The Fox's Summer Season 2 Episode 5 Recap
> The Fox's Summer Season 2 Recap
Li Yanshu carefully arranged candles while Junrui sat beside her, watching. She told him she hadn't been there for his past birthdays and hoped he would be happier this year, then helped him put on a birthday crown, calling him handsome. Junrui, who was celebrating his tenth birthday, pointed out that the candles looked like chocolate. Meanwhile, Gu Chengze and Gao Yang observed them from a distance. Gao Yang commented on Li Yanshu's unexpected motherly side.
Gu Chengze, wondering who the child was, asked Gao Yang. Gao Yang speculated it must be a very important person, then immediately jumped to the conclusion that Junrui was Li Yanshu and Gu Jinyun's biological son, claiming that this was why she had received a large sum of money from the Chairwoman years ago. Gu Chengze dismissed his "flawless and reasonable" deductions as nonsense, but Gao Yang insisted it was just like a TV drama.
Junrui's father, Han Zhipeng, arrived to pick him up and thanked Li Yanshu for remembering his son's birthday. He then invited Li Yanshu to Junrui's birthday party that evening, and Li Yanshu accepted after Junrui showed his enthusiasm. Gao Yang, recognizing Han Zhipeng as the Manager of Han Corporation, advised Gu Chengze to seize this opportunity to meet Li Yanshu's family, emphasizing that family approval is crucial for a relationship to succeed. Gu Chengze, despite his initial reluctance, agreed.
After preparing his appearance, Gu Chengze waited at the hospital exit. When Li Yanshu, Han Zhipeng, and Junrui emerged, they saw him. Han Zhipeng, recognizing Gu Chengze as Sheng Hong Corporation's President, thanked him for his attention to Li Yanshu at work and extended an invitation to the party. Li Yanshu tried to politely decline on Gu Chengze's behalf, claiming he was busy, but Gu Chengze quickly accepted.
As they walked away, Li Yanshu voiced her concerns to Gu Chengze, admitting that he wasn't well-suited for social gatherings and also revealing her strained relationship with her mother. She then explained that Junrui was her half-brother, the son of her mother and Han Zhipeng, and that he developed autism at two years old.
Li Yanshu bitterly recounted how her mother, in her opinion, selfishly abandoned her and her father in the past, and later, out of greed to secure her status in the Han family, risked an older-age pregnancy to have Junrui, leading to his condition. After this heartfelt revelation, they decided to put the heavy topic aside. As they walked hand-in-hand, Li Yanshu teased Gu Chengze about his stiff fingers, calling him nervous.
He denied it, claiming he felt insecure and that meeting her made him incredibly happy, almost like a dream. Li Yanshu, amused, asked if he was reciting lines from a dating guide, but he insisted he was being honest. When he asked for a reward, she asked what kind, and he gently kissed her forehead. As they neared the Han family home, Han Junyao, driving with Gu Jinyun, saw Li Yanshu and Gu Chengze together.
Concerned about Gu Jinyun, she quickly sped past, though Gu Jinyun noticed and commented on her driving. Gu Chengze and Li Yanshu separated before Han Junyao pulled over to let Gu Jinyun out. Han Junyao then confronted Li Yanshu, questioning Gu Chengze's presence and revealing she had invited Gu Jinyun to "watch Li Yanshu make a fool of herself." Li Yanshu clarified that Han Zhipeng had invited Gu Chengze.
Inside, Gu Jinyun presented numerous gifts, smoothly complimenting Xia Meng on her appearance. Gu Chengze, by contrast, seemed reserved and out of place. Xia Meng, clearly unhappy with Gu Chengze's behavior, made a pointed remark about his lack of social etiquette. To ease the awkwardness, Li Yanshu gave Gu Chengze a drawing board she had bought for Junrui and encouraged him to present it, accompanying him to Junrui's side.
The living room was adorned with balloons and ribbons, creating a warm, festive atmosphere. Junrui had already eaten earlier due to his fixed routine. During dinner, Xia Meng offered Gu Chengze a serving of steamed bass, but he politely declined. When she humbly suggested her cooking might not be good, Gu Chengze bluntly agreed, criticizing the Longjing prawns for being too oily and salty.
Li Yanshu tried to diffuse the tension by saying it was likely just undercooked, but Han Zhipeng interjected, saying he taught Xia Meng and could tell by simply looking. After dinner, Xia Meng asked Li Yanshu to help with the dishes. In the kitchen, she probed Li Yanshu about her relationship with Gu Chengze, accusing them of flirting and calling Gu Chengze ill-mannered and "brainless."
Li Yanshu defended him, stating he was merely her boss and had been invited by Han Zhipeng. Xia Meng then questioned Li Yanshu about Han Junyao and Gu Jinyun, warning her to be wary of Han Junyao trying to steal Gu Jinyun. Xia Meng, convinced that Gu Jinyun, as the true successor of Sheng Hong Corporation, was a more suitable match than the adopted Gu Chengze (who had no inheritance rights), urged Li Yanshu to pursue him.
Li Yanshu repeatedly insisted that she and Gu Chengze were just colleagues and asked her mother to stop interfering in her personal life. Unbeknownst to them, Gu Chengze stood just outside the door, overhearing their entire conversation. His face became grim, and he silently turned and walked away. Meanwhile, Han Junyao and Gu Jinyun shared laughs looking at old school photos, reminiscing about a classmate nicknamed "Brother Dice."
Han Junyao then showed Gu Jinyun a photo of her youthful mother, whom Gu Jinyun didn't recognize, and revealed that her mother had passed away when she was thirteen. Later, Han Zhipeng invited Gu Jinyun to play Chinese chess, which Gu Jinyun readily accepted, praising Han Zhipeng's wisdom and his philosophical insights about life mirroring a chess game. Li Yanshu soon realized Gu Chengze had left without a word. She tried calling him, but his phone was off.
Frustrated, she returned home and spent the night sleeping in the living room, repeatedly calling his name and his phone, but to no avail. The next morning, Gu Chengze emerged from his room, completely ignoring Li Yanshu's questions about his whereabouts and why he hadn't answered her calls. She was baffled by his sudden coldness.
Later, during a photo shoot, Helena, the product spokesperson, threw a tantrum, making unreasonable demands, such as ordering four custom coffee drinks only to "smell" them, and causing problems for Li Yanshu. Han Junyao, unable to tolerate Helena's behavior, confronted her and even threatened to pour coffee on her head, causing Helena to storm off. While Han Junyao felt satisfied, Li Yanshu knew she would bear the brunt of the consequences.
She went to apologize to Helena and found Gu Chengze there. Helena, playing the victim, accused Li Yanshu's team of unprofessionalism and rudeness, specifically mentioning Han Junyao's threat. Gu Chengze, without asking for details, ordered Li Yanshu to apologize, stating that while details were unimportant, she had failed to control the situation and create an unpleasant scene. Despite her resentment, Li Yanshu apologized to Helena with a forced smile.
After Li Yanshu left, Helena tried to manipulate Gu Chengze, threatening to terminate the cooperation unless he personally took over as the project lead. However, Gu Chengze, a seasoned businessman, calmly dismissed her threats, warning her that ending the partnership would cause her more trouble than Sheng Hong Corporation. Helena, defeated, relented. That evening, Li Yanshu confronted Gu Chengze, noting his distant behavior over the past few days.
She explained Helena's initial unprofessionalism and Han Junyao's intervention, questioning why he made her apologize when he didn't even know the full story. Gu Chengze remained cold, reiterating that her failure to control the situation was the issue, not whose fault it was, and that he only cared about the project's successful completion. When Li Yanshu went upstairs, she found him packing.
He told her she could stay in the apartment until she found a new place, implying he was moving out. Li Yanshu was angered and confused by his sudden change in attitude. When he asked if she was going to stay at David's place, implying she enjoyed burdening him and staying at his home, Li Yanshu retorted it was none of his business. Gu Chengze agreed it wasn't his business.
Li Yanshu then challenged him, asking if his current coldness was how he treated someone he claimed to like. Gu Chengze sarcastically asked if she particularly enjoyed being pursued by two men simultaneously.
