Time Flies and You Are Here Episode 9 Recap
> Time Flies and You Are Here Recap
The students of Bailu Academy arrived at Tangjiao Village for their expedition. Zhong Ziyan, whose home was in the village, returned to visit his mother and sister, receiving special permission from Director Xu. Minggu, seeing Zhong Ziyan leave, intended to visit him as well and asked Xie Xiaoman to collect her room plaque. Meanwhile, Yan Boyang, excited about his impending marriage, spoke to his friends about marrying Xie Ruying.
Zhao Xiaoqian retorted that he might as well get married soon to get divorced sooner. Xie Ruying, who did not want to marry Yan Boyang, asked Xue Yanwan to arrange a meeting at the gazebo at the end of the village. Despite initial hesitation, Xue Yanwan agreed and conveyed the message to Yan Boyang, who eagerly accepted the invitation to meet after dinner.
Director Xu then reminded everyone about the rules, forbidding them from leaving their rooms at night, citing the dangers of Tangjiao Village with tales of Demon Foxes and Vengeful Ghosts. While room plaques were distributed, Minggu asked Xie Xiaoman to pick up hers, as she intended to slip away. Yan Boyang also made an excuse to leave for his rendezvous.
When it was Xie Xiaoman's turn, Zhao Xiaoqian overheard Xue Yanwan mentioning that young ladies were vulnerable to cold and could face complications during childbirth if they got sick. He then insisted that Director Xu assign Xie Xiaoman a sun-facing room. Xie Xiaoman, unwilling to accept special treatment, refused the change. Annoyed by her stubbornness, Zhao Xiaoqian publicly gave the sun-facing room to Xue Yanwan and then ordered Xie Xiaoman to wash his feet that night.
Angered, Xie Xiaoman stomped on his foot before running off. Later that evening, Xie Xiaoman arrived at Zhao Xiaoqian's room with water to wash his feet. She found him screaming in terror at a toad in his room. Amused by his fear, Xie Xiaoman picked up the toad and playfully teased him with it, making him chant "get rich" three times and apologize for his behavior. After he relented, she agreed to let the toad go.
Still scared, Zhao Xiaoqian begged Xie Xiaoman to stay and sleep in his room, offering her the bed while he would sleep on the floor. He cited Xue Yanwan's earlier warning about women getting cold. Xie Xiaoman, initially worried about Minggu who had not returned, eventually agreed, convinced by his sincerity and fear. Meanwhile, Yan Boyang waited at the gazebo until nightfall, but Xie Ruying never showed up.
Minggu, who had gotten lost trying to find Zhong Ziyan's home, stumbled upon him. She informed Yan Boyang that Xie Ruying was not interested in him and was merely toying with his emotions. Yan Boyang refused to believe her, but soon grew scared by Minggu's stories of Vengeful Ghosts and Demon Foxes. He pleaded with Minggu to stay with him, convincing her by suggesting that Xie Xiaoman would likely come looking for her, and they should wait for her together.
They ended up waiting all night. The next morning, Minggu and Yan Boyang returned. Xue Yanwan teased Minggu about wearing the same clothes and finding her dropped purse, suggesting she was "in love." Suddenly, Xie Ruying rushed in, announcing that Xue Yanwan's embroidered shoe was missing. After a search, it was found in Yan Boyang's book bag. Someone mentioned that Yan Boyang had not returned to his room all night.
Xie Ruying immediately accused him of improper conduct, declaring she would never marry a "lecher" like him. Zhao Xiaoqian tried to defend Yan Boyang, stating that despite his mischievousness, he was a noble and wouldn't commit such an act. Director Xu, however, found the evidence incriminating. He confronted Yan Boyang about his whereabouts. Yan Boyang looked to Minggu, hoping she would testify for him, but she hesitated.
Infuriated, Director Xu ordered Yan Boyang to be locked in the wooden shed, determined to punish such "a pest." Minggu felt deeply guilty for not stepping forward. Back in their room, Zhao Xiaoqian complained to Xie Xiaoman about Minggu's failure to testify for Yan Boyang. Xie Xiaoman defended Minggu, explaining that she understood the fear of a woman's reputation being ruined, drawing parallels to her own situation.
She reminded Zhao Xiaoqian that after their agreed two years, they would have no further ties, and she needed to plan for her future. Zhao Xiaoqian, angered by her words, accused her of being selfish and ruining his life, then stormed out into the pouring rain. Later, Xie Xiaoman found Zhao Xiaoqian sitting on a bamboo stalk, again terrified by a toad. She helped him scare it away.
She then took him to Mount Kunyan to see Lake Nanming, explaining the legend of the Kun, a mythical creature. She shared wild fruits she had picked, and though Zhao Xiaoqian initially called her "stupid" for eating them, he eventually relented and ate them. He then opened up about his childhood memories with his older brother in Wude Palace, flying kites from the high city walls and dreaming of their parents seeing them.
As they talked, they saw what looked like the mythical Kun in the lake. Zhao Xiaoqian, moved by the moment, pulled Xie Xiaoman closer and kissed her. Meanwhile, a village elder warned Director Xu that some wild fruits in the area could cause hysteria if consumed, but Director Xu dismissed the concern, believing his noble students wouldn't eat such things. Overwhelmed by guilt, Minggu brought a bowl of noodles she personally made to Yan Boyang in the wooden shed.
She apologized, explaining that she feared public criticism, her teacher's wrath, and her parents' disappointment, as a woman's reputation was paramount. Yan Boyang understood and forgave her, even lightheartedly joking that if he were to marry her, he'd be a "coward with an overbearing wife." Following this, Minggu went to Director Xu and confessed the truth, clearing Yan Boyang's name.
Director Xu released Yan Boyang, and though concerned about Minggu's reputation, he assured her and her parents that the academy and Yan's family would keep the incident confidential. Minggu's mother, however, was furious.
She ordered Minggu to kneel, scolded her for bringing shame to the Su family, and decreed that as the young mistress of Su Chang Ji, Minggu must learn Bian Embroidery and would not be allowed to leave home until she mastered it, in preparation for their new store in the capital.
Minggu argued that she was raised like a boy and should not be bound by traditional female conduct, but her mother remained firm, telling her that her father couldn't save her this time. Later, Zhao Xiaoqian took Xie Xiaoman to a restaurant for a meal, having ordered many of her favorite dishes. Yan Boyang, now free, joined them and asked why Minggu wasn't in class.
Xie Xiaoman teased him, hinting that he might have leaked information about their night together, but he vehemently denied it. As Zhao Xiaoqian began to talk about their night at Lake Nanming on Mount Kunyan, Xie Xiaoman quickly put a piece of Peng Cake in his mouth, silencing him.
