Ordinary Glory Episode 25 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
The following day, Ding Libo and Lin Yuming embarked on a due diligence trip across the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou Metropolitan area. In the car, Lin Yuming offered Ding Libo a drink, but Ding Libo, who was driving, declined. They reminisced about a similar trip six years prior when Lin Yuming suffered from food poisoning. Ding Libo then asked Lin Yuming if he also felt frustrated, working on a project they both knew was a "mission impossible."
Lin Yuming admitted he was accustomed to it, always managing to convince himself of Wu Kezhi's decisions, a trait Ding Libo openly envied. Back at the office, Wu Kezhi tasked Sun Yiqiu with preparing the financial forecast for the project. Sun Yiqiu confessed he wasn't familiar with it, as Lin Yuming had always handled such tasks.
Wu Kezhi, exasperated, chastised Sun Yiqiu for still acting like a newbie and being unreliable, telling him to gather the reports so he could do it himself. Shortly after, Zhou Qingyu informed Wu Kezhi that Director Qu intended to elevate the project to a company-wide consensus vote, involving all mid-level staff and above. Sun Yiqiu was puzzled by Director Qu's motivation. Wu Kezhi explained that the scandal caused by Lu Siqiu had severely eroded the partners' trust in Director Qu.
By making it a collective decision, Director Qu would either redeem himself if the project passed or blame Team IV if it failed, absolving himself of any responsibility. This meant Team IV would offend the partners regardless of the outcome. Despite this grim outlook, Wu Kezhi remained resolute, determined to craft a proposal that would satisfy everyone. He assigned himself the presentation, Ding Libo the script, and Lin Yuming the presentation slides.
For Sun Yiqiu, who couldn't contribute to the core tasks, Wu Kezhi sent him to pick up Yu Wenli's daughter and collect information from her. While picking up Yu Wenli's daughter, Xiao Xiao, Sun Yiqiu seemed visibly unhappy. Yu Wenli attempted to cheer him up with a game about embracing uncertainty, demonstrating how one never knows what will happen next. Xiao Xiao then showed him a drawing of a young lady that, when inverted, appeared to be an old woman.
This playful demonstration of a different perspective deeply inspired Sun Yiqiu. He bought the drawing from Xiao Xiao with two playful kisses. Later, as Wu Kezhi struggled to rehearse his presentation, admitting he couldn't even convince himself of its content, Lin Yuming agreed that their current approach lacked a crucial element. Seizing the moment, Sun Yiqiu proposed a radical change.
Inspired by Xiao Xiao's drawing, he suggested that instead of reiterating the project's benefits, they should highlight the severe disadvantages of "not" pursuing it, specifically how abandoning the project would benefit their competitors. Lin Yuming expressed concern about the unconventional nature and the tight deadline, as there was no precedent for such an approach. However, Wu Kezhi saw the merit in taking them by surprise.
He instructed Sun Yiqiu to immediately develop a new proposal based on this innovative idea, despite having less than a day before the meeting. Ding Libo, furious at Wu Kezhi’s decision to follow a "newbie's" lead, stormed out of the meeting room. Lin Yuming quickly followed, trying to calm him.
Ding Libo vented his frustration, convinced that Wu Kezhi had lost his mind and that there was no future for them with such a leader, even advising Lin Yuming to seek opportunities elsewhere. Just then, Director Qu appeared, inquiring about Ding Libo's anger and their preparations for the upcoming investment meeting. He expressed his anticipation for Team IV's presentation and wished them good luck.
Wu Kezhi, Lin Yuming, and Ding Libo eventually left, but Sun Yiqiu remained in the office, working through the night to complete the new proposal. The next morning, Lin Yuming found Sun Yiqiu asleep at his desk. Ding Libo woke him, telling him to quickly freshen up and change for the rehearsal. During the rehearsal, Yu Wenli was genuinely surprised and impressed by their unconventional presentation style, calling it "amazing and beyond my expectation."
However, she cautioned that its acceptance by others in the company remained uncertain, though Wu Kezhi was prepared to take the risk. Before the actual investment committee meeting, Director Qu offered his encouragement to Team IV. An unnamed manager from another team confronted Wu Kezhi, accusing him of using the meeting as a stepping stone for his ambition. Director Qu intervened, restoring order, and then Chris, a prominent partner, arrived unexpectedly.
Director Qu immediately invited Chris to take a seat, showing deference. Wu Kezhi commenced his presentation by listing 38 projects from various divisions that King Capital had rejected over the past five years due to different reasons. He highlighted that these projects later thrived in the hands of competitors like Silver Maple and Youwei, accumulating at least 60 billion in market value.
When interrupted, he pressed on, displaying a chart of three more projects that King Capital had canceled due to scandals, which also became highly profitable for their top competitors like Silver Maple, Youwei, and Huali. Wu Kezhi passionately declared it an "unforgivable mistake" for an investment consultant to abandon a valuable project due to "human factors" or scandals. He questioned the professionalism of forsaking potential profits for the company.
He concluded by asserting that the discussion should solely focus on the project's inherent value and appeal, rather than potential controversies, as that is the true duty of an investment consultant. Following this impactful opening, Wu Kezhi continued the presentation using Ding Libo’s original script. However, the initial segment had successfully shifted the audience's perspective and imbued Wu Kezhi himself with newfound confidence, allowing him to present calmly and smoothly.
Chris was profoundly impressed, strongly agreeing to proceed with the project and commending Team IV’s courage. Director Qu echoed Chris’s sentiment, and the project was approved by a collective vote, despite evident displeasure from some attendees. Chris then asked who proposed to revive the project. Wu Kezhi identified Sun Yiqiu, prompting Chris to ask Sun Yiqiu about his reasoning. Sun Yiqiu, after a brief hesitation, replied, "Because we're investment consultants."
Chris praised his answer as "right" and "well said," encouraging them all to work hard together and congratulating Team IV. Filled with joy, Wu Kezhi, Lin Yuming, and Ding Libo returned to Team IV's office. Ding Libo, visibly moved, thanked the entire team, stating it had been a very long time since he felt so genuinely happy. Wu Kezhi agreed to treat them to dinner.
Meanwhile, Sun Yiqiu was pulled away by Hao Shuai, Lan Qianyi, and Gao Sicong for a celebratory drink. After just one toast, Lan Qianyi and Gao Sicong excused themselves to return to work. In the elevator, Lan Qianyi candidly admitted her jealousy of Sun Yiqiu's success and the limelight he had garnered.
Gao Sicong, surprised by her frankness, confided his own frustrations, lamenting that despite being "proud honor students," they hadn't been entrusted with any projects, while Sun Yiqiu, a high school graduate, had become the most successful. He even questioned his own competence. Lan Qianyi, however, reminded him of his strengths and assured him she had never doubted his abilities. They then formed an alliance, promising to support and re-energize each other whenever self-doubt arose.
As they continued their conversation, they realized neither had pressed the elevator button. That evening, Gao Sicong's client meeting was canceled, frustrating his plans. He saw Jiang Nan pass by and, after a moment's hesitation, invited him for a drink. Jiang Nan noted that Gao Sicong "finally learnt," but Gao Sicong faltered, unable to articulate his deeper intentions, simply saying "Nothing." Later, Jiang Nan merely reminded him not to be late for their 9 AM meeting the next day.
While Team IV continued their jubilant celebration elsewhere, Gao Sicong felt a pang of envy as he drank alone. Team IV, however, continued their jubilant celebration. Lin Yuming, drinking enthusiastically, declared it was the first time in over a year that Team IV had felt such pride. He boasted about a partner's personal approval and praise, even mentioning a pat on the shoulder, vowing to confront anyone who dared to disrespect Team IV.
Wu Kezhi and Lin Yuming raised a toast to happiness, and Wu Kezhi playfully acknowledged Sun Yiqiu as "the star of our company." Their celebration was interrupted when Zhou Qingyu arrived, explaining he had known they were there when they didn't answer his call. He then delivered breaking news: Manager Wang's successor in their division had been confirmed as Li Sheng Si, a revelation that also called for a celebratory drink.
