Ordinary Glory Episode 13 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
Gao Sicong voluntarily performed data analysis on tables he had previously keyed in, hoping to impress Jiang Nan. However, Jiang Nan tore up the analysis, asking if he had been instructed to do it and then ignored Gao Sicong's question about whether he had done something wrong. Jiang Nan then assigned Gao Sicong the task of sorting and binding documents, stating he would handle it himself if Gao Sicong wasn't willing. Gao Sicong, confused, but proceeded to bind the documents.
Soon after, Hao Shuai approached Gao Sicong, teasing him about the binding task. He shared the good news that the four interns would soon begin two-person group training. Gao Sicong immediately inquired about his teammate, prompting Hao Shuai to correctly surmise that Gao Sicong was more interested in Lan Qianyi's partner.
Gao Sicong playfully stated he didn't mind who his teammate was, as long as it wasn't the talkative Hao Shuai, who then jokingly suggested Sun Yiqiu would be paired with Lan Qianyi. Later, the official group assignments were released. Lin Yuming expressed dismay that Sun Yiqiu was partnered with Li Chao, acknowledging Li Chao's kindness but questioning his competence.
Wu Kezhi, however, defended Li Chao, explaining that despite being introverted and often perceived as soft, Li Chao was a trusted assistant to Manager Yu and exceptionally skilled at fostering relationships with startups, a rare and valuable asset he urged Sun Yiqiu to learn from. That evening, Li Chao was seen having a drink with Jiang Nan, confiding his doubts about his suitability for the investment industry.
He felt the job required decisiveness and a firm hand, qualities he struggled to embody due to his compromising "pleaser personality." Jiang Nan advised him to be resolute and even "mean" to become an elite, and to change himself if he couldn't change the world. Li Chao expressed his frustration at his inability to change.
Jiang Nan likened him to a sheep unable to become a wolf, but Li Chao countered that even a sheep has horns, leading Jiang Nan to encourage him to use them. The next day, Li Chao took Sun Yiqiu and Gao Sicong for their first practical training, which involved a meeting with Cheers, a video company. Li Chao instructed them that while representing a large company, they should avoid being aggressive in negotiations to prevent intimidating clients.
He stressed the importance of maintaining good relationships, comparing it to "treading on ice." Gao Sicong countered that aggression could project confidence and superiority, arguing that being overly accommodating might reduce a project's success rate. Li Chao clarified that "moderation" was key, a skill he was still mastering. He explained that Cheers had only signed a letter of intent, not a binding contract, attributing their caution to multiple stakeholders.
Gao Sicong, however, suspected Cheers was using King Capital's offer to bargain with other investors. Upon arrival, their suspicions were confirmed when they spotted representatives from Silver Maple Capital. Li Chao, embarrassed, dismissed Sun Yiqiu and Gao Sicong, telling them to return to the office. Sun Yiqiu, wanting to help, asked Gao Sicong for advice. Gao Sicong suggested exposing Cheers' dishonesty and forcing them to sign, though he doubted Li Chao's ability to act on it.
Sun Yiqiu discreetly took photos, hoping they might be useful. Gao Sicong, however, warned him against interfering, stating it was Li Chao's problem and inappropriate for interns to witness their superior's potential embarrassment. Gao Sicong then left, but Sun Yiqiu remained, determined to assist. Sun Yiqiu returned to Li Chao, who allowed him to stay.
Li Chao confronted Cheers' Director Xie, accusing him of using King Capital's contract to negotiate with Silver Maple Capital, thereby violating the exclusivity clause in their letter of intent. Director Xie vehemently denied wrongdoing, claiming it was a misunderstanding and promising to sign their contract immediately, appealing to Li Chao's sense of partnership. Director Zheng then dramatically reprimanded Director Xie for jeopardizing their collaboration, emphasizing the plight of hundreds of unpaid employees and their crushed hopes.
Seeing Li Chao hesitate, Sun Yiqiu discreetly messaged the photos he had taken to Yu Wenli. Moments later, Yu Wenli called, causing Director Zheng to visibly panic. Back at King Capital, Li Chao approached Yu Wenli, requesting Sun Yiqiu's presence at the upcoming meeting with Cheers' representatives, crediting Sun Yiqiu for his significant help earlier. Yu Wenli agreed. Later, Hao Shuai informed Gao Sicong about the meeting and Sun Yiqiu's unexpected inclusion.
Gao Sicong, recalling Sun Yiqiu's decision to stay behind earlier, contrasted it with his own adherence to professional "respect and boundaries." During the meeting, Yu Wenli pressed Li Chao for an explanation regarding Cheers and Silver Maple Capital. Li Chao admitted that Cheers had violated the exclusivity clause but took full responsibility. He stated that his excessive consideration for the client, without securing a binding contract, made him appear unreliable to both Cheers and King Capital.
He asserted that a startup primarily seeks a reliable investor and pledged to bear all consequences. Sun Yiqiu observed a transformed Li Chao, whose courageous self-reflection highlighted the distinction between genuine kindness and weakness. Yu Wenli then asked Sun Yiqiu to leave so she could speak with Li Chao privately. On the rooftop, Sun Yiqiu admired Li Chao's bravery but worried his intervention might have caused him harm.
Gao Sicong joined him, accusing Sun Yiqiu of selfishly trying to prove himself. Gao Sicong warned that if Li Chao were forced to resign, he might struggle to find employment elsewhere, implying Sun Yiqiu, being selfish, wouldn't care. Yu Wenli later reassured Li Chao that he had performed exceptionally well in the meeting, proving himself a competent investment consultant.
She emphasized that trust was paramount between investors and founders, and his responsible actions demonstrated his reliability, confirming that Cheers had ultimately signed the contract. Meanwhile, Wu Kezhi criticized Sun Yiqiu's training report for its overly descriptive and flowery language, likening it to a "novel." Shortly after, Li Chao visited their office to personally thank Sun Yiqiu for his significant help.
After Li Chao departed, Wu Kezhi cautioned Sun Yiqiu, explaining that their success was purely "lucky" and he had narrowly avoided disaster. He clarified that while Sun Yiqiu could offer suggestions and assistance, he did not possess the authority to make decisions on behalf of others. Separately, Lan Qianyi offered Zhao Manager coffee and asked if there was any work she could assist with.
Zhao Manager then presented her with a challenging project that had been rejected three times by the Risk Control Centre, telling her that if she could get it approved, it would be hers. Manager Wang met with Wu Kezhi, offering him a highly promising E-commerce packaging project, which he described as profitable and the best project in the company. Manager Wang positioned this as an opportunity for Wu Kezhi's long-overdue promotion, acknowledging his past challenging assignments.
However, Wu Kezhi politely declined, stating his preference for his agricultural project proposal, despite its known risks. Manager Wang grew angry, questioning Wu Kezhi's judgment and refusing to trust him, recalling a past unreliable associate. He gave Wu Kezhi time to reconsider, promising not to force the packaging project but explicitly stating he would not support the agricultural one.
Later, Yu Wenli also advised Wu Kezhi to reconsider the agricultural project, detailing its numerous common problems and asking him to pick another project. Lin Yuming later confronted Wu Kezhi, calling agricultural projects "huge traps" and questioning why he would reject such a good opportunity from Manager Wang, suggesting he was turning an ally into an enemy and urging him to think about his family.
Zhao Manager and Chief Xu discussed Lan Qianyi's difficult assignment, hoping it would teach her a lesson and intentionally withholding the Risk Control Centre's rejection comments. Sun Yiqiu noticed Lan Qianyi's struggle and learned she lacked critical information, unable to determine why her project had been rejected thrice. He suggested she approach Manager Pan, the head of the Risk Control Centre, who alone held the authority to disclose such details.
Lan Qianyi hesitated, explaining that company hierarchy considered it disrespectful to bypass multiple superiors to approach Manager Pan. Sun Yiqiu dismissed this unwritten rule, arguing that if she explained her urgent need, Manager Pan might be understanding. Encouraged, Lan Qianyi informed Chief Xu and Manager Zhao that she was going to the Risk Control Centre.
Hao Shuai, overhearing, found Manager Pan, known as a "demoness" with a "fussy" and "strong personality," intriguing, recounting an incident where Manager Pan rejected a well-written project simply because "she didn't feel like approving it."
