Nothing But Thirty Episode 38 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Jenny informed Wang Manni that Zheng Li Xiang's debt was nearing arbitration, which would disqualify any recovered funds from counting towards Wang Manni's performance. She urged Wang Manni to expedite the collection process. Wang Manni previously established contact with Zheng Li Xiang, who sent her his property certification, confirming his house was indeed listed for sale online.
Although Zheng Li Xiang had a bid he was discussing and hoped to pay next month, Jenny explained that the system wouldn't allow further postponement as the debt would become "bad" by the end of the current month, leading to arbitration and potential blacklisting for Zheng Li Xiang. That evening, Wang Manni met with Zheng Li Xiang and explained the severe implications, including being blacklisted, if the debt went to court.
Zheng Li Xiang, who was struggling financially and couldn't even afford his meal, listened as Wang Manni proposed he pay at least 20% of the debt, approximately 100,000 RMB, by the month's end to delay legal action. Zheng Li Xiang agreed to try and gather the money, thanking Wang Manni for her consideration. Wang Manni clarified that it was also in her own interest, as legal proceedings would ruin her track record.
Wang Manni later met with Jiang Chen and Zhong Xiaoqin at Jiang Chen's coffee shop. She showed them photos she had taken of Xu Huanshan with another woman, explaining she saw it with her own eyes last Friday, the same day Gu Jia couldn't reach Xu Huanshan due to a supposed work matter. Zhong Xiaoqin impulsively wanted to call Gu Jia immediately, but Wang Manni cautioned against it, noting the photos didn't show anything explicitly incriminating.
Jiang Chen suggested that if the woman's feelings were one-sided and Xu Huanshan had already handled it, telling Gu Jia could create unnecessary problems. He also warned that their friendship with Gu Jia might become awkward if they were the ones to break the news. Troubled, Zhong Xiaoqin later discussed the dilemma with Chen Yu, who quickly deduced she was referring to Xu Huanshan.
Chen Yu advised against telling Gu Jia, arguing that if Gu Jia and Xu Huanshan divorced because of it, Zhong Xiaoqin would struggle to face Gu Jia afterward. He emphasized that because Gu Jia was a true friend, Zhong Xiaoqin shouldn't take such a risk. Instead, he suggested she visit Gu Jia to gauge her situation. Meanwhile, Lin Youyou had arranged to have the air conditioner cleaned at Gu Jia's home.
After the cleaning, as Gu Jia signed the completion form, Lin Youyou intentionally displayed a yellow band-aid on her right index finger. Gu Jia immediately recognized the distinct band-aid, a type her son Xu Ziyan loved, which had been previously given to Lin Youyou by Xu Huanshan. The sight triggered a wave of realizations, including Lin Youyou's previous visits to her home and her working as a property receptionist in their building.
Gu Jia then checked Lin Youyou's WeChat Moments and saw numerous posts featuring the cartoon keychain Xu Huanshan had. This confirmed her darkest suspicions: Lin Youyou was Xu Huanshan’s mistress. Soon after, Wang Manni and Zhong Xiaoqin arrived at Gu Jia's building, intending to share their discovery about Xu Huanshan. They saw Lin Youyou downstairs and immediately recognized her from the photos.
Zhong Xiaoqin was furious and wanted to confront Lin Youyou, but Wang Manni restrained her, insisting they speak with Gu Jia first. They found Gu Jia sitting alone in her apartment with the door ajar. Before they could speak, Gu Jia gravely stated that she knew what had happened and that she would handle it herself. Gu Jia, accompanied by Wang Manni and Zhong Xiaoqin, then took a taxi. They followed Lin Youyou to an apartment building.
Shortly after Lin Youyou entered, Xu Huanshan arrived and entered the same building with practiced ease. Witnessing this undeniable proof, Gu Jia broke down in tears, telling her friends she couldn't bring herself to get out of the car and face the sight of them together. Returning home, Gu Jia instructed her housekeeper, Sister Chen, to pack Xu Ziyan’s belongings for him to stay with Zhong Xiaoqin and told Sister Chen to take a few days off.
Xu Ziyan cried, pleading to stay with his mother, but was gently persuaded by Zhong Xiaoqin and Wang Manni to leave. Alone in her house, Gu Jia texted Xu Huanshan, demanding he come home immediately. Xu Huanshan, rushing back from Lin Youyou's apartment, initially lied about being at the company. Gu Jia, however, calmly revealed she had seen him enter Lin Youyou's building.
Caught, Xu Huanshan admitted he had been trying to break up with Lin Youyou and had even bought her a plane ticket back to Beijing. Gu Jia bitterly recounted how their affair must have started during the Beijing amusement park project, sarcastically questioning his audacity in renting a place for Lin Youyou and even arranging for her to work as a property receptionist in their own building, right under her nose.
She confronted him about his betrayal, asking if he had considered their son, their family, or her. She pressed him on how the affair began, asking if he was drunk. His silence confirmed her painful realization that he had developed genuine feelings for Lin Youyou. Gu Jia expressed her anguish, feeling she had been made a fool for ten years, and vehemently told Xu Huanshan not to touch her, calling him disgusting.
Xu Huanshan, visibly distraught, confessed his guilt and sleepless nights, admitting he felt a sense of relief when Gu Jia finally knew, as he could no longer lie. He claimed he had been trying to end the affair, but Lin Youyou refused to break up. He then shamefully begged Gu Jia for forgiveness and asked her to help him resolve things cleanly with Lin Youyou.
Gu Jia, utterly heartbroken, refused to listen, stating she didn't believe a word he said and wanted no part in solving his problem. Devastated, Gu Jia left her home. Wang Manni, who had returned after dropping Xu Ziyan off at Zhong Xiaoqin's, picked her up and took her to her own apartment. Gu Jia was deeply depressed and expressed a desire to drink.
Wang Manni brought out all the alcohol she had, encouraging Gu Jia to drink as much as she needed to sleep, while promising to stay sober to care for her. Gu Jia broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Wang Manni comforted her until she cried herself to sleep. The next morning, Xu Ziyan asked Zhong Xiaoqin if his parents had fought and if his mom no longer wanted him, drawing parallels to a classmate's experience.
Zhong Xiaoqin reassured him and suggested they go to an amusement park and the aquarium to cheer him up. Later, Wang Manni brought Gu Jia breakfast and hangover medicine, offering to have Xu Ziyan brought over if she wished. Gu Jia, feeling calmer, told Wang Manni not to worry. She stated that she needed to return home after breakfast to confront the situation, as it could not be delayed or avoided.
