The Best Thing Episode 17 Recap
> The Best Thing Recap
Plagued by anxiety, insomnia, and nightmares of Yan Heng, Shen Xifan woke up in tears. She composed herself to reply to He Suye’s message, which asked if she was asleep and if work had been tough recently, wishing her sweet dreams. She promised to submit her "homework" the next day. Meanwhile, Yan Heng spoke with his father, who questioned his progress in Hang City and urged him to return.
Yan Heng asserted he would only return with Shen Xifan, using her as a shield to defy his father’s control and prove his independence. His father warned him against thinking his company could operate without support. Ignoring the warning, Yan Heng instructed his assistant to place a bouquet of roses in front of Shen Xifan’s office. The following morning, Shen Xifan found Yan Heng’s roses and a card expressing his apologies for the previous day’s trouble. She promptly discarded them.
Later, during her lunch break, she sent He Suye a photo of what she claimed was red bean water she had made. He Suye, however, quickly identified it as store-bought due to its lack of sediment, giving her a failing grade. He then invited her to his place that evening for a remedial cooking session, but Shen Xifan politely declined, citing other commitments.
As Shen Xifan and her colleagues left the hotel after work, they were surprised to find Yan Heng waiting outside with another bouquet of flowers. He declared that all the past mistakes were his and wanted to take her out to dinner as compensation for the trouble he caused. A colleague suggested he compensate her deducted bonus instead. To avoid a scene, Shen Xifan reluctantly agreed to go with him, knowing that arguing publicly would only make things worse.
In the car, Yan Heng noticed the sachet hanging from her bag, a fragrant charm that He Suye had prepared for her, which piqued his curiosity. Yan Heng took Shen Xifan to a grilled meat restaurant they used to frequent when they were students. He hoped to rekindle their old flame, sharing that his robot company had gained numerous patents and awards, was now independent even after being acquired, and he had full control, allowing him to defy his father.
He then proposed marriage, explaining he understood his father’s desire for him to marry someone from a wealthy family, but he was now in a position to choose for himself. Shen Xifan, however, firmly rejected him, stating she didn’t want to marry him because he never considered her feelings. She accused him of always making her conform to his desires, whether during their breakup or his recent reappearance.
She asked him to stop pursuing her and added that, in truth, she had never liked grilled meat, even back in college. On her way back, Shen Xifan's emotions were in turmoil, and a headache began to pound. Searching her bag, she realized her sachet was missing, having been left in Yan Heng’s car. Distressed, she called He Suye, explaining her headache and asking if he could see her at his clinic.
As she made her way there, Yan Heng, who had been following her, found the sachet and understood where she was headed. At the clinic, He Suye examined Shen Xifan, diagnosing her with a restless mind, unstable liver qi, and stagnant heart qi, suggesting her symptoms were likely triggered by her ex-boyfriend. He began an acupuncture treatment. Yan Heng soon burst in, claiming to be her boyfriend and that she was merely "throwing a tantrum."
He Suye calmly blocked his path, insisting the acupuncture would take fifteen minutes and advising Yan Heng to wait patiently outside the treatment room to avoid disturbing the patient and causing potential complications. Yan Heng reluctantly agreed to wait. After fifteen minutes, Yan Heng tried to leave with Shen Xifan again, but He Suye told him she needed another twenty minutes for moxibustion and suggested he avoid following her to the restroom, as it was inappropriate.
Yan Heng, irked by He Suye's interference, accused him of pursuing Shen Xifan in vain. He boasted about his seven-year relationship with Shen Xifan, implying He Suye had no chance. He Suye subtly retorted, calling Yan Heng "Artemisia capillaris in April," a term hinting at someone whose influence is fleeting or secondary. Yan Heng, failing to grasp the nuance, asked if He Suye was cursing him, who simply advised him to look it up.
Yan Heng then dismissed He Suye as a "backup tire." He Suye countered that since the "original tire" was of poor quality but still on the vehicle, there was no room for a replacement. He Suye then informed Yan Heng that Shen Xifan had already left through the back exit. Yan Heng left, trying to find her. He Suye found Shen Xifan sitting by the river, shivering.
He wrapped his coat around her and pulled her into a comforting hug, urging her to accept her past and focus on the present and future. He playfully pointed out that ironically, her past troubles led her to his clinic for healing. Shen Xifan returned home late, her parents noticing her low spirits. She explained she had dealt with a difficult VIP at work.
Her parents, however, felt her reaction was unusual and speculated about her relationship with He Suye, noting she became uncomfortable whenever he was mentioned. The next day, Shen Xifan's manager, Cheng Dong, called her into his office. He advised her to swiftly resolve her situation with Yan Heng, emphasizing the negative impact his public appearances had on the hotel's reputation and her own career prospects. He warned her about the strict professional boundaries required in the hotel industry.
Shen Xifan assured him she understood and would handle it. Later, Yan Heng's assistant again attempted to deliver flowers, but Shen Xifan firmly refused them, stating she had already thrown away the previous ones and no longer had Yan Heng's contact information. She asked the assistant to relay her message directly to Yan Heng. Meanwhile, Liu Niannian, an elderly patient, visited He Suye for a follow-up.
She expressed her concern about Yan Heng, describing him as a "terrible person" who had caused Shen Xifan much distress, leading to her being punished and looking haggard. He Suye, though concerned, maintained a calm demeanor, reassuring Liu Niannian that Shen Xifan was intelligent and merely a little lost, confident that she would soon navigate her way out of this difficult period.
Later, He Suye saw news of Yan Heng's signing ceremony for an economic park collaboration, involving a significant investment. He commented that Yan Heng was indeed a "domineering president." At that moment, his colleague Li Jie excitedly announced that their palliative care research project had been approved and had received funding from the hospital. Everyone was overjoyed at this long-awaited success.
He Suye also received a call from his grandfather, who congratulated him and expressed pride, mentioning how his late mother would also be pleased. After the call, He Suye took a photo of the scenic view and sent it to Shen Xifan with a simple message: "The weather is nice today."
