Just an Encore Episode 10 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
He Xinliang was secretly searching for the rooftop key in Mr. Zheng's office when Mr. Zheng unexpectedly walked in. He Xinliang quickly hid the key he had found. Mr. Zheng was surprised to see him and asked what he was doing there. He Xinliang explained that he wanted to discuss the upcoming Division of Arts and Sciences.
Mr. Zheng assured him that with his excellent academic performance, choosing either arts or sciences would be fine, but as his head teacher, he suggested He Xinliang pursue sciences for a better future. He Xinliang tried to excuse himself, but Mr. Zheng kept elaborating. Finally, He Xinliang declared that Mr. Zheng's words had provided him with sudden enlightenment and promptly left. Mr. Zheng then pondered that even exceptional students can experience a unique kind of distress.
Back in the classroom, He Xinliang called Gu Xiye aside. He asked if she was hesitant about hosting a foreign exchange student, noting her look of dilemma when Mr. Zheng mentioned it earlier. He offered to host the student on her behalf, so she wouldn't feel awkward. Gu Xiye was pleased but worried it might conflict with his summer camp in America.
He Xinliang reassured her that the camp started later, so he could see off the foreign student before he left. Meanwhile, Yan Ze, having devised a solution for their two foreign students, rushed to tell Gu Xiye, only to be informed that the issue had already been resolved, though Gu Xiye did not elaborate on the solution. He Xinliang gave the collection of keys to Yan Hai. With so many keys, they couldn't identify the one for the rooftop.
Guo Chao began testing them one by one, which made Yan Hai, waiting below the teaching building, increasingly anxious. Unable to wait any longer for the banner to be unfurled, Yan Hai decided to proceed with his confession. Using a megaphone, he loudly declared his affection for Liu Xichuan, calling out her name. A large crowd of students gathered, including Yan Ze, He Xinliang, Ji Xiao, and Gu Xiye.
Yan Ze felt embarrassed by her brother's public display, while Ji Xiao admired Yan Hai's sincerity and courage. Eventually, Liu Xichuan emerged, took the megaphone, and announced that she did not like him, asking him to refrain from such actions in the future. Just then, Guo Chao successfully unlocked the rooftop door and unfurled the banner. Yan Hai, seeking an explanation, was told by Liu Xichuan that his public confession had embarrassed her.
Struck by her words, Yan Hai was heartbroken. Mr. Zheng then appeared, sternly criticizing Yan Hai's behavior and dispersing the onlookers. Mr. Zheng tried to console a tearful Yan Hai, who denied crying, before sending him to his office. Yan Ze convened her last class meeting as the monitor of Class 3, expressing her gratitude for everyone's support and cooperation. She reminded the students who planned to study arts to submit their application forms the following day.
To the surprise of everyone, including He Xinliang and Yan Ze, Ji Xiao stood up and stated he would choose arts. Seeing Ji Xiao's decision, He Xinliang seemed to grasp Ji Xiao's feelings for Yan Ze and discreetly threw his own form, also marked for arts, into the trash. Yan Ze later asked Ji Xiao why he chose arts.
He replied that he liked arts and also "the one who chooses arts," though Yan Ze didn't quite catch the last part. Regardless, Yan Ze was delighted by his choice. At the Graduation Party for the Class of 2007, Yan Hai continued to drown his sorrows in cola, still crestfallen from his rejected confession. Yan Ze tried to stop him, warning him about drinking too much. She then searched for Ji Xiao to confirm his decision about studying arts.
She found him, but he was engrossed in watching Liu Xichuan sing on stage and didn't respond to Yan Ze's excited calls, nor did he hear her question about whether he liked Liu Xichuan. After Liu Xichuan finished her song, Ji Xiao went on stage to present her with flowers. Witnessing their seemingly perfect pairing, Yan Ze cried and ran off. Later, Gu Xiye was surrounded by boys vying for a dance.
Yan Ze's roommate stopped Yan Ze from intervening, sharing "big news": Gu Xiye's status might be challenged by a new, smart and beautiful transfer student. The roommate struggled to recall the name, only remembering it sounded like "Xiao Zhuo". Eventually, she shouted, "Xiao Zhuo'an!" This name stunned both Gu Xiye and Yan Ze, as Xiao Zhuo'an was their former close friend who had disappeared without a trace.
As summer vacation commenced, Mr. Zheng gathered students, including Yan Ze, to inform them of their "glorious and arduous task" of hosting foreign exchange students. He handed the students' information to Yan Ze, instructing her to assign one student per family, adhering to same-gender pairings for convenience. The students were perplexed by the "blind pick" system, as only names were provided, with no photos or explicit gender indicators. They worried about being assigned an "ugly" student.
Yan Ze offered to take the last remaining student, promising to switch with anyone who was dissatisfied. Ji Xiao chose a student named Ari Singh Sabrah, saying he liked the name and found it "nice", inferring it was a male based on the name but not verifying the gender. After Ji Xiao made his choice, Yan Ze excused herself and left the room.
The episode concluded with a reflection on how, when faced with goodbyes, people often stubbornly pretend to be indifferent, only realizing the depth of their feelings for those who leave without a word when they meet again.
