Love is Sweet Episode 1 Recap
> Love is Sweet Recap
Jiang Jun arrived at MH Securities for her fourth interview round, dressed in a silver-grey professional suit. Noticing the nervous male applicant next to her, she cleverly offered him a spare button, playfully suggesting it was a Mayan good luck charm, a fabrication she later admitted to Shen Xin, a fellow applicant who had witnessed the exchange and introduced herself.
Inside the interview room, Qiao Na, a sharp and direct interviewer, informed the four remaining candidates that reaching this stage meant they had surpassed ninety-nine percent of all applicants. She then challenged them to state, in fifteen seconds, what kind of person they aspired to be at MH.
After several candidates expressed ambitious goals—one citing Soros on psychological market control, another aspiring to be a "breeder-like investor," and a third a "Sherlock Holmes-like investor"—Jiang Jun calmly declared her desire to be "MH's Mo-tse," promoting principles of "love without wars, respect talents and seniors, for the interest of all."
Qiao Na, while finding Jiang Jun lacking "elite temperament" and ambition, acknowledged her as the first beneficiary of MH's diverse recruitment policies, allowing all four to advance to the final interview with Yuan Shuai, whom Qiao Na warned would be even stricter. Meanwhile, Yuan Shuai, the Executive Director of MH's Investment Banking Department, was relaxing in his office when his assistant, Su Chang, interrupted with financial reports.
Su Chang reported that their rival, GE Securities, aiding Hualun Culture Group, had spent over 600 million of an 800 million yuan bond issuance and was just two percent shy of absolute control over VTV. Yuan Shuai, however, remained composed and instructed him to wait. On the opposing side, Du Lei, Executive Director of GE, and his team were working feverishly to secure the acquisition.
Just as they believed success was imminent, they discovered they had fallen into a sophisticated trap set by Yuan Shuai and the VTV Chairman. VTV’s stock was suddenly suspended and announced a follow-on offering, diluting Hualun Culture’s shares and thwarting the takeover. Du Lei, struggling to conceal his fury, dismissed his team, realizing they had been utterly outmaneuvered.
Su Chang praised Yuan Shuai for the masterful deception, which involved VTV's chairman and board faking quarrels and resignations to mislead the entire industry. Yuan Shuai, quoting Sun Tzu’s philosophy, attributed his success to understanding Du Lei's eagerness to win, which made him predictable. Later, as Yuan Shuai tried on a new suit, Qiao Na entered, and they exchanged banter.
She sought his advice on her dress for the upcoming BUI Investment Bank Alliance Cocktail Party, where pharmaceutical tycoon Ding Tian would be present. After teasing her about looking "overweight," Yuan Shuai shared a strategic secret: Ding Tian and his wife had served in an African Medical Aid Team.
He then subtly wrote Ding Tian's wife's Arabic name on Qiao Na’s back and advised her to mention his own past donation to the team, assuring her it would draw Ding Tian's attention. Qiao Na then handed Yuan Shuai the resumes for the afternoon interviews. Upon seeing Jiang Jun's name, Yuan Shuai paused in surprise. Qiao Na offhandedly mentioned Jiang Jun's "Mo-tse" aspiration, labeling her a "freak."
Yuan Shuai, repeating Jiang Jun's words, then made a cryptic comment about picking the best fruit, mature or not. Jiang Jun, on her way to the final interview at Guang Hua Building, spoke with her friend Xu Li, who offered encouragement. Inside, the candidates were tasked with analyzing a hypothetical acquisition of Yangsheng Power by Shimao Technology. After exchanging a brief glance with Yuan Shuai, Jiang Jun listened as other candidates advocated for MH to buy Yangsheng Power stock.
Jiang Jun, however, argued against it, pointing out Yangsheng Power’s three consecutive years of declining profits while management salaries doubled. She suspected that the bidder, Ma Yuke, whose ex-wife held a five percent stake in Yangsheng Power, was merely "inflating its share price" with a "make-believe shot." Yuan Shuai, maintaining a cold expression, rejected her stance, stating that MH needed "wolf-like recruits, not sheep," and eliminated her. Dejected, Jiang Jun left the building, her heels causing pain.
Yuan Shuai called out "crying girl," a childhood nickname. She ignored him, but his assistant, Su Chang, caught up to offer a band-aid from Yuan Shuai. Jiang Jun borrowed Su Chang's phone to defiantly text Yuan Shuai: "Yuan Shuai. Let’s wait and see. I will not lose to you." When questioned by a confused Su Chang, Yuan Shuai explained that someone like Jiang Jun, who "cannot even shed tears," could not survive the "Colosseum" of investment banking.
He then secretly instructed Su Chang to find Jiang Jun a suitable consulting job, even offering a year of his free investment consultancy services to any company that would match MH’s salary. As Su Chang left, Yuan Shuai reflected on his past with Jiang Jun. He recalled witnessing her severe tear allergy as a child. Her father, concerned for her well-being, had paid young Yuan Shuai ten yuan a month to protect her at school and ensure she never cried.
Later, Jiang Jun recounted her interview experience to Xu Li, explaining that Yuan Shuai was the same childhood protector who had actually orchestrated bullying against her, leading to her school transfer. She then received a WeChat friend request from "YS." Realizing it was Yuan Shuai, she accepted, but before he could finish his message offering her a director assistant position, Jiang Jun, enraged, instantly deleted him.
She vowed to enter MH "in an upright way" and prove he couldn't control her destiny. Xu Li, supportive, revealed she had obtained tickets to the BUI Investment Bank Alliance Cocktail Party, where Lin Taimo, MH’s Vice President, would be present, hoping Jiang Jun could appeal to him directly. That evening, Jiang Jun arrived at the glittering party, where she observed Du Lei being questioned by the media.
He almost bumped into her and was momentarily captivated by her understated elegance. Jiang Jun's attention, however, was drawn to Yuan Shuai. Soon after, Xu Li dramatically splashed champagne on Yuan Shuai, feigning to be a jilted lover. Yuan Shuai, noticing Jiang Jun trying to suppress a smile, realized the ploy. He played along, announcing to the shocked crowd that his girlfriend was present and pointing directly at Jiang Jun. Mortified, Jiang Jun fled to the rooftop.
Yuan Shuai followed, finding her furious. She confronted him, recounting a traumatic memory from high school: during a speech competition, she froze under pressure, was booed, and Yuan Shuai had taken her script, triggering her tear allergy in front of everyone and forcing her to transfer. Yuan Shuai asserted that investment banking was unsuitable for her, given her allergy and the intense demands for capability, endurance, and stress resistance.
As the wind intensified, Yuan Shuai tried to pull her away; in the struggle, she twisted her ankle and fell into his arms, their lips accidentally touching. Paparazzi rushed to capture photos, but Yuan Shuai shielded Jiang Jun and drove them away. Her tear allergy flared up again, and Yuan Shuai swiftly carried her to the hospital, leaving her dropped hairpin on the rooftop, where it was later discovered by Du Lei.
In a concluding flashback, a younger Yuan Shuai showed Jiang Jun a meticulous analysis of her reactions to bullying. Noting her lack of improvement, he advised her to channel her artistic talent into drawing "aggressive animals" instead of just "weak and cute animals" to help strengthen her character. She had drawn a wolf.
