My Bargain Queen Episode 18 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
Qin Hebo covertly resolved the ongoing leakage issue with Fu Shuangshuang's downstairs neighbor. He visited the neighbor, assessed the damage to the wall and bath heater, and compensated him 2000 yuan. He also paid an additional 500 yuan as a "seal-off fee," explicitly instructing the neighbor not to disclose his involvement to Fu Shuangshuang.
After finishing her live stream, Fu Shuangshuang returned home to find her neighbor's attitude unexpectedly cooperative; he merely stated that Property Management would handle the issue, leaving Fu Shuangshuang bewildered. Sheng Zhening grew irritated when he noticed several fans in Xia Qian’s live stream adopting names like “My Summer No. 1,” a special name he had given her. He confronted Xia Qian, subtly suggesting she block these accounts, but she refused, playfully accusing him of jealousy, which he vehemently denied.
Despite his protestations, Xia Qian decided to publicly clarify her relationship status during her next live stream to ease his mind. She announced, "I already have a boyfriend. He's very excellent. I love him so much. He's the one in my life. The only one. So I am not single."
Although her fan count temporarily dipped by three followers, her team and audience members supported her honesty, emphasizing that integrity and trustworthiness in live streaming were more important than maintaining a false persona for increased viewership. Ning Meng’s persistent concerns about He Zhijuan’s well-being led to a strained exchange when she found him taking stomach medicine and insisted he see a doctor.
He Zhijuan, visibly agitated, told her he knew his own condition and that he was tired of their cycle of arguments and apologies. Reflecting on their relationship, Ning Meng visited Doctor Zhang at the psychological clinic, stirring memories of their early days. She later met He Zhijuan at a park they frequented. There, she sincerely apologized for her overbearing nature, promising never to interfere with his work, doubt him, or fear losing him.
She also recalled a soothing recording of natural sounds he had once given her during an illness, realizing he had personally recorded it, and reiterated how much she cherishes him. Moved, He Zhijuan reassured her of his unwavering affection and asked her not to worry about their future. To reconnect and find peace, they planned an overseas trip, fulfilling his earlier promise to take her traveling around the world.
During a shareholders' meeting, Mr. Gao and some other stakeholders proposed Sheng Zhening's reinstatement as Evergreen's general manager, praising his capabilities, especially after the successful 30th-anniversary celebration. Other shareholders, however, opposed this, fearing that frequent leadership changes would project an image of instability. Sheng Zhening then deferred to Qin Hebo for his opinion, who stated he had no objections and would abide by the board's decision. Sheng Zhening abruptly left the meeting, leaving other shareholders confused.
Qin Hebo’s assistant lamented that Sheng Zhening and his allies were "burning the bridge," attempting to remove Qin Hebo from his position after all his hard work. In a separate development, Qin Hebo had uncovered compromising video evidence of Mr. Gao’s affair, intending to use it to coerce Mr. Gao into selling his Evergreen shares, knowing his assets were mostly controlled by his wife.
Qin Hebo initially considered sharing this with Mr. Xue, but a discovery of a recording device in Mr. Xue’s car revealed Mr. Xue’s lack of trust. This prompted Qin Hebo to rethink his strategy and begin planning his own exit. His assistant, acting independently and believing Qin Hebo was hesitant due to his connection with Sheng Zhening, took the initiative to inform Mr. Xue, only to be angrily rebuked by Qin Hebo. Fu Shuangshuang’s apartment experienced a power outage.
While calling Property Management, she discovered that the previous leakage had been resolved by Qin Hebo, who had paid the compensation and instructed them to keep it a secret. This revelation clarified the downstairs neighbor’s earlier, uncharacteristic response. Fu Shuangshuang arranged to meet Qin Hebo, returning the 2000 yuan he had paid, stating she did not want to owe him anything.
Qin Hebo then pleaded for another chance, promising to reform, but Fu Shuangshuang, after a moment of reflection, simply stated, "I don't know," and walked away, leaving him unable to salvage their relationship. Due to a recent drop in fan engagement, the head office gave Xia Qian a challenging assignment: promoting Hanfu culture through live streaming. Despite feeling awkward in the traditional attire, she decided to wear the Hanfu herself to ensure better promotional results.
The evening before her live stream, Xia Qian called Sheng Zhening, playfully telling him not to watch or record it, feeling somewhat embarrassed. The next day, Sheng Zhening unexpectedly appeared at her apartment, claiming his promise not to watch the live stream didn’t preclude watching her work in person.
Before Xia Qian could begin her broadcast, Sheng Zhening received an urgent call from An An, informing him that Evergreen Hotel was facing a crisis: Mr. Gao had sold his shares to Lihe Capital, making them a significant new shareholder. An An also revealed that Lihe Capital, through Mr. Xue, had secretly acquired additional shares from other shareholders, including Mr. Lin and Mr. Yu, now possessing at least 10% of Evergreen.
Concerned, Xia Qian, still in her Hanfu, rushed to the hotel. She was relieved to find Sheng Zhening safe. At the hotel, Sheng Zhening immediately convened an emergency meeting, where he played a video statement from Mr. Gao, who clarified that his share sale was for personal reasons unrelated to Evergreen’s operations.
To further calm the uneasy shareholders, Xia Qian presented a dynamic chart she and An An had prepared, visually demonstrating Evergreen’s consistent growth over the years, effectively reassuring them. After the meeting, Sheng Zhening explained to Xia Qian the full extent of the crisis, including how Lihe Capital had blackmailed Mr. Gao with compromising videos from a hidden camera in his room.
Sheng Zhening suspected Qin Hebo was behind the camera installation, noting that Qin Hebo had previously replaced Evergreen's coded locks with a vendor connected to Lihe Capital, making the hotel vulnerable. He assured Xia Qian he would handle the matter. Later that evening, Mr. Xue of Lihe Capital extended an invitation to Sheng Zhening and other major shareholders for dinner at the hotel. Recognizing it as a "White Vengeance," Sheng Zhening decided to attend.
Xia Qian's Hanfu live stream was a resounding success, selling out all the dresses, cosmetics, and other traditional items she promoted, and gaining a thousand new fans. Recognizing the talent of her team member, Mu Xiaoyan, Xia Qian decided to step back from being the main anchor and promote Mu Xiaoyan to lead future live streams, acknowledging her greater suitability and infectious charisma.
At Mr. Xue’s dinner, he announced Lihe Capital’s new shareholder status and expressed a desire for collective effort, saying they would "be in the same boat and share weal or woe" for Evergreen's future. Meanwhile, Sheng Zhening instructed An An to prepare VIP customer information for the new housekeeping manager, ensuring a smooth transition. Later, Sheng Zhening encountered Qin Hebo and invited him to talk privately in his car about recent events.
