With You Episode 13 Recap
> With You Recap
Lin Hao sought out Xiao Lei to inquire about Xia Yan. Xiao Lei informed him that Xia Yan had returned to SG Tech and had no involvement with Xu Cheng Yi, clarifying that their interaction that night was merely a misunderstanding. Xia Yan's return to SG Tech was solely for work, and she was also caring for her ailing father.
Xiao Lei observed that Xia Yan had been looking after her father, getting very little sleep, and had lost a lot of weight, always internalizing her struggles and not letting others see her negative energy. Xiao Lei then accused Lin Hao of profoundly hurting Xia Yan, causing her immense difficulty.
Lin Hao, in turn, blamed Hao Jie, stating that Hao Jie was shameless and that he had clarified his intentions while in Beijing, planning to propose to Xia Yan the following year. He also accused Xu Cheng Yi of instigating misunderstandings between him and Xia Yan. Lin Hao admitted he had initially tried to anger Xia Yan but found he couldn't go through with it.
He asserted that he had cut all ties with Hao Jie and desperately hoped Xia Yan would give him another chance. Xiao Lei, however, refused to intervene, reminding Lin Hao of the sadness Xia Yan had endured. Ma Ke finalized the acquisition of Uncle Pai's coffee shop. Uncle Pai expressed concern that Han Shuang might quit upon learning of the new ownership, but Ma Ke confidently declared he would ensure she stayed, asserting that he understood Han Shuang's personality well.
Upon seeing Han Shuang, Ma Ke immediately adopted the persona of the new boss, declaring her fired. Han Shuang, feigning indignation, challenged him, claiming she had a contract that prevented arbitrary dismissal and reminding him his parents' plastic surgery earnings funded the purchase. Ma Ke pretended not to know about any such contract. Uncle Pai then intervened, corroborating Han Shuang's claim and stating that Ma Ke was legally bound to honor her prior agreement.
Ma Ke, appearing to concede, was pleased. Han Shuang then suggested a farewell drink with Uncle Pai, subtly excusing Ma Ke. Once he was gone, Han Shuang revealed to Uncle Pai that she had seen through their charade, recognizing it as a tactic to provoke her into staying. She admitted the shop was her favorite and she was merely playing along, intending to let Ma Ke enjoy his triumph for a while before asserting her true control.
Uncle Pai found their dynamic both amusing and endearing. Xiao Jun, noting that Lin Hao and Hao Jie had broken up and Lin Hao had gained some wealth, tried to manipulate Xiao Lei into reconsidering Lin Hao. He met with Xiao Lei and urged her to visit Lin Hao more often, discouraging her from associating with Fei Tianming. Xiao Jun dismissed Fei Tianming as a burden due to his child and accused him of being inconsiderate.
Xiao Lei was surprised by Xiao Jun's sudden change of heart, as he had previously praised Fei Tianming for his talent. While they were talking, Xiao Lei overheard Xiao Jun on a phone call attempting to sell a pen holder. She then confronted Xiao Jun, revealing that he had taken and sold an item from Fei Tianming's book bar, leaving him speechless.
Later, Xiao Jun made another attempt, inviting Xiao Lei to a grand hotel under the pretext that Lin Hao was suffering greatly, having barely eaten and looking increasingly gaunt. He hoped this plea would move Xiao Lei to console Lin Hao. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Xiao Lei went upstairs to Lin Hao's room. She found him sitting in a dazed state, appearing truly forlorn.
Lin Hao immediately expressed deep remorse for hurting Xia Yan, viewing his loss of her as deserved punishment. He confessed that he couldn't let go of his feelings, stating his love for Xia Yan had never wavered. Lin Hao lamented his inability to provide for Xia Yan, fearing he could only bring her hardship. Xiao Lei tried to comfort him, expressing belief in his capabilities and assuring him that persistence could reunite them.
Lin Hao, however, was consumed by sadness and frustration, feeling that his diligent efforts in networking and enduring sacrifices like excessive drinking were insignificant compared to the power wielded by those from privileged backgrounds. He poured out his despair, questioning the fairness of a society where his hard-earned master's degree amounted to nothing, while others achieved success with minimal effort. This moved Xiao Lei to tears.
Lin Hao reflected on his past as the sole graduate student and pride of his village, and how Xiao Lei once told him he was Xia Yan's pride too. He admitted he once believed it, but later lost confidence, realizing he could offer Xia Yan nothing that others couldn't provide with ease. Lin Hao confessed that his involvement with Hao Jie was merely a fleeting connection, devoid of genuine feeling.
He explained that due to his position in the company, he felt compelled to compromise and endure humiliation when Hao Jie made demands, all in an effort to quickly establish a stable home and warm relationship for Xia Yan. He acknowledged his error, regretting that his pursuit of what he thought was best ultimately led him to lose the "most beautiful her." Xiao Lei, tears streaming down her face, smiled faintly.
She mused that life is rarely smooth sailing, and one only truly grows by navigating through adversity and low points, recalling Lin Hao's own words to her during their college days. Seeing him, Xiao Lei felt that despite everything, Lin Hao was still the person she once knew. Moved by their conversation, Xiao Lei made a phone call, pretending she needed to see Xia Yan, and asked her to come downstairs to her company. Lin Hao was waiting outside.
Xia Yan initially wanted to avoid him but decided it was time for a clear discussion. She expressed her astonishment that the person she had waited for had casually ended their relationship. Lin Hao took her hand, repeatedly apologizing. At that moment, Xu Cheng Yi witnessed their interaction from afar and turned to leave. Xia Yan, tears welling up, pulled her hand away.
She recalled Lin Hao's past promise that he would never say "I'm sorry" to her because he would never do anything to hurt her or make her sad. Now, she pointed out, he had said "sorry" multiple times. Xia Yan calmly stated that her purpose in meeting him was to bring closure.
She accused him of willingly believing she had an affair with Xu Cheng Yi to justify his own departure, and now, with Hao Jie gone, he was willing to believe it was a misunderstanding because he had no better options. Lin Hao tried to interject, asserting his love for her, but Xia Yan firmly declared that he only believed he still loved her because he currently lacked alternatives.
She calmly stated that from that moment on, they would have nothing more to say to each other and would be completely unrelated. She wished him a bright future. Meanwhile, Han Shuang discovered that Fei Tianming was a well-known but incredibly low-key designer, having won a prestigious international design award. Xiao Lei was surprised, as Fei Tianming had only ever told her he worked in publishing and owned a bookstore, never mentioning his significant achievements.
She wondered if he had withheld this information because he feared she had ulterior motives. Han Shuang dismissed this, explaining that Fei Tianming was simply a very pure and notoriously low-key individual in the design world, emphasizing that true love transcends status and wealth. Despite Han Shuang's reassurance that Fei Tianming genuinely admired her, Xiao Lei still felt a significant gap between their backgrounds and capabilities.
Xiao Lei went to Fei Tianming's book bar to return the pen holder that Xiao Jun had taken. Fei Tianming graciously dismissed her apology, saying that Xiao Lei was not Xiao Jun and that as an adult, Xiao Jun should be responsible for his own actions. He revealed he was aware of Xiao Jun being spoiled at home and expressed concern over the fact that Xiao Lei's parents had sold her favorite books when she was younger.
He recounted hearing that they believed girls didn't need extensive education, as their ultimate purpose was to find a husband. Fei Tianming sympathized deeply with Xiao Lei, acknowledging the challenges she faced growing up in such a family. He invited her to dinner, but she declined, suggesting the weekend instead. As Xiao Lei left, she saw Fei Tianming's ex-wife, Wang Meng, arriving with their son, Dou Dou. Fei Tianming greeted his child with immense affection.
Witnessing their familial interaction, Xiao Lei offered a quiet smile and discreetly departed. Lin Hao's company encountered severe financial difficulties as three major companies dissolved their cooperation, resulting in minimal liquidated damages. His secretary informed him that the company's public account lacked sufficient funds to pay salaries the following Monday. Lin Hao promised to cover the salaries by drawing from his personal account that weekend.
The secretary then announced her resignation, citing a myriad of personal reasons including her mother wanting her to take a civil service exam, her father's poor health, her grandmother's rheumatism, and her boyfriend proposing marriage and buying a house. Lin Hao, resigned, accepted her resignation and asked her to hand over her work directly to him.
Adding to his woes, Lin Hao received a phone call from his stockbroker, who informed him that his investments in the rare metal market had been continuously falling, contradicting earlier promises of profit, though the broker still insisted prices would eventually rise. Later, Wang Meng, Fei Tianming's ex-wife, visited Xiao Lei, offering a gift from Shanghai. Wang Meng explained that she and Fei Tianming divorced when their son, Dou Dou, was three years old.
Now older, Dou Dou was increasingly questioning why his parents didn't live together and yearned for his father's constant presence. Wang Meng admitted she had considered reconciling with Fei Tianming for Dou Dou's sake, but Fei Tianming had told her he was with Xiao Lei. Wang Meng then requested that if Xiao Lei and Fei Tianming were to build a future together, Xiao Lei would be considerate of Dou Dou's feelings, especially during his critical developmental stage. Feeling overwhelmed and uncomfortable, Xiao Lei quickly rose and excused herself.
