My Girlfriend Episode 21 Recap
> My Girlfriend Recap
Chi Xin and Ding Xiaorou arrived at their destination, Yuyang Mountain House. Ding Xiaorou was visibly disappointed by the rustic and simple facilities, including free-range poultry in the yard, a stark contrast to her expectations of a luxurious trip. To her dismay, there was also no cell phone signal. Despite her initial reaction, the landlord couple warmly welcomed them. Their son, Xiaotian, remained silent, appearing shy.
With daylight fading, Ding Xiaorou expressed her desire to scout the target location, prompting the landlord to immediately prepare their transportation. The landlord presented them with a vintage bicycle from the 1980s. Ding Xiaorou noted its outdated appearance and that its handbrake was unreliable, though the landlord suggested Chi Xin, being taller, could rely on the foot brake. Chi Xin took the lead, with Ding Xiaorou riding behind him on the mountain path.
She instinctively held onto his waist as they rode. They eventually located the address from General Manager Mao's photo, which was now a residential house, not the desolate spot Ding Xiaorou had imagined for a ginkgo tree. An elder they spoke with clarified that the photo was over twenty years old and the area had since been developed. They learned the homeowner, A Hua, would only return the following morning, leaving them to wait.
Meanwhile, back in the city, Zheng Ze and SA Yi both separately arrived to feed stray cats, each concerned about Ding Xiaorou's whereabouts as her phone was unreachable. SA Yi encouraged Zheng Ze to actively pursue his feelings for Ding Xiaorou, reminding him of his past efforts to support her. Back at the mountain house, Ding Xiaorou engaged with the quiet Xiaotian, making a makeshift telephone out of paper cups.
Xiaotian opened up, revealing his hidden passion for drawing and origami, which his mother did not approve of. Ding Xiaorou encouraged him to persevere with his dreams, assuring him his mother would eventually support him. Later, the landlord couple prepared a generous dinner for Ding Xiaorou and Chi Xin, which they both thoroughly enjoyed. In another location, He Mingzhu cared for Zhen Zheng, who was suffering from a cold.
She prepared him some cold medicine and gave him a special mint-flavored mask to help clear his stuffy nose and prevent further infection, which Zhen Zheng found surprisingly effective. The next morning, Ding Xiaorou and Chi Xin met with A Hua, the homeowner. A Hua adamantly refused their request to plant a ginkgo tree in her yard, initially citing concerns about Feng Shui and later making it clear that money would not change her mind.
Ding Xiaorou gently pressed for the true reason, and A Hua finally explained her profound attachment to the house. Her father had left twenty years ago and never returned. Her elderly mother, suffering from memory loss, still waited for him every day, sitting outside the house at dusk. A Hua feared that even the slightest alteration to the house would prevent her father from recognizing his home if he ever returned.
Understanding the emotional weight of A Hua's story, Ding Xiaorou accepted that the ginkgo tree project could not proceed at that location. As they left, Ding Xiaorou unexpectedly slipped. Chi Xin instinctively grabbed her, preventing her fall.
Believing she was about to plummet down a cliff, Ding Xiaorou frantically confessed her bank card password, asked Chi Xin to look after SA Yi and her cats, and apologized to SA Yi for potentially missing her wedding, finally declaring Chi Xin to be "the best man in the world." Chi Xin then calmly informed her that it was merely a large rock below, not a cliff, which left Ding Xiaorou both relieved and comically annoyed.
Just then, A Hua rushed past them, broom in hand, chasing a young boy who had vandalized her wall. She stumbled and fell, prompting Ding Xiaorou to help her back inside. Upon seeing the extensive graffiti on A Hua's wall, Ding Xiaorou had a new idea. She proposed to A Hua that if she could borrow the wall for a day, she would restore it beautifully.
A Hua was skeptical, believing the children would simply deface it again, but Chi Xin stepped in and convinced her using the "broken window theory." He explained that if a wall is pristine and well-maintained, people are less likely to vandalize it, as it signals that the area is cared for. A Hua was persuaded and agreed to the plan. Ding Xiaorou and Chi Xin then departed to a town ten kilometers away to purchase the necessary materials.
As they left the mountain area, Ding Xiaorou's phone regained signal, immediately buzzing with numerous messages from Zheng Ze, SA Yi, and He Mingzhu, all expressing their concern. Instead of replying individually, Ding Xiaorou quickly took a selfie with Chi Xin and posted it on her social media to update everyone on their safety before her phone's battery died. News of their safety spread.
Zheng Ze saw the photo and attempted to call Ding Xiaorou, only to find her phone off again. He Mingzhu and Zhen Zheng also saw the photo. He Mingzhu remarked on the apparent closeness and happiness between Ding Xiaorou and Chi Xin in the picture. Zhen Zheng, in agreement, noted that despite Ding Xiaorou's frequent complaints about Chi Xin, her expressions betrayed no actual dislike, suggesting a budding romantic "sweetness."
He Mingzhu playfully attributed Ding Xiaorou's "good fortune" to a "magical mask" she had given her earlier. Meanwhile, Tong Liang visited Zheng Ze, offering him a piece of crucial information: the real reason behind Chi Xin's unexpected resignation. He proposed this as an incentive for Zheng Ze to sponsor the "Love Sandstorm" program.
