Episode Summary
Jiayue struggles with placement exams after a rushed morning and losing a special pen from Xiao Han. She feels increasingly isolated as her best friend, Ka Men, bonds with a new transfer student, Chen Mo. Jiayue ends up in the same class as Ka Men and Chen Mo, but not the elite class with Xiao Han. Mao Tou gets into trouble trying to earn money to replace Jiayue's lost pen.
Spoiler Alert
Summer's over in a flash, and it's September. Qian Jiayue's mom, Chen Xiu'e, whips up a good-luck breakfast for her: a classic Chinese "one-hundred" breakfast of one Chinese cruller (Youtiao) and two eggs. It's the day of the placement exams, and Jiayue is desperate to get into the elite class with her crush, Xiao Han. She powers through a mountain of breakfast, determined to ace the test.
But all that food comes back to haunt her. Right before the exam, Jiayue has to make a mad dash to the bathroom. In her rush, she leaves the precious fountain pen Xiao Han gave her on the sink. While in the stall, she overhears another girl in a desperate situation – she needs sanitary pads, stat! Jiayue, being the helpful soul she is, runs off to buy some for her.
This good deed, however, throws her off her game. Jiayue bombs the English listening comprehension section of the exam. She's devastated, not only because she lost Xiao Han's gift but also because she believes she screwed up her chances of being in the same class as him. After school, she pours her heart out to her best friend, Ka Men. That's when the girl from the bathroom, Chen Mo, bumps into them. Turns out, Chen Mo and Ka Men are old friends from a previous school. The two reconnect instantly, leaving Jiayue feeling a little left out. Her bestie, Ka Men, now seems to have a new bestie.
To add insult to injury, Ka Men bails on their plans to teach Jiayue how to ride a bike. Chen Mo wants to go shopping, and Ka Men, caught up in the excitement of reuniting with her old friend, readily agrees. Jiayue waits all night for Ka Men to call, and when she finally does, it's to postpone their bike-riding lesson.
As time goes on, Ka Men and Chen Mo become inseparable. Ka Men even shares Jiayue's and her secret hideout with Chen Mo, a place that was supposed to be their special spot. Jiayue feels increasingly sidelined and jealous. She tries to win Ka Men back by buying her Jeff Chang (a popular singer) cards, knowing Ka Men is a huge fan. Ka Men is happy to see Jiayue, but she's even more excited about a giant Jeff Chang poster she got from Chen Mo. Jiayue's heart sinks further.
Meanwhile, Mao Tou, Jiayue's foster brother, gets into a fight with his dad, Zhang Qiming, and moves back to their old neighborhood. Mao Tou, who considers Jiayue's parents his godparents, starts freeloading meals at their place. He hears about the new transfer student, Chen Mo, and how she's always hanging out with Jiayue and Ka Men. He's curious about Chen Mo, and when he comments on how pretty everyone says she is, Jiayue gets even more upset. Sensing her distress, Mao Tou quickly backtracks, assuring her that she's the "best."
The exam results are finally posted. Jiayue, Ka Men, and Chen Mo all end up in the same class, but it's not the elite one. Xiao Han, predictably, is at the top of the entire school. Ka Men tries to comfort Jiayue, reminding her they still have three years to get into the top class. Mao Tou, feeling bad that Jiayue is so down about losing the expensive ($200) fountain pen her mom gave her, decides to earn money to replace it. He gets involved in a shady video game scheme, ends up at the police station, and has to be bailed out by Jiayue's mom.
