Ten Years Late Episode 26 Recap
> Ten Years Late Recaps
Ding Ang came to pick up Xinyi from work, noticing her unhappiness. A call came in from Gao Zifu, and Xinyi put him on speaker. Gao Zifu informed her that a brand’s advertisement had issues, postponing its schedule and leaving an available billboard slot. He asked if Xinyi was interested and suggested they meet at Lixing Hotel, promising to send the room number later. Xinyi agreed, despite Ding Ang’s warning that Gao Zifu likely intended to harass her.
Xinyi assured him she knew what she was doing. Concerned, Ding Ang secretly followed her to the hotel. Inside the hotel room, Gao Zifu, wearing a bathrobe, offered Xinyi red wine. Xinyi, however, pressed to discuss business. Gao Zifu bragged about his power at Hengda Property, claiming his boss was "inept and lacks the intelligence to govern" and that he alone made all decisions.
He then offered Xinyi a 20% discount off the market price for the billboard, citing their friendship. Xinyi questioned his betrayal of company interests, then revealed she had been recording their conversation. Gao Zifu lunged to grab her phone, but Xinyi kicked him, sending him sprawling onto the sofa. Ding Ang, who had been waiting downstairs, met Xinyi as she left. She excitedly told him that Gao Zifu would need to stay in the hospital for days.
Relieved but still worried, Ding Ang made her promise never to go into a man's room alone again, to which Xinyi playfully agreed, "except for my room." Remembering Jin Ran's words about opening her heart, Yuan Lai developed a refined proposal for the Lan Town project. At a company meeting, she presented a plan to promote Lan Town, known for its natural, pollution-free environment, by hosting a "Ten Thousand People Marathon" that would connect various scenic spots.
She also suggested adding a "treasure hunt game" for tourists less inclined to participate in the marathon. The company's senior management, including Mr. Wen, highly praised her creative ideas and expressed strong confidence in the upcoming bidding. Ji Aoting, meanwhile, watched with a worried expression. Yuan Lai and Jin Ran worked late into the night perfecting the plan. When Jin Ran saw her still immersed in work, he insisted they go eat, worried about her health.
He took her to Gu Yang’s coffee shop, which was already closed, and convinced Gu Yang to make them sandwiches. Xinyi met with Mr. Pei, the general manager of Hengda Property, presenting her recording as evidence against Gao Zifu. However, Gao Zifu had already preempted her, falsely accusing Xinyi of seducing him to say incriminating things just to secure the advertising slot. Mr. Pei, swayed by Gao Zifu's preemptive strike, dismissed Xinyi's claims and accused her of deliberate entrapment.
Furious, Xinyi left, declaring that some people's true colors would eventually be revealed. Back home, she angrily chopped vegetables to vent her frustration. Ding Ang, seeing her distress, comforted her and decided to investigate Mr. Pei. He discovered that Mr. Pei had recently married a much younger woman after a quick divorce from his first wife, leading him to conclude that Mr. Pei was indeed "greedy and lecherous." Xinyi, trusting Ding Ang’s judgment, believed Gao Zifu would eventually expose himself.
Later, Gao Zifu was publicly caught with Mr. Pei's wife, engaging in intimate behavior. Mr. Pei, seeing social media posts of them in the same cafe with the same dog and wearing matching rings, confronted them. Enraged, he physically assaulted Gao Zifu and immediately fired him from Hengda Property. Xinyi witnessed the scene, feeling a sense of vindication. Gao Zifu, in his desperation, retorted that Xinyi had only dated him years ago to afford an apartment in Shanghai.
Xinyi, however, countered that everything she had achieved was through her own hard work. Upon returning home, Xinyi happily shared the news with Ding Ang that the advertising slot was now secured, further validating their earlier strategy. Ding Ang, still worried about her safety, thoroughly checked her for any injuries. Jin Ran and Yuan Lai arrived at the Lan Town project bidding, confident in their marathon proposal.
The host announced that the winning project involved a marathon to promote Lan Town, which filled Yuan Lai with even greater hope. To her shock, the Tourism Bureau Director announced that Taihe Travel was the winning enterprise. Yuan Lai watched in disbelief as Taihe Travel’s video presentation played, revealing a plan almost identical to Feitu's. Angered and confused, she stormed out, but Jin Ran stopped her.
Yuan Lai couldn't fathom how their confidential plan, seen only by her, Jin Ran, Mr. Wen, and Ji Aoting, could have leaked. Jin Ran reminded her that the plan had indeed been seen by others, prompting Yuan Lai to suspect either Ji Aoting or Mr. Wen. Jin Ran urged her to stay for the tender document ceremony. To Yuan Lai’s astonishment, Ji Aoting ascended the stage to accept the tender documents as Taihe Travel's Managing Director.
Later, at a reception, Jin Ran congratulated Ji Aoting. Ji Aoting, feigning humility, claimed Jin Ran had "offered" him the project. Jin Ran coolly asked how Ji Aoting would explain his actions to Mr. Wen. Ji Aoting responded that Mr. Wen would likely have already seen his resignation letter. Jin Ran acknowledged that they were now rivals, and Ji Aoting humorously requested mercy.
Yuan Lai attempted to confront Ji Aoting, demanding to know why he betrayed Feitu, but he was quickly pulled away by other attendees for introductions. Ji Aoting then gathered Bob and Lisa, who were delighted with their victory over Feitu, believing Jin Ran was now writing a self-reflection report. Ji Aoting, however, cautioned them against arrogance, emphasizing the principle of "neither be elated by success nor disturbed by failure."
He reminded them that Mr. Wen was a cunning opponent and they needed to be fully prepared, ensuring Feitu would have no chance to recover. Back at Feitu, Yuan Lai encountered Ji Aoting, who had come to say his farewells to Mr. Wen. Yuan Lai questioned his betrayal, reminding him that Feitu was his brainchild, built with his heart and soul.
Ji Aoting admitted that Feitu was like his child and expressed regret for hurting her, acknowledging that the winning bid was her idea. He explained that Taihe Travel desperately needed the project to establish itself in the market and that his actions were solely "to prove myself." He then offered Yuan Lai a position at Taihe, promising to cultivate her talent, but Yuan Lai coldly rejected his offer, stating she had no intention of leaving Feitu.
Professor Zhao, speaking to a photograph of his deceased wife, happily informed her that their son, Chengzhi, had found a girlfriend, also from the Law Department at Dong University. Chengzhi then brought Shuangshuang to meet his father. Professor Zhao was initially polite, but during their conversation, he realized Shuangshuang was the same "naughty" student who had disrupted his class years ago.
He recalled teaching a lesson about non-violence and calling on a student in a "green" shirt, only for Shuangshuang to correct him, claiming her shirt was blue and suggesting he was color blind. She had then given a chaotic, legally unsound answer to a case study. Professor Zhao, clearly disappointed, feigned a sudden stomachache and then claimed he needed to prepare for an afternoon class, abruptly leaving without finishing his meal. Shuangshuang felt dejected, fearing Professor Zhao's disapproval.
Chengzhi tried to console her, explaining his father’s "principle" that "all students who don’t work hard in study are his foes." He pressed her to recall what had happened between them in class. After her confession about the "color blind" comment and the violent solution to the case, Chengzhi reiterated that his father "hates it when people call him color blind." Shuangshuang complained that Professor Zhao was "so petty" to still hold a grudge.
Chengzhi jokingly suggested finding another girlfriend that his father would approve of, causing Shuangshuang to angrily pinch his arm. Meanwhile, Professor Zhao was once again talking to his wife's photo, expressing concern that Shuangshuang was "not good," a "naughty ghost," and might "ruin Chengzhi’s life," vowing to "observe her more." That evening, Jin Ran took Yuan Lai to Gu Yang’s now-closed coffee shop, using a spare key he had.
He offered Yuan Lai a low-alcohol fruit wine while pouring himself a strong liquor. Yuan Lai questioned why he chose to drink such strong alcohol if it only caused headaches, but Jin Ran admitted it helped him sleep. Yuan Lai then expressed her disillusionment after meeting Ji Aoting, feeling childish for trusting him and bewildered by those who prioritize "benefits and achievements more important than friendship and justice."
Jin Ran explained that some selfish people remain in positions not out of satisfaction, but because a greater temptation has not yet arrived. He dismissed Ji Aoting’s excuse about being forced by Mr. Wen, asserting that Ji Aoting would always prioritize his own interests, flatter himself, and eventually "take away all the resources from the company and start up his own business," regardless of Mr. Wen's kindness. Yuan Lai lamented Feitu’s recent heavy losses.
Jin Ran, ever the optimist, reassured her that one defeat doesn’t define everything, reminding her, "He who laughs last laughs best," and hinted at good news to come. Yuan Lai then questioned if his ambition would also lead him to betray Feitu. Jin Ran, looking deeply at her, confessed, "You are my ambition, the purpose of my return. As long as you are here, I am not going anywhere." Later, Jin Ran became heavily intoxicated.
Yuan Lai called Chengzhi and Ding Ang to help take him home. As they struggled to get a staggering Jin Ran up the steps of his apartment, Yuan Lai easily located a spare key hidden nearby, teasing them for their predictable habit of hiding keys within three meters, a practice she remembered from college. Inside, Chengzhi exaggerated Jin Ran's poor health due to low alcohol tolerance, jokingly advising Yuan Lai to reconsider him.
As Yuan Lai prepared to leave, Ding Ang dramatically warned her of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, including potential cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, and urged her to stay and monitor Jin Ran, since he and Chengzhi had families to go home to. Chengzhi offered to stay instead, but Ding Ang quickly dragged him away, quipping, "He could be faking it!" leaving Yuan Lai alone to care for Jin Ran.
