The Fox's Summer Recap, Plot, Synopsis

> The Fox's Summer

The Fox's Summer Synopsis

Gu Chengze is the president of Gu Department Store Group and the adopted son of Mrs. Gu of the Gu family.

Mrs. Gu wants her grandson, Gu Jinyun, to take charge of the company, but Gu Jinyun is not interested in it.

So Mrs. Gu assigns Gu Chengze the task of guiding Gu Jinyun into the position.

During this time, Gu Chengze meets the fashion designer Li Yanshu and accidentally learns that she and Gu Jinyun had a relationship before, which had a deep impact on Gu Jinyun.

Gu Chengze uses Li Yanshu as a breakthrough and recruits her into the company.

When Gu Jinyun sees that Li Yanshu has joined the company, he is determined to pursue her again, but Li Yanshu has no more affection for him.

When Mrs. Gu learns of this, she strongly opposes it and asks Gu Chengze to separate them, which allows Gu Chengze and Li Yanshu to come together.

In the end, with the company of Li Yanshu, Gu Chengze is able to overcome all kinds of difficulties and find his real mother, while Gu Jinyun grows up after experiencing many things and takes up his job successfully.

The Fox's Summer Recap

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Episode 1 Recap

Gu Chengze arrived at Sheng Hong Department Store, where employees were diligently preparing for the young President's inspection. Known for his keen intellect, sharp insight, and a penchant for perfection, Gu Chengze's arrival was heralded by extensive cleaning and sanitization efforts. Employees formed neat lines to greet him, but the inspection quickly turned serious. Gu Chengze, who detested lying above all else, questioned an employee about a strong smell.

Despite her attempts to explain it away with air freshener and perfume, he deduced she had either smoked in the storage room or worn her scarf in a smoky area and tried to cover the scent. He immediately fired her, reiterating that lying to the President was an absolute violation of company rules. Meanwhile, high above, Li Yanshu was enjoying a glass of wine on an airplane when a foul odor disrupted her peace.

A middle-aged man nearby was scratching his feet, oblivious to others. Li Yanshu confronted him, complaining about the smell in the business class cabin. She then deliberately bumped into him, spilling red wine all over him. Feigning innocence and appearing helpless, she apologized repeatedly. The man, flustered, went to clean himself in the restroom. While he was away, Li Yanshu slyly applied lipstick to his seat.

Upon disembarking, the man found red marks all over his pants, drawing stares and laughter from passersby. Back at Sheng Hong, Gu Chengze, who was the Gu family's adopted son, was tasked by Mrs. Gu to mentor her biological grandson, Gu Jinyun, into taking on a role at the company. Gu Jinyun, however, was notoriously indifferent to corporate responsibilities.

Gu Chengze meticulously prepared for the launch of the "NEW FACE" online shopping platform, intending to use the event to formally appoint Gu Jinyun as Chief Operating Officer. Despite the efforts of Gu Chengze's team to locate and bring Gu Jinyun to the venue—even attempting to apprehend him from his hotel where he comically tried to evade them—Gu Jinyun remained elusive.

At the launch, the Chairwoman announced Gu Jinyun as the new COO, but instead of his physical presence, a pre-recorded video message played. In the video, Gu Jinyun nonchalantly stated that appointing him to a leadership role was not a wise decision and declared a three-day holiday for all employees. Gu Chengze, unfazed, skillfully spun Gu Jinyun’s antics as a display of creativity and innovation, aligning it with the spirit of "NEW FACE" and approving the unexpected holiday.

After landing, Li Yanshu first visited her father's grave, offering him a drink, before returning home. Her mother, stepfather Uncle Han, and stepsister Han Junyao awaited her. The reunion was tense, as Han Junyao immediately displayed her resentment towards Li Yanshu. At dinner, Li Yanshu's mother shared how she had arranged multiple blind dates for Li Yanshu, to Han Junyao's obvious disapproval. Uncle Han then offered Li Yanshu a position at his company.

The following day, Han Junyao confronted Li Yanshu, questioning her qualifications and accusing Uncle Han of favoritism for appointing Li Yanshu as a manager. Uncle Han admonished Han Junyao for her lack of respect and ethical conduct, especially concerning Li Yanshu's mother, Xia Meng. He then challenged Han Junyao, stating that if she could secure the processing contract for Sheng Hong Corporation's new online shopping website, she would be promoted to Vice President.

Han Junyao, without an appointment, stormed into Gu Chengze’s office. Gu Chengze expressed his displeasure at her lack of manners. Han Junyao pitched her Han Corporation as a leader in clothing manufacturing, highlighting their impressive market share. Gu Chengze, however, dismissed her, stating that Han Corporation operated in a "low-end market" that did not align with Sheng Hong's focus on high-value clients, and thus, he would not collaborate with them or individuals of a "low-level." Han Junyao, visibly frustrated, left.

Later, Gu Chengze attended a blind date arranged by Mrs. Gu. His secretary informed him of the appointment with Ms. Su, President Su's daughter, and also mentioned Gu Jinyun was still at the police station, to which Gu Chengze quipped that he could stay there longer if he liked it so much.

Before the date, Gu Chengze met with his doctor, who reassured him about his health, mentioning that his willpower training seemed to be effective against recent mild allergic reactions. At the cafe, Gu Chengze intentionally focused on work, making Ms. Su wait for an extended period. When she confronted him, he coldly explained his presence was merely out of respect for Mrs. Gu and her parents.

Ms. Su, infuriated, lashed out, reminding him he was only an adopted son of the Gu family and calling him a "bastard" before storming off. In the same cafe, Li Yanshu was on her own blind date, having deliberately dressed unconventionally to deter her suitor. She bluntly asked about his finances, revealing her mother's reputation for getting rich through divorce. Her date retorted by criticizing her and her mother.

Li Yanshu fired back, calling him disgusting for his pretense of wealth. As a news report about Gu Jinyun played on the cafe television, her date, angered, threw wine in her face, accusing her of being a gold-digger. Li Yanshu defiantly declared that Gu Jinyun, the man on TV, was someone she once couldn't get rid of, implying a past relationship. Her date, misunderstanding, believed she was referring to Gu Chengze and stated that Gu Chengze didn't like women.

Li Yanshu confidently retorted that Gu Chengze only disliked women other than her. At that moment, Gu Chengze, having overheard his name, approached their table. Li Yanshu, seizing the opportunity, brazenly played along, pretending to recognize him as her ex-fiancé, "Ze," and dramatically regretting not accepting his proposal at the Eiffel Tower. Unexpectedly, Gu Chengze's body reacted by involuntarily embracing her tightly.

Li Yanshu, initially playing along, became alarmed as he held her with surprising force, his face contorted in pain. She struggled to push him away, calling him a "lunatic" and threatening to pursue legal action if he continued to lie about their non-existent relationship. She finally pushed him off, declaring her hatred for his surname and her lack of time for him.

As she walked away, the waiter stopped her for the bill, which Li Yanshu, without hesitation, instructed them to give to her "boyfriend," Gu Chengze. He denied any relation, but the waiter insisted, having witnessed their embrace, and presented him with the bill totaling 2,188 yuan.

Episode 2 Recap

After an intense encounter at a café where she pretended to be a "delinquent" to deter a blind date, Li Yanshu was confronted by a server about her unpaid bill. She mockingly told them to give it to "her boyfriend," pointing to Gu Chengze, who had inadvertently hugged her moments before due to a sudden physical reaction. Gu Chengze immediately clarified that Li Yanshu was not his girlfriend, but the server insisted they were just hugging.

Li Yanshu then declared that the surname Gu was the one she despised the most among all family names. Later, Li Yanshu returned home, having removed her heavy makeup to reveal her true appearance. Her mother, Xia, questioned her about the blind date, eager to hear if the "young talent in finance" was suitable.

Han Junyao, Li Yanshu's stepsister, interjected, mocking Li Yanshu for not having a boyfriend at her age and implying that she and her mother were freeloaders in the Han household. Li Yanshu sharply retorted, advising her mother to secure the house in her name lest she be kicked out, and warning Han Junyao not to interfere in her family matters.

Han Junyao, infuriated, stormed off, but not before Li Yanshu's mother reminded her that the house belonged to her husband, Han Junyao's father. Despite her tough exterior, Li Yanshu harbored a deep sadness, feeling stigmatized by her mother's remarriage to a wealthy man. Dejected, Li Yanshu walked along the street when a speeding car brushed past her, causing her to stumble. The driver, Gu Chengze, immediately got out to check on her.

Unbeknownst to him, this was the same woman he had encountered at the cafe, now without her disguise. Gu Chengze, not recognizing her, expressed concern for her injury and offered medical compensation, even handing her his business card and urging her to call if she experienced any issues. Gu Chengze was in a rush because his secretary had located Gu Jinyun at a club. Under orders from Mrs. Gu, he needed to bring Gu Jinyun home.

Upon arrival, Gu Jinyun was highly agitated, threatening to jump from a high place if Gu Chengze approached. Gu Chengze, unfazed, challenged him to do it, stating he would even "help" if Gu Jinyun intended to die, rather than becoming a burden as a disabled person. Despite the confrontation, Gu Jinyun refused to return with Gu Chengze, reiterating his disinterest in managing the company and claiming he had already given up his inheritance rights. Exasperated, Gu Chengze left him there.

Meanwhile, Han Junyao, after seeing on TV that Gu Jinyun had been appointed "New Face" Chief Operating Officer, decided to leverage his past relationship with Li Yanshu to secure a collaboration with Sheng Hong Department Store. She approached Gu Jinyun, who was at a pool, and informed him of Li Yanshu's return. Gu Jinyun, who evidently still had deep feelings for Li Yanshu from their past, eagerly signed the collaboration contract in exchange for Li Yanshu's information.

Feeling triumphant, Han Junyao marched into Gu Chengze's office and dramatically tossed the signed contract onto his desk. Gu Chengze, who generally disliked rudeness, remained indifferent to her posturing, simply advising her to carry her politeness with her in the future. Gu Chengze was dismayed that Gu Jinyun had so recklessly signed the "New Face" outsourcing contract.

Despite his meticulous and germaphobic nature, he had no choice but to enter Gu Jinyun's luxurious but utterly chaotic residence, where Gu Jinyun was still recovering from a hangover. Gu Chengze woke him and forcibly brought him home. Mrs. Gu was furious about the contract, but Gu Chengze calmly suggested that since Gu Jinyun had signed it, he should be responsible for following through with the project. With the Sheng Hong collaboration secured, Han Junyao's arrogance at the office soared.

When Li Yanshu requested a half-day leave due to her twisted ankle from the car incident, Han Junyao publicly ridiculed her, accusing her of feigning illness and demanding to see a sick leave note. Simultaneously, Gu Chengze and Gu Jinyun were interviewing new designers. Zhu Dan, an employee from Han Corporation, presented her portfolio, which included designs secretly photographed from Li Yanshu's work.

Impressed by the collection, Gu Chengze immediately hired Zhu Dan, who also signed a declaration stating the designs were her original work, free of any external claims. The Innerwear Design Exhibition opened, and Li Yanshu found herself face-to-face with Gu Chengze once more. This time, Gu Chengze recognized her as the woman he had bumped with his car, accusing her of feigning injury and deafness to defraud him of medical expenses.

Li Yanshu retorted, suggesting he was merely trying to flirt with her. Their conversation quickly devolved into a heated argument, with Gu Chengze recalling her as the "delinquent" from the coffee shop. Before Gu Chengze could further confront Li Yanshu, he noticed a lingerie design called "Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Han Corporation's exhibition booth. The design was attributed to Zhu Dan.

Recalling his previous encounters with Li Yanshu, Gu Chengze concluded that she was a deceitful person and had copied Zhu Dan's work. Zhu Dan brazenly accused Li Yanshu of plagiarism, drawing the attention of all the reporters at the exhibition who promptly turned their cameras towards Li Yanshu.

Episode 3 Recap

Reporters clamored around Li Yanshu as Zhu Dan accused her of plagiarism. Zhu Dan aggressively asserted that she was someone who always sought revenge and was not to be trifled with, implying Li Yanshu was threatening her despite having copied designs. Li Yanshu, however, maintained her innocence, challenging the accusers to prove they had witnessed her copying. As the commotion escalated, reporters pressed Han Junyao, Vice President of Han Corporation, for a statement.

Han Junyao, seizing the opportunity, declared on behalf of Han Corporation that Li Yanshu was officially dismissed due to the plagiarism allegations. This sudden dismissal left Li Yanshu reeling, but Gu Jinyun appeared from the crowd and quickly escorted her away from the scene. Once they were away from the commotion, Gu Jinyun demanded to know why Li Yanshu had left him seven years prior.

With tears in her eyes, Li Yanshu lied that Mrs. Gu had compelled her to leave, stating that she had accepted Mrs. Gu's money and was obligated to uphold her promise. Gu Jinyun angrily questioned if abandoning their relationship for money was truly worth it, declaring that as the heir to Sheng Hong Corporation, he could give her any amount of money she desired.

To make Gu Jinyun give up on her, Li Yanshu explained that taking his money would entail the tiresome burden of pretending to love him. Hearing this, Gu Jinyun was enraged, feeling that his years of affection had been reduced to a mere transaction, and in his fury, he slapped Li Yanshu. Li Yanshu then told him to never seek her out again and walked away without looking back.

Gu Jinyun, however, called out that they would never truly be even. Later, Gu Chengze instructed his secretary, Secretary Gao, to investigate how Gu Jinyun knew Li Yanshu and their relationship. Secretary Gao revealed that Li Yanshu was Gu Jinyun's first love, describing them as childhood sweethearts. He explained that about seven or eight years ago, Mrs. Gu discovered their relationship and vehemently opposed it.

She had tried to bribe Li Yanshu into leaving Gu Jinyun, even summoning Li Yanshu to the Gu family mansion. There, Mrs. Gu had disdainfully criticized Li Yanshu's ordinary family background, claiming that Gu Jinyun’s future partner must possess a prestigious family background, education, intelligence, and beauty. Li Yanshu, however, fiercely defended herself, questioning if Mrs. Gu's grandson was only worth such a small sum of money and asserting her defiance.

She even stuck chewing gum on the fish tank before departing, refusing to take the money. Secretary Gao added that Li Yanshu was a "tough girl" who had even managed to anger Mrs. Gu. As a result of this incident, Gu Jinyun had a major fallout with his grandmother, becoming rebellious and disobedient.

Secretary Gao speculated that Gu Jinyun's current wayward lifestyle stemmed from being deeply hurt by his first love, leading him to abandon belief in relationships and simply play the field. Gu Chengze realized that Gu Jinyun's rebellious behavior was indeed linked to this past event. Meanwhile, a distraught Gu Jinyun was found drinking heavily at a bar, having vomited multiple times. Despite his extreme germophobia, Gu Chengze personally went to retrieve him.

On the way home, Gu Jinyun repeatedly muttered Li Yanshu's name. Hearing this, Gu Chengze wondered if Gu Jinyun's current state was truly due to Li Yanshu. He immediately called Secretary Gao, instructing him to find Li Yanshu's address and contact information. Secretary Gao protested, citing his girlfriend's birthday, but Gu Chengze tersely told him to choose between his girlfriend and his job, prompting Secretary Gao to privately label Gu Chengze as a "dictator," "exploiter," "tyrant," and "devil."

A dejected Li Yanshu returned home, where a news report about the plagiarism scandal was playing. Han Junyao mockingly confronted her, and Li Yanshu's mother quickly interjected, defending her daughter. Han Junyao scoffed, claiming Li Yanshu had admitted guilt in front of reporters. Uncle Han intervened, admonishing Han Junyao for her irrational decision to publicly dismiss Li Yanshu, which was a tacit admission of guilt on behalf of Han Corporation.

Enraged, Han Junyao declared her intent to expel Li Yanshu and her mother from the house, accusing them of scheming for the Han family's wealth. Stung by the insults, Li Yanshu picked up her bag and left the house, declaring she would no longer be a "parasite." Li Yanshu wandered the streets alone and found herself at a bar her late father used to frequent. Feeling helpless, she was overcome by a painful memory.

In the flashback, her heavily intoxicated father pleaded with her to bring her mother back, lamenting that he had lost everything. A younger Li Yanshu had urged him to accept that her mother was gone for good, while her father, full of regret, apologized for his past mistreatment. As Li Yanshu sat in the bar, lost in her memories, Secretary Gao, who had been searching for her, spotted her and immediately called Gu Chengze with her location.

Gu Chengze arrived at the bar and found Li Yanshu. He offered her a job in the "New Face" design department, but she reacted with sarcastic disbelief, pointing out that she had just been fired for plagiarizing New Face's designs and that Gu Chengze himself was her initial accuser. Gu Chengze calmly stated that he was offering her a chance to start anew, as no other company would hire her.

Li Yanshu, in a drunken state, scoffed at his "charity," accusing him and his family of being hypocritical. Losing patience, Gu Chengze told her to leave. As she prepared to depart, Li Yanshu drunkenly threw a bottle, which was caught by Secretary Gao, who had just arrived. A bystander, mistaking the situation for a domestic dispute, intervened. Li Yanshu, still intoxicated, claimed not to know Gu Chengze, and the bystander concluded it was a lovers' quarrel.

As they prepared to leave, the bar owner demanded payment, and Gu Chengze instructed Secretary Gao to settle the bill. Just then, a nauseous Li Yanshu suddenly vomited all over Gu Chengze, causing the extreme germaphobe to nearly have a breakdown.

Episode 4 Recap

Gu Chengze discovered a drunken Li Yanshu collapsed on the street. Despite his severe germophobia, he found it unsafe to leave her there. When Secretary Gao, whom Gu Chengze had ordered to carry Li Yanshu into the car, excused himself to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday, Gu Chengze reluctantly decided to carry Li Yanshu into his car himself. Unable to get her address from the unconscious woman, he had no choice but to take her back to his home.

The following morning, Gu Chengze's chairwoman arrived at the company, immediately noticing an injury on his face. Secretary Gao informed the chairwoman that Gu Chengze's face had been hit by someone at a bar the previous night. The chairwoman chastised Gu Chengze, reminding him that as Sheng Hong Corporation's President, his image was crucial and any tabloid exposure would negatively impact the company's stock.

Her primary reason for visiting, however, was to urge Gu Chengze to find Gu Jinyun and guide him to take over the company. Gu Chengze assured her he had a plan, quoting the proverb that "diseases of the heart must be treated by heart medications and whoever tied the bell must be the one who takes it off," implying he had found Jinyun's "heart medication."

Secretary Gao, realizing Gu Chengze was about to reveal Li Yanshu's reappearance in Jinyun's life, quickly feigned a severe cold, coughing repeatedly to interrupt. His diversion proved effective, as the chairwoman, concerned for his health, left without pressing for further details about Gu Chengze's plan. Meanwhile, Li Yanshu awoke in a large, unfamiliar, and impeccably clean house, disoriented about her whereabouts.

Her curiosity led her to explore the premises, observing Gu Chengze's penchant for black, white, and grey, his collection of identical watches, and even amusing herself by trying to operate a "dancing pad" device. Discovering her own soiled clothes outside the bathroom, she suddenly recalled getting drunk the night before and realized Gu Chengze had brought her home.

To her amazement, she deduced that the germophobic Gu Chengze had, due to his extreme compulsion, even put on an eye mask and used a toilet brush to "cleanse" her. Finding her own clothes unusable, she decided to borrow some of Gu Chengze's. Stepping out in Gu Chengze's oversized clothes, Li Yanshu unexpectedly ran into Zhu Dan on the street, her former colleague who had plagiarized her work and then turned the tables on her.

Zhu Dan, still self-righteous, mocked Li Yanshu's appearance and the consequences of her alleged plagiarism. Li Yanshu retorted, exposing Zhu Dan's true nature as a shameless plagiarist. The exchange escalated as Zhu Dan cruelly insulted Li Yanshu's mother, claiming she was a "shameless woman" who got rich through divorce and even tried to have a child at an old age who ended up having autism.

Though enraged, Li Yanshu restrained herself, knowing that becoming powerful was the only true way to retaliate. She then stunned Zhu Dan by announcing she had accepted a job at NEW FACE and that Zhu Dan would now report directly to her. Li Yanshu arrived at Sheng Hong Corporation, immediately causing a stir among the staff.

She brazenly approached the front desk, claiming to be the girl Gu Chengze brought home from the bar last night, whose clothes he tore and hadn't paid for. She demanded he meet her at the reception within three minutes, much to the receptionist's dismay and Assistant Lu's panic when relaying the bizarre message to Gu Chengze.

When Gu Chengze appeared, Li Yanshu immediately asked him to pay her cab fare, referring to him as her "husband," which the taxi driver overheard, leading to further misinterpretations. Gu Chengze, annoyed, quickly paid the fifty-seven yuan, then confronted Li Yanshu about wearing his clothes. He furiously grabbed her collar, accusing her of being a "liar, an unreasonable harasser, without manners or education," and a "pollutant" who deserved to be left on the roadside.

To make him release her, the quick-witted Li Yanshu impulsively kissed his cheek. This audacious act stunned the onlookers and Gu Chengze himself, whose heart began to race, leading to an unexpected nosebleed. Internally, he questioned his strong reaction to her, wondering if her charm was too great or if he was a virgin. Gu Chengze dragged Li Yanshu into his office, demanding to know why she had come.

Li Yanshu straightforwardly reminded him that he had offered her a job at Sheng Hong at the bar the night before. Gu Chengze, realizing she was the only one capable of managing Gu Jinyun, agreed to keep her. He initially offered her an assistant position in the design department, but Li Yanshu boldly countered, demanding to be in charge of the entire NEW FACE Design Department.

Gu Chengze, citing her recent graduation, lack of experience, and the plagiarism scandal, refused to hand over such a critical department. Instead, he offered her the role of President's Executive Assistant, allowing her to handle NEW FACE operations for a probationary period of six months, after which he would assess her performance for a formal appointment. Li Yanshu accepted the deal. As she was about to leave, Li Yanshu again asked Gu Chengze for money.

He listed all her debts, including the cab fare, expensive wine, and the substantial cost of his ruined clothes, even accusing her of taking advantage of him when he "saw her body." Gu Chengze, stressing his high moral standards and how her messiness "polluted his eyes," detailed the immense cost of his "polluted" belongings, including a unique hand-woven wool carpet and his now-unwearable clothes, estimating the total damage in the tens of thousands of yuan.

Li Yanshu, exasperated, threatened to tell his employees that he "slept with her and didn't pay." Gu Chengze comically feigned fainting, but Li Yanshu saw through the act. Seeing her persistence, Gu Chengze gave in, retrieving some money from a sterilized cabinet, which Li Yanshu found utterly bizarre. He then brought her to a high-end clothing store, declaring he didn't want her "swindling around" in his clothes anymore. He instructed the staff to get her the best clothes and send the bill to his office, while Li Yanshu, unconcerned with style, simply demanded the highest quality.

Episode 5 Recap

Li Yanshu secured money from Gu Chengze and, under his arrangement, was dressed in the most expensive clothing from Sheng Hong Department Store. The simple and adorable transformation momentarily made her forget her unhappiness, brightening her demeanor. Meanwhile, Li Yanshu's mother, Xia Meng, frantically tried to call her but couldn't get through.

She was anxious because she and her husband, Mr. Han, were taking their young son, Junrui, to Shanghai for his autism treatment and were worried about missing their flight. Before leaving, Xia Meng asked her house helper to tell Li Yanshu to call her back, explaining that they might stay in Shanghai for a few days because a foreign expert specializing in autism was there for an exchange program.

Soon after Xia Meng and Mr. Han departed, Li Yanshu returned home. The helper informed her of her mother's trip and request. Seizing the opportunity of her mother and stepfather's absence, Han Junyao had already packed Li Yanshu's belongings and placed them in the living room, ready to expel her.

Han Junyao, claiming Li Yanshu had promised to leave, told her that with her mother gone, no one would persuade her to stay and called her a "bastard from an unknown family." Li Yanshu recalled a moment eight years prior when she first arrived at the house. A young Han Junyao had snatched a memento left by Li Yanshu's father and thrown it on the ground, declaring she would never accept Li Yanshu as her sister.

That incident solidified Han Junyao's determination to drive Li Yanshu out. Now, Han Junyao taunted, "I've said before, I'd definitely kick you out. Congratulations, your wish has come true." Li Yanshu, already weary of this so-called "home," retorted that Han Junyao was still "one step away from her wish coming true," and that her "shameless mother" was next. Han Junyao challenged her to "try harder," implying her mother would not be so easily removed.

With her luggage in hand, Li Yanshu walked out of the Han family mansion without looking back. Having nowhere else to go, a desperate Li Yanshu ended up at Gu Chengze's apartment, hoping to stay for a few days. Gu Chengze was surprised to find her there, asking how she got past security. She lied that her house had been repossessed by the landlord and asked if she could stay for a couple of days, promising they would sleep separately.

Gu Chengze flatly refused, asking, "Do you think that's possible?" and told her to "sleep on the streets." Left with no other option, Li Yanshu curled up in the building's hallway. In the early hours of the morning, a neighbor discovered her. Seizing the chance, Li Yanshu spun another lie, claiming she was Gu Chengze's girlfriend and that he had angrily thrown her out after a fight.

The righteous neighbor, believing her story, confronted Gu Chengze at his doorstep, scolding him for his lack of gentlemanly conduct. Gu Chengze vehemently denied she was his girlfriend, while Li Yanshu, playing along, implied she was a "secret female underling." The kind neighbor then offered Li Yanshu a place to stay at his home. Gu Chengze, feeling an unexpected pang of discomfort at the thought of her staying with another man, sarcastically told the neighbor to take her.

However, after the neighbor left, he relented and ordered Li Yanshu into his apartment. Li Yanshu initially promised to stay only one night but then admitted she was penniless and would need to stay longer, offering to clean his apartment in return. Gu Chengze rejected her offer, stating he didn't need a cleaning lady, "much less a liar," but still allowed her to stay.

For two consecutive days, including the night he brought Li Yanshu back from the bar, Gu Chengze had been sleep-deprived from dealing with her. This unusual lack of rest caused the usually meticulous Gu Chengze to doze off in his office, perplexing Secretary Gao and two other high-ranking executives who had come to report on marketing plans. Secretary Gao remarked that he had never seen Gu Chengze doze off before 11 AM.

Gu Chengze grumbled that it was "all because of that damned woman," claiming he hadn't slept well for two days and even had to bathe her. His subordinates misinterpreted this, causing them to apologize and offer to leave. Gu Chengze quickly tried to clarify that it wasn't what they thought, but Secretary Gao feigned ignorance and urged him to rest. Li Yanshu continued to stay at Gu Chengze's home.

One day, Gu Chengze discovered she was ill with a high fever and sweating profusely. Although he initially considered leaving her to fend for herself, his better nature won out, and he decided to make her ginger juice, telling himself it was just "gentleman's manners." In her delirium, Li Yanshu continuously mumbled, "Dad, don't leave me." This moved Gu Chengze deeply, and he spent the entire night by her side, comforting her and repeatedly assuring her, "Dad's not leaving."

The next morning, Li Yanshu woke up to realize she was over an hour late for her first day at Sheng Hong. She panicked, frantically rushing to get ready. At the same time, Gu Chengze was on the phone with his doctor, explaining that he had met a "natural-born liar" and now experienced intensely strong allergic reactions whenever she lied—a new phenomenon for him, as he usually had his condition under control.

He even mentioned he had fainted the day before. The doctor, acknowledging the unusual severity, advised him to carry his medication at all times and promised to discuss it further upon his return to the country. After the call, Li Yanshu finally emerged. Surprisingly calm, Gu Chengze informed her that her half-day salary would be docked for being late and instructed her to report directly to the HR department.

He then called Secretary Gao, ordering him to find Gu Jinyun and bring him back immediately. Gu Chengze then told Li Yanshu, "You better not let me down. As long as you can make Gu Jinyun stay in the company, even if you lie, I can tolerate it for a while." Li Yanshu's arrival at Sheng Hong immediately sparked whispers and speculation among the employees.

They openly wondered about her special connection to the President, recalling his presence at the lingerie show and hearing that he had even bought her clothes, concluding she "is really something." These conversations were overheard by Zhu Dan, who harbored ill intentions towards Li Yanshu.

During Li Yanshu's introduction as the President's Special Assistant in the design department, Zhu Dan aggressively confronted the department director, questioning Sheng Hong's hiring standards and publicly accusing Li Yanshu of copying her work at the lingerie show. She challenged how someone "with no professional ethics" could join the company, warning of negative industry perception.

The director calmly stated that hiring Li Yanshu was "the President's order" and redirected Zhu Dan to the President's office with any further inquiries, before showing Li Yanshu to her new seat and reminding her to report directly to her from now on.

Episode 6 Recap

Upon seeing Zhu Dan's lingerie design at the company, Li Yanshu immediately noticed significant flaws in the materials and instructed staff not to proceed with the order for mass production. Zhu Dan initially protested, but Li Yanshu, as the true designer, knew exactly how the underwear should be made. Realizing her error, Zhu Dan conceded and took the samples back for re-patterning.

Meanwhile, company employees speculated about Li Yanshu’s relationship with President Gu Chengze, recalling that he had been present at a lingerie show and even purchased clothes for her. During a company meeting, Gu Chengze specifically arranged for Gu Jinyun to attend, hoping his presence would encourage him to remain with the company by allowing him to see Li Yanshu.

Gu Jinyun, who had been struggling with insomnia and was reluctant to be at the meeting, was startled to see Li Yanshu, instantly losing all signs of drowsiness. At the meeting, Gu Chengze sternly criticized the marketing team for not aligning their sales proposals with the company's significant investment in the "NEW FACE" website.

He then introduced Li Yanshu as his new assistant, temporarily in charge of the NEW FACE Design Department, and Gu Jinyun as the COO of NEW FACE, urging them to cooperate. After the meeting, Gu Jinyun pulled Li Yanshu aside, demanding to know why she had come to Sheng Hong. He cynically suggested she might have changed her mind about him after learning the entire Sheng Hong Group belonged to him.

Li Yanshu considered his words a profound insult, kicked him, and walked away. Returning home from work, Gu Chengze was infuriated to find his apartment in disarray, a result of Li Yanshu's stay. He immediately confronted her, ordering her to clean the room. Li Yanshu, acknowledging her fault and her temporary status as a guest, dutifully began tidying up the entire apartment, including the living room, kitchen, and corridors.

Gu Chengze meticulously supervised her efforts, even while Li Yanshu complained about being unable to reach high spots. At one point, a passerby remarked on Gu Chengze letting his "girlfriend" do all the work, but Gu Chengze dismissed the comment. After Li Yanshu finished, she offered to cook, but Gu Chengze refused, sternly telling her not to sleep in his bed. Later that night, Li Yanshu developed a high fever and mumbled about her father in her sleep.

Gu Chengze, moved by her vulnerability, stayed by her side all night, even feeding her ginger soup. The next morning, Li Yanshu woke up feeling better and was surprised, even suspicious, that Gu Chengze had cared for her. She prepared an elaborate breakfast for him, hoping it would secure her a daily ride to work.

However, Gu Chengze refused her request, laying down clear rules: no interruptions, no physical contact, no relationship beyond boss and subordinate, and absolutely no shared rides to prevent company gossip. He emphasized that his reputation was far more important than hers. Gu Chengze then left for work, instructing Li Yanshu not to waste the food. At the office, Gu Chengze was surprised to find Gu Jinyun had arrived early. Later, Gu Jinyun and Department Head Jin inspected the design department.

Department Head Jin expressed confusion over Li Yanshu's decision to redo the lingerie samples. Li Yanshu explained that the current finished product deviated significantly from the original design concept, from cut to material. Gu Jinyun interjected, derisively questioning Li Yanshu's authority to comment on design philosophy, pointing out that Zhu Dan was listed as the designer. Li Yanshu then revealed that Zhu Dan had copied her designs.

Gu Jinyun dismissed this, accusing Li Yanshu of deliberately causing trouble and delaying production out of personal spite. He criticized her for denying others' work and ordered that the original samples be immediately sent for mass production. Li Yanshu followed him out, warning him that proceeding without modifications would lead to dire consequences. Gu Jinyun, however, stood firm, demanding she simply follow his orders, leading to the production of the lingerie, which surprisingly achieved good sales.

Li Yanshu, annoyed, challenged Gu Jinyun, stating she would wait with "coke and popcorn" to see him become a laughing stock. That evening, the sales department held a victory party for Zhu Dan's successful design, attended by Gu Chengze and Li Yanshu. Zhu Dan gloated and demanded Li Yanshu fulfill her earlier bet to treat everyone to popcorn and coke, implying Li Yanshu should now pay for the entire meal instead.

After some discussion and Gu Chengze's indifferent agreement, Li Yanshu reluctantly paid the 2,888 yuan bill. Li Yanshu later expressed that it was her honor to treat everyone, especially Gu Chengze. When staff offered Li Yanshu a ride home, she declined, saying she lived nearby. After everyone else left, Li Yanshu attempted to get a ride from Gu Chengze, who instead questioned where she got so much money.

Li Yanshu initially claimed she borrowed 3,000 yuan from a friend, enough for a month's expenses, and suggested that since she had money, she could move out. Gu Chengze then told her to find her friend and stay elsewhere. Li Yanshu grumbled about her "friend" being stingy and hard-hearted, hinting at Gu Chengze himself. Pushed by Gu Chengze to tell the truth, Li Yanshu confessed that the money was actually his, stolen from his safe.

Episode 7 Recap

The episode opened with Li Yanshu confessing to Gu Chengze that she had taken money from his safe, an action she immediately regretted, apologizing and trying to explain her needs. Gu Chengze, after listening to her excuses, demanded her ID and passport as collateral for the three thousand yuan she took. As they left, he also teased her about the smell of barbecue on her, which she humorously countered was the scent of expensive food.

Soon after, chaos erupted at Sheng Hong Corporation as the Customer Service Department was inundated with a flood of complaints regarding the newly launched "New Face" lingerie. Customers reported issues ranging from painful steel rings to inaccurate sizing, poor fit, and uncomfortable material.

Gu Chengze, visibly enraged by the severe quality issues of their first batch of products since the "New Face" launch, immediately ordered full refunds for all complaints and an emergency meeting within five minutes to address the crisis. During the urgent meeting, Zhu Dan vehemently denied any flaws in her design, swiftly shifting blame to the Production Department.

The Production manager retorted, revealing that Special Assistant Li Yanshu had previously requested Zhu Dan to re-sample the lingerie, implying the fault lay with Zhu Dan's original design. Upon hearing this, Gu Chengze promptly ordered Li Yanshu to be brought to the meeting. However, Li Yanshu was not at the office; she was out on a trivial errand for Gu Jinyun – tracking down his lost dog and buying a cake.

Gu Jinyun reacted arrogantly, questioning Li Yanshu's competence and even implying she was waiting for tips, despite her being Gu Chengze's special assistant, not his personal babysitter. Upon Li Yanshu's return to Sheng Hong, a colleague immediately informed her that Gu Chengze wanted to see her. In his office, Gu Chengze sternly rebuked her, demanding to know why she allowed the product to launch knowing it was flawed.

Li Yanshu explained that she had advised Zhu Dan to re-sample and had even warned and attempted to stop Gu Jinyun, who ultimately made the final decision and refused to listen to her. Gu Chengze dismissed her defense, emphasizing that as department head, she failed in her responsibility to report the critical issue to him. He expressed regret for entrusting her with the Design Department, stating she lacked the capability and responsibility for the position.

Distraught, Li Yanshu later confided in her neighbor while drinking alone. She admitted that Gu Chengze was not her boyfriend, clarifying that she was merely staying at his house. Her neighbor offered comforting words, reminding her that being scolded by a boss was normal and encouraged her to find a way to make amends. This interaction, unbeknownst to Li Yanshu, was observed by Gu Chengze from a distance.

Inspired by the conversation, Li Yanshu spent the entire night developing a comprehensive re-branding proposal for "New Face". The following morning, Gu Chengze entered Li Yanshu's room only to find she had already left. While looking around, he discovered a hand-drawn manuscript for the "Midsummer Night's Dream" lingerie. He then recalled that Zhu Dan had only presented photographs of her designs during her job application, not original hand-drawn manuscripts.

This realization led him to suspect that Li Yanshu was the true designer of the lingerie and that he had been mistaken about her. Later at a company meeting, Li Yanshu presented her innovative re-branding proposal, centered on securing the popular celebrity Helena as the new spokesperson for "New Face". Gu Jinyun immediately objected, citing concerns about his own image due to recent romance rumors with Helena, arguing it would portray him as a man lacking genuine charm.

Gu Chengze, however, publicly overruled Gu Jinyun's objections, endorsing Li Yanshu's proposal and ordering Mike to proceed with contacting Helena's manager. Afterward, Gu Jinyun confronted Li Yanshu, accusing her of choosing Helena deliberately, but she curtly dismissed his accusation. After the meeting, Gu Chengze continued his investigation into Zhu Dan. He requested her original application materials and compared her submitted "design draft"—a printed photograph—with the genuine hand-drawn manuscript of "Midsummer Night's Dream" he had found.

The clear differences between the printed photo and the hand-drawn original, including the fact that only the application draft bore Zhu Dan's signature, solidified his suspicion that she had been dishonest. Meanwhile, Li Yanshu successfully obtained Helena's manager's contact information and quickly scheduled a meeting. Her colleagues celebrated this progress, but Gu Jinyun appeared to temper their enthusiasm, warning that a meeting didn't guarantee success. Li Yanshu sharply retorted that the company's Chief Operating Officer seemed to have too much free time.

Episode 8 Recap

Gu Chengze, after reviewing two design drafts, realized that the one bearing Zhu Dan's signature was drawn by a left-hander, while the unsigned one, which he now knew to be Li Yanshu’s, was not. He concluded that Zhu Dan had plagiarized Li Yanshu’s design, regretting that he had previously accused Li Yanshu and even had her fired from the company. Meanwhile, Li Yanshu returned home exhausted to find her room meticulously clean and her bed neatly made.

She initially wondered if a house-servant or her aunt had visited, but Gu Chengze appeared and told her he was responsible. He then warned her that if she ever made a mess again, she would have to move out immediately. Li Yanshu promised not to. She then noticed a new cell phone on her nightstand, asking if it was for her.

Gu Chengze confirmed it was, explaining that it was to ensure he could reach her at any time, requiring her to keep it on 24/7. He then added that the cost would be deducted from her next paycheck. Li Yanshu protested, complaining that other presidents provided phones for their assistants, but he was making her pay for a phone she didn't even like or choose.

Gu Chengze simply told her the phone was now hers and she would still pay for it if she broke it. Later, Li Yanshu was worried about Gu Chengze’s unusual absence from the office, telling a colleague that it was concerning for him to miss work without informing anyone, especially since he usually took her on business trips. She admitted that she felt a sense of purpose when he needed her and that he would struggle without her.

Xia Meng returned home and was told by Han Junyao that Li Yanshu had already moved out. Upon checking Li Yanshu’s room, Xia Meng discovered an old photograph of Li Yanshu and Gu Jinyun, recognizing him as the Gu family boy from Sheng Hong Group.

At the same time, Han Junyao met with Gu Jinyun, who was furious about the lingerie incident and openly declared his intent to make Li Yanshu’s life difficult, stating that no one had ever dared to offend him in such a way. Li Yanshu, knowing she needed Gu Chengze's help to secure Helena as a spokesperson given Gu Jinyun’s obstruction, approached him late one night with a homemade flatbread.

She subtly tried to convince him to accompany her to meet Helena. Gu Chengze was initially dismissive, stating he wouldn't intervene every time an employee faced a problem. Li Yanshu then dramatically recounted her recent misfortunes, from a car accident to the plagiarism accusation, hinting that these all happened after meeting "a certain person." She then admitted that Helena's attitude had subtly changed and suspected someone was interfering, creating misunderstandings.

She pleaded with Gu Chengze to come along to demonstrate Sheng Hong’s sincerity. Gu Chengze did not give a direct answer, simply telling her she would know his decision the next day. The next day, Gu Chengze drove Li Yanshu to Helena’s filming location. Li Yanshu, with a large suitcase, expressed annoyance at being treated like a servant. During the drive, she attempted to lighten the mood with jokes and riddles, which Gu Chengze found unamusing.

Upon arrival, they found the area swarmed with fans, making it impossible to approach Helena. To gain access, Li Yanshu devised a plan: she disguised herself as a heavily pregnant woman experiencing sudden labor pains, with Gu Chengze playing the role of the distraught father. Their act convinced the security guards, who rushed them into Helena’s resting area. Inside, Helena was visibly annoyed to see Li Yanshu but softened upon recognizing Gu Chengze.

Li Yanshu tried to present their proposal, emphasizing not just an endorsement but also Helena’s involvement as a designer to elevate her image. Helena, however, twisted Li Yanshu's words, implying her current image was inadequate. She then brought up Li Yanshu's past plagiarism scandal, mentioning her dismissal and the fact that the original designer was from Sheng Hong. Helena accused Li Yanshu of trying to use her fame to clear her name.

In an attempt to salvage the cooperation, Li Yanshu humbly admitted her past mistake and offered to withdraw from the project if Helena’s reluctance stemmed from her presence. Gu Chengze then interrupted, revealing his true stance. He declared that Sheng Hong valued splendor with elegance and luxury with warmth, and he had initially believed Helena embodied these qualities. However, he now saw her as sharp-tongued and superficial.

He then directly insulted Helena, pointing out her age compared to younger supermodels and questioning her intelligence should she pursue design. He then grabbed Li Yanshu and pulled her away. Li Yanshu was furious, accusing Gu Chengze of hindering their success and asking why he couldn’t tolerate Helena’s insults. Gu Chengze questioned if she truly believed in achieving goals by any means, to which she defiantly agreed, reminding him that she had even tolerated his initial accusation of plagiarism.

She still insisted that Helena was the ideal spokesperson and urged Gu Chengze to return and apologize. Gu Chengze refused to apologize and threatened that she didn’t need to return to his place if she insisted on it. As dusk fell, their car was almost out of gas, and the nearest station was twenty kilometers away. They spotted a guesthouse.

Due to a large number of fans staying in the town, all other hotels were full, leaving only a utility room available at the guesthouse. Gu Chengze was reluctant, but Li Yanshu, determined to find a place to stay, quickly agreed despite the awkwardness of a man and woman sharing a single room. The guesthouse staff requested both their IDs for registration.

Episode 9 Recap

Gu Chengze found it unbearable to stay in the small-town inn, so he and Li Yanshu waited in the car until nightfall. Li Yanshu, ignoring Gu Chengze's objections, bought a large variety of snacks and began eating them in the car. She laughed as she ate, the snacks bringing back childhood memories, a stark contrast to Gu Chengze's cold expression. Despite his hunger, he maintained a composed facade.

Back at the company, employees enjoyed a rare relaxed day in President Gu's absence. Only Secretary Gao was worried, wondering about the President's whereabouts and well-being. He knew Gu Chengze had extremely high standards, especially concerning food, refusing anything with an unclear origin. Secretary Gao would have been shocked to see that a famished Gu Chengze secretly ate the spicy strips Li Yanshu bought.

As night fell, the mountain weather turned, and rain began to pour, making it impossible to spend the night in the car. Li Yanshu managed to convince the hotel's front desk attendant to let her take the last available room, which was a storage room. Late into the night, the rain intensified, accompanied by lightning and thunder, causing Gu Chengze to feel immense fear in the car. He eventually relented and moved into the storage room.

After a night's sleep, Gu Chengze woke up dismayed to find himself in such a dirty and cluttered room. The sight triggered a strong physical reaction, and he nearly fainted, collapsing onto Li Yanshu. Meanwhile, Li Yanshu's mother, Xia Meng, sought out Gu Jinyun. Upon seeing Xia Meng, Gu Jinyun recalled their first meeting years ago at a parents' meeting. Gu Jinyun, Li Yanshu, and Han Junyao were classmates, and Xia Meng had attended as Han Junyao's mother.

During this meeting, Gu Jinyun was surprised to learn that Xia Meng was also Li Yanshu's mother. Xia Meng explained that Li Yanshu was upset with her and had been unreachable lately. She asked Gu Jinyun to tell Li Yanshu to contact her family if he saw her. Gu Jinyun then stared at a photo Xia Meng gave him—a student-era picture of him and Li Yanshu.

Xia Meng told him that Li Yanshu rarely treasured anything, but this photo was kept alongside her late father's belongings. Li Yanshu drove Gu Chengze's car directly to the company from the countryside, while Gu Chengze returned home due to severe diarrhea from eating the spicy strips. Upon arriving at the company, Li Yanshu received Helena's signed collaboration contract.

Gu Chengze's earlier blunt words had enlightened Helena, making her realize that her youth was fleeting and she shouldn't act without boundaries, leading her to readily sign with "New Face." Just then, Gu Jinyun arrived in the design department. Li Yanshu proudly showed off the signed contract, but Gu Jinyun remained silent. Gu Jinyun later confronted Li Yanshu, pulling out their old photo and questioning if she still had feelings for him.

He believed she still loved him, but since she had left without a word back then, he still viewed her as the one at fault. Thus, Gu Jinyun continued to make things difficult for Li Yanshu. During a photoshoot, Helena accidentally fell from a ladder. Li Yanshu, attempting to protect Helena, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital. Gu Chengze, hearing the news, grew extremely worried about Li Yanshu but was unsure how to express his concern.

Episode 10 Recap

Gu Chengze headed to the hospital. Outside Li Yanshu's room, he observed Gu Jinyun lingering but ultimately leaving without entering. Only after Gu Jinyun departed did Gu Chengze step into Li Yanshu's room. Li Yanshu expressed surprise at his presence, noting his usual avoidance of hospitals, even when he was sick himself. Gu Chengze, ever serious, stated he was there to express sympathy to an injured employee on behalf of the company, framing it as work.

Li Yanshu, however, demanded more sincerity, asking if her injury qualified as occupational and if she would be compensated for lost wages and psychological damages. Gu Chengze sarcastically offered an award, which Li Yanshu promptly countered by requesting a financial reward instead, citing Helena's potential compensation in a similar situation. She openly admitted her strong affection for money, declaring it the only thing in the world that would not betray her.

Later, Li Yanshu, still recovering, called Gu Chengze, insisting he bring her specific dumplings because her usual delivery service was too busy. Initially resistant, Gu Chengze relented, even asking Secretary Gao for the location of a dumpling shop near the company. While he was delivering the dumplings to Li Yanshu, Gu Chengze received a furious call from Mrs. Gu, Gu Jinyun's grandmother.

Mrs. Gu was incensed that Gu Chengze had invited Helena, Gu Jinyun’s rumored girlfriend, to be a product spokesperson, accusing him of intentionally making things worse for Gu Jinyun and the family's image. Li Yanshu, overhearing, disparaged Mrs. Gu, calling her a "crafty old scoundrel." Gu Chengze immediately silenced Li Yanshu, explaining that he was an orphan adopted by the Gu family and owed Mrs. Gu a debt of gratitude for raising him, thus forbidding any disrespect towards her.

Li Yanshu, feigning sympathy, claimed her situation was similar. Just as Gu Chengze seemed to believe her, Li Yanshu's mother called, exposing Li Yanshu's lie about her parents being deceased. Gu Chengze, disgusted by her deceit, called her a "liar." Their brief argument escalated into a comical struggle over the dumplings, which were partially spilled. Meanwhile, Xia Meng visited her daughter, Li Yanshu, at the hospital.

Li Yanshu was surprised by her mother's presence, wondering how she knew her room number, and suspected Gu Jinyun had revealed it. Xia Meng expressed concern for Li Yanshu's well-being and urged her to leave Sheng Hong and return to work at Han Corporation, also suggesting she move back home.

Li Yanshu bristled at the idea of returning to "their own company," pointing out her mother only had half the shares in Han Corporation and that the company was essentially run by Han Junyao. Xia Meng insisted Li Yanshu would have a better future at Han Corporation, implying Li Yanshu was only at Sheng Hong for Gu Jinyun. Li Yanshu vehemently denied this.

Upon her discharge, Xia Meng again pressed Li Yanshu to move back home, but Li Yanshu adamantly refused. Gu Chengze, who offered to pay for Li Yanshu's hospital expenses, walked away, declaring he didn't "talk to liars." Back at home, Gu Chengze discovered his specially customized, expensive body metric machine was broken. He immediately confronted Li Yanshu, who, after trying to feign ignorance, admitted to accidentally bumping into it.

Furious, Gu Chengze accused her of being not only a liar but also a "trouble maker" who had completely disrupted his life, also questioning if she herself had a problem for needing to use the machine daily. Soon after, Li Yanshu, having received her first paycheck, found it was for zero yuan. She stormed into Gu Chengze's office, confronting him.

Gu Chengze explained the zero balance was due to the cost of two dresses she had taken from Sheng Hong, for which he claimed he was only holding the receipt, not paying for them. Li Yanshu accused him of being "despicable," leading to a heated argument.

As she tried to retrieve her expensive watch, which Gu Chengze had confiscated after accusing her of feigning poverty while wearing such a valuable item, she stumbled and fell onto Gu Chengze, just as Secretary Gao walked in, causing an awkward moment. Li Yanshu, still irate, declared she had endured enough from Gu Jinyun, who constantly made her run errands for his rumored girlfriend, such as finding dogs and sending cakes, and acting as his private nanny.

She threatened to quit if Gu Chengze didn't retract the "damn receipt." Gu Chengze warned her that quitting would leave her homeless. Li Yanshu then attempted to play the "little weak girl" card, but Gu Chengze rebuked her, emphasizing the professional environment of his office as the "heart of Sheng Hong Corporation" and the "center of the entire department store industry," demanding she express any dissatisfaction at home.

Following this, Li Yanshu managed to return the two dresses to a department store by arguing that the store's failure to provide her with a receipt on purchase (instead giving it to someone else) had caused the return to be overdue. Gu Chengze later instructed Secretary Gao to place the returned dresses in his car, stating he would pay for them himself, acknowledging his own oversight.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Gu had already been scolding Gu Jinyun for his constant scandals, urging him to exercise self-control and maintain a proper image as the heir of Sheng Hong. Despite Gu Jinyun's excuses, Mrs. Gu was resolute against Helena being associated with the family, even calling her a "female demon." Adhering to Mrs. Gu's demands, Gu Chengze met with Helena, requesting she clarify her rumored relationship with Gu Jinyun to reporters to prevent further escalation.

He explained that while scandals might benefit her as an artist who relies on such exposure, Gu Jinyun, as Sheng Hong's heir, had strict image requirements. Helena, though initially reluctant due to Gu Chengze’s blunt approach, agreed to clarify their friendship to the reporters. However, she then provocatively told the media that a "very special" man had recently appeared in her life, a man whose behavior and style were unlike anyone she had ever encountered, implying Gu Chengze.

This immediately ignited a new rumor, suspecting a romance between Helena and Gu Chengze, to his dismay. Troubled by the burgeoning new scandal, Gu Chengze immediately ordered Secretary Gao to contact the PR Department to refute the rumors. At that moment, Li Yanshu burst into his office, without knocking, excited about a new marketing strategy.

She proposed leveraging the new "Helena-Gu Chengze" scandal to film a promotional video for their products, suggesting it would save significant advertising costs and act as an ideal "propagation medium." Gu Chengze vehemently rejected the idea, stating he would not compromise his principles or image for mere advertising money, especially when the scandal had already damaged both his and Gu Jinyun's reputations, and must be corrected immediately.

Li Yanshu persisted, arguing that even a massive budget wouldn't succeed without a strong entry point, which the current scandal provided. Gu Chengze accused her of having a mind full of "dishonest practices" and being willing to exploit anyone, even him, the President of Sheng Hong. Li Yanshu countered that they only needed to film his back, not his face. Gu Chengze remained firm in his refusal, asserting his authority as the company's "master."

Li Yanshu then suggested there was no rush to clarify the rumors and that her video plan was the most effective for product promotion, urging him to reconsider. Gu Chengze consulted Secretary Gao, who suggested letting the operations department vote on the proposal. Despite Gu Chengze's reservations, preparations for filming Helena seemed to begin.

Episode 11 Recap

Li Yanshu’s recent campaign proved to be a resounding success. With the video gaining immense popularity, orders for “New Face” soared, increasing fivefold and continuing to rise. Li Yanshu breathed a sigh of relief, and her subordinates rejoiced. Only Zhu Dan harbored deep jealousy and resentment.

Amidst the celebration, Zhu Dan took to a video website, posting a defamatory message against Li Yanshu, labeling her an "infamous plagiarist, arrogant, and full of lies," claiming Li Yanshu was fired from her previous company for copying a renowned designer and then used improper means to join Sheng Hong Corporation, calling her video "malicious hype." Gu Chengze, who happened to be browsing the same site, immediately countered, dismissing the accusations as "confusing right and wrong."

He asserted that Li Yanshu had not plagiarized and had been framed, and that her entry into Sheng Hong was legitimate. Zhu Dan challenged his claims, questioning his authority and demanding proof. Gu Chengze, responding anonymously, declared that he knew the truth, had evidence, and would reveal it when the time was right, adding sarcastically if Li Yanshu could afford to hire him as a troll.

Although Gu Chengze maintained his usual composed demeanor, he was pleased with Li Yanshu’s performance. To celebrate the marketing success, a victory party was arranged for Helena, the video’s spokesperson, with instructions for everyone to dress formally. Gu Chengze then went to Li Yanshu’s apartment, waking her by banging on her door. He informed her that she needed to attend an evening party, her own victory celebration.

Li Yanshu initially teased him, recalling his past skepticism and calling her ideas "crooked ways," while now her success was "the real thing." She quipped that "black cat or white cat, it is a good cat as long as it can catch a mouse." Gu Chengze, reminding her he was her landlord and boss, told her to quickly get ready and dress formally.

When Li Yanshu claimed she had no formal wear, he presented her with the very dress she had previously returned, implying it was a gift, much to her delight. At the party, Gu Chengze took the stage, modestly stating that Helena was the true star due to her exceptional performance. He also thanked the staff for their efforts and, notably, acknowledged Li Yanshu for her creativity, raising a toast to her.

While most celebrated, Han Junyao and Zhu Dan watched with envy. Han Junyao approached Zhu Dan, remarking on how difficult her position at Sheng Hong must be now. She then suggested they work together to drive Li Yanshu out, handing Zhu Dan Helena's design drafts and instructing her to arrange for samples immediately, with strict orders not to leak them. A few days later, as the "New Face" product launch approached, Li Yanshu was engrossed in final preparations.

To everyone's shock, Helena's and Li Yanshu's designs were identical, both featuring a distinctive butterfly motif. Helena, enraged, slapped Li Yanshu across the face and demanded Gu Jinyun immediately fire her and publicly apologize through a press conference, threatening a lawsuit. Li Yanshu, bewildered, protested her innocence, claiming she did not know how the butterfly design appeared on her sample and suggesting a sample master might have made a mistake.

Others dismissed her explanation as an attempt to shift blame, and Li Yanshu asserted she wouldn't be foolish enough to copy her own company's spokesperson's design. Someone recalled Li Yanshu had been warned by the company for a previous incident. At that critical moment, Gu Chengze intervened. He stated unequivocally that Li Yanshu was not the plagiarist and pointed to Zhu Dan. Zhu Dan vehemently denied it, claiming the design was Li Yanshu’s.

Gu Chengze countered that Zhu Dan had swapped the designs and revealed that her actions had been captured on the security cameras, which, unbeknownst to her, he had activated two days prior. Gu Chengze further exposed that Zhu Dan was also responsible for framing Li Yanshu in the previous plagiarism incident. He openly admitted his own past error in judgment, stating that he had falsely accused Li Yanshu and was now correcting his mistake publicly.

Presenting design drafts and a penmanship authentication report, he proved that the portfolio Zhu Dan had submitted for her interview was not her own work, but Li Yanshu's. The report confirmed the handwriting in the portfolio matched Li Yanshu's, not that of Zhu Dan, who is left-handed. Gu Chengze condemned Zhu Dan for plagiarizing others, framing Li Yanshu, and disregarding company interests, then promptly fired her. He then turned to Helena, apologizing for his oversight and asking for another chance.

Helena, understanding it was a misunderstanding and having received Gu Chengze's apology, agreed to let the matter go. However, Gu Chengze then pointed out that Helena had slapped Li Yanshu and, as Li Yanshu was innocent in the whole affair, he insisted Helena apologize, which she did. Later, Li Yanshu expressed her astonishment to Gu Chengze, admitting that no one had ever defended her like that before.

Gu Chengze acknowledged his earlier wrong in not revealing the truth sooner, but playfully added that her usual arrogance and tendency to blackmail made him hesitant, fearing she would become "arrogant up to the sky." Li Yanshu questioned if she was seen as a fairy in his eyes, to which he affirmed her talent and honesty, though wishing she would stop lying. He advised her not to shoulder burdens alone in the future and to confide in him.

Li Yanshu forgave him. She then asked about the sample room camera, which had supposedly never been turned on. Gu Chengze explained he had discovered someone spreading rumors about Helena online, traced the IP to an employee within their company, and activated the cameras, which revealed Zhu Dan.

Li Yanshu, realizing the anonymous online user who had defended her was actually Gu Chengze, teased him for arguing on the internet, but then expressed her happiness and thanked him for allowing Helena to apologize, as she was usually the one apologizing. After her dismissal from Sheng Hong, Zhu Dan approached Han Junyao for help, blaming her for her predicament and seeking reinstatement at Han Corporation.

Han Junyao sternly refused, stating that Han Corporation would not hire a designer with a reputation for plagiarism. She further rebuked Zhu Dan for her foolishness, pointing out that her actions had inadvertently cleared Li Yanshu's reputation. Meanwhile, Xia Meng and Han Zhipeng saw the news clarifying the plagiarism incident and realized they had wrongly accused Li Yanshu, causing her immense distress. Han Zhipeng suggested to Han Junyao that Li Yanshu be reinstated at Han Corporation.

Han Junyao reacted with fury, arguing that Li Yanshu, holding a key position at a major company like Sheng Hong, would never consider returning to their smaller firm. Han Zhipeng insisted that Li Yanshu's talent made her an asset to Han Corporation and stated his intention to discuss it with her, confident she would weigh her options. He declared his decision final.

Separately, Mrs. Gu confronted Gu Jinyun about his lingering rumors, which were escalating, and urged him to focus on marriage and starting a family. Gu Jinyun retorted that she was only focusing on the rumors and not the fivefold increase in company sales, and that trying to explain such rumors only made them worse.

Mrs. Gu dismissed his arguments, reiterating her desire for him to marry, contrasting his perceived idleness and frequent rumors with Gu Chengze’s diligent work, fearing the Gu family would be seen as having raised a "hedonistic son." She revealed she had already found two suitable women for him to meet, a prospect Gu Jinyun vehemently rejected. He promised to handle the rumors and left for the company.

Later, Xia Meng unexpectedly appeared at Sheng Hong Group and, without Li Yanshu’s knowledge, submitted a resignation letter on her behalf, hoping to facilitate Li Yanshu’s return to Han Corporation. Li Yanshu was taken aback upon learning of her mother's actions, questioning how she could do such a thing.

Episode 12 Recap

Xia Meng arrived at Sheng Hong Corporation and submitted Li Yanshu's resignation, hoping her daughter would return to work for Han Corporation. However, Li Yanshu adamantly refused to go back. To fend off her mother, Yanshu claimed she was staying at Sheng Hong specifically for Gu Jinyun and pleaded with her to stop interfering in her life. This conversation was overheard by Gu Chengze, who felt a strange pang of disappointment.

Back home, Xia Meng researched Gu Jinyun and, seeing the overwhelming number of scandals online, grew increasingly worried about her daughter. Unbeknownst to Yanshu, Xia Meng invited Gu Jinyun to their home as a guest. When Han Junyao called Li Yanshu, she accused Yanshu of manipulating her mother to curry favor with Gu Jinyun. Upon hearing this, Yanshu immediately rushed home and forcefully made Gu Jinyun leave the house.

Li Yanshu vehemently confronted her mother, demanding to know why she meddled in her affairs. Xia Meng explained that she merely wanted to get to know Gu Jinyun better, believing he was the man Yanshu liked. Yanshu retorted that her mother's vanity had caused her to be ostracized since childhood, a revelation that so shocked Xia Meng that she slapped her daughter. Yanshu then revealed that Gu Jinyun's grandmother disapproved of her common background.

Yanshu stated that she didn't want her first love to devolve into a vulgar negotiation because of her mother's intervention; instead, she chose to end the relationship herself, ensuring Gu Jinyun would hate her on her own terms rather than witnessing their relationship become utterly debased by her mother's involvement. Gu Jinyun, who was outside the door, overheard this heartbreaking confession and finally understood why Yanshu had so cruelly left him.

Gu Jinyun reminisced about his student days with Li Yanshu, recognizing the many hardships she had endured and realizing that Yanshu's inner pain ran far deeper than it appeared. From that point on, Gu Jinyun had quietly looked out for Yanshu, and a beautiful affection had blossomed between them. His thoughts were interrupted by a phone call from Xia Meng, who apologized for the day's embarrassing incident. Following this confrontation, Gu Jinyun was absent from work for two days.

When he finally reappeared at the company, he carried a bouquet of flowers, which he presented to Li Yanshu, startling her. Gu Chengze, witnessing the scene, felt a sense of unease. Gu Jinyun informed Gu Chengze that after a full day and night of contemplation, he had decided to pursue Yanshu. Gu Chengze's reaction was notably uncharacteristic, as he expressed disbelief and made sarcastic comments about Yanshu's personality and tidiness, highlighting his unusual concern for her.

From that moment on, Gu Jinyun began a campaign of overly solicitous care towards Li Yanshu, a sudden change that Yanshu found highly suspicious. She confronted Gu Jinyun, warning him to stop his new tricks. Gu Jinyun, putting his arm around Yanshu's shoulder, publicly declared his desire to reconcile with her. This display was witnessed by many employees in the company, eliciting widespread murmurs and whispers. Upon returning home, Gu Chengze questioned Yanshu, accusing her of playing hard to get.

He reminded her that he had overheard her tell her mother that she remained at Sheng Hong for Gu Jinyun, yet now she was refusing his advances. Yanshu became furious at Gu Chengze's accusation and stormed out to vent to her male neighbor. The neighbor shrewdly observed that Yanshu seemed to care deeply about Gu Chengze's opinion, a notion Yanshu immediately denied.

Episode 13 Recap

Gu Chengze was in a foul mood when the doorbell rang. Expecting Li Yanshu, he was surprised to find Gu Jinyun at the door. Gu Jinyun noticed a pair of high heels in Gu Chengze’s shoe cabinet while changing into slippers and expressed his astonishment, even asking if the woman was an underwear model. Seeing Gu Chengze's reluctance to explain, Gu Jinyun did not press the issue.

His real purpose for the visit was to ask Gu Chengze to lighten Li Yanshu’s workload or even transfer her to his department, hoping it would make it easier for him to date her. Gu Chengze firmly rejected this, stating his policy against mixing work and personal relationships. Gu Jinyun even jokingly suggested Gu Chengze fire Li Yanshu for his convenience, which Gu Chengze dismissed as absurd. Just then, the doorbell rang again.

Gu Chengze knew it was Li Yanshu, but Gu Jinyun, unaware, excitedly assumed it was Gu Chengze’s girlfriend and eagerly rushed to open the door. Gu Chengze quickly moved to block him, and as they both struggled for the door, they found no one outside. Li Yanshu, after ringing the bell, had seen Gu Jinyun’s shoes and retreated to her neighbor’s apartment, observing from a distance.

She only returned to Gu Chengze’s apartment after ensuring Gu Jinyun had left, having been tricked by Gu Jinyun's fake departure. However, unbeknownst to them, Gu Jinyun unexpectedly returned. Upon seeing Li Yanshu in her pajamas in Gu Chengze’s home, Gu Jinyun impulsively punched Gu Chengze. Gu Chengze and Li Yanshu explained the entire situation to Gu Jinyun, clarifying that Li Yanshu was merely lodging there temporarily and nothing was happening between them.

Gu Chengze explained that Li Yanshu's presence was no different from a pillow, and he didn't need to inform Gu Jinyun about every "pillow" he added to his home. Gu Jinyun countered that this "pillow" used to be his, sparking Li Yanshu's outrage against their "objectification of women." Gu Jinyun, still unconvinced, asked if Gu Chengze had even a tiny bit of affection for Li Yanshu. Gu Chengze admitted only feeling pity for her.

Li Yanshu then declared her complete disinterest in Gu Chengze, explaining their relationship was strictly employer-employee and landlord-tenant, and asserted that she would not even be friends with a man as particular and meddlesome as him, even if he came out of the closet.

This escalated into a bickering match, with Li Yanshu accusing Gu Chengze of being a demanding robot who complained about her messing up his "library-like" home, and Gu Chengze ordering her to shut up according to their tenant agreement. Gu Jinyun, amused by their squabble, was eventually told to leave by both of them. As he departed, Gu Jinyun vowed to keep a watchful eye on them.

Gu Chengze then chided Li Yanshu for agitating Gu Jinyun, to which she sarcastically replied that she had no brain, like a pillow. That night, Gu Jinyun tossed and turned, tormented by dreams of Li Yanshu and Gu Chengze together. The next morning, he confronted Gu Chengze and insisted on moving into his house.

Gu Chengze presented a complex and lengthy set of "Tenant Rules," specifying meticulous organization and penalties for violations, noting that even Li Yanshu managed to follow them, and that these rules were specifically designed for her. He then added that if Gu Jinyun moved in, he would also provide nightly tutoring on company management, including detailed financial reports. Hearing this, Gu Jinyun quickly changed his mind about moving in, feigning an urgent matter and swiftly leaving.

Gu Jinyun finally managed to get Li Yanshu to agree to a date. However, Li Yanshu made it unequivocally clear that there was no going back for them because her feelings for him had faded.

Gu Jinyun, brimming with self-confidence, argued that no woman could resist a man of his quality, comparing himself favorably to Gu Chengze, whom he described as a difficult, workaholic germaphobe with a bad temper, who had no girlfriend despite his grandmother’s repeated efforts to arrange blind dates.

Li Yanshu explained that seven years had passed since they last saw each other, and he had no idea what she had experienced or become during that time; he simply no longer understood her, even about simple things like her preferred movie genres or food (she preferred spicy hot pot over Western food). She admitted they had happy times but offered friendship, reiterating that they could never return to their past relationship.

She also criticized his public and childish pursuit, which was negatively impacting her work and life. Falling into despair again, Gu Jinyun confined himself to his room, refusing to eat or go out. Mrs. Gu, concerned, called Gu Chengze to reason with him.

Gu Chengze convinced Gu Jinyun to take a walk, and as they reminisced about their childhood (where Gu Chengze often took the blame for Gu Jinyun's mischievous acts), Gu Jinyun admitted his reflection on his own selfishness and unreliability. Gu Jinyun then asked Gu Chengze for help in understanding Li Yanshu better and winning her back.

Gu Chengze initially expressed reluctance to involve himself in romantic matters, suggesting that if she had rejected him, he should not pursue her so forcefully. Gu Jinyun argued that Li Yanshu had not rejected him, but merely wanted him to understand her more, citing an old photo she kept as proof of her affection and insisting that Gu Chengze, lacking romantic experience, could not understand the complexities of a woman’s heart.

Gu Chengze maintained his stance of not getting involved, but Gu Jinyun threatened to resign from the company if Gu Chengze did not assist him, leveraging Gu Chengze’s previous promise to support him if he took his management responsibilities seriously. He even implied that Gu Chengze might have other feelings for Li Yanshu.

After much persuasion and a veiled threat of resignation, Gu Chengze reluctantly agreed to help Gu Jinyun pursue Li Yanshu, on the condition that Gu Jinyun diligently returned to the company and focused on learning management. To fulfill his part of the agreement, Gu Chengze began to show an unusual and intense interest in Li Yanshu, meticulously collecting information about her.

For instance, he even gave Gu Jinyun a bag of Li Yanshu's trash, explaining that to truly understand a person, one must analyze their refuse to learn about their habits, health, and even menstrual cycle. Gu Jinyun was initially disgusted by this task but eventually agreed to the challenge. Gu Chengze also started asking Li Yanshu personal questions, like the brand of her face mask and pajamas.

This peculiar behavior led Li Yanshu to suspect that Gu Chengze might have a different sexual orientation. She discreetly shared her theory with Secretary Gao, who was already widely rumored to have a close, almost subservient relationship with Gu Chengze, even earning the nickname "Eunuch Gao" among staff. Li Yanshu's suspicions further fueled the office gossip, leading to a series of comical misunderstandings.

Secretary Gao, anxious to dispel rumors about his own sexuality, vehemently denied any romantic involvement with Gu Chengze, insisting he had a girlfriend. However, Gu Chengze’s constant demands on Secretary Gao's time, including a last-minute request to accompany him to a business banquet, forced Secretary Gao to fabricate excuses, even claiming it was his girlfriend’s birthday—a reason he admitted to having used before. He even recounted how Gu Chengze had previously forced him to assist Li Yanshu, leading to his then-girlfriend breaking up with him.

Episode 14 Recap

Upon Gu Chengze's persistent questioning, Secretary Gao recounted the entire story of how he met his new girlfriend. That very night, when he accompanied Gu Chengze to the bar to find Li Yanshu, it happened to be his girlfriend's birthday. Due to work, Secretary Gao was late, and his girlfriend became an ex-girlfriend. Later that evening, he found a young woman named Qiao Na, heavily intoxicated and unconscious, on the street.

Having no other choice, he took her in for the night. From that point on, Qiao Na developed an interest in Secretary Gao and seemed to follow him everywhere. Qiao Na, an aspiring writer gathering material for her novel, pressed Secretary Gao for interesting stories. He shared many details about Gu Chengze, which Qiao Na diligently recorded, planning to incorporate him into her novel.

Secretary Gao detailed Gu Chengze's famously low emotional intelligence, his intolerance for lies, and his extreme mysophobia, which led to a former employee being fired for a minor transgression. Qiao Na was fascinated and, realizing Secretary Gao was describing Gu Chengze, decided to title her novel "When the CEO Falls in Love." To prevent her from writing about him, Secretary Gao reluctantly agreed to go on dates with her, thus inexplicably acquiring a new girlfriend.

Gu Chengze then probed Secretary Gao, wondering if speaking ill of him had been the secret to finding a girlfriend. In an effort to better understand Li Yanshu, Gu Chengze overcame his mysophobia and began secretly photographing her belongings in her room when she was out. He compiled a detailed list of these items and excitedly presented it to Gu Jinyun, who, overjoyed, gave Gu Chengze a kiss, much to Gu Chengze's discomfort.

Later, Gu Chengze took Li Yanshu to a store, attempting to discover her preferred skincare products. When Li Yanshu revealed she couldn't afford her favorite brands and simply used what was available, Gu Chengze, undeterred, insisted on buying her the most exquisite items the store had to offer. Despite Gu Chengze's detailed list, Gu Jinyun failed to genuinely connect with Li Yanshu, realizing the information was superficial.

He accompanied her to an art exhibition, where Li Yanshu subtly corrected his mistaken identification of the artist as Leano, clarifying it was Renoir and that exhibition was in an adjacent hall. Just then, Han Junyao appeared, feigning surprise. She immediately began to taunt Li Yanshu, accusing her of shamelessness and warning Gu Jinyun not to be deceived by her again. Gu Jinyun, frustrated, retorted that Han Junyao was more annoying than his grandmother and should mind her own business.

Later, back at home, Li Yanshu inadvertently stumbled upon the agreement Gu Chengze and Gu Jinyun had signed. Reading its contents, she was enraged to discover that she was merely a "tool" designed to coax Gu Jinyun back to work. She realized that Gu Chengze's recent interest in understanding her was solely to assist Gu Jinyun, making her feel used and leading her to consider a plan for retaliation. Shortly after, Gu Chengze returned with a variety of night snacks.

He told Li Yanshu that Gu Jinyun had personally waited three hours in line to buy them for her, implying they were all her favorites. Li Yanshu picked up her chopsticks but hesitated to eat, remaining silent and leaving Gu Chengze perplexed by her lack of appetite.

Episode 15 Recap

Li Yanshu vehemently expressed her annoyance to Gu Chengze, accusing him of having evil intentions for bringing so many late-night snacks that would make her gain weight. Gu Chengze, perplexed, reminded her that she used to love such snacks. Li Yanshu clarified that while she might like many things, it didn't mean she could have them all.

When pressed further about her desires, she boldly declared her love for money, luxurious items, beautiful clothes, bags, shoes, expensive cars, huge mansions, and everything in Sheng Hong Department Store, asserting, "The better the goods, the more I like them." Gu Chengze, evidently displeased, threatened to throw the food away, prompting Li Yanshu to suggest giving it to stray animals instead.

Meanwhile, Secretary Gao returned home from a date with his new girlfriend, Meng Na, to discover that his apartment had been completely transformed. The old door and damaged lock were replaced with a state-of-the-art electric anti-theft door, and his television was upgraded to a massive new model. Meng Na explained that the old door was poor quality and she feared he couldn't see clearly on his old TV.

She cheerfully presented these changes as compensation for damaging his phone case previously, calling it "compensation for psychological damages." Secretary Gao felt overwhelmed, joking about being "provided for." Having learned of Li Yanshu's materialistic desires from Gu Chengze, Gu Jinyun tried to win her over. The next day, he presented her with a luxurious car, suggesting it was perfect for her commute, and offered to accompany her to view apartments. Li Yanshu rejected his gestures, finding them laughable.

She reminded him that his grandmother once tried to buy her away with a check, and now he was attempting to buy her back with a car and a house. Gu Jinyun insisted his actions were an expression of his love, but Li Yanshu refused, stating she had a meeting.

When Gu Jinyun persisted in asking what she truly wanted, Li Yanshu, wanting to get rid of him, jokingly declared her wish "to get promoted, have a salary increase, and reach the peak of my life." Gu Jinyun took Li Yanshu's casual remark seriously and immediately pleaded with Gu Chengze to promote her. Gu Chengze was hesitant, pointing out that Li Yanshu had only recently joined Sheng Hong Group and already held the special position of President's Special Assistant.

Gu Jinyun went as far as suggesting that Gu Chengze give Li Yanshu his own COO position. Gu Chengze rejected this as absurd and impractical, citing company regulations and the Chairman's potential disapproval. Gu Jinyun then offered to personally cover any salary increase Li Yanshu received, but Gu Chengze explained that unified payroll systems made such a private arrangement impossible and unfair to other employees.

After much persistence from Gu Jinyun, Gu Chengze finally agreed to find a solution for Li Yanshu's promotion and raise. Gu Chengze then instructed Secretary Gao to tell Li Yanshu to come to his office. Li Yanshu, however, was trying to avoid Gu Chengze, dodging his calls and discussing design matters with a colleague.

Her colleague mentioned that the upcoming shoot for Helena's new season advertisement was set to begin next week, and the previous shoot with Helena had been very difficult. Despite Li Yanshu's reluctance, Gu Chengze ordered that she be put in charge of Helena's next shoot. Li Yanshu angrily confronted Gu Chengze, arguing that her role was to manage the Design Department, not to serve celebrities, especially since she had already offended Helena during their last collaboration.

Gu Chengze reminded her that she was also the President's Special Assistant and that Helena's project was handled by his office. He stated that for someone with her "huge ambition in your career," she needed to be more professional and endure hardships for a promotion. Li Yanshu realized his true intention, accusing him of acting on information provided by Gu Jinyun. She then confronted him about the agreement he signed with Gu Jinyun, which involved exchanging her personal information.

She accused him of betraying her and violating her privacy, threatening to sue him. Gu Chengze dismissed her concerns as "making such a big deal" and called her "too sensitive" with a "character flaw." Enraged, Li Yanshu retorted that he was the one with the character flaw and, with a stinging remark about him having "no family," stormed out of his apartment. Gu Chengze watched her leave, quietly stating, "This is my home."

Leaving Gu Chengze's apartment, Li Yanshu sought comfort and poured out her grievances to her neighbor, David. She recounted how Gu Chengze had signed an agreement with Gu Jinyun, using her personal information as an exchange, labeling Gu Chengze a hypocrite. David tried to ascertain if her anger stemmed from the privacy breach or Gu Chengze's assistance in Gu Jinyun's pursuit.

Li Yanshu adamantly declared she was furious about both, continuously badmouthing Gu Chengze for his meddling and contradictory behavior until she eventually fell asleep on David's couch. Unbeknownst to her, Gu Chengze spent the entire night searching for her. The next morning, Li Yanshu returned home. Upon learning that she had spent the night drinking and sleeping at David's house, Gu Chengze became furious, losing his temper.

He chastised her, accusing her of lacking "the most basic upbringing" and self-respect, though his anger stemmed from deep worry. Offended, Li Yanshu stormed out again and headed to a nearby supermarket. There, a cashier told her that a "handsome man" had been searching for her last night with her picture on his phone. A cleaning lady corroborated the story, describing a "tall and thin handsome man" who had been diligently looking for her.

It was then that Li Yanshu realized Gu Chengze had genuinely been worried about her. Attempting to mend their strained relationship, Li Yanshu later intervened in Gu Chengze's blind date. She discreetly caused the date to leave by introducing herself as his assistant and making subtly provocative comments that offended the woman. Afterward, Li Yanshu returned to Gu Chengze's apartment with extra dinner she had cooked.

Gu Chengze initially refused to eat, stating he was not hungry and had no intention of forgiving her. Li Yanshu retorted that the food was hers and not an apology, calling him "petty." They exchanged a few more sharp words, with Gu Chengze stipulating that if she ran away from home again, she must return before midnight, calling it his "house rule." Li Yanshu then directly asked if he had been worried when he searched for her.

Gu Chengze, maintaining his composed facade, denied it, claiming it was merely a "basic sense of responsibility" he would extend even to a lost "cat or dog." Despite their bickering, Gu Chengze eventually ate the food, admitting it tasted "not bad," suggesting a quiet truce.

Episode 16 Recap

Gu Jinyun complained to Gu Chengze that Li Yanshu had been ignoring him lately. Gu Chengze then revealed that Li Yanshu had discovered their agreement. Before Gu Jinyun could ask for more details, Secretary Gao entered, announcing that Helena was causing a scene at the photo studio, refusing to shoot and demanding to see Gu Chengze. Gu Chengze instructed Gu Jinyun to handle the situation, stating he had no desire to meet the arrogant woman.

Gu Jinyun understood that appeasing Helena would ensure the shoot went smoothly, which would in turn please Li Yanshu. With this thought, he became exceptionally gentle and quickly mollified Helena. However, Li Yanshu remained unappreciative and continued to ignore Gu Jinyun, expressing no gratitude for his efforts and calling it simply his duty. The "New Face" product once again broke sales records, and Gu Jinyun had never felt such joy in his work.

He, Gu Chengze, and Li Yanshu went to the rooftop to celebrate. Li Yanshu and Gu Jinyun reminisced about their school days, finding Gu Chengze's serious demeanor amusingly similar to their old dean. Li Yanshu inquired about Gu Chengze's school life, and Gu Jinyun promptly described him as a model student, excelling academically and popular with girls. Li Yanshu then playfully asked what kind of girl Gu Chengze liked.

He simply smiled without speaking, leading Gu Jinyun and Li Yanshu to joke that he must be interested in men. Gu Chengze silently acknowledged he had someone in mind but couldn't bring himself to say it aloud. As time passed, everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction. Mrs. Gu was highly satisfied with Gu Jinyun's recent performance and decided to host a formal inauguration ceremony for him.

Meanwhile, Secretary Gao's relationship with his girlfriend, Meng Na, blossomed, but Gu Chengze frequently called him in for overtime. One day, Gu Chengze summoned Secretary Gao to attend an evening party, much to Meng Na's frustration. Gu Jinyun was greatly displeased by the idea of an inauguration ceremony, disliking such formalities. He used Li Yanshu as leverage, telling Gu Chengze he would not attend the ceremony unless Gu Chengze helped him pursue Li Yanshu.

Gu Chengze reluctantly agreed and went to Li Yanshu's workspace. Li Yanshu accidentally twisted her ankle and stumbled into Gu Chengze's arms. Gu Chengze expressed satisfaction with her work and, as he left, gave her an invitation card, asking her to dinner the following evening. The next day, Li Yanshu dressed up beautifully as Gu Chengze had instructed and arrived at the designated restaurant, awaiting his arrival.

When the waiter informed her that Mr. Gu had reserved the entire place, Li Yanshu was puzzled. Recalling their interactions, a flood of complex emotions washed over her – could she be falling for Gu Chengze? Just as she pondered this, resolute footsteps approached. Li Yanshu shyly turned, only to see Gu Jinyun's face. He held a large bouquet of roses, and romantic music began to play, but Li Yanshu felt a profound sense of disappointment.

At that very moment, Gu Chengze was anxiously awaiting the guest of honor's arrival at the inauguration ceremony he had prepared for Gu Jinyun. Gu Jinyun finally arrived, with Li Yanshu on his arm, suggesting to all the guests that they were a couple. Gu Chengze's gaze fixed on Li Yanshu beside Gu Jinyun. Neither Gu Chengze nor Li Yanshu paid much attention to Gu Jinyun's speech, each lost in their own disappointment.

Soon after, Li Yanshu quietly left the venue alone. Han Junyao followed Li Yanshu out, taunting her about finally getting together with Gu Jinyun. Li Yanshu retorted, revealing that Han Junyao had secretly harbored a crush on Gu Jinyun since their student days. Gu Jinyun then approached Li Yanshu, abruptly ending their conversation. Li Yanshu returned to the banquet and began dancing with Gu Jinyun under the watchful eyes of the guests.

Suddenly, Mrs. Gu stormed in, slapped Li Yanshu across the face, and then threw red wine on her, shocking everyone present. Mrs. Gu publicly berated Li Yanshu, calling her shameless, and handed her a check, demanding she leave Gu Jinyun. Li Yanshu dramatically tore the check, then intentionally provoked Mrs. Gu further by declaring she didn't want money, but only wished to become the future mistress of Sheng Hong.

Enraged, Mrs. Gu prepared to strike Li Yanshu again, but to everyone's surprise, Gu Chengze rushed forward, pulled Li Yanshu into his embrace, and shielded her from Mrs. Gu's blow. After the guests dispersed, Gu Chengze apologized to Li Yanshu on Mrs. Gu's behalf. However, Li Yanshu defiantly told him that compared to Mrs. Gu, she despised him even more, before turning and walking away. Gu Chengze questioned why she hated him, but Li Yanshu ignored him and left, leaving him bewildered.

Episode 17 Recap

Li Yanshu found herself at the center of public gossip after Mrs. Gu slapped her. Han Junyao seized the opportunity to mock Yanshu, who, in turn, retorted, pointing out Han Junyao's long-standing affection for Gu Jinyun since their student days and her continued lack of courage to confess. Han Junyao had always resorted to scheming against Yanshu because of Gu Jinyun's clear preference for her. Li Yanshu's student years were marked by hardship and misunderstanding.

She endured criticism from classmates who whispered that her mother was a "vixen" who "destroyed other families." Feeling ashamed of her mother, Yanshu once forbade her from appearing at school events under the identity of "Li Yanshu's mother," not wanting her classmates to know their relationship.

On another occasion, Mrs. Gu had summoned Yanshu, calling her a "disrespectful girl" and an "uneducated bastard," claiming Yanshu, "a little girl from an ordinary family," dared to "seduce" her grandson, Gu Jinyun, who was destined to inherit Sheng Hong Corporation. Mrs. Gu insisted that Gu Jinyun's partner must have a strong family background, high education, intelligence, and beauty, not an "uneducated bastard" like Yanshu.

Mrs. Gu told Yanshu to "wake up from her Cinderella dream," offered her money to leave Gu Jinyun, and demanded she disappear forever. Yanshu, however, defiantly questioned if Mrs. Gu's grandson was "only worth a little money" and declared that if she were hit, she would fight back, telling Mrs. Gu to return when she had "enough money." These past experiences left deep scars on Li Yanshu's fragile heart, hidden beneath her resilient exterior.

Mrs. Gu forcibly brought Gu Jinyun home from the event, locking him in his room to prevent him from seeing Li Yanshu again. Despite his protests, Mrs. Gu declared she would not tolerate his relationship with Li Yanshu. As night fell, Gu Chengze anxiously waited for Li Yanshu, repeatedly calling her, unable to sit still. Just as he was about to leave to search for her, he encountered Yanshu stepping out of the elevator.

They exchanged a silent glance, and Yanshu walked directly into her room, curling up on her bed like a wounded animal. The next morning, Gu Jinyun, noticing his grandmother's absence, used a clever trick to escape the house. However, he was quickly apprehended and brought back. In retaliation, Jinyun called the police, accusing his grandmother of illegal detention. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gu, having left home, immediately went to the company.

She confronted Li Yanshu, officially informing her as Chairwoman that she was fired. Yanshu said nothing, simply picking up her bag and leaving the company. Mrs. Gu then found Gu Chengze, demanding to know why he had hired Li Yanshu. Gu Chengze admitted he was aware of Yanshu's past with Gu Jinyun, explaining that his intention was to keep Jinyun at the company and prevent him from engaging in a debauched lifestyle.

Mrs. Gu ordered Gu Chengze to announce Li Yanshu's dismissal to the entire company, but he firmly objected, arguing that Yanshu was an excellent employee currently managing important New Face projects, and her termination would disrupt critical progress. Mrs. Gu dismissed his concerns, questioning whether the vast Sheng Hong Corporation would cease to function without a "measly Li Yanshu." She insisted Gu Chengze obey her as Chairwoman unless he also wished to leave.

Moments later, Mrs. Gu was called back home due to Jinyun's police report. Upon her return, the police informed her that Jinyun's accusation was valid and confining an adult was illegal. Mrs. Gu angrily gave Jinyun a final ultimatum: as long as she was alive, she would not allow him to be with Li Yanshu.

Feeling confined, Gu Jinyun expressed his despair on a call, likening his grandmother to an "old witch" in a "castle" with no "prince" to save his "Snow White." Feeling utterly devastated, Li Yanshu met David for drinks and became completely intoxicated. David had no choice but to take the extremely drunk Yanshu back to Gu Chengze's place. David then confronted Gu Chengze, scolding him for not intervening.

He passionately argued that Yanshu had done nothing wrong yet was publicly humiliated and lost her job, questioning how Gu Chengze, as her boss and superior, could have stood by idly. Gu Chengze helped Yanshu get comfortable and settled her into bed. As she drifted into a deep sleep, Yanshu spoke in her dreams, revealing her affection for Gu Chengze and lamenting that she had "lost her heart" to him. Gu Chengze smiled sweetly at her words.

Unexpectedly, the sleeping Yanshu pulled him into an embrace, and they ended up sleeping in the same bed for the night. The next morning, Li Yanshu woke up startled to find Gu Chengze sleeping beside her. As he stirred, she quickly pretended to be asleep. Gu Chengze quietly adjusted her blanket before slipping out of the room. Yanshu, however, remained wide awake, deeply worried and embarrassed by the "babbling nonsense" she might have uttered in her sleep.

Episode 18 Recap

Li Yanshu woke up and walked out of her bedroom to find Gu Chengze cooking breakfast. As he prepared the meal, she tentatively asked if she had done anything untoward while drunk the previous night. Gu Chengze claimed she had insulted him, her superior and landlord, prompting Li Yanshu to recall uttering something about losing her heart to him.

However, Gu Chengze twisted her words, suggesting she was worried about losing her salary, which was a great relief to her as he seemed unaware of her real confession. During breakfast, Gu Chengze questioned Li Yanshu about her frequent outings and drinks with David. Unaware of the underlying jealousy in his tone, Li Yanshu candidly praised David, describing him as a gentleman with tasteful conversation and an artistically decorated home.

Annoyed, Gu Chengze left the table before finishing his meal and retreated into his bedroom. Meanwhile, Secretary Gao, rushing along the street, bumped into his girlfriend, Meng Na. His gaze fell upon her numerous shopping bags filled with genuine designer brands. Meng Na quickly explained that she was merely purchasing these luxury bags for her overseas classmates, specifically mentioning friends in France who needed items from China.

Despite his lingering doubt, Secretary Gao reluctantly accepted her explanation and urged her to take the expensive bags home carefully. Later, he had to leave to buy President Gu a new pen, whose old one had broken. At Sheng Hong Corporation, Han Junyao learned that Li Yanshu had been fired. She gleefully relayed the news to Xia Meng. A shocked Xia Meng tried to call Li Yanshu, but received no answer.

She then rushed to Sheng Hong to find Gu Jinyun, only to learn he wasn't in the office. At the entrance, Xia Meng encountered Mrs. Gu and questioned why Li Yanshu was fired. Mrs. Gu sharply retorted, accusing Li Yanshu of seducing her grandson and insulting Xia Meng by comparing Li Yanshu's character to her mother's, implying Xia Meng herself was a "fox spirit" who destroyed families.

Xia Meng, refusing to be intimidated, fired back, accusing Mrs. Gu of jealousy towards younger women. The heated exchange ended with both women parting on bad terms. Infuriated by the confrontation, Mrs. Gu immediately ordered the termination of Sheng Hong's partnership with Han Corporation. Upon hearing this, Han Junyao stormed home, vehemently blaming Xia Meng and Li Yanshu for the fallout.

She accused Li Yanshu of using her charms to seduce Gu Jinyun, leading to Mrs. Gu's wrath and the contract cancellation. Uncle Han, however, urged calm and suggested speaking with Li Yanshu first to understand the situation. On her way to meet Uncle Han, Li Yanshu encountered Han Junyao. Their conversation quickly devolved into another sharp exchange, with Han Junyao suggesting Li Yanshu only sought to return to Han Corporation because she was fired from Sheng Hong.

Li Yanshu scoffed at the idea, reiterating her disinterest in marrying Gu Jinyun and refusing to apologize to Mrs. Gu. Li Yanshu eventually met with Uncle Han, who offered her a position back at Han Corporation, which she politely declined. He respected her decision but assured her that there would always be a place for her at Han Corporation should she ever change her mind.

He then urged her to visit her mother, Xia Meng, explaining that Xia Meng had been worried about her, even going to Sheng Hong and quarreling with Mrs. Gu, which, he revealed, was the direct cause of Sheng Hong terminating their contract. Li Yanshu was startled to realize the severity of this blow to Han Corporation. Determined to help Han Corporation, Li Yanshu bravely went to Mrs. Gu's home to negotiate the contract's reinstatement.

Mrs. Gu once again verbally attacked her, calling her a "daydreamer" for daring to covet Gu Jinyun. Just then, Gu Chengze returned home and witnessed the scene. For the first time, he defied Mrs. Gu, expressing his disappointment in her emotional interference, which he asserted would cause immense financial losses to Sheng Hong Corporation. He reminded her of his unwavering loyalty as her adopted son, but also stated his authority as CEO.

He then delivered an ultimatum, declaring that if Mrs. Gu did not retract her decision, he would reinstate Li Yanshu in three days and resume the cooperation with Han Corporation to mitigate the damage. Mrs. Gu, shocked by his unprecedented defiance, accused him of being bewitched by Li Yanshu and questioned his loyalty. Gu Chengze maintained his professional stance, stating he would defend any talented employee facing similar unjust treatment.

As Gu Chengze left, he instructed Li Yanshu to get into his car. Later, Secretary Gao again saw Meng Na, this time driving a luxurious sports car. Meng Na nervously explained it was borrowed from her "French friend," the same one for whom she previously claimed to buy luxury bags. She continued to conceal her wealthy background, fearing Secretary Gao's perceived dislike for rich people. He reassured her, telling her he trusted her because she was his girlfriend.

At Mrs. Gu's residence, Han Junyao arrived, offering Mrs. Gu a solution to break up Gu Jinyun and Li Yanshu, in exchange for resuming the partnership with Han Corporation. Han Junyao argued that locking up Gu Jinyun only exacerbated his rebellious tendencies. She proposed letting him be free, claiming that if he were truly exposed to Li Yanshu's deceitful nature, he would abandon her naturally. Believing Han Junyao could expose Li Yanshu's flaws, Mrs. Gu agreed to the plan.

Han Junyao then met with Gu Jinyun, returning his phone and informing him that he was free, but with two conditions: he had to report his whereabouts at all times and be available whenever she called.

Episode 19 Recap

After gaining his freedom, Gu Jinyun found himself under the constant supervision of Han Junyao. He managed to evade her for a short while, but Han Junyao quickly caught up to him. She informed him that his freedom came with conditions set by his grandmother: he had to report his whereabouts every thirty minutes and keep his phone on 24/7, ready to be called at any time.

Gu Jinyun grudgingly accepted, feeling as if he was still imprisoned, and compared the situation to having an electronic ankle cuff. Han Junyao insisted Gu Jinyun accompany her to watch a movie. He reluctantly agreed, but later tried to escape by feigning a stomach ache and going to the restroom, asking her to enter the cinema first. However, Han Junyao waited persistently outside the men's restroom door.

Exasperated, Gu Jinyun finally lost his temper, lamenting that being watched by her was no different from being locked up at home, and then forcefully left, with Han Junyao relentlessly pursuing him. Han Junyao caught up to Gu Jinyun again, questioning why Li Yanshu was so important to him that he would abandon his grandmother and the company.

Gu Jinyun denied this, but Han Junyao claimed his actions proved otherwise, stating she was merely helping his grandmother see Li Yanshu's true nature. Gu Jinyun retorted sarcastically, asking if she meant Li Yanshu was only with him for his money, then asserted that with his abundant wealth, Li Yanshu would never leave him. He pleaded for privacy, explaining he was meeting a friend.

Han Junyao, however, clarified that she was fulfilling her obligation to his grandmother and had the right to be present at any meeting he had. She agreed to his meeting with Li Yanshu but limited it to ten minutes, threatening to call his grandmother if he disagreed. Gu Jinyun conceded. Gu Jinyun quickly met Li Yanshu, but Han Junyao immediately intervened, making it impossible for them to speak privately.

Li Yanshu observed Han Junyao's behavior, realizing she was there to monitor Gu Jinyun. After precisely ten minutes, Han Junyao declared their time was up and dragged Gu Jinyun away, leaving Li Yanshu to settle the bill. Meanwhile, at a Sheng Hong Department Store meeting, senior executives expressed concern over Li Yanshu's departure, highlighting stalled projects and the resulting financial losses. They urged for her reinstatement and the resumption of collaboration with Han Corporation.

However, Mrs. Gu remained adamant, allowing the collaboration to resume but flatly refusing Li Yanshu's return, stating she would personally find a replacement. Later, Mrs. Gu angrily confronted Gu Chengze, demanding to know why he defied her orders for Li Yanshu. Gu Chengze denied any affection for Li Yanshu, insisting she was messy and untruthful, but was internally questioning his own growing feelings. He later abruptly adjourned a meeting, instructing his confused team to decide on their own.

Back at home, Gu Chengze returned to find his residence in disarray, much to his annoyance, and he promptly began cleaning it. Soon after, Li Yanshu arrived, bringing a large stash of snacks, leading Gu Chengze to believe the house would quickly become messy again. He silently wondered why his tolerance for her chaotic presence had grown so high, and why he found himself challenging Mrs. Gu on her behalf.

Later, Gu Chengze sought advice from Secretary Gao, asking him how he knew he truly liked his girlfriend. Secretary Gao found the question unusual but affirmed his feelings, stating he liked his girlfriend because she was his girlfriend. Following this, Secretary Gao met his girlfriend, Meng Na, for dinner to apologize to her. He insisted she order anything she desired, offering to cover the bill.

Meng Na, amused by his apparent distress over the high cost of her selections, discreetly went to the counter. She paid for the majority of the meal, instructing the waiter to present the remaining small balance to Secretary Gao as a "prize" or "anniversary discount." Secretary Gao was delighted by the unexpected "discount" and generously left a tip, then proceeded to order an additional expensive steak, expecting the same price reduction.

Gu Chengze informed Li Yanshu that if Mrs. Gu did not reinstate her within three days, he would personally ensure her return. Li Yanshu, however, expressed concern for Gu Chengze, acknowledging his deep bond with the Gu family and Mrs. Gu. She feared that her reinstatement would put him in a difficult position and cause strain in his relationship with Mrs. Gu, assuring him that finding another job was easy for her.

Despite her concerns, Gu Chengze remained resolute in his decision to keep her by his side, stating that helping her was a matter of principle for him. That night, Gu Jinyun unexpectedly arrived at Gu Chengze's home, overjoyed to see Li Yanshu. He passionately declared his undying loyalty to her. Li Yanshu, however, urged him to listen to his grandmother and maintain his distance.

Gu Jinyun, confused by her stance, turned to Gu Chengze for help, asking if Li Yanshu had agreed to be his girlfriend during their previous outings. Gu Chengze, in turn, questioned if he was truly certain of Li Yanshu's commitment, a question Gu Jinyun could not confidently answer. Gu Chengze then retreated to his room, leaving Gu Jinyun to stay the night.

The next morning, Gu Chengze woke Gu Jinyun up, pointing out that Li Yanshu would soon be up to make breakfast and clean, and might not be pleased to see him still asleep. Gu Jinyun protested the idea of Li Yanshu doing "crude work," suggesting they hire a maid. Gu Chengze retorted that since Li Yanshu was living there for free, she should contribute to the household chores. He then handed Gu Jinyun a dish to wash.

Episode 20 Recap

Han Junyao had called Gu Jinyun repeatedly throughout the night without success. She then went to Gu Chengze's building to wait for him. Gu Jinyun was surprised by her presence, wondering how she knew he was there. Just then, Li Yanshu came downstairs in her pajamas to dispose of trash. Han Junyao immediately jumped to the conclusion that Li Yanshu and Gu Jinyun were cohabiting.

Gu Jinyun quickly denied it, explaining that it was Gu Chengze's house and that Li Yanshu was merely staying there as a freeloader, therefore, should contribute by doing some housework. He emphasized that she and Gu Chengze were just pure friends and that she was his subordinate, warning Han Junyao not to spread rumors, especially not to his grandmother. Li Yanshu, however, refused to engage with Han Junyao's questioning.

Han Junyao said her cooperation depended on Jinyun's behavior, and Jinyun promised to keep his phone on. Following a conversation with Uncle Han, Li Yanshu went home to check on her mother, Xia Meng, who was recovering from a minor health issue.

Xia Meng revealed that Uncle Han's hypertension was serious due to stress over the terminated contract with Sheng Hong, and urged her daughter to return to work at Han Corporation, especially since Mrs. Gu had fired her from Sheng Hong. However, Li Yanshu insisted she had her own plans and left. Meanwhile, Gu Chengze had promised Li Yanshu that he would ensure her return to Sheng Hong within three days.

Unbeknownst to him, Mrs. Gu had already found a new chief designer: the world-renowned American-Chinese designer Karen Li, known for her mysterious nature, impressive resume including a Vogue "New Talent" award at 14, and high-end custom brand "Karen-Li." Despite Karen Li's reclusiveness and high demands, Mrs. Gu was determined to secure her services, planning a grand signing ceremony to leverage Sheng Hong's prestige.

On the day of the signing ceremony, Mrs. Gu meticulously prepared the venue, inviting major media outlets to witness Karen Li's arrival. As Karen Li slowly entered the hall and removed her sunglasses, the entire room gasped in shock: Karen Li was none other than Li Yanshu, her surname being 'Li' (黎) rather than 'Li' (李).

Faced with numerous media, Mrs. Gu had no choice but to sign the contract with Li Yanshu, as she had personally sought out this talent. Li Yanshu then addressed Mrs. Gu, expressing gratitude for the invitation and hoping for a happy collaboration.

After the ceremony, with only Li Yanshu and Mrs. Gu remaining, Li Yanshu calmly informed Mrs. Gu that she no longer liked Gu Jinyun, adding that she didn't like Mrs. Gu either, but as partners, their current animosity was unprofessional. Mrs. Gu misinterpreted this, believing Li Yanshu was only interested in the Gu family's wealth and the title of "Sheng Hong's female owner."

Li Yanshu countered sharply that not every woman coveted such a position and that her previous claims of liking Jinyun were merely to provoke Mrs. Gu. She asserted that while she had no interest in Mrs. Gu's grandson, she was keenly interested in Sheng Hong's "New Face" platform as a professional designer and intended to build her career there.

Li Yanshu then advised Mrs. Gu that, as a qualified leader, she should set aside personal grudges for the company's benefit, or she was unfit for business. Infuriated, Mrs. Gu attempted to slap Li Yanshu again, but this time, Li Yanshu caught her arm, warning her that a third slap would humiliate them both, especially since Mrs. Gu had personally invited her back.

Li Yanshu acknowledged Mrs. Gu's past sponsorship had contributed to her current success, suggesting that without her overseas studies, she and Gu Jinyun might have broken up anyway. She promised to clarify things with Gu Jinyun herself, but advised Mrs. Gu to stop interfering, as her interference only made him more rebellious. Li Yanshu returned to Sheng Hong, but now as Karen Li.

This dramatic reappearance sparked widespread gossip throughout the company, with employees speculating about her cunning and manipulative nature, viewing her as a "pretender." Helena, a colleague, acknowledged Li Yanshu's talent but openly expressed her contempt, accusing her of being too scheming and simultaneously bewitching Gu Jinyun and seducing Gu Chengze. Helena declared she wouldn't let Li Yanshu handle her upcoming press launch, opting for Gu Chengze instead.

Li Yanshu responded by subtly hinting at potential poor sales if Helena did not cooperate. Gu Chengze, too, found himself questioning which identity was the real Li Yanshu. When he asked her, she admitted to having many identities and being a "pretender" who hides everything. Gu Chengze acknowledged her as scheming.

This constant scrutiny and judgment, even from Gu Chengze, deeply bothered Li Yanshu, making her feel frustrated that no matter who she was, she would always face suspicion and criticism. When Gu Jinyun called her, expressing happiness that she was rehired by his grandmother, Li Yanshu reacted with irritation, telling him he was annoying her and to stop talking. Later, Gu Chengze saved a young girl from being hit by a car, and she gave him a lollipop in gratitude.

Despite his usual germophobia, when the lollipop fell to the ground, he picked it up and ate it, much to Gao Yang's astonishment. Gao Yang observed that Gu Chengze had been acting very unusually recently, noting that he no longer seemed as harsh during meetings, and his mind would wander.

He directly linked all these changes to Li Yanshu, recalling various past incidents where Gu Chengze reacted uncharacteristically strongly to her actions, including chasing her down after a minor bump, or remaining calm when Sheng Hong's stock plummeted but angered by Li Yanshu shattering a bottle in front of him. Gao Yang even mentioned rumors circulating that their relationship was "unusual" and that Li Yanshu had even kissed Gu Chengze.

Gu Jinyun, having spent a day and night contemplating, decided he would actively pursue Li Yanshu. He made a deal with his assistant, Mike, that if Mike helped him understand Li Yanshu better, he would dutifully return to the company to learn management. Simultaneously, Mrs. Gu called Gu Jinyun, demanding his immediate return home. When he arrived, she confronted him about Li Yanshu, revealing that Karen Li was Li Yanshu and accusing Jinyun of only returning to work for her.

Mrs. Gu expressed her deep dissatisfaction with Li Yanshu, accusing her of only desiring the family's wealth and reminding Jinyun of Li Yanshu's previous bargaining. Gu Jinyun defended Li Yanshu, saying Mrs. Gu didn't understand her, and also accused his grandmother of bullying Li Yanshu again, which explained Li Yanshu's earlier anger towards him. Mrs. Gu confirmed she had indeed bullied Li Yanshu and vowed that Li Yanshu would not have an easy time at Sheng Hong.

Jinyun, in turn, told his grandmother she wasn't as smart as she thought for inviting Li Yanshu back herself. Meanwhile, Xia Meng summoned Li Yanshu to a coffee shop, questioning her decision to work for Sheng Hong instead of their family's Han Corporation, especially with her new renowned status. Xia Meng expressed her disappointment, feeling that Li Yanshu was ungrateful despite Xia Meng having "nurtured" her for years.

Li Yanshu retorted that she hadn't spent any of her mother's money studying abroad, rejecting the notion of being "nurtured" by her mother, and bluntly stated that she had no interest in Han Corporation.

Episode 21 (Ending) Recap

Xia Meng confronted Li Yanshu, expressing her anger that Yanshu had chosen Sheng Hong Corporation over the family business, Han Corporation, despite years of her "nurturing." Li Yanshu countered, stating she hadn't spent any of her mother's money while studying abroad. She then bluntly explained her decision, citing Sheng Hong's financial strength, clear-headed management, and market crisis awareness, which made it a better choice for future development compared to Han Corporation, which she had no interest in.

She even suggested her mother convince Uncle Han to sell the company and invest in Sheng Hong stocks if she truly cared about the assets. Xia Meng accused Li Yanshu of being cold-blooded and ungrateful. Li Yanshu retorted by reminding her mother of her past betrayal, abandoning her husband and child for wealth.

Xia Meng claimed the past situation was complex, but Li Yanshu scoffed at the irony of her mother now meticulously planning for Junrui's sake after showing no hesitation in abandoning her own daughter years ago, suggesting she was only adopting a "caring mother" facade due to her age. Finally, Li Yanshu warned her mother not to call her again without an important reason. Later, Li Yanshu returned home with red eyes, visibly distressed.

Gu Jinyun, noticing her state, approached Gu Chengze with concern, suggesting they take Li Yanshu on an outing to relax. Gu Chengze, though appearing aloof, shared Gu Jinyun's concern. Gu Jinyun then arranged a trip to a fruit farm, and Han Junyao insisted on tagging along. At the grape farm, the four picked and ate grapes.

Gu Jinyun and Li Yanshu's playful interactions quickly irritated Han Junyao, who accused Li Yanshu of using new tactics to seduce men and called her annoying. Gu Jinyun intervened to calm the situation. Han Junyao then suggested to Gu Chengze that they rest elsewhere, and he agreed. Gu Chengze asked Han Junyao why she harbored such intense hatred for Li Yanshu, speculating it was due to Li Yanshu "stealing" her father and now Gu Jinyun.

Han Junyao denied this, asserting her dislike stemmed from Li Yanshu being a shameless, dishonest person who feigned a pitiful and strong image. Gu Chengze advised Han Junyao to try and understand Li Yanshu better, telling her that despite her lies, Li Yanshu was not a bad person and carried inner pain no less than her own.

This conversation led Han Junyao to realize Gu Chengze also had feelings for Li Yanshu, intensifying her resolve to make Li Yanshu's life miserable for trying to "marry into the Gu family" by "bewitching both Gu Jinyun and Gu Chengze." Han Junyao left the fruit farm early. When Gu Chengze, Gu Jinyun, and Li Yanshu returned home, they found Mrs. Gu waiting for them, Li Yanshu's luggage strewn across the living room.

Mrs. Gu was furious, confronting Gu Chengze about letting Li Yanshu stay in his house and meet Gu Jinyun behind her back, accusing him of betraying her loyalty. Gu Chengze tried to explain, but Mrs. Gu slapped him and demanded he immediately kick Li Yanshu out. To avoid further trouble for Gu Chengze, Li Yanshu immediately began packing to leave, but Gu Jinyun frantically tried to stop her, asking Mrs. Gu where Yanshu would go.

Mrs. Gu simply stated that the Gu family's doors were not easily entered. Han Junyao then appeared, revealing she had informed Mrs. Gu about Li Yanshu, and taunted Li Yanshu, enjoying her disarray. Li Yanshu desperately hoped Gu Chengze would intervene and ask her to stay, but he remained silent. Homeless once more, Li Yanshu went to the bar where she had first met Gu Chengze. Despite his strong germophobia, Gu Chengze came to find her.

He questioned why she always chose such a messy place. Li Yanshu explained that it was her late father's favorite bar and that she used to look for him there after school. She shared her painful past, revealing her mother had abandoned them early on, leading her father to fall into deep depression, alcoholism, and gambling, eventually losing everything and succumbing to illness.

She recounted being chased by debt collectors for years while her mother thrived after remarrying, noting the bitter irony. Li Yanshu confessed she used to resent her father for his weakness, only to discover later that he had been secretly battling a severe illness. They later moved to a rooftop to continue drinking and talking. When Li Yanshu asked why he seemed angry, Gu Chengze admitted he was angry with himself, afraid he might do something that would "hurt Jinyun."

Li Yanshu then commented on his beautiful eyelashes, to which he replied that only she had ever said that. In that moment, Li Yanshu impulsively kissed Gu Chengze, later reflecting in shock, "I kissed Gu Chengze? Oh my god! I actually kissed Gu Chengze? Am I crazy?" After some time, a drunken Li Yanshu fell asleep. Gu Jinyun then called Gu Chengze, asking if he had found Li Yanshu. Gu Chengze confirmed he had and promised to bring her back.

In the car, Li Yanshu felt nauseous but adamantly refused to go back to Gu Chengze's house, citing her pride and unwillingness to endure further humiliation from Mrs. Gu. Gu Chengze agreed to take her to a hotel. After settling her in, the thoughtful Gu Chengze arranged for the hotel staff to deliver stomach medicine to Li Yanshu.

Subsequently, he visited David, providing him with the hotel address and asking him to look after Li Yanshu for the night, a request that surprised David due to Gu Chengze's unusually direct nature. The next morning, back at the office, Li Yanshu was informed that President Gu wanted to personally review her design proposals. Remembering the previous night's kiss, Li Yanshu felt a surge of nervousness and wondered how she would face Gu Chengze.

Meanwhile, Gu Chengze was observed by his assistant, who noticed his recent unusual behavior and teased him about being in love. Gu Chengze, feigning casualness, then described a "friend" who seemed to have fallen for a girl, subtly hinting at his own feelings. Li Yanshu questioned herself about her actions while drunk, wondering if she was happy with the outcome.