My True Friend Episode 22 Recap
> My True Friend Recap
Hao Meili accompanied Cheng Zhenzhen to view Lawyer Wu's house. Cheng Zhenzhen was very pleased with the property and asked Lawyer Wu for permission to take photos to send to her client, who was out of the country. Lawyer Wu agreed, though she appeared worried as Zhenzhen took pictures. After the viewing, Hao Meili reminded Cheng Zhenzhen that if the transaction went through, there would be no discount on the commission.
Hao Meili explained that she had previously paid a large commission out of her own pocket for a private sale involving a relative, so she needed to recover that loss. Cheng Zhenzhen assured her that she was helping Aunt Bai and Jing Ran find a house, implying the full commission would be paid. She acknowledged their professional relationship, with Hao Meili acting as the agent and Cheng Zhenzhen representing the clients.
Shao Pengcheng approached Xi Shan, inquiring about Fu Xiaoning's whereabouts before asking Xi Shan if a man needed to own a house for a woman to marry him. Xi Shan questioned his motives, but Pengcheng explained he was researching the living needs of white-collar women in the city.
He posed a hypothetical scenario: if a couple deeply loved each other and were about to marry but faced the problem of not having a house and couldn't afford one soon, would she break up or stay and work hard? Xi Shan responded that she would choose love and they could rent a house. Pengcheng commended her for not being swayed by money. He then asked Xi Shan what conditions were associated with renting.
Xi Shan suggested he ask Fu Xiaoning for a man's perspective. When Pengcheng then said he would ask Fu Xiaoning, Xi Shan asked why he'd ask someone else after her. Pengcheng explained he was gathering perspectives from both men and women. Manager Zheng Huimin then intervened, telling Pengcheng to focus on getting business instead of chatting. Meanwhile, Fu Xiaoning was showing a property to a client who was not entirely satisfied with the view from the previous house.
The client also had time constraints for the day. Fu Xiaoning offered an innovative solution, suggesting she could take a look at another house directly from her phone in just two minutes. She demonstrated Anju's 3D tour, which offered a a 360-degree view of the house's interior, making it feel as if the client were actually there. Impressed by this technology, the client agreed to schedule another in-person viewing with her husband at a later date.
Back at the Garden store, Shao Pengcheng continued his research by asking Fu Xiaoning about an ideal rental apartment. He described a hypothetical apartment ranging from 45-80 square meters, fully equipped with appliances, a separate kitchen and bathroom, and a monthly rent between 5000-8000 yuan. The building complex would offer a public library, a gym, and various social gatherings like friend-making events and job fairs.
Crucially, it would include a community daycare and social security payment assistance for residents between jobs. Initially, Fu Xiaoning found the price expensive, and even after hearing the additional benefits, he still thought it was 10-15% too expensive. However, Pengcheng further added that the services would be completely free of charge, covering appliance repairs, with no rent increases or evictions for the first two years, and giving tenants first priority to purchase the house after their lease ended.
Fu Xiaoning, impressed, admitted that if all those services were provided, especially the social security assistance, the price wouldn't be expensive and could "solve many of the problems young adults looking to reside in Shanghai will face in the future." He then questioned if Pengcheng had inside information about such a place. Jing Ran called Cheng Zhenzhen, expressing his satisfaction with the condo listings she sent, especially the last one, noting its good neighborhood, location, and floor plan.
He assured her not to worry about renovations, as he, being a professional, would redesign the interior. During their affectionate phone call, where he also asked about his mother and told Zhenzhen he missed her, his mother, Aunt Bai, overheard. Aunt Bai immediately expressed her impatience for Jing Ran to return home, meet Zhenzhen's family, and finalize their wedding plans, fretting that the longer they waited, especially with Shao Pengcheng near Zhenzhen, the more uncertain things would become.
Jing Ran tried to calm her, promising they were close to buying a condo and that Zhenzhen wouldn't leave. Aunt Bai, however, remained concerned about Shao Pengcheng, noting his hard work might lead to future success despite his current lack of a house or money. Jing Ran reassured his mother, highlighting his own financial stability. He then showed her the pictures of the house Zhenzhen had selected, emphasizing its good qualities.
Although Aunt Bai conceded it looked alright in photos, she insisted on an in-person viewing, still somewhat hesitant about Zhenzhen handling the house search alone due to her youth. Jing Ran reiterated his confidence in Zhenzhen, promising his mother that he and Zhenzhen would ensure her satisfaction. During a work meeting led by Manager Zheng Huimin, Luo Zuer unexpectedly burst in. She claimed to be there to apologize to Manager Zeng because her actions regarding Lin Zhixuan had angered Pengcheng.
However, her apology quickly turned into an explanation, clarifying that she was not truly familiar with Lin Zhixuan, having only met him a few times at a bar. She explicitly stated that what happened between Manager Zeng and Lin Zhixuan was not her fault, as Manager Zeng, being an adult, should have been able to discern a scammer. Manager Zeng calmly agreed that it had nothing to do with Luo Zuer, implying her apology was unnecessary.
Some employees whispered, finding Luo Zuer's timing and manner inappropriate, suggesting she was trying to embarrass the manager. Luo Zuer concluded by stating she had learned her lesson and would no longer bring people she didn't know well to the business or meddle in others' affairs. Just then, Shao Pengcheng arrived and confronted Luo Zuer, questioning her presence and "apology" during the meeting, accusing her of upsetting him by blaming him.
Later, Shao Pengcheng, overhearing Cheng Zhenzhen discussing the house, advised her to be extremely careful when helping someone buy something as expensive as a house, and to be extra cautious when dealing with Hao Meili. Manager Zeng, who had heard Pengcheng's advice, also chimed in, advising caution in work matters while also encouraging Zhenzhen not to blame herself for past incidents and to be both careful and bold.
Cheng Zhenzhen stumbled upon an online news article that labeled Lawyer Wu's house as a "haunted house." Alarmed, she immediately called Hao Meili to inform her that they would not be buying the condo. Hao Meili, initially shocked, received a link from Zhenzhen, which revealed the "horrifying" online rumors about Huadong Blvd 111.
Zhenzhen explained that although she herself didn't believe in ghosts, Aunt Bai's strong belief in feng shui meant she would not live comfortably in a house with such a reputation. Hao Meili, taking responsibility for not researching the neighborhood thoroughly enough, agreed to call Lawyer Wu. As Cheng Zhenzhen left work, she was met by Lawyer Wu, who had just received Hao Meili's call about the canceled transaction.
Lawyer Wu explained that she needed to clarify the rumor and, understanding Zhenzhen's professional obligation to her client, invited her to her home for dinner to discuss the matter further. Lawyer Wu expressed her genuine appreciation for Zhenzhen, saying she wanted to be her friend regardless of the sale. Zhenzhen reluctantly agreed and, upon arriving at the house, noticed three place settings on the dining table, prompting her to ask if another person would be joining them.
Lawyer Wu revealed that the elaborate meal was prepared by her husband. To Zhenzhen's surprise, Li Han, Lawyer Wu's husband, then entered the room, his face severely disfigured. He introduced himself as "the ghost they were telling you about," explaining he had asked his wife to invite her to personally clarify the rumors, as he could no longer hide.
Li Han began recounting the true story: three years prior, he was a scientist leading a synthetic skin project for a biotech company in China, having been recruited from the U. S. One day, despite his strict warnings about dangerous chemicals in the lab, Mr. Gao, a company shareholder, brought European clients for a tour. A female client inadvertently picked up a flammable item, triggering an explosion that severely injured Li Han's face.
After the incident, his company only covered initial medical costs, then dismissed him, blaming him for mismanagement and the company's losses. They claimed they didn't pursue further action only because of his long tenure. His wife, Wu Qing, added that they kept the truth from everyone, including family, by claiming he was working on a project abroad. Li Han, whose face was ruined, stayed hidden at home, leading to the house being dubbed a "haunted house."
One night, feeling bored and hearing children's voices, he ventured outside, only to be seen by two kids who screamed "Monster!" , solidifying the rumors. Wu Qing further explained that they had poured all their savings into Li Han's dream project, forcing them to sell their home to continue their work.
Moved by Li Han and Wu Qing's story, Cheng Zhenzhen promised them she would tell her clients the full truth about the house, hoping they would understand and accept it. Meanwhile, Shao Pengcheng was out distributing surveys for his new project near a school. Zhenzhen sought him out and treated him to skewers, observing that he had become noticeably more serious and mature.
Pengcheng then shared his innovative business model, explaining that he was researching the real needs of renters and the requests of landlords to identify an untapped market. He used the example of a family struggling to buy a condo, suggesting that renting, like many foreigners do happily, could be a better option. He believed that by deeply studying such cases, they could develop new business approaches beyond simply finding houses, focusing on helping specific types of people.
Zhenzhen, though not fully grasping all the details, felt that Pengcheng was genuinely trying to help people and expressed her strong support for his dream, despite the potential obstacles. She jokingly complimented him on finally acting like a graduate from a top university, which he found amusing. Zhenzhen also asked Pengcheng if he had heard about the "haunted house" rumor.
She clarified that it was not actually haunted, explaining that the owner, a doctor with a disfigured face from a lab accident, had been seen by children, leading to the terrifying local rumors. She shared that Lawyer Wu was trying to sell the house for her husband's plastic surgery and, given that the house was now below market price due to the rumors, Zhenzhen expressed her intention to convince her clients to buy it. She promised to assist him whenever he needed her help for his project, to which Pengcheng playfully warned her he would hold her to it.
