Nothing But Thirty Episode 42 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Gu Jia, reflecting on her journey, bought a ticket for the last flight back to Shanghai. However, at the gate, she had a change of heart and decided not to go, returning to her hotel in Changsha. She video-called Zhong Xiaoqin and Wang Manni to update them. Gu Jia shared that she had decided to divorce Xu Huanshan and had already informed him of her intention.
She felt calm after coming to this conclusion and insisted on having custody of their son, Zi Yan. Despite the separation, Gu Jia stated she would not take all their properties, as she wouldn't harbor hatred after their marriage. Wang Manni fully supported Gu Jia's decision, emphasizing that divorcing Xu Huanshan would be a punishment for him, but not divorcing him would be a punishment for Gu Jia herself.
Gu Jia explained that she had been someone's wife, mother, and daughter for too long and now wanted to live for herself. She planned to stay in Changsha for a few more days to gather her thoughts before returning. Meanwhile, Zhong Xiaoqin, feeling uninspired to write at home, packed her bags and told Chen Yu she was going to Changsha to meet Gu Jia.
Chen Yu was skeptical, doubting she would get any ideas for her writing, but Zhong Xiaoqin insisted she was serious. However, instead of going to Changsha, Zhong Xiaoqin went to Chen Yu's mother's hometown. Upon her return, Chen Yu picked her up and inquired about her trip.
Zhong Xiaoqin excitedly revealed that she had used a portion of her book royalties, almost one million yuan, to purchase the guesthouse Chen Yu's mother had been managing, ensuring she wouldn't have to worry about rent and could visit them in Shanghai more often. Chen Yu was surprised she made such a significant decision without consulting him.
Zhong Xiaoqin explained that she wanted to spend her earnings on something meaningful, especially since Chen Yu often worried about his mother's living situation. She felt a sense of peace after making the purchase and urged him not to feel pressured by it. Wang Manni continued her efforts at the company, unfazed by the ostracism from her colleagues.
She sent an email to all employees, expressing her concern for the company's brand, which was being damaged by fraudulent sales, citing He Xiaoguang's case as an example. She invited anyone with proof or facts against such malpractices to anonymously send the evidence to her email, promising to report it on their behalf. In retaliation, Frank had Wang Manni’s access card revoked, blocking her from entering the company.
Wang Manni confronted him, declaring that this was his only trick and she would continue to complete her work, including debt collection and client sales, even from outside the office. She also sought help from Sister Yi Yi, proposing to sell the company's old, backlogged inventory to Yi Yi's clients.
Wang Manni explained that these items, though not the latest models, were thoroughly quality-checked and cost-effective for second-tier clients, and selling them would help recover debts and count towards her sales revenue. Sister Yi Yi agreed to assist. Wang Manni compiled the growing evidence against Frank and submitted it to the company's anti-corruption department. Later, Frank cornered Wang Manni outside her apartment, demanding to know why she was trying to ruin him.
Wang Manni accused him of having too many secrets and asserted that his problems would not disappear even if she were forced out. Frank then offered her a substantial amount of money, enough for her to settle down in Shanghai, on the condition that she withdraw all her reports against him. Wang Manni refused, reminding him that he had previously tried to force her out of Shanghai.
She criticized his increasing compromises on principles, stating that his wrongdoings would inevitably be exposed, regardless of her actions. Pushing past him, Wang Manni went inside. Shortly after, she received a call from Director Wei, who arranged for his driver to pick her up for a meal. Director Wei informed her that Frank had been taken away by the company's anti-corruption department, and his case had been transferred to judicial intervention.
He admitted he had wanted to remove Frank for a long time but hadn't found the right opportunity, praising Wang Manni for her courage in confronting the issue despite being isolated. Later, Wang Manni met with Sister Yi Yi, who was impressed by her bravery and offered her a job. Wang Manni expressed uncertainty, admitting that while she was lucky this time, she had nearly lost everything and worried about facing similar challenges in the future.
Sister Yi Yi encouraged her not to overthink, assuring her that people discover their true capabilities through challenges. Gu Jia and Xu Huanshan met with a lawyer to finalize their divorce. Xu Huanshan pleaded with Gu Jia to reconsider, asking why they couldn't just live in peace for their son, like many other couples with estrangements.
Gu Jia calmly explained that their first ten years of marriage had been "too great," and she couldn't bear to see their life decline from that point. Her trust in him had been shattered, and she didn't want to tell Zi Yan someday that she stayed with his father because of him.
She clarified that her belief that the "most beautiful blue fireworks" were only for her had collapsed, like a thorn in her heart that would bleed if pulled out and hurt every time she saw fireworks. Xu Huanshan tried to dismiss his actions as an impulse, but Gu Jia emphasized its importance to her, concluding that their marriage had not failed, but simply "ended."
As Xu Huanshan was about to sign the divorce agreement, he received a shocking phone call from the factory director: the firework factory had exploded. Without delay, Gu Jia rushed to the company to manage the crisis. She learned that two workers had died and three were injured, and the explosion was caused by the last batch of blue fireworks stored improperly due to high humidity, not a production line fault.
The factory was ruined, and Gu Jia informed Xu Huanshan that this time he had to face the consequences alone, as she wouldn't shield him as she had in the past. After making a final visit to Zi Yan at his kindergarten, Xu Huanshan turned himself in to the police. Zhong Xiaoqin and Wang Manni immediately came to support Gu Jia.
They learned that because the divorce was not finalized before the accident, Gu Jia was jointly liable for the factory's massive debts, including penalties for undeliverable orders and compensation for the victims' families. The financial burden far exceeded expectations, forcing Gu Jia to list their apartment for sale, which was mortgaged and pledged by the company.
Gu Jia informed her friends that she would fly to the factory the next day to discuss medical treatment and compensation, as securing a memorandum of understanding from the victims' families would help reduce Xu Huanshan's sentence. She had arranged for her father and a nanny to care for Zi Yan, and asked Zhong Xiaoqin to help contact real estate agents to expedite the sale of their apartment.
Gu Jia later decided to close the company by the New Year and provide severance pay to her employees. Back at home, Zhong Xiaoqin's mother expressed her displeasure about Zhong Xiaoqin using her book earnings to buy a house for Chen Yu's mother, feeling that her own daughter should have prioritized her parents.
Zhong Xiaoqin patiently explained that her parents were not in need of a house and that she did it for Chen Yu, whose family had previously sold their home to pay debts. She recounted how Chen Yu's mother had struggled to raise him and his brother, and how Chen Yu had always carried the burden of providing a home for his mother.
Zhong Xiaoqin expressed her desire to alleviate this burden, believing it would allow Chen Yu to pursue his passions and improve their shared life. Chen Yu, who had just arrived to pick up Zhong Xiaoqin, overheard her heartfelt words from outside the door and was deeply moved, feeling incredibly fortunate to have her in his life.
