Blossoms Shanghai Episode 14 Recap
> Blossoms Shanghai Recap
In 1978, A Bao, then a factory worker, fell deeply in love with Xue Zhi, a 20-year-old Route 13 bus ticket collector known as "Route 13 Flower." He intentionally took her bus daily, and she never charged him for the fare. They grew increasingly close, their conversations multiplied, and A Bao often protected her from the swaying of the bus.
Their first date was at Hong Shun Xing, a popular hotpot restaurant in Caojiadu, where A Bao used connections to secure seats for them. A Bao initially believed their relationship would last indefinitely, but their future changed when Xue Zhi's relatives from Hong Kong arrived. She subsequently married into Hong Kong, leaving A Bao utterly devastated. Before her departure, she and A Bao made a pact to reunite in ten years.
A Bao vividly remembered her talent and beauty, and his despair after she left. Approximately ten years later, Xue Zhi, now divorced, returned to Shanghai for a business trip. She had started her own company and adopted the English name "Betty" in Hong Kong. During their reunion, where they exchanged pleasantries, A Bao initially forbade her from using the name "Betty."
Xue Zhi openly admitted her desire for A Bao not to be more successful than her, and even suggested she would regret it if he was too well off. She sought to witness his lack of success firsthand and mocked his income, implying he could not catch up to her. In response, A Bao vowed to surpass her in success within another ten years, proclaiming that if he became more successful, he would "re-own" her.
Xue Zhi expressed disbelief in his promise. A Bao observed the old Route 13 bus pass by, realizing how much things had changed since their past. In 1990, Ling Zi returned to Shanghai, renting an attic on Jinxian Road. He invited A Bao for dinner that very day, and A Bao brought crabs provided by Tao Tao. A Bao discovered Ling Zi's roof was leaking due to rain and repaired it.
While on the roof, Ling Zi, after complaining about the noisy environment, inquired about A Bao's girlfriend, to which A Bao cryptically replied that she had "swam away like a goldfish." A Bao would perform roof repairs for Ling Zi multiple times.
He also recalled cherished childhood memories of climbing roofs with a four-year-old neighbor girl named Betty, enjoying the afternoon sun, and listening to her play piano, describing these as his most unforgettable days before she, too, left his life. Ling Zi later left home again. Ge Laoshi advised A Bao to close Night Tokyo, which Ling Zi had founded and had unconditionally supported A Bao's business endeavors.
A Bao was reluctant, feeling a debt of gratitude to Ling Zi, especially as Night Tokyo was losing money monthly. Ge Laoshi cautioned A Bao that he owed more than just Ling Zi and presented him with Wang Mingzhu's disciplinary notice. Section Chief Jin, who still harbored personal feelings for Wang Mingzhu, looked at the stamps Wang Mingzhu had organized. Wang Mingzhu was transferred to a company under the Foreign Trade General Corporation, specifically a factory.
A Bao worried that Wang Mingzhu, accustomed to office work, would struggle in such an environment. Before her transfer, Wang Mingzhu had told Ge Laoshi that she wanted to meet A Bao one last time to understand his feelings and to know if she still held value to him. Wang Mingzhu waited for A Bao at a rice cake shop until midnight for their agreed meeting, but A Bao never showed up; instead, he went to Tao Tao's place.
She considered calling A Bao but ultimately put the phone down. That night, A Bao, despite appearing happy and sharing drinks with Tao Tao, was deeply troubled and in internal pain, a state Tao Tao recognized as similar to how A Bao had been in 1978. A Bao left alone after their meeting. In May 1993, Wang Mingzhu began working at the warehouse of the Foreign Trade General Corporation.
A Bao had previously called Fan Xinhua (Master Fan), who was the factory director, asking him to look after Wang Mingzhu. However, Fan Xinhua, observing Wang Mingzhu's "high heels and permed hair" and noting her disparity from the other workers, completely disregarded A Bao's request and her "background." He deliberately assigned her the dirtiest and most strenuous tasks, forcing her to clean the warehouse alone, and severely scolded her, calling her "promiscuous."
Wang Mingzhu had to endure this ill-treatment in silence. Meanwhile, Jin Hua transferred A Bao's business to Mei Ping. Mei Ping brought breakfast for Ge Laoshi, seeking his business advice, which he provided. Ge Laoshi, however, instructed Mei Ping to take the breakfast back, emphasizing the need to maintain distance to prevent her from also facing organizational scrutiny.
Mei Ping volunteered to take over Wang Mingzhu's work, and Ge Laoshi, seeing through her ambition, subtly hinted that Mei Ping was a strong candidate for the next section chief. Mei Ping subsequently decided to change her attire and demeanor based on his advice. Tao Tao visited Wang Mingzhu at the factory, bringing a box of wontons and falsely claiming he came without A Bao's knowledge. However, the wontons were in A Bao's distinct lunchbox, revealing his connection.
Fan Xinhua, recognizing Tao Tao as the outsider who had called to request special care for Wang Mingzhu, forcibly removed him from the premises. Tao Tao later called A Bao to relay Wang Mingzhu's dire situation, feeling a mix of emotions and realizing that A Bao, despite his extensive influence elsewhere in Shanghai, was utterly powerless within that specific factory. Upon hearing this, A Bao became furious.
