Broker Episode 13 Recap
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Zhou Xiaoshan confessed to Qiu Jianing that he had been struggling with his feelings for her because she seemed to come from a different world than him. He admitted to feeling lost and insecure, scared of making a mistake. However, he recalled how Qiu Jianing had made him believe in kindness when a person they had lent money to on the street returned it. This experience gave him the courage to be brave and declare, "Qiu Jianing, I like you."
Qiu Jianing responded that she was not a good partner, explaining that her life was almost entirely focused on work, with little else filling it. She questioned if his feelings for her were merely an illusion. Zhou Xiaoshan countered, asserting that he was very clear about what it felt like to be in love and certain that what he felt for her was love.
Despite his heartfelt declaration, Qiu Jianing firmly rejected him, stating she did not like him and had no plans to start a relationship. She emphasized that she did not want their personal matters to affect their work. Meanwhile, Qin Bin informed Qiu Jiaxin that Zhou Xiaoshan was also pursuing her sister. Qiu Jiaxin initially dismissed the idea, but then recalled Qiu Jianing’s unusual behavior the previous night, which made her realize that Qin Bin might be right.
Later, Mo Li's neighbor approached Zhou Xiaoshan, desperately asking him to intervene with Mo Li, who had installed a "floor vibrator" that was driving him crazy. Zhou Xiaoshan confronted Mo Li, telling her to take it down and urging her to be understanding since everyone was just trying to make a living. Mo Li observed that he had changed, noting that he used to never be soft-hearted.
Zhou Xiaoshan explained that she wasn't afraid of death because she hadn't found someone she truly loved, but if that person appeared, she would be willing to endure any suffering for them. Mo Li realized that such a person might have already entered Zhou Xiaoshan's life. As Qiu Jianing was working on a report in her dorm, Qin Bin arrived unexpectedly with a car full of flowers.
He confessed his feelings, admitting that writing an article had only been an excuse to get closer to her, and expressed his desire to be her boyfriend. Qiu Jianing, however, checked her pulse, noting that her heartbeat was a normal 64 beats per minute. She explained that this meant she didn't feel that way about him, emphasizing that hormones, adrenaline, and telomeres determine the biological aspects of love.
She also expressed her displeasure that he had used academics as a tool for personal goals. Qin Bin, despite the rejection, declared that he liked her even more and would not give up, suggesting that perhaps a higher "dosage" was needed, akin to drug tolerance. Zhou Xiaoshan witnessed Qin Bin's confession and later sought help from Xu Qianya.
Despite the rejection, Qin Bin declared that he liked Qiu Jianing even more and asked Qiu Jiaxin to find out the exact nature of the relationship between Zhou Xiaoshan and her sister. Back at home, Qiu Jianing warned Qiu Jiaxin to stop acting as Qin Bin's "helper." Qiu Jiaxin then pressed her sister about her feelings for Zhou Xiaoshan, to which Qiu Jianing cryptically replied, "Phenethylamine."
While Qiu Jianing was showering, Mo Li, calling as a representative from an MMA school, offered a 50% discount on classes, claiming Qiu Jianing had won a draw. Qiu Jiaxin, believing her sister lacked coordination, enthusiastically signed herself up instead. The next morning, Qiu Jiaxin confronted Zhou Xiaoshan, accusing him of secretly sabotaging Qin Bin’s efforts. She mentioned Qiu Jianing's "phen-something-ine" feeling towards him, which she assumed was negative. Zhou Xiaoshan, recognizing the term, smiled.
On the way to work, Zhou Xiaoshan leaned in and whispered "phenethylamine" to Qiu Jianing, elaborating on its effects as a stimulant that causes breathlessness, excitement, and dilated pupils when one falls in love. He noted a "weird" feeling in himself, making her call him inexplicable.
Meanwhile, Qin Bin continued diligently working on his academic paper, admitting to Qiu Jiaxin that while he initially started it to get closer to Qiu Jianing, their discussions had helped him resolve many perplexing questions, making the article a valuable keepsake. Later, Professor Wang discussed the "Plan-O" project, emphasizing that its success could lead to a billion-dollar market.
He advised moving to double-blind animal experiments to prevent core secrets from leaking to competitors, explaining that they would apply for a patent once the direction of the animal testing was clear, rather than too early. During a rare group lunch, which Zhou Xiaoshan also joined, sitting beside Qiu Jianing, he posed a question about the nature of love.
A lively discussion ensued, with Qiu Jianing expressing a cynical view, agreeing that love is merely the secretion of dopamine and therefore temporary. She called it a non-essential "waste" of life that brought more worries than happiness, advising Zhou Xiaoshan to eat chocolate instead for dopamine. Zhou Xiaoshan countered that the fleeting nature of love made it valuable, and the happiness it brought, however brief, should be appreciated.
After the lunch, Zhou Xiaoshan wanted to go home with Qiu Jianing, but she declined, citing personal matters. Afterward, Qiu Jiaxin started her MMA class with Coach Mo Li, finding her to be unexpectedly cool and inspiring. Back at work, Zhou Xiaoshan asked Professor Wang if he could help translate a French document, but claiming the deadline was too tight, he subtly suggested that Qiu Jianing, whose French was excellent, should help.
That evening, Zhou Xiaoshan arrived at Qiu Jianing's home with the translation documents. He observed her biting her pen, calling it a bad habit. When he mentioned being hungry, Qiu Jianing simply gestured towards the kitchen, indicating he was on his own. As Zhou Xiaoshan went to cook, Qiu Jianing suddenly rushed to the kitchen to hide the chili peppers. He teasingly asked why she seemed anxious, given that work was going smoothly.
She then recounted her parents' marriage: her father, a self-made businessman, and her mother, a renowned dancer. Despite being seen as an "ideal couple," their marriage failed because their values and worldviews were fundamentally different, causing them much suffering. Zhou Xiaoshan interpreted this story as a sign that Qiu Jianing was unconsciously thinking about their future, concluding that all the signs pointed to her being in love with him but struggling to admit it.
He then kissed her, and she tightly clenched her fist. At that moment, Qiu Jiaxin unexpectedly walked in, witnessing the scene. Qiu Jianing, flustered, quickly offered to see Zhou Xiaoshan out. As he left, Zhou Xiaoshan told her that he could give her time, but warned that her time was running out. Later, Xu Qianya, having learned about the kiss, advised Qiu Jianing to stop resisting her feelings.
She argued that falling in love was natural and that love, like scientific experiments, required trial and error. She urged Qiu Jianing to accept her feelings for Zhou Xiaoshan, asserting that fighting against her genes would be futile. As Qiu Jianing dozed off in Xu Qianya's car, Xu Qianya subtly took her phone and sent a text message to Zhou Xiaoshan, inviting him to meet at the vacant lot near Melis Live Music Bar.
