Just an Encore Episode 5 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
Yan Hai enthusiastically announced that he had finally coupled up with someone in a game, proclaiming, "Let's make a team and be second to none in the server." Someone cautioned him about using a female name and the potential for the other player to request a video chat. Yan Hai decided to clarify this upfront with his new partner.
To his surprise, the other player also disliked video chats, which made Yan Hai wonder if there were any guys who didn't "chase a girl" in the game. He then proceeded to play. Meanwhile, at home, Yan Ze was having a lie-in during the holidays. Her mother urged her to get up, commenting that it was almost 11:00 AM and she shouldn't always have a lie-in.
Shortly after, He Xinliang called Yan Ze, playfully trying to get her to "call him daddy." Annoyed, Yan Ze threatened to hang up, but He Xinliang quickly caught her attention by mentioning Ji Xiao. He then revealed that Ji Xiao would be on the second floor of the city library at 2:00 PM the next day to study, instantly erasing all of Yan Ze's sleepiness.
The following day, Yan Ze and He Xinliang went to the city library, where Yan Ze "coincidentally" met Ji Xiao. The three of them studied until evening. He Xinliang eventually fell asleep, but a song began playing, drawing Yan Ze's attention. Ji Xiao, noticing her interest, told her the song was called "The Time" and offered her an earbud to listen with him.
The moment was interrupted when He Xinliang suddenly woke up, asking what time it was and where he was. Realizing it was 9:00 PM and the library was about to close, he suggested they all head home, breaking the quiet atmosphere. That evening, Gu Xiye called Yan Ze, clearly upset after seeing a photo He Xinliang posted of Yan Ze on his QQ Zone.
Gu Xiye directly asked if Yan Ze liked He Xinliang, mentioning a supposed confession on December 9th and their recent closeness. Yan Ze vehemently denied any romantic interest, explaining it was a misunderstanding and that He Xinliang "always bothers me" and "picks on me." She went on to describe herself as someone "who triumphs by inner beauty, not by exam records," adding that He Xinliang, with his "simple mind," could never "see my inner beauty."
Gu Xiye reassured her, saying, "In my eyes, you're good at everything," and jokingly suggested they "dump He Xinliang and be with me." Yan Ze then proposed that they go to the library together the next day, as "they are in the library a lot recently," to which Gu Xiye happily agreed. The following day, the four of them were studying at the library.
When Yan Ze fell asleep and started drooling, He Xinliang noticed Ji Xiao and Gu Xiye creating a makeshift shade to block the sun for her. Later, when He Xinliang stepped away, Yan Ze seized the chance to sit next to Ji Xiao and offered him an earbud, but He Xinliang suddenly reappeared and snatched it away, mocking her music taste as "awful."
When He Xinliang announced he was going to buy food, Yan Ze quickly suggested that Gu Xiye accompany him to buy something for her, discreetly telling Gu Xiye to "seize the opportunity." While they were out, He Xinliang asked Gu Xiye about her preferences, and she enthusiastically listed bubble tea, Raccoon instant noodles, and spicy strips. However, her spirits dampened when He Xinliang immediately followed up by asking if Yan Ze's taste was similar.
Upon their return, Gu Xiye brought a warm bubble tea to Ji Xiao. Back home, Yan Ze poured out her frustration to Gu Xiye, complaining, "He Xinliang is very annoying. He always takes advantage of me and picks on me." Gu Xiye, feeling uneasy, responded by telling Yan Ze, "Don't go there if you don't like it."
Yan Ze tried to soften her earlier remarks, stating that she "wasn't that mean" and it was "just a casual observation," even adding, "In fact, He Xinliang is a good boy." However, after that conversation, Yan Ze stopped going to the library. When He Xinliang noticed her absence, he also ceased his visits. Finally, the new semester began.
Mr. Zheng addressed the class, congratulating them that their average score was "still at the top of the grade" from the previous semester's final exams. He cautioned them not to "be too proud" and to "keep on studying hard." He then sternly warned the students "with the lowest grades" to "try their best," prompting a mortified Yan Ze to cover her face with a book.
Mr. Zheng also highlighted the upcoming Spring Games, emphasizing that "quality education" was important and that many leaders from the Bureau of Education would be visiting. He reminded Yan Ze that she "still belong[s] to Sports Department" and instructed her to "do your job under Mr. Han." He encouraged all students to "take part in the Games" to "improve your physical quality," concluding that "physical health is the most important asset."
After school, Yan Ze went to the storage room and met Liu Xichuan, the head of the Sports Department. Xichuan instructed Yan Ze and the others to gather all the registration information for the upcoming Games from their respective classes and report it back to her, so she could compile a final chart. Yan Ze inquired about the student-athletes, particularly in Class 7, asking if "they're not deemed to be the member of class, are they?"
Xichuan confirmed that student-athletes would "be dealt with separately" and she would "take care of their stuff." Yan Ze thanked her, and Xichuan, observing Yan Ze's "sweet" nature and strong "ability," even predicted she would become the "next head of SD." Xichuan then reminded Yan Ze to inform the others about the assignment before leaving. Later, Yan Hai and his friends were checking the Games schedule on the notice board.
To his dismay, Yan Hai discovered his name was listed for the Discus Team, prompting his friends to playfully mock him, suggesting it was because he "eat[s] too much." Furious, Yan Hai stormed over to the Sports Department, demanding to know "who arranged this?" and asserting that he was a "basketball player," not a discus thrower. Liu Xichuan appeared, apologized for what she called her "fault" in putting him in the wrong group, and offered to correct it.
However, upon seeing Xichuan, Yan Hai immediately lost his bravado and insisted, "No, no," that she shouldn't change it. He then comically tried to prove his suitability for discus, flexing his "strong muscles," showing his "firm legs," and striking an "up to the standard posture." He apologized for his previous outburst, claiming that "becoming an excellent discus thrower has been my lifelong pursuit" and "playing basketball is a mistake."
After he offered to lift her to prove his strength, which Xichuan declined, she allowed him to stay on the Discus Team, but urged him to leave quickly, warning him, "Hurry, or Mr. Han will kill you." Yan Ze realized she needed to collect oversized Sports Day jerseys for her class's "F4." She asked Gu Xiye to take her backpack to the classroom while she headed to the storage room, emphasizing that the jerseys would be taken quickly.
Gu Xiye commented on Yan Ze being "so thoughtful," adding, "No wonder everyone likes you." He Xinliang, having overheard, immediately questioned Yan Ze about "F4." When Yan Ze dodged the question, He Xinliang assumed it was a girls' ranking list for boys and confidently asserted that he, along with Ji Xiao, would "absolutely be on it." Yan Ze, knowing the true meaning, amusedly told him, "Yes, you're on it.
But Ji Xiao isn't," and when He Xinliang expressed surprise, she jokingly added, "because you're the number one. Ji Xiao is no match for you." Upon reaching the storage room, Yan Ze could only secure three oversized jerseys instead of the four she needed. On her way back to class, she encountered Yan Hai wearing an oversized jersey. Demanding it, she told him to "take it off and give it to. . .
to the Discus Team members in my class." When Yan Hai disdainfully referred to them as "the fat guys," Yan Ze chastised him. Yan Hai, worried about what he would wear, was told he had his Basketball Team jersey. He lamented being "laughed at by the Basketball Team" for his discus involvement, and revealed he was actually practicing shot put before discus, calling it a "secret."
Yan Ze insisted he remove the jersey, stating, "I can't let the fat guy feel neglected," and forced him to comply, prompting Yan Hai to playfully threaten to "tell my uncle." He Xinliang witnessed this entire interaction. Returning to her classroom, Yan Ze found Ms. Gu trying to persuade Gu Xiye to carry the placard at the Spring Games, citing Gu Xiye's beauty and the importance of the event for the "face of the school."
Gu Xiye expressed reluctance, saying she didn't "want to be in the limelight," and suggested Yan Ze, noting her role in the Sports Department and her familiarity with everyone. Yan Ze tried to intervene, suggesting Ms. Gu find other girls from the Entertainment Department. Just then, Ji Xiao walked by, and Ms. Gu immediately asked him to be the anchorman for the Games, praising his academic excellence, good looks, and pleasant voice, deeming him the ideal "student representative."
Ji Xiao, recalling Yan Ze's earlier playful remark about him being "no match" for He Xinliang, agreed to the role. Seeing Ji Xiao agree, Gu Xiye also conceded to Ms. Gu's request to carry the placard. Witnessing this unfold left Yan Ze feeling deeply sad and despondent. She reflected on a recent political lesson about materialism and idealism, contemplating that things like "exam results, height and family. . . exist objectively," while "character, and ability. . .
belong to subjective definition." She concluded that while she once thought "people's definition of beauty and ugliness is subjective," it was in fact "an objective thing. And it's very obvious." She realized that in her life with Gu Xiye, it was invariably the beautiful Gu Xiye who garnered attention—receiving gifts and help from others—while she, the "plain-looking girl," was overlooked.
Yan Ze concluded that a confidante "is the most important person who can teach you how to grow up," and that "learning beauty and excellence from beautiful and excellent people is your required course to the future."
