Episode Summary
Qi Qi's jealousy and feelings of exclusion grow as she sees Chen Huan'er closer with Jing Qichi and Song Cong. Chen Huan'er tries to understand Qi Qi's sudden distance, leading to a confrontation where Qi Qi demands an exclusive friendship. A school trip to the countryside highlights Chen Huan'er's and Song Cong's connection, while Song Cong hides his stomach pain. The episode explores themes of friendship, jealousy, and the challenges of changing relationships.
Spoiler Alert
This episode dives deep into the complexities of teenage friendships and the sting of feeling excluded. Qi Qi witnesses Chen Huan'er, Jing Qichi, and Song Cong, fresh from a scolding by Teacher Xu, joking around on their way back to class. Having heard they were robbed the previous night, Qi Qi's initial concern melts into jealousy and sadness, seeing them so carefree without her.
Chen Huan'er is hurt by Qi Qi's sudden coldness. She confides in her new deskmate, Du Man, but Du Man, focused solely on getting into Beijing University, offers a blunt perspective: she's not there to make friends. When Liao Xinyan tries to recruit Du Man for the cheerleading squad, she's firmly rejected. Du Man states that she dislikes performing. Chen Huan'er steps in, encouraging Liao Xinyan to take the lead herself, diffusing the situation. Du Man later adds that real friends wouldn't drift apart just because of a class change, implying a deeper issue with Qi Qi.
The class celebrates a second-place win with milk tea, further isolating Qi Qi, who watches the group's happy departure. A text from Chen Huan'er inviting her to join goes unanswered. Later, a seemingly random moment with the housekeeper's fruit triggers a realization for Qi Qi. She calls Chen Huan'er, but the sounds of laughter and fun with Jing Qichi and the others on the other end fuel her anger, and she hangs up.
Driven by a need for answers, Chen Huan'er confronts Qi Qi during lunch. She asks if something's wrong, but Qi Qi lays down a harsh truth: they're from different worlds. Qi Qi explains her possessive view of friendship – she wants Chen Huan'er's undivided loyalty, an "all or nothing" approach. She tells Chen Huan'er not to seek her out after class anymore; if they can't be each other's only friend, they're better off as just classmates. Heartbroken, Chen Huan'er returns to class in tears, with Du Man silently offering a tissue.
While Chen Huan'er is down, Song Cong takes a more philosophical approach. He points out that they'll all leave Tianhe eventually, and friendships are often temporary. Jing Qichi disagrees, believing friendships should last a lifetime.
A tutoring session at Song Cong's house turns into dinner at Jing Qichi's when Hao Mei (Song Cong's mother) has to work. They run into Li Tian, who's being chased by his father for poor grades. The group intervenes, and Li Tian is invited to dinner. However, he suspects they're mocking him. Li Tian and Jing Qichi bicker throughout the meal, eventually storming off. Song Cong explains that they're actually close, having grown up together, but Li Tian's father's promotion and the subsequent tutoring overload have created distance.
A new school activity, a trip to the countryside to learn about farming, lifts everyone's spirits. Chen Huan'er, familiar with farm work from her childhood, impresses Song Cong, a moment captured by Jing Qichi's camera. Du Man remains detached, focused on studying. Song Cong's dissection of a chicken and Chen Huan'er's cooking skills lead Jing Qichi and Liao Xinyan to whisper about a potential romance.
After dinner, a game of truth-or-dare is interrupted by Song Cong's frequent bathroom trips, culminating in him retreating to the dorm with stomach pain. Chen Huan'er rushes to find sweet potato roots, known for their soothing properties, with Jing Qichi eagerly assisting. Liao Xinyan teases them about being a good match. Jing Qichi brings a hot water bottle from Liao Xinyan's dorm to Song Cong, but Song Cong, not wanting Chen Huan'er to know about his discomfort, asks them to stay away.
