Master of My Own Episode 13 Recap
> Master of My Own Recap
When Lu Jiming and Ning Meng, both soaked, stood by the front desk, Lu Jiming playfully suggested Ning Meng dry her head, but she retorted it should be his. Lu Jiming then offered her another room or for her to move into his, but she declined, prioritizing the documents that needed sorting and her clothes, not wanting to bother with the change. Seeing her dedication, Lu Jiming joined her in drying the important papers.
Later that night, Ning Meng felt unwell and inquired about traditional remedies or a nearby pharmacy, but found none. As her condition worsened, Lu Jiming called, pressing her for a work agreement. She tried to dismiss her illness, assuring him she would be fine after sleeping and wouldn't hinder his work. However, when Lu Jiming called again for a corrected document and she didn't answer, his concern escalated.
He rushed to the guesthouse and tried to get the staff to open her room. The staff was hesitant, even jokingly accusing him of making her work in the dead of night. Lu Jiming, revealing his identity and fame, eventually convinced them to let him in. Inside Ning Meng’s room, Lu Jiming found her disoriented and burning with fever, immediately deciding to take her to the hospital.
He frantically called Zeng Yuhang, explaining Ning Meng’s severe illness and asking for help. However, Zeng Yuhang dismissed it as just a fever and claimed to be busy with a major business deal, refusing to come. On the way, Lu Jiming had to carry Ning Meng down many stairs due to her weakness, despite her complaints about feeling terrible.
At the hospital, Ning Meng tried to instruct Lu Jiming on the registration process, but he impatiently dismissed her, preferring to handle it himself. He showed frustration with the manual procedures, repeatedly questioning staff for efficiency. When Ning Meng, feeling slightly better, attempted to queue for medicine, Lu Jiming insisted she rest, despite her stating she felt bad seeing him do all the work.
A nurse, observing Lu Jiming's attentiveness, remarked that Ning Meng was lucky to have "such a good boyfriend." Both Lu Jiming and Ning Meng immediately corrected her, with Lu Jiming stating he was her boss and Ning Meng adding, "former boss." Despite the late hour, Lu Jiming remained by Ning Meng's side, even getting water for her medicine.
He then teased her about her physical weakness, comparing it to her past stamina as his secretary, which she countered by reminding him of a time she worked for him while having a fever. Ning Meng suggested he go back to rest, finding his presence "unaccustomed," but Lu Jiming playfully accused her of trying to get rid of him.
He continued to insist she drink water for her cold, then jokingly demanded she repay his "lifesaving kindness" by picking him up when drunk and cooking him noodles. The next morning, Ning Meng woke to find Lu Jiming asleep at the table, having stayed by her side all night. The doctor confirmed her fever had dropped and she was recovering well.
As they prepared to leave, Ning Meng told Lu Jiming he didn't need to see her off, stating she was fully recovered. He then teased her about her height, calling her a "shorty," which she quickly countered with a witty remark about concentrated essence. Back at the guesthouse, Lu Jiming surprised Ning Meng by taking a room on the same floor, explaining he was bored alone without Zeng Yuhang.
He dismissed her concerns about the guesthouse's conditions, asserting that if she could stay, he could too, playfully challenging her. He then immediately shifted to work, suggesting they now needed to work overtime to catch up, complaining about the travel time between the guesthouse and the factory. Ning Meng feigned dizziness, but Lu Jiming saw through her act. Settling into their respective rooms next to each other, Lu Jiming and Ning Meng immediately resumed work.
Ning Meng presented her findings on Yuan Jie, noting his strong academic background in finance and mathematics, and his sensitivity to numbers. However, she cautiously pointed out that while the current data looked good, it largely reflected the work of the former boss, as Yuan Jie had only been in charge for less than a year, suggesting his practical operational and management skills still needed further observation.
As dinner time approached, Lu Jiming found the local food delivery options unappealing and lacking nutrition. He decided to return to their original hotel to pack some food and bring his luggage, asking Ning Meng for her preferences, which included chicken soup, lightly cooked vegetables, cut fruits, and dessert. While waiting for Lu Jiming, Ning Meng went to a nearby store for water.
She struck up a conversation with the elderly storekeeper, Old Liu, who revealed that the Phoenix Home Textile factory planned to lay off a significant number of workers due to "smart technology" upgrades. Old Liu explained that the factory's "little Mr. Yuan" (Yuan Jie) intended to refer these workers to other "brother companies" to avoid hefty severance pay, a plan Old Liu himself doubted was feasible, as it would leave many older workers jobless.
When Lu Jiming returned with their dinner and luggage, Ning Meng shared her findings from the store, which she called a "natural intelligence station." Lu Jiming immediately agreed that Yuan Jie's plan sounded unreliable. Ning Meng had already estimated that the actual number of laid-off workers could far exceed projections, leading to a significant hidden danger.
Building on her insight, Lu Jiming elaborated on the potential risks: insufficient budget for proper placement, increased labor disputes, legal liabilities, and significant damage to the company's image—all major risks for investors. Later, when Lu Jiming complained about the noise in his guesthouse room, Ning Meng offered him her earplugs, a habit that Lu Jiming had helped her develop during her previous business trips. He appreciated the gesture.
The next morning, Lu Jiming and Ning Meng arrived at the Phoenix Home Textile factory to find a heated argument already underway between the factory workers and Yuan Jie. Workers accused Yuan Jie of trying to fire them under the guise of "elimination mechanisms" and questioned his authority, reminding him of their loyalty to the former boss.
Yuan Jie attempted to explain that the changes were necessary due to "automation and smart upgrades" and that it was about "survival of the fittest," promising to arrange proper placements with other companies for those laid off. The workers, however, dismissed his explanations, sarcastically remarking that he simply "won" by being born into privilege. After the tumultuous scene, Yuan Jie apologized to Lu Jiming and Ning Meng and escorted them to his office.
There, Lu Jiming directly stated that their due diligence was complete, and they had decided to temporarily abandon the investment. When Yuan Jie inquired about the reason, Lu Jiming explained that while the technology itself was sound, the core issue lay in the problematic placement of the retrenched workers.
He highlighted that Yuan Jie's plans for re-employment seemed highly unlikely to succeed, which could lead to increased severance costs, labor disputes, legal liabilities, and significant damage to the company's image—all major risks for investors. Lu Jiming pointed out that Yuan Jie's budget for human resources was severely underestimated. Yuan Jie admitted his oversight, confessing he was too focused on technological advancements and underestimated the "people" aspect of the reform. He then asked Lu Jiming if he would reconsider the investment should he find a proper solution for the employee placement issue.
