Negotiator Episode 5 Recap
> Negotiator Recap
Xie Xiaofei spent the night in discomfort, suffering from the stomach medicine overdose he had consumed in a fit of pique. The next morning, he tried to call Tong Wei, only to discover she had deleted him from her social media. Feeling terrible, he instructed his assistant to call Tong Wei and demand she take him to the doctor.
While driving himself to the hospital, distracted by Tong Wei's return call, he swerved, and an old man suddenly collapsed in front of his car. Xie Xiaofei called Tong Wei, telling her someone had fallen in front of his vehicle. She immediately contacted Qin Tianyu, asking him to act as Xie Xiaofei's lawyer. At the hospital, Xie Xiaofei was visibly annoyed to see Qin Tianyu arrive alongside Tong Wei, reiterating to the police that he had not hit the man.
Qin Tianyu intervened, learning from the police that CCTV footage was unclear and witness statements vague, preventing a definitive determination of fault. The victim's son, initially aggressive, was persuaded by Qin Tianyu to settle the matter. Qin Tianyu offered to pay double the hospital fees as a gesture of goodwill, convincing the son to retract his accusations and state that his father had fallen on his own.
Xie Xiaofei was furious about this resolution, insisting on proving his innocence and disliking the idea of paying for something he didn't do. Tong Wei tried to calm him, explaining that given his role overseeing a major project in China, it was important to avoid negative publicity, regardless of the truth. Just then, the elderly man regained consciousness and clarified the situation.
He explained that he had forgotten to take his blood pressure medication that morning and had fainted in front of Xie Xiaofei's car. He expressed gratitude to Xie Xiaofei for rushing him to the hospital, believing it saved his life. Feeling vindicated, Xie Xiaofei playfully lectured the old man about remembering his medication, reminding him that while there are still kind people in the world, not everyone would be as helpful.
Tong Wei apologized to Xie Xiaofei for misjudging him, which quickly brightened his mood. Qin Tianyu, his professional duty fulfilled, then departed. Xie Xiaofei still felt unwell and demanded that Tong Wei take him to the doctor. Despite it being the weekend and her not being on duty for client services, she reluctantly agreed.
At the doctor's, Xie Xiaofei sheepishly confessed that he had consumed an entire packet of stomach medicine the previous night in a fit of anger after seeing Tong Wei with Qin Tianyu. Tong Wei couldn't help but laugh when the doctor gravely informed Xie Xiaofei that he would need his stomach pumped. After the procedure, Xie Xiaofei refused to let his assistant pick him up, insisting Tong Wei drive him home.
He again recounted his childish act of swallowing the medicine because he was angry about her perceived date with Qin Tianyu. Amused by his sincerity, Tong Wei compromised, re-adding him on WeChat and agreeing to take him for breakfast. They went to a traditional breakfast shop, where Xie Xiaofei was unimpressed by the simple fare. He questioned Tong Wei's intense dedication to work.
She shared her long-held ambition to join the New York headquarters of her company and work alongside her idol, Jonathan, who had once given her inspiring advice. After breakfast, Xie Xiaofei took Tong Wei to an indoor extreme sports facility. Initially hesitant, she soon found herself enjoying the activities. During a rock-climbing challenge, Xie Xiaofei playfully suggested that if she lost, he would kiss her.
Falling behind, Tong Wei attempted to pull him down, but they both lost their grip and tumbled to the ground. In the accidental fall, Xie Xiaofei's lips brushed hers. Feeling a wave of awkwardness, Tong Wei quickly left the venue. That evening, alone in his room, Xie Xiaofei found himself constantly thinking about Tong Wei. Despite her often-cold demeanor, he was undeniably drawn to her.
He called her, first shyly expressing gratitude for her trust, then reverting to his playful self, admitting he was afraid of falling for her. Tong Wei quickly dismissed his comments and ended the call. Undeterred, Xie Xiaofei continued to send her a barrage of WeChat stickers.
Tong Wei ignored his messages and looked at an old photograph of her parents, feeling a familiar pang of sadness about not having been able to afford a proper burial for them after they passed away. Her thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. Assuming it was Xie Xiaofei, she answered sharply, only to realize it was Qin Tianyu.
Qin Tianyu, sensing her irritation and inferring she was expecting another call, felt a wave of insecurity and decided to call Xia Shanshan for advice. The next morning at the office, Xie Xiaofei confronted Tong Wei with an overly familiar attitude, insisting she call him "Xiaofei" and pressing her to explain why she had previously described the idea of him liking her as "like a horror movie."
Throughout the subsequent meeting, Xie Xiaofei's gaze remained fixed on Tong Wei, and he showed her special attention during lunch, making her visibly uncomfortable. Xia Shanshan arrived at CAEA, having received Qin Tianyu's call. Witnessing the interactions between Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei, Xia Shanshan realized Qin Tianyu's concerns were not unfounded. She warned Tong Wei against repeating her own past mistake of developing a romantic relationship with a client, which had led her to abandon her career.
Tong Wei firmly stated that she would not leave the company until her father's innocence was fully cleared. Despite Tong Wei's resolve, Xia Shanshan, as her closest friend, sensed an unspoken attraction between Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei. As the negotiations between Ke Wan and Xie Corporation drew closer, Zhao Chenxi led the Ke Wan team to their hotel ahead of schedule, ensuring they were well-prepared. Meanwhile, the CAEA team was also working tirelessly.
Xie Xiaofei, recognizing the immense pressure Tong Wei was under, brought her some milk, claiming to have warmed it with his body temperature, urging her to drink it and get some much-needed rest. Tong Wei, in turn, earnestly reminded him of the importance of being punctual for the upcoming critical meeting. Later that night, both Tong Wei and Xie Xiaofei were still diligently preparing their materials.
Xie Xiaofei suddenly received a phone call from Luo Bin, who informed him that the Suzhou land, a property he had painstakingly acquired, had been sold off by the Xie Group. Shocked and enraged by this unexpected news, he immediately called his father for an explanation, only to be told it was a decision made by the board of directors.
The following morning, Tracy called Tong Wei early, advising her to leave for the meeting ahead of time due to anticipated heavy traffic. Upon her arrival at the hotel, Tong Wei accidentally had milk splashed on her dress by a child. In the restroom, a kind Ms. Liu offered to lend her some clothes, but the garments she provided were unsuitable for the formal negotiation meeting.
