My Bargain Queen Episode 26 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
After getting her stitches removed, Xia Qian urged Sheng Zhening to visit Ning Meng, acknowledging that he must be exhausted managing the hotel, caring for Ning Meng, and sparing her own feelings. On the way, Sheng Zhening nearly had a car accident. He clarified to a worried Xia Qian that it was due to an oncoming car driving on the wrong side, not fatigue. Xia Qian, however, remained shaken and pleaded with him to be more careful.
Through recent interactions, Qin Hebo had increasingly realized he and Fu Shuangshuang needed an external push to accelerate their relationship, especially after they were often mistaken for a couple by passersby while shopping. Later, while Qin Hebo was helping Fu Shuangshuang in the kitchen, she accidentally cut her hand.
As he bandaged her wound, he brought up how people often mistook them for a couple, introducing the concept of "a sense of coupling"—a unique aura between two people that feels like a chemical reaction, existing in small details like concerned looks or special nicknames. Fu Shuangshuang secretly delighted in this idea. Qin Hebo then suggested they eat out since she couldn't cook with her injured hand.
Xia Qian’s mother, Xia Mom, expressed her anxieties about Xia Qian’s future with Sheng Zhening, citing Ning Meng’s constant troubles. She feared even more complications if they were to marry. Hu Zhen speculated that Ning Meng’s perverse behavior might be attributed to her pregnancy and could improve after childbirth, a notion Xia Mom found hard to believe.
Reflecting on Ning Meng’s past declaration that she would never accept Xia Qian into their family and her relentless efforts to separate them, Xia Qian spent a sleepless night. The next morning, she went to the Evergreen Hotel to speak with Sheng Zhening privately, unaware that Ning Meng was eavesdropping. Xia Qian proposed that they "break up," explaining her desire for a simple relationship and her inability to navigate such a complex family dynamic.
Sheng Zhening, deeply disappointed, accused her of selfishness, a charge Xia Qian readily admitted, saying she had always been a selfish person in relationships. The conversation concluded with Xia Qian confirming her departure, fully aware of its implications. Upon hearing about Sheng Zhening and Xia Qian’s "breakup," Chen Manhui immediately asked Ning Meng to arrange opportunities for her to spend time with Sheng Zhening. Ning Meng initially hesitated, worrying that her brother might be unreceptive due to his current mood.
However, Chen Manhui convinced her, suggesting that Sheng Zhening needed companionship and that Xia Qian might be playing hard to get. Chen Manhui expressed her belief that if Xia Qian hadn’t been around, Sheng Zhening would have already noticed her. Elsewhere, He Zhijuan meticulously cared for a pregnant Ning Meng. When presented with a month-long overseas study opportunity, he declined, prioritizing Ning Meng's well-being.
However, Ning Meng, reflecting on past mistakes, insisted he accept it, reassuring him that her brother, Sheng Zhening, would be there to look after her. He Zhijuan was swayed by her persuasion. Unaware of the true situation, Xia Mom and Hu Zhen discussed Xia Qian’s recent "breakup" and decided to arrange blind dates for her, believing it was the best way to heal her emotional wounds. Xia Qian, however, casually dismissed their worries, assuring them she was fine.
In reality, her "breakup" with Sheng Zhening was a charade designed to stabilize Ning Meng's emotions during her pregnancy, as Xia Qian wished to spare Sheng Zhening from being torn between them. They agreed to maintain a "secret relationship." Sheng Zhening and Xia Qian continued their relationship discreetly through video calls.
During one call, Sheng Zhening informed Xia Qian that Ning Meng was already setting him up on blind dates, to which Xia Qian replied that her mother was doing the same for her. Sheng Zhening expressed his longing to see her in person. Xia Qian guided him through a relaxing visualization, imagining himself in a tranquil meadow until a girl, identified as her, embraced him from behind, their heartbeats synchronized.
The scene culminated with Chopin’s Nocturne, a detail that resonated with Sheng Zhening. He then instructed his assistant, An An, to find tickets for a Chopin-themed piano concert, intending to invite Xia Qian. An An, curious, questioned if their secret relationship was a quest for "new excitement." Sheng Zhening sent the concert tickets to Xia Qian, who received them at her workplace.
Meanwhile, Ning Meng somehow discovered Sheng Zhening had concert tickets and, with a plan in mind, bought two more for herself and Chen Manhui, intending to crash Sheng Zhening's date. At the hotel, Sheng Zhening tried to evade Ning Meng and Chen Manhui by citing urgent work, but Ning Meng insisted he escort them, emphasizing Chen Manhui's father's influential position. Sheng Zhening eventually tasked An An with showing them around while he ostensibly attended a meeting.
At her workplace, Mu Xiaoyan and a colleague noticed Xia Qian leaving early, presuming her lingering sadness over the "breakup." Xia Qian arrived at the music hall, only to find Sheng Zhening with Ning Meng and Chen Manhui. Sheng Zhening initially accompanied Ning Meng and Chen Manhui into the concert hall. Once inside, he subtly excused himself and rejoined Xia Qian backstage. They enjoyed the music from their secluded spot, prioritizing their privacy despite the less-than-ideal acoustics.
After the concert, Sheng Zhening drove Xia Qian home. From a distance, Xia Mom saw a man dropping Xia Qian off and mistakenly assumed it was a new boyfriend, prompting her to remark on Xia Qian's perceived heartlessness. Hu Zhen, though, suggested Xia Qian was merely trying to distract herself from the pain. Xia Qian, feigning hunger, deflected her mother’s intrusive questions. The Evergreen Hotel formally established its E-commerce Department.
During a board meeting, a shareholder commended Xia Qian's capabilities and her "internet mindset," proposing her for a project team leader role within the new department. Sheng Zhening supported the idea. Sheng Zhening later met Xia Qian at a cafe to offer her the position. Xia Qian questioned if his offer was driven by personal sentiment or professional judgment.
Sheng Zhening admitted it was a combination of both, a "playing along" with the shareholder's proposal, to which Xia Qian also admitted her personal reasons for accepting. Xia Qian then informed Mu Xiaoyan and her team about her new role, explaining that Evergreen was a shareholder and their live streaming operation would function as an extension of the new department while maintaining its independence.
Mu Xiaoyan speculated that Sheng Zhening was trying to rekindle their relationship by keeping Xia Qian close. On her first day, Xia Qian was welcomed as Project Team A leader in the E-commerce Department, her workstation adorned with plants and flowers. Observing the special welcome and Manager Wang's respectful demeanor, colleagues quickly started gossiping, with one clarifying that Xia Qian was Sheng Zhening's girlfriend. A colleague also inquired about a humidifier nearby, but another clarified that it had always been there, not a special perk for her.
