Because of You Episode 2 Recap
> Because of You Recap
The second round of the embroidery competition began, with the task of replicating "Heavenly Maiden Scattering Blossoms" within a tight two-hour deadline. The judges agreed that each contestant could have a non-embroiderer as an assistant. Song Xiuhua started her work methodically with the help of her husband, Jin Zhida. Across from her, Xu Huijie was assisted by young Jin Yi Bei. Jin Yi Bei, determined to help her mother win, bravely endured needle pricks without complaint.
Xu Huijie realized her meticulous needlework couldn't compare to Song Xiuhua's, but Jin Yi Bei reminded her of her unique talent for capturing artistic essence, likening her embroidery to a freehand painting that could "picture things that aren't even there." This sparked an idea for Xu Huijie, who decided to incorporate Western installation art into her piece, using a flower patch from Jin Yi Bei's dress as an embellishment.
Meanwhile, at Li Yunkai's home, his stepmother He Juan and her son, Li Yunzhe, were throwing out Li Yunkai's deceased mother's clothes. He Juan told Li Yunzhe that everything in the Li family belonged to them and they must work together to secure their position, removing any reminders of Li Yunkai's mother. Li Yunzhe eagerly agreed. Li Yunkai discovered them and tried to stop them from discarding his mother's belongings.
In the ensuing struggle, Li Yunkai accidentally pushed Li Yunzhe, who fell. Distraught, Li Yunkai fled. Back at the competition, the judges praised Song Xiuhua's intricate and refined Suzhou embroidery, noting her meticulous attention to detail, especially how she split each silk thread into three individual threads for the maiden's eyes, making their gaze deep and mysterious.
When it came to Xu Huijie's piece, the judges were impressed by her innovative approach of combining traditional embroidery with Western art to capture the painting's artistic concept, particularly the maiden's demeanor. While acknowledging Song Xiuhua's superior technique, the judge declared Xu Huijie the winner of this round for her creativity and execution of the painting's demeanor. With both contestants having won a round, Dong Lijun announced a tie and promised to reveal the next topic the following day.
Song Xiuhua congratulated Xu Huijie sincerely, acknowledging her clever idea, but Xu Huijie ungratefully credited only Jin Yi Bei for the inspiration. As Song Xiuhua headed home, she found a crying Li Yunkai by the door. He tearfully recounted how his stepmother and stepbrother had thrown away all of his mother's clothes. Enraged, Song Xiuhua prepared to confront Li Yunkai's father, but Jin Zhida intervened, advising her against meddling in another family's affairs as it might lead to unnecessary conflicts.
Song Xiuhua, though saddened for Li Yunkai, understood Jin Zhida's point. She hugged the boy, whose embrace reminded him of his mother. She comforted him, suggesting they search for his mother's old embroidery works at Golden Thread Embroidery, where she used to study, as a way to remember her. Jin Zhida offered to take Li Yunkai to search while Song Xiuhua returned to Dong Lijun. Dong Lijun then summoned Song Xiuhua and Xu Huijie.
She criticized Xu Huijie for forfeiting the first round, emphasizing the importance of competitive spirit, even if one expects to lose. Song Xiuhua tried to defend Xu Huijie, but Xu Huijie, ungrateful, retorted that if she hadn't been hindered in the first round, she would have already secured the lead embroiderer position. Dong Lijun, displeased with Xu Huijie's arrogance, pointed out the flaws in her second-round piece.
While acknowledging Xu Huijie's speed and creativity, Dong Lijun highlighted that her meticulousness, especially in details like the maiden's hair, still lagged far behind Song Xiuhua's, calling her work sloppy and comparable to an apprentice's. Dong Lijun then revealed the topic for the third and final round: to find the embroidery method for "Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains," a famous ink painting. The first person to successfully do so would become the new lead embroiderer.
Obsessed with winning the lead embroiderer title, Xu Huijie returned to her room, her mind consumed by "Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains." Jin Yi Bei tried to get her mother's attention, wanting her to play, but Xu Huijie, distracted and irritated, impatiently dismissed her. Jin Yi Bei, heartbroken, complained about Xu Huijie's broken promises, including not attending her drawing competition, taking her for pizza, or embroidering flowers on her dress.
Overwhelmed, Xu Huijie lashed out, blaming Jin Yi Bei for losing her cardigan, implying it was the reason she hadn't already won the lead embroiderer position. Jin Yi Bei tearfully left the room. Xu Huijie immediately regretted her outburst and wandered to Jin Zhiming's studio, where she discovered her missing competition entry, the embroidered cardigan, on his drawing table. Xu Huijie confronted Jin Zhiming, accusing him of undermining her and not supporting her like Jin Zhida supported Song Xiuhua.
Jin Zhiming admitted to taking the cardigan, explaining he did so because she had callously burned Song Xiuhua's entry and did not deserve to win by such dishonest means. He criticized Xu Huijie for her ruthless ambition and for sacrificing her family for personal gain, telling her she always blamed others and should learn to be caring and tolerant like Song Xiuhua.
Xu Huijie retorted that embroidery was her life, reminding him of how it brought them together and demanding why he was forcing her to give it up. Jin Zhiming countered that one cannot climb to success over others' bodies. Defiant, Xu Huijie dared him to tell everyone she had burned Song Xiuhua's competition dress.
In the midst of their parents' turmoil, Li Yunkai and Jin Yi Bei, both lacking consistent parental attention, found solace in each other's company and slowly became close friends, sharing their feelings of loneliness. Jin Zhiming, troubled by his deteriorating marriage, approached Jin Zhida to confide his frustrations.
Jin Zhida, as the elder brother, advised him to be more tolerant and understanding towards Xu Huijie, urging him to reflect on her actions with more empathy, which made Jin Zhiming feel a pang of guilt. Xu Huijie, determined to win the final round, considered seeking out Master Cui, Dong Lijun's elder sister and a renowned embroiderer, who she believed held the key to the "Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains" technique.
She learned Master Cui was in Jiangling and planned to visit her retirement home. Suspecting Song Xiuhua might also think of this, Xu Huijie tried to subtly gauge Song Xiuhua's intentions. Song Xiuhua indeed knew about Master Cui and even advised Xu Huijie to consider Jin Zhiming's feelings. This only reinforced Xu Huijie's belief that Song Xiuhua was trying to force her out of the competition. Unwilling to be outmaneuvered, Xu Huijie decided to leave for Jiangling that very night.
However, she was intercepted by Jin Zhiming, who confronted her again about their marital issues and the possibility of divorce. He reiterated his disgust at her ruthless tactics, including burning Song Xiuhua's entry, and her lack of remorse. Unbeknownst to them, Song Xiuhua overheard their heated exchange from outside and walked away, deeply disappointed. Overwhelmed by Xu Huijie's actions, Song Xiuhua, who had initially not desired the lead embroiderer position, now felt compelled to compete.
She decided she could no longer allow Xu Huijie's ambition to go unchecked and, with a resolute heart, set off for Jiangling with Jin Zhida that same night to see Master Cui. At the same time, as Xu Huijie tried to leave for Jiangling, Jin Yi Bei clung to her, begging her mother to stay. Xu Huijie, focused solely on her goal, tried to push past her daughter, but Jin Yi Bei, rushing to catch her, stumbled and got hurt.
Seeing her daughter's injury, Xu Huijie finally stopped. On the road to Jiangling, Song Xiuhua informed Jin Zhida of Xu Huijie's act of burning her first-round entry. Jin Zhida suggested informing Dong Lijun, but Song Xiuhua, in her kindness, decided to give Xu Huijie one last chance. She called Xu Huijie on the phone, urging her to reconsider moving to America with Jin Zhiming and subtly revealing that they knew about the burned entry.
Xu Huijie vehemently denied it but then heard car horns in the background, realizing Song Xiuhua and Jin Zhida were also on their way to Jiangling. Panicked, Xu Huijie resolved to reach Jiangling immediately. She hastily left Jin Yi Bei with Jin Zhiming, blaming him for revealing her secret to Song Xiuhua, leading to another bitter argument between them.
