Only Side by Side with You Episode 33 Recap
> Only Side by Side with You Recap
An Ning was at home, giving an interview to the media about Wings' new drone product and its rapid success. She spoke about drones being a product of merging dreams and intelligence, and Wings providing a platform for like-minded people. When a reporter asked if her mention of "dishonest practices" referred to Wings' rival, Future Up, An Ning didn't confirm but suggested that in today's society, many seek instant benefits.
She then talked about sales promotions increasing brand value and performance, but cautioned against playing too much with "heat" as it could backfire. An Ning also announced that Wings would donate its first batch of products to a charitable institution, emphasizing that she wouldn't exploit vulnerable individuals for charity.
As the interview concluded and reporters were about to take pictures, Nan Qiao unexpectedly arrived, questioning An Ning about the negative comments directed at the two children due to the drone theft. An Ning swiftly ended the interview and had the reporters leave. An Ning then remarked on Nan Qiao's ability to get into her home and urged her to speak frankly, expressing her annoyance that the interview was cut short.
Shi Yue, who was present, intervened, warning Nan Qiao to be careful with her words, stating they could sue her for libel. An Ning, recognizing Shi Yue's subtle warning to Nan Qiao, chided him for his impolite behavior towards a guest, causing Shi Yue to remain silent. Nan Qiao directly accused An Ning of posting the videos of the children and orchestrating the subsequent cyberbullying and negative public opinion.
She expressed her acceptance of criticism but condemned An Ning for cruelly using two children. An Ning initially denied it, but Nan Qiao asserted that with current technology, it wouldn't be difficult to uncover the truth. An Ning, finding it "uninteresting to play games" with Nan Qiao because she "always says the truth immediately," confessed to her actions and then turned to Shi Yue, asking if she was wrong.
Shi Yue, playing along, declared that he would have done the same for Wings. He remarked that Nan Qiao appeared like a "shocked child" entering the adult world, too naive for the cruel reality of business competition where no one gives rivals a chance. Nan Qiao challenged if such "dirty methods" represented the world of pioneers and adults.
Shi Yue, calling her an "idealist," reminded her that after all they'd been through, she should understand there's no absolute fairness in competition, and achieving goals sometimes requires unscrupulous means. Nan Qiao questioned if "distorting the truth and destroying someone's reputation" were his definition of unscrupulous means. Shi Yue countered that they never released fake news, but that in the online society, a small truth allows the public to complete the story with arguments, not necessarily truth.
Nan Qiao expressed her deep disappointment, noting that Xiao Si had trusted Shi Yue as a friend. Shi Yue coldly replied that it was "just a deal" and he owed Xiao Si nothing, questioning if a child's feelings and dignity could be commodities.
He then provocatively asked what she would do if he told her that An Ning herself was an orphan, enduring the children being "cursed at to the point of being badly bruised," suggesting An Ning possessed a stronger "resistance ability" than merely playing games with orphans. Nan Qiao then asked Shi Yue about the true meaning of drones to him and his "initial intention."
Shi Yue scoffed, stating that for a company, "surviving should be the initial intention, strength is the justification," and expressed worry for Future Up's future. Deeply disheartened, Nan Qiao realized she hadn't found someone who shared her ideals and thoughts, and left An Ning's home. After Nan Qiao's departure, An Ning remarked that Shi Yue was blaming her for involving the orphanage.
She then revealed her insight, stating that she understood his earlier "vicious words" were not meant to protect her, but rather because he was "afraid that [she'll] make [her] move to hurt Nan Qiao." Shi Yue conceded, saying he was "just afraid that you are unable to hurt her and will hurt yourself instead." An Ning then mentioned taking good care as they still had to make Wings popular.
Walking dejectedly through the streets, Nan Qiao encountered Zheng Hao, Nan Qin's son. Zheng Hao announced that he was completely severing ties with his mother, Nan Qin, complaining that she was too strict, his classmates called him a "mama's boy," and even his grandfather had sided with Nan Qin. He felt stripped of dignity and was developing depression, thus seeking refuge with Nan Qiao, whom he proclaimed the "number one rebel of the Nan family."
He declared their alliance would "overthrow the tyrannical rule of Nan Qin." Nan Qiao asked if he had run away from home and if his mother knew. Zheng Hao affirmed that Nan Qiao understood him well and they would "resist the vicious power until the end." Suddenly, a child sprayed Zheng Hao with a water gun, making Nan Qiao laugh, to Zheng Hao's dismay, as she was supposed to be his ally.
Nan Qiao asked Zheng Hao what their next move should be. He suggested buying new clothes, but Nan Qiao refused, saying he already had plenty, and instead offered to help him sneak back home for clothes while she kept watch. Zheng Hao agreed, but clarified he was only going home for clothes, not to end his "running away from home." Before heading back, he insisted on buying a Napoleon cake, his mother's favorite, as a "souvenir before I run away."
Nan Qiao realized he hadn't brought any money and teased him for running away without luggage, to which he replied it was his first time and he'd know for next time. Upon their return home, a worried Nan Qin angrily confronted Zheng Hao, hitting him. Zheng Hao quickly hid behind Nan Qiao, offering the cake as a bribe, but Nan Qin was intent on teaching him a lesson. Nan Qiao intervened, asking Nan Qin to stop.
Zheng Hao then complained that Nan Qiao could fight with their grandfather and not go home, so why couldn't he? Nan Qiao's father, who overheard, chastised Zheng Hao, saying he wasn't old enough to be compared to Nan Qiao. This angered Nan Qin, who defended her son, pointing out he at least bought her a cake, unlike Nan Qiao.
Nan Qiao's father, feeling that even Nan Qin was talking back to him now, declared himself "stuffy" and retreated to his newspaper, refusing to fight with the "three of them." Zheng Hao then asked his mother for sweet and sour pork, only to be sternly told to "get lost" and that he was lucky she wasn't starving him. Shi Yue, in a somber mood, returned to the Waking Dream bar.
Qie Hao, the owner, complained that Shi Yue was consuming all their alcohol, making the bar unprofitable. However, Shi Yue declared he was happy and celebrating that Nan Qiao had "finally got enlightened." He spoke of Nan Qiao's last look of disappointment, which he found beautiful, and proudly called himself the "best actor" for his long performance, to which Qie Hao toasted him as the "best supporting actor." Suddenly, a drunken Tai Ge appeared, loudly calling for An Ning.
He soon spotted Shi Yue and angrily demanded to know what "bewitching soup" Shi Yue had given An Ning for her to trust him so much. Tai Ge bitterly expressed his deepest regret was ever allowing Shi Yue to go to the U. S. with An Ning, vehemently asserting that in his eyes, Shi Yue would "forever be that dog that got disdained by the whole world" from seven years ago.
Shi Yue, unfazed, merely taunted Tai Ge, stating that An Ning "just likes this dog." Tai Ge continued to mock Shi Yue, questioning his belief in An Ning's trust and then brought up Nan Qiao, warning Shi Yue to stop "daydreaming" because he was "too dirty" and "not worthy to be with anyone." Unable to tolerate Tai Ge's insults, Qie Hao stepped in, punched Tai Ge repeatedly, and forced him out of the bar.
Left alone, Shi Yue's demeanor changed, and he painfully recalled the harsh words he had said to Nan Qiao earlier. Nan Qiao returned to her brother Nan Si's room, gazing at the drone on the table and old photographs. She reflected on past conversations with Shi Yue. She recalled wondering if Shi Yue, like a child, sometimes wore "camouflage with thorns" and bluffed to scare people away, making others misunderstand him.
Her thoughts drifted to a story Shi Yue had told her about a girl named Xiao Tao, an orphan who tragically lost her parents in an avalanche and later became unable to walk due to illness. Shi Yue had wished a drone existed then that could fly anywhere for rescue. This memory was juxtaposed with Shi Yue's recent declaration that for a company, "surviving should be the initial intention, strength is the justification."
Shi Yue woke up at ten in the morning, nursing a heavy hangover. Meanwhile, Hao Jie, obsessed with Ouyang Qi, was persistently calling her pet shop from multiple phones, concocting various elaborate stories about sick pets, like a cat hit by a car with broken bones, or a once-active dog with suddenly weak limbs.
When Shi Yue returned home, he found Hao Jie and, without a word, dragged him into the bathroom and sobered him up with a cold shower, instructing him to go home. After being jolted awake, Hao Jie immediately went to Ouyang Qi's pet shop. Upon arrival, he dramatically declared he had a serious illness that only Ouyang Qi can cure, threatening to die if other customers didn't leave and give him her full attention. The other customers, disturbed, quickly departed.
Ouyang Qi, exasperated, told him she didn't treat human illnesses, especially his, and had no obligation to be his "guiding medicine," adding that his life or death had nothing to do with her. Hao Jie retorted that his death "would" involve her. He confessed to thinking about her constantly, seeing her when he closed his eyes and longing for her when he opened them.
He then told her a poignant story about a clown who brought joy to others but was deeply lonely himself, eventually admitting to a doctor that he "was" that clown. Hao Jie confessed that after meeting Ouyang Qi, he realized he didn't care if he was laughing or crying, as long as she laughed, he was happy. He declared his willingness to be her clown.
Acknowledging her enduring grief for Nan Si, Hao Jie urged her to allow herself to feel pain and cry, but to remember that he, her clown, would always be there to tell jokes, perform, and help remove her worries, asking her not to drive him away. Ouyang Qi acknowledged his words, and Hao Jie, promising to wait for the day she wished to see him, left.
Ouyang Qi then recalled a conversation with Nan Qiao, who had once told her that everyone could see Hao Jie's sincere affection, and that she would deeply regret it if he ever stopped pursuing her. Reflecting on Hao Jie's constant stream of bizarre and invented pet ailments, Ouyang Qi realized that it was she who had been "playing a fool" all along.
Unbeknownst to her, Hao Jie had deliberately left his phone behind as an excuse to return, and he overheard her self-reflection, confirming her true feelings. Overjoyed, Hao Jie playfully asked if dogs really developed depression. Ouyang Qi, now smiling, told him he could return, but to "look for a better reason" next time. Hao Jie, ecstatic, promised to come up with a novel reason and visit her again tomorrow, to which Ouyang Qi happily agreed.
An Ning was having drinks with a subordinate at home, observing that Shi Yue hadn't visited in a long time. Her subordinate suggested that perhaps Shi Yue felt no need to come, given how much An Ning had done for him. At that moment, An Ning received a phone call from her ex-husband, Zhao Yuqing, who was in Los Angeles.
Zhao Yuqing feigned missing her, but quickly revealed his true intention: his company's funding was tight, and he needed An Ning's help to transport some "goods" to China. An Ning firmly refused, stating she would "never touch those things again." Zhao Yuqing dismissed her refusal as a mistake, suggesting they earn money together. An Ning retorted that if he wanted to die, it was his business, and he shouldn't drag her into it.
Zhao Yuqing then warned her to appreciate the opportunity, reminding her that her past in the U. S. could not be erased simply by divorcing him and returning to China. He threatened to expose her "unclean" past if she didn't cooperate. Distraught, An Ning reluctantly agreed. After hanging up, An Ning was visibly upset. Her subordinate tried to comfort her, reminding her that without Zhao Yuqing's influence, neither she nor Shi Yue would have fared well.
Forced to help Zhao Yuqing, An Ning decided to contact Tai Ge, specifically wanting to keep Shi Yue in the dark about this new entanglement. She also instructed her subordinate to remove all the orphanage-related videos. An Ning then pondered how she could ever achieve the life she truly desired with Shi Yue.
