Beautiful Reborn Flower Episode 45 Recap
> Beautiful Reborn Flower Recap
After Lin Heping’s mother left for a company trip, Ah Li came to Lin Heping's home, bringing groceries and offering to cook for him. She also started tidying up his messy room. While cleaning, she discovered a keepsake belonging to Lin Heping and Nan Sheng. Lin Heping quickly snatched it back, telling Ah Li that it was merely child's play and that she was too concerned about his relationship with Nan Sheng.
He firmly stated that he appreciated her cooking, but if she mentioned Nan Sheng again, she should leave. Undeterred by Lin Heping’s resolute stance, Ah Li decided to intervene more directly. She wrote a letter to Nan Sheng, advising her to break up with Lin Heping, stating that their relationship was causing him suffering and that they were not meant to be together. Ah Li gave the letter to Xiao Xi, Nan Sheng's roommate, to deliver.
However, Xu Zhensheng, Ah Li’s younger brother, saw her with Xiao Xi. After Ah Li left, Xu Zhensheng took the letter from Xiao Xi, read its contents, and became enraged. He immediately confronted Ah Li in the kitchen, asking if she wrote it. Ah Li admitted she did, believing it was for Lin Heping’s own good.
Xu Zhensheng accused her of only caring for herself and warned her not to interfere again, declaring she was no longer his sister if she continued. Lin Heping walked in on their argument, questioning why Xu Zhensheng was so angry at his sister. Xu Zhensheng, still fuming, simply said "nothing" and left. Soon after, the newly renovated Li Ping Pavilion officially opened.
Lin Heping, in his speech, acknowledged the studio's origin as an art shop and expressed how much its transformation meant to him and Ah Li. Nan Sheng and Xu Zhensheng came to celebrate. After the event, Lin Heping offered to walk Nan Sheng back to school. On their way, they encountered Nan Sheng's department head, who offered her a ride home.
The department head made it clear to Lin Heping that he believed Lin Heping was not worthy of Nan Sheng, who had a bright future ahead of her. This encounter deeply affected Lin Heping. Xu Zhensheng, witnessing the exchange, became angry, but Lin Heping told him to let it go, acknowledging that the man was Nan Sheng's lecturer.
Around this time, Nan Sheng's Uncle Yao returned and began to repay the money he owed, explaining that he would pay the balance at the end of each month after receiving his salary. Lin Heping took the money and gave it to Ah Li, who was worried about the company's finances after the launch. Ah Li also spoke to Lin Heping about his relationship with Nan Sheng, echoing the department head's sentiment that their worlds were diverging.
She pointed out that Nan Sheng's social circle would become very different from theirs. Lin Heping, however, insisted that he would be successful, earn a lot of money, and never give up on Nan Sheng. Xiao Xi later informed Xu Zhensheng that Luo Chen's painting had won a major award and that he and Nan Sheng were giving an interview together.
Believing Luo Chen had forced Nan Sheng to go with him to show off, Xu Zhensheng rushed to tell Lin Heping. Lin Heping arrived at the interview to see Luo Chen publicly thanking Nan Sheng, describing her as the inspiration for his award-winning painting and crediting her with his success. He openly expressed his feelings, making it clear to everyone that Nan Sheng was the woman in his painting.
Seeing them together under the spotlight, appearing like a perfect couple, Lin Heping felt deeply disheartened and left. Nan Sheng immediately followed him, intending to explain. However, Lin Heping, recalling Ah Li’s words that they were two different people, declared that he now believed it. He told Nan Sheng that they had started walking different paths and that their relationship could only be that of a brother and sister.
He acknowledged he had promised to take care of her forever but admitted he wasn't strong enough to be her lover. Nan Sheng pleaded with him, reminding him of their past and asking to get back together, but Lin Heping tearfully reiterated that they couldn't be together. He told her she had her own future to chase and he had his own path, wishing her good luck.
Ah Li, noticing Lin Heping’s sadness after the breakup, prepared chicken soup and tried to comfort him. During dinner, she suggested that he didn't need to be fixated on Nan Sheng, implying there were other women who cared for him. She reminded him of their childhood games, where he was the husband and she the wife.
She then explicitly confessed her feelings, telling him that she didn't want to be just his sister and asked him to "look at me properly" and "get to know me once again," wondering if there was a possibility for them. Lin Heping gently but firmly rejected her, stating that in his heart, she would always be Xu Zhensheng’s sister and a respected partner in business.
He told her he had never considered taking their relationship further and asked her not to mention it again, emphasizing that he only had Nan Sheng in his heart. Xu Zhensheng, still tormented by nightmares about his past actions related to Nan Sheng's father's death, got up in the middle of the night and went to find Lin Heping.
He apologized to Lin Heping, saying he had done bad things to Nan Sheng and his family, and confessed that he was responsible for their recent fight. Lin Heping, though unaware of the full extent of Xu Zhensheng’s guilt, told him it wasn't his fault and that he didn't need to feel bad. As Nan Sheng’s graduation approached, Xiao Xi found her upset that Lin Heping hadn't contacted her.
Xiao Xi suggested that Nan Sheng publicly confess her feelings and ask Lin Heping to reconcile during the graduation ceremony, assuring her that he would agree. Xiao Xi then enlisted Xu Zhensheng's help to bring Lin Heping to the ceremony. Although Lin Heping was reluctant, feeling awkward given their breakup, Xu Zhensheng insisted, reminding him of the importance of Nan Sheng's graduation day and that he was still her brother.
At the ceremony, Nan Sheng publicly expressed her enduring love for Lin Heping, recalling their shared memories and pleading, "Can we get back together?" Lin Heping, deeply moved, acknowledged that his time with her was the happiest of his life and that he loved her deeply, but he once again rejected her. He explained that they couldn't be together, as she had a bright future to pursue, and he didn't want to hold her back or cause her suffering.
He believed that if she stayed with him, she would only suffer. Witnessing Nan Sheng’s heartbreak, Xu Zhensheng became furious. He tried to confront Lin Heping, but Ah Li blocked his way. Ah Li argued that Lin Heping and Nan Sheng were never meant to be and that their breakup was for the best, proving their relationship was not strong enough.
Xu Zhensheng accused Ah Li of scheming to break them up, stating she was happy to see Nan Sheng cry and her eyes swollen. Ah Li retorted that Lin Heping was also suffering and that she was working hard to manage the shop because he was too down to do anything. She reiterated that Lin Heping and Nan Sheng were incompatible and would eventually break up anyway.
She insisted that they were no longer from the same world, and Xu Zhensheng would eventually regret his childishness, but he vowed he would not. Years later, Xu Zhensheng, having served his time in prison, returned home. Ah Li opened the door, finding him standing there. Overwhelmed with emotion, she rushed to hug him, crying and asking why he hadn’t told her he was out. She expressed her shame and regret at not knowing sooner.
Back in the present, Lin Heping received a phone call from his mother, who had dreamt of Nan Sheng again. She urged him to bring Qiao Man home for dinner, expressing a strong desire to see her. Lin Heping gently told his mother that they couldn’t project their emotions onto other people. His mother, however, became annoyed, calling him inconsiderate and useless for not having a daughter, and hung up. Later, Ah Li visited Qiao Man’s apartment.
Finding Qiao Man wasn't home, she spoke to Qiao Man’s friend. Ah Li pointedly asked why Qiao Man hadn't moved out yet, reminding the friend that Qiao Man was married and should be living with Han Sen. While in the apartment, Ah Li noticed a portrait of Nan Sheng’s father and wondered why Qiao Man had drawn him. Concerned about his mother's intentions, Lin Heping called Qiao Man.
He explained that his mother kept asking to see her and that he feared his mother would go looking for her. He worried that his mother might treat Qiao Man as a surrogate for Nan Sheng, just as he once did. He then confessed his true feelings, admitting that he had fallen in love with Qiao Man. Qiao Man, though touched, told him she would pretend she didn't hear that, emphasizing that they were only "best friends." She reassured him that she didn't mind his mother coming to see her and ended the call.
