Nothing But Thirty Episode 3 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Wang Manni awoke in the hospital to discover she had acute nephritis, a condition the doctor explained was not yet severe but could have worsened due to her habit of holding her urine at work. She was advised to rest for a week. Her mother called, relieved she was awake, and explained she had called the ambulance.
Concerned, her mother said she was packing to come to Shanghai, but Wang Manni assured her it wasn't serious and she would recover with medication, urging her not to come. Still, her mother, a former nurse, insisted Wang Manni send her a photo of her IV drip to check the medication. Gu Jia retrieved an old telescope from storage, deeming it a pity to discard.
She intended to learn how to use it, prompting a playful exchange with Xu Huanshan and their son about her intellect. Later, Wang Manni's mother called again, worried about the IV drip running out and reminding her to call the nurse, citing her own experience as a nurse. Wang Manni reassured her that a nurse was present and she still had two more bottles, trying to gently end the call so her mother could rest.
She reflected that people often show a brave face to outsiders, saving their deepest anxieties for those closest to them. Zhong Xiaoqin confided in Gu Jia that she was pregnant, a development that troubled her greatly as she and Chen Yu had agreed not to have children for the first five years of their marriage, with two years still remaining.
Gu Jia reminded Zhong Xiaoqin that a child is a gift of fate and that the decision should be hers alone, not Chen Yu's. She admonished Zhong Xiaoqin for her tendency to let others make decisions for her, stressing that this was a choice she had to make for herself and her child. However, Zhong Xiaoqin remained conflicted and unsure.
When Chen Yu returned from his business trip, he saw a lavish meal prepared, immediately knowing Zhong Xiaoqin's mother had been there. He complained to Zhong Xiaoqin, saying he didn't want his mother-in-law acting like a maid, cleaning and cooking when they weren't home.
Zhong Xiaoqin tried to explain that her mother was just concerned about their health, but Chen Yu accused her of being immature at thirty and still relying on her parents, remarking that she had never truly left home. Zhong Xiaoqin defended her mother, leading to an argument. During dinner, Zhong Xiaoqin showed Chen Yu her pregnancy test report. When asked if she wanted the child, she retorted, "What do "you" want?"
Chen Yu, recalling their pre-marital agreement not to have children for five years, suggested they shouldn't have it now. Visibly disappointed, Zhong Xiaoqin agreed to have the surgery the next day, sarcastically questioning her maturity to be a mother. Chen Yu tried to placate her with a lucky cat he bought on his trip, but she ignored his attempts and retreated to their bedroom.
While Gu Jia was demonstrating the telescope, Mrs. Wang expressed a desire to "buy" an asteroid, wanting to name three after her son as a coming-of-age gift, offering to help Gu Jia's son get into kindergarten if Gu Jia facilitated the purchase. Gu Jia explained that only naming rights were possible, not ownership.
Reflecting on her own struggles with her son's kindergarten admission, Gu Jia declined, telling Mrs. Wang that money couldn't solve everything and correcting her misconception about a Monet painting she owned. Tearfully, Mrs. Wang confided that she didn't genuinely care for astronomy but sought to connect with her son, who had once expressed jealousy over a classmate with an asteroid named after him by his scientist parents.
Mrs. Wang had impulsively offered to buy him many asteroids, earning a look of disgust and comments identical to Gu Jia's. Mrs. Wang then observed that while she had thought Gu Jia was similar to her on a previous occasion when Gu Jia went barefoot for her son, Gu Jia seemed less able to let go of things. Wang Manni received a photo from her father showing her mother asleep on the sofa, exhausted from worry.
To reassure her parents about her well-being while living alone, Wang Manni decided to reconsider her mother's earlier suggestion of a blind date. She messaged her mother, asking for the contact details of the man. Her mother enthusiastically provided the WeChat ID for Song Dong Hu, praising his financial acumen and cultural background. Initially, Wang Manni was skeptical, noting he resembled their real estate agent, but she agreed to contact him.
The next day at the hospital for her abortion, Chen Yu reminded Zhong Xiaoqin that she had agreed to the surgery, highlighting that while it carried some risks, pregnancy and motherhood also had their own difficulties. During her pre-operative examination, Zhong Xiaoqin learned the surgery would involve anesthesia and was not insignificant, causing her evident distress. Once out of the examination room, she lied to Chen Yu, claiming an urgent work event required her presence, and left the hospital.
She then called Gu Jia, seeking an honest assessment of the true costs and challenges of having a child, questioning if she could afford them. Wang Manni met her blind date, Song Dong Hu, in the hotel lobby. He immediately introduced himself as a Managing Director at Hai Shang Securities and complimented her appearance, but Wang Manni soon realized his calculating nature.
He admitted to meeting her in the lobby as a test: if she was presentable, he'd take her to an investment banking luncheon upstairs; otherwise, he'd feign being busy. At the luncheon, he boasted about his team, high salary, and two houses, indicating he sought a partner who would prioritize family over a demanding career. He then had Wang Manni act as his "girlfriend" and photographer, taking pictures of him with various "Directors" he barely knew.
Afterward, Wang Manni told a colleague she had deleted him because he was a pretentious and calculating man, treating her like a "free maid" at the luncheon. Her colleague advised her not to be too picky at thirty, but Wang Manni firmly stated she would rather wait for a truly suitable partner than settle for someone she didn't like. In a conversation with Zhong Xiaoqin, Gu Jia candidly shared the harsh realities of motherhood.
She described it as a "terrible thing," causing profound frustration where a woman often feels her former self dies, replaced by "Xu Zi Yan's mom." Gu Jia admitted to longing for her son to grow up quickly so she could regain her personal freedom, yet acknowledged an unbreakable bond. Paradoxically, she explained that mothers become both incredibly soft-hearted, hoping for the world's tolerance towards their child, and fiercely strong, willing to fight to protect them.
She also noted how mothers fear illness and death more intensely and work harder due to the immense financial demands of raising a child. Overwhelmed, Zhong Xiaoqin confessed she felt incapable of embodying any of these maternal qualities, prompting Gu Jia to ask why she had left the hospital before her surgery. Swallowing her pride for her son's sake, Gu Jia visited Mrs. Wang again.
She informed Mrs. Wang that she had found a foreign forum offering asteroid naming rights transfers and requested Mrs. Wang's son's details, explaining that if approved, he could receive an official naming rights certificate. Mrs. Wang was surprised by Gu Jia's change of heart, to which Gu Jia simply stated, "I'm just like you. It's for my son." Miss Chen, the demanding customer from a previous encounter, arrived to complete her purchase.
The store manager informed Wang Manni that successfully closing this significant order would lead to her promotion to sales manager. Wang Manni meticulously went over the sales and order receipts, including the no-return policy and insurance guidelines. Miss Chen then revealed that the funds for the expensive jewelry came from her divorce settlement. She recounted how she and her ex-husband started from poverty, built their wealth through hard work selling lamb skewers, establishing a taxi company, and cultivating an orchard.
They achieved financial freedom after receiving substantial land compensation for a high-speed rail project. However, on that very day, her husband brought his mistress home, a woman dressed in designer brands, and demanded a divorce. Feeling humiliated and foolish, Miss Chen admitted she had walked into the store that day simply wanting to spend money, and she chose Wang Manni because she was the only salesperson who had shown genuine enthusiasm and patience.
Wang Manni felt an urge to advise Miss Chen against an impulsive purchase, but the store manager's presence reminded her of the impending promotion, and she suppressed her thoughts, confirming "No problem" to the manager. Xu Huanshan worked late, and his secretary, Li Ke, brought him homemade dinner, having sent another assistant home.
She claimed a sensitive stomach prevented her from eating takeout and began to cry, expressing fear of disappointing him due to her perceived inability to keep up with work. Xu Huanshan comforted her, and she pledged to work harder. Upon returning home, Xu Huanshan told Gu Jia that their son's kindergarten issue was likely resolved, thanks to Mrs. Wang agreeing to help after Gu Jia assisted her with the asteroid naming rights.
He then mentioned Li Ke's homemade dinner, praising her cooking and noting she had cried due to work pressure, suggesting she was a dedicated employee. This piqued Gu Jia's suspicion. The next day, Gu Jia arrived at the company with several boxes of oranges, distributing them to staff. She specifically addressed Li Ke, mentioning Li Ke had recommended the expensive oranges.
Gu Jia then pointedly asked Li Ke her monthly salary (six thousand yuan) and questioned how she could afford twenty-five-yuan oranges on such a wage, advising her to focus her energy on work to increase her salary, effectively conveying a warning.
