Twelve Letters Episode 9 Recap
> Twelve Letters Recap
In the present day, Sun Miaomiao patiently waited by the mailbox, hoping for a letter. As night fell and no correspondence arrived, her spirits sank. Just as she was about to leave, a faint cat's meow broke the silence, and the security guard retrieved a letter from the mailbox. The sudden event sent a shock through Sun Miaomiao, causing her to faint. The guard, seemingly accustomed to such reactions, quickly helped her.
Meanwhile, Yu Nian delivered a newly arrived reply to Shen Cheng. Upon reading its contents, Shen Cheng felt a surge of certainty: the person communicating with him across time was indeed his mother, Ye Haitang, in 1991. Shortly after, Yu Nian learned that Sun Miaomiao had fainted. While Yu Nian expressed concern for her friend and her baby, Shen Cheng, with a furrowed brow, chided Yu Nian for sharing such a confidential matter with an outsider.
He then stormed out of the room. Another person explained to Yu Nian that Shen Cheng's mother had tragically passed away in 2026, which fueled his intense emotions and desire to protect her in the past. Driven by his grief, Shen Cheng composed a reply to Ye Haitang in 1991, writing a desperate warning to "immediately distance herself from Tang Yixun" because "he will bring you danger."
Concurrently, the police investigation into Tang Yixun's past yielded new information for Yu Nian. They revealed that her biological father, Yu Zhiyong, had been imprisoned for a hit-and-run and had become close friends with Tang Yixun, who was incarcerated for manslaughter in 1991. After Yu Zhiyong's death in prison, Tang Yixun, likely honoring a dying wish, moved to Yu Nian's hometown to care for her and her grandmother.
This revelation deeply touched Yu Nian, who had always viewed Tang Yixun as her own father. Later, when Shen Cheng inquired with the security guard about Yu Zhiyong, the guard described him as a stubborn old man who seemed like a good person. Shen Cheng's phone then received a text, prompting a change in his expression. He hastily packed his belongings and rushed out.
Worried for Tang Yixun and knowing the police would only share updates with Shen Cheng, Yu Nian quickly followed him. They boarded a train, where Yu Nian thoughtfully prepared a box of instant noodles for Shen Cheng, creating a brief moment of warmth between them. Yu Nian, despite her deep belief in Tang Yixun's innocence, solemnly promised Shen Cheng that she would not protect her father if he were proven guilty.
Shen Cheng revealed his urgency stemmed from a profound desire to understand his mother's past. He contacted Tan Xin, Ye Haitang’s former teacher, who confirmed that Ye Haitang's high school studies and college entrance exam were indeed interrupted by a "case" in 1991. Tan Xin recounted various rumors circulating at the time: some claimed Tang Yixun committed the crime for Ye Haitang, while others suggested Ye Haitang was the culprit and Tang Yixun took the blame.
However, Tan Xin adamantly believed Tang Yixun would never harm Ye Haitang, citing a letter he wrote from prison pleading with her to help Ye Haitang continue her education and leave Meiwan safely. Tan Xin recalled the incident occurred around November 30th and mentioned Tang Yixun's childhood friend, Zhang Hao, promising to provide his contact information if she could find it. After the call, Yu Nian asked Shen Cheng if he now believed her father was a good person.
Shen Cheng replied that his belief no longer mattered; he only wanted to understand what transpired and if a different outcome could have been possible. Back in 1991, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun received the puzzling letter from the future, with Shen Cheng identifying himself as Ye Haitang's son and warning her to stay away from Tang Yixun due to impending danger. Both were baffled, with Tang Yixun expressing confusion and concern about the accusation.
They also wondered about unfamiliar names like Yu Nian and Yu Zhiyong from previous letters. As a severe rainstorm caused their house to leak, drenching Ye Haitang's test papers, Tang Yixun tried to console her. They agreed that if he ever posed a danger to her, she should flee, and he would eventually find her.
Later, rushing to the marketplace where the mailbox was located, they discovered it had been washed away by the flood, cutting off their vital connection to the future. They vowed to search for it daily. Meanwhile, Li Chadong had completed the renovation of his billiards hall but refused to continue collecting debts for his former boss, Bao. He decided to close the business, hoping to avoid further entanglement.
He instructed his friend Rat to take Zhenzhu home and to pass on a message to Tang Yixun: they should all keep their distance from Bao's gang for a while. However, Bao's enforcer, Qiang, and his thugs were not deterred. They harassed Ye Haitang at her part-time job at the bookstore, claiming to be friends of her boyfriend. The bookstore owner, fearing for his family, reluctantly fired Ye Haitang, offering her an early payment of her wages.
Heartbroken, Ye Haitang returned home and confided in Tang Yixun. Enraged by the thugs' actions, Tang Yixun wanted to confront Bao, but Ye Haitang pleaded with him to stay calm, reminding him that this was a deliberate provocation and he must not revert to his old ways. Tang Yixun, in turn, promised not to act rashly and swore to protect her, vowing to stay by her side.
That evening, Li Chadong returned to his billiards hall to find Qiang and his men waiting. Li Chadong reiterated his decision to close the billiards hall, warning them not to push him too far. Qiang then made a veiled threat, suggesting that Tan Xin would make a suitable partner for "Fat Dog," one of their thugs. Enraged, Li Chadong fiercely warned Qiang not to harm Tan Xin, threatening violence. Qiang countered by pointing out Li Chadong's inability to protect everyone.
At that moment, Tan Xin arrived, witnessing the confrontation and mistakenly concluding that Li Chadong was returning to his old life. Later, Tang Yixun, Li Chadong, and Rat gathered to discuss their desperate situation. Rat revealed that the thugs' harassment had cost Ye Haitang her job and expressed concern that Zhenzhu, her granny, and even Tan Xin might be targeted next. Li Chadong, deeply troubled, asked for time to deliberate on their next move.
