Master of My Own Episode 15 Recap
> Master of My Own Recap
Lu Jiming arrived at the meeting half an hour early, having taken a shortcut, which he admitted was a mistake. He felt hot and asked to turn off the air conditioner, though Ning Meng confirmed it wasn't on. In a moment of awkwardness, Ning Meng accidentally touched Lu Jiming's hand while distributing documents, startling herself and dropping the papers, bringing them into closer proximity as they both bent down to retrieve them. He then complained about Zeng Yuhang's usual tardiness.
When Zeng Yuhang finally arrived, he teased Lu Jiming for not accepting a coffee made by Ning Meng, suggesting Lu Jiming had been longing for it, unlike the "dishwater" from Yang Xiaoyang. Lu Jiming declined, citing an upset stomach. After the meeting, Ms. Shi praised Lu Jiming's judgment on the Phoenix project, but he was quick to credit Ning Meng, highlighting her significant contributions.
Ms. Shi acknowledged Ning Meng's rapid growth and hard work, noting she even pushed through a bad cold, thanks to Lu Jiming's care. Ning Meng then thanked Lu Jiming. After the meeting, Zeng Yuhang suggested they all go to dinner. Ning Meng immediately refused, and to Zeng Yuhang's surprise, Lu Jiming also declined, prompting Zeng Yuhang to comment on their strange synchronicity.
Later, Lu Jiming probed Zeng Yuhang with a hypothetical question about a friend who accidentally kissed a girl while drunk, asking how the girl might perceive it. Zeng Yuhang, clearly suspecting Lu Jiming was "making this friend up," pressed for details about what truly happened that night after he had left. Embarrassed and angered, Lu Jiming loudly retorted that Zeng Yuhang had slept in his room that night, implying he should already know.
This outburst drew the attention of others nearby, making Lu Jiming so uncomfortable that he quickly got up and left, asking Zeng Yuhang to pay the bill. On the subway ride home, Ning Meng observed a young couple being openly affectionate. Later, Lu Jiming was caught peeking through his apartment peephole as Ning Meng returned. He quickly pretended to take out the trash, hoping for a casual encounter.
Zeng Yuhang, however, walked out, confronting them and accusing them of having a secret. He directly asked if they had kissed, which Zeng Yuhang himself then confirmed, adding that it was "no wonder" given their behavior. Lu Jiming, annoyed, called the topic "dirty" and blamed Zeng Yuhang for talking too much. Zeng Yuhang then suggested Lu Jiming must have feelings for Ning Meng, pointing out how much Lu Jiming still involved himself with her even after she had resigned.
Lu Jiming dismissed it, claiming he was comfortable with Ning Meng as his secretary and that her investment skills could make her a valuable asset back at Joint Capital. Zeng Yuhang continued, urging Lu Jiming to move on from Han Yimeng, his former "ideal girl," who was living in the United States and was reportedly about to get engaged.
Lu Jiming refused to acknowledge this, questioning Zeng Yuhang's logic and stubbornly insisting things were different, even asking if Zeng Yuhang expected him to wait until she divorced. Zeng Yuhang warned him that his "childish and shallow outlook on relationships" could lead to future heartbreak. When Zeng Yuhang suggested Ning Meng might have feelings for Lu Jiming, Lu Jiming immediately rejected the idea, firmly stating that she could not like him.
Zeng Yuhang then criticized Lu Jiming for using "taking out the rubbish" as an excuse for an encounter, saying it would only lead to innocent Ning Meng misunderstanding and calling it a "sin" to steal her heart. Angered, Lu Jiming told Zeng Yuhang to leave, to which Zeng Yuhang retorted that it was his home. Meanwhile, Ning Meng had dinner with Su Weiran, her senior from university.
They discussed the augmented reality project, which Su Weiran decided not to invest in, citing issues with application scenarios, databases, unclear market positioning, and a lack of profitability in the near term. Ning Meng, however, passionately argued that such technology represents a major future trend and that "Made in China" innovations deserve more space and opportunity for development, expressing a desire for more "sentiment and integrity" in capital markets.
Su Weiran acknowledged her perspective, comparing his own profit-driven investment approach to a game of Texas Hold'em poker, while acknowledging Ning Meng's more sentimental attachment to projects. Ning Meng then pondered what kind of investor Lu Jiming was, admitting she couldn't quite figure him out despite working with him for three years. Su Weiran picked a sweet, round fruit for Ning Meng, and she confessed that he seemed different, more mature.
She expressed hope that he would remain the "sunny, simple senior" she remembered from university. Su Weiran was touched, remarking that it had been a long time since anyone had said such a thing to him, and said he would have to see her more often.
To avoid Lu Jiming, Ning Meng chose to represent Eaglestone Capital at the Nanjing Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, a move Ms. Shi supported by providing her with new "Investment Manager" business cards to compensate for her analyst title, which would be a disadvantage at such a prominent event and for making a good impression. Coincidentally, Lu Jiming also decided to attend as a substitute judge after one of the original judges fell ill, intending to avoid Ning Meng.
Despite their mutual efforts, they ran into each other at the event, creating an awkward atmosphere. During the competition, Lu Jiming, as a judge, proved to be sharp-tongued. He critiqued a cancer screening technology for its unclear business model and lack of a closed commercial loop, questioned a renovation platform's high spending and user retention strategy, and challenged another B2B2C platform on how it would compete with existing industry leaders.
The audience noted his harsh comments, wondering if he always spoke that way. The next entrepreneur presented a "kissing device" that used high-precision sensors to transmit the sensation of a kiss remotely, even when partners were in different locations. He boldly invited Lu Jiming to try it. Lu Jiming, visibly uncomfortable, declined the demonstration but praised the innovative concept.
He suggested the underlying technology could be expanded to medical applications, such as measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen, and providing health reports to family members living far apart, concluding that it represented a good investment opportunity. While his evaluation earned applause, his gaze subtly drifted towards Ning Meng. Later, at a reception, Ning Meng noticed two executives, Liang Guozhi and Liu Zhiwen, discussing a gym project.
She casually approached and, when asked for her opinion, offered insightful observations. She recounted her own experience of losing money on a gym membership when the business suddenly closed and ran away. She explained that the industry suffered from low entry barriers, leading to a mix of dubious operators who ruined its reputation.
She also pointed out the single-dimensional business model, intense homogeneous competition, and a lack of sustainability once the local market was saturated due to inadequate regulations and supervision difficulties. Impressed by her analysis, Liang Guozhi and Liu Zhiwen gave her their business cards and invited her to discuss more ideas, expressing their appreciation for engaging with young, innovative minds. They then proposed a toast to future investment success.
Later that evening, as Ning Meng was strolling in a park, Lu Jiming unexpectedly called, asking for her location and telling her to wait for him. He soon arrived, and they rented a boat. However, their combined lack of rowing skill led to an argument, with Lu Jiming criticizing her technique and Ning Meng retorting that she had only intended to row alone before he called.
Unable to make progress, they eventually gave up trying to row, spinning aimlessly in circles before letting the boat drift. Lu Jiming initiated a conversation about the previous incident, clarifying it was "purely accidental" and urging Ning Meng not to dwell on it. He admitted that his feelings for her were different from others, suggesting he regarded her as a "buddy" and praising her for having "no ulterior motives" about him, a quality he admired and wanted her to maintain.
Ning Meng, while hiding a flicker of disappointment, quickly countered that she already had someone she liked, and expressed concern that he might have illusions about her. Just then, Su Weiran called, but Ning Meng chose not to answer, dismissing it as "not important" to Lu Jiming, who was no longer her boss. Lu Jiming probed further, guessing it was Su Weiran.
Ning Meng confirmed, elaborating that her feelings for Su Weiran were complex, encompassing admiration, respect, and even reverence, rather than just "like," which she considered too mundane to describe their connection. Lu Jiming, in turn, quipped that her taste in men was questionable. As evening fell, park staff began escorting visitors off the lake, reminding them of the closing time. They easily towed Lu Jiming and Ning Meng's stranded boat back to the shore.
A park staff member, Xiaosong, effortlessly rowing his own boat past them, boasted about his "boating skills" and mocked those who couldn't navigate, calling them lost. Meanwhile, Yang Xiaoyang, who was nearby, recognized Lu Jiming being towed, prompting her and her companion to quickly cover their faces and flee to avoid being seen.
