Unusual Idol Love Episode 14 Recap
> Unusual Idol Love Recap
The reality show videos featuring Hu Li and Ji Nian have aired, leading to widespread public discussion. Some viewers perceive their story as a modern Cinderella romance, while others believe Ji Nian is not a suitable partner for Hu Li. Seeing the high engagement, Zhou Hongwei believes that as people gradually accept Ji Nian, past issues will fade. He instructs his team to monitor fan activity, guiding discussions and suppressing any negative narratives about Ji Nian.
He also mentions that his daughter, Zhou Yifei, will be joining the production team the following day, requesting extra security for her and viewing it as an opportunity for the half-sisters to foster their relationship. The reality show director decides to reshoot Ji Nian's initial arrival at Hu Li's villa, aiming to portray the feeling of Cinderella entering a grand palace and highlighting the contrast between her humble identity and the luxurious environment. The director encourages an exaggerated performance.
Ji Nian enthusiastically agrees, assuring them she is adept at this role and will give her best act. During the filming, she performs with over-the-top surprise, remarking on the house's immense size and luxurious decor, comparing it to a palace. Hu Li plays along, confirming it will be her home and affectionately calling her "my princess."
She also dramatically speculates about mermaids in the swimming pool, which Hu Li's manager finds excessive, though Ji Nian insists it creates "drama effect" and will generate many real-time comments. She also comments on the expensive marble. Hu Li, in character, suggests they swim there every morning, making Ji Nian respond that he treats her so well. Off-camera, Hu Li wryly comments on her "really bad" acting. Hu Li suddenly calls a halt to filming.
Zhou Yifei arrives on set to see Hu Li, prompting Ji Nian to abruptly leave, stating she will depart since Hu Li has a guest. Bai Dongchen follows Ji Nian and compliments her, calling her a "qualified actress" whose emotions seem real.
Ji Nian then questions if Zhou Yifei and Hu Li are close, to which Bai Dongchen confirms they are, adding that Zhou Yifei is also Zhou Hongwei's daughter, making her Ji Nian's half-sister and thus "in a way related" to Ji Nian. Zhou Yifei then seeks out Hu Li and asks him to give her a tour of the villa, similar to how he did for Ji Nian.
Hu Li declines, stating he doesn't have that "hobby" and suggesting Bai Dongchen would have already shown her around. Zhou Yifei presses further, asking if he plans to break up with Ji Nian once the reality show concludes. She recounts her surprise at being half-sisters with Ji Nian, finding the situation "dramatic but interesting." She provocatively suggests Ji Nian might feel like a "misfortune daughter" whose father was "grabbed" and now "Mr. Right" is also being coveted.
Hu Li cuts her off, firmly stating that Ji Nian is "not a nonsense woman" but "Ji Nian," who simply doesn't have a father who loves her so much. He declares that he and Zhou Yifei were never a possibility in the past, and certainly not now. Zhou Yifei expresses regret for having left after he rejected her confession, which allowed "the nonsense woman" to take advantage. Hu Li reiterates that Ji Nian is not a "nonsense woman."
Zhou Yifei then warns Hu Li that she always gets what she wants and currently "loves Hu Li." Hu Li dismisses her, stating it's none of her business. Zhou Yifei asks if his rejection is because of Ji Nian, and offers to wait until he breaks up with Ji Nian. Hu Li firmly tells her he has made his position clear and dismisses her.
She sarcastically asks if, as a gentleman, he shouldn't escort her out, but he only sends her as far as the door. Hu Li then confronts Bai Dongchen, warning him not to bring anyone into the villa without permission. Bai Dongchen retorts that it's his house too and he has the freedom to bring friends.
Hu Li proposes they split their guest reception areas to prevent misunderstandings, clarifying that he and Bai Dongchen are "not related at all" outside of having "cooperated once." Seeing this exchange, Zhou Yifei asks Bai Dongchen if he will simply stand by and watch Hu Li treat her this way. Bai Dongchen responds that there is nothing he can do if she "forces him to accept you," implying she should have anticipated this outcome.
Later, at dinner in the villa, Hu Li offers Ji Nian steamed bread, but she refuses to eat. She launches into a tirade, complaining about the overly large dining table, likening it to a ping-pong table and claiming the vast villa "can't feel the warmth of a home" and is full of "weird" things.
She confesses she's "had enough" of acting like a "clown" for "nonsense people," comparing the villa to a "jail" and expressing how she misses her own bed and wants to go home. Hu Li attempts to calm her by calling her "Man Tou," but she snaps back, telling him not to call her that and that discussing it with him is useless; she needs to calm down.
After her outburst, Ji Nian plays basketball with Fatty, who asks if she feels better. She replies she's still angry and, in jest, suggests imagining the basket as Hu Li's face, though she quickly amends it to his feet, saying she wouldn't smash Hu Li's face. Still feeling frustrated, she agrees to go somewhere more fun with Fatty. Meanwhile, Hu Li and Fatty are waiting outside Ji Nian's house, which is swarming with reporters.
Fatty questions how much longer they need to wait, noting the reporters aren't leaving. Hu Li then devises a plan, suggesting a "big news" story might distract them. He sends Fatty an address and instructs him to leak information about Bai Dongchen "dating secretly with Zhou Yifei," asking if that would be "big news." True to his plan, reporters at Ji Nian's house, who were complaining about having no other leads, suddenly receive a tip about Bai Dongchen.
They immediately scramble into their cars, abandoning Ji Nian's house to chase Bai Dongchen's scandal. Bai Dongchen and Zhou Yifei are then ambushed by the press during their dinner, forcing them to leave without eating. Back at Ji Nian's empty house, Hu Li and Fatty pack her belongings. Hu Li comments that the villa's "decorations are cold" and instructs Fatty to pack Ji Nian's plush toys and her smaller dining table.
Fatty points out that the villa was designed according to Hu Li's preference for "low-profile luxury." Hu Li dismisses this, stating that "humans' taste will improve," unlike Fatty's, and urges him to finish packing. Ji Nian receives a phone call from her friend, who playfully teases her about her "Wow" reaction in the reality show having "gone viral" and being "so famous now."
Ji Nian, however, expresses her weariness with pretending and states she will be "relieved" once this period is over. Her friend, who is at Ji Nian's house to collect some baking items, suddenly realizes the house is empty and asks if it has been "robbed" or "ransacked." Ji Nian, momentarily shocked, tells her friend not to call the police yet. Upon returning to the villa, Ji Nian finds her familiar belongings, including her dining table, set up.
Hu Li tells her he has arranged for the large table to be used solely for meetings, with her smaller dining table now in place for meals, fulfilling "whatever you said." He explains that as the "hostess in the contract," the house's arrangements "should follow your thoughts and likings." He reveals he moved her belongings because she couldn't sleep in the unfamiliar bed, hoping a "familiar smell" would help her feel more at ease.
Ji Nian is visibly touched by this gesture, but she quickly states she needs to go prepare for filming. During another filming session, reporters suddenly swarm Ji Nian, snapping photos and interrogating her. Hu Li immediately intervenes, pushing through the crowd to protect her, telling the reporters to stop filming and "pay attention to your manner." He escorts a shaken Ji Nian away.
The director apologizes, claiming they didn't anticipate the situation and that it was not planned, but merely "real recordings." Hu Li angrily lambasts the director, accusing the production team of disregarding Ji Nian's safety and sarcastically praising their "professionalism" for capturing a "real scenario." Fatty confirms that the crew, upon seeing fans arrive, improvised a "fan visit" segment, leading to the incident. Fatty tries to pacify Hu Li, reminding him of their continued cooperation with the team.
Hu Li, however, demands an immediate halt to filming for two days until the production team addresses the issue. The director offers profuse apologies, promising to rectify the situation and ensure it never happens again. Later, Zhou Yifei approaches Ji Nian, expressing thanks for her "hard work" in pretending to be Hu Li's girlfriend, claiming she now understands their "fake couple" status.
She apologizes for her "bad attitude" at the coffee shop, explaining it was due to her intense feelings for Hu Li and fear of losing him. She offers Ji Nian a newly purchased necklace as an "apology gesture" and a token of "gratitude," insisting Ji Nian accept it. Ji Nian initially declines but Zhou Yifei forces it on her.
Ji Nian later takes off the necklace and states to Zhou Yifei that they "can't be friends," even without Hu Li, because they "don't suit each other." She reiterates her thanks for the necklace and leaves. Afterward, Hu Li tries to comfort Ji Nian, asking if she was scared by the reporters. Ji Nian denies it, claiming she wasn't shocked and even enjoyed the "more the merrier" atmosphere, feeling happy to see his fans protect him.
Hu Li tells her to "stop acting," as there are "no recorders around now." Ji Nian then tearfully confesses she's "had enough" and is "not an actress" who can constantly pretend. She's "very tired" and questions whether their actions are truly solving problems, fearing his fans and "the person who is waiting for you" (Zhou Yifei) will "hate me more and more." She calls herself "just a liar" and wants to stop.
Hu Li tries to reassure her, promising such incidents won't recur, and clarifying that the recent reporter ambush was a "programme team's arrangement," not genuine fans. Ji Nian counters that the production team merely caters to audience desires: seeing an "ordinary person" enter the entertainment industry, "make jokes and be embarrassed like a clown." Hu Li asks her to endure for "one more month." Ji Nian recoils from his touch, accusing him of not understanding her feelings.
She reveals that his act of moving her belongings to the villa, meant to make her happy, only makes her "even sadder" because she can no longer discern if his actions are "genuine." She fears being happy or letting down her guard, worried she will "go deeper" and "must handle you carefully." She desperately pulls off the necklace Zhou Yifei gave her, saying it "makes me breathless." Hu Li attempts to help her, but she pushes him away, telling him not to move. He implores her to trust him.
