Broker Episode 4 Recap
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Qiu Jianing arrived at the International Conference on Precision Medicine, hoping to meet Vice President Wu, but was turned away for not having an invitation. Undeterred, she waited by the restroom. Eventually, she encountered Vice President Wu, introducing herself as a researcher from Plan-O and requesting a brief five minutes to discuss potential collaborations between their company and his hospital. To her surprise, Professor Wang also appeared, asking why she was there.
Meanwhile, Zheng Wei informed Su Qian that Professor Wang had just returned from the conference and suggested they seize the opportunity to get him to sign the new cell research report quickly. Professor Wang later questioned Su Qian about Qiu Jianing's work performance. Su Qian, with feigned reluctance, mentioned that Qiu Jianing had posted about having afternoon tea during work hours.
Professor Wang then added that he had also seen Qiu Jianing at the conference, where she was attempting to meet Vice President Wu to discuss clinical experiments, not urgently seeking him out as he initially thought. Su Qian admitted she had casually mentioned the idea but hadn't expected Qiu Jianing to act on it so seriously.
Professor Wang chastised Su Qian, explaining that approaching a Vice President for collaboration should be handled by senior researchers like Su Qian, Professor Sun, or himself, not a new researcher. He then decided not to sign Su Qian's report immediately. Instead, he summoned everyone to the large laboratory within half an hour for an experiment demonstration by Su Qian and Zheng Wei, the results of which would be checked together in 36 hours.
Both Su Qian and Zheng Wei were visibly distraught after the announcement. Zheng Wei, in particular, was panicked, fearing that Professor Wang had discovered something amiss since they couldn't replicate the reported experimental results. Su Qian tried to calm her, urging her not to give up until the very last moment.
She offered possible excuses for a failed experiment, such as an ill researcher or unclean test tubes, and reassured Zheng Wei that as the experiment leader, she would take full responsibility for any issues, leaving Zheng Wei blameless. Qiu Jianing later recounted the day's events to Zhou Xiaoshan. He cautioned her that their suspicions about Su Qian were still just guesses, and asked what she would do if the results did, in fact, align with the report.
He warned that if Su Qian overcame this obstacle, she would retaliate, potentially ending Qiu Jianing's research career, especially after her previous dismissal from another lab. Qiu Jianing, however, remained resolute, stating that research was her career, and as long as she didn't give up, no one could stop her. As the 36-hour deadline passed, a nervous Su Qian entered the laboratory, joined by Professor Sun.
The experiment results showed that, with the exception of the control, all other cells had worsened, and the life curves remained consistent with previous trials by Su Qian’s team, failing to support the claims in the report. Su Qian suggested that subtle changes in experimental conditions might be the cause, requiring further study. Professor Wang insisted they uncover the problem, sternly warning that Plan-O would not tolerate any human error or falsification of data.
Before Su Qian could respond, Zheng Wei unexpectedly stepped forward and confessed that she had modified the data she provided to Su Qian, driven by an eagerness to successfully complete the experiment. Qiu Jianing questioned if Su Qian had asked Zheng Wei to redo the experiment alone when doubts were initially raised. Zheng Wei claimed she had deceived Su Qian with various excuses. Professor Wang asked if Zheng Wei had faced any hardships.
Zheng Wei scoffed, asking if "wanting fame and fortune" counted as hardship. She expressed her disdain for being an ordinary researcher, citing low pay and heavy, dull work, and her desire for the respect and promising future that came with being a senior researcher on a core project. Professor Wang, furious, reiterated that medical research was a matter of human lives and that any loopholes, modifications, or falsifications of original data would result in immediate dismissal and legal action.
Su Qian tried to plead for Zheng Wei, insisting she was usually not like this, but Professor Wang was unyielding. He asked Su Qian if she truly hadn't known or had simply chosen to ignore the situation. He refused to give Zheng Wei another chance, instructing her to write her own resignation letter as a final act of mercy.
Professor Wang then noted that if Qiu Jianing hadn't highlighted the issues, and the false report had led to a grant, the consequences would have been dire. He advised Su Qian to lean more on Qiu Jianing for future projects. As Zheng Wei left, she confronted Qiu Jianing, accusing her of delighting in her downfall and getting her fired.
Qiu Jianing dismissed the accusation, stating she had no reason to waste her time on Zheng Wei, and reiterated that in research, one must take responsibility for falsified data.
Zheng Wei then revealed her difficult past: born in a small mountain village, taking her first train ride at 18 (with a ticket paid for by Su Qian) to attend college, and later giving up her education to support her family, only for Su Qian to track her down and secure a tuition waiver for her. Qiu Jianing listened but maintained that personal hardships do not excuse unethical actions. Zheng Wei, frustrated, called Qiu Jianing a "saint."
Later, Zhou Xiaoshan advised Qiu Jianing against being so absolute in her views, suggesting that life often presents difficult dilemmas. He then posed a hypothetical question: would she still be so certain if a gun were pointed at her family's head, with their lives depending on her decision? Qiu Jianing visibly hesitated, avoiding a direct answer.
That night, Qiu Jianing, bringing takeout for Zhou Xiaoshan, confessed that she had thought deeply about his question and admitted she would find such a choice incredibly difficult. While she now understood Zheng Wei's motivations, she still believed her actions were wrong. Zhou Xiaoshan then pressed her, asking what she would do if "he" were the one threatening her family.
Qiu Jianing, trusting her intuition, declared that he wouldn't be "that bad guy," which seemed to stir a strong emotional reaction in Zhou Xiaoshan. The next morning, Qin Bin arrived at the hospital, immediately noticing the staff's amused glances at their phones. He discovered they were watching a funny video, which turned out to be of himself, posted by Qiu Jiaxin. Despite his initial annoyance, he couldn't help but smile.
In the lab, Su Qian reassigned Zheng Wei’s former duties to Qiu Jianing, instructing her to prepare a work plan for the following week. Meanwhile, Qiu Jiaxin was entertaining patients in her ward by bad-mouthing Qin Bin and showing them another humorous video of him. Qin Bin quietly approached her and confronted her about the video. Qiu Jiaxin playfully defended her actions, saying she filmed him because he was "adorable," and claimed it improved the patients' moods, aiding their recovery.
Qin Bin sarcastically listed her actual "outstanding medical skills," such as being late, sleeping in the office, and making medical record errors. Qiu Jiaxin tried to make a hasty exit, but Qin Bin insisted she delete the video. Su Qian then escorted Qiu Jianing to Professor Wang, stating she had an important announcement and that Qiu Jianing also had something to report. Professor Wang was surprised by this deviation from protocol.
Su Qian then revealed her resignation, informing him she had already emailed it to headquarters and was planning to join Professor Harry’s laboratory in City A. Qiu Jianing, perplexed, asked if Su Qian had truly been unaware of Zheng Wei’s actions. Su Qian confessed that she had not only known but had instructed Zheng Wei to falsify the data, as they were "just a tiny bit" away from securing headquarters' approval before Qiu Jianing's arrival.
Qiu Jianing argued that approval should be based on ideal data, but Su Qian countered that the lengthy approval process offered ample time to "optimize" experiment results. They fiercely debated scientific ethics: Qiu Jianing prioritizing patient safety and data integrity, while Su Qian argued that delays in drug development meant more deaths, citing her grandmother's passing from stomach cancer just months before a life-saving drug became available.
Su Qian bitterly blamed Qiu Jianing for halting the project, implying that Qiu Jianing's "saintly" ideals would lead to greater suffering. After Su Qian's departure, Qiu Jianing began to doubt her own actions, observing Zhou Xiaoshan's shift in attitude and realizing he understood her internal conflict. She reflected on Zheng Wei's loyalty to Su Qian and Su Qian's actions stemming from personal grief.
Zhou Xiaoshan then asked Qiu Jianing what she had truly done for the world, referencing the Greek myth of Sisyphus. Later, Zhou Xiaoshan called Uncle Zha, informing him that the falsified data in Su Qian's report had been exposed, and Plan-O was still in the cellular investigation phase. He anticipated Professor Wang would soon have Professor Sun submit a periodic report and confirmed he had sent a draft.
Zhou Xiaoshan also expressed his exhaustion and eagerness for their superiors to confirm the completion of their task. Meanwhile, Qiu Jiaxin watched Qin Bin's funny video with her mother, jokingly suggesting she wanted to quit being a doctor for a "cheerful job." Her mother scolded her, contrasting her privileged upbringing with Qiu Jianing, who studied abroad on scholarship without needing financial support from the family, urging Qiu Jiaxin to be more responsible.
Professor Sun reluctantly informed Professor Wang (on the phone) that the Plan-O project faced potential suspension, though he expressed hope for its continuation. Qiu Jianing then met with Professor Wang and questioned Professor Sun's current approach of preventing telomerase expression in cancer cells at the genetic level. She argued that the laboratory's previous method—using molecules to suppress telomerase activity—was more robust, had a more mature pharmaceutical setup, and carried fewer hidden dangers than gene therapy.
Professor Sun countered that they had spent a year proving that the old method didn't work. Despite Professor Sun's protests, Professor Wang instructed him not to submit the annual cell report to headquarters yet. He gave Qiu Jianing half a month to gather theoretical evidence and verify her claims, allowing her to experiment fully. Qiu Jianing requested a researcher to assist her, and Professor Sun suggested Zhou Xiaoshan, given his similar overseas experience. Professor Wang agreed to this arrangement.
