Just an Encore Episode 6 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
Yan Ze watched her classmates training, feeling dejected. Mr. Han, noticing her lack of spirit, approached her. Yan Ze asked him directly if she was pretty, and then if she or Gu Xiye was more beautiful. Mr. Han avoided giving a direct answer, instead praising Gu Xiye's elegance and using her as an example for the other students. Hearing this, Yan Ze felt even more disheartened, concluding that she was just an ordinary girl.
However, He Xinliang, who had overheard their conversation, stepped in. He told Yan Ze that she was "not ordinary at all," but rather "very pretty and special," a compliment that made Yan Ze gaze at him, captivated by his smile. Meanwhile, Yan Hai continued his training with the Discus Team. Liu Xichuan brought him some clothes, which surprised and flattered him. She expressed concern that his participation in the Discus Team might interfere with his basketball training.
Yan Hai, however, dismissed her worries, explaining that there were few basketball events in the upcoming Games and confidently stating that his basketball skills were far superior to his teammates. He then confessed to Liu Xichuan that he was "willing to do anything" for her, repeating the sentiment aloud after she shyly walked away. Later, Yan Ze confronted He Xinliang, asking if his earlier compliment was sincere.
He Xinliang jokingly admitted it was "false," which made Yan Ze exclaim that she knew it. The two began playfully spraying each other with a water hose in the flowerbed. In the midst of their fun, Yan Ze accidentally splashed Ji Xiao, who was walking by. Seeing their playful interaction and being wet, Ji Xiao appeared visibly annoyed and abruptly called He Xinliang away.
Ji Xiao then asked He Xinliang for advice on how to get closer to a girl he liked. He Xinliang, teasing Ji Xiao about finally being interested in someone, suggested that one effective method was to first build a good relationship with her confidante. This suggestion immediately made Ji Xiao think of Gu Xiye, who was known to be very close to Yan Ze.
He Xinliang also casually mentioned that he got close to Yan Ze by simply "throwing some water to her." The next day, in class, Ji Xiao was seen secretly writing a note, which he quickly hid as Yan Ze approached, piquing her curiosity. Later, after class, Ji Xiao thoughtfully brought a cup of warm water to Gu Xiye. This gesture upset Yan Ze, who felt that Ji Xiao was now actively pursuing Gu Xiye.
That night, Yan Ze had a nightmare where Gu Xiye had become old and ugly. Waking up in a fright, she immediately scratched out the words "Gu Xiye will become old and ugly" from her personal notebook. Yan Ze privately acknowledged her deep envy for Gu Xiye, whom she saw as a "sun-like presence" in her high school life, casting a large shadow over her.
She admitted to often wishing Gu Xiye would become ordinary, and confessed that despite the "vicious idea," she really wanted to "be her." Arriving early in the classroom, Yan Ze found only Gu Xiye present. Yan Ze then asked Gu Xiye for help with organizing the athletes for the upcoming Games preliminaries. She presented it as an overwhelming task that she, as class monitor, couldn't handle alone due to its complexity and importance to class honor.
Gu Xiye readily agreed to assist. Shortly after, Ji Xiao entered the classroom and handed a letter to Gu Xiye, who promptly placed it in her locker. Yan Ze watched this exchange, feeling increasingly distracted and restless. She couldn't focus on her own work, her mind consumed by the letter and the recurring image of Ji Xiao and Gu Xiye together, causing her great "agony" as she stared at Gu Xiye's locker.
As Yan Ze walked past a bookstore, she recalled the place where she and Gu Xiye first met, bringing back memories of their initial friendship. She remembered Gu Xiye's kindness, like when Gu Xiye gave her the only remaining copy of a book they both wanted, and how Gu Xiye shared her snacks and toys. However, Yan Ze reflected that everything began to change after Gu Xiye's parents were arrested and Gu Xiye was adopted by Yan Ze's own family.
Yan Ze's parents, from then on, constantly held Gu Xiye up as a paragon, praising her excellence, obedience, and academic achievements while frequently reprimanding Yan Ze. This made Yan Ze feel like Gu Xiye's perpetual "foil." She also remembered her father's phone call asking her to share fruits with Gu Xiye, implying that Gu Xiye needed more.
Yan Ze realized that while many things could be shared between people, some things, like the attention and admiration she longed for, could not. As her jealousy intensified, Yan Ze hurried back to the classroom, stopping directly in front of Gu Xiye's locker. She mused on the "complicated emotion" of jealousy, describing it as a conflicting mix of admiration and resentment, a longing to be as good as someone else while simultaneously wishing they were not.
