Almost Lover Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
Li Hui makes a video call to He Xiaoran, congratulating her on getting married. She expresses regret that she cannot attend in person due to a performance scheduled for the next day and toasts them virtually. He Xiaoran passes the phone to Sui Mingwei. Li Hui comments on his new clothes, which he says he bought earlier, and she compliments them. After a brief, awkward exchange, Li Hui ends the call, stating she doesn't want to disturb them.
Sui Mingwei is visibly disappointed, wishing they could have talked more. During a family dinner, someone remarks that Chen Fei'er looks familiar. She clarifies that she is He Xiaoran’s high school classmate and an employee at Jifeng, where Lin Zong is her boss, explaining her presence with Taiyang. After the dinner, as Lin Zong drives Chen Fei'er and Taiyang back to Jifeng, he asks her if she was unhappy when Xiaofeng mistakenly thought they were a couple earlier.
Chen Fei'er confesses that she knows Lin Zong treats her well and that she also has feelings for him. She describes him and Taiyang as like sunshine, bringing warmth to her heart, a feeling she deeply cherishes. However, she states that today’s misunderstanding made her realize "some things are not right." She deflects further conversation by urging Lin Zong to take Taiyang inside to bed quickly to avoid a cold, then says she's heading home.
He Xiaoran is preparing for her marriage leave and honeymoon road trip with Xiao Shangqi. However, her director and Zhou Lili approach her, stating they want to offer her a choice regarding a new opportunity. He Xiaoran later tells Xiao Shangqi that the international station in Lebanon has a journalist rotation, and Wusu NRTA has an open spot because the original journalist is pregnant and cannot go.
A replacement is urgently needed, and she would have to leave tomorrow on an 8 PM flight, first to Shenzhen for a week of intensive training, then depart in batches for Lebanon. She then expresses her strong desire to take the position, saying, "I want to go."
He Xiaoran explains to Xiao Shangqi that becoming a war correspondent has always been her dream, and despite the potential separation of half a year to a year, she is confident their relationship, having endured so much, will not be affected. Xiao Shangqi adamantly refuses, stating, "I don't agree." He warns her about the dangers of the job, declaring, "I don't want to lose you anymore."
Despite He Xiaoran's attempts to reason, a frustrated Xiao Shangqi cuts the conversation short, suggesting they rest. Later, both He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi are shown researching the realities of war correspondents and Lebanon, respectively. He Xiaoran considers the motto of war correspondents: to reveal the truth of conflict to the world. He Xiaoran's parents call her to express their support for her dream, but advise her to discuss it with Xiao Shangqi.
After a sleepless night, He Xiaoran informs Xiao Shangqi of her firm decision to pursue her dream. Xiao Shangqi, having also reflected deeply despite his initial reluctance and safety concerns, announces, "I still want to support your dream." However, he sets a condition: they must get their marriage certificate before she departs, as he doesn't want to wait too long.
He Xiaoran readily agrees, and they make plans to meet at the Bureau of Civil Affairs at 3 PM the following day, with He Xiaoran reminded to bring her household register. On the same day, Chen Fei'er hands her resignation letter to Lin Zong, who accepts it without much inquiry. The next day, Xiao Shangqi waits patiently at the Bureau of Civil Affairs.
After He Xiaoran misses their agreed-upon time and doesn't answer his calls, he receives a text message informing him that her departure time has been moved up, and she must leave immediately, making her unable to register their marriage. Rushing to the radio station, Xiao Shangqi arrives just as her car departs, missing her by a mere moment. As He Xiaoran's car pulls away, Xiao Shangqi calls her, and she shouts back, promising, "I'll come back safely." Eight months pass.
Li Hui is on her 100th tour stop with her band, "Wave Band," continuing her musical journey. Sui Mingwei, still hesitant to pursue her directly, diligently follows her online activities, watching every livestream and vlog under the anonymous username "Guitar Girl," a consistent presence noticed by Li Hui's bandmates. Sui Mingwei’s mother, Fan Qianqian, expresses her frustration with his timidity and inaction, urging him to bravely pursue Li Hui.
Lin Zong unexpectedly runs into Chen Fei'er at a business meeting, where she introduces herself as a Business Development Manager for Xinrui Advertising. He expresses his surprise that she never left Wusu, having thought she had. After exchanging pleasantries about Taiyang, Chen Fei'er reveals that Taiyang's birthday is approaching and that he has been secretly using Lin Zong's phone to message her, even arranging for them to celebrate at a children's restaurant on Peixin Street.
Lin Zong is taken aback, promising to talk to Taiyang about it. They agree to meet for the birthday celebration. Throughout the eight months, Xiao Shangqi diligently emails He Xiaoran, closely following her news reports. He reads one of her emails detailing challenging conditions in a refugee camp, including a hotel water outage, but also her appreciation for the fair beauty of nature, comparing the sunshine to that of Wusu.
He repeatedly asks when she will return, but her replies consistently evade this "important question," leaving him frustrated. He Xiaoran unexpectedly returns, surprising Xiao Shangqi by appearing behind him. He, however, feigns indifference, pointedly asking if "the person who left without calling much" has returned. He Xiaoran playfully tells him she's back to marry him, having come straight from the airport. Xiao Shangqi sarcastically asks who she's marrying and if he knows the person.
He Xiaoran teases him for "playing cool" again, confident in her ability to "coax" him due to her background as an emotional anchor. She then instructs his assistant, Xiaomo, to give him a package containing a pair of shoes, symbolizing "mutual effort" and their inseparable bond. Xiaomo also relays He Xiaoran's invitation for crayfish at their usual spot that night, asking him to send a photo if he agrees. Xiao Shangqi is clearly pleased but maintains his composed facade.
After presenting her work report at the radio station, He Xiaoran’s colleague notices she seems unwell and has a high fever, urging her to seek medical attention. Although He Xiaoran initially dismisses it as needing simple medication, she later texts Xiao Shangqi to cancel their dinner plans. When he calls her, he learns she has been hospitalized with a high fever and is suspected of having an overseas infectious disease, necessitating isolation and further testing.
Overwhelmed with worry, Xiao Shangqi disregards the hospital staff's warnings about potential infection and forcibly enters He Xiaoran’s isolation room. He Xiaoran playfully tries to scare him away, warning him of contagion, then jokes that "the doctor said she will only be healed by getting married," asking him to "save" her by proposing. Realizing she has exaggerated the severity of her condition—though she is genuinely ill, it's not an infectious disease—Xiao Shangqi is relieved.
Xiao Shangqi agrees to marry her, admonishing her not to scare him or joke about her health again. Upon He Xiaoran's recovery, they successfully obtain their marriage certificate. Lin Zong hosts a birthday party for Taiyang. Taiyang eagerly anticipates the cake but is told to wait for a guest. He expresses a desire to call Chen Fei'er, but Lin Zong suggests she might be busy.
Taiyang, disheartened, wonders if Chen Fei'er's absence is due to him, but Lin Zong reassures him it’s his own fault. Chen Fei'er finally arrives, explaining she was delayed because her car broke down, forcing her to run there when she couldn't find a taxi. Chen Fei'er candidly explains that she left because she didn't want to be perceived as merely shifting her dependence from one man to another, or to become a burden to Lin Zong and Taiyang.
Her intention was to first establish her own independence before proudly standing by their side. Lin Zong, deeply moved, apologizes for not seeking her out, explaining his past experience of trying to hold onto someone who didn't want to stay, and believing she deserved a better life. He then assures her that if her reasons for leaving were truly as she described, "you really didn't have to leave because you're good enough."
Chen Fei'er is visibly touched, confessing that she had longed to hear those words since childhood. Taiyang expresses his joy, calling "Auntie Fei'er" great and saying he likes her the most. Their mutual feelings are now clear, marking their official start as a couple. They celebrate Taiyang's birthday together. After getting their marriage certificate, Xiao Shangqi and He Xiaoran visit Sui Mingwei’s newly opened store to congratulate him. He Xiaoran, observing his somber mood, asks if he's been happy lately.
She notes his uncharacteristic timidity, relying on an anonymous online account to express his concern for Li Hui, a stark contrast to the secure, fearless, and carefree person Li Hui once described him to be. He Xiaoran shares her wisdom: "Love makes someone brave," then poses a rhetorical question, "Guess what makes someone timid?" and answers, "It's love, too." She advises him that some matters cannot be resolved in isolation.
Encouraged by her words, Sui Mingwei finally takes action and appears at one of Li Hui's concerts, where they exchange a meaningful smile, signifying a mutual understanding. He Xiaoran receives a call from her radio station colleague, informing her that she has been invited to host "Dajiabang For Everyone's" 20th-anniversary special program. Although the show has since been rebranded as "Goodnight, Listen," it retains the original program's core essence.
He explains that she was chosen because she topped an online poll for former hosts. During the special broadcast, He Xiaoran reflects on the program's journey, its changing names and hosts, its past challenges, and its role as a "beam of light that shines in the dark," offering warmth to its listeners for two decades.
She then opens up a discussion on "time and love," concluding that through life's trials, people come to understand that love is not about sacrifice or playing a perfect role, but about becoming a better version of oneself to attract a better love and life. She delivers a profound message: "But when we're not afraid of losing anymore, we'll have the courage to move forward. Everyone knows that I love you, but only we'll know what love is."
