Ten Years Late Episode 25 Recap
> Ten Years Late Recap
Alex was throwing a tantrum and refused to pick up a broken bowl, causing Gu Sa to lose her temper. Jin Ran quickly stepped in and comforted Alex, who then asked Jin Ran to take him to the Bund, a place his mother described as beautiful. When Jin Ran said he had to return to the office, Gu Sa downplayed the importance of his work and encouraged him to take Alex instead, assuring him it would be a quick trip.
Jin Ran agreed, taking Alex and Gu Sa to the Bund. Meanwhile, Yuan Lai, burdened with heavy thoughts, walked in the pouring rain without an umbrella, seemingly oblivious to it. Ji Aoting noticed her, expressed deep concern, and offered her a ride home. He gently dabbed her face with a towel and advised her that health was paramount, no matter the troubles.
He also mentioned that he had asked friends to help with the Green Path Plan and expected news soon. He asked if her distress was due to Jin Ran, which Yuan Lai denied. As Ji Aoting drove Yuan Lai home, she glanced out the car window at a traffic light and saw Jin Ran, Gu Sa, and Alex in their car, chatting and laughing like a happy family. This sight intensified her sorrow and deepened her misunderstanding of Jin Ran.
Ji Aoting noticed her expression and suggested she let go of people and things that weren't worth her effort, then drove her home to rest. Later that night, Jin Ran visited Yuan Lai at her home. He noted that despite her numerous calls and messages during his recent absence, she was now acting distant. He wondered if she had something she wanted to tell him.
Yuan Lai, however, remained cold, insisting her contact was purely for work-related matters, like overdue signatures and stalled projects. Jin Ran stated he didn’t believe she only wanted to discuss business. He then reminded her of her expressed care and concern for him, pleading for them to reconcile. Yuan Lai, however, refused to discuss the topic and asked him to leave, reminding him to lock the door behind him. The next morning, Jin Ran returned to Feitu.
His sudden reappearance caused a stir among employees, with some privately commenting on his past alleged involvement in an employee's death in Japan, while others quickly hushed them, including Yuan Lai who urged them to focus on work. Wen Ya then informed Jin Ran that several important Feitu clients were unilaterally terminating their agreements without clear reasons, despite not being approached by existing competitors. Jin Ran suspected a new rival in the market and instructed Wen Ya to investigate.
He also had her schedule meetings with all upcoming clients whose contracts were nearing expiration to preemptively identify any intention to cancel. Separately, Jin Ran called a headhunting firm, who told him about a newly established, well-funded travel company called Taihe, which had recently hired a highly experienced and top-tier professional from the industry. Jin Ran later spoke with Ji Aoting, subtly probing about the client cancellations.
Ji Aoting feigned ignorance and surprise at the news, questioning who could possess such capabilities against an industry leader like Feitu. Jin Ran commented that there are no impenetrable walls and information always leaks. Jin Ran then met with Mr. Wen, announcing that he had found new partners, hinting at further, more significant plans they were already discussing. At a technology exhibition, President Jiang, Ding Ang's mother, unexpectedly met Professor Zhao, Zhao Chengzhi's father.
President Jiang effusively praised Chengzhi as mature and steady, contrasting him with her own son, Ding Ang, who was engrossed in e-sports, causing her much headache. Professor Zhao, enjoying the compliments, proudly claimed a hands-off parenting approach with Chengzhi, stating he relied on his son's self-discipline and rarely interfered.
Unbeknownst to them, at a nearby restaurant, Chengzhi was complaining to Shen Shuangshuang about his father’s strictness, claiming he was often beaten and forced to study law, even showing her a scar he acquired while trying to escape his father's punishment. He also openly flirted with their waitress, prompting Shen Shuangshuang to playfully "punish" him by having him draw a chocolate heart on his face to declare his loyalty.
As they left the restaurant, with Chengzhi giving Shuangshuang a piggyback ride, they awkwardly encountered Professor Zhao and President Jiang. Shen Shuangshuang innocently greeted Professor Zhao as "Grandpa," much to the professor's embarrassment. President Jiang playfully remarked that Chengzhi hadn't been entirely truthful with his father, and Chengzhi, upon seeing his dad, was terrified. Meanwhile, Xinyi was promoted to Associate Director and was assigned Aimei's project to promote their new smartphone, Kacal, targeting young consumers.
The project came with a limited budget but high expectations, leaving Xinyi unsatisfied with initial advertising proposals like ground promotions, celebrity endorsements, or TV series product placements due to their cost, time, or risk. Later, Xinyi met Yuan Lai for dinner. Yuan Lai recounted how Alex had accidentally made a video call from Jin Ran’s phone, revealing Jin Ran was at Gu Sa’s house. She also mentioned seeing Jin Ran, Gu Sa, and Alex together in a car.
Xinyi was furious upon hearing this and vowed to confront Jin Ran on Yuan Lai's behalf. Yuan Lai, feeling sidelined, expressed resignation, believing her importance was secondary to Jin Ran's work. Xinyi confronted Jin Ran, demanding to know if he had been with Gu Sa during his absence. Jin Ran, unaware of the video call, was surprised that Yuan Lai knew. He explained that Alex had returned on his own, and he had only visited the child.
He firmly stated that his interactions had nothing to do with Gu Sa. Realizing Yuan Lai was jealous, Jin Ran found the situation both amusing and sweet. Xinyi, still upset, warned him not to hurt Yuan Lai, to which Jin Ran passionately swore he would never betray or harm her. Noticing Xinyi's stress, Jin Ran then offered professional advice for her Aimei project, suggesting she identify common scenarios and times where young consumers gather for more effective promotion.
Inspired, Xinyi decided to place large outdoor advertisements on Hengda Plaza, leveraging the large crowds expected for Deng Wei's upcoming fan meeting there, ensuring extensive free publicity from entertainment news. Her team excitedly agreed with the plan. Xinyi then went to Hengda Property to arrange the billboard, only to find that the manager she was meeting was Gao Zifu, her ex-boyfriend. Gao Zifu expressed his regret over their past breakup, admitting his mistakes and reaffirming his feelings for her.
Xinyi, however, maintained a strict professional boundary, informing him that she was married and wished him well in finding new beginnings. Gao Zifu then claimed that the prime billboard spot she desired was fully booked for the year, attributing the misunderstanding to a new intern who confused the front and back billboards. Despite her insistence on the prime spot, Gao Zifu remained unhelpful. Xinyi, realizing his intentions, left, asking him to inform her if any suitable opportunities arose.
At a company meeting, Mr. Wen made two major announcements. First, he revealed that Jin Ran had successfully secured Zhang's Property as the new partner for the Green Path Plan, replacing Guoben Fund, and the project would resume. Second, he announced Feitu's intention to bid for the Lan Town project and appointed Jin Ran and Yuan Lai as co-leads. Yuan Lai, expressing concern about her lack of experience, worried about impacting the project.
However, Mr. Wen reassured her, praising her capabilities developed under Ji Aoting and stating his confidence in her and Jin Ran’s ability to work together to secure the bid. Jin Ran confidently affirmed their long-standing teamwork and tacit understanding. After the meeting, Ji Aoting privately approached Jin Ran, expressing doubts about the Lan Town project.
He argued that its small scale and limited funding from the local tourism bureau made it unprofitable and a drain on company resources, suggesting they withdraw. Jin Ran countered that profitability was not the primary goal. He emphasized that successfully winning and developing the Lan Town project into a major success would solidify Feitu's position as an undisputed industry leader, giving them control over future tourism ventures in the region, even if it required initial self-investment or commercial partnerships.
With a busy schedule, Jin Ran quickly excused himself from the conversation. Later, Zhang Wei met Jin Ran to apologize. She explained that the misleading news about the Green Path Plan was published by a junior reporter on her team without proper verification while she was on a flight to the US. She assured him that the reporter had been fired and her studio would personally issue a clarification to address the rumors.
Jin Ran accepted her apology, confident in his own crisis management abilities. Soon after, news reports widely circulated, clarifying the Green Path Plan scandal, announcing Feitu's new partnership with Hong Kong's Zhang's Property, and their bid for the Lan Town tourism project. Meanwhile, Lin Shan, infuriated by the clarification news, confronted Gu Sa. She accused Jin Ran of taking advantage of her, complaining that the Green Path Plan, which she helped establish for Feitu, now excluded her.
Gu Sa calmly reminded her that she had voluntarily withdrawn. Lin Shan continued to vent, criticizing Jin Ran for abandoning his international career, pursuing a "minor product manager" (Yuan Lai), and now bidding on an "unprofitable" Lan Town project. She expressed her frustration to Gu Sa, feeling that Jin Ran was not worth her loyalty. Gu Sa, however, firmly declared her continued support for Jin Ran, stating she would always wait for him.
That evening, Jin Ran "coincidentally" found Yuan Lai jogging by the river and joined her. Yuan Lai questioned his continuous habit of running away from problems and then challenged his decision to invest in the Lan Town project, deeming it an unprofitable venture lacking historical depth or scenic beauty. She suspected he had ulterior motives for pursuing such a seemingly disadvantageous project. Jin Ran dismissed her suspicions, asking if she doubted his loyalty to Feitu and to her.
He assured her that both he and Mr. Wen understood the strategic value of the project, even if it meant initial investment, to achieve long-term market dominance. He then shifted the conversation to a more personal note, explaining that her tendency to "lock up her heart" prevented her from seeing beyond her immediate path.
He urged her to open her heart, promising that she would then see not only the broader scenery but also the person consistently by her side, growing with her, experiencing life with her, and holding her hand always. Yuan Lai, listening to his heartfelt words, began to soften, and they reconciled.
