Just an Encore Episode 8 Recap
> Just an Encore Recap
Yan Ze was at home, deeply troubled by how to confess to Gu Xiye about her broken locker. She drafted several messages, trying to find a suitable explanation, but each attempt felt wrong. Her thoughts, like "This sounds just like a confession. No, no. I'm sorry, Xiye, I opened your locker by accident. This lie is too much. I was being irrational today. I thought Ji Xiao gave you a love letter, so I broke your locker.
I'm really sorry," filled her mind. Just then, Gu Xiye called, making Yan Ze jump. Gu Xiye mentioned the heavy rain outside and that she had brought Yan Ze's clothes into the dorm. Gu Xiye then asked if they could chat, but Yan Ze lied, claiming her parents had called her home. Feeling awful, Yan Ze spotted He Xinliang's clothes and immediately sent a text to Gu Xiye, asking her to return them to He Xinliang the next day.
Meanwhile, He Xinliang, having borrowed Ji Xiao’s debate invitation, left Ji Xiao’s house. He Xinliang had asked Ji Xiao for his invitation, noting that both his and Gu Xiye’s invitation letters for the same debate should be identical since they were computer-printed. Ji Xiao questioned his motives, but He Xinliang simply insisted, "Why do you care so much? Just give it to me." After receiving it, He Xinliang thanked him and departed, declining Ji Xiao's offer to stay overnight.
The following day, Gu Xiye arrived at school to find her locker broken. Yan Ze soon entered, holding the now-stained invitation letter, her anxiety palpable. Feigning ignorance, Yan Ze asked what had happened. Gu Xiye explained that her locker was forced open and her invitation letter was missing. Yan Ze felt a pang of guilt.
To deflect, she handed He Xinliang’s clothes to Gu Xiye, claiming, "This is He Xinliang's coat, and he asked you to give it back to him." Gu Xiye was visibly pleased. Suddenly, the school broadcast announced the start of the sports meeting rehearsal and preliminaries, urging students to gather on the playground. Yan Ze quickly told her classmates to hurry and assemble downstairs. During the rehearsal, He Xinliang noticed Yan Ze’s injured leg and warned her to watch her steps.
Gu Xiye overheard and inquired about Yan Ze’s leg. Yan Ze quickly deflected, saying it was He Xinliang's leg that was injured and he should walk slowly. Concerned, He Xinliang pulled Yan Ze aside to ensure she rested. Meanwhile, on the rostrum, teachers and students remarked on how slowly Gu Xiye was walking while holding the class sign. Liu Xichuan, observing, made a special note next to Gu Xiye’s name.
When Ji Xiao asked what she was writing, Liu Xichuan explained she was noting her "potential competitors." She pointed out how other "class babes," carefully selected by Ms. Gu Yu, had elaborately dressed up for the rehearsal, which was a preview of the main event. In contrast, Gu Xiye wore only a simple school uniform with no makeup and a casual hairstyle.
Liu Xichuan concluded this demonstrated extreme confidence, warning Ji Xiao, "Who dares to do this except the top beauties? If you don't care about your appearance, you are confident, which means you are the top beauty. Bingo!" Ji Xiao, absorbing this, glanced at Yan Ze from afar, thinking, "The girls… are quite complicated." Yan Hai, watching from below, felt a surge of jealousy as he saw Liu Xichuan and Ji Xiao chatting and laughing on the rostrum.
A student beside him even commented that Liu Xichuan and Ji Xiao seemed well-matched, to which Yan Hai retorted, "It's nonsense. He looks like a frail scholar with no masculinity at all." On the field, Mr. Zheng confronted Gu Xiye, scolding her for walking too slowly. Gu Xiye apologetically took full responsibility and offered to accept any punishment.
Classmates informed Yan Ze about Mr. Zheng’s reprimand, but they stopped her from going to Gu Xiye’s aid, arguing that Gu Xiye could handle it herself, as "no one could stand it" when she looked aggrieved. Mr. Zheng warned Gu Xiye to improve for the official opening ceremony, as education leaders would be present. Separately, Mr. Han, concerned about Yan Hai’s shot-put performance in the preliminary round, brought He Xinliang along to watch.
He Xinliang questioned his presence, but Mr. Han insisted it was part of "off-site rescue and security," threatening Yan Hai would be a "shame" if he failed. Despite Mr. Han's apparent criticism, He Xinliang deduced he was secretly cheering for Yan Hai.
Yan Hai performed surprisingly well, throwing the shot put a long distance, much to He Xinliang's admiration and Mr. Han's annoyance, who declared Yan Hai could become a "professional shot putter" but "don't come back to the basketball team again." Throughout the day, Ji Xiao frequently called Yan Ze to the rostrum for various small tasks, such as reminding classmates to submit more newsletter articles.
He Xinliang, worried about Yan Ze’s injured leg, texted Ji Xiao, asking him to stop calling her to the rostrum because her leg was hurt. However, Ji Xiao's phone was turned off and he did not see the message. The girls' 4x100 meter relay race for Class 3 was announced. One of the team members, Wu Meng, suddenly couldn't participate, leaving the team a person short.
Gu Xiye, remembering Yan Ze’s good physical test results from junior high, suggested she step in, emphasizing the class's collective honor. Despite her injury, Yan Ze reluctantly agreed, hiding her discomfort. As she walked to the starting line, she desperately tried to text Ji Xiao, pleading, "Ji Xiao, please ask for me again!" hoping he would call her away, but his phone remained off. Enduring the pain, Yan Ze prepared to run.
Just then, Gu Xiye approached He Xinliang to return his clothes. He Xinliang, surprised, asked why Yan Ze hadn't brought them herself. Gu Xiye explained Yan Ze had told her he asked her to, and He Xinliang muttered about Yan Ze being "a naughty girl" for "bossing her around." He then noticed Yan Ze on the track. Rushing forward, He Xinliang scooped Yan Ze into his arms and carried her to the infirmary.
Seeing this, Ji Xiao also left the rostrum to follow them. In the infirmary, an infirmary teacher recognized Yan Ze from a previous hand injury and expressed concern about her leg, advising her to avoid strenuous activities for a week or two to prevent the "flesh wound" from reopening. Yan Ze, after having her leg bandaged, tried to leave to check on her class, but He Xinliang adamantly stopped her, reminding her of the doctor's words. "
The Class 3 is not gonna collapse without you. It's just a preliminary. It's not worth it. Just stay here. Don't go anywhere," he insisted, even teasing that moving around with an injured leg would make her shorter. Yan Ze retorted that she wasn't short and called him out for his "filthy mouth." Meanwhile, seeing He Xinliang carry Yan Ze away had left Gu Xiye feeling dejected, and she stood staring blankly in the stands.
Ms. Gu Yu approached to collect the class signs and noticed Gu Xiye’s distraction. She asked why Gu Xiye had marched so unusually slowly during the parade, as she was usually so good. Gu Xiye explained that a classmate had an injured leg, so she purposely slowed her pace to match. Yan Ze reflected on the day, realizing the debt of gratitude she owed He Xinliang for his care.
