Episode Summary
Lu Li begins his new job under Qin Yuebai, who mistreats him despite him saving her from a claustrophobia-induced panic attack in a stuck elevator. It is revealed that Lu Li is the very artist Qin Yuebai is desperately trying to recruit. His real reason for taking the job is to investigate his parents' death, which he believes is connected to a secret hidden in a painting by Qin Yuebai's mother. The episode ends with Lu Li protecting Qin Yuebai from a rival's physical assault, which he himself instigated to defend her.
Spoiler Alert
"Double Fugue" Episode 3
On his first day of work, Lu Li arrives at the company early only to be stopped by security. Seeing a new face, the guards give him a hard time. When Qin Yuebai appears, she doesn't help, instead deliberately walking away. Fortunately, Lu Li is clever and manages to talk his way inside.
Later, the two end up in an elevator together when the lights suddenly go out and the car grinds to a halt. Plunged into darkness, Qin Yuebai's calm demeanor shatters. She begins to panic, frantically pounding on the doors and screaming for help. Lu Li, who initially thought she was overreacting, realizes the truth when she faints: Qin Yuebai suffers from severe claustrophobia.
Once the elevator is working again, Lu Li carries the unconscious Qin Yuebai to a well-ventilated area to recover. Despite him coming to her rescue, Qin Yuebai's attitude towards him remains cold and hostile; she even seems to find him annoying.
Although she allows Lu Li to work at her company, Qin Yuebai treats him like an errand boy, assigning him menial tasks like handling mail, buying coffee, delivering food, and making copies. In an attempt to make him quit, she intentionally orders five or six cups of coffee in a single afternoon. However, Lu Li handles every task with patience and executes her orders without a word of complaint.
Qin Yuebai is focused on recruiting a major figure from the art world. She spends a great deal of time drafting a sincere and reverent email to him. To her delight, the artist replies almost immediately, asking her to meet him that evening at a specific location with a particular brand of coffee. Excited by the opportunity that so many others have failed to secure, she immediately orders Lu Li to go and buy two cups of the requested coffee.
She then tells Lu Li he has to stay and work overtime, but as soon as she leaves for the meeting, he also departs. Dressed up in high heels to make a good impression, Qin Yuebai waits at the designated spot for a very long time, but the artist never shows.
The twist is revealed: Lu Li is the mysterious "big shot" artist. He is sitting calmly in a nearby teahouse, intentionally standing her up to get a little revenge for the way she treated him all day. When a friend asks why a sought-after artist like him is working in a small gallery, Lu Li explains his true motive. A painting by Qin Yuebai's mother contains a critical secret about the death of his own parents. He must get close to Qin Yuebai to get a chance to see the painting and uncover the truth.
Proving to be a perfect assistant, Lu Li also protects Qin Yuebai. When he notices a rival, Su Baoyan, trying to cause trouble for Qin Yuebai, he secretly leaks a scandal to the media about Su Baoyan having an affair with a famous model. The news creates a huge stir. Furious, Su Baoyan confronts Qin Yuebai and raises her hand to slap her, but Lu Li steps in at the last second, taking the blow himself.
