Negotiator Episode 26 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
Xie Xiaofei was staying in a cheap hotel, reflecting on matters concerning Tang Mi Cai, when Xie Xiaotian arrived. Xie Xiaofei immediately tried to send him away, but Xie Xiaotian held him back by mentioning their parents' situation. Xie Xiaotian urged Xie Xiaofei to hand over the photo and abandon his search for Tang Mi Cai, but Xie Xiaofei declared he would rather live in poverty than surrender to Xie Tiancheng.
Faced with Xie Xiaofei's stubbornness, Xie Xiaotian revealed that Tong Wei had been implicated in the matter and had resigned from CAEA. Enraged, Xie Xiaofei ordered Xiaotian to leave. Distraught, Xie Xiaofei rushed to Tong Wei's home, but her family blamed him for Tong Wei's recent troubles and promptly kicked him out.
Meanwhile, after an all-night investigation, Tong Wei had discovered that the scene in the Tang Mi Cai photo was Fang Sheng Bridge and was already on her way to Zhujiajiao, Shanghai. After being turned away from Tong Wei's home, Xie Xiaofei also boarded a bus heading to Fang Sheng Bridge. On the bridge, he spotted Tong Wei's back and quickly pursued her.
Tong Wei attempted to report the case at a police station to find the person, but received no assistance due to the limited information about Tang Mi Cai and the old age of the incident. Coincidentally, Xie Xiaofei arrived at the same police station shortly after. Though he also failed to obtain any information about the photo, he learned Tong Wei had just left. Xie Xiaofei quickly chased after Tong Wei and found her eating at a roadside restaurant.
He walked in and sat opposite her. Tong Wei angrily told him her affairs were none of his concern, claiming not to know him. However, Xie Xiaofei was filled with guilt for involving her in the Xie family's business and tried to explain what had happened at Zhao Chenxi's house. Tong Wei still refused to forgive him and told him to stop following her. Tong Wei sought accommodation in Zhujiajiao, with Xie Xiaofei trailing her.
He attempted to convince her to share a room to save money, but Tong Wei vehemently disagreed. Xie Xiaofei, after much pleading, finally managed to get the room next to Tong Wei's, portraying himself as Tong Wei's boyfriend with whom she had a minor argument, and managed to secure the room next to hers. The owner even advised him to be gentle with his "girlfriend." Tong Wei continued to ignore Xie Xiaofei.
The next morning, after she checked out, Xie Xiaofei persistently followed her. He sincerely apologized for his previous impulsiveness and stated he needed someone like her to guide and scold him. Tong Wei remained unmoved and simply walked away. Unsure how to win Tong Wei over, Xie Xiaofei went to Tong Tiantian's school to seek her help. Tiantian was furious to see him and initially claimed not to know him.
Xie Xiaofei resorted to threatening her with a secret, which compelled her to come with him. Tiantian's classmates, witnessing the scene, mistakenly believed Xie Xiaofei was her boyfriend, further deepening Sun Hao's misunderstanding. Xie Xiaofei sweet-talked Tiantian, following her from school to the park. Seeing his earnest attitude, Tiantian eventually revealed the real reason for Tong Wei's anger: she felt Xie Xiaofei had "cowed" and was "unmanly." Xie Xiaofei then asked Tiantian to help him find a place to live.
Tiantian scolded him for being a "pauper" with no right to be picky about housing, but she ultimately led him to a shared apartment. Tiantian had arranged the viewing for Xie Xiaofei online, and it turned out to be Shang Bichen's rental apartment. Upon arriving, Shang Bichen inferred from Tiantian's conversation that she was Tong Wei's sister.
Xie Xiaofei had reservations about the apartment's conditions, but Tiantian bluntly reminded him that securing a place to live was the immediate priority and he shouldn't be so choosy. Xie Xiaofei finally agreed to stay. After returning home, Tiantian told Tong Wei about seeing Xie Xiaofei and how she had scolded him. Tong Wei felt a pang of sympathy and told her not to scold Xie Xiaofei so harshly in the future.
After Tong Wei's heart had softened somewhat, Xie Xiaofei rode a bicycle, which he had been practicing for over three months to impress her. He encouraged her to sit in front, promising not to let her fall even if he did. He expressed that riding a bike together felt more special than driving a Ferrari, and he would shield her from the wind and rain.
He joked that if she caught a cold, she'd pass it to him with a kiss, to which she playfully retorted that they were in public, while he insisted there was nothing to be afraid of since they were dating. Xie Xiaofei reflected on his current state, acknowledging he was like a "stray animal" and Tong Wei told him he didn't even have a job because of her. Yet, they found happiness simply holding hands.
He observed that ordinary people seemed happier than his wealthy father, and wished his deceased parents could have enjoyed such simple days, especially with "a young, handsome, outstanding son-in-law like me." Tong Wei playfully pinched him for boasting, calling him undignified and "a little fatty." Meanwhile, the search for the person in the photo continued. Xie Xiaofei confided in Shang Bichen, asking how to find someone from such an old picture.
Shang Bichen suggested looking for photo studios from that era. Separately, Tong Wei, following a lead given by someone at a different photo shop, visited an old photo shop. The master craftsman there recognized the unique photo paper and confirmed he had taken the picture decades ago. He recalled the subject was a businessman who was quite tipsy that day and had described himself as "a hero of indomitable spirit who could not be shaken by thunder."
This clue led the craftsman to recall the man's name: Lei Xiong. Tong Wei confirmed Lei Xiong was the person in the photo by showing another picture. Xie Xiaofei explained to Tong Wei that Lei Xiong was a former business tycoon who had liver cancer at fifty, but miraculously recovered through surgery, and now lived as a recluse in Suzhou's Meditation Garden.
Xie Xiaofei and Tong Wei went to Lei Xiong's Meditation Garden, but they were refused entry without an appointment. Xie Xiaofei, proposing to "outsmart" them, attempted to climb over a wall, despite Tong Wei's warnings about surveillance cameras and danger. He got shocked by high-voltage wires and fell. Lei Xiong, who happened to be passing by, instructed his staff to let Tong Wei in. After Xie Xiaofei recovered, Lei Xiong confronted them about their audacity.
Xie Xiaofei introduced himself as Xie Tianyou's son and explained that his father needed Lei Xiong's support to regain controlling interest in Xie Corporation, highlighting how the company's stocks had been dropping since his uncle took over. Lei Xiong agreed to help, but revealed he was only acting as a proxy for an extremely low-key individual he had never met, whose business matters were handled solely by a lawyer.
After leaving the garden, Tong Wei reassured Xie Xiaofei to be patient, as Mr. Lei would try to find ways to help them locate Tang Mi Cai (the true person of interest). Back at their shared apartment, Shang Bichen presented Xie Xiaofei with the electricity bill. He apologized, admitting he had forgotten to withdraw money, and Shang Bichen kindly covered his share, telling him to pay her back later.
Later, Xie Xiaofei called Tong Tiantian, asking to borrow money "one last time." Tiantian scolded him for always asking her instead of Tong Wei, and for his careless spending. She urged him to find a job. Xie Xiaofei admitted he had never looked for a job, as they always sought him out, and asked her for advice. Tiantian suggested creating a resume, printing it, and personally delivering it to companies to demonstrate sincerity, citing her own success with this method.
Xie Xiaofei followed her advice, but his job applications were repeatedly rejected. His resume eventually landed on Manager Yang's desk at Ke Wan. Zhao Chenxi's father, informed of Xie Xiaofei's job search, instructed Manager Yang not only to reject Xie Xiaofei but also to ensure that no other company would hire him, as retribution. Later, Shang Bichen again gently asked Xie Xiaofei for rent, which he still couldn't pay.
He then sought her advice again on job hunting, and she shared her experience of posting her resume online, specifically on a certain website that led to her job at Fu Tong, emphasizing the importance of attitude and effort. Xia Shanshan met Tong Wei, who mentioned running into Xie Xiaofei in Zhujiajiao. Xia Shanshan cautioned her against rekindling their romance. Tong Wei confidently asserted she would not.
Just then, she received a frantic phone call from Tong Tiantian, claiming Xie Xiaofei had been in a serious car accident. Panicked and visibly worried, Tong Wei rushed to the hospital. Mistaking a heavily bandaged patient for Xie Xiaofei, she broke down in tears. Xia Shanshan, arriving shortly after, spotted a perfectly fine Xie Xiaofei laughing by the nurse's station. Realizing she had been tricked, Tong Wei angrily slapped him.
Tong Tiantian, now smiling, and Xie Xiaofei explained that their elaborate prank was designed to help Tong Wei confront her true feelings. Tiantian then helped Xie Xiaofei plead for forgiveness. Finally, Xie Xiaofei took Tong Wei to his newly rented apartment to demonstrate his commitment. He recounted all the events that had transpired after he had driven her away previously. Witnessing his renewed determination to start afresh and live a good life, Tong Wei ultimately forgave him.
