Just an Encore Episode 16 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
Ji Xiao walked Yan Ze home, and they made plans to meet at the school library the following day. Upon returning home, Yan Ze confided in Gu Xiye about her exhausting day. She felt that she and Ji Xiao were from entirely different worlds, as she had no interest in the things he enjoyed, such as the paintings, calligraphy, and ancient artifacts they saw at the museum. She had to pretend to be interested, which left her neck aching.
She also recounted their visit to a French restaurant where she couldn't understand anything, and how a blonde woman had ordered a drink for Ji Xiao and made a suggestive gesture. Gu Xiye dismissed it as a common salutation and advised Yan Ze to focus on improving her studies with Ji Xiao instead of dwelling on irrelevant matters. Yan Ze, however, wondered if expressing a little anger wouldn't hurt, to which Gu Xiye replied, "As long as you're pleased."
The next day, Yan Ze arrived at the school library to find Ji Xiao already there, which made her angry. Ji Xiao immediately apologized, explaining that his cousin had advised him to always apologize to a girl who is upset, regardless of whether he did anything wrong. When Yan Ze asked why he wasn't curious about the reason for her anger, Ji Xiao promptly asked, leaving her speechless. He Xinliang then joined them, teasing Yan Ze for making a scene.
He complained about Xiao Zhuo'an's cheerleaders being a constant bother. Just as he spoke, Liu Xichuan arrived and asked if Xiao Zhuo'an's cheerleaders were related to the upcoming basketball friendly match. He Xinliang, Ji Xiao, and Yan Ze remained silent. Under Liu Xichuan's implied threat, He Xinliang confirmed it was indeed about the match.
Liu Xichuan declared she would not let Xiao Zhuo'an have her way and left, prompting Ji Xiao to wonder why Liu Xichuan was also against Xiao Zhuo'an, a comment Yan Ze found rather clueless. On the day of the friendly match, Gu Xiye set up cutouts of Rukawa Kaede and He Xinliang, along with banners praising He Xinliang as "the best of Yangming."
Xiao Zhuo'an, however, scoffed at Gu Xiye, calling her "stupid" for not knowing He Xinliang detested Rukawa Kaede, and boasting that she knew all of He Xinliang's likes and dislikes from childhood. Gu Xiye was visibly hurt. Meanwhile, He Xinliang informed Mr. Han that he no longer wanted to play in the match, expressing his annoyance at the noisy cheerleaders ruining what could have been a good game.
Mr. Han, surprisingly, agreed with He Xinliang's view that basketball is a team game that shouldn't be overshadowed by individual interests. He eventually persuaded He Xinliang to return to the court. Once back, He Xinliang saw Gu Xiye's display and stated he disliked it, but disliked Xiao Zhuo'an's efforts even more. He told Gu Xiye that she and other girls didn't understand basketball; they were just there for the handsome guys, without grasping the meaning of sportsmanship.
He added that even his parents didn't understand. Gu Xiye, happy that He Xinliang was sharing something personal for the first time, removed her display. She told him she understood that sportsmanship was about fair competition, and He Xinliang then left the court. To counter Xiao Zhuo'an, Liu Xichuan arrived with her own banner, "MVP of all-Yan Hai," and a cheering squad to support Yan Hai.
Later, He Xinliang called Yan Ze out of her classroom, promising to help her get to know him thoroughly. They climbed over the school wall, sharing many amusing stories. He then took her to a barbershop that Xiao Zhuo'an had previously introduced him to. He Xinliang recalled the time Yan Ze had previously expressed her feelings for him (which Yan Ze insisted was an accident), noting it was the first time he had ever refused a girl.
He shared his belief that an ambiguous attitude causes the most pain, and therefore, he wanted to be his true self—liking what he liked and hating what he hated. Yan Ze then suggested that He Xinliang should "enlighten Ji Xiao" about his overly polite behavior, such as accepting cards and drinks from other girls. He Xinliang agreed that Ji Xiao's actions were indeed "lame." Just then, Mr. Han entered the barbershop for a haircut.
He Xinliang and Yan Ze quickly put on wigs, attempting to impersonate salon staff and escape, but Mr. Han easily saw through their disguise. He Xinliang took full responsibility, but Mr. Han insisted that both of them would be punished for skipping class and must be taken to Director Zheng. He Xinliang then used Mr. Han's own presence at the barbershop during school hours as leverage, pointing out his hypocrisy.
Faced with exposure, Mr. Han relented on taking them to Director Zheng but still marched them back to school. On their way back, they unluckily ran into Director Zheng, who questioned Yan Ze and He Xinliang about why they were not in class. Mr. Han quickly covered for them, claiming he was taking them to the canteen for voluntary labor, explaining that experiencing life's hardships would help them cherish school life. Director Zheng accepted the explanation.
At the canteen, a ma'am asked Mr. Han to write the daily menu on the blackboard. Mr. Han, in turn, tasked He Xinliang and Yan Ze with the job. He Xinliang wrote down the menu and signed off with "Thank you." Yan Ze noticed that He Xinliang's handwriting was exactly like Ji Xiao's. She then asked if he had been the one to write her a thank you note in the past.
He Xinliang confirmed it, much to Yan Ze's surprise, as she realized the note hadn't been from Ji Xiao. After they finished cleaning the canteen, Yan Ze mentioned she was hungry. He Xinliang offered to take her to the same French restaurant she had visited with Ji Xiao, telling her it was important to "pick yourself up from where you've fallen." He reminisced about his childhood mischief, admitting he never regretted those actions and often missed those who had been scolded alongside him.
