Go Ahead Episode 21 Recap
> Go Ahead Recap
Zheng Shuran, seeking a more romantic relationship, tried to kiss Li Jianjian during a date, wanting to discuss topics other than Ling Xiao and He Ziqiu. Li Jianjian, however, instinctively avoided him. Meanwhile, Tang Can returned home, having lost 300 yuan playing mahjong. Qi Mingyue, concerned that Tang Can might be repeating past mistakes of spending money on men—her ex-boyfriend still owed her 25,000 yuan and had blocked her—grew agitated.
Tang Can deflected by asking why Qi Mingyue had prepared a gift box. Qi Mingyue explained it was a "souvenir" for Ling Xiao, prompting Tang Can to tease her about her feelings. Just then, Li Jianjian arrived. Tang Can urged Li Jianjian to look at Qi Mingyue's gift, but Li Jianjian, preoccupied, took the box directly to Ling Xiao. Li Jianjian worried Ling Xiao might not return until he showed her his return flight ticket, which finally reassured her.
The next morning, Qi Mingyue drove Ling Xiao to the airport. Misinterpreting his feelings, she gathered her courage and kissed him, declaring it her "answer." Ling Xiao appeared confused by her words. A shy Qi Mingyue then urged him to leave, suggesting they discuss everything upon his return, and Ling Xiao exited the car. He Ziqiu's Aunt He Lan visited him at his café.
She expressed happiness for his venture but also guilt for not having cared for him when he was younger, then reminded him to always be filial to Li Haichao. After talking at the café, He Ziqiu and Aunt He Lan went to the Li family home for dinner. Li Haichao welcomed Aunt He Lan, while He Ziqiu went to pick up Li Jianjian.
Aunt He Lan, concerned that Li Haichao might resent He Ziqiu for reconnecting with Zhao Huaguang, spoke favorably of He Ziqiu to Li Haichao. Li Haichao, however, assured her he wasn't bothered and was happy He Ziqiu had the opportunity to study abroad. Aunt He Lan then burst into tears, revealing her husband had cancer and needed chemotherapy the following week.
She confessed she had come to borrow money from He Ziqiu but found it difficult to ask, having already tried to borrow from others without success. Li Haichao, relieved He Ziqiu was unaware, decided to help, though he was momentarily troubled upon learning she needed 20,000 yuan. He Ziqiu and Li Jianjian, having just arrived, overheard the conversation from outside the door.
He Ziqiu entered, interrupting Li Haichao, and offered to lend Aunt He Lan the money himself, telling Li Haichao not to worry. Although He Ziqiu had some funds, he was in the startup phase of his business and needed stable capital. He later went to an ATM but found his card had limited funds, so he retrieved the card to withdraw the money from a bank counter.
Upon Ling Xiao's return to Singapore, he was immediately met with cold remarks from his sister, Qin Meiyang. Chen Ting, seeing Qin Meiyang criticize Ling Xiao, scolded her daughter. During dinner, Chen Ting, observing that Ling Xiao had not brought his luggage, grew anxious and relentlessly questioned why he had abandoned his promising job in Singapore.
She suspected his return was motivated by Li Jianjian and acknowledged he liked her, but expressed her unwillingness for him to sacrifice his future for love. While they were arguing, Li Jianjian called. Ling Xiao picked up his phone to answer, but Chen Ting, seeing Li Jianjian's name on the caller ID, became furious and tried to snatch the phone, preventing him from taking the call. In the struggle, Ling Xiao's phone fell and broke.
Witnessing the argument, Qin Meiyang grabbed her bag and left the house. Li Jianjian, unable to reach Ling Xiao, grew increasingly worried; she was puzzled that she could call him moments earlier, but now his phone was unreachable. He Ziqiu watched Li Jianjian with concern. Later that evening, Ling Heping and Li Haichao chatted at the noodle shop. Ling Heping asked Li Haichao if he still harbored feelings for He Mei.
Li Haichao denied it but then expressed concern that He Ziqiu might still be thinking of He Mei and asked Ling Heping for help locating her. He also mentioned that He Mei had repaid him 10,000 yuan, which he hadn't told He Ziqiu about, causing him some discomfort.
At Li Jianjian's home, where she had returned from work feeling unhappy, Qi Mingyue informed Li Jianjian and Tang Can that she had confessed her feelings to someone and expected an answer upon their return. Tang Can, perceptive, correctly guessed she was referring to Ling Xiao. Qi Mingyue did not deny it and noticed Li Jianjian's frowning, unhappy expression. Upon Qi Mingyue's questioning, Li Jianjian admitted she was in a bad mood because she couldn't get through to Ling Xiao.
Qi Mingyue, who had initially thought Li Jianjian was jealous of her confession, was relieved to learn the real reason for her unhappiness. Tang Can, outspoken, voiced her opinion that Qi Mingyue was not suited for Ling Xiao, suggesting that if they were to marry, Qi Mingyue might not tolerate Ling Xiao's excessive doting on Li Jianjian. At He Ziqiu's café, which had seen a decrease in foot traffic after a recent event, Zheng Shuran unexpectedly showed up again.
He Ziqiu was annoyed but felt helpless. Du Juan, in Li Jianjian's wood carving studio, had earlier recognized a branded bag Li Jianjian carried as a gift from He Ziqiu, expressing envy for Li Jianjian having such a good brother. Back at the café, Zhuang Bei, seeing He Ziqiu's reaction to Zheng Shuran, asked what kind of boyfriend Li Jianjian would need. He Ziqiu instinctively replied that Li Jianjian didn't need a boyfriend.
