Go Ahead Episode 24 Recap
> Go Ahead Recap
Li Haichao and He Mei met, during which He Mei had a child with her. Li Haichao deduced she runs a kindergarten, not a beauty salon, and her second child is a few years old. Li Haichao informed He Mei that He Ziqiu had returned from abroad and expressed his hope that she would meet He Ziqiu to help resolve the complex he harbors about his birth mother, despite being grown up.
He Mei, however, was indifferent to the suggestion, even showing annoyance at Li Haichao's "goody-two-shoes" demeanor. She asserted that her departure and return were solely for her own sake, that she lived well, and saw no necessity in seeing He Ziqiu again. She declared that if they were to encounter each other on the street, they should pretend to be strangers, before abruptly leaving the coffee shop.
It was revealed that He Mei had already seen He Ziqiu chasing her car and had secretly visited his coffee/dessert shop, watching him serve customers. Nevertheless, she continually hardened her heart, reminding herself not to reconnect with her son, He Ziqiu, to avoid changing her hard-won life. Li Haichao had found He Mei's location with the help of Ling Ping. Li Jianjian visited He Ziqiu's coffee/dessert shop and chatted with Zheng Shuran.
Li Jianjian found it strange that He Ziqiu's attitude towards Zheng Shuran had suddenly improved, and Zheng Shuran explained it was because they had broken up. Later, Li Jianjian joined He Ziqiu in the kitchen where he was baking a cake. He Ziqiu offered to teach her how to pipe frosting, guiding her hands-on. As they baked and discussed Ling Xiao, He Ziqiu expressed slight jealousy, noting Li Jianjian's childhood closeness with Ling Xiao.
Li Jianjian quickly defended herself, asserting she treated both him and Ling Xiao equally. Their close proximity made He Ziqiu lose focus, leading to a mistake in the frosting. Feeling guilty, Li Jianjian offered to take the cake, as she planned to stay at Li's home that night. He Ziqiu, enjoying their intimate time, also intended to return to Li's home that night to discuss something with Li Haichao.
That evening, He Ziqiu and Li Jianjian dined at Li Haichao's noodle shop. Mrs. Qian, also present, teased Li Haichao about He Ziqiu becoming his son-in-law. She actively encouraged Li Haichao to arrange for Li Jianjian and He Ziqiu to marry, suggesting it would be a "closer union" since He Ziqiu is not Li Haichao's biological son, and Li Haichao, having raised him, would trust him.
Mrs. Qian also directly advised He Ziqiu to pursue Li Jianjian, stressing that if they both married other people, Li Haichao would be left alone and miserable, lacking support in old age, illness, or emergencies. After dinner, Li Jianjian returned home, bathed, and went to the rooftop to get some air and see the night view, lying on a cement slab.
Hearing a door open, she initially thought it was He Ziqiu but was startled to find it was Ling Xiao. He asked if she was avoiding him, which she denied. Ling Xiao then brought up their childhood, claiming Li Jianjian was always closest to He Ziqiu, going to internet cafes and causing trouble with him, viewing them as "bad kids" while he was "good."
Li Jianjian denied preferring He Ziqiu, explaining that she was closer to He Ziqiu because Ling Xiao was too rigid and disapproved of her troublemaking. She tried to explain that Ling Xiao and He Ziqiu are like her palm and the back of her hand.
However, Ling Xiao countered by asking if, in times of danger, she would clench her fist to protect the palm, and then asked whether he is the palm or the back of her hand, leaving Li Jianjian unable to answer. After the noodle shop closed, He Ziqiu returned to speak with Li Haichao. He revealed Li Jianjian's recent breakup and confessed his own romantic feelings for Li Jianjian, seeking Li Haichao's permission.
Li Haichao was taken aback by this news and struggled to process it. He advised He Ziqiu to consider his feelings thoroughly, expressing concern that the instability of a romantic relationship could potentially ruin the deep family affection they have shared since childhood. Li Haichao asked He Ziqiu to promise that even if their relationship doesn't advance romantically, they will still remain siblings. He Ziqiu agreed to this condition.
After Li Jianjian and Ling Xiao's rooftop conversation, Ling Xiao reiterated his romantic feelings for Li Jianjian once they were home, asking her to consider treating him as a man in the future if her feelings changed. He also declared his intent to tell people around them to prevent others from misunderstanding his relationships. Li Jianjian, terrified, asked if he had told Qi Mingyue, to which Ling Xiao replied he had not, having only informed Feng Xixi so far.
Wanting to keep it private, Li Jianjian promised to consider his proposal if he kept it a secret. She specifically instructed him not to tell He Ziqiu, worried about how He Ziqiu might react, and Ling Xiao agreed. Li Jianjian rejected him again. After Ling Xiao departed, Li Jianjian muttered to herself in frustration.
Hearing a door open, she quickly hid, thinking it might be someone else, but it turned out to be He Ziqiu, which made her sigh in relief. Feeling more at ease in his presence, Li Jianjian was then shocked when He Ziqiu, massaging her feet, suddenly confessed his desire to be her boyfriend and proposed marriage, stating he had thoroughly considered it.
Li Jianjian's face changed dramatically; she was terrified and rejected his proposal, pushing away He Ziqiu and retreating to another sofa, unable to accept that He Ziqiu also confessed to her. She quickly created distance and urged him not to tell Ling Xiao.
Li Jianjian expressed concern about her father's reaction, but He Ziqiu assured her he already discussed it with his adoptive father, Li Haichao, who, while advising him to think carefully, did not object to him marrying Li Jianjian. The following morning, Li Jianjian left early for her studio. During breakfast, Li Haichao informed He Ziqiu about He Mei, revealing she has repaid the money she owed, remarried, and has a child.
He told He Ziqiu that He Mei is located in the same city, a detail he discovered with Ling Ping's help. Li Haichao left the decision to meet He Mei up to He Ziqiu. He Ziqiu, however, asked if He Mei even wanted to see him, which rendered Li Haichao speechless.
Ling Xiao then intervened, stating that regardless of He Mei's desire, He Ziqiu should meet her to clarify that she failed in her maternal duties during his childhood and, consequently, should not expect him to bear responsibility for any future changes or issues she might face. Ling Xiao encouraged He Ziqiu not to be sad, reminding him that he managed to live without a mother as a child and can now strive for anything he desires.
