Be With You Episode 23 Recap
> Be With You Recap
Following up on her decision to leave Rongpin, Lu Qingwu confronted Director Xiao, declaring him unworthy of respect and demanding to terminate her contract, stating her lawyer would handle the details. Enraged, Director Xiao threatened to ruin her and Qi Nian’s reputations, specifically mentioning the plan to co-sign the "Thither Cloud" project as a potential point of leverage against Qi Nian.
Unfazed, Lu Qingwu warned him that if they were to truly fight, she might not be the one to lose. She then invited her artists to leave with her, confident she could support them. Director Xiao scoffed, believing no one would abandon an industry leader for her. To his shock, Ji Siqi called Lu Qingwu his "Queen," tossed his work badge on the table, and led her out of the company, leaving the other hesitant artists behind.
Later, Qi Nian visited Ji Siqi’s apartment to retrieve her belongings and found Lu Qingwu laughing hysterically at a show, her appearance disheveled. Embarrassed, Lu Qingwu quickly tidied up. With their past misunderstandings resolved, she candidly asked Qi Nian if she and Ji Yanxin had kissed. Qi Nian shyly explained they were adhering to his family's strict rules and that it was difficult to meet him, implying a lack of physical intimacy.
Lu Qingwu playfully advised her not to get hung up on one person when there were many options available. Just then, Ji Siqi returned and overheard her remark. Clearly jealous, he stormed into his room. Lu Qingwu rushed to appease her "King of Jealousy," then humorously warned Qi Nian that if the younger brother was this possessive, she should be wary of the elder one.
Meanwhile, Qi Nian was testing an app with her dog, Qi Bao, to see who was most important to Ji Yanxin. The app suggested it was "his brother," leaving her disappointed. Shortly after, Su Xuran arrived and, in an attempt to win her over, perfectly emulated the character "Mr. J" from her game, even proposing to her in character.
Qi Nian firmly rejected him, stating her boyfriend was her only ideal and that she knew he had only used Qi Bao to get close to her. At that moment, Ji Yanxin appeared and exposed Su Xuran’s deception. He revealed that Su Xuran couldn't be Qi Bao's original owner, as the dog was five years old and Su Xuran had been abroad for a decade.
Ji Yanxin added that Su Xuran had spent a week at a pet clinic just to bond with the dog for the role. Calling him by the old nickname "Fatty Su," which only a close acquaintance would know, Ji Yanxin left Su Xuran stunned. Later, Ji Yanxin teased Qi Nian about a "dog language" voice message she had sent, saying she was getting bolder. To appease him, she had to make him happy.
To make Ji Yanxin happy, Qi Nian agreed to go take photos with him. Before they entered the building, Ji Yanxin reminded her of a "Ji family rule" for when one makes a mistake: "only nod, don't speak." Inside, staff members congratulated her as she was handed forms for marriage registration and a pre-marital check-up. Confused, she pointed out they were at the Civil Affairs Bureau's Marriage Registry.
When Ji Yanxin tried to play it off as creating "atmosphere," she held up the red marriage certificate booklet, sarcastically asking if it was the latest photo booth template. The reality of the situation sinking in, Qi Nian remarked on how sudden it all was and urged him to say the words he never finished on the plane. He confessed, "I miss you."
He then told her that important words should be said all at once: "I miss you, I do, I love you, and let's get married," sealing their new status with a kiss. Elsewhere, Xinxin confronted her old classmate Su Xuran, revealing his interference had only accelerated Ji Yanxin's marriage plans. Ji Qiu found Shao Zui at a restaurant, dramatically embracing him with wild theories that he'd been sold or had a terminal illness. Annoyed, he dismissed her fantasies.
She then produced an old photograph of him with her father before a 2009 mountain climbing trip and demanded to know their true relationship. Shao Zui revealed it was from a mountain disaster; her father had saved him from an avalanche. The night before, her father had expressed deep regret over missing her childhood and his wish to see her grow up. As the survivor, Shao Zui had stayed by her side for ten years to fulfill that dying wish.
Ji Qiu painfully realized his kindness had a time limit—it was merely the fulfillment of a promise. Thanking him for his decade of loyalty, she solemnly vowed to no longer be a burden to him. Lu Qingwu posted a full account of the "Qiyue Qingwu" incident online, feeling a great sense of relief despite the inevitable backlash.
She confessed her fears of becoming a burden to Ji Siqi, who lovingly reassured her he would stay by her side no matter what, even if they had to start over from scratch. Newly married, Qi Nian worried about telling her parents, who didn't even know she was dating. Her mother then called, warmly addressing Ji Yanxin as her son-in-law. She explained that he had visited them the previous week to ask for their blessing, and they had happily agreed.
Her father had simply texted, "got it." Qi Nian then realized Ji Yanxin's "business trip" was actually a visit to her hometown. Soon after, Xinxin called with news that Lu Qingwu had announced her retirement. As Qi Nian prepared to leave, Ji Yanxin reminded her to rely on him if she needed help. Qi Nian struggled with whether to publicly defend Lu Qingwu, knowing it would draw negative attention to herself.
Unlike Lu Qingwu in the past, she refused to retreat in fear. The restaurant owner offered her a new dessert and some wisdom: marriage is simply two people facing life's challenges together. Reminded of Ji Yanxin's words, she asked for his opinion. He admitted he'd prefer she avoid the controversy but encouraged her to follow her heart, promising to catch her if she fell. With Ji Yanxin's support, Qi Nian published a long post defending Lu Qingwu.
MC's official accounts, along with numerous silent accounts, immediately reposted it. To everyone’s surprise, her follower count soared as semi-retired manga masters and famous figures from other fields voiced their support. Knowing only Ji Yanxin could orchestrate such a network, she called him. He jokingly claimed he just "hired some online commenters" out of boredom. Qi Nian marveled at his secrets, and he tenderly replied, "Now, you're the only secret I have left."
Overwhelmed, she tearfully told him she missed him. She then confessed that she had lied before; she ran away because she was scared to be alone and was still afraid of marriage. He reassured her, admitting his own impatience but saying she had helped him grow, and told her to take her time. Without hesitation, Qi Nian rushed down and embraced him from behind, vowing never to make him wait again.
At the restaurant, Ji Qiu, despite her reputation for holding her liquor, passed out drunk. Shao Zui considered distancing himself further to help her move on, but the owner advised against it, cryptically sharing that such an approach had once led to his own family's separation. When Shao Zui tried to find common ground by saying they were both single, the owner flashed a wedding ring, correcting him.
Roused from her stupor, Ji Qiu angrily confronted Shao Zui, calling him scum. She demanded to know why he kept appearing and disappearing from her life, challenging him to either care for her forever or stay away completely, and tearfully asked why he couldn't just like her instead of treating her like a burden.
