Introduction
In Love’s Ambition: Drama Info and Recap Episodes 1 to 8, we know that Xu Yan finally achieved her dream of climbing up a social status by marrying Shen Haoming, or did she? In this second part, we will see that the life she built carefully around her lies collapses. Lying is an inherently stressful activity; no wonder that by the end of Episode 15, she told her boss that she’s tired.
I chose this feature image because it’s on black-and-white, and our couple was pretty much living in the dark with their lies. When would they get divorced? I couldn’t wait for it, because her lies actually stressed me out, too. Let’s continue the second recap part of Love’s Ambition ( 许我耀眼 )!
Recap Episodes 9 to 16
Episode 9
This episode is a filler imo, full of in-laws. No, not the mother-in-law. Xu Yan tamed Yu Lan already. Especially after the incident with Sun Siwei, Xu Yan was promoted to be the main anchor host at her workplace. Yu Lan and her husband bought Xu Yan an expensive ruby necklace as a gift.
What I’m talking about in-laws are Qiao Lin and Shen Haochen.
Xu Yan took her husband to have dinner with Qiao Lin, her ‘cousin’. Qiao Lin turns out to be a good sister. We also saw how she and Xu Yan were on good terms when they were little. Qiao Lin just went along with Xu Yan’s lies when Haoming talked to her about fake things about her that he knew from his wife. Qiao Lin asked Haoming to take care of Xu Yan.
After dinner, Xu Yan chose to walk home with Qiao Lin. Their relationship gradually eased up, and they got closer again.
As for Shen Haochen, Yu Lan tasked his daughter-in-law to deal with the bratty son of hers while she goes for beauty treatment. Haochen was jealous of Xu Yan, as he thought Xu Yan took his brother away from him. Nobody cares for him, as he’s a spoiled kid. Xu Yan ends up being Haochen’s nanny, taking him to a horse riding lesson.
Episode 10
Haochen would be sent abroad for school, but he didn’t want it. He felt his family didn’t like him and wanted to kick him out. Xu Yan actually felt empathy for her little bro-in-law, because she was abandoned by her parents before. She promised Haochen that she would talk to the family, so he wouldn’t be sent abroad. Haochen fell from the horse on purpose so his family would give him attention while he was in the hospital. Xu Yan, being a liar herself, saw through his lie. But it seems like his parents and Haoming were too busy, so she talked to them to spend more time with the kid. They ended up hanging out together with Haochen in the hospital.
One little obstacle gone, another obstacle came, a big one. This was harder to get rid of. He was Xu Yan’s ex-boyfriend. He threatened to expose her past life to Haoming and the in-laws, so he wanted her to persuade Haoming to invest in his company. Xu Yan knew her ex’s company was shady with illegal practices.
Episode 11
This episode was about Xu Yan’s scumbag ex, who not only got investment from Haoming, but also blackmailed Xu Yan for money. The ex even mentioned to Haoming that he and Xu Yan had worked together before for the investment of his company, so Haoming was more eager to help the guy. The scumbag even brought Xu Yan’s father and stepmother to see her as a threat. Her father also wanted to expose her lies to Haoming. Xu Yan sold the luxury car Haoming just gave her in the previous episode, because she helped the family with Haochen’s case.
Xu Yan tried hard to prevent her husband from being scammed, and even getting into trouble legally, she could only tell him that this scumbag was not to be trusted. Haoming pulled out his investment, and not long after that, the guy was arrested for illegal business practice.
The scumbag was finally gone, but this case took a toll on Xu Yan. All these lies she weaved around Haoming were high stakes. She decided to confess to her husband, starting with telling him about a fictitious friend who lied to her husband. But interestingly, Haoming told her there was no need to confess at all. Confession is like a thorn in the marriage. Principles are not needed in marriage. They are just packaging, empty words. In the end, a happy ending is what really matters.
Somehow, I have a strong hunch he knows her lies. But why didn’t he want her to confess? Does he also have skeletons in the closet?
Episode 12
Enter the Jiang siblings into the arena that is already murky with lies: Jiang Yun and Jiang Liang. They were rich siblings from Yuanhang Fund, and Haoming needed their money. Jian Yun, the CEO, is cold with bad temper. Haoming asked his wife to deal with Jiang Yun. Jiang Liang is a finance genius and is very meticulous, but he’s also a playboy.
Xu Yan went to the Jinda Group reception like a fish out of water. She’s wearing a field reporter suit on purpose. Jiang Yun used to be a field reporter, too. Although the smart Jiang Yun could guess the reason Xu Yan wore that outfit was to reach her, Xu Yan won her attention. She even lent Xu Yan a beautiful gown. Xu Yan gave her a gift, a photo book with a collection of Jiang Yun’s past work photos and achievements. Jiang Yun really liked it, because of the memories. Xu Yan reminded her of herself.
Seeing that Haoming was alone because Xu Yan was with Jiang Yun, Fang Lei, who also attended the reception, pretended to get drunk to get Haoming’s attention. Okay, we found out that her sister used to be his girlfriend, but Fang Lei still loved him anyway, in the past and in the present. Where is her sister now?
Well, their endeavor succeeded. The Jiang siblings agreed to invest in Haoming’s project.
Did I tell you that her brother, the playboy Jiang Liang also entered the arena? It seems that he found Xu Yan interesting.
It’s Xu Yan’s birthday, and Haoming wanted to celebrate her birthday just the two of them. Before that, Xu Yan never wanted to celebrate her birthday because of being abandoned by her family. But the bitch Fang Lei called Haoming and threatened to kill herself because of her sister’s death. Haoming came to prevent Fang Lei’s so-called suicide attempt. Because of that, Haoming came home late, while his wife was waiting for and kept calling him. Xu Yan thought he was busy with work. Haoming went to the bathroom and cried.
We found out that apparently, Fang Lei’s sister and Haoming’s girlfriend at that time, died while diving.
Episode 13
Things are going downhill in this episode.
There was an issue in the Jinda Group, so Haoming took over the position of chairman of the board that used to be his father’s. He’s super busy now. He still had time to spent with his brother, but not his wife.
Meanwhile, Fang Lei, thought that she got the upper hand because Haoming came to her when she was drunk and pretended to commit suicide. So, she pursued Haoming even crazier and even talked down to Xu Yan. Somehow, Haoming let her, probably because he felt guilty of her sister’s death. They became closer, and during a golf play, Xu Yan felt that she was treated as an outsider.
Sun Siwei, who is back to work but has been transferred back to the bottom level, mocked Xu Yan that a rich husband like hers only gives materials but not love. Sadly, Xu Yan feels true at this moment. Every time she does something good for him, he gives her expensive gifts. However, she’s feeling lonely now. Xu Yan complained to her sister that she and Haoming are distant now; it seems there is a glass wall between them.
Xu Yan thinks that if she tells Haoming the truth, things may get better between them. But when she wants to confess to him, he says, If it makes him happy, go ahead. If it makes him upset, don’t say it. He also said he’s tired. Xu Yan just swallowed her words.
The last blow is when Xu Yan is picking up Haochen at school. Fang Lei shows up and arrogantly tells Xu Yan that she has a right to pick up Haochen, because she’s his biological aunt. Haochen is her sister’s son with Haoming. Haoming and Haochen are not brothers but father and son!!!
Episode 14
All… hell… breaks… loose!!! Xu Yan walked home like a zombie. Seeing her husband, she confronted him directly about his hiding the truth about being Haochen’s father. Aha, all dirty laundry comes out. Haoming also counterattacks her with the biggest bomb. He has known for a long time who Xu Yan really is. He investigated her from the beginning. Since Xu Yan is an ambitious woman who wants to climb the social ladder, she will do anything to help him with his career. So he plays along with her lies.
Xu Yan suddenly realizes that everything her husband had done for her was fake, and that he uses her more than he loves her. Shen Haoming does not hide anything and said that he had done all this for a purpose. Xu Yan finally understood why her husband gave her expensive gifts every time she did something right. It was just a mutually beneficial reward between the two parties. Xu Yan left the room, feeling as if her heart had died. She now knew clearly that her husband does not love her.
Xu Yan told Haoming that if he wanted a divorce, she would agree. She doesn’t want to be a real couple with him. Haoming told her that she hadn’t formally taken up the position of news anchor. Threatened with her job, Xu Yan even wanted to quit. She realized that Haoming had given her a smooth career promotion!
After calming down and thinking things through, Xu Yan still wants to talk everything out with her husband. After setting up a romantic dinner, even wearing a sexy black dress, she confesses her love to him. She reveals that the things she had concealed before are out of love for him. She’ll work harder in order to get his love. Even accepting Haochen and supporting the Shen family. But Haoming said that no need for this love talk; she has acted very well. Xu Yan was deeply hurt and shed tears during dinner.
In the morning, Xu Yan accompanied Haoming to a press conference. She’s in a daze with her husband’s act. Later at night, while in bed, her husband scolded her for her terrible performance, being cold and unsmiling. He reminds her to act well tomorrow at the charity gala.
Haoming gets a phone call from his subordinate, informing him that Fang Lei wants to commit suicide again. Xu Yan asks if she has to keep performing as a good wife by asking what’s going on. He coldly replies that unless he tells her things, she shouldn’t ask. Haoming goes to see Fang Lei, and he coldly tells her that he wants to see her die because she told the truth to his wife. He knows that Fang Lei actually is afraid of death.
In the charity event, Fang Lei shows up, too. Xu Yan and Fang Lei act friendly toward each other. Haoming sees that his wife suddenly becomes like a different person. During the auction, Xu Yan keeps bidding for the highest. Haoming doesn’t say anything because there are a lot of guests around. However, he thinks that now she shows her true colors.
Episode 15
Xu Yan… I think she’s a bit crazy, lol. She won the bid of 3M Yuan for a very expensive ring, and gave it to… Fang Lei! Hahaha! Fang Lei thinks she’s crazy. Haoming doesn’t say anything. As long as she doesn’t harm his interests, he would turn a blind eye.
Grandma saw Xu Yan on TV during the charity event, and she felt that her dear granddaughter was not happy. So Grandma called Xu Yan. Xu Yan can’t help but cry. Xu Yan feels that she is no longer Xu Yan. Xu Yan rushed back to her home village, only to find that Grandma Xu is in the hospital. Luckily, Grandma is okay.
After Xu Yan returns, she starts her divorce process. Haoming’s legal assistant reminds him to prepare for the divorce, but Haoming is sure Xu Yan won’t divorce him. In the evening, Xu Yan returns with the divorce agreement. Haoming threatens her that all materials and support will be stripped from her. Xu Yan replies that those stuff has never been hers anyway, and that she won’t take any cents. Haoming threatens her with her anchor position. Xu Yan threatens her with Fang Lei’s confession that Haoming is Haochen’s father, and their convo looks like Haoming and Fang Lei are having an affair. Haoming has no choice but to agree to the divorce.
Now that people are starting to find out that Xu Yan is divorcing Haoming, they think Xu Yan is crazy. Xu Yan goes to Haoming’s office. When seeing Fang Lei holding Haoming’s hand, after hearing that his wife wants to divorce him, Xu Yan shows her wedding ring and slaps Fang Lei. I think this is an indirect way that, without uttering a lie, Xu Yan wants the public to think that she’s divorcing Haoming because of his affair with Fang Lei.
Her last move to get out of her husband’s clutches is to resign from her job. Xu Yan told her former boss that she was tired.
Episode 16
Xu Yan goes to see her parents-in-law to confess to her lies. She guarantees that she will not tarnish the Shen family’s reputation and fame. Before the divorce is finalized, she will announce to everyone that she plans to start a business.
Mr. Huang, the businessman whose mother-in-law was won over by Xu Yan, asked Haoming about the rumors he had heard about Haoming’s marriage. Mr. Huang said that Xu Yan still takes time to visit his mother-in-law every day, despite they already made a business deal. Mr. Huang praises Xu Yan for her sincerity and care for her husband. He said Xu Yan and Haoming are a good match.
Xu Yan gets herself a small and simple apartment. The kitchen sink pipe is leaking, so Yu Yiming comes to help. He clarifies that he helps her as friends, nothing more. Haoming stops by with the Divorce Supplementary Agreement. He knows Yiming is Qiao Lin’s boyfriend. Xu Yan is surprised, oh she forgets he has spies, so he knows everything.
At the Civil Affairs Bureau, they are surprised that there is a 30-day cooling-off period. Specifically, Xu Yan doesn’t like that.
At Shen’s home, things are not harmonious, either. Haochen throws a tantrum, accusing Haoming of making Xu Yan upset, so she doesn’t want to come. He doesn’t know the couple is getting divorced. When Jinsong scolded him, Haochen left angrily. Yu Lan suddenly doesn’t have an appetite and leaves, too. After a few minutes, Jinsong can’t stand anymore and follows his wife. Only Haoming keeps eating, pretending that nothing happens.
At Jinda Group, things don’t go well for Haoming, either. Jinsong applies a tough love to his son, which is commendable. Rumors emerge around Haoming’s marriage and Xu Yan’s resignation from the anchor job. The board members think that Haoming is not qualified as the new chairman. He doesn’t have a good character, only nepotism. Hearing what other board members said, Jinsong even voted his own son out for the chairman election. He explains to Haoming later about his bad decision to keep Haochen (apparently Haomin had that kid when he was 19!) and marry Xu Yan, knowing well she’s a fraud. Lmao, Jinsong exiles his own son to a remote subsidiary of Jinda Group in the countryside, and not to come back before he fixes the business issues over there.
Xu Yan has a hard time getting a job, too, despite her celebrity popularity. Companies are afraid to hire her. Finally, she gets a job at a small streaming site, selling various goods online. Xu Yan has broadcasting experience, but not salesmanship. Her new boss has to show her the ropes. Xu Yan works hard and even practices selling that she doesn’t care about herself. Qiao Lin finds her after watching one of the online sales, because Xu Yan doesn’t want to tell Qiao Lin. When Qiao Lin reaches Xu Yan, the latter is having a stomachache from eating instant food. However, Xu Yan expresses relief that she no longer lives in lies.
Conclusion
Didn’t I tell you that I was stressed out, too, seeing the protagonists lie here and there? An unknown quote states that “Once trust is broken, some attitudes have to be changed because they are needed to build it up again.” No wonder that in this drama, the changes in attitude are in the form of divorce, resignation, moving out, etc. Xu Yan and Haoming have to build up their relationship and everything else again in the next part: Love’s Ambition: Drama Recap Episodes 17 to 24.
