Shine On Me- Episodes 17-20

Snowy Encounters & Feelings That Refuse to Stay Buried ❄️

Episode 17 opens with some very familiar New Year tension. Nie Chengyuan isn’t thrilled to learn that Xiguang is heading off to the Changbai Mountains almost immediately, grumbling that she barely stays home during the holidays. Luckily, Grandma is not having it. She firmly takes Xiguang’s side, telling her to enjoy her youth and travel while she can and pointedly reminding Nie Chengyuan that he’s the reason Xiguang has spent so many New Years shuttling back and forth in the first place. Grandma remains undefeated.

Later that night, Jiang Rui picks Xiguang up and instantly senses her low mood. She admits her father feels more and more like a stranger lately, especially since Jiang Rui jokingly called him her “former uncle.” Apparently, Nie Chengyuan has been acting colder than the winter weather, even rushing off to play mahjong just to avoid family time. The mood lifts slightly when they gather at Jiang Ping’s place, and Xiguang receives a timely New Year message from Lin Yusen because of course he shows up right when she needs it most.

Over in Beijing, Lin Yusen is having reunion dinner with his mother and Mr. Luo. His mom quickly notices him sneaking smiles at his phone and calls him out for being in love. Lin doesn’t deny it, he just calmly says it’s not time for parental involvement yet (sir, the confidence). When ski plans come up, Lin smoothly suggests the Changbai Mountains instead of their usual Switzerland or Chongli trip… purely for “crowd avoidance,” obviously.

The next day, Xiguang arrives at the snowy resort with her family, immediately slipping back into her familiar bickering-but-close rhythm with Jiang Rui. Everyone notices she’s glued to her phone, happily messaging Lin Yusen, who even suggests naming their PV project “Liuguang Garden.” She tells him to stop talking about work, but her smile gives her away. Jiang Rui clocks the vibes instantly and teases her about a secret boyfriend.

Their villa looks straight out of a winter fairytale, and Xiguang sends Lin a moody “shadow photo” to show she’s arrived safely. His simple “thank you” reply somehow leaves her even more flustered than a long love paragraph would have. The next morning brings motorized sled rides, which are a bit too intense for the elders, hot springs win out for them, while Jiang Rui drags Xiguang off to ski like a proper young person.

And then… fate intervenes. At the rental shop, Xiguang spots Zhuang Xu and Chris. Panic mode activated. She immediately hides in a fitting room while Jiang Rui grows suspicious, wondering if this is too much of a coincidence. On the slopes, Xiguang proves she’s very much a beginner; falling, getting back up, falling again, while Zhuang Xu’s group practices nearby.

An awkward photo exchange follows: Jiang Rui takes photos for Zhuang Xu’s group, then hands his phone to Zhuang Xu to take pictures of him and Xiguang together. Zhuang Xu lingers behind the lens, until a message from Lin Yusen pops up on Xiguang’s phone, an unspoken reminder of where things stand now.

Later, Jiang Rui privately speaks with Zhuang Xu, finally clearing up a long-standing misunderstanding about that rainy summer visit years ago. Zhuang Xu brushes it off, saying it’s all in the past and asks that Xiguang never be told. That night, during a Hua Ya drinking game, Zhuang Xu refuses to answer whether he likes someone, choosing punishment instead. When Chris gently presses later, he tells her there’s nothing to pursue, Xiguang already has a boyfriend.

The final blow comes when Zhuang Xu realizes this “chance encounter” wasn’t chance at all. His brother Zhuang Fei orchestrated it after hearing him drunkenly mention Xiguang. Furious and exhausted, Zhuang Xu shuts it down, asking how he’s supposed to fight for someone who’s already chosen someone else.

Snowmen, Ski Lies, and Truths That Refuse to Stay Hidden ⛷️❄️

Episode 18 wastes no time pulling us straight into peak rom-com destiny. After a brutally cold day on the slopes, Xiguang and Jiang Rui retreat to their hotel room to thaw out. Jiang Rui grumbles about the nightmare of teaching three zero-foundation beginners the next day and suggests hiring another coach to save Coach Hu’s sanity. Left alone, Xiguang scrolls through the photos Zhuang Xu took earlier, a familiar uneasiness settling in. She reflects on his past hot-and-cold behavior and quietly admits to herself that playing with someone’s heart, even unintentionally, is never okay.

Just as she’s spiraling, Lin Yusen sends her a photo of a snowy night view. Something about it feels too familiar. She rushes outside and there he is, standing in the snow like he stepped straight out of a drama OST moment. Lin Yusen followed her all the way to Changbai Mountain, proudly presenting a tiny snowman he made just for her. He jokes that finding her was easy after she “shared her coordinates.” Soft, romantic, devastating.

Of course, reality crashes the moment Jiang Rui appears. Thinking fast, Xiguang blurts out that Lin Yusen is… a ski coach she just hired. Without missing a beat, Lin introduces himself as “Lin,” even offering to make Jiang Rui a snowman as a promotional service. Jiang Rui is understandably suspicious, this coach is too handsome and doesn’t even sound local, but Xiguang commits to the lie and schedules him to meet the family the next morning.

Behind the scenes, Lin returns to his room, where his mother Sheng Wei’ai has already clocked the situation. She knows he’s there for a girl. Lin calmly reassures her that they’ll probably never cross paths on the slopes, famous last words.

The next morning, chaos. Lin Yusen shows up with Coach Hu to meet Xiguang’s family, and regret immediately hits her like icy wind. She claims she found Lin through a Weibo post and insists he teach her personally while Hu handles the elders. As a coach, Lin is attentive and patient, gently correcting her posture and fear-driven habits. When Xiguang finally finds her rhythm, she compares the feeling to “flying on a sword,” which is both accurate and adorable.

Things go sideways, literally, when Xiguang tries to avoid running into Zhuang Xu’s group and ends up losing her balance. She slides straight into Lin Yusen’s arms in a moment so perfectly timed it feels illegal. Chris watches in envy. Zhuang Xu doesn’t, he quietly turns away and heads for the intermediate slopes, choosing dignity over pain.

Later, fate doubles down. Both families end up at the same restaurant. Lin joins Xiguang’s table, politely explaining he’s from Shanghai and works in Suzhou, while Xiguang desperately tries to steer the conversation away from interrogation mode. Then, boom, Sheng Wei’ai spots him through the window and walks in, pretending to be a student wondering why “Coach Lin” ditched her lesson. The truth explodes on contact.

Even worse? Jiang Yun and Sheng Wei’ai recognize each other from a business event years ago.

The secret is out: Lin Yusen isn’t a ski coach...he’s Xiguang’s boss.

Back in their rooms, Xiguang faces the family grilling. Jiang Yun admits she likes Lin Yusen but warns that the Sheng family background is not simple. Meanwhile, Sheng Wei’ai finally tells Lin the full story of his father, how love crossed class lines, how jealousy destroyed him, and how a so-called “tactical decision” sent an innocent man into exile… where he died alone.

It’s the first time Lin Yusen hears the truth in full. And suddenly, his mother’s distance, her pain, and her long silence all make devastating sense.

Fireworks in the Cold, Races on the Slopes, and Feelings That Refuse to Compete ❄️

Episode 19 slows things down just enough to let the emotions hit where it hurts. Alone in her room, Nie Xiguang replays everything she’s learned about Lin Yusen, from his fragmented childhood spent mostly with his grandparents to the absence of his mother during his formative years. And yet, despite it all, he grew into someone warm, steady, and quietly optimistic. That realization breaks her heart a little.

Her thoughts drift to his father, sent overseas to expand Sheng Yuan’s business, only to die during a coup because medical help never arrived in time. The more she thinks about it, the angrier she feels at the Sheng patriarch for using someone’s talent so ruthlessly and then discarding him without a second thought. Wanting to comfort Lin Yusen but unsure how to begin, she reaches for her phone.

Instead of heavy words, she chooses teasing.

She messages him, mock-accusing him of violating their unspoken “interview rules” by revealing his identity too soon. Lin Yusen fires back calmly, pointing out that she never banned him from introducing his family and admitting he only confessed because he was afraid her mom would deduct points from his “score.” The playful back-and-forth pulls Xiguang out of her sadness, and she happily leans into the banter.

Her chosen punishment? He has to go out with her to feed the reindeer.

They meet outside the hotel just as a handler walks by with one of the most famously gluttonous reindeer in the area. After feeding it as much as they’re allowed, Xiguang pulls out the fireworks she’d been saving. Under the freezing night sky, they set them off together, Lin Yusen joking about the “added value” of braving minus twenty degrees for a moment like this. When only one firework remains, Xiguang urges him to light it, but he refuses, saying he’ll keep it as a souvenir since he can’t take it on a plane anyway.

Cue Jiang Rui, who quickly realizes some of his fireworks are missing and texts Xiguang with amused suspicion. He doesn’t stop there, he officially challenges Lin Yusen to a race on the advanced slopes the next day.

Before they part, Lin Yusen hands Xiguang a small snowman he made that morning: a skiing version, complete with tiny skis. It’s simple, earnest, and painfully him.

The next morning, Jiang Yun casually informs Jiang Ping that the younger generation has already rushed off to the ski resort because of course they have.

At the top of the slopes, Xiguang gets distracted by the breathtaking view, snapping photos while Jiang Rui lays down his terms. If Lin Yusen loses the race, he should stop pursuing her. Lin Yusen shuts that down immediately, making it clear that the competition has nothing to do with his feelings. When Jiang Rui notices Lin Yusen’s distinctive snowboard, Lin explains it’s a custom piece from Switzerland, a gift from his mother.

Chris happens to overhear the conversation, and it doesn’t take long for her to piece things together: Xiguang and Zhuang Xu are really over, and Lin Yusen is very much in the picture.

The “Xiguang Cup” race kicks off with Xiguang herself acting as the judge. It’s close, but Lin Yusen wins by a narrow margin. High on adrenaline, Xiguang suggests the two men continue on the advanced slopes while she heads back to the beginner area, but Lin Yusen refuses to leave her behind. Instead, he proposes they take on the intermediate slopes together.

Before they go, Jiang Rui pulls his sister aside and delivers some unsolicited dating wisdom, telling her she needs to use more “techniques” and stop being so straightforward with men. Classic older brother energy.

Elsewhere, Jiang Yun and Sheng Wei’ai meet for tea in a snow hut. Sheng Wei’ai can’t hide her delight at how serious Lin Yusen is about Xiguang, admitting that her son has always been a work-first, romance-later type. Jiang Yun expresses her full support, and Sheng Wei’ai gently notes that non-interference is sometimes the greatest approval a parent can give.

Their conversation turns personal. Jiang Yun casually mentions her divorce and the fact that she walked away with half of her ex-husband’s assets, earning genuine admiration from Sheng Wei’ai.

That evening, Xiguang discusses the PV garden implementation plan with her mother. While Lin Yusen is already lining up funding, Xiguang wants to cut costs without lowering standards. Jiang Yun suggests a balanced strategy: increase income while reducing expenditure. She proposes leasing parts of the garden to cafes or convenience stores for early cash flow and recommends using the same contractor from the phase-two factory expansion, framing the new project as compensation for past delays.

The conversation drifts into the history of Wanyang Photovoltaic. Jiang Yun reveals she once urged Nie Chengyuan to invest in the industry back in 2001, but he hesitated. A flashback shows a tense argument, where pride and “face” won over business instinct, costing them the first major industry boom. Jiang Yun reminds Xiguang that while business is driven by profit, a true operator must stay detached from fame and fortune.

On the final day of the trip, Jiang Rui seeks out Lin Yusen early, determined not to waste their remaining time. Meanwhile, Zhuang Xu and his colleagues are also out on the intermediate slopes. Justin spots Xiguang and Lin Yusen together and casually points the “new suitor” out to Zhuang Xu, remarking on how effortlessly graceful the man looks on the snow.

When the Doctor Comes Back, and the Silence Cuts Deeper Than the Cold ❄️🩺

Episode 20 wastes no time reminding us that some instincts never disappear, no matter how hard you try to bury them.

While skiing on the intermediate slope, Zhuang Xu overhears the truth from his colleague Kevin: Lin Yusen isn’t just “around” Nie Xiguang, he’s actively pursuing her. Kevin, meanwhile, can’t stop praising Lin Yusen’s form on the advanced slope, calling his technique elegant and unmistakably professional. It’s admiration tinged with something sharper… and then everything goes wrong.

A skier attempting tricks loses control and slams straight into Kevin, knocking him unconscious. Chaos erupts, but Lin Yusen happens to be nearby. Without hesitation, he steps in, assessing, stabilizing, commanding the scene like muscle memory taking over. Kevin briefly regains consciousness, only to show dangerous signs: confusion, projectile vomiting, all the red flags of a traumatic brain injury.

When the rescue team arrives, the accompanying medic is an orthopedic specialist. Lin Yusen makes the call to ride along in the ambulance to Tianchi County Hospital. During the drive, he tries calling Nie Xiguang...no answer. Her phone is off. He reaches his mother instead, just as she’s about to enter the hot springs, calmly explaining that he’s escorting a patient to the hospital and may be late. He considers messaging Xiguang… then decides against it.

Ms. Sheng is quietly moved. Even now, after everything, her son still carries a doctor’s heart. She knows that same heart is also the source of his deepest pain.

At the county hospital, Lin Yusen runs into Dr. Lei Wei, who freezes when he hears his name. Dr. Lei once trained at Shanghai’s Songshan Hospital and knows the legend well: the brilliant neurosurgeon, the pride of the department, whose career was ended by a devastating car accident that injured his hands. Lin Yusen confirms it with a nod.

Initially, the hospital plans to transfer Kevin to a municipal facility, until they learn a multi-car pileup has completely overwhelmed the city’s operating rooms. The CT scan delivers the worst news: a massive epidural hematoma, bleeding exceeding 70 milliliters. There’s no time. Surgery must happen now.

Nervous but resolute, Dr. Lei asks Lin Yusen to oversee the operation. Lin hands over his medical license, Zhuang Xu signs the consent forms, and from the preparation room, Lin Yusen becomes what he once was, guiding every critical step. He advises caution near the cranial nerves, recommends preserving the bone flap to aid recovery, and calmly leads them through the storm.

As he watches from the sidelines, a familiar ache settles in. This is the life he lost. This is the work he can no longer fully reclaim.

Back on the mountain, Nie Xiguang’s phone finally dies in the brutal cold. She ducks into a convenience store to charge it, and the moment it powers back on, panic sets in, she can’t reach Lin Yusen. Then she overhears other skiers whispering about a serious accident on the advanced slope.

Her heart drops.

She and Jiang Rui rush to the infirmary, where her worst fear sharpens into something real: Lin Yusen’s custom Swiss-made snowboard is there. Convinced he’s the one hurt, they jump into a taxi and endure a fifty-minute ride to the county hospital.

By the time they arrive, the surgery is over. Kevin has been transferred to the ICU, stable, alive. Lin Yusen steps out in surgical scrubs, only to be met by a pale, frantic Nie Xiguang. The instant she sees him unharmed, relief crashes over her… and just as quickly, it turns into fury.

Dr. Lei praises Lin Yusen openly, crediting his guidance for saving a life. Xiguang says nothing.

While changing, Lin Yusen receives a call from his former mentor, Director Liao, who urges him to return to medicine in a teaching role. Lin Yusen doesn’t sound convinced. If he can’t hold a scalpel, he feels replaceable, like the part of him that mattered most no longer has a place.

When he finally rejoins Xiguang and Jiang Rui, he suggests getting dinner together, as if normalcy might smooth everything over. It doesn’t.

Xiguang’s voice is cold, controlled, and shaking underneath. She tells him that even in an emergency, he had more than enough time during that long ambulance ride to send her one message. One line. One reassurance. Instead, he remembered to call his mother and left her terrified for hours, not knowing if he was alive or hurt.

To her, that silence speaks louder than any explanation.

Feeling unseen and unprioritized, she turns and leaves with Jiang Rui. Back at their lodging, Jiang Rui quietly makes her instant noodles, noting that he’s never seen his sister this genuinely angry at Lin Yusen before.

DramaZen's Opinion

Snow, Secrets, and the Moment Everything Gets Real ❄️💔

Episodes 17 through 20 are where the soft romance gives way to real stakes. The Changbai Mountain arc delivers cozy snow aesthetics and swoony moments, Lin Yusen following Xiguang into the snow like it’s the most natural thing in the world, snowmen as love language, fireworks in subzero temperatures, but underneath all that sweetness, heavy truths start surfacing.

We get family meetings, accidental unmasking, and the slow realization that loving someone also means stepping into their past. Lin Yusen’s history with Sheng Yuan and his father’s tragedy adds emotional weight to every quiet look he gives Xiguang, while she, in turn, starts seeing him not just as her boss or her almost-lover, but as someone who has endured profound loss and still chooses kindness.

Then Episode 20 hits like a punch to the chest. The skiing accident and emergency surgery awaken the doctor Lin Yusen never stopped being and the silence that follows hurts even more than the danger itself. Xiguang’s fear, her anger, and her sense of being emotionally sidelined feel painfully real. No melodrama, no shouting, just the kind of hurt that lingers.

These episodes are beautiful, bittersweet, and quietly devastating. They mark the shift from “falling in love” to “can we actually do this?” and honestly? That emotional honesty is what makes this arc unforgettable.