Somewhere Only We Know Episode 11 Recap
> Somewhere Only We Know Recap
Winter break began, and everyone had their own plans. Song Qi Qi remained in Donghu City to work, Zhao Xiaotang focused on her IELTS studies, and Bai Lin traveled with Zhong Qiang. Xue Tong, meanwhile, was preparing for her first date with Mu Chenghe. Eager to make a memorable impression, she went shopping with Song Qi Qi and bought a new dress.
While out, Xue Tong observed Song Qi Qi's unusually happy mood, suspecting she might be in love, a suggestion Song Qi Qi bashfully denied. Xue Tong also went with Song Qi Qi to buy perfume. Xue Tong described a perfume Song Qi Qi was trying as having a "female teacher" scent, which Song Qi Qi then purchased. That evening, Xue Tong video-called Zhao Xiaotang for fashion advice on her new dress.
Zhao Xiaotang teased her about still having the price tag on but confirmed the outfit was suitable for her date with Mu Chenghe. When Xue Tong revealed they were going to an amusement park, Zhao Xiaotang excitedly mentioned the sightseeing tower there, known for its successful confessions. Xue Tong grew excited, thinking Mu Chenghe was planning something special. After the call, Xue Tong meticulously prepared a bento box, carefully measuring ingredients. Mu Chenghe called to confirm their 10:30 AM meeting.
Xue Tong, engrossed in her cooking, almost forgot, and declined his offer to pick her up, insisting she was busy with "serious business." The next day, Xue Tong arrived promptly at the amusement park. She spotted Mu Chenghe waiting, thermos in hand, which she playfully teased him about, noting it was unusual for an amusement park. Mu Chenghe laughed, explaining he hadn't been to such a place in twenty years. Xue Tong comically feigned concern for his age and health.
They enjoyed the rides, and Mu Chenghe even won her a balloon, which he tied to her wrist, saying it would help him always find her. When it was time for lunch, Xue Tong presented her bento. The rides had shaken it, turning it into "mixed rice," but Mu Chenghe politely tried it before suggesting a restaurant.
However, he also offered her tea from his thermos, claiming it was useful, and later told her she would have many chances to cook for him since he enjoyed her cooking. As they planned their next activity, Mu Chenghe suggested the sightseeing tower, which Xue Tong had heard was magical. Their happy mood was soon dampened when they encountered Jiang Yu, an old Russian class classmate, with her boyfriend.
Jiang Yu excitedly told Xue Tong it was their 100-day anniversary, and her boyfriend had proposed at the very tower they were about to visit. When Mu Chenghe arrived, Jiang Yu greeted him enthusiastically, asking if he was alone and reminding him of her Russian name. Mu Chenghe offered her one of his "buy-one-get-one-free" drinks, further solidifying the image that he and Xue Tong were not together.
Xue Tong, feeling let down, asked Mu Chenghe why they couldn't admit they were together. He explained he thought she didn't want him to say anything, which only made her more upset. Feeling the joy of the day fade, she declined his offer to eat together and later questioned if he had even planned to go to the sightseeing tower with her, adding to her distress.
After returning home, Xue Tong's mother found a suspicious item, implying it was inappropriate and possibly belonged to Xue Tong, who was mortified. Later, Mu Chenghe received a call from his mother, who was arriving at the airport. He picked her up, and she immediately inquired about his ongoing disagreements with Professor Wu, revealing Wu had called her multiple times expressing concerns about him being uncontrollable.
She then introduced him to Professor Han, a university classmate of hers, who was impressed by Mu Chenghe’s research and offered him access to his advanced structural mechanics lab. While Mu Chenghe was keen to start, his mother cautioned him to wait for formal arrangements and offered to speak with Professor Wu to lessen his academic load at Donghu University. Mu Chenghe declined, emphasizing his commitment to his studies there.
During their visit to Professor Han's lab, his mother mentioned his father, Yan Chuan, who was also Han’s mentor. This stirred old memories, and his mother expressed worry that Mu Chenghe, like his father, might "get stuck in difficult situations." Later, she urged Mu Chenghe to move back into his family home, which had been newly renovated in Jianglin New Town, instead of continuing to stay at Chen Ting's place, especially since Chen Ting had a girlfriend.
She sensed he still hadn't "gotten over that hurdle" related to his father, but Mu Chenghe merely said he would consider it. After dropping her off, Mu Chenghe called Xue Tong, who sounded distracted and mentioned she was helping Zhao Xiaotang. When he asked if she was free tomorrow, she said she was meeting Zhao Xiaotang, and Mu Chenghe, clearly disappointed, ended the call. The following day, Xue Tong met Zhao Xiaotang to give her the English book.
Liu Qi unexpectedly appeared, having tracked them down through his friends. He interrupted their conversation, declaring his intention for Xue Tong to "understand the real me" before making any romantic decisions, calling it "unfair" otherwise. Zhao Xiaotang, seeing the urgency in Liu Qi's plea, encouraged Xue Tong to go with him, promising she would wait. Reluctantly, Xue Tong agreed and followed Liu Qi to his dorm room.
Inside, Liu Qi proudly displayed various items: his baby footprint, kindergarten report cards, and high school medical records, recounting stories from his life, including his love for football and gaming. Xue Tong, finding some of his anecdotes tedious, playfully threatened to leave, but Liu Qi quickly made a joke. He then proposed a bet: if she won at Tetris, he would stop bothering her; if he won, she would become his girlfriend. Xue Tong, confident in her skills, agreed.
After the game, Liu Qi tried to get her to enter his dorm room properly, but Xue Tong hesitated, asking how she, a girl, could enter a male dorm. Liu Qi then went to the dorm supervisor, feigning a forgotten key to obtain a spare. Once inside, Xue Tong noticed a whiteboard with a schedule detailing her daily habits, including showering at 9 PM. She confronted Liu Qi, accusing him of stalking.
He tried to explain he could see the bathhouse from his balcony, but she also found inappropriate glasses used for peeking, confirming her suspicions and leading her to call him a "pervert." Just then, the dorm supervisor called for the key, and Xue Tong quickly hid. After the supervisor left, Liu Qi pleaded with Xue Tong to consider him seriously, promising to stop his "scary" antics.
He then revealed he had "one last thing" to do, and asked her to wait, hinting that "he won't be late." Moments later, Mu Chenghe appeared. Xue Tong, furious at Liu Qi, called him "nasty." Liu Qi, however, clarified that he wasn't trying to make a fool of her or show off, but wanted to be straightforward about his feelings.
Mu Chenghe then told Xue Tong to wait for him in the car, and he and Liu Qi went off to talk. In a secluded area, Mu Chenghe began by openly declaring his affection for Xue Tong, and Liu Qi confirmed his own feelings for her. Liu Qi, however, questioned if Mu Chenghe would have a chance with Xue Tong if he weren't her substitute Russian teacher, finding the situation unfair.
Mu Chenghe retorted that perhaps it was unfair to him, as they might have been together much earlier if not for his teaching role. He then called Liu Qi's past behavior in Russian class "childish," to which Liu Qi questioned the meaning. Mu Chenghe reflected that he had never been able to be childish himself, and sometimes wished he could be. When Liu Qi asked if Mu Chenghe was serious about Xue Tong, he firmly said yes.
Liu Qi, a Real Madrid fan, stated he wouldn't give up, contrasting himself with Mu Chenghe, a Barcelona fan, and saying they were destined to be opponents. Mu Chenghe simply replied, "Maybe not," and unequivocally declared, "I won't give you a chance." After their discussion, Mu Chenghe walked back to the car where Xue Tong was waiting. She eagerly asked what he and Liu Qi had discussed. He evaded the question, saying he had something to tell her.
When she pressed him, he mentioned they talked about her. Liu Qi then approached, apologizing to Xue Tong for recent troubles and hinting that Mu Chenghe would explain the rest. Xue Tong, still reeling from the day's events, called Liu Qi "insane," which he somewhat conceded, telling her to remember his name before finally leaving. Mu Chenghe offered to drive Xue Tong home, but she was overwhelmed and asked for space to think.
He then gently said, "I won't let the balloon fly away again," a reference to an earlier incident when she had accidentally let go of a balloon he had given her. As they drove, Mu Chenghe finally broke his silence. He explained his absence earlier that day was due to setting up a new laboratory with excellent facilities. Xue Tong then asked if he would still return to Donghu University, to which he asked what she hoped for.
After a moment of hesitation, she admitted she didn't know. He then confirmed that he would return, saying, "I can't leave you behind." He reminisced about their first meeting when he, as an exam supervisor, had mistakenly accused her, and how their roles had shifted to teacher and class representative. He acknowledged their ten-year age difference and how many people, including themselves, might believe they shouldn't be together. Xue Tong, tired of his indirectness, urged him to be clear.
Finally, after a pause, Mu Chenghe uttered, "Miss class representative, I shouldn't have let you pass Russian," then leaned in and declared, "I love you. I love you." He then pulled her into a heartfelt embrace, filling the air with the sweet promise of their love.
