Summit of Our Youth Episode 22 Recap
> Summit of Our Youth Recap
During a discussion about the recent C2 vehicle accident, concerns were raised about the missing program logs from Yi Tianyu's car. One person noted that the company's server had been undergoing maintenance at the exact time of the accident, leading to the logs' disappearance. Given that Yi Tianyu works in finance, not technology, Gu Xuejiao suggested, "If this car accident was a man-made one, he must have a technical helper in Huachuang."
Lin Zhihua, clearly agitated by the situation, pondered, "We can track the technical issues. But the traitor…" Another person pointed out the urgency, stating that the accident briefing was in two days and that 72 hours was the golden window for crisis PR. They worried that after the briefing, there would be no way to turn the tables. Lin Zhihua, however, told everyone, "Let's put this on hold. Wait for my update.
I need some fresh air," before abruptly leaving the meeting. Watching him go, Zhou Shiyun expressed her concern, "He's already given up?" but Gu Xuejiao confidently replied, "You underestimate him." Back at the villa, Gu Xuejiao reflected on the incident, asking Lin Zhihua if he truly believed Yi Tianyu orchestrated the car accident himself. She admitted she was clueless but suspected if it was Yi Tianyu's doing, he was likely targeting her, which made her feel obligated to solve it.
Lin Zhihua reassured her, reminding her to never blame the victim and encouraging her to rest. He then asked if she trusted him and believed they could overcome this challenge together, to which she affirmed. " Of course," he said, "Just like every time before. This time, we'll surely get through it, too." He urged her to stop thinking and rest.
Later, Gu Xuejiao decided to "tackle a problem at its source" by visiting Yi Tianyu, who had just been discharged from the hospital. She reasoned they couldn't let the matter drag on. Qi Lei helped her carry a seemingly inebriated Yi Tianyu into his home. Gu Xuejiao commented on his heavy drinking so soon after being discharged, but Yi Tianyu only demanded more alcohol.
As Yi Tianyu feigned unconsciousness, Gu Xuejiao's inner thoughts revealed her intent: "Although the program log stored in the cloud is lost, there must be clues left in his mobile phone, more or less." She tried to unlock his phone using her birthday, thinking it was the same as before. However, Yi Tianyu suddenly recovered, revealing he had tricked her. He taunted her, "Someone's a pro at typing passwords," and then accused her of trying to trick him too.
When Gu Xuejiao confronted him, demanding the truth about the C2 accident, he mocked her, claiming, "Everything's gone." She tried to leave, threatening to call the police, but Yi Tianyu produced a USB drive containing the C2 virus program. He threatened that if she walked out that day, the brake failure incident would escalate into a national public crisis involving all sold C2s. Trapped, Gu Xuejiao was forced to stay.
Yi Tianyu confiscated her phone, telling her he had already informed Lin Zhihua she was going to her parents. He then mockingly offered her the sofa if she wasn't comfortable in his single-bedroom apartment. Meanwhile, Lin Zhihua tirelessly pursued the truth. With Gao Rui's help, he managed to retrieve partial surveillance footage from outside the company's server room. Though some segments were overwritten, he used Dr. Tan's lab computers to accelerate data recovery.
The restored video shocked him, revealing Siqi as the inside mole. He quickly learned from Human Resources that Siqi had taken a long leave. He tried calling Gu Xuejiao, but her phone was off. Then he called Li Sitong, who told him Gu Xuejiao hadn't been home recently, further deepening his unease. At the hospital, Siqi's mother was undergoing expensive treatment, including imported medicine.
When asked about the source of the funds, Siqi vaguely explained that the company had offered her equity and a raise, leading her mother to assume Gu Xuejiao had helped her once again. Siqi's mother expressed her gratitude for Gu Xuejiao and regretted how her illness had forced Siqi to give up her dream of becoming a civil servant for a high-paying job at Huachuang. Lin Zhihua frantically tasked Gao Rui with finding Gu Xuejiao, but all attempts were fruitless.
He then considered Yi Tianyu's home. Upon his arrival, Yi Tianyu quickly hid Gu Xuejiao in the bathroom, instructing her to make showering sounds to mislead Lin Zhihua into believing they were intimate. Gu Xuejiao, eager to obtain the crucial USB drive, reluctantly complied, loudly reaffirming her trust in Lin Zhihua, "Do you believe that we can get through this together? Of course. Just like every time before." Yi Tianyu smugly told Lin Zhihua, "She's in the shower.
You can't go in there." Lin Zhihua searched the apartment, but Yi Tianyu blocked him from entering the bedroom. During their conversation, Yi Tianyu taunted Lin Zhihua about the impending accident briefing and his impending downfall. Lin Zhihua subtly hinted that Siqi might be the mole, suggesting they had tea from Siqi, whose hometown was known for tea production. Yi Tianyu, angered by the veiled accusation, retaliated, "You made me do this."
Understanding Lin Zhihua's hint, he then excused himself and stealthily waited in the basement of Yi Tianyu's complex, confident that Gu Xuejiao would find a way to communicate. He told Gao Rui over the phone that he believed Gu Xuejiao had a plan and they should let events unfold according to Yi Tianyu's wishes to give her an opportunity to find a weakness. Gu Xuejiao, realizing that Yi Tianyu responded better to a softer approach, changed her strategy.
When Yi Tianyu, still acting smitten, suggested skipping work because Huachuang was already "in his possession" and she was "most important," Gu Xuejiao bluntly told him, "I don't like love-struck guys." She urged him to focus on his career. Slightly deflated, Yi Tianyu agreed to handle company matters and sent Qi Lei to drive Gu Xuejiao around with his add-on card. Once in the car, Gu Xuejiao discovered Yi Tianyu had deleted all navigation history.
She then found a blood test report from First Hospital, belonging to Siqi's mother, and discreetly hid it. Unbeknownst to her, Lin Zhihua was following their car. At a women's clothing store, Gu Xuejiao carefully selected items. At checkout, she deliberately entered Lin Zhihua's phone number as the member account to accumulate points, avoiding Qi Lei's watchful eye. Back at his home, Yi Tianyu, delighted by her spending, cooked a meal for her.
That evening, Gu Xuejiao tried once more to reason with Yi Tianyu, asserting that any issues between them were her personal choices and had nothing to do with Lin Zhihua. She insisted he should target her, not him. Yi Tianyu, angered by her defense of Lin Zhihua, declared, "The more you defend him, the less I want to let him go."
He then revealed he had overheard a conversation about him being her boyfriend in a previous life, confirming her suspicions about his underlying resentment. Yi Tianyu spoke of his years of asking himself why he couldn't be better than Lin Zhihua, believing it would change everything. Gu Xuejiao countered passionately, explaining her eight-year relationship with Lin Zhihua was about growing together, not his achievements.
Despite her plea, Yi Tianyu stubbornly maintained, "Even if it's a terrible mess, that's what I want. Because you're with me in that world." As Yi Tianyu, in a fit of despair, drank himself into a stupor at the table, Gu Xuejiao carefully removed the USB drive hanging around his neck. Meanwhile, Lin Zhihua, analyzing the shopping expenses from earlier, deciphered the numbers using a T9 keypad conversion, which spelled out "First Hospital." He surmised that Siqi might be there.
With only thirty minutes remaining until the accident press conference, Lin Zhihua rushed to the First Hospital's hematology department, only to be informed that Siqi's mother had been transferred days ago, and the new hospital could not be disclosed. He immediately contacted Lin Zhiyue, asking her to search for recent hematology experts in Jinghai. Lin Zhiyue quickly found that Professor Wei, a prominent hematology expert, had just checked into a hotel opposite Xiehe Hospital.
With only thirty minutes remaining until the press conference, Yi Tianyu arrived confidently at the Huachuang office. He instructed Lin Jiadong to remove Lin Zhihua's outstanding alumni trophy and even discard the teleprompter. After Lin Jiadong left, Yi Tianyu glanced at a USB drive locked securely in a safe, secretly pleased that the one Gu Xuejiao had taken was merely a decoy. At the hospital, Siqi, seeing her mother's pain, offered to wash some fruit.
As she stepped out, taking deep breaths to compose herself, Lin Zhihua appeared, calling her name. Siqi instinctively flinched, attempting to flee, but Lin Zhihua stopped her, asking to sit down and talk. She reluctantly turned to face him.
