Shining For One Thing Episode 16 Recap
> Shining For One Thing Recap
Overwhelmed with sorrow, Lin Beixing awoke at her desk, tears streaming down her face as she recalled her memories with Zhang Wansen. Despite her desperate attempts, she had been unable to alter the tragic outcome, leaving her with an agonizing "Sorry." She confronted her father, Lin Dahai, about what he did during her college entrance exam days. Lin Dahai admitted he had been heavily indebted and unable to repay.
He vaguely remembered receiving several text messages urging him to turn himself in to the police at the beacon in the suburbs. He initially dismissed them as pranks or thought they were from her parents, but on the day of her college entrance exam, a final urgent message spurred him to rush to the beacon. That message profoundly impacted him, making him realize the immense importance of his family.
He confessed to being an "asshole" but insisted everything was "water under the bridge" now, and he had even saved enough money for the debts, though no one had come to collect. However, he claimed he truly couldn't recall what happened at the beacon that day, only seeing Zhang Wansen fall from it. Lin Beixing, consumed by guilt and grief, knew that Zhang Wansen’s sacrifice had bought her father’s realization and their family's current happiness.
As she deleted messages from her phone, realizing she could never return to the past or save him, her mother entered, mistaking her profound sadness for heartbreak over a broken engagement with Zhan Yu, and tried to comfort her. Later, Lin Beixing visited the lighthouse, which she had forgotten was no longer operational.
Desperate to go inside, she pleaded with the staff, insisting she needed to check on a friend she believed was still there and promising she wouldn't do anything foolish. The staff, however, refused entry as it was not an open day and called for security. Her mother rushed to the scene, thanking the staff and scolding Lin Beixing for going so far and risking herself, fearing what would happen if anything befell her.
As they prepared to leave, Lin Beixing's mother suddenly cried out in pain, clutching her leg and collapsing. At the hospital, the doctor informed them that Lin Beixing's mother had a lump on her leg, not a lymph gland or a simple contusion. Further pathological research was needed to determine a treatment plan, which could range from a minor surgery to spontaneous healing within days. She was advised to take foot baths and eat a light diet.
Lin Beixing then found her way to a bookstore named "Sea of Spacetime." There, she discovered a lending card with "Zhang Wansen" written on it inside a book. She offered to help the owner move books, hoping to obtain Zhang Wansen's contact information. When the owner initially refused due to privacy, Lin Beixing explained her urgency.
She recounted how Zhang Wansen had once confessed his love for her, and though they were separated before she could reciprocate, he was the one who had helped her see the world anew, a "streak of light" who warmed her. But when she became better, he had disappeared, leaving this world. Despite the slim possibility of it being the same person, she felt compelled to try, even wanting to see what someone sharing his name looked like.
The owner, touched by her story and having seen her help, also shared the philosophy behind his shop's name: "Stars exist and die, but spacetime is everlasting. We go after light and look for new territories. So, wherever there's light, there are spacetime, and lives." He then sought permission from the VIP member and eventually provided Zhang Wansen's contact information, urging Lin Beixing not to leave herself any regrets, regardless of the outcome.
Back home, Lin Beixing diligently prepared a Chinese medicine foot bath for her mother, having read it would benefit her leg. Her mother, still downplaying her condition, complained about being bored stuck at home due to the doctor's cautionary words. Lin Dahai, however, insisted she follow the doctor's orders, even humorously offering to be pushed off a mountain if it meant her well-being.
Lin Beixing's mother teased Lin Dahai about his newfound attentiveness, contrasting it with his more self-assured demeanor when they were younger. Later, Lin Beixing tried calling the number she had received, but there was no answer. Driven by her search, Lin Beixing visited Zhang Wansen's old family home, only to discover it had been sold to a new owner who knew nothing of the previous residents.
As she prepared to leave, she encountered Gao Ge, her former high school classmate, now preparing for a painting exhibition. Lin Beixing, who remembered Gao Ge as a "gorgeous straight A student" and "great beauty" from high school, inquired about Zhang Wansen. Gao Ge explained that she only knew his name and had heard of an accident after his college entrance exam. She confirmed that Zhang Wansen's family had abruptly left Nanchuan the day after the exam, selling their house.
Gao Ge's own family later moved, and the old house eventually became her art storage. They hadn't been in contact for years. Lin Beixing admitted she owed Zhang Wansen something and wanted to return it. Gao Ge, in turn, sadly concluded that given the sudden departure of his family, Zhang Wansen had likely passed away, echoing common rumors. Gao Ge then invited Lin Beixing to her exhibition the following day.
After sending a text expressing her apologies for disturbing him, Lin Beixing received a reply instructing her to meet at the "Sea of Spacetime" the next morning. Filled with anticipation, she arrived only to be greeted by a young boy who introduced himself as "Zhang Wansen." He revealed that the phone number belonged to his private teacher, who was waiting outside.
Lin Beixing, recognizing the tutor from a distance, mistakenly believed him to be the Zhang Wansen she knew and excitedly followed him, only to realize her error and apologize for the misunderstanding. Later, Lin Beixing attended a performance by Yang Chaoyang, who had become a famous crosstalk actor, adored by fans. They exchanged playful banter, with Yang Chaoyang commenting on her newfound elegance while she teased him for his ceaseless chatter.
Lin Beixing reminded him that he was still her "best friend in Grade Three." When Yang Chaoyang jokingly asked if she was trying to get close to him now that he was famous, Lin Beixing retorted that he was a "jinx" she'd rather avoid. She then confessed that seeing him reminded her of their high school stories, including skipping classes and restoring his "secret base," a detail that surprised him.
Taking a leap of faith, Lin Beixing asked if he would believe her if she told him she had experienced a time travel from Grade Three. Yang Chaoyang, drawing on the peculiar narratives in crosstalk, surprisingly affirmed that he would believe her. He then asked how her journey had ended. Lin Beixing solemnly stated that she was "driven back" due to "a man's death" and could not return.
Yang Chaoyang asked if she would have stayed if she had saved him, and whether she would abandon her life and family in the present. Lin Beixing sadly confirmed that she could neither go back nor save him, marking the definitive end of her journey. Yang Chaoyang comforted her, reminding her that she had a "big star" as a friend and invited her to visit him often as he planned to develop his crosstalk career in Nanchuan.
Back home, Lin Beixing’s mother brought her fruit, still concerned. Lin Beixing reassured her, explaining that she had come to terms with things and now only wished to cherish the time she had with her parents, letting other matters take their natural course. Her mother expressed relief at her daughter’s newfound peace. Subsequently, Lin Beixing returned to the lighthouse, which had been converted into an astronomy museum.
She spoke with a staff member about the nature of galaxies, how they are formed from countless stars and cosmic matter, each with its own trajectory, and not as brightly dazzling as one might imagine. Lin Beixing apologized for her previous distraught visit, and the staff kindly informed her of the museum's regular open days for future visits. As she gazed at the stars, her old phone slipped from her bag, shattering on the ground.
She desperately tried to piece it back together, but it was beyond repair. The broken phone symbolized the definitive end of her connection to the past, stripping away any last hope of returning or saving Zhang Wansen. Overwhelmed by the irreversible reality, Lin Beixing collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
