Meeting You Episode 3 Recap
> Meeting You Recap
Connected to the previous episode, Nan Xi has been secretly helping Xia Rui, even arranging for her to become the English representative. One morning, Xia Rui, filled with an unusual surge of energy, arrives at class early to study. Upon opening her drawer, she discovers a set of meticulously tailored monthly exam key points.
Believing it to be Zhao Yishu’s work, Xia Rui joyfully embraces her, offering to treat her to movies, an amusement park, or dinner after the exam, and even playfully offering herself if those options aren't appealing. Zhao Yishu, bewildered, clarifies that the study guide is not from her. Mr. Hu then enters, collecting English homework, and compliments Nan Xi on his neat handwriting.
After some discussion, Zhao Yishu notes that the study guide is exceptionally well-made, with compositions using simple words perfectly suited for Xia Rui. She speculates it might be from a top student acting out of pity, like "giving alms to the handicapped." After Cheng Erluo briefly interrupts, their investigation leads them to a conclusion: only someone with free time, who knows Xia Rui's academic level, and doesn't need to take the exam could create such materials.
Xia Rui declares it must be their teacher, Mr. Hu, with Zhao Yishu jokingly suggesting a "secret negotiation" between him and Xia Rui's mother, Madam Shao. Bolstered by the tailored review materials, Xia Rui feels confident for the upcoming exam, determined to score over ninety to prove herself to Mr. Hu and her mother. In the exam room, Xia Rui is surprised to find Nan Xi seated in front of her.
After realizing she forgot her eraser, Nan Xi lends her his, which helps her finish her paper just in time. After the exam, as Xia Rui thanks Nan Xi and returns his eraser, Yang Yufei approaches. She returns a set of clothes to Nan Xi and offers him her favorite book, expressing her hope that they can be in the honors class together after the grades are re-divided. Nan Xi accepts the clothes but not the book.
This interaction attracts the attention of Liu Bin, a senior who considers Yang Yufei his future girlfriend. He confronts Nan Xi, warning him to stay away from her. Xia Rui quickly steps in, asserting that since Nan Xi is her classmate, his affairs are her concern, while Liu Bin's are not. As Nan Xi and Xia Rui walk away, he appears distressed and struggles to breathe. Noticing her shoelace is untied, he kneels to tie it for her.
The awkward proximity causes Xia Rui to flee in embarrassment. When the exam results are announced, Mr. Hu praises Nan Xi for his high score and then commends Xia Rui for making the most progress, earning her a round of applause. Thrilled, Xia Rui later finds Mr. Hu and tearfully thanks him for secretly providing her with the study guides. A stunned Mr. Hu denies everything, stating that would be cheating and that he treats all students equally.
He reminds her that she is still two points short of her ninety-point goal, leaving her to face her mother. Utterly mortified, Xia Rui laments the "stain" on her life. At Mr. Yi’s shop, Xia Rui complains to Zhao Yishu and Cheng Erluo about her embarrassing mistake. The conversation turns to a book that "X," a contact on QQ, had recommended to her.
Xia Rui had assumed "X" was Mr. Yi, but he denies it, revealing he doesn't even have a QQ account. They realize "X" is the first letter of Nan Xi's name, concluding he must be the one who contacted her. The friends then discuss Nan Xi’s strange behavior.
They reveal to Xia Rui that Nan Xi has social phobia and transferred from his previous school after an incident where a new deskmate misinterpreted his need for personal space as a slight. The student cornered and harassed Nan Xi, causing him to have a panic attack. Shocked, Xia Rui recalls Nan Xi's odd behavior and asks if his "physical contact disability" is just a ruse to flirt, referencing the recent shoelace-tying incident.
They connect the dots: Nan Xi was present when Xia Rui mentioned her reading disorder, which explains why the study guide was so simple and visual. Recalling the small wooden box Nan Xi had given her, Xia Rui discovers it is missing from her desk, along with the study guide. Just then, Zhao Yishu produces the guide, revealing she had taken it to compare the handwriting with Nan Xi's.
The handwriting is a perfect match, confirming Nan Xi is the secret helper. Xia Rui arranges to meet Nan Xi and confronts him, asking why he pretended to be Mr. Yi and why he helped her. She also accuses him of faking his physical contact issues to flirt. Instead of answering, Nan Xi offers her a new wooden box, saying he made it because he heard she couldn't find the old one.
Upset that he would take things from her desk, Xia Rui pushes the box away, and it shatters on the ground. From the broken box, a delicate whale carving and a childhood drawing spill out. Nan Xi explains their childhood secret: the silent wood of the box represented him ("Xiaomutou" - little piece of wood), and the tiny bell inside represented the talkative her ("Xiaolingdang" - little bell).
Xia Rui suddenly remembers getting stitches on her forehead as a child from a fight to protect the original whale carving. Nan Xi recalls his childhood promise to make her a new one if she ever lost it, telling her she should never have to fight and that he would protect her. Tears filling her eyes, Xia Rui takes out the old, eyeless whale carving she wears around her neck and compares it to the new one. Nan Xi looks at her and says, "Xiaomutou, Xiaolingdang, I found you."
