Please Classmate Episode 23 Recap
> Please Classmate Recap
Han Yayi showed Yuan Caixi a video of Li He's recent competition, revealing that he failed to qualify for the finals, a fact that surprised everyone. Yuan Caixi expressed her concern for him.
Yuan Haoxi, in a moment of candor, let slip that Yuan Caixi had fainted on her way to watch Li He's match, prompting Han Yayi to comfort Yuan Caixi and voice her frustration that both Li He and Yuan Caixi were avoiding each other at a time when they needed each other most. Yuan Caixi promised Han Yayi that she would inform Li He once her medical results were released.
Ning Zeyu intervened to stop Yuan Caixi from elaborating further, and both he and Han Yayi urged her to rest and take care of herself before they left. Meanwhile, Yuan Haoxi asked his mother what was wrong with his sister, indicating a family concern about her health. Concerned about Li He, Ning Zeyu went directly to his home.
Li He's aunt informed Ning Zeyu that Li He had secluded himself in his room since returning from the competition, refusing to eat. She asked Ning Zeyu to try and comfort him. Inside Li He's room, Li He feigned sleep. Ning Zeyu attempted to engage him by recounting the story of Li He's first championship win in 2010, when they were in third grade, and how he broke the school's running record.
Ning Zeyu jokingly added that Li He also broke a record for scoring zero in both math and Chinese. When Li He remained unresponsive, Ning Zeyu playfully reached for his phone, causing Li He to snap awake and react defensively. Ning Zeyu then teased Li He about how he always dominated him in sports in the past and how he, Ning Zeyu, had to study hard to "avenge" himself.
When Li He asked if he was happy now, Ning Zeyu replied that he was, but also pointed out that if Li He lost his fighting spirit, he wouldn't be worthy as an opponent. When Ning Zeyu mentioned that Yuan Caixi had high hopes for him, believing "Li He can do it," Li He realized she must know about his loss and feared her disappointment. Upon returning home, Ning Zeyu found his parents in the living room.
His mother questioned him about his activities at the library, but his parents did not scold him. However, it was revealed that Professor He had called her, exposing that Ning Zeyu had not been at the library but rather at the finals of a programming competition. Ning Zeyu's father then spoke to his wife, sharing that he used to oppose Ning Zeyu's computer use, but after handling a cybercrime case, he now understood that programming was not merely "playing games."
He suggested they allow their son to pursue his passion, as he was now an adult responsible for his own choices. Ning Zeyu's mother grew agitated, feeling blamed for Ning Zeyu's perceived "bad habits" over the past six months. His father urged her to calm down, stating they shouldn't discuss it while she was emotional.
During a brief flashback, Yuan Caixi was shown pleading with Ning Zeyu not to disclose her illness to Li He before his race, emphasizing, "I'm not important. His race is important." A week passed, and Li He was still absent from school. Yuan Caixi and her friends worried about him. However, Ning Zeyu confidently stated that if Li He were to give up, he wouldn't be the Li He they knew.
Mr. Bai, Li He's coach, also believed that Li He had to overcome this personal hurdle on his own. Li He's father took him out for a run. Li He, feeling ashamed, tried to go home, but his father stopped him. On the track, Li He found he couldn't run, as the images of his defeat flashed in his mind.
His father guided him, helping him realize that he ran because he loved it and it made him feel free, not for superficial reasons. His father explained that life has both successes and failures, and that only those who can endure failure can truly succeed. Li He argued that his father, with a house full of trophies, had never experienced loss, but his father countered that only successes are celebrated, not failures.
He then revealed that he had "traded" a thousand potential gold medals for Li He and his mother, finding contentment in his family. Li He, tearfully, apologized. His father reassured him that he didn't need to apologize, but instead needed to be strong and powerful, to overcome all difficulties. With renewed determination, Li He started running. Li He then sought out Yuan Caixi, telling her he trusted her. Yuan Caixi brought him into her home. Ning Zeyu returned home.
His mother, now fully aware of his involvement in programming competitions, announced her decision to transfer him to another school. Ning Zeyu agreed, but requested that the transfer take place the following week. At Yuan Caixi's house, she showed Li He her medical documents, including a bone marrow biopsy report. Li He was shocked and questioned why she had kept such a serious matter from him, especially when everyone else knew. Yuan Caixi explained she had her reasons.
Just then, Yuan Caixi's mother appeared, adding that Yuan Caixi had even kept the secret from her. Yuan Haoxi, who was also present and experiencing some physical discomfort from Yuan Caixi's grip during the revelation, also chimed in. Li He apologized to Yuan Caixi's mother for his outburst, and she, in turn, forgave him, acknowledging his concern for her daughter.
The next morning, Ning Zeyu invited Yuan Caixi to a technology exhibition, suggesting it would just be the two of them. Yuan Haoxi, noticing Ning Zeyu's unspoken feelings for his sister, later spoke to Yuan Caixi. He pointed out Ning Zeyu's consistent efforts, like taking a longer route to walk her to school for two years, and even skipping his programming final on the day of Li He's semi-final.
Yuan Haoxi advised Yuan Caixi to clarify her relationship with Ning Zeyu, stating that continued ambiguity would be unfair to everyone. Yuan Caixi agreed to talk to Ning Zeyu. Ning Zeyu and Yuan Caixi first went to Yuan’s Fried Chicken, a place Ning Zeyu used to frequent. Yuan Caixi mentioned that Li He had also taken her there before, making a joke about the restaurant's name.
Afterwards, Ning Zeyu surprised her by taking her to a cake-making class, where he skillfully made a Chiffon Cake. He explained that he learned for his mother, who loved it, and recalled mispronouncing it as "Chicken Cake" as a child, associating it with his mother's court cases. He hoped the cake would cheer Li He up.
Later, at the technology exhibition, Yuan Caixi silently put her phone on mute as she and Ning Zeyu enthusiastically explored the various displays, including an industrial robot named Unimate. During this time, Li He, whose running form had fully recovered during practice with Mr. Bai, tried to call Yuan Caixi, but his calls went unanswered. Ning Zeyu offered Yuan Caixi a sweet drink, inquiring if she wasn't worried about its sweetness.
Yuan Caixi candidly explained that after recent events and the uncertainty surrounding her health, she no longer wanted to hold back. She expressed her desire to savor every experience and "live every day to the fullest." Ning Zeyu tried to reassure her that her results weren't out yet and she wouldn't be diagnosed. Yuan Caixi reiterated that life was unpredictable and that she wanted to live without regrets.
When Yuan Caixi began to tell Ning Zeyu something important, he interrupted, saying he already knew. He then, as her "only opponent and friend," urged her to take care of herself, eat vegetables, exercise, continue studying, and even suggested Li He could help her with physical training. They decided to head home. As they were leaving, Li He, at his house, was informed by Yuan Haoxi that Yuan Caixi had gone to the tech expo with Ning Zeyu.
Li He, claiming to be a "tech guy," was annoyed he wasn't invited, a sentiment Yuan Haoxi playfully dismissed by calling him an "alien." Li He then decided he had to go find them. As Ning Zeyu and Yuan Caixi exited, Ning Zeyu took Yuan Caixi's phone.
