Just an Encore Episode 17 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
He Xinliang took Yan Ze to the French restaurant they had visited with Ji Xiao previously. At the restaurant, He Xinliang asked the waiter for a Chinese menu and told Yan Ze to order whatever she liked. Yan Ze remarked that she and Ji Xiao had dined there before, but she could not read anything on the menu last time, so she did not know what to order.
He Xinliang reiterated that he was taking responsibility, so she could order freely. Later, a foreign woman offered He Xinliang a drink and a note. He Xinliang returned the drink, stating he was a minor and could not drink, and also refused to give her his phone number. He then advised Yan Ze that when one has no feelings for someone, it is best to refuse them directly and unambiguously, without any hesitation.
Yan Ze then asked He Xinliang if he liked her. He Xinliang, quite alarmed, loudly declared that he had absolutely no feelings for her and had always considered her a buddy, never a girl. He then turned the question back to Yan Ze, asking if she liked him. Yan Ze replied that her opinion was the same as his. Meanwhile, Ji Xiao, holding a cotton candy, anxiously waited in the classroom for Yan Ze, wondering why she had not returned.
The Geography teacher walked in and asked Ji Xiao why he had missed the tutorial for the geography competition. He apologized, explaining he had forgotten because he was out buying something. She noticed the cotton candy and asked if it was for Yan Ze. Ji Xiao admitted it was a thank you gift for Yan Ze's help with exam review.
The teacher expressed understanding, telling him that in life, one must know what they truly desire and what they can accomplish to better pursue the people and things they like. She compared life to a train journey, where getting off at every station to see the sights might delay one's arrival at the destination, and the people accompanying them might change. She then told Ji Xiao to go home and remember to turn off the lights.
Later that evening, Yan Ze called He Xinliang from her doorstep to let him know she had arrived home safely. While on the phone, she suddenly realized she had left her backpack in the classroom. She started to panic, worrying about how she would explain it to her parents over the weekend, imagining a scolding. As she was speaking to He Xinliang, she noticed Yan Hai sitting dejectedly outside her house. She quickly hung up to check on him.
Yan Hai told her that things with Liu Xichuan were completely over, and he would never like her again. Yan Ze pressed him for details, and Yan Hai revealed he had discovered that Liu Xichuan was only cheering him on to spite Xiao Zhuo'an. He felt used, like a mere tool for her to show off. He decided he would truly give up on Liu Xichuan and focus on playing basketball to achieve his dreams.
Meanwhile, Ji Xiao stood below Yan Ze's window, calling her phone repeatedly, but Yan Ze, engrossed in her conversation with Yan Hai, did not hear it. He softly called her name, but still received no response. He then decided to gently tap her window with a small stone to get her attention, but accidentally shattered the glass. The unexpected sound startled both Yan Ze and Yan Hai. Yan Hai looked down and identified Ji Xiao.
Yan Ze quickly went downstairs, where Ji Xiao, holding the now misshapen cotton candy, looked dejected as he asked why she had gone out without inviting him. Yan Ze explained that she had considered inviting him but assumed he would not skip class. Hearing this, Ji Xiao was pleased and declared he would not hold it against her. Yan Ze then asked Ji Xiao if he had ever written her a "thank you" note. Ji Xiao denied it.
This again led Yan Ze to believe that the note was not from Ji Xiao. Feeling a headache from the strong wind, Ji Xiao soon departed. Later, He Xinliang went to Yan Ze's classroom. Finding the door locked, he climbed in through the transom window. After retrieving her backpack, he attempted to jump back out but accidentally fell.
Back at Yan Ze's house, she and Yan Hai were attempting to patch up the broken window with tape when Yan Ze's father arrived home. Upon discovering the shattered glass, he became furious and demanded to know who was responsible. Yan Ze immediately pointed to Yan Hai, who, prompted by Yan Ze, reluctantly confessed. Yan Ze's father, boiling with anger, chased Yan Hai around the house, attempting to hit him, with Yan Ze trying to intervene.
Once her father was exhausted, they all settled on the sofa. He then asked to see Yan Ze's homework. Yan Ze, feigning to see Yan Hai off, secretly hoped he would retrieve her backpack from school. Yan Hai initially refused but found the backpack waiting at the doorstep when he stepped outside. Believing Ji Xiao had delivered her backpack, Yan Ze joyfully texted him her thanks.
She also shared how she had shifted the blame for the broken window onto Yan Hai. Ji Xiao, who was reading with Liu Xichuan at the time, showed her the message. Liu Xichuan read it and exclaimed that they had done a brilliant job.
She saw this as an opportunity, stating that as Ji Xiao's cousin and Yan Ze's former club president, she felt responsible for their mistakes and would use this to apologize to Yan Hai, ensuring he could not avoid her.
