What If Episode 12 Recap
> What If Recap
Having secured the necessary funds, Yu Jian promptly repaid Wen Ya the hundred thousand yuan. He expressed his gratitude, explaining that the money had helped him overcome difficulties, and his financial situation was now stable as his wife had a job and his brother's projects were progressing well. He felt it was important to settle the debt now. Wen Ya seemed surprised, feeling Yu Jian was treating her like a client rather than a friend.
She reiterated her trust in him and offered her support, telling him to reach out if he ever needed someone to talk to, even just to sit in silence together. Yu Jian thanked her and took his leave, mentioning he wanted to spend time with his wife and prevent her from worrying unnecessarily.
Back at home, Yu Jian's mother, influenced by a neighbor, had secretly swapped the folic acid Xia Guo was taking for a local remedy believed to influence a baby's gender. Unaware of the change, Xia Guo continued to take the new pills daily. One day, she experienced severe abdominal pain. Fortunately, they went to the hospital immediately.
Under the doctor's questioning, Xia Guo learned that the medication she was taking had been switched, and continuing to take it could result in a miscarriage. The doctor, assessing Xia Guo's condition, advised her to rest and avoid strenuous work to protect the pregnancy. Hearing the doctor's words, Yu Jian suspected his mother was responsible. He rushed downstairs to confront her, expressing his anger and frustration.
From her hospital room, Xia Guo heard Yu Jian's voice and went to the window, witnessing him scolding his mother. The incident left Xia Guo troubled, realizing how much unrest the anticipation of a child had brought to the family. Xia Guo successfully passed her company's assessment and became a regular employee. However, the promotion involved increased workload and required business trips, which caused her to hesitate, considering the doctor's advice and Yu Jian's suggestion to prioritize her health.
After much thought, she decided to resign. She felt it was more important now to focus on caring for herself and her child. She reflected on how pregnancy had changed her perspective, acknowledging her mother-in-law's previous words about the unique responsibilities and missions that come with carrying a child. She resolved to nurture herself and her baby for a safe delivery.
Upon hearing Xia Guo's decision, her mother-in-law was visibly relieved and expressed her understanding, assuring Xia Guo that she wouldn't impose her own ideas anymore. In Shanghai, Xia Guo's lunch encounter with Li Qiuman added to her concerns. The two women found themselves sitting at the same table, having ordered from the same place. Xia Guo subtly inquired about Migao's father.
Li Qiuman revealed that she and Migao's father were never married, and this trip was the first time Migao had met him. She explained that she discovered her pregnancy after they had broken up and had made the decision to have the baby on her own. Their breakup had happened naturally when she pursued studies abroad and he remained in China for work.
She admitted she was willful back then, neither willing to stay for him nor expecting him to leave for her. When Xia Guo asked if she would want to get back together, Li Qiuman said it would be ideal, especially to provide Migao with a complete family. She believed father's love was crucial.
Li Qiuman later mused that although Migao's father had dated other women over the years, none had made him settle down, noting he even changed his apartment password every two months. However, she felt Migao was different and believed he would stay for his daughter. She declared her intention to fight to keep him by her side. Returning home earlier than usual, Xia Guo found herself locked out of the apartment, the password having been changed.
Recalling Li Qiuman's comment about the frequent password changes, a realization dawned on her. She received a message from Mr. Xue containing the new password, allowing her entry. Inside, she found a photograph of Mr. Xue and Li Qiuman from their university days. Seeing it, combined with Li Qiuman's words, she felt a sense of defeat.
The man she had lived with seemed to have held back too much, and she was uncertain how to navigate their relationship or interact with him and Li Qiuman going forward. Deciding she couldn't stay, Xia Guo packed her belongings. She transferred money to Mr. Xue, asking him to use the time to focus on his family, and she sent a message requesting a job transfer within the company, hoping for his approval.
Seeking a change of pace, Xia Guo returned to Leshan to gather inspiration in the mountains. There, she unexpectedly came across Yu Jian and Wen Ya posing for wedding photographs. Witnessing this evoked a complex mix of emotions. That evening, while having dinner with Ping, Xia Guo learned that Yu Jian and Wen Ya's wedding was scheduled for the end of the month.
Ping advised her to let go of the past, acknowledging the difficulty given their long history but emphasizing the fragility of relationships. She shared her own experience, suggesting that children often serve as a bond that sustains marriages, creating a shared goal. Xia Guo, curious but clarifying she wasn't dwelling on Yu Jian, asked if having a child fundamentally changes a couple's relationship, particularly if it shifts the focus towards familial love.
Ping affirmed that it definitely changes things by providing a common purpose. During their dinner, Xia Guo received a message from Allen in Shanghai, who had found a suitable apartment for her. The next day, she returned to Shanghai and met with Allen to view the property. Allen was enthusiastic about the place, located in the suburbs but affordable, mentioning he had already cleaned it and arranged for repairs.
He revealed he lived right next door, in apartment 509, and told her to knock if she needed anything. He jokingly offered her a room in his spacious apartment instead. She declined politely, appreciative of his help. He suggested she treat him to dinner, then proposed she eat at his place; he would cook, and it would be her treat in name.
Allen, who dreamed of opening his own bar, spoke about his passion for mixing drinks and his drive to make money. He probed into Xia Guo's personal life, guessing about her having a high-flying boyfriend and questioning if he was married, had cheated, or had a child. Noticing her reaction when he mentioned having a child, he commented on the complexity of her situation.
Xia Guo told him to mind his own business, and they shared a toast to their respective paths forward. Upon returning to the office in Shanghai, Xia Guo was greeted by a colleague who welcomed her back and lightheartedly teased her about seeing a boyfriend, which Xia Guo denied, explaining she had broken up with him and was back from a research trip.
Her colleague Yvonne soon arrived, and there was a brief, tense exchange between them about their respective project progress. The colleague who had welcomed Xia Guo commented on the apparent rivalry between her and Yvonne, noting their upcoming competition and how Yvonne seemed to be growing closer to Mr. Xue. They speculated that their compatibility and closeness could potentially affect Xia Guo's position, especially since she had transferred departments. Xia Guo dismissed the idea of needing such connections as leverage.
