The Best of You in My Mind Episode 13 Recap
> The Best of You in My Mind Recap
Lin Xichi watched private fireworks burst into vibrant colors outside her window, a special display arranged by Xu Fang. She thanked him for the beautiful start to the New Year. The next morning, Lin Xichi called Xu Fang, asking him to bring food upstairs because she refused to eat the leftovers from New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, Lin Xichi's mother, Zheng Fang Fang, arrived at the dorms, hoping to see her daughter.
However, Lin Xichi seemed to be avoiding her, and Zheng Fang Fang lamented that her daughter might not want to open the door. Xu Fang encountered Zheng Fang Fang and confirmed that Lin Xichi had mentioned "what happened to their family."
Zheng Fang Fang then sought to explain her past actions to Xu Fang, stating she hadn't intentionally lied to Lin Xichi and that leaving was "the best lifestyle" she believed she could offer her at the time, though she admitted to feeling sad about it. Xu Fang, however, countered that "staying with her" would have been better, pointing out Lin Xichi’s deep upset from "false hope" and "disappointments" that made their shared past feel "ridiculous" to her.
Understanding Lin Xichi’s pain, Zheng Fang Fang then requested Xu Fang to "spend more time with and comfort" her daughter, to which he readily agreed before departing for Rong City. Shortly after, Xu Fang arrived with food for Lin Xichi, finding her sitting on the floor without shoes. He carefully placed a pillow under her, then covered her bare feet with a blanket, ensuring her comfort. Lin Xichi mused that despite her sadness, she still felt hungry.
When Xu Fang suggested they go out, she initially refused but eventually conceded. Later, Lin Xichi earnestly asked Xu Fang if he would truly take her in if she were "abandoned by all." He reaffirmed his promise, assuring her she would always have his "unique kennel" as a safe haven, even jokingly referring to himself as an "old dog" with a bad temper that she couldn't live with.
Lin Xichi visited Xu Fang’s home, where his parents greeted her warmly, marveling at how much she had grown and how beautiful she had become. Xu Fang’s mother expressed her relief that Lin Xichi and Xu Fang took care of each other at university, though Lin Xichi quickly clarified that it was mostly Xu Fang looking after her.
His mother enthusiastically stated that she had always regarded Lin Xichi as "part of our family" and "as my daughter," which prompted Xu Fang to discretely try and temper her directness. While Lin Xichi excused herself to the restroom, Xu Fang suggested she could wait in his room if she felt bored. Once inside, she looked at the numerous photos of them together, a flood of shared memories washing over her.
It was then that a profound realization struck her: Xu Fang was truly "the one who never leaves me." Xu Fang’s mother called him, again asking him to care for Lin Xichi, to which he reassured her that everything was alright. Lin Xichi then approached Xu Fang, confessing, "I never thought the one who's always by my side wasn't my father or mother. It's you." Xu Fang immediately promised, "I'll always be with you."
However, Lin Xichi’s next words, "We'll be best friends forever," left Xu Fang's parents, who were listening nearby, visibly anxious, his mother muttering, "That's very worrisome." Xu Fang then attempted to confess his feelings to Lin Xichi, beginning, "Chi Chi, I have something to tell you." But before he could continue, Lin Xichi interrupted, saying she already knew he had been secretly communicating with her mother for her sake. He tried again, "Actually, I have something else to tell you.
I. . . I. . ." yet stumbled, changing the subject by asking if she wanted ice cream. They went to a Dairy Queen, a place Lin Xichi had always wanted to try in high school but found too expensive. Xu Fang’s offer to treat her quickly turned into a playful argument when he made her pay for most of her choices, prompting her to call him "stingy."
As they enjoyed their ice cream, Xu Fang playfully reminded her not to eat food that falls on the floor, alluding to an unconfirmed past incident. Later, while Xu Fang browsed Weibo, he read a question asking what it feels like to be in love with an idiot. Lin Xichi, ever quick-witted, suggested that his "future girlfriend" would be able to answer that question for him. Upon returning to the university dorms, Lin Xichi felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
She confirmed with Nie Yue that she had arrived safely. In the dorm, Lin Xichi saw Xin Zi Dan and offered to help her unpack, but Xin Zi Dan politely declined, stating she preferred to do it herself. When Lin Xichi’s cup broke and she asked to borrow Xin Zi Dan’s, Xin Zi Dan suggested she ask Nie Yue instead, who supposedly had an extra one. During this period, Lin Xichi encountered an elderly man at a pet shop.
He shared a poignant story about his recently deceased dog and his wife, who was gravely ill in the hospital. To protect his wife’s fragile health, he had lied, telling her their beloved pet was merely staying with a friend. Lin Xichi empathized deeply with his predicament, acknowledging that sometimes "lying is also a form of love."
However, she pondered the immense pain the wife would feel upon learning the truth, having been denied a final farewell and the right to grieve. Lin Xichi reflected on how difficult it is to be perceived as a "fool," unable to complain because everyone claims their actions are for her own good. Back in the dorm, Nie Yue observed Lin Xichi’s newfound dedication to studying, wondering what had sparked this change.
Lin Xichi explained she felt she had "wasted too much time" during her first year. Nie Yue playfully teased her about being in a relationship, which Lin Xichi vehemently denied, dismissing Nie Yue's jokes about her involvement with the pet shop and archery team as "nonsense." The next morning, Lin Xichi requested Nie Yue to call her before her archery practice, fearing her alarm wouldn’t wake her for Mr. Yan’s 10 AM class.
Nie Yue complied, but her initial call was hung up, and a subsequent attempt went to a busy line. Lin Xichi woke late, panicked, and confronted Nie Yue for not waking her. Nie Yue recounted the calls and correctly deduced that Xin Zi Dan must have been responsible, having also broken Nie Yue’s cup before the holiday. Nie Yue speculated if Xin Zi Dan's actions were "because of Xu Fang," a question Lin Xichi couldn’t answer.
Lin Xichi admitted she felt unhappy about Xin Zi Dan’s behavior, confessing that she had become "timider" as she grew older, unlike the fearless "Big Brother Chi" she once was. Nie Yue called her a "coward," urging her to address misunderstandings directly. On campus, Xu Fang convinced Lin Xichi to give him a ride on her bicycle, playfully insisting she was strong enough despite her protests.
As they wobbled along, he intentionally guided them erratically before dramatically feigning a fall, clutching his shoulder and groaning in pain. Lin Xichi, genuinely concerned, asked if he was alright and if he could move his arm. Xu Fang insisted on going to a hospital rather than just the infirmary, and Lin Xichi agreed. Upon arriving at the hospital, Lin Xichi realized it was her mother’s workplace and questioned why Xu Fang had chosen this particular hospital.
He vaguely replied that it was "one of the top three hospitals in the city" and thus the best place for his supposedly injured arm, which was crucial for his archery training. Inside, the doctor declared his injury "nothing serious," but Xu Fang, still playing his role, pushed for an MRI scan before quickly retracting the request due to the cost, claiming his pain had miraculously subsided after seeing the doctor.
The doctor then suggested several physiotherapy sessions, acknowledging the "dangerous" nature of his archery profession. Later, Lin Xichi spoke on the phone with Xu Fang’s coach, Liu Xiao Jiang, who sternly admonished Xu Fang for his "mess up with the training" due to missing winter practice and now the new injury. The coach warned him of severe consequences if he continued to neglect his training and health.
Xu Fang apologized to Lin Xichi for causing "all the troubles" and for the coach’s call, to which she playfully retorted that she was used to his antics. Just then, Zheng Fang Fang appeared. Xu Fang, noticing her, exaggerated his shoulder pain, exclaiming that it "has come back." Zheng Fang Fang approached, feigning surprise and a coincidental encounter, then invited them to eat. Xu Fang quickly suggested Zheng Fang Fang change clothes while they waited downstairs.
He then made an excuse that "something came up" and left Lin Xichi and her mother alone, creating an opportunity for them to interact. Alone with Lin Xichi, Zheng Fang Fang asked where Xu Fang had gone. Lin Xichi explained he had left due to an engagement. When Zheng Fang Fang suggested a meal for just the two of them, Lin Xichi’s pain in her shoulder resurfaced, indicating her lingering emotional distress.
Xu Fang, noticing her renewed discomfort, asked if she was still "unhappy" or "upset" and even offered to run away with her. Lin Xichi confessed that while she didn’t necessarily want to avoid her mother, seeing her implied a forgiveness she wasn't ready to give. She expressed the profound difficulty of being forced to forgive and "be mature" when she still felt "cheated."
She revealed her frustration that everyone claimed to act "for my sake," making her feel she had "no right to be angry or resentful," despite feeling very angry and resentful and longing to "blame someone for all this." Xu Fang gently but firmly advised her that she didn’t "need to be mature."
He urged her to voice her anger and blame whoever she needed to "until you can forgive them," emphasizing the importance of listening to her own heart, even if it meant choosing to "ignore or refuse to see her forever." Zheng Fang Fang then happily invited Lin Xichi to a celebratory meal and a shopping trip for new clothes. Zheng Fang Fang, delighted that Lin Xichi waited for her, treated her to a meal at Pizza Hut.
She brought Lin Xichi her favorite orange juice and pizza, reminiscing about how Lin Xichi and Lin Xi Geng used to love pizza and playfully compete for the fruit salad as children. Zheng Fang Fang admitted that she believed Lin Xichi had either forgotten or deliberately chosen not to remember these moments. She then attempted to explain her past actions, acknowledging Lin Xichi’s blame for her leaving.
Zheng Fang Fang stated that she had her own "dream" and that in life, one often faces difficult choices, sometimes requiring the sacrifice of certain things for one’s aspirations. However, Lin Xichi cut her off, demanding to know, "But why did you sacrifice me and Geng Geng?" Zheng Fang Fang tried to clarify, "Chi Chi, It's not as what you think."
