Episode Summary
Episode 12 saw Guan Xu defend Yu Shi against her mother's criticisms. Xiao Xia and Zhao Dongcheng continued collecting sounds for her grandfather, Shi Laoshi, who, after hearing them and a song from Yiyi, peacefully passed away. Xiao Xia organized the funeral with the help of friends, facing her opportunistic aunt and uncle who were interested in the inheritance. It was revealed Shi Laoshi left a will favoring Xiao Xia. Meanwhile, Yiyi, after being teased at school, cleverly managed to get her mother's phone number from her father, Zhang Jun.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicked off with some serious secondhand embarrassment, thanks to Yu Shi's mom. She was loudly singing her other daughter's praises while basically dissing Yu Shi in public. Ouch! Thankfully, Guan Xu was there and wasn't having any of it. He jumped in to defend Yu Shi, which, while sweet, totally mortified Yu Shi's mom. Good thing Yu Shi herself showed up to smooth things over before it escalated into a full-blown family feud.
Meanwhile, the storyline with Zhao Dongcheng and Xiao Xia took a poignant turn. They've been spending their time collecting various sounds, a project close to Xiao Xia's heart for her ailing grandfather, Shi Laoshi. Xiao Xia compiled all these auditory memories and played them for him. Shi Laoshi, in a moment of gentle wisdom, suggested it might be time for her to let go. But Xiao Xia, bless her heart, can't forget how her grandpa was her rock when she was little and had nowhere else to go. She’s fiercely loyal and not about to give up on him. Adding to the sweetness, Zhang Jun's daughter, the ever-adorable Yiyi, popped into Shi Laoshi's hospital room to sing him "Grateful Heart." It was a truly touching moment. Surrounded by these sounds and memories, Shi Laoshi’s life flashed before his eyes, and he peacefully closed them for the last time.
Yes, you read that right. Shi Laoshi passed away. Grab your tissues.
Xiao Xia, though heartbroken, stepped up to handle all the funeral arrangements. Zhao Dongcheng and their friends were right there by her side, offering support. Even Yu Shi's mom and Shen Xinxin's parents came to pay their last respects, which was a nice touch. Shen Xinxin's father, knowing a thing or two about these matters, even offered to help Xiao Xia find a burial plot for her grandpa.
But, as drama law dictates, a funeral can't go by without some unwelcome guests. Xiao Xia's aunt, uncle, and cousin showed up, and their vibes were immediately off. It became pretty clear they were more interested in Shi Laoshi's last will and testament than in, you know, mourning. Xiao Xia, not wanting a scene at the memorial hall, took them outside. She firmly told them they’d discuss any inheritance after her grandfather was laid to rest. Zhao Dongcheng, being the stand-up guy he is, stood right beside her, silently backing her up. The relatives, seeing they weren't going to get anywhere, decided to make a temporary exit.
Little Yiyi, continuing to be wise beyond her years, wanted to properly say goodbye to "Grandpa Shi." She asked her dad, Zhang Jun, if she could take leave from school to attend the funeral. Zhang Jun, recognizing his daughter's maturity and empathy, readily agreed.
The neighborhood turned out to bid farewell to Shi Laoshi, and Zhao Dongcheng and the crew stayed until the very end, helping with everything. Later, Yu Shi asked Xiao Xia about her plans. Xiao Xia admitted she was thinking of staying put in her grandfather's place for a while, finding a certain comfort there that made her understand why he never wanted to leave. And here’s a bit of good news for Team Xiao Xia: Shi Laoshi had, in fact, prepared a will! Xiao Xia confirmed with a lawyer that everything was in order. Armed with this knowledge, she’s no longer afraid of her scheming aunt and uncle. She was eager to share this victory with Zhao Dongcheng, though he was initially MIA. He did get back to her eventually, and Xiao Xia invited him out for some "Suo Fen" (rice noodles) – our girl knows how to celebrate!
Finally, we checked back in with Yiyi. She faced some mean kids at school who questioned if she even had a mom. Yiyi, quick on her feet, proudly stated that her mom is a super busy scientist, working on life-saving medicines. Later, Yiyi, in a stroke of genius, asked Zhang Jun to call her mom. While he was on the phone, she sent him off to buy yogurt and sneakily memorized her mom's number. That kid is going places!
