Episode 17 recap: An Yan Prepares for Enrollment at No. 14 Middle School
In Episode 17, An Yan arrives at her new school for registration. After introductions, the leadership announces that enrollment will begin this year, prompting a flurry of activity among the staff. With the end of July approaching and the school still disorganized, there’s a pressing need to recruit students without even having allocated spots. An Yan feels the pressure of this policy, but she hopes to negotiate for better conditions, only to be passed around by her superiors.
Later, An Yan and two vice principals tour the school, noting the messy state of the cafeteria and dormitories. They decide to start with cleaning. The school is also short one staff member, and An Yan immediately thinks of Zhang Nan. Zhang Nan, feeling the stress himself, invites An Yan out to unwind. As they enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery, An Yan feels much better. Xiao Fang, who has heard Zhang Nan mention An Yan frequently, volunteers to help at the school.
When An Yan learns that Xiao Fang excels in eSports, she takes him to a gaming center to assess his skills. A group of boastful students believes no one can beat them. Xiao Fang steps up to challenge them, leveraging the opportunity to make some demands. They face off in a series of games, and Xiao Fang easily dominates. As a result, each student who loses must complete an extra page of summer homework.
Afterward, the three of them go to a restaurant owned by Cong Jun Sheng’s sister, where they discover that Xiao Fang cleverly resolved the student issue. During their conversation, Cong Jun Sheng mentions that his brother teaches at He Ping Middle School. An Yan realizes they know each other through this unexpected connection.
An Yan discovers that Xiao Fang is talented in both sports and music, feeling lucky to have him on board. She invites him to propose a plan for character education, although she still needs approval from higher-ups. The next day, An Yan approaches Director Yu to seek approval for Xiao Fang, but she learns that the staff list has already been finalized. Just then, Director Ma arrives and tells An Yan, “Constant effort yields results.”
An Yan makes a special trip to bring breakfast to Director Yu, hoping to discuss the issue of recruiting rural teachers. However, he sees through her intentions and asks her to leave. Director Ma discreetly provides An Yan with information about relocating villages and advises her that Director Yu has many connections and that decisions must come from above. An Yan quickly understands his hint.
An Yan rushes to Director Li to advocate for bringing in rural teachers to support the school. While it is classified as an urban school, relocating teachers from various villages is more complex than from a single rural area, especially since many belong to minority ethnic groups. After hearing her concerns, Director Li promises to give her an answer in three days. Feeling hopeful, An Yan asks to include one more person in the relocation plan.
When Xiao Fang arrives at the school, An Yan encourages him to learn from the two vice principals. However, his trendy appearance raises doubts about his capabilities among the older leaders. As Xiao Fang eagerly heads to the dormitory, he’s taken aback by the dusty, empty space. Meanwhile, the vice principals discuss Xiao Fang, speculating whether he might be a relative of higher-ups because of An Yan’s apparent trust in him.
Cong Jun Sheng visits to see Nuan Nuan and learns that An Yan is busy with school matters, so he waits at home. As Xiao Fang cleans the dormitory, the two vice principals engage in whimsical conversations, pondering Xiao Fang’s potential connections. After lunch, An Yan and Cong Jun Sheng take the kids out to play, noticing how well the children get along. Cong Jun Sheng suggests they get together more often, while An Yan revels in the joy of being with the kids, all the while, Cong Jun Sheng’s gaze never leaves her.
On the first day of school, An Yan and her colleagues hold a simple ceremony, but no students show up. Xiao Fang suggests they showcase their resumes alongside certificates of honor to promote the school, which Principal Wang agrees is a good idea for brand recognition. An Yan and Principal Wang visit a furniture factory to borrow some desks and chairs, but the owner only accepts cash. In a pinch, An Yan offers her ID as collateral to secure some assistance.
Comments(Episode 17)