City of Streamer Episode 19 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Feng Shizhen noticed Feng Shixun wearing a new scarf and instantly recognized it as a handmade item from Concubine Sun. Feng Shixun casually claimed it was a gift from a patient, saying he only put it on because it was cold. Later, Feng Shizhen observed the scarf's high-quality wool but noted the uneven stitches, indicating it was hand-knitted with affection. She suspected the wealthy sender was from the Rong family, having seen similar patterns there.
Feng Shixun dismissed her concerns, comparing them to their mother's matchmaking worries, and reiterated that many patients bring gifts, and he simply grabbed the scarf to keep warm. Feng Shizhen cautioned him against accepting such personal gifts, warning it could lead to gossip and advising him to avoid suspicion. Feng Shixun acknowledged her point, agreeing to return the scarf the next day.
As they parted, Feng Shixun suggested Feng Shizhen quit her job at the Rong family after the Rong sisters finished their exams, offering her a position at his hospital where he could look after her. Feng Shizhen, in turn, advised him to maintain distance from Concubine Sun. Feng Shizhen then sought out Meng Xu'an, explaining her intention to resign from the Rong family.
Meng Xu'an, offering her a freshly baked puff pastry and making a philosophical analogy about the refinement needed in life, agreed that there was no longer a reason for her to stay. Feng Shizhen confirmed her suspicions that Rong Dingkun had thoroughly investigated her background, knowing she was a victim of the Wenchunli fire. She reasoned that staying after the sisters' exams would only arouse suspicion from both Rong Dingkun and Rong Jiashang, hence her decision to proactively resign.
Meng Xu'an saw this as a clever strategy to lower Rong Dingkun's guard. Feng Shizhen also deduced that Rong Jiashang was taking over Yang Xiucheng's position at the company after the scandal, becoming his father's right-hand man. Meng Xu'an expressed keen interest in how events would unfold. Meanwhile, Hashimoto Shozo arrived at the Rong mansion with his son, Hashimoto Taiji, to meet Rong Dingkun. Feng Shizhen overheard this from a maid.
During their visit, Hashimoto Taiji boldly asked Rong Dingkun for a discount on a new property, causing his father to apologize for his son's rudeness. Rong Dingkun smoothed things over by offering to have Rong Jiashang show Hashimoto Taiji around the next day. Rong Jiashang, trying to avoid the Japanese guests, encountered Feng Shizhen and pulled her aside. Feng Shizhen teased him about his past relationship with Shiori Hashimoto, but Rong Jiashang dismissed it as ancient history.
He asked about her parents, and Feng Shizhen gave a somber account of her father's lingering ill health from smoke inhalation and the dire situation of her family and neighbors after the Wenchunli fire, explaining that they had to sell their remaining assets and land for very little. Rong Jiashang expressed deep regret, wishing he had returned from Chongqing sooner, believing he could have prevented the fire.
Feng Shizhen, however, pragmatically noted that their vastly different backgrounds meant they might never have met even if he had. Rong Jiashang then embraced her tightly. As Rong Dingkun called for Rong Jiashang, Feng Shizhen quickly retreated to her room. After she left, Rong Jiashang pondered his intertwined fate with her, wondering how he would cope if her suffering was indeed linked to his family.
After seeing the Hashimoto father and son off, Rong Dingkun showed Rong Jiashang a photo of Meng Qingzhi, Meng Xu'an's sister. He recounted how Meng Qingzhi had given him the family heirloom, a Gold Kylin, which he was forced to sell during a business crisis. Now, Meng Xu'an wanted it back. Rong Dingkun tasked Rong Jiashang with finding the Gold Kylin to reconcile with Meng Xu'an and honor Meng Qingzhi's memory, emphasizing that it would ease Rong Jiashang's eventual succession.
Rong Jiashang initially objected, questioning why his father, a man who feared no one, would give in to Meng Xu'an, especially since the Gold Kylin was a gift. Rong Dingkun reiterated that it was a family heirloom and he felt indebted to Meng Qingzhi. He reminded Rong Jiashang that all his efforts were for his son's future and warned him to be wary of Meng Xu'an.
Rong Dingkun also informed Rong Jiashang that he was now fully in charge of Hashimoto Taiji's house viewing. The next morning, Rong Fanglin invited Feng Shizhen to join them for breakfast, which Mrs. Rong approved. A servant then delivered a large bouquet of roses from Meng Xu'an to Feng Shizhen.
Feigning a pollen allergy, Feng Shizhen asked the maid, Xiao Yu, to discard them, much to Mrs. Rong's annoyance and Rong Jiashang's displeasure, who quickly ordered the flowers to be thrown out. Rong Fanglin asked Rong Jiashang to drive them and Feng Shizhen to see the exam venue. Rong Jiashang, already scheduled to show Hashimoto Taiji properties with Wu Yunchi, suggested they all go together and visit the exam venue afterward. Elsewhere, Du Lanxin and Yang Xiucheng were intimate.
Yang Xiucheng proposed that Du Lanxin break her engagement to Rong Jiashang so they could marry. Du Lanxin, however, explained that their engagement was a business transaction with a significant financial penalty for breaking it, and she wouldn't jeopardize her two-decade-long image as a filial daughter. Yang Xiucheng revealed that Rong Jiashang secretly aspired to join the army, not to run the family business, but was forced back by Rong Dingkun.
Du Lanxin then devised a plan: she would marry Rong Jiashang, encourage his military ambitions, allowing Yang Xiucheng to consolidate power within the Rong family business. Once Yang Xiucheng was well-established and their fathers were too old to interfere, she would divorce Rong Jiashang and marry Yang Xiucheng, thereby controlling both the Rong and Du family enterprises. Unable to come up with a better immediate solution, Yang Xiucheng reluctantly went along with her long-term strategy.
Later, Wu Yunchi arrived at the Rong mansion with Shiori Hashimoto. Shiori immediately moved to the front passenger seat next to Rong Jiashang. However, Rong Jiashang instead took Feng Shizhen’s hand, leading her to the back seat and instructing the driver to proceed. Shiori, clearly displeased, nonetheless greeted Rong Jiashang, who responded indifferently.
During the drive, Shiori tried to reminisce about Shanghai with Rong Jiashang, but he brushed off her attempts, claiming he barely remembered the city after leaving at a young age. Rong Jiashang then confronted Feng Shizhen about the flowers from Meng Xu'an, asserting his displeasure and stating he had already instructed the staff to reject any future gifts from Meng Xu'an. Feng Shizhen, however, defiantly replied that she would follow his orders, but she did not need his flowers.
Rong Jiashang warned her that Meng Xu'an was dangerous and “up to something,” to which Feng Shizhen challenged, asking what Meng Xu'an could possibly want from her. When Rong Jiashang suggested "her beauty," Feng Shizhen retorted that he was "no better" in that regard. Shiori interrupted their tense exchange, and Feng Shizhen quickly covered, claiming they were discussing a special gift for Du Lanxin. Shiori remarked on Rong Jiashang’s nature to spoil women he liked.
Suddenly, the driver braked abruptly to avoid someone crossing the road, sending Feng Shizhen tumbling into Rong Jiashang's arms. Her hair became entangled in his button, and Rong Jiashang held her, taking his time to untangle it, despite her struggle to free herself. The car then arrived at the Wenchunli construction site.
Rong Jiashang, seeing the desolate area, tried to have the driver turn back, but Feng Shizhen insisted on seeing her old home, and Shiori was also interested in viewing properties. Assistant Manager Guo greeted them, describing the new development of shops and villas and leading Shiori and the Rong sisters to see a specific Western-style villa. Rong Jiashang stayed behind with Feng Shizhen, offering to send her back. Feng Shizhen bitterly questioned whether his family owned the land.
Rong Jiashang explained they had bought it cheaply and expected a boom in business once the nearby wharf became a private port. Feng Shizhen responded with a sharp, resentful remark, comparing the booming business to the destructive fire that had consumed her home. Overcome with emotion, Feng Shizhen tried to enter the dangerous ruins of her former home, but Rong Jiashang stopped her, warning of collapsing structures.
Feng Shizhen rejected his concern, angrily accusing the Rong family of building new houses and profiting while her family lost everything. Rong Jiashang tried to console her, saying there was nothing left inside, but Feng Shizhen insisted otherwise, her eyes filled with unseen pain. She recounted the horrific experience of returning from Nanjing after the fire, only to find her home in ashes and neighbors digging through the debris to find the unrecognizable remains of their loved ones.
Rong Jiashang held her tightly, repeatedly apologizing as she broke down in tears. Meanwhile, back at the Rong mansion, Concubine Sun was locked in a heated argument with Rong Dingkun. She vehemently opposed his plan to marry her fourteen-year-old niece, Wan'er, to a member of the impoverished Guo family, fearing it would ruin Wan'er's life and deplete her dowry. Rong Dingkun dismissed her concerns, defending the Guo family's prestigious Qing Dynasty lineage.
Mrs. Rong interjected, siding with her husband and harshly reminding Concubine Sun of her status as a mere concubine in the household. As Rong Jiashang, Feng Shizhen, and Rong Fanglin returned home, they entered to the loud sounds of Concubine Sun's furious protests.
