Memory of Encaustic Tile Episode 14 Recap
> Memory of Encaustic Tile Recap
Shao Xue and Zheng Sunian ate mutton soup and discussed Siyuan, who was staying to restore valuable artifacts. Shao Xue ordered four bowls, one of which Zheng Sunian clarified was for Fu Qiaomu. Siyuan reflected on his initial hesitation to pursue this path, feeling inferior to his successful university peers in academia, research, and business. However, he realized that a true craftsman must withstand loneliness and poverty, dedicating themselves to their work rather than material gains.
Zheng Sunian agreed, adding that Siyuan possessed a true craftsman's spirit, a quality he admired in masters like Mr. Sun and Mr. Luo, who valued their work over material wealth. Shao Xue expressed her admiration for them and Aunt Jin Ning, aspiring to be like them. As Shao Xue and Zheng Sunian returned, they encountered Zhang Qi, who playfully accused them of forgetting him, jokingly calling Zheng Sunian "Li Xiaoyao, Zhao Ling'er's boyfriend," implying Shao Xue was Zhao Ling'er.
Shao Xue apologized, explaining she had been distracted earlier by Wang Haoran. Zhang Qi then expressed his anger over Lin Shiyin’s treatment of Wu Huan, vowing never to speak to her again, having comforted Wu Huan and sent him home. Zheng Sunian, however, suggested that if Wu Huan truly liked Shiyin, he would not hold a grudge, no matter what she did.
He then turned the question to Zhang Qi, asking if he had someone he liked, leaving Zhang Qi speechless. Zhang Qi also thought Shao Xue and Zheng Sunian were fond of each other. Shao Xue’s mother, Dongge, then called Shao Xue home. Later, Shiyin called Shao Xue, who initially asked her parents for privacy before taking the call. Shao Xue told Shiyin she wasn't angry but disappointed.
She reminded Shiyin not to hurt those who truly cared for her, like Wu Huan. Shiyin revealed that after a dance incident, she doubted herself and sought validation from a new group of friends, whose members looked down on Wu Huan. She admitted she never truly considered Wu Huan a friend and only walked the red carpet with him at the kindergarten to appear kind, to avoid being looked down upon by her new social circle.
Shao Xue was deeply disappointed, stating that she hoped Shiyin was only speaking out of anger, because if Shiyin genuinely felt that way, she couldn't be her friend, as Shao Xue did not want a friend who looked down on the less fortunate. Shiyin concluded that Wang Haoran was right, and that Shao Xue and her friends were all the same and never took her seriously.
Shao Xue's academic pressure mounted, with late-night math and English tutoring sessions, making her feel exhausted. Her friend Tang Ya cautioned her about recent muggings, but Shao Xue confidently declared herself an "iron-blooded, resolute girl" whom no one would dare to rob, earning Tang Ya's admiration as "the most valiant girl." Meanwhile, Fu Qiaomu received a large bouquet of roses, delivered by an old man, prompting others at the Restoration Department to speculate about a boyfriend.
Siyuan, feeling jealous, commented that cut flowers were a waste of money because they quickly wilted, which displeased Fu Qiaomu. Mr. Sun, the master craftsman, chided Siyuan for not being able to win Fu Qiaomu's heart despite being so close to her. Siyuan later bought Fu Qiaomu a cactus, explaining that it was easy to keep and would live for a long time. Fu Qiaomu appreciated the gesture, placing it on her desk as a "self-defense item."
Colleagues at the department discussed the man who sent the roses, agreeing he seemed ordinary and "greasy," and that Siyuan was a better match, though too slow. Dongge also weighed in, stating that youngsters nowadays have their own ideas and outsider opinions don't matter, contrasting it with her generation where parents and matchmakers decided everything. Zhang Qi informed Shao Xue that his mother, Zhang Ling, had bought a new computer and was giving her old one to Shao Xue.
Shao Xue was overjoyed. Her parents were initially hesitant to accept such a valuable item, but Zhang Ling convinced them it was old and wouldn't run games well, only suitable for internet browsing and research. She added that it would be useful for Shao Xue's studies, especially with the rise of online teaching by famous teachers. Shao Xue quickly set up the CPU (computer tower), keyboard, and mouse, impressing her family with her typing speed.
Her mother attempted to type with one finger, much to Shao Xue's amusement, proclaiming her hands were those of an "expert embroiderer." One evening, walking home alone after tutoring, Shao Xue felt a chilling wind and a sense of being followed. Remembering Tang Ya's warning, she panicked and ran, spraining her ankle. To her relief, Zheng Sunian appeared. He checked her ankle and offered to carry her home, despite her protests about having gained three kilograms.
As he carried her, she fell asleep on his back. He later told her he had finished his class early, visited her house, and, after finding out from Dongge that she was still at tutoring, came to look for her. She expressed feeling safer with him. He admitted that studying also exhausted him and that being with her, listening to her energetic voice, made him feel revitalized. He offered to walk with her to her next tutoring session.
The Chinese plot noted that Shao Xue, though grown, still lacked a clear boundary sense regarding interactions between boys and girls, treating Zheng Sunian and their relationship as they were in childhood. The next day, Zhang Qi gave Shao Xue a cat-shaped alarm as a self-defense item, boasting it was very effective. Zheng Sunian then arrived and gave her a flashlight, which he hinted was a "girlish item," the most suitable for Shao Xue among all her possessions.
In class, Shao Xue, curious about the alarm, accidentally pulled it, triggering a loud siren. The principal rushed in, demanding an explanation. Shao Xue initially took responsibility, claiming she bought it for self-defense, but Zhang Qi burst into the classroom, admitting he gave her the alarm. The principal was furious, stressing that students in the competition class had precious time and should not be involved in such distractions.
Shao Xue quickly intervened, promising to write a self-reflection report to protect Zhang Qi from further trouble. That night, with the alarm confiscated, Shao Xue walked home using Zheng Sunian's flashlight. She again felt followed but discovered the words "Sunian is here" inscribed inside the flashlight, which immediately calmed her. This inscription was specially designed by Zheng Sunian. She then realized the "follower" was just a dog.
She shared her sausage with the dog, making a deal for it not to scare her anymore. As she continued home, she saw Zheng Sunian waiting for her near the small shop, finally feeling safe. When she asked why he was there, he vaguely claimed to be unwell with a sore throat and just passing by.
However, a prior conversation with Jin Ning, who suggested adding "pink ribbons" to a "gray and dull flashlight" to make it more appealing as a gift, hinted at Zheng Sunian's thoughtful motive behind the personalized gift. Shao Xue then revealed she had already ordered a return gift for him online, her first online shopping experience, which made it especially meaningful.
At home, Shao Xue's mother, Dongge, worried about online shopping scams and the risk of revealing their address and ID number for parcel delivery. Shao Xue's father played a favorite Cantonese song from his wife's youth, a song that had helped her through difficult times. He then sent Shao Xue out to the shop with Boss Qian to buy yogurt, so her mother could listen to the song alone.
Shao Xue, surprised, asked her father about her mother's hardships, given that her grandfather was a taxi driver in Beijing and their family was well-off, hinting that perhaps her father was the cause of those difficulties.
