When We Were Young Episode 19 Recap
> When We Were Young Recap
Fearing her identity as Chu Yinyin would be revealed, Xia Er attempted to flee the competition backstage. She told Ms. Shi that she wanted to withdraw due to nervousness, but Ms. Shi insisted she continue, reminding her of the critical stage of the competition. Xu Konglin also urged those backstage to hurry to the stage. The emcee then introduced "Xia Er" from New Southern Vocational School, who was the real Chu Yinyin, to present her design concept.
Chu Yinyin confidently explained her sportswear, highlighting its innovative design that moved beyond traditional athletic wear to be suitable for casual outings, using unique colors and polyester fabric to increase texture. Xu Konglin, watching her from the side, found her voice and presence deeply familiar, leading him to strongly suspect she was the real Chu Yinyin. When it was Qing Teng International School's turn, Xia Er, posing as Chu Yinyin, was called to the stage.
Realizing her deception was about to be revealed, she reluctantly began her presentation, initially keeping her head down and refusing to speak before eventually lifting her head. As she spoke, the audio system suddenly went haywire. Backstage, Li Bai, witnessing the real Chu Yinyin's appearance on stage, had intentionally pulled the audio plugs, causing chaos. The sound returned, and Xia Er continued to stammer through her explanation.
The audience and the emcee were visibly stunned, with the emcee even joking about having a pair of twins present at the competition. The crowd erupted in chatter, and Chu Yinyin herself was shocked to see her doppelganger. Following the commotion, school officials expressed their anger at the unprecedented situation. Xu Konglin immediately confronted Xia Er, demanding to know the identity of the girl who looked exactly like her. Xia Er offered an apology.
Li Bai attempted to intervene and calm Xu Konglin, but Xu Konglin, consumed by anger, brushed him aside. He then sought out the real Chu Yinyin, who was with Leng Shao and Xiao Er. Chu Yinyin's teacher, Mr. Zhu, went to inquire about the situation with Qing Teng's teachers. Leng Shao protectively confronted Xu Konglin when he tried to speak to Chu Yinyin, warning him to stay away from "his woman."
Xu Konglin, however, insisted on clearing things up and brought Chu Yinyin to face Xia Er. Xia Er tearfully admitted that she was Xia Er from New Southern and that the amnesiac girl was the true Chu Yinyin. Chu Yinyin, confused by the revelation, insisted that "she" was Xia Er and could not recall anything about being Chu Yinyin due to her amnesia.
Xia Er tried to explain that she had accidentally switched identities with Chu Yinyin, but an enraged Xu Konglin accused her of deceiving everyone and demanded to know the real reason behind Chu Yinyin's amnesia, dismissing her apology and "accidental switch" explanation. Li Bai again tried to defend Xia Er, but Xu Konglin vehemently told him to stay out of their business. Both Xia Er and Chu Yinyin were brought to the principal's office.
The principal, recognizing the gravity of the situation, decided to contact Chu Mingzhu. Upon arrival, Chu Mingzhu first encountered Xia Er outside the office, mistaking her for her adopted daughter and assuming she was in trouble. However, when she entered and saw the real Chu Yinyin, she was visibly stunned by the identical appearance of the two girls.
Chu Mingzhu then revealed that Chu Yinyin was not her biological daughter; she had adopted her from an orphanage when Chu Yinyin was six months old and had no knowledge of a twin or any other biological family. She also confirmed that she had never seen Xia Er before. The school also confirmed that Xia Er was an orphan, raised by a foster father who now lived in a retirement home.
Faced with this astonishing revelation, Chu Mingzhu decided to take both girls home for a period to live together and arranged for them to undergo DNA testing to confirm if they were indeed twins. Chu Yinyin’s teacher, Mr. Zhu, also encouraged Xia Er to go with Chu Mingzhu. Meanwhile, Xiao Er approached Xia Er, initially confused about her true identity given the recent events.
To convince her, Xia Er accurately recited several intimate details about Xiao Er's habits and preferences, including her love for lamb kidneys, her chosen hair salon, and her infrequent sock-washing routine. Convinced, Xiao Er finally recognized her friend. Xia Er then pleaded with Xiao Er to keep her identity a secret. Chu Yinyin and Xia Er then went to Chu Mingzhu's home. Chu Mingzhu, treating both girls with care, gave them a tour.
In the study, Chu Yinyin's eyes fell upon a wall adorned with countless awards and trophies. As Chu Mingzhu proudly explained that these were all Chu Yinyin's achievements, a wave of emotion washed over Chu Yinyin. She broke down in tears, proclaiming that she always knew she was outstanding and not useless, a powerful realization of her true self. Outside, Xia Er, witnessing Chu Yinyin's distress, felt a pang of guilt and anxiety.
She called Li Bai, questioning if she should finally confess her true identity to Chu Mingzhu. Li Bai, however, persuaded her to stay, arguing that Chu Yinyin's amnesia was likely caused by an assault, and Xia Er, as her sister, should remain to uncover the truth and be with her newfound family.
