Ordinary Glory Episode 33 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
Ye Nong Zhou was moments away from signing an agreement with Qiu Shuang when several former employees of Thunder Fire Studio unexpectedly arrived. They declared that "Justice Online" was the fruit of their collective "blood, sweat, and tears," not just Ye Nong Zhou's alone. They presented their job applications, stating they'd rather take another chance than see their "semi-finished product" sold off by an "idiotic boss."
They acknowledged Ye Nong Zhou was broke and assured him they wouldn't ask for salaries. Qiu Shuang, frustrated, reminded Ye Nong Zhou of his prior promise to sign with him. Despite Qiu Shuang's objections, Ye Nong Zhou, supported by his former team, tore up the agreement, declaring that "Justice Online" was "everything to our studio" and he couldn't sell it. Gao Sicong called Sun Yiqiu to discuss Ye Nong Zhou's refusal to sign the agreement.
While on the phone, he inadvertently saw Sun Yiqiu's chat records, revealing Sun Yiqiu's direct involvement. Sun Yiqiu admitted he had contacted Ye Nong Zhou's former employees, explaining he knew Ye Nong Zhou never truly wanted to sell "Justice Online" and believed its full potential could only be realized under Ye Nong Zhou's leadership. He "borrowed their power" to help Ye Nong Zhou. Gao Sicong was furious, accusing Sun Yiqiu of undermining his efforts on what he considered "my project."
Sun Yiqiu apologized, but Gao Sicong, still angry, stated he regretted taking Ye Nong Zhou on in the first place and decided to abandon the project, informing the company the next day. The following day, Gao Sicong's proposal to abandon the "Justice Online" project was rejected. He was bewildered, having clearly outlined in his report that the game had "no prospect of success."
However, Yu Wenli informed him that Thunder Fire Studio had contacted their company directly, requesting a change in leadership; they preferred to work with Sun Yiqiu from Team IV. Yu Wenli was enraged, demanding an explanation from Gao Sicong. She couldn't fathom how a founder who initially approached them was now effectively "firing" them, a precedent unheard of in the TMT Division. She tasked Gao Sicong with resolving the situation immediately.
Gao Sicong was plagued by memories of his childhood, where his passion for gaming was crushed by his parents, who scolded him for poor grades and forced him to break his game discs. Sun Yiqiu approached Gao Sicong, who, believing he was there to gloat, told him to leave, insisting he'd rather face Yu Wenli's anger than "bow down" to him.
Sun Yiqiu, however, shared news that the demo version of "Justice Online" had just launched and achieved 200,000 downloads on its first day, calling it "a good sign." Gao Sicong dismissed it, saying he was "not in the mood" and "couldn't care less" about the project. Sun Yiqiu then told him it was "Gao Sicong's" project, as he had decided to withdraw from it and hoped Gao Sicong would continue.
Gao Sicong, interpreting this as pity, retorted that he didn't need it. Sun Yiqiu denied any pity, reminding Gao Sicong that he was the first person to help him when he started at the company, and that Gao Sicong, being the most "qualified and capable," was far more suitable for the project. He sincerely urged Gao Sicong to help them. Gao Sicong agreed to "think about it."
Sun Yiqiu then asked Gao Sicong to accompany him to the Shanghai Chess Centre, where he had spent over ten years of his childhood. He explained he was trying to find the answer to a chess puzzle for Ye Nong Zhou. A flashback revealed how Sun Yiqiu's father sacrificed his job, and the family relocated to Shanghai so Sun Yiqiu could pursue professional Go, aspiring for him to become a champion.
Upon entering, younger students enthusiastically greeted Sun Yiqiu as "Senior Yi Qiu," admiring his suit and remarking on his return. Sun Yiqiu, however, felt ashamed, admitting he would never have returned alone after failing his certification exam. His teacher, recognizing the bond between Sun Yiqiu and Gao Sicong, confirmed the chess puzzle was from the 300-year-old "Qiuxian Records," an incomplete compilation, making it inherently "a puzzle with no answer."
He reflected that ancestors invented Go purely "as a game" for leisure, but people today, including Sun Yiqiu, "blindly pursue victories," losing sight of its true purpose. The teacher explained Sun Yiqiu's past underperformance in competitions stemmed from the immense pressure of his parents sacrificing "everything" for his chess career, leading him to be "too desperate to win" and ultimately crushing himself.
He reassured Sun Yiqiu that "giving up on Go could be a good thing" and that he looked "happier now," concluding that while "chess puzzles with no answer," life offers "many answers." Gao Sicong remarked on the teacher's wisdom, to which Sun Yiqiu humorously replied that Gao Sicong wouldn't think so if he had been scolded by him for over a decade.
Sun Yiqiu informed Gao Sicong that Ye Nong Zhou had developed a new solution for the chess puzzle: a "Chance Encounter System" where players who couldn't solve it would encounter a "Chess Deity" (named Yi Qiu) disguised as a beggar in a tavern, who would solve the puzzle for wine.
Gao Sicong, having clearly had a change of heart, agreed to stay on the "Justice Online" project on one condition: Sun Yiqiu must not withdraw and instead be his assistant, as Sun Yiqiu was "better at dealing with people like Ye Nong Zhou." Sun Yiqiu happily accepted, calling him "boss."
Gao Sicong then confided that he, too, loved video games as a child, but his mother believed it affected his grades, leading him to suppress that passion, eventually convincing himself he "hated video games." He realized he had been "lying to myself," constantly striving to be the "most special" and "the best" in everything.
However, seeing Sun Yiqiu, who "persevered for more than 10 years for your parents' hope," bearing "more pressure" than himself, and recognizing similar struggles in Lan Qianyi, Hao Shuai, and Ye Nong Zhou, Gao Sicong concluded that "We're all special in our own ways. I don't have to force myself to be the best." He thanked Sun Yiqiu, expressing gratitude for this realization, and offered to buy him a celebratory drink, suggesting they also invite Ye Nong Zhou.
Lan Qianyi met Chen Zhan to discuss their past and his recent withdrawal from the project. Chen Zhan assured her his withdrawal was due to "something else to do," not her previous emotional outburst. Lan Qianyi, regretting her abrupt departure with just a letter, felt she owed him a proper explanation for their breakup.
She admitted that while she was happy at the start of their relationship, she also felt "uneasy" because she gradually realized she was becoming "a part of your plan." She recalled him suggesting she "resign and rely on you" when she faced recruitment test worries. Lan Qianyi emphasized that her chosen path, especially after joining Youwei Capital, was one "full of uncertainties and challenges," not a perfectly planned life under someone else's guidance.
She confessed her fear that if they continued, she would eventually give up her own ambitions, accept his suggestions to resign, get married, and have children, only to "definitely regret this decision" later. She believed a premature breakup now was "the better choice" to prevent a worse outcome for both of them in the long run.
Chen Zhan acknowledged her honesty, remarking that he had "underestimated" her and that she was truly herself when living this way, congratulating her on her resolve. He then revealed the real reason for his project withdrawal: he was getting married next month and had found "a person who's willing to be a part of my plan," showing her a diamond ring. Lan Qianyi congratulated him.
However, as Chen Zhan drove away, he discarded the ring, muttering, "It's fake," indicating his entire explanation about getting married was a lie. The next morning, Sun Yiqiu, Gao Sicong, and Lan Qianyi seemed noticeably more relaxed and energetic, exchanging pleasantries. In contrast, Hao Shuai was still trying to avoid everyone, sneaking up the stairwell to reach his office. Manager Yin, however, was waiting for him. He asked Hao Shuai if he had reconsidered his actions.
Hao Shuai offered a humble apology. Manager Yin then recounted a story about dogs in his village, concluding with a chilling remark: "A dog that bites its master cannot live." He offered Hao Shuai "another chance," but on stringent terms: from that day forward, Hao Shuai was to "just do what I want you to do" and "finish all the work I assign you carefully without a word of complaint." If he disliked these terms, he was free to resign.
Hao Shuai, unwilling to quit, reluctantly agreed, forced by Manager Yin to declare his submission loudly: "From today onwards, I'll do whatever you want me to do without a word of complaint." Later, Gao Sicong and Sun Yiqiu were meticulously preparing their presentation for the investment committee, rehearsing their arguments about the potential of PC games and the necessity of achieving 500,000 downloads for "Justice Online" to likely pass. Suddenly, Ye Nong Zhou called, his words instantly changing their demeanor.
He informed them that overnight, the internet had been flooded with negative reviews about "Justice Online". Sun Yiqiu quickly pointed out that many of these reviews contained "lies and exaggerations," and Gao Sicong noted that their content was suspiciously similar, indicating a coordinated attack. It was clear someone had "prepared this in advance to sabotage right before the investment meeting" to prevent them from securing funds.
While the identity of the competitor was obvious, the real challenge was "how should we deal with this?" Sun Yiqiu asked if they could take PR measures, but Gao Sicong immediately dismissed the idea, explaining that after completing the demo version, Ye Nong Zhou was "completely broke" and couldn't afford it. They were left wondering what to do.
