Summit of Our Youth Episode 20 Recap
> Summit of Our Youth Recap
Gu Mingze's game launch event was taking place, but he chose not to attend, telling someone on the phone that the press conference had fallen through and he would only get scolded if he answered. He stated he preferred not to be in crowds anyway, as he was with Zhou Shiyun, who was crying. Zhou Shiyun explained that her tears were not due to an argument with her mother, but because she was happy.
She expressed that after so many years, she could finally breathe freely and be herself, without caring about others' opinions. She then encouraged Gu Mingze to return to his launch event, asserting that from now on, she would not let anyone change who she was and hoped he would do the same. News spread throughout the lab about Zheng Qin's incident, and suspicions arose regarding Lin Jiadong's familial connection to B&C Motors' VP (his aunt).
Accused of implanting hidden code, Lin Jiadong vehemently denied it, but the other lab members were quick to point fingers, demanding an apology and explanation. Gu Xuejiao, however, stood up for him, stating she would only believe what she saw with her own eyes and requested that the in-car command logs be pulled from the server. She then subtly implied that such tricky hidden code was beyond Lin Jiadong's capabilities.
Lin Jiadong then confessed that his aunt had indeed asked him to modify the code to subtly tweak the car system's communication protocol and destroy the data afterward to make him seem more reliable, but he ultimately decided against it and hit the undo key. Lin Zhihua confirmed that the malicious code had, in fact, never run.
Lin Zhihua took the opportunity to discuss the importance of honesty and trust, reflecting on how people sometimes hide the truth, fearing it might upset others. While Lin Jiadong apologized for his actions, Gu Xuejiao redirected the conversation, emphasizing that if trust was so important, there should be no "white lies" from the start. She questioned how they could face problems and find solutions together without honesty.
Realizing the conversation had shifted from him, Lin Jiadong started to respond, but Gu Xuejiao cut him off, asserting she wasn't talking to him. Lin Zhihua tried to mediate, suggesting they let it go, but Gu Xuejiao insisted she was only discussing the matter at hand, not reconciliation. With that, she left the lab, leaving Lin Zhihua contemplating their unresolved issues.
Outside the lab, Yi Tianyu attempted to talk to Gu Xuejiao, offering to carry her bag, but she dismissed him and told him to spend time with his father. Gu Xuejiao then realized she forgot her phone and had to return to the lab. On her way back, she overheard Yi Tianyu on a phone call with his father, Yi Dafa, who was urging him to come home and learn to manage the shop accounts.
Yi Tianyu informed his father that he was at Capital University with his girlfriend. Overhearing this, Gu Xuejiao felt happy that he had found a new direction in life. She then approached Yi Tianyu, congratulating him on having a girlfriend. Yi Tianyu, however, misinterpreted her reaction, thinking she was jealous. Gu Xuejiao clarified that she was going to have dinner with Tiantian (Sun Tiantian) and invited him to join sometime with Lin Zhihua.
She then noticed him reading an economics book and learned that his father had steered him away from professional basketball into business. Gu Xuejiao offered him advice, explaining that while theoretical knowledge was important, foresight was key in investment. She hinted at future trends like open AI, digital currency, and e-commerce, considering it a good deed to help her "ex get a second chance." Yi Tianyu seemed to struggle to grasp her advice as she left once more.
As the lab closed for the day, other team members promptly left, leaving only Lin Zhihua and Gu Xuejiao. Lin Zhihua approached her, expressing his frustration with her silence and stating he would prefer an argument over being ignored. Gu Xuejiao accused him of childishly cutting the power, but he insisted the outage was real. With the access control system disabled, Gu Xuejiao began looking for a tool to pry open the door.
Lin Zhihua offered to help, explaining that he had already contacted security, but Gu Xuejiao, unwilling to wait, questioned if he was that desperate to be with her. With Lin Zhihua's assistance, she managed to almost open the door, then criticized him for not using the funds from the C1 project's sale to upgrade the lab's equipment. Lin Zhihua revealed that his strategy against B&C Motors was never about winning, but about ensuring C1 was acquired at a high price.
He explained his long-term plan was to use those funds to develop C2, enabling a "precise targeted strike" against B&C in three years, and credited her championship win for C1's high valuation. Gu Xuejiao remained unimpressed, stating that wasn't what she wanted to hear.
Lin Zhihua then shifted to a deeper apology, admitting he had been avoiding telling her about his rebirth, just as he had avoided other difficult truths, like his C1 strategy and the incident involving his past self. He expressed remorse for believing that ignoring these issues would make them disappear and sincerely apologized. Gu Xuejiao's demeanor softened as she confessed to also running away from her past, admitting she disliked her past self rather than him.
She felt his presence constantly reminded her of memories she wished to erase, but couldn't. Lin Zhihua countered that she shouldn't try to erase the past, as both her past and present selves contributed to who she was now. Still frustrated, Gu Xuejiao asked why he had kept his secret for so long if he truly believed that.
To further mend their relationship and confront the past, Lin Zhihua then asked her to meet him at the group building, specifically mentioning it was the place where she had suffered humiliation in her previous life. The following day, Gu Xuejiao arrived at the specified building. Lin Zhihua presented her with a program, reminding her of the code she wrote for a previous transfer application, where she was wrongly accused of a critical bug.
He revealed that after she had quit in her previous life, he had reviewed her code and recognized her unique style. He further explained that the malicious code found in the recent competition, attributed to Lin Jiadong, was implanted in the same place and was clearly not her doing. Gu Xuejiao remained indifferent, sarcastically telling him to thank Lin Jiadong.
Lin Zhihua then swiftly explained that he had rented the entire building before Xintu could, declaring it the location for their new startup company. Lin Zhihua then asked Gu Xuejiao to "interview" him. He presented an idea for an in-car smart app inspired by her father's experiences as a ride-hailing driver, highlighting the importance of catering to niche user groups like the elderly and those with special needs.
He explained that their developing C2 system would incorporate such adaptive modes and formally offered her a chance to license her app idea, confessing that his past self missed the opportunity to help her realize it and hoped this time she would give him a chance. Gu Xuejiao asked about the duration, and he replied "unlimited renewal," leading to a handshake and a happy reconciliation.
Afterward, Lin Zhihua demonstrated his intimate knowledge of her preferences, listing the exact way she liked her coffee. Gu Xuejiao jokingly accused him of secretly observing her for a long time, mentioning he even knew about her previous transfer application code, and questioned his intentions. He admitted wanting to explain earlier but never found the right moment, which she dismissed as an excuse, reminding him to fight for opportunities.
As he held her hand, she teasingly told him to let go, but he refused, saying she only heard what she wanted. Gu Xuejiao then took her turn to probe into his past, asking about his ex-girlfriends. He claimed his circle was limited to male colleagues, in contrast to her, whose "ex-boyfriend," Yi Tianyu, was "still haunting," implying Yi Tianyu's continued presence in her current life.
Gu Xuejiao, referring to the "past crimes," asked how he knew Yi Tianyu was her ex from her previous life. Lin Zhihua revealed he knew because her previous self had a picture with Yi Tianyu at work and Yi Tianyu used to bring her snacks. Back at the lab, Gu Xuejiao assured Lin Zhihua that she and Yi Tianyu were "just friends" this time and that their past was behind them.
Lin Zhihua probed, asking if she thought Yi Tianyu might be different in this new life. Gu Xuejiao playfully accused him of jealousy, then elaborated that since they both had a second chance at life, there was no need to dwell on the past. She expressed that she was living a fulfilling life without regrets and was genuinely happy for Yi Tianyu, especially now that he had a girlfriend and was doing well.
Lin Zhihua questioned their trust, asking if they could have some between them, to which she affirmed. Gu Xuejiao then heard sounds outside and suggested someone was there, but Lin Zhihua, thinking she was trying to trick him, denied it. She teased him, calling him a "cunning little fox," unaware that Yi Tianyu was standing right outside the door, having overheard their entire conversation and looking visibly upset.
Six years later, in 2024, B&C Motors withdrew entirely from the autonomous driving market, as their C1 technology was completely overshadowed by the advanced C2 system developed by Huachuang, co-led by Gu Xuejiao and Lin Zhihua. Huachuang had emerged as a leading force, with Lin Zhihua explaining in an interview that this was merely the market's natural selection, where innovation replaces the old.
Gao Rui questioned Gu Xuejiao's decision to make the V2X protocol public, concerned about the potential loss of licensing profits, but Gu Xuejiao argued that freely licensing their cutting-edge private protocol would expand Huachuang's market influence and share.
Meanwhile, Lin Jiadong tried to remind Lin Zhihua about the arrival of Jason Yi, project lead at Blue Mountain Capital, for a business lunch, but Lin Zhihua dismissed it, instructing Gao Rui to handle the reception as he had "more important matters" to attend to. Gu Xuejiao was on a call with Lin Zhihua, discussing gifts for his parents in preparation for their upcoming formal family meeting, expressing her confidence that his parents would make her family feel welcome.
Lin Zhihua, on the other hand, was nervous, asking her opinion on two keychains. Suddenly, Gu Xuejiao spotted Yi Tianyu, exclaiming his name. Yi Tianyu, now known as Jason Yi, revealed he was the Blue Mountain Capital project lead and that their business lunch was in the same mall. He subtly hinted at his lingering feelings for Gu Xuejiao by asking if "she" liked some items, even as he congratulated her on her impending marriage to Lin Zhihua.
Lin Zhihua arrived shortly after, having heard Gu Xuejiao say Yi Tianyu's name on the phone. He presented a bouquet of flowers, which Yi Tianyu jokingly claimed was for his "future mother-in-law" (Gu Xuejiao's mother), prompting Lin Zhihua to urge him to hurry before the flowers wilted. As Lin Zhihua took the gifts Gu Xuejiao had picked, he playfully chided both her and Yi Tianyu for skipping a crucial business lunch, asserting that meeting their parents was far more important.
Meanwhile, the four parents were already gathered, attempting to maintain a facade of harmonious family life. Lin Zhihua's parents discreetly received separate phone calls that revealed their divorce, sparking a heated argument between them. As Gu Xuejiao's parents returned from the restroom, they witnessed the escalating fight. Lin Zhihua's parents then retreated into a private room to continue their dispute, locking the door.
Unable to open it, Gu Xuejiao's parents sought help from the hotel manager, who turned out to be Yi Dafa, Yi Tianyu's father. Lin Zhihua and Gu Xuejiao arrived at the chaotic scene just then. Lin Zhihua intervened to calm his parents, while Gu Xuejiao’s parents were shocked to learn about the divorce, asking Gu Xuejiao if she was aware.
Yi Dafa, recognizing Gu Xuejiao's father, became effusive, drunkenly recounting a previous life incident where Gu Xuejiao's father, then a taxi driver, indirectly saved him from an investment trap by causing him to miss a flight. He also revealed that Gu Xuejiao had tutored his son, Yi Tianyu, into getting into university. As the situation remained tense, Yi Tianyu arrived and greeted Gu Xuejiao's parents, adding another layer of complexity to the already awkward gathering.
