The Romance of Tiger and Rose Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
> The Romance of Tiger and Rose Recap
As Chen Chuchu and her forces stood at a tense standoff with Chen Qianqian's allies, Pei Heng arrived with the City Guards. Seeing the tide turn against her, Chen Chuchu attempted to stab Chen Qianqian, but Han Shuo suddenly shielded Chen Qianqian, collapsing unconscious shortly after. Chen Yuanyuan quickly examined Han Shuo. Although the sword narrowly missed his heart, his lungs were severely damaged, leaving him with little time left.
Chen Qianqian was heartbroken, regretting that she had written Han Shuo's death into the script. Han Shuo, however, comforted her, stating that he had no regrets meeting her and that his sacrifice for her, Huayuan City, and Xuanhu City was worthwhile. He explained that this was not the ending Chen Qianqian wrote, but his own decision as Han Shuo.
He believed he now understood why the male lead would love the female lead: because she was kind, optimistic, and strong, never backing down from setbacks. He hoped he was her "good match" and that she would never regret their meeting. Han Shuo urged her to bravely finish the story and return to her own world, expressing his desire to see her ascend to the City Owner's throne with his own eyes.
Listening from the doorway, the City Lord and his wife were moved to tears. Despite their grief, they did not blame Chen Qianqian, respecting their son's choice and sense of responsibility. In the aftermath, Huayuan City transformed. Pei Heng was reinstated as Minister of Education and opened a school, ensuring that all citizens, male and female, could receive an education, promoting equality.
Reflecting on the saying, "Nothing lasts forever; seize the day," and unwilling for hatred to linger, Chen Qianqian visited Chen Chuchu in prison. Chen Chuchu, stripped of her former prestige, was filled with bitterness.
Chen Qianqian acknowledged her own part in Chen Chuchu's downfall, admitting that if she had died early on as intended, Han Shuo would have allied with Chen Chuchu, Su Ziying and Meng Guo would have sided with her, and she would have earned the love of the people. However, Chen Qianqian explained that her survival wasn't her fault, and Chen Chuchu's failure stemmed from her inability to adapt when faced with an unexpected "stumbling block."
Chen Qianqian emphasized that Chen Chuchu, despite being the original protagonist with "golden fingers" in the story, ultimately lacked the virtue and talent to become a true City Owner. A few days later, the City Owner succession ceremony was to take place. An old legend held that the first City Owner of Huayuan City encountered a miraculous vision of the sun and moon shining together and the heavens opening during her succession ceremony, signifying a wise ruler.
Chen Qianqian proposed that all three sisters—herself, Chen Chuchu, and Chen Yuanyuan—walk the succession path to see who could summon this auspicious phenomenon. The City Lord agreed, stating that whoever triggered the sign would inherit the throne. On the day of the ceremony, with officials and City Lords from both cities present, Chen Chuchu went first, full of confidence. However, as she offered incense, dark clouds gathered and strong winds erupted, an ominous sign.
Shocked, Chen Chuchu dismissed it as coincidence. Next, Chen Yuanyuan, supported by Su Mu, walked the path; the sky turned clear, but with no special omens. When it was Chen Qianqian's turn, she refused to walk the path, wanting to remain in this world with the man she loved. However, Han Shuo, defying Bai Ji's pleas and struggling with his deteriorating condition, appeared. He stumbled and coughed up blood before collapsing down the steps. Chen Qianqian rushed to him, distraught.
Han Shuo insisted on appearing because he did not want her to be left alone in this world after he was gone. He wanted her to return to her own reality, saying, "You have your own world. I don't have much time left to be with you." At that moment, the sky suddenly glowed with brilliant light, and auspicious clouds descended, astonishing the officials, who knelt in reverence. Han Shuo smiled, looking at the auspicious clouds.
Chen Qianqian's vision blurred, and as she reached out to touch him, everything dissolved into a strong white light. When Chen Qianqian, now Chen Xiaoqian, opened her eyes, she found herself back in her familiar modern apartment. The wall clock showed only a few hours had passed, and her laptop screen still displayed the revised ending of her script, where Chen Chuchu became the City Owner amidst auspicious signs.
Chen Xiaoqian was stunned, struggling to believe that her experiences in Huayuan City were merely a dream. Filled with an emptiness, Chen Xiaoqian received a call from her producer, who informed her that the lead actor, Mr. Han, had been in a car accident, injuring his lungs, and would need three months to recover. Remembering Han Shuo's similar injury and Mr. Han's striking resemblance to him, Chen Xiaoqian rushed to the hospital.
There, she spoke to Mr. Han about the joys and sorrows of Chen Qianqian and Han Shuo. Initially, Mr. Han seemed annoyed, telling her she was "too immersed in the story." He claimed his head was filled with memories of "apple, banana, orange" that were not his own and that he was struggling to differentiate between dream and reality.
However, when he called her "Orange," a nickname only Han Shuo used, Chen Xiaoqian knew with certainty that he was Han Shuo. She instantly hugged him, while Mr. Han's agent, filming the scene, lauded his actor's professionalism.
Mr. Han confirmed he had experienced many strange things after the accident, including memories of Chen Qianqian snatching him from the street, his heart disease being cured by the Dragon Bone, the aphrodisiac incense on Weimeng Mountain, their confession in Yueli Mansion, and the fact that while Chen Qianqian loved Han Shuo, he loved Chen Xiaoqian. Life is full of unexpected encounters, and sometimes, a single moment of perseverance is all it takes for two people to find their destined union.
