Introduction
We’ve come to the last part of the recap articles on the Chinese comfort drama The Best Thing (Native title: 爱你 ). In the second part, The Best Thing: Recap Episodes 9 to 18, Xi Fan puts an end to her seven years relationship with her ex-bf and now officially dates Su Ye. How will the drama end?
Drama Recaps Episodes 19 to 28
Episode 19
Chen Xi Fan and He Su Ye are officially dating, and everyone around them is happy for them. The whole episode is sweet and sweet. I have never seen any guy in a drama or a movie bringing branches of magnolia for his gf… Su Ye gives her magnolia while reciting a classic Chinese poem. Of course, magnolia is one of the TCM herbs used.
I like what Su Ye tells Xi Fan in this episode, I’ll quote it for you:
“A relationship is about two people. Happiness and joy should go both ways. For me and for you, should be the same. So, if one day I make you miserable or I make you unhappy you have to tell me, I’ll make changes. If that’s still not enough, you can break up with me. I’m saying this because I truly want you to always be happy.”
Episode 20
Xi Fan also officially breaks up with Yan Heng and before he leaves the hotel, she bids her goodbye and a genuine wish that he will be happy with someone else, referring to the quote above that happiness should go both ways. She also tells her parents about her relationship with Su Ye. They are happy too and want to meet Su Ye because the first time he came last time the house was in chaos with Yan Heng’s visit.
I like the double date between Su Ye – Xi Fan and Yi Shen – Xiang Ya couple. The second couple rarely gets the exposure in this drama so I posted their double date here.
Do you remember the ring that Xi Fan gave him last time so he could pretend he was married to avoid the proposing patients? Well, she finds it again at his home. Since he pretends he lost it last time, she teases him and they bicker back and forth about who fell and who made a move first. At that time, she promised she would buy him a ring so she bought one but put it on his middle finger.
Episode 21
The elders are officially meeting in this episode, they are invited by Su Ye’s grandpa to visit his herb garden. The walk between the tulips is so pretty. In fact, there are so many tulips shown in this drama! In the evening, they have dinner together and toast. At this time, Xi Fan finds out that Su Ye has a high alcohol tolerance, unlike what happened when she found him ‘drunk’ last time. Su Ye is busted, lol!
Episode 22
Their dating scenes now blend with work and other personal life. Xi Fan still hangs out with Xiang Ya and Yi Shen after work. We see also the drama starts the romance move between Li Jie and Fang Ke Xin, which he’s jealous of since she goes out for dinner with a guy. Xi Fan and Su Ye are busy with work too, his research, and her preparation for studying abroad. They still find time for flirting, tho, especially the one at the hotel when there is a TCM seminar. What I like about this episode is that He Sheng, Su Ye’s father, secretly attends the TCM seminar and even sees his son and Xi Fan flirting. He seems to like what he saw.
Not related to the main plot, but the ground around the hotel where Xi Fan works is so pretty!
Episode 23
I like this episode because of the reconciliation between Su Ye and his father. He Sheng visits the town and stays at the hotel where Xi Fan works. He has a talk about his son with Xi Fan and worries his son is alone because he had taken care of his sick mother when little and his first love didn’t go well. Xi Fan feels Su Ye’s dad cares about his son but their relationship is estranged. Dad attends the seminar held at the hotel where Su Ye presents his published research on postoperative care of traditional Chinese medicine and chemotherapy. Later Su Ye, Xi Fan, Su Ye’s dad, and Su Ye’s grandpa have dinner together in a TCM restaurant and they part on good terms.
Episode 24
This is a steamy episode. Both the leading actor and actress, Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Nan, know how to kiss in their previous dramas. So we can expect one good kissing scene here. Anyway, Xi Fan forgets her key but her parents won’t be home till late. Their spare key is with the neighbor who’s gone out of town. Xiang Ya has her spare key, but when she finds out Xi Fan is at Su Ye’s home waiting for her to send the key, she refuses to send it and tells Xi Fan to just stay overnight at Su Ye’s home. From being awkward with the idea to drying hair after showering to kissing in the bathroom, they sleep together…
When Xi Fan’s parents find out that their daughter stayed overnight at her bf’s house, they change the house key to an electronic lock with a password, stating that the old-fashioned key system is broken, lol.
A bit about the third couple. Li Jie and Fang Kexin successfully defended their dissertation and finished their doctoral program. Fang Ke Xin officially says goodbye to Su Ye. Li Jie confesses to her but she rejects him. Li Jie pretends to accept the rejection gallantly but he’s heartbroken. Su Ye assigns more work for him to forget about his heartbreak.
Episode 25
Hahaha, a cameo appearance of Bi Wen Jun ( 毕雯珺 ), who played a celebrity actor visiting the hotel. After work, Xi Fan and Xiang Ya watch the drama Warm on Cold Night ( 九霄寒夜暖 ) which the actor starred in, and praise his handsome face, making Su Ye and Yi Shen jealous!
In a more serious substory, Xi Fan’s mother has a breast tumor. Mom asks for Su Ye’s consultation since he’s in the Oncology Department, but begs him not to tell her daughter.
Episode 26
Xi Fan’s admitting date to study abroad is nearing so she officially resigns from the hotel and says goodbyes to her colleagues. When she goes to pick up her student visa she stops by the hospital where Su Ye works, and sees not only Su Ye but her mom (and her dad) who secretly has done treatment. Xi Fan is very angry because nobody tells her, so she has a fight with Su Ye and runs away. After he finally finds her, they communicate their worries and reconcile. At home, she studies breast cancer materials to help her take care of her mom.
Episode 27
Because of her mother’s condition, Xi Fan secretly decides not to study abroad. She throws away the envelope containing the visa in the trash. Luckily Su Ye finds it. He persuades her not to give up on her dream, but she gives it up. He secretly tells Xi Fan’s mother about her daughter’s decision. So after her mother completed fifteen chemo treatments she talked with her daughter. Xi Fan finally agrees to study abroad, and with Su Ye’s support to take care of her mother.
Su Ye complains to Xi Fan when she delays coming back for an internship. Honeysuckle blooms in the view.
Episode 28
After finishing studying in Switzerland, Xi Fan finally returned to China. Time goes back and everyone is doing good. Xiang Ya and Yi Shen open a teashop together. On the day of the first show, Xi Fan proposes to Su Ye. He is surprised and then makes a proposal ring from the honeysuckle plant. In the spring of the following year, He Su Ye and Shen Xi Fan hold a grand wedding. What a beautiful love story! The End.
Conclusion
Yay, what a beautiful ending! I love happy endings in romantic dramas, but an ending with a wedding gives more satisfaction than an ending with couples getting together or reuniting at the last minute. The drama puts a lot of effort into arranging such a beautiful wedding ceremony.
The uniqueness of this drama in comparison with other Chinese romantic dramas is the infusion of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) elements in it. We’ll learn about TCM through this drama and that’s what I’m gonna write about in the editorial article.
