Master of My Own Episode 23 Recap
> Master of My Own Recap
Mr. Zhou presented Ning Meng with two choices: either he would invest in the project if she gave him ten percent of the stakes and he would provide a substantial project introduction fee, or he would withdraw from the project entirely, as it would not result in any losses for him. Ning Meng decisively chose the second option, stating it was for everyone's convenience.
She later explained to Su Weiran that for her, it was not about the amount of money, but about upholding her bottom line, a principle Su Weiran fully supported. Later, Su Weiran invited Ning Meng to a stand-up comedy show. They watched, thoroughly entertained, until Ning Meng was distracted by the sight of Lu Jiming leaving the venue.
Sensing her shift in mood, Su Weiran asked if Lu Jiming was the one who had made her feel puzzled in the past. Ning Meng confirmed it, but as she began to elaborate, Su Weiran gently interrupted, extending his hand for her to take, assuring her of his trust. Ning Meng smiled, placing her hand in his. As Ning Meng scrolled through her social media, she noticed Tang Zhengwang and had a sudden idea to meet him.
She presented the Lehui project, explaining how Tang Zhengwang could profit by becoming a customized furniture supplier for middle to high-end hotels and serviced apartments that cater to young people, a project previously handled by Mr. Liang whom Ning Meng had worked with. Furthermore, Lehui would include Qilin's Home in its marketing campaigns for free, creating a mutually beneficial brand promotion. Tang Zhengwang was delighted by this resource integration and agreed to cooperate.
They toasted with water and took a photo, which Tang Zhengwang posted to his Moments, celebrating their new partnership. Shi Ying praised Ning Meng for her quick resolution of the LP issues, especially her innovative use of resource integration, and admired her for prioritizing the company's interests over Mr. Zhou's tempting offer.
Meanwhile, Lu Jiming was seen absorbed in his phone, looking haggard, a sight that deeply concerned Zeng Yuhang and Xu Sitian, who believed he was suffering from heartbreak due to being slow to realize his feelings. Later, colleagues discussed that Shuangxun Group had been aggressively purchasing shares of Qinhe, the company chaired by Lu Tianxing, Lu Jiming's father. Just as they were talking, Lu Jiming arrived at Eaglestone Capital for a meeting.
Shi Ying instructed Ning Meng to host him, but Ning Meng quickly made an excuse, claiming she had an urgent meeting with Ms. Liu of Lehui, and promptly left the office, leaving a colleague to attend to Lu Jiming. Shi Ying later approached Ning Meng, sagely advising her that sometimes, avoiding someone one does not wish to be associated with is futile.
She emphasized that relationships not meant to last will eventually dissolve, while those that are meant to be will endure, no matter how far one tries to hide, calling it human fate. Ning Meng met with Liu Huimin. After their meeting, while waiting for a taxi with Su Weiran, Ning Meng unexpectedly saw He and Qiu Junlin together, looking intoxicated, as they entered a car.
Concerned that He might be betraying You Qi, but lacking concrete evidence, Ning Meng decided to invite He and You Qi out for dinner, hoping to discreetly observe He. During the dinner, Ning Meng subtly questioned He about Qiu Junlin. You Qi interjected, recalling that Qiu Junlin was the person who had caused Ning Meng to resign from her previous job, and warned He not to associate with him.
He dismissed the connection, downplaying his knowledge of Qiu Junlin, and continued to show his characteristic attentiveness and affection toward You Qi, peeling shrimp for her and expressing care when she found a dish spicy. After observing their interactions, Ning Meng felt she had overthought the situation. Later that evening, as Ning Meng and Su Weiran walked through the romantic Shanghai night, Su Weiran leaned in to kiss Ning Meng by the Oriental Pearl Tower.
However, Ning Meng instinctively flinched and subtly moved away. Although Su Weiran verbally dismissed it, stating he would wait until she was truly ready, he inwardly felt a sense of disappointment. Liu Huimin later informed Ning Meng that her ex-husband's OEM factory had encountered issues due to using unapproved parts to cut costs, leading to massive returns and compensation demands from brands. This meant he could not transfer the money he had promised her on time.
Liu Huimin explained that even legal procedures would not expedite the payment. Tang Zhengwang, upon hearing the news, called Ning Meng, worried about their investment. Ning Meng reassured him, promising to find a solution for Lehui's capital gap within three days. She then sought advice from Su Weiran, who expressed suspicion, suggesting that Liu Huimin and her ex-husband might be colluding to defraud the limited partners, a common tactic he had witnessed in the capital market.
However, Ning Meng defended Liu Huimin, emphasizing Liu Huimin's integrity and her personal sacrifices—mortgaging her house and car and borrowing money—to save the project. Shi Ying, while supporting Ning Meng's efforts, also informed her that Eaglestone's own funds were currently tight, meaning Ning Meng would need to seek additional investment externally. Concerned about Lehui's situation, Lu Jiming reached out to Tang Zhengwang to inquire about any updates. Concurrently, Ning Meng went to the factory to meet Liu Huimin.
While she was there, a group of aggressive men, who were not factory employees, arrived and began forcibly removing inventory from the warehouse, claiming that Lehui's funding had dried up and they were collecting on a debt. Ning Meng rushed to intervene, asserting that the payment terms were clearly stipulated in the contract and accusing them of taking advantage of the situation.
As one of the men pulled out a knife, Lu Jiming suddenly appeared and bravely shielded Ning Meng, taking the blade himself. The police arrived shortly after, causing the thugs to flee. At the hospital, the doctor informed Lu Jiming that he was fortunate the cut on his arm wasn't deeper, as it could have been life-threatening.
When Lu Jiming asked Ning Meng how she came to be there, she explained that she had heard about the factory's trouble from Tang Zhengwang. He then suggested that they could at least be friends, a simple friendship without strange words or crossing boundaries, similar to how she interacted with Zeng Yuhang and Xu Sitian. Ning Meng readily agreed, and they shared a lighthearted moment, finally breaking the long-standing awkwardness between them.
