Episode Summary
In this episode, Gu Xuejiao uncovers her best friend's betrayal while dealing with a family crisis involving her father's health. To secure tutoring from the brilliant but guilt-ridden Lin Zhihua, she cleverly leverages school heartthrob Yi Tianyu's popularity to gather rare study materials. The episode culminates in an unexpected lock-in at a coffee shop, where Xuejiao's academic determination begins to impress Lin Zhihua, leading to a surprise encounter with his sister.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Gu Xuejiao's brother, Gu Mingze, helping her hide her poor grades from their mother. During their conversation, he brings up her relationship with Yi Tianyu, leaving Xuejiao puzzled as to how he knows so much about her school life. With a little prodding, Mingze admits that her supposed best friend, Zhou Shiyun, is his informant.Having been reborn, Xuejiao now understands that Shiyun, whom she once trusted, is actually deeply jealous of her.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shiyun, feeling the pressure from her own mother, hatches a plan to distract Xuejiao from her studies. She gifts Xuejiao an electronic dictionary, sneakily pre-loaded with popular novels. However, her plan backfires spectacularly when Xuejiao ignores the novels and instead uses the device to diligently study English vocabulary, leaving Shiyun fuming.
The drama escalates at home when their father, Lao Gu, returns after being laid off from his factory. He is furious with Xuejiao for secretly changing an intention form. As he's about to discipline her, a news report announces the bankruptcy of the Yano Company, the main client of his former employer.The shock of the news, coupled with his anger, causes him to collapse from a sudden spike in high blood pressure.
At the hospital, while her father recovers, Mingze questions Xuejiao about her recent uncanny behavior, almost as if she can predict the future.Before she can explain, she spots the top student, Lin Zhihua, and follows him. She discovers him in a room with an unconscious student named Gao Rui. It turns out Gao Rui had an accident due to a minor mistake by Lin Zhihua, who is now consumed by guilt. A teacher suggests that to make amends, Lin Zhihua could take over Gao Rui's many part-time jobs. Seizing the opportunity, Xuejiao offers to help him with his tasks if he agrees to tutor her. He gives her a list of rare study materials she must find before they can begin.
Xuejiao's search for the materials proves difficult. Her brother is no help, and she even catches him stealing their father's emergency cash from his shoe. Back at school, she's no longer the bubbly cheerleader fawning over Yi Tianyu. When he tries to get her attention by throwing a basketball at her, he accidentally hits her friend Sun Tiantian instead. Witnessing Yi Tianyu's immense popularity with other girls, Xuejiao devises a brilliant marketing scheme: she creates a fan group chat, sharing updates about him in exchange for the hard-to-find study materials she needs.
Later, Xuejiao and Sun Tiantian come to the aid of their classmate Liu Xuewei, who is being harassed by Chen Xiao. In gratitude, Liu Xuewei lends her some of the necessary review materials. Unbeknownst to them, Zhou Shiyun secretly records the confrontation.
With all the materials finally collected, Xuejiao meets Lin Zhihua at a coffee shop. He starts with a diagnostic test, which she fails miserably. He bluntly tells her she isn't cut out for studying and should just give up.Undeterred, Xuejiao stays in a corner of the cafe, determinedly working through problems even as Lin Zhihua prepares to close for the night. Impressed by her persistence, he points out a simpler solution for a problem she's stuck on. Just then, they realize they've been locked inside the shop.
While they are trapped, Gu Mingze covers for his sister at home, fooling their mother into thinking she's asleep. He texts Xuejiao, who lies and says she's studying at Zhou Shiyun's house. Deciding to make the most of the situation, Xuejiao turns off her phone to focus completely on her work.
After finishing her problems, she finds Lin Zhihua has fallen asleep. She curiously picks up his phone and is shocked to see he only has five contacts. In a clumsy attempt to expand his social circle, she accidentally deletes them all. A nightmare about Gao Rui's accident wakes Lin Zhihua up. He sees her completed work and gives her a look of genuine admiration. Suddenly, the lock on the door clicks open. Thinking it's a ghost, Xuejiao grabs a stool to defend them, but Lin Zhihua stops her, introducing the newcomer as his sister, Lin Zhiyue.
