Just an Encore Episode 4 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
After finishing their cleanup duties, He Xinliang offered to treat Yan Ze to a meal in gratitude for the tactic diagram she had made for him. Yan Ze, however, was confused, as she remembered Gu Xiye was the one who had secretly placed the diagram in He Xinliang's locker. She quickly clarified this to He Xinliang, who, after a moment of embarrassment, teased Yan Ze that her handwriting was not good enough for such a diagram anyway.
He Xinliang then changed the terms of his offer, asking Yan Ze to confess something to him instead. He directly asked if she had feelings for Ji Xiao. Yan Ze firmly denied it, but He Xinliang remained unconvinced, pointing out her melodramatic reactions and previous behaviors, including getting caught with a lollipop. Yan Ze retorted that every girl in school liked Ji Xiao and it was none of He Xinliang's business.
He Xinliang then offered to help Yan Ze find out if Ji Xiao's feelings were mutual, leveraging his close relationship with Ji Xiao. The only condition was that Yan Ze would owe him a significant favor, to be repaid no matter what. After a brief hesitation, Yan Ze agreed, requesting only that he be subtle. As Yan Ze left, He Xinliang was left with a pang of sadness.
Yan Ze and Gu Xiye returned home, where their parents were preparing to take them shopping. During the car ride, Yan Ze's mother playfully chided her for her lack of studying compared to Gu Xiye. At the clothing store, Yan Ze's mother tried to get her to try on a more feminine dress, but Yan Ze felt it didn't suit her. Gu Xiye looked lovely in a similar dress.
While the girls were trying on clothes, Gu Xiye asked Yan Ze if He Xinliang would like someone like her. Yan Ze was puzzled by Gu Xiye's affection for He Xinliang, warning her that he could be particularly cruel when rejecting people. She also reminded Gu Xiye that He Xinliang had a past connection with "that person." Gu Xiye responded that "that person is gone." Yan Ze's mother then returned with a short-sleeve shirt more to Yan Ze's liking.
Back at school, Yan Ze was collecting thank-you cards for Mr. Zheng's upcoming birthday. She noticed Ji Xiao hadn't submitted one and, apologizing for not notifying him earlier, asked him to write one immediately. As Ji Xiao wrote, Yan Ze secretly compared his handwriting to a previous note, confirming her suspicion that he had written it, which filled her with delight. She complimented his beautiful handwriting.
Ji Xiao then offered to get her some hot water, making Yan Ze even more excited. However, her hopes were dashed when a different classmate later brought her cup, explaining that Gu Xiye had called Ji Xiao away to discuss the debate competition. Later, in the dormitory, Yan Ze discovered her roommate, Zhai, had ingeniously crafted cheat sheets on a water bottle, carved into pencils, and even written on her leg.
Yan Ze confiscated and destroyed all the cheat sheets, warning Zhai about the risks and stressing that teachers were always one step ahead. She also pointed out that cheating wouldn't help in the long run. When Zhai expressed difficulty in memorizing, Yan Ze offered to study with her, suggesting they focus on English vocabulary and essay samples for the upcoming exam.
On the day of the English exam, He Xinliang approached Yan Ze, asking if she had seen his thank-you card. Yan Ze said she hadn't, leaving He Xinliang visibly disappointed. Moments after the exam began, an invigilator found a thank-you card on Yan Ze's desk and called Mr. Zheng over. Mr. Zheng suggested there might be a misunderstanding, as Yan Ze was usually a good student.
The invigilator insisted Mr. Zheng handle it himself, and he led Yan Ze out of the classroom. While they were outside, He Xinliang noticed the English essay topic was to write a thank-you letter to a teacher. Realizing the unfortunate coincidence, he rushed out to explain. He told Mr. Zheng that Yan Ze had organized the thank-you cards for his birthday, and he, as an English teacher, thought an English card would be most appropriate.
He apologized for the misunderstanding, taking full responsibility and assuring Mr. Zheng that Yan Ze's intentions were pure. A pleased Mr. Zheng then sent both of them back to finish the exam. After the exam, Yan Ze and He Xinliang were required to report to the Self-Management Committee for a record of the incident. Yan Ze was surprised to find Ji Xiao in charge of their case. She asked why he had suddenly joined the committee after refusing multiple invitations.
Ji Xiao cryptically replied, "Because sacrifice makes deals." Yan Ze was confused by his answer. Ji Xiao then clarified the forms, noting that He Xinliang was the rule-breaker for writing the note, and Yan Ze was merely a witness. He promised to ensure the records would only be for internal keeping and not affect their permanent academic files. After the paperwork, He Xinliang stopped Yan Ze, asking why she had tried to protect him during the exam.
Yan Ze deflected the question. He Xinliang explained that he was simply taking responsibility for his own actions, as the card was his. He then added that he now owed her a favor, before he left to report to the basketball team. As he walked away, Yan Ze quietly thanked him. Later, walking home with Gu Xiye, Yan Ze overheard other students discussing the final math problem, with one confidently stating the answer was "one."
Gu Xiye also confirmed the answer was "one," much to Yan Ze's delight, as she admitted she had simply guessed "one" to avoid leaving the page blank. Upon arriving home, they found Yan Hai visiting unexpectedly. He had devoured all the dinner, leaving none for them. Yan Ze's parents quickly came up with an excuse to go to the mall for dinner, taking Gu Xiye with them and leaving Yan Ze to entertain Yan Hai.
Annoyed, Yan Ze gave Yan Hai Liu Xichuan's contact information, urging him to leave. At the restaurant, Yan Ze's parents, while appearing to enjoy their meal, were observed by Gu Xiye to be rushing through their food and discussing taking leftovers home for Yan Ze, highlighting their concern despite their actions. Youthful years often find individuals hesitant to express deep feelings, leaving many unspoken emotions concealed within a simple "thank you," making it difficult to know where to begin.
