When We Were Young Episode 1 Recap
> When We Were Young Recap
In 1996, the Atlanta Olympic Games captivated audiences, and Yang Xi was thrilled to watch Wang Junxia win the gold medal in the women's 5-kilometer long-distance race. Her mother then called her out to run, as she had promised Yang Xi a new bicycle if she could complete 5 kilometers in under 20 minutes. Accompanied by her childhood friend Li Yu, Yang Xi successfully finished the distance in 17 minutes and 59 seconds.
That evening at dinner, Yang Xi eagerly tried to show her parents the timer, but they seemed distracted. To her surprise, they had already prepared the money for her new bike, which she excitedly declared would be a "Giant." Yang Xi's father mentioned that Li Yu's father had bought them identical birthday presents again this year, to which Yang Xi blurted out that she didn't want to spend her birthday with "Master Li" anymore.
Li Yu was visibly hurt and quickly went upstairs after claiming to be full. Yang Xi’s mother criticized her, but Yang Xi dismissed Li Yu's reaction, saying he simply lacked an appetite due to the hot weather and that they shouldn't have to share every birthday like twins. Upstairs, Li Yu was listening to a voice message on a cassette tape from his mother, who informed him she would be returning to China on the 20th of the month.
As he was happily digesting this news, Yang Xi "fished" a food container and a note up to his window, telling him to eat and to meet her at 7 a. m. the next morning to buy her new bicycle. The following morning, Li Yu picked up Yang Xi on his bike, and they soon met up with their friends, Situ Ertiao and Yang Xiaohemei. At the bike shop, Yang Xi immediately spotted and bought a pink Giant bike.
Outside, as Ertiao tried to take a picture of her with her new bike, a thief suddenly rode off with it. Yang Xi, a long-distance runner, told her friends to get their bikes while she pursued the thief on foot. The thief, desperate, rode into Hui Ying High School. Yang Xi managed to jump onto the back of the bike and struggled with him.
Just as her friends arrived and Yang Xi was close to subduing the thief, an explosion occurred in a laboratory upstairs. The shockwave shattered the windows, and falling glass pierced Yang Xi's leg. In the ensuing chaos, the thief escaped with the bike. The next day, Yang Xi was at home recuperating and saw a news report about the explosion, which identified the expelled student responsible as Hua Biao.
Meanwhile, Li Yu had prepared an elaborate dinner, anticipating his mother’s return, but missed her phone call. Yang Xi received the call instead, learning that Li Yu’s mother couldn't come home due to a work issue. Yang Xi went upstairs to relay the disappointing news. Though disappointed, Li Yu saw Yang Xi’s longing gaze at the dinner table and invited her to eat.
Just then, Huang Chengcheng, the class’s art committee member, arrived, claiming to visit Yang Xi but clearly there to see Li Yu. Li Yu slipped away, asking Yang Xi to cover for him. Yang Xi told Huang Chengcheng that Li Yu had to accompany her for a hospital follow-up, which frustrated Huang Chengcheng, who then deliberately deflated Li Yu’s bicycle tire before leaving.
Because his bike tire was flat, Li Yu had to carry Yang Xi on his back to the hospital. Yang Xi chattered incessantly along the way, while Li Yu remained quiet and lost in thought. On September 1st, the first day of their senior year, Ertiao showed the class funny pictures of Yang Xi. The director entered, restored order, and reprimanded the class leader, Yang Xi, for her low academic ranking.
As he spoke, a handsome transfer student, Hua Biao, entered, carrying a backpack with a steel pipe sticking out. He picked up one of Yang Xi’s photos and took the empty seat next to her. Yang Xi smugly informed Li Yu that her new deskmate was more handsome than him, after which Hua Biao asked if her leg was feeling better.
After class, Ertiao recounted rumors about the new student, revealing that Hua Biao was the one who had caused the lab explosion at Hui Ying High School and had been expelled. Yang Xi immediately realized that Hua Biao's explosion was the reason for her leg injury and the loss of her new bike. Enraged, believing his earlier concern was feigned innocence, she confronted him.
Instead of apologizing, Hua Biao suddenly lifted Yang Xi and carried her to the school infirmary for a dressing change. In the infirmary, Yang Xi learned from the doctor that her leg would not recover in time for a crucial running competition in two weeks. She explained that the ten bonus points from that race were essential for her to get into a vocational college.
Witnessing her distress, Hua Biao appeared remorseful and later asked the doctor about the importance of the bonus points. On the way home, Hua Biao appeared again and advised the stubbornly walking Yang Xi to let her friends give her a ride. Yang Xi, still seething, interpreted his words as gloating.
She declared that Hua Biao would be added to her personal list of adversaries, alongside her mother and the director, marking a new chapter in their lives that began in the summer of 1996.
