Master of My Own Episode 1 Recap
> Master of My Own Recap
Ning Meng’s day began on the subway, where she started handling tasks for her job as CEO secretary at Joint Capital even before reaching the office. Upon her arrival, while out picking up suits for her boss, Lu Jiming, she received an urgent call from her colleague Xiaoyang, warning her that their notoriously temperamental CEO was a "volcano about to erupt" and she needed to return immediately.
Meanwhile, Administrative Director Liu Yitian nervously tried to find Ning Meng, only to be dragged back into a meeting where he was harshly told he didn't have the right to a toilet break and was ordered to keep calling for her. Inside his office, Lu Jiming, the highly capable CEO, was berating his directors, including Ren Pengfei from Investment Department One. He was furious about the near-finalized Qilin's Home project, accusing the team of being stood up.
Ren Pengfei explained that the project's founder, Tang Zhengwang, had unexpectedly changed his mind. Lu Jiming contemptuously challenged Ren Pengfei to find a better environmentally-friendly furniture company, even offering to give up his own position if he succeeded. Xiaoyang later explained to a returning Ning Meng that Tang Zhengwang had secretly been poached by a rival firm, Caihuang Capital, and its owner, Jin Haiyang, rendering all of Joint Capital's preparatory work useless.
Undeterred by the tense atmosphere, Ning Meng calmly entered Lu Jiming's office. She offered a potential excuse, suggesting that Tang Zhengwang’s secretary, Luan, had mentioned he was recently ill and might have missed calls. Though Lu Jiming scoffed at the excuse, her presence seemed to ease his temper. He tested her by asking for a drink with a series of contradictory requests for tea, only to complain that he actually wanted coffee.
Anticipating this, Ning Meng had already prepared his usual: hot, sugared coffee made from specific Ethiopian beans. After a single sip, Lu Jiming’s mood visibly improved. Seizing the moment, Ning Meng efficiently presented the new quarter's financial report, the itinerary for an upcoming awards ceremony, and reminded him of an urgent meeting with the bank.
Snapped back to business, Lu Jiming ordered his directors to write analysis reports on the Qilin's Home debacle by the end of the day and dismissed them. Outside, the relieved directors—Ren Pengfei, Mr. Qiu, and Liu Yitian—acknowledged that while Lu Jiming's temper was fearsome, his business acumen was undeniable.
They credited Ning Meng with saving them, marveling that she was the only secretary to have lasted three years, whereas others quit within three months, and jokingly speculated that they might one day have to call her the "lady boss." In his office, Lu Jiming confided in Ning Meng that he suspected Tang Zhengwang's betrayal was due to a higher valuation from Jin Haiyang. He instructed her to use her friendly rapport with Luan to gather intelligence.
Ning Meng met with Luan, who confirmed Caihuang's valuation was higher. After telling Xiaoyang that this was her last day as a secretary, she relayed new intel to Lu Jiming: Tang Zhengwang was now planning to sign with Jin Haiyang that very day. Lu Jiming deduced this was a bluff—a tactic to pressure Joint Capital into raising its offer.
He dispatched Ning Meng to intercept Tang Zhengwang at The Peninsula Hotel, explaining that since his rival was using a secretary to play games, he would counter with his own. At the hotel, Tang Zhengwang was taken aback to see only Ning Meng. She firmly stated Lu Jiming’s position: the valuation was final and would not be raised, as it was already the highest reasonable offer.
She conveyed Lu Jiming's core philosophy: he preferred a win-win partnership where both sides earn a fortune together, rather than fighting over scraps. Flustered, Tang Zhengwang was left speechless as Ning Meng wished him well with his new partner and departed. She then called Lu Jiming to confirm the situation was "handled." That evening at the annual investor awards ceremony, Ning Meng spotted Jin Haiyang speaking with Mr. Wang of Zhixiao Venture Capital and alerted Lu Jiming.
Lu Jiming approached them and casually torpedoed Jin Haiyang’s potential deal by loudly mentioning the "sincere" and "sky-high" valuation Jin had offered for Qilin's Home, making Mr. Wang realize their projects would be direct competitors. Lu Jiming then publicly questioned Jin Haiyang about his company’s capital chain issues and a past payment crisis, accusing him of exploiting retail investors. Mr. Wang quickly excused himself, leaving Jin Haiyang humiliated.
As the ceremony began, Ning Meng felt a sharp stomach pain but refused to leave, determined to see through her final duty as secretary. Later, Joint Capital was honored as a "Top Ten New Force," and Lu Jiming accepted the award, delivering a speech on his philosophy of partnership, using the Chinese character "丛" (cóng) to illustrate how an investor and a founder, standing together, can create a thriving forest.
After the event, Lu Jiming called Ning Meng to a private dinner. He ordered an elaborate meal with his usual precise and peculiar specifications. He then complimented her, remarking, "You remember it quite clearly," to which she replied, "After all, I've been with you for three whole years."
Taking this as her cue, she tried to bring up a promise from three years prior, but he interrupted her by presenting a designer handbag as a reward for her service and wished her a "Happy April Fool's Day." Frustrated, Ning Meng refused the gift and declared she no longer wanted to be a secretary and wished to transfer to the Project Department. Lu Jiming was shocked, calling her role a "god-given opportunity" and offered to double her salary.
She reminded him of the original promise that she could transfer once a replacement was found, but he condescendingly dismissed her ambition, insisting she was "naturally gifted" as a secretary and that her tasks could be done by a "chimpanzee with a higher IQ." Determined to make him understand, Ning Meng took Lu Jiming to her apartment. She showed him how the small space was completely overrun with his work: documents, itineraries, client gifts, and dry-cleaning.
Her home had become a second office with just a bed. Lu Jiming, unmoved, blamed her for being inefficient. She then revealed her "CEO Lu's User Manuals"—binders filled with his exhaustive rules for every aspect of her job. She tearfully broke down, explaining she was his secretary by day, nanny by night, and 24/7 on-call assistant, with no personal life left. He callously replied that her dedication only proved she was a good secretary.
Deeply hurt, Ning Meng stated that if she continued, her career would be ruined. Lu Jiming coldly retorted that his admiration for her was purely for her secretarial skills and that she had no value to the company in any other role. When she brandished her finance degree certificates, he scoffed. Having reached her limit, Ning Meng yelled that he hadn't listened to a word she'd said. Lu Jiming angrily declared she would "never" work on projects at his company.
As he demanded a glass of water, he spotted a punching bag with his photo taped to it. He accused her of being a hypocrite, but she, now clutching her stomach in pain, admitted it was for venting and ordered him to leave. As he left, dropping a slipper in his haste, Ning Meng called her friend Zeng Yuhang. Venting her fury, she made a vow: "I will definitely do project investment, and one day, I will make him call me Director."
