The Promise of Growing Up Together Episode 18 Recap
> The Promise of Growing Up Together Recap
Xia Mi and Zhang Ruoxi were revising the script in the theater. Zhang Ruoxi, exhausted from several days of hard work, struggled to stay focused. Seeing this, Xia Mi played a simple song to lift his spirits. Zhang Ruoxi joked that Xia Mi should transfer some of her energy to him. Xia Mi humorously pretended to "charge" him by pressing their palms together. Zhang Ruoxi smiled and promised to return the energy once his mother was discharged from the hospital.
On the day of the school anniversary performance, Lin Ruolei didn’t show up at school. Xia Mi called her repeatedly but couldn’t get through. Left with no choice, she asked Tian Jiarong and Fan Yuan to lead the singing temporarily. As they prepared for the play, they still couldn’t contact Lin Ruolei. Zhang Ruoxi suggested that Xia Mi replace Lin Ruolei, while he would take over narrating.
However, Xia Mi insisted that Zhang Ruoxi was already busy playing the piano and couldn’t handle the narration as well. Seeing Simin from the broadcasting team moving props, Xia Mi asked her to step in for the narration instead. Meanwhile, Lin Jinlong was retaliating against Lin Ruolei for reporting him. He locked her in a room and took her phone. Lin Ruolei begged him repeatedly, but it was no use. When the performance began, the audience erupted in applause.
Each student gave their best, and even Director Dai, who was usually critical, gave rare praise. Backstage, Xia Mi was still worried about Lin Ruolei. Soon, Lin Jinlong called, demanding money in exchange for releasing her. Xia Mi panicked, but Zhang Ruoxi believed that strength lay in numbers. He organized a group of actors to carry out a rescue plan. Xia Mi, Zhang Ruoxi, and Fan Yuan arrived at Lin Ruolei’s house first.
Lin Jinlong refused to let her go and made some outrageous remarks. Xia Mi began calling for reinforcements. Soon, Liu Dayou arrived, dressed like a street thug, followed by Xiao Junyi, Zhao Rui, and even Wang Xiaoyu and Tian Jiarong, who had disguised themselves as female troublemakers. They threatened Lin Jinlong to release Lin Ruolei.
Still refusing, Lin Jinlong was finally intimidated when Liu Dayou gave the order, and Xiao Junyi and Zhao Rui started smashing beer bottles as if preparing to cause trouble. Scared, Lin Jinlong reluctantly freed Lin Ruolei. Grateful but weak, Lin Ruolei barely spoke before fainting. The group carried Lin Ruolei out of the house and applied a fever patch, which helped her recover slightly. After learning about Lin Ruolei’s struggles, her classmates apologized for misunderstanding her before.
Lin Ruolei asked about the performance, and Wang Xiaoyu explained that Xia Mi had stepped in to play the heroine. A subtle, indescribable emotion flickered in Lin Ruolei’s eyes. Zhang Ruoxi suggested that they all focus on studying to prepare for the upcoming exams. Lin Ruolei proposed they return to their secret base for group study. Zhang Ruoxi, however, mentioned that he’d be busy for a while and likely wouldn’t make it.
As he spoke, his phone rang, and he stepped aside to answer the call. Xia Mi looked concerned, and Fan Yuan followed up with a question to check on Zhang Ruoxi. It turned out to be a real estate agent calling to arrange a meeting with Zhang Ruoxi. Fan Yuan overheard and learned about Zhang Ruoxi’s father preparing to sell the company.
Zhang Ruoxi asked Fan Yuan to keep this a secret, especially from Xia Mi, promising to tell her everything once things were settled. That evening, Zhang Ruoxi signed a contract with the agent to sell their house. When he returned home, his father, drunk, mumbled that he could resolve the financial crisis. As Zhang Ruoxi poured water in the kitchen, he saw his father crying at the table. It was clear the family had hit rock bottom.
On the weekend, Fan Yuan overheard his parents discussing lending money to Zhang Ruoxi’s family. Zhang Ruoxi’s father’s company had fallen victim to a financial scam, and they had already hired a lawyer to help. When Fan Yuan tried to ask more questions, his parents told him to focus on his studies and prepare for studying abroad. However, Fan Yuan expressed a desire to delay his departure until the summer. Zhang Ruoxi went to meet Xia Mi outside her apartment.
Xia Mi had guessed that something had happened to Zhang Ruoxi’s family, but since he didn’t want to talk about it, she didn’t press him. Instead, she gave him an origami star to encourage him and boost his confidence. She also promised to work with him to prepare for applying to film school.
Related Posts
