Episode 26 recap: Zhang Jun proposed to Luo Qi Qi to end their friendship.
Luo Qi Qi was teaching Zhang Jun in the library when Chen Wentao, the top-ranked student in their grade, and his classmates mocked Luo Qi Qi, considering her to be nothing more than a short-lived dark horse who would soon return to mediocrity. Their tone was full of disdain for the girl. Zhang Jun became very angry and was about to confront Chen Wentao when Luo Qi Qi held him back. Zhang Jun defended Luo Qi Qi, and she was touched by his actions. However, she didn't want Zhang Jun to get into trouble because of this, so she asked him to take a break in the afternoon, and they went to Zhang Jun's house to play games together.
Zhang Jun and Ma Li hadn't interacted for a long time. One day, Zhang Jun received a message from Ma Li, who knew that it was Zhang Jun's birthday the next day. Ma Li brought a lot of dishes to his doorstep. When Zhang Jun saw Ma Li, he smiled and let go of their past grievances, returning to their previous way of getting along without any reservation. They were very natural and happy.
Luo Qi Qi bought a birthday cake for Zhang Jun, who placed Luo Qi Qi in the most important position in his heart. He insisted on eating the cake first, and the three of them sang a birthday song together, happily accompanying Zhang Jun through his birthday. Chen Wentao was a petty person and went to the teacher to tell on Zhang Jun, claiming that Zhang Jun not only threatened him but also hit him.
The teacher scolded Zhang Jun severely. Zhang Jun argued for himself, but the teacher refused to believe him and mocked him, saying that his grades were so poor that he was not qualified to play with Luo Qi Qi. Zhang Jun didn't want to be wrongly accused, so he simply went and hit Chen Wentao, resulting in a one-week suspension from school.
Luo Qi Qi was aware of everything that happened that day, and she knew that Zhang Jun had been wronged. She encouraged Zhang Jun to continue working hard in his studies while she took revenge on Chen Wentao. She went to the teacher and falsely accused Chen Wentao of hitting her, making him taste the bitterness of being falsely accused. Chen Wentao knew that Luo Qi Qi did it on purpose, but he had no way to prove his innocence. Not only did Luo Qi Qi want Chen Wentao to experience what it felt like to be wrongly accused like Zhang Jun, but she also aimed to surpass him and take the top spot in the grade.
Today, Zhang Jun returned to class. He glanced through the door of Class Four and saw Luo Qi Qi discussing problems with her classmates. A smile appeared on his face, and he turned back to his own class. When he learned that Luo Qi Qi had avenged him and made a bet with Chen Wentao for the top spot, he immediately packed his things and left because he felt that his pride as a boy had been constantly eroded.
Xu Xiaobo has been studying in the bookstore lately. The owner noticed his diligence and the number of books he purchased, so he allowed Xu Xiaobo to read other books, which provided great convenience for him. Xu Xiaobo was extremely grateful. Zhang Jun also came to the bookstore to buy books, and Xu Xiaobo asked him to chat for a moment. He told Zhang Jun that Luo Qi Qi had decided not to go to Beijing for him. Xu Xiaobo hoped that Luo Qi Qi wouldn't do something she would regret. Zhang Jun was shocked to hear this. He didn't want to be a burden to Luo Qi Qi's progress. He started studying harder, but his level still couldn't catch up with Luo Qi Qi's. It was difficult for him to produce a satisfactory answer within the given time.
Thinking about Luo Qi Qi's determination and upward spirit, Zhang Jun forced himself to work hard. However, as time passed, it became even more challenging for him to perform well. This left him feeling frustrated, and he found himself lying on the desk, feeling upset. The next day, Zhang Jun asked Xu Xiaobo to deliver his notebook to Luo Qi Qi and also invited her to hang out together. The two of them stopped under the bridge where they used to spend time. Zhang Jun gave Luo Qi Qi all the precious stones he had collected over the years in one breath, which made Luo Qi Qi feel uneasy because she remembered Zhang Jun saying he would give her one every year.
Avoiding eye contact with Luo Qi Qi, Zhang Jun stuffed all the stones into her backpack without saying a word. They had one last competition to see who could ride a bike faster. That night, Luo Qi Qi took great care in writing a practice book for Zhang Jun. However, the next day, she discovered that Zhang Jun was intentionally keeping his distance from her. Although Luo Qi Qi had a premonition, she felt puzzled and unwilling. Little did she know that Zhang Jun had already written a letter for her to be delivered.
After receiving the letter, Luo Qi Qi hastily put it in her backpack and took it home. That evening, she couldn't focus on eating and felt restless while studying. She made an excuse and left home, summoning up the courage to read Zhang Jun's letter. In the letter, she learned that Zhang Jun had initially wanted to be someone who could protect her, but he realized that she had already grown up and was so outstanding that he couldn't help but look up to her. Therefore, Zhang Jun made the painful decision to end their friendship.
Luo Qi Qi's heart twisted in pain, and she couldn't help but crouch down, giving herself a moment to recover. Eventually, she accepted this truth. Zhang Jun was also deeply saddened, but he couldn't let Luo Qi Qi stay in Hannan because of him. With Luo Qi Qi's excellence, she deserved a better future. So he could only painfully let go and choose to end their friendship.
Qiqi's stars were filled with love for Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun didn't know about it until ten years later when Guan He revealed it to him. Guan He is truly cunning, even keeping the necklace for herself.
Qiqi had it tough. She treated Guan He as a reliable and supportive friend, but ended up being betrayed and isolated, inexplicably forced to leave. Only she knows how much she cares about Zhang Jun.
He was a part of her future plans, from wanting him to study hard and get into a good university to even knowing about his pen incident. She pretended not to care at first, but from Qiqi's perspective, Zhang Jun also inexplicably left.
How heartbroken she must have been. Sleeping in class every day became her outlet, something that might not be understood by others.