Stop! Miss Hua Episode 20 Recap
> Stop! Miss Hua Recap
Hua Mingyue and Qin Donghai enjoyed their time at a picking garden, where she learned about making "love locks" from local grass. She crafted two, hanging them on their bags, symbolizing their desire to be forever together, like AB glue. Qin Donghai then surprised her back in their room, illuminating it with a starry sky projector, a gesture that deeply moved her.
He spoke of taking her to a prairie to see real stars someday, and as they embraced, he affirmed their future together, saying, "We have a long way to go." Meanwhile, Chen Jingran confronted his father, angered by his father's opportunistic move to acquire Flora. His father, however, justified his actions by recounting how the Hua family had previously exploited their difficulties, claiming he was simply returning the favor.
He asserted his intention to take over the entire Flora Group, anticipating that Hua Mingyue would eventually be forced to beg Chen Jingran. Chen Jingran, disheartened by his father's ruthless ambition, declared his love for Hua Mingyue and his wish for her happiness, stating he would not stand by and watch his father destroy her company. Elsewhere, Hao Shuai, having resigned from Yao Shengnan's service, began working at Ye Xue Er's pet shop.
Hua Mingchen, busy helping Hua Mingyue with Flora's urgent matters, arranged for Ye Xue Er to assist him at Flora, and in turn, designated Hao Shuai as the full manager of the pet shop. Hao Shuai, observing their closeness, lamented his own love life, feeling like he was "sad in the Pacific Ocean." At the picking garden, Qin Donghai received an update that Hua Mancheng's entry country had been identified, bringing a glimmer of hope.
However, the mood quickly shifted when Hua Mingyue saw a news report detailing the crisis engulfing the cosmetics market, highlighting Flora's declining trend, management issues, and the recent factory fire. The news compounded her distress. Chen Jingran proposed a solution to Qin Donghai: if Hua Mingyue would agree to a "fake marriage" with him, he could convince his father to abandon the Flora acquisition, thereby buying Hua Mingyue and Hua Mingchen crucial time to raise funds.
Qin Donghai firmly rejected the idea, insisting he would find another way to help Hua Mingyue. Chen Jingran, though disappointed, acknowledged that while he loved Hua Mingyue and wished her happiness, only Qin Donghai could truly give her that. That night, Hua Mingyue struggled to sleep, consumed by worry for Flora. Qin Donghai comforted her, though admitting he currently had no immediate solution.
Unaware of the gravity of the situation, Yao Shengnan reveled in her perceived triumph over Hua Mingyue, believing she had finally proven her competence to her father. The following day, more news reports surfaced, criticizing Hua Mingyue's prolonged absence from Flora and the company's escalating crisis. Overwhelmed, Hua Mingyue tearfully called Hua Mingchen, apologizing for her inability to save the company and questioning what she could possibly do.
Hua Mingchen, facing his own challenges at Flora as shareholders demanded answers, reassured her to prioritize her well-being and leave everything to him. Qin Donghai, seeing her despair, took her to a scenic hilltop. Hua Mingyue expressed her realization that she could no longer hide behind the protection of her grandfather and brother; she needed to return and face her responsibilities to her employees and to Flora.
Qin Donghai shared a poignant memory of his firefighter father, whose bravery had always inspired him. He then confessed his profound love for Hua Mingyue, an overdue declaration he felt she deserved, and vowed to face all difficulties alongside her. With a heavy heart, he presented the "fake marriage" with Chen Jingran as the only viable option at the moment to gain time. He explained that this would allow Hua Mingyue to secure board support or find new funding.
He added that Gao Ren had located Hua Mancheng, and he would personally retrieve him before the fake engagement. Chen Jingran, who had also arrived, reinforced the plan, promising that his father would inject funds into Flora in exchange for their marriage, and the actual wedding date could be postponed. Though bewildered, Hua Mingyue agreed, trusting Qin Donghai and urging him to return on time.
Hua Mingyue and Chen Jingran met his father, who, despite his son's passionate declaration of love and commitment to marrying Hua Mingyue, remained skeptical. Chen Jingran's father demanded 40% of Flora's shares and insisted that Chen Jingran be appointed as the executive director as conditions for his help. Hua Mingyue, understanding the urgency, reluctantly accepted. News of Hua Mingyue's impending marriage to Chen Jingran quickly spread.
To make the fake engagement convincing, Hua Mingyue asked Gao Ren and their friends to move out of her house, explaining that their continued presence would invite rumors about her "fooling around with three men" and jeopardize the plan. She promised they would all return once the crisis was resolved, emphasizing the sacrifices Chen Jingran and Qin Donghai were making.
The friends, though hesitant to leave her alone, eventually complied, with one suggesting they leave Xiaowang, a military dog, to protect her. As the friends moved back into their old residence, they discovered He Yanyan was leaving. Heartbroken by the news of Chen Jingran's engagement, He Yanyan left, stating she could no longer help him with household chores or farming, and asked them to convey her farewell and wedding wishes to him.
Chen Jingran, returning home to find his friends back and He Yanyan gone, dismissed the need for an explanation, preferring fewer people to know about the fake marriage. Hao Shuai, however, criticized Chen Jingran, accusing him of "discarding after toying with" He Yanyan, and lamented the "messy circle." Hua Mingyue, now alone in her large house, felt the emptiness keenly.
She video-called Qin Donghai, telling him she missed him and setting rules for their separation: daily video calls, morning and evening greetings, prompt replies to messages, and reporting their whereabouts and news. Qin Donghai promised to return soon to tell her everything in person. He recounted visiting Hua Mancheng's hotel but finding him gone. Qin Donghai eventually tracked Hua Mancheng to an alley, where he found him being assaulted by a group of men.
Intervening, Qin Donghai fought off the attackers, but they blinded him with flour, leaving him beaten and unconscious. Back at Flora, Hua Mingyue, increasingly anxious due to Qin Donghai's unresponsiveness to her messages, abruptly left a meeting, determined to find him.
