Light Beyond the Reed Episode 10 Recap
> Light Beyond the Reed Recap
As Ye Nainwen was preparing for her trial tomorrow, her mother, Huang Guifen, entered and asked if the trial was tomorrow and if everyone, including Sibei's brother-in-law, would be attending. Nianwen confirmed they would all be there. Huang Guifen then fell into a series of painful flashbacks, recalling her own childbirth.
During labor, her husband and his family eagerly anticipated a grandson, with her husband lamenting that their family line, which had been single-son for two generations, would be broken if she didn't deliver a boy. When a girl, Sibei, was born, her husband expressed disappointment.
The nurse confirmed mother and daughter were healthy, but her husband informed Huang Guifen that his mother wanted to send the baby to the countryside to be raised and suggested Huang Guifen quit her job at the supply cooperative to stay home and try for another son. Huang Guifen eventually named the baby Sibei.
Later, Huang Guifen remembered running a breakfast stall with her husband, complaining about losing her teaching job and how Sibei, who was sent away to live with her maternal grandmother, seemed to have more energy than her husband. She blamed him for insisting Sibei return home, stating he had ruined her life. She also recalled Sibei as a child, showing off her first-place school certificates while Nianwen struggled with his grades.
Huang Guifen would often scold Sibei, telling her to do chores instead of arguing with her brother and accusing her of only acting tough at home. In another memory, a teenage Sibei pleaded with Huang Guifen not to make her drop out of school, arguing her grades were far superior to Nianwen's, for whom they had paid a high school placement fee.
Huang Guifen dismissed her, saying Sibei was lucky to have studied this far and that her arguing was ruining her mother's life. Sibei confronted her mother, saying she only cared about her son and that her thinking was outdated, urging her to stop interfering. On the day of the trial, Sibei opened the door to find her brother, Nianwen, and her parents waiting, with Huang Guifen stating they must all go together as a family.
Outside the court, a crowd of reporters attempted to film and question Sibei, but security intervened, explaining it was a private hearing. Suddenly, Zhao Shuhui appeared, splashing water on Sibei and loudly playing an audio recording through a megaphone, shouting, "Ye Sibei, you wicked woman! You homewrecker! You destroyed someone's family! You're absolutely heartless! Listen, everyone! Does this sound like rape to you?" Sibei was visibly distraught and panicked.
Qin Nan quickly offered her a change of clothes and tried to reassure her. Nianwen attempted to calm Sibei, explaining that the audio couldn't be posted online without legal repercussions. Overwhelmed, Sibei tried to run away, wanting to go home, but Nianwen and Qin Nan stopped her, urging her to calm down and assuring her they were there.
In that moment, Huang Guifen slapped Sibei, fiercely blaming her for insisting on calling the police and for causing their family so much shame, declaring that no one was going back and Sibei had to see it through, even if she had to crawl. Qin Nan then spoke to Sibei, emphasizing that the news was already out, and if they backed down now, they would never clear their names.
He reminded her that she had done nothing wrong, that the other person was guilty, and that justice meant punishing the wrongdoer and making him apologize. He assured her that no audio, video, or photo could hide the truth. Sibei and Nianwen were then called to speak with a court official. The official informed them that the prosecution had requested a postponement of the hearing because the defendant's lawyer had submitted new evidence that required verification.
Nianwen comforted Sibei, explaining it was a normal legal process. Outside, Nianwen relayed the news to his parents, and Sibei's father suggested Sibei go home to rest. Huang Guifen embraced Sibei, who silently shed tears. Back home, Nianwen explained to his parents that such audio evidence could easily be manipulated through editing or other technical means, and the court would not blindly accept it, requiring forensic verification.
He added that even if the recording were genuine, a victim complying to protect their life in such a situation was understandable, and urged their family not to lose composure before the judicial findings were released. Both Huang Guifen and Sibei's father agreed with Nianwen. Later, Qin Nan suggested Sibei take a shower. He asked her how she felt hearing the recording, but Sibei said she didn't feel much.
She then tearfully questioned if he would still believe her, not mind what happened, and truly love her. Qin Nan responded that sometimes sex represented humiliation, but more often it represented love, and declared his love for her. Sibei explained that she had been terrified, unable to see, and her mind was in chaos. She only thought of surviving, so she had to do whatever her assailant told her to do.
She then asked Qin Nan if it would have been better if she hadn't called the police and just taken the money. Qin Nan replied that if she hadn't called the police, they wouldn't have offered money. He shared a childhood memory of his timid father being beaten while trying to confront bullies who had hurt Qin Nan and his brother. His father had told him to close his eyes, not to watch.
Qin Nan confessed that this memory haunted him, and he still felt like that helpless child. He stressed to Sibei that calling the police was the only way to cut through the chaos; not reporting it would slowly consume her life. He insisted she had to win, or she would be trapped in that moment of shame forever, like him. He firmly declared that they would win.
Meanwhile, Zhao Shuhui, speaking with her lawyer, Mr. Meng, and her husband, discussed the case. Mr. Meng noted that although a postponement was granted and new evidence was being reviewed, the case had already attracted significant attention. He warned that even if they won in court, the media attention would likely result in both sides suffering damage, urging them to minimize losses. He then mentioned that there was still a key witness, Chuchu.
Zhao Shuhui considered that if she could persuade Chuchu to testify, they would have a good chance of winning. Zhao Chuchu, on the other hand, was facing professional repercussions. While trying to secure a client, Ms. Liu, she found a colleague, Sun Wei, had taken the client by order of their manager.
When Chuchu confronted Sun Wei, the colleague coldly told her that all the clients knew what she did – referring to Chuchu leaving her "drunk sister-in-law" (Sibei) in the car, and that no one would trust her with a deal after such irresponsibility. Heartbroken, Chuchu returned home, only to find negative online comments about her, labeling her an accomplice in the Nancheng assault case. She refused her father's offer of dinner, retreating into herself.
Qin Nan spent time with Sibei, cutting out paper shapes, and suggested that after the lawsuit, they should both quit smoking and drinking, and start exercising to live longer. He expressed a desire to see what the world would become after all their efforts. On the day the trial was set to open, reporters gathered outside the courthouse, eager for details, but were turned away as it was a closed hearing.
Nianwen walked with his mentor, also named Lawyer Meng, who offered to treat Nianwen's family to a meal after the trial as an apology. Nianwen humbly replied that he might be the one apologizing and treating Lawyer Meng. Inside the court building, Nianwen reassured Sibei not to be afraid. He instructed their parents and Qin Nan to wait in the family reception area, while Sibei and Chuchu would be called to testify from a waiting area outside the courtroom.
Qin Nan gave Sibei one last encouraging look, promising they would win and that they would wait for her. Sibei and Chuchu were led away by bailiffs. As they walked, Sibei thanked Chuchu, expressing that after today, everything would be over, and they would both find release. Chuchu looked at Sibei, seemingly with something to say, but remained silent as the bailiffs separated them into different waiting areas.
