Remembrance of Things Past Episode 5 Recap
> Remembrance of Things Past Recap
After discovering several large transfers from Hu Jingjing's bank account to a man named Bai Fan, her friends Qiao Xichen, Ji Nanjia, and Xu Yan tried to contact him. His phone number was out of service, and his WeChat messages had been deleted, leaving them no choice but to send him a voice message in hopes of a reply. Soon after, Ji Nanjia, Qiao Xichen, and Xu Yan found Bai Fan at a gym.
It turned out he was Hu Jingjing's financial advisor, and their relationship was purely professional. He claimed that after a stock market downturn, he lost his own money as well as hers, and her suicide attempt led to his dismissal from his job due to a private contract they had signed. Meanwhile, Mr. Jiang questioned Jian Yifan about his views on Yann Coffee's marketing department.
Jian Yifan initially offered cautious praise but then candidly described the department's heavy workload and the need for fresh talent, rather than continued layoffs. He also pointed out that the previous director, Lu Yi Ning's, strong leadership style had fostered a culture where subordinates merely followed orders instead of growing into leaders themselves.
When Mr. Jiang suggested Lin Rui, who had overseas experience, Jian Yifan acknowledged his advantages but noted that many returnees are often overly ambitious, with high expectations for position and salary. Later, Qiao Xichen brought Jian Yifan a "heroic help" cake as a thank you for his assistance in the past. She asked him why he bothered to help since the police were already involved, and Jian Yifan explained that no event was more important than a human life.
He then asked Qiao Xichen to accompany him to a client dinner that evening to discuss a collaboration for new autumn products. At the dinner, the client, Mr. Jia, insisted on excessive drinking, following traditional business drinking culture. Qiao Xichen felt compelled to participate to secure the deal.
Although Jian Yifan typically preferred tea and cited health reasons for not drinking, he took over for Qiao Xichen after Mr. Jia became aggressive, insisting that Qiao Xichen was a marketing specialist, not a "drinking companion." Having a very low alcohol tolerance, Jian Yifan drank several small cups of liquor on her behalf and quickly became intoxicated.
Waiting for a car on the street, a heavily intoxicated Jian Yifan leaned on Qiao Xichen, thanking her for drinking and promising that no one would ever force her to drink again. His words, despite his drunken state, resonated with Qiao Xichen. Just then, Ou Yang arrived to pick Jian Yifan up, witnessing the intimate moment. The next morning, Jian Yifan was quite hungover.
Ou Yang playfully reminded him of his drunken antics the previous night, though he reassured Jian Yifan that he would keep it a secret. Ou Yang also mentioned Qiao Xichen's impressive alcohol tolerance, noting she had outdrunk the client. Hearing this, Jian Yifan asked Ou Yang to print out Lin Rui's resume again, deep in thought. Elsewhere, Xu Yan intervened when male colleagues made derogatory comments about their coworker Qin Weiwei's appearance.
Qin Weiwei later confided in Xu Yan about her struggles with body image and failed attempts at weight loss, from strict dieting to acupuncture. Xu Yan encouraged her to embrace self-confidence and not conform to others' beauty standards. Initially, Xu Yan had planned to undergo liposuction with Qin Weiwei. However, Qin Weiwei unexpectedly cancelled her surgery, realizing that inner confidence was more important than superficial changes. This prompted Xu Yan to also cancel her appointment.
During a subsequent conversation with Shen Zichang, he candidly admitted that he found her recent fixation on appearance and branded items "fussy," preferring her simpler, carefree self from their college days. This realization, coupled with Qin Weiwei’s newfound perspective, prompted Xu Yan to decide she would no longer care about societal beauty standards, choosing instead to prioritize her happiness. Shen Zichang reassured her that he found her beautiful just as she was.
Meanwhile, Ji Nanjia was trying to buy an apartment but found herself short on the down payment. She attempted to call in debts from friends, including a man named Brother Wu, who owed her a significant amount. During their meeting, Brother Wu tearfully explained his own financial difficulties, successfully convincing Ji Nanjia to give him a two-month extension. After he left, she was shocked to discover he had stuck her with his expensive bar tab.
Feeling foolish, she drank the liquor herself and became heavily intoxicated. Ou Yang found her drunk on the street and drove her home. Seeing her vulnerable side, he was overcome with emotion and kissed her, leading to them spending the night together. The next morning, a hungover Ji Nanjia couldn't recall the events clearly and awkwardly rushed off to work, hoping to avoid Ou Yang. Later that night, Qiao Xichen was startled awake by a noise in her living room.
A thief had broken in and stolen her laptop and phone. Her neighbor, A Le, heard the commotion and promptly called the police. The thief was apprehended downstairs, and her belongings were recovered. A Le also pointed out the ineffectiveness of her fake security camera and told her to simply knock on his door if she ever needed help. Shaken by the incident, Qiao Xichen's friends, Ji Nanjia and Xu Yan, along with Shen Zichang, rushed to her side.
Shen Zichang even installed a new anti-theft door to enhance her security. The three women squeezed onto Qiao Xichen’s bed, reminiscing about their old times together, while Shen Zichang slept in the living room like a protective knight. During this time, Ji Nanjia had a profound realization that owning a house did not automatically bring a sense of security. She decided against buying the expensive apartment she had been considering. Instead, she contacted her current landlord, Mr. Zheng, who lived abroad, to obtain the necessary documents to finally renovate her leaky bathroom.
