Encounter with You Episode 31 Recap
> Encounter with You Recap
Hua Ming handed Wan Xinxin a first aid kit, advising her to be careful in the future as she might need it. In response, Wan Xinxin took off the engagement ring he had given her. When he hesitated to accept it, she asked, "You don't want it? If you don't want it, I'll throw it away," and with a despairing gesture, flung the ring from the balcony.
Reflecting on her feelings, she thought, "I thought after all these changes, my heart would never race again. But then I met you. Yet I no longer believe in love. It's not that I don't want to love despite being hurt before. Who can predict what fate has in store? It's not that I don't want to love." Soon after, while on her way to the airport, Wan Xinxin instructed her driver to turn around.
Returning to Hua Ming's building, Wan Xinxin frantically searched for the ring on the rain-soaked grass below the balcony. Hua Ming, also drenched, approached her and told her he had already searched multiple times without success. Undeterred, Wan Xinxin continued her desperate search and eventually found the ring. She then knelt, presenting the ring to Hua Ming, and proposed to him, saying, "I don't want to miss you again.
As long as we're together, whether you go to America or anywhere else, I'll wait for you. Whether it's 3 years, 5 years, 10 years or 30 years, I'm willing to wait, as long as we can be together. You said you believe in fate. But this time I don't want to let heaven decide for us. I want to fight for my own happiness. Marry me. Please give me a chance to love you."
Hua Ming embraced her tightly, as if afraid she would disappear. He agreed, "Let's get married. We'll register tomorrow. Then we'll have the wedding." Wan Xinxin responded, "I don't care what kind of wedding it is as long as you're there." Hua Ming then informed Xia Qing and Ruirui of his decision. He spoke with Ruirui, explaining that due to their adult relationship, he and her mother could no longer be together.
He assured her, "Ruirui is a big girl now. There's one thing I hope you understand. No matter when, no matter what happens, Mom and Dad will always love you. That will never change." Ruirui, showing maturity, asked, "Dad, are you not coming to America with us because you want to be with Sister Wan Xinxin?"
Xia Qing tried to coerce Ruirui into telling Hua Ming that he couldn't marry Wan Xinxin, but Ruirui bravely asserted, "Mom, I think I've grown up. I believe what Dad said is true. No matter what happens, the fact that Mom and Dad love me will never change. So this is your adult business. I won't interfere anymore." Despite Ruirui's acceptance, Xia Qing vehemently opposed Hua Ming's decision, declaring, "I won't let you marry Wan Xinxin."
As Hua Ming attempted to leave, Xia Qing blocked his path, begging him, "Huaming, you can't go. For more than three years, you've never said you wanted to remarry me. Now Ruirui has agreed." Hua Ming responded, "I hope you won't interfere with my life, okay? Thank you." She insisted, "I don't have to remarry you, but you can't marry her either." When Hua Ming questioned her reasons, she refused to elaborate, only pleading, "Listen to me just this once.
I'm really doing this for your own good. You absolutely cannot marry her. I already hurt you once three years ago. I know how you've been getting by these three years. So I'm begging you, you can't marry her. I won't let you get hurt again." Hua Ming calmly stated, "We are family and friends. That will never change. When you left with Ruirui three years ago, I didn't try to stop you.
I hope you won't try to stop me now." Xia Qing escalated her efforts, standing in front of his car and threatening, "If you insist on going today, you'll have to run me over first." She warned that if he married Wan Xinxin, "the pain she'll cause you will be unbearable for the rest of your life."
When Hua Ming again demanded to know why, Xia Qing finally hinted at a past incident, asking, "Do you remember three years ago, what made you put down your scalpel?" Driven by Xia Qing's cryptic warning, Hua Ming immediately drove to his former hospital. There, he asked a former intern, Yang, to retrieve his surgery records from June 4, 2012.
Reviewing the files, Hua Ming had a vivid flashback to that day: he had two critical patients, including Wan Xinxin's father, Wan Quanyou. Prioritizing the more critical condition of a young man, he decided to perform that surgery first, planning to operate on Wan Quanyou afterward. However, upon completing the first surgery, he was tragically informed that "The patient, Wan Quanyou, shows no vital signs anymore."
Overwhelmed by this devastating truth, Hua Ming turned off his phone and retreated to the seaside to grapple with his emotions, remembering Wan Xinxin's heartfelt proposal. Meanwhile, Wan Xinxin and her sister waited impatiently at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Her sister urged her to call Hua Ming, but when Wan Xinxin did, his phone was off. The next day, Hua Ming met Xia Qing and Ruirui at the airport to see them off.
Xia Qing mentioned that Ruirui disliked airport goodbyes, calling them "final goodbyes." Hua Ming reassured his daughter, "No matter what happens, as long as we hold hands, we'll always be a family. Whenever you need me in the future, I'll be there for you. Trust me." Xia Qing asked him how he planned to deal with Wan Xinxin. Hua Ming replied, "I'll tell her the truth. I can't keep hiding it from her. I'll tell her when I get back."
Xia Qing offered him a way out, saying, "If you can't handle it, come find us in America." She also urged him, "Promise me you'll take care of these hands. When Ruirui and I come back, I hope you'll be back at the operating table." After seeing them off, Hua Ming walked to the entrance of Wan Xinxin's gallery, but unable to face her, he hesitated and retreated.
Elsewhere, Jiang Kaiyang was heard on a phone call, expressing stress about repaying a loan and asking for more time, hinting at a serious financial issue. Soon after, Liu Wei summoned him to her office and surprised him with a promotion to Acting CEO and Chief Financial Officer. Overjoyed, Jiang Kaiyang pledged his absolute loyalty, confirming that Qin Gang had approved the appointment.
Liu Wei then mentioned that she had "accidentally overheard" his earlier call and asked if he was facing financial difficulties. Jiang Kaiyang explained his significant financial burden from his child's studies abroad and substantial mortgage payments. Liu Wei generously offered to lend him 40,000, which he accepted as a loan, promising to repay her.
At home, Qin Gang told Liu Wei that Hua Ming had called him, stating he was returning to America and had strangely urged Qin Gang to "be nicer to Wan Xinxin." Qin Gang also voiced his concern that his mother's recent peculiar phone calls indicated she might be planning a surprise return, and he feared she would find them together. Liu Wei attempted to reassure him, and they shared a tender moment.
However, their intimacy was abruptly interrupted when Qin Mother appeared at their doorway, catching them in the act. Qin Mother immediately confronted Liu Wei, expressing her strong disapproval. She reminded Liu Wei of her past breakup with Qin Gang and accused her of making a "very basic mistake" by returning, implying she was not good enough for her son. Qin Mother went on to accuse Liu Wei of selfishly breaking up Qin Gang's family.
Despite Qin Gang's attempts to defend Liu Wei, his mother dismissed him, saying, "If you had any sense at all, you wouldn't let her cling to you again." Visibly upset, Liu Wei left. Qin Mother then scolded Qin Gang for his lack of maturity, despite being a father. Unable to tell Wan Xinxin the truth, Hua Ming moved out of his home, leaving it for Wan Xinxin and her child. He carried only simple luggage to Chen Weimin's hospital dormitory.
He confessed to Chen Weimin his inability to tell Wan Xinxin everything and pleaded with him to keep his new location a secret. Shortly after Hua Ming settled in, Wan Xinxin arrived at the hospital, frantically searching for him. Chen Weimin, upholding his promise to Hua Ming, lied and told her he hadn't seen Hua Ming for days, suggesting a nurse must have mistaken someone else for him. Hua Ming, hidden in his dorm room, listened as Wan Xinxin called out his name, but he remained out of sight, unable to face her.
