Let's Meet Now Episode 9 Recap
> Let's Meet Now Recap
The group gathered for dinner, where Zhou Ziqian proudly presented his fried eggs with tomatoes, which someone noted resembled burnt eggplants. Ji Qiu gently advised Xu Wang not to eat the overcooked portions, but Xu Wang, having not had it in a long time, found it quite good. Song Rongrong, intrigued by Xu Wang, remarked that he had not experienced many local delights since arriving in Jiangyi and probed his hobbies.
Upon learning that Xu Wang enjoyed shooting and football, the group, sharing a similar interest, agreed to play soccer that evening. At the football field, Fu Qile, who was brought along by Gao Yuan and mistaken by Zhou Ziqian for a female friend, quickly joined the game. Ji Qiu, Zhou Ziqian, and Fu Qile were on one team.
However, Zhou Ziqian and Fu Qile’s competitive antics led them to hinder each other more than the opposing team, allowing Ji Qiu to score multiple goals. Frustrated, Ji Qiu, who was assigned number "40" in a mock psychological test, berated them for their childish behavior and ordered them off the field. While sitting out, Zhou Ziqian acknowledged Ji Qiu’s strong competitive spirit, to which Fu Qile added that she had always been that way since childhood.
Zhou Ziqian countered, asserting himself as Ji Qiu’s oldest playmate, but Fu Qile reminded him of the decade he was absent from her life, from age 13 to 23. Later, when the topic of forming teams for a future game arose, Gao Yuan jokingly suggested pairing with Ji Qiu, only to be met with glares from both Zhou Ziqian and Fu Qile. To please Ji Qiu, Zhou Ziqian then intentionally emphasized his own competitive spirit.
Xu Wang, however, expressed his growing fondness for Jiangyi and its "cute" people. Separately, Song Rongrong met Xu Wang at a bookstore where he occasionally helped. Recalling his previous explanation that simple interests like picture books, walking, drawing, and organizing books were surprisingly stress-relieving, she observed him organizing books. Xu Wang mentioned he only came to the bookstore when his training schedule allowed, making his visits unpredictable.
Back home, Zhou Ziqian prepared to travel to Qiuye Town, his childhood home, and asked his younger brother, Zhou Yubei, to take care of himself. Zhou Yubei, however, handed him a phone charger, subtly reminding Zhou Ziqian of his forgetfulness and implying that it was usually Zhou Yubei who looked after him. When Zhou Yubei requested to borrow Zhou Ziqian’s camera for his new imaging club, Zhou Ziqian teasingly asked if it was for a girl he liked.
Zhou Yubei turned the tables, asking if Zhou Ziqian was still pursuing Ji Qiu, a claim Zhou Ziqian vehemently denied, even challenging him to a bet, though he quickly backed down. At the imaging club's first class in Teaching Building 3, Fu Tian was surprised to see Zhou Yubei present. She later realized he might be Zhou Ziqian's brother, a suspicion echoed by other students.
The club president, Meng Qing, explained the differences between film and digital photography, noting that a roll of film only allowed for 12 shots, emphasizing the lack of room for regret with each click. When Meng Qing asked for a model, Fu Tian eagerly volunteered. Zhou Yubei was then selected as the photographer, and while initially hesitant, he couldn't help but smile when Fu Tian genuinely brightened for the camera.
Students later inquired about Meng Qing participating in a variety show and requested autographs from celebrities like Xiao Chen and Zhou Ziqian, for whom Meng Qing jokingly demanded a perfect score on an exam. On their drive to Qiuye Town, Zhou Ziqian and Ji Qiu stopped by the sea. Ji Qiu was captivated by the boundless horizon, finding it more beautiful than Jiangyi’s coast, even though she had lived in Jiangyi for many years but rarely visited its beaches.
Zhou Ziqian reflected on how adults struggle to find things they truly love, and when they do, a mere glimpse is insufficient, hence his desire to capture the moment with photos. Ji Qiu later sent some photos to Fu Qile, including one with Zhou Ziqian in the corner, which immediately put Fu Qile on alert.
The mention of Fu Qile also joining the same variety show as Zhou Ziqian visibly deflated Zhou Ziqian, despite Ji Qiu’s attempts to frame it as a pleasant surprise. As Ji Qiu went to retrieve a jacket, Fu Qile called her phone. Zhou Ziqian answered, only to find Fu Tian on the other end.
Fu Tian, mistakenly believing she was speaking to Fu Qile and that a male voice answering Ji Qiu's phone meant someone was trying to steal her future "sister-in-law" (Ji Qiu), launched into a furious tirade, calling Zhou Ziqian a pervert and threatening him. Ji Qiu quickly took the phone, discovering that Fu Tian was merely calling to borrow Ji Qiu’s camera and had unknowingly insulted her own idol, Zhou Ziqian.
Zhou Ziqian, still reeling, remarked that the name "Tiantian" (sweet) did not suit her at all, suggesting "Lala" (spicy) would be more appropriate. Ji Qiu, however, defended Fu Tian, attributing her outburst to a misunderstanding and her protective nature. Their journey was interrupted when their car broke down. After Zhou Ziqian’s attempts to fix it proved futile, Ji Qiu confidently prepared to hitchhike. Zhou Ziqian, worried for her safety, took over the task, but to no avail.
Just as they were about to give up, a car stopped, driven by an old childhood friend named Hu Yang. Hu Yang recognized Zhou Ziqian from a scar on his face, calling him "Zhou Yue," and enthusiastically recounted how Ji Qiu had accidentally scratched Zhou Ziqian during a scuffle while bravely defending him against five bullies.
As he spoke, he made several unflattering comments about Ji Qiu’s childhood temperament, oblivious to her presence in the back seat until she quietly introduced herself, leading to an awkward silence. Hu Yang, insistent on their hospitality, invited them to stay at his place.
Despite the cramped living room, which he optimistically described as spacious and had to be divided by a curtain for their sleeping arrangements, he warmly welcomed them, making it difficult for Zhou Ziqian and Ji Qiu to refuse. Ji Qiu tried to ease the tension by suggesting they chat. She explained her passion for becoming a variety show director, stemming from a childhood where television’s lively programs provided comfort, teaching her that emotions are contagious and happiness can be spread.
Zhou Ziqian admitted that her joy had indeed infected him. He observed how much Ji Qiu had changed from her quieter childhood self, prompting her to recall how he would always call for "Sister Ji Qiu" when he was bullied. She also playfully questioned the scar on his face, feigning forgetfulness.
Zhou Ziqian, with a mischievous grin, opened the curtain, allowing her a closer look, then teased her about defacing his handsome face, proposing that she let him leave a mark on her "pretty face" in return. At her playful counter, Zhou Ziqian couldn't help but laugh.
As the night wore on, Zhou Ziqian, still awake, pondered unspoken questions: why he remembered their childhood so vividly, why he sought her out immediately upon returning home, why he couldn’t sleep while watching her, and why he constantly provoked her. Yet, across the curtain, Ji Qiu had already drifted off to sleep.
