My Bargain Queen Episode 32 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
On the eve of his engagement, Sheng Zhening received a gift from Qin Hebo. The accompanying card read, "Zhening, Happy engagement. Hebo," which made Sheng Zhening thoughtful. The next day, Sheng Zhening presented several meticulously prepared wedding plans to Xia Qian, explaining that he had everything ready and she only needed to voice her preferences. He showed her various themes like forest, fairy tale, and retro.
Xia Qian was overwhelmed by the numerous drafts, remarking there were too many choices, even more extensive than his usual work reports. Sheng Zhening assured her that she was his "Party A" for this project, and he would do his best to accommodate her requests, prompting her to think about her preferences. Later that afternoon, Sheng Zhening took Xia Qian to try on wedding dresses. Thoughtfully, he brought a camera, explaining that many brides struggle with choosing a dress.
He planned to photograph her in each one and provide objective scores for reference. As Xia Qian tried on various dresses, Sheng Zhening admired her, saying that every dress looked impeccable on her, and he "can't stop looking at you." He also tried on a suit, which Xia Qian helped him adjust. To give Sheng Zhening a surprise, Xia Qian personally drew the cover for their wedding invitation, depicting them both.
Sheng Zhening noticed she wasn't wearing her diamond ring; she explained she had taken it off while working but quickly put it back on. He emphasized that as his fiancée, she shouldn't take it off once it's on. Sheng Zhening also revealed that while preparing wedding candies, he bought a small box for her to carry on her bag, filled with sweets, to manage her frequent low blood sugar.
Xia Qian expressed her overwhelming happiness but also a sense of insecurity, fearing she might lose him, to which Sheng Zhening promised she never would. Ning Meng retrieved her repaired computer. While checking the files, she stumbled upon a folder labeled "He Zhijun's records in therapy."
Curiosity piqued, she listened to a recording in which He Zhijun confessed to a long-held secret: after their college entrance exams, he and Xia Qian released a Kongming Lantern that caught fire, indirectly causing the car accident involving Ning Meng and her father. He had kept this secret from everyone, including Xia Qian, describing it as a "sharp blade hanging on my head."
Shocked and enraged by the revelation, Ning Meng immediately called He Zhijun, arranging to meet him at Evergreen Hotel's Room 502 at 6 PM that evening to retrieve his computer. The engagement banquet for Sheng Zhening and Xia Qian was in full swing at Evergreen Hotel, attended by close friends and family, including Mu Xiaoyan, An An, Xia Qian's mother, and Hu Zhen.
Guests exchanged gifts and well wishes; Mu Xiaoyan gave a special gift, wishing them to "have a child soon and a long, loving marriage," while An An presented matching jade pendants for a boy and a girl. Hu Zhen jokingly suggested they would be perfect for fraternal twins. Suddenly, Ning Meng appeared, her expression grave, carrying what she called a "gift."
She then pulled out her phone and publicly played He Zhijun's therapeutic recording, accusing him and Xia Qian of causing her father's death. She confronted He Zhijun, asking if their marriage was merely an attempt to "make up for me." Sheng Zhening tried to calm Ning Meng, urging her not to jump to conclusions based on "just one side" of the story and promising to uncover the truth.
He then instructed An An to retrieve all available information regarding his father's accident. The documents brought by An An included photos of the car wreckage, among which was a burned Kongming Lantern bearing Xia Qian's name. Faced with this evidence, and recalling the event herself, Xia Qian tearfully admitted, "I did fly the Kongming Lantern." Her mother corroborated, recalling Xia Qian mentioning flying a Kongming Lantern with He Zhijun after her college entrance exam.
Ning Meng furiously accused them of years of deception and acting, questioning if they had any conscience. Overwhelmed with guilt, Xia Qian left the engagement banquet. Sheng Zhening followed her and tried to comfort her, but Xia Qian confessed she couldn't pretend nothing happened or accept his kindness, feeling immense guilt for the harm caused to him and Ning Meng. She asked for time and space, suggesting they not see each other for a while so she could process everything.
Sheng Zhening, understanding her distress, agreed. Meanwhile, He Zhijun tried to apologize to Ning Meng, but she lashed out, saying "Sorry. Will it help? Can my dad come back if you say sorry?" She refused to believe anything he said, accusing him and Xia Qian of being ruthless murderers and deceivers.
He Zhijun tried to suggest they talk when she was calmer, but Ning Meng vehemently stated she would never forgive them and would not divorce him, vowing to "suffer together," ensuring neither of them could escape the torment. The events forced Xia Qian to reflect on He Zhijun's previous decision to abandon their wedding. She contacted him, asking when he first realized their Kongming Lantern was connected to the car accident.
He Zhijun recounted that after they released the lantern and parted ways, he was walking home when he witnessed the car crash, seeing Ning Meng and Sheng Zhening's father in the main and passenger seats. He recalled that he had barely managed to rescue Ning Meng from the car before it burst into flames, leaving Sheng Zhening's father to perish. He later discovered that the girl he saved was Ning Meng, who subsequently developed post-traumatic stress disorder from the accident.
She became a patient at his clinic, where his mentor was her attending physician. Through their frequent contact during her treatment, Ning Meng grew increasingly dependent on him.
He Zhijun admitted that his overwhelming guilt and anxiety from the accident, which he felt had irrevocably changed his life, his way of thinking, and Ning Meng's destiny, caused him to choose to abandon their engagement, believing that by bearing the secret alone, he could protect Xia Qian and others from further pain. He thought he could "keep this secret forever."
Xia Qian confronted He Zhijun about his decision to bear the secret alone, pointing out how it ultimately hurt everyone involved, including himself, her, Ning Meng, and Sheng Zhening. He Zhijun acknowledged his error, admitting, "I originally thought that bearing all of this myself was the best choice. But it brought harm to everyone in the end."
With the engagement called off, Xia Qian immersed herself in work at the E-commerce Department, attempting to numb the pain of her second failed engagement. However, when her wedding dress arrived, memories of Sheng Zhening's sweet compliments during their dress fitting flooded back, recalling how he told her "every wedding dress looks impeccable on you." Overwhelmed, she broke down in tears. Meanwhile, Sheng Zhening also appeared distracted at work, postponing meetings.
