My Huckleberry Friends Episode 14 Recap
> My Huckleberry Friends Recap
The second semester of the second year was drawing to a close, with only two weeks remaining until the final exams. After the geography teacher concluded the last new lesson, he urged everyone to review thoroughly, especially those who struggled with geography. Shortly after, Mr. Wu entered the classroom to convey an important announcement from Director Pan.
Due to the unsatisfactory overall mid-term performance of the entire second grade, particularly the three key classes—Classes 1, 2, and 3—a new policy would be implemented. Starting the following week, these three classes would be required to stay at school for two hours of evening self-study every day. The news was met with a chorus of complaints from the students.
One student voiced displeasure about missing a movie night, to which Mr. Zhang, their teacher, responded that he would only permit it if the student’s parents approved. Lin Yang's classmate, Mi Qiao, playfully suggested that the new policy was a perfect opportunity for him to spend more time with Yu Zhouzhou.
Mr. Zhang, however, chastised Lin Yang for his recent decline in academic performance, urging him to refocus, reclaim a spot in the top three, and learn from Zhou Shenran's diligent study habits. Lin Yang quietly acknowledged the admonition and sat down. After school, Lin Yang saw Ling Xiangqian and Chu Tiankuo together. He approached Yu Zhouzhou, who was packing her bag, and invited her to visit the popular new ghost house at the amusement park.
Yu Zhouzhou declined, stating she had other plans, which Lin Yang knew meant going to the Children's Palace. Jiang Chuan, equally dejected after seeing Ling Xiangqian and Chu Tiankuo, joined Lin Yang. When Lin Yang suggested they go to the ghost house, Jiang Chuan also refused, lamenting their unfortunate romantic situations. Mi Qiao found the two friends sitting glumly on the stairs and jokingly asked what was troubling them.
She then tried to boost Lin Yang’s spirits, downplaying Chen An’s appeal by saying he was not particularly special "except for a handsome face and a bit of experience," and encouraged Lin Yang to "create a miracle." At the Children's Palace, Yu Zhouzhou noticed Chen An on the phone, his expression troubled, and guessed he was still preoccupied with family matters. Chen An told her to go inside first, promising to join her shortly.
Inside, Yu Zhouzhou briefly tried to interact with the children before they began rehearsal. She again asked Chen An if he was still worried about his family, but he denied it. Chen An then abruptly paused the rehearsal and called a student named Xiao Ming forward. He sternly criticized Xiao Ming’s cello playing, noting his lack of progress and repeated mistakes, and informed the boy that he would be excluded from the upcoming competition.
Chen An dismissed Xiao Ming, stating he would ask Mr. Gu to find a replacement. Upset, Yu Zhouzhou confronted Chen An, questioning his decision and asking if winning was truly so important. Chen An explained that "one person's mistake shouldn't delay everyone" and that "only the champion deserves to give you the answer."
Yu Zhouzhou then drew a comparison to her own struggles, asking if her geography scores, which were below the class average, meant she should quit her liberal arts class or even the college entrance examination. She reminded him of his past advice from her childhood: to imagine herself as the protagonist, and that with enough effort, she could "climb out of darkness and be the hero of the world."
Chen An dismissed her comparison, asserting that "not everyone is a hero. A hero needs competence!" He tried to highlight her unique potential from childhood, but Yu Zhouzhou insisted she was no different from the other students. They then resumed the rehearsal. Lin Yang and Jiang Chuan both decided to redouble their efforts to gain the attention of their crushes.
Jiang Chuan shamelessly joined Ling Xiangqian and Chu Tiankuo as they studied, even asking Ling Xiangqian for help with a math problem he claimed was "college-level." Ling Xiangqian quickly dismissed the question. Jiang Chuan then subtly pointed out that Chu Tiankuo needed to prepare for a physics contest, contrasting it with Lin Yang, who also participated but didn't begin preparing so early.
Meanwhile, Lin Yang approached Mr. Zhang, asking if he could come to Class 3 that evening to review a math paper. Mr. Zhang, citing other commitments, declined. Lin Yang then volunteered to go in his place, claiming he could answer the math questions and also get help with his English from Class 3 students, all while relieving Mr. Zhang's burden. Mr. Zhang, though slightly suspicious, agreed, cautioning Lin Yang not to disgrace their class.
Lin Yang went to Class 3, only to learn from Mi Qiao that Yu Zhouzhou was not there; she had gone to Mrs. Shen for geography tutoring. Despite his disappointment, Lin Yang proceeded to instruct the class, then dismissed them, telling them to direct any further questions to Mr. Zhang in Class 2. However, one student asked Lin Yang to re-explain a specific step, promising it would be "the last chance."
Yu Zhouzhou, accompanied by Xin Rui, was indeed in the office, receiving geography tutoring from Mrs. Shen, who provided them with a practice paper to work on. Lin Yang later returned to the office, again claiming to have physics questions for Mr. Zhang. Mr. Zhang, amused by Lin Yang's fervent "passion" for physics, allowed him to stay and even helped him grade papers. While in the office, Lin Yang subtly handed Yu Zhouzhou his geography notes.
He explained that he had gathered study methods and experiences from other high-achieving students, believing her struggles with geography were due to her approach rather than her intelligence. Yu Zhouzhou thanked him. Lin Yang then invited her to study together that weekend, suggesting it would be more effective. However, she informed him that she already had plans with Chen An for rehearsals.
Lin Yang questioned why Chen An couldn't spare her some time, but Yu Zhouzhou emphasized that it was "not just a weekend" and that the issue was "very serious" because of the approaching exam. Xin Rui, who had been quietly observing their interaction, felt a bitter pang of jealousy. The next day, Lin Yang went to the office but learned from Mr. Zhang that Yu Zhouzhou had taken leave, and Mrs. Shen was also absent.
His "enthusiasm" for physics quickly waned, and he left. That weekend, as Yu Zhouzhou was studying for her exams, she received a text message from Chen An, inviting her to a music concert he particularly liked. Despite the mounting exam pressure, she accepted. At the concert, Yu Zhouzhou was deeply moved by the music.
She expressed a wish that the Children's Palace students could perform such a piece in their upcoming competition, though she feared it was too late to change the repertoire and believed a more "conservative" approach was better to secure a win, as the children were eager to succeed. Chen An apologized to Yu Zhouzhou for his previous "emotional" behavior when dismissing Xiao Ming, and revealed that he had invited the cellist back. Yu Zhouzhou was pleasantly surprised.
Chen An explained that Xiao Ming had expressed a strong desire to practice harder and not disappoint his mother, which reminded Chen An of Yu Zhouzhou's own childhood determination to excel in math and English to gain admission to Normal University Middle School and make her mother happy. He suggested they were very similar in this aspect, though Yu Zhouzhou denied it.
Before parting, Chen An gave Yu Zhouzhou his high school geography notes, hoping they would help her with her study methods, and encouraged her, saying he had faith in her ability to succeed. On Friday, the day of the youth instrument competition, Yu Zhouzhou kept her promise to the children and skipped class to attend. Before their performance, Chen An gave the children final instructions on maintaining the correct tempo.
One little girl, however, became very nervous, complaining of a stomachache and needing to use the restroom. The announcer then introduced the "string orchestra from the Children's Palace," who would perform the "Neapolitan Dance quartet." Yu Zhouzhou was surprised, realizing they had changed the piece. The little girl confirmed that Chen An had made the change because Yu Zhouzhou had suggested it was more suitable for them.
To help the nervous girl calm down, Yu Zhouzhou affectionately told her to imagine that "all audience are pigs," and they practiced saying it together. The performance went well. Afterwards, Chen An playfully asked Yu Zhouzhou what would happen if the children discovered her unconventional method of calming nerves. Yu Zhouzhou responded, "But this is how they grow up, isn't it?" The Children's Palace string orchestra was announced as the champion of the Huakang Cup Children's Instrument Competition.
As they smiled at each other, Chen An told Yu Zhouzhou that she would eventually "leave this place" and rise above any unpleasantness, and that when she reached the top, she would realize "what you have experienced made who you are." Yu Zhouzhou said she would remember his words. On the day of the final exam, a heavy rain poured down.
Director Zhou, Zhou Shenran's father, arrived to pick him up, even though he had a dinner appointment at 6 PM. He noticed an ambulance leaving the school and, upon inquiring with the gatekeeper, learned that a female student surnamed Yu in the second grade had fainted during the exam due to stress. Concerned, Director Zhou rushed to Director Pan, asking about Yu Zhouzhou. Director Pan clarified that it was not Yu Zhouzhou, but another student named Yu Manman who fainted.
Director Pan then expressed curiosity about how Director Zhou knew Yu Zhouzhou. At that moment, Zhou Shenran appeared, and his father, with an awkward expression, greeted him and quickly left. As they walked away, Zhou Shenran excitedly told his father about a big dinner and a ball game they would watch that night, and boasted about how well he performed on the exam. Yu Zhouzhou, standing alone without an umbrella, observed this interaction.
Lin Yang approached her, offering to walk her home and suggesting they go to the ghost house or an arcade for relaxation after the exam. However, Yu Zhouzhou, visibly dejected, declined, stating she wanted to go home by herself. She began walking through the rain, lost in thought. Lin Yang silently followed her from a distance, also getting soaked, until she safely reached her home.
Once inside, Yu Zhouzhou reflected on her childhood, remembering her father's sporadic appearances in her life and how she and her mother had to rely solely on each other. Tears streamed down her face, unable to hold back her sorrow. The next day after school, Xu Zhiqiang playfully sang a song about siblings. Zhou Shenran, overhearing this, snapped and yelled at Xu Zhiqiang to "shut up," then angrily insulted Yu Zhouzhou, calling her a "bitch" and her mother a "mistress."
Mi Qiao, overhearing the vicious comments, was enraged. She confronted Zhou Shenran, telling him to "learn some manners" and threatening him, before punching him in the face. She warned him that if she ever heard him speak ill of Yu Zhouzhou again, she would "kill him." Zhou Shenran retaliated by loudly declaring that Yu Zhouzhou was a "bitch" whose mother "seduced my father," leading to Yu Zhouzhou's birth, and that "she deserves no love."
He threatened to tell his mother, prompting Mi Qiao to yell "Fuck off!" Later, at home, Zhou Shenran's father noticed the injury on his son's face and asked what happened. Zhou Shenran shoved his father away, angrily blaming Yu Zhouzhou for all his problems and accusing his father of always being partial to her. Director Zhou helplessly lowered his head. Learning that Yu Zhouzhou was unwell, Lin Yang bought several kinds of medicine and headed to her place.
At the bus stop, he encountered Xin Rui, who, seeing him, seemed to subtly try to get closer. On the bus, a sudden brake caused Xin Rui to stumble, but Lin Yang quickly caught her, warning her to be careful. Xin Rui, feeling flustered, untruthfully claimed her home was nearby, hoping to prolong their time together. Lin Yang explained he was going to deliver stomach medicine to Yu Zhouzhou, having bought various types, unsure which would be most suitable.
Xin Rui clarified, in a roundabout way, that it was "not stomachache" but rather "the girl's problem." Lin Yang understood, a hint of awkwardness on his face. Xin Rui offered to give Yu Zhouzhou some jujube and brown sugar she had, but Lin Yang said he would just go and remind Yu Zhouzhou to drink hot water. Xin Rui praised Lin Yang as a good friend, but he deflected, saying she was better.
As they arrived near Yu Zhouzhou’s apartment building, they saw Chen An and Yu Zhouzhou talking happily, Chen An holding a bag of medicine. Chen An asked Yu Zhouzhou if she felt better, and when she affirmed, he took the medicine bag from her, stating there was "no necessity" for it now and that it had "become trash," implying she no longer needed it. They then walked off together, still laughing, completely unaware of Lin Yang and Xin Rui's presence.
Lin Yang stopped, his expression turning cold as he watched them go. Xin Rui silently observed his reaction. Later, the final exam results were posted. Lin Yang ranked eighth in the science classes, and Yu Zhouzhou also ranked eighth in the liberal arts classes, while Jiang Chuan was 168th. Soon, rumors began to circulate around the school about Yu Zhouzhou.
In the restroom, Mi Qiao, frustrated by not knowing the full story, pressed Yu Zhouzhou, asking if she had been keeping secrets. Yu Zhouzhou, with resignation, revealed that "Zhou Shenran and I have the same father."
The rumor escalated, with Chen Yao loudly gossiping in the classroom about a man claiming to be Yu Zhouzhou's father during the exam, who also happens to be Zhou Shenran's father, and speculating that Yu Zhouzhou’s mother was a "mistress" and Yu Zhouzhou a "bastard." Mi Qiao fiercely defended Yu Zhouzhou, threatening Chen Yao and pulling her to the ground to silence her.
Yu Zhouzhou, having overheard the cruel whispers from the hallway, walked out of the classroom, feeling utterly isolated as she saw other students pointing and murmuring about her. She left, her face etched with profound loneliness.
