What If Episode 13 Recap
> What If Recap
Market department colleagues discuss having Japanese food for their dinner gathering that evening, mentioning Sanchuan is an option. Xia Guo initially declines, needing to prepare for a proposal meeting the next day, but her colleagues persuade her, emphasizing it's a "good meal" to boost morale, and she eventually agrees. At the dinner venue, Li Qiuman arrives with Migao, stating they are there to celebrate Migao's birthday. The colleagues invite them to join, which Li Qiuman accepts, seeing Migao's excitement.
Mr. Xue then arrives with a birthday cake. Migao rushes to him, calling him "Daddy." Everyone is surprised by this revelation. Li Qiuman then explains that Migao is her and Brandon (Mr. Xue)'s daughter; they were university classmates and have known each other for over ten years. As the dinner continues, Li Qiuman asks Xia Guo to take a video of "our family of three." Despite some hesitation, Xia Guo films the scene.
Afterwards, visibly distressed, Xia Guo abruptly leaves the table, saying she will go by herself. Her friends follow her outside and express their frustration with Li Qiuman's actions, speculating that she is using Migao. Xia Guo feels she cannot stay at the company. The next morning at the office, colleagues greet Xia Guo warmly and praise her for her actions the previous night, calling her courageous for hitting a colleague who was reportedly inappropriate.
They jokingly dub her the "leader of Haowei." Later, the company holds a meeting to decide between Xia Guo's proposal, "Spring Morning," and Li Qiuman's proposal, "Spring in Europe." Li Qiuman presents her plan, highlighting collaboration with top European designers Leon and Hogar to make it an international response.
Xia Guo presents her "Spring Morning" proposal, suggesting a cross-industry collaboration with the popular simulation game "Thousand Miles of Spring River," arguing that connecting with the top-ranked mobile game will quickly reach a younger audience and aligns well with their concept, incorporating diverse regional cultural elements. Mr. Xue offers his analysis, noting both proposals are high-quality and different in style (international/elite vs. local/young), with similar sales expectations.
However, he points out that "Spring Morning" shows better expected data for gross profit and market share increase, though acknowledging "Spring in Europe" is positioned more high-end. The decision is put to a vote among the executives. The results are announced, and "Spring Morning" wins by a large margin. Xia Guo is congratulated.
Following the meeting, Li Qiuman confronts Mr. Xue (referred to here by his full name, Xue Yuming) in his office, demanding to know if he voted for Xia Guo's proposal to embarrass her. Mr. Xue explains his assessment was based on the business metrics he presented. When she presses him on his vote, he states that as her superior, he is not required to report his work to her.
As Migao's father, he tells her he hopes she will stop using their daughter. He makes it clear that a romantic relationship is impossible between them. When she asks if it is possible for him to be with someone else and challenges him to reveal who, he declares, "I like Xia Guo." Li Qiuman reacts strongly, warning him that if the company finds out, it could ruin both of them. He repeats his declaration, "I like Xia Guo."
Xia Guo, arriving at his office door, overhears his words and pauses, stunned. Later, Xia Guo and Mr. Xue coincidentally find themselves in the same supermarket. They talk, and Mr. Xue expresses his appreciation for grocery shopping as a relaxing activity. He offers to pay for her groceries if she tells him a story about each item she buys. As they browse, they reflect on the importance of family and love over simply chasing numbers.
Xia Guo shares a memory related to a mint candy she finds. Mr. Xue tells her that his home password is unchanged and he doesn't intend to change, implying his feelings are steadfast. He then embraces her. Xia Guo feels a mix of emotions, sensing she is breaking through a period of loneliness, unsure of what lies ahead, but feeling a sense of connection in his embrace.
In a parallel story, another version of Xia Guo is deeply loved by her husband Yu Jian and his parents, and their family debt has been repaid. Yu Jian brings home money from a new project, sharing it with his wife and parents. Yu Jian's sister, Yu Yan, unexpectedly returns from the US. The family is surprised but welcomes her. Yu Yan confesses she was bored in Los Angeles and missed her mother's cooking.
She appears unhappy, especially noticing the affectionate way the family treats her pregnant sister-in-law, parallel Xia Guo. Yu Yan is secretly pregnant and doesn't want her family to know, but her mother discovers her morning sickness and realizes the truth. Yu Yan admits she is pregnant but doesn't want the child, revealing that her husband Andrew wants a divorce.
She explains that Andrew has been pressuring her to get an abortion and refuses to be tied down by a child, although he offers better terms for asset division if she agrees to the divorce. Yu Yan's mother advises her to keep the baby, believing it can be a bond to save the marriage, as a husband cannot file for divorce during pregnancy or breastfeeding according to the law.
Yu Yan is resistant, feeling she cannot cope and resents her mother for prioritizing face and practicality over her feelings. She reveals she went to the US to get away from her mother. Despite this, her mother calls Andrew and tells him about the pregnancy. Andrew later arrives at the house. Yu Yan privately confronts him, confirming he came for the divorce.
He confirms he wants the divorce immediately and the child aborted, stating he respects her choice of location for the procedure. Yu Yan insists she will not divorce and will keep the child. Andrew reiterates he does not love her and the child will not save the marriage, again offering improved financial terms for the divorce. Yu Yan calls him a scumbag. Andrew leaves abruptly, citing a client meeting.
Distraught, Yu Yan is later found by parallel Xia Guo, drinking alcohol. Yu Yan tearfully explains her situation, her struggle with Andrew's pressure, and her fear of raising the child alone or regretting abortion. Parallel Xia Guo listens and tells Yu Yan she cannot make the decision for her, but urges her to think if she can take responsibility for the child if she keeps it.
Xia Guo shares her own experience of deciding to keep her baby, motivated by the thought of hearing the first cry. She lets Yu Yan feel her pregnant belly, describing the unique joy of the baby's movements. Yu Yan asks if she is capable of motherhood.
Parallel Xia Guo reassures her that having a child is not a way to salvage a marriage, and if she chooses to keep the child, it should be for herself, not anyone else, emphasizing it is her right. She promises that if Yu Yan decides to keep the baby, the whole family will help care for it. Yu Yan talks tenderly to parallel Xia Guo's belly, speaking to her future nephew or niece about traveling together. The narrative concludes with a reflection on love, overcoming obstacles, and the resilience gained through pain.
