Introduction
Whew… after all the family drama in Reborn: Drama Recap Episodes 8 to 15, we finally come to the final part of the recap article series.
I have to be honest with you. I signed up for this drama because of the mystery part, in which Qiao Qing Yu investigates the truth about her sister’s death. Now that the mystery of the cause of Qiao Bei Yu’s death, and who was responsible for what happened in the past, are revealed in earlier episodes, I somewhat lost my enthusiasm watching the last eight episodes. Especially, knowing that this is Chinese drama, high school romance is most unlikely, as you see/read Episodes 14 and 15. And am not a fan of the family genre. So bear with me, as I skipped or fast-forwarded some scenes I deemed as fillers or boring when watching the rest of Reborn ( 焕羽 ). In this part, I will just recap the boring episodes with some key points I want to talk about.
As for the featured image, isn’t this the scene that everyone who loves watching the romance genre always waits for? I will let you know during my recap below, in which episode this scene shows up.
Recap Episodes 16 to 23
Episode 16: Bei Yu’s Wish
Shakespeare said: “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. Although there is no contact at all, Qing Yu and Ming Sheng were actually missing each other. Every time Qing Yu passed by Ming Sheng’s apartment, she looked up to see it. Now that Ming Sheng had extra training in French and left school early, Qing Yu always glanced back to his empty desk. We already knew in Episode 15 that he secretly helped her from being harassed by fighting the thugs. He also watched Qing Yu being picked up or taken to school by her mom from his tree. But when he saw Qing Yu looking up the tree, he hid, lol!
I knew it! I had a hunch by the end of Episode 12 that Mu Mu likes Ming Sheng. They had been neighbors for more than a decade since Ming Sheng’s grandfather took little Ming Sheng in. In Episode 12 we found out that Ming Sheng had protected Mu Mu when her father started his domestic violence. Mu Mu said in that episode that boys have tendencies to act heroic. Yes, in this case, girls have tendencies to be damsels in distress and fall for their saviors. Now my guess proved to be right. Damn it!
That earthquake thing… it’s one of the many attempts in 99% of Chinese dramas to remind the (Chinese) viewers of social awareness of any (Chinese) public topic. So boring…
Uhm… after several months passed… finally father and son talked about the past? Meanwhile, Ming Sheng already knew about it for a while, and Ming Qiu Xin had been on administrative leave for a while, too.
Episode 17: Every Family Has Its Struggles
Qing Yu finally found a package with Bei Yu’s medical records from People’s Hospital sent a few months ago. Since she was not home at that time, Jin Yu received it and he totally forgot about it. The records stated that Bei Yu’s test results had been good for two months before she died. Then why did she die if she could be saved? Qing Yu wondered whether her sister lost the will to live, or their parents gave up the treatment because of no money…
Episode 18: I Lied. I Have an Umbrella
Where did the episode title come from? Well, this was one of the rare encounters between Ming Sheng and Qing Yu nowadays. Because Mu Mu’s father was in the hospital for late-stage liver cancer, Ming Sheng and Qing Yu visited Mu Mu and his father. One evening Ming Sheng and Qing Yu ended up in front of the hospital together waiting for the rain to stop. Ming Sheng brought an umbrella, but he hid it and lied that he didn’t bring an umbrella. Their convo was awkward. Ming Sheng told Qing Yu that he wouldn’t come to school anymore because of his prep class to study abroad. This might be their last meeting. Qing Yu hid her sadness well and wished him success. She then bid goodbye because the rain eased up. That was when Ming Sheng told her that he lied and he had an umbrella. Qing Yu said she wouldn’t be able to return the umbrella, so thanks but no thanks, and ran leaving Ming Sheng speechless. Later, we found out that Qing Yu actually had an umbrella in her backpack. She lied, too!
Ming Sheng also finally kinda consented to the relationship between his father and Nurse Fang. He asked her about the follow-up of the medical case that made his father suspended. Later, he investigated the case and helped his father clear up the allegation, and his father can return to work.
Episode 19: Bei Yu’s DV
We finally knew how Bei Yu died. You see, in Ep 17 it was clear that Bei Yu’s test result had been normal for two months prior to her death. However, during her hospitalization, she received numerous calls every day from strangers, humiliating and cursing her. Eventually, she couldn’t stand anymore and committed suicide. Bei Yu jumped off the cliff into the sea. Li Fang Hao witnessed it and that took a toll on her emotionally. Their mother actually wanted to commit suicide, too, but nurses stopped her and reminded her about the two little children who still needed their mother. Since then, Mom and Dad chose to bear the sadness themselves and hid the fact from Qing Yu and Jin Yu.
Qing Yu also found the DV (Digital Video) camera her sister used before her death. Bei Yu recorded her confession. In the video, Bei Yu mentioned that she was once doted on by her parents when she was young, but with the birth of her younger sister and brother, she was left in the countryside, which made her feel unwanted. At that time, Jin Rui always protected and accompanied Bei Yu, and they had been playmates since childhood. As they grew up, it was natural for them to fall for each other. Ever since the family broke them up, she moved to the city and dated a few guys. However, none of them could provide the warmth she was looking for. Later, after a hospital check-up, she found out she had AIDS. When their parents learned about Bei Yu’s illness, they left Qing Yu and Jin Yu in Shun Yun and came to the hospital to take care of Bei Yu until her passing.
Episode 20: Li Fang Hao’s Outburst
Grandpa Qiao finally passed away. After the funeral, the first uncle and aunt wanted to move Bei Yu’s grave out of the family property. Li Fang Hao went mad and wanted to beat up the first aunt. Qing Yu calmed her mother down, stating that Bei Yu didn’t like that place anyway, they might as well move her out to where she liked. With that reasoning, the family moved Bei Yu’s urn and bought a nice cemetery plot for Bei Yu. They burnt joss papers and prayed that Bei Yu could live the life she wanted in the afterlife. Qing Yu then dreamed of meeting her sister and hugged her.
Oh my God… Ming Sheng to the rescue… again??? When Ming Sheng caught up with his mother who came to Jiangzhou as a judge in a youth dance competition, he found out that Qing Yu was a participant who hadn’t checked in yet so her room was given to someone else. She practiced late in the rehearsal room passing the opening hour so she got locked in. Ming Sheng knew she would crash in any place, but this was an important event. So, Ming Sheng arrived in time to rescue Qing Yu… again! Qing Yu was so embarrassed and awkward being in a similar situation as before with Ming Sheng. If were Qing Yu, I would be, too. It was like déjà vu.
Episode 21: I’m Glad We Met
When Ming Sheng brought up that he really wanted to help Qing Yu leave Huanzhou last time, Qing Yu apologized. But that was about it, they didn’t talk much until sleeping time. As usual, she slept in bed, he on the couch.
Qing Yu didn’t win the competition, but at least she just wanted to perform the dance for Bei Yu. After the competition was over, Ming Sheng asked her to spend the day with him without worry, since after this he would go to France and they wouldn’t see each other again. That was the payback for the favor of him saving her last night. They toured around the city and went to many places and had fun. In the evening, Ming Sheng lit a firecracker and asked Qing Yu to make three wishes. Qing Yu made three wishes: First, she wanted to enter Jiangzhou University. Second, that her family will stay healthy and happy. As for the third wish, she didn’t want to tell Ming Sheng. They spent the night by Jiangzhou Lighthouse to watch the sunrise. In the morning, she asked Ming Sheng: after they grew up and met many people, would all the memories they had yesterday mean nothing? Ming Sheng looked at her solemnly, he said he was glad to meet her. Then he took her hand and bit it gently. He said that when they first met, she bit him. Now that he bit her hand, they were even. After this, he would delete all memories of her with one single click. He then wished her the best and walked away. Qing Yu was shocked and speechless.
The thug Brother Hei was released from prison and he started harassing Qing Yu again, since last time because of her he went to prison. We finally found the last answer of Bei Yu’s mystery. The one who posted news and photos of her getting AIDS was Brother Hei!
Episode 22: I’ll Remember You Forever
Before he went training in another city, Ming Sheng heard from his friends that Brother Hei harassed Qing Yu again at school. They also told him now Brother Hei was clearly the culprit who circulated the news and photos of Bei Yu online and drove her to commit suicide. Ming Sheng wanted to do something for Qing Yu to make her wish come true. So he disguised himself in black and challenged Brother Hei to a fight. Brother Hei and his lackeys beat up Ming Sheng, although he was hurt Ming Sheng also broke the thug’s rib and was sent to the hospital. Because the gangsters started first, Ming Sheng’s attack was considered self-defense so he was not arrested.
Qing Yu finally heard this from Ming Sheng’s friends. Crying, she ran to the big tree where Ming Sheng usually hung out. He was not there anymore, but the blue windchime from his apartment hanging on the tree. Qing Yu said that Ming Sheng broke his promise: that he would erase all memories of her in one single click. However, he still remembered her and beat up the thugs. So, she would take back her words too, the ones she blurted out when they met under the tree for the last time, that she would forget about him. She said now she would remember him forever.
After Qing Yu passed the national university entrance exam, the whole family moved to Jiangzhou as they promised for better future. Li Fang Hao agreed she would undergo treatment for depression. Before leaving, she took Qing Yu to the place where Bei Yu jumped into the sea. Mom no longer traumatic, she thoughtfully remembered Bei Yu’s last moment with an allegory, as a bird that was ready to spread its wings and fly. At night, Qing Yu dreamed of walking in the woods with her sister. Bei Yu initially took her hand but then she disappeared. Qing Yu only heard her voice telling her that it was time for her to leave, the new future ahead of her would be beautiful.
Episode 23: I Will Always Be Here When You Turn Back
Life is great. Qing Yu is now more talkative and cheerful. She was active on campus and volunteered in the psychological center to help people with depression. Mom went to therapy for depression and seemed getting better, both Mom and Dad were happier. Jin Yu told Qing Yu that Brother Hei was sentenced for libel by circulating news and photos of his former girlfriend Bei Yu on the Internet.
After dinner together with her family, while washing dishes with Jin Yu, his brother told her that Ming Sheng went to their noodle restaurant and ordered fried noodles. The restaurant was closing, but they served him anyway. Jin Yu asked why he wanted to eat noodles that late. Ming Sheng said he would leave China tomorrow. He ate the noodles with chili sauce and sugar. It was what Qing Yu taught him when she crashed at his apartment before. Ming Sheng cried while eating, so Jin Yu asked if the food was too spicy. Ming Sheng muttered something that sounded like “can’t forget”. I knew it! Ming Sheng couldn’t erase his memories of Qing Yu with one click.
Through a lecture in college Qing Yu finally understood the meaning of the phrase “the moon is beautiful tonight” Ming Sheng expressed last time. Qing Yu had turned down guys who confessed their love and her roommates teased her that she already had someone in her heart, since she often visited the Jianzhou Lighthouse. Indeed, she went there once or twice a month, and the cafe owner guessed she had been waiting for someone.
Mu Mu came to see Qing Yu and now she was doing internship work. She took Qing Yu to the hotel where Ming Sheng’s mother was holding a signing for her concert. Qing Yu wondered what was the point since it was in the past. But Mu Mu argued that Ming Sheng didn’t rescue her from the snowstorm and wanted to help her run away only because they were classmates. When seeing Ming Sheng by his mom’s side, Qing Yu left. While walking away, she remembered that her last wish of three she didn’t tell him was to see him again in the future. She texted him if he would return for the New Year, but he hadn’t replied for a long time.
Two years passed since then. Qing Yu was again hung around at the Jiangzhou Lighthouse. Qing Yu’s text message was finally answered. Ming Sheng sent a picture of the lighthouse. He’s back, for good. He asked Qing Yu what was her third wish from back then. She said he didn’t need to know because it was already fulfilled. Ming Sheng then returned her lucky charm bracelet. He didn’t need it anymore. He was lucky enough now. They embraced and kissed. He whispered to Qing Yu “I’ll always be here when you turn back.” The person you love is just like a lighthouse. The lighthouse never goes out to the sea, it’s a constant amidst the turbulents. Legend says, those who part beneath a lighthouse, will meet again someday.
THE END.
Conclusion
In my opinion, Reborn ( 焕羽 ) is a unique youth drama. It’s very heavy and full of family issues we can find in society. What makes me amazed is that although the drama is only 23 episodes, it managed to cover a lot of topics. I could say that not only the main mystery but EVERYTHING dark, hidden, or concealed in this drama is shed into light; no dusty corner is left untouched. Although the ending for the romance part is a bit rushed (we want to see their dating scenes), it is a happy ending.
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