Wenderella's Diary Episode 5 Recap
> Wenderella's Diary Recap
Following a successful client feedback that Polimoda shoes were preferred over Wanli’s, Shan Liang, President of Xunmi, announced a significant change to Xunmi’s dating app. He explained that the positive reception of Polimoda, a new brand he championed, over the established Wanli, proved that Xunmi’s existing hierarchical matching system was flawed. He declared the cancellation of the current system, aiming to break down barriers between users and foster a purer interpretation of love.
Instead of categorizing members by “A-level, B-level, or C-level,” the new system would classify them into “A-type, B-type, or C-type” based on their character and fundamental values. This would be determined through a questionnaire featuring controversial love-related questions, such as choosing between loving or being loved, the role of acting in a relationship, and public displays of affection.
Shan Liang tasked the Planning and Technology departments to develop an operable program within a week, later requesting a custom mini-program for himself with additional questions. Meanwhile, Polimoda's rising popularity pleased Cui Xuelan, Wen Rou's mother. However, Wen Yajun, Wen Xin's father and head of Wanli, was displeased that his long-established brand was being surpassed by an unknown competitor.
He called Wen Xin to his office, admonishing her and reminding her of Wanli's legacy, built on her late mother's design talent, and his own management skills. He emphasized that Wanli must remain the industry leader, expressing his high expectations for Wen Xin, who had inherited both talents. Wen Xin acknowledged her father's words with a hint of resentment.
Later, Wen Rou was in the middle of a live stream showcasing Polimoda’s new "red dance shoes" when Shan Liang unexpectedly returned home. He playfully interrupted her broadcast, prompting her to end it prematurely. He then had her take the new Xunmi matching test, which he described as a private, customized gift for her. After completing the test, Shan Liang revealed he was an "A quadrant" type.
Wen Rou quickly claimed to be an "A quadrant" too, emphasizing their perfect match, though the on-screen result clearly showed her as a "C quadrant." This deception highlighted Wen Rou’s insecurity. Wen Rou and her mother, Cui Xuelan, had a tense conversation where Cui Xuelan apologized for years of neglect, including sending Wen Rou to boarding school. Wen Rou confronted her mother, stating that if she truly cared, she wouldn't have done that.
Cui Xuelan brought up a past incident where Wen Rou was accused of splashing someone, and Wen Rou admitted to it. After this exchange, Cui Xuelan offered Wen Rou a new handbag. Wen Rou initially feigned disinterest, claiming she could buy it herself, but Cui Xuelan insisted a mother's gift was special. As Wen Rou tried on the bag, Wen Xin arrived home, casually remarking on its beauty.
Cui Xuelan immediately declared the bag was meant for Wen Xin and promptly handed it over, leaving Wen Rou visibly upset. It was revealed that Wen Xin's remark was intentional, as she already owned an identical bag. Shan Liang, noticing a picture of the bag on Wen Rou's phone, understood her unspoken desire. He surprised her by purchasing all three available colors of the bag.
He presented them, stating that one was for his first love, one for his confidante, and one for his wife, and that all three identities belonged to her. Wen Rou, though touched and feeling a compensation for her missing motherly love, suggested returning the yellow bag, finding it difficult to match, but Shan Liang insisted they would find a perfect match, just as they were. Shan Liang later discussed the changes to Xunmi with his father.
His father expressed full support for his son’s ambition but cautioned him against rushing, emphasizing that business development is a long process of trial and error. He questioned whether the new system would be entirely flawless, citing his own marriage with Shan Liang’s mother, which endured arguments yet remained loving, showing that love required a lifetime of effort. Shan Liang’s father concluded by stating that one should "look at the essence" of a person.
Shan Liang’s gesture of love and the underlying deception that the girl who helped him years ago was Wen Xin, not Wen Rou, deeply stimulated Wen Rou. She confessed to Han Qing that she felt a "guilty conscience," worrying Shan Liang might discover her lies and realize she wasn't the girl he believed she was.
She decided to retake the Xunmi test from Wen Xin's perspective, describing Wen Xin as outwardly elegant and dignified but inwardly cold, scheming, and prone to pretense, a "double-faced person" who always "needs acting skills" and is "flamboyant." The test result, taken from this skewed perspective, shockingly showed Wen Xin as an "A quadrant" type, a perfect match for Shan Liang.
Wen Rou was alarmed, but Han Qing reassured her that Shan Liang and Wen Xin didn't even know each other. However, at a charity reception, Shan Liang, as Xunmi’s President, and Wen Xin, as Wanli’s Design Director, were introduced. Wen Xin looked captivated by Shan Liang during his speech, subtly developing feelings for him.
Shan Liang sent a photo of himself at the event to Wen Rou, who immediately saw Wen Xin in the picture and panicked, realizing the "Cinderella's sister" scenario was unfolding. Han Qing advised Wen Rou that Shan Liang was pragmatic and disliked public displays of affection, but Wen Rou insisted that being pragmatic would lead to her losing him. To assert her claim, Wen Rou sent Shan Liang numerous couple profile pictures, insisting he choose one to use.
Shan Liang complied, noting her "commanding" tone and "strong desire to control." Wen Rou then embarked on an elaborate campaign of public affection, constantly posting staged photos and videos of her and Shan Liang in everyday scenarios—eating ice cream, morning hugs, sharing meals, yacht fishing—and tagging Wen Xin in every post. Shan Liang, though visibly uncomfortable and serving as a "tool," reluctantly participated.
One morning, Wen Rou posted a picture of bread she had bought for him, claiming he had queued to buy "her" favorite bread. Shan Liang later confronted her, expressing his dislike for such high-profile displays of affection, distinguishing between genuine sharing and mere "showing off." He pointed out her lie about the bread, but Wen Rou brushed it off, asserting that his kindness and her kindness were the same, and that he was indeed the loving "Mr. Shan" she portrayed.
Wen Rou staged another elaborate scene, pretending to lose her ring in the park. Shan Liang, concerned, grabbed a flashlight and helped her search the grounds, eventually finding the ring she had intentionally dropped. Wen Rou, feigning surprise, kissed him. This entire episode was filmed and quickly went viral online, with employees Xiao Mei and Jian Jian praising Shan Liang’s "domineering president spoils wife" image and suggesting Xunmi leverage it for a new campaign.
Shan Liang, however, expressed his disapproval, reiterating that Xunmi was about finding "real love," not creating "fake" illusions, and that he couldn’t accept Wen Rou deceiving others. Meanwhile, Wen Rou, confident in Polimoda's sales, continued her relentless campaign of sending messages to Wen Xin, which were set to be visible only to Wen Xin. Han Qing worried about irritating Wen Xin or having her expose Wen Rou's past lie about being Shan Liang's childhood helper.
However, Wen Rou believed Wen Xin wouldn't expose her, as Wen Xin had lied back then too. Wen Rou’s persistence finally paid off when Wen Xin, exasperated by the constant updates, sent a frustrated reply stating the messages were "bothering" her. Wen Rou, ecstatic, immediately blocked Wen Xin, declaring her victory, certain that Wen Xin’s response proved her intense emotional investment.
Shan Liang, still disturbed by Wen Rou’s exaggerated public displays, was presented by Zou Jing with surveillance footage from the park. The video clearly showed Wen Rou deliberately dropping the ring for Shan Liang to find. Shan Liang, hurt and angry at being deceived again, returned home to find Wen Rou waiting. Sensing his mood, Wen Rou quickly confessed and apologized, promising never to manipulate him into such public displays again.
She acknowledged his discomfort and injuries from the staged events, explaining her actions were driven by a desperate desire for the world to see his goodness, which had spiraled into a performance for its own sake. She assured him she had reflected deeply and would stop, feeling a "guilty conscience." Shan Liang, overwhelmed, found himself "stuck," unable to articulate his thoughts.
Later, Zou Jing casually mentioned Wen Rou’s elaborate stunts and Shan Liang’s devotion (including a "whole wall of bags") to her husband, Mo Yingchen, Director of Luxbuy’s publicity department. Mo Yingchen immediately saw the couple's image as perfect for Luxbuy's target audience of young women who fantasized about romantic love. He decided to propose a collaboration and asked Zou Jing to facilitate a meeting.
During the meeting with Wen Rou and Han Qing, Mo Yingchen proposed a live-streamed promotional campaign titled "The Day of Mrs. Shan," showcasing Wen Rou’s luxurious daily life and subtly integrating Luxbuy’s mobile application. Wen Rou expressed concerns about privacy and Shan Liang’s reaction, reminding them of her promise to him. Mo Yingchen reassured her about privacy and revealed that Shan Liang would be on a business trip on the proposed shooting day.
He then added a crucial incentive: if the collaboration was successful, Polimoda could be featured on Luxbuy. Wen Rou immediately agreed and signed the contract, her previous hesitation vanished. Before Shan Liang left for his business trip, Wen Rou helped him pack, and he commented on her recent change, noting she wasn't showing affection anymore. She reiterated her commitment to being her "truest self."
She expressed how much she would miss him, and he jokingly offered to cancel his trip, but she insisted work was important and she would feel a "guilty conscience" if he missed work for her. The moment he left, Wen Rou swiftly began redecorating their home with wedding photos for the Luxbuy shoot. During "The Day of Mrs. Shan" live stream, Wen Rou greeted the Luxbuy audience, showcasing their home.
She highlighted Shan Liang's devotion, claiming he insisted on living near her studio despite his long commute, and designed the home according to her preferences. She showed off a star-themed ceiling installation in their closet, asserting that Shan Liang spent a day installing it because she loved stars.
In her walk-in closet, she proudly displayed Polimoda shoes, including her wedding shoes, which she claimed Shan Liang personally mended after she broke them, emphasizing their sentimental value and that they brought her to him. She then dramatically opened a box filled with "gifts," claiming they were birthday presents from Shan Liang for every year from her eighteenth to her twenty-fourth birthday, including a handmade wallet and a doll she wanted as a child.
She told the audience that Shan Liang regretted missing her adult birthdays and made up for it with these gifts. Unbeknownst to Wen Rou, Shan Liang had completed his business trip early and was returning home. His assistant noted his eagerness to see Wen Rou. As Wen Rou prepared to read a heartfelt letter she claimed Shan Liang had written for her, Shan Liang suddenly appeared from the walk-in closet.
He walked over, startling Wen Rou, and took the letter, ready to read it himself. He began to read, "Darling, tomorrow is our wedding day. I can't imagine that I'd marry you. . ." He then read another letter, "Darling, happy birthday. Although you complain that you are one year older, in my heart you will always be with the beautiful appearance and unique soul of eighteen years old. Go take a look at the bedroom.
I have prepared a birthday surprise for you." Meanwhile, watching the live stream, both Su Ziguang and Wen Xin hoped Wen Rou's exaggerated persona would be exposed. Wen Xin scoffed that Shan Liang gave so many gifts because he had no idea what Wen Rou truly wanted.
