Second Chance Romance Episode 26 Recap
> Second Chance Romance Recap
Tan Siting brought her father back to their old house, a place filled with childhood memories. Her father was visibly joyful, taking in the familiar surroundings. Together, they tidied up the house, cleaning every corner until it sparkled. Afterward, Siting accompanied her father to the market, where she fondly requested him to cook her favorite dishes, just as she used to do when she was a child.
Her father happily agreed to make stir-fried Chinese cabbage and bought glutinous rice cakes, sticky rice cakes, and a large block of tofu from the market, even remembering the "Gao's" stall from years ago. Meanwhile, Gao Hui was grappling with her own declining memory. Her husband (Feng Rui's father) arrived to care for her, meticulously organizing her home and placing numerous sticky notes to aid her memory.
He told Feng Rui that Gao Hui, strong-willed her whole life, finally needed him. He reflected on how he and Gao Hui couldn't stay apart in their old age and was glad she now needed him. Earlier, during a business meeting, Gao Hui was noticeably distracted and struggled to remember where her notebook was, confirming her increasing forgetfulness.
Her doctor advised her to take medication on time and engage in brain-training exercises like playing chess or building with blocks to alleviate symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Le, Siting's son, heard rumors from a classmate that Tan Siting was going through a difficult time. His friend mentioned an online post accusing Siting of being "seen with a rich guy" and then leaving for Paris with his money, causing her to be "severely slammed online."
Upon returning home, Le questioned Feng Rui about the validity of the online post, specifically asking if Tan Siting had him for money and then left. Feng Rui served him dinner and advised him not to blindly believe what he hears or sees, but to "feel it for yourself" and trust his own judgment about the kind of person Siting is. Tan Siting's father sensed her emotional distress.
She confided in him, revealing that she and Feng Rui had a child, Le. He realized her sadness stemmed from issues with her former friend, Shuhan, which led to her losing her job. While worried for her, he respected her decision not to pursue legal action against Shuhan. He expressed deep remorse for not being present during Siting's past hardships, regretting the years he wasn't there to protect her.
He shared his lifelong wish to see her marry and have children, and was genuinely happy to learn about Le. Siting, in turn, reassured him that those matters were in the past and expressed her hope for her, Feng Rui, Le, and himself to become a recognized family of four. Siting also expressed confusion about their current situation with Gao Hui being ill, pondering how they would continue their lives there.
Yuan, Shuhan's brother, visited Siting to return the money Gao Hui had invested in him twelve years ago, including "principal and interest," asking Siting to pass it on to Gao Hui. He confessed he didn't want his thriving business to be built upon "ruining others' lives."
Shuhan also expressed her apologies to Yuan for climbing over friends and repeatedly using them, stating that after her confession to Siting, she felt "lighter than ever" and no longer desired an opulent lifestyle, intending to find a proper job and rebuild her life. Siting told Yuan she didn't hate him, but she did express her disappointment in him.
Yuan then asked Siting if she would forgive Shuhan if she genuinely apologized and made amends; Siting simply responded by asking if he would. Later, Siting's student, Qu Zhen, joyfully visited after learning Siting's father had returned. Yuan brought her along, initially feeling ashamed to face Siting again after everything that had happened. However, Siting assured him that she didn't blame him, acknowledging he was unaware of the truth at the time, and that the past was behind them.
Siting's father was delighted to see Qu Zhen, praising her significant progress in ballet and her recent award, affirming that he had always believed in her potential. In the evening, Qu Zhen stayed at Siting's house. Siting's father shared many things about his own past. Although he had left without saying goodbye years ago, he always cared for his daughter.
He recounted how he had been deeply saddened by witnessing the tragic death of his beloved student, who had been bullied. Being young at the time, he couldn't overcome the pain, and only many years later did he realize the profound guilt he felt towards his own daughter. Qu Zhen enjoyed spending time with Siting and her father, remarking that despite it being her first visit, the old house felt very familiar and she loved it.
She expressed her desire to sleep with Siting that night, which Siting agreed to. Siting’s father reiterated his long-held dream of establishing an education fund in Hongyuan County, Sichuan's Aba Prefecture, to help children like Qu Zhen "leave the mountains and leave the grasslands" to experience the wider world, making their lives more vibrant. Siting enthusiastically offered to help him achieve this dream together. Feng Rui arrived at Siting's house for dinner.
Siting's father, eager to show off his cooking, prepared Siting's favorite fish head stewed with tofu. He praised Feng Rui, calling him a "reliable man" who was mature, steady, warm-hearted, and considerate. He also affectionately referred to Siting as his "princess" but playfully told her to "tone down" her "princess airs" in front of Feng Rui. He blessed them, wishing them eternal happiness and urging them to "live a good life together."
Feng Rui promised he would take good care of Siting. However, during dinner, Siting's father excused himself to use the restroom but collapsed in the kitchen. Siting and Feng Rui quickly rushed him to the Emergency Room. The doctor informed them that while he would likely regain consciousness soon, his symptoms had been present for some time, and he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. The doctor advised them to "be mentally prepared" and complete the hospital admission procedures. Feng Rui immediately offered to handle the paperwork.
