Episode 30 recap: Everything is ultimately just a beautiful dream.
Amidst Hua Qian's drowsiness, she continuously smelled a fragrance. It turned out that everything that had happened was actually a dream. Zhong Xi Wu had been by Hua Qian's side, using the best herbal medicine, hoping that she would wake up soon. The fragrance kept Hua Qian in the dream, and she had been lying there for twenty-six months. Now the ingredients were severely depleted, and Zhong Xi Wu was even willing to pay twice the price to buy them. For him, two years ago, he had finally found Hua Qian just as he was about to kill her, but he saved her instead.
So Hua Qian had been dreaming all this time, and in this lifetime, she had too many regrets, so she wanted to start over. Zhong Xi Wu even felt that as long as Hua Qian could be by his side, it would be enough. Zhong Xi Wu didn't expect Hua Qian to wake up so soon, and she even thought that Zhong Xi Wu had just left and asked about the whereabouts of the Reverse Traveler from Hua Rong Zhou. Zhong Xi Wu was unfamiliar with that name. After waking up, Hua Qian felt light and airy, and the doctor nearby quickly explained that it was because she had been in a coma for too long. Zhong Xi Wu promptly took the doctor away.
Through the doctor's examination, it was discovered that Hua Qian's mental state might be confused now, unaware of what had actually happened. Upon learning that Zhong Ye Lan had come, Zhong Xi Wu took the initiative to meet him. Zhong Xi Wu had left the city and come to a small village for recuperation because of Hua Qian. Zhong Ye Lan told him that now the eldest princess no longer held a grudge and as long as he returned, he could regain his position as the head of the family, and everything could be discussed in the long run.
While Zhong Ye Lan and Zhong Xi Wu were chatting, Mu Yao had already arrived in Hua Qian's room. Hua Qian was looking at the fragrance on the table, feeling that the scent was very familiar. Mu Yao even mocked Hua Qian for being indifferent and not caring about the life and death of her loved ones. Hua Qian was surprised and said that her parents were living well, but Mu Yao claimed that Hua Qian's parents had already gone to the Underworld to apologize to her father.
Hua Qian clearly remembered that Mu Yao's father was only temporarily exiled, but Mu Yao said that her father had committed suicide in prison long ago. Mu Yao also said that her mother and brother had been executed two years ago for her unauthorized escape. Even Qian Zhi had been killed by soldiers two years ago, and Hua Qian's emotions completely collapsed. No one remembered the name Hua Rong Zhou.
Zhong Xi Wu continued to comfort Hua Qian. She believed that she had gone back to change everything, but in the end, she hadn't changed anything at all. Zhong Xi Wu also told her it was the effect of the fragrance. Hua Qian suddenly remembered that she always smelled a fragrance, and she even asked the people around her at the time, but they couldn't smell it. Presumably, it was the effect of the incense that made her think she had returned to the past, but it was all just a dream in the end.
Hua Qian cried and laughed at the same time, thinking that she would have to start over, but she had already experienced this kind of pain three times. Her family had also died three times, and she even wished she would never wake up. Zhong Xi Wu felt heartbroken seeing Hua Qian in this state. After she finished speaking, she coughed up blood and fell back asleep.
When she woke up, Hua Rong Zhou was by her side again, and Hua Qian immediately hugged him. However, reality was that Hua Qian once again fell into a coma. She didn't want to accept reality and didn't want to wake up. Zhong Xi Wu believed that if Hua Qian woke up once, she would wake up a second time, so he asked Zhong Ye Lan to take Mu Yao and leave.
In the following days, Zhong Xi Wu continued to take care of Hua Qian as usual, and the sleeping Hua Qian felt like she and Hua Rong Zhou were leading a peaceful life. Zhong Xi Wu also stopped Zhong Ye Lan, as he had always believed that Hua Qian still had feelings for Zhong Ye Lan and hoped that he could awaken her.
However, after numerous attempts, Zhong Ye Lan realized that he couldn't wake Hua Qian up. Mu Yao tried to tell Hua Qian by her bedside that their entanglement had been completely resolved, but Hua Qian still showed no response. Zhong Ye Lan told Zhong Xi Wu that perhaps they needed to create an environment where Hua Qian had hope in order for her to wake up.
Zhong Xi Wu made a deal with the masses. As long as he could handle the affairs of the Zhong family's garden within the year, he could do what he wanted. In fact, Zhong Xi Wu had liked Hua Qian since he was very young. At that time, Hua Qian was very kind, and Zhong Xi Wu and Zhong Ye Lan happened to see her trying to protect a maid from punishment. However, at that time, due to his own concerns, Zhong Xi Wu didn't speak much to Hua Qian, who he had feelings for. Instead, Hua Qian developed feelings for Zhong Ye Lan, who was beside him.
But now, Zhong Xi Wu had let go of those feelings. Even if he continued to wait, he would persist. In her dream, Hua Qian told Hua Rong Zhou that she had to go. She had to face the things she didn't want to face. In this dream, she had made up for many regrets, and it was because of the appearance of Hua Rong Zhou that Hua Qian no longer felt afraid.
When Zhong Xi Wu learned that his mother had sent the ingredients for the fragrance, he initially wanted to go and check, but then Hua Qian suddenly called his name, and tears immediately fell from Zhong Xi Wu's eyes.
I think it's better than the original work, and I really like this kind of ending. In life, there are no do-overs, and everyone has to take responsibility for their actions. No matter how challenging the circumstances, we have to gather the courage to face them on our own.
The ending is beautiful and inspirational.
Although this ending is probably what the screenwriters and directors intended, as it's the most realistic, fitting, and satisfying conclusion, I still can't bear it. It's been a while since I watched a drama that I found so worth watching.
I even want to rewatch it.
I am actually very satisfied with this ending, not because I favor any particular CP (couple pairing), but because in this world, there are no second chances. Perhaps in films and TV shows, we can find solace, but it's all wishful thinking.
When we return to reality, we only become more reluctant to face it. This series is really good. Although the presentation may be naive, it boldly tells everyone that reality is tough and bitter, yet beauty still exists.
To be honest, as a fan of the book, I found Hua Rong Zhou to be quite elusive. Love that relies on salvation is difficult to resonate with in reality. If the author could have devoted more words to enrich their relationship, it might have made up for it.
However, the drama adaptation transformed this somewhat monotonous love into a form of self-redemption, which truly warms the heart. There have been times when I fantasized about having someone who would treat me wholeheartedly, and now I have found that person—it's myself.
Yes, in the end, the person who should love you the most is yourself. All the choices, whether good or bad, lead to outcomes that you have to bear on your own.
At the same time, everyone is capable of making mistakes, and paying the price to correct those mistakes is a form of responsibility. It is always precious to find your way back when you realize you have gone astray.
But life is already so difficult, I just want to have some reward for my efforts, at least in the virtual realm, instead of all my efforts being just a dream...
The ending is good, the clan leader will definitely end up with Hua Qian. Hua Qian heard the clan leader's confession in her dream, which is what she desired, so she was willing to wake up from the dream.
They love each other, and they will stay together.
I think the ending is quite realistic, and I'm satisfied with it because in the real world, we do make mistakes, but there's no possibility of starting over. Despite Hua Qian's numerous wrongdoings, the head of the family still loves her unconditionally, and that's something to be envied.
It's really good and enjoyable. The ending is also very reasonable. Everything was already set in motion, and there's no way to start over. But in the end, the female lead also had a good outcome. She found closure with her past and found someone who loves her.
Overall, I'm very satisfied with this ending.