Broker Episode 33 Recap
> Broker Recap
After Li Chunran's interview, Qiu Jianing expressed surprise that Su Qian was part of the due diligence team, wondering if Su Qian had returned with a specific agenda. Li Chunran also shared concerns that Su Qian seemed to purposely disassociate herself. Zhou Xiaoshan tried to reassure them, suggesting it might just be a coincidence and that as an investor, Su Qian's actions would be different now. Subsequently, Zhou Xiaoshan was called for his interview.
In his interview, Ruan Wenzhao questioned Zhou Xiaoshan extensively about his work at Plan-O, his previous position at Merck Pharmacy, and his reasons for leaving a higher-paying and more advanced laboratory. Zhou Xiaoshan explained that he wanted to escape being a "second-class citizen" and desired a different life, stating he was currently very happy.
Wenzhao then subtly probed, mentioning they both attended McKeeton University and asking if Zhou Xiaoshan remembered any past encounters, hinting that any deception could impact the due diligence results. Zhou Xiaoshan claimed not to remember well, citing the large size of the university and the passage of time. Next, Qiu Jianing was called in. Zhou Xiaoshan appeared to want to speak to her before she entered but ultimately remained silent.
Inside, Ruan Wenzhao directly asked Qiu Jianing if they had met before. She recognized him as the person she had accidentally bumped into with her bicycle, apologizing again for the incident. Su Qian then took over, asking her a series of professional questions. Zhou Xiaoshan waited anxiously downstairs for almost half an hour until Qiu Jianing finally emerged, downplaying the interview as a routine project report.
As Zhou Xiaoshan left, Ruan Wenzhao stopped him, again mentioning their shared university and subtly probing about a hobby Zhou Xiaoshan enjoyed. Later, Ruan Wenzhao confided in an unseen person that Zhou Xiaoshan seemed scared. Later, Ruan Wenzhao confided in an unseen person about his plans to slowly torture Zhou Xiaoshan, preventing him from building a new life. Su Qian then approached Wenzhao, asking if he and Zhou Xiaoshan were old acquaintances.
Wenzhao frankly admitted that Zhou Xiaoshan was his enemy, explaining that Zhou Xiaoshan had "stolen his wife," which led to her depression and suicide, and that he sought revenge. Su Qian connected this to her own issues with Qiu Jianing and the company's investment in Plan-O, seeing an opportunity for mutual benefit. Qiu Jianing confronted Su Qian about the deliberate problems created in patient recruitment.
Su Qian justified her actions, stating they were necessary to gain leverage in negotiations for Plan-O's management rights, which Wenzhao desired. Qiu Jianing urged Su Qian, for the sake of their past connection to Plan-O, not to harm the project. Su Qian retorted that Plan-O's current success was built on everyone's efforts, including her own, and that she was entitled to a share of the impending success.
Qiu Jianing affirmed that while Su Qian was welcome to her share, it must be acquired through legitimate means. She denied driving Su Qian out of the lab, reminding her that she fabricated experimental data. Su Qian then asserted her power as Tiancheng Fund's project consultant, threatening to withhold investment and financially cripple the company. Qiu Jianing, however, remained resolute, stating she understood the underlying machinations but refused to compromise her principles, vowing to protect Plan-O at all costs.
Su Qian then left Qiu Jianing with a question: had she considered why Ruan Wenzhao was so insistent on Tiancheng Fund gaining management control over Plan-O and placing his own people within the project, despite the profit remaining the same? This question left Qiu Jianing in deep thought. At dinner with Zhou Xiaoshan, Qiu Jianing brought up Wenzhao, mentioning their shared university and his questions during the interview.
Zhou Xiaoshan maintained he didn't know Wenzhao well, claiming he was not a very social person during his university days. Qiu Jianing, however, still found the coincidences, including her bicycle accident with Wenzhao, to be very strange. Ruan Wenzhao met with President Huang, expressing concerns about the stability of the Plan-O team.
He stated that their investment was primarily in the core technical team and, therefore, demanded that every core researcher sign a supplementary labor contract for more than five years, emphasizing strict non-competition clauses. President Huang attempted to reassure Wenzhao about the team's loyalty, but Wenzhao revealed that Zhou Xiaoshan had submitted a resignation a few months prior and had returned to City A for unspecified reasons.
Although Wenzhao stated he wouldn't dwell on past events, he insisted on ensuring no core team member would leave in the future. The team was then informed of the new supplementary agreements. President Huang promised increased benefits and pay upon securing the investment. Zhou Xiaoshan was specifically required to resubmit updated materials, including a criminal record, within two weeks. Zhou Xiaoshan soon received a phone call from Mr. Mao, a lawyer from Futong Law Firm.
Mr. Mao informed Zhou Xiaoshan that Ruan Wenzhao had entrusted him to initiate a lawsuit regarding a personal injury incident from years ago. He played an old video where Zhou Xiaoshan admitted to shooting Ruan Wenzhao because Wenzhao was fighting him over Xiang Lan. Zhou Xiaoshan confirmed it was him in the video.
Mr. Mao explained that this criminal case was still within the prosecution period, and a lawsuit would prevent Zhou Xiaoshan from obtaining the necessary police clearance for his contract renewal, effectively stalling it. He advised Zhou Xiaoshan to seek an out-of-court settlement with Ruan Wenzhao. Zhou Xiaoshan then met with Ruan Wenzhao, who demanded that Zhou Xiaoshan return to City A with him.
Wenzhao confessed he sought revenge, wanting Zhou Xiaoshan to suffer a "living hell" just as he had, producing daily medication he claimed to take because of Zhou Xiaoshan. Zhou Xiaoshan blamed Wenzhao for his own misfortunes, but Wenzhao accused him of ruining his life with Xiang Lan and not deserving happiness with another woman. Zhou Xiaoshan reminded Wenzhao that he took the blame for Xiang Lan in the shooting, but Wenzhao dismissed it, claiming he had a witness and evidence.
Zhou Xiaoshan realized that Zha Zhicai was behind Wenzhao's actions. Wenzhao gave Zhou Xiaoshan one week to comply, threatening to file a lawsuit with the police if he refused, ensuring his departure from the company would be "ugly." Zhou Xiaoshan defiantly declared he would not concede. Meanwhile, Qin Bin, on his day off, visited the hospital office. Zhao Yan quickly deduced that Qin Bin's recent confession of feelings to Qiu Jiaxin had been unsuccessful.
Zhao Yan then showed Qin Bin a social media post of Qiu Jiaxin and Jiang Xiaoye enjoying themselves, leading Qin Bin to discover that Qiu Jiaxin had blocked him. At a rock-climbing gym, Jiang Xiaoye was instructing Qiu Jiaxin when Qin Bin arrived. Jiang Xiaoye challenged Qin Bin to a competition. Qiu Jiaxin, visibly concerned, cheered for Qin Bin, startling him and causing him to fall. Jiang Xiaoye seemed to have won, and also seemed not to have won.
Qin Bin returned to the hospital with a waist injury, but refused to explain to Zhao Yan how he got hurt, only admitting he competed with the "little brat." Later, Qiu Jiaxin messaged Zhao Yan, asking if Qin Bin had returned to the hospital.
Zhao Yan tried to elicit a visit from her by exaggerating Qin Bin's injury, but Qiu Jiaxin calmly responded that she would check on him when she returned to work on Monday, leaving Zhao Yan to conclude that Qin Bin was "screwed." Qin Bin, however, remained determined. Zhu Zhu pressed Zhou Xiaoshan again to complete his paperwork for the investors. Zhou Xiaoshan assured her it was almost done and would be submitted in two days.
At the hospital, Qiu Jianing saw Qin Bin holding his back in pain. Zhao Yan explained that Qin Bin had injured his waist rock-climbing with Jiang Xiaoye. Qiu Jianing chuckled at Qin Bin's competitive spirit but then advised him to speak positively about the company during an upcoming meeting with Ruan Wenzhao, who would be observing their daily work. During the meeting, Qiu Jianing introduced Qin Bin to Ruan Wenzhao. She then proceeded to present the symptoms of trial patients.
After the meeting, Ruan Wenzhao invited Qiu Jianing to dinner, but she politely declined, citing his weak condition. He pressed the invitation, asking if she cared for him, to which she replied that as Plan-O's most important partner, she certainly did. He repeated his invitation for dinner. At the same time, Qiu Jiaxin, rushing to meet Jiang Xiaoye, encountered an injured Qin Bin in the elevator.
She applied a patch to his back and, in the process, accidentally stumbled into his arms. Just then, Jiang Xiaoye called, and Qiu Jiaxin, flustered, told him she had an emergency at the hospital and would meet him later. Qin Bin held her arm, stopping her from leaving and asking if her previous declaration of liking him still stood. A call for Dr. Qin interrupted their moment, and Qiu Jiaxin, after a moment of hesitation, left.
