Nothing But Thirty Episode 41 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Gu Jia's father gently advised Lin Youyou, reminding her that life is long and happiness should not be built on the destruction of another's family. He told her people should know when to quit, and that she was too young to limit her possibilities so early in life. Lin Youyou retorted that she wouldn't meet anyone she loved more in this life.
Gu Jia's father acknowledged her feelings, sharing that he had stayed single for nearly twenty years after Gu Jia's mother passed away, waiting to be buried with her. He spoke of the simple happiness they shared, like sitting on the grassland eating fruit, and expressed his certainty that Lin Youyou's parents would hope for a sweet romance and good marriage for her, not for her to suffer so much in Shanghai.
He emphasized that what is snatched is not always as good as imagined and urged her to calmly reflect on her choices. After he left, Lin Youyou sat gazing at a family enjoying an outing nearby, her expression filled with envy. Meanwhile, Chen Xu, hearing about Zhong Xiaoqin's recent earnings from her book, promptly arrived at her home, playfully accusing her of forgetting her "poor relatives" after becoming rich. He reminded her of his help during her remarriage.
Zhong Xiaoqin, acknowledging his past help, readily agreed to transfer 10,000 RMB to him, a decision Chen Yu found too casual. After Chen Xu was called away by Gu Jia's phone call, Chen Yu scolded Zhong Xiaoqin, calculating her recent expenses, including a massage armchair for 30,000 RMB and shopping, and warned her that her 1. 56 million RMB copyright fee would quickly be spent if she continued to be so extravagant.
He criticized her for becoming "puffed up" with money. Wang Manni had to deal with a difficult client, Yutai Commerce, who owed a large sum and claimed product quality issues, despite the goods remaining untouched in their warehouse. The client demanded a third-party inspection, delaying payment. Wang Manni's colleague informed her that similar complaints had never been reported and suspected it was an excuse to repudiate the debt.
Wang Manni also met with Yiyi, a client she had helped previously, to celebrate her birthday. Wang Manni gave Yiyi a car diffuser, explaining it was a gift bought with her sales commission, signifying a shift in her perspective on client relationships. Yiyi appreciated the gift and offered to help Wang Manni with sales performance if needed.
Wang Manni then inquired about a former sales representative named He Xiaoguang (or "Xiao He" as Yiyi knew him) who had made errors and resigned, hoping to get information about the outstanding debt. Zhong Xiaoqin brought Gu Jia's favorite crayfish and other food to cheer her up. Excitedly, she announced that she had received 1. 56 million RMB in royalty payments for her book.
She told Gu Jia not to worry about financial burdens and assured her that she, Wang Manni, and Zhong Xiaoqin could collectively support Xu Ziyan. Hearing her friends' warm words, Gu Jia finally broke into a smile. Wang Manni's investigation into the Yutai Commerce debt revealed that a previous salesperson, He Xiaoguang, had promised the client they could return the products after his performance evaluation was met, a common but strictly prohibited "fraud sales" tactic to boost numbers.
After achieving his target and receiving his bonus, He Xiaoguang resigned, leaving the unpaid debt and products in the warehouse, which the client used as leverage. A colleague warned Wang Manni not to get involved, suggesting that Frank, the head of the Sales Department, implicitly condoned such practices. Wang Manni, however, saw this as an opportunity to secure easier assignments in the future. Just as she was contemplating this, Frank summoned her to his office.
Frank immediately demanded her resignation, claiming she was unsuitable for the job. Wang Manni countered, pointing out her success in collecting other debts and directly accusing him of tolerating fraud sales, specifically the He Xiaoguang case. Frank denied her accusations, calling it a simple employee dismissal and threatening her livelihood in Shanghai if she pursued the matter. He disparaged her past as a "service assistant" and dismissed her connections.
Unfazed, Wang Manni defiantly declared that she would not leave before her three-month contract was up and vowed to report him to the Corruption Investigation Department, stating she would ensure he was the one who left the company. Later, Gu Jia returned home to find Wang Manni waiting for her.
Gu Jia shared a recent revelation: Chen Xu had mentioned that Xu Huanshan often sat in his car playing games downstairs before coming home to adjust his mood for his family. Gu Jia realized she never knew about this hidden stress. Reflecting on their marriage, she confessed that she had always managed Xu Huanshan's messes, even having to deal with his mistress.
She admitted that by doing everything for him, she never gave him a chance to learn to take responsibility. Despite her sadness, Gu Jia felt reluctant to abandon her feelings for him and worried if Wang Manni would look down on her. Wang Manni reassured her, saying that the depth of their relationship was unknown to outsiders, and she had no right to judge. Meanwhile, Zhong Xiaoqin had resigned from her job, intending to become a professional writer.
Chen Yu expressed concern, questioning if her future books would be successful, calling the editor's promises "empty." However, seeing her disappointment, he quickly affirmed his support for her decision. Separately, Lin Youyou sent Xu Huanshan a long WeChat message, declaring her continued love, understanding of his difficulties, and willingness to support him from another city if her departure helped him achieve his goals. She made a final request for him to send her off at the airport.
However, it was Gu Jia who arrived at the airport. Gu Jia confronted Lin Youyou, stating that as women, she knew Lin Youyou hadn't actually bought a plane ticket, and handed her one. Lin Youyou admitted she had hoped to use this as a final opportunity to win Xu Huanshan back, reiterating her love for him.
Gu Jia cut through her illusions, recounting how Xu Huanshan’s act of kindness with a band-aid was due to their son's clumsiness, and how the "extraordinary" blue fireworks were their shared dream from ten years ago. She asked Lin Youyou if she loved the man himself or the traces of another woman's impact on him.
Lin Youyou expressed admiration for Gu Jia, admitting she was the kind of woman she aspired to be and speculating they might have been friends in different circumstances. Gu Jia firmly replied there was "no maybe" and dismissed her, saying, "May we never meet again." Before Gu Jia could even leave the airport, she received a WeChat message from Lin Youyou with just four words: "May we never meet again."
Feeling a sudden, overwhelming sense of suffocation, Gu Jia made an impulsive decision. She returned to the counter and bought an immediate flight to Changsha. In Changsha, Gu Jia wandered alone, taking in the sights. She found herself deeply moved witnessing a wedding at a church. Back in Shanghai, Xu Huanshan, unable to reach Gu Jia, desperately called Wang Manni and Zhong Xiaoqin.
Wang Manni vehemently rebuked him, highlighting Gu Jia's recent struggles and her continued self-reflection, contrasting it with Xu Huanshan's persistent blame of Gu Jia for his pressures. She told him he was unworthy of Gu Jia and criticized him for using his wife's perfection as an excuse for his affair.
Xu Huanshan, still unable to grasp his full culpability, left several voicemails for Gu Jia, expressing his confusion and sadness over her absence and the fading traces of her presence at home.
