Episode 18 recap: Starting a Business in Midlife
In Episode 18, Na Wei arrived early that morning at the entrance of Shen Lin's company, waiting to pick her up after work. She seemed completely preoccupied. Shen Lin, unusually, left work early that day. As soon as she spotted Na Wei's expression, she knew something was off. However, both of them held back, acting like characters in a drama, not mentioning anything.
Since it was still early, they decided to grab a meal at a nearby street vendor. After a few drinks, Shen Lin finally couldn't hold back and asked Na Wei if she had something to say. With a sigh, Na Wei revealed that Qin Ling Ling had found out about her helping Wang Ruizhi become the company’s legal representative, leading to a huge fight between them. Their previously agreed compensation had also fallen through.
After listening, Shen Lin paused for a moment and then decisively said, "We won’t take this lying down; I’m quitting too!" She then admitted that she had also had a fight with Jia Yongwang that day, but she had come out on top, managing to negotiate a month’s worth of compensation.
They exchanged glances and laughed, a mix of helplessness and self-mockery in their smiles. As they drank more, their conversation flowed freely. Na Wei felt a mix of emotions—after decades of work, suddenly being unemployed was hard to bear, especially with finances slipping away. Sensing Na Wei’s distress, Shen Lin comforted her, recounting how she had outsmarted Jia Yongwang, hoping to lighten her mood.
As the drinks took effect, a live singer asked if anyone wanted to request a song. Na Wei chose a poignant tune and sang passionately into the microphone, moving Shen Lin to tears. She discreetly turned away to wipe her eyes. However, they both drank too much and struggled to wake up the next morning, almost missing their children’s school drop-off.
To avoid worrying their families, they decided to keep up the façade of going to "work." After breakfast, with the mall opening, Na Wei took Shen Lin out to distract her. Just when they were about to enjoy some home-style cooking, a text about their housing fund repayment arrived, deducting nearly seven thousand nine hundred. Shen Lin immediately lost her appetite.
Not working wasn’t an option, and Shen Lin considered starting her own business. Na Wei, however, felt the risks were too high and suggested finding a job instead. Shen Lin then thought of her classmate Zhu Pei Dong, who was reportedly doing well, and decided to see if she could connect with him.
The next day, after dropping off her child, Shen Lin waited outside Zhu Pei Dong's office. Gathering her courage, she called him, and he enthusiastically sent someone down to meet her. While having tea, Shen Lin felt nervous but eventually asked Zhu Pei Dong if his company was hiring. He seemed surprised but didn’t look down on her; he just said he would need to discuss it with HR. Shen Lin felt incredibly grateful.
Meanwhile, Na Wei was also busy; she went to find her old friend Lao Gao. Unfortunately, his company was relocating to Tongzhou and didn’t need more staff. However, he suggested that Na Wei team up with her laid-off colleagues to start a studio and take on some projects. This sparked an idea in Na Wei's mind.
On another note, Shen Lin’s brother Shen Lei began a rural lifestyle, planting vegetable seeds in the vacant lot in front of his house. Na Wei’s sister Na Juan, despite feeling unwell and often dizzy, pushed through for the sake of work. After discussing it, Na Wei and Shen Lin decided to use their forty thousand yuan savings as startup capital.
Although starting a business felt a bit daunting, once Na Wei made up her mind, Shen Lin fully supported her. Thus, under the weight of life’s pressures, the couple found a new direction.
Comments(Episode 18)