Almost Lover Episode 13 Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
Chen Fei'er, deeply distraught, confided in Xiao Shangqi about a scar on her forehead, feeling her face was disfigured and her hopes for the future were shattered. She recounted how she had vowed at the age of thirteen to escape her family and had carefully planned every step of her life. Now, this injury meant she could never achieve her dream. Moved by her despair, Xiao Shangqi promptly decided they would leave that very night.
He informed her that he would book tickets for them to go abroad immediately to find the best plastic surgeon. He vowed that even if her scar could not be completely healed, he would marry her. He Xiaoran, having overheard Chen Fei'er's emotional story and Xiao Shangqi's promise, was furious and began to leave. Xiao Shangqi quickly followed, urging her to calm down and listen to his explanation.
He revealed that the incident happened so suddenly that everyone involved was in a panic. After they settled overseas, he lost contact with He Xiaoran. She pressed him, asking why he hadn't explained anything even when he returned to Wusu. Xiao Shangqi clarified that it was an unpleasant event that Chen Fei'er wished to keep private, and as her friend, he felt bound to maintain secrecy.
He assured He Xiaoran that nothing romantic had occurred between him and Chen Fei'er; his involvement was solely for her medical treatment. Regarding the wedding, Xiao Shangqi disclosed it was Zhao Mingxuan's calculated move to humiliate him and his family, especially given Yunlan's more complicated situation than he had initially realized. He had accepted the wedding planning as a direct challenge to Zhao Mingxuan, emphasizing that his decision was not influenced by Chen Fei'er being the bride.
Although He Xiaoran forgave him, she still expressed her anger over his concealment, putting him on a "probation period," which Xiao Shangqi readily accepted. He then made a heartfelt confession, telling her that despite his years abroad, she was the person he thought of most frequently.
He explained that they had shared pivotal moments of growth, and while he might have taken her warmth and kindness for granted in the past, he now realized she had become an irreplaceable part of his life. After their reconciliation, Xiao Shangqi accompanied He Xiaoran home. He subtly suggested making their relationship known, then boldly rang the doorbell.
He Xiaoran's mother, opening the door, was initially surprised and mistakenly believed Xiao Shangqi was still bothering her daughter, asking him to leave her alone. However, He Xiaoran emerged, taking Xiao Shangqi's hand, openly confirming their relationship to her stunned parents. Meanwhile, He Xiaoran, worried about Li Hui's mood, asked Sui Mingwei to check on her at the pub. Li Hui had been called there by Hao, who revealed that Tang Yan had requested her presence.
Tang Yan, who was about to leave, approached Li Hui, calling her his muse and expressing a desire to sing a song to commemorate their past relationship. Sui Mingwei arrived, concerned that Tang Yan might win Li Hui back. However, Li Hui firmly asserted that when a relationship ends, it truly ends, assuaging Sui Mingwei's fears. The next morning, He Xiaoran's father was visibly upset.
He expressed his frustration by lamenting that his "flowers," referring to his daughter, were being "stolen" after all his hard work. He Xiaoran's mother clarified that his anger stemmed from discovering He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi were living together. He Xiaoran, with a radiant smile, attempted to mollify her father, praising Xiao Shangqi's admirable qualities and reminding him that he once affectionately called Shangqi "half a son."
Her father, despite his lingering annoyance, begrudgingly accepted the situation, stating that he couldn't dislike someone his daughter cherished. He Xiaoran then arranged for Xiao Shangqi to join them for dinner that evening. Later, Chen Fei'er called He Xiaoran to meet, bringing her a savory crepe, a nostalgic favorite from their school days. Chen Fei'er confessed that she had asked Xiao Shangqi to keep her accident a secret from He Xiaoran.
She then directly asked He Xiaoran to be her bridesmaid, explaining that while she had achieved much, she missed the pure and simple friendship they once shared. She confided that her current position required "fake packaging" due to her perceived "flaws," and she hoped her wedding could incorporate some "real" elements, like the presence of her true friends. He Xiaoran, understanding Chen Fei'er's underlying plea, agreed to be her bridesmaid.
In a wedding planning meeting, Xiao Shangqi presented detailed plans for Zhao Mingxuan's wedding, including catering preferences, new menu options, and staggered guest arrivals. When the topic of delivering important invitations to 180 VIP guests arose, Xiao Shangqi volunteered to handle it personally, recognizing it as a strategic opportunity. Zhao Mingxuan then subtly informed Xiao Shangqi that his girlfriend, He Xiaoran, would be the bridesmaid.
Later, Xiao Shangqi asked He Xiaoran about her decision, expressing concern that she might be overexerting herself. He Xiaoran dismissed his worries, stating that since he was not the groom, her role as bridesmaid was simply to support a friend. She acknowledged that balancing her Elite Training Program and wedding duties would keep her very busy. That evening, He Xiaoran brought Xiao Shangqi home for dinner.
Xiao Shangqi presented red wine to He Xiaoran's father, who, despite his initial reluctance, welcomed him by saying he couldn't dislike someone his daughter loved. The conversation shifted to their past misunderstanding from graduation, with Xiao Shangqi taking responsibility and promising to prevent future miscommunications. He Xiaoran then proudly praised her father's sweet and sour pork ribs, revealing that they were featured on Jifeng Hotel's menu and that Xiao Shangqi wished for her father to personally guide the hotel's chefs.
Her father, swelling with pride, began to share the secret to his renowned recipe, and the family enjoyed a harmonious dinner. After dinner, in He Xiaoran's room, Xiao Shangqi discovered an old book of his. He Xiaoran playfully confessed that she had kept his original copy because she found it meaningful, and had bought a new one, even forging his "autograph," to return to him.
They then measured their heights against a wall, engaging in playful banter about who had grown taller. Xiao Shangqi then asked He Xiaoran to stay the night, but she playfully refused, reminding him of her parents' strict 11 p. m. curfew. The next day, He Xiaoran began her Elite Training Program at Hupu TV, introducing herself as a news anchor from Wusu Radio & TV and inviting fellow trainees to chat.
Soon after, she was asked to assist Chen Fei'er with more wedding preparations. Fei'er summoned her for a cake tasting, insisting He Xiaoran taste everything as she needed to control her weight. He Xiaoran found the excessive sweetness overwhelming and sickening, struggling to differentiate the various cakes or recall their fanciful names like "Chunguang Flower Core Sauce," "Paris Matcha," and "Caroline Dusk." Fei'er then asked her to review the lengthy bill.
Later, while trying on wedding dresses, Chen Fei'er initially favored one gown but ultimately chose a different, more expensive designer dress, explaining that it was a renowned designer's work and therefore better. She then informed He Xiaoran that her help was needed again the following day for more gift selections and dessert tastings. Overwhelmed by her training schedule, He Xiaoran attempted to decline.
However, Chen Fei'er, feigning vulnerability, claimed He Xiaoran was her only true friend and suggested that by continuing to help her, He Xiaoran would also be easing Xiao Shangqi's heavy workload. Just as He Xiaoran considered her options, Xiao Shangqi arrived to pick her up, having seen her social media post about wearing high heels and thoughtfully bringing her a pair of flat shoes.
When Chen Fei'er thanked him for his efforts on her wedding, Xiao Shangqi responded, calling it "just a preview" for his own future wedding. He then explained to He Xiaoran that he would be incredibly busy personally delivering the 180 invitations, strategically using the opportunity to network with Deju's core clients and expand Yunlan's business, potentially even extending to Wusu.
He expressed his desire to see her as much as possible before his demanding schedule made it difficult, wanting to "give her strength." Meanwhile, Sui Mingwei, still concerned about Li Hui's persistent sadness, brought her favorite guitar, urging her to play. Li Hui made a brief attempt, but a string quickly broke. She lamented that her "rock and roll dream" was a gift from Tang Yan, who had also bought her the guitar and taught her how to play.
With Tang Yan now gone, her "faith had collapsed," and touching the guitar brought her only pain, describing it as a "physiological response." Sui Mingwei, disheartened, realized she was truly broken. As Xiao Shangqi continued delivering invitations and networking, he met a client who revealed the unspoken reasons many companies avoided working with Yunlan.
The client explained that Xiao Shangqi's brother, Xiao Xian, consistently refused to drink during business dinners and, being disabled, was perceived as being unable to fully engage in certain social circles, causing Yunlan to miss numerous business opportunities. The client praised their father's decision to place Xiao Shangqi in a frontline role, implying that Xiao Shangqi would surpass his brother and eventually inherit Yunlan. He then pointedly reminded Xiao Shangqi of his "push" in this critical step towards success.
