Better Halves Episode 10 Recap
> Better Halves Recap
Following Shi Fa'ke's diligent efforts to resolve a serious misunderstanding between Xu Ao and his wife, which resulted in his wife's pregnancy, Xu Ao arrived at the Official Matchmaking Agency to express his profound gratitude. He presented Shi Fa'ke with a large banner, hailing her as the "Little No.1 Matchmaker in the World" and predicting she would inherit the glory of her mother, the former "No.1 Matchmaker."
Chief Matchmaker Deng, present during the exchange, initially tried to take credit for Shi Fa'ke's success. However, after Xu Ao pointed out her earlier advice for divorce, Deng quickly accepted the banner on behalf of the agency, then rudely ordered it to be put away and sternly reprimanded the agency staff for their noisy behavior. Shi Fa'ke's reputation as a matchmaker spread rapidly, leading to a clamoring crowd outside the Official Matchmaking Agency, all eager to secure her services.
As she emerged, the eager throng surged forward. Lu Chi, trying to shield Shi Fa'ke from the crush, was inadvertently pushed, causing his lips to brush against hers. Flustered and blushing, Shi Fa'ke quickly fled the scene. Meanwhile, Marquis Wu'an was furious that his latest scheme had failed and that Hua Yuerong had disappeared, betraying him.
He decided to personally approach Prime Minister Zhu Bingquan to garner his support, believing that if Prime Minister Zhu sided with him, figures like Xu Ao would inevitably defect. The Marquis then ordered his subordinates to eliminate Lu Chi. Later, Lu Chi and Shi Fa'ke escorted Hua Yuerong and Li Gongzi out of the city.
Before their departure, Hua Yuerong, a keen observer, expressed her heartfelt wish for Lu Chi and Shi Fa'ke to be together, confidently declaring them a perfect match, despite Shi Fa'ke’s embarrassed denial. As Lu Chi tried to address the accidental kiss, revealing that it was a reflection of his true feelings, Shi Fa'ke quickly cut him off.
She claimed the kiss was an accident and insisted they pretend it never happened, stating that he still needed to find his "little sister." She then revealed her own long-standing engagement, emphasizing that they must maintain proper boundaries. Suddenly, masked assassins attacked. Lu Chi bravely fought to protect Shi Fa'ke, sustaining a severe poisonous wound in the process. Just as the situation grew dire, Lu Yi arrived with reinforcements, driving off the attackers.
Lu Yi noted his surprise that Lu Chi's formidable martial arts skills hadn't allowed him to evade the poisoned blade, while Shi Fa'ke blamed herself for Lu Chi's injury. Shi Fa'ke rushed Lu Chi back to Xibao Pavilion. Li Pan'er, aware of Lu Chi's deep affection for Shi Fa'ke, exaggerated the severity of his poisoning, claiming he needed constant, round-the-clock care.
Overhearing Shi Fa'ke's tearful apology and her vow to never see him again if he recovered, a barely conscious Lu Chi wondered aloud if the person she was engaged to was truly that important to her. In a separate development, Marquis Wu'an publicly intercepted Prime Minister Zhu Bingquan, attempting to propose marriage to his granddaughter. He candidly expressed his loneliness since his wife's passing and his desire to unite their families.
However, Prime Minister Zhu, insisting on his integrity and refusing private discussions, publicly rejected the proposal. He explained that his granddaughter was solely dedicated to her studies and completely unsuited for managing household affairs, much to the Marquis's fury, who branded him an "old fox." Shi Fa'ke, overwhelmed by guilt, avoided visiting Lu Chi, feeling she had no right to see him. Though his poison had mostly cleared, Lu Chi continued to appear pale.
Aware of Marquis Wu'an's continued threat, Lu Chi, despite his own injuries, secretly instructed Lu Yi to dispatch more men to discreetly follow and protect Shi Fa'ke at all times, stating he could not bear to put her in danger again. Back at the Official Matchmaking Agency, Chief Matchmaker Deng harshly criticized her staff for their lack of ambition, which she claimed had displeased higher authorities.
To fund the upcoming Flower Assembly, she declared she would withhold everyone's salaries, as they hadn't raised enough money. Shi Fa'ke, defending her colleagues, pointed out that her mother never faced such funding issues, implying Deng's incompetence. Deng then challenged Shi Fa'ke to personally raise the necessary funds, and Shi Fa'ke accepted. However, her attempts to secure additional contributions were met with resistance.
Shop owners, while respectful of Chief Matchmaker Tao, explicitly refused to donate more due to Deng's management, leaving Shi Fa'ke with only enough funds to cover her colleagues' salaries. Returning home, Shi Fa'ke sadly reflected on the glorious Flower Assemblies her mother used to host. Noticing her mother's despondent expression, which she attributed to her mother's inability to organize the event this year, Shi Fa'ke resolved to reclaim the hosting rights to make her mother happy.
She visited more shops, who expressed willingness to contribute more if the Shi family organized the event, but the total amount was still insufficient. Passing Xibao Pavilion, Shi Fa'ke was invited inside by Li Pan'er. Shi Fa'ke confessed her desire to host the Flower Assembly for her mother. Li Pan'er immediately offered Xibao Pavilion's full financial support, but Shi Fa'ke insisted she wasn't there for money and quickly left.
Pan'er promptly reported Shi Fa'ke's predicament to Lu Chi, who ordered his subordinates to prepare reserve funds and instructed Lu Yi to discreetly monitor Shi Fa'ke's difficulties. Desperate, Shi Fa'ke also sought help from her friends, He Ketian and her brother He Kexian. Though they warmly offered their support, she admitted the scale of the required funds was too great for them to cover.
Upon her return to the Official Matchmaking Agency, Shi Fa'ke was surprised to find Lu Chi there. Learning of the significant budget shortfall, he generously offered 10,000 taels. As a condition, Lu Chi proposed a competition to select the most capable organizer. Chief Matchmaker Deng protested, but Shi Fa'ke boldly accepted the challenge. On the day of the competition, gathered merchants listened as Shi Fa'ke presented her innovative proposal.
She promised contributing shops public recognition and inclusion on the agency's "Top Recommended List" for betrothal gifts, and offered naming rights to the highest investor. She then detailed her creative approach: young ladies would display illuminated lamps, and gentlemen would present themselves on stage. Ladies could show interest by keeping their lamps lit. Deng, however, condemned these ideas as improper, stressing the paramount importance of parental approval and traditional etiquette.
To resolve the impasse, Lu Chi proposed a vote among the shop owners, with their contribution amounts determining their voting power. He Kexian privately criticized Lu Chi for making things difficult for Shi Fa'ke, but Lu Chi maintained he was upholding fairness. As the merchants cast their votes, the results showed an exact tie between Shi Fa'ke and Chief Matchmaker Deng. The deciding vote now rested with Lu Chi.
