When We Were Young Episode 16 Recap
> When We Were Young Recap
During a tutoring session, Hua Biao observed Yang Xi's impressive progress in her studies. As the evening progressed, Li Yu prepared to leave, and Yang Xi asked him to take her lunchbox and a leftover salted duck egg with him. They also clarified their keychain situation, confirming that Yang Xi had the Shizuka keychain and Li Yu had Nobita, a swap they had made the previous week because they frequently mixed up their keys.
Yang Xi even drank directly from Li Yu's water bottle, remarking that its insulation was broken. Hua Biao, witnessing these intimate interactions, felt a pang of discomfort. Later, as Hua Biao walked Yang Xi home, he asked what else she shared in common with Li Yu.
Yang Xi playfully replied that they had shared everything since birth, so much so that people might think they were twins, and that he shouldn't be surprised if he saw them wearing each other's clothes one day. She then questioned why he was asking, but Hua Biao dismissed it. He then brought up the upcoming final exams, promising Yang Xi a special present if she achieved a good score.
Intrigued, Yang Xi proposed a deal: if he got first place again, they could exchange gifts. Hua Biao agreed. Li Yu finally convinced his father to buy him a 486 computer. Li Yu eagerly invited Yang Xi upstairs to play, but Yang Xi was intensely focused on her studies, determined to get a good score to earn Hua Biao's promised gift. Even her mother's urging to take a break went unheard as Yang Xi declared that studying made her happy.
Meanwhile, Li Yu used his new computer to chat with his mother online, who confirmed she was returning, making him very happy. When the exam results were announced, Hua Biao indeed secured first place. Yang Xi had made remarkable progress, improving by 30 ranks, while Li Yu dropped by 30 ranks. Yang Xiaohemei also saw her score drop by 30 ranks, though Ertiao managed to move up from last place to second to last.
In preparation for his mother's return, Li Yu tried on his father's old tie, but it proved to be too short. His father gave him 300 yuan and suggested he buy a new suit, asking Yang Xi to accompany him. Li Yu immediately went downstairs, asking Yang Xi to teach him how to tie a tie and to go suit shopping with him. Yang Xi's mother complained about them making a mess on her freshly cleaned floor.
Yang Xi initially hesitated, as she had already promised Hua Biao and Ertiao to go roller skating with them. However, not wanting to disappoint Li Yu, she agreed to help him choose a suit. While Li Yu was excitedly trying on suits, Hua Biao and Ertiao were waiting for them at the roller skating rink. By the time Yang Xi finally arrived at the rink, it was already closing.
Meanwhile, Yang Chao, concerned about Yang Xiaohemei who had locked herself in her room after her poor exam results, decided to cheer her up. He showed her his latest invention, an "imaging device" that used prism reflection to project a star-filled sky. He encouraged her to close her eyes and then open them to behold the stars.
Yang Chao gifted her the device, emphasizing that she shouldn't let her parents' views limit her world or allow a single exam to define her destiny. He urged her not to lock herself away in self-blame, reminding her, "Hemei, do your best. You are the best." That evening, Yang Xi called Hua Biao to apologize for missing their roller skating plans, explaining that she had gone suit shopping with Li Yu, who wanted to look formal for his mother's return.
She also sought Hua Biao's advice on a suitable gift for Li Yu's mother. Hua Biao offered to come over the next day to help. He almost confessed that he had a gift for her too, but stopped short when he heard Li Yu calling for Yang Xi in the background.
The next morning, as Li Yu went to pick up his mother, he was met by Huang Chengcheng, who presented him with a pair of meticulously knitted gloves since she couldn't find the gloves he wanted to buy for his mother. Back at Yang Xi's house, Yang Xi and Hua Biao were assembling a memorial photo album for Li Yu's mother.
Yang Xi's mother joined them, nostalgically showing old photos of a young Yang Xi and Li Yu, remarking on how well-matched they looked. This made Hua Biao increasingly downcast, and the hairpin he had intended to give Yang Xi remained in his pocket. In the evening, Li Yu's mother hosted a dinner for the group at a hotel.
Her open affection for Yang Xi and her subtle suggestions of a match between Yang Xi and Li Yu, coupled with Ertiao and Yang Xiaohemei's playful teasing about the two, further dampened Hua Biao's spirits. He noticed Li Yu's mother praising Yang Xi for choosing his suit. The next day, Yang Xi went to Hua Biao's house, intending to study together.
However, Hua Biao was still visibly upset about Li Yu and seemed disengaged, simply telling her his finished homework was on the table. Yang Xi, sensing his mood, left the group photo from the previous night's dinner on his table before departing. After she left, Hua Biao picked up the photo. He noticed Yang Xi's eyes were looking directly at him in the picture and recalled her looking at him during the photo taking.
A realization dawned on him: Yang Xi actually liked him. Without a moment's hesitation, Hua Biao raced after her, finding her by the riverbank. There, he finally presented her with the hairpin he had prepared long ago for her exam success, saying that he had held back so she wouldn't get too proud of her improvement. Yang Xi was absolutely delighted with the gift, especially since it was pink, her favorite color. Seeing her happiness, Hua Biao's spirits lifted, and they walked back together to finish their compositions.
