Be Yourself Episode 12 Recap
> Be Yourself 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.
