See You Again Episode 22 Recap
> See You Again Recap
Chen Mumu returned to the office, where Jian Ye informed her that Mr. Wu had significantly cut the budget for "The Legend of Xiang Qinyu." Jian Ye explained that the transfer of the project to Suzhou was originally intended to save costs by utilizing existing sets. However, the subsequent budget increase surpassed the drama's initial estimations, leading Mr. Wu to deny further approvals.
Jian Ye added that Mr. Wu had already secured headquarters' approval for the budget cut, so appealing to them would be fruitless. Chen Mumu then requested the complete budget table for the show. Meanwhile, Xiang Qinyu was traveling with Jin Ayin, observing her effortlessly arrange a temporary car via her phone, marveling at modern convenience. Jin Ayin playfully accused him of using her trip home as an excuse to enjoy himself.
As they drove past a vibrant flower field, Jin Ayin asked Xiang Qinyu to take her picture. She meticulously instructed him on how to frame her to make her legs look exceptionally long, emphasizing the need to focus on her head. Despite his efforts, Jin Ayin was frustrated to find the photos blurry and her poses not captured correctly. Xiang Qinyu retorted by playfully suggesting her appearance was the problem, which led Jin Ayin to chase him in mock anger.
Later, Ma Zehao called Jin Ayin, who told him she was on her way to visit her grandma with Chi Yu, referring to Xiang Qinyu. Ma Zehao suggested they meet for dinner in Shanghai once she returned, asking her to bring Chi Yu along. Jin Ayin agreed. To save money, Jin Ayin decided to return their rental car at the next service station to avoid additional charges for crossing city limits.
They then hitchhiked on a farmer's tricycle, which Xiang Qinyu found unhygienic. Jin Ayin also bought 20 yuan worth of bath chap, explaining it was for "Uncle," their family dog, a gesture she considered more important than bringing gifts for her grandma. Upon arrival at her grandma's house, Jin Ayin affectionately greeted "Uncle," commenting on his weight gain.
Xiang Qinyu was confused by her calling a dog "Uncle," to which Jin Ayin clarified that the dog was her grandma's son, hence her father's brother. She then tried to get Xiang Qinyu to feed the dog, but he hesitated, finding its paws dirty. Grandma joyfully welcomed Jin Ayin, then turned her attention to Xiang Qinyu, remarking that he looked familiar, as if she had seen him in movies.
Inside, Grandma immediately assumed Xiang Qinyu and Jin Ayin were dating, pressing them about marriage and their plans for children. Jin Ayin quickly corrected her, stating they were just friends and that Xiang Qinyu had "high standards" and wouldn't be interested in her. Still skeptical, Grandma then asked "Yu" (Xiang Qinyu) to catch a rooster named "Xiaoyu" from the yard, declaring it useless if it didn't crow and that they would stew it to welcome him.
Xiang Qinyu reluctantly complied, struggling with the task. After showering, he still worried about smelling like chicken, but Jin Ayin assured him he smelled only of "after-bath fragrance." During dinner, Xiang Qinyu seemed hesitant to eat the fried scorpion, so Jin Ayin offered him chicken instead. Jin Ayin's mother then arrived, expressing delight at her daughter's beauty, attributing it to love. Grandma, however, re-emphasized that Jin Ayin and Xiang Qinyu were merely friends.
Jin Ayin's mother encouraged her to pursue love if she felt it, emphasizing that happiness and mutual affection were paramount, not a partner's wealth or occupation. She also tried to show off a pure gold bracelet, implying her new husband, Uncle Wang, was doing well. Both Jin Ayin's mother and Grandma continued to find Xiang Qinyu strikingly familiar, eventually realizing he resembled Jin Ayin's childhood movie star idol, whom Jin Ayin had once wished to marry.
Jin Ayin tried to deflect the conversation, urging her mother to return home to her family. Grandma found a photo, confirming the uncanny resemblance. She then recounted newspaper reports about the movie star's alleged "picky, fickle, indecent private life, and bad lifestyle," concluding he had a "short life" and a "bad face." Deeply unsettled by these disparaging remarks about his past self, Xiang Qinyu excused himself, claiming he was full and needed fresh air.
Jin Ayin scolded Grandma for her insensitive comments. Xiang Qinyu wandered into the woods, repeating Grandma's harsh words to himself and questioning his identity. His flashlight died, plunging him into darkness and triggering a panic, causing him to call out for his mother. Jin Ayin found him, hugging him and reassuring him that everything was alright, despite his initial denial of fear. She led him to a quiet spot where they could see the stars.
Xiang Qinyu then asked about her mother's remarriage, assuming a separation from her family, but Jin Ayin explained her mother lived nearby and she was grateful to her stepfather, Uncle Wang, for taking care of her mother and grandma. She clarified that while he couldn't replace her biological father, he had fulfilled his duties as a husband admirably, allowing her to work in the city without worry.
Jin Ayin then asked why Xiang Qinyu was so afraid of the dark, sensing a deeper, "heartfelt fear" beyond his claim of night blindness. He confessed his childhood trauma, recounting how his mother often left him alone for other men. Once, she forgot him for two days, leaving him locked in darkness, cold, hungry, and terrified by unseen sounds. This experience instilled in him a profound fear of darkness, requiring him to always see light when his eyes were open.
He expressed his resentment towards his "irresponsible" mother, who merely cried but didn't stop him when he ran away from home, continuing her associations with other men. Jin Ayin, drawing from her own "25 years of life and countless failures," advised him to look forward and not get caught up in past emotions, regardless of unresolved issues with parents.
Xiang Qinyu playfully noted he was 84 years older than her, to which Jin Ayin retorted he had "died at 27" and was "here now" because he met her. Jin Ayin then apologized for her grandma's rude comments, explaining that her grandma's anger likely stemmed from Xiang Qinyu's dislike of "Uncle," who was her grandma's only companion. Xiang Qinyu acknowledged that her grandma's true feelings went deeper than just the dog.
Jin Ayin then took Xiang Qinyu to her childhood "secret base," a hiding spot for toys her father had created to protect them from her mother's threats to throw them away if Jin Ayin failed subjects. After her father's death, she also hid "The Legend of Huangpu" there. She showed him an old projector, believing it to be broken, but Xiang Qinyu skillfully repaired it, jokingly telling her not to worship him.
He wondered how she had watched the unfinished film. The projector sprang to life, displaying a scene from "The Legend of Huangpu" with a voiceover: "I don't compete with others for anything, but if something belongs to me, I'll never give in." Xiang Qinyu then asked if Jin Ayin would hope for his return if he left one day. She teasingly said she'd be glad he left and hoped a lightning strike would bring him back.
He then asked if she wanted to "confess her love again." Moved by her actions, Xiang Qinyu sincerely thanked Jin Ayin for everything. He declared his intention to try his hardest to stay for her, just as he once fought to return to his own time. He said that spending every moment with her was the most important thing to him, his true "reason for staying." As they passionately kissed, he noticed her eyes were still open.
The next morning, after Jin Ayin went to the kitchen, Xiang Qinyu tried to feed "Uncle" the bath chap, but the dog was reluctant. He then sought out Grandma and confessed that he and Jin Ayin were more than just friends; he loved her.
He asked for her permission to care for Jin Ayin, promising to do his utmost to make her happy, cherish her as the most important person, and remain by her side, even if he couldn't guarantee the future. Grandma, visibly pleased, accepted his heartfelt declaration. As they prepared to leave, Grandma reassured them that rice and flour would be provided for her so she wouldn't have to shop.
Jin Ayin, noticing Grandma's change in attitude, asked Xiang Qinyu what he had said, but he kept it a secret. He then playfully teased her about being able to carry "30 kilograms of rice and 30 kilograms of flour," which he told Grandma she could do, before scooping her into his arms. Jin Ayin, still slightly in disbelief, asked if he was truly her boyfriend now, feeling her happiness was "unreal."
He kissed her again, asking if she believed it now, and told her she could exercise her "girlfriend's rights" to ask for a kiss. She countered that he was the one exercising his "boyfriend's rights," to which he readily admitted he was "taking a big advantage." As they passed Taotao's house, Xiang Qinyu asked if it was nearby, expressing a desire to look for clues, as he felt an "inexplicable connection" between Taotao and his arrival in this world.
They found the house abandoned, noting it had been empty since Tao Grandma's passing. Inside Taotao's room, Jin Ayin showed him a picture of Taotao, then a small, handmade fur object, explaining it was "Bai," Taotao's pet kitten, made from its shed fur. She recounted how Bai was very clingy but disappeared after Taotao and her grandma "passed away," speculating that Taotao's parents might have taken the cat. Xiang Qinyu then discovered a photograph of Taotao with another person.
He immediately recognized it was taken on the same day as a photo he had found in Chi Yu's home. Jin Ayin confirmed the matching outfits and date. Recalling an inscription that spoke of "the most important person in my life," Xiang Qinyu realized he had initially thought it referred to Ma Zehao, but now understood that if it referred to Chi Yu, it meant Taotao and Chi Yu had once been in a relationship.
