Broker Episode 42 (Ending) Recap
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Picking up from his emotional breakdown, Zhou Xiaoshan pleaded with Qiu Jianing not to leave him, not to abandon him as others had. Qiu Jianing, deeply empathetic, assured him she would stay by his side, comforting him even as he admitted to feeling a lump in his throat and needing to cry. They remained awake through the night.
As morning dawned, Zhou Xiaoshan confirmed his realization that Xiao Hui was his daughter and expressed his conviction that he could not treat her badly. He appeared to be contemplating handing over the formula, which Qiu Jianing immediately tried to prevent, telling him he couldn't do that, even as he apologized. Soon after, Wen Zhao sent for Zhou Xiaoshan, insisting he had a very important matter to discuss despite Zhou Xiaoshan's reluctance.
Wen Zhao confronted Zhou Xiaoshan, revealing he had always known that Xiao Hui was Zhou Xiaoshan's daughter, ever since Xiang Lan became pregnant shortly after their marriage. Wen Zhao recounted how he had still loved Xiao Hui as his own, deeply in love with Xiang Lan despite her carrying another man's child and Xiao Hui calling him "father." Zhou Xiaoshan then declared that Zha Zhicai was responsible for their collective tragedy.
Wen Zhao urged Zhou Xiaoshan to accept their fate, arguing they couldn't defeat Zha Zhicai because they both had weaknesses, unlike the devilish Zha Zhicai. He then pointed to his own deteriorating health, fearing he might soon "fall asleep and never wake up again." He pleaded with Zhou Xiaoshan, asking what would become of Xiao Hui if she were to fall into Zha Zhicai's hands and suffer the same fate as Xiang Lan.
Confronted with this, Zhou Xiaoshan reluctantly compromised, agreeing to accept his destiny and hand over the "Plan-O" formula, making a "deal with the devil" for his daughter's sake. Wen Zhao confessed to being a complete loser in this struggle, but Zhou Xiaoshan corrected him, stating that neither of them were winners and that the war was not yet over. He implored Wen Zhao to survive for Xiang Lan.
Zhou Xiaoshan went to see Xiao Hui, who was sitting with her doll. She offered him her doll, saying it would heal him, and noticed he seemed sick. Zhou Xiaoshan admitted to having a fever, and Xiao Hui gently pressed her head against his, explaining that's what adults did for her when she was sick as a child. He then confessed he was "still suffering" inside.
Xiao Hui asked what was wrong and pointed to his chest, offering to "warm it up for him." Her innocent gestures immediately brought comfort to Zhou Xiaoshan, who told her she had healed him and that it no longer hurt. Mo Li, tasked by Zha Zhicai to retrieve a valuable ruby bracelet, sustained severe injuries during the mission. Zhou Xiaoshan received a frantic phone call from her and found her barely conscious, driving with blood loss.
He tried desperately to get her to a hospital, but with her last breath, Mo Li handed him the bloody gem, affirming, "I did it," before dying in his arms. Zhou Xiaoshan was consumed by grief. Zha Zhicai then feigned sadness over Mo Li's death, commenting on the potential for more casualties.
A heartbroken Zhou Xiaoshan asked when he needed to hand over "Plan-O," and upon being assured of Qiu Jianing's safety, he agreed to prepare a list of raw materials for TKS and instructed Zha Zhicai to set up a laboratory. Later, Xiao Hui confronted Zhou Xiaoshan, asking if he was truly her father and if he would leave her like her mother did.
He hugged her, affirming he was her dad, and then requested Zha Zhicai's permission to take Xiao Hui home with him, which Zha Zhicai readily granted, promising they would be reunited once Plan-O was settled. Zha Zhicai then tried to reinforce his influence by telling Zhou Xiaoshan that the world was a jungle and he needed to be its king to survive. Zhou Xiaoshan returned to the villa hand-in-hand with Xiao Hui, asking her to go to her room first.
He then broke the news to a silent Qiu Jianing that Mo Li was dead. He blamed himself, explaining that he had hit her, which angered her enough to volunteer for Zha Zhicai's mission, ultimately costing Mo Li her life. Zhou Xiaoshan pondered if he had been wrong from the beginning, questioning if things would have turned out differently had they never met. He then instructed Qiu Jianing to leave the following day. Qiu Jianing remained silent.
The next morning, as Zhou Xiaoshan prepared to go and hand over the "Plan-O" formula, he entrusted Xiao Hui to Qiu Jianing's care. Despite Qiu Jianing calling his name repeatedly, he left without looking back. At the TKS laboratory, where all the requested reagents were prepared, Zhou Xiaoshan confronted Zha Zhicai and his team.
He noted the presence of highly explosive and inflammable materials, such as metal magnesium, calcium carbide, ammonium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate, and nitrocellulose, questioning their use in research. He then sarcastically praised the lab's advanced equipment but taunted them for still being unable to produce the formula without him, asserting his professional ability. Holding a bottle of ammonium chlorate, Zhou Xiaoshan threatened to drop it, declaring that no one would leave the lab alive.
Anticipating this, Zha Zhicai revealed his contingency plan: Qiu Jianing was brought in, held at gunpoint. Zha Zhicai used her as leverage, stating that Zhou Xiaoshan's choice would determine everything. Qiu Jianing, brave but fearful, declared she was not afraid to die but was terrified Zhou Xiaoshan might make the wrong choice, which would destroy their love. Zhou Xiaoshan, in turn, told Zha Zhicai that he too feared making the wrong choice, but this time he would not.
He expressed regret that he couldn't keep his promise to guard Qiu Jianing for life and dared Zha Zhicai to kill him. As Zha Zhicai's gun was trained on Qiu Jianing, Qin Bin and the police burst in. Qin Bin quickly pulled Qiu Jianing to safety, but Zhou Xiaoshan seized the opportunity, grabbing Zha Zhicai and holding him at gunpoint, ordering everyone to retreat or he would kill Zha Zhicai.
A terrified Zha Zhicai begged Zhou Xiaoshan to release him, offering to settle all their past grievances. Unmoved, Zhou Xiaoshan confessed to the police that Zha Zhicai had sent him a year ago to Original Life as a spy for the "Plan-O" formula. He explained that he had fallen in love with Qiu Jianing and desired a normal life, but Zha Zhicai had relentlessly tortured him to force him to steal the formula.
After immense struggle, he decided to abandon his mission. Despite Qiu Jianing's desperate pleas for him to put down the gun, Zhou Xiaoshan shared a final look with her, then dragged Zha Zhicai deeper into the lab, pointed his gun at the volatile chemicals, and fired. The lab erupted in a massive explosion, instantly consuming both men in flames. Qiu Jianing witnessed the catastrophic explosion. Later, Qin Bin conveyed the police's preliminary findings: all suspects in the lab perished.
Qiu Jianing, highly emotional, vehemently protested that Zhou Xiaoshan was not a suspect. However, the police had classified the incident as an international commercial crime, with all evidence pointing to Zhou Xiaoshan's involvement. Determined to clear his name, Qiu Jianing resolved to initiate a transnational lawsuit against the TKS conglomerate for illicit trade secret violations and to prove that Zhou Xiaoshan was a good person, not a criminal.
Back at the villa, Qiu Jianing asked Qin Bin for some time alone, and he respectfully waited outside. She then discovered a letter Zhou Xiaoshan had written late the previous night. In the letter, Zhou Xiaoshan expressed that he was not afraid of death but feared that his beloved would not understand the reason for his sacrifice.
He recalled Qiu Jianing's words about protecting one's country and credited her with igniting his desire for light after he had been living in darkness. He revealed that he had emailed her all the evidence of the dealings between TKS and Zha Zhicai, considering it his final contribution to her, to Plan-O, and to the country.
He asked for her forgiveness for not being able to stay by her side and urged her not to cry, seeing this act as his salvation and perhaps his best ending, having come with nothing and leaving with their love. He concluded by praying to encounter her again in a next life where he could live honestly, freely, and in light. Reading his words, Qiu Jianing was overcome with grief, collapsing in tears and repeatedly calling Zhou Xiaoshan's name.
Three months later, news reports confirmed that TKS had issued a statement attributing the theft of "Plan-O" to the private actions of their employee, Gale, who had resigned. Nevertheless, Original Life's lawsuit against TKS for illicit trade secret violations had been filed in City A and was moving forward, despite TKS's significant reputation and stock market losses.
At the launch ceremony for the Phase III clinical trials of "Plan-O," Qiu Jianing, as the project's representative, announced that the project, led by Wang Qitian, had secured a patent and was officially entering its third phase, showcasing their leading position in research. Addressing the ongoing lawsuit with TKS, she stated her belief that the truth would ultimately emerge and justice would prevail.
She then introduced the "heroes" behind the "Plan-O" project, presenting slides featuring key team members: Wang Qitian, Sun Lei, herself, Su Qian, Li Chunran, Zhang Yu, Xie Xiaoxiao, and Tong Mo. The final slide displayed a framed picture of Zhou Xiaoshan, his warm smile gracing the screen. As applause filled the room, Qiu Jianing paused, then smiled genuinely.
