Just an Encore Episode 13 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
He Xinliang's father, a PhD in engineering, hoped his son would follow in his and his wife's footsteps and pursue scientific research. He believed America offered excellent laboratory equipment and resources for He Xinliang to further his studies. However, He Xinliang expressed his desire to play basketball, not to be a researcher. His father insisted that He Xinliang was wasting his talent and resources by focusing on basketball.
He Xinliang countered that he was not happy doing what his parents wanted, stating, "I'm not happy that way." He passionately declared his love for basketball and his belief that he could excel with that passion, recalling how a friend taught him that pursuing what one loves is paramount. He added that his parents rarely cared about his feelings.
He Xinliang mentioned that during his summer camp, he learned many basketball skills from players in the All-American High School Basketball League and identified his shortcomings. His father was disappointed in his son's newfound conviction. As the new semester began, Yan Ze and Ji Xiao arrived late to class and found themselves once again as desk-mates. Meanwhile, in Class 3, a new transfer student, Xiao Zhuo'an, arrived, much to the surprise of Gu Xiye.
Xiao Zhuo'an greeted Gu Xiye, and their teacher, Mr. Zheng, asked Gu Xiye to show her around. Yan Ze also spotted Xiao Zhuo'an at the opening ceremony, and a visible tension arose when Liu Xichuan, the school's esteemed beauty, met Xiao Zhuo'an. Later, Yan Ze took over Liu Xichuan's role as head of the Sports Department.
Liu Xichuan inquired about Xiao Zhuo'an, and Yan Ze informed her that Xiao Zhuo'an was already the talk of the school's boys, with even Yan Hai seemingly smitten. Liu Xichuan reacted with clear displeasure upon hearing this. With Yan Ze moving to an arts class, Class 3 needed a new class monitor. Xiao Zhuo'an boldly volunteered, declaring that she would certainly outperform Yan Ze in the role.
After school, Gu Xiye also added her name to the blackboard for the class monitor election. Xiao Zhuo'an entered, remarking to Gu Xiye that she hadn't changed, always "hiding behind someone else, letting others deal with the problems, but at the same time, you're secretly competing." Gu Xiye demanded to know Xiao Zhuo'an's intentions. Xiao Zhuo'an stated she simply wanted to reclaim her original position and what belonged to her.
Gu Xiye challenged her, asking if she truly believed she could return to her old place, to which Xiao Zhuo'an confidently replied that she would find new, better places regardless. Gu Xiye, frustrated, asked Xiao Zhuo'an what she thought of her classmates, questioning if she considered them friends. Xiao Zhuo'an replied that she considered Gu Xiye a friend. Gu Xiye questioned if Xiao Zhuo'an ever truly considered her a friend and pressed her about past involvement in "something like that."
Xiao Zhuo'an then warned Gu Xiye not to assume she could take others' things just because she thought she was better. She declared, "Now that I'm back, and I'm better than before, I'm going to take back what belongs to me." Gu Xiye interpreted this as a challenge, and Xiao Zhuo'an readily accepted. Just as Xiao Zhuo'an began to question Gu Xiye about her relationship with He Xinliang, Liu Xichuan arrived and interrupted, challenging Xiao Zhuo'an herself.
Their ensuing confrontation quickly drew a large crowd of male students. Gu Xiye later approached Yan Ze, asking about the preparations needed to run for class monitor. Yan Ze was astonished by Gu Xiye's sudden interest in elections. Gu Xiye explained that she wanted to compete with Xiao Zhuo'an. Hearing this, Yan Ze felt a pang of disappointment, realizing that Gu Xiye seemed closer to Xiao Zhuo'an and would change herself for her.
She mused that even in a group of three, there would always be two who were more intimately connected. During class, a teacher asked how many minutes it takes for sunlight to reach Earth. Yan Ze correctly answered "eight minutes," a fact Xiao Zhuo'an had once explained in detail, describing the philosophical implication that the warmth and brightness we experience are, in a sense, from the past.
As Yan Ze and her younger brother, Yan Hai, walked home, Yan Hai asked her what girls were always thinking about. Yan Ze herself was perplexed by Xiao Zhuo'an's sudden return and decision to run for class monitor, Gu Xiye's anger, her own feelings of loss, and Liu Xichuan's unexpected interest in Xiao Zhuo'an. Yan Hai was particularly surprised about Liu Xichuan's attention to Xiao Zhuo'an.
When Yan Ze began to hint about Ji Xiao, Yan Hai pressed her for details, teasing that she would be "left unloved" if she left a sentence unfinished. Yan Ze playfully chided him, then sighed, "No wonder no one likes me." He Xinliang returned from America, having hoped for a call or text from Yan Ze, but receiving none. Meanwhile, Ji Xiao approached Yan Ze, attempting to mend their strained relationship.
He noted her recent "terrible" attitude toward him and offered to overlook her previous "rude remarks." Yan Ze, still seething over his mistaken confession to Gu Xiye, was about to retort when He Xinliang called her. On the phone, He Xinliang complained about her lack of contact. Agitated, Yan Ze told him to stay where he was and she would come to him.
Ji Xiao asked who had called, and Yan Ze informed him it was He Xinliang, who was back. Ji Xiao seemed pleased by the news and briefly considered calling He Xinliang himself, but ultimately put his phone down. Yan Ze rushed to meet He Xinliang and, full of pent-up anger, immediately blurted out that Ji Xiao had confessed to Gu Xiye. She lashed out at He Xinliang, blaming him for providing "wrong" information and not truly understanding Ji Xiao.
Seeing Yan Ze so distraught, He Xinliang felt genuinely bad. To cheer her up, he suggested they release Kongming lanterns. Despite his efforts, Yan Ze remained unhappy. She asked He Xinliang if Ji Xiao had ever confessed to anyone else before. After jokingly asking if he himself counted, he confirmed that Ji Xiao hadn't. Yan Ze lamented that all boys seemed to favor "perfect" girls like Gu Xiye.
Then, she dropped a bombshell: He Xinliang's childhood sweetheart, Xiao Zhuo'an, had returned and was now in his class, leaving him visibly shocked. He Xinliang's inner thoughts revealed his feelings about old friends, wondering how Xiao Zhuo'an was doing but not daring to ask.
