Be Yourself Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Be Yourself Synopsis
On September 1st, the four 18-year-old girls from different places, Xia Langlang, Fan Xiaoyu, Huangfu Shumin, and Yang Jiaqian, started their joyful college life in the journalism department.
The four of them had constant friction because of their personalities and habits. After growing and metamorphosing together, they eventually understood each other and became close friends.
Fan Xiaoyu has been trying her best to be self-reliant because she wanted to get rid of her father’s shackles. In the process of starting a business with her senior Fan Qingzhou, they got closer and closer and understood how to love.
Huangfu Shumin and Chongqing boy Zhou Yu grew up in a mutual love-hate relationship and learned to be independent while reaping love.
Be Yourself Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Xia Langlang arrived at Southwest University of Communications, filled with anticipation for her new college life. After purchasing some essential items, including a green basin, a mishap caused her luggage wheel to break as she descended a stair, dashing her spirits. Not far away, a wealthy and elegant student, Fan Xiaoyu, approached, followed by what appeared to be her entourage. Xia Langlang's basin rolled to Fan Xiaoyu's feet.
Xia Langlang quickly apologized, but Fan Xiaoyu merely removed her sunglasses and offered a dismissive smile. Later, after reporting to her counselor, Xia Langlang briefly glimpsed the back of Ma Yiran, someone she had yearned to speak to for three years of high school. Coincidentally, she again encountered Fan Xiaoyu, and by the time she looked back, Ma Yiran had already left. Unable to express her frustration, Xia Langlang glared angrily at Fan Xiaoyu and hurried away.
Earlier, Fan Qingzhou, a fifth-year electronic information engineering student, and his partner Lu Xuwen were struggling to find a suitable office to meet investors for their startup. During registration, Fan Xiaoyu, trying to pay her tuition, discovered her credit card had been suspended by her father. While pondering this, she saw Fan Qingzhou sitting on her limited-edition luggage. Annoyed by her imperious tone, Fan Qingzhou dismissively threw down his volunteer badge and left.
Soon after, Fan Xiaoyu arrived at her dorm, room 5438, somewhat disheveled. Yang Jiaqian was already settling in, while a quiet Huangfu Shumin sat despondently, still processing her parents' departure. Xia Langlang then arrived, catching her breath. As soon as she and Fan Xiaoyu made eye contact, both their expressions changed, recalling their earlier, awkward encounter. Yang Jiaqian warmly greeted everyone, learning Fan Xiaoyu was from Fujian, she herself from Shaanxi, and Huangfu from Shanghai.
The tension quickly escalated when Xia Langlang discovered Fan Xiaoyu had taken her assigned bed, Bunk No. 1. Xia Langlang pointed out that the bed had her name on it, and Fan Xiaoyu's was Bunk No. 2, emphasizing that it was a pre-arranged assignment. However, Fan Xiaoyu insisted on a "first come, first served" principle, questioning the reasonableness of arrangements and refusing to comply. Xia Langlang called her unreasonable.
Yang Jiaqian tried to mediate, even offering her own bed to Fan Xiaoyu, but Fan Xiaoyu remained adamant about keeping Xia Langlang's spot. When Yang Jiaqian then offered her bed to Xia Langlang, Xia Langlang unyieldingly declared she wanted her own assigned bed. This confrontation amused Huangfu Shumin. Eventually, they settled into their respective beds. As they unpacked, Huangfu Shumin couldn't help but notice Fan Xiaoyu’s array of luxury items, from La Mer skincare to a limited-edition Montblanc pen.
Huangfu noted the pen was a special eighteenth birthday gift from Fan Xiaoyu’s father and was rumored to be worth as much as a car. Fan Xiaoyu, however, dismissed its value, calling anyone who'd spend so much on a pen a "fool" (or "stupid pen," a play on words in Chinese). Huangfu sighed about their "different destinies" despite being roommates, a sentiment Yang Jiaqian quickly countered by emphasizing their shared journey in college.
Yang Jiaqian proposed a group dinner to foster camaraderie, but Fan Xiaoyu declined, claiming she wasn’t hungry, her mind preoccupied with her tuition fees. Faced with this unexpected financial crisis, Fan Xiaoyu decided to sell her valuable Montblanc pen. Later that evening, after the other roommates returned from dinner, Yang Jiaqian kindly brought Fan Xiaoyu some egg fried rice. When Fan Xiaoyu took a shower, the hot water suddenly ran out.
She resorted to using the hot water from Xia Langlang’s thermo jug. Xia Langlang soon discovered her jug was empty and confronted Fan Xiaoyu, who nonchalantly explained she had used it because it was the only source of hot water, offering to refill it. Xia Langlang silently declined, muttering under her breath, "You call it ugly but still use it." The suspension of Fan Xiaoyu’s card was a consequence of a deeper family conflict.
Her mother called, angrily scolding her for the scene she caused at Fan Debiao's wedding, where he married a woman three months pregnant. A flashback revealed Fan Xiaoyu had prepared a "surprise" video message for the wedding. In the video, she introduced herself as Fan Debiao’s daughter and announced gifts for the bride hidden under each guest's chair—which turned out to be "broken shoes," causing a scandal among the attendees.
Fan Xiaoyu told her mother she only wanted to make her father look bad to get revenge for her mother. Her mother, however, admonished her for being childish, fearing it would jeopardize their financial standing and allow the "little coquette" to claim their inheritance. She even branded Fan Xiaoyu a "jinx" and vehemently ordered her to apologize to her father to secure their future.
Frustrated and cornered, Fan Xiaoyu angrily closed her phone, staring at Fan Debiao's name on her blacklist. Meanwhile, Xia Langlang noticed a social media post from Ma Yiran about a shirt being too small. Recalling a cherished group photo from senior high school, where she had asked Ma Yiran to write a heartfelt message on her own shirt, Xia Langlang carefully ironed it and hung it in the bathroom to dry, hoping to protect it from the wind.
The next morning, Fan Xiaoyu, unaware of the shirt's sentimental value, carelessly pulled it down, causing it to tear and fall into the toilet water. Furious and heartbroken, Xia Langlang stormed out of the bathroom. Unable to adapt to dorm life, Fan Xiaoyu decided to move out and began searching for an apartment. After rejecting several places as "roughcast," she found one that met her standards.
Coincidentally, Fan Qingzhou also arrived to view the same apartment, intending to rent it as an office for his startup. Recognizing each other, Fan Xiaoyu, asserting her claim, declared she would take it, leading to a competitive bidding for the deposit. Fan Xiaoyu secured the lease by offering to pay a full year's rent in advance. Fan Qingzhou, frustrated by her interference, criticized her for taking the apartment he needed.
Soon after, Mr. Mai, their counselor, called Fan Xiaoyu about her unpaid tuition fees. Fan Xiaoyu quickly fabricated a story about lost cards and parents being abroad, and that she was working a part-time job to foster independence, to buy herself time. Her mother then called again, hysterically demanding that Fan Xiaoyu apologize to her father to secure their family assets, once more calling her a "jinx."
Despite her immense reluctance, Fan Xiaoyu called her father, but his new wife answered, speaking affectionately to him. Enraged, Fan Xiaoyu immediately hung up the phone. Desperate for money, Fan Xiaoyu called her old friend, Lu Xuwen, expressing an urgent need for assistance. Lu Xuwen was delighted to see her, teasing her about her recent notoriety back home and professing his deep, long-standing affection for her, proposing they become a couple.
He reminded her of their intertwined lives since childhood and how they were "destined to be together." Fan Xiaoyu, uncomfortable with his condition and unwilling to accept his help under those terms, abruptly rejected his offer, saying she was no longer hungry, and left. Returning to the dorm, Xia Langlang noticed Fan Xiaoyu's dejected expression.
Having coincidentally overheard Fan Xiaoyu's earlier phone call with her mother that afternoon, Xia Langlang now realized that the proud young lady also had her own hidden difficulties. With tuition and apartment rent overdue, Fan Xiaoyu faced a dire situation and decided to sublet the apartment she had just rented. She contacted the real estate agent, who confirmed this was an option. She then met Fan Qingzhou, who, to her surprise, agreed to take over the lease.
However, in an accidental slip, Fan Xiaoyu reminded him that the apartment was strictly for residential use and "no other purpose." The agent, overhearing this, immediately canceled Fan Qingzhou's lease, citing the landlord's "no office and no dogs" policy, resulting in Fan Qingzhou losing his deposit. Infuriated, Fan Qingzhou lashed out at Fan Xiaoyu, accusing her of being a "jinx" and destroying his dreams.
This harsh accusation deeply wounded Fan Xiaoyu, who tearfully confessed her own struggles: her father had cut her off, her mother constantly berated her, she couldn't afford tuition or rent, and faced dropping out of school and homelessness. To compensate for his lost deposit and assert her dignity, she handed him her precious Montblanc pen, declaring, "I never owe anyone anything!"
Feeling utterly defeated, Fan Xiaoyu received a notification that her Montblanc pen had been sold on a second-hand market for tens of thousands of yuan. She suddenly realized she had given it to Fan Qingzhou. Coincidentally overhearing Fan Qingzhou give his dorm and room number (Room 1001 at Dorm Building No. 8) to a courier, she tracked him down.
She frantically asked for her pen, only to have Fan Qingzhou calmly state that he had thrown it away, believing it was hers to discard. Fan Xiaoyu reminded him about property rights, and they both rushed to search through the trash bins. As they frantically searched, Xia Langlang, who was coincidentally looking for Ma Yiran, overheard Fan Xiaoyu declare her determination to "decide her own life" and not let "humble tuition fees get in her way."
Believing Fan Xiaoyu had found a solution, Xia Langlang smiled and walked away. Mr. Mai also happened to pass by, seeing Fan Xiaoyu and Fan Qingzhou rummaging through garbage, and advised Fan Xiaoyu to "be cautious when making friends." After a strenuous search, Fan Xiaoyu and Fan Qingzhou finally recovered the Montblanc pen.
Fan Xiaoyu expressed her relief and acknowledged the unexpected friendship she had formed with Fan Qingzhou, clearing the air about the "jinx" remark and her parents' unintentional words. She confidently stated that they could now pursue the lives they desired, even starting from nothing, believing that "everything will turn out to be alright." They bid each other "see you around." Exhausted, Fan Xiaoyu returned to her dorm room in the dark.
She found that her roommates had thoughtfully cleared a space for her belongings in the bathroom, and Xia Langlang had left a handmade note on the door, seemingly an apology, promising to "remember to knock on the door next time." This gesture of silent care, along with the earlier egg fried rice from Yang Jiaqian, filled Fan Xiaoyu with warmth, signaling the true and hopeful beginning of her university life.
Episode 2 Recap
Counsellor Mai Meng held a class meeting, emphasizing teamwork for the upcoming military training and expressing his personal connection as this cohort was his first as a counsellor. He laid out his rule: students could approach him with problems, but should not create problems unnecessarily. During the meeting, Fan Xiaoyu observed her roommate, Xia Langlang, reading an English original book.
Fan Xiaoyu noted that Xia Langlang, who occupied bunk number one in room 5438, was unique in their dorm: she was the only one brave enough to go out without makeup, owned no skirts or high heels, and couldn't distinguish lipstick shades. Seeing her academic book, Fan Xiaoyu wondered why such a high-achieving student like Xia Langlang chose their university.
Unbeknownst to Fan Xiaoyu, Xia Langlang harbored a secret crush on a boy named Ma Yiran, a memory resurfacing of an earlier encounter where he expressed shared interest in "One Piece," particularly his favorite character, Zoro. However, when Xia Langlang finally found the courage to approach him, she saw him with another girl, Luoluo, who was his university classmate. Ma Yiran greeted Xia Langlang, mentioning other high school classmates at the university and suggesting an alumni gathering.
Feeling awkward, Xia Langlang quickly excused herself, claiming she had to send a parcel. Back in the dorm, the girls struggled with the unreliable Wi-Fi connection. To facilitate communication, Yang Jiaqian created a dorm group chat, which Fan Xiaoyu promptly renamed "Shapingba's Four Beauties." Huangfu Shumin, despite Xia Langlang's declared atheism, insisted on reading her tarot cards.
Xia Langlang grudgingly drew the reversed Hierophant, which Huangfu interpreted as a prediction of romantic failure, isolation at work, mental exhaustion, and fighting alone. Xia Langlang dismissed the ominous reading. Later, after recalling the morning's encounter, Xia Langlang checked Ma Yiran's QQ Moments but found no new updates. Early the next morning, Xia Langlang went to find Mai Meng to retrieve her military training forms.
Mai Meng revealed that Xia Langlang's mother had contacted both the school and him repeatedly, pushing for Xia Langlang to drop out and retake the college entrance exam to aim for a more prestigious university. Xia Langlang vehemently refused, stating her resolve to stay at Southwest University of Communications. Later, during a phone call, she confronted her mother, highlighting her mother's lack of involvement in her education, even missing parent-teacher conferences.
Her mother, however, insisted that given her father's early passing and her own limited resources, she felt compelled to secure Xia Langlang's future, expressing her desire for Xia Langlang to attend a Project 985 university rather than a Project 211 one, and even mentioning a potential scholarship for "high-score return students." Xia Langlang, frustrated by her mother's persistent nagging, firmly declared that she would not leave the university she had chosen.
A flashback then showed Xia Langlang leaving for university, meticulously preparing breakfast for her mother and giving detailed instructions for taking care of the house, while her mother, tired from a night shift, did not come to send her off. In that memory, Xia Langlang confessed how exhausting it was to always be the "sensible" child.
Before departing for military training, Xia Langlang called her mother again, informing her that she would be in the mountains and likely unreachable, urging her to take care of herself. Military training began, and the students were sent to the mountains. Huangfu, with her delicate constitution, struggled and eventually fainted, needing to be taken to the infirmary. The communal meals were unappetizing, consisting mostly of uninspired vegetable dishes.
During one meal, Ma Yiran approached Xia Langlang’s table, introducing himself to her dormmates as Xia Langlang's high school classmate. He brought a newly opened bottle of Laoganma chili sauce as a gift, which impressed Xia Langlang's dormmates, particularly as he described the effort of getting it from an "illegal store" at the school's back gate and offered to fetch anything else they needed. That evening, Ma Yiran messaged Xia Langlang, inviting her for a walk.
Excited, Xia Langlang quickly went out. They chatted about their respective military training experiences, with Ma Yiran admitting he and a dormmate faked fainting to try and get Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid for the girls, but were caught by the instructor. He also shared a "secret to handle the heat" by loosely buttoning their uniforms instead of zipping them, allowing mountain breeze to cool them.
He then suggested a joint star-gazing outing with both their dorms, mentioning a particularly beautiful spot he and his friends had found. A few days later, the two dorms gathered for the "star-gazing." The "stars" turned out to be string lights set up by the boys. They settled down to play Truth or Dare. Fan Qingzhou drew "Truth" and, without prompting, stood up to make a confession.
As he spoke about being deeply attracted to someone since first sight and subtly showing his feelings, Xia Langlang's face flushed with anticipation, her heart racing, believing he was addressing her. She recalled Ma Yiran's gesture of bringing her the Laoganma. However, in a crushing turn, Fan Qingzhou directed his declaration of "I like you" to Fan Xiaoyu.
Witnessing Xia Langlang's immediate heartbreak and tear-filled eyes, Fan Xiaoyu, without responding to Fan Qingzhou, promptly pulled Xia Langlang away from the gathering. Back at school, Xia Langlang remained heartbroken. Fan Xiaoyu tried to comfort her, telling her that Ma Yiran wasn't worth it and that she would never pursue a friend's love interest. Still, Xia Langlang yearned for an explanation.
She confronted Ma Yiran, holding a photo with a message he had written on it from their high school graduation day. He nonchalantly explained that he had written the generic phrase, "I'm grateful to meet you," to every classmate, and had no idea what she meant by "One Piece character in QQ," claiming he hadn't watched the anime in a long time. This revelation shattered Xia Langlang, as she realized her entire connection with him was a misunderstanding.
Overwhelmed, she contemplated dropping out, telling Mai Meng she felt she had made a wrong decision by coming to the university but didn't want to retake the exam. Mai Meng, in turn, advised her as an adult to own her choices and their consequences. Soon after, Mai Meng informed Xia Langlang that a parcel had arrived from her mother during military training, which he had signed for.
Inside, she found a new dress, carefully chosen from Wangfujing Department Store in Wuyi Square, and a heartfelt letter. In the letter, her mother expressed that Mai Meng had affirmed Xia Langlang's maturity and independent decision-making. Her mother reflected on how Xia Langlang had grown up quickly after her father's death when she was eleven, becoming the strong one who guided their family through grief.
She acknowledged her past attempts to guide Xia Langlang, but realized that her daughter's path and life choices were ultimately her own. Her mother urged Xia Langlang to live for herself from that day forward, rather than for her.
Reading the letter, Xia Langlang was deeply moved and recognized her mother's consistent, subtle support—it was her mother who had adopted the "Zoro" persona on QQ, encouraging her to "sleep more and take care of her eyesight," a detail she had initially misinterpreted as coming from Ma Yiran. Xia Langlang immediately called her mother, apologizing tearfully for her past tantrums. Her mother, equally emotional, reassured her that she understood and urged her not to cry, reminding her to be happy.
On Xia Langlang's birthday, her roommates surprised her with a large cake, a gesture that deeply touched her. Fan Xiaoyu, reflecting on Xia Langlang, noted her courageous choices in life despite being romantically naive, concluding that she would need to guide her friend through future emotional missteps.
Episode 3 Recap
A sudden dorm inspection by the dorm keeper caught everyone off guard. The dorm keeper immediately blamed Fan Xiaoyu for using a high-power hair dryer, but Fan Xiaoyu, who had just washed her hair, insisted it wasn't her. She angrily declared that she would expose Huangfu Shumin’s healthcare kettle. Huangfu Shumin, the youngest and most pampered resident, felt wronged and retreated to the bathroom, crying.
Her "Princess Syndrome" infuriated her roommates, Fan Xiaoyu and Yang Jiaqian, who decided to ignore her. Yang Jiaqian initially felt sympathetic, but the others convinced her to let Huangfu "act as much as she wants" to cure her syndrome. They reflected on Huangfu's habits, like bossing others around, having neurasthenia, and making loud video calls to her parents at a set time every night, regardless of others' sleep.
Her parents often inquired about her well-being, her healthcare kettle, and urged her to participate in group activities, to which Huangfu lied that her roommates were very nice to her. Meanwhile, Huangfu's online meeting with her French boyfriend, Pierre, was canceled because he had a simulation game. To save face, Huangfu pretended everything was fine, but she had to buy herself the luxury bag Pierre had promised. She found a second-hand bag online that coincidentally belonged to Fan Xiaoyu.
Fan Xiaoyu, realizing Huangfu was the buyer, immediately canceled the order to spare her the embarrassment. However, a furious Huangfu reported Fan Xiaoyu's account, leading to its suspension. Unable to resolve the issue, Fan Xiaoyu turned to Fan Qingzhou for help. Fan Qingzhou quickly agreed to share his Xianyu account with her, allowing Fan Xiaoyu to sell her bags while he sold his calligraphy works.
Huangfu later went to a restaurant alone, sitting at a couple-only booth while looking at her phone, expecting Pierre to arrive. The waiter repeatedly urged her to order or move to another seat. Eventually, the manager on duty, Zhou Yu, approached her, sarcastically telling her to order because their service was slow and she couldn't have a romantic date on an empty stomach. Annoyed, Huangfu ordered two expensive plain hot pots.
She then retreated to the men's restroom to call Pierre, crying and pleading for him to come to China, lamenting that everyone, including him, was mean to her. Pierre, however, ended their relationship, saying he was exhausted and that they weren't suitable. Zhou Yu overheard her and offered her a handkerchief, brusquely telling her to "Cry if you want to cry. Jump if you want to jump," as others were waiting to use the toilet.
Huangfu called him a pervert, but he retorted that it was a men’s room. Zhou Yu then offered her two free lemon sodas as per the restaurant's policy for heartbroken customers. Huangfu, still embarrassed, left money for the hot pot and handkerchief, then quietly left. As Huangfu left the restaurant, she was accidentally bumped into by Chimu, the basketball team captain, who was playing nearby. Yang Jiaqian, who was in the gym, quickly helped Huangfu to the infirmary.
Feeling unlucky, Huangfu consulted tarot cards, which predicted that her Mr. Right would appear and that they would have physical contact. She immediately thought of Chimu and became infatuated, happily browsing his social media. Her roommates, who had observed her looking at Chimu’s posts, realized that her supposed "half Chinese half French boyfriend" had likely broken up with her. Later, Yang Jiaqian discovered a bottle of heart medicine in the dorm.
After some research, the roommates realized that Huangfu's frequent fainting spells and delicate nature might be due to a genuine heart condition, not merely her "Princess Syndrome." They began to care for her meticulously, bringing her water and helping her. However, Yang Jiaqian soon noticed that the amount of medicine in the bottle remained unchanged. She directly confronted Huangfu, asking if she truly had a heart condition.
Seeing their renewed concern, Huangfu decided to confirm their assumption, realizing that this "bitter trick" might overcome their prejudice against her. Despite her supposed heart condition, Huangfu signed up for the cheerleading team to pursue Chimu. This raised Fan Xiaoyu's suspicions, as a person with a serious heart condition couldn't endure such high-intensity training. The roommates checked Huangfu's cheerleading registration form, which stated "Major diseases: none," and confirmed her good fitness test results.
They concluded that Huangfu had faked her illness and was merely "obsessed with hot guys." As a result, they reinstated their plan to isolate her. Huangfu, who thought they had reconciled, was disheartened by their renewed coldness. Meanwhile, Su Xiaoxiao, who also liked Chimu, spread rumors about Huangfu's "heart disease" throughout the cheerleading team. This led to Huangfu being kicked out of the team, and Su Xiaoxiao and Chimu began dating. A heartbroken Huangfu left the dorm for a walk.
While she was gone, her roommates decided to cook instant noodles using Huangfu's healthcare kettle. The dorm keeper, alerted by the smell, caught them. In a moment of bravery, Huangfu returned and took full responsibility for the violation, acknowledging the kettle was hers and that the others were cooking for her. The dorm keeper confiscated the kettle and warned Huangfu about disciplinary action. Huangfu then used the opportunity to ask the dorm keeper to fix their broken window.
This act of self-sacrifice mended the rifts between the roommates, and they reconciled, sharing their feelings in the dark of their room. They even planned a future outing for real hot pot, reminiscing about the restaurant with the "weird manager." Later, Yang Jiaqian called Fan Xiaoyu, distraught, and sent her a livestream link.
It was Su Xiaoxiao, live-streaming negative comments about a "cunning" and "lying" girl from the Department of Journalism with a four-character name who had been kicked out of the cheerleading team, clearly referring to Huangfu. Fan Xiaoyu immediately called Huangfu, telling her to come to the basketball gym. Fan Xiaoyu and Huangfu confronted Su Xiaoxiao during her livestream.
Fan Xiaoyu fiercely defended Huangfu, saying she joined the cheerleading team to exercise and that Su Xiaoxiao's boyfriend was too unattractive for Huangfu to be interested in. To further prove Huangfu had a boyfriend, Fan Xiaoyu produced a luxury purse, claiming it was a gift from Huangfu's French boyfriend. Su Xiaoxiao was skeptical, but then Zhou Yu, who was sitting in the stands, called Huangfu, faking a French accent.
He asked Huangfu if she liked the purse he bought her and offered to buy another if she didn't. Huangfu, playing along, confirmed she liked it, leaving Su Xiaoxiao speechless. Su Xiaoxiao, defeated, quickly left. Huangfu confronted Zhou Yu, calling him a "pervert" and demanding to know how he got her number. Zhou Yu explained he got it from her restaurant complaint about the expensive hot pot and revealed he was a freshman from the photography department.
Their connection was an acquaintance made through a fight. Suddenly, Huangfu remembered the tarot card prediction about meeting her Mr. Right through physical contact. She realized Zhou Yu's actions and connection fit the prediction perfectly, and her heart was filled with unexpected joy. Zhou Yu also casually dismissed her attempt to return the handkerchief and money from the restaurant, stating he had "bought" the handkerchief from her.
Meanwhile, Fan Qingzhou continued to sell his calligraphy, discussing different styles with a potential buyer. Fan Xiaoyu, using his account, flirtatiously promoted her bag, which was eventually bought by a user named "Mr. Lu" who wanted to "take care of her business," though Fan Xiaoyu declined his offer to treat her to dinner.
Episode 4 Recap
During a news class, Huangfu found herself irritated by the affectionate display between Su Xiaoxiao and Chimu. Her mood brightened slightly when the teacher called on Su Xiaoxiao, who had been distracted. The teacher began by discussing the traditional "5W and 1H" of news, emphasizing the importance of truth, stating that without it, the elements of news lose their meaning and news itself ceases to exist.
While the teacher spoke, all students suddenly received a shocking video on their phones: a clip of a student couple passionately kissing in an office. As the students buzzed with discussion, Mai Meng entered the classroom, interrupting the lecture, and called Yang Jiaqian out, drawing all eyes to her, with some students even filming her with their phones.
In his office, Mai Meng confronted Yang Jiaqian, explaining that the video was taken in his office, and she was the only one with a spare key. He pressed her to identify the individuals, stressing the seriousness of the situation and the negative consequences for everyone involved if she remained silent. Yang Jiaqian insisted she was in the library that night. Mai Meng pointed out that her specific mention of "that night" implicated her knowledge of the event.
It was later discovered that the office corridor camera had been tampered with, leaving no evidence of what transpired or who filmed it. With no other proof, the truth rested solely on Yang Jiaqian, who chose to protect the involved parties by keeping silent. This was because Chimu had borrowed the office key from her for a private study session with Su Xiaoxiao that night, and Su Xiaoxiao had tearfully begged her not to expose them.
Shortly after, a second, maliciously edited video circulated, portraying a compromising conversation between Yang Jiaqian and Mai Meng in the office, severely damaging Yang Jiaqian’s reputation. Her roommates, Fan Xiaoyu and Xia Langlang, urged her to speak out and clear her name, expressing frustration that the real culprits were hiding while Yang Jiaqian suffered the public's wrath. Yang Jiaqian, on a phone call with one of the involved parties, herself expressed her despair, asking if they had considered her feelings.
Despite her friends' repeated pleas, Yang Jiaqian remained resolute, believing that a clear conscience needed no defense and that she would be fine. Worried, Fan Xiaoyu sought out Fan Qingzhou, bringing him food as a bribe, and implored him to use his hacking skills to uncover the identity of the blackmailer. Meanwhile, Yang Jiaqian returned to the office, determined to find clues.
Recollecting her teacher's words about the pursuit of truth and her own observation that people only see and believe what they want, Yang Jiaqian felt a strong urge to uncover the truth. She recalled Su Xiaoxiao's tearful plea, where Su Xiaoxiao admitted that she and Chimu had only "kissed and hugged" before going to study English.
Su Xiaoxiao had explained that Chimu needed the quiet office to study to avoid failing an exam and being forced to leave the basketball team. Later, as Xia Langlang and Huangfu joined Yang Jiaqian in the office, using their phone flashlights, Yang Jiaqian had an epiphany. She realized the video was shot from a deceptively specific angle.
She explained that the blackmailer deliberately used the "one line through three points" principle, positioning the camera to make the tall Chimu block Su Xiaoxiao, creating a misleading impression. This clever manipulation suggested that the couple had not committed anything truly egregious, otherwise, the blackmailer would have chosen a more direct angle to expose them. Simultaneously, Fan Qingzhou successfully identified the blackmailer: a "pervert" from an adjacent dorm.
He also discovered that the blackmailer had set up a timed release for further videos. The blackmailer had posted a message online, promising to remove the mosaic on the girl's body if replies exceeded a thousand, and reveal their faces if they reached two thousand, daring people to find out who they were. To prevent further leaks, Yang Jiaqian, Fan Xiaoyu, and their friends devised a plan.
Yang Jiaqian posed as a delivery person, luring the blackmailer out of his room with a "cash on delivery" package. Once outside, Fan Xiaoyu and the others confronted him, putting a garbage bag over his head and giving him a beating. Mai Meng arrived shortly after, taking the blackmailer into custody. Despite Fan Qingzhou's best efforts, the first timed release occurred.
The video's comment count surpassed one thousand, causing the mosaic covering the girl's clothing to be removed, revealing a distinct cheerleading team uniform. The revelation of the cheerleading uniform caused fresh alarm, as it made Su Xiaoxiao easily identifiable and could lead to infighting and suspicion within the cheerleading team. Overwhelmed by the pressure and the relentless gossip, Su Xiaoxiao climbed to the school rooftop, contemplating suicide.
Just as she stood there, her phone chimed with a notification, displaying a photo. In the image, the entire school—led by Yang Jiaqian, Fan Xiaoyu, Xia Langlang, and Huangfu—stood united, all wearing cheerleading uniforms. Yang Jiaqian and her friends had launched a campus-wide movement, distributing available cheerleading uniforms and encouraging students to wear them in a powerful display of solidarity against the unethical act of unauthorized filming.
This overwhelming show of support deeply moved Su Xiaoxiao, giving her the courage to step back from the edge and abandon her desperate thoughts. The following day, Su Xiaoxiao formally apologized to Huangfu and her friends for past conflicts and expressed her gratitude for their support during the crisis. She then presented Huangfu with a new application, inviting her to rejoin the cheerleading team. Huangfu, no longer constrained by her pride and a smile playing on her lips, accepted the application.
Episode 5 Recap
Xia Langlang sat in a dull public elective class, feeling her life lacked direction. From behind, Ma Yiran noticed her and moved to sit beside her. Xia Langlang hesitated, intentionally moving further away, but Ma Yiran still passed her a note. After some internal struggle, she took it. Xia Langlang was troubled by Ma Yiran's suggestive note and discussed it discreetly with Yang Jiaqian and Huangfu Suming.
Huangfu Suming commented on how public elective courses often serve as a "bridge of magpies" for students to find partners from different majors, pursuing relationships under the guise of earning credits. Xia Langlang then posed a hypothetical question about a boy telling a girl, "I'm also a fool," wondering if it implied romantic interest. Yang Jiaqian dismissed it as simply calling her a fool, but Huangfu Suming suggested it could be ambiguous.
Suddenly, the dorm received a notice for an inspection requiring a photo with a Marxism-Leninism textbook. Fan Xiaoyu was not in the dorm, so Xia Langlang had to quickly find a neighboring roommate to impersonate her to pass the inspection. Meanwhile, Fan Xiaoyu was tricked into going to a pub by Lu Xuwen, who was feigning drunkenness.
Lu Xuwen first called her, pretending to be drunk and missing her, then a stranger took the phone to convince Fan Xiaoyu to pick him up. Upon arrival, Fan Xiaoyu immediately saw through his act, reminding him of his past asthma attack from a small mountain climb and questioning his claims of being "amazing" from high altitudes. Lu Xuwen then confessed he orchestrated the meeting because he was worried she would be upset by her father's social media posts.
He then showed her a post from Fan Debiao's WeChat moments, which announced the arrival of a new baby. Fan Xiaoyu, who had blocked her father, was displeased, asserting that her relationship with her father was none of Lu Xuwen's business. She then advised him not to drink too much and to call her when he got home, before leaving. Returning to the dorm, Fan Xiaoyu found Xia Langlang awake.
Before Xia Langlang could even speak, Fan Xiaoyu correctly deduced she was preoccupied with Ma Yiran and urged her to move on, suggesting that emotions aren't like academics where effort guarantees results. Xia Langlang lamented that it wasn't that simple. After Ma Yiran sent Xia Langlang an invitation to sit together in their next public elective class, Xia Langlang couldn't resist.
She even asked Fan Xiaoyu to teach her how to do her makeup, and Huangfu Suming helped her paint her nails with a claret color, claiming it was very popular and irresistible to men. Despite the fun night, the next morning, seeing Ma Yiran and Xia Langlang together, Fan Xiaoyu sighed, convinced that Ma Yiran was untrustworthy. Yang Jiaqian also expressed disbelief that Ma Yiran would immediately pursue Xia Langlang after Fan Xiaoyu rejected him.
Fan Xiaoyu went to the drama club to observe Ma Yiran and overheard him arranging a movie date with another girl, despite knowing she had a boyfriend, claiming he just wanted to share popcorn. This confirmed Fan Xiaoyu's suspicions that Ma Yiran was a terrible man. Upon returning to the dorm, Xia Langlang excitedly announced she was going to see a movie, and asked to borrow Fan Xiaoyu's high heels.
Despite Fan Xiaoyu's implicit warnings about choosing people carefully, Xia Langlang remained determined, attributing Ma Yiran's invitation to their shared hometown. Watching Xia Langlang fall deeper, Fan Xiaoyu felt she needed to intervene for her friend's sake. Fan Xiaoyu decided to take action. She tried to "accidentally" fall in front of Ma Yiran, but he was too engrossed in conversation with a junior student to even notice her.
Discouraged, she then overheard gossip that Ma Yiran had also invited other girls to the movies. Alert, she started recording their conversation as she followed them. Despite this, upon returning to the dorm, seeing Xia Langlang's beaming face, Fan Xiaoyu held back her concerns. She lent Xia Langlang her high heels and watched Huangfu Suming paint Xia Langlang's nails, knowing Xia Langlang was likely heading for trouble, but feeling powerless.
Later, Fan Xiaoyu, sitting with Fan Qingzhou, sighed repeatedly, expressing her frustration at being unable to help a friend who was walking "into a pit of fire." Fan Qingzhou advised her that if she couldn't stop someone from jumping into a pit of fire, she should become the one to extinguish the flames. Filled with anticipation, Xia Langlang arrived at the cinema only to receive a WeChat message from Ma Yiran cancelling their date due to a sudden club emergency.
She tried to play it cool, responding that she hadn't left yet, but in reality, she was already there, meticulously made-up and wearing borrowed high heels. She then awkwardly began her walk home. Her phone rang again, and it was Fan Xiaoyu, who sent her a picture of Ma Yiran waiting at the cinema entrance. Fan Xiaoyu intended to expose him in front of Xia Langlang.
Xia Langlang's heart sank, and when she rushed to a different cinema entrance, she saw Ma Yiran smiling, handing a drink to Fan Xiaoyu. Xia Langlang's hopes crumbled as she watched from a distance. Unbeknownst to Xia Langlang, Fan Xiaoyu had pushed away the drink Ma Yiran offered, and Fan Xiaoyu didn't notice Xia Langlang's disheartened departure. Escaping the suffocating mall, Xia Langlang twisted her ankle while chasing a bus.
In despair at the bus stop, she called her mother, but during the conversation, her mind drifted, overwhelmed by her emotions. Upon learning of Xia Langlang's injured foot, Fan Xiaoyu rushed back to the dorm. Yang Jiaqian had already applied medicine to Xia Langlang's ankle. When Fan Xiaoyu tried to check the injury, Xia Langlang coldly turned away.
Fan Xiaoyu's intervention had not improved Xia Langlang's mood; instead, it served as a stark reminder of her futile three-year devotion to Ma Yiran and her struggle against her mother for him. Despite the absurdity of her infatuation, Xia Langlang resented anyone's interference, stating that her feelings, freedom, and choices were her own. This made Fan Xiaoyu realize her mistake, recalling her own annoyance when Lu Xuwen tried to mediate her relationship with her father.
She recognized that she had, in turn, interfered in someone else's life. Seeing Xia Langlang's emotional tears, Fan Xiaoyu's eyes also welled up, and she once again sought out Fan Qingzhou, who listened empathetically while focusing on his coding. Fan Qingzhou reiterated that everyone has the right to choose their own path, no matter how difficult. Fan Xiaoyu reflected on her realization that she disliked others interfering in her life, yet she had done the same to Xia Langlang.
During her phone call with her mother at the bus stop, Xia Langlang learned that her mother had recently started dating someone nice. This news brought a mix of complicated feelings—a blend of sadness and confusion. Mai Meng, having also received a call from Xia Langlang's mother, came to counsel Xia Langlang. He explained that caring for her mother didn't mean restricting her choices, as everyone has the right to their own life and to choose their own happiness.
He challenged Xia Langlang's assumptions about her mother's loneliness and desires, reminding her that her mother's choices were her own and not for Xia Langlang to interfere with. As Xia Langlang listened, she recalled her own angry words to Fan Xiaoyu, realizing she had become the very person who meddled in others' decisions. Mai Meng then led Xia Langlang to the university canteen, where she was surprised and brightened to see her mother.
Despite her injured leg, Xia Langlang approached her. Her mother warmly encouraged her to eat, offering her favorite egg. Seeing her mother's unchanging care, Xia Langlang mustered her courage and told her mother to pursue her own happiness, urging her not to sacrifice her personal life for Xia Langlang's sake. Her mother tightly gripped the table's edge, holding back tears, and simply remarked how much more sensible her daughter had become.
Xia Langlang then led her mother on a tour of the campus. They encountered Fan Xiaoyu, and Xia Langlang instinctively looked away, unsure how to react. Fan Xiaoyu, taking a deep breath, stepped forward to greet Xia Langlang's mother. In her conversation with Xia Langlang's mother, Fan Xiaoyu praised Xia Langlang, thanking her for her constant help and understanding, and apologized for her own past "troubles." Xia Langlang, perceptive, understood Fan Xiaoyu's implicit apology.
She then took Fan Xiaoyu's arm, and the three continued their campus tour together. Later, after another dorm inspection requiring a specific "X-ray" pose for a photo, Fan Xiaoyu handed Xia Langlang a new bottle of Ruyi medicated oil from Hongkong. She suggested it could help with Xia Langlang's ankle or, if she was still angry, could be applied to Fan Xiaoyu's eyes (after Fan Xiaoyu finished her essay).
Xia Langlang, having moved past her anger, smiled and took the oil, signaling their reconciliation. This experience taught Fan Xiaoyu the importance of respecting personal boundaries. Perhaps also influenced by seeing Xia Langlang and her mother holding arms affectionately, Fan Xiaoyu looked at her phone, unblocked Fan Debiao from her WeChat, and with renewed resolve, opened his moments, ready to confront her relationship with her father.
Episode 6 Recap
Fan Qingzhou's dorm was running low on food, and the payment for a job from the previous month was still unsettled. He expressed frustration that after three years, talented individuals like himself and his partner, Leizi, still struggled to find investors, attributing it to a lack of a clear public persona.
He had analyzed big data to identify suitable personas, describing himself as the "handsome and charming" and "cute boy type" like Karry Wang, while Leizi, who enjoyed foot baths for health, Chinese calligraphy, and antiques, was the "veteran cadre type" like Jackson Yee. Fan Qingzhou, however, clarified his own foot baths were purely for warmth because the air conditioning was too low. He reminded Leizi to chase the outstanding payment because they were almost out of food.
Meanwhile, Xia Langlang's dorm was also excited about the school's upcoming College Spring Art Festival, which offered a grand prize of fifty thousand yuan. Earlier, Xia Langlang’s mother had informed her of her grandma’s broken bone and upcoming surgery, expressing concern about the medical bills. Xia Langlang, assuring her mother that she would find a way to cover the costs, saw the competition as an opportunity.
Her roommates initially considered performing a quartet, with one playing violin, another playing piano, and Yang Jiaqian on Chinese zither. Xia Langlang optimistically suggested she could handle percussion, though her attempt ended in loud clangs. When they decided to try a dance, her roommates highlighted their cheerleading, ballet, and rhythmic gymnastics backgrounds. Xia Langlang offered to do "lifting" due to her strength, but during practice, she accidentally injured Huangfu's eye.
Fan Xiaoyu received a call from Fan Qingzhou, who proposed they perform a "great saw living person" magic trick for the competition. He explained that his team was developing an app called Try-it and urgently needed funds, as odd jobs were scarce. Fan Xiaoyu initially expressed surprise that a fifth-year senior like him was still competing but agreed to the partnership, demanding 60% of the prize money and accident insurance, to which Fan Qingzhou readily agreed.
Back at the dorm, Huangfu and Yang Jiaqian informed Xia Langlang that they would perform a duet dance, effectively leaving her out. Xia Langlang felt abandoned but defiantly declared she would perform solo and "defeat all of them." Later, alone in the cafeteria, Xia Langlang witnessed Wu Yan intervening when two students were yelling at the cafeteria lady. Another student then mocked Wu Yan for his "weirdo" attire.
Xia Langlang offered Wu Yan a yogurt and a seat at her table, having observed the incident. They introduced themselves: Xia Langlang, a Journalism freshman, and Wu Yan, a sophomore in Information Engineering, known for his love of sewing and knitting. Wu Yan shared details about his Slow-paced Hobby Group, a community of less sociable individuals who enjoyed time-killing hobbies. Xia Langlang found his interests endearing and his group "nice."
Upon learning about Xia Langlang's grandma's fracture, Wu Yan kindly offered to knit a blanket for her recovery. Xia Langlang then invited Wu Yan to partner with her for the College Spring Art Festival, mentioning her roommates had "ditched" her. Wu Yan agreed, sealing their partnership. During their magic rehearsal, Fan Xiaoyu became frustrated with Fan Qingzhou's lack of expressive emotion.
She tried to teach him directly, illustrating the performance's dramatic shifts by using the prize money as an example—showing excitement, disappointment, and then renewed hope. Fan Qingzhou, feeling shy as she got close, struggled to grasp the emotional nuances. Annoyed, Fan Xiaoyu declared him "unteachable" and left, but her concern for the unattended props led her to return. She found Fan Qingzhou secretly practicing her lessons in front of a mirror.
When she messaged him about locking up and reviewing instructions, he playfully claimed he was already asleep, making her smile as she continued to watch him from outside. Meanwhile, Leizi, Fan Qingzhou's business partner, asked him for 2,000 yuan, claiming he needed it for dinner before leaving to collect payment for a previous job. Shortly after, Leizi sent Fan Qingzhou a text message apologizing and saying he had "messed up" and felt too ashamed to face him.
Leizi then became unreachable, his phone switched off. Facing potential eviction, Fan Qingzhou confessed his predicament to Fan Xiaoyu. Fan Xiaoyu generously lent him money, stating he could repay her once he secured investment. Fan Xiaoyu also expressed annoyance at Leizi's unreliability, labeling him an "unreliable partner" and a potential "loser who can't graduate." Fan Qingzhou lamented his situation as a fifth-year student facing the end of his academic journey, and both acknowledged their vastly different circumstances.
Xia Langlang soon joined Wu Yan at a gathering of his Slow-paced Hobby Group. However, when Wu Yan's classmates saw them together, they jokingly teased them about being a couple in matching outfits. Xia Langlang, feeling awkward, suggested they move to a different spot. Outside, she overheard students discussing Wu Yan's past attempt at the College Spring Art Festival, where he had become "famous" for his "weirdo outfit" and was "laughed at for a long time."
The students speculated that anyone partnering with him must also be "a weirdo." These rumors, coupled with the news from her mother (on the phone) that her grandma's surgery was successful and covered by medical insurance, thereby removing her initial motivation for the prize money, made Xia Langlang reconsider her partnership with Wu Yan. She awkwardly told him on the phone she felt "under the weather" and needed to attend class, suggesting they rehearse later.
Later, she confided in Huangfu about her doubts, saying she didn't want to participate and wasn't "so close" to Wu Yan. Wu Yan, who was nearby, overheard her conversation. Though he was clearly hurt, he quietly conveyed through Huangfu that he understood her decision and did not wish to be contacted again. Despite being abandoned, he still sent Xia Langlang a blanket for her grandma, who had back pain, fulfilling his earlier promise.
Meanwhile, Huangfu and Yang Jiaqian faced their own conflict over their dance costumes, with Huangfu insisting on a short, sexy skirt and Yang Jiaqian preferring trousers or a retro style, leading Yang Jiaqian to withdraw. When Fan Xiaoyu returned to the dorm, celebrating her successful "night out" without being caught, she found Huangfu and Yang Jiaqian upset. Yang Jiaqian lamented that Huangfu "didn't want her anymore" over the costume disagreement.
Fan Xiaoyu calmly suggested they each wear what they preferred, arguing, "Why do you want to be uniform? Shouldn't everyone have their own personality? The world is a colorful place because we're different." Her words resonated, and the two reconciled, deciding to embrace their individual styles for their performance. Inspired by this, Xia Langlang also returned to Wu Yan, apologizing and expressing her renewed commitment to their rehearsal.
During the College Spring Art Festival, Huangfu and Yang Jiaqian's duet dance was met with cheers from the audience, who found it "very cool." Fan Qingzhou and Fan Xiaoyu's "great saw living person" magic trick also garnered significant attention, though some audience members noted minor flaws, like a foot exposed outside the box. Wu Yan and Xia Langlang then took the stage, delivering a powerful singing performance.
The audience, including some of Wu Yan's classmates, expressed surprise to see him participate again after his past notorious performance. After the competition, Fan Qingzhou and Fan Xiaoyu received the "Unique Style Award," which Fan Xiaoyu noted was merely an "encouragement award." She joked that the prize money was just enough for Fan Qingzhou to repay her the 300 yuan.
As Fan Qingzhou was preparing to leave school that summer, with his entrepreneurial efforts seemingly failing, he shared a worried farewell with Fan Xiaoyu. She offered her prize money as "angel investment," but he initially declined. They eventually exchanged WeChat contacts, realizing they had known each other for a year without doing so. Just as Fan Qingzhou was feeling down, his former partner, Leizi, reappeared.
Leizi confessed that while he had been tempted to pursue other paths, he recognized Fan Qingzhou's "marketing genius" and suggested he join his venture, urging him to "get real" instead of making "meaningless sacrifices and struggles." Reunited with his friend, Fan Qingzhou felt a renewed sense of purpose and courage to confront reality.
Episode 7 Recap
During the summer break, Fan Xiaoyu found herself without a place to stay as she had not completed the necessary application and security agreement for break housing. When the dorm manager informed her it was too late to apply and she needed to vacate, Fan Xiaoyu pleaded for an exception, but the manager insisted on following school regulations and urged her to go home to her parents, mentioning an upcoming inspection.
As Fan Xiaoyu stood outside, contemplating her options, Fan Qingzhou approached her, having observed her from his apartment. He noted she usually borrowed money and was surprised to see her still on campus. Fan Xiaoyu explained she was being evicted from the dorms, which Fan Qingzhou found to be a fair consequence of not following procedures, citing ancient Greek philosophy. Frustrated by his philosophical tangent, Fan Xiaoyu pressed him about available rooms.
Fan Qingzhou admitted he had a spare room, but the rent was likely too expensive for her. Just then, Fan Debiao sent Fan Xiaoyu a voice message, revealing he had booked a flight for her to come home the next day and asking if she was avoiding him. Fan Qingzhou, seeing her expression change after listening to the message, advised her to go home.
After considering her options, Fan Xiaoyu reluctantly decided to fly home, telling Fan Qingzhou she would visit him after the summer. Upon her return, Fan Xiaoyu's mother urged her to attend the 100-day banquet for her baby brother, hoping it would be an opportunity to mend her strained relationship with Fan Debiao. Fan Xiaoyu initially resisted, feeling independent of her father's influence, but eventually agreed to appease her mother.
The next day, Fan Xiaoyu arrived at Fan Debiao’s house, where the stepmother, Zhang Li, made a sarcastic comment about her visiting. Fan Debiao quickly intervened, clarifying that Fan Xiaoyu was family and welcome to stay. Upstairs, Fan Debiao confronted Fan Xiaoyu about blocking him after he suspended her credit card, admitting he had hoped to compel her to apologize. He mentioned getting updates on her from Xuwen.
Fan Xiaoyu, claiming it was a mistake, admitted to unblocking him two months prior and even liking one of his posts. Fan Debiao, seeing their similar stubborn temperaments, expressed happiness at her return and encouraged her to bond with her baby brother, reminding her that both his house and her mother's were her homes. He then offered her a supplementary credit card with a generous limit, which Fan Xiaoyu accepted.
Later, while Fan Xiaoyu was on a video call with friends, showing them her old room now filled with baby supplies, the nanny brought her baby brother in. Fan Xiaoyu, feeling a void, took out a treasured "magic wand" toy from her childhood, a gift from her father, to playfully entertain the baby.
The stepmother, Zhang Li, entered and snatched the toy, chastising Fan Xiaoyu for playing with such a "filthy" item near the baby and throwing it to the floor. Zhang Li then declared that Fan Xiaoyu’s room would be converted into a nursery, suggesting Fan Xiaoyu stay in a hotel when she visited, implying she was no longer truly welcome. An argument ensued, with Fan Xiaoyu accusing Zhang Li of being a homewrecker. The stepmother slapped Fan Xiaoyu.
Fan Debiao, alerted by the commotion, intervened. He told Zhang Li to take the baby out of the room, then, turning to Fan Xiaoyu, reprimanded her for "starting trouble" immediately upon her return. This extinguished any warmth Fan Xiaoyu had felt. Disappointed, she threw the supplementary card back at Fan Debiao and left, returning to her mother, who was found sleeping on the sofa. Fan Xiaoyu's mother, still hoping for reconciliation with Fan Debiao, urged her to consider him.
Fan Xiaoyu, however, resolved to become self-sufficient, only accepting her tuition fees from her mother and vowing to earn her own living and future tuition. As the new semester began, Fan Xiaoyu, now determined to be financially independent, received a bookkeeping journal from Fan Qingzhou, who advised her on managing expenses. Inspired by fellow students wearing traditional Hanfu, Fan Xiaoyu launched a Hanfu rental business, but it quickly failed, leaving her 5,000 yuan in debt.
Seeing her desperation, Yang Jiaqian, who was organizing a fan meeting for the popular singer Justin at their school, offered Fan Xiaoyu a paid assistant position. Yang Jiaqian had been given 100 tickets by the Youth League Committee and was responsible for publicity, sponsorship, and event organization, so she was authorized to hire an assistant. Fan Xiaoyu, despite the modest pay, eagerly accepted. The biggest challenge was securing sponsorship.
Fan Xiaoyu's initial attempts to contact her father's business associates (Auntie Dong, Uncle Ma, Uncle Wu) were unsuccessful, as they either declined or claimed unfamiliarity with Justin. She confided her difficulties to Fan Qingzhou, who, drawing from an anecdote about a man who successfully sold his house through a lottery, inspired her.
Fan Xiaoyu proposed a new plan to Yang Jiaqian: she would ask for ten tickets from Yang Jiaqian to be used as prizes in a lottery, raising funds by selling raffle tickets for 20 yuan each. Yang Jiaqian, needing funds for event materials like banner stands and foamboards, approved the plan. With Fan Qingzhou's help, Fan Xiaoyu created an online lottery page. The lottery proved immensely popular, quickly raising over 40,000 yuan within three days.
Fan Xiaoyu planned to allocate 20,000 yuan to the event and keep the remaining 20,000 for herself. However, Yang Jiaqian discovered that Fan Xiaoyu was selling tickets through a lottery, contrary to her understanding of fair distribution. Yang Jiaqian was furious, accusing Fan Xiaoyu of profiting from Justin's fans and exploiting their devotion. Unbeknownst to Fan Xiaoyu, Yang Jiaqian, usually reserved, was a die-hard Justin fan herself.
The situation worsened when she was called to the meeting room, where Justin personally thanked her for organizing such a successful event, giving her flowers and taking a photo with her. Upon returning to the dorm, Fan Xiaoyu saw Yang Jiaqian's upset demeanor and realized the gravity of her actions. To atone, Fan Xiaoyu donated 15,000 yuan of the lottery proceeds to a charity for brittle bone disease patients under Yang Jiaqian's name.
Justin later posted a photo with Yang Jiaqian on Weibo, thanking the "fan" for the generous donation, which became a trending topic. Yang Jiaqian, touched and elated, texted Fan Xiaoyu to express her gratitude, finally forgiving her. Having learned that making quick money was not easy, Fan Xiaoyu resolved to integrate her academic pursuits with earning a living.
She decided to become a study streamer, sharing her study sessions online, and also planned to take on part-time jobs with Xia Langlang to sustainably cover her living expenses. This marked a painful but necessary step towards her personal growth and independence from her family.
Episode 8 Recap
With the cheerleading competition approaching in ten days, the team's coach conducted a self-assessment, asking members to step back if they lacked skills, physical competence, or good physique. Huangfu Shumin found herself at the very back. Zhou Yu, also present, playfully teased her by calling her "Boiled Vegetables" and making comments about her "strong body," further chipping away at her confidence. Feeling insecure, Huangfu Shumin decided to get a face-lift injection, following a trend she noticed among other cheerleaders.
Her roommates soon noticed her secretive behavior. When they confronted her, Huangfu Shumin admitted to getting the injection, but lamented that the results were not obvious, making her feel even more disheartened. Her mother's frequent phone calls became a source of immense anxiety for Huangfu Shumin, who had always lived under her parents' overprotective care.
She feared her mother's disapproval, recalling how her parents would prevent her from engaging in activities they deemed dangerous or unladylike, even canceling her dance lessons to prevent her legs from getting "thick." Determined to excel in the cheerleading competition, Huangfu Shumin secretly decided to go on a strict diet, enlisting her roommates' help to hide her plans from her mother. Despite their efforts to cover for her, Huangfu Shumin's extreme dieting led her to faint during practice.
The school doctor later diagnosed her with hypoglycemia. Even while recovering, she pleaded with Xia Langlang to continue her deception from her mother. Meanwhile, Huangfu Shumin remained self-conscious, often lingering in the background during practice. In contrast, Huang Feihong, despite not fitting conventional beauty standards, radiated confidence and eagerly volunteered for a solo performance, earning Huangfu Shumin's admiration. Recognizing Huangfu Shumin's persistent low spirits, Fan Xiaoyu decided to seek help from Fan Qingzhou and Mai Meng.
Fan Xiaoyu explained that Huangfu Shumin possessed a good face and body but lacked confidence, suggesting that male attention could be a significant boost. Huang Feihong also offered encouraging words to Huangfu Shumin, telling her she had great potential but needed to relax and believe in herself, reassuring her that her physique was suitable for cheerleading.
Later, in the quiet of the darkened practice room, Huangfu Shumin allowed herself to dance freely, unaware that Zhou Yu was secretly capturing her movements on camera. Fan Qingzhou's campus social application had gained considerable popularity. Following Fan Xiaoyu's request, Fan Qingzhou featured Huangfu Shumin's account, leading to a surge of friend requests from attractive male students. This newfound attention filled Huangfu Shumin with excitement and confidence, and she meticulously prepared for an upcoming date.
However, Fan Xiaoyu grew suspicious, realizing that her own account had not been featured, despite her similar request to Fan Qingzhou. Huangfu Shumin's date took place at a coffee shop where Zhou Yu worked. She found herself juggling two different online dates at once. Zhou Yu, observing her predicament, deliberately exposed her deception, which greatly humiliated Huangfu Shumin. She stormed out, feeling her fragile confidence shatter, and subsequently withdrew from the cheerleading team.
Upon learning of Huangfu Shumin's decision, Zhou Yu realized the impact of his earlier harsh words. He hurried to apologize, though their initial conversation quickly devolved into another argument. During their exchange, Zhou Yu recognized Huangfu Shumin's deep-seated fear of living outside her parents' expectations. He urged her to stand by her own choices, regardless of her mother's potential disapproval.
To further encourage her, he presented her with the photos he had secretly taken of her dancing joyfully in the practice room. Seeing herself so happy and uninhibited, Huangfu Shumin had a realization: her own lack of confidence was the true obstacle holding her back. She resolved to confront her parents with the truth and embrace this opportunity for personal growth.
She sent a heartfelt message to her mother, explaining her decision to participate in the competition, expressing her desire to make her own choices, and asking for her support. The next day, Huangfu Shumin arrived at the competition, much to the delight of Huang Feihong, who warmly welcomed her back. Just then, an unexpected crisis arose: Fang from the A-team suffered from diarrhea and couldn't perform, leaving a critical gap in the "five plus two move."
Zhou Yu subtly signaled Huangfu Shumin, who, after a moment of hesitation, bravely volunteered. With Huangfu Shumin now in the C-position, the team took to the stage. Her movements were precise, her smile radiant, and her confidence palpable. Zhou Yu watched, momentarily stunned by her transformation. Surrounded by cheers, Huangfu Shumin felt an unprecedented sense of freedom, as if she had grown wings. That day, Huangfu Shumin's mother, who typically made multiple calls a day, chose not to.
Her daughter's recent messages had revealed a deep-seated desire for independence. She recognized that her daughter was growing up and needed to forge her own path, accepting that she must now "fly on her own." Later, Huangfu Shumin saw a friend request from Zhou Yu on her phone.
After initially rejecting it with a playful "It's none of your business," he resent it, identifying himself as "Zhou Yu," and she accepted, a smile playing on her lips as she recalled his annoying yet ultimately supportive demeanor. Meanwhile, Xia Langlang received an exciting call from Mai Meng, who had secured an assistant position for her at a training academy.
Episode 9 Recap
Xia Langlang arrived at an interview for an assistant position, where she noticed the other candidates were all male and casually dressed, yet they were all accepted. When it was her turn, the male interviewers posed unusually difficult questions, leaving her bewildered. However, Moli, a second-year graduate student and one of the interviewers, immediately decided to hire her. Moli, who was tired of her male colleagues' gender discrimination, was impressed by Xia Langlang's lively and cheerful personality.
Moli mentioned that Mr. Mai, Xia Langlang's counselor, had said she was very cute, which led Xia Langlang to realize that Moli was actually Mr. Mai's girlfriend. Moli clarified that while Mr. Mai liked Xia Langlang, Moli hired her because she herself was impressed and believed Xia Langlang was much more capable than the other male candidates. To celebrate Xia Langlang securing an office assistant position at the Training College, Mr. Mai invited Moli and Xia Langlang out for dinner.
During the meal, Mr. Mai officially introduced Moli as his girlfriend to Xia Langlang, much to Xia Langlang's surprise. Xia Langlang discretely took photos of the affectionate couple and shared them with her roommates, Fan Xiaoyu, Huangfu, and Dongdongqiang, who were intrigued by the news and gossiped about it in their dorm. Xia Langlang then pressed for details about their romance, and Mr. Mai eagerly recounted their love story.
He explained that he fell for Moli on the first day of their undergraduate studies and pursued her relentlessly, even taking notes for her and faking her attendance in classes when she skipped to play games. Moli was the "department flower" and difficult to win over, but after years of persistent effort, they finally began dating in graduate school. Touched by their story, Xia Langlang raised a toast with them.
After Mr. Mai left to pay the bill, Moli quietly asked Xia Langlang not to reveal their relationship to others, explaining that she wished to avoid any unnecessary discussions that might affect Mr. Mai's professional standing as a teacher. Xia Langlang readily agreed to keep it a secret. Upon Xia Langlang's return to the dorm, Fan Xiaoyu, Huangfu, and Dongdongqiang eagerly awaited her, demanding details after seeing the photos.
Xia Langlang shared the entire "divine love story" of Mr. Mai and Moli, which left her roommates deeply envious. They reiterated their promise to keep the relationship secret, acknowledging Mr. Mai's current role as a teacher. The following day, as Xia Langlang helped Moli prepare for the Training College's awards ceremony, she accidentally dropped and broke a trophy.
Moli calmly took charge, reassuring Xia Langlang and instructing her to present an older, replacement trophy to Gao Yuan, one of the recipients, promising to handle any issues. Later, Xia Langlang overheard Moli and Gao Yuan arguing, with Moli asserting that her relationship with Gao Yuan was none of his business. Feeling guilty, Xia Langlang approached Gao Yuan and confessed that she was responsible for breaking his original trophy, explaining Moli's quick decision to substitute it.
Gao Yuan, however, dismissed it as "just a trophy" and assured her it was unimportant, comforting her and leaving without further incident. That evening, while Xia Langlang was on duty alone in the office, Mr. Mai unexpectedly appeared with a cake, having assumed Moli was on duty. Upon realizing his mistake, Mr. Mai chuckled, explaining that Moli's favorite cake would now "go to waste," and left it for Xia Langlang before leaving.
Fan Xiaoyu, while discussing user experience feedback for an app with Fan Qingzhou, unexpectedly spotted Moli and Gao Yuan together. She promptly informed Xia Langlang, who vehemently denied it, insisting Fan Xiaoyu must have been mistaken or that Moli was simply having a casual chat. Fan Xiaoyu, however, was certain, pointing out the man's distinct appearance and the woman's clear resemblance to Moli. Despite this, Xia Langlang struggled to accept that Moli could be cheating on Mr. Mai.
The following night, a slightly inebriated Mr. Mai approached Xia Langlang with a diamond ring, revealing his intention to propose to Moli and asking for her help to plan a surprise. Xia Langlang was overjoyed and enthusiastically committed to assisting him. She meticulously planned a cinema proposal and discussed the arrangements with Mr. Wang, the cinema manager. Feeling confident that everything was in place, Xia Langlang turned around, only to witness Moli and Gao Yuan entering the cinema hand-in-hand.
Moli quickly dropped Gao Yuan's hand when she saw Xia Langlang and attempted to explain, but Xia Langlang was too shocked to speak. At that moment, Mr. Mai emerged from the supermarket, mistook their gathering as a "Training College meeting," and casually took Moli's hand. Thinking quickly to prevent Mr. Mai from discovering the truth, Xia Langlang grabbed Gao Yuan and claimed she and Gao Yuan came to watch a movie together, pulling him into the cinema.
Inside, neither Xia Langlang nor Gao Yuan could focus on the film, and Gao Yuan soon left. Xia Langlang struggled with whether to inform Mr. Mai about Moli and Gao Yuan. She encountered Moli outside Mr. Mai's office, and Moli thanked her for not exposing the truth.
Moli explained that the situation was "very complicated" and not what it seemed, asking for time to resolve it, insisting she did not want to hurt Mr. Mai, who had always been very kind to her, and even claimed she still loved him. Xia Langlang, unable to refuse Moli's request, later confronted Gao Yuan, urging him to cease his involvement in Moli and Mr. Mai's relationship and not to be a third party.
Gao Yuan, however, simply shook his head and walked away, advising Xia Langlang not to meddle if she didn't understand the full story. Upon hearing Xia Langlang's full account, her roommates, who had initially believed Gao Yuan was a new love interest for Xia Langlang, were outraged, labeling Gao Yuan a "scumbag" and Moli a "cheating woman." Dongdongqiang further fueled the suspicion by confirming she also saw Moli and a "hot guy" holding hands at the cinema.
They were especially shocked to learn that Mr. Mai was planning to propose, and collectively decided to help him with a "desperate measures" plan. The plan unfolded in a cinema where Mr. Mai projected a heartfelt video of himself, expressing his profound love for Moli. He then approached her with a bouquet of roses and the diamond ring, proposing marriage in front of their classmates. However, Moli, visibly distressed, apologized and rejected his proposal.
Witnessing Mr. Mai drowning his sorrows in alcohol, Xia Langlang was overcome with guilt, believing that if she had revealed Moli and Gao Yuan's affair earlier, Mr. Mai might have been spared such public heartbreak. Mr. Mai, however, remained remarkably composed. He revealed that Gao Yuan was Moli's boyfriend before him. They were in the same department in undergrad, and Moli only liked Gao Yuan.
When Gao Yuan went to a UK exchange program for his postgraduate study, their long-distance relationship ended, which was when Mr. Mai, recognizing an an opportunity, intensely pursued Moli. He admitted he always suspected Moli didn't truly love him, but he didn't care. He says he started to panic when Gao Yuan returned, feeling Moli would leave him. Mr. Mai confessed that he had followed Moli to the cinema that day and witnessed her holding hands with Gao Yuan.
He chose not to intervene, hoping Moli would make her own decision. He felt like a "thief," having stolen something that didn't belong to him, constantly fearing its return. He explained that in the "gamble of love," he had wagered everything – his time, patience, and dignity – only to lose it all. He concluded that he was the true "third wheel" because "the one who isn't loved is the third wheel."
Despite his profound loss, Mr. Mai managed a faint smile, accepting his fate. Later, a deeply inebriated Xia Langlang, overwhelmed with sorrow, confronted Moli and Gao Yuan directly. She tearfully questioned Moli's decision to abandon Mr. Mai, accusing them of validating their love at his expense. Moli, composed despite the accusations, explained that while Mr. Mai was a wonderful, down-to-earth man suitable for a stable life, he was "not for me."
She confessed that despite her efforts to avoid Gao Yuan since his return, seeing him still made her "heart pump" – a feeling she struggled to deny. Moli admitted her weakness and fault, telling Xia Langlang she could hate her, but suggested that one day, when Xia Langlang found someone who truly made her heart race and whose eyes held a special light for her, she would understand. Xia Langlang burst into tears, heartbroken by Moli's words.
Xia Langlang felt more devastated than during her own past heartbreaks, carrying the burden of responsibility for a long time. To help her recover, Fan Xiaoyu decided to enlist Fan Qingzhou to teach Xia Langlang Tai Chi.
Episode 10 Recap
In this world, life is often easier for good-looking people, who are more likely to be forgiven for mistakes and to be indulged when they act like a child. This is because no one can truly see another's inner self at first glance, but beauty is enough to make others look longer. However, the question remains whether this is entirely true.
Yang Jiaqian was unexpectedly signed up for a debate contest by Mai Meng, with the final topic being "outer beauty and inner beauty." Their team was assigned the stance that inner beauty outweighs outer beauty. Yang Jiaqian admitted it wasn't her decision, as Mai Meng had signed her up without asking. Deep down, Yang Jiaqian believed that attractive people held an advantage in this world, fearing her conviction might waver during the debate.
Since her teammates were busy, she would have to prepare on her own. Knowing that their opponents were four brilliant science geeks with potentially complex arguments, Fan Xiaoyu decided to bring Yang Jiaqian to Fan Qingzhou and Lei Dongqiang to practice. As Yang Jiaqian looked at Fan Qingzhou, she shyly turned her head, then admired the calligraphy written by him.
Lei Dongqiang noted the striking similarities in their temperaments and jokingly suggested that Fan Qingzhou and Yang Jiaqian should be together, making Fan Qingzhou blush and Fan Xiaoyu look momentarily uneasy. The mock debate began, with Lei Dongqiang playing a harsh role to simulate the real environment. As the rounds progressed, Yang Jiaqian became increasingly dejected. When Lei Dongqiang used Fan Xiaoyu as an example of outer beauty to challenge Yang Jiaqian, the atmosphere grew awkward.
Unable to watch any longer, Fan Qingzhou intervened on Yang Jiaqian's behalf. Taken aback, Lei Dongqiang then pushed Fan Qingzhou to choose between Fan Xiaoyu and Yang Jiaqian as a girlfriend. This put Fan Qingzhou, who secretly liked Fan Xiaoyu, in a difficult spot. He stammered, unable to give a direct answer, only stating he would "choose the one I like." Fan Xiaoyu awkwardly changed the subject. Later, Xia Langlang and Huangfu were overheard discussing the debate.
Xia Langlang concluded that Fan Qingzhou's evasive answer meant he preferred Fan Xiaoyu, reasoning that all men would. They also noted Lei Dongqiang consistently calling Yang Jiaqian "Big sister," implying he didn't see her as conventionally beautiful, especially when compared to the widely acknowledged beauty of Fan Xiaoyu. Yang Jiaqian, overhearing this conversation outside her dormitory room, paused before entering.
Yang Jiaqian met her mother, Zhang Huishan, a dean of students who always wore a black business suit and kept her hair impeccably styled. Zhang Huishan had brought a box of local products, instructing Yang Jiaqian to deliver them to her department head. Yang Jiaqian felt stifled by her mother's constant control and incessant lecturing. Her mother believed inner qualities were paramount and warned Yang Jiaqian not to waste time on her appearance.
Yang Jiaqian sat constrained, her mind replaying high school memories of her stern mother, which often led to her own ostracism. In her mother's eyes, getting into a good university was everything; inappropriate friends, flashy clothes, and youthful romance were all distractions to be discarded. This rigid upbringing led Yang Jiaqian to burn her diaries—her symbols of youth and rebellion—on a wasteland by the railway one night. But this time, she resolved to make a change.
Yang Jiaqian went to a cosmetics store, bought some makeup, and put it on lightly. She also purchased a new pair of glasses. On her way back, she encountered Lei Dongqiang and Fan Qingzhou, who were distributing cards for an app. When Lei Dongqiang called her "Big sister" again, Yang Jiaqian, having found newfound courage, politely asked them to call her by her name, "Yang Jiaqian" or "Jiaqian." Lei Dongqiang, though initially surprised, agreed.
While helping them distribute the cards, Yang Jiaqian saw Fan Qingzhou's calligraphy and praised it, specifically recognizing it as Liu style. They discussed calligraphy, with Fan Qingzhou explaining the differences between Yan and Liu styles, comparing them to an attractive lady and a plain woman, noting that while the attractive lady initially catches the eye, the plain woman's elegance can only be appreciated by those who understand. He drew a parallel between this and her debate topic.
Yang Jiaqian confessed her lack of conviction in her assigned stance. Fan Qingzhou acknowledged that beautiful people are more lovable and that Fan Xiaoyu would likely be more popular if they stood side-by-side. While they were distributing cards, Lei Dongqiang secretly took a photo of Yang Jiaqian and Fan Qingzhou together. He sent it to Fan Xiaoyu, inviting her to help as well.
Seeing the photo on her screen, Fan Xiaoyu felt a pang of unhappiness, throwing her phone aside in a fit of pique. He later messaged Yang Jiaqian, sending her links and strong arguments for her debate. Yang Jiaqian smiled as she read his messages. When Yang Jiaqian returned to the dorm, Fan Xiaoyu thoughtfully questioned her. Yang Jiaqian vaguely mentioned meeting her mother, completely omitting the fact that she had been distributing flyers with Fan Qingzhou.
Fan Xiaoyu's expression changed, but she did not expose Yang Jiaqian's lie. Fan Xiaoyu then observed Yang Jiaqian's altered appearance, noting the new glasses and makeup, but Yang Jiaqian dismissed it as preparation for the debate. The debate contest commenced, with the opposing team of four science geeks passionately presenting their arguments. Yang Jiaqian took diligent notes, and when it was her turn, she delivered a well-reasoned and convincing speech that earned widespread applause.
However, when an opposing debater attacked her appearance directly, commenting on her makeup, Yang Jiaqian was momentarily taken aback. Nevertheless, she composed herself and gracefully responded, using her personal experience to elevate the debate to a new level, asserting that those who solely focus on external appearance lack true inner beauty. She concluded her speech by stating that a truly beautiful person never uses their beauty as a weapon, ultimately winning the "Best Debater" award.
After the victory, Yang Jiaqian's roommates celebrated her win. Yang Jiaqian texted Fan Qingzhou, thanking him for his recent help. He modestly encouraged her, saying she needed to believe in herself and that expressing herself was about being true to herself, not harming others. He told her to believe that inner beauty would make the world a more beautiful place.
Meanwhile, Fan Xiaoyu quietly looked at the calligraphy Fan Qingzhou had given her, reflecting on what she had learned from Yang Jiaqian that day. She resolved to strive to emulate Yang Jiaqian's ability to draw upon others' strengths and continuously learn. Fan Xiaoyu then messaged Fan Qingzhou, asking him to dinner. Separately, Lei Dongqiang questioned Fan Qingzhou about a "new product" involving Tetris, which he had learned about from Fan Xiaoyu.
He pressed Fan Qingzhou, asking if he preferred "the smart one" like Yang Jiaqian or "the attractive one" like Fan Xiaoyu. Fan Qingzhou, clearly uncomfortable, asked Lei Dongqiang to leave him alone. He then looked at the Tetris drawing, wondering why Lei Dongqiang had seen his work.
Episode 11 Recap
Huangfu Shumin found her rhythm in the cheerleading team, but after practice, seeing her teammates leaving with their boyfriends left her feeling lonely and sighing. She declared before her friends that she would find a boyfriend before May 20th, Internet Valentine's Day, who would cheer for her at the upcoming cheerleading contest and present her with a large bouquet afterward, or she would become a nun.
Her roommates, including Xia Langlang and Yang Jiaqian, were amused but also impressed by Fan Xiaoyu's apparent romantic expertise, so they pleaded with her to teach them. Fan Xiaoyu agreed to conduct a "Love Class" in their dorm, offering it as a free guide to navigating relationships and identifying "scumbags." During the class, Fan Xiaoyu presented a scenario for identifying a scumbag. She explained that a man who says, "Silly girl, I have a bad temper and many shortcomings.
I'm afraid I might hurt you if you go out with me," is the ultimate scumbag, as this is a manipulative tactic designed to make the woman feel she is the only one who can save him. Immediately, Huangfu Shumin and Su Xiaoxiao put this theory to the test on Zhou Yu, and he predictably used the exact line, confirming Fan Xiaoyu's assessment.
Boosted by this success, Fan Xiaoyu began teaching practical flirting techniques, demonstrating moves like confident hair swings and charming glances. She tasked each of them with flirting with a guy the next day. Huangfu Shumin initially spotted Xiaojian, a handsome student from the English Broadcasting Department, as her target. However, Zhou Yu unexpectedly intervened, taking photos of her and teasing her.
Huangfu Shumin then changed her strategy, inviting Zhou Yu to his coffee shop to test out more of Fan Xiaoyu's techniques. She used subtle cues like ending sentences with a suggestive "Uh-huh," making accidental physical contact, and whispering to draw him closer. When she pointed out a "staring man" to make him feel protective, Zhou Yu declared, "It's my territory and I'll protect you."
She also playfully shared her cola, suggesting he drink from the other side "or we will be kissing indirectly," which clearly flustered him. Upon returning to the dorm, Huangfu Shumin proudly announced her success in captivating Zhou Yu, asserting her complete control over him. Xia Langlang reported that her "stick-tongue-out smile" attempt made her feel like a "Bulbasaur" rather than being charming.
Yang Jiaqian also had little success, as her attempt to use the "stretching" technique on Fan Qingzhou left him completely unmoved. Fan Xiaoyu dismissed Fan Qingzhou as "not a normal person anyway," insisting the finesse itself was not at fault. Determined, Huangfu Shumin successfully used the cherry trick on Xiaojian, feigning a choke to elicit a protective hug from him. She was thrilled, exclaiming that Fan Xiaoyu's finesse "worked like magic!"
Despite her success, Huangfu Shumin worried about Xiaojian's numerous admirers. Fan Xiaoyu suggested she create a "strong rival in love" to make Xiaojian feel a "sense of crisis." Huangfu Shumin then approached Zhou Yu again at his uncle's restaurant. She revealed that her previous romantic advances and Su Xiaoxiao's "proposal" were merely "tests" of Fan Xiaoyu's "magical finesse."
Although initially taken aback and even angry at being used as an "experiment," Zhou Yu ultimately agreed to pretend to be her "zealous suitor," but only if she committed to having all their "dates" at his restaurant. Huangfu Shumin readily agreed. Meanwhile, Fan Qingzhou and Lei Dongqiang approached Fan Xiaoyu to be the "Goddess of Splash Ad" for their new dating app, "Try-it."
Fan Xiaoyu, seeing it as a charitable act, agreed on the condition that Fan Qingzhou would accompany her to a horror movie, as her roommates were too scared. The movie night, however, was a disaster for romance, as Fan Qingzhou turned out to be far more scared than Fan Xiaoyu, needing constant encouragement. Fan Xiaoyu later relayed in the dorm chat that the movie gave "Glasses Fan" (Fan Qingzhou) "irregular heart rates."
Meanwhile, on her phone, Yang Jiaqian, who was meeting with Lu Xuwen, saw Fan Xiaoyu's message in the dorm chat and realized her roommate's potential feelings for Fan Qingzhou, leaving Yang Jiaqian feeling disheartened. Later, Lu Xuwen met Yang Jiaqian, seeking to understand Fan Xiaoyu's romantic strategies. He asked Yang Jiaqian to discretely inquire if Fan Xiaoyu believed in pure friendship between men and women, requesting to listen in on the call.
Yang Jiaqian complied, and Fan Xiaoyu unequivocally stated that such friendships exist, citing Lu Xuwen himself as an example, remarking that they would "always stay in the friendship zone" with "zero chance" of anything more. Upon hearing this, Lu Xuwen was deeply hurt. He confronted Fan Xiaoyu the next day, declaring he didn't want to be in the "friendship zone" and wanted to become her first love.
In his frustration, he accidentally blurted out that Fan Xiaoyu was "single since you were born," revealing her lack of romantic experience. Huangfu Shumin was furious, realizing her love advice came from someone with "no combat experience," leading to a tense situation that Fan Xiaoyu struggled to resolve. The cheerleading competition began, and Huangfu Shumin delivered a flawless performance. Despite her triumph, she still longed for a boyfriend to greet her with a warm embrace and beautiful flowers.
Observing from the audience, Zhou Yu remembered her wish. As the competition concluded, he stepped forward, holding a modest bouquet. He confessed his feelings, saying he watched her performance and gave her a hug, explaining that he hadn't had time to buy a real bouquet but would make up for it. Then, he formally declared, "Huangfu Shumin, let's be together."
Moved by his sincerity and standing amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd, Huangfu Shumin walked into his outstretched arms, realizing that true love required no elaborate tricks, only genuine affection. That evening, Yang Jiaqian met with Lu Xuwen. They reflected on their respective romantic disappointments, finding a shared sense of loss and sympathy. Yang Jiaqian revealed her selfish motive for helping him, hoping that if he succeeded with Fan Xiaoyu, Fan Qingzhou would be available to her.
Lu Xuwen, in turn, explained his unwavering pursuit of Fan Xiaoyu with an analogy: like buying lottery tickets, even if he always got "good luck next time," he wouldn't give up because the "first prize is out there." Yang Jiaqian felt a strange mixture of discouragement and encouragement from his resolve, wondering when she could love as bravely as Lu Xuwen.
Meanwhile, Xia Langlang and Mai Meng also found solace in each other's company over drinks, commiserating about their past heartbreaks. Concurrently, Fan Xiaoyu and Fan Qingzhou were recording the splash ad for the "Try-it" app. Fan Xiaoyu expressed her doubts, questioning whether a "single since you were born" who "doesn't believe in love" was truly qualified to be the app's spokesperson or to even experience love herself.
She recounted a traumatic New Year's Eve at age fifteen when her parents' argument escalated to smashing the TV, which shattered her belief in love, making her view romantic feelings as "nothing but bullshit." Fan Qingzhou responded by sharing a childhood story of wanting to be a "superhero" and breaking his hand by jumping from a second-story window to catch a thief, concluding with, "But at least I tried." Inspired by his words, Fan Xiaoyu decided that despite her past, she too should "try it."
Episode 12 Recap
The summer mini-semester began, lasting fourteen days. Students were divided into groups of four to six to complete an interview assignment, "What do you want to achieve during the four years of college," which required both a paper and a video. A strict rule was in place: no one could leave school until the assignment was finished.
This news was met with frustration by Huangfu, who was already upset because she had dreamed that her boyfriend, Zhou Yu, had cheated on her. She confronted him, accusing him of having a guilty conscience when he didn't immediately deny it. Her roommates found her antics to be overly dramatic, especially since it was the third time that month she had threatened to break up with Zhou Yu over something trivial.
Desperate to find interview subjects, the roommates considered interviewing their counselor, Mai Meng, but dismissed the idea as counterproductive. Yang Jiaqian then suggested Fan Qingzhou, a former student who was still living near the university, as he would surely have much to say about college life. They visited him and his business partner, Lei Dongqiang. Lei Dongqiang eagerly spoke into the camera, declaring that his four years in college were dedicated to "M. O. N. E. Y."
When asked why he chose to start his own business instead of getting a stable job after graduation, Fan Qingzhou, ever the man of few words, simply said, "I just wanted to give it a try," which was also the name of his app. His brief and unrevealing answer left the girls feeling disappointed.
Their attempts to interview other students yielded equally unhelpful results, with most expressing vague aspirations like getting a diploma, becoming a director, or simply getting married and having children. Xia Langlang concluded that the material lacked depth for their paper. She then approached Mai Meng for advice, who suggested they try a different approach: to put themselves in the interviewees' shoes and imagine how they would answer the questions.
Back in the dorm, the girls speculated about Fan Qingzhou's true intentions for creating the app. Fan Xiaoyu believed he was engaged in a grand venture (social to shopping app), Huangfu concluded he was pursuing a woman, Yang Jiaqian viewed him as an idealist, and Xia Langlang, as Zhou Yu later interpreted, thought he was solely motivated by money. Zhou Yu, overhearing their discussion, pointed out that each girl's interpretation was merely a reflection of her own desires and aspirations.
Later, Zhou Yu successfully smoothed things over with Huangfu by offering her a cherry-flavored smoothie. That night, Xia Langlang discovered a trending Weibo post titled "Nerd makes app to pursue goddess, uses her photo for splash screen." The post described a bespectacled, detained student from a university in the east who used his dream girl's photo as the app's splash ad. All signs pointed to Fan Qingzhou and Fan Xiaoyu.
Yang Jiaqian, seeing the post, pulled her blanket tighter in discomfort, while Fan Xiaoyu laughed at the sudden attention. It was revealed that Lei Dongqiang had orchestrated the sensational news as a marketing stunt to impress Mr. Wang, a potential investor. Despite Fan Qingzhou's anger at not being consulted, Lei Dongqiang begged him to tolerate it for a few more days, stressing that Mr. Wang's "98 fuel" (investment) was crucial for their struggling venture. Fan Qingzhou reluctantly agreed.
Lei Dongqiang later presented the marketing campaign's data to Mr. Wang, but the investor was unimpressed. Mr. Wang clarified that his previous suggestion for "improvement" was aimed at the product's core, not superficial marketing. He praised their initial dedication, recalling how they would provide feedback at 4 AM, and criticized their current focus on "opportunistic tricks" instead of the app's unique value.
Compounding Lei Dongqiang's career setback, his father called him, admonishing him for failing to graduate and now "making trouble" with his supposed startup. His father threatened to come to Chongqing if Lei Dongqiang didn't find a proper job, reiterating the importance of focusing on a product's true purpose. The marketing incident continued to stir up controversy online, with Fan Xiaoyu facing public criticism.
In the office, Yang Jiaqian overheard other students gossiping about Fan Xiaoyu, calling her a "coquette" who strung men along. Meanwhile, Xia Langlang, hoping to see Mai Meng, was disappointed to find him engaged in friendly conversation with another woman. Back in their dorm, a heated argument erupted after Yang Jiaqian turned off the air conditioner, causing the room to become uncomfortably hot.
Yang Jiaqian, frustrated with her roommates' lack of progress on the paper, exploded, scolding Xia Langlang for constantly being on her phone and questioning what useful ideas she had gained from Mai Meng. After her outburst, Yang Jiaqian slammed the door and left, leaving her guilt-ridden roommates in silence. Undeterred by Mr. Wang's rejection, which he kept from Fan Qingzhou, Lei Dongqiang watched Fan Qingzhou tirelessly working on the app late into the night.
He then began contacting other investors, determined to keep their dream alive. The next day, Fan Xiaoyu returned to Fan Qingzhou's door, this time using the viral marketing incident as leverage to demand his full startup story for their paper. Fan Qingzhou apologized on Lei Dongqiang's behalf for the article and finally began to share his journey, starting from their freshman year when they met at a retro party, despite being in different classes.
He recounted how he and Lei Dongqiang, both academically gifted, chose to pursue their ideals rather than stable, high-paying jobs. Fan Qingzhou reiterated that he developed the app out of pure passion, not for money, and vowed to continue improving it until he was truly satisfied. Armed with this new information, Fan Xiaoyu returned to the dorm. Yang Jiaqian apologized for her earlier outburst, admitting her anxiety over the paper. The roommates reconciled and worked together diligently.
The narrator (Fan Xiaoyu) reflected that she had initially envied Yang Jiaqian, who seemed to understand Fan Qingzhou so well, despite her own two-year struggle to comprehend him. However, the narrator then realized that Yang Jiaqian, in turn, envied her (Fan Xiaoyu) because Fan Qingzhou had ultimately shared his full story with Fan Xiaoyu. Later that night, Fan Qingzhou and Lei Dongqiang were riding bicycles, earning 10 yuan an hour. Lei Dongqiang finally confessed that Mr. Wang had blocked him.
Fan Qingzhou calmly advised him to set the record straight for Fan Xiaoyu. This quiet response pushed Lei Dongqiang to his breaking point. He unleashed his frustration, detailing his struggles with constant effort, his father's disapproval, and his feeling that Fan Qingzhou was oblivious to his sacrifices. He desperately asked Fan Qingzhou what his ultimate goal was. After listening patiently, Fan Qingzhou softly replied that he had never felt tired working alongside Lei Dongqiang.
This simple affirmation offered Lei Dongqiang a surge of encouragement, and they continued their seemingly endless ride into the night. As dawn approached, with Lei Dongqiang's eyes red from exhaustion, his phone rang. It was Mr. Wang, who inquired why they hadn't responded to his email at 4 AM, indicating he had indeed seen their latest revision. Hope surged through Lei Dongqiang, and he excitedly urged Fan Qingzhou to head home to respond.
The narrator reflected on how "ideal" has become a word often met with mockery, as if pursuing ideals is merely selling empty dreams. Yet, true ideals should not be utilitarian. Fan Qingzhou's persistent "just try it" embodies his approach to his ideals: a slow, steady advancement, regardless of the outcome.
The narration encouraged everyone to pursue their passions while they are young and still have the luxury to try, noting that this story was told by "Fan Siyan," a nickname for Fan Qingzhou. In an intimate reflection, Lei Dongqiang addressed Fan Xiaoyu, admitting that while he initially believed his college pursuit was for her, he realized it was also about his own deep desire to break free from the constraints of home, much like her.
He promised to grow stronger to protect her, revealing a phone call from her father, who, in a drunken state, had inquired about her and asked Lei Dongqiang to ensure her safe return home for the summer.
Episode 13 Recap
Fan Xiaoyu, working a part-time modeling job during her summer vacation, faced constant criticism from the director, who once remarked that her smile looked more bitter than a frown. Returning to her empty dormitory with fast food, she realized it was her birthday. A wave of happy birthday messages from her roommates, who were all home for the holidays, like "Xiaoyu, happy birthday. Wish you beauty, good health, and excellence!" , brought a moment of warmth.
As she silently made a wish and blew out a virtual candle on her phone screen, a message from her father, Fan Debiao, popped up, casting a somber mood over her. The new semester began, and a package arrived for Xiaoyu. Inside was an insurance policy from her father. Seeing her name on the document, she remained silent, inwardly resisting her father's gesture. Later, Lu Xuwen took her out for a belated birthday meal.
During their conversation, she learned of his recent obsession with "Goodnight by Bedside" online chat services, which immediately sparked a business idea. She approached Fan Qingzhou to help her set up an online voice shop on Taobao, envisioning it as a platform offering various voice services that were "easy, simple, and for the benefit of mankind."
She had already calculated potential earnings, such as sending goodnight messages for one yuan each, which could net 900 yuan a month from thirty people, or charging fifty yuan an hour for online chatting. Fan Qingzhou, initially hesitant and arguing about the pay split, eventually agreed to help, seeing it as a way to generate operating funds for their shared app. Xiaoyu's four roommates enthusiastically joined as original major shareholders, distributing flyers across campus to promote the new venture.
After three days, the shop had yet to receive a single order. Xiaoyu realized her mistake. Recalling her roommate's observation that online groups for insomniacs and the heartbroken were predominantly female, and that these women might prefer a male voice for late-night chats, Xiaoyu decided to expand. She enlisted Fan Qingzhou, Zhou Yu, Lei Dongqiang, and Lu Xuwen to create a "Male Idol Group" category.
Although Fan Qingzhou was reluctant, he eventually agreed to participate, viewing it as a necessary step for their app's operating expenses, and Lu Xuwen initially refused but was persuaded. Soon after, Xiaoyu received her first order: a private message from Fulu Shouxian Nursing Home. They wanted a customized "Chongyang Festival Accompanying" event, requesting her team to chat and interact with the elders. Despite the limited budget, Xiaoyu accepted the order, prioritizing the establishment of their shop's reputation.
Xia Langlang was tasked with reporting the off-campus activity to their counselor, Mai Meng. When she went to his office, she found him with a beautiful young woman, leading to an initial misunderstanding. Mai Meng clarified that it was his cousin, who was preparing for the university's art entrance exam, and asked Langlang to show her around the campus. The entire team gathered to brainstorm activities for the nursing home visit. Xiaoyu's boyfriend, Zhou Yu, also joined to take photos.
Xiaoyu gave a rousing speech, urging everyone to see the nursing home as just the first step in a long journey, from which they would eventually expand their services to kindergartens. Various ideas, including massage, Tai-Chi sharing, cooking dumplings, and reading sessions, were proposed and dismissed. Eventually, Lei Dongqiang suggested playing mahjong with the elders. This plan, however, backfired spectacularly when Lei Dongqiang and Fan Qingzhou, being too skilled, won all the elders' money, particularly upsetting Hu Zhengfan.
Xiaoyu reprimanded them, but Fan Qingzhou defended their actions, stating that deliberately losing would be disrespectful to the elders' decades of mahjong experience, a sentiment surprisingly echoed by Lu Xuwen. With mahjong out of the question, Zhou Yu proposed a Karaoke love song duet contest.
During the contest, Hu Zhengfan, a former hotpot restaurant owner and singer from Xiaolongkan, Shapingba, known for his "Mohican hairstyle" in his youth, took the microphone and delivered an old song, captivating the elderly residents, though the atmosphere grew stiff. Xiaoyu, observing Hu Zhengfan, learned more about his past from a nurse. He had divorced young and raised his son alone, pouring all his energy into his hotpot business.
His son later left for college in Beijing and never returned to Chongqing. Hu Zhengfan, now alone, had moved into the nursing home more than two years prior, with no visits from his son. Xiaoyu noticed a marked date on his calendar, which she later learned was his grandson's first day of school. The nurse revealed that despite his quiet and somewhat reclusive demeanor, Hu Zhengfan secretly followed his son's and daughter-in-law's social media, indicating a hidden longing.
The nurse mused that Hu Zhengfan likely carried guilt over his son's upbringing due to the divorce and lack of parental presence, yet he also harbored unspoken grievances. Seeing Hu Zhengfan sitting alone, Xiaoyu was struck by a powerful resemblance to her own father. At that moment, Fan Debiao sent a message, informing Xiaoyu of his arrival in Chongqing at 11 AM the next morning and asking her to meet him at the Nanping Marriott to sign the insurance contract.
Xiaoyu, feeling a mix of anxiety and impatience, rushed to the hotel. After waiting for a long time in the lobby while her father was busy with a client, she eventually left, sending a curt message that she wouldn't wait if he was too busy. Later, Fan Debiao unexpectedly arrived at her school. Xiaoyu, softened by her observations of Hu Zhengfan's solitude, greeted her father with a newfound tenderness.
Fan Debiao apologized for not seeing her at the hotel and for his current wife's past behavior, acknowledging Xiaoyu's long-held resentment. Xiaoyu, in turn, voiced her concern that he might face a lonely old age like Grandpa Hu. She earnestly expressed her hope that her half-brother, Fan Mingyu, would not experience the same lack of paternal companionship she had and would grow up with his father by his side.
Deeply moved, Fan Debiao reaffirmed the importance of the insurance, not as a handout, but as a "small treasury" for her future, as his business was becoming increasingly challenging, and he worried about his long-term ability to care for her. Xiaoyu, though still asserting her independence, ultimately signed the insurance contract, demanding in return that he remain capable until she could be independent herself.
On the last day at the nursing home, the team decided to forgo elaborate activities and simply engage in genuine conversations with the elders. Remembering Hu Zhengfan's loneliness, Xiaoyu orchestrated a special surprise. She pretended to deliver a postcard from his son in Beijing. When Hu Zhengfan asked her to read its contents aloud, Xiaoyu, though nervous, read her own heartfelt words.
As she read, her father's face appeared in her mind, expressing understanding for the difficulties of balancing work and family, and hope for a new chapter beyond past hurts. Hu Zhengfan, recognizing Xiaoyu's thoughtful gesture, thanked her. Xiaoyu, gazing at his resilient face, bowed in return, silently grateful for the profound life lessons he had unknowingly provided. The team successfully completed their mission at the nursing home, leaving behind a group photo.
Later, as Fan Debiao was preparing to leave, Xiaoyu refused a card of money from him, reaffirming her commitment to self-reliance. She also gave him a thermos mug, urging him to prioritize his health over business engagements. Fan Debiao, appreciative, told her he would carry it everywhere and mentioned that a successful project meant he could visit Chongqing more often. Xiaoyu initially replied, "Not good, is it?" before adding, "Still fine."
Reflecting on her experience, Xiaoyu later recounted how Hu Zhengfan had finally attempted to contact his son, who, to his surprise, responded positively. She mused that people often magnify cracks in relationships with their closest kin while overlooking the steady flow of kindness. Parents often juggle so much for their children that their hands are too full for embraces, and likewise, clinging to the past prevents people from embracing the present. While love and care might sometimes be delayed, Xiaoyu resolved that, from that day forward, she would ensure such heartfelt connections would never be absent from her own life.
Episode 14 Recap
Lei Dongqiang brought Fan Qingzhou to meet Mr. Wang, who criticized their dating app for lacking a human touch. Mr. Wang suggested that they watch romantic movies and TV shows to understand people's interests and opinions, since he sensed they lacked real-life experience with profound love.
Lei Dongqiang immediately blamed Fan Xiaoyu, claiming that as the app's "Goddess of Splash Ad", she was not attractive enough, specifically that "she wore too much," suggesting she should take more revealing pictures to make users' hearts pound. Fan Xiaoyu vehemently disagreed, accusing Lei Dongqiang of blaming her for his own failures. As the two argued intensely, Fan Qingzhou tried to mediate, urging them to calm down, but his efforts only fueled their anger.
Lei Dongqiang complained about the pressure of securing investment while Fan Qingzhou only focused on coding, leading to a heated exchange about their responsibilities. Fan Xiaoyu also chimed in, defending Fan Qingzhou's coding role and questioning Lei Dongqiang's methods. Xia Langlang, Huangfu Shumin, and Yang Jiaqian watched the latest episode of Justin's new drama, "You or Her".
Both Huangfu Shumin and Xia Langlang were infuriated by Justin's "scumbag" character, who they felt was misleading Fang Jiaqi, while Yang Jiaqian staunchly defended her idol's acting as being true to the plot. When Huangfu Shumin called Zhou Yu and discovered he preferred the "scheming" character Liu Piaopiao, she immediately declared their breakup. After her phone call, the group went for a walk.
Yang Jiaqian spotted an announcement for an entrepreneurial design contest, which she immediately photographed and sent to Fan Qingzhou, realizing his team could participate if they had a current student member. Huangfu Shumin suggested Fan Xiaoyu could join their team, which made Yang Jiaqian hesitate, as she liked Fan Qingzhou and didn't want to hand such an opportunity to Fan Xiaoyu. Coincidentally, Fan Qingzhou and Lei Dongqiang were also watching popular romantic dramas to gather ideas for optimizing their app.
Seizing this opportunity, Yang Jiaqian spent an entire night compiling a detailed analysis of TV drama user preferences. The next morning, she presented her extensive findings to Lei Dongqiang and Fan Qingzhou. Lei Dongqiang initially downplayed her efforts, mentioning they had more comprehensive data and advising her not to waste time on such reports. He also expressed disinterest in the school contest due to the urgent need to revise the app for Mr. Wang.
However, Yang Jiaqian insisted they were qualified, having confirmed with the contest organizers that only one current student was needed. She volunteered to join their team and prepare the business plan for their app, "Try-it," allowing Fan Qingzhou and Lei Dongqiang to focus on the app's modifications. Lei Dongqiang, though initially wary of Yang Jiaqian's "overenthusiasm," eventually agreed to her joining after Fan Qingzhou found no issue with it.
The tension between Lei Dongqiang and Fan Qingzhou escalated as Lei Dongqiang continued to express frustration over the urgent investor deadline and Fan Qingzhou's focus on the school competition. Lei Dongqiang suggested a "crooked way" to win over Mr. Wang: having Fan Xiaoyu charm him during a dinner, leveraging her "inherent advantage as a woman" to secure the investment.
Fan Qingzhou vehemently opposed this, arguing it was unethical and that Fan Xiaoyu was a shareholder, not to be used in such a way. Their argument spiraled into a bitter fight, with Lei Dongqiang accusing Fan Qingzhou of undermining their efforts for a "trivial thing" and challenging his commitment to their success, ultimately storming off and telling Fan Qingzhou it was his call to either "give it a go or let all the efforts go down the drain."
Meanwhile, Yang Jiaqian's roommates praised her detailed project proposal, marveling at her dedication. Fan Qingzhou, overwhelmed with modifying the investor's plan, called Yang Jiaqian and entrusted her with leading the entire presentation for the upcoming competition, expressing his full trust in her ability to deliver a great pitch. Excited by his confidence, Yang Jiaqian felt a renewed surge of motivation.
Separately, Xia Langlang spotted Zhou Yu dropping off another girl and secretly took a photo, immediately sending it to Huangfu Shumin. Moments later, Zhou Yu received an angry message from Huangfu Shumin, making him smile wryly at her jealousy. The popular drama "You or Her" reached its climax, with both Huangfu Shumin and Yang Jiaqian shedding tears over the touching storyline where Justin's character finally chose Fang Jiaqi.
Yang Jiaqian eagerly shared her feelings with her fan group, who further encouraged her to bravely pursue her own love. Later, Fan Qingzhou invited Fan Xiaoyu to discuss ways to inject a "heart-pounding" feeling into their app for Mr. Wang, seeking her insights on what that sensation truly meant. Fan Xiaoyu jokingly replied that it might be "the feeling after running 800 meters."
Xia Langlang, unable to find the books she needed at the library, coincidentally met Mai Meng, who generously invited her to his dorm to borrow from his extensive collection. While there, Xia Langlang subtly swapped the position of one book, then quietly left with her chosen book, declining Mai Meng's offer to take more, citing the classical saying that "books are not read unless borrowed."
Yang Jiaqian meticulously rehearsed her pitch for the competition, recording herself repeatedly and refining every detail. Her roommates admired her dedication, noting that her efforts were sure to pay off. However, Fan Qingzhou called Fan Xiaoyu with distressing news: Yang Jiaqian's name had been accidentally omitted from the registration form due to Fan Qingzhou's oversight, for which he apologized profusely. Fan Xiaoyu was filled with guilt, realizing her earlier submission of the form contributed to this.
With Lei Dongqiang still missing and Fan Qingzhou prone to stammering under pressure, Yang Jiaqian would be unable to present. To ensure the team's hard work wasn't wasted, Yang Jiaqian selflessly ceded the presentation opportunity to Fan Xiaoyu. Fan Xiaoyu, though hesitant, accepted the challenge, taking Yang Jiaqian's meticulously annotated script and practicing diligently with her roommates. Despite making this sacrifice for the team's success, Yang Jiaqian watched Fan Xiaoyu practicing, her heart heavy with disappointment.
On the day of the contest, as Fan Xiaoyu took a deep breath and walked onto the stage, Yang Jiaqian watched from the audience, envisioning herself in that spotlight, knowing that her reality was different and she wouldn't be the one shining on stage. Just as Yang Jiaqian left the hall, she spotted Lei Dongqiang hesitating near the entrance. Yang Jiaqian immediately confronted him, expressing her surprise that he was there but not on stage.
Lei Dongqiang admitted he saw the presentation and felt too embarrassed to go up after Fan Qingzhou's moving speech. Yang Jiaqian then passionately urged him to overcome his embarrassment and join Fan Qingzhou, emphasizing that Fan Qingzhou was more worried about him than the competition itself, and was waiting for him.
During Fan Xiaoyu's presentation, she confidently introduced herself as "the face of our team," acknowledging the more technically-minded nature of Fan Qingzhou and Lei Dongqiang and making a lighthearted joke about male app developers. She then delivered a compelling pitch, built on Yang Jiaqian's carefully prepared materials, explaining their app's unique value. " Try-it" ultimately won the excellence award.
During his acceptance speech, Fan Qingzhou spoke emotionally about the app's origins, remembering his initial idea with Lei Dongqiang to create an app that would allow the whole world to understand them. He expressed his disappointment at Lei Dongqiang's absence, wishing they could share the stage together. At that moment, Lei Dongqiang walked onto the stage, much to Fan Qingzhou's surprise and delight. Fan Qingzhou embraced Lei Dongqiang tightly, then extended a big hug to Fan Xiaoyu.
The trio bowed to the cheering crowd as they accepted their award. Later, Fan Xiaoyu and her roommates celebrated their victory. Her friends praised her for preparing so well overnight, but Fan Xiaoyu attributed the success to Yang Jiaqian's meticulous work. When the topic of Lei Dongqiang's sudden appearance came up, her roommates assumed Fan Xiaoyu had angrily convinced him to return.
Yang Jiaqian remained silent, having spent the past few days tirelessly searching for Lei Dongqiang, eventually finding him at an internet cafe, convincing him to attend the contest, and then encouraging him to go on stage. Overwhelmed by her unacknowledged sacrifices, Yang Jiaqian declined Fan Xiaoyu's celebratory invitation and drink, retreating to the restroom. Later that night, Lei Dongqiang and Fan Qingzhou, reunited, drank until they were completely drunk.
After settling Lei Dongqiang back in their dorm, Fan Qingzhou sent a WeChat message to Fan Xiaoyu, thanking her for her help that day. He realized that in the moment he hugged Fan Xiaoyu on stage, his heart had pounded intensely. Fan Xiaoyu, seeing his message, also felt a strong flutter in her heart. Meanwhile, Yang Jiaqian hesitated over a confession message to Fan Qingzhou in her chatbox, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to send it.
In his drunken state, Lei Dongqiang jokingly suggested changing the app's name, claiming "Try-it" was unlucky and they needed something more romantic. After Lei Dongqiang was asleep, Fan Qingzhou, pondering all night with Fan Xiaoyu's face on his mind, decided to completely shut down "Try-it" to pursue new product optimization. Consequently, Yang Jiaqian's first ever confession, which she finally attempted to send, failed to deliver as the app was offline.
She realized that even with her intelligence, she couldn't always have her way, as there were many people she cared about. Later, Lei Dongqiang, while still slightly inebriated, confirmed to Fan Qingzhou that it was Yang Jiaqian, not Fan Xiaoyu, who had found him at the internet cafe and convinced him to come back for the competition, adding that Fan Xiaoyu had only sent him scolding messages.
Episode 15 Recap
As New Year's Eve approached, Yang Jiaqian, known as "Big sister" by her roommates and "Justfan Yang" within her fan community, was deeply involved in voting for her idol, Justin, for his upcoming New Year's Eve performance. She noted how Justin's new song, "A Canoe," even resonated with Fan Qingzhou's name. Fan Qingzhou’s application, which had recently transitioned from "Try-it" to "Little Table," received Jiaqian's enthusiastic support.
She proposed integrating "fandom culture" into "Little Table" to create a dedicated communication platform for fans, believing it would attract a large user base. Fan Qingzhou, however, was hesitant, and his friend Dongqiang openly expressed skepticism, implying that fans were not "smart people." Jiaqian defended the intelligence of fandom members, while Fan Qingzhou pondered her suggestion.
Despite his indecision, Jiaqian took it upon herself to distribute his flyers, and even their teacher, Mai Meng, offered to help, impressed by her dedication. Meanwhile, back in their dorm, Xia Langlang and Huangfu Shumin discussed the recent news that Justin was dating the actress who played Liu Piaopiao. They commiserated over Yang Jiaqian’s unrequited love for Fan Qingzhou, noting that Qingzhou seemed to only have eyes for Fan Xiaoyu.
They wished Xiaoyu didn't like Qingzhou, hoping it would give Jiaqian a chance. To their surprise, Fan Xiaoyu emerged from the restroom, revealing she had overheard their entire conversation. When directly asked if she liked Fan Qingzhou, Xiaoyu emphatically denied it, much to her friends' delight. They then concocted a plan: during the upcoming "Little Table" Christmas party at Zhou Yu’s café, Xiaoyu would personally inform Fan Qingzhou of Yang Jiaqian's feelings.
This dual strategy aimed to both help Jiaqian confess and explicitly signal Xiaoyu's own lack of romantic interest. Listening to their fervent discussion, Xiaoyu felt a growing sense of hesitation and unease. On Christmas night, the "Little Table" party commenced at Zhou Yu’s café. Fan Qingzhou delivered a speech, emphasizing the app's goal of building genuine connections and announcing a New Year's discount. Inside, Yang Jiaqian, seated nervously opposite Fan Qingzhou, was messaging her fan group about Justin.
As Fan Xiaoyu approached, she caught sight of Qingzhou and Jiaqian by the window. A wave of melancholy washed over her, and she decided not to enter. She texted her friends a false excuse about dancing with other friends. Alone on the street, Xiaoyu felt a profound sense of loneliness as she walked to a familiar street food stall. Unexpectedly, Fan Qingzhou appeared and joined her. Despite the festive atmosphere, an awkward silence settled between them.
Both lost in their thoughts, they drank until Xiaoyu, fueled by alcohol, remembered her roommates' words about Jiaqian's happiness. Taking a deep breath, a drunken Xiaoyu delivered what she believed was Jiaqian's confession, telling Qingzhou, "Big sister. . . likes you." Qingzhou was startled, having only clearly heard "likes you." He tried to get her to repeat herself, but Xiaoyu, overwhelmed by the alcohol, collapsed. Later, Xia Langlang and Huangfu Shumin retrieved an intoxicated Xiaoyu from a taxi.
Xiaoyu, with a triumphant grin, declared she had completed her mission. Meanwhile, Fan Qingzhou was left in a state of profound confusion, haunted by the question of whether Xiaoyu had just confessed her own feelings to him. The next morning, Yang Jiaqian woke up in a panic. She realized that while voting for Justin, she had accidentally used the university's Youth League Committee's official Weibo account.
Following a friend's advice, she quickly posted several more messages to make it appear as though the account had been hacked. Due to Jiaqian’s usually impeccable record, Mai Meng, who investigated the incident, was convinced it was indeed a hacking. As New Year's Eve approached, Fan Qingzhou called Fan Xiaoyu, inviting her to celebrate. Committed to her promise to Yang Jiaqian, Xiaoyu reluctantly declined, choosing to spend the evening in the dorm with Xia Langlang.
Qingzhou subsequently joined Dongqiang for a buffet dinner. Concurrently, Xia Langlang visited Mai Meng to borrow a book. Observing Langlang's quiet nature, Mai Meng encouraged her to be more social and offered her two deluxe buffet coupons. This led to Xia Langlang and Fan Xiaoyu unexpectedly encountering Fan Qingzhou and Dongqiang at the Dayou Restaurant. At the restaurant, Fan Qingzhou, still confused by Xiaoyu's drunken words, pulled her aside, determined to get a clear answer.
He asked if she remembered what she had said that night. Xiaoyu affirmed she did but tried to swiftly change the subject. Qingzhou pressed on, explicitly asking if she had been referring to "Big sister" when she spoke of liking someone. Xiaoyu finally confirmed that her words were indeed about Yang Jiaqian. A mix of amusement and disappointment crossed Qingzhou's face as the truth dawned on him.
As the New Year’s fireworks illuminated the sky with vibrant colors, Qingzhou turned to Xiaoyu and openly confessed his feelings for her. He saw past her carefully composed and restrained expression, understanding her true emotions. In a rare display of initiative, the usually cautious Qingzhou cupped Xiaoyu's face in his hands and kissed her deeply. For a moment, her long-suppressed feelings overwhelmed her, and she could not push him away.
However, immediately after the kiss, a wave of guilt washed over her, and Xiaoyu abruptly fled from his side. Unbeknownst to her roommates and the university, Yang Jiaqian had falsely claimed she would be with her mother for New Year's Eve. In reality, as the fervent head of Justin’s fan club, she attended his concert. Photos of her at the event soon surfaced on Weibo, causing a scandal within the university community.
A top student and student union leader was exposed as a "fangirl," becoming a public example of misguided behavior. Her lies led to the revocation of her postgraduate recommendation and scholarship. She faced harsh criticism from her teachers, including Mai Meng, and an uncompromising phone call from her mother, who, deeply disappointed, demanded she abandon her fangirling and earn her postgraduate degree through her own efforts. Heartbroken, Yang Jiaqian returned to her dorm, where her roommates tried to console her.
She broke down, tearfully confessing she was a "naive, starstruck, hypocritical fangirl." She passionately explained that during her challenging high school years, when everyone focused solely on her academic performance, only caring about her grades and demanding she be a role model, Justin’s music was her sole source of strength.
She felt that when she was tired and close to breaking, only listening to Justin’s songs gave her the power to continue, and that no one else cared about her true feelings or burdens. She stressed that only she understood how important he was to her. Her friends listened empathetically, offering comfort. Later, they bought a life-sized Justin body pillow and placed it on her bed as a gesture of support.
The next morning, waking beside the pillow, Jiaqian felt a renewed sense of empowerment from her idol. She looked at her sleeping friends, a grateful smile spreading across her face. Later, via phone call, she informed her fan friend, Justfan Hu, that she planned to have Justin’s fan club issue a statement declaring her an "undercover troll" to protect Justin from further negative publicity. Despite her mother's stern ultimatum, Jiaqian vowed to continue her unwavering support for Justin.
Episode 16 Recap
Fan Xiaoyu, unable to keep her secret any longer, confessed to Xia Langlang about Fan Qingzhou's declaration of love. Fan Xiaoyu admitted she had kept it a secret for a whole winter vacation and was dying to tell Xia Langlang in person. Xia Langlang then asked if they had "sealed their love with a kiss."
Fan Xiaoyu revealed she still hadn't told Yang Jiaqian, feeling like a bad friend for "stealing her friend's crush" and calling herself a "bad woman" and a "tourbillon." Xia Langlang consoled her, saying it wasn't stealing, but rather Fan Qingzhou choosing her. Fan Xiaoyu, however, insisted Fan Qingzhou was the "bad guy."
When asked how she planned to tell Yang Jiaqian, Fan Xiaoyu explained that she had tried many times but couldn't bring herself to do it because Yang Jiaqian was already "disqualified from the postgraduate recommendation" and "isn't acknowledged as her idol's fangirl anymore," fearing Yang Jiaqian would have a mental breakdown. Xia Langlang, observing Fan Xiaoyu's distress, remarked that "Karma is really a bitch," and she had never seen Fan Xiaoyu so timid.
The four roommates attended class, but not before Huangfu excitedly told them she'd found a Fengshui master online who revealed their dorm's "fengshui position to increase luck in love" to change her romantic misfortunes. Xia Langlang playfully said Huangfu didn't need it, given her sweet relationship with Zhou Yu. Huangfu retorted that everyone in the dorm was single, including Fan Xiaoyu, and she constantly quarreled with Zhou Yu, making her suspect the dorm's Fengshui.
She even joked to Xia Langlang that if they'd changed it sooner, Xia Langlang might have a child already, which Xia Langlang immediately rejected. Huangfu insisted she would set up the talisman for Yang Jiaqian, who was still holding onto her unrequited feelings for Fan Qingzhou amidst her other setbacks, and asked Xia Langlang for the "lucky position," which was southeast.
In class, Mai Meng, now the substitute professor for Professor Bai, lectured on the "Principle of Least Interest," explaining that the person less interested in a relationship holds more power. Xia Langlang listened intently, while Huangfu whispered to her that this was a sign the Fengshui was working, encouraging them to adopt the principle to gain control. Later, Xia Langlang visited Mai Meng at his dorm to return books, finding him struggling to pan-fry a fish.
She offered to help, demonstrating her cooking skills, which she learned from cooking for her mother. They shared the meal. During their meal, Zhou Yu was on the phone with Huangfu, telling her he loved listening to the same music as her and that her "big bright eyes" were his phone's screensaver. Afterwards, Xia Langlang asked to use Mai Meng's bathroom. There, she discovered various female accessories, including a headband, which immediately dampened her cheerful mood.
She quickly made an excuse about an unfinished paper and left, leaving Mai Meng puzzled by her sudden departure. Fan Qingzhou and Fan Xiaoyu were still struggling to find a way to tell Yang Jiaqian about their relationship. Fan Xiaoyu confessed to Xia Langlang that the secret was tormenting her, making it difficult to even look Yang Jiaqian in the eye.
She hadn't seen Fan Qingzhou in days because they both felt miserable being together while the issue with Yang Jiaqian remained unresolved. Xia Langlang promised to help them find a solution. Later, Xia Langlang and Huangfu subtly probed Yang Jiaqian's feelings. Huangfu expressed concern about Yang Jiaqian's persistent affection for Fan Qingzhou, and Xia Langlang agreed, noting Yang Jiaqian's desperate liking for someone who didn't reciprocate her feelings.
Yang Jiaqian admitted she knew Fan Qingzhou seemed to like Fan Xiaoyu, but firmly stated that as long as they weren't officially dating, she still believed she had a chance and wouldn't give up easily. Shortly after, Xia Langlang received a mysterious parcel containing a thermos cup with no sender information. Her roommates playfully speculated about its meaning, suggesting "together forever" or "you will never get me."
The next day in class, her classmates noticed that her new thermos cup was identical to the one Mai Meng was using. Xia Langlang tried to brush it off, attributing it to similar colors. During class, Mai Meng offered Xia Langlang a large collection of books, including professional texts and novels, that he had organized during his spring cleaning. He suggested she take them all, as she was always borrowing from him.
After bringing the two boxes of books back to the dorm, Huangfu teased Xia Langlang about being Mai Meng's favorite. Upon opening the boxes, Xia Langlang was surprised to find the pink rabbit-ear headband and a neck massager—the same female accessories she had seen in Mai Meng's bathroom. She quickly took a photo and sent it to him.
Mai Meng, startled, quickly replied that they were "free gifts from the supermarket" during a promotion, which he had no use for, so he included them with the books. Xia Langlang pondered his explanation but secretly tried on the rabbit-ear headband. Unable to enjoy their mutual affection due to the unresolved issue with Yang Jiaqian, Fan Qingzhou proposed a strategy to make Yang Jiaqian fall for someone else, even if it meant sacrificing his own image and making significant changes.
He was seen practicing calligraphy and attempting to embody a different persona to achieve this. Meanwhile, it was Zhou Yu and Huangfu's 300-day anniversary. Huangfu, dressed in a new dress, excitedly showed it to her roommates and explained the significance of celebrating every anniversary. She then went to a store and bought a pair of ergonomic, noise-canceling headphones in a "Love Voice" gift box for 3000 yuan, a limited edition gift for couples, to give to Zhou Yu.
However, when she arrived at the cafe, Zhou Yu was engrossed in a game with his friends, ignoring her calls and not even acknowledging her arrival. Huangfu was furious, scolding him for forgetting their anniversary and being more interested in games than her. She threatened to throw away the white dress he loved. Zhou Yu, realizing his mistake, immediately apologized, praising her dress and promising to make her his priority.
He then sweet-talked her, declaring her gift was the best and that he would only listen to her. Eventually, Huangfu's anger subsided. However, despite Fan Qingzhou's efforts to completely change his image and persona, Yang Jiaqian's deep affection for him remained unwavering, forcing him to brainstorm new and different approaches. Meanwhile, rushing to class, Xia Langlang was accidentally knocked down, resulting in her backpack breaking and her rented camera for her photography course getting damaged.
The camera repair costs were substantial, prompting her to consider taking on unsuitable part-time jobs like a "private escort service" or a "stuntwoman." She told Huangfu she couldn't gather the money quickly and planned to use a credit card for the first time. Unexpectedly, Mai Meng visited Xia Langlang's dorm and transferred a significant amount of money to her. Xia Langlang, thinking it was a mistake, questioned him.
Mai Meng explained that he had overheard Yang Jiaqian discussing Xia Langlang's financial predicament and didn't want her to be "chased by loan sharks." He offered to be her interest-free creditor, emphasizing that, like her, he also came from a modest background and had worked during college. He urged her to focus on her studies, as "talents, knowledge, and insight" were the true means for students from ordinary families to change their lives.
He admired her "strong adaptability and vitality," calling her "not pretentious or fragile," but advised her to "kindle your potential anywhere outside of classroom." He reiterated he could be her creditor until she got her first real salary. Xia Langlang was deeply touched by his extensive care, which included lending money and books. She thanked him, also mentioning the thermos cup he had given her. Mai Meng looked puzzled, asking, "What cup?"
He then explained that his thermos cup was a "free gift from the bank for applying for a credit card," and praised its "great heat preservation." Xia Langlang, realizing her misinterpretation of the cup's significance, felt a wave of embarrassment. While accompanying Zhou Yu and Xia Langlang to repair the camera lens, Huangfu was shocked to see Fan Xiaoyu and Fan Qingzhou walking together, holding hands. She was about to confront them, but Xia Langlang held her back.
Huangfu expressed deep concern for Yang Jiaqian's feelings, while Xia Langlang empathized with Fan Xiaoyu's difficult situation. Their differing perspectives clashed, and Huangfu reluctantly kept quiet for the moment. However, back in the dorm, seeing Yang Jiaqian's troubled expression, Huangfu couldn't bear it. She went to Zhou Yu, demanding the photo of Fan Qingzhou and Fan Xiaoyu as evidence to show Yang Jiaqian. Zhou Yu, who usually indulged Huangfu's requests, initially felt they should stay out of other people's affairs.
But when Huangfu insisted it was for Yang Jiaqian's sake, Zhou Yu, realizing he couldn't avoid the "mess," allowed her to search his laptop for the photo. As she searched, Huangfu stumbled upon numerous street photography photos of other women, many of them in white dresses. Enraged with jealousy, Huangfu deleted all the folders, provoking a furious outburst from Zhou Yu. His sudden anger terrified Huangfu.
She reflexively used her usual breakup threat, but Zhou Yu's stern gaze made her voice falter. He expressed his deep anger and fatigue, recounting all the sacrifices he had made for her, from listening to the same music and sending morning texts to celebrating all her "weird anniversaries" and tolerating her dramatic behavior. He told her that deleting his years of photos was "too far," and declared, "You want to break up? Let's break up."
Devastated and in tears, Huangfu stormed out of the cafe. She returned to the dorm, where, upon seeing Xia Langlang and her other roommates, she finally broke down, sobbing that Zhou Yu had broken up with her and she never wanted to like him again. This incident highlighted that while there might be countless reasons to dislike someone, love often defies logic.
Huangfu's threats of breaking up were actually a manifestation of her intense and serious affection, proving that in love, the "Principle of Least Interest" often crumbles under the weight of genuine emotion.
Episode 17 Recap
Yang Jiaqian had ordered two custom calligraphy brushes, which finally arrived. As she looked at the inscriptions, she imagined a poetic couplet, with the upper and lower lines subtly referencing her own name and Fan Qingzhou's, signifying their destined union. Fan Xiaoyu noticed the brushes as soon as she exited the restroom. When she informed Fan Qingzhou, he thought it wasn't a bad thing; in fact, it presented an opportunity to finally reveal the truth about their relationship.
Just as Fan Xiaoyu was getting a headache over the situation, Lei Zi emerged from the restroom, having overheard their entire conversation, making him another person privy to their secret. The university announced an activity called "Shout Out Loud," where students could publicly declare their secrets. Fan Xiaoyu encouraged Huangfu to use this chance to reconcile with Zhou Yu. This suggestion backfired, as Huangfu, already upset, blamed Fan Xiaoyu for her breakup with Zhou Yu.
She argued that if Fan Xiaoyu hadn't been secretly dating Fan Qingzhou, she and Zhou Yu wouldn't have fought. Fan Xiaoyu realized with despair that everyone already knew about her relationship with Fan Qingzhou. She consulted with Fan Qingzhou again to strategize. At that moment, Yang Jiaqian arrived, prompting Fan Xiaoyu to quickly hide in the restroom, leaving Fan Qingzhou to face Yang Jiaqian alone.
Just as Fan Xiaoyu anticipated, Yang Jiaqian presented Fan Qingzhou with the custom brushes, their shared sentiment embedded in the couplet she had crafted. The usually reserved Fan Qingzhou stammered, confessing his feelings for Fan Xiaoyu, but failed to mention that they were already a couple. Yang Jiaqian misinterpreted his hesitation, believing he, like her, was a timid soul secretly in love. Driven by a renewed determination, she decided to persist in her pursuit of Fan Qingzhou.
This turn of events left all those aware of the situation, along with Fan Qingzhou and Fan Xiaoyu, in renewed distress. To resolve the predicament and help Yang Jiaqian, everyone secretly formed a group chat called "Saving Big Sister Group." Fan Xiaoyu and the others gathered at Zhou Yu's restaurant to discuss their strategy. Coincidentally, Yang Jiaqian called Xia Langlang, who, in her haste after the call, forgot to hang up. As a result, Yang Jiaqian overheard their entire discussion.
With tear-filled eyes, she rushed to the café, where she saw the group sitting around a long table. Yang Jiaqian realized she had been kept in the dark like a fool. Overwhelmed by sadness, she felt self-pity and anger as she walked alone on the street. Later, when she shared her experience with Justin's manager, Ms. Dan, a few words from Ms. Dan helped Yang Jiaqian understand that her friends' intentions were not malicious.
As the "Shout Out Loud" event began, Xia Langlang was still worried about who would participate. Suddenly, everyone looked up to see Yang Jiaqian on stage. Looking at the crowd below, small as ants, Yang Jiaqian bravely declared her love for Fan Qingzhou. Other students in the audience began to cheer, causing Fan Xiaoyu and Fan Qingzhou's expressions to grow solemn. Then, Yang Jiaqian's tone shifted.
She announced that from that day forward, she would let go of Fan Qingzhou and wished him happiness in his future life. Fan Xiaoyu listened, then turned and walked away, feeling petty compared to Yang Jiaqian's graceful acceptance. After the event, Fan Xiaoyu found Yang Jiaqian sitting alone at a barbecue stall. Fan Xiaoyu joined her, and they sat in silence.
After a few beers, Fan Xiaoyu finally found the courage to express her heartfelt apologies, crying as she did so. Yang Jiaqian understood that matters of the heart have no right or wrong, and she held no resentment towards Fan Xiaoyu. That night, Fan Xiaoyu and Yang Jiaqian truly connected and understood each other. Meanwhile, Justin watched the university event broadcast on television, where a girl was bravely speaking her heart.
Justin immediately recognized her as his number one fan, Misi Yang. Ms. Dan, sitting beside him, sighed, asking how long he planned to continue chatting with Yang Jiaqian using her account. Without a word, Justin took his phone back, gazing at the radiant Yang Jiaqian on the screen, and continued typing messages to her. Later, Yang Jiaqian changed her fan alias to "Misi Y," explaining that "Y" not only stood for Yang but also represented "I miss you."
Episode 18 Recap
Huangfu's mother called her "Baby girl," asking about her flight arrangements home and promising to make her favorite Stir-fried Shredded Eel with Hot Oil. However, Huangfu informed her mother that she wouldn't be returning home for the summer, opting instead to take a Latin dance class near her school. Her mother, who hadn't seen her daughter in six months and missed her dearly, insisted that Latin dance could be learned anywhere and urged Huangfu to come back to Shanghai.
Huangfu dismissively reminded her mother that they video-chatted daily. Later, Xia Langlang entered, cheerfully greeting Huangfu's mother and mentioning that she, Fan Xiaoyu, and others were planning an outing to Fan Xiaoyu's father's resort in the suburbs the next day. This revelation immediately heightened Huangfu's mother's anxiety. She warned Huangfu about the dangers of traveling to the suburbs, citing news reports of bus accidents and the risk of landslides in Chongqing's mountainous, rainy region.
She also brought up Huangfu's premature birth, calling her "congenitally deficient" and recalling her month-long stay in an incubator. Huangfu, frustrated, quickly hung up the phone and then angrily retorted to Xia Langlang, "Xia Langlang, you're the one who's congenitally deficient!" Xia Langlang then asked Huangfu if she would mind Zhou Yu joining them for the outing to take photos. Huangfu pretended indifference, but a subtle smile played on her lips, betraying her true feelings.
The next day, on the school bus, Huangfu and Zhou Yu's eyes met, creating an awkward silence. Observing the scene, Xia Langlang and Yang Jiaqian exchanged smiles, secretly hoping the outing would help the two reconcile. At the beautiful resort, Fan Xiaoyu praised her father's venue and thanked him for the invitation. After taking group photos by a peacock, Huangfu asked Zhou Yu to take some solo shots of her. However, Zhou Yu deliberately took blurry photos, teasing her.
When Yang Jiaqian received the photos, she exclaimed, "What's this? Why is mine so blurred?" She showed Huangfu the photos where Huangfu was clearly out of focus. Huangfu, annoyed, then joined Yang Jiaqian, Xia Langlang, and Fan Xiaoyu to order food in a private room, leaving Zhou Yu behind.
While looking at the menu, Huangfu expressed her disgust for chufa juice, recounting how her mother used to force her to drink it daily as a child until she developed a "physiological reaction" to the word "chufa." She also complained about her mother's "dozens of super-long 60-second voice messages every day."
Yang Jiaqian then revealed that Huangfu's mother not only bombarded Huangfu but also them, frequently sending WeChat messages to inquire about Huangfu's well-being and suggesting she should install "surveillance in our dorm so she could monitor you real-time." Huangfu was utterly shocked and embarrassed to learn her mother had been contacting her friends. As the weather turned rainy, their phones ran out of battery.
Yang Jiaqian received an urgent call from Mr. Mai, who informed her that Huangfu's father couldn't reach Huangfu because her mother was sick. Mr. Mai asked Yang Jiaqian to tell Huangfu to return home immediately. Huangfu's father also asked to keep the information from her mother, whom he described as "sensitive," and implored Huangfu to "be happy in front of her" to maintain her mother's spirits, as her mood could affect the treatment's outcome.
On the bus ride home, Huangfu stared out the window, her mind racing with worry and suspicion. Her roommates expressed their concern. Zhou Yu attempted to comfort her, but Huangfu silently rebuffed his advances. Taking the first available flight, Huangfu arrived home to find her mother waiting at the door, embracing her tightly and expressing immense joy, saying her "sixth sense told me that my baby girl was coming home!"
Her mother's usual incessant chatter quickly resumed, recalling her worries about Chongqing's heavy rain. Huangfu noticed her mother wearing a discarded dress of hers, which her mother proudly declared "this little floral pattern flatters me." Huangfu's mother continued to worry about Huangfu's weight, believing she was "emaciated" from dieting. As her mother bustled around, Huangfu noticed her slowing down, and her mother commented on her recent lack of stamina.
Huangfu offered to clean the cooker hood, a task her father joked she usually made "look like a painted face." Her mother was surprised by Huangfu's sudden initiative, remarking, "You suddenly became so sensible. Somehow mom feels it weird." Later, while her mother was cooking, Huangfu asked her father about her mother's condition. He explained that a CT scan revealed lung tumors, and due to their location, surgery was not an option, and chemotherapy was the only treatment.
He reiterated his imploration to Huangfu to keep the diagnosis a secret from his "sensitive" wife and "be happy in front of her" to maintain her mother's spirits, as her mood could affect the treatment's outcome. Huangfu, filled with worry, reluctantly nodded. The next day, Huangfu went to the hospital alone to complete her mother Ruan Jinhong's admission procedures.
She requested the doctor keep the diagnosis of "Stage IV of poorly differentiated lung cancer" a secret from her mother, emphasizing that her mother's mood was crucial for the treatment. The doctor agreed to cooperate. At this time, her mother still believed it was a minor illness and was excitedly talking on the phone with friends. After the evening rounds, Huangfu secretly came out of the hospital bathroom and squeezed onto the bed with her mother.
They talked about childhood memories, and Huangfu felt her mother's heartbeat, her thoughts drifting out the window. Upon returning home, Huangfu was startled to find Zhou Yu sitting with her parents, being barraged with questions about his photography major, career prospects, and past relationships. Zhou Yu, flustered, tried to answer, eventually declaring he was "honored" to be Huangfu's "first love."
Her mother even inquired about his family's financial status, mistakenly thinking his parents were divorced when he mentioned they each owned a house. Zhou Yu clarified he was an "only child" and his family owned multiple properties. Huangfu, seeing Zhou Yu overwhelmed, quickly found an excuse to take him away. Outside, Huangfu broke down, confiding in Zhou Yu about her guilt and helplessness.
She recounted her first failed attempt to cook steamed egg custard for her mother, admitting she "didn't even know how to cook steamed egg custard for my mother," and realizing she didn't even know what her mother liked to eat. Zhou Yu, who had been staying at a nearby hotel to support her, brought an array of health supplements and lemons (as air fresheners) for her mother.
During a visit to the hospital, he learned that Huangfu's mother had a craving for sweets and, with a pinky swear, promised to bring her some White Rabbit Toffee, keeping it a secret between them. After the first course of chemotherapy, Huangfu's mother was discharged from the hospital. To celebrate, Zhou Yu learned Shanghai-style Mahjong, playing with "small bets" (five cents and one yuan) and deliberately losing to ensure Huangfu's mother enjoyed her win.
The next morning, Huangfu discovered Zhou Yu in the kitchen, diligently learning her mother's recipes, which included ingredients like chufa, sugarcane, red dates, and ginger shreds. Her mother shared life advice with Zhou Yu, likening a relationship to the blend of ingredients, emphasizing the need to "tolerate each other and make compromises sometimes" to "become a family" and "spend life together."
She also confided in Zhou Yu, describing Huangfu's flaws (delicate, willful, prone to tantrums) and asking him that if "one day that you don't want to tolerate her and you don't want to maintain this relationship anymore, please break up with her nicely and try not to hurt her feelings as much as you can." Huangfu, overhearing this, felt a mix of emotions, a bit melancholic.
Later, during a family outing to the park, Huangfu's mother reminisced about Huangfu's childhood, recalling how Huangfu happily ran around the park and once insisted on feeding fish from a bench, much to her mother's alarm. While her father and Zhou Yu went to buy popsicles, her mother held Huangfu's hand. She apologized for being "overprotecting" and expressed relief in Huangfu's newfound maturity.
She then revealed that she had known about her lung cancer diagnosis all along, having experienced a similar situation when nursing her own mother through cancer. She admitted to feeling "not resigned to die yet," longing to witness Huangfu's graduation, marriage, and the birth of her grandchildren, promising to "stick to it to the end." She also urged Huangfu to spend more time with her father. Huangfu, still in denial, told her mother, "You are his wife.
You should keep him company, and keep him company for a long time." Her mother then playfully recounted how Zhou Yu had boasted about owning five houses in Chongqing, expressing her desire to visit and see if he was telling the truth. At the memorial service, Huangfu's father, overwhelmed with grief, was unable to deliver his eulogy.
He managed to say that he and his wife "got married when we were both poor and we've been spending the next twenty-six years together" and that because of her, "Our family always had suitable clothes at home and food on the table." Huangfu stepped forward, taking the microphone. She tearfully shared anecdotes about her mother, admitting her own "Princess's Syndrome" was "inherited from my mother."
She described her mother's quick temper – how she would get angry if Huangfu didn't drink her chufa juice, return calls, or come home for holidays – but also her easy forgiveness. Huangfu affectionately recalled her mother's love for gossip, her joy in cooking a feast for her and her father, and her insistence on compliments, even if the food was "a bit too salty" or had "no taste at all."
She also remembered her mother's domineering habits, such as never knocking before entering her room and "forcing me to wear long johns" every fall. Through her tears, Huangfu confessed that it was only yesterday she truly understood that the "person who loved me most in this world was going to leave me forever," and how truly difficult that was. She concluded with a poignant thought: "No one would force me to wear long johns anymore."
Friends and relatives bowed in respect. Zhou Yu, his expression solemn, placed a White Rabbit Toffee in front of her mother's portrait, honoring their secret promise. In the quiet aftermath of the funeral, Huangfu found Zhou Yu in the kitchen, meticulously learning to cook Stir-fried Shredded Eel with Hot Oil from a recipe. She then saw her father standing silently on the balcony.
Her father told her, "Nannan, from now on, it'll just be the two of us, depending on each other." Remembering her mother's parting words about taking care of her father, Huangfu embraced him tightly. Despite realizing she never truly knew her mother's favorite dish, Huangfu found comfort in listening to her mother's old voice messages saved on her phone, pressing the receiver tightly to her ear, feeling as though her mother's love was still ever-present.
The junior year's summer vacation marked the "hardest farewell" for Huangfu, and "that proud and innocent little princess seemed to have grown up overnight." As her senior year began, Huangfu resolved to embark on a new chapter, continuing to find solace in her mother's recorded voice whenever she missed her.
Back at school, during a conversation with her roommates, Huangfu broke down in tears, lamenting that she had not had the chance to ask her mother what she truly liked to eat before she passed, as she finally processed the profound loss.
Episode 19 Recap
The dormmates buzzed with curiosity after noticing Fan Qingzhou's ex-girlfriend, Tang Wanqi, consistently liking his social media posts. They quickly scrolled through her pictures, concluding that her looks were not to be underestimated. Fan Xiaoyu, feeling a surge of insecurity, sought out Dongqiang to inquire about Tang Wanqi. Dongqiang, seemingly smitten, praised Tang Wanqi endlessly, describing her as gentle, intellectual, and wise, with a temperament reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn.
He added that she had pursued postgraduate studies at Tsinghua University and was highly regarded there. Xiaoyu's unease escalated when she saw Tang Wanqi’s social media post confirming her arrival in Chongqing. The roommates collectively declared a state of emergency, rallying to Xiaoyu’s side, vowing to "punish those who hurt their roommates." During a date with Fan Qingzhou, Xiaoyu subtly probed about his past relationships, specifically mentioning ideal types.
Fan Qingzhou, a bit oblivious, initially suggested Madame Curie as an academic ideal, then complimented Xiaoyu's beauty. When Xiaoyu expressed a desire for more public displays of affection, he reluctantly agreed. Eventually, Xiaoyu directly asked about Tang Wanqi, learning she was Fan Qingzhou's first love and they broke up after graduation because they "weren't for each other."
Despite Xiaoyu’s persistent questions about whether he still thought of her, Fan Qingzhou dismissed the topic, stating Tang Wanqi was "already history" and irrelevant to their relationship. Xiaoyu perceived his dismissal as avoidance. The conversation ended with Fan Qingzhou mentioning a university classmate reunion that weekend, which immediately reignited Xiaoyu's anxiety. Determined to prevent Fan Qingzhou from attending the reunion, Xiaoyu pleaded with him to accompany her to a career guidance lecture, emphasizing its crucial importance to her future.
Fan Qingzhou agreed, promising to meet her at the auditorium. To Xiaoyu's horror, the featured speaker at the event turned out to be Tang Wanqi, who, as an accomplished alumna with a PhD from Tsinghua, eloquently shared her journey and achievements.
Tang Wanqi spoke of leaving Chongqing for Beijing, the challenges she faced as one of only three female students in her computer science department, and how she and her two female classmates, "the Three Hotties," each earned the Tsinghua Special Scholarship. She reminisced about her youth, old friends, and former love in Chongqing, concluding with inspiring words about pursuing dreams. Overwhelmed by Tang Wanqi's brilliance, a disheartened Xiaoyu quietly slipped out of the lecture.
Fan Qingzhou followed, sensing her distress, and offered to skip the reunion to have dinner with her instead. They decided to get Chongqing's famous spicy noodles. As they were about to leave, they encountered Tang Wanqi, who gracefully introduced herself to Xiaoyu and extended an invitation for them to join the reunion. Wanting to appear gracious, Xiaoyu reluctantly accepted. At the reunion, Fan Qingzhou made a point of formally introducing Xiaoyu as his girlfriend to everyone.
The evening proceeded until Tang Wanqi sought to introduce Fan Qingzhou and Dongqiang to her boss, hoping to provide them with greater opportunities. Uneasy, Xiaoyu followed, and seeing Fan Qingzhou and Tang Wanqi engaged in close conversation at the table, she feigned a sneeze. Fan Qingzhou immediately attended to her, removing his jacket and draping it over her shoulders, offering a small measure of reassurance.
Meanwhile, at the coffee shop where Xia Langlang worked, her colleague Bin showed her special attention. He would discreetly store her postgraduate entrance exam study materials to avoid their manager, Ms. Ni, discovering them. He also tried to invite Xia Langlang to a movie, but she cited her exam preparations. Knowing her birthday was approaching, Bin surprised her with an early gift and wished her a happy birthday, making her the first person to do so that year.
Despite Bin's kindness, Xia Langlang remained preoccupied with Mai Meng, having decided to pursue postgraduate studies solely for him. She called Mai Meng to discuss her exam plans, but he scolded her for working part-time instead of focusing on her studies. He warned her against being distracted, urging her to think long-term and make her own choices.
Xia Langlang later confided in Xiaoyu, confessing that she couldn't forget Mai Meng and all her future decisions revolved around him, even though she knew it was futile. Xiaoyu advised her to let go of this "mirage" and embrace a real relationship. Influenced by Xiaoyu, Xia Langlang considered Bin’s invitation. However, Mai Meng then messaged her, offering to meet and discuss her exam, pulling her back into his orbit.
Later, a phone call to her family revealed that her mother had taken on an additional job to save money for Xia Langlang's postgraduate studies. This news plunged Xia Langlang into despair, making her despise herself for her "self-willed" choices. Xiaoyu, overhearing this, expressed her own self-loathing, questioning how they had both become so lost and listless. Consumed by suspicion, Xiaoyu went directly to Fan Qingzhou's apartment after he failed to answer her calls.
She overheard Tang Wanqi's voice and what sounded like a nostalgic and intimate conversation about calligraphy, followed by a discussion about something to be "resolved as soon as possible." Convinced of infidelity, Xiaoyu burst into the apartment like a "crazy woman," accusing them of being alone together and having an affair.
Dongqiang, emerging from the bathroom, clarified the situation: Tang Wanqi had simply been discussing a work opportunity with Fan Qingzhou and Dongqiang, trying to persuade them to join a larger company, an offer Fan Qingzhou had already declined but hadn't yet told Xiaoyu about. Fan Qingzhou explained his phone was charging, which was why he missed her calls.
Mortified by her rash behavior, Xiaoyu fled in embarrassment, returning to the dorm to weep to Xia Langlang, recounting the humiliating incident and her deep-seated insecurities. She also regretted changing her hairstyle to match Tang Wanqi's "fake black long straight style" and expressed her frustration about Fan Qingzhou's dismissive emoji response. After a night of self-reflection, Xiaoyu realized that her own insecurity and jealousy had distorted her perception and behavior.
The next day, she invited Fan Qingzhou to lunch, where she sincerely apologized for her unfounded accusations and general distrust, acknowledging that her lack of self-confidence had poisoned their relationship. Fan Qingzhou gently laughed, comparing her to a self-critiquing elementary student, and reassured her that everyone has flaws, but his affection for her was unwavering.
Xiaoyu then invited Tang Wanqi to join them, offering a heartfelt apology for her behavior and treating her to spicy noodles as a farewell before Tang Wanqi’s flight back to Beijing. Tang Wanqi graciously accepted the apology and clarified her intentions to Xiaoyu, explaining her genuine desire to help Fan Qingzhou and Dongqiang find success on bigger platforms. With all misunderstandings cleared, Xiaoyu felt a newfound lightness.
Fan Qingzhou presented her with a unique, handmade doll that he said resembled her "puffed up" hair when she got angry, affectionately adding that Tang Wanqi's biggest flaw was simply not being Fan Xiaoyu. Inspired by her journey, Xiaoyu reflected that she had not lost herself in the process. Xia Langlang, witnessing this resolution, also made a decisive change. She informed Mai Meng that she would no longer pursue postgraduate studies and would instead seek a job.
She resolved to listen only to her inner voice, no longer relying on external opinions or seeking validation for her choices. As an unrelated side note much later, Dongqiang asked Fan Qingzhou for Ruiyang's phone number. When Fan Qingzhou told him to use his phone, Dongqiang tried to unlock it. He first guessed the password was his own birthday, "Six one eight zero," but quickly corrected himself, stating his actual birthday was "August 16th."
The phone screen briefly displayed the attempted passwords "Six one eight zero" and "Zero eight one six," leaving Xiaoyu to wonder aloud whose birthday the original password "Six one eight zero" might be.
Episode 20 Recap
Xia Langlang began her internship at Southwest Press after deciding not to pursue postgraduate studies, a decision that prompted her to challenge herself. The press maintained a rapid work pace, and her supervisor, Zhang Yuan, appeared strict and distant. However, none of this deterred Xia Langlang. Upon her arrival, interns were typically assigned menial tasks like serving tea and making copies.
Later, back in her dorm, Xia Langlang learned that Yang Jiaqian had been recruited by a variety show production company to work as a talent liaison. Yang Jiaqian also mentioned encountering Mai Meng, who inquired about Xia Langlang's decision regarding her postgraduate exam plans. Xia Langlang, however, was no longer concerned about Mai Meng's opinion, stating she didn't need to explain anything to him and was focused on becoming a permanent employee at the press.
Yang Jiaqian admitted she wasn't truly eager to take the exam but felt pressured by her mother, who was "pushing me like a KGB." She was now a bit nervous about her new role. The next day, Xia Langlang was assigned to research historical flood data for the Southwest region, from the late Qing Dynasty to the present, year by year. She took the initiative to pre-screen and organize the information into a chart, hoping to save Zhang Yuan time.
Instead, Zhang Yuan severely reprimanded her, asking, "Do you know what it means to 'find' information? Who told you to pre-screen it? How do you know the information you deleted is meaningless?" He accused interns of trying to "run before they could walk" and questioned how she got the internship.
When Xia Langlang defended herself by saying she got it through "my hard work," Zhang Yuan dismissed it as "worthless" if done without critical thinking, pointing out that everyone works hard. He then challenged her to "show me how different you are" and reassigned her to handle hotline calls from 8 AM to 8 PM, with strict instructions not to miss any calls or messages.
Xia Langlang worked tirelessly on the hotline, even assisting a caller with a leaking bathroom by offering to contact property management on their behalf, realizing that these calls could potentially lead to significant news stories. After her shift, Xia Langlang saw Mai Meng talking with Zhang Yuan. Mai Meng revealed that Zhang Yuan was an alumnus of their university, their "Big Brother."
Xia Langlang, surprised, complained about Zhang Yuan's temper and how he "reprimanded by him all the time," including her demotion to hotline duty. Mai Meng, however, shared that Zhang Yuan had actually spoken highly of her, noting that "this year's interns are all very good. Especially a junior from Sichuan Media University. . . She has the courage to talk back to him." Mai Meng also reminded her that Zhang Yuan himself began his career by answering hotlines.
Feeling a surge of energy, Xia Langlang declared herself "as tough as a cockroach," vowing to "fight my way back to the office" and prove herself. Mai Meng advised her that building trust required "accumulating it little by little." He again asked if she had firmly decided about the postgraduate exam, and she confirmed her decision. Later, the renowned photographer Robert arrived in Chongqing for a visit.
Zhang Yuan had initially assigned male interns, Xu Rui and Wang Zhe, to assist Robert, but they quickly withdrew, citing the heavy equipment and Robert's relentless pace. Wang Zhe described Robert as "terrifying," complaining his "back hurt badly" after just one day. Zhang Yuan then turned to Xia Langlang, inquiring about her English proficiency. When she confirmed she had passed CET-6 in her sophomore year, he assigned her the role.
Upon meeting Robert, he expressed concern about the weight of his gear, but Xia Langlang confidently assured him, "Yes, I'm strong." Faced with the challenging task, she had an idea and hired Old Zhao, a "Bangbang" (a traditional Chongqing porter), to help carry Robert's equipment. After some negotiation, Old Zhao agreed to work for 100 yuan. Robert initially seemed unsure about trusting a Bangbang, but Xia Langlang explained that it was a "typical profession in Chongqing."
Exhausted and tanned from the demanding day, Xia Langlang returned to her dorm, feeling disheartened. She told her roommates she felt like she was "holding a bad deck of cards" and "can't turn the table." Her friends tried to comfort her. Despite her fatigue, Xia Langlang returned the next morning, surprising Robert, who noted she was "the only one who came on the second day" and praised her strength.
After their work together, Robert complimented her as "very kind-hearted and helpful" and expressed confidence that he had captured some "good ones" for his photos, thanking her. He even joked that she could become a "great Bangbang." Zhang Yuan announced the start of the internship's elimination phase, where only two interns would be offered permanent positions, and the two interns ranked last would be eliminated. The theme for their monthly feature challenge was "People and City."
Xia Langlang discovered she was currently ranked last. Her dorm mates offered various ideas for topics, from interviewing a "high-quality idol" to investigating "Chongqing's plastic surgery market" or "Fujian businessmen in Chongqing," with some even offering family connections. Inspired by her previous encounter, Xia Langlang decided to write about Old Zhao, the Bangbang. She went to find him, bringing him fruit and cigarettes, and later treating him to lunch.
Old Zhao initially downplayed his life, stating, "Ordinary people like us don't have a wonderful story." He eventually shared that he worked as a Bangbang primarily to earn money for his daughter's education, who was studying in "Chongqing University Town." He also spoke about the decline of his profession due to "express delivery and escalators," noting that many of his colleagues had returned to their hometowns.
Despite the challenges, he insisted he would "keep going" to support his daughter, even if she pursued a doctoral degree. He firmly believed that "as long as the slopes of Chongqing are still there, we the Bangbangs will not be extinct." Zhang Yuan reviewed Xia Langlang's initial draft, titled "Zhao the Bangbang," finding it "superficial" and "lacking depth." He urged her to revise it promptly.
Working late, Xia Langlang received a text from Bin, a male acquaintance, asking to meet for dinner near her office. She declined, stating she was "working overtime," and later sent him a voice message privately acknowledging that she needed to "make it clear" that she wasn't interested in seeing him and had already gone back to school.
Xia Langlang felt increasingly disheartened as she saw other interns, like Wang Zhe, achieving high scores by leveraging family connections for their topics, such as interviewing the CEO of Yangfan Group, who was Wang Zhe's father's high school classmate, or another intern whose sister helped secure a story on "environmental protection guards." Feeling isolated and defeated, she told Mai Meng, who found her after a meeting at the press, that she was "working overtime," though she was not.
He confronted her about her low ranking, having learned it from Zhang Yuan. Xia Langlang's pessimism grew, expressing that "maybe I'm not cut out for a journalist" and that her "four years of college were in vain." She felt she was "holding the worst cards," unlike her peers. Mai Meng tried to encourage her, insisting "no hard work will go in vain."
Xia Langlang, agitated, asked him to leave her alone, lamenting her long "persistence" and the immense effort she had made "to let go of someone and move on." Mai Meng retorted, "How do you know that I don't know?" Later, Mai Meng sent her an encouraging text, reminding her that "the Xia Langlang I know. . . can always overcome all obstacles."
The next morning, Xia Langlang brought Old Zhao breakfast and asked to spend the day with him, simply observing his life. She witnessed him celebrating his daughter's achievement of a "First-class scholarship" by treating his fellow Bangbangs to a "fifteen-yuan set meal." This moment was a revelation for Xia Langlang, making her realize that "true effort is to work hard without concerning themselves about the temporary return. Only by keep running can your effort be seen by God."
Inspired, she contacted Robert, asking for permission to use his "photos of Bangbang in my article," which he gladly granted. Despite facing setbacks, Xia Langlang persevered, understanding that "she still stands a chance to win the game as long as she keeps playing." Her revised article, "The Disappearing Bangbang," which featured Robert's photographs, earned her the top score in the monthly assessment.
Her colleagues celebrated, noting she was the first intern to publish a long feature and praising her for securing photos from a renowned photographer like Robert. Mai Meng also saw the published article, filled with pride, and secretly tucked away the newspaper for safekeeping.
Episode 21 Recap
Huangfu Shumin found herself struggling with her thesis topic. After observing the "Black July" phenomenon of couples breaking up, she decided to focus her research on whether college couples break up after graduation, a topic which was subsequently approved by her professor. When asked about her own future plans, she admitted that she would most likely return to Shanghai.
Meanwhile, her roommates discussed how out of ten college couples, nine had already broken up, and the last one was in the process of breaking up, noting that only Huangfu Shumin and another couple were still together. On the day of Huangfu Shumin's father's arrival in Chongqing, she attended a topic selection meeting for her thesis. Afterwards, she went to pick up her father with Zhou Yu. Her father commended Zhou Yu's thoughtfulness in picking him up.
They then proceeded to meet Zhou Yu's family for dinner, a formal occasion that made Huangfu Shumin nervous. Zhou Yu's family, including his grandparents and parents, extended a warm welcome to Huangfu Shumin's father. Despite the enthusiasm, Huangfu Shumin's father, accustomed to Shanghai cuisine, found the spicy Chongqing hotpot challenging, though he politely endured it. Zhou Yu suggested switching to a non-spicy soup, but his father insisted they taste the authentic local flavor.
Throughout the dinner, Zhou Yu’s family enthusiastically encouraged Huangfu Shumin’s father to retire and move to Chongqing, even offering multiple apartments. The conversation also veered into the topic of children, with Zhou Yu’s grandmother expressing hopes for great-grandchildren, which left Huangfu Shumin feeling extremely awkward. After dinner, Huangfu Shumin and Zhou Yu continued their conversation.
Huangfu Shumin chastised Zhou Yu for implicitly encouraging her father to move to Chongqing and for the embarrassing baby talk, suspecting he had colluded with his family. Zhou Yu denied it, explaining his family simply couldn't stop talking once they started. Huangfu Shumin then firmly declared that her father would not be moving to Chongqing. Zhou Yu countered, arguing that her father would be less lonely with them, highlighting his parents' hospitality.
This discussion revealed a hidden tension regarding their post-graduation plans. Over the next few days, Zhou Yu took Huangfu Shumin and her father sightseeing around Chongqing. During a break, Huangfu Shumin’s father spoke of his retirement dream to travel all over China, joking about needing to learn to swim. Zhou Yu eagerly offered to teach him if he moved to Chongqing, further reinforcing the idea.
Later, while admiring the city's night view, Huangfu Shumin’s father inquired about her remote internship with a Shanghai company, noting her plan to report to the Shanghai office after graduation. He also asked Zhou Yu about his advertising internship in Chongqing, where his boss was a family friend, praising his ambition to succeed without pulling strings. He observed that Chongqing was developing well, with high demand in the advertising sector, seemingly implying a future for Zhou Yu there.
After dropping her father off at the hotel, Huangfu Shumin directly confronted Zhou Yu about their future. She reiterated her intention to return to Shanghai. Zhou Yu tried to persuade her to stay in Chongqing, suggesting they could bring her father to live with them or nearby. He emphasized her enjoyment of Chongqing, their shared four years there, their friends, and the high cost of living and competition in Shanghai.
Huangfu Shumin, however, explained that her desire to return to Shanghai was not about disliking Chongqing, but about not leaving her father alone, especially as her mother’s grave was in Shanghai. She stated that her father would never leave Shanghai. The conversation escalated, with Huangfu Shumin asserting that the issue was not a "trifle" for her, and she was determined to return. A rift began to form between the couple.
During these days, Xia Langlang was deeply contemplating Mai Meng’s earlier words. She messaged him, asking to meet to discuss something. Back at the dorm, Huangfu Shumin confided in Xia Langlang about her argument with Zhou Yu. She felt like she had "dug her own grave" by choosing her thesis topic, realizing she was now a "living example."
She reflected on how she, who used to be quick to suggest breaking up, was now calm and mature, but felt that sometimes they were still just children. She confessed that she had to return to Shanghai for her father, having witnessed him crying while looking at her mother's household registration. Her inability to abandon her father or the memory of her mother in Shanghai was a deep personal conviction.
Her roommate listened and provided some insights from an alumna, who said that graduation doesn't cause breakups, but rather provides a reason for couples who are already incompatible to separate. Xia Langlang eventually tracked down Mai Meng at the university. She confronted him about his recent evasiveness and expressed her desire to clarify their previous conversation.
Mai Meng, however, maintained his distance, stating that her feelings were an "illusion" or a "halo effect" brought on by his status as her teacher, and that such feelings would eventually disappear. His definitive rejection, punctuated by the closing of a door, left Xia Langlang heartbroken, and she cried silently, sensing her potential love story with him had ended before it truly began. After seeing her father off at the airport, Huangfu Shumin received a phone call from him.
Her father advised her that life and work would present many choices, but a relationship was between two people, and the person by her side would be her lifelong companion. He urged her not to consider him in her decision. In the car, Huangfu Shumin and Zhou Yu sat in silence, the air heavy with unresolved tension. Huangfu Shumin, despite her prior habit, did not suggest breaking up, but she acutely felt their relationship hanging by a thread.
Zhou Yu, still clinging to the idea of a life in Chongqing, continued to urge her to reconsider, promising frequent visits to Shanghai. Huangfu Shumin brought up the alumna's point about graduation merely providing a reason for incompatible couples to break up, questioning if their differing expectations for the future truly made them unsuitable. Zhou Yu strongly disagreed, recalling their shared dreams of a simple life with a cat and a dog.
Huangfu Shumin reiterated her simple desire to be in Shanghai with her father. Later, Huangfu Shumin’s article on graduation breakups was published and quickly garnered over 100,000 views. Her roommates celebrated by ordering a "sea, land and air combo" dinner, including Griddle Shrimp, Spicy Chicken, and Pigeon Egg Soup, recognizing her talent and hard work. Huangfu Shumin reflected on how insights gained during adversity were more authentic than those from times of ease.
The article, however, caused a stir for Zhou Yu. After reading it and listening to a voice message from Huangfu Shumin, which conveyed her deep love for him despite her anxieties, he was deeply moved. His mother, seeing the article and hearing of Huangfu Shumin's plans, was still adamantly against Zhou Yu moving to Shanghai. However, Zhou Yu managed to convince her, emphasizing his ability to thrive anywhere and that separating from Huangfu Shumin would be his greatest challenge.
Determined, Zhou Yu rushed to meet Huangfu Shumin at a cafe on his motorcycle, bringing a spare helmet for her. Huangfu Shumin shared her father's recent advice: that her personal happiness and her partner were most important, and she shouldn't compromise her relationship for him. She jokingly announced that her father "tolerated" Zhou Yu and so she might "observe" him in Chongqing for a "short period" before deciding.
Zhou Yu, having decided not to give up on their love, proposed a "lottery" to let fate decide their city. He presented two slips of paper, one for Chongqing and one for Shanghai. Huangfu Shumin drew "Shanghai," expressing mock dismay at the challenges of moving there. But then, she revealed the other slip, which simply read "I love you." Overjoyed by his unwavering commitment, Huangfu Shumin embraced Zhou Yu, their relationship rekindling with passion as they began to envision a shared future in Shanghai.
Episode 22 Recap
Yang Jiaqian continued to communicate with Justin, who was posing as his agent Ms. Dan. As a devoted fan, Yang Jiaqian was determined to secure resources for Justin. She had already managed to get artist Feng to appear on a show. However, Feng was stubborn and unwilling to follow the program's usual format, which required him to sing. Yang Jiaqian proposed an alternative: an instrument performance.
To secure a suona for Feng, she traveled all over the city, which forced her to cancel a dinner with her mother. She had not yet revealed the truth about her postgraduate entrance exam to her mother, instead fearfully maintaining the lie that she was interning at a newspaper office. At her company, Xia Langlang still encountered Mai Meng, and the awkward atmosphere between them persisted.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhang called Xia Langlang to stay and take minutes for a meeting with Mai Meng and himself. Meanwhile, Yang Jiaqian hurried to the variety show set, where the difficult artist Feng was at an impasse with Ms. Tong, a prominent figure in the industry. Yang Jiaqian’s phone vibrated with a call from her mother, but she pretended not to see it, instead focusing on apologizing to the show’s director on Feng’s behalf.
Her quick thinking helped resolve the immediate crisis. However, Qi, a colleague on the same program, harbored resentment towards Yang Jiaqian. Yang Jiaqian's mother had come to Chongqing to oversee her daughter's postgraduate exam preparations. Convinced that Yang Jiaqian should pursue further studies, she researched several training institutions. However, due to Yang Jiaqian’s demanding work schedule, they hadn't had a proper meal together.
The next day, at a topic selection meeting, Yang Jiaqian presented an impressive proposal, which only intensified Qi's dissatisfaction. To avoid disturbing her school roommates with her late working hours, Yang Jiaqian requested to move into the company dormitory. Her new roommate turned out to be Qi. To assert her dominance, Qi deliberately withheld the door lock combination, leaving Yang Jiaqian stranded downstairs.
While inquiring about postgraduate exam matters, Yang Jiaqian's mother checked her exam admission number only to discover that her daughter had not even taken the exam. Unable to enter the company dorm, Yang Jiaqian returned to her university, only to find her mother waiting outside. Trembling, Yang Jiaqian let her mother in. Upon entering, her mother immediately saw all of Yang Jiaqian's fan merchandise. Enraged, her mother swept all the merchandise to the floor and severely reprimanded Yang Jiaqian.
Despite years of careful nurturing, her daughter was now openly defying her. Her mother sat down, deeply resentful. Yang Jiaqian silently picked up all the fan merchandise and, ignoring her mother’s anger, finally laid all her cards on the table, then walked out, leaving her mother in the dorm. Huangfu and Fan Xiaoyu returned to their dorm and found Yang Jiaqian’s mother sitting there.
Aware of the long-standing tension between mother and daughter, Huangfu, who had tragically lost her own mother, took the initiative to console Yang Jiaqian’s mother. This gentle persuasion gradually softened her mother’s heart, prompting her to go out and search for Yang Jiaqian. While communicating with Yang Jiaqian under the guise of Ms. Dan, Justin sensed her distress. He asked someone to locate Yang Jiaqian’s whereabouts and was on his way to find her when he encountered Yang Jiaqian’s mother.
Justin pointed her in the right direction, then discreetly hid nearby. He felt relieved only after seeing the mother and daughter walk out together. Yang Jiaqian had eventually found Qi downstairs, but Qi was heavily intoxicated and, fueled by her inner bitterness, became physically aggressive towards Yang Jiaqian. Yang Jiaqian’s mother arrived just in time, stopping Qi. Seeing her mother protect her, Yang Jiaqian’s heart softened. Once they found a secluded spot, they finally opened up to each other.
Yang Jiaqian’s mother came to understand her daughter's passion for her work and decided to stop hindering her, choosing instead to offer her support. Yang Jiaqian received a message from Ms. Dan, instructing her to turn on the radio. Without any prior announcement, Justin released a new song titled "Miss Y." Speculation immediately began about whom the song was dedicated to. Yang Jiaqian listened to the song, gazed out the window, and quietly smiled to herself, thinking of changing her fan alias to "Miss Y."
Episode 23 Recap
As university life neared its end with the arrival of the internship period, the students gathered for a speech from their teacher, Mai Meng. He spoke of the university's internship report and appraisal as a summary of their four years, a moment of reflection before entering society. He expressed his desire to always be their teacher, friend, or even a trusted older brother.
Xia Langlang watched Mai Meng with a complex mix of emotions, while Fan Xiaoyu felt a unique sadness, realizing everyone would soon embark on their separate paths, some with plans, others with arrangements already in place. Later, an unexpected turn of events saw Huangfu's interview moved up, and she realized she'd forgotten her voice recorder. Luckily, Xia Langlang offered hers, resolving the immediate crisis.
Xia Langlang then had to rush back to her company for a monthly summary meeting, and Yang Jiaqian was already swamped with a busy schedule, including an artist photo shoot in Jiangbei District that might last all night. This left only Fan Xiaoyu, who remained coy about her internship plans, mysteriously stating, "It's still too early to tell yet. You will know when the time comes." Fan Qingzhou received a call from Fan Xiaoyu, a smile playing on his lips.
After saying goodbye to his friends, he and Dongqiang headed out to meet her. Fan Xiaoyu had been busy with her new venture: a bubble tea shop. Her parents and boyfriend had invested, and she sourced recipes and ingredients from Taobao to cut costs, aiming for a "very profitable business." She had strategically located her small shop opposite a popular hot and sour rice noodle place, hoping to leverage its constant customer traffic.
She confidently told Fan Qingzhou that a bowl of hot and sour rice noodles and a cup of bubble tea were "the best companions." Initially, with her roommates' help with deliveries, business seemed promising, even securing a recurring order of fifty cups daily from one company. However, the good times didn't last. The milk tea business failed to take off, forcing Fan Xiaoyu to transfer ownership of the shop.
This left her with mounting debt and a crushing blow to her confidence. She felt like a "loser," having failed at multiple ventures, while her friends were securing good jobs. She offered to repay Fan Qingzhou for his investment, but he was patient. He then invited her to join Little Table, his own startup, praising her unique business mind and assuring her that the company had a promising future.
Fan Xiaoyu, feeling a renewed sense of purpose, accepted, declaring herself Little Table's new Chief Financial Officer, ready to "tap her potential." Back at the dorm, Fan Xiaoyu gave her roommates cash, calling it "salary" for their earlier help. She revealed the milk tea shop had closed, and that the "shareholders lost the most." She vowed to repay them through her success at Little Table. As the new CFO, Fan Xiaoyu wasted no time.
She called the first shareholders' meeting on a weekend, asserting the need to "inject momentum" and revamp their work culture. She even rearranged Fan Qingzhou's apartment to create a dedicated office space, moving personal belongings and adding a fish tank for good luck, believing "water will bring fortune." She implemented strict company rules, from clocking in and out to personal hygiene.
Dongqiang found her regulations more stringent than the dorm matron's, but Fan Qingzhou supported her, emphasizing that rules applied to everyone, regardless of personal feelings. The trio, wearing specially designed team uniforms, went to meet investor Mr. Wang. They presented their app's updated interfaces and enhanced interactivity. However, Mr. Wang's secretary, Ms. Liu, conveyed his disappointment; the product still hadn't met his expectations and lacked sufficient differentiation. Mr. Wang left for the airport without meeting them.
A dejected Dongqiang suggested they go for a drink, but Fan Xiaoyu insisted on more meetings. Noticing the team's low spirits, she decided to buy everyone some food. Meanwhile, after work, Xia Langlang returned books she had borrowed from Zhang Yuan. She was surprised to learn that Mai Meng had compiled and annotated them for her women's news project, revealing his thoughtful effort. Zhang Yuan suggested she return the books to Mai Meng in person.
Back at the apartment, Fan Xiaoyu returned with food to find only Fan Qingzhou still working diligently. She reflected on the difficulties of entrepreneurship and expressed admiration for his unwavering commitment. She asked him about his motivation, to which he replied, "To make a perfect app, watching my ideas come true bit by bit. Don't you find it fun? And then someone will get help and be happy because they use this app. I will also be happy."
She promised to join him in pursuing his fun once Little Table stabilized. Later, in the dorm, Fan Xiaoyu discussed her failed milk tea shop with her roommates. She learned that a competitor, despite having inferior products, had dominated the market through aggressive marketing and "click farming." This made Fan Xiaoyu realize the crucial role of such tactics in a competitive market.
During a team meeting, a financial review revealed that Little Table only had enough funds to last two more months. Dongqiang proposed seeking additional investors. However, Fan Xiaoyu argued for an "all-in" marketing strategy, suggesting they use the remaining funds for "click farming" to boost rankings and downloads. She cited her milk tea shop's downfall as a lesson, claiming she failed because she didn't "hire a click farm to get good reviews."
Dongqiang vehemently opposed, and even Fan Qingzhou, despite his usual patience, firmly rejected the idea, emphasizing that he valued reputation and "slow growth" over "winning with dirty tricks." Disappointed by their refusal, Fan Xiaoyu left, telling them they could "grow as slowly as they want." Fan Qingzhou told Dongqiang to give her some time to calm down. Around the same time, Xia Langlang confided in Fan Xiaoyu about her lingering feelings for Mai Meng.
Fan Xiaoyu advised her that "every relationship ends so that we can see our future direction more clearly," urging her to seek "proper closure" before moving forward. Taking her friend's advice, Xia Langlang went to Mai Meng's dorm to return the books and the money she owed him. She found him struggling to pan-fry fish and, offering some cooking tips, helped him prepare a meal.
She then informed him that she had applied for a news reporter position in Beijing and, if successful, would likely graduate early and move there. Mai Meng congratulated her and offered to see her out, but Xia Langlang politely declined, ensuring a definitive farewell. Days later, Dongqiang received exciting news: Mr. Wang had agreed to meet again and potentially invest two million yuan.
But their celebration was cut short when a colleague noticed a suspicious, massive surge in Little Table's download numbers. They immediately suspected Fan Xiaoyu and called her. She admitted to using company funds for "click farming," arguing it was a necessary risk for "high exposure" and "quick returns," even claiming she'd invested her own savings. Dongqiang was furious, accusing her of jeopardizing the company, and Fan Qingzhou expressed his deep disapproval of her unauthorized and unethical actions.
The next day, disaster struck. Little Table was removed from the app store due to abnormal download activity. A newly hired colleague resigned, and devastatingly, Mr. Wang withdrew his investment, citing the "fake high data" as the reason. Little Table was back to square one. Dongqiang, having endured years of hardship with Fan Qingzhou, was enraged and gave Fan Qingzhou an ultimatum: choose between him and Fan Xiaoyu.
In tears, Fan Xiaoyu apologized, admitting her actions were "arbitrary" and "too eager for quick success." However, her apology felt "feeble" in the face of the destruction she had wrought. A devastated Fan Xiaoyu returned to her empty dorm. On her desk, she found the money she had given her roommates earlier, now returned in three separate paper bags, each labeled "sisters' funding." Seeing this gesture of unwavering support, she smiled, finding a glimmer of hope in their enduring friendship.
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
The final summer arrived, and the four roommates of Dorm 5238 were each preoccupied with their own concerns. Huangfu announced that her supervisor had approved her new article topic: "Three things to do before graduation." However, everyone was too busy with their individual tasks to give it much thought. When Huangfu asked Fan Xiaoyu, she noticed Fan Xiaoyu seemed deeply troubled.
After pressing her, Fan Xiaoyu confessed to misusing company funds to boost the rankings of the Little Table app, which had strained her relationship with Lei and the other team members, leaving them cold towards her. She felt immense guilt and asked Xia Langlang and the others to scold her, saying, "It was all my fault and others are trying to clean up the mess for me. But I… I can't do anything to help.
I really hate it this way." She even explicitly asked them, "Why don't you scold me? That way I'll feel better." Her roommates gave her their honest opinions. One pointed out Fan Xiaoyu's tendency to act impulsively without considering consequences, stating, "When you are being such a control freak, you might even scare your boyfriend away, let alone your colleagues." Another criticized her for not taking money seriously, saying, "You didn't take other people's salaries seriously, which wasn't quite right."
Huangfu added that seeing her father make money didn't mean Fan Xiaoyu herself was good at it, reminding her how she'd opened her bubble tea shop next to a spicy hotpot noodle shop, thinking it was a guaranteed success, but it wasn't. Fan Xiaoyu accepted their harsh but truthful words, admitting, "I was a good-for-nothing. I was full of fancy theories thinking I could do anything. But in reality, I didn't accomplish anything." She decided to genuinely change her ways.
She reflected on her own frivolousness after observing people on the street working hard for their lives, realizing she needed to take action. Xia Langlang encouraged her, "It's not too late to change now. Huangfu, Big Sister and I, we'll all help you." Fan Xiaoyu immediately began to improve the situation by distributing flyers for Little Table, urging people to scan QR codes, download, register, and log in to ensure both downloads and retention.
Xia Langlang praised her, calling her a "doer." The roommates continued to help Fan Xiaoyu distribute flyers. Zhou Yu, using the advantage of his cafe, also pitched in. When Huangfu asked him about his "three things to do before graduation," Zhou Yu excitedly shared his plans to move to Shanghai, rent an apartment in the Jing'an district, and create a private world for just him and Huangfu. Huangfu was secretly pleased to hear this.
Meanwhile, Xia Langlang was busy at her company, also helping promote Little Table. Her boss, Zhang Yuan, assigned her to take meeting minutes for an afternoon meeting. However, upon learning that Mai Meng would be present, Xia Langlang felt a sudden shyness and asked a colleague, Rui, to cover for her, bribing him with two large cups of coffee. Yang Jiaqian was wrestling with artist coordination for an event.
A less popular artist, Liu Xiaoning, insisted on performing last, which was a slot reserved for Justin. Yang Jiaqian decided to talk to Justin’s manager, Ms. Dan, but was led directly to Justin. To her astonishment, Justin revealed that he had been the "Ms. Dan" she had been chatting with online all this time.
He then surprised her further by inviting her to join his team as an executive, promising "a fat bonus at the end of the year, and paid vacation" and a "competitive salary." Yang Jiaqian was overwhelmed by the unexpected offer and didn't know how to respond immediately, so Justin encouraged her to "sleep on it." Fan Xiaoyu, still working hard to promote Little Table, went to Zhou Yu's coffee shop. She also called Lu Xuwen, known for his wide network.
Lu Xuwen, seeing her efforts, offered to invest in a new venture for her. Fan Xiaoyu realized that Lu Xuwen was the one who consistently bought fifty cups of bubble tea a day from her previous shop, supporting her without her knowing. She was deeply touched by his unwavering friendship.
Later, while Zhou Yu and Huangfu were discussing a birthday gift for Zhou Yu's mother, they stumbled upon a viral video online: Justin opening a car door for Yang Jiaqian, and the two of them getting into the car. Their roommates immediately began to gossip about it. Yang Jiaqian explained the situation, reiterating Justin's job offer but admitting she was still undecided. She explained that the real Justin was different from the idolized image she had in her mind.
Taking the opportunity, Xia Langlang announced that her application to work as a correspondent in Beijing had been approved, which meant she would have to graduate early next month and miss the graduation ceremony and photo shoot. The news, while exciting, brought a wave of quiet sadness over the group as they contemplated their impending separation. Xia Langlang suggested they take a graduation photo together as a keepsake. Fan Xiaoyu met Fan Qingzhou after several days apart.
He learned about her relentless efforts to promote Little Table by distributing flyers, which he found impressive. Fan Xiaoyu handed him a detailed user feedback report she compiled from her direct interactions, calling it an "in-depth field study." Seeing her dedication, Fan Qingzhou was deeply moved and gently held her hand, a silent exchange of emotions passing between them. Yang Jiaqian worried about the viral news impacting her company and Justin.
Her supervisor, Mr. Xiao, reassured her, dismissing it as "celebrity's gossip" and telling her to continue her work. She then apologized to Justin for any trouble the news might have caused, and he indirectly reiterated his job offer by saying, "Come to work with me to solve the trouble then." Later, Yang Jiaqian's mother called on the phone, mentioning that Justin looked familiar.
Her mother then recalled that Justin was the young man who had kindly given her directions when she was lost near Yang Jiaqian's company building. This confirmed Justin’s earlier cryptic remark, bringing a moment of clarity and a subtle shift in Yang Jiaqian's perspective. With Fan Qingzhou mediating, the tension between Lei Dongqiang and Fan Xiaoyu finally thawed. They reconciled over a cola, with Lei Dongqiang apologizing for his harsh words.
Fan Qingzhou presented Lei Dongqiang with Fan Xiaoyu's comprehensive user feedback report, which detailed every aspect of user experience. Lei Dongqiang was genuinely impressed by her meticulous work and sincerely thanked her. Zhou Yu's birthday gift for his mother was a family photoshoot. Zhou Yu's mother, initially a bit reserved, happily posed with her husband and son.
She then invited Huangfu to join them for a photo, saying, "We'll be a family soon," and reminding Zhou Yu to treat Huangfu well. She expressed her bittersweet feelings about Zhou Yu moving to Shanghai, but cherished the family photo as a lasting memory. Xia Langlang had a chance encounter with Wu Yan at a convenience store. Wu Yan shared that he was working at a furniture design company, a job Xia Langlang thought "really suits you."
Xia Langlang updated him on her new correspondent position in Beijing. They reminisced about their college days and discussed their post-graduation lives. Wu Yan revealed he was no longer a "lonely individual" and was now dating someone, emphasizing that being in a relationship didn't compromise his "freedom and independence." Xia Langlang expressed admiration for his unique perspective but admitted she was still single.
To ensure they had no regrets, Yang Jiaqian managed to secure four bachelor's uniforms, and the roommates gathered at the gym for a makeshift graduation photoshoot, with Mai Meng acting as photographer. After taking several group photos, Fan Xiaoyu playfully insisted that Mai Meng and Xia Langlang take a photo together, citing Xia Langlang's imminent departure. The two reluctantly posed, looking a bit awkward.
Once the group photos were done, the other three roommates made excuses to leave, leaving Mai Meng and Xia Langlang alone. As they walked along a campus path, Xia Langlang felt a desire to escape but instead turned back to Mai Meng as she was about to cross a street, asking why he hadn't left. With tears in her eyes, she poured out her heart, thanking him for "taking care of me these four years."
She confirmed she was moving to Beijing next week and, after his simple wishes for her to "take care of yourself there," declared, "I just like you very much. You are a dazzling light in my eyes. . . my love for you is real and tangible." She stated that this was the last time she would call him "Mr. Mai," embracing the adult world where they were simply "Mai Meng" and "Xia Langlang."
They wished each other well, acknowledging their separate paths. As summer quietly faded, Huangfu's public account achieved over a hundred thousand reads, and she sent a heartfelt voice message to her mother, saying, "This is my first article published on an official account which got more than 100 thousand hits. I'd like you to take a look too. Miss you."
The dorm room was cleaned, preparing to welcome new freshmen, yet retaining the names and marks left by Xia Langlang, Yang Jiaqian, Huangfu Shumin, and Fan Xiaoyu—memories of a perfect yet imperfect summer. The four graduates gathered one last time in their dorm room to make a toast. They expressed gratitude for their four years together, for all the good and bad experiences that shaped them.
They toasted to their past "naivety and maturity," their "gains and dedication," and finally, to "youth" and the hope that they would "always be ourselves." The dorm, now ready for its new occupants, held the echoes of their shared life as they moved on, some pursuing idealism, some finding solid ground, and some embarking on distant journeys.
