Go Ahead Episode 28 Recap
> Go Ahead Recap
During a dinner with Qi Mingyue, Ling Xiao encouraged her, asserting her inherent qualities and explaining that he wouldn't be friends with her if she were truly inadequate. He then candidly admitted his own shortcomings, acknowledging that he had somewhat utilized their friendship during his intensely stressful years in Singapore, where he balanced his studies with caring for Chen Ting.
In those moments of overwhelming pressure, he would message Qi Mingyue to inquire about Li Jianjian, finding solace in her updates. Qi Mingyue, understanding his plight, did not fault him; instead, she felt a sense of happiness that she had been able to assist him, even as Ling Xiao insisted on apologizing and thanking her.
Ling Xiao then probed her about her long-standing affection for him, expressing confusion as they had known each other for less than a year before he left for Singapore and rarely conversed. Qi Mingyue confessed she had liked him since her freshman year of high school because he had affirmed her and boosted her confidence.
However, Ling Xiao suggested she didn't truly know him, noting their WeChat conversations were almost exclusively about Li Jianjian and she had shown no curiosity about his life in Singapore, implying her feelings might not have been as deep as she imagined. Upon realizing Ling Xiao's true feelings for Li Jianjian, Qi Mingyue's primary emotion was embarrassment over her misunderstanding.
Reflecting on their conversation, she began to doubt her unrequited love, concluding that she might have been more enamored with the idea of having a crush than with Ling Xiao himself. Returning home, Qi Mingyue felt a profound sense of relief after her confession. When Tang Can inquired about her meeting with Ling Xiao, Qi Mingyue explained that she preferred the feeling of an unburdened, private crush and saw no need to develop a romantic relationship with Ling Xiao.
Tang Can was utterly bewildered by this sentiment, advising Qi Mingyue to pursue a proper relationship next time, lest she be forced into an arranged marriage by Jin Yuxiang. Tang Can lamented their shared misfortunes, calling them "sisters in adversity" with one unlucky in love and the other in career, while Li Jianjian seemed to enjoy unbridled success. Tang Can further suggested they were "unworthy of being Li Jianjian's friends."
Li Jianjian, having overheard Tang Can's cutting remarks from the doorway, angrily slammed the door and left, startling both Tang Can and Qi Mingyue, the latter immediately attempting to pursue her friend. To alleviate her gloomy mood, Li Jianjian went to eat cake, where she coincidentally met Ling Xiao. He recounted his dinner with Qi Mingyue, and Li Jianjian, in turn, shared her conflict with Tang Can. Ling Xiao offered comfort and playful banter, which significantly improved Li Jianjian's spirits.
The following day, Li Jianjian was interviewed at He Ziqiu's coffee shop. The staff gossiped about Li Jianjian and He Ziqiu's relationship, speculating that he opened the shop solely to please her. After the interview, Li Jianjian and He Ziqiu discussed the coffee shop's recent slow business, a concern they both shared. He Ziqiu mentioned that Li Haichao had introduced him to a "Manager Luo," an expert in preparing coffee shop chains, and they had already scheduled a meeting.
Changing the subject, Li Jianjian described her imagined scenario of marrying He Ziqiu as a "nightmare" filled with frequent, severe arguments where they would cease communicating. Despite He Ziqiu's initial surprise and joy that she was even considering marriage, Li Jianjian firmly stated that she regarded him as her beloved brother. She explained that while he might have wanted to care for the younger Li Jianjian, the 25-year-old version could now care for herself and her two brothers.
She emphasized that, regardless of their legal non-relation, in her heart, He Ziqiu was the eldest son of the Li family and her true brother. Meanwhile, Tang Can was recording an audition video for a drama, a surprise given her earlier pronouncements of having abandoned acting. Qi Mingyue and Li Jianjian came to her room, hoping to reconcile and share a late-night snack. They offered their unwavering support, as they had since high school.
However, Tang Can admitted that their encouragement had become a burden, making her feel even more like a failure after each unsuccessful audition. Li Jianjian pointed out Tang Can's contradictory nature: claiming a lack of acting ability while relentlessly auditioning. She argued that Tang Can was her own worst enemy, rejecting acting opportunities by deeming small roles embarrassing and aspiring only to lead roles despite being an unknown novice.
Li Jianjian recalled that Tang Can, who was strong-willed, had pretended to be an experienced actress after transferring to their high school, only for three classmates to discover her repeated audition failures and mock her. Tang Can, feeling her life was a failure and interpreting Li Jianjian's advice as mockery—especially when comparing herself to Qi Mingyue's stable journalism career and Li Jianjian's international design fame—angrily rejected Li Jianjian's attempts to encourage her.
Li Jianjian, exasperated, reminded Tang Can that they were not enemies and urged her to accept advice. Tang Can, refusing to be swayed, angrily retreated to her room to sulk, prompting a furious Li Jianjian to run to Ling Xiao's house. At Ling Xiao's house, Zhuang Bei was helping Li Jianjian with a contract while watching TV with Ling Xiao. Tang Can, who had followed Li Jianjian, calmed down somewhat upon seeing Zhuang Bei.
Zhuang Bei had intended to privately return a necklace Tang Can had given to his mother, but with Qi Mingyue also present, he decided to return it publicly, which deeply embarrassed Tang Can. She turned and went home.
Zhuang Bei, who had earlier felt uneasy upon hearing Tang Can and Li Jianjian's argument and had almost followed Tang Can to her room but deemed it inappropriate, was later admonished separately by both Qi Mingyue and Li Jianjian for his public action, leaving him utterly confused about what he had done wrong. Ling Xiao went to his room to comfort Li Jianjian, noting Tang Can's straightforward and emotionally transparent nature.
During their conversation, Ling Xiao received a call from his mother, Chen Ting. Aware that Li Jianjian was nearby, Chen Ting asked to speak with her. Ling Xiao put the call on speakerphone, and Chen Ting spoke kindly to Li Jianjian, asking about Li Haichao's well-being before Ling Xiao took the phone back.
Li Jianjian was surprised by Chen Ting's changed demeanor, as she had previously worried that Chen Ting and Qin Meiyang would strongly oppose her relationship with Ling Xiao, potentially leading to an unhappy marriage. Ling Xiao was secretly pleased that Li Jianjian still harbored these concerns. Li Jianjian then asked Ling Xiao when he first developed feelings for her. He revealed it was during high school, which explained why he had not allowed her into his room back then.
Li Jianjian, surprised, thought he was "premature" to have such feelings at that age, but Ling Xiao dismissed her thought, calling her a "late bloomer" for not realizing she was admired. Finally, Li Jianjian asked what Ling Xiao would do if she had married someone else before his return; he gravely stated he would wait for her divorce.
