What If Episode 3 Recap
> What If Recap
Xia Guo was disciplined following a livestream incident; Mr. Xue informed her that she alone would be penalized with a three-thousand yuan wage deduction. She questioned why she was singled out when Tim was the one who gave the instruction to replenish goods. Mr. Xue stated that only the Marketing Department's computers had the encrypted key for backend replenishment, implying she was responsible for safeguarding access.
He also asserted that the allocation of resources between online and offline channels was not her or Ms. Nan's decision, much less hers. Upset and feeling unfairly targeted, Xia Guo confided in Ms. Nan, feeling that the punishment was unjust to the Marketing Department and made their work impossible. She expressed frustration to the point of wanting to quit.
Ms. Nan refused to coddle her, reminding her that she came to Shanghai to make money and that she had promised in Leshan she could handle pressure. Ms. Nan warned her that more difficult situations would arise and advised her not to be overly sensitive. Ms. Nan also revealed that Mr. Xue's actions were primarily aimed at her, and since Xia Guo was her recruit, she needed to be doubly cautious.
Showing her support, Ms. Nan gave Xia Guo her meal card, telling her it would go to waste otherwise due to her expense account. Xia Guo was touched by the gesture. Later, while working overtime, Xia Guo was seen eating a competitor's self-heating hot pot by Mr. Xue. He questioned why she wasn't eating the company's product.
She explained she craved the Bowl Chicken flavor, which their company didn't offer, and added that she was studying the strengths and weaknesses of competitive products. Mr. Xue, noting her recent wage deduction, offered to treat her to dinner, but she declined, citing unfinished work. Mr. Xue told her not to stay too late and expressed concern for her well-being.
The next day, a meeting was held to address a critical stock shortage for the upcoming Chinese New Year promotional season's keto cake, particularly for five shopping malls. With the Shanghai warehouse depleted and only eighteen hours until the malls opened, solutions were urgently needed. Ms. Nan suggested redirecting online inventory from Xiao Jie's livestream, but Mr. Xue rejected this to maintain brand credibility with online customers.
Xia Guo proposed using presale vouchers for the insufficient stock, likening it to massage parlors' systems. She suggested packaging the vouchers into "lucky bags" with free gifts to create excitement and buy time for production and logistics. Ms. Nan expressed skepticism, arguing this method was typically for daily necessities and might be seen as a gimmick for their products, potentially alienating customers and facing resistance from malls.
However, Mr. Xue surprisingly supported the idea, suggesting the lucky bags contain mixed products and include samples of five new products from the next quarter's launch, seeing it as a way to attract customers and promote new items simultaneously.
He immediately directed Ms. Chen (Ms. Nan) to secure a temporary budget, Xia Guo to determine the sample count and arrange stocking, Lucy to design the packaging and vouchers and oversee the process at the warehouse, and others to assist in packaging and setting up displays at the malls. While Xia Guo and her colleagues were busy setting up displays at a supermarket, Mr. Xue arrived with takeout meals for everyone.
Xia Guo was initially hesitant to accept, still holding a grudge about the wage deduction. Mr. Xue sat down with her and explained his reasoning: the computer was her "weapon," and by not safeguarding it properly, she allowed someone else (implicitly Tim) to exploit a loophole. He stated that punishing her was necessary to ensure she learned the importance of protecting her tools and would remember the lesson.
Hearing this, Xia Guo was relieved and felt much better, realizing he knew she was unfairly implicated. Mr. Xue offered her spicy diced chicken, knowing her preference as she is from Sichuan. She happily ate, finding it tasted like home. She again asked why Tim was not punished, and Mr. Xue told her to direct that question to Ms. Chen.
Meanwhile, Yu Jian called Xia Guo, explaining his mother had a sudden headache and had a CT scan, but he was unsure about the local doctors and asked Xia Guo to get a specialist appointment in a major Shanghai hospital (Neurology Department) for a second opinion. Xia Guo, being new to Shanghai, wasn't sure which hospital was best.
Mr. Xue, overhearing, recommended the Neurology Department at Hospital Ruihua and advised her on how to book an appointment online or queue in person. Xia Guo went to Hospital Ruihua but found it extremely difficult to get a specialist appointment, with schedules full for a month, and even regular appointments involved a complex queuing process with pre-examination forms. She called Yu Jian back, explaining the difficulty and that she was at the hospital.
Yu Jian, busy with his father's care, was unsympathetic and urged her not to be inflexible, suggesting she find another hospital or doctor. Xia Guo became upset, telling him she had worked overtime, skipped dinner, and rushed to the hospital, feeling hurt by his lack of understanding. She angrily said she couldn't do it and he should come himself. Yu Jian tried to explain he was talking to a nurse about his father.
After hanging up, Xia Guo felt alone and wronged. She later saw contact information for Dr. Jiang, a Neurology specialist at Ruihua, provided by Mr. Xue, with a note indicating he had spoken to her. She tried calling the number, but it was busy. Feeling overwhelmed and unwell, she longed for Yu Jian's presence and comfort, acknowledging the painful reality that the distance between them made even simple happiness difficult.
In a parallel timeline, Xia Guo chose to remain in Leshan. Upon returning home, she discovered her mother had rented out her room, surprised she hadn't gone to Shanghai. Despite the inconvenience and the rental contract already being finalized, Xia Guo didn't regret staying, wanting to be with Yu Jian. Her mother argued with her, prioritizing Xia Guo's future in Shanghai and mentioning the rental income.
Ms. Ping, a friend, arrived and commented on the situation, advising Xia Guo against her impulsive decision to stay and warning her not to get stuck in a "small circle" like herself. Xia Guo countered that she felt secure in her small circle with Yu Jian and Ms. Ping. A manager, Mr. Wang, confronted Xia Guo about her return, implying she thought she was too important for local work after being considered by Shanghai.
He questioned her absence, suggesting she might be considered absent without leave. Xia Guo invoked labor law regarding annual leave. Her mother intervened, claiming Xia Guo had requested leave from her, which she forgot to report to Mr. Wang. Mr. Wang accepted this but proceeded to assign Xia Guo's tasks, like preparing the price list for Xinghui Supermarket, to another colleague, Liang. Xia Guo questioned why her work was being given away and if he wanted her to leave.
Mr. Wang stated he wouldn't stop her if she found a better job, claiming her "value was different now." Xia Guo reminded him her contract was still valid unless he intended to fire her, which he said he would consider. Xia Guo texted Yu Jian, telling him she was outside and waiting for him after work, affirming her choice to stay and her commitment to him, without regret.
Back in the Shanghai timeline, Xia Guo went to the hospital to keep Yu Jian's father company, allowing his mother to go home and rest. The caretaker, Li, was on temporary leave. Yu Jian's father woke up after his wife left. He seemed to need something but was reluctant to ask Xia Guo directly, suggesting she go outside for fresh air or get water from a full jug. Li eventually returned, and Yu Jian's father immediately requested a urinal.
Xia Guo then excused herself to attend to chores. Later, Xia Guo waited for Yu Jian. He arrived, looking exhausted, having sustained a head injury at the construction site. She expressed concern, but he downplayed it, saying it didn't hurt and would be fine after medication. Xia Guo wanted to discuss something important with him, but he fell asleep sitting down. She covered him with his coat, and he soon woke.
He insisted on taking her home, but she suggested staying with his father instead as he was too tired. Despite this, he walked her part of the way. As they walked, they discussed the costs of his father's care, including the expensive caretaker and upcoming rehabilitation. Xia Guo offered to use her money, but Yu Jian refused, expressing gratitude for her staying and saying he would handle the finances.
Xia Guo insisted on helping because his parents had been so kind to her. Yu Jian joked that she should become his parents' daughter, and they could be sworn brothers, a playful suggestion she deflected. He stopped her before reaching her accommodation, telling her to return to the hospital to be with his father. She agreed to go back, promising to text him when she got home. He told her to be careful, and she watched him go, texting him "How did you come back?" as he walked away.
