Negotiator Episode 33 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
Xia Shanshan found her situation with Gao Yuan particularly challenging and confided in Tong Wei. Tong Wei advised her that hiding her pregnancy from Gao Yuan was unsustainable and encouraged her to be honest with him. Shanshan acknowledged Tong Wei's point and decided to resign from her job at the end of the month. Tong Wei encouraged Shanshan to bravely face her difficulties, believing that after hitting rock bottom, things would rebound. Meanwhile, Xie Xiaotian sought out Tong Wei again.
Moved by Tong Wei's previous words, he decided to be forthright about his intentions. He had been sent by Xie Tiancheng with a share transfer agreement for Xie Xiaofei. Xie Tiancheng was using the medical expenses of Xie Xiaofei's mother as leverage, knowing that neither Xie Tianyou nor Xie Xiaofei would willingly sign. Xie Xiaotian conveyed his fear that refusing to sign would escalate the conflict, urging Tong Wei to persuade Xie Xiaofei to accept the money and withdraw.
Four of the seven days allotted for signing the agreement had already passed. After her meeting with Xie Xiaotian, Tong Wei immediately went to find Xie Xiaofei at his restaurant. She informed him about Xie Xiaotian’s visit and the existence of the share transfer agreement. Xie Xiaofei wavered, contemplating whether to compromise for his mother's sake. However, Tong Wei firmly told him he could not sacrifice the entire Xie Corporation.
She then pressed him to seek help from Xie Tianyou, compelling him to make a video call to his father. During the call, Xie Xiaofei found himself unable to mention the share transfer, instead awkwardly watching Xie Tianyou eat braised pork and listen to his father's old stories. He only reported positive updates about his life in Shanghai, making his father smile with pride.
Xie Xiaofei felt he had matured and no longer wanted his parents to worry, firmly resolving not to sign the agreement. Though Xie Xiaofei kept silent, Xie Tianyou, with a father's insight, knew his son wouldn't sign, expressing his quiet relief at Xie Xiaofei’s mother’s bedside. Xie Tiancheng, upon learning of Xie Tianyou and Xie Xiaofei's refusal to cooperate, flew into a rage and smashed a table.
After returning to the United States, Xie Xiaotian invited Xie Tianyou and his mother to dinner. Xie Tianyou, perceiving Xie Xiaotian’s underlying motive, pressed him to state his true purpose. Xie Xiaotian revealed that if they continued to refuse the share transfer, his mother's critical medical treatment could be jeopardized. Xie Tianyou, however, considered the shares his last bargaining chip and adamantly refused to let them go.
He placed his remaining hope in Xie Xiaofei and Tommy Cai, asking Xie Xiaotian to assist Xie Xiaofei. Xia Shanshan’s prenatal check-up revealed disturbing news: her baby had chromosomal abnormalities, implying a potential disability. The doctor advised her to terminate the pregnancy. Xia Shanshan was heartbroken at the thought of giving up her four-month-old baby, choosing instead to shoulder the risk of raising a child with special needs. Devastated, she immediately called Tong Wei.
Tong Wei rushed to the hospital, offering comfort and helping Shanshan arrange a consultation at another hospital for a second opinion. Overwhelmed by emotion, Shanshan struggled to calm down, feeling as though the entire world was against her. Facing her life at its lowest point, she cried out that she could no longer endure it, but Tong Wei gently persuaded her not to abandon hope and to find strength again.
The next day, Tong Wei, concerned about Shanshan, asked Qin Tianyu at the office if he knew any good obstetricians. Xia Shanshan, meanwhile, was visibly distressed at work from the baby's diagnosis. Gao Yuan, noticing her mood, asked if he had upset her. Xia Shanshan lied, claiming a friend was pregnant with a difficult situation. Gao Yuan, eager to help, offered to connect her with his aunt, a prominent OB/GYN director.
Xia Shanshan called Tong Wei to relay this, but Tong Wei expressed concern about her secret being exposed. Xia Shanshan, however, insisted she could manage it. The next day, after convincing Gao Yuan not to accompany her, Xia Shanshan went alone to the OB/GYN clinic. After the doctor reviewed her reports and recommended an ultrasound, Xia Shanshan waited in the resting area.
Unbeknownst to her, Gao Yuan, having secretly followed her to the clinic to check in, saw her attending the prenatal appointment alone. Her deception exposed, Gao Yuan angrily accused her of lying and refused to listen to her explanations. Feeling utterly defeated and having lost everything, Xia Shanshan found herself with nowhere else to turn and reunited with Lao Qi. She confessed the baby's condition to him.
Lao Qi, witnessing her self-reproach, tenderly comforted her, promising to face all challenges with her and assuring her she no longer needed to live in lies. Xia Shanshan returned to her office to complete her resignation process, only to find that Gao Yuan had spread many negative rumors about her. She attempted to speak with Gao Yuan, but he responded with hostility and mockery.
In front of her colleagues, Xia Shanshan angrily retorted that she would never be interested in a man like him. Tong Wei then decided to sell her house to help Xie Xiaofei. This decision caused a rift with her uncle and aunt, who were upset about leaving the home they had lived in for over a decade for a more rural life. Tong Wei expressed her apologies to her uncle as they left the house.
Her aunt openly chastised Tong Wei, saying that by selling the house for a man, Tong Wei had betrayed her parents’ legacy. Tong Wei, kneeling before her parents' memorial, apologized to them, vowing to repay them later. Later, Tong Wei confided in Xie Xiaofei, feeling cursed after losing her home, arguing with her uncle, and having a falling out with Xia Shanshan. Xie Xiaofei comforted her, assuring her that she still had him.
When asked if she regretted being drawn into his troubles, Tong Wei affirmed her willingness. Xie Xiaofei celebrated his birthday with Tong Wei and a friend, where the friend expressed gratitude for Xie Xiaofei's friendship, saying that becoming his friend at 25 was the best birthday gift. Tong Wei later visited Xia Shanshan at Lao Qi’s new house, surprised by the spacious living environment.
Xia Shanshan revealed that she and Lao Qi were back together and were planning to marry once his current projects were completed. Tong Wei, however, remained skeptical, questioning Lao Qi's sincerity and worrying about the baby's future without a stable marriage. She expressed concern that Xia Shanshan was becoming like a "canary," trapped and reliant on a man.
Xia Shanshan angrily retorted that Tong Wei was also sacrificing everything for Xie Xiaofei, losing her job and even selling her house, questioning how Xie Xiaofei was any better than Lao Qi. Tong Wei expressed her disappointment that Xia Shanshan had reverted to her old ways after seeming to have found clarity.
Xia Shanshan explained that Gao Yuan’s public humiliation of her at the clinic made her realize her need for a man to protect her, making her willing to be with anyone who treated her well. Their deep conflict of beliefs led to a heated argument, with Xia Shanshan accusing Tong Wei of looking down on her, and Tong Wei expressing sadness that their long-standing friendship was ending over a man. Tong Wei ultimately left, leaving their friendship severely strained.
Later, Xie Xiaotian met with Tong Wei to discuss the sharp decline in Xie Corporation's profits since Xie Tiancheng took over, noting the dissatisfaction among senior staff. Tong Wei arranged a dinner for Xie Xiaotian and Xie Xiaofei. During the meal, Tong Wei light-heartedly reminded Xie Xiaofei that he once praised Xie Xiaotian's maturity, which Xie Xiaofei grudgingly admitted.
Xie Xiaotian then informed Xie Xiaofei about the growing criticism of Xie Tiancheng within the company and suggested they rally the group's Chinese associates to oust him. Xie Xiaotian apologized to Xie Xiaofei for siding with their uncle against their father and expressed his regret. Xie Xiaofei, in turn, thanked Xie Xiaotian for supporting their father during his illness and acknowledged his younger brother's maturity and diligence.
Xie Xiaofei questioned Xie Xiaotian’s sudden change of heart, admitting he once viewed him as an unambitious "parasite" living off the Xie family. Xie Xiaotian humbly reiterated his apologies, stating that seeing Xie Xiaofei's hard work in Shanghai had earned his respect. The brothers finally agreed to work together to remove Xie Tiancheng and restore Xie Corporation to its former glory.
Observing their reconciliation, Tong Wei later explained to Xie Xiaofei that she never believed Xie Xiaotian was truly bad, but rather misled. She felt that recent family upheavals allowed him to gain clarity and express his genuine concern for them. Separately, Xie Xiaofei embarked on a new project involving a "native resort" plan for a piece of land in Suzhou.
He met with a business contact, confidently asserting his determination to pursue his vision despite the financial risks, refusing to compromise for a safer, traditional development. He passionately stated that he would not have regrets, even if he failed, emphasizing his desire to prevent Tong Wei from suffering further because of him. His contact, impressed by his conviction, agreed to support him, trusting in Xie Xiaofei as a person.
Xie Xiaofei requested that this project be kept secret from Chen Xi, explaining he did not want to incur any more emotional debt to her, knowing she would help if she knew. Tong Wei later overheard Xie Xiaofei on the phone, sternly addressing construction issues and insisting on upholding the original design, even if it meant doing the work himself.
She then confronted him, and he admitted he had kept the project secret, hoping to present a positive outcome and fearing her ridicule if he failed. Tong Wei reassured him that simply taking the first step was a success. At work, Qin Tianyu expressed concern over Tong Wei’s distracted behavior during a meeting, acknowledging their friendship and offering his help. Tong Wei confessed she had sold her house.
Later, in a news report covering a successful business collaboration, both Qin Tianyu and Tong Wei were featured as key contributors, revealing Tong Wei’s new position as a consultant at Fu Tong Law Firm, having moved from CAEA.
