Negotiator Episode 2 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
As Xie Xiaofei and Zhao Chenxi traveled to Shanghai on the same plane, Zhao Chenxi recognized him from a photo she had seen in Uncle Xie's office. Xie Xiaofei, however, asked her to keep his presence in China a secret from his father, claiming he was only there for fun and didn't want his father to know he wasn't "doing honest work."
An emergency announcement interrupted their conversation, stating that a 60-year-old lady had fainted in economy class due to flight fatigue and needed to lie down. When informed that there were no available seats, Xie Xiaofei immediately offered his first-class seat to the elderly woman. He remarked to Zhao Chenxi that "even if you give me royal robes to wear, I still wouldn't be a prince" because "that status does not belong to me."
Zhao Chenxi observed his actions, thinking that despite his playful words, he was a genuinely good person. Late one night in New York, Xie Xiaofei made a phone call to his friend Luo Bin, inquiring about a piece of land in Suzhou. Luo Bin confirmed that the land, which had been stalled for two years due to a resistant 70-year-old resident, was now on the market.
Xie Xiaofei expressed strong determination to acquire it, confident that he would find a way, despite Luo Bin's warnings about the difficulties involved. Soon after, during a Xie Corporation family meeting discussing the company's expansion into China and a potential collaboration with Kewan Real Estate, Xie Xiaofei dramatically interrupted with breakfast, seizing the opportunity to present his vision. He proposed developing an "ecological resort" in a small Suzhou village, which he revealed was his mother's childhood home.
His concept was a traditional-style resort that would allow visitors to experience authentic rural life, a significant departure from Xie Corporation's usual luxury projects. His uncle and brother, Xie Xiaotian, expressed skepticism about the project's profitability, but Xiaotian suggested giving Xie Xiaofei a chance, acknowledging his apparent newfound ambition.
Xie Xiaofei passionately argued that he was serious about this venture and ready to take the reins of the corporation, asserting that the future of their key asset, 18 Cang, lay in China. He emphasized the necessity for change in a market increasingly driven by younger generations, warning that "not to change is the equivalent to suicide." His father abruptly ended the meeting.
Following the meeting, Xie father privately confronted Xie Xiaofei, questioning his long-term commitment to the Suzhou land given his history of not "doing honest work." Xie Xiaofei countered that he had been diligently researching the land for two years, using his frequent trips to China to gather market insights. He reiterated that change was vital for business growth, a concept older generations might resist.
He then invoked the emotional connection to the land by mentioning it was his mother's home, but his father cut him off, leaving Xie Xiaofei feeling unheard. Later, Xie Xiaotian tried to comfort his brother, assuring him that their father secretly admired his abilities and was strict only out of high expectations. Xie Xiaofei, however, dismissed this, insisting that the family's concerns were purely for the company's image, and declared that the business was not his dream.
He told Xiaotian that he was more suitable to be the heir and rebuffed the notion of him not being the "biological heir" as a "joke." Despite his frustrations, Xie Xiaofei affirmed his intention to genuinely commit to work in Shanghai. Separately, Zhao Chenxi met with Xie father, presenting a gift from her own father. Xie father outlined the collaboration with Kewan Real Estate, informing her that she and Xie Xiaofei would be jointly handling the negotiations in Shanghai.
Back in Shanghai, Tong Wei returned to her company, CAEA, to find significant changes. Tracy, her assistant, greeted her with frustration, explaining that their negotiation department had been split into two groups, A and B, led by Tong Wei and Xiao Xiang respectively. Tracy complained that Xiao Xiang had deliberately selected all the experienced negotiators for his group, leaving Tong Wei's Group A with only inexperienced "graduates who know nothing."
Tong Wei remained optimistic, viewing the newcomers as "blank slates" ready to be molded into capable professionals. She soon encountered her new team members: Jiang Ke, an effeminate man who enthusiastically complimented her perfume and asked for her WeChat for a purchasing agent, and Kiki, a young woman who arrived accompanied by her mother still giving her lunch instructions. Kiki's mother then earnestly asked Tong Wei to take good care of her daughter and ensure she ate properly.
After Kiki's mother left, Tong Wei and Tracy exchanged knowing glances, acknowledging the unique challenges posed by their new team. Tong Wei then reported to President Zhou, voicing her concerns about her unconventional and inexperienced team. President Zhou explained that skilled business negotiators were scarce in China, and she needed Tong Wei to cultivate new talent.
President Zhou praised Tong Wei, noting that while Xiao Xiang possessed experience, he was often distracted, whereas Tong Wei embodied "sincerity," the most valuable trait of a negotiator. Tong Wei accepted the challenge, viewing her team as "uncut jade" awaiting polish. During a subsequent department meeting, President Zhou announced a major new case: Xie Corporation, a US-owned company, sought to enter the Chinese market by partnering with the renowned real estate developer, Kewan Corporation.
Despite Kewan's difficult President Song, Xiao Xiang's Group B eagerly volunteered for the project. However, President Zhou unexpectedly assigned the case to Tong Wei's Group A, emphasizing that "actual combat" was crucial for training newcomers, and instructed Group B to provide assistance. Xiao Xiang protested Group A's inexperience, but President Zhou upheld her decision. President Zhou stressed the critical importance of the case's success to Tong Wei's career and urged her not to let her new team impede their progress.
Tong Wei confidently asserted that she "doesn't know the meaning of failure" and promised to quickly develop her team. Later, Tong Wei privately thanked President Zhou, understanding that the strategy of letting Xiao Xiang pick his team first prevented him from objecting when the major case was assigned to her new group. Tong Wei's team began their research on Xie Xiaofei.
Tracy proudly presented a compilation of publicly available online information about Xie Corporation, but Tong Wei dismissed it as "useless." She instructed her team to dig deeper, seeking personal details about Xie Xiaofei, such as his character, hobbies, and relationship status. When Jiang Ke playfully suggested they were acting like "entertainment reporters," Tong Wei clarified that "the first rule of negotiation is to know a person like you know yourself."
She explained that skilled negotiators require the "attentiveness of an entertainment reporter" to thoroughly understand their counterparts and opponents, which is essential for developing effective strategies. This in-depth personal research on Xie Xiaofei became their immediate homework. After work, Xia Shanshan insisted on taking Tong Wei to a club opening. Tong Wei, still frustrated with her challenging team, reluctantly agreed. At the noisy club, Xia Shanshan greeted the owner, Luo Bin, a friend of her boyfriend, Lao Qi.
She delivered a bracelet from Lao Qi, which Luo Bin was instructed to count for three months before meeting a "Master." As several men attempted to flirt with Tong Wei, she deftly deflected their advances with responses in Japanese and French. Xia Shanshan informed Luo Bin that Tong Wei was a professional negotiator, far different from his usual acquaintances. Luo Bin mentioned he was leaving to pick up a friend from New York.
Finding the club too loud, Tong Wei decided to leave with Xia Shanshan. Outside, they discussed Xia Shanshan's relationship with Lao Qi; Tong Wei subtly hinted at Lao Qi's possible continued involvement with his ex-wife, which Xia Shanshan vehemently denied. Suddenly, Xie Xiaofei's sports car nearly collided with them. He aggressively shouted at them for their carelessness. Tong Wei immediately recognized him from their previous hostile encounter in New York. She confronted him, demanding an apology.
When he refused, Tong Wei and Xia Shanshan retaliated by hitting his car with their high heels before walking away barefoot. Back in the club, a fuming Xie Xiaofei confided in Luo Bin, stating his firm intention to pursue his Suzhou ecological development project, rejecting his father's assigned work. Luo Bin, though expressing concern about the project's profitability, ultimately offered his full support for Xie Xiaofei's vision. The next morning, Tong Wei reviewed her team's progress.
Jiang Ke had successfully uncovered valuable information from a year-old scandal involving Xie Xiaofei, earning Tong Wei's approval. Kiki, however, had made little progress. Tong Wei spoke with Kiki privately, encouraging her to strengthen her resolve and grow into a capable professional to withstand fierce competition. Tong Wei then instructed Tracy to pay special attention to Kiki, helping her build confidence, as Tong Wei discerned that Kiki's inherent "soft" demeanor could become a powerful negotiation tool if properly cultivated.
Meanwhile, Tong Tiantian had returned to school, though she remained evasive about her New York trip when questioned by friends. An accidental basketball hit her, but the handsome student, Sun Hao, who rushed to apologize, instantly captivated Tiantian. Later, Tiantian's homeroom teacher asked her to invite Tong Wei to give a business lecture at the school, a request Tiantian reluctantly considered, wary of asking her "arrogant" sister for a favor.
Tong Wei then prepared for the first meeting between CAEA and Xie Corporation, but Xie Xiaofei failed to appear. Hearing of this, Xiao Xiang attempted to seize the case from Tong Wei, but she defiantly demanded one more day to meet Xie Xiaofei, threatening to surrender the project if unsuccessful. The next day, Xie Xiaofei was absent from the second scheduled meeting as well.
Unfazed, Tong Wei informed the Xie Corporation representatives that she would personally visit Xie Xiaofei at his hotel to schedule a meeting. Upon arrival, the front desk told her "Mr. Fei" had gone out. Tong Wei resolutely stated she would wait until he returned. As night fell, Tong Wei remained persistent in the hotel lobby. Her patience was finally rewarded when Xie Xiaofei arrived.
To her surprise, she realized that her client, Xie Xiaofei, was the very "nemesis" she'd encountered multiple times. Maintaining her professional composure, Tong Wei followed him to his room, determined to discuss business. Xie Xiaofei tried to intimidate her with the implication of "a lone man and a lone woman in a room," but Tong Wei was undeterred.
She boldly picked up his passport from a table, tucked it into her collar, and instructed him to attend the meeting at ten o'clock the following morning before walking out, leaving Xie Xiaofei fuming in his room. The following morning, Xie Xiaofei, on his way to the meeting, encountered Xiao Xiang in the elevator. Xiao Xiang engaged him in a verbose conversation, which Xie Xiaofei received with visible impatience.
When they both exited the elevator and saw Tong Wei, Xie Xiaofei, still harboring resentment from their previous encounters, attempted to humiliate her. He openly declared his lack of trust in Tong Wei's team of newcomers and proposed a challenge: both negotiation groups would undergo a test and compete fairly for the project. Tong Wei, without a hint of fear, readily accepted his challenge.
