Ordinary Glory Episode 8 Recap
> Ordinary Glory Recap
Sun Yiqiu ate quickly before heading to the company, having already decided that even if he failed the upcoming test, he would pursue entrepreneurship to make use of what he had learned. He believed that the greatest adversary in any competition was oneself, and that true adulthood meant being both reliable and independent.
Meanwhile, Hao Shuai received a stern phone call from his father, who repeatedly urged him to perform well in the exam, reminding him of the significant cost and connections used to secure his internship. His father threatened to disinherit him if he failed, to which Hao Shuai defiantly claimed he would pay him back, abruptly ending the call as he entered the subway. Lin Yuming confronted Wu Kezhi, having witnessed him pleading with Director Qu the previous night.
Lin Yuming expressed that while he didn't care about a promotion for himself, seeing Wu Kezhi, who never pleaded for his own benefit, do so for him, made him feel terrible. Wu Kezhi dismissed his remarks. Later, Wu Kezhi received a call confirming from Manager Wang that Lin Yuming was no longer required to submit a self-criticism. Overcome with emotion, Lin Yuming repeatedly bowed to Wu Kezhi, thanking him.
Wu Kezhi sternly warned him not to let such a situation occur a third time. The trainees were visibly anxious before the assessment began, with many expressing that they hadn't been this nervous since their college entrance exams. Hao Shuai, in particular, admitted his extreme nervousness to Sun Yiqiu, though he quickly tried to compose himself.
As the directors, including Director Qu, Manager Ma, and Wu Kezhi, took their seats, Wu Kezhi openly stated that many departments, including his own, were interested in Lan Qianyi, confirming she was the only trainee he had confidence in. Director Qu then addressed the interns, welcoming them and emphasizing the test's crucial nature in determining who would join the company and who would conclude their journey there.
He outlined the rules for the first session: each team had 10 minutes to present a project using only pre-submitted materials, with penalties for any last-minute changes. The first team to present for their "Sing Together" app began with a song, which Director Qu abruptly halted, criticizing their lack of understanding of a professional presentation. As other teams presented, Hao Shuai began to feel unwell, his face paling and sweat beading on his forehead, which concerned Sun Yiqiu.
An intern presenting an Anypay platform was then questioned by Director Qu about his resume, specifically his past achievement as a provincial-level international junior chess runner-up, having started learning chess at age five. Director Qu probed why he didn't pursue a professional chess career. The intern stammered, offering reasons like wanting to try something different, his family desiring a stable job, and his interest in finance.
Director Qu, however, rejected his explanation as a mere excuse, implying he couldn't confront past failures. He criticized the intern for including an "unimportant" detail in his CV to appear better, ultimately declaring him a "huge letdown" and stating the company sought individuals with strong minds and clear objectives, which the intern clearly lacked.
Meanwhile, Hao Shuai, battling his physical discomfort, was simultaneously overwhelmed by the mental pressure, vividly recalling a past incident where his strict father lambasted him for fearfully passing a basketball in a game. Lin Yuming confided in his colleagues, Zhao Boqian and Jiang Nan, expressing his grave concern that Sun Yiqiu was "doomed" without a miracle.
While they all recognized Gao Sicong and Lan Qianyi as promising candidates, Zhao Boqian found Lan Qianyi's consistently serious demeanor "unlikable," describing her as "gloomy" and acting as if "everyone owes her money." Lan Qianyi then delivered an "impeccable" presentation on an AI chip for underwater robots, demonstrating its applications in various industrial tasks despite a brief interruption.
Gao Sicong's subsequent presentation on shale oil was also well-received, with impressive slides and a "on-point" delivery, yet Wu Kezhi sensed that "something was lacking." As Zeng Hao delivered his presentation on a new energy battery project, Sun Yiqiu noticed Hao Shuai was sweating profusely. Their turn was next. As they walked onto the stage, Hao Shuai nearly tripped, but Sun Yiqiu quickly steadied him.
Hao Shuai, pale and visibly distressed, began presenting their project, the "Tell Me Counselling Platform," but his words came out as a stuttering mess, repeating phrases and struggling to form coherent sentences. Director Qu sternly urged him to present properly. Hao Shuai then asked for a bathroom break, prompting Sun Yiqiu to wonder if his partner was too distracted by the pressure of the outcome.
Director Qu agreed, but stipulated that the time spent in the restroom would count against their remaining seven minutes. Hao Shuai, deciding against the break, continued to flounder. Sun Yiqiu, seeing their time dwindle, stepped in to take over the presentation. However, he also struggled with his public speaking, acknowledging to himself that his lack of soft skills couldn't be masked by a positive attitude.
Hao Shuai, meanwhile, was tormented by his father's critical words, who had previously berated him for not succeeding in college or business, and urged him to give up and marry. Hao Shuai inwardly resolved to prove his father wrong, fearing he'd be deemed "worthless" if he failed this test, but the pressure only intensified his anxiety. Wu Kezhi, observing Sun Yiqiu's persistent but faltering efforts, was reminded of his own resolute nature.
Realizing their project was in jeopardy, Hao Shuai, despite his initial struggle, abruptly regained his composure and took back the lead. He spoke with newfound confidence, explaining that the project addressed a cultural tendency among Chinese people to seek emotional resonance through others' stories. He then clearly and effectively articulated the project's core selling points within their limited time, captivating the audience and performing as impressively as Lan Qianyi.
Sun Yiqiu recognized that Hao Shuai had succeeded in proving himself, no matter who he intended to impress. As the first round concluded, the trainees collectively breathed a sigh of relief, some lamenting the "inhumane" and "strict" nature of the test. While some colleagues debated whether Lan Qianyi or Hao Shuai was superior, with arguments for Hao Shuai's "capability and guts" in turning his presentation around, Wu Kezhi's concern for Sun Yiqiu was evident, though he tried to conceal it.
Yu Wenli teased him for his "rigid" nature, suggesting he was "hung up on the past" and needed counseling. Later, in the restroom, Wu Kezhi offered Sun Yiqiu a cynical piece of advice: "If you can't beat him, drag him down." Sun Yiqiu, however, countered with a more optimistic outlook, stating, "You won't know the result until the end of the game."
The second test began, requiring trainees to convince their assigned partner to invest in a chosen project, with bonus points for successful persuasion and deductions for unfounded rejections. Gao Sicong expertly presented an app called "Talk Nicely" to his partner, Zhou Bo, strategically using data from the app to highlight Zhou Bo's own excessive use of verbal fillers during their conversations, implying a weakness in his communication skills.
Despite Zhou Bo's discomfort, the data on user growth and retention compelled him to invest, a move Wu Kezhi found "loathsome," believing that exploiting a partner's weakness would not lead to beneficial long-term collaboration. Next, Li Xiaoxian pitched "Your Majesty," a stress-relief game for working women, to Lan Qianyi. He even used images of Lan Qianyi as an example for the game's customizable avatars. Lan Qianyi was clearly displeased and promptly rejected the project.
She argued that the app displayed "prejudice and gender discrimination" by portraying women as overly emotional and irrational. She asserted that real-world issues required direct action and legal recourse, not merely emotional destressing. Furthermore, she criticized the project's lack of technological innovation, ease of replication, and absence of long-term investment value, concluding that he should "save this self-deceiving stupid project for yourself." For the final pair, Hao Shuai presented his chosen project, "Teli Women Fashion," to Sun Yiqiu.
He made it clear that unlike other participants who might tailor their pitches to their partners' interests, he was recommending a project he genuinely wished to invest in himself. Hao Shuai described Teli as a niche women's clothing brand founded by a local designer, praised for its exceptional designs and perfect tailoring, which had gained significant recognition among affluent consumers and even caught the attention of international designer Issey Miyake for a potential collaboration.
He presented a market survey showing over 60% overlap between Teli's consumers and those of top international brands like LV and Gucci. Acknowledging that such data wasn't always perfectly accurate, Hao Shuai revealed he had spent several months personally gathering information, showing photographs he had taken of women wearing Teli garments alongside high-end luxury items. Sun Yiqiu realized then that Hao Shuai's seemingly odd behavior of secretly taking photos was, in fact, dedicated market research.
Hao Shuai passionately articulated his personal dream and the driving force behind his ambition to become an investment consultant: to build a top international brand that truly belonged to China. He lamented the "strange phenomenon" that despite China being the world's largest luxury market, it lacked a globally recognized luxury brand akin to Armani or Gucci.
When Director Qu inquired about the origin of this ambition, Hao Shuai explained that his parents had built their clothing business by selling imitations of international brands. This led to a difficult childhood where he was often ridiculed by peers for "selling fake things," instilling in him a deep desire to "redeem himself" by creating an authentic Chinese international brand. His resolute ambition impressed the observers. Finally, Hao Shuai asked Sun Yiqiu if he would invest in his "judgment and hard work." After a long pause, Sun Yiqiu delivered his answer: "No."
