Summit of Our Youth Episode 8 Recap
> Summit of Our Youth 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.
