Don't Leave After School Episode 10 Recap
> Don't Leave After School Recap
Wu Dameng reflected on his life from childhood, recalling his birth and his mother’s disapproval of his interests, particularly dancing. His mother had once told him that dancing was for girls, and he should not engage in it. Later, she discovered he had been learning Jazz dance instead of Taekwondo, as he had claimed in high school. She was upset about his nickname “Sister” and how he allowed others to humiliate him.
She confronted him with an online video, chastising him for being "so open." She expressed regret for neglecting him during his childhood while she was busy earning money, believing that her absence led him astray. She begged him to stop dancing, but Wu Dameng insisted Jazz dance was not inappropriate. His mother, frustrated, threatened to disown him. After the heated argument, Wu Dameng sat sadly in the dance studio.
Fang Xue found him there and comforted him, noting that the video’s uploader, Hao Ren, was truly "not human." She encouraged Wu Dameng, telling him that many people praised his dancing. Wu Dameng confided in Fang Xue, explaining that his mother, an able woman, had always been strict with him, often calling him timid and expressing disappointment that he couldn't inherit her business or would embarrass her. He felt she never cared about his true passions.
Fang Xue encouraged him to fight for his dream, reminding him that this might be his last chance as they were in their senior year. Moved by her words, Wu Dameng resolved to continue dancing. During a dance practice, as Fang Xue and her friends were playfully competing in dance skills, Gu Shang accidentally twisted his ankle. At the school infirmary, Cheng Jing rushed in upon hearing the news, much to the knowing amusement of their friends.
Cheng Jing expressed concern over his recurring injuries. Gu Shang, worried about the performance, asked the school doctor not to inform their class teacher or Ms Lei about his ankle injury. Fang Xue later confirmed that Gu Shang would not be able to rehearse with them, which worried Tang Tiantian about the team's formation. When Tang Tiantian suggested cancelling the performance, Wei Lai sharply told her to "shut up." Fang Xue, however, declared her intention to find a solution.
The next day, Fang Xue went around the classroom, asking various classmates if they would be willing to join the dance. When she glanced at Li Dalai, who was sitting next to Wei Lai, Wei Lai mistakenly thought she was looking at him. When Fang Xue only asked Li Dalai and moved on, Wei Lai felt a pang of jealousy.
Later, Gu Shang asked Wei Lai if Fang Xue had approached him, and Wei Lai confirmed she hadn't, suggesting she was avoiding him due to recent rumors about them. The following morning, Wei Lai’s roommates teased him, revealing he had been calling out "Fang Xue" in his sleep. Wei Lai denied it, but his friends persisted. Meanwhile, in the locker room, Erbao advised a frustrated Fang Xue, who had failed to recruit new members, to ask Wei Lai.
Erbao was convinced Wei Lai would agree, even when Fang Xue expressed doubt. Fang Xue tried to persuade Wei Lai, but he coldly refused, asking if Erbao had put her up to it. At lunchtime, Cheng Jing brought food to Gu Shang in the classroom. Fang Xue took the opportunity to subtly mock Wei Lai for not being "loyal" to his friends. Offended, Wei Lai left the cafeteria.
While delivering food to Gu Shang, Cheng Jing discovered their shared passion for a boxing magazine. They bonded over their love for the sport, sharing personal stories about how they got into boxing. Gu Shang explained his connection to boxing after his father’s death, finding strength in it amidst bullying, while Cheng Jing related it to her own father's strict expectations. Gu Shang mentioned regretting not being able to buy the latest issue due to his injury.
That evening, amidst a heavy downpour, Cheng Jing braved the rain, scaled the school wall, and returned soaking wet with the magazine for Gu Shang. Touched by her gesture, Gu Shang agreed to continue with the rehearsals. Later, Cheng Jing approached Wei Lai, hoping to persuade him to help, but he retorted, asking why she was so worried about Gu Shang. This question sparked a realization in Wei Lai about Cheng Jing's feelings for Gu Shang.
Back in his dorm, after much contemplation, Wei Lai surprised his roommates by offering to join the dance. He later told a friend that he realized Gu Shang’s true affection was for Cheng Jing, which brought him a sense of relief. The next day, Wei Lai was in high spirits, greeting classmates enthusiastically and even pausing to tidy his hair. However, his enthusiasm waned during rehearsal. He arrived late, claiming he was "studying."
Fang Xue tried to teach him simplified moves, but Wei Lai was reluctant, seeing himself merely as a "filler" and making little effort. The rehearsal was far from satisfactory, with his movements being uncoordinated. Meanwhile, Ms Lei received a phone call from Wu Dameng’s mother, who strongly demanded that her son not be allowed to perform. Unaware of this, Fang Xue and Wu Dameng excitedly presented their improved test scores to Ms Lei, reminding her of their agreement.
Fang Xue proudly announced Wu Dameng had improved by 32 points. However, Ms Lei declared that a 10-point bonus question could not be counted, reducing his improvement to only 20 points, which was below the agreed-upon 30. She then revealed that Wu Dameng’s mother had called, explicitly forbidding him from performing, leaving Ms Lei with "nothing I can do." Wu Dameng was devastated. Later, on the balcony, Fang Xue and Wei Lai discussed Wu Dameng’s situation.
Wei Lai expressed his empathy, noting that he and Wu Dameng were similar, both loving things others found hard to understand. He feared that if Wu Dameng couldn't perform this time, he might lose the courage to pursue his passion again. Wei Lai also mentioned he heard that Class 3, Senior 1’s program was not progressing well, giving Fang Xue a new idea. Fang Xue immediately sought out the students from Class 3, Senior 1.
She enthusiastically pitched the idea of Wu Dameng’s group performing, highlighting how cool boys dancing Jazz was and promising it would be a hit. She appealed to their kindness, explaining that Wu Dameng was a good friend whose long-cherished dream was to perform on stage. The Class 3 students, whose own program was struggling, agreed to let Wu Dameng's group take their spot, asking only for secrecy until the school celebration.
On the day of the school celebration, Fang Xue's group, dressed in flashy costumes, prepared backstage. Wei Lai grumbled about the outfits. Wu Dameng felt nervous, but Fang Xue reassured him, suggesting that a little nervousness might lead to an extraordinary performance. A student confirmed that the host was ready for their turn.
As they were about to go on stage, Ms Lei appeared and tried to stop them, citing the presence of important provincial and municipal leaders and deeming their attire inappropriate. She ordered them back. Wu Dameng defiantly stated that he "had to dance today" to challenge prejudice. Just then, Mr. Yin intervened, distracting Ms Lei and allowing the students to rush onto the stage. Their sharp dance moves captivated the entire audience, igniting cheers from the crowd.
Students from other classes watched the live broadcast, some commenting on the dance's "sissy" nature, while others disagreed. Backstage, Wu Dameng's mother watched her son perform, overcome with emotion. During his post-performance interview, Wu Dameng thanked Fang Xue for her help, and his three roommates for their support despite not being dancers themselves. He also gratefully acknowledged two young female leaders from the Education Commission who appreciated their dance.
Finally, he spoke of his mother, detailing her struggles as a single parent, working hard for her accounting qualification and never complaining about life's hardships. He concluded by thanking her and promising to protect her now that he had grown up, moving his mother to tears. After the performance, Wei Lai teasingly remarked that Wu Dameng danced "quite enchantingly."
Fang Xue praised Wei Lai, saying he did a great job, despite his complaints about being left alone to clean the stage by Ms Lei. Wei Lai, still grumbling about the trouble, declared he would "never dance again in his life."
