Ordinary Glory Episode 12 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
The atmosphere grew tense between Manager Zhao and Sun Yiqiu. Manager Zhao reprimanded Sun Yiqiu for his lack of manners, his constant attempts to be clever, and his tendency to help outsiders. Wu Kezhi quickly intervened, asking Manager Zhao what he was doing and stating it was none of his business, before sending him away by claiming Chief Xu was looking for him.
Later, as Wu Kezhi and Sun Yiqiu walked past the Energy Division, Sun Yiqiu couldn't help but glance at Lan Qianyi. Wu Kezhi noticed and advised him, "If you really care about her, you must learn to keep a distance. Otherwise, she'll be further ostracised." Wu Kezhi and Sun Yiqiu went to meet Jiao Yaohua, the founder of Fanhua Culture.
Jiao Yaohua greeted Wu Kezhi warmly, using his old nickname "Tadpole," and reminisced about their basketball team days, even claiming they were "best buddies." Wu Kezhi introduced Sun Yiqiu. After a brief friendly exchange, Jiao Yaohua told them to wait in a meeting room while he finished some work, but in reality, he returned to his office to play games, as he never truly considered Wu Kezhi a friend from the bottom of his heart.
Once Jiao Yaohua left, Wu Kezhi remarked that Jiao Quan (Jiao Yaohua) was still a show-off. Sun Yiqiu noted that Wu Kezhi seemed to know him well, to which Wu Kezhi replied that he knew him better than his own parents, recalling that Jiao Yaohua had no friends in school and followed him everywhere like a sidekick. Two hours passed, and Sun Yiqiu grew restless, but Wu Kezhi patiently insisted that Jiao Yaohua was likely busy and would come.
Meanwhile, back in the office, Lin Yuming was swamped with work. Zhou Qingyu expressed concern to Lin Yuming that Wu Kezhi might be too relaxed, cautioning that encountering an old classmate in a professional setting wasn't always a good thing. Unbeknownst to them, Jiao Yaohua was deliberately delaying their meeting, playing games in his office, as he never truly considered Wu Kezhi a friend.
Eventually, Jiao Yaohua appeared, feigning being busy, and announced he only had five minutes before a premiere. Wu Kezhi promptly presented the contract, reminding him they had discussed the terms over the phone and only needed a signature. Jiao Yaohua, however, went back on his word. He suggested they leave the contract and materials with his secretary, who would then inform them once everything was processed. Wu Kezhi's smile froze.
He left the contract but deliberately left behind a pen, a gift from his wife, telling Sun Yiqiu it would give him another reason to meet Jiao Yaohua. Soon after, Manager Wang called, inquiring about the contract. Wu Kezhi awkwardly admitted it hadn't been signed. Manager Wang became agitated, reminding Wu Kezhi of his confident promise to secure the project. After the call, Wu Kezhi was visibly upset, and Sun Yiqiu, sitting nearby, didn't know what to say.
In the basement parking lot, Sun Yiqiu went to help Lan Qianyi move heavy boxes but encountered Manager Zhao, who promptly mocked Lan Qianyi. Wu Kezhi, driving by, honked his car horn and signaled Sun Yiqiu to return, advising him to leave before others saw him "hanging out with Team IV again," which would cause further trouble for Lan Qianyi. Manager Zhao didn't offer any help, leaving Lan Qianyi to struggle alone.
Determined, Lan Qianyi began moving the heavy items upstairs by herself. Gao Sicong approached her, urging her to yield to the Energy Division, explaining that she needed to "play by their rules." Lan Qianyi refused, asserting she would only abide by the company's rules and not compromise her integrity. Gao Sicong then insisted she didn't understand what they truly wanted and that giving in would resolve everything, but Lan Qianyi defiantly stated, "Sorry. That wasn't taught in school."
Back at the company, Wu Kezhi sent Sun Yiqiu home and then went to the rooftop to eat instant noodles alone. Soon after, he received a call from Jiao Yaohua, inviting him to dinner. Wu Kezhi excitedly pulled Sun Yiqiu to a humble noodle shop, explaining it was Jiao Yaohua's favorite since childhood.
However, Jiao Yaohua arrived in a luxurious car, took one look at the noisy, crowded establishment with disdain, and told Wu Kezhi and Sun Yiqiu to get in his car. Jiao Yaohua took them to an upscale club, where he introduced Madam Hua, the owner, as "his woman." He immediately began to humiliate Wu Kezhi, repeatedly calling him "Tadpole" and referencing the children's story "Where's Mama?" Wu Kezhi forced a smile and endured the insults, as did Sun Yiqiu.
Jiao Yaohua's words were cutting, reminding Wu Kezhi that if it weren't for their old school ties, someone of Wu Kezhi's current position wouldn't even be allowed to see him. Wu Kezhi, still smiling, agreed, calling Jiao Yaohua a "perfect example of a winner" and himself "truly lucky." Hearing that Sun Yiqiu hadn't attended college, Jiao Yaohua insisted he drink a full glass of spirits. Madam Hua dutifully poured, filling Sun Yiqiu's glass to the brim.
As Sun Yiqiu prepared to drink, Wu Kezhi quickly intervened, offering to drink on his behalf. Wu Kezhi gulped down the entire glass, losing his voice temporarily. Jiao Yaohua, instead of showing sympathy, mocked him, calling him "ignorant." After enduring the degrading dinner, Wu Kezhi and Sun Yiqiu put the heavily intoxicated Jiao Yaohua into his car, reminding him about the contract.
As the car drove away, Jiao Yaohua threw Wu Kezhi's cherished pen, the gift from his wife, out the window. Wu Kezhi picked up the pen and sat by the roadside, smiling with a profound sadness. The next day, Wu Kezhi still reeked of alcohol. Lin Yuming and Zhou Qingyu expressed their worry, while Manager Wang, impatient for an update, came to ask about the contract. Just then, Wu Kezhi received a call from Fanhua Culture, rejecting their investment.
Wu Kezhi went to the rooftop to call Jiao Yaohua, while Sun Yiqiu, seeing Manager Wang's anger, pleaded for more time. On the phone, Wu Kezhi pressed Jiao Yaohua, asking why he rejected the investment after appearing to agree the night before, and if the terms or profit allocation were the issue. Jiao Yaohua, however, bluntly stated he never intended to collaborate with Wu Kezhi, admitting, "I just wanted to humiliate you."
Wu Kezhi, confused, asked what he had done to offend him. Jiao Yaohua explained that in school, Wu Kezhi was always the center of attention, while he was "sidelined," which made him uncomfortable. He confessed he simply wanted Wu Kezhi to "have a taste of being sidelined." Wu Kezhi argued that even if Jiao Yaohua hated him, he shouldn't mix personal feelings with work, asking how he could explain this to his company.
Jiao Yaohua dismissed him as still "holier-than-thou" and uninterested, then abruptly ended the call, mentioning he had other investors to meet. After hanging up, Wu Kezhi looked up, a painful, bitter smile on his face. Manager Wang once again lost his temper with Wu Kezhi, stating that the project, which had some hope, was now "over for real" because of him. Lin Yuming immediately questioned Sun Yiqiu, wondering why Jiao Yaohua, Wu Kezhi's supposed buddy, had behaved this way.
Wu Kezhi was consumed by self-blame, convinced that Jiao Yaohua's refusal to sign was solely directed at him. Sun Yiqiu proposed that Lin Yuming go to Jiao Yaohua and claim he also disliked Wu Kezhi, suggesting that if he secured the project, it could lead to a promotion and embarrass Wu Kezhi. Wu Kezhi considered the idea but then thought of a more suitable candidate: Zhou Qingyu.
Zhou Qingyu was puzzled why Wu Kezhi would hand over such a promising project to a competitor. Wu Kezhi explained that the goal was to secure the project for Manager Wang, regardless of who did it. He instructed Zhou Qingyu to simply repeat everything he had ever said negatively about Wu Kezhi behind his back, directly to Jiao Yaohua.
That evening, Zhou Qingyu followed Wu Kezhi's advice, speaking ill of him to Jiao Yaohua and leveraging Fanhua Culture's future by detailing how his resources could ensure its success, from IP management to platform distribution and film collaborations, predicting a massive growth in cash flow. The next day, he successfully finalized the project.
Wu Kezhi again faced mockery from Jiao Yaohua, who, in front of him, praised Zhou Qingyu for revitalizing his interest in the contract and for being a healthy contrast to Wu Kezhi's "old and senile" state. Zhou Qingyu, playing along, agreed that Wu Kezhi's body was "a wreck." Manager Wang was ecstatic that Zhou Qingyu had secured the project, praising his "style" and quiet efficiency, and even suggested Zhou Qingyu might be promoted ahead of Wu Kezhi.
He then told Wu Kezhi to thank Zhou Qingyu. Lin Yuming, frustrated by Zhou Qingyu's deceptive act, complained about his "shamelessness" and how he got credit without apparent effort. Wu Kezhi, however, calmly told him to move on and focus on their next project. Separately, Li Chao tried to persuade Jiang Nan to reconsider a medical technology project whose founder was a physically disabled individual, emphasizing his impressive journey of building the company from a wheelchair.
Jiang Nan, however, maintained a professional stance, stating that an investment firm is "not a charity" and that there should be a "limit to sympathy." She dismissed the project as overvalued, with low production, a flawed business model, and insufficient investment value. When Li Chao pointed out their patented "smart all-terrain electric wheelchair," Jiang Nan retorted that it was "pricey but impractical and not covered in medical insurance," making it unmarketable.
Later, Gao Sicong presented Jiang Nan with an analysis report based on data he had been tasked to input, hoping it would deepen Jiang Nan's understanding of the project. He explained that although inputting data was not meaningful in itself, it allowed him to learn more about the project. Jiang Nan, however, tore up the report in front of him, leaving Gao Sicong speechless and questioning if he had done something wrong.
