Episode 18 recap: Shen Xing Ruo Learns of Her Father's Death
In episode 18, after ensuring Shen Xing Ruo arrives home safely, Lu Xing Yan chooses to stay by her side in silence. Aware of Shen Xing Ruo's fragile health, he takes on the responsibility of cooking, promising her that she can enjoy a warm meal whenever she wishes.As Shen Xing Ruo sifts through the messages left by her father, the heartfelt words bring her to tears. She gently opens a cherished notebook with a cover hand-drawn by her father, a precious item he secretly packed in her suitcase when she moved in with Lu Xing Yan. Although one corner of the notebook was damaged in a fire, it survived thanks to Lu Xing Yan's timely intervention, becoming a part of their shared memories.
Shen Xing Ruo has kept many stories about her father hidden from Lu Xing Yan. Her father, a renowned artist, and her mother, a celebrated pianist, seemed to create a glamorous family life. However, beneath this facade, their marriage was fraught with tension, which they chose to conceal from their daughter. The sudden death of her mother was a devastating blow, and Shen Xing Ruo struggled to accept that her father soon began a relationship with her homeroom teacher, Ms. Fang, shortly after.
This series of blows led her to sever ties with her father, moving into Lu Xing Yan's home and becoming self-sufficient through part-time work. During a chance encounter at a convenience store, Shen Xing Ruo firmly told her father that she hoped their lives would no longer intersect. Reflecting on it now, she realizes that encounter was their final goodbye, filling her with regret.
Lu Xing Yan conveys a special wish from her father: he hopes Shen Xing Ruo will give a speech at his farewell ceremony as a way to make amends for their past. Tearfully, she agrees, only to be shocked when her father unexpectedly "returns" after the ceremony.
It turns out this was a carefully orchestrated "test" by her father to gauge his standing in the world, especially in his daughter's eyes. Shen Xing Ruo's heartfelt speech deeply moves him, revealing that the bond between father and daughter had never truly been broken.
However, this sudden "resurrection" also uncovers another secret: the relationship between her father and Ms. Fang during his time abroad was not as Shen Xing Ruo imagined. Ms. Fang, having lost her job due to her father's betrayal, is now in dire straits.
At the scene, a confrontation arises between Ms. Fang and Shen Xing Ruo's father's new partner, resulting in chaos where Shen Xing Ruo is accidentally injured and taken to the hospital. Fortunately, her injuries are not severe, but the incident reignites her complicated feelings towards her father.
When Lu Xing Yan apologizes, Shen Xing Ruo confesses that he only learned the truth on the day of the ceremony and intended to tell her but missed the opportunity.
With mixed emotions, Shen Xing Ruo struggles to forgive her father for the shadow he has cast over her life, particularly because she sees him as an indirect cause of her mother's death. This tangled family drama feels like an intricate web, ensnaring everyone's hearts, and Shen Xing Ruo continues to seek her own path to liberation.
Comments(Episode 18)