Dear readers… Get ready, there’s a major spoiler ahead for the ending of A Better Life. This drama caught my eye because of Sun Li’s remarkable performance. Her acting truly drew me in. The story itself is also beautifully written, and I found myself enjoying every single episode. I hope it resonated with you just as much. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it. Happy reading!
Read A Better Life drama review and ending explained here:
A Better Life Ending Explained
What Happened to Hu Man Li on A Better Life Ending?
Mr. Jin still recognized Hu Man Li’s capabilities. He offered her a position as director of Blue Ocean’s new Elderly Care Services Department. Seeing Hu Man Li hesitated, Mr. Jin understood her doubt and give her some time to think about it.
At the same time, her personal life became more complicated. She found out that Xue Xiao Zhou had fallen in love with her. He offered her annuity insurance and said he wanted to take care of her. But Hu Man Li had always seen him as a younger brother. His confession shocked her, and things became awkward. She started avoiding him.
Meanwhile, Li Yu Ke told her that his father liked her and even suggested she become his stepmother. But Hu Man Li turned him down. She knew Li Fen Dou still loved his late wife.
Then something happened with Ding Ding. While Ding Zhi Yuan was out of town, Ding Ding had trouble at school. Ding Zhi Yuan asked Qiu Li Su to help, but she used the chance to show her authority, pressuring the boy unfairly.
Hurt, Ding Ding refused to go home. He wandered the streets and ended up at their old apartment. The new owner saw him, let him in, and called Hu Man Li after he broke in tears.
Hu Man Li rushed over with Xue Xiao Zhou, Li Yu Ke, Ding Zhi Yuan, and Qiu Li Su. At first, Ding Ding wouldn’t talk. But finally, he told them how Qiu Li Su forced him to apologize for something he didn’t do. Everyone expected Hu Man Li to slap Qiu Li Su. But instead, she slapped herself. “It’s my fault,” she cried, “for letting Ding Ding live in someone else’s home.”
She took Ding Ding back to Xue Xiao Zhou’s apartment, quietly lamenting that they didn’t have a home of their own. The next morning, she brought him to stay at Zhong Ning’s house.
From that point on, she decided to walk away from Xue Xiao Zhou and focus on building a better life for herself and her son. She resigned from her job as his assistant and accepted Mr. Jin’s offer at Blue Ocean. She also chose Chun Lu as her assistant again who was grateful to regain her trust.
Starting the Elderly Care Project wasn’t easy. Hu Man Li and Chun Lu worked hard. One of their first clients was Mr. Cai, a security guard.
Later, Hu Man Li discovered he had faked his medical report because he actually had stomach cancer. He was drawn to the insurance plan because it offered a place in a nursing home. After more than 20 years living in a windowless basement room, he just wanted to spend his final days in a room with a view.
His story touched Hu Man Li’s heart. Even though he had lied, she still wanted to help. She told Mr. Jin and asked if Mr. Cai could join the trial program. Mr. Jin said no at first, but later gave her a way to make it work.
That night, she brought Mr. Cai an air dehumidifier and some medicine. She scolded him for being too pessimist and told him she has put him in the trial plan.
Hu Man Li wanted to make a promotional video about the project and consulted Zhong Ning, who said her work aligned with Ding Zhi Yuan’s. Hu Man Li agreed to talk to him, saying they could still be friends even if they were divorced.
So, she went to Ding Zhi Yuan’s office to talk about the cooperation. Suddenly Qiu Li Su stormed in and throwing it. She demanded that Ding Zhi Yuan choose between her and Hu Man Li.
Dazedly, Hu Man remembered how she had once done the same thing in the park. She calmly told Qiu Li Su that she would never compete for a position as Ding Zhi Yuan’s wife.
Hu Man Li’s persistent cough worsened, and she eventually fainted in the bathroom, sending Zhong Ning and Ding Ding into a panic. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia.
Surprisingly, both Xue Xiao Zhou and Ding Zhi Yuan showed up. When the nurse asked who her family was, both men answered at once. But Hu Man Li pointed to Ding Ding. “He’s my son,” she said. Later, she sent the others away and went home with her son and Zhong Ning.
After recovering, Hu Man Li took Mr. Cai to the retirement home. When he saw the window and the beautiful view, he broke down in tears and bowed to thank her. The moment was caught on camera for their promotional video, which soon went viral. Because of Mr. Cai’s story, the insurance plan became a success.
I used to dislike Mr. Jin. He had always seemed cold and harsh. But now I see him as a good boss. He may be tough, but he has a kind heart.
A year later, Hu Man Li received an award for her work. The video with Mr. Cai, titled The Last Window of Life, had come to represent Blue Ocean Life’s new values. They were no longer focused only on sales, but on people.
Thanks to Hu Man Li, the company had changed. Her hard work had finally paid off. As she held the Annual Outstanding Contribution Award, Hu Man Li spoke with strength and hope.
She said:
“A good life needs both material comfort and inner strength. I love my job, my family, my friends, and most of all, myself.”
And with a smile, she ended her speech by saying to herself:
“Hu Man Li, you are the best. Jiayou!” 👏🏻
What Happened to Xue Xiao Zhou on A Better Life Ending?
Xue Xiao Zhou slowly realized his feelings for Hu Man Li had changed. She was no longer just a mentor or older sister. Xue Xiao Zhou hinted at the idea of starting a relationship to Hu Man Li, even bringing up the fact that both she and Li Fen Dou were single.
But Hu Man Li replied calmly that she was a divorced woman with a child and only worked as an assistant. She knew her worth. When asked what kind of man she might consider, she said he must be someone Ding Ding liked, someone kind, loving, and financially stable.
While working closely with Li Fen Dou, Xue didn’t notice that Li Fen Dou also developed feelings for Hu Man Li, seeing her as someone full of creativity like his late wife.
After closing the deal with Li Fen Dou, they celebrated with a homemade meal. Xue Xiao Zhou thought it was the perfect moment to give Hu Man Li a gift which is an annuity insurance policy. That’s when she finally understood his feelings for her.
For your information, annuity insurance is a financial product that provides a steady income, usually during retirement. It’s designed for long-term security and peace of mind. In essence, what Xue Xiao Zhou offered wasn’t just a policy, it was a promise of stability and lifelong care.
Did she accept? Of course not. 😁
Hu Man Li had always regarded Xue Xiao Zhou as a younger brother. Once she sensed his feelings had grown into something more, she began to distance herself. It made Xue Xiao Zhou feeling frustrated. At the same time, Li Yu Ke confessed her affection to him.
Xue Xiao Zhou turned her down, explaining that his heart already belonged to someone else. What truly caught him off guard, however, was learning that it was Hu Man Li who had encouraged Li Yu Ke to confess in the first place.
Later that evening, Xue Xiao Zhou lost control of his emotions. After seeing Ding Zhi Yuan call Hu Man Li, he couldn’t hold back. He confronted her directly, demanding to know if she was avoiding him because she planned to get back together with her ex-husband. He even accused her of wanting to become someone’s mistress.
But before the argument finished, everything shifted. Hu Man Li suddenly rushed out of the room in a panic because her son had gone missing. Without hesitation, Xue Xiao Zhou and Li Yu Ke joined her in the search. When they finally found Ding Ding safe and sound, the three of them returned home together.
Outside the building, Li Yu Ke stopped him. Xue expected her to talk about their earlier conversation, but she just laughed and told him he was thinking too highly about himself.
Everything she did was for Hu Man Li, not to please him. Just as he relaxed, Li Yu Ke said Xue Xiao Zhou should tell Hu Man Li to seriously consider her advice.
Confused, Xue asked what advice. It turned out Li Yu Ke had suggested Hu Man Li consider marrying Li Fen Dou because liked her, was wealthy, and could help raise Ding Ding. Xue Xiao Zhou’s jaw dropped. Honestly, it was hilarious. 🤣🤣🤣
The next morning, Xue Xiao Zhou finds that Hu Man Li and Ding Ding have moved out of his house and only left a letter of thank you. he got panic and try to find her. when he appear in Zhong Ning house, she asked him for a talk.
Zhong Ning spoke to him gently but firmly. The age gap was a real concern for Hu Man Li, and his persistence was only making things harder for her. Though Xue Xiao Zhou insisted he wanted to support her no matter what, Zhong Ning reminded him that what Hu Man Li really needed was space and time. He reluctantly agreed and said he’d help her from the shadows if needed.
Back at the office, Xue was shocked to find out Hu Man Li had resigned. In his panic, he remembered what she once said: she’d only accept someone if Ding Ding liked him. So, in a desperate move, he went to Ding Ding’s school and asked the boy directly if he could date his mother. Ding Ding told him to ask her instead.
But Xue Xiao Zhou pushed, saying he could only have a chance if Ding Ding approved. Ding Ding hesitated, but eventually said he was fine with it. Xue was overjoyed.
What kind of logic was that?! Seriously, Xue Xiao Zhou, leave Hu Man Li alone! 🤬💢
Later, Xue asked to meet her. Beaming with hope, he confessed his feelings again and said Ding Ding didn’t object. That was the final straw.
Hu Man Li was furious. How dare he go behind her back and involve her son! She snapped, telling him she had chosen Li Fen Dou over him and that they should never meet again.
Xue Xiao Zhou tried to stop her and showed her a leather notebook filled with memories they had shared. He hoped his words would move her, but instead, Hu Man Li tore the notebook to pieces, begged him to let her go, and stormed off. Xue Xiao Zhou was left alone, quietly picking up the fragments.
On her birthday, he gave the notebook back. He has carefully glued every torn page back together. It was a touching gesture but thank goodness Hu Man Li stayed firm in her decision.
Xue Xiao Zhou did get a moment of revenge when Qiu Li Su asked to borrow money. He mocked her, reminded her she still owed him three million yuan, and kicked her out.
Meanwhile, after seeing Li Qing Qing’s arrogance, Xue Xiao Zhou realized he wanted to change. He resigned from the company and told Hu Man Li he planned to pursue a master’s degree.
A year later, Xue Xiao Zhou quietly watched Hu Man Li give her award speech. He smiled with pride. Outside Blue Ocean Life’s building, they met again. Xue Xiao Zhou reintroduced himself as a new insurance planner. She shook his hand, and they walked into the building together.
What Happened to Ding Zhi Yuan and Qiu Li Su on A Better Life Ending?
Ding Zhi Yuan was happy when Qiu Li Su got pregnant. But over time, her demands annoyed him. She also became more easily irritated. Ding Zhi Yuan started comparing her to Hu Man Li’s calm pregnancy.
Slowly, Ding Zhi Yuan’s love for Qiu Li Su began to fade. He realized that despite Hu Man Li seeming “uneducated, uncultured, and vain,” she was thoughtful and loved him unconditionally.
Qiu Li Su felt threatened by Hu Man Li because she noticed Ding Zhi Yuan’s feelings were changing. She especially got upset when she found out Ding Zhi Yuan still kept Hu Man Li’s jacket in his office.
Well, Ding Zhi Yuan was indeed couldn’t forget Hu Man Li. Feeling guilty for how he treated her, he paid 200,000 yuan (about 28,000 USD) to cover her father’s nursing home expenses for another year.
When Qiu Li Su found out, she was furious. Not because of Hu Man Li, but because she needed money too. Her company, Zhig, was deeply in debt. She had spent her inheritance to keep it afloat, but the money was gone.
One day, Ding Ding was bullied at school. The bully’s parents demanded Ding Ding’s parents come to school. Since Ding Zhi Yuan couldn’t come, he asked Qiu Li Su to go. In front of the teacher and bully, Qiu Li Su forced Ding Ding to apologize without hearing his side. Ding Ding insisted he was innocent and refused.
Angered, Qiu Li Su yelled at him, saying he reminded her how great Hu Man Li was and told Ding Ding that she was his real wife and better than Hu Man Li. After threatening him, Qiu Li Su left the school.
That night, Ding Ding didn’t come home. Ding Zhi Yuan returned, found his son missing, and called Hu Man Li. They soon realized Ding Ding was lost. When Ding Zhi Yuan heard what happened back in the day from Ding Ding, he fought with Qiu Li Su. He admitted he took his good life with Hu Man Li for granted and refuse to admit that he regretted his choice. But Qiu Li Su knew the truth.
Qiu Li Su’s company was sinking deeper into debt. Debtors started showing up at her building, forcing her to sneak out the back door. She desperately needed money and tried to get some from Ding Zhi Yuan by pretending to ask for a baby gift.
This caused another fight, where she accused Ding Zhi Yuan of divorcing Hu Man Li for his career and reputation. Ding Zhi Yuan, disappointed, said they should divorce after the baby was born. Qiu Li Su exploded in anger.
I really enjoyed this scene… 😁😁
As a last resort, Qiu Li Su tried to borrow money from Xue Xiao Zhou but was mocked. He said she wanted money, fame, and validation for her abilities but had none. She was kicked out of his office.
Later, Qiu Li Su and Ding Zhi Yuan argued again when she caught Hu Man Li at his office. Hu Man Li was there about a cooperation on her Elderly Care project.
Ding Zhi Yuan had accepted Hu Man Li’s offer but not hers, which made Qiu Li Su furious. She demanded Ding Zhi Yuan choose between her and Hu Man Li. This made Ding Zhi Yuan even more dissatisfied with her.
At home, angry debtors broke in and started looting. In the chaos, Qiu Li Su fell and started bleeding. The debtors panicked at the sight of blood and ran away. She crawled to her phone to call an ambulance.
While Ding Zhi Yuan was visiting Hu Man Li in the hospital (she was there for pneumonia), Qiu Li Su was rushed to ICU. The hospital called Ding Zhi Yuan, who hurried back. Qiu Li Su was terrified of losing her baby, but the baby’s condition was weak and the doctor warned them to prepare for the worst. Seeing her determination, Ding Zhi Yuan begged the doctor to save the baby.
The baby was born prematurely and needed an incubator, so they couldn’t take it home yet. Qiu Li Su asked why Ding Zhi Yuan wanted the baby saved, saying if the baby died, he could get rid of her. Ding Zhi Yuan sighed and said they needed to face the consequences of their actions. They couldn’t run away.
Maybe this was punishment for their mistakes, but they shouldn’t pass it on to their child. If the baby couldn’t bring a fresh start, at least they should end the cycle themselves. Tears streamed down Qiu Li Su’s pale face.
That was the end of their story.
My Two Cents
Karma eventually caught up with the cheating couple. Some people only learn the value of what they had after they’ve lost it. And Ding Zhi Yuan lost not only Hu Man Li but also his son, Ding Ding. As for Qiu Li Su, she now faced the bitter truth of being in a relationship where her partner no longer loved her.
I appreciated that the story ended on an open note. It made sense. Hu Man Li choosing to focus on her family and career instead of rushing into a new romantic relationship felt realistic and empowering.
Even when Xue Xiao Zhou offered her a future of financial security and devotion, she didn’t waver. He failed to understand that Hu Man Li’s strength didn’t come from being taken care of. Back when she was married to Ding Zhi Yuan, Hu Man Li still lived life the way she wanted. She found meaning in being a caretaker and didn’t rely on anyone else to give her a sense of purpose.
Xue Xiao Zhou missed that completely. That’s why, no matter how sincere his feelings may be, I believe Hu Man Li would never accept him as a partner. Not in this lifetime. 😉
Well, dear readers, sorry for the long post. I just had to lay out all the details and vent some of my anger! I hope you still enjoyed reading it. I’ll see you in another post for more drama reviews and ending explanations. Until then, ciao!
