Ordinary Glory Episode 32 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
Filled with rage, Hao Shuai marched to Director Qu's office, intent on complaining about Manager Yin. He admitted his actions might seem unprofessional and irrational but felt compelled to speak. Like a child who had suffered injustice, he passionately recounted how Manager Yin Sheng Chao had exploited him, stolen his work, lied to superiors, and subjected him to insults and threats, desperately pleading with Director Qu for help against this "bully."
Just as he finished, the door opened, and Yu Wenli, Manager Ma, and other executives emerged from a meeting. Realizing Director Qu had been occupied and had ignored him, Hao Shuai apologized and left, consumed by regret. Gao Sicong and Sun Yiqiu stayed to have dinner with Ye Nongzhou and his Thunder Fire Studio team.
A nostalgic Ye Nongzhou, having had a few drinks, reminisced about their entrepreneurial journey and his past belief that a good game would always find funding, lamenting how they had "lost their place in this world." He introduced his dedicated team, "Brother Jie" and Cheng, expressing concern about their future in their current "hideous" workspace. Ye Nongzhou shared his hope that if King Capital invested, they could immediately restart the 'Justice Online' project and show their game to the world.
However, Gao Sicong interrupted, acknowledging the game's superior quality but reminding him that King Capital is an investment firm focused on profitability, not on funding "artwork." He stated that dreams alone would not secure project approval. Sun Yiqiu attempted to reassure Ye Nongzhou that they would try their best. Gao Sicong then pulled Sun Yiqiu aside, asserting that the 'Justice Online' project was impossible to approve and continuing to work on it was merely a "waste of time."
Sun Yiqiu, however, believed the project had unique selling points and wanted to pursue it, revealing that his contract was expiring soon. Gao Sicong eventually relented, granting Ye Nongzhou two days to submit a revised proposal that aligned with market trends. Ye Nongzhou expressed his gratitude. Meanwhile, Lan Qianyi was visibly distressed after discovering a job posting for a French-Chinese simultaneous interpreter. She retreated to the stairwell, where Manager Zhao approached her.
He explained that he and Chief Xu were aware of her past relationship with Chen Zhan and her reluctance to face him in the upcoming final negotiation. To avoid forcing her into an uncomfortable situation, they had secretly arranged for an interpreter, keeping Manager Ma unaware. Manager Zhao assured her they would not compel her.
Despite their concerns, Lan Qianyi insisted on participating in the negotiation, affirming that her personal history should not impede company business, and she pledged to perform professionally. Sun Yiqiu thanked Gao Sicong, acknowledging that by giving 'Justice Online' an opportunity, he was also giving Sun Yiqiu one. Gao Sicong, though defensively stating it was his own project and he wouldn't easily give up in front of Manager Jiang Nan, then asked Sun Yiqiu about his expiring contract.
Sun Yiqiu confirmed it, explaining that an independent project approval could lead to a contract renewal, and Director Wu had instructed him to work on 'Justice Online' with Gao Sicong before pursuing other projects. Gao Sicong then warned Sun Yiqiu to prepare for a demanding period as his assistant.
Internally, Sun Yiqiu reflected on his motivations, wondering if his desire to help Ye Nongzhou was purely for his own career or if it was because Ye Nongzhou reminded him of his past self—someone who passionately pursued a goal but ultimately lost. Having already experienced that loss, Sun Yiqiu sincerely hoped Ye Nongzhou would be victorious. With Sun Yiqiu now engrossed in the project, Lin Yuming's workload dramatically increased, leaving him utterly exhausted.
He complained to Wu Kezhi about the sudden surge in tasks. Later, Hao Shuai entered the office discreetly, wearing a mask and taking the stairs to avoid attention. Wu Kezhi and Lin Yuming noticed his odd behavior. Shortly after, in the elevator, they overheard other employees discussing Hao Shuai's embarrassing outburst in Director Qu's office the previous day, criticizing his lack of professionalism.
The next day, the negotiation with Youwei Capital proceeded, with Chen Zhan notably absent; his representative explained his unavoidable absence due to other commitments. Lan Qianyi performed admirably, earning commendation from Chief Xu. After the meeting, she approached the French representative, Mr. Henry, to inquire about Chen Zhan's whereabouts.
Mr. Henry surprisingly revealed that Chen Zhan had, a few days prior, requested to withdraw from the project he had dedicated half a year to, a decision that even surprised him, given their friendship. Mr. Henry also indicated he was aware of Lan Qianyi and Chen Zhan's past relationship. Taken aback, Lan Qianyi asked Mr. Henry to convey her wish to meet Chen Zhan.
In their follow-up meeting, Ye Nongzhou presented his team's latest ideas, focusing on the game's immersive elements like a "Chance Encounter System" and an open-world physics engine using Havoc. Gao Sicong abruptly halted him, demanding to see revisions based on their prior feedback, not new brainstorming. Ye Nongzhou confessed he had made no modifications, explaining that to alter "Justice Online" in the way requested would fundamentally change its identity.
Gao Sicong, unwavering, declared that Ye Nongzhou's team lacked the capability to complete the game to meet market demands. He issued a final offer: Thunder Fire Studio must transfer all game materials and development rights to King Capital, allowing them to outsource its completion to a mature third-party game company, with Thunder Fire Studio still credited as the creators. He gave them until that night to decide, stating there would be no deal otherwise.
Sun Yiqiu, troubled by Gao Sicong's ultimatum, followed him, arguing that despite the team's stubbornness, the game itself was "pretty good" and "fun." Gao Sicong countered that "fun" was not a valid criterion for project approval; as an investment firm, King Capital prioritizes profitability, adhering to "the market's rule." When Sun Yiqiu suggested that the creators' dream also held market value, Gao Sicong scoffed, asking what "dream" could exist in "harmful products like games."
Gao Sicong reported his decision regarding 'Justice Online' to Manager Jiang Nan, outlining his plan to acquire the development rights and outsource the project. Jiang Nan stated he had "no opinions," affirming that Gao Sicong was solely in charge of the project and could make his own decisions. Later, discussing the matter with Yu Wenli, Jiang Nan privately acknowledged Gao Sicong's strong ego.
He explained his intention not to intervene, believing it was essential for Gao Sicong to learn to manage projects independently. If Gao Sicong couldn't handle this, it would simply prove he wasn't yet ready to be an investment professional, a strategy Yu Wenli found insightful. After much deliberation at the office, Sun Yiqiu hurried to Thunder Fire Studio, only to find Ye Nongzhou sitting alone in the emptied workspace.
Ye Nongzhou explained that his team members had left because he had decided to accept Gao Sicong's terms. After four years, he couldn't bear for 'Justice Online' to be abandoned. He admitted he might have been wrong in his approach but firmly believed in the game itself. He asked Sun Yiqiu to inform Gao Sicong of his acceptance, hoping King Capital could ensure 'Justice Online' would finally launch.
Though his decision was made, Ye Nongzhou appeared profoundly weary, requesting to be left alone. Sun Yiqiu, deeply saddened, lamented whether this was truly the "end of this game," likening his disappointment to a player who, after trying so hard, wouldn't get to see the "final boss." The next day, Gao Sicong and Sun Yiqiu met with the representative of the third-party game company, who turned out to be Qiu Shuang. Sun Yiqiu, still hesitant about outsourcing, questioned its necessity.
Qiu Shuang, recognizing Sun Yiqiu, lightheartedly boasted about the gaming industry's rapid profits, claiming one year's income was at least three years' in King Capital, and even suggested Sun Yiqiu join his company. When the discussion turned to 'Justice Online,' Qiu Shuang confidently stated his company could easily handle it, claiming they could produce multiple similar games quickly and create a "super popular game" from Thunder Fire Studio's materials.
Sun Yiqiu attempted to advocate for Thunder Fire Studio's focus on user experience and immersion, but Qiu Shuang dismissed this, explaining that modern games prioritize templates and profit, asserting that "the quality lies in the profits it generates." Qiu Shuang then called Ye Nongzhou, introducing himself as a project manager from Mowan Games, now commissioned by King Capital to complete 'Justice Online,' urging him to quickly sign the emailed cooperation agreement.
After the call, Qiu Shuang smugly informed Gao Sicong that the contract was "settled." He then openly mocked Ye Nongzhou as "just a dreamer" and "a huge joke" in the industry for his impractical focus on technological upgrades. Hearing this dismissive attitude, Sun Yiqiu, visibly upset, abruptly left the meeting.
Qiu Shuang then commented on Sun Yiqiu's perceived arrogance, to which Gao Sicong, while acknowledging Sun Yiqiu's unique "perspective and style" which he might not agree with, quickly clarified that he and Qiu Shuang were "probably not the same kind either," subtly distancing himself from Qiu Shuang's purely commercial mindset. Lan Qianyi received a text message from Chen Zhan inviting her to meet the following evening at their usual place.
Coincidentally, Chief Xu announced a team dinner for that very night to celebrate the logistics project's success. Lan Qianyi politely declined, stating she couldn't make it, prompting the team to reschedule the dinner to accommodate her. Following his dramatic complaint to Director Qu, Hao Shuai found himself unable to hold his head high at the company. Facing the consequences of his actions, he humbled himself by offering Manager Yin coffee, a gesture of concession.
Manager Ma continued to criticize Hao Shuai's lack of manners and his complaining to higher-ups, while Manager Yin feigned acceptance of his "fate." The 'Justice Online' project was now officially moving forward under the new arrangement. Gao Sicong, sensing Sun Yiqiu's lingering sympathy for Ye Nongzhou, advised him to accept the reality, stating, "this is how the market is." Later, Sun Yiqiu sought out Wu Kezhi, asking which was more important for an investment professional: "The founder's dream. . .
or the return on investment?" Wu Kezhi dismissed it as a "stupid question," explaining that while venture capital invests in founders' dreams, they wouldn't invest in "unprofitable and unrealistic" ones. He clarified that a mature investment consultant understands that "dreams and profits are not mutually exclusive," and how one balances them "depends on your stand."
Wu Kezhi concluded by telling Sun Yiqiu that his own stand didn't matter; it was Sun Yiqiu's problem to solve, and "what you believe is right is probably the right answer." Gao Sicong reported to Manager Jiang Nan on the project's progress. He projected that 'Justice Online' would officially launch within a month, become profitable within three months, and generate "considerable profits" for the company within six months.
When Jiang Nan inquired about the period "after six months," Gao Sicong candidly explained that such games typically have a short lifespan, losing "half of their players after six months," at which point there would be "no need to sustain the business." Jiang Nan then commented that players, in this model, were treated like "disposable batteries."
While Qiu Shuang went to Thunder Fire Studio to finalize the contract with a subdued Ye Nongzhou, promising him money would "roll in" and reassuring him that 'Justice Online' was still his project with them as "unsung heroes," Gao Sicong and Sun Yiqiu shared a meal. Gao Sicong, noticing Sun Yiqiu's absentmindedness, informed him that once Qiu Shuang confirmed the contract was signed, the project would "most likely succeed."
He then inquired if Sun Yiqiu found him "too bossy," explaining that his strictness was for the project's sake, as newcomers needed accomplishments to prove their worth. Gao Sicong then revealed his deeper motivation, telling Sun Yiqiu, "Do you know that I'm also trying to help you?" Sun Yiqiu, still clearly troubled by the events, could only respond with a hesitant "I. . . I know. I'm just. . . . ."
