Summer Again Episode 14 Recap
> Summer Again Recap
As summer break began, students made plans for their holidays, but Tong Xi entered an intensive training schedule. During their final class, the teacher announced the exam results. Wang Yiming joked about using Ni Xiaowan's notes to improve his grades and planned to get help from Lin Nanyi with his homework during the break, proudly listing the "benefits" of "referencing" others' work. Lin Nanyi, however, announced he would be working.
Mi Ya mentioned that since Lin Nanyi would be working, she'd be video-calling Andre, while Tong Xi lamented that she had no summer break at all, confirming her mother's strict routine for her ballet training. Ni Xiaowan's home life was challenging due to her parents' patriarchal views. When she showed her excellent grades to her mother, her mother focused only on her brother's improved performance, buying him ribs for his nutrition and asking Ni Xiaowan to continue tutoring him.
Feeling dismissed, Ni Xiaowan called a friend, hoping to have dinner, but her friend had to eat with her own mother. Left alone, Ni Xiaowan sat by the sea, saddened by the contrast in how other parents treated their children. On the first day of the holiday, Tong Xi's mother woke her up early for morning warm-ups, reminding her of the impending dance training.
Lin Nanyi called Tong Xi, inviting her to Blue Elephant to see the comic he finished based on their "Mint Necklace" story, but Tong Xi had to decline, explaining her tight ballet schedule and poor performance. Meanwhile, Lin Nanyi’s foster mother sent him homemade food and money through Mi Ya, hoping he would come home. Mi Ya urged him to reconcile with them, reminding him that despite being his foster parents, they truly loved him.
Lin Nanyi acknowledged it but remained distant, revealing his biological mother still sent him money, though he never used the card. At the beach, Tao Zhu and Jie Ping were discussing Tong Xi's intense ballet training, which kept her from hanging out with them. Tao Zhu admitted she hadn't been to the Drama Club in a long time. Suddenly, Xu Ao approached Tao Zhu, explaining that the Xi Hai Town Arts Festival was approaching.
The Drama Club was preparing to perform "The Wizard of Oz," and he needed someone to be the "backstage coordinator" to handle all non-performance-related tasks. He praised Tao Zhu, saying he trusted her more than anyone else due to her reliability and kindness. Conflicted, Tao Zhu immediately called Tong Xi for advice. Tong Xi found Xu Ao's sudden offer suspicious, noting he hadn't tried to stop Tao Zhu when she left the club.
Tong Xi cautioned her to reconsider, believing Xu Ao was likely using her rather than having a change of heart, as he wasn't the type to self-reflect. Tao Zhu, however, was swayed by Xu Ao's sincerity and the opportunity to participate in the prestigious Arts Festival. Tong Xi, exhausted, eventually fell asleep during the call.
Later, Tong Xi's ballet teacher informed her that her mother had secretly registered her for the Arts Festival and asked the teacher to adapt "La Bayadere" for her. Tong Xi was dismayed, telling her teacher she didn't want to participate and her mother hadn't even consulted her. The teacher advised her to discuss it with her mother.
At home, Tong Xi’s mother weighed her, scolding her for gaining three catties in a week and restricting her diet to only protein, prohibiting cakes or milk tea. Tong Xi tried to ask for a day off from training, saying her legs were swollen, but her mother accused her of wanting to go out for her birthday. Her mother stated that her birthday was her "suffering day" and she should dance well to not disappoint her.
Tong Xi, exasperated, asked if her entire purpose in life was to not disappoint her mother, leading to a heated argument. Unbeknownst to Tong Xi, Lin Nanyi and Mi Ya were discussing her situation, with Mi Ya revealing that Tong Xi's mother, a former ballerina who suffered a career-ending injury, was pushing Tong Xi to fulfill her own unachieved dream. Lin Nanyi recalled Tong Xi always fearing dance as a child.
Later, Lin Nanyi called Tong Xi, interrupting her futile attempts to tell her mother she didn’t want to participate in the Arts Festival. He invited her out for her birthday, which was the next day. Tong Xi, still upset with her mother, decided to skip her dance lesson to assert her feelings. The following day, Lin Nanyi picked her up on his bike, taking her to a secret spot. They were soon joined by Tao Zhu and Wang Yiming.
Tong Xi confided in her friends about her rigorous schedule—waking at 7 AM for practice, sleeping at 10 PM, and dancing constantly. She expressed her frustration that despite her efforts, her mother never seemed satisfied, and she felt unable to make her understand. As they played a game of "cat and mouse," Tong Xi's ballet teacher, unable to reach her, called her mother to report her absence from class.
