Wenderella's Diary Episode 9 Recap
> Wenderella's Diary Recap
Shan Liang received a warm welcome from Wen Rou’s mother, Cui Xuelan, who mentioned that Wen Yajun, Wen Rou’s father, was particularly happy about his visit and had inquired about his food preferences.
However, when the dishes arrived – stir-fried mutton, fried bitter gourd, and pig brain soup – Shan Liang skillfully redirected them to other family members, noting that Cui Xuelan needed mutton for her qi and blood, Wen Yajun needed bitter gourd to reduce his internal heat, and Wen Xin needed pig brain soup for her work stress.
Cui Xuelan awkwardly admitted to having mixed up Shan Liang’s likes and dislikes, a mistake that the plot summary confirms was Wen Xin’s deliberate mischief. Wen Rou, noticing the tension, quickly shifted the conversation by showing Wen Yajun her latest designs for her brand, Polimoda. Wen Yajun praised the designs but mispronounced the brand name, which Shan Liang gently corrected.
Cui Xuelan then suggested Wen Rou return to Wanli, praising her design for red dance shoes and saying she could help with management. Wen Rou declined, stating her passion lay in design and that her father didn’t need her help with design as Wen Xin was already the design director. Shan Liang supported Wen Rou, emphasizing her admirable independence and dedication to her dreams, which he stated was a reason he loved her.
Later, Shan Liang expressed concern to Wen Rou that her family seemed unhappy. Wen Rou revealed that Wen Xin doesn't eat pig brains, her mother avoids mutton, and even the bitter gourd that her father usually likes was intentionally made too bitter. She assured Shan Liang that her family wouldn't blame him. Reflecting on Shan Liang's actions, Wen Rou considered it "preference" rather than just "love," and how good it felt to be prioritized.
She fondly described Shan Liang's boldness in correcting her father's pronunciation of her brand and giving her the last piece of rib, which usually went to Wen Xin. She confided to a friend that Wen Xin has always been competitive with her, and she wondered what else Wen Xin would try to take from her.
Meanwhile, Cui Xuelan praised Shan Liang to Wen Yajun, describing him as humble and high-EQ, while Wen Xin retorted that he was merely "affectatious" and "mindless." Cui Xuelan urged Wen Xin to find a boyfriend, prompting Wen Xin to declare she wanted someone just like Shan Liang. Shan Liang, discussing the difficult family dinner with his colleagues Jian Jian, Xiao Mei, and Zou Jing, worried about having offended Wen Rou’s family.
They jokingly suggested having a baby or finding out the family's "needs" to "hit precisely," sparking an idea in Shan Liang. Shan Liang later told Wen Rou he had invited her father to visit that weekend. Wen Rou was hesitant, feeling it was inappropriate to return so soon after the previous day’s contentious dinner where Shan Liang had, in her view, "provoked" her family.
Separately, Han Qing questioned Zhong Yu about his job as a makeup artist, as he often talked about her work but never his own. Zhong Yu stated he preferred to keep work and life separate, skillfully deflecting her questions. The weekend arrived, but Wen Yajun did not appear. Wen Xin subtly mocked Wen Rou, suggesting her father was avoiding Shan Liang. Shan Liang, determined to win over the family, remained cheerful.
He invited Wen Xin to help him in the kitchen and inquired about her dating life, to which she claimed she had never been in love. Wen Rou, who had been eavesdropping, rushed in when Wen Xin reached to wipe Shan Liang’s forehead, taking a knife and warning Wen Xin not to pursue her husband. Wen Xin implied she was ready for a fight. During dinner, the two sisters continued their passive-aggressive rivalry.
Shan Liang, unaware of Wen Rou's underlying intentions, praised Wen Xin for her professional achievements as Wanli's design director, her charitable endeavors, and her sisterly bond with Wen Rou, despite them not being biological sisters. He then revealed his true purpose for the visit: to set Wen Xin up on a blind date. He presented her with profiles for a company matchmaking event and encouraged her to participate. Wen Rou was initially relieved, praising Shan Liang for his clever idea.
However, her mood soured when she saw Wen Xin’s ideal partner criteria – a detailed description that precisely matched Shan Liang, from his age and height to his profession and personality, with "kind" even written three times. Shan Liang, noticing Wen Rou's anger, humorously tried to deny the resemblance, exaggerating his own flaws. Wen Rou dressed glamorously to accompany Shan Liang to the blind date event, ostensibly to help Wen Xin.
Her striking appearance garnered significant attention, prompting Shan Liang to assert his claim by holding her hand and reminding her to keep her wedding ring visible. Once Wen Xin arrived, Wen Rou sent Shan Liang away, announcing her intention to guide her sister.
Wen Rou offered Wen Xin "advice" on modifying her dating criteria, subtly steering her towards a specific type of man by reframing her preferences, such as replacing a hardworking internet professional with a "boss" who has more free time, or a "kind" man with one who is "simple and pure" to avoid complex emotional games. Wen Rou then dramatically "discovered" Su Ziguang at the event, initiating a staged conversation to pique Wen Xin's competitive interest.
Wen Xin, falling for the bait, questioned their past relationship. Both Wen Rou and Su Ziguang spoke ambiguously, creating the impression of a tragic past romance that couldn't ultimately be. Wen Xin later approached Su Ziguang, proudly introducing herself as Wen Yajun's "genuine heiress," subtly contrasting herself with Wen Rou whom she disparagingly called "gilded."
Upon learning that Wen Rou was actually Wen Xin's sister, Su Ziguang rushed to Wen Rou, convinced she had been testing him and still harbored feelings for him. Despite Wen Rou's exasperated attempts to clarify that there was no "relationship" to "let go of" and that her earlier comments were a "misunderstanding," Su Ziguang remained convinced, interpreting her denials as "fickle" and "stubborn" feminine behavior. He even expressed pity for Shan Liang, believing Wen Rou was unknowingly hurting him.
Wen Rou, resigned, urged him to pursue Wen Xin, to "forget me," and "be nice to Shan Liang." Later, Xiao Mei tried to inform Shan Liang about Wen Rou and Su Ziguang's conversation, but Jian Jian stopped her, warning against meddling in the complicated and unpredictable affairs of their superiors and advising her to "leave well enough alone."
Wen Rou then found Jian Jian and Xiao Mei, handing them Su Ziguang's profile and instructing them to praise him "360 degrees without dead ends" to Wen Xin, ensuring the two were matched. Jian Jian and Xiao Mei were bewildered by this development. Wen Xin and Su Ziguang met for a game of badminton. Wen Xin, curious, asked why a man of his standing would resort to a blind date.
Su Ziguang explained he initially found it boring, then amusing, but ultimately saw it as a straightforward way to meet people without hidden agendas, stating his dislike for "fake things." Wen Xin then received a text from Wen Rou, bragging about Shan Liang cooking a large meal as a reward for her "hard work" at the blind date. Immediately, Wen Xin proposed to Su Ziguang, declaring him her boyfriend and announcing they would "show off."
They went to a restaurant where Wen Xin ordered an excessive amount of food. When Su Ziguang questioned the waste, Wen Xin prompted him to take a photo with her and then posted it on social media, embellishing his generosity.
In the following days, Wen Xin continued her extravagant displays of affection on social media, even orchestrating a scene where she made Su Ziguang search for a non-existent hairpin, supposedly a precious gift from her father, while she secretly took photos of him kneeling. She also gave him a "birthday gift" she no longer wanted, reminding him of his upcoming double date with Wen Rou and Shan Liang. The two couples went on a double date for a barbecue.
Su Ziguang, still operating under the delusion that Wen Rou secretly pined for him, pitied Shan Liang. Wen Xin, meanwhile, smugly noted Shan Liang's "idle" appearance, implying his business was failing, and boasted about Su Ziguang being her "ideal type." During the barbecue, a sudden flare-up caused Su Ziguang to instinctively pull Wen Rou into his arms, while Shan Liang simultaneously pulled Wen Xin away from the flames. This incident sparked arguments between both couples.
Wen Xin confronted Su Ziguang, accusing him of still having feelings for Wen Rou. He denied it, explaining he was merely closest to her. Shan Liang interjected, interpreting Su Ziguang's action as a subconscious sign of lingering affection and an attempt to use Wen Xin to get closer to Wen Rou. Wen Rou defended Su Ziguang, insisting he was Wen Xin's boyfriend and Shan Liang was overthinking.
Su Ziguang then conceded to having "regrets" with Wen Rou, blaming himself for not believing her in the past. He spun this into a narrative where Wen Rou still loved him but was "revising her memories" due to her marriage to Shan Liang, and he vowed to make her "give up" on him. Wen Xin, seemingly satisfied, accepted his explanation, but physically recoiled from his attempt at affection, calling him "crazy."
Later, Shan Liang confronted Wen Rou, accusing her of hiding something and "inviting danger" by setting up Wen Xin with Su Ziguang. Wen Rou explained that the situation was "complicated." When Shan Liang pressed her, she finally revealed that their parents were worried about Wen Xin's marriage, and knowing Wen Xin's competitive nature and habit of "snatching" her things, she had deliberately pretended to like Su Ziguang to make Wen Xin interested in him.
She concluded by saying this "complicated logic" was probably beyond his understanding. To her surprise, Shan Liang comprehended her elaborate plan and praised her "well-intentioned efforts," believing she was selflessly acting for her sister's happiness. He predicted that if Wen Xin ever discovered the truth, she would be "very touched." Unbeknownst to them, Wen Xin was eavesdropping outside the door, her face a mask of furious realization.
