Somewhere Only We Know Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
> Somewhere Only We Know Recap
Song Qi Qi returned to her studies at school, demonstrating her persistent diligence. Her classmates remarked on her transfer, noting she had previously taken a leave of absence, though details of what happened remained vague to them. Her professor, acknowledging her consistently good grades and prior completion of his course, suggested she needn't attend, but Song Qi Qi insisted on joining her classmates.
Later, she confirmed to Professor Chen that she remained dedicated to becoming a teacher, having even volunteered in a rural village during her time away, a commitment Professor Chen recognized and supported by recommending her for a part-time teaching position at a training institution. Meanwhile, Liu Qi was engrossed in a gaming competition. After a hard-won victory, he decided to celebrate with his teammates over hotpot, canceling his plans to study at the library with Xue Tong.
Xue Tong, frustrated, expressed her disappointment, feeling that Liu Qi was more concerned with gaming than his impending graduation. Despite his apologies and explanation that qualifying for TI was a long-held dream he wanted to pursue while he still had the chance, Xue Tong remained concerned about his lack of a stable future, though she ultimately allowed him to pursue his dream.
She then went to the library alone as planned, where Mu Chenghe, noticing her, subtly left to give her his seat in the crowded hall. Xue Tong later met with a representative from a cultural company, Ms. Quan, who, impressed by her detailed translations and love for fairy tales, invited Xue Tong to write a script for an animated series. Xue Tong, hesitant due to her lack of experience and upcoming graduation, agreed to try.
Back in their dormitory, the four friends from unit 323 gathered for a lively hotpot celebration to mark Song Qi Qi's return. They shared their dreams and aspirations, from Zhao Xiaotang's ambitious entrepreneurship to Bai Lin's desire for a simple life, and Song Qi Qi's wish to remain a student forever. Their noisy reunion was briefly interrupted by their dorm supervisor, who humorously chided them for cooking hotpot.
Song Qi Qi began her new role, albeit a bit nervously, as an English teacher, confidently standing before a large class. Around the same time, Bai Lin's father suddenly fell seriously ill and was hospitalized. Xue Tong and Song Qi Qi saw her off at the bus station, concerned for her and her family. In her professional life, Zhao Xiaotang expressed strong reservations about a potential business partner, Mr. Liu (Liu Gongzi), whom Mu Hai was considering.
She cited Mr. Liu's rude and unreliable character, noting his disrespectful behavior towards service staff. Mu Hai, however, prioritized the connections and profits Mr. Liu could bring, leading to a heated disagreement, with Zhao Xiaotang feeling her opinions were disregarded. Chen Ting, observing Xue Tong's recent lack of focus on her postgraduate application, sought out Mu Chenghe, hoping he could persuade her.
Chen Ting reminded Mu Chenghe of his past influence, specifically recalling how he had previously guided Xue Tong when she gave up a postgraduate opportunity while competing with Song Qi Qi, urging him to guide Xue Tong towards the "correct" path again. After some hesitation, Mu Chenghe met with Xue Tong, advising her to cherish her postgraduate opportunity.
He also sincerely apologized for his past behavior, acknowledging that he shouldn't have taken out his research frustrations on her and that he was learning to separate work from his personal life. He invited her to a Voyager 1 exhibition he organized, a "farewell to an old friend" as the probe left the solar system. Xue Tong calmly informed him that the exhibition coincided with her postgraduate interview, making her unable to attend.
Although her expression remained composed, deep down, she knew her feelings for Mu Chenghe were still profound. Later, Xue Tong gave a speech about her father, but this time, she diverged from the usual narrative of his heroism.
She spoke of his more human, ordinary side, revealing a poignant memory of him "stealing" a phone for her, pretending it was left by a passenger, and how his joyful smile at being able to give her a "precious" gift was an image she would never forget. She concluded by stating that if one truly knows when a moment is the last, one should live without regret.
Song Qi Qi's student from the convenience store job approached her after class, inviting her to dinner to express gratitude. He explained that her English class had helped him pass an interview for a promotion to supervisor at a Western restaurant, a dream she was happy to see him achieve. Meanwhile, Mu Hai's chosen business partner, Mr. Liu (Liu Gongzi), proved exactly as unreliable as Zhao Xiaotang had predicted, leaving Mu Hai furious and regretful, finally acknowledging Zhao Xiaotang's discernment.
Bai Lin returned to school after her father recovered and was discharged. Li Jiahang observed that she seemed much more mature, and the two enjoyed a pleasant stroll together. Xue Tong then surprised Chen Ting by declaring her decision to withdraw from the postgraduate program, stating her desire to pursue something she truly loved. Chen Ting was taken aback, finding himself powerless to change her mind.
Xue Tong immersed herself in writing her animation picture book but found herself stuck on the ending. As her postgraduate interview day arrived, Xue Tong was absent. Chen Ting, frustrated, called her repeatedly. Liu Qi, too, learned of her decision from a peer and desperately sought her out. Xue Tong, however, was at Mu Chenghe's Voyager 1 exhibition. Mu Chenghe was surprised but pleased to see her.
She shared her picture book story with him, where the little star chose to stay in the sea with its new friends and happy memories, rather than return to the sky. Mu Chenghe found this ending a "pity," suggesting the star was abandoning its old friends. As Mu Chenghe began his lecture on Voyager 1, describing its epic journey and its significance as a "unique memory" for all humanity, Xue Tong listened intently from the audience.
After the lecture, as the lights came on, Mu Chenghe realized Xue Tong was gone. Liu Qi then rushed in, joining Mu Chenghe in the search for her. They found Xue Tong sitting by the water, lost in thought, her draft beside her. As Liu Qi knelt to comfort her, her drawings were blown into the water.
Without hesitation, Liu Qi jumped in to retrieve them, and in that moment, he had an idea for the story's ending: the little star's new friends could help it float on the water's surface, reflecting the night sky, so it could experience both its old home and its new one. Xue Tong, watching Liu Qi in the water and Mu Chenghe in the distance, realized it was time to make her own decision. Three years passed swiftly.
The four friends from unit 323 reunited for a gathering, all having undergone significant changes. Zhao Xiaotang continued to build her career with Mu Hai, Bai Lin had found her true love, and Song Qi Qi, though still single, was successful in her profession. Xue Tong, meanwhile, had found her lifelong partner. As they reminisced, Xue Tong mixed a special, personalized cocktail for each of them, naming it "Unique Memory." Just then, the doorbell rang.
Xue Tong, with a sweet smile, went to open it, playfully chiding her husband, Mu Chenghe, for forgetting his keys again. Mu Chenghe then sweetly replied that he forgot his keys on purpose, just so he could see her the moment he walked in. They exchanged affectionate glances, marking the happy conclusion of their story.
