Our Memories Episode 7 Recap
> Our Memories 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.
