Don't Leave After School Episode 16 Recap
> Don't Leave After School Recap
Mr. Ying called Fang Xue to his office. He handed her Wei Lai's notice of re-examination, asking her to deliver it. To Fang Xue's surprise, Mr. Ying then revealed that she had also passed the minority language enrollment test, clarifying that the third-place student had given up their spot, which Fang Xue received. Overwhelmed with joy and incoherently thanking Mr. Ying, Fang Xue promised to study hard for the re-examination.
Fang Xue excitedly returned to class and handed Wei Lai his re-examination notice, announcing that she too had passed. Wei Lai commented on her luck and urged her to prepare well. Fang Xue, feeling proud of her newfound "good student" status, confirmed that their re-examinations were on the same day in Beijing.
They discussed travel plans; Wei Lai mentioned going with his parents, while Fang Xue explained she'd likely be going alone since her father didn't know about her re-enrollment and she didn't want to trouble her aunt again. At home, Fang Xue was packing, feeling nervous. Her mother initially thought she would accompany Fang Xue and Wei Lai, whom she admired.
However, upon learning that Wei Lai would be traveling alone, Fang Xue's mother changed her mind, deciding that she and Fang Xue's father would stay behind to finish work. She instructed Fang Xue to go with Wei Lai as companions, praising his character and encouraging Fang Xue to be independent. Before Fang Xue left, her mother reminded her to be gentle and considerate towards Wei Lai, and to avoid speaking too loudly.
Fang Xue arrived at the train station, apologizing for being late. When Wei Lai learned that her parents weren't accompanying her, he subtly smiled before they headed to board. They discovered they were in the same carriage but had seats across the aisle. Their animated conversation led a fellow passenger to jokingly call them "lovebirds," which Fang Xue immediately denied. They continued communicating via text messages, while the uncle sitting nearby shook his head in disapproval.
Once the man sitting next to Fang Xue exited the train, Wei Lai quickly moved to her side. They started discussing their plans for Beijing, with Fang Xue expressing her desire to visit the Great Wall, citing it as a must-see landmark. Wei Lai promised to accompany her after their exams. After their exams, Fang Xue asked Wei Lai about his performance, which was "not bad" for both of them.
With time to spare before heading to the Great Wall, they decided to explore the college surroundings. While Wei Lai engrossed himself in a paleontology book, Fang Xue discreetly purchased two popular pendants from a stall, choosing them for their hidden compartment. She then gave one of the pendants to Wei Lai as a souvenir of their Beijing trip, which he gratefully accepted, clearly pleased.
Their journey to the Great Wall was marred by heavy traffic, and they realized their wallets had been stolen at a street market earlier. With only eighty yuan between them, they decided to press on, determined to visit the Great Wall. However, after a desperate run, they found that the last bus to the Great Wall would not get them there before closing time. Disappointed, they opted to explore a park instead.
There, two elderly men approached them, offering to take them to the Great Wall. Excited, Fang Xue and Wei Lai accepted, only to be led to an exhibition hall showcasing models of the Great Wall, including Shanhai Pass, Jiayu Pass, and Juyong Pass. After an awkward exchange with a staff member who explained the exhibits were for display, not for sale, they decided to explore on their own.
As they left, the same two elderly men were still there and kindly offered them a ride to the train station. Gu Shang and Cheng Jing met for a boxing match, both claiming they had reservations. While waiting, a man behind Cheng Jing acted inappropriately, touching her. Cheng Jing confronted him, and Gu Shang immediately intervened, knocking the man down and continuing to assault him until onlookers pulled him away.
The incident led to both Gu Shang and Cheng Jing being taken to the police station for questioning. During their interrogation about their relationship, Gu Shang openly admitted to liking Cheng Jing, much to her annoyance. After being released, Gu Shang joked about their quick release. Cheng Jing then playfully accused him of being "Bottle Cap" from an online forum, an identity he admitted to despite it being a female persona, defending his choice by remarking on her username, "Whirlwind."
Cheng Jing, angered, walked away, and Gu Shang hurried to catch up with her. During a biology class, Mr. Ying announced the good news: Wei Lai had passed the exam for Peking University and received an extra 20 points, and Fang Xue had also successfully passed the minority language exam. Classmates congratulated Fang Xue, but she seemed somewhat stunned, admitting to Wei Lai that she was surprised and not entirely unhappy about being admitted to a second-tier university.
Later, in the dorm, as Fang Xue packed her belongings, her roommates expressed their sorrow at her departure, hugging her tightly and crying, reluctant to let her go. Fang Xue shared a moment of doubt, feeling as though she was "running away in face of a battle," but confirmed her decision to leave. She tearfully bid her friends goodbye and reluctantly departed with her luggage.
Fang Xue's family joyfully celebrated her admission, with her parents enthusiastically planning for numerous relatives and neighbors to visit and learn from her success. Feeling overwhelmed by the attention and the premature celebration, Fang Xue expressed her frustration, stating that her admission wasn't a "famous university" achievement, and retreated to her room. Soon after, her mother informed her that Wei Lai was on the phone.
Wei Lai, calling Fang Xue at home, used the pretext of offering physics notes to check in on her. He sensed her indecision and directly asked if she genuinely liked minority languages. Fang Xue confessed her indifference, feeling she had no choice in the matter. Wei Lai shared his own experience of being pressured into studying finance and his subsequent regret, urging her not to make a decision she might later regret.
He reminded her of her fearless spirit, joking about how she once caused a commotion at school, implying that facing the college entrance exam shouldn't faze her. He then said goodbye, as he had to go to his night self-study session. The following day, Fang Xue gathered her family to announce her decision: she intended to forgo the minority language program and instead take the regular college entrance exam.
Her parents reacted with shock and strong disapproval, unable to comprehend why she would give up such a hard-won opportunity. Fang Xue calmly explained that her time learning about minority languages confirmed her dislike for it and that while a good college wasn't guaranteed through the general exam, she wanted to pursue what she truly liked and avoid future regrets. Her mother expressed fears of her taking a wrong step and ending up like them.
However, Fang Xue’s grandfather intervened, sharing his own regret about not pursuing blacksmithing in his youth. He emphasized the importance of supporting Fang Xue's decision, especially since it was a difficult one for her to make. With her grandfather's backing, Fang Xue's parents eventually relented, agreeing to support her choice. After night self-study, Wei Lai was reviewing notes with a sense of weariness when Fang Xue returned to the classroom, immediately lifting his spirits.
He teasingly asked if she was worried about missing her opportunity, to which Fang Xue confidently responded, echoing his earlier words about her fearless nature and readiness for the college entrance exam. Wei Lai then handed her a thick stack of meticulously organized notes he had prepared, covering new key points.
Although Fang Xue feigned regret at the daunting amount of material, Wei Lai firmly told her it was too late to change her mind and instructed her to stay by his side and study hard for the next two months. When she expressed concern about catching up with the new material, Wei Lai reassured her that he would personally tutor her.
