Truth or Dare Episode 17 Recap
> Truth or Dare Recap
Lu Yingyao began training Nan Xiang to cultivate her womanly charm, so they went to Nan Xiang's room. Lu Yingyao observed Nan Xiang had no exquisite clothes or makeup, so she personally provided beautiful clothes for Nan Xiang to wear and applied her makeup. Nan Xiang questioned why they had to be in her room, to which Lu Yingyao explained she would train her to be a lady and change her thoroughly.
Nan Xiang warned that if Bao did not like her transformation, she would kill Lu Yingyao. Lu Yingyao retorted that Nan Xiang's constant talk of killing would only make Bao see her as a brother. Nan Xiang argued that Bao liked her when she was younger, but Lu Yingyao insisted Bao was no longer a child and required a woman with feminine charm.
Lu Yingyao observed that Nan Xiang's demeanor and lifestyle were too masculine, which was why Bao regarded her as a brother. After some reluctance and a challenge from Lu Yingyao, Nan Xiang declared, "I'll do it for Bao," resolving to prove she could also be a beauty. Lu Yingyao began applying makeup and instructing Nan Xiang on proper conduct, stressing the importance of practice. Nan Xiang confidently assured her she would learn quickly.
Bao's men spotted Nan Xiang, mistakenly identifying her as Bao's wife. Bao himself excitedly called out "Xiao Wanzi," believing it was Lu Yingyao, but recoiled in fear upon seeing Nan Xiang's exaggerated makeup, which included dark circles and lips resembling a sausage. Nan Xiang explained that the "busker" (Lu Yingyao) had taught her this look, claiming Bao would like it, and threatened to kill Lu Yingyao if he disapproved.
Bao quickly changed his tune, praising Nan Xiang's "beauty" and "fantastic" makeup. Nan Xiang then invited Bao to admire the scenery, but he made a quick excuse about needing to use the latrine, suggesting they "date another day." Nan Xiang later happily reported Bao's compliments to Lu Yingyao, who was surprised by Bao's unusual taste. Bao then brought rouges and ornaments to Lu Yingyao's room, intending them for her, only to find Nan Xiang already there.
He changed his mind and presented Nan Xiang with a simple ornament, claiming it suited her. When Nan Xiang asked if he now found her feminine, Bao affirmed it. Delighted, Nan Xiang invited Bao to pick apples with her. Bao wanted Lu Yingyao to join, but she feigned illness and, with an eye signal to Bao, encouraged him to go with Nan Xiang while she went to bring roasted chicken and liquor to He Yizhi.
Later, Lu Yingyao visited He Yizhi, telling him she was helping Bao and Nan Xiang get together. Noticing her underlying sadness and anxiety, He Yizhi immediately deduced that Lu Yingyao was jealous of Nan Xiang and had fallen for Bao. Lu Yingyao vehemently denied having feelings for Bao, calling him a "bandit," but He Yizhi remained convinced. Meanwhile, Her Ladyship continued to scheme against Xiao Wanzi and Situ Lin, intent on finding evidence of private dates to frame them.
A servant reported that there had only been formal exchanges of gifts, prompting Her Ladyship to impatiently press for more. Soon after, another servant reported that Xiao Wanzi and Situ Lin were eating wontons at a small food stall. Her Ladyship ordered surveillance and rushed to inform Mei Changyun. Xiao Wanzi met Situ Lin and apologized for Mei Shiqing's earlier rudeness.
Situ Lin, cunningly displaying tolerance, advised Xiao Wanzi to be understanding of Mei Shiqing, describing him as childish and irrational. Xiao Wanzi expressed her admiration for Situ Lin's magnanimity, and they confirmed their desire to maintain their friendly interactions before enjoying their wontons. Upon Xiao Wanzi's return to the Mei residence, Qiaoyun informed her that Mei Changyun was looking for her.
Xiao Wanzi, worried about the reason, refused Qiaoyun's suggestion to seek Mei Shiqing's help, but Qiaoyun secretly sent Qiuhua to alert him. Mei Changyun and Her Ladyship confronted Xiao Wanzi, accusing her of meeting privately with a strange man, which they considered cheating and ruining the family's reputation. Xiao Wanzi denied any private meetings. Her Ladyship threatened to summon the wonton stall owner to testify about multiple "dates" between Xiao Wanzi and Situ Lin.
Xiao Wanzi clarified that they merely had a meal and a chat. Mei Changyun questioned her choice to associate with an unmarried playboy. When Xiao Wanzi defended Situ Lin, Her Ladyship berated her for daring to talk back and attempted to slap her, but Mei Shiqing intervened just in time. Mei Shiqing defended Xiao Wanzi, arguing that she simply loved food, met Situ Lin by chance, and always informed him of their encounters.
He pointed out that meeting in public at a wonton stall hardly constituted a private rendezvous. Mei Changyun resolved the matter by instructing Xiao Wanzi to order food to the residence in the future, to avoid gossip. Her Ladyship and Mei Shiyuan were then reprimanded for escalating the situation without clear evidence. Afterward, Xiao Wanzi reassured Mei Shiqing of her innocence regarding Situ Lin, and he confirmed his trust in her, even joking about her "ugly" appearance when distressed.
He confidently stated that with him around, she would not fall for another man, a sentiment Xiao Wanzi found quite narcissistic. Lu Yingyao suggested Nan Xiang learn to cook to win Bao's heart. Nan Xiang initially proposed inviting Bao to drink liquor until they were "a bit drunk" for a confession, but Lu Yingyao dismissed this, emphasizing that "to win a man's heart, win his stomach first."
Lu Yingyao, admitting she couldn't cook, offered to act as a taste tester to approve Nan Xiang's dishes. Nan Xiang initially considered pretending to cook, but Lu Yingyao stressed the importance of sincerity. Nan Xiang diligently practiced, struggling through dishes that were either "too salty and dry" or "tasteless." Despite her frustration and a threat to Lu Yingyao with a kitchen knife, Nan Xiang eventually achieved a "basic standard" with food that was "passable" but "not fine enough."
Lu Yingyao pushed her further, urging her to master three dishes and one soup, and Nan Xiang committed to the task "for Bao." Bao later saw Nan Xiang cooking and asked Lu Yingyao if she could cook. She replied she could not, but was skilled at playing the Guqin, though she hadn't played in a while. Inspired, Bao went to a shop and purchased the "crown jewel" Guqin, anticipating Lu Yingyao's joy.
Meanwhile, Nan Xiang successfully prepared three dishes and one soup. Proud of her accomplishment after just two days, she believed Bao would surely be pleased. She then went to wash and get ready, instructing the cook to take her dishes to the bamboo pavilion in the back mountain for Bao's dinner, emphasizing it was a "surprise." Bao also arranged for a secret dinner at the same bamboo building, complete with wine, for himself and Lu Yingyao.
As Lu Yingyao pondered how to extract map information from Nan Xiang, Bao approached her, claiming to know what she was thinking. He invited her to the bamboo building that night, warning she would "regret it forever" if she didn't come. Lu Yingyao was left wondering what he knew. At the bamboo building, Bao had set up the Guqin, wine, and food.
When Lu Yingyao arrived, he presented the Guqin as a surprise gift, saying he would listen to her play forever. Just as a romantic moment unfolded, Nan Xiang unexpectedly appeared, announcing that she had cooked the food and invited Bao.
Fearing her plan to unite Bao and Nan Xiang was "jeopardized," Lu Yingyao quickly intervened, telling Bao to "be kind to Nan Xiang" and falsely informing Nan Xiang that Bao had invited her to play the Guqin to liven up the atmosphere. Nan Xiang believed her, and Lu Yingyao began to play while Nan Xiang tried to serve Bao food. However, Bao's gaze remained fixed on Lu Yingyao, causing Nan Xiang to notice and angrily throw her chopsticks.
Lu Yingyao, trying to salvage the situation, suggested that since Bao liked the Guqin's sound, she could teach Nan Xiang to play for him. Nan Xiang eagerly agreed. But Bao, frustrated, threw his own bowl and chopsticks, declaring he hated the Guqin's sound and found it horrible. When Nan Xiang asked what was wrong, Bao confronted Lu Yingyao, asking if she truly wanted to push him towards Nan Xiang. Lu Yingyao remained silent, and Bao, deeply disappointed, stormed off.
Nan Xiang, echoing Bao's sentiment, pushed the Guqin to the ground, stating she wouldn't learn if Bao disliked it. Bao vented his anger to He Yizhi, criticizing Lu Yingyao and blaming He Yizhi for his current predicament. He Yizhi, with some philosophical musings, eventually revealed that Lu Yingyao had been "jealous" when Bao went apple picking with Nan Xiang. Bao's mood instantly brightened.
He excitedly pressed He Yizhi for confirmation, which He Yizhi provided, stating, "No one knows my daughter better than I do." He Yizhi urged Bao to go to Lu Yingyao immediately. Bao found Lu Yingyao and asked if she didn't want him to interact with Nan Xiang. Lu Yingyao, feigning indifference, stated that befriending Nan Xiang was her own affair and he shouldn't "force yourself to cooperate with me."
Bao insisted he was willing to cooperate with anything, but Lu Yingyao declared, "So much for today's issue." Bao refused to let it end and, remembering the broken Guqin, promised to fix and return it before leaving. Lu Yingyao was left to ponder her true feelings. In the following days, Xiao Wanzi felt dejected and conflicted about her emotions for Mei Shiqing.
She thought about his often lofty, ill-tempered, and bossy nature, but also recognized his protective instincts, akin to "Lord Nocturnal-elf." She admitted to feeling "stuffy." Mei Shiqing noticed her discomfort and offered to take her out, but she declined, choosing to walk in the garden alone.
As she walked, she reminded herself that even if Mei Shiqing was a good man, he was not for her, echoing Qiaoyun's advice not to "crave the pie in the sky" and to "stay away from him." Mei Shiqing, unwilling to let the moment pass, followed her, embraced her, and kissed her deeply.
