Sunshine by My Side Episode 5 Recap
> Sunshine by My Side Recap
Jian Bing woke up and noticed that Sheng Yang had not accepted the 5,000 yuan she had transferred. Annoyed and unwilling to owe anyone, she sent him an impatient message. Sheng Yang, having calculated the precise cost, insisted on only accepting 2,480 yuan. Despite Jian Bing trying to send 3,000 yuan and suggesting he use the extra for snacks or to treat his colleagues, Sheng Yang remained firm, prompting Jian Bing to eventually transfer the exact amount.
When Sheng Yang asked what to do with the box of things Jian Bing had left with him, she reiterated her instruction to throw it away or sell it as junk. When he considered splitting the proceeds, she playfully called him an odd kid, telling him to keep any earnings and treat her to dinner if they ever ran into each other again, which he agreed to do.
That same evening, Sheng Yang treated Jian Bing to dinner, and she took him to a food stall she frequented when working long hours. She ordered her usual: Luosifen noodles with pickled bamboo shoots, beef, and a fried egg, requesting it extra spicy with two spoons of vinegar and extra tofu skin. Sheng Yang ordered the exact same.
While eating, Jian Bing explained that although the noodles are pungent, they taste delicious, and the strong, spicy flavor helped her stay awake and energized during late-night shoots. She also hinted that she had overheard Sheng Yang's intoxicated comments a few nights prior, saying she needed to work hard to avoid being "looked down upon by kids." Suddenly, Jian Bing spotted a cockroach and impulsively grabbed Sheng Yang's bag to swat it, accidentally smashing his laptop inside.
Feeling apologetic, she took him back to her apartment and offered him her own laptop, which she assured him had all the necessary software. Sheng Yang offered to fix his own laptop, but Jian Bing insisted he tell her the cost afterward. Before he started working, Sheng Yang warned her not to delete any files on the desktop.
While Sheng Yang worked on his design, Jian Bing took a call from Xue Yiming, who was furious that she had made their divorce public within the company. Accusing her of forcing the issue, he complained that everyone knew and reminded her he hadn't agreed to the divorce. As Xue Yiming ranted, claiming he had edited her videos only out of concern for her workload, Sheng Yang silently passed Jian Bing a note, asking for advice on his design.
Jian Bing, trying to cut Xue Yiming off, cited a bad signal and promised to call him back. She then turned her attention to Sheng Yang's work, critiquing his design as "familiar," "ordinary," and "boring." When Sheng Yang humbly asked for guidance, Jian Bing showed him a room filled with gift boxes from various brands to illustrate how hard it is to stand out.
She then gave him four art books by David Hockney, suggesting that art could provide design inspiration. As it was late, Sheng Yang asked about the last bus, and Jian Bing offered him a ride home. He declined, prompting her to tease him by expressing concern for his safety, calling him a "girl" who shouldn't be out alone so late. When Sheng Yang returned home, his parents, Luo Meijuan and Sheng Xiangqian, were waiting up.
Sheng Xiangqian confronted him with the large box, demanding an explanation and accusing him of treating their home like a hotel. Sheng Yang explained he had simply picked up the discarded box from outside. He then asked if they truly believed his design was "that bad." While Luo Meijuan thought it was good, Sheng Xiangqian deferred to Jian Bing's professional opinion. Seeing his son’s habit of bringing home discarded items, Sheng Xiangqian playfully commented, "genes never lie."
Determined, Sheng Yang promised to prove himself to them. After he shooed them out, Luo Meijuan whispered to her husband that she suspected Sheng Yang might be in a relationship, suggesting the box belonged to a girlfriend. Sheng Xiangqian dismissed the idea, joking that if their son found a girlfriend, he'd become a vegetarian for a year. Despite his efforts, Sheng Yang struggled to create a satisfactory design, discarding multiple attempts as "too ordinary."
His colleague Song Chen advised him to rest, reminding him of their goal to "embarrass Wang." Pan Rou then revealed that Wang Youde had privately asked her to prepare a backup plan, accusing Wang of merely "playing with" Sheng Yang. Song Chen mockingly called Pan Rou an "old hen" for hovering, leading to a heated argument that Sheng Yang had to loudly interrupt.
Meanwhile, Jian Bing arrived at the company to find that Xue Yiming had already edited a rough cut of her project. She refused to accept his work, stating they needed to settle things. Misinterpreting her, Xue Yiming thought she wanted to split the company and urged her to consider its stability. Jian Bing clarified that she wanted to separate from him, not the company.
When he argued that their resources were too intertwined, she blamed the situation on his repeated betrayals of their trust, stating she was tired of their "match made in heaven" image. She asserted that they would both be fine without each other and urged him to "be a man" and face reality. While using Jian Bing's computer, Sheng Yang stumbled upon a video of Jian Bing accepting her first Best Director Award.
In it, she thanked Xue Yiming, emphasizing they were a team. Xue Yiming, standing beside her, boasted about giving her "a little guidance" at work while claiming to be "totally led by her" in life, possessively calling her "my wife." Sheng Yang, annoyed, closed the video. Shortly after, Jian Bing and Xue Yiming called a company-wide meeting to announce their divorce.
Xue Yiming reassured the team that the company would operate as usual, no one would be forced to choose sides, and they would remain friends, partners, and family. Later, Sheng Yang watched another interview with Jian Bing where she discussed the profound impact of light and shadow in filmmaking. She explained that by making light and shadow "move," they could effectively create atmosphere and evoke emotion. This concept sparked a brilliant idea for his Mid-Autumn Festival gift box.
He was immediately inspired by the concept of moving light and began sketching a new design. On the day of the presentation, as the deadline loomed, Wang Youde was preparing to have Liu, another team member, present her backup plan. Just as Liu began, Sheng Yang rushed in, apologizing for his delay.
He began his presentation with an anecdote about a friend who receives dozens of gift boxes each year only to discard them, posing the challenge of creating a box that truly stands out. With that, Sheng Yang unveiled his "Moonlight Treasure Box," a design that transformed an ordinary paper box into an exquisite art piece.
He demonstrated how, through the ingenious use of light and shadow, the box created an illusion of a lunar platform, allowing the stars and moon to appear to change positions and be held "in the palm of your hands." The entire room watched in awe. The boss was thoroughly impressed, praising the "good idea" and acknowledging the "hidden talent" in Sheng Yang's team. When Wang Youde attempted to take credit, Liu subtly called him out.
The boss, however, clearly recognized Sheng Yang, repeating his name and stating he would remember him. Celebrating his success, Sheng Yang bought himself a bowl of Luosifen, ordering it with all the same spicy, flavorful ingredients Jian Bing enjoyed, a subtle nod to the inspiration she had provided.
