My True Friend Episode 34 Recap
> My True Friend Recap
Mei Li gossiped to a colleague, stating she saw Cheng Zhenzhen, Mu Yunping, and his son, Mu Mu, together, looking like a family of three. Mei Li claimed Cheng Zhenzhen appears simple but is actually manipulative, always getting close to influential men and climbing the social ladder, even "bewitching" Jing Ran. The Store Manager scolded Mei Li for gossiping and instructed her to input client information.
Unrepentant, Mei Li later used photos she had taken of Cheng Zhenzhen, Shao Pengcheng, and Mu Yunping to write an article for a gossip WeChat Official Account, portraying Cheng Zhenzhen as a calculating woman who climbed the ranks by seducing powerful men. Later that evening, Mu Yunping visited the Store Manager, Hui Min, to discuss the incident outside the bar a few days prior.
Hui Min downplayed it, suggesting the time, place, and mood had all aligned for a fun night, and he shouldn't overthink it. Mu Yunping admitted he had "different thoughts" and asked to speak in her car. There, he sincerely apologized for leaving her abruptly that night, explaining that Mu Mu had a fever and he was too anxious to consider her feelings. He confessed that he had waited and thought for a long time, realizing he had fallen for her.
He described noticing her warm and kind heart beneath a seemingly stone-cold exterior, recounting how she patiently listened to his troubles at the bar and offered comfort when his project was terminated. Despite his feelings, he expressed insecurity, being in his forties, divorced with a child, and unsure if he could bring her happiness.
Hui Min reassured him, stating she had known about his divorce and child from their first meeting and that her actions had already shown she didn't mind. Relieved, Mu Yunping admitted he had overthought things and then asked Hui Min if she was willing to try moving forward with him. She smiled and nodded in agreement. Shao Pengcheng accompanied Cheng Zhenzhen to a photoshoot for her Big Love City spokesperson campaign, observing her confident poses with increasing satisfaction.
An assistant then handed Shao Pengcheng a phone displaying an article critical of Cheng Zhenzhen. At the same time, Cheng Zhenzhen received a phone call from Xi Shan, who urgently informed her about the article on the WeChat Official Accounts Platform. Xi Shan explained it called Cheng Zhenzhen a "sugar baby" and mentioned her alleged relationships with Jing Ran, Director Mu, and Shao Pengcheng, whom the article identified as the son of Love & Family's Chairman.
Cheng Zhenzhen initially dismissed this as impossible, but Xi Shan insisted on its plausibility, stating that even Fu Xiao Ning believed it. Xi Shan considered the article slanderous and urged Cheng Zhenzhen to explain herself to the leadership and uncover who was behind it. She also sent the article to Cheng Zhenzhen via WeChat, asking her to remain calm and assuring her that she, Fu Xiao Ning, and the Store Manager all believed in her.
Reading the article and recalling previous instances where Shao Pengcheng had made excuses about his "sick father" and being called "Young Master Shao," Cheng Zhenzhen realized he had been hiding his true identity. She confronted Shao Pengcheng, demanding to know the truth about his father. Shao Pengcheng tried to defer the explanation, admitting he had lied initially and hadn't found a chance to explain since.
Cheng Zhenzhen grew furious, tearfully asking why he hadn't told her directly and accusing him of not trusting her. During this confrontation, Cheng Zhenzhen received a call from the Store Manager, who regretfully informed her that the head office had decided to suspend her spokesperson duties and instructed her to return to the branch immediately for temporary leave processing. Shao Pengcheng protested, calling it slander, but the Store Manager explained it was a direct order from headquarters.
Shao Pengcheng offered to accompany Cheng Zhenzhen to the head office, but she refused, asserting that she would handle the matter herself. At a board of directors meeting concerning the negative publicity surrounding the Big Love City project, board members expressed their displeasure regarding Cheng Zhenzhen, fearing the incident would impact the company and the Big Love City project. Chairman Shao initially downplayed the article as trivial gossip, advocating for crisis management rather than punishing employees.
One director then recalled Shao Pengcheng initially proposing Cheng Zhenzhen as spokesperson and Jing Ran's objection at the time, claiming she was his fiancée about to resign for marriage. Now, with Mu Yunping also implicated, the director found the situation suspicious. Another board member remarked that appearances can be deceiving. The meeting officially addressed the negative news affecting the spokesperson, project head, Mu Yunping, and Jing Ran.
Mu Yunping vouched for his integrity, stating that his relationship with Cheng Zhenzhen was strictly professional and that the article was untrue, suggesting it was sabotage by a competitor. However, a board member noted that the photos of the three men with Cheng Zhenzhen were widespread online, and public opinion was difficult to sway.
He revealed a fund had already pulled its investment and suggested that the company's priority should be to manage public perception, recommending that Cheng Zhenzhen be removed as spokesperson and issue a public apology. He pressed Mu Yunping on the relationships between Cheng Zhenzhen, Shao Pengcheng, and Jing Ran, to which Mu Yunping could only vouch for himself. Cheng Zhenzhen returned to the store and apologized to the Store Manager for causing trouble.
The Store Manager reassured her, stating she knew Cheng Zhenzhen's character, believed in her innocence, and expected the head office to clear her name after an investigation. Cheng Zhenzhen, maintaining a clear conscience, accepted the temporary suspension as a break and arranged to transfer her current cases to Fu Xiao Ning and Xi Shan. Other colleagues voiced their support, suspecting jealousy from a competitor.
However, one colleague blamed Cheng Zhenzhen for being "too careless," leading to harm for the company and the project. Cheng Zhenzhen reiterated her belief that the truth would eventually emerge. Meanwhile, at the board meeting, Jing Ran burst in, urging Chairman Shao to act quickly. He asserted that Cheng Zhenzhen was taking the initiative to resign and claimed he had already submitted her resignation, demanding an immediate official reply.
Shao Pengcheng vehemently disagreed, accusing Jing Ran of imposing his wishes on Cheng Zhenzhen, who had no intention of resigning. A board member attempted to calm Shao Pengcheng, explaining that temporarily removing Cheng Zhenzhen was an emergency measure for the company and also served to protect him and Jing Ran. Shao Pengcheng rejected this, passionately arguing that everyone present knew Cheng Zhenzhen was innocent and accusing them of sacrificing her to protect the project.
Jing Ran then blamed Shao Pengcheng for Cheng Zhenzhen's predicament and insisted that she must resign and marry him immediately to quash the rumors. Shao Pengcheng dismissed Jing Ran's proposal, stating Cheng Zhenzhen was innocent and wouldn't marry him, telling Jing Ran not to interfere in their lives. After Jing Ran reiterated his demand for a reply on Cheng Zhenzhen's resignation and left, board members criticized Shao Pengcheng's recklessness and lack of concern for the company's overall situation.
Shao Pengcheng defiantly declared he wouldn't be "mature," disagreed with everyone, and proclaimed he would resolve Cheng Zhenzhen's matter himself. As he turned to leave, Chairman Shao suddenly collapsed from a heart attack, prompting Mu Yunping to quickly call for an ambulance. At the hospital, Dr. Zhong informed Shao Pengcheng that Chairman Shao was temporarily out of danger but had suffered a spike in blood pressure due to sudden agitation and exhaustion.
Dr. Zhong advised Shao Pengcheng not to upset his father again. Privately, Chairman Shao instructed Dr. Zhong not to reveal the full extent of his illness, wanting to spare Shao Pengcheng worry and allow him to pursue his career without concerns. Later, Luo Zu'er arrived at the Flower Garden store, looking for Shao Pengcheng, and then confronted Cheng Zhenzhen. Luo Zu'er accused Cheng Zhenzhen of being a "jinx" who caused trouble for Shao Pengcheng due to her indiscreet behavior.
Xi Shan defended Cheng Zhenzhen, suggesting the rumors were fabricated by someone jealous and familiar with Shao Pengcheng's background. Luo Zu'er denied writing the article or harming "my Cheng Cheng," then told Cheng Zhenzhen to keep her distance from Shao Pengcheng, as he was destined to inherit Love & Family. Cheng Zhenzhen angrily retorted that Luo Zu'er should keep a better eye on Shao Pengcheng so he wouldn't "run around bringing trouble to people," and then stormed out.
Xi Shan followed, trying to comfort Cheng Zhenzhen and suggesting Shao Pengcheng might have had reasons for hiding his identity. Cheng Zhenzhen, however, was distraught, recalling Shao Pengcheng's lies about his family's bankruptcy and his father's illness. She expressed her deep disappointment, having trusted him implicitly, and now realizing he had never trusted her in return.
Xi Shan gently reminded Cheng Zhenzhen of Shao Pengcheng's unwavering support and care, then empathized by sharing her own insecurities about Fu Xiao Ning and Luo Zu'er, admitting her jealousy and fear of losing him. Cheng Zhenzhen advised Xi Shan to work through her issues with Fu Xiao Ning rather than throwing tantrums. Soon after, Fu Xiao Ning approached Xi Shan, profusely apologizing and promising not to engage in house-flipping with Luo Zu'er, asserting their relationship was purely professional.
He claimed to have realized his mistake after overhearing Xi Shan's conversation with Cheng Zhenzhen, expressing his enduring love for Xi Shan and his past actions being for her benefit. He presented her with a cake to apologize for making her sad. Xi Shan, however, questioned his sincerity, recalling his past pattern of saying one thing and doing another. Fu Xiao Ning explained his drive to earn money and buy her a house.
Xi Shan then confessed her own feelings of inferiority and jealousy whenever she saw him with Luo Zu'er, admitting her fear of losing him caused her to constantly suspect him. Fu Xiao Ning reassured her, calling her "absolutely the best girl in my whole life" and promising to be with her for the rest of his life. They reconciled and went home together. Meanwhile, Mei Li invited her friends out for drinks and singing.
Her friends, aware of the scandal at the Flower Garden agency involving Cheng Zhenzhen, suspected Mei Li's involvement given her unusual generosity. When questioned about Cheng Zhenzhen, Mei Li became agitated, denying any guilt and accusing her friends of gossiping and being jealous. The argument escalated, with Mei Li expressing her frustration at being wronged while trying to treat her friends, asking if they were truly her friends.
