My Calorie Boy Episode 23 Recap
> My Calorie Boy Recap
Kang Jiawei transferred to the arts class, much to the surprise of students like Xu Jingjing and Gao Zhan, with Gao Zhan appearing particularly wary of the newcomer. Xu Jingjing asked Kang Jiawei why he transferred, to which he responded with a hint of jealousy, suggesting she had been on a date with someone else the previous night. Xu Jingjing explained that she had accompanied Gao Zhan, who was undergoing astigmatism surgery and seemed lonely.
Gao Zhan, still feigning blurry vision from his surgery, asked Xu Jingjing for help copying notes and assisting him for a few days. Kang Jiawei, however, quickly intervened, declaring himself Gao Zhan's "guide dog" and physically dragging him away, effectively blocking any opportunities for Gao Zhan and Xu Jingjing to interact. Later, Kang Jiawei reviewed Xu Jingjing's test paper and pointed out her unnecessary lost marks, particularly in ancient text memorization.
When Xu Jingjing mentioned Gao Zhan's method of rote memorization, Kang Jiawei proposed a more efficient approach: the memory palace technique. He explained how to transform boring knowledge into familiar images and store them in a known space, demonstrating with the poem "Melody of Water" using landmarks like a breakfast joint, a wine shop, a park tree, and a school notice board. Xu Jingjing quickly grasped the method, using it to memorize three poems in one afternoon.
Kang Jiawei then asked Xu Jingjing about her university plans for a design major. While she hadn't decided, Kang Jiawei stated his goal was Fuxing University, though he also suggested Nanshan University in Wuxi as a safer option. Xu Jingjing expressed interest in Fuxing, despite Kang Jiawei's comment about its high bar for art students, which she perceived as him doubting her abilities. Kang Jiawei quickly reassured her that he was there to help her succeed.
Moments later, Kang Jiawei playfully demanded the return gift from their coming-of-age ceremony, claiming Xu Jingjing had only given one to Gao Zhan, causing Xu Jingjing to run off. Kang Jiawei's thesis on rocket science won an award, a recognition he found surprising. Simultaneously, Mr. Qin praised Xu Jingjing's painting, noting its richness and encouraging her to take an advanced class, stating she could soon catch up to her friend and potentially get into Fuxing University.
Hearing this, Wang Jiayao, who had been listening, walked away looking upset with two drinks in her hand. Meanwhile, Gao Zhan's mother discovered his medical records and became furious, vehemently opposing his decision to attend Public Security University. She expressed her fear of living in constant worry and even suggested he wait until after the college entrance exam for his surgery, stating her decision was final.
Gao Zhan, however, remained determined to have the surgery and enroll in the Public Security University. Ni Dapeng visited a dejected Gao Zhan, offering financial assistance for his surgery and reaffirming his support for Gao Zhan's aspirations. In a surprising turn, Kang Jiawei informed Mr. Chen that he no longer intended to apply to Fuxing University but instead to Nanshan University, offering no specific reason for his change of heart.
Mr. Chen, perplexed, contacted Kang Jiawei's father, who revealed he was aware of the decision and fully respected Kang Jiawei's choice, prioritizing his son's interests. Later, Mr. Chen learned his acclaimed novel, "My Breakthrough Youth," had received a film and television copyright offer from Heniao TV.
The company's purchasing manager, Wang Yue, expressed strong interest in Mr. Chen herself becoming the screenwriter, citing her academic background in literature of theater and film and her unique ability to capture the novel's essence. While Mr. Chen was tempted by this dream opportunity, she was reluctant to leave her students during their crucial senior year.
The real reason for Kang Jiawei's change of mind was to facilitate Xu Jingjing's path, as Fuxing University had very high requirements for art students. However, Xu Jingjing misinterpreted his intentions, feeling he looked down on her capabilities, leading to a heated argument between them.
Observing Kang Jiawei and Xu Jingjing arguing, Ni Dapeng immediately reported back to Gao Zhan, urging him to seize the moment and ask Xu Jingjing if she would attend university with him in Beijing, demanding a clear answer this time. Xu Jingjing continued to ignore Kang Jiawei for several days, prompting Kang Jiawei to repeatedly call Lu Xiaobai for updates on Xu Jingjing and Gao Zhan.
Lu Xiaobai, exasperated by Kang Jiawei's constant demands and his "impractical" plan for Xu Jingjing to attend Nanshan, questioned if he truly believed in Xu Jingjing's potential, reminding him how Xu Jingjing had unwaveringly supported Lu Xiaobai during her own weight loss journey. Despite Lu Xiaobai's critical assessment of his methods, Kang Jiawei reiterated that Nanshan was the most realistic option for them to attend the same university.
Ni Dapeng, still trying to help Gao Zhan, awkwardly tried to facilitate a conversation between Gao Zhan and Xu Jingjing, suggesting they talk about something that "cannot be said in school." Meanwhile, Kang Jiawei secretly followed them, clearly anxious about Gao Zhan's actions. During this time, Xu Jingjing's mother discovered her street dance video and reacted with furious opposition, declaring it an inappropriate activity that would negatively impact her ballet training. She criticized the "uncouth" appearance of street dancers.
Xu Jingjing, tired of hiding, confessed that she had never attended the ballet training sessions her mother enrolled her in, using the money for street dance instead. She asserted her desire to pursue street dance and become a trainee. Enraged, her mother grabbed a knife and threatened to end her life, terrifying Xu Jingjing, who immediately intervened, tearfully promising to abandon street dance. Only then did her mother calm down.
The next morning, Kang Jiawei appeared early with breakfast for Xu Jingjing, seeking to apologize for his earlier remarks. He attempted to subtly caution her against "puppy love," suggesting it would distract from her studies and Fuxing aspirations. This unsolicited advice only served to further annoy Xu Jingjing, who told him to stop following her. Wang Jiayao, feeling that Xu Jingjing possessed more natural talent, dedicated herself to constant practice to improve her painting skills.
Lu Xiaobai found Wang Jiayao to gossip about Gao Zhan and Xu Jingjing. Xu Jingjing, meanwhile, reflected on her recent conversation with Gao Zhan. The previous day, before Gao Zhan could express his feelings, Xu Jingjing gently articulated her own. She shared how happy she was to be his friend, likening him to a beautiful, distant landscape she once yearned to approach, but now understood that sometimes the landscape remains, but the observer changes.
Gao Zhan admitted he was prepared for this, having noticed that Xu Jingjing had stopped writing about him in her "Gaogao Observation Note" since the second semester of eleventh grade. Xu Jingjing clarified that Kang Jiawei's constant pestering had consumed her time. She then presented Gao Zhan with the notebook as a gift, calling it her "most wonderful memory" and expressing no regrets about what she had written. Lu Xiaobai praised Xu Jingjing's "awesome" and poetic rejection.
Xu Jingjing explained her perspective was shaped by Kang Jiawei's comment that her feelings for Gao Zhan were akin to Lu Xiaobai's admiration for her idols—a yearning and adoration that inspired them to become better versions of themselves. In a final, revealing exchange, Kang Jiawei confronts Gao Zhan, showing he knew all along that Gao Zhan was faking his prolonged vision problems after his surgery. Kang Jiawei then acknowledges their rivalry, concluding that their actions are all ultimately for Xu Jingjing.
