My Bargain Queen Episode 38 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
While Mu Xiaoyan and An An were discussing their next steps, An An mentioned that Sheng Zhening was hard to reach and his whereabouts were unknown, though the ""sales department"" would provide an update on his meeting schedule the following day. Just then, Hao Siyuan arrived, bringing a signed contract. Mu Xiaoyan, feeling awkward, falsely claimed Xia Qian was on a business trip. An An, however, blurted out that Xia Qian had gone to see Sheng Zhening.
Mu Xiaoyan then awkwardly apologized to Hao Siyuan, explaining that romantic feelings couldn't be forced and praising him as an excellent person who would surely find someone better than Xia Qian. Hao Siyuan clarified that he had indeed confessed his feelings to Xia Qian, but she had rejected him, leaving him with no further intentions. This revelation surprised both Mu Xiaoyan and An An.
Meanwhile, Sheng Zhening had specially bought shrimp and razor clams for Fu Shuangshuang’s mother to prepare for dinner. At supper, Fu Shuangshuang’s mother mentioned that the guest in Room 104 had ordered these dishes but hadn't come to eat. Xia Qian, remembering her own previous desire for these exact foods and Sheng Zhening's similar preference, grew suspicious that the guest might be him.
She requested the guest registration information from Fu Shuangshuang’s mother, who was initially hesitant but eventually showed her. Seeing "Sheng Zhening" listed for Room 104, Xia Qian immediately rushed to the room, only to be told that he had just left. Determined, Xia Qian ran after him and finally found Sheng Zhening at the Wishing Pavilion. Overwhelmed with emotion, Xia Qian confronted Sheng Zhening, accusing him of deliberately avoiding her despite his true feelings.
She recounted how she had gone to the coffee shop with her ring, hoping for reconciliation, only for him to break up with her. She reminded him of finding him at Evergreen Hotel when she was drunk, and how he had been the character in the amusement park costume. She expressed her deep hurt and confusion over his coldness, knowing he cared for her.
Sheng Zhening admitted his actions were hypocritical and that mere apologies couldn't fix everything, but confessed his profound love for her. He promised to never cause her pain again, asking for a chance to face their problems together. They embraced, sealing their reconciliation. Sheng Zhening, still a little jealous, asked if she had accepted Hao Siyuan as her boyfriend, recalling seeing them hug goodbye outside her home.
Xia Qian clarified it was merely a friendly embrace and chided him for his lack of trust. They then wrote their wishes on a paper, keeping them secret, and hung them at the pavilion. On her way home, Ning Meng’s car hit an obstacle, prompting her to slam on the brakes. This incident triggered a memory of her father's car accident, where he also braked but the car didn't slow down.
She realized the accident might have been due to brake failure, not the Kongming Lantern. She immediately called Sheng Zhening to share her discovery. Hearing this, Sheng Zhening was shocked. He shared this information with Xia Qian, and they both reflected on the past, realizing the car accident might not have been caused by the Kongming Lantern after all. They decided to return and investigate the matter further.
Upon their return, Sheng Zhening and Xia Qian visited Xia Qian’s mother to explain their reunion. Sheng Zhening assured her that he would cherish Xia Qian and that her previous worries, stemming from the car accident, would not materialize. Xia Qian further explained Ning Meng's discovery about the brake failure, emphasizing that the Kongming Lantern was not the cause, and asked her mother to trust their love.
Xia Qian's mother, relieved and seeing their genuine affection, apologized to Sheng Zhening for her harsh words, thanking him for understanding her as a mother. Xia Qian asserted her right to make her own life choices, and her mother, witnessing her daughter's happiness, promised not to interfere with her romantic life in the future. Sheng Zhening then put the ring back on Xia Qian's finger and returned her candy box.
Playfully, he then demanded his own childhood photos as his "compensation," teasing her that he had hidden them in the house for her to find. Meanwhile, Fu Shuangshuang’s mother, delighted by Sheng Zhening and Xia Qian's reunion, attributed it to the Wishing Pavilion's magic and decided to visit Fu Shuangshuang to pray for a suitable partner for her. When she arrived, she found Qin Hebo at Fu Shuangshuang's apartment.
To conceal their relationship, Fu Shuangshuang quickly introduced Qin Hebo as her boss, claiming he was there for work discussions. Qin Hebo initially went along with the charade. Later, Fu Shuangshuang expressed her understanding that he preferred to keep their relationship private for now. However, Qin Hebo clarified that his hesitation was due to his current unemployment; he wanted to secure a stable job before introducing himself to her mother, fearing that a lack of employment might lead to disapproval.
Relieved, Fu Shuangshuang realized their misunderstanding. During dinner, Fu Shuangshuang’s mother pressed Qin Hebo to set up her daughter with single men from his company. She even mentioned a "Mr. Lin" who was interested in Fu Shuangshuang and was in town for a conference, suggesting they meet. Fu Shuangshuang immediately declined, then confessed her feelings for Qin Hebo, stating he was the person she liked.
Fu Shuangshuang’s mother was astonished; though she greatly admired Qin Hebo, she had never imagined him as a potential son-in-law due to his exceptional qualities. Qin Hebo promptly confirmed his sincere love for Fu Shuangshuang, explaining he had been pursuing her for a long time until she finally accepted him. Seeing their genuine affection, Fu Shuangshuang’s mother was overjoyed and relieved. She decided to leave the next day to allow them their privacy.
Later, Qin Hebo shared with Fu Shuangshuang that he was close to securing a position as Vice General Manager at Nors Hotel, which was conveniently located near her workplace, meaning they could commute and even have lunch together. Moments later, he received a call from Nors Hotel's HR, informing him that the position had already been filled, leaving him stunned and confused as negotiations had been progressing smoothly until then. Sheng Zhening continued to investigate his father's car accident.
He met with Ning Meng at their old family home, where she recalled her father planting a tree when she was five years old. He urged Ning Meng to remember more details from the day of the accident. She reaffirmed her memory of her father pressing the brakes without effect, causing him to swerve into a concrete column, confirming that brake failure, not the Kongming Lantern, was the cause.
Sheng Zhening remembered his father routinely serviced his car at a local 4S shop and tasked An An with locating the mechanic who performed the maintenance, hoping for more information. Ning Meng stated she would delay her plans to go abroad until the truth of their father’s accident was fully uncovered. She also confided in Sheng Zhening that she had divorced He Zhijuan, believing it was the best path forward for both of them.
An An later reported that he had found the former 4S shop mechanic, who confirmed that Sheng Zhening’s father’s car had been thoroughly inspected and found to be in normal condition before the accident, suggesting that the brake failure was likely a deliberate act. Sheng Zhening then prompted Ning Meng to recall if anything unusual happened before the accident.
She remembered their father taking a phone call and then arguing with someone in the parking lot, overhearing fragments like "college buddy" and "good friends," but she couldn't clearly recall the person's appearance due to the distance and the passage of time. Ning Meng suggested they search their old house for more clues.
An An reported to Sheng Zhening that Evergreen Hotel was facing a severe cash flow crisis, with insufficient funds to maintain operations, and other investment firms were hesitant to help, swayed by Mr. Xue's influence, with the market generally favoring Langyue. To address this, Sheng Zhening successfully negotiated a strategic partnership with Mr. Wilson from Belgium.
This agreement would bring a steady influx of high-end European tour groups to Evergreen, ensuring a high occupancy rate and improving the hotel's financial stability, even with reduced room rates. Sheng Zhening emphasized that despite the financial challenges, service quality must be maintained and staff should not become complacent.
Subsequently, An An reported that Chairman Ni of the Greenland Foundation, a close friend of Sheng Zhening’s father, offered a loan with a remarkably low interest rate, expressing his desire to help Evergreen. Sheng Zhening instructed An An to arrange a meeting with Chairman Ni.
