Never-Ending Summer Episode 10 Recap
> Never-Ending Summer Recaps
Lu Xixiao drives Zhou Wan back home and bids her a gentle good night. After she returns to her room, her stepmother, Guo Xiangling (also known as Guo Yan), confronts her. Guo Xiangling points out that Zhou Wan has been staying at the Lu house for some time and asks about her grandmother's condition.
She reveals that she has secured the remaining funds for her grandmother's surgery and can arrange a kidney donor later, reminding Zhou Wan that she has fulfilled her end of their bargain. However, Guo Xiangling is displeased that Zhou Wan is helping Lu Xixiao prepare his art portfolio instead of pushing him to go abroad as they had agreed. Their tense conversation is interrupted when Lu Xixiao knocks and enters the room.
Guo Xiangling quickly covers by claiming she was merely checking in on Zhou Wan’s studies before wishing them both a good night and leaving. Once they are alone, Lu Xixiao surprises Zhou Wan by presenting her with a beautifully completed painting. When she asks about the piece meant for Professor Qin, he explains that this one was painted specifically for her.
Concerned, Lu Xixiao asks if Guo Xiangling had been bothering her, but Zhou Wan assures him that she was merely checking up on her studies. Hoping to marry into the Lu family, Guo Xiangling is furious to see the growing intimacy between Zhou Wan and Lu Xixiao. To crush Zhou Wan's hopes and force her to send Lu Xixiao abroad, Guo Xiangling threatens to destroy the painting.
Zhou Wan desperately lies that the piece in Guo Xiangling's hands is the portfolio meant for the professor. Unmoved, Guo Xiangling ruthlessly tears the artwork to shreds, coldly telling Zhou Wan to blame it on the housekeeper before walking away. Red-eyed and heartbroken, Zhou Wan kneels on the floor to pick up the torn pieces.
Recalling her grandmother's words that the length of one's life is not tied to happiness and her advice to always be honest and kind, Zhou Wan resolves not to hurt innocent people anymore. She rushes to the hospital, where the doctor excitedly informs her that they have secured a surgery slot for her grandmother, requiring an immediate advance payment.
Feeling deeply sorrowful, Zhou Wan asks the doctor how long her grandmother would survive under conservative treatment if they chose not to proceed with the surgery. Later, Zhou Wan joins Jiang Fan, Gu Meng, and their friends for a barbecue. Distracted and exhausted, she quietly admits to Gu Meng that she has feelings for Lu Xixiao but worries about their future.
When Lu Xixiao arrives with skewers, their friends tease them, and Zhou Wan asks what it feels like to drink. Encouraged to try some alcohol now that she is eighteen, she takes a drink and quickly becomes tipsy. As Lu Xixiao walks the heavily intoxicated Zhou Wan back, she struggles with dizziness and complains about her leg hurting. He gently cares for her, prompting her to pour her heart out.
Zhou Wan tearfully confesses that she did something terrible and feels there is no turning back, fearing she has compromised her morals only to lose everything. Lu Xixiao reassures her that even if she turns bad, he is no saint either. Zhou Wan insists that he is a truly kind and gentle person, admitting she wants to treat him well to make up for her past mistakes.
Touched, Lu Xixiao tells her that even if she becomes a bad person, there will always be someone who loves her. The next morning, Zhou Wan loudly encourages Lu Xixiao as he leaves with his portfolio, wishing him success with Professor Qin. Soon after, she finds Guo Xiangling happily arranging flowers at the Lu house. Guo Xiangling smugly tells Zhou Wan that their deal is officially off and orders her to pack her bags and leave.
Zhou Wan quickly realizes that Guo Xiangling has sabotaged Lu Xixiao's portfolio to frame her. Refusing to let her ruin his future, Zhou Wan declares their transaction over and warns her mother never to bother her grandmother or Lu Xixiao again. She then finds the swapped portfolio hidden in her closet and runs out. Despite getting stuck in a massive traffic jam, she gets out of the taxi and sprints the rest of the way to the university.
At the university's fine arts department, Zhou Wan finds Professor Qin and delivers the correct portfolio, explaining that Lu Xixiao brought the wrong one due to a family emergency. She pleads with the professor to reconsider. Professor Qin reveals that he has not rejected Lu Xixiao, who is currently in a nearby room creating a live drawing to demonstrate his skills. Relieved, Zhou Wan leaves before Lu Xixiao finishes.
After the session, Professor Qin praises Lu Xixiao's technique and mentions how impressive his actual portfolio is, revealing that a petite girl had rushed over to deliver it. Lu Xixiao immediately realizes it was Zhou Wan. When he returns home, his friend enters his room and reveals a shocking truth: Guo Xiangling has a biological daughter named Zhou Wan, meaning the mother and daughter entered the Lu family with a calculated plan.
Though stunned, Lu Xixiao refuses to believe Zhou Wan is malicious, wondering why she would go to such lengths to save his portfolio if she was merely scheming against him. Meanwhile, Zhou Wan visits the hospital, where Dr. Chen informs her that her grandmother's surgery is scheduled but requires an immediate advance payment. Determined to go through with the surgery, Zhou Wan approaches a loan shark named Boss Fang to secure a loan of 200,000 yuan.
Knowing she has no collateral, she appeals to Boss Fang's past connection with her grandmother, Huang Xuefen. Remembering how Huang Xuefen had helped him when he was poor, Boss Fang agrees to lend her the money. Later, Zhou Wan returns to the Lu house to pack her belongings, but Lu Xixiao stops her.
When she tells him she is moving out because her grandmother has been discharged, Lu Xixiao begs her to tell him the truth, promising he won't blame her if she just confesses. However, Zhou Wan refuses to reveal her secret and leaves. Shortly after, Boss Fang's enforcer, Luo He, corners Zhou Wan on the street, demanding she sign the loan contract by the next day. Lu Xixiao intervenes to protect her, sparking a confrontation.
To find out what Zhou Wan is hiding, Lu Xixiao agrees to a basketball match proposed by Luo He: if Lu Xixiao wins, Luo He must tell him the truth. During the game, Luo He and his team play extremely dirty, repeatedly fouling Lu Xixiao and injuring his teammate, Ping-ge. Seeing Lu Xixiao repeatedly tripped by Luo He's underhanded tricks, Zhou Wan is deeply upset. After the game ends, Zhou Wan angrily confronts the thugs, criticizing their dirty tactics. Humiliated and furious, Luo He shoves Zhou Wan to the ground and kicks her. Zhou Wan is left injured on the court, struggling to get back up.
