Don't Leave After School Episode 17 Recap
> Don't Leave After School Recap
In the classroom, Fang Xue and Wei Lai were engrossed in their studies when Tang Tiantian entered mysteriously with a book, declaring her intention to predict Fang Xue's fortune. After a quick calculation, Tang Tiantian dramatically announced that Fang Xue would experience six months of bad luck, a prediction Fang Xue readily believed.
Cheng Jing then approached, joining their conversation, and they soon discovered that her birthday was only two days after Fang Xue's, on December 23rd, while Fang Xue's was on December 21st. Cheng Jing, however, mentioned she wasn't in the habit of celebrating birthdays. Fang Xue also expressed regret that she couldn't celebrate hers at school. Tang Tiantian then advised them to put away the book before a teacher noticed.
That weekend, Fang Xue and Cheng Jing took the bus home together. Before parting ways, with Fang Xue opting for a shortcut, Fang Xue advised Cheng Jing not to reject her mother's offerings of snacks and fruits, suggesting Cheng Jing was simply eager to eat them herself. Cheng Jing retorted playfully that it was Fang Xue who coveted the treats, to which Fang Xue insisted she wasn't that desperate.
After this lighthearted exchange, Fang Xue took her shortcut, and they bid each other farewell. Upon Cheng Jing's arrival home, a neighbor, Auntie, greeted her, but her words quickly turned into gossip, accusing Cheng Jing's mother of earning money from men to support her education. She claimed men were constantly coming and going from their home, especially when Cheng Jing was away, implying her mother was reckless. Cheng Jing immediately confronted the Auntie, questioning her meaning.
Another neighbor stepped in, urging the gossiping Auntie to stop talking nonsense to the child, but the Auntie insisted she had witnessed it herself and wouldn't tolerate such behavior affecting her quality of life. Entering her home, Cheng Jing overheard a man's voice and, influenced by the neighbor's words, already harbored suspicions. She then saw her mother receive money from the man, further deepening her misunderstanding.
The man was identified by her mother as her father's old comrade, expressing gratitude for his help in finding her a new job. Cheng Jing angrily cut her mother off, refusing to discuss her father, and stormed out of the house. Outside, Cheng Jing observed a father lovingly feeding his child, a sight that stirred a deep sadness within her.
She recalled her own father, who would buy her milk daily and even insert the straw for her because he thought she was too young. Since his passing, no one had shown her such tender care. Feeling heartbroken, Cheng Jing sought solace at Fang Xue's house. Fang Xue, opening the door to a tearful Cheng Jing, immediately pulled her inside, offering comfort and asking what was wrong.
Cheng Jing confided that she missed her father and had argued with her mother again. Fang Xue patiently listened and encouraged her to return home, believing her mother might be waiting with a warm meal. Cheng Jing returned home, where her mother had indeed prepared a meal. During dinner, her mother asked what time she would return to school, expressing concern about the last bus.
Cheng Jing, feeling pushed away, sarcastically asked if her mother was anxious for her to leave. Upset, she declared she was full and left the table to pack her bags for school. Her mother, worried she hadn't eaten enough, quickly gave her two packets of cookies before she left. Later, while eating noodles outside, Cheng Jing noticed her mother leaving home alone, acting unusually. Suspecting something, Cheng Jing secretly followed her to a dance hall.
At the entrance, a guard tried to stop Cheng Jing, but an older man explained that the venue was for dancing, and many patrons were not accompanied by their wives, implying a less reputable nature. This discovery intensified Cheng Jing's resentment towards her mother. Back at school, Cheng Jing, still fuming, slammed her bag onto her desk, startling Gu Shang. He remarked on her early return, which she attributed to having nothing else to do.
Observing her recent dedication to studies, Gu Shang joked about her ambition to get into Peking University or Tsinghua. Cheng Jing affirmed her goal, stating fiercely that she would not only achieve admission but also earn a scholarship, as she could only rely on herself now. Gu Shang, sensing her unusual intensity, asked if she was okay, but Cheng Jing brushed it off.
Later that evening, as Fang Xue and Cheng Jing returned to their dormitory, they were surprised to find Cheng Jing's mother inside. She had brought Cheng Jing's forgotten wallet, which also contained her ID card. Cheng Jing immediately told her mother to go home, despite Fang Xue's attempt to offer her water. Her mother tried to give her some money for school supplies and snacks, but Cheng Jing adamantly refused.
The argument escalated when her mother tried to take down a dirty curtain to wash it, but Cheng Jing shouted at her not to touch her belongings. Her mother, hurt, expressed her frustration at Cheng Jing treating her like an enemy, reminding her of all she had provided. Cheng Jing retorted that her mother was educated and capable, while she herself was not, declaring her mother unworthy. Distraught, her mother left the dormitory.
Fang Xue, concerned, asked Cheng Jing if she was alright. Later that night, Fang Xue's dorm mates chatted about their past birthday experiences. Tang Tiantian and Fiona recounted stories of family photoshoots and thoughtful gifts, making Cheng Jing feel envious as her parents had never given her a "normal" birthday celebration. The next day, while on duty together, Gu Shang asked Cheng Jing about her upcoming birthday and what gift she might like.
Cheng Jing reiterated her lack of a birthday tradition, but as Gu Shang continued to probe, she secretly smiled, a hint of anticipation surfacing. Meanwhile, Gu Shang and Wei Lai spoke with Er Bao, the school's long-time resident, inquiring about where to watch TV. Er Bao directed them to the main building's electric classroom. Wei Lai then asked Er Bao about special gifts students had given over the years.
Er Bao mentioned a school legend: if someone sees fireworks from their dorm window at midnight on their birthday, their wishes will come true. Wei Lai, inspired, decided to arrange a surprise for Fang Xue. He had a friend procure fireworks, but the friend arrived late, having only managed to get a single, small firework, complaining about the difficulty. Wei Lai accepted it, planning to make the best of it.
During night self-study, Wei Lai subtly asked Fang Xue about her bedtime. He then instructed her to look out her window at midnight, hinting at a "meteor shower," implying a surprise. At midnight, Fang Xue stood by her window, eagerly anticipating the spectacle. However, Wei Lai's carefully planned surprise fizzled out as the fireworks turned out to be shoddy products, failing to ignite. Disappointed, Wei Lai abandoned the duds and left.
Meanwhile, Gu Shang and Cheng Jing were in the electric classroom, engrossed in watching a boxing match. Cheng Jing thanked Gu Shang for bringing her, reflecting on how this was a rare happy day during their Senior 4 year. Gu Shang revealed his intention to celebrate her birthday in advance, as her actual birthday was in two days and no one had celebrated it before.
Cheng Jing was momentarily startled by what sounded like fireworks outside, but they quickly returned their attention to the match. Gu Shang then offered to get fried chicken and coke, and left the room. Soon after, the gatekeeper arrived and locked the security door, trapping Cheng Jing inside. Outside, Gu Shang returned to find the area around the electric classroom on fire. He frantically tried to open the security door, but it was impenetrable.
He pounded, kicked, and rammed against it, but it wouldn't budge. The smoke intensified inside, prompting Cheng Jing to urge Gu Shang to leave for his own safety. He refused, vowing to stay with her and calling 119 for help. Gu Shang then found a rope, passed one end under the door, and instructed Cheng Jing to hold it, promising to pull it if anything happened, and to call out his name.
As the smoke thickened, Cheng Jing again urged him to leave, but Gu Shang vehemently refused, insisting they would face it together and would only leave if she did. To pass the terrifying wait, Gu Shang suggested they talk. He lightheartedly compared their situation to the couple on the Titanic, eliciting a grim response from Cheng Jing that they were drowning, while they were likely to burn to death. Gu Shang quickly changed the topic, playing a question-and-answer game.
When asked her favorite color, Cheng Jing replied "red," but then playfully admonished him to say something auspicious after his follow-up question. Gu Shang then confessed he thought she was fearless, to which Cheng Jing surprisingly replied that she was quite afraid of Wei Lai, particularly of him surpassing her in exams. Gu Shang, in a moment of vulnerability, expressed his hurt that she would praise another boy in front of him, asking why she never praised him.
Cheng Jing simply thanked him. Then, she opened up, revealing her deep-seated trust issues stemming from her mother oversleeping and causing her to miss her college entrance exam last year. She declared that, from that day forward, she was willing to trust him. Gu Shang, who had been listening intently from outside, fainted in tears during her heartfelt confession. Cheng Jing called out his name, but received no response.
Panicked, Cheng Jing repeatedly tugged the rope and called out to him, but silence met her pleas. Tears streaming down her face, she desperately pounded on the door and screamed his name. Finally, the door was forced open, and firefighters entered to escort Cheng Jing out. Seeing Gu Shang unconscious on the ground, Cheng Jing struggled against her rescuers, desperate to reach him. At the hospital, Cheng Jing regained consciousness and immediately asked about Gu Shang.
She was relieved to hear from a nurse that he was fine and would likely be moved to a regular ward the next day. News of the fire spread through the school, with students discussing the severity of the incident and the potential legal consequences for the person responsible.
Wei Lai, looking pensive after hearing the school broadcast about the fire investigation, suggested to Fang Xue that they ask their teacher for leave to visit Cheng Jing and Gu Shang at the hospital. Fang Xue agreed. Fang Xue and Wei Lai rushed to the hospital, with Fang Xue growing impatient with the taxi driver's speed and his loud radio. Upon arriving, they found Cheng Jing smiling, indicating she was recovering.
Cheng Jing explained that her test results were not yet back, but she felt fine, though Gu Shang required more treatment. Suddenly, Cheng Jing's mother burst into the room, relieved to see her daughter safe. She gently gave Cheng Jing some food and expressed her love, though not without humorously threatening to "settle accounts" with her for their previous argument once she was discharged.
Cheng Jing's mother then confided that she knew Cheng Jing harbored resentment for her past inattention, especially regarding the fire. She explained that she always saw Cheng Jing as a "child made of iron" – strong, healthy, and self-sufficient, never needing to be worried about. This heartfelt admission softened Cheng Jing's heart, and the old tension between them began to dissipate. As her mother left to dispose of some trash, she was overcome with emotion and broke down crying.
The school announced a full investigation into the fire in the main building, stating that while there were no major casualties, it was a rare and serious incident. They urged anyone with information to come forward. Wei Lai, hearing the broadcast, appeared lost in thought. Meanwhile, Cheng Jing, recuperating at home, returned to the dance hall where she had followed her mother. To her astonishment, she found her mother working there as a cleaner.
Her mother explained that she had been laid off from her previous company due to her lack of education, and that her father's comrade had helped her secure this cleaning job. Cheng Jing, realizing the depth of her misunderstanding and her mother's sacrifices, was overcome with emotion. Mother and daughter embraced, crying together, their long-standing rift finally healed. Wei Lai was later addressed, with someone asking him a question.
