The Secret of Love Episode 1 Recap
> The Secret of Love 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.
