Just an Encore Episode 2 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
Yan Ze had just finished making some modifications when Mr. Han arrived, also intending to adjust the competition schedule. Mr. Han, upon seeing the schedule, was delighted. He immediately announced to Class 3 that they would be facing Class 7 in an exhibition basketball game for the upcoming School Open Day. However, the students lacked confidence, wondering how their class, without a proper basketball team, could possibly compete against a more professional one.
He Xinliang, brimming with confidence, readily volunteered to play, and Ji Xiao stepped forward to support him, suggesting they play together. Despite their enthusiasm, few students signed up. Ji Xiao prompted Yan Ze to help recruit players for He Xinliang. When her general plea didn't work, Yan Ze started calling out specific classmates like Qin Can, Pan Zhiheng, and Zhang Xu.
The students, however, came up with various excuses, from unfinished math homework to simply disliking sports or even jokingly claiming a male equivalent of a "period." He Xinliang became so frustrated that he nearly argued with his classmates. Ji Xiao then pulled He Xinliang out of the classroom, encouraging him to calm down and assuring him they would find a solution together. Yan Ze came up with a clever idea: showing the anime "Slam Dunk" to ignite the students' passion.
Taking advantage of their newfound excitement, He Xinliang quickly called for sign-ups, and indeed, many students responded enthusiastically. Shortly after, Mr. Han walked in, visibly angry to see "Slam Dunk" playing. He chastised Yan Ze, who was about to admit her mistake, but Ji Xiao promptly stood up and took responsibility, deeply moving Yan Ze. Later, Yan Ze invited her brother, Yan Hai, home for dinner.
During their meal, Yan Hai expressed admiration for Liu Xichuan, who he knew as the head of the Sports Department. Seizing this opportunity, Yan Ze offered Liu Xichuan's contact information as a bribe, asking Yan Hai to relentlessly guard He Xinliang during the basketball game, ensuring he had no chance to score. Yan Hai readily agreed. He Xinliang began organizing basketball practices, with Gu Xiye diligently taking notes.
At the cafeteria, Mr. Han ran into Ms. Gu, who was confident that Class 7, with their specialized basketball students, would easily win the upcoming game. Mr. Han concurred, expressing his certainty. After Ms. Gu left, Mr. Han was seen meticulously planning, instructing players like Guo Chao and Chang Ping to "mark" He Xinliang, while also worrying that Yan Hai might disobey his instructions during the game. That evening, He Xinliang was still practicing late on the basketball court.
Ji Xiao advised him to conserve his energy for the official game the next day and go home to rest. Ji Xiao understood that basketball was He Xinliang's true passion, and he wanted to achieve something to show his parents.
He Xinliang confided his frustration, unable to understand why his parents disapproved of such a great sport, especially after he secretly tried to change his high school application to a sports school, only to end up as a top student in Yangming's key class. Ji Xiao encouraged He Xinliang, suggesting that if they played well together, things might take a positive turn.
The next day, before the game, Class 3 players were still engrossed in their studies, while Class 7's morale was high. However, Yan Hai was unexpectedly listed as a substitute by Mr. Han, completely derailing Yan Ze's plan to use him against He Xinliang. As the game began, it was intensely competitive. Class 3 managed to score several consecutive points, causing Mr. Han to become agitated.
Feeling his team was at a disadvantage, he quickly called a timeout, giving urgent instructions and conspicuously keeping Yan Hai on the bench. He also instructed the referee to make biased calls. This infuriated Yan Ze, who, using her phone to record, started listing specific instances of "bad calls" by the referee, complete with timestamps and foul descriptions. Mr. Zheng, the Director, caught her with the phone and, enraged, ordered her to his office later.
Meanwhile, the classmates cheered for Yan Ze, praising her eloquence. Seeing the unfairness on the court, Yan Hai defied Mr. Han's orders and joined the game, single-handedly turning the tide of the match. After the game, Mr. Zheng punished Yan Ze for bringing her phone to school by making her clean the entire court and all the toilets outside.
Yan Hai, noticing Liu Xichuan in the stands, ostentatiously showed off, claiming he won the game all by himself, leaving Yan Ze to clean alone. Gu Xiye kindly offered to help Yan Ze, and although He Xinliang initially pretended not to care, he secretly wanted to assist. He stepped in to defend Gu Xiye from other girls, subtly insulting them by calling them "long-lived girls" (implying they were not beautiful), which made Gu Xiye happy.
As He Xinliang retrieved his jacket near Yan Ze, she, mistaking his presence for gratitude, preemptively told him not to thank her. She admitted she had initially wanted to embarrass him, but declared that while she could accept a fair loss, she would never tolerate losing due to biased refereeing. She firmly stated that only she was allowed to "bully" her own classmates. Annoyed, He Xinliang took his jacket and left without a word.
Later, Mr. Han was scolded by the Director, Mr. Zheng. The two teachers shifted blame for the biased calls and the altered match schedule. They soon realized that Yan Ze and Gu Xiye might have been responsible for tampering with the document. When Mr. Zheng summoned Yan Ze and Gu Xiye to his office, Yan Ze insisted on going alone, telling Gu Xiye to stay behind.
In the office, Yan Ze fully took responsibility for changing the schedule, despite Mr. Zheng's angry comparison of her actions to a "Princess Pearl" drama. Just as Mr. Zheng was about to escalate her punishment, Ji Xiao opportunely entered, feigning a need to ask a question, thereby allowing Yan Ze to leave the office. Meanwhile, He Xinliang, recalling his father's admonition to abandon basketball and focus on scientific research, encountered Yan Ze happily eating cotton candy. Finding her endearing, he offered her a tissue.
