the manor.
Ling Ke then suggested searching the first-floor suite, which was now Lu Siyu's room. A flashback showed Du Meiyun telling a young Lu Siyu that he would be the most successful child in the Lu family, winning many dazzling championships. Ling Ke informed Ye Haimeng that "Jie" had temporarily disabled the surveillance cameras, giving her twelve minutes to search. Ye Haimeng entered Lu Siyu’s room. Ling Ke periodically checked in, but Ye Haimeng initially found nothing.
Then, Ye Haimeng discovered a lock box, just as Lu Siyu called Ye Bochen on his phone, telling him he had just returned and wanted to discuss investing in his archery club to win back his lost championship. Ling Ke cautioned Ye Haimeng about the lock box's alarm system if the password was entered incorrectly too many times, and mentioned she was coming to meet her, urging Ye Haimeng to think of possible passwords.
Lu Siyu told Ye Bochen he would wait for him at Cloud Manor. Ye Haimeng, realizing the implications, immediately understood Lu Siyu was returning. Lu Siyu expressed his discomfort with the family moving into Cloud Manor during his phone call with Ye Bochen. Shortly after, Lu Siyu received another phone call from Ye Bochen, who had arrived at Cloud Manor, and suggested they meet in the living room.
Lu Siyu then requested another favor from Ye Bochen: to help arrange a meeting with Ye Haimeng. He explained that Ye Haimeng was his sister-in-law, and he had lost all contact with her after the accident, despite searching for her abroad. Now that she was back, he desperately wanted to see her. Ye Bochen reluctantly said he probably couldn't help with that. Lu Siyu then noticed someone had been in his room. At the same moment, Ye Haimeng made her escape, with both Lu Siyu and Ye Bochen spotting the fleeing figure and giving chase.
Episode 3 Recap
Ye Haimeng managed to evade Lu Siyu's pursuit. Meanwhile, Ling Ke, concerned for Ye Haimeng, hastily exited her car and entered Cloud Manor. Her presence was noticed by Ye Bochen, who recognized her as the woman he saw at the lounge bar previously. He introduced himself as Ye Haimeng's cousin. Ling Ke, however, already knew his name and his position at ""Yunhai Intercontinental"", along with everything about the Ye family.
She warned him to concentrate on his duties at ""Yunhai Intercontinental"", advising him to guard his heart, lest he lose it someday without realizing. Later, Ye Haimeng asked Ling Ke about her encounter with Ye Bochen. Ling Ke deflected, asking Ye Haimeng about her true reasons for returning and the secrets she harbored. Ye Haimeng responded, asking if Ling Ke truly wished to know, unafraid that she might become another enemy, as she already had plenty.
Ling Ke inquired about any discoveries from Lu Siyu's suite. Ye Haimeng explained that time was too short to open the lock box, but she found a paper with Du Meiyun's handwriting, containing instructions for Lu Siyu. Ling Ke initially dismissed it as a mere family note, but Ye Haimeng pointed out the hidden characters "Tianyang." She deduced that this name didn't fit a regular company, suggesting it might be a health or wellness-related pharmaceutical company or industry.
Ye Haimeng speculated that it could be Lu Changdong's sanatorium, or a secret health medical entity secretly owned by Du Meiyun or the Lu family, and possibly the place where her mother, Luo Yanxin, was being held. Ling Ke confirmed that no such company was listed among the Lu family's official businesses.
Ye Haimeng then instructed Ling Ke to investigate all shareholders, directors, and silent partners associated with Changlu Capital, and all their affiliated health and medical businesses, to find her mother before their opponents could act. Elsewhere, Lu Siyue complained to her husband, Jiang Lin, that Ye Haimeng had taken her room, and she felt neglected and challenged.
She criticized him for his perceived inaction and for not being fully dedicated to the Lu family, especially with her father, Lu Changdong, away and her brother being immature. Lu Siyue revealed that her mother, Du Meiyun, had a plan to acquire Ye Haimeng's uncle's ""Yunhai"" shares, but she found it unreliable.
Believing Ye Haimeng had her own strategy for returning to Cloud Manor, Lu Siyue urged Jiang Lin to "strike first" to prevent Ye Haimeng and Ling Ke from seizing ""Yunhai"". Later, Lu Siyue’s henchman sabotaged the electronic system of Ye Haimeng's car.
Unaware of the treachery, Lu Siyu, after mentioning to a house staff member that he was going out (and having a phone conversation about inspecting a new sports center for an archery club investment), declined a driver, opting to drive himself. The staff member mentioned that Du Meiyun's car was out. Mistaking Ye Haimeng’s car for Lu Siyue’s, Lu Siyu took the key from the driver and drove off.
While on the road, Lu Siyu discovered that the brakes were not working, and the car's speed was rapidly increasing. He called emergency services, reporting his out-of-control vehicle on the Ring Road. He then contacted "Uncle Mo" (Chen Mo) on the phone, who informed him that he was driving Ye Haimeng's car, not Lu Siyue's. Panicked, Lu Siyu struggled to maintain control.
Ye Haimeng, aware of the situation, called him and instructed him to turn on his location, leave the Ring Road, and drive to a more open area in the suburbs. Lu Siyu realized he was on a road under construction, with only five kilometers left until it ended. He despairingly told Ye Haimeng to turn back, saying it was his problem alone. However, Ye Haimeng refused to leave, asking if he trusted her. He affirmed his trust.
She then told him to "hold on tight." Ye Haimeng, driving another car, caught up to Lu Siyu and deliberately crashed into his vehicle, causing it to flip and stop. She managed to pull the unconscious Lu Siyu out of the car just moments before it exploded. Ye Haimeng herself collapsed due to injuries sustained in the crash.
At the hospital, a doctor informed Ling Ke that while Ye Haimeng's external injuries were common from the accident, her left wrist and lumbar spine, which had previously undergone bone pin implantation surgery, were severely re-injured and might require further orthopedic surgery. Ye Haimeng, upon regaining consciousness, adamantly refused any additional surgery. Ling Ke later informed Ye Haimeng that Lu Siyu had sustained only a mild concussion and superficial injuries.
Ling Ke reiterated that Lu Siyu was a cherished member of the Lu family and that Ye Haimeng should not have been present, warning her not to let this incident derail their three-year plan or draw her closer to those she should avoid. Ye Haimeng assured her that she remembered her purpose. Soon after, Du Meiyun stormed into Ye Haimeng's hospital room and attempted to physically assault her, but Ye Haimeng blocked her. Lu Siyue intervened, accusing Ye Haimeng.
Du Meiyun angrily berated Ye Haimeng, mentioning her deceased son Sinan and Haimeng's "dead father," threatening to teach her a lesson. Ye Haimeng countered, asking if Du Meiyun blamed her for saving Lu Siyu instead of pursuing the culprit who sabotaged her car. Du Meiyun vehemently warned Ye Haimeng to stay away from Lu Siyu, threatening dire consequences if she ever caused him any further harm.
She then instructed Lu Siyue to tell Jiang Lin to assign guards to Lu Siyu's room, preventing anyone, especially "certain individuals," from entering without permission. After some time, Lu Siyu was discharged from the hospital and returned to Cloud Manor to recuperate. Feeling restless from continuous sleep, he asked a staff member where everyone was and subtly inquired about "Ms. Ye upstairs."
He then found Ye Haimeng and attempted to speak with her, noting her cold demeanor since his return and asking if he had offended her or if she disliked him. Ye Haimeng bluntly stated, "Yes, I dislike you," adding that dislike needed no reason and told him to move aside. Confused, Lu Siyu asked why she saved him if she disliked him.
Ye Haimeng clarified that she saved him solely because he was in her car, and she would have done the same for any stranger. She then instructed him to forget that night, keep his distance, and not provoke her or come closer. Lu Siyu refused to stay away, expressing his desire to be near her and asking her not to push him away.
He insisted that he could not pretend that day never happened, clearly remembering that she saved him in his most dangerous moment. He had been waiting to thank her, calling her """sister""." At that moment, Lu Changdong returned, addressing Lu Siyu as "kid" and sternly demanding he repeat what he had just said while looking him in the eyes. Lu Siyu responded by asking what Lu Changdong wanted to hear, then simply said, """sister""."
Episode 4 Recap
Ye Haimeng firmly rejected Lu Siyu's attempt to call her "sister." She told him that she would always be a Ye, never a Lu, and that Lu Siyue was his true sister, warning him to stay away from her. Their tense exchange was interrupted by Du Meiyun, who angrily confronted Ye Haimeng, reminding her of previous warnings not to approach her son. However, Lu Changdong intervened, calming Du Meiyun.
Lu Changdong then adopted a softer approach with Ye Haimeng, inviting her to sit. He acknowledged the difficult situation and suggested she could call him "Uncle Lu." He recalled when Lu Sinan first brought her to meet him at a hotel, a memory that momentarily touched Ye Haimeng. He expressed regret that his son, Lu Sinan, was gone and recounted his efforts to find her during her three-year disappearance.
Ye Haimeng explained that her survival was solely due to Sinan and that she would publicly reveal everything that happened in those three years once the affairs of both the Ye and Lu families were settled. Lu Changdong respected her decision and, as an elder of the Lu family, promised not to mistreat her.
He offered to return Cloud Manor, which he said was originally purchased as a wedding home for her and Sinan, and pledged to move his family to a villa in the suburbs within weeks. He also promised to have Mare Nubium, which he had entrusted to Jiang Lin and Lu Siyue for management after her and Sinan's incident, returned to her, acknowledging it as her parents' life's work.
Ye Haimeng expressed her gratitude, and Lu Changdong reassured her that the Lu family owed her, promising to protect her from any future grievances. He then revealed that his 60th birthday banquet was in two days and asked her to announce Lu Sinan's affairs at the gathering, promising to clear all debts owed to her by the Lu family afterward. Later, Ling Ke called Ye Haimeng, asking if she was having second thoughts about Lu Changdong's gestures.
Ye Haimeng admitted feeling uneasy and Ling Ke cautioned her not to easily trust someone who had never shown their true colors, especially given the business interests and decades of partnership between Lu Changdong and Ye Haimeng's father. Ye Bochen visited Ye Haimeng, expressing his concern for her. Ye Haimeng recalled that they had met at her own presumed funeral, and he had later tried to visit her.
He questioned her about Ling Ke, wondering if she was a new friend. Ye Haimeng reminded him they grew up together and that she knew his thoughts. Ye Bochen retorted that if she truly knew, she wouldn't have married Lu Sinan, reiterating his past warnings about the Lu family's intricate dynamics and Changlu Group's complex web of interests. He questioned if she still believed Sinan truly loved her.
Ye Haimeng acknowledged that he was the only one in either family who truly cared for her, but she confessed that she couldn't see him because she feared losing her resolve to fight. She declared that not everyone deserved forgiveness or tolerance, and she was determined to reclaim what was hers, challenging him to choose whether to be her friend or her enemy.
As Ye Haimeng was about to leave, Lu Changdong intercepted her, reminding her it was his 60th birthday banquet. He insisted she stay to be formally introduced to the Changlu Group shareholders and directors who had worked with her parents, hoping to solidify cooperation between Changlu and Mare Nubium. Ye Haimeng realized this might be an opportunity to gather clues about her mother. On the day of the banquet, Ling Ke called Ye Haimeng with urgent news.
She had discovered that "Tianyang" was actually "Yang Tian," the name of a large retirement community in the suburbs known as Yi Yang Tian Nian. Further investigation revealed a highly discreet medical center within this community, with shares held by the wife of a Changlu Group board member, indicating that the facility was secretly controlled by the Changlu Group. Ling Ke concluded that Ye Haimeng's mother, Luo Yanxin, was likely hidden there since Ye Haimeng's accident.
Ye Haimeng immediately ordered Ling Ke to instruct Tan Xin to thoroughly investigate the medical center's ownership, penetrate Changlu Group's layers, obtain all patient lists, and cross-reference records to find her mother without delay. At the banquet, Lu Changdong formally welcomed guests, expressing gratitude for their support. He acknowledged Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin's diligent interim management of Mare Nubium, but openly speculated about the company's future if its shares were divided.
Lu Siyu defiantly interrupted, asserting that Mare Nubium would never be divided, citing his late brother Sinan's and his second uncle's significant shares, and vowing to protect it from being split. Lu Changdong scolded him for causing a scene before shareholders. Lu Siyue quickly diffused the tension by offering a toast on behalf of her mother, Jiang Lin, and Lu Siyu.
During the banquet, Ye Haimeng keenly observed that Jiang Lin and Ye Yuezhi's couple were absent, and she messaged Ling Ke to inform her. Shortly after, two black-clad men attempted to coerce Luo Yanxin into signing an agreement at the medical center. She refused, demanding to see her doctor, nurse, and daughter. In the ensuing struggle, she fell from her bed, recognizing one of her assailants before losing consciousness.
Ye Haimeng received an urgent message on her phone and, despite protests from Lu Changdong and Lu Siyue, abruptly left the banquet. She rushed to the medical center, pushing past guards who tried to block her entry. Inside, she found her mother, Luo Yanxin, unresponsive. A doctor informed her that Luo Yanxin had fallen from her bed the previous night and had passed away despite their best efforts.
Overcome with grief, Ye Haimeng knelt by her mother's side, heartbroken, and was enveloped in a comforting memory of her mother. Overwhelmed by sorrow and with her old injuries flaring up, Ye Haimeng collapsed in the street. Lu Siyu, who had been searching for her after she left the banquet, found her unconscious.
He quickly moved to help her, but even in her distressed state, she vehemently rejected his touch and declared that she would rather die than accept help from anyone in the Lu family. As she passed out, Lu Siyu, unable to leave the scene due to a police investigation related to his car accident, immediately called Ling Ke.
He instructed Ling Ke to take the unconscious Ye Haimeng to a reserved suite at Mare Nubium, arrange for a private doctor, and ensure that no one else was allowed to see her or take her to a public hospital. Ling Ke tried to question him, but he hung up, leaving her to handle the urgent task.
Episode 5 Recap
Ye Haimeng's private doctor reported her current health status to Lu Siyu. While her vital signs were stable, the prognosis for her wrist fracture and spinal implant surgery was very poor. The doctor revealed that she had shown signs of infection some time ago and he had advised her to undergo another surgery, but she seemed unwilling.
Her high fever and loss of consciousness were likely caused by discitis and the recurrence of old injuries, worsened by damp weather and significant emotional distress. The doctor stated that for now, only anti-inflammatory and pain medication could be offered, as there were no other effective medical interventions. He gave Lu Siyu a medicine box containing her usual painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, advising him to stay with her throughout the night.
Deeply moved by this information, kind and gentle Lu Siyu promised to do so, guarding her all night, meticulously applying medicine to heal her, and reflecting on the immense pain Ye Haimeng must have endured. The following morning, Ye Haimeng left without a word, forgetting even her painkillers. She got into a car, intending to meet Tan Xin and Ling Ke. On her way out, she politely declined an offer of help from a concerned mother who noticed her weakness.
Lu Siyu, waking to find her gone, was dismayed that she had left without her prescribed medication. Upon meeting Tan Xin and Ling Ke, Ye Haimeng dismissed their concerns about her health, telling Tan Xin to hand her the laptop. She then inserted a USB drive her mother, Luo Yanxin, had left her. The drive contained an encrypted phone number for Chang Wei, an estate management lawyer at Tiancheng Law Firm.
After confirming Ye Haimeng's identity, Chang Wei revealed that four years prior, Luo Yanxin had entrusted all her assets, including investments, equity holdings, and shares in Mare Nubium Hotel Group, to be inherited entirely by Ye Haimeng in her formal will. Ling Ke clarified that this meant Luo Yanxin's shares had not been transferred to anyone else. Ye Haimeng thanked Chang Wei and ended the call, promising to reconnect later.
Ling Ke then updated Ye Haimeng on the chaotic situation at the sanatorium after her mother's death. She reported that Luo Yanxin's name, age, and medical records had been deliberately altered upon admission. Ling Ke assured Ye Haimeng that she and Tan Xin were handling the legal procedures, and their team was safeguarding the sanatorium to ensure proper funeral arrangements. She cautioned that Luo Yanxin's death would undoubtedly alert their adversaries, making their future path even more challenging.
Ye Haimeng, after a moment of quiet contemplation, called Chang Wei again and scheduled a meeting at Mare Nubium for 8 a. m. the day after tomorrow. On the scheduled day, Ye Haimeng, accompanied by Ling Ke and Tan Xin, arrived at Mare Nubium. Meanwhile, in his office, Vice President Ye Yuezhi was irritable, chiding an assistant for entering without clear permission. He questioned the assistant about Ye Haimeng's whereabouts at a recent family banquet, learning she had left abruptly.
Suddenly, an employee burst in, announcing that Ye Haimeng, the former president, had stormed the building with a large group of people. Du Meiyun, who had been confronting Lu Siyu about his mysterious absence during her husband's 60th birthday banquet, received a panicked call from Jiang Lin and rushed to Mare Nubium with Lu Siyue, leaving a bewildered Lu Siyu behind. Ye Haimeng swiftly took charge, ordering key department heads and directors to meet her immediately.
Jiang Lin, the acting president and Lu family's eldest son-in-law, confronted her. Ye Haimeng challenged his authority, questioning if he held any shares in Mare Nubium or if he was a member of the Ye family. Jiang Lin responded that Mare Nubium was the marital property of Ye Haimeng and Lu Sinan.
He claimed that a postnuptial asset trusteeship agreement allowed the Lu family to manage Lu Sinan's half of the shares, with him acting on behalf of Lu Siyu's parents (Lu Changdong and Du Meiyun). Ye Haimeng dismissed him as a mere pawn for the Lu family and a scapegoat for Lu Siyue.
She then declared that effective immediately, Jiang Lin would no longer serve as the acting president, as the position could not be held by someone without a stake in the company. Ye Yuezhi arrived, attempting to cordialize the situation by emphasizing their family ties. Ye Haimeng rebuffed him, reminding him that she had given him a choice between friendship and enmity, and he had chosen the latter.
She then publicly removed Ye Yuezhi from his vice president position, citing his mismanagement and the company's chaos during her three-year absence, effective immediately. Ye Yuezhi protested, reminding her he was her uncle and had diligently overseen Mare Nubium for her father for three decades. Ye Haimeng retorted fiercely, accusing him of allowing her mother to be sent to a private sanatorium, her whereabouts unknown, while people with ulterior motives seized control of Mare Nubium's high positions.
She further accused him of retaining her mother's shares, which led to the Ye family losing actual control. Du Meiyun then entered, accusing Ye Haimeng of attempting to monopolize Mare Nubium, asserting that half of it belonged to her son, Lu Sinan. Ye Haimeng warned her not to mention Lu Sinan again, threatening to demonstrate who truly owned Mare Nubium.
Du Meiyun scoffed, reminding her of the property custody agreement which stipulated that after Lu Sinan's disappearance, their marital assets would be managed by the Lu family. She argued that without a death declaration for Lu Sinan and with Ye Haimeng's shareholding still unclear, Ye Haimeng had no right to assume the presidency. Ye Yuezhi supported Du Meiyun's claims. Ling Ke then presented a document, confirming that Ye Haimeng already held 11.
68% of Mare Nubium shares, bequeathed by her father, Ye Mingzhi. Du Meiyun dismissed this as insufficient. Ye Haimeng conceded that Ye Yuezhi still held her mother's shares, which she intended to reclaim. Chang Wei then stepped forward, reiterating that according to Luo Yanxin's four-year-old estate management entrustment agreement, all her assets, including marital property and all equity, were to be fully inherited by Ye Haimeng. Du Meiyun was stunned, protesting that the will must be fake.
Chang Wei confirmed its authenticity, citing Luo Yanxin's personal signature, video, and notarized documentation, inviting them to verify it. Ye Haimeng then exposed that her mother had been confined to an unknown sanatorium for three years and was forced to surrender her shares the night before her death. She declared that anyone producing a share transfer document from her mother would be her killer.
Ye Haimeng then stated that with her parents' 16% of Mare Nubium shares, combined with the inseparable 37% shared with Lu Sinan, she was the largest shareholder of Mare Nubium, even without a board meeting. She challenged anyone to object to her taking the presidency and announced that she was reclaiming the position and taking full control of the entire company, effective that day. Later, Ye Haimeng returned to Cloud Manor and found Lu Siyu waiting.
He expressed relief at her return, stating he had been worried and was about to call her or seek out Bochen if she didn't come home. Ye Haimeng reminded him of her earlier warning to stay away, but Lu Siyu insisted he would not heed it. When she asked if he understood her conflict with his family, Lu Siyu confirmed he knew they were fighting over Mare Nubium and its shares.
He stated that he had no interest in wealth, prioritizing intangible values like affection and sincerity. Ye Haimeng dismissed his words as strange. Lu Siyu then explained his deep concern after she left that morning without her medication, fearing she hadn't taken any pills. He asked if her old injuries were still flaring up, emphasizing the doctor's instruction for her to continue her medication. He just wanted to give her the medicine box.
Ye Haimeng initially refused, but Lu Siyu insisted she wait. She then agreed to meet him in the study tomorrow at 6 a. m. , citing her busy schedule. Lu Siyu accepted.
Episode 6 Recap
Lu Siyu's consistent sincerity began to warm Ye Haimeng, who had long used indifference to hide her true feelings. She stopped resisting his presence and proactively invited him to meet the next day. The following morning, she found him in the study, sunlight softly illuminating his face, giving him a gentle and serene appearance. Lu Siyu had taken care of her through the night, murmuring that "it doesn't hurt anymore."
When she saw him, Ye Haimeng remarked she hadn't seen him and thought he hadn't gotten out of bed. Lu Siyu explained that he usually wakes early for morning training, especially for important appointments, and prefers to arrive before the other person. She teasingly asked if he had many important appointments. Lu Siyu then prompted Ye Haimeng for her medicine, which she initially seemed to have forgotten.
He carefully explained that after her fever and fainting spell, the doctor prescribed various medications for different symptoms—for fever, inflammation, and both oral and topical use. To prevent her from mixing them up or missing doses, he had meticulously sorted them into a small box, marking the times and dosages.
Ye Haimeng, unaccustomed to such closeness, initially pulled back, stating she could handle her own medication and wasn't used to people being so near, having taken care of herself for many years. Reassured that she didn't dislike him, Lu Siyu gently insisted she take her medicine on time, as her old injury was infected and prompt recovery was important.
Later, when Ye Haimeng found the medicine bitter, Lu Siyu offered her a fruit candy, reminiscing about how his family used to give him similar candies as a child. He suggested she eat one whenever she felt life, work, or medicine was too bitter, promising it would bring sweetness to her heart. Ye Haimeng, though touched, called him "childish." Ye Haimeng then noticed the numerous books on the shelves, inquiring if they were new.
Lu Siyu explained that Mr. Mo had organized them for him, and most were gifts from his brother, Lu Sinan, during his overseas business trips. Lu Sinan had also encouraged Lu Siyu to learn archery, bringing him many foreign theory books in German, English, and even Latin. Lu Siyu admitted he understood German and English but relied on a translator for Italian and couldn't comprehend Latin, wondering why his brother bought them.
Ye Haimeng revealed she understood a little Latin because Lu Sinan had taught her. Pleased, Lu Siyu asked her to help translate the table of contents and any of his brother's notes during their morning meetings, and she agreed. Through these shared moments, their young hearts unconsciously drew closer. Concurrently, Ye Haimeng was making significant moves to reclaim control of Mare Nubium. She delegated Ling Ke to take over the financial authority, replacing Ye Yuezhi, who was forced into retirement.
Ling Ke, confirming all personnel procedures and assessments were ready, moved swiftly under Ye Haimeng's instruction to "get back everything that should be ours." Ling Ke and her team announced their takeover of all senior management affairs, instructing staff to cease work and not touch any company assets. Ling Ke then entered Ye Yuezhi's former office and declared herself the new Vice President of Finance for Mare Nubium. Meanwhile, Lu Siyu was out for training.
He saw his mother Du Meiyun whispering with Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin, but he chose not to approach them or interfere with the family's disputes. During this conversation, Lu Siyue reported to her mother, Du Meiyun, that Ye Haimeng had returned to Mare Nubium, reclaiming the President's office, Secretary's office, and both personnel and financial authority, also dismissing Jiang Lin. Lu Siyue feared their three years of effort would be undone.
Du Meiyun scoffed, calling Ye Haimeng "too naive" to control Mare Nubium with just personnel and financial authority, confident in their deep-rooted network and majority board support. Lu Siyue countered by highlighting Ye Haimeng's substantial shareholding. Du Meiyun then scolded Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin for losing their positions so easily, even implying they had siphoned money from the company accounts during their management.
Lu Siyue defended Jiang Lin and criticized her mother for favoring Lu Siyu, who had "never helped the family" with the inheritance battle. Jiang Lin intervened, trying to calm the situation, acknowledging Ye Haimeng's aggressive approach and their diminishing leverage. However, Du Meiyun remained defiant, vowing to prevent Ye Haimeng from accessing the 37% of shares jointly owned with Lu Sinan and to make her understand the Lu family was not to be trifled with.
Later, Lu Changdong summoned Lu Siyu, inquiring about his health. Lu Siyu suggested he return to the seaside for recovery. When Lu Changdong offered financial support for Lu Siyu's archery club investment, Lu Siyu politely declined, stating his prize money from abroad was sufficient, earning praise from his father for his independence compared to Lu Sinan and Lu Siyue. Lu Changdong then proposed that Lu Siyu take over Changlu Group or Mare Nubium.
Lu Siyu refused, asserting that Changlu Group was well-managed by his father and other directors. Regarding Mare Nubium, he believed they should not reclaim it, explaining it was originally the Ye family's property, and his brother only obtained shared ownership through marriage. He argued that after such a tragedy and the Ye family's severe losses, they shouldn't exploit the marriage to "hold Ye Haimeng hostage" or treat her unfairly, as he believed she had done nothing wrong.
Lu Changdong acknowledged his son's kind nature but stressed the complexities of family, inheritance, and interests, then told Lu Siyu to pursue his own passions. After Lu Siyu left, Lu Changdong secretly instructed Mr. Mo to "keep a close eye on Lu Siyu" to prevent him from being manipulated by "people with bad intentions." Meanwhile, Ling Ke called Ye Haimeng with urgent news.
She informed Ye Haimeng that the Legal Department had received an application to change Mare Nubium's legal representative, signed by over half of the directors. In the same call, Ling Ke also alerted Ye Haimeng that Secretary Zhang from the Secretary's Office was caught attempting to secretly remove the company's important seals and certificates. Ye Haimeng swiftly instructed Ling Ke to immediately mobilize a lawyer to block the legal representative application, while she herself rushed to intercept Secretary Zhang.
Ye Haimeng successfully stopped Secretary Zhang and retrieved the seals and certificates, also ordering the blocking of all vehicles in the underground parking lot to prevent any escape. Secretary Zhang, pleading for mercy, confessed she was "made to do it." Ye Haimeng, however, retorted, "If you dared to do it, don't apologize now," and handed her over to the police.
Soon after, Lu Siyu called Ye Haimeng, urgently informing her that he had seen Jiang Lin in the parking lot with a document containing Lu Sinan's name and photo. Lu Siyu suspected Jiang Lin was filing a death declaration for his brother, likely to activate the "joint property management agreement" left by Lu Sinan and his wife. Ye Haimeng playfully chided him for calling her by her full name, but Lu Siyu insisted it was not a joke, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Episode 7 Recap
Ye Haimeng reported to Lu Siyu over the phone that she had seen Jiang Lin in the parking lot with documents for filing Lu Sinan's death declaration, which Lu Siyu had already anticipated. Realizing she couldn't intervene in time, Ye Haimeng urgently asked Lu Siyu for his assistance. Lu Siyu then strategically intercepted Jiang Lin’s car, feigning a sudden and severe attack of competitive anxiety.
He convinced Jiang Lin that he was unable to drive and needed to return home immediately for medicine, effectively delaying Jiang Lin from reaching his destination. Despite Jiang Lin's attempts to leave him by calling for medical help or for other family members, Lu Siyu insisted on being driven home by Jiang Lin himself. This distraction allowed Ye Haimeng's associate, Tan Xin, to move ahead and successfully process Lu Sinan's death declaration, securing the crucial document.
Later, Ye Haimeng messaged Lu Siyu, asking him to meet her in the study. Upon seeing her, Lu Siyu noticed her somber expression and the swelling on her wrist. Ye Haimeng confided in him that for three years since the car accident, she had deliberately avoided anything related to Lu Sinan.
However, holding his death certificate finally made her realize the stark reality: Lu Sinan, her husband and Lu Siyu's brother, was truly gone, and everything connected to him in this world was slowly fading away. Lu Siyu, curious about their past, asked Ye Haimeng how she and his brother had first met. She recounted how they were introduced through a Latin literature dictionary.
She recalled that she had encountered Lu Sinan while both were trying to get the book; she had already extended its loan period, but Ye Haimeng insisted it was crucial for her translation work. Lu Sinan then playfully challenged her, stating the book was "Not for loan, except to family and close friends," and asked if she intended to become his friend or family.
After hearing this story, Lu Siyu realized this explained why his brother had taught her Latin and cherished his old books. Lu Siyu also shared how his brother had been a constant source of gentle encouragement and unwavering support, particularly for his passion for archery, despite their family's disapproval.
He reminisced about how Lu Sinan, who had even arranged his overseas studies, would always push him to achieve more, urging him to bring back prestigious championships to elevate the Lu family's name beyond just their business, making them known not just for Changlu Group but also for the achievements of the youngest son. After these shared memories, Lu Siyu asked Ye Haimeng if she still missed Lu Sinan. She replied simply, "He's gone."
She explained that with the death certificate, her legal marriage to Lu Sinan had ended, and her ties to the Lu family were now purely about inheritance. Lu Siyu then revealed his knowledge that Cloud Manor and Mare Nubium legally belonged to her, clarifying that Mare Nubium had been her parents' property, and Lu Sinan's shares were acquired as marital assets after their marriage, as was Cloud Manor.
He apologized on behalf of his family for their attempts to forcibly seize her properties and expressed regret for being unable to prevent it. He vowed that despite his limited influence in the Lu family outside the archery club, he would wholeheartedly help her if she ever asked. Ye Haimeng felt her scar on her wrist was ugly, but Lu Siyu gently disagreed, finding them to be marks of her past, not blemishes.
He encouraged her to focus on healing, and under his comforting presence, she eventually fell asleep. Meanwhile, at Mare Nubium, Ling Ke instructed the Engineering Department to re-examine all construction and maintenance projects, initially asking for the past five years and noting financial discrepancies and minor reporting errors in the submitted reports.
When Manager Ye protested, citing the company policy of auditing every three years and archiving past reports, Ling Ke asserted that as the new Vice President of Finance, a comprehensive review of the entire group's projects from the past ten years was necessary, especially with the new president's return.
Manager Ye expressed concerns that such extensive audits were not in the company's best interest, suggesting that resolving the Ye and Lu families' inheritance dispute through normal legal channels or amicable family discussions would be better. However, Ling Ke dismissed this as idealistic, stating bluntly that the Ye and Lu families would never achieve their desired outcomes through normal judicial processes.
She warned that without a fight, Cloud Manor and Mare Nubium would never return to Ye Haimeng, emphasizing that true kindness required self-protection, or everything would be fragmented. She urged Manager Ye to face reality, reminding her that the secrets buried within the Ye family would eventually come to light.
Soon after, Ye Haimeng and Ling Ke received news that Director Xia had convened a meeting with several group shareholders and obtained nearly half of the board's authorization resolutions, and they were heading towards the President's office. Director Xia and the group confronted Ye Haimeng, with Director Xia accusing her of being heartless despite the Lu family's support of Mare Nubium during her family's turmoil.
He presented a signed authorization resolution from nearly half of the board’s shareholders, demanding a public division of the jointly held shares between Ye Haimeng and Lu Sinan, and a general shareholders' meeting to identify Mare Nubium's largest shareholder and highest director. He announced that the meeting, which had already been publicized to the media, would take place in seven days, on the fourth anniversary of Lu Sinan's death, and requested Ye Haimeng and Ling Ke's presence.
Ling Ke vehemently accused them of a coup, but Ye Haimeng calmly accepted the challenge, agreeing to the public meeting. After the board members left, Ling Ke questioned Ye Haimeng’s decision to agree, suggesting that the directors were merely acting under the Lu family's influence, specifically Du Meiyun. Ye Haimeng explained that while they had regained Mare Nubium's operational control, recovered the company seal, and secured Lu Sinan's death certificate, they still lacked absolute controlling interest on the board.
Without the major shareholder stake, her presidential authority would remain unstable. To obtain this, she needed to divide her and Lu Sinan’s joint shares, which was being held hostage by the "property custody agreement" left by Lu Sinan. As long as this agreement remained in the Lu family's possession, they could control 37% of Mare Nubium's shares, preventing her from becoming the major shareholder and gaining absolute board control.
Ye Haimeng then revealed her plan: she would return to Cloud Manor to retrieve the forged agreement from Lu Siyu's room, which was also Lu Sinan's former room, believing only she could access it. Ling Ke expressed deep concern, reminding her of the dangers she faced during her last attempt. Undeterred, Ye Haimeng declared her resolve, stating that no danger could be worse than death, and after having "died once" three years ago, she would survive this time.
Ling Ke coordinated with an associate named Jie, confirming that everything was quiet in Cloud Manor and Lu Siyu was in his room. She then created a distraction by calling out for Lu Siyu, who emerged from his room and was immediately confronted by Lu Siyue. Lu Siyue demanded to know why Lu Siyu had moved a large sum of money from his account, stating that their mother wanted to speak with him about it.
Lu Siyu argued it was his own money, but Lu Siyue insisted, dragging him away, leaving his bedroom door slightly ajar. Ling Ke, sensing something amiss, advised Ye Haimeng not to enter, pointing out the strange timing of Lu Siyue's sudden appearance and Lu Siyu's open door. Ye Haimeng dismissed her concerns, attributing Lu Siyue's actions to their family's financial inquiries and Lu Siyu's casual nature.
She insisted they were running out of time and needed to retrieve the agreement that night, telling Jie to handle the surveillance. Shortly after Ye Haimeng slipped into Lu Siyu's room, Lu Siyu returned, muttering about Lu Siyue's strange behavior and their mother not being there. He re-entered his room, leaving the door ajar again.
Then, Lu Siyue returned once more, knocking insistently on Lu Siyu's door and demanding he open it, stating she needed to talk to him right away. As Lu Siyu moved to open the door, he caught a reflection from Ye Haimeng's phone inside the room. He questioned who was there, causing Lu Siyue to grow more anxious and demand he open the door, believing someone else was in his room. In a desperate move, Ye Haimeng revealed herself and quickly covered Lu Siyu's mouth.
Episode 8 Recap
Lu Siyu, with Ye Haimeng hidden in his room, responded to Lu Siyue, who was standing outside repeatedly calling for him to open the door and questioning the noises she heard inside. Lu Siyu reassured Ye Haimeng, "Don't speak. Don't move." To his sister, he replied that he was fine, that nothing was happening, he was sleeping, and they could talk tomorrow, while physically preventing Ye Haimeng from moving.
When Lu Siyue insisted on her authority as his sister, Lu Siyu firmly retorted, "Even if you're my sister, the answer is no!" He then quietly told Ye Haimeng that if he didn't respond for a while, his sister would eventually leave, and soon after, Lu Siyue departed. Once Lu Siyue was gone, Lu Siyu questioned Ye Haimeng's presence, asking if she was also the one who had been in his room previously.
He reaffirmed his commitment to help her, but only if she told him the truth. Ye Haimeng confessed she was searching for a property custody agreement left by Lu Sinan, which encompassed nearly 37% of Mare Nubium's shares, crucial for her to gain absolute control of the company's board. Ye Haimeng then revealed that Lu Sinan had left a lockbox in this suite, which used to be his room, and Lu Siyu expressed surprise that he had never noticed it.
Lu Siyu suggested trying an anniversary date as a password, which Ye Haimeng implicitly confirmed she had tried during their dating period. After discussing the risk of triggering an alarm, Lu Siyu recalled a specific date his brother often spoke of: the day Lu Siyu first won an archery championship. As they prepared to try this new combination, Ye Haimeng received an urgent message from Ling Ke warning her that something was wrong and she needed to leave immediately.
They successfully opened the lock box, only to find it filled with blank pages. Ling Ke's urgent message, instructing Ye Haimeng to leave immediately, was reiterated. Ye Haimeng quickly exited the room, with Lu Siyu following. However, Du Meiyun, along with Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin, was already waiting for them outside the room. A heated argument ensued.
Lu Siyu attempted to shield Ye Haimeng and diffuse the tension, but Du Meiyun sternly reprimanded him for siding with their "enemy" and reminded him of her earlier warnings to stay away from Ye Haimeng. Ye Haimeng stepped forward, taking full responsibility for involving Lu Siyu, stating she had asked him for help and to take her side. Du Meiyun then accused Ye Haimeng of seducing and using Lu Siyu, his own brother-in-law.
Ye Haimeng scoffed at the accusations, asserting that Lu Sinan had died three years ago and her marriage was over, so she had no ethical or moral obligations to the Lu family or Lu Siyu. She also pointed out that the Lu family's current position was solely due to an agreement left by Lu Sinan. In response, Du Meiyun produced what she claimed was the "real" property custody agreement, which Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin had been holding.
Lu Siyu confirmed it bore his brother's signature. Du Meiyun explained that this document stipulated that if anything serious happened to Sinan, his and Ye Haimeng's jointly held 37% of Mare Nubium's shares would fall under the Lu family's full management. She declared that the Lu family had already made this agreement public, initiated legal proceedings with a probate lawyer, and was now Mare Nubium's largest shareholder and true owner.
Ignoring Lu Siyu's protests, Du Meiyun ordered Jiang Lin to confine Lu Siyu to his room until the Mare Nubium shareholders' meeting and Lu Sinan's fourth death anniversary were concluded. She then issued a final warning to Ye Haimeng to abandon her "devious schemes" and "thoughts of revenge," promising that the Lu family would ensure her well-being if she complied.
Ling Ke informed Ye Haimeng over the phone that the Lu family had publicly announced the property custody agreement between Ye Haimeng and Lu Sinan, leading to a freeze on 37% of Mare Nubium's major shareholdings due to litigation. The Lu family declared their ownership and control of Mare Nubium as trustees of Lu Sinan's estate and announced a formal funeral and fourth-year memorial for Lu Sinan in four days.
Ling Ke warned that the death certificate they held might become invalid, potentially causing Ye Haimeng to lose both the right to use Cloud Manor and the ownership of Mare Nubium. Meanwhile, Ling Ke invited Ye Bochen to join their efforts, to which he hesitantly agreed. Confined to his room, Lu Siyu anxiously called out for someone to open his door.
He also desperately tried to contact Ye Haimeng by phone, even reaching out to Jiang Lin, whom he referred to as "Brother-in-law." Jiang Lin, who had been ordered by Du Meiyun to keep Lu Siyu away from Ye Haimeng, told Siyu he was too busy to "save" him. Siyu, however, simply pleaded with Jiang Lin to go upstairs and check on Ye Haimeng, worried because her phone was unreachable.
Jiang Lin, looking at the unanswered calls from Siyu, wondered if Ye Haimeng had returned to Mare Nubium alone or if she had given up. Meanwhile, a security guard confirmed to a superior, identified as the "Chairman," that Lu Siyu's room was locked down on Du Meiyun's orders because he had defied her by interacting with Ye Haimeng.
The Chairman acknowledged that Siyu was young and shouldn't be dragged into the family conflict, but instructed for more security to be placed on him, especially with the upcoming funeral for Sinan. Later, Ye Haimeng came to Lu Siyu's door and spoke to him through it. Lu Siyu was relieved, asking if she was alright and if Du Meiyun had bothered her.
He also expressed concern about her old injuries flaring up and reiterated his promise to help her once he was free. Ye Haimeng then asked him why he was so kind to her, wondering if it was because of Lu Sinan. Lu Siyu firmly denied it, stating, "I've never thought of you as just an extension of my brother. And I'm definitely not being nice to you because of my brother. I care about you because. . .
you deserve it." He added that he recognized her gentle, kind, and sincere nature, and that she was not as strong as she appeared, deserving better treatment. Ye Haimeng thanked him, then asked him to help her one more time. She revealed that Lu Sinan's public funeral, which would also finalize Mare Nubium's shareholder equity, was the day after tomorrow.
She needed Lu Siyu to take a book with Lu Sinan's personal signature and find Tan Xin before the public meeting. Tan Xin would then connect him with their lawyer, who would arrange for the signature's authentication. Lu Siyu was to appear at Mare Nubium's public meeting with this authentication report. Despite being locked in his room, Ye Haimeng stressed, "Lu Siyu, you must come."
On the day of the second public funeral for Lu Sinan, which was also set to finalize Mare Nubium's shareholder equity, media outlets buzzed with speculation about the inheritance case and the potential division of assets. While locked in his room, Lu Siyu received a call from Ye Bochen, who informed him, "Siyu, I'm outside. Get ready, and I'll take you away."
Lu Siyu mentioned his locked door and the active security cameras, but Ye Bochen assured him he had already distracted the bodyguards, giving Lu Siyu a precious few minutes to escape before his family noticed. He stressed that Ling Ke had explicitly instructed him to bring Lu Siyu, no matter what. Lu Siyu quickly broke his door lock, ran out, and got into Ye Bochen's waiting car, which swiftly departed. Ye Haimeng, gazing at a photo of Lu Sinan, quietly uttered, "Sinan, this day has finally come," indicating her long-awaited moment of action.
Episode 9 Recap
The shareholders' confirmation meeting for Mare Nubium was convened under the guise of Lu Sinan's funeral. Before the meeting began, Du Meiyun exchanged words with Ye Yuezhi and Xiao Ting, assuring them that she held a secret over Ye Yuezhi, so he would follow her instructions. Media swarmed outside, asking Ms. Lu and Mr. Jiang if they would return to Mare Nubium, and if the inheritance case would be resolved.
Du Meiyun observed Ye Yuezhi and Xiao Ting, subtly reminding them of past secrets they wanted to bury, implying they needed to stay clear-minded for the day's events. Inside, a lawyer announced the proceedings, stating that following Lu Sinan's death four years ago, and pending a court judgment on the inheritance partition lawsuit with Ye Haimeng, their jointly held 37% shares would be frozen.
However, based on a property custody agreement, the Lu family would exercise custodianship over all inherited assets. Having secured joint agreements with nearly half of Mare Nubium's shareholders, the Lu family theoretically controlled over 51% of the equity. The board then declared the Lu family and Changlu Capital Group as the largest controlling shareholders, and supreme executive authority of the group returned to the Lu family.
Just as the announcement concluded, Ye Haimeng, accompanied by Ling Ke, entered the conference room. Du Meiyun sarcastically greeted Ye Haimeng as "Mrs. Lu" and commented on Mare Nubium's current state, suggesting Ye Haimeng would rather not see her. Ye Yuezhi attempted to mediate, claiming he and Ye Bochen had tried to reason with Ye Haimeng, but she was too strong-willed. Ms. Lu (Du Meiyun) retorted, asking if it was that they couldn't say much or had no right to.
Ye Haimeng stated that as Lu Sinan's wife and co-owner of nearly 37% of Mare Nubium's shares, she firmly opposed the freeze, asserting her rightful ownership of the marital assets. Du Meiyun cited the property custody agreement as evidence that the assets should remain with the Lu family. Ye Haimeng countered by accusing Director Xia of illegally organizing board alliances and stealing company seal and certificates.
Ling Ke presented compelling evidence: three weeks prior, when company seal and certificates were stolen, Director Xia made 12 calls to the Secretary's Office, providing escape funds and a vehicle to the thieves. Director Xia vehemently denied the accusations, claiming the records were forged. Ye Haimeng calmly told him to explain himself to the police, as the company had already reported the crime.
Lu Siyue then burst out, accusing Ye Haimeng of being a murderer and wondering why she was still alive while Lu Sinan was dead. Ye Haimeng shifted the focus, asking Ling Ke for a car repair record. Ye Haimeng then explained that two months ago, her car had been deliberately sabotaged at Cloud Manor, with its brakes tampered with and set to accelerate past 100 km/h, implying a clear attempt on her life.
Jiang Lin quickly defended Lu Siyue, arguing she wouldn't be capable of such an act. Ling Ke then suggested that while the young lady herself might not, someone around her might. Ling Ke then unveiled shocking details about Ms. Luo Yanxin, Ye Haimeng's mother. Three years ago, Luo Yanxin was secretly sent to a private sanatorium, where her health steadily deteriorated, leading to her sudden death on the 12th of the previous month.
Surveillance video from that day showed Jiang Lin, Lu Siyue’s husband, rushing out of the sanatorium with a document just ten minutes after Luo Yanxin's death. Jiang Lin frantically denied any involvement, claiming it was a fabrication and he had been on business. Ye Haimeng instructed Jie to take Jiang Lin and Director Xia into custody and hand them over to the police for suspected murder. Lu Siyue tried desperately to intervene as her husband was led away.
Meanwhile, a lawyer handed Lu Siyu an expedited judicial authentication report, instructing him to deliver it personally to Ye Haimeng for her to unseal. Lu Siyu promised to do so. Ye Bochen, who was driving Lu Siyu to Mare Nubium, expressed unease, offering to deliver the report instead, but Lu Siyu insisted, recalling Ye Haimeng's specific request for his personal delivery.
Back at the meeting, Du Meiyun, ignoring the unfolding chaos, pressed Ye Haimeng with the property custody agreement, calling it her "fatal weakness." Ye Haimeng challenged its authenticity, explaining that while the paper was from a European luxury hotel, the ink used on it was domestic, matching the brand used in Mare Nubium's high-level Secretary's Office printers, indicating the document was a secondary print. She asserted that her husband Lu Sinan had imitated her handwriting to forge the agreement.
Du Meiyun accused Ye Haimeng of framing her dead husband. Ye Haimeng then called out to Lu Siyu, who entered the room with the report. Du Meiyun angrily accused Lu Siyu of betraying the family. Ye Haimeng explained to Lu Siyu that his presence was crucial.
The lawyer then announced that after comparative signature verification, the signatures of both Lu Sinan and Ye Haimeng on the property custody agreement were confirmed to be from the same person's handwriting – Lu Sinan's – thus proving the forgery of Ye Haimeng's signature. Ye Haimeng then declared that Lu Sinan's property custody agreement was entirely fake. She announced she would reclaim all Mare Nubium shares and the property use rights of Cloud Manor.
To prove her claim, Ling Ke produced the property deed for Cloud Manor, which listed Ye Haimeng as the owner. Ye Haimeng, as the President of Mare Nubium, officially announced that all shares Lu Sinan acquired through their marriage would revert to her name, as would the jointly purchased real estate, including Cloud Manor. She asserted her position as the largest controlling shareholder of Mare Nubium and the absolute controlling party of its board of directors.
She then declared that all senior executives and employees who should not remain in the group, and all individuals who should not remain in Cloud Manor, would be removed. Later, at Cloud Manor, Lu Changdong approached Ye Haimeng, asking if such drastic measures were necessary. He admitted his failure to control his family and fulfill his promises to her, acknowledging that she had, nevertheless, reclaimed what was hers.
Ye Haimeng firmly stated that the events were the Lu family's choice and that she had recovered everything on her own. Lu Changdong then spoke of their wedding day, when Ye Haimeng's father entrusted her to Lu Sinan and the Lu family, and how he had promised she would always be his daughter. Ye Haimeng responded bluntly that Lu Sinan's funeral was over and that her surname was Ye, severing all ties.
Lu Changdong, lamenting the hatred and his perceived greater pain than losing a son, accepted the split and announced the Lu family would move out of Cloud Manor. Ling Ke then initiated the clearing of Cloud Manor. Lu Siyue screamed as her jewelry and Lu Siyu's trophies and arrow case were unceremoniously thrown out. Du Meiyun, enraged, confronted Lu Siyu, slapped him, and disowned him, forbidding him from returning home for siding with Ye Haimeng.
Later, Ling Ke drove Ye Haimeng back to Cloud Manor, finding Lu Siyu waiting in the rain. Ling Ke urged him to leave, explaining that Ye Haimeng would not see him as she had achieved her goals and would no longer have any ties with the Lu family. Lu Siyu defiantly insisted on seeing Ye Haimeng, regardless of her relationship with his family. As the rain continued, Ye Haimeng emerged from the manor and held an umbrella over Lu Siyu, sheltering him.
Episode 10 Recap
Lu Siyu confronted Ye Haimeng in the pouring rain, demanding to know why she insisted he personally bring the authentication report to the shareholder confirmation meeting. Ye Haimeng admitted it was intentional, explaining that only a Lu, specifically Lu Siyu, appearing with the authentication report, would convince the media and reporters that the signed custody agreement was indeed a forgery.
She bluntly stated that his presence with the report was meant to shatter the Lu family’s last line of defense, including Du Meiyun. She declared Lu Siyu to be the knife she had plunged into the hearts of the Lu family. Distraught, Lu Siyu refused to believe she was such a person, or that she had approached him merely to use him against his family.
Ye Haimeng reiterated her past warnings not to get close to her, stating she was the Lu family's mortal enemy, having fought tooth and nail to survive the car accident and reclaim what was hers. From then on, she intended to sever all ties with the Lu family.
When Lu Siyu asked if he meant nothing to her after everything they had shared—the accident, the study, the translations—Ye Haimeng coldly asserted that he was absolutely nothing to her and that they would never have any relationship in this life. She concluded by telling him that being surnamed Lu was his sin.
Overwhelmed by despair, they parted ways, and as Ye Haimeng walked away in the rain, memories of Lu Siyu flooded her mind, causing her old injury to flare up. Meanwhile, Ye Bochen, unable to reach either Ye Haimeng or Lu Siyu on their phones, called Ling Ke, only to discover she was at the same quiet bar.
He expressed his concern about Ye Haimeng and Lu Siyu, but Ling Ke, seemingly unperturbed, raised a toast to Ye Haimeng's successful reclamation of Cloud Manor and Mare Nubium.
When Ye Bochen questioned the "price" of this victory, referring to the many old shareholders who lost their careers due to the conflict, Ling Ke explained that choosing sides in the workplace required wisdom, not all founding members were inherently kind, and people change over time, especially after experiencing risks and long waits. She emphasized that Ye Haimeng was never a weak person needing sympathy or saving; she was her own savior.
Ye Bochen acknowledged Ling Ke’s deep understanding of Ye Haimeng, then probed Ling Ke about her own past—her identity, how she met Ye Haimeng abroad after the car accident, and her true intentions. Ling Ke offered a trade: his secret for hers. She then revealed her knowledge of Ye Bochen not being a biological Ye, asking him how it felt to be the subdued adopted son of the Ye family for two decades.
Before Ye Bochen could fully react, Ling Ke warned him to put aside his kindness and protect himself, as she intended to uncover all the family's secrets, one by one. After her painful separation, Ye Haimeng immersed herself in work, having fully taken control of Cloud Manor and Mare Nubium. During a company meeting, she announced that Mare Nubium had returned to the Ye family, with the board's control now in her hands.
She declared a fresh start for everyone moving forward with her, emphasizing the importance of winning people's hearts in rebuilding. During the reports, an employee from the Legal Department detailed an overseas investment agreement that Jiang Lin and Lu Siyue had initiated months ago, involving the purchase of large land parcels to establish a new overseas brand division—a deviation from the former chairman's practice of acquiring local brands.
Given the enormous transaction amount and the delay in reporting, Ye Haimeng ordered her secretary, Tan Xin, to thoroughly investigate the transaction parties, their accounts, and the land's background and details. After the meeting, Ling Ke approached Ye Haimeng, teasingly saying she stayed to admire her beauty. Ye Haimeng then tasked Ling Ke with auditing the accounts of the Construction Department, including all projects handled by Ye Bochen's uncle, Ye Yuezhi, during his tenure.
Ling Ke accepted but playfully warned Ye Haimeng to be mindful of Ye Bochen's reaction, suggesting he might be the one to "handle" her. Ye Haimeng then invited Ling Ke back to the penthouse to remove the documents and photos from the walls, signifying the completion of their initial plan to reclaim Cloud Manor and Mare Nubium. Ling Ke, acknowledging Ye Haimeng's ambitions extended beyond these properties, agreed to meet at 8 p. m.
the following evening, anticipating that Ye Haimeng would finally reveal her ultimate target. As Ling Ke left, she commented on Ye Haimeng’s "young friend" and admitted she found herself liking Ye Haimeng more and more. Meanwhile, Lu Siyu sought solace and release in the archery club, demonstrating exceptional skill by hitting bullseyes consistently.
When a ruby earring he kept pinned to his archery armor accidentally fell in the changing room and was claimed by the club owner's girlfriend, he agreed to a challenge. The owner, impressed by Lu Siyu’s skill after two perfect shots, challenged him to shoot the final arrow blindfolded.
Lu Siyu agreed, and as he prepared, a voice from his past echoed in his mind, affirming his potential to be the most successful child of the Lu family, destined to win the most dazzling championships. True to his past, Lu Siyu fired a perfect bullseye while blindfolded, winning back the earring and astonishing the onlookers. Back at the Lu family's new, much smaller residence, Lu Siyue was distraught over Jiang Lin's ten-day detainment.
She complained to Du Meiyun about their downgraded living conditions and the family's financial woes, even accusing Du Meiyun of being a mere "backup" for her father. Du Meiyun, powerless as all assets were controlled by Lu Siyue's father, angrily slapped Lu Siyue and refused to help Jiang Lin, asserting that he would be released if innocent. Furious that no one cared for Jiang Lin after using him, Lu Siyue vowed to save him herself.
She then confronted Lu Siyu, who was staying elsewhere, urging him to return home and help the family. Lu Siyu coldly stated it had nothing to do with him, adding that if he had a choice, he would rather not be a Lu. Lu Siyue accused Ye Haimeng of brainwashing him and reminded him of Lu Sinan’s death. She then urged Lu Siyu to join her in confronting Ye Haimeng to uncover the suspicious truth behind Lu Sinan's car accident.
Lu Siyue revealed that she found French reports and overseas faxes from Jiang Lin’s computer, indicating the accident was extensively covered by foreign news, implying it was far more than a simple traffic incident. The report stated that Ye Haimeng and her husband, Lu Sinan, suffered a severe car accident during their honeymoon abroad, with Lu Sinan dying instantly and Ye Haimeng's whereabouts unknown for three years.
Later, after a productive meeting at Mare Nubium where she praised her team's work in stabilizing the company and emphasized the importance of winning people's hearts in rebuilding, Ye Haimeng sent a message to Ling Ke, stating she would arrive in 30 minutes. As she opened her door, she was met by Lu Siyue and Lu Siyu. Ye Haimeng tried to dismiss them, citing a prior appointment, but Lu Siyue insisted on talking now.
She demanded that Ye Haimeng release Jiang Lin, vehemently denying his involvement in her mother’s death, claiming it was she who sent him out that night, preventing him from being at the sanatorium. Ye Haimeng, unfazed, told Lu Siyue to tell her story to the police instead. She then turned to Lu Siyu, mockingly asking him how she supposedly evaded police questioning and framed the incident as a mere accidental car crash.
Lu Siyu, seizing the opportunity, directly questioned Ye Haimeng: why did his brother Lu Sinan die in the car accident, while she survived and returned safely after three years, prompting him to ask if she was truly a survivor, or if she had killed his brother.
Episode 11 Recap
Lu Siyu confronted Ye Haimeng, pressing her about the car accident that killed his brother, Lu Sinan, during their overseas honeymoon. He recounted how Ye Haimeng was severely injured and taken to the largest central hospital but secretly transferred to another facility after police questioning. Her subsequent orthopedic surgery and recovery location remained a complete mystery for three years.
Although foreign authorities arrested the driver, Lu Siyu noted that the final determination of responsibility largely relied on Ye Haimeng's testimony, leading to the accident being classified as a traffic incident. He questioned what happened before the accident, Lu Sinan's last words, and why Ye Haimeng transferred hospitals, where she had surgery, and where she lived and recovered for three years. Lu Siyue urged Ye Haimeng to answer.
Ye Haimeng conceded that it was an accident, stating that before it, she and Lu Sinan were honeymooning at a hotel abroad, and his last words were that he would love her in the next life too. However, she refused to reveal where she went during the three years or where her surgery was performed. Dissatisfied, Lu Siyu accused her of evasiveness, similar to her statements to the foreign police, and suggested she avoided important details.
He asserted that even her injuries didn't rule out her involvement in his brother's death. Ye Haimeng challenged him, asking what she would gain from killing Lu Sinan, whether it was to take over the Lu family or dismantle the Changlu Group. Lu Siyu countered that only she knew how Lu Sinan died and warned her that the Lu family would call the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Ye Haimeng agreed, telling him to go ahead and daring him not to regret it. Lu Siyu then declared that from now on, they would be enemies. Ye Haimeng responded, "Looking forward to it." Shortly after Lu Siyu and Lu Siyue departed, Ling Ke arrived, ordering the security on duty to be removed. Ye Haimeng dismissed the need to punish the guards, acknowledging that Lu Siyue, as the former acting president, couldn't be easily stopped.
Ling Ke offered her help, but Ye Haimeng insisted she could handle her own affairs and suggested they return to the penthouse. Once there, Ye Haimeng removed a chess piece from the board, declaring that Lu Siyu was no longer a player in their game. Ling Ke confirmed this. Ye Haimeng then decided they would "rearrange their strategy" starting that night, implying they would target Jiang Lin.
She further instructed Ling Ke to investigate all past events concerning her and Lu Sinan. As the CFO of Yunhai, Ling Ke proceeded to the archives to audit the Engineering Department. Ye Bochen, the head of the department, questioned her decision to manually review potentially thousands of archived engineering documents, offering to have his team organize digital versions for her convenience. Ling Ke, asserting her authority as his superior, simply ordered him to open the door immediately.
While reviewing documents, Ye Bochen paused, feeling a sense of familiarity and remarking that he felt he had seen Ling Ke somewhere before. Ling Ke dismissed his comment as a "cliché pickup line" and advised him to focus on his work. Meanwhile, Lu Siyue's mother asked if she had seen Lu Siyu and urged her to convince him to return home, citing her own ill health and her father's current situation.
Lu Siyue expressed frustration that her mother seemed to care only about Lu Siyu. Later, Lu Siyue made a phone call, instructing someone to stir up chaos at Yunhai Intercontinental to pressure Ye Haimeng into releasing Jiang Lin. She specifically told them to file all court applications under Lu Siyu's name.
Tan Xin informed Ye Haimeng that the online public opinion surrounding her was intense, with her photos and name circulating widely across social media, negatively impacting Yunhai Intercontinental and the Ye family's reputation. The online discussions had moved beyond the car accident itself. Ye Haimeng inquired if her lawyer or the overseas police had responded; they had not.
She instructed Tan Xin to ask her lawyer to expedite the inheritance lawsuit and retrieve all case files related to her and Lu Sinan's accident from overseas. She decided not to respond to the online rumors. At Yunhai Intercontinental, a customer deliberately caused a scene at the front desk, demanding a suite upgrade. When denied, he became verbally abusive, calling Ye Haimeng a "husband killer" and alleging that the hotel was unsafe due to her presence.
The staff attempted to calm him, but the customer's tirade escalated. Ye Haimeng arrived and, prioritizing the hotel's reputation, offered to meet his demands. The customer insisted she and her staff apologize. Ye Haimeng agreed, offering him a presidential suite, complimentary fruit platters, and the hotel's highest VIP privileges before leading her staff in a public apology. Unbeknownst to them, the customer secretly recorded the incident and uploaded it online.
Shortly after, Ling Ke called Ye Haimeng to warn her that the customer was likely an intentional plant, urging her to be careful. The negative publicity intensified. Ye Haimeng's car was vandalized with "Husband Killer" graffiti, and her wedding photo with Lu Sinan, placed prominently, was defaced with paint.
Tan Xin informed her that Lu Siyu had filed an objection with the probate court, claiming "special leads" in Lu Sinan's overseas car accident and requesting that overseas police reinvestigate the true cause of death. This action had halted Ye Haimeng's shared property inheritance process. Ye Haimeng instructed Tan Xin to ensure her lawyer pushed the case forward and to immediately inform her of any updates from the court or overseas police, declining the offer of a bodyguard.
Enraged, Ye Haimeng confronted Lu Siyu. She accused him of orchestrating the online attacks, the disturbance at Yunhai Intercontinental, and the vandalism, all to brand her as a murderer. She challenged him to take his claims to the overseas police instead of resorting to "dirty tricks," threatening to despise him forever otherwise. Lu Siyu denied involvement in the online attacks and vandalism, insisting he wouldn't do such things.
Ye Haimeng retorted that while he might not, other members of the Lu family would. She then revealed that the court had received an objection filed "in his name", seeking to block her inheritance until the foreign police reinvestigated the accident. Feeling betrayed, she declared that Yunhai Intercontinental and Cloud Manor belonged solely to the Ye family, and to her alone. She issued a dire warning that the next time they met, they would be "more than just enemies."
Lu Siyu, seemingly genuinely surprised by the objection filed in his name, pressed her for the truth about the honeymoon accident: why his brother died instantly while she survived, and why she disappeared for three years. Exasperated, Ye Haimeng finally confessed, her voice filled with bitterness: it was never her intention to kill Lu Sinan; instead, it was her newlywed husband, Lu Sinan, who had tried to kill her. Lu Siyu stared back in utter disbelief.
Episode 12 Recap
Lu Siyu confronted Ye Haimeng, demanding to know the truth about his brother’s death and threatening that if she refused, the Lu family would seize her Mare Nubium Hotel Group and Cloud Manor. Ye Haimeng retorted that he already saw her as a murderer. She then revealed the painful truth: it was not she who wanted to kill Lu Sinan, but rather her newlywed husband, Lu Siyu's own brother, who wanted to murder her.
She recounted how Lu Sinan had meticulously orchestrated their meeting, deceiving her into love, and even attempted to trick her into signing blank documents, which she cleverly avoided. When she didn't sign, he tried to drown her in the swimming pool at their overseas honeymoon hotel.
Ye Haimeng painfully confessed that the man she loved, the son-in-law her parents welcomed with all their hearts, was a calculating individual who plotted against her from the start, tricking her into marriage, swindling her money, and ultimately giving her a "death trap" honeymoon. She explained that she escaped the hospital despite severe injuries, sought surgery at a poorly equipped facility, and remained abroad for three years because Lu Sinan was trying to kill her.
Lu Siyu, shocked, insisted his brother was not that kind of person. Ye Haimeng countered that Lu Sinan was never the perfect brother or kind soul he imagined. She exposed that Lu Sinan saw Lu Siyu as his stepmother's son, whose mother his own mother had driven to her death.
Lu Sinan never treated Lu Siyu as a true brother but deliberately kept him away from the Lu family business by having him learn archery since childhood, using a championship medal as an excuse to keep him abroad for ten years. She concluded by stating that the overseas honeymoon was not a rich woman murdering her husband, but the Lu family's eldest son attempting to murder his wife abroad.
Meanwhile, Ling Ke, concerned for Ye Haimeng, received confirmation that Tan Xin had successfully followed Ye Haimeng back to Cloud Manor. She instructed her assistant to dismiss Lu Siyu’s concerns and to keep a close watch on Ye Haimeng for any unfamiliar individuals. Later that night, Ye Bochen was with Ling Ke, complaining about reviewing five years of engineering financial records into the late hours.
He suspected that Ling Ke was "looking for something" in the documents, implicitly linking it to Ye Haimeng. Ling Ke dismissed his speculation, advising him to focus on the work, which might provide the answers he sought. Lu Siyu returned home, where Lu Siyue was agitated by negative public opinion about their family, speculating that Ye Haimeng had manipulated the narrative.
Lu Siyu asked his mother, Du Meiyun, about their father’s whereabouts, learning he was in a private sanatorium and that the family was temporarily living in a smaller residence due to issues with their villa.
Pressing for answers, Lu Siyu questioned if there were problems within the Lu family, citing their inability to reside in their villa and his siblings, Jiang Lin and Lu Siyue, being excluded from the company’s business, all while they were attempting to seize Mare Nubium, which never belonged to them. He then directly confronted his mother, asking if the overseas car accident was a premeditated plan by the family to kill Ye Haimeng. Du Meiyun deflected, calling it outside rumors.
Lu Siyu then asked if his brother's marriage to Ye Haimeng was solely because she was the only heir to the Ye family's considerable wealth, including Mare Nubium. Du Meiyun again denied the accusations, insisting the Lu family was wealthy and dismissing the claims as external gossip.
However, Lu Siyu presented his evidence: the property custody agreement forged by his brother, reprinted at Mare Nubium; the family's swift move into Cloud Manor and possession of its deed after Lu Sinan went abroad; and the fact that Ye Haimeng's mother was sent to their Changlu's private sanatorium after collapsing.
He questioned why they didn't search for Lu Sinan and Ye Haimeng after the accident, but instead quickly settled matters with overseas police through Jiang Lin and moved into Mare Nubium, rebranding it as a Lu family asset under the guise of Lu Sinan's estate management. He concluded that these facts proved their deliberate plot to kill Ye Haimeng and seize the Ye family's generational wealth.
Du Meiyun continued to deny any conspiracy, but when Lu Siyu pressed her about Lu Sinan's sincerity in proposing to Ye Haimeng, she remained silent. Finally, Du Meiyun sternly told Lu Siyu that regardless of what rumors he heard, Lu Sinan, the eldest son of the Lu family, died, and all the property he left behind or gained through marriage belonged to the Lu family.
She warned him not to believe outside rumors, reiterating that the family acted for his future. After Lu Siyu left, Lu Siyue expressed worry that Ye Haimeng must have informed him and had known about Lu Sinan's murderous intent all along. Du Meiyun confirmed that Ye Haimeng likely knew and waited three years to return.
Lu Siyue was terrified, but Du Meiyun calmed her, noting that Lu Siyu only knew that Lu Sinan tried to kill Ye Haimeng, not the underlying reasons, thus they were temporarily safe. However, Lu Siyue then worried about "that person" from Lu Sinan's funeral, prompting Du Meiyun to immediately make a phone call to address the concern. Meanwhile, at the Mare Nubium office, Ye Haimeng’s assistant informed her that the person who vandalized her car had been arrested.
Noticing her pale complexion, he offered to call Ling Ke or her private doctor, but Ye Haimeng dismissed his concern. She confirmed that the overseas bulk land investment files she requested were ready and instructed her legal department to proceed with the planned police report from a recent meeting. As Ye Haimeng left work, she encountered Lu Siyu, who had been waiting for her.
She attempted to dismiss him, stating there was no reason for them to meet, especially given his family name and his relation to Lu Sinan. Lu Siyu confessed that his once-idealistic view of the world had shattered, revealing the purity he believed in was just an illusion. He pleaded with her to return to how they were at Cloud Manor, without their burdensome identities or the shadows of others, just "you and me."
Overwhelmed, Ye Haimeng suddenly fainted, murmuring, "It hurts so much." Lu Siyu frantically tried to find her medicine, then decided to rush her to her private doctor. However, when she moaned in pain again, he decided to quickly buy painkillers. He hurried to a nearby pharmacy and requested the strongest fast-acting painkillers. The salesperson recommended a new domestic medication that promised immediate relief for 24 hours, which Lu Siyu promptly purchased two boxes of, oblivious to the salesperson's uneasy gaze.
Episode 13 Recap
After receiving medication and treatment, Ye Haimeng's fever subsided, and her vital signs returned to normal. As she lay in bed, she murmured about the intense pain and how bitter the medicine was, lamenting that she had been taking it for three years and no longer wished to. Lu Siyu reassured her, promising the pain would disappear once the medicine took effect.
Later, a doctor informed Lu Siyu that Haimeng's fever was gone and her condition was stable, attributing the success to the painkillers Lu Siyu provided. The doctor inquired if Haimeng had recently experienced any major emotional shock, then shared concerns that her previous surgery overseas was likely performed under poor conditions. To achieve lasting relief from pain, the doctor advised Haimeng would need another surgery, a suggestion she had previously refused.
The doctor urged Lu Siyu to persuade her if he had the opportunity. Meanwhile, Jiang Lin was finally released after being detained for several days. Upon his return, Du Meiyun greeted him warmly. Jiang Lin explained that despite repeated interrogations, authorities found no evidence against him, as they had no involvement in Ye Haimeng's mother's death and were only interested in financial gain, not lives.
Lu Siyue tried to interject, but Du Meiyun pressed on, reminding Jiang Lin that some matters he handled concerning Lu Sinan still required his attention. She lamented the loss of Mare Nubium and Cloud Manor, declaring they couldn't give up. Du Meiyun spoke cryptically about "the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole waits behind," suggesting Haimeng couldn't see all the hidden plots.
She then instructed Jiang Lin and Lu Siyue to find "that woman" and her child—the pharmacy saleswoman, Bai Jingmin, who a photo on Du Meiyun's desk revealed with a child and Lu Sinan—and "take care of them." Jiang Lin agreed to go with Lu Siyue the following afternoon. Back at the hospital, Lu Siyu told a waking Ye Haimeng that she had been talking in her sleep, repeatedly wishing for the pain to stop.
He admitted that her fainting had terrified him and that he no longer wanted to fight her, expressing his desire not to be her enemy. Lu Siyu apologized for the hurtful words he had spoken. Ye Haimeng then asked if he hated her for telling him to bring the authentication report. She declared that since she had deceived him once and he had hurt her once, they were now even. Lu Siyu, relieved, confirmed their past grudges were wiped clean.
He confessed that he should have told her everything earlier but found it difficult given his identity as the youngest son of the Lu family. Ye Haimeng shared her disbelief that Lu Sinan, who had once cherished her and proposed sincerely, had ultimately wished for her never to return. She confirmed her injuries stemmed from the car crash. Lu Siyu asked if the accident was truly accidental.
Ye Haimeng explained that overseas police investigations concluded it was an accident, caused by road repairs and detours, and that the truck driver was a local with no connection to Sinan, the Lu family, or anyone else. Lu Siyu speculated that Sinan had actually intended to take her away that day. Ye Haimeng then recalled being surrounded in the hospital and witnessing her family's downfall, including her father's death and mother's disappearance, while Lu Siyue and her brother-in-law seized everything.
Wounded and afraid, she dared not return home. Still, she couldn't comprehend why Sinan would want to kill her, wondering if it was due to her being the Ye family heir or if someone else orchestrated the events. Lu Siyu mused whether his own family was involved and asked if he could make amends. He encouraged them not to despair, suggesting Sinan might have had other secrets yet to be uncovered, which could reveal the truth.
He asked if he could still help her, to which Ye Haimeng replied with the same question. Lu Siyu confirmed he would, stating that helping her was also helping himself. They both agreed to be more honest with each other, with Lu Siyu promising to share everything he knew and Haimeng to seek him out if she had questions or felt pain.
Before taking Ye Haimeng back to Cloud Manor, Lu Siyu informed her he needed to handle some matters at the archery club. He teased her about still being "a kid," but she countered that even "kids" have careers and it wasn't only Ye Haimeng who could be a president. He suggested she wait in the car or explore the archery lanes, reminding her to be cautious of her injury.
Bored in the car, Ye Haimeng entered the club out of curiosity. Lu Siyu explained the various types of bows, demonstrating a compound competition bow and a heavy-poundage bow, which is more commonly used by men due to differing muscle strength. He emphasized that a bow and arrow, as ancient cold weapons, must harmonize with the archer's strength for optimal effect. Lu Siyu then retrieved a specially customized bow and arrow, a gift he had brought back from overseas.
It was from the same brand as his own, with a medium draw weight and handcrafted frame and string, which he had intended for someone special. He presented it to Haimeng, telling her she was that special person and the bow's new master. Though Haimeng felt she wouldn't know how to use it and it would be a waste, Lu Siyu insisted that the value lay in the recipient.
He then personally helped her put on the waist guard and wrist guard, and guided her hand to shoot, resulting in a bullseye. At Mare Nubium, Ling Ke found the financial reports too meticulously perfect, making them suspicious. She requested the records from three years prior, a request a subordinate found unusually old. Ling Ke then learned that President Ye Haimeng was on leave for a few days, reportedly due to feeling unwell.
Concerned, Ling Ke contacted Ye Bochen, asking if he was aware of a secret ledger his father, Ye Yuezhi, kept in his office drawer. Later, Ye Haimeng’s wrist began to hurt again, so she called Lu Siyu to ask for the address of the pharmacy where he bought the effective painkillers. He sent her the location. Upon arriving at the pharmacy, Ye Haimeng asked the saleswoman, Bai Jingmin, if they had a specific new domestic brand of painkiller.
Bai Jingmin confirmed they had a few boxes and went to retrieve them. As Haimeng was completing her purchase, Bai Jingmin's son, Junxuan, burst into the pharmacy, excitedly holding up a photo album. He pointed out various family members, exclaiming, "This is Uncle Siyu, Grandpa, and Grandma! And Mom and Dad!" In the album, Haimeng clearly saw photos of the Lu family, alongside Bai Jingmin holding Junxuan and posing with Lu Sinan.
Bai Jingmin, flustered, quickly tried to usher her son away and prevent Haimeng from seeing more, stating that the area was private. This encounter left Ye Haimeng reeling from the unexpected revelation. Earlier, Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin, following Du Meiyun's instructions, arrived at Bai Jingmin’s pharmacy. Lu Siyue dismissively commented that the money they were about to offer Bai Jingmin was excessive but that Bai Jingmin was "only worth this much."
Inside, Lu Siyue presented Bai Jingmin with a bag of money from herself, her husband (Jiang Lin), and her mother, instructing her to close her shop, take her belongings, and leave Haijiang permanently. Bai Jingmin questioned why she should leave or why her safety would be at risk, to which Lu Siyue warned her that Ye Haimeng, the president of Mare Nubium, was not to be trifled with and her existence could cause much chaos.
Bai Jingmin, however, stated that since Lu Sinan’s passing, she no longer cared what became of her life. She only wished to remain close to him and live as she did when he was alive, as he had instructed her to stay there and await his return. Just then, Junxuan returned from school and excitedly asked if Lu Siyue was there to take him and his mother to his grandparents, inquiring about his father whom he dearly missed.
Bai Jingmin quickly apologized for her son’s interruption and asked them not to disturb him. Jiang Lin tried to end the conversation, stating they would discuss it with their elders and return another day, but Lu Siyue pressed him, reminding him of their mother's instructions. Junxuan then innocently asked if they were leaving and if they could take him out to play. Bai Jingmin firmly rejected the money, asking them to take it back.
Episode 14 Recap
Lu Siyu returned to Cloud Manor, having received Ye Haimeng's consent to retrieve some personal belongings. He accidentally collided with a maid, causing her to drop items. As they picked them up, Lu Siyu found an earring. The maid explained that it belonged to Ye Haimeng, who had lost one a few years ago and asked the maid to store the remaining one. The maid confirmed it was custom-made with Haimeng's initials on the back.
This jogged Lu Siyu's memory, and he quickly retrieved an earring he had kept from his room. To his astonishment, they formed a pair. A flashback revealed that five years ago in Monaco, he had witnessed Ye Haimeng accidentally drop that very earring near a wishing fountain and had kept it ever since. He then looked at a photo of Ye Haimeng, realizing he had also seen her at Lu Sinan's funeral, at the entrance of Mare Nubium.
In the present, Bai Jingmin sent her son, Lu Junxuan, upstairs with his father's photo to allow the women to talk. Bai Jingmin then declared to Ye Haimeng, "I am Lu Sinan's wife." She further stated that Lu Junxuan was Lu Sinan's only son in this world. Ye Haimeng confronted her, asking, "If you are Lu Sinan's wife, then who am I?"
Bai Jingmin clarified that Ye Haimeng was Lu Sinan's legally wedded spouse in this country, but Bai Jingmin was his "real wife." A flashback revealed Lu Sinan's earlier relationship with Bai Jingmin, where he lovingly waited for her, brought her street food, and her favorite pork rib soup from Cafeteria One.
During this time, he proposed to Bai Jingmin, suggesting they go abroad to a place where no one knew them, buy a house, build a family, marry, and have a child. He confessed his long-standing desire to escape the Lu family home, which he had despised since his mother's death and his stepmother's arrival with her sister and newborn brother. He vowed to give Bai Jingmin everything, promising eternal love for her, their future child, and their family.
Bai Jingmin accepted his proposal. The flashback concludes with Lu Sinan holding their baby. Bai Jingmin continued her story, recalling how Lu Sinan considered the two years with her his happiest, promising to protect them and never leave. However, when Lu Junxuan was two years old, Lu Sinan abruptly informed her of an urgent Lu family matter requiring his return to China. He made a one-year agreement with Bai Jingmin, promising to resolve everything and return to them permanently.
Bai Jingmin now suspected that he returned to marry Ye Haimeng. She had asked him why, and he had simply told her to trust him, asserting that he never betrayed them or loved anyone other than her, and would surely return. Ye Haimeng then inquired if Lu Sinan had maintained contact with Bai Jingmin after his return. Bai Jingmin confirmed that they had daily contact, even during Ye Haimeng's honeymoon in Monaco.
Bai Jingmin then tearfully pleaded with Ye Haimeng to disclose the circumstances of Lu Sinan's death and what had occurred between them, expressing her desire to bring Lu Junxuan to see his father, as they had been barred from both funerals. Ye Haimeng recoiled from her touch, just as Du Meiyun made her arrival.
Du Meiyun arrived, making a veiled comment about someone taking money but refusing to leave, which Ye Haimeng quickly countered, stating she hadn't taken any money and wouldn't leave. Du Meiyun then mocked Ye Haimeng, questioning if she intended to have Lu Junxuan claim his heritage. When Ye Haimeng demanded an explanation, Du Meiyun dismissively offered to recount "the romantic history of the Lu family's eldest son" or details about his "suddenly appearing son."
She then challenged Ye Haimeng, asking why she was "swaggering in front of his wife and kid" after claiming to be done with Lu Sinan. Ye Haimeng, realizing the depth of Du Meiyun's knowledge, questioned if she had known about Lu Sinan's marriage and son abroad all along, and why she allowed him to pursue and marry her. Du Meiyun then cruelly revealed that Lu Sinan had married Ye Haimeng "only because you're the Ye family's only daughter."
A flashback confirms Ye Haimeng's suspicions: Lu Sinan and Du Meiyun had a covert agreement. Du Meiyun would help Lu Sinan conceal his wife and son from Lu Changdong, his father, if Lu Sinan successfully acquired all of the Ye family's wealth. Upon completion, Du Meiyun would transfer fifty percent of the assets to Lu Sinan's secret overseas account, enabling him to leave with his wife and child. Lu Sinan agreed, sealing the deal.
When Du Meiyun asked if he would feel guilty seeing Ye Haimeng, Lu Sinan coldly responded that he had no feelings for her. In the office, Ling Ke was attempting to unlock a USB drive, suspecting it contained secret ledgers. She argued that the archived records, which Ye Bochen claimed showed no discrepancies, were "too perfect" and therefore suspicious.
She then pointedly criticized Ye Bochen, accusing him of having a "people-pleasing" personality, a trait she suggested stemmed from his status as an adopted son, constantly seeking approval to secure his place in the Ye family. Ling Ke implied that this compliance was actually a form of "weakness" that prevented him from confronting issues directly.
Feeling targeted and deeply hurt by Ling Ke's relentless investigation into the Engineering Department's past finances, which he felt unfairly implicated him as its former manager, Ye Bochen declared he was quitting, stating he didn't care about her investigations. Ling Ke tried to stop him just as her phone rang. It was Jie, informing her that he had lost track of Ye Haimeng. Ling Ke quickly conveyed the urgent news to Ye Bochen, and they drove off together.
Concurrently, Lu Siyu received a phone call from Ye Bochen, who informed him of the situation. Lu Siyu immediately headed to the pharmacy. There, Jie apologized for losing Ye Haimeng, explaining she drove away too quickly. Ling Ke and Ye Bochen were surprised to see Lu Siyu, who then inquired about any leads and if Ye Haimeng had answered her phone. Ling Ke noted that Ye Haimeng usually hides and avoids contact when upset.
After confirming she wasn't at Cloud Manor, her own home, or Mare Nubium, Ling Ke suggested checking her archery club. However, Lu Siyu then declared, "I know where she went." Ling Ke speculated that Ye Haimeng might have sought solace in the mountains, a place she frequented when feeling vulnerable. The group hastened there, and Lu Siyu, using a flashlight, found Ye Haimeng sitting in front of the withered tree her mother had planted, waiting for shooting stars.
He noted the thick fog obscured any stars but asked if she wished to make a wish. Producing the pair of earrings, he offered them as "a star falling by the fountain of wishes." Ye Haimeng recognized her lost earring and realized Lu Siyu was the young man she had bumped into at a wishing fountain abroad five years prior.
Lu Siyu explained he had kept the earring, pinning it to his archery armor as a "lucky star" that brought him success in competitions. Ye Haimeng reflected on their early connection, noting it predated her relationship with Lu Sinan. She then asked Lu Siyu if he now knew everything about her past with Lu Sinan. He confirmed he did.
Ye Haimeng expressed a sense of relief, realizing there was no true love, marriage, or affection in her relationship with Lu Sinan; she was merely "the prey in his hunting plan and the stepping stone for his escape" to acquire the Ye family's Mare Nubium. Though not sad, she felt a profound sense of liberation.
When Lu Siyu offered to listen to her pain or for her to direct her anger towards him, she told him it was not his fault, but the "cost of my blind trust and foolish infatuation." Ye Haimeng then admitted to Lu Siyu, "It hurts so much," explaining she didn't take bitter medicine. Recalling his previous comforting words about candy for life's bitterness, she asked if she could have one. Lu Siyu offered her a candy.
As she ate it, he tenderly asked, "Is it sweet?" In that raw and emotional moment, Ye Haimeng, feeling warmth and kindness from Lu Siyu that contrasted sharply with Lu Sinan's deceit, pulled him closer by his collar and kissed him.
Episode 15 Recap
Ye Haimeng and Lu Siyu shared a kiss beneath the withered tree, a moment witnessed by Ling Ke, who moved to intervene but was pulled away by Ye Bochen. Ling Ke questioned Ye Bochen about his foreknowledge of their actions, to which he casually responded that he had just seen it and didn't think it was a significant issue, just like her.
Ling Ke passionately argued that Haimeng's original goal was to reclaim Mare Nubium and uncover the truth, which she had now achieved. Ye Bochen asserted that since Haimeng had recovered Mare Nubium and Lu Sinan's manipulative marriage had been exposed, it was time for her to move on. Ling Ke countered, asking if returning to a "normal life" meant being with Lu Siyu. She praised Lu Siyu's integrity and accomplishments, stating he was worthy of Haimeng.
However, Ling Ke stressed that the core issue wasn't about worthiness but about Lu Siyu bearing the same surname as Lu Sinan, who had already caused Haimeng immense pain. She urged Ye Bochen, as Haimeng's cousin and friend, to advise her to escape the Lu family's turmoil, not to repeat past mistakes. Growing frustrated, Ling Ke declared she wanted Lu Siyu out of Haimeng's life, then abruptly left, with Ye Bochen calling after her in vain.
Later, Lu Siyu discovered a painting and questioned Mo about it. Mo revealed it was a token of love commissioned by Lu Sinan for Ms. Ye before their wedding, a piece that intricately entwined their fates. This revelation, coupled with the sight of a butterfly pendant in a flashback, triggered a painful memory for Lu Siyu.
He recalled a younger Lu Sinan presenting him with the pendant as a motivation to win archery championships, promising him a bright future within the Lu family. However, the memory was overlaid with Ye Haimeng's previous revelation that Lu Sinan never saw him as a real brother and had orchestrated a marriage to claim the Ye family's assets, even attempting to murder her. The realization of his brother's manipulative nature deeply wounded Lu Siyu.
The next day, Lu Siyu received a phone call from his father, Lu Changdong, ordering him to return home. There, Mo announced Lu Changdong's decisions: Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin were to move out of the Lu Mansion and establish their own household from the next day, with Jiang Lin joining Changlu Capital to learn under Mo. Lu Siyu was ordered to liquidate all his domestic investments within the week and would be sent back overseas the following week.
Lastly, Lu Changdong intended to divorce Du Meiyun, accusing her of failing as the family's mistress, raising her children poorly, and instigating Lu Sinan's horrible deeds. Du Meiyun vehemently denied the accusations, retorting that Lu Sinan was Lu Changdong's son from his first marriage and harbored resentment towards her.
She asserted that Lu Sinan's schemes against the Ye family were his own, accusing Lu Changdong of neglecting Sinan's upbringing, to the point of being unaware of his secret marriage and child overseas, and his plot to murder Ye Haimeng. Enraged, Lu Changdong raised his cane to strike Du Meiyun, but Lu Siyue bravely stepped in front of her mother, shielding her.
Lu Siyue then exposed Lu Sinan's true feelings, stating he never considered them family, and his deep-seated hatred for her and, particularly, for Lu Siyu. She recalled Sinan, at the age of seven, constantly telling Mo that he wanted Lu Siyu expelled from the Lu family, wanting Siyu to have no ties to the Lu surname or the family business, and that all his talk of archery championships was just an excuse.
Mo confirmed that Sinan indeed disliked Siyu, probably due to their different mothers. Du Meiyun then turned on Lu Changdong, blaming him for the family's current state due to his neglect. When Lu Changdong ordered Lu Siyu to speak, Siyu remained silent. With the Lu family having already lost one son, Lu Changdong instructed Mo to keep a close watch on Lu Siyu, as they couldn't lose a second son, and to arrange for his immediate departure overseas.
That evening, Lu Siyu called Ye Haimeng to inform her of his impending forced departure overseas the following Wednesday night. Ye Haimeng, worried about his old wounds, meticulously listed instructions for his care, urging him to see his private doctor if his condition worsened, possibly needing another surgery.
Lu Siyu, however, somberly recounted his past three years of recurring pain and medication, stating these wounds were a constant reminder of what had happened, and that he would take care of himself. Ye Haimeng then expressed her profound sadness and guilt, lamenting that his injuries were caused by her brother and that her family's downfall was due to his family's schemes.
She questioned why her brother had acted so cruelly towards both of them, and if the world was truly devoid of good. Lu Siyu then described the world as a place where some strive cleanly, while others manipulate heartlessly for gain. He concluded that in Lu Sinan's eyes, Ye Haimeng was merely a numerical value of Mare Nubium. After Lu Siyu delivered the news of his departure, he asked if she had anything else to say.
Ye Haimeng simply replied, "Have a safe journey," leaving Lu Siyu with a sense of disappointment. A short while later, Ling Ke visited Ye Haimeng, telling her about the massive changes in the Lu family, including Du Meiyun's forced divorce and departure, and Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin moving out. She then mentioned Lu Siyu's imminent forced departure overseas that very night.
Ling Ke, surprised by Ye Haimeng's lack of reaction, directly asked her about her feelings for Lu Siyu, referencing the kiss under the tree and his family ties. Ye Haimeng stated unequivocally that she had kissed him because she wanted to, regardless of his family ties. She declared her independence, asserting that she had reclaimed Mare Nubium and had no further connection to Lu Sinan.
Her only desire was to live her own life, follow her heart, and disregard others' opinions. She assured Ling Ke that she knew what she wanted. Shortly after, a maid announced the arrival of Bai Jingmin, who entered and commented that the house resembled Lu Sinan's taste. Ye Haimeng, suspicious, confirmed it was her home and asked Bai Jingmin's purpose.
Bai Jingmin, acknowledging the unlikelihood of Haimeng's cooperation, humbly requested Lu Sinan's death certificate, memorial photo, and burial site, explaining that she had long wanted to contact her since Haimeng's return. She admitted Sinan had caused Haimeng immense pain but also shared her own enduring suffering and confusion about Sinan's deeper motives, recounting his difficult childhood within the Lu family after his mother's illness and his stepmother's arrival, leaving him with no one to rely on.
Ye Haimeng, cutting her off, firmly stated that no matter what Sinan had endured, it didn't justify his actions, and she would never forgive him for ruining her family and seizing Mare Nubium. Despite the painful conversation, an unexpected understanding emerged between the two women.
Bai Jingmin reiterated her unwavering love for Lu Sinan, despite his grave mistakes and the cost of his life, and pleaded to take all of his belongings from the apartment and from Ye Haimeng's life, as she and her son had only him left and she wished to see him one last time. Moved, Ye Haimeng agreed to her request.
She promised to have Sinan's belongings and memorial photo sent to Bai Jingmin's address, and his burial site details sent to her phone. Regarding the death certificate, she explained it was still tied up in the inheritance litigation process and would be delivered by her lawyer once finalized.
Ye Haimeng then asked Bai Jingmin to take everything related to Sinan, completely and without a trace, just as he had abruptly entered her life, adding that while she would not forgive him, she wished to never remember him again. Bai Jingmin, in turn, sincerely wished Ye Haimeng happiness and that she would find someone who truly loved her.
Later, Ye Bochen arrived, out of breath, to deliver a pair of earrings from Lu Siyu, calling them Ye Haimeng's "wishing stars." Ye Haimeng, lost in a flood of memories of Lu Siyu, initially seemed hesitant. Ye Bochen, unaware of her internal struggle, playfully questioned the "wishing stars" concept, asking why wishes were now made with diamonds instead of four-leaf clovers.
Finally, Ye Haimeng accepted the earrings and, upon questioning Ye Bochen, learned that Lu Siyu had already left for the airport and had two hours until his flight. Distraught, Ye Haimeng immediately drove off, furiously pursuing the car transporting Lu Siyu. The driver, realizing she was following, was ordered by someone in the car to shake her off and turn onto a closed road.
Episode 16 Recap
Ye Haimeng arrived at the airport, confronting Lu Siyu. Chen Mo's bodyguards attempted to stop her, but Jie and his men intervened, allowing Ye Haimeng to reach Lu Siyu. Lu Siyu, surprised, asked why she was there. She replied she came to get him. Ye Haimeng urged him to clear his mind, look her in the eyes, and tell her if he wanted to leave with her.
Lu Siyu, still recalling her earlier call wishing him a safe journey, wondered if she wanted him to leave on his own. He brought up the complexities of the Lu family, his family, and his brother, Lu Sinan, and her past comment about him also being a "Lu." Ye Haimeng dismissed all those concerns, stating that their family names, his relation to Lu Sinan, and past disputes were irrelevant.
She insisted that at that moment, it was only Ye Haimeng and Lu Siyu, and their feelings were all that mattered. She pressed him one last time, asking if he was willing to come with her. Lu Siyu asked for a promise that if he went with her, they would never be apart again. Ye Haimeng declared that if he came with her, it would be for their lifetime together. He finally agreed, saying, "I'll go with you."
Lu Changdong quickly learned of Siyu's departure with Ye Haimeng. He decided to let them be for a few days, instructing someone on the phone to return to the group and expedite the financing plan for the Middle East, declaring that everything would conclude by the end of next month.
Ye Haimeng took Lu Siyu to a beautiful seaside spot, a place she had fallen in love with and always dreamed of sharing with someone special, much like the bow he brought back from overseas. Lu Siyu asked playfully who that special person was. Ye Haimeng confessed her profound apprehension before seeking him out that day, admitting she had no idea how he would respond to her invitation to leave.
She told him that if he had rejected her or given up, she would have followed him wherever he went, because she loved him. Lu Siyu then shared his difficult journey, marked by numerous challenges, and how he had resigned himself to a solitary life.
He revealed that only after Bai Jingmin sought him out, asking solely for Lu Sinan's belongings and portrait and confessing her enduring love for Sinan, did he realize that Bai Jingmin was Sinan's true love, and he himself had never experienced genuine affection.
Ye Haimeng reassured him that her decision to be with him was not impulsive and, despite the lingering shadows of the Lu family, Lu Sinan, and Mare Nubium, he had always stood by her, offering encouragement and trust. She declared her indifference to potential opposition and criticism, asserting her right to choose her own path and emphasizing that Lu Siyu was different from the corrupt influences of his family.
She vowed to shield him from any harm caused by his past identity. Lu Siyu, deeply moved, reaffirmed his commitment to stand by her, protect her, and love her, promising her that with him, her scars would no longer ache.
Ye Haimeng then laid out three requests for their relationship: first, they must always trust each other and never break up; second, Lu Siyu must stop calling her "kid"; and third, she revealed the unique surprise of the place they were in—at midnight, the lights would dim for 30 seconds, revealing more brilliant stars and clearer ocean sounds, allowing one to connect with the most genuine part of their heart. She then called Lu Siyu "boyfriend," to his delight.
Lu Siyu began teaching Ye Haimeng archery, instructing her to focus her attention on her eyes, arms, and heart. He explained that a pure and simple heart would guide her arrow even with her eyes closed. One day, as he watched her, she playfully teased him for staring, and he responded that he was simply looking at his girlfriend.
Ye Haimeng then jokingly asked him to call her "sister," to which Lu Siyu firmly refused, reminding her she had asked the same thing when they first met in his study and he had refused even then. He declared he would never call his girlfriend "sister." Lu Siyu then inquired about her scar, and Ye Haimeng dismissed its pain, explaining that it served as a constant reminder of her past and her path forward.
Lu Siyu, however, insisted that she no longer needed to carry such memories. He passionately urged her to get another surgery, citing her doctor's concerns about displaced and infected bone nails from her previous, poorly executed operation. He promised to be by her side throughout the process, declaring she should now walk toward him, and that he hoped to accompany her through adversity until they reached the stars together.
Meanwhile, Tan Xin reported to Ye Haimeng about the overseas bulk land investment project. Although the contract was unsigned, a significant deposit had been paid, but the Finance Department could not trace its origin in the annual reports. Tan Xin also noted that Ling Ke had been re-auditing five years of accounts.
Ling Ke then joined Ye Haimeng, confirming that the past five years of financial records appeared "perfectly balanced" with no loopholes, which she found suspicious for a large company like Mare Nubium. She requested an additional two years of auditing to uncover any hidden clues. Ye Haimeng agreed, instructing the President's Office to issue a formal request to the Finance Department and tasking Tan Xin with overseeing the investigation into any overlooked or concealed expenditures.
After Tan Xin left, Ling Ke asked to speak with Ye Haimeng privately. Ling Ke confronted Ye Haimeng about her relationship with Lu Siyu. Ye Haimeng confirmed they were together, stating she was with him because she liked him. Ling Ke questioned why she would choose a Lu family member after their past mistreatment, asserting that Lu Siyu, as Lu Sinan's biological brother with the same father, was no different from the rest of the family.
Ye Haimeng countered, arguing that Lu Siyu was different; he had never been corrupted by the family's influence and earned everything honestly. She believed he would continue to live with integrity, emphasizing that while darkness might be similar, some individuals shine differently. Ling Ke remained skeptical, warning that men often use love as a cheap means to manipulate, referencing Ye Haimeng's past painful experience.
Ling Ke asked why it had to be Lu Siyu, to which Ye Haimeng retorted that Ling Ke simply hated Lu Siyu as a person. Ling Ke, visibly angry, confessed to hating everyone involved in their situation, including Ye Haimeng. She then declared all their overseas cooperation agreements null and void, instructing Ye Haimeng never to contact her again for any matters.
During this period, Ye Haimeng experienced a disturbing flashback to four years prior, where a mysterious woman confronted her, accusing her of being followed. The woman, who revealed she knew Ye Haimeng's identity, warned her to watch her "husband," implying he posed a threat to her life. The mysterious woman then offered to help Ye Haimeng return to power at Mare Nubium in exchange for her complete trust.
She ominously warned that refusal would lead to an irreversible downfall, leaving Ye Haimeng to choose between regaining her former position or sinking back into the abyss. Later, Lu Siyu called Ye Haimeng, noticing her lack of energy, and she explained she was working. He shared exciting news: his archery club received an invitation to the national top-tier club league, and he was chosen to compete at the Seaside Archery Club in Xiamen. He invited Ye Haimeng to join him.
Ye Haimeng hesitated, citing her busy work schedule reorganizing Mare Nubium and her recent strained relationship with Ling Ke. Lu Siyu playfully suggested she was afraid to travel with him, which she denied. She ultimately agreed to accompany him, and he instructed her to pack the bow and arrows he had given her for a potential friendly doubles match. The next morning, Ye Haimeng, with her bags packed, playfully chided Lu Siyu for making her skip work as president.
She then affectionately referred to him as her "boyfriend" in conversation. Lu Siyu, still jokingly calling her "kid," asked if she could handle the long drive. She corrected him once more, insisting he stop calling her "kid." Before they departed, Lu Siyu presented her with a pair of flat shoes. He explained that he bought them because he sensed her weariness from their phone conversation the previous day.
He wished for their time together to be simple and easy, and despite the superstition against gifting shoes, he hoped she would wear them to walk towards him and for their journey together. Later, Ye Haimeng was on a phone call with Chairman Li, discussing a forum meeting. She informed him that she was out of Haijiang for "personal matters" with her "boyfriend." Lu Siyu, within earshot, delightedly asked her to repeat the word "boyfriend."
He explained that hearing her call him that made him feel like her most important and cherished lover, not just a younger brother. Ye Haimeng, with a smile, playfully repeated "boyfriend" several times, confirming her affection.
Episode 17 Recap
Ye Bochen went to the archives room looking for Ling Ke. Someone mentioned she had gone there and likely wouldn't be back up for a while. When Ye Bochen found Ling Ke there, he asked if she had already left. Startled, Ling Ke criticized him for being so quiet and questioned his purpose, asking if he was there for reconciliation or to cut ties.
Ye Bochen said he didn't understand, but then revealed that Ye Haimeng had sent him and that Siyu was in Xiamen for a club invitational tournament, with Haimeng accompanying him. Ye Bochen, implying a fallout between close friends, asked Ling Ke if she and Ye Haimeng had fought. Ling Ke quickly corrected him, stating, "Watch your wording. Ye Haimeng and I are not close friends." When Ye Bochen asked what they were then, Ling Ke declared, "Enemies."
Ye Bochen expressed disbelief, suggesting that he and Ling Ke were more like enemies. Later, as Ling Ke almost fell from a stool, Ye Bochen caught her, causing them to stand very close. Ling Ke promptly pushed him away, asserting that she disliked people getting too close to her. Ye Bochen commented on her cold demeanor, always refusing kindness. Ling Ke clarified that she hadn't returned to accept kindness but to search for a big secret.
She then presented Ye Bochen with a USB drive, challenging him to take it back and ask his foster father, Ye Yuezhi, if it contained Mare Nubium's secret ledger. She goaded him, asking if he didn't have the nerve. Ye Bochen, seeing through her provocation, affirmed that he wasn't afraid and simply wanted to help her.
Meanwhile, in Xiamen, Ye Haimeng was waiting impatiently for Lu Siyu to get ready for their trip to the beach, remarking that he was taking too long. Lu Siyu, from inside his room, admitted he wasn't ready and was trying to choose the right outfit for their first date, wanting something formal and fresh.
Ye Haimeng advised him to wear something comfortable, saying there was no need to make it complicated because as long as they were together, they would have countless firsts. She picked out a shirt for him and urged him to hurry as they were running out of time. As she helped him unbutton his shirt, she accidentally tore it.
Lu Siyu playfully asked if she wouldn't help him change and called her "Sister," to which Ye Haimeng retorted, "Who wants to help you change clothes? Who said you could call me Sister?" She then fled to the lobby, muttering about how difficult kids these days were to handle, her face flushed. Later that evening, the couple went out for a date. Ye Haimeng asked if she looked good, and Lu Siyu asked her to come closer.
When she refused, he insisted. She pointed out the beautiful mountain trail. Lu Siyu teasingly asked if she would make him climb it, to which Ye Haimeng offered to carry him if he lacked stamina. Lu Siyu stated that with her by his side, he always performed at his best. Ye Haimeng then listed a packed schedule of work calls for the following day, implying she couldn't accompany him to the competition.
Lu Siyu expressed his nervousness, stressing the importance of this being his first competition back in the country as a top-seeded player, fearing a loss if she wasn't there. Ye Haimeng teasingly replied that the busy President Ye prioritizes her career, suggesting he focus on his competition while she enjoyed the view. As she walked away, Lu Siyu called out to her repeatedly. People they passed on the trail gave him flowers and wished him luck for his competition.
He eventually found Ye Haimeng, who was waiting for him, holding a bouquet of flowers and smiling. She promised to be with him from his first arrow until he won the championship, telling him his life needed no one's guidance or proof, only to move toward his desired direction with all his might.
Lu Siyu then asked her to close her eyes, and as she counted down, he revealed a spectacular fireworks display, explaining he wanted to create the most beautiful memories there with the person he loved most. Ye Haimeng, too, had prepared a surprise for him. Their happiness was palpable. Ye Bochen met his foster father, Ye Yuezhi, at a restaurant.
Ye Yuezhi questioned why they had to meet alone, but Ye Bochen explained he simply wanted to have a meal with him. Ye Bochen then directly showed Ye Yuezhi the USB drive, asking if it truly belonged to him and contained Mare Nubium's secret ledger. Ye Yuezhi became agitated, accusing Ye Bochen of trying to trick and threaten him, and of wanting to ruin the entire Ye family.
He reminded Ye Bochen that he and Xiao Ting had adopted him from an orphanage and raised him, deserving gratitude, not betrayal. Ye Bochen countered that he had spent the past two decades repaying their kindness, asking if it wasn't enough. He tearfully expressed his belief that Ye Yuezhi had never truly considered him a son. He recounted how he had always obeyed his foster father's every command and arrangement, yet Ye Yuezhi was never satisfied.
Ye Bochen revealed that his very existence served as a daily reminder of Ye Yuezhi and Xiao Ting's marital flaw and Ye Yuezhi's inability to have a biological son, which Ye Yuezhi viewed as a lifelong shame. Infuriated, Ye Yuezhi called Ye Bochen a "bastard" and a "wildling," declaring that not a single cent of his wealth would go to him, stating he had no son.
As Ye Yuezhi raised his hand to strike Ye Bochen, Ling Ke arrived and intervened, telling Ye Yuezhi to speak without violence. She told him he didn't deserve to be called Ye Bochen's father. Ling Ke then gave Ye Yuezhi two choices: either return to Mare Nubium's Vice President's office the next day and open all the secret USB drives in the drawer, or she would call the police, and they would meet at the station.
She sternly warned him that from that day on, she and Mare Nubium were his opponents, not Ye Bochen, and if he ever mistreated Ye Bochen again due to his background, she would settle the score with him bit by bit. Ling Ke then led Ye Bochen away. Later, sitting on a park bench, Ling Ke listened as Ye Bochen confessed his long-held pain.
He recounted overhearing Ye Yuezhi and Xiao Ting's arguments since he was adopted, revealing his foster father's true feelings—that his existence was a constant reminder of Ye Yuezhi's inability to have a biological son, his "lifelong shame." He confessed to carefully obeying every word and arrangement, often not even knowing what he was doing or where his future lay.
Ling Ke, echoing Ye Haimeng's philosophy, advised Ye Bochen that sometimes people become too deeply entrenched in relationships not due to manipulation, but a subconscious belief that more effort will yield a change in the other person's heart. She reminded him that Ye Haimeng's life motto was to "see herself," emphasizing that while his adoptive parents' kindness for raising him should be repaid, the path of his future life must be walked by himself.
She encouraged him to look within, ask himself where he wanted to go, be brave, think clearly, and then move forward. Meanwhile, Lu Changdong instructed Mo to send Du Meiyun overseas, ostensibly for better medical treatment for her migraines, but in reality, to silence her. Du Meiyun was defiant, warning Lu Changdong that if anything happened to her children while she was away, she would haunt him even as a ghost.
After she departed, Lu Changdong told Mo to ensure she was monitored until her plane took off, emphasizing they couldn't let her jeopardize their grand plan. Mo also informed him that Middle Eastern partners had expressed strong interest in their financing plan and would send a formal letter soon. Lu Changdong reiterated the critical nature of their plans, stating, "Everything hinges on this. We don't have much time left."
Upon learning that Ye Haimeng had accompanied Lu Siyu to the archery invitational in Xiamen, Lu Changdong scoffed at her leisure, concluding that the pressure Lu Sinan had exerted on her previously "was too light." In Xiamen, as the club invitational tournament was about to begin, Lu Siyu prepared to face a formidable opponent, Song Yang, who had also returned from overseas.
Lu Siyu recalled their previous match in the university leagues, where he lost, scoring 40% to Song Yang's 60%. Despite Ye Haimeng's attempts to reassure him that it was "just an invitational," Lu Siyu confessed that he no longer felt the burden of winning glory for the Lu family or the pressure from his brother, and so, "if I lose, so be it." Just three minutes before the match, Lu Siyu grew visibly nervous.
He lamented forgetting his lucky shoulder guard butterfly, which Ye Haimeng had accidentally broken, and not having her ruby earrings. He believed Lady Luck might not be on his side and jokingly asked her to comfort him if he lost. Ye Haimeng then appeared with the ruby earrings, reminding him they were his lucky charms and that she would accompany him to the competition. She helped him put them on.
She encouraged him to believe in himself, stressing that on the field, he was striving for his own dreams and passion, not fulfilling a task given by others. During the elimination round, Lu Siyu and Song Yang were tied. As Song Yang scored nine rings, a flashback of past words haunted Lu Siyu: Lu Changdong's voice stated, "Just an excellence award isn't enough. From now on, you must only bring back championships. . ."
followed by a woman's voice (likely Du Meiyun) revealing, "He never wanted Siyu to carry the Lu surname. All that talk about archery championships and bringing glory to the family—those were just excuses! He hated Siyu!" Remembering Ye Haimeng's words to believe in himself and pursue his own dreams, Lu Siyu took his final shot and scored a perfect bullseye (10 rings), securing his victory against Song Yang. Ye Haimeng cheered wildly alongside the enthusiastic crowd. Lu Siyu became his own champion, finally overcoming the external pressures and inner demons that had plagued him, achieving true self-redemption.
Episode 18 Recap
At the celebration banquet after the archery competition, Lu Siyu was swarmed by admiring fans who praised his incredible performance and good looks, asking for photos and autographs. Overwhelmed, Lu Siyu subtly looked to Ye Haimeng for help, but she playfully ignored his plea. His rival, Song Yang, who had previously competed with Lu Siyu abroad, approached Ye Haimeng, introducing himself and inquiring about her relationship with Lu Siyu.
He probed whether she was his friend, relative, agent, training partner, or coach. When Ye Haimeng denied all classifications, Song Yang, believing she had no connection to Lu Siyu, asked to exchange contact information. Ye Haimeng flatly refused, stating, "This is my little boyfriend." Hearing this, Lu Siyu immediately stepped in, pulling Ye Haimeng close and wrapping his arm possessively around her waist. He asserted, "What misconception made you think she's my coach, agent, training partner, or relative?
Let me tell you. She is my official, genuine, and properly acknowledged girlfriend." Devastated, Song Yang lamented his double loss, exclaiming, "This is so unfair! It's fine that I lost to you in the competition. But I finally found someone I liked, an older sister. . . And I lost to you again. Lu Siyu, you're not human! I hate you."
Ye Haimeng chided Lu Siyu for his harsh words, but he insisted that Song Yang was trying to steal her right in front of him, emphatically stating, "You are mine." Lu Siyu then pressed Ye Haimeng for a response to his earlier confession, reminding her that he views her as his whole life and asking if she feels the same.
Lu Siyu, consumed by jealousy and tipsy from the drinks Ye Haimeng had been playfully pouring to keep him quiet, stumbled slightly. Ye Haimeng warned him about his low alcohol tolerance, likening it to a "kindergarten toddler" and forbidding him from drinking without her supervision. Lu Siyu, still under the influence, insisted he was a "senior toddler" and demanded to be called her "boyfriend," not "kid," proudly proclaiming himself her "tall, handsome, well-behaved, obedient, and championship-winning boyfriend."
Ye Haimeng teasingly dismissed his self-praise as "not very handsome." He asked if his words made her heart skip a beat, but Ye Haimeng urged him to either return to the hotel for rest or stay there with his cardboard cutout. Despite his inebriation, Lu Siyu then poured out his heart to Ye Haimeng, confessing his deep affection and regret for not being in her life sooner to share her past pains.
Ye Haimeng comforted him, telling him to forget the past, as it wasn't his fault, and she herself had moved on. Lu Siyu then made a solemn vow, asking her to promise that no matter what great misunderstandings or hurts might arise in the future, they would always firmly believe in each other, never hurt one another, and never break up.
Ye Haimeng reciprocated the promise, confirming their unwavering commitment to each other, and Lu Siyu then expressed his desire to kiss her, culminating in a tender embrace under the warm glow of a streetlamp. The next morning, Lu Siyu awoke, disoriented, believing Ye Haimeng was beside him after a wonderful night. He was surprised to see Ye Haimeng standing elsewhere in the room.
Ye Haimeng playfully revealed that he had been extremely drunk, hugging and kissing his own league cutout, even attempting to shower with it and show off their abs. She reassured him that she had given him hangover pills and prevented him from carrying out his drunken antics, noting that he slept soundly with the cutout by his side.
She warned him against future drinking, fearing he might bring back all the league cutouts, humorously adding that the bed wouldn't fit them all. Still mortified and refusing to believe her, Lu Siyu dismissed her story as a lie as she headed out, telling him to go downstairs for lunch. Meanwhile, Ye Haimeng received a call from her friends, who had returned from abroad and landed in Haijiang, checking into Mare Nubium (Yunhai Continental).
She explained she was still in Xiamen with Lu Siyu, accompanying a very important person for an archery club competition, which had just ended. She informed them she would return in a day or two at the latest, asking them to definitely remain at Mare Nubium. At Mare Nubium, Ye Yuezhi met Ling Ke in his Vice President's office. He presented a USB drive, cautioning her to think through the consequences before proceeding.
Despite Ye Bochen's attempts to intervene and persuade his adoptive father to reconsider, Ye Yuezhi instructed him to retrieve a computer. Ye Yuezhi then opened the USB drive, revealing its contents to Ling Ke. He stated that it contained only the finance department's annual financial summaries for the Cloud Sea Group, not the "secret account records" she had been searching for, emphasizing that Mare Nubium had no such records.
Ling Ke questioned why, if it was merely a summary, there were four copies hidden in a drawer's secret compartment. Ye Yuezhi explained that as a seven-star hotel group, financial transactions are the core commercial secret and must be meticulously backed up and secured, not treated like a small shop's income list available to anyone. Ling Ke responded sarcastically, thanking the former CFO for the "lesson."
Ye Yuezhi then warned her of the "consequences of her curiosity," stating he would report her unauthorized audit and suspicion of the former CFO to the board of directors for appropriate penalties. Ling Ke bravely accepted the challenge, telling him to "come at me." As Ye Yuezhi prepared to leave, Ye Bochen stopped him, then turned to Ling Ke, urging her to stop the investigation since all the USB drives showed identical, clean financial records.
Ling Ke remained unconvinced, asserting that such "perfect" accounts must hide something, and she would find clues if she searched diligently. Ye Bochen then challenged her, asking if her suspicion was towards the company's finances, the Ye family, or specifically his adoptive father, Ye Yuezhi.
He pointed out that the Ye family controls Mare Nubium, and his father has managed the finances for a decade, making her persistent audit, even after seeing all records, seem like a direct attack on them. Ling Ke confirmed his suspicion, stating she was indeed targeting the Ye family and specifically Ye Yuezhi. Ye Bochen asked if she intended to become his enemy and stand on his opposite side.
Ling Ke clarified that she didn't want to be their adversary but sought to be a partner, asking them to disclose what they were truly looking for and how they intended to proceed. Ye Bochen attempted to assure her, "I don't want to hurt you. I want to help you." Ling Ke, however, dismissed his offer, saying he couldn't help if he didn't even dare to oppose his adoptive father.
When Ye Bochen insisted she tell him the truth, Ling Ke pushed him away, causing him to almost fall, but he protected her, taking the impact of falling archive boxes himself. In that moment, he noticed a mole behind Ling Ke's ear, a detail that stirred a memory from his childhood. He then asked her if her mother's surname was Zhang, and if she was Zhang Yujie, Mare Nubium's CFO from ten years ago.
Later, over a meal, Lu Siyu, who had won the championship, reiterated his regret for getting drunk, promising never to drink without Ye Haimeng's presence again and half-jokingly suggested not returning to his own room that night, as he didn't want to sleep with his cutout.
Ye Haimeng confirmed their plan to return to Haijiang the next morning, as his competition was over and she had responsibilities at Mare Nubium, while Lu Siyu also had to check a new archery club location. Lu Siyu then expressed how being away from Haijiang and their families, the Lus and the Yes, had brought him peace and happiness, hoping they could maintain that feeling upon their return.
Ye Haimeng agreed, assuring him that as long as they were together, they could remain happy and disregard others' opinions. As they finished their meal, Ye Haimeng told Lu Siyu they should go back to their respective rooms to pack that afternoon. She left, promising to call him later. Moments after Ye Haimeng walked away, Lu Siyu, surprised she was actually leaving his room, was suddenly ambushed by a masked assailant who had been hiding in his room. The attacker violently strangled Lu Siyu with a bath towel. From the hallway, Ye Haimeng, sensing something amiss, turned back and glanced towards Lu Siyu's room.
Episode 19 Recap
Lu Siyu desperately fought against his attackers. Hearing sounds from his room, Ye Haimeng returned and saw a man in black grappling with Lu Siyu. She immediately rushed to help, and together they managed to fend off the assailant, though Lu Siyu took a heavy blow. Ye Haimeng pursued the attacker and encountered his accomplice, disguised as a waiter, attempting to stab her near the elevators.
Ye Haimeng dodged the attack, but Lu Siyu, who had followed her out, protected her and was cut by the knife. When Guan Jie and Tan Xin finally arrived, the two assailants fled. Guan Jie and Tan Xin chased after them, but the attackers, who clearly knew the hotel layout, managed to escape into a utility room. The hotel reported the incident to the police, who took surveillance footage and promised to notify them of any developments.
Meanwhile, Ye Haimeng, already injured, pulled her waist wound while dodging the attack and was in severe pain. Lu Siyu, disregarding his own injury, quickly carried her into an elevator and headed downstairs. Later, Ye Haimeng and Lu Siyu discussed their injuries. She tried to downplay her pain, but Lu Siyu knew she was lying, expressing concern for her re-injured waist.
Ye Haimeng then worried about his hand, reminding him he had a match coming up, but he assured her it was just a superficial wound from a table knife. Lu Siyu pleaded with Ye Haimeng to take care of herself and not protect him, but she insisted it was her duty as his older sister.
He disagreed, arguing that age was irrelevant and expressed his desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with her and protect her, not wanting her to get caught in the dangerous whirlpool surrounding Mare Nubium. They then made a solemn promise: no matter what happened or what misunderstandings arose, they would never separate, always be honest, trust each other, and remain steadfast in their relationship. Meanwhile, Ye Bochen recognized Ling Ke.
He remembered her from childhood by a distinct mole on her ear, realizing she was Zhang Yujie's only daughter, the former financial officer at Mare Nubium whom his uncle trusted deeply. He confronted her, demanding to know what she was looking for. Ling Ke finally admitted she was searching for money—a massive sum that had secretly left Mare Nubium's Finance Department ten years ago and was still missing.
She warned that if the money wasn't found, Mare Nubium would collapse, and someone would pay with their life. Later, Tan Xin met with Ye Haimeng, having called her earlier to ask for a private conversation outside her room. Tan Xin revealed that the Lu family had suddenly presented a notarized will left by Lu Sinan.
This will, personally written by Lu Sinan after his marriage to Ye Haimeng and legally processed with a lawyer team as witnesses, left all his assets, including Mare Nubium shares, to his younger brother, Lu Siyu. Tan Xin explained that this notarized will superseded the previously discussed property entrustment agreement, which was a forgery based on Lu Sinan's blank signature. As a result, Lu Siyu became Mare Nubium's largest shareholder overnight.
The news had already gone public, with media outlets reporting on the significant twist in the inheritance case. The Lu family, leveraging Lu Siyu's new majority stake, had re-entered Mare Nubium and reoccupied Cloud Manor. Tan Xin voiced suspicions to Ye Haimeng, suggesting that Lu Siyu's motive for bringing her to Xiamen might not be pure.
He questioned if Lu Siyu was truly unaware of their car accident and if his invitation to the competition was orchestrated by the Lu family to distract Ye Haimeng and allow them to seize control. Ye Haimeng initially found this impossible to believe, but Tan Xin insisted that in the face of immense profit, anything was possible, especially since Lu Siyu now held billions in Mare Nubium assets.
Tan Xin concluded by reminding her of past deceptions and warning that Lu Siyu, by virtue of his name appearing in the will, was now the Lu family's most potent tool against her. Disturbed, Ye Haimeng asked Tan Xin and Guan Jie to leave so she could process everything. Ling Ke's past warnings echoed in Ye Haimeng's mind, making her doubt whether Lu Siyu was truly different from Lu Sinan, given their shared family bloodline.
Lu Siyu awoke and called out for Ye Haimeng. When she opened the door, he saw she was crying. He gently asked if it was Mare Nubium or his family that was troubling her, reiterating their promise to trust each other and never separate. Ye Haimeng affirmed her love and trust for him.
Following a phone call from Ling Ke, who, despite their earlier disagreement, decided to call Haimeng in hopes she knew about the missing money, Ye Haimeng decided they needed to leave Xiamen and return to Haijiang immediately that night. Lu Siyu worried about the dangers of driving on the highway at night and about their luggage. Ye Haimeng said they would abandon all their luggage except their bows, which Guan Jie would retrieve.
She instructed Lu Siyu to wait with Tan Xin in the parking lot. As Ye Haimeng made her way to the parking lot, she witnessed Lu Siyu being forcibly taken by Chen Mo and other men. Lu Siyu, from inside the car, locked eyes with her and urged her not to follow. Ye Haimeng ran after the vehicle, desperately calling out his name and pleading for him to wait, as the car sped away. Guan Jie arrived and drove Ye Haimeng back to Haijiang.
Episode 20 Recap
Mo, Lu Changdong's assistant, remained silent as Lu Siyu vehemently demanded answers. Realizing he was being taken back to Cloud Manor, Lu Siyu grew suspicious, understanding that something significant must have happened for Cloud Manor to be snatched from Ye Haimeng again. Upon arrival, he confronted Lu Changdong, who revealed that Lu Sinan's will bequeathed all marital assets and shares of Mare Nubium to Lu Siyu, making him the largest controlling shareholder of Mare Nubium Hotel Group.
To ensure everything went according to plan, Lu Changdong ordered that Lu Siyu be kept under strict surveillance and prevented from meeting anyone until the will took legal effect. Lu Siyu defied his father, refusing to be confined or used as a pawn in the fight for Mare Nubium. He declared his desire to be with Ye Haimeng, further enraging Lu Changdong.
The father dismissed Ye Haimeng as Lu Sinan's wife, but Lu Siyu retorted that she was a victim of a conspiratorial marriage. He accused the Lu family of never wanting Ye Haimeng herself, but rather her status as the Ye family's sole heir and the immense wealth behind her family, stating they had plotted for her money and life.
He recalled Ye Haimeng once telling him the world was evil, and he now saw his own family blinded by greed, committing heinous acts while cloaking their dirty desires. Lu Siyu expressed shame for his family and for being Lu Changdong's son, proclaiming he would rather die than collude with them to harm Ye Haimeng. Enraged, Lu Changdong struck his son three times and ordered Chen Mo to lock Lu Siyu in the Cloud Manor basement.
Chen Mo later reported to Lu Changdong that Lu Siyu's room was secured. Lu Changdong acknowledged Ye Haimeng's cunning in swaying both his sons, and Chen Mo explained how Lu Sinan had cleverly circumvented their plans for his will by designating Lu Siyu as his heir and explicitly excluding Changlu Capital.
Lu Changdong then instructed Chen Mo to prepare the board for a public meeting, notify their Middle Eastern investors to ready their funds as their desired assets were within reach, and ensure Lu Siyu remained completely isolated from the outside world. He concluded by stating he was waiting for Ye Haimeng to come to him personally. Meanwhile, Ye Haimeng, along with Tan Xin and Guan Jie, returned to Haijiang.
Ye Haimeng returned to her penthouse, feeling a sense of loss as Ling Ke was not there and she had no one to consult with. Tan Xin updated her on the chaotic state of Mare Nubium: the Lu family had used Lu Sinan's notarized will to claim Cloud Manor as Lu Sinan's inheritance and had reintegrated Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin onto the board.
Mare Nubium's shareholders were now split into three factions—pro-Lu family, pro-Ye Haimeng, and a neutral group—leaving the company in disorder. Ye Haimeng noted that Ling Ke’s absence allowed Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin to act so brazenly. She confided that she knew what Ling Ke was doing, but believed Ling Ke was also in a precarious situation. Ye Haimeng decided against confronting the Lu family directly for Lu Siyu or Mare Nubium, as it could cause more harm.
Her strategy was to first stabilize internal order at Mare Nubium, reassure the branch offices, and find a powerful bargaining chip to negotiate Lu Siyu's release before the Mare Nubium board meeting. Alone in her penthouse, Ye Haimeng committed to breaking the Lu family's scheme and saving both Lu Siyu and Mare Nubium. Elsewhere, Ye Yuezhi, having heard rumors about Ling Ke being Zhang Yujie's daughter, intended to investigate and eliminate any potential threats.
His associate suggested Ling Ke might not be as formidable as Ye Yuezhi thought, given the turmoil at Mare Nubium. However, Ye Yuezhi warned against underestimating Ling Ke and also expressed distrust of Ye Bochen, advising his associate to keep a close eye on their adopted son, whom he believed was too close to Ling Ke.
While on the phone with his mother, who asked him to come home or bring his friend, Ye Bochen cryptically stated he was with a friend and it wasn't convenient. Later, Ye Bochen urged Ling Ke to stop her investigation into Mare Nubium's past, fearing for her safety, but Ling Ke refused, detailing her methods to trace fund leakages.
Ye Bochen then revealed that Ling Ke’s mother was Zhang Yujie, Mare Nubium's former CFO, who was imprisoned for embezzlement and financial fraud. Ling Ke vehemently denied this, asserting that Zhang Yujie had taken the fall for the Ye family.
She accused Ye Yuezhi, Mare Nubium's former Financial Vice President, of having forced her mother to collude in his crimes—stealing company secrets and huge sums of money, altering accounts, evading taxes, and transferring vast sums overseas—then threatening Ling Ke, who was studying abroad, to force Zhang Yujie to take all the blame.
Ling Ke recounted how her mother, after only two years in prison, suffered a severe fall, leading to brain death and five years as a living corpse on medical parole. She cursed the Ye family as "man-eating devils" and vowed to uncover all the evidence of their framing her mother and expose the truth. When Ye Yuezhi appeared at the sanatorium where Zhang Yujie was being held, Ling Ke prevented a nurse from injecting her unconscious mother.
Ye Yuezhi mocked Ling Ke, confirming her identity as Zhang Yujie’s daughter, and threatened to call the police. Ling Ke dared him to do so, then reiterated his past crimes in vivid detail. Ye Yuezhi, visibly shaken, denied everything, claiming Ling Ke had no proof, and contemptuously told her and her "living corpse" mother to wait for his retaliation. Ling Ke unflinchingly accepted the challenge. As Ye Yuezhi left, Ye Bochen saw him from a distance.
Back in her penthouse, Ye Haimeng continued her investigation, finding no immediate flaws in the current situation, deciding she could investigate on her own without Ling Ke. She discovered an old overseas land purchase contract with Changlu's seal, indicating that both Mare Nubium and Changlu Capital had been involved in the deal four years prior. Her father, Ye Mingzhi, had rejected it, yet the proposal was brought before the board three more times.
This made her realize that someone must have desperately wanted Mare Nubium to acquire that land, or stood to gain significantly from the transaction, pointing towards Changlu Group. She then contacted a long-time friend via phone, explaining the details of the four-year-old land deal in West Asia, which was facilitated by Changlu Group and eventually bought by a vaguely defined "West Asian Group" but remained undeveloped.
Ye Haimeng asked her friend to conduct a thorough international investment investigation, scrutinizing the investment backgrounds and ownership structures of both the buyer and seller to uncover the true orchestrator of the deal. Her friend agreed, and his wife, who overheard the conversation, shrewdly advised Ye Haimeng that if Changlu was so eager to push the deal, it would be their biggest leverage, making it the perfect bargaining chip. Ye Haimeng acknowledged the insight and thanked them.
Later, Ye Haimeng arrived at Cloud Manor. Lu Changdong, already waiting, remarked that she was late and that he had been waiting for a long time. Ye Haimeng stated her preference for unpredictability. Lu Changdong, noting her resemblance to her father, asked what she wanted. Ye Haimeng looked him directly in the eye and demanded, "Give Lu Siyu back to me."
Episode 21 Recap
Ye Haimeng presented her conditions for restarting cooperation between Mare Nubium and Changlu Group, leveraging her recent purchase of a specific overseas land. She requested that the Lu family publicly declare Lu Sinan's notarized will invalid, withdraw themselves and any moles from Mare Nubium's board, cease all interference in Mare Nubium's business and political affairs, and, most importantly, allow her to take Lu Siyu. Lu Changdong, however, bluntly rejected her terms.
Lu Changdong expressed surprise that Ye Haimeng’s request was for his son, Lu Siyu. He deemed Mare Nubium a more valuable asset than the overseas land Ye Haimeng had acquired, especially with Lu Siyu now positioned as the largest controlling shareholder of Mare Nubium through Lu Sinan's will. He dismissed her negotiation attempts, questioning her ability to manage Mare Nubium's vast enterprise, maneuver capital, expand networks, or control the veteran shareholders.
He declared that Changlu Group did not need the land and instead wanted her Mare Nubium. He revealed that Lu Sinan's marriage to Ye Haimeng had been part of the Lu family's plan, admitting he had personally chosen her as the "best candidate" for Lu Sinan and that Lu Sinan's attempt on her life was on his orders.
Ye Haimeng accused him of talking about murder and seizing wealth as simply as "eating and drinking," questioning his right to decide her family's fate. Lu Changdong, undeterred, stated that in the world of capital, "the strong prey on the weak; that's the natural order," and that because she was weak, she "must die." He insisted she hand over Mare Nubium to the Lu family for her own safety.
Meanwhile, Lu Siyu, who was confined, received a note informing him of Ye Haimeng's arrival. He frantically banged on the door, drawing the attention of Jiang Lin. Concerned for Lu Siyu's safety, Jiang Lin opened the door. Lu Siyu pushed past him and escaped, running towards Ye Haimeng.
He vehemently declared to Lu Changdong that he would not be manipulated, nor would he seize Mare Nubium from Ye Haimeng, swearing he would never become a tool to harm her unless he died. Ye Haimeng and Lu Siyu then fled together, evading their pursuers. As they rested, she noticed marks on him from an earlier confrontation with his father, and they reaffirmed their absolute trust in each other and vowed never to be separated.
Their brief freedom was cut short when Chen Mo's men found them, and Lu Siyu was once again taken and confined to the basement, though he insisted they not touch Ye Haimeng. Ye Haimeng received a call from Tan Xin, who informed her that Mare Nubium’s main entrance was surrounded by media due to leaked news from the Lu family and Changlu Group about major equity changes, negatively impacting the company.
Tan Xin added that twenty-seven branch companies had temporarily detached from the headquarters as a faction within the board, close to the Lu family, had suspended operations until the president and major shareholders were confirmed. The most crucial news was that Mare Nubium's board had confirmed a public hearing to formally determine who—Ye Haimeng or Lu Siyu—held more Mare Nubium shares and was the largest controlling shareholder. Tan Xin stressed the extreme importance of her attendance.
Concurrently, Ms. Chang, Ye Haimeng's lawyer, sent an email explaining that the Lu family had officially submitted Lu Sinan's notarized will, resulting in the court suspending their ongoing inheritance partition process. The court now required a reassessment of all previously favorable outcomes for Ye Haimeng. Ms. Chang warned that the Lu family was clearly determined to seize a part of Mare Nubium.
Among the documents the Lu family submitted to the court, Ye Haimeng noticed a share resale consent form bearing her mother, Luo Yanxin's, fingerprint and signature. This discovery, combined with memories of events before her mother's death, led Ye Haimeng to believe Lu Changdong was responsible for her mother's demise. At the same time, Ye Haimeng's friend reported the findings from their investigation into the overseas land.
The buyer, West Asia Brightness, lacked strong financial capacity and had made payments in four-year installments with unclear fund flow. A private account belonging to Xiao Ting, Ye Haimeng's aunt, was found in the outflow list. Furthermore, Changlu Capital had secretly gone bankrupt five years prior, plagued by an industrial crisis. Their overseas developments had been abandoned, and their domestic business was a "false prosperity" supported by inter-company borrowing.
Changlu's internal assets were severely depleted, with tens of billions in overdue receivables. It became clear that Changlu was only staying afloat by sacrificing other groups, confirming Lu Changdong's long-standing plot to target Mare Nubium and having used Lu Sinan to lure Ye Haimeng into a fraudulent marriage. Ye Haimeng then requested her friend's help to re-investigate her honeymoon hotel with Lu Sinan and obtain video records, suspecting an even larger scheme behind their marriage.
Before the public hearing, Lu Siyu reiterated his refusal to help Lu Changdong. Despite his protests, he was forcibly taken by car. En route, Lu Siyu began acting erratically, mimicking an anxiety attack. Jiang Lin, witnessing this, convinced Lu Changdong to stop the car and allow Lu Siyu to get some fresh air, citing his "anxiety syndrome" from past competitions and his forgotten medication. Lu Siyu seized the opportunity, ran out of the car, and climbed onto a bridge.
He defiantly declared he would not go to Mare Nubium, would not be an heir, would not steal property, and would not be Lu Changdong's pawn or harm Ye Haimeng. He stated that if bearing the Lu surname was his sin, he would "repay everything" his father had given him. With these words, Lu Siyu jumped from the bridge into the river below. Ye Haimeng arrived just in time to witness him falling.
Episode 22 Recap
After Lu Siyu leaped from the bridge into the treacherous river below, Ye Haimeng, without hesitation, also jumped in after him. Amidst the strong currents, only Ye Haimeng was pulled to safety and rushed to the hospital. Lu Siyu's whereabouts remained unknown. A dejected Lu Changdong returned to Cloud Manor with his people. Lu Siyue, upon seeing them, immediately questioned, "Didn't you go to Mare Nubium? Isn't the board meeting scheduled for today? Why are you back?"
She then urgently asked for her brother, "Where's Siyu? Where's my brother?" She pressed Jiang Lin, "What's with that face? I'm talking to you. Where is Lu Siyu?" With a heavy heart, Jiang Lin informed her that Lu Siyu was gone, leaving Lu Siyue stunned and asking, "What do you mean by that?" In the hospital, Ye Haimeng regained consciousness, immediately asking for Lu Siyu.
Ye Bochen tried to calm her, explaining her critical condition with lungs filled with water, but she insisted she was fine and demanded, "Call the police! Call the police to find him!" As she struggled to get up, Ye Bochen revealed, "Siyu is gone!" Haimeng, distraught, pressed him for details, asking, "What happened to Siyu?" Ye Bochen somberly explained that the area where Lu Siyu fell was known for its fierce undercurrents.
Despite everyone jumping in to save them, only she was found, and Lu Siyu had been swept away. He added that the police, rescue teams, and boats had searched for nearly two hours but found no trace of him, implying he was lost to the sea. Haimeng cried out, refusing to believe it, repeatedly exclaiming, "That's impossible! You're lying! It can't be true!" as medical staff intervened.
Back at Cloud Manor, Lu Siyue confronted Lu Changdong about Lu Siyu's disappearance, expressing disbelief and grief. Lu Changdong, however, dismissed her sorrow, stating, "He's gone. He's just gone. He brought it on himself. He jumped down himself." Lu Siyue was horrified, reminding him that while Lu Sinan was her half-brother, Lu Siyu was her full-blooded sibling whom she cherished despite her complaints about favoritism. She couldn't comprehend how he could be so cold.
Lu Changdong, unmoved, declared that life and death were Lu Siyu's own choices. He scornfully denounced both his sons, one for scheming with a notarized will and the other for jumping into the sea to escape family control. He exclaimed, "You all prefer death, right? Then you can die! I, Lu Changdong, don't need sons, don't need daughters, and don't need a family. You're nothing but my burdens. Just dead weight! Purely useless!"
leaving Lu Siyue stunned as he walked away. While Ye Bochen was away signing documents, Ye Haimeng, upon regaining consciousness, slipped out of the hospital and went to the special withered tree on the mountain. There, she hallucinated Lu Siyu and ran towards him, but the vision quickly faded. Desperate, she frantically tried to make phone calls, begging, "Go to the Fire and Maritime Rescue Bureau immediately to get Siyu! . . .
Mr. Fei, could you help me find Siyu? He jumped into the sea. But I know he must still be alive." When Ling Ke and Ye Bochen found her, Ling Ke tried to reason with her, revealing that rescue teams had searched for Lu Siyu all day to no avail. " He's gone. He has disappeared! He's not coming back!" Ling Ke insisted. Haimeng fiercely refused to accept it, clinging to Lu Siyu's promises. Suddenly, she received a message.
It was a voice message from Lu Siyu himself. In it, he reminded her of a third, unfulfilled request from when they first got together. His final wish was for her to "keep living." He urged her to remember her resilience in past hardships and to "be brave and firm, and follow your heart to live freely" even without him. He ended by reaffirming, "Haimeng, I really love you."
Overwhelmed with grief, Ye Haimeng broke down, crying inconsolably, with Ling Ke comforting her. Later, Jiang Lin returned to the Lu residence. A distraught Lu Siyue immediately questioned him about the search, asking, "How's it going? Did they find him? Is there any news about Siyu? Did they rescue him?" Jiang Lin reluctantly shared the grim news: despite a three-day and three-night extensive search by rescue teams, only Lu Siyu's jacket had been found.
He explained that the area of the fall had fierce undercurrents, and Lu Siyu had been swept away during high tide, making his survival unlikely, especially now that the golden window for rescue had passed. Lu Siyue refused to accept it, heartbroken that her brother was gone without a word to her. She lamented feeling overlooked in the family, but stressed her desire for her brothers to live.
Jiang Lin consoled her, affirming that both Lu Siyu and Lu Sinan considered her closest family. Desperate, Lu Siyue suggested they find Ye Haimeng to beg for peace, hoping to save the Lu family and her brothers. Jiang Lin quickly countered that Lu Siyu's fate was unrelated to Ye Haimeng and approaching her would only worsen the family conflict.
As Lu Siyue continued to express her grief and wish for her brother's life, Jiang Lin urged her to calm down, stating that as the remaining young generation in the Lu family, they needed to shoulder their responsibilities and that "everything will get better" once the Ye family matter was resolved. Meanwhile, Ye Yuezhi confronted his wife, Xiao Ting, asking why she was back late. When she mentioned "cleaning things up," he revealed his shocking discovery: "Ling Ke.
She's Zhang Yujie's daughter." He explained that Zhang Yujie, the former CFO of Mare Nubium, had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in prison years ago and was released on medical parole, taken by Ling Ke. Xiao Ting, surprised, wondered why they hadn't known. Ye Yuezhi chastised her for her lack of awareness, asserting that Ling Ke had deliberately befriended Ye Haimeng and was now "after us."
When Xiao Ting asked what to do, Ye Yuezhi declared they must "get out of this mess as soon as possible," instructing her to immediately "prepare the documents for going abroad." He reasoned that if they stayed, they wouldn't be safe, and when asked where to go, he decisively replied, "We'll go wherever our money is!" Xiao Ting agreed.
Inspired by Lu Siyu's final message, Ye Haimeng put aside her grief and called Ling Ke, announcing, "I'm going to fight back." Together, they analyzed the Lu family's scheme. Ling Ke revealed that Mare Nubium's involvement with Changlu Capital originated from a land transaction in West Asia, which Ye Haimeng's father, the former chairman, had recognized as a trap set by the Lu family, leading him to refuse to sign.
However, Ling Ke noted, large sums of money were still secretly withdrawn from Mare Nubium, and Ye Yuezhi had flawlessly balanced the accounts for the past five years. She further explained that Changlu Group's rapid expansion overseas six years prior had led to massive losses, forcing them into high-interest loans. To prevent collapse, Lu Changdong devised a plan to plunder Mare Nubium, using the Ye family as a financial lifeline.
Ye Haimeng summarized this, and Ling Ke confirmed it was the starting point of all their troubles. Regarding Mare Nubium's internal situation, Ling Ke informed Ye Haimeng that the notarized will for Lu Sinan had re-frozen their 37% shared inheritance, and Lu Changdong's planted shareholders were hindering her control. Branch companies had also declared independence from headquarters, effectively closing financial and administrative channels. Haimeng needed time to devise a strategy. Ling Ke then apologized for concealing her true identity.
Haimeng revealed that she had known Ling Ke was Zhang Yujie's daughter since she arrived at the honeymoon hotel. She explained that she had deduced Ling Ke's intentions to clear her mother's name and gain access to Mare Nubium's financial core, which is why Ling Ke chose to help her. Haimeng affirmed that she no longer saw Ling Ke as a pawn, acknowledging Ling Ke's vital role in her journey, and thanked her, a sentiment Ling Ke reciprocated.
Later, while alone, Ye Haimeng discovered Lu Sinan's Latin book in Lu Siyu's arrow case. Examining it closely, she found handwritten notes which, once translated, revealed a crucial message: "The secret documents are behind the painting."
Episode 23 Recap
Ye Haimeng, following a clue left by Lu Sinan in his frequently used Latin literature dictionary, quickly arranged for an insider to discreetly enter Cloud Manor. The insider successfully retrieved a secret document, a USB drive, from behind a painting. Ye Haimeng instructed her assistant, Tan Xin, to open it. The USB drive contained a video message from Lu Sinan, recorded just before his wedding to Ye Haimeng.
In the video, Lu Sinan confessed that their marriage was a premeditated deception, part of a plan orchestrated due to his family's Changlu Capital Group facing a severe credit crisis caused by the real estate industry's downturn and massive credit losses. He revealed that Lu Changdong had blackmailed him, using his son—whom Lu Sinan had with his college lover overseas—as leverage.
Faced with a choice between his son and deceiving Ye Haimeng, Lu Sinan chose to deceive her to protect his family from ruin. He apologized for the fraudulent marriage and the original scheme to seize her Mare Nubium shares through marital co-ownership. However, Lu Sinan then disclosed his intention to change the plan.
Instead of harming Ye Haimeng, he had arranged for local friends at their honeymoon hotel to secretly escort her to safety after she appeared to "disappear" according to his father's original orders. He planned to return to China, secure some Mare Nubium shares to revive Changlu Group, and then explain everything to Ye Haimeng. This, he claimed, was the only way he could protect his family, his love, and her without causing her harm.
The video then took a chilling turn as Lu Sinan warned, "If my plan fails, if I stay in Monaco and never return—" He directly implored Ye Haimeng, "Haimeng, if I die in Monaco, please, do whatever it takes to take back Mare Nubium completely. I already sense that, to prevent the Lu family from being destroyed, my father would do anything, even make you and me disappear together."
This revelation stunned Ye Haimeng and her team, as it starkly contradicted the initial belief that Lu Sinan had intended to murder her abroad. Instead, it implied he had been secretly protecting her, while Lu Changdong might have intended to kill both his son and daughter-in-law. Ye Haimeng received a short CCTV clip from the honeymoon hotel, which showed two men attempting to kill Lu Sinan and her.
A flashback from four years ago in Monaco further revealed the full horror of the event. While Lu Sinan was enacting his plan to fake Ye Haimeng's death, two men, confirmed by Lu Sinan to be working for "Mo" and sent by his father, broke into their hotel room. Lu Sinan confronted them, stating, "My father wants me dead. He wants to get rid of Haimeng." One of the assailants chillingly responded, "Only the dead can keep secrets."
As they made their escape in a car, Lu Sinan, gravely aware of the danger, warned Ye Haimeng, "If anything happens to us, don't contact anyone. Don't ask anyone for help. Don't trust anyone!" This confirmed that Lu Changdong had indeed intended to murder his own eldest son and daughter-in-law to bury the secret. Overwhelmed by these revelations, Ye Haimeng rushed to Cloud Manor to confront Lu Changdong.
She demanded to know why, if his goal was only Mare Nubium, he would kill his own son, Lu Sinan. Lu Changdong, no longer hiding anything, coldly explained that Lu Sinan was not worthy of being his son or the heir to the Lu family because he lacked ambition, never sought to expand the family's fortune, and even married and had a child behind their backs. Lu Changdong stated that Lu Sinan's sacrifice for the family was his "glory."
He chillingly declared that no one was exempt from sacrifice for the sake of Changlu Capital. He asserted that if anyone, including his own sons, hindered the company's progress, "they must die." He completely dismissed Ye Haimeng's talk of love and family as "rubbish," asserting that only money and power mattered in a ruthless world. Ye Haimeng, disgusted, called him "truly pitiful" for his desolate existence devoid of love, filled only with money, ruthlessness, and murder.
She defiantly declared herself his opponent, vowing to protect Mare Nubium and dismantle Changlu Capital. Meanwhile, the Lu family's aggressive moves against Mare Nubium caused the company's stock price to plummet, triggering foreign chains to cut ties and Mare Nubium to teeter on the brink. Back at home, Ye Bochen noticed his adoptive mother packing, clearly intending to flee. He cleverly sent her away by asking for noodles, then took a hidden phone from a suitcase.
He photographed incriminating evidence of Mare Nubium's financial leak, but was discovered by Ye Yuezhi. Ye Yuezhi, furious, denounced him as an ungrateful son and demanded the phone. Ye Bochen, however, refused, revealing that he had already sent the evidence to Ye Haimeng and Ling Ke. He then completely broke ties with his adoptive father, expressing years of pent-up resentment for being treated as less than human, constantly seeking approval, and bearing the brunt of Ye Yuezhi's infertility frustrations.
He declared he would no longer be a "Ye" and would live only for himself, hoping never to see them again. Despite the company's dire situation, a colleague urged Ye Haimeng to "go see him," reassuring her that they would handle things at headquarters. Shortly after, Ye Haimeng received a call from a partner of Lu Siyu's archery club.
She learned that Lu Siyu's shares in the club had been sold to a new investor, and the 22 million transfer fee, minus taxes, had been deposited directly into her personal account as per Lu Siyu's authorization. Before she could fully process this shocking news, Ye Haimeng looked up and saw Lu Siyu, alive and well, standing in the pouring rain, holding an umbrella. Overjoyed, she ran to him and embraced him, confirming that his touch was real.
Lu Siyu affirmed, "It's me," and then declared, "From now on, you can't call me 'Kid' anymore. Call me your boyfriend. I'm willing to keep standing by your side. I'm willing to keep being with you, loving you. With me here, you won't hurt anymore."
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
After completely falling out with his adoptive father, Ye Bochen was left feeling helpless. He contacted Ling Ke and informed her that the silver flash drives she had found in the drawer were indeed Mare Nubium's secret account records. He explained that his father, Ye Yuezhi, had hidden and deleted all the data sheets on them, only restoring them with software when needed.
Ye Bochen had sent Ling Ke all the evidence of his father's secret foreign dealings through underground channels over the years, including communication records and entry/exit lists. He added that the seemingly perfect account books in the archives room had been doctored by external accounting firms hired by Ye Yuezhi. Ling Ke interrupted him, embracing him to offer comfort.
She told him he had done well and been very brave, assuring him that all the storms would pass and from that day forward, he would no longer be a son of the Ye family, but simply himself. Meanwhile, Ye Haimeng found herself holding Lu Siyu tightly, fearing he would disappear again.
He explained that his falling into the sea had been a planned deception, as he refused to be used by Lu Changdong as a weapon against her or become her enemy. Ye Haimeng recounted the frantic search efforts and how she had jumped into the sea after him, but Lu Siyu sternly told her not to do such risky things again.
Ye Haimeng argued that facing danger together was the true meaning of love, and Lu Siyu conceded, promising to tell her next time. Lu Siyu then revealed that he and Ye Haimeng's mole had devised the "staging an escape" plan beforehand. He had arranged a reliable rescue boat at the shore, and just minutes after he went into the water, they rescued him under the guise of an operation.
He explained that his mole had specifically instructed him not to reveal the plan to Ye Haimeng in advance to ensure her reaction was genuine, as his father and Uncle Mo had decades of business experience and secrecy was essential to fool them. Ye Haimeng acknowledged the thoroughness of their plan but expressed concern for his suffering, which he dismissed, instead scolding her for scaring him by jumping in.
He urged her to take care of herself and not shoulder everything alone, promising to always be by her side. Ye Haimeng acknowledged she knew he would. She then told Lu Siyu that she still had a brutal battle ahead, and her opponent was his father.
Lu Siyu reaffirmed his genuine feelings for her, promising that once everything was over, they would truly start their lives anew, and he would always be there for her, no matter how long it took or what difficulties arose. The rescheduled public hearing was set for next Monday morning. Lu Changdong, after being informed, ordered his team to continue driving down Mare Nubium's stock price, aiming to "break through her final support level" before Monday.
Ling Ke reported to Ye Haimeng that Lu Changdong had indeed lowered the price as predicted. Ling Ke then voiced concern that by following suit, they would be spending money to crash their own stock, with losses in the hundreds of millions for every point. However, Ye Haimeng insisted they continue to follow the downward trend, explaining she had a plan. Mare Nubium's stock price plunged to a historic low, and multiple financial institutions announced they would cease services.
Twenty-nine branch hotels globally declared their intention to break away from the headquarters after the public hearing, and it was widely reported that Ye Haimeng might be stripped of her presidential duties. At the Mare Nubium shareholders' meeting, Lu Changdong arrived, but Lu Siyue noticed that none of the shareholders known to them were present, sensing something was amiss.
When a subordinate suggested they leave, Ye Haimeng, who had just entered, sarcastically questioned if Lu Changdong was trying to run away before the meeting even started. He confidently declared he had no intention of running. Lu Changdong, taking the floor, aggressively confronted Ye Haimeng, claiming she was no longer the controlling shareholder due to her poor decision-making which had caused Mare Nubium's overseas stock to plummet, shareholders' assets to shrink, and numerous branch hotels to decouple from headquarters.
He demanded she take full responsibility by immediately resigning as president, surrendering all operational control, and reconfirming her shareholdings according to the board's arrangements. Ye Haimeng calmly asked in what capacity he was attending the meeting and demanding her resignation. Lu Changdong declared he was there as the father of her spouse, the trustee shareholder of his son's inherited equity, and the chairman of Mare Nubium's large overseas equity fund, reiterating his demand for her immediate resignation.
He added that he initially considered giving her another chance for the sake of Lu Sinan and Lu Siyu, but her greed had blinded her, and he now intended to "settle things one by one." Ye Haimeng then played a video recorded by Lu Sinan.
In the video, Lu Sinan stated that on July 8, 2019, at 8 PM, he declared his marriage to Ye Haimeng a sham, renouncing all marital property, including Mare Nubium shares, Yunzhuangyuan Villa, and other assets under her name. He explicitly stated that his previously signed notarized will was made under coercion and did not represent his true intentions, thus rendering it null and void.
He also specified that the video, once played, would automatically be sent to the law firm and the probate court's public inbox, terminating all relations between him and Ye Haimeng. Lu Siyue, visibly emotional, confirmed it was indeed his brother. Ye Haimeng then highlighted to Lu Changdong that his own son had recorded the video, making his notarized will invalid.
Lu Changdong dismissed the video as potentially fake or AI-synthesized, claiming no one could touch the frozen 37% of Mare Nubium's shares without a judicial verdict. Ye Haimeng questioned what other cards he had when his shareholders were busy selling off their stakes, leaving Mare Nubium an empty shell. Ling Ke then announced that all absent Mare Nubium shareholders had collectively signed a concerted action agreement with Ye Haimeng, transferring their equity's voting power to her.
Ye Haimeng offered to buy their shares at 1. 2 times the price for those willing to sign the agreement. Lu Changdong angrily declared that despite her tactics, Mare Nubium's stock had collapsed, leading to bankruptcy. Ye Haimeng retorted, questioning who would truly go bankrupt. Alarmed, Lu Changdong learned that Changlu Capital's massive investment in Mare Nubium's stock had been entirely trapped.
He exclaimed it was impossible, given Mare Nubium's liquidity crisis, for Ye Haimeng to have enough funds to raise the stock price. Ye Haimeng revealed that while Mare Nubium might not have the money, she did. She explained that her parents, Ye Mingzhi and Luo Yanxin, had established comprehensive family trusts both domestically and overseas, ensuring that even if she lost everything, she could "fight her way back."
She also credited her trusted friends, those who distrusted Lu Changdong, and most crucially, Lu Siyu, whose bank acceptance bill was shown as a key source of support. Defeated, Lu Changdong conceded that Changlu Capital had made a failed investment and withdrew his claim on Mare Nubium. He then attempted to leave. However, Ye Haimeng stopped everyone, declaring that company matters were settled, and it was time to address the "blood debt."
Ling Ke presented evidence to Ye Yuezhi, confronting him with conversation screenshots related to his time as Mare Nubium's CFO, alleging communication between him, Ling Ke's mother (Zhang Yujie), Changlu Capital's business manager, and overseas channel partners. She also questioned him about large transfers into his wife's (Du Meiyun's) personal overseas account. Ye Yuezhi stammered, denying knowledge and attempting to explain. Ye Haimeng pressed him to clarify the source, channels, and reasons for the large quarterly remittances.
Ling Ke then laid out the details: those funds were Mare Nubium's secretly diverted capital. Six years prior, Changlu Group had bribed Ye Yuezhi after its overseas land investment proposal was rejected. Ye Yuezhi and Du Meiyun had used their positions to embezzle funds, transfer them overseas, and receive kickbacks from Changlu's business manager. Ling Ke's mother, Zhang Yujie, had refused to collude and was framed with false testimony, leading to her severe injury and coma.
Ye Haimeng then added that during her overseas car accident and her father Ye Mingzhi's heart attack, ""Ye Yuezhi"" had deliberately delayed his emergency treatment. She further revealed that Du Meiyun had personally sent her mother, Luo Yanxin, to the Lu family's sanatorium after she collapsed at home. Du Meiyun, in a shocking confession, confirmed that she had personally contacted "your second uncle and his wife" (referring to Ye Yuezhi and herself), who then deliberately delayed Ye Haimeng's father's rescue.
She confessed to sending Ye Haimeng's mother to their sanatorium, stating that controlling the parents meant controlling Ye Haimeng and preventing her return. Ye Haimeng then revealed that police had found surveillance video of Lu Changdong at the sanatorium on the night her mother died, implicating him in Luo Yanxin's death. Lu Changdong vehemently denied it, claiming he was celebrating his 60th birthday at home and that his son-in-law, Jiang Lin, was the one at the sanatorium.
Lu Siyue, shocked, defended Jiang Lin, but Ye Haimeng urged Jiang Lin to confess. Jiang Lin, distraught, admitted that Lu Changdong had sent him to the sanatorium to fetch medication, making him a scapegoat, and revealed he had seen Lu Changdong's car there despite his claims of napping at home.
Lu Changdong furiously accused Jiang Lin of betraying the Lu family, but Jiang Lin asserted that while he might be the family's son-in-law, he would not be an accomplice to murder for profit. Ye Haimeng concluded by outlining Lu Changdong's full conspiracy: making Lu Sinan trick her into marriage and kill her overseas to seize Mare Nubium, then fearing exposure, attempting to kill both Lu Sinan and her at their honeymoon hotel.
She delivered a powerful monologue, denouncing his greed and asserting that despite the darkness he saw, the world was filled with genuine kindness and sincere love that would always shine bright. Overwhelmed and disbelieving, Lu Changdong was finally taken away by the police, paying the price for his crimes. In the aftermath, Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin began a new, ordinary life.
They moved into a simple home, and though they could no longer indulge in lavish spending, Jiang Lin promised Lu Siyue a happy life, and she vowed to be a good wife. Ling Ke remained steadfastly by Zhang Yujie's bedside, who was still in a coma. Ye Bochen comforted Ling Ke, assuring her that Zhang Yujie's vital signs were improving and she would soon awaken, touched by Ling Ke's unwavering presence. Ye Haimeng underwent surgery for her injuries.
After her recovery, Lu Siyu brought her to a tree, which she had once called her "withered tree." He had re-carved her name onto a plaque and adorned the tree with beautiful lights, bringing it back to life. He told her he had finally walked with her through adversity to reach the stars. Ye Haimeng, empowered, declared that in the future, she would grow into a towering tree, one that could independently withstand storms without relying on anyone.
She would use her own strength to protect everything she had and to live a passionate, vibrant life. Embracing by the beautifully lit tree, Ye Haimeng and Lu Siyu began their new, happy life together.
