Resumo do episódio 16 de When You Be Me
> Resumos de When You Be Me
Qiao Nan returned home only to be confronted by his father, Qiao Yuanshan, who was furious. Qiao Yuanshan accused Qiao Nan of cheating and deceiving, questioning his suddenly improved grades and alleging he had hired someone to do his work. He then revealed he knew Qiao Nan had Mu Xiangxiang working at the hotel and doing his homework, and that he was secretly engaging in a puppy love relationship with her under the guise of studying.
Qiao Yuanshan called them both reckless. Qiao Nan took full responsibility, stating he was the one who was reckless and forced Mu Xiangxiang to do his homework. He confessed that he liked her and had pestered her, but she never wanted to date him, and his feelings were unrequited. Enraged, Qiao Yuanshan threatened to hit him, but Qiao Nan refused to explain further, accepting the blame and declaring he deserved whatever punishment came his way.
Seeing no remorse, Qiao Yuanshan disowned Qiao Nan, ordering him out of the house, proclaiming the Qiao family had no place for a good-for-nothing like him. Qiao Nan then ran away from home, with Qiao Yuanshan's wife calling out to stop him, but Qiao Yuanshan prevented her from intervening further. Qiao Yuanshan remained seething, vowing Qiao Nan should never return. The next day at school, Mu Xiangxiang felt a pang of sadness seeing Qiao Nan's empty seat.
Meanwhile, Qiao Nan desperately sought employment, but his lack of a degree resulted in repeated rejections. One recruiter explicitly stated they only hired master's graduates from top universities or those with overseas education, deeming a 19-year-old high school dropout with no experience unsuitable even for a driver's position. Qiao Nan tried to argue that capability should matter more than credentials, mentioning his lifelong exposure to hotel management, but was swiftly dismissed.
He continued to face similar doors slammed shut at other companies. When Mu Xiangxiang returned home, she was surprised to find her parents, Mu Defeng and Xiaoyu, selling noodles. Her mother explained it was Mu Xiangxiang's own idea from some time ago, having praised Mu Defeng's noodles and suggested they would be profitable. They had also recently argued with Mu Xiangxiang's aunt-in-law, prompting them to start their own business rather than continue working for her.
The noodle stall was doing surprisingly well. Mu Xiangxiang offered to help, and her mother optimistically spoke of using their earnings to pay rent and save for Mu Xiangxiang's college education. However, the aunt-in-law soon appeared, demanding to see their business and hygiene licenses. Mu Defeng assured her they were being processed, but the aunt-in-law insisted they couldn't operate without them, threatening them with hefty fines.
She then angrily accused Mu Xiangxiang's family of being "ungrateful wretches" and "biting the hand that feeds them" after she had kindly let them run a small shop to support her own hotpot business. Mu Xiangxiang bravely interjected, asking why they should be bullied when they were earning an honest living. The aunt-in-law retorted that Mu Xiangxiang's family was living off her generosity, calling them "wolf-hearted and dog-lunged."
Mu Defeng tried to pacify her, explaining their desperation, but the aunt-in-law remained firm, giving them three days to move out and severing all ties. Xiaoyu was furious and wanted to call the police, citing their lease agreement. Mu Defeng, however, believed legal action would only worsen their relationship and make living there impossible, regardless of who won. Xiaoyu worried about their livelihood, with both the house and the small shop being taken from them.
She suggested begging the aunt-in-law again, but Mu Defeng firmly stopped her, stating he couldn't stomach the harsh words spoken about their daughter. Seeing her parents distressed, Mu Xiangxiang broke down in tears. Mu Defeng and Xiaoyu immediately comforted her, assuring her that as long as they were together, their family would remain strong. They expressed optimism about finding a better, more affordable home and escaping the aunt-in-law's oppression, embracing a new life by selling noodles in the city center.
This brought a smile back to Mu Xiangxiang's face. Later that evening, Mu Defeng planned to search for houses, while Xiaoyu began packing, expressing concern about the tight three-day deadline. They had to sell their remaining stock from the small shop to the aunt-in-law for a meager 5,000 yuan, which Mu Defeng rationalized was better than incurring moving and storage costs that would exceed the value of the goods.
The next day, Qiao Rui and Qiao Yuanshan arrived at Mu Xiangxiang's doorstep. Mu Xiangxiang's parents were surprised to learn she knew them. Qiao Rui introduced himself and his father, asking Mu Xiangxiang if she knew Qiao Nan's whereabouts, as he had run away. Mu Xiangxiang's parents expressed disbelief, finding Qiao Nan to be a well-behaved child.
Qiao Yuanshan implied Mu Xiangxiang was to blame, but her parents defended her, saying they had already ensured she cut ties with Qiao Nan. Mu Xiangxiang, not wanting to put her parents in an awkward position, suggested they talk alone outside. She informed Qiao Yuanshan and Qiao Rui that she hadn't been in contact with Qiao Nan for a long time and wasn't aware he had run away, believing he was simply in a bad mood and skipping school.
She also reiterated that there was no romantic involvement between them. Qiao Yuanshan dismissed her denial, insisting their interactions had gone beyond normal student boundaries. Qiao Rui intervened, urging his father not to pressure Mu Xiangxiang, as finding Qiao Nan was the priority. He revealed that Qiao Nan hadn't used his credit cards, leaving them worried about his well-being. Qiao Yuanshan, growing desperate, decided to call the police.
Qiao Rui asked Mu Xiangxiang to contact him immediately if Qiao Nan reached out to her. Mu Xiangxiang tried calling Qiao Nan, but his phone was unreachable. Qiao Nan was, in fact, staying at his uncle Jiajun's home. Jiajun offered him milk and inquired about his future plans. Qiao Nan stated he was actively looking for jobs online and intended to move out once employed, not wanting to trouble his uncle and aunt.
Jiajun urged him to return home and school, dismissing the conflict with his father as a temporary spat. Qiao Nan adamantly refused, determined to break free from his father's control and never spend his money again. He assured Jiajun he had sufficient pocket money on his phone and made Jiajun promise not to reveal his location to his father. Later, Jiajun, despite his promise, informed Qiao Yuanshan and Qiao Rui about Qiao Nan's whereabouts.
Qiao Yuanshan chastised Jiajun for keeping it secret, expressing how worried they had been. Jiajun defended his actions by claiming Qiao Nan, whose mother had passed away early, held a special place in his heart, and he simply indulged him. He assured them Qiao Nan was well-cared for, eating and drinking on his card, with his wife even preparing bird's nest soup. (In reality, Qiao Nan had not accepted any money or cards from Jiajun).
Qiao Yuanshan was annoyed, believing Qiao Nan was still relying on family support despite his show of independence, criticizing him as a "spoiled brat." Jiajun insisted he willingly provided for Qiao Nan and even offered to book him a five-star hotel if he wasn't comfortable. Qiao Yuanshan then ordered Qiao Rui to retrieve Qiao Nan immediately, even if it meant putting him in a hostel if he refused to come home.
Jiajun strongly objected, fearing that Qiao Nan's stubborn nature would lead him to run away again if forced, making him impossible to find. He advised letting Qiao Nan stay with him until everyone's emotions had cooled down. Qiao Rui agreed, suggesting that rushing Qiao Nan back now would only cause him to leave again. Qiao Rui then offered to transfer 100,000 yuan to Jiajun for Qiao Nan's expenses, but Jiajun initially refused, citing their familial bond.
Qiao Yuanshan insisted he take the money, remarking that Qiao Nan could squander his own family's wealth but shouldn't ruin Jiajun's. To Jiajun's delight, Qiao Yuanshan also offered to transfer him back to the headquarters to manage procurement, citing his hard work and family responsibilities, which Jiajun happily accepted. Qiao Nan secured a job as a delivery rider through a labor dispatch company.
The recruiter explained the base salary of 1,500 yuan per month, with commissions of 5 to 10 yuan per extra delivery after meeting a daily quota. The company provided electric bikes, insurance, and accommodation, but no meals, requiring a minimum of eight hours of work per day with the option for more. Qiao Nan agreed to the terms and signed the contract, ready to start training the next day.
He moved into the company's dormitory, where the supervisor showed him a chaotic bunk bed in a room shared with other delivery and courier workers. The supervisor made it clear this was not a hotel and he was free to decide if he could live there. Qiao Nan, feeling the harsh reality of his new life, quietly tidied his bunk and prepared himself. Meanwhile, Mu Defeng and Xiaoyu continued their house hunt with an agent.
They found a well-furnished two-bedroom, one-living room, two-bathroom apartment near a subway station and supermarket for a remarkably low rent of 1,500 yuan per month. Xiaoyu was suspicious of the low price, but the agent claimed the owner urgently needed money. The agent then demanded a lump sum payment of 36,000 yuan, covering two years' rent upfront, with no deposit. Xiaoyu questioned this unusual payment structure, as standard practice was a one-month deposit and three months' rent.
The agent pressured them, saying such an affordable apartment wouldn't last, and if they hesitated, they would lose it. Xiaoyu expressed concern about the hefty upfront payment, suggesting they look elsewhere. However, Mu Defeng, prioritizing his family's comfort, quickly agreed to the terms and immediately signed the rental agreement, succumbing to the agent's pressure. Qiao Nan immersed himself in his new life as a delivery rider, working tirelessly.
Yet, in the quiet of the night, he felt a profound sadness, replaying Mu Defeng's previous advice and Mu Xiangxiang's seemingly heartless words in his mind. Mu Xiangxiang, too, was troubled; she found the torn pieces of paper Qiao Nan had used to confess his feelings, making it hard to concentrate on her studies. She hadn't seen him at the restaurant either.
Qiao Nan consistently outperformed other riders, even working through breaks, which began to irk his colleagues, especially Brother Meng. During one delivery, Qiao Nan was two minutes late, and the customer angrily complained, threatening a bad rating and demanding he take her trash with him. Qiao Nan apologized profusely, desperately trying to avoid a negative review. As he left, he coincidentally passed Mu Xiangxiang and her family, who were in the midst of moving, though neither noticed the other.
Upon returning to the dormitory, Qiao Nan found the water cooler locked by Brother Meng. Brother Meng angrily confronted Qiao Nan, accusing him of hoarding water, stealing all the delivery orders, winning all the awards, and taking all the bonus money, leaving nothing for others. Qiao Nan retorted that he shouldn't blame others for his own incompetence. Their argument quickly escalated into a fight.
Brother Meng kicked Qiao Nan, who was about to retaliate when he suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. Shocked, Brother Meng rushed Qiao Nan to the hospital and even paid his medical bills. When Qiao Nan awoke, Brother Meng was by his side, explaining he had collapsed from overwork and needed to eat properly.
Brother Meng correctly deduced that Qiao Nan had run away from home after a family dispute, identifying his situation as the typical "fighting, skipping school, puppy love" trifecta of youth. He reminisced about his own "puppy love" with a "village belle" and his ongoing struggle to save money to marry her, highlighting the financial difficulties of being a delivery rider in a big city.
He advised Qiao Nan to "learn some skills" while he was still young, warning that by his age, "it would be too late." Before leaving, Brother Meng handed Qiao Nan the medical bill, reminding him that he had paid it and expected repayment. Meanwhile, Mu Xiangxiang's family celebrated their housewarming with a lavish meal in their new apartment. Their celebration was abruptly interrupted by the actual homeowner, who demanded to know who they were and how they got in.
Mu Xiangxiang's family explained they were new tenants who had signed a contract with an agent claiming to represent the owner. The homeowner then revealed they had fallen victim to a "shady agent" and advised them to "call the police immediately."
