Almost Lover Episode 7 Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
Li Hui concocted a story about Sui Mingwei suffering a stomachache and being rushed to the hospital, aiming to create an opportunity for He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi to spend the night alone. Upon hearing this, He Xiaoran suggested they stay at a nearby homestay, given how late it was getting, a proposition Xiao Shangqi readily accepted.
Meanwhile, a visibly dejected Sui Mingwei, upset about He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi's unexpected overnight stay, was encouraged by Li Hui to drink and drown his sorrows. She also reminded him to stick to the fabricated stomachache story if Xiao Shangqi inquired. Upon arriving at the homestay, they found all the rooms fully booked.
The kindly lady boss, noting the pleasant weather, offered them a tent by the poolside, suggesting it would be a perfect spot for stargazing and enjoying the sunrise. He Xiaoran, recalling Xiao Shangqi's past trauma, cautiously asked if he was feeling well near the water. He reassured her, explaining that shallow pools were not an issue for him. As they settled in, He Xiaoran pointed out the Orion constellation, sharing her memories of an astronomy club in high school.
Xiao Shangqi then expressed his profound feelings, remarking how fortunate he felt to have discovered "the light in her eyes" without having to wait a lifetime. They eventually fell asleep, embraced under the starry sky. The next morning, as the sun began to rise, He Xiaoran awoke with a joyful exclamation, marking another item off her unspoken wishlist.
Xiao Shangqi, observing her eagerness, commented on her "live like there's no tomorrow" attitude and attempted to explain his abrupt departure with "her" after college graduation. However, He Xiaoran, afraid of confronting the past and fearing his potential regret, quickly diverted the conversation to the beautiful winter scenery. Undeterred, Xiao Shangqi pressed on, asking if her underlying insecurity stemmed from his failure to give her a proper confession.
He then delivered a heartfelt confession, acknowledging the three years they had lost due to his unannounced departure and declaring his refusal to miss her any longer. He proposed they start anew in Wusu and promised never to leave her side without a word again. Moved, He Xiaoran asked if he truly loved her, and he vowed to prove his love over time.
She accepted his confession, realizing that while her time capsule contained many dreams of things to do with him, "the starry night or the sunrise, it's all bonus. The one that makes me happy is you." Over breakfast, they observed the busy and affectionate interactions of the homestay owners, a scene that reminded Xiao Shangqi of his own parents. Inspired, he proposed they find a house together and cook breakfast every morning.
He Xiaoran, surprised, questioned his ability to adapt, given his long history of living in hotels and never with others. He confirmed his willingness, stating that while he had never considered cohabitation before, "if it's you, I'm willing to try." Separately, He Xiaoran presented her new program idea to Miss Zhou, focusing on families with two or three children, which received positive feedback.
Back at their current apartment, Sui Mingwei was gathering wood to build a simple bookshelf for He Xiaoran’s room. She politely declined his offer, explaining that it would leave marks on the wall and make it difficult to rent out in the future. She then announced her plans to move out and look for a house with Xiao Shangqi the following afternoon. Li Hui playfully teased them, suggesting they were planning to "live together" rather than merely "share a house."
He Xiaoran expressed how touched she was by Xiao Shangqi’s newfound openness to the concept of "home," something he had always avoided, and she didn’t want to disappoint him. Feeling a little guilty about leaving, He Xiaoran agreed to Li Hui's request to delay her move until after Li Hui’s upcoming birthday. Xiao Shangqi later called He Xiaoran to inform her that he couldn't join the house-hunting due to a fire inspection at his hotel.
He Xiaoran and the agent then viewed a charming two-story house with a spacious yard and two bedrooms. He Xiaoran loved the house and imagined it would be a perfect home for her and Xiao Shangqi. However, the landlord, Madam Tian, immediately refused to rent it to them upon learning they were a newly dating couple.
Madam Tian listed numerous potential problems that often arise with cohabiting couples, from cleanliness to snoring, and even suggested that Xiao Shangqi's absence from such an important viewing indicated a lack of commitment. He Xiaoran tried to reassure her, explaining their intention to have separate rooms and that she didn't snore, but Madam Tian remained unconvinced. Later, He Xiaoran shared her disappointment with Li Hui, still wistfully recalling the lovely yard she had envisioned decorating.
Li Hui, however, sided with Madam Tian, emphasizing that cohabiting as friends was different from cohabiting as a couple, which required "deep adjustment." He Xiaoran soon learned that the house had been rented to someone else, forcing her to put her plans on hold. Meanwhile, Li Hui mentioned that her boyfriend, Tang Yan, would be late for her birthday celebration because he was busy recording for a "tier-three singer," leaving her feeling disheartened.
Xiao Shangqi eventually arrived at Li Hui's birthday party, presenting her with a vinyl record by her favorite band, a gift He Xiaoran had helped him choose. During the party, a friend accidentally uncovered Sui Mingwei's elaborate confession plan on his phone, revealing his unspoken feelings for He Xiaoran. Sui Mingwei tried to dismiss it as a past endeavor.
Later, in a toast, Sui Mingwei, who was drinking water instead of alcohol, looked at Xiao Shangqi and declared, "Be nice to her. Make sure my heart is broken for a worthy reason." After the party, He Xiaoran approached Sui Mingwei, acknowledging his feelings. She explained that she understood the pain of unrequited love, having experienced it herself, and didn't want his "devotion to be ignored," reassuring him that he was a cherished "good friend."
Sui Mingwei, though hurt, responded with a bittersweet joke about being on a "half-court break," implying he would wait for a future chance. Meanwhile, Li Hui, frustrated by Tang Yan's continued absence, left the party to find him at the recording studio. There, she discovered him flirting with a singer named Susan and was furious to learn he had given a song she had written specifically for him to Susan.
When Susan struggled to sing it, Li Hui, in a fit of anger, stepped up and delivered a powerful, emotional rendition of the song herself, then declared to Tang Yan, "I don't want this song anymore," and stormed out. Downstairs, a heartbroken Sui Mingwei was waiting for her with a birthday cake, offering comfort and support.
As they walked home, he urged her to break up with Tang Yan, criticizing him for his self-centeredness and lack of commitment, arguing that Tang Yan cared only about rock music and left no room for her in his future. A distressed Li Hui retaliated, asking Sui Mingwei if He Xiaoran had rejected him because they were "not on the same path" and accused him of trying to break up her relationship with Tang Yan.
Sui Mingwei was deeply hurt by her words, asking if that was truly how she viewed him. The following day, Xiao Shangqi was enthusiastically overseeing the decoration of their new home, with gardeners carefully selecting plants tailored to He Xiaoran's tastes. His excitement, however, was dampened by a text from He Xiaoran, informing him that she wouldn't be able to move in for the time being.
She was back at their current apartment, caught in the middle of a tense cold war between Li Hui and Sui Mingwei, sparked by Sui Mingwei's refusal to accept parcels addressed to Tang Yan. Li Hui, upset, had moved out to stay at the recording studio with Tang Yan. He Xiaoran tried to mediate, explaining to Li Hui that despite his bluntness, Sui Mingwei genuinely cared for her.
Yet, Li Hui remained steadfast in her relationship with Tang Yan, asserting that a friend's disapproval could be "like a seed planting in your heart and shaking your faith." Li Hui further asked He Xiaoran to consider if she had to choose between the person she loved and her best friend, who she would choose. He Xiaoran later called Xiao Shangqi, explaining that she felt she "can't leave them alone" during their conflict.
She tried to alleviate his concerns by mentioning that she rarely saw Sui Mingwei anyway. Back at the apartment, a lonely Sui Mingwei commented on the newfound comfort of the home without "certain people with OCD and tidiness," just as Li Hui unexpectedly returned, breaking their cold war.
