Light Beyond the Reed Episode 12 Recap
> Light Beyond the Reed Recap
Captain Zhang asks Qin Nan about his plans after the case concludes. Qin Nan explains that it would be like a rebirth, and he would consider staying in Nancheng or moving to another city, primarily depending on where Sibei wishes to live. Captain Zhang, intrigued, then asks Qin Nan if he would be as accepting of Sibei's ordeal if he had married someone else, noting that many similar cases end in divorce even if the lawsuit is won.
Qin Nan firmly states that would not happen to them. Captain Zhang points out they met through matchmaking and have only been married for about a year, questioning if they knew each other beforehand. Qin Nan denies this, clarifying he attended No. 7 High School, while Sibei attended No. 2, making it unlikely they crossed paths. Nianwen later finds Qin Nan and Captain Zhang to deliver devastating news: Chuchu changed her testimony.
She now claims she did not give Sibei the condom, implying Sibei brought it herself. This significantly weakens Sibei's case. The court subsequently announces its judgment, stating that the evidence against Fan Jiancheng is insufficient, and he is found not guilty of rape. Qin Nan and Sibei's family are left distraught and unable to accept this outcome.
Outside the courthouse, Fan Jiancheng joyfully declares his innocence to the media, thanking the law, the court, and his wife, Zhao Shuhui, for her unwavering support. He acknowledges some personal imperfections and hopes his case serves as an example for others. Zhao Shuhui, however, shows no happiness and consciously avoids her husband's attempts at closeness. Enraged, Huang Guifang charges into the crowd, striking Fan Jiancheng and calling him a scumbag. Nianwen joins the commotion.
As the situation descends into chaos and Sibei's family is outnumbered by Fan Jiancheng's supporters, Sibei herself pushes through the crowd to defend her loved ones. The court's decision leaves many in agony, while others celebrate. Sibei becomes utterly despondent, and Chuchu, overcome with guilt, avoids facing Sibei and Nianwen. Meanwhile, at home, Fan Jiancheng dotes on his daughter, Wenwen, celebrating his freedom and denying any wrongdoing. Zhao Shuhui watches, suppressing her disgust and pretending normalcy for their daughter's sake.
Captain Zhang's colleague advises him not to get too emotionally invested in a case, but Captain Zhang maintains that as a human, he is guided by his conscience. He seeks out Judge Gao to discuss the verdict. Judge Gao expresses sympathy for Sibei's immense courage but explains that judges are bound to deliver verdicts based strictly on evidence and facts.
He shares a cautionary tale from 1999 where an innocent man was wrongly imprisoned for 12 years, only to be exonerated later, emphasizing the profound suffering caused by miscarriages of justice. Judge Gao stresses the need for more thorough evidence and a diligent search for the truth. Moved by this conversation, Captain Zhang resolves to continue investigating, declaring, "This case isn't over." After Wenwen is put to bed, Fan Jiancheng tries to approach Zhao Shuhui, but she rebuffs him.
She confronts him, angered that he put "something so dirty" in their daughter's trophy, and reminds him that his freedom is entirely due to her efforts. Fan Jiancheng, in a show of remorse, repeatedly apologizes, hitting himself and promising to give her and Wenwen everything. Zhao Shuhui coldly tells him she only allowed him back to be a father to their child and that from now on, he is "on his own," implying their marriage is merely a facade.
Fan Jiancheng then asks about the USB drive, but Zhao Shuhui curtly informs him he will "never know where the USB drive is," shattering his hopes of retrieving it. Zhao Chuchu appears in a televised interview, where reporters deliberately question her about Sibei's state of mind on the night of the incident. Chuchu claims both she and Sibei were tipsy but "pretty much sane" when she left Sibei in the car.
She adds that she only went to sleep after Sibei sent a message confirming her safe arrival home. The reporter then questions Chuchu about rumors that Sibei took a loan to buy a house for Chuchu and Nianwen. Chuchu denies prior knowledge of Sibei's contribution, stating that she believed the down payment came from Nianwen's parents. She asserts that if she had known, she would have rejected the offer.
She concludes by saying the house was sold due to the lawsuit, and she now has "nothing to do with his family," implying her relationship with Nianwen is over. Meanwhile, Qin Nan relays Chuchu's testimony to Sibei: that Sibei was conscious and able to communicate when Chuchu left, and that Chuchu only slept after Sibei confirmed her safety. Crucially, Chuchu also testified that she did not give Sibei the condom.
Nianwen, watching Chuchu's interview and reminiscing about their shared past, is consumed by anger. Nianwen confronts Chuchu, accusing her of lying. Chuchu suggests they talk at home. With Sibei and Qin Nan present, Chuchu explains that her testimony was truthful except for the part about the condom. She describes how Fan Jiancheng encouraged her to avoid Zheng Qiang's incessant drinking by attending to Sibei, which led her to trust him.
Chuchu maintains that Sibei, though emotional, was mostly lucid after vomiting, and they continued chatting in the car. She claims she reminded Sibei to call her upon arriving home and received a text confirmation before she fell asleep.
However, when Sibei checks her phone, the message content shown by Chuchu differs from what Sibei received, leading Nianwen to conclude that Fan Jiancheng likely used Sibei's phone to send a fabricated "I'm home" message and deleted call records after Sibei had already become unconscious. Nianwen angrily presses Chuchu about why she lied regarding the condom. Chuchu tearfully reveals her profound internal turmoil, describing nightmares where she is tormented and accused.
She questions her past decisions, lamenting her choices to work in sales, attend social gatherings, and not ensure Sibei's safe return. Chuchu confesses her lack of courage to be "good" in a world she perceives as too difficult, admitting her selfishness and fearing the public's judgment if it were known she provided the condom. She apologizes profusely, overwhelmed by the weight of potential public backlash. Although Nianwen attempts to continue questioning her, Sibei intervenes.
Sibei realizes she has been too focused on her own quest for justice and has overlooked Chuchu's desperate situation. Understanding Chuchu's fears as a fellow woman, Sibei tells Nianwen to "leave it at here" and not pursue the matter further. Chuchu then kneels before Sibei, begging her to take all her money and move far away to start a new life, offering heartfelt apologies.
Sibei, though unable to fully forgive Chuchu, acknowledges that Chuchu is not inherently a bad person and accepts her decision to let the matter rest, urging Chuchu to take care of herself. Still reeling from the verdict, Nianwen expresses his conviction that Chuchu's lies unduly influenced the judges' decision, making him believe that Fan Jiancheng is still the culprit and the case should not have ended this way.
Sibei, however, apologizes to Nianwen for inadvertently complicating his life and declares she has no more energy to pursue further appeals. Sibei later confirms to Qin Nan that she will not appeal, stating she has "received a lot" from the experience and knows she is not alone. She urges them both to look forward. Qin Nan pledges his unwavering support, promising to move forward with her.
He cares for a weary Sibei, offering her chicken soup and suggesting they seek specialized medical attention at a city hospital, but Sibei insists she merely needs more rest. Later, at his workshop, Qin Nan's brother questions his continued devotion to Sibei, recalling their prior discussions about divorce. Qin Nan steadfastly affirms his deep understanding and trust in Sibei, stating he knows her "more than anyone else does," and vows to protect her from any malicious gossip.
Moments later, Qin Nan receives an urgent phone call from his mother, who insists he come over immediately as she has something important to discuss. Qin Nan promptly leaves, entrusting the workshop to his brother.
