Remembrance of Things Past Episode 1 Recap
> Remembrance of Things Past Recap
A woman plummeted from an overpass after receiving a mysterious phone call that seemed to shatter her last hopes. The tragic event unfolded quickly, catching Jian Yifan, who was driving by, off guard. He was forced to brake, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief, as the bustling intersection momentarily froze in silence. The day of the incident was Hu Jingjing's twenty-sixth birthday.
Having strived for years in the city, she had learned to navigate adversity, always maintaining a cheerful facade despite life's pressures. Her cousin, Ji Nanjia, a few years older and a successful entrepreneur, ran her own event planning company, though it often operated with a deficit. Meanwhile, their friend Qiao Xichen, academically accomplished since childhood, led a more comfortable life, primarily dealing with her demanding female boss.
Even Xu Yan, the youngest of the group, followed a steady career path and enjoyed a typical young adult romance. Ji Nanjia faced a significant crisis when a client for a high school alumni gathering unexpectedly requested a change from 2017 vintage wine to a more expensive 2012 vintage on short notice. The change presented a major financial strain and logistical challenge for her company.
Determined to resolve it, Ji Nanjia immediately contacted her network, offering to personally cover the additional cost if necessary. Later, she successfully procured three boxes of the rare 2012 wine.
Meeting with the clients, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Wang, Ji Nanjia skillfully navigated the situation by proposing a seating rearrangement to honor the attending teachers and two medical workers who had served in Wuhan, ensuring they received the premium wine as a special gift, accompanied by a heartfelt card from the alumni. The remaining tables would be served the original wine, a solution that was well-received by the clients.
At Qiao Xichen's office, colleagues gossiped about a new director replacing their pregnant boss, Lu Yining, amid rumors of a divorce between Mr. Jiang and President Han Jr. , suggesting corporate power struggles. Qiao Xichen diligently helped a colleague correct an inventory report and later chatted about the possibility of menstruation leave.
During this time, Ji Nanjia received a call from her mother, who was trying to set her up on a date, stressing about her age and playfully calling her "ugly" for not finding a partner. Back at Qiao Xichen's company, Lu Yining, despite being heavily pregnant, conducted a demanding meeting, critiquing promotional proposals and insisting on a new, more aggressive cold brew promotion by the end of the day, even as her team highlighted the increased production costs.
In a dramatic turn, Lu Yining's water broke during the meeting. With incredible composure, she immediately called her husband, instructing him to go home for her packed hospital bag and meet her at the hospital, while simultaneously giving last-minute work instructions to her astonished team about the 818 product details. Her colleagues were deeply impressed by her unwavering dedication to work. Jian Yifan was swiftly appointed as the new marketing director, filling the temporary vacancy left by Lu Yining.
In his introduction, he emphasized two core principles: "do what you're supposed to do" and "enjoy," encouraging informal interactions outside of work, including tennis matches. However, he also laid down strict new rules, explicitly forbidding eating at desks or in meeting rooms, promoting a work-life balance that some found ironic given his next announcement.
He then dropped a bombshell: everyone must submit a detailed work report for the past six months, including work scope, projects, and an ROA analysis, by the end of the day. He further declared that an "elimination system" would be implemented, resulting in one-third of the marketing department being let go next month. Noticing Qiao Xichen, who had brought her lunch into the meeting, he called on her to introduce herself.
Amidst Jian Yifan's startling announcement, Qiao Xichen received an urgent text about her home being broken into, likely by her landlord. During her introduction to Jian Yifan, she hastily requested emergency leave. She immediately called Hu Jingjing, who, upon hearing the news, offered to come help. At Qiao Xichen's apartment, she found her furniture being removed by movers at the landlord's instruction.
The landlord accused Qiao of not paying rent for three months, but Qiao insisted she had paid six months' rent upfront to an agency. The landlord claimed he never received the money and that the agency's office was deserted. Qiao tried to contact the agency but found she had been blocked, realizing she had been scammed.
The landlord, frustrated by his son's delayed house loan, demanded Qiao pay or move out immediately, as he had a viewing scheduled for the afternoon. Hu Jingjing arrived at the chaotic scene and fiercely confronted the landlord and movers, even grabbing a cleaver from the kitchen to defend Qiao Xichen. Police were called, and Officer Tan mediated the dispute. The landlord agreed not to press charges, and the police confirmed the agency's actions constituted fraud, promising an investigation.
Qiao Xichen was given three days to move out. While checking Hu Jingjing's ID, Officer Tan noticed it was her birthday and offered a thoughtful "Happy Birthday" along with a caution against rash actions, a gesture that deeply touched Hu Jingjing. Despite her own troubles, Hu Jingjing insisted Qiao Xichen return to work to fix a document, assuring her she was free to handle the packing and would take care of things.
She even playfully encouraged Qiao to go change for the evening's birthday party. In reality, Hu Jingjing was grappling with her own job loss. Earlier, her HR manager had forced her to resign, coercing her by threatening to terminate her under an "elimination system," which would both deny her severance pay and leave a blemish on her record. The manager cited her lack of overtime and unwillingness to help other colleagues as reasons, which Hu Jingjing vehemently disputed.
After this upsetting encounter, Hu Jingjing visited a playground, where she helped children retrieve a ball stuck in a tree. After playfully correcting them to call her "Sister" instead of "Aunt," she left her blazer behind, attempting to find a moment of fleeting joy amidst her growing despair. Meanwhile, Xu Yan, despite being a self-proclaimed "month-end spender," planned to buy an expensive handbag for Hu Jingjing's birthday. However, when she attempted to purchase it, her payment failed.
She called her boyfriend, Shen Zichang, only to discover he had used their shared Alipay funds to buy a pair of sport shoes, sparking a heated argument. A saleswoman tried to suggest a smaller, cheaper waist bag, but Xu Yan, upset and frustrated, left without buying anything. Later, Xu Yan's mother called, lamenting that a relative had criticized a previous bag Xu Yan gifted her, calling it cheap and boasting about a more expensive one she had received.
Xu Yan offered to buy her mother a new bag, but her mother advised against such vanity, urging her to save money. The argument between Xu Yan and Shen Zichang continued, with Shen Zichang suggesting he would drive everyone home from the party. However, Xu Yan, angered by his insensitivity and financial irresponsibility, walked away from him and took the subway instead.
Hu Jingjing arrived early at the hotpot restaurant, which Ji Nanjia had thoughtfully chosen to be conveniently located near Qiao Xichen's apartment. Upon arrival, she received a bouquet of flowers. She recorded a video message for her friends, playfully acknowledging that she had "ruined their surprise" by arriving early. She pointed to the 26 flowers, implying one for each year of her life, and cheerfully declared herself beautiful for them. After sending the video, her cheerful facade crumbled.
Crying uncontrollably, she went home, carefully applied her makeup, and changed into her favorite white dress before walking to the overpass. There, after a mysterious phone call, Hu Jingjing’s phone slipped from her grasp and shattered into pieces on the ground. Overwhelmed by complete despair, she looked out into the distance, a faint smile gracing her lips, before she tragically leaped. A brief moment of silence was quickly followed by the horrified screams of onlookers.
