Deep Affection Eyes Episode 12 Recap
> Deep Affection Eyes Recap
When Jiayu suffered acute gastroenteritis, Cheng Kairan personally brought him to the hospital. Chen Jian belatedly arrived, attempting to reconcile with Fang Yanen. He lamented his sacrifices, claiming that attending numerous dinner parties and enduring hospital visits were for Jiayu's costly interest classes, summer camps, and trips, especially with his company facing layoffs.
Chen Jian pressed Fang Yanen to reconsider divorce for their son's sake, suggesting Jiayu would be ridiculed as a child of divorced parents and no one else could love him as much. Fang Yanen, however, was resolute, stating she wanted to sign the divorce agreement the next day, asking for no child support, only Jiayu. Cheng Kairan, who had brought Jiayu to the hospital, offered the test results.
Chen Jian curtly dismissed him, attempting to repay Cheng Kairan for medical expenses and suggesting he stop coming to their house, as he was "not Jiayu's family." Fang Yanen defended Cheng Kairan, who then politely left, offering further assistance if needed. Later, Jiayu woke up, innocently asking why his father was there, to which Chen Jian feigned concern.
The next day, Chen Jian failed to show up at the civil affairs bureau to finalize the divorce, a familiar pattern of evasion for Fang Yanen. Speaking with Ye Meng, Fang Yanen expressed deep self-disappointment, admitting she knew Chen Jian would never change and that his remorse at the hospital was merely an act.
Yet, she still pondered if enduring the marriage for Jiayu's sake, to give him a "complete family," would be better for his healthy development, despite feeling her own marriage was "rotten." Ye Meng, however, urged Fang Yanen to prioritize loving herself, asserting that Jiayu witnessing his mother's self-sacrifice to remain with such a man would inflict far greater emotional harm than growing up in a single-parent household.
Meanwhile, Ye Meng found herself in a prolonged cold war with Li Jinyu over their future. She confided in Fang Yanen that while she believed she had the upper hand in their relationship, she felt entirely controlled by Li Jinyu's emotions, reverting to an "18-year-old girl" who brought up old grievances and constantly calculated who cared more. She admitted she was more deeply involved than she had initially realized.
Li Jinyu, in turn, sought out Cheng Kairan, who mentioned Ye Meng was planning to return to Jiangbei to investigate her mother's death. Li Jinyu clarified that their argument wasn't about her trip; rather, Ye Meng felt he didn't want a long-term future with her, and he struggled to convey his commitment without making it seem like he was trying to trap her in Ningse.
Cheng Kairan criticized Li Jinyu for his poor communication, urging him to express his true feelings despite his fear of rejection. Later that evening, Li Jinyu and Ye Meng were both glued to their phones, awaiting messages from each other. Seeing their stalemate, Fang Yanen and Cheng Kairan coordinated, fabricating a story that Ye Meng was heavily intoxicated and needed Li Jinyu to pick her up. Li Jinyu arrived to find Ye Meng waiting for him outside their door.
He immediately picked her up and carried her into the house. Ye Meng, in a moment of vulnerability, tearfully apologized for her harsh words and pleaded with him to comfort and hold her, expressing her desire to avoid further arguments before her trip to Jiangbei. Li Jinyu, however, remained reserved, not fully expressing his own feelings.
Back at his own home, Li Jinyu confided in his Grandma, clarifying that his conflict with Ye Meng was not about her going to Jiangbei. Instead, he expressed deep regret over dropping out of school prematurely, believing his lack of a proper education and a stable job would prevent him from providing Ye Meng with the secure future she deserved, stating she shouldn't be "trapped in Ningse." Grandma sternly rebutted his self-pity, calling his concerns "conceited" and "nonsense."
She urged him to stop making assumptions and instead bravely ask Ye Meng what she truly desired. She reminded him not to let his childhood fears of abandonment dictate his present actions, assuring him that Ye Meng was not like the person who had left him before. Her words spurred Li Jinyu to seriously reflect on his relationship with Ye Meng. The following morning, as Ye Meng prepared her luggage, she discovered a lost dashcam.
Meanwhile, Li Jinyu stood by a trash bin, contemplating a bouquet of flowers. He had seemingly given up on the flowers, telling the delivery person to throw them away. En route to the airport, Ye Meng reviewed the dashcam footage, unexpectedly stumbling upon an unsent video from Li Jinyu. In the video, Li Jinyu confessed that before meeting her, he disliked the world and kept everyone at arm's length.
Her arrival made him question if he was truly as bad as he thought, but he later realized he was still pushing people away, drawing only her into his world and "locking her in." He acknowledged that her world shouldn't be confined. He confessed his fear of falling in love with her that night by the sea, likening himself to a "sick goldfish" that would only drag her into darkness, advising her to stay away.
He concluded by affirming that if he likes someone, his feelings will not change. Overwhelmed with emotion and understanding, Ye Meng immediately told her driver to turn back. Upon arriving home, she found Li Jinyu diligently working on building her "dream garden," a surprise he had planned for when the weather warmed and the flowers bloomed.
As Li Jinyu awkwardly expressed his feelings, Ye Meng impulsively proposed, asking him if he would marry her, mentioning Fang Yanen's belief that "marriage is a gamble." Li Jinyu, initially surprised, quickly knelt, holding a bouquet of flowers, and declared that a proposal should be made by the man. He apologized for not having a ring but affirmed his genuine love, stating he was not just "playing around." Ye Meng, tearfully joyful, accepted his proposal, and they embraced tightly.
Soon after, Ye Meng and Li Jinyu secretly obtained their marriage certificate and took wedding photos, with only Fang Yanen privy to their impromptu decision. Ye Meng later explained to Fang Yanen that her impulsiveness stemmed from feeling that with Li Jinyu, "every word has a response, and everything has a resolution," making past conflicts seem insignificant.
When they finally informed Li Jinyu's Grandma, she was furious at their hasty, unannounced marriage, emphasizing its significance as a decision for both families. Li Jinyu then prepared to explain their actions to Ye Meng's family, only to find them already in jubilant celebration, toasting to their daughter's marriage.
Surprised by their enthusiastic reception, Li Jinyu promised to care for Ye Meng wholeheartedly, even offering for their future child to take her surname and expressing his willingness to move into the Ye family, further delighting them. Later, Cheng Kairan played with Jiayu at an amusement park. He learned that Fang Yanen had decided against divorcing Chen Jian. Jiayu expressed his weariness of his parents' pretense, knowing his mother stayed for his sake but feeling burdened by their charade.
Cheng Kairan comforted Jiayu, advising him to focus on his own happiness and let the adults handle their troubles. On their wedding night, Li Jinyu appeared melancholic about Ye Meng's impending departure for Jiangbei the next morning. Ye Meng playfully teased him, reminding him it was their first night as a married couple and urging him not to be upset. Their playful banter deepened into an intimate moment, as they finally consummated their marriage.
