Something Just Like This Episode 13 Recap
> Something Just Like This Recap
Mr. Bai visited Qian Xixi, announcing his intention to acquire her company. Qian Xixi, surprised, mentioned the company's complex capital structure but was open to other collaborations. Mr. Bai clarified that he was interested in acquiring the bulletproof coffee they were selling, which had seen great sales and attracted many brand partnerships.
Qian Xixi explained that the coffee's patent was not held by their company but belonged to a broadcaster named Si Yu, known online as Yuan Bao, whose exclusive recipe it was. Mr. Bai, already aware of this, requested an introduction. Qian Xixi then brought Yuan Bao to meet him, only for Yuan Bao to reveal that Mr. Bai was her father.
Duan Ran accompanied Mrs. Jiang, Jiang Zheyang's mother, on a shopping trip at QE, a department store owned by his family. Mrs. Jiang admired various luxury brands, especially a limited-edition crocodile skin handbag, which Duan Ran immediately purchased for her. During their conversation, Mrs. Jiang expressed her desire to help Jiang Zheyang with his business ventures beyond Ouyang's management, fearing that Ouyang might eventually leave him.
Seizing the opportunity, Duan Ran brought up Pineapple Xpress, a brand with Italian designers targeting young women, suggesting it would be a good fit for Jiang Zheyang. He revealed that Ouyang had previously rejected the brand due to its small scale, a fact Mrs. Jiang was unaware of and found unacceptable. Incensed, Mrs. Jiang insisted that Ouyang, as his manager, should have informed them and urged Duan Ran to revive the project.
Duan Ran readily agreed and asked Mrs. Jiang to inform Chen Lang that he was now handling Jiang Zheyang's endorsement to avoid confusion. Mrs. Jiang agreed and accepted the numerous gifts Duan Ran had bought for her. Duan Ran remarked to Qian Xixi that Si Yu, despite her adorable appearance, showed rebellious tendencies, suggesting a deeper story behind the tense atmosphere between her and her father.
Si Yu's father criticized her for selling his patented coffee and hiring a celebrity endorser, arguing that the coffee was developed during her internship at his company, ""Hualu Coffee"", under the guise of a graduation project. He threatened to sue both her and the live streaming company if she did not return. Si Yu retorted that live streaming offered promising prospects and was perfect for her coffee, challenging her father to send his own daughter to prison.
She accused him of always forcing her to follow his plans, studying business and management instead of pursuing her own dreams, and declared her current venture a "silent protest" to prove herself and show him she was not a child. Mr. Bai, seeing his daughter's resolve, eventually left, entrusting Qian Xixi to look after Si Yu.
After her father's departure, Si Yu informed Qian Xixi that the bulletproof coffee's patent belonged to ""Hualu Coffee"", meaning they could no longer sell it on their platform. Qian Xixi, understanding Si Yu's situation, assured her it was fine; she could continue as a streamer and sell other products, provided she stayed with the company.
Si Yu explained that she and her father held vastly different ideas, with his generation preferring old-fashioned ways, while she aimed to create products and marketing strategies suitable for youngsters. She preferred to strike out on her own because staying at home was too draining. Duan Ran then cheerfully informed Si Yu and Qian Xixi that while the coffee venture was over, Pineapple Xpress was coming, and he expected to secure the contract in two or three days.
Si Yu was incredibly excited to hear that Jiang Zheyang would be the endorser, remarking on the tight primary school friendship between Qian Xixi and Jiang Zheyang, which she perceived as beneficial for this opportunity, and also noting the strong bond between Qian Xixi and Duan Ran. Qian Xixi, in turn, playfully reminded Duan Ran about his previous "Coffee and Class Reunion" stunt, where he almost got sued, noting that this time it was his "personal matter."
She then teased Si Yu that it was "Mr Duan's international love affair." Duan Ran, in a dramatic tone, corrected her by calling it his "foreign fling" and elaborated on the difficulties he faced befriending Mrs. Jiang to accomplish his dreams. Meanwhile, Si Yu explained her decision to move back home: her father felt more secure with her living there and had agreed to let her live at her own pace as long as she returned.
She expressed her belief in balancing personal dreams with responsibilities, which led her to study food engineering to innovate products and explore new sales channels for the family business. Qian Xixi, noting Si Yu's drive, commented on the similarity between Si Yu and Duan Ran, both from privileged backgrounds yet choosing a challenging path. Qian Xixi had already arranged a moving company to help Si Yu pack and move her belongings.
While helping Si Yu move, Qian Xixi explained that she intended to clear out her old house and potentially renovate it to move back. Having grown up, become independent, and started earning money, she felt it was inappropriate to continue living at Duan Ran's house. She showed Si Yu a height chart on the wall, recalling how her mother had promised her father would return once she reached a certain height.
Despite surpassing that height, her father never came back, and Qian Xixi remained silent when Si Yu asked about him. Later, after moving a cabinet, Qian Xixi discovered a "cockroach chewing gum" from her childhood, a prop she used to prank Duan Ran, sparking memories of how she used to tease him when they were kids. Si Yu was surprised to learn that Qian Xixi was the one who bullied Duan Ran in their childhood.
Duan Ran confidently went to meet Mr. Wu at Pineapple Xpress, believing he had secured Jiang Zheyang as an endorser. However, he was shocked to learn from a receptionist that Mr. Wu had already signed Niu Jun Feng. Rushing into Mr. Wu's office, Duan Ran found Chen Lang there, confirming he had been tricked.
Duan Ran confronted Chen Lang, accusing him of lacking principles, realizing Chen Lang had feigned competition for Jiang Zheyang while secretly facilitating Niu Jun Feng's signing with Pineapple Xpress. Chen Lang, unrepentant, mocked Duan Ran's delayed realization and suggested he was only good for relying on his family.
Duan Ran, furious, also confronted Mr. Wu, who explained that the board of directors had decided against Jiang Zheyang due to his "too international" image, opting for the more "down-to-earth" Niu Jun Feng, whom they had previously approached and been rejected by. Duan Ran, seeing he had been thoroughly played, sarcastically told Chen Lang and Mr. Wu to continue their discussion, before storming out.
Back at the office, Duan Ran angrily vented to Yu Shi about Chen Lang's betrayal and Pineapple Xpress's decision to sign Niu Jun Feng, lamenting his wasted efforts. Yu Shi chided him for not listening to his earlier warnings. When Qian Xixi approached, asking about the Pineapple Xpress deal, Duan Ran, wanting to hide his failure, confidently assured her it was going well and "in the bag."
Qian Xixi expressed her excitement, believing securing Pineapple Xpress's entire line would allow their company to rebound after the coffee business halt. After Qian Xixi left, Duan Ran discovered an invitation to Perfect Blue's Mid-Autumn Festival celebration and a memorial service for the late Mr. Mu Sr. Realizing Perfect Blue was seeking a new spokesperson, he saw an opportunity.
He quickly called for Perfect Blue's company information, internally dismissing Pineapple Xpress as unreliable and highlighting Perfect Blue's broader product lines and his existing relationship with Mr. Mu Jr. When Qian Xixi questioned his sudden shift from Pineapple Xpress to Perfect Blue, Duan Ran dismissed her concerns, stating he and Yu Shi were going to meet Mr. Mu Jr immediately and he would handle everything. Duan Ran and Yu Shi arrived at Mr. Mu Sr.'
s memorial, which was also a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. Duan Ran approached Mr. Mu Jr. , praising his speech. Mr. Mu Jr. , however, was initially dismissive of business talks on such an occasion, telling Duan Ran he had other friends to attend to and no time for discussions. Duan Ran, recalling their previous verbal agreement with Mr. Mu Sr. , pressed him, highlighting Pineapple Xpress's move into e-commerce and offering Jiang Zheyang as Perfect Blue's endorser. Mr. Mu Jr.
explained his resistance, stating that Perfect Blue had long been suppressed by Pineapple Xpress, a brand that prioritizes advertising over the quality and innovative designs his father championed. He firmly believed that product quality was the best advertisement and saw no need for celebrity endorsements like Jiang Zheyang. Duan Ran argued that times had changed, emphasizing the importance of the "influencer economy" and "social media economy" to connect good products with consumers.
Despite Duan Ran's persistence and promise of guaranteed sales in the contract, Mr. Mu Jr. still tried to leave. As Mr. Mu Jr. and a female companion departed, Duan Ran and Yu Shi chased after his car. Yu Shi dramatically blocked the car, forcing Mr. Mu Jr. to give Duan Ran more time. Duan Ran passionately appealed to Mr. Mu Jr.
, emphasizing the critical importance of this project for his new venture and assuring him that his plans would benefit Perfect Blue. Moved by Duan Ran's sincerity and long-standing friendship, Mr. Mu Jr. agreed to cooperate under two conditions: Jiang Zheyang must be the spokesperson, and Duan Ran's profit share would be reduced from twenty percent to ten percent. If Duan Ran accepted, Perfect Blue would give them all their clothing and latest beauty products for live streaming.
Yu Shi discreetly signaled Duan Ran to agree, and the deal was successfully sealed. After Mr. Mu Jr.' s car drove away, Duan Ran put his arm around Yu Shi, humorously warning him never to block a car again, no matter the circumstances.
