The Way We Were
Timing and Subtitles Brought to you by the Can We Go Back? Team @ Viki
The Way We Were
Episode 4
Are you sure that the middleman didn't reveal our identity to this traffic officer?
I'm one hundred percent sure.
Just to ensure it, I didn't even meet with the middleman personally.
I channelled everything through friends of my friends.
I took a lot of detours.
The other party will never be able to trace it back to us.
Come in.
Mr. Chen, Lawyer Kang is here.
- Let him in. - Okay.
- Lawyer Kang. - Mr. Chen.
- Thank you for your help for these past few days. - It's part of my job.
- Please, sit down. - Okay.
I made a breakthrough in the development today.
There is an investigator in my law firm that has connections with every police precinct in San Francisco.
Last night, while he was on a date with a colleague of that traffic officer who gave Shu Che the traffic citation,
she mentioned that the traffic officer personally told them that his Chinese language skills weren't really that good.
If not for Xiao Qing testifying that Shu Che asked her to take the blame for the crime,
he hadn't been really sure that he had fully understood what they were talking about.
Can we get that female officer on our side?
We might be able to convince her to be our defense witness.
Make sure of it.
Lawyer Kang, please make this witness a reality.
Franco will provide you with all the help you need.
I will try my best.
There's still one critical point that might change the judge's decision.
That is Xiao Qing.
Ms. Xiao.
Ms. Xiao, hello.
You are...?
I am Wang Ruonan, the assistant of Miao Ying's father.
I especially came here today to discuss an important matter with you.
Okay.
I came to talk with you about Shu Che's trial.
Is there any progress?
The lawyers are currently setting up their defense strategy.
They are preparing for all kinds of possibilities.
They also found evidence that is very beneficial for Shu Che.
That's good then.
It seems that Ms. Xiao also doesn't want Shu Che to get a harmful verdict.
Of course not. After all, he also had a reason for doing it.
It's great that Ms. Xiao thinks that way.
I came here to earnestly ask for your help.
What help can I give?
You are the critical witness for this trial.
If you agree to help with this favor, Shu Che's case will be repealed.
Then, what do you need me to do?
It's actually not hard to do.
Just deny that Shu Che asked you to take the blame for his crime in court.
You're asking me to reverse my testimony?
Let's... put it another way.
I've also thought of a reasonable explanation for you.
You just need to say that when you were brought to the police station for questioning,
you didn't fully understand the questions of the police officer.
Will saying it that way really help repeal Shu Che's case?
Isn't there still that testimony by the traffic officer?
The lawyer has evidence that the traffic officer didn't fully understand the dialogue between you and Shu Che.
I'm guaranteeing that if you deny it, Shu Che will be fine.
I want to know who asked you to see me.
It was not Shu Che nor Miao Ying.
Don't worry. Neither of them know that I came to see you
and I will not let them know, either.
This matter is extremely confidential.
It seems that Ms. Xiao is hesitant.
But I'm sure that you don't want to see Shu Che get any harmful verdict.
As for thanking you, let me be frank.
Once you agree to help, you won't need to pay for your tuition free for 3 years.
Just give me an account number and I'll deposit the money every year on time.
I've made some calculations.
The tuition fee for three years is about $150,000.
Am I right?
How about this then? Ms. Xiao, try to digest it first.
Carefully reconsider it. Carefully make your decision.
This is my calling card.
Please, call me before 8 pm tomorrow and tell me your decision.
No need for you to worry about what will happen afterward.
[Wang Ruonan: Special Assistant, Weiye Group ]
I'll wait for your good news by 8 pm tomorrow.
Goodbye.
[Wang Ruonan: Special Assistant, Weiye Group]
$150,000...
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait.
What are you doing? Look at my lawn! It's so uneven!
It's like the third time you've messed it up.
I-I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. My girlfriend is breaking up with me. I--
I need to respond to her text messages.
You know... girls.
Yeah. I know girls.
You know what...
Thank you for your services. Unfortunately, I'm gonna have to fire you.
So, here is your money. Good luck with your girlfriend.
You fired that man?
Or else, what? Look at what he did to my lawn.
Don't you need to hire another gardener then?
Yes. I don't really know how to mow it myself.
Then... how about me?
What do you mean?
How much do you pay for this per hour?
$15 per hour.
Just hire me then. I'm cheaper after all.
$10 per hour is fine with me.
Do you know how to mow lawns?
Of course. I've done this stuff while volunteering at school.
But I can only help you deal with the parts that were not yet mowed.
For those that were already destroyed, we can only wait for them to grow back.
Can you really do it?
Let me demonstrate it to you.
Not bad.
How about it? Did I pass my job interview?
No problem. Xiao Qing, this job is yours from now on.
If you still have anything that you need to hire someone for, you can always look for me.
You couldn't be all-knowing, right? Can you fix a water pipe?
No problem. When the pipes back home got clogged up, it was me who fixed them.
As long as there aren't any instances where you'll need special equipment.
How about electrical repairs?
Sure. Connecting fuse wires or changing batteries, I can do them all.
What else do you know how to do?
I also know how to assemble and setup furniture.
For example, chairs, bookshelves, bed frames, stuff like that.
Small cases.
The roof is broken. Can you fix that?
That I still don't know how to do, but I can learn.
Xiao Qing, I feel that you don't look like the usual student from the mainland.
Most of them are princesses and young masters of rich tycoons.
Here then. This is your salary for today.
Thank you, Boss.
[ Special Assistant Wang ]
[ Slide to power off ]
She won't answer and even turned her phone off.
Dad, you're looking for me?
- Sit. - Okay.
I didn't want you to know this.
But... there is one thing now that you must do.
What do you want me to do?
Go look for Xiao Qing and convince her to help with this favor.
What favor?
Ask her to deny that Shu Che made any request for her to take the blame for the crime.
It's like this. There are now some changes in Shu Che's case.
Lawyer Kang has found a witness and evidence that can refute the testimony of that traffic officer.
If you can convince Xiao Qing, Shu Che's case will be dismissed.
Daddy... how come you know more things than I do?
Have you been doing things that I have no inkling about, all this time?
I don't really want you to know about these things.
But say...
Dad, I'm thanking you on behalf of Shu Che.
But... Shu Che doesn't want anyone doing these things for him.
That's why I hope that you won't let him know.
If it wasn't for Lawyer Kang finding a witness that can cast doubt on the traffic officer
and suddenly to have a chance for him to escape any criminal procedures,
I also wouldn't have thought of asking you to talk to Xiao Qing.
We can say that everything is prepared and we just lack Xiao Qing.
If we don't exert any effort in this, won't you find it regretful?
[ George Finely Bovard Administration Auditorium, University of Southern California ]
- Xiao Qing. - Huh?
Why are you here?
I especially came to see you.
Before I say anything, you probably know already why I came to see you.
Didn't someone approach you already before me?
I'm sure that he offered a very tempting condition, but you rejected it.
You got it all correctly.
That is exactly how my father does things.
Silently handling everything.
Since you rejected him, he was left with no other choice
but to ask me to approach you and use the 'friend card'.
My father... has been my guardian all this time.
He uses his life philosophy and connections to solve my problems and pave my path.
I don't know if I should feel grateful for everything that he's done or find it uncomfortable.
There's a lot of people who wish their parents could give them this kind of protection and help.
But you and Shu Che aren't those kinds of people.
Compared to Shu Che...
I don't have his kind of courage and stubbornness.
All right.
I'll agree to your request.
You're agreeing just like that?
I haven't even started begging you yet.
Since I was little, I'm afraid of two things the most.
Begging others and others begging me.
Those two things can really make you feel so messed up.
If possible,
I want to work hard to have a life where I will only have to beg myself.
Thank you.
[ Riverbed Building]
Please, come in.
Why are you also here?
Lawyer Kang invited me.
- Come over and sit. - Please, sit down.
The local court has set the trial date.
It's on Friday, three days from now.
I asked you two to come over today to discuss the situation during the trial.
My law firm investigator was able to get in contact with a female colleague of the officer who issued Shu Che's traffic ticket.
She personally claimed that during a gathering with other officers,
they all praised the traffic officer's proficiency in the Chinese language.
But he then publicly admitted that on that day at the crime scene,
he hadn't been really sure if he had understood the discussion between Shu Che and Xiao Qing.
He had just made a guess.
Afterward, when Xiao Qing's testimony was obtained at the police station,
only then was he able to confirm that he did hear it correctly.
What does this information prove then?
It proves that the cop might have made a mistake and misunderstood your discussion.
I've already obtained a letter of commitment from this female officer
guaranteeing that she'll appear in court in three days to relay the details of their conversation.
This way, we can cast doubt on the testimony of the traffic officer
in order to deny the charge for obstruction of justice.
But they still have Xiao Qing's testimony.
Miss Miao has met with Xiao Qing.
Let her tell you the result of their conversation.
I went to talk with Xiao Qing.
What did you two talk about?
She said that she'll deny in court that you asked her to take the blame for the crime.
She has already submitted a statement to the cops.
It's common to have a difference in testimonies before and after.
It's also very easy to give explanations for them.
Ms. Xiao could have totally misunderstood the policeman's questions
since her English skills aren't that good
and she then gave the policeman the wrong answer.
Will she really do that?
Shu Che, the strategy I've devised for you is to plead 'not guilty'.
I just need you to do one thing in court.
That is to deny all charges against you.
We will use the fact that you were not here in the US last July and August because you went back to China.
That will serve as proof that you didn't receive the traffic violation notices on time.
Also, that you didn't know that your license was to be revoked.
Hence, your driving without a license wasn't really intentional.
I reckon that among the four charges filed against you, only speeding will be upheld by the court.
In the end, you'll get sentenced for a very minor crime and won't have any jail time.
This is also the best result that we can help you get.
Which means that... I have to lie in court?
I'm just suggesting that you don't admit to your crime.
Why didn't you tell me first before seeing Xiao Qing?
If I had told you, would you have let me see her?
She didn't do anything wrong. Why then did she suddenly agree to retract her testimony?
She insisted on personal principles, but that doesn't mean that she's not open to reason.
Xiao Qing is actually the same way with everyone,
she didn't want your future to get affected because of a possible legal judgment.
Did you promise her anything? For example, giving her a condition in exchange?
No. Why would I promise her anything?
Really?
I swear it.
Miao Ying,
from the moment this happened until I was brought to the police station,
I kept thinking of denying and avoiding it.
But during those days while I was jailed, my mind suddenly was able to relax.
I didn't want to struggle anymore with refusing to admit my crime.
Even if you're able to erase the mistakes you've done from reality,
you won't be able to erase them from your heart.
You realize that they will keep blocking you and you will never be able to get past them.
But there were a lot of people, Lawyer Kang, and even you,
that were all doing things behind my back.
Shu Che... we're all doing this for your sake.
Six years ago, that's what my parents told me too.
Shu Che, we did this for your sake.
Get out of the car! Let go and get out of the car!
Quickly leave.
Shu Che, remember, don't tell anyone that you were the one driving the car.
Quickly leave!
For trouble that I've created...
must I let Driver Chen take the rap for it?
Or else, what? Admit that the perpetrator
who drove Deputy Mayor Shu's car wasn't his driver, but his son?
Let the police find out that his son was still learning how to drive and didn't have a license yet?
That way, you were driving without a license, committed a crime of inflicting a serious injury on another,
ran away from the crime scene, and instigated another person to admit to the crime on your behalf.
You broke the law and that's considered a crime.
What you've committed is a vehicular traffic crime.
You can be jailed for one to three years for it.
Afterward, you'll have a criminal record with a jail sentence attached to it.
The US Embassy will then deny you any kind of visa and your university admission notice will become a useless document.
Your dream of studying in the US will just be a bubble that burst.
May I ask if you can bear such consequences?
Can you?
You can't, right? Then just listen to me.
Then if Driver Chen takes the blame in place of me,
what kind of punishment will he get?
It will be handled like any other vehicular accident.
Driver Chen just needs to pay his civil liabilities.
They will not go after his criminal liabilities.
And he will not get imprisoned.
Even if he doesn't go to jail, this still isn't a punishment that he should bear.
But this is part of his job.
Of course, I will give him an extra reward for this.
I want to know if that girl...
How is she now?
The situation isn't that good,
but we will try our best to save her, pay for her medical fees,
and shoulder any and all urgent needs that her parents may request.
All the money will be from us. We won't be avoiding our responsibilities.
We will compensate until they are satisfied.
I want to know how severe her injuries are.
It's meaningless for you to know that.
This was just an accident.
Starting today, you and her have no relationship at all.
What you should do is get a driver's license,
get an F1 US visa, and then study in the US.
Then, must I pretend that I never hit anyone
and didn't commit any crime?
Shu Che, you are still young. There are a lot of things that you don't know.
But I hope that you can remember that
when ordinary people commit a crime, what they lose is their freedom and money.
But if you're not an ordinary person,
what you lose isn't just freedom and money.
You also lose something that ordinary people don't have. Do you know what it is?
Fame and reputation.
Losing freedom and money won't destroy a person's life.
But for you whose reputation is damaged,
it's possible... that you'll lose your entire life.
Then what is the thing that a person can't bear to lose the most?
It's reputation.
Under the premise of not hurting the interests of the victim,
you should keep the damage to your reputation to a minimum.
This is a must.
Shu Che, we are doing all this for your sake.
Hello.
Hello, I'm Shu Che.
There's something I want to talk to you about in person. Do you have time?
But I'm currently on my way home.
Is it convenient for you to tell me the address of your house?
Okay. I'll send you a text message.
Okay. Thanks.
Bye-bye.
Miss Xiao.
Sorry to disturb you again. I came today to express our gratitude.
Thank me for what?
Thank you for agreeing to Miao Ying's request.
I agreed because it was her that came to me and not because of you.
I understand. Hence, I admire and respect you more.
I came today because I was requested to hand this to you.
What is this?
I also don't clearly understand what that is.
But Shu Che and Miao Ying also both don't know that I came today.
Also, I have some words to relay to you.
The things I've promised you last time are still in effect.
Goodbye.
Sorry, the subscriber you dialed cannot be connected.
[ Are you arriving soon? ]
[ I suddenly had something to do and can't come. Let's just meet some other time.]
Hello, Xiao Qing? Did you need anything?
Do you have time today? I'd like to meet with you.
Do you mind telling me what it is about first?
I want to return what you gave me this afternoon.
Why?
You're not going back on your word, are you?
It's not that. I just want to return it to you.
Why are you returning it if you aren't going back on your word?
Because I'm doing this as a friend, not because of that.
If you're agreeing as a friend,
then be more considerate of my job.
If you insist on returning it and something happens later,
I'll be blamed for not doing my job properly.
You're sure that you aren't backing out?
Yes. But I can't accept this.
Even if you want to return it, don't do it now.
Can't you wait until after the hearing?
I don't want to wait until then. I have to return it to you today.
How about this, where are you right now? I'll come and find you.
Ms. Xiao, I'm extremely busy these days
following President Chen around on business,
which means I won't be in just one place.
So I apologize. We can talk in a few days.
Bye-bye.
Hello?
Hello, is Wang Ruonan here? He asked me to come.
I'm sorry. He left an hour ago.
An hour...
Do you mind telling me where he went? He needs an important document.
If you tell me the address, I can take it over to him right now.
He's with President Chen at PengXiang Business Club with clients.
Hello. Miss, do you have a reservation?
My friend is already here.
- The reservation should be under Mr. Wang of Weiye Group. - Yes, ma'am.
I'll have someone take you over.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
Miss, this is it.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
I'm right outside the door.
I don't know how well you'll like these Chinese dishes.
Xiao Qing
Here, try some.
Here you go.
Come on, let's drink.
Help yourselves!
I can't believe you. You managed to follow me all the way here.
This will only take a few seconds. Why did you have to force me to come all the way here?
You are such a strong-minded person.
You're not planning on secretly betraying us
and stabbing Shu Che in the back in court, are you?
I won't back out of something I agreed to.
Then why are you so determined to return this?
Are you afraid Miao Ying and Shu Che will find out and things will become awkward?
Don't worry. Only you and I know about this.
That's not the reason I don't want it.
I don't want it because it makes me uncomfortable while I still have it.
As a law student, you really need to harden your mind.
I have no desire to strengthen that.
Why don't I come clean with you then?
The car was paid for by the company. It wasn't bought by anyone personally.
And this money is insignificant to Weiye Group.
No one cares.
I don't care whether or not you guys care. I care.
Let me tell you something else.
The ownership of this car was never transferred after its purchase.
As long as you don't change it, it's still considered to belong to the company.
You can keep it for as long as you like
and return it whenever you feel like it.
I want to return it now then.
Two days. Just consider it as me begging you to drive it for two days.
I can't wait even another minute. Please, take it back.
You're really immuned to everything.
Fine. Then wait for me.
I'll be back after I use the restroom.
Don't run away!
Wang Ruonan!
Come out of there!
Hello, is this the front desk?
You're not resolving anything by staying in there!
I really didn't think you were that kind of person! Liar!
Wang Ruonan, can you come out of there?
Hello. Excuse me, but are you a guest?
I came to look for a friend.
We got a complaint at the front desk that you are disturbing our guests.
I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you to leave.
I apologize. This way, please.
How many days has it been? Are you already in a love-hate relationship?
Why are you here?
I should be asking you why you're here.
I came here to...
You rejected him first and now he's rejecting you. Right?
You saw?
This is what Wang gave you?
He should have chosen something more expensive.
It has nothing to do with money.
When did you two meet?
I first met him a few days ago.
Then why only go this far?
What do you mean?
Wang is totally acting on instinct.
I've never seen him act so crazy before.
What?
Oh, I get it now.
This is the true self that Wang has been suppressing all these years.
Now that he's over here in a foreign country, away from his wife,
he's letting it all hang out.
You and I only met like three times.
You've already called me three different people's mistress, including yourself.
Do I look like a home wrecker to you?
Wrong. It's the opposite.
You're filled with righteousness to me.
I'm begging you. Stop making assumptions about me.
None of your assumptions are reliable.
Why don't you share your secrets with me so I can be reliable?
Seriously though...
Will you give this to him? Don't let anyone else know.
Is this to be considered a secret between the two of us?
You can think about it that way if you want.
Sure. I'll help you.
But tell me what happened between the two of you
and why he gave you a car.
I'll tell you later.
Okay.
Remember! You have to place those in his hand yourself. Don't let anyone know.
Timing and Subtitles Brought to you by the Can We Go Back? Team @ Viki
♫ Love and Hate's margin ♫
♫ Gathering and dispersing ♫
♫ Asking why do you care ♫
♫ Until now, I'm still longing ♫
♫ And I'll still go back to you ♫
♫ I rely on you ♫
♫ Separated but the heart comes back ♫
♫ Remember this love, we understand ♫
♫ That this is just love ♫
♫ Whenever I feel hurt ♫
♫ Do not leave and go far away ♫
♫ How long and how far does it take to heal? ♫
♫ Why don't you just return to the place you fell in love? ♫
♫ Did not say goodbye and silently left ♫
♫ The room is cold and no longer has the warm sun ♫
♫ How much I want to keep the time of you and me ♫
♫ Never forgetting and longing for the love to come back ♫
♫ Love and Hate's margin ♫
♫ Gathering and dispersing ♫
♫ Asking why do you care ♫
♫ Until now, I'm still longing ♫
♫ And I'll still go back to you ♫
♫ I rely on you ♫
♫ Separated but the heart comes back ♫
♫ Remember this love, we understand ♫
♫ That this is just love ♫