Be Yourself Episode 11 Recap
> Be Yourself 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."
