Please Classmate Episode 16 Recap
> Please Classmate Recap
Li He, Ye Jingxi, and Yuan Haoxi went grocery shopping. Yuan Haoxi suggested steaming fish, but Ye Jingxi wanted junk food since no adults were present. Li He chided Ye Jingxi for not exercising and eating unhealthy food. As they walked, Ye Jingxi tried to avoid imaginary fans, which Li He scoffed at, reminding him that he wasn't a big star there.
Yuan Haoxi also stopped Li He, whom he called "Bear," from grabbing certain chips, insisting the spicy flavor was superior. Li He observed Ye Jingxi and Yuan Haoxi enthusiastically putting things in the cart, playfully calling one a "naughty kid" and the other "the idiotic son from the landlord's family."
Later, at the meat section, Ye Jingxi selected expensive meat, placing it in the cart, but Li He removed it, questioning the need for such pricey cuts and if Ye Jingxi's money was easily acquired. Suddenly, Yuan Haoxi rushed over, frantically exclaiming that Yuan Caixi was in trouble and "freaking out." They found Yuan Caixi surrounded by sales staff, who were persistently offering her samples, which she politely but firmly declined.
Back at Yuan Caixi's home, she admitted she was hungry. Li He offered to cook, promising to fill her up. Ye Jingxi immediately jumped in, offering to cook as well. Yuan Haoxi, seeing their competitive streak, suggested they both cook. He then expressed concern that they might "set the kitchen on fire."
In the kitchen, Li He boasted about his inherited cooking skills, while Ye Jingxi countered with his extensive experience living abroad and his superior knowledge of Yuan Caixi's preferences. Li He then challenged him. Yuan Haoxi proposed a bet where the loser would take out the trash and wash dishes for a week. He confidently bet on Ye Jingxi, citing his time abroad. Yuan Caixi, however, placed her bet on Li He.
Yuan Haoxi teased her that her hands would become coarse from the chores. A heated argument erupted between Li He and Ye Jingxi when Li He discovered Ye Jingxi had used all the sugar for his dessert. Li He criticized Ye Jingxi for not considering basic cooking ingredients like "onion, ginger, garlic, oil, salt, sugar," while Ye Jingxi retorted that he didn't know Li He needed it and accused him of acting like a star.
As they almost came to blows, Yuan Haoxi was on the phone with Ning Zeyu, joking about not getting food poisoning or burning down the house, before quickly hanging up to stop the fight. Yuan Caixi intervened, calling them childish and warning them not to tear her house apart. With no sugar, Li He improvised by using a can of cola from the fridge to make cola chicken wings, which he later discovered tasted even better than braised ones.
During the blind taste test, Yuan Caixi declared Li He’s chicken wings as her favorite, followed by Ye Jingxi's steak, then Li He's scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and finally Ye Jingxi's cake, which she found too sweet. Ye Jingxi was surprised, noting his steak was a replica of a dish from Yuan Caixi's favorite childhood restaurant, and he promised to cook it for her every day. However, Yuan Caixi clarified that her tastes had changed since childhood.
Li He then revealed his meticulous observations of Yuan Caixi's eating habits: her small appetite, how she eats more rice with chicken wings and scrambled eggs with tomatoes, her love for baby cabbage, and her dislikes for eggplant, green onions, and peppers. Yuan Haoxi, stunned by Li He’s detailed knowledge, jokingly asked if Li He was hiding under his bed.
Recognizing Li He’s decisive victory, Yuan Haoxi expressed disappointment in Ye Jingxi, lamenting that Li He won in everything (running, cycling, and cooking). Ye Jingxi was reluctant to accept defeat and suggested a rematch, but Yuan Haoxi highlighted that Yuan Caixi's choice validated her intelligence. Ultimately, Ye Jingxi was bound by the bet to do the dishes and take out the trash for a week.
As Li He and Ye Jingxi walked together, Li He complimented Ye Jingxi on his piano skills. Ye Jingxi admitted he had to "show off a bit" because Yuan Caixi seemed captivated by Li He’s cola chicken wings, to which Li He playfully called him cunning for acting on purpose.
Ye Jingxi then reflected that he had never seen Yuan Caixi so close to any other guy before, but he could tell she was genuinely happy, which fueled his urgency to impress her. Li He then advised Ye Jingxi to focus on his studies and piano, implying he would take care of Yuan Caixi, but Ye Jingxi quickly asserted that his openness did not mean he was giving up on her.
Ye Jingxi wondered aloud if Li He found it strange that they could remain friends despite both liking the same girl. Li He dismissed the idea, teasing Ye Jingxi about his lack of friends before adding that "quality overcomes quantity" and Ye Jingxi only needed him.
Ye Jingxi retorted that Li He would make a great actor because of his "shamelessness," which prompted Li He to boast about becoming a more famous star than Ye Jingxi if he had the same opportunities, disparaging Ye Jingxi's acting and running abilities. Early that morning, Yuan Haoxi was startled by the doorbell.
He opened it to find a large group of reporters blocking their entrance, asking if Ye Jingxi lived there and if he was cohabiting with a female classmate. Shocked, Yuan Haoxi quickly shut the door. Meanwhile, Ye Jingxi's assistant, Bawan, informed him of the "bad news" that had broken. Yuan Haoxi then rushed upstairs, pulling Yuan Caixi to the balcony, where she also saw the throng of reporters. Inside, Yuan Caixi, visibly confused and scared, asked what was happening.
Yuan Haoxi handed her his phone, revealing numerous online posts with photos of her and Ye Jingxi, falsely claiming they were living together. Yuan Haoxi read one article, highlighting how the "famous idol, Ye Jingxi," after returning to school, was now implicated in a scandal with a girl frequently entering and exiting a house with him, implying cohabitation. He clarified that the article was about her.
Yuan Caixi was distraught and wanted to explain to the reporters, but Yuan Haoxi prevented her, insisting that any explanations would only worsen the situation and she should simply stay indoors until the uproar subsided. Yuan Caixi found it outrageous to "stay here and do nothing" while being accused of cohabiting with Ye Jingxi. At the same time, Ye Jingxi’s team was seen deflecting reporters, stating they would not give any interviews or answer questions.
Yuan Haoxi, after firmly telling Yuan Caixi not to go online or leave the house, then called Li He, relaying the same warning and asking him to wait for further updates. Thankfully, Yuan Caixi's mother was out. Reporters, however, had surrounded Ye Jingxi, who, with Bawan's assistance, managed to reach his company. Meanwhile, at Yuan Caixi's home, Yuan Haoxi was shocked to see reporters attempting to climb through a window.
Li He arrived at their back door, instructing them to close the door, and then led Yuan Caixi and Yuan Haoxi out. As they carefully made their way, concealed behind a wall, reporters spotted them, yelling, "That’s them! That’s the girl! Don’t leave!" Li He immediately scooped up Yuan Caixi and ran, while Yuan Haoxi covered his face, shouting, "Don’t chase me! Don’t take photos of me!"
as he stayed behind, drawing the reporters' attention away from Li He and Yuan Caixi. Yuan Caixi and Yuan Haoxi safely arrived at Li He’s house. Yuan Haoxi explained that the internet was ablaze with news about Ye Jingxi and Yuan Caixi cohabiting, which Yuan Caixi dismissed as "cooking up rumors." Ning Zeyu called Yuan Caixi to check on her, relieved she was safe at Li He’s.
Ning Zeyu informed them he had investigated and found some clues, which he promptly sent. The photo at the center of the scandal was indeed one that Yuan Haoxi had posted to his QQ ID, taken at their home. Li He pointed out that the original photo had included Yuan Haoxi and his mother, but they had been deliberately photoshopped out to create a misunderstanding.
Yuan Caixi was incredulous, wondering who would do such a malicious thing, and Li He suggested it must be someone with access to Yuan Haoxi's QQ ID. Ning Zeyu also mentioned that he had already sent the original photo to Ye Jingxi, whose public relations team was actively working on a clarification.
At Ye Jingxi’s company, his manager reminded him of previous warnings about his public identity, the increased scrutiny, and the importance of maintaining distance from classmates to protect everyone, especially after his food poisoning incident. Ye Jingxi felt wronged, explaining that he only had dinner at Yuan Caixi's, always reported his whereabouts, and any time spent with Yuan Caixi was always in a group of at least three people. He expressed his willingness to fully cooperate.
Despite the scandal, Ye Jingxi decided to proceed with his scheduled activity, drawing strength from the supportive fans who gathered to cheer him on, expressing their trust and encouragement. His manager later confirmed that the public relations team had issued a clarification statement and urged everyone, including Bawan, to repost it for maximum exposure. Yuan Caixi and Yuan Haoxi also reposted the statement.
Back at Li He's house, Yuan Caixi remained upset, struggling to understand why someone would "maliciously cook up rumors." Li He offered comfort, drawing an analogy from sports where, despite the spirit of fair play, some individuals resort to cheating to achieve their desires. He explained that people sometimes "break every rule to obtain what they want." He advised her not to dwell on the "why," stressing that her sadness would only fulfill the culprit's objective.
Li He encouraged her, saying, "We can't control others, but we can adjust ourselves," and she shouldn't punish herself for someone else's wrongdoing. He urged her to "cheer up" and be happy, promising that together they would catch the person responsible and ensure they faced "accountable for what he did." Just as they finished speaking, Yuan Haoxi called out to Yuan Caixi, signaling another new development.
