Almost Lover Episode 10 Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
Lin Zong prepared cakes for the staff to celebrate a successful day. However, Xiao Xian chastised him for misusing kitchen resources. Xiao Shangqi quickly intervened, explaining that Jifeng has a budget for team-building activities and prefers to use it to foster camaraderie with its grassroots employees, unlike Yunlan's pretentious high-level events. He firmly stated that setting such standards was his responsibility, not Lin Zong's, and instructed everyone to continue eating the cake.
Lin Zong was deeply touched by Xiao Shangqi's defense. He Xiaoran arrived at the kindergarten early, hoping to catch a glimpse of Taiyang's mother. Xiao Shangqi joined her, reassuring her that he had no intention of firing Lin Zong. He explained his original plan was to temporarily dismiss Lin Zong until Xiao Xian left, then rehire him.
However, realizing that Jifeng had become Lin Zong's home, as expressed by He Xiaoran, he was now determined to find a way to keep Lin Zong permanently. This news brought a smile to He Xiaoran's face. Xiao Shangqi playfully suggested she should be punished for misunderstanding him, leading to a tender moment between them before they went to wait in the car. Meanwhile, Xiao Xian initiated an anonymous appraisal of Lin Zong, aiming to gather grounds for his dismissal.
The head chef, however, directly confronted Xiao Xian, expressing his disapproval. He declared that Jifeng was the purest and cleanest hotel he had ever worked in, and if Xiao Xian dared to spoil its atmosphere, he would immediately resign. Other employees, including Mo, also rallied in Lin Zong's defense, praising him as the best leader they had ever known and emphasizing their three-year tenure at Jifeng, a record for many of them.
Another employee even offered to be fired in Lin Zong's stead. Xiao Xian simply acknowledged their statements. Later, He Xiaoran finally spotted Taiyang's mother, who wished to see her son one last time before moving abroad with the man she loved. With Lin Zong's permission, He Xiaoran took Taiyang to a dessert shop for a discreet meeting. Taiyang's mother bought him numerous sweets without revealing her identity.
Taiyang, sensing something unusual, later asked Xiao Shangqi if the woman was his mother and if his father would abandon him. Xiao Shangqi gently explained, drawing from his own childhood experiences, that Lin Zong wasn't present because he was "jealous," wanting to ensure Taiyang knew he loved him the most. Relieved, Taiyang later embraced Lin Zong, declaring his immense love for his father.
He also happily announced his intention to share the treats from his mother with his school friends, prompting Lin Zong to offer to bake more desserts for him. He Xiaoran then confronted Taiyang's mother, accusing her of only seeking to alleviate her guilt by seeing her son before leaving. Taiyang's mother admitted that Taiyang had always been a "knot in her heart" and that she had made a mistake.
She confessed to having "settled" for Lin Zong out of momentary weakness, but staying in an unloving relationship would only bring unhappiness to all three of them. She asserted that she deserved a chance at happiness and held the belief that everyone only has one true love, with all others being a "second best choice." He Xiaoran openly expressed her disdain for such a viewpoint. As Lin Zong was playing soccer with Taiyang, Xiao Xian arrived and saw them.
Upon learning that Lin Zong and Taiyang were residing at the hotel, Xiao Xian harshly reprimanded Lin Zong. He cited Yunlan's policy prohibiting employees' relatives from freely entering the premises, ordering Xiao Shangqi to terminate Lin Zong's employment immediately. Lin Zong, understanding Xiao Shangqi's difficult position, graciously thanked him and expressed his readiness to leave, advising Xiao Shangqi not to further oppose his brother on his behalf, confident in his ability to find another job.
However, Xiao Shangqi firmly stated that Jifeng was Taiyang's home, and he would find a way to keep them there. Lin Zong hinted that Jifeng felt like home to Xiao Shangqi because of He Xiaoran. Xiao Xian's focus shifted after overhearing Xiao Shangqi's determination to keep Lin Zong. He learned that He Xiaoran was Xiao Shangqi's girlfriend, concluding that she was the true reason for his brother's resolve to stay in Wusu.
He expressed happiness that Xiao Shangqi seemed to have moved on from Chen Fei'er and decided he wanted to meet He Xiaoran. Simultaneously, Zhao Mingxuan contacted Xiao Xian, demanding that Xiao Shangqi return to Hupu to manage the opening of Yunduan Hotel and plan his upcoming wedding. Xiao Shangqi informed He Xiaoran that his brother wanted to meet her, which she agreed to.
During their meeting, Xiao Xian casually brought up He Xiaoran's excellent academic record in high school, questioning why she chose to work in a small city like Wusu and if she had made a mistake in her college entrance exams. He also directly asked if Xiao Shangqi stayed in Wusu because of her, expressing his relief that Xiao Shangqi had seemingly moved past his relationship with Chen Fei'er. Feeling uncomfortable, He Xiaoran excused herself to use the restroom.
Later that evening, still bothered by Taiyang's mother's "second best choice" theory and Xiao Xian's remarks, He Xiaoran subtly inquired about Chen Fei'er. Xiao Shangqi replied that they had no contact. He Xiaoran then accidentally broke a plate while washing, and Xiao Shangqi advised her to keep it, mentioning that their plates and bowls were always "in pairs," a sentiment that resonated deeply with her unspoken fears.
She also recalled an incident following graduation night when Xiao Shangqi, after rescuing Chen Fei'er, had immediately turned his attention to a frightened Chen Fei'er, leaving with her, fueling He Xiaoran's long-standing insecurity. A flashback revealed that Chen Fei'er had been taken overseas by Xiao Shangqi for medical treatment following an incident. While recovering, she saw a video of He Xiaoran confessing her feelings for Xiao Shangqi in a group chat.
To hide this from Xiao Shangqi, Chen Fei'er falsely claimed that the group chat was discussing her, which upset her. Unaware of He Xiaoran's true feelings, Xiao Shangqi prevented his friend from mentioning anything further about He Xiaoran. Xiao Shangqi went to great lengths, even overdrafting his credit card, to cover Chen Fei'er's expensive treatments. It was during this time that Chen Fei'er met Zhao Mingxuan, who began pursuing her.
Zhao Mingxuan presented Chen Fei'er with a "rebirth anniversary" cake to celebrate her successful surgery. During a conversation, Chen Fei'er expressed her wish to repay Xiao Shangqi's medical expenses. She also spoke of a dream of becoming a war correspondent. Zhao Mingxuan, in turn, wished for her to remain in Hupu, where he could keep an eye on her. Xiao Shangqi later overheard Chen Fei'er expressing this newfound dream of becoming a war correspondent to Zhao Mingxuan.
Realizing Chen Fei'er's true intentions and that she was fabricating a dream she didn't genuinely hold, Xiao Shangqi quietly returned home early, simply wishing her happiness. Back in the present, Zhao Mingxuan, still insecure about Chen Fei'er's past with Xiao Shangqi, secretly checked her phone. Chen Fei'er reassured him, stating she had never been interested in Xiao Shangqi, even when she was younger.
She professed that Zhao Mingxuan offered her an unparalleled life, and now, her sole purpose was to marry him. Zhao Mingxuan promised her company shares and a place in high society after their wedding, making her the "woman everyone envies." He left the wedding planning and selection of bridesmaids to her. He Xiaoran later confided in her best friend, Li Hui, about her lingering insecurities.
She confessed that she believed Xiao Shangqi had always loved Chen Fei'er, his "first love" and "white moonlight," and that she couldn't shake off the feeling of being a "second best choice," especially since she had witnessed and even participated in Xiao Shangqi's pursuit of Chen Fei'er throughout their student days.
Li Hui comforted her, reminding her that Xiao Shangqi had chosen to stay in Wusu for her and advised her not to dwell on Chen Fei'er, who was now far away in Hupu and likely married. Li Hui then handed He Xiaoran some concert tickets she had bought for her.
Before returning to Hupu, Xiao Xian made another attempt to persuade Xiao Shangqi to come back and help with the Yunduan Hotel's opening, claiming both he and their father were overwhelmed. He also mentioned circulating rumors that Xiao Shangqi had been "banished" to Wusu, suggesting his return would dispel these rumors. Xiao Shangqi, however, remained non-committal.
He also corrected Xiao Xian's faulty memory of a tree in their childhood yard, revealing that the orange tree he used to climb was cut down because it blocked Xiao Xian's room's sunlight.
