Somewhere Only We Know Episode 23 Recap
> Somewhere Only We Know Recap
Liu Qi was deeply immersed in a DOTA game at an internet cafe, yelling at his teammates, when Xue Tong arrived. She noted his loud voice and offered him water to calm himself down. Liu Qi, stating he had an upcoming business trip, decided to stop playing to spend more time with her. He asked a friend to log off his computer, then accompanied Xue Tong for a walk, treating her gently and attentively.
Xue Tong playfully chided him for being overly serious about games but not his internship. Liu Qi defended himself, explaining that the construction site work was dull, physically demanding, and he felt he wasn't learning anything meaningful. He expressed his reluctance to keep "moving bricks," but Xue Tong, jokingly calling him "supervisor," reminded him that he couldn't constantly escape reality through games. To shift her mood, Liu Qi then initiated a playful imagination game.
He asked her to close her eyes and led her on a fantasy journey to a narrow bridge in the middle of a dark lake. As lights appeared, a giant statue rose from the water, proclaiming Xue Tong a princess destined to find a magical knight to save a country. Xue Tong, delighted, found herself wearing a white gown in his story.
Later, Chen Yan, discussing work with Xue Tong, praised her efficiency in proofreading subtitles and entrusted her with more tasks. Chen Yan then mentioned seeing Mu Chenghe on a collaborating website, where he was working on an astronomy video. She asked if Xue Tong knew he was back; Xue Tong did not. Chen Yan shared her intention to ask Mu Chenghe for help with some Russian materials, and Xue Tong encouraged her to do so.
The following day, Liu Qi encountered an old man, Wu Dao Li, at the construction site. Wu Dao Li trespassed without a helmet, ignoring safety warnings, and claiming someone was stealing steel. Liu Qi tried to stop him from going further, but was unable to handle the situation, which led to the police being involved. At the police station, Liu Qi, Xue Tong, and Chen Yan were present.
Liu Qi explained the old man's disruptive behavior, while Wu Dao Li exaggerated his health conditions and refused to provide his address. Chen Yan, using a clever guessing game, provoked Wu Dao Li into revealing his name and address in Kang Hua Estate. Although the police offered to take him home, Chen Yan and Xue Tong volunteered, as it was on their way. At Wu Dao Li's house, his son, Wu, was surprised to see him with the young people.
The old man dismissed their presence as merely "friends." The students declined an invitation to enter, and Liu Qi again warned Wu Dao Li to stay away from the construction site before they left. Back at Chen Yan's studio, she showed Xue Tong and Liu Qi new footage sent by her colleagues from Africa. Liu Qi, eager to spend time with Xue Tong before his business trip, suggested they all travel to Africa for the holidays.
Xue Tong added that they could visit Chen Yan there. As they enjoyed snacks, Chen Yan explained her video was a promotional film for animal protection, acknowledging Xue Tong's contributions. The three then discussed their dreams: Liu Qi aspired to a career in e-sports, hoping to reach the TI's audition; Chen Yan wished to make the world a better place through her work; and Xue Tong, after some thought, simply wanted to be a happy person.
Liu Qi, teasing her that she had already achieved her dream, promised to video call her for fifteen minutes every night during his long trip. The next day, Wu Dao Li returned to the construction site, this time wearing a helmet, still determined to find his box. Liu Qi again confronted him. Wu Dao Li tried to hit Liu Qi with a pole, but Liu Qi managed to wrestle it away.
Liu Qi then called Xue Tong and Chen Yan, who arrived at the site. Wu Dao Li finally explained to Chen Yan that his old house used to be on the site, and he had buried a very important box there. Using a pre-construction photo, they pinpointed the general area behind Dong Nong Street. Despite Liu Qi's complaints about their canceled date, Xue Tong found the "treasure hunt" exciting. They successfully dug up the box.
Chen Yan then offered to deliver it to Wu Dao Li herself, insisting that Liu Qi and Xue Tong go on their date. They bid each other farewell, and Chen Yan reminded Xue Tong about the subtitle proofreading due on Friday. Instead of a date, Liu Qi took Xue Tong to his dorm. There, he revealed a beautifully designed and crafted miniature house, explaining it was the "perfect home" he had promised her, a symbol of his unwavering commitment.
Xue Tong was deeply touched by his thoughtful gesture. Their intimate moment was briefly interrupted by a friend, but Liu Qi proudly affirmed their relationship. Later, Bai Lin called Xue Tong, announcing her return and excitedly inviting Xue Tong and Zhao Xiaotang to see the new house her father had bought for her. Xue Tong, still occupied with work, promised to call her back.
Xue Tong's mother woke her up with porridge, playfully scolding her for working late on Chen Yan's documentary. That night, Xue Tong called Liu Qi to ask if Chen Yan had delivered the box, but he didn't know. He shared that his supervisor praised his work and wished he would stay. The next day, Xue Tong went to Chen Yan's office, hoping to find her, but Chen Yan had not yet arrived.
Xue Tong didn't think much of it, and a colleague speculated that Chen Yan might just be exhausted. Xue Tong then joined Bai Lin and Zhao Xiaotang at Bai Lin's new house. They admired the spacious rooms, and Bai Lin declared it the new "323 gang branch," welcoming them to stay anytime. As they chatted, Xue Tong received an urgent call from her mother, who was crying and asked her to come to the hospital.
A premonition of dread filled Xue Tong. At the hospital, her mother cautiously informed her that Chen Yan had died. Xue Tong was utterly devastated, staring blankly at Chen Yan's covered body. Zhao Xiaotang, learning the news online, was equally shocked. Later, Mu Chenghe found a grief-stricken Xue Tong sitting outside her home. He sat beside her, but she remained unresponsive, eventually retreating inside to sit alone until morning.
Xue Tong's mother informed her that Chen Yan's killer had turned himself in but refused to disclose his motive. Determined to understand, Xue Tong insisted on visiting him at the police station. To her horror, she recognized the killer as the gloomy young man she had seen outside the prison. Granted permission, she entered the interrogation room and confronted him.
The killer eventually confessed that Chen Yan's kind words about his mother's love had pierced his heart, leading him to kill her because she was "a good person" and "the only one willing to talk to him." Xue Tong was shattered by this senseless and illogical explanation for her friend's death. Liu Qi, upon hearing the news, was overcome with grief.
He wept, apologizing profusely to Xue Tong for not being by her side and agonizing over his role in suggesting they dig for the box, believing it contributed to Chen Yan's death. Xue Tong, equally heartbroken, lamented that Chen Yan would never witness the world's beauty again. She wished Chen Yan had been more selfish, lived a simpler life, and not cared about making the world a better place, if it meant she would still be alive.
Liu Qi continued to blame himself, but Xue Tong insisted it wasn't his fault. Distraught, Liu Qi quit his internship, declaring he would no longer work there. Meanwhile, Chen Ting tried to convince Mu Chenghe to pack for his flight back to Germany, reminding him of his successful career and breakthroughs there. Mu Chenghe, however, firmly stated he was staying.
Chen Ting suspected his decision was for Xue Tong, but Mu Chenghe denied it, explaining that Xue Tong was happier with Liu Qi, and his only wish was for her happiness. He then clarified that his decision was for himself. Later, at the start of their final year, a professor lectured Xue Tong and her classmates on focusing on their future and thesis. He apologized to Xue Tong for running over class time.
The professor then gave Xue Tong some English materials prepared by Chen Yan, requesting her help with transcription. He also mentioned that the documentary on the injured leopard, which Chen Yan had worked on, was ready for a preview, but Xue Tong declined to watch it. At the "Ark of Hope" screening, organized by Xue Tong and Bai Lin to honor Chen Yan, Wu Dao Li unexpectedly appeared.
Unbeknownst to Xue Tong, Mu Chenghe was also present, quietly watching the film in the screening room. Wu Dao Li expressed his gratitude to Xue Tong for helping him find the box, which contained a wooden carving he had made for his late wife when they were young. He told Xue Tong how much his wife used to love it and asked her to convey his thanks to "the other awesome young lady" (Chen Yan), unaware of her fate.
Xue Tong tearfully informed him that Chen Yan was no longer with them. Song Qi Qi also arrived, having taken an early bus to attend the screening, where she reunited with her friends. Liu Qi later spoke with Xue Tong about his upcoming Donghu District DOTA Competition. He was excited about the possibility of advancing to the TI's audition if he won, and hoped she would attend.
Xue Tong, though not enthusiastic and admitting she hoped he wouldn't win, agreed to be there. Later, Liu Qi called Mu Chenghe, asking why he hadn't attended Chen Yan's film screening. Mu Chenghe claimed he wasn't aware of it. Liu Qi, having seen Mu Chenghe's name in the film's credits, genuinely thanked him for his contribution.
