Sweet Tai Chi Episode 1 Recap
> Sweet Tai Chi Recap
Feng Piaopiao was awakened early by her grandfather, Feng Bingxing, who reminded her that it was the important day of her CMFU entrance examination for the Tai Chi Department of Cangfeng College. After a brief practice of Tai Chi with her grandfather, she quickly grabbed a painting from the table and rushed off to school.
Unfamiliar with the campus, Feng Piaopiao quickly got lost but luckily encountered Wei Chu, who was engrossed in reading and silently pointed her in a direction. After wandering in a circle, she found herself back at the same spot, and Wei Chu was gone. She noticed a book list signed by "Wei Chu" for "Wen Xin Diao Long," bearing the symbol of Shangxiang College of Arts, fluttering down.
Assuming it was a required reading list, she tucked it away, determined not to be late. At the opening ceremony for Cangfeng College, the principal excitedly announced the return of student president Wei Chu. The principal highlighted that Wei Chu, an inheritor of the hidden Wei's Tai Chi and a prominent figure among the younger generation, had previously led the CMFU Tai Chi system to victory at the National Martial Arts Congress.
His sudden disappearance over a year and a half ago had left a void, but his return now rekindled hopes for the Tai Chi system, which had been declining due to years of factional disputes. Bai Haiyang, the current president of the Tai Chi Department and an inheritor of the hidden Bai's Tai Chi, was visibly delighted by the news. However, Tan Lin, the president of the Boxing Department, saw Wei Chu's return as a significant threat to his plans.
Tan Lin openly questioned Wei Chu's suitability to resume student council duties after such a long absence, but Bai Haiyang promptly assured the principal that he would fully support Wei Chu, confident in his abilities. Tan Lin later confronted Bai Haiyang, subtly challenging his unwavering belief in Wei Chu and suggesting that both the Tai Chi system and Wei Chu himself might no longer be the same.
Bai Haiyang, however, staunchly defended Wei Chu, convinced that his commitment to Tai Chi and his lineage as an inheritor of the hidden Wei family remained unchanged. Tan Lin dismissed Bai Haiyang as "a simple person" for his steadfast loyalty. Bai Haiyang sought out Wei Chu, expressing his joy at his return, yet his disappointment that Wei Chu had transferred to the Go Department.
Bai Haiyang blamed himself for Wei Chu's current condition, lamenting that someone who once "regarded Tai Chi as his life" could abandon martial arts. Wei Chu, who was engrossed in studying chess, simply stated that playing Go helped him calm his mind. He countered that practicing martial arts wasn't a necessity for living and that he was "quite good now."
However, in a flashback, it was revealed that Wei Chu's doctors had informed him that despite long-term treatment, his bone recovery was not significant, especially in two areas that were compressing his nerves. They assured him he would be able to stand and walk, but explicitly told him to "stop thinking about practicing martial arts." Wei Chu resigned himself to the situation, but Bai Haiyang insisted on finding a cure.
Meanwhile, Feng Piaopiao, having accidentally submitted her grandfather's masterpiece for her entrance exam, was unexpectedly admitted to the Department of Painting and Calligraphy, much to her dismay. She worried that if she revealed the truth, she would be expelled. During an art appreciation class, a senior student, Aijia, questioned whether such a perfect and mature painting could truly be the work of a freshman like Feng Piaopiao.
Teacher Kong, however, defended Feng Piaopiao, emphasizing that talent in art cannot be judged solely by age. Feng Piaopiao, to avoid exposure, concocted a story about the old man in the painting being her great-grandfather, using emotional storytelling to deflect further questions and maintain her facade as a sophisticated artist. Teacher Kong was deeply moved by her "emotional depth" and praised her as the department's top student, much to Aijia's annoyance.
Feng Piaopiao later learned from her friend, Xiao Xiao, about Wei Chu's return to school, immediately recognizing him as the one who had given her misleading directions and the actual owner of the book list she had found. Because others mistakenly believed the book list was hers, she felt compelled to maintain her "lady" image, which led to constant scrutiny and criticism from her peers, especially when she showed her true appetite at the cafeteria.
She reluctantly gave up most of her food to Xiao Xiao to uphold her image, rationalizing that being hungry was better than being expelled. Her problems escalated when Teacher Kong called to inform her that her prize-winning painting had been accidentally torn during the exhibition setup. Teacher Kong urged her to produce an identical replacement within three days for the upcoming exhibition.
Knowing she couldn't replicate her grandfather's work, Feng Piaopiao feigned needing a specific "mood" to paint at that level and reluctantly agreed to find an old painting of similar quality from home. Desperate and fearing expulsion if she admitted her deception, Feng Piaopiao resolved to seek her grandfather's help. Despite the school's strict curfew, she climbed over the school wall under the cover of night.
That same evening, Tan Lin, determined to eliminate the Tai Chi system, dispatched his subordinates to ascertain if Wei Chu had truly lost his martial arts abilities. He instructed them to "teach him a lesson" if he was indeed a "cripple." Wei Chu was ambushed by several of Tan Lin's men. Outnumbered, Wei Chu prepared for a beating, but Feng Piaopiao, who was passing by, intervened.
To protect her identity and maintain her "lady" image, she quickly tore a piece of Wei Chu's shirt to use as a mask. Using the Tai Chi techniques she had learned from her grandfather, she skillfully fended off the attackers. Wei Chu, though not engaging in the fight himself, keenly observed her movements and recognized the distinct style of Tai Chi she employed, finding it "interesting."
After defeating the attackers, Feng Piaopiao, concerned about being recognized as her mask had fallen off during the scuffle, and realizing she had torn Wei Chu's shirt, impulsively grabbed his arm and dragged him back to her home. Inside, she quickly found a new shirt to give him as compensation. As she saw Wei Chu off, he questioned her being out after curfew, to which she responded that she was not a student of Cangfeng College.
Afterwards, she found her grandfather sitting outside. Her grandfather teased her about her "lousy" Tai Chi moves, but Feng Piaopiao proudly recounted how she had single-handedly fended off seven attackers. Her grandfather chastised her, reminding her that the true purpose of Tai Chi was "to stop fighting with martial arts," not to engage in brawls.
Sensing her distress, her grandfather eventually prodded her for the real reason for her late-night return, immediately guessing she had taken one of his paintings and now needed another. Feng Piaopiao confessed, begging him to lend her another masterpiece for her "urgent matter." Her grandfather relented, telling her to fetch one from his study, making Feng Piaopiao declare him the "best grandpa in the world."
Back in his dorm, Wei Chu mused about the mysterious girl, connecting her going home for a painting with the Department of Painting and Calligraphy and the surname "Feng," wondering about her identity.
