Episode Summary
In 2007, 17-year-old Chen Huan'er moves to Tianhe city and faces challenges adjusting to a new school, including academic struggles and social awkwardness. She forms an unlikely friendship with her neighbor, Jing Qichi, and his friend Song Cong, who help her navigate school life, while dealing with gossip and academic pressure. A family connection between Huan'er and Qichi's families is also revealed.
Spoiler Alert
The summer of 2007 sets the stage for a major life change for 17-year-old Chen Huan'er. Her parents' job relocation forces her to move from the sleepy town of Sishui to the bustling metropolis of Tianhe. As she explores her new surroundings in the hospital's residential compound, a bird flies overhead, leaving an unwelcome "gift" in her hair. It's then that she has her first encounter with Jing Qichi, a sporty guy who's quick to offer her a tissue and a friendly heads-up: they're neighbors now. Before Huan'er can even properly introduce herself, Qichi is off like a shot, seemingly alerted by something.
Huan'er's excitement about starting at Tianhe No. 1 High School is quickly dampened. Her carefully prepared self-introduction speech is cut short by the teacher, emphasizing the intense academic pressure. When the class learns she's from Sishui, they're clueless, except for Jing Qichi, who surprisingly identifies it as the westernmost county. Huan'er can't help but notice him as he promptly tunes out the lesson with his earphones and takes a nap.
Lunchtime reveals another quirk of the school: there's no cafeteria. Her deskmate, Qi Qi, kindly takes her out to buy food. They run into Jing Qichi, who asks Qi Qi to grab him a roujiamo (a kind of meat sandwich). Huan'er, learning that Qichi is the sports committee representative, mutters something about him being "all brawn and no brains." Qi Qi hopes Huan'er, being the new student, might be a study whiz who can help her with the upcoming exam, but it turns out they're both struggling – dead last and second to last, respectively. Jing Qichi, holding his own excellent test paper, teases them, only for all three to be summoned to the principal's office. The twist? Qichi gets praised, while Huan'er and Qi Qi get a lecture.
Huan'er, anxious about her terrible test score, decides to resort to dramatics. She practices crying downstairs before heading home, unaware that Qichi and his friend Song Cong are watching her from above with amusement. Her fake crying fails to impress her mother, Qian Lina, who encourages her instead. Later, Qian Lina takes Huan'er to visit her mentor, Lin Yifan, where Huan'er is surprised to find out that Jing Qichi is Lin Yifan's son. It turns out that Jing Liqiang (Qichi's father) and Huan'er's family have a history. Qian Lina's real motive is to get Qichi to tutor Huan'er. She sends them to the kitchen to wash fruit, where Huan'er does the work while Qichi snacks away. Qichi announces that Huan'er can walk to school with him and Song Cong from now on, much to Qian Lina's delight.
The next morning, Huan'er practically bounces out of bed and startles Song Cong with her overly enthusiastic greeting. Qichi introduces them, then tasks Song Cong with tutoring Huan'er, joking that she helped him escape the bottom rank. The two playfully run ahead, while Song Cong trails behind, munching on a vegetable bun Huan'er brought. At the school gate, they meet Qi Qi, who went to the same middle school as Song Cong, though they weren't close. Qi Qi shares cookies her father sent from abroad, and then Song Cong heads to a different building – he's in the international program.
During an open class, Huan'er is called on to answer a question, but her pronunciation sparks laughter. After school, Qichi heads to an internet cafe to play games, neglecting his tutoring duties and telling Song Cong to handle it, emphasizing Huan'er's poor academic performance. Song Cong, having heard classmates gossiping about Huan'er's accent and calling her a "country bumpkin," patiently helps and encourages her. The next day, Huan'er accidentally takes Song Cong's notebook and rushes to the international program to return it, finding the students there strangely aloof and Song Cong seemingly subdued.
Huan'er overhears two girls from Class 6 gossiping about her in the restroom, using derogatory nicknames and accusing her of trying to flirt with both Qichi and Song Cong. Qichi appears and drives the gossips away. Huan'er tries to act strong but takes their words to heart, starting to distance herself from Song Cong. Qian Lina leaves a note saying she'll be working late and instructs Huan'er to eat dinner at Song Cong's place, but Huan'er lies, claiming she's already eaten. She goes to the track to run off her frustration, and Qichi, finishing his training, realizes she's been affected by the gossip.
