Episode Summary
Tensions between Lin Yingtao and Jiang Qiaoxi flare up over a stray cat, which Yingtao views as a replacement for their shared past, much like she feels replaced by Cen Xiaoman. A series of misunderstandings involving their friends reveals Yingtao's deep-seated jealousy. The episode culminates in a dramatic rainy-day rescue where Yingtao saves the cat but leaves Qiaoxi stuck in a ditch, highlighting her conflicting feelings of anger and concern for him.
Spoiler Alert
Our Generation Episode 5: Jealousy and Misunderstandings
The episode picks up with Cen Xiaoman stopping Lin Yingtao after she leaves the nurse's office. Holding the peanut milk that Jiang Qiaoxi bought for Yingtao, Cen Xiaoman acknowledges that she knows Yingtao and Qiaoxi are childhood friends. She clarifies that she and Qiaoxi are just regular classmates and that anything more will have to wait until after university. Cen Xiaoman then suggests that she and Yingtao should be friends, since a friend of Qiaoxi's is a friend of hers, but Yingtao bluntly rejects the offer, stating she already has enough friends.
Later, while cleaning, Yingtao runs into Qiaoxi, who is visiting a stray cat that he often checks on at school. This infuriates Yingtao, who believes that with the new cat, Qiaoxi will forget about the rabbits back in their hometown of Qunshan. Qiaoxi insists the two are separate—his affection for the cat doesn't change his feelings for the rabbits. However, Yingtao is convinced he's using the cat as a substitute. The argument escalates to the point where Yingtao grabs a rock to throw at him, but Yu Qiao and their friends arrive just in time to stop her. The principal witnesses the commotion and steps in to ask what happened.
After being made to apologize to each other, Yingtao leaves with Yu Qiao. The narrative reveals that ever since Qiaoxi left Qunshan, Yingtao has kept a diary to record her thoughts and feelings, hoping to one day share everything with him. She tried to forget him because she never received any calls or letters, but unbeknownst to her, Qiaoxi had also written many letters. He intended to give them to her in person, but his mother found them and tore them all up.
While Qiaoxi is away for a math competition, he asks Yingtao to look after the cat. Though she verbally refuses, she can't help but check on the cat and bring it food. Meanwhile, Qin Yeyun and friends plan to watch TV at Yu Qiao's house. When she arrives, Yu Qiao's younger brother, Yu Jin, tries to give her a collection of cards he saved from six bags of snacks. After Qin Yeyun takes him into a room to talk, she storms out angrily, leaving Yu Jin in tears, shouting that he doesn't like her anymore. When Yingtao arrives later, she learns what happened and loses her mood for television, realizing why Qin Yeyun was so upset.
Back at her own home, Yingtao finds an unhappy Qin Yeyun waiting for her. Qin Yeyun confronts her about the cat, explaining that she understands Yingtao's true feelings. She astutely points out that the cat represents Cen Xiaoman, while the rabbit symbolizes Yingtao herself. Qin Yeyun says the real reason she was angry earlier was because of Yingtao's obvious jealousy, a claim Yingtao denies.
On a rainy day after school, Yingtao worries about the stray cat and goes to check on it. She finds it trapped in a deep, narrow ditch. She jumps in to rescue the cat but finds herself unable to climb out. Just then, Qiaoxi arrives and jumps down to help her up. However, Yingtao is still angry, feeling that her kindness in caring for the cat was met with his cold sarcasm. Instead of helping him up, she leaves him in the ditch. Walking away, she is overcome with worry and secretly returns to watch, feeling relieved only after she sees him climb out safely on his own.
