The Big Boss Episode 14 Recap
> The Big Boss Recap
Zhu Shanqi, a student with a touch of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), found herself irritated by a small air bubble trapped beneath her phone's screen protector, an imperfection she was determined to remove. As she worked at it, a fellow student, Xiong Tiancheng, walked past. Zhu Shanqi noticed his disheveled hair, distant eyes, and a phone screen shattered with cracks. She wondered aloud how anyone could continue using such a damaged device.
Recognizing his Maple Leaf Middle School uniform, she felt a peculiar curiosity. She stealthily followed him, intrigued by his eccentric behavior. Xiong Tiancheng led her to a noodle shop that had only a one-star rating online. He entered without hesitation and ordered a bowl of noodles, which he ate with apparent relish. Zhu Shanqi, still observing discreetly, found herself served a bowl as well.
Despite its unappetizing appearance, with a bland-looking broth and meager toppings, she reluctantly took a bite and was surprised to discover the noodles were exceptionally delicious, prompting her to finish the meal. As she continued to follow him, she noticed his shirt was stained with noodle soup, a sight that further solidified her impression of him as an unkempt individual. She thought, "That's horrible!" Later, during Chinese self-study class, their teacher, Mr. Wu, was reviewing assignments.
Most students were engaged in their own activities. Mr. Wu, however, excitedly announced that he had found an outstanding essay among the "Taking Leave of Cambridge Again" book reviews he had assigned. He declared Xiong Tiancheng's work to be the best. He then called for Xiong Tiancheng, but the student was nowhere to be seen. After repeated calls, Xiong Tiancheng slowly emerged from a trash-filled corner of the classroom.
An unpleasant odor spread through the room, causing other students to cover their noses. Unfazed, Xiong Tiancheng calmly walked to the front of the class and began to recite his essay. His writing was indeed exceptional, filled with beautiful language and elegant prose, which explained Mr. Wu's enthusiasm. Classmates whispered about him, calling him "the Garbage King," the legendary source of Class 10's garbage and air pollution.
Mr. Wu, moved by the piece, commented that "Except Xu Zhimo, no one has been able to write such a good article about Cambridge." He praised Xiong Tiancheng's delicate and romantic perception of Cambridge. After class, Mr. Wu called Ye Muqi, the class president, aside. He told her that Xiong Tiancheng was a talented student but was reclusive and unsociable. Mr. Wu expressed his hope that Ye Muqi could help him. Ye Muqi agreed.
She approached Xiong Tiancheng, who had created a secluded "studio" in a corner of the classroom, stating that his condition for attending the school was to have this independent space. Inside, he kept small animals or insects he called "Wang Xiaode and Mao Xiaomu." Ye Muqi carefully greeted him and suggested he become the Chinese class representative. Xiong Tiancheng remained expressionless, rejecting her offer with a curt, "Sorry, I'm busy.
Don't bother me if you have nothing for me to do. Leave now." Undaunted, Ye Muqi decided to gather more information. She learned that Huang Nan and Huang Yi were Xiong Tiancheng's middle school classmates. When she approached them, they shared stories of his notorious sloppiness, like finding a year-old banana or a rice ball in his drawer. They also revealed that he rarely spoke to classmates because he often kept to himself.
Most significantly, they recounted an incident during a parents' meeting when his father publicly scolded him severely, causing him deep humiliation and making him even more withdrawn. Hearing this, Ye Muqi felt a stronger desire to help the peculiar and introverted boy. Xiong Tiancheng's difficult personality was largely a result of his father's behavior. His father was short-tempered, irresponsible, and spent his days playing mahjong, showing little concern for his son.
Though Xiong Tiancheng considered his father the most important person in his life, his father had never reciprocated that value. One day, Xiong Tiancheng fell ill and couldn't attend school. Mr. Wu, having read Xiong Tiancheng's novel, "The Last Inn," about a lonely screenwriter and other strange characters, recalled his belief that art often reflects life. He noticed the protagonist's strained relationship with his father in the novel, which suggested a similar dynamic at home.
Mr. Wu decided to pay a home visit, bringing a printed copy of Xiong Tiancheng's novel to his father. During the visit, Mr. Wu gently but firmly advised Mr. Xiong, emphasizing that parents are their children's first teachers and that their habits influence their children's growth. He urged Mr. Xiong to create a supportive environment for his talented son. Back home, Ye Muqi immersed herself in Xiong Tiancheng's written works, feeling a profound connection to his inner world.
Through his words, and an imagined conversation, she realized his sloppiness and unkempt appearance were a cry for attention, a desire to be valued and appreciated, especially by the person he cared for most—his father—who had consistently ignored him. Deeply moved, Ye Muqi promised to help him, declaring, "I'll change you." She then began to devise a plan to transform him. The next morning, Xiong Tiancheng woke to an empty house, his father gone.
On the table, he found a note. It was from "Kungfu Lady Ye," inviting him to play a "treasure hunt game." He was to follow the instructions step by step, using the secret code, "I want to find Kungfu Lady Ye." His first destination was a barber shop, where he had his hair, which he hadn't cut for over a year, trimmed.
The next clue led him to an optical shop, where he was fitted with new contact lenses, and for the first time, the world—and his own reflection—appeared strikingly clear. " That's what I look like!" he exclaimed. The third step took him to a clothing store, where he was dressed in new, stylish clothes. With this complete makeover, the once "Sloppy King" was transformed into a handsome, clean-cut young man.
He saw himself clearly in the mirror, and a long-lost sense of confidence surged within him. A text message from Ye Muqi, referring to him as "Shadow Thief," asked how he liked his new look. Xiong Tiancheng, now comfortable with his new image, replied, acknowledging "Big Boss" as her true identity. He returned home, where his father had, uncharacteristically, cleaned the entire house.
As father and son met eyes, they shared a silent smile, a gesture that conveyed more than words could. With his newfound appearance and confidence, Xiong Tiancheng was ready to face the world, no longer the reclusive boy, and his positive changes were evident to everyone, including his classmates.
