What If Episode 18 Recap
> What If Recap
At Haowei, the newly appointed Mr. Wu seemed to have a difficult relationship with Ms. Xia. Even when Ms. Xia worked while sick, Mr. Wu spoke to her sarcastically, suggesting she take a long annual leave to rest and recover. Xia Guo felt misunderstood by his words, believing he was implying she wasn't competent enough for her role as director, especially after the market department hadn't met his expectations.
She told him she needed to work, but he insisted she was being too hard on herself and needed to balance work and rest. Chen Nan reached out to Xia Guo after a long time, suggesting they meet. When they met at No. 18, Bund, Huangpu District, Chen Nan noticed Xia Guo's poor state and guessed she was upset about being targeted by Mr. Wu.
Chen Nan revealed she had moved to a jewelry group and wanted to recruit Xia Guo, expressing her long-standing recognition of Xia Guo's abilities. However, she also frankly told Xia Guo that she seemed to have lost her former fighting spirit, defeated by reality and the situation at Haowei.
Chen Nan encouraged her to regain her passion and offered her full support, including a place to stay if needed, though Xia Guo teased her for making it sound like a hard-luck story. Chen Nan also advised Xia Guo to let go of her relationship with Mr. Xue, describing him as a refined egoist not worth her time. One evening, Xia Guo heard a lot of noise from Allen's apartment next door.
She went over and discovered he was having a pajama party with friends. Invited inside, Xia Guo joined in and felt a sense of relaxation she hadn't experienced before. Despite being younger, Allen offered her perspective and comfort. He shared a method for making decisions: observe a random event, like which way a person walks, and link it to two potential choices (A or B).
He suggested closing her eyes and seeing if the outcome matched her desired choice, as disappointment could reveal her true preference. Reflecting on this, Xia Guo felt that no matter the choice, things might not turn out perfectly, but they wouldn't be terrible either. Thinking about her situation and Allen's words, Xia Guo decided to resign from Haowei and end her relationship with Mr. Xue.
She didn't regret leaving the company she had worked so hard to join, feeling it was necessary for her to rest and plan her future. She sent a breakup message to Mr. Xue and blocked him. Around the same time, Allen mentioned that the owner of the bar where he worked was planning to sell it. This sparked an idea for Xia Guo.
Recalling Allen's "A or B" method and how a chosen outcome aligned with her desire to break from the past, she decided to take on a new challenge. Xia Guo proposed a partnership with Allen: she would invest her savings to buy the bar, and he would handle the operations. Allen initially teased her but agreed, asking to become an official shareholder once they made enough profit.
They celebrated their new venture and welcomed new employees to the bar, emphasizing mutual learning and growth. During this period, Xia Guo fell ill again. Despite her protests, Allen insisted she go to the hospital, even carrying her there. He stayed by her side, making sure she got rest and treatment. While she was recovering, Allen suggested they live together, listing things they could do, like eating, drinking, and dancing together.
Xia Guo pretended to be asleep, unable to respond, feeling hesitant to enter a new relationship after her past heartbreaks. Later, Lucy visited the bar. She quickly picked up on Allen's feelings for Xia Guo and commented on how good Xia Guo looked lately. Lucy encouraged Xia Guo to consider Allen, praising his qualities and how his eyes lit up when looking at her.
Lucy shared her own experience, emphasizing that a woman should find someone who truly loves her and makes her happy, urging Xia Guo to be brave in her choices. Xia Guo acknowledged their working relationship was good and she was currently focused on earning money, not ready for romance. One evening, while driving Xia Guo home, Allen saw her absorbed in checking the bar's monthly revenue.
He suggested they increase the budget for the upcoming New Year and Christmas holidays, focusing on creating a good atmosphere and earning more money. However, Allen expressed less interest in just making money, hinting at his feelings for her again. Xia Guo tried to deflect, citing his age, but Allen pressed on, suggesting they were both single adults and could be together.
Xia Guo explained she wasn't in a good state of mind, still processing things, and couldn't make impulsive decisions like him. He proposed another "A or B" bet based on whether a couple nearby raised their glasses, but the moment was interrupted. Xia Guo insisted they focus on making money and not overthink things. As the New Year approached, Xia Guo was prepared to spend it alone.
Unexpectedly, Allen showed up at her door, claiming his high-speed train was canceled and he had nowhere else to go, so he came to freeload a New Year's Eve dinner. While making dumplings together, Allen, having had a few drinks, confessed his love for her and kissed her. Xia Guo firmly rejected him, reiterating that they could only be friends and asked him to leave if he couldn't accept it.
Allen apologized, and Xia Guo sincerely told him she wished him happiness but that she wasn't the one who could give it to him. She thanked him for being there during a difficult time, helping her find a clearer sense of herself. After the New Year, the bar faced challenges due to the pandemic restrictions. Xia Guo considered laying off staff, but they expressed loyalty and willingness to stay without pay, waiting for the situation to improve.
Just as she was feeling helpless, she received a message asking if they did food delivery. Realizing this was a lifeline, Xia Guo felt they were saved. She instructed the staff to prepare and immediately contacted a platform to start a simple meal delivery service, believing that as long as there was one customer who needed them, the business could survive. Later, Allen celebrated Xia Guo's birthday.
During a live stream, he publicly wished his "goddess" a happy birthday and expressed his wish to always be by her side as her bartender. Afterwards, they discussed their future. Xia Guo, seeing the success of food delivery and the potential, proposed they find a larger place to open a restaurant, believing they could thrive by focusing on takeout and seizing opportunities during the pandemic's low rent and tax periods.
Allen disagreed, feeling it wasn't a good time for a major expansion and preferring a more free lifestyle without constant pressure and crisis awareness. Their differing views on life and business created a significant conflict. Allen felt their values were too different and requested a leave of absence. As he left, Xia Guo wondered if her relentless pursuit of challenges was the right path, contrasting her approach with Allen's desire for a more relaxed life. She felt her heart was too calm, almost missing the earlier turbulence, and reflected on how facing sudden changes teaches one what they truly want.
