Time Flies and You Are Here Episode 23 Recap
> Time Flies and You Are Here Recap
Xie Xiaoman and Su Minggu were at Jingnv Pavilion when they overheard other ladies discussing that Xue Yanwan was absent today because she was meeting with Yan Boyang to arrange a marriage. They also learned that Xie Ruying was slated to marry the eldest son of the Prefect of Tongzhou, though he was said to be in poor health. Su Minggu quietly expressed her disappointment that Yan Boyang had truly gone for a blind date. Meanwhile, Li’er was following Fenniang.
She turned to him and explained that she would no longer be able to attend school with him because her father’s transfer order had arrived, and he was to take up a post in Tongzhou. Her mother would accompany him, and she had no choice but to follow.
Fenniang handed Li’er a small wooden doll, keeping one for herself, and bade him farewell before he could express his feelings, saying her house was just ahead and he didn’t need to see her off. Li’er called out her name, saddened by her departure. Later, a dejected Yan Boyang walked along, discarding numerous love letters he had written to Su Minggu while reciting a poem about lasting yearning and the agony of remembrance.
Li’er happened to come across the scattered letters and diligently collected them. He then encountered Zhao Xiaoqian, who playfully intercepted him. Zhao Xiaoqian told Li’er that his sister, Xie Xiaoman, was worried about his poor academic performance. He then decided to teach Li’er himself and encouraged him to fail everything before Chinese New Year’s Eve, promising to reward him with a pony if he did.
Xie Xiaoman patiently tried to teach Li’er how to recite the Analects, but he consistently mixed up the phrases, testing her patience. She grew frustrated, calling him dumb. Li’er grabbed his book box and ran off towards Zhao Xiaoqian, who intervened and calmed Xie Xiaoman. Zhao Xiaoqian then shifted the conversation to Yan Boyang and Su Minggu’s ongoing spat.
He suggested inviting them to the commandery Prince's mansion the next day so they could sit down and resolve their differences, noting that Yan Boyang’s bickering with a lady was irritating to him. Xie Xiaoman agreed, though she questioned Zhao Xiaoqian’s sudden interest in their affairs. Zhao Xiaoqian then teasingly admitted he had just come to see her because he missed her. At the academy, the letters Li’er had brought were confiscated.
Su Minggu noticed a stack of confiscated love letters, saw one addressed "To Minggu" and signed "Zhanzhi" (Yan Boyang's courtesy name), and discreetly took all of them. Reading one, she saw a heartfelt confession of his genuine feelings. Initially, Su Minggu was reluctant to attend the gathering at the commandery Prince's mansion due to her unresolved issues with Yan Boyang. However, after reading the letters, she changed her mind and agreed to go.
That evening, Yan Boyang arrived at the commandery Prince's mansion for dinner, bringing Xue Yanwan with him and explaining that he had accompanied her shopping for cosmetics that afternoon. The atmosphere at the table quickly became strained. Zhao Xiaoqian tried to lighten the mood by encouraging Su Minggu to drink the Bixiang wine. Yan Boyang, however, showed excessive concern for Xue Yanwan, advising her to drink a warming wine due to her frail constitution.
Su Minggu remarked that while a sommelier could judge wine, a person's true character could only be known after spending time with them. She then continued to drink, observing that some people are perpetually "unsober." Feeling slighted, Su Minggu declared she could no longer drink and had matters to attend to, and promptly left. Zhao Xiaoqian confronted Yan Boyang, criticizing him for his childish behavior and asking if he felt good about provoking Su Minggu.
Disgusted, Zhao Xiaoqian and his companion also left. Xue Yanwan then thanked them for the hospitality and departed, and Yan Boyang offered to escort her home. Xie Xiaoman wondered why Yan Boyang was suddenly so attentive to Xue Yanwan. Zhao Xiaoqian explained that Yan Boyang was merely trying to make Su Minggu jealous. He then playfully scooped her up, suggesting they go "make some babies."
Just then, their servant informed them that Li’er was refusing to study again and had threatened to cook their pets. Xie Xiaoman angrily went to confront Li’er, who was found doodling instead of copying the Analects. Li’er defiantly argued that Xie Xiaoman wouldn't understand his feelings because she only cared about homework, asking if she had ever loved or missed someone so much she couldn’t sleep, wishing to meet them in her dreams.
Zhao Xiaoqian intervened again, stopping Xie Xiaoman from hitting Li’er. He suggested they focus on having their own "principal graduate" child. Annoyed by his "low-minded" remarks, Xie Xiaoman angrily told Zhao Xiaoqian to leave and shut the door on him, lamenting that neither Li’er nor Zhao Xiaoqian brought her any peace of mind. Meanwhile, Yan Boyang caught up with Xue Yanwan and apologized for his behavior at dinner.
Xue Yanwan, however, told him she could see that he and Su Minggu were in love, and there was no need to use her as a shield. Yan Boyang attempted to deny it, claiming Su Minggu didn't like him, but Xue Yanwan pointed out his past reluctance to obey parental orders regarding marriage. She asserted that she was not a desperate woman and would not marry a man whose heart belonged to another, as it would be a humiliation.
She firmly told Yan Boyang that if he truly wished to marry her, he must first forget Su Minggu. Later, Su Minggu’s grandmother, feeling her health decline, called Su Minggu to her side. She spoke of how Su Minggu's parents had shouldered the household responsibilities during her illness. She advised Su Minggu that no matter what difficulties she faced in life, she must always maintain integrity and a positive outlook.
She said that Yan Boyang was a good child and that she had observed his affection for Su Minggu. She urged Su Minggu to face challenges directly rather than avoiding them, lest she live with regret. When Su Minggu expressed uncertainty about her feelings, her grandmother gently suggested that such deep consideration meant the matter was likely already resolved and warned her not to hesitate, or someone else might take such a good man.
Inspired by her grandmother’s words, Su Minggu reread Yan Boyang’s letter, which passionately described his profound feelings for her and requested a meeting at Xiang Bridge tomorrow at noon. She resolved to confront her feelings head-on. The next day, Xie Xiaoman arrived at the academy only to learn that Li’er was missing. Distraught, she feared he had run away because of her scolding and worried he might be in danger.
Zhao Xiaoqian assured her he had already dispatched men to search the mansion and Su Family residence and ordered more manpower. He then took Xie Xiaoman to search the streets himself. Su Minggu went to Xiang Bridge, expecting Yan Boyang, but found Li’er instead. Li’er explained that he was waiting for his classmate, Fenniang.
He admitted that he had wanted to write her a letter but, knowing few words, had copied a love letter he found on the street, only adding "Xiang Bridge at noon" himself. He expressed confusion as to why Su Minggu had the letter, as he had given his copy to Fenniang. Su Minggu realized that the letter she had found at the academy was one of Yan Boyang's originals, and Li'er's copying had caused a misunderstanding.
Just then, Zhao Xiaoqian and Xie Xiaoman found Li’er. Su Minggu, upon seeing Zhao Xiaoqian, asked where Yan Boyang was. Learning he was having dinner with Sub-prefect Xue’s family at Taiping Tavern, she hastily departed. Xie Xiaoman sternly reprimanded Li’er, who began to cry and confessed his heartbreak over Fenniang’s imminent departure for Tongzhou, stating he would never see her again. Zhao Xiaoqian comforted Li’er, promising to take him and Xie Xiaoman to find Fenniang.
Li’er immediately cheered up and eagerly agreed. After Li’er apologized to Xie Xiaoman, they set off. Su Minggu rushed to Taiping Tavern, burst into Yan Boyang’s private room, where he was about to put a hairpin on Xue Yanwan, and pulled him away. Both Madam Yan and Madam Xue were shocked by her "unruly" behavior. Xue Yanwan, seeing the turn of events, told her parents she did not wish to marry Yan Boyang.
Outside, Yan Boyang confronted Su Minggu, demanding to know what she wanted. Su Minggu, referring to his letters, admitted she had read them all. She confessed her past foolishness, acknowledging that she had been so focused on pursuing what was out of reach that she had neglected his unwavering affection. She reiterated her grandmother’s advice to face challenges, not avoid them, and expressed how heartbroken she felt when she realized he was truly getting engaged to Xue Yanwan.
She apologized for interrupting his family dinner and turned to leave. Yan Boyang stopped her, declaring that he desired no one but her, and that he had loved only her from the very beginning. He vowed to love her for the rest of his life, even if she only considered him a friend, and was willing to wait patiently for her to fall in love with him and marry him. Su Minggu was deeply moved by his sincere confession.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaoqian took Li'er to a valley and encouraged him to shout his message to Fenniang, explaining that the echo would carry his words far. Li’er shouted that he had always wanted to be Fenniang’s best friend and would wait for her in Wujiang Prefecture. Inspired, Zhao Xiaoqian then loudly proclaimed his love for Xie Xiaoman, urged her to marry him, and promised to have a plump son with her, also agreeing to her wish to become a teacher.
He concluded by telling her not to lock him out of their room after they married. Unbeknownst to them, Xie Ruying’s father was discussing with a subordinate his plan to seize Su Chang Ji’s assets, noting that Old Madam Su’s health was failing. The subordinate proposed that if the father helped him with the takeover, he would offer the Tongzhou branch of Su Chang Ji as a dowry for Xie Ruying, who was destined for Tongzhou.
