Nothing But Thirty Episode 33 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Wang Manni's supervisor, Zhang Zhi, noticed her constantly checking her phone and called her out. He asked if she was worried about her grandfather's condition and offered to help her take a few days off, even suggesting he could accompany her. Wang Manni, however, expressed discomfort, telling him she felt supervised like she was back in high school. She politely declined his help, stating her mother would keep her updated and she was accustomed to handling things on her own.
Zhang Zhi tried to reassure her that she could count on him now that she was back in her hometown, but Wang Manni maintained her self-reliance. Meanwhile, Zhong Xiaoqin's parents visited her, expressing concern for her recent injuries. Her mother emphasized the importance of taking care of her hands, while her father highlighted the danger she had faced, grateful that Chen Yu was there to help.
Her mother then questioned if Zhong Xiaoqin always turned to Chen Yu in times of trouble, suggesting that relying on someone in such moments is a true sign of trust, similar to her own bond with Zhong Xiaoqin's father. At the tea factory, Gu Jia was diligently working. The Village Chief acknowledged her hard work and compassion for not closing the factory, even though she continued to subsidize them, telling her no one would blame her if she gave up.
Gu Jia remained steadfast, viewing the tea trees as the villagers' hope for the future. When she clutched her stomach, a young villager offered traditional medicine, while an elder woman named Eldest Sister brought her a hot water bottle, assuming she was experiencing period pain. Gu Jia explained she was simply cold, but deeply appreciated their care and gratitude for her dedication to the factory.
She later sent a message to her father, assuring him that she was resolving the issues at the tea factory and hoped to bring him and Zi Yan to visit the beautiful place. Inspired by a QR code payment she made for frostbite medicine, Gu Jia developed a new marketing strategy for the tea factory.
She shared her idea with Wang Manni and Zhong Xiaoqin via video call: each tea tree would be numbered and labeled, with corresponding QR codes on the tea cans. Customers could "adopt" a tree for 200 yuan, receiving fresh tea products in the spring and fall. Gu Jia envisioned this as a way to quickly secure funding for the villagers and planned to include a video in the QR code to showcase their organic farming methods.
Eventually, she hoped to transform this into an app, allowing customers to track their adopted trees. Both her friends enthusiastically supported the idea. Gu Jia mentioned that the QR code system would be low-cost, and she already had a hotel manager and Jiang Chen helping with promotion and distribution. Upon returning home, Gu Jia questioned Nanny Chen about their son, Zi Yan.
Nanny Chen revealed that Xu Huanshan had been coming home late, often after 10:00 PM, while Gu Jia was away, due to various engagements. This information, coupled with Xu Huanshan's past evasiveness regarding the blue fireworks, heightened Gu Jia's suspicions. The following morning, during breakfast, Gu Jia proposed going to the office with him, citing a desire to greet everyone and a tea factory meeting scheduled nearby that afternoon. Xu Huanshan's uneasy reaction did not escape Gu Jia's notice.
At Jiamei Fireworks, Gu Jia was warmly welcomed by employees. She treated them to milk tea and specifically inquired about the disposal of expired and blue fireworks from an employee named You You, who confirmed they had all been taken care of. Shortly after, Gu Jia received a call from Chief Yan of the fireworks factory. She questioned him about the method of disposal, as she recalled they usually incinerated old fireworks, but this time they were lit.
Chief Yan falsely claimed the blue fireworks were too rare to incinerate and had been "disposed of" by being lit. Xu Huanshan, noticing Gu Jia on the phone, feigned concern about the call. He then made an excuse to leave, stating he had a meeting and would return home around 8:00 PM. As Gu Jia left, Chen Xu, Xu Huanshan's driver, casually mentioned that the car's Dash Cam had mysteriously switched its language from Chinese to English.
Gu Jia then took the Dash Cam with her. After leaving the office, Xu Huanshan went to Lin Youyou's place. Lin Youyou, who had bought him a new suit, greeted him warmly. However, Xu Huanshan, mindful of Gu Jia's return time, insisted he had to leave by 8:00 PM, despite Lin Youyou's attempts to prolong their time together. He arrived at his apartment building just as Gu Jia did and, to avoid being seen, quickly climbed the stairs.
Entering their apartment, Gu Jia found Xu Huanshan playing with Zi Yan, using the game to mask his breathlessness from rushing up the stairs. The next day, Xu Huanshan messaged Lin Youyou, telling her he "can't make it today," leaving her disappointed after she had prepared a meal. Wang Manni received an urgent call from her parents and rushed to her grandfather's village.
Her mother tearfully explained that her grandfather was not actually ill, but had been severely neglected by his other son, Wang Manni's uncle, who had fed him only leftovers and denied him warm water. The uncle's family had shamelessly demanded funeral expenses from Wang Manni's parents, hoping her grandfather would pass away soon so they could use the money to build a new house for their own son.
Fortunately, her grandfather held on until her parents arrived, though he was visibly malnourished. Overwhelmed with guilt and rage, Wang Manni's father, Jiang Hai, collapsed due to high blood pressure. Wang Manni's mother urged her to stay home while she rushed her father to the emergency room. Later, Gu Jia confirmed with Chen Xu that the Dash Cam in Xu Huanshan's car had indeed been switched to a 48-hour loop recording mode, which erased previous footage.
She confronted Xu Huanshan, asking if he had anything to tell her. Seeing his panicked expression, she misinterpreted his anxiety, believing he was upset about her decision to halt the production of blue fireworks. She tried to reassure him, explaining that despite their stunning beauty, the blue fireworks posed too many risks, and asked him not to resent her for her interference.
Xu Huanshan feigned acceptance, stating he wasn't angry and expressed a general sense of unease and a longing for simpler times. Gu Jia suggested they take a vacation once their current difficulties were resolved. After being discharged, Wang Manni's father returned home, still recovering. Zhang Zhi, who had spent the entire night helping, was thanked by Wang Manni's mother, who encouraged him to be addressed more familiarly as "Xiao Zhi."
She then subtly hinted to Wang Manni about Zhang Zhi's admirable qualities. Later, Wang Manni's mother hosted a dinner to express her heartfelt gratitude to all the neighbors who had brought food and provided care during her father and grandfather's crisis, emphasizing the importance of community. She also singled out Zhang Zhi for his dedicated assistance. The neighbors, in turn, began playfully inquiring about a potential wedding between Wang Manni and Zhang Zhi.
During a phone call with Gu Jia and Zhong Xiaoqin, Wang Manni recounted the shocking details of her uncle's neglect and the overwhelming support from her neighbors and Zhang Zhi. She admitted feeling obligated to marry Zhang Zhi to repay his kindness, a sentiment her friends struggled to understand. Zhong Xiaoyang, accompanied by several friends, staged an elaborate public proposal at Zhong Xiaoqin's office.
He presented her with a large bouquet of roses and the key to a bike store they had co-invested in, declaring his career success and his desire for her to be his "Boss Lady." While his colleagues cheered for Zhong Xiaoqin to accept, Zhong Xiaoyang clarified he wasn't proposing marriage yet, but offered her a pair of couple rings, specifically choosing a middle finger ring to avoid pressure.
Zhong Xiaoqin, visibly uncomfortable with the public display, pulled Zhong Xiaoyang aside for a private conversation. Despite his protestations about wanting to openly express his feelings, she courageously told him she wanted to break up. Zhong Xiaoyang was deeply saddened and confused, asking for her reasons. Zhong Xiaoqin explained that through much introspection, she realized her first marriage failed because she hadn't truly understood what marriage entailed or what kind of life partner she desired.
She admitted to being a dependent person, unlike her more independent friends, and that her past marital mistakes had profoundly impacted her. She felt there was a fundamental gap between them, not due to his character, but because she needed to clarify her own feelings before making another commitment. Overwhelmed by her decision, Zhong Xiaoyang threw the ring off the building in despair.
