The Fox's Summer Episode 1 Recap
> The Fox's Summer 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.
