Be Yourself Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
> Be Yourself 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.
