Broker Episode 28 Recap
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Qiu Jianing found herself unexpectedly taken away by a car. She was brought to meet Mike Gail, the head of TKS Group's biomedical research division, known as the world's largest biopharmaceutical research company. Gail offered her a check for five hundred thousand dollars as an advance, with a total of five million dollars promised for the formulas and experimental data of Project-O.
He also knew about her past conflict with Harry and suggested that if she cooperated, he could ensure Harry would never show his face in the scientific community again. Qiu Jianing, however, was not swayed by the money or the offer to deal with Harry. She felt Gail lacked sincerity.
She articulated her concern that if she were to sell Project-O for her own benefit, Chinese researchers in this field would be sidelined internationally, and future Chinese scientists would face skepticism and contempt. She affirmed that her team would work to make the world acknowledge the achievements of Chinese scientists. When Gail challenged her motives, asking what she truly wanted, Qiu Jianing stated her sole condition: "Project-O will be marked with Chinese R&D."
When Gail could not agree, she left, inviting him to witness the power of Chinese scientists at the upcoming launch. After she departed, Gail instructed someone to "have a little chat" with "our old friend." Meanwhile, Wenzhao visited Zha, noting the meticulously maintained surroundings that looked exactly as they did before Xiang Lan's disappearance. Today marked Xiang Lan’s birthday.
Wenzhao addressed Zha as "Father-in-Law" and reminisced about meeting Xiang Lan when they were children, back when Wenzhao's father was Zha's subordinate. He recalled an incident where his father was hit by Zha for a mistake, and a young Xiang Lan, whom he described as an angel, bravely intervened, stating, "It's wrong to hit people" and "Who hits people is a bad person." He revealed that he was responsible for Zha's forced relocation to City A, not his father.
Wenzhao still adamantly believed Xiang Lan was alive, despite Zha's assertion that she was dead. He recounted the search for her, where only her scarf was found, and refused to accept the rescue team's conclusion that she hadn't survived. Wenzhao declared that as long as he didn't see her body, she was still alive. Later, Zhou Xiaoshan arrived to see Zha.
Zha had arranged a phone call for him, explaining that his mother had texted him the previous night, desperately wanting to hear Zhou Xiaoshan's voice. A'Si then handed Zhou Xiaoshan the phone. Zhou Xiaoshan spoke to his mother, asking about her whereabouts and why she was calling, but she only expressed how much she missed him before quickly hanging up.
Zha then explained that he had prevented Zhou Xiaoshan from contacting his mother for years to keep her safe from their activities. He revealed that his mother recently had a benign tumor in her stomach and that he had arranged surgery. Zha, appealing to Zhou Xiaoshan's filial piety, warned him that as her only son, he wouldn't be there for her if she got sick again.
He then pressured Zhou Xiaoshan to resume his mission, giving him until tomorrow to choose between being a filial son and a faithful lover. As Zhou Xiaoshan left, Wenzhao confronted him, observing that he had aged significantly. Wenzhao bitterly stated that Zhou Xiaoshan could never repay what he owed Xiang Lan, accusing him of causing her disappearance and death. Zhou Xiaoshan calmly asserted that he had sacrificed his entire life and couldn't live in the sunlight.
He confessed that his only remaining wish was for Zha to release him so he could spend his mother's final days with her. Wenzhao erupted in mocking laughter, then delivered a devastating blow: Zhou Xiaoshan's mother had passed away long ago, even before Xiang Lan. Zhou Xiaoshan was shattered, refusing to believe the news. Wenzhao continued to mock him, stating that it was "fair" given Zhou Xiaoshan had caused Xiang Lan's death.
Overwhelmed and numbed by the revelation, Zhou Xiaoshan eventually informed Zha that he would continue the mission. The Project-O global launch commenced, with Qiu Jianing taking the stage. She gave a detailed presentation on the project, explaining how Project-O, led by Wang Qitian, had made a revolutionary breakthrough in cancer cell telomerase research, now undergoing Phase II clinical trials, promising a cure for cancer. Her presentation was met with enthusiastic applause.
Zhou Xiaoshan was present at the event, an unexpected sight. After the presentation, he tried to speak with Qiu Jianing, but she refused to engage, signaling her desire to have no further dealings with him. Meanwhile, Qiu Jianing's lab colleagues celebrated the news, with Xiaoxiao quickly creating a new group chat to exclude Zhou Xiaoshan, emphasizing the need for confidentiality for their top-notch international project. Zhou Xiaoshan pursued Qiu Jianing to her hotel room.
She ordered him to leave, reminding him that they had broken up and threatening to call for assistance. He persisted, stating that Zha wished to meet her. Reluctantly, Qiu Jianing conceded to grant two hours of her time the following afternoon. The next day, Zhou Xiaoshan took her to Zha, who greeted her warmly and asked her to call him "Uncle Zha." Over coffee, Qiu Jianing found the drink bitter, commenting that "many things are like your coffee.
Even if you add sugar, nothing will change." Zha apologized on Zhou Xiaoshan's behalf for their breakup, explaining that after losing Xiang Lan, he had asked Zhou Xiaoshan for "extreme favors," which Zhou Xiaoshan took too seriously. Zha pleaded with Qiu Jianing to give Zhou Xiaoshan another chance, claiming Zhou Xiaoshan was deeply affected by their breakup and felt immense guilt, suffering greatly and drowning himself in casinos.
He then revealed the true story of Xiang Lan's death: she shot a classmate who attempted to rape her, and Zhou Xiaoshan took the blame. To protect Zhou Xiaoshan from a powerful family, Xiang Lan was forced to marry her attacker, which led to her severe depression and ultimately, her suicide by jumping off a cliff, as she could not bear to be with anyone but Zhou Xiaoshan.
Zha claimed Zhou Xiaoshan had broken up with Qiu Jianing out of fear that a similar tragedy might befall her. Qiu Jianing angrily refuted Zhou Xiaoshan's self-serving narrative regarding his breakup with her, asserting, "You don't know a thing about me," and promptly left. Later, Qin Bin delivered a pink cat plushie to Mo Li, a gift from Qiu Jiaxin, which Mo Li had once admired while shopping.
Mo Li pressed Qin Bin about his feelings for Qiu Jiaxin, asking who she was to him "deep down." Qin Bin listed her as his junior, student, and little sister, also revealing he once hoped to marry Qiu Jianing, but Zhou Xiaoshan ruined his chances. Mo Li then asked if he was still in love with Qiu Jianing, to which Qin Bin, exasperated, muttered, "Such a fool." Subsequently, Qiu Jiaxin called Qin Bin while playing a game.
Qin Bin complained about Mo Li's rudeness and how she questioned his feelings for Qiu Jianing, even claiming she had called him a "fool." He then told Qiu Jiaxin that her sister was currently with Zhou Xiaoshan, which upset Qiu Jiaxin. Zha, meanwhile, instructed Mo Li to continue cooperating with Zhou Xiaoshan on the Project-O mission.
He noted that Qiu Jianing was a strong woman, and it would not be easy for Zhou Xiaoshan to win her back, advising Mo Li that "words spoken by bystanders could be more touching" to subtly influence Qiu Jianing. Zhou Xiaoshan invited Qiu Jianing to dinner. He expressed his desire to return to the lab, stating that only through work did he feel worthy.
He mentioned that Zhu Zhu told him his resignation had not been approved and that President Huang wanted her to convince him to stay. After dinner, Zhou Xiaoshan walked Qiu Jianing back to her hotel room, clearly reluctant to leave. He brought up the night he got drunk and they spent together, acknowledging that he had called out another person's name then.
He confessed that he had done it on purpose, and assured her that "I've loved you from the beginning to all the way in the end. Only you." Qiu Jianing struggled out of his embrace, reminding him firmly, "We've broken up already."
