Negotiator Episode 1 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
In the bustling and prosperous city of New York, a significant business merger was in jeopardy. Qin Tianyu, a professional lawyer representing Yep, a major American ride-hailing platform, found himself in a difficult situation. The company's CEO was furious because Chen Mo, the head of the Chinese Quick ride-hailing company, had suddenly halted merger negotiations after 17 hours of progress. With only an hour left to resolve the issue or face termination for his entire firm, Qin Tianyu was desperate.
He reached out to his friend, Tong Wei, a senior negotiation expert from CAEA in Shanghai, who was coincidentally in New York for training. Tong Wei had already been following the dispute and analyzing Chen Mo's background, noting his impressive entrepreneurial history and substantial wealth. When Qin Tianyu called, frantically asking for a solution within half an hour, Tong Wei readily agreed to help.
Meanwhile, Xie Xiaofei, a wealthy and arrogant heir, drove his bright yellow sports car through the city streets. As he casually tossed his car keys to a hotel doorman, they landed at Tong Wei's feet just as she arrived. The two crossed paths unknowingly, their destinies intertwined by this fleeting encounter. Inside, Qin Tianyu's assistant expressed anxiety over the dwindling time and Tong Wei's delayed arrival.
Tong Wei finally entered the room and, learning Chen Mo was across the hall, ingeniously bypassed security by loudly declaring herself a Quick user with a complaint. This tactic successfully gained her an audience with Chen Mo. Chen Mo, initially suspicious, made light of her coming all the way to the U. S. to complain, and became dismissive upon learning she was a negotiator.
Tong Wei, however, calmly stated she was there to help both parties and to deliver a complaint. She recounted an incident from her journey to Pudong airport for her flight to the U. S. for training: her Quick driver in Shanghai had asked her to also book a ride on Yep, explaining that this allowed him to collect subsidies from both competing companies for a single journey.
She played a recording of the driver expressing his hope that the two companies would continue their fierce competition, allowing drivers to profit from their "internet mindset." Tong Wei powerfully argued that while Yep's entry into the Chinese market fueled competition, it also created "click farms" and led both companies to burn astronomical sums of money through regulatory loopholes, ultimately harming the market and consumers.
Drawing on her extensive knowledge of his entrepreneurial journey, she highlighted that Chen Mo had built Quick from the ground up, not just for money, and that a merger would open up new, broader opportunities for him. Chen Mo, who had been concerned about Yep dominating the market and stifling competition post-merger, was swayed by Tong Wei's reasoning.
He acknowledged her astute observations and agreed to resume negotiations, shaking hands with the Yep CEO and expressing his intent to remember the impressive negotiator. Later that evening, Qin Tianyu thanked Tong Wei over dinner, jokingly offering himself in marriage. Tong Wei clarified that she hadn't come specifically for him but was in the U. S. for training, and expected her firm to be compensated.
She firmly reiterated that they were merely friends and declined his offer to escort her back to her hotel, preferring to call a cab and meet him in China. As New York's nightlife began, Xie Xiaofei was preparing for an underground boxing match in Brooklyn. Despite his slender build and lack of reputation, he exuded an authentic passion for the sport, a stark contrast to his family life.
The crowd and announcer initially scoffed at his chances against his formidable opponent, "the Russian Bulldozer," with some spectators calling him "Bruce Lee" mockingly. Though repeatedly struck, Xie Xiaofei's determination never wavered. He eventually found an opening, delivering a powerful flying kick that knocked out his opponent. Afterward, learning that his opponent needed money for his sister's medical treatment, Xie Xiaofei generously gave him his prize money, a gesture that further showcased his unique character.
Soon after the match, Xie Xiaotian, Xie Xiaofei's younger brother, arrived at the boxing ring in a formal suit, urging him to return home for their monthly family gathering. Xie Xiaofei dismissed the gathering as "boring" and found the boxing ring a place to relax, unlike his brother. To ensure his brother left, Xie Xiaofei offered him a piece of vodka-spiked chewing gum, which quickly made Xie Xiaotian dizzy. Xie Xiaofei then sent his brother home with his driver.
In his car, Xie Xiaofei confided in his female companion, expressing his deep aversion to his family and the Xie Corporation, declaring he would never become a mere "money-making tool" like them. That same night, Tong Wei received a frantic call from her aunt and uncle: her niece, Tian Tian, had been missing for two days. Tong Wei calmly instructed her aunt to search Tian Tian's room for clues.
They found a travel itinerary indicating Tian Tian's intention to attend New York Fashion Week. Tong Wei immediately contacted her assistant, Tracy, to research the fashion show schedule. The next morning, the Xie family gathered for their monthly meeting. The elders worried aloud about Xie Xiaofei's expected tardiness and rebellious nature, anticipating another confrontation with his father. Xie Xiaofei arrived just in time, though internally disgusted by the pretense and "elaborate scheme for their own benefit."
His father, Xie Tianyou, summoned him to his study, confronting him with news reports of his underground boxing match. Xie Tianyou reprimanded him for his "nonsense" and reminded him of his responsibility as the company's heir and the family's hundred-year plan to return their business to China.
Xie Xiaofei defiantly declared he wouldn't be the person they wanted him to be, expressing his profound disdain for their hypocritical business dealings and contrasting it with the raw honesty he found in the boxing ring. He walked out, ignoring his brother and uncle's attempts to intervene, leaving his father enraged and regretting having such a "good-for-nothing son." Meanwhile, Tong Wei located Tian Tian outside the New York Fashion Week venue.
Tian Tian, unable to get in without a ticket, was desperately trying to convince a photographer to help her fulfill her dream of becoming a designer. Tong Wei sternly admonished her for her unrealistic fantasies and irresponsible behavior, threatening to call the police since Tian Tian was an unaccompanied minor who couldn't speak English. In a moment of distraction, Tian Tian managed to slip away into a nearby medical clinic.
Coincidentally, Xie Xiaofei was also at this clinic, having rushed there after receiving a call about a possible sign of awakening from his mother, who had been in a coma for years and was financially supported by the Xie Group. His hopes were cruelly dashed when he learned it was a mistake by a new doctor.
He furiously confronted the clinic staff, reminding them of the Xie Group's substantial donations, before asking to be left alone with his mother, the only family member he truly cared for in his "hollow family." While searching for Tian Tian, Tong Wei inadvertently entered Xie Xiaofei's mother's private room. Their eyes met, both preoccupied with their own emotional turmoil. Tong Wei quickly apologized and retreated.
Outside the room, Tian Tian was causing a loud commotion, demanding her release from security, which deeply disturbed Xie Xiaofei. He stormed out of the room, snatched an electric baton from a security guard, and threatened the aunt and niece, telling them to quiet down or face consequences. Intimidated, Tong Wei promptly took Tian Tian away. The aunt and niece flew back to Shanghai, where Qin Tianyu picked them up at the airport, noting their continued bickering.
Back in Shanghai, Xie Xiaofei unexpectedly burst into a company meeting, breakfast in hand, announcing a major project. He proposed developing a piece of land in Suzhou, his mother's hometown, into an eco-tourism resort. He had been monitoring the land for two years and recently learned of an acquisition opportunity through his friend, Luo Bin. His innovative plan, however, deviated from the Xie Group's traditional style and was met with skepticism from the other family members.
Afterward, Xie Tianyou called Xie Xiaofei into his office, acknowledging his newfound ambition but still expressing reservations. When Xie Xiaofei attempted to explain the land's significance as his mother's ancestral home, his father abruptly changed the subject, leading Xie Xiaofei to leave, understanding his father's deliberate avoidance. Xie Xiaotian tried to console his brother, but Xie Xiaofei, feigning indifference, even suggested that his more capable younger brother should be the company's heir.
Aware that his sudden interest in business, given his previous idleness, would be met with doubt, Xie Xiaofei decided to head to Shanghai to personally prepare for the project. Later, Zhao Chenxi, the daughter of Xie Tianyou's close friend, arrived to discuss a collaboration with the Xie Group. Xie Tianyou introduced her to Xie Xiaofei, informing her that they would work together on the Shanghai project. Coincidentally, Xie Xiaofei and Zhao Chenxi found themselves on the same flight to Shanghai, marking their first meeting.
