Nothing But Thirty Episode 24 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Xu Huanshan, having been subtly influenced by Lin Youyou's arguments, made a rational attempt to end their interactions. He told her, "Let's not contact each other in the future. If any of my previous actions caused you to misunderstand, I apologize." However, Lin Youyou continued to provoke him, claiming he lived "in a shell" that his wife had forced upon him, stifling the "fun little boy in his heart."
She suggested he was merely acting a role Gu Jia had given him. Xu Huanshan defended Gu Jia, asserting that her plans always benefited their family. Lin Youyou, undeterred, likened beautiful fireworks to him, dormant in a box, only capable of glamour when ignited by an open flame. She then speculated that Gu Jia must be most afraid of fire, implying a lack of "open flame" in their home.
Xu Huanshan firmly reiterated his decision: "I've said everything that I wanted to say to you. Let's not meet anymore. I've paid the bill. I have to go," and promptly left. Upon returning home, Xu Huanshan found Gu Jia waiting. He quickly went to shower, prompting Gu Jia to ask about his sudden business dinner.
Xu Huanshan claimed he had treated "the amusement park folks," saying there were many people and they "drank a lot," even adding that he only drank because Gu Jia had told him not to eat dinner. Gu Jia, pouring water, noticed his haste to shower and pointedly remarked, "You don't smell like alcohol anymore." Xu Huanshan could only offer a noncommittal "Yeah."
Meanwhile, Zhong Xiaqin found herself reflecting on Zhong Xiaoyang's description of her as a small, free-spirited cloud, unobtrusive yet resilient. Browsing his Weibo, she began to feel a growing affection for him. She also started writing an online novel, finding solace and stability in expressing her "real self" through thousands of words daily.
Her story, titled "How Many Shapes of Clouds Are There," began with "Chapter 1, The first day of age thirty," and she enjoyed reading the various comments from readers, some finding the "younger brother" character interesting, others even supporting her ex-husband. Wang Manni, acting on the address Zhao Jingyu had provided on her membership card, traveled to Hong Kong.
There, her heart was broken as she witnessed Liang Zhengxian and Zhao Jingyu walking a dog together, arm in arm, looking every bit like a devoted couple. Devastated by the sight, Wang Manni immediately turned back, pulling her luggage, and flew back to Shanghai. Gu Jia and Zhong Xiaqin rushed to comfort a heartbroken Wang Manni. Gu Jia encouraged her to cry and release her emotions, reminding her that self-pity while Liang Zhengxian remained carefree was only harming herself.
Gu Jia then delivered a difficult truth, explaining that Liang Zhengxian and Zhao Jingyu had been together for seven years, effectively a married couple, making Wang Manni merely "the third wheel" in Zhao Jingyu's eyes—and likely not the first or last. Wang Manni vehemently denied this, but Gu Jia insisted on the truth of the seven-year commitment and asked Wang Manni to consider Zhao Jingyu's pain as well.
Overwhelmed, Wang Manni refused to listen and repeatedly told her friends to leave. As they were reluctantly pushed out the door, Gu Jia emphasized to Wang Manni, "You have to understand the only person who loves you in this world is yourself. You have to overcome this hardship." After a night of quiet contemplation, Wang Manni appeared to regain her composure.
The next day, she joined Gu Jia for a salon visit and a workout session, with Gu Jia encouraging her, "Never lose your attitude no matter what happens." A few days later, Zhao Jingyu initiated a meeting with Wang Manni. She candidly explained that Liang Zhengxian frequently takes new women on trips, but once the "freshness passes," he relies on her to "take care of them" and act as the "bad guy" to make them leave—a "tacit understanding" between them.
Zhao Jingyu even admitted her previous disturbance at Wang Manni's store stemmed from her anxiety that Liang Zhengxian might have been serious about Wang Manni, but she now realized she had "overestimated your importance." Zhao Jingyu confirmed that Liang Zhengxian had sent her to end the affair.
She then expressed her own despair, feeling "held captive" for seven years and unsure how to face life alone, or how many more women she would have to deal with, concluding, "at least that's what I'm good at." Finally, Zhao Jingyu revealed that the very neighborhood they were sitting in was Liang Zhengxian's home in Shanghai, yet he had always taken Wang Manni to hotels, proving he would "never show his true colors to a passerby."
Still reeling from Zhao Jingyu's revelations, Wang Manni watched as Liang Zhengxian's car pulled into the residential complex, confirming the painful truth. That evening, Wang Manni initiated a phone call to Liang Zhengxian for a final meeting. He admitted he couldn't break ties with Zhao Jingyu due to their long history and intertwined lives in Hong Kong.
Despite this, he claimed, "I really do like you," and proposed an "open relationship": Wang Manni would stay in Shanghai, Zhao Jingyu in Hong Kong, with no interference between them. Wang Manni scornfully rejected the idea, declaring, "I can't accept this. It feels so dirty." Liang Zhengxian attempted to persuade her by pointing out the lavish lifestyle she enjoyed with him, asserting, "Even if you worked as a salesperson your entire life, you can never get all of this."
He clarified he was against marriage and this was merely an "open relationship" she should try to accept. Wang Manni, acknowledging that "Everything I'm wearing was given to me by you," defiantly removed the jewelry, outer clothing, and high heels he had gifted her. As she prepared to remove her last layer, a kind waitress offered her clothes.
Donning the borrowed uniform, Wang Manni concluded that she would rather be a "stray cat, living in the streets and eating scraps" than beg to be a "pet" in a relationship devoid of respect and equality. She added that she had bought her own bag, symbolizing her complete independence as she left Liang Zhengxian. Zhong Xiaqin, seeking refuge from Chen Yu, stayed at Gu Jia's place.
While there, Gu Jia observed that Zhong Xiaqin hadn't truly moved on from Chen Yu, despite her claims. Worrying about Wang Manni, they called her and, hearing noise, realized she was at a bar. They rushed to join her, and the three women shared drinks, emotional conversations, and comfort, embracing amidst tears and wishing away their troubles with men.
To exact revenge for Wang Manni, Gu Jia instructed Chen Xu to use the car Liang Zhengxian had given to Wang Manni to block his personal vehicle in his residential complex's garage, after which they covered it in trash. The next day, the property manager called Liang Zhengxian, demanding he quickly move his defiled car due to the "really bad disruption." Liang Zhengxian angrily protested, "I paid the property management fee!" and questioned why his car was targeted.
The manager implied the other car (which Chen Xu drove) was also his, making him responsible. Unable to move the other car without a key, Liang Zhengxian was left to clean the disgusting mess himself while onlookers commented on the effective "revenge," speculating it was "something to do with women." He cursed as he began the unpleasant task. In a surprising turn of events, Lin Youyou abruptly resigned from her job, telling a colleague, "I'm going to Shanghai!"
revealing her intention to pursue Xu Huanshan. Meanwhile, Zhong Xiaqin continued diligently updating her online novel, sharing childhood memories such as a near-drowning incident and her deep love for chocolate cake as a comfort, and noting the frustrating tendency of earplugs to go missing when needed. Zhong Xiaoyang proved to be her most dedicated reader, always the first to check for new chapters, and secretly absorbing details about her life.
One day, he presented her with a large jar of earplugs. When Zhong Xiaqin questioned how he knew she used them, he feigned ignorance, claiming they were unwanted "free gifts from the store downstairs" that he couldn't get rid of. Zhong Xiaqin, surprised by the sheer quantity, admitted she needed them because she couldn't sleep with noise, gratefully accepting his thoughtful, if subtly delivered, gift.
Late that night, Wang Manni summoned Gu Jia and Zhong Xiaqin to her store, greeting them cheerfully as her "VVVIP customers" and "golden medal sales, Ni Ni," before tearfully announcing her decision to resign. Gu Jia initially tried to persuade her, arguing that "work is the best medicine" for a broken heart, and that her job had always been her "armor" and "battlefield," making her feel strong.
However, Wang Manni explained that things were different now; after the incident with Liang Zhengxian, she felt "everyone looked at me in a different way," and she couldn't ignore it, even finding herself arguing with customers. While Gu Jia tried to reassure her that gossip would fade, Zhong Xiaqin firmly supported her, saying, "If you are really unhappy, then just quit. We will be with you no matter what you do."
Wang Manni then declared that this would be her last time serving her best friends. She reflected on her eight years of dedication to the store, a place she had irrigated with "youth, hope, and passion," but now realized it was all a "self-deceiving illusion and obsession." At this moment, she chose to "let it go."
