What If Episode 9 Recap
> What If Recap
Yu Jian was preparing to travel to Shanghai to celebrate Xia Guo's birthday, carrying a cake. At the airport, he unexpectedly encountered Wen Ya, who was also going to Shanghai for an exhibition, and they were on the same flight. However, Yu Jian received an urgent call from the Xiaojiang police station informing him that his mother, Ms. Zhang Xiaoqin, had fainted while cooperating with their investigation into a fraud case she was involved in.
He was asked to return to Leshan as soon as possible. Unable to go to Shanghai, Yu Jian was concerned about Xia Guo's birthday. Wen Ya offered to take the cake to Xia Guo, emphasizing that a birthday only happens once a year and it would be a shame for Xia Guo not to receive it, suggesting it would offer comfort since Yu Jian couldn't be there himself. Yu Jian gratefully accepted and provided Xia Guo's address.
Yu Jian went to the police station and learned the details of the fraud. The police explained that the scammer had previously worked for a proper investment platform and had set up a fake branch in Leshan, even renting an office. Yu Jian's mother had visited the office and believed the scheme, losing 400,000 yuan, which included money from her friends.
The police initially suspected her of inadvertently facilitating the scheme, but after questioning her and her friends, they determined she was simply a victim who fainted from shock upon hearing the news. When Yu Jian asked if the money could be recovered, the police explained the suspect was still at large, and while they were freezing accounts, they could not guarantee how much would be retrieved, acknowledging the possibility that the money might not be recovered.
Despite this, they assured him they would do their best. In Shanghai, Xia Guo received the cake from Wen Ya. She was visibly unhappy, asking if Wen Ya had any other business there. Wen Ya noted her lack of interest in the cake, which Xia Guo retorted was none of her business. Wen Ya then provocatively mentioned knowing Xia Guo was supposed to be friendly and sensible, but Xia Guo's behavior depended on who she was dealing with.
Wen Ya revealed Yu Jian was helping her design her florist shop and praised him as talented, interesting, and thoughtful. She mentioned Yu Jian had told her he would come to Shanghai for Xia Guo's birthday the previous week and could join her after finishing the project, implying she was privy to Yu Jian's plans. Wen Ya stated she couldn't understand Xia Guo's disdain when she had brought the cake out of kindness.
Xia Guo asked her to stop calling him "Yu Jian," but Wen Ya claimed it was a habit from when she first met him. Wen Ya speculated that Xia Guo felt helpless being far away while Yu Jian's family was in trouble, to which Xia Guo replied her speculation was unnecessary. Wen Ya further criticized Xia Guo for being indifferent to the cake and cold to her, the messenger, suggesting it was going too far.
Xia Guo told her to leave if she felt that way. Wen Ya continued, talking about fate and how she would never give up on Yu Jian if she were Xia Guo, implying Xia Guo might have to give up Shanghai.
Xia Guo asserted she wasn't Wen Ya and wouldn't give up either Shanghai or Yu Jian, claiming she knew him well, that they were similar people with the same beliefs, and their relationship had lasted over 20 years, not easily meddled with by others. Wen Ya questioned her confidence, which Xia Guo dismissed as something she wouldn't understand, adding that love required striving for it and inviting Wen Ya to try if she felt "good enough."
Wen Ya stated she didn't need Xia Guo's teaching and could handle her approach or departure from Yu Jian with ease, unlike Xia Guo, who lacked such freedom. Before leaving, Wen Ya delivered a final thought, asking Xia Guo if she hadn't considered a breakup might happen when she chose to leave Leshan. Back home, Yu Jian's mother was distressed about the financial loss, crying and refusing to eat.
His father tried to comfort her, telling her the money was gone and she should be glad she wasn't arrested. Yu Jian discussed their remaining savings, which were less than 10,000 yuan. He suggested using his savings to partially repay his mother's friends and find other ways to cover the rest, emphasizing they had to fill the gap since the friends' money was entrusted to her. His mother objected, saying his savings were for his marriage.
His father supported Yu Jian's plan, saying they wouldn't be getting married soon with Xia Guo in Shanghai. His mother then suggested asking Xia Guo for financial help since she was working in Shanghai, which his father immediately shut down, calling it disgraceful. His mother argued they had raised Xia Guo and Yu Jian had spent a lot on her, so she should help in a crucial moment.
His father reiterated that his mother had lost her mind and suggested Yu Jian not listen to her. His mother then thought about asking a relative for help, but Yu Jian's father pointed out her strained relationship with that relative. Later, Yu Jian video called Xia Guo and asked if she had eaten the cake. She said she had and thanked him. He explained about his mother's scam and why he couldn't go to Shanghai, apologizing.
Xia Guo said she knew and didn't blame him, but noted he still seemed angry. She wanted to know who Wen Ya was, as Yu Jian had said she was just a friend on WeChat, yet she called him "Yu Jian" intimately and made comments about Xia Guo not staying in Shanghai and about her own ease in approaching or leaving him.
Yu Jian replied they had met Wen Ya before Xia Guo went to Shanghai and that the florist project he was working on was Wen Ya's. Xia Guo countered he had said it was Tang Yiming's project. Yu Jian clarified that Wen Ya had approached Yiming, who then approached him. Xia Guo accused him of changing the subject, saying he never told her he was working for Wen Ya, even though they talked and video called frequently.
She contrasted her openness about her work in Shanghai, mentioning her boss Mr. Xue and colleague Ai, with his lack of mention of Wen Ya or her shop, asking why it wasn't important enough. Yu Jian, feeling exhausted, said he didn't want to argue, but Xia Guo insisted it was important because Wen Ya called him "Yu Jian" so naturally and suggested she could approach or leave him easily, implying she was claiming ownership.
Yu Jian insisted Wen Ya was just a client and he didn't mention her because a client's identity wasn't usually important enough to specially introduce, and he had met her at the courier station while mailing something to Xia Guo. He explained Wen Ya had shown him photos she took in Shanghai, asking what was so indecent about it and why Xia Guo didn't trust him.
Xia Guo replied she was filled with anticipation waiting for him in Shanghai for her birthday and was disappointed by what happened, and added that his actions caused the lack of trust. She accused him of sacrificing her and their happiness by staying in Leshan for his family.
Yu Jian expressed confusion about why they were arguing about past issues, saying his family had gone through a huge event, and Xia Guo hadn't asked about his mother's condition or how the situation would be resolved, implying his family had become unimportant to her. Xia Guo defended herself, saying she had asked and had even found a hospital in Shanghai for his family, asking if he saw her as heartless.
Yu Jian conceded the distance contributed to their problems but questioned the meaning of her working herself to exhaustion in Shanghai, suggesting it was only for buying more clothes and shoes. Xia Guo was deeply disappointed by his perception of her work's meaning. Yu Jian pleaded with her to return to Leshan, saying he couldn't bear it anymore and needed her by his side.
Xia Guo responded that he didn't need her specifically, just someone by his side, implying it could be anyone. In anger, Yu Jian proposed breaking up and left. Xia Guo ran after him but was stopped by Mr. Xue, who was outside her apartment. Mr. Xue told her she would regret chasing him. Xia Guo insisted she had to, but Mr. Xue held her back, saying it was too late as she had already seen him leave.
He asked if she was happy, and she replied she wasn't happy at all. Mr. Xue gave her his second piece of advice: the person who initiates the breakup will feel less pain. Xia Guo cried, saying she was in pain just thinking of him. Mr. Xue comforted her. Xia Guo returned to Leshan. One day, she saw Yu Jian and Wen Ya holding hands on a familiar road.
Wen Ya was visiting Yu Jian, who had been silent since returning from Shanghai, worrying his parents. Wen Ya brought him soup she made and some money, which she insisted was an advance payment for his design work on her flower shop, stating it was just half, with the rest coming later. She expressed her deep appreciation for him, saying he was more than an ordinary designer and his value wasn't measured in money.
She offered comforting words about losing money and finding love again, but emphasized not giving up on oneself. Yu Jian thanked her for her help, promising to do a good job on her shop. Wen Ya confessed she liked him and felt he knew it but had shielded himself because of Xia Guo. Now that things were different, she hoped he would reconsider.
Yu Jian tried to speak, but Wen Ya interrupted, acknowledging he might still have feelings for Xia Guo but said it was okay because she could be with him every day from tomorrow and believed he would accept her eventually. Yu Jian thanked her again. As Wen Ya left, Xia Guo, who had witnessed the exchange, confronted Yu Jian, stating she had seen everything and asked if this was his "working relationship" and "nothing indecent about it."
She accused him of asking her to return to Leshan just to see this and called him a liar who had been wanting to break up for a long time. Yu Jian confirmed the breakup, echoing Wen Ya's earlier words that Xia Guo should have expected this when she left Leshan.
Xia Guo noted their similar words, questioning if Wen Ya was gentle, thoughtful, and understanding, and if she was the person he needed most, who could share his burden immediately. She asked why he had gone to Shanghai to "stage an act" the day before, feeling foolish for almost believing him and his efforts. Yu Jian said she could think whatever she liked and admitted Wen Ya had helped him and his whole family.
He then asked where Xia Guo was when he needed help the most and why Wen Ya was helping him instead of her, asking what Xia Guo had been doing. He suggested they stop pretending and part ways amicably. Walking away on the familiar road, Xia Guo felt a profound sense of loss and despair, realizing she had lost the person she treasured most in her small world.
She recalled Yu Jian's promise that she should wait for him in Shanghai, and they would never be separated. She questioned why he had the right to initiate the breakup and why she hadn't listened to Mr. Xue and done it first. She wondered if she could turn back time and wished she hadn't returned to Leshan if it meant avoiding this pain.
Mr. Xue's third piece of advice came to her mind: the best way to cure heartbreak is to start a new relationship. She realized that when her vulnerability was seen and embraced by someone else, that was when she truly lost Yu Jian.
