Original subtitles

Jackie.

Jackie.

Jackie.

I curse you with filth in every meal.

I curse you to never get what you want.

I curse you to never make a friend.

I curse you to lose what matters most.

I curse you to never escape this hellhole.

See what I can do now, you fat loser.

Organize.

Organization.

You guys are so weird.

I don't want to be here anymore.

Everyone bullies me.

None of that is my fault,

right?

These people are so ugly.

I'll get rid of them for you.

Let's eat lunch together.

Ray, come play ball with us.

Ray.

Ray?

Where'd that traitor Ray go?

Jared.

Want someone to play with?

Lord Jared.

Jared.

Play with us, Jared.

Play with us.

Come and play.

Play with us.

Come on, Lord Jared.

Lord Jared, you're so smart.

Lord Jared.

Play with us.

Lord Jared. Play with us.

Eat lunch together.

Play together.

Corbin.

Some students set a fire again.

Someone's over there.

Thought you could outrun us?

Jackie.

Why were you wearing that?

What's going on out there?

Jackie.

Talk to me, Jackie.

Mom,

there's something wrong with this place.

Weird stuff keeps happening at school.

The people here are terrifying.

They...

I don't want to stay here.

Let's leave right now.

Yes. Right now.

Jackie, what happened to you?

- This place is horrible. - Tell me what happened.

Something bad will happen if we stay here.

I'll retake the exam. Whatever you say.

But for now, let's just get out of here.

But Jackie,

we came here so you could prepare for the retake.

How did you get those bruises?

Did someone bully you?

Tell me who.

I'll have Professor Kang punish them tomorrow.

Are you even listening to me?

I said I want to leave!

Now! Right now! Immediately!

I tried so hard to get you a spot

here at Smart.

And besides,

they just announced

no one

can go outside.

We can't break the rules.

How about...

How about this?

We can talk about it tomorrow, okay?

Come on.

You're injured.

I have the ointment.

Stop rubbing!

That's not a discussion.

You're just making me obey you.

I want to go home!

Jackie...

What happened to you?

You scared me.

What did I do wrong?

Why are you treating me like this?

I've done so much for you.

And did I ask you to do all that?

You never think about how I feel.

If you won't leave, I'll go alone.

So now you're doing what your dad did?!

You know you're all I have left!

I've got nothing else now!

Our home is gone!

We can't go back!

What do you mean?

I sold the house.

Why did you do that?

Why?

To get enough money for you to study here.

Jackie,

I can't let you end up like me.

You can't just muddle through life.

you know?

I...

I've achieved nothing.

I have no friends.

Everyone looks down on me.

You can't be a failure like me.

You're my only hope.

As long as it helps you succeed,

I'll do anything.

You know that?

I'm doing all of this for you.

Do you understand?

I'm doing all of this for you.

At that moment, I finally realized

my future wasn't mine.

It was the life my mom never got to live.

What are you guys doing?

What's going on here?

Why are you bringing people into my school now?

Professor Kang,

it was one of your students who set that fire.

They dropped this.

Impossible.

You've got it wrong.

My student would never do that.

It's your own problem.

We stay out of each other's way.

I don't care what happens outside.

No, it's a problem

for us both.

You can't brush us off.

Who helped you build Smart?

Who made Smart famous?

You'd better find whoever did this.

Or we'll come and grab them ourselves.

Professor,

are you okay?

Have all the homeroom teachers

come to my office.

Got it.

Good morning.

Breakfast's ready.

Get up and eat.

Last night after you fell asleep,

I put ointment on your wounds.

Does it still hurt?

No.

Good.

I didn't mean to yell at you yesterday.

I just want you to understand.

Stop overthinking everything.

Just study hard.

Ace every exam.

Get into med school.

Then we can leave this place, right?

Sorry.

I just want a spot.

Go talk to that girl.

Ask her which class she's in.

Which class are you in?

Hey, which class are you in?

Excuse me.

Thought you could outrun us?

Whose handkerchief is this?

Does anyone know whose it is?

Someone caused a lot of trouble outside school.

They didn't focus on studying.

And they damaged our school's reputation.

If it's someone in our class,

speak up now!

I'm sorry.

No one would recognize it, right?

No, how could they?

Maybe I should tell Mr. Gao everything.

Don't be stupid.

That'll make our class lose points.

Don't worry.

I hid the lunch bag in my backpack.

Students here only care about scores.

They wouldn't even notice if someone died next to them.

So just relax.

You sure it's from our class?

Of course.

Who?

But...

What do I get if I tell you?

Are you really trying to bargain with me?

If the school finds out,

we'll lose more points.

Does anyone else know about this?

No.

Don't tell anyone.

Don't make me look bad in front of Professor Kang.

The Class 9 parent committee is now having a second meeting.

Next week,

the first mock exam is coming up.

It's not just an exam for the kids.

It's also for us.

We must support our kids in every way.

Don't let our behavior

affect their scores.

Ms. Jiang, Jade will

definitely get into the elite class.

Don't forget about us when that happens.

With your and Jade's help,

I'm sure our kids

will do great on the exam.

- Suck-up. - Jade earned it all on her own.

I just helped a little.

We should help each other.

Share ideas.

Find ways to help our kids improve.

Ms. He,

why do you buy groceries here?

We never buy anything from this town.

Don't do that.

They always jack up their prices.

And their stuff's very expensive.

We all drive down the mountain to buy stuff.

A round trip drive takes half a day.

So we buy in bulk every time.

Look, if you need anything,

come talk to me first.

I'll ask around.

See if we can share.

We can help each other.

That way, you won't get ripped off by the local shops.

But I can't keep bothering you.

It's no trouble at all.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I'll go down the mountain to stock up.

I have a question.

Sure, go ahead.

Who's that lady next door to me?

Why is she so...

Arrogant?

Right?

She...

She thinks her kid

is the best in class.

So she started some

elite-student parent committee thing.

That...

That's really just to feed her own ego.

It does nothing to help the kids.

She's totally full of herself.

So far,

I still haven't got a spot for my son yet.

But once he gets into Smart,

she'll know

whose kid is truly the best in the class...

Wait, no,

in the whole school.

No,

of all the students.

The papers for the class.

Pass them out.

The mock exam is next week.

You almost got a great score last time.

Do better this time, okay?

We all have high hopes for you.

I improved

because of your guidance.

Not at all.

You may leave now.

Jade.

She was the kind of beauty people noticed.

She came to Smart not because she's bad,

but because she's not good enough.

Everyone wants to be her.

To get her scores.

To have her looks.

But no one realizes that

the cleaner something is,

the more a single flaw stands out.

It's so disgusting.

Who put a worm in there?

It's still wriggling!

Jared, was it you?

Of course not.

How could it be me?

Hey, new girl,

why aren't you scared?

It must be you, you freak!

You ruined Jackie's lunch. You don't get any either.

Oh, please give it back.

Crazy.

Here. Eat his lunch.

He should pay for his prank.

Serves him right.

I told you to give it back, but you didn't.

Serves you right.

You freak, stop right there!

Jared, are you a five-year-old?

Your pranks make everyone hate you.

Try to make us lose points

and run laps again?

The mock exam's coming.

Fail it if you want.

But don't drag us down with you!

Just you wait.

After the mock exam,

you will all kneel before me.

And I won't care about any of you then.

Jackie,

clean up the floor.

Where's the worm?

I wrapped it up and put it away. It's okay.

What?

Why move her chair?

It was me. I didn't see.

But it was him...

Why keep that grub in your backpack?

That's gross.

You know what it is?

My dad is with these things every day.

Of course I know.

Your dad keeps insects?

Who would keep bugs like that?

Throw that thing away.

No.

What if it gets crushed

and smears all over your bag?

I already wrapped it and put it in my pencil case.

Let's go.

Why do you like such gross creatures?

It's not gross.

Don't let its softness fool you.

It may look like it'd burst with one squeeze.

But later, it'll grow a hard shell to protect itself.

Are you into entomology or something?

Yeah.

Actually, I already got into my dream major,

but my mom wants me to be a doctor.

That's why I'm here.

That makes sense.

Doctors make a lot of money and have high status.

Sounds great.

But that's not the life...

Think about it.

Doctors make tons of money.

When you become one, you can raise any bugs you like.

Your mom can't stop you anymore.

But my mom would probably control me forever.

What about you? What's your dream?

Me...

I wanna be a doctor too.

But with my grades,

maybe in my next life.

Is being a doctor really that great?

As a doctor, you can take care of the people you love.

I want to give my parents the best life possible,

so I have to do well this time.

Hey, ponytail girl.

Come here.

- Come to my place next time. - You, ponytail girl.

My dad's cooking is amazing.

So many people.

How can we find her?

What's wrong?

Get over to the side.

Come on.

Just a few questions.

Where were you during the fog?

Those people chased me in the woods.

I lost the handkerchief.

Jackie,

say you sprained your ankle

and stayed home yesterday.

The handkerchief isn't yours.

Chloe and I will back you up.

Go.

They all look alike. How will we find her?

Hurry up.

Come on.

Come here.

Not you. Go.

What's wrong?

She fell running yesterday and sprained her ankle.

Wait.

Hey!

What?

What?

Checking if she's faking it.

Seriously?

No one could fake an injury this bad.

What's going on?

She said she sprained it while running.

Is that true?

Yes.

She got hurt during the punishment.

- What? - Whatever!

You better tell me

where you were yesterday afternoon.

Or you're staying here.

What now?

She looks just like the girl from yesterday.

Should we report to Professor Kang?

Hold on.

Get lost.

Get lost.

The mayor gave you these.

Why only half?

It's all those students' fault.

Bastards.

That was close.

Liam, since when did you become so friendly?

You two are hiding something.

- No. - No.

Alright then.

I'll leave now.

You take this injured girl home.

See you later.

They're watching.

Keep up the act.

I'll walk you home.

I need to go somewhere first.

Be more careful from now on.

Don't get caught again.

When you grow up,

you'll be free

to go anywhere you want.

Let's go.

It's getting dark.

Mrs. Zhang.

Mrs. Zhang!

Mrs. Zhang!

Mrs. Zhang!

Who is she?

She's Ray's mom.

Ray and I came here together.

My parents couldn't come.

Mrs. Zhang has been taking care of me.

How did she end up like this?

You're better off not knowing.

Can you tell me?

I won't tell anyone.

Stop asking.

Just stay away from the townspeople.

And don't

go near the woods alone.

Ray is really missing.

But I'll find him,

no matter what.

You run that way.

I'll lead them away.

No, let's go together!

Don't worry.

I'll be fine.

Meet you at home.

Go.

Mom.

Give me the fruit.

Give me the fruit!

Happy birthday.

I got you a cake.

Let's celebrate after your evening study, okay?

Celebrate what?

I know it's tough.

But you have to get through it.

Just one more week.

One more week, and you'll get into the elite class.

The day I was born to be a disgrace.

It's nothing worth celebrating.

Thinking about it makes me sick.

Sweetie,

nothing makes me prouder than having you as my daughter.

Get out.

I need to practice.

You're the most beautiful girl.

Everyone admires her beauty.

But only Jun-hong sees her flaws.

He fell in love with

those imperfect parts of Jade.

Misspelled words.

Wrong notes.

Messy hair.

That's what made him fall for her.

Jackie, right?

I'm Jade.

I know you.

Please thank your mom for me.

Her braised chicken legs were amazing.

Okay.

Getting used to here?

Yeah.

For this upcoming mock exam,

give it your all.

Don't waste your parents' sacrifices.

Bad scores mean expulsion.

You won't get another chance.

You guys never sleep?

Parents of waitlisted students, you may start lining up.

Parents of waitlisted students, you may start lining up.

At that time, I thought I just had to study hard.

Be a good student.

A good daughter.

Get through this.

But I was wrong.

You can never escape Smart.

The exam begins now.

Son.

Do your best on the exam.

Do your best.

Do your best.

Do your best on the exam.

Do your best.

Son.

My son.

My son.

Do your best on the exam.

We're getting less and less lately.

Got to save what's left.

This isn't what the mayor promised us.

He's just lying to us.

What can we do?

He has the stuff.

Didn't they say students had some at home?

Where'd they get it?

No idea.

How about we go search for it?

Say we find some, what then?

Then we can grow our own.

You crazy?

If we get caught, the mayor will grow it on us.

Don't say that again.

Vera.

On the first mock exam,

only one of you made the elite class.

- Here it comes. - The list's up now.

Jared.

That can't be.

How could it be him?

Jared?

Did he cheat? Why not Jade?

Jared? No way!

I thought it would be Jade.

No way.

Unbelievable.

How's that possible?