Later, I Laughed Episode 3 Recap, Plot

> Later, I Laughed
> Later, I Laughed Recap

An impromptu stand-up performance filled with raw, unfiltered complaints had stirred up emotions buried deep in Wu Xiuya’s subconscious. That night, the emotional turmoil overwhelmed her mind, leaving her sleepless for hours. The lack of rest affected her performance the next day—her writing was riddled with typos. Fortunately, her colleague Pang Jing helped her correct the mistakes and expressed concern for her well-being.

After a busy day, Wu Xiuya went home, took a shower, and lay in bed, hoping for a good night's sleep. However, as soon as she closed her eyes, scenes from the stage and Ma Chao’s deceitful display in front of the chairman replayed vividly in her mind, keeping her wide awake. Even after a call with a friend, she couldn’t sleep. In desperation, she turned to advanced mathematics and yoga in the middle of the night.

On the second night of insomnia, her organs, deprived of proper rest, began to weaken, sending signals to her brain that the body was under stress. In response, her brain ordered an increased secretion of adrenaline, which quickened her breathing and blood oxygen levels, ironically making her appear more energetic. For the first time, Pang Jing witnessed Wu Xiuya being unusually talkative.

During a department meeting, when Manager Hu repeated the same old talking points, Wu Xiuya’s mouth reacted faster than her brain, and she blurted out a comment. The room fell silent. Realizing she had spoken out of turn, she quickly apologized and later repeatedly expressed regret in the office. Seeing her condition, Pang Jing offered to write the article on her behalf and urged Wu Xiuya to rest.

However, even on the third night, insomnia persisted, leaving Wu Xiuya so sensitive that even the faintest sounds kept her awake. The prolonged secretion of adrenaline overstimulated her nervous system, making Wu Xiuya hyper-aware of her surroundings. Meanwhile, Manager Gao had a discussion with Manager Hu and later summoned Ma Chao for a long conversation in his office. It was decided that Ma Chao would be promoted to team leader of the internal communications department.

As soon as Ma Chao returned to his desk, he received the official email from Human Resources. Gloating, he couldn’t wait to share the news and treated everyone to milk tea as a celebration. Wu Xiuya, already exhausted and annoyed, lost her patience and sharply told Ma Chao to leave her alone. Although the incident could have ended there, Ma Chao, not even officially in his new position, began throwing his weight around.

He started bossing around colleagues like Pang Jing, who used to be his equals. This was the last straw for Wu Xiuya, who finally snapped and had a heated argument with Ma Chao in the office. Manager Hu observed the altercation but chose not to intervene. Instead, he reported the matter to Zheng Hao. That evening, Zheng Hao invited Wu Xiuya to dinner to discuss the situation.

He suggested that, for the sake of maintaining harmony, Wu Xiuya should apologize to the entire department. This, he reasoned, would give Manager Hu and Manager Gao a way to de-escalate the situation, and they would owe her a favor in return. Zheng Hao also pointed out that her actions could negatively impact his position. Wu Xiuya gave no clear response. On her way home, she passed by a stand-up comedy club and decided to go in for a while.

When she received Zheng Hao’s self-righteous text with a formal apology script, she felt a wave of disgust. The next day, during the department meeting, everyone anticipated that Manager Hu would bring up the incident. Wu Xiuya was called upon to address the matter. Holding a prepared speech, she began to read mechanically. But soon, the bold, confident Wu Xiuya of the past—the one who once wore a striking red dress—resurfaced.

In the midst of her speech, she decided to follow her heart. She stated firmly that she would not apologize and that the person who should apologize was Ma Chao. This was, of course, not the outcome Manager Hu had expected. However, he couldn’t fault Wu Xiuya, as her reasoning was entirely justified. Freed from the burden of guilt and expectation, Wu Xiuya finally regained her ability to sleep peacefully.

Episode 2 Recap

Episode 4 Recap

Related Posts