My True Friend Episode 24 Recap
> My True Friend Recap
Lawyer Wu adamantly refused to return the down payment, claiming her actions were legally sound and contractual. Aunt Bai, infuriated, accused Lawyer Wu of being unreasonable and questioned if she would lose both the house and the deposit. Manager Zeng stepped in, promising to find a satisfactory solution within a day and vouching for Aunt Bai with his reputation. He then urged Cheng Zhenzhen to appease Aunt Bai.
However, Aunt Bai pushed Zhenzhen away and berated Jing Ran for disregarding her advice and buying a "ghost house." Turning to Zhenzhen, Aunt Bai expressed profound disappointment, saying Zhenzhen not only failed to find a good house but also misjudged people. Despite Zhenzhen's tearful apologies, Aunt Bai refused to listen and left in a huff. Jing Ran, after telling Zhenzhen not to worry, went after his mother.
Shao Pengcheng, observing Aunt Bai's angry departure, inferred what had happened and returned to the garden store to comfort a weeping Zhenzhen. He told her crying wouldn't solve anything and encouraged her to think of a solution. Shao Pengcheng analyzed the situation, suggesting that the 500,000 yuan down payment was the target of a scam, and that Lawyer Wu had likely orchestrated a trap.
He pointed out the strange fact that Zhenzhen had visited the house many times without discovering the basement, yet Aunt Bai, who was particular about fengshui, stumbled upon it and was frightened. Shao Pengcheng concluded that Lawyer Wu exploited Zhenzhen's trust by fabricating a tragic love story. Zhenzhen recalled her interactions with Lawyer Wu and her husband, Li Han, and the details of their story about the "haunted house" rumors, realizing it was all a scam.
She resolved to confront Lawyer Wu. Shao Pengcheng then approached Manager Zeng, asking if there was any way to recover the down payment. Manager Zeng explained that only solid evidence of fraud could resolve the issue. Hao Meili added that the situation was complex because Lawyer Wu had disclosed the house's "haunted" reputation, and Zhenzhen had proceeded with the purchase despite this knowledge, making it difficult to prove the seller was at fault.
Shao Pengcheng insinuated that a "very smart person" was behind Lawyer Wu, implying Hao Meili, which angered her. Hao Meili stormed off to confront Lawyer Wu, accusing her and Dr. Li of planning the incident in the basement to swindle the deposit. Lawyer Wu coldly told Hao Meili to mind her own business, emphasizing that her commission wouldn't be affected.
Hao Meili retorted that it was immoral to swindle an elderly woman and demanded the down payment be returned, but Lawyer Wu simply dismissed her. Meanwhile, Cheng Zhenzhen went to the hotel to apologize to Aunt Bai, but Aunt Bai was asleep and unwilling to see her. Zhenzhen decided to wait outside.
Jing Ran, feeling sorry for her, urged Zhenzhen to go home, insisting the house purchase was his decision and not her fault, and that his mother's anger stemmed from his lack of communication. However, Zhenzhen blamed herself for trusting others too easily and providing inaccurate information, believing it led to their predicament. She felt obligated to minimize her client's losses. Jing Ran, amused, reminded her that he wasn't her client and that the house was intended for both of them.
Zhenzhen remained determined to recover the losses, prompting Jing Ran to suggest she quit her real estate job, calling it "hard and thankless" with low pay and no future. He offered to be the sole provider so she could enjoy life. Zhenzhen, citing her principles and her responsibility to rectify her mistake, declined his offer and insisted on seeking justice from Lawyer Wu.
Cheng Zhenzhen confronted Lawyer Wu, directly asking if she and her husband were engaging in a fraudulent scheme to pocket down payments, with the haunted house being merely a ruse. Lawyer Wu denied the accusation and threatened to sue Zhenzhen for slander if she lacked evidence. Zhenzhen reminded Lawyer Wu that despite her legal knowledge, moral principles and conscience should guide her actions, and warned that the law would eventually catch up.
Lawyer Wu, however, dismissed Zhenzhen's "naive life lessons," asserting that no law could alleviate her husband's suffering, and questioned where moral principles were when he was in pain. She reiterated that Zhenzhen had willingly signed the contract after hearing their story, and the law knew no emotions. Lawyer Wu then provocatively suggested that Zhenzhen's best course of action was to convince Jing Ran to buy the house, as it would reveal whether he listened to her or his mother.
Realizing Lawyer Wu was unyielding, Zhenzhen left. Distraught, Zhenzhen called her mother. Her mother initially brought up a potential suitor, but Zhenzhen, overwhelmed, began to cry and asked to borrow 500,000 yuan, explaining it was due to a job-related mistake that she would pay back. Shao Pengcheng, overhearing the conversation, took the phone from Zhenzhen.
He assured her mother that the issue was resolved and not as serious as Zhenzhen made it sound, urging her not to worry or send any money. After hanging up, Shao Pengcheng scolded Zhenzhen for trying to borrow from her parents, reiterating that Aunt Bai's deposit must be returned and that he intended to speak with Lawyer Wu and Dr. Li directly.
Meanwhile, Dr. Li requested Lawyer Wu (Wu Qing) to buy more ingredients for his artificial skin experiment, convinced of impending success. Tearfully, Wu Qing expressed her exhaustion and suggested they tell Aunt Bai the truth, sell the house at a reduced price, and use the money to move to America for his treatment and a fresh start. Dr. Li, however, remained fixated on his research and past grievances, questioning why she would abandon their successful scheme now.
Wu Qing confessed she "couldn't take it anymore" and was troubled by her conscience, influenced by Cheng Zhenzhen's words, and declared her intention to tell Aunt Bai the truth. Dr. Li grew enraged, reminding her of their shared suffering after his disfigurement and accusing her of abandoning him. Wu Qing, frustrated, described him as "crazy and obsessive," lamenting that her leniency might have worsened his condition, and insisted she wasn't leaving him.
Dr. Li misinterpreted her words, believing she was "tired" of him and leaving, causing him to lash out. Unable to bear it any longer, Wu Qing fled the house, leaving Dr. Li alone. Jing Ran repeatedly tried to call Zhenzhen, but she didn't answer. He went to the office and discovered that Manager Zeng and Mu Yunping were also unable to reach Shao Pengcheng.
They learned that Zhenzhen and Shao Pengcheng had gone to Lawyer Wu's house to try and resolve the situation. Concerned for their safety, the three drove to Lawyer Wu's residence. Simultaneously, at Dr. Li's house, he expressed to Zhenzhen and Shao Pengcheng that he had "nothing to live for," as Wu Qing had turned her back on him and he had no funds for his research.
He asked them to tell Wu Qing that he would no longer be a burden and wished her a carefree life, concluding with a declaration of his love for her. Zhenzhen and Shao Pengcheng left. As they drove away, Zhenzhen found Dr. Li's words unsettling. They promptly returned to the house, finding the door ajar. Rushing inside, they searched for Dr. Li and found him in the basement, attempting to commit suicide by cutting his wrist.
