Because of You Episode 16 Recap
> Because of You Recap
Zhang Yuxin, flustered, left an embroidered piece at Li Yunzhe's place, which he simply put away without much thought. Lu Sichen caught up to Zhang Yuxin in the elevator. She threatened him, putting up a brave front, but she was more terrified of Li Yunzhe discovering her connection to Lu Sichen. Seeing Lu Sichen unaffected by her coercion, Zhang Yuxin hastily departed the building.
Back home, Zhang Guoguo's mother, Wang Aiyu, expressed her displeasure to Zhang Guoguo for introducing her as a nanny to Li Yunkai's family. Since the situation was already set, Wang Aiyu offered Song Xiuhua a year's pre-paid salary for rent, but Song Xiuhua politely declined. When Zhang Guoguo returned to her room and looked in the mirror, she discovered two lines Li Yunkai had drawn on her forehead, which greatly angered her.
Meanwhile, Xu Huijie frantically searched for a missing embroidered cushion. Zhang Yuxin subtly suggested Zhang Guoguo might have taken it, leading Xu Huijie to suspect her. Xu Huijie called Dong Lijun for Zhang Guoguo's contact information, but Dong Lijun was displeased by Xu Huijie's baseless suspicions. Frustrated, Xu Huijie then called Li Yunkai's father, who also refused to provide Zhang Guoguo's contact. Li Yunkai, overhearing Zhang Guoguo's name, asked his father what was happening.
Upon learning that Jinluge suspected Zhang Guoguo of stealing a cushion, Li Yunkai grew concerned for her. Entering the house, Li Yunkai noticed He Juan holding an embroidered item that Li Yunzhe had brought home. Examining it closely, Li Yunkai recognized the Jinluge logo. Connecting this to his father's mention of the missing Jinluge embroidery, Li Yunkai realized the truth. Pressed by Xu Huijie, Dong Lijun reluctantly called Zhang Guoguo late at night to come to Jinluge.
When questioned about the missing embroidery, Zhang Guoguo, unaware of the situation, naturally denied taking it. However, Zhang Yuxin, eager to humiliate Zhang Guoguo, proposed searching Zhang Guoguo's home to prove her innocence. This angered Zhang Guoguo. In the midst of the standoff, Li Yunkai arrived and returned the embroidery to Xu Huijie. It then became clear that Zhang Yuxin had unintentionally taken the item to Li Yunzhe's place. With the truth revealed, Zhang Guoguo left Jinluge.
Li Yunkai pursued her, but Zhang Guoguo, wanting to avoid him, discreetly hid. Unable to find her, Li Yunkai became frustrated. He muttered about Zhang Guoguo's ingratitude, believing he had recommended a significant business venture to her. Zhang Guoguo, in turn, told him she would never like him and told him to "scram." Li Yunkai reluctantly left, frustrated and wondering why he was still thinking about her. Zhang Guoguo found his behavior quite strange.
After several observations, Jin Zhiming sensed that Zhang Yuxin and Zhang Guoguo's relationship was more complex than it seemed, suspecting they might have known each other previously. He approached Xu Huijie with his suspicions, who was surprised, wondering why Zhang Yuxin had never mentioned it if it were true. Jin Zhiming found this secrecy the most perplexing aspect, as if something was being intentionally concealed.
Fearing that any misstep might lead to Xu Huijie's disapproval, Zhang Yuxin arranged to meet Li Yunzhe. She blamed him for not returning the embroidery in time, which led to everyone knowing she had lost it and wrongly accused Zhang Guoguo. She recounted her various hardships and difficulties, repeatedly emphasizing that she could not leave Jinluge. Seeing Zhang Yuxin like this, Li Yunzhe gently hugged her to comfort her.
At breakfast, Li Yunzhe deliberately taunted Li Yunkai about his excessive concern for Zhang Guoguo and criticized him for returning the embroidery without consulting him. Li Yunkai, who already had a strained relationship with his brother, refused to be provoked. Li Yunzhe, in a foul mood, left without eating breakfast. Seeing her son's upset expression, He Juan questioned Li Yunkai about what had happened, but he vaguely dismissed her before leaving as well.
Li Yunkai, who had been keeping an eye on Zhang Guoguo, finally located her residence. To his surprise, he discovered Jiang Zhengchuan also lived there. Recalling how Jiang Zhengchuan's subordinate had forcibly taken his car previously, Li Yunkai began to suspect Zhang Guoguo and Jiang Zhengchuan were colluding to scam him. Angered, Li Yunkai found Zhang Guoguo's home. Le Tong opened the door, introducing Zhang Guoguo as her mother and Jiang Zhengchuan as her father.
This only solidified Li Yunkai's belief in their deception. Hearing the commotion, Song Xiuhua came out. Li Yunkai was stunned to see his aunt. They embraced, tears streaming, as Li Yunkai, just like years ago, called out "Auntie" repeatedly while hugging Song Xiuhua. Zhang Guoguo returned home to witness this reunion. Seeing Zhang Guoguo, Li Yunkai's temper flared, and he again blamed her for him not seeing Song Xiuhua for five years.
Because of the car incident, Li Yunkai remained convinced that Zhang Guoguo was in cahoots with someone to trick him. He questioned her about Le Tong, asking "Whose kid is she?" to which Zhang Guoguo firmly stated, "She's mine." Li Yunkai sarcastically responded that he had no further business with her. No matter what Zhang Guoguo said to explain, he refused to believe her, insisting on calling the two individuals whose car was rear-ended for a face-to-face confrontation.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhengchuan was helping Li Hailan clean her shop. Still upset with him for his unannounced departure years ago, Li Hailan was unappreciative. However, Jiang Zhengchuan produced the small bear he had once given her, forcing her to confront her feelings. Li Hailan, still harboring feelings for Jiang Zhengchuan, did not resist his embrace. Just then, Le Tong burst in, announcing that someone had arrived at their house and Jiang Zhengchuan needed to return.
Upon returning home, Jiang Zhengchuan learned his two subordinates had arrived, leading to another confrontation with Li Yunkai. Jiang Zhengchuan demanded Li Yunkai pay for medical and car repair expenses before he and his subordinates left. Li Yunkai then realized Zhang Guoguo had indeed not conspired to deceive him and was delighted to learn that Zhang Guoguo and Jiang Zhengchuan were not a couple.
However, Zhang Guoguo, already very angry with him, did not want to hear any more of his words, especially after he questioned her about why she came to a single man's house at night, given that she was a mother. She stated she was only there to ask about Song Xiuhua and told him he was being petty for her not showing up to their previous meeting. Zhang Guoguo then left to buy embroidery supplies.
Song Xiuhua, noticing Li Yunkai's affection for Zhang Guoguo, suggested he accompany her, hoping to create an opportunity for them. Li Yunkai, following Zhang Guoguo on her shopping trip, ended up carrying all her purchases, reduced to a mere porter. Zhang Guoguo, however, remained indifferent to him, much to Li Yunkai's frustration. Eventually, Li Yunkai reverted to his shameless ways, hugging a tree and loudly complaining of thirst and exhaustion, refusing to move.
Unable to do anything, Zhang Guoguo broke open a watermelon she had bought, and they ate it together. Seeing Zhang Guoguo personally offer him a piece of melon made Li Yunkai very happy. He considerately cleaned up the rinds afterward and instructed Zhang Guoguo to protect her hands, which were meant for embroidery. Zhang Guoguo found this uncharacteristically gentle side of Li Yunkai difficult to comprehend.
Still speculating about Zhang Guoguo's true identity, Zhang Yuxin entered Jin Zhiming's studio once more. Her heart pounded as she saw the portrait of Jin Yibei; her suspicions were confirmed, leaving her terrified. Jin Zhiming happened to notice Zhang Yuxin's agitated expression. Fearing he would discern her unease, Zhang Yuxin quickly excused herself to pour tea. Distracted and still reeling from her discovery, Zhang Yuxin accidentally dropped and shattered a teacup when Xu Huijie suddenly spoke.
Xu Huijie also became suspicious of Zhang Yuxin's behavior. However, Xu Huijie had other commitments and did not dwell on the matter, leaving shortly after. Zhang Yuxin then entered Xu Huijie's room, retrieved a past photo of Jin Yibei, and confirmed it was indeed Zhang Guoguo. Her last glimmer of hope was completely extinguished. Jin Zhiming observed Zhang Yuxin's odd behavior.
He approached Xu Huijie, recounting Zhang Yuxin's recent peculiarities and boldly speculating that Jin Yibei might have been living in Xiping with Song Xiuhua. Upon hearing this possibility, Xu Huijie blamed Song Xiuhua for deliberately concealing Jin Yibei's whereabouts, though Jin Zhiming thought otherwise. Xu Huijie, thinking of Jin Zhida's death, nearly let slip something to Jin Zhiming. Nevertheless, this discovery gave them hope, and they decided to go to Xiping to search for clues.
Xu Huijie tasked Ding Wei to personally go to Xiping to gather information and specifically instructed him to investigate Zhang Yuxin's situation as well. Meanwhile, a friend had asked Dong Lijun to accept Zhang Guoguo as a disciple into Jinluge. Dong Lijun questioned Zhang Yuxin about the second-place winner of a previous competition (Zhang Guoguo).
Zhang Yuxin, fearing Zhang Guoguo's potential entry, falsely claimed Zhang Guoguo was too eager for success and irresponsible, citing a past incident where Zhang Guoguo's use of a unique dye caused a celebrity to have an allergic reaction, and Zhang Guoguo allegedly ran off without taking responsibility. Zhang Yuxin concluded that Zhang Guoguo was unfit for Jinluge. Dong Lijun understood her concerns.
Later, Dong Lijun, still wanting to know Song Xiuhua's whereabouts, questioned Zhang Guoguo again, but Zhang Guoguo, remembering Song Xiuhua's instructions, refused to disclose her location. A somewhat disappointed Dong Lijun then gave Zhang Guoguo a cultural relic embroidery that needed restoration to take home and handle. Unexpectedly, Xu Huijie saw this and was displeased, but did not say much. Zhang Yuxin, however, was greatly bothered by this, feeling jealous that Dong Lijun had clearly promised her this restoration task.
Unwilling to accept this, Zhang Yuxin went to Shichuang to find Li Yunzhe, presenting him with her "design works" (which were essentially all designed by Xu Huijie) and asking him to apply for intellectual property protection for them. Li Yunzhe raised doubts about the origins of these works, but agreed to help and tasked Lu Sichen with the matter. Zhang Yuxin was greatly surprised to see Lu Sichen appear before her this way.
Lu Sichen, now enjoying Li Yunzhe's trust and accompanying him everywhere, chose a restaurant where he used to work, making Zhang Yuxin uncomfortable. This unsettled Zhang Yuxin, making her fear he would say something that would arouse Li Yunzhe's suspicion. Finally, the meeting concluded, and Zhang Yuxin hurried away. Lu Sichen, tasked by Li Yunzhe to drive Zhang Yuxin home, followed her out. Zhang Yuxin, now helpless against Lu Sichen, continually warned him while simultaneously praying he wouldn't cause trouble.
With their conflicted thoughts, they drove off. Zhang Guoguo prepared to take Le Tong for a medical examination. Looking at the little girl, now grown so much, Zhang Guoguo felt a surge of emotions. The innocent Le Tong, who was very fond of Zhang Guoguo, praised her as the most beautiful person in the world.
Le Tong's childlike praises caused Zhang Guoguo to momentarily drift, recalling Li Yunkai's kiss in Xiping years ago, and her face suddenly felt warm and red. On their way to the bus station, Zhang Guoguo and Le Tong encountered Li Yunkai, who had driven there. He had brought a cake box as a gift for Le Tong. Zhang Guoguo initially resisted, but Li Yunkai's persuasive words eventually won her over. Seeing Le Tong accept the gift, Li Yunkai happily departed.
At the bus station, Zhang Guoguo suddenly heard someone calling her name but couldn't locate the source of the voice. Le Tong then discovered the sound was coming from inside the cake box she was holding. Zhang Guoguo opened it to find a mobile phone. Upon answering, Li Yunkai's annoying voice filled her ear. Zhang Guoguo was extremely frustrated, while Li Yunkai, in high spirits, continuously teased her, provoking Zhang Guoguo to shout back, oblivious to her surroundings.
