Negotiator Episode 41 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
At Futong Law Firm, Qin Tianyu learned from Chen Wen that Shang Bichen was in a relationship and hard to find. Chen Wen also revealed that Bichen was dating Mr. Sun's nephew. Qin Tianyu then spoke with Bichen privately, confirming her relationship. He was visibly shocked and advised her not to be deceived.
Upon hearing Bichen planned to meet her boyfriend's parents in Beijing during a short holiday, Qin Tianyu, in a rare display of panic, impulsively ordered her not to meet them or marry. As a confession lingered on his lips, he received a call from Tong Wei and once again left Bichen to rush to Tong Wei. Qin Tianyu drove Tong Wei to the hospital, where Xia Shanshan lay pale and lifeless.
Knowing her end was near, Shanshan told Tong Wei that loving Qi Ruhai was the only thing she had done her entire life. She believed they would be different, but now it was too late. Shanshan entrusted her baby to Tong Wei, asking her to care for the child as her own daughter. Tong Wei, unable to accept the reality, cried and begged Shanshan not to give up.
However, Shanshan's hand in Tong Wei's slowly went limp, and she closed her eyes after shedding a final tear. To make matters worse, Shanshan's premature baby also could not be saved due to delayed medical attention. When Qi Ruhai finally arrived at the hospital, he found Shanshan covered by a white sheet. Tears streaming down his face, he knelt by her bed, pleading with her to wake up and give him one more chance to marry her.
Xia Shanshan had spent her brief life loving a man who offered no clear future. Now, having endured immense suffering, just as she was on the verge of realizing her deepest hopes, she departed a world that had been so cruel to her. In Shanghai, the upcoming wedding of Zhao Chenxi and Yang Xiao was overshadowed by recent events. At the Song residence, Zhao Chenxi's and Yang Xiao's parents were chatting, with Mr. Song eagerly discussing business with Mr. Yang.
Zhao Chenxi suddenly received a call from Luo Bin, who informed her that Xie Xiaofei's mother had passed away, Tong Wei had broken up with him, and Xie Corporation was in chaos. Zhao Chenxi immediately decided to fly to New York. Yang Xiao tried to convince her to marry him first, but Zhao Chenxi confessed she had no love for him, only gratitude, and called off the wedding in front of both sets of parents.
Having always lived to please her parents, Zhao Chenxi declared that this time, she would live for herself. Yang Xiao drove Zhao Chenxi to the airport, understanding that her departure meant their chance at marriage was over. He likened her to a prize in a claw machine that he could never win, despite accumulating all his luck, and finally decided to let go, unwilling to continue their emotional strain. In New York, the sudden misfortunes utterly devastated Xie Xiaofei.
The successive loss of his mother and Tong Wei meant he had lost the two most important women in his life within a single day. He spiraled into heavy drinking in his room. He had just found hard-won happiness, only to lose everything overnight. Xie Xiaofei vented his anger on Xiaotian for allowing Tong Wei to leave, driving him out of the apartment, then broke down crying alone on the sofa.
Meanwhile, Qin Tianyu had anonymously purchased Tong Wei's old house when she and Xie Xiaofei had to sell it. He took Tong Wei back to the house, and she was surprised and deeply grateful for his kindness, unsure how to repay him. Qin Tianyu, however, explained that his actions were only to spare her suffering, not to seek any return.
Observing Xie Xiaofei's silence since Tong Wei's return, Qin Tianyu directly asked her about her relationship, and Tong Wei confirmed that she and Xie Xiaofei had completely broken up. Tong Wei expressed guilt for failing to save Shanshan and resentment towards Xie Xiaofei for preventing her return. Qin Tianyu understood her emotional burden and hoped she could gradually let go. Tong Wei insisted on writing an IOU to repay the house money with interest.
Yielding to her persistence, Qin Tianyu agreed to accept the principal but proposed that she do him a favor in exchange for the interest. Tong Wei visited Shang Bichen at her rental apartment, finding Bichen packing her luggage with Situ Zhigao waiting. After Situ Zhigao stepped downstairs, Bichen admitted to Tong Wei that she was likely getting married soon. Tong Wei, concerned, questioned if Bichen was simply settling due to exhaustion.
However, Shang Bichen affirmed her decision to move on to the next chapter of her life. She expressed gratitude for how Qin Tianyu's excellence had inspired her to become a better person, but also acknowledged that her unrequited feelings for him had reached their conclusion. Tong Wei, originally sent by Qin Tianyu to dissuade Bichen, changed her mind after hearing Bichen's sincerity and instead advised Qin Tianyu to let go and offer his blessings to Bichen.
Xie Xiaofei, suffering from alcohol poisoning, was taken back to the Xie mansion and cared for by Zhao Chenxi. Upon waking, he saw her by his side. Xie Tianyou visited Xiaofei, first urging him not to despair over his mother's passing for too long. He then revealed that Zhao Chenxi had abandoned her wedding to care for Xiaofei, leading to her father, Song Yong, publicly disowning her.
Xie Tianyou tried to persuade Xiaofei to accept Zhao Chenxi's genuine affection, but Xiaofei, still unable to forget Tong Wei, hesitated. Xie Tianyou then disclosed that Tong Wei, after returning to Shanghai, had moved back into her former house, which Qin Tianyu had bought for her. Disbelieving this, Xie Xiaofei called Tong Wei's home. Tiantian answered and confirmed the news, even scolding him. Tong Wei then took the phone and told Xie Xiaofei never to contact her again.
Later, as Situ Zhigao took Shang Bichen to the airport, Qin Tianyu received a letter from Bichen. Her delicate handwriting expressed all the sweet and painful memories from her four years of loving him. She thanked Qin Tianyu for inspiring her to become more outstanding, and with this letter, Shang Bichen drew a close to her long period of unspoken affection.
