Pilot vaping causes drop of 25k ft
 

Well that's one way to end a career.

I don’t know I’m pretty sure it’s standard in almost all transport jets that:
First you get the amber msg “Cab Alt” or something similar at around 7500 or so.

Next you’ll get red msg at about 10000

Then finally the rubber jungle deploys at around 14000 and change.

Hello McFly! Anybody home?

Climbing back to altitude after dropping the masks? Who would be dumb enough to do that?

But, they're the SECOND crew I've heard of that did that.

I'd guess they didn't realize what the problem was immediately, began a descent, but didn't beat the masks.

In China, that depends how well connected your family is. The FO will get an upgrade to Captain after "heroically solving an emergency situation", if his parents are high up enough.