Episode Summary
Gu Xuejiao successfully defends herself against a false accusation and, with Lin Zhihua's help, is allowed back in class under the condition that she must score in the top 100 on an upcoming exam. As their bond deepens over the New Year holiday, her brother, Gu Mingze, gets into trouble when he is caught at an internet cafe by the school's dean.
Spoiler Alert
In the dean's office, Gu Xuejiao calmly dismantles Zhou Shiyun's accusation. She explains that based on the principles of a parabola, if she had been the one to throw the object, the point of impact would have caused Zhou Shiyun to fall in a different direction—not towards Director Fu. Xuejiao adds that the school is covered in security cameras, which could easily reveal who is lying, causing a nervous Zhou Shiyun to falter. To seal her defense, Xuejiao reveals her phone, stating she has recorded the entire defamatory conversation and will pursue legal action for slander. With Director Fu's permission, she leaves the office, with Yi Dafa backing her up.
Later, Lin Zhihua meets with Director Fu, who invites him to give a speech to the third-year students. Lin Zhihua declines, mentioning that he is also facing a suspension from his university classes. After school, Gu Xuejiao's mother, Li Sitong, having heard about the incident from Zhou Shiyun's mother, finds Xuejiao and demands she apologize. Xuejiao stands her ground, insisting she won't apologize for something she didn't do. Zhou Shiyun conveniently walks by and maliciously brings up the night Xuejiao didn't come home, further enraging Li Sitong. Fed up, Xuejiao runs out of the school and hides in a coffee shop to study.
Lin Zhihua finds a dejected Xuejiao at the shop later that evening. Seeing she has lost all the confidence she had while defending herself earlier, he offers to take her to the Peking University playground to clear her head. He proposes a basketball game: if she can make just one basket, he will grant her one request. Xuejiao cleverly fakes giving up, and as soon as Lin Zhihua lets his guard down, she scores a basket. Her wish is for him to plead her case at school, as her suspension is jeopardizing her dream of getting into Peking University. They later lie on the field, gazing at the stars and discussing advanced academic problems, where Xuejiao realizes she still has much to learn from the knowledgeable Lin Zhihua. Their peaceful moment is cut short when a security guard on patrol nearly discovers them, forcing them to make a quick escape before Lin Zhihua takes her home.
The next day, a determined Gu Xuejiao stands outside her classroom to audit the lesson. Having checked the weather forecast, she cleverly wears a raincoat under her clothes to endure the sun, knowing it will rain later. At the same time, Lin Zhihua goes to the dean's office to advocate for her. He brings Director Fu for a walk, showing him Xuejiao's unwavering desire to learn. Moved, Director Fu agrees to reinstate her but with a condition: she must place in the top 100 on the first mock exam. Realizing the immense challenge, Xuejiao rushes to the Summit Cafe to ask Lin Zhihua for help, only for him to present a comprehensive study plan he had already tailor-made for her.
As the New Year approaches, Lin Zhihua's sister, Lin Zhiyue, informs him of her changed plans to go to Hawaii and invites him along. He declines, as he has just received a text from Gu Xuejiao inviting him to her family's celebration. Zhiyue is baffled by how Xuejiao has managed to change her usually cold-blooded brother. On New Year's Eve, Lin Zhihua diligently tutors Xuejiao and her brother, Gu Mingze. While Mingze dozes off, Xuejiao peeks at her phone and is thrilled to see that a stock she bought has soared. The Gu family and Lin Zhihua share a happy meal of dumplings, with Mr. and Mrs. Gu expressing their heartfelt gratitude for his dedicated teaching.
After dinner, Gu Mingze sneaks off to an internet cafe, but he is spotted by a classmate who posts a photo of him online. When Xuejiao and Lin Zhihua see the post, they immediately head to the cafe to bring him home. Unfortunately, Director Fu, who was eating nearby, also sees the photo and heads to the same internet cafe. In a panic, Lin Zhihua intercepts Director Fu in the lobby, stalling him by suddenly agreeing to the speech he had previously rejected. Meanwhile, Xuejiao grabs a doll decoration to hide her face and tries to sneak her brother out, but just as they are about to escape, Director Fu spots Gu Mingze.
