The Secret of Love Recap, Plot, Synopsis
The Secret of Love Synopsis
After receiving a mysterious email, Su Yi, a fashion magazine director, returns home with a secret of revenge, investigating the truth of her father’s accidental death seven years ago, and searching for her lost memories of her youth.
She hid her identity and approached “Party A” Li Jiashang, which was related to the accident. They flirted with each other in the process of investigating the truth and staged a story of workplace trap and anti-kill.
The Secret of Love Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Lee Group, a renowned enterprise domestically, has seen significant growth and a noticeable improvement in company performance. Chairman Li Yaohui, who built the company from the ground up and managed it for fifty years, plans to retire and pass the reins to his grandson, Li Jiashang. After completing his postgraduate studies overseas, Li Jiashang returned to China and took over as Chairman. His harsh management style, including extensive layoffs and new hires, significantly improved the company's performance.
Li Jiashang decided to terminate the contract with Ming Xiu, a long-term partner. Under Ming Xiu's insistence, he agreed to give them one week to submit a new, better proposal; otherwise, all collaboration with the Lee Group would be completely terminated. After a flashback, Gao Dingli briefly passed by Li Jiashang, which made him stop, feeling she was somehow different. Gao Dingli was an employee of Ming Xiu, aiming to secure victory in the collaboration with the Lee Group.
Late one night, unable to sleep, Li Jiashang drove to a nearby restaurant to eat. Unexpectedly, the woman opposite him was Gao Dingli. Seeing her again, Li Jiashang recalled his school days when Gao Dingli had confessed her feelings and asked to be his girlfriend. As Li Jiashang was lost in thought, Gao Dingli rode away on her motorcycle. Troubled, Li Jiashang spoke to Zheng He, asking if two people could look exactly alike.
Li Jiashang felt he had seen his former girlfriend, but Zheng He reminded him that she was already dead and he needed to move on. Li Jiashang, however, was convinced he had seen her. The next day, Manager Zhang eagerly informed Li Jiashang that he had learned about Ming Xiu's proposal competition and had notified Chairman Li Yaohui. Chairman Li fully supported the idea and intended to personally oversee the judging.
Li Jiashang thanked Manager Zhang, acknowledging that the Lee Group was personally established by his grandfather. Later, Li Jiashang confided in Zheng He, calling Manager Zhang an "old fox" who had likely benefited greatly from years of collaboration with Ming Xiu and was now trying to use Chairman Li to protect Ming Xiu. Li Jiashang vowed that Manager Zhang would not succeed. Li Jiashang returned to the restaurant and saw Gao Dingli again, so he started a conversation with her.
Gao Dingli approached Li Jiashang's table and chatted for a while before being picked up by a friend. Before leaving, she left behind a book containing a ticket and address for her art exhibition. Li Jiashang later went to the exhibition to return the book and saw Gao Dingli again. Gao Dingli actively shook hands with Li Jiashang and introduced herself, and Li Jiashang introduced himself.
He asked if they had met before, to which she playfully remarked that his way of approaching girls was truly something. Li Jiashang asked her out, and Gao Dingli left him her phone number before leaving. Li Jiashang then called Gao Dingli, but the number was continuously unavailable. He asked for her information to be investigated, but nothing could be found. Zheng He took the phone number and said it was his girlfriend's.
He then brought his girlfriend over, and they learned that she had lent her phone to a friend who had just returned from abroad. Looking at a photo on her phone, Li Jiashang realized it was indeed Gao Dingli. Li Jiashang found Gao Dingli. She explained that she had simply returned the phone to her friend and hadn't intended to deceive him. She also expressed surprise that he genuinely liked her art and would actually buy it.
Li Jiashang invited her to dinner, offering one meal in exchange for one painting. During their dinner, Li Jiashang gave her a ring as a deposit for the artwork. They discovered a mutual love for the same music, which made them feel a connection. Li Jiashang again asked if she found him familiar, but Gao Dingli had no impression of him.
Suddenly, a couple at another table lit celebratory fireworks, triggering a traumatic flashback for Li Jiashang of his former girlfriend perishing in a fire. He froze in horror, but Gao Dingli quickly checked on him, and he dismissed it with a smile, assuring her he was fine. He then invited her to his home to see her artwork. At his home, Gao Dingli offered to help hang the painting, but Li Jiashang stopped her, not wanting to trouble her.
In the process, the milk she was holding spilled on Li Jiashang's shirt, bringing them close to a kiss before he quickly pulled away to change. While Li Jiashang was in the other room, Gao Dingli accessed his computer and stole the Lee Group's confidential proposal for the competition. After Li Jiashang went out, Gao Dingli left, leaving him a note explaining she had an urgent matter and would see him another day.
On the day of the competition, Chairman Li Yaohui personally oversaw the presentations. Ming Xiu presented their proposal, but when it was Lee Group's turn, Li Jiashang did not present his proposal, which visibly displeased his grandfather. Li Jiashang then asked Chen Jin if their team had created Ming Xiu's proposal. She denied it, stating it was their Creative Director's work.
At that moment, Gao Dingli entered the conference room and introduced herself to everyone: she was Su Yi, Ming Xiu's Creative Director. This felt like a bullet hitting Li Jiashang's heart. It was revealed that Su Yi, after comprehensively understanding Li Jiashang's routines, had decided to approach him, and that whole series of 'chance encounters' was used to gain his trust and then steal his competition proposal.
Episode 2 Recap
After the dramatic revelation, Chairman Li Yaohui fumed, "Not ready? Then what proposals are we comparing? Are these children playing house? What a joke!" He then abruptly left the meeting room. Following Chairman Li's departure, Li Jiashang stood up and congratulated Su Yi on securing the cooperation rights. He instructed Editor Sun to grant Su Yi full authority over the upcoming major fashion show.
Despite an assistant's objection that Su Yi, being new, was unfamiliar with many company procedures, Li Jiashang remained resolute, stating, "After all, this design is Director Su's idea. Handing it to others, I won't be at ease." Soon after, Li Jiashang tasked Zheng He with thoroughly investigating Su Yi's background. In the underground parking lot, he encountered Su Yi standing directly in front of his car.
Though momentarily tempted to intimidate her by driving forward, he stopped when she remained unwavering. He asked her what she wanted. Su Yi apologized for her previous actions, for deceiving him with a scheme. Li Jiashang cut her off, retorting, "Fool me once, blame me; if it happens repeatedly, blame me even more."
Su Yi then justified her previous actions, pointing out that many previous proposals, despite being above market standards, had been consistently rejected by Li Jiashang, clearly indicating an intent to sacrifice Ming Xiu in Lee Group's internal power struggles. She highlighted that for Li Jiashang, Ming Xiu might just be a bargaining chip, but for Ming Xiu's employees, it was a career and a pursuit.
She concluded by stating that regardless of whether Li Jiashang was willing to forgive her, she had to say sorry. When Su Yi arrived at the company for her new role, Feilin greeted her with congratulations, asking if her painstaking efforts to get close to Li Jiashang were solely for the proposal. Su Yi responded that she didn't want to see Ming Xiu fail and had no other intentions.
Later, Su Yi went to discuss the proposal with Li Jiashang, who remarked that the shoes Su Yi "stole" (referring to her position) certainly wouldn't fit her. Su Yi defiantly retorted that even if her feet bled from wearing them, she would continue to walk in them. Unexpectedly, the shoes Su Yi was wearing truly chafed her feet, causing her heels to bleed.
Li Jiashang thoughtfully helped Su Yi by putting tissue paper in her shoes, which made Su Yi feel he was quite gentlemanly. At the subsequent fashion show, Su Yi made meticulous arrangements. When a main model was absent, she didn't lose her composure, having already prepared a substitute. This surprised Feilin and others. Editor Sun asked the substitute to try on the main outfit, but it was found to be ripped.
Su Yi took the damaged garment, and after her modification, skillfully transformed it. After Su Yi resolved this critical issue, Feilin deliberately stumbled, spilling coffee on Su Yi's elegant gown. Su Yi, maintaining her composure, instructed her assistant to guard the other clothes to prevent further interference and then calmly went to the dressing room to modify her stained dress. Feilin, watching from the side, felt truly speechless and helpless, having no way to deal with Su Yi.
Afterward, Li Jiashang saw Su Yi had turned her long gown into a short one. Fearing she might be exposed, he took off his jacket and gave it to Su Yi to cover her legs. At the show's curtain call, General Manager Zhang began to address the press, stating that the success of the show was all thanks to Su Yi's efforts.
However, Li Jiashang promptly interrupted him, publicly declaring, "I heard the success of this show relies on the new Director Su. But the success of the show is mostly thanks to General Manager Zhang. After all, this show is General Manager Zhang's perfect curtain call. As a representative of Lee Group, I thank General Manager Zhang's hard work all these years."
This statement, which simultaneously praised Su Yi and effectively signaled Zhang's impending removal, visibly surprised everyone present and General Manager Zhang. Later, backstage, Feilin was caught in the act of secretly trying to put poison in Su Yi's water cup. Su Yi calmly appeared and asked Feilin, "What ingredient do you want to add for me?" A startled Feilin quickly denied it.
Afterward, Su Yi went to tell Li Jiashang that she would wash his jacket clean and return it to him. Li Jiashang thanked Su Yi for the USB drive she had given him, which contained evidence of General Manager Zhang's kickbacks over the years. He then took the necklace he had given her before and, placing it around her neck, firmly stated, "The things I give out, there isn't a reason to get it back." This intimate exchange between them was secretly captured by a nearby camera.
Episode 3 Recap
The photos of Li Jiashang placing a necklace on Su Yi and dining with her went viral, sparking online discussions. Many netizens dismissed it as a staged drama, branding Su Yi as a calculating woman. The trending photos caught Li Jiashang's attention, prompting his assistant to advise a clarifying statement to avoid his grandfather's disapproval.
Meanwhile, Feilin alerted reporters to Su Yi's location, leading to a media scrum where reporters questioned Su Yi about her relationship with CEO Li and pregnancy rumors, resulting in Su Yi twisting her ankle and falling. Su Yi was then taken to Haiyi Private Hospital. Coincidentally, her friend Xia Xiyang was starting her first day there as a nurse and ended up caring for Su Yi.
As Xia Xiyang treated Su Yi, she playfully teased her about being her first patient and offered to buy her watermelon. At the Lee Group, Li Jiashang held a meeting and announced a celebratory dinner for the success of the recent annual show. When Li Jiashang asked to meet with Su Yi, the show's person in charge, he was informed she was in the hospital due to her fall.
Before Li Jiashang left for the hospital, Zheng He showed him a video of Su Yi's fall, pointing out that she used her left hand to brace herself, reminding him of his former girlfriend, Mu Xiao, who was also left-handed. At the hospital, Li Jiashang questioned Su Yi about why she pretended to be right-handed. Su Yi brushed it off, asking what difference it made.
Li Jiashang pressed her further, questioning if "Su Yi" was her only name, suspecting hidden secrets. Su Yi avoided a direct answer by listing nicknames, leaving Li Jiashang to wonder about her true identity. Outside the room, Zheng He recognized Xia Xiyang from the cosmetics show and complimented her name. He tried to flirt with her, but Xia Xiyang punched him before entering Su Yi's room with watermelon.
Zheng He followed and, noticing Li Jiashang needed to speak with Su Yi alone, pulled Xia Xiyang away, offering to introduce her to his father, the hospital's Department Head. After Zheng He and Xia Xiyang left, Li Jiashang attempted to continue questioning Su Yi, but she spotted someone trying to take their picture and pulled him into a hug to block the camera. Afterwards, Su Yi insisted on returning to the office.
During the car ride, Li Jiashang tried to inquire about her past, but Su Yi skillfully diverted the conversation to financial reports. Back at Lee Group, Zhang Mingda apologized to Li Jiashang for the Ming Xiu incident, but Li Jiashang dismissed him, declaring anyone who harmed Lee Group's interests as his enemy. Later, while sparring with Zheng He, Li Jiashang reiterated his belief that Su Yi was Mu Xiao, despite her denial and background checks showing no connection.
Li Jiashang received a message from Su Yi proposing a special report on Lee Group capitalizing on the recent show's success and requesting an interview with him. He saw this as an opportunity to get closer to her. Feilin, originally scheduled for the interview, was furious when she learned Su Yi had secured it instead. Su Yi, dressed elegantly and wearing the necklace Li Jiashang had given her, arrived at Lee Group for the interview.
Feilin tried to intercept, claiming Su Yi was unavailable and offering to conduct the interview herself, but Li Jiashang refused. As Feilin left his office, she confronted Su Yi, accusing her of stealing her work. Su Yi retorted, saying she didn't have a "benefactor" like Feilin. Li Jiashang then appeared. Su Yi apologized for her tardiness and asked to reschedule, which Li Jiashang agreed to.
As Su Yi was leaving, Feilin made a snide remark, and Su Yi warned Feilin to find smarter people to cause trouble, or Ming Xiu would face ruin. At home, Su Yi ate dinner with her younger brother, Su Xiangtai, and Xia Xiyang. Su Yi fed Su Xiangtai, leading to a playful fight between Xiangtai and Xia Xiyang for her attention.
Su Yi reflected that despite her memory loss, she felt she could face anything with Xiangtai and Xia Xiyang in her life. Meanwhile, Li Jiashang, petting his cat, reminisced about a past moment with Mu Xiao, wondering if she had truly returned. Su Yi, remembering Feilin's question, privately affirmed that her goal was to establish herself at Ming Xiu until Publisher Chu Mo returned.
She recalled the car accident seven years prior that killed her father and caused her to lose her memories, leading her to live in Japan. There, she received a Ming Xiu magazine, leading her to believe her father, Mu Feng, did not abscond with funds and prompting her return to China to investigate the accident and prove his innocence by getting close to Chu Mo, the Ming Xiu publisher involved in reporting the accident.
Episode 4 Recap
In the underground parking garage, Su Yi observed Ding Hang instructing a woman to approach Li Jiashang when he arrived. She was told to hug him, kiss him, and create physical contact so that Ding Hang could take pictures. Su Yi confronted Ding Hang, asking if Tao Feilin had instructed him to hinder her interview. Ding Hang denied knowing Tao Feilin, but Su Yi mentioned a photo of them in his wallet.
She deduced that Tao Feilin liked Li Jiashang, and Ding Hang liked Tao Feilin, with Ding Hang admitting his plan was to make Tao Feilin give up on Li Jiashang. Su Yi blackmailed Ding Hang, threatening to expose his scheme to Tao Feilin unless he helped her. Li Jiashang discussed business matters with Zheng He, who reported a raw material shortage, with Lin Zi Group controlling the supply.
Li Jiashang instructed Zheng He to secure more raw materials by any means necessary to ensure production wasn't delayed, promising to handle funding. Back in the garage, Su Yi called Ding Hang, expecting acrobatic stunt doubles. However, a group of men arrived who weren't Ding Hang's people. Mistaking them for stunt doubles, Su Yi instructed them to "gently" hit Li Jiashang. The men were real attackers, and they turned on Su Yi.
Li Jiashang intervened, kicking the attackers and telling Su Yi to leave. Ding Hang pulled Su Yi to safety, explaining that his people went to the wrong location and these men were dangerous. Su Yi told him to call the police, but Ding Hang insisted on taking photos first for evidence. When Li Jiashang was overwhelmed, Su Yi rushed to help. An attacker swung a stick at her, but Li Jiashang shielded her, taking the blow himself.
Zheng He arrived with security, causing the attackers to flee. Ding Hang claimed he called security, earning a "five-star rating" from Su Yi. Later, Li Jiashang thanked Su Yi for her help. Seeing his injuries, Su Yi offered to apply medicine to his back. While tending to him, Li Jiashang was struck by her resemblance to someone and asked if she was Mu Xiao. Su Yi feigned ignorance, asking who Mu Xiao was, causing Li Jiashang to leave.
Su Yi found photos of Mu Xiao in a box belonging to Li Jiashang. Su Yi discussed Li Jiashang and Mu Xiao with Xia Xiyang, wondering about their relationship. Xia Xiyang suggested Li Jiashang might hold clues to Su Yi's lost memories. Su Yi revealed her plan: to secure her position at Ming Xiu and await the return of publisher Chu Mo, believing he held the key to her father's car accident and her lost memories from seven years ago.
She explained the September 2014 issue of Ming Xiu about the car accident had disappeared, and it was that issue she received as a "mystery package." She considered Li Jiashang a potential source of information due to his connection with Mu Xiao. Su Yi approached Ding Hang again, demanding he find the September 2014 issue of Ming Xiu Magazine, threatening to expose his earlier photo scheme. Ding Hang agreed. Li Jiashang took Su Yi to his former university.
He showed her a spot where he and Mu Xiao used to get milk and their old classroom, evoking a sense of deja vu in Su Yi. During their walk, Su Yi felt dizzy and almost fainted, attributing it to low blood sugar. Li Jiashang took her to a noodle shop, where the owner recognized him, mentioning he used to frequent the place with "her" and noting Su Yi's resemblance.
Li Jiashang confirmed that Su Yi indeed looked a lot like her. Su Yi asked generic interview questions, but Li Jiashang found them uninspiring. He shared a story about a biology professor who taught him about finding happiness in leisure.
When Su Yi returned to her interview questions, he directly answered some: his parents passed away early, the most tragic thing he experienced was losing the most important person, he had been in one relationship, and his greatest wish was for her to return. After their meal, Li Jiashang drove Su Yi home. Before she exited, Su Yi handed him photos of the attackers, hinting that Zhang Mingda was behind the assault.
As Su Yi went inside, her brother Su Xiangtai confronted Li Jiashang, warning him to stay away, asserting his role in protecting her. Li Jiashang remarked on Su Xiangtai's excessive protectiveness, suggesting their sibling relationship exceeded normal boundaries. Su Xiangtai revealed that he and Su Yi were not blood-related. On his drive home, Li Jiashang called Zheng He, instructing him to investigate Su Yi's background, her life before university, and even her neighbors.
At home, Su Xiangtai cautioned Su Yi to be careful around men, claiming that aside from him, no men were good. Su Yi playfully suggested he bring a girlfriend home, but Su Xiangtai dismissed the idea, leading Su Yi to playfully suspect he might be interested in men. Li Jiashang showed the photos of the attackers to his grandfather, Li Yaohui, confirming his suspicion that Zhang Mingda had orchestrated the attack.
Li Yaohui acknowledged Zhang Mingda's extreme actions but was hesitant to escalate the matter. Li Jiashang agreed to let the issue rest, but only on the condition that Li Yaohui would no longer interfere with his decisions concerning the Lee Group. Li Yaohui agreed, though he cautioned Li Jiashang to always prioritize the company's interests and not be swayed by "young girls." Su Yi reviewed her notes and updated her secret investigation board, adding "Li Jiashang, First Love, Mu Xiao" as a key connection.
Episode 5 Recap
Su Yi received a worn-out copy of the 2014 "Ming Xiu" magazine from Ding Hang. He explained that finding it was incredibly difficult, as the incident it covered, involving Lee Group's investment and Mu Feng's suspected embezzlement, had stirred up significant controversy. The official conclusion about the car accident was quickly suppressed. Ding Hang questioned if Su Yi was trying to destroy evidence for Lee Group or if she was related to Mu Feng.
He then proposed a deal: he would help her find an intact magazine if she helped him complete the original report. Su Yi expressed concern about the danger involved, but Ding Hang, portraying himself as a principled journalist, declared he was not afraid of powerful entities like Lee Group. He handed her the magazine.
Su Yi then showed the incomplete magazine to Xia Xiyang, highlighting how "Ming Xiu" abruptly transitioned into an entertainment periodical right after the article about Lee Group and Mu Feng, suggesting the group's manipulation. Xia Xiyang speculated about Li Jiashang's involvement, but Su Yi dismissed the idea, stating Li Jiashang was too young seven years prior and likely uninvolved, pointing instead to Li Yaohui.
Despite Su Yi's initial intention to visit the Li Mu Research Institute, Xia Xiyang volunteered to go in her place, concerned about Su Yi's recent struggles with nightmares. Li Jiashang arrived at the pet hospital he subsidized, first checking in with Uncle Zhang about the received funds and the clinic's improved condition. He was surprised to find Su Yi volunteering there.
Su Yi explained her love for animals and her past experience in veterinary medicine, having volunteered in Japan after her return. Li Jiashang, however, seemed suspicious of her intentions. While bathing a dog named An An, Li Jiashang recounted its story as a stray that repeatedly returned to the clinic after being adopted, finding a sense of security there. He criticized people who abandon their pets as "heartless" and stressed the importance of lifelong commitment.
Su Yi challenged his view, arguing that sometimes separation is a necessary and rational decision, especially when considering an animal's long-term suffering. This led to a heated debate where Li Jiashang accused her of being cowardly for not wanting to "own" something forever, while Su Yi countered that people are independent and cannot be owned. They parted on strained terms. Afterward, Uncle Zhang asked Su Yi why she felt the need to conceal the truth from Li Jiashang.
Later, Xia Xiyang called Su Yi from the Li Mu Research Institute, describing it as a scene of destruction, "like after a war," and advised Su Yi that it was good she hadn't come. Su Yi, understanding the gravity, urged Xia Xiyang to return home immediately. Meanwhile, Li Jiashang summoned Zheng He to inquire about the investigation into Su Yi's background. Zheng He frustratingly suggested Li Jiashang ask Su Yi directly, leading Li Jiashang to walk away in annoyance.
During a meeting, Editor Sun announced that their company would handle the promotional campaign for Lee Group's new product, and Su Yi would be in charge of the project. Tao Feilin immediately objected, detailing her extensive experience with Lee Group's brands and arguing that Su Yi, being newly returned to China, was unsuitable to lead. Editor Sun, however, confirmed that the decision was made in conjunction with CEO Li Jiashang, and she asked Tao Feilin to assist Su Yi.
When Tao Feilin continued to voice her displeasure directly to Li Jiashang about Su Yi's appointment, Li Jiashang sharply questioned if she was doubting his decision. He then announced he would personally take Su Yi to the Lee Group Product Museum, concluding the meeting. Li Jiashang led Su Yi through the Lee Group Product Museum, explaining that while it showcased their products, most primary materials were kept in the file room.
Upon Su Yi's request to see them, he instructed his secretary to prepare an access card for her. He then highlighted a significant event seven years ago when an international journal first reported on Lee Group, launching its global recognition and subsequent collaborations. Li Jiashang probed Su Yi about her activities seven years prior, but she deflected by referring to her resume, citing personal privacy when he pressed further.
He then specifically asked if she knew of the Li Mu Research Institute. Su Yi feigned ignorance, and Li Jiashang dismissed it as merely a failed investment. When he offered to arrange a driver or personally drive her home, Su Yi declined, stating a friend was picking her up. After Su Yi left, Li Jiashang reflected that her calm demeanor suggested she was concealing something.
Upon returning to the company, Su Yi noticed a commotion at the entrance as Chu Mo, a director known for his lax work style, was enthusiastically distributing gifts to employees. Editor Sun quickly intervened, reprimanding the staff for loitering and scolding Chu Mo for disrupting the office with his carefree attitude. Chu Mo playfully retorted that life should be relaxed to avoid illness, prompting Editor Sun to complain about the heavy workload she and others bore.
After accepting a gift from Chu Mo, Editor Sun introduced Su Yi as the company's new creative director. Chu Mo, in turn, invited Su Yi to his office, claiming he had a gift for her there. In his office, Chu Mo complimented Su Yi on her new role before asking why someone with her impressive resume chose to return to China. Su Yi presented the magazine, stating her return was for her father.
Recognizing Mu Feng as Su Yi's father, Chu Mo immediately said she shouldn't have sought him out. Su Yi revealed her memory loss after the car accident, her recovery in Japan with a friend of her father's, and how receiving the magazine cover ignited her quest for truth. She directly asked Chu Mo if he had sent the magazine, which he denied.
Su Yi pressed him on why he didn't continue his reporting, insisting her father was innocent, and the interview records would prove it. Chu Mo countered that while the embezzled funds were never found, her father, as the project head, had authorized every expenditure. He cautioned her to stop investigating, warning her about the formidable power of her opponents. Overwhelmed and emotional, Su Yi fainted.
After she regained consciousness, surrounded by colleagues, Editor Sun suggested she go to the hospital instead of Lee Group. Su Yi, however, confirmed her commitment to her work, telling Zheng He over the phone that she would meet him at Lee Group. Chu Mo then asked Tao Feilin to accompany Su Yi to Lee Group for the afternoon, ensuring she wouldn't be alone.
Shortly after they left, Li Jiashang called Chu Mo, inquiring if he had confirmed Su Yi's intentions, to which Chu Mo replied he still needed more time for observation. At the Lee Group archives, Su Yi discovered several confidential files protected by passcodes, accessible only to Chairman Li and CEO Li Jiashang. Realizing she would need Li Jiashang's assistance, she later invited him to dinner.
While at the restaurant, a thought about a four-leaf clover knot on a gift he once received sparked a memory in Li Jiashang, connecting it to a girl named Mu Xiao and making him wonder if Su Yi was indeed Mu Xiao. He tried to dismiss the thought, reminding himself to confirm her identity before getting too close. Su Yi then received a phone call from Su Xiangtai, and excused herself to take it.
During her absence, Gao Mu, the Chairman of Lin Zi Group, approached Li Jiashang, subtly threatening his market share by claiming he had already secured all the suppliers Li Jiashang's director, Zheng He, had been trying to sign. When Su Yi returned, Gao Mu greeted her briefly and left. Li Jiashang then offered Su Yi shrimp, which she politely declined, stating she simply didn't like them. He commented on her close relationship with her non-biological younger brother.
Su Yi then directly inquired about the locked files in the archive, but Li Jiashang dismissed them as unnecessary, containing only proprietary product formulas which were Lee Group's core secrets and required strict protection. He rejected her request for access for her new product research. Their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of Su Xiangtai, who confronted Li Jiashang, accusing him of overworking and exploiting Su Yi.
Su Yi quickly intervened, urging Su Xiangtai to go home to prevent further commotion. Back at home, Su Yi tried to talk to a disgruntled Su Xiangtai, who had gone to his room. Seeing a birthday cake, she suddenly remembered it was his birthday. She repeatedly apologized to him through his closed door for forgetting. Later, Su Xiangtai emerged from his room, having eaten the longevity noodles Su Yi left for him, indicating his anger had subsided.
Su Yi, meanwhile, deliberated on whether to ask Li Jiashang for permission to access the confidential files. She concluded that since Lee Group's investment in the Li Mu Research Institute could tarnish their reputation, Li Jiashang would likely refuse, forcing her to rely on her own efforts to uncover the truth and prove her father's innocence. The next day, during lunch, Su Yi stayed behind, claiming she wasn't hungry. She was then caught by Li Jiashang attempting to access the locked files in the archive.
Episode 6 Recap
Su Yi went to the archives to look for locked files, where she was confronted by Li Jiashang. He pointed out that such an important place was protected and that he had installed cameras. Su Yi claimed she was merely passing by and took a look, but Li Jiashang showed her his phone, which indicated three incorrect password attempts on the locked files. He demanded an explanation, threatening to call the police for corporate espionage.
Su Yi retorted that if the Lee Group had secrets, they shouldn't be afraid of police investigation. Li Jiashang countered that he could sue her for defamation. He then stated that there was nothing in the archives that "Director Su" wanted to know, but there was something "Mu Xiao" wanted to know, questioning if Su Yi still wished to pursue it. Su Yi was left speechless. Su Yi confided in Xia Xiyang about needing to obtain Li Jiashang's fingerprint.
After much discussion, they decided that attending Zheng He's birthday party next Thursday would allow them to get close to Li Jiashang and obtain his fingerprint. Zheng He's birthday celebration took place at a KTV. Su Yi realized Li Jiashang was not there. Zheng He admitted Li Jiashang wasn't there, but Xia Xiyang persuaded Zheng He to invite Li Jiashang. Li Jiashang soon arrived.
Su Yi then put her plan into action, attempting to get Li Jiashang drunk through various drinking games to obtain his fingerprint, but she did not succeed. Xia Xiyang, meanwhile, became heavily intoxicated. As the party ended, Xia Xiyang was heavily intoxicated, and Zheng He had to take her home.
On the way, Xia Xiyang explicitly told Zheng He that she wouldn't interact with him if not for Su Yi, warning him not to harbor any intentions towards her, and then went home by herself. The next day, Zheng He confessed to Li Jiashang that no woman had ever made him feel so humble, only Xia Xiyang. Just then, Xia Xiyang called Zheng He, asking him to meet her, and Zheng He quickly left.
Xia Xiyang met with Zheng He and apologized for her previous drunken words and behavior. During their conversation, Zheng He received a call from an unknown number, informing him that information about Su Yi's stay in Japan had been emailed to him. Meanwhile, Xia Xiyang secretly sent a voice message to Su Yi, confirming that Su Yi's information in Japan had been leaked and the mission was accomplished.
Xia Xiyang then abruptly claimed she had unfinished business and left, leaving Zheng He bewildered. Back at the office, Zheng He pondered whether he had masochistic tendencies due to his complicated feelings for Xia Xiyang. He then informed Li Jiashang that he had obtained information about Su Yi from Japan, delivering the difficult news: Su Yi was not Mu Xiao. Though hesitant, Li Jiashang had to accept the truth.
Zheng He explained that Xia Xiyang had "unintentionally" revealed that Su Yi had studied in Ocean City before university in Japan. Li Jiashang, however, suspected Xia Xiyang had intentionally leaked this information, given Su Yi's deliberate concealment of her identity. Puzzled by Su Yi's intentions and the timing of this revelation, Li Jiashang couldn't understand why she was hiding.
Zheng He suggested directly asking Su Yi and immediately called her, feigning a need to sign a new contract with Ming Xiu, to get her to come over. Su Yi arrived at Li Jiashang's home with a bottle of wine. After he signed the contract, she offered to cook and drink to celebrate. Li Jiashang, however, insisted he was the better cook.
After dinner, Li Jiashang spoke of his previous girlfriend, describing her as a lifelong bond, and expressed his wish to find her again. Later, Li Jiashang accidentally broke a wine glass and cut his hand while clearing the shards. Su Yi quickly helped him stop the bleeding. Li Jiashang claimed his back hurt more than his hand and asked her to apply medicine to his back. Taking the opportunity, Li Jiashang pulled her into a kiss, and they fell onto the sofa.
Episode 7 Recap
After returning home the next morning, Su Yi was scolded by Xia Xiyang for not coming home all night and failing to answer her phone, as Su Xiangtai had been calling about her absence. Su Yi revealed she had obtained Li Jiashang's fingerprint while bandaging his explosion wound. Xia Xiyang, suspicious of Su Yi's prolonged stay, playfully teased her about finding "first love" and questioned if they had been "playing Gomoku" or if "something else happened besides chatting."
Su Yi dismissed it as merely having a great chat and forgetting the time. Su Yi then admitted she felt Li Jiashang's profound love for Mu Xiao, which struck her as very familiar. Xia Xiyang advised Su Yi to first ascertain Li Jiashang's innocence regarding past events and then consult her own heart about her feelings for him.
Su Yi, touching her face, expressed her lingering insecurity about her past injury, revealing her face had been disfigured and she had undergone plastic surgery. Xia Xiyang, speaking as a doctor, reassured her that the scar was beautifully stitched and served as a "crown of bravery." Su Yi, however, concluded that they shouldn't be together easily until all truths were uncovered. Later, Su Yi returned to the archive room. Using Li Jiashang's fingerprint, she successfully opened a locked cabinet.
Inside, she found a group picture from the Li Mu Research Institute, which she photographed, silently wondering what had truly happened to Mu Xiao years ago. She also quickly photographed the contents of a "List of organ donors." Shortly after, Li Jiashang saw Su Yi near the company entrance and confronted her about not answering his calls. Su Yi claimed she had been working.
When Li Jiashang pressed her about "last night," she casually dismissed it as "just a game" and questioned if he truly cared. Li Jiashang, annoyed, stated he never loses games. Su Yi, after adjusting his tie, retorted that she chose her opponents carefully and implied he was "too weak" for her. Meanwhile, Chu Mo received a cryptic warning reminding him of past consequences for being a busybody.
Subsequently, Su Yi approached Chu Mo in his car, urging him to help uncover the truth about past events. She reminded him of his past as a dedicated reporter, recalling how he pursued truths, even for a chemical explosion at Golden City and a capital chain rupture at Fenghe Real Estate, and specifically a car accident where only he believed the official narrative was false.
Chu Mo, however, rejected her plea, claiming that people change and he now preferred a "playful attitude towards life." He questioned why he should "bear the burden of public interests" or take risks when the truth had not helped him when he was injured. He then abruptly told her to get out of the car.
Su Yi challenged him, asking if he felt better after giving up and if he had never "felt bad," to which Chu Mo responded that there were "certain things" she wouldn't understand. Li Jiashang wrestled with the urge to call Su Yi, but Zheng He advised him that "whoever contacts the other person first loses," also presenting Li Jiashang with a perfume, "Serge Lutens L'orpheline Eau De Parfum Spray," which he humorously dubbed a "female destroyer."
Later, Su Yi visited Li Jiashang's office to deliver some materials. Upon entering, she noticed a strong, unusual scent, remarking it smelled like "Chinese medicine." Li Jiashang, without even glancing at the documents, dismissed them, stating he was "not satisfied" and that Su Yi's "creativity was lacking." Su Yi explained that Ming Xiu needed specific feedback to revise the proposal effectively. This exchange was witnessed by Tao Feilin, who seemed angry.
Afterwards, Su Yi confronted Tao Feilin, telling her that while they both shared the goal of performing their jobs well, they were fundamentally different, and bringing emotions into professional matters was unprofessional. Tao Feilin calmly agreed. Su Yi later visited Chu Mo's office but found it empty. On his desk, she discovered a "Li Mu Research Institute 2014 Employee Directory," which she suspected Chu Mo had intentionally left for her.
She immediately called Ding Hang, explaining that the list was from the same year her father's car accident occurred and the institute closed, and asked him to investigate anyone on it who might be connected to her father's crash. Ding Hang agreed. Later, Su Yi shared her findings with Xia Xiyang, showing her a group photo.
They identified Zhu Yue, standing close to Su Yi's father, noting that he must have been a close acquaintance whom Su Yi had never seen at Lee Group. Su Yi resolved to memorize all the faces, hoping for a chance encounter. They then recognized a younger Zhang Mingda, the man Li Jiashang had recently fired, and marvelled at his transformation. Xia Xiyang questioned why Zhang Mingda didn't recognize Su Yi, unlike Li Jiashang and Chu Mo.
Su Yi explained that she was only seven when Zhang Mingda joined Lee Group in 2003, making her practically a stranger to him now. She concluded that it was now her turn to "hide in the dark." Su Yi overheard female colleagues gossiping about her, alleging she first used Chu Mo to secure the show and was now seducing Li Jiashang to take over the new product marketing campaign.
In a subsequent meeting, Su Yi directly addressed the implied rumors, stating her project lead position was "not due to telling gossips." She then presented her proposal, advocating for the "flawless concealer" as the focus over repair products, asserting that immediate beautification was more appealing and that "beauty is a productivity." After work, Chu Mo waited for Su Yi outside but did not offer her a ride, so she took a taxi to follow him.
Chu Mo drove to the "Ocean City Mental Health Prevention Center / Ocean City Mental Crisis Research Center," waited for Su Yi to alight, and then drove away, leaving her bewildered. Ding Hang then called Su Yi with an update on the employee list.
Out of five names, he had located four: two had emigrated, one had died due to health problems, and one named Zhu Yue had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, with his admission coinciding with the car accident. Connecting this to Chu Mo's actions, Su Yi correctly guessed the hospital was Yihe General Hospital, which Ding Hang confirmed. Su Yi immediately entered the hospital, urgently asking to visit Zhu Yue, but the nurse insisted she fill out a form first.
While she was completing it, Li Jiashang called, demanding to speak to her in person immediately and threatening to terminate the collaboration between Lee Group and Ming Xiu if she refused. Su Yi boldly declared she didn't care and hung up. After submitting the form, the nurse informed her that visiting hours had just ended and she would have to return tomorrow, despite Su Yi's protest that she had arrived before closure.
Su Yi then rushed back to Li Jiashang's residence. He claimed she had left an earring there and went inside to retrieve it. When he did not reappear, Su Yi followed him into the room and discovered a framed photograph of Li Jiashang and Mu Xiao. On the back, Li Jiashang had written a message: "If it wasn't for me, maybe Mu Xiao wouldn't have died. I will never forgive myself." This revelation deeply unsettled Su Yi.
She found Li Jiashang by the pool, where he presented her earring. As he put it on her, Su Yi commented that he didn't need to be "so dramatic" for just earrings. Li Jiashang then told her he was "serious," intending to celebrate his birthday with her, as he used to celebrate alone. Su Yi noticed a birthday cake on a nearby table, realizing it was his birthday.
She wished him a happy birthday but then told him he would have to "celebrate alone this year" and left, much to his dismay. Later, Zheng He called Li Jiashang, surprised to learn Su Yi had left, having expected a romantic moment. Li Jiashang was clearly annoyed by Zheng He's comments.
Back home, Su Yi reviewed the information she had gathered, including the various fates of the Li Mu Research Institute employees, and pondered whether Li Jiashang was responsible for Mu Xiao's death or the car accident.
Episode 8 Recap
Su Yi’s investigation led her to suspect Li Jiashang’s involvement in Mu Xiao’s death. She had previously discovered an employee directory from the Li Mu Research Institute (2014) on Chu Mo’s desk. After she provided the list to Ding Hang for investigation, it was revealed that one person on the list, Zhu Yue, had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, with the timing coinciding with the car accident Su Yi was investigating.
The next day, Su Yi went to the hospital to visit Zhu Yue. While signing the visitor form, she noticed that Zheng He had visited Zhu Yue, which surprised her. When she finally met Zhu Yue, he was scared by her and quickly squatted aside. Su Yi mentioned Mu Feng’s name, which briefly calmed Zhu Yue, but he soon relapsed and ran away. Unable to gather useful information, Su Yi left.
Zheng He advised Li Jiashang that to win a woman’s heart, he must first win her stomach, and encouraged him to be more romantic and take Su Yi out to eat. Later, the company organized a volunteer event at a pet shelter. Li Jiashang made a donation, earning praise for his generosity. During the event, the shelter organized games, and Li Jiashang and Su Yi were paired together. They had a lot of fun.
Li Jiashang spoke with Su Yi about his past relationship with Mu Xiao. Su Yi questioned why Mu Xiao would leave if their love was so good, which made Li Jiashang feel guilty. He expressed regret, saying that if he had another chance, he would not hurt Mu Xiao again. Later, Li Jiashang and Su Yi went to one of his family's stores for market research.
Li Jiashang gave Su Yi a set of cosmetics, instructing an employee to package it for her to take home. He stated that he trusted Su Yi with the new products. Su Yi called Chu Mo. Chu Mo urged her not to continue investigating the past. Su Yi suspected he was being threatened, and indeed, a mysterious hand with a dagger was pressed against Chu Mo’s neck.
Chu Mo, however, lied to Su Yi, claiming no one was threatening him and that he hadn’t even met Li Jiashang. Chu Mo advised Su Yi to understand Li Jiashang’s feelings for her and warned her about the deep pain of having to choose between love and truth if she continued her investigation. After she hung up, the mysterious person instructed Chu Mo to drive away. Li Jiashang soon appeared with two milk teas.
Su Yi confronted him, accusing him of threatening Chu Mo and using his alleged overseas business trips as a deliberate excuse to avoid her. Li Jiashang felt she was suspicious of him, remarking that she had strategically approached him before and was now doubting him. He demanded an explanation for why she was seeking out Chu Mo and why she suspected him. Su Yi simply stated she had no obligation to answer and left.
As Su Yi departed in a taxi, Li Jiashang followed her in another car. Su Yi, holding her mobile phone, went to a destination according to its GPS. Someone was tracking Su Yi, so Li Jiashang rushed to protect her. At the same time, Su Yi also spotted someone secretly following her and took out a fruit knife from her pocket. Unexpectedly, she accidentally cut Li Jiashang’s hand, realizing it was him.
Li Jiashang immediately embraced her, telling her someone was following her. However, Su Yi claimed she only saw him, and no one else. Li Jiashang asked Su Yi who had instructed her to investigate, but Su Yi told him not to ask.
Li Jiashang noted that Su Yi was as impulsive as she had been seven years ago, but Su Yi fiercely rejected his concern, telling him not to meddle in her affairs and asserting that even if she were to die there that day, she didn't need his protection. She then walked away, leaving Li Jiashang heartbroken. Back home, Su Yi received the lipsticks Li Jiashang had sent her and was very happy. She then wanted to send him a message inquiring about his injured hand, but after drafting it for a long time, she lacked the courage to send it.
Episode 9 Recap
The Editor-in-Chief, Amanda, called Su Yi into her office to introduce a new colleague. Before Amanda could finish, Luo Manni introduced herself as the person-in-charge of Lee Group's new project and also Li Jiashang’s fiancée. Su Yi, the Creative Director of FAME SHOW, reciprocated the introduction, adding a pointed remark that it was her first time hearing of CEO Li having such a pretty fiancée.
Later, Su Yi overheard colleagues gossiping about her swift promotion being linked to Li Jiashang and how Luo Manni’s return as his fiancée would affect her. Her colleague Feilin, however, quickly defended Su Yi. Feilin also informed Su Yi that President Chu was going abroad, and his office items were being packed, which Su Yi claimed not to know despite Feilin's sarcastic remark about her constantly accompanying him.
Taking advantage of the office rearrangement, Su Yi discreetly messaged Ding Hang to come in, as opportunities would not wait. Ding Hang, disguised as a repairman, entered the office. Su Yi then feigned a private conversation with Feilin, leading her away from the office by pretending it concerned Li Jiashang, but then by criticizing Feilin's lipstick color and outfit, telling her Li Jiashang wouldn't like them. After Ding Hang completed his task in the empty office, he met Su Yi.
He handed her a complete old magazine. Su Yi, upon examining it, realized the girl mentioned in the car accident report was not her. She recalled having suspected this when she met Zhu Yue. Ding Hang was intrigued, acknowledging that Su Yi had ignited his desire for the truth. He deduced that if the person in the report wasn't Su Yi, then the autopsy must have been faked. They decided to investigate further, starting with the autopsy report.
Back at the office, Su Yi was dismayed to see her younger brother, Su Xiangtai, on the model list. She confronted him for modeling instead of attending school, but he argued that if she could collaborate with Lee Group, he could too. Su Yi forbade him from signing with Lee Group, and when he refused, she promised to deal with him at home.
During the model selection, Su Yi commented on Su Xiangtai being "not a bad choice," but Luo Manni, questioning Su Yi’s taste and professionalism, insisted on choosing Su Xiangtai herself. To counter Luo Manni’s move, Su Yi then proposed Li Jiashang as the model, challenging Luo Manni about her taste in men. Luo Manni readily agreed, proposing she and Li Jiashang be photographed together.
During the photoshoot, Luo Manni was openly affectionate with Li Jiashang, adjusting his tie and posing closely, which visibly bothered Su Yi. Su Xiangtai, noticing Su Yi's discomfort, suggested they leave, but Su Yi subtly put her arm around him, indicating they couldn't leave before the boss, a clear attempt to provoke Li Jiashang.
After the shoot, Li Jiashang instructed Su Yi to report directly to Luo Manni for all future work, making it clear she no longer needed to contact him, and Su Yi agreed. At home, Su Xiangtai tried to justify his modeling gig, saying he was trying to keep an eye on Li Jiashang for Su Yi.
He then playfully accused Su Yi of calling Li Jiashang’s name in her dreams despite claiming not to like him, which made Su Yi annoyed. She told him to find a relationship instead of thinking nonsense. Later, Su Yi confided in Xia Xiyang, explaining that she had planned to use Li Jiashang to uncover the truth, but Luo Manni, whom she likened to "Princess Iron Fan," had unexpectedly appeared and thrown her off balance.
Xia Xiyang playfully suggested that Su Yi might be falling for Li Jiashang, but Su Yi adamantly denied it, reiterating her focus on the truth. In a meeting, Luo Manni, after Li Jiashang helped her remove her jacket, presented her proposal to use influential actors as brand ambassadors. Su Yi countered with a proposal to use artists, arguing that business success could also be an art. However, Li Jiashang sided with Luo Manni, stating he believed her approach was right.
After the meeting, Luo Manni left, but Su Yi deliberately stepped on Li Jiashang’s foot as she exited, offering a sarcastic "Sorry, CEO Li." Later, Luo Manni invited Su Yi to lunch with her and Li Jiashang, and Su Yi accepted. At the restaurant, Luo Manni was openly affectionate with Li Jiashang, sharing food and reminiscing about their shared history.
When Su Yi asked if their engagement was arranged, Luo Manni confirmed their families were friends but emphasized that she and Jiashang were together out of mutual love. She then provocatively brought up Su Yi’s past as Li Jiashang’s rumored girlfriend, which Su Yi quickly dismissed, stating they were merely working partners. Su Yi, visibly upset, then excused herself, rejecting Li Jiashang's offer to send her and telling him to stay with his fiancée instead.
Back at home, Su Yi, still distraught over Li Jiashang and Luo Manni, added copious amounts of chili to her noodles. Noticing Su Yi’s mood, Xia Xiyang took her to a boxing gym to let off steam, suggesting she imagine the punching bag was Luo Manni. To Su Yi's surprise, Li Jiashang, Luo Manni, and Zheng Hao also arrived. Luo Manni challenged Su Yi to a boxing match.
Li Jiashang tried to dissuade Luo Manni, mentioning her coach was a retired national team member, but Luo Manni insisted. When Li Jiashang tried to pass it off as a friendly match, Su Yi, clearly angered, proposed a bet: the copyright authorization from a new Japanese artist, Murakami, whom she felt was perfect for Lee Group's new products. During the intense match, Xia Xiyang cheered on Su Yi. Su Yi won the first round.
However, in the second round, Luo Manni gained the upper hand, and just as she was about to deliver a decisive blow, Li Jiashang called a halt to the match. Luo Manni, nevertheless, declared her victory and mocked Su Yi's choice of artist, claiming Murakami was not that good. Feeling frustrated by the outcome, Su Yi asked Xia Xiyang to teach her boxing starting the next day.
Soon after, Su Yi received a message that Luo Manni had canceled their appointment with Murakami. Enraged, Su Yi rushed to confront Luo Manni, only to find her in Li Jiashang’s office, sitting on his lap and discussing their wedding plans.
Episode 10 Recap
Su Yi went to Li Jiashang's office and saw Romani being overly affectionate with him, even climbing onto him. Su Yi immediately turned and left, upset. Li Jiashang quickly went after her, sending voice messages to explain that the situation was not what it seemed, but Su Yi did not reply. Su Yi proceeded to attend Murakami Kei's solo exhibition. Before entering, she called Chen Jin to confirm they had the admission ticket.
Inside, Su Yi had Chen Jin pretend to be Mr. Murakami's assistant, even fabricating a story about forgetting their work badges, to gain entry for both of them. Su Yi then approached Murakami Kei, introduced herself as Su Yi, the person-in-charge of Lee's new project, and apologized for a canceled appointment, calling it a misunderstanding. Murakami Kei initially refused a second chance, but Su Yi persisted, praising his work and offering him sakè.
Impressed by her sincerity, Murakami Kei invited her to his nearby home to continue their discussion. At Murakami Kei's residence, he offered her wine. During their conversation, Li Jiashang repeatedly called Su Yi, but she did not answer. Murakami Kei mentioned that he liked ambitious women and would accept the collaboration with Lee's. However, he then made unwelcome advances towards Su Yi, stating that if she wanted to collaborate, she would have to "perform" to show her sincerity.
Suddenly, Li Jiashang began banging on the door, shouting Su Yi's name. When Su Yi opened the door, Li Jiashang was shocked to see Murakami Kei lying in a corner, his head bleeding profusely and crying, while Su Yi emerged completely unharmed. Su Yi apologized to Li Jiashang for him having to witness that. Li Jiashang, concerned, asked if she was okay and reprimanded her for making people around her worry. He apologized to her, saying, "It's my bad."
Zheng He then appeared, interrupting them, and told Li Jiashang that Romani had an issue with a contract that needed his attention. Li Jiashang instructed Su Yi to return to Ming Xiu and not go anywhere else. Zheng He smoothly clarified Li Jiashang's words, telling Su Yi that Li Jiashang wanted her to resolve the endorser issue quickly and report back.
After Su Yi left, Li Jiashang angrily blamed Zheng He, stating it was all his idea and Su Yi had almost lost her innocence due to it. He expressed that his heart felt "stuffy" from the trick. Zheng He explained this was a consequence, like "hurting a thousand of your enemy, you will lose eight hundred of your own."
A flashback revealed that Li Jiashang and Zheng He had conspired with Romani to make Su Yi jealous, using a "Catfish Effect" strategy. Romani, a top student in negotiation, had agreed to "set up Su Yi" in exchange for Li Jiashang owing her forever. Back at Ming Xiu, Su Yi held a meeting. Her colleagues mistakenly believed she had secured Murakami Kei, but Su Yi corrected them, stating that the co-branding with the artist had not gone well.
Romani arrived and sarcastically hailed Su Yi as a "female hero" who "completely destroys jerks." Su Yi questioned if this was Romani's true intention, which Romani denied. Romani then declared that losing Murakami Kei was a serious setback, making it impossible to promote and sell during the Golden Month, and announced the termination of Ming Xiu's collaboration and new project planning altogether. Su Yi countered, suggesting Romani's hasty termination made it seem desired.
She appealed to Romani's professionalism, acknowledging that Murakami Kei's character might affect Lee Group's reputation, but firmly believed Romani wouldn't carelessly end a beneficial long-term collaboration. Su Yi pleaded for two weeks to find an appropriate replacement endorser. Romani bargained, agreeing to only one week. Su Yi accepted the challenge and instructed her team to find potential endorsers from all walks of life, emphasizing genuine confidence over flawless beauty.
She promised to double their bonuses if they produced a flawless proposal report that passed the following week. Meanwhile, Zheng He took Li Jiashang's phone to send a text to Su Yi, aiming to help Li Jiashang pursue her. Li Jiashang, however, was skeptical, claiming Su Yi would never make the first move. Zheng He challenged Li Jiashang's competitive nature, urging him to understand the importance of making concessions in love.
The two then drank heavily, eventually falling asleep in the restaurant. Later, Li Jiashang checked his phone, noticing Su Yi had not replied to the message Zheng He sent. He worried about her safety and considered calling her. Zheng He advised against "irrational fear" and "overdoing it," telling Li Jiashang to find a balance and stop sending messages. Later, Su Yi received a text from Xia Xiyang asking about dinner.
Su Yi then texted Zheng He, playfully instructing him to serve Xia Xiyang well as her "goddess" wanted shrimp for dinner. Xia Xiyang, meanwhile, was at the hospital during her night shift, lamenting Su Yi's unreturned messages and suspecting she was secretly dating. Her father arrived with his pregnant wife, who made critical remarks about Xia Xiyang's marital status. Just as Xia Xiyang felt cornered, Zheng He appeared with midnight snacks.
He intervened, humorously introducing himself as Xia Xiyang's boyfriend and the hospital director's son. He then fiercely defended career women and criticized individuals who "steal others' husbands and try to make them stay by having a kid," effectively driving Xia Xiyang's father and his wife away. Xia Xiyang was annoyed at Su Yi for "betraying" her by informing Zheng He.
Zheng He clarified his earlier boyfriend comment was "just to save face," but Xia Xiyang lashed out, accusing him of living a carefree life and being superficial. She expressed disappointment, feeling he used his family issues as an excuse, unlike her, who grew up with divorced parents and no support. Zheng He cut her off, urging her not to use her family as an excuse and reminded her she wasn't alone, as she had friends and him.
Moved by his words, Xia Xiyang impulsively kissed Zheng He, leaving him surprised. The next day, Xia Xiyang recounted the events to Su Yi, admitting Zheng He's words made sense. Su Yi teasingly asked if she had "given in" to him. Xia Xiyang denied it but confessed she had given Zheng He a three-month trial period as her boyfriend, emphasizing her ability to end it if unsatisfied.
Su Yi then received a call from Ding Hang, who had found the name and picture of the medical examiner involved in her father's autopsy. Su Yi planned to investigate further, despite Xia Xiyang's initial skepticism about finding someone with just a name and picture in such a large city. Upon seeing the photo, Xia Xiyang recognized the person as Zheng Yi, their hospital's department head and, to Su Yi's astonishment, Zheng He's father.
Episode 11 Recap
Su Yi went to the Pet Hospital to inquire about Zheng Yi, the forensic doctor who conducted her father's autopsy. Uncle Zhang, visibly startled, feigned ignorance, claiming he was just an ordinary man and had no idea about the complexities of the case. He advised Su Yi that after such a long time, the chances of uncovering the truth were low and she should move forward, though he also cautioned her to "be careful in everything."
Returning home, Su Yi looked exhausted. Her younger brother, Su Xiangtai, was on a video call with their parents. Noticing Su Yi's weariness, their parents instructed Su Xiangtai to prepare food for her. He promptly ended the call, offering to get her favorite snail rice noodles, which touched Su Yi deeply. Su Xiangtai then left to buy the food, reminding her to lock the door.
Later, Su Yi returned to the Pet Hospital to help, where she had also been led to believe Uncle Zhang wanted to meet her, but found he was out. As she prepared to bathe a dog named Blackie, Li Jiashang unexpectedly joined her. They playfully splashed each other with water while bathing the dog. Li Jiashang then asked if there was anything else she wanted to discuss besides work.
Su Yi directly brought up Luo Manni, questioning if her actions were truly for work or a deliberate attempt to make things difficult. Li Jiashang started to explain, but Su Yi cut him off, asserting that she only believed what she saw and revealing that she had known all along he was using Luo Manni to test her, even joking about her "own" superior acting skills in playing along.
Su Yi also informed Li Jiashang that she had secured an internationally renowned and suitable spokesperson for their new product. He advised her that his grandfather, Chairman Li Yaohui, would be present at the final proposal. Suddenly, Xia Tian arrived, and Su Yi greeted her warmly, much to Li Jiashang's surprise. Xia Tian explained they were "old acquaintances."
While Li Jiashang took a phone call, Xia Tian quietly asked Su Yi if Li Jiashang knew about her facial disfigurement, to which Su Yi shook her head. Xia Tian then confirmed that Li Jiashang had asked her to return to China, revealing that she was indeed the candidate he had mentioned for the spokesperson role. That night, Ding Hang summoned Su Yi and showed her an accident report document from the night of her father's car crash.
Su Yi noticed the accident time matched her father's, but the report indicated no injuries or fatalities. Ding Hang highlighted how Lee Group's Vice President, Zhang Mingda, had been brazenly corrupt but only fired, suggesting he was protected. Using voice-altering software, Ding Hang called Zhang Mingda, stating he knew about the August 30th, 2014 car accident. After initial attempts to evade, Zhang Mingda confessed he was merely a scapegoat.
He claimed Chairman Li Yaohui had given him a car and instructed him to intentionally cause a rear-end collision and destroy it. Zhang Mingda further revealed that the car was already damaged when he received it and had always been driven by Li Jiashang, urging them to confront Chairman Li or Li Jiashang instead. This revelation brought back a painful memory for Su Yi: Li Jiashang's voice saying, "If it weren't for me, Mu Xiao might not have died.
I will never forgive myself. Just like the car crash seven years ago." The information filled her with renewed hatred, and she later woke from a nightmare, crying out in distress. The next day, Li Jiashang presented Su Yi with a handmade doll he named "Jia Yi," signifying "Li Jiashang" and "Su Yi." He earnestly promised to do anything she asked.
He admitted he followed many tutorials but couldn't perfect the final step, making the doll somewhat imperfect, and worried she might find it ugly. Su Yi accepted the doll, assuring him it wasn't ugly and that it could keep her company when he wasn't around.
However, she then straightforwardly told him that while she would gladly accept Jia Yi, she believed they should take a break from their personal interactions and maintain a strictly professional, colleague-only relationship, asking him not to contact her for personal matters. Upon returning home, Su Yi found her door open and realized Su Xiangtai had discovered her detailed revenge plans displayed on her wall. Upset, Su Xiangtai began packing his luggage, insisting she return home with him to their parents.
Su Yi tried to explain and calm him, but he accused her of being stuck in the past, pointing out that she didn't even remember her own history and was no longer "Mu Xiao from the past." Su Yi, however, asserted that her actions were driven by her current self, needing to reclaim her lost memories.
She tearfully explained her torment from not remembering her past, even her closest family, and her nightly nightmares, emphasizing her desperate need to uncover the truth about her eighteen missing years. Seeing her distress, Su Xiangtai embraced her, apologizing for his harsh words and promising to protect her and support her quest.
The next day, Su Yi was ill with a fever, and Su Xiangtai diligently cared for her, ensuring she rested and teasing her about the long list of restrictions for her recovery. Later, Su Yi went back to the Pet Hospital to see Uncle Zhang. Uncle Zhang asked if her strained relationship with Li Jiashang stemmed from his fiancée or a suspicion of his involvement in her father's death.
Su Yi confirmed the latter, leading Uncle Zhang to explain that after her disappearance, Li Jiashang had a major falling out with his grandfather, Li Yaohui, and was locked in his room for frantically searching for her. Su Yi countered by stating she had solid evidence from Zhang Mingda, who claimed Li Jiashang was a suspect in her father's car crash.
Uncle Zhang vehemently refuted this, explaining that Li Jiashang was confined at home by Li Yaohui during the time of her father's accident, making his involvement impossible. He suggested that Li Jiashang, like Su Yi, was also controlled by others, which is why he carried guilt. Sun Editor, facing a business trip, entrusted Su Yi with her invitation to the prestigious Lee Group annual reception, asking her to attend on her behalf. Su Yi accepted.
At the reception, her younger brother, Su Xiangtai, was also present as a new model for Lee Group, where Zheng He helped him navigate social interactions. Luo Manni arrived with Li Jiashang, overtly leaning on him due to her high heels, reassuring him that Su Yi wouldn't be attending since she had given the invitation to Sun Editor. However, Su Yi arrived unexpectedly with Xia Tian, and both noticed Li Jiashang and Luo Manni's close interaction.
Zheng He quickly ushered Su Xiangtai away from Su Yi, anticipating a potential confrontation. Soon after, Chairman Li Yaohui arrived and instructed Li Jiashang not to wander, asking Luo Manni to keep a close watch on him as he had an important announcement to make later. Su Yi then approached Li Jiashang, requesting a private conversation. Luo Manni immediately blocked her, insisting they talk publicly, citing Li Yaohui's impending discussion.
When Su Yi reiterated it was a private matter, Luo Manni attempted to recall shared university memories among herself, Su Yi, and Li Jiashang, including eating ramen and Li Jiashang picking out shrimp for her. Su Yi expressed confusion, stating she didn't recall such a restaurant. Feeling frustrated, Su Yi excused herself to the restroom to collect her thoughts.
Episode 12 Recap
Su Yi intended to clarify things with Li Jiashang, but seeing him with Luo Manni still caused her pain. Li Jiashang told Luo Manni to stop their act, as Su Yi already knew. However, Luo Manni insisted that Su Yi knowing didn't mean everyone else knew, and asked Li Jiashang to show her some respect, especially since her grandfather was present for her welcome party. Li Jiashang expressed his reluctance to play along, but Luo Manni firmly stated he must.
Meanwhile, Su Xiangtai was searching for Su Yi. Xia Xiyang, seeing his persistence, teased him, urging him to mature and learn to drink. She explained the benefit of drinking yogurt to protect his stomach lining before consuming alcohol, then offered him a Negroni, explaining it would help him maintain a "slightly tipsy state" without getting drunk. Su Xiangtai took a sip of a Negroni and almost choked, still wanting to find his sister.
Luo Manni then approached, showing Su Xiangtai a more seductive way to drink. He quickly caught on and downed his drink, surprising Xia Xiyang. Later, Xia Xiyang found Su Xiangtai, whose face was flushed. He tried to mimic Luo Manni's style of drinking, claiming he could still handle it. Xia Xiyang mused that she had inadvertently trained a "wine god."
Su Yi observed Li Jiashang and Luo Manni's affectionate display, and despite knowing it was an act, she felt a pang of jealousy. Tao Feilin approached, expressing sympathy for Su Yi, but Su Yi quickly dismissed her, stating they were different. Tao Feilin mentioned the possibility of Li Jiashang and Luo Manni's engagement, which Su Yi refused to acknowledge. Shortly after, Chairman Gao approached Su Yi, returning a lost necklace.
Su Yi reacted strongly to the photo on the necklace, denying it was hers, and later pondered why she had such a powerful reaction. At the banquet, Li Yaohui began his speech, announcing his full retirement and the transfer of his chairmanship to Li Jiashang, urging his grandson not to disappoint him. He then made a second announcement, fulfilling a personal wish before his retirement.
He revealed that Luo Manni, who had joined Lee Group that day, was Li Jiashang's childhood sweetheart, and that the Li and Luo families were close. He then called Luo Manni to the stage and publicly declared that Li Jiashang and Luo Manni would marry on a chosen date. The news was a shock to Li Jiashang. Su Yi, unable to bear the blow, rushed out of the hall. Li Jiashang immediately pursued her.
Su Xiangtai also tried to follow, but Luo Manni stopped him, advising him to let go of people he could never be with. Concerned for Su Yi, Xia Xiyang asked Zheng He to bring a car for her. Su Yi ran out into the pouring rain, overwhelmed with anguish. Li Jiashang caught up to her, embracing her as she gasped for breath. Zheng He arrived in a car, and Li Jiashang quickly carried Su Yi inside.
On the way home, as Su Yi lay weak in the car, Li Jiashang noticed a distinctive scar behind her ear, deepening his suspicion that she might be Mu Xiao. At home, Li Jiashang carefully dried Su Yi's hair. Su Yi had a high fever. In a dazed state, she asked Li Jiashang if he was hiding things from her and expressed her desire for him to speak his mind.
She also inquired if he had realized she was Mu Xiao, and what had happened between him and Mu Xiao, as she couldn't remember anything. When he tried to take her to the hospital, she held onto his hand, preventing him from leaving. He gently assured her he wouldn't leave and instead applied an ice pack. Later, Zheng He brought groceries for chicken soup to Li Jiashang's house.
Li Jiashang accepted the ingredients but politely turned Zheng He away, stating it wasn't a good time for him to come in. The next morning, Su Yi awoke in Li Jiashang's bed, initially scared to find her clothes removed. However, she then noticed Li Jiashang's shirt placed on the quilt and soon learned he had sent her own clothes for dry cleaning. He had also made her soup.
Su Yi was anxious to leave for a meeting, but Li Jiashang insisted she finish her meal, reassuring her they had plenty of time. At Lee Group, Li Yaohui was growing increasingly irritated by Li Jiashang and Su Yi's tardiness for the new product marketing campaign meeting. Just as he was about to leave, Li Jiashang and Su Yi arrived.
Su Yi proceeded to present Ming Xiu's new product proposal, which focused on "repair" and championed the theme "beauty cannot be defined." She explained that many women feel bound by societal beauty standards and makeup, and Lee Group's new products aimed to encourage self-acceptance and true change, allowing everyone's authentic beauty to shine. Luo Manni challenged the proposal, arguing it might alienate women who enjoy makeup and conflict with Lee Group's existing makeup brands.
She questioned if the proposal mocked those with imperfect skin and equated selling emotions over efficacy to selling "quack remedies." Su Yi countered that the aim was not to discourage makeup, but to free women from feeling bound by it, empowering them to please themselves. She also clarified that the repair lotion was not a miracle treatment, and its marketing focused on helping people regain confidence.
Li Yaohui expressed his dislike for the proposal, but Li Jiashang intervened, calling for an anonymous vote to decide its approval, disregarding his grandfather's personal opinion. The votes resulted in a tie, and everyone realized Luo Manni hadn't cast her vote. To everyone's surprise, especially Li Yaohui and Tao Feilin, Luo Manni voted in favor of the proposal, causing Li Yaohui to storm out angrily. After the meeting, Su Yi thanked Luo Manni for her support.
Luo Manni, however, downplayed her action, claiming she was merely weighing the pros and cons for Lee Group and intentionally creating trouble to break its internal balance. She then left, subtly allowing Li Jiashang to approach Su Yi. Su Yi was initially reluctant to engage with Li Jiashang, but he persisted, referencing their conversation from the previous night.
He revealed he already knew she was Mu Xiao and understood why she had treated him like a stranger and found it hard to believe him, acknowledging her years of being plagued by nightmares and her strong desire to tell him her true identity. He confessed his long-standing love, explaining how his affection for her since childhood led him to argue with his grandfather and remain single, waiting for Mu Xiao's return.
Li Jiashang declared that all he wanted was to be with her properly, urging her to trust him and choose him again, assuring her that he was someone she could truly rely on in the world, and that their love was worth waiting a lifetime for. Deeply moved by his words, Su Yi turned and embraced Li Jiashang, initiating a kiss.
Episode 13 Recap
Su Yi arrived at Fame Show, her workplace, to find a bouquet of lavender and a card from Li Jiashang, who declared he would pursue her again. Although Su Yi called his gesture "cliche," Li Jiashang approached Su Yi and a colleague, Chen Jin, who had been whispering. Su Yi revealed that their coworkers had made a bet about whether she was dating Li Jiashang.
Li Jiashang playfully told Chen Jin she had lost because he was still in the process of pursuing Su Yi, but Su Yi interjected that the win or loss was not yet decided. This exchange was overheard by Tao Feilin, whose eyes filled with hatred. Later, Su Yi confessed to Xia Xiyang that she and Li Jiashang were "getting together again," though she preferred not to announce it yet due to his grandfather's side of the family.
Xia Xiyang commented on the dramatic nature of their relationship, mentioning car accidents and amnesia, noting that only leukemia was missing from their story. Meanwhile, Zheng He, who was delivering takeout to Li Jiashang, discovered him reading a book titled "The Psychology of Love: A Wish for Men to Treat You Gently," seemingly to guide his renewed pursuit of Su Yi.
Li Jiashang, referring to Zheng He as a "primitive single-celled organism" for not understanding, then asked him to investigate the reason behind the rejection of a new product research project. That evening, Su Yi brought the lavender and card home. Her younger brother, Su Xiangtai,'s mood soured upon seeing the flowers were from Li Jiashang and reading the card. He angrily threw them into the trash. Su Yi quietly retrieved them.
Su Xiangtai complained that his sister was "bewitched by all those good-for-nothings." Su Yi clarified that Li Jiashang was Mu Xiao's first boyfriend and then asked if he knew the meaning of lavender. When he didn't, she told him it meant "waiting for love." Su Xiangtai, however, reported that the lavenders didn't agree with that meaning. Su Yi reassured him that she would always love him the most, and now there was another person who would also love him.
Su Xiangtai rejected the idea of sharing her love and threatened to "kill" Li Jiashang if he ever treated her badly. Su Yi then playfully pinched Su Xiangtai, calling it punishment for going to the rooftop without her permission, to which he retorted it was punishment for casually throwing away her items. He conceded, promising not to do it again and offering to do anything, even clean the toilet, which he noted was his usual chore anyway.
Later, in the gym, Su Xiangtai was startled to find Roman waiting for him. She said she came to see him because he was good-looking. Roman proposed a bet: he would be hers after one month. Su Xiangtai hesitated, referencing a saying that one shouldn't chase those they can never be with, but Roman declared he had "unlimited possibilities."
The next day, Li Jiashang insisted on accompanying Su Yi to Fame Show, though Su Yi noted he had a meeting and they needed to return quickly, and he jokingly explained he didn't want to eat takeout alone. Su Yi's team was in a meeting, troubled by a venue issue for their upcoming promotion, as the scheduled stadium was closed due to an accident. Li Jiashang offered afternoon tea to the hardworking team.
He then took Su Yi to a wide and exquisite celebrity check-in spot, which he "just recalled" was a viable alternative. He explained that the curator was a friend and owed him a favor for securing a major deal. Su Yi was impressed, jokingly asking for the curator's contact information, but Li Jiashang refused, asking if he wasn't "enough" for her, to which she replied, "It seems like it's not enough."
Su Yi took photos of the venue, then took a few of Li Jiashang. He then complimented her, saying she was "prettier than the artwork." While leaving, Su Yi paused at an impressionistic painting, which saddened her as it reminded her of her amnesia. She commented that the art seemed like her own style and that the painter must have nightmares often.
Li Jiashang explained it was painted by an Austrian artist with Alzheimer's disease who desperately wanted to preserve his memories. Su Yi noted the ten-year creation period was "longer than my memories." She then picked a flower, lamenting that while women are often compared to flowers with roots and origins, she felt she had neither. Li Jiashang playfully called her a "black lotus," a term she teased him for knowing, commenting on his 6G internet speed.
She recalled a childhood memory of crying and vomiting atop a glass tower, a story her grandfather had told her. Li Jiashang assured her that it wasn't important if she couldn't remember her past, as his memories were her memories. Su Yi then pressed him with questions: "Why did I like you back then? Did anyone else like me? Did we fight a lot? Did you do anything to me that you'll feel sorry for?"
She also asked how it felt to date his "ex-girlfriend," to which he firmly replied, "You're not my ex-girlfriend. We never broke up." When she asked why he "let her go" back then, he explained he was with his grandpa and missed her call, a fact he had always felt guilty about. Su Yi urged him not to let guilt for Mu Xiao drive his approach, but to come with "dignity," as that would make him more charming.
Walking down the street, a car sped past, splashing water. Li Jiashang instinctively moved to shield Su Yi, but she pushed him in front of her to block the splash. He was visibly upset, asking why she pushed him. He argued that while he intended to shield her, her pushing him made the situation different, comparing it to forced marriage versus a willing proposal.
Su Yi, unfazed, sarcastically suggested that if he applied such "sensitive thinking" to business opportunities, Lee Group's market value would double. Still annoyed, Li Jiashang wanted ice cream, but the machine was broken. Su Yi received a call from Xia Xiyang, who had good news: Director Zheng had agreed to an interview at 7 PM that night. Su Yi tried to reschedule, explaining she had something to do and it would take half an hour to get there.
Xia Xiyang said Director Zheng was only available that day and promised to stall for time, urging Su Yi to hurry. Su Yi told Li Jiashang she had "urgent work" related to an interview and needed to leave. He offered to drive her, but she declined, saying their destinations were in different directions. Upon meeting Director Zheng, Su Yi, with Xia Xiyang's help, asked why he transitioned from forensic science to clinical medicine.
Director Zheng explained that during an autopsy, he accidentally cut his hand. While cleaning the wound, he realized that if he were infected, there would be no one to care for Zheng He. This realization prompted him to leave forensic science for a more "righteous" job at the hospital. Xia Xiyang then jokingly asked to see Zheng He's baby photos, commenting that he hadn't inherited his father's handsomeness.
To prove his "genetically superior" genes, Zheng He showed a photo of his mother, Du Yue, at 25 years old. As they were about to leave, Su Yi noticed that Director Zheng's safe was not properly closed. Seizing the opportunity while Xia Xiyang distracted Zheng He, Su Yi secretly entered Director Zheng's office. On his way back to his office, Director Zheng was called by Li Jiashang.
When Su Yi emerged from Director Zheng's office, she was spotted by Xia Xiyang and Zheng He. Xia Xiyang was curious about her presence, and Su Yi quickly lied, claiming the hospital was so large that she got lost trying to find the bathroom. Director Zheng seemed surprised by their conversation. Li Jiashang then asked Su Yi why she was there, and Director Zheng mentioned the interview regarding Lee Group's new product.
Although Li Jiashang was upset that Su Yi had hidden her purpose from him, he covered for her. Su Yi asked Li Jiashang why he had come to the hospital. He recalled a text message from "Chu Mo" warning him not to let Su Yi find Director Zheng. Instead of revealing the truth, he made an excuse, saying he was there to collect his check-up report and would have driven her if he had known she was coming.
Su Yi acknowledged that he helped her cover her lie but insisted he needed to know the truth. She promised to tell him when the time was right. Li Jiashang, in turn, pledged to always be by her side, no matter what happened. Later, Su Yi was preparing for a live stream at Fame Show with a famous online personality, Broadcaster Jin, to promote Lee Group's new products.
She hung up an incoming call from Ding Hang as the broadcast was about to begin. Li Jiashang, wary of Broadcaster Jin's intentions towards Su Yi, sat nearby to observe. Broadcaster Jin suggested shortening the broadcast, but Su Yi explained that Lee Group's live stream was not purely commercial but aimed to create a sense of mystery. Broadcaster Jin, flattered, invited Su Yi to join his team as a partner.
Li Jiashang quickly interjected, telling Broadcaster Jin to "Do the broadcast well and don't mess around." As the live stream progressed, a large screen was supposed to display the new product line. Instead, it showed a close-up photo of Su Yi's face, prominently displaying a large scar.
Episode 14 Recap
During a live stream at Ming Xiu, a technical issue caused a picture of Su Yi with a prominent scar on her face to appear on screen, shocking everyone. Li Jiashang quickly cut the feed and instructed his staff to find Feilin, whom an employee identified as being responsible for the presentation. Su Yi, distressed, told Li Jiashang to return to the Lee Group immediately, not wanting his company to be implicated.
Back in her office, Su Yi asked Chen Jin about the online reaction. Chen Jin confirmed that while the live stream was cut in time and initial screenshots were blurry, clear images of Su Yi’s scar were now circulating. Su Yi promptly instructed Chen Jin to post a statement on Ming Xiu’s official blog.
Feilin, however, interrupted, stating that the Editor-in-Chief, Sister Meng, needed to approve such a statement, and she had just left for a business trip, not expected back until later that afternoon. Su Yi dismissed the delay, emphasizing the critical "golden recovery time" and declaring that she would take full responsibility. Meanwhile, Li Jiashang contacted his public relations department, tasking them with attributing the live stream interruption to technical issues.
He also instructed them to positively guide public comments on Ming Xiu's statement, and as an apology, offer a 20% discount on all Lee Group products for the next two days. To further divert attention, Li Jiashang orchestrated the widespread release of celebrity gossip, successfully shifting the focus away from Su Yi. Later, Su Yi confronted Feilin, directly accusing her of leaking the photo.
Feilin, admitting her personal dislike for Su Yi and her belief that Su Yi was unworthy of Li Jiashang, denied exposing the photo. She provocatively suggested that if she truly wanted to expose Su Yi's "fake face," she would simply splash water on her. Su Yi, accepting the "reminder," immediately splashed a cup of water onto Feilin's face, an act that was secretly filmed by someone nearby.
As Su Yi prepared to leave, Chen Jin informed her that online discussions were now claiming the scar photo was not photoshopped, but real. Li Jiashang, on behalf of the Lee Group, had already issued a statement denying these rumors and asserting that Su Yi was a victim of malicious exposure. Feeling she couldn't further involve Li Jiashang, Su Yi decided to leave.
Li Jiashang, arriving at Ming Xiu, ignored Feilin's attempts to get his attention and went straight to Su Yi, attempting to take her with him. Su Yi, however, pushed him away, asking him not to follow her, and left alone. As she walked through the company lobby, she overheard employees whispering about her scar. Xia Xiyang arrived on her motorcycle, offering comfort and driving Su Yi home.
At home, Su Yi's brother, Su Xiangtai, tried to console her, but Xia Xiyang intervened, believing Su Yi needed space. After they left, Su Yi scrolled through her phone, finding videos from her university classmates in Japan confirming the authenticity of her scar and recounting how it had once scared away a boy. Deeply hurt, Su Yi slumped to the floor, silently refusing to open the door when Li Jiashang knocked. He sat patiently outside, silently keeping her company.
Xia Xiyang later discussed Su Yi's struggles with Zheng He, explaining that Su Yi's past popularity was largely due to her beauty. This led Su Yi to internalize the belief that she would only be loved for her looks, which ultimately wasn't what she truly desired. Zheng He playfully suggested he could get a matching scar to be "fierce" together.
Eventually, Su Yi spoke to Li Jiashang through the door, confessing that she lacked Mu Xiao's memories and her perfect face. She gave Li Jiashang a choice: she would open the door in five minutes, presenting her true self, and he could decide to stay or leave without her blaming him. After a moment, Su Yi bravely washed her face, ready to reveal herself.
When she opened the door, Li Jiashang was gone, and she collapsed in tears, believing he had abandoned her. However, Li Jiashang reappeared, pulling her to her feet and reassuring her that he didn't mind her scar. He expressed his frustration that she would think of him that way, stressing that "love is a soul encountering another soul, not a face encountering another face."
As he leaned in to kiss her, Zheng He and Xia Xiyang burst in, interrupting the moment. Li Jiashang quickly ushered Su Yi into his car, and they finally shared a passionate kiss on their drive home. At Li Jiashang's home, Su Yi told him she had grown resilient to public attacks. She then asked where he had gone when she opened the door. Li Jiashang lied, claiming he was thirsty and had gone to get water.
They spent a passionate night together. The next morning, Su Yi woke up in Li Jiashang's pajamas to find him making breakfast. They shared more intimate moments, including several kisses. After breakfast, Li Jiashang told Su Yi to go to work, promising to follow soon. As Su Yi reached the exit of the underground parking garage, a speeding car swerved directly towards her. Li Jiashang, seeing the danger, lunged forward and pulled Su Yi into his arms, narrowly saving her.
Su Yi dismissed the incident as her own carelessness, but Li Jiashang, suspecting an intentional attack, discreetly called someone to protect Su Yi, demanding to know her every move and every person she met. Meanwhile, Li Jiashang's grandfather, Li Yaohui, confronted him about the scandal. He revealed that Lee Group's stock had dropped five percent, numerous clients were demanding refunds, and other products were facing boycotts from collaborators.
Li Yaohui angrily demanded that Li Jiashang sever all ties with Su Yi. Li Jiashang, however, defended Su Yi, insisting she was a victim. This further enraged Li Yaohui, who nearly fainted from anger, requiring immediate medicine.
Episode 15 Recap
Li Yaohui, furious, demanded Li Jiashang immediately remove Su Yi from her position as project leader and sever all ties with the Lee Group. Li Jiashang retorted that the Lee Group had no right to interfere in Ming Xiu’s affairs and left, further enraging Li Yaohui, who nearly collapsed. Luo Manni quickly reassured her grandfather, promising to handle the situation with Ming Xiu herself and urging him not to let it affect his health.
Li Jiashang took Su Yi to a boxing gym, teaching her how to punch, ostensibly for self-defense and stress relief. While there, Su Yi expressed her concern over the negative public opinion, which was severely impacting both the Lee Group and Ming Xiu, especially the upcoming new product launch. She felt it was necessary to address the public's sentiments.
Li Jiashang, touched by her dedication to her work, encouraged her not to let negativity deter her, reminding her that public memory is short. Later, as Su Yi approached Ming Xiu, she received a call from Chen Jin, warning her to be cautious as a crowd of agitators had gathered downstairs. Disregarding the warning, Su Yi directly confronted the crowd, promising them a satisfactory answer. To their astonishment, she publicly announced her immediate resignation from all positions at Ming Xiu.
Returning inside, Su Yi sought out Chu Mo, who had returned to deal with the public outcry surrounding her leaked photos. Su Yi requested him to approve her resignation. Chu Mo questioned her impulsiveness, stating he had already mitigated pressure from the Lee Group and urged her to show more endurance. Su Yi explained that she wished to avoid causing further trouble for anyone and that she knew what she truly wanted.
Chu Mo reluctantly agreed to her resignation but cautioned her to be vigilant, as her makeup-free photo might have led to others recognizing her true identity, Mu Xiao. Su Yi assured him of her caution and thanked him deeply before leaving. As Su Yi departed Ming Xiu, her colleagues, led by Chen Jin, gathered to bid her an emotional farewell, expressing their reluctance to see her go.
Su Yi, however, reassured them, mentioning that Luo Manni would now be in charge of Ming Xiu and that the company was in capable hands. Relaxing by a pool with Xia Xiyang, Su Yi appeared unconcerned by the rampant gossip about her. Xia Xiyang, however, was indignant about Tao Feilin's actions and the perceived injustice.
Su Yi, calm and collected, assured her friend that she was not one to passively endure hardship and hinted at a plan to confront those who had wronged her. Li Jiashang arrived at the pool, questioning Su Yi’s decision to resign. Su Yi countered that her resignation was what the Lee Group desired, suggesting it was the only viable solution given the circumstances. Xia Xiyang, returning with drinks, was enraged to find Li Jiashang confronting Su Yi.
She angrily accused him of allowing his grandfather to bully Su Yi, referencing an earlier incident where Li Yaohui had forced Su Yi to sign an agreement to protect the Lee Group's reputation. During that encounter, Li Yaohui had presented Li Jiashang's well-being as a bargaining chip, implying that Su Yi wouldn't want to jeopardize his future. Su Yi had signed the agreement but had refused to use Li Jiashang as a condition.
Li Jiashang, having been unaware of his grandfather's direct involvement, apologized sincerely to Su Yi. Later, Li Jiashang drove Su Yi home. As they shared a tender moment in the car, almost kissing, Su Xiangtai suddenly appeared, interrupting them. Su Xiangtai playfully asserted his protective role, refusing to accept Li Jiashang as his brother-in-law and insisting that Su Yi return home with him.
To avoid an argument, Su Yi quickly got out of the car and went inside with her brother. Su Xiangtai later confessed that he hadn't seen Su Yi smile so genuinely in a long time and promised to always be her rock. Meanwhile, Li Jiashang met with Zheng He to discuss Zhu Yue's research project. Zheng He explained that the project was rejected due to its misalignment with market trends and excessive budget.
Suspecting Zhu Yue knew more, Li Jiashang visited the psychiatric hospital, only to learn that Zhu Yue had been taken by his family the previous day, supposedly for better medical care abroad. He also discovered that Zhu Yue had met with Zheng Yi, head of Haiyi Private Hospital, shortly before his departure.
Given the potential sensitivity, Li Jiashang asked Luo Manni to secretly investigate the connection, preferring to keep Zheng He and Su Yi out of it until he had concrete answers, especially considering its implications for Su Yi's father. Luo Manni agreed to help. At her home, Su Yi shared her frustration with Xia Xiyang about the sudden loss of clues regarding Zhu Yue's whereabouts.
With Zheng Yi's safe empty and Chu Mo unwilling to divulge more, all leads seemed to have vanished. Xia Xiyang suggested Su Yi use her relationship with Li Jiashang to gain information, but Su Yi was reluctant to burden him. Instead, she devised a plan to "draw out the fish with bait," hinting at a public strategy. Later, Luo Manni unexpectedly showed up at Su Xiangtai's house.
After a playful attempt to see his bedroom, she dramatically "tripped" on the stairs, falling into Su Xiangtai's arms. Their close proximity created an awkward, almost romantic moment, which was promptly interrupted by Su Yi entering the living room. Luo Manni then revealed to Su Yi that she had an idea that could help her make a comeback. The Lee Group's new product launch conference began.
Chu Mo, attending the event, was surprised to see Li Xiatian, a renowned actress, engaging in a lively conversation with Li Jiashang. Luo Manni hosted the event, introducing Li Xiatian as the endorser for the "Secret Series." Li Jiashang then took the stage to express his gratitude, specifically thanking Su Yi, the former Ming Xiu director, for her dedication in preparing the launch and enduring immense pressure.
Unexpectedly, Tao Feilin, present in the audience, dramatically stood up and pointed, revealing that Su Yi was indeed among them, despite Su Yi wearing a mask. Reporters immediately swarmed Su Yi. Without hesitation, Su Yi walked onto the stage, faced the cameras, and removed her mask. She thanked everyone for their unwavering attention and acknowledged the public's scrutiny of her. In a powerful gesture, she wiped away the foundation on her face, revealing a facial scar.
She declared that this scar, once her secret, was now simply a part of her, embodying the bravery and confidence that the Lee Group's "Secret Series" aimed to convey. She emphasized the product's exceptional ability to conceal, demonstrating its effectiveness in covering her long-hidden scar. Li Jiashang then joined her on stage, taking her hand. He declared that while the new product's secret was significant, their relationship was an even greater one, hinting at their public romance.
The audience reacted with gasps and exclamations, while Tao Feilin watched in stunned disbelief, realizing she had been outmaneuvered. Watching the announcement unfold live on television, Li Yaohui was so enraged that he suffered a heart attack. Immediately after their public appearance, Li Jiashang's subordinate urgently called him away to the hospital, informing him of his grandfather's condition.
As Li Jiashang and Su Yi left, Su Yi questioned if Luo Manni had informed him of her plan to reveal her scar. Li Jiashang playfully denied it, claiming a "heart-to-heart connection" and assuring her that he would always support her, no matter what. He then revealed that he had anticipated her move and had secretly arranged for a team to protect her at the conference. He then suggested that Su Yi consider returning to work at the Lee Group.
Episode 16 Recap
Li Jiashang and Su Yi rushed to the hospital after learning that Li Yaohui's blood pressure had spiked and he needed to be hospitalized. A staff member informed them that the Chairman's high blood pressure was temporary, but he needed observation for a few days and was not currently available to see them. However, Li Yaohui did not want to see Li Jiashang.
Su Yi asked Li Jiashang if they were the cause of his grandfather's illness, but he reassured her, telling her not to overthink. He then offered to stay with his grandfather while suggesting she go home, but Su Yi insisted on staying. Li Jiashang left to buy some items.
While he was gone, Su Yi checked her phone and found that public opinion regarding the new product launch had shifted, with online news portraying her as a victim who had sacrificed for the CEO. While Su Yi was engrossed in her phone, Gao Mu approached her and called her "Mu Xiao." Su Yi was visibly startled and hesitant before asking him what he had said.
Gao Mu quickly covered, apologizing and claiming he had recognized the wrong person, before leaving. Su Yi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief after he walked away. Su Yi officially started working at Lee Group and was welcomed by Romanni. Romanni, in a friendly gesture, mentioned that she was starting to like Su Yi now that she had "switched off the love rival filter."
Su Yi began to call her "Sister Manni," but Romanni playfully stopped her, hinting that she might become her future sister-in-law. Their conversation was interrupted by an urgent staff member who reported that Gu Sha, the lead actress booked for their commercial, intended to break her contract. Romanni was frustrated, but Su Yi confidently offered to handle the negotiation, stating her prior experience with Gu Sha's agent.
During the negotiation, Gu Sha's agent informed Su Yi that they lacked availability, implying they had accepted a better offer. Su Yi deduced that Lin Zi Group had offered Gu Sha three times Lee Group's original fee. Su Yi countered by emphasizing that while Lin Zhi offered immediate high remuneration, they typically engaged in one-time collaborations and frequently changed ambassadors.
In contrast, Lee Group could enhance Gu Sha's reputation and long-term value, opening up more future opportunities, not just for Gu Sha but for the agency's other artists as well, given Lee Group's diverse high-end products. The agent agreed to reconsider, and Su Yi confidently stated her belief that their choice would ultimately align with Lee Group. Gu Sha's agent then met with Gao Mu, hoping to adjust Lin Zhi's commercial schedule.
However, Gao Mu did not discuss business, instead making the agent perform meditation and exercises, leaving him exhausted. Gao Mu suggested they could sing and chat next time, emphasizing the importance of exercise, effectively stalling any real negotiation. Later, Su Yi brought up her encounter with Li Jiashang's father (his uncle) at the hospital a few days prior.
Li Jiashang became upset, asserting that his father was not worthy of the title and warning Su Yi not to speak of him. Su Yi, sensing underlying family issues, tried to connect it to Li Yaohui's decision to halt new product launches to leave market share for Lin Zhi Group. Li Jiashang, however, interrupted her when she attempted to mention "Gao Mu's mother," abruptly changing the subject by calling for a meeting, further hinting at a sensitive family secret.
Li Jiashang found Su Yi and presented her with a welcome gift for joining Lee Group – a luxury car, explaining it was a company asset for her use. Su Yi was hesitant to accept such an expensive gift, but Li Jiashang playfully questioned if she had a driver's license. To prove her driving skills, Su Yi took the keys, even boasting about her past as a racer in Waseda, though Li Jiashang reminded her that this was not Japan.
He also advised her to change into flat shoes from the car. While driving, Su Yi, feeling nervous, asked Li Jiashang for help with directions, and despite his instructions, she lost control and crashed the car into a boundary marker. Li Jiashang's nose started bleeding, and Su Yi was very worried, repeatedly asking if he was okay. Li Jiashang, though injured, reassured her that no one was seriously hurt and went to check the car.
Later, at a restaurant, Li Jiashang wished Su Yi a Happy Qixi Festival in advance and expressed his desire to celebrate it with her at her home, a suggestion Su Yi didn't immediately embrace. He then presented her with another "gift," revealing that he had asked Zheng He to investigate the investment projects and accounts between Lee Group and Li Mu Research Institute.
Li Jiashang acknowledged that this was Su Yi's real motive for returning to China – to investigate whether her father was framed, believing clues would be found in the accounts. He assured her of his full support. Unbeknownst to them, someone observing Zheng He in the finance department reported to an unknown party that Li Jiashang was growing suspicious. Su Yi later discussed her high-profile makeup removal with Xia Xiyang, who asked if it had attracted any suspicious individuals.
Su Yi identified Gao Mu as the most suspicious, noting that he had called her "Mu Xiao" at the hospital after the press conference and had previously shown her a pendant at a cocktail party. Xia Xiyang, intrigued by this, suggested Su Yi probe him further to uncover his connection to her past. Acting on this advice, Su Yi subsequently met with Gao Mu.
Gao Mu acknowledged Su Yi's true motive for returning to China and advised her against further investigation, but Su Yi refused. He then revealed he was Li Yaohui's illegitimate son, Li Jiashang's uncle, a former head of Li Mu Research Institute, who the Li family had always refused to acknowledge. He claimed the Li family was frightening and that Su Yi and her father were not the only victims, showing her some old photos.
When Su Yi asked about the pendant he showed her earlier, Gao Mu dismissed it as something he found and subsequently lost. He then shared warm memories of being good friends with Su Yi's parents, reminiscing about her as a child, and acknowledged her amnesia after the car accident. Su Yi, now curious, asked how he knew she was still alive.
Gao Mu, after making her promise not to tell the Li family, disclosed that he had long suspected Zheng Yi's autopsy report was faked. He confessed to installing a hidden camera in Zheng Yi's office for self-protection, and the surveillance footage revealed Su Yi searching the office.
Although Su Yi stated she found nothing, Gao Mu showed her the surveillance video, which depicted Zheng Yi, along with an autopsy report dated August 31, 2014, explicitly stating that the DNA did not match Mu Feng's daughter, Mu Xiao. Su Yi brought the 2014 autopsy report to Xia Xiyang, instructing her to keep it a secret from Zheng He.
Xia Xiyang initially believed Zheng He would not disclose it, but Su Yi expressed concern, explaining that Zheng He's father (Director Zheng) was involved and they couldn't be sure of Director Zheng's full involvement in the deception. Li Jiashang visited Zheng Yi, bringing expensive wine and expressing his gratitude, offering to host him for dinner. He also sought to consult Zheng Yi on another matter.
As he was leaving, he encountered Su Yi, who he thought was going to a spa. Su Yi quickly lied, claiming she was there to pick up Xia Xiyang after work but had unexpectedly gotten her period. Li Jiashang, accepting her excuse, asked if she wanted to go home with him for dinner, but Su Yi declined, stating she planned to stay and keep his grandfather company.
Su Yi then met with Ding Hang and presented him with the autopsy report. Ding Hang confirmed that it validated their suspicions but raised a crucial question: where did the body that replaced Su Yi's come from? Su Yi then reminded him about the list of body donors from Li Mu Research Institute, which she had photographed from Lee Group's archives. Ding Hang requested she send him the photo so he could conduct further research.
Li Jiashang continued his investigation into the mysterious phone call made to Su Yi under Chu Mo's name. After confirming with Zheng He that the call originated from Wan Fu Yuan, a liquor shop, he visited the shop late in the evening. He inquired with the shop owner, who initially couldn't recall anyone borrowing their phone but then remembered a customer two to three weeks prior whose phone had run out of battery.
The owner described the person as wearing a black mask on a hot day and having a distinct scent of disinfectant, leading Li Jiashang to strongly suspect Zheng Yi's involvement. Moments later, Li Jiashang received an urgent voice message from Su Yi, simply saying "Help." He rushed to her house to find her overturned on the bed, unable to get up, and asking for his assistance.
She explained that she had been searching for "Plus One," a doll Li Jiashang had given her, but couldn't find it, leading to her predicament. Li Jiashang tried to reassure her, offering to make her another one, but Su Yi was distraught, questioning her brother, Su Xiangtai. Su Xiangtai denied any knowledge and left to get snacks, claiming not to want to bother them.
Su Yi eventually discovered "Plus One" hanging outside on the balcony, torn and damaged, and angrily called for Su Xiangtai. Li Jiashang helped her carefully sew the doll back together, downplaying the damage and suggesting it was his fault for not stitching it properly initially. Su Yi expressed that "Plus One" helped her avoid nightmares.
Li Jiashang then pointed out that "Plus One" was modeled after him, albeit not as handsome, and promised to stay with her every day until it was fully repaired. He then suggested she move in with him so he wouldn't have to worry about her, but Su Yi hesitated, citing concern for Su Xiangtai.
Later, Li Jiashang reviewed Su Yi's movements for the day, noting her visits to Gao Mu at Lin Zi Group, Zheng Yi at Ocean City Hospital, and then Ding Hang at a cafe. He deduced that Gao Mu had prompted Su Yi to contact Zheng Yi, and subsequently, she had asked Ding Hang to investigate Zheng Yi, concluding that Zheng Yi was now their primary clue and likely harbored a significant secret.
Episode 17 Recap
Su Yi, determined to prove her worth at Lee Group independent of Li Jiashang, diligently works on a QiXi short video marketing plan. Li Jiashang acknowledges her hard work and reveals that while Li Xiatian's advertisement contract is signed, they still need a male lead. Luo Manni, newly returned from studying abroad, requests the task of selecting the male lead, hoping to preempt any jealousy from Li Jiashang. After interviewing several unsatisfactory models, she sets her sights on Su Xiangtai.
Later, when Su Xiangtai arrives to deliver food to Su Yi, Luo Manni seizes the moment, dramatically declaring her affection for him with a makeshift microphone amidst a crowd of filming employees. A shy Su Xiangtai, initially flustered, agrees to star in their commercial in exchange for the videos being deleted. Following her successful public confession, Luo Manni cheerfully informs Su Yi that she is about to become her sister, leaving Su Yi thoroughly amazed.
Back with Su Yi, Li Jiashang delivers documents, advising her to prepare herself as they contain the results of Lee Group's investigation into her father, Mu Feng's, finances. Su Yi is relieved to see the report concludes there were no suspicious transactions, confirming her father's innocence.
Unbeknownst to her, Li Jiashang had instructed Zheng He to alter the report to show Mu Feng as innocent, fearing that the truth would cause Su Yi further distress, despite Zheng He's concern that this might only prompt deeper investigation. Su Yi laments her memory loss, wishing she could recall the events of the car accident. To help her, Li Jiashang takes her to the place of their first date.
He recounts their six-year friendship and his nervousness about confessing his feelings to Mu Xiao, fearing he might lose her friendship. He then performs a song, revealing that it was actually Su Yi, as Mu Xiao, who had first declared her desire to be his girlfriend. During their drive home, Su Yi asks Li Jiashang what he would have done if she had remained in Japan.
He sincerely replies that he would have been profoundly unhappy, living like a robot every day, as she is his sole love. While stargazing by the sea, Su Yi expresses her deep contentment, feeling as though she's experiencing two romantic relationships – her own and Mu Xiao's – and cherishes the rare peace of simply being with him. Li Jiashang reflects that she has changed him and acknowledges that both of them were victims of the car accident.
Their romantic evening is interrupted when Ding Hang calls Su Yi on the phone, excitedly informing her that he discovered tampering in the autopsy report, specifically that page 8 was altered from page 9, implying a crucial missing page. Disturbed by this news, Su Yi asks Li Jiashang to drive her. As they pass a familiar spot, Su Yi asks him to stop, recognizing it as the site of her car accident, a detail she learned from Uncle Zhang.
Despite her attempts, she cannot recall any memories. She then asks Li Jiashang to take her to the Li Mu Research Institute. Inside, a vivid flashback of being chased, accompanied by a voice calling "Don't run away, Mu Xiao!" , triggers a severe headache. Li Jiashang quickly takes her home, consoling her and promising his unwavering support.
Back at his home, Su Yi calmly tells Li Jiashang that the place from her nightmares where she is chased strongly resembles a corridor in the Li Mu Research Institute, leading her to believe her last memory might have happened there, not at the car accident site. The following day, Su Yi visits Gao Mu, whom she addresses as Uncle Gao.
She tells him about the tampered injury report, and Gao Mu confirms he had suspected foul play seven years ago when Zheng Yi printed a copy, but lacked sufficient proof. He warns that the autopsy report is a "time bomb." Su Yi then presents him with a register of body donors from the Li Mu Research Institute, pointing out a page number alteration indicating a missing page, which she speculates contained information about her "replacement."
Gao Mu recalls that on the day a corpse was transported, Li Yaohui and Li Jiashang visited the institute, and he noticed that a document they provided already had the page number changed to eight. He advises Su Yi to safeguard the document and protect herself and Li Jiashang if she intends to involve Li Yaohui. Meanwhile, Li Jiashang receives a message alerting him to Su Yi's visit to Gao Mu.
He immediately drives off, planning to meet Ding Hang to discuss Lee Group matters. As Su Yi exits Gao Mu's building, she finds Li Jiashang waiting. She confronts him about his presence, but he sidesteps the question, instead accusing Gao Mu of being involved in her disappearance from the Li Mu Research Institute after the car accident.
Su Yi, angered by his groundless speculation, reminds him that Gao Mu is his uncle and points out that his grandfather, Li Yaohui, also had the power to interfere with the institute. She then returns the car keys Li Jiashang had given her, revealing that she knew he had installed a GPS tracker in them.
Hurt and frustrated, Li Jiashang demands to know why she kept the autopsy report discovery from him, lamenting that despite his deep commitment, she still doesn't trust him. He questions if her purpose in joining Lee Group and getting closer to him was simply to use him. Su Yi, disappointed by his accusation, replies that if that were truly her intention, her life would be far simpler.
Episode 18 Recap
Li Jiashang forcefully entered Gao Mu's office, warning him to stay away from the people in his life. Gao Mu retorted that Su Yi had her own independence. Li Jiashang then questioned why Gao Mu did not share the Li surname, reminding him of Li Yaohui's past caution against overstepping.
Gao Mu, recalling Li Yaohui's words, reflected that both he and Li Jiashang shared a family trait of distrust, acknowledging that they struggled to trust others while demanding unconditional trust in return. Li Jiashang then taunted, asking who was at fault when a father couldn't even trust his own son. Gao Mu remarked on Li Jiashang's growing power, contrasting it with his younger, more vulnerable self.
Su Yi was deep in thought, recalling Gao Mu's earlier revelation about a document where the page numbers had been altered. Ding Hang then arrived, chiding her for not being open about her relationship with Li Jiashang, but then offered to make amends by revealing he had located Zheng Yi's former workplace as a medical examiner. He explained his intention to visit the site to understand why Zheng Yi quit and changed careers.
Su Yi, acknowledging his usefulness, accepted his offer. At home, Su Xiangtai informed Su Yi that Li Jiashang had offered him a position at the Li Group Research Institute, an idea that made Su Xiangtai uncomfortable. While examining recruitment materials, Su Yi recognized Wu Linjiang, a core researcher, from a 2001 Li Mu Research Institute memorial photograph.
She deduced that Wu Linjiang, like her father and Zhu Yue, had been involved with the institute from its establishment to its closure, suggesting he held crucial information about Uncle Mu. Su Yi planned to visit the research institute, but Su Xiangtai advised against a sudden appearance, offering to gather information during his upcoming internship there.
Meanwhile, at a meal, Zheng He, demonstrating affection for Xia Xiyang, playfully teased Li Jiashang about his lack of romance, also pointing out the ongoing conflict between Li Jiashang and Su Yi. When Li Jiashang stated his purpose was to protect Su Yi, Zheng He countered that Su Yi was also trying to protect Li Jiashang, but then questioned Li Jiashang's loyalty, reminding him of Su Yi hiding the real and fake autopsy reports.
Later, while climbing with Xia Xiyang, Su Yi confided that Gao Mu's words had shifted her suspicion from only Li Yaohui to include Li Jiashang. She expressed her fear of confronting Li Jiashang directly, uncertain whether she preferred his confession or denial. Xia Xiyang acknowledged the possibility that Gao Mu might be lying, despite his assistance in finding Zheng Yi's autopsy report, noting that others involved avoided the topic. Su Yi admitted her confusion, unsure whom to trust.
Her memory remained a source of distress; she felt her amnesia originated at the Li Mu Research Institute, contradicting Uncle Zhang's assertion that it was caused by a car accident. Xia Xiyang encouraged her to trust her own recollections. That night, a nightmare startled Su Yi awake. She thought of calling Li Jiashang, but couldn't get through, so she reached out to Xia Xiyang for comfort.
Xia Xiyang, hearing about another nightmare, commented that even Li Jiashang ("Plus One") couldn't protect her since their argument. Su Yi mused about living in a "magical world," partly due to Su Xiangtai's recent move to a dorm for his internship. The following day, Zheng He, impeccably dressed and carrying flowers, approached Xia Xiyang during her lunch break, intending to propose.
Despite his initial nervousness and an accidental reveal of the ring, he bravely expressed his deep love, proclaiming his desire to spend his life with her. Xia Xiyang playfully teased him about proposing on both knees, prompting him to correct it to one knee. Just then, Zheng Yi, Zheng He's father, arrived, instructing Zheng He to bring his "daughter-in-law" home for dinner on Friday.
Zheng He then affectionately placed the ring on Xia Xiyang's finger, and they shared a tender kiss. Zheng Yi interrupted their moment again, chiding Zheng He for keeping his relationship a secret, but was ultimately reassured by Zheng He's sincere promise to treat Xia Xiyang well for the rest of his life. Later, Su Xiangtai rushed to Romanie's place after receiving a distress call, only to discover it was a ruse to get him there.
Romanie admitted she simply missed him, as his absence from Li Group made her unhappy. Su Xiangtai playfully scolded her for making him worry and drive a significant distance, but Romanie silenced him with a passionate kiss. When he asked why she liked him, she told him to follow his feelings, leading to another intimate embrace. At the office, Su Yi, accompanied by Romanie, presented a business report to Li Jiashang.
Li Jiashang dismissed Su Yi's proposal for a new storefront and criticized her strategy for livestream marketing. Romanie then gleefully boasted about her successful night with Su Xiangtai, much to Su Yi's shock and dismay. Romanie chastised Li Jiashang and Su Yi for letting personal issues affect their work.
Li Jiashang assigned Su Yi the task of securing a primary sponsorship for a reality program, but when Su Yi expressed her disapproval due to brand image concerns, he revealed he had already assigned it to Romanie, making Su Yi a backup. After Romanie departed, Li Jiashang informed Su Yi that his cat, Milk, was unwell and asked her to accompany him to the Pet Hospital.
At the clinic, the veterinarian delivered grim news about Milk's condition, prompting a difficult conversation between Li Jiashang and Su Yi about the cat's suffering, with Li Jiashang expressing his desire to keep Milk with them as long as possible. Su Yi then offered to re-engage with the sponsorship project. Shortly after, Romanie called Li Jiashang, frustrated that the platform had unexpectedly canceled her meeting after a three-hour wait, revealing the project's difficulty.
Su Yi realized this was her original assignment, leaving Li Jiashang in an awkward position. Su Yi then received an urgent call from Xia Xiyang, who informed her of her intention to break up with Zheng He. Su Yi and Li Jiashang rushed to find a distraught Xia Xiyang and Zheng He arguing.
Xia Xiyang, in tears, accused Zheng He of two-timing, explaining that another woman had approached her, claiming to be Zheng He's girlfriend and showing a similar ring, making her feel humiliated. Zheng He vehemently denied the accusation, clarifying that the woman had pursued him for years without his reciprocation and was likely reacting to his recent proposal post. He questioned why Xia Xiyang had gone on blind dates after promising to marry him.
After a heated exchange, Zheng He earnestly reassured Xia Xiyang of his unwavering loyalty and offered complete transparency, even sharing his phone passcode. Xia Xiyang, though still feigning annoyance, appeared to accept his explanation, and their misunderstanding was resolved. Following Zheng He and Xia Xiyang's reconciliation, Li Jiashang sought to resolve his own conflict with Su Yi. He playfully recalled Su Yi’s sister’s comment that Li Jiashang was Su Yi’s pleasant surprise upon returning to the country.
He then emphasized that they had already wasted seven years and should not prolong their current stalemate, agreeing to communicate directly. Su Yi asked why he had her followed, and Li Jiashang explained it was for her protection after she was almost hit by a car. In turn, Li Jiashang asked why she had met with Gao Mu. Su Yi admitted her belief that Gao Mu still possessed crucial information that she was determined to extract.
They acknowledged that open communication made things much simpler. Li Jiashang expressed his hope that Su Yi, accustomed to her independence, would grow used to having him by her side, to which she promised to try her best.
Episode 19 Recap
Su Yi returned home to find Su Xiangtai cooking her favorite dishes. He greeted her, expressing how much she missed him. When Su Yi inquired about his internship, Su Xiangtai revealed that while working as Wu Linjiang's trainee, he learned that her father, Mu Feng, and Chairman Li Yaohui had a major conflict over the first-generation patent.
Mu Feng was strongly against giving the patent to the Lee Group, which led to a huge argument and his intention to leave Li Mu Research Institute with his entire team. Su Xiangtai also noted the strange absence of the first-generation patent from the institute's displays, as it was deemed a confidential file stored with other formulas.
Su Yi then wondered if she could use the excuse of learning new formulas to investigate whether her father's death was connected to this secret patent. Su Yi attempted to inquire about the formulas and first-generation patent at the Lee Group Research Institute, only to be told that access required approval from a vice president or higher. An employee invited her to dinner to discuss further, but Li Jiashang intervened, claiming Su Yi was busy.
Su Yi later met with Ding Hang, who shared information about Zheng Yi, a former forensic examiner suspected of illegally reselling donated bodies. Su Yi speculated that Li Mu Research Institute might have acquired bodies from Zheng Yi, despite their research not typically requiring them, raising questions about secret experiments. While Su Yi was meeting Ding Hang, Li Jiashang approached and handed her a letter from Zhu Yue.
In the letter, Zhu Yue warned Su Yi about danger related to her father's past, stating that Mu Feng knew about the danger but waited for Su Yi to leave before facing his tragedy. Zhu Yue urged Su Yi to protect herself and not seek him out again. Connecting this to her father's opposition to the Lee Group's patent, Su Yi directly requested access to the first-generation patent from Li Jiashang.
However, he refused, citing that his approval and her viewing would both be recorded and visible to the board of directors, which he could not allow. Su Yi received a message from Li Yaohui, who wanted to meet her. At what appeared to be a hospital, Li Yaohui, after acknowledging Su Yi's straightforward nature, presented her with a bank card containing enough money for a comfortable life and a document.
He gave her three days to leave Ocean City, implying she would "understand it once she read it." Su Yi accepted the card, calling it her "allowance." Li Yaohui then warned her not to forget that Li Jiashang would always be a part of the Lee Group. Su Yi later confided in Xia Xiyang, calling Li Yaohui's tactic "outdated" but noting that he must be covering something up to want her gone so quickly.
She acknowledged Li Yaohui's point about Li Jiashang's loyalty to the Lee Group and found herself with three days to decide her next move. Seeking assistance, Su Yi met Gao Mu. He playfully chided her for only seeking his help when needed, then used an anecdote about replicating a rare dessert to illustrate his philosophy: "Money indeed cannot buy everything. But it can buy the closest replica."
Gao Mu correctly surmised that Chairman Li had pressured Su Yi to leave Ocean City, which Su Yi confirmed, stating she had uncovered too many suspicions about Li Mu Research Institute to abandon her investigation now. Gao Mu revealed he possessed evidence that could implicate the Lee Group, but he needed Su Yi's help first, as revealing the evidence publicly prematurely would strip him of leverage.
Following Gao Mu's suggestion, Su Yi realized that attaining a high-ranking position, specifically Vice President, was necessary to access the confidential formulas. Gao Mu challenged her, offering to help her secure a major sponsorship deal to achieve this. Soon after, an announcement was made that Lin Zi broke their contract with S Level Variety, and the sponsorship rights were awarded to the Lee Group, leading to Su Yi's successful promotion to Vice President.
Her colleagues celebrated her achievement, and Li Jiashang, though initially teasing her, joined in the congratulations. Su Xiangtai also arrived with a celebratory cake for his sister. In her new office, Li Jiashang presented Su Yi with photos from her promotion event. Su Yi, now Vice President, expressed her desire to view the formulas without leaving a formal record. Li Jiashang, having anticipated this, had already made arrangements. At the data room, Su Yi presented her pass.
After she signed a registration sheet, the staff member responsible for retrieving the formula components received a call from "CEO Li" and had to leave, inadvertently providing Su Yi with an opportune moment. She quickly photographed the formulas, including one for "Snow Lotus Conservation Essence" invented by Mu Feng, which was conspicuously marked "Prohibited from use." Back home, Su Yi called Su Xiangtai to her office to discuss her discovery.
Su Xiangtai believed it was clear that Mu Feng and the Lee Group had a major falling out because his specialty formula was prohibited, causing their significant disagreement. Su Yi lamented being only seconds away from fully capturing the image of the "Prohibited from use" label. Su Xiangtai, however, found the entire process suspiciously smooth, feeling something was amiss. Later, Su Yi received a mysterious package from "Feng Yun" containing a phone.
It held a message from the sender, "Miss Su's gift has been received. The desserts are ready. We request the pleasure of your company at any time," which connected to Gao Mu's "dessert" analogy, and recalled his promise of evidence to implicate Lee Group. The phone also contained a voice recording. The recording featured a man's urgent voice warning, "Brother Mu, you have to leave this place quickly. There's someone after me.
If something happens to me, it must—" This unnerved Su Yi, leading her to believe her father's death was no accident. She contacted Gao Mu, who revealed that Mu Feng had sent him this voice message before the accident, explaining why Gao Mu had helped her and why he had left the Li family and closed the research institute. Gao Mu also shared that Mu Feng had always spoken proudly of Su Yi.
Subsequently, Su Yi retrieved a music box from a box Zhang Bo had given her, which had originally come from the police. On her phone, she also saw a past message from Li Yaohui, warning her to keep silent and suggesting they both "take a step back." Everyone gathered to celebrate Zheng He and Xia Xiyang's successful engagement and Su Xiangtai's completion of his internship.
Li Jiashang also toasted Su Yi, congratulating her on cleverly turning Gao Mu's trick against him to secure the sponsorship deal and gain access to the special documents. It was revealed that Su Yi had anticipated Gao Mu's scheme to use her to obtain the formulas.
She had conspired with Li Jiashang to stage a "double-act," making it appear as though she had stolen the formulas from the Lee Group, even allowing Gao Mu's spies to believe she had deceived Li Jiashang in the process. Su Xiangtai, who had initially worried about their maneuvering, remarked on their cunning. He then asked Li Jiashang, whom he addressed as "brother-in-law," why the first-generation patent was prohibited.
Li Jiashang clarified that it was Mu Feng's decision because the first-generation products had flaws, which Mu Feng feared would lead to accidents in the market. Though his grandfather, unwilling to lose the market advantage, initially disagreed, he eventually conceded. Mu Feng and the Lee Group later collaborated on a fourth-generation product, indicating that his grandfather would not have fired Mu Feng over the earlier disagreement. Amidst the celebrations, Zheng He and Xia Xiyang discussed their honeymoon plans.
Xia Xiyang suggested various destinations like Europe, Semporna, or Nepal, but Zheng He found reasons to reject each, citing seasickness, deep-sea phobia, and fear of heights. He jokingly concluded that marriage involved choosing someone to argue with and suggested they simply stay home. Meanwhile, Romanie observed their affectionate exchanges and playfully urged Su Xiangtai to be more assertive in their relationship, even initiating a kiss to encourage him.
Later, Su Xiangtai told Su Yi that he intended to go on vacation with Romanie. Su Yi, concerned about their nascent relationship, worried that he was being too impulsive and might be left stranded. However, Su Xiangtai, holding Romanie's hand, asserted that their relationship was stable and that he needed to grow up and become independent from his sister's constant protection. Su Yi, recognizing his newfound resolve, reluctantly agreed.
It was then revealed through a flashback that Romanie had actually advised Su Yi to feign disapproval, understanding that Su Xiangtai, being a rebellious young man, would be more inclined to do something if forbidden. After Su Xiangtai and Romanie departed, Li Jiashang immediately seized the opportunity, urging Su Yi to move into his place, citing concerns for her living alone.
Su Yi initially resisted, expressing her preference for her own bed, her dislike for his germaphobia, and her fear that cohabitation would diminish the spark between them. Unfazed, Li Jiashang playfully declared that if she wouldn't move to his place, he would move to hers, and they should simply get used to living together, ultimately leading Su Yi to reluctantly agree to his persistent coaxing.
Episode 20 Recap
Su Yi temporarily moved into Li Jiashang's guest room. As she settled in, she noticed many matching couple's clothes. Li Jiashang confirmed he had bought them for them, explaining that he saw Zheng He buy some and thought it would be good to have them "just in case." Su Yi playfully remarked on how well-prepared he was for a tenant.
She teased him about how much he had changed, recalling how he used to blush when they first dated, while he countered that he was just a normal boy who wanted to "play together." They shared a passionate night. The following morning, as Su Yi cooked, Li Jiashang held her affectionately. Su Yi then mentioned she needed to go see Zheng Yi to inquire about the autopsy report and body donors.
Li Jiashang offered to take her there and pick her up afterward. Su Yi went to the hospital to meet Zheng Yi. He invited her to his office, but Su Yi suggested they talk outside. During their conversation, Zheng Yi adamantly denied any knowledge of the Li Mu Research Institute, the car accident, or the autopsy report, telling Su Yi not to ask him about these matters again.
Su Yi questioned why she had chosen to speak with him outside his office, but Zheng Yi remained silent, returning to his office shortly after. Once inside, he closed the blinds, turned off the lights, and opened a file, silently acknowledging that he couldn't hide the truth much longer. Shortly after, someone knocked on his door and entered.
Later, Su Yi reported Zheng Yi's evasive behavior to Xia Xiyang via phone, who remarked that "waiting is a good thing" and advised Su Yi to "just enjoy your couple's life for now." Li Jiashang then picked Su Yi up, and when he complained about her leaving him for a second, she jokingly commented on him becoming more like Zheng He.
Su Yi then told Li Jiashang that they should keep their suspicions about Zheng Yi and their contact with him from Zheng He for now, as they had no solid leads. Li Jiashang agreed, dismissing the value of any potential recording and assuring her that he would figure things out. Back at home, Li Jiashang and Su Yi searched for Milk, their pet cat, which was no longer in its usual spot.
Su Yi eventually found Milk quietly lying in a corner. As she held the old cat, she tearfully told Li Jiashang that Milk's time might be nearing its end. Li Jiashang gently embraced Milk. To cherish their remaining moments, Su Yi suggested they take a picture together. Just as they were about to, Su Yi received a text message from Zheng Yi, asking to meet the following day at 3 PM.
On the way to their meeting with Zheng Yi, Su Yi expressed her sadness over Milk, lamenting their short time together and how they had only given the cat their free time while it gave them its entire life. They decided not to get another cat after Milk. Meanwhile, Zheng He called Li Jiashang, inviting him to go boxing, but Li Jiashang declined, stating he was unavailable.
Zheng Yi stood on a rooftop, deep in thought, recalling a painful memory of Zheng He blaming him for failing to save his wife. He vividly remembered Zheng He's harsh words, questioning what kind of doctor he was if he couldn't save his own wife, especially after she had managed the household and cared for everyone while being sick for years without him noticing. Zheng He had declared him undeserving of being a doctor or a father.
Overwhelmed by regret, Zheng Yi acknowledged that his past mistake had haunted him, forcing him to live in hell daily. He apologized to Zheng He for his selfishness, vowing to take responsibility for everything. He also recalled gifting Zheng He a fountain pen for his 18th birthday, hoping to teach him patience. Shortly after, Su Yi and Li Jiashang arrived at the hospital to find a crowd gathered, witnessing the tragic scene of Zheng Yi having fallen from the building.
The police informed a distraught Zheng He that his father's death was a suicide, though further investigation into the cause was pending. Unable to cope, Zheng He retreated to his room, where Xia Xiyang tenderly removed his shoes, covered him with a blanket, and turned off the lights to give him space. At work, Li Jiashang instructed his secretary to call Zheng He, but was informed that Zheng He had taken leave.
Understanding his friend's grief, Li Jiashang granted him paid leave, suggesting he take more time to rest. Later, Su Yi inquired about Zheng He's whereabouts, and Xia Xiyang informed them he had gone out. Li Jiashang decided to look for him, and Su Yi joined him. They found Zheng He by the sea. He poured out his heart to Li Jiashang, lamenting the sudden loss of his father and his unpreparedness.
He regretted not spending more time with him, even just responding to a text message, and expressed his profound sadness at feeling like he had no family left. Xia Xiyang arrived and comforted Zheng He, showing him her engagement ring and reminding him of her promise to his father to be a part of their family, urging him to consider her as a close relative. Su Yi quietly apologized, stating she never imagined things would turn out this way.
Despite his grief, Zheng He attended a company meeting. When asked for his opinion on various departmental matters, he curtly stated that those sections were not his responsibility. Recognizing his distress, Li Jiashang quickly ended the meeting and gently suggested Zheng He take a few more days to rest, but Zheng He insisted he was not that weak and declined.
Li Jiashang received a call from Secretary Jiang, who reported that Zheng Yi's last contact before his death was with Chairman Li Yaohui, but the Chairman's phone had been with the secretary, showing only missed calls. Angered, Li Jiashang confronted Li Yaohui, who calmly asserted that his call with Zheng Yi was solely about medical issues and nothing more, stating he had a clear conscience.
Li Yaohui warned Li Jiashang not to question him with mere suspicion, reminding him of his lifetime's work building the Lee Group. Later, Zheng He visited Li Jiashang's office. Before Li Jiashang could elaborate on his conversation with the Chairman, Zheng He stated that if he didn't trust Chairman Li, he wouldn't have returned to work.
However, he then directly questioned Li Jiashang about his father's last message, sent just before his death, which was an invitation for Su Yi to meet. Zheng He expressed bewilderment at their apparent closeness and wondered if it was related to new products. He also mentioned seeing news reports of Li Jiashang and Su Yi at the hospital. He admitted to overthinking and asked Li Jiashang to clarify.
Li Jiashang explained that he and Su Yi were at the pet clinic at the time of Zheng Yi's message, providing an alibi, and their subsequent visit to Uncle Zheng was purely for business, with him having driven her there. Zheng He then asked if there were any other things Li Jiashang was hiding from him. Li Jiashang denied it, and Zheng He, trusting his friend, accepted the explanation.
That evening, Su Yi called Li Jiashang to inform him she was going to stay with Xia Xiyang, as Zheng He was staying at his father's house. She confessed to feeling guilty and worried about the secrets they were keeping from Zheng He. Li Jiashang reassured her, promising to find a suitable time to explain everything properly and told her not to worry. The next morning, Li Jiashang woke to alarming news reports stating that the Lee Group's new product line, "Secret," contained harmful preservatives.
Episode 21 Recap
Reporters swarmed the Lee Group entrance, demanding an explanation regarding the alleged excessive use of preservatives in their products. Li Jiashang calmly told them that the company had not received any official notification and advised them to mind their words. He then called Xia Xiyang, instructing her to tell Su Yi not to come to the office that day. His assistant reported that Chairman Li Yaohui demanded accountability from management.
Li Jiashang agreed to interrogate the personnel responsible for the formula. They confirmed that security monitors showed no abnormalities in their areas and suggested that the leak might have originated from a former researcher. With negative reviews rapidly increasing and mainstream media reporting on the crisis, Li Jiashang instructed his assistant to report to Chairman Li Yaohui that they needed to focus on finding the internal spy within the company.
During a meeting, Romanie addressed the staff, stating that the incident was likely a plot to discredit the Lee Group. She explained that scientific clarification alone wouldn't be enough; the only solution was to expose the internal spy, which would position Lee Group as a victim and garner public sympathy. She even suggested that if things became dire, the person in charge might have to take the fall. Li Jiashang responded by saying they should follow regular procedures first.
Meanwhile, Xia Xiyang conveyed Li Jiashang's message to Su Yi to stay home. Seeing the negative news about Lee Group online, Su Yi became anxious and insisted on going to the office to support Li Jiashang, despite Xia Xiyang's attempts to stop her. As Gao Mu was about to give a press interview, Su Yi called him, angrily questioning why he was using the preservative issue to attack Li Jiashang, contradicting their earlier agreement to only copy the formula.
Gao Mu coolly replied that his actions were purely for business benefit and challenged her to provide evidence, accusing her of "the thief trying to catch the thief." Soon after, Gao Mu appeared on TV, publicly assuring everyone that his company, Lin Zi, would never use toxic preservatives. Zheng He visited Li Yaohui at the hospital in Li Jiashang's stead. Li Yaohui asked if the formula leaker had been found.
Zheng He then presented a video showing Su Yi retrieving the formula from the database. Excited, Li Yaohui declared that making the video public would greatly help the company. However, Zheng He firmly stated that the video absolutely could not be released. He revealed that Su Yi’s actions were carried out with Li Jiashang's full permission and assistance, and that Li Jiashang had even asked him to destroy the video.
Zheng He added that he had already handled the relevant personnel involved, but he couldn't guarantee others would keep quiet. He argued that if Su Yi were exposed, Li Jiashang would also be implicated, potentially ruining Lee Group. He urged Li Yaohui to stop looking for an internal spy. Li Yaohui, still suspicious, suggested that he could investigate Su Yi's motives if Zheng He would leave him the video, but Zheng He refused, stating he would find out himself.
Outside the hospital, Zheng He encountered Xia Xiyang, who tried to persuade him to return with her. Zheng He preferred to be alone. Xia Xiyang sensed his distress was linked to the formula scandal and, when pressed, admitted she knew who leaked it, adding that Su Yi had her reasons. Zheng He grew frustrated, exclaiming that not only his best friend, Li Jiashang, was protecting Su Yi, but now his fiancée, Xia Xiyang, was doing the same.
Xia Xiyang defended Su Yi, claiming she was the real victim and that her father, Mu Feng, had been falsely accused of corruption by Lee Group. Zheng He angrily refuted this, revealing that he had meticulously checked Mu Feng's accounts himself and confirmed the embezzlement. He then confessed that Li Jiashang had asked him to create a falsified report to comfort Su Yi. Unknown to them, Su Yi overheard their entire conversation, her heart shattering.
Seeing Su Yi's distress, Xia Xiyang warned Zheng He that his words had crossed a line and that the matter of Mu Feng's accounts should be resolved between Li Jiashang and Su Yi without further interference. Instead of going to the office, Su Yi went directly to Li Jiashang, demanding to see Lee Group's original internal investigation results regarding her father's accounts, insisting she wanted the "real report."
Li Jiashang tried to appease her, acknowledging he had presented her with a comforting version before, but Su Yi was adamant about uncovering the truth. Li Jiashang eventually relented and had the files brought to her. An assistant explained how Mu Feng had allegedly misappropriated funds after materials needing low-temperature storage were deemed unusable, only repurchasing a fraction of the expensive replacements. The files showed Mu Feng's signatures on all the relevant application forms.
After reviewing the documents, Su Yi left in despair. Li Jiashang later examined the files again, a look of concern on his face as he realized they might have been tampered with. Su Yi later met with Ding Hang, carrying a file on a DNA autopsy report. She confessed that she no longer wished to continue their investigation, feeling that if her father was indeed corrupt, their efforts were pointless.
Ding Hang, however, urged her not to give up, reminding her that even if Mu Feng's corruption was true, the mysterious corpse found in the car accident still raised many questions and required her continued pursuit of the truth. Su Yi asked for time to reconsider, and Ding Hang left, promising good news soon as he had found the policeman who investigated the car accident. Meanwhile, Li Jiashang launched his own investigation into Mu Feng's embezzlement case.
He learned about the raw materials Mu Feng handled, some cheap ones requiring low-temperature storage and a more expensive caviar essence that did not. He questioned an employee about the case, but detailed files were no longer available. Li Jiashang then confronted Li Yaohui at the hospital, expressing his suspicion that something was amiss with Mu Feng's case.
He pointed out the inconsistency of Mu Feng, a senior researcher, making an elementary mistake regarding storage conditions, only to reapply for costly materials that didn't require such conditions. Li Jiashang questioned how such an application could have been approved. Li Yaohui responded dismissively, asking if Li Jiashang truly believed his limited knowledge represented the whole truth.
Li Jiashang later confided in Zheng He, revealing his discovery that a page had been added and re-stapled to the caviar essence account, implying Mu Feng's signature was fraudulently included. Zheng He was shocked, concluding that Lee Group had indeed framed Mu Feng. Driven by guilt towards Su Yi, Li Jiashang declared to Zheng He that he would take responsibility for the formula leak, suggesting that if someone needed to be pushed out during this crisis, it should be him.
Zheng He warned him that this would cause Lee Group's stock to plummet. Li Jiashang, undeterred, announced his intention to hold a press conference and resign as CEO. Zheng He was furious, arguing that a new CEO would erode market confidence and that Li Yaohui would never agree. He then revealed that Li Yaohui already knew Su Yi leaked the formula but had kept silent to protect Li Jiashang and the company.
He warned that if Li Jiashang resigned, Li Yaohui would not spare Su Yi. Realizing that Zheng He must have told his grandfather about his role in helping Su Yi, Li Jiashang angrily struck him. Zheng He retaliated, stating that he had joined Lee Group to help Li Jiashang, and if Li Jiashang resigned, he would quit too. After Zheng He left, Su Yi called Li Jiashang, expressing her guilt and worry about having hidden the truth from Zheng He.
Li Jiashang reassured her, promising to handle everything. Later, Su Yi tenderly applied medicine to Li Jiashang's face, bruised from the confrontation. Li Jiashang tried to comfort her about her father's accounts, but Su Yi interrupted him, saying she understood. Li Jiashang then revealed the truth: Mu Feng was not corrupt, and Lee Group had wronged him, and her.
Separately, Zheng He urged Su Yi to persuade Li Jiashang not to resign, explaining that Li Jiashang was doing it to protect her. Su Yi confidently assured Zheng He that she would not let Li Jiashang resign. That evening, as they shared a meal, Li Jiashang tried to reassure Su Yi, acknowledging that while his grandfather was the biggest suspect in her father's framing, he would stand by her and work to uncover the truth. Su Yi, however, interrupted him with a devastating announcement: "Let's break up." Li Jiashang was stunned speechless as Su Yi stood up and walked away, leaving him heartbroken.
Episode 22 Recap
Li Jiashang caught up to Su Yi, refusing to accept their breakup. He stated that being together and breaking up both require two people's agreement, and he didn't want to end their relationship because of "other people." Su Yi countered that it wasn't "other people," but her father and his grandfather. She confessed that seeing Li Jiashang now, she couldn't forget the Lee Group or her father's death, emphasizing the image of his charred corpse.
She declared she would never get past it. Li Jiashang then asked if she would truly be happy if they broke up, to which Su Yi, with tears in her eyes, affirmed, "Yes." She then pulled her hand away and walked off. Later, at home, Su Yi saw two tickets for the Fuji Rock Festival, which Li Jiashang had bought for them.
A flashback showed Li Jiashang previously trying to convince her to go, stating he would find someone else if she refused. Li Jiashang returned home, calling out for Su Yi, but the house was empty. He stood there for a long time. Luo Manni arrived, finding him disheartened. She expressed frustration with Su Yi for not appreciating Li Jiashang, but he defended Su Yi, stating he understood her actions, including her decision to leave him.
Luo Manni, urging him not to be so self-deprecating, told him he couldn't sit around like this and needed to return to the company. Li Jiashang, still in low spirits, promised he would go tomorrow. Su Xiangtai had a conversation with Luo Manni, who told him to go keep his sister company for a couple of days.
Su Xiangtai proposed that they should get married, but Luo Manni, thinking he was still young, preferred to keep their relationship simple and relaxed. He became annoyed, asking if she viewed him as an object, but she skillfully appeased him by calling him an "unparalleled limited edition." Later, Su Yi, having had a little to drink, returned home, where Su Xiangtai immediately embraced her, asking if she was hurting. He had already prepared a late-night snack for her.
Su Yi was deeply touched and told him how wonderful it was to have him. Zheng He went to his father's office to sort through some items. On the floor, he discovered a crumpled piece of paper, which turned out to be a letter from his father, Zheng Yi. The letter expressed Zheng Yi's long-held guilt and his inability to atone for past mistakes, regardless of how others perceived him.
He referred to Zheng He as his pride and the only comfort in his dark past. Zheng Yi wrote that if he were to leave one day, he hoped Zheng He wouldn't be sad, as his departure would bring him relief. He urged Zheng He, as his pride, to live a healthy, positive, and complete life. Li Jiashang summoned Su Yi to his office. Su Yi entered, maintaining a strictly professional demeanor, addressing him as "CEO Li."
She apologized for any potential mistakes and, when asked to sit, politely asked him to speak. Li Jiashang expressed discomfort with her overly polite tone, but Su Yi stated he would get used to it. She then began to report on their work progress, detailing how they had sued beauty bloggers spreading rumors, hired scientific authorities to publicly support the Lee Group, and discussed sales. Li Jiashang interrupted, asking if she had anything else to say to him beyond work.
Su Yi, still formal, asked if there was nothing else. He then suggested she take a two-day break, noting she looked tired. She retorted that he was the one who looked worn out, leading him to ask if she was caring about him. Su Yi confirmed, stating that employees should care about their boss, as the Lee Group needed him. She then indicated it was time for his meeting.
Xia Xiyang, Luo Manni, Su Xiangtai, and Zheng He met to discuss ways to reunite Su Yi and Li Jiashang. Xia Xiyang noted Su Yi's stubbornness, observing that neither Li Jiashang nor Su Yi was truly at fault, which complicated their efforts. Su Xiangtai expressed sadness for his sister, and Luo Manni acknowledged the decision was ultimately hers.
They agreed that directly persuading Su Yi would be futile, and instead, decided to seek the help of a mutual senior known to both, settling on Uncle Zhang. Su Yi later visited Uncle Zhang at his pet clinic, where he prepared beef brisket noodles for her. After serving her, he tried to get her to taste the soup, remarking that Li Jiashang loved it. Su Yi requested that he not mention Li Jiashang.
Uncle Zhang then gently challenged her, asking if she truly didn't miss him, and acknowledging her actions were for her parents and Li Jiashang. However, he questioned whether her choices aligned with what her parents or Li Jiashang would want, or if she was truly happier separated from him. Su Yi met with Ding Hang, who apologized for forgetting their appointment.
She then played a recording for him, which contained Mu Feng's voice saying, "Brother Mu, you have to hurry up and leave this place. There's someone after me. If something happens to me, it must be Li—" Ding Hang interjected, recalling that the police report indicated Mu Feng's phone was found at the Li Mu Research Institute, not with him at the accident site. He added that the phone was completely destroyed and couldn't be unlocked.
Su Yi then presented two possibilities: either her father didn't have his phone during the accident, and the recording from Gao Mu was fake (though Uncle Zhang had confirmed the voice was her father's and included the sound of a car crash), or the recording was real, meaning someone took the phone from the accident scene. Pondering who would do such a thing, Su Yi decided to seek answers from Chu Mo.
Su Yi and Ding Hang went to Ming Xiu company, where Su Yi was warmly greeted by the employees. She introduced Ding Hang as her friend who came with her to see President Chu. Chu Mo soon arrived, and Su Yi explained her suspicion that someone might have taken her father's phone from the accident scene. Chu Mo stated he knew nothing about the phone, as he hadn't had access to the key evidence.
Su Yi pressed, asking if he had found anything unusual at the scene. Chu Mo then revealed that he had ceased his investigation because debris from another car, belonging to Chairman Li Yaohui, was found at the crash site. Su Yi and Ding Hang deduced that someone had indeed been pursuing her father's car, validating the recording as authentic, and concluding that the phone must have been taken to destroy evidence.
Later, during a company meeting, Li Jiashang announced that an upcoming advertisement would be filmed on an island, starring Li Xiatian and Su Xiangtai. He then shocked everyone by announcing Su Yi's removal from her Vice President position, reassigning her as the acting manager for the advertisement filming, with immediate departure tonight alongside the crew. Su Yi, taken aback, refused to travel and promptly attempted to resign.
Li Jiashang, however, calmly informed her that a thirty-day notice was required for resignation. After Su Yi left the meeting, Luo Manni confronted Li Jiashang, questioning his decision to give Su Yi such a tedious assignment. Li Jiashang revealed that his grandfather seemed to have discovered something and was having Su Yi tracked.
Unable to constantly protect her himself, he orchestrated her reassignment to keep her safe and out of danger, trusting that she would be secure with Luo Manni and the team. Xia Xiyang excitedly told Zheng He that her favorite author was releasing a new book, which she heard was a touching story about a mother and her son. Zheng He, feeling a pang of sadness, expressed how much he missed his own mother.
Xia Xiyang then casually asked if his mother had also written a book and left him a souvenir. Zheng He was immediately puzzled, asking how Xia Xiyang knew about this, as his mother had passed away before her book could be published, and the manuscript was only kept in his father's safe. He pressed her for an honest explanation, urging her not to be evasive.
At the hospital, Li Jiashang spoke with his grandfather, urging him to stop sending people to follow Su Yi, acknowledging that their family had caused her enough hardship. Shortly after, he received an urgent call from Xia Xiyang, who informed him that Zheng He had discovered Su Yi's suspicions regarding Zheng Yi. Xia Xiyang added that she was currently unable to contact Su Yi. Hearing this, Li Jiashang immediately instructed someone to book a plane ticket to the filming location.
Episode 23 Recap
Zheng He, having discovered that Su Yi suspected his father, Zheng Yi, and had arranged a meeting with him without his knowledge, angrily confronted Su Yi on the set. He accused her of lying and betrayal, reminding her that he considered her family and demanding to know why she didn't trust him enough to ask him directly about his father.
Zheng He pressed her to return and provide a full statement to the police, disclosing everything she knew about the car accident, emphasizing that her quest for truth had already caused others pain. Li Jiashang, who had been attempting to reach Zheng He by phone, arrived and intervened, asking Su Yi to leave so he could speak with Zheng He alone. After Su Yi departed, Zheng He, still enraged, punched Li Jiashang.
Li Jiashang calmly explained that it was his decision to keep Zheng He in the dark, fearing he would be devastated to learn of Zheng Yi's potential involvement in the car accident. He reassured Zheng He that Su Yi had done nothing to harm Zheng Yi and had wanted to tell him, but the unfortunate incident with Zheng Yi made it even harder. Unconvinced by these reasons and desiring solitude, Zheng He dismissed Li Jiashang.
Later, as filming wrapped up successfully, Su Xiangtai asked Su Yi about her conversation with Zheng He, but she deflected, instead praising Su Xiangtai's good acting. Romany, visibly jealous of Su Xiangtai's rapport with Xiatian, announced that their driver was on the way. She then twisted her ankle, prompting Su Xiangtai's concern, and asked Su Yi to settle a bar bill. Su Yi, after a shared glance with Li Jiashang, agreed.
When Su Yi returned from the bar, she found only Li Jiashang waiting. He told her the others had already left for the hotel because of the check-in deadline and suggested they go together to check a filming location, assuring her that Zheng Yi's case was settled and he would handle Zheng He. Meanwhile, at the hotel, Romany encountered issues checking in without identification.
In the car, Li Jiashang teased Su Yi about finding it difficult to spend time alone with him, noting that many exes remain friends. Su Yi experienced stomach pain, and though Li Jiashang offered to go back for her medicine, she insisted on prioritizing work. She then remembered she was carrying everyone's IDs, crucial for hotel check-in.
She asked Li Jiashang to stop the car, intending to take a taxi back with the IDs while he continued to the filming location to avoid further delays. Upon Su Yi's return to the hotel, Romany expressed concern about Li Jiashang's whereabouts, explaining to Su Yi that Li Jiashang had gone out to spend time with her and that his rental car lacked a working GPS, making it easy to get lost in the mountains.
Worried, Su Yi borrowed a production car to search for Li Jiashang. Her car soon broke down, and she discovered Li Jiashang's abandoned car. With her phone dead and no signal, she searched on foot with a flashlight, finding a bloody rag that instilled fear for his safety. Meanwhile, back at the hotel, Zheng He grew increasingly anxious as an hour passed with no sign of Su Yi or Li Jiashang.
A news report about a car crash on Kumquat Island's mountain roads, though specifying older victims, added to the tension. Su Xiangtai attempted to console Zheng He, explaining Su Yi's guilt regarding his father and his belief that Zheng Yi was merely safeguarding a secret. Unable to wait any longer, Zheng He resolved to search for them himself. Su Yi, crying in despair and fearing the loss of another loved one, was overwhelmed with relief when Li Jiashang finally appeared.
She embraced and kissed him, confessing that she didn't want to lose him and that breaking up with him had also caused her immense pain. Li Jiashang explained he had injured his leg climbing a tree for berries. With both their cars broken down and phones dead, they realized they were stranded. Li Jiashang, recalling summer camp survival skills, fashioned a temporary shelter. Su Yi carefully cleaned his wound, despite his playful protests about conserving water.
As darkness fully enveloped them, Su Yi, fearful of the dark, asked Li Jiashang to build a fire. He admitted his fear of fire, leading to a playful argument about their respective phobias. Li Jiashang then activated fairy lights he had brought, offering some comfort. When Su Yi mentioned hunger and a desire for grilled fish, Li Jiashang playfully accused her of trying to make him overcome his fear.
Their lighthearted banter was cut short by a sudden downpour, forcing them into their makeshift shelter. Inside, Li Jiashang confessed that he never truly intended to separate from her and couldn't let go of her in his heart, promising to always hold her hand. Back at the hotel, a distraught Zheng He worried about their absence.
Romany offered him comfort, assuring him that "no news is good news" and that they were likely just lost on the island and would be found in the morning. She fondly recounted a childhood memory of Li Jiashang taking the blame for Zheng He accidentally breaking his grandfather's antique vase, enduring punishment without hesitation.
Romany emphasized that their twenty-year friendship required nurturing and urged Zheng He to consider the pressure Li Jiashang was under, explaining that he too had wanted to tell Zheng He everything but feared his reaction. Still looking out into the night, Zheng He silently vowed to forgive them if they returned safely.
Episode 24 Recap
Li Jiashang and Su Yi found themselves stranded as the sun rose. Despite Li Jiashang's contentment with being away from worldly distractions and power struggles, with only Su Yi by his side, Su Yi expressed a need for more than just love, longing for drinks and "bread." When they heard the sound of a vehicle, Su Yi eagerly ran towards it, and they were finally rescued. Back at the hotel, staff expressed relief at their return.
Su Xiangtai noted their surprising reconciliation. Li Jiashang then announced a day off for the crew, bringing much joy. After returning, Li Jiashang, now in the hospital, confided in Xia Xiyang that his leg was not actually fractured. He revealed that since his minor injury, Su Yi had become remarkably attentive and protective. Li Jiashang sought Xia Xiyang's help to maintain this facade, hoping Su Yi would continue to care for him.
Xia Xiyang, understanding his intentions, told Su Yi that Li Jiashang needed further rest. At home, Li Jiashang acted demanding while Su Yi cooked and fed him. When Su Yi announced her intention to go home for the night, Li Jiashang, forgetting his act, stood up to escort her. Su Yi noticed his ability to stand, but Li Jiashang quickly feigned a new fracture, collapsing onto the sofa.
Su Yi, having seen through his deception, continued to massage his leg intensely until he admitted his leg was fine and that he had only intended to hide his recovery for a single day. Meanwhile, Gao Mu had been secretly acquiring retail shares of the Lee Group, successfully becoming a new director. He unexpectedly attended a marketing meeting led by Li Jiashang.
Despite his surprise, Li Jiashang maintained his composure, acknowledging Gao Mu's new position and reminding everyone to continue their hard work, asserting that he and his allies still controlled the company. Li Jiashang then approached his grandfather, Li Yaohui, with news of Gao Mu's significant share acquisition. He urged Li Yaohui to transfer his voting rights, hoping to consolidate power and overcome Gao Mu's influence.
However, Li Yaohui refused to interfere, stating that if Li Jiashang couldn't defend the Lee Group now, he would lose it in the future. After Li Jiashang's departure, Li Yaohui called Gao Mu, issuing a warning not to meddle in affairs that weren't his, but Gao Mu disregarded the caution and ended the call. Later, Zheng He received a text from Romanni, claiming she saw Xia Xiyang checking into a hotel with an unfamiliar man.
Alarmed, Zheng He immediately asked Li Jiashang to drive him to the Jinchi Hotel. Upon arrival, they discovered Xia Xiyang in a hotel room, wearing a seductive nightgown and preparing a surprise for Zheng He. Embarrassed by Li Jiashang's presence, she quickly shut the door. After Li Jiashang left, Zheng He confronted Xia Xiyang, who explained it was all a surprise to lift his spirits. Zheng He softened, acknowledging her effort and remarking on how pretty she looked.
Li Jiashang later recounted the incident to Su Yi, who laughed, admitting she had forgotten to inform him of Xia Xiyang's plan. Su Yi then played a recording for Li Jiashang, which Gao Mu had given her. In the recording, her father mentioned "Brother Mu" and implicated a "Li" if anything happened to him. Su Yi expressed her strong suspicion that the "Li" was Li Yaohui.
Li Jiashang clarified that when her father passed away, the Li Mu Research Institute was shut down, and Gao Mu, whose family name was Li at the time, was expelled by his grandfather. Li Jiashang further explained that he was with his grandfather, interning at the Lee Group, at the time of her father's car accident, making it unlikely for his grandfather to have arranged the retrieval of her father's phone from the scene.
He suggested that Gao Mu might be concealing crucial information. Li Jiashang promised Su Yi that, regardless of the ultimate truth, he would ensure a fair explanation for her and her father. Li Jiashang later shared a personal vulnerability with Su Yi, revealing that his intense fear of fire originated from a traumatic incident at age five.
He recounted waking up to thick smoke during an afternoon nap, opening the door to a room engulfed in flames, desperately calling for his parents who did not respond, and being unable to escape. He eventually woke up in a hospital bed. Su Yi comforted him, assuring him that past hurts and fears are not one's own fault and that they both deserved a better future.
With the combined efforts of Zheng He, Romanni, and Su Yi, several shareholders agreed to transfer their shares to Li Jiashang, resulting in both Li Jiashang and his grandfather each holding 30 percent of the company's shares. Romanni suggested a celebration, but Li Jiashang felt it was not yet the right time. Su Yi then gathered everyone, including Li Jiashang, to apologize and confess her true reason for coming to the company: to investigate her father's death.
She explained that she was in the car during the 2014 accident, which caused her to lose all her memories. She later studied in Japan and only returned to China after seeing a September 2014 edition of Ming Xiu magazine, which prompted her to seek answers. Her investigation, however, hit a dead end after Director Zheng's mishap.
Before she could finish, Zheng He interrupted, adamantly stating that his father's death case was closed by the police, and he did not want Su Yi to reopen it or involve him further. He angrily told her not to drag others into her "unstable life." Li Jiashang tried to intervene, reminding Zheng He that everyone was grieving, but Zheng He ignored him and stormed out.
Xia Xiyang attempted to reason with Zheng He, who retorted that if she didn't want to go with him, she should go with Su Yi. Xia Xiyang then got out of the car and left. Romanni pledged her support to Su Yi, citing her connection to Su Xiangtai and her past relationship with Li Jiashang. Other friends also offered their help, and Su Yi gratefully bowed to them.
Li Jiashang, already frustrated with Zheng He's recent work performance and their argument, was further taken aback when he found a resignation letter from Zheng He. Li Jiashang expressed his dismay at Zheng He's attitude, noting his slacking off and absence, and lamenting that he had spoiled him too much in the past.
Episode 25 Recap
Luo Manni approached Li Jiashang about being the CEO's assistant, but she had a condition: a two-day, one-night team building event at a hot spring resort, and she would determine who attended. Li Jiashang, in his office, agreed to her terms. Su Yi then entered, informing them that public opinion regarding the company's formula had subsided, sales had risen, and share prices had recovered, making it an opportune time to relax.
Li Jiashang, still in a difficult emotional state, declared that if Zheng He were to go, he wouldn't. Su Yi questioned his strong feelings for Zheng He, then pointed out a fountain pen Li Jiashang possessed, which she said Zheng He had given him for his first big order. Li Jiashang quickly put the pen away, claiming it showed he didn't care. Manni seized the opportunity and urged Li Jiashang to attend, to which he reluctantly agreed.
Su Yi then invited Xia Xiyang to the team building, hoping she could bring Zheng He along to help resolve the estrangement between Zheng He and Li Jiashang. Xia Xiyang initially expressed disinterest and pretended not to care if Zheng He attended. Su Yi advised Xia Xiyang to resolve her differences with Zheng He, but Xia Xiyang dismissed the idea of a stalemate, wanting to keep things separate.
Su Yi promised to teach Xia Xiyang a method to get Zheng He to attend the team building without losing face. Xia Xiyang, knowing Zheng He wouldn't agree if she asked directly, posted a picture of her seemingly injured leg on her social media. Zheng He saw the post and, concerned, immediately went to find Xia Xiyang. Meanwhile, Su Xiangtai was seen with a small whale plushie, intending to gift it to Luo Manni.
Li Jiashang encountered him, warning that Manni wouldn't appreciate such a "trick" and would likely discard it, accusing Su Xiangtai of trying too hard. Su Xiangtai dismissed Li Jiashang's interference. Later, Su Xiangtai presented the plushie to Manni, making her promise to like it. Manni found the whale adorable and happily accepted it, though she corrected Su Xiangtai's suggestion of naming it "Milk Dog."
Zheng He arrived and confronted Xia Xiyang about her fake injury, scolding her for risking herself in his absence. She apologized, admitting she missed him and was upset he hadn't contacted her beyond a social media 'like'. To make amends, she suggested they go to the hot springs (sauna). Xia Xiyang, however, said she needed to do a facial mask and told Zheng He to go ahead, falsely assuring him that Li Jiashang wouldn't be there.
Upon entering the hot spring, Zheng He discovered Li Jiashang already present. He immediately turned to leave, but Xia Xiyang and their friends had blocked the exit from the outside. Trapped, Zheng He reluctantly sat down, complaining the water wasn't hot enough and adding water to the stones. Li Jiashang, calling him childish, nevertheless joined in the "contest" of adding water. Eventually, hearing Li Jiashang approaching the exit, Xia Xiyang and the others quickly dispersed.
Zheng He and Li Jiashang left the hot spring, silently parting ways and returning to their respective rooms. In their room, Zheng He and Xia Xiyang engaged in playful banter. Xia Xiyang accused him of calling another woman, which he confirmed, describing her as "beautiful and gentle." She threatened to make him sleep alone if he didn't reconcile, leading to a lighthearted struggle.
Later that evening, Li Jiashang confronted Su Yi, asking why she continually thought of his "buddy" while they were together. He then playfully picked her up, asserting that he would never let her go in this life. The following day, everyone participated in a Counter-Strike competition, with teams divided by gender. During the game, Zheng He quickly eliminated Su Yi. Manni eliminated Su Xiangtai. Li Jiashang and Zheng He found themselves on the same team.
After Zheng He informed Li Jiashang that he had eliminated Su Yi, he then unexpectedly shot Li Jiashang, telling him, "We are even now for what previously happened." Li Jiashang called him "crazy" as he was eliminated. Later, Li Jiashang drove Su Yi home. He expressed a wish that their happy days could last longer. Su Yi observed his happiness, especially since Zheng He's arrival, which Li Jiashang readily affirmed.
Separately, Zheng He drove Xia Xiyang home, also lamenting that he wished their happy days could extend. Xia Xiyang reassured him that he would have them as long as he desired. Zheng He also reflected on a previous conversation where he agreed to consider collaborating with Gao Mu after taking over the hospital, with the strict condition that Xia Xiyang not be harmed.
While having a meal with Li Jiashang, Su Yi received a message from Xia Xiyang asking her to pick her up, as she had something to share. Li Jiashang expressed contentment that Su Yi was finally willing to share information with him. When Su Yi met Xia Xiyang, she directly asked if Xia Xiyang was pregnant, which Xia Xiyang confirmed.
Su Yi was upset, scolding Xia Xiyang for her carelessness and failure to protect herself, especially after their previous discussions about precautions. Xia Xiyang initially intended to keep the news from Zheng He, but Su Yi insisted that Zheng He, as the child's father, had a right to know, and urged her to proceed with the wedding. Xia Xiyang then revealed she had seen Zheng He contacting Gao Mu.
Su Yi reiterated that Xia Xiyang needed to tell Zheng He herself, or she would do it in her stead. Xia Xiyang later used the opportunity of delivering a weekly report to Director Zheng He to inform him. Zheng He, who had just requested a shoulder massage from her, was ecstatic upon hearing the news. He immediately suggested they marry and get their certificate, emphasizing their responsibility to the child and promising to treat the child exceptionally well.
However, Xia Xiyang, wary that his proposal stemmed solely from the pregnancy, jokingly retracted her statement, making Zheng He believe she was not actually pregnant. He chided her for making such jokes. She then asked if he had reconciled with Li Jiashang, to which he replied, "Yangyang, things are not as simple as you think." Su Yi returned home. Li Jiashang noticed her scent of alcohol and told her not to drink so heavily.
Su Yi, displeased, retorted that he could sleep alone with his "reason" if he preferred it over her. Later, Li Jiashang, restless and unable to sleep, went to the living room and found Su Yi, who was drinking. After asking if she was sober, he pressed her against the kitchen counter and passionately kissed her, remarking that if he couldn't sleep, neither could she, leading to an intimate encounter.
Episode 26 Recap
Li Jiashang presented a financial document to his grandfather, Li Yaohui, revealing that Su Yi had provided the information. Li Yaohui was surprised by the swiftness of the delivery. The document exposed Lin Zi's new product strategy as a suicidal move, with production costs far outweighing potential profits, clearly designed to undermine the Lee Group's high-end market. Li Jiashang proposed to dilute his shares and place them into the Lee Group's option pool.
However, Li Yaohui was enraged, accusing Li Jiashang of retreating from a minor difficulty and calling him a fool, stating this was the most disappointed he had ever been and warning that such an action could lead to the loss of Lee Group. Li Jiashang explained his intricate strategy: Gao Mu was deliberately using the new product to inflate Lin Zi's stock price to acquire Lee Group shares, even though Lin Zi's loans were already unsustainable.
Li Jiashang's aim was to force Gao Mu into bankruptcy and liquidation, confident that Gao Mu would then be compelled to buy back his diluted shares at a higher price. He then directly confronted Li Yaohui, asserting his independence by stating he was not like his father, who always tried to please him, and firmly declared that Gao Mu had never been an uncle to him.
Li Yaohui, though outwardly dismissive, privately conceded that Li Jiashang was finally "up to the mark." Later, Su Yi encouraged Li Jiashang to try a different approach with his grandfather, believing Li Yaohui could also change. Inspired by Su Xiangtai's scientific principle that everything can undergo qualitative change under the right conditions, Su Yi resolved to finally open a mysterious box she had long avoided.
Li Jiashang took Su Xiangtai to a jewelry store to select a diamond ring for Su Yi. After they chose a customized design, Su Xiangtai playfully demanded a lavish meal. Li Jiashang, in turn, insisted that Su Xiangtai first address him as "brother-in-law." Su Xiangtai reluctantly conceded, calling him "brother-in-law," much to Li Jiashang's delight. Li Jiashang then enthusiastically promised to treat him to an extravagant meal at a newly opened French restaurant.
Meanwhile, Su Yi confided in Xia Xiyang and Luo Manni about Li Jiashang buying her a ring. Xia Xiyang asked if this was Su Yi's motivation for wanting to win over Li Yaohui. Su Yi admitted that securing Li Yaohui's approval would bring her peace of mind, otherwise, he would constantly cast a disapproving shadow. Xia Xiyang then accidentally revealed her own pregnancy, shifting Luo Manni's attention to her marriage plans.
Su Yi then clarified her strategy for Li Yaohui: she intended to make him abandon all other potential candidates for his grandson's spouse. Luo Manni introduced Su Xiangtai to Li Yaohui as her boyfriend, which greatly displeased the elder. Luo Manni tried to pacify him, explaining that Li Jiashang had kept her busy, but Li Yaohui remained unimpressed, advising her to be more discerning about people.
Luo Manni passionately defended Su Xiangtai, describing him as responsible, considerate, honest, innocent, and passionate. Su Xiangtai, though somewhat inarticulate, promised to always treat Luo Manni well. Luo Manni further highlighted his academic achievements, mentioning his ongoing doctoral application and his distinguished mentor. She also noted that his parents resided in Japan, which would prevent any in-law conflicts, and that she got along well with his older sister.
Li Yaohui, still unconvinced, sarcastically questioned if that was all, but Su Xiangtai firmly declared his unwavering commitment to Luo Manni. At that moment, Su Xiangtai's phone rang, and Li Yaohui noticed "Su Yi" on the caller ID, realizing she was Su Xiangtai's sister. He reacted with a sarcastic chuckle, finding the family connections increasingly tangled. Li Yaohui summoned Li Jiashang, commenting on the confusing web of relationships now that Luo Manni might become Su Yi's sister-in-law.
Li Jiashang, holding his grandfather's hand, assured him that both he and Luo Manni would treat him well. Li Yaohui, softening slightly, told Li Jiashang to manage the company as he saw fit, as he was retired, but warned him not to seek his help for any difficulties he couldn't handle himself, emphasizing the need for him to develop full self-reliance. Li Jiashang then guided Li Yaohui to dinner, mentioning that a guest was expected.
As anticipated, Su Yi entered, having been invited by Li Jiashang. Li Yaohui, seeing her, immediately tried to leave, claiming he had no appetite. However, Su Yi bravely called out "Grandpa!" and, despite Li Jiashang's earlier advice to take things slowly, directly confronted Li Yaohui. She apologized but then passionately articulated the immense difficulties she and Li Jiashang had overcome to be together.
She asserted that her love and protective devotion for Li Jiashang were no less than his own, boldly challenging him by suggesting that by not accepting the choice of the successor he personally trained, he would implicitly be denying his own judgment. Li Yaohui paused, then, with a playful remark about suddenly feeling hungry and asking about "stinky tofu," agreed to stay and join them for dinner, his demeanor visibly changed.
After Li Jiashang and Su Yi departed, Li Yaohui's secretary presented him with Lin Zi's financial statement for the previous month. Reading the report, Li Yaohui became furious and immediately placed a call to Gao Mu, delivering a stern warning that he had reached his limit and not to overstep. With Li Jiashang's supportive presence, Su Yi finally found the courage to open the mysterious box.
Inside, she discovered old photographs of herself with her parents and a black leather diary titled "Diary of Mu Feng." Reading entries that described her family's daily life, her past illness, and a traumatic incident where her necklace was taken by a "bad guy," deeply saddened her. She then listened to a recording left by her father, in which he urgently warned "Brother Mu" to leave because someone was chasing him.
Su Yi realized that "Brother Mu" was her, leading her to the heartbreaking conclusion that Gao Mu had lied about being her father's friend, and in fact, she suspected he was involved in her father's death. Su Yi later visited Zheng He at the hospital, bringing him sunflowers and wishing him a bright future. To her surprise, Gao Mu was also present.
Gao Mu produced a pocket watch containing a photograph of Su Yi's mother, prompting Su Yi to remark sarcastically that he also harbored an unforgettable figure. Gao Mu then offered Zheng He a bottle of Constantine Whiskey, discussing the emperor's history, to which Su Yi pointedly responded, "Illegitimate children are indeed different." When Zheng He declined the sunflowers, Su Yi re-gifted them to Gao Mu, adding that another meaning of sunflowers is "loyalty," a thinly veiled insinuation.
Gao Mu remained impassive, and Su Yi departed. Later, Li Jiashang deduced that Gao Mu had met with Zheng He. That evening, Li Jiashang joined Zheng He at a bar. Zheng He ordered him ginger water, but Li Jiashang reached for a lighter, which Zheng He quickly prevented. Li Jiashang then spoke of how much Su Yi had changed him and how important she was in his life.
Zheng He, feeling that his presence was superfluous, commented that if this was the reason for Li Jiashang's visit, it was redundant. Li Jiashang abruptly left without a word, leaving Zheng He displeased. Back home, Su Yi noticed Li Jiashang acting "mysterious" after her shower. He thanked her for reaching out to Li Yaohui on his behalf. Su Yi downplayed it, calling it "rather fun," and suggested they visit Li Yaohui more often as he was getting old.
The next morning, Su Yi awoke to find Li Jiashang dressed in a suit, declaring it a "very significant day." He then presented her with a beautiful diamond ring, mentioning that Su Xiangtai had given him many suggestions. Su Yi was deeply moved but playfully chastised him for needing others' opinions on such a personal gift.
They shared a tender, playful moment as he pretended to take the ring back, then he affectionately noted her "whiskers" and, as a reward for the day, asked for her help.
Episode 27 Recap
A reporter from Fame Show arrived at Lee Group to interview Su Yi. Gao Mu noticed the reporter and instructed someone to keep an eye on her. During the interview, the reporter asked Su Yi about her decision to leave a higher position in Japan and return to China, to which Su Yi replied that talent shines everywhere. The reporter then inquired if dating her boss, Li Jiashang, felt like being the protagonist of a novel.
Su Yi acknowledged that everyone already knew about their relationship and revealed she was considering resigning. She explained that all business goals for this stage had been met and her plan was to open an art gallery, a long-held dream, as painting was her favorite pursuit. Su Yi mentioned that Li Jiashang's first gift to her was an oil painting, which she cherished.
After the interview, the reporter offered her public relations services to Su Yi and wished Li Jiashang good luck. Once the interview team left, Li Jiashang confronted Su Yi, asking why she hadn't informed him about her decision to resign and open an art gallery. Su Yi stated that she had just decided and that working previously was for livelihood, but her true dream was always painting.
Li Jiashang, though surprised, supported her aspiration, instructing her to focus on wrapping up her current work and selecting art pieces for the gallery, promising to pay for whatever she chose. Su Yi highlighted the significant investment required for an art gallery, including location, human resources, and capital, then dismissed her earlier statement as just something she said casually during the interview.
Li Jiashang, however, assured her he would make it happen if it was her desire, and announced his plan to fund it by releasing 7% of his stocks to the market. Later, Su Yi called Chu Mo, praising Chen Jin's cooperation. Li Jiashang listened as Su Yi mused about Chu Mo's business trips always coinciding with Miss Xiatian's acting schedules. Li Jiashang playfully accused her of gossiping, but Su Yi insisted it was a sign of care.
He then mentioned that the stocks he released had found buyers, though not many. Su Yi realized her "resignation as a ploy" seemed to be working, speculating that if the purchaser was Gao Mu, he might be testing the waters or simply lacked sufficient funds. She reviewed their current situation: Gao Mu, her parents, herself, Li Mu Research Institute, and Zheng Yi, who also had his sights on Lee Group, were all connected, but crucial information was still missing.
Before leaving work, Luo Manni received a package addressed to Zheng He. Su Xiangtai found its contents familiar and immediately recognized it as a part from a medical equipment. Su Xiangtai then came up with an idea for their next step. The team, including Su Yi, Li Jiashang, Su Xiangtai, and Luo Manni, disguised themselves as students to attend a class given by Professor Zhou, which only occurred once a month.
During the class, Su Xiangtai learned that Professor Zhou had imported three such machines to Ocean City years ago: one was at Ocean City Academy, another in a private hospital warehouse, and the third was possibly at Li Mu Research Institute. This discovery suggested that Li Mu's research might be focused on anatomy dissection rather than biology or chemistry, as previously thought.
If their suspicions about Li Mu Research Institute were true and they could acquire the machine's configuration and customer data, they could likely uncover Gao Mu's illegal dealings from that period. Their next target was Chief Supervisor Fan of Luo Group, who was scheduled to leave Ocean City that night. Luo Manni went to a hotel to meet him, aiming to obtain customer information for the medical equipment from six to ten years ago.
Director Fan, initially welcoming, refused to provide the data, citing company policy and his lack of high-level access. Luo Manni, undeterred, resorted to blackmail. She subtly threatened to accuse him of harassment and even exposed a secret about his son living in Switzerland, implying she would inform his wife. Under pressure, Director Fan revealed that only three such models were ever sold, and due to the customer waiving after-sales service, no detailed records were kept.
He explained that he typically kept sensitive documents at home. Meanwhile, Su Xiangtai, worried after Luo Manni abruptly ended a call, went to the hotel. He found Luo Manni outside Director Fan's room, her clothes slightly torn. He was alarmed, but she reassured him, explaining that her disheveled appearance was part of her strategy to threaten Director Fan.
She confessed that her family's patriarchal views made her feel undervalued, her only worth seemingly being a marriage alliance, which pushed her to extreme measures. Su Xiangtai admonished her for taking such risks. As Su Xiangtai drove Luo Manni home, their car broke down on the seaside bridge. While waiting for the tow truck, Su Xiangtai complained about their bad luck.
Luo Manni, however, found romance in the unexpected delay and opened the trunk, revealing a surprising number of alcohol bottles. Su Xiangtai then asked her why she disliked going home, despite Luo Group being her family business.
Luo Manni expressed her longing for a home that offers reliance, respect, and care, none of which she found in her own family, which as the only daughter, only valued her for a marriage alliance and limited her freedom, making her prefer staying in hotels. She also revealed she drank to build tolerance. Su Xiangtai, deeply moved, declared himself Luo Manni's man and promised to cherish and care for her for a lifetime.
Luo Manni, touched by his sincerity, accepted his promise to treasure her, and they embraced. Separately, Su Yi received a phone call from Xia Xiyang, who said she wasn't in a convenient place to talk. Xia Xiyang quickly hung up after assuring Su Yi she would do what she could to help. Zheng He, who was nearby, confronted Xia Xiyang, asking if she felt uncomfortable being caught between him and her friends.
Xia Xiyang denied it, but Zheng He pressed her, questioning her loyalty and reminding her that she was his. Xia Xiyang, asserting herself, told Zheng He to grow up and pushed him away, then ran home. Later, Xia Xiyang was seen at home, seemingly distressed and crying, after receiving a notification related to medical abortion. Zheng He was also seen attempting to call her, but hung up before she could answer.
Back at home, Su Yi surprised Li Jiashang by wearing a high school uniform. He found her beautiful, both in the present and, as he claimed, recalling a memory of her from middle school. Su Yi teased him about the uniform, implying it belonged to Miss Xiatian and that she was merely keeping it safe. Li Jiashang had promised his sister he would go home.
Su Yi then playfully told Li Jiashang not to think of other women when he was with her. She suggested he tell his sister he would be staying at Su Yi's place to finish homework. The two then shared a passionate kiss.
Episode 28 Recap
Su Yi brought Li Jiasang his favorite Red Velvet cake at the Lee Group office. While he ate, Su Yi received a message from Luo Manni, after which she left with a terrible expression. Shortly after, Li Jiasang received a call from Secretary Jiang informing him of an emergency with his grandfather, Chairman Li Yaohui. He rushed to the hospital, where he found his sister, Li Xiatian, already there and in tears.
Overwhelmed with grief, Li Jiasang felt a profound heartache, though he couldn't cry. Su Yi, understanding his pain, quietly comforted him. Zheng He observed Li Jiasang's sorrow from a distance but did not approach him. As he processed the news, Li Jiasang reminisced about his grandfather's guidance and affection. He remembered his grandpa teaching him to tie a necktie, praising a drawing he made, and sternly telling him that "the successor of Lee Group must not be disgraced."
Li Jiasang silently vowed to work hard and live up to his grandpa's expectations. Later, Su Yi urged him to share his feelings instead of keeping them bottled up. Li Jiasang confided in her, tearfully explaining that he had just realized that after losing someone, everything changes, and what he once hated, he now loved.
He recalled how his grandpa had always kept a drawing he made as a child in a cabinet by his bedside, using his own methods to show love. He confessed, "I miss Grandpa." Su Yi comforted him, assuring him that regardless of where his grandpa was, he would always be in their hearts and with them.
Later, Xia Xiyang informed Su Yi that she had applied for a suspension from work, a decision she made herself and which made her feel liberated. Su Yi then asked about the baby and what Zheng He had said. Xia Xiyang admitted she hadn't told him, reasoning that she felt he wasn't mature enough and was still like a child, with many new things to learn as he managed the hospital.
She feared he wouldn't be able to react well to suddenly becoming a father. Su Yi grew frustrated, telling Xia Xiyang that she barely recognized her, lamenting that the "old Xia Xiyang" she knew was direct and blunt, not indecisive and cautious, constantly thinking on someone else's behalf. Xia Xiyang acknowledged Su Yi's words and said she would think about it. After Li Yaohui's memorial service, Li Jiasang thanked everyone for their help.
The group discussed the circumstances of his grandpa's death. Su Yi noted that Gao Mu had an alibi from Secretary Jiang and Zheng He, the safe was found empty, and the security camera was broken. Li Jiasang firmly stated he didn't believe it was an accident. When asked about the hospital's conclusion, Xia Xiyang confirmed it was due to myocardial infarction and blood loss from a fall, adding that any other hospital would reach the same conclusion.
Su Yi believed the items in the safe must have been leverage against Gao Mu, and Li Jiasang declared that Gao Mu would soon lose control of Lin Zi. Someone then shared that they had gone to Norway to interview a former employee of the Li Mu Research Institute who had taken some materials when he emigrated and recently mailed them. They decided that from that day forward, they would only trust those present in the room.
Meanwhile, Zheng He encountered Xia Xiyang at the hospital and questioned her about resigning, suggesting she did it to avoid him. Xia Xiyang simply claimed she was tired, but Zheng He didn't believe her. She then returned his engagement ring, explaining that the relationship should end, despite her still loving him very much. Zheng He pressed her, asking if she truly wanted to break up and become strangers. Just as they were talking, it started to rain heavily.
They bickered over who should leave first, with Zheng He saying, "We already broke up. Why do you still care about me? Leave now." Despite his words, he pulled her to shelter. He then suggested that breaking up in the rain wasn't a good idea, a sentiment Xia Xiyang agreed with, proposing they postpone it to another day. Both laughed, relieved, and hand-in-hand, ran home. Su Yi later visited Uncle Zhang, who had a bad back.
She applied a medicinal plaster for him and offered for him to move into her place, as she had many empty rooms. Uncle Zhang was hesitant, fearing he would cause trouble. Before leaving, Su Yi gave him a bank card, instructing him to buy whatever he wanted to eat and not try to save money. She then departed after seeing a call from Xia Xiyang.
At a board meeting, Li Jiasang acknowledged that his equity shares were still in the option pool and his grandfather had been Lee Group's largest shareholder, so he chose to sit below the main seat. Gao Mu then entered the room and, to everyone's surprise, took the main seat. Directors questioned his appropriateness, but Gao Mu announced that his father, Li Yaohui, had left him his equities.
He further stated that Lin Zi had recently purchased all the odd lots of Lee Group in the market, and with his nephew's "generosity," he now held the most shares, making him the largest shareholder. Gao Mu declared his intention to set up a dedicated charity fund for cardiology to honor his deceased father. Li Jiasang congratulated him but subtly expressed his hope that Lin Zi's loan would not drag everyone down.
A flashback then revealed the moments leading to Li Yaohui's death. Li Yaohui had angrily confronted Gao Mu, telling him to "withdraw those new products immediately from the shelves and leave Lee Group," promising to settle his deficit. He reminded Gao Mu that Lee Group had never ventured into low-end markets for a reason and threatened to ensure Gao Mu had nothing if he continued to touch "items he shouldn't touch."
Gao Mu pleaded for another chance, admitting he was greedy and stupid, and asked for it for his mother's sake. Li Yaohui, however, lashed out, calling Gao Mu's birth a "mistake" and a "trap," stating his mother had forced him to divorce. Enraged by this, Gao Mu saw Li Yaohui open his safe to retrieve a hard drive. He then snatched the drive from his father, prompting Li Yaohui to call him an "ungrateful son" before collapsing from pain, suffering a fatal heart attack.
Episode 29 Recap
Seeing Li Jiashang in deep sadness, Su Yi went to confront Gao Mu. Gao Mu, noticing her presence at an unusual location, asked if there was anything that couldn't be discussed at the office, to which Su Yi replied it was a personal matter. Gao Mu mockingly asked if she was there to help him gain his nephew's acknowledgment. Su Yi then directly inquired about the person depicted in Gao Mu's necklace, identifying her as Xiao Han.
Gao Mu responded vaguely, prompting Su Yi to explain that she had been remembering many things from her past and wished to find an old friend to talk about what happened. When it became clear Gao Mu was unwilling to cooperate, Su Yi remarked that he seemed uninterested and then threw her teacup to the ground, effectively declaring her hostility towards him. Later, Su Yi received a phone call from Uncle Zhang.
He expressed surprise that she hadn't informed him about the major events surrounding Li Jiashang's family, specifically Li Yaohui's death and burial, which had already been settled. He urged her to comfort Li Jiashang, calling him "too pitiful." Su Yi agreed to do so. Uncle Zhang then casually mentioned that he had been to the laboratory to check on some usable furniture and unexpectedly found "some other items," inviting Su Yi to come and take a look.
Su Yi agreed, sensing it might be related to her father. As soon as Su Yi hung up, Uncle Zhang turned to an unseen person, asking anxiously, "Are you satisfied with me saying it like this?" revealing he was being coerced. While Su Yi drove to the laboratory, Li Jiashang, who had just finalized his status as the bank's largest individual shareholder, received an urgent phone call. He immediately left his work.
Shortly after, Su Xiangtai frantically approached Li Jiashang, explaining that he had discovered something amiss in Chu Mo's materials. He revealed that a particular research paper, which had required extensive investigation, was authored by Uncle Zhang. With Su Yi's phone unreachable, Li Jiashang suspected she was at the Li Mu Research Institute and quickly took Su Xiangtai with him to search for her.
Meanwhile, at the laboratory, Gao Mu had Uncle Zhang tied up and was systematically destroying Uncle Zhang's life's work. Uncle Zhang protested, calling Gao Mu evil and heartless, but Gao Mu simply kicked him. Gao Mu declared that since Su Yi had regained her memories, he could only "eliminate the root cause." He then poured gasoline around the area and set the building ablaze. Su Yi desperately searched for Uncle Zhang amidst the growing flames, but found only fire.
She grabbed a fire extinguisher to spray the fire and eventually escaped the blaze by smashing a glass wall. As Li Jiashang and Su Xiangtai arrived at the Li Mu Research Institute, they saw the second floor engulfed in flames and immediately rushed inside. Li Jiashang noticed the broken glass wall, and quickly escorted Su Xiangtai to a safer location before venturing back alone to find Su Yi.
After escaping the fire, Su Yi, exhausted, confronted Gao Mu, who was present at the scene. She asked if Uncle Zhang was working with him, to which Gao Mu confirmed, adding that she shouldn't underestimate Uncle Zhang, as he was the one who performed all the brain experiments. Su Yi, shocked, refused to believe that Uncle Zhang would have performed brain surgery on her.
Gao Mu dismissed her disbelief, stating his only concern was why Li Jiashang had allowed her to come alone, and made disparaging remarks about Li Jiashang. As Gao Mu prepared to inject Su Yi with a syringe, Uncle Zhang, who had been tied up, managed to surprise Gao Mu and knock him unconscious. Uncle Zhang then urged Su Yi to leave with him, attempting to take her hand.
However, Su Yi pulled away, realizing with horror that Uncle Zhang was the one who performed the surgery that caused her amnesia. Uncle Zhang, overcome with excitement, confirmed her suspicions, exclaiming that his surgery was a success because she had regained her memories, boasting about his genius in developing a method to restore memories after they were wiped. Su Yi was heartbroken to learn that the man she respected was actually her tormentor.
Uncle Zhang further explained that he had sent a package to her in Japan specifically to stimulate her memory and draw her back to China, proving his experiment's success. He admitted that while he initially viewed her as a specimen, he gradually began to care for her like his own child, but prioritized his experiments above all else.
Su Yi then revealed that she had not actually regained her memories; she had only pretended to in order to expose Gao Mu. Uncle Zhang was devastated, refusing to believe his experiment had failed. As Uncle Zhang reeled from the revelation, Gao Mu, now awake, swiftly injected him with a substance, causing him to collapse.
Gao Mu then turned to Su Yi, claiming that Uncle Zhang was the true instigator, having been the first to suggest using her as an experimental subject. He alleged that when Mu Feng discovered the plan and attempted to take Su Yi away, Uncle Zhang was the one who captured her, erased her memories, and even left a scar on her jaw to make her believe she had been in a car accident.
Gao Mu then dragged Su Yi to the rooftop, where he injected her with a sedative and tied her up. He showed her a photograph of her mother, Xiao Han, remarking on their striking resemblance. Gao Mu explained that he had only allowed Su Yi to live because Uncle Zhang assured him she wouldn't remember anything after the experiment.
Su Yi questioned if Gao Mu was involved in Director Zheng's case, to which Gao Mu vaguely replied that he merely offered "words of encouragement," hinting at the idea that death ends all problems for someone facing public disgrace. Su Yi scoffed at his words, disbelieving him.
Gao Mu then recounted his own tragic past, feeling like an "obsolete person" who was constantly beaten and ignored until Xiao Han, Su Yi's mother, showed him kindness at the research institute, even in simple requests like fetching meals or heating beakers. He developed a deep affection for her, but she did not reciprocate his feelings and did not wish to remember him. This led to Su Yi becoming the experimental subject—because she was Xiao Han's daughter.
Gao Mu confessed that everything he did was to make Xiao Han remember him. He lamented that even after Mu Feng was gone, Xiao Han still chose to "leave with him" rather than be with Gao Mu, despite the possibility of them being together forever after the surgery. Su Yi, disgusted by his warped reasoning, branded him a "lunatic" and declared him unworthy of mentioning love. Enraged, Gao Mu brandished a knife at Su Yi.
Just as Gao Mu was about to strike Su Yi with the knife, Li Jiashang arrived, interrupting the confrontation. Li Jiashang implored Gao Mu to release Su Yi and take him as a hostage instead. Gao Mu, however, expressed his utter disdain for Li Jiashang's "derogatory face," accusing him of always pretending to be great and beloved by everyone.
He stated his desire for Li Jiashang to experience the agonizing pain of watching his beloved one die slowly before his eyes. At that moment, Zheng He unexpectedly appeared, holding a dagger to Li Jiashang's neck, suggesting a new game: they could all die together. Su Yi, shocked, questioned Zheng He's actions, asking what benefits Gao Mu had offered him, to which Zheng He responded indignantly, "Am I that vulgar to you?"
Zheng He reminded Li Jiashang of a past incident at a wine bar where Li Jiashang had threatened him because of Su Yi, and declared that Li Jiashang was no longer fit to be his friend. He asked if Li Jiashang loved Su Yi that much, then prepared to harm him. Su Yi tried to intervene, warning Zheng He that Gao Mu had deceived him about his father, but Zheng He vehemently silenced her, refusing to trust them.
Zheng He then proposed a macabre game to Gao Mu: he would count to three, and then they would all die together, a suggestion Gao Mu found appealing for its "sense of ritual." As Zheng He began to count, he exchanged a subtle glance with Li Jiashang on the count of "two." When he reached "three," Zheng He suddenly pushed Li Jiashang towards Su Yi, then lunged at Gao Mu. However, Gao Mu swiftly retaliated, kicking Zheng He off the rooftop. Li Jiashang immediately rushed to try and save Zheng He from falling.
Episode 30 (Ending) Recap
Li Jiashang desperately held onto Zheng He's hand as Gao Mu relentlessly struck Li Jiashang with an iron rod, mocking their supposed brotherhood. Zheng He, unwilling to drag Li Jiashang down with him, forcefully told him to let go, asserting they would both die otherwise. With a final plea to Li Jiashang, Zheng He deliberately let go, plummeting from the rooftop. Xia Xiyang arrived just in time to witness Zheng He's fall, while Li Jiashang cried out his name.
As Gao Mu continued his assault on Li Jiashang, Su Yi went forward, snatched the precious photograph of Gao Mu's mother from his hand and threw it off the roof. Gao Mu, who cherished the photo of Su Yi's mother, in a frantic attempt to retrieve it, leaped after the photo, also falling from the building. Su Yi, overwhelmed by the events, collapsed, and Li Jiashang immediately rushed her to the hospital.
At the hospital, Li Jiashang kept a vigil by Su Yi's bedside as she lay unconscious. He later informed her, as she was still in a coma, that doctors determined her collapse was due to extreme agitation following a prior craniotomy. He reassured her that while she might sleep for a while, she could also wake soon, adding that it was good for her to rest as she had been exhausted.
He also shared good news: Zheng He had fallen onto a padding and only suffered a mild concussion. Xia Xiyang had found Zheng He, who, despite his injuries, playfully scolded her for crying, confirming he was alive. Both Xia Xiyang and Zheng He were visiting Su Yi daily.
Li Jiashang further updated Su Yi that Zheng He had reported Gao Mu to the police, leading to the arrest of Gao Mu and his accomplice, and that Uncle Zhang had also faced consequences for his actions after being discharged. Earlier, Su Yi had shared a crucial piece of information with Zheng He: Gao Mu had installed a surveillance camera in Zheng Yi's office, and if it was missing, it indicated further tampering.
Zheng He, determined to uncover the truth, initially resisted Su Yi's involvement in what he considered his personal matter, telling her to mind her own business. However, he eventually took the risk, approaching Gao Mu under the guise of cooperation, even as Gao Mu detailed plans for a new Medical Aesthetic Department. Zheng He managed to acquire a special component he believed held secrets and mailed it to Su Yi, entrusting her with the investigation.
Later, Zheng He playfully tricked Xia Xiyang into visiting the Civil Affairs Bureau under the pretense of buying groceries for his mother. Xia Xiyang, confused, questioned why they were at the Marriage Registry. Zheng He, teasing her about her "fear of marriage," presented her with an ultimatum: either stop riding her motorbike or go in and register their marriage immediately.
He then revealed he had all his important documents—including his bank card, staff card, hospital meal card, medical insurance card, and house card—and handed them over to her, declaring she would now be in charge. Despite Xia Xiyang's initial protests about forced marriage and her crying, Zheng He sweetly assured her, expressing his desire to "fight for the rest of their lives." They left the bureau as a married couple, with Xia Xiyang realizing they had forgotten the groceries.
Meanwhile, Li Jiashang updated unconscious Su Yi that Su Xiangtai had successfully applied for a patent for his scar-removing cream and was soon to receive an award. Su Xiangtai had planned to go alone, but Luo Manni surprised him at the airport, having taken an economy class flight to avoid detection. Despite Su Xiangtai's explanation that family members were not allowed at the event, Luo Manni insisted on accompanying him as his "chauffeur."
She then attempted to negotiate a business deal with him, expressing more interest in his patent than him and playfully suggesting she would become his personal companion (including "room service, personal pendant, and a psychiatrist after breakup") if he didn't sign a contract, as her "young man" was too busy to cling to her.
She then unveiled an engagement ring she had found in his pocket, asking him if he knew the significance of wearing it on that finger, and confirmed it meant engagement. Boldly, she proposed a "flash marriage." Overjoyed, Su Xiangtai swept her into his arms. Li Jiashang continued his vigil by Su Yi's bedside for several days, sharing stories like his sister's unique flower deliveries with encouraging cards and Ding Hang's new job working for Chu Mo.
As Su Yi remained unresponsive, Li Jiashang grew anxious, admitting he was "a bit scared." Finally, Su Yi stirred and softly called his name, bringing immense relief and joy to Li Jiashang, who kissed her forehead and held her close. After Su Yi's recovery, the group enjoyed a trip to the beach, with a heavily pregnant Xia Xiyang receiving Zheng He's constant care. Li Jiashang, eager for Su Yi to accept his proposal, voiced his impatience to Zheng He.
During a barbecue, Xia Xiyang prompted Zheng He to share his thoughts on marriage, then eloquently stated that marriage is about accepting each other's flaws to become better people. Zheng He praised her profound insight, to which Xia Xiyang credited Su Yi for sharing that wisdom via text message when Zheng He and Xia Xiyang got their marriage certificate. Su Yi confirmed this was indeed her belief.
When Zheng He asked Su Yi why she hadn't married yet, she surprised everyone by simply saying, "Let's get married then." Li Jiashang was stunned as Su Yi produced a pair of rings. Luo Manni proudly interjected that she recommended the custom jewelry shop. Su Yi playfully urged Li Jiashang to put the ring on before she changed her mind, teasing that she simply wanted to "freeload" off him officially.
Li Jiashang, delighted, confirmed it was "free for life" as he placed the ring on her finger. Ding Hang proposed a celebratory toast, but the joyous moment was interrupted when Xia Xiyang suddenly experienced intense stomach pains, announcing she was going into labor. Everyone immediately rushed her to the hospital. Five years later, Su Yi had become a renowned art promoter. Li Jiashang, her devoted husband, constantly served her, often being mistaken for her employee.
They reflected on how roles had reversed, with people now recognizing him as "Teacher Su's husband," which he found humorous and fulfilling. Meanwhile, Li Xiatian playfully interrupted Chu Mo as he was writing the finale of "The Secret of Love," teasing him about his solitary nature and her using him to evade paparazzi. Their interaction highlighted their witty, bickering relationship. Later, at a convenience store, Su Yi and Li Jiashang were with their godson, little Zheng He.
Li Jiashang playfully chided little Zheng He for always clinging to Su Yi, to which the boy declared she was "his now." Su Yi intervened, stating she belonged to herself and admonishing little Zheng He for his rudeness, though he cheekily stuck out his tongue and called Li Jiashang "the most annoying godfather." Su Yi mused that the child inherited Zheng He's mischievous traits, while Li Jiashang countered that he got Xia Xiyang's stubbornness.
Li Jiashang then encouraged Su Yi to eat more, remarking, "If you don't eat till you are full, how will you have the strength to give birth?" Su Yi then shared a long-held secret: she remembered breaking a little boy's head when she was young, and it was Li Jiashang, who confirmed his scar. This revelation brought a touch of guilt to Su Yi.
As they discussed secrets, Su Yi solemnly told Li Jiashang she had one last secret, warning him to be mentally prepared for "drastic changes" in their life. She then took his hand and placed it on her belly, indicating she was pregnant, a secret she couldn't yet openly announce. Li Jiashang, overjoyed, affirmed it as "their secret."
