The Heart of Genius Episode 24 Recap
> The Heart of Genius Recap
As Lin Zhaoxi and Lin Zhaosheng emerged from the subway station, having just listened to a piece of music, they began walking towards the bus stop. Nearby, Pei Donglai drove with Pei Zhi, who monitored the road conditions and relayed crucial information to Lin Zhaoxi through his earpiece.
Pei Zhi mentioned that the current stretch was safe, but advised them to be especially cautious on Ronghua Road, where they would transfer from Bus No.107 to No.113, and walk for 500 meters. He explained that traffic police often set up barriers there, and drunk drivers might detour onto Ronghua Road. Lin Zhaosheng recounted a "dry joke" about a foreign student searching for "Bus No.404 Not Found" after he had given her directions.
Lin Zhaoxi playfully pointed out the anachronism, noting that her father didn't have a phone in college. Lin Zhaosheng, observing Lin Zhaoxi, remarked how nice it was to see her so healthy. He then pondered if the concept of a "parallel world" was a form of escapism, asking if she ever felt perplexed or hopeless. Lin Zhaoxi admitted she had, and when asked when, Lin Zhaosheng confessed it was "when I knew I had a daughter."
Pei Zhi, listening in, spoke of a bracelet his sister made for him, appreciating its crude craftsmanship and how he later altered it to say "Go Brother & Sister" to encourage his sister, who had been feeling unhappy. As Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi disembarked from the bus and walked towards home, Pei Zhi's calculations showed a high probability of an accident on Ronghua Road, escalating from 49. 7% to 75. 5%.
Pei Donglai promptly relayed this critical update to Captain Cao. Suddenly, a speeding car swerved towards them. Lin Zhaosheng instinctively pulled Lin Zhaoxi out of harm's way, and the car crashed into the roadside barrier. At an officer's request, Lin Zhaosheng described the scene for the record. To complete their journey back to Strawberry World, Lin Zhaosheng and Pei Donglai meticulously recited the dialogue stored in the recording pen.
Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi exchanged emotional farewells with their respective fathers. As the recording pen fell to the ground, disintegrating into dust, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi found themselves back in Strawberry World, overcome with emotion, embracing tightly. Pei Zhi expressed a profound feeling of being reborn, a sensation Lin Zhaoxi shared, recalling her own first return. They both recognized the urgent need to find Lin Zhaosheng.
Meanwhile, Lin Zhaosheng, already in Bao Song's van, suddenly remembered that Bao Song was the one who had attacked him. Bao Song, realizing he was exposed, admitted to gambling away all his money and, in a moment of desperation, had followed Lin Zhaosheng to the school finance office to steal. He tearfully pleaded for forgiveness, offering Lin Zhaosheng 30,000, then 50,000 yuan, if Lin Zhaosheng would let him go.
Lin Zhaosheng insisted he return the money to the school to seek leniency. Enraged by Lin Zhaosheng's refusal, Bao Song brandished a kitchen knife, threatening to kill him. Lin Zhaosheng, undeterred, calmly analyzed Bao Song's predicament, explaining the severe consequences of murder versus self-surrender, emphasizing that current technology, including surveillance cameras everywhere, would make it impossible to escape detection. He pointed out a camera in the shop, stating it was all being recorded.
Lin Zhaosheng's steadfastness unnerved Bao Song, preventing him from acting on his threats. Unable to contact Lin Zhaosheng, Lin Zhaoxi called Bao Xiaomeng, who was at work and also couldn't reach her father. Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi then went to Bao Song's dumpling restaurant.
Noticing Lin Zhaosheng's belongings in a Wuling van outside – which Lin Zhaoxi recognized as the one that had been rear-ended and had a broken taillight, a detail she knew of from a prior incident – Lin Zhaoxi repeatedly knocked on the locked door. Bao Song eventually opened it, denying any knowledge of Lin Zhaosheng's whereabouts and suggesting Lin Zhaoxi look for him at the school. Pei Zhi, however, sensed something was amiss and insisted on taking Lin Zhaosheng's items.
As Bao Song went to retrieve the car keys, Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi seized the opportunity to enter the restaurant. They quickly discovered a kitchen knife hidden behind Bao Song's back, confirming their suspicions. Inside, they found Lin Zhaosheng bound and gagged. Pei Zhi immediately rushed to his aid, while Lin Zhaosheng, freed, explained that Bao Song had stolen the school's money and assaulted him.
Bao Song then confessed the full story: after taking the 1,000 yuan compensation money from the van accident to a mahjong game, he lost it all. Later in the game, hearing Section Chief Sun mention the open finance office window, he gave in to temptation. He followed Lin Zhaosheng to the office, panicked when Lin Zhaosheng turned around, and knocked him unconscious before taking the money.
He begged Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi for mercy, not wanting to go to jail. Lin Zhaoxi, however, firmly told him to surrender, reminding him of his actions against her father despite his friendship with Xiaomeng. Bao Xiaomeng arrived, having learned of her father's actions. She was furious, refusing his pleas to help him avoid prison or obtain a letter of understanding from Lin Zhaosheng.
She reminded him of his threats and violence against Lin Zhaosheng, emphasizing his lack of remorse. Bao Xiaomeng stated that he deserved to be imprisoned to reflect on his actions, criticizing him for not even being sorry. She then personally escorted Bao Song to surrender to the police.
With the crisis resolved, Lin Zhaosheng confirmed that he remembered everything, including the lie about him being a time-traveler from 1993, and expressed his sincere gratitude to Lin Zhaoxi for all her efforts. Lin Zhaoxi, seeing her father's recovery, was overjoyed, reassuring him that things would get better. Separately, Pei Zhi had dinner with his mother, Luo Jing, who had cooked his favorite braised pork.
He apologized to her for his past distance, acknowledging that after his father's death, she was the one who suffered the most, and he had failed to truly understand or share his feelings with her. He promised to visit her regularly from now on. Luo Jing was deeply touched by his words, shedding tears and wishing Pei Donglai could see Pei Zhi as he was now. Pei Zhi assured her, "He already saw it."
Later, Lin Zhaoxi accompanied Lin Zhaosheng for a follow-up hospital visit. Dr. Ma delivered a sobering report: Lin Zhaosheng's Amyloid β-protein levels had increased, indicating that his Alzheimer's was still progressing. He explained that temporary lucidity did not equate to a cure, and with five years passed, the median survival period was 7. 21 years, warning of potential cardiovascular and depression complications.
Lin Zhaosheng, however, maintained an optimistic outlook, citing the initial "4 in 10,000" chance of contracting the disease at his age as a reason to believe he could live to ninety. He dismissed Dr. Ma's concerns, declaring his health to be excellent and his lifespan "at least 80, with no upper limit," even suggesting a cure might be found soon. Lin Zhaoxi urged him to take his condition more seriously.
Lin Zhaosheng then took Lin Zhaoxi to visit Grandpa Gong, an elderly man in their old neighborhood who also suffered from Alzheimer's. Lin Zhaosheng repeatedly told a chicken thief joke, and Grandpa Gong, in turn, recounted a story about his son, Gong Yi, and his colleagues Henry, Bond, and Yamamoto, practicing shooting, which he also repeated. Lin Zhaosheng laughed heartily at his own joke, and Lin Zhaoxi was deeply moved by the interaction.
She pondered how Grandpa Gong, despite his repeated stories, seemed genuinely happy, contrasting him with many clear-minded people who might not be as content. Lin Zhaosheng reflected that "anything in this world can happen to anyone; it's no big deal," a sentiment he repeated with emphasis. Shortly after, Bao Xiaomeng arrived at their home, bringing fresh white fungus to visit Lin Zhaosheng.
