Shining For One Thing Episode 19 Recap
> Shining For One Thing Recap
Zhang Wansen harbored a secret affection for Lin Beixing from a young age. He vividly recalled a spring outing during their childhood when Lin Beixing bravely intervened to stop children from bullying him. She boldly told his tormentors to stop harming others and gave him animal crackers, promising to protect him and playfully declaring herself "Pretty Soldier Sailor Star." Her words deeply encouraged him, particularly when she affirmed his aspiration to become a veterinarian without borders, a dream others mocked.
This encouragement also empowered him to assert himself and no longer allow his mother to dress him as a girl, overcoming his timidness. He reflected on how he was once timid, even about his own dreams, but Lin Beixing's encouragement changed him. From that day forward, he tried countless times to get closer to her, even signing up for a poetry recitation contest. However, his mother's job transfer necessitated their move, and he was abruptly transferred to another school.
His deepest regret from that period was never having the chance to introduce himself: "Hello, Lin Beixing. I'm Zhang Wansen." Years later, in middle school, Zhang Wansen successfully skipped a grade. He sought out Lin Beixing, hoping she would finally recognize him, but she walked past him without a glance. He later learned, through conversations among students, that Lin Beixing seemed to admire boys who excelled at basketball, particularly Zhan Yu. Although Lin Beixing feigned disinterest, Zhang Wansen was convinced.
He then dedicated himself to learning basketball and joined the team, eagerly anticipating another encounter with her. He had envisioned a simple meeting, perhaps just asking for directions, but fate intervened unexpectedly. During a basketball game, Lin Beixing found herself trapped in a fire and calling for help. Zhang Wansen rushed to her aid, calling her name through the smoke. He was no longer the timid child who needed her protection; now, he was capable of protecting her.
After leading her to safety, he went to find a doctor for her. Lin Beixing thanked him for saving her, but despite his heroic act, he still failed to make her recognize him. He desperately wished he could have moved even faster, hoping it might have altered the outcome of their brief encounter. On September 1, 2007, Zhang Wansen’s wish finally came true as he enrolled at Nanchuan High School and was assigned to the same class as Lin Beixing.
He found immense joy just being in the same classroom with her, even though they hadn't spoken yet. As the class president, Zhang Wansen was put in charge of the Tenth School Art Festival. He approached Lin Beixing, proposing a harmonica performance. She seemed open to the idea, saying she was fine with anything.
However, when Zhan Yu called her to play basketball, she left with him, casually remarking that she hadn't even memorized all their classmates' names yet, effectively leaving Zhang Wansen to make the final decision for the performance by himself. Later, Zhang Wansen shared some animal crackers with her—the same kind she had given him as a child—and she still found them delicious.
During this period, Zhang Wansen confided in Zhan Yu, acknowledging his current grades weren't good enough to attend Beijing with him but promising to try his best. Zhan Yu encouraged Zhang Wansen to pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian without borders and not to forget him once he achieved it. Later, visiting a parrot garden, Zhang Wansen found himself repeating "Idiot" after a parrot, feeling downcast.
He then poured out his heart to the bird, repeatedly confessing, "I like you," though to no avail. Despite these lingering feelings, Zhang Wansen learned that Lin Beixing planned to go to Beijing with Zhan Yu. He diligently took notes on exam key points, hoping to help her achieve her dream. Subsequently, he decided to pursue his own dream, informing his mother of his intention to go to Africa.
When Lin Beixing's brother, Lin Dahai, faced a dire situation with Mr. Lei demanding an exorbitant 500,000 yuan, threatening to kidnap Lin Beixing if the debt wasn't paid, Zhang Wansen stepped in. He contacted his mother to withdraw all the tuition money she had saved for him, confirming his unwavering decision.
In a heartfelt internal message to Lin Beixing, he declared that he had paid off her brother's debts so she could safely take the college entrance exam and happily go to Beijing with Zhan Yu. With a heavy heart, he bid farewell to her, the girl who never truly knew him. Finally, he articulated the words he had never dared to speak, confiding them to his diary: "Lin Beixing, I like you.
No matter how time flows, I will always like you." Before leaving Nanchuan, Mai Zi made the difficult decision to give Zhang Wansen's diary to Lin Beixing, explaining that a paper airplane containing a specific message was merely one page from this comprehensive diary, which detailed all that Zhang Wansen had done for her.
Mai Zi conveyed that this was the last thing he could do for his brother, bidding Lin Beixing to take care as he prepared to start a new life. Zhang Wansen was at the airport, ready to leave, when Mai Zi called with urgent news: Mr. Lei had demanded significantly more money from Lin Dahai, and the previous payment was insufficient. They were now actively looking for Lin Beixing.
Mai Zi suggested lying to Mr. Lei, claiming Lin Beixing was going abroad, believing Mr. Lei would trust his words. Zhang Wansen then pondered whether he would regret leaving this way. Mai Zi responded, stating that "perhaps regret is the most common thing in the world."
Zhang Wansen's diary entries revealed his profound jealousy and sadness over Zhan Yu's shared experiences with Lin Beixing – watching fireworks, taking graduation photos, dancing the rabbit dance, and walking out of the college entrance exam together.
He passionately wished he could revisit those moments of regret, yet he feared that even with a second chance, he might still not even secure a seat beside her, let alone realize dreams of riding bikes together, attending concerts, witnessing the first snow, or growing into adults alongside her. Reading Zhang Wansen’s diary, Lin Beixing came to a profound realization: every text message that had sent her back in time corresponded to a moment of Zhang Wansen's regret.
Walking along the familiar seashore after finishing the diary, she was filled with remorse, wondering if their story would have been different, if they would have had fewer regrets, had she only turned around and noticed him earlier. She then understood that the time travel did not end with Zhang Wansen's death, but rather when they both said, "I like you." As long as those words were spoken, the temporal loop would conclude, ensuring they were destined to be apart. Despite this heartbreaking truth, Lin Beixing cried out, "Zhang Wansen, I like you. I like you very, very much. Can you hear me?"
