Summer Again Episode 1 Recap
> Summer Again Recap
As the new school term approached in Xi Hai Town, Tao Zhu and Wang Yiming sought out Lin Nanyi at the Blue Elephant cafe, hoping he would help them with their homework. They also gossiped about a new transfer student, an "excellent ballerina" from Da Cheng City, who was expected to join their class. Lin Nanyi, however, remained unimpressed by the news of a new student.
Tao Zhu, frustrated with their incomplete assignments, complained about their agreed division of labor, stating that while he handled science, Wang Yiming had done nothing for the liberal arts, simply guessing "C" for all objective questions. Lin Nanyi, for his part, revealed that their friend Mi Ya was absent because her boyfriend, Andre, the CEO of a multinational corporation, was on a rare day off and she planned to spend the day on calls with him.
When asked by Wang Yiming why he was traveling to Da Cheng on Saturday, Lin Nanyi briefly mentioned it was to buy goods for Sister Mi Ya. Meanwhile, in Da Cheng City, Tong Xi's mother was resolute in her decision to move them back to their hometown. Despite her reluctance, Tong Xi found herself powerless to object, secretly wishing she wouldn't encounter the "brat" Lin Nanyi there.
Her mind was preoccupied with two upcoming events: the highly anticipated release event of Guru Qing He, a popular new comic artist, and her first planned date with Senior Wei Ze. Tong Xi formulated an elaborate plan to appear compliant for a few days, subtly easing her mother's vigilance. She intended to then sneak back to Da Cheng before the signing event and return to Xi Hai before school started, ensuring she wouldn't miss either important occasion.
Promptly, she purchased a bus ticket to the airport. Unbeknownst to Tong Xi, the esteemed Guru Qing He, whom she so admired, was none other than the "brat" Lin Nanyi.
Around the same time, Lin Nanyi, speaking to his editor Sister Jia Jia on the phone, confirmed his travel plans to Da Cheng for the signing event, declining her offer of a car to the airport as he was familiar with the area and intended to take the bus, even though she had booked a first-class flight for him.
Tong Xi’s father, learning from friends at the local theatre that his daughter and ex-wife had moved back to Xi Hai, rushed to their new residence with a bouquet of freshly picked flowers. Tong Xi's mother, Xiao Hui, however, gave him the cold shoulder, merely instructing Tong Xi to take the flowers upstairs. Tong Xi later asked her father how he knew about their return, as her mother had wanted to keep it secret.
He replied that he heard it from his theatre friends. Her father expressed his joy at their return, noting that Xi Hai hadn't changed much over the years. Tong Xi inquired about his recent activities, and he mentioned he was still diligently writing. She then hinted at a "huge plan" she had for the following day.
The day of the release event arrived, and Tong Xi meticulously laid out her schedule: wake up at 7:20 AM, leave home by 7:40 AM, catch a taxi at 7:50 AM to reach the Xi Hai Bus Station by 8:00 AM, then take a pre-booked bus to the airport, clear security by 9:00 AM, and arrive in Da Cheng in the afternoon.
Her plan was perfect, but her mother’s delayed departure for her new job at the theatre, exacerbated by a phone call about Da Cheng’s corporate regulations, severely threatened Tong Xi's tight schedule. Tong Xi left a note for her mother, stating she was "returning to Da Cheng quickly" and would "be back soon." She noted to herself that her savings only covered an economy class ticket.
In a desperate rush, Tong Xi managed to flag down a taxi, but to her fury, Lin Nanyi got in before her. She angrily accused him of "stealing her cab." At the bus station, Tong Xi was still fuming, wishing ill upon the taxi thief. To her disbelief, she encountered Lin Nanyi again. Enraged, she stomped over and grabbed him, only to realize that he was the "annoying ghost" from her childhood, her supposed fiancé.
A childhood memory flashed through her mind: herself fiercely protecting Lin Nanyi from bullies, proclaiming him her fiancé and vowing to marry him. Tong Xi, horrified by the recognition, tried to flee, but Lin Nanyi caught her. In a chaotic turn of events, while trying to protect Tong Xi from falling, Lin Nanyi stumbled. Both ended up missing their respective flights and instead spent the day at the hospital.
From the hospital, Tong Xi called Senior Wei Ze, apologizing profusely and explaining she couldn't make it to their planned meeting, citing an unexpected situation. She expressed her deep disappointment at missing the event and the opportunity to see him and the new students of the art troupe. Wei Ze kindly suggested they could meet another time. Simultaneously, Lin Nanyi, on the phone with Wang Yiming, informed him that he was in the orthopaedics department.
Tong Xi was furious, blaming Lin Nanyi for everything: missing her trip to Da Cheng, standing up Senior Wei Ze, and most importantly, failing to see Guru Qing He because Lin Nanyi's injury led to the cancellation of Guru Qing He's signing event, thus preventing anyone from seeing his true identity. She declared she never wanted to see him again.
Lin Nanyi, observing her distress, asked why she was so upset to see him, and if she didn’t feel awkward about their past. Tong Xi didn't reply directly, but when he asked her to hold his belongings, she realized she had inadvertently carried his "Steamed bun with brown sugar" with her. He wondered aloud if he was cursed, remembering her childhood declaration.
The next day, Tong Xi's mother continued to be strict about her education and ballet practice, stressing that she must diligently study and train now that they were back. She even criticized Tong Xi's father's "friendship sponsorship" for her trip, calling it "influencing her to commit crimes." Tong Xi, hoping to avoid Lin Nanyi, subtly inquired about the number of high schools in Xi Hai, thinking it would reduce the chance of encountering him.
Her mother, oblivious to Tong Xi's thoughts, merely chided her for her unladylike posture and eating habits. Tong Xi, having not yet received her new school uniform, wore her old Da Cheng uniform to school. On her way, she came across an injured Lin Nanyi and immediately went to his aid, helping him up.
She initially scolded him, assuming he'd been in a fight and lost, but Lin Nanyi quickly clarified that he had merely been rescuing a cat that had gotten its paw entangled in a tree, and the ungrateful animal had scratched him. Tong Xi suggested taking the cat to a vet if there was one in town. She then offered him a band-aid, stating she had an extra one, and left for school. Lin Nanyi touched the band-aid, remarking that she was "such a heavy hitter."
