Original subtitles

(Firefly Theater)

♪Neon lights twist into a knot♪

♪I rest in the ruins of defeat♪

♪You tap your fingers lightly♪

♪I fall into the abyss♪

♪I've seen this game before♪

♪Every single move was calculated♪

♪I finally see your silhouette♪

♪Just an empty shell♪

♪I've broken this game before♪

♪Every move was placed wrong♪

♪Now it's my turn to play♪

♪I'll show you what stunning looks like♪

♪When I stand back up again♪

♪The whole city goes dark♪

♪For the part you owe me♪

♪I'll make you pay double♪

♪You're just my starting point♪

=The Vanishing Beauty=

=Episode 17=

The police took Zhang Yu in

for questioning.

Looks like Lin Qiang

still didn't dare cross Di Liren.

But it's good.

Now we've completely stopped Di Liren

from producing more

bad Jinghua samples.

It was worth it.

Too bad for Zhang Yu.

She became Di Liren's scapegoat.

From the start,

he had an exit strategy.

That's why he's so cunning.

He plans ten steps ahead

and always leaves a backup plan.

Also,

he uses anyone around him

he can exploit.

Zhang Yu

was actually a good employee,

competent and hardworking.

She trusted the wrong guy.

Is there any way

we can help her?

Her conviction can't be changed.

Although Di Liren

used her trust and admiration

to drag her down,

it's an fact

that she took luxury cars

and expensive gifts.

She isn't so innocent.

Blind trust always traps you.

I wish

she'd been more cautious.

I wish you could cheer up.

Look on the bright side.

Think.

Mr. Dong has cleared his name

and can help you.

And the Jinghua project

needs a leader now.

Isn't this your chance

to come back?

You're right.

It's time for Di Liren

to properly explain

my "condition".

(Jiali)

Good morning.

Why are you here?

The misunderstanding's blown up.

Mr. Di,

you have to help me

clear it up with everyone.

What misunderstanding?

Tell them

my "mental illness"

was something you and I

made up together.

Didn't we agree back then?

I'd pretend to be unstable

and step back from the Jinghua project

so the mole would lower their guard

and slip up.

Did you forget, honey?

It's fine.

My assistant Harry

was there too.

I can call him right now

to back me up.

Wait.

Do you remember now?

I guess we did agree on that.

Good.

(Jiali)

This

is the psychiatric evaluation

from the hospital.

(Medical Record) It clearly states

that I'm fine both mentally

and psychologically.

All right, now we all know.

Today's theme

is the Jinghua series.

Honey,

you can wait in my office.

While everyone's here today,

I have an announcement to make.

I'm applying to return to Jiali

to fight alongside

you all again.

We'll discuss your

personal matters later.

Let's not waste

everyone's time, okay?

Since Meng is in good health

and has done well,

let her return to the company.

The reason I'm so eager

to return to Jiali

is that I care deeply

about Jinghua.

I believe

we need someone now

who can get Jinghua

back on track

for an immediate launch.

So,

I want to volunteer

to lead this project myself.

I object.

You were away from the company

and out of the loop

for some time.

Jinghua needs to hit the market fast.

We need a leader

who has overseen the project

from the start.

Right.

Tight time, high stakes.

If Mr. Di

leads the team himself,

that would be ideal.

I wouldn't recommend that.

First,

given the Zhang Yu issue,

Mr. Di

should recuse himself.

Second,

Mr. Di carries

a heavy burden every day,

with so many responsibilities.

He simply doesn't have the time

to juggle this too.

Don't you agree,

Ms. Gao?

If Mr. Di has his hands full,

giving it to Ms. Yu

is definitely the safest way.

They can coordinate anytime.

During the recent audit,

I was immersed

in this project,

so I know every single detail

inside out.

Besides, my dad always taught me

never to leave things half-done.

Since I uncovered

Jinghua's issues,

I want to see them through.

I hope you all

can give me

this opportunity.

Mr. Tian,

how about this?

Let's

take a vote.

All right.

♪Even the future is enchanted by me♪

♪Everywhere I go is an iconic scene♪

Then Jinghua

is in Meng's hands.

Don't worry, Mr. Tian.

♪Lucky♪

(Brand Ambassador Yu Meng)

(General Manager Yu Meng)

I'll terminate Jiali's

partnership with Guangsili'er

and sue them for breach.

Have legal

prepare the paperwork

and the complaint.

Understood.

It wasn't an easy battle.

Thankfully, we're both back.

Mr. Dong,

having you back

is what makes me happiest.

(CFO Dong Jun)

Come in.

Congratulations.

My former boss is here too.

Welcome back, Ms. Yu.

If you have a moment,

could you approve the budget application

I submitted last time?

Mr. Wu, you seem unaware

that signing and approval

requires proper protocol.

It's first come, first served.

I need to clear earlier files

before getting to yours.

(Ms. Yu, you might not know)

that Finance

has procedures.

One at a time.

First come, first served.

You need to approve

Jinghua's production increase first

(before we process)

(the lab budget.)

Ms. Yu,

please don't hold it against me.

It's a bad habit of mine.

When it comes to work,

I can be too rigid sometimes.

Wu Heng,

did you forget

why you were fired in the first place?

Well...

Let's skip

the document for today.

I quit.

I'll resign, alright?

Sure,

but resigning

requires protocol too.

"Rules are rules,"

as you said yourself.

Go on.

Follow the protocol.

(Store Transfer Agreement)

(Contract's fine.)

(You can sign it.)

(Store Transfer Agreement)

(Zi)

Meng!

Hurry.

Tell me.

Did Di Liren's nose crook with rage

when you returned to Jiali?

Of course.

Not just his nose.

He was crooked through.

He's utterly corrupt.

Where is everyone?

Not even a single server?

Because

the manager laid them all off.

Then where's the manager?

Right here.

Where?

Right here.

Where?

(Rooftop Cafe Transfer Agreement) Surprise!

Take a look.

What's this?

It's a surprise for you.

The moment you said you wanted a shop,

I thought of this place.

Where did you get the money?

Isn't this Harry's friend's cafe?

Actually,

business was never great here,

and Harry said his friend

could barely stay afloat.

I saw him looking to sublease

a while ago,

so I took it over.

As for the money,

don't I work at Jiali?

And livestream sales

pay well.

So don't worry about the money.

Right now,

you need that money

for your living expenses.

Come on,

don't be so practical,

will you?

Money can always be earned back.

All these years in the workplace,

you've been like

a perpetual motion machine.

You did

a whole team's work alone.

You worked every day

of the year.

Even on maternity leave,

you were on that laptop,

working non-stop.

Weren't you tired?

So when I heard you say

you wanted to take a break,

I was really happy.

Taking a break doesn't mean slacking off.

Of course you can't slack off.

This shop will need

your management to make money.

Make me money, okay?

No slacking off.

Come on.

Listen to me.

The shares of this cafe

are fifty-fifty between us.

It's settled.

Listen.

The sofas

won't do.

Neither color works.

Not your style.

And over here,

the lighting is great.

You can put some

greenery that you like.

Right.

And over there.

Guess what goes there?

A record player?

Yes. You're so sharp.

Your record player

can go right here,

playing your

favorite songs every day.

It's just perfect.

Still, professional matters

should be left to professionals.

Didn't Harry create

a full design proposal

for this place earlier?

Right.

I saw that proposal.

It was really good.

- Why not talk to him? - Talk to him.

We're in sync.

Let's talk to him.

(General Manager Yu Meng)

Ms. Yu,

this is the agreement

to terminate

Jinghua's partnership

with Guangsili'er.

This one

is the complaint against them

for breach of contract.

And the last one

is the OEM contract

with Jinghua's new factory.

Please sign them.

(Signature: Yu Meng)

Stop it.

You don't mean

the sheets, do you?

Stop your fight with Yu Meng.

Just stop it.

You must be kidding me.

We're at the goal line,

and you want me to quit?

Face reality.

Yu Meng is the one kicking.

And you're the ball.

If you keep fighting,

you'll lose more.

It's just a minor bump,

and you're already backing down?

The problem is Haoyu.

He's already suspecting

that I know Yu Meng.

To keep him from digging further,

I'm resigning next week

and taking him away.

Are you coming?

You think Yu Meng

will let you leave that easily?

She's already targeting Haoyu.

If she sees that you're scared,

she'll tear you apart even more.

So we can only push forward.

No retreat.

Framing Yu Meng

as mentally unstable

was crazy enough.

If you take it further,

will it be a crime?

Of course not.

We aren't

cornered yet.

But Jinghua belongs to Yu Meng now.

She's already

found a new factory.

Do you think I'll just let her

walk away with it?

(CFO Dong Jun) We don't have the funds.

We can't cover the deposit.

No funds?

How could that be?

For a physical business like ours,

cash flow is always tight.

We rely heavily on receivables

from various sales channels.

The one holding Jiali's

biggest distribution channel

is Ms. Xu.

The payment

was due to hit our account

this week.

I've pressed her repeatedly,

but she's either on a trip

or in a meeting.

She just won't pay.

Something fishy is definitely going on.

I'll go collect it.

That smash

was amazing, Ms. Xu.

Mr. Di, your wife

sure is something.

She went straight to my company.

I'm sorry about that.

She's just stubborn.

Just ignore her.

Sorry, you'll have to stay here,

playing tennis

and relaxing.

I couldn't be happier.

After busting my neck all year,

I finally get to relax

and breathe.

Though I must warn you,

don't push your wife too far.

In case

she sues me.

She's in a rush

to get cash right now.

Lawsuits take forever.

She won't take that route.

If she actually sues me,

I'll go to you.

Don't try to run.

See you.

Why are you here?

Didn't get the money, right?

I looked into it.

You

checked into Ms. Xu?

I have to serve

my client anytime, anywhere.

I can't have you divorced,

broke, and out of a company.

You know what?

I suddenly feel like

every penny I paid you

wasn't wasted.

Totally worth it.

Why does that sound so...

All right, jokes aside.

Down to business.

Are you going to say

Ms. Xu is close with Di Liren,

so even if I confront her,

nothing will come of it?

Impressive.

There's another angle.

I suspect Jiali's funds

were moved abroad.

If we track down

Han Guang's accounts abroad,

we'll have proof of him

embezzling company assets.

Given the huge amount,

he'd be facing

serious prison time.

We can use it to force him

to return the money.

That way,

the company's

money issue can be solved.

The logic works,

but to find

Han Guang's accounts aboard...

You overlooked someone.

Who?

Lu Hui.

She can be the key.

So,

I actually think

there's someone we can use.

Speak of the devil.

Meng.

Xu.

Well,

can I talk to you in private?

Sure.

I'm off then.

Did you come to me

because that friend of yours

has another problem?

He found out

his mom

lied to him about her job.

And he realized

his mom might know

his dad's current wife.

But she keeps denying it.

He wants to know why.

So

he wants to ask his dad's current wife

because he thinks she's a good person.

At your friend's age,

he should focus on his studies.

Let his parents

sort out their own matters.

Actually...

Actually that friend was me all along.

And

you're part

of that story too.

He is my dad,

your current husband.

And she is my mom,

your husband's ex-wife.

Did you know?

I know.

You know?

So you know my mom?

No.

Then how do you know

my dad was married before?

Did he tell you?

I never asked much

about your dad's life

as Fang Yong.

After all, this life

is ours to live.

Asking too much

only brings heartache.

I'm sorry.

I...

I shouldn't have said it.

I...

I'm only...

It's all right.

You're still Harry.

Nothing has changed.

Then

can I still call you Meng?

Of course.

Then

we're still friends, right?

Aren't we friends right now?

Actually, none of this

is that hard to accept

or understand.

Just focus on being yourself.

Still,

let's keep your "friend's" family matters

as a secret

between

the two of us.

Okay.

When vacation ends,

head back to school.

Let's wrap up your time

as my assistant.

Why? But

didn't we just agree

we could still be friends?

No need to be

my assistant for that.

Besides, you're the designer

Liu Zi and I

hired exclusively.

Okay.

Not busy with work?

How'd you get time

to come fishing with me?

I was let go.

Isn't that great?

Now you can do what you actually love.

This is a top architecture firm's

internship offer.

You can start right away.

I thought you'd be thrilled.

You were against me studying architecture.

That's why I prepared a backup for you.

This is

a recommendation letter from a renowned

architecture professor.

When you graduate college

and face the real world,

you can use it

to apply for grad school

and study further.

I'm not that fragile.

Then do the internship first?

I'll set it up.

Don't.

How about next break?

Why?

Isn't this your dream?

Besides,

you still have a month off.

Dad,

you told me on the phone

that whatever happens,

you and Mom would explain it to me in person.

Was that true?

Of course.

Are you sure you haven't

done anything

to hurt Mom or Meng?

Are you worried

I'm getting back with your mom

while lying to Yu Meng,

playing both sides?

Do you really think

I'm that despicable?

I'm sorry.

My head has been

such a mess lately.

Haoyu,

I only have one request for you:

take good care of your health.

Don't worry about anything else.

Got it.

The fish soup is simmering.

I'll make a full fish feast

with the rest.

Honey,

my car got covered in mud

while out fishing today.

It's being washed.

When your assistant

picks you up tomorrow,

can I get a ride too?

He resigned.

Kids these days

sure are spontaneous.

We meet again, Mr. Di.

Jiao Xu?

You...

Has Liu Zi arrived yet?

We agreed to eat

here tonight

for Harry's send-off.

She better not be late.

Honey,

why didn't you tell me

you invited guests for dinner?

We're unprepared. It's so rude.

How about

I take everyone out?

Don't bother, Mr. Di.

We brought food.

It's about fun.

By that smell,

is that fish soup?

W-What is all this?

You must be Ms. Hui.

Yu Meng speaks so highly of you,

saying your housework

is the best.

She said you're

her favorite housekeeper so far.

Housekeeper?

Watch your manners.

You should call her Aunt Hui.

This is Harry,

Yu Meng's assistant.

Look, it still needs cleaning up.

Let's eat out.

I'll help you.

No need.

Mr. Di,

I've been in for a while.

No tea for me?

Please.

Why didn't you tell me?

What's going on?

Why are you a housekeeper?

Why at Meng's place?

You said you didn't know her.

Mom!

Keep your voice down.

Let me finish cooking.

Then I'll tell you.

All right?

Ms. Hui,

there are only five of us.

Don't make so much.

Let's eat early.

Sure.

Harry,

help me set the table.

Didn't you say

you didn't know my mom?

Weren't you interested in architecture?

This villa

was designed by a famous architect.

You may look around.

You knew all along, right?

You found out

when Xu carried my package,

right?

Meng,

don't you mind?

I'm sorry.

Will you divorce?

What on earth is going on?

Harry,

you should ask

your parents those questions.

Let them tell you.

Harry,

I happen to have the villa's

blueprints

on my phone.

I'll find them.

(Leave right now)

A master's work?

Let me see too.

Where did they go?

It's fine.

I'll just look around.

Seeing is believing.

All right.

Let's go see the yard.

Come on.

Dinner is served.

Time to eat.

Dinner is ready.

Enjoy your meal.

Aren't you joining us?

It's plenty of food.

I...

Can she join us?

I have some kitchen work.

Sit down.

It's merrier.

How long have you been here?

Just about a year.

It's not very easy to get out here.

Why would

you work here?

The housekeeping agency

assigned her here.

Then how...

Mr. Jiao,

how did you and Meng meet?

Don't tell me

she consulted you about a divorce,

and that's how you met?

Liu Zi's friend wanted a divorce

and hired Mr. Jiao.

Then we got to know each other.

Mr. Jiao,

how did you become

friends with Harry?

We had dinner together,

hit it off,

and became buddies.

Right?

Harry,

what are your plans after leaving?

Meng,

I'll stay for now.

I can fill in until you

find a new assistant.

We'll see.

Let's eat.

No work talk during dinner.

Eat up.

Let's talk about family.

Harry,

are your parents in Xiaocheng?

In Jiangzhou.

That's nice.

We can eat together sometime.

What do they do?

They...

Let's eat first.

All right, Mr. Jiao.

No more lawyer mode.

Eat up, or the food will get cold.

Let me reheat the fish.

It'll taste bad when cool.

I'm done eating.

My stomach's acting up.

I'm off.

Thank you.

I'll get you meds.

How is it acting up?

Just gastroenteritis.

I want to go home.

I'll see him out.

I'll see them out.

Go on back.

I'll tell you what to do.

I'm the one who decides that.

Like I said before,

I quit.

He's left.

He has?

You invited Harry over today.

Why didn't you

give me a heads-up?

My bad, my bad.

It's on me.

But

you're at home

with those two predators.

I'd never let

my client

stay alone with them.

So

you can't stay here.

Don't worry about that.

I'm staying at Liu Zi's place.

I just wonder,

after this,

how are you

going to face Harry?

You made it so obvious.

An idiot could see you meant to.

I don't care.

As long as it helps you,

that's enough.

I know you meant well,

but you shouldn't

have dragged Harry

into this.

It's cruel to him.

His parents are the cruel ones.

They've been lying to him.

Harry deserves the truth.

Look,

his involvement might

hurt our plans.

It's for his own good.

Even now,

you're still worrying about him?

How do you expect to fight

these shameless scoundrels?

How will you win?

I...

I have to start

from the beginning.

Back then,

I was a nurse in the hospital.

Yu Meng's father came in for treatment.

He saw that I knew a lot

about Parkinson's

and was very patient.

So his family wanted

to hire me

to be his home caregiver

and do some light chores.

I thought

it would be easier

than being a nurse,

so I took the job.

But I really didn't know

he was Yu Meng's father.

Only her parents

usually lived in the villa.

Until your dad returned from a trip

that I realized

what a crazy coincidence it was.

Then

why didn't you quit?

I tried to quit.

Yu Meng's father

had just had surgery

and wasn't out of the woods.

His family hoped

I could stay a little longer

to take care of him.

A life was on the line,

so I agreed.

My relationship

with your dad

was so awkward,

so bringing it to light

would only cause trouble.

So we agreed to keep it secret

until the new caregiver took over,

and then I'd just leave.

That's also why I hid from you

that I knew Yu Meng.

But

Yu Meng got injured then,

and her father's condition got worse.

It ended up

trapping me here.

Mom,

this kind of talk

might fool a three-year-old.

Did Yu Meng say something to you?

What would she say to me?

No matter what she told you,

you can't trust her.

She invited you to dinner today

to humiliate

your dad and me

and hurt you.

I'll settle

this score with her.

And Jiao Xu.

Yu Meng put him

by your side

on purpose.

You need to stay away from them.

Don't give Meng trouble.

Why are you defending her?

Meng did nothing wrong.

You and Dad

wronged her first.

What do you know?

Do you still love Dad?

What do you mean?

If not,

how could you stand

sharing the space with him,

watching him

live with his new wife,

and even

humbly waiting on them?

Tonight's dishes

were all his favorites.

I also saw

how you two

kept exchanging glances,

so nervous,

like fearing

I'd figure something out.

I did figure it out.

What is it?

You and Dad...

You

actually...

You got divorced,

but you're still

hooking up.

You still love Dad.

So

even after he got remarried,

you couldn't let go

and became their housekeeper.

Or maybe

Dad couldn't let go of you,

so he brought you in.

Anyway,

you're just inseparable.

About what you just said,

did you deduce it yourself,

or did someone tell you that?

I figured it out myself.

I considered countless possibilities.

Only this theory explains

why you, Dad,

and Meng

would act so evasive

and secretive.

So, is that how it is?

I'm sorry, Son.

Your dad and I failed

to keep this family together.

Mom,

it's not your fault.

It's all Dad's fault.

No matter what,

he shouldn't play both sides.

(Phone call)

(Yu Meng)

Energy drink

or bottled water?

Take your pick.

Well,

I'll take the expensive one.

You can have both.

Thank you, Counselor Jiao.

All right,

what brings you here

so late at night?

I felt I didn't perform well earlier

and came to scold you again.

But I saw your room

had the curtains drawn

and lights off.

I thought you were asleep

and was about to leave.

I-I just finished a walk

and was heading home.

Didn't I say earlier today?

I know you mean well,

and I really should

go on the offensive.

Thank you.

As an unscrupulous lawyer,

this is my time

to shine.

So, how do you plan to attack?

Now that we've had dinner

with their little family,

it's time

to talk real business.

Keep your guard up.

They may get desperate

and try to hurt you.

Then I'll take them down.

And I'm staying at Liu Zi's.

They dare

not act too blatant.

You still think...

All right.

Don't be mad.

Don't be mad again.

Why do you have

such a short fuse?

Fine.

Supplies delivered.

I'm going home to sleep.

Bye.

(Jiao Xu)

(188888)

Mr. Jiao,

hit the wrong button

during the transfer?

It's the passcode to my place.

If staying at Liu Zi's feels unsafe,

come over anytime.

Bye.

Bye.

(Yu Meng)

(Meet and talk tomorrow?)

Meng,

are you at the office?

I brought you some breakfast.

Haoyu?

Didn't you

eat breakfast at home?

Why did you buy so much bread?

I got it for my coworkers.

Are you still shooting with Yu Meng?

I don't know

if she'll take me.

Why do you

care so much for her?

Mom,

Meng treats me really well.

Did you know all along

who Yu Meng was?

Is she truly kind to you?

She stood up for me

and treated me to great food.

And

she mentors me at work.

Alright, I have to go.

Where are you going?

The vendor

overcharged me.

I'll fix it with her.

Hello there,

Harry's mom.

=The Vanishing Beauty= (Next Episode Preview)

Where are you going?

I'm taking you abroad.

The flight is tomorrow.

- Don't - Haoyu!

treat me like a child.

- You keep everything - Haoyu!

from me,

yet expect me

to obey your decisions.

I'm not going abroad,

and I'm not coming back anymore!

Stop calling.

He won't pick up.

The company is facing a cash crunch

created by Di Liren.

Help me resolve that first,

and I'll help you

with Harry.

It's about Ms. Xu, isn't it?

Hello, Ms. Xu.

♪Old dreams have faded in color♪

♪A lonely heart torn in conflict♪

♪The love that stumbled along♪

♪Was just a quiet release♪

♪I write the future into a song, honoring the brave with no regrets♪

♪Turning all losses into the passion of this moment♪

♪I write the future into a song, for the me who never walks away♪

♪Forging all weaknesses into sharp, bold colors♪

♪In this life, I follow only my own choice♪

♪The chilled night has lost its color♪

♪No need to echo those who drifted apart♪

♪No longer proving my worth to anyone♪

♪The answer has long been etched in my silhouette♪

♪I write the future into a song, for the me who never walks away♪

♪Paving every twist and turn into a path forward♪

♪The ending of this life will be set by me♪