[The Way We Were]
[Episode 33]
No problem, we'll make it.
He's here.
- Morning! - You've worked hard!
Good morning!
Chris, have you had breakfast? We brought you some.
Eat in the car.
- Eat it while it's warm. - Yes, have some! You've gotten thin.
Thanks.
- Is everyone ready? - Yes, yes.
- We can. - Come on, let's go.
Come on.
- Thanks for your hard work. - Thanks, it's so hot out.
Thank you.
- Thank you! - Thank you, thank you.
Where are you going?
Look at my memory! Thank you!
Thank goodness you were there!
She gets excited whenever meeting people from home.
- Yeah. - Don't be so careless!
Thanks for everything.
Hey Chris...
is your dad really the mayor?
Then, you really got into Standord on your own
and you're really earning your own tuition?
Hey, Chen Lei.
I want to know the arrival time for Shu Che's flight from Los Angeles.
7:40 p.m.? Okay, thanks, bye.
Xiao Qing!
How are you? You didn't go home for the summer?
What have you been up to?
A bunch of stuff. I've been looking for a law internship.
- Did you find on? - MTA.
That's great! That's a huge firm.
- Congratulations! - Thanks.
What about you? You didn't go back either?
Who would I go back to visit? My dad?
Do...
Do you see Shu Che often lately?
I have, but not a lot.
Are you two...
Let's have dinner together. I have something I want to talk about.
Tonight? I'm a bit busy tonight. What did you want to talk about?
Shu Che has been looking for a job lately, right?
My friend has a position that really suits him.
But if he knows that this is my recommendation, he'd never go.
So I want you to say that it's your friend and your recommendation.
I already let them know to expect him.
Okay, how about this, will 8 or 9 p.m. work?
I'll call you when I'm done and we can find a place to meet.
Okay! I'll wait for your call.
Bye!
[Los Angeles]
Chris, thanks for everything.
Thanks for taking care of us.
And thanks for providing us useful information on studying abroad.
About our impudent actions and inappropriate words...
especially mine... don't take it to heart.
- Goodbye, Chris. - Goodbye.
Keep that in mind!
Chris.
I want to come to America to study like you in the future.
I'll learn to order my own food and to make my own money.
I won't depend on anyone.
Son, hearing that from you makes me feel so happy!
All right. I'll be waiting for you.
Pinky promise.
Okay, it's about time. You should all head in.
Have a safe trip.
- Bye, Chris! - Goodbye.
I'll see you.
- Thank you. - Goodbye!
- You're great. Really. - Bye Chris!
- Bye! - Let's meet again.
- Thank you. Bye! - Thanks. Have a safe trip.
Bye.
- Bye. - Bye bye.
- See you next time! - See you!
- Hello? - Hey, Xiao Qing.
Where are we meeting? I can go pick you up right now.
I'm at the airport right now picking up a friend.
His flight is delayed though, so I don't know when I'll be back.
Can we meet tomorrow?
Sure. Let's talk tomorrow.
Okay, see you tomorrow. Bye!
You arrived?
When?
- We're here? - Yeah.
- Thanks, I'm going home. - I can drive you.
It's fine, my bike is here.
You can put that in my trunk so I can drive you.
No, I'm fine.
See you.
Bro, congrats on passing the exam and congrats to me getting the score!
You can just congratulate yourself.
And let's toast to your friendship with my sister and me!
Cheers.
Your visa is about to expire. Are you going to go back, then come back?
It's time for me to go back.
It's just... should I even return?
Yes, you have to!
What reason do I have to come back?
Me. I'm the reason you should come back.
The exam is over with. What do you need me for?
This semester's over, but there's still next semester.
- Listen, next semester there's-- - Pause!
If you keep doing this for every class...
I mean, do you plan on having someone graduate for you too?
It's not exactly fraud, I mean you're me and I'm you.
We're just making use of each other's advantages.
I don't risk my future, and the school doesn't have to deal with me.
I don't plan on helping you do this anymore.
Don't mess with me!
Who's messing with you?
You really don't plan on helping me? Or earning money anymore?
I think this needs to end.
But then tell me, if you don't take exams for me or be me anymore...
what do you plan on doing back in China?
Do you have a better career opportunity?
Will your salary be higher than what I give?
Do they also provide room and clothing like I do?
Even if they don't, at least it's legitimate work.
I have to be responsible for myself.
These days, only illegitimate work makes money.
Being responsible is being mediocre.
Oh right, also, how will you explain it to my sister?
You suddenly leave your graduate studies in the middle to go back home?
Don't you have to give a reasonable explanation?
To be honest... I have no idea what I'm going to do or where I'm going.
Bro, I've never been able to figure out why you came to America at all.
What was the reason?
No reason. No goal.
I have a really good memory.
I remember when we first met, you said you came here to wander.
For what reason?
Here.
Hey, is there this flame in your heart that isn't going out?
What do you mean?
Your dream of studying abroad.
Did you think that even though you couldn't fulfill the dream...
but that it would be closer if you went closer to it?
Yeah. I did want to be closer.
Then have the courage to realize the dream!
You have everything to achieve it.
Do... Do I?
With your skills, graduate school is a piece of cake.
You'd have no trouble at all!
When it comes to finances, you have me.
Here, when you go back, take the TOEFL.
Then apply for a school and course that provides scholarships.
Then come back. Be Ning Ming and fulfill your dream.
And also be me. Make Rudy academically successful.
Kill two birds with one stone, be legit and illegitimate.
Does that sound enticing?
A bit.
Then hurry and get a move on!
I'll pay for your TOEFL, applications, and plane tickets!
Promise! Pinky promise, it's a deal!
Cheers!
No regrets! Here.
This is the plan.
You're really something.
Eat! Drink!
Where do I want to go?
What do I want to do?
I didn't intend to, but I ended up staying here.
I started with no hope, but then somehow they broke up.
I never thought I'd be able to fulfill my dream of studying abroad.
Yet now, it's become a possibility.
Is it time for me to be proactive?
Thanks.
I suddenly had this thought.
I want to leave here next semester.
I'll transfer to New England.
Are... you trying to hide from something?
Shu Che, right?
I want to get away from him.
When you quit drinking and stopped relying on it to sleep...
I thought you'd stopped thinking about him.
I thought I did too.
But... I want to leave because I don't want
to watch him fall in love with someone else.
Especially since that person is...
Xiao Qing.
I can understand him.
The best way to get over a painful relationship
is to start fresh.
Xiao Qing is a good girl, and she deserves to be loved.
If Shu Che has to fall in love with someone else...
I think Xiao Qing is the best person for him.
I just don't want to see it happen right in front of me.
Me leaving is better for everyone.
It's also better for myself.
Why do you have to be the one to go?
He should be the one leaving.
Do you plan on avoiding everywhere he goes?
Ning Ming.
This is where we lived together.
I can't get him out of my mind.
I can hear his voice and see his shadow everywhere I go.
I can only forget him if I leave.
Why can't you start fresh too and start a new relationship?
To get yourself out of this misery you're trapped in.
Are you going to be the one who lets me move on from Shu Che?
Am I the one who's going to let her move on from Shu Che?
No.
So again, I did nothing. Said nothing.
Even though on the surface, our paths aren't parallel lines anymore...
Even though I came all the way here to force our paths to cross again...
But I'm still the old me.
I'm still the person who can't give the one I love happiness.
My love is meaningless to her.
Okay, thank you.
- That much? - This is to thank my mentor!
Thank you mentor, for guiding me, feeding me...
protecting me, and escorting me around. Here.
You caught me at a good time.
Last year at this time, I was still doing illegal work.
When do you start working at the law firm?
Soon. I don't have much freedom left. You?
Chen Lei arranged another tour group for me.
- Congrats on your advancement! - It's all thanks to you!
This group is landing in Los Angeles and coming to San Francisco afterwards.
I suddenly had this idea.
You haven't been anywhere since you got here, right?
When would I have the time?
I arranged for a little holiday for this period before your work starts.
You don't have to worry about anything. Just follow me, okay?
- Where? - Los Angeles!
We can road trip down to LA on the Pacific Coast Highway.
When we get there, I'll work and you can take my car anywhere you want.
When the group flies to San Francisco, we can road trip back up.
This way, Chen Lei doesn't have to pay for my plane tickets.
What do you think?
When are we leaving?
- Hurry and eat. We're leaving after. - Are you kidding me?
Of course I am!
I'll pick you up tomorrow morning.
[Bank of San Francisco]
- Chen Lei just paid me! - Really? Congrats! Your first paycheck.
Over $8,000, look!
Ten, thousand, hundred... hey, this is over $80,000!
How come it's so much money?
I shouldn't have that much.
I got it.
My mom still ended up sending me my tuition and living expenses.
So they were just saying that they'd cut you off.
I mean, what parents would really do that?
Now you don't need to work, right?
What are you doing?
Mom, I got the $80,000 you sent.
But I really don't need it. I've returned it. Thanks.
I haven't used this picnic set in forever.
I promise I'll return it.
So... who are you using this crazy prop on?
Is it crazy?
I think it's really nice. It's for a friend.
Friend? Then it must be Shu Che?
Let me fill you in. Tomorrow, I'm road-tripping with Shu Che to LA.
He's going to work. I'm going to hang out there for four days.
I've already prepared all the fruits and veggies you need to eat.
Also, I've left everything to Katherine.
Baby, wait for Mommy's return!
Don't spout all this useless stuff. We have to talk about the important thing.
Which is what?
Have you not noticed that something has quietly begun?
What?
- Love! - Love? Who's love?
- Who else? Obviously yours. - Me? Me and who?
With Shu Che.
Stop joking. How is that possible?
Listen up, the whole world can see it except for you.
Are you messing with me? Why would he be into me?
You see, this is your issue.
He's too great, so you're afraid to dream that he could like you.
But you started liking him a long time ago, right?
Right!
I admit that I like him, but not the way you're saying.
We're great friends, thanks.
"Great friends" my ass.
I woke up early so I decided to make a casual breakfast.
Cake, sandwiches... really casual.
No peeking.
What is it? I can't even touch it?
This is my treasure box. I'm the only one who can open it.
Not bad!
Help yourself!
Who knew you had this side to you?
It is not a question of ability, but of readiness.
Don't you think... we're really similar?
The two of us?
Are you trying to tell me in a roundabout way that I'm not like a woman?
When we first met...
you refused to take responsibility for my crimes.
I knew then that you're someone who doesn't easily sway from her principles.
Later on, Miao Ying's dad wanted to bribe you but you didn't accept.
But you agreed to be a witness for me in court.
I knew then that you're someone who values friendship, not personal gain.
And then, when your mom was in an accident,
Professor Anderson gave you a campus job out of kindness.
But you felt it was unjust and even returned the job to Laura.
You'd rather bear with the pressure of working illegally
than accept help from anyone.
That's when I learned that your pride is larger than the sky.
When the professor lectured you during class, you dealt with it.
Luca humiliated you in public because Cheng Ran liked you
and you dealt with it.
You expect a lot of yourself. You only want to keep improving.
Nothing can strike you down.
That's when I knew you're an extremely strong person.
Xiao Qing.
You and I are the same kind of people.
So you were complimenting me for the same of complimenting yourself.
Was I?
- To our similarities. - Cheers!
- Bro. - What are you doing here?
I forgot to tell you something super important the other day.
What?
Starting next semester, I'm raising your salary.
I wanted to tell you, next semester, I...
Cut an orange for me first.
Sure.
You know what?
You've created an academically successful me.
You know what my dad said when he saw my grades this semester?
Four words.
That I'm shaping up.
Don't underestimate that! He might make me a shareholder again
and remove the stops on my cards.
All of that is thanks to you!
So I'm raising your salary next semester!
I wanted to say, I might not be here next semester.
Didn't we have a deal? Why did you change your mind again?
You're really going back to China?
No, but regardless, I won't be here.
Where are you going then?
I haven't decided yet.
- Does my sis know? - Your sister?
She's probably leaving too.
How come I don't know about her leaving?
I'm guessing she's waiting until everything is finalized to tell you guys.
Where is she going?
Boston.
She's applying to transfer to Harvard Business.
She's doing fine at Standord, why is she going to Boston?
To get away from Shu Che.
They've been broken up for so long, it's long been over.
What suddenly brought this on?
Shu Che's in love with someone else.
- How does she know? - She saw, obviously.
A Chinese girl or an American one?
Chinese.
And you know her.
Don't tell me it's Luca.
What are you thinking?
It's Xiao Qing!
Now you know why your sister has to leave, right?
Handsome, it's been a while!
- Where's Xiao Qing? - She's not around.
- Where is she? - You didn't know? She went to LA.
- LA? With who? - Shu Che.
Did you need her for something?
No, I'm leaving then.
Who is it?
Sis, did you see Shu Che and Xiao Qing together for real?
- Ning Ming told you? - Why wouldn't you tell me?
- What would me telling you change? - Why can't it change anything?
Why does Shu Che get to move on so fast?
Why would Xiao Qing betray you and take what's yours?
Neither of them betrayed me.
I have no right to demand Shu Che be heartbroken forever.
Neither do I have the right to prevent Xiao Qing from loving anyone.
He...
Then it's a tragedy for both of us.
You and I both know that they're both really great.
They're always together, drawn towards each other.
And now they've ended up together.
Isn't that a wonderful thing?
Aren't you jealous? Or upset?
Do I even have the right to be?
So you're transferring to avoid it all?
I'm leaving... to give everyone a fresh start.
And for myself.
I'm not as nice as you are. I'm going to LA to find them right now.
They went to Los Angeles?
Yes. Xiao Qing's roommate told me.