Almost Lover Episode 5 Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
Xiao Shangqi, determined to integrate into He Xiaoran's life in Wusu, invited her to a night market for snacks. He Xiaoran, teasing him about his earlier dislike for unhealthy food, insisted he try grilled fish belly. During their outing, he accidentally tore his pants. Observing him in a new tracksuit she picked out, which uncannily resembled their high school uniform, rekindled deep feelings within He Xiaoran.
Feeling overwhelmed, she fabricated a call from Sui Mingwei about forgotten keys and rushed home, leaving Xiao Shangqi alone at the night market. Later, He Xiaoran confessed her persistent feelings for Xiao Shangqi to Li Hui, lamenting that he only considered her his "only friend" in Wusu. Li Hui pointed out that frequent meetings, whether for business or personal reasons, could easily create the illusion of love.
To prevent future key issues for Sui Mingwei and perhaps to make his presence in He Xiaoran's life more permanent, Xiao Shangqi arranged for the Jifeng Hotel's engineering department to install a new smart lock at her apartment. Sui Mingwei, however, voiced concerns about the safety and implications of such a gift. Xiao Shangqi then invited He Xiaoran to the Jifeng Hotel, ostensibly to taste new dishes and offer her opinions, although she maintained she wasn't a professional.
While expressing gratitude for the new lock, He Xiaoran, following Sui Mingwei's suggestion, tried to reimburse Xiao Shangqi for the cost, but he refused. He questioned her loyalty, recalling how she rushed away from him at the night market for Sui Mingwei, accusing her of having "favorites." Their conversation took an unexpected turn when they noticed a window flashing Morse code from the staff dormitory. Recalling their college days, they deciphered the message: "Good night, I love you."
Xiao Shangqi attempted to confess his feelings, but He Xiaoran excitedly interrupted him, proposing "Love codes in the city" as a perfect topic for her program. Driven by curiosity, she convinced Xiao Shangqi to help her find the sender. They discovered a young boy named Taiyang, who was sending the coded message to his father, Mr. Lin, the hotel's Deputy General Manager, a single dad who worked late. They spent time playing with Taiyang until his father returned.
Meanwhile, at the Dajiabang For Everyone program meeting, the team brainstormed ideas to improve the show. Sui Mingwei proposed incorporating short video livestreams, a suggestion that was met with unanimous approval. Xiao Shangqi later observed He Xiaoran and Sui Mingwei's first livestream, noticing their natural chemistry and the fervent "couple fans" in the comments who were "shipping" them, much to his jealousy. Unable to secure a private meeting with He Xiaoran, Xiao Shangqi sought her out at the station.
He found her and Sui Mingwei preparing for another livestream at a forest park and decided to accompany them. A childish rivalry immediately flared between Xiao Shangqi and Sui Mingwei. Their competitive cycling led to a minor accident, with He Xiaoran tending to their scrapes and chiding them for their immaturity.
Frustrated by his inability to speak with He Xiaoran alone, Xiao Shangqi finally exposed Sui Mingwei's deception, revealing that the livestream's popularity was inflated by comments from Sui Mingwei's friends. He Xiaoran was deeply disappointed by this revelation. Upon learning that the livestream had virtually no real audience, she decided to halt the program, choosing to take responsibility herself rather than implicating Sui Mingwei.
Soon after, rumors about He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi's "complicated" relationship began circulating within the NRTA, leading to gossip that even linked Xiao Shangqi to the cancellation of her livestream. Li Hui confronted He Xiaoran about her evasiveness, correctly deducing that He Xiaoran's feelings for Xiao Shangqi had been reignited. He Xiaoran admitted her confusion, valuing their rekindled friendship but struggling with her persistent affection for him.
Xiao Shangqi, determined to clear He Xiaoran's name, spoke with Mr. Ma, the Director of NRTA, about addressing the harmful rumors. He then confronted He Xiaoran, telling her he abhorred the gossip not because their relationship was "complicated," but because he genuinely liked her. However, his crucial declaration of "I like you" was unfortunately drowned out by the loud arrival of Sui Mingwei's motorcycle.
Misinterpreting Xiao Shangqi's earlier statement about hating rumors, He Xiaoran believed he was disgusted by the association with her and decided it was time to "cut her losses and retreat" from her feelings. Unaware of her misunderstanding, Xiao Shangqi, bewildered by He Xiaoran's lack of response to his confession, sought advice online about how to gauge someone's feelings after a confession. He began posting frequently on his social media Moments to encourage interaction. However, He Xiaoran, noticing his sudden and uncharacteristic social media activity, concluded that he was simply trying to distance himself from her.
