Negotiator Episode 14 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
President Zhou called Tong Wei to her office after learning of the breakup. President Zhou, speaking not only as her boss but also as a friend and mentor, commended Tong Wei for stopping herself in time and advised her to adjust her state of mind. She candidly expressed her disapproval of Tong Wei's relationship with Xie Xiaofei, describing him as willful, unruly, and from a complicated background, starkly different from Tong Wei, who achieved her success through her own efforts.
She believed such a relationship would not last long. She then underscored the critical importance of the Xie Corporation project, explaining that Xie Corporation's founder, Xie Zhen Nan, an early last-century Chinese immigrant to the U. S. , had built a vast empire in tourism, hotels, and shipping, uniquely maintaining Chinese executives due to his roots. The Ministry of Commerce was keenly observing the negotiations, hoping for a successful collaboration to demonstrate China's thriving economy and attract more investment.
President Zhou stressed that this was no ordinary task and urged Tong Wei to control herself. Tong Wei assured her that she understood and would handle the negotiations with utmost professionalism, separating personal feelings from work. Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei met again during a meeting with Xie Corporation, where Tong Wei maintained a professional distance, showing no emotion.
After the meeting, Xie Xiaofei insisted they have lunch together, pulling her aside and stating he wouldn't leave if she didn't come. He booked a private room to ensure privacy. Xie Xiaofei profusely apologized for the previous night's incidents, including his misunderstanding about Tong Wei and Qin Tianyu, his outing with Zhao Chenxi, and the kiss, taking full responsibility for all that caused her unhappiness. Tong Wei accepted his apology but remained firm on her decision to break up.
She explained that the separation was not due to his shortcomings but because their relationship had been plagued by mistrust from the beginning. She did not want her imagination to run wild daily, leading her to become an emotional person she despised. Despite her reasoning, Xie Xiaofei refused to give up, asserting his right to fight for their relationship.
Later, Xie Xiaofei met Zhao Chenxi at a club, providing her with crucial data revealing that the land she intended to develop in Sanya was highly susceptible to typhoons during summer, making it unsuitable for a resort. Zhao Chenxi was pleased with the report and tried to ask about Tong Wei, but Xie Xiaofei, weary of the subject, simply told her he was tired and dismissed her. Meanwhile, Xia Shanshan called Tong Wei, enthusiastically inviting her to dinner.
Tong Wei, citing heartbreak, declined. Surprised, Xia Shanshan realized Tong Wei had been in a relationship and convinced her to meet. Tong Wei then confided in Xia Shanshan about her relationship and breakup with Xie Xiaofei. Xia Shanshan rejoiced at the breakup, convinced that Xie Xiaofei, being a rich scion, and Tong Wei were from entirely different worlds and incompatible.
However, despite rationally agreeing, Tong Wei found herself defending Xie Xiaofei's character and confessing her continued attraction to him, admitting she couldn't bring herself to be happy about the split. Xia Shanshan understood her friend's predicament, likening it to pursuing the impossible and acknowledging Tong Wei's perception of her feelings for Xie Xiaofei as dangerous. Tong Wei explained that she had to make a decisive move to prevent herself from changing into a woman she hated.
Xia Shanshan then suggested they drink until they were drunk. That night, a despondent Tong Wei returned home and opened up to Tong Tiantian about her emotional turmoil. Tong Tiantian, noticing Tong Wei's profound sadness, encouraged her to reconcile with Xie Xiaofei. However, Tong Wei adamantly refused to let go of her pride and beg for love. Touched by her sister's vulnerability, Tong Tiantian's resolve softened. After Tong Wei passed out, Tong Tiantian discreetly called Xie Xiaofei.
The following morning, Tong Tiantian woke Tong Wei, fabricating a story that Tong Wei, while drunk, had called Xie Xiaofei, crying and pleading for reconciliation. Tong Wei, with a pounding head, checked her phone and saw a call record, leading her to believe Tiantian's tale. She spent her drive to work agonizing over how to explain her drunken actions to Xie Xiaofei.
In the parking garage, she ran into Xie Xiaofei and immediately retracted anything she might have said while intoxicated, dismissing it as crazy talk. Xie Xiaofei looked puzzled, as he was about to tell her about a dream he had. Back in her office, Tong Wei was still mortified. Soon after, Xie Xiaofei knocked on her door, still confused, asking when she supposedly spoke to him the previous night.
At that moment, Tong Wei received a call from Tong Tiantian, who confessed to lying and told Tong Wei that her willingness to believe the lie proved she still loved Xie Xiaofei. Relieved that she hadn't actually embarrassed herself, Tong Wei regained her professional composure and proceeded to the meeting with Xie Xiaofei, her face betraying no emotion.
Meanwhile, Zhao Chenxi met with her father, who informed her of a new, crucial condition for the collaboration with Xie Corporation, previously discussed with Xie Xiaofei's father: a marriage alliance between the two families. Startled, Zhao Chenxi called Qin Tianyu to relay this information. Qin Tianyu agreed to attend the third round of negotiations. When Zhao Chenxi questioned if he was still concerned about Tong Wei's reaction, Qin Tianyu simply stated he had made up his mind.
Xie Xiaofei continued to pursue Tong Wei, following her to the underground parking lot and imploring her to stop avoiding him. President Zhou then intervened, taking both Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei to a coffee shop.
She clarified to Xie Xiaofei that she was the one who had instructed Tong Wei to break up with him, emphasizing that Tong Wei could not abandon her decade-long career for a relationship, wanting to achieve her dreams through her own efforts rather than relying on a boyfriend. Heartbroken, Xie Xiaofei angrily questioned Tong Wei if she saw him as a mere rich playboy who would mess up her life and career.
To make him finally give up, Tong Wei deliberately agreed with his assessment, feigning a lack of understanding. Enraged, Xie Xiaofei pointed at her, his eyes reddened, and vowed never to bother her again before storming out. Tong Wei later confided in President Zhou that she had to be that harsh for Xie Xiaofei to accept the breakup.
The next morning, as everyone prepared for the third round of negotiations, Tong Wei was stunned when Qin Tianyu appeared as Ke Wan's lawyer. Before the meeting began, Tong Wei confronted Qin Tianyu privately. He revealed that he had become Ke Wan's lawyer from the very beginning, even as she took on the case, with the intention of extracting information from her to defeat Xie Xiaofei.
Tong Wei was horrified by his deceitful behavior, but Qin Tianyu countered that she had hurt him and forced him to take such a step, doing it all to win her back and provide her a better life. Qin Tianyu then dropped a bombshell: the entire negotiation, involving Fu Tong Law Firm, CAEA, Ke Wan, and Xie Corporation executives, was an elaborate charade orchestrated by their fathers, Song Yong and Xie Tian You.
The ultimate goal was an arranged marriage between Xie Xiaofei and Zhao Chenxi, making everyone else mere pawns in their game. Tong Wei was shocked by this revelation but quickly composed herself to return to the negotiation table. During the meeting, Xie Xiaofei confidently stated Xie Corporation's determination to secure the project, regardless of the conditions. Qin Tianyu then revealed Ke Wan's sole condition for cooperation: a marriage alliance. This announcement sent shockwaves through the room.
Xie Xiaofei, unwilling to use his emotions as a bargaining chip, yet facing the prospect of losing the collaboration, turned to Tong Wei for advice as a negotiator. Tong Wei was speechless. Without waiting for her response, Xie Xiaofei firmly stood and declared his agreement to the marriage alliance, but explicitly stated that he would never love Zhao Chenxi, as his heart belonged solely to Tong Wei.
He then directly asked Zhao Chenxi if she was willing to accept a loveless marriage. Zhao Chenxi was visibly stunned and remained silent, while Qin Tianyu, enraged by Xie Xiaofei's bold declaration, immediately stormed out of the meeting.
