Ten Years Late Episode 14 Recap
> Ten Years Late Recap
Ding Ang, thrilled to finally be with Xinyi, eagerly declared that they were getting married and wanted to head straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau, even though it wasn't open yet. Xinyi playfully called him a "clingy little puppy" and teased him about finding someone better, but Ding Ang insisted he would handle all household chores or hire a housekeeper, emphasizing their shared future.
Later, the group visited Zhao Chengzhi in the hospital, where he was exuberantly recounting how he single-handedly defeated a poisonous spider, even claiming to have kicked it 100 meters away. Yuan Lai pointed out he had already told the exaggerated story ten times, implying he was probably just scared. Shen Shuangshuang, however, was completely captivated, praising his bravery and recalling his comforting words to her.
Xinyi, amused, playfully teased him, highlighting the spider's high scientific value and sarcastically calling him "brave" for killing it. Moved by their support, Gu Yang announced his decision not to close the café. He expressed his gratitude for his friends and declared the café now belonged to all of them.
He also pledged to donate a portion of the café’s revenue to poverty-stricken mountain areas, believing this would honor Bai Zan’s memory and fulfill her unexpressed wish for a better life for others. Xinyi prepared for a work meeting with the Guoben brand and a project for Xu Bingbing.
Ding Ang affectionately insisted she take his car, jokingly claiming it was "payback" for all the meals he had bought his friends in college, to which Xinyi sweetly responded, "I’m all yours." As Jin Ran and Yuan Lai approached, they playfully noted Xinyi's unusual shyness, with Jin Ran observing that Ding Ang was still wearing the same clothes as the day before, subtly hinting that he had stayed over.
Ding Ang then provocatively whispered to Jin Ran, "At least I made it. Loser," before he and Xinyi departed. Yuan Lai asked Jin Ran what Ding Ang had said. Jin Ran revealed Ding Ang had called him a "loser," admitting he envied Ding Ang's unrestrained love for Xinyi.
He then tenderly confessed to Yuan Lai that his personal definition of success had changed since reconnecting with her; now, his primary goal was to provide her with a "better and more stable future." During a video conference, Non-Tu’s general manager, Mr. Wen, and Jin Ran discussed expanding into the film and TV co-production business, noting it as a promising new market, with Mr. Ji outwardly supporting the decision.
Jin Ran was appointed to lead this initiative, and he immediately requested that Yuan Lai from Product Group One be assigned to his team, citing her familiarity with the Peixin Island project. Mr. Ji readily agreed. Later, Mr. Ji privately offered Yuan Lai Lapsang Souchong tea, subtly questioning her recent preference for coffee with milk, despite her previous dislike for it.
He remarked that adding milk, while making coffee taste better, "lost its original flavors," and suggested she "try some tea" instead, implying she should reconsider her choices and alliances. Yuan Lai understood his veiled warning. Meanwhile, office tensions flared as Lisa openly complained that Yuan Lai received all the desirable projects, even questioning if the company belonged to her. Fei quickly came to Yuan Lai's defense, highlighting her hard work and effectiveness.
Yuan Lai overheard the exchange, and Jin Ran intervened, telling everyone to stop gossiping and "put their minds on work." Jin Ran then suggested to Yuan Lai that they depart for Peixin Island immediately to handle the new film co-production business, including hotel and outdoor location scouting. Separately, Mr. Ji reprimanded Lisa, the leader of Group Two, for her team's stagnant performance, emphasizing that opportunities must be "fought for" and criticizing her lack of initiative.
Jin Ran and Yuan Lai arrived on Peixin Island to meet Li Jing, a renowned Hollywood producer from SN Production. Yuan Lai, recognizing Li Jing’s demanding and perfectionist nature, had meticulously prepared, even successfully securing the partnership by promising Li Jing a humble "Zhou Zhengzheng wonton" meal rather than a grand banquet, understanding Li Jing would be tired of lavish dining. At the airport, Li Jing maintained a distant demeanor, requesting a translator despite speaking Chinese.
Yuan Lai anticipated this and arranged a separate, comfortable car for Li Jing, citing her need for rest and preference for personal space, which Li Jing appreciated. Driven by her focus on "time and efficiency," Li Jing immediately wanted to visit the filming locations without rest. Yuan Lai deliberately showed her two less-than-ideal spots first. Li Jing quickly dismissed "Sunset Coast," concerned about unpredictable weather conditions.
At "Lover's Cliff," a strong wind almost caused Li Jing to lose her footing, further irritating her. An assistant, Xiao Liu, then inappropriately mentioned a past suicide at the location, fueling Li Jing's anger about the site's suitability and the difficulty of transporting equipment on the rocky terrain. Jin Ran later understood that this was Yuan Lai's calculated "Tian Ji Horse Race" strategy – making Li Jing dissatisfied with the initial options to highlight the superiority of the best location.
Yuan Lai confirmed her intention, believing that "the unhappier she was in the morning, the greater chance she’ll be happy in the afternoon." Back at the hospital, Zhao Chengzhi found himself overwhelmed by numerous WeChat messages from Shen Shuangshuang. Yuan Lai’s mother arrived with chicken soup, worried about him being alone since Yuan Lai was busy and his father wasn't informed.
Zhao Chengzhi, attempting to clarify that his relationship with Yuan Lai was purely platonic, tried to sneak out when her mother stepped away. He unexpectedly encountered Shen Shuangshuang in the hallway, then bumped into Yuan Lai's mother, and in his haste to escape, fell down the stairs, re-injuring himself. Meanwhile, Shen Shuangshuang overheard a conversation between two patients about a poisoned patient who died due to lack of care. Misinterpreting this, she became distraught, believing Zhao Chengzhi had passed away.
She sobbed at his bedside, lamenting their unfulfilled dreams, saying, "We didn’t get married yet. We didn’t have babies. We didn’t even establish a relationship and now it’s over." Just then, a nurse helped Zhao Chengzhi, now with crutches, back into the room, scolding him for having to stay hospitalized for another week. Seeing Shen Shuangshuang's profound grief, Zhao Chengzhi embraced her, reassuring her to "trust only my words" and "not believe the others’."
Yuan Lai's mother, having witnessed the emotional scene, immediately called Yuan Lai, urging her to "hang on to Chengzhi." Yuan Lai, however, reiterated to her mother that she and Zhao Chengzhi were merely good friends and that she was happy he had found a new partner. Jin Ran, who was nearby, subtly made his presence known, leading Yuan Lai’s mother to question if Yuan Lai was on a business trip alone with a man.
Later, Yuan Lai took Li Jing to a secluded, versatile location on Peixin Island, showcasing its natural beauty and potential for multiple scenes, which would save both time and expenses. Jin Ran further emphasized its exclusivity by mentioning he had turned down other interested production teams due to their prior agreement. Clearly impressed, Li Jing agreed to collaborate with Non-Tu.
Back at the company, Mr. Ji, having heard Lisa’s earlier complaints, presented her with the "contract about the liaison of a production team" for the Peixin Island project. He offered her the opportunity to participate alongside Yuan Lai’s team, reminding her that "opportunities are fought for." Lisa, overjoyed, eagerly accepted, promising to seize the chance. As filming commenced on Peixin Island, an unexpected power outage plunged the set into darkness. Xiao Liu, the translator, immediately blamed it on "bad Fengshui."
However, Jin Ran quickly deduced the issue, suggesting that "if the generator car is low on fuel it could lead to unsteady power flow" and instructed the crew to check it. Indeed, the generator was out of fuel, surprising the lighting engineer who claimed to have refueled it just the day before. Jin Ran suspected this was not a mere oversight but "might not be his fault," hinting at deliberate sabotage.
Meanwhile, Xinyi received commendation from her director for her excellent work on Xu Bingbing’s project, promising her future opportunities and asking about her personal life, which Xinyi brushed off, prioritizing her career. Later that evening, as Xinyi worked late on a crucial proposal at home, Ding Ang, a professional gamer, was loudly coaching his teammates, causing a major distraction. Despite Xinyi's pleas for quiet, his shouting continued. Frustrated, Xinyi eventually turned off his laptop, leading to a heated argument.
Ding Ang defended his volume, claiming it was necessary for his "work" as a team leader. Xinyi, stressed, expressed her need for "quiet time" and accused him of being "too casual about his life," even questioning the suitability of their relationship. Ding Ang, in turn, criticized her for being "too emotional lately" and insisted their shared home already was their private space.
The argument escalated into a dispute over household chores, with Xinyi accusing him of not contributing enough, and Ding Ang defensively listing minor tasks he had completed. Exasperated, Xinyi grabbed her laptop and left, declaring she had no time to argue as she couldn't afford to lose her important presentation the next day. Back at the hospital, Shen Shuangshuang continued to care for Zhao Chengzhi with meticulous, almost excessive, attention. She insisted on helping him with every small task, like changing his slippers, despite his protests that he could manage himself and didn't have "Parkinson's," making him visibly uncomfortable.
