Episode Summary
Fueled by alcohol and greed, Ma Xiaowei confronts Ai Zhonghua, demanding half the family fortune and claiming his mother was Ai Zhonghua's first love. The shock causes Ai Zhonghua to collapse and be hospitalized in critical condition. Ai Linjiang, enraged by the revelation, initially refuses to see his father. Ma Xiaowei tries to exploit the situation at the hospital, hoping Ai Zhonghua won't recover so he can inherit. Xue Xiaozhou, prompted by his own past regrets concerning his late father, finds the distraught Ai Linjiang and convinces him to go to the hospital. Xue Xiaozhou then exposes Ma Xiaowei's scheme, forcing him to back down. Later, Xue Xiaozhou decides to give up his claim on his father's house, leading Qiu Lisu to expedite its sale and continue her plans involving Ding Zhiyuan and Li Fendou.
Spoiler Alert
"A Better Life" Episode 12 Recap & Spoilers: When Family Drama Explodes
Alright, so the episode kicks off with Ma Xiaowei getting a little loose-lipped thanks to some liquid courage. While hanging out with his buddies, he starts bragging about how the big boss, Ai Zhonghua, supposedly offered him a cool three million. Naturally, his friends immediately plant the seed: why not go for half the family fortune, split it right down the middle with Ai Zhonghua's son, Ai Linjiang? Ma Xiaowei, never one to miss a potential payday, is instantly intrigued.
Before we get to the main event, there's a little backstory drip. We learn that Ai Zhonghua's wife fell ill and was hospitalized about three months prior. While visiting his mom, Ai Linjiang met Wu Ya (who seems to be working at the hospital). It was apparently love at first sight for him – he went full-on woo mode, buying humidifiers for her department and sending flowers daily. Meanwhile, Wu Ya applied for a single dorm at work, telling her roommate/friend Xue Xiaozhou it was for work reasons. Xue Xiaozhou feels kind of ditched but doesn't really push back. Keep this thread in mind.
Now, back to the chaos. Ma Xiaowei, egged on by his friends, literally shows up at Ai Zhonghua's company, ready to ambush him. Just as Ai Linjiang arrives to report on work, Ma Xiaowei and his crew barge into Ai Zhonghua's office. The demand? An equal split of the family assets. Ma Xiaowei then drops the bombshell claim: his mother was Ai Zhonghua's first love.
This. Sends. Ai Linjiang. Over. The. Edge.
He completely loses it, yelling at his father, refusing to listen to any frantic explanations Ai Zhonghua tries to offer. Ai Linjiang storms out in a rage. The shock and stress are too much for Ai Zhonghua, who collapses right there in the office. And Ma Xiaowei? His immediate reaction is to ask his buddies how much he stands to inherit, especially if Ai Zhonghua hasn't made a will – figuring he could legally claim half. Yikes.
As if on cue, the heavens open up, and it starts pouring rain. Xue Xiaozhou is chilling at home with his cat when he gets a text from Hu Manli telling him Ai Zhonghua was rushed to the hospital after the confrontation. Xue Xiaozhou feels a wave of guilt (likely tied to his connection with Ma Xiaowei, maybe the contract signing mentioned later?) and races to the hospital in the downpour, meeting Hu Manli there.
They find out Ai Zhonghua is in the ICU and in critical condition. But guess who's guarding the door like vultures? Ma Xiaowei and his pals, refusing to let anyone see Ai Zhonghua. Even the secretary calling the cops doesn't deter them. Hu Manli, thinking fast, asks the secretary for places Ai Linjiang usually hangs out.
Hu Manli and Xue Xiaozhou split up to find the distraught son. Xue Xiaozhou, feeling a kinship with Ai Linjiang's situation (more on that in a sec), doubts Ai Linjiang will even show up at the hospital. He reveals to Hu Manli that the day they all signed that contract with Ma Xiaowei was actually the anniversary of his own father's death. Hu Manli apologizes, likely unaware of the significance.
This triggers a painful flashback for Xue Xiaozhou. Three years ago, on another rainy night, his father wanted to apologize to him face-to-face. Xue Xiaozhou, stubborn and angry, refused to go. His mother pleaded with him, even slapped him in frustration, but he wouldn't budge. Tragically, his father died in a car accident that same day. Hu Manli hits the nail on the head, pointing out that Xue Xiaozhou is still trapped by that guilt and will never get the closure or explanation he refused to hear.
This seems to be a turning point for Xue Xiaozhou. Standing in the rain, he has a moment of clarity and resolves to take responsibility for the mess he feels partly responsible for.
He eventually tracks down Ai Linjiang, who's drowning his sorrows and completely wasted. Xue Xiaozhou tries desperately to drag him to the hospital, urging him not to make the same mistake he did and end up with lifelong regrets. Ai Linjiang, however, is still too hurt and angry to forgive his father or face him. Xue Xiaozhou calls Hu Manli for backup while continuing to plead with Ai Linjiang, telling him he needs to hear his father's side of the story directly, or he'll regret it forever.
Back at the hospital, Ai Zhonghua's condition worsens, and the doctors issue a critical condition notice – standard procedure, but serious. Ma Xiaowei's friends advise him not to sign anything, warning that if Ai Zhonghua recovers, Ma Xiaowei might get nothing. So, Ma Xiaowei refuses to sign and bizarrely insists he'll take Ai Zhonghua "home" (maybe meaning take charge?). Hu Manli can't reason with him and tells the doctors to wait for Ai Linjiang.
Just in the nick of time, Xue Xiaozhou arrives with Ai Linjiang. Ai Linjiang steps forward to sign the notice, but Ma Xiaowei physically tries to stop him and kick him out.
This is where Xue Xiaozhou steps up. He calls Ma Xiaowei out hard, exposing his disgusting game plan: Ma Xiaowei is hoping Ai Zhonghua doesn't wake up so he can inherit half the fortune. Xue Xiaozhou then lays down some legal reality: if Ai Zhonghua passes away without recovering, Ma Xiaowei would need Ai Linjiang's consent for a paternity test to prove any claim. Without that, he gets zip. Therefore, Ma Xiaowei's best bet is actually to pray Ai Zhonghua recovers, because then Ai Zhonghua might give him some money out of respect for his mother's memory. Checkmate. Defeated and exposed, Ma Xiaowei and his crew finally leave.
Phew! Xue Xiaozhou and Hu Manli stay at the hospital until dawn. Afterwards, Xue Xiaozhou goes home and finds a gift his late father gave him, clearly emotional. Wu Ya gets back from her night shift, sees him, and distracts him by playing video games together. During this, Xue Xiaozhou has a startling realization: his father used to turn on and play this very game every year on Xue Xiaozhou's birthday. It’s a gut-punch moment of connection to his past.
Feeling changed, Xue Xiaozhou makes a big decision: he voluntarily gives up his claim to the house his father left him. He signs the papers over to Qiu Lisu, who is ecstatic and promises him 500,000 yuan once it's sold. Eager to lock it in, Qiu Lisu immediately tells her secretary to put the house on the market.
She then pivots back to her other scheme: arranging another meeting between Ding Zhiyuan and Li Fendou. Her secretary is skeptical that Ding Zhiyuan will cooperate, but Qiu Lisu is confident that treating him with enough respect (and maybe some manipulation) will get him on board.
The episode wraps up with Qiu Lisu taking Ding Zhiyuan to Li Fendou's fancy club to celebrate Ding Zhiyuan's 42nd birthday. Li Fendou puts on a big celebratory feast, Qiu Lisu works her persuasive magic, and it seems Ding Zhiyuan finally caves and makes some kind of concession or agreement.
So, to sum up Episode 12: Family secrets explode, leading to a medical crisis. Ma Xiaowei shows his greedy true colors. Ai Linjiang is devastated by the revelation about his father's past. Xue Xiaozhou confronts his own past trauma and steps up in a major way, both at the hospital and by letting go of his inheritance. And Qiu Lisu continues her strategic maneuvering. What a packed episode! Can't wait to see how Ai Zhonghua fares and how these tangled relationships evolve.
