The Best of You in My Mind Episode 12 Recap
> The Best of You in My Mind Recap
Lin Xichi was abruptly woken by a call from her brother, Lin Xi Geng, who expressed extreme worry, mentioning he heard she had been drinking with Xu Fang the night before and fearing she had blacked out. Lin Xichi dismissed his concerns, vaguely explaining she'd had a minor disagreement with a friend.
Lin Xi Geng then surprised her by revealing that Ms He's daughter, He Liyang, had returned, and that their father said they wouldn't be celebrating New Year in Rong City because their mother, Zheng Fang Fang, was on a business trip. Lin Xi Geng suggested Lin Xichi return with Xu Fang. Just as she tried to end the call, she was caught trying to sneak out of Xu Fang's room by him, who was brushing his teeth nearby.
Lin Xichi feigned waiting for him, and after he checked on her, they decided to have breakfast together. During their meal, Lin Xichi confessed her deepest fears and anxieties to Xu Fang, using the analogy of an abandoned dog. She described a dog whose owner promised to return, leading it to wait endlessly, even adopting the owner's profession and attending university in the same city, only to discover it had been discarded for a new pet.
Lin Xichi admitted her fear of being left without a home if her parents remarried, despite Xu Fang having previously suggested their separation. Xu Fang reassured her, promising that if she ever became "homeless," he would take her in and make her feel special. He also encouraged her to choose where they went next, and she decided against returning to her father's home, opting for her grandfather's instead.
Xu Fang then revealed he was heading to a pet shop and mentioned he had already asked Jiang Zheng Xu to cover for his training, allowing him to stay with her longer. Lin Xichi, still hesitant to go home, even considered staying in a hotel, fearing her father might lie to her again. However, Xu Fang accompanied her back to Rong City.
Upon their arrival, their father, Lin Chang Ge, formally confessed to Lin Xichi and Lin Xi Geng that he and Zheng Fang Fang had been divorced for a long time. He explained that they had kept it a secret when the children were young to protect them from emotional distress and to avoid affecting their studies, planning to tell them when they were older.
Lin Xichi reacted with anger, accusing them of deceit and of pretending to be a model couple for ten years. She felt foolish for having actively tried to mediate between them. Lin Chang Ge apologized, stating they had done their best within their capabilities to protect the children, not wanting them to suffer the lack of care often seen in children of divorced parents. Lin Xichi, overwhelmed, asked to be left alone in her room.
Lin Chang Ge expressed his hope that this conversation would not impact their normal lives, and Xu Fang left, promising to return in a few days after his training. Later, Lin Xi Geng found Lin Xichi awake and tried to coax her into spending the winter break with him. He expressed relief that she seemed strong, despite his initial worries about her reaction to the divorce news.
He confessed that he had known about their parents' divorce for a long time but had pretended ignorance for her sake. He explained that he had learned not to have expectations so as to avoid disappointment, stating he wouldn't blame either parent but would protect his sister from any hurt. He also had a phone conversation with their mother, Zheng Fang Fang, who asked about his exam preparation.
He told her she didn't need to treat him like Lin Xichi and echoed his sentiment about lowered expectations, reinforcing his commitment to protect his sister. Soon after, Lin Xi Geng proudly showed Lin Xichi that he had completed all the questions in an exercise book He Liyang had given him, making all other math problems seem easy. He mentioned he didn't dislike Ms He as much as he used to.
When Lin Xi Geng made a slightly disrespectful comment about Ms He, He Liyang immediately reacted by riding away on her motorbike, upset. Lin Xi Geng, calling her "Big Li," persistently chased after her on his bicycle, apologising and expressing genuine fear that she might act impulsively. He caught up to her, still apologising for his insensitive remark. He Liyang admitted that his concern sounded just like her mother's.
She shared how her strict mother had once torn up a novel she was secretly reading, leading He Liyang to vow that she would do whatever she wanted once she entered university, like riding her motorbike to experience freedom. She confessed that she didn't know how to face her mother now.
Lin Xi Geng asked why she didn't seek help from her father, and He Liyang revealed that her father had passed away when she was very young, leading Lin Xi Geng to quickly apologize. He Liyang then revealed that her mother often praised Lin Xi Geng in class, holding him up as a role model, completely unaware that He Liyang had given him the exercise book responsible for his academic leap.
He Liyang then gave Lin Xi Geng another exercise book, which he eagerly accepted, calling her his "saviour" and acknowledging his good fortune in meeting her. She cautioned him that life wouldn't always be smooth sailing, but that her help would equip him to overcome challenges. As He Liyang prepared to leave, Lin Xi Geng stopped her, revealing his sister's recent discovery of their parents' long-standing divorce.
He explained that although Lin Xichi appeared fine, she was deeply upset, and he didn't know how to comfort her. He asked He Liyang, as Lin Xichi's roommate, to talk to and guide her, believing He Liyang to be more mature. He Liyang responded that comforting words wouldn't help, and that Lin Xichi simply needed time to heal. She acknowledged Lin Xi Geng's selfless concern for his sister despite his own emotional pain.
He Liyang advised him that both his parents and his sister would find their own ways to deal with their issues, and he too needed to find his own way forward. She then playfully called him a "wimpy kid" and offered him a New Year's red packet. On New Year's Eve, Lin Chang Ge celebrated with Lin Xichi and Lin Xi Geng, preparing dumplings and fish, and offering them New Year wishes and red packets.
Lin Xichi, still emotionally drained, soon retreated to her room. Throughout the night, fireworks illuminated the sky. Lin Xi Geng and Lin Xichi received New Year greetings from friends and family, including a message from Xu Fang wishing Lin Xichi well and expressing his happiness at having met her. Zheng Fang Fang messaged Lin Xichi, wishing her a Happy New Year, reaffirming her support, and proposing a heart-to-heart talk after she returned to Rong City.
He Liyang also wished Lin Xi Geng a Happy New Year, with him lightheartedly remarking he would catch up to her, to which she teased him about doing so by riding a bicycle. He Liyang was with her mother, who probed about her meeting any boys at university. He Liyang deflected the question and pointed out the beautiful fireworks outside.
As they watched, He Liyang noticed streaks of white hair at her mother's temples, a poignant realization that her mother was aging more than she had imagined. Meanwhile, Jiang Zheng Xu called, and she showed him the fireworks from her location, while his city did not allow fireworks.