The Best of You in My Mind Episode 5 Recap
> The Best of You in My Mind Recap
Lin Xi Geng received a late-night call from his sister, Lin Xichi, who had just visited their mother's dorms. Lin Xichi, longing for their family to reunite as it was in their childhood, urged Lin Xi Geng to study hard for university so as not to disappoint their parents. Lin Xi Geng, however, quickly dismissed her advice and abruptly hung up, claiming to be out of data.
Soon after, Lin Xi Geng's father entered his room without knocking, demanding Lin Xichi's credit card. He revealed that he had checked the transaction history and discovered Lin Xichi's allowance remained untouched, while several game top-ups were made from Rong City, indicating the card was with Lin Xi Geng. Lin Xi Geng tried to defend himself, stating that Lin Xichi refused to accept the money and had even taken his own lucky money.
Ignoring his protests, his father insisted he take advantage of his holidays and deliver the card to Lin Xichi in Rong City. Lin Xi Geng was quick to get online in his game, eagerly seeking a match. He called out "Big Li," a player he held a grudge against for humiliating him previously.
He Liyang, known as "Big Li" in the game, had blocked other game gurus from teaming up with Lin Xi Geng because he was a high school student preparing for his entrance exam. Undeterred, Lin Xi Geng challenged He Liyang to a face-to-face showdown in Rong City, specifically at University Rong. He Liyang readily accepted. The next day, Lin Xi Geng called Lin Xichi, announcing his arrival at her school gate and offering to treat her to dinner.
Surprised by his sudden visit, Lin Xichi agreed, but Lin Xi Geng clarified he was only staying for half a day and needed to meet someone at Cygnus Cafe first, asking her to call him after he was done. At the Cygnus Cafe, Lin Xi Geng finally met "Big Li" in person, only to discover it was Lin Xichi's roommate, He Liyang.
He Liyang taunted him, asserting her knowledge of all the game gurus in the area and how she had ensured no one would team up with him. Lin Xi Geng questioned her interference, but He Liyang stated it was her business if she encountered such a situation. She then challenged his intelligence, asking him to recite complex mathematical formulas.
When Lin Xi Geng admitted he didn't understand, He Liyang declared him unqualified to play games and handed him a stack of exercise books, telling him he could only challenge her again after completing them. Just then, Lin Xichi arrived, surprised to see her brother with her roommate. Lin Xichi proudly introduced He Liyang as a top science student who got into their university, urging Lin Xi Geng to learn from her.
Confused by their connection, Lin Xichi questioned why He Liyang was her roommate despite not being in the same batch, but He Liyang quickly excused herself, avoiding further questions. Later, as Lin Xichi and Lin Xi Geng ate, he handed her the credit card from their father. Initially reluctant, Lin Xichi admitted she was close to running out of her own money.
Lin Xi Geng revealed that Xu Fang hadn't actually tried to extort money from her when he "won" her allowance. Instead, he knew Lin Xichi was stubborn and sensitive about accepting direct help, so he found a discreet way to assist her. Lin Xi Geng estimated that Xu Fang had already spent far more on her meals and other necessities than the eight hundred yuan he had "won."
He urged Lin Xichi to stop fighting with their father, reminding her that their family reunion was her biggest wish and that her ongoing conflict with him was counterproductive. Lin Xichi, reflecting on his words and her father's concern, finally accepted the card. Lin Xichi later encountered Xu Fang, who was struggling during archery practice, being harshly criticized by Coach Liu for his incorrect form.
Fu Kuan Kuan mocked Xu Fang, while Yu Tong tried to offer him a drink, also subtly asking if Lin Xichi liked him, which Xu Fang denied. Lin Xichi felt a strong urge to defend Xu Fang against Lin Xi Geng's earlier taunts and impulsively treated her brother to another meal.
Stuffed from eating, Lin Xichi found herself on a bridge, gazing at a happy family and longing for her own family's reunion, which felt as distant as the clear blue sky. Lin Xi Geng had told her that her parents' relationship was like cars on the road, and she could only act as a lubricant, unable to control whether they moved forward, which resonated with her current feelings of helplessness.
Upon returning to her dorms, Lin Xichi found them empty and the door carelessly left open. Suddenly, she received a call from Ye Shao Wen, asking her to come to the rooftop because their cat, Mao Mao, was giving birth. On the rooftop, they discovered several newborn kittens. Ye Shao Wen warned her not to touch them, explaining that human scent could make the mother cat reject them.
Lin Xichi shared a personal story about her dog, Fang Fang, whose mother had died when it was young, which was why she chose to study veterinary medicine—to help animals in need. Their tender moment was interrupted when the administrator locked the rooftop door, trapping them inside. With their phones out of battery, Lin Xichi used Ye Shao Wen's phone to call Xu Fang for help.
As the evening chill set in, Ye Shao Wen chivalrously offered Lin Xichi his jacket. Shortly after, Xu Fang arrived. Upon seeing Lin Xichi in Ye Shao Wen's jacket, a flicker of irritation crossed his face. He quickly removed Ye Shao Wen's jacket and replaced it with his own, then introduced himself as Lin Xichi's childhood friend to Ye Shao Wen, who he quickly identified as a senior from the medical department.
Xu Fang then pulled Lin Xichi away, citing an urgent meeting with Coach Liu, ignoring Lin Xichi's attempts to properly thank and bid farewell to Ye Shao Wen. As they walked away, Lin Xichi questioned Xu Fang's abruptness and asked if Coach Liu was angry about her absence from practice. Xu Fang denied it and grew increasingly agitated when Lin Xichi continued to praise Ye Shao Wen's kindness and helpfulness.
She pressed him, asking if he was upset about helping her or if he simply disliked Ye Shao Wen. Xu Fang, clearly irritated, retorted with vague answers and called her "sick." Back in her dorm, Lin Xichi confided in her roommates about Xu Fang's inexplicable mood swings, perplexed by his behavior, as he used to tolerate her "torturing" him when they were children.
Her roommates probed, asking if her new, indescribable feelings for Ye Shao Wen—the staring, the warmth from his jacket, and her racing heart when they were alone—meant she liked him. They concluded that she did and advised her to make a move. Meanwhile, on the archery range, Xu Fang's frustration was evident in his practice. Jiang Zheng Xu relentlessly teased him, suggesting Lin Xichi was the cause of his bad mood.
Xu Fang vehemently denied any feelings for Lin Xichi, but Jiang Zheng Xu pointed out Xu Fang's jealousy, calling it a clear sign of love. He challenged Xu Fang, asking why he had helped Lin Xichi with her financial troubles and secured her a job with the archery team if he was only seeking revenge.
Xu Fang continued to deny his feelings, adamantly claiming it was "impossible" for Lin Xichi to find someone else, before angrily telling Jiang Zheng Xu to focus on his own practice. During archery practice, Coach Liu remained critical of Xu Fang's form, emphasizing that even if his flawed technique offered better control, it was incorrect and would not lead to success, noting that no national champion shot that way.
He insisted Xu Fang correct his "chicken feet" posture and relax his hands. Despite the persistent critiques, Xu Fang was determined to improve. Later, Coach Liu discussed the team's general lack of motivation with Lin Xichi, observing that most members simply practiced for college admission or to fulfill a task, lacking true passion for archery. Lin Xichi, however, offered a hopeful suggestion: holding a formal competition.
She believed a competitive environment would ignite their fighting spirit, create pressure, and reveal their weaknesses, ultimately pushing them to improve. Coach Liu enthusiastically agreed, recognizing the merit of "using competition as practice," and immediately committed to organizing the event, praising Lin Xichi's insightful idea. Lin Xichi was later seen looking at a textbook, remarking, "So serious. She's truly a top student," perhaps observing He Liyang's dedication.
