Ordinary Glory Episode 2 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
Wu Kezhi, the leader of Integrated Team IV, immediately questioned Sun Yiqiu on his first day, asking about the market changes he anticipated over the next three years. When Sun Yiqiu failed to answer, Wu Kezhi pressed him on his reasons for joining King Capital. Sun Yiqiu faltered, attempting to recite a generic description of King Capital, listing its investment sectors. Lin Yuming quickly urged him to "get to the point," but Sun Yiqiu struggled to articulate a personal reason.
To ease the awkwardness, Lin Yuming intervened, telling Wu Kezhi that Sun Yiqiu was new and still clueless. He then sent Sun Yiqiu to photocopy a document, directing him to the machine. In the photocopy room, Sun Yiqiu observed another intern, An Qianyi, politely but firmly declining a male colleague's invitation to a concert, stating she simply didn't want to go. Sun Yiqiu then fumbled with the photocopying machine.
Noticing his struggle, An Qianyi subtly prompted him, then patiently demonstrated the steps, pressing buttons and explaining the process. When he still couldn't manage, she stepped forward to assist him, correcting a mistake he made. This small act of help made Sun Yiqiu feel a sense of relief, realizing that not everyone in the company was as harsh as Wu Kezhi. He hoped the job might not be as difficult as he had initially imagined.
Back in the office, Lin Yuming remarked to Wu Kezhi that Sun Yiqiu, despite his inexperience, must be "special" to have been hired. Wu Kezhi, reviewing Sun Yiqiu's dismal resume – devoid of relevant education or work history – expressed disbelief. Lin Yuming confirmed that Sun Yiqiu claimed his mother sent him, but neither of them knew who she was. Incensed, Wu Kezhi marched to the HR department to confront Director Gao Yue.
Gao Yue explained that Sun Yiqiu's hiring was "the management's idea" and she was simply "acting upon an order," subtly hinting at a higher authority involved. Returning to his office, Wu Kezhi, frustrated, muttered that Team IV was being treated like "a trash can." He then confronted Sun Yiqiu, who had just returned with the photocopied document, shoving the briefcase into his hands and telling him not to come to work the next day.
Zhou Qingyu quickly intervened, pulling Wu Kezhi away, while Lin Yuming tried to comfort Sun Yiqiu, assuring him that Wu Kezhi was just short-tempered and he'd get used to it. Outside, Zhou Qingyu suggested to Wu Kezhi that sending a high school graduate to his team was a deliberate move to make things difficult for him. Wu Kezhi immediately suspected Director Qu Zhong Hui.
Zhou Qingyu advised Wu Kezhi to endure, warning that challenging those in power at the company was futile. As the workday ended, Wu Kezhi coldly told Sun Yiqiu it was time to leave. However, Lin Yuming, as Sun Yiqiu packed his things, reminded him to return at 9 a. m. the next morning and not be late, reigniting a faint spark of hope in Sun Yiqiu.
Sun Yiqiu pondered his situation, seeing the office as a chessboard where everyone had a role, but he alone seemed to lack a clear position. Shortly after, Wu Kezhi received an urgent request for another client meeting. He instructed Lin Yuming to inform Mr. Daniel from Templeton Investments, with whom they had an an appointment, that he would try to be on time and Mr. Daniel should wait.
Moments later, Gao Sicong informed Lin Yuming that Manager Ma was holding a mandatory meeting in five minutes. Faced with conflicting schedules, Lin Yuming called Sun Yiqiu, who was waiting for a bus. Lin Yuming instructed Sun Yiqiu to go to the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 7 p. m. and stall Mr. Daniel, mentioning that Mr. Daniel spoke English. Sun Yiqiu rushed to the hotel and introduced himself to Mr. Daniel, only to realize he couldn't communicate effectively in English.
Wu Kezhi, upon learning that Sun Yiqiu had been sent, was furious, calling Lin Yuming "stupid" and fearing Sun Yiqiu would ruin the project. He rushed to the hotel. To his surprise, he found Sun Yiqiu and Mr. Daniel amicably playing chess. Mr. Daniel enthusiastically told Wu Kezhi that Sun Yiqiu had shown him an interesting game. As Mr. Daniel departed, he added Sun Yiqiu on WeChat, expressing his desire to play chess with him again.
After Mr. Daniel left, Wu Kezhi took Sun Yiqiu aside. He clarified that, despite Sun Yiqiu's cleverness in stalling, it wasn't enough to survive at King Capital. However, he admitted Sun Yiqiu had been helpful and decided to give him a chance. He asked Sun Yiqiu to define his "selling point" or "value" as a potential investment consultant, giving him one opportunity to answer.
Sun Yiqiu stated his selling point was being "hardworking," admitting his lack of knowledge and special skills but vowing to work harder than anyone else. Wu Kezhi immediately rejected this, having already seen his "diligence" on his resume. He argued that everyone in the company worked hard and climbed the ladder through fair competition, unlike Sun Yiqiu, who "took a lift and came up instantly."
Wu Kezhi dismissed him as a "trash project" with no value, stating that Team IV already handled too many such projects and didn't need another. He concluded by telling Sun Yiqiu to leave once his training period was over and seek opportunities elsewhere. Disheartened, Sun Yiqiu asked to be dropped off. He recalled his childhood, where his father had pushed him to become a national chess player, and the memory only deepened his despair.
Upon returning home, Sun Yiqiu found his mother asleep on the sofa, waiting for him. She awoke and asked about his day, to which he falsely replied that everything was fine and that he got along well with his colleagues. Later, he discovered his mother had bought him an expensive new suit. He complained about the unnecessary expense, intending to return it. However, his mother understood his underlying worry about losing his job and the money being wasted.
She told him the suit wasn't for others but to boost his own confidence, reminding him that once he'd entered the "battlefield," he shouldn't think of running away. She urged him that if he truly cared for her, he should wear the suit for as long as he could. Sun Yiqiu was left contemplating whether wearing this "armor" could truly transform him into a warrior. The next morning, with complex emotions, he re-entered the King Capital office building.
At the office, Gao Sicong offered to help An Qianyi carry a stack of reports, but she politely declined his assistance. In the elevator, An Qianyi nearly dropped her reports, and Sun Yiqiu quickly helped her retrieve them. She mentioned they were industry analysis reports, a task for all trainees. Meanwhile, Wu Kezhi noticed an unusual commotion around Manager Wang's office.
He learned that Yiwanxian, a client involved in a project personally assigned by Director Qu, was reneging on their agreement, demanding a reduction of King Capital's shares from 30% to 15% without altering the investment amount. Wu Kezhi realized this situation was being set up for him to take the blame. Manager Wang emphasized the company's directive to secure the project "without compromising." Wu Kezhi, though skeptical of Yiwanxian's trustworthiness, agreed to find a solution and requested additional personnel.
Lin Yuming assigned the interns a task to go to various restaurants and count customer numbers. He exempted An Qianyi, stating she had a "special task." When the most distant and challenging location, Pudong, remained unchosen, Sun Yiqiu volunteered, insisting it was his responsibility as part of Team IV. While Wu Kezhi negotiated with President Qiao of Yiwanxian, the interns fanned out.
Sun Yiqiu quickly realized that merely counting queue tickets was unreliable due to people leaving, necessitating entry into the restaurants for accurate data. An Qianyi, for her special task, entered a surveillance room, fabricating a story about a lost dog to gain access to CCTV footage. Sun Yiqiu, inside a restaurant, was noticed by a security guard, who, having observed his suspicious movements on CCTV, confronted him and eventually expelled him for loitering.
Meanwhile, An Qianyi, posing as a potential major buyer, convinced a seafood supplier to show her Yiwanxian's purchase invoices to prove his capacity. In the pouring rain, Sun Yiqiu stood outside the restaurant, meticulously counting heads, getting soaked and splashed by passing cars. During the negotiation, President Qiao asserted Yiwanxian's strong market position, claiming other firms were eager to invest.
Wu Kezhi challenged him, presenting real-time sales reports for Yiwanxian's Shanghai branches from that afternoon, alongside King Capital's estimated annual sales based on this data. He pointed out a glaring discrepancy, stating their figures were "more than five times the difference" from President Qiao's. President Qiao attempted to deflect, blaming the bad weather and asserting his data came from a "professional firm."
Wu Kezhi countered by showing how, even factoring in weekends and holidays, their lowest estimated average was still far from President Qiao's numbers. Then, he unveiled An Qianyi's findings: "These are the details of your purchases from your supplier." Wu Kezhi coldly stated that to reconcile President Qiao's sales figures with his actual purchases, Yiwanxian would have to be selling "one prawn for RMB 900. . . and one fish for RMB 3,500."
An agitated President Qiao demanded to know what Wu Kezhi wanted. Wu Kezhi replied that he wasn't trying to make trouble, but Yiwanxian needed to prove its value if it wanted to raise its price, warning about the rapid spread of news within the investment circle. He then directly asked President Qiao if he truly wanted to work with King Capital, to which President Qiao, cornered, conceded.
As the other interns returned to the office, Wu Kezhi asked about Sun Yiqiu, with Lin Yuming expressing surprise that he was still in Pudong so late. Sun Yiqiu eventually arrived, drenched from the heavy rain, only to find the office already empty.
