Remembrance of Things Past Episode 2 Recap
> Remembrance of Things Past Recap
Officer Tan arrived at the scene, crossing the police line, and was struck by the tragic innocence of the death. Just hours earlier, the young woman had been with friends at the police station, receiving birthday wishes, and now, her life was unexpectedly over. Qiao Xichen, Xu Yan, and Ji Nanjia rushed to the location. As Hu Jingjing's cousin, Ji Nanjia was required to identify the body.
Hu Jingjing lay cold and pale in the mortuary, her life having ended in the most unfortunate way. This outcome was shocking, as everyone remembered Hu Jingjing as an optimistic and cheerful person. While the answers to their questions seemed frozen in the air, only Ji Nanjia's heart-wrenching cries could be heard. Qiao Xichen and Xu Yan were reduced to tears, unable to turn back.
Jian Yifan, who had witnessed Hu Jingjing's fall from the overpass, was deeply disturbed by the close encounter with death and felt overwhelmed, needing to step away from the scene to compose himself. Later, he saw Officer Tan speaking with Qiao Xichen about Hu Jingjing's life, inquiring if she had exhibited any unusual behavior. Qiao Xichen could only recall that it was Hu Jingjing's birthday, and they had been happily chatting in their group, planning a hotpot celebration that evening.
She remembered Hu Jingjing joking around that morning, making everyone laugh, and even helping her move out in the afternoon, appearing cheery. Later, sitting by the window, Qiao Xichen remembered a brief moment of quiet from Hu Jingjing that seemed uncharacteristic, a detail she hadn't noticed at the time. She regretted not being more attentive, thinking that perhaps things could have been different. She also questioned, "Who'd commit suicide on their birthday? I don't get it."
The police classified the case as a suicide, and Hu Jingjing's body was sent back to her hometown for the funeral. Photos showed a younger Hu Jingjing with her usual radiant smile, a smile now gone, leaving her parents with endless grief. Her mother clung to the urn, crying inconsolably. Ji Nanjia struggled to offer comfort, while Qiao Xichen and Xu Yan were also overcome with sorrow. After the funeral, the three friends returned to Beijing.
Xu Yan was the quickest to recover from the shock, reconciling with Shen Zichang. She was enjoying the comfort of their relationship while also seeking material satisfaction. At Xu Yan's insistence, Shen Zichang bought her a designer bag as a gift. Initially thrilled, Xu Yan took numerous photos to post online. However, she soon discovered a discount voucher inside the bag, realizing Shen Zichang had bought a replica online, unwilling to spend the full amount.
This led to another argument, and they parted ways again, with Xu Yan yelling at Shen Zichang, "You might as well not buy! Why did you get me a fake bag? I've already posted online and told everyone I bought a branded bag!" Meanwhile, Ji Nanjia, always busy with work, was approaching forty and still single. Her mother repeatedly pressed her to marry, but Ji Nanjia always declined, stating she preferred to wait for the right person.
Unbeknownst to her family, Ji Nanjia's reluctance to date stemmed from a secret: she had been diagnosed with Stage II cervical cancer five years prior. She kept her treatment a secret from most, with only her doctor and Hu Jingjing, her cousin, aware. Hu Jingjing's support helped Ji Nanjia through the toughest times, and her surgery was successful, with follow-up checks showing good results.
Receiving her latest positive report, Ji Nanjia felt a mix of joy and sadness; joy for her recovery, and sorrow that she couldn't share the news with Hu Jingjing, who "almost could have seen this." She remembered Hu Jingjing telling her, "Nan Jia, I won't tell anyone, don't worry. But, you have to promise me this. Call me if something happens to you, okay? Let me keep you company, okay?"
At work, the company re-evaluated employee performance, leading to the dismissal of the lowest-ranked employee, Ye Zi. Su Qing, second to last, felt threatened. She approached Qiao Xichen, offering to treat her to a meal and expressing her desire to join Qiao Xichen's 818 project, mentioning she was "still new here" and would be Jian Yifan's "easiest target." Qiao Xichen sympathized with Su Qing's plight, especially after Hu Jingjing's death, and agreed to help.
While tidying Hu Jingjing's belongings, Qiao Xichen found her damaged phone and visited several repair shops, pleading with technicians to restore it, emphasizing that "What's inside there is really important to me" and that "She's passed away." Qiao Xichen's kindness, however, was not reciprocated. Su Qing proved to be two-faced, often slacking off and engaging in underhanded tactics. Jian Yifan, Qiao Xichen, and Su Qing went to meet a client.
As they waited anxiously for a response, Qiao Xichen received a phone call from the client, informing them that a rival company had secured the deal. The change in the client's decision was suspicious, as Yann Coffee should have had the advantage. Jian Yifan returned to the office to investigate and discovered that an internal "quotation list" had gone missing, allowing a competitor to learn their pricing and undercut them.
Upon hearing this, Su Qing immediately produced her copy of the quotation list, claiming her innocence. Qiao Xichen, however, couldn't find hers and repeatedly asserted that she hadn't gone to the washroom where the document was reportedly found. She tried to question Su Qing, but Su Qing, appearing nervous, made excuses and quickly left. Feeling betrayed, Qiao Xichen felt she now understood the fable of the farmer and the snake.
Without proof to clear her name, she sought solace in alcohol on her balcony, spending 800 yuan of her 1,000 yuan savings on whiskey. The remaining 200 yuan represented her last shred of determination to stay in Beijing. Jian Yifan, passing by, found her there.
Qiao Xichen explained her dedication to work since before graduating from college, working "during work hours, non-work hours, and overtime," and how hard everyone her age worked, making it impossible to "dare to take a break." Jian Yifan responded that she didn't "have to walk so fast." Qiao Xichen then shared how important Beijing was to her, seeing it as a "big and tolerant" city where talented people succeed and diligent people can make a decent living.
She then revealed the tragic truth to Jian Yifan, saying, "A few days ago, there's. . . there's a girl who stood at an overhead bridge and jumped down. . . That girl was my friend. Her name was Hu Jing Jing. On her birthday, she. . ." Later, Ji Nanjia, Qiao Xichen, and Xu Yan went to Hu Jingjing's apartment to pack her belongings. To their surprise, they discovered male toiletries, a blood-stained mattress, shattered ceramic pieces, and a man's plaid shirt hanging on the balcony.
