Negotiator Episode 30 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
The next morning, Qin Tianyu, Tong Wei, and the president of Yepp met with the employees laid off by Flash. With Tong Wei's exceptional help, they successfully explained the plan for the laid-off employees to receive investment from Yepp for new ventures. Impressed by her abilities, Qin Tianyu sought to sign a long-term contract with Futong Law Firm, but she declined, expressing her desire to return to her expertise in negotiation.
Back at Futong Law Firm, Qin Tianyu announced the successful conclusion of the major case and agreed to a KTV celebration that evening. Tong Wei called Xie Xiaofei to invite him, but he regretfully declined, unable to leave his delivery job due to an urgent order. Later that day, the Futong Law Firm team headed to the KTV. Qin Tianyu delivered a short speech, commending his colleagues' hard work and encouraging them to enjoy the celebration.
Meanwhile, Shang Bichen received a phone call from her mother. Her mother, who had seen Qin Tianyu and Tong Wei leaving the office together the previous morning and felt uneasy about their relationship, had followed Shang Bichen to the KTV. Her mother insisted on meeting Shang Bichen's colleagues. Shang Bichen, caught off guard, tried to persuade her mother to go home, but her mother refused and joined the party.
At the same time, Xie Xiaofei arrived at the KTV, carrying a delivery order for the law firm. Tong Wei, stepping outside to pick up the food, spotted him. Xie Xiaofei quickly fabricated a story, claiming he was covering for a colleague.
He then discreetly sent a text message to Tong Wei, asking her to pretend not to know him once he entered the private room, as his boss required him to wait until the food was consumed, and he wished to avoid embarrassment. During a game of Truth or Dare, Qin Tianyu was challenged to hug a member of the opposite sex. Shang Bichen watched with anticipation, hoping he would choose her.
To her disappointment, Qin Tianyu instead politely hugged his assistant, Chen Wen, playfully remarking that she often endured his tough assignments. When it was Shang Bichen's turn, her mother tried to seize the opportunity to publicly declare Shang Bichen's supposed relationship with Qin Tianyu.
However, Shang Bichen, instead of perpetuating the lie, confessed to everyone, including her mother, that she did not have a boyfriend and had fabricated the story to convince her mother to let her stay in the city. Her mother was furious, demanding that Shang Bichen immediately return home. Shang Bichen tearfully pleaded to stay and pursue her dreams, introducing her colleagues and sharing their stories of hard work and ambition.
Understanding her plight, her colleagues stepped in, vouching for Shang Bichen's talent and dedication, which ultimately persuaded her mother to allow her to remain. Overhearing Shang Bichen's heartfelt words from outside the room, Xie Xiaofei was deeply moved. He calmly entered the private room to settle the bill. Both Qin Tianyu and Shang Bichen's mother recognized him. Tong Wei, taking his hand, confidently introduced him to everyone as her boyfriend.
Xie Xiaofei, embracing his current job, even used the opportunity to promote his restaurant. Later, as Xie Xiaofei and Tong Wei walked along the street, Tong Wei expressed her surprise at his newfound openness and confidence. Xie Xiaofei then candidly shared his journey of finding work, explaining that he now found greater satisfaction and fulfillment in earning a living through his own honest labor.
Spotting a street performer, he borrowed a guitar and played a song for Tong Wei, bringing a smile to her face. Through these hardships and experiences, Xie Xiaofei also grew more responsible. At a scenic mountain outlook, Zhao Chenxi poured out her deep emotions to Xie Xiaofei. She expressed extreme fatigue and frustration with her mother's relentless pressure to marry Yang Xiao for the sake of their family business.
With a pained voice, she declared that she genuinely disliked Yang Xiao and could not tolerate his affectionate glances. She then turned her anger towards Xie Xiaofei, calling him a "heart-breaker" and "the worst person in the world." Xie Xiaofei listened patiently, allowing her to vent. He then apologized for any past wrongs, assuring her that it was natural to express both love and hatred. He advised her to firmly reject Yang Xiao if she truly did not like him.
He offered to take her home, but she opted for the bus. That evening, Zhao Chenxi's mother confronted her, having learned from Yang Xiao that Zhao Chenxi had not been home. Zhao Chenxi admitted she was with Xie Xiaofei, but clarified they were merely friends. Her mother reacted with strong disapproval, dramatically threatening to die if Zhao Chenxi continued to associate with Xie Xiaofei, then appeared to collapse, requiring Zhao Chenxi to help her upstairs.
Meanwhile, staying late at the office, Shang Bichen nervously practiced her confession to Qin Tianyu. She rehearsed various approaches, from half-hearted to overly strong, finally settling on a simpler, direct statement. Gathering her courage, she approached Qin Tianyu and stated, "Lawyer Qin, I like you." Qin Tianyu, in response, gently told her that he liked her too, but "like a brother likes a sister."
He acknowledged her kindheartedness, dedication, and generosity, particularly noting her lack of resentment towards Tong Wei despite knowing his feelings for Tong Wei. He expressed profound gratitude for her unwavering support during his difficult times and offered to be her brother. Though heartbroken by the rejection, Shang Bichen internally resolved to work even harder, believing she needed to become more outstanding to truly win his affection.
On payday, Xie Xiaofei's restaurant manager, Mr. Fu, unfairly withheld 200 yuan from his salary for alleged late deliveries and insisted he continue his delivery duties. As Xie Xiaofei prepared to protest, an elderly woman he had previously assisted arrived at the restaurant with several reporters, publicly praising his kindness and helpfulness.
Witnessing the media attention, Mr. Fu's demeanor immediately shifted; he became overly polite to Xie Xiaofei and, seizing the opportunity, publicly announced Xie Xiaofei's promotion to restaurant department manager, shrewdly leveraging the reporters to promote his establishment. Thrilled by his promotion, Xie Xiaofei immediately called Tong Wei to share the good news. Dressed in a chef's uniform, the newly promoted Xie Xiaofei invited Tong Wei to his private kitchen.
He lovingly prepared a unique "Xie Xiaofei's Signature Coconut Chicken" exclusively for her, eagerly seeking her praise. When Tong Wei noticed the restaurant was completely empty, Xie Xiaofei explained that he had arranged for everyone to leave, wanting to ensure a private and special evening just for her. Tong Wei expressed her immense pride and satisfaction in his positive transformation and unwavering devotion.
Shang Bichen later spoke with Tong Wei, commenting on Tong Wei's recent busyness and the implied infrequency of her dates with Xie Xiaofei, before accidentally blurting out a remark about him missing her. During their conversation, Shang Bichen also alluded to a potential misunderstanding involving Zhao Chenxi, who had always harbored feelings for Xie Xiaofei. Tong Wei acknowledged the situation, reiterating her trust in Xie Xiaofei and stating she would confront any misunderstandings directly.
She then offered advice to Shang Bichen, encouraging her to courageously pursue her long-standing feelings for Qin Tianyu, despite Shang Bichen's belief that Qin Tianyu's affections lay with Tong Wei. Xia Shanshan's colleagues had also noticed her frequent bouts of nausea, leading to speculation about pregnancy, which she initially dismissed as an upset stomach.
Later, at the gynecology and obstetrics department, Tong Wei accompanied Xia Shanshan, who confirmed she was indeed pregnant and affectionately referred to her unborn child as "Walnut." Xia Shanshan expressed regret that her child would not have the material security that a life with Qi Ruhai would have provided. Tong Wei, however, reassured her that love in the heart was a far greater gift than material possessions.
Xia Shanshan then shared her dreams of raising "Walnut" to be an independent, beautiful, and intelligent girl, cherishing the simple joys of motherhood. Meanwhile, Qi Ruhai met with his ex-wife, Gong Qin, to inform her of Xia Shanshan's pregnancy and his intention to marry Xia Shanshan. Gong Qin vehemently opposed this, threatening Qi Ruhai's business interests and demanding he break up with Xia Shanshan.
Following this, Gong Qin directly confronted Xia Shanshan, falsely claiming that Qi Ruhai wanted her to abort the child and had no intention of marrying her. Enraged and resolute, Xia Shanshan, determined to keep her child, immediately called Qi Ruhai, demanding an explanation as to why he had not married her yet. Qi Ruhai hesitated, admitting that he still required the support of Gong Qin's family for his ongoing business ventures.
Heartbroken and furious, Xia Shanshan hung up the phone, declaring that she was no longer the "stupid Xia Shanshan" he once knew and warned him to cease bothering her, threatening to call the police if he persisted. Separately, Xie Xiaotian visited Xie Xiaofei at his restaurant, attempting to persuade him to sign an equity transfer agreement from Xie Tian Cheng.
Xie Xiaotian argued that his brother could not possibly win against Xie Tian Cheng and should instead secure a stable and happy life with Tong Wei. Xie Xiaofei adamantly refused to accept what he considered charity, asserting his determination to rely solely on his own hard work. Xie Xiaotian then resorted to threatening that Xie Tian Cheng would stop paying for their mother's substantial monthly medical expenses if Xie Xiaofei did not comply.
Enraged by this ultimatum, Xie Xiaofei defiantly warned Xie Xiaotian to leave, refusing to be blackmailed. Later, Xie Xiaotian visited Tong Wei, asking her to return his brother's card to Xie Xiaofei, an act Tong Wei interpreted as a veiled expression of concern. Tong Wei confronted Xie Xiaotian, suggesting that his hostile actions against his family were a misguided attempt to gain their attention, stemming from his mother's past unfair treatment. She advised him to abandon his destructive path before he irrevocably alienated his family.
