When We Were Young Episode 22 Recap
> When We Were Young Recap
Li Nike, having recently sustained an injury while saving Chu Yinyin, found herself at the center of a misunderstanding. When Xia Er learned of Li Nike's injury, she cynically suggested that Li Nike was merely feigning suffering to garner sympathy. Chu Yinyin, however, defended Li Nike, urging Xia Er to not always assume the worst of people. This sparked a heated argument between the twin sisters.
Feeling deeply wronged by Chu Yinyin's suspicion that she was deliberately causing trouble and stealing the limelight, Xia Er declared that she would no longer involve herself in Chu Yinyin's affairs. Li Nike, observing their quarrel, smiled subtly, pleased that her plan was unfolding as intended, then hypocritically advised Xia Er not to take Chu Yinyin's words to heart, offering her own made-up reasons for Chu Yinyin's frustration, suggesting it stemmed from jealousy over her transfer to the normal class.
Meanwhile, Li Bai was embroiled in a dispute with his mother, who wanted him to transfer schools. He confided in Xu Konglin, explaining his reluctance to leave Qing Teng because of the people he cared about there. Feeling dejected and needing to distance himself from his mother, Li Bai asked to stay at Xu Konglin's house. Although Xu Konglin initially declined, he eventually agreed.
At Xu Konglin's home, Li Bai was welcomed warmly by Xu Konglin's parents, who openly admired Li Bai's outgoing personality and encouraged Xu Konglin to learn from him. Annoyed by the comparison, Xu Konglin informed Li Bai that he would have to sleep on the floor. Li Bai, despite his complaints about Xu Konglin's lack of hospitality, eventually joined Xu Konglin's parents for some entertainment.
Li Nike's manipulative schemes continued when she saw a WeChat message on Xia Er's phone from Xiao Er, expressing how much everyone missed Xia Er and wondered why she hadn't visited. Li Nike's expression hardened, reflecting her conviction that "the fox's mouth will have a slip of the tongue one day." She then sought out Yuan Ye, who harbored feelings for her, and easily enlisted his help.
Li Nike instructed Yuan Ye to impersonate Chu Yinyin and resend the previous threatening email to the top ten students shortlisted for the prestigious interview. Yuan Ye complied, and the recipients were furious, perceiving the message as Chu Yinyin challenging the school's rules and their hard work, especially in light of her recent transfer to the normal class.
The student body quickly confronted Chu Yinyin about the email, which she vehemently denied sending, claiming her phone must have been used for a prank. Soon after, Principal Zhang summoned Xia Er, accusing her of sending the message and demanding an explanation. Xu Konglin and Li Bai rushed to Xia Er's defense, explaining that it was a misunderstanding and an anonymous prank.
They argued that Chu Yinyin was grateful for her opportunities and that the prankster, while misguided, might have intended to promote fair competition and mutual help. As they spoke, a commotion erupted outside: a photo of Xia Er, identical to Chu Yinyin, had been conspicuously displayed on the school's bulletin board. Yuan Ye, when questioned by Xia Er, denied any involvement. The principal, enraged by these escalating events, demanded an immediate explanation from Xia Er, who was mistakenly implicated.
Li Bai then stepped forward, taking responsibility for posting the photo, claiming he wanted to remind everyone about the importance of balancing study and recreation, though he admitted his method was unconventional. Xu Konglin supported this, suggesting that the school's singular focus on competition might cause students to lose sight of their true dreams, and that Chu Yinyin's message, regardless of its sender, served as a valuable reminder.
Chu Yinyin herself arrived, agreeing with these sentiments, expressing her appreciation for the school's environment but lamenting the lack of discussion about students' true aspirations. Overwhelmed, the principal summoned Teacher Shi to handle the disciplinary action for the four students. In Teacher Shi's office, Chu Yinyin, Xu Konglin, and Li Bai were present. Teacher Shi initially inquired about Xia Er's absence, then refused to hear their explanations.
Chu Yinyin insisted she was not involved in the email and offered to bear the full responsibility. Teacher Shi ordered Chu Yinyin, Xu Konglin, Li Bai, and Xia Er to each write a 2000-word self-reflection essay and clean the school's bulletin board. She sternly warned that the true culprit would face harsh punishment. Suspecting Li Nike was behind the mail and photo incidents, Xia Er and Chu Yinyin devised a plan to prank her.
The following day, Chu Yinyin feigned a stomach ache and left the classroom. Xia Er then entered, approaching Li Nike under the pretense of needing help with a math problem. While feigning a discussion, she subtly knocked Li Nike's math textbook out of the window. Li Nike, believing the person to be Xia Er, chased after her, only to find Chu Yinyin standing innocently in the hallway. Realizing she had been duped, Li Nike was visibly enraged.
Later, Xia Er discovered a suspicious "Hacker's Helper" app on Li Nike's phone, which appeared to be a platform for computer-related assistance, prompting the twins to question why Li Nike would be using such software. Afterward, Li Nike sought out Yuan Ye once more, intent on devising further schemes against the twins. That evening, a heavily intoxicated Li Bai shared his troubled past with Xu Konglin.
He recounted his mother's frequent remarriages, which led to a succession of "fathers" of different nationalities and constant moves across the globe. He confessed to despising this rootless existence, often waking up disoriented. He admitted that his earlier claim of being multi-ethnic was merely a joke. His mother, he explained, valued her freedom but also yearned for enduring love, leading her to constantly search for a life partner.
She had recently brought them back to China from England, hoping to "return to their roots" and settle down, but Li Bai expressed his profound skepticism about her ability to do so. He revealed his desire to leave China before his mother inevitably decided to move again. Xu Konglin listened empathetically and advised Li Bai to consider his mother's perspective, emphasizing that Li Bai was very important to her. The next day, Xu Konglin developed a high fever.
Li Bai, taking responsibility, took leave from school to care for him, explaining to Teacher Lu that Xu Konglin's parents were too busy. Xia Er, upon hearing of Xu Konglin's illness, became very anxious. She rushed home and instructed Xiao Mei to buy a fresh fish for steaming. Xiao Mei then suggested chicken soup was better for a sick person, and Xia Er agreed, emphasizing that it needed to be simmered overnight in a traditional casserole pot.
Later that night, Xia Er woke up and was surprised to find Chu Yinyin in the kitchen, meticulously tending to the simmering chicken soup, having taken over from Xiao Mei. The following morning, Xia Er arrived at Xu Konglin's house with the chicken soup. When Xu Konglin asked if she had cooked it, Xia Er initially claimed responsibility by saying "Not really," but Li Bai, also present, then revealed that Chu Yinyin had stayed up all night to prepare it. Chu Yinyin arrived at Xu Konglin's house shortly after.
