Our Dazzling Days Episode 20 Recap
> Our Dazzling Days Recaps
Xia Lei and his team finally reached a breakthrough after days of intensive work. With all technical bugs resolved and the internal testing completed successfully, their website was officially launched. The achievement was marked by signing a significant client, Mr. Xue, which left Fan Weijie ecstatic and eager to celebrate with champagne. News of the success quickly traveled back to the East Chemical Plant, where the neighbors expressed their pride in Xia Lei’s accomplishments.
Xia Limin and his wife decided to visit Shanghai, with Xia Limin even bringing along some Caozi cake, a local specialty from their hometown, as a treat for his son. The visit to the company office filled Xia Limin and his wife with immense pride as they witnessed the scale of the operation and saw Xia Lei confidently managing his staff. Seizing the happy occasion, Xia Lei shared his vision for the future.
He planned to use his year-end bonus to make a down payment on an apartment in the city so he could move his parents out of the East Chemical Plant to live with him, allowing them to spend their time with Yan Wenyuan and other old friends. However, the celebratory mood was shattered by a phone call from Fan Weijie. A crisis had struck the family business, Jiangnan Machinery Plant, after a relative named Fan He embezzled funds and fled.
Faced with aggressive creditors and bank loans, Fan Weijie had secretly sold the company and the website to cover the financial void. Xia Lei was devastated to learn that his hard work had been sold without his consent, effectively stripping him of his equity and his position. Shortly after the call, a representative from the Helian Zongheng Group arrived at the office to begin the formal handover procedures.
Deeply concerned for their son, Xia Limin and his wife visited Yan Wenyuan to discuss the situation. Yan Wenyuan offered comfort, suggesting that such a setback was a valuable lesson that money could not buy for a young entrepreneur. When Yan Xiaodan asked about his next steps, Xia Lei admitted he was setting aside his dreams of entrepreneurship for now to focus on finding a stable job in the corporate market.
Meanwhile, Yan Xiaodan had successfully secured her visa and was preparing to leave for her studies in France. Driven by his devotion to Yan Xiaodan, Zhang Xiaoman confided in Ding Guoqiang about his desire to go abroad to be with her. Understanding the depth of the young man’s feelings, Ding Guoqiang offered his full support and even tried to give him a portion of his savings to help with the journey.
By the autumn of 2002, Yan Xiaodan arrived in France, embracing the excitement of her new environment. Zhang Xiaoman, however, found that reaching France was far more difficult than anticipated. His visa applications were repeatedly denied due to a lack of proper documentation and insufficient proof of funds.
On the advice of Zhuang Sen, Zhang Xiaoman decided to first go to Japan to earn the necessary money and build an international travel record, planning to stay with Zhuang Sen’s aunt, Zhuang Huimin. On the eve of his departure, Ding Guoqiang helped Zhang Xiaoman pack his belongings, quietly tucking a stack of cash into a hidden compartment of the suitcase.
Upon arriving in Japan, Zhang Xiaoman was met by Qu, who helped him settle into the shared living quarters where he would stay with coworkers Guo and Yun. He learned to adapt to Japanese customs, such as sleeping on the floor and maintaining a disciplined routine. Zhang Xiaoman began working as a server in Zhuang Huimin’s restaurant.
Although she appeared stern and made it clear that rent would be deducted from his wages without any pay advances, she was ultimately a kind-hearted woman. During his breaks, Zhang Xiaoman used a borrowed phone card to call Yan Xiaodan. Despite the distance and the time difference, they encouraged one another and reaffirmed their promise to reunite in France.
Xiaoman’s lack of Japanese language skills led to some awkward moments at work, such as failing to understand a customer who wanted to pay the bill. When Zhuang Huimin insisted he study Japanese, he explained that his primary focus was learning French for his eventual move to France. Realizing the extent of his dedication to his girlfriend, Zhuang Huimin could not help but admire his romantic spirit.
Back home, Ding Guoqiang and his wife continued to look after He Yuexiang's house and pray for Zhang Xiaoman’s success and safety. In France, Chen Guoqing visited Yan Xiaodan with his new girlfriend, and they spoke optimistically about her eventual reunion with Zhang Xiaoman. Back in Japan, the restaurant was disturbed by the arrival of Watanabe and Yu Qiangbei.
They pressured Zhuang Huimin to authorize the use of the gold belt and trophies left by her late husband, Maeda, a former professional boxer, for promotional profit. Zhuang Huimin fiercely rejected the offer and drove them out, but the stress of the encounter triggered a painful bout of her chronic stomach issues. Seeing her distress, Zhang Xiaoman thoughtfully prepared a bowl of millet porridge to soothe her stomach, a gesture that deeply touched her.
In gratitude, she invited him to call her Auntie when they were in private. While caring for Zhuang Huimin, Zhang Xiaoman encountered Yu Qiangbei again at the restaurant. They were surprised to discover they were both from Tiecheng, which instantly created a bond between them. Yu Qiangbei revealed that Maeda had been a fighter in Watanabe’s gym who died tragically after a match.
Recognizing Zhang Xiaoman’s determination to save money, Yu Qiangbei suggested he take up a part-time job at the boxing gym cleaning and selling drinks, noting the income was quite good. Zhang Xiaoman approached Zhuang Huimin about the opportunity, and she gave her quiet approval, provided he kept the arrangement discreet from the other staff. Meanwhile, Xia Lei sought out Meng Ge to ask for an introduction to the company Fenlier.
He expressed confidence that his dual background in communication engineering and finance made him a perfect fit for their strategic investment needs. Meng Ge warned him that the firm was known for its high-pressure "wolf culture," but Xia Lei assured her that he was fully prepared to adapt and excel in such a demanding environment.
