Be Together Episode 24 Recap
> Be Together Recap
Living with Lin Hao, Zhao Xiaolei felt like family as he looked after her, but her conservative nature kept her from crossing the line from friendship to romance, despite her feelings for him. Meanwhile, Han Shuang was suffering from severe period cramps, wrapped in blankets on her bed. Ma Ke, concerned, entered her room, apologizing for being impatient with her earlier due to a surgery. He tried to comfort her, but Han Shuang, feeling miserable, just wanted him to leave.
Ma Ke, however, worried she might suffocate under the covers. He noticed her sweating and told her to keep her feet warm, questioning why she only covered her face. Han Shuang confessed that if she always felt this way, she'd rather die. He brought her honey water, but she requested iced beer. Ma Ke gently scolded her for wanting cold drinks during her period, noting that her family might have been too busy to teach her such things.
He offered to cook noodles, but Han Shuang complained about the kitchen hood's noise. Ma Ke immediately offered to replace it with the best and quietest one. Han Shuang then questioned his excessive kindness, asking directly if he liked her and why he was so hesitant to admit it. Ma Ke, fearing rejection, struggled to confess, but Han Shuang insisted he speak his mind.
He finally admitted, "I like you," adding, "I want you to marry me and be my lady." Surprised and thrilled, Han Shuang enthusiastically declared her willingness to marry him, despite his initial disbelief that she was serious. They impulsively decided to register their marriage right away. Ma Ke, worried she might regret it, rushed her to the civil affairs bureau.
Excited, Han Shuang proudly showed her marriage certificate to Xia Yan and Ma Xiangnan, who were shocked by the sudden news. Ma Ke later explained to Xu Chengyi that Han Shuang had been the one to propose getting the certificate, which surprised him because he had only just confessed his feelings that morning. Han Shuang told her friends that she would uphold her marriage and be responsible for Ma Ke.
Xia Yan, observing a positive change in Han Shuang, thanked Ma Ke for his influence. While discussing wedding plans, Han Shuang brought up their past agreement about bridesmaids. She expressed her frustration with Zhao Xiaolei for choosing Lin Hao, saying she couldn't understand why Zhao Xiaolei prioritized him over their friendship, although Xia Yan still hoped for Zhao Xiaolei's happiness. At Lin Hao’s apartment, Zhao Xiaolei was busy with chores while Lin Hao watched a game.
Xia Yan sent Zhao Xiaolei a text message wishing her a happy birthday and inviting her to celebrate. Lin Hao discreetly picked up Zhao Xiaolei's phone and deleted the message before she could see it. Meanwhile, Ling Wei called Xia Yan to her office, not for work, but to ask for a recommendation for a venue for her upcoming birthday celebration with colleagues. Xia Yan suggested a suitable restaurant.
Later, at Ling Wei’s birthday party, Han Shuang and Ling Wei were introduced. Han Shuang playfully remarked on Ling Wei's dress and temperament, calling her a "strong competitor" (referring to Xia Yan). Ling Wei thanked Han Shuang for the lively party, but Han Shuang redirected the thanks to Xia Yan.
Ling Wei admired Xia Yan for having such supportive friends, prompting Han Shuang to share her philosophy about friends: those who celebrate with you and defend you in times of trouble. Ling Wei countered that making friends is often about luck and purposeful communication. Ling Wei then received an extravagant gift from her boyfriend, who was currently abroad.
She mused about life and relationships, stating that love isn't everything and that she wouldn't want anyone to compromise their potential for her. During their conversation, Ling Wei expressed surprise that Han Shuang hadn't told her parents about her marriage, deducing that Han Shuang likely had a highly successful mother and lived in her shadow, which Han Shuang admired her for seeing.
Ling Wei then related that she, too, had always lived in others' shadows, especially during her time working abroad, and that her return to China was partly to prove her own capabilities and ensure her achievements were not attributed to others. Lin Hao continued his manipulative efforts with Zhao Xiaolei by giving her a health check-up package for her parents, promising to handle their annual examinations.
He then surprised her with a birthday cake, claiming he had remembered her birthday all along. Zhao Xiaolei was deeply moved and happy as they made a wish and blew out the candles together. After the party, Han Shuang told Xia Yan that she was no longer worried about Ling Wei being a rival for Xu Chengyi. However, Xia Yan worried that Ling Wei was trying to win over Han Shuang's friendship, noticing their intimate conversation.
Han Shuang, a loyal user of Xia Yan’s "Confidante Planet" app, requested special access and suggested adding Ling Wei to their group chat. When Xia Yan mentioned adding Zhao Xiaolei, Han Shuang felt she should wait until Zhao Xiaolei "figures it out and is willing to come back to us." Later, as Zhao Xiaolei and Lin Hao relaxed on the sofa at his place, she confided in him about her self-doubt and how she felt inferior to others.
She specifically asked how she compared to Xia Yan. Lin Hao seized the opportunity to manipulate her emotions, showering her with compliments about her tenderness, kindness, intelligence, and perceptiveness, claiming that she understood people's feelings better than Xia Yan, who, according to him, "can't understand our sorrow." He asserted that only Zhao Xiaolei truly understood him and that they were "the same kind of people," declaring he couldn't live without her.
Their conversation culminated in a kiss, and they spent their first night together. Han Shuang and Ling Wei met again, for drinks. Ling Wei expressed surprise that Ma Ke was Han Shuang's husband. Han Shuang then confessed that she had once had a minor crush on Xu Chengyi but had given up when she realized Xia Yan loved him, asking Ling Wei to keep it a secret from Xia Yan.
Ling Wei astutely suggested that Xia Yan, being a perceptive person, might already know but pretended not to for the sake of their friendship. Ling Wei then shared her profound thoughts on marriage, describing it as a process that refines individuals by wearing down their rough edges, which, though painful, reveals the true strength of their love. Han Shuang appreciated Ling Wei's honest perspective and expressed joy at finding a new female friend with whom she could discuss private matters.
Han Shuang invited Ling Wei to join the "Confidante Planet" group chat, and Ling Wei accepted. While with Xia Yan, Xu Chengyi encouraged her to bless Zhao Xiaolei's relationship with Lin Hao, assuring her that he didn't care about Lin Hao and wouldn't restrict her friendships. He joked about getting jealous of Lin Hao. Suddenly, Xu Chengyi received a phone call from an employee, informing him that "something bad has happened to Confidante Planet," requiring him to rush back to the company.
