Never Gone Episode 5 Recap
> Never Gone Recap
Mo Yuhua visited Su Yunjin at her university, secretly hoping for a glimpse of Zhou Ziyi. As fate would have it, the two friends ran into Zhou Ziyi, and they all decided to have lunch together in the university canteen. Zhou Ziyi explained that each stall in the canteen was outsourced, offering different cuisines and prices. He enthusiastically recommended the popular Sichuan stall, especially their authentic Duck Blood dish, which he described as delicious and exclusive.
He ordered three sets, but with only two remaining, Mo Yuhua suggested sharing one with Su Yunjin. Zhou Ziyi also ordered a side of potato and cabbage. He insisted on paying for Mo Yuhua's first meal at his university using Su Yunjin's card, but confided in Mo Yuhua not to mention it to Su Yunjin, who could be particular about such things. Over lunch, Zhou Ziyi shared surprising news about Song Ming.
He revealed that Song Ming, upon learning that Meng Xue hadn't taken the Gaokao and planned to attend a language school for a year before studying abroad, had also decided to enroll in a language school near a university on the outskirts of Shanghai. This was despite Song Ming’s academic scores being over a hundred points higher than the university’s admission requirements.
Zhou Ziyi described Song Ming's parents as furious, insisting he retake the Gaokao, but Song Ming remained unusually steadfast in his decision, which Zhou Ziyi found admirable, remarking that everyone eventually returns to Shanghai anyway. Mo Yuhua mused about the northern cities, which she had never experienced. Zhou Ziyi, however, firmly reiterated his belief that people always come back home, especially "certain individuals" who might not wish to but ultimately have no choice.
Mo Yuhua subtly glanced at Zhou Ziyi, a quiet sadness reflecting in her eyes, wishing he could see her unspoken affection. Meanwhile, Cheng Zheng continued to be a popular figure on campus, attracting many female admirers, though his heart remained solely with Su Yunjin. His friends teased him about a Chinese literature student who was constantly borrowing his architecture books, suggesting his good looks were causing too much distraction and urging him to "take her in" to spare other students.
Cheng Zheng simply told his friend to pursue her if he liked her, before heading off to play football in the rain, seemingly unfazed by the conversation. In Su Yunjin's dorm room, she and her roommates were drying their hair and planning to cook noodles using Su Yunjin's small electric pot when a power outage suddenly plunged them into darkness. Shen Juan, the President of the Student Organisation, arrived to investigate.
He informed them that the university tracked electricity usage and he had the authority to search for prohibited appliances. To protect her roommates, Su Yunjin stepped forward and admitted that the small electric pot was hers, which she had used to cook noodles. Shen Juan confiscated the pot. One of Su Yunjin’s roommates pleaded with Shen Juan to return the pot, explaining that Su Yunjin often relied on it as she rarely ate in the canteen.
She promised that Su Yunjin would not use it during peak hours and suggested the power trip might have been due to the heavy rain and other dorms using a lot of electricity. Shen Juan, however, stood firm, stating it was against regulations and that he was already being lenient by not reporting them, so the pot could not be returned.
Before leaving, he instructed the roommate to tell Su Yunjin to meet him at the canteen after class the next day. The following day, at the canteen, Shen Juan offered Su Yunjin practical advice on saving money on food, suggesting she buy half-price bread after 8 PM from the campus supermarket and use a simple "mantra" to get free soup from the canteen.
He then reiterated that her electric pot could not be returned, even if she had taken the blame for her friends. Shen Juan then asked if her current campus promotion job was truly suitable for her and offered a different recommendation. He took her to the library where a senior student, who had worked there for two years sorting and registering books, was about to leave as she was in her final year.
The senior offered Su Yunjin her vacant position. Su Yunjin mentioned her experience working in a bookstore in high school. The senior and Shen Juan both agreed that working in the library was much better than being out in the rain, highlighting the unfairness of Su Yunjin enduring hardship while others benefited. Shen Juan stressed that as a freshman, the library job would allow her more time to focus on her studies, which should be her priority.
The senior provided a basic overview of the book classification system and assured Su Yunjin that she would often visit the library and be available for questions, reiterating once more that the electric pot, unfortunately, could not be returned due to rules. Soon after, while Su Yunjin was still engaged in her campus promotion work, another senior student claimed Su Yunjin’s recent sales figures as her own, citing the poor weather.
Feeling that the job was not a good fit, Su Yunjin decided to resign, telling the senior to keep the sales as a token of her gratitude. She then settled into her new part-time role at the university library, where Shen Juan would frequently visit her, bringing snacks and offering compliments, such as noting how good she looked with her hair down.
During one visit, while helping Su Yunjin organize books, Shen Juan recounted how his professor planned to retire to Xinjiang to enjoy cantaloupes, but his classmates joked he was going for the local ladies, as his wife had strictly controlled him throughout his life. He then asked Su Yunjin about interesting professors she had encountered.
Su Yunjin described a public relations teacher who, despite looking young, had twenty years of teaching experience and was remarkably observant, remembering every student who was absent or fell asleep in his class. Shen Juan confirmed the professor's strictness, recalling that many students had failed his class when he was a freshman. Towards the end of the semester, Zhou Ziyi found himself in academic trouble.
During a "Public Relations Crisis Management" class, he was caught sleeping by the professor for the third consecutive lesson, receiving a stern warning that his chances of passing were "precarious." After class, Zhou Ziyi met with Mo Yuhua and Su Yunjin, relieved that the professor had agreed not to penalize his sleeping if he submitted excellent assignments. He expressed how Mo Yuhua's presence filled him with hope.
Su Yunjin, however, urged Mo Yuhua not to help him, stating that he should face the consequences of his own actions. Zhou Ziyi playfully called Su Yunjin "unkind" and insisted on treating them to a lavish meal, ordering plenty of chicken nuggets and steak. He happily declared that he was glad to treat his old high school friends, even if Mo Yuhua didn't help him with his homework.
At dinner, Zhou Ziyi brought up Shen Juan, insinuating that he had ulterior motives toward Su Yunjin. Su Yunjin quickly denied it, asserting that Shen Juan had simply helped her and was a kind person. Zhou Ziyi pressed further, asking if they were "really together," which Su Yunjin vehemently denied, urging him to simply eat his food. Later, Cheng Zheng received a call from Zhou Ziyi, during which he was visibly angered.
Zhou Ziyi, unaware of the reason for Cheng Zheng's mood, teased him about being lovestruck and asked if he had used the phone number he gave him. Zhou Ziyi then offered "latest updates" on Su Yunjin, asking how Cheng Zheng would reward him. However, Cheng Zheng remained silent and agitated on the phone. Prompted by Cheng Zheng's distress, Zhou Ziyi confronted Shen Juan in the library.
Introducing himself as "unimportant" but having critical information, he formally informed Shen Juan that "Su Yunjin is already taken" and advised him to "stay away from her." Shen Juan was surprised when Su Yunjin suddenly appeared, pulling Zhou Ziyi away and scolding him for bringing a magazine into the library and "causing trouble." Zhou Ziyi protested, hinting that he was acting on Cheng Zheng's behalf, and argued that he, like anyone else, should be allowed in a public library.
Su Yunjin firmly told him to either read or leave, as he was disturbing others. Zhou Ziyi left, grumbling about her "bad temper." Su Yunjin then apologized to Shen Juan, explaining that Zhou Ziyi was a high school classmate who enjoyed playing pranks and asked him not to take it to heart.
Shen Juan dismissed it as typical "childish" behavior for boys his age and reassured her, telling her to continue with her work and that he would wait for her after she finished. As the semester concluded, Su Yunjin and Mo Yuhua made plans to return home together.
Before leaving, Su Yunjin confirmed her travel arrangements, while Shen Juan revealed his intention to stay on campus during the summer break to prepare for postgraduate studies, which he believed would be easier with access to the library. He mentioned that he had been assisting his advisor with lesson plans for a while and anticipated they would see each other again next semester.
He offered to drive Su Yunjin to the station, which she initially declined but then accepted, agreeing to meet him at 3 PM. Meanwhile, Mo Yuhua called Su Yunjin to inform her that Zhou Ziyi was planning a high school reunion. Su Yunjin was reluctant to attend, feeling she didn't have many classmates to talk to besides Mo Yuhua.
However, Mo Yuhua encouraged her to participate in more group activities, reminding her that she had chosen to study public relations to change her personality. Su Yunjin eventually agreed to go with her. Simultaneously, Shen Juan was busy sorting and verifying old and new data for a professor's project in the library.
His peers recognized his diligence and academic ambitions, noting his strong position for postgraduate admission given his role as Student Council President and Professor Zhou's assistant since his third year. The professor then called Shen Juan aside, explaining that Gao Jing, a former student council senior who had been maintaining data for Hengkai company—especially since the establishment of their internet department last year—was leaving to pursue a PhD in the US. Hengkai needed a temporary replacement.
Shen Juan expressed his lack of experience in such work, but the professor, confident in his abilities, assured him and promised to recommend a suitable candidate once the new semester began. He urged Shen Juan to view this as valuable practical training, emphasizing that Hengkai was a reputable company that would undoubtedly contribute to his future growth. Finally, at a high school reunion organized by Zhou Ziyi, Cheng Zheng maintained a distant attitude towards Su Yunjin.
Zhou Ziyi, eager to reconcile them, tried to create an opportunity for them to talk alone, but both Su Yunjin and Cheng Zheng remained stubborn, leading to an awkward atmosphere. Zhou Ziyi playfully introduced Su Yunjin and Mo Yuhua, highlighting Su Yunjin's transformation from an "ugly duckling" and her new status as his university peer, and also praising Mo Yuhua's refreshed appearance with new glasses.
During the gathering, Cheng Zheng initially offered grilled chicken wings, only to then declare them "not good" and suggest his friends eat them. However, he then became possessive, stating the food he grilled was for himself. Zhou Ziyi offered to grill anything for the girls. Cheng Zheng eventually gave up his skewers, saying he didn't want to eat anymore.
Zhou Ziyi then attempted to pull Su Yunjin and Mo Yuhua away from the main group, claiming it was too noisy and he needed to discuss his summer assignments. Su Yunjin expressed discomfort, feeling it was unsafe to stray too far, but Zhou Ziyi insisted he was a "good person." At that moment, Cheng Zheng appeared, telling Zhou Ziyi to stop trying to force Su Yunjin to talk if she didn't want to, calling his actions "boring."
Su Yunjin, growing frustrated, suggested to Mo Yuhua that they should leave. Cheng Zheng, visibly upset, confronted Su Yunjin, asking why she was so dramatic and why she could be happy with everyone else but unhappy when she saw him. He added that if that were the case, perhaps it would be better if they never met again. Zhou Ziyi tried to intervene, pleading with them not to leave, as their departure would render all his efforts "a waste of time."
