When You Be Me Episode 15 Recap
> When You Be Me Recap
Qiao Nan arrived late to meet Mu Xiangxiang, explaining that his father had been nagging him about puppy love. He presented her with supplementary study materials, suggesting that if they were together, she would never run out of practice questions. Mu Xiangxiang, however, handed back the items Qiao Nan had left at her place and requested that he pack up her belongings from his home as well, declining his offer to retrieve them immediately.
She clarified her stance, stating that while she might have been unclear the previous night, they had now officially switched back, and the issue with Li Qinghua was settled, so everything was "back to normal." She firmly reiterated that she could not pursue a romantic relationship before college, as it would distract her studies. Given her family's circumstances, she emphasized that getting into university was an endeavor where she "must succeed and cannot fail."
Qiao Nan asked if she would reconsider if he promised not to interfere with her studies, but Mu Xiangxiang apologized, stating her desire to get her own life back on track. She advised Qiao Nan to return to the life he preferred and not waste time on "meaningless things," explaining that she lacked his family's wealth and therefore couldn't be "as free-willed" as he was.
Deeply wounded by her words, Qiao Nan angrily questioned what she meant by "do as one pleases," wondering if she was referring to his past behavior of fighting, brawling, and skipping classes. He accused her of always seeing him as a "worthless good-for-nothing" spoiled by his rich family, and that this was the real reason for her dislike.
When Mu Xiangxiang tried to explain, Qiao Nan cut her off, accusing her of only being kind to him to facilitate their body swap, and now that they were back in their own bodies, he was "no longer of any use" to her. He sarcastically called her "amazing, ruthless, and superior." His bitter remarks provoked Mu Xiangxiang to push him away.
Overcome with emotion, Qiao Nan cried, tearing into pieces the paper where he had written his confession, and sped off on his motorcycle, his tears scattering in the wind. Mu Xiangxiang, also in tears, silently collected the torn fragments of paper and carried the box of his belongings back inside, whispering an apology and acknowledging that their relationship was a mistake from the very beginning.
Back home, Mu Xiangxiang was helping to put away beer boxes when her aunt-in-law, startled by her sudden movement, began to scold her, implying that Mu Xiangxiang was becoming arrogant now that she might be associating with wealthier individuals. Feeling targeted and helpless, Mu Xiangxiang broke down, asking why everyone was against her when all she wanted was to study diligently and live a peaceful life.
Seeing his daughter cry, Mu Defeng intervened, defending Mu Xiangxiang and telling his sister-in-law to address any grievances directly with him instead of picking on a child. Meanwhile, Qiao Rui attempted to speak with Qiao Nan, who had just returned, about his recent arguments with their father, urging him to argue less. However, Qiao Nan ignored his brother, went upstairs, and furiously punched a boxing bag to vent his frustration.
He shouted that Mu Xiangxiang was "not some fairy descended from heaven," that he could live without her, and that he had "an entire forest" of other options. Later, Mu Xiangxiang was seen carefully piecing together the torn confession paper Qiao Nan had ripped, placing it in a folder for safekeeping as tears silently fell. At the same time, Qiao Yuanshan, hearing the sounds of Qiao Nan punching the bag, became enraged.
He believed Qiao Nan was acting recklessly and was beyond saving, determined to discipline him, especially regarding his "puppy love" which he hadn't yet confronted. Luo Meisheng tried to calm her husband, suggesting Qiao Nan might be going through something as mood swings were normal for a teenage boy. Qiao Yuanshan, however, dismissed this, claiming it was Qiao Nan's "true colors" showing and that all his previous good behavior was "an act," concluding that he was "hopeless."
Luo Meisheng eventually managed to soothe him enough to go to bed, while Qiao Rui stood outside, overhearing their conversation. Meanwhile, Mu Defeng and his wife watched Mu Xiangxiang sleeping, her face still tear-streaked. Mu Defeng remarked that he had never seen her cry so much, and his wife expressed her heartache. They wondered if forcing her to break up with Qiao Nan had been too harsh.
Mu Defeng reasoned that it was "better a short pain than a long one" while their relationship was still new, to prevent greater suffering later, holding firm to his belief that early romance was detrimental. When Qiao Nan attempted to look into Mu Xiangxiang's window, he found his view blocked by a test paper she had taped there, further intensifying his anger. He stormed over to confront her, sarcastically accusing her of disrupting his friends' activities.
He sternly told her not to "pull this nonsense" with him, declaring that he was "not someone who clings desperately" and would not bother her again. Their classmates witnessed the tense exchange. Mixiang commented that she always knew Qiao Nan and Mu Xiangxiang weren't a suitable match, believing Qiao Nan had "finally come to his senses."
She asserted that Mu Xiangxiang wasn't "qualified" to be either his leader or his girlfriend, predicting their separation was inevitable, as "the cold war is the beginning of the end." Fang Lingli, however, strongly disagreed, insisting they were merely having a "little quarrel." She emphatically stated that her "favorite couple" would never break up and vowed to be the first to object if anyone tried to separate them, even her best friend.
Fang Lingli then approached Mu Xiangxiang, observing that she seemed different, or rather, had reverted to her old self. She asked Mu Xiangxiang why, after excitedly confessing to Qiao Nan just days ago, she was now giving him the cold shoulder. Mu Xiangxiang explained that her confession was a "momentary impulse," and she now realized she needed to focus solely on her studies. Fang Lingli expressed her dismay that her favorite couple was breaking up.
Jiang Hai then appeared, agreeing with Mu Xiangxiang's decision and launching into a pseudo-scientific explanation about male testosterone and female oxytocin, suggesting women are more rational. Fang Lingli, cutting him off, accused him of trying to "take advantage of Brother Nan's absence" to break them up, calling him "shameless," and then physically drove him away. Qiao Nan channeled all his frustration into his taekwondo training, pushing his club members to their limits.
They complained, calling the intense training "life-threatening" and accusing him of taking out his "romantic frustrations" on them. Qiao Nan vehemently denied this, asserting that rigorous training was essential for winning the upcoming competition. One student, Big Guy, remarked that everyone saw Mu Xiangxiang tape test papers to her window that morning and advised Qiao Nan that if he truly loves something, he should pursue it wholeheartedly, drawing parallels to his own dedication to taekwondo.
Qiao Nan, dismissing their comments and again denying any relationship with Mu Xiangxiang, punished everyone with 500 front kicks, 500 side kicks, and 500 tornado kicks. Elsewhere, two other students, Guo Zhi and Yan Zhiyang, were enjoying an afternoon snack, remarking on their newfound freedom since Qiao Nan stopped pushing them to study and the Director (nicknamed the "Bone-Melting Palm") was hospitalized.
Their leisurely afternoon was abruptly interrupted when the Director, now released from the mental hospital for correctly answering a question about apples, appeared and scolded them for skipping class and having afternoon tea. He ordered them to write 5,000-word self-criticism essays. The Director later discarded the "Body Swap" novel and other items he had collected, regretting his prior obsession. Distraught, Qiao Nan sought solace by going to the vicinity of Mu Xiangxiang's home.
Mu Defeng discovered him there and invited him to chat over drinks. While sharing a non-alcoholic beverage, Mu Defeng noticed the necklace Qiao Nan was wearing, which reminded him of Mu Xiangxiang wearing a similar one while helping him with laundry. He also observed Qiao Nan crushing his drink can after finishing it, a habit he previously associated with Mu Xiangxiang.
Mu Defeng, perceiving these as coincidental similarities between the two young people, believed it was too early for them to be in love. He then directly asked Qiao Nan if he liked Mu Xiangxiang, then advised him that they were "too young" and "it's not the right time."
Qiao Nan tried to explain that their situation was unique and not merely "teenage hormones," but he quickly gave up, concluding that his feelings were "wishful thinking" and it no longer mattered what he said. Mu Defeng then shared his own love story with his wife, Xiaoyu, describing how he tirelessly pursued her when they were young, eventually confessing his love on stage at a singing competition, much to the disapproval of her father (his supervisor).
Despite the obstacles, Xiaoyu still chose him, and marrying her was the happiest event of his life, though he harbored guilt for not being able to provide a more prosperous life for his family. He emphasized that sustaining a family is difficult, a concept Qiao Nan, being young, wouldn't fully grasp yet. He went on to highlight Mu Xiangxiang's "special health conditions," explaining that she "can't get angry easily."
He expressed his hope that she would find a man who would "spoil and pamper her for a lifetime," make her happy, and "never make her angry." This deeply affected Qiao Nan, who immediately apologized to Mu Defeng, admitting he was wrong and had made Mu Xiangxiang sad.
Mu Defeng then shared his hobby of growing night-blooming cereus, which are notoriously delicate and difficult for him to maintain, often resulting in their demise and earning him the nickname "Flower Destroyer" from his wife. He drew a parallel, stating that "taking care of a household is just like tending to flowers. It's easy to be impulsive, but hard to persevere. Momentary prosperity is easy, but lifelong flourishing is difficult."
He acknowledged Qiao Nan's "genuine" affection for Mu Xiangxiang but advised him that they are both too young with "many uncertainties" ahead. He suggested Qiao Nan should "mature a bit more" and be ready to "shoulder the responsibilities a man should bear" before seriously pursuing Mu Xiangxiang again.
Mu Defeng thanked the Qiao family for their long-term care of Mu Xiangxiang, but informed Qiao Nan that he would no longer allow her to work part-time at their hotel, as he didn't want her to "keep troubling" them. Qiao Nan then asked about the "rent increase," which led Mu Defeng to mistakenly assume Mu Xiangxiang confided in him.
Mu Defeng assured him that he and his wife would find a solution, as it was not a child's concern, still completely unaware of Qiao Nan's true identity. Mu Defeng then advised Qiao Nan to consider his words before heading home. Upon returning home, Qiao Nan was immediately confronted by his furious father, Qiao Yuanshan, despite Luo Meisheng's earlier attempt to calm him down.
Qiao Yuanshan chastised Qiao Nan for his "shameless" return and lashed out about his recent academic improvement, accusing him of "cheating and deceiving." He questioned how a previously poor student could achieve such high scores and angrily suggested that Qiao Nan hired a "ghostwriter" for his exams, despite the money spent on tutors. Enraged, Qiao Yuanshan threatened to kick him out of the house.
