Only Side by Side with You Episode 16 Recap
> Only Side by Side with You Recap
The video of Shi Yue racing a subway train had gone viral, making him a public sensation. At Nan Qiao's home, her nephew discussed the video with her, impressed that Shi Yue actually beat the subway and jokingly speculated about the stakes involved, such as a kiss.
He played devil's advocate, listing negative interpretations of Shi Yue's good qualities, but Nan Qiao reminded him of his previous praise for Shi Yue's "perfect score" qualities, from his physique to his compassion for dogs and cooking skills. He then enthusiastically agreed, believing that if VR goggles were available, people would want to watch every moment of Shi Yue's run.
Amidst the buzz, An Ning, who was abroad, received news of Shi Yue's newfound fame and called him, congratulating him and announcing her return in a few days to cheer him on. Shi Yue found himself recalling his initial encounter with An Ning years ago. He had previously provoked the leader of a drug cartel, who was An Ning's husband at the time. To infiltrate the group and gather evidence, Shi Yue endured a brutal beating without retaliation.
While observing an underground boxing match with her husband, An Ning found the violence unbearable. Her husband explained that such methods were necessary to find a loyal aide. He spotted Shi Yue observing the ring, and when his subordinate, Ah Tai, tried to intervene, An Ning's husband, intrigued, had Shi Yue pushed into the ring, where he was brutally beaten by two large men. An Ning's husband stated the fight would continue until Shi Yue yielded.
Enduring severe pain and bleeding, Shi Yue repeatedly told himself he could not give up; this was his only chance to gain the trust of An Ning's husband and assist Officer Zhang in finding evidence. When An Ning's husband stepped away to answer a phone call, An Ning, feeling pity for Shi Yue, intervened, announcing that she was in need of a driver and he would be her choice.
Later, as Shi Yue drove An Ning, she probed into his past, but he was reluctant to speak about it. Suddenly, An Ning lunged from the backseat, stabbing him in the shoulder with a dagger. She pressed him, questioning why he refused to fight back both now and in the boxing ring, despite his obvious combat skills. Shi Yue, enduring the pain, calmly explained that one must not fight their master or forget their savior, declaring her both.
An Ning then asked if he harbored no desire for revenge against those who had humiliated him in the past. Shi Yue responded that using brute force for revenge was the lowest form. An Ning revealed that Ah Tai had uncovered extensive information about his past, concluding that Shi Yue was "not that simple." She challenged him about his fears, to which Shi Yue replied that having already faced death once, he had nothing left to fear.
Moved by his unwavering resolve, An Ning tended to his wound, proclaiming, "This is the mark that I've left on you. Starting today, you are my man." Through this act, Shi Yue gained her trust. After receiving An Ning's call, Shi Yue went to the seashore. Troubled by Chang Jianxiong's recent words, he reflected on his true feelings for Nan Qiao. While his initial intention in approaching her had been revenge against Chang Jianxiong, he had unexpectedly fallen in love.
However, his past and identity were vastly different from Nan Qiao's, making a future together seem impossible. As he pondered, he noticed a photo wall at the lighthouse that included his own picture. This triggered a memory of his time in military training with Chang Jianxiong. During a red and blue team combat exercise, Shi Yue, then known as Shi Junqing, was on the aggressive Red Team, while Chang Jianxiong led the defending Blue Team.
Shi Junqing was fiercely competitive and led his team with a single tactic: charge. Chang Jianxiong, equally confident, dismissed the idea of relying on topographical advantage and chose to remain alone at the command center, believing only one person could reach him. In the intense forest battle, Shi Junqing, with a teammate, attempted a surprise attack on the Blue Team's command center by scaling a sheer cliff.
Commanders in the monitoring room were alarmed by his rule-breaking climb, calling out his name, "Shi Junqing." Nearing the top, Shi Junqing deliberately slipped, only for Chang Jianxiong to pull him up. This was a ploy to distract Chang Jianxiong, allowing his teammate to seize the flag. However, Chang Jianxiong had anticipated such a move, and Shi Junqing's teammate triggered a hidden mine. The two then engaged in close combat.
The commanding officers, while impressed by their intelligence and capabilities, deemed both had lost for failing to defeat their opponent within the mandated three moves. They were reprimanded for breaking rules like climbing the cliff and setting mines. Chang Jianxiong even attempted to justify his actions by quoting an instructor about using "extreme means for victory." Despite the reprimand, the superiors recognized their potential and decided to keep them.
However, not long after, Shi Junqing was expelled from the academy and permanently banned from Blue Sky Edge due to the loss of a top-secret document. Recalling Chang Jianxiong's apology, where he admitted to stealing a dissertation, and now seeing his photo at the lighthouse, Shi Yue felt a complex mix of emotions, unsure how to confront Chang Jianxiong.
Meanwhile, Chang Jianxiong had recounted to Wen Di how he gave Nan Qiao a bullet casing, intending to initiate a new chapter in their relationship. Wen Di sharply criticized his approach, asserting that his IQ seemed to drop whenever Nan Qiao was involved. She argued that without an explicit confession, Nan Qiao would never understand the meaning of the bullet casing.
Chang Jianxiong, however, maintained that the words "I like you" were meant for mutual affection, not as an aggressive declaration. Wen Di warned him that if he didn't change his mindset, he would forever be relegated to the role of a "life guide." Wen Di later found herself drinking alone on a bench. Chang Jianxiong approached and joined her, asking her to be his teacher in love, admitting that his twenty-year-old love concept had failed.
He then explained that the bullet casing was a shell from Nan Qiao's first springtime target shooting, a symbol of his promise to help her realize her dreams, which he had intended to give her before she left for Germany. He believed she understood his silent promise, but Wen Di pointed out that silently guarding someone was ultimately self-deception in love.
Although Wen Di initially refused to take him as a disciple, calling him naturally stupid, she continued to offer advice, noting his desire to change his method of "concealment." Shi Yue's sudden disappearance left Nan Qiao and her nephew worried. Nan Qiao's nephew, unable to reach Shi Yue, came to Nan Qiao's home to wait, but Nan Qiao herself was increasingly anxious. She found herself constantly replaying her memories with Shi Yue.
The next morning, Nan Qiao arrived at work distracted and disoriented. Her employees noticed her disorganized gaze and nonsensical speech, with one, Xiao An, concluding that their boss was heartbroken. Nan Qiao abruptly left the office, even foregoing Professor Liang's farewell. She visited Ouyang Qi's pet store, hoping for news of Shi Yue, but Ouyang Qi confirmed that he had simply dropped off his dogs in a hurry without saying where he was going.
At Future Up, Wen Di excitedly presented a plan to edit Shi Yue's subway video into a short, music-accompanied promotional film, aiming to release it at 4:00 p. m. to maximize social media impact and create a "tempestuous storm." She even suggested inviting Shi Yue for an offline drone experience or making him their official endorser to save money. However, Nan Qiao, who had just returned, vehemently rejected the idea, forbidding anyone from contacting him or using the video.
When Wen Di questioned her decision, Nan Qiao simply stated, "No, so no." Wen Di, observing Nan Qiao’s distress, realized Shi Yue was wearing Nan Qiao's wristband in the viral video, confirming her suspicion that Nan Qiao was heartbroken. Wen Di confronted Nan Qiao, asking why she wouldn't contact Shi Yue if he was in her heart. She contrasted Nan Qiao's current emotional turmoil with her past indifference towards her former boyfriend, Zhou Ran.
Wen Di then suggested that the right person might have been by Nan Qiao's side all along, advising her to cherish "the person right in front of you" instead of seeking what was distant. Nan Qiao playfully deflected the suggestion, asking if Wen Di was referring to herself, and jokingly reiterated that "girlfriends are like real sisters, while men are like clothes."
