Don't Leave After School Episode 20 Recap
> Don't Leave After School Recap
Wei Lai sat alone on the balcony. His stepmother, Aunt Zhao, brought him Fang Xue's exam scores that had been left at the door. She asked about his leg, which was much better and he could walk, though he still needed to apply the medicine his father had brought from abroad. Aunt Zhao advised Wei Lai not to argue with his father that night, reminding him that despite his father's stern words, he worried deeply.
That evening at dinner, Wei Lai's father was preoccupied with an important work contract, emphasizing the difficulty of earning money. Wei Lai, not eating, then declared his continued desire to take the College Entrance Exam. He proposed that if he failed to get into a paleontology program, he would then agree to study abroad. His father became angry, seeing through Wei Lai's attempt to avoid going overseas.
He questioned if he was harming Wei Lai by wanting him to be a "superior person" and expressed frustration that Wei Lai refused the path he had paved. Wei Lai retorted, stating he never wanted to be like his father, who was constantly focused on making and spending money and "tricking" clients. He declared he would never want such success. His stepmother tried to mediate, but Wei Lai insisted on his stance.
His father, enraged, warned Wei Lai that if he took another step out, he would never be allowed back home. Overwhelmed by anger, Wei Lai's father, who had a heart condition, collapsed. His stepmother called for an ambulance. At the hospital, the doctor informed them that Wei Lai's father was out of danger but needed observation, advising them to rest and eat.
Aunt Zhao told Wei Lai that his father was fortunate to avoid serious complications but needed to avoid stress. Wei Lai apologized for causing trouble, but Aunt Zhao reassured him, revealing that his father had always kept his struggles secret, including a past suicide attempt after their family went bankrupt, when he put sleeping pills in a cake. She also expressed her rational support for Wei Lai's decisions but cautioned that continued conflict could tear their family apart.
After she left to check on his father, Wei Lai broke down, pleading for his father to recover. Later, Wei Lai brought soup to his father's bedside. Unable to bear his father getting sick again, Wei Lai finally agreed to study abroad but asked for time to choose a university, a request his father accepted. The next day at school, Tang Tiantian appeared distraught, telling Fang Xue that Wang Ziqi was leaving for Beijing that afternoon for exam relocation.
Fang Xue expressed surprise at the sudden news, mentioning that Wei Lai had also left. Just then, Wei Lai entered the classroom, much to Fang Xue's delight. She asked if he had convinced his father and if he was still leaving, to which Wei Lai reassured her not to worry. He then affectionately ruffled her hair and asked if she had any questions from her assignments. Fang Xue admitted she had many and was waiting for him to help.
In Ms. Lei's office, Wei Lai processed his arrangements for studying abroad, discussing the need for a reference letter from Mr. Ying. Ms. Lei expressed regret at losing an excellent student but saw studying abroad as a good option, urging him to return and serve the country after his studies. Li Dalai secretly observed Wei Lai in Ms. Lei's office from outside the door.
Later, to spend more time with Fang Xue, Wei Lai swapped his on-duty day to clean the classroom with her, and they worked playfully. During lunch, Li Dalai asked the cafeteria aunt to give Wei Lai an extra portion of shredded pork with garlic sauce, claiming Wei Lai loved it.
The aunt insisted on fairness, but Li Dalai, claiming it was a special situation, ended up taking his own portion and adding it to Wei Lai's plate, despite Wei Lai's protests. Other students gossiped, misunderstanding Li Dalai's actions as an attempt to curry favor. In chemistry class, Wei Lai was distracted, gazing at Fang Xue.
The teacher, noticing his inattention, sarcastically rebuked him for missing classes and not working hard, asking if he thought Tsinghua University was run by his family. Li Dalai defended Wei Lai, telling the teacher to be more polite as Wei Lai's future social status might far exceed his own, and to leave him with good memories. The infuriated teacher ordered Li Dalai to see Mr. Ying.
After class, Tang Tiantian approached Fang Xue, confirming Wang Ziqi's departure that evening and asking for help to fold paper stars with written messages for him before dinner. Fang Xue agreed. Wei Lai then invited Fang Xue to review valence concepts after dinner, offering to explain everything in 30 minutes. Fang Xue declined, explaining she had to help Tang Tiantian. Li Dalai, overhearing, also tried to persuade Fang Xue to prioritize Wei Lai, but Fang Xue remained firm.
Wei Lai then told her it was fine to go help Tang Tiantian. In the dorm, while folding stars, Tang Tiantian explained she wanted to tie a "knot" in her feelings as a "sense of ritual." Fang Xue suggested writing song lyrics or poems on the papers. Li Dalai later sought out Wei Lai, asking if he would directly tell Fang Xue about his departure.
Wei Lai realized Li Dalai already knew, having overheard him in the office, and thanked him for his discretion. Wei Lai offered Li Dalai his study guides and notes, which he couldn't take with him. Li Dalai expressed sympathy, saying he felt stifled for Wei Lai and had hoped he could follow his own desires. He admitted that Wei Lai, Fang Xue, and Gu Shang likely viewed him as a snob who picked on the weak and feared the strong.
Li Dalai stated he was utilitarian and valued efficiency, adding that he admired Wei Lai the most in Senior 4 and only respected and supported the strong. He asked Wei Lai again if he was truly giving up paleontology for studying abroad, which Wei Lai confirmed. Reflecting on Wei Lai's previous decision to leave economics for paleontology, Li Dalai said he now understood Wei Lai's "bold but capable" nature, believing Wei Lai would succeed in anything.
He concluded by wishing Wei Lai well and a safe journey. During biology class, Mr. Ying was teaching plant tissue culture. Fang Xue and several classmates asked to be excused to accompany Tang Tiantian to send off Wang Ziqi, fabricating a reason to go to the bathroom. Mr. Ying, understanding their emotional need, allowed them to go, promising to cover for them. Li Dalai also joined the group.
Outside, Tang Tiantian ran after Wang Ziqi's departing car with the folded stars. She tripped, scattering the stars. Dejected, she froze. Fang Xue picked up a fallen star, began reading the poem written on it aloud, and continued chasing the car, with others following suit. Inside the car, Wang Ziqi, deeply touched, waved goodbye, promising to "See you in Beijing."
Later, Fang Xue remarked on Tang Tiantian's bravery and expressed her surprise at how quickly the year had passed, feeling reluctant to part ways with her classmates. That night, Fang Xue and Wei Lai were on duty. Fang Xue, unaware of Wei Lai's impending departure, told him to leave first while she finished up. Wei Lai said "Goodbye," and Fang Xue cheerfully replied, "See you tomorrow. Don't stay too late. Remember to turn off the lights. Bye."
Only after leaving the building did Fang Xue realize Wei Lai's farewell had been unusually final. When she returned, the classroom was empty. The next morning, Fang Xue arrived early and found a note from Wei Lai. Before she could read it, other students entered, forcing her to hide it. Later, on the rooftop, Fang Xue read Wei Lai's letter. He apologized for leaving without a proper goodbye, explaining he couldn't change his father's mind and had to study abroad.
He confessed he had asked Mr. Ying to keep his departure a secret, calling it his "last capricious behavior," to spare her sadness and ensure their last day together was happy. Wei Lai wrote that even though they had known each other for less than a year, Fang Xue had made everything interesting. He admitted he initially saw his year in Senior 4 as a mere stepping stone but was grateful for the friends he made.
He promised to take the sleeves she gave him abroad for cleaning, as they would remind him of her. While not expecting her to remember him forever, he hoped she would get into her dream university and live a life she loved. He reminded her about the valence notes he had organized for her on the back shelf and urged her to read them.
Wei Lai expressed a wish for their happy times to continue endlessly and hoped she would always retain her "fearless spirit" and "light-hearted laughter." He concluded with "Thank you, Fang Xue. Goodbye." As Fang Xue finished reading, she was heartbroken, struggling to suppress her tears, which flowed uncontrollably. Witnessing Fang Xue's distress, Cheng Jing angrily called Wei Lai.
She lambasted him for his "romantic" but cruel farewell letter, accusing him of being "mean" for leaving Fang Xue with so much sadness. Wei Lai asked about Fang Xue's well-being, but Cheng Jing angrily retorted that he had no right to ask, insisting he had left her distraught. She told him that men often think they know everything but understand nothing and demanded he stop bothering Fang Xue and let her prepare for the College Entrance Exam.
Wei Lai apologized and agreed. Back home, Wei Lai's stepmother expressed her distress to his father over Wei Lai's sadness, criticizing his father's perceived indifference. She emphasized that people should pursue what they love to avoid regret. His father did not get angry but chose to leave the house. That evening, as the family had dinner, Wei Lai's stepmother encouraged him to eat heartily, reminding him of his father's kindness and that it was her birthday.
A delivery person arrived with a cake, initially causing confusion, until Wei Lai's father revealed it was a surprise birthday cake he had prepared for his wife. The atmosphere softened, and the family enjoyed a harmonious moment. Wei Lai's stepmother suggested that his father had changed and encouraged Wei Lai to have a calm talk with him. Wei Lai then told his father he had something to say, asking him not to get angry, regardless of his response. Ultimately, Wei Lai returned to school. During the night self-study session, both Li Dalai and Fang Xue were visibly astonished, mouths agape, to see him back in class.
