Nothing But Thirty Episode 34 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Zhong Xiaoyang visited Zhong Xiaoqin, who was suffering from a bad cold. He returned her keys, noting that he had knocked but she didn't answer the door and he was concerned. Zhong Xiaoyang teasingly asked if she was sick out of guilt for their breakup. Zhong Xiaoqin apologized, explaining she lacked energy. He then clarified that he wasn't clinging to her, stating that he'd read her writing and realized the "soulmate" notion was just her imagination.
He assured her she didn't need to feel so guilty or treat him so well. As a breakup gift, he gave her a hug, saying, "If you pass it to me you'll get well. People all said to get heartbroken is like catching the flu. Maybe I will also get sick and get recovered." He added, "You are not the cloud above me after all. I can't catch you in the end. Zhong Xiaoqin, your novel is really good."
Zhong Xiaoqin was deeply moved by his kindness. Meanwhile, Lin Youyou spotted Xu Huanshan, Gu Jia, and their son returning from an outing, a picture of domestic bliss that sparked her jealousy. Xu Huanshan tried to convince Gu Jia not to overwork herself with the tea factory, especially since they had tickets booked for a vacation.
Gu Jia insisted she needed to oversee the "adopt a tea tree" event personally, explaining that her QR code idea—which would allow buyers to adopt a tree and track its growth—was crucial and could solve the factory's issues in the long term. Xu Huanshan eventually conceded, telling her to return home quickly. Gu Jia, joined by Zhong Xiaoqin and Wang Manni, drove to the tea factory for a change of scenery and to help with work.
The three friends were delighted to be together again. Upon their arrival, the village head and other villagers warmly greeted Gu Jia, showing immense respect. Zhong Xiaoqin observed how much effort Gu Jia had poured into the factory. Over the next few days, the trio engaged in manual labor, trimming tea trees and eating meals with the factory staff, finding the simple work immensely relaxing. During a break, they sat on the mountain, gazing at the distant peaks.
Wang Manni wondered what lay beyond. Gu Jia explained that the view was exceptionally beautiful, sometimes even revealing a sea of clouds. Wang Manni, having recently reflected on her life back home, declared that she now knew what she "didn't" want and felt more determined than ever to return to Shanghai. Together, they shouted, "Thirty years old! Start over again!" At Jiang Chen's coffee shop, the "empty mountain tea" was proving very popular, attracting many repeat customers.
Separately, Lin Youyou approached Xu Huanshan, who hadn't visited her in over ten days. She asked to see his house as a form of compensation. Xu Huanshan firmly refused, citing the presence of his son and the nanny. When she playfully suggested visiting when they weren't home, he still declined, but softened his stance by promising to fulfill any other request. That evening, the three friends enjoyed a hotpot dinner.
Gu Jia reflected on her marriage, admitting she had often wondered why she suspected Xu Huanshan and why their intimacy had waned. She realized 70% of their conversations were about work and 30% about their son, Zi Yan, leaving little room for their own feelings. However, with the tea factory, she felt a newfound fulfillment, and the daily trifles with Xu Huanshan seemed less significant.
Zhong Xiaoqin, usually dependent on others, shared that she had finally found her true self after recent experiences and learned to assert her own opinions. Wang Manni reiterated her desire to return to Shanghai, stating that having seen the outside world, she couldn't settle in the small town, making her decision clearer than ever. The village head then arrived with more food, including milk tea.
Gu Jia revealed that someone had specifically sent the milk tea for Zhong Xiaoqin and was waiting for her outside the village. Zhong Xiaoqin, surprised, hurried to the village entrance. There, she found Chen Yu by an RV, diligently preparing cold dishes. Zhong Xiaoqin playfully asked why he was there. Chen Yu initially feigned coming to deliver food, but then gathered his courage and admitted he had rushed over to pick her up and take her home.
Zhong Xiaoqin noticed he wasn't wearing his glasses; he explained he was trying out contact lenses but found them uncomfortable, causing him to blink frequently. Seeing his awkward attempts to change for her, Zhong Xiaoqin burst into joyful laughter, signaling their reconciliation. Back in their room, Gu Jia and Wang Manni were thrilled about Zhong Xiaoqin and Chen Yu. Zhong Xiaoqin, blushing, confirmed she planned to ride back to Shanghai with Chen Yu in his RV.
Gu Jia then presented Wang Manni with a gift: a second-class train ticket from Quzhou to Shanghai, perfectly aligning with Wang Manni's renewed resolve to return. The next morning, Zhong Xiaoqin departed with Chen Yu in his RV. Zhong Xiaoqin, wanting to be more involved, offered to help with navigation. Chen Yu, having pre-planned his route, initially declined, but Zhong Xiaoqin insisted on watching the phone. Distracted by their conversation, Zhong Xiaoqin missed an exit.
Realizing their mistake, they discovered the next exit was 42 kilometers away, adding two hours to their journey and making it impossible to reach their intended RV camp before nightfall. They decided to stay in a nearby county hotel. That night, Chen Xu called Chen Yu, jokingly chiding him for missing the turn and reminding him not to deviate from his carefully planned itinerary for the next day. Wang Manni went to Zhang Zhi's office to resign.
Zhang Zhi struggled to understand why she would leave the comfortable life he offered, including a ready house, car, and stable job, to return to Shanghai. Wang Manni confessed that while her hometown was good and he was good, she felt she "can't live here" anymore. She explained that she had accustomed herself to the challenging life in Shanghai and was unwilling to settle for an easy life in her hometown.
She wanted to fight again, stating that two people on different paths who get married would be more lonely than being single. Despite Zhang Zhi's pleas and his reminder that she was no longer young and would have to start over in a competitive city, Wang Manni remained firm in her decision to return to where she had fallen and stand back up. Upon returning home, Wang Manni informed her parents of her decision.
Her mother was distraught, lamenting their age and their desire for the family to live peacefully together. Wang Manni asked for two more years to prove herself in Shanghai, promising to bring them over once she was stable. Her father, though sad, gave her a bank card with money saved for her wedding, telling her, "How the rest of the path is walked is up to you. The password is your birthday."
Wang Manni reassured her parents to take care of themselves. With her suitcase in hand, Wang Manni left her home, her parents watching tearfully. In the alley, she encountered Uncle Yu, who understood her decision and encouraged her, saying, "Go on. Go in peace. Every step counts."
