Time To Fall In Love Episode 1 Recap
> Time To Fall In Love Recap
Gu Xicheng, the president of Huayan Group, efficiently managed company affairs but found family matters to be a headache. His Grandma frequently urged him to marry, pushing him to reluctantly participate in a girlfriend interview organized by his assistant, Situ. During a business call with his assistant, Gu Xicheng firmly instructed him to tell Lipman his position on a German collaboration, unwilling to compromise on pricing.
Later, Situ confirmed the "girlfriend" meeting was ready, promising to find the best girlfriend in five minutes so Grandma wouldn't nag Gu Xicheng, and even adding "six minutes, definitely an even number." Gu Xicheng, however, viewed it as a waste of time. He called his Grandma, making an excuse about meeting a client and assuring her that Aunt Mei would accompany her to a routine checkup. Grandma, however, focused on her desire to see him marry and have great-grandchildren.
Meanwhile, beauty blogger Su Yanxi hurriedly ended her live stream, saying goodbye to her "babes," as she was rushing to an interview for the Huayan series's online broadcaster role. A friend called, asking if she was there, noting only ten minutes remained. Su Yanxi, still wearing her Hanfu, explained she was almost there, having run all the way from home due to heavy traffic.
She emphasized that she couldn't miss this opportunity, as her mother's hospital bills for next month depended on getting the Huayan promotion. Crossing the street in her haste, she was nearly hit by Gu Xicheng's car. Although Gu Xicheng had subtly warned her to avoid a speeding vehicle, Su Yanxi, preoccupied with her interview, didn't notice his protective gesture. Instead, she was angered by the near-miss and his lack of apology.
Upon arriving at the company, Su Yanxi found the broadcaster interviews were over. She managed to persuade Miqi, the hiring manager, to take her resume, which listed her online account as "Pretty Xixi," and was told to await notification. As she left, she saw several women heading into another office and mistakenly assumed it was the final round for the broadcaster position, deciding to blend in.
Inside, she was shocked to discover the interviewer was Gu Xicheng, the very man who had nearly hit her with his car. She also noticed the peculiar arrangement of his office, with all items in even numbers. Gu Xicheng directly asked about the "conditions" for being his contract girlfriend, which Su Yanxi misinterpreted as the required "sales quantity" for live streaming. She confidently declared she could handle 50,000, even 20,000 a month, though her usual minimum was 100,000.
Realizing their miscommunication, Gu Xicheng clarified he would pay her 50,000 yuan a month to be by his side 24 hours a day, leading Su Yanxi to angrily accuse him of trying to "sugar daddy" her. Feeling insulted, she refused to work with him or Huayan, storming out. In her agitation, she accidentally knocked a vase adorned with roses; Gu Xicheng quickly caught it but pricked his finger.
Later, he complained to Situ about the "troubles" caused by the "best girlfriend" interview, which Situ defended, suggesting he might meet his true love and reminding him of his "even number obsession" and "obsessive-compulsive disorder." Still in her Hanfu, Su Yanxi mistakenly ended up in the underground garage instead of the first floor. Feeling the heat, she began to remove her outer Hanfu layer.
Gu Xicheng, already in his car, saw her and quickly got out, urging her to stop, explaining that high-resolution infrared cameras were present. Startled, Su Yanxi stumbled backward. Gu Xicheng rushed to steady her, but they lost their balance, falling together in a surprising accidental kiss. Embarrassed, Su Yanxi asked him to pretend they never met. Later, Su Yanxi's friend, An'an, met her at the hospital entrance.
Su Yanxi shared her frustration about the "unlucky" interview and the urgent news from her mother's doctor: her illness couldn't be delayed, surgery was needed, and overdue bills had to be paid immediately, or her mother would be moved from her room. As they talked, an incident unfolded nearby. A person deliberately threw themselves in front of a luxury car, faking an injury.
Su Yanxi quickly discerned the scam and intervened, exposing the "rascal" and threatening to call the police and post the video of the fake accident, causing the scammer to flee. The grateful driver thanked her, and Gu Xicheng's Grandma, Madam Gu, emerged from the car. Madam Gu praised Su Yanxi's kindness and beauty, expressing a wish for her grandson, Xicheng, to find such a wonderful woman.
That evening, Madam Gu, at home with Aunt Mei, reiterated her long-held wish for Xicheng to marry and provide great-grandchildren. When Situ, Gu Xicheng's assistant, sent her a photo of Gu Xicheng and Su Yanxi kissing in the garage, she excitedly believed her wish was coming true, mistaking Su Yanxi for Gu Xicheng's girlfriend. When Gu Xicheng returned home, Madam Gu confronted him with the photo.
He tried to deny knowing Su Yanxi, further angering his Grandma, who accused Situ of being a "traitor" and implied Gu Xicheng was trying to "make me angry." She fainted, exclaiming she was old and worried about him. At her bedside, Gu Xicheng tried to reassure her, but Madam Gu, weakened, reiterated her desire for him to find a "considerate and gentle girl" and settle down, so she could "rest with a peaceful mind."
To ease her distress, Gu Xicheng reluctantly promised to bring his "girlfriend" home and marry soon. Back at the office, Gu Xicheng angrily confronted Situ for sending the photo to his Grandma. Situ apologized, explaining he did it out of concern for Madam Gu, offering to accept any punishment except being fired. Gu Xicheng docked his month's salary.
Situ then revealed he had identified the actual "number six" interviewee: He Jinxi, a renowned local socialite known for her love of luxury goods. Situ had also matched the woman in the photo (Su Yanxi) to He Jinxi's profile picture, mistakenly believing they were the same person, despite Gu Xicheng feeling "something different" about her appearance. Situ urged Gu Xicheng to pursue He Jinxi to appease Grandma. Meanwhile, He Jinxi was experiencing severe financial difficulties.
A doctor informed her that her temple was infected due to "excessive filling" and required expensive restoration surgery abroad, estimated to cost over a million yuan. To her shock, all her credit cards were "exceeded the limit and frozen." She angrily stormed out of the store, unable to make her purchases. Loan sharks continued to call, threatening further action after previously splashing paint on her door. Just as despair set in, He Jinxi received a phone call from Gu Xicheng.
He introduced himself as the President of Huayan Group and proposed a contract, making her his "contract girlfriend" and offering her the Huayan online broadcaster role. Gu Xicheng stipulated there would be "no real relationship" and it wouldn't be public, promising to meet other requests, but also stating he could terminate the contract if violated.
He Jinxi, seeing a solution to her financial woes, requested the exact amount of money be written in the contract, a 50% deposit, and for the cooperation to be "based on Grandma's health condition." Gu Xicheng agreed to her terms, reminding her to "match your signatures" when signing.
Alone, He Jinxi realized Gu Xicheng must have met her twin sister, Su Yanxi, and mistaken her for He Jinxi, noting their striking resemblance which she had used to her advantage by submitting a lightly made-up photo for her original application. He Jinxi then confronted Su Yanxi at the hospital.
Su Yanxi initially refused to engage, but He Jinxi pleaded, revealing her infected face, the need for urgent, costly surgery, and the relentless debt collectors, appealing to their bond as "mom's daughters." She showed Su Yanxi the contract from Gu Xicheng, explaining the opportunity to get a large sum of money. She then confessed that Gu Xicheng had seen Su Yanxi and mistaken her for He Jinxi, proposing Su Yanxi take her place in the contract.
Su Yanxi was reluctant, unwilling to "con someone." However, He Jinxi used their mother's critical condition as leverage, revealing she had already paid off the hospital's overdue bills for their mother and promised to cover the surgery costs if Su Yanxi fulfilled the contract. Faced with the desperate situation and her mother's life at stake, Su Yanxi reluctantly agreed, but insisted she would "borrow" the money and "pay you back later."
He Jinxi then gave Su Yanxi strict instructions: she must embody "the real He Jinxi" and ensure Gu Xicheng never discovered their deception, warning that if he found out, they would lose everything, and their mother would lose all hope. He Jinxi informed Su Yanxi that Gu Xicheng was waiting for "He Jinxi" at a hotel. Su Yanxi, nervously asking "Hotel? What's the meaning of this?" was told by He Jinxi that she was smart and could handle him. Encouraging herself for her mother's sake, Su Yanxi, now disguised as He Jinxi, arrived at the hotel, only to be met by Gu Xicheng's curt words, "You're late."
