My True Friend Episode 4 Recap
> My True Friend Recap
Shao Pengcheng escorted Feng Zuer to Aunt Bai's house for a viewing. Before they entered, Shao Pengcheng reminded Feng Zuer to simply look at the house, avoid talking too much, and refrain from touching him. Feng Zuer, however, repeatedly ignored him. Upon their arrival, Cheng Zhenzhen introduced Shao Pengcheng as her coworker, explaining they were both responsible for the house. Feng Zuer immediately questioned Shao Pengcheng, asking if he was working because of Cheng Zhenzhen.
Aunt Bai observed Feng Zuer's behavior, which she found impolite, and discreetly told Cheng Zhenzhen she didn't believe a deal would be made that day. Cheng Zhenzhen assured her they would try their best. As they toured the house, Feng Zuer continued to touch items and pull at Shao Pengcheng, who became visibly annoyed.
Shao Pengcheng tried to caution her, explaining that buying a house was a significant decision, unlike purchasing a purse, and asked if she was truly capable of such a decision. Feng Zuer confidently asserted her ability to make her own choices, claiming she would spend any amount of money for him. She then questioned Aunt Bai about the house's ownership and her deceased husband's approval, which Cheng Zhenzhen found disrespectful.
Aunt Bai clarified that the house was in her son's name, so any matters should be discussed with him. During a phone call from her son, Aunt Bai mentioned the agents and a young prospective buyer. Feng Zuer leaned in to whisper to Shao Pengcheng, asking if a successful transaction would allow him to leave the agency, to which he nodded.
Without waiting for Aunt Bai to finish her conversation, Feng Zuer snatched the phone and told Aunt Bai's son that she wanted the house and proposed signing the contract in three days. Shao Pengcheng attempted once more to advise Feng Zuer against making such a hasty decision, reminding her that the down payment was non-refundable and she should consult her parents. Feng Zuer dismissed his concerns.
Later, at the Flower Garden store, Feng Zuer reviewed the contract and insisted on adding a clause. She criticized the standard clauses as "despotic" and aimed at the buyer (Party A). Despite Cheng Zhenzhen's explanation that they were standard, Feng Zuer dictated a new clause: if the buyer's physical or mental health was harmed by the seller's behavior, or if the seller failed to disclose significant house issues, the buyer could unilaterally terminate the agreement without compensation.
Shao Pengcheng interjected, stating Feng Zuer's current behavior was harming his mental and physical health. Feng Zuer then tried to curry favor with Shao Pengcheng, declaring that only he would receive the commission if she bought the house. Cheng Zhenzhen reluctantly agreed to add the clause, and Feng Zuer urged her to do so quickly, reminding her of Shao Pengcheng's desire to leave the agency.
Meanwhile, Hao Mei Li expressed surprise that Feng Zuer was buying a house so impulsively, likening it to buying bok choy, and questioned her obsession with Shao Pengcheng. After Feng Zuer left, Shao Pengcheng suggested to Cheng Zhenzhen that they return to Zhou Lifeng's house that night to continue investigating the strange noises. Cheng Zhenzhen, although sensing his ulterior motives, agreed. That night, Shao Pengcheng and Cheng Zhenzhen were in Zhou Lifeng's house.
Shao Pengcheng claimed to be hungry and asked Cheng Zhenzhen to make him an instant hot pot, which she refused. He then feigned fear, attempting to scare her, but she called him childish. Suddenly, the power went out. Shao Pengcheng, genuinely scared, asked Cheng Zhenzhen if she wasn't frightened. He then claimed to hear noises. Cheng Zhenzhen, still skeptical, told him to stop pretending. However, they both distinctly heard a sound.
Shao Pengcheng panicked, but Cheng Zhenzhen, taking charge, went to investigate. She pinpointed the source in the backyard and asked Shao Pengcheng for help to move a brick. He hesitated, suggesting they wait until daylight, but Cheng Zhenzhen insisted. After some effort, she uncovered the source. The next morning, Cheng Zhenzhen revealed the mystery to Aunt Liu, Kang Ni, and Zhou Lifeng.
She explained that the "crying baby" sounds were caused by catfish living in the sewer system of the old tube-shaped apartment. She detailed how fish could enter through drains and, as they grew, their sounds, combined with wind and underground vibrations, could mimic a child's cry. Zhou Lifeng admitted they had all been fooled. Cheng Zhenzhen and Kang Ni urged Aunt Liu to keep the house, emphasizing that the problem was solved and a house with fish was considered lucky.
Aunt Liu then humorously offered to cook the catfish. Their relief was short-lived as a property manager arrived, scolding them for the early morning noise complaints from neighbors and criticizing renters for causing trouble. Zhou Lifeng, angered, declared the house was his and he could do as he pleased. The manager scoffed, stating he knew the owner, a famous surgeon, and had seen Zhou Lifeng moving in just a few months prior, confirming he was merely a renter.
A neighbor also corroborated this. Aunt Liu glared at Zhou Lifeng, furious that he had lied to her. She chastised him for deceiving her before marriage, wondering what further lies he would tell as her son-in-law. Aunt Liu explained her and her late husband's sacrifices, moving away from Shanghai for work, and their hope that Kang Ni would marry a well-off local man to secure a better life in Shanghai.
She accused Zhou Lifeng of shattering their dreams with his deception. Kang Ni intervened, reminding her mother of her own choice to follow her father far away for love. Aunt Liu retorted that her own suffering made her determined for Kang Ni to avoid a similar fate. Zhou Lifeng, in despair, presented Aunt Liu with his bank card, containing his entire savings of over one million yuan, offering it to Kang Ni regardless of whether she agreed to their marriage.
He professed his deep love for Kang Ni and his reliance on her encouragement. Kang Ni tearfully pleaded with her mother to accept Zhou Lifeng. Aunt Liu, however, remained steadfast, stating she didn't want her daughter to "jump into a fire pit." She then ordered Zhou Lifeng to leave. Kang Ni urged Zhou Lifeng to leave first, promising to speak to her mother again. At the Flower Garden store, Cheng Zhenzhen and Shao Pengcheng discussed a solution for Zhou Lifeng.
Shao Pengcheng, boasting of his Ivy League education, calculated that the house, valued at 3. 7 million yuan, would require a down payment of approximately 1. 5 million yuan, including taxes and fees, which Zhou Lifeng, with his 1. 1 million yuan savings, couldn't afford. Shao Pengcheng then realized the house owner was in Belgium and suggested calling him immediately, as it was 2 p. m. there. Cheng Zhenzhen successfully contacted the owner, Mr. Xu WeiHan.
The next day, Aunt Liu and Kang Ni arrived at the store, followed shortly by Zhou Lifeng. Cheng Zhenzhen informed Aunt Liu that the landlord had agreed to sell the house for 3. 7 million yuan, allowing a 30% down payment and a mortgage for the remainder. She added that the landlord, understanding their situation, was willing to defer the remaining 500,000 yuan of the down payment over three years.
Aunt Liu was skeptical, calling it a debt-ridden plan that would burden Kang Ni. Zhou Lifeng quickly interjected, promising the property deed would be solely in Kang Ni's name and he would sign a document taking sole responsibility for all house debts, offering to get it notarized. Aunt Liu still refused, fearing a future divorce if he couldn't pay. Kang Ni and Zhou Lifeng knelt before her, begging for her consent.
Kang Ni then revealed she was two months pregnant, vowing to have the child even as an unmarried mother if her mother refused. She described the immense difficulties of raising a child alone and asked if marrying Zhou Lifeng wasn't the better option. Aunt Liu, seeing their desperation, finally relented, though she warned Kang Ni not to blame her if she suffered later. Kang Ni thanked her mother, who tenderly called her a "foolish child."
Aunt Liu then advised them to rent the house for now instead of buying, saving the money for raising the child. Zhou Lifeng expressed his gratitude. Zeng Huimin praised Cheng Zhenzhen and Shao Pengcheng for resolving the family conflict and facilitating a happy union, even though the house sale didn't proceed. Shao Pengcheng, however, suggested their efforts deserved more than just verbal praise.
Zeng Huimin dismissed his request for a cash reward but reminded both of them that if they didn't successfully complete a transaction by month's end, they would face salary deductions. Shao Pengcheng quickly claimed that Mrs. Bai's house, for which his friend Feng Zuer had already signed a "Letter of Intent," would be settled the next day.
Zeng Huimin questioned the reliability of his "young girlfriend," to which Shao Pengcheng denied she was his girlfriend, calling her an "ordinary friend," and told Zeng Huimin to wait and see. Later, while having afternoon tea, Cheng Zhenzhen returned Shao Pengcheng's mother's lost diary, explaining she had put significant effort into finding it. Shao Pengcheng was overjoyed and reciprocated by saying their past grievances were cleared.
Cheng Zhenzhen playfully teased him about Feng Zuer, suggesting they were childhood sweethearts and suited each other, especially given his current circumstances. Shao Pengcheng, annoyed, defended himself, questioning her taste and asserting his handsomeness. Cheng Zhenzhen then shared that the previous renter had used the tourism guide in his mother's diary for their travels and found many interesting underwater sites. He thanked her, and they both agreed they no longer owed each other anything.
Meanwhile, Aunt Bai, still contemplating the house sale, reviewed the contract, paying close attention to the unilateral termination clause Feng Zuer had insisted upon. She then called Feng Zuer, first feigning sentimentality about selling her long-time home, then subtly revealing that a Feng Shui master had once appraised the house and instructed her to plant a "Feng Shui tree" in the courtyard to ward off "marriage evil spirits."
Feng Zuer grew visibly alarmed, repeating the phrase "not conducive to a happy marriage." Aunt Bai dismissed it as an old belief young people wouldn't care about but emphasized the Chinese saying, "If you believe it, it's true. If you don't believe it, it's not." Feng Zuer, thoroughly spooked, rushed to Aunt Bai's house. Upon Feng Zuer's arrival, Aunt Bai pointed out the "Feng Shui tree," exaggerating its power to ward off "hindered happy marriage."
She then showed Feng Zuer a family photo and recounted a fabricated tale: her husband, a healthy man, had contracted liver cancer and died shortly after they moved into the house. She added that her outstanding 30-year-old son still couldn't find a girlfriend. Aunt Bai then sarcastically assured Feng Zuer that with the Feng Shui tree, everything would bring "big luck." Petrified, Feng Zuer quickly made her excuses and fled the house. Aunt Bai watched her leave, gloating, "Success, success."
The next day, Feng Zuer refused to leave her house, telling her mother to tell anyone looking for her that she was not home. She realized she couldn't avoid Shao Pengcheng indefinitely and called "Lawyer Zhang" for help. That afternoon, Aunt Bai arrived at the Flower Garden store for the contract signing, accompanied by her son. Cheng Zhenzhen was stunned to recognize him as Jing Ran, her "male god."
Shao Pengcheng quickly pulled Jing Ran aside, asking him not to expose his true identity. Jing Ran calmly replied he was only interested in selling the house, not Shao Pengcheng's private matters. Cheng Zhenzhen, captivated by Jing Ran, remained oblivious to their conversation as Aunt Bai expressed how her son always handled everything without her worry and that there were no issues with the contract. As they waited, Jing Ran questioned the buyer's tardiness.
Just then, a lawyer entered, introducing himself as Feng Zuer's representative. He handed the contract to Zeng Huimin, who scolded Shao Pengcheng for unauthorized modifications to the document. The lawyer then declared the contract invalid, stating Feng Zuer was "damaged" and "scared" by the house, citing the very clause she had insisted on adding. Both Shao Pengcheng and Cheng Zhenzhen were left dumbfounded.
