My Bargain Queen Episode 17 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
Fu Shuangshuang met Qin Hebo as promised, but her demeanor was cold. She returned the necklace he had given her, stating that since they couldn't be together, keeping his gifts would be inappropriate. She then abruptly left, insisting she had other things to do, even as heavy rain began to fall. Qin Hebo, confused by her sudden change in attitude, chased after her.
He asked why she didn't have her umbrella, but she retorted that it was none of his business and told him to leave her alone. Fu Shuangshuang then confronted him, revealing she had overheard his phone call in the kitchen and knew he had been using her from the very beginning. She accused him of putting on a convincing act, knowing she was vulnerable to kindness, and insisted he leave her alone.
Qin Hebo confessed that he had used her and lied, but maintained that his feelings for her were genuine. Unconvinced, Fu Shuangshuang told him she no longer knew what was real or fake, declaring they were too different and she never wanted to see him again. Distraught, Fu Shuangshuang then sought out Xia Qian and Sheng Zhening, revealing Qin Hebo's true intentions.
She explained that his phone conversation implied he and a Mr. Xue were behind the recent troubles at Evergreen Hotel, and she suspected his goal was to help Lihe Capital's Mr. Xue acquire Evergreen. She also realized that Qin Hebo had likely tampered with her budget comparison sheet, making the termite-prone African log appear to be the best option.
Sheng Zhening assured her she was a victim and had nothing to feel guilty about, while Xia Qian offered her comfort and a place to rest. Meanwhile, Qin Hebo called Mr. Xue, informing him their relationship had been exposed. Mr. Xue, unfazed, reminded Qin Hebo that they had already achieved their objectives and Sheng Zhening lacked proof. He believed Sheng Zhening wouldn't risk Evergreen's reputation by causing trouble right before the 30th-anniversary celebration.
He stressed that their priority remained acquiring shares from other shareholders. Later, Sheng Zhening and Xia Qian discussed the revelation. Sheng Zhening expressed his disappointment but acknowledged that knowing Qin Hebo's true nature would allow them to be prepared. He decided against immediate action, prioritizing a successful anniversary celebration to avoid harming Evergreen's reputation. To this end, he instructed his assistant to adjust the seating chart, placing him at the shareholders' table instead of with Qin Hebo.
He also convened a meeting to delegate all anniversary-related tasks away from himself, and requested Qin Hebo's complete work records during his recent absence. Furthermore, he explicitly instructed his assistant to seat Xia Qian beside him at the celebration. Unbeknownst to Sheng Zhening, Xia Qian fell ill with acute gastroenteritis after drinking expired cold milk and was hospitalized.
To prevent him from worrying and being distracted from the upcoming anniversary, she intentionally lied during his phone call, claiming she was at the Live Stream Head Office with Mu Xiaoyan for a client meeting, even having Mu Xiaoyan loudly pretend to fix a projector. A nurse's voice in the background, however, made Sheng Zhening suspicious. Using the GPS on her watch, he tracked her to the hospital.
He was relieved to find her condition was not serious but reprimanded her for lying and making decisions without him. He instructed her to recover well and promised to visit after the celebration, as everyone was waiting for him. Outside Xia Qian's hospital room, Mu Xiaoyan confronted Sheng Zhening, initiating a "man-to-man conversation." Mu Xiaoyan bluntly admitted his long-standing affection for Xia Qian, listing her earnestness, hard work, thoughtfulness, and intelligence as reasons.
Sheng Zhening, unfazed, reciprocated by listing what he loved about her, including her fondness for street food, her sleepwalking, and her transparent lies. Mu Xiaoyan pressed on, questioning if Sheng Zhening felt no threat given his constant presence in Xia Qian's life, helping her work and caring for her. Sheng Zhening calmly replied that he saw it as a positive thing that someone else could look after her when he couldn't be there.
He thanked Mu Xiaoyan for his care, to which Mu Xiaoyan retorted that he wasn't doing it for Sheng Zhening. Before Sheng Zhening left for the anniversary, Mu Xiaoyan issued a warning: if Sheng Zhening ever mistreated Xia Qian, he would not be forgiven. The Evergreen Hotel's 30th-anniversary celebration was a resounding success, thanks to Sheng Zhening's leadership. Qin Hebo, claiming to be unwell, avoided attending. Meanwhile, He Zhijuan underwent a routine psychological check-up.
He confided in his supervisor about the immense pressure he was under, particularly how his personal and professional lives had become inextricably linked. He recalled Ning Meng renting a cake shop directly opposite his hospital, intending to accompany him to and from work daily, a gesture he found suffocating. He admitted to over-prioritizing her happiness, believing it would prevent conflicts, but recognized it as an unhealthy dynamic exacerbated since their wedding.
He also recalled Ning Meng's interference at his workplace, leading to a colleague's transfer. The supervisor noted that He Zhijuan's work performance was fine, and his stress primarily stemmed from his marriage, urging him to communicate openly with Ning Meng as his wife. Later, Ning Meng discovered He Zhijuan secretly taking stomach medication. Realizing the emotional toll her actions had taken on him, she sincerely apologized.
After several days of rest, Xia Qian recovered and returned to work, joining her team to discuss product selection and the live stream schedule. During the planning, Sheng Zhening asked An An to register an account for him to follow Xia Qian's live stream. An An chose the username "My Summer." When Xia Qian later found the name quite conspicuous, Sheng Zhening, aware of her observation, decided to keep it.
Lie'er advised the team on strategic product ordering, emphasizing beginning with big discount items and flash sales to attract viewers, and reserving the most impactful products for the peak viewing hours between 9:00 PM and 10:30 PM to maximize sales. Mu Xiaoyan was jokingly assigned to handle snack promotions, with Lie'er suggesting that being hungry would make him eat more enthusiastically. Despite her lack of experience, Xia Qian successfully hosted her first live stream with Lie'er's expert guidance.
They showcased products, including a special storytelling doll that could mimic parental voices, which deeply resonated with Xia Qian and became the best-selling item. The live stream garnered significant positive feedback and a surge in followers. Afterward, the team analyzed their backend data, noting a peak audience of nearly 49,000 viewers when Xia Qian introduced the doll, affirming their "caring card" strategy resonated with many mothers.
Lie'er encouraged Fu Shuangshuang, who was nervous about being on camera, to take her time. To celebrate the successful debut, Mu Xiaoyan offered to treat everyone to a barbecue. However, Fu Shuangshuang had to decline, as she had arranged for Property Management to fix her leaking bathroom pipe that evening. Later, Sheng Zhening reviewed Qin Hebo's work records from his absence.
While most tasks were routine, one detail stood out: Qin Hebo had personally paid for additional paint needed for the renovation of Building No. 2. Curiously, the paint itself was found to be untampered with. That same night, Sheng Zhening spoke to Xia Qian, acknowledging his previous attempts to boost her sales (such as using a festival to buy products through her stream) were ineffective. He proposed a more substantial solution: investing in her live streaming business as a shareholder.
He clarified that this decision was based purely on his confidence in the industry's prospects and her team's business capabilities, not their personal relationship. Xia Qian, surprised, questioned if he'd be satisfied with their work, but Sheng Zhening reassured her, emphasizing his consistent success in investments and his trust in her. Meanwhile, Fu Shuangshuang's bathroom leak worsened, prompting a furious neighbor to demand immediate action.
Caught between the urgent plumbing issue and her upcoming live stream, Fu Shuangshuang, desperate, offered her ID card as collateral to assure the neighbor she would return to resolve the problem. Qin Hebo, who had been observing discreetly, stepped in after Fu Shuangshuang left. He compensated the neighbor two thousand yuan to settle the matter and explicitly requested that they not mention his intervention to Fu Shuangshuang.
