The Lion's Secret Episode 17 Recap
> The Lion's Secret Recap
Liu Qing, Lei Shuo, and Wu Fengyu gathered to discuss their current situation, having discovered that Yang Zhentian was being manipulated by Na Mu. Lei Shuo advocated for aggressive action against Na Mu, identifying her as the employer of assassins who had entrapped Yang Zhentian. However, Liu Qing advised caution, suggesting they wait for the police as he believed Na Mu would contact him directly, now that she had achieved her objectives.
Meanwhile, before the highly anticipated "Forward No.1" product launch and partnership announcement with Weikai Group, Yu Manshan received a cryptic phone call from Qian Chang. He vaguely warned her about "strange people" she had encountered recently and hinted at consequences depending on her choices, but Yu Manshan proceeded to the Maoyuan board meeting. There, Mu Wanqing, after outlining the evening's event, noted Yu Manshan appeared unwell.
As Mu Wanqing was driven to the venue by Liu Qing, they discussed an earlier agreement for her to take wedding photos with him for her grandmother. She playfully accused him of overestimating their compatibility, finding his public display of affection "boring," but ultimately agreed to the photoshoot. At the product launch, Mu Wanqing, despite her excitement, was concerned when Li Na reported that Yu Manshan was missing and unreachable. Mu Wanqing quickly dispatched someone to find her.
The event swiftly turned chaotic when Yang Zhentian burst in, publicly accusing Maoyuan's "Forward No.1" of being an exact copy of Zhentian Group's "Optimus Program." He demanded Yu Manshan come forward to explain, leaving Mu Wanqing speechless. The situation escalated dramatically when a video played on the large screen, revealing Yang Zhentian's illicit affair with Na Mu. In the video, he callously admitted to pursuing Yu Lu solely for her family's wealth and resources.
Yu Lu, present at the event, collapsed in distress with signs of premature labor. Her furious father immediately slapped Yang Zhentian before rushing Yu Lu away. Another video then played, exposing Yang Zhentian's plot to kidnap Mu Wanqing, stating his goal to "defeat Maoyuan" by targeting her. Reporters swarmed him, and plainclothes police moved in for an arrest.
In a desperate attempt to escape, Yang Zhentian grabbed Uncle Quan, threatening to kill him, and dragged him into a restroom, barricading themselves inside. Outside the restroom, police and Mu Wanqing's father tried to negotiate with Yang Zhentian. Her father urged him to remain calm and release Uncle Quan, suggesting there were misunderstandings. Yang Zhentian, however, defiantly confessed to orchestrating Mu Wanqing's kidnapping and murder plot, driven by a desire to prove his superiority and eliminate anyone who opposed him.
He then made a final call to Yu Lu, who informed him she had safely given birth to their son. She told him she did not blame him and would wait for him to raise their child together. Overcome with remorse, Yang Zhentian expressed his love for Yu Lu, asking her to care for their son and ensure he did not follow in his footsteps.
Despite Yu Lu's tearful pleas, Yang Zhentian declared, "I have no future anymore," before taking his own life. Uncle Quan emerged from the restroom unharmed. In the aftermath, Mu Wanqing's father informed her that the board of directors demanded an immediate halt to "Forward No.1" development and a full explanation for the plagiarism allegations.
Meanwhile, police analyzing the incident found it suspicious that Yang Zhentian, amidst the chaos, had chosen to abduct Uncle Quan, a former Maoyuan veteran who had once vied for leadership against Mu Wanqing. They suspected Uncle Quan might have conspired with Yang Zhentian to sabotage Mu Wanqing. At a subsequent board meeting, Mu Wanqing defended Yu Manshan, arguing against condemning her based solely on Yang Zhentian's claims.
However, evidence from the Information Department revealed that Yu Manshan had copied all data from the R&D Center. Board members, labeling Yu Manshan a "traitor," insisted on a decisive leader and voted to appoint Uncle Quan as interim CEO, a decision Mu Wanqing reluctantly accepted. Immediately, Qian Chang led a team to Yu Manshan's office to clear her belongings, disparagingly referring to her as "traitor Yu."
Despite the unfolding crisis, Feng Cong, maintaining faith in Maoyuan's innovative proposal, overruled his assistant's suggestion to report the failed partnership to their company, opting to wait for the truth to emerge and uphold their commitment to Maoyuan. Emotionally drained, Mu Wanqing isolated herself in her room. To cheer her up, Liu Qing, along with Lei Shuo and Fu Jundie, gently persuaded her to go on a camping trip he had meticulously planned.
The outing, which Liu Qing described as an expression of his "sincerity" and "love," saw him playfully trick Mu Wanqing and Fu Jundie into eating various insects, much to their initial enjoyment and subsequent horror. During this time, Mu Wanqing's grandmother secretly endured worsening health, determined to hold on until her birthday.
After returning from camping, Liu Qing announced their next outing: a visit to a photo studio he had found, reminding Mu Wanqing of her promise to take wedding photos with him for her grandparents. As they prepared to leave, Feng Cong called Mu Wanqing, but she chose not to answer. At the photo studio, Liu Qing explained their wish to combine their wedding photos with her grandparents' images.
The photographer, however, insisted that Liu Qing and Mu Wanqing personally pose for the pictures, emphasizing that it was a "kind of inheritance" for them as a couple. Mu Wanqing was initially hesitant, especially when asked to pose affectionately, given the intention to use only the bodies for the composite. The photographer clarified that genuine expressions influenced body language, and a wedding photo required "affection."
He comically instructed Mu Wanqing to imagine herself as a "gentle kitty" looking at her favorite yarn ball or dried fish. Liu Qing, captivated by Mu Wanqing in her wedding dress, complimented her, leading her to playfully accuse him of conspiring with the photographer. Mu Wanqing then thanked Liu Qing, specifying her gratitude was "for grandma," as they continued to pose for the photos.
