The Best of You in My Mind Episode 17 Recap
> The Best of You in My Mind Recap
Time seemed to fly by when Lin Xichi and Xu Fang were happy together. Their relationship became widely known and received many blessings, though it was occasionally interrupted by a silent caller whose unknown number would dial through but never speak. This minor annoyance, however, did not diminish the affection between Lin Xichi and Xu Fang.
Lin Xichi playfully questioned Xu Fang about what he would have done if she had never realized her feelings for him, to which he responded he might have stayed single "for a while." She teased him about potentially dating other girls, while he playfully retorted, asking if she truly wanted him to be single forever. When the silent call came through, she wondered if it was someone seeking revenge, perhaps a "Senior Jing Jing" who liked Xu Fang.
As the college entrance exams approached, Lin Xi Geng fully immersed himself in studying. Soon after, he received his university acceptance letter from Rong University for Game Design, with registration set for August 15th. Ms. He, his former teacher, was deeply moved, expressing her pride that "the kid that troubled me in class" had achieved such success. Lin Xi Geng confessed he once thought he would end up as an excavator operator.
He credited his admission to Rong University to He Liyang’s motivation, much to Ms. He’s surprise, who didn't realize they knew each other since her daughter had been in Rong City for two years. Lin Xi Geng praised He Liyang as an exceptional daughter and gave Ms. He a sincere bow of gratitude. Later, He Liyang’s mother asked her about Lin Xi Geng.
He Liyang, without revealing their true connection, simply stated she knew his sister from Rong University and playfully dismissed the incessant messages on her phone as a customer service number, though her mother seemed to sense something deeper, subtly smiling as she observed her daughter's hidden joy. To celebrate Lin Xi Geng's successful admission to Rong University, Lin Xichi and Xu Fang invited him to dinner. To their surprise, He Liyang was also invited.
Lin Xi Geng toasted He Liyang as his "savior" and the biggest contributor to his success, stating he wouldn't be there without her, while He Liyang humbly attributed his success to his own efforts. During the meal, Lin Xi Geng's close attention to He Liyang became evident. Lin Xichi playfully reminisced about Lin Xi Geng wetting his bed as a child and crying for her help, or ripping his pants while climbing a wall to play truant.
Lin Xi Geng, in turn, teased Lin Xichi about her first meal at the university with Xu Fang, which happened because she was "poor at that time." The siblings' playful banter, combined with Lin Xi Geng's constant focus on He Liyang, made Lin Xichi and Xu Fang notice a romantic interest. After gaining admission to Rong University, Lin Xi Geng found more reasons to approach He Liyang.
He clumsily concocted a reason to ask if they could walk to class together, despite being in different departments with different classes. Driven to integrate into He Liyang's life, he even went to her motorcycle team's training ground, offering to help with various tasks like carrying water, washing bikes, and refueling. He Liyang's teammate, Brother Fei, complimented Lin Xi Geng's helpfulness and observant nature, noting that everyone, including another teammate named Hui Hui, liked him.
Lin Xi Geng watched with joy as He Liyang freely raced around the training track. However, the dangerous sport led to an unfortunate accident. During a practice session, He Liyang lost control and fell, her body hitting the ground. As her consciousness faded, she heard Lin Xi Geng's desperate cries becoming distant until they were inaudible. Following the successful surgery, He Liyang awoke to a devastating discovery: her right foot was completely numb and immobile.
She struggled to imagine a future where she couldn't walk, questioning how she would face life. Despite well-meaning but hollow comforts, Lin Xi Geng diligently and tenderly cared for her. Lin Xichi, visiting her sister, observed her brother's deep concern and tacitly approved of his devoted care, suggesting she would bring cards next time for them to play games.
Lin Xi Geng brought various nourishing foods for He Liyang, like rock sugar and pear, bone soup, and millet porridge, reassuring her to ask if she needed anything. Lin Xichi, while appreciating his care, gently urged him to leave as Xu Fang's competition was approaching and he needed to focus on that. With the Nationwide College Archery Invitational looming, Xu Fang and Lin Xichi shared a bittersweet farewell.
Lin Xichi reminded Xu Fang to focus, telling him to view the competition as just another training session and each arrow as a normal one. She asked Nie Yue, a teammate, to livestream the match and make sure to film Xu Fang. Lin Xichi confessed she wished she could be there to cheer him on, but her teammates encouraged her to have faith in Xu Fang.
Upon arriving at the competition venue, Lin Xichi initially marveled at the large scale, but quickly calmed down, signing in as an "assistant" since family members were not allowed in the closed-door competition area. After a series of qualifying rounds and eliminations, the final match came down to Xu Fang and his long-standing rival, Ding Yi. As the final arrow approached, with Ding Yi having just scored a nine, Xu Fang needed to surpass nine points to win the championship.
However, as he focused on the distant target, a blinding flash of white light filled his vision. The weight of everyone’s expectations and trust surged into his mind, overwhelming him with unprecedented pressure. As a professional athlete, handling pressure was crucial. Despite his vision failing him, Xu Fang relied on his instincts and muscle memory, closing his eyes to release the final arrow.
When Xu Fang was announced as the champion of the Nationwide College Archery Invitational, the crowd erupted in cheers. Lin Xichi, watching the livestream, could not contain her excitement, screaming and cheering along. Yet, her joy was quickly mixed with both anticipation and worry about the future.
She had seen a Weibo post comparing Xu Fang to the "Sharpshooter" Li Guang, hailing him as "the future hope of China's archery team," and briefly considered captioning a shared post with "This is my boyfriend." However, she knew that if Xu Fang truly joined the national team, they would face a future of infrequent meetings. Lin Xichi expressed her concern, wishing he could always stay by her side.
After their call, Xu Fang's teammates found him still practicing alone, unable to stop, despite the coach's attempts to make him rest. The coach reminded him that archery required a strong mentality and that practicing under pressure was ineffective, urging him to rest for the upcoming team event and telling him he was the best. Xu Fang, however, appeared troubled, questioning himself, "What's wrong with me?"
