Nothing But Thirty Episode 9 Recap
> Nothing But Thirty Recap
Chen Yu found himself in the yard, silently burying his dead fish. Zhong Xiaoqin followed him, asking why he was so quiet and what he was doing. She pressed him, saying her mother was right—he didn't seem sad or solemn about their baby's passing, only concerned with his fish. Chen Yu retorted that he was simply burying them so her cat wouldn't dig them up and eat them, warning her not to take her anger out on his cat.
Zhong Xiaoqin, who had just undergone surgery and felt weak, expressed her disappointment that he hadn't even taken a day off for her, yet still found time to care for his fish. Chen Yu then explained his reluctance to be home, admitting he'd rather work at the station than face a direct conflict with her mother.
He accused her mother of intentionally causing trouble by serving fish immediately after his died and even implied she was responsible for their death by unplugging the fish tank's filter to save electricity. Zhong Xiaoqin, defending her mother, was shocked by his accusations. His harsh words left Zhong Xiaoqin heartbroken. She cried and rushed to Gu Jia's home, so distressed that she forgot her cab fare.
Gu Jia quickly paid the driver, then noticed how cold Zhong Xiaoqin's hands were, urging her to avoid catching a cold, especially in her current state. Gu Jia brought her warm water to soak her feet, explaining that a full bath wasn't advisable. When asked what happened, Zhong Xiaoqin tearfully confessed that Chen Yu had also driven her mother away, leaving her feeling wronged and unable to articulate her feelings.
Gu Jia embraced her, reassuring her that she could sleep there for the night. That evening, Wang Manni joined Liang Zhengxian for the captain's VIP dinner. During the drawing of wishes, Liang Zhengxian's table was chosen as the lucky winner. His wish was for Wang Manni to sing a song for him. Despite feeling unprepared and a bit embarrassed, Wang Manni bravely took the stage and sang "What a Wonderful World."
Afterwards, on the deck, she confessed to Liang Zhengxian that she felt everyone was laughing at her. He quickly reassured her, saying they were thanking her, and praised her courage, calling the song unforgettable. He looked at her with undisguised admiration, implying his wish was granted by God so he could openly express his feelings. Overwhelmed, Wang Manni excused herself, feigning seasickness, and returned to her room.
The next morning, Chen Yu arrived at Gu Jia's to pick up Zhong Xiaoqin. Gu Jia urged him to take Zhong Xiaoqin out for a good breakfast and comfort her. Chen Yu claimed this was difficult, as Zhong Xiaoqin now got angry after just a few words. Gu Jia reprimanded him, emphasizing that the child was not "optional" for Zhong Xiaoqin, who had wholeheartedly prepared for motherhood and was deeply hurt despite her outwardly careless demeanor.
Gu Jia told him that if he thought she didn't care, he was "being mean." She elaborated on marital life, stating that while 80% is mundane, the 20% of challenges, if navigated well, can redeem the ordinary, but if handled poorly, can irreparably damage the relationship. Chen Yu seemed to take her words to heart. Gu Jia then told Zhong Xiaoqin that Chen Yu had come early to fetch her, and she should go with him.
Chen Yu, in turn, offered to take Zhong Xiaoqin for breakfast. At breakfast, Chen Yu apologized for his behavior the previous day, admitting he was wrong for speaking ill of her mother and for not taking leave after her surgery. He confessed that the rapid succession of events—discovering and then losing the child—had left them "dumbstruck" and stubborn. He speculated that the child's loss wasn't the root problem but merely exposed existing issues.
Zhong Xiaoqin calmly stated that their problem was a "lack of communication" and shared goals. She reflected on her own life, admitting she had no clear future plans, was content with her current job and salary, and hadn't truly strived for anything she deeply desired. She then asked if he had any goals, noting he had never shared them.
She reminisced about their courtship, when they would sit side-by-side, holding hands under the table, contrasting it with their current habit of sitting across from each other and rushing through meals. Chen Yu defensively argued that her memories were biased, explaining past instances that led to their current habits, such as a crowded restaurant or him accidentally ruining her silk shirts. Exasperated by his justifications, Zhong Xiaoqin, losing her appetite, wished she hadn't said anything at all.
Meanwhile, Gu Jia took her son to an equestrian class, where she witnessed Mrs. Yu fall after her stepson deliberately startled her horse. Gu Jia quickly helped Mrs. Yu up, gently noting her broken, second-hand bracelet, and expressing sympathy for the difficulties of being a stepmother. Mrs. Yu, distraught, confessed that her stepson treated her like an enemy, and her position in the household was worse than that of a nanny.
She recounted sacrificing her acting career and resorting to buying second-hand luxury items to maintain appearances in social circles, only for her husband to criticize her as immature. Gu Jia advised Mrs. Yu not to try to replace the child's biological mother, explaining that children are perceptive and attempting to usurp that role would only make them an adversary. Instead, she suggested Mrs. Yu try to be a friend.
When Mrs. Yu questioned Gu Jia's sudden kindness, Gu Jia candidly revealed her intention: she hoped Mrs. Yu's husband would consider her company for the fireworks tender at his amusement park. On the final night of the cruise, Liang Zhengxian visited Wang Manni. She opened her door but stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her. He invited her to Iceland to see the northern lights, mentioning he had all the arrangements ready.
Wang Manni politely but firmly declined, stating she had to return to her regular life and work. She reminded him of his earlier comment that she didn't truly belong in his cabin, revealing that she had paid for her upgrade with credit card installments. She explained that her time on the cruise was a "dream" that must end when the ship docked, and she needed to "wake up" and return to her own reality.
Liang Zhengxian pressed her, suggesting she might regret not seizing the opportunity for a different life. He remarked that she seemed different that day, to which she replied this was her "normal" self, reaffirming she didn't belong in his world. When he then asked for her WeChat contact, Wang Manni refused, citing the captain's saying that "what happens on the ship should not be taken off the ship."
She added that since she couldn't take any of it with her, she preferred to leave it all behind. Liang Zhengxian admitted he was a little hurt but found her response memorable, then bid her farewell. Upon her return from vacation, Wang Manni was met by her landlord, who announced she was selling the apartment because her daughter was getting married and needed a larger home. Wang Manni, having just paid rent, was informed she would be refunded.
The landlord introduced a real estate agent, "Xiao Xu," requesting Wang Manni's cooperation for apartment showings. During this discussion, Gu Jia called Wang Manni to inform her that Zhong Xiaoqin had lost her baby due to "embryo demise" and had undergone surgery. Despite Gu Jia's suggestion to rest first, Wang Manni immediately asked for the address, determined to go see Zhong Xiaoqin. To lift Zhong Xiaoqin's spirits, Wang Manni and Gu Jia brought gifts, but Zhong Xiaoqin remained listless.
Gu Jia then suggested they go out, and after some unenthusiastic ideas, she proposed a unique outing. They visited their alma mater, sitting in the back of a university classroom. There, they overheard younger students discussing their anxieties about aging; one worried about turning 22, another casually referred to 30-year-olds as "aunties," while a third romanticized becoming a full-time housewife or fretted about losing game time after graduation.
Gu Jia and Wang Manni quietly exchanged amused glances, with Gu Jia debunking the idealistic portrayal of a full-time housewife's life. The professor eventually noticed the three women in the back, seemingly out of place. Afterwards, Zhong Xiaoqin reflected on her youthful aspirations for her thirties, realizing that novels often depict a fictionalized reality.
She concluded that life's essence is a continuous series of challenges, but found a sense of acceptance, declaring that being thirty "is not a big deal anyways!" Later, Wang Manni returned home to find the real estate agent, Xiao Xu, waiting outside. He explained he had appointments to show the apartment but couldn't because she wasn't home, emphasizing the landlord's urgency to sell.
He tried to ingratiate himself, offering an extra month's rent for her cooperation and appealing to their shared experience as renters, claiming those without property are "weak." After she confirmed his age, Wang Manni, while appearing sympathetic to his predicament, firmly stated her available days—next Tuesday and Saturday, once a day—and insisted she not be bothered at other times. She also declined the fruit he offered as a gesture of goodwill.
Zhong Xiaoqin accompanied Chen Yu to a medical appointment to understand the cause of their baby's loss. The doctor explained that "chromosomal abnormalities" were the cause, a common occurrence and a form of "natural selection." When asked whose fault it was, the doctor clarified that many factors, including sperm or egg quality, could contribute, making it impossible to pinpoint a single source.
The doctor confirmed they could have children again but strongly recommended a pre-pregnancy check-up, specifically suggesting a semen analysis for Chen Yu. Chen Yu visibly hesitated, believing he had no issues and expressing discomfort about the test. Zhong Xiaoqin, however, pressed him, recounting her feelings of being "alone and helpless" during her surgery. She told him she could accept never having children, but she desperately wanted to understand why if it happened again. Moved by her heartfelt plea, Chen Yu eventually agreed to undergo the test.
