Remembrance of Things Past Episode 6 Recap
> Remembrance of Things Past Recap
Ou Yang, after the drunken night, became persistent in pursuing Ji Nanjia, often walking his dog near her home in the mornings, hoping to encounter her. Ji Nanjia, however, made it clear she wished to forget what happened and treat each other as strangers. Ou Yang refused, stating that he desperately needed a girlfriend and proposed they try dating.
Ji Nanjia firmly rejected the idea, asserting that their acquaintance stemmed from an accident and would not develop into a relationship, then promptly left. Meanwhile, a department restructuring at Yann Coffee was announced, creating two project group leader positions from outstanding employees. Jian Yifan introduced Lin Rui as a new colleague joining the marketing department.
He appointed Wu Tianqiang as the temporary leader for the first group, leaving the second group leader position open for competition between Qiao Xichen and Lin Rui. Qiao Xichen was taken aback by Lin Rui’s sudden return to China and joining Yann Coffee, which not only disrupted her current peaceful life but also brought back unpleasant memories of their breakup in college, when he secretly took a spot to study abroad that she had also been competing for.
In a conversation with Ji Nanjia and Xu Yan, Qiao Xichen claimed to have no feelings about seeing Lin Rui again, but Xu Yan reminded her of how distraught she was after their breakup. Qiao Xichen asserted that her exes shouldn't be more successful than her. When Lin Rui later tried to talk to her, she used the timely arrival of Jian Yifan to escape the awkward conversation.
Overwhelmed by her new project, Qiao Xichen decided to delegate a large reception event for Yann Coffee to Ji Nanjia's company. During a tennis match, Lin Rui attempted to discuss new product development ideas with Jian Yifan, but Jian Yifan deferred the discussion to working hours. He warned Lin Rui that while he appreciated smart people who take shortcuts, taking too many could lead one astray.
Back in the office, Ou Yang, now Jian Yifan's assistant, offered to help Qiao Xichen with the reception planning. He had taken the role specifically to be closer to Ji Nanjia and revealed that Jian Yifan had already given his approval, much to Qiao Xichen’s surprise. She eventually accepted and sent him the relevant documents. Ji Nanjia met with Jian Yifan, who introduced Ou Yang as his assistant. Ji Nanjia was visibly stunned upon seeing Ou Yang.
Despite the awkwardness, Ji Nanjia presented two proposals for the event, earning Jian Yifan’s admiration for her efficiency. During their subsequent interactions, Ou Yang, pretending to offer suggestions while shadowing Ji Nanjia, criticized her initial plan as "boring," suggesting more "atmosphere and venue-specific" elements, like a Hulunbeir Grassland theme to immerse guests. Inspired by a past conversation with Hu Jingjing about her love for the galaxy, Ji Nanjia proposed a "Night Sky in the Pole" theme.
Ou Yang was impressed, though his suggestion to use M&M bean-like coffee beans for decoration was gently dismissed. Xu Yan continued her impulsive spending habits, purchasing an expensive travel package despite outstanding loans. Shen Zichang repeatedly urged her to be more frugal, but she grew angry. His mother, concerned about their modest financial situation, advised Shen Zichang to invest in a financial product.
When she discovered his recent salary was already gone, she immediately suspected it was spent on Xu Yan. She wanted to meet Xu Yan to discuss their spending. Shen Zichang initially defended Xu Yan but eventually lost patience with her constant overspending on unnecessary items, leading him to walk away from their argument. As Ji Nanjia finalized the event setup, her ex-boyfriend, Mr. Jiang, arrived with his wife to inspect the venue.
He was now a high-ranking executive at Yann Coffee. His wife, strong-willed and dismissive of the "Night Sky in the Pole" theme, insisted it be changed to a "Tropical Rainforest" theme immediately, stating it needed to be lively for their old clients. Despite the extremely tight deadline, Ji Nanjia, maintaining her professionalism, assured them it was possible. The day of the project presentation, Qiao Xichen, exhausted from consecutive sleepless nights, struggled with nervousness.
Her mind went blank, making it impossible to articulate her well-prepared content. She eventually fled the meeting room, distressed. Jian Yifan found her and offered comfort, giving her tissues. He told her not to be too hard on herself, reminding her that it was just a job and that losing wasn't a big deal. Qiao Xichen, feeling defeated, shared that she felt she had reached her limit, questioning her own capabilities after dedicating four years to Yann Coffee.
Jian Yifan reassured her, praising her proposal and sharing that he too had faced failures, revealing his humble beginnings in Hua Qiang North where his parents sold computer parts. He emphasized that like her, he was an ordinary person, and that defeat wasn't the end, but an opportunity to win back. His words helped her regain composure, and he offered her a bottle of wine, assuring her he was always there if she needed to talk.
Later, a colleague, Xiao Jia, collapsed from overwork, suffering an acute myocardial infarction. He was rushed to the hospital and, fortunately, survived. This incident prompted Qiao Xichen to reflect on the fragility of life. She confided in Jian Yifan, sharing that she had previously lost a dear friend at that very spot. This experience, coupled with Xiao Jia’s collapse, made her realize that the pursuit of career success at the expense of health and happiness was not worth it.
Back in her apartment, Ji Nanjia was sorting through Hu Jingjing's belongings. Memories flooded her mind as she looked at old photos. Among the items, she found a vitamin bottle that Hu Jingjing used to take, but noticed that the pills inside were entirely different from the ones she herself consumed.
