Our Glamorous Time Episode 5 Recap
> Our Glamorous Time Recap
Li Zhicheng arrived at Lin Qian's design studio and informed her that Aida, a subsidiary of Wenda, was now fully under his charge. He explained a significant opportunity had arisen: the Mingsheng Group was opening a bid for uniform manufacturing for their One Belt One Road project in Southeast Asia. Winning this deal would be crucial for Aida's success and Wenda's survival.
Li Zhicheng invited Lin Qian to join Aida immediately as the chief designer for this project, which involved designing special emergency rescue uniforms. Lin Qian found the project interesting but admitted she wasn't specialized in functional apparel. Li Zhicheng countered that her thesis design of trench coats, which was bought by a British company and sold well, proved her suitability, as trench coats and work uniforms shared similar requirements for waterproofing, breathability, and movement.
Lin Qian felt Li Zhicheng was too bossy for expecting her to accept so easily, but he insisted he was offering her a national-level project that other companies wouldn't give a new hire. He further sweetened the offer, stating that if they won, she would become the director of the design department with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan, plus bonuses and benefits.
As Lin Qian was considering the offer, she received a phone call from Ning Weikai, her senior from university. Ning Weikai explained that he had seen her job application at Xinbaorui and was impressed by her talent, especially after reviewing her portfolio. He apologized for the HR department's mistake in rejecting her earlier and quickly called to prevent another company from snatching her up. He invited her to meet that evening to discuss a potential job. Lin Qian happily agreed.
After hanging up, she told Li Zhicheng she needed more time to think about his offer, and he left. Later that evening, Lin Qian met Ning Weikai at a hotel. They reminisced about their college days, including winning an award and their past struggles to afford a celebratory bottle of wine. Ning Weikai offered her a 2005 Torbreck Les Amis, noting how times had changed. He then reiterated his desire for her to join Xinbaorui.
Lin Qian mentioned Li Zhicheng's offer from Aida. Ning Weikai advised her against joining Aida, describing Wenda as a sinking ship and Li Zhicheng as "just a soldier" lacking fashion industry knowledge. He emphasized that he was speaking to her as a sincerely helpful senior, not just Xinbaorui's president. Moved by his words, Lin Qian agreed to join Xinbaorui.
Meanwhile, Gu Yanzhi was conducting interviews for Aida's designer positions but found all the applicants lacking in fabric knowledge, which was critical for the Mingsheng project. Li Zhicheng interrupted, stating he had already decided to hire Lin Qian. He showed Gu Yanzhi images of Lin Qian's past designs, made from old, discarded Wenda fabrics like mosaic print, which she had transformed into dresses selling for over 1,000 yuan.
Li Zhicheng then instructed Gu Yanzhi to go to Lin Qian's studio and recruit her. When Gu Yanzhi arrived, he was met by Chen Yayi, who mistook him for a customer. After he introduced himself as Aida Group's Vice President, Chen Yayi revealed that Lin Qian was already on her way to sign a contract with Xinbaorui.
Gu Yanzhi immediately called Li Zhicheng, informing him that Lin Qian was set to sign her contract and giving him her taxi's license plate number and current location, stuck in traffic. Without hesitation, Li Zhicheng mounted his motorcycle and sped off to intercept Lin Qian. He quickly caught up to her taxi, which was indeed stuck in a traffic jam. He called her out of the cab and offered to give her a ride to Xinbaorui, to her utter astonishment.
Li Zhicheng drove Lin Qian to Xinbaorui's underground parking garage. Despite Lin Qian's insistence that she wouldn't change her mind, he forced his way into the elevator with her, pressing all the floor buttons to prolong their conversation. He systematically dismantled the appeal of Xinbaorui, highlighting its reliance on OEM and copying high-fashion brands, and how its established structure offered little room for a new talent like her.
He also revealed his knowledge of Ning Weikai being her senior, gleaned from the internet, and warned her that while Ning Weikai was CEO, his position was insecure within the powerful Zhu Group, making her vulnerable to internal power struggles. Lin Qian challenged him, asking why Aida would be any different, and questioned his own lack of knowledge in the apparel industry compared to Ning Weikai's design background.
Li Zhicheng guaranteed her safety at Aida, emphasizing that the Mingsheng project offered an unparalleled opportunity under the "One Belt One Road" initiative, which would make her famous. He then declared, "I need you," stressing that timely help in dire need was more meaningful than adding icing on the cake, also reminding her of his past help. Simultaneously, within Xinbaorui's offices, Ning Weikai was discussing his vision for an independent brand with Chairman Zhu and his son, Zhu Han.
He mentioned his intent to hire Lin Qian, praising her professional skills. However, Zhu Han immediately dismissed Lin Qian, stating he had already interviewed and rejected her days prior due to her lack of work experience. Despite Ning Weikai's appreciation for her talent, Chairman Zhu sided with his son and instructed Ning Weikai to drop the matter and find another candidate according to company protocols.
Back in the elevator, Li Zhicheng, seeing Lin Qian's hesitation, pulled out an Aida hiring contract. Moved by his persistent sincerity, Lin Qian agreed to sign on the condition that her assistant, Chen Yayi, would also be hired with a comparable salary and comprehensive insurance. Li Zhicheng readily agreed. He then took her lipstick, applied it to her finger, and had her make a print on the contract.
As he collected the signed contract, he declared, "Let's have a good collaboration," then quickly adopted a more serious tone, instructing her to report to the office at 9 AM the next day. Later, Lin Qian arranged to meet Ning Weikai at a cafe, both of them burdened with news they needed to share. Lin Qian nervously apologized, informing him she couldn't join Xinbaorui because she had signed a project contract with another company.
She added that she would consider returning after the contract ended if he still needed her. Ning Weikai, secretly relieved that he wouldn't have to tell her Xinbaorui wasn't hiring her, feigned disappointment and respect for her decision. Lin Qian then revealed she had signed with Aida, explaining that Li Zhicheng had relentlessly persuaded her. Ning Weikai realized they would soon be rivals in the same bid. He raised his coffee cup, toasting her new job and wishing her success.
The following day, Lin Qian and Chen Yayi reported to Aida. After checking in, Lin Qian presented Li Zhicheng with her first draft designs for the emergency uniform, which she had worked on through the night. She explained that the Mingsheng project's tropical rainforest climate required highly waterproof and breathable qualities. Li Zhicheng approved of the overall design style but immediately rejected her estimated cost of 214 yuan per outfit as "not good."
