Almost Lover Episode 33 Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
Lin Zong helped Chen Fei'er move into a new shared apartment. He comforted her by saying that since she had escaped her past, a "dark and greasy place" where the air and even the soles of her shoes felt sticky and from which she felt trapped, she was now free to go wherever she desired. He offered to arrange for a better lock to be installed on her door the next day.
Chen Fei'er felt a sense of hope for the future. To help Li Hui find inspiration for songwriting, Sui Mingwei brought her to busk on the street for New Year's Eve. Li Hui jokingly asked if he was demoting her from a bar singer to a street performer. Sui Mingwei countered that street performances could spark greater inspiration and promised to help her reclaim her ruined songs by writing even better ones. He also mentioned a New Year's countdown celebration.
Li Hui, despite playfully pointing out her "costly" performance fees, was motivated by Sui Mingwei's presence and enthusiasm. During her performance, she caught the attention of Zhao Li, an agent from Star Entertainment, a top-three agency in the industry, who offered her a contract. Meanwhile, He Xiaoran planned to visit Mr. Sun and Madam Wang at the nursing home, but a phone call revealed they were celebrating New Year's Day at Jifeng Hotel, hosted by Xiao Shangqi.
Upon invitation, He Xiaoran joined them, and everyone, including Xiao Shangqi, participated in making dough figurines. He Xiaoran playfully critiqued Xiao Shangqi's dough bun, which resembled a steamed bun with a pointy tip. He retorted that her own was no better. The group enjoyed a pleasant time together. After the activity, Mr. Sun and Madam Wang were sent back to the nursing home.
He Xiaoran intended to leave, but Lin Zong and Xiao Shangqi encouraged her to stay for the New Year's countdown. Xiao Shangqi assured her it was just a friendly gesture, and He Xiaoran agreed. Chen Fei'er noticed time capsules being sold, sparking He Xiaoran's memory of a past promise she, Xiao Shangqi, and another friend made to reunite at age 25. Mr. Mo offered time capsules to He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi, but both declined.
Xiao Shangqi specifically stated his wish was "now next to me." Taiyang took a time capsule, wishing for his father, Lin Zong, to find happiness—the kind of happiness his classmates’ parents shared when together. Taiyang even suggested Chen Fei'er and Lin Zong seemed like that already. During the countdown, He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi exchanged New Year’s greetings. Taiyang later received a candy gift box from Chen Fei'er, which delighted him.
He was excited to share the sweets with his kindergarten classmates. He playfully questioned if his father could learn to make such beautiful things, suggesting only girls could. Mr. Sun helped Xiao Shangqi at his new homestay, which was collaborating with the nursing home, by inviting He Xiaoran to paint. Xiao Shangqi teased her about her consistent, poor painting skills, a comment that reminded He Xiaoran of how he used to secretly amend her artwork in the past.
He confirmed he couldn't paint without her draft, and Mr. Sun remarked on how life involved mutual support. He Xiaoran then received a call from Li Hui about her new music contract and hurried off to celebrate. Mr. Sun, frustrated, chastised Xiao Shangqi for letting He Xiaoran leave, having worked hard to create an opportunity for them to reconnect. However, Xiao Shangqi expressed understanding for He Xiaoran's caution, acknowledging his past mistakes and vowing to wait patiently this time.
At Li Hui's celebration, He Xiaoran cautioned her friend against potential scams, given her recent past experience. Li Hui, confident in her choice, reassured He Xiaoran that she wasn't afraid to take risks. She also playfully poked fun at He Xiaoran's lack of romantic progress. Xiao Shangqi’s homestay for elderly guests officially opened. He Xiaoran, acting as a journalist, interviewed him about his inspiration for the venture.
Xiao Shangqi explained that after his father’s passing, he realized the lack of resorts catering specifically to seniors. He hoped the homestay would encourage people to spend more time with their parents, ensuring they had support in their old age. He Xiaoran acknowledged his thoughtfulness in collaborating with Xixi Fragrance and inviting Li Hui as a guest. She noticed a painting in the courtyard featuring two robins, the very birds she had intended to paint.
Xiao Shangqi explained that robins are known for their lifelong monogamy, symbolizing hope and love. He regretted realizing this too late, but He Xiaoran simply retorted that their relationship was in the past, yet she subtly questioned if it truly was. Lin Zong and Chen Fei'er accompanied Taiyang to release koi fish into a pond. Lin Zong explained koi brought good luck, referencing various auspicious proverbs.
Taiyang, seizing the opportunity, wished for his father and Chen Fei'er to take him to an amusement park. Despite Lin Zong’s playful challenge about the simplicity of the wish, Chen Fei'er readily agreed, not wanting to disappoint the child. Li Hui, already hurrying to leave for company events including two livestreams and a magazine photoshoot, was intercepted by Sui Mingwei.
He observed that her life as a professional singer seemed to leave her with less time for making music and that she appeared unhappy. Li Hui initially dismissed his concern, but Sui Mingwei insisted she seemed down. Later, her agent, Zhao Li, scolded her for performing at the Jifeng Homestay without charge, reminding her that "every second of yours is valuable."
He instructed her to publicize her "charity" work on Weibo and subsequently informed her that the company would manage her social media, demanding she delete all previous personal posts due to the volatile online environment. Li Hui, looking at her old posts, began to realize she was not as happy as she once thought she would be. Xiao Shangqi decided to dedicate his focus to the homestay and handed over the management of Jifeng Hotel to Lin Zong.
He perceived Lin Zong's feelings for Chen Fei'er and wished him luck for his planned romantic confession at an amusement park. Li Hui's work life continued to restrict her. She was unhappy with a "cute" style photoshoot for a magazine, which she felt made her "dressed up like a feather duster." Zhao Li insisted this image was popular and that she needed to cooperate to keep audiences engaged, emphasizing the entire company depended on her.
She reluctantly declined Sui Mingwei’s invitation to dinner, citing a work meeting with a composer arranged by Zhao Li. However, she overheard Zhao Li talking to another musician, mentioning that Li Hui had "came to me by herself." Confronting him, she learned the truth: Sui Mingwei had tirelessly pitched her demo to various record labels in Wusu, all of whom rejected her, until Zhao Li, recognizing her talent, signed her.
Moved by Sui Mingwei’s efforts, Li Hui immediately dropped her work to join him for dinner, where he was eating alone. Their meal was cut short when they were recognized by fans asking for autographs and photos, prompting Sui Mingwei to quickly escort Li Hui away. Chen Fei'er, Lin Zong, and Taiyang did go to the amusement park. As Lin Zong considered confessing his feelings, Chen Fei'er expressed a cynical view of amusement parks.
She found carousels pathetic for their endless, circular motion, and Ferris wheels unromantic because the peak moment was fleeting, leading only to a descent. She saw the costumed characters as confined to darkness within their outfits. She stated she hated the word "princess" and didn't believe in fairy tales. Observing her somber perspective, Lin Zong decided to postpone his planned confession.
Later, when Taiyang asked if she liked Snow White, Chen Fei'er, to please the child, enthusiastically affirmed her love for Snow White and agreed to go to the castle to see the performance, contrasting her earlier cynical remarks. Later, by the riverside, Li Hui confided in Sui Mingwei. She worried that if she lost her fame, he would be disappointed.
She confessed that becoming a professional singer, which she hoped would let more people hear her music, had instead turned into a cycle of endless social engagements and activities, making songwriting feel like merely meeting a "KPI." She realized that "being casual is better than being an artist" and that her company was simply using her popularity for their own gain. Sui Mingwei reassured her that her happiness mattered more to him than her fame, regardless of how famous she became.
