Go Ahead Episode 16 Recap
> Go Ahead Recap
Ling Xiao has returned home from Singapore and does not plan to go back. His mother, Chen Ting, is unaware of this and repeatedly calls and sends voice messages to him, hoping he will return to Singapore soon. Ling Xiao does not answer her calls and is unsure how to reply to her messages, feeling uneasy as he listens to them. The next morning, Ling Xiao dines at a noodle shop with Ling Heping.
Their neighbors, Mrs. He and Mrs. Qian, join them. Mrs. Qian playfully teases Li Haichao, suggesting he pick either He Ziqiu or Ling Xiao as a son-in-law, and encourages Ling Xiao to pursue Li Jianjian to keep the "good fortune" within their family. Ling Heping and Li Haichao are amused, while Ling Xiao jokingly affirms he is "working hard" to pursue Li Jianjian, leading to hearty laughter from everyone present.
Qi Mingyue, working as a reporter, is initially tasked with interviewing at a wet market alongside photographer Gu Feng, who talks about his past adventures. However, they receive a last-minute tip from neighbor Mrs. Li about suspected baby cries from a sewer, prompting them to rush to the location. While there, Qi Mingyue discovers a missed call from Ling Xiao. She immediately calls him back, and he inquires about Li Jianjian having a boyfriend.
Qi Mingyue is unaware of this development and even calls Tang Can, who is equally surprised. Li Jianjian has an online boyfriend named Ran, who is also a sculptor. She tells her friend Du Juan and her new employee Zhou Miao that she agreed to be with him primarily to try a different type of relationship and see if it can spark her creative inspiration, admitting this is her starting point.
Du Juan asks if she's concerned about Ran's appearance, but Li Jianjian is unbothered. Li Jianjian also shares with Qi Mingyue and Tang Can that Ran does not sell his carvings and relies on his family for money, describing him as someone who lives off his parents. When Li Jianjian returns home, Tang Can and Qi Mingyue confront her about her boyfriend. Having seen Ran's Weibo, they strongly disapprove, considering him peculiar.
Ling Xiao and He Ziqiu also learn about Ran. He Ziqiu is immediately and impulsively against the relationship, while Li Jianjian remains indifferent to his objections. Ling Xiao, however, is silent and his expression darkens. Later, Ling Xiao calmly discusses Ran with He Ziqiu, who wants Ling Xiao to intervene. Ling Xiao notes that Li Jianjian and Ran have known each other online for years but haven't met in person.
He suspects Ran might have secretly seen Li Jianjian and is now pursuing her due to infatuation. Ling Xiao suggests that Li Jianjian invite Ran to He Ziqiu's coffee shop so they can all meet him. Li Jianjian prepares for the meeting, with Qi Mingyue and Tang Can joining her for support at He Ziqiu's dessert shop, which they discover she co-owns, much to their delight at the prospect of free food. He Ziqiu serves them desserts.
On the scheduled Sunday, they wait for Ran at the coffee shop, but he never shows up. Ran calls Li Jianjian, canceling the meeting because he suddenly got an inspiration on his way and decided to return home to create. Li Jianjian, understanding, doesn't mind and supports his decision. After the canceled meeting, Ling Xiao offers to take Li Jianjian to her studio, but she declines. Ling Xiao then accompanies Qi Mingyue to their landlord to recover some overpaid rent.
To thank Qi Mingyue after getting the money back, Ling Xiao treats her to dinner. During the meal, Ling Xiao confides in Qi Mingyue about the growing distance he feels between himself and Li Jianjian. Qi Mingyue offers comfort and agrees to monitor Li Jianjian's relationship with Ran. That evening, Qi Mingyue's news program is broadcast. Her mother, Jin Yuxiang, disapproves of Qi Mingyue's television image, calls to criticize her, and suggests she take the civil servant exam.
After handling the call, Qi Mingyue hears the doorbell. Li Jianjian answers it to find Ling Xiao squatting outside her door. He asks her to record her fingerprint for his apartment door. Despite her reluctance, Li Jianjian allows Ling Xiao to guide her hand to record the fingerprint.
Afterward, Ling Xiao reminds her of her hospital follow-up appointment the next day and offers to go with her, but Li Jianjian declines, stating she plans to stay up late drawing and will wake up late, preferring to go to the hospital alone. Li Jianjian bids Ling Xiao goodnight and returns to her room, intending to work on design drawings.
She struggles to make progress and, feeling frustrated, spontaneously begins drawing He Ziqiu and Ling Xiao, finding the process surprisingly smooth until she finishes. The next morning, Li Jianjian wakes up to a breakfast prepared by He Ziqiu. After an awkward meal, Li Jianjian heads to the hospital for a dental appointment. Ling Xiao observes her discomfort around him.
After the appointment, Ling Xiao goes to pick up her medicine, while Feng Xixi offers Li Jianjian ice cream and subtly asks if Ling Xiao has a girlfriend. Before Li Jianjian can respond, Ling Xiao returns and interjects that he already has someone he likes. As Li Jianjian prepares to return to her studio, Ran calls, expressing a desire to meet. Tang Can operates an online store where she offers role-playing services for clients.
During one such assignment, where she is impersonating a client on a blind date, the date, a Mr. Li, makes offensive remarks, including calling girls who cohabitate with their boyfriends "unvirtuous." Tang Can, struggling to control her anger, tries to conclude the date. However, Zhuang Bei, who happens to be nearby and overhears the exchange, can no longer tolerate Mr. Li's behavior and intervenes to contradict him. Tang Can recognizes Zhuang Bei and is deeply moved by his defense of her.
