The Chang'an Youth Episode 5 Recap
> The Chang'an Youth Recap
As Shen Yiyi and Yang Zian were cleaning the Book Depository, a fire suddenly erupted. Yang Zian warned Shen Yiyi to get out quickly. While a banquet was held for other students, Yang Zian and Shen Yiyi were trapped inside the burning building. Yang Zian was injured while saving Shen Yiyi. When they emerged, Teaching Assistant Yang Zixu blamed them for the fire. Shen Yiyi explained they were merely cleaning and did not start the fire.
The Crown Prince intervened, suggesting that the fire might have been caused by natural factors and that no further investigation was needed. He also advised the Teaching Assistant not to blindly blame the students, before leaving for the palace. An accompanying doctor confirmed that Yang Zian’s injuries were only minor surface wounds. He applied medicine to Yang Zian’s back and instructed Shen Yiyi to bandage him after half an hour, despite her initial surprise.
Once alone, Yang Zian urged Shen Yiyi to bandage his wounds, commenting on her slow and clumsy movements. Shen Yiyi's clumsy attempts to bandage him led to an awkward moment where their faces drew close, their hearts racing. Later, as she tried to help, she accidentally fell and sat on Yang Zian. Flustered, she quickly got up, told him he was capable enough to bandage himself, and left to get him some food.
Yang Zian, meanwhile, was privately pondering the suspicious cause of the fire. Yang Zian found the Book Depository fire to be highly suspicious. That night, he secretly returned to the scene and discovered partially burned paper with names of officials, leading him to wonder if it was connected to a corruption case. Meanwhile, Lord Han, also wary that evidence might remain, ordered his trusted subordinate Ning Xiang to revisit Shangyi School and destroy any lingering clues.
Lord Han also warned Ning Xiang against attempting to use the Crown Prince to escape his control, reminding her that her life belonged to him and that she was his right-hand woman. He then gave her a "newest formwork drawing" with instructions. As Ning Xiang carried out her mission, Dugu Muxue, who was on a nearby rooftop, encountered her. After a brief skirmish, Ning Xiang realized she was outmatched and fled.
The next day, Teaching Assistant Yang Zixu, still holding a grudge and seemingly using the opportunity for personal revenge, announced that Shangyi School would host a lacrosse match against the Imperial College in fifteen days. All regular classes would be suspended for self-study and training. For the sake of fairness, all students were encouraged to participate. Yang Zian, Shen Yiyi, Tang Jiuhua, Li Xinyuan, Bai Shaoqian, Zhaocai, and Jinbao were named as the initial participants.
Li Xinyuan remarked that Shen Yiyi, being good at everything, must be good at lacrosse too, but Shen Yiyi admitted she knew nothing about it. Tang Jiuhua protested the unfairness of including Shen Yiyi and also pointed out that Yang Zian’s injuries made him unfit to play.
Teaching Assistant Yang Zixu insisted he wanted to give them a chance to shine and, seeing their good camaraderie, replaced Jinbao with Dugu Muxue, urging them to help each other and share both good and bad times. Shen Yiyi was about to object, but Yang Zian interjected, assuring everyone that his injuries were largely healed. Yang Zixu then warned them to train hard and not disgrace Shangyi School.
Shen Yiyi felt overwhelmed, but her friends encouraged her, assuring her that lacrosse was easy to learn and they would teach her. Yang Zian added that it was better to start training early than to despair. Shen Yiyi resolved to face the challenge head-on, declaring that even if they lost, they wouldn't lose their morale. After their first training session, the students decided to eat together, but Yang Zian declined, stating he needed to review his lessons.
During the next training session, Tang Jiuhua noticed Dugu Muxue was absent, but Li Xinyuan assured him that Dugu often didn't stay in the dorms but always showed up for classes. Dugu Muxue eventually appeared, only to announce that the day's lesson was canceled as he had other matters to attend to, then promptly left. Shen Yiyi, impressed by Yang Zian's lacrosse skills, asked him to teach her.
Yang Zian agreed, on the condition that she wouldn't quit midway, and gave her a lacrosse manual, promising to start formal training the next day. The following morning, Yang Zian woke Shen Yiyi by repeatedly calling her name from outside, much to her sleepy annoyance. Realizing how late it was, she quickly got ready and joined him.
The intensive training led to a significant increase in Shen Yiyi's appetite; she ate several times her usual portion, prompting others to offer her their food. That night, she suffered from severe stomach pain. Yang Zian, mistakenly believing it was indigestion from overeating, brought her some sour dried fruit. Shen Yiyi, though finding the fruit delicious, knew it didn’t ease her menstrual pain (a secret she kept from him), but she appreciated his thoughtfulness.
Later, as she tossed and turned in pain, Yang Zian approached to check on her, only to be accidentally punched in the eye by a sleeping Shen Yiyi. Despite these mishaps, Yang Zian's rigorous training significantly improved Shen Yiyi's lacrosse skills. Yang Zian was subsequently elected as the lacrosse team captain.
He then led the team in deploying a detailed plan for the upcoming lacrosse match, pointing out potential weaknesses in defense and emphasizing teamwork over individual skill, reminding them of the importance of unity taught by Dr. Wu in their first lesson. He stressed that the match concerned the honor of the entire Shangyi School.
Teaching Assistant Yang Zixu, upon hearing of Yang Zian's promotion to captain, arrived to mock their training methods, dismissing them as useless and accusing Yang Zian of making messy arrangements. Tang Jiuhua defended Yang Zian, even accusing Yang Zixu of being a spy for the Imperial College due to his discouraging remarks. Yang Zian calmly stated that the success of their strategy would be evident on the day of the match.
That night, Shen Yiyi sat outside, worrying about the match. Yang Zian approached to offer comfort, suggesting that sometimes one needed to take a step back. However, Shen Yiyi, not wanting to hear philosophical advice, playfully pushed him back to his room, telling him to get some sleep so he wouldn't cry during the match.
Yang Zian then tried to apologize for past misunderstandings, but Shen Yiyi brushed it off, claiming she had forgotten everything, and even teased him about his temper and how no girl would like him. At that moment, Yang Zixu arrived. He explained to Shen Yiyi that his earlier harsh words were meant to motivate them to win and revealed that he was Yang Zian's elder brother, explaining his strictness. Yang Zian simply called him "Brother" and excused himself, citing sleepiness.
Yang Zixu then gave Shen Yiyi a box of his brother’s favorite Sweet and Sour Fish, asking her to deliver it to Yang Zian. The day of the lacrosse match arrived. An announcer declared that the match between Shangyi School and the Imperial College was to advocate the martial arts spirit of Great Yu, with mutual learning and respect being more important than the score. The players from both teams took the field.
The game was intense and exciting, with neither side gaining a clear advantage. Shen Yiyi and her teammates worked closely together, but the Imperial College players seemed confident, repeatedly intercepting the ball and committing multiple fouls, leading to a tense standoff in the game.
