Broker Episode 31 Recap
> Broker Recap
Qiu Jiaxin shrieked with excitement, exclaiming that Jiang Xiaoye had shared her Weibo post, causing her to gain thousands of followers. Qiu Jianing found her sister's reaction an overreaction, but Qiu Jiaxin, thrilled that a "game guru" was paying attention to a "nobody," wanted the whole world to know. Qiu Jianing then mused if Qiu Jiaxin's feelings for Jiang Xiaoye were more akin to a fan's idolization than a genuine romantic interest.
Qiu Jiaxin, however, enthusiastically stated that having an idol as a boyfriend was a dream come true for many girls, making her blush just thinking about it. Qiu Jianing then probed about Qiu Jiaxin's past feelings for Qin Bin. Qiu Jiaxin asserted that it was impossible with Qin Bin, she had no more feelings for him, and joked she would "whip him to get even."
Qiu Jianing commented on her sister's "type of love," but Qiu Jiaxin clarified she was just imagining and not referring to a specific type. Qiu Jianing, holding the bracelet she had found, eventually made her way to Zhou Xiaoshan's home. After knocking with no response, she entered using the door code.
She found Zhou Xiaoshan asleep on the sofa and, concerned he might be unwell, asked why he was sleeping there and if he was sick, offering to take him to the hospital. Startled awake, Zhou Xiaoshan pulled her into a hug, confessing that he could only hold her like that in his dreams. Pushing him gently away, Qiu Jianing then asked him if he was the person she encountered at a casino in City A six years prior.
She emphasized the profound impact his seemingly unintentional words had on her during her lowest point, giving her the courage to live. She had been searching for him all these years to thank him, and now, having found him, she expressed her gratitude. Zhou Xiaoshan then revealed he was indeed there, not by choice, but escaping.
When Qiu Jianing asked if it was because he shot someone, he clarified that Xiang Lan was the one who fired the shot, and he took the blame for her. They had attempted to escape but were overwhelmed. He confessed his exhaustion from years of struggling to change his fate, burdened by Xiang Lan's love and Uncle Zha's kindness, which he could not simply forget. Qiu Jianing reassured him, promising to face all future challenges with him.
She reflected on a past conversation with Qianya, realizing she had resented him for his absence during her difficult times but wasn't there for him during his. She vowed that it wouldn't be like that anymore, promising to stay by his side always. With their combined courage, she believed they could overcome anything, to which Zhou Xiaoshan gratefully responded.
At a family dinner, Qiu's Mother asked Qiu Jiaxin about her recent meeting with Jiang Xiaoye, to which Qiu Jiaxin shyly responded, "It was okay." Relieved, Qiu's Mother expressed her hope that the two would end up together. Following a subtle cue from Qiu's Father, Qiu's Mother then suggested that Qiu Jianing also consider a potential match, mentioning a new project director at Qiu's Father's company who, like Qiu Jianing, had studied abroad at MIT.
Qiu Jiaxin jokingly called this "instant retribution" for her sister. Qiu Jianing immediately refused, stating she already had someone she liked. Qiu Jiaxin, surprised, questioned if her sister hadn't broken up with that person. Later, Qiu's Mother privately questioned Qiu Jiaxin about Qiu Jianing's boyfriend, Zhou Xiaoshan. Qiu Jiaxin explained he was Qiu Jianing's colleague, also an overseas student whose tuition was sponsored after his parents passed away.
Alarmed, Qiu's Mother declared that this was "not good" and that the two "cannot be together," fearing that a man with "evil intentions" could jeopardize their family's assets. Qiu Jiaxin retorted that her mother was acting as if they had a kingdom to pass down, but her mother insisted that parents needed to oversee their children's marriages. On their way home, Qiu Jiaxin pressed Qiu Jianing for details about her conversation with their father in his study.
Qiu Jianing explained that their father was neither for nor against her relationship with Zhou Xiaoshan, but Qiu Jianing had made it clear that Zhou Xiaoshan was "the one" for her and that her decision wouldn't change. Qiu Jiaxin, noticing the change in her sister's stance, playfully accused Qiu Jianing of "a slap in the face" after their previous breakup and demanded to know what Zhou Xiaoshan did to win her back. Qiu Jianing, however, playfully dodged her sister's questions.
Qiu's Mother remained wary of Zhou Xiaoshan, deeming his background too complicated and him potentially unreliable, but Qiu's Father assured her he had a plan. He had Zhou Xiaoshan investigated, confirming his impressive resume but also revealing a very complicated past. An investigator informed Qiu's Father that Zhou Xiaoshan had previously broken up with Qiu Jianing and returned to City A, but the reason was too personal to uncover.
Qiu's Father acknowledged Zhou Xiaoshan's accomplishments but expressed concern that his complex life might imply hidden motives for dating Qiu Jianing. Later, while Qiu Jianing and Zhou Xiaoshan were grocery shopping, Zhou Xiaoshan received a phone call. He quickly dismissed it as a marketing call to Qiu Jianing. In reality, it was Qiu's Father requesting a meeting.
Zhou Xiaoshan went to Qiu's Father's office, where he politely greeted him as "Uncle" before being corrected by a receptionist to address him as "Chairman Qiu." Qiu's Father directly asked Zhou Xiaoshan if he liked Qiu Jianing, to which Zhou Xiaoshan firmly responded, "I love her." Appreciating his honesty, Qiu's Father nonetheless declared Zhou Xiaoshan "not good enough" for his daughter.
He cited Zhou Xiaoshan's complicated background, the unknown details of his life before Europe, the mysterious sponsor who funded his studies, and his recent abrupt breakup and reconciliation with Qiu Jianing as reasons for his deep concern. Zhou Xiaoshan stated that his past was his privacy, and Qiu Jianing already knew the answers to all those questions. He affirmed that he had no ulterior motives in dating Qiu Jianing and that "time can prove everything."
Unmoved, Qiu's Father maintained his resolute opposition to their relationship. Zhou Xiaoshan retorted that Qiu Jianing, as an adult, had the freedom to choose her partner without anyone's permission, then bid Chairman Qiu goodbye. As Zhou Xiaoshan left the office, he encountered Qiu Jianing, who knew he had been there. She explained she intended to clarify things with her father.
Qiu Jianing entered her father's office and firmly stated that regardless of his stance or what he said to Zhou Xiaoshan, he was the one for her, and she wouldn't change her mind. Qiu's Father, questioning how well she truly knew Zhou Xiaoshan, expressed his deep concern. He explained that his company, Qiu Group, was his life's work, and any man marrying her or Qiu Jiaxin could bypass twenty years of hard work.
He worried about the allure of fame and fortune to men. Qiu Jianing countered that money was not an issue in their industry; a global group had offered her $5 million for her project, and researchers, if they set aside their conscience, could easily earn wealth. Therefore, it was impossible that Zhou Xiaoshan was with her for money. Qiu's Father dismissed her perspective, then brought up Qiu's Mother's past relationship.
He revealed that the man Qiu's Mother had run away with once offered to leave her for one hundred thousand RMB, an offer he now regretted not taking, fearing it might have saved Qiu's Mother from later loneliness and poverty. He saw a parallel between Qiu Jianing's current romance and her mother's past love, fearing she would make the same mistakes. Qiu Jianing argued that her mother had told her she had no regrets.
She then insightfully accused her father of projecting his own past romantic failures onto Zhou Xiaoshan, seeing him as another "poor artist" like the one her mother chose over him, leading to his strong opposition. Agitated, Qiu's Father refused to discuss it further and angrily ordered both of them to leave. Outside, Qiu Jianing expressed her frustration with her "stubborn" and "old-fashioned" father.
Zhou Xiaoshan gently reminded her that her father's anger stemmed from care and that hurting her family over him went against her initial intentions of seeking his blessing. He advised her to give her father some time, believing he would eventually understand. When Qiu Jianing wondered what they would do if he didn't, Zhou Xiaoshan playfully suggested they would "date forever." As they cycled together, Qiu Jianing, gaining confidence, accidentally collided with a passerby.
Zhou Xiaoshan quickly apologized and offered contact information for any potential injuries. As the man, identified as Wen Zhao, walked away, Zhou Xiaoshan's expression noticeably changed, though he brushed it off when Qiu Jianing asked if he was upset. Wen Zhao, representing Tiancheng Fund, met with Su Qian to discuss an investment report on Plan-O.
Su Qian presented her analysis, concluding that despite global doubts about China's research capabilities, Plan-O was a worthwhile investment for Tiancheng Fund, especially as medicine research entered clinical trials. However, she expressed skepticism about Wen Zhao's true motives, questioning why he sought her expertise from Harry's lab, given their shared research area and her past grievances with Plan-O.
Wen Zhao reassured her that he wasn't trying to ruin Plan-O, especially since its tight cash flow meant it might not survive without investment. He asserted that an investment worth billions was primarily about investing in people, and no one understood Plan-O better than she did. Su Qian remained cautiously hopeful.
Meanwhile, Su Qian reunited with Vivi, who had chosen to become a teacher at a private school instead of joining the company Su Qian had recommended, citing a lack of talent and future prospects there. Vivi eagerly asked why Su Qian had returned, and Su Qian revealed her purpose: Plan-O. Vivi expressed confusion about Tiancheng Fund consulting Su Qian despite her past issues with the company, echoing Su Qian's own suspicions about the fund's ulterior motives.
Su Qian then disclosed the real reason for her return: Harry's lab was in crisis. Professor Harry was manipulating research data and covering up project failures to protect his reputation and status, with fearful researchers complying. Unwilling to waste her life in a dishonest environment, Su Qian had returned and enlisted Vivi to gather information.
Vivi later met with Zhu Zhu, where they discussed Qiu Jianing and Zhou Xiaoshan's relationship, noting Zhou Xiaoshan's previous breakup and subsequent reconciliation with Qiu Jianing. Vivi also pointed out that both Zhou Xiaoshan and Wen Zhao were from City A, sparking Su Qian's curiosity about a potential connection. In a subsequent meeting, Wen Zhao was candid with Su Qian, stating his intention to invest in Plan-O but desiring the process not to go smoothly.
He proposed to remove Qiu Jianing, allowing Su Qian to return to the lab under Tiancheng Fund's banner. In return, he asked Su Qian to strategically advise him on the optimal timing for his investment to secure maximum control over the project. Su Qian agreed to revise her report accordingly. Wen Zhao and Su Qian met with President Huang regarding Tiancheng Fund's investment in Plan-O.
Su Qian introduced herself as Tiancheng Fund's expert consultant, affirming her commitment to an honest assessment of the company's flaws for her report. Wen Zhao then laid out his conditions, insisting that Tiancheng Fund, investing billions, had a right to manage the core researchers. President Huang expressed hesitation, finding these conditions too demanding. Wen Zhao gave him one week to consider the offer, stating that if he didn't agree, Tiancheng Fund would withdraw its investment consideration entirely.
Shortly after, Qiu Jianing visited President Huang to inquire about unapproved procurement requests. The finance manager had already expressed concern to President Huang about the company's tight cash flow, fearing they would run out of funds if Plan-O's requests were granted. President Huang instructed the manager to expedite receivables and then grant the requests. Meeting with Qiu Jianing, President Huang attempted to downplay any financial issues, assuring her to focus on her research while he handled the rest.
Later, Su Qian, confident that President Huang would eventually accept their offer due to Plan-O's severe financial strains and increased costs for clinical trials, discussed strategy with Wen Zhao. She elaborated on how she had leveraged her connections to inflate patient recruitment costs for the upcoming Phase II clinical trial, ensuring President Huang would be pressured to compromise.
However, Su Qian questioned Wen Zhao's plan to replace Qiu Jianing, who was currently the project's core researcher, remarking that she couldn't be removed without good reason. Wen Zhao simply reiterated that she should focus on her tasks, and he would uphold his end of their agreement. Back at Plan-O, Qiu Jianing excitedly announced to her team that headquarters had approved their Phase I clinical trial report, giving them the green light to proceed with Phase II.
The team celebrated this milestone, and Qiu Jianing encouraged everyone to continue their diligent work towards their shared dream and goal, emphasizing the increased challenges, expectations, and scrutiny they would face in the next phase with more cases and volunteers.
