Wenderella's Diary Episode 23 Recap
> Wenderella's Diary Recap
While shopping, Wen Rou and Shan Liang encountered a young girl who could not find her mother. The girl explained she was supposed to meet her mother at the bookstore, so Wen Rou and Shan Liang waited with her for a long time. The girl revealed that her parents were divorced and her father had started a new family, leading her to believe her father had abandoned her.
Wen Rou comforted the girl, assuring her that her father still loved her, even if they no longer lived together. This experience deeply affected Wen Rou, making her realize that sometimes, kind lies are preferable to harsh truths. She and Shan Liang decided to call off their agreement to always tell each other the truth. Meanwhile, Jian Jian was struggling to confess his feelings to Xiao Mei.
Despite practicing various ways to express his affection and even buying her a gift, Xiao Mei consistently treated him as just a friend. When he offered her a promotional item, she simply asked why he didn't get more. When he tried to invite her out for the weekend, she mistakenly thought he was moving and offered to help him with his moving difficulties. Jian Jian found himself unable to articulate his true feelings, always ending up as her "buddy."
Wen Rou was exhausted from managing the preparations for her upcoming fashion show. Her team reported missing outfits and two media companies pulling out to cover Wanli's show instead. She efficiently handled the crises, emphasizing Polimoda's innovative spirit over Wanli's predictable designs. Shan Liang often appeared when she was most fatigued, providing comfort, such as giving her headphones and letting her rest on his shoulder. Unbeknownst to Wen Rou, her father, Wen Yajun, visited Shan Liang at Xunmi.
Jian Jian initially mistook him for an older client seeking a match and tried to promote Xunmi's services for middle-aged individuals, only to be shocked when Wen Yajun revealed himself as Shan Liang's father-in-law and Wen Rou's father. Wen Yajun expressed his desire for Wen Rou to return to Wanli, claiming he treated her as his own daughter and that she would have more opportunities within the larger group.
He noted that Wen Rou's designs still carried Wanli's influence and believed she was more suitable to inherit Wanli and design its shoes than Wen Xin. However, Shan Liang recognized Wen Yajun's true motive: to eliminate a competitor. He firmly stated that Wanli's decline was due to a lack of innovation and refused to persuade Wen Rou to return, affirming his role as her steadfast support, wanting her to pursue her own creative path.
Wen Yajun, determined to prevent anyone from surpassing Wanli, then decided to target Shan Liang, believing that if Wen Rou's support was removed, she would eventually come home. Soon after, Xunmi faced a severe public relations crisis.
Mr. Jiang, a disgruntled client, lodged a formal complaint against the company, alleging that Shan Liang's wife (Wen Rou) had advised him to conceal his assets for online dating through Xunmi, leading to him being defrauded by a woman he married and who later divorced him. Shan Liang apologized and promised a thorough investigation.
Moments later, Mr. Jiang maliciously edited a recording of their conversation and posted it online, twisting Shan Liang's words to make it appear as if Xunmi disclaimed responsibility for its members' marital situations. This ignited widespread public outrage, with many Xunmi members demanding refunds. Shan Liang publicly presented the unedited recording, explaining that the online version was manipulated. He maintained Xunmi's commitment to its members and offered refunds according to contract terms.
Internally, Shan Liang's team advised against posting the full recording, fearing it would exacerbate the conflict and alienate Mr. Jiang further. Shan Liang believed Mr. Jiang was a pawn, and the real solution lay in getting him to cooperate. He assigned Zou Jing to contact Mr. Jiang and tasked Jian Jian and Xiao Mei with investigating the backgrounds of Mr. Jiang and the woman involved (Yuan Xiangxiang).
The team also noticed a wave of online comments deliberately linking the Xunmi scandal to "Wenderella" (Wen Rou) and Polimoda, aiming to discredit her upcoming fashion show, confirming their suspicion of a coordinated attack. Unaware of the full extent of the crisis, Wen Rou continued preparing for her show. Shan Liang tried to hide his worries from her, but she sensed his unease. Later, Su Ziguang showed Wen Rou the incriminating news on his phone.
He explained that General Manager Feng, a key stakeholder for Polimoda, was already investigating and her trust in both Wen Rou and him was eroding. He warned Wen Rou that as Shan Liang's wife, she would be the first to suffer the consequences, and her show, along with the efforts of everyone involved, was at risk. He presented her with the stark choice: distance herself from Shan Liang or face severe repercussions.
After much deliberation, Shan Liang decided to temporarily separate from Wen Rou to protect her. He told her he wanted them to "separate for a while" and for her to "stay with her parents." Wen Rou was initially confused, thinking he was going on a business trip. When he claimed he had "changed his mind" and wanted to "reconsider their marriage," Wen Rou playfully dismissed it, believing he loved her "more than ever."
She declared her unwavering loyalty, even vowing to kiss him if he turned into a "Frog Prince." Shan Liang then tried to list her "faults" to push her away, criticizing her for intentionally pursuing him, misleading him about his family wealth, and lying about establishing a brand in Italy. Wen Rou skillfully rebutted each point, asserting her actual wealthy background and that she did establish her brand herself.
She defended her online presence as a sign of loving life, her emotional nature as a sign of safety from him, and her closeness with Su Ziguang as merely "spice" in their relationship. Frustrated by her unwavering comebacks, Shan Liang packed a bag, declaring he would move back to his father's house. Wen Rou sarcastically suggested divorce, even offering to sign a divorce agreement and give him all their assets, on the condition that he take her with him.
Ultimately, Wen Rou stopped Shan Liang, reaffirming their wedding vows of enduring "through thick and thin, till death do us part." She acknowledged his valid concerns about Polimoda's future and proposed a plan: a fake divorce to fight back against the public opinion battle, promising to "play to her strengths" and use "public opinion" to her advantage. Shan Liang agreed, cautioning her to be discreet and ensure their "act" was convincing. Their staged divorce quickly took effect.
Shan Liang optimistically called Wen Rou, confident that his "acting" had fooled everyone. However, Jian Jian and Xiao Mei, who overheard him, were not convinced, dismissing it as "another trick" but acknowledging Shan Liang's improved acting skills. Despite their "separation," Wen Rou and Shan Liang continued to meet in secret for dates, heavily disguised with masks and sunglasses. Coincidentally, they ran into Wen Xin and Su Ziguang, who were also on a movie date, similarly disguised.
Su Ziguang attempted to kiss Wen Xin, but she politely rebuffed him, reminding him to focus on the movie. Wen Rou and Wen Xin exchanged knowing glances but publicly denied recognizing each other's companions. Wen Xin subtly warned Wen Rou to stay out of her affairs, promising to do the same. Meanwhile, Xiao Mei spotted Wen Rou with a "mysterious man" (Shan Liang in disguise) and mistakenly believed Wen Rou was cheating on Shan Liang.
Deeply sympathetic to Shan Liang, she reported this to Jian Jian and Zou Jing, all three vowing to support their "abandoned" boss, even offering to forgo their salaries. Xiao Mei then confronted Shan Liang, describing the "handsome" and "tall" man who shared a "similar vibe" to Shan Liang, and how they were "holding hands." Shan Liang, knowing the truth, merely smiled, leading Xiao Mei to worry he had lost his mind due to stress.
Shan Liang, amused, asked Xiao Mei to book a table for him at Aili Restaurant. Later, Jian Jian, believing Shan Liang was heartbroken and eating alone, rushed to Aili Restaurant to comfort him, only to discover Wen Rou already seated with Shan Liang. He realized their "separation" was an act. Wen Rou casually told Jian Jian they hadn't separated, assuming he already knew.
Shan Liang admitted they kept it a secret but differentiated between Han Qing, whom Wen Rou had told, and Jian Jian. Embarrassed, Jian Jian quickly left. In another development, Wen Xin, eager to surpass Wen Rou, visited a bridal shop with Su Ziguang, claiming to seek inspiration for designing bridal shoes, explicitly comparing her aspirations to Wen Rou's achievements.
She feigned disinterest in a wedding dress that caught her eye, but after Su Ziguang cleverly excused himself, she eagerly tried it on. Su Ziguang then reappeared, taking photos of her, which she frantically demanded he delete, but he ran off with the pictures. Back at Polimoda, Wen Rou learned that the online criticism had intensified, slamming both her and Shan Liang as "cheaters" in business and marriage, respectively.
Simultaneously, her show venue was abruptly reported for fire safety violations, including blocked exits and faulty extinguishers, leading to an immediate closure order. The rectification process would take too long, making it impossible to hold the show as scheduled. Wen Rou and her staff noted the striking similarities between this sabotage and the Xunmi crisis, recognizing the coordinated style of the attacks.
