The Best Thing Episode 27 Recap
> The Best Thing Recap
Shen Xifan hesitated to study abroad, confessing to He Suye that she wanted to stay in China for her mother's health. He Suye knew her dream was to see the world and discover herself. He urged her not to abandon her hard-won aspirations, promising to be her steadfast support and care for her family.
Shen Xifan admitted she still harbored a desire to explore the world for self-discovery, and He Suye reminded her that her life choices were her own, not to be swayed by other matters. He vowed his full support as her boyfriend, no matter her decision. Mrs. Shen's health significantly improved after completing her fifteenth round of chemotherapy. The entire family accompanied her for her final treatment.
Because open flames were prohibited in the hospital, Shen Xifan prepared a "fire-crossing" animation to play on her phone, allowing Mrs. Shen to symbolically step over it and complete the traditional ceremony. Mrs. Shen thanked Shen Xifan and He Suye for their constant support. That evening, as Shen Xifan organized her mother's medical records, Mrs. Shen, having learned from He Suye about the approved visa and Shen Xifan's intention to give up her study plans, came to talk to her.
Mrs. Shen reassured her daughter that her surgery was successful, the chemotherapy was complete, and her father, along with Dr. He and Professor Yu, would care for her during her recovery. She gently reminded Shen Xifan of the bright anticipation in her eyes when she first spoke of studying abroad, expressing her strong desire for Shen Xifan to pursue her own fulfilling life and dreams, even if her parents were no longer around.
Shen Xifan, deeply moved, promised her mother she would go abroad. On the day He Suye was scheduled to teach, Shen Xifan carefully chose his outfit, insisting he wear a tie to look professional. His "TCM Oncology" class was well-received by the students. He Suye introduced the course content, emphasizing the practical application of traditional Chinese medicine in treating tumors, and also jokingly warned students about his strictness regarding attendance and assignments.
When students asked to create a WeChat group, He Suye preferred they send emails before 6 PM, as he spent evenings with his girlfriend. For urgent announcements, he appointed Li Jie, a first-year PhD student, as his teaching assistant to manage the course group, much to Li Jie's dismay, who felt He Suye was exploiting him for free labor once again. Before Shen Xifan's departure, He Suye and Professor Yu joined the Shen family for a farewell dinner.
Professor Yu encouraged Shen Xifan to focus on her studies and not worry about affairs at home, assuring her that he and He Suye would take care of everything. He also provided her with some common, customs-approved medicines for any unforeseen needs during her travels.
Later, while packing, Shen Xifan asked He Suye if she could spend her last night at home with her parents and requested he not see her off at the airport, citing the early flight and her emotional difficulty in saying goodbye. He Suye, though saddened by the thought of a long separation, helped her pack.
As they packed, Shen Xifan discovered a small notebook filled with He Suye's handwritten notes on medicinal food recipes, practical advice for dealing with various ailments, and tips for staying warm in Switzerland. Deeply touched, she rushed to He Suye's home and embraced him tightly, confessing how much she would miss him. He Suye comforted her, revealing he was making an Angelica sinensis sachet, which he had planned to use as an excuse to see her off.
He urged her to focus on her studies, assuring her that he would be waiting for her return. The next morning, Shen Xifan's parents accompanied her to the airport, giving her last-minute advice about the journey and reminding her to take care of herself and eat well. As she walked towards the boarding gate, Shen Xifan spotted He Suye in the crowd, watching from a distance.
He Suye sent her a message, encouraging her to "go explore the better world out there." Before boarding, Shen Xifan subtly touched the bracelet on her wrist, a silent farewell as they exchanged a final glance. In the days that followed, He Suye immersed himself in his work, but his thoughts frequently drifted to Shen Xifan as he gazed at their photos on his phone.
Meanwhile, Shen Xifan sent him video messages and postcards with "little secrets," and they exchanged letters. In one of his letters, He Suye shared the good news of Mrs. Shen's excellent recovery, which he attributed to Professor Yu's wellness exercises and Mr. Shen's daily care, telling her not to worry.
He Suye confessed in his letters how much he missed Shen Xifan, detailing small everyday occurrences like the fallen osmanthus flowers, recalling their walks together, and even learning to make osmanthus cake for her return. He reminisced about Shen Xifan's past attempts to set him up with another woman and her teasing him about being a "vegetarian monk," while also mentioning his plans for her upcoming holiday visit home.
In a letter dated Valentine's Day, He Suye spoke of insomnia and an "unspeakable dream," reiterating how much he missed her. In another, he humorously criticized her for inadvertently causing Li Jie to pressure him into revising his paper, holding her accountable. Later, He Suye reflected on watching the sunrise at West Lake, pondering how things might have been if he had convinced her to stay, but ultimately concluded they would still make the same choice.
Each letter conveyed his deep affection and longing for her return, often ending with a poetic sentiment about missing her. He Suye participated in a free clinic in the suburbs with his medical team, offering health consultations to elderly residents. There, a colleague pointed out that the leaf in his profile picture, which she had always thought was a perilla leaf, was actually a tea leaf.
She then playfully called him a "green tea boy," finally making He Suye understand Shen Xifan's earlier drawing of him, which implied the same playful jab. After work, He Suye initiated a video call with Shen Xifan, playfully expressing his "heartbreak" that his girlfriend had used her profile picture to "roast" him, noting it had taken him a year to realize. He asked about her return, mentioning he had saved up his annual leave for a family trip.
Shen Xifan, however, explained that while her global internship was ending, she had received a new, highly competitive opportunity: a two-month internship at a six-star hotel, with only five available spots. She had already accepted the offer, meaning she wouldn't be able to return home for some time.
