Flourish In Time Episode 8 Recap
> Flourish In Time Recap
Lu Miao was elated remembering Jiang Haoyue’s compliment about her eyes earlier that morning. She carefully tied her hair with a hair accessory he had given her, opting to return a hairpin to Shi Che. Shi Che, puzzled by her rejection of his gift, asked if she found it ugly. Lu Miao explained it wasn’t her style and declared her new approach to self-expression: dressing comfortably and "being me."
Soon, Lu Miao’s mother reminded the family that Jiang Haoyue’s birthday was approaching in two days. They discussed how to celebrate, with Lu Miao’s mother suggesting a quiet celebration at home, as Jiang Haoyue disliked too much commotion. When Lu Miao enthusiastically volunteered to take charge of preparing the birthday cake and selecting a gift, her mother seemed surprised, asking "Why always cake?"
As he was turning seventeen, they agreed a special gift was also in order, though a simple pen was quickly deemed too ordinary. Struggling to find the perfect birthday gift for Jiang Haoyue, Lu Miao confided in Xie Ziye. Xie Ziye, ever the expert, declared that according to her "Ten Rules of Love," a birthday was the ultimate opportunity to gauge someone's true feelings, as the birthday person's emotions tend to run high, making them more open and revealing.
Lu Miao, however, seemed to misinterpret this as a test of friendship rather than romantic interest. They sifted through gift ideas. When Xie Ziye suggested a "Cheers to Our Friendship" glass, Lu Miao found it too straightforward, questioning how it would gauge his true feelings. They also rejected a snow globe for being "too sissy" for Jiang Haoyue. Ultimately, Lu Miao had an inspiration for a gift.
Lu Miao decided on a white shirt for Jiang Haoyue, but she needed his measurements. With Xie Ziye’s assistance, they devised a plan to secretly measure him in the school library. They sat on either side of Jiang Haoyue, who was engrossed in his studies, and began their subtle attempts. Lu Miao feigned an interest in studying English, then offered Jiang Haoyue a massage, trying to get close enough.
Xie Ziye then created a distraction by suggesting they retrieve examination papers. Jiang Haoyue noticed their odd behavior, especially when Xie Ziye "found" a tape measure, which Lu Miao vehemently denied was hers. Despite the awkward encounter and Lu Miao’s flimsy excuse about numb legs, she claimed to have roughly obtained the waist measurement before they quickly departed. The school's autumn trip was scheduled for November 13, which coincided with Jiang Haoyue’s birthday.
Lu Miao's excitement quickly turned to dismay; Jiang Haoyue had always avoided school excursions, and she knew if she attended the trip, she wouldn't be able to celebrate his birthday with him. She tried to persuade him to join the autumn trip, but he firmly refused, stating he would be preparing for a contest at school.
That evening, at home, Jiang Haoyue looked at a childhood photo of his family and the watch his mother had left him, a clear sense of melancholy settling upon him. Determined to celebrate Jiang Haoyue's birthday, Lu Miao resolved to skip the autumn trip. Shi Che, upon learning of her intentions, became visibly jealous. He decided he would prevent her from ditching the trip at all costs.
During the autumn trip, he manipulated the situation to ensure he and Lu Miao were selected for the class’s two-man-three-foot race. Lu Miao, racing against time to intercept Jiang Haoyue's birthday cake delivery, was desperate to leave. Shi Che deliberately stalled by meticulously tying his shoelaces, giving a "professional athlete's" safety precaution for "class honor." Realizing time was running out, Lu Miao grew increasingly frustrated with Shi Che’s stalling.
Xie Ziye, observing their bickering, playfully declared that their "great teamwork" meant Shi Che and Lu Miao should compete together, then announced she was leaving. This provided Lu Miao with the perfect opportunity to escape the race. She sprinted away, thanking Xie Ziye and promising her snacks, while a frustrated Shi Che gave chase. Lu Miao raced against the clock, reaching the school just as the delivery driver arrived with the birthday cake.
As she hurried into the school building, searching for Jiang Haoyue, she was spotted by Mr. Yang, the Disciplinary Director. She bolted, trying to evade him. Shi Che caught up and attempted to create a diversion, but his efforts were futile. Lu Miao and Shi Che were eventually caught and brought to the Director's office, where Jiang Haoyue was also present. Fortunately, Mr. Yang proved to be understanding.
Upon confirming it was indeed Jiang Haoyue’s birthday, he agreed to let them celebrate on the spot. With the Director’s surprising permission, the three students and the teacher shared a joyful birthday celebration for Jiang Haoyue, complete with cake. That evening, as Jiang Yi played mahjong, he sent a text message wishing Jiang Haoyue a happy birthday, but his son did not reply. Lu Miao presented Jiang Haoyue with the tailored white shirt she had specially made for him.
He tried it on, noting the waist felt a little loose, but Lu Miao assured him it looked good. Jiang Haoyue genuinely liked the gift. When asked about his birthday wish, he expressed a desire to "be an adult as soon as possible" so he could have "more choices." Lu Miao echoed the sentiment, but Jiang Haoyue playfully told her to "be a kid forever." Later, Jiang Haoyue received a call from his mother, who wished him a happy birthday.
She expressed her desire for him to move in with her to access better educational resources and to finally "be rid of Jiang Yi for good," whom she described as a "liability." She promised that he would be an adult in a year and able to choose his own path. Jiang Haoyue, while acknowledging his own wish for choices, did not immediately commit to her request.
After the call, Lu Miao offered Jiang Haoyue another birthday present, a bag of snacks, which he promptly gave to some younger children. When Lu Miao questioned this, he explained that eating too many snacks was bad for teeth and criticized her for being "too wasteful" for giving away her gifts so easily. He then ate some himself, finding them delicious.
