Only Side by Side with You Episode 3 Recap
> Only Side by Side with You Recap
Tai Ge, resentful of Shi Yue's rapid success and non-cooperation, plotted to frame him by planting high-purity drugs in his car, believing it would land Shi Yue in jail for years, especially while Sister An, Shi Yue's backer, was away. Nan Qiao, who had come to the Lucid Dream bar looking for Chang Jianxiong, accidentally overheard Tai Ge and his men discussing the plan in the underground parking lot. As she tried to flee, she tripped over some equipment.
Shi Yue, who had arrived, quickly caught her and told her to cooperate. Tai Ge and his men approached them. Shi Yue pretended to kiss Nan Qiao to mislead them, then told her to run. Tai Ge mocked Shi Yue for having a woman while Sister An was away. As Tai Ge's men attacked Shi Yue, Nan Qiao protected him by shielding him from a baseball bat hit.
With Nan Qiao present, Shi Yue was constrained, so he quickly grabbed her and they fled the underground garage. They successfully evaded their pursuers by leaping over cars in the garage, a feat made easier by Nan Qiao's canvas shoes. As Shi Yue drove Nan Qiao away, he complained that her unexpected appearance had ruined his plan to catch Tai Ge.
He noted that every time they met, something bad happened to him, but joked that it was fortunate she wasn't wearing high heels, or he would have had to carry her. Nan Qiao retorted that if she had worn high heels, her heels would be weapons, and Tai Ge's men would be the ones fleeing. Nan Qiao expressed her desire to return to Lucid Dream to find her friend, whom Shi Yue realized was Chang Jianxiong.
He reassured her that the two men who had gotten her drunk before were now hospitalized with acute pancreatitis after a drinking session with Chang Jianxiong, who was perfectly fine. Shi Yue observed Nan Qiao's injured arm, sustained while protecting him, and offered to take her to a hospital, but she insisted on going back to her office, stating she had medicine there. Shi Yue agreed.
At Future Up, Shi Yue helped Nan Qiao bandage her arm, finding the medicine box in a cabinet. He asked about her work, comparing it to his own money-driven ventures. Nan Qiao proudly stated they were different, as she had dreams. Shi Yue remarked that if her profession truly earned money, she wouldn't need to drink with investors at a bar.
He then bluntly told her that her company wouldn't revive even if she worked overtime every day, and asked her to come with him for an important discussion. In the car, Shi Yue proposed investing 50 million yuan for 40% of Future Up's shares, promising the funds would be deposited the next day. Nan Qiao accused him of exploiting her company's vulnerability, calling it an attempt to "steal from me while my company is on fire."
She adamantly refused to dilute her founding team's equity, asserting that Future Up was a serious venture, not a toy for his investment games. She questioned his superficial understanding of her company, its employees, and their daily work. Shi Yue countered that he was a businessman and his offer was fair given the difficult market, noting that a formal appraisal might yield even less.
After dropping Nan Qiao home, Shi Yue reiterated his serious interest in Future Up's drone business and urged her to consider his offer, stating that she would eventually need him. Back home, Nan Qiao immediately received a call from Wen Di, who confirmed speaking with Chang Jianxiong, who offered to help find investors. Wen Di then asked Nan Qiao if she was certain about launching the new product ahead of schedule.
Nan Qiao, determined, replied that they should "try to go all out on hard power." Wen Di, respecting her decision, wholeheartedly committed to supporting her. The next morning, Chang Jianxiong joined Nan Qiao's father for a rigorous exercise routine. Impressed by Chang Jianxiong's military-like discipline, Nan Qiao's father set a strict physical training regimen, demanding weekly reports on his progress, which Chang Jianxiong readily accepted. Observing Chang Jianxiong's daily visits, Nan Qiao's father sensed he had something to say.
Chang Jianxiong pleaded with him to care more for Nan Qiao, arguing that Zhou Ran was unworthy of her and it was a blessing his true character was revealed before the wedding. Nan Qiao's father, however, simply instructed Chang Jianxiong to supervise Nan Qiao and prevent her from further misbehavior before leaving abruptly. As Chang Jianxiong prepared to depart, his father's chauffeur, Lao Xu, arrived to pick him up.
At the Chang's Group office, Chang Jianxiong's father, who was good friends with Nan Qiao's father, playfully chided his son for visiting Uncle Nan's house immediately upon returning after three years, rather than coming home first. He offered Chang Jianxiong a high-level executive position, implying he should take over the company. However, Chang Jianxiong insisted on starting from the lowest level to gain experience, mirroring Nan Qiao's journey.
His father, frustrated, sarcastically questioned Chang Jianxiong's business acumen, asking what he possessed beyond physical strength. He then instructed his assistant, Xiao Liang, to find a low-paying, low-brain-power position suitable for Chang Jianxiong. Xiao Liang suggested "Driver," a role Chang Jianxiong accepted with feigned professionalism, addressing his father as "Chairman Chang" and offering his driving services.
Nan Qiao presided over a meeting at Future Up, outlining an intense, week-long schedule for the new product launch and assigning critical tasks to her team members—Xiao An, Brother Q, Gao Xing, Lao Qin, and Wen Di. Her elder sister, Nan Qin, then arrived with her son, bringing snacks for the team and a letter from their father, their only means of communication for the past three years. Nan Qiao dismissed her arm injury as a mere drone scratch.
The letter contained two pieces of advice: marriage was not child's play and she should prioritize family over career. It also included a postscript stating Chang Jianxiong was "worthy to be developed." Nan Qiao voiced her frustration to Nan Qin that their father seemed to believe his daughters' primary value was to marry well, while she saw drones as her life's career. Nan Qin empathized, saying all fathers thought similarly, and suggested their retired father's constant monitoring stemmed from idleness.
Nan Qiao then joked about working harder to develop drones quickly, planning to send the first batch to her father and his old comrades, hoping it would keep them busy flying drones and divert his attention from her. Suddenly, Nan Qin's son's drone went out of control. At the gym, Shi Yue was engrossed in his workout. Xie Hao brought him a sugar-free drink and playfully teased him about his lack of a girlfriend despite his success.
Xie Hao expressed his desire to open a Lucid Dream branch, but Shi Yue revealed he was abandoning that plan to invest in Nan Qiao's company, Future Up. He explained his extensive research into her drones, highlighting their potential, particularly their ability to fly indoors without GPS using MEMS sensors, which he believed would be incredibly profitable as a commercial product.
Shi Yue then instructed Xie Hao to keep a close watch on Future Up and apply financial pressure, even suggesting sabotage to depress the company's market value so they could invest at its weakest point for maximum profit. Xie Hao understood, quoting Shi Yue's own investment philosophy.
Later, while Shi Yue was showering, Xie Hao informed him that Chang Jianxiong was the chairman's son of Chang's Group and Nan Qiao's childhood sweetheart, making it difficult for Shi Yue to pursue her. Xie Hao also revealed Nan Qiao's prestigious background, mentioning her father was influential and that she had studied in Germany under a renowned advisor, Dr. Thyssen Friedrich.
Shi Yue, despite having not asked Xie Hao to investigate Nan Qiao, acknowledged the information but redirected Xie Hao to focus on Chang Jianxiong. Shi Yue received a notification for a phone conference from Sister An. He recalled how, in his past, Sister An had saved him from a violent beating and given him a new identity and purpose by hiring him as her driver, effectively shaping his current path and claiming him as "hers."
At the conference, Tai Ge immediately taunted Shi Yue for his tardiness and his apparent disloyalty to Sister An, calling him her "little wolf-dog." Shi Yue shot back, calling Tai Ge a "boot-licking lackey." Sister An, via phone, then directly ordered Shi Yue to step away from Lucid Dream and prepare to manage a new company.
Shi Yue attempted to refuse, citing his plans to expand Lucid Dream, but Sister An coldly insisted, telling him he had "played enough" and must obey. Tai Ge tried to interject, offering his services, but Sister An sharply dismissed him, hinting at his involvement in illegal activities. Angered by Sister An's authoritative tone, Shi Yue abruptly left the meeting. Shi Yue returned to the gym, venting his anger in the boxing ring.
His troubled mind caused him to take a hit from his coach, further deepening his frustration. He was flooded with memories of his perilous past with Sister An, particularly a vivid recollection of a time he single-handedly fought through numerous enemies to rescue her from a kidnapping during a tense negotiation. Meanwhile, at Future Up, Nan Qiao and her team were diligently completing the final preparations for their new product launch. The team, including Lao Qin, Brother Yu, Ru Xing, Brother Q, and Xiao An, confirmed everything was ready and prepared to set out for the launch.
