Sunshine by My Side Episode 18 Recap
> Sunshine by My Side Recap
Suspicious of Sheng Yang's sudden punctuality, Luo Meijuan calls Song Chen to inquire about him. Though Song Chen avoids direct answers, his vague responses and the background noise of a train lead Luo Meijuan to infer that Sheng Yang has lost his job. The next morning, she secretly follows Sheng Yang, witnessing him seeking employment at various companies. She observes him in an interview confidently discussing design principles and later sees him receive a book from a former colleague.
That evening, Sheng Yang finds an unusually large dinner prepared by his mother, who attributes the feast to a supermarket promotion. Finding her behavior odd, he refrains from asking questions. Luo Meijuan arranges a meeting with Jian Bing, admitting she sought her out because she's the only person she knows in the industry. She reveals Sheng Yang has been secretly unemployed for two weeks, pretending to go to work daily and losing weight, which deeply worries her.
Luo Meijuan asks Jian Bing to help Sheng Yang find an interview through her connections. Acknowledging Sheng Yang's strong work ethic from their past collaboration, Jian Bing assures Luo Meijuan that her company is hiring and a rigorous assessment for Sheng Yang would be legitimate talent acquisition, not a favor. Overjoyed, Luo Meijuan proposes they become close friends, a suggestion Jian Bing graciously accepts. Sheng Yang confronts Song Chen, suspecting he was the source of his mother's knowledge.
Song Chen denies it and encourages Sheng Yang to pursue Jian Bing, urging him to seize the opportunity to "melt the vulnerable ice." After Sheng Yang describes his mother's unusual kindness, they realize they are both putting on a brave face for their families. Song Chen then reveals his dire financial situation: after using his father's 30,000 yuan to pay off debts, he has only 10,000 yuan left.
He proposes a risky plan to spend 5,000 yuan treating former clients to drinks, hoping to secure new jobs. Sheng Yang strongly advises against it, but Song Chen, desperate to avoid returning to his hometown, emotionally pleads for his help, and Sheng Yang reluctantly agrees. At the bar, Song Chen socializes with clients while Sheng Yang remains disengaged. When an escort tries to get him to drink, he claims an alcohol allergy.
Jian Bing calls, and as he tries to answer, the escort's attempts to get his attention cause a commotion, prompting him to move to a quieter area. Jian Bing reveals she heard he is looking for a job and offers him an interview, which Sheng Yang firmly declines. The escort follows him, complaining loudly and interrupting the call. Misunderstanding the situation, Jian Bing tells him to "have fun" and hangs up. Sheng Yang then firmly dismisses the escort.
Later, a heavily inebriated Song Chen vomits, blaming bad wine and apologizing to Sheng Yang for the failed evening. Sheng Yang reassures him, takes him home, and puts him to bed. The next morning, Sheng Yang confesses his unemployment to his mother. He explains it stemmed from an on-site accident on a project he supervised and that he is waiting for an investigation to clear his name. He reassures her he has savings and is freelancing to cover expenses.
Overwhelmed, Luo Meijuan breaks down, pained that her son is shouldering such immense pressure alone. Sheng Yang comforts her, insisting he can handle it himself and asks her not to involve Jian Bing. He explains that precisely because Jian Bing is "different," he cannot impose upon her. Meanwhile, Jian Bing, now recovered from her injury, presents a new plan for the problematic project to Xue Yiming and Liang Shanshan.
She reveals she spent all night creating new concept designs and proposes to fund the reshoot of the children's rain scene herself to avoid further company losses. While Xue Yiming worries about the "gamble," Liang Shanshan offers her full support. On set, crew members volunteer their time to help with preparations. Later, Xue Yiming and Liang Shanshan arrive with food for the team.
When it begins to rain, Xue Yiming instinctively shields Liang Shanshan with an umbrella, an action Jian Bing quietly observes. Afterwards, she pulls Liang Shanshan aside and directly asks when she was planning to tell her about their relationship.
