Our Memories Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Our Memories Synopsis
The story follows a small group led by Wei Xing and Wang Diqiu as they finally enter their senior year of high school. Throughout this year, these youths, with their diverse personalities yet deep understanding of each other, experience the joys and sorrows, the ups and downs, and the partings and reunions brought by "youth." Amidst hesitation and confusion, they guard their original intentions and strive towards their respective goals.
Our Memories Recap
Episode 1 Recap
The year 2008 was momentous, marked by significant events and the rapid advancement of the internet. For a group of friends on Universe Street, the summer before their final year of high school was a time to look ahead.
They shared their dreams for the future: Han Shuai planned to help his father revive their company, Shi Wenke hoped to write moving literary works, Yang Guang wished for both a son and a daughter, Ms. Chen aspired to remain beautiful, another friend wanted to go to Mars, one aimed to join the army, another vowed not to be a deputy anymore, and Guo Ting dreamed of becoming a great director.
Wei Xing's aspiration was simple: she just wanted to keep dancing on stage. Wang Huanyu, known by his nickname Wang Diqiu because he lived on Universe Street, paused before sharing his dream as his recorder ran out of battery. Wang Huanyu's family ran a Seaview Homestay. He lived on Universe Street, the heart of their small world, home to Jinzhi Restaurant, Guoliang Store, and Shizai Bookstore, where Wang Huanyu and his friends were regulars.
One day, Wang Huanyu's mother sent him to buy soy sauce. On his way, he met Wei Xing, his childhood sweetheart who loved dancing. After chatting with her, he completely forgot his errand. When he returned home without the soy sauce, his cousin Guo Ting, who lived with his family because her parents worked elsewhere, became upset, yelling about the ruined braised pork. Wang Huanyu was used to her noisy and clingy nature.
Han Shuai, Wang Huanyu's best friend and the son of Jinzhi Restaurant's owner, often visited and also got caught in Guo Ting's outbursts. Shi Wenke, the academic son of the Shizai Bookstore owner, was also part of their circle. As summer ended, the pressure of the senior year began. At school, a teachers' meeting highlighted concerns about low student performance, particularly in Mr. Yang Guang's class. Director Jiang criticized the low grades, worried they would affect college admissions.
Mr. Yang Guang defended his approach, emphasizing student happiness and learning beyond academics, but when he returned to his class, his students were not engaged in the morning reading. Meanwhile, Ms. Chen announced an opportunity for students to apply for art specializations for college admissions. To her surprise, Wei Xing expressed interest.
Ms. Chen advised Wei Xing, a student with excellent academic potential, to reconsider, suggesting that focusing solely on dance might limit her future career options compared to attending a top university. Shi Wenke also urged her to think carefully. Hesitant but determined, Wei Xing decided to explore art training and asked Guo Ting to go with her to inquire about costs. They found the prices very high, and the teachers seemed unprofessional.
While walking back, they were harassed by some young men. Jiang Wenwen, who was at her father's Shizai Bookstore, intervened by using clever, sarcastic remarks to distract the bullies, allowing Wei Xing and Guo Ting to get away. Guo Ting later confessed their art training search and the expensive costs to Wang Huanyu, mentioning Wei Xing's voice had been heard downstairs with hers.
Wang Huanyu, already aware of Wei Xing's passion for dance, went to Uncle Wei (Wei Guoliang), Wei Xing's father, at Guoliang Store to quietly inform him about Wei Xing looking for art exam teachers, expressing his concern that she hadn't told her father. Uncle Wei, accompanied by Wang Huanyu, sought out Ms. Lu, a highly regarded dance teacher introduced by a friend from a dance troupe, hoping she could train Wei Xing for the art exam.
However, Ms. Lu explained that she strictly limits her students to five to ensure personalized attention and quality teaching, and her quota was already full. She politely refused to take on any more students. Uncle Wei was disappointed and felt he wasn't good at communicating with Wei Xing. Wang Huanyu and his friends, determined to help, secretly recorded Wei Xing practicing her dance.
They returned to Ms. Lu, earnestly pleading with her to just watch the video for a moment, emphasizing Wei Xing's talent and dedication. After watching, Ms. Lu was struck by Wei Xing's strong resemblance to Luo Mei, a principal dancer she had admired from the Xinghe Dance Troupe years ago. Ms. Lu recalled seeing Uncle Wei caring for a feverish Wei Xing, noting that his back problem originated from that time.
Recognizing the connection to Luo Mei and seeing Wei Xing's talent, Ms. Lu agreed to teach her. Excited, Wang Huanyu and his friends rushed to share the good news with Wei Xing. To their surprise, Wei Xing revealed she had decided not to pursue the art exam after all. She was worried about the significant expenses beyond the initial training and the uncertain job prospects after graduation, not wanting her father to struggle financially for her sake.
Wang Huanyu encouraged her to talk openly with Uncle Wei about her feelings. Later, Uncle Wei got drunk. Wei Xing went to pick him up. Despite his inebriation, Uncle Wei gave Wei Xing a pair of dance shoes, strongly supporting her decision to pursue her dream. He told her that watching her dance brought him joy, just like watching her mother used to.
He said that if supporting the family meant she had to give up her dream, he wouldn't be a good father. Wei Xing was deeply touched by her father's support. Standing there with the dance shoes, she felt overwhelmingly happy and determined to pursue her dream, carrying the hopes of everyone who believed in her.
Episode 2 Recap
When Wei Xing appeared, she was considered a goddess by everyone, including Wang Diqiu, her presence like a summer breeze that was always refreshing and clean. In contrast, Guo Ting was seen as the noise that followed the breeze, often fading into the background. As the monthly exam approached, everyone prepared, but Wang Diqiu remained unconcerned, expressing confidence in his ability to stay in the middle of the rankings, neither first nor last.
After the results were announced, discussions filled the air. Wei Xing placed second, and Shi Wenke took first place. Wang Diqiu, true to his word, had no specific rank but was satisfied with his usual middle-of-the-pack performance. Wei Xing urged him to study diligently, believing he could get into a good university. Shi Wenke, focused on understanding his errors, sought out Ms. Chen for clarification. Besides her academic pursuits, Wei Xing continued her intensive dance training with Ms. Lu.
Ms. Lu praised Wei Xing's talent for dance and suggested she consider applying to schools in bigger cities for more professional training and exposure to better dancers. Wei Xing hesitated, finding the idea of going far away daunting, partly because she worried about her father being alone. Meanwhile, Jiang Wenwen, who placed third in the monthly exam, faced harsh criticism from her mother, Yan Li.
Yan Li constantly compared Jiang Wenwen to Wei Xing, much to her husband Jiang Limin's disapproval. Yan Li demanded that Jiang Wenwen copy every wrong answer ten times and write a detailed thousand-word summary explaining why she made the mistakes, forbidding her from sleeping until it was done. Jiang Wenwen felt unfairly treated and sought refuge in the restroom to cry, feeling her mother was excessively strict.
The next day, on the playground, Jiang Wenwen was listening to music when Shi Wenke approached her. She offered him an earbud, and they listened together. Jiang Wenwen began to hum, captivating Shi Wenke, who couldn't help but steal glances at her. Wang Diqiu's exam results also reached his Aunt Li, who decided to orchestrate a study session with Wei Xing. Aunt Li feigned an errand to leave the two alone.
That evening, while Wei Xing was tutoring Wang Diqiu, the power suddenly went out. Startled by the darkness and accompanying thunder, Wang Diqiu instinctively hugged Wei Xing. Wang Diqiu's parents and Aunt Li arrived just then, catching the two in a hug. They pretended not to see, but joked about a past arranged marriage between them, causing Wang Diqiu considerable embarrassment.
Later that night, Guo Ting, Han Shuai, and Shi Wenke joined Wang Diqiu and Wei Xing, and the five friends slept on Wang Diqiu's single bed, reminiscing and sharing their future aspirations. Han Shuai planned to inherit his family's business. Shi Wenke hoped to write great literary works. Guo Ting envisioned a career as a singer and actress. Wei Xing simply wished to join a dance troupe after college.
They talked until they drifted off to sleep, just as they had often done as children. Guo Ting tried various efforts to enhance her appearance, including a new hairstyle and a dress, hoping to be seen differently by the boys. However, their reactions were frustrating, with comments comparing her unfavorably to Wei Xing and often referring to her as "brother." Feeling unseen and disappointed, Guo Ting confided in Wei Xing, who encouraged her to be herself.
Guo Ting later gave the dress to Wei Xing, who accepted it. Separately, Han Shuai privately complimented Guo Ting's hair, which lifted her spirits. Still uncertain about her future path, Guo Ting decided to start by taking on a role in the school broadcast. During a break, Wei Xing was looking through a notebook containing compiled wrong answers. Several classmates assumed it was her meticulously organized work and asked to borrow it.
To their surprise, the notebook belonged to Jiang Wenwen, who generously offered to share it. Wei Xing felt that Jiang Wenwen, despite her reserved demeanor, was kind-hearted beneath the surface, a sentiment Shi Wenke readily agreed with, casting another look towards Jiang Wenwen. One evening, Ms. Chen was working alone in her office when the power went out. As she composed herself to continue working by candlelight, someone suddenly touched her back, giving her a fright.
Guo Ting expressed her frustration with novels and what she saw as men's lack of appreciation, lamenting being called "brother" even after attempting to look nice. She shared her desire to experience love and the confidence that comes from being liked, contrasting it with Wei Xing's singular focus on dance and applying to universities in Beijing. Guo Ting decided she wanted to write novels and even asked Shi Wenke for help.
Guo Ting took on the role of host for the school's Xinghe Literature broadcast, where she shared the book "Reminiscences of Old Times in the Southern City." At a bookstore, two books were purchased. Guo Ting showed off a dress to Han Shuai and Shi Wenke, only to be met with teasing remarks and comparisons to Wei Xing. Feeling upset, Wei Xing arrived to cheer her up, and Guo Ting ended up giving the dress to Wei Xing.
Episode 3 Recap
Ms. Chen was looking for something on the ground when Yang Guang appeared behind her, startling her. Yang Guang asked if she needed help, but she initially claimed she could manage. However, as Yang Guang prepared to leave, Ms. Chen sheepishly admitted she had lost her car key and needed his assistance. It had started raining, and Yang Guang had an umbrella, so he accompanied her back to her dormitory after they found the key.
The class welcomed a new student, Du Mingwei, who was quiet and awkward. When Yang Guang asked him to introduce himself, Du Mingwei only managed a few words. Yang Guang assigned him a seat next to Zhao Heng. Later, Wang Diqiu and Han Shuai invited Du Mingwei to play basketball, but he declined.
Han Shuai commented that Du Mingwei seemed arrogant and looked down on him for wearing old, apparently fake brand shoes, calling him ill-mannered, though he didn't seem like a typical expelled playboy, noting his old clothes and fake shoes. Director Jiang praised Ms. Chen's school magazine, specifically highlighting Wei Xing's creative message for senior students.
He mentioned the magazine documents the history of Xinghe High School and will be seen by many students in the future, emphasizing the need to manage it well. He asked Yang Guang, who teaches Chinese, to help Ms. Chen with the magazine's review, and Yang Guang agreed. With the school's 100th anniversary approaching, a Top 10 Singers Competition was announced. Ms. Chen expressed concern that this would impact senior students' studies, as parents were strict.
Yang Guang argued that they shouldn't force students to only study, recalling their own senior year lacked happy memories. He felt a competition wouldn't cause significant delays. To encourage participation, especially from senior students, the school decided each class must have at least one contestant. Wang Diqiu and Han Shuai excitedly planned to form a team with Zhao Heng, considering manly songs. However, students in Ms. Chen's class showed little interest, prioritizing their upcoming exams.
When Ms. Chen asked for volunteers, the general consensus was for Wei Xing to represent their class, as she was considered their only talented member and had handled similar tasks before. Jiang Wenwen seemed a little disappointed by this. Han Shuai returned to his family's restaurant and saw his parents arguing. His mother wasn't speaking to his father, who was hungry and joined Han Shuai for food.
Meanwhile, Guo Ting secretly signed up for the competition and tried to convince Han Shuai to sing with her, but he was reluctant. Ms. Chen's class, a key class, still had no volunteers despite other classes showing enthusiasm. Students continued to suggest Wei Xing, but Ms. Chen felt it wasn't fair to always rely on her. Wang Diqiu and Zhao Heng practiced playing the guitar but struggled with the timing.
Wei Xing pointed out their issues and offered to teach them to read music, as just watching videos was confusing. Ms. Chen came to class again about the competition sign-ups. Shi Wenke proactively volunteered Jiang Wenwen. Later, as Jiang Wenwen walked home after school, she felt someone following her. Preparing herself, she discovered it was Shi Wenke.
He explained he followed her to give her a new book about Sanxingdui culture from his father's bookstore, as it was inconvenient at school. Jiang Wenwen was very interested in the book and discussed Sanxingdui's connection to early cultures. Shi Wenke perceived her passion for archaeology, which she was reluctant to openly admit, fearing her parents' disapproval like her sister's experience.
Shi Wenke shared his father's own passion for books and disappointment that Wang Diqiu only visited the store to copy answers. He gave Jiang Wenwen a stress ball, encouraging her to pinch it when stressed. He asked why she wasn't participating in the singing competition, knowing she liked singing too. Jiang Wenwen admitted she was afraid of being laughed at by classmates who saw her only as a studious person, even though she actually wanted to sign up.
Shi Wenke then revealed he had already signed her up without her permission, which Ms. Chen was surprised to see on the list. When Jiang Wenwen returned home late, her mother Yan Li didn't scold her, only offering to make her a late-night snack. With Wei Xing's patient guidance, Wang Diqiu's guitar skills improved significantly. His group's performance of their original song "Imprint" was well-received by the audience.
When it was Guo Ting's turn to sing, she was visibly nervous and hadn't paid attention to the previous performance. She initially thought Han Shuai wouldn't join her, but he did, helping to liven up the stage atmosphere. As Jiang Wenwen's turn approached, she felt a sudden urge to back out and go home to do test papers. Shi Wenke felt awkward and apologized for signing her up without permission.
However, as the lights dimmed and the hall fell quiet, Jiang Wenwen made up her mind. She and Wei Xing stood on the stage. Jiang Wenwen's singing captivated the audience, and Wei Xing's dance was praised for its beauty. Jiang Wenwen won first place in the Top 10 Singers Competition, which instantly lifted her spirits. Her father, watching from the audience, felt proud of her performance. Upon returning home, however, Yan Li questioned why she missed night self-learning classes.
Her father mentioned her winning the singing competition, but her mother was not pleased. Yan Li stated that winning a singing competition was meaningless and only cared about Jiang Wenwen's exam results, echoing Director Jiang's perspective that such honors don't add marks to the national college entrance exam and she should focus on doing more test papers instead of wasting time. She told Jiang Wenwen to go back to her room and study.
Episode 4 Recap
The alarm for the online game "stealing vegetables" rings at four in the morning. Wang Diqiu wakes up to play, and Han Shuai joins in. The next day, Han Shuai finds a pair of men's boxer briefs in his mom's bedroom and begins to suspect she has a new boyfriend. Wang Diqiu notices Han Shuai looking downcast and asks him what's wrong.
After hearing Han Shuai's suspicion, they gather their friends, including Wei Xing and Guo Ting, ready with sunglasses and determined to follow Han Shuai's mom, Ms. Jin, to find out who she might be dating. Sitting together, the friends speculate about Ms. Jin's potential new boyfriend. However, after a full day of following her, they don't find any evidence that she's dating anyone; her life seems quite full already.
Wei Xing suggests that since Han Shuai's parents have been divorced for many years, it would be a good thing if Ms. Jin found a suitable partner. Shi Wenke presents research claiming that the average lifespan of divorced individuals is lower than those with spouses, suggesting it might be good for Ms. Jin's health. Wang Diqiu, however, counters that being single is better as there are no arguments, leading to a healthier life.
Mr. Yang announces that night self-learning classes have been arranged for senior students and they must eat dinner quickly to be on time. Wang Diqiu sees this as an opportunity to sneak out and have fun. He tells his family he needs to attend the night classes to study, which earns him praise from his grandma for showing initiative.
That night, Mr. Yang checks the classroom and finds Wang Diqiu, Han Shuai, and Zhao Heng are missing, immediately suspecting they skipped class. The three are indeed at an internet cafe playing games. A user named "One Meter Sunlight" challenges them, and they accept, but they are consistently defeated. Just then, Mr. Yang arrives and catches them. He takes the three boys outside the internet cafe and lectures them about prioritizing their studies during their final year.
Han Shuai visits his dad's place, intending to tell him about his mom possibly having a new partner. However, his dad is preoccupied with business matters and doesn't give Han Shuai his full attention. Feeling melancholic and misunderstood by his parents, Han Shuai confides in Wang Diqiu. He worries that if his parents remarry separately, he might be left without a stable home.
Wang Diqiu tries to comfort him, telling him not to overthink things and assuring him that the investigation didn't yield any concrete leads. Later, the school decides to change the Wednesday PE class into a self-study session. Wang Diqiu and his friends are very unhappy about this and resolve to fight for their rights. Mr. Yang takes a "Challenge Letter" created by Wang Diqiu and presents it to Director Jiang, conveying the students' strong objections.
The letter proposes a basketball game between the students and the teachers; if the students win, the PE class should be reinstated. Director Jiang asks Mr. Yang for his opinion, and Mr. Yang remarks that the students' courage is quite rare and commendable. Wang Diqiu is enthusiastic about the game, but some of his friends become hesitant, feeling it's not appropriate to challenge teachers during the critical senior year.
Wang Diqiu gets upset, feeling betrayed, as he had worked hard to secure this opportunity. For the actual game, Shi Wenke agrees to play, despite concerns it might cause trouble with Ms. Chen. However, they are still short on players. Han Shuai talks to Zijun, who then decides to join. Zheng Kai, who initially claimed his leg was injured, is also convinced and joins the team, agreeing to play center due to his height. Students gather to watch the game.
The student team struggles against the teachers. In the final moments, Mr. Yang appears to allow the students to win. Following the game, Director Jiang and the teachers agree to honor the agreement and return the PE class. However, the students in the key class express that they do not wish to take the PE class. While sorting his clothes, Han Shuai discovers that the men's boxer briefs belong to his dad.
He finally understands that his parents are considering getting back together. Han Shuai's dad visits Ms. Jin, apologizing for "that night" and expressing his desire to reconcile and "have a future." Ms. Jin responds by saying she slept with him and asking if he expects an apology. As they talk, Han Shuai walks in, catching them in the middle of their conversation. He is visibly upset, feeling hurt that they kept their potential reconciliation a secret from him.
Over the next two days, Han Shuai thinks about the situation and resolves his feelings, deciding not to oppose his parents getting back together. Ms. Jin is relieved and touched, feeling her son has grown up. Later, Ms. Jin makes braised noodles for Han Shuai, his favorite dish. She sees he is no longer angry about the situation. Han Shuai tells her he has thought about it and doesn't understand adult matters, nor does he want to interfere.
He acknowledges that they likely had his best interests at heart over the years. Ms. Jin is moved by his maturity. Han Shuai finishes eating and leaves for school. As she watches him go, Ms. Jin notices a man named Du Mingwei and finds him strange.
Episode 5 Recap
When Wang Diqiu walked into the classroom, he saw Han Shuai and others gathered together. Zhao Heng complained about Du Mingwei being dull and saying he missed his personal space, feeling that every breath taken beside Du Mingwei felt wrong. Han Shuai agreed that Du Mingwei seemed strange. He recounted seeing Du Mingwei at his mother's restaurant, learning that he was Aunt Du Juan's nephew and was from Sichuan, helping with goods because his aunt was busy.
Han Shuai found it odd that Du Mingwei, a 12th grader, had transferred so far from his hometown to his aunt's place instead of preparing for the local college entrance exam. He suggested they keep this information private as it was personal. Later that evening, Aunt Du Juan returned home to find Du Mingwei had prepared dinner.
Checking his school bag, she discovered the breakfast steamed buns she had packed for him were still there, untouched, which made her feel a pang of concern for him. The next day, a rumor circulated in class that Du Mingwei's family sold fish. Wang Diqiu wondered if Han Shuai had spread it, but Han Shuai denied it.
Someone mentioned Han Shuai's previous speculation that a family selling fish might not make much money, suggesting it meant Du Mingwei could only afford fake shoes. Du Mingwei, having overheard the conversation, felt hurt and confronted them, asking what was wrong with his family selling fish and why they needed to analyze him like detectives. Han Shuai tried to explain it wasn't him who spread the rumor.
As Han Shuai stood up during the argument, he accidentally knocked Du Mingwei's chair over. Guo Ting kindly tried to help pick it up, but in doing so, accidentally spilled the contents of Du Mingwei's bag onto the floor. Du Mingwei became visibly agitated, quickly gathering his things himself, rejecting help from both Guo Ting and Wang Diqiu. That evening, while studying, the friends discussed the incident.
Han Shuai was still frustrated by Du Mingwei's angry reaction to their attempts at kindness. Wang Diqiu felt it was important for classmates to get along since they saw each other daily. Wei Xing suggested that the core issue was communication, especially between boys, which could easily lead to tension.
She advised them to give Du Mingwei some space for now and wait for a more opportune time to talk to him, as forcing the issue currently would only worsen the situation. The others agreed that Wei Xing's advice made sense. During geography class, Guo Ting was called on to answer a question by Teacher Du, but her response, based on exam-taking tricks rather than actual knowledge, caused Teacher Du to become frustrated.
Afterwards, Yang Guang announced that the school would be organizing an earthquake drill the following day, instructing students to hide under sturdy tables during the initial tremor and then evacuate in an orderly manner to the open playground. However, during the drill simulation, Du Mingwei was visibly trembling, clutching his bag tightly, and appeared distressed. Han Shuai and Wang Diqiu noticed his condition and tried to approach him to see if he was okay, but he seemed unresponsive or agitated.
Feeling concerned about Du Mingwei's state, Wang Diqiu considered telling Yang Guang, but he was unsure how to approach the teacher without making things more awkward for Du Mingwei. Seeing the two students waiting outside his office, Yang Guang called them in. They expressed their concern, mentioning that during the drill, Du Mingwei looked pale and they had previously seen items like steamed buns, bread, and an emergency flashlight in his bag, which seemed unusual.
Wang Diqiu then tentatively asked Yang Guang if Du Mingwei might have transferred from Wenchuan. That night, Du Mingwei was plagued by a nightmare, vividly reliving the Wenchuan earthquake and calling out for his parents. Aunt Du Juan rushed to his side and comforted him, assuring him that he was safe. The rumor about Du Mingwei being from Wenchuan and his parents having died in the earthquake quickly spread throughout the school.
Du Mingwei confronted Han Shuai, believing he was responsible for spreading the story. However, Guo Ting tearfully stepped forward and confessed that "she" was the one who had spread the earlier rumor about his family selling fish and had spoken about him behind his back, explaining that she had seen him helping out at the market and made assumptions, not knowing about his tragic past. She apologized profusely for her big mouth and insensitivity.
Despite Guo Ting's confession and the friends' attempts to assure him they were there for him, Du Mingwei remained angry, questioning who else knew, and stormed out of the classroom after a tense exchange with Han Shuai and Wang Diqiu. Guo Ting felt deep guilt over her actions, regretting that she hadn't followed Wei Xing's advice about respecting Du Mingwei's privacy.
Wei Xing comforted her, telling her she was unique like a star and resilient, and gifted her a dress to cheer her up, which her friends complimented. The next day, Du Mingwei came to Han Shuai's family restaurant to deliver goods for Aunt Du Juan. He realized he had forgotten his wallet and offered to bring the small amount of change later.
Han Shuai told him not to worry about it, but Du Mingwei became angry and insisted he would return with the exact change, frustrating Han Shuai, who didn't understand his rigid attitude, especially since their families were friends. Meanwhile, Guo Ting used the school's midday broadcast to dedicate a song to Du Mingwei in the 'Xinghe Music Column', hoping music could offer him comfort and letting him know they were with him. However, Du Mingwei did not appreciate the gesture.
He went to the broadcast station, angrily confronted Guo Ting, accused her of having a grudge against him, and demanded she turn off the broadcast, grabbing her arm. Han Shuai and Wang Diqiu arrived just as the confrontation escalated. Yang Guang also appeared and intervened, punishing the four students by making them stand together holding hands, scolding them for their immature behavior in 12th grade.
Wei Xing brought them water, but Du Mingwei refused it, leaving Han Shuai bewildered by his reactions to their attempts at kindness. Later, Yang Guang called Han Shuai and Wang Diqiu to his office. He explained that while Du Mingwei's actions were wrong, their good intentions might be misunderstood because they grew up in happy families and couldn't fully grasp certain feelings.
Yang Guang shared a personal story from college, where despite his family's poverty, the school and classmates were very kind, even providing a scholarship and a special "Love Card" for cheaper meals. He explained that while he wasn't bullied, the public nature of the "Love Card" and the resulting sympathy made him feel different and alienated, to the point where he sometimes preferred going hungry to using it.
He concluded that while their hearts were in the right place, excessive sympathy wasn't necessarily the best way to help. Reflecting on Yang Guang's words, Han Shuai and Wang Diqiu understood that their actions might make Du Mingwei feel singled out due to his past trauma. They agreed that treating him with equality and sincerity, and giving him time, might be better.
Wang Diqiu initially wanted to apologize in class, but Han Shuai pointed out it would only draw more attention and embarrass Du Mingwei. Considering the upcoming weekend, they decided it would be best to sincerely apologize by visiting Du Mingwei at his home.
Episode 6 Recap
Du Mingwei was eating with his aunt when she asked if something was bothering him, mentioning that his teacher said he had fought with classmates and urging him to get along with them. Mingwei seemed troubled and ate little, telling his aunt he would not be home for dinner the following day. Later, Wang Diqiu and some other classmates came to the aunt's stall, asking if Mingwei was there.
His aunt told them that it was the 100th day since his parents' death, and Mingwei had gone to Silver Beach to give them a send-off. Seeing that it was about to rain and being unable to leave due to needing to pay her stall rent to Juan, she was worried about Mingwei. The classmates offered to go ahead to the beach to find him, as they had umbrellas and were more numerous, promising to be careful.
At Silver Beach, Du Mingwei knelt facing the sea, speaking to his deceased parents. He told them it was time for him to give them a send-off and urged them to take good care of themselves and stop arguing where they were. He confessed that he really missed them and promised to live well. As the rain poured down, Wang Diqiu and the other classmates arrived, opening colorful umbrellas to shield him and join him in his moment of farewell.
When Du Mingwei returned home, his aunt was relieved to see him safe, and he offered a rare smile. The next morning, Jiang Wenwen's mother criticized her breakfast choices, telling her not to eat fried dough sticks because the oil looked unhealthy and suggesting steamed buns were better. She also instructed Wenwen to get closer to Wei Xing and Shi Wenke to learn their study methods. Wenwen's father intervened, offering to take her to school.
Meanwhile, Wei Xing received praise from Ms. Lu during dance practice, who told the class that Wei Xing had performed very well and they should learn from her, mentioning the need to master at least two types of shows for the art exam. After dance class, as Wei Xing and Guo Ting were leaving, they were confronted by some thugs who attempted to harass them using cheesy lines.
Wei Xing tried to get away, but they grabbed her, causing her to scrape her arm. As Guo Ting was helping Wei Xing, Wang Diqiu, Han Shuai, and Shi Wenke arrived. Guo Ting told them that Wei Xing had been bullied by the thugs from near the dance studio for the second time.
Wang Diqiu and Shi Wenke immediately wanted to go and fight them, but Han Shuai stopped them, advising them to calm down and suggesting that a direct confrontation would only lead to getting hurt or going to jail. Wang Diqiu then came up with a plan. He approached the thugs, acting weak and verbally provoking them. Han Shuai recorded the encounter with a camera.
When the thugs tried to seize the camera, Diqiu told them they couldn't afford to break it. After a scuffle, the thugs were defeated and knelt, begging for forgiveness. Wang Diqiu ordered them to apologize to Wei Xing. They did so, and Wei Xing chose to forgive them. Before letting them go, Diqiu told them to read more and watch less "Young and Dangerous."
Later that evening, Wei Xing went to the beach and wrote in a notebook, reflecting on her feelings and deciding to hide a secret in her heart. As the college entrance exam approached in half a year, the friends discussed their future. Han Shuai was calm, planning to study abroad.
Wang Diqiu, who used to only care about playing games, hadn't fully decided, though he later printed out information for study abroad agencies and asked Han Shuai to cover for him. While in a bookstore, they heard noisy trucks and Shi Wenke explained that the black cave at the end of the street was being sealed by the government due to safety concerns. Wang Diqiu was immediately interested, recalling how he had seen a "Danger.
Do Not Enter" sign there as a child. He had been scolded by his mother figure about the cave, who tried to scare him away with stories of a big monster that ate disobedient children. Despite these warnings and other stories from parents about Ultraman or princess tests inside the cave, he and his friends had made a pact to explore it when they grew up.
In the present, Diqiu reminded them of this promise, but Guo Ting and Wei Xing were reluctant to go, preferring to practice dance or study. Han Shuai also left, telling Diqiu it was time to grow up. Left alone, Diqiu considered going by himself. That night, Han Shuai had a nightmare involving the black cave and seeing Ultraman. He woke up to find Wang Diqiu standing over him dressed as Ultraman.
Later, Guo Ting, Han Shuai, and Shi Wenke were watching an idol drama together and eating chips when they realized Wang Diqiu was missing. Guo Ting speculated that he might have gone to the black cave, and they quickly went to the cave entrance. Seeing the familiar warning sign, they wondered if he had gone inside and debated whether they should follow him, concerned about the danger and the fact that it was getting dark.
Episode 7 Recap
Concerned that Wang Diqiu might be in danger inside the black cave, Wei Xing suggested they go in and look for him before it got dark. Shi Wenke and Han Shuai took the lead, calling out Wang Diqiu's name. As they ventured deeper, Guo Ting felt increasingly scared, especially when no one answered their calls. Suddenly, Guo Ting heard the faint sound of a music box.
Remembering a ghost story her mother told her about a little girl who lived in the cave and danced continuously upon hearing music, trapping anyone she chose, everyone felt even more uneasy. Han Shuai tried to bolster their courage, telling them not to scare themselves and reminding them that they were four against one, dismissing the idea of ghosts as illusions born of fear, but Guo Ting insisted she really heard a sound.
Wei Xing then found a music box, recognizing it as her own from childhood. She realized Wang Diqiu was the source of the sound, like the dancing girl in the story.
They also found other objects left behind by Wang Diqiu, including a "Princess Admission Letter" addressed to Guo Ting welcoming her to join them as a real princess, Ultraman figures having a meeting, and a Robinson Crusoe book with its character changed to Luffy, making Shi Wenke feel like he was meant to be the King of the Pirates. Understanding that Wang Diqiu had orchestrated this elaborate joke, they felt relieved.
Following his implied guidance, they emerged from the black cave to discover a stunning view of the sea outside. Wang Diqiu was already there, waiting for them. Standing by the beautiful ocean, they shed their high school anxieties, shouting their hopes and goals for senior year into the vastness.
Wei Xing reflected that many things in life, like senior year, are initially perceived through stories and rumors, but the reality is often surprising, and fortunately, you never have to face it alone. Autumn arrived in Haibei City in 2008. As ginkgo leaves turned yellow, news of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and the sweeping global financial crisis dominated television screens.
Wang Jianmin and his mother watched, and his mother grew anxious upon hearing neighbors were hoarding rice, wondering if they should do the same. Wang Jianmin reassured her it was likely a rumor and urged trust in the government, deciding against buying extra. Meanwhile, at home, Wang Diqiu and Guo Ting were caught by Aunt Li bickering over Guo Ting using breakfast money to buy lipstick.
Aunt Li broke up their argument, telling them to stop fighting first thing in the morning. Wang Diqiu expressed anticipation for an upcoming Xu Yuteng fan meeting, but Guo Ting teased him for misremembering the lyrics to a song, calling him stupid. Wang Diqiu questioned the difference in the words. He asked Wei Xing if she would have time for the meeting, as he knew she might be busy with art exams.
He emphasized that the fan meeting was a precious memory of youth. As they walked together, other girls were heard admiring Han Shuai's performance at the top ten singers competition, describing him as cool, wealthy, and good-looking, like a novel protagonist. Guo Ting overheard them and interjected defiantly, saying Han Shuai wouldn't like them and would only like her, asserting that she would be the one Han Shuai liked in the future.
Back in the classroom, Wang Diqiu found a stack of love letters in Han Shuai's drawer, teasingly asking if the "handsome" Han Shuai was reading them secretly. Han Shuai tried to retrieve them, but Wang Diqiu wanted to see, claiming he'd never received such a thing. Outside the classroom, Li Jin, a student leader, approached Wei Xing, cautioning her, as they were seniors now, to focus on her studies and not be influenced by "certain people."
Wei Xing became visibly unhappy and told Li Jin to mind her own business. Wang Diqiu tried to get Wei Xing's attention as she walked away. Later, Wang Diqiu asked Wei Xing to play badminton with him, but she declined, saying she didn't feel like playing that day. Around the same time, Wang Jianmin returned home unexpectedly early. Aunt Li was surprised, joking about the sun rising from the west.
Wang Jianmin explained the factory had closed due to a power outage and wanted to help around the house. Aunt Li probed if he was hiding something, but Wang Jianmin insisted his technical job was secure and highly valued. Han Dad's company was also suffering the effects of the financial crisis, facing broken funding chains and repeated debt collection notices from the bank. Unaware of his father's struggles, Han Shuai was focused on studying abroad in the US.
Han Dad consulted a study abroad advisor who presented options at top US universities like UCSD and NYU for finance, based on Han Shuai's profile and his father's presumed financial capacity. The advisor mentioned Japanese universities as an alternative if proximity was a factor, but otherwise recommended the US. Han Shuai firmly stated his preference for American schools, finding Japan uninteresting, and confidently declared their family wasn't short on money.
Han Dad, however, was deeply troubled by his company's situation and the possibility of not being able to fund Han Shuai's studies. He confided in Wang Jianmin and another friend over barbecue, expressing his worries and envying their seemingly stable jobs. Wang Jianmin advised him not to be too proud and to ask for help when needed, noting that true friends remain when wealth disappears.
Wang Jianmin initially boasted about the security of his technical work, toasting to technology with his friends. Soon after, however, Wang Jianmin received a layoff notice from his factory. He spoke to his director, who acknowledged the factory's difficulties but hinted that keeping his job was possible if Wang Jianmin's "brain" was "brilliant," subtly suggesting money was required to "pull strings." Wang Jianmin asked how much was needed.
Meanwhile, a group of girls surrounded Han Shuai, asking to add him on social media, explaining they had come from another class just to meet him and wanted to ask him about academics. Guo Ting pushed her way through the crowd, accidentally bumping into Han Shuai and spilling her ice cream on his shirt. She apologized repeatedly. Han Shuai brushed it off, saying he was used to it and handed her the shirt to clean.
He then mentioned the brochure for studying in America he had with him. Guo Ting asked if he was really going, expressing sadness that America was so far away and that he hadn't told her and Wang Diqiu about officially applying. Han Shuai replied he hadn't formally applied yet but was determined to go to the "best" finance university in the US, stating his ambition to only study abroad if it was at the top institution.
Guo Ting turned away, telling him to clean the shirt himself, clearly upset, which Han Shuai didn't seem to understand. Wei Xing noticed Guo Ting's unhappiness and understood her feelings. Guo Ting described a scenario from her novel about a protagonist falling in love with someone they couldn't be with, citing reasons like parental disapproval, a third party, or the other person moving far away.
Wei Xing offered comfort, suggesting that apparent impossibilities in love often stem from prioritizing other things. She also mused that if an unhappy ending is inevitable, perhaps it's better never to have met. Guo Ting found love to be complicated. Wei Xing suggested that besides love, life holds many other interesting pursuits.
She used the analogy of birds being happy because their primary focus is simply finding food for the day, implying that humans find happiness when they identify a goal to work hard for. Wang Diqiu observed Guo Ting looking distracted and teased her about thinking about "life," but she brushed him off. Wang Diqiu left, saying he had something to do. Wei Xing remained at school to work on the blackboard display.
Ms. Chen finished her work and left, telling Wei Xing to go home soon. After Wei Xing finished the display and walked out into the dark corridor, a light suddenly appeared. Wang Diqiu emerged, calling her name and telling her he had come to pick her up, bringing a smile of relief to Wei Xing's face.
Episode 8 Recap
As Wang Diqiu walked Wei Xing home, he felt she had been distant recently and asked if something was wrong. Wei Xing denied it and told him not to overthink. He invited her to his house to do homework the next day, mentioning his mother would make chicken stew for her. Wei Xing agreed to be there on time. Later, at home, Wei Xing and Guo Ting were watching a drama together and cried over a sad scene.
Guo Ting felt that if the characters hadn't met, they wouldn't have experienced loss. Wei Xing disagreed, saying the female character would have ended up with someone she didn't love, living the rest of her life in sadness. Guo Ting stated that if it were her, she would rather experience a "gorgeous" love, even if brief.
She attributed her romantic views to reading many romance novels and declared that instead of being timid and afraid of loss, one should love boldly. Wei Xing commented that Guo Ting was only brave with words and might find it difficult in reality. Student union recruitment posters were put up around the school.
Guo Ting saw the description for the Head of Organization Department and felt it was perfect for her, describing herself as smart and passionate about fantasies with extensive reading experience. She decided to apply and excitedly told her aunt and uncle at home that she was going to be the head of the department, believing her good luck had arrived.
Her aunt dismissed it as a dream, while her uncle, who hadn't even become a workshop head despite working half his life in a factory, questioned her ambition. Guo Ting called them snobs, claiming the student union Vice President, Li Jin, had said the position was customized for her. Her aunt warned her not to get too happy before it was official and expressed distrust in Li Jin. Guo Ting remained confident that her good fortune was on its way.
At the election discussion for Guo Ting's application, Li Jin, the Vice President, immediately dismissed it, stating that the student union should not accept students who consistently ranked at the bottom of their class. Shi Wenke objected, reminding everyone that Director Jiang had specified that grades were not the criterion for this position and arguing that Guo Ting met the requirements.
Li Jin insisted that there must be a limit and that a "bad student" entering the student union was unacceptable. He called for a vote, and only Shi Wenke raised his hand in support of Guo Ting. Li Jin declared the result obvious and moved on. Guo Ting was upset by the outcome and told Wang Diqiu and Han Shuai what had happened, mentioning Li Jin's harsh words. Angered, Wang Diqiu and Han Shuai went to confront Li Jin.
Li Jin claimed he denied Guo Ting's application purely based on his role as Vice President, with no personal bias. Wang Diqiu challenged him to a competition between their ordinary class and Li Jin's key class. He proposed that if their class won, Li Jin would have to allow Guo Ting to join the student union. Li Jin accepted the challenge.
The competition was a quick-fire quiz between one representative from each class, with Shi Wenke acting as referee and questioner. The first to reach twenty points would win. Wang Diqiu started for the ordinary class against Li Jin. Wang Diqiu answered the first question correctly but fell behind. Han Shuai offered to switch in for Diqiu if he wasn't feeling well, but Wang Diqiu insisted he could still win.
Wei Xing told Wang Diqiu not to be stubborn, which led Li Jin to remind Wei Xing that she was from his key class. Wei Xing responded that Guo Ting was her good friend and if Li Jin denied her application due to prejudice, she hoped the ordinary class would win. Jiang Wenwen supported Wei Xing, saying the competition should be fair, not about taking sides. Li Jin accused the three of them of colluding.
Zhao Heng then volunteered to compete for the ordinary class. Li Jin mocked him, calling him the worst student in their class and questioning if they had given up by sending their lowest-ranked student. Zhao Heng confidently replied that he was sufficient because the key class was "too weak." As the competition continued, Zhao Heng answered questions quickly and accurately, surprising everyone, including how he knew some answers from watching "The Legend of Qin."
In the final question, Zhao Heng secured the victory for the ordinary class. Having lost the bet, Li Jin conceded and agreed that Guo Ting could join the student union. Some students from the key class felt embarrassed by the defeat and blamed Wei Xing and Jiang Wenwen for supporting the other side. Wei Xing countered that they weren't embarrassing because they lost, but because they were blaming each other and holding prejudices while the ordinary class showed unity.
She also stated that Wang Diqiu was her most important friend and warned others against gossiping behind his back. Later, Ms. Chen discussed the deep conflict between the two classes with Yang Guang, feeling it was a failure of the teachers to not have noticed it sooner and suggested reporting it to Director Jiang. Yang Guang advised against it, believing students should solve their own problems and teachers shouldn't interfere too much, saying dignity is earned by oneself.
Ms. Chen reluctantly agreed. Yang Guang seemed pleased, mentioning to Wei Xing that he was in a good mood from cursing a hateful person. Wei Xing spoke with Wang Diqiu about his future, noting his apparent lack of direction as the school year progressed. She shared her dream of attending the Beijing Dance Academy and her commitment to working hard for it.
Wang Diqiu admitted he hadn't thought about his dream but promised to apply to Beijing University if Wei Xing went to Beijing. He suggested they try to persuade Guo Ting and Shi Wenke to join them in Beijing, though Han Shuai was planning to study abroad. They made a pact to go to Beijing together, and Wang Diqiu promised not to copy answers anymore.
Guo Ting began her duties as Head of the Organization Department and enforced rules strictly, making Wang Diqiu and Han Shuai stand for being late, even though they tried to use their friendship to get an exception. She told them there would be no backdoors as long as she was in charge. Han Shuai and Wang Diqiu were also standing because they weren't wearing their school uniforms properly, and Wang Diqiu expressed regret.
Guo Ting shared a secret with Wei Xing from a novel and created a code word, "Jiwawa," to remind each other not to reveal it. Wang Diqiu overheard and insisted Guo Ting tell him the secret. She eventually did, making him promise not to tell anyone and explaining the "Jiwawa" signal.
Annoyed that she was about to reveal it, Wang Diqiu then told Guo Ting that he would never forget her, no matter where he went or what he did, before leaving. Meanwhile, Han Shuai was awake late and saw his father, Jianmin, who was also up. Jianmin told Han Shuai he would go to sleep soon and promised to give him the best life.
Jianmin, who appeared to be drunk, later spoke to Jinzhi, Han Shuai's mother, promising to provide the best for them and calling it his "final fight." He was at a shop asking for one more bottle as it was closing. Jinzhi received a call from Han Shuai and told him his father was with her but wouldn't be coming home that night as he was drunk.
Jianmin was shown crying, expressing regret and saying he just wanted to see Jinzhi and their son every day to feel at peace. Exam results were posted. Wang Diqiu failed several subjects, and Zhao Heng was ranked last. Guo Ting's scores were better than Diqiu's, and Han Shuai passed all his subjects, including English with a high score, mentioning he needed it for studying abroad. The teacher announced a parent-teacher meeting that evening and instructed students to inform their parents.
Wei Xing was the first in the grade, Shi Wenke second, and Jiang Wenwen third. Han Shuai tried to call his father multiple times but couldn't connect, so his mother attended the meeting alone. Wang Diqiu's mother, Aunt Li, was furious about his results, particularly his drop in rank from the monthly exam. Wang Diqiu ran to Wei Xing's family's shop to hide, but Aunt Li followed, yelling and wanting to hit him.
Wei Xing's father, Uncle Wei, tried to calm Aunt Li, reminding her not to disrupt his business. Aunt Li expressed her frustration, comparing herself to Uncle Wei, who got respect at school while she felt humiliated by her son's grades. She complained about Wang Diqiu's lack of effort in both school and work. Wei Xing intervened and offered to tutor Wang Diqiu daily in all subjects to help him improve.
Aunt Li was surprised and asked if Wang Diqiu was beyond saving. Wei Xing assured her that there was still time before the CEE and that many students make significant progress in their final year. Aunt Li placed her hope in Wei Xing. Yan Li, Jiang Wenwen's mother, met with Ms. Chen to discuss Jiang Wenwen's academic progress, specifically her stable grades.
While Ms. Chen praised Jiang Wenwen's stability and noted her slight improvement from the monthly exam, Yan Li felt that stability meant regression and sought better learning methods. Ms. Chen advised against excessive pressure during the sensitive senior year, warning it could make Jiang Wenwen nervous. She suggested Jiang Wenwen spend more time with high-achieving students like Wei Xing and Shi Wenke to learn from them. Jiang Wenwen, who had been waiting nervously outside, spoke with her mother afterward.
Yan Li told her Ms. Chen had praised her but reminded her not to be arrogant. Jiang Wenwen was surprised her mother wasn't angry. Yan Li explained that Ms. Chen had helped her reflect, realizing she had been too anxious after the previous exam. She reiterated that while the goal was first place, it couldn't be achieved overnight, and encouraged Jiang Wenwen to interact more with Wei Xing and Shi Wenke to learn their study methods.
Guo Ting, Wang Diqiu, Han Shuai, and Shi Wenke were enjoying ice cream. Han Shuai playfully squirted water at Wang Diqiu but accidentally hit Guo Ting. He apologized, saying he was aiming for Diqiu. Guo Ting said it was just water. Wang Diqiu asked Han Shuai if something was bothering him. Shi Wenke then suggested that since Jiang Wenwen's birthday was approaching, they, along with Wei Xing, should plan a surprise and go shopping for a gift, which everyone agreed to.
Episode 9 Recap
During an English class, students were instructed to read quietly from the blackboard. Wang Diqiu was called upon by Mr. Wu. When asked to speak in English, Wang Diqiu admitted his spoken English wasn't good, causing laughter among classmates like Guo Ting and Zhao Heng. Mr. Wu asked Guo Ting and Zhao Heng why they were laughing, and they replied they were laughing at Wang Diqiu because he was handsome.
Mr. Wu skipped that and asked Wang Diqiu to read words like "astrolabe" and "quadrant", which he struggled with. Mr. Wu then asked Guo Ting and Zhao Heng to continue, but they also stumbled. Finally, Mr. Wu told them to sit down. Wei Xing visited Wang Diqiu's home to help him study. Wang Diqiu's mother, Aunt Li, was very welcoming to Wei Xing, offering her grapes and calling her "honey."
She jokingly warned Wei Xing to report Wang Diqiu if he slacked off, threatening to beat him, which made Wang Diqiu protest. Wei Xing reassured Aunt Li that Wang Diqiu was doing well. After Aunt Li left, Wang Diqiu tried to distract Wei Xing, but she insisted he finish his work first. He called her cute, but she told him to play by himself. As Wei Xing was leaving, Wang Diqiu followed her out, asking why she was going.
Wei Xing explained that it was dangerous for her to walk home alone at night, and she appreciated him accompanying her until the streetlights were fixed. Later, while discussing the previous night, students noticed Wei Xing seemed upset. One asked if she was angry, and another confirmed it. Wei Xing revealed that she had never expected Wang Diqiu to treat her in a certain way. Wang Diqiu wanted to talk to Wei Xing.
Other students encouraged him, but he admitted he was afraid because he had never seen Wei Xing angry and she wasn't as easy to handle as Guo Ting. Someone pointed out that Wei Xing, despite seeming gentle, was very serious, citing her dedication to dance as an example. They told Wang Diqiu the only way was to sincerely admit his mistake. Wang Diqiu still hesitated, feeling the timing wasn't right.
Guo Ting dressed up to go shopping with Han Shuai, telling him she wanted to look good. They joked about how troublesome girls were and planned a "shopping spree." They bought several items, including shower gel and a drink Guo Ting liked. Afterwards, they went to Jinzhi Restaurant, where Han Shuai's mother, Ms. Jin, was. Ms. Jin welcomed Guo Ting warmly.
Ms. Jin asked Han Shuai where his father was, saying he hadn't been to the restaurant or come home for days. Han Shuai jokingly suggested his dad might have another woman, but Ms. Jin reacted with feigned indifference, saying it was his business and he should find someone quickly so he wouldn't be alone and miserable in old age.
Han Shuai then playfully told her he had checked his dad's underwear and none were missing, which led Ms. Jin to playfully scold him. Guo Ting interrupted, saying they were hungry, and Ms. Jin went to prepare food. It was Jiang Wenwen's birthday. Yan Li and Jiang Dad celebrated with her. During the cake ceremony, Yan Li insisted that Wenwen's wish should be to get into Peking University, although Jiang Dad suggested she decide for herself.
After Wenwen made her wish and blew out the candles, Yan Li presented her gifts: several study books and practice materials for the college entrance exam, explaining she had carefully selected them from many bookstores to help improve Wenwen's grades. Another gift was a college entrance exam wall calendar sent by her sister, Jingjing. Yan Li praised Jingjing for being thoughtful and serious about Wenwen's exam.
She mentioned Jingjing was a successful student council leader who won scholarships and got into a key university, attributing Jingjing's success to her own strict parenting. Jiang Dad commented that Yan Li was too demanding of her children. Yan Li then called Jingjing, who was in the library preparing for a debate. Yan Li told Jingjing how happy Wenwen was with her gift and asked her to wish Wenwen a happy birthday.
However, despite claiming not to want to waste Jingjing's time, Yan Li proceeded to lecture her about studying hard and achieving good grades, advising her not to listen to her father's less strict views. Listening to this, Jiang Wenwen silently shed tears. Later, in her room, Jiang Wenwen was visibly upset and not focused on studying. She was on her laptop looking at her QQ space when she saw a photo of her sister Jingjing smoking.
She quickly closed the laptop when her mother called her name. Shortly after, Shi Wenke called her. He claimed to have a math question he didn't understand and asked if she could meet him at the bookstore that night, emphasizing that she "must" come. When Jiang Wenwen's mother (Yan Li) asked who called, Jiang Wenwen said it was Shi Wenke asking her to go to the bookstore to do problems together.
Hearing it was Shi Wenke, known for being ranked second in their grade, Yan Li readily agreed and told Jiang Wenwen to go quickly, saying she would wait for her at home. When Jiang Wenwen arrived at the bookstore, she discovered Shi Wenke and several other classmates, including Wang Diqiu, Guo Ting, Han Shuai, and Wei Xing, had planned a surprise birthday party for her. The bookstore was decorated, and they sang "Happy Birthday."
They presented her with a homemade fruit tart, explaining they guessed she'd already had cake at home. They also gave her many gifts, which made Jiang Wenwen very happy. They pretended to blow out candles and decided to share snacks they brought. As the party was winding down, Wang Diqiu, Guo Ting, Han Shuai, and Wei Xing decided to leave.
Wang Diqiu subtly asked Han Shuai and Wei Xing to help him get Guo Ting away, implying he had a plan. Han Shuai readily agreed. Wang Diqiu told Wei Xing that he and Han Shuai had something to do and asked her and Wang Diqiu (himself, seemingly referring to getting time alone) to head back first, which Wei Xing agreed to.
As Han Shuai led Guo Ting away, she pressed him to tell her what was so important that it had to be just between them. Han Shuai, wanting to create an opportunity for Wang Diqiu to talk to Wei Xing alone, had successfully lured Guo Ting away. Guo Ting was anticipating Han Shuai might confess something private to her and eagerly followed him. He told her to close her eyes, which she did with expectation.
However, instead of a romantic gesture, he stuck an Ultraman sticker on her face. Guo Ting, realizing she had been tricked again, reacted with playful annoyance, warning Han Shuai to "wait and see." Meanwhile, Jiang Wenwen's mother, Yan Li, arrived at the bookstore with fruit, expecting to find Jiang Wenwen studying hard. She was dismayed to find the students having a party and playing. She immediately scolded Jiang Wenwen for playing instead of studying.
Shi Wenke tried to explain that it was a surprise birthday celebration for Wenwen. However, Yan Li cut him off, accusing him of lying and stating that good academic performance had nothing to do with a person's character. Shi Wenke apologized and asked her not to blame Wenwen, but Yan Li was resolute and told Jiang Wenwen to go home with her immediately.
On the way home, Jiang Wenwen attempted to defend Shi Wenke, explaining that his intention was just to celebrate her birthday. Yan Li dismissed her explanation, stating that Wenwen's birthday had already been celebrated. She accused Wenwen of being unfocused and declared that she shouldn't have been lenient, regretting not following her previous strict approach based on "Teacher Chen's" advice. Jiang Wenwen simply responded that she understood. Later, Wang Diqiu met Wei Xing by a lake where swans were gathered.
He pointed out the swans, explaining how they migrated great distances, overcoming challenges. He used this as a metaphor for his own situation, stating that he should learn from them and correct his attitude towards both life and study. He sincerely apologized to Wei Xing, promising to study hard and stay focused. Wei Xing initially asked if Han Shuai and Shi Wenke had helped him write his apology, but Wang Diqiu claimed he wrote the original draft himself.
Wei Xing then decided to trust him one more time, which made Wang Diqiu very happy. He then offered Wei Xing some food he had brought, sharing it with her. The next day, both Wang Diqiu and Wei Xing were very sleepy in class, having stayed out all night. Guo Ting noticed Wang Diqiu sleeping and later found Wei Xing also struggling to stay awake. Guo Ting questioned why they were both so tired after not sleeping well all night.
Wei Xing asked her to lower her voice and explained that they had spent the entire night by the lake watching the swans. She clarified that part of her reason for staying out was her anger about Wang Diqiu not taking his studies seriously. Guo Ting seemed surprised and curious about their night.
Wei Xing then made Guo Ting promise, under a dramatic and humorous "poison oath" involving bad luck for her idols, pirated albums, and tragic novels, that she would not reveal their secret to anyone else. Guo Ting solemnly swore to keep it a secret. Just then, Han Shuai passed by and overheard. He claimed he was innocent and had just happened to be passing.
He also swore not to tell Wei Xing's secret, asserting that he was much better at keeping secrets than Guo Ting. Guo Ting and Han Shuai argued lightheartedly about who was more trustworthy. Wei Xing told them both to go back to class. Han Shuai returned home and overheard his father, Mr. Han, talking to several men who were pressing him to repay debts. The men explained they had already waited longer than promised.
Mr. Han was trying to find a way to get the money and asked for more time based on their long-standing friendship. Han Shuai walked in and heard the conversation. Mr. Han told him to go to his room, but Han Shuai stated he had heard everything. He addressed the men, assuring them that his father always kept his promises and asking them to trust him one more time and grant them an additional month.
He pledged that his father would sell everything to pay them back. Seeing Han Shuai's earnest plea and promise, the men agreed to give Mr. Han one more month. After they left, Han Shuai asked his father why he hadn't told him about the business problems sooner, saying he was grown up. Mr. Han lightly joked that he was still just carrying a backpack.
Mr. Han then explained how the business, which he and Han Shuai's mother built from scratch, had been severely impacted by global trade conditions, leading to significant losses, borrowing money, and losing all their past earnings. Han Shuai encouraged his father, expressing his belief that he could overcome the difficulties within the month. Mr. Han felt renewed energy from his son's words. He asked Han Shuai not to tell his mother to avoid her worrying and nagging.
Han Shuai promised to keep it a secret. Feeling relieved after sharing the truth, Mr. Han accepted Han Shuai's offer to make him a bowl of instant noodles. Wang Jianmin approached the director about his job status. He had seen a list while delivering apples and realized he was on the factory redeployment list, which meant losing his job. He asked the director about the list. The director angrily accused him of going through his desk.
Wang Jianmin insisted he only saw the list when delivering apples. The director firmly told Wang Jianmin that the factory changes were happening, and he would not need to come to work the next day. Wang Jianmin then asked about the money he had given the director. The director denied taking any money, calling it nonsense, and sternly warned Wang Jianmin not to make such accusations.
Wang Jianmin maintained he was telling the truth, asking why he was being laid off when he had paid. The director dismissed him, saying others didn't come asking like he did, telling him to be more aware of the situation.
Episode 10 Recap
The alarm clock rang, but Wang Diqiu slept through it after staying up all night studying for the final exam. He had confidently told his mom he was well-prepared, having memorized everything and filled in every answer blank. However, when the exam results were posted, Wang Diqiu had performed poorly. He ranked 460th in the grade and was fifth from the bottom in his class.
Despite the results, he was already thinking about going out for skewers, seemingly oblivious to his mom's anger and Wei Xing's achievement of ranking first again. Han Shuai, meanwhile, had broken into the top 200. His teacher praised his strong foundation, saying he could aim even higher if he wasn't focused on studying abroad. Guo Ting's scores were still better than Wang Diqiu's.
During a class break, Wang Diqiu looked for Wei Xing, but saw her engrossed in a math discussion with Li Jin about odd functions and zeros. She didn't seem to notice him. Wang Jianmin had been coming home late, claiming important work assignments from his leader. Li Huiqin found this unusual, remarking on his long career as an ordinary factory worker.
Wang Diqiu cheekily asked his mom how she ended up marrying his dad, earning a scolding and a reminder that she hadn't forgotten him tearing up their marriage certificate. Wang Jianmin was secretly caught up in a scam operation where he was required to make deceptive phone calls. The neighborhood committee began distributing anti-fraud flyers, and Wang Jianmin grew visibly nervous upon seeing one.
Later, the police, alerted to suspicious activity, accompanied the neighborhood committee to investigate a building that Li Huiqin had identified as having frequent, mysterious visitors. Li Huiqin went along out of curiosity and was stunned to see Wang Jianmin among the people being rounded up by the police. Back home, Li Huiqin was already furious about Wang Diqiu's dismal exam results. Discovering Wang Jianmin's involvement in the scam pushed her to the brink, and she unleashed her anger on him.
Wang Jianmin, feeling cornered, tried to explain that he had only learned about the scam through the flyer that morning and was about to call the police himself when the raid happened. He argued that after years of marriage, she should know his character. Han Shuai's dad, Han Yanda, called him to the hotel where they were staying, telling him the bank had called and they had to move out immediately after mortgaging their house.
Han Shuai helped pack, maturely suggesting that mortgaging everything to repay debts was a good step towards a fresh start, as they could always earn the money back. They had initially planned to stay at Wang Diqiu's house. However, upon arriving, they heard Li Huiqin loudly scolding Wang Jianmin and Wang Diqiu. Han Yanda decided not to intrude on their family conflict and took Han Shuai to a small, inexpensive hotel instead.
Watching Han Shuai's understanding and resilient attitude, Han Yanda felt guilty about the hardship his son was facing and suggested he stay with his mom, Jinzhi, instead. Han Shuai refused, expressing a desire to stay with his dad, who had been busy working away for many years. He felt this unexpected situation offered a chance for them to spend time together. Father and son talked late into the night on the hotel bed.
On the weekend morning, Li Huiqin was still upset. Wang Jianmin quickly said he had a job interview and left without eating much breakfast. Wang Diqiu went out looking for Wei Xing and lingered outside the Guoliang Store. Wei Xing's dad, Uncle Wei, told him Wei Xing had gone to study with Li Jin, whom he referred to as a "vice president." At a supermarket, Han Yanda was buying several bags of radishes when he ran into Jinzhi.
After a brief, somewhat awkward exchange, Jinzhi became suspicious and later called Uncle Li and Uncle Lin, learning that Han Yanda had gone bankrupt. Meanwhile, Guo Ting secretly followed Han Shuai and discovered him at the small hotel with his dad. She learned about his family's financial struggles and felt deeply sympathetic. When Han Shuai saw her, he didn't hide his situation and tried to cheer her up, giving her a flower and apologizing for his earlier temper.
He expressed optimism that things would improve, while Guo Ting offered to share her allowance, which Han Shuai gently declined. Wang Diqiu finally found Wei Xing and Li Jin together again, studying. Li Jin made a condescending remark about Wang Diqiu's poor academic performance, stating he was too ignorant to understand their discussion. Wang Diqiu felt provoked and wanted to argue back, but Wei Xing intervened, stopping him.
After Li Jin left, Wang Diqiu felt hurt, believing Wei Xing hadn't supported him. Wei Xing voiced her disappointment in him again, urging him to improve if he didn't want to be mocked. Wang Diqiu claimed he had tried his best but couldn't help it if he still failed. Wei Xing pressed him, asking if he had "really" tried, pointing out she knew he had been playing games at an internet cafe that afternoon.
Wang Diqiu mumbled that it was just "one last time." Wei Xing became truly upset, stating how much she hated his current attitude, and closed the door on him. Back at the hotel, Han Shuai complained about eating only instant noodles mixed with radish every day, saying he couldn't stand radish anymore.
He reiterated his decision not to study abroad and expressed his determination to take the college entrance exam and pursue a finance major, believing their combined abilities would allow them to rebuild their fortune. Han Yanda was surprised by this sudden change of plans but eventually acknowledged his son's resolve. Jinzhi, now aware of Han Yanda's bankruptcy, went to the hotel and confronted them, demanding they come home with her.
She scolded Han Yanda for hiding such a significant event and criticized him for making Han Shuai live in a run-down hotel and eat poorly. She helped them pack their belongings. Meanwhile, Wang Jianmin went to the director who had taken the "benefits" money, trying to get it back. The director was unwilling. Li Huiqin, having heard about the money from Zhong, also went to confront the director and found Wang Jianmin already there. Li Huiqin's temper flared.
She aggressively demanded the return of the money on behalf of everyone who had paid, threatening to expose the director's actions to his wife. Fearing a larger scandal, the director grudgingly returned the money. Li Huiqin scolded Wang Jianmin for being naive enough to pay the money in the first place but praised his newfound courage in demanding it back.
Wang Jianmin explained that he had wanted to get the money back to buy her a gift for their wedding anniversary. As it turned out, that day was Wang Jianmin and Li Huiqin's wedding anniversary. Jinzhi, being Li Huiqin's close friend, had prepared a celebratory dinner and invited them over, along with Han Yanda and Han Shuai. During the meal, Li Huiqin mentioned it was their anniversary.
To everyone's surprise, Jinzhi revealed that it was also her and Han Yanda's wedding anniversary. They then shared the story of how they and Li Huiqin and Wang Jianmin had gone on blind dates and gotten their marriage certificates on the very same day. The atmosphere became cheerful, except for Wang Diqiu, who remained quiet and appeared troubled by Wei Xing's recent words. When asked what was wrong, he excused himself to go to the toilet, implying he was still dwelling on their argument.
Episode 11 Recap
Wang Diqiu expressed his confusion, feeling that despite his efforts, his grades weren't improving, and he believed Wei Xing looked down on him and spent more time with Li Jin. Han Shuai spoke frankly, urging Wang Diqiu to consider if he had truly given his utmost effort, agreeing with Wei Xing that Wang Diqiu was irresponsible for himself.
Han Shuai then explained his own newfound maturity, citing his family's bankruptcy and the need to consider his parents' future after seeing his father age and lose strength. He encouraged Wang Diqiu to cherish the present and study diligently. The principal announced the upcoming New Year's Day performance, emphasizing the importance of balancing studies and relaxation for Grade 12 students.
Li Jin showed no interest in participating, while Wang Diqiu, spurred by his conversation with Han Shuai, decided to focus intently on his studies. Director Jiang assigned Guo Ting the responsibility of overseeing the performance programs for Grade 12. However, with the college entrance exam nearing, few students had signed up. Director Jiang asked Wang Diqiu, Han Shuai, and Shi Wenke to register and mentioned finding Wei Xing.
When Guo Ting went looking for Wei Xing, she overheard Ms. Lu in the dance studio advising Wei Xing to concentrate solely on her dance training for upcoming school recruitment events. Ms. Lu stressed that consistent practice, not just talent, was the true path to success in dance and that any slacking would lead to regression, instructing Wei Xing to prioritize dance practice.
At home, Wang Diqiu struggled with vocabulary, endlessly reciting words starting with 'A', which Guo Ting found tedious. Guo Ting received a call from her parents, who informed her they would return for New Year's Eve and that her father had earned a significant amount of money that year. To boost sign-ups for the performance, Guo Ting used the school's broadcast time during a break to promote the event, announcing that the top prize would be a Bubugao repeater.
Alarmed by her unconventional announcement, Li Jin rushed to the broadcast room to stop her. Guo Ting's promotional efforts were highly effective, quickly filling all the sign-up slots. Wang Diqiu reviewed the registration list, noting that most of the participants were top students primarily motivated by the prospect of winning the repeater. Wei Xing deliberately tried to avoid Wang Diqiu when they encountered each other. Han Shuai noticed the lack of communication between them.
As the New Year's Day performance began, many of the early acts consisted of poetry recitations by the academic elite, which the audience found uninteresting. Guo Ting started to doubt her capabilities as the head of the organization department. Wei Xing reassured her, telling her not to worry too much and hinting that life often holds surprises. Just as Guo Ting was feeling disheartened, she couldn't find Han Shuai, Wang Diqiu, and Shi Wenke, worrying they wouldn't perform.
However, Li Jin, serving as the host, announced a performance by the school's top boy group. To Guo Ting's surprise, Wang Diqiu, Han Shuai, and Shi Wenke appeared on stage, dressed sharply. Their energetic dance performance captured the audience's attention, getting teachers and students alike involved and excited. Following the performance, everyone praised it as the most exciting and memorable performance in the school's history, particularly for the Grade 12 students.
Jiang Wenwen was kept at home by Yan Li to focus on studying. She couldn't resist secretly watching the New Year's Day performance on her computer, but Yan Li discovered her. Yan Li reprimanded Jiang Wenwen for not achieving the top rank academically. Overwhelmed, Jiang Wenwen finally shouted back at Yan Li before retreating to the bathroom.
Wang Diqiu had a serious conversation with Wei Xing, handing her his ID card as proof of his commitment to stop visiting internet cafes. Seeing his clear resolve, Wei Xing decided to listen to him. Wang Diqiu made a small request, admitting his dislike for Li Jin and asking Wei Xing not to spend too much time with him.
After Yan Li had fallen asleep, Jiang Wenwen quietly slipped out of the house and met Shi Wenke, who had been waiting for her at a phone booth. They ran off together, full of joy. As a light snow began to fall, Wang Diqiu, Han Shuai, Guo Ting, Jiang Wenwen, Shi Wenke, and Wei Xing gathered by the sea.
They excitedly shouted their dreams aloud while waiting for the countdown to the New Year and the fireworks, wishing for their aspirations to come true. Guo Ting declared her wish to become the best director, Han Shuai aimed to be a leading figure in finance, Shi Wenke aspired to write the greatest literature, Jiang Wenwen dreamed of becoming an archaeologist, and Wei Xing wished to be a renowned dancer.
Wang Diqiu expressed his determination to get into a university in Beijing, silently hoping to be with Wei Xing there. The year 2008 concluded amidst the burst of fireworks, bringing a realization that perhaps the most beautiful scene wasn't the reflection of fireworks but the gathering of friends. New Year's Eve arrived, and Guo Ting anxiously awaited her parents' return, while everyone prepared to watch the Spring Festival Gala.
Guo Ting's parents had taken a Motorcycle, but the driver took a wrong turn into an area with no phone signal, preventing Guo Ting from contacting them. Fearing they might have broken a promise to return, just like when she was a child, Guo Ting was visibly worried.
Eventually, her parents arrived, and the extended group, including Guo Ting's family, Wang Diqiu's family, Han Shuai, Shi Wenke, Jiang Wenwen, and Wei Xing, gathered at Wang Diqiu's home to celebrate the New Year together, anticipating a better year ahead. Before dinner, several people debated whether a 'Fu' character they were sticking was straight or crooked, arguing until Wei Xing confirmed it was indeed crooked, prompting them to re-stick it.
Jiang Wenwen's older sister, Jingjing, returned home to a warm welcome from Yan Li, although Jingjing appeared weary. During the family dinner, Yan Li lavished praise on Jingjing's academic achievements and her position as Vice President of the student union at a prestigious university, urging Jiang Wenwen to emulate her sister's success. Jingjing remained somewhat distant, preoccupied with matters on her phone related to the student union.
Later, Wang Diqiu's father, Guo's father, and Han Shuai's father discussed the economic hardships of the past year. Guo's father mentioned his factory provided meal coupons to laid-off employees, while Han Shuai's father lamented losing his business and now depending on his ex-wife. Guo's father also spoke about the challenges facing the architectural industry. They all agreed that 2008 had been difficult but resolved to face future challenges head-on with resilience and determination, looking forward to a more prosperous year in 2009.
Episode 12 Recap
Wang Jianmin observed that his son, Wang Diqiu, had recently become unusually diligent in his studies. He attributed this change to Wei Xing, whom he seemed very fond of, noting Diqiu had become more sensible thanks to Wei Xing. Wang Jianmin took the opportunity to remind Wei Xing's father about the informal agreement they had made when their children were young, hinting at an arranged marriage.
Guo Ting knew her father was making money outside the province but overheard him telling Wang Jianmin's family he was poor. She confronted her father, angry that he would lie to them, especially since Wang Diqiu's aunt and uncle had been so kind to her over the years. Her father dismissed her concerns, saying it was an adult matter and he was just trying to save face.
He had prepared a lucky draw for the children, explaining the prizes varied and setting a rule that they shouldn't compare or reveal what they got. Since Jiang Wenwen wasn't present, Shi Wenke volunteered to pick for her. Guo Ting initially refused to participate but her father urged her to, telling her not to be upset.
As they opened their envelopes, they discovered they had all won tickets to a Xu Yuteng fan meeting, which they celebrated excitedly by setting off Fairy Stick fireworks together. Grandma also gave them lucky money. Yang Guang called Ms. Chen to wish her a Happy New Year. Coincidentally, Ms. Chen was with her mother, who took the phone and barrage Yang Guang with questions about his age, origin, and residency status, making him feel awkward and Ms. Chen embarrassed.
Her mother told Yang Guang that her New Year's wish depended on him. Jiang Wenwen visited Jingjing to give her fruit, finding Jingjing smoking on the balcony. Jingjing was annoyed that Wenwen hadn't knocked before entering. Wenwen apologized and quickly left the room. Later that evening, as Han Shuai and others were getting ready to leave, Guo Ting called out to him. She stumbled and fell into his arms.
Unable to hold back, Guo Ting confessed her feelings to Han Shuai, expecting him to embrace her in return. Han Shuai was startled and pushed her away, telling her to calm down. He then suggested they play a game where she would close her eyes and count to three. Guo Ting, believing this was part of his reaction, complied, but when she opened her eyes, Han Shuai was gone. Jiang Wenwen was at home studying when the phone rang.
She answered eagerly, hoping it was someone special, and found it was Shi Wenke calling to wish her a Happy New Year. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Diqiu and Guo Ting hoped to sleep in but were woken by the noise of relatives arriving downstairs. They were compelled to get up and endure greetings and personal questions from various aunts. Later, outside what seemed to be Wei Xing's place, the friends gathered.
Wang Diqiu and Guo Ting complained about being woken up and pinched by relatives. Han Shuai lamented feeling like a "poor cabbage" when his relatives viewed him after his dad's financial troubles. Wei Xing commented that having fewer relatives had its benefits. Han Shuai suggested they form a study group as their teacher had recommended before the holiday. As they discussed pairings, Wang Diqiu was left without a partner.
Han Shuai offered Guo Ting to Wang Diqiu, saying he could work alone. Guo Ting was visibly upset and started to bring up what happened "yesterday," but Han Shuai pulled her aside, advising her not to talk about private matters in front of everyone. When she pressed him on why he ran, he admitted she scared him. He told her she was cute and nice, but not his type.
Meanwhile, Grandma listened to opera while Aunt Li and Guo Ting's mother washed her feet. Aunt Li expressed gratitude to Guo Ting's mother for taking care of Grandma and Ting since she and her husband, Laishun, lived far away. Guo Ting's mother said it was her pleasure as they were family.
Wang Diqiu learned from Grandma that the opera she was listening to, 'Pipa Xing,' was the piece playing when she and Grandpa met at an opera performance, making it their special love song. Guo Ting confided in Wei Xing and Jiang Wenwen about her failed confession to Han Shuai and how he ran. They were sympathetic and suggested she pursue him and then dump him.
Guo Ting revealed she already had a plan for the study group session, needing their help to ensure she could sit next to Han Shuai by strategically positioning others, including Li Jin whom Wang Diqiu referred to as "Vice President Li." The group met at a bookstore to study. Jiang Wenwen suggested they move tables as the current one was too crowded.
Wang Diqiu quickly claimed the seat next to Wei Xing, stating they were Ms. Chen's recognized "first study group" and Wei Xing was responsible for tutoring him. He told Li Jin his grades were already good and directed him to another table. Ms. Chen was set up on a blind date by her mother with a Mr. Ye.
Upon meeting, Mr. Ye immediately focused on her age, suggesting she needed to marry and have children quickly due to her "objective conditions." Ms. Chen politely declined, stating she preferred to follow her own heart. When she attempted to leave, Mr. Ye grabbed her arm. Yang Guang suddenly appeared, intervened by telling Mr. Ye not to touch her when she clearly refused, and escorted Ms. Chen out of the cafe.
As they left, Mr. Ye accused Ms. Chen of having a boyfriend but still going on blind dates. Outside, Ms. Chen expressed her frustration with being called a "leftover woman," telling Yang Guang she was content with her life, her students, friends, and work. Yang Guang reassured her, saying he would marry her if she couldn't find a partner.
When Ms. Chen thought he misspoke, Yang Guang insisted he meant it, revealing he had liked her since he was a freshman and she was a welcoming senior. That same evening, Guo Ting's parents announced they had to leave immediately due to an incident at the construction site. Guo Ting was heartbroken, having just spent a short time with them after a year apart, but told her mother she was used to them leaving quickly.
Her parents comforted her and instructed her to listen to her aunt, take care of Grandma, and obey her teachers at school, asking her not to worry them. Aunt Liu and Guo Ting's mother reassured each other that Guo Ting was a sensible child who would understand her parents' difficult situation. To cheer up Guo Ting, Han Shuai organized a trip to the amusement park for the group. Jiang Wenwen asked her mother, Yan Li, if she could go.
Yan Li was initially reluctant, questioning Wenwen's study habits if she wanted to play and worrying about her falling behind. Jingjing stepped in, vouching for Wenwen's recent diligence and arguing that a break was necessary for her health and could provide inspiration for her writing. Yan Li conceded, allowing Wenwen to go but with strict conditions: return early, don't linger at friends' homes, and write a 500-word essay about her experience.
The six friends (Wang Diqiu, Wei Xing, Han Shuai, Guo Ting, Shi Wenke, and Jiang Wenwen) went to the amusement park. They rode attractions and joked about racing. At one point, they noticed a peculiar couple walking strangely and speculated about them, later realizing it was their teacher, Ms. Chen. They enjoyed cotton candy, with Wang Diqiu attempting a magic trick to make his disappear.
Episode 13 Recap
Wang Diqiu and his friends were having a great time at the carnival. Han Shuai spotted a bear plush in a display window and asked the owner if he could buy it, but the owner refused, stating it was a display item not for sale. Guo Ting overheard the exchange. Later, she excused herself to go to the restroom but instead went to the owner and worked there temporarily to earn the bear.
When Guo Ting didn't return, Han Shuai became worried she might be lost, so he and the other friends split up to search for her throughout the carnival grounds. Guo Ting finally appeared, holding the large bear, and presented it to Han Shuai. Although touched by the gesture, Han Shuai couldn't help but scold her for disappearing and causing worry. Guo Ting explained that she had been working to get the bear for him as a surprise.
Han Shuai pretended not to have been worried, though his actions suggested otherwise. Later, Yang Guang and Ms. Chen went on a date and rode the Ferris wheel. As they reached the top, in the quiet moment, Yang Guang seemed about to make a move, but Ms. Chen playfully interrupted by pointing out that he had cotton candy on his head, causing him to freeze. Guo Ting celebrated her eighteenth birthday surrounded by Wang Diqiu's family and her friends.
She felt happy during the party, but later in her bedroom, a wave of disappointment washed over her as she looked at photos of her parents. Aunt Li came into her room and gave her gifts from her parents, sensing Guo Ting's sadness.
Aunt Li explained how much her parents loved her and thought about her constantly, recalling specific details they would ask about her when she was younger, from whether she kicked off her blanket at night to how she was doing in school. Hearing this, Guo Ting started to cry, feeling understood. After Aunt Li left, Han Shuai came in holding the bear she had gotten for him earlier. He presented it to her as a birthday gift.
Guo Ting playfully remarked that she felt she had been tricked since she had worked for the bear herself. Han Shuai gently teased her for crying on her birthday and told her to cheer up. He then said goodnight and left. Guo Ting, her mood lifted, happily repeated his goodnight wish. Wang Diqiu noticed Han Shuai's unusual concern for Guo Ting and asked him about his feelings for her. Han Shuai insisted Guo Ting wasn't his type.
However, Wang Diqiu countered that Han Shuai's behavior towards Guo Ting when she was upset was different, showing a level of care that went beyond ordinary friendship. Meanwhile, Guo Ting finally opened the gift from her parents, expecting something generic. To her surprise, it was a detailed photo album chronicling her childhood with accompanying stories. Jiang Wenwen felt a pang of envy seeing how lively Wang Diqiu's home was compared to her own quiet one.
Shi Wenke accompanied her as she left. As they passed a wishing area, Jiang Wenwen suggested they write down their wishes and hang them. Shi Wenke wrote a wish hoping Jiang Wenwen would always be happy. He observed that her compulsive handwashing habit seemed to disappear whenever she was in a good mood, suggesting that her happiness could help her overcome it.
One snowy and rainy day, Grandma went out listening to her opera music but unfortunately slipped and had to be hospitalized. The news saddened the friends, bringing back difficult childhood memories. They recalled how Wei Xing was heartbroken after losing his mother and would often cry in secret. Han Shuai's parents frequently argued about work and family time, causing tension. Guo Ting missed her parents, but Grandma had always been there, doing things like styling her hair.
Wang Diqiu remembered being scolded by Aunt Li for buying collectible cards, only for Grandma to step in and protect him. Grandma had been a constant, supportive presence, helping to raise them all. Distraught, Guo Ting called her parents, tearfully urging them to return to see Grandma. They reassured her they had already bought train tickets and were on their way. Wang Diqiu found Grandma's old radio on the ground.
Remembering the opera music she loved, he decided he wanted to fix it for her. Thankfully, Grandma received timely medical attention and was out of danger. Guo Ting, Han Shuai, Shi Wenke, and Wei Xing decided to cook a meal for Grandma. Han Shuai, having never cooked before, awkwardly followed Shi Wenke's instructions, with Wei Xing also chiming in to correct his mistakes.
Jiang Wenwen's Dad came home from work, bringing back a bag of popcorn he bought for her, thinking she might be tired from studying. Jiang Wenwen was delighted. However, Yan Li, her mother, arrived shortly after and, seeing Jiang Wenwen wasn't studying, immediately began criticizing her. Despite Jiang's Dad trying to defend her and suggest she relax, Yan Li insisted on the importance of the upcoming first mock exam for the college entrance exam. She demanded Jiang Wenwen return to her room to study diligently, which Jiang Wenwen quietly did, taking her popcorn with her.
Episode 14 Recap
At the celebratory banquet held after Grandma's passing, the adults were lively, eating, drinking, and talking about business and life, calling it a joyous occasion because she had lived a long life. Meanwhile, Diqiu, Guo Ting, and their friends sat quietly, visibly distressed and unable to eat. Guo Ting was particularly disturbed by the adults' behavior, questioning how they could be so cheerful when Grandma was gone.
Wei Xing explained that it was a local custom for funerals to be lively, hoping the deceased would leave peacefully, but Guo Ting still couldn't understand why they didn't seem sad. Overwhelmed, she left the table, and Han Shuai followed her. Guo Ting broke down crying, saying she didn't have a grandmother anymore, and Han Shuai comforted her. Diqiu also found it difficult to remain at the table and retreated to Grandma's room.
Looking through her belongings, he discovered a box filled with his old game card collection. Finding the cards triggered vivid childhood memories. He remembered showing his "scary" cards to Grandma, who, despite saying they were frightening, would always carefully put them away. He also recalled playful arguments with Guo Ting over who Grandma loved more, like when Grandma would braid Guo Ting's hair. The weight of these memories combined with his grief became too much, and he cried.
Wei Xing found him there and comforted him, asking what was wrong. Diqiu replied with sorrow that he no longer had a grandmother. With the new semester beginning after the winter break, Wei Xing reminded Han Shuai that they should make an effort to keep the atmosphere light and avoid mentioning Grandma around Diqiu and Guo Ting to prevent upsetting them. Guo Ting seemed to be her usual carefree self. However, Diqiu had noticeably changed.
He no longer relied on others to copy homework and completed his assignments himself. At home, his parents were surprised by his new habits. Aunt Li went to wake him up one morning and found his room tidy, only to discover he was already downstairs preparing breakfast. Wang Jianmin found this change in behavior unusual, but Aunt Li hoped it meant he was growing up.
As Diqiu served breakfast, he automatically reached towards Grandma's empty seat, momentarily forgetting she wasn't there. In class, Zhao Heng enthusiastically showed Diqiu and Han Shuai a game disc for a popular online game, suggesting they play together. Both Diqiu and Han Shuai declined, stating they had quit playing games to focus on the upcoming college entrance exam. Diqiu even urged Zhao Heng to dedicate his mind to studying, which greatly surprised Zhao Heng.
Shortly after, Yang Guang entered the classroom and spotted Zhao Heng trying to conceal the game disc. Yang Guang confiscated the disc, much to Zhao Heng's despair, and instructed him to come to the office with him.
Leading the class, Yang Guang instructed the students to thoroughly memorize "E'Pang Palace," explaining that while it hadn't appeared on previous exams for years, it remained a key point and had a high probability of being tested this year, including on the upcoming mock exam whose results would be posted publicly. Li Jin boasted to his classmates about receiving intensive tutoring from a teacher from Peking University during the winter break.
His classmates were more interested in Shi Wenke's study methods, asking him where he found his tutor. Shi Wenke replied that he didn't feel he needed one, which his peers found more impressive, noting that achieving good grades without tutoring was truly skillful. Jiang Wenwen arrived late to class and briefly greeted Shi Wenke as she made her way to her seat; Wei Xing quietly observed this interaction.
During a class break, Guo Ting burst into the room, announcing that she had decided to pursue the Directors' art exam pathway and had just secretly signed up for classes starting that evening. She declared herself a future rising star in the film industry. Diqiu and Han Shuai were taken aback that she hadn't discussed such a significant decision with them, calling her impulsive and the decision serious.
Guo Ting defended herself, asserting that becoming a director was her dream and required taking action. Wei Xing expressed support, believing Guo Ting had given it careful thought and adding that the art exam had a lower admission score requirement compared to the regular college entrance exam.
When asked when she had the idea, Guo Ting initially said "this morning" but then clarified she had considered it since Chinese New Year, only making the final decision today, a revelation her friends found hard to believe. Diqiu and Han Shuai left to focus on studying. Guo Ting then went to her first art training class, accidentally bumping into someone filming outside the building. Inside, she met the teacher, who was in a state of meditation.
The teacher gave her a list of 100 essential films to watch and review before the exam, instructing her to adopt a professional perspective as a designated "member of the industry." As she left the class, Guo Ting commented that artists must be crazy. Returning home, Guo Ting seemed affected by the intensity of the art class.
She informed her family that the living room television would now be exclusively hers for studying films for her art exam, which she considered part of her learning. Diqiu and Wang Jianmin protested, as they needed the TV for watching sports and other things. Guo Ting insisted, calling movie-watching essential for her path and reminding Diqiu of his impending college entrance exam. Wang Jianmin eventually conceded.
Wei Xing pointed out a practical issue: there was no DVD player in Guo Ting's room. Diqiu agreed. Wei Xing suggested they use their shared "base," which had a TV, a DVD player, and snacks, as a suitable place for Guo Ting's studies. Everyone agreed this was a good solution. Later, Guo Ting was shown at the base attempting to watch films, but she soon fell asleep surrounded by popcorn and snacks.
Wei Xing was tutoring Diqiu, expressing frustration that he struggled to remember key concepts despite his efforts. Diqiu admitted his difficulty recalling information during tests, wondering if he was less intelligent than Shi Wenke or if his family's genetics were the cause. Wei Xing dismissed his speculation, telling him to focus on studying instead of unrelated thoughts. Diqiu insisted he was trying but found the dense text of knowledge points confusing and headache-inducing.
Wei Xing then showed him cards with NBA team logos, which he identified instantly, explaining that he easily remembered visual patterns. Inspired, Wei Xing took a pen and drew simple patterns next to test questions or notes, suggesting Diqiu use these visual anchors to help him remember the corresponding information. Diqiu was excited by this new approach, praising Wei Xing as his "goddess." In the school office, Yang Guang was examining the game disc he had confiscated from Zhao Heng.
Ms. Chen entered and inquired about the time for an upcoming teaching session. Upon seeing the disc, she reacted with surprise and apparent misunderstanding. Yang Guang attempted to explain it belonged to Zhao Heng, but Ms. Chen quickly provided the meeting time, which was 9:30, and awkwardly hurried away, suggesting he go home early to rest.
Episode 15 Recap
Amidst a sudden flu outbreak, Han Yanda took proactive measures by disinfecting his wife Jinzhi's restaurant. Jinzhi found his efforts excessive but complied. Meanwhile, Jiang Wenwen was struggling with her studies. When her mother Yan li was away, she quietly called Shi Wenke. Shi Wenke was engrossed in reading "The Lost Tomb," a popular novel about tomb raiding.
He enthusiastically shared details about the first tomb explored in the book, the Seven Star Tomb of the Duke Lu's Palace, and mentioned Duke Lu Shang from the Zhou Dynasty. Jiang Wenwen surprised him by already knowing about it, mentioning the historical location of the tomb. They discussed the book, and Shi Wenke offered to lend her the four books in the series later. After hanging up, Jiang Wenwen deleted her call history.
Guo Ting found herself dozing off during movies, making her doubt her suitability for studying directing. She expressed her desire to give up to Han Shuai, who found it amusing but couldn't offer direct help. Guo Ting then had the idea to ask Han Shuai to watch films with her as a study method. They ended up in a small private theater. Following a list provided by her teacher, Guo Ting chose a romance film, "The Notebook."
During the movie, Han Shuai became visibly emotional and cried heavily, much to Guo Ting's amusement. As they were leaving the theater, Wang Diqiu called with urgent news that something had happened to Wei Xing. They rushed to meet Uncle Wei, Wei Xing's father. He had heard that Wei Xing might have contracted H1N1 and was isolated in the hospital.
Despite his anxiety, Wang Diqiu and others tried to reassure him, pointing out that the medical staff had said the diagnosis was not confirmed yet and emphasizing that there had been no confirmed cases in the city. Wang Diqiu was concerned about Wei Xing and later visited her in the quarantine area, sneaking past the staff. He tried to cheer her up, promising to stay with her, but was soon discovered by a doctor and told to leave immediately.
The first mock exam began. When Wang Diqiu received his paper, he was surprised to find that many questions were exactly as Wei Xing had predicted and provided notes for, giving him a significant boost in confidence. Zhao Heng, sitting nearby, attempted to get answers from him. Ms. Chen, the teacher, sternly warned the students against any small movements or talking. Jiang Wenwen appeared visibly nervous throughout the exam.
When Ms. Chen announced that time was up, Jiang Wenwen had not finished her essay. She sat frozen until Ms. Chen called her name again. Upset and trying to hold back tears, she slowly handed in her paper. Shi Wenke offered her comfort as she left the classroom looking distraught. Later, good news arrived regarding Wei Xing's health; her diagnosis was only ordinary pneumonia, not the flu, much to her father's relief. She was transferred to a regular hospital ward.
While in the hospital, Wei Xing met Xinxin, a left-behind child who was also a patient. Xinxin was sad because she missed her mother, who lived far away for work and often forgot her birthday. Wei Xing comforted her, explaining that her mother must have very important reasons for not being there. Around this time, Wang Jianmin, Wang Diqiu's father, who had started driving a taxi after being laid off, was struggling to earn money.
Ms. Li, Wang Diqiu's mother, openly criticized him in front of their son for giving free rides to fever patients, calling it foolishly generous ("Love Charity Car"). She was worried about the risk of infection to their children and angrily told Wang Jianmin to sleep in the living room that night. Meanwhile, Jinzhi Restaurant was also facing difficulties due to the epidemic, and Han Yanda's nascent delivery project hadn't generated profit.
Jinzhi was frustrated, urging Han Yanda to get a steady job to help ease their financial burden. He promised his delivery project would improve their lives with investment and agreed to work harder. The day before Wei Xing's discharge, Wang Diqiu visited her. Wei Xing asked for his help with something the next day. Together, they planned a special birthday celebration for Xinxin at the hospital.
On Xinxin's birthday, Wang Diqiu and Wei Xing, along with other children from the hospital ward, threw a party for her. They played games, with Wang Diqiu dressing up as a "Jade Rabbit" from the moon, and Wei Xing and the other kids pretending to be characters like Monkey King and Pig King to chase him away. They helped Xinxin make a wish to always be with her parents and blow out the candles.
After the party, Guo Ting and Wang Diqiu were visiting Wei Xing in her room. Jiang Wenwen was also present. She confided in Wei Xing that she had been struggling with excessive handwashing when stressed, showing her red hands, and asked Wei Xing not to tell anyone about her condition, describing it as a "bit mysophobia." Eventually, Han Yanda's persistent efforts paid off when his delivery project finally secured an investment.
Excitedly, he shared the news with Jinzhi and asked her to help him come up with a name for the business. Jinzhi casually suggested "Have you eaten?" . Han Yanda loved the simple, relatable name and immediately registered it. He quickly began posting recruitment advertisements for delivery personnel, with Han Shuai and Guo Ting also present to witness the launch of the new venture. Back at school, during class, Wang Diqiu fell asleep and was woken up by Yang teacher.
To his surprise, Yang teacher announced his mock exam results: 12th place in the class and 125th in the grade. He initially thought he was still dreaming, given his previous poor performance. Han Shuai's results were even more impressive, securing the top position in the class and 60th in the grade. Yang teacher encouraged other students to learn from Wang Diqiu's rapid improvement.
Jiang Wenwen was called out by Ms. Chen to talk about her results; she had dropped to 10th place in the grade, which surprised many students who expected her to rank higher, especially with Wei Xing absent from the exam. They discussed how her performance had declined, while noting Shi Wenke's first-place finish. Shi Wenke, visibly concerned for Jiang Wenwen, offered to walk her home. Later, Ms. Chen called Jiang Wenwen's mother, Yan li, to discuss the mock exam results and her daughter's noticeable academic decline, expressing concern about her recent state.
Episode 16 Recap
Li Huiqin excitedly showed off Wang Diqiu's exam paper to her neighbors, who praised his significant improvement and felt hopeful about his chances of getting into university. Han Shuai's mother overheard Li Huiqin boasting in her shop and was told about Wang Diqiu's progress, but mentioned that Han Shuai had performed even better, ranking first. Later that day, Guo Ting was hungry. Wang Jianmin, Wang Diqiu's father, found some sunflower seeds for her to snack on.
Li Huiqin went to find Wei Xing to thank her for tutoring Wang Diqiu, completely forgetting about making dinner. Wang Jianmin and Wang Diqiu went out to look for her and saw her giving Wei Xing a red envelope to express her gratitude for the tutoring. Wei Xing refused to accept it. Wang Diqiu stopped his mother, telling her he would give Wei Xing the money privately later, knowing that Wei Xing would not take it directly.
Wang Jianmin playfully threatened Wang Diqiu if he dared to keep the money. Yang Guang was congratulated by other teachers because his ordinary class students had entered the top ranks of the grade. They asked him for tips on teaching students with poor grades. Yang Guang modestly attributed it to the students' own effort, particularly praising Wang Diqiu as a smart student who had previously lacked focus but had now "opened his mind," making his study very effective.
Director Jiang proposed that Wang Huanyu and Han Shuai be moved to the key class (Class 1) temporarily to help them make significant progress in the final four months before the exam. He instructed Ms. Chen, the teacher in Class 1, to look after them. Upon hearing they would temporarily study in Class 1, Wang Diqiu was eager to move immediately. The news quickly reached their Class 4.
Guo Ting was upset that both of them were leaving, feeling lonely about being left behind in the ordinary class. Wang Diqiu tried to comfort her, reminding her that Du Mingwei and Yi would still be there. Guo Ting remained unhappy. Han Shuai, thinking she was angry with him, approached her to talk.
Han Shuai told Guo Ting that he understood his family's financial difficulties meant studying hard for university was his only path, as they couldn't afford to send him abroad. Guo Ting said she understood but just felt a bit lost without them. She asked Han Shuai not to become close friends with others. Han Shuai agreed and told her she could come find him after class whenever she wanted.
They joked about making an "Unbreakable Vow," and Han Shuai promised not to befriend others. Since Wang Diqiu achieved a good score, Li Huiqin's attitude completely changed. She stopped yelling or hitting him and became overly gentle, which made Wang Diqiu uncomfortable. Wang Jianmin commented that his wife might be overly excited. Li Huiqin dotingly peeled oranges for Wang Diqiu, stating his hands were for studying. She even suggested they go pray, feeling they had received good news.
She insisted he and Guo Ting eat specially prepared pig brain soup, believing it would improve their intelligence. Meanwhile, Yan li prepared to make a phone call but noticed the call history had been deleted. Suspecting Jiang Wenwen was acting strangely, she searched her room while she was out. Wei Xing continued to tutor Wang Diqiu, but he was distracted, imagining being her deskmate.
Wei Xing snapped him back to reality, warning him not to become arrogant and emphasizing that his previous high score was partly due to luck in predicting questions, and that building a strong foundation was crucial. Wang Huanyu and Han Shuai began attending classes in Class 1. Ms. Chen welcomed them and asked where they wanted to sit.
Wei Xing suggested that Wang Huanyu take her seat so she could help him, and he eagerly agreed, excited to sit with the top student. Ms. Chen assigned Shi Wenke to sit with Han Shuai in the back row and asked both Wei Xing and Shi Wenke to help the new students integrate. Class 1 had a tense study atmosphere, including weekly exams held during evening self-study sessions, a practice not mandated by the school but enforced by the class.
During one such session, Wang Diqiu was distracted, fantasizing about Wei Xing, and needed to be brought back to focus by her. Yan li discovered Jiang Wenwen frequently called Shi Wenke late at night. She went to the school gate to confront them. When Shi Wenke and Jiang Wenwen emerged, Yan li loudly questioned Shi Wenke and accused Jiang Wenwen of having secrets and deleting call records.
Jiang Wenwen, unable to bear the pressure, shouted back at her mother, explaining that Shi Wenke was her best friend and she deleted the records because of Yan li's constant suspicion. She expressed her frustration, feeling she was not capable of getting into an elite university as her mother expected. Following the confrontation, Yan li decided to pick up and drop off Jiang Wenwen at school every day.
Shi Wenke worried about Jiang Wenwen, but she deliberately avoided him, unsure of how to handle the situation. The results of a weekly exam in Class 1 were posted. Wang Diqiu's score had dropped to ninety points. Li Jin taunted him, suggesting he might have cheated on the previous exam, but Wei Xing defended Wang Diqiu, saying it was a unified exam and he was capable of doing better.
Han Shuai's score was high, attracting the attention of several girls in the class. Guo Ting was dispirited and ignored Zhao Heng when he tried to talk to her, wanting to find Han Shuai. She saw him discussing exam questions with a female classmate and walked away angrily. During a school-wide assembly ninety-nine days before the college entrance exam, Director Jiang gave a motivational speech, urging students to maintain their good state and focus during the crucial final period.
Jiang Wenwen was tasked with writing the daily countdown on the board. However, in the ordinary class, Zhao Heng and other students were not paying attention and were joking around, pretending to use martial arts moves. Yang Guang expressed his frustration with their lack of seriousness, comparing them unfavorably to Wang Huanyu and Han Shuai and urging them to at least show a better attitude. Suddenly, Wei Xing was called by Ms. Lu to go to Beijing.
Before leaving, she told Wang Diqiu she was going to train with Ms. Lu's friend for her art exam and wasn't sure when she would return. Wang Diqiu was saddened by the news, asking many questions about her sudden departure and expressing how much he would miss her. Wei Xing reassured him she would call whenever she had time.
Wang Diqiu gave her the money his mother had given him for tutoring, saying he had used it on a plant in her yard so his mother couldn't accuse him of keeping it. They looked at a sprouting plant together, and Wei Xing encouraged him to keep working hard, saying she believed he could succeed. Wang Diqiu promised to finish coloring a picture he was drawing for her before she returned.
Episode 17 Recap
Guo Ting felt a distance growing between herself and Han Shuai. While watching a movie together, Han Shuai kept taking phone calls from a female classmate, causing Guo Ting to become visibly upset. Han Shuai didn't understand her reaction, feeling she was constantly angry with him, which led to an unpleasant argument between them. Guo Ting later called Wei Xing, who was training well in Beijing, to confide in her.
Guo Ting told Wei Xing that she had come to understand the importance of finding her own goal and not being affected by others or external matters. Wei Xing expressed her full support for Guo Ting's decision. Guo Ting then fully dedicated herself to preparing for the Directors' art exam. As she prepared for the unified exam interview, practicing her self-introduction alone on the playground, she encountered Zhao Heng, who was outside with his small pet, Toad Ji.
Hearing that Guo Ting lacked film resources, Zhao Heng offered to help. He had a large collection of classic films and lent them all to Guo Ting to study. Meanwhile, Han Shuai waited at a base to watch a movie with Guo Ting, but she never showed up. On his way back, he saw Guo Ting and Zhao Heng together, which left him feeling a mix of emotions.
Guo Ting later told Han Shuai that she wouldn't need his company anymore for her studies. Zhao Heng then began helping Guo Ting, who focused intently on noting down details from the films, diligently preparing for her art exam. Wang Diqiu continued thinking about Wei Xing. When the school held its second mock exam, Wang Diqiu's performance declined again. Ms. Chen praised Jiang Wenwen and Shi Wenke, who ranked first and second in the class and the entire school, respectively.
Yan Li also praised Jiang Wenwen for achieving the second position in the grade, but warned her against interacting with Shi Wenke, believing he had negatively impacted her grades previously. Ms. Chen also commended Han Shuai for reaching the top thirty in the grade. During a break, Han Shuai invited Wang Diqiu and others to play basketball, but they were mocked by Li Jin.
In front of the entire class, Li Jin ridiculed Wang Diqiu's poor grades and love for playing, pointing out that Wang Diqiu and Han Shuai had taken up spots in the key class that others had worked harder for. Wang Diqiu and Han Shuai tried to recruit Zhao Heng and Du Mingwei to play, but they and others declined, citing reasons like hunger or needing to study.
Later, Wang Diqiu fell asleep while studying and dreamed that Wei Xing returned, but his poor exam results caused her to ignore him. Learning that Guo Ting was going to the city for her art exam interview, Han Shuai quickly rode his bicycle to catch her. However, Guo Ting got into a taxi and didn't see him as he desperately chased after the car. A few days later, Guo Ting returned.
Han Shuai deliberately waited for her outside the guesthouse but again struggled to clearly express his feelings. Aunt Li, upon hearing about Guo Ting's successful interview, quickly shared the good news with Guo Ting's parents. Wang Diqiu thought about calling Wei Xing. Just then, he saw her being interviewed on television. The footage showed Wei Xing dancing gracefully with a male partner, which made Wang Diqiu unhappy. While studying, he recalled their conversation about working hard and felt troubled.
He decided to request a transfer back to the ordinary class (Class 4). Wang Diqiu shared his decision with Ms. Chen. Ms. Chen was concerned he might be excluded in the key class but understood his reasoning. She told him she needed to inform Aunt Li, as parent consent was required for a class change. Wang Diqiu knew his parents would likely disagree.
He attempted to sit down and communicate with them, but they strongly opposed his idea, believing the opportunity to be in the key class was too valuable to give up. Ms. Chen visited Wang Diqiu's home for a meeting with his parents. She showed them his past grades in Class 4, which showed consistent progress, compared to his fluctuating and less stable grades since joining Class 1.
Ms. Chen argued that returning to Class 4, a familiar environment with less pressure, might be more beneficial for his academic improvement. After listening, Aunt Li ultimately decided to respect Wang Diqiu's wishes. Shi Wenke continued to subtly pay attention to Jiang Wenwen, but she maintained her distance. Shi Wenke left her a note asking for a chance to talk.
Zhao Heng heard that Wang Diqiu was returning to Class 4 and expressed belief that he had not betrayed their class. They, along with others from Class 4, decided to play basketball together again. As Wang Diqiu packed his books to leave Class 1, Li Jin stood up and apologized for his previous remarks, admitting he shouldn't have targeted or ostracized Wang Diqiu. Other Class 1 students also expressed regret and asked him to stay.
Wang Diqiu explained that the tense atmosphere in Class 1, with its strong focus on scores and rankings, had created conflict and anxiety, making him realize that Class 4 was a better fit for him.
Episode 18 Recap
Wang Diqiu returned to Class 4 and encouraged his classmates, telling them he wanted to strive for college with them and that everyone could succeed if they worked hard. Shi Wenke encountered Jiang Wenwen in the hallway and tried to remind her about the upcoming Xu Yuteng concert, which they had previously planned to attend together. Jiang Wenwen avoided discussing the past, stating that since she stopped interacting with them, her grades had improved significantly.
She told him she wouldn't be going to the concert and returned a box to him before leaving. Han Shuai noticed Guo Ting was still upset but didn't know how to approach her. Meanwhile, Wang Diqiu, focused on Wei Xing, called her to remind her the concert was near. Wei Xing was busy with interviews and exams for her dance major and couldn't talk long.
An interviewer praised her and her male partner's duet performance, which Wei Xing humbly acknowledged, saying it was an honor to be recognized. Han Shuai followed Guo Ting to the classroom and saw her reading a manga. He tried to start a conversation, but she gave him a blank look and continued reading. Zhao Heng became interested in Guo Ting's manga, and they started talking and laughing together, causing Han Shuai to visibly react with jealousy.
The class bell rang, and Guo Ting urged Han Shuai to hurry back to his own class. Later, the three friends, Han Shuai, Wang Diqiu, and Shi Wenke, ate together. Han Shuai asked for advice on how to appease an angry girl, and Wang Diqiu quickly guessed he was talking about Guo Ting. Shi Wenke was somber, noting Jiang Wenwen had become distant, though he couldn't easily explain why.
Suddenly, Uncle Wei arrived, saying Wei Xing had called looking for Wang Diqiu. Wang Diqiu immediately dropped his food and went to take the call. Wei Xing apologized for not answering earlier due to her busy schedule. She mentioned the concert but was unsure if she could make it because of a gathering with her arts class after her exam.
As Wang Diqiu was about to respond, he heard a male voice in the background; Wei Xing explained it was her dance partner, and they needed to practice more for their upcoming duet exam. Wang Diqiu sounded crestfallen. During class, Guo Ting was distracted but was covered by Zhao Heng and Wang Diqiu when Yang Guang almost noticed. As the concert time drew closer, Guo Ting dressed up and asked Wang Diqiu for his opinion.
Shi Wenke again sought out Jiang Wenwen, hoping to give her a concert ticket, but her mother, Yan Li, unexpectedly arrived at the school gate. Jiang Wenwen quickly handed the ticket back to Shi Wenke before leaving with her mother. At the concert venue entrance, people were waiting to check tickets. Guo Ting wanted to buy a headband. Han Shuai helped her bargain with the vendor, and they started interacting more cheerfully.
Guo Ting suggested they pause their argument and enjoy the concert, agreeing to continue it afterward. Separately, Jiang Wenwen was at home trying to do her homework, but her mother, Yan Li, scolded her for not following her strict schedule and for dirty hands, making Jiang Wenwen feel miserable. Then, Shi Wenke managed to get Jiang Wenwen to come out by enlisting the help of Wang Xin, a high-achieving girl from Class 2 also taught by Ms. Chen.
Wang Xin told Yan Li that Ms. Chen wanted her and Jiang Wenwen to study together because Wang Xin was good at math and Jiang Wenwen was good at Chinese, and they needed to find a place with a good atmosphere. Yan Li readily agreed, impressed by Wang Xin's academic reputation, and allowed Jiang Wenwen to leave with her. Some classmates who saw them leaving together joked about them dating, which both Shi Wenke and Jiang Wenwen awkwardly denied.
Wang Diqiu repeatedly tried calling Wei Xing, but she didn't answer, leaving him feeling lost and disappointed. Meanwhile, Yang Guang was seen in the bathroom practicing a marriage proposal to Ms. Chen, who overheard him. Later, Yang Guang and Ms. Chen were outside the venue, wearing hats and trying to avoid being seen, but they were almost spotted by Guo Ting and the others.
Wang Diqiu waited anxiously by the concert entrance, even after his friends went inside, despite being told the entry gate would close soon. Just as the passage was about to close, Wei Xing arrived, calling out his name. She apologized for being late, explaining her taxi broke down. Wang Diqiu was overjoyed, grabbed her hand, and they rushed in just in time. Inside, they joined their friends and enjoyed the concert, singing along to Xu Yuteng's songs like "Angel's Wings."
After the concert, Han Shuai gave Wang Diqiu and Wei Xing some space by pulling Guo Ting away, trying to cheer her up with jokes. Guo Ting remained visibly unhappy. Han Shuai asked what was wrong, thinking she was still bothered by something related to other girls. Guo Ting candidly expressed her feelings, saying she felt foolish for constantly seeking his attention.
She felt she didn't matter in his priorities, which were always focused on his studies and future, from the past plan to study abroad to the recent class separation. She told him he had taken her feelings for him for granted. Han Shuai's eyes welled up, but by the time he fully processed her words, Guo Ting had already walked away.
Separately, after the concert, Wei Xing guessed Wang Diqiu hadn't done well on the second mock exam, but he didn't want to talk about it. Instead, he brought up her male dance partner and expressed his lack of confidence in his own future, which made Wei Xing realize his feelings. Shi Wenke walked Jiang Wenwen home after the concert.
Episode 19 Recap
Moved by seeing the sunflower painting in the Guoliang Store finally colored in, Wei Xing called Wang Diqiu. She apologized for not keeping her promise of calling him every night before and suggested they start anew that very night, beginning with the date the promise was first made. They playfully recreated their first conversation, affirming their commitment to the daily calls. Meanwhile, Shi Wenke walked Jiang Wenwen home.
He gave her an MP3 player, a gift from his aunt, explaining that music could help relieve stress and he had pre-loaded her favorite songs. Jiang Wenwen hesitated, feeling it was too expensive, but Shi Wenke urged her to take it. She accepted and went home quietly. Inside, her mother, Yan Li, sat with a stern expression.
Yan Li demanded to know where she had been and became furious when she learned Jiang Wenwen had gone out with friends, accusing her of lying and neglecting her studies. She snatched a celebrity photo from Jiang Wenwen's hand, tore it up, and then threw the MP3 player to the floor, breaking it. Jiang Wenwen tearfully apologized and promised not to do it again, but her mother continued to scold her.
The next morning, Shi Wenke noticed Jiang Wenwen's absence and Wei Xing also expressed concern. They spoke with Ms. Chen, who informed them that Jiang Wenwen had taken extended leave, effectively suspending her schooling, because her mother wanted her to attend an intensive training course. Shi Wenke was distraught and insisted on going to her house immediately. Ms. Chen calmed him down and promised to accompany him and other classmates later that day.
When they arrived at Jiang Wenwen's building, Yan Li rushed out, tearfully confronting Shi Wenke and blaming him for her daughter's state, demanding he tell her where Wenwen was. It was revealed that Jiang Wenwen had run away from home, leaving only a brief note. Everyone began searching for Jiang Wenwen. Shi Wenke suggested checking her QQ space, where she often wrote about her feelings, believing it might contain clues. However, neither Yan Li nor Director Jiang knew the password.
They tried various combinations, including birthdays and anniversaries, without success. Shi Wenke then noticed a dinosaur egg souvenir on a table and asked Director Jiang about it, reasoning that it might be precious to Jiang Wenwen and possibly related to the password. Director Jiang recalled buying it at the train station in Xi'an in 1996, but couldn't remember the exact date.
Yan Li suddenly remembered it was Mid-Autumn Festival that year because they had dinner together, and Director Jiang was late. Using the date, September 27, 1996, Shi Wenke successfully unlocked the QQ space. The latest message read "I'm going to the fairy tale land," and another said "goodbye," accompanied by a photo of a bridge by the sea that they had recently visited.
They rushed to the seaside area and found Jiang Wenwen standing by the water, seemingly lost in thought. Yan Li called out to her and rushed forward, demanding she come home. Jiang Wenwen appeared frightened, explaining she just wanted some fresh air. Yan Li pressed her about the messages in her QQ space, demanding to know if she was threatening her. She insisted that Jiang Wenwen must return home and attend a key top-tier university, accusing her of being rebellious.
Jiang Wenwen cried out that she couldn't get into a top-tier university and remembered painful past incidents where her mother had pressured her about studying. As Yan Li continued to insist, Jiang Wenwen became increasingly distressed and walked towards the water, appearing to attempt to jump. Director Jiang and Shi Wenke quickly intervened and pulled her back to safety, leaving Yan Li stunned. Later, Ms. Chen, realizing the severity of the situation, contacted a psychologist, Mr. Xu, for help.
Mr. Xu spoke about Jiang Wenwen's condition, explaining that her repetitive hand-rubbing was a manifestation of prolonged psychological stress. He directly told Yan Li that her constant pressure regarding academics, not allowing Jiang Wenwen to go out or have friends, was the root cause of her stress, asking if she was satisfied now. He advised that Jiang Wenwen needed to calm down and be removed from all sources of stress, warning Yan Li not to provoke her further.
Yan Li initially seemed shocked and disbelieving that she was the cause, but later showed signs of guilt. Ms. Chen also expressed self-blame for knowing about the pressure but failing to intervene sooner. Back home, Jiang Wenwen remained withdrawn and seemed afraid of her mother, refusing to eat. Director Jiang tried to encourage her to eat, bringing her porridge, while Yan Li watched from a distance, appearing worried.
Meanwhile, Shi Wenke arranged for her sister to deliver a package of new archaeology books to Jiang Wenwen, along with messages of support from her classmates, urging her to recover and reminding her of shared activities and inside jokes. Shi Wenke also sent her a poem about loneliness and finding solace. Students began the mock college application process, which would last for a week. Shi Wenke expressed his goal of aiming for the best literature university.
Concerned about Jiang Wenwen's future, he started compiling a list of all archaeology university programs for her reference when she recovered, and Guo Ting and another classmate offered to help. Wang Diqiu mentioned he hadn't decided on his schools yet, leaving it to Mr. Yang to review. Wei Xing inquired about Han Shuai's choices, and Guo Ting informed her that he was planning to apply to Central University of Finance and Economics, a school she believed was beyond her reach.
Guo Ting told Wei Xing that her main focus now was simply getting into a good university, and what happened between her and Han Shuai didn't matter anymore. Han Shuai's mother noticed he seemed troubled recently. He asked his mother why she and his father, despite their frequent arguments over many years, had never separated. Han's father intervened, suggesting they talk man-to-man, asking his wife to leave.
He explained to Han Shuai that even though he and his mother had different temperaments and often fought, sometimes even tearing up their marriage certificate, they knew in their hearts they had feelings for each other and were committed for life. He sensed Han Shuai had been having a difficult time. Later, Han Shuai visited Ms. Chen in her office to discuss his mock application.
Ms. Chen pointed out that his choices, including Hotel Management at a City Academy, were too conservative and did not reflect his potential, especially his first choice. She urged him to reconsider and choose a major he genuinely liked. Guo Ting and Zhao Heng were also in the office at the time, discussing their own applications. Han Shuai overheard Zhao Heng mentioning they were applying to the same university and major, thinking the required score wasn't too high.
Han Shuai quickly made an excuse about needing help with a math problem and left shortly after overhearing their conversation, appearing dejected. Back in the classroom, Shi Wenke noticed Han Shuai's mood. Han Shuai asked Wei Xing if she knew which university Guo Ting was applying to. Wei Xing only replied that it was a university far from the Central University of Finance and Economics.
On the way home from school, Wang Diqiu deliberately punched Han Shuai, much to Han Shuai's surprise and annoyance, as Wang Diqiu had said he would only pretend. Wang Diqiu explained he was creating an opportunity for Han Shuai and Guo Ting. He called Guo Ting over, telling her Han Shuai had a stomach ache and asked her to stay with him while he went to get medicine.
Han Shuai tried to make the most of the moment, pretending to be in pain and trying to prolong her stay, even holding her hand briefly. However, Guo Ting became impatient and started to leave. Han Shuai tried to hint at his feelings, asking if she understood, but Guo Ting responded that she didn't if he wasn't clear, calling him a coward before walking away.
Wei Xing found Wang Diqiu shortly after and confronted him about his mock college application, which he had promised Mr. Yang to change. She was angry and called his actions childish, saying she thought he had changed. Wang Diqiu insisted he chose that school because he wanted to keep their promise to go to university in Beijing together. Wei Xing argued that the promise was unimportant compared to him making a hasty choice about his future.
Wang Diqiu questioned if it would be acceptable if they didn't end up together or in the same city in the future. Wei Xing stated that they wouldn't be together forever and that nobody could stay with another person permanently. Wang Diqiu seemed taken aback and asked why not. Wei Xing refused to argue further and urged him to change his application based on Mr. Yang's advice.
Wang Diqiu reminded her of their shared dream of getting into the Beijing Dance Academy and attending university in Beijing together. He reaffirmed his commitment to achieving his dream. Wei Xing agreed to the plan. They recalled making a deal and swore together that they would go to Beijing.
Shi Wenke sent a message to Jiang Wenwen through her sister, containing words of encouragement from him and other classmates, wishing her a speedy recovery so they could go to concerts or amusement parks together again. He also shared a poem about a closed window and seeking lost sighs, ending with the hope that the starry night sky would bring her comfort and peaceful sleep.
Episode 20 Recap
Walking to school, Wang Diqiu no longer waited for Wei Xing. Han Shuai caught up and asked him what was wrong. Wang Diqiu simply stated that he needed to start getting used to living without her from now on. Later, Jingjing returned home and woke up Jiang Wenwen, wanting to take her somewhere. Holding hands, they walked to a forest near the sea.
Jingjing intended to fulfill a childhood promise to dig up a time capsule they had buried under a tree. Unbeknownst to them, Yan Li was quietly following behind. Jingjing apologized to Wenwen, acknowledging that as an older sister, she should have protected her but felt she had failed. She explained that after being controlled by Yan Li regarding her studies, she had desperately sought freedom in college, neglecting Wenwen and inadvertently causing her sister to experience similar pain.
Wenwen tearfully expressed her envy for classmates who had lively siblings, feeling lonely and ignored by her father. She revealed how much she hated studying, describing her mind as being crammed with exercises even in her sleep, and how she felt no one truly cared about her or allowed her to comfort herself. Jingjing hugged her sister as she vented her frustrations. Yan Li, overhearing Wenwen's heartfelt words, felt remorse and guilt.
Shortly after, she received a call from her mother (Grandma), who blamed her for not raising her daughters properly and criticized her inability to handle anything. Pushed to her emotional limit, Yan Li retorted, telling her mother that her own harshness had shaped who she was today. She declared that she would no longer be controlled by her mother and, after shouting her feelings, hung up the phone, admitting to herself that she felt like a failure as a mother.
At dinner, Yan Li initially tried to avoid joining, but Jingjing invited her to sit down, initiating a conversation about her own lies. Jingjing confessed that her dream, like Wenwen's, had always been archaeology, but she had been forced into her current college major by Yan Li.
To avoid further criticism, she had fabricated stories about being an excellent student union member, participating in debates, and studying diligently, when in reality, she felt she was wasting her time and giving up on her future because she disliked her studies. Yan Li was shocked and expressed that she felt like a failure, promising not to force her daughters into anything anymore.
Wenwen finally began to speak, and the family opened up, clearing the air and addressing the emotional burdens they had carried for years. That evening after school, Zhao Heng and Du Mingwei hosted a small celebration for Guo Ting to congratulate her on her successful art exam interview. Han Shuai, feeling jealous, couldn't hold back any longer.
He caught up to Guo Ting and, standing between her and the others, confessed his feelings for her, much to the surprise of Zhao Heng and Du Mingwei. Guo Ting gave Han Shuai a chance, suggesting they could be together if he could get into a university in the same city. Han Shuai eagerly accepted the challenge, deciding to help her improve her academic scores.
Noticing Wang Diqiu's sadness, Han Shuai gave him Wei Xing's notebook, which was filled with her thoughts and memories related to him, detailing their shared past and her feelings. Wang Diqiu had feared Wei Xing intended to drift away from him, but after reading the notebook, he finally understood her true feelings and intentions, including her worry about them separating like the moon drifting from the earth, but ultimately stating she would always be with him like a satellite.
He immediately took the notebook and rushed to find Wei Xing in the classroom. Embarrassed that he had discovered her private thoughts, Wei Xing ran away, but Wang Diqiu chased after her.
Catching up to Wei Xing, Wang Diqiu told her that he had carefully considered his college options and decided to change his plans to apply to universities in Beijing, expressing his desire to stay with her forever, referencing the analogy of the moon being the earth's only satellite that he read in her notebook. Wei Xing stopped running. Hand in hand, they walked back towards the Guoliang Store. As they approached, their parents, including Wang Diqiu's father, suddenly appeared.
The two teenagers quickly let go of each other's hands, while the adults discreetly looked away, pretending not to have seen anything. Ms. Chen heard that Jiang Wenwen was returning to class and quickly shared the good news with Yang Guang. With only one day left until the college entrance exam, Yang Guang opened the television and played a recording of their New Year's performance. The entire class listened to the music happily, many spontaneously dancing.
Ms. Chen did not assign any homework, instead instructing everyone to rest and sleep at their desks to relax. As Xinghe High School was chosen as one of the exam venues, the students packed up their books and belongings to head home. They shared heartfelt goodbyes, exchanged signatures in yearbooks and on desks, and wished each other good luck for the upcoming exam.
That evening, Aunt Li made a special "brain-boosting" soup for Wang Diqiu and invited some of his friends to try it, despite some initial hesitation from the students about its appearance. Later, Han Shuai's father hosted a celebratory hotpot dinner for everyone. During the dinner, Han Shuai mentioned his nervousness about the exam and suddenly got a nosebleed.
Episode 21 (Ending) Recap
The day before the college entrance exam, Guo Ting expresses her extreme nervousness. Han Shuai tries to calm her down, suggesting she just review the key points. Suddenly, Han Shuai gets a nosebleed, prompting Wang Diqiu to tease him about overdoing it with tonics, only for Wang Diqiu to also get a nosebleed moments later. Shi Wenke proposes that everyone recite the poem "Lyrics to Remembering Your Charm" together to boost their spirits for the test.
Meanwhile, the parents gather, discussing their children's impending departure for college and the freedom they will gain. Aunt Li expresses a desire to get her nails done, while Han Shuai's mother dreams of traveling the country. They reflect on how their own youth might have mirrored their children's current excitement. Yang Guang and Ms. Chen stand outside the examination hall, offering encouragement as the students head in. After the exam concludes, Wang Diqiu organizes a graduation party for both classes.
The students reveal they are aware of Yang Guang and Ms. Chen's relationship and playfully plot to get Yang Guang drunk. Wang Diqiu kicks off the toasts, thanking Yang Guang for his unwavering support despite the trouble they often caused. Du Mingwei and Han Shuai follow suit, expressing gratitude for his understanding and for helping foster their friendships. Yang Guang, visibly touched and affected by the alcohol, warmly congratulates the students on their graduation.
Zhao Heng lightens the mood with a joke about needing to retake the exam. Jiang Wenwen and the other girls present Ms. Chen with a gift, wishing her lasting happiness and beauty, to which Ms. Chen responds by wishing the students bright futures and success. At the party, Wang Diqiu pulls out a camera to interview each classmate about their future aspirations, intending to watch the footage in ten years.
Han Shuai shares his goal of helping his father revitalize the family business. Shi Wenke hopes to write impactful works that resonate deeply with readers. Du Mingwei declares his intention to join the army. Guo Ting dreams of becoming a renowned director. Jiang Wenwen expresses her desire to become an archaeologist to uncover the secrets of the world and ancient civilizations. Wei Xing simply wishes to continue dancing on stage.
Finally, Wang Diqiu states his ambition to become a reporter, seeking to reveal the truth. Just as he finishes, the camera's battery dies, leaving the group unsure if their hopes were recorded. Following the party, a very drunk Yang Guang is gently prompted by Ms. Chen about proposing. Despite his initial fumbling, he produces a ring, ready to meet her playfully stated conditions for their life together, which include preferences for their home and a clear division of household responsibilities.
Ms. Chen accepts, suggesting they become engaged for half a year before getting married if things go well. The scene shifts as Wang Diqiu, Han Shuai, Shi Wenke, Du Mingwei, Guo Ting, and Jiang Wenwen embark on a camping trip to the seaside to celebrate their graduation. Their parents see them off with a mix of pride and apprehension.
Upon arrival, the boys are tasked with setting up the tents, with Han Shuai jokingly lamenting being made a "servant" by Guo Ting due to a past bet. Meanwhile, Guo Ting, Jiang Wenwen, and Wei Xing venture out to find food, purchasing fresh crabs and octopus from a local vendor.
Wei Xing shares a moment with Jiang Wenwen, expressing her deep affection and urging her to always reach out if she needs anything, no matter how far apart they become, and they reflect on their long connection to the sea. As evening settles, Han Shuai plays the guitar by the campfire, creating a cheerful atmosphere. Guo Ting openly praises his charm as a musician.
They recall the Top 10 Singers Competition, acknowledging Wei Xing's role in teaching Han Shuai and Wang Diqiu guitar, which made them look like seasoned performers. Noticing Shi Wenke and Jiang Wenwen nearby, the others decide to leave them for some private time. Jiang Wenwen finds a conch shell and explains the ancient belief that shells can capture and transmit voices, much to Shi Wenke's amusement when he tries to provide a scientific explanation.
She asks him to listen to the shell. Elsewhere, Wang Diqiu talks candidly with Wei Xing, admitting he felt insecure and jealous when her success grew, fearing her excellence and popularity might lead to her being taken by others. Wei Xing offers to dance with him by the water to make up for it, and they attempt to dance together. Meanwhile, Guo Ting falls asleep leaning against Han Shuai. The arrival of college acceptance letters brings a wave of excitement.
Wei Xing is accepted into the Beijing Dance Academy. Wang Diqiu and Guo Ting also receive acceptance letters from universities in Beijing, much to their families' joyful surprise. Jiang Wenwen is accepted into her desired archaeology program, and her family celebrates. Han Shuai gets into his ideal university and suggests his parents add to the family's happiness by remarrying, which his parents consider, reflecting on their son's growth. As the time for departure nears, the students say their goodbyes.
While most are heading to Beijing, Shi Wenke is going to Shanghai. They promise to visit him there, mentioning plans to meet during the World Expo. Jiang Wenwen shares a touching moment with her parents before leaving. She then meets with Shi Wenke and gives him a new MP3 player, telling him how much he helped her navigate difficulties, calling him her most important friend.
Later, Shi Wenke listens to the MP3 and is surprised to hear his own voice, recorded in the conch shell from the beach trip, confessing his feelings for Jiang Wenwen. The students depart, filled with anticipation for the future, reflecting on their shared journey and the enduring support of their families and friends.
