The Heart of Genius Episode 20 Recap
> The Heart of Genius Recap
Pei Zhi was having dinner with his parents, Luo Jing and Pei Donglai. Pei Donglai expressed his desire to return to his original unit as an auxiliary police officer. Luo Jing, still unsettled, inquired about the stolen source code. Pei Zhi revealed that Lin Zhaoxi was responsible for secretly copying the source code from his computer. Luo Jing became furious, insisting on pursuing legal action against Lin Zhaoxi.
Pei Donglai tried to dissuade her, concerned about damaging the long-standing friendship between their families and Lin Zhaoxi’s future. However, Luo Jing was unyielding, leading Pei Zhi to agree to press charges against Lin Zhaoxi. He stated that they should call the police and offered his laptop for technical identification. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaoxi unexpectedly discovered a tape hidden under her desk.
She approached Ji Jiang, who immediately recognized it as belonging to the digital camcorder Pei Zhi had given her after their middle school entrance exam. Ji Jiang reminded her that he had accidentally broken the camcorder later. Lin Zhaoxi, however, couldn't recall having such a device. In school, before class began, Jie Ran announced that evening self-study sessions would resume the following week, much to the students' dismay.
He reminded them that as seniors, they needed to work harder to achieve good results. Soon after, police officers arrived at the school looking for Lin Zhaoxi. Lin Zhaosheng quickly went to her classroom to call her out. At the police station, Lin Zhaoxi was brought in for questioning.
The officer explained that they had records of her using Pei Zhi's computer and that the IP address used to upload the source code to a sharing platform traced back to her home. With the evidence seemingly conclusive, the officer urged Lin Zhaoxi to reflect, but she remained silent. Lin Zhaosheng requested a moment alone with his daughter, and the officers conceded. He then asked Lin Zhaoxi if the accusations were true, but she still said nothing.
Zhang Shuping arrived at the police station upon hearing the news. Lin Zhaosheng briefly informed him of the situation, explaining that Lin Zhaoxi was accused of stealing Pei Zhi's game source code and uploading it online. He asked Zhang Shuping to keep an eye on Lin Zhaoxi while he went to find Pei Zhi at school. When Lin Zhaosheng confronted Pei Zhi, Pei Zhi admitted that it was he who had his mother contact the police.
Lin Zhaosheng pleaded with Pei Zhi to show mercy and spare Lin Zhaoxi. Pei Zhi agreed, but demanded five million yuan in compensation for the severe economic losses he had incurred. Pei Zhi then presented an IOU, requesting Lin Zhaosheng to sign and fingerprint it. He pointed out that with Lin Zhaosheng's current financial situation, it would take him ten years to repay, motivating him to open the tutoring class he had been considering.
Pei Zhi promised that if Lin Zhaosheng signed, Lin Zhaoxi would be safe, expressing a hope that he could explain his reasons someday. Faced with this ultimatum, Lin Zhaosheng signed the IOU. Meanwhile, Ji Jiang repeatedly questioned Lin Zhaoxi about her conflict with Pei Zhi, but she remained tight-lipped. Luo Jing also arrived at the police station. Zhang Shuping attempted to mediate, suggesting a private resolution to protect Lin Zhaoxi's future.
Luo Jing, however, dismissed his plea, stating that the matter should be handled impartially by law enforcement. Zhang Shuping informed her he had secured a lawyer for Lin Zhaoxi. Pei Zhi then presented the signed IOU to his mother and clarified to the police that the incident was a "misunderstanding," effectively retracting the case. The police officers severely reprimanded Pei Zhi and Luo Jing for filing a false report, emphasizing the potential lifelong repercussions for Lin Zhaoxi.
Following this, Lin Zhaoxi was released and Lin Zhaosheng took her home. Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi briefly exchanged glances, their friendship now seemingly shattered. At home, Lin Zhaosheng tried to comfort a still-distraught Lin Zhaoxi, offering her food and medicine. He told her there was no need to explain, and she could talk when she felt ready. Soon after, Lin Zhaosheng left for work, entrusting Ji Jiang with Lin Zhaoxi's care.
That evening, Pei Donglai expressed regret to Luo Jing for involving the police, feeling ashamed to face Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi. Luo Jing, however, was unconcerned, asserting that reporting a theft was normal and that Lin Zhaoxi would eventually become a distant memory for Pei Zhi. Around the same time, Lin Zhaosheng visited a barbershop, insisting on a haircut even as it was closing.
He asked for his long hair to be cut short, despite the barber's implied concern that something significant had happened. Lin Zhaosheng simply reiterated, "Cut." Later, Bao Xiaomeng, Lu Zhihao, and other friends visited Lin Zhaoxi at home, expressing their worry. They pressed her for details, but Lin Zhaoxi dismissed the incident as "just a misunderstanding." They also mentioned Lin Zhaosheng had taken Pei Zhi away from school.
When Lin Zhaosheng returned with his new short haircut, Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang were astonished, complimenting him on his youthful and handsome appearance. That night, Lin Zhaosheng discussed his plan to open a math tutoring class with Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang. He explained that since they would soon be off to college, he wanted to earn some money and keep himself occupied, playfully linking his new short hair to avoiding chalk dust while writing on blackboards.
Lin Zhaoxi voiced her concern that this venture would detract from his true passion for math research. Both Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang encouraged him to pursue what he truly loved. However, Lin Zhaosheng insisted that he had been too self-indulgent for six years and now wanted to provide for their college education. He announced his decision was final and the class would open soon, dismissing any further discussion.
The next morning, on her way to class, Lin Zhaoxi encountered Zhang Shuping. He inquired about her well-being and revealed that Lin Zhaosheng had resigned, which Lin Zhaoxi already knew. Later, in the classroom, Lin Zhaoxi approached Pei Zhi to thank him. Pei Zhi then coldly informed her about the five million yuan IOU Lin Zhaosheng had signed, adding that this financial pressure would prevent Lin Zhaosheng from focusing on math research, effectively changing his destiny.
Shocked by the revelation, Lin Zhaoxi immediately sought out Lin Zhaosheng to confirm. He downplayed the IOU, stating it was "no big deal" and confirmed it was a decision he had been contemplating with Zhang Shuping and merely needed a catalyst. He also admitted his short haircut was related to this new venture. Lin Zhaoxi then confronted Pei Zhi, demanding an explanation for forcing Lin Zhaosheng into debt.
Pei Zhi calmly revealed his true motive: to prevent Lin Zhaosheng from attending a specific math seminar, thereby averting the car accident and its lasting consequences that he experienced in Strawberry World. He analogized his actions to removing a single block from a Jenga tower to collapse the entire structure, thereby altering Lin Zhaosheng's life trajectory. Lin Zhaoxi was furious, reminding Pei Zhi of Lin Zhaosheng's deep love for mathematics.
She questioned his actions, especially since he desired to return to Strawberry World and considered Cheese World Lin Zhaosheng not her "real" father. She argued that he shouldn't interfere with Lin Zhaosheng's life. Pei Zhi countered that in Strawberry World, Lin Zhaosheng's six extra years of math research, including the NPC problem seminar, yielded no results and were ultimately meaningless.
Lin Zhaoxi retorted that the healthy Lin Zhaosheng in Cheese World could succeed and questioned if results were the only measure of importance. She firmly believed that Lin Zhaosheng, despite potential setbacks, would find joy in the process of exploring the unknown, declaring, "This is Lao Lin." The two parted ways in anger. Observing their ongoing conflict, Bao Xiaomeng decided to intervene.
She convened an "Expanded Meeting of the Leading Group for Saving the Relationship Between Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi," inviting friends like Lu Zhihao and even Zhang Liang, who claimed to be there only because he owed Lu Zhihao a favor. Bao Xiaomeng analyzed their strained relationship, noting how Lin Zhaoxi's academic improvement had transformed their dynamic from mentor-mentee to fierce rivals. Zhang Liang clarified that he was Pei Zhi's academic competitor, not Lin Zhaoxi.
Bao Xiaomeng speculated that Pei Zhi's business venture was a way to prove himself, and Lin Zhaoxi's perceived jealousy led to her sabotaging his plans, resulting in Pei Zhi suing her before retracting due to their past friendship. She concluded it was difficult for two excellent individuals to remain close. After a brief discussion, everyone agreed to Bao Xiaomeng's plan: to create a relaxed environment for Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi to reconcile.
On Saturday, Bao Xiaomeng gathered everyone for a game of "You Draw and I Guess." Lu Zhihao deliberately paired Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi, explaining the rules: draw for your team to guess while making it difficult for the opposing team. During Lin Zhaoxi's turn, she drew a "matchstick man." To everyone's astonishment, Pei Zhi immediately guessed "Harry Potter," even though the drawing was minimalistic. Pei Zhi confidently explained his deduction based on the wand and round glasses.
Then, during Pei Zhi's turn, he drew a rabbit with an arrow and a boiling pot. Lin Zhaoxi, with uncanny precision, immediately guessed the idiom, "The dogs are cooked after the rabbits are dead," astounding everyone with her interpretation of the drawing's subtle clues. The friends marveled at their "tacit understanding," with Bao Xiaomeng admitting her deliberate pairing yielded unexpectedly strong natural chemistry. Lin Zhaoxi dismissed it as luck, but Pei Zhi insisted it was indeed tacit understanding.
Just then, Zheng Tianming arrived late, explaining he was delayed by his mother. He then revealed that Lin Zhaosheng was outside, braving the rain to hand out flyers for his new math tutoring class. Hearing this, Lin Zhaoxi immediately rushed out to help her father, followed closely by her friends. Pei Zhi, however, remained seated, declining to join them. Later that evening, Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi returned home.
Lin Zhaosheng was visibly drunk, proudly proclaiming his future as a school principal, promising to expand his school, lead them to a happy life, and handle the debt himself. Ji Jiang asked Lin Zhaoxi about the debt, and she revealed that Lin Zhaosheng owed Pei Zhi five million yuan to save her, asserting that Pei Zhi was targeting her, not simply seeking money.
Lin Zhaoxi then asked Ji Jiang to turn off the lights for her sleeping father before heading to her room. Ji Jiang presented her with a second-hand digital camcorder he had found, and Lin Zhaoxi thanked him. She then played the tape, which began with a message exclusively for "Lin Zhaoxi from Strawberry World." On the screen, "Lin Zhaoxi from Cheese World" appeared, expressing her long wait.
She revealed she had been aware of Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi's presence since 2006, feeling as though she was confined within a small space, watching a multi-month movie of everything Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi did, though she didn't fully comprehend it then. Cheese World Lin Zhaoxi thanked Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi for helping her find her father, making Ji Jiang her younger brother, and enabling her to win an Olympiad medal and attend the best middle school.
However, her gratitude was tinged with deep resentment. She confessed to hating Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi because she always felt inferior, constantly being told she was "getting worse and stupider." She accused Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi of "cheating" by being an adult in a child's body, essentially bullying her, a real child. Most unforgivably, Cheese World Lin Zhaoxi claimed, "you took Pei Zhi away from me."
She recalled Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi asking Pei Zhi to take good care of her before leaving, acknowledging he did, but she always felt that when he looked at her, he was thinking of Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi and waiting for her return.
