Something Just Like This Episode 30 Recap
> Something Just Like This Recap
Su Su requested leave from Zhang Jiayun for a blind date, explaining that her mother had arranged numerous dates recently, and with the live stream rooms currently vacant and the control room unneeded, turning off the computers would save electricity. Zhang Jiayun approved her request. Yu Shi, feeling anxious, secretly followed Su Su and witnessed the entire blind date. The man inquired about her small studio apartment and her ordinary Volkswagen.
He then proceeded to lay out his expectations, stating that her apartment would serve as their temporary marital home, but it was too small for his future plans of buying a villa. He also demanded that her parents buy her a new car as a dowry so he could drive it to work with "more face." Furthermore, he expected Su Su to resign after marriage to focus on family and limit social activities like friends' gatherings and shopping.
He admitted his own salary couldn't support a family, so he required her to contribute her savings initially. He even presented a form for her to fill out for future questions, including family health history. Disgusted, Su Su ended the date abruptly, sarcastically complimenting his form and taking it with her. She then spotted Yu Shi and confronted him, asking if he was following her. Yu Shi, flustered, denied it, claiming he was there to buy famous and tasty vermicelli.
Su Su joked about his nervousness, but then recounted her unpleasant experience with the "disgusting man." Yu Shi had bought two bowls of vermicelli, which he offered to share with Su Su, who found it delicious. He was attentively caring for her, offering water when she ate, but Su Su remained oblivious to his feelings, simply remarking on his thoughtfulness.
She mentioned that she was tired of meeting strange people on blind dates but had no other way to find a boyfriend since her life revolved around work and home. Yu Shi wondered aloud if she truly needed to keep going on blind dates. Yu Shi later called Duan Ran to report on his attempts to form a live stream alliance, expressing frustration that potential partners were either unreliable or unwilling to commit, leaving Rui without a proper alliance.
Duan Ran, exasperated, emphasized the need for unity in the current environment to avoid collective downfall. Chen Lang, who overheard the conversation, acknowledged that an alliance was a good idea but immediately pinpointed Duan Ran's mistake: he had likely appealed to grand ambitions instead of practical financial benefits. Chen Lang asserted that to convince these companies, one must talk about money. Duan Ran countered that he couldn't talk about money if the alliance hadn't even formed.
After some playful banter where Duan Ran called Chen Lang a "gang leader" and Chen Lang referred to Duan Ran as a "rich man's son," Duan Ran stressed the "one cannot survive without the other" reality of their situation, warning that they would all go bankrupt together if they didn't unite. Moved by this plea, Chen Lang agreed to help him form the alliance.
Chen Lang and Duan Ran arranged a meeting with several live stream platform representatives at a street barbecue stall. The attendees expressed relief at not being subjected to another lengthy, formal speech in a hotel, and instead vented their frustrations about the Apparel Alliance's current actions. Chen Lang took charge, appealing to their shared desire to earn more money and provide for their families.
He criticized Wu Zhongquan (presumably from the Apparel Alliance) for causing trouble and interfering with their livelihoods. When some suggested waiting for the situation to blow over, Chen Lang passionately argued against retreat, warning that backing down now would only lead to further exploitation and ultimate ruin for all of them. He galvanized them with a vision of collective success, asserting that by uniting, they could overcome the challenges and secure a profitable future.
Convinced by his words, the other companies unanimously agreed to form the alliance and appointed Duan Ran to be their representative for negotiations. Duan Ran, having drunk a lot, went to Qian Xixi's apartment. Observing his frequent late-night engagements and Zhang Jiayun's early mornings and late nights, Qian Xixi grew concerned and directly asked if the company was facing difficulties.
Duan Ran reassured her that their busyness was a sign of the company's prosperity and that everything was fine and running smoothly. Qian Xixi then presented him with a cute cat figurine. Duan Ran initially teased that it was "too swollen" and "for girls," but when Qian Xixi feigned taking it back for Zhang Jiayun, he quickly snatched it, declaring he loved any gift from her. The two then affectionately embraced and fell asleep together on the chair.
Mr Five brought Mao to Rui Live, hoping he would join the company. Mao, however, disliked the formal office environment and proposed working part-time, coming in only when needed, to avoid offending anyone with his temper. Zhang Jiayun agreed, finding it a lighter burden for both sides, and stated she would draft a contract for him. Mr Five thanked her, mentioning Qian Xixi's instruction to look after them, and Mao playfully declared himself Zhang Jiayun's "little kitten," completely hers.
Chen Lang decided to join the live stream alliance with Duan Ran, seeing it as an opportunity to counter the Apparel Alliance and, more importantly, to create more chances to meet Zhang Jiayun. Heartbroken by Zhang Jiayun's struggles, he instructed his assistant to send a truckload of merchandise to Rui Live. This was from a batch of goods he had fought for, sustaining a chipped tooth that required RMB15,000 for dental filling.
At Rui Live, the streamers were dejected due to low inventory and poor sales. Zhang Jiayun tried to lift their spirits by offering to treat them to lunch, though suggesting humble takeout due to the company's financial struggles. Just then, Chen Lang arrived with the truck filled with new merchandise. The delighted streamers saw it as a salvation. Zhang Jiayun, ever cautious, questioned if there were any hidden conditions.
Chen Lang recounted his efforts and injury, prompting Zhang Jiayun to accept the shipment, declaring her thick skin. Chen Lang then proposed she repay him by having meals with him for the rest of their lives. Zhang Jiayun compromised, agreeing to one hotpot meal, but insisted on bringing all the streamers along for a lively gathering.
At the hotpot, Chen Lang was exceptionally attentive to Zhang Jiayun, recommending specific dishes like boneless Basa fish and Japanese beef, much to the envy of the other streamers. At Qian Xixi's retail store, the Building Manager arrived and immediately began to reprimand her. She criticized the haphazard arrangement of clothes hangers, claiming it lacked aesthetic appeal, and dismissed the Store Manager's explanation that it was due to a customer and that their layout was designer-approved.
The Building Manager insisted that constant change was necessary to prevent "aesthetic fatigue" among customers. Her criticism escalated to Qian Xixi's attire, pointing out she was wearing a T-shirt instead of a uniform, which she deemed unprofessional and detrimental to the sales associates' image. Qian Xixi apologized, attributing it to rushing that morning and promising to adhere to dress code and display rules in the future.
Unmoved, the Building Manager declared that mistakes warranted punishment and assigned Qian Xixi the task of cleaning the entire building's corridors, a regular penalty. The Store Manager attempted to intercede, but Qian Xixi accepted the task without protest. Upon returning from cleaning the extensive corridors, Qian Xixi was exhausted and sore. Her colleagues immediately tended to her, massaging her, and offering milk tea and warm food. Qian Xixi expressed her gratitude and affection for their support.
A colleague explained that the Building Manager's harshness stemmed from Qian Xixi "snatching away" the position meant for her sister-in-law, who was heavier than the manager and wouldn't have passed the regular recruitment process. Qian Xixi realized the Building Manager viewed her as an enemy due to this connection. Duan Ran located Wu Zhongquan from Pineapple Xpress at a salon getting his hair done and called Chen Lang to join him.
Chen Lang, annoyed about being interrupted from what he hoped would be a shopping trip with Zhang Jiayun, joined Duan Ran. Together, they aggressively questioned and playfully harassed Wu Zhongquan, who eventually revealed that the Apparel Alliance's demand for standardized pricing was a result of pressure from the Entity Alliance. Wu Zhongquan explained that the Entity Alliance, formed by brick-and-mortar retailers, was retaliating against e-commerce platforms' heavy use of coupons and low prices, which hurt their business.
They threatened to convert their retail spaces into restaurants, entertainment centers, and cinemas if e-commerce didn't adopt uniform pricing, leveraging their over 70% market share in physical retail. Upon hearing this, Chen Lang angrily pulled Duan Ran aside, accusing him of feigning ignorance and conspiring with his father. He revealed that Duan Sheng Yun was the president of the Entity Alliance and suspected Duan Ran of trying to gain information.
Duan Ran vehemently denied the accusation, asserting that his father would not sabotage his own son, and that he was genuinely working for the benefit of the entire live stream alliance. Chen Lang, still unconvinced, demanded that Duan Ran clarify the matter with his father, warning that no company would cooperate with him otherwise, and then stormed off, regretting having wasted time he could have spent with Zhang Jiayun.
Duan Ran immediately went to confront his father, Duan Sheng Yun, asking why he was threatening the Apparel Alliance. Duan Sheng Yun explained that his friend, Song, had initiated the Entity Alliance and, leveraging Duan Sheng Yun's e-commerce investment experience, convinced him to serve as its rotating president for a term.
He admitted he couldn't refuse Song, acknowledging Song's aggressive methods were in line with the Entity Alliance's interests to "set a trap" for e-commerce platforms before Singles' Day, and believed Duan Ran's chances of turning the situation around were slim. Duan Sheng Yun's own philosophy was for both sides to "take a step back" and compromise, though he conceded he didn't have the final say.
Duan Ran, undeterred, declared that despite the odds, he would fight back and prove that e-commerce could unite just as effectively, telling his father not to worry and to "wait and see." Duan Ran then visited Pineapple Xpress and asked for Qian Xixi, learning from the store manager that Qian Xixi had been assigned to clean the corridors by the Building Manager, which made him feel very distressed.
The next day, Chen Lang arrived at Rui Live to find Duan Ran, seeking to discuss the upcoming negotiations. He found Qian Xixi at the reception and learned Duan Ran was out with Yu Shi. Chen Lang expressed his unease about Duan Sheng Yun being the president of the Entity Alliance, explaining he wanted to understand their strategy for the negotiations to avoid any potential self-sabotage, given his previous negative experience with Duan Ran's father.
Qian Xixi was unaware of Duan Sheng Yun's new role, to which Chen Lang stated he had only found out yesterday. While he believed Duan Ran himself wouldn't betray the alliance, he remained wary of Duan Ran's father, who had "once sabotaged" him in the past.
