My Bargain Queen Episode 20 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
Fu Shuangshuang returns to the Holiday Garden Of Samueli in a furious mood, oblivious to the heavy rain outside. Her mother, who was on the phone trying to reach a guest whose number kept going unanswered, is surprised when Qin Hebo arrives, completely drenched and carrying his luggage. After confirming his identity, she calls for Fu Shuangshuang to show him to his room. Fu Shuangshuang complies but maintains a cold demeanor.
Qin Hebo attempts to explain that he has left Evergreen and asks her to listen, but Fu Shuangshuang remains unresponsive, stating that she is only tolerating his presence due to their past acquaintance and the pouring rain, but from tomorrow onward, they will be strangers. Meanwhile, Xia Qian and Sheng Zhening are having dinner.
Sheng Zhening updates her on the situation with Qi Lin and Building No. 2 at Evergreen, assuring her that Qi Lin likely cannot make significant moves before the opening, as it would be difficult to convince other shareholders to sell their shares at this time. Their conversation then turns to Xia Qian's father. Sheng Zhening suggests trying music therapy, citing an online case where a patient with similar symptoms recovered after listening to their favorite music daily.
Initially, Xia Qian dismisses the idea, claiming she doesn't care about her father, but eventually confesses her emotional conflict. She admits to hating him but finds herself unable to bear seeing him in his current state, acknowledging that "blood is thicker than water." She also mentions looking into other methods like acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine. Back home, Xia Qian tries to administer a bowl of traditional Chinese medicine to her father.
When she steps away to handle a work call regarding a contract, her father discreetly spits out the medicine and discards the rest. Xia Qian returns to find the medicine spilled and, despite her earlier frustration, expresses concern that he might have been burned, then decides to prepare another dose. Later, Sheng Zhening suggests Xia Qian play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Variations" for her father, as it's a unique bond between them.
Her father, hearing the music, is visibly moved to tears, leading Xia Qian to believe he's improving and decide to take him to a concert next week to further awaken his memories. Qin Hebo's attempts to interact with Fu Shuangshuang are consistently met with rejection. He notices a "tour guide service" poster at the Holiday Garden Of Samueli and inquires about it with Fu Shuangshuang's mother.
She explains the service includes guiding guests around scenic spots, meals, and transportation for 500 per day. Having received payment, Fu Shuangshuang's mother then urges a reluctant Fu Shuangshuang to be Qin Hebo's guide, hinting at her own back pain if she had to go. Fu Shuangshuang agrees but is clearly unwilling.
During the tour of local scenic spots like the Bliss Pavilion in Yangliuqing, Fu Shuangshuang gives a perfunctory introduction, brushing off Qin Hebo's attempts to elaborate on details she skipped. He buys two wishing cards, encouraging her to make a wish, but she refuses, wishing instead that he would "get out of her sight." For lunch, she offers him instant noodles and then dozes off nearby, prompting Qin Hebo to secretly take a photo of her with his phone.
Later, to avoid Qin Hebo, Fu Shuangshuang starts taking on guiding jobs for other guests, even developing blisters on her feet. Qin Hebo, concerned for her well-being, offers to pay her a week's guide fee to be his guide, but she coldly refuses, stating her preference to earn money from other clients and her right to choose. By chance, Sheng Zhening discovers that Xia Qian's father is faking his condition.
At her father's earnest plea, he promises to keep it a secret from Xia Qian. Later, while accompanying Xia Qian and her father to a park, Sheng Zhening speaks to her father while Xia Qian is away buying cotton candy. He tells him that he cannot pretend forever, and Xia Qian's father agrees that with her softening attitude, it's time to "wake up" and suggests the upcoming concert as an opportunity.
Sheng Zhening advises him to pretend his memories have returned at the end of the concert and to act naturally. Xia Qian's father practices various expressions, but Sheng Zhening finds his attempts "a little bit unnatural." On the way to the concert, Xia Qian leaves her father in his wheelchair to buy water. Her father suddenly sees a motorcycle heading towards Xia Qian.
Without a second thought, he stands up from his wheelchair and pushes her out of harm's way, inadvertently exposing his deception. Sheng Zhening, arriving at the scene, attempts to frame the act as "father's love." Xia Qian, however, notices the absence of a surgical wound on her father's head and realizes he was pretending. Deeply disappointed and hurt, she leaves him.
Sheng Zhening finds a distraught Xia Qian in the park, where she refuses to forgive her father, calling him a liar. Sheng Zhening then admits he knew about the pretense, explaining that her father had begged him to keep it a secret. He shows her a photo album meticulously compiled by her father, filled with pictures documenting her childhood and growth.
Sheng Zhening reveals that her father was never truly absent but had been silently watching over her from a distance, feeling ashamed to face her due to his stagnant music career. Moved by this, Xia Qian decides to forgive him. However, when she returns home, her father is gone.
Searching for him at the hotel where they first reunited, she uncovers the devastating truth: her father's brain tumor is real, and the surgery is highly risky, with a chance he might not wake up. A doctor had informed him that delaying the surgery further could be fatal. He had orchestrated the elaborate deception purely to spend more cherished time with her before facing the operation.
Xia Qian is informed that her father has fainted again and been rushed to the emergency room for urgent surgery. Sheng Zhening drives her to the hospital, but heavy traffic forces her to run the rest of the way. She arrives as the surgery concludes, relieved that it was successful and her father is slowly regaining consciousness. He gently reassures her, promising that he is "not leaving."
