Lovely Us Episode 9 Recap
> Lovely Us Recap
The winter holiday was fast approaching, and the students from the compound for Shude staff's families found themselves in a familiar predicament: the neighborhood adults would inevitably inquire about their final exam results. Tan Song, anticipating this, devised a plan to first list his good subject scores, leaving his worst subject, English, for last, hoping people would lose interest. He Jinzhao, whose scores were "balanced" (meaning equally unimpressive), planned to use that as his vague response.
Huang Chengzi, however, intended to highlight her strengths, proudly announcing her sixth-place ranking in Chinese and a perfect score on her composition. She even thought about elaborating on her essay's theme if pressed further. Only the top students, Zhu Jinxiao and Chen Zui, were unburdened by such worries, quietly wishing their friends good luck. Their strategies proved futile, however, as upon entering the compound, the well-informed neighbors immediately exposed each of their academic weaknesses, leaving them deeply frustrated.
Meanwhile, Zhu Jinxiao's family decided to invite her grandma to stay for the Lunar New Year. He Jinzhao, remembering the painful interrogations about grades, specifically asked his father to "warn" Grandma not to question them about their scores, hoping to spare their "fragile psychology" and allow them a happy holiday. His father agreed, noting that Grandma always brought gifts and that her presence would make the house livelier.
Huang Chengzi and her friends visited a temple where a master predicted that a family member would usher in her new year in a "special place." Interpreting this as a travel opportunity, Huang Chengzi was thrilled, excitedly speculating about trips to Paris, Turkey, or Hawaii, and declared to her friends that she wouldn't be spending the New Year with them. He Jinzhao, on the other hand, received an "unlucky" prediction, fearing a year of misfortune.
Tan Song, in an attempt to comfort him, shared his "invincible sixteen-character rule" to deflect nosy questions: "It's the Spring Festival," "I'm still a child," "You are already here," and "It's not easy for everyone." Later, at home, Huang Chengzi overheard her parents discussing "Guilin" and "Chiang Mai," further cementing her belief in a grand vacation.
Zhu Jinxiao and He Jinzhao's grandmother arrived, bringing homemade sesame balls that had softened from the journey and balsam flower juice for nail polish, which the teenagers greeted with lukewarm enthusiasm. Grandma, a firm believer in frugality, found many "useful" items destined for the trash, like an empty oil bottle for watering flowers, vinegar bottles that could be sold for money, and a sticky hook that could be nailed.
She even insisted on boiling expired milk, claiming the shelf life labels were a trick and that heating would kill all bacteria. Later, she dragged He Jinzhao to a wholesale market to buy New Year's snacks, asserting that the longer distance was worth the five jiao savings per half-kilo. He Jinzhao, though visibly reluctant, accompanied her. Zhu Jinxiao noted her grandmother's extreme thriftiness made her own mother seem extravagant by comparison.
At Tan Song's house, relatives arrived for New Year's greetings. While the adults chatted congenially, Tan Song found himself "miserable" entertaining his young cousin, Guoguo, who insisted on using his clothes to make an outfit for her Barbie doll, Angelina Elizabeth. Tan Song tried to persuade her to use his socks instead, but Guoguo preferred his clothes. She then styled Tan Song's hair to match her doll's and called him "not pretty."
He retorted that she wasn't pretty either, leading to her pinching his arm and falsely accusing him. His parents, using the same "it's the Spring Festival, she's still a child" logic, ordered him to apologize. Seeking revenge, Tan Song gave Guoguo a large pile of "treasures"—his old study materials—as she left, advising her to cherish them and study hard.
Chen Zui, arriving with a gift for Tan Song's grandpa, observed Tan Song's unique "gift-giving" approach, agreeing that a "naughty kid" deserved a "special gift." Huang Chengzi continued her campaign of kindness toward her mother, offering massages and serving food, hoping to secure her anticipated travel reward. Her mother, pleased by her newfound diligence, gave her a generous sum for new clothes. Huang Chengzi, still attempting to confirm her travel plans, subtly probed about "Guilin or Chiang Mai."
Her mother mentioned Guilin wasn't convenient this year, which Huang Chengzi immediately took as confirmation of a trip to Chiang Mai, joyfully embracing her mother. Later, at the mall, Huang Chengzi excitedly tried on summer clothes, despite the winter season, much to Zhu Jinxiao's mild bewilderment and the amusement of other shoppers. Meanwhile, Tan Song and Chen Zui were also shopping for clothes.
A persistent sales assistant convinced Chen Zui to buy a hat he didn't like, leading his mother to scold him for being too soft-hearted and for not knowing how to refuse. She advised him to be more like his parents, who "know how to refuse."
Shortly after, his father, despite his earlier lecture on refusing things one doesn't like, gave their last bottle of homemade wine to a neighbor who asked for it, much to his wife's exasperation, confirming that Chen Zui's soft nature was indeed genetic. Across the mall, Zhu Jinxiao's grandmother bought her a 79-yuan red coat, which Grandma proudly declared a bargain, though Zhu Jinxiao herself did not appear particularly fond of it.
Convinced of her upcoming trip, Huang Chengzi sought out Tan Song, asking him to teach her basic Thai. While practicing pronunciation, they accidentally bumped heads, causing a momentary flutter in Tan Song's heart. He then reminded her about getting a passport. Realizing she hadn't, Huang Chengzi rushed home to ask her mother, only to be met by a stranger at the door. Her mother introduced the woman as "Auntie Qingmai."
It was then that Huang Chengzi's grand travel plans were shattered: "Chiang Mai" was not a destination, but a relative. Auntie Qingmai explained that she was named so because her mother was pregnant with her in Chiang Mai, and her siblings were named Beijing and Guilin, much to Huang Chengzi's surprise and disappointment.
On New Year's Eve, Chen Zui politely but firmly refused a neighbor's request for the calligraphed couplet he had just written, explaining it was specifically for Zhu Jinxiao. Later, Zhu Jinxiao came to pick it up, simply saying she trusted him with the task. They exchanged New Year's greetings. Huang Chengzi's New Year's Eve dinner felt incomplete because her father was working the night shift. She proposed taking dumplings to his bus depot.
Her mother agreed, and the family of three shared a warm and happy reunion dinner on her father's bus. Tan Song, reaching out from his own family dinner, called Huang Chengzi to wish her a Happy New Year. The evening was a culmination of warm, family-filled celebrations. All the families gathered, watching the Spring Festival Gala, making for a truly harmonious New Year's Eve.
At He Jinzhao and Zhu Jinxiao's home, their grandmother, revealing she had saved money from her own pension and her late husband's benefits, gave it to her daughter-in-law, saying it was for her grandchildren's future college tuition, calling it her "sponsorship." Despite her extreme thriftiness, her love for her grandchildren was evident. The families raised toasts, cherishing the moments with loved ones.
A reflective monologue highlighted that despite the long year, growth happens in an instant, and the meaning of Spring Festival, like fireworks, illuminates and offers courage to heal and restart. It acknowledged that a hot meal, a secret couplet, or even grandma's nagging might not always be perfect, but with loved ones, no one is ever truly alone, and everyone always finds their way back home. The episode concluded with Tan Song's father finally arriving home.
