Binary Love Episode 18 Recap
> Binary Love Recap
On January 22, 2020, as the campus began its lockdown due to the emerging epidemic, students were instructed to return to their dorms. Zhou Linlin and Fang Yuke parted ways downstairs. Fang Yuke reassured her, "It's okay. Go back to your dorm. I'll come and visit you tomorrow." Linlin, in turn, told him to keep some of the disposable masks they had. Staff members hurried everyone along, including Fang Yuke who was still watching Linlin.
Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, Xie Duanxi remained unaware of the unfolding situation until a classmate urged him to return to his dorm, informing him that the campus was already locked down. Upon checking his phone, Xie Duanxi discovered numerous missed calls from Ruting. When he tried to call her back, her phone was off. Panicked, he rushed out to find her. To his relief, Ruting appeared, having managed to get in just before the lockdown.
She came prepared, bringing several essentials like masks, protective suits, disinfectants, instant noodles, and toilet paper, which deeply touched Xie Duanxi. He confessed his fear of her not being by his side. That night, Xie Duanxi thoughtfully made the beds in their duty room. Although there were two beds, he suggested he would sleep by the door in a sleeping bag to protect her.
However, Ruting insisted he sleep indoors, admitting she would be scared if she woke up alone in the middle of the night. Xie Duanxi realized she was the one who was truly afraid. They discussed the gravity of the situation, with Ruting sharing how everyone on the street was wearing masks, a sight she had never witnessed before. Xie Duanxi comforted her, promising to stay by her side until everything passed. Life under the indefinite lockdown began.
In the dorm, Zhu Li complained about being stuck without men. Zhou Linlin, advocating for a broader perspective, argued it was a good opportunity for her to focus on studies. Coincidentally, Fang Yuke initiated a video call, and Linlin eagerly admitted how much she missed him, wishing she could see him immediately. Fang Yuke advised her to stay safely in her dorm, promising to always be there for her. Elsewhere, Da Zui, unable to return home, expressed his delight.
He explained that his family of PhDs put immense pressure on him to study, making school life preferable. Zhu Li later confided in Linlin, distraught that her boyfriend, who lived in Wuhan, had suddenly stopped contacting her. She worried something might have happened to him. Linlin, surprised to learn Zhu Li had a boyfriend, comforted her, assuring her that everything would be alright. Soon after, Fang Yuke knocked on their door.
He had applied to be a school volunteer, delivering meals to students staying on campus. He informed Linlin that their meal was left on the doorknob, instructing them to retrieve it only after he had left and to disinfect their hands after touching the packaging. Linlin told him they were safe inside their dorm but urged him to be more careful. Fang Yuke reassured her that the school provided them with full protective clothing.
They exchanged words of care through the closed door, missing each other. In the greenhouse, Ruting and Xie Duanxi found a way to make their lockdown enjoyable. They had hotpot, and Ruting lovingly picked various vegetables for him from the Incubation Room, including Orychophragmus, perilla leaves, basil leaves, coriander, mint leaves, and cherry tomatoes. She proudly declared she could now differentiate between edible and non-edible plants, precious and common species, and was interested in anything a botanist liked.
She even brought seeds, offering to plant his favorite vegetables. Xie Duanxi was once again captivated by her tenderness. One morning, Ruting woke to find Xie Duanxi had already created a "hotpot vegetable garden" for her, which she adored, rewarding him with a big kiss. During this time, Linlin developed a routine of waiting for Fang Yuke to knock and then meeting him on the balcony. One day, she shouted "Fang Yuke!"
but realized all the volunteers were making the same gesture, making it impossible to distinguish him. Zhu Li teased her, calling it a "failed attempt at showing affection." Despite this, Linlin insisted that conveying their feelings was enough. On April 9, 2020, the school finally lifted the lockdown, allowing students to move freely within campus. Fang Yuke arrived downstairs early, eagerly awaiting Linlin. As Linlin left her dorm, her temperature was checked and registered 37. 1°C.
A staff member explained that according to regulations, temperatures above 37°C required on-campus isolation, while temperatures above 37. 3°C required hospital isolation. Fang Yuke immediately reassured Linlin that it was likely just a common fever. However, because Zhou Linlin had a fever, Zhu Li, as a close contact, was also taken to the on-campus isolation point. While isolated, Linlin received a call from Wen Tao, who, after overhearing medical staff, learned about her isolation.
He anxiously declared his intention to fly back to China to be with her, despite Linlin's warnings about the risks of travel and potential re-isolation. Meanwhile, Fang Yuke, unable to enter the isolation area, stayed downstairs by the building the entire night, worried about Linlin. He communicated with her via phone, promising to be near her and always appear when needed. The next morning, Linlin's temperature returned to normal.
She called Fang Yuke with the good news, telling him she could be released in 14 days if her temperature remained stable. Relieved, Fang Yuke promised to keep her entertained during her isolation. He sent her a tablet with special videos, including a personalized "weather report" and a live stream of the campus.
During one live stream from the greenhouse, Fang Yuke inadvertently filmed Xie Duanxi and Ruting, revealing they were isolated together, supposedly to update the plant water supply system. Meanwhile, Wen Tao's efforts to return to China were thwarted when his flight was canceled, leaving him disappointed. Finally, Linlin's isolation ended, and she was released, happily embracing Fang Yuke, who declared, "Finally, I can hold you in my arms."
Later, his friend Lao Ding found Fang Yuke making ugly finger puppets for Linlin, teasing him about his lack of artistic talent. Fang Yuke, however, insisted that pleasing his girlfriend was a task he would handle himself.
