Ordinary Glory Episode 23 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
Sun Yiqiu witnessed his superior, Lu Si Qiu, being escorted away by the police. Lu Si Qiu's involvement in a one-billion-dollar project, his first at the company, had led him to accept a bribe via a bank card, confirming he had compromised his integrity from the start.
The next day, Hao Shuai eagerly gossiped to Gao Sicong and Lan Qianyi about Sun Yiqiu’s role in putting Lu Si Qiu behind bars, labeling it the worst scandal in the company’s history, even implicating Manager Wang and suggesting Chief Wu had made matters worse. Hao Shuai’s enthusiastic storytelling abruptly ceased when he noticed Sun Yiqiu standing silently behind him.
Sun Yiqiu then expressed his gratitude to Gao Sicong, acknowledging that Gao Sicong’s suggestion to check the dashcam had been crucial in finding a critical clue. Gao Sicong, however, quickly downplayed his involvement, insisting the idea was entirely Sun Yiqiu's own. The incident caused a significant stir throughout the company. Manager Wang, taking accountability, submitted his resignation. Colleagues gathered to bid him farewell, expressing sadness over his unfortunate entanglement. Wu Kezhi, in particular, felt a profound sense of remorse.
Manager Wang smiled as he said his goodbyes to everyone, then approached Sun Yiqiu, shaking his hand solemnly and offering a sincere "Thank you." He also told Lin Yuming that he had ordered Wu Kezhi to proceed with the investigation, validating their actions. Soon after Manager Wang’s departure, Chris, the son of King Capital's founder and a newly appointed partner returning from post-graduate studies in England, made an unannounced visit.
Dressed in casual hip-hop attire and wearing headphones, Chris headed directly to the work area. Sun Yiqiu unexpectedly encountered him, and to his surprise, Chris knew his name. As they exited the elevator, Sun Yiqiu walked ahead, oblivious that everyone in the office was standing in deference to Chris. Lin Yuming quickly prompted Sun Yiqiu to stand properly. Chris commended their bravery in handling the recent scandal, asserting that the company would not tolerate such individuals.
He personally rewarded the team with red envelopes, clarifying they were from his own pocket. When Director Qu arrived, having rushed to greet Chris, Chris noted Wu Kezhi’s five years as a chief, suggesting he should have been promoted. He then specifically advised Sun Yiqiu to work diligently under Wu Kezhi, assuring him he would learn a great deal. Lin Yuming was ecstatic, viewing Chris’s remarks as a definite sign of Wu Kezhi’s impending promotion.
Director Qu hosted Chris for tea, displaying an exceptionally deferential attitude. Director Qu proposed Manager Ma Jian Guo, the general manager of the Conventional Division, as the ideal candidate to fill Manager Wang's vacant position in the New Business Division, highlighting Manager Ma's expertise and familiarity with the division. Chris, however, while acknowledging Manager Ma's suitability, subtly suggested he was "certainly not the best," hinting at a "surprise" candidate.
He then subtly steered Manager Ma towards remaining in his current division, implying that focusing on one area, like Director Qu had in the past, could lead to greater success. After their conversation, Chris conveyed a message from his father to Director Qu about being mindful of strenuous exercise, then departed. Later that day, Wu Kezhi gazed at Manager Wang's empty desk, overwhelmed by a deep sense of melancholy.
At home, his two children joyfully announced, "Dad finally got a promotion!" However, Wu Kezhi remained unhappy. He later confessed to his wife that the promotion came at a significant personal cost, as he felt responsible for Manager Wang being forced to leave. His wife, understanding his burden, lovingly assured him of her unwavering support regardless of his decisions.
Wu Kezhi became the subject of widespread criticism within the company, branded as someone who betrayed a colleague for personal advancement and was ungrateful. Consequently, Team IV found themselves ostracized by their peers. Lin Yuming was furious at the injustice, but Wu Kezhi calmly advised him that it was exhausting to care about others’ opinions and pointless to try to please everyone.
He asserted that there was no need to explain themselves if their consciences were clear, as what others said was irrelevant. Unbeknownst to Wu Kezhi, Zhou Qingyu arranged a farewell dinner for Manager Wang, explicitly instructing colleagues not to inform "that guy." Wu Kezhi accidentally overheard this and quietly departed. Later, Yu Wenli approached Wu Kezhi with a project referral, thinking it might interest him. Wu Kezhi found the project promising and proposed an evening meeting to discuss it.
Yu Wenli politely declined, mentioning she already had dinner plans. Wu Kezhi understood she was attending Manager Wang’s farewell, and acknowledged that he wouldn't have the courage to attend such an event, recognizing that Manager Wang’s departure was indeed due to his actions. Meanwhile, Gao Sicong faced criticism for his report. Although it had passed risk control, Jiang Nan was unsatisfied, deeming it too verbose.
She instructed him to condense the risk forecast from three pages to one and submit it by the weekend. Separately, Hao Shuai, feeling rebellious, began refusing tasks assigned by Manager Yin. This defiance led to Jiang Nan publicly berating Hao Shuai's business plan in front of Chief Su, highlighting flaws in his understanding of project periods.
Lin Yuming excitedly informed Wu Kezhi that Team IV would be getting a new member: Ding Libo, an old teammate and close friend who had worked with them previously under Wu Kezhi. However, when Ding Libo arrived, his demeanor was unexpectedly formal. He merely left his belongings, stating he would begin work the following day, and maintained a noticeable distance from Lin Yuming and Wu Kezhi, leaving Lin Yuming bewildered by his swift departure.
Feeling utterly miserable, Hao Shuai sought out Sun Yiqiu and Lan Qianyi, pleading with them to join him for drinks. They agreed, and Gao Sicong also joined the gathering. That evening, Hao Shuai passionately ranted about Manager Yin, lambasting him as a cunning, irritating "fox" who had even fooled Chief Su. Mid-rant, Hao Shuai received a call from Manager Yin. Under his friends’ persistent urging, Hao Shuai reluctantly answered.
Manager Yin, seemingly heavily intoxicated, repeatedly apologized for his past treatment of Hao Shuai and begged him to come for a drink to mend their relationship. Despite his initial hesitation, Hao Shuai eventually decided to go. Manager Yin was indeed very drunk, and as he spoke, he poured out his heart, confessing his profound envy for Hao Shuai’s intelligence, capabilities, wealthy family background, and extensive connections, asserting that Hao Shuai was inherently destined for success in their industry.
He lamented his own struggles, questioning whether he enjoyed being criticized or playing the "bad guy," and explained he pushed himself hard simply to be able to stand on par with Hao Shuai. Manager Yin’s outpouring of grievances, however, made Hao Shuai increasingly uncomfortable. Back at the bar, Sun Yiqiu, Gao Sicong, and Lan Qianyi decided to leave since Hao Shuai had not returned.
Both Sun Yiqiu and Gao Sicong instinctively offered to walk Lan Qianyi home, so they all walked together. Along the way, Sun Yiqiu considerately draped his jacket over Lan Qianyi. Lan Qianyi, amused by his thoughtfulness, playfully asked if his caring nature was a result of having a girlfriend. Sun Yiqiu, blushing slightly, denied having a girlfriend and explained that he wasn’t adept at multitasking, and his career was his sole priority at the moment. Lan Qianyi returned his jacket, hailed a taxi, and departed for home. Sun Yiqiu and Gao Sicong exchanged an awkward smile before turning and walking away.
