Broker Episode 37 Recap
> Broker Recap
Qiu Jiaxin stormed off after a heated argument with Qin Bin, who had been treating his ex-girlfriend, Ruoxi, as a patient. Qin Bin tried to explain that it was a past relationship from their student days and that as doctors, they couldn't choose their patients and had a professional obligation to help anyone who needed them, even an enemy. He emphasized that nothing was going on between them now.
However, Qiu Jiaxin remained angry, accusing him of always going against her. She bitterly told him that it was her mistake, that they were merely colleagues, and that her hopes for something more were simply wishful thinking. As she left, she told Qin Bin to go talk to his Ruoxi. Later that evening, a dejected Qiu Jiaxin returned home and confided in her sister, Qiu Jianing, that her heart had been broken twice that night.
She revealed she had broken up with Jiang Xiaoye because she realized she wasn't truly in love with him, but was merely attracted to his celebrity status. She then explained her frustration with Qin Bin treating his ex-girlfriend. Qiu Jianing tried to reassure her that it was normal for someone to seek treatment from a doctor they knew, especially when ill.
Qiu Jiaxin clarified that she wasn't trying to stop him from treating patients, but rather wanted him to make a promise to her, believing it would show he cared. Qiu Jianing perceived Qiu Jiaxin's insecurity and lack of confidence around Qin Bin, a stark contrast to her relationship with Jiang Xiaoye. Qiu Jianing explained that Qiu Jiaxin's request was unreasonable, and if Qin Bin agreed, he wouldn't be the mature and reliable man she admired.
She bluntly told her sister that she was being jealous and immature, and that maturity would come with experience and growth. Later, Qiu Jianing brought Zhou Xiaoshan to her parents' home for dinner. Qiu Father immediately asked if they had any marriage plans, which made the couple noticeably awkward.
Qiu Mother eagerly added that good hotels in China needed to be booked a year in advance and offered to arrange everything, including an auspicious date and renovating an apartment for them. Qiu Jianing clarified that there was a misunderstanding and even if they married, their wedding would be different from her parents' expectations. Qiu Jiaxin chimed in, jokingly calling her sister a "philosophical materialist" who wouldn't be interested in "feudal customs."
Qiu Father, however, insisted on a traditional wedding ceremony. Zhou Xiaoshan stepped in, explaining that he and Qiu Jianing planned to get their marriage certificate first and then gradually handle the ceremony and other details. Her parents found this reasonable but urged them not to delay too long. Qiu Jianing then skillfully redirected the conversation to Qiu Jiaxin. Her mother, unaware of the earlier breakup, asked why Jiang Xiaoye wasn't present.
Qiu Jiaxin then announced that she and Jiang Xiaoye had broken up, leaving her mother in disbelief, as she had considered Jiang Xiaoye a "100-point boyfriend." After dinner, Qiu Father invited Zhou Xiaoshan to his study. He expressed concern for the couple, noting their intense focus on work. He revealed that he had reserved an apartment for each of his daughters in a new community project his company was developing, emphasizing that they couldn't continue living in dorms after marriage.
Zhou Xiaoshan respectfully declined the offer, stating he couldn't accept it. He expressed deep gratitude for meeting Qiu Jianing, sharing that she had shown him new possibilities in life when he felt lost and confused. He promised that given time, he would personally build a future for Qiu Jianing. He urged Qiu Father to trust his daughter's judgment in choosing him. Qiu Father, impressed by Zhou Xiaoshan's conviction, chuckled and remarked on his audacity before accepting his promise.
On their way home, Qiu Jianing playfully questioned Zhou Xiaoshan about his conversation with her father. He teased her, claiming her father had said she had a bad temper and asked him to be tolerant. Qiu Jianing, knowing he was joking, told him not to assume everything was smooth sailing just because her father had accepted him. She declared she would test him further.
She took him to an arcade and pointed to a microwave, challenging him to win it with only one hundred tokens. Zhou Xiaoshan, understanding the game's probability, easily won the prize. Qiu Jianing, though impressed, declared this was only the first test, and many more would follow. Zhou Xiaoshan, looking forward to their future together, eagerly accepted the challenge, saying he anticipated her tests for his entire life.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, discussions revolved around the annual rural medical support quota. Qiu Jiaxin overheard colleagues complaining about the harsh conditions, including poor facilities, bad weather, and even the risk of landslides. Despite these concerns, Qiu Jiaxin, recalling her sister's words about maturity, decided she would volunteer for the program. Later, Qiu Jianing again pressed Zhou Xiaoshan about what her father had discussed. He finally revealed that her father had spoken about her dowry and an apartment.
He then showed her a collection of her childhood photos, teasing her by calling them her "dark past" and joking about her appearance, comparing her to a "Calabash Kid." They shared a lighthearted moment reminiscing. As they looked at the pictures, Zhou Xiaoshan grew serious and held her hand. He shared a belief his mother once told him, that deceased loved ones become stars, blessing and protecting those they care for.
He deeply felt that meeting Qiu Jianing was a blessing from his parents in Heaven. Qiu Jianing, moved, promised to continue loving him for his parents. The tranquil moment was soon interrupted. Qiu Jianing received a call from Ruan Wenzhao, inviting her to dinner that evening, stating he had finished his inspection and would sign the investment contract tomorrow. Zhou Xiaoshan grew tense and insisted on accompanying her, even if he remained out of sight.
From the rooftop, Zhou Xiaoshan called Ruan Wenzhao, who taunted him, threatening to expose his true identity, hinting at past involvement with TKS that could also implicate Ruan Wenzhao's company. Ruan Wenzhao promised Zhou Xiaoshan a "good show" that night. As they drove to the restaurant, Zhou Xiaoshan's nervousness was palpable. Qiu Jianing tried to reassure him that Wenzhao would be gone after the contract was signed.
However, Zhou Xiaoshan, still anxious, implored her to remember, no matter what Wenzhao said, that he loved her. At the hotel restaurant, Ruan Wenzhao wasted no time in questioning Qiu Jianing about Zhou Xiaoshan. He asked if he was her boyfriend, if she loved him, and if she truly "knew" him, particularly his past. Qiu Jianing asserted that the past was irrelevant, only the present mattered.
Ruan Wenzhao then brought up their shared university days and their mutual affection for Xiang Lan, asking why Zhou Xiaoshan had concealed this from Qiu Jianing. Qiu Jianing countered, asking if Ruan Wenzhao's investment in Plan-O was driven by personal motives. He admitted that it was, and that he had specifically targeted Zhou Xiaoshan. He then claimed to know an even bigger secret about Zhou Xiaoshan and suggested they move to a more private location to discuss it further.
Against her better judgment, Qiu Jianing followed Ruan Wenzhao to his hotel room. Once inside, he took off his jacket and began making advances, remarking that she shouldn't have entered a room with a male stranger. Just as he became aggressive, Zhou Xiaoshan burst in, grabbing a knife to protect Qiu Jianing. Ruan Wenzhao, acting wildly, dared Zhou Xiaoshan to kill him, but Qiu Jianing restrained Zhou Xiaoshan.
Ruan Wenzhao, still intent on revealing Zhou Xiaoshan's secret, continued to taunt him. Overwhelmed, Zhou Xiaoshan begged him not to tell Qiu Jianing, even offering his own life as repayment for Xiang Lan's supposed death. Qiu Jianing again pulled him back from the brink. Ruan Wenzhao then asked Qiu Jianing to leave so he could speak with Zhou Xiaoshan alone. Zhou Xiaoshan, despite her unease, also urged her to go.
Once they were alone, Ruan Wenzhao revealed the shocking truth: Xiang Lan was still alive. Zhou Xiaoshan was aghast, unable to believe it, as he had long believed her dead. Ruan Wenzhao showed him records from a sanatorium, explaining that Xiang Lan was being held there and that Zha Zhicai regularly visited her under the guise of medical check-ups.
Ruan Wenzhao expressed his confusion as to why Zha Zhicai had initially arranged his marriage to Xiang Lan, only to later fake her death and hide her away after they had settled into their peaceful life. Zhou Xiaoshan, equally stunned, recalled that Zha Zhicai had told him the Ruan family forced the marriage.
The pieces clicked into place, and they realized that Zha Zhicai had ruthlessly manipulated both of them, using Xiang Lan as a pawn to make Zhou Xiaoshan feel perpetual guilt for her "sacrifice." Ruan Wenzhao urged Zhou Xiaoshan to return with him to find Xiang Lan. Zhou Xiaoshan struggled with the decision, torn between his past and his new life with Qiu Jianing.
He declared that he had long ago decided to cut ties with the past, explaining that his mother had been his only reason for living, and after her death, only Qiu Jianing kept him alive. He warned Ruan Wenzhao that if pushed further, the knife he'd just seen would be his only answer. Ruan Wenzhao then knelt, desperately begging Zhou Xiaoshan to return for Xiang Lan, but after a moment of silence, Zhou Xiaoshan left the room.
Outside, Qiu Jianing waited, consumed by worry and a profound sense of what else Zhou Xiaoshan might be hiding. Zhou Xiaoshan then explained everything about Xiang Lan's true fate to her. He expressed his desire to go back but felt he couldn't, burdened by the implications for their relationship. Qiu Jianing, however, gently told him that his past was an intrinsic part of who he was, and denying it would be denying her love for him.
She acknowledged that Xiang Lan had always been an unresolved obstacle in his heart. With unwavering support, Qiu Jianing told him he had to go back, but also assured him he must return. She promised to wait for him, no matter what transpired. Moved by her unwavering love and understanding, Zhou Xiaoshan eventually relented and agreed to return with Ruan Wenzhao.
Meanwhile, Qiu Jiaxin actively pursued her decision to participate in the rural medical support program, specifically to the Dabie Mountains. She confessed to Qiu Jianing that she felt overwhelmed by recent events and sought a new environment to process her thoughts and grow. She expressed a desire to experience hardship and contribute to society, feeling ashamed of never having done something like this before.
Qiu Jianing supported her sister's intentions but urged her to reconsider carefully and not to back out if she found it too challenging. Qiu Jiaxin insisted she had already made up her mind and didn't want to give herself a chance to change it, immediately sending her application via email. Qin Bin soon learned of Qiu Jiaxin's decision and confronted her, expressing deep concern.
He warned her that the rural support program was not as simple as she imagined and that she wouldn't be able to endure the year-long commitment, suggesting that returning midway would reflect poorly on her. Qiu Jiaxin, feeling he viewed her as childish and spoiled, countered that she was tired of being seen as someone who could only enjoy good times but couldn't face hardships. She reiterated her resolve to live a different life, mature, and grow, acknowledging the unknown challenges but asserting that she wouldn't truly know if she could succeed unless she tried.
