Something Just Like This Episode 8 Recap
> Something Just Like This Recap
Mr Five excitedly told Qian Xixi that he had sold over 3,000 pieces of denim pants and gained many new fans, achieving in just a few hours what used to take a month on Cat Street. Mr Five expressed his gratitude and happiness, saying "I love you all." After Mr Five went to the restroom, Qian Xixi and Su Su discussed his newfound cute side, which Qian Xixi advised him not to change to maintain his unique style.
Meanwhile, Chen Lang, observing Rui Live's surging sales, particularly Mr Five's, grew uneasy. He instructed his assistant to closely monitor Rui Live, detailing everything their streamers sold, how they sold it, what they said, and the products they featured. He declared that such individuals must be eliminated while they are still fledgling, to prevent them from becoming a threat. Zhang Jiayun teased Duan Ran about losing the Perfect Blue order while Qian Xixi had sold over 3,000 pairs of pants.
Despite the high sales, the net profit after all expenses was only 400,000 yuan, not the 1,000,000 Duan Ran initially thought. Duan Ran criticized Qian Xixi for selling the pants at a low price, but Qian Xixi retorted that attracting buyers with discounts was necessary for the company's immediate survival, emphasizing the importance of cash flow and inventory, echoing Duan Ran's own past advice.
She urged him to focus on how to keep the company afloat rather than just broad strategies. Zhang Jiayun further jabbed at Duan Ran, suggesting his chances of becoming CEO would be even lower if Qian Xixi had actually made a million. Qian Xixi, in turn, smugly told Duan Ran to work harder, confidently adding, "I believe you can do it, so don't lose hope in the competition."
To celebrate their successful denim special, Qian Xixi then invited Mr Five and Su Su to a KTV, offering to treat everyone. Later that evening, at the KTV, Qian Xixi expressed gratitude for their triumph in the denim special to Mr Five and Su Su. Meanwhile, Chen Lang met with Mr Wu for a drink. Mr Wu candidly revealed that Duan Ran had approached him recently to discuss next season's endorsement.
Although Chen Lang believed the contract was already secured, Mr Wu praised Duan Ran and Qian Xixi for saving him from a potential "blank show" that Chen Lang might have caused. Mr Wu admitted he was intrigued by Duan Ran's proposal: a three-hour live stream competition between their two companies, with the winner securing the next season's contract.
Chen Lang showed signs of apprehension, prompting Mr Wu to openly challenge his courage, questioning if he was afraid to compete against a new company like Rui Live, especially since Duan Ran only had new talent. Mr Wu further highlighted that Cloud Live had dozens of streamers, with five or six above-average performers, while Rui Live only had Qian Xixi and an amateur, Zhang Jiayun. Ultimately, spurred by Mr Wu's taunts, Chen Lang agreed to the challenge.
Mr Wu conveyed the news of the impending competition to Duan Ran, urging him to seize the opportunity. At the KTV, Duan Ran shared his ambitious plan with Zhang Jiayun, confidently declaring his intent to reclaim the Pineapple Xpress brand. He stated he already had a well-thought-out strategy. Qian Xixi noticed Duan Ran and Zhang Jiayun talking animatedly. Although she couldn't hear their exact words, a hint of jealousy stirred within her.
Shortly after, Chen Lang received a phone call from an unnamed individual who, after confirming Rui Live's recent sales surge was due to old stock that they sold at cost, reiterated the importance of securing Pineapple Xpress. The caller sternly warned Chen Lang to "kill Rui Live in the cradle" before it grew too strong, or Cloud Live would be the one destroyed.
The next day, Duan Ran formally announced their challenge against Chen Lang for the Pineapple Xpress livestreaming rights. Su Su voiced concerns about the vast disparity in strength, fearing they couldn't defeat Cloud Live. Duan Ran declared that whether they could win or not, they must fight, especially since it was a chance for revenge and he and Qian Xixi were united. Qian Xixi, in turn, firmly declared that no matter how difficult the battle, they must fight back.
Meanwhile, Yuan Yuan was struggling to find new acting roles, with her agent's efforts proving fruitless. Duan Ran arrived to insist that Yuan Yuan return to livestreaming as per her contract, which still had a few days remaining. Qian Xixi quickly intervened, reprimanding Duan Ran for disturbing Yuan Yuan, stating that Yuan Yuan had new aspirations and should not be bothered.
Their escalating argument, however, was quickly seen through by Yuan Yuan, who, realizing they were acting, directly asked what the real issue was. With their act exposed, Duan Ran admitted the company's current difficulties, asking Yuan Yuan to step in and save the day. He offered to use his connections in the entertainment industry to help her pursue an acting career. Qian Xixi embraced Yuan Yuan tearfully.
Yuan Yuan, realizing the gravity of the situation, agreed to livestream one last time, considering it her farewell performance and a final contribution to the company. She acknowledged that as long as her contract with Rui Live had not expired, she remained a part of it and could not stand idly by, and therefore should offer help. Both Duan Ran and Qian Xixi expressed their relief and confidence with her presence.
Before the competition, Chen Lang rallied his Cloud Live team with an impassioned speech, reminding them of their strength and encouraging them to bring their utmost passion, energy, and stamina to win the afternoon's "war." He also offered enticing incentives, including a 5% raise for everyone and a trip to Thailand's Koh Samui with luxury villas, fancy cars, and gourmet meals if they decisively defeated Rui Live.
At Rui Live, while there were no such grand motivational speeches, Mr Shen had successfully invited Mr Wu to observe the Pineapple Xpress special livestream in person. As the livestream began, Rui Live's individual streamers showed good sales, but their overall total sales lagged significantly behind Cloud Live. Chen Lang, observing their initial lead, mockingly sent a message to Duan Ran, boasting that his sales had already tripled Rui Live's.
A quick check of the live sales data revealed Cloud Live's sales were indeed three times higher than Rui Live's. Qian Xixi, determined to win, poured her full energy into her segment, showcasing sports attire and even jumping rope to demonstrate the clothing's comfort and versatility, driving her individual sales to a peak. Yet, Rui Live's overall sales still couldn't catch up.
Seeing their lagging numbers, Zhang Jiayun spontaneously began dancing in her livestream, an act that garnered significant attention and caused her sales to surge dramatically. Duan Ran, pleased with this unexpected turn, immediately messaged Chen Lang, playfully taunting him that his "goddess" (referring to Zhang Jiayun) had personally come online to "deal with him," asking how Chen Lang would respond.
Duan Ran excitedly confided in Mr Wu that he had secretly practiced dancing with Zhang Jiayun for some time to prepare her for such a moment. However, even with Zhang Jiayun's impressive surge, her sales were quickly hitting their peak. Just as Duan Ran began to worry, Yuan Yuan arrived. Duan Ran had already arranged for Yuan Yuan to be promoted to the homepage as soon as she went live.
Her appearance instantly caused Rui Live's sales and popularity to surge, rapidly catching up to Cloud Live. Chen Lang grew increasingly concerned, realizing it was only a matter of time before Rui Live surpassed them. On her stream, Yuan Yuan playfully teased Qian Xixi about her (Qian Xixi's) earlier low sales, urging her to make more effort. Yuan Yuan's arrival also spurred Qian Xixi to redouble her efforts, leading to a significant increase in Qian Xixi's own sales.
Just as Rui Live's momentum was at its peak, the main power switch malfunctioned, plunging the entire livestream studio into darkness. Chen Lang's team immediately saw the opportunity, urging their streamers to seize the advantage during Rui Live's power outage. Inside Rui Live, amidst the darkness and falling fan numbers, Qian Xixi quickly instructed her team to explain the situation to their audience to prevent them from leaving.
She then rushed outside with her phone to livestream the scene where Duan Ran and other staff were fighting a fire that had broken out at the main power switch outside the building. Realizing the potential, Yuan Yuan quickly instructed everyone to film Qian Xixi's mobile livestream and rebroadcast it. This impromptu coverage of the fire and the efforts to extinguish it captivated the audience, causing Rui Live's viewership and popularity to skyrocket, surprisingly matching Cloud Live's numbers.
Duan Ran personally put out the fire, then went to the security room to replace the blown fuse. Once the power was restored, the livestream studio lit up, and the team resumed broadcasting, with their popularity continuing to soar. Chen Lang, who had been intently watching the online data, was suddenly startled by the ringing of his phone.
