The Trick of Life and Love Episode 32 (Ending) Recap
> The Trick of Life and Love Recap
Li Qian dreamt of her mother painting, and in the dream, Ning Chengming gently embraced her. Upon waking, she saw her father, Li Jingfan, and brothers, Li Chen and Li Jun, looking at her with concern at the hospital door. The doctor advised them to leave so Li Qian could rest. Shortly after, Ning Chengming entered. Li Qian, pretending to be disoriented, asked him who he was.
Ning Chengming seized the opportunity, claiming she had fallen down the stairs last night, leading to her unconsciousness. He playfully told her that if she had memory loss, he was her husband, and she had pursued him relentlessly back in college.
Li Qian, realizing his trickery, quickly recalled her family members: her best friend Yu Qingqing, her close friend Gu Zhe, her father Li Jingfan, her brothers Li Chen and Li Jun, and her sister-in-law Gu Lan, but she pointedly said she had no strong impression of Ning Chengming. Annoyed, Ning Chengming told her she should take her medicine to fully recover her memory. Meanwhile, Cao Mei and Ma Hao were detained.
Yu Qingqing requested to see Cao Mei at the detention center, but Cao Mei refused to see anyone and declared she did not need a lawyer to defend herself. She believed that denying the charges would keep her fantasy intact, but the authorities stated that with conclusive evidence, her false repentance was unnecessary; she just needed to await trial. Back at the hospital, Ning Chengming offered Li Qian dessert with her medicine.
Li Qian refused the bitter taste, so Ning Chengming produced a "Li Qian's exclusive medicine treasure box" with various items. Just as they were playfully interacting, Li Jingfan entered, suggesting Ning Chengming leave so he could speak with his daughter privately. Li Jingfan gently told Li Qian that her room, which he had decorated in a high school style, could be changed if she didn't like it.
He assured her the company was fine and promised to have nourishing food prepared. He then returned her bag, explaining the police had it for evidence. Inside, she revealed, was his birthday gift: a painting. Li Jingfan was deeply moved, especially when he saw the painting depicted him. Li Qian confessed that she had dreamt of her mother, who asked if she resented her for not revealing Li Jingfan's existence sooner.
Li Qian said she didn't, acknowledging that although her father was absent for a long time, she now knew he cared for her, and she would slowly get used to their relationship. Li Jingfan, touched, asked Li Qian to stay at home, which she agreed to. He then cautiously tried to ask about her relationship with Ning Chengming, but Li Qian quickly stated she would handle it herself. Li Jingfan left her to rest, thanking her for the gift.
At a dinner, Ning Chengming's subordinates, Lu Fanyi and Qi Wei, observed his somber mood. Qi Wei hesitantly mentioned hearing about Li Qian's memory loss, noting she remembered everyone but him. Lu Fanyi chimed in that a head injury would naturally cause memory loss, which Ning Chengming dismissed as nonsense. Qi Wei then asked about Ning Chengming's next plan. Ning Chengming declared his intention to "emphasize established facts and fight fire with fire," confident he would win this round.
Later, Li Chen and Gu Lan were discussing Li Qian, with Li Chen revealing Li Qian was faking her memory loss as part of her playful battle with Ning Chengming. While overseeing the redecoration of Li Qian's house for Ning Chengming's grand gesture, Gu Lan found his actions excessive, complaining that he was making Li Chen do all the work.
Li Chen, however, was happy to help for Li Qian's sake and promised Gu Lan an even grander, personally arranged wedding. Gu Zhe sought Yu Qingqing's legal advice on an advertising contract. Yu Qingqing confirmed the contract was valid but stipulated he couldn't be in a real relationship during the contract period. Gu Zhe, upset by the clause, told his father he couldn't sign. His father initially suspected Gu Lan was behind it.
Gu Zhe then complained to his mother about the no-dating clause. His mother scolded his father for not looking out for their son, then urged Gu Zhe to find a girlfriend and marry soon to expand the family. Gu Zhe admitted he was pursuing someone who hadn't yet agreed. Li Qian received a call from Xiaowang at the community committee, saying someone insisted on buying her house on South Sanli East Lane, despite being told it wasn't for sale.
The person insisted on meeting her. Li Qian rushed over to find her house redecorated in a style reminiscent of her time with Ning Chengming, filled with their photos and couple's items. On the swing, she found a letter from Ning Chengming. In the letter, Ning Chengming explained this was his first letter to her since regaining his memory, but not his last.
He recounted their journey from school to meeting abroad, his memory loss, and his inner thoughts, concluding by expressing his profound love for her. He reminisced about how he initially found her annoying in class, like a "clever fox," but later realized his initial perceptions were incomplete. He spoke of the bewildering nature of memory, how it could make one forget so much yet vividly retain every moment they shared, making them feel like yesterday.
He described how he experienced a range of emotions with her, more than ever before, but the joy turned to anger upon realizing his memory loss was exploited by a lie. This challenged his logic and brought him sadness. After making many excuses, he decided to "fight fire with fire" and reject the unrealistic demands, proposing they renegotiate. He found her initial anger, struggle, and resistance amusing but eventually realized it wasn't what he truly wanted.
He then understood his good fortune in meeting her on this "narrow path," and reiterated his love. As Li Qian finished reading, Ning Chengming appeared, taking her hand and asking if she remembered everything. Li Qian, now fully aware of his manipulation, playfully accused him of "cheating." Ning Chengming admitted it, proposing they "cheat each other for a lifetime." As they embraced, Li Jingfan, Li Chen, Li Jun, and Gu Lan watched from a distance with binoculars.
Li Jingfan was torn between joy and apprehension, happy for his daughter but also worried about Ning Chengming potentially hurting her, and feeling his own love for her might become superfluous. A year later, Ning Chengming and Li Qian were on their honeymoon in Thailand. Li Qian complained to Ning Chengming, listing how he had dragged her to visit factories, attend industry forums, and review documents, questioning if it was a honeymoon or a remote work trip.
Ning Chengming promised a surprise to appease her. Meanwhile, a pregnant Gu Lan was chatting with Gu Zhe via WeChat, being pampered by Li Chen. Li Jun angrily recounted how a Mr. Fu from Lingfan had splashed coffee on him for suggesting a 50% stake in his company. Li Chen and Gu Lan found Li Jun's demand a bit excessive, but Li Jun was determined to "keep an eye on" Mr. Fu and challenge anyone who invested in his company.
Li Jingfan, feeling neglected by Li Chen and Gu Lan, messaged Li Qian, urging her to come home soon. Li Qian dressed up beautifully for dinner with Ning Chengming. Ning Chengming, finding her outfit a bit revealing, tried to get her to wear a jacket, which displeased her. She threatened to return to the hotel, but he eventually cajoled her, asking if she wanted him to carry her. Li Qian, teasing him, asked when he had developed such strong arms.
Later, while Ning Chengming queued for food, Li Qian was approached by two men. Ning Chengming, seeing this, angrily confronted them and started a fight. The altercation led them to the police station. The police offered two choices: involve the embassy and follow their country's legal procedures, or follow local rules. Li Qian secretly advised Ning Chengming on the local customs, and he agreed to the second option.
The police then proceeded to take numerous "commemorative" photos of Ning Chengming and Li Qian, who took full advantage of the situation to capture many intimate shots, much to the exasperated officers' dismay, who reluctantly complied until they ended their shift early.
