The Heart of Genius Episode 13 Recap
> The Heart of Genius Recap
Lu Zhihao recognized Bao Xiaomeng from high school and playfully approached her. Bao Xiaomeng initially warned him, asserting her close relationship with Ji Jiang and threatening to have him fired. Lu Zhihao retorted by questioning why she would need Ji Jiang's merchandise if they were so close, suggesting she get a handmade item from him instead. Bao Xiaomeng clarified she was merely verifying his identity, as he "didn't look like a good person."
Lu Zhihao correctly identified her as being from Class 13 of the 2010 batch of Experimental High School, while he was from Class 1. They formally introduced themselves. Later, as Ji Jiang drove Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi, Pei Zhi commented on Ji Jiang’s cheerful singing, which Lin Zhaoxi teased him about. Lin Zhaoxi mentioned that Pei Zhi’s mother, Luo Jing, had attended the match but left before it concluded.
Pei Zhi explained that his mother always left before he came down from the stage, fearing she would see him injured. He shared that his parents had met at a boxing match, and his mother would always watch his father, Pei Donglai, compete. However, his father eventually gave up boxing to alleviate his mother's worries.
As their conversation continued, Lu Zhihao recounted a humorous anecdote to Bao Xiaomeng about how he mistakenly majored in medicine because a girl he liked posted about "liking Doctor," only to later discover she meant the singer Eason Chen. He then asked Bao Xiaomeng if she was free that weekend, and she replied that she was. Ji Jiang dropped Lin Zhaoxi off at home, where he saw Lu Zhihao and Bao Xiaomeng engaged in lively conversation.
Lu Zhihao offered Bao Xiaomeng a ride, but she decided to stay at Lin Zhaoxi's house instead. After taking Pei Zhi to the boxing club, Ji Jiang eagerly asked Lu Zhihao about Lin Zhaoxi. Mistaking Ji Jiang's inquiry, Lu Zhihao expressed his surprise regarding Bao Xiaomeng and mentioned their dinner plans for the weekend.
Ji Jiang clarified he was asking about Lin Zhaoxi, prompting Lu Zhihao to advise him to give up, stating that Lin Zhaoxi only had eyes for Pei Zhi and that any efforts would be futile. Ji Jiang acknowledged this but insisted he still wanted to try, believing she was worth the cost in time, energy, and money. Lu Zhihao reminded Ji Jiang about his company’s responsibilities, but Ji Jiang assured him he had everything under control.
That night, Bao Xiaomeng persistently questioned Lin Zhaoxi about her relationship with Ji Jiang, asserting that Ji Jiang clearly had romantic feelings for her, backing her claim with her "eight relationships" experience. Lin Zhaoxi dismissed it, stating they were just friends, and that a prominent star like Ji Jiang, surrounded by many beautiful women, wouldn't be interested in her. Bao Xiaomeng advised Lin Zhaoxi to "move on" and not just be drawn to "scholars" as she was in school.
Lin Zhaoxi then deflected, asking Bao Xiaomeng about her situation with Lu Zhihao, which caused Bao Xiaomeng to become flustered and try to end the conversation. The next morning, Lin Zhaoxi found Lin Zhaosheng calculating math problems on a blackboard and promptly stopped him. She then received a phone call from 99 Education, informing her that Zhang Shuping wanted to meet her. Lin Zhaosheng overheard and mistakenly thought Zhang Shuping was a female postgraduate entrance exam agent.
After ensuring her father was settled, Lin Zhaoxi left for the meeting, unknowingly followed by him. At 99 Education, Lin Zhaoxi met Zhang Shuping, who informed her that a spot had opened in the math training class. He mentioned her grades were acceptable and that since he was in business to make money, an additional student was welcome. Suddenly, Lin Zhaosheng entered, having followed her.
He enthusiastically greeted Zhang Shuping, remarking on his appearance and asking if he had cut his "long hair." Zhang Shuping reacted with hostility, asking if Lin Zhaosheng was there to humiliate him. Lin Zhaosheng, confused, insisted they were "best friends." Zhang Shuping sharply declared that Lin Zhaosheng did not deserve to be his friend and ordered him to leave. A mortified Lin Zhaoxi quickly pulled her father outside.
Returning to Zhang Shuping's office, Lin Zhaoxi confronted him about his rude remarks. Zhang Shuping retaliated by accusing her of using "backdoor connections" through her "actor boyfriend's" investment and advised her to find another institution. Confused, Lin Zhaoxi asked for clarification. Zhang Shuping revealed that Ji Jiang's manager had offered to invest in 99 Education in exchange for her enrollment. Shocked, Lin Zhaoxi denied using any connections and explained that her father had Alzheimer's, making him unaware of past conflicts.
She assured Zhang Shuping that they would not trouble him again and left with her father. Furious, Lin Zhaoxi went to confront Ji Jiang, who admitted he had offered to invest over six million in Zhang Shuping's school just to secure her a spot. Lin Zhaoxi asked if he had romantic feelings for her, and Ji Jiang confessed that he had developed feelings for her during their time together.
Lin Zhaoxi gently but firmly told him she cherished their friendship but could not reciprocate his feelings, and if they couldn't remain just friends, she would rather keep her distance. Disappointed, Ji Jiang asked for a hug to honor their friendship. As they embraced, they were photographed by fans, causing a panicked Lin Zhaoxi to flee. On their way home, Lin Zhaoxi asked Lin Zhaosheng about his past with Zhang Shuping.
Lin Zhaosheng vaguely remembered them being classmates in the Math Department at Yongchuan University, where they both met Qiu Yue. He also recalled leaving to attend the Math Department of Sanwei University, but everything after that was a blank. To comfort him, Lin Zhaoxi reassured him that his memory gaps were normal since he had "traveled from the past" and couldn't know future events, warning him against learning too much to avoid altering the past.
Meanwhile, Pei Zhi, under the guise of searching for a friend's lost cat, convinced a convenience store owner to let him view CCTV footage. He pinpointed the moment Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang emerged from the old pagoda and theorized that it held the secret to their travels to Cheese World, a parallel world.
Upon visiting the old pagoda, Pei Zhi noticed that one of the two formulas previously on the wall had been erased, suspecting the remaining one was the key. As Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi arrived home, they saw Pei Zhi leaving the pagoda. Lin Zhaosheng eagerly pulled Pei Zhi inside to play games. Pei Zhi subtly inquired about the missing formula on the wall, but Lin Zhaoxi dismissed it as random scribbles.
Pei Zhi began tutoring Lin Zhaoxi in math, conducting an intense four-hour session without breaks. Lin Zhaoxi found it exhausting and wished she were a genius like him, but Pei Zhi contended that geniuses work even harder and that the true challenge is for ordinary people to persevere without immediate results. During their tutoring, Luo Jing unexpectedly arrived with winter clothes and cold medicine for Pei Zhi. Trying to avoid her, Lin Zhaoxi hid in a closet.
However, Luo Jing opened the closet to put away clothes and discovered her. Enraged, Luo Jing demanded Lin Zhaoxi leave. Pei Zhi firmly declared Lin Zhaoxi was his girlfriend and told his mother not to interfere. He then opened the door, revealing Ding Minghai and others from the boxing club eavesdropping, and Lin Zhaoxi seized the chance to leave.
Outside, Ding Minghai playfully warned Lin Zhaoxi about her formidable "future mother-in-law," commenting that Luo Jing was the woman who turned Pei Zhi's "boxing champion" father into a "hen-pecked man." Lin Zhaoxi was astonished to learn Pei Zhi’s father had been a boxing champion. After a private conversation with Pei Zhi, Luo Jing called Lin Zhaoxi back inside. Upon learning that Lin Zhaoxi had studied philosophy, Luo Jing's demeanor softened.
She stated that philosophy students were "simpler" and "better than studying math," then approved of their relationship. As they prepared to go out, Luo Jing reminded Lin Zhaoxi of her previous warning: she must not let Pei Zhi study math, or it would "kill" him. Pei Zhi later clarified to Lin Zhaoxi that he had told his mother he would no longer be influenced by her regarding math and would seek an office job.
Lin Zhaoxi expressed regret that he was abandoning his talent but respected his choice. Both admitted they disliked shopping but decided to try it. Pei Zhi observed their rapid pace through a store and joked that his estimation of Bao Xiaomeng's four-hour shopping trips must have been too low, since she currently lacked a boyfriend to slow her down.
