Return of the Queen Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
> Return of the Queen Recap
After completely falling out with his adoptive father, Ye Bochen was left feeling helpless. He contacted Ling Ke and informed her that the silver flash drives she had found in the drawer were indeed Mare Nubium's secret account records. He explained that his father, Ye Yuezhi, had hidden and deleted all the data sheets on them, only restoring them with software when needed.
Ye Bochen had sent Ling Ke all the evidence of his father's secret foreign dealings through underground channels over the years, including communication records and entry/exit lists. He added that the seemingly perfect account books in the archives room had been doctored by external accounting firms hired by Ye Yuezhi. Ling Ke interrupted him, embracing him to offer comfort.
She told him he had done well and been very brave, assuring him that all the storms would pass and from that day forward, he would no longer be a son of the Ye family, but simply himself. Meanwhile, Ye Haimeng found herself holding Lu Siyu tightly, fearing he would disappear again.
He explained that his falling into the sea had been a planned deception, as he refused to be used by Lu Changdong as a weapon against her or become her enemy. Ye Haimeng recounted the frantic search efforts and how she had jumped into the sea after him, but Lu Siyu sternly told her not to do such risky things again.
Ye Haimeng argued that facing danger together was the true meaning of love, and Lu Siyu conceded, promising to tell her next time. Lu Siyu then revealed that he and Ye Haimeng's mole had devised the "staging an escape" plan beforehand. He had arranged a reliable rescue boat at the shore, and just minutes after he went into the water, they rescued him under the guise of an operation.
He explained that his mole had specifically instructed him not to reveal the plan to Ye Haimeng in advance to ensure her reaction was genuine, as his father and Uncle Mo had decades of business experience and secrecy was essential to fool them. Ye Haimeng acknowledged the thoroughness of their plan but expressed concern for his suffering, which he dismissed, instead scolding her for scaring him by jumping in.
He urged her to take care of herself and not shoulder everything alone, promising to always be by her side. Ye Haimeng acknowledged she knew he would. She then told Lu Siyu that she still had a brutal battle ahead, and her opponent was his father.
Lu Siyu reaffirmed his genuine feelings for her, promising that once everything was over, they would truly start their lives anew, and he would always be there for her, no matter how long it took or what difficulties arose. The rescheduled public hearing was set for next Monday morning. Lu Changdong, after being informed, ordered his team to continue driving down Mare Nubium's stock price, aiming to "break through her final support level" before Monday.
Ling Ke reported to Ye Haimeng that Lu Changdong had indeed lowered the price as predicted. Ling Ke then voiced concern that by following suit, they would be spending money to crash their own stock, with losses in the hundreds of millions for every point. However, Ye Haimeng insisted they continue to follow the downward trend, explaining she had a plan. Mare Nubium's stock price plunged to a historic low, and multiple financial institutions announced they would cease services.
Twenty-nine branch hotels globally declared their intention to break away from the headquarters after the public hearing, and it was widely reported that Ye Haimeng might be stripped of her presidential duties. At the Mare Nubium shareholders' meeting, Lu Changdong arrived, but Lu Siyue noticed that none of the shareholders known to them were present, sensing something was amiss.
When a subordinate suggested they leave, Ye Haimeng, who had just entered, sarcastically questioned if Lu Changdong was trying to run away before the meeting even started. He confidently declared he had no intention of running. Lu Changdong, taking the floor, aggressively confronted Ye Haimeng, claiming she was no longer the controlling shareholder due to her poor decision-making which had caused Mare Nubium's overseas stock to plummet, shareholders' assets to shrink, and numerous branch hotels to decouple from headquarters.
He demanded she take full responsibility by immediately resigning as president, surrendering all operational control, and reconfirming her shareholdings according to the board's arrangements. Ye Haimeng calmly asked in what capacity he was attending the meeting and demanding her resignation. Lu Changdong declared he was there as the father of her spouse, the trustee shareholder of his son's inherited equity, and the chairman of Mare Nubium's large overseas equity fund, reiterating his demand for her immediate resignation.
He added that he initially considered giving her another chance for the sake of Lu Sinan and Lu Siyu, but her greed had blinded her, and he now intended to "settle things one by one." Ye Haimeng then played a video recorded by Lu Sinan.
In the video, Lu Sinan stated that on July 8, 2019, at 8 PM, he declared his marriage to Ye Haimeng a sham, renouncing all marital property, including Mare Nubium shares, Yunzhuangyuan Villa, and other assets under her name. He explicitly stated that his previously signed notarized will was made under coercion and did not represent his true intentions, thus rendering it null and void.
He also specified that the video, once played, would automatically be sent to the law firm and the probate court's public inbox, terminating all relations between him and Ye Haimeng. Lu Siyue, visibly emotional, confirmed it was indeed his brother. Ye Haimeng then highlighted to Lu Changdong that his own son had recorded the video, making his notarized will invalid.
Lu Changdong dismissed the video as potentially fake or AI-synthesized, claiming no one could touch the frozen 37% of Mare Nubium's shares without a judicial verdict. Ye Haimeng questioned what other cards he had when his shareholders were busy selling off their stakes, leaving Mare Nubium an empty shell. Ling Ke then announced that all absent Mare Nubium shareholders had collectively signed a concerted action agreement with Ye Haimeng, transferring their equity's voting power to her.
Ye Haimeng offered to buy their shares at 1. 2 times the price for those willing to sign the agreement. Lu Changdong angrily declared that despite her tactics, Mare Nubium's stock had collapsed, leading to bankruptcy. Ye Haimeng retorted, questioning who would truly go bankrupt. Alarmed, Lu Changdong learned that Changlu Capital's massive investment in Mare Nubium's stock had been entirely trapped.
He exclaimed it was impossible, given Mare Nubium's liquidity crisis, for Ye Haimeng to have enough funds to raise the stock price. Ye Haimeng revealed that while Mare Nubium might not have the money, she did. She explained that her parents, Ye Mingzhi and Luo Yanxin, had established comprehensive family trusts both domestically and overseas, ensuring that even if she lost everything, she could "fight her way back."
She also credited her trusted friends, those who distrusted Lu Changdong, and most crucially, Lu Siyu, whose bank acceptance bill was shown as a key source of support. Defeated, Lu Changdong conceded that Changlu Capital had made a failed investment and withdrew his claim on Mare Nubium. He then attempted to leave. However, Ye Haimeng stopped everyone, declaring that company matters were settled, and it was time to address the "blood debt."
Ling Ke presented evidence to Ye Yuezhi, confronting him with conversation screenshots related to his time as Mare Nubium's CFO, alleging communication between him, Ling Ke's mother (Zhang Yujie), Changlu Capital's business manager, and overseas channel partners. She also questioned him about large transfers into his wife's (Du Meiyun's) personal overseas account. Ye Yuezhi stammered, denying knowledge and attempting to explain. Ye Haimeng pressed him to clarify the source, channels, and reasons for the large quarterly remittances.
Ling Ke then laid out the details: those funds were Mare Nubium's secretly diverted capital. Six years prior, Changlu Group had bribed Ye Yuezhi after its overseas land investment proposal was rejected. Ye Yuezhi and Du Meiyun had used their positions to embezzle funds, transfer them overseas, and receive kickbacks from Changlu's business manager. Ling Ke's mother, Zhang Yujie, had refused to collude and was framed with false testimony, leading to her severe injury and coma.
Ye Haimeng then added that during her overseas car accident and her father Ye Mingzhi's heart attack, ""Ye Yuezhi"" had deliberately delayed his emergency treatment. She further revealed that Du Meiyun had personally sent her mother, Luo Yanxin, to the Lu family's sanatorium after she collapsed at home. Du Meiyun, in a shocking confession, confirmed that she had personally contacted "your second uncle and his wife" (referring to Ye Yuezhi and herself), who then deliberately delayed Ye Haimeng's father's rescue.
She confessed to sending Ye Haimeng's mother to their sanatorium, stating that controlling the parents meant controlling Ye Haimeng and preventing her return. Ye Haimeng then revealed that police had found surveillance video of Lu Changdong at the sanatorium on the night her mother died, implicating him in Luo Yanxin's death. Lu Changdong vehemently denied it, claiming he was celebrating his 60th birthday at home and that his son-in-law, Jiang Lin, was the one at the sanatorium.
Lu Siyue, shocked, defended Jiang Lin, but Ye Haimeng urged Jiang Lin to confess. Jiang Lin, distraught, admitted that Lu Changdong had sent him to the sanatorium to fetch medication, making him a scapegoat, and revealed he had seen Lu Changdong's car there despite his claims of napping at home.
Lu Changdong furiously accused Jiang Lin of betraying the Lu family, but Jiang Lin asserted that while he might be the family's son-in-law, he would not be an accomplice to murder for profit. Ye Haimeng concluded by outlining Lu Changdong's full conspiracy: making Lu Sinan trick her into marriage and kill her overseas to seize Mare Nubium, then fearing exposure, attempting to kill both Lu Sinan and her at their honeymoon hotel.
She delivered a powerful monologue, denouncing his greed and asserting that despite the darkness he saw, the world was filled with genuine kindness and sincere love that would always shine bright. Overwhelmed and disbelieving, Lu Changdong was finally taken away by the police, paying the price for his crimes. In the aftermath, Lu Siyue and Jiang Lin began a new, ordinary life.
They moved into a simple home, and though they could no longer indulge in lavish spending, Jiang Lin promised Lu Siyue a happy life, and she vowed to be a good wife. Ling Ke remained steadfastly by Zhang Yujie's bedside, who was still in a coma. Ye Bochen comforted Ling Ke, assuring her that Zhang Yujie's vital signs were improving and she would soon awaken, touched by Ling Ke's unwavering presence. Ye Haimeng underwent surgery for her injuries.
After her recovery, Lu Siyu brought her to a tree, which she had once called her "withered tree." He had re-carved her name onto a plaque and adorned the tree with beautiful lights, bringing it back to life. He told her he had finally walked with her through adversity to reach the stars. Ye Haimeng, empowered, declared that in the future, she would grow into a towering tree, one that could independently withstand storms without relying on anyone.
She would use her own strength to protect everything she had and to live a passionate, vibrant life. Embracing by the beautifully lit tree, Ye Haimeng and Lu Siyu began their new, happy life together.
