Ordinary Glory Episode 1 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
In a King Capital conference room, a meeting was underway with high-level executives awaiting Wu Kezhi to sign an agreement. Lin Yuming frantically called Wu Kezhi, who simply told him to stall. General Manager Ma grew impatient, remarking that they had waited over two hours, but President Zhu Zhijie insisted they wait for Wu Kezhi, stating he had promised Chief Wu. Manager Ma, asserting King Capital, not Wu Kezhi, was Zhu Zhijie's investor, became increasingly agitated and nearly walked out.
Just then, Wu Kezhi arrived, apologizing for the delay. He immediately declared that the contract could not be signed, explaining that the project lacked investment value from the company's perspective. President Zhu Zhijie was bewildered, reminding Wu Kezhi of his previous encouragement to persevere. Wu Kezhi calmly explained that while he had said that, Love Future's situation was not as dire then, and he now had to change his mind.
Manager Ma interjected, stating the Investment Committee had decided to invest and that Wu Kezhi didn't have the final say. Wu Kezhi conceded but firmly stated that as the project's person in charge, he had the authority to cancel it anytime and had already sent a report to the company while en route. Manager Ma, seeing the report, stormed out, and Wu Kezhi asked Zhu Zhijie to join him outside.
Wu Kezhi understood Zhu Zhijie's anger but explained his actions were for Zhu Zhijie's benefit. He revealed that King Capital didn't genuinely want Love Future but rather its core technology, intending to transfer it to Youneng using its stakeholder rights, effectively abandoning Zhu Zhijie and sacrificing Love Future in the market. Zhu Zhijie, disheartened, questioned how Love Future could become a "unicorn" if he was sacrificed.
Wu Kezhi acknowledged he should have noticed the problem sooner, noting that a small company's project approval shouldn't have been so easy. He recounted discovering from meeting minutes the previous night that King Capital's higher-ups hadn't discussed Love Future's future development at all, and had simultaneously invested in another AI company with overlapping research. This convinced Wu Kezhi that King Capital's true intention was to eliminate Love Future as a potential competitor.
He rushed in that morning to halt the collaboration and save Zhu Zhijie's company. Zhu Zhijie, however, was distraught, lamenting the destruction of his hope and accusing Wu Kezhi of making nonchalant decisions on his behalf. Wu Kezhi countered that "fake hope is the biggest trap," before Zhu Zhijie walked away, declaring he didn't need Wu Kezhi's perceived salvation. Later, Wu Kezhi received a call from Director Qu, who wished to discuss the Love Future contract.
They met at a familiar old haunt. Wu Kezhi presented a supplementary agreement he had drafted for Love Future, proposing that King Capital offer the founder at least 5% of shares to prevent him from losing everything. Director Qu responded that Zhu Zhijie needed to learn to be responsible for his own decisions. He then informed Wu Kezhi that the upper management had met and unanimously voted to fire him, but Director Qu had vetoed the decision.
Instead, starting the next day, Wu Kezhi would cease to be the leader of Integrated Team II, and a new Integrated Team IV would be established in the New Business Division, with Wu Kezhi appointed as its head. Director Qu wished him good luck. Wu Kezhi and Lin Yuming discussed the new arrangement, realizing it was a clever way to force Wu Kezhi out.
Lin Yuming angrily pointed out that all their hard-earned projects, resources, and connections would be transferred to Team II's successor, while Team IV was clearly intended as the "company's trash can," designed to handle the worst projects. Lin Yuming speculated that Director Qu sought to minimize the company's losses from Wu Kezhi's potential resignation while appearing magnanimous. He urged Wu Kezhi to leave, confident in his ability to find a better career.
But Wu Kezhi refused, stating he wasn't a "thorn that could be pulled out so easily." He tried to dissuade Lin Yuming from following him to Team IV, warning him of the difficulties ahead. Lin Yuming, however, remained resolute, affirming his loyalty and declaring they would build Team IV together.
Six months later, after leaving a particularly bad project dinner, Wu Kezhi and Lin Yuming were still lamenting the constant "trash" projects, with Lin Yuming advising against drinking with obviously bad clients. Wu Kezhi countered that without drinking, he wouldn't know they were swindlers. Meanwhile, Sun Yiqiu was moving goods at a supermarket when his mother called him home with "good news."
She presented him with a King Capital application form, explaining she had secured him a new white-collar office job through a friend. Sun Yiqiu was surprised, questioning if their family truly had such connections and what he could possibly do for a big company given his lack of skills. His mother insisted he start the next day, reminding him of his unemployment since quitting chess, a sensitive topic for him.
Sun Yiqiu, reflecting on his "useless self," resolved to give the opportunity a shot. The next morning, he put on his only suit, which was a bit too big, and left for King Capital with his mother's well-intentioned but poorly tied necktie, which he decided to fix later with an online tutorial.
Upon arrival, he was greeted by Gao Yue from HR, who, in the elevator, swiftly outlined King Capital's diverse operations and introduced Integrated Team IV under the New Business Division, where Sun Yiqiu would be working. Gao Yue led him to the Team IV office, which was empty as everyone was out. She instructed him to wait for someone to guide him and assured him that Chief Wu was kind to newcomers.
After a nervous wait, Lin Yuming rushed back, answering a call, then immediately pulled Sun Yiqiu into a client meeting without even a proper introduction. During the meeting, Sun Yiqiu silently recorded the discussion on his phone. Once the client left, Lin Yuming received another urgent call. He quickly instructed Sun Yiqiu to go to the main meeting room and convey the previous meeting's content to the Risk Control and Conventional teams, emphasizing the importance of this "coordination" task.
Sun Yiqiu entered the main meeting room timidly. Manager Pan of Risk Control impatiently asked him to summarize Lin Yuming's meeting with the client, pressing him for details like investment amounts and key conditions. Fumbling, Sun Yiqiu struggled to articulate anything from his notes. He then tried to play his voice recording, only to tangle his earphone wires in a frantic sweat.
Another intern, Gao Sicong, swiftly came to his aid, transcribing the recording and emailing the detailed report to everyone. After the meeting, a manager advised Gao Sicong to be polite to Sun Yiqiu, noting that he was a "parachute" recruit with unknown connections, despite appearing "stupid." Gao Sicong approached Sun Yiqiu, who was splashing water on his face, feeling out of place. Gao Sicong introduced himself and offered reassurance, telling Sun Yiqiu not to be nervous.
Sun Yiqiu, recognizing the stark difference between himself and this corporate world, resolved to stay, no matter what. Back at the office, Sun Yiqiu apologized to Lin Yuming for his poor performance in the meeting. Lin Yuming told him to be honest about his capabilities. He assigned Sun Yiqiu tasks like re-examining a business report, compiling a due diligence investigation report, and translating an English document. Sun Yiqiu, however, confessed he couldn't do any of them.
Meanwhile, other interns gossiped about Sun Yiqiu being hired without an interview or assessment. Lin Yuming took Sun Yiqiu to the rooftop and asked about his education. Sun Yiqiu awkwardly admitted he was only a high school graduate. When asked how he got into the company, Sun Yiqiu said his mother sent him. Lin Yuming initially speculated that Sun Yiqiu might be a rich "second-generation" with a powerful background or a "unicorn" bringing significant resources.
However, Sun Yiqiu clarified that his family did not run a business and had no "unicorn." Faced with Sun Yiqiu's lack of qualifications, connections, or basic skills, Lin Yuming advised him that in the corporate world, everyone carries a resignation letter, either from themselves or their superior, implying Sun Yiqiu should be prepared for the latter. Later, Wu Kezhi returned to the company to find a commotion outside.
Zhu Zhijie, disheveled and agitated, was being escorted away by security, desperately trying to get investors to look at his "Love Future AI" project. He no longer recognized Wu Kezhi, mistaking him for a boss to plead with. As Zhu Zhijie was led away, a flash of their past conversation replayed in Wu Kezhi's mind, with Zhu Zhijie's words about having his hope crushed echoing, followed by Wu Kezhi's own reply about "fake hope being the biggest trap."
Wu Kezhi watched with tears in his eyes. Back in the Team IV office, Sun Yiqiu greeted Wu Kezhi, who had returned from his own "trash" project. Wu Kezhi, upon learning Sun Yiqiu was the new intern, immediately challenged him, asking about his expectations for market changes in the next three years, then what kind of investor he aspired to be. Sun Yiqiu's smile faded, and he stammered, unable to answer. Wu Kezhi sighed, then asked him the most fundamental question: why he came to King Capital.
