Light Beyond the Reed Episode 17 Recap
> Light Beyond the Reed Recap
As Ye Sibei held a letter in a daze, Lin Feng found her to say that Captain Zhang was looking for her. Ye Sibei answered her phone, and Captain Zhang urgently asked if she had planned to kill Fan Jiancheng. Ye Sibei was silent for a few seconds. Captain Zhang then revealed that Qin Nan had gone to kill Fan Jiancheng by himself, wanting Ye Sibei to live a good life.
He further disclosed that the 20,000 yuan Ye Sibei received in her senior year of high school came from Qin Nan, who used his father's death compensation, originally meant for his own education, for her. Captain Zhang urged Ye Sibei not to let Qin Nan sacrifice the rest of his life for her.
He then gave Ye Sibei the location, an abandoned power plant at the foot of Mount Suming on the city's outskirts, and told her to contact Fan Jiancheng, warning him not to go to the casino that night. Ye Sibei immediately called Nianwen, telling him about Qin Nan's plan to seek revenge on Fan Jiancheng and urging him to intervene. Zhao Chuchu joined Nianwen to go to the location.
Meanwhile, Captain Zhang tried to call Fan Jiancheng to prevent the confrontation, but Fan Jiancheng, listening to music, didn't hear his phone ringing. Captain Zhang then called Zhao Shuhui, asking her to contact Fan Jiancheng, explaining that her husband was in danger and needed to come home. Everyone was rushing to the scene, but Fan Jiancheng remained unreachable.
In a letter to Ye Sibei, Qin Nan expressed his enduring love, wishing her a life of happiness and enjoyment that he never had. He acknowledged that his initial motivation might have been a sense of duty or an inability to accept her humiliation, but he gradually realized his feelings were more complex. He questioned why he stayed by her side, wondering if she was a projection of his hope for the world.
He then realized that from the moment he accepted her weaknesses, understood her, and shared his life with her—hearing her yell on his motorcycle, watching city lights together—she became more than just his faith; she became a real person he had poured all his emotions into. Qin Nan confessed that he was the truly weak one, having succumbed to fate repeatedly, while Ye Sibei's soul never yielded, a quality he admired and loved most about her.
He concluded that her life had more meaning than his, and he hoped she would live happily, carrying the world he could not have. He ended by reaffirming his love, assuring her that someone in this world would always love her, "like Qin Nan." As Fan Jiancheng prepared to head to the casino with money, he opened his car window to find Qin Nan there. Fan Jiancheng tried to hide in the casino, but Qin Nan followed.
Inside, Fan Jiancheng's bodyguards severely beat Qin Nan, leaving him gravely injured. Just then, the police arrived at the scene. Qin Nan, despite his injuries, was still pursuing Fan Jiancheng. Desperate, Fan Jiancheng offered all his money and even promised to record a video apology. He claimed his actions were merely "temporary infatuation" and that he "couldn't control himself," even comparing himself to an animal.
Qin Nan angrily stated that Fan Jiancheng was "worse than an animal" and deserved to die. He demanded Fan Jiancheng apologize to Ye Sibei and admit his crimes, including drugging her. Qin Nan dismissed Fan Jiancheng's pleas, asserting, "I don't believe you. I only believe myself." Captain Zhang intervened, telling Qin Nan that the law would deliver justice and he shouldn't waste the rest of his life for someone unworthy.
Qin Nan, however, felt responsible for Ye Sibei's suffering, believing their lives would have been better if he hadn't been so weak. He was agitated, even threatening others with a chain. Just then, Ye Sibei arrived, urging Qin Nan to be strong and trust the law. She told him that one assault, one lost case, one failure, or one insult would not ruin her life.
She explained that her previous fear stemmed from a lack of self-love and feeling unloved, which led her to deny herself. She realized that she needed to love herself and understand her own worth. Seeing Qin Nan risking everything, she deemed it not worth it. She reiterated that this incident was merely a "detour" in their lives.
She needed him to live the rest of his life with her, emphasizing that justice should not come at the cost of sacrifice, and that their fate could be changed through their efforts. Finally, Qin Nan, swayed by Ye Sibei's words and emotion, dropped the chain and collapsed. Ye Sibei wanted to visit Qin Nan, but the police prevented her from entering, citing rules against family visits during detention.
She stood outside, shouting for Qin Nan to believe in the law, assuring him they would overcome this hardship together. Captain Zhang also told Ye Sibei to be strong, explaining that once Fan Jiancheng's injury assessment was complete, the court would make a fair ruling. Meanwhile, Zhao Shuhui, Fan Jiancheng's wife, checked his computer. She was shocked to discover videos of him assaulting multiple women. Though distraught by his betrayal, she rationally copied the incriminating videos onto a USB drive.
Ye Sibei and Nianwen returned home, concealing the truth from their parents. Nianwen told their mother that Qin Nan had taken a big contract, requiring him to travel frequently between their city and the provincial capital, so he wouldn't be home for a while. Later, Ye Sibei confessed to Nianwen that she used to struggle with their parents, feeling he was favored and only remembering their negative actions, not their kindness.
Nianwen, guilt-ridden, believed that if he hadn't married, Ye Sibei wouldn't have faced such difficulties. However, Ye Sibei reassured him that it wasn't his fault. She also shared her newfound perspective on good and bad: that they are separate aspects of a person and shouldn't be confused. One should reject bad actions but not let them erase the good. She added that a person is "bad" not for making a mistake, but for refusing to change after making one.
When Nianwen asked if she hated Chuchu, Ye Sibei said Chuchu was "never really a bad person" and that the Chuchu she knew "will turn back." Ye Sibei appeared on a talk show, sharing how the incident caused immense trauma and a lost lawsuit, leading many to unfairly judge her.
She revealed that her mother and brother initially discouraged her from reporting the incident, and after she bravely reported again, she was threatened, insulted, and mocked, with some questioning her actions and shaming her family. She reflected that the outcome of her case might have been different if she had pursued forensic tests like drug and blood tests from the beginning. She vowed to persevere and encouraged others to be stronger and more courageous than her.
As Zhao Chuchu watched Ye Sibei's live interview, Ye Sibei spoke directly to female viewers, addressing "obedience tests" in the workplace, why women are judged for dressing beautifully, and why victims are blamed after suffering harm. Her words resonated deeply with women. Motivated by Ye Sibei's courage and her own reflection, Zhao Chuchu firmly decided to take responsibility for her past actions. She called Lin Feng, declaring her intention to surrender.
