Resumen del episodio 4 de The Hope
> Resúmenes de The Hope
Bian Xiaoxiao lives with her aunt and uncle, constantly striving to be sensible and please them. She readily offers to help with household chores, earning praise from her aunt and uncle who compare her favorably to their own son. Meanwhile, Jiang Qinglang's parents argue daily, only feigning harmony and pleasantness when he is present. One morning, his parents debate his grades and diet, but as soon as Jiang Qinglang appears, they stop, offering him a hot meal.
He quickly excuses himself for class, and their argument resumes, highlighting the superficial peace. Sang Xia and her friend discuss their colleague Lei Ming, describing him as stingy and calculating, someone who would argue over a single yuan and meticulously log his daily expenses. She characterizes him as extremely self-centered, constantly displaying a sense of superiority, and prone to changing plans without notice.
Sang Xia shares an anecdote about Lei Ming telling a female colleague, Ms. Su, that he is too busy to date, despite being single, while continuously sending others requests to help him with bargain orders. She concludes that Lei Ming is cynical, indifferent, narcissistic, conceited, lacks compassion, and manipulates others to achieve his goals. Her friend suggests he exhibits traits of a "slight antisocial personality," a description Sang Xia readily agrees with.
Realizing the opportunity, Sang Xia decides to use Lei Ming's Class 11 as a "psychological training camp" for the troubled students, treating Lei Ming himself as a "guinea pig." Despite Sang Xia's harsh assessment, Lei Ming has a hidden compassionate side. He is seen buying large quantities of cat food for a stray cat hostel because Aunt Wang, who usually cares for them, is busy.
He also tries to help a woman known as Cold pot find a new shop, offering three options and even suggesting he could cover the full payment for the best one. However, Cold pot rejects his help, telling him he is not "that kind of man" and accusing him of "pretending to be kind." Lei Ming struggles with his own family.
Three days earlier, his father had vehemently warned him against coveting their house, prompting Lei Ming to respond that he could not care for him in his current condition, and his former students certainly wouldn't. His father believed Lei Ming being a teacher was "harmful to society." Lei Ming's aunt calls him, relaying that his father is calmer and urging him to visit.
Lei Ming goes home, where his father again accuses him of returning only to drive him out and take the house. Lei Ming explains he returned to be a teacher and doesn't seek his father's approval. He states that given his father's health, a sanatorium is the best option, as no one else can care for him. His father, however, refuses to leave, declaring he will not move "unless I'm dead."
Lei Ming leaves, carrying the weight of his family issues. Later, he is seen chasing a disappearing figure by the river, hinting at a past trauma that haunts him. Cheng Yushan receives money for her school uniform from her mother, who apologizes for forgetting it earlier and advises her not to take her stepfather's drunken words to heart, attributing his mood to poor business. Cheng Yushan, though appreciative, withdraws to her room.
Later, on the rooftop, Sang Xia finds Cheng Yushan. Sang Xia confides her own experience of being sexually harassed by a boy she liked in high school, who then spread rumors about her, leading to her being ostracized and almost believing the lies herself. She admits to resorting to rebellious behavior like skipping classes, stealing money, and frequenting internet cafes, only to be saved by a good teacher.
Sang Xia tells Cheng Yushan it is never a girl's fault to be harassed, excluded, or unable to fight back. She emphasizes that her visit is not to pressure Cheng Yushan to join Class 11 but to assure her of support. Deeply moved, Cheng Yushan texts Sang Xia, expressing her desire to join Class 11. At school, Bian Xiaoxiao arrives with egg cakes for her friends, having waited an hour in line.
Her efforts to please are evident as her friends enthusiastically praise her. Meanwhile, Jiang Qinglang is the subject of gossip among students, who accuse him of cheating because his mother is a doctor, implying he receives special treatment. Lei Ming, focusing his recruitment efforts on Jiang Qinglang, a popular rapper known for being demoted from Peach Plum Class, observes him cheating on a physics test using his phone.
Lei Ming confronts Jiang Qinglang, exposing his history of cheating and calling him a "master." He draws a parallel between a cheating student and a rapper who lip-syncs and plagiarizes, arguing that taking shortcuts compromises integrity and prevents one from becoming a "real rapper." Lei Ming offers to overlook the cheating incident if Jiang Qinglang joins Class 11, but Jiang Qinglang adamantly refuses.
At home, Bian Xiaoxiao's aunt and uncle complain about the spoiled seafood her father sent without cold chain transport. Bian Xiaoxiao apologizes for her father and dutifully cleans up, enduring her aunt's complaints about his stinginess and lack of consideration. That evening, Jiang Qinglang's mother discovers his cheating, which causes a heated argument with his father.
His mother had previously spoken to Ms. Liang, a teacher, who confirmed Qinglang's cheating included hiring a proxy test-taker, noting that his father had deflected her attempts to contact his mother due to her busy hospital schedule. Ms. Liang suggested Qinglang could rebuild his foundation in Pine Cypress Class. Jiang Qinglang's mother, however, focuses solely on his academics, confiscating his backpack and finding lyric sheets, candy, and a love letter.
His father defends him, stating Qinglang cheats out of fear of disappointing her and questioning her happiness despite her Qingbei education. His mother insists they present a "united front" for his upcoming college entrance exam. Jiang Qinglang, in an attempt to pacify them, promises to "make a comeback" in the next week's test to prove he can get high scores even in Pine Cypress Class.
His parents agree to suspend his pocket money until he returns to the top 100 in his grade and Peach Plum Class. As the registration deadline for Class 11 approaches, with only two hours left, Lei Ming remains surprisingly calm, leisurely eating a peculiar combination of chili sauce, soya milk, and coffee with leek pie. Sang Xia questions his composure. In the empty classroom, Mr. Xiao and Mr. Huang arrive.
Mr. Xiao reminds them of the agreement to cancel Class 11 if fewer than five students register by the deadline, and he prepares to lock the classroom. Lei Ming corrects him on the exact start time of registration, pointing out there's still one hour left. Mr. Xiao remains skeptical, stating that students are not easily fooled. He then instructs Mr. Huang to remove the desks and chairs for a Senior Two life-planning class, implying the class will be dismantled.
Sang Xia attempts to buy more time, mentioning online applications. Meanwhile, Jiang Qinglang, having reflected on Lei Ming's challenge, speculates that Lei Ming might either be a secret rapper himself or possess "true papers and unique lesson plans" that could easily help him return to Peach Plum Class. This thought drives him to reconsider. Concurrently, Bian Xiaoxiao's video featuring Lei Ming has gone viral, attracting over 2,000 comments and 260,000 likes.
Realizing Class 11 is her "attention-grabber," she decides to join. Just as Mr. Xiao, Mr. Rong, and the security guards begin to move the furniture out of the classroom, Bian Xiaoxiao bursts in, declaring her registration for Class 11. Jiang Qinglang quickly follows, also announcing his enrollment. Moments later, Cheng Yushan and Li Ran rush in, just in time to register. Lei Ming playfully asks Cheng Yushan why it took her so long, and she retorts that he "didn't tell us the time."
