Almost Lover Episode 32 Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
He Xiaoran drove to a homestay she and Xiao Shangqi once visited, only to find it closed. To her surprise, Xiao Shangqi was there. He informed her he had bought the place, intending to open a homestay for elderly in Wusu. He Xiaoran found his decision unexpected, suggesting he should be developing his career in Hupu. However, Xiao Shangqi revealed that finding "the person he lost," meaning her, was more important than Yunlan.
He believed restarting their journey at a place filled with their happy memories would be truly meaningful. He pleaded for another chance, promising never to repeat his past mistakes or let go again. He Xiaoran offered no response, instead preparing to drive back to Wusu in the car Lili had lent her, politely declining his offer to take her home.
On their way back to the city, they discovered the road was blocked by a large truck stuck in a tunnel. A police officer confirmed the road would be closed for several hours, making it impossible to reach the city. With no other option, He Xiaoran had to return to the now-closed homestay with Xiao Shangqi to stay for the night. Initially, she planned to simply wait a few hours, but Xiao Shangqi offered her a room to rest.
He explained that since he had just bought it, the homestay had been closed for a while and lacked amenities like fresh bedsheets and pillows, playfully asking if she preferred sleeping in a tent as they once did. He Xiaoran insisted on maintaining a respectful distance, stating that "men and women shouldn't stay together."
Xiao Shangqi assured her he was prepared for a prolonged battle, vowing to wait for one year, ten years, or even a lifetime until she forgave him and looked at him again. He clarified that he didn't expect her to change her mind that night, admitting that he only behaved this way with her. He Xiaoran, in turn, asked him to treat her as a friend and accepted his invitation to stay for the night before the homestay officially opened.
They bid each other goodnight, and He Xiaoran quietly left early the next morning. He Xiaoran later found Li Hui working at a convenience store. Li Hui had decided not to sue Tang Yan or Zheng Jie. Her only demands were for all her stolen songs to be removed from circulation and for an unpaid contract termination with Zheng Jie. Zheng Jie agreed, unwilling to escalate the matter further due to the ongoing public outcry.
Li Hui explained to He Xiaoran that she no longer wished to be embroiled in the music industry, which she now saw as a "trench" filled with "wicked" people like Tang Yan and Zheng Jie; she simply desired peace. Sui Mingwei, however, was not content with this peaceful resolution. He took matters into his own hands, physically confronting and harming Zheng Jie and Tang Yan. He Xiaoran, upon hearing this, scolded him for resorting to violence.
Li Hui expressed her gratitude to both He Xiaoran and Sui Mingwei for their support. During their conversation, He Xiaoran mentioned Xiao Shangqi's return and his new venture of buying the homestay on Linglong Mountain. Li Hui jokingly speculated about He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi being stuck together on the blocked road, which He Xiaoran quickly denied, insisting nothing happened. Meanwhile, the Jifeng Hotel was facing a staff shortage due to the new homestay project.
Chen Fei'er applied for a position and successfully passed the initial screening and written test. The interviewers, recognizing her, hesitated and reported her presence to Lin Zong and Xiao Shangqi. Xiao Shangqi instructed Lin Zong to proceed with her final interview, stressing that her past should not disqualify her. In the interview, Chen Fei'er explained that while she had applied to ten companies, she preferred Jifeng because she wanted to "stand back up where Zhao Mingxuan tripped."
She acknowledged her lack of formal work experience but highlighted her extensive knowledge of the hotel industry and her quick learning abilities. Lin Zong found her rationale compelling and officially hired her as a full-time employee. Chen Fei'er embraced her new role with dedication, even participating in promotional activities for the Jifeng Nursing Community by offering discounts and free eggs.
Lin Zong guided her in her new responsibilities, teaching her how to access company resources and templates, and even created screen recordings of the processes for her. He jokingly warned her that while not knowing things in the first six months was acceptable, it would be embarrassing after that. Chen Fei'er decided to move out of the hotel and into a rented apartment, which surprised Lin Zong, who remarked that he felt like an "old father" watching her mature.
She assured him that her new shared apartment was "100 times better" than the dark, greasy, and sticky childhood home she had long felt trapped in, to which Lin Zong affirmed that she had indeed "moved out now." Xiao Shangqi relentlessly pursued He Xiaoran, attempting to drive her to work. She declined his offer, citing car sickness, prompting him to claim he also suffered from it and walk alongside her instead.
He pointed out a graffiti wall from their past, but she feigned forgetfulness. He Xiaoran urged him to focus on his career, but he countered that she was more important to him. Later, he brought her coffee and snacks during her evening interview, leading her colleagues to mistake him for her boyfriend, a claim she immediately denied. As she attempted to leave, he noticed her flat tire.
Despite her attempts to dismiss it, he insisted she prioritize her safety, proceeding to change her spare tire. He urged her to wait in his warm car, humorously suggesting that if she caught a cold, he would have no choice but to take care of her, subtly hinting at his desire to be with her. After the repair, he asked if she found it pleasant to have him around.
She responded by telling him it was cold and he should go home. He drove her home, asking her to text him upon her safe arrival. The next day, Lin Zong called He Xiaoran, falsely claiming that Xiao Shangqi was gravely ill with a 39-degree fever, incoherent, and refusing hospitalization. Lin Zong, feigning busyness, asked He Xiaoran to deliver food to him. He Xiaoran initially suggested ordering takeout, but after Lin Zong's persistent exaggeration, she softened and decided to visit.
Xiao Shangqi, anticipating He Xiaoran's arrival, elaborately staged a high fever at home, complete with a heating pad. However, Sui Mingwei arrived first, immediately seeing through Xiao Shangqi's charade and remarking on his "resilience" in feigning illness. Xiao Shangqi, desperate for help, begged Sui Mingwei. Sui Mingwei then called He Xiaoran, dramatically exaggerating Xiao Shangqi's condition, claiming his fever had reached 42 degrees and he was burning up, desperately needing fruit. He Xiaoran, now genuinely concerned, rushed over.
She let herself in with the unchanged passcode, finding Xiao Shangqi seemingly very ill, being attended to by Sui Mingwei who was meticulously cutting fruit for him. Sui Mingwei, citing urgent business at his fragrance factory, soon departed, urging He Xiaoran to take over caring for Xiao Shangqi. He Xiaoran confronted Xiao Shangqi, asking if his illness was a result of fixing her car. He responded by asking if she would stay and keep him company if it were true.
She then clarified her stance, stating she needed to make things unequivocally clear. She believed he thought her eight-year adoration made their relationship one he could manipulate at will, starting and ending it as he pleased, leaving her merely to await his decisions. While acknowledging the misunderstandings and unavoidable circumstances that led to their breakup, she admitted to having considered reconciling after learning the truth in Qingshan. However, she ultimately realized she could not continue with him.
She emphasized that the core issue was neither his father's problems nor Chen Fei'er, but her profound loss of trust in him. She felt that, to him, she was someone easily discarded when challenges arose. She declared her refusal to remain in such a passive relationship or to revisit the past. Concluding that everyone was finally back on track and things felt right, she reiterated her unwillingness to look back.
She warned him that if he continued his persistent attempts, she would be forced to leave Wusu. She offered to remain "friends," but firmly stated it could "only be friends," and asked him not to "cross the boundary" again. Xiao Shangqi silently accepted her decision. Knowing Sui Mingwei had already revealed his deception, she mentioned ordering him fried chicken, which he declined, still feigning a sore throat. Meanwhile, Sui Mingwei continued to visit Li Hui at the convenience store.
He later took her to his newly opening fragrance store and presented her with a new fragrance that concealed a music box. To Li Hui's amazement, the music box played her debut single. Sui Mingwei revealed that he had purchased the copyright for that specific song from Zheng Jie, even though Li Hui had deemed it "inauspicious" due to its association with the trap set by Tang Yan and Zheng Jie.
He explained his desire for her significant first single to be linked to his first product, not a negative memory, and added that he had also physically confronted Zheng Jie to "get back some physical injury." Deeply moved, Li Hui questioned why he went to such lengths. Sui Mingwei simply replied that no one should ever bully "his Hui."
He encouraged her to return to music, reminding her that while she couldn't play before, this time she was merely taking a break. He then brought her to his office to sign a contract, promising to share the profits from using her song, a gesture that made Li Hui remark that he was indeed "a boss now." Lin Zong helped Chen Fei'er move into her new shared apartment.
He expressed concern about her adjusting to the new living situation, but she reassured him it was "100 times better" than the dark, greasy, and perpetually "sticky" childhood home she had felt unable to escape. Lin Zong reminded her that she had indeed "moved out now."
