Almost Lover Episode 8 Recap
> Almost Lover Recap
Xiao Shangqi brought He Xiaoran home, finding only Sui Mingwei there. He Xiaoran tried to convince Sui that Li Hui had returned by presenting food she had actually bought herself, including Sui’s favorite duck head, but Sui was not convinced, realizing it was He Xiaoran's attempt. Moments later, Xiao Shangqi reappeared with fresh fruits, claiming that Jifeng Hotel rooms were undergoing maintenance and his own apartment had a water outage, thus requiring him to stay on their living room sofa.
Sui was skeptical of these convenient excuses but found no strong reason to refuse. Later that evening, He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi discussed ways to reconcile Li Hui and Sui. Xiao Shangqi suggested a pragmatic approach: buying a gift and arranging a delivery for Li Hui to sign, advising that women can quickly sever ties. Sui called this tactic "scheming."
He Xiaoran confided in Xiao Shangqi about Li Hui and Sui’s deep connection, explaining they were childhood friends who had "witnessed each other's rebellious days, first love and whole life of study." She emphasized the rarity of their bond and her desire to help them mend their relationship. Xiao Shangqi understood her compassion but also reiterated his eagerness for her to move in with him, promising he would never let her get hurt.
The next morning, an annoyed Sui Mingwei set off a fire alarm, waking He Xiaoran and Xiao Shangqi who had fallen asleep embracing on the sofa. Li Hui arrived shortly after to retrieve some clothes and was surprised to find Xiao Shangqi there. Ignoring Sui, she casually asked Xiao Shangqi for a discount on a room at Jifeng Hotel for her boyfriend, Tang Yan. Xiao Shangqi readily agreed, much to Sui’s obvious displeasure.
After Li Hui left, Xiao Shangqi and He Xiaoran went to Jifeng for breakfast. He Xiaoran noticed the hotel staff preparing for an "International Children's Day" event, complete with nostalgic decorations and props designed to evoke childhood memories. She requested some items for her own program.
Back at her apartment, He Xiaoran used these nostalgic items to spark memories during a conversation with Li Hui and Sui, recalling shared childhood moments like playing marbles (Sui claimed he let Li Hui win when she chipped his tooth), Sui defending Li Hui from bullies to retrieve her trading cards (getting bruised and broken bones), and Li Hui copying notes for Sui when he was injured.
Li Hui eventually received a text from Tang Yan and prepared to leave, at which point Sui offered to drive her, a small step towards mending their rift. With Li Hui and Sui gone, He Xiaoran, curious about Xiao Shangqi's unique upbringing, accompanied him to his childhood sanctuary: the hotel's laundry room. He explained that most of his youth was spent within the hotel, lacking typical children's games.
He found solace watching the washing machines, feeling as if the world spun while his own time stood still. He Xiaoran found his unconventional childhood adventurous. To her delight, Xiao Shangqi then performed a "magic trick," creating a rainbow with a prism, and declared it their first holiday together, promising to spend all future celebrations by her side. Meanwhile, a more sinister plot unfolded.
Zhao Mingxuan, having learned of Xiao Shangqi's plans to develop Yunlan's own brand in Wusu, became wary of being overshadowed. He arranged a meeting with Xiao Xian on a basketball court, subtly attempting to drive a wedge between the brothers. Zhao Mingxuan implied that their father might favor Xiao Shangqi despite Xiao Xian's years of dedication, even bringing up Xiao Xian's injured leg. He pledged his support to Xiao Xian, but Xiao Xian remained guarded and left without committing.
Soon after, Jifeng Hotel faced a surprise inspection. Inspectors found expired cooking oil, rat droppings, and rat-bitten flour in the kitchen, leading to an immediate shutdown order. The crisis escalated when a video exposing the unsanitary conditions went viral, resulting in Jifeng being removed from the "Black Pine Needle" list and a wave of guest cancellations. Xiao Xian called Xiao Shangqi, urging him to activate crisis public relations.
However, Xiao Shangqi was determined to uncover the truth, refusing to engage in a superficial PR campaign. He Xiaoran's radio program, "Dajiabang For Everyone," a Jifeng sponsor, addressed the scandal. Xiao Shangqi, hearing her program, visited her and asked her to stop investigating. However, He Xiaoran emphasized that while she trusted Jifeng as his girlfriend, as a media professional, she had to maintain her independence and accuracy for her listeners.
Xiao Shangqi expressed his understanding and support, promising to uncover the truth himself. Prioritizing journalistic integrity, He Xiaoran invited "Mr. A"—the individual who filmed and posted the video—to speak live. Mr. A was vague about his entry into the kitchen, merely citing "loose management," and focused on general accusations of filth rather than specific violations.
However, he did mention "wet foam in front of the laundry room," a detail that immediately caught Xiao Shangqi’s attention, as it referred to a playful incident he had created foam for He Xiaoran earlier. Following this lead, Xiao Shangqi and He Xiaoran meticulously reviewed the hotel’s surveillance footage near the laundry room. They identified a suspicious, blurry figure but couldn't discern his face.
Vice General Manager Lin Zong then informed Xiao Shangqi about numerous complaints from Children's Day regarding the "sweet and sour spare ribs" tasting unusually sour. Inspired by the rainbow magic trick he had performed for He Xiaoran earlier, Xiao Shangqi investigated the kitchen, where Chef Meng confirmed that vinegar had been deliberately mixed into the soy sauce.
Subsequently, an employee, Mo, recognized the suspicious figure in the surveillance video as Old Hu, a former head chef who had been previously dismissed. Armed with irrefutable evidence, Xiao Shangqi confronted Lin Zong. He presented Lin Zong with a pet chipmunk, ostensibly for Lin Zong's son, Taiyang. Lin Zong's visible discomfort confirmed Xiao Shangqi’s suspicions. Xiao Shangqi revealed his knowledge of Lin Zong reporting his activities to Zhao Mingxuan and then exposed Lin Zong’s complicity in the plot.
He detailed how Lin Zong had manipulated camera maintenance schedules, granted Old Hu unauthorized access to the kitchen, and deleted entry logs—actions only possible for someone in his position. Lin Zong confessed, explaining his past indebtedness to Zhao Mingxuan, who had helped him as a single father and promised a better future for Taiyang.
He admitted he believed Old Hu was merely entering to "learn the ropes" for a new position at Zhao Mingxuan's hotel in Hupu, completely unaware of the true intention to film and frame Jifeng. After realizing the deception, he attempted to deflect suspicion by highlighting general complaints and old maintenance issues. Lin Zong also revealed that Old Hu had confirmed the entire scheme was "Zhao Mingxuan's idea" and promised not to implicate him. Xiao Shangqi concluded that Lin Zong's panic over the "little mouse" was a clear sign of his guilt. Lin Zong then submitted his resignation.
