Negotiator Episode 27 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei were at their shared apartment when Shang Bichen entered. Tong Wei greeted Shang Bichen and informed Xie Xiaofei that she was Qin Tianyu's subordinate. This news immediately sparked Xie Xiaofei's jealousy, making him wonder why Qin Tianyu seemed to be involved in every aspect of his life. Meanwhile, Qin Tianyu paid a visit to Tong Wei's aunt and uncle, bringing gifts and inquiring about Tong Wei.
He informed them that Tong Wei had resigned from her job because of Xie Xiaofei. Just as Qin Tianyu finished speaking, Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei walked in together. Tong Wei's father immediately confronted her about her resignation. Seeing their closeness, Qin Tianyu awkwardly left the Tong family home. Xie Xiaofei knew that Qin Tianyu hadn't truly left and went downstairs to find him sitting in his car.
Qin Tianyu angrily confronted Xie Xiaofei, accusing him of using his help to break up with Tong Wei, only to reconcile with her later and leaving Qin Tianyu feeling betrayed. Xie Xiaofei, unsure whether to apologize or express gratitude, dispiritedly got out of the car. Qin Tianyu went to a bar to drink. Shang Bichen, knowing he would be sad over Tong Wei, went to the bar to persuade him not to drink.
Shang Bichen took Qin Tianyu to her secret rooftop retreat by the Huangpu River, a place she had adorned with countless string lights. Qin Tianyu thanked her for her care. Shang Bichen then sent him home. Later, back at her apartment, Shang Bichen realized she had forgotten her phone earlier. She then received a worried call from her mother about her late return. To avoid her mother's worries, she claimed she had been out with her boyfriend.
Tong Wei, Xie Xiaofei, and Tong Tiantian were enjoying snacks at a local shop. Xie Xiaofei particularly praised the food. When Sun Hao walked into the shop, Tong Tiantian became timid. Xie Xiaofei, seeing Tiantian's shyness, took the initiative to bring Sun Hao to their table. Sun Hao, upon seeing Tong Wei, understood his previous misunderstanding about Tiantian and Xiaofei's relationship, and shyly admitted his feelings for Tiantian.
Xie Xiaofei and Tong Wei tactfully departed, leaving the young couple to enjoy each other's company. Shortly after, Sun Hao and Tong Tiantian publicly confirmed their relationship at school, delighting their classmates. Xie Xiaofei, having borrowed Sun Hao's bicycle, diligently practiced riding it. He then picked up Tong Wei, wanting to experience the simple joy of first love with her. As they rode along, chatting and laughing, they later sat in a park, observing other happy couples.
Xie Xiaofei confided in Tong Wei that despite losing everything, he felt incredibly happy by her side. Xie Xiaofei continued to be frustrated by his inability to find Tommy Cai from the old photograph. Shang Bichen, observing his struggles, casually remarked on the photo's vintage style, suggesting it might have been taken at a 1990s photo studio. This sparked an idea in Xie Xiaofei, who then took the photo to an antique shop with Tong Wei.
Through the rare photographic paper, they found Old Master Zuo, who had taken the photo. Mr. Zuo remembered the man in the photo being drunk at the time. After some effort, Mr. Zuo recalled the man's name as Lei Xiong. This breakthrough made Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei very happy, and they promptly boarded a bus to locate Lei Xiong.
Tong Wei, with the help of her contact Tracy, discovered that Lei Xiong had retired from business due to a severe illness at age 50 and was now recuperating at Jingxinyuan in Suzhou, rarely receiving visitors or involving himself in worldly affairs. When Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei arrived at Jingxinyuan, they were, as expected, denied entry. Seeing Tong Wei's concern, Xie Xiaofei declared he had a clever plan to get inside.
He found an unmonitored blind spot and scaled the wall into the inner courtyard. Tong Wei, unsure what to do, approached the main gate and was surprisingly let in by the housekeeper without question. Inside, she found Xie Xiaofei already speaking with Lei Xiong. Xie Xiaofei and Tong Wei informed Lei Xiong of their purpose and explained the recent turmoil at the Xie Group.
Lei Xiong expressed his willingness to help Xie Tianyou and his son, but he revealed that he only held the Xie Group shares as a trustee. The true shareholder was an extremely discreet individual named Tommy Cai, whom even Lei Xiong had never met in person. This news crushed Xie Xiaofei's hopes once again. Tong Wei gently advised him to control his temper and assured him that Lei Xiong's assistance would still be valuable.
Later, back at the shared apartment, Shang Bichen presented Xie Xiaofei with the monthly electricity bill. He fumbled for money but realized he had none. Shang Bichen, noticing his embarrassment, kindly paid the bill for him. Desperate for funds, Xie Xiaofei then turned to Tong Tiantian for a loan. Concerned about his spending and lack of income, Tong Tiantian urged him to find a job.
She patiently guided him on how to create a resume and suggested he personally deliver it to various companies to show his sincerity. Xie Xiaofei took Tong Tiantian's advice, pushing himself to embark on a job search. Unaccustomed to such setbacks, the once proud Xie Xiaofei faced numerous rejections from various companies. He often found himself sitting at a bus stop, feeling disheartened. Unbeknownst to him, his resume had landed at the Ke Wan Corporation.
The chairman, seeking revenge for Zhao Chenxi, instructed Yang Xiao to conspire with other companies to ensure Xie Xiaofei was not hired. However, Xie Xiaofei received a phone call from Director Fu, the CEO of Haoke Dining Group. Director Fu informed him that their world-class dining group was expanding and, noting Xie Xiaofei's overseas background and English proficiency, offered him a manager position, asking him to report at 9:00 AM the following day.
Xie Xiaofei excitedly called Tong Wei, who was having coffee with Xia Shanshan, and asked for her address so he could share his good news. Xia Shanshan tried to persuade Tong Wei not to reveal her own job search difficulties to Xie Xiaofei, blaming him for her current situation. Tong Wei insisted on keeping her struggles private. When Xie Xiaofei arrived, he playfully teased Xia Shanshan before proudly announcing that he had found a manager position.
When Tong Wei inquired about his job search, Xie Xiaofei admitted he had kept it secret out of fear of embarrassment. Overjoyed, he offered to treat them to a lavish meal. Meanwhile, Yang Xiao invited Zhao Chenxi to a new, quiet restaurant. He recounted how he was first attracted to her five years ago when he saw her angrily wrestling with a claw machine at an arcade.
He confessed his long-standing feelings for her, explaining that he joined Ke Wan because he liked her and wanted to bring her happiness. He then asked her to be his girlfriend. Zhao Chenxi admitted she still couldn't forget Xie Xiaofei, but Yang Xiao offered to wait for her indefinitely. He then took her back to that same arcade, showing her the exact claw machine and explaining that he had practiced hundreds of times, believing in fighting for one's own happiness.
He proposed that if he caught a doll, she would agree to be his girlfriend. As he tried, the machine malfunctioned, and a staff member confirmed it was broken, offering a free doll which Yang Xiao refused. Distraught, Yang Xiao lamented that even fate seemed to deem him unworthy. Zhao Chenxi then comforted him, recalling her mother's wisdom that true happiness for a woman comes from being loved, not just finding love.
She told Yang Xiao that while she might not be in love with him yet, she was willing to give their relationship a try and be his girlfriend. Overjoyed, Yang Xiao embraced her, thrilled that his long wait had finally ended. On his first day at Haoke Dining Group, Xie Xiaofei motivated himself to strive for his and Tong Wei's future. He arrived at work, where Director Fu led a spirited morning rally.
Initially confused by the slogans, Xie Xiaofei introduced himself to Director Fu, who confirmed his "manager" role. However, Director Fu then clarified that Xie Xiaofei was a "manager-in-training" and assigned him the "easy work" of a food courier, explaining that promotions came with performance. Xie Xiaofei questioned the meaning and pay of the job, which was 150 yuan per day, but accepted it, also inquiring about a work visa for his American passport.
Director Fu assured him the paperwork would be handled later if he performed well. After Xie Xiaofei left to start his duties, Director Fu instructed his nephew, Yang Yang, who also worked there, to find faults and make deductions from Xie Xiaofei's pay, indicating intentional sabotage. Xie Xiaofei's first day was full of challenges. He encountered a broken elevator in a building, forcing him to climb 13 flights of stairs for a delivery.
His boss called, angrily complaining about customer delays and hanging up before Xie Xiaofei could fully explain the situation. During another delivery, he found an elderly woman collapsed at her doorstep and immediately called for an ambulance. After being assured by the paramedics that the woman was stable, his boss called again, scolding him for the repeated delays.
Tong Wei then met with Xie Xiaofei and revealed that she had found a job as a legal consultant at a law firm. Anticipating his reaction, she also revealed that Qin Tianyu worked there. Xie Xiaofei immediately accused her of deliberately choosing that firm. Tong Wei explained that the firm needed her for a specific case, and she genuinely needed a job.
She tried to appease his jealousy by promising the job was temporary and she would switch if another opportunity arose. When Xie Xiaofei still seemed angry, she dramatically offered to refuse the job and "starve to death" with him. Xie Xiaofei quickly stopped her, but demanded a promise: she must maintain only a professional relationship with Qin Tianyu and not allow him any opportunity to interfere between them. Tong Wei playfully swore an oath to reassure him.
She then asked Xie Xiaofei about his first day at work. He vaguely replied that "it was alright." Internally, Xie Xiaofei decided it was too embarrassing to reveal he was a delivery boy and planned to tell her only after finding a better job. Tong Wei then jokingly asked if young women at his office were throwing themselves at him. Xie Xiaofei proudly exaggerated, warning her to be careful not to let anyone steal him away.
At the Fu Tong law firm, some colleagues gossiped about Tong Wei joining as a new legal consultant, suggesting her relationship with Lawyer Qin was "not normal." Sister Chen Wen intervened, reminding them of Tong Wei's impressive background as a former top negotiator at CAEA, who had successfully resolved a major merger for Lawyer Qin. She warned them not to offend Tong Wei, who was highly regarded by Qin Tianyu.
Later, Shang Bichen, back at the office, discreetly asked Qin Tianyu about Tong Wei's position, learning she was an expert consultant. Xie Xiaofei also had an internal monologue, thinking about Tong Wei's accomplishments and how he, as a delivery boy, needed to work harder to catch up. Shang Bichen's mother then unexpectedly arrived at the Fu Tong law firm. She directly asked Shang Bichen about her personal life and getting married.
Shang Bichen, panicking, pulled Qin Tianyu aside and desperately begged him to play along as her boyfriend, explaining she had lied to her mother to avoid an arranged marriage. Qin Tianyu reluctantly agreed to help. Shang Bichen then introduced Qin Tianyu as her boyfriend and superior. Her mother expressed skepticism, having been told by the receptionist that Qin Tianyu didn't have a girlfriend.
Qin Tianyu smoothly explained that the firm had a strict policy against colleagues dating, especially between superiors and subordinates, to maintain its image, which was why they kept their relationship secret. Her mother then directly asked when they would marry. Qin Tianyu replied that marriage was in his plans, but he was concerned it might affect Shang Bichen's promising career, suggesting they wait until she was more established.
Her mother, however, insisted that family was paramount for a woman and urged them to marry and have children first. Qin Tianyu assured her they would give it "proper consideration." Qin Tianyu then accompanied Shang Bichen's mother to the shared apartment building, declining to go upstairs with them. Inside, Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei were present. Shang Bichen's mother, meeting Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei, questioned who they were, and Shang Bichen introduced them as her roommates.
Xie Xiaofei kindly offered to help carry her luggage. Shang Bichen quickly sought help from Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei as her mother began to criticize her choice to live in a small, expensive apartment just for appearances, and reiterated her strong traditional views against dating without marriage. When Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei indicated they should leave, Shang Bichen's mother was shocked to learn that Shang Bichen was co-living with a man.
She expressed outrage at the situation, worrying about gossip and Xie Xiaofei's intentions. To ease the tension, Xie Xiaofei quickly claimed Tong Wei was his girlfriend, and Tong Wei confirmed this, adding that Qin Tianyu was Shang Bichen's boyfriend, assuring her mother that they all trusted each other. Despite their efforts, Shang Bichen's mother remained skeptical and continued to lament her daughter's choices.
