Remember My Boy Episode 12 Recap
> Remember My Boy Recap
In 2008, during the Chinese New Year, Zhou Jingmang waited anxiously at the exit of the train station until night fell and snow began to gently descend. She found herself consumed by a worrisome feeling, realizing how truly important Zhang Yang was to her and resolving to treasure him. She wished him a pocketful of happiness upon his return and hoped all his worries would be fleeting. Finally, Zhang Yang appeared, putting his headphones gently on her.
Zhou Jingmang's initial joy, however, turned into a frozen smile as she then saw Yu Hui Tong emerge from the station alongside him. Zhou Jingmang quickly lied, claiming she had been separated from her parents while picking up relatives, and then bid them farewell. Observing this, Yu Hui Tong remarked to Zhang Yang that he seemed to like Zhou Jingmang more than she had imagined, but Zhou Jingmang was also wimpier than expected.
Zhang Yang retorted that it had nothing to do with her, but Yu Hui Tong insisted that they had celebrated New Year together and found the snow particularly romantic, comparing it to the "Allure of Love." She confessed that she had been very happy these past few days. As winter gave way to spring, the new school term began.
Zhou Jingmang waited at the school entrance to surprise Zhang Yang with a warm milk tea, explaining that she had wanted to treat him at the train station but the drink had gotten cold. Zhang Yang playfully called her childish, then warned her that she only had ten minutes until the school bell, and her "short little legs" would take five minutes to reach class, while his "long legs" would get him there in no time.
Later, in class, Qin Zhen excitedly shared a new CD she bought during the break, inviting Shen Yinghui and Zhou Jingmang to listen. Despite the approaching self-study session, they started humming along to "Invisible Wings," and soon Zhuang Jie joined in, quickly prompting the entire class to sing along. The harmonious scene, however, was interrupted by Teacher Zhou, who angrily burst into the classroom, chastising them for singing after the bell had rung.
She demanded to know who started it, threatening to punish the entire class if no one confessed. Zhuang Jie bravely stepped forward, admitting he started it, but Qin Zhen immediately countered, saying it was her fault. Teacher Zhou, frustrated by their collective defiance, told them all to follow her. Shen Yinghui and Zhou Jingmang also confessed their participation, and even Ling Chen, the class monitor, stated that it was a class-wide act.
Teacher Zhou sent Ling Chen back to class, stating the matter was not over and would be dealt with later. After class, Zhang Yang subtly passed a note to Zhou Jingmang, asking her to meet him. When they spoke, Zhou Jingmang explained that she was just being honest, as everyone was singing, and she couldn't let Qin Zhen and Zhuang Jie take all the blame. Zhang Yang remarked that they were indeed alike.
He then advised her to seek his help if such a situation arose again, promising to protect her image as a good student and prevent her from being negatively affected, knowing her wish was to study hard, get into a good university, and please her parents and teachers. Qin Zhen found Zhou Jingmang and excitedly mentioned that Teacher Shi wanted to see them, speculating that Teacher Zhou had "snitched" on them.
Zhou Jingmang laughed, finding it amusing to call Teacher Zhou "Zhou Ba Pi" (a derogatory nickname). In Teacher Shi’s office, the students apologized, but Zhuang Jie firmly defended their actions, stating they were genuinely admitting their mistake, not causing trouble, and questioned if Teacher Zhou was being overly sensitive in wanting to punish them. Teacher Shi, however, expressed her disappointment, questioning her own suitability as a homeroom teacher given their disruptive behavior and defiant attitude.
She then assigned them the punishment of cleaning all the school's toilets after classes, only allowing them to go home once the task was complete. Qin Zhen, relieved they wouldn't face formal demerits, praised Teacher Shi, to which Teacher Shi clarified that it was Teacher Zhou's idea, and that he was also looking out for them, a fact they would understand when they were older. Zhou Jingmang was assigned to clean the toilets with Zhang Yang.
After she finished the girls' restroom, Zhang Yang, complaining about her slowness, made her help him with the boys' restroom. She reluctantly entered, feeling embarrassed by the "strange structure" she saw inside. Later, she recounted the experience to Shen Yinghui, who laughed and asked if she truly disliked Zhang Yang's teasing.
Shen Yinghui suggested that Zhang Yang's constant teasing was simply his way of trying to get Zhou Jingmang's attention, a sentiment Zhou Jingmang found confusing since Zhang Yang was already very attention-grabbing. Shen Yinghui confessed that she sometimes envied Zhou Jingmang. Meanwhile, Qin Zhen approached Ling Chen to give him knitted gloves, explaining they were compensation for dirtying his clothes with milk tea previously. Ling Chen refused, suggesting she spend her time on practice problems instead.
Qin Zhen, undeterred, told him she thought he was "very great" and "super handsome" for standing up for the class, admitting she used to think he was unapproachable. She then took the gloves back, promising to fix them as they were "a little ugly." Later, Qin Zhen discussed with Zhou Jingmang and Shen Yinghui how Ling Chen had changed, becoming more attractive than just a studious "god."
Shen Yinghui noted that Ling Chen, as the class monitor and a top student, usually cared only about grades and never talked back to teachers. Qin Zhen felt his actions showed great courage, and she wanted to befriend him because he often seemed lonely. That evening, in their dorm room, after Zhou Jingmang’s good exam results and overachieving during the holiday convinced her parents to let her live in the dorms again, the three girls worked on homework.
They discussed their future majors, agreeing that choosing based on one's strengths was best. As Zhou Jingmang and Shen Yinghui excelled in humanities, they decided to pursue that path. Qin Zhen, wanting to stay with her friends, declared she would also choose humanities, ensuring their "Haicheng S. H. E" trio would remain together. The next day, Zhou Jingmang made sure Zhang Yang, who sat behind her, overheard her intention to choose humanities for her studies.
She reflected on the New Year, how she had waited only for him to say "Happy New Year," and how separation made her realize that having someone you want to see means you're never truly alone. Years later, in 2015, the friends gathered. Qin Zhen was notably annoyed with Zhuang Jie. After dropping off Shen Yinghui, Zhuang Jie intentionally took a wrong turn instead of taking Qin Zhen home, bringing her to the school.
He then led them both to the school rooftop. Shen Yinghui explained that Zhuang Jie had brought them there to make up for Qin Zhen missing the school's fireworks display years ago when she transferred. Zhuang Jie wanted her to experience all the views she had missed so she would have no regrets in life with him. He confessed that he had planned to propose to her there that night, but "something came up," presumably referring to Zhang Yang.
Qin Zhen, still upset about an earlier lie, questioned his sincerity and whether he truly liked her or Zhang Yang. Zhou Jingmang explained that she had initially wanted to tell them, but seeing their high expectations for Zhang Yang, she felt they might be disappointed because he was indeed different now. The friends discussed how Zhang Yang had changed significantly from his once "strong independent" self. Qin Zhen wondered if he was still upset about the college exams.
Zhuang Jie recalled asking Zhang Yang once why he was so distant, and Zhang Yang replied that he felt "not good enough" to see them, a remark that surprised Shen Yinghui as it was unlike him. Shen Yinghui concluded that after growing up, they had all deviated from their younger selves. Later, Zhou Jingmang accompanied Zhang Yang to a restaurant.
He mentioned that he frequented the place because it was near her old rented apartment, hoping to run into her, but had no luck for five years. Offering her a bite from his plate, he spoke of a saying that others' food always tasted better, a sentiment he had longed to experience but couldn't, as he had always been alone. He then softly asked Zhou Jingmang how she had been.
Zhou Jingmang asked how he wanted her to answer, observing that he "seemed great." Zhang Yang described his current life as earning "not a lot, but not less," and living "not hard, but not easy," like many others who "seem fine." He added that "seeming fine after growing up isn't easy." Zhou Jingmang remarked that he "wasn't like this back then."
Zhang Yang responded that being 25 was different from being 16 or 17, and that after experiencing hunger, "dreams no longer exist," which he considered normal. He then simply stated that he was "really hungry."
