Forward Forever Episode 13 Recap, Plot

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Qinger and Lian Er are watching a movie. Qinger, seeing a film for the first time, is captivated by the novelty. She asks Lian Er if it's a drawing film and why the train on screen is moving so fast and looks so real. Lian Er explains it's a new kind of French film, much more advanced than drawing films, and reassures her that what she sees on screen is fake when she gets scared by a speeding train.

Later, at Shanglin Xianguan, Yu Chu leads a team from the Shenjiying to investigate a murder, posting an arrest warrant with the suspect's portrait. The madam complains about the disruption to her business, but Yu Chu insists the warrant will stay until the killer is caught. Yu Chu gathers the girls to identify the suspect. Fang Er immediately recognizes the man in the portrait as her brother, Xiao Ke, but tries to hide her shock.

She pretends to vaguely remember seeing him in the corridor outside her room. Another girl confirms seeing a man like that wandering the corridor and mentions he often appears at night and lives in Small Chunshu Hutong. Ke Yan Xin hears this and informs Chong Liming. Yu Chu, already suspicious of Fang Er's evasiveness, decides to secretly follow her. Chong Liming arrives at the Small Chunshu Hutong and finds Yu Chu already there, trailing Fang Er.

Yu Chu confronts Chong Liming, stating her belief that Fang Er is hiding the murderer. She justifies her suspicion by recalling Fang Er's deceptive behavior during the initial questioning at Shanglin Xianguan. When Fang Er appears, Chong Liming claims ownership of the courtyard, explaining that he bought it for her, and offers to let Yu Chu search it. Yu Chu barges in, convinced there's someone inside.

Fang Er protests to Chong Liming about Yu Chu's intrusion into the property he gifted her. After an exhaustive search of the house yields no results, Yu Chu presses Fang Er one last time to confess, warning her of complicity. Fang Er, feigning ignorance, accuses Yu Chu of framing innocent civilians. Chong Liming then intervenes, suggesting Yu Chu obtain a formal search warrant and dispatch more patrols to seal off all the alleys for a thorough house-to-house search.

Yu Chu agrees, instructing Chong Liming and Fang Er to remain on site while she leaves to gather the forces. Once Yu Chu leaves, Fang Er confesses to Chong Liming that her younger brother, Xiao Ke, killed Qi Belle and tearfully pleads for his life. She explains that after their parents' deaths and accumulating debt, they fled to the capital and endured immense hardship, and she credits Xiao Ke for her survival.

She reveals Xiao Ke killed Qi Belle out of anger, after Qi Belle had bullied her, and that the fight escalated when a drunken Qi Belle attacked Xiao Ke first. Fang Er offers to bear all the consequences for Xiao Ke. Chong Liming, who had already suspected Xiao Ke was hiding in the cellar, explains that if he truly wanted to catch Xiao Ke, he wouldn't have sent Yu Chu away earlier.

He then reminds Fang Er of his own high status as a "Beileye" and suggests that letting someone go is not a significant matter for him. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Fang Er thanks him, only for Chong Liming to discreetly render her unconscious. He then calls Xiao Ke out of the cellar. Chong Liming asks Xiao Ke if he knows who he is. Xiao Ke identifies him as Zhengbaiqi Beile, and Chong Liming states his full name, Erji Chong Liming.

When questioned, Xiao Ke expresses shame for Fang Er's profession and claims he doesn't want her to mention him to outsiders. Chong Liming admonishes Xiao Ke, reminding him of Fang Er's sacrifices that enabled their survival. Xiao Ke defiantly accuses Chong Liming and Qi Belle of being equally corrupt, and when pressed about the murder, he attacks Chong Liming with a knife. Chong Liming easily disarms him, noting Xiao Ke's excessive aggression and flawed technique.

Chong Liming then offers Xiao Ke a deal: his freedom in exchange for Fang Er bearing the blame. Xiao Ke selfishly agrees, declaring he will go south and never return, abandoning his sister. Outraged by Xiao Ke's callousness, Chong Liming then wounds Xiao Ke's temple with the knife, warning him that if he ever wrongs Fang Er again, the scar will serve as a reminder.

Later that night, Yu Chu returns with her patrol to seal off the alley, as planned. Chong Liming pulls her aside, confessing his intention to let Xiao Ke and Fang Er escape. He explains the circumstances of Qi Belle's death, implying that Qi Belle provoked Xiao Ke, and pleads with Yu Chu to assist in their escape since she had already sealed the area.

Yu Chu is incredulous, accusing him of betraying the Yan Shifan and reminding him of the law: murderers must be brought to justice. However, Chong Liming passionately argues for the siblings, recounting Fang Er's years of hardship and asking if Xiao Ke was truly wrong to avenge his sister's suffering. Yu Chu reluctantly agrees to help. Fang Er and Xiao Ke prepare to leave the capital by carriage. At the city gate, guards stop their carriage for inspection.

Just as they are about to be thoroughly searched, Yu Chu arrives. The commander of the guards explains that they are under strict orders to search everyone due to the ongoing manhunt. Yu Chu, using her authority, instructs the guards to expedite the general search, while personally overseeing Fang Er's carriage. She quickly clears them to pass, allowing Fang Er and Xiao Ke to safely leave the city. From atop the city wall, Chong Liming watches their departure with relief.

Yu Chu joins him, remarking that she helped them not for him, but because she empathized with Fang Er's plight as a woman and understood her pain. She teases Chong Liming, suggesting he should go see off his "confidante." Chong Liming asserts that his relationship with Fang Er is purely platonic, and that he only has feelings for Yu Chu, who dismisses him. Before leaving, Chong Liming thanks Yu Chu.

Once outside the city, Xiao Ke expresses his disbelief that Chong Liming let them go without conditions. Fang Er tells him that Chong Liming only had one final message for him: to remember his last words. Xiao Ke pretends it was a simple instruction to take care of Fang Er.

He then pulls out a large bag of gold, silver, and jewelry, boasting that it's enough for them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, and promises Fang Er she will no longer have to suffer. Yu Chu reports to Rui Zhen that Xiao Ke, the murderer, has not been apprehended, but assures him that from the gold medal found, Xiao Ke is undoubtedly the murderer.

She explains that due to the city's tight security, it's only a matter of time before he is caught. Rui Zhen, frustrated that Qi Belle's killer is still at large, entrusts them with finding the culprit. Meanwhile, old horse head approaches Chong Liming, expressing his worries about Qinger spending too much time with Lian Er.

He explains that while Lian Er has been helpful with their business out of respect for A Yi, Qinger, unaware of the implications, has become overly attached to him. He reminds Chong Liming that Lian Er is a powerful figure, the hall master of the Green Gang's Beijing branch, and their humble family cannot afford to get involved with him. He asks Chong Liming to bring Qinger back.

Later that night, Chong Liming storms into the Green Gang headquarters in search of Lian Er. Despite the gang members' attempts to stop him, he barges into Hua Jiuqing’s room. She immediately attacks him, and after a brief standoff, she subdues him. They recognize each other from a previous encounter where they were both imprisoned. Hua Jiuqing introduces herself as Hua Jiuqing, known as Prince Ye within the Green Gang.

Chong Liming expresses surprise at her identity and comments on her beauty, even in men's attire. He asks why she is in Beijing instead of Shanghai. Hua Jiuqing deflects his questions and informs him that Lian Er is not currently at the headquarters and she does not know his whereabouts. Later that night, Lian Er escorts Qinger back to the lamb soup stall. Old horse head, unable to show his anger to Lian Er directly, politely bids him farewell.

Once Lian Er leaves, old horse head confronts Qinger, chastising her for wearing "foreign" high heels and for associating with someone from the Green Gang. Qinger refuses to remove the shoes, revealing they were a gift from Lian Er. She argues that foreign women wear them, to which old horse head retorts that she is Chinese, not foreign. She then proclaims her love for him, stating they are in "free love."

Distraught and humiliated, old horse head cries, hits himself, and locks Qinger in her room, declaring he no longer cares about her affections. Chong Liming later speaks with A Yi, blaming him for bringing Lian Er to the lamb soup stall, which led to his involvement with Qinger.

A Yi admits that Lian Er is also an orphan from Horse Thief village and they have known each other since childhood, which is why he asked Lian Er to help care for old horse head. Chong Liming scoffs, saying Lian Er seemed more interested in Qinger, and warns that such an unequal relationship can only bring disaster to the vulnerable old horse head and Qinger.

He instructs A Yi to intervene and tell Lian Er to stop pursuing Qinger, which A Yi reluctantly agrees to do. Meanwhile, Yang Zhen secretly places a note on Rui Zhen's desk, revealing that A Yi is a "remnant of Horse Thief village." Rui Zhen and Mu Yi discover the note. They recall the Horse Thief village that Yang Ming had led them to ten years prior and wonder if A Yi is seeking revenge.

They suspect Chong Liming might already know A Yi's identity and worry he could exploit the situation. Deciding against premature speculation, they agree to secretly investigate the information themselves before informing anyone else. Chong Liming and Ke Yan Xin arrive at Shanglin Xianguan. On the way, Ke Yan Xin expresses concern that Yu Chu and Yang Zhen, after their investigation into Xiao Ke, have reported directly to Rui Zhen, potentially undermining their efforts.

Chong Liming dismisses his worries, reminding him that both Yu Chu and Yang Zhen are "our own people" and that Rui Zhen doesn't have the final say on who joins the Yan Shifan. Inside, they find a chaotic scene. A maid, Xiao Hong, accuses Mr. Lin of stealing Xian Er's life savings, intended for her freedom, to buy jewelry for other female students.

Xian Er, initially believing Mr. Lin to be a revolutionary secretly funding a cause in the south, defends him. However, Mr. Lin angrily denies any revolutionary ties, shoves Xian Er away, and crudely calls her a "plaything," claiming "whores are heartless, actors are faithless." When Chong Liming and Ke Yan Xin confront him, Mr. Lin dramatically kneels and tearfully begs Xian Er for forgiveness, spinning a fabricated story about wanting to protect her from the dangers of his revolutionary work.

Xian Er, naive and still in love, falls for his lies and pleads with Chong Liming to release Mr. Lin, asserting her right to make her own choices, even if they appear foolish to others. Chong Liming, however, sees through Mr. Lin's deception.

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