Ordinary Glory Episode 5 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
Sun Yiqiu woke up early, helping his mother prepare breakfast to avoid the morning rush hour on the train. As he rode the elevator up to the office, he encountered Gao Sicong, who was surprised to see him arrive so early. Gao Sicong then asked if Sun Yiqiu had found a partner yet, clarifying that everyone needed a partner for this week's training, a notice he hadn't even sent out himself.
Meanwhile, in the underground garage, Wu Kezhi greeted Director Qu, who inquired about the progress of the Somersault Cloud project. Director Qu noted that many similar electric bike-sharing projects had stalled, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right people for success. Back in the office, Wu Kezhi instructed Lin Yuming to revise the analysis and the introduction of the founder, Liu Chang, to highlight his strengths.
Lin Yuming specifically asked if he should omit Liu Chang's past failures, but Wu Kezhi explained that his experience and the lessons learned from those failures were, in fact, his greatest advantages. Sun Yiqiu, ever observant, brought them coffee and then sought tasks. Lin Yuming handed him receipts to paste and deliver to the Finance Department, warning him not to make another mistake.
After reviewing Sun Yiqiu's completed work, Lin Yuming approved it for delivery, subtly wishing to himself that Sun Yiqiu could stay at the company. Wu Kezhi, overhearing Lin Yuming's distraction, told him to focus on anticipating questions for the upcoming meeting instead of worrying about subordinates. Wu Kezhi emphasized that while their idea of establishing charging piles at private gas stations seemed promising and had received positive initial feedback, silence from other departments did not equate to approval.
He stressed the need for concrete, signed contracts to eliminate any potential flaws before the investment meeting, and instructed Lin Yuming to go secure them. Interns buzzed about finding partners. Gao Sicong advised Sun Yiqiu to secure a partner quickly. Sun Yiqiu, feeling apprehensive, asked Gao Sicong what would happen if he couldn't find anyone.
Gao Sicong lightened the mood by joking that the worst outcome would be finding another job, then reassured him not to be so pessimistic, predicting someone would eventually approach him. Dejected, Sun Yiqiu passed Lan Qianyi, momentarily considering asking her to be his partner but ultimately holding back. Soon after, Li Xiaoxian directly approached Sun Yiqiu, asking him to consider being partners.
One by one, other interns followed suit, piling snacks on his desk as they all vied for his partnership. Sun Yiqiu was genuinely surprised by his sudden popularity. Despite her outstanding work ability, Lan Qianyi hadn't yet been approached to be a partner. Wu Kezhi praised her presentation slides and told her that she absolutely must join Team Four after her training period. He then asked if she had chosen a partner.
Lan Qianyi, like Sun Yiqiu, admitted she hadn't, expressing surprise that no one had asked her. Later, she invited Sun Yiqiu for coffee and proposed they become partners. Sun Yiqiu was elated but immediately worried he might burden someone as capable as her. Lan Qianyi, however, assured him that she had her own weaknesses and was confident they could succeed by working as a team.
Lin Yuming later advised Sun Yiqiu not to rush his decision, urging him to consider "why" he had suddenly become so sought after. He explained that people weren't choosing him as a partner but as a "pushover" or "cannon fodder." Because Sun Yiqiu was perceived as the least competent trainee, anyone partnering with him could easily highlight their own strengths. This revelation deeply shocked Sun Yiqiu, who lamented not having realized it.
Lin Yuming suggested it might be because he had never been in a competition, emphasizing that in competition, one must know both oneself and their opponent, and only inexperienced rookies would be so easily manipulated. Sun Yiqiu's expression darkened as he reflected on his misjudgment. He confessed that it wasn't a lack of competition experience but his failure to see them as opponents, driven by a desperate desire to fit in.
He felt isolated and like a worthless laughing stock, regretting his prolonged loneliness and missed opportunities for true companionship. He wondered if his life would be simpler if he had never pursued this path. While Sun Yiqiu was on the rooftop reflecting, Hao Shuai from the Consumer Goods Team approached him.
Hao Shuai explained he had been in Hangzhou for a due diligence investigation and hadn't met Sun Yiqiu before, but he had heard about him and wanted to be his training partner. Sun Yiqiu, still reeling from Lin Yuming's warning, immediately assumed Hao Shuai also saw him as a scapegoat. Hao Shuai, however, argued he chose Sun Yiqiu because he was "extraordinary."
He pointed out that Sun Yiqiu, despite lacking the typical qualifications and certificates for King Capital, had managed to get in and was determined to stay. Hao Shuai admired Sun Yiqiu's independent spirit and focus on his own path, claiming to value judgment and self-belief above all else. Back at the office, the interns gossiped about Hao Shuai, referring to him as "Poodle" due to both his hairstyle and his personality.
They recounted rumors that he was sent to Hangzhou because of his wealthy family's connections there, and that he had been accused of sexual harassment by multiple female colleagues in the PR Department shortly after joining the company. They speculated his connections prevented his dismissal. Meanwhile, Wu Kezhi angrily confronted Lin Yuming for being in the office instead of securing contracts with gas stations, criticizing him for merely calling instead of going in person.
Furious, Wu Kezhi ordered Lin Yuming to memorize every word of the project materials and then told Sun Yiqiu to accompany him. Wu Kezhi explained the concept of "cold-calling" to Sun Yiqiu, a method of directly contacting potential clients when no prior connections exist, describing it as "scouting with no vision." As heavy rain poured down, Wu Kezhi drove, making numerous calls to arrange meetings.
He consistently told Sun Yiqiu to wait in the car while he braved the rain to meet one manager after another. Sun Yiqiu, getting an umbrella from a convenience store, overheard Wu Kezhi persistently, even humbly, pleading with a manager for just five minutes to discuss adding charging piles, but the manager unequivocally refused. In another part of the office, Gao Sicong asked Lan Qianyi if she had found a partner, suggesting they could "join hands with another capable person."
Lan Qianyi, however, countered that it was more important to pick a partner one could get along with, rather than someone they would fight with. Sun Yiqiu and Wu Kezhi, having only secured three contracts, sat disheartened in a convenience store. Wu Kezhi, soaked from the rain, listened as Sun Yiqiu asked if securing collaborations was always so difficult. Wu Kezhi smiled, replying that this was "just the start."
Later, Sun Yiqiu, still troubled by the partner dilemma, sought Wu Kezhi's advice. Wu Kezhi explained that collaboration was simply about "making use of each other," and that one should work with anyone who can provide value. That night, Wu Kezhi returned to the office to find Lin Yuming still working. Lin Yuming apologized to Wu Kezhi, who then asked if he had memorized all the materials, revealing that Lin Yuming would be presenting at the next day's meeting.
After a night of deep thought, Sun Yiqiu approached Hao Shuai the following morning and announced his decision to team up. Hao Shuai asked what changed his mind. Sun Yiqiu explained that Hao Shuai possessed valuable due diligence experience that he lacked. He acknowledged Hao Shuai's obvious weaknesses but stated they didn't matter to him, expressing his belief that while no one is perfect, everyone has their own unique value. Hao Shuai, in turn, told Sun Yiqiu to remember this moment, as this decision would "change your fate completely."
