Almost Lover Episode 35 Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
After He Xiaoran rescued Xiao Shangqi from the lake, she chided him for impulsively jumping in without checking, as the person who had fallen was already safe and resting. She clarified that the jacket he saw in the water was hers, not a person, and others were merely retrieving equipment.
Xiao Shangqi explained that his actions stemmed from a deep-seated fear of losing her unexpectedly, a pain he had experienced too many times, a regret similar to not mending his relationship with his father. He confessed that breaking up with her was the most foolish decision he ever made, and the thought of never seeing her again was terrifying. He declared he never wanted to let go of her hand again.
He Xiaoran, touched by his words, took out her voice recorder. She told him she had found it under Taiyang's pillow and had listened to four hours of his unconscious murmurs, where he repeatedly called her name during his illness. She revealed that hearing his hidden vulnerability in those recordings caused her more pain than their breakup. She reiterated that she didn't want to let go either and wished to face all difficulties together with him.
Playfully, she added that since she had saved his life, he should be the one to pledge himself to her. Xiao Shangqi then expressed his profound need for her, apologizing for not having told her sooner. He Xiaoran also apologized, acknowledging her understanding of his fear of loss and his regret. She emphasized that if either of them had been truly lost, they would have had no second chances, and she promised they would never let such a situation occur.
They embraced, reaffirming their commitment to each other. He Xiaoran then received a call from her mother, informing her that her parents had arrived in Wusu. When she and Xiao Shangqi went to pick them up, He father was visibly upset. He reprimanded He Xiaoran for rekindling her relationship with Xiao Shangqi, accusing Xiao Shangqi of having hurt her and forced her to leave Hupu twice.
Despite He father’s coldness, Xiao Shangqi respectfully greeted them and offered a complimentary stay at the Jifeng Hotel. He father initially rejected the offer, stating they had already booked their own hotel. He Xiaoran intervened, gently persuading her father by explaining that the Jifeng Hotel was directly across from her workplace, allowing them a convenient view of her daily life. Her father reluctantly agreed, insisting they would pay for the room themselves.
Later, Xiao Shangqi sought advice from Chef Meng on how to win over his future father-in-law. Chef Meng, however, bluntly stated that it's a universal truth for fathers-in-law to be annoyed by their daughters' boyfriends, implying the task was inherently difficult. Undeterred, Xiao Shangqi informed He Xiaoran of his desire to invite her parents for dinner the next day.
He Xiaoran suggested waiting, warning him that her father's stubborn temperament meant he likely wouldn't be pleasant, especially during their planned visit to her loft. She advised Xiao Shangqi not to accompany them. Nevertheless, Xiao Shangqi insisted on going, asserting that after fighting so hard to win her back, he wouldn't shy away even if it meant facing her father's anger. The next morning, Xiao Shangqi joined them.
At He Xiaoran's loft, He mother inquired about Li Hui and Sui Mingwei. Soon after, Sui Mingwei arrived, bringing an aromatherapy diffuser. He father immediately warmed to Sui Mingwei, in stark contrast to his demeanor with Xiao Shangqi, whom he still addressed as "Little He". Sui Mingwei confidently offered to take He Xiaoran's parents out for lunch, boasting his familiarity with Wusu.
Xiao Shangqi tried to interject and arrange the meal himself, but He mother proposed they stay in and prepare a Hupu home-style lunch, inviting both men to join them. Both readily agreed. While He mother prepared lunch, He father was engrossed in a football match. Xiao Shangqi attempted to connect with He father by discussing football, asking about his favorite team.
He father named Brazil, only for Xiao Shangqi to reveal his preference for Argentina, which He father declared was his most detested team. In contrast, Sui Mingwei enthusiastically shared his admiration for Neymar, aligning with He father's preference for Brazil. The two quickly bonded over discussions of Neymar's talent and team strategies, with He father even inviting Sui Mingwei to Hupu to see a signed Neymar photo.
He father then turned to Xiao Shangqi, sarcastically suggesting he likely wouldn't be around to see such a thing, implying that Xiao Shangqi and He Xiaoran might break up again. This provoked Xiao Shangqi, who immediately vowed he would never hurt He Xiaoran or let go of her hand again. When He father challenged him to prove it, Xiao Shangqi declared, "Marriage. I'll prove it with a lifetime."
He father became furious, questioning how he could make such a statement so casually. Xiao Shangqi admitted the decision was sudden but pleaded for time to prove his commitment through actions. Still enraged, He father abruptly decided to leave and took He Xiaoran back to the hotel, ignoring Xiao Shangqi's offer to escort them. He mother, however, lingered and later laughed with He Xiaoran about how Xiao Shangqi's impulsive proposal had escalated the situation from dating to marriage talks.
She then asked He Xiaoran for her true feelings. He Xiaoran confessed that while marriage felt a bit early, she was very much open to the idea if it was with Xiao Shangqi. Sensing her daughter's genuine happiness, He mother decided to stay with He Xiaoran, sending He father back to the hotel alone. Later, Sui Mingwei praised Xiao Shangqi’s courage for proposing marriage so directly.
Xiao Shangqi explained that having lost his mother at a young age, his understanding of marriage was vague, and he only truly perceived it through the stability of He Xiaoran's parents' relationship. He admitted that while the decision was sudden, expressing it brought him a sense of clarity, as he yearned to build his own family, considering He Xiaoran an inseparable part of it.
That night, He mother had a heart-to-heart with He Xiaoran, noting that many young people today seem to lack a clear desire for marriage, yet she had chosen not to pressure her daughter. She advised He Xiaoran to deeply consider her reasons for marriage, warning that it brought many unforeseen challenges, and that happiness wasn't guaranteed by marriage nor denied by being single. He Xiaoran candidly shared her motivation: "I want to give him a home."
She explained Xiao Shangqi's childhood, marked by his mother's early death and his father's inability to express affection, which had led to a complex, emotionally guarded family dynamic. He Xiaoran expressed her belief that while one cannot choose the family they are born into, they can choose the family they build, and she wished to fill the void of love that Xiao Shangqi had experienced.
Deeply moved, He mother affectionately called He Xiaoran "my little girl" and promised to persuade her father, stating her trust in her daughter and the man He Xiaoran loved so profoundly. The next morning, Xiao Shangqi, who had spent the entire night with Chen Fei'er and Lin Zong meticulously setting up a surprise, awaited He Xiaoran downstairs with flowers. Chen Fei'er later mentioned to Lin Zong her surprise at He Xiaoran's noble reason for marriage, expecting something more mundane.
Meanwhile, He mother successfully convinced He father to accept the marriage, telling him that their daughter had grown up and couldn't be kept forever. She urged him to reconsider his perspective, asking him to view Xiao Shangqi as the son he never had and to extend his overflowing fatherly love to him, framing it as gaining a son rather than losing a daughter. He Xiaoran was then led into a darkened room at the Jifeng Hotel.
Guided by Xiao Shangqi, she walked through an elaborate display that chronicled their nine-year journey together. Each segment represented a significant period: their initial meeting and her aspirations to be a war correspondent, their shared university life after her exam setback, the three years they spent apart due to a misunderstanding, and their eventual reunion leading to falling in love.
Xiao Shangqi declared that loving her was the best decision he had ever made, and letting her go was his deepest regret. He confessed that only with her was he willing to truly build a home. He emphasized that nine years of knowing each other was insufficient, as he desired to spend every single day of the rest of their lives together. Kneeling, he presented a ring and proposed.
He Xiaoran, overwhelmed with emotion, happily accepted, to the cheers of their friends and a celebratory shower of confetti. With the engagement now official, Xiao Shangqi hosted He Xiaoran’s parents for dinner at the Jifeng Hotel, instructing Chef Meng and his team to prepare a meticulous meal. He presented the sweet and sour spare ribs for He father’s critique, who, after tasting, remarked it was "not bad" but "could be sweeter."
He mother interjected, telling Xiao Shangqi there was no need to make another dish, as they would return another time. She then informed them that she and He father would be heading back to Hupu that day, expressing her joy for their impending marriage and promising to await good news from them. Xiao Shangqi assured He father he would strive to meet his high expectations as a son-in-law, to which He father simply nodded, urging him to eat.
Later, He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi shared their wedding plans: a "snow-viewing" honeymoon road trip. Their itinerary included a casual wedding banquet at home with friends on the evening of February 1st, followed by their official marriage registration on the afternoon of February 2nd.
Directly after obtaining their certificate, they would embark on their journey from the Civil Affairs Bureau, making a stop in Hupu to visit his brother and her parents, before continuing north through various cities like Weifang, Beijing, and Shenyang, ultimately reaching Harbin. They planned to limit driving to no more than nine hours daily, taking turns at the wheel.
He Xiaoran voiced concerns about the long drive and her limited vacation days, but Xiao Shangqi reassured her, emphasizing that the most beautiful moments were found in the journey itself, not just the destination, and that their plans were flexible with cancellable hotel bookings. She agreed to rent an RV, and they enthusiastically began their preparations. That evening, friends gathered at He Xiaoran’s apartment for their intimate home wedding banquet.
Lin Zong, helping with chairs, commented on He Xiaoran's preference for a modest celebration. Sui Mingwei, who had earlier delivered a rented RV to Xiao Shangqi, wistfully wished him well, noting Xiao Shangqi's newfound sense of "stability" and being "firmly caught." During the celebration, Sui Mingwei’s mother showed him a video of Li Hui performing on the street, inquiring about her and if he knew about her rumored "loved one."
Xiao Shangqi also questioned Sui Mingwei about Li Hui being in love. Sui Mingwei, visibly uncomfortable, denied any romantic involvement, stating she was merely a high school classmate and now a Jifeng employee. Though he expressed no outward reaction to Li Hui’s video, his internal struggle and unspoken longing for her were evident in a poignant flashback/internal monologue where he silently pondered if she truly believed there was no possibility for them.
Li Hui later made a video call to congratulate He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi, explaining she couldn't attend due to a performance and raising a virtual toast to them. Xiao Shangqi briefly mentioned Sui Mingwei was present, but Sui Mingwei remained reserved.
