The Best of You in My Mind Episode 9 Recap
> The Best of You in My Mind Recap
A lost phone initiated an unexpected opportunity for Lin Xichi and Ye Shao Wen to spend time together. While trying to catch their bus by tractor, their journey was abruptly halted when the driver accidentally struck a small lamb. Ye Shao Wen quickly assessed the situation, identifying a fractured bone and administering basic first aid. His calm competence and gentle care for the injured animal deeply impressed Lin Xichi, stirring new feelings within her.
This unforeseen delay, however, caused Lin Xichi to miss numerous calls from Xu Fang. Upon her return to Rong City, Lin Xichi realized she was late for her dinner with her mother, Zheng Fang Fang, who called to cancel, citing an emergency surgery. Feeling guilty, Lin Xichi decided to go to the hospital dorms to wait for her mother.
There, she was surprised by Doctor Liu, who informed her that Zheng Fang Fang did not reside in the dorms but usually went home. This revelation deeply unsettled Lin Xichi, making the concept of "home" suddenly feel strange and unfamiliar. Doctor Liu later reported this encounter to Zheng Fang Fang. Panicked, Zheng Fang Fang immediately called Lin Chang Ge, realizing Lin Xichi had uncovered her lie.
They discussed how Lin Xichi had previously impersonated Zheng Fang Fang to message Lin Chang Ge, a message that triggered nostalgic memories for him about their university days and even inspired him to start making jujube juice for Lin Xichi. Upon Lin Xichi's return home, Zheng Fang Fang fabricated a story about having recently moved out of the dorms and promised to make up for Lin Xichi's birthday at a later date.
Observing her father's lingering affection for her mother, Lin Xichi decided to take matters into her own hands and arranged a meeting between them in Rong City, hoping for their reconciliation. Zheng Fang Fang, however, struggled with this deception, confiding in Lin Chang Ge her exhaustion and her fear that Lin Xichi would resent her once the truth was revealed, lamenting that she was forced to be "the evil one."
Ye Shao Wen, sensing Lin Xichi's passion for animals, offered her a part-time job at his family's pet shop, calling it the "most fitting birthday present" for her ambition to become a veterinarian. Lin Xichi, excited by the prospect of working with animals, eagerly accepted, which meant stepping down from her role as an archery team assistant. Nie Yue then took over as the archery assistant, quickly noticing Xu Fang's unusual preoccupation and lack of focus in Lin Xichi's absence.
Back at her dorm, Lin Xichi received a beautifully wrapped gift that a "handsome guy" had delivered. Her roommates immediately assumed it was from Ye Shao Wen, excitedly pointing out a mug, which they interpreted as symbolizing "a lifetime," and a book about "a girl in love." This led them to playfully tease Lin Xichi about being the first in their dorm to find a boyfriend, an assumption Lin Xichi, without question, readily accepted.
The next day, Lin Xichi eagerly began her new job at the pet shop, only to be surprised when she was immediately directed to clean a pile of dirty cages. She quickly realized the work was far from her dream of directly interacting with animals. The manager strictly monitored her, preventing any direct contact with the pets. Ye Shao Wen arrived later to help her, explaining that all new hires start with basic tasks.
Despite his assistance and presence, Lin Xichi felt no comfort or relief from the strenuous work and the unexpected reality of her new job. After a grueling day at the pet shop, Lin Xichi felt utterly exhausted, confessing to her roommate Xin Zi Dan that she found interactions with Ye Shao Wen tiring and required constant caution, unlike the relaxed ease she felt around Xu Fang.
Seizing this opportunity, Xin Zi Dan cunningly told Lin Xichi that her feelings of nervousness, restraint, and carefulness around Ye Shao Wen were actually signs of liking someone, as one naturally strives for perfection in front of a loved one. Xin Zi Dan, who secretly harbored feelings for Xu Fang, was well aware of his deep affection for Lin Xichi.
Therefore, she deliberately encouraged Lin Xichi to misinterpret her discomfort with Ye Shao Wen as genuine romantic interest, hoping that by pushing Lin Xichi and Ye Shao Wen together, she could create an opportunity for herself with Xu Fang. Meanwhile, Nie Yue, at Jiang Zheng Xu's urging, fabricated a story to Lin Xichi about Xu Fang "exploiting" and overworking her at the archery team.
This prompted Lin Xichi to vow to confront Xu Fang on Nie Yue's behalf, implicitly bringing her closer to the team. Jiang Zheng Xu's motivation for this scheme was his concern that if Lin Xichi were to fall for Ye Shao Wen, Xu Fang would be "alone forever." This collaborative effort also saw Nie Yue and Jiang Zheng Xu's own relationship growing warmer.
A clear shift was observed in Lin Xichi and Xu Fang's dynamic: when Lin Xichi confronted Xu Fang about "bullying" Nie Yue, he expressed his disapproval of her working at the pet shop and challenged her to an arm wrestling match, stipulating that if she lost, she could not go.
Unlike her past tendency to honor her bets, Lin Xichi now resorted to playful defiance and refused to yield, highlighting her evolving assertiveness and perhaps a deeper reluctance to be swayed by Xu Fang's demands when her new job was concerned. After the prolonged interaction with Xu Fang, Lin Xichi arrived significantly late for her second day at the pet shop.
The manager immediately reprimanded her, emphasizing the strict company rules and explicitly stating that Lin Xichi would not receive special treatment just because she was introduced by "the boss's son," Ye Shao Wen. Lin Xichi was visibly surprised by this revelation. Despite her immediate apologies and promises to work harder, her clumsiness during tasks earned her further harsh criticism. The manager scolding her for being a "slacker" relying on connections, sternly asserting that work demands responsibility and not just enthusiasm.
Overwhelmed and with tearful eyes, Lin Xichi admitted her mistakes before leaving the shop abruptly. Lin Xichi had initially envisioned her pet shop job as simply playing with animals, never truly grasping the depth of responsibility it required. Feeling unprepared for the demands of entering the workforce, and despite having previously promised Ye Shao Wen her commitment to the job, a tearful Lin Xichi apologized to him and decided to resign from the position.
