Summit of Our Youth Episode 11 Recap
> Summit of Our Youth Recap
With military training nearing its end, Gu Xuejiao, Yi Tianyu, and Sun Tiantian gather at the dessert shop where Sun Tiantian works as a pastry apprentice. Yi Tianyu, eager to celebrate, suggests several outings, from driving his dad's Benz to hitting a bar or the beach, but Gu Xuejiao dismisses them all as "cringe" or "unhealthy," preferring something "classy."
Gu Xuejiao then inquires about Zhou Shiyun, and Sun Tiantian reveals that Zhou Shiyun failed to get into Veritas University and is now attending UFE, where Yi Tianyu is also a student. While Sun Tiantian remarks it "sucks" for Zhou Shiyun, Yi Tianyu, despite his own enrollment at UFE, concedes that for Zhou Shiyun, it is indeed "a letdown."
After Yi Tianyu departs, Gu Mingze calls Gu Xuejiao, expressing his frustration that he can't locate Zhou Shiyun at UFE and demanding to know why she "disappeared" and what caused their falling out. Gu Xuejiao, however, simply tells him to leave her alone. While Gu Xuejiao and Sun Tiantian are working at the dessert shop, Lin Zhihua enters. Gu Xuejiao, startled, quickly ducks behind the counter, seeking an escape, but there is no back door.
Lin Zhihua, seemingly aware of her presence, subtly asks Sun Tiantian if Gu Xuejiao is there, but Sun Tiantian covers for her. He then purchases a cake and leaves. After he departs, Sun Tiantian presses Gu Xuejiao for an explanation, threatening to withhold her favorite cakes if she doesn't reveal why she hid from Lin Zhihua, but Gu Xuejiao simply dismisses her questions. In their dorm, Gu Xuejiao observes her roommates' ambitious academic plans.
Shu Lan is diligently preparing for the school's Elite Program, aiming to study abroad by her junior year, and proudly displays a list of prestigious partner universities. Siqi is already engrossed in study materials for the civil service exam, having been the top scorer in the province.
Zhao Feifei, who skipped a grade in high school, expresses her dissatisfaction with her current major and reveals her intention to pursue a master's degree in aerospace flight control, aspiring to build rockets and become an astronaut. Gu Xuejiao, who admits she "barely scraped into Capital University," feels a stark contrast to her driven peers, realizing she lacks a clear objective for her own future. While coding, Gu Xuejiao accidentally sends Lin Zhihua a 521 yuan red packet.
She immediately calls him, asking him to return it and claiming it was a mistake. When he inquires about the intended recipient, she quickly hangs up. Her dorm mates, Zhao Feifei and Siqi, tease her about the incident, playing a game to try and uncover the mystery recipient, humorously referring to him as "Mr. Life Is Precious."
Shu Lan, annoyed by their boisterousness, interrupts them, reminding them of the upcoming placement test after military training and the dorm's strict quiet hours, stating that anything over 40 decibels between 10 PM and 6 AM is considered disturbing the peace. She also subtly comments that Gu Xuejiao's current attitude reminds her of someone from the past.
Recalling Gu Xuejiao's past wish to see him often in college, Lin Zhihua calls her late at night, instructing her to pick up her squad's banner at the playground. Despite her complaints about the late hour, Gu Xuejiao complies. After she retrieves the banner and attempts to leave, Lin Zhihua stops her and presents her with a birthday cake.
When she asks how he knew it was her birthday, he reveals he saw her ID during their graduation trip hotel check-in. Gu Xuejiao is visibly embarrassed by the memory of the trip but, despite being touched by his gesture, silently resolves to focus on her "second shot" at life and avoid repeating past mistakes by getting involved in a relationship.
Yi Tianyu, attempting to join the birthday celebration, tries to scale a dorm wall but gets stuck due to his fear of heights, calling out to Lin Zhihua for help. Lin Zhihua assists him down. Yi Tianyu then wishes Gu Xuejiao a happy birthday, urging her to make a wish, but admits he left her gift in his dorm. He also mentions an upcoming dorm check.
Gu Xuejiao, in turn, makes a silent wish to "stay clear of my ex" and to "get completely over my crush," subtly glancing at Lin Zhihua, a gesture Yi Tianyu notices. Lin Zhihua then reminds them of the military training showcase the following day and the potential for an earlier dorm check, as the school gates close at midnight. Lin Zhihua offers to walk Gu Xuejiao back to her dorm, but she declines.
He then walks Yi Tianyu out of campus instead, instructing him to meet him at the cafeteria the next day. Yi Tianyu, delighted, brags about receiving a macaron from Gu Xuejiao. As Gu Xuejiao walks back alone with her cake, she is suddenly intercepted. Mistaking the person for a security guard, she is startled, but Lin Zhihua quickly covers her mouth, revealing his identity. He reiterates his birthday wishes and tells her to enjoy her cake slowly.
This close encounter leaves Gu Xuejiao flustered. Gu Xuejiao discovers a last-minute change to her class schedule, adding an early morning English class. Upon arriving at the classroom, she finds it completely empty. The teacher, arriving late, informs her that freshman English is largely a formality, as any student scoring over 90 on the placement test is exempt.
To her dismay, Gu Xuejiao realizes she is the sole student who did not qualify for this exemption, a rarity that even surprises the teacher. Gu Mingze joins his team at a bar to celebrate their AAA game's imminent launch, though he abstains from alcohol due to an allergy. He spots Zhou Shiyun dancing and approaches her, initially asking if she's there to upset her mother, which she denies.
He tries to inquire about her university, to which she defiantly replies, "A second-tier college. Happy now?" Despite his efforts to connect, Zhou Shiyun rebuffs him, telling him to stop following her and declaring that her life is "none of his business," even adding that her own mother has stopped caring. During elective course selection, Gu Xuejiao's roommates successfully secure their desired classes, but Gu Xuejiao fails to get a spot in a three-credit course, despite using a custom code.
Shu Lan explains that many three-credit courses have grade requirements, implying Gu Xuejiao's "bottom-tier placement test score" is a hindrance. She suggests Gu Xuejiao settle for easier one-credit options like dance or music. Desperate to meet her ten-credit requirement, Gu Xuejiao notices the "Autonomous Driving Lab: Programming Practicum" taught by Professor Tan Ze.
Shu Lan immediately warns her against it, describing it as a "swamp of electives" and a "death trap for freshmen" with a ruthless reputation, citing a past student who failed eight times and was eventually expelled. Despite the ominous warnings, Gu Xuejiao feels she has no other choice. Zhao Feifei accompanies Gu Xuejiao to her interview for the Autonomous Driving Lab.
Zhao Feifei identifies the interviewer as Lin Jiadong, describing him as the lab's "chief of staff" who "plays power games" and "pulls strings," noting that every new person falls under his control and she herself has suffered at his hands. Lin Jiadong scrutinizes Gu Xuejiao's transcript, remarking that while her high school math was decent, her probability and statistics scores are poor, which is crucial for the lab's required "algorithmic thinking."
He then disdainfully comments on her "by far the lowest" college entrance score, questioning how she even gained admission. When Gu Xuejiao retorts that he enjoys "embarrassing people" and she got in by luck, Lin Jiadong dismisses her, declaring her "good luck ends here" and inventing a new Capital University rule on the spot: "juniors never question seniors." Gu Xuejiao vents her frustration to Lin Zhihua about Lin Jiadong, describing him as sarcastic and petty.
Lin Zhihua, while acknowledging Lin Jiadong's faults, suggests Gu Xuejiao doesn't truly know him and shouldn't rush to judgment. Gu Xuejiao, however, insists she knows him well and claims the lab's recruitment methods are flawed, causing them to miss out on "talents like me." Lin Zhihua questions her sudden interest in his lab, given her previous avoidance, to which she replies she needs the credits. He firmly states he won't grant her special treatment, emphasizing the need for "real skills."
Gu Xuejiao confidently asserts her "true talent" in getting into Capital University, but Lin Zhihua reminds her of her recent failure on the English placement test and her ill-advised attempt to join Professor Tan Ze's lab without proper course selection. He advises her to "start with the basics," suggesting she wait for vacancies in other courses, as the Autonomous Driving Lab is currently "out of her league."
Undeterred, Gu Xuejiao defiantly vows to appear on the lab's roster within a month. Lin Zhihua challenges her to pass Professor Tan Ze's traditional freshman programming problem, which will be given in his public programming class the very next day. Gu Xuejiao accepts the challenge and immediately leaves to prepare. Gu Mingze continues to wait for Zhou Shiyun outside the bar. When he finally gets her to talk, she ironically asks why he's avoiding her.
He initially replies that he doesn't care about her, but then, when she challenges him to drink, he agrees, despite his alcohol allergy, stating he'll do whatever she wants. He quickly becomes intoxicated and passes out. Zhou Shiyun struggles to load him into a large trash can and pushes him through the streets.
As they go, a partially lucid Gu Mingze reiterates his willingness to do anything for her, even "die," and fondly reminisces about her brilliant high school days, calling her "pretty and smart," "the queen of the school." Zhou Shiyun, clearly uncomfortable with the memory, tells him he's "dumb" and drops him at the entrance of a residential area. The following morning, Li Sitong steps out to dispose of trash and discovers Gu Mingze lying unconscious in a large trash can.
She pulls him out, scolding him fiercely, questioning how much he drank and why he's "lying dead" there. She demands to know about Zhou Shiyun, then berates him for his obsessive focus on her, telling him he was almost mistaken for a "dead body" and carted away.
