The Heart of Genius Episode 7 Recap
> The Heart of Genius Recap
The Education Bureau's colleagues had arranged some park expansion activities for the training camp students, including farming experience, physical games, and camping. Xiang Ke reported this to Zhang Shuping, who firmly disagreed, stating there was less than a month left before the Jinbei competition and no time for such recreational activities. However, Xiang Ke explained that the Bureau had arranged for newspaper coverage and required photos of extracurricular activities as part of the city's quality education project.
Later, Chen Chengcheng arrived at Zhang Shuping's office, looking disheveled, to falsely accuse Lin Zhaoxi of hitting him. Earlier, Lin Zhaoxi had gone to help Lin Zhaosheng move his belongings, but he had already finished, teasing her that his words could not be trusted. She returned to tell Pei Zhi and Ji Jiang the good news: Lin Zhaosheng could now tutor them like in the Youth Palace, and she planned to take them to meet him after class.
As Zhang Shuping brought Chen Chengcheng to the classroom to confront Lin Zhaoxi, she saw Zhang Liang's smug smile and realized it was a setup. She then feigned recollection, admitting she might have accidentally bumped into Chen Chengcheng while running. Zhang Shuping pressed Chen Chengcheng to tell the truth without fear, and he finally confessed that he had accidentally fallen on his own.
Despite Chen Chengcheng's admission, Zhang Shuping was convinced Lin Zhaoxi had lied at some point during the incident. Pei Zhi intervened, stating it was clearly a misunderstanding and that Lin Zhaoxi would not bully a classmate. However, Zhang Shuping, believing Lin Zhaoxi had lied, declared her at fault. He punished both Lin Zhaoxi's and Pei Zhi's teams, forbidding them from studying in the library that afternoon and instead sending them to dig sweet potatoes with Teacher Xie.
To everyone's surprise, the students enjoyed the "labor reform" immensely, playing happily in the sweet potato field. Ji Jiang suggested they go see Lin Zhaosheng, and Pei Zhi offered to create a distraction, but then Lin Zhaosheng arrived on his motorcycle. Lin Zhaosheng, upon arriving, greeted Teacher Xie, who mistook him for a journalist from City Times due to the Education Bureau's arrangement for reporters.
Lin Zhaosheng played along, claiming his leader wanted him to see the activities firsthand to write a "heart-stirring, truthful article." He then took charge, leading the students to roast the sweet potatoes they had dug, an activity not originally planned but which he insisted would let them experience the "joy of harvest." While the sweet potatoes roasted, he asked the students about the difference between math and Olympic math.
He explained the historical origins of numbers, likening the challenges faced by primitives to the problem-solving in math. He described Olympic math as a tool to "sharpen the axe" for building a "bridge" across personal "rivers" of mathematical challenges, encouraging them to use innovative thought like ancient scholars. He stressed that the true meaning of math lay beyond just these tools, emphasizing the importance of finding joy in learning.
Teacher Xie, realizing Lin Zhaosheng was not a journalist, asked who he really was. Lin Zhaosheng admitted he was a "student parent" and Lin Zhaoxi's master. Lin Zhaoxi watched him, smiling knowingly. A flashback revealed Zhang Liang's elaborate plan: he had instructed Chen Chengcheng to have someone call Lin Zhaoxi out, fake a fall, and then blame her, with Zhang Liang's teammates acting as false witnesses.
Zhang Liang was furious when Chen Chengcheng unexpectedly told the truth and subsequently forced Chen Chengcheng out of his team. Lin Zhaoxi confronted Zhang Liang about his actions, but he defiantly denied responsibility and arrogantly challenged her, predicting her team would be eliminated in the next exam. Undeterred, Lin Zhaoxi decided to take her and Pei Zhi's twelve team members to Lin Zhaosheng for tutoring.
She devised a rigorous study schedule, and they committed to nightly lessons in the mail room after lights out, lasting until around 2 AM. Lin Zhaoxi also began bringing extra food to share with Lin Zhaosheng daily, strengthening their bond. During one of their meals, she affectionately called him "Dad," which made him blush.
Every night, after the dormitory lights were out and the teachers had finished their checks, Lin Zhaoxi and the two teams would secretly gather at Lin Zhaosheng's mail room for intensive tutoring. Lin Zhaosheng taught them complex concepts using simple, innovative methods, such as solving the classic "chicken-and-rabbit problem" without equations and explaining the significance of prime numbers through the history of mathematics. His teaching led to a dramatic improvement in the students' understanding and performance.
However, the late-night study sessions left the students exhausted, and they often dozed off during daytime classes. Eventually, the day for the elimination exam arrived. Three students had voluntarily withdrawn from the training camp, leaving ten teams to compete. Lin Zhaoxi and her teammates felt confident in their preparation. The results were soon announced by Zhang Shuping: Zhang Liang's team took first place with an average score of 85, followed by Zhao Hongliang's team in second with 80.
4, and Nie Shuai's team in third with 78. 4. Pei Zhi's team secured fourth place with an average of 78. 2, and Lin Zhaoxi's team came in fifth with 77. 5, allowing both groups to remain. The students rejoiced at their success. Zhang Shuping congratulated the remaining 27 students, praising them as the "elites of the elites." Despite their success, Lin Zhaoxi remained anxious.
She remembered a future photo that showed students from four groups, but also recalled Zhang Shuping stating that only three groups would graduate in the end, leaving her worried about which team would eventually be cut. Ji Jiang tried to console her, suggesting circumstances could change. Meanwhile, Lu Zhihao, thrilled with his 82 points, wanted to thank Lin Zhaosheng. Pei Zhi suggested they plan a surprise for him that evening.
This conversation was overheard by a member of Zhang Liang's team. Annoyed by the progress of Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi's groups, Zhang Liang grew suspicious upon learning they had a "master" and resolved to investigate. Later, Lin Zhaosheng went to the kitchen to pick up some fried peanuts he had asked the cook to prepare, despite her hesitation about violating rules. He passed Zhang Shuping, who recognized him and initiated an awkward exchange.
Zhang Shuping commented on Lin Zhaosheng's "stable" job as a gatekeeper, while Lin Zhaosheng inquired about Zhang Shuping's role in leading the Olympic math class. They feigned pleasantries, but a palpable tension remained between them, hinting at a hidden past. In a separate conversation, Zhang Shuping had expressed surprise at the unexpected improvement of Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi's teams, unknowingly attributing their success to his pressure rather than Lin Zhaosheng's secret tutoring.
That night, the students surprised Lin Zhaosheng with a unique gift: a portrait of him. Hua Juan had drawn the outline, Pei Zhi had done the hair, and Lu Zhihao had drawn the beard, with Lin Zhaoxi adding the eyes, though Lin Zhaosheng playfully complained about being depicted wearing sunglasses. They also presented him with "sunglasses cookies." As Lin Zhaosheng prepared to feed a cat, he called out "Mimi," revealing he had adopted a stray.
