Broker Episode 20 Recap
> Broker Recap
Zhou Xiaoshan saw Mo Li's unconcealed hostility towards Qiu Jianing, warning that it would make Qiu Jianing suspicious. Mo Li retorted, asking if he was afraid of her suspicion or of harming their relationship. Mo Li then observed that when Zhou Xiaoshan spoke to Qiu Jianing, his voice and expression were not those of someone pretending.
Zhou Xiaoshan explained that even if he were in love, it would be impossible because his mother was still held by Uncle Zha, and she would die if he didn't comply. Mo Li confessed that she hadn't told Uncle Zha about Zhou Xiaoshan and Qiu Jianing because she was afraid of losing him, the only person she could rely on and trust since childhood. She feared he would abandon her after the tasks were done.
Zhou Xiaoshan reassured her, saying, "Silly girl, you are my sister and you always will be." Later, Li Ruiming asked Mo Li to practice fighting, wanting to face her fairly so she could see his abilities. He announced proudly that he lasted twelve seconds, considering it a tie because he didn't want the girl he liked to look down on him. Mo Li told Li Ruiming that she didn't deserve his affection and he didn't know her.
Li Ruiming countered that she didn't know herself, insisting she looked mean but was very kind. He explained that she was the first person to call him kind and had taught him what self-esteem was when his boss bullied and oppressed him. Mo Li then suggested that Li Ruiming should see her as his sister. Li Ruiming remarked that asking someone to become family was the best way to reject them.
This comment made Mo Li recall Zhou Xiaoshan’s words and realize that Zhou Xiaoshan did not love her. She then asked Li Ruiming how a man loves a woman, and he described thinking about her constantly, wanting to see her smile, train with her, and always wanting to be with her, questioning if he hadn't made his feelings obvious. This made Mo Li realize she had been deceived by Zhou Xiaoshan regarding his feelings for her.
Distressed, she abruptly left, telling Li Ruiming not to follow her. Meanwhile, Qiu Jianing was preparing for a patent application. Qiu Jiaxin asked her why she was spacing out. Qiu Jianing then asked Qiu Jiaxin about her relationship with Mo Li, Zhou Xiaoshan's sister. Qiu Jiaxin confirmed they were besties now, and Mo Li confided everything to her, including her recent move to China for more opportunities and her new boyfriend.
The next day, Mo Li visited Qiu Jiaxin at the hospital, pretending to be concerned that Zhou Xiaoshan was too busy to talk to her and might be hiding things. Qiu Jiaxin inadvertently revealed that Qiu Jianing's lab was applying for a patent and that the applications were due next Monday. As they spoke, Qin Bin entered the restaurant with a nurse.
Qiu Jiaxin became visibly angry, calling him a playboy and commenting on how quickly men change, acting as if he had wronged her, detailing how he pursued her sister then moved on quickly. Mo Li pointed out that Qiu Jiaxin was unusually upset, but Qiu Jiaxin denied any interest in Qin Bin, saying he was too old.
Separately, Professor Wang informed Qiu Jianing that he and Sun Lei needed to travel to Guangzhou and that she would be responsible for submitting the patent materials next Monday. Upon learning about the patent application, Zhou Xiaoshan appeared tense. He asked Qiu Jianing if there were any issues with the experiment, but she clarified that they were discussing the patent application for the now-completed Plan-O formula, which had shown success on cancerous mice after debugging.
Qiu Jianing found it odd that she, a participant in every step of the research, didn't know the full formula. She then posed a sensitive question to Zhou Xiaoshan, asking if he would sell the Plan-O formula for a very high price if he knew it. She recounted how Professor Wang had previously refused a very generous offer from an international pharmaceutical company to participate in the research, despite Original Life lacking the resources of global firms.
Qiu Jianing explained that Professor Wang believed while "science doesn't have borders, scientists have home countries." He stressed that when their country offers better platforms, scientists would return to contribute, rather than being second-class citizens abroad. Therefore, Plan-O must be made in China so its people benefit first, allowing Chinese scientists to stand proud globally. Qiu Jianing, sharing this perspective, stated that a scientist focused only on personal ability would mean others would suffer the same challenges.
Zhou Xiaoshan assured her that he would protect Plan-O with her. Zhou Xiaoshan then called Uncle Zha and falsely reported that Plan-O had no immediate plans for a patent application. However, Mo Li had already informed Uncle Zha of the upcoming application. Uncle Zha, realizing Zhou Xiaoshan's deception, hung up and immediately ordered Mo Li to take action next Monday.
Mo Li, heartbroken by Zhou Xiaoshan's rejection and the realization that their relationship was impossible, lamented that if Qiu Jianing didn't exist, things wouldn't be this way. On the day Qiu Jianing was to apply for the patent, Mo Li burst into Zhou Xiaoshan's home. Despite his attempts to stop her, she called Qiu Jianing, frantically claiming Zhou Xiaoshan was very sick and couldn't be woken up, urging her to come over immediately.
Zhou Xiaoshan demanded to know what Mo Li was doing. She explained that Qiu Jianing was on her way with the formula, and since Uncle Zha no longer trusted him, they needed to work together to complete the mission and earn his forgiveness. Mo Li then presented Zhou Xiaoshan with a liquid, instructing him to give it to Qiu Jianing to make her pass out so they could take the formula and leave.
Zhou Xiaoshan called her crazy and prevented her from using it. When Qiu Jianing arrived, Mo Li eagerly tried to make her drink water, but Zhou Xiaoshan quickly intervened, claiming he had just been in a deep sleep and Mo Li had worried needlessly. After Qiu Jianing left, Mo Li furiously confronted Zhou Xiaoshan, asking if he was in love with Qiu Jianing. He admitted, "Yes! I am in love with her.
I didn't want to but I couldn't help it!" Mo Li became hysterical, accusing him of changing and failing because of Qiu Jianing, and declaring that she would not allow him to love anyone else. Zhou Xiaoshan asserted that he was human, not a machine, and couldn't control his emotions. He acknowledged Mo Li's feelings, but firmly reiterated, "we are impossible, you are my sister."
Mo Li cried out that she didn't want to be his sister and questioned why he chose Qiu Jianing. Zhou Xiaoshan insisted that there was no order to love and that he could not force himself to love Mo Li, just as he couldn't stop loving Qiu Jianing. He affirmed his determination to be with Qiu Jianing, telling Mo Li he would always be her brother.
Mo Li called him crazy, but Zhou Xiaoshan calmly stated he was very clear-headed, revealing that Uncle Zha had promised him freedom from working for him once this mission was complete, and he believed his mother would be safe until then. Mo Li left Zhou Xiaoshan's home in tears, later found crying alone on a sofa. Li Ruiming was concerned when he learned she hadn't been to work for three days and her phone was off.
He found her and she claimed she was sick. He offered to take her for a checkup and insisted on caring for her as a friend. At dinner, Mo Li questioned why Li Ruiming was so kind to her despite her harshness, while Zhou Xiaoshan, whom she cared for deeply, loved Qiu Jianing. She received a call from her boss, President Wang, and, in a fit of frustration, yelled at him to fire her if he wanted.
Li Ruiming then admitted he had skipped work that day to look for her. Mo Li insisted again that she was a bad person and didn't deserve his kindness, but Li Ruiming argued that she was honest and good, unlike the hypocrites at his office. When he instinctively reached for her hand, she flinched to pull away.
He immediately apologized, explaining he lost control, and promised not to touch her again before they were together, begging her to stay and eat. Mo Li reflected on his words, resolving to get back at whoever had let her down. Qiu Jiaxin's colleague asked her if Qin Bin was pursuing Weiwei. Qiu Jiaxin dismissed it, claiming it had nothing to do with her, but her colleague noticed she seemed upset.
Qiu Jiaxin denied any interest in Qin Bin, saying she was too young to love a much older man like him. Later, after Qiu Jiaxin got into his car, Qin Bin noticed her face was flushed and asked if she had a fever. She resisted his attempt to touch her, reminding him that men and women should keep their distance. Qin Bin playfully teased her about not looking like a woman. At work, Qiu Jianing overheard Zhu Zhu gossiping.
She soon learned that Xiaoxiao's father, a pharmaceutical company president, had been arrested the previous night for business bribery. Xiaoxiao tried to appear unfazed but reacted angrily to a message from Zhu Zhu criticizing her father. Sun Lei expressed his concern to Xiaoxiao, but she remained defiant before later hiding to cry alone. Qiu Jianing found Xiaoxiao crying and offered her a tissue. Xiaoxiao recalled that when Qiu Jianing first arrived, she too was gossiped about by others.
Xiaoxiao thanked Qiu Jianing and asked to rejoin her team, hoping for another chance. Qiu Jianing told her that no one could help her now, and she must rely on herself to recover. Later, Zhou Xiaoshan commented that Qiu Jianing was too kind and would surely take Xiaoxiao back. Qiu Jianing defended Xiaoxiao, saying she wasn't a bad person and everyone needed some hope to carry on.
Sun Lei approached Qiu Jianing, expressing his hope that Xiaoxiao could return to the research team. He revealed that he initially disliked Xiaoxiao's spoiled nature but later found himself attracted to her. He explained that as an introverted and somewhat depressed person due to his background, Xiaoxiao, despite her outwardly happy demeanor, was like a "light" that made his life colorful. Their campus romance had been immature but beautiful.
However, Xiaoxiao's mother found him and made it clear that his background and age made him unsuitable for her daughter. Qiu Jianing asked if he had given up on his love due to self-pity. Sun Lei admitted she was right, recognizing that he had been avoiding things and it was his fault for not being a responsible man.
Qiu Jianing, happy for Xiaoxiao that Sun Lei had come to this realization, agreed to let Xiaoxiao return, but with the condition that she join Sun Lei's team, giving him an opportunity to redeem himself.
