Master of My Own Episode 3 Recap
> Master of My Own Recap
Lu Jiming unexpectedly yelled at Ning Meng to report to the Project Department. He explained that he had considered her impulsive decision to quit and was offering her an alternative. He gave her one month to prove herself; if she couldn't succeed, she had to return to her secretarial role. He warned that if she caused trouble after that, he would genuinely fire her. Ning Meng, relieved, argued the one-month period was too short, negotiating for six months, then four.
Zeng Yuhang intervened, suggesting a three-month compromise, but Lu Jiming dismissed his input and firmly set the deadline at two months, warning Ning Meng not to push her luck. Despite the pressure, Ning Meng confidently accepted. Later, Lu Jiming vented to Zeng Yuhang, stating that a good secretary is more valuable than an investment director and bringing up an unresolved issue about a bag. Feeling triumphant, Ning Meng called her friend to share the news.
She recounted the dramatic turn of events, speculating Lu Jiming's outburst was a way to save face after realizing she might actually resign. Her friend congratulated her, advising her to start dressing like a female investor. Ning Meng admitted to being nervous but revealed she had spent her three years as a secretary diligently preparing, showing her friend extensive notes on project cases, legal risks, and risk control systems. Her friend and another acquaintance, Lao He, offered congratulations.
Lao He also gave her a friendly warning that unlike her previous role serving only one boss, as a regular employee in the Project Department she would need to be more careful navigating interpersonal relationships. The next morning, Ning Meng arrived at the office early. After handing over her duties to her replacement, Xiaoyang, who was already daunted by Lu Jiming's demands, Ning Meng went to Project Department II.
She found the office empty and learned from another director, Mr. Liu, that her new boss, Qiu Junlin, had taken the team to a meeting without notifying her. Mr. Liu kindly suggested that if things didn't work out, she could always return to her secretarial post. Ning Meng politely refused, stating she doesn't like to go back on her decisions. Soon after, Qiu Junlin arrived and offered a cursory apology.
He instructed her that all her work would be assigned by Ms. Feng and she was not to report directly to him. He then questioned whether she was officially joining or just "experiencing life" at the grassroots level. Qiu Junlin brought up her two-month wager with Lu Jiming, but Ning Meng corrected his assumption that she would simply return to her old job, clarifying that if she failed to produce results, she would have to leave the company entirely.
Later, Ning Meng accompanied Lu Jiming to his father's house to deliver a high-tech fishing gadget she had purchased for him. Lu Jiming had insisted she come, questioning why she wasn't working overtime for her new department. Upon arrival, Mr. Lu offered them water from a new purification machine he was testing, only to reveal it had been filtered from a "stinky river ditch," causing them both to spit it out in horror.
Lu Jiming criticized his father for using them as test subjects, sparking a heated argument over investment philosophies. Mr. Lu championed socially responsible environmental projects, while Lu Jiming defended his consumer-focused investments. Ning Meng defused the tension by presenting the fishing equipment, which delighted Mr. Lu, who joked that the fish could no longer play "hide-and-seek" with him.
During dinner, upon learning Ning Meng had transferred to the Project Department after three years as his son’s secretary, Mr. Lu assumed it was because she couldn't stand Lu Jiming’s "wolfhound" temper. He began lecturing his son on his poor management style. Ning Meng clarified that the move was her own career ambition, but Mr. Lu continued to praise her and criticize Lu Jiming for suppressing a talented employee.
The father-son argument escalated until Lu Jiming, claiming he had a meeting, abruptly left with Ning Meng in tow. Outside, he warned her not to get arrogant over his father's support, explaining that Mr. Lu was only trying to spite him. Frustrated, Lu Jiming admitted he couldn’t swallow the insult of her leaving after he had trained her for three years from a "workplace rookie" to a qualified professional.
Ning Meng retorted that he was now seeing her true, defiant colors and it was best she didn't return. As her first task, Ms. Feng assigned Ning Meng to reorganize and create a detailed report on over 900 projects the department had handled, demanding it be finished by the next day. Determined to prove herself, Ning Meng worked through the night. The next morning, she submitted the completed documents to Qiu Junlin, who was surprised by her efficiency.
When she asked for more work, he again reminded her to go through Ms. Feng. Later, Ms. Feng admitted to Qiu Junlin that the work was so flawlessly done that she couldn't find any fault. Recalling Lu Jiming’s instruction to test Ning Meng's project capabilities, Qiu Junlin decided they couldn't leave her idle. He assigned her a challenging, uninvestigated RV park project that Xu Sitian had previously mentioned, with a tight deadline of the following Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Xu Sitian arrived at the office and declared herself Lu Jiming's new "personal secretary." To mark her first day, she treated the entire company to a variety of Luckin Coffee drinks, instructing everyone to call her "Secretary Xu." Lu Jiming was annoyed and questioned the appropriateness of the arrangement, but Xu Sitian claimed her father approved.
Unable to reach Zeng Yuhang for help, Lu Jiming reluctantly agreed to a one-day trial before feigning an urgent matter and fleeing the office, leaving Xu Sitian confidently installed at her new post.
