Summit of Our Youth Recap, Plot, Synopsis

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Summit of Our Youth Synopsis

Summit of Our Youth Recap

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Episode 1 Recap

Gu Xuejiao, who had always dreamed of excelling academically and attending Capital University, found her aspirations challenged as her grades consistently fell short, leading to disappointment. Even in her professional life, it took her five years to secure a full-time position in the core tech department, a role many fresh graduates entered directly.

On September 5, 2024, her 28th birthday and the day she was set to sign her full-time contract for the core tech department, her excitement, having just resigned from her previous position to take this new role, turned to dismay when she was informed that her submitted program contained a critical bug.

Despite the general manager, Lin Zhihua, offering to re-submit her for a full-time position in her original department, Gu Xuejiao, in a fit of pique, refused and immediately quit, regretting later that she hadn't negotiated her severance first. As she prepared to leave the office, her ex-boyfriend, Yi Tianyu, approached, pleading for reconciliation. He claimed he hadn't played games for two weeks for her.

Gu Xuejiao, however, recalled how she had once changed her college application and rejected two overseas promotion offers for him, recognizing that she had been the only one sacrificing in their relationship. She inwardly chastised herself for being "blinded by love," a path that led to being "broke by choice and die young." Soon after, at the stairwell, she overheard a conversation between an HR manager and Zhou Shiyun.

The HR manager was thanking Lin Zhihua for walking him out, revealing that he had to remove a contractor to make room for Zhou Shiyun in the tech department, and confirming that a critical bug had been intentionally planted in Gu Xuejiao's program, an order that came directly from Lin Zhihua. Enraged, Gu Xuejiao resolved to confront Lin Zhihua. She followed Lin Zhihua into the elevator.

With just the two of them inside, she demanded to know why he had sabotaged her. Lin Zhihua, in turn, criticized her, stating he didn't hire her because she lacked priorities and cracked under pressure, traits he believed would make her a liability in the tech department. She shot back, accusing him of planting the bug solely to get his "precious Zhou Shiyun" hired. Before their argument could escalate further, the elevator malfunctioned, plummeting erratically.

As she hit the alarm button, Gu Xuejiao wished she could go back ten years and "slap herself." She awoke to find herself in a high school classroom. Yi Tianyu was sleeping at the desk opposite hers. The setting, Jinghai No.7 High School in 2014, with "Senior Year" on a blackboard, felt incredibly real. To confirm she wasn't dreaming, she pinched Yi Tianyu, and they both felt the pain.

She realized she had indeed traveled back to her regret-filled eighteen-year-old self. Determined not to repeat her past mistakes, she scribbled a note for Yi Tianyu, submitted her exam early, and ran out. Later, Yi Tianyu met her at the pedestrian bridge, confirming her note and her presence. Her first thought was to get rich by remembering lottery numbers. However, at the lottery station, she couldn't recall the winning numbers for that day.

She then remembered it was September 5th, her 18th birthday, a day that coincided with a crucial turning point for her father's job. A news report on a nearby TV announced that Yano, a famous button-phone brand, had declared bankruptcy, causing massive cancellations for its largest component supplier, the South District Component Factory, which had now ceased paying salaries.

Realizing this was the event that sent her family's finances spiraling for the next decade, she vowed to stop her father from signing a detrimental contract he had chosen over severance. Returning home, she found her father looking younger, having just signed the "Intention Form" to stay with the factory. She tried to convince him to reconsider, arguing that everyone was switching to smartphones.

Her father, holding up an old phone he won for her tenth birthday, explained that some things, like people, could stand the test of time. He also told her that Mr. Sun from the canteen had made her a large birthday cake. That night, after her parents were asleep, Gu Xuejiao secretly took the contract and modified it. Her brother, Gu Mingze, attempted to sneak out to play the beta version of "Roller Blast" at an internet cafe.

Gu Xuejiao intercepted him, locked the door, and hid the key in her sock, determined to prevent him from leaving. The next morning, Gu Xuejiao found herself asleep on the living room sofa, having apparently failed to keep Gu Mingze contained, as he was now at an internet cafe. Her parents, unaware of Gu Mingze's whereabouts and believing he had gone to buy breakfast, hurried off to work.

Before leaving, her dad informed Gu Xuejiao that Mr. Gao, a Capital University student, was coming to tutor Gu Mingze and insisted she join the lessons, hoping both siblings would get into Capital University. Inspired by this, Gu Xuejiao resolved to achieve her academic dreams. She cleared her desk of cosmetics and magazines, replacing them with motivational maxims, vowing to focus solely on her studies. Later that morning, the tutor who arrived was none other than Lin Zhihua.

He explained that Mr. Gao had a family emergency and he was covering all his tutoring gigs. Gu Xuejiao, still resentful, tried to provoke him, questioning his teaching abilities and demanding his resume and diploma, noting he was just "barely twenty." Lin Zhihua calmly stated he was a direct-entry Ph. D. student who hadn't graduated yet, thus lacking a diploma.

Seeing her uncooperative demeanor, he simply turned and left, ignoring her pleas to stay and tutor her, reiterating that his student was Gu Mingze and Gao Rui would return. Back at school, Zhou Shiyun feigned sadness about not being in the same class as Gu Xuejiao, claiming she would miss her. Gu Xuejiao dismissed her insincerity, pointedly stating, "who'd fall into the same trap twice?" and declared her world was now solely focused on studying.

She also directly confronted Chen Xiao, a known school bully, telling her that the "enemy of my enemy is my friend." Gu Xuejiao and Sun Tiantian, a daughter of her father's co-worker, were assigned seats together in Class Eight.

In class, Sun Tiantian, holding a small photo of Lin Zhihua, explained he was known as the "Class 7 Study God," who went from being a failing student to a top scorer in just one year, eventually getting into Capital University despite a fierce competition with Tsinghua University. Sun Tiantian claimed she had prayed to his photo for three days before a math exam and scored above 80 for the first time.

Gu Xuejiao scoffed at the idea of a "study god," attributing Sun Tiantian's success to mere luck. After school, Gu Xuejiao found Lin Zhihua working part-time at a coffee shop. She approached him, apologizing for her previous behavior and earnestly asking him to tutor her, even offering to buy him a sugar-free cappuccino. Lin Zhihua remained indifferent, simply pointing to the menu or the door when she wasn't ordering.

As he left, Gu Xuejiao followed him on her bicycle, persistently trying to convince him, explaining their shared goal of getting into Capital University and her desire to replicate his "comeback legend" from flunking to becoming a top scorer. Lin Zhihua, however, claimed there was "no legend," and that he merely "managed his scores," achieving top results whenever he desired. He sped away on his bicycle, exasperated by her persistence.

Later, Zhou Shiyun, having secretly gone to an arcade, met Gu Mingze on her way home. She had taught him a "claw machine hack" and slyly revealed that Gu Xuejiao had scored dead last in her recent monthly exam, even lower than Yi Tianyu. Gu Mingze, returning home, used this information to tease Gu Xuejiao, demanding snacks in exchange for not telling their parents. Their argument escalated into a playful tussle over the snacks, attracting their mother's attention, who emerged to ask about the commotion.

Episode 2 Recap

Gu Mingze teased Gu Xuejiao about her recent exam score, which was even lower than Yi Tianyu's, placing her last in their class. When Gu Xuejiao questioned how he knew about her school life, Gu Mingze revealed that Zhou Shiyun, whom Gu Xuejiao considered a close friend, frequently updated him, and he had promised Zhou Shiyun to keep Gu Xuejiao's secrets.

Gu Xuejiao, having been reborn, recognized Zhou Shiyun's true intentions: she wanted to spread embarrassing information about Gu Xuejiao, using Gu Mingze as an unwitting pawn. Gu Xuejiao reflected on her past, realizing Zhou Shiyun had always been jealous, particularly since Gu Xuejiao often outscored her in exams. Zhou Shiyun secretly believed that if Yi Tianyu hadn't entered the picture, Gu Xuejiao might have been accepted into Capital University instead of her.

Their mother often compared them, fueling Zhou Shiyun's resentment. Later, their mother intervened in an argument between Gu Mingze and Gu Xuejiao, who spoke different dialects, urging them to focus on their studies. The next morning, Li Sitong, who worked as a housekeeper for Zhou Shiyun's family, arrived late, citing urgent family matters, subtly blaming Gu Xuejiao. Zhou Shiyun, however, exaggerated Gu Xuejiao's recent diligence, claiming she had ordered so many study guides they blocked their doorway.

Hearing this, Zhou Shiyun's mother grew stricter with her own daughter, demanding she work harder too. To distract Gu Xuejiao, Zhou Shiyun presented her with an electronic dictionary, claiming it was a late birthday gift preloaded with romance novels and assuring her parents wouldn't find out. Gu Xuejiao, however, understood Zhou Shiyun's manipulative intent and instead downloaded English vocabulary words onto the device.

Zhou Shiyun was visibly frustrated when she later saw Gu Xuejiao diligently studying words on the electronic dictionary. Upon returning home from school, Gu Xuejiao found her father, Dad, furious. He had just received his severance pay after being laid off from the component factory and was upset that someone had tampered with his intention form, causing him to lose his job.

Gu Xuejiao denied it, suggesting he might have made a mistake himself, but he showed her the identical checkmarks. As Dad angrily pursued Gu Xuejiao, threatening to hit her, a news report on TV announced the bankruptcy of Yano, a prominent phone brand. The report detailed how the South District Component Factory, Dad's workplace and Yano's largest supplier, was devastated by massive order cancellations, leading to no legal recourse. The news intensified Dad's distress, causing him to collapse.

Dad was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with sudden high blood pressure. While waiting for him to stabilize, Gu Mingze questioned Gu Xuejiao about her recent unusual actions, suggesting she had a premonition that saved their family's financial situation. Gu Xuejiao joked about being able to predict the future and become wealthy. As she pondered her explanation, she spotted Lin Zhihua passing by the room and immediately followed him.

Gu Xuejiao found Lin Zhihua in a hospital room visiting Gao Rui, who lay unconscious. Lin Zhihua had been deeply affected by Gao Rui's accident, which was implied to be a result of a safety oversight involving the project team, not solely Lin Zhihua's fault. Gao Rui's teacher or supervisor suggested that since Gao Rui was working multiple part-time jobs to support himself, Lin Zhihua could take over these jobs.

This way, when Gao Rui recovered, his life would remain unchanged, serving as a meaningful form of compensation. Lin Zhihua agreed to tutor Gu Xuejiao, but only if she could find a specific list of out-of-print study materials. Gu Xuejiao expressed doubt, but remembered Gao Rui's earlier encouragement to "never give up." Lin Zhihua, however, refused to add her on WeChat, stating he had no room for "ineffective socializing."

Back home, Gu Xuejiao consulted Gu Mingze, who had taken the college entrance exam three times, hoping he had insights into rare study materials like "Top Student's 300 Must-Do Questions." Gu Mingze, however, claimed to have too many books to remember which ones were which. He then took the opportunity to steal some cash Dad had hidden in his shoe, claiming he also needed money for study materials.

At the basketball court, Gu Xuejiao was unusually subdued, more focused on her quest for study materials than on cheering. Yi Tianyu, noticing her lack of attention, tried to get her notice by deliberately throwing a basketball toward her, but it accidentally hit Sun Tiantian instead. Chen Xiao quickly offered Yi Tianyu an ice pack, showing concern. Gu Xuejiao, observing Yi Tianyu's popularity with other girls, decided to capitalize on his "value."

She created a "Barter Sharing Group" and began sharing photos and updates about Yi Tianyu, using "hunger marketing" to attract more members. Her ultimate goal was to acquire rare review materials by offering "Top Student's 300 Must-Do Questions" as a reward to anyone who could provide class notes from past top scorers.

Zhou Shiyun, also seeking the "300 Must-Do Questions," realized Gu Xuejiao was after the same material and determined to prevent her from getting it, believing Gu Xuejiao was trying to compete with her. One day after school, Gu Xuejiao and Sun Tiantian witnessed Chen Xiao bullying Liu, their class representative. Despite Sun Tiantian's hesitation, Gu Xuejiao decided to intervene, noting they outnumbered Chen Xiao.

Gu Xuejiao confronted Chen Xiao, accusing him of bad manners by pointing, and then, after a brief countdown, she and Sun Tiantian physically intervened. Gu Xuejiao, wielding a smelly object implied to be a bag of garbage and claiming to have Parkinson's making her hands shake erratically, repelled Chen Xiao and his companions, who fled in disgust. Liu, grateful for their intervention, offered Gu Xuejiao the "300 Must-Do Questions" as a reward.

Unbeknownst to them, Zhou Shiyun secretly filmed the entire encounter. Gu Xuejiao soon acquired all the necessary study materials and met Lin Zhihua at a cafe. Lin Zhihua immediately gave her a diagnostic test to assess her initial level. Gu Xuejiao performed poorly, prompting Lin Zhihua to advise her to quit, stating she wasn't cut out for academics and should "face reality," given her drop from a top-20 student in Grade 10 to near the bottom.

However, Gu Xuejiao refused to leave, determined to solve a challenging problem she was working on. As Lin Zhihua prepared to close the shop, he observed her perseverance. He checked her work, noting her approach was correct but could be simplified. Just then, they heard the door being locked from the outside, trapping them in the cafe. Meanwhile, Gu Mingze noticed Gu Xuejiao hadn't returned home.

When their mother came to check on Gu Xuejiao, Gu Mingze quickly slipped under Gu Xuejiao's blanket, pretending to be her to avoid their mother's "room check." He secretly texted Gu Xuejiao, who replied that she was at Zhou Shiyun's house and to "do not disturb." Gu Mingze then tried to call her but her phone was off.

He then texted Zhou Shiyun, assuring them both he had things covered at home so they could continue studying without worrying about being caught. Gu Xuejiao, though initially worried about her mother's "room check," decided to ignore the distraction, powered off her phone, and focused on solving the problem, believing it was better to study than to fret.

While waiting for the door to be unlocked, Lin Zhihua questioned Gu Xuejiao's commitment, suggesting she was impulsive and prone to short-lived enthusiasms. Gu Xuejiao accused him of stereotyping and giving her difficult problems to test her. She finally solved the problem, only to find Lin Zhihua had fallen asleep. Noticing his phone screen, she saw he only had five contacts. Attempting to "help him connect with the entire world," she accidentally deleted all of them.

Lin Zhihua then woke with a start from a vivid nightmare about Gao Rui, seeing a clear "time of death" for him. Gu Xuejiao reassured him, then proudly showed him her solved problem. Just then, the door clicked open. Gu Xuejiao, startled, grabbed a chair, fearing a "monster," and prepared to protect Lin Zhihua. He stopped her, introducing the new arrival: his sister, Lin Zhiyue, who also goes by the nickname "Petal."

Lin Zhiyue expressed surprise at seeing Gu Xuejiao with her brother, playfully asking if he had deleted her contact to make room for Gu Xuejiao. Gu Xuejiao explained that Lin Zhihua was her tutor, a claim Lin Zhihua confirmed.

Episode 3 Recap

Continuing from the previous night, Lin Zhiyue questioned Lin Zhihua about his relationship with Gu Xuejiao. Lin Zhihua quickly explained that he was her tutor, helping her with schoolwork. Upon hearing his confirmation, Gu Xuejiao promptly presented him with various supplements, including ginseng and cordyceps, which she had brought from home that morning. She insisted he take them, emphasizing he looked "worn out" and needed to "take good care of himself."

Lin Zhihua clarified to Lin Zhiyue that Gu Xuejiao was just a younger student from his high school. Later, Lin Zhiyue informed Lin Zhihua that their parents would be returning in a few days for a shareholder meeting and instructed him to move back home from his school dorms for a while to welcome them, asserting that the house would feel less lonely with them around.

Lin Zhihua agreed to have the house cleaned for their return but added he would stay in his dorm for a few days once they arrived. Jinghai No. 7 High School held its college prep rally, where the Director delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of hard work in senior year and urging students to reflect on their dedication.

When it was Class 8's turn for their student representative to speak, the class president was absent due to a stomachache, leading students to speculate he was nervous. Gu Xuejiao, arriving late, was mistakenly called onto the stage by her teacher as the class representative.

Recalling how she had been replaced as an outsourced employee by Zhou Shiyun in her previous life, and how her lack of academic qualifications led to constant setbacks in her career, Gu Xuejiao boldly declared, "I'm going to the Capital University!" Her announcement was met with widespread laughter from the audience, who openly mocked her, asking if she meant "Jinghai TV University," which her father had said shut down years ago.

Gu Xuejiao firmly clarified she meant "Capital University," her "Dream School." Soon after, the class president arrived, and the Director regained control, announcing important news for the students. Back in the classroom, students continued to buzz about Gu Xuejiao's bold declaration. The class president, having recovered, announced that a parent meeting for the entire Grade 12 would be held the following afternoon.

Gu Xuejiao instantly recalled how her parents had lost all their money in the stock market after a parent meeting in her previous life, lamenting their trust in a so-called expert who had promised "huge upside potential." Determined to prevent a repeat of that tragedy, she sought out Lin Zhihua at a cafe.

She presented him with a "protective doll," explaining she got it for him after he had a nightmare in the bookstore, hoping it would ward off a "big disaster." Despite Lin Zhihua's teasing remarks about the doll's appearance, Gu Xuejiao insisted it was "both ugly and cute." She then revealed her "tiny request": for him to attend the parent meeting in her stead.

After much pleading from Gu Xuejiao, who described her potential humiliation and helplessness, Lin Zhihua eventually agreed to attend the meeting the next day at 3 p. m. On the day of the parent meeting, Yi Dafa, Yi Tianyu's father, arrived early, actively distributing business cards and promoting his construction business to other parents, proudly proclaiming, "Big projects, no sweat, Yi Dafa's your bet!"

Gu Xuejiao almost addressed him as "Second Dad" but caught herself, recalling his past support during arguments with Yi Tianyu and her former familiarity with him. A few minutes later, Lin Zhihua entered the classroom, surprising Gu Xuejiao. He claimed to Yi Dafa that he was Gu Xuejiao's "biological uncle," prompting Yi Dafa to compliment his fine appearance and exchange business cards.

Yi Tianyu, surprised by Lin Zhihua's presence, questioned Gu Xuejiao about why she hadn't mentioned her "Study God" uncle before, leading her to admit he was just a "stand-in." As parents took their seats and students exited, Yi Tianyu expressed concern about his father discovering his low grades and possibly having a stroke, but Gu Xuejiao assured him that his father, who drinks ginseng tea daily, would be fine.

While students waited outside the classroom, the Director addressed the parents about their children's college aspirations, noting some goals were ambitious and others more realistic. Lin Zhihua interjected, asserting that "having a major goal is already half the battle won." He explained the "Zeigarnik Effect," stating that ambitious goals push people forward and increase their chances of success, concluding that life would "not be worth much" if all goals were easily achievable.

From outside, Gu Xuejiao silently cheered him on, agreeing that "big dreams need bold spirit" and that one must "aim high to reach high," while Yi Tianyu, uninterested, walked away. The Director commended Lin Zhihua's viewpoint, acknowledging that parents' vision influences a child's horizon and that setting higher goals is not necessarily a bad thing. Following the Class 1 parent meeting, Zhou Shiyun's mother received envious glances as the Director lauded Zhou Shiyun for achieving the highest English score.

She humbly claimed her daughter's success was entirely due to self-study, without any tutoring, emphasizing her brilliance. However, once the other parents dispersed, her demeanor drastically changed; she reprimanded Zhou Shiyun for only her English being "decent," declaring the money spent on her was "for nothing." Zhou Shiyun then went to the car to retrieve a gift for her teacher, where she encountered Gu Mingze.

Gu Mingze boasted about his reliability, mentioning how he had helped cover for her and Gu Xuejiao the other night, describing it as a demanding task involving "running back and forth between two rooms and switching between two genders." Zhou Shiyun then inquired if his own parent meeting was over.

Gu Mingze nervously evaded the question, claiming his class, the repeaters' class, didn't have one, and making excuses about his mother lingering after Class 8's meeting due to chatting too long about Zhou Shiyun's achievements. Zhou Shiyun's mother then appeared, looking for her daughter, and asked if Gu Mingze was her friend, to which Zhou Shiyun dismissively replied, "Not really."

Feeling pleased after the parent meeting, Gu Xuejiao returned home to find her parents excitedly examining a new computer, which her father called "the cash cow for our family." Her mother revealed that Uncle Zhou, Zhou Shiyun's father, had recommended a "promising stock," prompting them to invest all their savings and an additional 30,000 yuan borrowed from her grandma.

Gu Xuejiao instantly realized the impending disaster, recalling how this very stock, '6003135', had led to their financial ruin in her past life by plummeting. She lamented that she had dodged the parent meeting but "didn't see this coming," determined there had to be a way to fix it. Later, while at a cafe, she sought Lin Zhihua's advice. She showed him K-line charts, explaining she needed to identify the correct "neighboring stock" to '6003135' that would surge.

She quickly eliminated one stock that clearly signaled a drop. When asked to choose between the remaining two, Lin Zhihua, seemingly knowledgeable in various fields, pointed to one, stating, "Two negatives make a positive." Gu Xuejiao remained skeptical, questioning his quick, seemingly casual decision. While at a bookstore, Yi Dafa ran into Gu Xuejiao and asked for her help picking out some review materials for his son, Yi Tianyu, stating he had "no clue" what to choose.

At the checkout, Yi Dafa recognized Lin Zhihua, who was working there part-time. Gu Xuejiao clarified that Lin Zhihua was a Capital University student majoring in autonomous driving. Yi Dafa, impressed by Lin Zhihua's qualifications, asked him to pick more books for Yi Tianyu, acknowledging his authority. Yi Dafa profusely thanked them both for their help. Outside the bookstore, Lin Zhihua asked Gu Xuejiao when they could drop the "uncle" pretense.

He then inquired about her relationship with Yi Tianyu, and she insisted they were "just classmates." Lin Zhihua warned her not to get distracted with the college entrance exam approaching. Shortly after, Yi Tianyu joined his father at the bookstore, casually remarking that his own ranking was last in school, and Gu Xuejiao was only "a bit better, second to last." His father, taken aback, then questioned if Gu Xuejiao was merely a "plant from the bookstore" to boost sales.

That night, Gu Xuejiao remained preoccupied with the stock selection. Knowing her brother Gu Mingze had consistently bad luck, she asked him to pick one stock to eliminate for their parents, explaining that he always missed the college entrance score by one point, making him like "a walking bad luck charm." Gu Mingze chose '6003136'. This left '6003134', which aligned with Lin Zhihua's earlier advice. With the stock chosen, Gu Xuejiao needed funds.

She unilaterally sold Gu Mingze's valuable game code and equipment for 8,000 yuan. When he discovered his missing items and accused her of being a "thief," she justified it by stating that the game, Roller Blast, would shut down soon, rendering his virtual assets worthless. Adding her own 3,000 yuan in New Year's money, she amassed 11,000 yuan to invest in the chosen stock, telling him she was trying to make him rich.

The next day, a video of Gu Xuejiao interacting with Chen Xiao (which Zhou Shiyun had secretly filmed) was uploaded to the school forum by an anonymous account, which Sun Tiantian speculated was Chen Xiao herself, seeking revenge after Gu Xuejiao had thwarted her plans twice. Sun Tiantian, visibly scared, urged Gu Xuejiao to apologize, but Gu Xuejiao firmly refused, asserting she had done nothing wrong and that "crying doesn't mean she's innocent."

She explained that bullying persists because bullies face no consequences and that constant appeasement only leads to further humiliation. Soon after, Gu Xuejiao was summoned to the academic affairs office, where Chen Xiao's mother had arrived, demanding an explanation for her daughter being "bullied." Chen Xiao tearfully displayed her arm, claiming injury.

Gu Xuejiao, however, calmly pointed out that the "bruises" were merely nose shadow powder, even the same shade she used, and wiped some onto her own arm as proof. Mr. Fu warned Chen Xiao not to exaggerate. Seeing her ruse exposed, Chen Xiao's mother ceased her demands. During a physical education class, Gu Xuejiao accidentally hit Zhou Shiyun with a ball. Chen Xiao immediately stepped forward, accusing Gu Xuejiao of bullying, which escalated into a fight among the students.

Yi Tianyu jumped in to defend Gu Xuejiao, but despite Gu Xuejiao's attempts to stop the brawl, no one listened. Spotting Mr. Fu approaching, Zhou Shiyun deliberately pushed the ball towards him, then dramatically fell to the ground, feigning injury. When Mr. Fu inquired who had hit her, Zhou Shiyun, feigning kindness, quickly explained that Gu Xuejiao "didn't mean it" and pleaded with him not to blame her.

Gu Xuejiao was once again summoned to the academic affairs office, this time accompanied by Yi Tianyu. Yi Dafa arrived shortly after, immediately approaching other parents, eagerly distributing his business cards, and showing no concern for the student dispute at hand, simply apologizing for his delay due to being at the bank.

Zhou Shiyun feigned kindness, defending Gu Xuejiao to the other parents and Mr. Fu, claiming it must be a misunderstanding and that Gu Xuejiao, her "best friend," would never intentionally hit her. Yi Dafa, upon seeing Gu Xuejiao and Yi Tianyu, playfully teased Yi Tianyu about "saving damsels," which Yi Tianyu quickly corrected, stating Gu Xuejiao had saved him.

Yi Dafa then offered to resolve the issue with money, stating there was "nothing money can't fix," and offered to cover Gu Xuejiao's part, a suggestion Mr. Fu immediately dismissed, explaining such actions were not permitted at their school. Despite an upset parent calling her a liar and accusing students from her class of dishonesty, Gu Xuejiao maintained her innocence.

She then logically explained to Mr. Fu that based on the laws of physics and the direction Zhou Shiyun fell, she could not have been the one to throw the ball. Gu Xuejiao then challenged Zhou Shiyun, reminding her of their supposed friendship and asking if they could go back to the scene and reenact the incident for everyone to see.

Episode 4 Recap

When accused of throwing a ball at Zhou Shiyun, Gu Xuejiao clearly stated her innocence, explaining that based on the principles of parabolic motion, if she had thrown the ball from her position, the direction Zhou Shiyun fell would not have been towards Mr. Fu. Gu Xuejiao asserted that school surveillance cameras could easily verify the truth.

She further stated that she had recorded the entire interaction, including the accusations, and reserved the right to pursue legal action for slander and mental distress. With Mr. Fu's permission, she then left for her duty, and Yi Dafa, a fellow student, also confirmed Gu Xuejiao's thorough explanation and reserved his own legal rights regarding the slander.

After Zhou Shiyun's parents departed, Lin Zhihua met with Mr. Fu, who was initially dealing with the parents and reassuring them he would resolve the issue. Mr. Fu noted Lin Zhihua's apparent growth and then extended an invitation for Lin Zhihua to give a motivational speech to the high school seniors, drawing on his experiences at Capital University.

Mr. Fu lamented the increasing difficulty in managing students, mentioning he had just suspended a "troublemaker" on the spot, a decision he wouldn't reverse. To Mr. Fu's surprise, Lin Zhihua then revealed that he too had been suspended from his own studies. Later, Gu Xuejiao's mother, Li Sitong, having heard about the school incident from Zhou Shiyun's mother, rushed to the school to confront Gu Xuejiao.

Li Sitong immediately tried to force Gu Xuejiao to apologize to Zhou Shiyun, believing it would smooth things over, regardless of who was at fault. However, Gu Xuejiao adamantly refused to apologize for something she didn't do, asserting that it would mean always being subservient to others.

Zhou Shiyun then approached, feigning concern for Gu Xuejiao's dropping grades and subtly revealing that Gu Xuejiao had stayed out until past midnight previously, causing Li Sitong to erupt in anger and scold her daughter for her secretiveness and suspected involvement with Gu Mingze. Gu Xuejiao, feeling provoked, refused to explain further and left the school. Gu Xuejiao sought refuge at a bookstore, where Lin Zhihua found her.

Noticing her dejected demeanor, a stark contrast to her earlier confident confrontation, he offered her a hot chocolate. Gu Xuejiao admitted her suspension, but Lin Zhihua reassured her it was temporary. Despite her predicament, Gu Xuejiao reaffirmed her dream of attending Capital University.

Lin Zhihua then suggested they go to Capital University, and upon arriving, Gu Xuejiao expressed awe at its size and a desire to explore the lab buildings, to which Lin Zhihua replied she could wander freely once she was admitted. On the university field, Lin Zhihua proposed an informal basketball game: if Gu Xuejiao scored just one point, he would grant her a wish, provided it was legal.

Initially claiming ignorance of the game and professing to be a mere bookworm, Gu Xuejiao then feigned a surrender. Capitalizing on this, Lin Zhihua used a common maneuver to score. Gu Xuejiao then revealed her true wish: she desperately needed Lin Zhihua's help to convince the school to lift her suspension, as her goal of attending Capital University would be impossible otherwise. They lay on the field, continuing their conversation.

Lin Zhihua quizzed Gu Xuejiao on various academic topics, including literature, astronomy, history, and physics. While Gu Xuejiao answered some questions correctly, she struggled with others, jokingly conceding that Lin Zhihua was truly the embodiment of "all-round development." Their discussion was cut short by the sound of a security patrol, prompting Lin Zhihua to pull Gu Xuejiao away as they ran from the field.

Gu Xuejiao expressed her gratitude for the evening, reiterating that despite the recent setback, nothing would deter her from her Capital University aspirations. As it was late, Lin Zhihua insisted on walking her home. The next day, despite being suspended, Gu Xuejiao was seen standing outside her classroom in a raincoat, listening intently to the lesson. Her classmate, Yi Tianyu, expressed confusion over Gu Xuejiao's sudden zeal for studying.

Unbeknownst to him, Gu Xuejiao had anticipated heavy rain and hoped her "sick but persistent" appearance would garner sympathy, though the sun was shining, making her uncomfortably warm. Meanwhile, Lin Zhihua was in Mr. Fu's office, attempting to intercede on Gu Xuejiao's behalf. Mr. Fu expressed his frustration that Gu Xuejiao's parents hadn't shown up, leaving Lin Zhihua, her tutor, to plead her case.

Mr. Fu remained firm, asserting that academic focus was paramount at No. 7 High and any distractions would be removed. Lin Zhihua then suggested they take a walk around campus, subtly guiding Mr. Fu past Gu Xuejiao, who was still enduring her self-imposed "sympathy play" in the sun. Mr. Fu, noticing her, commented on her apparent dedication, which Lin Zhihua affirmed was "eagerness to learn."

Soon after, Mr. Fu called Gu Xuejiao to his office and reinstated her classes, but with a stringent condition: she had to rank within the top 100 in the upcoming mock exam. Gu Xuejiao was stunned by the challenge, considering her previous academic performance, which included a disheartening 58 in math and a second-to-last ranking in her grade of over 400 students. She immediately sought out Lin Zhihua, pleading for his assistance.

Lin Zhihua, seemingly anticipating her need, had already prepared a detailed and customized study plan for her, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Ebbinghaus curve for effective review. As the Chinese New Year approached, Lin Zhihua's sister, Lin Zhiyue, informed their parents that she would not be returning home for the holidays and had already booked a flight for Lin Zhihua to join her in Hawaii.

Lin Zhihua, however, had no intention of leaving, as he had already made plans. Around the same time, Gu Xuejiao sent him a text, inviting him to her home for a "thank-you feast" before the New Year. Lin Zhiyue, talking to someone else on the phone, expressed her bewilderment at Gu Xuejiao's apparent influence, wondering what "high merits" she possessed to make Lin Zhihua, who was typically reserved and detached, seem like a completely different person.

On New Year's Eve, Lin Zhihua continued to supervise Gu Xuejiao and Gu Mingze's studies, even as Gu Mingze dozed off. Gu Xuejiao secretly checked her phone and discovered that the stock her brother had bought had surged, indicating a significant profit. Later, Lin Zhihua joined the Gu family for their New Year's Eve dumpling dinner. Gu Xuejiao's parents expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Lin Zhihua for his dedicated tutoring.

During dinner, Gu Xuejiao and Lin Zhihua exchanged New Year wishes, with Gu Xuejiao wishing him success and good fortune, and Lin Zhihua wishing her academic progress and a smooth college entrance exam. Gu Xuejiao, feeling a bit full, excused herself to go for a walk downstairs, a cue also taken by Gu Mingze, who attempted to sneak away.

Gu Mingze headed straight to an internet cafe, where he was photographed, and the image was promptly reported online, leading Mr. Fu, who happened to be dining nearby with his family, to the internet cafe. Gu Xuejiao quickly arrived with Lin Zhihua to retrieve Gu Mingze. Seeing Mr. Fu at the entrance, Lin Zhihua strategically engaged him, using the opportunity to agree to give the previously declined speech at school, buying time.

Meanwhile, Gu Xuejiao found a doll ornament and attached it to her head, trying to obscure Mr. Fu's view of Gu Mingze, who attempted to discreetly slip away. However, Mr. Fu still spotted Gu Mingze, who, when confronted, audaciously claimed to have already graduated and was attending "Galidon College in the UK," leaving Mr. Fu to wonder if such a school even existed.

Episode 5 Recap

Gu Mingze was approached by Mr. Fu, who asked about his university. Gu Mingze's apprentice quickly interjected, claiming Mingze graduated from Galidon College in the UK, a "prestigious newcomer." Mr. Fu, momentarily confused, let them go, and Gu Xuejiao swiftly pulled Lin Zhihua away from the scene. Later, Gu Xuejiao found Gu Mingze and his apprentice squatting on the roadside eating from meal boxes.

Gu Xuejiao began to scold her brother, but the apprentice fiercely defended Mingze, stating he was the best game designer he had ever seen and that he was working to bring their game, "Roller Blast", to mobile. Inspired, he declared he was changing his name to Flag. Gu Xuejiao suddenly recalled seeing that "Flag" would become the Best Designer at the 2023 Hangzhou Game Expo, realizing Mingze's early, positive influence on his apprentice.

She was surprised that her seemingly aimless brother could inspire such talent. After pulling an all-nighter gaming, Gu Mingze quietly sneaked back home in the morning. Gu Xuejiao opened the door for him, only for their dad to catch them. They quickly concocted a story about doing "morning exercises" to cover their tracks, though their dad found their attire suspicious and forced Mingze to go for a jog.

Days later, Mingze received a new smartphone as a reward from the stock exchange. Gu Xuejiao found it curious that the stock exchange would be so generous, but she was not particularly envious, stating she had "bigger dreams." Lin Zhihua received news that Gao Rui had finally regained consciousness and rushed to the hospital, with Gu Xuejiao following shortly after. Seeing Gao Rui lively enough to playfully complain about his lack of humor, Lin felt a sense of relief.

Later, Gao Rui teased Gu Xuejiao over text, suggesting she wanted him to stay in the hospital longer so Lin could continue tutoring her without interruption. Lin later brought fried chicken to the hospital, but revealed it was for Gu Xuejiao, not for Gao Rui who, as a post-surgery patient, couldn't eat it, prompting Gao Rui to playfully complain about the preferential treatment.

Gao Rui informed Gu Xuejiao that Professor Tan had removed Lin from the C1 Lab months ago, believing Lin's mental state wasn't right after the accident. He pleaded with Gu Xuejiao to help convince Lin to return, as the project was their joint effort and couldn't be completed without him. Recalling that a decade later Lin would be in management rather than engineering, Gu Xuejiao resolved to prevent that future.

She prepared notes on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder counseling, hoping to inspire Lin, but he dismissed her efforts and flatly refused her request to give an alumni speech at their old high school. Gu Xuejiao later found Lin working part-time at a coffee shop. When he made intricate latte art for a delivery order, she remarked that his talent was being wasted, like "making latte art for takeout coffee."

Unfazed, Lin simply told her she lacked a "craftsman's spirit" and urged her to focus on her homework. Meanwhile, at the school, Mr. Fu was visibly upset that Lin was not coming to give the alumni speech as Gu Xuejiao had guaranteed. Just then, Lin Zhihua arrived. Lin delivered his speech at Seven High, emphasizing that memorizing formulas was the foundational step in physics. Afterwards, a crowd of female students swarmed him for photos.

Zhou Shiyun approached, offering a drink and asking him to be her tutor, mentioning their family connections and offering double his rate. Lin declined, stating he already had his hands full with one student and couldn't waste time on someone "irrelevant" so close to the mock exam. During the First Mock Exam, Gu Xuejiao diligently applied Lin's methods and achieved an impressive rank of ninety-ninth in her grade.

Her parents, who had been bracing for a poor result, were astonished and delighted, immediately offering to treat her to a hotpot dinner. Inspired by her success, Yi Tianyu surprised his basketball friends by announcing he was quitting the team to focus on studying, even passing on his old cheat sheet.

Gu Xuejiao excitedly pulled Lin Zhihua to the hospital to share the news with Gao Rui, only to learn he had been discharged and gone straight to the lab for a test drive. Extremely worried, Lin knew the program still had a critical flaw that could cause a system crash. He rushed to the training ground, where Gao Rui was preparing to enter the test vehicle.

Lin vehemently tried to stop him, but Gao Rui, desperate after learning he had only a low chance of a full recovery, was determined to proceed. Stepping in, Gu Xuejiao claimed that Lin had been secretly debugging the program all along. Despite Lin's initial, sarcastic denial that he was just "watching dramas," he relented and declared he needed just "ten minutes" to implement a safer version.

True to his word, a new version of the program was ready within ten minutes. Professor Tan, observing the scene, was satisfied and formally asked Lin to rejoin the C1 Lab. Lin, who had already been planning to return, readily accepted. Gu Xuejiao, proud of her role in his return and her exam score, playfully demanded a celebration gift. Lin jokingly offered her "a hundred" sets of mock exams, which she declined. That night, Lin Zhihua had a vivid dream.

He found himself in the future, attending the funeral of his best friend, Gao Rui, who he learned had died in a tragic car accident on September 5, 2014. Later in the dream, at a low point in his career, he encountered a job-seeking Gu Xuejiao. She encouraged him not to give up, saying, "as long as you're alive, you always have the chance to start again." Lin woke up and saw the date: September 5, 2014.

Realizing he had returned to the very day of the accident from his dream, he saw his chance to alter fate. He immediately called Gao Rui and, in a serious tone, warned him that the road test scheduled for that day "must be canceled" because he feared there would be an accident. Gao Rui, however, was dismissive, jokingly asking if Lin was hallucinating from debugging all night. He insisted on proceeding, noting that Professor Tan and other experts were already waiting to begin.

Episode 6 Recap

At Capital University's autonomous driving test, Gao Rui began the test as scheduled. The cruise system was initially normal, but as the vehicle's speed rapidly accelerated, Lin Zhihua, the lead supervisor, rushed to the scene. He immediately ordered a stop, citing that the 0. 01% failure rate in simulations was too high for a live test. When the operations team hesitated, the vehicle became uncontrollable, accelerating past eighty-five kilometers per hour.

Lin Zhihua attempted remote intervention, but Gao Rui, regretting not heeding Lin's earlier warnings, found the emergency brake unresponsive. To minimize damage, Lin Zhihua instructed Gao Rui to side-swipe the barrier. After the vehicle collided with a wall of tires, medics rushed to Gao Rui, and a horrified Lin Zhihua heard an announcement of "time of death." However, the scene shifted, and Lin Zhihua was told that Gao Rui had been revived.

Now in a coma, he was transferred to the ICU. As Lin Zhihua paid the hospital fees, he reflected that while everything seemed like a repeat of the past, thankfully, it wasn't entirely the same. Acting on this sense of rebirth, he recalled a set of lottery numbers and won the third prize, viewing the money as a "life trade."

Driven by a sense of destiny, Lin Zhihua sought out Gu Xuejiao's house and was relieved to find her still a high school student. He mused that fate's gifts always came with a price and that as long as one lived, there was always a chance to turn things around. Days later, Gao Rui was discharged from the hospital in a wheelchair. Back at the lab, he found Lin Zhihua packing a bag.

Mistaking it for snacks, Gao Rui was surprised when Lin revealed it contained "work gear" for tutoring Gu Xuejiao. When Gao Rui noticed a fire extinguisher inside and questioned its purpose, Lin Zhihua jokingly warned that its contents were "explosive." Startled, Gao Rui leaped out of his wheelchair, prompting Lin Zhihua to guess that using the wheelchair had been Gu Xuejiao's mischievous idea. Meanwhile, Yi Dafa celebrated Gu Xuejiao's excellent mock exam results with a custom banner.

At a celebratory rooftop barbecue, Gu Xuejiao learned from Yi Tianyu that his father, inspired by a guru's advice to "ride trends," was planning to invest in a movie starring Tang Jingjing. Remembering Yi Dafa's past bankruptcy, which she suspected stemmed from a similar bad investment, Gu Xuejiao strongly advised against it, calling it a "total disaster." Elsewhere, Gu Mingze tried to persuade Gu Xuejiao to invite Zhou Shiyun, but she flatly refused.

Lin Zhihua arrived at the party with two fire extinguishers, humorously explaining they symbolized "red and fiery" good fortune and served as a precaution. As Gu Xuejiao's father prepared the charcoal, he discussed his plan to buy a car and become a premier ride-hailing driver, an idea sparked by a flyer Gu Xuejiao had shown him. His wife, Li Sitong, strongly opposed it, reminding him their savings were tied up in the volatile stock market.

Later, Lin Zhihua asked Gu Xuejiao about any promises she had made to Gao Rui, reassuring her he had already committed to tutoring her until her college entrance exam. Seeing their growing closeness, Yi Tianyu grabbed a guitar to serenade Gu Xuejiao. When Lin Zhihua thoughtfully wiped barbecue sauce from Gu Xuejiao's hand, Yi Tianyu playfully splashed them with a water gun, sparking a joyous water fight.

Gu Xuejiao reflected on her reborn youth, grateful that her friends' companionship had replaced romance novels. Later, Lin Zhihua gifted her his high school notes, filled with insights on rising from the bottom of the class to a top scorer through "talent, hard work, and luck." That night, Gu Xuejiao stayed up late, eagerly studying them. The next day, Yi Dafa took Yi Tianyu for a massage after a successful mahjong game.

He gave his son pocket money and a signed photo of Tang Jingjing. Yi Tianyu then conveyed Gu Xuejiao's warning about the film investment, explaining her analysis: the production company's previous failed films were all backed by bosses born in the Year of the Tiger, just like Yi Dafa. Yi Tianyu argued that from both a "scientific and mystical" perspective, it was a bad idea.

However, Yi Dafa dismissed the advice, asserting that a man with his own judgment is more attractive, and declared he would sign the contract. As Yi Dafa prepared for his business trip, Yi Tianyu booked a premier ride-hailing car. To their surprise, Gu Xuejiao's father arrived as the driver. En route to the airport, Yi Dafa received a notification that his flight, CA171, had been canceled.

The unexpected event made him reconsider his son's warnings, concluding it might be "heaven's will." Their problems compounded when they realized his luggage was never loaded into the car. They rushed back, with Mr. Gu shifting into sport mode to make up for lost time. Back at the university, Lin Zhihua accompanied Gao Rui during a stress test.

Gao Rui noted Lin's distracted state and mentioned that Gu Xuejiao hadn't attended tutoring for a week, showing him her social media post from a basketball game. He remarked on how vibrant high school life had become. At the game, Jinghai No. 7 High School faced their rivals. With his focus on studying, Yi Tianyu admitted his skills were rusty.

When Gu Mingze suffered an injury, leaving their team without substitutes, Gu Xuejiao enthusiastically urged the coach to put Yi Tianyu in. Seeing Gu Xuejiao in the spotlight, a jealous Chen Xiao decided to cause trouble. She took a pack of cigarettes from Zhou Shiyun's bag and slipped them into Gu Xuejiao's backpack. Lin Zhihua, who had just arrived to get Gu Xuejiao for tutoring, witnessed the act and discreetly informed a teacher, Mr. Fu.

When Mr. Fu confronted Gu Xuejiao, she claimed to have found the cigarettes. However, Mr. Fu noticed a distinct nail polish color on the pack that matched Chen Xiao's. Both she and Zhou Shiyun were severely reprimanded. As Gu Xuejiao mused on the potential family chaos for Zhou Shiyun, Lin Zhihua feigned a plea to Mr. Fu not to call their parents, which only strengthened the teacher's resolve to do so.

Episode 7 Recap

Following his arrival at the basketball game to retrieve Gu Xuejiao for tutoring, Lin chastises her for skipping their sessions. Gu Xuejiao, however, insists that even amidst the cheering crowd, she was diligently memorizing English vocabulary, comparing herself to a great scholar studying in a bustling market. She declares her unwavering focus, stating that nothing can hinder her progress, slow her "sword-drawing speed," or disrupt her "money-making train of thought."

Meanwhile, Zhou Shiyun returns home to an irate mother, who scolds her for attending the game instead of studying. Despite Zhou Shiyun ranking ninth in the grade, her mother is unimpressed, warning that Gu Xuejiao could still surpass her. She demands that Zhou Shiyun secure a spot in the top five in the upcoming placement test, or she will be barred from coming home.

When Zhou Shiyun tries to defend herself by mentioning Gu Xuejiao was also at the game, her mother angrily silences her for talking back. Gu Xuejiao's parents, who rent their home from an old factory colleague, Mr. Liu, receive a visit from him. Fearing he has come to collect overdue rent, they are surprised when he instead offers to return a portion of their payment, as he plans to sell the house.

Returning home at that moment, Gu Xuejiao immediately urges her parents to buy the property. She explains that based on urban development trends like "spatial spillover effects," their location is prime for a new embassy district and a major subway junction. She confidently predicts the house will be slated for demolition within a year, resulting in a massive payout. Her father's skepticism vanishes when she reveals that Lin had calculated these trends with his sophisticated algorithm model.

Recalling how Lin's accurate prediction about the telecom market had previously saved their family, they agree to trust his judgment again. When her father asks if the algorithm can also predict stock trends, Gu Xuejiao confirms, citing a stock (6003134) that soared after Lin's recommendation. Despite her father's confession of recent stock losses leaving him short on funds, his wife insists they find a way to purchase the house.

Yi Tianyu's performance in the basketball game catches the eye of a coach from the University of Finance and Economics (UFE). The coach informs Yi Tianyu that if he can score over 300 on the cultural exam, he will be admitted. Desperate, Yi Tianyu finds Gu Xuejiao and kneels, begging her to tutor him.

Sun Tiantian joins his plea, humorously holding up a photo of Lin and claiming that being tutored by Gu Xuejiao would make them akin to Lin's "grand-students." Overwhelmed, Gu Xuejiao agrees, on the condition that they complete two full practice tests before school ends that day. Li Sitong approaches Zhou Wanjun for a loan to cover her house down payment.

A condescending Zhou Wanjun offers a mere 500 yuan, suggesting Li Sitong use it to hire a haggling agency for the "dark and rundown" property. Just then, Gu Mingze arrives with two large bags of cash for his mother, explaining that their father, following Gu Xuejiao's precise instructions, had successfully "bought the dip" in the stock market and cashed out at the perfect time. Li Sitong is overjoyed.

Intrigued by Gu Xuejiao's stock market insights, Zhou Wanjun tries to inquire further, but Li Sitong quickly leaves with Gu Mingze to finalize the house purchase. Scornfully dismissing the Gu family as "bumpkins," Zhou Wanjun immediately orders her company's finance department to invest heavily in the same stock they just sold, confident she can outperform them. On the way home, Li Sitong expresses her lingering anxiety about selling the stock.

Gu Mingze reassures her, explaining that Lin's algorithm has predicted a stock market crash next year with a "great probability," and that they needed to avoid becoming "the last bag holders." The mention of Lin's name completely alleviates Li Sitong's worries. Later, Gu Xuejiao brings Yi Tianyu and Sun Tiantian's test papers to Lin. He questions why she is diverting her focus to help others and asks if she is confident about her own upcoming mock exam.

Gu Xuejiao explains she was cornered into tutoring them. Lin advises that to be an effective role model, she must first be stricter with herself and strive for greater academic excellence, assigning her additional practice. With only 26 days until the college entrance exam, the results of the final mock exam are announced.

Ms. Yin, the teacher, expresses disappointment with the class's overall performance before revealing a stunning development: Gu Xuejiao has emerged as a "dark horse," soaring to tenth place in the entire grade. After Gu Xuejiao shares her study strategies, Ms. Yin announces that Zhou Shiyun ranked eleventh, just missing the top ten. Students, including a jubilant Yi Tianyu and Sun Tiantian, flock to Gu Xuejiao, hailing her as a "Study God" and their "benefactor."

After school, a disheartened Zhou Shiyun is approached by Gu Mingze. She quickly hides her report card when he asks about her results. Moments later, her mother calls, having already learned Zhou Shiyun's score from her head teacher. She harshly berates her for being outscored by Gu Xuejiao and threatens severe consequences if she doesn't perform better on the actual exam, causing Zhou Shiyun to rush home in distress.

During their next session at Summit Cafe, Lin challenges Gu Xuejiao to create exam questions for him without using any reference materials. While grading the test, Lin makes a single mistake. Gu Xuejiao realizes she has finally "surpassed her master." Lin confirms this and announces it is their final tutoring session, advising her to focus on building confidence in the remaining time.

On the day of the college entrance exam, Gu Xuejiao's parents see her off at the school gate, with her mother wearing a traditional qipao for good luck. Brimming with confidence, Gu Xuejiao declares her ambition to get into Peking University. Unbeknownst to her, Lin is also at the test site, quietly watching her enter the examination hall.

As she begins the exam, Gu Xuejiao calmly observes that the questions are different from those in her previous life, but she is undaunted, armed with newfound knowledge and the conviction that she can now make her choices the right ones. On results day, Gu Xuejiao's family gathers nervously with two cakes prepared—one for celebration, the other for consolation. They have two different scripts ready depending on the outcome. Gu Xuejiao checks her scores online, revealing a total of 679.

The house erupts in celebration. Shortly after, Yi Tianyu calls, exclaiming that his admission to UFE is "stable" and eagerly asks if her score is high enough for her dream school, Peking University.

Episode 8 Recap

Gu Xuejiao was deep in thought about her college applications, especially her dream of attending Capital University. Her father, concerned about the high cut-off scores which had exceeded 690 for Capital University annually, advised her to consider other top 985 universities, suggesting she shouldn't get overly fixated on just one. Her mother added that with Gu Xuejiao's scores, she could get into almost any top school in the country.

Meanwhile, her friend Yi Tianyu, confident in his application to Capital University of Finance and Economics (UFE), treated his friends to hotpot. He was preoccupied with Gu Xuejiao and tried contacting her, playfully quizzing his friends on the distance between UFE and Capital University, which he claimed was "walking distance" if he just "gritted his teeth." One of his friends advised him that "good things take effort," likening it to college entrance exams where one must "keep practicing."

He then explained how to pursue someone, describing a relationship where a "pretty girl" persistently "kept popping up" in the life of a "cold as ice, thick as brick" scientist, showering him with "attentiveness" and pulling him into her world beyond research. He recommended Yi Tianyu try a "graduation trip" to increase his "presence."

Yi Tianyu excitedly called Gu Xuejiao, but she was too worried about her applications to consider a trip, feeling that being even "one point short means nothing" if she couldn't get into Capital University. She expressed that her current mood was "negative infinity," believing her high scores would mean nothing if she couldn't achieve her goal. Concerned, Lin Zhihua borrowed Gao Rui's laptop, which prompted Gao Rui to jokingly suggest Lin was "sugar-daddying" him.

Lin used the laptop to send Gu Xuejiao a message, which he called a "joke virus," asking her to meet on the rooftop. Gu Xuejiao, initially thinking it was a Trojan, arrived to express her anxieties. Despite being 136 points above the first-tier cut-off, she felt she'd "let him down" if she failed to get into Capital University after all his advice.

Lin, however, encouraged her, explaining that with the new college application policy—where students now knew their scores before applying, unlike previous years' estimated scores—there were "new rules, new chances," and she had "infinite possibilities." Their conversation was interrupted when Li Sitong, Gu Xuejiao's mother, and Gu Mingze, her brother, came to collect laundry. Worried about being discovered, Lin pulled Gu Xuejiao to squat between two bedsheets, and Gu Xuejiao shyly withdrew her hand.

Gu Mingze, seeing something suspicious, distracted his mother by pretending a cat was stealing their socks, allowing Lin and Gu Xuejiao to hide. Once alone, Gu Mingze confronted them, accusing Gu Xuejiao of having a secret relationship and claiming he now understood why she was so fixated on Capital University. He even joked about their "slaps" (referring to their synchronized reactions) being in sync.

Gu Mingze then asked about Zhou Shiyun's potential university choice, to which Gu Xuejiao sarcastically remarked that with his "impressive 184 points," he could secure a "security guard gig anywhere." Lin tried to smooth things over, but Mingze declared that if Gu Xuejiao was still unsure about her choices, she should meet Lin at Capital University at 3 p. m. the next day, implying it was a date.

The next day, Lin took Gu Xuejiao to Capital University's Autonomous Driving Lab, which impressed her with its state-of-the-art yet historically rich atmosphere. He asked her to be his "assistant for a day," a "fair trade" for his past tutoring. While working, Gu Xuejiao accidentally flattened her chair, nearly falling, but Lin quickly caught her by putting his arm around her.

They shared an awkward moment, blushing, before Gu Xuejiao hastily resumed work, feeling self-conscious while typing and flipping through books. Later, Lin subtly suggested she consider an Artificial Intelligence major, which would make them "direct juniors," adding that the lab had the country's top tech and professionals and that AI was an "up-and-coming industry." As they spoke, Gu Mingze passed by, prompting Gu Xuejiao to quickly hide behind a pillar, asking Lin to "cover for her."

Gu Mingze then invited Lin for drinks, leading to a frank discussion where Mingze asked if Lin had someone he liked. Lin admitted, "Not sure yet," which Mingze found puzzling. Mingze, frustrated that his parents didn't understand his passion for digital media design—to the point his father smashed his phone—got increasingly drunk. He mistakenly thought Lin agreed he could "be smart and kind and make something of myself."

Mingze, now completely intoxicated, offered Lin two tickets, urging him to bring the girl he liked to his "show" the next day. Gu Xuejiao then emerged from her hiding spot, realizing Mingze was too drunk to get home. Lin offered to help send Mingze home. On their way home, Gu Mingze vomited on Lin Zhihua, who quickly cleaned himself while Gu Xuejiao tried to help. Gu Xuejiao struggled to support her "dead weight" brother, who then collapsed.

Lin instinctively helped, accidentally embracing Gu Xuejiao for a brief, awkward moment before pulling away. Upon reaching home, Gu Xuejiao, not wanting her parents to discover Mingze's state, begged Lin to quietly carry her brother to his room, as she couldn't lift him. She also offered him one of Mingze's shirts to change into since his own was soiled. The next morning, a groggy Gu Mingze exclaimed, "Pentakill!"

and then claimed to have dreamed of Lin "hugging a girl," congratulating him on his "first spring." Lin retorted that he also dreamed of Gu Xuejiao "hugging a guy," which prompted Mingze to fiercely declare he'd "break the legs" of anyone who dared touch his sister. Gu Xuejiao, amused, likened Mingze's multiple dreams to "Inception," before wishing Lin luck on achieving his "big breakthrough."

Mingze, still protective, warned Gu Xuejiao against any "breakthroughs" of her own, threatening to "break her legs." Lin promised to explain everything to Mingze later and walked Gu Xuejiao out. Back home, Gu Xuejiao's mother wondered why Gu Mingze was acting like he had "runaway" after hearing him come home the previous night.

Her father, furious at Mingze's perceived lack of ambition, began dismantling his computer, declaring that if Mingze didn't get into college that year, all his "junk" (referring to his computer and notes) would be gone. He angrily stated Mingze's score was "not even as high as his height" and insisted they needed to be "on the same team" to help him. Gu Mingze arrived home to find his computer destroyed.

He protested that his "junk" was notes he'd poured his "youth" into, asking why they couldn't see he wasn't "cut out" for studying and simply wanted to do what he loved. Gu Xuejiao intervened, revealing that Gu Mingze had signed up for a digital design contest and had been preparing so intensely that his hands were "wrecked" with tenosynovitis, yet he didn't give up.

Mingze, on the verge of tears, admitted he knew they thought he was a "loser" and "good for nothing," but pleaded for just "one word of praise," for them to say, "Son, you're amazing. We're proud of you." His mother, touched, responded, "I see it. I know what you've done." Mingze then tearfully added, "This is the first championship I've ever won," as if he had already achieved something.

Ultimately, his parents agreed to give him one month during the summer. If he could successfully develop his "Roller Blast mobile" game, they would respect his chosen path. This development echoed Lin's earlier words about "new rules, new chances," where some "gamble" and some "play safe," suggesting that "anything's possible" if you "dare to crack it," like a crab. The final scene shows Gu Xuejiao submitting her college application, implying she, too, decided to "dive in to try" for her dream university.