Just an Encore Episode 22 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
The next day at school, Xiao Zhuo'an confronted Gu Xiye, ordering her to stay after school and asking if she was pretending to be deaf. He Xinliang intervened, pulling Xiao Zhuo'an away and reminding her that school was for learning. He challenged Xiao Zhuo'an to fight him instead of constantly resorting to violence as she used to. He Xinliang stated that Gu Xiye had done nothing wrong.
Xiao Zhuo'an retorted that she knew He Xinliang would side with Gu Xiye, which was fine as it would allow her to act without scruples. Annoyed by her stubbornness, He Xinliang called her boring and left. Yan Ze, worried about Gu Xiye, desperately asked her classmates for help, but none were willing to get involved in a crowd fight, stating that Yangming students were typically good students. Ji Xiao and He Xinliang offered their assistance.
He Xinliang jokingly suggested he would only help if Yan Ze kowtowed to him again, which Yan Ze flatly refused. She then insisted that Ji Xiao should not get involved to avoid any blemish on his otherwise impeccable record, highlighting that he was different from a "punk" like He Xinliang and shouldn't hit girls. Ji Xiao, however, maintained he could protect her.
He Xinliang, overhearing Yan Ze's comment, asked who she was calling a punk, claiming he possessed both ability and morality. Gu Xiye then appeared, thanking Yan Ze for her concern. Ji Xiao believed that Xiao Zhuo'an wouldn't actually harm Gu Xiye, given their past friendship. However, Yan Ze explained that Xiao Zhuo'an had a history of violence in middle school, often beating anyone she disliked, with Gu Xiye's parents frequently having to resolve the fallout.
Gu Xiye expressed sadness that it was now her turn to be targeted but insisted that she needed to face her challenges head-on to grow stronger and be able to protect Yan Ze in the future. He Xinliang, hearing this, muttered that Xiao Zhuo'an was "off her head" for her sudden departure and equally sudden return, but Yan Ze gently admonished him. Yan Ze then suggested they go straight home to avoid Xiao Zhuo'an and her group.
Thinking herself clever for choosing to go home instead of the dormitory, Yan Ze believed they had evaded any ambush. However, Xiao Zhuo'an was already waiting for them, challenging them on whether they thought she couldn't find them. Yan Ze tried to put on a brave front for Gu Xiye, telling her to step back and assuring her, "I got you," adding that an imposing manner was more important than words.
Gu Xiye, trembling, stepped forward and declared that she would no longer hide from Xiao Zhuo'an, ready to settle all "new and old grudges" and put an end to their conflict. She asked Xiao Zhuo'an to let Yan Ze go, as the matter concerned only them. Seizing an opportunity, Yan Ze ran back to school and found He Xinliang, tearfully explaining that Xiao Zhuo'an had surrounded Gu Xiye at the bus station.
He Xinliang immediately called out to Ji Xiao, and the two boys rushed to Gu Xiye's aid, instructing Yan Ze to stay put. Ji Xiao asked Yan Ze if she was being bullied, to which she replied no, it was Gu Xiye. At the bus station, He Xinliang and Ji Xiao formed a protective barrier around Gu Xiye. Xiao Zhuo'an challenged He Xinliang to hit her, but he refused, stating he didn't hit girls.
Ji Xiao attempted to mediate, saying violence wouldn't solve anything. Xiao Zhuo'an launched into a furious tirade, claiming she had always been the one to solve problems and that Gu Xiye never truly considered her a friend, only a servant.
She declared that she was no less capable than Gu Xiye and would reclaim everything taken from her, asserting that Gu Xiye was no longer a princess and deserved to suffer so that Xiao Zhuo'an could finally experience being "patronizing" and "high and mighty." He Xinliang, disgusted, accused Xiao Zhuo'an of being insane and making pretentious excuses for her jealousy.
Just then, Yan Ze's father, Andy Yan, arrived with a group of his taxi driver colleagues, causing Xiao Zhuo'an and her gang of young women to hastily flee, with Xiao Zhuo'an crying as she departed. Later, Xiao Zhuo'an reflected on a past incident where she had protected Yan Ze and Gu Xiye from a group of thugs, asserting that their trio, like the band "S. H. E. ," should "stick together through thick and thin."
Back then, Yan Ze had described one of the thugs as a "toad lusting for swan's flesh," leading Xiao Zhuo'an to bravely confront them. She realized that their old friendship was irrevocably broken and that it was time to move on. At home, Andy Yan praised the two boys for their bravery, noting that Yan Ze and Gu Xiye could have been in serious trouble without their intervention.
He suggested inviting Ji Xiao and He Xinliang for dinner to thank them in person. Yan Ze, however, insisted that they had helped her because they were her friends, not because of Gu Xiye, causing a playful argument with her father, who teased that they were probably trying to impress Gu Xiye. Meanwhile, Mr. Zheng summoned Miss Wang to his office, scolding her for prematurely dismissing classes and undermining student discipline.
Miss Wang calmly defended her teaching philosophy, advocating for a student-centered approach over rote learning and forced education. When Mr. Zheng declared he had nothing more to say to someone like her, Miss Wang retorted that she too had more to say, explaining that fostering talent and allowing students to flourish was essential for overall academic success, not just focusing on conventional scores. She concluded that "spoon-feeding education" was useless, leaving Mr. Zheng speechless.
During a school assembly, Mr. Zheng announced Xiao Zhuo'an's punishment: probation and a 10,000-word self-criticism for instigating the fight. Xiao Zhuo'an, instead of a contrite apology, used the platform to declare her regrets about leaving for Shanghai, trusting friends, and, most notably, falling in love with He Xinliang. Infuriated by her defiant and inappropriate public confession, Mr. Zheng immediately pulled her off the stage, threatening to bar her from classes if she didn't complete the extensive self-criticism.
Later, Yan Hai was caught by Mr. Zheng at an internet café, playing the online game "Audition" with a female avatar. Yan Hai had even convinced a girl at a nearby table to speak into his microphone, pretending to be him, after his in-game "husband" demanded a voice chat, causing the other player to realize he was a "damn lady-boy." Mr. Zheng dragged Yan Hai to his office to write a self-criticism.
To Yan Hai's surprise, Gu Xiye, He Xinliang, and Xiao Zhuo'an were already there. Yan Hai, being overly talkative, blurted out the details of their respective punishments: He Xinliang and Gu Xiye for the blackout, and Xiao Zhuo'an for beating Gu Xiye and publicly confessing to He Xinliang. Everyone turned on Yan Hai for his loose tongue.
He Xinliang questioned Yan Hai's choice of game, leading Yan Hai to proudly declare he played "Audition" as a female character, boasting about numerous in-game marriage proposals and a limited-edition Christmas costume. This comment unexpectedly sparked a new argument between Xiao Zhuo'an and He Xinliang.
Xiao Zhuo'an pointedly suggested that He Xinliang and Gu Xiye could spend Christmas together, implying that Gu Xiye harbored feelings for He Xinliang and even bringing up the "South Mountain Wish Tree" where people write their names with their crushes. He Xinliang, visibly uncomfortable, pulled Xiao Zhuo'an away, while Gu Xiye, watching his reaction, mistakenly believed he might actually reciprocate her feelings.
