The Hope Episode 24 Recap
> The Hope Recap
Public opinion shifted significantly after Lei Ming's name was cleared, with many netizens now accusing Zhixiang Education of deliberately manipulating the scandal. They speculated it was a retaliatory move after Lei Ming's revelations in November about the company's excessive marketing and the true effectiveness of its AI teaching.
Reports also highlighted that ten years ago, during a critical strategic transition, Zhixiang had placed all blame on Lei Ming to protect its reputation, forbidding internal discussions and treating the victim's family with indifference. This left Zhixiang Education facing widespread criticism. Mr. Wang, from Zhixiang, visited Zheng Qian's mother, bringing gifts and hoping she would issue a statement of consent.
However, only Lei Ming was present, and he made it clear that Zheng Qian’s mother would not be reading any such statement. Lei Ming confronted Mr. Wang, questioning why Zhixiang would pay money if they were truly not responsible for Zheng Qian's death, as Mr. Wang claimed. Mr. Wang asserted it was a humanitarian gesture and a charity fund.
Lei Ming then reminded Mr. Wang that Zheng Qian had sought him out before her death, wanting to withdraw due to her illness, but Mr. Wang had refused a tuition refund, citing the non-refundable policy. He had dismissed her condition as mere "mood swings" and told her to find fault within herself.
Lei Ming also revealed that Ms. Xu, who had left Zhixiang six years prior, was present during that meeting and had recently described Zhixiang's approach to student psychological intervention as "apathy and dereliction." Lei Ming's sole demand was for Zhixiang to pay compensation, not a pension, and to never again disturb Zheng Qian's mother in any way. He then handed back the health products Mr. Wang had brought, telling him that inner peace was the best medicine.
As winter break began, Lei Ming addressed the parents, thanking them and the students of Class 11 for their unwavering trust. He shared how Zheng Qian's incident had given him new insights, particularly appreciating those who offer unconditional belief and support in times of despair. He assigned the parents four tasks. First, to hug their children without saying anything, assuring them the children would understand.
Bian Xiaoxiao, having saved money to buy her father a new jacket, received a heartfelt hug from him, touched by her thoughtfulness. Second, to praise their children daily in public settings. Auntie Feng, Yu Yang's mother, wholeheartedly praised her son in the market, having shifted from her usual critical approach. Third, to support their children in doing something they truly desired, even if it seemed mischievous.
Cheng Yushan, with her mother and younger brother, "pranked" her stepfather by mixing his prized vintage wine with strange ingredients; her brother proudly took credit, feeling very happy. Lastly, for the children to act as parents for one day, making decisions unconditionally. Jiang Qinglang took charge of their New Year's Eve dinner, setting rules like unlimited sweets and soda, and prohibiting his father from answering phone calls. However, his father broke this rule, leading to a strained and unhappy meal.
The first mock exam results showed significant improvement across the board. Sang Xia distributed red packets to celebrate, while Lei Ming reminded everyone, especially Bian Xiaoxiao, Li Ran, and Cheng Yushan, to prepare diligently for their upcoming art exams and the Wings Program, promising to meet in Beijing after the New Year. True to their word, the students traveled to Beijing. Lei Ming led them to a budget-friendly hotel close to Qingbei University.
To Lei Ming's surprise, Sang Xia and Yu Yang had also arrived early for their own reasons, joining the group at the hotel. Lei Ming made them draw cards to determine roommates, with Li Ran and Cheng Yushan ending up sharing. Using his old Qingbei student ID, Lei Ming took the students on a tour of the university, emphasizing that they were not visitors but future students, aiming to inspire them.
He showed them unique study spots, explaining that the canteen, not the library, was the best place due to its quiet atmosphere after meal times, strong Wi-Fi (modified by computer science students), and access to freshly cooked food. He also pointed out the Mechanics Club, jokingly noting its high success rate in relationships, as brains were considered sexier than bodies there. The students, particularly Li Ran and Bian Xiaoxiao, were captivated, expressing wishes to skateboard on campus someday.
Later that night, Cheng Yushan and Li Ran continued studying, while Jiang Qinglang approached Bian Xiaoxiao for help in selecting a song for his competition, having overcome a difficult battle with his mother to come to Beijing. Bian Xiaoxiao expertly helped him choose a song. Meanwhile, Sang Xia did not return to the hotel, stating she had other accommodations. Lei Ming watched from the window as a luxury car picked her up, leaving him visibly bewildered.
Unable to sleep, Lei Ming went to check on Li Ran and Cheng Yushan. He advised them about the upcoming Wings Program interview, cautioning them not to be intimidated by overly confident students from winter camps, whose teachers often made false promises just to collect fees. He also warned them against relying on old exam questions or standardized answer templates, as the program sought students with independent views and original thoughts. He urged them to simply "be yourselves."
The next day, at the Wings Program written test, Li Ran and Cheng Yushan encountered Shen Yao. Other candidates discussed the exam's changed format, noting how attendees of the winter camp should be well-prepared. It was mentioned that Shen Yao’s brother had previously achieved first place in the Wings Program. Separately, Yu Yang visited his old friend Wu Fan, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. He brought specialty gifts.
Yu Yang recalled how Wu Fan had stood up for him when he was bullied, promising they would attend the same university so Wu Fan could continue to protect him. Wu Fan, now in college, expressed his disillusionment with university life, noting that many students just relaxed and partied. He also revealed he had a girlfriend.
He told Yu Yang that he planned to take the civil service exam and return to Xingzhou after graduation next year, expressing regret that he wouldn't be able to pick up Yu Yang when he eventually enrolled at Qingbei. Meanwhile, Lei Ming met with former college classmates to seek financial assistance. His friends, while struggling with their own car and mortgage payments and the recent birth of a second child, offered what little they could.
They reminisced about Lei Ming's internship at Zhixiang, noting that everyone had envied him, believing he would be the most successful among them, and expressed sadness that he now had to pay Zhixiang so much money. They toasted, assuring him that tough times would pass. During the Wings Program interview, Li Ran and Cheng Yushan felt nervous, especially after seeing Shen Yao's numerous awards and hearing an examiner commend him.
Shen Yao whispered to Li Ran to be cautious when answering questions from Mr. Fang, the main examiner. As their names were called, Li Ran and Cheng Yushan entered their respective interview rooms. The interviewer acknowledged Li Ran's impressive improvement of over 300 points in just six months but pointed out that his overall academic standing was still not exceptional compared to other candidates.
They pressed him on why he chose Qingbei and the source of his profound courage and confidence. Li Ran candidly admitted he had never considered taking the college entrance exam or even applying to Qingbei until he met Lei Ming. He recounted how Lei Ming, initially dismissed as a liar, had inspired them, provided scholarships, and even clashed with his former employer, Zhixiang, incurring penalties for their sake.
Lei Ming had generously allowed Li Ran and his grandmother to live in his house, deftly using a joke about charging rent if Li Ran failed to preserve his dignity. Despite speaking about the world's injustices, Lei Ming had always shown them the utmost generosity and fairness. Li Ran concluded by expressing his deep desire to understand the power and magic of Qingbei that could cultivate such a unique and influential individual like Lei Ming.
He affirmed that regardless of whether they were accepted into Qingbei, the lessons Lei Ming taught them would remain with them forever. At a subway station, Lei Ming encountered Ye Chao, a familiar face, who was promoting a startup venture by offering free wet wipes and hair clips. Lei Ming scanned his QR code to show support.
