City of Streamer Episode 26 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
During the charity auction, Du Lanxin mistakenly believed Rong Jiashang was bidding on the ruby necklace for her, but she openly expressed her dislike for the item. Rong Jiashang and Meng Xu'an engaged in a fierce bidding war, driving the price up to 2,000 yuan. Rong Jiashang eventually withdrew, allowing Meng Xu'an to win. Meng Xu'an then took the ruby necklace and personally draped it around Feng Shizhen's neck, remarking that it suited her well.
Later, Rong Jiashang approached Feng Shizhen, commenting that the necklace didn't quite suit her. He questioned why she had attended the auction with Meng Xu'an, implying she might be rejecting him for Meng Xu'an. Feng Shizhen deftly shifted the topic, drawing his attention to Du Lanxin and Yang Xiucheng who were close by and exhibiting intimate gestures. Rong Jiashang, however, seemed unfazed.
He revealed that Du Lanxin was already expecting a child and explicitly stated that the child was not his. Feng Shizhen explained her presence by saying Xiao Baoli had brought her to see the world at the auction, and Meng Xu'an had simply offered to be her escort. Rong Jiashang responded with a sarcastic remark about Meng Xu'an being a "gentleman" for bringing her to this particular auction.
Feng Shizhen then observed Rong Dingkun and Hashimoto Shozo's attempts to arrange a match between Rong Fanglin and Hashimoto Taiichi. She pointed out Hashimoto Taiichi's "heart disease" and questioned why he was at the auction. Rong Jiashang dismissed it as a "perfunctory effort out of courtesy" and insisted that a sick man also needed to go out sometimes. He then pressed Feng Shizhen about her relationship with Meng Xu'an.
Feng Shizhen countered by accusing Rong Jiashang of having "Du Lanxin and Hashimoto Shiori at the same time," urging him to resolve his own romantic entanglements before interfering in hers. She emphasized that he couldn't even control his own marriage. Rong Jiashang clarified that his engagement with Du Lanxin would "be broken off soon" and he would not marry Hashimoto Shiori.
He then pleaded with Feng Shizhen for "six months" to sort out his affairs, but she firmly stated, "I can't wait for six months." Rong Jiashang pulled Feng Shizhen aside, asking for a specific timeframe. Feng Shizhen boldly proposed they elope "tonight," suggesting they "buy two train tickets and leave here. Leave your family and my family. Let's leave Shanghai" to pursue his ideals.
Rong Jiashang refused, citing his responsibilities as the "eldest son of my family" and his inability to simply "walk away like this." Feng Shizhen warned him that the Rong family was a "giant ship that is destined to sink" and that his father's actions would inevitably drag him down. Rong Jiashang acknowledged the danger but insisted he "must protect" his "innocent members in my family" and "take the responsibility."
He declared his ambition to have both: "to protect my family and fulfill my ambitions," and added, "I want you, too." He then promised Feng Shizhen that he would eventually leave with her after accomplishing his goals, but she reiterated her urgency, stating that her offer was only "available just for tonight." Meng Xu'an, observing their tense conversation, remarked to Feng Shizhen that Rong Jiashang had predictably refused to leave with her.
He warned her against being blinded by love, likening it to "opium"—initially exhilarating but ultimately leading to unbearable suffering. He argued that rational individuals should avoid such addiction from the start, though Feng Shizhen admitted that "I couldn't stop myself from falling in love." Meanwhile, Hashimoto Shiori continued to actively promote a match between Rong Fanglin and her brother, Hashimoto Taiichi, despite Mrs. Rong's concern for Taiichi's health and suggestion that he rest.
Shiori Hashimoto assured them of Taiichi's good health. Privately, Rong Fanglin expressed her frustration to Hashimoto Taiichi about her father's blatant matchmaking. Hashimoto Taiichi shared her sentiment, suggesting they instead "get along as friends and cherish the present." Later, a subordinate of Meng Xu'an informed Feng Shizhen that Xiao Baoli was unwell and requested her company. Feng Shizhen was led to a room where Meng Xu'an locked her inside with Meng Xiaojiu.
Meng Xu'an cryptically told her to "keep Xiaojiu good company" and to guess "who will be the winner of tonight." Meng Xiaojiu, in his child-like state, excitedly revealed his "big brother wants me to watch a play." He explained Meng Xu'an's scheme: their "daddy is down there," and Meng Xu'an intended to "kill the man who took my birthright," referring to "Daddy's eldest son."
Feng Shizhen quickly deduced that Meng Xiaojiu was Rong Dingkun's son and that Meng Xu'an planned to murder Rong Jiashang, then present Rong Dingkun with a "crippled and crazy son" to make him "know what a terrible sin he had committed 16 years ago." She frantically tried to escape, but Meng Xiaojiu calmly informed her that Meng Xu'an had made thorough arrangements and refused to reveal the key's location as his brother had instructed him not to.
The auction proceeded with the highly anticipated "Gold Kylin." Hashimoto Shozo was visibly stunned to see it on display, claiming he "didn't hear it was a pair" when he suspected it was his own treasured item. He immediately dispatched men to check his residence. Upon seeing the Gold Kylin, Hashimoto Taiichi fainted, and Shiori Hashimoto quickly administered his emergency medication. Rong Dingkun instructed Rong Jiashang to "make sure you win it. It can't fall into other hands."
Another intense bidding war erupted between Rong Jiashang and Meng Xu'an, reaching 180,000 yuan. Rong Jiashang ultimately secured the Gold Kylin, while Meng Xu'an ominously remarked, "The Gold Kylin must return to its owner." Inside the locked room, desperate to find a way out, Feng Shizhen feigned madness and pretended to be Meng Xiaojiu's mother, berating him as a "monster."
She appealed to his desire to see his "daddy," eventually coaxing him to reveal the key's location, which he pointed out was "under the floor." Feng Shizhen retrieved the key, unlocked the door, and saw a sniper on the second floor aiming directly at Rong Jiashang. Shouting a warning, she rushed onto the stage and tackled Rong Jiashang. Two shots rang out, narrowly missing them as they fell.
The auction hall descended into chaos, and Hashimoto Taiichi fainted again from the fright. Feng Shizhen pulled Rong Jiashang to flee, but Meng Xu'an ordered his men to pursue them. Rong Jiashang, unwilling to see more innocent lives lost, urged Feng Shizhen to escape while he grabbed a gun to confront the attackers. Meanwhile, Zhao Hua'an handed Rong Dingkun a gun before returning to assist Mrs. Rong. As Rong Dingkun attempted to leave, he was accidentally shot by the police.
Du Lanxin and Yang Xiucheng also fled, with Du Lanxin suffering severe abdominal pain, but Yang Xiucheng protected her. Hashimoto Shozo evacuated Hashimoto Taiichi, who collapsed yet again due to extreme shock. Rong Jiashang fought his way through the melee, but Meng Xu'an cornered him, pushing Meng Xiaojiu forward. Meng Xiaojiu, still fixated on his brother's plan, urged Meng Xu'an to "kill him quickly," believing it would earn him his "daddy's" love. Meng Xu'an then revealed his entire elaborate scheme.
Rong Jiashang realized that Meng Xu'an's intention was to use the Gold Kylin as leverage to coerce Rong Dingkun and orchestrate "brothers killing each other." Meng Xu'an explicitly stated that Meng Xiaojiu was "the only legacy Rong Dingkun left for the Meng family," and his ultimate goal was to kill Rong Jiashang, thereby presenting Rong Dingkun with both his "crippled and crazy son" and Rong Jiashang's "dead body" to avenge the past.
Rong Jiashang realized Meng Xu'an's true intention was to make the "lunatic the heir to the Rong family" and expose Rong Dingkun's long-buried secrets. Meng Xu'an further revealed that Rong Jiashang had used a "fake Gold Kylin" at the auction. Just then, Feng Shizhen arrived, holding a gun to Meng Xu'an's head, demanding Rong Jiashang's release. Meng Xu'an attempted to expose a "secret" related to Feng Shizhen, implying it concerned Rong Jiashang's biological elder siblings and Rong Dingkun's past.
Ignoring him, Rong Jiashang insisted Feng Shizhen come with him. Together, they maneuvered Meng Xu'an to a window. After a shared glance, they pushed Meng Xu'an aside and leapt from the window, landing miraculously on a car parked below. They quickly drove off. Meng Xu'an, undeterred, commandeered another car and, with two more vehicles, pursued them. Rong Jiashang skillfully evaded the chase cars, but they eventually found themselves surrounded.
