Broker Episode 6 Recap
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Xie Xiaoxiao adamantly argued that Professor Sun Lei should not give up his research direction so easily. She complained that Qiu Jianing, having just arrived, was already enjoying the same privileges as Professor Sun and trying to claim credit for their year-long work that was nearing patent application. Other colleagues shared her frustration, feeling that Qiu Jianing's assertion that she could solve the inhibitor problem dismissed their efforts.
Some speculated that Professor Wang was testing Qiu Jianing because, despite seemingly valuing her ideas, he had not granted her the highest level of access to the lab's data. Zhou Xiaoshan reported to Uncle Cha via phone about the project's progress, expressing his personal doubt about Qiu Jianing's idea. Uncle Cha confirmed Qiu Jianing was the researcher in question and instructed Zhou Xiaoshan to closely monitor her, stating that they only desired results.
Later, Qiu Jianing personally approached Zhou Xiaoshan to inquire about the telomerase crystals and requested his help with a mass spectrometer analysis of purified proteins, asking for the results by noon the next day, to which he agreed. Subsequently, Qiu Jianing attempted to access important backup data but was informed by a staff member that her position did not grant her access and that she needed a certificate from her department head.
Qiu Jianing then sought out Professor Sun Lei to request a certificate, explaining she needed to consult his team's previous research on telomerase inhibitors, including cell and animal data, and understand why they abandoned the project. Professor Sun Lei refused, citing the data as the core of their research and asserting it was inappropriate for him to grant access since Professor Wang had not. He suggested she wait three days for Professor Wang's return from a surgery meeting.
Qiu Jianing sensed a misunderstanding between them, but Professor Sun Lei maintained he was simply doing his job. Meanwhile, Zhu Zhu spoke with Zhou Xiaoshan, who admitted they couldn't access core data and that as basic researchers, they were limited to basic resources. Zhu Zhu explained that only team leads like Professor Sun, Su Qian, and Professor Wang could view core data, leaving Professor Wang as Qiu Jianing's only hope.
Qiu Jianing and Zhou Xiaoshan reviewed the mass spectrometer results, which Zhou Xiaoshan described as "basically the same" with only "very slight differences" possibly due to system or machine error. Qiu Jianing insisted that even a minimal error needed to be confirmed and instructed him to repeat the experiment twice over the next two days to verify if the difference was indeed an error, which Zhou Xiaoshan reluctantly accepted.
When Zhou Xiaoshan asked about her report, Qiu Jianing revealed it was incomplete due to the missing core data from Professor Sun Lei. Zhou Xiaoshan suggested calling Professor Wang, believing he would grant access, but Qiu Jianing expressed that gaining access wasn't the main issue. She explained that she had learned from Li Chunran that previous overseas researchers had used the lab's data to publish papers before leaving, contributing to Professor Sun Lei's prejudice.
Qiu Jianing felt that without addressing this bias, her project would not progress, but she was determined to overcome it. Qiu Jianing then met with Professor Sun Lei again. She explained that without his team's prior data, her report would be based on pure hypothesis, which even she wouldn't trust. She clarified her research philosophy, stating she would never use projects as a "stepping stone for fame" and pledged to work hard to change his perception of her.
Professor Sun Lei was moved by her sincerity and agreed to issue the access certificate, but only if he accompanied her throughout the entire data review process. Qiu Jianing understood that his permission did not signify approval of her proposal, acknowledging that all hypotheses required experimental data for support. Soon after, Qiu Jianing submitted her report to both Professor Wang and Professor Sun Lei. Professor Sun Lei maintained his skepticism, calling her ideas ambitious and based on incomplete data.
Professor Wang urged him to be less rigid in his thinking. Qiu Jianing proposed initiating a preliminary cell experiment to validate her hypothesis, stating that if successful, they could then discuss the next steps. Professor Sun Lei agreed to this, stating they would let the facts speak for themselves.
Professor Wang then reminded Qiu Jianing that for her data to be convincing, she would need to repeat the experiment at least three times with different cell types, a process he estimated would take around half a year. He expressed his desire to support her but worried about the limited time.
Professor Sun Lei was furious with Xie Xiaoxiao after reviewing her latest sequencing results, which failed to replicate two haplotypes mentioned by "Harry," unlike an earlier experiment by Tong Mo. He questioned her competence, asking how he could trust her with important research if she couldn't even reproduce results, implying her technical mistakes could be masking actual findings.
A colleague tried to defend Xiaoxiao, pointing out the differences in Harry's methodology and their current cell system, but Professor Sun Lei remained angry, threatening to replace her. Though shaken, Xie Xiaoxiao vowed to get the results Professor Sun Lei wanted. Momo, however, suggested to Xiaoxiao that Qiu Jianing was the one brave enough to speak the truth, implying others were simply trying to save Professor Sun Lei's pride.
Zhou Xiaoshan congratulated Qiu Jianing on getting approval to start her experiment. However, Qiu Jianing was concerned that Professor Wang had only given her three months, a timeframe insufficient for the required three to four repetitions of the cell experiment. Zhou Xiaoshan proposed that three people, including himself and an additional person from Professor Wang, could work simultaneously to meet the deadline. He also suggested asking Professor Wang for the access code to Professor Sun Lei's data to save time.
Zhou Xiaoshan again reported his progress to Uncle Cha, who was pleased and confident that Zhou Xiaoshan would complete "Plan-O" successfully, driven by the promise of freedom upon its completion. Separately, Mo Li called to inform a male voice, likely Uncle Cha, that she had decided to attempt a normal life, but insisted on participating in this final mission. The male voice expressed initial concern for her safety but eventually agreed, promising that their freedom was close at hand.
Meanwhile, Mo Li began attempting to live a normal life, no longer constantly on the move for missions. She saw an advertisement for a gym seeking combat instructors and decided to apply. Despite her seemingly small stature, she easily defeated the gym's strongest male instructor in a sparring match. However, the boss refused to hire her, explaining that clients came to the gym to release stress, not to encounter genuine talent, and the goal was to keep customers happy.
Disappointed, Mo Li called Zhou Xiaoshan, expressing her confusion about the people there. Zhou Xiaoshan advised her that in the civilian world, "benefit" was key, suggesting she offer to work for free for three months, as few could resist the lure of "free." Professor Wang approved Qiu Jianing's plan for three people to conduct three experiments, but reiterated the strict three-month deadline and the lack of opportunity to restart.
He then summoned Professor Sun Lei and instructed him to cooperate with Qiu Jianing by assigning someone from his team to assist with the cell experiment and to share his team's data from the previous year. Professor Sun Lei was furious, accusing Qiu Jianing of being excessive. He argued that his team's data was the result of a year of hard work and could have been published in top journals, but their goal was not personal fame.
He then accused Qiu Jianing of needing articles to prove herself. Professor Wang tried to mediate, but Professor Sun Lei refused to believe Qiu Jianing's pledge not to publish during Plan-O. He declared it impossible to hand over a year's worth of his team's dedication to her and stormed out. Professor Wang, frustrated, told Qiu Jianing to proceed with her original plan and arranged for her to move into Su Qian's empty office for convenience.
Later, while Qiu Jianing and Zhou Xiaoshan were discussing the experiment plan, with Zhou Xiaoshan pressing for Qiu Jianing to get the access code from Professor Wang, they were interrupted by a scream. Xie Xiaoxiao had accidentally knocked over xylene, causing a fire. Concerned about the toxic fumes, Qiu Jianing tried to pull Xie Xiaoxiao away, but Xiaoxiao revealed that valuable pathological samples were still inside. Without hesitation, Qiu Jianing rushed into the flames to retrieve the samples.
After safely bringing them out, she insisted on delivering them immediately, but Zhou Xiaoshan prevented her, urging her to rinse her eyes and inhale fresh air due to the xylene exposure. Zhou Xiaoshan then asked Qiu Jianing whether the pathological samples or her health was more important. Qiu Jianing acknowledged that, rationally, health was paramount, but she couldn't stand by and watch a year of Professor Sun Lei's team's hard work be destroyed.
Zhou Xiaoshan became emotional, arguing that no experiment, regardless of its value, was worth a human life, and stated that if she didn't understand this, she shouldn't be doing scientific research. Both then apologized for their heated words. However, their discussion soon returned to the access code, with Qiu Jianing sensing an unusual urgency in Zhou Xiaoshan to obtain it and push the project forward.
When she challenged him, he denied it, claiming his desire for progress was normal for a researcher, but Qiu Jianing pointed out his indifference to the burning samples. She decided to drop the matter, assuming she might have misunderstood. That evening, after picking up takeout, Qiu Jianing realized she had forgotten her keys. With Qiu Jiaxin also not home and the weather cold, she found herself locked out and shivering. She went to Zhou Xiaoshan's apartment, which was nearby.
He let her in, offered her a hot drink, and insisted she wear his coat to prevent illness and potential project delays. Zhou Xiaoshan then shared a personal anecdote, mentioning he had been cooking since he was young and enjoyed making noodles for his mother, offering to cook for Qiu Jianing sometime. At Aoyoung Hospital, a colleague informed Qin Bin that the emergency patient whose fees he had covered had repaid the hospital.
The colleague advised Qin Bin to be less impulsive in the future, but Qin Bin reiterated his belief that life was more important than money. He then proudly showed Qiu Jiaxin a picture, declaring the person in it would be her role model in the medical profession. He playfully teased Qiu Jiaxin, saying that as he was handsome, he had more responsibilities, while she, being foolish, could live an easier life.
Later, when Qiu Jiaxin received Qiu Jianing's physical check-up results from another colleague, Qin Bin saw the name. He teased Qiu Jiaxin about her sister being a "brilliant scientist" from abroad who came back to China for a physical, then insultingly speculated that Qiu Jianing must be "really ugly" as she hadn't found anyone special. Enraged, Qiu Jiaxin chased him, determined to make him regret his words.
