Beautiful Reborn Flower Episode 12 Recap
> Beautiful Reborn Flower Recap
Han Sen visited Lin Heping, cutting straight to the point about their mutual dislike. He presented a check for RMB 5 million and a contract, declaring it sufficient compensation for Lin Heping's losses. Han Sen provocatively suggested that Lin Heping should actually be grateful to Zhu Fan, as his own products wouldn't have generated such a sum. He insisted that if Lin Heping signed the contract, the matter would be concluded.
Lin Heping questioned if this was how a "huge company" settled disputes, to which Han Sen replied it was the best solution for both parties, as their company maintained that Zhu Fan was the sole culprit. Lin Heping ultimately agreed to accept the money and sign the contract, making it clear he was doing so only out of consideration for Qiao Man.
Han Sen accepted this, but warned that while the Zhu Fan issue might end, their rivalry was far from over. Later that night, Duo Ge stealthily infiltrated Ben's home and effortlessly stole "The Riverbank Diary." He then buried the diary under a tree and marked the spot before leaving. Lin Heping presented Ah Li with the settlement agreement and the RMB 5 million compensation from An Group.
Ah Li was skeptical, noting they hadn't even confirmed the terms yet, concluding that An Group must have a guilty conscience and was simply trying to protect its reputation. Lin Heping suggested they sign it and let the matter go, explaining that he had already promised Qiao Man he wouldn't sue them and that the company needed to focus on its anti-counterfeiting plan.
Ah Li grew agitated, accusing Lin Heping of being blinded by Qiao Man and aiding their adversaries because of her. Lin Heping dismissed her concerns as overthinking, asserting his professional reasons. Frustrated, Lin Heping left the decision about the agreement and compensation in Ah Li's hands, and they parted on bad terms. Back at her apartment, Qiao Man informed Lin Heping about a parcel, which he revealed he had purchased for her.
Just then, Xiao Zhi arrived with her luggage, announcing her intention to stay with Qiao Man for a few days, an arrangement Lin Heping readily accepted. Soon after, Xiao Zhi accompanied Qiao Man to meet An Kailun, who profusely thanked Qiao Man for her role in helping Zhu Fan, crediting her as the "savior" of his group and family.
Qiao Man clarified that she was temporarily working for Lin Heping at Li Ping Pavilion as a way to repay his favor for not suing An Group. An Kailun understood and invited her to dinner, but Qiao Man politely declined, citing her busy schedule with the anti-counterfeiting plan. After An Kailun and Xiao Zhi departed, Han Sen confronted Qiao Man, confirming his suspicion that she was now living directly opposite Lin Heping.
Furious and insecure, he demanded she pack her bags and return to Barcelona with him immediately. Qiao Man rebuked his childishness, asserting her commitment to finishing her work and her promise to Lin Heping regarding the anti-counterfeiting plan, without which she couldn't face him. Han Sen dismissed her reasons as mere excuses, convinced she simply couldn't bear to leave Lin Heping. Qiao Man, finding him unreasonable, walked away from the argument.
Mao Zi, aware he was under police surveillance, informed Duo Ge of his intention to surrender, urging Duo Ge to do the same, citing the inevitability of being caught by modern technology. Subsequently, both Duo Ge and Mao Zi turned themselves in. Lin Heping received a call from the police, notifying him that all his stolen paintings had been recovered, but "The Riverbank Diary" was still missing.
The police informed him that the suspect requested a private meeting, prompting Lin Heping to head to the station. To his astonishment, the suspect was Duo Ge, his apartment building supervisor, who admitted he had taken the job specifically to monitor Lin Heping. Lin Heping demanded the diary's return.
Duo Ge, acknowledging his severe crimes and anticipating a lifetime in prison, pleaded with Lin Heping to care for his elderly mother, requesting that his mother not be told about his criminal activities. Lin Heping reluctantly agreed to Duo Ge's request, emphasizing that Duo Ge must uphold his end of the bargain by revealing the diary's location. After retrieving his stolen paintings from the police station, Lin Heping brought them home. Qiao Man visited, surprised to see the recovered artworks.
Lin Heping recounted the theft and recovery, then showed her a painting by the renowned Master Su Shan, praising his artistry. He confessed that he had previously upset Master Su Shan by choosing "The Riverbank Diary" over a painting the master had specifically created for his Barcelona exhibition. Aware of his oversight, Lin Heping felt awkward about approaching the professor. Impressed by Master Su Shan's reputation, Qiao Man suggested they seek his help for their company's current crisis.
Despite Lin Heping's concerns that the professor might still be angry, Qiao Man enthusiastically offered to accompany him the next day. The next day, they visited Master Su Shan, who, it turned out, was Lin Heping's former university teacher who had disciplined him for fighting. Upon entering the studio, the professor playfully teased Lin Heping. Lin Heping humbly apologized for his past actions, with Qiao Man chiming in to support him.
Master Su Shan was visibly startled upon seeing Qiao Man, mistaking her for Nan Sheng due to their striking resemblance. Lin Heping quickly clarified her identity, and the three engaged in a lively conversation. Lin Heping then explained their current predicament with the counterfeited artworks and requested the professor's assistance. Despite his earlier grievances, Master Su Shan, known for his strong dislike of fraud, agreed to help, considering both Lin Heping and Nan Sheng his friends.
Qiao Man then directly asked the professor if she truly resembled Nan Sheng, to which he confirmed, even teasing Lin Heping about the nature of his relationship with Nan Sheng. Qiao Man met with Ben and asked for his thoughts on her diary. Ben was extremely impressed, praising her writing as brilliant and expressing his utmost respect, stating it had been a long time since he'd read such a compelling story.
After returning her diary, Ben proposed that Qiao Man expand two of her short stories into a single novel, with him serving as her publisher. To incentivize her, he guaranteed the return of her €50,000 loan, plus interest, upon completion of the novel. Though initially skeptical, Qiao Man agreed to the proposal, telling him she would trust him "one last time."
After Zhu Fan's release from the police station, he was hesitant to return home, so Han Sen took him directly to see An Kailun. An Kailun immediately launched into a harsh reprimand, criticizing Zhu Fan for causing trouble so soon after his return and for his company's poor performance, which he attributed to dishonest business practices. Han Sen attempted to mediate, reminding An Kailun that Zhu Fan was still his brother-in-law and had been afraid to come home.
He urged Zhu Fan to apologize, noting An Kailun's worry during his imprisonment. However, Zhu Fan defiantly retorted, accusing An Kailun of constantly scolding him and asserting that An Kailun's success was solely due to his sister's influence. Enraged, An Kailun lunged at Zhu Fan, threatening to tear him apart if not for his sister, but Han Sen quickly stepped between them to prevent a fight.
Unable to find Lin Heping for several days, Ah Li questioned Yang Lan, who reluctantly disclosed that Lin Heping was visiting Master Su Shan with Qiao Man. Overcome with jealousy, Ah Li decided to take matters into her own hands. She immediately instructed Yang Lan to convene an emergency board meeting to discuss a new strategy regarding An Group, explicitly stating that Lin Heping was not to be informed.
During the meeting, Ah Li proposed reversing their previous decision to settle privately with An Group. She argued that since all counterfeits had been recalled and their revolutionary anti-counterfeiting technology was soon to launch, they should capitalize on the situation. She suggested filing charges against An Group to publicly boost Li Ping Pavilion's brand recognition. The board members, including Director Yan, unanimously agreed to Ah Li's plan, resolving to make An Group suffer the consequences.
Displeased with Zhu Fan's disrespect towards An Kailun, Han Sen dragged him to the wine cellar for a stern lecture. Han Sen criticized Zhu Fan for embarrassing his brother-in-law. Zhu Fan, however, was fed up with An Kailun, retorting that An Kailun never treated him like family and was only concerned with his wine collection. Han Sen, visibly annoyed, yelled at Zhu Fan to be more understanding of An Kailun's difficulties and reminded him of An Kailun's struggles in Barcelona.
He then expressed his deep, albeit inarticulately, feelings for Qiao Man, comparing life to a precious bottle of fine wine, and admitting that if he were to die, someone (Qiao Man) would be lonely. An Group promptly received a lawyer's letter, infuriating An Kailun, who summoned Lin Heping for a meeting, with Han Sen also present. Lin Heping claimed to be unaware of the lawsuit, prompting sarcastic remarks from An Kailun and Han Sen, who accused him of feigning ignorance.
Han Sen playfully but menacingly explained their company's determination to protect its name, even if it meant disowning Zhu Fan's company and suing Li Ping Pavilion for fraud, using the RMB 5 million transaction as proof. Lin Heping, unfazed, challenged them to proceed, questioning if the public would believe An Kailun's claims of ignorance given his relation to Zhu Fan. An Kailun, growing increasingly agitated, accused Lin Heping of breaking his promise.
Lin Heping, stating his intent to resolve the issue, assured them he understood their feelings despite their harsh words and promised to address the situation. He warned that if they insisted on suing, he had his own methods of retaliation before leaving. As Zhu Fan entered the office, An Kailun, still seething, turned his anger towards him, indirectly admonishing Lin Heping's actions through his brother-in-law.
Back at Li Ping Pavilion, Yang Lan informed Lin Heping about the emergency board meeting and the decision to sue An Group. Lin Heping immediately confronted Ah Li, angered that she had held the meeting without him and overturned their earlier agreement not to press charges. He criticized her narrow-mindedness, emphasizing that a prolonged lawsuit would be detrimental to Li Ping Pavilion's long-term interests.
Ah Li, convinced that Lin Heping was infatuated with Qiao Man, accused him of being bewitched by her and using his position as boss to defend her, even highlighting Qiao Man's identity as An Kailun's godsister. She argued that Qiao Man's presence had jeopardized the company, especially since Qiao Man rarely came to the office despite being given a position.
Lin Heping, finding Ah Li utterly unreasonable, declared that if she couldn't differentiate right from wrong, perhaps they should cease working together. After his intense conversation with Zhu Fan in the cellar, Han Sen returned to the living room to wait. An Kailun then joined them, holding a financial report for Zhu Fan's company, which showed negative revenue.
An Kailun resumed his furious tirade against Zhu Fan, blaming him for the current predicament and mocking his continued attempts to justify his actions. Zhu Fan retorted that he had generated revenue from counterfeiting, but An Kailun dismissed it as useless, pointing out the 5 million RMB paid to Lin Heping. An Kailun declared he would no longer sponsor Zhu Fan and instructed him to reflect on his actions. He then turned to Han Sen, asking about his wine business.
Han Sen admitted he was still in the exploratory phase as a beginner. An Kailun encouraged Han Sen to apply the same drive he showed in Barcelona to his new venture, stating that the An Group would always support capable individuals but would never tolerate "useless" ones, his gaze fixed on Zhu Fan as he spoke the last word. With Li Ping Pavilion having officially sued An Group, Lin Heping felt a pang of guilt.
He told Qiao Man about Ah Li's unilateral decision to press charges, promising he would intervene to stop her. Qiao Man expressed her understanding, acknowledging the difficult situation and how it had caused friction between Lin Heping and his partner. Lin Heping reassured her, stating his actions were not for An Group or Han Sen, but to spare her any awkwardness. They settled down for a meal in his office, where Lin Heping had ordered a spread of spicy dishes.
Qiao Man noticed he was struggling with the spice and, observing his swollen eyes, commented that spicy food could help reduce puffiness, attributing his unusual choice to concern for his staff. Lin Heping then confided his ambition for Li Ping Pavilion to win a gold medal at the upcoming Shenzhen International Artwork Exhibition, which would give him leverage with his company. He then turned the conversation more personal, asking Qiao Man if Han Sen truly made her happy.
Qiao Man described Han Sen as a caring, "silly brother," more like a relative than a romantic partner. Lin Heping countered that love and kinship were distinct, a point Qiao Man deflected by suggesting he and Ah Li also blurred those lines, noting Ah Li's deep affection for him and her claim of being his fiancée. Qiao Man warned him not to disappoint Ah Li, playfully threatening he'd "get beaten up" like Xiao Zhi's boyfriend if he did.
Lin Heping, unable to tolerate spicy food, choked and gasped throughout the meal, even as Qiao Man considerately helped him with water. In that moment, Lin Heping realized he was irrevocably in love with Qiao Man.
