A Love So Beautiful Recap, Plot, Synopsis

> A Love So Beautiful

A Love So Beautiful Synopsis

Chen Xiaoxi, a cute and lively girl, has been chasing after Jiang Chen, the boy next door since she was a student.

However, in the face of Chen Xiaoxi’s strong pursuit, the arrogant and cool Jiang Chen was not moved by it.

After graduating from college, Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi embarked on their respective career paths, turning from students to doctors and painters respectively.

During their 19 years of growth, they have not wavered in their feelings for each other.

After those years of pure and beautiful years, the cool Jiang Chen finally chose to face his heart and start a sweet love journey with Chen Xiaoxi.

A Love So Beautiful Recap

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Episode 1 Recap

Chen Xiaoxi, a cheerful short-haired girl, believes her life's most important things are drawing and Jiang Chen, especially since she was sixteen. She often followed him, convinced he was secretly waiting for her. They lived in the same building, attended the same junior high, and now found themselves in the same class at Chenxi School. Chen Xiaoxi saw this as destiny, jokingly attributing her admission to a lowered entry score.

One day while sweeping leaves, Chen Xiaoxi gathered her courage and told Jiang Chen, "I like you." Jiang Chen, unfazed, replied, "I don't like you." Undeterred, Chen Xiaoxi declared, "Then I'll figure out another solution," and dashed away. The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi chatted about novels with her classmate Lu Yang, who sits behind her. When it was time to collect test papers, she hastily copied answers from Lu Yang, then tried to appear studious to Jiang Chen.

She boasted that the recent test was easy, mentioning the essay topic as "Pursue Your Dream." Jiang Chen, however, immediately corrected her, pointing out that "Pursue Your Dream" was a sample essay, and the actual topic was "Impartiality." Later, during class, the teacher publicly criticized Chen Xiaoxi's poor English test scores and her off-topic essay, noting her rank had dropped 75 places. The teacher compared Chen Xiaoxi to Jiang Chen, who consistently ranked first.

Chen Xiaoxi, unfazed, declared her intention to learn from Jiang Chen. Meanwhile, other girls, like Li Wei, approached Jiang Chen under the guise of academic help, much to Chen Xiaoxi's dismay. Feeling self-conscious after a comment about face sizes from Lu Yang, Chen Xiaoxi was briefly downcast and left the classroom. Undeterred by her academic woes, Chen Xiaoxi decided to focus on impressing Jiang Chen with "gentle and considerate" gestures, after researching online.

She began waiting for him every morning with a prepared breakfast of baozi or youtiao. Despite her efforts, Jiang Chen repeatedly declined her offerings, telling her to stop bringing him food. Her attempts also caused her to be late for school five times in the first seven days of the month, making her a familiar face to the school gatekeeper. Realizing breakfast wasn't working, Chen Xiaoxi found inspiration in a Chinese literature class discussing Li Shangyin's love letters.

She decided to write one herself. Unable to write a decent letter, she sought help from Lu Yang, who boasted about being Chenxi School's "God of Love" and having received numerous love letters. He offered to teach her in exchange for her delivering his many letters. Lu Yang dictated a poem to her, which Chen Xiaoxi read to Jiang Chen on their way home. Jiang Chen immediately recognized it as song lyrics, advising her to spend her time studying instead.

Disappointed, Chen Xiaoxi then turned to an online friend in a Chris Lee fan group for help, who offered to write a powerful love letter for her. Practicing the new, assertive letter in a quiet corner of the school grounds, Chen Xiaoxi declared, "I've set my eyes on you. If you don't agree to me, I have a hundred ways to make your school life very miserable, by all means.

If anyone wants to steal you from me, believe it or not, I will chop. . ." A new student, Wu Bosong, overheard her practicing. He sarcastically asked if she was a "gang boss," to which she confidently affirmed, warning him not to mess with her. During English class dictation, Chen Xiaoxi was called to the board but struggled to write a single word. Just then, Wu Bosong, a new swimming specialty student, arrived late.

He recognized the word "balance" from his shirt and called it out, much to the teacher's annoyance. As punishment for his lateness, he was sent to the board to participate in the dictation with Chen Xiaoxi. Both students performed poorly, unable to write most of the words, leading the teacher to send them back to their seats. Wu Bosong, recognizing Chen Xiaoxi from earlier, affectionately addressed her as "Boss," indicating their burgeoning camaraderie.

Later, two girls approached Chen Xiaoxi asking for Jiang Chen. To deter them, Chen Xiaoxi falsely claimed that Jiang Chen had transferred schools. Determined to give Jiang Chen a love letter before anyone else, Chen Xiaoxi hurriedly wrote one. During a break, she tried to slip it into his bag, but in her haste and carelessness, she accidentally placed one of Lu Yang's prepared love letters inside instead.

Jiang Chen later found the letter during class, looked at its confusing content, and simply tossed it into his drawer. Chen Xiaoxi tried to explain that she had written the letter with all her heart, but Lu Yang pulled her away, reminding her of their task to deliver his love letters. While helping Lu Yang deliver his love letters to a senior class, one was snatched by a male student who proceeded to read it aloud, mocking Lu Yang.

Chen Xiaoxi, fiercely protective, demanded the letter back, leading to a heated argument between the two first-year students and a group of seniors. A classmate who liked Lu Yang, and Wu Bosong, who proudly referred to Chen Xiaoxi as his "Boss," quickly came to their defense. Just as the confrontation escalated, Jiang Chen appeared and calmly diffused the situation by announcing the arrival of Mr. Zhang Shiliang, the stern Director of Studies, causing everyone to scatter.

This incident also subtly hinted at Jiang Chen's protective feelings towards Chen Xiaoxi. The incident, however, reached Mr. Zhang, who stormed into their classroom, demanding Lu Yang hand over any remaining love letters. This implicated Chen Xiaoxi, who possessed the rest. As Mr. Zhang began to read the confiscated letters aloud, Chen Xiaoxi realized her mistake: she had given her own personal love letter to the Director while Lu Yang's letters had ended up with Jiang Chen.

As Mr. Zhang was about to read her letter, Wu Bosong bravely stood up, arguing that reading a student's private letters was an invasion of privacy. Jiang Chen, understanding the gravity of the situation, also rose to his feet to intervene. An infuriated Mr. Zhang ordered all involved to write a 1,000-word self-criticism. The group then gathered to complete their punishments, with Lu Yang humorously offering to teach them how to write such a letter.

Despite some initial hesitation, the three boys – Jiang Chen, Lu Yang, and Wu Bosong – eventually went to an internet cafe after school, playing games and solidifying their new friendship. Later, while campaigning for Chris Lee, Chen Xiaoxi witnessed a classmate, who had defended Lu Yang during the love letter incident, upset over her ruined fan banner.

With her exceptional drawing skills, Chen Xiaoxi quickly sketched an impressive new banner of Chris Lee, earning the classmate's gratitude and solidifying their friendship. The classmate observed that Chen Xiaoxi’s "friend" (referring to herself) had a unique taste in liking someone as "icy" as Jiang Chen. Chen Xiaoxi simply replied that the classmate wouldn't understand. Following the self-criticism incident, Jiang Chen's demeanor towards Chen Xiaoxi became noticeably less cold.

One morning, after countless attempts by Chen Xiaoxi to wait for him, it was Jiang Chen who paused and waited for her. He asked why she was smiling, and she, beaming, replied that she was simply happy to go to school with him. This subtle shift suggested a new chapter in their relationship.

Episode 2 Recap

In literature class, the teacher discussed Long Yingtai’s essay "Farewell," emphasizing the importance of cherishing family bonds and assigning an essay about parents. During the lesson, Chen Xiaoxi was called upon to share her thoughts on a passage about a father's departure. She initially misinterpreted it, prompting the teacher to explain the profound meaning of the parent-child relationship and the inevitability of separation, urging students to cherish their parents.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen sat quietly, deep in thought, as the discussion resonated with his personal experience of his father's early death and his mother's prolonged absence, working in another city with his younger brother, Jiang Rui. After class, Chen Xiaoxi expressed concern to Lin Jingxiao about Jiang Chen's unusually quiet demeanor. Lin Jingxiao, however, dismissed it as typical for the always reserved Jiang Chen. Their conversation then shifted to the topic of becoming a Manager for Chris Lee's fan Tieba.

Lin Jingxiao proudly described the vast number of fans and the influential position of a Manager, likening it to being "second to one and superior to a hundred thousand." To Lin Jingxiao's surprise, Chen Xiaoxi then revealed she had been selected as a Manager, showing her the confirmation message. Other classmates, overhearing the news, immediately changed their attitude towards Chen Xiaoxi, offering to fetch water for her. Lin Jingxiao, recognizing their attempts to curry favor, quickly pulled Chen Xiaoxi away.

During lunch, Lin Jingxiao explained to Chen Xiaoxi the "advantageous position" of a Manager, implying it brought opportunities for "bribery" or favors. Just then, Lu Yang, Wu Bosong, and Jiang Chen joined their table. Lu Yang enthusiastically invited Jiang Chen and Wu Bosong to an internet cafe after school for his "wedding," clarifying it was a virtual wedding in a game. The mention of "wedding" surprised Chen Xiaoxi, causing her to spit out her food.

After both Jiang Chen and Wu Bosong declined, citing busyness, Lu Yang tried to tempt them by promising "a wife for each of you" in the game, which caused Chen Xiaoxi to express her displeasure. Despite Lu Yang's playful teasing, Jiang Chen remained uninterested, while Lu Yang persisted in convincing Wu Bosong to join. Later, Lu Yang successfully persuaded Jiang Chen and Wu Bosong to go to the internet cafe, with Chen Xiaoxi and Lin Jingxiao secretly following behind.

At the cafe, Chen Xiaoxi was relieved to learn that neither Jiang Chen nor Wu Bosong had acquired virtual wives. Wu Bosong, who admitted to rarely using computers due to his swimming training, asked Chen Xiaoxi about QQ, and she offered to help him explore it. During their conversation, Wu Bosong invited Chen Xiaoxi to his upcoming swimming competition, and she happily agreed to cheer for him.

As Jiang Chen observed their interaction, a subtle shift in his expression went unnoticed. Later, Chen Xiaoxi checked her QQ memo, where she had recorded a reminder: "The death day of Jiang Chen's dad, be with him and comfort him." This realization finally helped her understand the reason for Jiang Chen's recent low spirits. Their time at the internet cafe was cut short by the unexpected arrival of school director Zhang Shiliang, sending the group scrambling to escape.

Chen Xiaoxi realized her bicycle was missing, but Wu Bosong quickly offered her a ride on his own bike, saving her from being left behind. On the way, as Wu Bosong swerved to avoid a pedestrian, he crashed the bicycle, instinctively shielding Chen Xiaoxi with his arm during the fall. Though shaken, they quickly regrouped with Lu Yang, who was more concerned about his unfinished game.

Back home, Chen Xiaoxi fabricated a story about losing her bicycle while buying test papers, claiming she would now walk to school for exercise. Her mother, though initially annoyed, agreed to buy her a new one. Chen Xiaoxi then steered the conversation to Jiang Chen's father's upcoming death anniversary. Her parents discussed that Jiang Chen's mother, He Yanjun, was expected to return for it.

Chen Xiaoxi eagerly volunteered to help Jiang Chen prepare items for his mother, reasoning that as a boy, he might be unsure what to buy. Her parents, being close neighbors, readily agreed to her suggestion. The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi waited outside Jiang Chen's building, hoping to go to school with him, but found his bicycle already gone. In literature class, the teacher praised several students, including Jiang Chen, for their moving essays on parents.

When Jiang Chen declined to read his own, Chen Xiaoxi eagerly volunteered. As she read Jiang Chen's essay, "Father," she learned of his deeply personal memories: a childhood incident at age seven where his father pushed him after he made his younger brother fall, followed by a quiet, comforting meal of noodles on his father's bicycle. This revealed a vulnerable side to Jiang Chen that she had never seen, understanding the hidden pain beneath his usual cold demeanor.

After class, Chen Xiaoxi invited Jiang Chen to her house for dinner. He gave her his bicycle, instructing her to leave the key at his door, and then walked away alone, implicitly declining the invitation. While shopping for items for He Yanjun, Lin Jingxiao teased Chen Xiaoxi about trying to win over her future mother-in-law. Chen Xiaoxi explained that she believed Jiang Chen was deeply affected by his mother's absence and that helping out would surely please him.

Lin Jingxiao then asked Chen Xiaoxi what it felt like to like someone. Chen Xiaoxi described the experience as if the person "shines brightly" in a faded world, recounting a vivid memory of Jiang Chen buying books for her, a scene she constantly embellished in her mind with elaborate details. Lin Jingxiao jokingly suggested Chen Xiaoxi was just after his money, but Chen Xiaoxi insisted that "it is simple to like someone."

Later, the two girls who had previously sought favors approached Chen Xiaoxi again. Initially, Chen Xiaoxi tried to assert her authority as a Manager, but she soon discovered, through a text message, that the Tieba "explosion" event conflicted with the time Jiang Chen's mother was supposed to return. She was then dismissed from her Manager position due to the time conflict. After school, the two girls confronted Chen Xiaoxi about the unfulfilled request.

Wu Bosong, seeing her distress, intervened and offered her a ride, pulling her away from the awkward encounter. Feeling humiliated by losing her Manager title, Chen Xiaoxi was comforted by Wu Bosong, who reminded her that being his "boss" was more impressive than being a Manager, especially since he intended to become an Olympic champion. He invited her to his competition the next day, promising to win a gold medal for her, which she readily accepted.

The next day, at the swimming competition, Wu Bosong's performance was visibly affected by the shoulder injury he sustained during the bicycle crash with Chen Xiaoxi. He placed second, a rare occurrence for the usually victorious swimmer. Despite the outcome, Chen Xiaoxi's enthusiastic cheering from the stands, even with his name misspelled on her cheering board, visibly lifted his spirits. Afterward, Chen Xiaoxi, wanting to console him, treated him to a large meal.

She humorously recounted her own meager achievements to make him feel better about his second-place finish, comparing him positively to famous athletes like Liu Xiang. Wu Bosong, clearly fond of Chen Xiaoxi, insisted on keeping her cheering board, despite the misspelled name, and offered his silver medal as an "exchange of love tokens," promising to trade it back once he won a gold medal. Chen Xiaoxi agreed to the exchange.

However, suddenly worried about Jiang Chen, she abruptly left the meal, promising to treat Wu Bosong to steak next time. Meanwhile, Jiang Chen received a text message from his mother, He Yanjun, informing him that she could not return for his father's death anniversary because his younger brother, Jiang Rui, was sick. He was deeply saddened.

Chen Xiaoxi arrived at his apartment with bags of daily necessities she had bought for his mother, explaining she thought he, as a boy, wouldn't know what to pick. Distraught, Jiang Chen reacted coldly, telling her he didn't need the items and to take them back, claiming they were "useless." Feeling hurt and angered by his rejection, Chen Xiaoxi confronted him, accusing him of always being "cold and pushing others away," and of ignoring his mother's concern for him.

Jiang Chen, offering no explanation, simply forced her out of his apartment. Later that evening, Chen Xiaoxi learned from her parents that He Yanjun was indeed not returning, which explained Jiang Chen's earlier coldness. After dinner, she went back to his apartment to deliver a property management notice, finding him asleep on the sofa, burning with a high fever.

Unsure of what else to do, Chen Xiaoxi carefully wrapped him in multiple layers of blankets and clothes, staying by his side until late into the night before quietly departing. When Jiang Chen eventually awoke, he found the property notice on the table, understanding that Chen Xiaoxi had been there to care for him. After recovering from his fever, Jiang Chen visited a noodle shop he used to frequent with his father.

As he ate, he was asked by the owner about his father's health, to which he evasively replied, "He's fine." He silently reflected on his memories with his father, coming to terms with the transient nature of life and the importance of cherishing present moments. He also sent a text to his mother, acknowledging her message about Jiang Rui. The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi was pleasantly surprised to find Jiang Chen waiting for her downstairs with his bicycle.

She commented on the comfort of his back seat and playfully asked if she could ride with him. Though Jiang Chen initially said "No," he immediately took off his backpack and handed it to her, signaling his true intention. Chen Xiaoxi, understanding the unspoken invitation, happily accepted the backpack and hopped onto the back of his bike, as they rode off together into the soft morning light.

Episode 3 Recap

During Chinese class, Ms. Liu announced that the class president position was vacant because Zhang Beibei had transferred schools. Ms. Liu initially suggested Jiang Chen for the role, but he declined, stating, "Teacher, I don't think I'll fit. Maybe another person." Other students then eagerly volunteered, prompting Ms. Liu to suggest a democratic election by vote. Chen Xiaoxi, initially uninterested in the position, changed her mind after Lin Jingxiao saw Jiang Chen wiping the blackboard while having a cold.

Lin Jingxiao playfully remarked, "He's having a cold. It'll get worse if he breathes in dust." She then exaggeratedly advised Chen Xiaoxi, "If you really feel bad for him, go run for class president. I am the king of the class, and I order no more cleaning of the board for Jiang Chen." At lunchtime, Chen Xiaoxi asked Jiang Chen why he refused to be class president, to which he replied, "It's too troublesome."

Lu Yang then chimed in, listing their friends' mischievous acts, saying, "Chen Xiaoxi, you copy homework in class. Wu Bosong plays truant. Lin Jingxiao fights. How can Jiang Chen manage these?" After receiving glares, Lu Yang quickly added his own confession, "I. . . I read novels in class. The unhealthy kind. Don't borrow them from me, then." Soon after, Li Wei approached Jiang Chen, asking him to review her election speech draft.

Jiang Chen told her to "Put it here." Feeling a pang of jealousy, Chen Xiaoxi grumbled about why she couldn't be president. Lu Yang retorted, "You don't know anything." Before he could finish, Wu Bosong slammed his chopsticks down and glared at Lu Yang, who immediately backed down, stammering, "It's you. Sure." Later during the class meeting, Chen Xiaoxi, driven by her competitive spirit and concern for Jiang Chen, raised her hand to run for class president.

However, hearing classmates whisper behind her back about her troublemaking and poor grades, she began to have second thoughts, lamenting, "My hand. . . Why couldn't it control itself?" When students commented on her audacity to join the election, Chen Xiaoxi defended herself, "My grades are fairly good." Lin Jingxiao teasingly replied, "Please know yourself better," to which Chen Xiaoxi responded, "I've only gotten 37 points in math class one time."

Lin Jingxiao sarcastically agreed that "a girl who gets 37 points in math class is perfect for class president." Chen Xiaoxi considered dropping out, saying, "I might as well drop out, or run away. Or you might as well request asylum." Lin Jingxiao encouraged her to persist, believing it would "create sparks" between her and Jiang Chen. Chen Xiaoxi poured all her energy into preparing her election speech, practicing constantly at home and school.

On the sports field, Wu Bosong found her struggling and offered help. He advised her to leverage her sincerity, telling her, "Even if you're a nobody, you will work and will be a qualified class president," and encouraged her to say aloud what she wanted most. Chen Xiaoxi then confidently declared, "I want to be the class president!" Chen Xiaoxi later asked Jiang Chen if he would vote for her, and he responded with "What do you think?"

which she interpreted as an affirmative. During the class president election, Chen Xiaoxi delivered a heartfelt speech, acknowledging, "I am not the one with the highest grades, nor the most disciplined, but. . . However, I would like to make a change, for you." She expressed her desire to be "a president who will work hard alongside everyone." The votes were tallied, with Chen Xiaoxi receiving 15 votes and Li Wei 14.

Just as Ms. Liu was about to announce the winner, Chen Xiaoxi paused, noting Jiang Chen's absence. As Jiang Chen returned with a stack of exercise books, Ms. Liu asked him for his vote, and he cast it for Li Wei. This resulted in a tie, with both Chen Xiaoxi and Li Wei having 15 votes. Ms. Liu then declared them probationary class presidents for a week, with another election scheduled for the following Friday.

She assigned them to collect the class activity fee. After the election, Li Wei approached Jiang Chen to thank him for his vote. When he declined the breakfast she offered, stating he had already eaten, she insisted he take it for dessert. Meanwhile, Li Wei and another student taunted Chen Xiaoxi, implying she was overestimating herself. Wu Bosong, seeing Chen Xiaoxi upset, put his arm around her and confronted Jiang Chen, asking, "Why didn't you vote for Chen Xiaoxi?"

Jiang Chen replied, "She doesn't fit for the position." Chen Xiaoxi chased after him, asking, "How come I don't fit for it?" Jiang Chen reiterated, "You just don't," adding that Li Wei was "better than you." In a fit of anger, Chen Xiaoxi kicked Jiang Chen. When Lin Jingxiao heard about it, she was amused, calling Chen Xiaoxi a "soup dumpling that can spray people if poked hard," but Chen Xiaoxi was worried, asking, "Will he be mad at me?

Should I apologize to him?" As a probationary class president, Chen Xiaoxi found it difficult to approach Jiang Chen to collect the class fee after kicking him. With Lin Jingxiao's encouragement, she finally went to him, but Li Wei quickly intervened, asking Jiang Chen to copy a report for Ms. Liu and praising his handwriting. Annoyed by Jiang Chen's interaction with Li Wei and his disregard for her, Chen Xiaoxi angrily threw the change onto his desk and walked away.

She then placed the collected class fee inside her composition book for safekeeping. Later, Chen Xiaoxi realized the class fee was missing. Panicked, she confessed to Lin Jingxiao, who tried to help her recall where she might have left it. When Wu Bosong noticed Chen Xiaoxi's distress and asked what was wrong, she concocted a lie about having a stomachache. Believing her, Wu Bosong feigned a stomachache himself to get medicine for her from Dr. Li.

Dr. Li, however, saw through his act but still gave him a bag of brown sugar for a girl's stomachache. Despondent, Chen Xiaoxi sat on the stairs. Wu Bosong approached, gave her the brown sugar, and left. Moments later, Jiang Chen appeared and directly asked her, "You lost the activity fee?" Chen Xiaoxi initially denied it, but then admitted, "I did. Help me." She pleaded for his assistance, and he helped her retrace her steps, prompting her to remember, "Right!

I put it in my exercise book! Which was collected by Mr. Liu Qingshan." During self-study class, Chen Xiaoxi feigned a stomachache again and secretly went to Ms. Liu's office to retrieve her exercise book. Meanwhile, Wu Bosong, thinking the brown sugar hadn't worked, slipped out to a pharmacy to buy more medicine for her. Lin Jingxiao and Lu Yang also went to the monitoring room to look for clues.

In Ms. Liu's office, Chen Xiaoxi frantically searched for her book. Jiang Chen, concerned, also entered the office. Just then, Ms. Liu and Mr. Liu Qingshan returned. Jiang Chen quickly explained he was there to transcribe a report for Ms. Liu.

Chen Xiaoxi, thinking on her feet, immediately adopted a melancholic expression and told Ms. Liu she had come to confide in her about the heavy responsibilities of being class president, stating, "I've had insomnia ever since I was elected president, thinking that, with such huge power in hand, I must not embarrass my teachers and cause my classmates any trouble. I am so sorry for what I did. I want to make contributions to our class!

I want to help our classmates, and be a good cultured president." Ms. Liu was impressed by her dedication. Later, Chen Xiaoxi confided in Lin Jingxiao that she planned to hide in the toilet to avoid submitting the class fee. Jiang Chen, overhearing this, secretly retrieved the class fee from Chen Xiaoxi's composition book, which was among the collected assignments. When it was time to hand in the class fees during the class meeting, Li Wei submitted her portion.

Chen Xiaoxi, however, confessed, "Sorry Ms. Liu, I lost the money." Just then, Jiang Chen arrived, handed the money to Ms. Liu, and tried to cover for Chen Xiaoxi by saying, "She left it to me." Chen Xiaoxi, choosing to take responsibility, interrupted him, stating, "No, I lost it. And Jiang Chen retrieved it. I'm so sorry. I don't fit for a president." She then bravely offered to resign from her position.

Ms. Liu praised Chen Xiaoxi's courage in admitting her mistake, reflecting on her election speech about confronting challenges and showing tolerance. After school, Chen Xiaoxi walked home with Jiang Chen and told him, "You were right. I don't fit for a president." To her surprise, Jiang Chen replied, "But actually you were a good one." Filled with joy, Chen Xiaoxi asked him to wait for her, and he playfully retorted, "Wait for you to kick me?" They continued their journey home, their conversation light and their bond growing stronger through their shared experiences.

Episode 4 Recap

Jiang Chen's birthday was fast approaching, and Chen Xiaoxi found herself in a joyous yet troubled state, unsure of what gift to get him. Her close friend, Lin Jingxiao, accompanied her to the mall, but their budget of 128. 3 yuan proved insufficient for the expensive watches, belts, or wallets they saw, leading Lin Jingxiao to jokingly suggest they settle for a Practice After Class workbook instead. The school announced its upcoming Sports Meeting.

Initially, students were unenthusiastic about signing up for events. The PE teacher expressed his disappointment, reminding them of historical national weaknesses and the importance of physical education. He then introduced a tempting incentive: a pair of limited edition Adidas sneakers worth 3000 yuan for the 3000-meter race, and a watch for the hurdles competition. Hearing about the watch immediately sparked Chen Xiaoxi's interest.

She quickly calculated that if she won, she could present the watch to Jiang Chen as his birthday gift. Jiang Chen was assigned to the men's 3000m race by Ms. Liu, which Chen Xiaoxi felt was an abuse of power. Chen Xiaoxi and Lin Jingxiao both signed up for the women's hurdles. Lin Jingxiao's motivation for joining was also tied to a gift.

She had recently received a letter from her father, who was returning to China to guide tourists and planned to meet her at Xingguang at 5 p. m. on the 11th. He had tucked some cash into the letter, cautioning her not to tell her mother and urging her to buy nourishing food and study hard. Lin Jingxiao hoped to win the watch as a gift for her long-absent father, a secret she kept to herself.

When Chen Xiaoxi pressed her about her reason for participating, Lin Jingxiao simply declared it was "for Liu Xiang." Later, in a bookstore, Chen Xiaoxi was engrossed in a comic book, a happy smile on her face. Jiang Chen entered, and his gaze lingered on her, seemingly captivated by her carefree expression. Chen Xiaoxi looked up, offering him a sweet smile. Jiang Chen, visibly awkward, averted his eyes and casually picked up a book from a nearby shelf.

As Chen Xiaoxi continued to laugh at her comic, a subtle smile played on Jiang Chen's lips. Lin Jingxiao approached Chen Xiaoxi, handing her a book on hurdling. As Jiang Chen left the bookstore, Chen Xiaoxi, ever drawn to him, followed and asked about the book he was holding. With a straight face, Jiang Chen replied, "A book about you." Chen Xiaoxi's heart fluttered with bashful delight, but her joy was short-lived as she saw the title: "Abnormal Psychology".

Driven by her goal, Chen Xiaoxi threw herself into hurdles practice, though her attempts often looked more like "pushing" the barriers over than gracefully clearing them. Wu Bosong, observing her struggles, offered to coach her. Despite being a swimming ace with no knowledge of hurdles, he insisted they start with theoretical knowledge, secretly writing notes on his arm. He even chanted supportive, albeit nonsensical, slogans for Lin Jingxiao, declaring her "the best."

Wu Bosong dedicated his time to helping Chen Xiaoxi, often neglecting his own swimming training, which earned him a stern reprimand from his coach. During one practice session, Lin Jingxiao was challenged to a race by Wang Dazhuang. In an unfortunate mishap, Wang Dazhuang accidentally tripped her, causing her to fall and severely injure her ankle.

Dr. Li, the school doctor, examined her and declared that her injury was too serious for her to participate in the Sports Meeting, instructing her to rest and take prescribed medicine. That evening, Chen Xiaoxi called Jiang Chen to relay all the day's events. She chatted incessantly about Lin Jingxiao's injury, noting Dr. Li's sternness and recounting how Lu Yang's attempt to carry Lin Jingxiao had comically failed, prompting laughter from everyone.

Jiang Chen listened quietly on the other end of the line, offering only occasional "mm-hmm"s, a testament to their long-standing and comfortable familiarity. Chen Xiaoxi also mentioned how upset Lin Jingxiao was by Dr. Li's decision. Later, Lu Yang revealed Lin Jingxiao's true reason for participating: to win a watch for her returning father, in an attempt to convince Chen Xiaoxi to substitute for her. Chen Xiaoxi, recalling Lu Yang's past unreliable behavior, dismissed his words as a "family card."

Desperate to help Lin Jingxiao, Lu Yang attempted to recruit other female students like Yao Manxiao, Song Taotao, and Zhong Xiao to take Lin Jingxiao's place in the hurdles, but they all declined. His last hope was Jiang Chen. Lu Yang sought out Jiang Chen, earnestly pleading with him to convince Chen Xiaoxi to compete on Lin Jingxiao's behalf, emphasizing Lin Jingxiao's filial piety and Chen Xiaoxi's admiration for Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen, however, refused, stating that Chen Xiaoxi had her own valid reasons for participating. Chen Xiaoxi, who happened to overhear their conversation, was now torn, debating whether to help her friend. That evening, Lin Jingxiao intercepted Jiang Chen as he was leaving, telling him that Chen Xiaoxi was attempting to win the watch as a birthday gift for him. The next day, Jiang Chen appeared at Chen Xiaoxi's training.

He took charge, coaching her on proper breathing, leg movements, and balance. After some time, despite her considerable progress, Chen Xiaoxi still struggled with crossing the hurdles cleanly. Jiang Chen, recognizing the situation, devised a new strategy: given that most girls in the school found hurdling difficult, Chen Xiaoxi should focus solely on speed and simply crash through the hurdles, prioritizing momentum over technique. Chen Xiaoxi agreed to this approach. The Sports Meeting finally began with much fanfare.

Class 8's cheerleaders energetically chanted their support. Lin Jingxiao and Lu Yang, incensed that their elaborate cheer messages for Chen Xiaoxi hadn't been read over the loudspeaker, dramatically commandeered the broadcast microphone. They then loudly proclaimed their own creative, if somewhat exaggerated, cheers, comparing Chen Xiaoxi to Liu Xiang. Before the race, Jiang Chen quietly encouraged Chen Xiaoxi to relax and not be nervous.

As the race started, Wu Bosong, wearing a cartoon mask, suddenly appeared on the track, running alongside Chen Xiaoxi, his presence a clear sign of his unwavering support. Buoyed by the cheers of her friends and Jiang Chen's encouragement, Chen Xiaoxi ran with determination, successfully winning the hurdles championship and claiming the coveted watch. Wu Bosong, who had briefly been in the restroom during the race, quickly returned to congratulate her.

Chen Xiaoxi, clutching her prize, immediately presented the watch to Lin Jingxiao. As Lin Jingxiao opened the box, both girls looked at each other in surprise. Inside was a pink, diamond-encrusted ladies' watch. Their plans to gift it to their respective fathers were clearly thwarted, yet they shared a knowing smile, acknowledging that the experience itself was unforgettable. Suddenly, Lin Jingxiao realized it was 4:30 p. m. , just half an hour before her scheduled meeting with her father.

Complicating matters, the principal had announced a class meeting immediately after the Sports Meeting, meaning the school gates would be closed. Jiang Chen quickly suggested an alternative: scaling the south wall. With her friends creating a diversion to distract Ms. Liu, Lin Jingxiao made a dash for the wall. Lu Yang accompanied her to the base, and as Lin Jingxiao clambered over, her pants unfortunately tore.

Just then, Dr. Li happened to pass by and, without a word, handed her his newly purchased shirt to tie around her waist, covering the rip. Later, as the five friends walked home, Lin Jingxiao shared that her meeting with her father was brief, as he was busy, but he had praised her academic progress and promised to treat them to a meal later.

As they continued their journey, Lu Yang secretly sent Lin Jingxiao a text message, vowing to save up enough money to buy her father a proper watch himself. This gesture affirmed for Lin Jingxiao that despite his timid and small stature, Lu Yang held genuine affection for her. On the bus ride home, Chen Xiaoxi noticed Jiang Chen wasn't on his bike and asked why. He replied that his shoulder was sore.

Her immediate reaction was to lean in closely, her face near his, to inspect his shoulder. Jiang Chen's face flushed imperceptibly at her sudden proximity, and he awkwardly turned his head, gently pushing her head back with his hand. Looking down, he noticed a strand of her hair on his shirt. A small, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. As time passed, subtle yet significant changes were quietly unfolding between Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi.

Episode 5 Recap

The school announced that a drama competition would be held this Friday, much to the excitement of the students. At the Alumni Bookstore, Chen Xiaoxi enthusiastically told Li Wei about her dream of opening a bookstore. She envisioned it as a front for a student dating center, where she would count money and watch young couples fall in love. However, Lin Jingxiao quickly dampened her spirits by revealing that Li Wei had asked Jiang Chen to star in "Thunderstorm."

Lin Jingxiao warned Chen Xiaoxi to act fast, advising her to also ask Jiang Chen to join her drama group before someone else snatched him away. Chen Xiaoxi immediately got to work. She used Lin Jingxiao as bait to recruit Lu Yang, then instructed Lu Yang to persuade Jiang Chen to join their team.

Chen Xiaoxi’s grand plan was for her to play Ziwei and Jiang Chen to play Er Kang in "My Fair Princess," hoping their on-stage romance would translate to real life. When Lu Yang approached Jiang Chen, highlighting that their team had Lin Jingxiao, Jiang Chen flatly refused. Undeterred, Chen Xiaoxi launched a relentless campaign. She copied lines every night and placed the script in every conceivable spot Jiang Chen might encounter, from his schoolbag to his door.

One afternoon, Jiang Chen found Chen Xiaoxi asleep at her desk, murmuring "Er Kang" in her sleep. He quietly placed the script on her desk and told her, "Here is the script. Don't give it to me again." Chen Xiaoxi secretly followed Lin Jingxiao and discovered her feigning a foot injury to visit the school doctor, Mr. Li.

Lin Jingxiao then confided in Chen Xiaoxi about the day of the sports meeting when she climbed over the wall, ripped her pants, and Mr. Li lent her his shirt. Chen Xiaoxi was envious, wishing for such a romantic encounter with Jiang Chen. The two friends promised to keep each other's secrets. Chen Xiaoxi optimistically concluded that even if Jiang Chen didn't join her group, he wouldn't join Li Wei's either, ensuring no one would get him.

Later, on the stairs, Chen Xiaoxi saw Jiang Chen approaching and dramatically launched into character as Ziwei, calling out "Er Kang, is that you?" and lunging at him. Jiang Chen casually deflected her by gently touching her forehead with one hand and walked past. The class teacher, Ms. Liu Xinxia, announced that due to the generally low acting skill among students, she would form a core group of visually appealing and talented students for the drama competition.

This group included Jiang Chen, Li Wei, and Lin Jingxiao, among others. Chen Xiaoxi, much to her dismay, was not included. At lunch, Chen Xiaoxi melodramatically asked Jiang Chen, "Er Kang, are you deserting the blind Ziwei?" Wu Baisong, sitting nearby, immediately chimed in, offering, "Let me be your eyes." Jiang Chen, casting a glance at Wu Baisong, simply stated, "There is no difference. You are blind whatever," before leaving.

Chen Xiaoxi, Lu Yang, and Wu Baisong formed their own team, embarking on a unique and unconventional rendition of "My Fair Princess." She also teasingly told Lin Jingxiao that her group might win, offering Lin Jingxiao a spot if her team failed. Chen Xiaoxi sighed at the thought of Jiang Chen and Li Wei acting as lovers, feeling it was an "arranged marriage" for Jiang Chen. She vowed to practice hard, defeat their group, and "give Jiang Chen freedom."

Meanwhile, Lu Yang's father arrived at school with his son's medication but was denied entry by the security guard, who cited school policy. Lin Jingxiao happened to pass by, and Lu Yang's father asked her to deliver the medicine. When Lin Jingxiao accidentally dropped the package and saw the "stabilizing agent" inside, she realized that Lu Yang's claims about having a serious heart condition were true.

This prompted a change in her attitude towards him, and she offered to help him rehearse. However, Lu Yang's antics, trying to infuse romantic lines into their rehearsal, caused Lin Jingxiao to eventually throw the script at him in exasperation. After school, Wu Baisong offered to help Chen Xiaoxi with her lines and took her to his grandmother's house. There, Chen Xiaoxi learned that Wu Baisong’s grandmother suffered from Senile Dementia, often not recognizing him.

She also discovered the strained relationship between Wu Baisong and his father, who had forced him into swimming since the age of six, regardless of his own feelings. Wu Baisong confessed to Chen Xiaoxi that he was unsure if he even liked swimming. Chen Xiaoxi reassured him, saying that she "knows nothing" herself but is "still a remarkably beautiful girl." Later that evening, Chen Xiaoxi returned to her apartment building and found Jiang Chen fixing the electric meter.

He asked her why she was out so late alone. Chen Xiaoxi replied that Wu Baisong had walked her home to the alley entrance. Jiang Chen's expression subtly darkened upon hearing this. The next morning at school, Jiang Chen observed Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Baisong discussing their lines with familiar intimacy, and an unidentifiable feeling of discomfort settled in his chest. In the library, Chen Xiaoxi struggled to reach a book on a high shelf.

Jiang Chen came over to help her. He took the book down, but after seeing its title, "Ice Cold Genius Falls in Love with Me," he deliberately placed it on the very top shelf, out of Chen Xiaoxi's reach. During the class preliminary for the drama competition, Chen Xiaoxi’s "My Fair Princess" trio performed a hilarious and unique act.

Despite their entertaining performance, Ms. Liu Xinxia ultimately chose Jiang Chen’s group, praising their thorough preparation and excellent acting, declaring them fit to represent the class. She told Chen Xiaoxi's group that while their performance was "very interesting" and "very funny," it was "inappropriate for the competition." Upset that her clothes were stained from the performance, Chen Xiaoxi was consoled by Wu Baisong, who quickly ran off to get her some laundry detergent.

When she jokingly suggested he should have just brought her new clothes, he immediately offered to get an outfit. Later, Chen Xiaoxi found Jiang Chen and confided that she had wanted her group to win so he wouldn't have to participate, acknowledging that life sometimes requires doing things one doesn't like. Chen Xiaoxi and Lin Jingxiao were assigned to record thunder sound effects for Jiang Chen's group's "Thunderstorm."

However, they accidentally left the recorder on, capturing a private conversation between themselves. On the day of the final drama competition, Wu Baisong, recalling Chen Xiaoxi's earlier joke, presented her with a new outfit. Backstage, Chen Xiaoxi was accidentally splashed with water by Wang Dazhuang, who was responsible for props and believed "Thunderstorm" needed real rain. She handed the recorder to Liao Chenxuan to play the thunder sounds and rushed to change her wet clothes.

Jiang Chen also noticed Chen Xiaoxi’s wet clothes but had to go on stage for his performance. During Jiang Chen's "Thunderstorm" act, instead of the intended thunder, the audience heard the accidental recording of Chen Xiaoxi and Lin Jingxiao's conversation about love and doing things well. Mortified, Chen Xiaoxi hurried backstage, but in her haste, she tripped over a stage screen and fell sprawling onto the stage, humiliating herself in front of the entire school.

After the performance, Jiang Chen frantically searched for Chen Xiaoxi, worried about her being in wet clothes. He eventually found her crying backstage, hidden behind a curtain. As Chen Xiaoxi tearfully called his name, Wu Baisong suddenly appeared, rushing in, saying he had come back specifically for the show. Seeing Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Baisong in what appeared to be matching outfits, Jiang Chen’s intended words of comfort twisted into an angry retort, "Chen Xiaoxi, you were so embarrassing today." This comment only caused Chen Xiaoxi to cry even harder.

Episode 6 Recap

Devastated by the embarrassing drama competition and Jiang Chen's cold words, Chen Xiaoxi spent the entire night crying under her covers. The next morning, she felt completely dispirited and avoided Jiang Chen when she saw him downstairs. Her lethargy led her to be late for school, where she was caught by the disciplinary director and brought to her class, where Ms. Liu scolded her for tardiness.

Later, Ms. Liu, suspecting Chen Xiaoxi of puppy love due to a recorded conversation played at the competition, called Chen Xiaoxi to her office for a stern talk, urging her to focus on her studies. Chen Xiaoxi's grades suffered, her homework became messy, and she often daydreamed in class, drawing the attention of teachers. Seeing Chen Xiaoxi in such a state, Jiang Chen grew concerned, though he didn't outwardly show it.

During class, Ms. Liu announced the formation of study groups to help students improve their grades. Wishing to be in a group with Lin Jingxiao, Lu Yang orchestrated a switch, resulting in Chen Xiaoxi being grouped with Jiang Chen. While this would normally have thrilled Chen Xiaoxi, she now actively tried to avoid him. In the library, Chen Xiaoxi reluctantly studied with Jiang Chen, who attempted to offer help with her math problems, but she brusquely refused.

After leaving the library, Chen Xiaoxi saw Wu Bosong waiting for her. She realized she had lost her bicycle key. Wu Bosong offered to take her home, but she declined. On her way home, Chen Xiaoxi witnessed their classmate Lin Xuan being harassed by two social youths demanding money. Remembering Jiang Chen's harsh words about her being "embarrassing," Chen Xiaoxi bravely stepped forward, shielding Lin Xuan.

Mustering all her courage, she declared that her "boss" was Jiang Chen and called him. Though Jiang Chen answered, Chen Xiaoxi quickly hung up after making her point. Her display of confidence and the mention of Jiang Chen's name successfully intimidated the two thugs, who quickly fled. When Jiang Chen arrived home, he found his mother and younger brother had returned.

His mother, who had been absent for years, offered superficial warmth but then offered Jiang Chen milk, forgetting his allergy. Meanwhile, Chen Xiaoxi's parents were concerned about her plummeting grades and decided to arrange for her to transfer schools. The following morning, still wary of running into the bullies, Chen Xiaoxi accepted a ride to school from Wu Bosong. She tentatively asked him how their classmates would react if she transferred schools.

Wu Bosong immediately stopped his bicycle and earnestly declared he would follow her wherever she went. Later in math class, Chen Xiaoxi was caught daydreaming and called upon to answer a question. To her rescue, Wu Bosong stood up, pretending he needed to go to the restroom to distract the teacher. When the teacher tried to resume scolding Chen Xiaoxi, Lin Jingxiao also asked to go to the restroom.

Finally, Lu Yang piped up, claiming Jiang Chen wanted to write the answer on the blackboard, diverting the teacher's attention completely and allowing Chen Xiaoxi to escape the lecture. During their after-school study group, Chen Xiaoxi continued to rebuff Jiang Chen's attempts to help her. Frustrated by her attitude, Jiang Chen angrily remarked that her poor grades were dragging the entire class down. Deeply hurt by his words, Chen Xiaoxi retorted that she would transfer schools and angrily stormed out.

As she sat alone on the roadside crying, the two thugs from the previous day reappeared. Just as fear gripped her, Wu Bosong swiftly arrived on his bicycle, pulling her onto the back and speeding away. The thugs attempted to pursue them, but Jiang Chen suddenly appeared, intercepting them and engaging them in a fight. To lift Chen Xiaoxi's spirits, Wu Bosong brought her to a training swimming pool for some fun.

He put her on a float and playfully splashed water, making her feel that her problems were "not a big deal." Their fun was interrupted by the arrival of Wu Bosong's coach. Angrily, the coach berated Wu Bosong. Wu Bosong, furious at the scolding, retorted that Chen Xiaoxi was his girlfriend and he liked her very much. The coach grew even angrier, and Wu Bosong shouted "Dad."

It was then revealed that the coach was indeed his father, who had always had high expectations for Wu Bosong and planned his life for him, but Wu Bosong didn't want his life to be solely about swimming. Jiang Chen, bearing injuries from his fight with the thugs, returned home and overheard his mother discussing Chen Xiaoxi's impending transfer with Chen Xiaoxi's mother. Concerned, Jiang Chen went to his room, gazing at Chen Xiaoxi's lit window across the way.

He picked up his phone, attempting to compose a text message to her, but struggled to find the right words, writing and deleting several times. Ultimately, as Chen Xiaoxi's light went out, he decided not to send the message. The next day, Chen Xiaoxi's parents were called to the office again due to her homework problems. Chen Xiaoxi's mother informed the teacher that they were planning her transfer.

Ms. Liu Xinxia, the class teacher, upon hearing this, stepped in to advocate for Chen Xiaoxi, persuading her parents not to let her transfer. Meanwhile, Jiang Chen informed Lin Jingxiao and Lu Yang about Chen Xiaoxi's transfer, and the three decided to seek help from Mr. Liu Qingshan, their Chinese teacher, to help keep Chen Xiaoxi.

Mr. Liu Qingshan then spoke to Chen Xiaoxi's parents, stating that Chen Xiaoxi had her own strengths and her future shouldn't be based solely on her academic performance. When it was Chen Xiaoxi's turn to make her decision, Jiang Chen entered the office from outside the door. As he passed her, he quietly whispered, "Don't transfer." Encouraged by his words, Chen Xiaoxi's heart settled, and she firmly declared her decision to stay.

She then made a solemn promise to her parents: if she could achieve a ranking within the top fifteen in her class in the upcoming final exams, they would allow her to remain. Moved by her conviction and the teachers' support, her parents agreed to her terms. With Jiang Chen's encouragement and assistance, Chen Xiaoxi diligently applied herself to her studies and, true to her word, achieved thirteenth place in the final exams, successfully averting her transfer.

Following the exams, Chen Xiaoxi, Jiang Chen, Lin Jingxiao, Lu Yang, and Wu Bosong all decided to choose the science stream together, ensuring they could continue their schooling as a close-knit group of friends. Chen Xiaoxi realized that no matter what challenges arose between them, her feelings for Jiang Chen remained steadfast.

Episode 7 Recap

The new school year began, and Chen Xiaoxi, Jiang Chen, Lin Jingxiao, Lu Yang, and Wu Bosong were all in Senior Two, Class 8. On the first day, Chen Xiaoxi had already claimed a seat next to the aisle, hoping Jiang Chen would sit there. However, Jiang Chen declined her offer to sit right beside her.

As Jiang Chen considered where to sit, Li Wei approached him, asking for help with some questions and explaining that Jiang Chen going with her would secure a big discount at the bookstore. At the same time, Wang Dazhuang attempted to take the seat Chen Xiaoxi had been guarding. Chen Xiaoxi quickly blocked him, asserting that the seat was taken, her eyes filled with expectation towards Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen eventually took the seat next to Chen Xiaoxi, with an aisle between them. Chen Xiaoxi, delighted, immediately offered him water, but Jiang Chen jokingly remarked that he already regretted his decision. During Chinese class, the teacher praised Lu Yang for his innovative composition, "If I were the chaos in the cosmos." When Chen Xiaoxi heard the word "chaos," she asked Lin Jingxiao about its meaning, mistaking it for the dish "wonton." Jiang Chen quickly interjected, saying, "Not food."

Lin Jingxiao chuckled, remarking that Jiang Chen understood Chen Xiaoxi perfectly. The teacher continued to read Lu Yang's imaginative essay, despite Lu Yang's feigned embarrassment. At lunchtime, Li Wei came to the table and asked Jiang Chen to accompany her to the bookstore to buy some papers, claiming they would be too heavy for her alone. Chen Xiaoxi, eager to help, offered to go, but Li Wei insisted on Jiang Chen, citing the discount.

After Jiang Chen agreed to go with Li Wei, Chen Xiaoxi dragged Lin Jingxiao along to secretly follow them to the bookstore. There, Li Wei told Jiang Chen that she wanted to buy a storybook for her younger stepbrother's birthday, explaining that her parents had divorced when she was young and her father had remarried. She painted a picture of an unhappy family life and a strict mother, implying she was working hard to please everyone.

Jiang Chen, perhaps feeling sympathetic, reluctantly agreed to help her choose a book. Hiding and observing, Chen Xiaoxi wondered if boys were attracted to pitiful girls with tragic pasts. Chen Xiaoxi's parents were planning to open a trotters shop, but the hygienic license hadn't been approved. Her mother urged her father to leverage his connections and ask a former classmate who worked at the health bureau for help during an upcoming reunion.

However, her father staunchly refused, stating he would not abuse his power to gain personal advantages. This led to a heated argument, with her mother accusing him of not caring about their family. Witnessing their ongoing disputes, Chen Xiaoxi started to form a plan. The next day at lunch, Chen Xiaoxi tried to evoke sympathy, asking Jiang Chen what he thought of Lin Daiyu, wondering if she was a fragile girl who made others want to protect her.

At that moment, Wu Bosong casually walked over and placed his hand on Chen Xiaoxi's shoulder. Jiang Chen's gaze immediately fixed on Wu Bosong's hand, his expression changing. Chen Xiaoxi pressed on, asking Jiang Chen if she resembled Lin Daiyu. When Jiang Chen saw Wu Bosong spooning meat from his own bowl into Chen Xiaoxi's, he responded coldly, "Anyway, she definitely eats less than you."

Lu Yang enthusiastically announced a "final trailer of Xiaoqing's quiz," claiming participants could win a luxury trip to Hainan by answering questions. Lin Jingxiao immediately dismissed it as a scam, but Chen Xiaoxi was captivated, quickly agreeing to participate. Under Chen Xiaoxi's influence, Wu Bosong and Lin Jingxiao also reluctantly joined the quiz game. Seeing this, Jiang Chen stood up to leave.

Chen Xiaoxi quickly followed, attempting to garner his sympathy by dramatically describing how she might become a child of divorce, citing her parents' constant arguments. However, her poorly constructed lie, which included claiming her parents smashed a refrigerator during a fight, was easily exposed by Jiang Chen's sarcastic remark. With Jiang Chen's unexpected knowledge, the group successfully answered all the quiz questions.

Jiang Chen quickly provided correct answers, even for pop culture questions, which he claimed not to read but actually remembered from Chen Xiaoxi's past comments. The quiz master declared them winners, and the award address was sent to Lu Yang's phone. Although Lin Jingxiao realized the prize pickup location was in a distant suburb and suspected it was a scam, Lu Yang, having spent all his allowance on the game, insisted on going.

Chen Xiaoxi, also excited, agreed, persuading the others that it would be an interesting outing. They made plans to go to Pingjiang to claim the prize that Saturday. Chen Xiaoxi still hadn't given up on using a tragic family background to attract Jiang Chen's attention. She recounted a recent argument between her parents, even using a small notebook to detail their conversation, suggesting they were headed for divorce and that her father might remarry and neglect her.

Jiang Chen, visibly annoyed, sternly told her to stop joking about such serious matters. To Chen Xiaoxi's dismay, her fabricated story about her parents divorcing seemed to be coming true. While buying snacks with Wu Bosong, she spotted her father with another woman. She immediately called him, and her father lied, saying he was working overtime. Overwhelmed, Chen Xiaoxi's heart sank, and she cried all the way home.

On her way home, Jiang Chen saw Chen Xiaoxi crying alone and caught up to her. He asked what was wrong, and Chen Xiaoxi, in tears, confessed that her parents were truly going to divorce. She then grabbed his school uniform sleeves and used them to wipe her tears and snot. Jiang Chen, despite his initial remark about it being dirty, allowed her to wet both his sleeves.

Later that evening, his sister noticed his wet sleeves, and Jiang Chen made up a story about them being licked by a "noisy little dog" on his way home. Early Saturday morning, Chen Xiaoxi overheard her father on the phone, arranging to meet someone named "Fuhua." Suspicious, she intended to follow him but discovered the front door was locked from the outside, and her mother was also not home.

After failing to reach Jiang Chen because his phone was off, Chen Xiaoxi called Lin Jingxiao for help. Lin Jingxiao, Wu Bosong, and Jiang Chen soon arrived outside her apartment. Lin Jingxiao suggested she look for Chen Xiaoxi's mother and Wu Bosong search for a locksmith, leaving Jiang Chen to stay with Chen Xiaoxi. After their attempts proved fruitless, Jiang Chen, looking through the door, asked Chen Xiaoxi if she had checked for her own keys.

Only then did a bewildered Chen Xiaoxi remember she had a key, and she opened the door. Chen Xiaoxi explained her suspicion about her father seeing another woman, and the group set out to find him. Since Chen Xiaoxi didn't know where to start, Jiang Chen noticed a bill on the table with several restaurant names and suggested they split up to search those locations, staying in touch by phone. Jiang Chen decided to go with Chen Xiaoxi.

They eventually found her father at a restaurant, where he was actually meeting a friend to help him find a divorce lawyer. Her father's friend, having gone through a divorce himself, shared his regret and emphasized the importance of family, which seemed to deeply impact Chen Xiaoxi's father. Later, Chen Xiaoxi's father called his classmate, Liu, at the health bureau, asking for help with his wife's hygienic license, realizing that family matters were paramount.

Chen Xiaoxi then understood she had completely misunderstood her father, relieved that her parents were not divorcing, and expressed her disappointment to Jiang Chen that it was "just a misunderstanding." Meanwhile, Lu Yang arrived alone at the prize pickup location, only to discover it was a dilapidated old school, confirming that he had been scammed. When Chen Xiaoxi and the others caught up with him, it was already getting dark.

With no other options, and inspired by Chen Xiaoxi's enthusiasm to make an "excursion" out of it, they decided to spend the night at the abandoned school. They all called their parents, making up excuses about staying at a friend's house to study, with Lin Jingxiao even reassuring Jiang Chen's mom that Lu Yang was with them. That evening, Lin Jingxiao suggested they play the "spirit of the pen" game.

Chen Xiaoxi was initially terrified but agreed after Lu Yang and Wu Bosong offered protection, and Lin Jingxiao playfully warned her against disrespecting the spirit. When Jiang Chen returned from the restroom, he startled them, and his gaze sharpened upon seeing Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong holding hands during the game. After the game, Chen Xiaoxi immediately approached Jiang Chen, who asked if she had posed the most crucial question to the spirit.

Chen Xiaoxi admitted she was too afraid, explaining that she feared a "no" answer if she asked if he would ever like her, as it would make it impossible to continue loving him. Jiang Chen just smiled, telling her that the "most important question" he had in mind was actually, "Can an idiot be cured?" He then left with a subtle smile. Unbeknownst to Chen Xiaoxi, Jiang Chen’s teasing might have hinted at his developing affection for her.

Later that night, unable to sleep, Lu Yang woke everyone to play another game where they would write a secret on a piece of paper and draw one to read. Chen Xiaoxi drew a paper that read, "I like Chen Xiaoxi." She glanced around, secretly thrilled, believing it was Jiang Chen's confession.

She went to sleep with a smile on her face, unaware that Wu Bosong, who had actually written the note, watched her intently, while Jiang Chen also lay awake, unable to sleep. The next morning, the group watched the sunrise from the mountaintop. Although they didn't win the promised grand prize, the scam had led them to this unique experience. Chen Xiaoxi's home life also settled down as her parents successfully obtained the hygienic license for their shop.

Later, on the day of Wu Bosong's swimming competition, Chen Xiaoxi, Jiang Chen, and their friends eagerly cheered him on. Wu Bosong won first place, and during the post-match interview, when asked about his motivation, he smiled, pulled Chen Xiaoxi close, and proudly declared, "Because of her." Jiang Chen, watching from the crowd, his face immediately turned grim.

Episode 8 Recap

Wu Bosong faced disciplinary action from his coach, including a suspension from training, due to his comments during a post-match interview. As a result, his father sent him away from home. Chen Xiaoxi, who was trying to earn money for Manchester United tickets to celebrate her upcoming birthday with Jiang Chen, later found Wu Bosong working at a barbecue restaurant. She took the opportunity to ask him what he had written on the secret paper strip from their earlier game.

Wu Bosong lied, telling her he had written "hot pot," when in reality, he had written "I like Chen Xiaoxi." Chen Xiaoxi then discreetly inquired about the contents of Lin Jingxiao and Lu Yang's paper strips. After confirming that their strips were exchanged between themselves, Chen Xiaoxi became overjoyed, believing that the strip she had drawn, which read "I like Xiaoxi," must have been written by Jiang Chen.

Filled with renewed happiness, she became even more determined to prepare for her birthday celebration with Jiang Chen, specifically aiming to get Manchester United tickets, as Jiang Chen was a fan. However, the tickets were expensive and hard to come by, so Chen Xiaoxi decided to settle for buying him a signed Rooney jersey. Meanwhile, Lin Jingxiao gave her allowance to Lu Yang, asking him to help secure Manchester United tickets for Chen Xiaoxi.

Unfortunately, on his way home from school, Lu Yang encountered an old foe, Zhao Yue, who robbed him of the money. Unknown to them, Wu Bosong also approached his swimming team seniors for help in acquiring Manchester United tickets for Chen Xiaoxi. Due to Wu Bosong’s public declaration during his post-match interview, many classmates mistakenly believed Chen Xiaoxi was his girlfriend.

One day, while Chen Xiaoxi was standing on a stool to draw on the blackboard, with Wu Bosong by her side, Jiang Chen walked into the classroom. In her haste and panic at seeing Jiang Chen, Chen Xiaoxi lost her balance and fell directly into Wu Bosong's arms. Jiang Chen witnessed this scene, his face visibly darkening, and he angrily walked away. Chen Xiaoxi immediately grabbed her schoolbag and rushed after him.

She presented Jiang Chen with the Rooney autographed jersey she had bought for him, intending it as an early birthday gift. However, Jiang Chen was still fuming. He took some money, thrust it into Chen Xiaoxi’s hand, and coldly told her not to follow him anymore. Feeling deeply hurt that Jiang Chen seemed indifferent to her gesture, Chen Xiaoxi angrily scattered the money on the ground. As Jiang Chen walked away, she shouted after him, "A lifetime is so long.

You won't be the only person I'll ever like!" Chen Xiaoxi was genuinely upset this time and vowed to Lin Jingxiao that she would no longer pay attention to Jiang Chen. Yet, upon returning to the classroom, despite her recent promise, when Jiang Chen asked for a correction tape, she instinctively blurted out that she had one. Lin Jingxiao, noticing Jiang Chen's cold attitude towards Chen Xiaoxi, tried to provoke him.

She deliberately told him that Wu Bosong was pursuing Chen Xiaoxi and that Chris Lee was holding a concert on Chen Xiaoxi’s birthday. She suggested that if Wu Bosong were to take Chen Xiaoxi on a date to the concert, they might just become a couple. Though Jiang Chen's face remained impassive, he, usually so calm, was visibly affected and tore his homework in frustration. Lin Jingxiao secretly smirked, knowing her tactic had succeeded.

Soon after, Wu Bosong’s father, Coach Wu, came to the school looking for Chen Xiaoxi. Chen Xiaoxi accidentally let slip that Wu Bosong had been sleeping at the barbecue restaurant where he worked part-time. Chen Xiaoxi passionately defended Wu Bosong to his father, explaining that Wu Bosong trained incredibly hard and had sacrificed many joys of a normal childhood for swimming. She mentioned his secret wish to eat hot pot, something he couldn't have as an athlete.

Coach Wu listened thoughtfully. That evening, he went to the barbecue restaurant to find Wu Bosong and took him out for hot pot. He told his son that his strictness stemmed from his own past regrets about not working hard enough, and he didn't want Wu Bosong to experience the same. The father and son finally resolved their differences. The next day, Wu Bosong arrived at school looking refreshed, indicating a reconciliation with his father.

He and Chen Xiaoxi chatted lively. Nearby, Jiang Chen was explaining a problem to Li Wei, but his eyes constantly drifted towards Chen Xiaoxi. When he heard Wu Bosong invite Chen Xiaoxi to hang out on Saturday, Jiang Chen finally lost his composure. He called out Chen Xiaoxi’s name, only to awkwardly ask to borrow her correction tape. Chen Xiaoxi’s parents finally remembered that Saturday was their daughter's birthday.

Her father, proud of his "trotter princess" and a Manchester United fan himself, bought two Manchester United tickets for Chen Xiaoxi. That night, Chen Xiaoxi was debating whether to call Jiang Chen when her phone rang. It was Jiang Chen, inviting her to meet him at the gymnasium the next evening. Chen Xiaoxi danced with joy. Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Chen had been unable to buy Manchester United tickets and had instead secured a single ticket for Chris Lee's concert.

On Saturday morning, Chen Xiaoxi woke up early to get ready, hoping to look her best for Jiang Chen. Believing their date was for the Manchester United match, she waited at the stadium. Meanwhile, Jiang Chen was waiting at the Chris Lee concert venue. When Chen Xiaoxi called Jiang Chen, he realized there had been a misunderstanding and told her to stay put, promising to come find her.

Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen eventually met, but they discovered her Manchester United tickets were fake. Her father had unknowingly bought them from a scalper. Although she couldn't watch the football match as planned, Chen Xiaoxi had a wonderful birthday with Jiang Chen by her side. At the same time, Wu Bosong arrived at the stadium with two genuine Manchester United tickets he had obtained.

Seeing Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi together, he understood that Jiang Chen was the one Chen Xiaoxi truly liked. Wu Bosong silently threw the tickets into a trash can and left, crestfallen. After their enjoyable birthday together, Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen walked home. Downstairs from her apartment, Chen Xiaoxi asked Jiang Chen what he had written on his secret paper strip and confessed that she had written "I like you" on hers.

Jiang Chen, while teasing her about being shameless, looked at her with a smile in his eyes. He then showed her his strip, which read, "I don't want to play this game." It was then that Chen Xiaoxi realized the "I like Xiaoxi" strip she had drawn was actually Wu Bosong's, confirming his feelings for her. Later, Chen Xiaoxi asked Jiang Chen if he had picked up the money she threw on the ground during their fight.

He denied it, claiming the students on duty had taken it, but revealed she had gone back to look for it. Jiang Chen chuckled, confirming he had actually picked it up.

Episode 9 Recap

Ever since Chen Xiaoxi discovered that the secret slip from the game on her birthday was written by Wu Bosong, she began to avoid him. Wu Bosong, realizing Chen Xiaoxi's heart belonged to Jiang Chen, immersed himself in training at the swimming pool, skipping classes. Chen Xiaoxi confided in Lin Jingxiao, expressing her dilemma about knowing Wu Bosong liked her but being unsure how to confront him, fearing that a direct rejection would end their friendship.

Lin Jingxiao, in turn, suggested that Chen Xiaoxi should consider being with Wu Bosong instead of tirelessly pursuing Jiang Chen. She even highlighted Wu Bosong's good looks, impressive physique, and potential to earn tens of thousands of yuan from a single competition, equating it to a "school canteen." Despite this, Chen Xiaoxi maintained that no matter how good Wu Bosong was, he couldn't compare to Jiang Chen, whom she considered her "supermarket."

With an inspection from school leaders approaching, the school decided to organize a talent show, including a debate competition to foster critical thinking. The teacher appointed Li Wei, Jiang Chen, and Zhao Jinhan to the debate team. After class, Chen Xiaoxi tried to walk home with Jiang Chen, but he informed her that Li Wei was waiting in the ladder classroom to discuss debate matters.

Disappointed, Chen Xiaoxi left, unaware that Jiang Chen briefly glanced at her retreating figure before turning away, his feelings for her subtly shifting. Chen Xiaoxi, feeling frustrated about not walking to and from school with Jiang Chen, confided in Lin Jingxiao, who suggested she join the debate group as a logistic assistant to deliver water and take notes, ensuring Jiang Chen would see her whenever he looked around.

Lin Jingxiao then volunteered Chen Xiaoxi to Li Wei, who agreed to let her join the debate group. During a debate group discussion, the topic was whether a student's grades affect their future, with their group arguing the negative. Qiao Lu deliberately challenged Chen Xiaoxi for her opinion. Li Wei, eager to impress Jiang Chen, spoke up, arguing that while good grades are important, character development is paramount, citing historical examples.

Chen Xiaoxi eagerly added her own example, proudly speaking of Wu Bosong, a national champion who only scored nine points on his last exam. Seeing Chen Xiaoxi’s animated description of Wu Bosong, Jiang Chen’s usually expressionless face tightened, and he abruptly announced his departure. Chen Xiaoxi quickly followed, asking if he was upset because she mentioned Wu Bosong, but Jiang Chen, looking uncomfortable, denied it twice.

The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi woke late and struggled to find matching socks, ultimately wearing mismatched ones. Later, during the debate group's discussion, Jiang Chen secretly watched Chen Xiaoxi, who was dozing off while trying to take notes, finding her adorable. He discreetly smiled behind his hand. After the meeting, Chen Xiaoxi spotted Wu Bosong at the bike shed and immediately fled, leaving her bicycle behind.

Jiang Chen caught up to her, offering her a ride on Jiang Rui's new bike under the pretense of needing to "press the tires." Chen Xiaoxi asked to go to the riverside. Jiang Chen rode swiftly, and Chen Xiaoxi held onto his uniform, pressing her face against his back, bringing a rare smile to Jiang Chen's face. Upon arriving at the riverside, Chen Xiaoxi joyfully ran towards the water, exclaiming, "Ocean, I am coming!"

Jiang Chen, smiling at her enthusiasm, gently corrected her, "This is the river." As they sat on the grass, Chen Xiaoxi started to take off her shoes, but hesitated, remembering the hole in her sock. Jiang Chen, however, pulled her shoe off, revealing her big toe peeking through the torn fabric, much to her embarrassment. When Chen Xiaoxi started to sneeze due to the wind, Jiang Chen initially didn't react.

She deliberately sneezed a few more times, then hinted that a gentleman would offer his jacket to a lady. Jiang Chen, without a word, took off his oversized jacket and gave it to her. Playfully, Chen Xiaoxi tucked her arms inside, leaving the sleeves empty, and twirled to show him. Jiang Chen watched her radiant smile, captivated, until Chen Xiaoxi called his name, making him blush. He quickly tied her empty sleeves into a knot and hurried away.

That evening, Chen Xiaoxi spread out all the gifts Wu Bosong had given her, resolving to clarify things with him. The next day, she found him at the swimming pool but felt guilty and tried to run away. Wu Bosong accidentally slipped, hitting his forehead on a chair. Concerned, Chen Xiaoxi helped him to the infirmary. There, she finally revealed that she had seen his secret slip and confessed that she didn't like him.

Wu Bosong, wishing to preserve their friendship, pretended he was joking, claiming that "nobody would play such a foolish game." Chen Xiaoxi, believing him, was relieved, and their easygoing, playful dynamic was restored. Later, during a debate discussion, Chen Xiaoxi had prepared drinks for the team. Qiao Lu took a sip of one and suddenly complained of a stomachache, implying the drink was problematic. Jiang Chen immediately directed others to take Qiao Lu to the infirmary.

Seeing Chen Xiaoxi's alarm and confusion, he firmly told her, "It's not your problem," instantly calming her anxious heart. On their way home from school, Lu Yang was once again cornered by his childhood bully, Zhao Yue, and his friends, who were demanding money. Lin Jingxiao, happening to pass by, courageously smashed a soda bottle and confronted Zhao Yue, intimidating him and his cronies into fleeing.

Once they were gone, her bravado faltered, and she leaned on Lu Yang for support. She then gathered Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen to discuss the incident with Lu Yang. As they recounted embarrassing childhood stories, Lu Yang shared how he created an imaginary friend named Riz to ward off bullies like Zhao Yue, who once pulled down his pants and threw him into the girls' restroom. Wu Bosong, too, shared an embarrassing moment from his locker room.

When it was Jiang Chen's turn, he confessed that during a summer holiday, he got drunk on his mother's osmanthus wine and spent an entire day at Chen Xiaoxi's house singing "Black Cat Detective." Chen Xiaoxi exclaimed her regret at not being home to witness it. Wu Bosong watched Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi laugh together, a bitter feeling in his heart. Meanwhile, Lin Jingxiao secretly followed Li Xiaoyi, the school doctor, to the cinema.

She cleverly bought a ticket for the same movie and row, feigning that Li Xiaoyi was her mentally unwell brother whom she needed to supervise, all while convinced she was on a date. With Qiao Lu’s absence due to illness, Chen Xiaoxi was suddenly nominated by Lin Jingxiao to take her place in the upcoming debate. During the competition, Chen Xiaoxi was put on the spot by the opposing team and struggled to respond.

Jiang Chen discreetly wrote "Wu Bosong" on a slip of paper and passed it to her, reminding her of their earlier discussion. Inspired, Chen Xiaoxi cited Wu Bosong, highlighting his five points on a math test versus his impressive 27 national swimming championships. When Wu Bosong later heard her statement, he quietly corrected her, stating he only had seven national championships. Nevertheless, Chen Xiaoxi's argument—that grades don't define a person's future, but rather their individual strengths—successfully countered the opponent's points and earned applause from the audience.

Episode 10 Recap

Chen Xiaoxi’s mother insisted she wear long johns due to a recent bird flu outbreak and a coming cold front, but Chen Xiaoxi refused, finding them ugly. She quickly left for school, meeting Jiang Chen to offer him breakfast. Jiang Chen informed her he had already eaten, prompting Chen Xiaoxi to claim she hadn’t eaten enough so she could enjoy the food herself.

Jiang Chen playfully pointed out she was just using him as an excuse to eat more, a fact Chen Xiaoxi readily admitted. Later, in the classroom, Chen Xiaoxi was engrossed in a chicken sandwich when Jiang Chen, noticing her appetite, asked if she had truly eaten breakfast. Chen Xiaoxi offered him her other sandwich, but just then, Li Wei approached Jiang Chen, presenting him with homemade cookies.

Though Jiang Chen initially declined, stating he'd already eaten, Li Wei persisted, asking him to try them and offer feedback for future improvements. Jiang Chen accepted, prompting a frustrated Chen Xiaoxi to dramatically toss her sandwich to Lu Yang, mimicking Li Wei’s gentle tone. Lu Yang, upon seeing it was a chicken sandwich, reacted with alarm, exclaiming, "Chen Xiaoxi, you gave me a chicken sandwich when there is a bird flu!"

He jokingly accused her of trying to kill him out of love turned to hate. Meanwhile, Wu Baisong, who had prepared a hot water bag for Chen Xiaoxi but hadn't had a chance to give it to her, was questioned by another student about using a hot water bag, to which he quipped, "Then will you feel better if you take me as a woman?"

During a break, Chen Xiaoxi confided in Lin Jingxiao about her string of bad luck: her new MP3 was broken, Ms. Liu had confiscated her novel "And Then There Were None" with only one page left, and she was cold from not wearing long johns. As they chatted, they ran into Jiang Chen. Chen Xiaoxi asked to borrow his MP3, but he curtly refused.

At that moment, Li Wei approached Jiang Chen, asking to borrow his notes and for help understanding a difficult part of the lesson. Jiang Chen replied that he never takes notes, but as Li Wei further pressed for his help, Wu Baisong arrived and placed the hot water bag directly into Chen Xiaoxi's hands. Seeing this, Jiang Chen, feeling a twinge of unidentifiable annoyance, readily agreed to help Li Wei.

Chen Xiaoxi muttered to herself how Jiang Chen was so "mean" to her but helpful to Li Wei, prompting Lin Jingxiao to point out the "gap" between Chen Xiaoxi and Li Wei. The class was disrupted when Qiao Lu suddenly developed a fever and was sent to the infirmary. Due to a city-wide bird flu outbreak, the school doctor explained her symptoms were suspicious, requiring her transfer to the hospital for further examination.

He assured Ms. Liu that there was no human-to-human transmission but advised strict precautionary measures without causing student panic. However, news of Qiao Lu's condition quickly led to widespread fear and speculation among classmates, with some even worrying that Li Wei, Qiao Lu's deskmate, might be infected. Lin Jingxiao vehemently defended Li Wei against the rumors. The school doctor then began taking everyone's temperature. As he did, Chen Xiaoxi sneezed multiple times.

Despite her protests, the school doctor took her to the infirmary for a check-up, reassuring her that it was likely nothing serious. In the infirmary, Chen Xiaoxi drifted off to sleep and had a vivid dream: she was dying of bird flu, bidding Jiang Chen a tearful farewell and imploring him not to marry a woman named Li. Waking up, she was questioned by the doctor about consuming raw poultry or chicken.

Chen Xiaoxi remembered eating a chicken sandwich that morning, causing the doctor to tell her she needed to stay for observation, effectively isolating her. Back in the classroom, Jiang Chen and their friends worried about Chen Xiaoxi. Jiang Chen suggested they go visit her. They snuck to the infirmary, but Wu Baisong's impatient kick against the door alerted a teacher, forcing them to flee. Jiang Chen returned alone, telling Chen Xiaoxi, "Actually, I can't help you even though I'm here."

His appearance offered Chen Xiaoxi comfort. Feeling scared and alone, Chen Xiaoxi called her mother, crying for help and explaining she was locked in the infirmary after sneezing. Her mother, however, simply chided her for not wearing long johns and advised her to take medicine and come home. Unable to sit still in class, Wu Baisong slipped out to the infirmary.

He sat by the wall outside, accompanying Chen Xiaoxi in silence and waving a tree branch against the window to show her he was there, letting her know, "Xiaoxi, can you see me? I'm always here." Meanwhile, Jiang Chen also grabbed his MP3 and ran out, secretly recording a message in the restroom for Chen Xiaoxi, telling her, "Chen Xiaoxi, don't be afraid. There's been no human-to-human transmission of bird flu at present. Let me tell you how it spreads."

Coincidentally, Li Wei also developed a fever and was admitted to the infirmary. Jiang Chen entrusted his MP3 to a teacher, asking them to give it to "the girl who was just taken into the infirmary," referring to Chen Xiaoxi. However, it was mistakenly given to Li Wei. Chen Xiaoxi, seeing Li Wei receive the MP3, felt deeply hurt and misunderstood.

Li Wei, upon listening to the recording, realized it was meant for Chen Xiaoxi, confirming Jiang Chen's concern for her. Determined to be with Chen Xiaoxi, Wu Baisong devised a plan. He hid the hot water bag against his body to artificially raise his temperature and then approached the school doctor, complaining of feeling unwell. His "fever" was confirmed, allowing him to enter the infirmary. When Chen Xiaoxi saw him, she asked, "Why did you come here too?"

Wu Baisong replied, "I said that I'd come back to you later." The two happily played Go-moku. Meanwhile, Ms. Liu called Jiang Chen to her office, appointing him as temporary class monitor in Li Wei's absence. She also instructed him to read bird flu health precautions over the school broadcast system. While in her office, Jiang Chen spotted Chen Xiaoxi's confiscated novel, "And Then There Were None", and discreetly took it.

He then headed towards the infirmary, but seeing Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Baisong engrossed in their game, he felt a wave of relief and decided to leave, his earlier anxieties easing. In the broadcast room, after reading the official precautions, Jiang Chen opened Chen Xiaoxi's novel. He found a bookmark with a drawing and a playful message: "JC, Stop dreaming, I won't marry you."

A faint smile touched his lips as he pocketed the bookmark, then began to read chapters from "And Then There Were None" over the air. Inside the infirmary, Chen Xiaoxi was overjoyed to hear Jiang Chen's voice reading her favorite book on the broadcast. She pressed herself against the window, listening intently, barely noticing Wu Baisong beside her. Wu Baisong, witnessing her radiant excitement, realized anew where Chen Xiaoxi's heart truly lay.

Despite a teacher attempting to stop him, Jiang Chen calmly finished reading the story's ending, concluding with a firm, comforting message to Chen Xiaoxi: "Don't be afraid." Eventually, all the bird flu scares proved to be false alarms. Qiao Lu had only an ordinary fever, and Chen Xiaoxi and Li Wei were declared healthy and free to return to class. As Chen Xiaoxi joyfully celebrated her freedom, Wu Baisong confronted Jiang Chen, declaring, "I won't lose to you."

Through this incident, Wu Baisong also learned that Jiang Chen liked Chen Xiaoxi, formally declaring his challenge for Chen Xiaoxi’s affection. That evening, Chen Xiaoxi texted Jiang Chen, asking if "And Then There Were None" was a good book. He promptly replied, "Not really," a seemingly indifferent answer that nevertheless brought a sweet flutter to Chen Xiaoxi’s heart.

Episode 11 Recap

As Christmas approached, Chen Xiaoxi and Lin Jingxiao each pondered gifts for their crushes. Lin Jingxiao asked Chen Xiaoxi if she had saved enough money and what she planned to give Jiang Chen. Chen Xiaoxi, holding a simple small card, admitted she had neither money nor ideas, jokingly suggesting she draw a comic for him. Lin Jingxiao quickly dismissed the idea, stating Jiang Chen wouldn't read it.

She then shared her own plan, explaining that nothing showed a girl's softer side more than a hand-knitted scarf, which also offered warmth. Chen Xiaoxi, admitting she couldn't knit, was encouraged by Lin Jingxiao to learn online, proposing they both knit scarves – Lin Jingxiao for Li Shu and Chen Xiaoxi for Jiang Chen.

Meanwhile, Lu Yang was busy arranging a special gift, having asked Jiang Chen to purchase a star-naming certificate from an American website, worried it might not arrive before Christmas. Jiang Chen questioned why he hadn't arranged it earlier, while Lu Yang rambled about various campaigns and ads. On their way to school, Chen Xiaoxi playfully demanded Lu Yang lend her his gloves. Lu Yang teased her, suggesting she just walk hand-in-hand with someone to share body temperatures.

Lin Jingxiao, overhearing, wondered if they were talking ill of her, and Lu Yang claimed Chen Xiaoxi often rambled about him and Jiang Chen. Wu Bosong, noticing Chen Xiaoxi's desire for gloves, promptly bought a pair for her. Chen Xiaoxi, hesitant to accept a gift just for herself, told him not to always buy her things. Wu Bosong insisted it was a Christmas gift for everyone, and quickly ran off to buy more.

As he rushed out, he bumped into Jiang Chen, who, upon seeing the fallen gloves, understood Wu Bosong's intentions and calmly handed them back to him. Jiang Chen, as usual, walked ahead, seemingly oblivious, but always aware of Chen Xiaoxi behind him. Later, walking home, Lu Yang lightheartedly asked Lin Jingxiao what she wanted for Christmas, promising to pick stars for her. Lin Jingxiao, thinking he was joking, told him to make it snow instead, commenting on the unseasonal weather.

Chen Xiaoxi, overhearing this, became excited at the prospect of snow, declaring her love for it and wishing for a white Christmas. Jiang Chen, witnessing her anticipation, playfully reminded her that she always slipped and fell in the snow. Wu Bosong, however, made a bold promise, wrapping an arm around Chen Xiaoxi's shoulder and stating he would make it snow for her. As their group gradually dispersed, Chen Xiaoxi and Lin Jingxiao lagged behind.

Jiang Chen, riding ahead, urged Chen Xiaoxi to hurry. Chen Xiaoxi replied that Lin Jingxiao was coming over to her house to play. Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen sped off, leaving them behind. Lin Jingxiao chuckled, teasing Chen Xiaoxi that Jiang Chen was clearly jealous. At Chen Xiaoxi's home, Lin Jingxiao and Chen Xiaoxi attempted to knit scarves. Chen Xiaoxi's mom offered them fruit and, pleased by Lin Jingxiao's sweet request, demonstrated the basic knitting stitches.

Lin Jingxiao quickly grasped the technique, but Chen Xiaoxi struggled, making a mess of the yarn. Chen Xiaoxi's mom jokingly commented on her daughter's clumsiness, comparing it to her own cleverness. Despite her efforts, Chen Xiaoxi found herself constantly unraveling and restarting her scarf, disheartened to see that Li Wei was also knitting a scarf of the same grey color and appeared to be much further along.

One evening, Chen Xiaoxi's mom discovered a small "I LOVE YOU" greeting card on Chen Xiaoxi's desk, with only "Dear" written inside. Concerned about early romance, she and Chen Xiaoxi's dad tried to subtly warn Chen Xiaoxi during dinner, telling a cautionary tale about an acquaintance's daughter who, after falling in love, failed her college entrance exams and "went insane." Chen Xiaoxi, however, remained oblivious to their hints, simply questioning why stories always had such horrifying endings.

Her dad suggested the card might even be for a teacher, and they decided to continue monitoring the situation. The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi's mom stopped Jiang Chen on his way to school, asking if he had noticed anything "wrong with Xiaoxi" or if she had any "close male classmates." Jiang Chen, knowing he was the one Chen Xiaoxi was closest to, simply answered "No" to her questions.

Chen Xiaoxi's mom, concluding that Jiang Chen was too focused on his studies to notice such things, dropped the topic. When Chen Xiaoxi came downstairs, her mom, eager to get them out, urged her and Jiang Chen to hurry to school. Chen Xiaoxi, curious, asked Jiang Chen what he had been discussing with her mom. Jiang Chen vaguely replied that they were talking about the weather, specifically whether it would snow.

He later elaborated that he was speculating about a Christmas snow, estimating a fifty percent chance. In class, Li Wei showed her finished grey scarf to Chen Xiaoxi, who complimented it. Moments later, Li Wei called Jiang Chen out of the classroom, stating she had something to tell him. Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong, seeing this, discreetly followed them.

They watched as Li Wei presented Jiang Chen with her hand-knitted scarf, remarking it was her first attempt and asking him to try it on. Just as Jiang Chen was about to respond, Lu Yang spotted Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong sneaking around, causing them to panic and run away. As a result, Chen Xiaoxi did not see Jiang Chen gently decline Li Wei's gift.

The following morning, Chen Xiaoxi waited for Jiang Chen downstairs, only to see him wearing a grey scarf around his neck. Mistaking it for Li Wei's gift, Chen Xiaoxi felt a pang of jealousy and, without a word, angrily cycled off, leaving a bewildered Jiang Chen behind. Later that day, Chen Xiaoxi's mom, still worried, questioned her about the card again.

Chen Xiaoxi, still upset about Jiang Chen and Li Wei, distractedly claimed she had bought the card "for fun" and gave no further explanation. Lin Jingxiao, meanwhile, went to the medical office, intending to give Li Shu her hand-knitted scarf. However, she found a beautifully wrapped gift box on his desk. Li Shu, seeing her look, explained it was a scarf from his girlfriend, jokingly telling her to put it away and stop showing it off.

He then spoke about how many girls would pretend to have stomach aches just to be seen by "Mr. Li." Misinterpreting this as confirmation that Li Shu had a girlfriend and feeling heartbroken, Lin Jingxiao sadly left, stumbling into Wang Dazhuang on the playground. Wang Dazhuang's friends, witnessing the collision, began to tease him, suggesting he liked Lin Jingxiao.

To save face, Wang Dazhuang cornered Lin Jingxiao on the stairs, pompously declaring his intention to find a girlfriend and that, despite her being "too ordinary," she was "suitable." He even offered to take her to a movie. Lin Jingxiao, annoyed, told him to "get away." Enraged by her rejection, Wang Dazhuang insulted her, claiming no one would like her because she was "so mean."

At that moment, Lu Yang appeared, boldly declared "I like Lin Jingxiao," and took her away. To comfort the distraught Lin Jingxiao, Lu Yang decided to give her his Christmas gift early. He presented her with the star-naming certificate he had purchased, proudly explaining that he had asked Jiang Chen to help him buy it from an American website months in advance, and that it was Lin Jingxiao's unique star.

Lin Jingxiao, though appreciating the gesture, pointed out that such commercial star-naming rights were not recognized by astronomical societies. Despite the practical flaws, she was touched by his thoughtful gift and thanked him. On Christmas Day, the school announced a clean-up session instead of self-study due to a TV station filming the next day.

Lu Yang, seeing Lin Jingxiao standing precariously on a table to clean a window, worried about her safety and urged her to get down, suggesting Chen Xiaoxi, with her "lower center of gravity," take her place. As Chen Xiaoxi stood on the table, Jiang Chen walked over, effortlessly lifted her down by her waist, and showed her how to use a broom handle to extend the reach of her cleaning cloth.

As the cleaning continued, excited students suddenly exclaimed that it was snowing outside. Chen Xiaoxi rushed to the window, extending her hand to catch the flakes. It turned out to be Wu Bosong, high on the rooftop of the academic building, enthusiastically creating a blizzard of fake snow with foam spray cans, a heartfelt Christmas surprise for Chen Xiaoxi. After being reprimanded for the mess, a teacher then announced that it was indeed "really snowing."

Outside, seeing Lin Jingxiao cold, Lu Yang offered her his jacket. Moved by his gesture, Lin Jingxiao gave him the scarf she had knitted. As Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen walked home, Chen Xiaoxi shivered from the cold. Jiang Chen offered her his scarf, but Chen Xiaoxi initially refused, still believing it was Li Wei's. Jiang Chen then clarified that the scarf was from his mother, much to Chen Xiaoxi's delight, and she happily put it on.

At home, Chen Xiaoxi's dad received the small card she had written, which began "Dear Chen," confirming his name. This finally put Chen Xiaoxi's parents' minds at ease, realizing their daughter was not involved in early romance. The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi presented Jiang Chen with her Christmas return gift: a braided hand chain. She sheepishly explained that she had "accidentally weaved it too long" and suggested he could use it as a belt.

Jiang Chen, despite her clumsy creation, accepted the unique gift, remarking that it was "not bad" and humorously adding, "I can also use it to hang myself." Despite the occasional misunderstandings and silly moments, Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen continued to navigate their youth, always finding their way back to each other, creating their own small beautiful memories.

Episode 12 Recap

Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen had both become Senior Three students. One morning, as they stood at the classroom door, Li Wei’s stack of homework books fell to the ground. Jiang Chen stepped forward to help her, but a few younger students passing by mistakenly thought Jiang Chen and Li Wei were a couple. Chen Xiaoxi reacted by yelling "Nonsense!" in anger, then awkwardly tried to cover her outburst by saying, “You’re talking nonsense.

He is not in Grade Two, but Grade Three.” Jiang Chen couldn't help but smile at her reaction. During class, Lu Yang played with Lin Jingxiao’s hair. Ms. Liu noticed them whispering and made them stand up, reminding them they were in Senior Three and criticizing Lu Yang for potentially influencing Lin Jingxiao. Chen Xiaoxi, who had been secretly laughing, was also called out to stand.

Jiang Chen quickly stood up for Chen Xiaoxi, telling Ms. Liu to continue teaching rather than waste time scolding them. Later, during a break, Chen Xiaoxi dozed off at her desk, her head wobbling precariously. Jiang Chen gently reached out his hand to support her chin, then carefully laid her head down on the desk, watching her sleep peacefully. News spread among students about a girl from another high school who tragically took her own life due to pressure.

Concerned, the education bureau held a meeting. Following discussions, the school decided to organize an outing to help relieve students' college entrance exam stress, with a plan for students to go to a nearby park for relaxation and a bonfire party after their physical examinations. At lunchtime, Lu Yang, acting as a "little carrier pigeon," excitedly told his friends the good news about the outing. Lin Jingxiao playfully suggested he could roast himself.

Chen Xiaoxi, hearing "roast pigeon," immediately expressed a desire for it. Wu Baisong instantly jumped up, declaring he would treat her to roast pigeons. Just then, Jiang Chen picked a chicken wing from his own plate and placed it in Chen Xiaoxi’s bowl, stating he didn't like it. Chen Xiaoxi happily accepted it. Seeing this, Wu Baisong poured all the chicken from his plate into Chen Xiaoxi’s bowl, giving Jiang Chen a defiant look. Jiang Chen's expression tightened.

Lin Jingxiao and Lu Yang, sensing the tension, quickly tried to ease the atmosphere. Chen Xiaoxi, however, rummaged through the pile of chicken and happily took a big bite of Jiang Chen's chicken wing, causing Wu Baisong to silently acknowledge Jiang Chen’s importance in her heart. Later, Chen Xiaoxi excitedly fantasized about a romantic evening with Jiang Chen under the fireworks at the bonfire party. Her primary concern was her lack of money for fireworks.

Seeing her downcast, Wu Baisong offered his help, while Jiang Chen observed from the side, feeling a subtle awkwardness. Wu Baisong insisted on giving her his entire wallet, reassuring her that he knew places for good discounts and that her needs were more important than his training. At the fireworks shop, Wu Baisong secretly instructed the owner to tell Chen Xiaoxi that any fireworks she chose would be under 50 yuan, and he would pay the difference.

Chen Xiaoxi, picking seemingly inexpensive items, commented that the fireworks business must not be very profitable, much to the owner's amusement. Wu Baisong even managed to get some free sparklers for her, claiming his "face" helped. Shortly after, Wu Baisong received an urgent call from his father, informing him that the national team coach had arrived.

He had to leave immediately for the national team selection but promised Chen Xiaoxi he would be at the bonfire party the next day to help her set off the fireworks. As Chen Xiaoxi returned home, struggling with a large box of fireworks, she found Jiang Chen holding a screwdriver by the electric box, seemingly doing something. He had been waiting for her and felt relieved when she arrived, asking her what she was carrying.

Not wanting her fireworks plan to be revealed, she vaguely deflected. When she asked him what he was doing, he replied in a curt tone that he was "counting the wires." Chen Xiaoxi, confused, thought he was fixing a lightbulb. Jiang Chen's face cycled through shades of emotion before he muttered, "I'm insane," and walked away.

The night before the physical examination and outing, Chen Xiaoxi was consumed by visions of a romantic embrace with Jiang Chen under the beautiful fireworks. She woke up countless times to check the weather. The next morning, she didn't even wait for Jiang Chen, rushing off to school to prepare for her grand romantic fireworks plan. On the bus to the hospital, Chen Xiaoxi hoped to sit with Jiang Chen, but Li Wei quickly took the seat next to him.

Chen Xiaoxi ended up squeezed between Lin Jingxiao and Lu Yang. From the back, Jiang Chen watched Chen Xiaoxi laughing happily with her friends, a subtle smile playing on his lips. At the hospital for the physical check-up, Chen Xiaoxi felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Li Wei's and Lin Jingxiao's chest measurements were larger than her own.

When Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi ended up in the same examination room, Jiang Chen saw Chen Xiaoxi's flushed face and wide, innocent eyes looking at him. His heart pounded rapidly, and the doctor noted his heart rate had spiked to 134, a moment that made Jiang Chen truly realize his growing feelings for Chen Xiaoxi. Meanwhile, Wu Baisong’s national team tryouts concluded successfully.

Coach Xie praised his talent, acknowledging his speed and potential, and offered him a spot in the national team if he won the national championship next year. Wu Baisong confidently accepted, even texting Chen Xiaoxi about the good news. He immediately hailed a taxi, paying extra to rush to Riverside Park. At the park, the students played charades. When it was Chen Xiaoxi’s turn to act out "snake" for Jiang Chen, he instantly guessed the answer.

Everyone was surprised, and Jiang Chen made an excuse, claiming he was "too tall" and accidentally saw the answer written by Ms. Liu. Despite his cover-up, Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi exchanged a knowing smile, understanding that he often knew her better than anyone. As evening fell, the bonfire was lit, and students gathered around.

Lu Yang attempted to show his strength by opening a bottle for Lin Jingxiao but struggled, leading to Lin Jingxiao playfully teasing him before easily opening it herself. Li Wei then asked Jiang Chen to help her open her bottle, which he did. Chen Xiaoxi, despite her own struggle, decided to try opening her bottle herself. However, as Jiang Chen walked away, he spontaneously picked up Chen Xiaoxi's water bottle and opened it for her before handing it back.

Chen Xiaoxi and Lu Yang shared a joyful toast, celebrating their respective small steps forward in their romantic pursuits. Chen Xiaoxi arranged to meet Jiang Chen at a clearing in front of the grove, asking Lin Jingxiao to help her set off the fireworks, hoping to create a beautiful memory for them under the sparkling lights. Her plan was unfortunately overheard by Li Wei.

As Jiang Chen was about to head to the meeting spot, Li Wei intercepted him, asking him to meet her at the same spot. Chen Xiaoxi arrived, happy to see Jiang Chen, but her heart sank as she witnessed Li Wei holding him. Just then, the fireworks, meant for her and Jiang Chen, burst into the night sky. Under the brilliant display, Chen Xiaoxi watched Jiang Chen, her eyes filled with tears and sadness.

Li Wei, noticing Chen Xiaoxi, immediately tried to kiss Jiang Chen, but he abruptly pushed her away. Chen Xiaoxi, however, did not witness Jiang Chen’s rejection, as Wu Baisong appeared just in time, covering her eyes with his hands to shield her from the painful sight, and gently led her away.

Episode 13 Recap

On the bus ride back, Chen Xiaoxi cried, unable to articulate what was wrong. When Wu Baisong asked her, "What happened?" she replied, "I don't know." Jiang Chen watched her from behind, feeling uncomfortable. After Wu Baisong escorted Chen Xiaoxi home, Jiang Chen followed unhurriedly. After seeing Chen Xiaoxi enter her door, Wu Baisong confronted Jiang Chen, confessing, "I love Chen Xiaoxi. I also know that Chen Xiaoxi loves you." Jiang Chen responded indifferently, "It's good that you know."

Wu Baisong asserted, "She won't love you in the future." Jiang Chen challenged him, "Then you can give it a try." That night, Chen Xiaoxi was utterly heartbroken, truly sad, and tore up the comic books she had drawn of Jiang Chen. Meanwhile, Jiang Chen found himself restless and sleepless. It was the first time he saw Chen Xiaoxi so upset, leaving him at a loss.

He picked up his phone, typing "Chen Xiaoxi" into a message draft, but couldn't find the right words to send. His room light remained on throughout the night. The next morning, Jiang Chen overslept, a rarity for him. Downstairs, Chen Xiaoxi saw his car was still parked outside and paused for a moment. As Jiang Chen emerged, he called out, "Hey!" expecting her to wait.

However, Chen Xiaoxi ignored him, cycling away, leaving his voice to fade into the cool morning air. In the classroom, Li Wei, while distributing test papers, intentionally placed Chen Xiaoxi's paper behind Jiang Chen's, and made sure to announce that Jiang Chen was "the No.1 of the class again this time," displaying his score of 147 points. Chen Xiaoxi, seeing her own math score of 64 points, irritably stuffed it into her drawer.

Noticing Chen Xiaoxi's mood, Lu Yang, hoping to create an opportunity for Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen, proposed, "Or how about begging Jiang Chen and Jingjing to give us extra help sessions?" Jiang Chen immediately agreed. However, Chen Xiaoxi refused with a cold expression, stating, "I only got 64 points. It's useless to have extra help sessions. I'd better do some fundamental exercises first." Lu Yang then complained to Lin Jingxiao, "Jingjing, the atmosphere scares me. What should we do?"

to which Lin Jingxiao responded, "You just leave me alone, okay?" Chen Xiaoxi continued to avoid Jiang Chen, even exclaiming "Hey!" and running away when she saw him. During a trip to the supermarket with Lin Jingxiao, Lin Jingxiao pressed her about Jiang Chen, asking, "What happened between you and Jiang Chen?" Chen Xiaoxi eventually admitted, "Yes, I want to give up." When Lin Jingxiao asked why, Chen Xiaoxi explained, "I just feel that he may have someone he likes."

Lin Jingxiao suspected, "Li Wei has made trouble again, right?" but Chen Xiaoxi denied it. Upon seeing Jiang Chen and Lu Yang enter the supermarket, Chen Xiaoxi immediately tried to leave. The cashier stopped her, reminding her, "Student, you haven't paid for the potato chips." Chen Xiaoxi declared, "I don't want it anymore," and rushed out. Jiang Chen, seeing the torn bag of chips, told the cashier, "I'll buy it."

Outside, Lin Jingxiao tried to console a tearful Chen Xiaoxi, saying, "Don't just cry, you." Chen Xiaoxi confided, "He really doesn't like me. He already has someone he likes. You make me feel sad, too. I've tried so hard. He still doesn't like me. What else can I do?" Meanwhile, Lu Yang, observing the situation, told Jiang Chen, "Let me teach you some unique skills to make girls happy. I feel you need them very much now."

Following Lu Yang's advice, Jiang Chen brought a bag of snacks and quietly placed them on Chen Xiaoxi's desk while she was napping. When Chen Xiaoxi woke up, she accidentally knocked the bag to the floor. Wu Baisong picked them up and offered them to her, but Chen Xiaoxi stated, "It's his," referring to Jiang Chen. Wu Baisong then placed the snacks on Jiang Chen's desk, telling him, "Then, give it back to you."

With a dark expression, Jiang Chen snatched the bag and tossed it to Lu Yang. During a class break, students played a game of predicting marriage fate using name strokes. A student asked Lin Jingxiao for her loved one's name strokes, and she replied, "Fourteen and thirty-two." Later, Lu Yang approached another student to predict his own marriage fate, giving his numbers as "Thirty-two and fourteen."

When the student pointed out that these were the same numbers Lin Jingxiao had given, Lu Yang, excitedly but discreetly, remarked, "There must be something between you and her. No, don't say it out loud. Girls are shy. Don't tell people, okay?" believing she secretly liked him. Jiang Chen, Lin Jingxiao, and Li Wei were called to the office by Ms. Liu, who reminded them they were top students and had been recommended for university independent recruitment.

She stressed that their grades in main examinations were crucial, especially with the upcoming mid-term exam. Ms. Liu specifically addressed Li Wei, noting, "Your grades haven't been very stable lately. Last time you dropped out of the top ten in the school ranking. This isn't your level." She urged Li Wei to "get good grades" in the upcoming crucial exam and asked Jiang Chen and Lin Jingxiao to "help her" if she faced any study difficulties.

Li Wei's anxiety grew after this discussion. Chen Xiaoxi, Wu Baisong, and Lu Yang were struggling with their exam papers. Chen Xiaoxi despaired, "I can't solve any one of them." Lu Yang, also struggling, admitted, "I'm a drowning man who clutches at a straw." When Jiang Chen entered, Lu Yang exclaimed, "Hey! Jiang Chen, Jingjing, hurry to save this poor girl." Chen Xiaoxi quickly responded, "I don't need it," and ran out.

Wu Baisong followed, asking, "Are you under great stress?" Chen Xiaoxi replied, "I seemed to have backslid again in this exam. I didn't work out any of these major questions." Wu Baisong reassured her, "Just take it easy. I'll fix everything." As they talked, Chen Xiaoxi accidentally spilled water on Li Wei. Chen Xiaoxi immediately apologized, "Sorry, I'm sorry." Qiao Lu interjected, "Chen Xiaoxi, why are you always so careless?" Wu Baisong retorted, "Who are you talking with?"

Jiang Chen, approaching the scene, told Li Wei, "Go back to the classroom," which Chen Xiaoxi perceived as him protecting Li Wei, making her feel even more sad. Wu Baisong, determined to help Chen Xiaoxi, surprised his teachers by proactively asking them to explain difficult test questions, stating, "Sir, I'm Wu Bosong. And I'm not insane." Meanwhile, Lu Yang continued his efforts to help Jiang Chen, asking him, "Why Chen Xiaoxi had loved you?" Jiang Chen, puzzled, replied, "Had loved?"

Lu Yang insisted that Jiang Chen use his "special face to induce Chen Xiaoxi again" and "make her fall in love with you again." He explained his plan to Jiang Chen, saying, "I've planned it with Jingjing. She'll bring Chen Xiaoxi here later. Then you just play the piano here." Lu Yang confidently stated that Jiang Chen's looks and piano skills would make "Chen Xiaoxi's young girl heart beat for you again."

Jiang Chen initially denied his intentions, but Lu Yang, believing Jiang Chen secretly felt bad about Chen Xiaoxi's strange behavior, persisted with his plan. Lu Yang advised him to "play some romantic music." Lin Jingxiao then led Chen Xiaoxi to hear Jiang Chen play the piano. Jiang Chen's fingers gracefully played a familiar tune, which Lin Jingxiao identified as a song Chen Xiaoxi had sung for a contest.

Chen Xiaoxi gazed at Jiang Chen, who returned her look with a gentle expression. Despite Jiang Chen's piano performance, Lu Yang admitted, "Even seducing her with your face didn't work." Their relationship remained strained. Lu Yang suggested, "Let's solve the problem at the root. Why did you argue?" In the cafeteria, Chen Xiaoxi saw Li Wei ask Jiang Chen, "Jiang Chen, can I sit here?" and then sit with him.

Chen Xiaoxi, distraught, told Lin Jingxiao, "I don't want to eat anything." Lin Jingxiao tried to console her, saying, "Jiang Chen even played the piano for you. The sun has risen from all directions. What else do you want?" Chen Xiaoxi confided, "When we were in middle school, Li Wei and he performed piano four hands on the stage. Everyone said they were perfectly match. Now I think so, too."

After school, Jiang Chen offered to take Chen Xiaoxi home, but she declined, opting to leave with Wu Baisong. Wu Baisong took Chen Xiaoxi to the swimming pool, wanting to "have fun" and show her how he "broke a record" in training, as she was "in such a bad mood." During his swim, Wu Baisong suddenly experienced severe shoulder pain and called for the team doctor.

At the hospital, Chen Xiaoxi asked if his injury would "affect your training," expressing remorse, "If I've known this, I wouldn't let you swim for me then you wouldn't be like this." Wu Baisong reassured her, "It has nothing to do with you." After Wu Baisong's father arrived, Wu Baisong urged Chen Xiaoxi to go home, reminding her, "You have an exam tomorrow. Hurry home to study."

Chen Xiaoxi offered to wait for the results, but Wu Baisong insisted, "No need. It's not a big deal." Meanwhile, Jiang Chen had been waiting for Chen Xiaoxi downstairs from her home, enduring a long wait that stretched into the night and through the rain, as his younger brother Jiang Rui observed him "strolling." When Chen Xiaoxi finally returned, holding an umbrella, she was on the phone with Wu Baisong. Wu Baisong asked her, "Have you arrived home?"

and after she confirmed she was nearby, he said, "Then that's good." He then asked, "Are you okay?" to which Chen Xiaoxi playfully responded, "I'm okay. Look at you, you're almost worried to cry." Wu Baisong retorted, "Who worries about you? Don't flatter yourself." He ended the call, saying, "Okay, my father is looking for me, bye-bye." Chen Xiaoxi told him to "have a good rest" and "take good care of yourself when you're swimming."

Jiang Chen, overhearing their cheerful conversation, clenched his hand on his umbrella. On the day of the exam, the teacher admonished Jiang Chen for being late and moving slowly. During the exam, Li Wei was caught cheating by the teacher. Director Zhang declared that Li Wei would be disqualified from independent recruitment and receive a serious demerit. Students reacted with a mix of shock and scorn, some criticizing her for "pretend[ing] to have high morals" and doubting her past grades.

When some students suggested "weeding out Li Wei together" during dodgeball, Chen Xiaoxi questioned, "Why should we weed out Li Wei?" Qiao Lu then accused Chen Xiaoxi of "talk[ing] behind Li Wei's back all day," leading to an argument where Lin Jingxiao defended Chen Xiaoxi. Jiang Chen intervened, telling Li Wei, "Stop crying," and checking if she was "okay" as she seemed distressed. Later, at the infirmary, school doctor Li Shu spoke with Li Wei, assuring her, "I'm a doctor.

And I have the responsibility to keep the secret for my patient. So you can just tell me everything." Li Wei confessed, "My mother is asking too much of me. . . I'm afraid that I can't meet her requirements. I couldn't fall asleep." Dr. Li Shu diagnosed her with "mild symptoms of depression, infirmity" due to stress and advised Ms. Liu that teachers and classmates "mustn't give her any more pressure."

Director Zhang wanted to remove Li Wei from school, citing her cheating and depression as potential liabilities. However, Dr. Li Shu argued that Li Wei's condition was "not so serious" and she would recover with proper mood adjustment. Both Dr. Li Shu and Ms. Liu ultimately took responsibility, promising that Li Wei would receive psychological counseling and that they would manage the situation, convincing Director Zhang to let her stay in school.

Chen Xiaoxi saw Jiang Chen on the road and tried to escape, but her father's oversized slippers caused her to twist her ankle and fall. Jiang Chen immediately went to her side, asking, "Where did you get hurt?" After cleaning the abrasions on her hand, he told her, "Just put some medicine on it after you go home," and then asked, "Where else did you get hurt?" He checked for bone damage, but Chen Xiaoxi confirmed there was "None."

Despite Chen Xiaoxi insisting, "It's okay. I can walk on my own," Jiang Chen gently commanded, "Get on my back," and carried her. As he walked, he explained, "Li Wei's matter is not like what you thought. Because it's others' personal business, I can't tell you." Chen Xiaoxi, resting on his back, tearfully replied, "But I can tell you everything."

Episode 14 Recap

The morning after her injury, Chen Xiaoxi arrived at school early by bus, having foregone her bicycle. Jiang Chen approached her, asking about her hand and knees, to which she replied they were fine and the swelling was gone. Despite his concern, Chen Xiaoxi remained dispirited. Shortly after, Li Wei sought out Jiang Chen for a conversation, and Chen Xiaoxi discreetly watched them from outside the classroom door.

Wu Baisong walked over to Chen Xiaoxi and, noticing her silent observation, sarcastically commented loudly on Jiang Chen and Li Wei being a "cute couple meeting at the corridor." Chen Xiaoxi quickly walked away, leaving Jiang Chen and Wu Baisong to exchange intense, challenging glances. Meanwhile, Li Wei, struggling with severe sleep problems due to pressure, went to Li Shu, the school doctor, to ask for more diazepam.

Li Shu refused her request, explaining that the current weekly dosage was already sufficient and that the school had to limit the amount. He suggested alternative methods for insomnia such as daytime exercise, drinking milk, and listening to music at night. After Li Wei left, Lin Jingxiao, still feigning occasional illnesses, visited the infirmary, this time complaining of a sore throat to get a vitamin C tablet from Li Shu.

Back in class, Lu Yang saw Lin Jingxiao with her medicine and playfully badgered her for a tablet, comically lamenting his "heart disease" and her indifference until she relented. Later, Jiang Chen offered to get water for Chen Xiaoxi, but she coldly declined his help, causing him to leave the classroom with an empty bottle. Frustrated by Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi's ongoing cold war, Lu Yang devised a plan to help them reconcile.

He coerced Chen Xiaoxi into accompanying him to the library at noon, then subtly abandoned her there, leaving her to encounter Jiang Chen. Upon seeing Jiang Chen, Chen Xiaoxi instinctively tried to escape, but he gently blocked her path. Resigned, she sat down with him. Jiang Chen proceeded to explain a math problem to her, demonstrating the solution on her paper.

As Chen Xiaoxi focused on the problem, Jiang Chen, observing her soft profile, reached out and tenderly brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Chen Xiaoxi was startled by his touch and slowly turned to him. After a few seconds of intense eye contact, both awkwardly looked away. With her heart pounding, Chen Xiaoxi confessed that she would no longer question him about Li Wei but implored him to stop spending time with her.

Jiang Chen remained silent, considering Li Wei's fragile mental state. Lin Jingxiao, having purchased a "confess your love" plant pot, covertly placed it on Li Shu's desk in his office. On her way, she coincidentally saw Li Wei furtively leaving the infirmary. Shortly after, Lu Yang, carrying a similar plant pot he intended for Lin Jingxiao, saw her emerging from Li Shu's office. He entered to find an identical pot on Li Shu's desk.

Recalling the stroke count of the name of the person Lin Jingxiao liked, he realized Lin Jingxiao's affections lay with Li Shu, not him. Lu Yang returned to the classroom, fuming with anger. He provocatively poured Lin Jingxiao's vitamin C tablets into her cup. Witnessing this, Lin Jingxiao angrily shoved him, yelling that he was insane. Lu Yang, hurt and bewildered, dejectedly replied, "Yes, I am insane."

Jiang Chen followed Lu Yang out, where Lu Yang poured out his feelings, asking Jiang Chen if it was amusing for everyone to watch him foolishly pursue Lin Jingxiao, knowing all along she liked Li Shu. Jiang Chen tried to calm him, but Lu Yang retorted that Jiang Chen, always so composed, couldn't possibly understand his emotions.

That evening, Lu Yang found solace alone on the basketball court, reminiscing about his precious moments with Lin Jingxiao as his sorrow flowed freely. The next day, Li Wei, in a state of mental distress, went to the school rooftop and approached the edge, seemingly contemplating suicide. Jiang Chen and Li Shu immediately rushed to the rooftop and managed to rescue her. Li Wei, disoriented, denied any intention of suicide, remarking on the nice view.

Soon after, Li Wei's mother arrived at the school and caused a commotion, vehemently blaming the school for providing her daughter with medication and threatening to sue. To avoid her mother's wrath, Li Wei falsely accused Li Shu of giving her diazepam. The school director confronted Li Shu, who, despite knowing the truth, decided not to expose Li Wei, stating that her condition was too unstable to handle further agitation. He was subsequently dismissed.

Lin Jingxiao, who had overheard Li Wei's lie and knew Li Wei had stolen medicine from the infirmary, confronted Li Wei, urging her to confess, but Li Wei refused. Lin Jingxiao then pleaded with Li Shu to reveal the truth, but he asked her to help Li Wei as a classmate, further requesting that she persuade Li Wei to see a psychiatrist.

To protect Li Shu and Li Wei, Lin Jingxiao took responsibility herself, falsely confessing to the director that she had stolen the diazepam for Li Wei, explaining she hadn't realized its seriousness. For her confession, Lin Jingxiao received a serious demerit, and her parents were summoned. Lu Yang was both deeply concerned and angry at her self-sacrifice.

Later, Lin Jingxiao struggled to explain the situation to her mother, who visited her at the school cafeteria, asking if she was being bullied or was sick. Lin Jingxiao, trying to spare her mother worry, simply claimed she was hungry and wanted dumplings. After school, Chen Xiaoxi boarded a crowded bus. Initially annoyed by the crush of people, she instantly calmed down upon seeing Jiang Chen behind her.

She had already forgiven him, having realized his special attention to Li Wei stemmed from the girl's depression. Jiang Chen subtly slipped a plant pot into Chen Xiaoxi's backpack and then used his arm to shield her from the jostling crowd throughout the bus ride, silently mending the rift between them. Li Shu was reinstated at school. Upon hearing this, Lu Yang impulsively dashed out of the classroom, with Lin Jingxiao and others chasing after him, worried about his rashness.

The strenuous running triggered a sudden heart attack, causing Lu Yang to collapse. He was rushed to the infirmary. Realizing there was no time to wait for an ambulance, Li Shu made the critical decision to administer an adrenaline shot, heroically saving Lu Yang's life. Lu Yang was then hospitalized and would not return to school before the college entrance exam. Li Shu ultimately decided to leave the school, pursuing his long-held dream of joining Doctors Without Borders in Africa.

Before his departure, he advised Lin Jingxiao to always prioritize her own safety when trying to help others and to visit the infirmary less frequently, adding that truth is not always the most important and that his responsibility as a teacher was to protect all of them.

He also informed the director that he, not Lin Jingxiao, was responsible for providing the diazepam, leading to the cancellation of Lin Jingxiao's serious demerit, though she still had to make a self-reflection speech to the entire school. Chen Xiaoxi, Lin Jingxiao, and Wu Baisong gathered to bid farewell to Li Shu, with Wu Baisong jokingly promising to find him in Africa for a swimming competition. This marked the quiet end of Lin Jingxiao's first crush.

During Lin Jingxiao's self-reflection speech at the flag-raising ceremony, Lu Yang made a dramatic entrance with his hair dyed in multiple colors. He boldly took the stage under the national flag, next to Lin Jingxiao, and confessed his love for her publicly. He spoke of his "mistake" of loving a girl so intensely, a girl with a "pretty look," a "beautiful smile," and who "looks gorgeous even when she's angry."

He declared his three years of loving her and that even though she never took his love seriously, he wanted to make it serious by confessing his love there. That evening, Lu Yang visited Lin Jingxiao at her mother's small shop. He informed her that this would be their last time together, as he would not be returning to school, having promised his mother to study at home.

Lin Jingxiao cried uncontrollably as Lu Yang turned to leave, reflecting that his youth would have been wasted if he hadn't met Lin Jingxiao during his most vibrant and persistent years.

Episode 15 Recap

The plants Jiang Chen gave Chen Xiaoxi have grown into seedlings. Lu Yang is still ill and has not returned to school. During physical education class, Chen Xiaoxi and Lin Jingxiao sat on the grass, watching the boys play soccer. Chen Xiaoxi mentioned how much she missed Lu Yang and wondered if he had dyed his hair back, recalling how handsome he looked that day and asking Lin Jingxiao if she was moved.

During the half-time break, Wu Bosong ran over and took a bottle of water Chen Xiaoxi had been drinking from. When she told him she had already drunk from it, he playfully replied, "I left you half." Jiang Chen saw this and looked displeased.

Chen Xiaoxi quickly offered Jiang Chen a new, clean bottle of water, but to her surprise, Jiang Chen picked up the bottle Wu Bosong had just drunk from, took several large gulps, and tossed it aside, leaving Chen Xiaoxi puzzled. Jiang Chen's mother visited the school to discuss his academic future with Teacher Zhang. Teacher Zhang praised Jiang Chen's stable grades, especially his excellent math score, and suggested he participate in a competition.

However, Jiang Chen’s mother dismissed the idea, stating she had already discussed it with Jiang Chen and wanted him to attend Tsinghua University's independent recruitment, expressing her trust in his capabilities. Teacher Zhang agreed it would be an honor for the school. When Jiang Chen arrived, Teacher Zhang asked for his opinion on his mother's plan, mentioning that his mother had even arranged for a colleague to look after him there.

Jiang Chen stated he hadn't decided and needed more time to think about it. His mother was upset, reminding him they had made a deal a year ago and questioning where he would go if not Tsinghua. Teacher Zhang intervened, advising Jiang Chen's mother to be patient as it was a significant decision for his future. Jiang Chen then excused himself to return to class.

Feeling the absence of Lu Yang in class, Chen Xiaoxi asked Lin Jingxiao if she was still thinking about Li Shu. Lin Jingxiao admitted she didn't know, feeling it was "a bit weird" as she "was supposed to be very sad." Chen Xiaoxi theorized that Lu Yang's "super romantic plot" had made Lin Jingxiao feel "promiscuous" when thinking about Li Shu again, which Lin Jingxiao denied.

Chen Xiaoxi then suggested to Jiang Chen that they all visit Lu Yang in the hospital that afternoon, thinking he must have cabin fever. Jiang Chen joked that Lu Yang might "molest the nurse if he is bored." Chen Xiaoxi made a call, likely trying to convince Lin Jingxiao, but Lin Jingxiao firmly declared, "I am not going." However, Lin Jingxiao later found herself at the movie theater where she had once followed Li Shu.

Alone in the empty theater, she reminisced about past interactions with Li Shu, including him helping her with a torn uniform and watching a horror movie together. Her thoughts then shifted to Lu Yang, recalling his declaration of love under the national flag, where he proclaimed, "Lin Jingxiao, I. . . picked a star for you," and "I have liked her for three years." She then decided to go to the hospital.

When Chen Xiaoxi, Jiang Chen, and Wu Bosong arrived at the hospital, they saw Lu Yang being asked to draw blood again. He tried to protest, claiming he had already done it that morning and didn't have much blood left, but the nurse insisted it was for a different test. Lu Yang then acted brave, urging the nurse to draw quickly as he was "in a hurry to talk with my classmates," boasting that he had "much blood."

Chen Xiaoxi playfully teased him, reminding him that he had "cried and said that you'd faint at the sight of the blood in the morning," and mocked his dramatic fantasy novel recitations. Lu Yang told her, "Fine, that's enough." Chen Xiaoxi informed Lu Yang that Lin Jingxiao couldn't come, claiming she had "something to deal with," but Lu Yang curtly asked, "Who asked about her?"

Suddenly, Lin Jingxiao appeared, surprising Chen Xiaoxi, who exclaimed, "Jingjing, did you say that you won't come?" Chen Xiaoxi also noticed the gifts Lin Jingxiao brought, commenting, "Jingjing, you've spent too much." Trying to encourage interaction, Chen Xiaoxi told Lu Yang that Lin Jingxiao had "missed you so much that her days were filled with tears." Lin Jingxiao then offered Lu Yang her copied lecture notes, saying she was "afraid that you will miss some knowledge."

However, Lu Yang coldly refused, stating his parents had hired a tutor for him. Disheartened, Lin Jingxiao mumbled, "Then, forget it," and after Lu Yang called her name, she decided to leave, saying, "I'm going home first." Chen Xiaoxi wondered what they could do, and Wu Bosong tried to comfort her by saying, "Stop thinking about that."

But Jiang Chen, seeing Wu Bosong with his arm around Chen Xiaoxi’s shoulder, pulled Chen Xiaoxi toward him under the pretense of making her "watch out the car," leaving her confused about where the car was. A nurse later came to put away the health care products Lin Jingxiao had brought, cautioning Lu Yang against consuming them without tests. Chen Xiaoxi, Wu Bosong, and Jiang Chen went to play billiards.

Both Jiang Chen and Wu Bosong were eager to win and make the other lose face in front of Chen Xiaoxi. Jiang Chen started strong, scoring several consecutive balls. However, Wu Bosong, not to be outdone, proved to have superior skill and ultimately won the game. After seeing them play, Chen Xiaoxi wanted to try her hand at billiards. Wu Bosong, as the winner, naturally offered to teach her, teasing Jiang Chen about his "skill."

Jiang Chen, feeling defeated, announced, "Time to go back," and started to leave, saying, "I'll go back first." But seeing Chen Xiaoxi enthusiastically engaging with Wu Bosong, he returned, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and forcefully dragged her away like a small chick. Chen Xiaoxi waved goodbye to Wu Bosong, who promised to play with her next time.

On the way home, Chen Xiaoxi excitedly chattered about Jiang Chen's unexpected skill at billiards, even asking him if he minded "getting dirty." She then tried to console him about his loss, assuring him it "was not because you weren't capable," but rather because "Wu Bosong is good at it."

She elaborated that while Jiang Chen would "win if you fight against the average people," Wu Bosong "is not an average person," so he shouldn't be "too sad about this loss." Jiang Chen's expression darkened, and he eventually covered her mouth with his hand to stop her incessant talking. Upon arriving home, they encountered Jiang Chen's mother and younger brother, Jiang Rui. Jiang Rui casually mentioned that Jiang Chen would be attending Tsinghua's independent recruitment.

This news immediately saddened Chen Xiaoxi, who quickly excused herself to go home. Jiang Chen's mother reassured Jiang Rui that his older brother would "go to Tsinghua for sure." Alone, Chen Xiaoxi worried about her own dismal grades and how she would manage if she couldn't get into a university in Beijing and stay by Jiang Chen's side. Wu Bosong's shoulder injury recurred during training.

His father, worried, questioned his ability to continue such intense training, but Wu Bosong insisted he needed to practice to catch up for the national game. A doctor informed Wu Bosong's father that the injury was not optimistic and advised Wu Bosong to rest. Wu Bosong, frustrated, questioned why he needed rest after being told to train harder. However, his coach insisted he follow the team's arrangements. With training halted, Wu Bosong returned to school.

Chen Xiaoxi was surprised to see him, asking why he wasn't training and how he found time for school. He explained his dad told him to rest. Chen Xiaoxi playfully teased him about his loud snoring during rest and how he annoyed a teacher. Wu Bosong admitted his shoulder hurt, implying it was the injury, but Chen Xiaoxi misunderstood, attributing it to a "stiff neck with a wrong sleeping position."

Meanwhile, Lin Jingxiao was still visibly downcast since Lu Yang's hospital admission. Seeing Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong chatting happily, Jiang Chen, displeased, interrupted them. He falsely told Chen Xiaoxi that Liu Xinxia wanted to see her in her office. Chen Xiaoxi was confused, wondering why she was summoned, as she hadn't caused trouble or slept in class recently.

Jiang Chen sarcastically explained that Liu Xinxia could tell she wasn't paying attention because she was always "chatting with others after class" or "drinking water or going to the restroom in the class." Chen Xiaoxi, remembering she hadn't finished her English paper, hurried off. Wu Bosong, left alone with Jiang Chen, remarked, "You always get high grades. Your level of lying is not low, either."

Chen Xiaoxi went to Liu Xinxia's office, only to find out Liu Xinxia hadn't called for her. Chen Xiaoxi then used the opportunity to ask Liu Xinxia if there was any hope for her to be admitted to universities in Beijing with her current grades. She also attempted to explain her frequent bathroom breaks and water drinking, citing her mother's advice about stress relief, assuring Liu Xinxia that she wouldn't waste study time.

Liu Xinxia candidly informed her that, based on her current performance, she could "go to a third-grade college at best if you want to go to Beijing," but could easily get into a second-grade local university. On the way home, a dejected Chen Xiaoxi complained to Jiang Chen about her "so-so grades" and the possibility of only getting into a third-grade college in Beijing.

Jiang Chen retorted that it was no surprise, given she "went to chat with others as soon as the class was over" and was frequently distracted during lessons. Chen Xiaoxi defended herself, explaining that since Lu Yang left, Lin Jingxiao had been constantly sad, leaving her only Wu Bosong to talk to. She then asked Jiang Chen if he would help her with her lessons so she could "go to Beijing with you if I make huge progress."

Jiang Chen questioned why he would go to Beijing with her. Chen Xiaoxi, undeterred, declared, "I will go wherever you go." Hearing this, Jiang Chen, despite trying to hide it, couldn't help but crack a small smile, which Chen Xiaoxi immediately noticed, concluding that he would indeed help her. Lin Jingxiao went to the hospital to see Lu Yang.

She saw him deep in a tutoring session and, not wanting to disturb him, sat on a bench outside in the corridor, doing her homework while she waited. After his tutor left, the nurse told Lu Yang that his classmate had been waiting outside, too afraid to disturb him.

Lu Yang then asked the nurse to tell Lin Jingxiao that he had been discharged, joking that he was "so tired" of girls from school "always going after me" because he was "handsome." When the nurse relayed the message, Lin Jingxiao, calling out his name, rushed into his room, only to find the health supplements she had previously brought him still sitting by his bedside. Realizing he was deliberately avoiding her, she left, disheartened.

With both Lu Yang and Wu Bosong absent from class, Chen Xiaoxi felt a sense of emptiness. She remarked that Wu Bosong was supposed to be resting, but she didn't know why he hadn't come. That day after school, Wu Bosong's father approached Chen Xiaoxi. He first offered her supper before explaining he needed a favor. He revealed that Wu Bosong had strained his shoulder again, and the injury was "more serious than we had expected."

The national team had called, indicating they should "just forget it," meaning Wu Bosong's dreams of joining the national team were over. Wu Bosong's father was deeply worried about his son's emotional state, telling Chen Xiaoxi that Wu Bosong trusted her as a good friend and asking her to "persuade him to take it easy," suggesting he could "take the college entrance examination" as an alternative. Chen Xiaoxi assured him, "Rest assured, I'll try to persuade him.

All of us will be with him." Jiang Chen was worried after seeing Chen Xiaoxi leave with Wu Bosong's father. Later that evening, he waited downstairs, ostensibly to "dump the garbage," though he barely had any. When Chen Xiaoxi returned, she spotted his back and approached him, asking where he was going and where he had been so late. Jiang Chen turned the question on her, asking what she had been up to.

When Chen Xiaoxi hesitated, he playfully suggested it was "something you can't tell me." Chen Xiaoxi retorted that he hadn't told her about participating in Tsinghua's independent recruitment either. Jiang Chen then hinted, "Maybe not. Maybe I won't go." Chen Xiaoxi brightened immediately, declaring, "Really? Then I won't go, either." Still curious about his earlier movements, she pressed him again, "So where are you going exactly?" Jiang Chen, with a sigh, finally answered, "Dump the garbage. Can't you tell?"

Chen Xiaoxi, seeing his tiny bag of trash, incredulously asked if he would dump such little garbage, recalling that his mom usually waited until it was "too stuffed to hold any more." Chen Xiaoxi went to Wu Bosong's grandmother's house to check on him. His grandmother welcomed her warmly, offering fruits and playfully remarking that Chen Xiaoxi would become part of the Wu family and could "whisper with each other all night."

Chen Xiaoxi was surprised to find Wu Bosong not as downcast as she expected, and he even jokingly called her "Honey." She confronted him about his shoulder injury, revealing that his father had told her everything about the relapse and how it meant he couldn't play in games or join the national team. Wu Bosong admitted he might "give up swimming" and instead focus on becoming a "good student," starting with sophomore textbooks.

Chen Xiaoxi encouraged him, saying he was a "tough guy" and would succeed in whatever he decided. She told him that once he made a decision, they would give him "unconditional support," though Wu Bosong humorously corrected her, calling it "conditional support" because his "face can bring discount."

They agreed to return to school, with Chen Xiaoxi enthusiastically planning his future, suggesting he "prepare for the college entrance exam while waiting for the recover of your shoulder," aiming for either a national champion title or a top scorer. Back at school, a classmate commented to Chen Xiaoxi, "You succeeded in taking him back, didn't you?" Later, Jiang Chen, observing Chen Xiaoxi's closeness with Wu Bosong and overhearing classmates gossiping about "puppy love" between them, grew increasingly jealous.

When Lin Jingxiao asked him to help get some water, he was too preoccupied and impatiently gave her back her cup. Angered by the perceived closeness between Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong, Jiang Chen, who had initially considered not going, decided to participate in Tsinghua University's independent recruitment. Chen Xiaoxi saw him with the Tsinghua University recruitment brochure and confronted him, "You said you won't go there, didn't you?" Jiang Chen replied, "Why not? It's such a good opportunity."

Chen Xiaoxi, dejected, simply wished him "success." The next morning, Jiang Chen finished packing his luggage, preparing to go to Beijing for the exam. His mother reminded him to check carefully and not leave anything behind, asking Jiang Rui to go downstairs with him while she fetched more items. Downstairs, Chen Xiaoxi was waiting to see him off.

Jiang Rui greeted her and explained his older brother was going to Beijing for the exam, proudly noting that his mother insisted Jiang Chen wear all new clothes for good luck. Chen Xiaoxi agreed that Jiang Chen looked "very handsome" and stated he could "certainly pass the exam." Jiang Chen, looking at Chen Xiaoxi's innocent, upturned gaze, felt a sudden lightness. He reached out and gently pinched her cheek, smiling as he said, "Maybe I can't."

Episode 16 Recap

Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong embarked on their study plan, which proved to be quite challenging as they struggled with their lessons. The intense atmosphere of the upcoming College Entrance Examination filled the school. Chen Xiaoxi and Lin Jingxiao found a moment of freedom on the rooftop, where Chen Xiaoxi playfully remarked about wanting to "bomb Tsinghua," finally eliciting a laugh from Lin Jingxiao.

Each girl was preoccupied with her own thoughts, one thinking of Jiang Chen and the other of Lu Yang. Lin Jingxiao admitted she was touched by Lu Yang’s previous grand confession and felt his absence keenly. Chen Xiaoxi suggested that Lin Jingxiao surprise Lu Yang at the hospital so he wouldn't be able to hide.

Upon Jiang Chen's return from Beijing after taking Tsinghua University's independent recruitment exam, Ms. Liu asked all students to write down their desired university and future profession on a slip of paper to be displayed on the blackboard for inspiration. Lin Jingxiao wrote "Zhejiang University" and "Astronomer," and Jiang Chen wrote "Tsinghua University." However, Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong stared at their blank papers, uncertain about their future paths. In the library, Chen Xiaoxi asked Wu Bosong about his plans.

He was considering giving up swimming, which Chen Xiaoxi felt would be a pity. Chen Xiaoxi then shared her numerous career ideas, from policewoman to scientist, but felt none truly fit her. When Wu Bosong asked if she had any long-standing passion, she quickly said "Painting," almost mentioning Jiang Chen before catching herself. Just then, Jiang Chen approached. Chen Xiaoxi eagerly asked him to help them with trigonometry, but Wu Bosong immediately declined.

As Jiang Chen left, he quipped, "You two are truly brave; one dares to teach, the other dares to listen." Following Chen Xiaoxi's advice, Lin Jingxiao unexpectedly appeared at the hospital to see Lu Yang. She gave him a meticulously annotated test paper, also asking him to write down his university choice as instructed by Ms. Liu.

Lu Yang, however, rejected her efforts, stating he already had many exams from his tutor and didn't want her to waste her valuable revision time with him. He angrily told her to leave and never come back. Infuriated, Lin Jingxiao tore the paper to shreds before storming out. After she was gone, Lu Yang carefully picked up each piece of the torn paper, muttering to himself that only he could tolerate her temper.

Back home, Chen Xiaoxi, still unsure of her future, wrote various professions on each side of an eraser and rolled it like a dice. After several attempts that didn't align with her wishes, she finally landed on "Cartoonist," solidifying her decision. She also secretly wrote "The wife of Jiang Chen" on a separate note. Jiang Chen visited Lu Yang at the hospital.

While there, he encountered a young girl crying over her sick father, which brought back memories of his own father's death from a rare disease. He later overheard that the girl's father had been saved by doctors, deepening his resolve. Lu Yang confided in Jiang Chen that he didn't feel healthy enough to be with Lin Jingxiao, fearing he would only hold her back.

Prompted by the fragility of life and his desire to save others, Jiang Chen made a profound decision. He told Lu Yang he would no longer be attending Tsinghua, as he intended to study medicine and remain by Chen Xiaoxi's side. Lu Yang expressed envy at Jiang Chen's clear path, prompting Jiang Chen to advise him not to avoid Lin Jingxiao, adding that overthinking wasn't his style.

One afternoon, Chen Xiaoxi pulled Jiang Chen into the classroom to teach her trigonometry. As the old fan whirred, Jiang Chen rested his head on his arms, eyes closed, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Chen Xiaoxi, captivated by his silhouette bathed in sunlight, leaned closer, intending to kiss him. The moment was abruptly broken when Jiang Chen suddenly opened his eyes and, seeing her close proximity, asked what she was doing.

Chen Xiaoxi, later regretting her response, awkwardly claimed she was trying to wipe his sweat. Jiang Chen calmly turned his head and told her to stop biting her pen. Outside the window, Wu Bosong witnessed Chen Xiaoxi's attempted kiss and Jiang Chen's reaction. Heartbroken, he walked away. Later, during a basketball game, a ball hit him, causing his nose to bleed.

In the infirmary, the physical pain was overshadowed by his emotional anguish, and he clutched himself tightly, seeking something solid to fill the void he felt. Suddenly, Wu Bosong received a phone call informing him that his grandmother was missing. He immediately rushed out of the classroom. The school director, who had been lecturing the class about "puppy love" and accusing Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong, tried to stop him.

However, Chen Xiaoxi and other classmates intervened, creating a diversion by jokingly confessing to various romantic entanglements, allowing Wu Bosong to leave. Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi quickly joined Wu Bosong in the search. They eventually found his grandmother across the road from a shopping mall.

She didn't recognize Jiang Chen and bit his arm, mistaking him for a bad person, but Wu Bosong quickly diffused the situation by pretending to be hungry, which prompted her to offer to cook noodles for him. She proudly showed them the swimming goggles she had bought for him, affectionately praising his swimming prowess and calling him "the world champion." Witnessing his grandmother's unwavering support, Wu Bosong decided to abandon his academic pursuits and return to professional swimming.

Later, Wu Bosong informed Jiang Chen of his decision to resume swimming, stating he couldn't let his grandmother down. He also mentioned that he wouldn't be going to Beijing. He then told Jiang Chen that he was leaving Chen Xiaoxi to him, but Jiang Chen promptly corrected him, saying it wasn't Wu Bosong's place to make such a statement.

After officially withdrawing from school, Wu Bosong received good news from his father: the national team still wanted him and he could go to Beijing once his shoulder injury fully recovered. That evening, Chen Xiaoxi expressed her distress to Jiang Chen, feeling that everyone else, including Wu Bosong focusing on swimming and Lin Jingxiao pursuing astronomy, had clear goals for the future, while she did not.

Jiang Chen then revealed his own change of plans: he would not be attending Tsinghua, but would study medicine at Zhejiang University. Hearing this, Chen Xiaoxi's spirits lifted, realizing she still had a chance to be near him. She excitedly told him she'd pursue art and attend a university close to his. She then asked him to write in her graduation album.

Jiang Chen refused, saying that graduation albums were for people who were parting ways, a response that filled Chen Xiaoxi with a quiet happiness, confirming her hope that he would always be by her side. Finding the "Go Go Go" sign Chen Xiaoxi made for him in his locker, Wu Bosong decided to make a final confession. He invited Chen Xiaoxi to the school auditorium and, wearing the T-shirt he wore when they first met, poured out his heart.

He revealed that he was the doll running with her at the Sports Meeting, that the "I love you" in the secret game was genuinely from him, and that he had caused the first snow in 2006 for her. He shared how he panicked when she was sad and laughed when she was happy, and now, seeing her cry, he wanted to cry too.

With tears in his eyes, he told her he was stopping his pursuit of her and was saying goodbye to chase his own dream, asking for her support. Meanwhile, Jiang Chen, having received his admission letter from Tsinghua University, spoke to his mother. He explained that he had initially pursued mathematics because she had once criticized his father's interest in it, and he wanted to prove her wrong.

He clarified that studying mathematics had been his father's dream, and attending Tsinghua was her dream, but his own dream was to study medicine at Zhejiang University. His mother was strongly against his decision. His younger brother, curious about Jiang Chen's refusal to go to Tsinghua and feeling ignored, asked if Jiang Chen hated him.

Jiang Chen gently explained that he had once envied his brother for their father's seemingly preferential treatment, but had since realized that their father's love for both of them was equal, just expressed differently. He told his brother not to use the word "hate" so casually, and his brother, understanding, promised to support him. Jiang Chen then gave his brother their father's organ donation certificate of honor. The long farewell of the College Entrance Examination finally arrived.

Ms. Liu offered final advice to her students on diet, rest, and preparation. As the students prepared to bid farewell to their adolescent selves, their aspirations were displayed on the blackboard: Wu Bosong as a Swimming Athlete, Lin Jingxiao pursuing Astronomy at Zhejiang University, Chen Xiaoxi as a Cartoonist at Zhejiang University, Jiang Chen as a Doctor at Zhejiang University, and Lu Yang simply wishing to be a healthy person. Their high school chapter closed, signaling new beginnings and the promise of future reunions.

Episode 17 Recap

The prolonged journey of high school culminated with the final bell of the college entrance exam. As students left the examination hall, Chen Xiaoxi called out to Jiang Chen, who teased her for being "super slow." Later, during Class 8's last class meeting, their usually stern teacher, Zhang Xinxia, wearing a vibrant red dress for good luck, told them it was the final time they would all be together.

She acknowledged their naughtiness but found it endearing, concluding by wishing them all a bright future and good luck, advising them that her scoldings came from care, unlike those they might encounter later in life. Two weeks later, the exam results were released. Chen Xiaoxi's mother, having earlier tried to ensure good luck with "talisman water" blessed by Confucius, anxiously checked her daughter's score, announcing 549 points. Elated, Chen Xiaoxi rushed to Jiang Chen's house.

Finding him alone, she playfully suggested he invite her in for tea. Jiang Chen instead took her out for cold drinks. On their way, Chen Xiaoxi revealed her intention to attend Hangzhou Normal University, strategically chosen for its proximity to Zhejiang University.

At the shop, Jiang Chen, noticing her gaze on his watermelon juice, offered it to her, claiming it was "too sweet," which Chen Xiaoxi eagerly accepted, making him smile as he playfully warned her she might get "beaten one day." When it was time to submit university applications, Jiang Chen's mother arrived, insisting he change his first choice to Tsinghua University's mathematics department.

Jiang Chen, however, firmly stated his preference for Zhejiang University and, when his mother threatened to alter his form, he countered with a threat to quit school if she interfered. His mother ultimately relented. As Jiang Chen left the classroom, he saw Chen Xiaoxi waiting, and he gently adjusted her backpack strap before they walked away together.

Chen Xiaoxi commented on his rebellious decision not to go to Tsinghua, calling it a "pity," unaware of his deeper motivations, which were to stay close to her. Around the same time, Lu Yang, despite his health concerns, finally opened up to Lin Jingxiao. When he expressed hesitation about having a girlfriend due to his sickness, Lin Jingxiao, tired of his indecision, grabbed his bag and declared, "Lu Yang, you don't have a girlfriend, right?

Then you have one now," making their relationship official. Jiang Chen and Lin Jingxiao both received admission to Zhejiang University, and Lu Yang secured a spot at a nearby university, just two bus stops away from Lin Jingxiao's. Chen Xiaoxi, however, was heartbroken to find she had not been admitted. Her parents tried to console her, suggesting they could send her abroad.

Jiang Chen, unable to reach her by phone, went to her house, where her mother told him Chen Xiaoxi had been crying in her room all day. He went in and, identifying himself after she mistook him for her parents, took her outside. Chen Xiaoxi, tearfully, expressed her fear and confusion about her future. Jiang Chen encouraged her to try again by taking the art exam, reminding her of her passion for painting.

He confidently offered to help her get into Zhejiang University and even dangled the prospect of them graduating together, as his medicine major would take five years. Chen Xiaoxi, in her typical fashion, immediately worried about failing to graduate, prompting Jiang Chen to gently remind her to focus on getting admitted first. Soon after, Chen Xiaoxi informed her parents of her decision to retake her exams through the fine arts pathway, expressing confidence in her ability to handle the challenge.

Meanwhile, Wu Baisong competed in the national swimming championship. Drawing confidence from the cheer-up card Chen Xiaoxi had given him, he swam despite recent injuries and won the 100-meter freestyle. After his victory, he learned from Lu Yang that Chen Xiaoxi was planning to restudy. In a televised post-competition interview, Wu Baisong delivered a heartfelt message directly to Chen Xiaoxi, telling her that "to restudy is not terrifying" and expressing his belief in her success.

Chen Xiaoxi, watching from home, was greatly encouraged. Jiang Chen, also watching the interview, dismissively muttered, "Old fashion," turning off the television, clearly annoyed by Wu Baisong's public declaration. Jiang Chen soon left for Zhejiang University. Chen Xiaoxi saw him off downstairs, where he gently adjusted her bangs and told her, "I'll wait for you at Zhejiang University," encouraging her with "Fighting." Meanwhile, Chen Xiaoxi began her art exam preparation.

In a humorous incident, her art teacher warned against eating still life objects, a taboo among art students, just as Chen Xiaoxi was seen attempting to vomit, having apparently consumed grapes meant for a drawing. At university, Jiang Chen remained aloof, rejecting a female student's attempts to flirt by telling her that medicine was a subject "unsuited for people with low scores." That evening, agitated that Chen Xiaoxi hadn't contacted him all day, Jiang Chen called her.

When she asked if he had called, he unconvincingly claimed he "dialed the wrong number." Frustrated, he said he had "nothing to say" and threatened to hang up. Chen Xiaoxi's indifferent response, "Alright, I'm going home to do my homework anyway," led him to end the call, visibly annoyed as he kicked a nearby step.

As the art exam countdown hit 100 days, Jiang Chen, Lu Yang, and Lin Jingxiao visited Chen Xiaoxi at her art school, jokingly referring to her as a "prisoner." Wu Baisong also returned, completing their reunion. During their playful banter, which included Lu Yang's protective remarks to Wu Baisong regarding Lin Jingxiao, Chen Xiaoxi diligently studied, often calling Jiang Chen for help with her math homework.

With Jiang Chen's consistent tutoring and her own hard work, Chen Xiaoxi successfully passed her art exams. A month later, she received her admission letter, officially accepted into Zhejiang University. During the summer holiday, Chen Xiaoxi, overjoyed by her admission, asked Jiang Chen to sign her backpack as a souvenir, a request he found uninteresting and declined. At Alumni Bookstore, she playfully feigned numb legs, asking for a princess carry.

Jiang Chen, amused, retorted that he might just knock her out and drag her home. Their playful exchange was interrupted by the appearance of Wu Baisong, who had returned for a competition. He informed them that Lu Yang had organized a KTV party to celebrate Chen Xiaoxi's admission, a detail that slightly annoyed her, as she hadn't been informed. At the party, Chen Xiaoxi was repeatedly pressured to drink. Jiang Chen stepped in protectively, shielding her from consuming more alcohol.

As the party wound down, only Jiang Chen, Chen Xiaoxi, and Wu Baisong remained. In her drunken state, Chen Xiaoxi failed to recognize Wu Baisong, calling him an "asshole" and only acknowledging Jiang Chen. Understanding the situation, Wu Baisong reluctantly left. Jiang Chen then offered Chen Xiaoxi a choice: walk home or be carried. She defiantly chose to walk, so Jiang Chen gently took her hand, and they slowly walked home together.

Outside her home, Jiang Chen looked at the flushed Chen Xiaoxi and asked if she would remember the events of the night. When she replied, "I don't know," he instructed her, "If you remember, just call me." After she agreed, Jiang Chen leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips. Completely oblivious in her drunken state, Chen Xiaoxi simply yawned.

Episode 18 Recap

Chen Xiaoxi excitedly embraced her long-awaited university life. Her roommate pointed out that the start of the semester was a prime opportunity to make a good impression, so Chen Xiaoxi quickly put the advice into practice. She went to Jiang Chen's dorm room and offered, "Jiang Chen, may I help you to clean the bed board?" After Chen Xiaoxi left, Jiang Chen's roommate commented, "This girl looks cute. Who's she?" Jiang Chen immediately replied, "My girlfriend."

That evening, at the freshmen welcome party, senior students eagerly encouraged the new students to drink. Chen Xiaoxi, like a timid wife, huddled beside Jiang Chen, who, remembering past incidents, refused to let her touch a drop of alcohol. A senior proposed playing truth or dare, where the bottle's spout indicated who had to answer a truth question or drink. The first round pointed to a female student who chose truth. The seniors teased her, asking who she liked.

Chen Xiaoxi leaned over and whispered to Jiang Chen, "This question is so nice." However, in the next moment, the girl shyly looked at Jiang Chen, as if about to confess her feelings. Chen Xiaoxi exclaimed, "From her perspective, she means Jiang Chen, right?" Just then, Jiang Chen leaned into Chen Xiaoxi's ear and quietly uttered, "Help me." Chen Xiaoxi was startled, her mind racing, but her body reacted first.

She immediately clutched her stomach, dramatically yelling, "Ouch, I have a stomach!" Jiang Chen swiftly put his arm around her shoulder and announced to everyone, "Excuse us, guys, my girlfriend has a stomachache. I'll send her to the hospital." With that, they quickly made their escape. Once Chen Xiaoxi processed what happened, she stammered, "That. . . I might have heard you just say 'girlfriend?' " Jiang Chen loftily retorted, "Right. What? You don't think so?"

Chen Xiaoxi quickly replied, "No, no, no, nothing. I agree with you. Eh. . . welcome." Seeing Chen Xiaoxi's bewildered expression, Jiang Chen couldn't help but crack a smile. Chen Xiaoxi then excitedly rushed to Lin Jingxiao, who asked if she had been turned down by Jiang Chen again. Chen Xiaoxi vehemently denied it, declaring, "Jiang Chen said I am his girlfriend!" Lin Jingxiao, surprised, congratulated her, "Chen Xiaoxi, you finally make it! Tell me about it."

Chen Xiaoxi, beaming, replied, "First, thanks to my parents, to make me pretty enough to match Jiang Chen. Second, I want to thank my friends, that are you who've been here with me, protecting and encouraging me." The other couple in their group, Lu Yang and Lin Jingxiao, were equally inseparable. While Lin Jingxiao studied in the library, Lu Yang would sit nearby, quietly watching her. However, Lin Jingxiao, being a beautiful woman, naturally attracted attention from other male students.

The moment a guy approached her, Lu Yang would immediately go into protective mode, intercepting with a stern "What are you doing?" and receiving an "I'm sorry" in return, while Lin Jingxiao would explain, "My boyfriend gets jealous." Lin Jingxiao, though sometimes exasperated by his constant presence and asking "Why are you here again? I really want to know how you manage to enter our school's library," found his affection endearing, to which Lu Yang simply replied, "Easy case."

She would tell him, "Couldn't you stop running after me all day long?" , and he'd respond, "But I miss you." She'd concede, "Fine, be quiet, don't bother me," and he'd agree, "Yes." He would even find the love letters she received and read them aloud. When Lu Yang read one that said, "Gao Zhiwei, QQ: 30269. Sun Ting: You're the ethereal cloud in the sky. He even dares to copy me to write love letters!

So lame," and another, "Dark night gives me dark eyes to let me reach for brightness. This Shen Tianyi. . ." , Lin Jingxiao would tell him, "Stop reading. I'll throw them away. I'll throw all of them away, Okay?" Despite her feigned annoyance, Lin Jingxiao secretly cherished his devoted attention.

After Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen officially became a couple, Chen Xiaoxi went through an internal debate, convincing herself that she had never been the reserved type, and decided to call Jiang Chen. Before she could dial, Jiang Chen's call came through. " Yes? Jiang Chen," she answered. He asked, "What are you doing?" and she, initially lying, said, "I'm studying." When Jiang Chen casually mentioned, "I was thinking about having dinner with you.

We'll forget it since you're studying," her true nature immediately emerged as she excitedly exclaimed, "I choose dinner! I choose dinner!" Jiang Chen agreed to meet her at 5:30 p. m. in front of her dormitory. On their way, Chen Xiaoxi was beaming, and when a passerby asked her, "Do you have a boyfriend?" she proudly replied, "Yes. And he's so handsome."

She then tried various subtle hints to get Jiang Chen to hold her hand, even singing him a song and directly asking, "Jiang Chen, would you try to hold hands with fingers?" to which he initially said, "No." Jiang Chen, amused by her expressive face, secretly smiled, then extended his large hand to envelop her small one, interlacing their fingers. At dinner, Chen Xiaoxi complained to Jiang Chen, "Are we dating now? Or else? Simply eating?

You always talk like that. It makes me feel unreal." He asked, "So how should I talk to you?" She suggested, "Calling you my baby? Can you?" but he flatly responded, "No." Jiang Chen then asked her if she had plans for the night, and when she said no, he invited her, "Then come keep me company." Chen Xiaoxi, however, misinterpreted his intention, thinking he meant "company" in a romantic sense.

Her cheeks flushed, her heart pounded, and she coughed, accidentally spewing unchewed pasta from her nose onto a red wine glass, a mortifying moment. Overcome with shame, Chen Xiaoxi tearfully begged him, "Jiang Chen, let's break up. I won't run after you anymore. Let's break up." Jiang Chen walked over, pulled her into a hug, and, trying to suppress his laughter, reassured her, "It's fine. I saw nothing. I just want you to study with me tonight.

Tomorrow I have a pathology exam. It's very hard to pass. It's known as four policemen." He then playfully teased, "So what was on your mind just now?" Chen Xiaoxi, even more mortified, buried her face in his chest, too ashamed to look at him. Later, Chen Xiaoxi excitedly told Lin Jingxiao, "Senior Sister, I want to share something with you. Jiang Chen and I hugged this Monday."

Lin Jingxiao, amused, responded, "Well, junior sister, as I remember, you two have been together for over half a month, why a hug make you feel so excited? What? I thought our progress is counted as speedy." Following Lin Jingxiao's advice, who, after joking that she couldn't tell about her own relationship progress when asked, encouraged Xiaoxi to "do this" (demonstrating a kiss) and responded to Xiaoxi's query about her lack of charm by saying, "Turn around.

Well, it does show a little inferior," Chen Xiaoxi put on a one-shoulder short dress and high heels, hoping to showcase her allure to Jiang Chen. Lin Jingxiao had specifically advised her, "You can put on a sexy cute dress, and since you're tiny, wear a pair of high-heels. Let's go." However, on a hot summer night, as Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen sat on a park bench, she kept scratching at the mosquito bites on her legs.

Jiang Chen asked, "Are you wearing perfume? But I do smell something." Chen Xiaoxi explained, "I. . . it's the smell of Florida water. I got a lot of bites on my leg. As it's not cooling enough, I add a little essential balm." Thinking Jiang Chen disliked the smell, she slowly scooted to the other end of the bench. Then, Jiang Chen's words, "Chen Xiaoxi, come here. Let me kiss you. Quickly," struck Chen Xiaoxi like lightning.

When Jiang Chen's soft lips met hers, Chen Xiaoxi remained in a daze. She asked him, "I'm thinking why you just kissed me. Is it because my dress makes me look charming?" Jiang Chen immediately retorted, "No, your shank is too fat." She then proposed, "Then is it because the smell of Florida water and essential balm turned you on?" He replied, "It smells like formalin." Undeterred, she continued, "Then is it the insects around here that serve as aphrodisiac?"

Jiang Chen dismissed all her theories, calmly explaining, "I just wanted to know the tactile difference between lip skin tissue and other skin tissues." Time passed, and Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen enjoyed their happy university days together. In winter, Chen Xiaoxi would wrap herself up like a zongzi, accompanying Jiang Chen in the library. He would study, and she would read novels beside him.

When she needed to turn a page, she would subtly nudge him with her elbow, a silent understanding passing between them. This scene was captured by a school reporter, Su Jia from the campus newspaper, who was planning an activity called "The beautiful love in campus." Su Jia approached Chen Xiaoxi and explained that she had seen their sweet interaction in the library and taken a picture for the main theme of the activity.

Chen Xiaoxi, wary, responded, "This may not be okay. My boyfriend keeps a low profile." Su Jia informed her about news ethics, stating that portraits could be used without permission, but then revealed the true purpose of her visit: a campus couple competition. She flattered Chen Xiaoxi, "As I know, in your department, you're famous for your retouching technique. Your boyfriend is so good looking. If you miss the champion simply because of lousy retouching, won't that be a pity?"

Chen Xiaoxi, agreeing it would be a pity, took the photos. Later, a newspaper featuring the headline "Jiang Chen, A Junior in the Medicine Department, Turns Pages for Girlfriend" was displayed, drawing attention. Chen Xiaoxi's friends exclaimed, "Xiaoxi, look! The photo you retouched is so much better than those of others. Wow, it's true!" When Chen Xiaoxi saw Jiang Chen, she tried to appease him, "Are you still angry? Please don't. I assure you the champion of campus couple!"

She then offered to buy him a "roast sweet potato! It's so delicious." Jiang Chen, ever practical, warned, "No. It may cause cancer." Chen Xiaoxi dismissed it as "Nonsense. It smells so good. It's sweet and yummy," while also muttering to herself, "I gotta pretend blaming you, or else he'll throw a fire at you." Lu Yang was scheduled for heart surgery.

He deliberately tried to upset Lin Jingxiao, proposing to her in a clumsy manner saying, "Lin Jingxiao, marry me," and then boasting, "How is it? I'm mature enough, right? Don't be fool. If you think I'm not romantic enough, I'll pick some flowers for you. I'll give you a ring when I'm rich. By then you'll have whatever ring you like," so she wouldn't worry about his condition. Lin Jingxiao, exasperated, exclaimed, "Lu Yang, how can you propose like that?"

Jiang Chen discussed the surgery with Lu Yang, asking if he had decided to accept it, to which Lu Yang replied, "You told me before that thinking too much isn't my style. But, I'll graduate soon. It seems I can run from it no more." Jiang Chen reassured him, "I've asked my teacher to lead your surgery. Relax, he's an expert of cardiac surgery." Jiang Chen also pressed, "Do you really not plan to tell Lin Jingxiao?"

Lu Yang insisted, "She can only be worried if she knows." But Jiang Chen, understanding Lin Jingxiao's true feelings, advised, "Don't think that she is tough. She cries so hard sometimes," expressing his desire to avoid any regrets between them, and assured him, "The surgery will go well." He then confided in Chen Xiaoxi, telling her, "I need to tell you something. . . Lu Yang will have a cardiac surgery. He doesn't want Lin Jingxiao to know.

But the cardiac surgery is a high risky surgery. I think it's better for Lin Jingxiao to know it." Chen Xiaoxi responded, "I get it." Lin Jingxiao, Jiang Chen, and Chen Xiaoxi later visited Lu Yang in the hospital. At the same time, Wu Baisong, who was far away participating in a swimming competition, appeared on TV during a post-match interview. The announcer stated, "Wu Bosong used 50. 05 second, breaking the record of the world tournament.

It's the 2nd gold medal Wu Bosong gained since man's 400 freestyle game. Let's review this exciting moment!" Chen Xiaoxi exclaimed, "Wu Bosong is awesome. I guess he's the winner this time. Wu Bosong really made it to the champion." Lu Yang, who felt like a "monkey" with them all there, even offered some bananas. Wu Baisong, on screen, thanked his coach, father, and friends who "encouraged me to go on swimming."

He specifically mentioned, "I once promised a friend that I'd gain a gold metal to switch the silver metal that I gave her. Now I can finally keep my promise," referring to Chen Xiaoxi. He then addressed "another friend that I'm not so familiar with," telling him, "Relax! You're not going to die," clearly referring to Lu Yang. Lu Yang found the situation awkward, complaining, "You guys make it so awkward. Look at you, how embarrassing!

It seems that I should tell my will or something. I have no money in the bank, okay? Wu Bosong, why are you like that, too?" He even playfully suggested, "I'm thinking about taking care of our Jingjing," which Lin Jingxiao immediately shut down with "No way! Then you need to get out fast." With the support of his friends, Lu Yang's surgery was successful, and he quickly bounced back to his lively self.

Chen Xiaoxi, despite Jiang Chen's opposition, took a summer job near the hospital where he was interning. She had explained to him, "Listen, I've found a summer job. So this summer, I'll stay at school for a month. Then when you do your internship at hospital, I can keep you company." She justified it by saying, "All girls in my room got a job, except for me. I can gain some experiences by doing this.

Besides, it's in a shop of my senior brother in my department. It's very safe." Jiang Chen had firmly told her, "Don't do that. I don't want you to." When she brought up the prepaid salary, he offered, "I'll pay it back for you." But Chen Xiaoxi insisted, "But I want to go," to which he retorted, "I already said no. I can give you money if you need. But it's not what you earned yourself.

I've got intern payment and scholarship. My way of earning money is easier than yours." Chen Xiaoxi challenged him, "Why do you care how I earn it? I earn it through efforts, so what if it's tough? Is that humiliating?" Jiang Chen, resigned, eventually said, "Whatever you like." On a hot summer day, Chen Xiaoxi was out distributing flyers in a heavy mascot costume, thinking, "I don't think distributing leaflets works well.

There are still only few customers coming into the shop." Passersby found her "so cute" and asked to take pictures. She also overheard two girls talking about Jiang Chen, saying, "Many people were talking about him in the blog before, saying that his girlfriend didn't deserve him." Feeling down, Chen Xiaoxi thought, "They must mock at me on purpose." Unexpectedly, Jiang Chen appeared. He hugged her while she was still in the mascot suit and playfully commented, "Kind of cute.

And you're taller in this." Hearing the comments from passersby about his "ordinary" girlfriend combined with his teasing, Chen Xiaoxi burst into tears, feeling incredibly wronged. Jiang Chen then took over distributing the flyers, advising, "Give it to pupils and high school students! We mainly target at the students in elementary and middle schools in their summer break," while Chen Xiaoxi sat in the shade, watching him.

He even joked, "Do you want me to give you the dinosaur costume to wear? That would be better." During another summer holiday, on a muggy summer night, Jiang Chen called Chen Xiaoxi to say he would be coming home late from school, around 11 p. m. Chen Xiaoxi initially offered to meet him at the train station, but he suggested waiting until tomorrow. She insisted, "No, I want to see you sooner.

What about we meet at downstairs when you arrive? Is that okay?" He agreed. However, Chen Xiaoxi accidentally fell asleep and only woke up later, rushing downstairs to find Jiang Chen patiently waiting below. " You can stay at home, actually," he commented. " How dare I? I just fall asleep. Plus my phone was muted," she replied. She couldn't stop smiling upon seeing him, asking, "Why do you stand so far? Why are you laughing? Nothing.

Just so happy to see you." He told her, "The bag on the box is for you," which contained a Wacom tablet. Chen Xiaoxi, surprised, asked, "Why do you give me a wacom? I thought you worked to buy it." Jiang Chen clarified, "Not actually." When asked if she wanted it, she excitedly replied, "Yep!" After receiving the gift, Chen Xiaoxi wanted to stay with Jiang Chen a bit longer, but he urged her to "Go home now."

As Chen Xiaoxi reluctantly trudged up the stairs, Jiang Chen suddenly sprinted up, blocking her path. His face was flushed, fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he leaned in to kiss her. Unexpectedly, Chen Xiaoxi was quicker, giving him a light peck on the corner of his mouth before ducking under his arm and playfully escaping. Jiang Chen touched his lips, a doting smile spreading across his face.

Episode 19 Recap

Jiang Chen found himself increasingly consumed by his work at the hospital, leaving him with less and less time to spend with Chen Xiaoxi. After a grueling nine-hour surgery that left his legs weak, he finally had a moment to call Chen Xiaoxi, who had been trying to reach him. It was already past midnight, but Chen Xiaoxi was delighted to hear from him, confessing that she missed him.

Their call was cut short when Director He summoned Jiang Chen for more work. The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi found herself locked out of her dormitory. Feeling lonely, she often spent her free time shopping with Lin Jingxiao, which drew complaints from Lin Jingxiao's boyfriend, Lu Yang, who teased Chen Xiaoxi about Jiang Chen's absence. Chen Xiaoxi was also preoccupied with her graduation project and job interviews.

One day, after a tiring round of interviews, her feet sore from high heels, she decided to surprise Jiang Chen at the hospital. However, her visit took an unexpected turn when she witnessed a female patient overtly flirting with Jiang Chen during what appeared to be a routine examination. Chen Xiaoxi, upset by the patient's behavior, accused her of "being up to no good."

Jiang Chen, however, playfully retorted that Chen Xiaoxi was the one with "ill intentions," then tried to appease her by offering to take her out for a meal. Before they could leave, an urgent vascular surgery called Jiang Chen away once more. Later, he sent Chen Xiaoxi a message offering to help her revise her resume, but she replied that Lin Jingxiao was already helping her.

This led to an early morning call to Lin Jingxiao that was answered by a grumpy Lu Yang, who urged Chen Xiaoxi to spend time with Jiang Chen instead. Meanwhile, Director He approached Jiang Chen with a significant opportunity. Given Jiang Chen's excellent performance during his nearly year-long internship, the hospital decided to recommend him for a prestigious four-year training program at Xiehe Hospital in Beijing, a rare provincial quota.

Jiang Chen expressed a need to consider the offer, but Director He emphasized it was a chance not to be missed. Later, Jiang Chen managed to squeeze in a visit to Chen Xiaoxi at her art studio. She was thrilled to see him, jumping into his arms and commenting on how rare and special it felt to have him visit her at school. Jiang Chen, looking at her helplessly yet dotingly, seemed to hesitate to speak.

Chen Xiaoxi was still working on her graduation project, which she hadn't finished. She cherished the moment, proposing they stay embraced until he had to leave for the hospital at nine. Jiang Chen admitted he simply wanted to see her, prompting Chen Xiaoxi to playfully remind him of her importance in his life. Jiang Chen eventually informed Director He that he would decline the Xiehe training.

He explained that he believed he could learn anywhere and his priority was to stay with his girlfriend, even mentioning his intentions to marry her. Director He was surprised by his decision, highlighting the unparalleled opportunity and even suggesting that Chen Xiaoxi could accompany him to Beijing. Despite this, he urged Jiang Chen to reconsider his choice. As graduation loomed, Chen Xiaoxi's anxieties grew. Her roommates were making plans to move out, and she felt increasingly lost.

She still hadn't submitted her graduation project, found a job, or even discussed their living situation with Jiang Chen, who remained extremely busy. One of her roommates, trying to be helpful, suggested she contact a real estate agent whose number her boyfriend had. Taking matters into her own hands, Chen Xiaoxi arranged to meet the agent alone. She called Jiang Chen, hoping he could accompany her, but he informed her he had two surgeries scheduled and couldn't leave.

Chen Xiaoxi didn't want to trouble Jiang Chen, so she went to view an apartment by herself. The agent led her to an old residential building and then, with ill intent, tried to force her inside. Terrified, Chen Xiaoxi struggled free and managed to escape. Crying, she ran straight to the hospital to find Jiang Chen, only to be told by a nurse that he was going to Beijing for advanced study for four years.

Stunned and heartbroken, Chen Xiaoxi sat down. Jiang Chen, having just finished surgery and still in his scrubs, rushed to her side. With tear-streaked and swollen eyes, she confronted him, asking if he was going to Beijing and why he hadn't told her. Jiang Chen replied that he hadn't made a final decision.

Overwhelmed by a sense of betrayal and neglect, Chen Xiaoxi lashed out, accusing him of making decisions without her input and making her feel insignificant in his world. Jiang Chen, initially thinking it was just one of her tantrums, tried to pull her into a hug, but she pushed him away. When his phone rang again, signaling another call from work, she declared she was leaving.

As he grabbed her arm, Chen Xiaoxi, her voice cold, told him, "I don't want to love you anymore," and broke free. Jiang Chen watched her retreating figure, but a nurse quickly called him back, urging him to attend to a patient, Yu Yongbo, of ward 3207. As a doctor, his responsibility lay with his patients. Tragedy struck during a heart transplant surgery for Yu Yongbo, a patient Jiang Chen had been closely monitoring.

Despite their best efforts, Yu Yongbo passed away on the operating table. The patient's family, distraught, lashed out at the doctors, including Jiang Chen. This profound loss left Jiang Chen feeling the raw impermanence of life and his own helplessness. In his vulnerability, he sought out Chen Xiaoxi at her dormitory. However, she was still angry and closed off, cutting him short as he tried to speak, and they parted on bad terms once more.

Later, Director He spoke with Jiang Chen, acknowledging the inherent risks of the surgery and the hospital's limitations, while reaffirming that Xiehe Hospital offered the best resources for him to learn and grow. Reflecting on his first patient loss, Jiang Chen decided that he could do better, could save more families, and thus resolved to accept the training opportunity at Xiehe Hospital.

Some time later, Jiang Chen went to find Chen Xiaoxi, only to see an unfamiliar man helping her with her luggage. He called her, and she lied, claiming she was busy with her graduation project. This misunderstanding, coupled with her apparent secret move, fueled Jiang Chen's anger, and he left. At the airport, Jiang Chen reminisced about their shared past, recalling a hand chain he gave her and her words about not loving only him forever.

He called Chen Xiaoxi one last time, asking her to come to see him, secretly hoping that if she came, he wouldn't leave. However, still hurt and angry, Chen Xiaoxi defiantly told him she wouldn't come. Jiang Chen's flight was announced, and he boarded. Chen Xiaoxi, having a change of heart, rushed to the airport, but she was too late; Jiang Chen had already departed. As she sat crying on the floor, a familiar face appeared before her – Wu Baisong.

Episode 20 Recap

Three years after their breakup, life had taken new turns for everyone. Wu Bosong had become a celebrated swimming star, while Lu Yang and Lin Jingxiao were preparing for their wedding. Chen Xiaoxi was pursuing her passion as a cartoonist, enjoying her work. Meanwhile, Jiang Chen had returned from Beijing, having completed a demanding four-year advanced medical training program in just three years.

He turned down a prestigious opportunity to stay at Xiehe Hospital, choosing instead to become a doctor at a city hospital. During his training, he had explained to the hospital president that he had an "urgent thing" to attend to, and that he chose to return because "someone special" was here, affirming he would not leave again. One day, Chen Xiaoxi's father suffered a fall and broke a bone, necessitating a trip to the hospital.

Chen Xiaoxi rushed to the bustling hospital, her anxiety mounting. At the same time, Jiang Chen was in a meeting for the vice-director election for the cardiac surgery department. Despite the ongoing meeting where his rapid promotion was being discussed, he was distracted by a fleeting glimpse of a figure that strongly resembled Chen Xiaoxi. Unable to concentrate, he abruptly left the meeting to search for the person who had been on his mind for three years.

In the hospital lobby, Chen Xiaoxi, holding her payment slip, looked up and saw Jiang Chen's familiar face. Three years melted away as they stood, frozen in a moment, before Jiang Chen walked through the crowd towards her. Just then, Wu Bosong arrived at the hospital. He rushed to Chen Xiaoxi, putting an arm around her and asking about her father. Jiang Chen, observing their close interaction, mistakenly assumed they were now together.

Hiding his true emotions, Jiang Chen secretly approached his orthopedic colleague, Dr. Su Mu, to arrange Chen Xiaoxi's father's surgery, even agreeing to cover her duties for two weeks as a favor. That evening, Lu Yang and Lin Jingxiao came to the hospital to visit Chen Xiaoxi's father. They confronted Jiang Chen, expressing their resentment for his sudden disappearance after his breakup with Chen Xiaoxi.

Jiang Chen seized the opportunity to inquire about Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong, but they intentionally gave vague answers, though it became clear to Jiang Chen that his earlier assumption about them being a couple was wrong. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Jiang Chen's lips; he was determined not to let Chen Xiaoxi leave him again. Late that night, Chen Xiaoxi waited for a ride outside the hospital. Jiang Chen drove up and offered to take her home.

After three years apart, Chen Xiaoxi felt awkward with him. To avoid the incessant honking from cars behind, she tried to open the back door, only to find the back seat filled with items. Reluctantly, she settled into the passenger seat beside Jiang Chen. In the car, Jiang Chen leaned towards her, instructing her to fasten her seatbelt. Chen Xiaoxi flinched, asking, "What do you want?"

Jiang Chen, maintaining a poker face but noting to himself that she hadn't changed, calmly asked her to retrieve some Hydrotalcite Chewable Tablets for his stomachache. Upon arriving at Chen Xiaoxi's apartment building, as she was about to get out, Jiang Chen clutched his stomach, looking distressed. Concerned, Chen Xiaoxi couldn't bring herself to leave him in that state and insisted he come upstairs for a bowl of noodles. After some persistence from Chen Xiaoxi, Jiang Chen finally agreed.

Chen Xiaoxi's small apartment was cozy. Jiang Chen's tall frame looked out of place on her sofa. As Chen Xiaoxi cooked, her clumsy movements in the kitchen indicated she rarely cooked, bringing a subtle smile to Jiang Chen's face. When she emerged with the noodles, she found Jiang Chen sound asleep on the sofa. Unable to wake him, she placed the bowl on the table and sat watching TV with an unfocused gaze.

When Jiang Chen woke up, he devoured the large bowl of noodles. As he left, he casually remarked, "The noodles are too salty." The next day, Chen Xiaoxi's father underwent a successful surgery performed by Dr. Su Mu. That evening, Chen Xiaoxi was dozing by her father's bedside when Dr. Su Mu came to chat, subtly prying for information about Jiang Chen.

During their conversation, Su Mu, with her distinctive humor, told Chen Xiaoxi they were "childhood sweethearts," adding that she joked about Jiang Chen being in love with a "married woman," which made Chen Xiaoxi uncomfortable. Wu Bosong called Chen Xiaoxi, wanting to visit her father, but she told him not to come, fearing he would attract too much attention from the nurses.

Later, Chen Xiaoxi's mother urged her to take fruits to Jiang Chen, hoping it would lead to a reconciliation. Her father, however, advised her to maintain her dignity and not "make the same mistake," suggesting that Wu Bosong, the "star," was a better choice. Amidst her parents' playful argument, Chen Xiaoxi left to find Jiang Chen. Outside his office, she took a deep breath to compose herself.

Jiang Chen, as usual, was absorbed in his work, not looking up as she entered and placed the fruits down. After some polite conversation, Chen Xiaoxi prepared to leave. Finally, Jiang Chen looked up and asked, "Have you ever regretted?" Chen Xiaoxi, understanding he was referring to their breakup, firmly replied, "No." Jiang Chen, in a fit of silent frustration, later scribbled "Chen Xiaoxi" on a document instead of his own name.

Lu Yang held a bachelor party, and Jiang Chen arrived with his "girlfriend," Zhuang Dongna, a cheerful woman who frequently mixed English and Mandarin. Jiang Chen intended to make Chen Xiaoxi jealous, but the plan quickly backfired. Zhuang Dongna played her part enthusiastically, asking Jiang Chen to feed her a cherry tomato because she claimed to have myotenositis.

However, Jiang Chen himself became visibly jealous when Wu Bosong acted overly sweet with Chen Xiaoxi, feeding her and asking her to peel an orange for him. After Chen Xiaoxi peeled the orange, Jiang Chen reached over and wiped her hands, betraying his true feelings. After the party, Jiang Chen offered to drive everyone home. Zhuang Dongna suggested the most efficient route: dropping Wu Bosong first, then herself, then Chen Xiaoxi.

However, Wu Bosong, who had been drinking and couldn't reach his assistant, refused to get out of the car without Chen Xiaoxi, clearly concerned about leaving her alone with Jiang Chen. Chen Xiaoxi insisted that Wu Bosong go home, reassuring him that she would be safe with Jiang Chen. After Wu Bosong and Zhuang Dongna had been dropped off, Jiang Chen drove Chen Xiaoxi home alone.

As Jiang Chen drove Chen Xiaoxi home, he fabricated a story about the car stalling and asked her to get out and push it. While she was outside, he locked the back doors, intending for her to sit in the front passenger seat. Misinterpreting his actions, Chen Xiaoxi thought he didn't want to drive her home and started walking away. Jiang Chen then called her "idiot" and told her to sit in the front.

Chen Xiaoxi, annoyed at being called an idiot, then asked him to drop her off at a bus station. Jiang Chen dropped Chen Xiaoxi off at her apartment. She was on the phone with Wu Bosong, who was expressing his happiness about her peeling an orange for him, while she fumbled in her bag for her keys. Suddenly, bright headlights flashed behind her. She turned to see Jiang Chen walking towards her, carrying her lost key.

He handed it to her, then told her he was very busy and had many things to do, asking if she understood what he meant. When she said she didn't, he demanded, "Apologize to me." Confused but accustomed to obeying him, Chen Xiaoxi apologized. Jiang Chen then pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her, declaring, "I won't give you another chance. Got it?"

Episode 21 Recap

Chen Xiaoxi tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep after Jiang Chen’s passionate kiss. She worried about what the kiss meant, given their breakup and his supposed girlfriend, Zhuang Dongna. The next morning, on the bus, Chen Xiaoxi finally gathered her courage and called Jiang Chen. Without waiting for a response, she immediately launched into a furious tirade, accusing him of being immoral for kissing her while having a girlfriend. " You have a girlfriend.

You're making me a mistress by a kiss. I don't want to be 'the other woman!' " she declared. After her lengthy outburst, she realized the person on the other end was not Jiang Chen, but Dr. Su Mu. Dr. Su Mu explained that she had answered Jiang Chen's phone after it rang for a long time, displaying Chen Xiaoxi's name. She added that Chen Xiaoxi hadn't paused, giving her no chance to speak.

Mortified, Chen Xiaoxi quickly hung up and fled the bus, feeling the strange stares of the other passengers. Later that day, Chen Xiaoxi tried to contact Zhuang Dongna, who texted back saying she was on a business trip. However, when Chen Xiaoxi visited Dr. Su Mu's office to inquire about her father's discharge, she surprisingly found Zhuang Dongna there.

Chen Xiaoxi demanded an explanation, and Dr. Su Mu revealed that Zhuang Dongna was her patient and merely a "fake girlfriend" Jiang Chen had hired. When Chen Xiaoxi expressed her shock, Dr. Su Mu further clarified that Jiang Chen wanted to know if Chen Xiaoxi still loved him, and she had suggested jealousy was the best test.

Dr. Su Mu then made a dark joke about Jiang Chen’s stomach problems being caused by him eating sleeping pills, quickly adding, "Just kidding! You can't understand my humor." Chen Xiaoxi then went to a bridal shop to accompany Lin Jingxiao, who was trying on wedding dresses.

As she watched her best friend, who had been with Lu Yang since high school, finally getting married, Chen Xiaoxi felt a mix of admiration and melancholy, wondering about her own future with Jiang Chen. She reflected that she was no longer the tenacious 16-year-old who would relentlessly pursue him, having grown weary of constantly guessing his intentions.

Lin Jingxiao, concerned about Chen Xiaoxi's lingering feelings for Jiang Chen, had Lu Yang call both Jiang Chen and Wu Bosong, notifying them that Chen Xiaoxi was trying on wedding dresses, hoping it would make them confront their own emotions. Wu Bosong arrived first, playfully asking Chen Xiaoxi, "Dressing like this, are you forcing me into a marriage?"

Jiang Chen, who arrived late, saw Chen Xiaoxi and Wu Bosong laughing happily through the bridal shop window and, feeling defeated, quietly left. Later, Wu Bosong drove Chen Xiaoxi to the hospital and introduced her to his new pet, a small lizard he affectionately named "Xiaoxi," a playful nod to her own name. Chen Xiaoxi’s mother, still hoping for a reconciliation between her daughter and Jiang Chen, asked Chen Xiaoxi to deliver some extra food to him at the hospital.

It was noted by hospital staff that Jiang Chen had developed a habit of unconsciously signing "Chen Xiaoxi" on hospital bills. In Jiang Chen’s office, Chen Xiaoxi watched him pick through his food, noting that he hadn't changed his picky eating habits. Yet, the three years apart weighed heavily between them. She finally confronted him, saying, "I feel that you've never changed. I don't know why you are being untruthful. You always act this way.

You always let others to guess what you are thinking." She continued, "You kissed me last night. Also, you let Zhuang Dongna to pretend your girlfriend. I don't care about them anymore. Because I don't want to guess your thought anymore, seriously." As she turned to leave, Jiang Chen stopped her, wanting to clarify the past. He explained that on the day they broke up, "my first patient died during the surgery."

Chen Xiaoxi shared her own difficult experience from that day, recounting how she was nearly exploited by a housing agent and then heard he was going to Beijing, which fueled her anger. Jiang Chen then confessed, "Actually I didn't decide to go to Beijing initially. I regret several days later. I bought the air ticket and back here. But I saw you and Wu Bosong hugged together at the airport," implying he thought she had moved on.

Chen Xiaoxi retorted, "So you thought that I was in love with Wu Bosong as soon as you left." Jiang Chen started to object, "I don't mean that. What I want to say is. . ." but Chen Xiaoxi cut him off, saying, "Doesn't matter. We are about to be together anyway. Stop making angry statements to me."

Before he could fully explain, he received an urgent call from the emergency room and had to leave, instructing Chen Xiaoxi to wait for him. Left alone in his office, Chen Xiaoxi accidentally fell off a chair, hitting her head. Feeling dizzy and disoriented, she stumbled out, desperately trying to find Jiang Chen in the emergency room. A nurse stopped her, stating that Dr. Jiang was making rounds.

Chen Xiaoxi, tears in her eyes, collapsed by the door, dimly seeing Jiang Chen rush towards her from a distance. He quickly took her into his arms, checking her head with trembling hands and repeatedly calling her name. The usually calm and composed Dr. Jiang appeared visibly panicked, surprising the nurses present. Jiang Chen brought Chen Xiaoxi into the emergency room and personally treated her minor concussion, which had caused a quail-egg-sized bump on her head.

While he was tending to her, Chen Xiaoxi received a call from Wu Bosong. After she ended the call, Jiang Chen said to her, "Let's make peace." Chen Xiaoxi, surprised, asked, "Make peace? Do you think we are just quarreling for these three years?" Jiang Chen then asked, "Are you with Wu Bosong now?" to which Chen Xiaoxi replied, "It's none of your business." But Jiang Chen firmly reiterated, "Chen Xiaoxi, we will finally be together."

As she tried to object, he gently laid her back on the bed, leaned down to kiss her lips, and quietly told her not to get too excited due to her concussion, advising her to rest. Soon after, Chen Xiaoxi drifted off to sleep. She was later awakened by the pained shouts of a nearby patient. This patient, initially rude to Chen Xiaoxi, quickly changed his tone after Jiang Chen subtly aggravated his wound while tending to it.

The patient then complimented Chen Xiaoxi, asking Jiang Chen, "Doctor, is she your girlfriend? Pretty good. She is cute." This made Chen Xiaoxi smile. On the day of Lin Jingxiao and Lu Yang's wedding, Chen Xiaoxi, serving as a bridesmaid, realized she had carelessly left the bridal bouquet at her office.

As she retrieved it and left the building, she was startled to see both Jiang Chen and Wu Bosong waiting for her, both impeccably dressed in suits and wearing similar confident smiles. After a momentary glance at Jiang Chen, Chen Xiaoxi chose to get into Wu Bosong's car, leaving Jiang Chen to vent his frustration by kicking his own vehicle. At the wedding reception, Chen Xiaoxi encountered Li Wei, who had returned from abroad.

Li Wei, while advising Chen Xiaoxi to marry Jiang Chen soon, recounted a story from their high school campfire party. She revealed how she had confessed her feelings to Jiang Chen, only for him to declare, "I love Chen Xiaoxi." Li Wei then remarked, "I didn't expect that he actually loves you so much," and jokingly told Chen Xiaoxi not to invite her to the wedding if she married Jiang Chen.

Chen Xiaoxi, however, responded, "We are not suitable to each other. Actually we have broken up long time ago." Lin Jingxiao and Lu Yang finally exchanged their wedding vows. Lin Jingxiao tenderly recalled how Lu Yang had sent love letters to every girl in their school except her, yet gave her a star and dyed his hair for her.

Despite his "noisy and annoying" antics and occasional failures to fulfill promises, she acknowledged that "in this world only he loves Lin Jingxiao the most." She then likened their story to Rosetta finally finding Philae in the vast universe, and how finding Lu Yang made her world more colorful. Lu Yang, in turn, affectionately responded, "Lin Jingxiao, you're welcome. Lin Jingxiao, I love you."

During the ring exchange, Lu Yang momentarily misplaced the rings, briefly thinking he had given them to Wu Bosong. As Chen Xiaoxi helped him search, she unexpectedly found a pair of rings in Wu Bosong's pocket, subtly hinting at his own intentions to propose. However, Lu Yang quickly located his own rings, deflecting the attention. Later, as Lin Jingxiao tossed her bridal bouquet, Chen Xiaoxi stumbled while trying to catch it. Both Jiang Chen and Wu Bosong instinctively reached out, their hands simultaneously landing on her waist, leaving the question of who her true destined one would be, still unanswered.

Episode 22 Recap

Chen Xiaoxi's artwork won first prize, prompting her boss, Fu Pei, to plan a celebratory hotpot dinner with his girlfriend, Situ Mo, and Chen Xiaoxi. However, as they were leaving work, Jiang Chen was waiting at the company entrance. Jiang Chen, unsettled since their reunion, had been preoccupied with thoughts of Chen Xiaoxi and was now determined to win her back. His unexpected appearance turned the three-person celebration into a party of four.

During dinner, Fu Pei's affectionate use of "Darling" towards Chen Xiaoxi, and his mention of her dream to publish a globally popular comic book, noticeably irritated Jiang Chen, who subtly questioned Fu Pei's casual use of such terms. Suddenly, Wu Bosong called Chen Xiaoxi on her phone, explaining he couldn't reach her earlier and had something very important to discuss, asking her to meet him for dinner. Chen Xiaoxi had to leave mid-meal, and Jiang Chen followed her out.

It was raining, so Chen Xiaoxi waited by the door, with Jiang Chen standing silently beside her. She suggested he leave, but he refused, remarking that if she wanted the spot, he could buy it for her. Shortly after, Wu Bosong arrived, put an arm around Chen Xiaoxi, and led her away, leaving Jiang Chen to watch them depart.

Wu Bosong admitted he simply wanted to have dinner with her and had used the pretense of "Little Wei's lunar birthday" to invite her. Remembering Chen Xiaoxi's dream of publishing a comic book, Jiang Chen decided to help. He approached Mr. Hu, a patient who was also the proprietor of a publishing house, showing him Chen Xiaoxi's student artwork.

While Mr. Hu acknowledged her talent, he explained that their major publishing house typically worked with established authors, making it difficult to publish a novice's work. Jiang Chen then asked about self-publication, and after Mr. Hu returned with calculations, he quoted a price of ¥400,000 for the project. Jiang Chen readily agreed to cover the cost.

To ensure Chen Xiaoxi wouldn't reject the offer due to his involvement, Jiang Chen conspired with the publisher, Lu Yang, and Lin Jingxiao to create an elaborate ruse. He told Lu Yang that since Chen Xiaoxi was ignoring him, he needed them to make her believe the publisher proactively contacted her, as he didn't want her to refuse the offer because of his involvement.

He also discreetly inquired if Lu Yang knew anyone looking to buy a car, saying he wanted to change his own, secretly planning to sell it to finance the comic book. Later, Lin Jingxiao excitedly informed Chen Xiaoxi that a friend of Lu Yang's in the animation industry saw her award-winning work, which Lu Yang had turned into emojis and shared widely. This friend had recommended her to a publisher who was now interested in publishing her comic.

Chen Xiaoxi joyfully accepted. During a meeting to discuss the comic's theme, Chen Xiaoxi suggested ideas like an alien girl falling to Earth or a modern version of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio." However, the publisher steered her towards a campus story, which they believed would be more suitable. To gather material for her new comic, Chen Xiaoxi invited Lu Yang, Lin Jingxiao, and Wu Bosong to her home for a photoshoot.

Lin Jingxiao also invited Jiang Chen, deeming him an essential part of their school life. Jiang Chen arrived in a high school uniform, which made Chen Xiaoxi feel a sense of nostalgia. Wu Bosong jokingly teased Jiang Chen about wearing a costume. As Chen Xiaoxi photographed her friends, Jiang Chen struggled when asked to strike cute and lively poses. Lu Yang demonstrated some moves, which Jiang Chen awkwardly tried to imitate.

Seeing the usually reserved Jiang Chen making silly gestures, Chen Xiaoxi laughed uncontrollably, her hands shaking as she took pictures. Wu Bosong, observing Chen Xiaoxi's radiant happiness, realized that Jiang Chen still held a profound place in her heart. Meanwhile, Wu Bosong was at the publishing house discussing his own photo album, "A Descendant of the Sun."

He suggested his friend could illustrate for him to fill the text content, but the representative explained they usually worked with their own illustrators. As they reviewed potential illustrators, Wu Bosong noticed Chen Xiaoxi's name. The representative explained she was a new cartoonist whose work was being self-published because someone believed in it and was paying for it without her knowledge, even selling his car to cover the ¥400,000 fee.

Wu Bosong immediately asked if that person was Jiang Chen, and the representative confirmed the connection. Feeling a deep sense of insecurity because of Jiang Chen's actions, Wu Bosong accelerated his plans to propose to Chen Xiaoxi. Chen Xiaoxi was called in as a stand-in actress for Wu Bosong's project, needing only a back shot and one line. Dressed in a suit, Wu Bosong got down on one knee, presented a ring, and asked her to marry him.

Her scripted line was, "Yes, I will." As the crew subtly disappeared, Wu Bosong asked her again, "Are you really willing?" Chen Xiaoxi realized it wasn't acting. Observing her conflicted expression—a mix of guilt, heartache, and struggle, but no joy—Wu Bosong offered a wistful smile. He confessed he had wanted to wait until she genuinely accepted him, but Jiang Chen's presence made him too insecure to wait any longer.

Though he knew her answer, he needed to hear "Sorry" from her lips. Chen Xiaoxi offered her apology, and Wu Bosong lightened the moment by joking about her "bad taste" and the large diamond ring. Later, a heartbroken Wu Bosong was drinking at a street stall with Lu Yang. Lu Yang called Jiang Chen, who was on duty at the hospital, and asked him to come out.

Jiang Chen arrived and tried to dissuade Wu Bosong from drinking, but ended up joining him. A drunk Wu Bosong repeatedly begged Jiang Chen to "give Chen Xiaoxi back" to him. Jiang Chen adamantly retorted that she had "always been his." Jiang Chen then revealed his true feelings, explaining that while everyone thought Chen Xiaoxi loved him more, he was the one who couldn't live without her.

He recounted his solitary childhood after his father's passing and his mother's decision to work elsewhere with his younger brother, which instilled in him the belief that everyone would eventually leave him. Chen Xiaoxi, however, was different; she was always by his side. Over time, he grew dependent on her presence, secretly checking if she followed him to school or if she was struggling with homework.

When he left three years ago, he expected her to follow as she always had, but she didn't, leaving him utterly lost. He later returned to find her with Wu Bosong, convincing himself that she must have realized he wasn't the perfect or most suitable person for her. He tried to rationalize his feelings, telling himself she was clumsy, noisy, and ate too much, and he would be better off without her, but he couldn't convince himself.

He confessed he desperately wanted to hear her voice, to have dinner with her, and that he simply couldn't live without her. He offered to change anything she disliked, but then admitted, heartbroken, that he didn't even know what she had loved about him in the first place. Wu Bosong then held up his phone and asked Chen Xiaoxi, who was listening on the other end of the phone call, if she had heard Jiang Chen's confession.

Lin Jingxiao arrived to take the heavily intoxicated Lu Yang and Wu Bosong home, leaving Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi alone. Jiang Chen's phone continued to ring with hospital calls, highlighting his demanding schedule. Chen Xiaoxi, understanding his busy nature, told him to leave, and then stood up to depart herself. Jiang Chen gently grabbed her hand, resting his head on their clasped hands, and tearfully apologized, begging her to forgive him.

Chen Xiaoxi remained silent, then softly asked for some time to think before turning and walking away. Jiang Chen returned to the hospital, immediately plunging into a lengthy and complex surgery. Exhausted, he finally made his way back to his office. There, on his small bed, he found Chen Xiaoxi sleeping peacefully. Bathed in the warm glow of the lamp, Jiang Chen couldn't contain his excitement, suppressing a joyful laugh. He knew, deep down, that while everyone else might leave, Chen Xiaoxi would always stay by his side.

Episode 23 (Ending) Recap

Jiang Chen held Chen Xiaoxi tightly on the small bed in his hospital office. In the middle of the night, Chen Xiaoxi stirred, intending to get up and use the restroom. Jiang Chen immediately woke up, embracing her waist and childishly asking if she would come back. Chen Xiaoxi, who had never seen Jiang Chen behave this way, gently stroked his head and softly promised that she would.

Reassured, Jiang Chen released her, profoundly grateful that she had returned, and that they could mend their relationship. Time passed, and Chen Xiaoxi fully immersed herself in her comic creation. Her friend Lin Jingxiao even acted as her agent, discussing publishing issues with a company. Meanwhile, Wu Baisong had to leave Qianjiang for a TV program. He told Jiang Chen he would be gone for about a month, implying it was to recover from his "love injury."

Wu Baisong entrusted Chen Xiaoxi's care to Jiang Chen, who acknowledged it, urging him to leave due to expensive airport parking. One day, Jiang Chen took Chen Xiaoxi out for hot pot again. Walking along, Chen Xiaoxi complained about always eating hot pot in such hot weather. Jiang Chen earnestly told her he had long wanted to take her to that specific restaurant for its couple's hot pot, and he couldn't wait until winter.

Chen Xiaoxi's eyes welled up with emotion upon hearing this. She then stopped, mentioning her hands were sweaty from the heat. Jiang Chen, who was holding her left hand, switched to holding her right hand. Chen Xiaoxi thought to herself how childish Jiang Chen was. Chen Xiaoxi, Jiang Chen, Lu Yang, and Lin Jingxiao gathered to celebrate the successful completion of Chen Xiaoxi's first comic.

They also toasted Lin Jingxiao becoming a graduate student and Lu Yang's e-sports team reaching the WCA finals. Chen Xiaoxi, knowing Jiang Chen had stomach problems, volunteered to drink on his behalf, which Jiang Chen was amenable to, stating he was "willing to." Despite Lu Yang teasing her about public displays of affection, Chen Xiaoxi drank quite a bit, happily toasting her comic.

Afterwards, Jiang Chen, in a soft tone Chen Xiaoxi had never heard before, told his "little drunkard" that it was time to go home. He carried her on his back, walking slowly and steadily. Chen Xiaoxi playfully poked his dimples as he smiled, and he didn't try to stop her, instead smiling even wider, then adjusted her upwards to prevent her from sliding down.

The wind on the way home somewhat sobered Chen Xiaoxi, but her inebriated state deeply pleased Jiang Chen, who acted like a child with a new toy. He carefully placed her on the sofa, then pulled her into his embrace. The tipsy Chen Xiaoxi was remarkably docile, playing along with Jiang Chen's seemingly silly questions. He asked her who he was, and she replied, "My boyfriend." When he asked his name, she said, "Jiang Chen."

He then asked, "If I ask you to marry me while you're drunk, will it appear that I'm mean and I'm taking advantage of your distress?" Still somewhat lucid, Chen Xiaoxi secretly anticipated his proposal and said, "No." After she said "No," Jiang Chen offered no further words. After waiting for a while, Chen Xiaoxi, suspecting he might have fallen asleep, patted his face and urged him to "make a proposal." Jiang Chen, however, replied, "You? Yes, I do."

Thus, Chen Xiaoxi unwittingly became the one who proposed. He then clarified, "Chen Xiaoxi, you just proposed to me. I agreed because it's you." The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi returned with breakfast to find Jiang Chen casually telling her that she had proposed to him last night. Chen Xiaoxi feigned ignorance, inviting him to eat.

Jiang Chen persisted with the topic, even suggesting they take an hour off to register their marriage since he had seen her household register and had his own with him. Chen Xiaoxi pretended not to understand, but when Jiang Chen insisted she remember what happened, she suddenly burst into tears, declaring she didn't want to marry him. Jiang Chen, flustered, pulled her into a hug, unaware of the sacred importance of a marriage proposal in Chen Xiaoxi's heart.

Jiang Chen then meticulously prepared a proper proposal for Chen Xiaoxi in a hospital room. He enlisted the help of a nurse to deliver a report, subtly guiding Chen Xiaoxi into the designated room. There, he used helium-filled rubber gloves to suspend a ring, saying, "Chen Xiaoxi, marry me." He explained that their friend Su Mu had informed him she cried because he hadn't proposed, emphasizing that a man should propose first. He then asked if she agreed.

After her affirmation, he thanked her, stating she had helped him find a love most people never do. When Chen Xiaoxi commented on his sudden eloquence, Jiang Chen admitted he was told to say "sensational words" for a proposal. He then tried to rush her decision by claiming he had an operation, but Chen Xiaoxi requested more time to think. Jiang Chen insisted she would say yes eventually and urged her to accept the ring.

She playfully teased him about the "ugly balloons" (rubber gloves) and the "harmful gas," to which he patiently explained that helium was an inert gas, lighter than air, used in hospitals. Before leaving for his outpatient service, he told her to rest and that they would go home together after work. As he walked away, Chen Xiaoxi, still giddy, pointed at her hand and said, "It's my ring." Jiang Chen confirmed he bought it.

On the way back, Chen Xiaoxi happily gazed at the ring on her finger. Jiang Chen accompanied Chen Xiaoxi home. Feeling shy after the proposal, Chen Xiaoxi urged him to go home quickly, but to her surprise, Jiang Chen simply walked inside her apartment. He pulled her onto the sofa and rested his head on her lap, closing his eyes. Just then, Chen Xiaoxi's mother called, intending to set Chen Xiaoxi up on a blind date.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen's eyes snapped open. He snatched Chen Xiaoxi's phone and told her mother, "Hello Auntie, I'm Jiang Chen. I've been together with Chen Xiaoxi. I'll come to visit you later." Before Chen Xiaoxi's mother could fully react, Chen Xiaoxi quickly grabbed her phone back and hung up, citing a bad connection. Jiang Chen teasingly asked, "You see it's done, right?"

Chen Xiaoxi still tried to make him leave, saying it was late and he should go home, but Jiang Chen simply requested a glass of water, indicating his intention to stay. That night, Jiang Chen stayed at Chen Xiaoxi's place. After her shower, Chen Xiaoxi found Jiang Chen lost in thought on the sofa. She went over and hugged his shoulders, asking what he was thinking. Jiang Chen replied that he was imagining life without her.

Chen Xiaoxi, attempting to provoke him, suggested he could then find a girl who was taller, slimmer, prettier, softer, smarter, and more sensible than her. To her dismay, Jiang Chen simply agreed. Tears immediately welled up in Chen Xiaoxi's eyes, and she tearfully forbade him from looking for other girls, calling him a "bastard with no conscience" and threatening to haunt him. Jiang Chen gently stroked her head, pondering why he hadn't realized how prone to crying she was before.

Later that night, while Jiang Chen was sleeping in the living room, he was startled by a noise and rushed into Chen Xiaoxi's room. She explained that the upstairs neighbors were constantly making noise, preventing her from sleeping. She worried he wouldn't sleep well either, so she invited him to share her bed.

Lying in bed with Jiang Chen, Chen Xiaoxi asked him if he really intended to propose, or if he only did so out of pity because she had almost cried. Jiang Chen reassured her that he genuinely wanted to. She then pressed him again, asking if he would truly find someone "taller, slimmer, smarter and more sensible" than her.

Jiang Chen responded that the world was not as small as her washroom, and he had found her, which was not easy. Chen Xiaoxi, not fully understanding, jokingly defended the size of her washroom. After a moment, Chen Xiaoxi realized she had forgotten to brush her teeth and asked him to accompany her. Jiang Chen, with his eyes closed, dismissed it, saying it wouldn't be the first time she'd forgotten. Chen Xiaoxi retorted that she remembered now.

Then, in a low voice, Jiang Chen asked, "Then why do you always forget that I love you very much?" He confessed his deep love for her, adding that even if there were many girls in the world who were "taller, slimmer, prettier, softer and more sensible" than her, it was "none of his business." Chen Xiaoxi playfully insisted that no such girl existed. After the previous night, Jiang Chen and Chen Xiaoxi were officially a couple.

The next morning, Chen Xiaoxi, still tired, remained in bed. Jiang Chen became her "hands and feet," feeding her breakfast and giving her water, a time she loved for ordering him around. He also teased her about blushing, even though she was a doctor familiar with human anatomy.

Chen Xiaoxi then asked if he had washed his hands after using the bathroom, to which he bluntly replied no. Later, still in bed, Chen Xiaoxi woke up hungry again and demanded Jiang Chen bring her food and hold her while she brushed her teeth, but he only agreed to carry her to the living room. Jiang Chen then bought ingredients, planning to cook at home.

As neither had much cooking experience, they relied on simple methods of cutting and boiling to prepare a meal. When they began cooking, Chen Xiaoxi suggested making soup first and told Jiang Chen to cut the ingredients since he was a doctor used to using knives. He even admitted to carrying a scalpel in his bag, which she found abnormal.

They struggled with the cooking process, adding too much water, and Jiang Chen jokingly suggested eating out, but Chen Xiaoxi insisted on eating at home. When they finally ate, Chen Xiaoxi noticed the dish lacked salt, but Jiang Chen dismissed it, citing health reasons. She declared herself full and refused the soup. Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen began their blissful, uninhibited life together.

One evening, Chen Xiaoxi's parents unexpectedly arrived at her apartment, having encountered Jiang Chen downstairs, who was leaving to buy something, and invited him to join them. Chen Xiaoxi's mother quickly instructed her to hide any of Jiang Chen's belongings before her father, unaware of their relationship, noticed them. Chen Xiaoxi panicked, realizing Jiang Chen's clothes were still on the balcony. Her mother cleverly suggested Chen Xiaoxi pretend to retrieve the clothes and then secretly throw them downstairs.

Chen Xiaoxi then noticed her father had brought alcohol, but he told her to stay out of it. Chen Xiaoxi's father decided to "test" Jiang Chen's character with alcohol. Both men ended up heavily drunk. Chen Xiaoxi witnessed Jiang Chen's intoxicated state for the first time, seeing him without his usual cold exterior, behaving as childishly as a young boy. He insisted he wanted to find "Chen Xiaoxi" even as she stood before him, declaring, "I'm Chen Xiaoxi."

He squinted at her, saying she looked "a little familiar," before repeatedly asking if she was truly Chen Xiaoxi. When she confirmed, he then tenderly confessed, "Chen Xiaoxi, I miss you so much." Chen Xiaoxi felt a pang of emotion, realizing that Jiang Chen's love for her was just as profound as hers for him. Chen Xiaoxi finally realized her dream. Her new book, "A Love So Beautiful," was scheduled for a signing session that weekend.

Upon this news, Chen Xiaoxi eagerly called Jiang Chen, Lin Jingxiao, Wu Baisong, and Lu Yang, but they all declined with various excuses. Jiang Chen claimed he had a seminar, Lin Jingxiao was going to a weather station in the mountains with her teacher, and Wu Baisong said his schedule was too full. Lu Yang also initially refused, thinking Chen Xiaoxi wanted to show off.

Chen Xiaoxi, disappointed but trying to remain positive, mused about how everyone gets busy with their own lives as they grow up, making it hard to reunite, but she still had her fans' love to make her strong. At Alumni Bookstore, Chen Xiaoxi was disheartened to see only a handful of fans. Her manager tried to reassure her, saying it was still early and more people would come, while he contacted the press about publicity.

Just then, Jiang Chen, Lin Jingxiao, Lu Yang, and Wu Baisong arrived. It turned out they had planned a surprise for Chen Xiaoxi. Lu Yang joked about the small crowd, but Lin Jingxiao quickly shushed him, noting that with them, there were at least 14 people, which Lu Yang exaggerated to "about 400 or 500 with round-off." Jiang Chen urged her to finish signing so they could all eat together, and Wu Baisong playfully complained about her drawing of him.

From high school to university and now, they had always been there for each other, fulfilling countless simple yet beautiful moments in their lives. Jiang Chen reflected on their journey, noting Chen Xiaoxi's endearing clumsiness, his initial attempts to outrun her, and his eventual realization that he loved her despite her troubles.

He recalled feeling annoyed when she ran with others, his regret over making her cry, and the three years spent feeling deeply uncomfortable without her, which ultimately led him to realize he had to win her back. He concluded by expressing his immense gratitude that Chen Xiaoxi had returned, allowing them to rebuild their relationship.