Return of the Queen Episode 16 Recap
> Return of the Queen Recap
Ye Haimeng arrived at the airport, confronting Lu Siyu. Chen Mo's bodyguards attempted to stop her, but Jie and his men intervened, allowing Ye Haimeng to reach Lu Siyu. Lu Siyu, surprised, asked why she was there. She replied she came to get him. Ye Haimeng urged him to clear his mind, look her in the eyes, and tell her if he wanted to leave with her.
Lu Siyu, still recalling her earlier call wishing him a safe journey, wondered if she wanted him to leave on his own. He brought up the complexities of the Lu family, his family, and his brother, Lu Sinan, and her past comment about him also being a "Lu." Ye Haimeng dismissed all those concerns, stating that their family names, his relation to Lu Sinan, and past disputes were irrelevant.
She insisted that at that moment, it was only Ye Haimeng and Lu Siyu, and their feelings were all that mattered. She pressed him one last time, asking if he was willing to come with her. Lu Siyu asked for a promise that if he went with her, they would never be apart again. Ye Haimeng declared that if he came with her, it would be for their lifetime together. He finally agreed, saying, "I'll go with you."
Lu Changdong quickly learned of Siyu's departure with Ye Haimeng. He decided to let them be for a few days, instructing someone on the phone to return to the group and expedite the financing plan for the Middle East, declaring that everything would conclude by the end of next month.
Ye Haimeng took Lu Siyu to a beautiful seaside spot, a place she had fallen in love with and always dreamed of sharing with someone special, much like the bow he brought back from overseas. Lu Siyu asked playfully who that special person was. Ye Haimeng confessed her profound apprehension before seeking him out that day, admitting she had no idea how he would respond to her invitation to leave.
She told him that if he had rejected her or given up, she would have followed him wherever he went, because she loved him. Lu Siyu then shared his difficult journey, marked by numerous challenges, and how he had resigned himself to a solitary life.
He revealed that only after Bai Jingmin sought him out, asking solely for Lu Sinan's belongings and portrait and confessing her enduring love for Sinan, did he realize that Bai Jingmin was Sinan's true love, and he himself had never experienced genuine affection.
Ye Haimeng reassured him that her decision to be with him was not impulsive and, despite the lingering shadows of the Lu family, Lu Sinan, and Mare Nubium, he had always stood by her, offering encouragement and trust. She declared her indifference to potential opposition and criticism, asserting her right to choose her own path and emphasizing that Lu Siyu was different from the corrupt influences of his family.
She vowed to shield him from any harm caused by his past identity. Lu Siyu, deeply moved, reaffirmed his commitment to stand by her, protect her, and love her, promising her that with him, her scars would no longer ache.
Ye Haimeng then laid out three requests for their relationship: first, they must always trust each other and never break up; second, Lu Siyu must stop calling her "kid"; and third, she revealed the unique surprise of the place they were in—at midnight, the lights would dim for 30 seconds, revealing more brilliant stars and clearer ocean sounds, allowing one to connect with the most genuine part of their heart. She then called Lu Siyu "boyfriend," to his delight.
Lu Siyu began teaching Ye Haimeng archery, instructing her to focus her attention on her eyes, arms, and heart. He explained that a pure and simple heart would guide her arrow even with her eyes closed. One day, as he watched her, she playfully teased him for staring, and he responded that he was simply looking at his girlfriend.
Ye Haimeng then jokingly asked him to call her "sister," to which Lu Siyu firmly refused, reminding her she had asked the same thing when they first met in his study and he had refused even then. He declared he would never call his girlfriend "sister." Lu Siyu then inquired about her scar, and Ye Haimeng dismissed its pain, explaining that it served as a constant reminder of her past and her path forward.
Lu Siyu, however, insisted that she no longer needed to carry such memories. He passionately urged her to get another surgery, citing her doctor's concerns about displaced and infected bone nails from her previous, poorly executed operation. He promised to be by her side throughout the process, declaring she should now walk toward him, and that he hoped to accompany her through adversity until they reached the stars together.
Meanwhile, Tan Xin reported to Ye Haimeng about the overseas bulk land investment project. Although the contract was unsigned, a significant deposit had been paid, but the Finance Department could not trace its origin in the annual reports. Tan Xin also noted that Ling Ke had been re-auditing five years of accounts.
Ling Ke then joined Ye Haimeng, confirming that the past five years of financial records appeared "perfectly balanced" with no loopholes, which she found suspicious for a large company like Mare Nubium. She requested an additional two years of auditing to uncover any hidden clues. Ye Haimeng agreed, instructing the President's Office to issue a formal request to the Finance Department and tasking Tan Xin with overseeing the investigation into any overlooked or concealed expenditures.
After Tan Xin left, Ling Ke asked to speak with Ye Haimeng privately. Ling Ke confronted Ye Haimeng about her relationship with Lu Siyu. Ye Haimeng confirmed they were together, stating she was with him because she liked him. Ling Ke questioned why she would choose a Lu family member after their past mistreatment, asserting that Lu Siyu, as Lu Sinan's biological brother with the same father, was no different from the rest of the family.
Ye Haimeng countered, arguing that Lu Siyu was different; he had never been corrupted by the family's influence and earned everything honestly. She believed he would continue to live with integrity, emphasizing that while darkness might be similar, some individuals shine differently. Ling Ke remained skeptical, warning that men often use love as a cheap means to manipulate, referencing Ye Haimeng's past painful experience.
Ling Ke asked why it had to be Lu Siyu, to which Ye Haimeng retorted that Ling Ke simply hated Lu Siyu as a person. Ling Ke, visibly angry, confessed to hating everyone involved in their situation, including Ye Haimeng. She then declared all their overseas cooperation agreements null and void, instructing Ye Haimeng never to contact her again for any matters.
During this period, Ye Haimeng experienced a disturbing flashback to four years prior, where a mysterious woman confronted her, accusing her of being followed. The woman, who revealed she knew Ye Haimeng's identity, warned her to watch her "husband," implying he posed a threat to her life. The mysterious woman then offered to help Ye Haimeng return to power at Mare Nubium in exchange for her complete trust.
She ominously warned that refusal would lead to an irreversible downfall, leaving Ye Haimeng to choose between regaining her former position or sinking back into the abyss. Later, Lu Siyu called Ye Haimeng, noticing her lack of energy, and she explained she was working. He shared exciting news: his archery club received an invitation to the national top-tier club league, and he was chosen to compete at the Seaside Archery Club in Xiamen. He invited Ye Haimeng to join him.
Ye Haimeng hesitated, citing her busy work schedule reorganizing Mare Nubium and her recent strained relationship with Ling Ke. Lu Siyu playfully suggested she was afraid to travel with him, which she denied. She ultimately agreed to accompany him, and he instructed her to pack the bow and arrows he had given her for a potential friendly doubles match. The next morning, Ye Haimeng, with her bags packed, playfully chided Lu Siyu for making her skip work as president.
She then affectionately referred to him as her "boyfriend" in conversation. Lu Siyu, still jokingly calling her "kid," asked if she could handle the long drive. She corrected him once more, insisting he stop calling her "kid." Before they departed, Lu Siyu presented her with a pair of flat shoes. He explained that he bought them because he sensed her weariness from their phone conversation the previous day.
He wished for their time together to be simple and easy, and despite the superstition against gifting shoes, he hoped she would wear them to walk towards him and for their journey together. Later, Ye Haimeng was on a phone call with Chairman Li, discussing a forum meeting. She informed him that she was out of Haijiang for "personal matters" with her "boyfriend." Lu Siyu, within earshot, delightedly asked her to repeat the word "boyfriend."
He explained that hearing her call him that made him feel like her most important and cherished lover, not just a younger brother. Ye Haimeng, with a smile, playfully repeated "boyfriend" several times, confirming her affection.
