Remembrance of Things Past Episode 4 Recap
> Remembrance of Things Past Recap
Qiao Xichen, Ji Nanjia, and Xu Yan were alarmed after discovering numerous loan messages on Hu Jingjing's phone. They struggled to understand why she would owe such a significant amount of money to various platforms, including third-party debt collectors. The messages were threatening, mentioning "unheeded" calls and plans to "lodge a police report."
Ji Nanjia questioned if the debt was the reason for Jingjing's suicide, but Qiao Xichen dismissed the idea, believing Jingjing wouldn't take her life over less than 200,000 yuan. They then recalled how Jingjing used to secretly answer calls, leading them to suspect these were from debt collectors. To uncover the truth, Ji Nanjia decided to obtain a letter of authorization from Jingjing's parents to check her bank account transaction records.
While discussing the debt, Qiao Xichen received a call from a pet hospital. Upon arriving, they learned that Jingjing had rescued a stray kitten, named Gou Dan, two months prior. Gou Dan was being fostered at the clinic, with Jingjing promising to take it home once it recovered, but she never returned. Ji Nanjia, being allergic to pet dander, couldn't take the cat, and Xu Yan, admitting she wasn't ready for the responsibility, also declined.
The responsibility of caring for Gou Dan naturally fell to Qiao Xichen. As Qiao Xichen was living in a shared apartment, she decided to consult her roommate before bringing the cat home. Ji Nanjia, in the meantime, offered to cover Gou Dan's extended stay at the clinic. Qiao Xichen's living situation, however, was far from ideal. Her roommate frequently brought her boyfriend home to stay overnight, disregarding their co-rental agreement which stipulated one person per room and no male guests.
This constant intrusion severely affected Qiao Xichen's privacy. After enduring the situation for a long time, Qiao Xichen finally confronted her roommate when the behavior escalated. She pointed out the roommate’s lack of public etiquette, such as leaving trash and unwashed dishes piled up, occupying common areas with personal belongings, and regularly using up Qiao Xichen’s toiletries, even involving her boyfriend.
The roommate, in turn, was defiant, arguing that the living room was a public space and accusing Qiao Xichen of being petty and jealous, suggesting she move out if she couldn't tolerate it. Qiao Xichen, however, firmly stated that she wouldn't move, and her roommate could if she wished. Meanwhile, Ji Nanjia received a notice from property management about a water leak affecting her bathroom and walls, stemming from the unit above.
Knowing her apartment was old and poorly renovated, Ji Nanjia contacted her overseas landlord, Mr. Zheng, suggesting a full bathroom renovation and offering to pay for any costs exceeding the compensation from the upstairs tenant. The landlord agreed. However, the property management refused to permit the renovation without the landlord's physical presence or original property documents, dismissing Ji Nanjia's WeChat authorization as insufficient proof. Her plans were thus put on hold.
When she called her mother to discuss the issue, her mother strongly disagreed with Ji Nanjia's intention to pay for renovations in a rented property, citing it as a waste of money and warning that landlords might exploit the situation by asking her to move out after the upgrades. Frustrated, Ji Nanjia quickly ended the call. At work, Qiao Xichen was increasingly anxious about potential layoffs, especially after eight colleagues had already been dismissed since Jian Yifan's arrival.
She confided in Xu Yan over the phone, recounting how Jian Yifan had coincidentally seen her at an interview for another company, Damei. She felt incredibly unlucky, as her new fall products were also underperforming, and suspected Jian Yifan was deliberately hindering her job search. She described him as "petty" and a man who "doesn't do any real work." Jian Yifan, who had overheard her conversation from nearby, approached her.
Assuming she was about to be fired, Qiao Xichen bluntly asked if she was the last person on the dismissal list. Jian Yifan, amused by her directness, asked her why he would dismiss her. She listed past incidents where she felt he had treated her unfairly, such as making her take leave over a quotation list and giving her project to a colleague.
He then revealed he had witnessed Hu Jingjing's suicide, which had given him a new perspective on things. He explained that the presentation he asked for regarding the new fall products was not to "find fault" but to "tackle it" and identify solutions. Realizing Jian Yifan's true intentions, Qiao Xichen apologized for her assumptions and promised to complete the presentation that night. Jian Yifan, in turn, granted her a few days of leave to recover emotionally.
Moved by Jian Yifan's understanding, Qiao Xichen used her days off to swiftly move out of her shared apartment and find a new place. She spent time viewing various apartments, weighing factors like elevator access, natural light, and modern appliances against her budget. She eventually settled on a place she liked, despite its distance from work, reasoning that the good amenities and convenient subway access would make the commute worthwhile.
Ji Nanjia and Xu Yan helped her move in, and she finally brought Gou Dan home. Once settled, Qiao Xichen playfully suggested Xu Yan move in with her to ease her loneliness, but Xu Yan's boyfriend, Shen Zichang, immediately objected, wanting to preserve his private time with Xu Yan. Meanwhile, Xu Yan was grappling with her own anxieties about her appearance. She asked Shen Zichang how he would feel if she became "old, fat, and ugly."
Despite his reassurances, she remained worried, influenced by a recent visit to a beauty clinic with a colleague. There, a beauty consultant had praised "anti-aging" treatments and even suggested bone contouring for Xu Yan, claiming it was a minor procedure. With the company announcing an upcoming promotional video to update its CI system—an opportunity many female colleagues saw as a "stepping stone" for career advancement—Xu Yan seriously considered undergoing bone contouring surgery during her holiday break.
Ji Nanjia celebrated her 36th birthday with Qiao Xichen and Xu Yan. The group donned playful costumes, reminisced, and took photos, keeping the mood light to prevent Ji Nanjia from dwelling on Hu Jingjing's absence. The friends then shared a heartfelt moment, offering their wishes for Ji Nanjia's happiness and finding a compatible partner to "bicker with until she grows old." Jian Yifan also made a brief appearance at a pre-holiday staff dinner.
Though Qiao Xichen initially attempted to discuss work, Jian Yifan firmly redirected the conversation, emphasizing the holiday spirit and advising everyone to enjoy their time off safely. After a company dinner, Qiao Xichen, needing to get to the subway station late at night, opted for a shared ride. However, a road blockage forced her to get out and walk alone.
Fearing she was being followed, she called Jian Yifan, who instructed her to find an open store and send her location, emphasizing she should not leave until he arrived. Qiao Xichen sought refuge in a convenience store, but feeling awkward about lingering as they were closing, she eventually left. Moments later, a man in black accosted her. Jian Yifan arrived promptly, having also called Officer Tan.
It turned out the man was simply a local resident buying milk for his pregnant wife, and Jian Yifan had mistakenly assumed he was a stalker. Embarrassed by the misunderstanding, Jian Yifan apologized to Qiao Xichen and promised to personally drive her home anytime they were out together, no matter how late it was.
Some time later, Ji Nanjia, sharing her good news with Qiao Xichen and Xu Yan, announced her decision to buy a house, a revelation that Qiao Xichen envied. Ji Nanjia explained that while Hu Jingjing had often encouraged her to buy a property, it was the recent bathroom leak and a growing desire for a stable, permanent home that ultimately cemented her decision. Later, Qiao Xichen and Xu Yan retrieved Hu Jingjing's bank transaction records. As they examined the extensive list of transactions, Ji Nanjia received a message from her family. Upon reading it, she finally understood the true reason behind Hu Jingjing's significant debt.
