Master of My Own Episode 31 Recap
> Master of My Own Recap
Lu Jiming and Ning Meng successfully execute their plan against Qiu Junlin. Qiu Junlin opens the bag only to find it filled with blank papers, realizing he has been scammed. Ning Meng confirms that all evidence has been submitted to the Economic Crimes Division, and Lu Jiming adds that they have also submitted their own materials and paid fines. A pleased Ning Meng visits You Qi at a department store, where You Qi is confidently working as a sales associate.
Ning Meng expresses her satisfaction, then informs You Qi that the evidence against He Yueluan and his associates has been handed over to the Economic Crimes Division, implying they won't be at large much longer. You Qi, though somewhat somber, agrees, expressing her desire to witness He Yueluan's arrest. You Qi then shares an observation: she recently saw Quan Ruru not with He Yueluan, but with another man entering a mother-and-baby store.
This makes Ning Meng wonder if He Yueluan is being cheated on. At home, He Yueluan affectionately leans down to listen to Quan Ruru's pregnant belly and starts preparing breakfast. Suddenly, officers from the Shanghai Municipal PSB, Pudong Branch, Economic Crimes Division arrive with a warrant and take him away for investigation. Subsequently, Jin Haiyang and Zhao Changhai are also brought in for questioning.
News quickly breaks, reporting that He Yueluan, along with Yan Shuangxun (Chairman of Shuangxun Group), Board Secretary Zhao Changhai, and Jin Haiyang (Chairman of Caihuang Capital), were all taken in for investigation. The reports indicate that these individuals colluded during the hostile acquisition of Qinhe, manipulating the stock market and engaging in illicit self-dealing, severely disrupting secondary market order and harming investor interests.
The Economic Crime Investigation Bureau and the CSRC vowed a thorough investigation to restore justice to the financial market. Upon hearing the news, Ning Meng and Lu Jiming express immense satisfaction, learning that Qiu Junlin and Chen Xiaoyi were also arrested, effectively bringing down all the "bad guys." Lu Jiming visits his father, Lu Tianxing's, grave, placing flowers and sharing the good news that all those who had conspired against his father have been apprehended.
He reflects on his past ambition to constantly prove himself against his father, realizing now that it's important not to be overly demanding of oneself, as that also burdens others. He tells his father that he has learned to consider others' perspectives. Ning Meng soon joins him, affirming to Lu Tianxing that she has become a director and that she and Lu Jiming have founded a new company, Lu Meng, which will focus on long-term integrated smart community projects.
She pledges that they will carry forward his steadfast environmental protection ideals through this new venture. She also mentions that Lu Guoyu, filled with remorse, will ensure Qinhe continues to uphold Lu Tianxing's business philosophy and will collaborate extensively with Lu Meng. Feeling a newfound sense of ease after the arrests, Ning Meng suggests they celebrate with a celebratory dinner. However, Lu Jiming reveals that he feels unexpectedly calm rather than overjoyed, so a celebration isn't necessary.
Instead, they decide to go home and prepare Ning Meng's "secret recipe" together. While cooking, the clumsy Lu Jiming accidentally splashes hot oil on his hand. Ning Meng quickly rushes to bandage his injury. Later, Lu Jiming quietly picks up Ning Meng's broken lemon charm, which he sees as "injured," and takes it home to repair. The following morning, he discreetly places the mended charm on her office desk.
The next day, a serious Lu Jiming informs Ning Meng that the police revealed He Yueluan and his associates had confessed to all matters related to Qinhe. However, none of them admitted to manipulating Lu Jiming's private placement stock. Lu Jiming finds this omission illogical, reasoning that if they confessed to a major crime like Qinhe, there would be no need to conceal a lesser one. He senses that someone else is behind the stock manipulation.
Both of them begin to ponder who else could be involved. To uncover more clues, Ning Meng shows You Qi photos from the KTV party, asking if she recognized anyone there. You Qi quickly identifies Zhao Changhai as the man she saw with Quan Ruru at the baby store, recalling he was standing with Quan Ruru by the billiard table that day. Seeking more information, Ning Meng arranges to meet Quan Ruru.
After some probing, Quan Ruru reluctantly admits that the man is named Jason, an overseas returnee who is wealthy and wears a distinctive Patek Philippe watch. Ning Meng instantly recalls seeing such a watch in Senior Shen Xi's social media post. Although Quan Ruru confirms it wasn't Shen Xi's husband, when Ning Meng shows her a picture of Su Weiran, Quan Ruru definitively identifies him as Jason. The revelation leaves Ning Meng utterly stunned.
Meanwhile, Zeng Yuhang contacts Lu Jiming, informing him that the negative news surrounding his private placement stock was fabricated by an unscrupulous official account, which has since been shut down. He further reveals that the major shareholder had already divested their shares before the fake news even broke, clearly indicating pre-arranged collusion. Zeng Yuhang then asks Lu Jiming if he knows the identity of the major shareholder's limited partner.
This question triggers a flash of realization in Lu Jiming's mind, leaving him profoundly shocked as he connects the dots. At the annual "Outstanding Investor Award of Top Ten New Forces" ceremony, Su Weiran is honored with the award. During his acceptance speech, he eloquently describes investment as a high-stakes game in a dangerous capital market jungle, where only true risk-takers and capable individuals triumph.
After the ceremony, Lu Jiming confronts Su Weiran, coldly advising him to prepare a guilty plea statement. Lu Jiming systematically outlines Su Weiran's involvement in manipulating his private placement stock, accusing him of orchestrating the spread of false market news and colluding with the major shareholders. Lu Jiming suggests Su Weiran made his move after a game of Texas Hold'em, knowing Lu Jiming would invest in the private placement stock to recover.
He distinguishes Su Weiran from He Yueluan, asserting that Su Weiran's motive was not mere profit but a deliberate attempt to ruin him. Su Weiran vehemently denies the accusations, dismisses Lu Jiming's claims as blaming bad luck, and then launches into a bitter tirade. He challenges Lu Jiming's privileged upbringing, asking if he has ever experienced hardship, been trampled on, or felt the pain of having something precious easily taken away.
Su Weiran, hoisting his trophy, defiantly declares himself the winner. Lu Jiming calmly responds that Su Weiran has, in fact, already lost the most important thing. Lacking direct evidence to convict Su Weiran, Lu Jiming is inclined to let the matter drop for now. However, Ning Meng feels a profound sense of injustice, unwilling to see Su Weiran continue down a destructive path without accountability.
She decides to confront him herself, reminding him of a past university bully named Wen Li, who unwittingly became a scapegoat for others' minor misdeeds. Ning Meng then directly challenges Su Weiran, asking if he uses the name "Jason" for similar reasons, as a form of psychological revenge or subconscious escape. She explains her belief that the wealthy second-generation "Jason" who "stole" his senior, Shen Xi, left a deep wound from which Su Weiran never truly recovered.
Su Weiran confirms her deduction, admitting that he is indeed Jason. Su Weiran confesses to Ning Meng, clarifying that he doesn't hate Senior Shen Xi, but rather the man who took her away. He explains that his youthful belief in a just world where effort guarantees reward was completely shattered after he went abroad.
He witnessed others effortlessly attain things he had to fight tooth and nail for, such as prestigious university admissions or a lavish lifestyle, and their casual approach to relationships. He realized the vast inequalities in the world. He then recounts how he first encountered He Yueluan at the Mobi meeting Ning Meng had organized, which she later canceled. Their paths crossed again at Ning Meng's celebration party for her manager promotion.
After they had a chance to understand each other's working styles, He Yueluan extended an invitation to Su Weiran for a "big project," which turned out to be the hostile takeover of Qinhe. Ning Meng finally understands the full extent of Su Weiran's deception. She realizes that he was aware of the Qinhe plot from the very beginning, and his apparent generosity in encouraging her to return and help Lu Jiming was all part of his elaborate scheme. She also deduces that his absence from You Qi's birthday celebration was deliberate, to avoid revealing his association with He Yueluan and his involvement in their illicit activities.
