Nothing But Thirty Episode 17 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Gu Jia joyfully finalized the tea factory transfer agreement with Mrs. Li, marking her entry into ownership. Mrs. Li expressed her expectation for profits, to which Gu Jia confidently vowed to succeed. Later that night, Gu Jia excitedly woke Xu Huanshan to share the good news, proclaiming their family was about to get rich. She calculated that the tea house would allow them to repay debts in six months and potentially double their annual profits.
Xu Huanshan, however, found her obsessed, questioning if she had even thoroughly investigated the tea house. Gu Jia proudly retorted that Mrs. Li represented the best in the "madam group," but Xu Huanshan, still half-asleep, simply wanted to go back to bed. Undeterred, Gu Jia continued to calculate the numbers on her own. Meanwhile, Wang Manni was on the phone with Liang Zhengxian, asking if he could stay a few more days.
He agreed, attributing their recent financial gains to her being his "lucky charm." When he asked what she wanted, Wang Manni firmly stated she wanted a boyfriend. Liang Zhengxian sidestepped the issue, suggesting they were both mature and didn't need conventional relationship definitions. Frustrated, Wang Manni declared she no longer wanted ambiguity. She wanted to proudly introduce him as her boyfriend to her friends and tell her mother to stop arranging blind dates.
Liang Zhengxian offered to meet her friends, but Wang Manni clarified she didn't want to be a "hidden lover" or have an "ambiguous boyfriend"; she desired a stable, normal dating relationship. Their discussion grew heated, with Wang Manni eventually asking him to get out of the car as she needed to get to work.
She explained her work situation had become difficult with a new, young superior, and she felt she needed to grasp something definite in either her career or her love life, especially as she was nearing thirty. Later, at the store, Wang Manni was fifteen minutes late and her new superior, Daisy, publicly issued her a warning ticket.
Daisy lectured the staff, criticizing their previous lax environment and announcing new strict rules: three store warning tickets would lead to a headquarters ticket, and three headquarters tickets would result in immediate termination. She also declared that during the upcoming golden sales month, anyone perceived as "slacking off the most" would be fired, aiming for top sales. Colleagues murmured about Daisy's cruel ambition. Shortly after, Liang Zhengxian arrived at the store.
He ignored Wang Manni's cold shoulder and proceeded to buy numerous accessories from Daisy, then presented them to Wang Manni in front of all the staff, openly declaring her his girlfriend and stating he would pay for them if she accepted. He then requested a ten-minute break from Daisy to "borrow" Wang Manni. He led her to the underground parking lot, revealing he had rented a parking space for her for a year, right by the elevator.
He apologized for not being more considerate and inadvertently burdening her by buying her a car without considering the parking. Liang Zhengxian admitted he felt Wang Manni hadn't fully opened her heart but hoped to warm it over time. He reiterated that he knew how important the "girlfriend" title was to her and hoped she could now be at ease. Elated, Wang Manni bought colorful balloons, feeling joyful about officially having a boyfriend.
However, Liang Zhengxian then dropped a bombshell: he was an anti-marriage advocate and would never marry. Wang Manni was stunned, asking if he meant he wouldn't marry her or anyone at all. Liang Zhengxian explained that he had always avoided defining their relationship precisely because he feared she would have expectations once confirmed. He had long decided against marriage, desiring a simple relationship unconstrained by institutions.
Wang Manni challenged him, suggesting "no marriage" meant "no responsibility," just being together when in love and separating when not. Liang Zhengxian countered by asking if marriage truly guaranteed eternal love or togetherness. He argued that neither formality nor spirit could guarantee a relationship's duration, and since he was financially free and loved her, these aspects offered better security than any formal institution. At home, Chen Yu subtly observed Zhong Xiaoqin returning from the balcony, then quickly retreated inside.
He told her that her mother had cooked dinner for them, prompting Zhong Xiaoqin to eagerly head to the table. However, remembering their "cohabitation contract," she stopped. They then communicated via WeChat, where Zhong Xiaoqin asked who would clean the kitchen utensils since "her mother" cooked. Chen Yu responded that she would, as her mother was "treating" him.
Zhong Xiaoqin was assigned a difficult task at work: evicting an old tenant who refused to renew their contract at an increased rent. Colleagues openly referred to it as a "hot potato." Zhong Xiaoyang, seeing her being yelled at by the stubborn shop owner, rushed to her aid. He pulled her aside and warned her about the dangers of such situations, noting that current economic hardships could lead desperate merchants to drastic, irrational actions, like igniting a gas tank.
Zhong Xiaoqin recognized the gravity of the situation and returned home too stressed to eat. Chen Yu, noticing her distress, listened to her problem about the tenant. Drawing from his past experience as a journalist, he offered to write a strategy for her, outlining the potential consequences for the tenant, and advised her to send it as an audio message on WeChat, using clear and simple language to avoid misunderstandings.
Gu Jia initiated interviews for a professional childcare teacher to care for Xu Ziyan. During one interview, a highly qualified candidate, Sister Mei, presented an impressive resume. However, Xu Ziyan immediately expressed his dislike for "Sister Mei," then tearfully asked Gu Jia if she no longer wanted him. Gu Jia quickly reassured him and dismissed Sister Mei.
Later, Xu Huanshan confronted Gu Jia about hiring a nanny, stating his disagreement and emphasizing that Gu Jia had always personally cared for their son and accusing her of trying to "throw him away" now. Gu Jia defended her choices, asking why men weren't expected to sacrifice their careers for childcare. Their argument escalated, with Xu Huanshan criticizing her recent "different state" and accusing her of taking "shortcuts" since meeting Mrs. Wang.
Their loud quarrel woke Xu Ziyan, who came out crying, fearing his parents would abandon him. Gu Jia hugged her son, apologized, and promised they would not argue anymore. In his room, Xu Ziyan confessed he liked his mom but disliked "that auntie," and Gu Jia promised not to let the nanny come back. At a gathering with her friends, Wang Manni shared Liang Zhengxian's anti-marriage stance.
Zhong Xiaoqin expressed concern, but Wang Manni remained hopeful that Liang Zhengxian might change his mind one day. She declared she wouldn't give up, wanting to be by his side if he ever decided to marry. Gu Jia, however, directly questioned Wang Manni's motives, asking if she would still agree to a non-marital relationship if Liang Zhengxian wasn't financially well-off.
She reminded Wang Manni that her initial attraction to him stemmed from meeting him in the executive cabin of a cruise. Wang Manni grew angry, accusing Gu Jia of implying she was after his money. Gu Jia clarified she was merely reminding her as a friend that while pursuing money might lead to fewer losses, Wang Manni was now emotionally "trapped" and opening her heart to someone unwilling to commit to marriage, risking severe hurt.
Zhong Xiaoqin intervened and pulled Wang Manni away. On their way, Wang Manni admitted Gu Jia had "seen through" her, which was why she reacted defensively. She confessed that she believed she would never find a better man than Liang Zhengxian and was willing to accept the risk of gaining nothing in the end, simply wanting to be with him. Zhong Xiaoqin consoled her, telling her to follow her heart and promising to support her along with Gu Jia.
Later, Wang Manni's mother called, elated to hear that her daughter finally had a boyfriend. Her mother expressed immense happiness, calling it their family's "biggest news" and urging her daughter, almost thirty, to marry soon. Back at home, Zhong Xiaoqin was surprised to find Chen Yu preparing dinner. She teased him, noting his newfound enthusiasm for cooking compared to his previous indifference before their divorce.
Their conversation was interrupted by Chen Xu, Chen Yu's younger brother, who let himself in unannounced and immediately sat down at the dinner table. He subtly questioned whether Chen Yu and Zhong Xiaoqin had been arguing.
