Beautiful Reborn Flower Episode 13 Recap
> Beautiful Reborn Flower Recap
Lin Heping, overcome with emotion after sharing a meal with Qiao Man, embraced and kissed her. Qiao Man, unprepared for such intimacy and still processing her feelings for him, quickly refused his advances and left the office in a hurry. After leaving the company, Qiao Man immediately called Xiao Zhi, urging her to come over because she felt she was losing control. When Xiao Zhi arrived, Qiao Man nervously confessed that Lin Heping had kissed her.
Xiao Zhi, amused, teased Qiao Man about it but promised not to tell Han Sen, knowing he would react violently. Qiao Man then reiterated that she must maintain control of her feelings, and the two friends engaged in playful banter. Privately, Qiao Man reflected that the kiss must have been a misunderstanding, possibly because she resembled the girl Lin Heping had mentioned, and she resolved not to fall for him.
Meanwhile, Lin Heping stood outside Qiao Man’s door, deep in thought. He acknowledged his impulsive behavior had bothered her but expressed his newfound feelings for her. He resolved to sort out his personal affairs before fully pursuing Qiao Man. At home, Qiao Fang had fallen asleep on the sofa waiting for He Jianfeng. Upon his return, He Jianfeng gently covered her with his jacket. When Qiao Fang later woke up, she inadvertently discovered a medical report in his jacket pocket.
The report revealed that He Jianfeng was suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, also known as ALS, a condition that would gradually stiffen his body. Devastated, Qiao Fang refused to believe it, insisting on seeking a second opinion, but He Jianfeng sadly confirmed it was already the diagnosis from a second hospital and that he didn't have much time left. He regretted letting her go to Spain and wasting their precious time.
Qiao Fang, in tears, embraced him tightly, vowing to accompany him wherever he wished to go as he expressed a desire to see the world before he passed. Later, Han Sen found Qiao Man at a restaurant. Seeing another man sitting beside her, he angrily told the man to leave. Qiao Man, annoyed by his possessiveness, accused him of being overly critical.
Han Sen confessed his fear of losing her, explaining that Xiao Zhi had told him Qiao Man had moved into the apartment next to Lin Heping. Qiao Man clarified that her move was purely for work convenience, dismissing any other reason. Han Sen, however, brought up her past refusal to live closer to him in Barcelona, fueling his suspicions.
Despite Qiao Man's assurances that she and Lin Heping were merely friends, Han Sen continued to be childish, demanding she prove her love for him. The next day, Qiao Man arrived at work to find Yang Lan waiting. Yang Lan informed her that Lin Heping had covered for her unexplained absence the previous day, which had angered Ah Li.
When Qiao Man met with Ah Li, she faced sarcastic remarks about her relaxed work attitude and perceived special treatment from Lin Heping. Ah Li then demanded to see the publicity proposal for the art fair. Qiao Man presented detailed designs and poster drafts, impressing Ah Li with her talent. Ah Li then insisted Qiao Man draw her portrait. Qiao Man, intending to be humorous, drew a caricature that exaggerated Ah Li's features, deeply offending her.
Ah Li, furious, warned Qiao Man not to take advantage of Lin Heping’s support, threatening to fire her. After Ah Li stormed off, Yang Lan saw the caricature and explained to Qiao Man that Ah Li, being two years older than Lin Heping, was highly sensitive about her age and appearance. Yang Lan added that Ah Li felt insecure and jealous of Qiao Man's closeness to Lin Heping, fearing she would lose him.
Qiao Man, feeling sympathy, drew a new, more flattering pencil portrait for Ah Li, attaching a note expressing her regret for the caricature and her admiration for Ah Li. Lin Heping later saw the new drawing and note on Ah Li's desk and called Qiao Man, suspecting Ah Li had continued to make trouble for her. On the phone, Qiao Man downplayed Ah Li’s actions, attributing them to a boss’s criticism and Ah Li's deep-seated insecurity.
She advised Lin Heping to spend more time with Ah Li, emphasizing that Ah Li truly cared for him. Lin Heping, however, insisted that he and Ah Li were only friends and would never be together. Qiao Man, in turn, suggested that she and Lin Heping should also remain just friends, expressing embarrassment over their recent kiss. She hoped they could return to the simpler, easygoing relationship they had in Barcelona.
Lin Heping, while acknowledging her feelings, implied his desire for a deeper connection, but Qiao Man avoided the topic, stating she had to leave and wishing to forget the awkward incident. Meanwhile, An Kailun and Han Sen discussed the ongoing lawsuit initiated by Li Ping Pavilion Studio. Han Sen expressed his anger at Lin Heping for going back on his word, reminding An Kailun of the help An Kailun had given Lin Heping in France.
An Kailun, frustrated by the situation, announced his decision to counterattack by venturing into the cultural industry. He sent Zhu Fan away when Zhu Fan eagerly offered his company for the initiative. Han Sen raised concerns about the 5 million RMB payment and the unsigned agreement they had given Lin Heping, fearing it would serve as evidence of their infringement in court.
An Kailun then instructed Han Sen to ask Qiao Man to retrieve the cheque and agreement from Lin Heping’s company, believing Qiao Man, as Han Sen’s fiancée and An Kailun’s sworn sister, would choose to help them. Han Sen was hesitant, knowing Qiao Man disliked dishonest business practices, but An Kailun insisted, trusting Han Sen to persuade her.
Han Sen met Qiao Man and immediately accused Lin Heping of being a "wolf in sheep's clothing" for proceeding with the lawsuit, despite his earlier reassurances. Qiao Man defended Lin Heping, explaining that Li Ping Pavilion Studio was not solely his decision and that he had spoken in An Group’s favor at board meetings. Han Sen dismissed her as naive, reiterating his belief that Lin Heping was only looking out for himself.
Feeling she had let An Kailun down, Qiao Man expressed her apologies. Han Sen then revealed An Kailun's counter-strategy: to enter the cultural industry and falsely accuse Li Ping Pavilion Studio of setting them up. Qiao Man called the plan ruthless, but Han Sen argued that deceit was inherent in business. He then disclosed the existence of the 5 million RMB cheque and the signed agreement given to Lin Heping, which could be damning evidence against An Group in court.
He pleaded with Qiao Man to retrieve these items, emphasizing her loyalty to her brother and fiancé over Lin Heping, and warned her of the devastating consequences for An Group if she refused. Later, Han Sen tried to get Xiao Zhi to work overtime without pay, frustrating her. Xiao Zhi voiced her financial struggles and her disdain for his unfair treatment. Han Sen then offered her overtime pay if she could persuade Qiao Man to help them.
Xiao Zhi agreed, but not before criticizing Han Sen for pressuring Qiao Man. She then offered advice: instead of stressing Qiao Man, he should show more care by picking her up and dropping her off at work daily, making him appear thoughtful and a perfect match. Han Sen, pleased with this idea, promptly paid Xiao Zhi for her overtime and resolved to put her plan into action. That evening, Lin Heping found Qiao Man sitting outside, lost in thought.
Qiao Man confessed her frustration with the unreliability of love and marriage, and urged Lin Heping to sign the settlement agreement quickly so she could send it to An Group. Lin Heping immediately deduced that Han Sen or An Kailun had approached her about retrieving the 5 million RMB and the unsigned agreement, recognizing their attempts to eliminate evidence.
Qiao Man was surprised by his insight, acknowledging his business acumen, but insisted she didn't want to be involved in the dispute. Later, as Qiao Man was working on her novel, Han Sen arrived at her door with a large bouquet of roses, apologizing for his previous demands. Qiao Man was unamused, pointing out that she had already done what he asked.
Han Sen, in turn, promised not to involve her with Lin Heping again but begged her to move out of the apartment building, claiming he was having nightmares about the apartment numbers. Qiao Man reminded him that An Kailun himself had encouraged her to work at Li Ping Pavilion Studio, and she felt obligated to uphold her promise to Lin Heping, especially since he had agreed to the settlement.
Han Sen persisted, arguing that Lin Heping’s agreement stemmed from his affection for her, and warned her that living so close to Lin Heping was like a "sheep in a tiger's den." Qiao Man eventually had to ask him to leave, frustrated by his persistent antics, especially when he dramatically declared his love for her using number symbolism. That night, Qiao Man once again found herself in the ethereal world, encountering the mysterious girl who looked exactly like her.
Determined to find answers, Qiao Man confronted the girl, demanding to know their connection. However, the girl remained silent and fled, and Qiao Man found herself blocked by a temporal gate when she tried to follow. Meanwhile, Ah Li, seeing Qiao Man’s new portrait and note, dismissed it as "crocodile tears." She became convinced that Qiao Man was an An Group mole planted to seduce Lin Heping and undermine the company.
When Lin Heping came to discuss stamping the settlement agreement for An Group, Ah Li accused him of deliberately trying to appease her. Lin Heping asserted that Ah Li was prejudiced against Qiao Man, but Ah Li retorted that he was completely infatuated. She furiously pointed out that he had let Qiao Man live across from him, highlighting her increasing insecurity.
Lin Heping defended Qiao Man, reminding Ah Li that Qiao Man joined to help them through a difficult time and that her living arrangements were her own business. He then demanded Ah Li stamp the agreement and send it to An Group. Ah Li refused, arguing that neither of them had the final say and that the decision rested with the board of directors.
Lin Heping, finding her unreasonable, left, privately believing that while he understood Ah Li's feelings, he wouldn't compromise on his principles. Back at An Group, An Kailun questioned Han Sen about the progress with Lin Heping, emphasizing the need to monitor him closely. Han Sen then asked An Kailun for money to rent an apartment for Qiao Man, expressing worry about her living across from Lin Heping.
An Kailun dismissed his concerns, saying that if he didn't trust Qiao Man, he shouldn't be in a relationship with her. An Kailun viewed Qiao Man's growing closeness with Lin Heping as an advantage, calling her a "pawn" in their strategy to be brought back once Zhu Fan's issue was resolved. Han Sen was appalled, calling An Kailun cold-blooded for using Qiao Man, but An Kailun coldly stated that in business, everyone is a tool.
