The Romance of Hua Rong 2 Episode 16 Recap
> The Romance of Hua Rong 2 Recap
Chi Hong invited Duanmu Bai for drinks, feigning affection, but he playfully mistook it for an eye discomfort. Chi Hong clarified that she invited him to apologize for misjudging him. Duanmu Bai initially declined the wine, citing it as a critical period for brewing. Chi Hong admitted the wine's aroma tempted her and that she felt alone on the island since Rong, her "congenial sister," had been "taken" by him, so she could only think of him to drink with.
Duanmu Bai agreed. As planned with Qin Shangcheng, Chi Hong, a heavy drinker, easily outdrank Duanmu Bai, who eventually fell asleep. She internally gloated about her superior drinking capacity and her intention to "kill him" after their current scheme. Qin Shangcheng led Rong to the highest point of the Icy Building under the pretense of "enjoying the cool air," where they "coincidentally" witnessed Chi Hong pretending to kiss the unconscious Duanmu Bai.
However, Rong remained unimpressed, dismissively labeling the whole spectacle "boring" and walking away. Duanmu Bai later woke up and, to Chi Hong's surprise, reciprocated the kiss, asserting that he never takes advantage of anyone and was merely returning a kiss she had given him previously under a cliff. Chi Hong questioned when she had ever kissed him.
When he confirmed it was under the cliff, she, still holding a sword, angrily demanded to know the true nature of his relationship with Rong. Duanmu Bai reluctantly admitted, "I had no choice." Qin Shangcheng followed Rong, attempting to gauge her feelings. He directly questioned if she felt any jealousy or anger seeing Duanmu Bai kiss another woman.
When she showed none, he asserted that her supposed engagement to Duanmu Bai was merely a task, and she did not truly love him. He then passionately described true love, saying that one would smile when seeing the one he loves, feeling despair when he's gone, and being willing to sacrifice everything for him, emphasizing that her heart would beat in unison with his. He vowed to melt her seemingly "icy" heart.
Rong brushed off his advances, telling him to stop wasting his efforts, saying that like the unhatched eagle egg, all his "tricks" hadn't achieved anything. Just then, Qian Dayou burst in with the news that Zhang Xian had successfully hatched the eagle egg. Qin Shangcheng and Rong observed the newly hatched baby eagle. Qin Shangcheng found it adorable and suggested Rong name it.
She spontaneously chose "Daodao," which surprised Qin Shangcheng as it was the very nickname he had once proposed for their first child, a suggestion Rong had found peculiar at the time. Rong then commented that with Daodao hatched, obtaining the Imperial Feather was "around the corner," meaning they could soon enter Imperial Island, and that Qin Shangcheng would stop pestering her with excuses. Qin Shangcheng proposed another bet: they would meet the following afternoon in the suburban forest.
If she still felt absolutely nothing for him then, he promised never to bother her again. Rong agreed. Duanmu Bai woke up and, noticing he was covered with a cloak, hoped he hadn't done anything inappropriate to jeopardize his "business." Meanwhile, Chi Hong was also reflecting on the night, particularly the kiss, and smiled. The next day, in the suburban forest, Qin Shangcheng appeared with a new look, having changed both his clothes and hairstyle.
He formally introduced himself as "Yunhe," declaring it a perfect match for her "Little White Dove." Despite Rong's dismissive remarks, Qin Shangcheng then demonstrated Yunhe's specialty: flying. He took her soaring through the air, an experience that left Rong feeling "never before so relaxed." Qin Shangcheng told her that from such a high vantage point, the things that confined her would appear utterly insignificant. Qin Shangcheng gave the Rapier to Rong, which stunned her.
He reminded her that her mission was to find the Rapier for Duanmu Bai. He promised to give her anything she desired but affirmed he would never force her to make any choices. She returned the Rapier to Qin Shangcheng because she wanted to help him win the leadership, and expressed her hope that he would also keep his promises. Qin Shangcheng continued fostering his relationship with Rong by jointly caring for the baby eagle, Daodao.
He also jokingly instructed Daodao to help him please his "mother." Observing Rong's softening demeanor and growing closeness to Qin Shangcheng, Duanmu Bai intervened. He questioned if she truly believed Qin Shangcheng loved her, revealing that her resemblance to Qin Shangcheng's deceased wife, Hua Rong, was the sole reason she was chosen for her mission. He stated that she was "nothing but his wife's substitute."
Later, as Qin Shangcheng released Daodao to find his real parents, he saw Rong approaching, dressed in the attire of his deceased wife, Hua Rong. Overjoyed, and believing she had finally regained her memories, he rushed to embrace her. However, his raw emotional reaction served only to confirm Duanmu Bai's words in Rong's mind.
She pulled away, accusing him of seeing her only as a substitute for his "dead wife," Hua Rong, and declared that he had "never truly liked" her as "White Dove" and that "from now on, there's nothing left between us except for the Rapier." Realizing her misunderstanding, Qin Shangcheng tried to explain that she was not a substitute but was, in fact, the real Hua Rong.
He asserted that everything he had told her came from his heart, and that her current memories were "fake," forcibly instilled by others. Rong, however, refused to believe him. Qin Shangcheng, deeply hurt, could only plead with her to wait, promising that she would eventually realize the truth.
He vowed that he would never change, and regardless of whether she identified as Hua Rong or White Dove, he would always be there for her, symbolized by the ringing of a bell. The first round of the exam concluded, with Chi Hong and Duanmu Bai's teams and Qin Shangcheng and Rong's teams qualifying for the second assessment. Chi Hong contemplated how to navigate seeing Duanmu Bai, Qin Shangcheng, and Rong at the upcoming Imperial Alliance.
Her assistant proposed she return Rong's personal boomerang, offering a convenient excuse to speak with Rong while avoiding an "embarrassed" situation with Duanmu Bai. Chi Hong agreed, and upon returning the boomerang, advised Rong to protect herself in the dangerous next exam and encouraged her to believe that she was, in fact, Hua Rong, and that she and Qin Shangcheng were "meant to be a couple."
As Chi Hong saw Duanmu Bai approaching, she questioned why he ignored her, challenging his lack of greetings as a former teammate. Duanmu Bai coldly retorted that since the first round of the competition was over, they were no longer teammates, but rather "opponents." The results of the first round were announced, with four participants, including Qin Shangcheng, Rong, Duanmu Bai, and Chi Hong, qualifying for the second assessment.
This round, titled "Way to the Alliance Leader," was set in the mysterious and perilous Orchid Valley on Imperial Island. Participants would be dispersed across different areas of the valley, a place known for its toxic flora, venomous insects, and fierce exotic beasts. They had three days to safely navigate its dangers and reach the Imperial Palace to pass and advance to the final selection for the Alliance Leader.
Meanwhile, Duanmu Bai's master, observing the thawing relationship between Rong and Qin Shangcheng, decided that Rong was unlikely to secure the Rapier. He informed Duanmu Bai that he would personally intervene in the second round to confront Qin Shangcheng and reclaim the Rapier, hinting at setting up various "stratagems." He warned Duanmu Bai not to let "personal love" derail his important "business."
As Duanmu Bai navigated Orchid Valley, contemplating his master's traps, he unexpectedly came across Chi Hong, who was being attacked by wild beasts. Despite his earlier declaration that they were opponents, he saved her. When she questioned his actions, he feigned indifference, claiming he merely didn't want her to disturb the insect swarm and inadvertently affect him. Privately, Chi Hong decided to follow Duanmu Bai secretly, worried he might truly abandon their connection and awaiting Rong's eventual decision.
Using a special compass linked to Rong's boomerang, Qin Shangcheng located her just as she was being attacked by hostile creatures. He rescued her, and when she thanked him, he reminded her that as allies, they should "join hands together." Rong expressed her confusion, struggling to reconcile claims that she was Hua Rong with her lack of memory. Qin Shangcheng reassured her that he would "wait for" her memories to return.
As strange mist enveloped them, Qin Shangcheng used it to induce a hallucination in Rong. In this trance, she encountered an illusory Duanmu Bai, who declared her mission complete and implied her undeniable love for Qin Shangcheng, because she was, in fact, "Hua Rong, Qin Shangcheng's wife." This revelation triggered a torrent of fragmented memories and Qin Shangcheng's past words. Waking abruptly from the hallucination, Rong cried out Qin Shangcheng's name, grappling with her identity. She realized, "Who am I?
I am Hua Rong. I am not Little White Dove. I am Hua Rong!" In a powerful moment of clarity, she relived a marriage ceremony with Qin Shangcheng, where she willingly signed a marriage certificate. Returning to reality, she embraced Qin Shangcheng. He comforted her, assuring her that the disturbing events were mere "illusions."
He then solemnly reiterated his unwavering love, promising, "no matter who you are, and how much you change, or even you forget me, I love you forever." Rong, now fully awakened to her true identity and their shared past, echoed his sentiments, "no matter who I am, and how much I change, or even I forget you, I love you forever," as they both pledged, "Never be apart in life and death, never give up."
After the intense events, Zhang Xian was seen attempting to write a letter to his wife, Hui. Qian Dayou offered to help. He critiqued Zhang Xian's poor calligraphy and the mundane content, noting omissions and misspellings like the word "alliance" and the dry details about plain food. Zhang Xian admitted he simply "missed her." Qian Dayou, in exchange for a "glaze cup" he had received from Qin Shangcheng, agreed to write the letter.
He dictated a heartfelt letter titled "To my beloved wife, Hui," expressing his deep love and gratitude for her unwavering devotion despite his humble origins. The letter pledged his lifelong commitment to her and their "unborn baby," wishing them health and happiness. Hui, upon receiving this eloquently written letter, was deeply moved, remarking it was the first letter in months she could truly understand.
