Romance of a Twin Flower Episode 19 Recap
> Romance of a Twin Flower Recap
At the Shangsi Festival in Haifang, Ji Man runs into Yuan Lang, who has already booked a stall for her shop’s reopening, expressing confidence in its success. As they walk through the lively market, Ji Man notices a stall selling beads and internally tallies the "beads" Ning Yuxuan owes her for various favors. Yuan Lang offers to buy the beads for her, but Ji Man politely declines.
He then buys a bouquet of flowers for her, but she refuses them, explaining she cannot accept such a gift. Yuan Lang, flustered, clarifies he meant it as a friendly gesture, and Ji Man laughs off the awkward moment. When he suggests they go elsewhere, Ji Man states she must return to prepare for her shop’s reopening. Meanwhile, at the festival, a delighted Miss Shui asks Gui Bai to smile for her on the romantic evening.
He claims he doesn't know how, but she coaxes a rare smile from him with a funny face, telling him how handsome he looks. They then watch a ring toss game for lanterns. As Ji Man heads back, she unexpectedly encounters Ning Yuxuan. After they exchange surprised greetings, Yuan Lang suggests he and Ji Man go release lanterns, prompting Ning Yuxuan to immediately insist on joining them.
At a ring toss stall, both men compete to win the largest wishing lantern for Ji Man. After they both miss their initial throws, and as Ning Yuxuan prepares to use the final ring, Muxu rushes up, frantically announcing that the shop's warehouse is on fire. At the scene, the storage area is engulfed in flames.
Concerned about the medicinal materials inside, Ji Man tries to rush in, but Ning Yuxuan stops her, insisting he will handle it and asking her to trust him. Miss Shui and Gui Bai also arrive. When Miss Shui attempts to help, Gui Bai holds her back, telling her to stay put while he goes in, stating that his duty is to protect her. After the fire is extinguished, Gui Bai tends to a burn on Miss Shui’s arm.
He warns that the serious injury might leave a scar and must be kept dry. When she worries about a potential scar, Gui Bai promises to be her "left and right arm" for life. Asked if he would do the same for Ning Yuxuan, he confirms he would serve the Marquis forever. When Miss Shui playfully asks him to choose between them, Gui Bai chooses Ning Yuxuan, earning a fond "nerd" from her.
Later, Ning Yuxuan wakes with Ji Man by his side. She informs him the fire is out and a burnt lantern was found nearby, making it look like an accident. They agree to treat it as such for now, though Ning Yuxuan worries the arsonist has further plans. Ji Man apologizes for letting him rush into the fire, knowing his phobia. Surprised, Ning Yuxuan asks how she knew about his fear.
She recounts seeing him faint in the bathtub during a previous kitchen fire, connecting his reaction to his pyrophobia. Realizing Ji Man saved him back then, he offers her the promised beads. She declines, instead asking why he is so afraid of fire. Ning Yuxuan avoids the question, instead expressing how much she has changed him, making him experience new feelings and act impulsively, like rushing into the fire. He then solemnly reveals that Nie Sangyu is dead.
His subordinate, searching downstream, found a grave dug by a farmer for a female corpse that had washed ashore. Upon exhuming the body, it was identified as Nie Sangyu by her clothing and a distinctive jade pendant. Describing their marriage as an ill-fated connection, Ning Yuxuan admits he has been emotionally closed off since childhood and now deeply regrets his actions toward both Nie Sangyu and Ji Man, vowing to change.
He then takes Ji Man to release a wishing lantern, apologizing for his past secrecy and promising to win her the biggest lantern next year. Separately, Qian Lianxue wakes to find 500 taels of silver by her bedside. She writes a letter to her brother, Bingyan, sending him the money for an emergency. She warns him this must be the last time, urging him to quit gambling and study for the imperial exams, as she cannot help him again.
Haoxue Cosmetics reopens to an empty storefront. Muxu reports that ladies from prominent families all gave excuses not to attend, likely due to rumors. Their situation is dire, with half their raw materials destroyed in the fire and no income. Unseen, Wen Wan celebrates her success, gloating that after she framed the maid Lianxiang, using Haoxue products became shameful among servants, a stigma that has now spread to their mistresses. Ning Yuxuan finds the team disheartened.
After Miss Shui "borrows" Gui Bai to be her "left and right arm," Ji Man explains their predicament to Ning Yuxuan. He suggests they walk around to observe other businesses. They notice Liang's Apothecary, famous for its expensive, limited ginseng, and across from it, a small tea stall. The owner explains his popular brew is Gynostemma, or "Southern Ginseng," an affordable substitute with similar benefits for common people.
This gives Ji Man an epiphany: she had forgotten her original goal of helping ordinary people, like the sunburnt sailors she first created her cream for, by providing high-quality, affordable products. Following her new resolve, Ji Man and Muxu visit apothecaries for new ingredients but find prices have been uniformly tripled by the Sea Trade Guild, who blame shipping difficulties from a storm.
They find one small shop still selling at the old price, but Guild enforcers quickly arrive and shut him down. Witnessing the desperation of poor people unable to afford medicine for their sick children, Ji Man gives her last pouch of silver to a distraught mother. The Guild's excuse about "shipping difficulty" sparks an idea in her mind.
