Meeting You Episode 26 Recap
> Meeting You Recap
Nan Xi returned home extremely drunk, clutching a wine bottle tightly. He confessed it was his first time drinking but found it "really good," adamantly refusing to give up the bottle because Xia Rui had bought it for him. He declared, "Xia Rui is mine. No one is allowed to snatch her." Although disoriented and unable to recognize Xia Rui, he instinctively obeyed her.
To coax him to sleep, Xia Rui proposed a game where they would count to three and see who could sleep the longest. Nan Xi immediately succumbed to sleep, and in his slumber, he softly murmured Xia Rui's name, promising they would "definitely be together forever and ever." Xia Rui was deeply touched by his heartfelt words. The next morning, Nan Xi woke with a headache.
When he admitted he might drink again, Xia Rui playfully scolded him for being disobedient. With the design competition over, Xia Rui told Nan Xi she would work diligently to avoid dragging him down, vowing to study Italian rigorously so she could "go to Italy with you." She even devised a slogan, "I'll try hard. I'll succeed. I'm going to Italy," which Nan Xi, after some reluctance, joined her in chanting.
Later, while Xia Rui was working at the Yami coffee shop, Yang Yufei arrived to drop off materials for Binzi, who was considering taking the university entrance exam. Learning that Xia Rui was studying Italian, Yufei shared that Xia Rui had been hand-picked by an Italian master during a coffee competition, who offered her a year of study abroad if she mastered the language.
Yufei, who had a second degree in Italian, generously offered to help Xia Rui with daily conversation practice in exchange for a VIP card at the coffee shop. The two also seized the opportunity to apologize for past misunderstandings. Yufei admitted she had envied Xia Rui in high school, seeing her as effortlessly "free and at ease" with a loyal group of friends who called her "boss." They immediately commenced their first Italian lesson.
As the design competition results were still pending, everyone was optimistic, noting that Nan Xi's entry held a commanding first-place lead, almost guaranteeing his win. With the New Year fast approaching, Nan Xi's mother announced that she and Xia Rui's mother, Jing, had decided to celebrate together. This led Binzi to observe that the two mothers had become so close they "should be together," before playfully teasing Xia Rui about her own relationship "good news," a question she quickly deflected.
On New Year's Eve, Nan Xi and his mother arrived at Xia Rui's home and were warmly welcomed by her family. Playful banter ensued, with Xia Rui's brother, Chen Hao, amusingly misusing an idiom to describe Xia Rui, prompting a correction from her. Xia Rui's mother suggested that Nan Xi should take care of Xia Rui, but Nan Xi gently corrected her, stating that it was Xia Rui who took care of him.
Binzi then remarked on the mothers' deepening friendship and humorously recalled an incident where Xia Rui's mother, while drunk, had complained to her husband, President Ren, that after raising their daughter for eighteen years, she couldn't bear the thought of Nan Xi whisking her away to Italy. Afterward, Xia Rui patiently taught Nan Xi how to make dumplings. As the New Year countdown began, both families gathered, exchanging warm wishes and red packets.
Xia Rui's grandfather presented Nan Xi with a red packet, affectionately calling him his "grandson-in-law," and Nan Xi's mother gave Xia Rui a thoughtful gift: a set of handmade coffee pots. Following the joyous countdown, Nan Xi and Xia Rui, surrounded by their families, exchanged heartfelt "I like yous." Later, Nan Xi's mother sought out Xia Rui to express her profound gratitude. She noted that Nan Xi had been smiling significantly more since Xia Rui entered his life.
She confessed her past worries about their relationship and her own shortcomings as a mother, admitting she had "never asked Nan Xi what he needed" and hadn't truly understood him. She credited Xia Rui with helping her "know Nan Xi all over again" and expressed her complete trust, stating she now felt comfortable "handing Nan Xi over" to her. Touched, Xia Rui promised to take good care of Nan Xi and ensure no one would bully him.
After the New Year festivities, the day of the awards ceremony arrived. Xia Rui carefully selected an outfit for Nan Xi, telling him he "must look handsome on stage" and assuring him of her unwavering support. Backstage, Hao Tian, Cheng Erluo, and Xia Rui gathered to calm Nan Xi's nerves. Hao Tian playfully advised Nan Xi to imagine the audience was him if he felt nervous, while Xia Rui coached him through deep breathing exercises.
The awards ceremony began but was abruptly interrupted by Professor Gu, who announced that Nan Xi was being sued for infringement, leading to the cancellation of his entry, ranking, and bonus. Stunned, his friends immediately protested, while Nan Xi vehemently denied any plagiarism. Professor Gu urged them to discuss it after the ceremony, but Xia Rui insisted they could not wait, accusing someone of framing Nan Xi. Despite their protests, the organizing committee proceeded to announce Nan Xi's withdrawal.
As staff attempted to remove them, Xia Rui demanded evidence, and a magazine featuring an identical design was presented. Nan Xi then discovered his original design diagram for the water-flowing table was missing. At the same time, Binzi arrived and showed them a campus forum post announcing Nan Xi's disqualification for plagiarism, solidifying their realization that he was being framed. Hao Tian pointed out that even if the missing diagram were found, it would lack credibility.
Professor Gu explained the identical design had appeared in "Ge Wu" magazine, submitted by an anonymous private designer, making the original author untraceable. He suggested that proving Nan Xi's idea for the water-flowing table originated "two months ago" could clear his name, but admitted this was difficult. He advised keeping the matter quiet to avoid an official investigation, which could lead to Nan Xi's expulsion. Nan Xi, however, insisted on facing the investigation to prove his innocence.
Xia Rui questioned if he was doing it for her, saying they didn't need to go to Italy to be together. But Nan Xi, pointing to her collection of Italian books, revealed he knew how much she cherished the opportunity and declared, "I do not want to break our promise." Xia Rui then proposed they wait for the controversy to subside and apply to study in Italy independently, acknowledging the plagiarism accusation would hinder their admission.
