Something Just Like This Episode 28 Recap
> Something Just Like This Recap
During a conversation with Chen Lang, Zhang Jiayun realized that Cola was the mole within Rui Live because Chen Lang knew details about the Pineapple Xpress special, which she had only discussed with Cola. Chen Lang, unaware that his plan with Cola had been exposed, continued to try and persuade Zhang Jiayun to join Cloud Live.
He claimed that Rui was "on the brink of collapse" and that she had limited options, even offering her a position as a head broadcaster or "wife of the boss" at Cloud Live. Zhang Jiayun, however, saw through his "wishful thinking" and sarcastically agreed to be part of Pineapple Xpress before stating that rules must be followed in business. She then left, making him pay the bill.
Later, Cola, having negotiated terms with Cloud Live, tried to rally other streamers like Little Yellow Duck to join her, arguing that their future was more important than loyalty. Mr Five and Bai Siyu, however, strongly disagreed, feeling it would be a betrayal to Qian Xixi who had supported his (Mr Five's) venture. Cola aggressively pitched Cloud Live's offer of a 30% salary increase, portraying it as a rare opportunity, and dismissed Zhang Jiayun's promises as uncertain.
Little Yellow Duck and several others decided to follow Cola, signing their termination contracts with Rui. When they presented these contracts to Zhang Jiayun, she understood their desire for personal development and accepted the documents, asking them for more time. Zhang Jiayun then presented her employee share scheme proposal to Mr Shen, aiming for Rui to buy back shares from the holding company so employees and founders would have a stake, thus preventing talent loss.
Mr Shen, finding the idea too ambitious, questioned its source and raised doubts about the holding company's approval. Zhang Jiayun explained that Rui's fundamental problem was the lack of ownership among founders and employees, leading to talent drain and instability, citing QE's acquisition of 80% of Rui's shares as "unreasonable" and a reason for key departures like Chen Lang, Qian Xixi, and Yuan Yuan. She argued that good management was futile without retaining people in a "people-oriented" industry.
Mr Shen, while appreciating her "courage and sense of responsibility" as CEO, rejected her proposal as an "extortion" that wouldn't even pass the board. That evening, Duan Ran discussed the employee share scheme with his father, Duan Shengyun, who had already heard about it from Mr Shen. Duan Ran complained that Mr Shen had rejected their well-researched plan outright.
Duan Shengyun, an experienced man who knows everything, listened as Duan Ran explained that Rui's core issue was "people management" and the failure to retain talented individuals. Duan Shengyun agreed and asked to see the plan. Meanwhile, Qian Xixi, who was shopping at QE, expertly exposed a customer attempting to return a high-imitation skirt. She meticulously pointed out the differences in the logo, inner label, and embroidery compared to the genuine product, causing the customer to back down.
Impressed by Qian Xixi's professionalism and efficiency, the store manager offered her a permanent position as a sales associate, which Qian Xixi happily accepted, reflecting on how her first job after college was also at QE. Separately, Zhang Jiayun visited Mr Mu at Perfect Blue, forcibly gaining entry to his office. She presented him with the investigative report on Fei Fei’s case, which confirmed that Fei Fei’s beard growth was due to Perfect Blue's product.
The report, alongside an authority's test, showed hormone overdose in the foundation, matching Fei Fei’s symptoms. Zhang Jiayun warned Mr Mu that authorities were already sampling his products from various channels and he should "know his fate," before leaving with a reminder for him to answer her calls. Later, Duan Ran, Qian Xixi, and Zhang Jiayun celebrated with a street food dinner.
Zhang Jiayun announced that the Perfect Blue issue was largely resolved, the employee share scheme was almost final, and Qian Xixi had found a new job, calling for a toast. However, Qian Xixi interrupted, leading to Zhang Jiayun confronting Duan Ran about the "shadow CEO" arrangement.
Duan Ran admitted to strategically letting Zhang Jiayun take the lead as CEO to draw attention while he, pretending to be a "spoiled rich dude," secretly orchestrated events, calling himself "a master of covert operations." He revealed his actions were "all for" Qian Xixi, prompting her to assert her happiness in her new sales job. Zhang Jiayun then playfully scolded Qian Xixi for not revealing her relationship with Duan Ran, despite having wished for them to date for years.
Qian Xixi blamed Duan Ran, who denied it, saying Zhang Jiayun had simply guessed. Qian Xixi then clarified the circumstances had made it difficult to share the news, assuring Zhang Jiayun that she was the first and only one they had confided in. Qian Xixi was seen at her new sales job at QE, arriving early to meticulously clean and organize the store, believing it enhanced the customer experience. The store manager praised her initiative.
At a company meeting, Zhang Jiayun announced the good news: Rui had overcome the "beard incident," and the authority had lifted the ban on their operations. While some asked if Qian Xixi could return, Zhang Jiayun explained she couldn't yet, as the board was still addressing the accountability of "responsible persons."
She then shared the second good news: the group had approved the employee share scheme, allowing all employees to buy company shares at a low price, effectively making them "Rui's bosses" and shareholders. The employees reacted with excitement, envisioning big profits and eagerly asking about purchasing details. Zhang Jiayun emphasized the upcoming Singles' Day as the company's most crucial sales event, urging everyone to strive for the "inner field."
She then produced the termination contracts signed earlier, reaffirming her desire for no one to leave, but accepting their choice if they insisted. Inspired by the share scheme, most employees, with the exception of Cola, enthusiastically committed to staying at Rui, calling it their home. Immediately after the meeting, Cola tried to leave, feigning illness. Duan Ran stopped her, speculating on the reason for her sneezes, before directly asking why she became Chen Lang's informant and what he offered her.
Cola initially feigned ignorance, but Duan Ran revealed his long-standing suspicion of an informant, dating back to earlier incidents like the interactive live stream and the poaching of new broadcasters after Yuan Yuan left. Zhang Jiayun then stepped in, confirming she was the temporary CEO and that she and Duan Ran had set a trap using her relationship with Chen Lang to identify the mole through the information Chen Lang received.
She also reminded Cola about keeping the Pineapple Xpress deal secret. Cola questioned why they waited to confront her. Duan Ran explained it was a calculated move; Cola's actions in urging others to resign provided the necessary leverage to propose the employee share scheme. Feeling humiliated, Cola believed they wanted to dismiss her, but Duan Ran denied it, pressing for her true motive.
Cola confessed to feeling "helpless" and believing she needed to seize any opportunity to avoid remaining an "insignificant broadcaster." Duan Ran countered that Rui was a family where she was valued as "Cola," a performance graduate, and reminded her of her initial defiant spirit. He asserted that while striving for improvement was good, "hard work isn't betrayal."
Despite being offered another chance by Duan Ran and Zhang Jiayun, Cola stood firm in her decision to leave, stating that if she joined Chen Lang, she would be a "hero," but staying at Rui would leave her with a "guilty conscience." Accepting her choice, Duan Ran and Zhang Jiayun wished her well, hoping she would truly find her own path and "become better."
Later, Cola apologized to Little Yellow Duck, who then confronted Cola, asking if she was truly leaving and expressing doubts about the share scheme's benefits for new, inexperienced broadcasters. Cola angrily told Little Yellow Duck to develop her own independent judgment rather than being a "weather vane" who always follows others.
Little Yellow Duck then admitted she would miss Cola and had strong feelings for Rui and her colleagues, including Yuanbao, Mr Five, Qian Xixi, Zhang Jiayun, Duan Ran, Yu Shi, and Su Su. Cola understood, explaining her weariness of being "Yuan Yuan's shadow," even after Yuan Yuan's departure, and her desire for a fresh start elsewhere. She promised to help Little Yellow Duck if she "succeeded" in the future.
Duan Ran and Zhang Jiayun discussed Rui's challenges for the upcoming Singles' Day. With the Perfect Blue partnership canceled and Cola gone, they worried about the lack of strong brands and broadcasters, particularly if Little Yellow Duck followed Cola, which would further empower Chen Lang. During this conversation, Duan Ran chipped a tooth on a "stone" in the dried squid Zhang Jiayun had bought, complaining about the food's quality, to which Zhang Jiayun jokingly suggested he needed more calcium.
Later, Duan Shengyun observed Qian Xixi at QE, where she was enthusiastically and skillfully selling clothes to customers. He smiled, clearly pleased by her performance. Duan Ran, still on a special diet of porridge and pickles due to his chipped tooth, tried to persuade Qian Xixi to return to Rui. He reminded her that he had brought her into the company and emphasized Rui's current struggles, having lost Perfect Blue and facing Singles' Day with him shouldering client negotiations alone.
Qian Xixi countered that Zhang Jiayun and Duan Ran were working well together, having caught the mole and secured the employee share scheme, implying that Zhang Jiayun was more effective in her current role. She expressed deep happiness in her new sales job, finding it meaningful and fulfilling, reminiscent of her mother's passion, and believed Rui no longer "needed her."
Duan Ran insisted the company still needed her, but Qian Xixi dismissed her past as a broadcaster and CEO, citing the troubles she caused. She declared that the chapter of Rui was "closed" for her, and she then showed Duan Ran a cheerful photo of Fei Fei on social media, giving it a "Like."
