Later, I Laughed Episode 5 Recap
> Later, I Laughed Recap
In front of everyone, Wu Xiuya felt compelled to accept Zheng Hao's proposal. However, while the proposal appeared successful on the surface, it left scars in both their hearts. After the wedding ended, Xiuya refused to participate in the traditional post-wedding festivities and decided to return home alone. On her way, it began to rain, and she realized she had left her bag at the venue.
She returned to the hotel, grabbed her bag, and impulsively took a sip from a glass of red wine on the table. Her eyes fell on the bouquet on stage, and she walked up to it, talking to herself. She poured out all her frustrations and complaints, venting everything she had been holding in. This was the real Wu Xiuya—sharp, articulate, and brimming with the natural talent of a stand-up comedian.
Suddenly, as she spoke, it all became clear to her. She realized what she truly wanted. Just then, Xiao Lan arrived at the hotel, having rushed over to meet her. Xiuya took Xiao Lan with her to find Zheng Hao, who was in the middle of post-wedding celebrations. She handed the engagement ring back to him and broke up with him. Zheng Hao was completely bewildered. Just minutes ago, Xiuya had accepted his proposal, and now she was ending things.
The next day marked the start of Xiuya's new life. She spent the day shopping, eating, and enjoying herself with Xiao Lan. In the past, Zheng Hao had forbidden her from wearing shorts, saying they looked unprofessional. But now, she was determined to live authentically. She wore shorts and even joined Xiao Lan in a casual basketball game with a group of guys. Xiao Lan had secretly returned to China without telling her parents.
When her mother called, she had Xiuya cover for her. Xiao Lan admitted she wasn’t cut out for academics. Instead of wasting time abroad on a master’s degree, she decided it was better to return home, take it easy for a year, and eventually work with her father at the family factory. Xiuya took Xiao Lan to a stand-up comedy club called Bang He Bar.
There, Xiao Lan’s hair accidentally got caught on Liang Dong’s clothes, sparking his interest in her. However, Xiao Lan was more drawn to Shi Ye, a stand-up comedian performing on stage. Xiuya also took the stage and delivered a stand-up set, impressing the audience. Afterward, the club owner, Cao Zhiyong, introduced Xiao Lan to Liang Dong, Shi Ye, and others.
When she learned the bar was short on bartenders, Xiao Lan volunteered to work there, saying she didn’t even need a salary as long as meals were provided. As they left the bar, they noticed Shi Ye’s camper van outside. Xiao Lan immediately recognized it as a custom build, likely done by Shi Ye himself, which only deepened her fascination with him. Although it seemed like a carefree weekend, an invisible pressure loomed over Xiuya.
She hadn’t heard back from Zheng Hao, and she wondered why he didn’t seem affected by their breakup. One morning, as Xiuya was getting ready for work, she unexpectedly found the engagement ring in her bag. Shocked, she questioned Xiao Lan, who admitted she had gone to see Zheng Hao that night but was too drunk to explain herself and even threw up on him.
Embarrassed and frustrated, Xiuya spent the next few days trying to formally break up with Zheng Hao. However, Zheng Hao was so busy with work that she couldn’t get a chance to meet him. Meanwhile, Xiao Lan discovered that Shi Ye was camping in the park, so she dragged Xiuya along to meet him. When they arrived, they saw Shi Ye’s girlfriend. Xiao Lan, being straightforward, openly admitted her feelings for Shi Ye.
Surprisingly, she and Shi Ye’s girlfriend got along well, as their personalities were quite similar. Later, Xiuya waited in the parking lot to confront Zheng Hao and finally brought up their breakup. Although Zheng Hao agreed to the breakup, he said it couldn’t happen right now. He was in the middle of a crucial promotion process for a director position and didn’t want personal matters affecting his career.
Coincidentally, the chairman arrived at that moment, forcing Xiuya to play along with Zheng Hao and pretend everything was fine between them. Afterward, Xiao Lan speculated that Zheng Hao might be stalling in hopes that Xiuya would change her mind. Xiuya dismissed the idea, believing Zheng Hao wouldn’t resort to such childish tactics. In reality, Zheng Hao had heard every word when Xiuya first mentioned breaking up, but he pretended it never happened.
For the next two days, he found excuses to avoid seeing her. He thought Xiuya would be heartbroken and crying under her blanket after their breakup. Little did he know, she was at home watching stand-up comedy and laughing her heart out.
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