Rising With The Wind Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Rising With The Wind Synopsis
Jiang Hu, a smart and capable but capricious and arrogant girl, has been living under the protection and aura of her father Jiang Qisheng, the chairman of a clothing company.
A sudden accident turned her life upside down.
When Jiang Hu was tempted to commit suicide, she was rescued by Xu Si, an investor with whom she has always been at odds.
Xu Si’s cynical remarks provoked Jiang Hu’s determination to rise up with the wind.
When Jiang Hu decided to pull herself and kept her family’s only brand of rubber-soled shoes, “Teng Yue”, which has not yet been acquired.
He met with Xu Si, who had bought back the shoe factory of “Teng Yue” at a low price and intended to sell it at a price.
Jiang Hu fought hard and finally made a life and death contract with Xu Si for the survival of “Teng Yue”.
Jiang Hu recruited Chaoyang and Yang Jian to form a start-up team to revive “Teng Yue”.
Several young people from different backgrounds experienced various difficulties in starting their own business, and also opened new sales channels for the old “Teng Yue” shoes through the “Internet+” business method.
However, the collision of business ideas between Xu Si and Jiang Hu, and the survival test of the post-90s have made this ninety-year team face the crisis of disintegration from time to time…
Rising With The Wind Recap
Episode 1 Recap
The story opens with a flash-forward: Jiang Hu, the daughter of the chairman of the shoe and clothing group Free Unicorn, stands on a high ledge, despondent. She pleads for someone to save the company, lamenting that with her father gone, she has nothing left and has been forced into this desperate situation. She is ultimately pulled back from the edge by a man named Xu Si. The narrative then jumps back three months.
At a press conference in Hong Kong celebrating FCR Group's successful stock market listing, investor Xu Si arrives just in time for the ceremonial bell ringing. After the event, he reveals his plan to move to an investment firm in Shanghai. His first objective is to acquire a piece of land owned by Teng Yue, a subsidiary of Free Unicorn. However, Free Unicorn's chairman, Jiang Qisheng, has consistently refused to meet with him.
Jiang Hu has her first encounter with Xu Si, mistaking him for her father's new assistant and sending him to buy her a chicken hamburger. Xu Si's assistant, Wu Guanglei, informs him that Jiang Qisheng is a doting father who has remained unmarried to protect his daughter.
Annoyed that her hamburger never arrived and that Xu Si wasn't an assistant, Jiang Hu later buys a pair of simple canvas shoes from a stall in an old building after her high heels are accidentally damaged by an elderly woman. She leaves the expensive, damaged heels behind. Meanwhile, artistic designer Xiang Chaoyang, who works for the rival shoe brand Aneda, returns to China after representing the country in the St. Laurent Design Competition.
She is greeted at the airport by Aneda senior executive Tang Ya, who praises her as a rising star for the company. However, Chaoyang is frustrated to learn her mother, Zhou Suqing, has accepted a 100,000 yuan commercial appearance on her behalf without her consent. Facing a penalty for canceling, Chaoyang reluctantly agrees to attend. The event turns out to be Free Unicorn's 30th-anniversary celebration and livestream promotion, held at the Teng Yue factory.
Unwilling to be seen at a competitor's event, Chaoyang wears a mask. She becomes upset upon learning the livestream involves unethical practices like click farming to inflate sales numbers and voices her objection. This leads to a confrontation with the event's headliner, top influencer Momo Sakura, who questions Chaoyang's principles and rips the mask from her face. Jiang Hu steps in to manage the conflict.
When Momo Sakura threatens to walk out, believing her departure will ruin the event, Jiang Hu coolly dismisses her, stating that no one is irreplaceable. She then allows both Momo Sakura and Xiang Chaoyang to leave. Seizing the moment, Jiang Hu rallies the fifty remaining influencers, challenging them to take the opportunity Momo Sakura abandoned and promising the day's top seller a spot on the number one trending search. The manipulated drama works perfectly.
Wu Guanglei reports to Xu Si that the online data is exploding. The walkout becomes a trending topic, with Teng Yue hitting #1 on the trending list, Momo Sakura #2, and Xiang Chaoyang #5. Chaoyang realizes Jiang Hu deliberately engineered the public conflict to generate massive hype for the event. After the event, Jiang Hu confronts Chaoyang and offers her a designer position at Teng Yue with double her Aneda salary.
She praises Chaoyang's "Flowing Scenery" competition entry, noting its traditional style is a better fit for Teng Yue than Aneda, and even offers to support Chaoyang if Aneda fires her for appearing at a rival's event. Chaoyang angrily rejects the offer. She reminds Jiang Hu that they were classmates for six years and that she remains arrogant and inconsiderate.
Chaoyang accuses her of relying on her powerful father, asserting that without him, Jiang Hu would be nothing, whereas she earned everything herself. Observing the chaos, Xu Si sees an opportunity. He approaches Jiang Hu, correctly guessing she orchestrated the entire walkout for publicity. Already aware of his identity and his goal to acquire Teng Yue's land, Jiang Hu proposes a bet: she wagers that her father will not sell the land.
If she wins, Xu Si must never appear before her again. Upset by the night's events, Chaoyang is taken on a boat trip by her friend Yang Jian to watch the sunrise. Her mother, meanwhile, is already trying to book her next job with a "Mr. Yan." The Teng Yue livestream proves to be a massive success, concluding with 86 million in sales.
Jiang Hu celebrates with her friend Ye Xiaowei, who comments on Chaoyang's "acting," but Jiang Hu clarifies that Chaoyang's reactions were genuine. The next morning, Jiang Hu fulfills her part of the bet, meeting Xu Si and returning an item of his before leading him to a meeting with her father.
Episode 2 Recap
Jiang Hu returned an item to Xu Si that he had left at her place, and they discussed Free Unicorn's thirtieth anniversary. She noted its celebration was unusually subdued, a stark contrast to the extravagance of her recent marketing livestream. Jiang Hu then listed her detailed knowledge of Xu Si’s background—from Cambridge to an M&A role at ICT in Hong Kong—and questioned his current status as an unemployed individual seemingly pivoting to real estate.
Amused, Xu Si acknowledged her thorough research, attributing it to her interest in him after he had "scammed" her out of a small sum of money. Jiang Hu brought Xu Si to meet her father, Jiang Qisheng. Though not yet officially employed by Baoxing Investment, Xu Si introduced himself as an investor there to learn. Jiang Qisheng, recognizing him, questioned the urgency of Baoxing's acquisition project and implied Xu Si was already acting on their behalf.
After acknowledging Jiang Qisheng's industry experience, Xu Si was caught off guard when Jiang Qisheng stated plainly that Free Unicorn would not sell Teng Yue. Just then, Free Unicorn's CFO, Yue Shan, arrived, and Jiang Hu ushered Xu Si out, telling him to leave the shoes he brought as they were the wrong size for her father. Despite the rejection, Xu Si suggested they add each other on WeChat, proposing he could help her handle distressed assets in the future.
Jiang Hu refused, citing their bet that the loser would stay away and dismissing his previous comments as drunken talk. Xu Si playfully called her out for being difficult, insisting they become friends based on the adult principle of mutual benefit. Though Jiang Hu was skeptical, Xu Si pointed to her market foresight, suggesting she could contact him when she needed to sell assets.
He added that he would soon be employed again, dealing not just in real estate but also in distressed assets. Jiang Hu firmly rejected the notion, expressing absolute faith in her father, whom she called her "God." In Jiang Qisheng's office, he and Yue Shan discussed Free Unicorn’s dire financial situation: overseas investments were illiquid, tens of millions were owed to suppliers, and payroll was due.
Jiang Qisheng decided to temporarily mortgage Jiang Hu's personal assets to cover wages and stressed the urgency of finding Shen Gui to retrieve funds from a platform called Peace Loan. Yue Shan reported that Shen Gui, who was introduced to them by a man named Gao Yi, had become unreachable, and she couldn't contact Gao Yi either. After she left, a worried Jiang Qisheng also failed to reach Gao Yi. Meanwhile, designer Xiang Zhaoyang faced repercussions at her company, Aneda.
Her boss, Mr. Yan, reprimanded her for using her significant social media influence to publicly support a competitor, deeming it a serious issue. As he considered how to proceed, Jiang Hu arrived. Assuming she was there to gloat, Xiang Zhaoyang met her with sarcasm. Jiang Hu praised Xiang Zhaoyang's "Flowing View" design but noted it was unsuitable for Aneda. She then boldly offered Xiang Zhaoyang the role of chief designer for Teng Yue with superior terms.
Xiang Zhaoyang ridiculed the offer, pointing out that Jiang Hu held no official position and knew nothing about Teng Yue—a factory that had served as an OEM for twenty years and now sold only one outdated product. She concluded that the struggling Teng Yue didn't deserve a designer of her caliber. Elsewhere, Xu Si and his partner, Wu Guanglei, discussed Free Unicorn's crisis.
They knew Peace Loan’s head, Shen Gui, was missing and that Free Unicorn faced a funding gap of over a billion yuan. They theorized that once Shen Gui's disappearance became public, the resulting run on Peace Loan would crush Free Unicorn. To force the acquisition of Teng Yue, which was crucial to their surrounding land purchases, Wu Guanglei proposed leaking the news of Shen Gui's disappearance, and Xu Si coordinated its release.
Unaware of the scheme, Jiang Hu took her father to the Teng Yue factory, showing him a pair of the first shoes he ever made. They reminisced about the factory being his and Free Unicorn's starting point, where he also met his wife. Jiang Hu clarified to her father that her connection to Xu Si was only due to a bet. Jiang Qisheng expressed relief but warned her that Xu Si was smart, resourceful, and ambitious.
A flashback revealed Jiang Qisheng introducing a young tutor, Gao Yi, as the son of an old comrade who would live with them. In the present, Jiang Hu considered calling Gao Yi but hesitated. The next day, a shocking phone call awakened Jiang Hu. Outside the Free Unicorn office, angry investors protested, demanding their money back from Shen Gui. Jiang Hu's desperate call to Gao Yi was coldly dismissed with an excuse that he was busy.
Finally, Jiang Qisheng got through to Gao Yi, who confessed the Peace Loan investment was a deliberate scam he had orchestrated and that an associated company, Lido, was unaffected. As Jiang Qisheng sat in stunned silence, Yue Shan rushed in to announce Shen Gui's arrest and the collapse of Peace Loan. The news was the final blow, and Jiang Qisheng collapsed. Jiang Hu met with Xu Si to discuss selling Teng Yue.
He presented an offer based on current market rates, which she angrily rejected as predatory exploitation. Xu Si coolly called her childish for not accepting market reality, insisting the price was fair. He provocatively added that even ten times the amount couldn't save Free Unicorn, not even if her father was a "god." Furious, Jiang Hu threw a glass of water in his face and stormed out.
Moments later, both she and Xu Si, who had followed her, received near-simultaneous phone calls informing them that Jiang Qisheng had died of a heart attack. As Jiang Qisheng's funeral took place, Xu Si was welcomed as the new Executive Director at Baoxing Investment by Director Du. As the first-in-line successor, Jiang Hu inherited not only her father's estate but also his massive debts, reportedly over a billion yuan from loan guarantees.
Her situation was publicly described as shifting from "easy mode" to "death mode," with commentators agreeing that renouncing the inheritance was her only logical option. Jiang Hu presented a plan to save Free Unicorn to several of her father's old friends, begging for their help. They refused to back the company, though they offered to support her personally if she chose to start a new business or move abroad.
Calling her plan delusional, they bluntly told her she was inexperienced, the market was brutal, and she was like a "fish on a chopping block." They insisted that even her father couldn't have saved the company and that her best option was to go abroad and get married. As they left, one of the men called her unteachable. Shortly after, Xu Si observed Jiang Hu from his car, watching with concern as she drove erratically and nearly collided with a truck.
Episode 3 Recap
Jiang Hu sharply turns the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding a large truck. Concerned for her safety, Xu Si follows her in his car. The next day, he returns the mud-splattered car to his colleague. Meanwhile, Xiang Chaoyang seeks a meeting with Ms. Tang to discuss her future at the company. However, due to an incident where Chaoyang promoted a rival product during a live stream, Ms. Tang's attitude has soured.
Ms. Tang reminds Chaoyang of her modest academic background and how she had personally championed her hiring based on potential. While reviewing Chaoyang's design work, Ms. Tang tells her to make adjustments and wait for a call. With the collapse of its parent company Free Unicorn, the Teng Yue factory also goes under. Owed money, many small suppliers gather to demand payment. Jiang Hu drives back to Teng Yue and is immediately surrounded by angry creditors.
Her temper flares, leading to a confrontation where she is pelted with eggs. Her uncle, Pei Zhiyuan, arrives to help, revealing he was also hit with eggs. He urges her to speak calmly to the creditors and suggests she go abroad to escape the turmoil, having already booked her a flight. Jiang Hu angrily rejects his advice, asking if he thinks he is her mother, and they part ways after he tells her to leave once the crowd disperses.
Shortly after, Yang Jian arrives with his friends, whose businesses are also owed hundreds of thousands of yuan for raw materials by Teng Yue. Yang Jian confronts Jiang Hu, noting her attempt to "use the back door" to avoid them. Jiang Hu acknowledges their purpose and states they must follow procedures. When Yang Jian suggests she sell her car for the money, she pretends to agree and makes a phone call.
Instead, she quickly gets into her car, locks the doors, and speeds away, leaving Yang Jian to curse in frustration while his friend remarks that she cannot hide forever. Seeking a solution, Jiang Hu consults Zhang Wenshan, a longtime family associate and distributor for Free Unicorn. He proposes a deceptive plan: she must renounce her inheritance rights, allowing the group's 65% equity stake to be publicly auctioned.
He claims his family only has enough funds to acquire the core brand and office building. This strategy, he argues, will allow them to buy Free Unicorn without its massive debts and continue their families' decades-long partnership, honoring her father's legacy. When Jiang Hu expresses concern that she cannot afford to buy the company back from him soon, he reassures her that they have plenty of time.
Trusting him, Jiang Hu thanks him, lamenting the betrayals she has faced since her father's death. The auction proceeds, and Zhang Wenshan's family wins the 65% equity of Free Unicorn with a bid of 226 million yuan. Afterward, he callously tells Jiang Hu that he kept his word, as Free Unicorn will continue to operate under his family's ownership, and suggests she leave the country to avoid painful memories.
Jiang Hu realizes she has been manipulated into giving up her inheritance so he could acquire her family's company debt-free. She accuses him of lying and never taking her seriously, calling him despicable. Zhang Wenshan dismisses her, telling others she is merely in a bad mood. Meanwhile, Xu Si discusses business with his boss at Baoxing group, who congratulates him on his recent performance.
His boss outlines future acquisitions, including Aneda shoes and the Teng Yue land, emphasizing that the Aneda project is crucial. He promises Xu Si an investment management partner position within two years if he succeeds, which would make him the youngest in the industry, and reminds him to focus on securing the Teng Yue land.
Shortly after the auction, Jiang Hu receives a frantic call from her assistant, Yue Shan, urging her to return to her villa, where creditors are emptying the house. Yue Shan reports that the police are on the scene, but little can be saved. Jiang Hu, in denial, insists on finding Gao Yi for help. Yue Shan then reveals a devastating truth: Gao Yi, while working at Lidu Tianyi's investment department, introduced the fraudulent Peace Loan to Jiang Hu's father.
Crucially, Lidu Tianyi withdrew all its funds from Peace Loan just before its owner was arrested, indicating that Gao Yi knew of the impending collapse and not only failed to warn her father but likely profited from his downfall. Refusing to believe it, Jiang Hu storms into Lidu Tianyi to confront Gao Yi. He admits that Lidu Tianyi invested in and withdrew its funds from Peace Loan, and that he deliberately withheld this information from her father.
Utterly betrayed by the man she trusted like a brother, Jiang Hu slaps him and leaves in a rage. Overwhelmed, she goes to the rooftop of the Teng Yue building, intending to jump. Xu Si finds her and pulls her back from the edge. She struggles, accusing him of only caring about the Teng Yue land and calling him a despicable opportunist. Xu Si calmly counters that her suicide on the property would only drive its value down further.
He then tells her a story of a laid-off technician from a state-owned factory in the 1990s who, facing ruin, spent a night on the factory roof. Instead of jumping, he saw the sunrise and found a new path, eventually solving his problems by selling off surplus inventory abroad.
As a memory of her father's voice echoes, stating that Teng Yue was his starting point and that there is always hope as long as one is alive, Xu Si tells Jiang Hu that she too can find a way forward. He decides to stay on the rooftop with her until dawn to see "which direction the wind blows." Elsewhere, Xiang Chaoyang is fired by Ms. Tang.
The company's senior executives made the decision because Chaoyang's promotion of a rival product caused their brand, Aneda, to be negatively associated with Free Unicorn's marketing scandal, a serious breach of professional ethics. Ms. Tang expresses her regret and hopes Chaoyang learns from the mistake. Chaoyang returns home to find her mother, Zhou Suqing, putting on a dramatic act about no longer being a burden.
When confronted, her mother first denies buying stocks, then admits she was persuaded by a man named Thompson to borrow money and invest in Peace Loan, lured by a promised 25% interest rate. She defends herself, claiming it seemed safer than stocks and blaming the fund's collapse for her losses, just like what happened to Jiang Hu's company. Xiang Chaoyang, exasperated, cuts through the excuses and asks directly how much debt her mother has incurred this time.
Episode 4 Recap
Xiang Zhaoyang's mother confessed to owing two hundred thousand yuan, explaining it was due to the arrest of the "Xin An Loan" boss, an event that even implicated large companies like Jiang Hu's family business. Furious, Xiang Zhaoyang reminded her mother of a previous one-hundred-thousand-yuan debt from stock trading. She lamented losing her job related to Free Unicorn, as she had been tricked into signing a contract to help pay off that earlier debt.
Feeling helpless, she sarcastically told her mother to jump from the window if she was serious about suicide, noting it wasn't even open. Her mother responded emotionally, saying Zhaoyang would be lonely with only her brother if she were gone. At an auction, the industrial land site of Shanghai Teng Yue Shoes Ltd. was acquired by Shanghai Baoxing Investment Company. The auctioneer then presented the final item: all shares and trademark rights of Teng Yue, starting at five million yuan.
The auctioneer highlighted Teng Yue's long history and brand recognition. After a pause with no bids, Jiang Hu impulsively interrupted the proceedings to bid on the company. Later, workers confronted Mr. Pei, the factory director, demanding to know where they would go now that the land was sold and insisting he arrange their accommodations since their employment was still with Teng Yue.
Mr. Pei refused, stating he was a director, not a shareholder, and told them to talk to the new owner. Jiang Hu arrived and announced she had bought Teng Yue, assuring everyone that no one had to leave. The workers were relieved, but Mr. Pei questioned her ability to manage without money or connections, calling her actions foolish and comparing her to a "dead pig not afraid of boiling water."
Jiang Hu insisted she couldn't bear to see Teng Yue fall into others' hands like Free Unicorn. Soon after, a group of debt collectors arrived looking for Jiang Hu. Despite Mr. Pei's attempt to claim she was abroad, they spotted her. The leader noted her recent five-million-yuan purchase and demanded she settle their debts. Jiang Hu stated she didn't have the money at that moment, prompting accusations that her family were defaulters.
When one man tried to bring up her father, Jiang Hu sharply told him he had no right. She calmly requested proof of debt, such as supply contracts or purchase orders, promising to settle validated accounts. The collectors argued their informal terms were based on trust, which she was now exploiting. Jiang Hu requested three days to verify everything.
Meanwhile, Mr. Du and Xu Si discussed Jiang Hu's actions, finding it unbelievable that the former Free Unicorn heiress would spend all her money on a struggling company like Teng Yue. Xu Si concluded that her thinking was still stuck in the past before her father's death and that she had "gone mad." Mr. Pei advised Jiang Hu to ignore the collectors since they lacked contracts, but she refused, telling him to focus on verifying the accounts.
She instructed him, as Teng Yue's director, to find a new factory location, saying she would handle the finances. Mr. Pei reluctantly agreed, complaining about his own stock market losses and muttering about the absurdity of seeking a new factory when they were penniless. After paying for Teng Yue, Jiang Hu's bank balance was only 6,730 yuan. Yue Shan witnessed this and suggested the decision was hasty, offering Jiang Hu a place to stay and a credit card.
Jiang Hu was aware her car had been towed and she had to vacate her villa in three days, but she rejected the help. She accused Yue Shan of having wanted to be her stepmother and stated she wasn't obligated to be kind to every woman who had been interested in her father, returning the card. Later, Xu Si finished a meeting with Baoxing.
He then encountered Jiang Hu, who acknowledged that his company now owned the land beneath her factory. They agreed she would move the factory by the end of the month. Xu Si offered her a ride, which she accepted, but she sat in the back and treated him like a chauffeur.
After he dropped her off at the Huazhou Junting neighborhood, she had him scan her WeChat QR code, added him as a contact, and sent him 200 yuan, jokingly asking for a five-star review. Xiang Zhaoyang attended an interview at an independent design studio. The interviewer, aware Zhaoyang was fired by Aneda's director Tang Ya, praised her talent but noted that her non-compete agreement made her unemployable in the industry.
She proposed that Zhaoyang work as a ghostwriter, creating designs under the interviewer's name to bypass the agreement. Xiang Zhaoyang politely declined, stating she would not do private work or be a ghost designer. At home, Xu Si's mother, Fang Moping, criticized his business practices. A traditional manufacturer of an old cup brand, she accused him of being an opportunist for engaging in "disposal of non-performing assets" and leveraging family connections.
Their argument escalated when Xu Si suggested he could get a good price for "Xu Feng," the family business that had been losing money for two years. Outraged, Fang Moping forbade him from becoming a "scoundrel" who would ruin the family fortune. Xu Si later met with his ex-girlfriend, Song Zhi, to advise her on her company, Dingliang Media.
He identified their biggest problem as the severe homogeneity of their signed influencers (KOLs), a weakness exposed after a key influencer's departure. He recommended she build a larger base of brands and manufacturers by establishing closer relationships with supply chain platforms to ensure sufficient support for her talent. At a livestreaming base, Xiang Zhaoyang met with Mr. Fang of the sportswear brand "Qiandai." During the meeting, Mr. Fang made her uncomfortable with inappropriate physical proximity.
To create distance and draw attention, Zhaoyang intentionally knocked a cup to the floor. An angered Mr. Fang accused her of mistreating him and stormed out. Xu Si witnessed the incident. Afterwards, a colleague scolded Zhaoyang for jeopardizing a major brand collaboration. Xu Si approached her, challenging the logic that one needs big brands to succeed. He offered her a long-term solution to her vulnerability: a job at his company, where he promised such incidents would not happen. As he gave her his card, Xiang Zhaoyang recognized him.
Episode 5 Recap
Jindian Industry sent people to inspect the cup factory, with a quotation expected within the week. Xu Si was informed of this, but when his associate asked if his mother knew, he dismissed it as none of the associate's concern. Struggling financially, Jiang Hu decided to sell her luxury items and high-end shoes, inviting former acquaintances to look through her collection. Among them was Wang Lan, Zhang Wenshan's girlfriend, who deliberately sought to provoke Jiang Hu.
Remembering how Jiang Hu had slapped Zhang Wenshan at a recent auction, Wang Lan mocked Jiang Hu's current circumstances and demanded that Jiang Hu tie the laces of a specific pair of shoes she was reluctant to sell, threatening that no one would buy anything otherwise. Faced with her new reality, Jiang Hu remained silent. Jiang Hu packed her belongings into a single suitcase and moved from her villa into the Teng Yue factory.
She found the bathroom facilities severely neglected. After giving her dog a bath and eating instant noodles, she fell asleep at a table. Upon waking, she discovered that the old factory workers had cleaned the upstairs rooms and the bathroom for her. They gave her the only key to the cleaned bathroom, ensuring she had a private space, and also planned to install a shower for her.
Despite the drastic downgrade from her previous lifestyle, Jiang Hu was deeply grateful for the workers' kindness, who promised to look after her on behalf of her grandfather and mother for as long as they remained. Hong Die asked Xu Si if he had taken people to see the factory, reminding him it was his mother Fang Moping's life's work.
Xu Si didn't deny it, stating that the factory should have been sold long ago, given Fang Moping's declining health and her use of personal funds to subsidize its monthly losses. Fang Moping then summoned Xu Si. During their tense meeting, Xu Si argued that if she had agreed to a merger years ago, they would have had funds to upgrade the equipment, which could have prevented the fire caused by aging machinery.
Angered, Fang Moping ordered him to leave, and he did so without hesitation. Yue Shan, the CFO of Free Unicorn, gave Jiang Hu a ledger belonging to her late father, Jiang Qisheng. It detailed over five million yuan he had privately lent to friends, not including interest. Yue Shan suggested that collecting these debts could help alleviate Jiang Hu's financial burden for renting the factory space but noted that since there were no IOUs, recovery would be difficult.
Jiang Hu encountered Xu Si at a gym. He advised her to either sell Teng Yue, offering to help her turn a small profit, or fire the workers and find an OEM manufacturer. Jiang Hu firmly rejected his suggestions, insisting that Teng Yue was her father's legacy and she could not abandon the workers.
Xu Si pointed out her lack of funds and a factory, predicting she would be homeless in ten days and implying her efforts were futile, though he claimed to be speaking as a friend. To recover the debts, Jiang Hu proposed a deal to Yang Jian: if he helped her collect the money, she would use whatever they recovered to repay the money Teng Yue owed his friends.
Initially skeptical, Yang Jian agreed, seeing it as the only way to get his friends' money back. Jiang Hu and Yang Jian began the difficult process of debt collection. They faced constant rejections, and Jiang Hu even broke her high heels from running around. When Yang Jian's associates suggested aggressive tactics, Jiang Hu asked if they could be more "decent," but Yang Jian countered that her polite approach had proven ineffective.
Jiang Hu admitted she wasn't good at debt collection, so Yang Jian took charge. He confessed that he initially thought she was pretending to be in trouble but now saw her struggles were real. Yang Jian learned that a debtor named Mr. Li, who owed three million yuan, was at the exclusive C Club. Since Jiang Hu was a member, they went to confront him and found him meeting with Xu Si.
When Jiang Hu demanded repayment, Xu Si asked for proof, which she couldn't provide. Jiang Hu then publicly called Mr. Li's venture a "deadbeat start-up company," questioning Xu Si's investment. When a waiter brought a bottle of expensive wine Mr. Li had ordered, Jiang Hu seized it, declaring it as interest on the debt before leaving with Yang Jian. Outside, Yang Jian planned to sell the wine and assured Jiang Hu they would continue pursuing Mr. Li.
Jiang Hu declined his offer for food, wanting to be alone. Inside the club, as Mr. Li complained about the intrusion, Xu Si advised him to resolve his personal debt, noting an unexplained three-million-yuan entry in his financial report and warning that a founder's reputation could affect the company. Before leaving, Xu Si quietly instructed his assistant to add the cost of the confiscated wine to his own bill.
Meanwhile, at the factory, the workers, noticing Jiang Hu was always running around without transportation, pooled their money to rent an electric moped for her. Jiang Hu gratefully accepted and began practicing. She struggled, falling repeatedly and eventually breaking down in tears from the frustration. After a moment, she wiped her tears and silently continued to practice alone.
Episode 6 Recap
It was the final day of the ten-day deadline for Jiang Hu to move out of the factory. Xu Si arrived with his assistant, Wu Guanglei, finding her still there and aggressively reminding her that she was supposed to have taken her equipment and workers and left. Jiang Hu accused him of being pushy. Citing his fear of dogs, Xu Si had Wu Guanglei stay to handle things while he left.
However, needing to speak with her, he got on a scooter to catch up to Jiang Hu, who was on a bike. Due to a blind spot, Xu Si's scooter hit Jiang Hu, causing her to fall. He immediately offered to take her to the hospital and pay for a new bike, but Jiang Hu had an emotional breakdown, shouting that not everything could be solved with money.
She accused him of blocking her path, crashing into her, stealing her land, and forcing her out of the factory, which she claimed had belonged to her father. Eventually, after accepting some water from him, she calmed down and apologized for her outburst. Once Jiang Hu had regained her composure, Xu Si again urged her to consider his previous suggestion: fire all the workers and find an OEM for production, arguing that staying on the land was pointless.
Shortly after, Xu Si received a call from his aunt, Hong Die, telling him to come home quickly because his mother, Fang Moping, had suddenly fallen ill. He rushed back, where Hong Die explained that Fang Moping experienced chest pain after he left and that her condition had worsened, requiring an MRI.
Hong Die implied that the stress was caused by the potential sale of the Xu Feng Factory and that giving up on the idea would be best for her health, as the factory was her life's work. However, when Xu Si examined the scan, he recognized it was an abdomen CT, not an MRI, and realized his mother was feigning illness. Overhearing her discussing her "performance" with Hong Die after he left the room, Xu Si confronted them.
He agreed to stop pursuing the factory acquisition but insisted his mother cease the theatrics. He accepted a dinner invitation for the weekend, wryly noting that any "discussion" with his mother typically ended with him being scolded. Meanwhile, with no work in the factory, younger workers grew anxious about their future and whether they would be paid. One worker, Liu Jun, questioned Master Zhang about the next month's wages and whether he had contacted the former factory manager.
Master Zhang urged for patience, insisting that Jiang Hu would find a solution. Liu Jun, however, argued that their families depended on the income and threatened to leave if they weren't paid. Jiang Hu and her uncle, Yang Jian, reviewed the factory's dire finances, confirming their accounts were at zero. Yang Jian informed her that finding a new factory space was impossible, as property owners were unwilling to rent to someone with her debts.
He also mentioned that Liu Jun had called about wages and suggested Jiang Hu use any money she recovered from old debts to move abroad. Jiang Hu was resolute, insisting she first had to pay back the suppliers who had trusted Teng Yue. She stated that her father taught her never to delay workers' wages and that she owed it to the loyal employees, like Master Zhang, to maintain their trust as she intended to continue the business.
Overhearing her commitment, Master Zhang told Jiang Hu not to worry about the workers and to focus on her own path for Teng Yue. Jiang Hu replied that her path was for Teng Yue and its people to move forward together. Xiang Chaoyang met with Xu Si to discuss a collaboration with TT Media.
She presented her conditions: she would not undergo plastic surgery or reveal her full face, she would retain the copyright to her artwork, and she would only sign a two-year contract. She explained the two-year limit was due to a non-compete agreement with her previous employer, Aneda, as she intended to return to being a designer. Xu Si acknowledged her principles but explained that a five-year term was standard for an agency to recoup its investment.
He proposed a five-year contract that would include a clause ensuring her work with TT Media would not prevent her from returning to design. In return, she would have to complete all assigned training, filming, and copywriting. Xiang Chaoyang accepted and agreed to meet at the TT Media office at three o'clock. When Xiang Chaoyang arrived at the TT Media influencer base, some staff commented that her appearance was average for someone wanting to be an internet celebrity.
During a meeting, manager Song Zhi questioned the decision to create a costly special plan for Xiang Chaoyang, whom she saw as merely an online painter. Instead of debating the cost, Xu Si critiqued the company's recent poor performance, using a livestream by their top influencer, Nan, as an example. He highlighted issues like the host's lax attitude and unsuitable product selection, citing how Nan promoted a mask without knowing basic details and made absurd claims about its ingredients.
Xu Si warned that if such problems weren't fixed and new content categories developed, Baoxing Investment would reconsider its Series B funding for TT Media. After the meeting, Nan and another staff member welcomed Xiang Chaoyang, offering to help her get started. Jiang Hu followed through on her promise to repay the small suppliers, using money she had recovered.
Yang Jian helped distribute the funds to the grateful suppliers, who were relieved the payment would save their own factories from bankruptcy. Afterward, while discussing the ongoing factory problems, Yang Jian mentioned a friend whose small factory sold its land to Heyue Capital. The name "Heyue Capital" piqued Jiang Hu's interest. She researched the company and discovered its legal representative was Du Botao, the son of Xu Si's partner, Du Weiye.
She deduced that Xu Si, on behalf of Baoxing Investment, was acquiring the entire 20,000 square-meter K32 plot where Teng Yue was located, using different company names to conceal the full scope of the deal from sellers. She realized his plan was to resell the consolidated land to Yuanfeng Logistics and that the land would likely remain idle for one to two years during negotiations, making it difficult to find a short-term tenant.
When Yang Jian asked if she planned to become a "holdout," Jiang Hu confirmed it. She then called her uncle, instructing him to buy furniture and daily necessities, as she was moving into the factory and had decided Teng Yue would not be moving. Later, Jiang Hu found Xu Si at an exclusive club. He acknowledged her presence, noting he had forgotten she was a member, and suggested the place didn't suit her.
Jiang Hu countered that many things are determined not by suitability, but by desire. She then revealed her purpose: she wanted to rent the land where the Teng Yue factory was located.
Episode 7 Recap
Jiang Hu approaches Xu Si to rent Teng Yue's land, arguing there's an opportunity while Baoxing's deal with Yuanfeng for K32 is pending. She proposes paying the rent with high interest after one year. Finding her proposal audacious, Xu Si asks if he looks like a "pushover." He rejects her plea, suggesting a more realistic way for her to get funds would be to cancel her C Club membership.
He advises her to stop pursuing him and focus on vacating the factory. Undeterred, Jiang Hu persists. After being repeatedly turned away by Xu Si's assistant, Wu Guanglei, she tricks another employee into revealing Xu Si is at TT Media. She rides her electric scooter there and waits outside all day. When leaving, Xu Si finds her sitting on the ground leaning against the scooter.
He wryly comments that by giving up high heels, she has lost both her height and her sense of humor. Jiang Hu insists she is serious, but a weary Xu Si dismisses her plan as a joke. When she requests a fifteen-minute meeting, he lies about an out-of-town meeting that will last for days. Jiang Hu declares she will wait at his company until he agrees to talk.
Later, while driving Xiang Zhaoyang home, Xu Si asks about her relationship with Jiang Hu. Though they were schoolmates, Xiang Zhaoyang admits they don't get along. However, she demonstrates a keen understanding of Jiang Hu's character, recalling how Jiang Hu learned French in six months and severely injured her hands to complete a school project alone, highlighting her stubborn determination.
Meanwhile, at TT Media, Xiang Zhaoyang's prominence as the lead for special projects causes resentment among other hosts relegated to less desirable studios. Her success catches the eye of Gao Yi, who sees one of her videos and instructs his assistant to contact TT Media. Gao Yi meets with Zhang Wenshan, the head of Free Unicorn, whose lease at Lidu Department Store is expiring.
Gao Yi states that to align with Lidu's upgraded image, Free Unicorn must move from its prime first-floor location to the second floor. He frames this as a benefit, offering lower rent and a more targeted clientele. Zhang Wenshan, acknowledging his weak negotiating position, appeals to their connection by mentioning that Free Unicorn was founded by Gao Yi's godfather, Jiang Qisheng.
With Jiang Hu present, he then asks Gao Yi to do Jiang Hu a favor by allowing Free Unicorn to hold promotional events in the store's atrium. Gao Yi deflects him to the marketing department, prompting an angry Jiang Hu to call Zhang Wenshan a jerk after he leaves. Jiang Hu is summoned to Baoxing by Wu Guanglei, only to be served a lawyer's letter.
Wu Guanglei informs her that if Teng Yue is not vacated by the deadline, bulldozers will be sent in on Xu Si's orders. In response to the ultimatum, Jiang Hu stages a dramatic scene, threatening to jump from the building. To de-escalate the situation, Xu Si makes a deal: he will rent her the factory if she can sell 20,000 pairs of shoes. Jiang Hu immediately returns with paperwork showing that her uncle, Pei Zhiyuan, has purchased the entire lot.
Xu Si, feeling tricked, confronts her. Jiang Hu confirms her suicide threat was a calculated act. She reveals she has photos and videos of the incident, which she was prepared to post online to create a PR crisis for him and Baoxing. Xu Si calls her unscrupulous, but she insists she had no other choice. Deeply disliking being threatened, Xu Si calls her method smart but foolish, pointing out the substantial annual rent and the industry standard of upfront payment.
Jiang Hu desperately pleads her case, offering to pay the rent at the end of the year with double the highest bank interest rate. Calling her approach "rogue," Xu Si maintains that her words are not enough. He challenges her to present a viable business plan to revive Teng Yue, promising a serious discussion without tricks if she can do so. Later, Xu Si explains his decision to a colleague who was surprised he yielded to a threat.
Xu Si reasons that Jiang Hu's relentless and adventurous spirit is inherited from her father, Jiang Qisheng. He has decided to give her a chance, believing it is the only way to make her accept her eventual defeat. Meanwhile, Xiang Zhaoyang's popularity soars, with her follower count quickly reaching one million, aided by TT Media's resources. After a fawning encounter with a fan, she reviews collaboration requests from eighteen brands and, without hesitation, chooses Lidu Department Store.
She argues that Lidu's recent repositioning toward a younger, casual-luxury style perfectly aligns with her content. A colleague raises concerns about Lidu's past poor performance, but Xiang Zhaoyang highlights its successful recent restructuring under a new vice president, which has already drawn significant crowds. She emphasizes the synergy, making it a mutually beneficial partnership. Separately, Gao Yi expresses confidence that TT Media will agree to the collaboration.
In a private conversation, Xiang Zhaoyang confronts Xu Si about his constant criticism of her work, asking if he is trying to get her attention or reconcile with her. She feels he could be less harsh in front of their team, given their past relationship. Xu Si insists his feedback is purely professional and necessary for the company's success. Xiang Zhaoyang retorts that his emotional intelligence is lacking and sarcastically wishes him a "happy bachelorhood."
Jiang Hu finds renewed hope after reading online comments from people expressing deep nostalgia for Teng Yue shoes and asking where they can be purchased. Their fondness for the brand's quality and durability strengthens her resolve. Elsewhere, Yang Jian skillfully bargains for groceries at a local market. At the factory, Pei Zhiyuan sets up a makeshift bed for Jiang Hu but bluntly tells her that her plan to revive Teng Yue is a pipe dream. He cites the insurmountable costs of rent and worker salaries, especially now that Teng Yue has lost its manufacturing contract with Free Unicorn, calling the venture a bottomless pit.
Episode 8 Recap
Pei Zhiyuan warns Jiang Hu that the factory is a bottomless pit, citing the million-yuan annual rent and the monthly salaries for dozens of employees, all with no income. Meanwhile, Xu Si visits Director Ye Guoming of Cloud Footwear, a century-old brand, but is met with hostility. Director Ye, having refused investors many times before, firmly states the company is not for sale and splashes water on Xu Si, warning him not to return.
Xu Si returns to Baoxing Investment furious and refuses to speak with Jiang Hu. Seeing him so upset, Jiang Hu offers advice she recently learned about rolling with life's punches. Xu Si retorts that his schedule is full and she should roll with that. Undeterred, Jiang Hu decides to wait in the reception area until he finishes work. Elsewhere, Xiang Chaoyang runs into Gao Yi at Lidu's marketing department.
Gao Yi notes it has been eight years since they last met. He compliments her hand-drawn videos that blend Chinese style with light luxury fashion and reveals that he recommended her to his company. Chaoyang offers to treat him to a meal, but he has to work and suggests another time. Back home, a visibly happy Chaoyang begins drawing a sketch of a man’s back. She informs Yang Jian that she is moving into a company-rented apartment for work convenience.
Yang Jian strongly objects, concerned for her safety, and is also bothered by her new drawing. After waiting late into the night, Jiang Hu gets Xu Si's business card and work email from the receptionist and sends him her detailed proposal. Given her persistence, Xu Si agrees to hear her out immediately. Jiang Hu presents her plan to revive Teng Yue, highlighting its century-long history and cultural significance.
She provides evidence of its enduring brand appeal, citing a social media post with over 1,500 comments and shares by numerous Key Opinion Leaders, proving Teng Yue is not forgotten despite a long product absence. She passionately declares her intent to make the brand soar again. Xu Si critiques her plan for lacking a team, distribution channels, and a tangible product.
When she argues that acquiring the factory is the first step to building them, he issues a challenge: she must assemble a team and sell the 20,000 pairs of existing inventory within one month. This, he states, will prove Teng Yue still has sales potential. Jiang Hu accepts, understanding this is the final hurdle. Jiang Hu begins contacting former distributors, but most, like a Mr. Du who still has unsold stock from five years ago, refuse to re-engage.
Pei Zhiyuan advises her that only a powerful figure named Mr. Fang has the influence to move 20,000 pairs in a month and urges her not to give up on him, even though he seems to be avoiding her calls. While sharing a simple meal, Pei complains about the food quality and mentions the factory workers have even more basic meals despite paying a monthly fee. He callously remarks that they should be grateful since they aren't working.
Jiang Hu then asks Pei to arrange a dinner at an exclusive club, using her membership card, to recruit former department heads from her father's company, Free Unicorn. Pei is skeptical, noting that they now work for the experienced Zhang Wenshan and are unlikely to join her, but reluctantly agrees to bring the last of his Moutai wine. Xiang Chaoyang moves into her new apartment with her mother, who is thrilled with the lavish home.
Chaoyang’s mother immediately suggests asking Xu Si for stock tips, leveraging Chaoyang's position as his "pretty, single female subordinate." Chaoyang flatly refuses. Yang Jian arrives to help and insists he will continue to look after her. Soon after, he receives an urgent call telling him to check the internet because Chaoyang is in trouble. Online news explodes with stories exposing Chaoyang's private life, with headlines suggesting a powerful man is behind her success.
At the office, Song Zhi deduces it is a deliberate smear campaign by a competitor. She instructs her team to manage the narrative by deleting negative comments and framing Chaoyang as a victim of a malicious attack who has overcome a difficult background. When Chaoyang arrives, Song Zhi advises her to stay home and warns her to control her mother and any other relatives to protect her reputation and avoid further trouble for the company.
At the recruitment dinner, only Ren Bing, a former marketing director, shows up. Pei Zhiyuan laments how quickly loyalties have faded. Ren Bing, representing the others, praises Jiang Hu's marketing vision but explains that he and the others remain at Free Unicorn out of loyalty to her father's legacy. He bluntly states that no one has confidence in her ability to succeed without her father's support, contrasting her inexperience with Zhang Wenshan’s extensive credentials, and advises her to stop trying. While Jiang Hu thanks him for his honesty, an angered Pei snatches his drink away, telling him he has no right to drink their wine if he isn't joining them.
Episode 9 Recap
Jiang Hu sat at the dinner table with Pei Zhiyuan and Yue Shan after Ren Bing had left. She drank heavily, upset that the Free Unicorn veterans she had hoped would return to Teng Yue had refused. This reinforced her belief that "human feelings of sympathy are as thin as paper." Xu Si, who was dining in a private room, emerged and encountered a drunken Jiang Hu. She was unsteady on her feet and spoke harshly to him.
Recognizing her state, Xu Si tried to assist her and asked a server to get her some hot water. Despite his efforts to prevent it, Jiang Hu threw up on his suit jacket. Pei Zhiyuan quickly apologized on her behalf, found a clean jacket for Xu Si, and explained that Jiang Hu was in a bad mood because the former Free Unicorn employees were ungrateful and wouldn't help revitalize Teng Yue. Later, Yue Shan drove a still-recovering Jiang Hu home.
Yue Shan spoke with concern, reminding Jiang Hu that she needed to take care of herself, especially as a woman, and that drinking so much wasn't safe. Jiang Hu reflected on her past immaturity and disrespect towards Yue Shan, admitting she was wrong. Listening to Yue Shan’s advice made her nostalgic for her father's nagging. Despite everyone believing it was impossible to save Teng Yue, Jiang Hu was determined to turn the "fantasy into a fortress."
After Zhaoyang moved out, both she and Yang Jian found their morning routines disrupted and difficult to adjust to. Meanwhile, at TT Media, Xu Si reviewed surveillance footage and discovered that Nan, the company's top host, was behind the tracking, candid photos, and smear campaign against Zhaoyang. Xu Si tasked Song Zhi with handling the internal issue, pointing out the dilemma given Nan's top performance. During this conversation, Xu Si ignored a call from Jiang Hu.
After Song Zhi left, upset by Xu Si's pragmatic approach to work relationships, Xu Si called Jiang Hu back. Hearing that she had bought a jacket to compensate him for the one she ruined, he sent her a time and location to meet for dinner. Jiang Hu was surprised when Xu Si took her to a modest restaurant, but he explained it was his choice and his treat. Jiang Hu presented him with the new jacket, which fit perfectly.
She remarked that growing up in Free Unicorn had given her an innate ability to estimate clothing sizes, considering it a professional skill. Xu Si teased that even with the gift, he wouldn't go easy on her sales quota. Jiang Hu, in turn, earnestly expressed her determination to make Teng Yue successful, but Xu Si preferred to avoid talking about work during the meal.
After dinner, claiming his car wasn't charged and that public transport was too slow, Xu Si asked Jiang Hu for a ride to a parking lot on her electric moped. Jiang Hu was initially reluctant but eventually agreed. She demonstrated surprisingly good riding skills, which Xu Si commented on.
They bantered during the ride, with Jiang Hu teasing him about needing a ride from a woman and Xu Si reminding her of her troublesome behavior when she was drunk the previous night. Later, Xu Si texted Jiang Hu to tell her the jacket fit well, specifically complimenting the cufflinks. He asked if she had been so thoughtful towards her previous bosses, to which she replied that he was her first.
Jiang Hu sought out Master Zhang, who was working late, to ask about a distributor named Du Wenhua. Master Zhang confirmed that Du Wenhua's family had been major distributors for Teng Yue decades ago, with extensive channels covering various businesses. He noted that despite this history, Du Wenhua's current standing, much like Teng Yue's, wasn't what it once was.
Master Zhang suggested Jiang Hu visit him, mentioning Du Wenhua liked coffee and that bringing some as a gift would be a good idea. At TT Media, Song Zhi was reluctant to take strong action against Nan for the smear campaign, prioritizing his performance and suggesting the incident would blow over. Unwilling to let it go, especially because it involved her family, Zhaoyang confronted Nan directly while he was live-streaming.
She warned him that his underhanded methods were unprofessional for a top host and threatened to disrupt his future streams if his behavior continued. Song Zhi observed the confrontation, appearing powerless to intervene. Jiang Hu located Du Wenhua leading a group of older women in square dancing. He was actively selling them shoes, adeptly identifying foot size differences to sell custom-sized pairs for an extra fee, as well as convenient no-tie shoelaces.
Soon, a rival dance group arrived with professional sound equipment, informing Du Wenhua's group they needed the space for an upcoming competition. This group was led by Song Jiali, another shoe and clothing distributor, forcing Du Wenhua's group to yield the spot. After the disruption, Jiang Hu approached Du Wenhua, introduced herself as being from Teng Yue, and offered him a bag of Santa Ines coffee.
Du Wenhua recognized her as Jiang Qisheng's daughter but was dismissive, stating he had stopped doing business with Teng Yue years ago and would not sell their shoes again after his current stock was gone. Jiang Hu persisted, offering her full assistance in exchange for his help with distribution channels and acknowledging his expertise.
Du Wenhua then presented two conditions: she had to repair his vintage Tannoy Stirling speaker and secure a luxury car for him to use to outshine his rival, Song Jiali. Jiang Hu took the broken speaker to Yang Jian, who found that it was an old model from the 1990s that no one he knew could repair.
Regarding the car, Yang Jian explained it was difficult to rent one on short notice, as luxury cars were booked for a wedding expo, and borrowing one from a dealership was impossible due to constant surveillance. Jiang Hu expressed frustration at Du Wenhua's unreasonable demands but knew she had to win him over to satisfy her investors.
Episode 10 Recap
Facing challenges with selling Teng Yue shoes, Jiang Hu found herself unable to rely on her friends and had to handle tasks like getting an old loudspeaker repaired herself. She dragged the heavy, Hong Kong-made unit from shop to shop, but no one could fix it. Meanwhile, Yang Jian brought wontons to his sister, Zhaoyang, who was staying at her workspace.
He suggested she come home and quit her job, but Zhaoyang refused, stating that being an adult meant accepting work regardless of personal happiness. Yang Jian left the food and a peeled orange before reluctantly departing. Returning to Teng Yue, Jiang Hu encountered Xu Si. He teased her for having time to deal with a loudspeaker when she had less than 25 days left on her deadline to sell 20,000 pairs of shoes.
Jiang Hu cheekily asked to borrow his luxury car, while Xu Si, noticing the old speaker, recalled his childhood hobby of dismantling electronics. He called a friend knowledgeable about Hong Kong audio equipment and, using parts from his own expensive new speaker, spent the night successfully repairing Jiang Hu's. The next day, Xu Si's aunt, Hong Die, visited and discovered a new jacket in his closet with the initials "X S" embroidered on the cuff.
She jokingly speculated he had a new, very thoughtful girlfriend, teasing him for being too focused on work and for his inability to keep houseplants alive. With the speaker fixed and Xu Si's car at her disposal, Jiang Hu began leading square dancing sessions for local elderly women. Her target distributor, Du Wenhua, joined the dancing and, impressed, agreed to discuss a deal.
Jiang Hu later explained her strategy to a skeptical Xu Si: she intended to leverage the dancers' extensive social networks to reach thousands of potential customers. Xu Si dismissed her optimism, warning that her problem wasn't solved. He theorized that Du Wenhua's difficult behavior might indicate he lacked the actual ability to sell the shoes, suggesting she might be pursuing the wrong person. He then persuaded her to discuss it further over a drink.
Later, Jiang Hu and several factory workers, including Zhang Sheng, waited late into the night for Du Wenhua. When he finally arrived, he confirmed his willingness to help but demanded a 200,000 yuan public relations fee, an amount the workers found outrageous. Elsewhere at the factory, other workers confronted the director, Pei Zhiyuan, about unpaid wages. Pei argued that they hadn't performed any work and would not be paid until production resumed, leading to a heated argument over labor rights.
Feeling the immense pressure, Jiang Hu confided in Yang Jian. Feeling he owed her, Yang Jian offered to feature the Teng Yue shoes on the homepage of his online store, Xixingji, and defer the operational fees. His employees, Jiu and Wu, were skeptical of the shoes' quality and his generosity, but Yang Jian stood firm, stressing that his sister Zhaoyang must not find out. In a separate matter, Zhaoyang's boss, Song Zhi, asked Xu Si for help.
Zhaoyang was on leave as a form of protest against the company's handling of an issue with a colleague. Xu Si criticized Song Zhi's conflict-avoidant management style before getting Zhaoyang's address. He then visited Zhaoyang, bluntly explaining that her protest was futile as the other employee was too valuable to punish. He advised her to build a stronger network to protect herself and warned of the financial and career risks of her absence.
Convinced, Zhaoyang agreed to return to work the next day. Prompted by Xu Si's earlier warning about Du Wenhua, Jiang Hu asked Yang Jian to investigate him. Yang Jian discovered that Du was historically lazy and had relied on his ex-wife, Song Jiali, a once-prominent figure in the fashion industry. Though long divorced, Du still frequently pressured the recently-returned Song Jiali for money. Realizing Song Jiali held the real influence, Jiang Hu sought her out.
Song Jiali remembered Jiang Hu fondly from childhood and, out of respect for her parents, offered to help, providing her extensive network of contacts at community supermarkets and small dealerships. With new sales channels secured, Jiang Hu implemented a new promotion. She decided to bundle the 79-yuan Teng Yue shoes (costing 20 yuan) as a free gift with the purchase of 58-yuan anti-odor socks from Yang Jian's inventory (costing 10 yuan).
After accounting for a 5-yuan sales commission, she calculated a net profit of 23 yuan per bundle. The promotion was an immediate success, with "Sold Out" notices appearing at retailers like Baijiale Supermarket and on the Xixingji store. A final tally by Pei Zhiyuan and Jiang Hu's uncle showed that 17,134 pairs had been sold, leaving just over 2,000 to go to meet her goal.
Episode 11 Recap
Manager Wu and Xu Si discussed Jiang Hu's progress on her sales goal. Manager Wu doubted she could sell the remaining shoes in the next two days, but Xu Si was not so sure. Manager Wu proposed a bet: if Jiang Hu succeeded, he would sing for Xu Si.
Manager Wu also informed Xu Si about an upcoming charity road trip for Baoxing-affiliated founders and warned him that other founders were eager to speak with him, having heard about his successful post-investment work with companies like TT Media and For City. Meanwhile, Jiang Hu reviewed the latest sales figures, noting she had sold 17,134 pairs of shoes. With over 2,000 pairs left to reach her goal of 20,000, she knew she had to find a creative solution.
At the factory, she found the workers idle and playing cards. She approached Master Zhang for help with a technical task that would require a few people to work overtime. Separately, a heated argument erupted between Xiang Chaoyang and her mother. Xiang Chaoyang discovered her mother had borrowed money again to buy stocks and offered to pay off the debt herself. Her mother reacted angrily, forbidding her from helping and threatening to disown her if she interfered.
When Yang Jian tried to intervene, Xiang Chaoyang's mother called him filial. Xiang Chaoyang sharply retorted that Yang Jian was not her biological son and had no obligation to be filial to her, urging him to run away and not get involved. Jiang Hu unexpectedly appeared as Xu Si and Manager Wu were leaving for the Baoxing founder's road trip. She asked to join, arguing that once she rented the land, she would essentially be part of the Baoxing family.
Amused by her persistence, Xu Si agreed and instructed an annoyed Manager Wu to drive Jiang Hu's large vehicle. At the event, which involved founders participating in an environmental cleanup, Jiang Hu commented on their efficient use of resources. She then presented custom-made Teng Yue shoes, first to Song Zhi, correctly guessing her shoe size, and then to Xu Si.
Addressing the assembled founders, she introduced Teng Yue and explained that the shoes were their way of participating in the event's spirit of moving forward. She linked wearing Teng Yue shoes with prosperity and offered a special limited-edition corporate shoe at a discounted group price. Several founders from companies like Kitchen Life, Fanyue, For City, and Star Gravity placed bulk orders, with one even ordering two pairs per employee. Jiang Hu triumphantly declared that she had completed her sales mission.
Xu Si told her he would call the next day about the factory lease. On the drive back, Manager Wu paid his bet by singing horribly for Xu Si. The next morning, Xu Si called Jiang Hu, arranging to meet to discuss the factory rent. Meanwhile, Song Zhi prepared to go to Baoxing with Xiang Chaoyang for a quarterly report.
Xiang Chaoyang teased Song Zhi about her formal attire, noting she always dressed elaborately, "like a peacock showing off," when meeting Xu Si. Song Zhi admitted this was true, revealing that Xu Si had been her college boyfriend, and praised Xiang Chaoyang's recent successes as the "most beautiful feather" in her own display. At her meeting with Xu Si, Jiang Hu presented her proposal to reinvest sales revenue into new products. Xu Si found her plan insufficient.
Jiang Hu argued back, stating she had proven her ability to pay the rent. Xu Si then offered to waive the three-million-yuan rent for two years in exchange for 70% of Teng Yue's equity. Angered by the proposal, which would give Baoxing control, Jiang Hu accused him of being coldly calculative. Xu Si gave her until the end of the day to make a decision. As Jiang Hu left, she encountered Song Zhi and Xiang Chaoyang.
Xiang Chaoyang suggested it was a good lesson for Jiang Hu to negotiate without leverage, urging her to face reality. Jiang Hu retorted that she was at least doing something she loved, questioning if Xiang Chaoyang could say the same. Inside Baoxing, Du Weiye praised Xu Si for establishing the post-investment service center and improving the performance of portfolio companies like TT Media.
Xu Si explained his strategy for Teng Yue to Du Weiye: securing majority control would create a low-risk, high-reward scenario for Baoxing. Later, after contemplating her options, Jiang Hu returned to negotiate. She offered to trade the rent for 45% of Teng Yue's shares, but Xu Si refused to negotiate. Insisting that all business involves negotiation, she raised her offer to 49%. Xu Si countered, demanding 51% for Baoxing. Jiang Hu reluctantly agreed, giving Baoxing Investment majority control.
Subsequently, Du Botao expressed skepticism to Xu Si about Teng Yue achieving a 10 million net profit. Xu Si explained that investing is ultimately about people, not just data, and his primary role is to identify and support individuals with potential like Jiang Hu. Following the agreement, Jiang Hu gathered the Teng Yue employees for new employee photos. The workers, idle for a month, expressed concern about their jobs.
Jiang Hu reassured them by announcing that she had signed the factory lease with Baoxing Investment, guaranteeing they could continue working there. She promised to arrange production orders soon, bringing relief and cheers from the employees. She also shared that Baoxing had become a major shareholder in Teng Yue, but she did not specify the controlling percentage.
Episode 12 Recap
Jiang Hu confronts her uncle about the factory workers' wages. He explains that since there was no work for a month, he paid them half their salary out of kindness, defending it as necessary cost-cutting. Jiang Hu argues that they must find ways to increase revenue rather than just cutting expenses to the point where workers cannot make a living.
After her uncle complains about the difficulty of managing the factory, Jiang Hu learns that while Zhang Sheng is the master craftsman, he has focused solely on the art of shoe lasts for the past decade, leaving management to his apprentice, Liu Jun. Her uncle describes the master, Zhang Sheng, as honest and stubborn, while the apprentice, Liu Jun, is slick but skilled. Jiang Hu proposes having both master and apprentice manage production, with Pei Zhiyuan handling daily factory management.
She appoints herself as Sales Director, setting a KPI of 980,000 yuan in the first quarter, a promise she made to Xu Si; failure to meet it gives him the right to replace her. Pei Zhiyuan is skeptical, speculating she has set an impossible goal as a way to gracefully fail and offload the troubled company to Xu Si. They discuss the lack of a designer, e-commerce personnel, and a CFO.
Jiang Hu plans to recruit a designer and hints that she has a candidate for e-commerce operations. Her uncle urges her to find an accountant immediately. Noting her father's 100-day death anniversary is approaching, Jiang Hu plans to recruit Yue Shan, who will likely visit the grave. Her uncle dismisses the idea as a daydream, stating they could never afford Yue Shan's previous high salary.
Jiang Hu then leaves to follow up on sales channels, as the shoes are selling well in local supermarkets and grocery stores. To resolve Zhou Suqing's debt and deter her from future borrowing, Yang Jian creates a fake Canadian skilled immigration application for Zhaoyang and shows it to her mother. Panicked at the thought of being abandoned, Zhou Suqing is then visited by a lawyer, Chen Chang, who is actually Yang Jian’s friend.
Chen Chang pretends to be the lawyer for the lender, Wang Hua (Lili's mom), and serves Zhou Suqing a letter demanding repayment within a week to avoid a lawsuit. Terrified, Zhou Suqing agrees to cooperate. Yang Jian then personally pays Wang Hua the 100,000 yuan debt for Zhou Suqing, with Chen Chang acting as a witness.
He sternly warns Zhou Suqing to stop making risky investments, reminding her that his help is a favor, not an obligation, and that if Zhaoyang leaves, she will be truly alone. Zhou Suqing is left feeling distressed and abandoned. Jiang Hu summons Yang Jian and gives him a check for 20,000 yuan as the proxy operations fee for selling Teng Yue's shoes. She then formally offers him the exclusive online agency for Teng Yue.
Yang Jian is hesitant and says he needs time to consider it. Later, Pei Zhiyuan reports to Jiang Hu that secondary distribution channels like community supermarkets and grocery stores have suddenly pulled Teng Yue's shoes from their shelves. They conclude that despite the superior shoe last technology, which even Free Unicorn used, the styles are too old and lack modern appeal.
Jiang Hu then looks at a silver award trophy from the St. Laurent Design Competition, getting an idea for a designer. Xu Si arrives at the Teng Yue factory and is dismayed to find no security guard and workers playing cards during work hours. He criticizes Jiang Hu for her poor management and the many vacant key positions. Jiang Hu argues that building a business in a physical industry takes time and asks for patience.
Frustrated by what he perceives as slow execution, Xu Si leaves and instructs his assistant, Wu Guanglei, to find reliable operations teams to potentially take over, stating his goal is to achieve the fastest and best results for Teng Yue, not to destroy it. Zhaoyang comes home to find her mother, Zhou Suqing, acting unusually kind.
Zhou Suqing claims to have paid off her debt and promises in writing to stop speculating on stocks, all in an attempt to convince Zhaoyang not to immigrate. Suspicious, Zhaoyang asks Yang Jian what he did, but he deflects. Zhaoyang later learns from her colleague Qi that Jiang Hu had offered Yang Jian the role of Teng Yue's online operator. She encourages Yang Jian to accept, explaining that while Jiang Hu can be difficult, she is in a tough situation.
Zhaoyang says she is ready to let go of the past and move on. Xu Si's mother, Fang Moping, falls at her factory. Xu Si rushes her to the hospital, where she is diagnosed with a lumbar disc herniation requiring surgery. Stubbornly prioritizing the factory's operations, she refuses hospitalization, suspecting Xu Si is trying to shut her factory down. Xu Si insists on scheduling the surgery and asks his aunt to manage the factory for the week.
On the 100th day of her father's passing, Jiang Hu visits his grave and reflects on her struggles. Yue Shan also arrives to pay her respects. Yue Shan begins to tell Jiang Hu a story from the past, recalling how an investigation into an individual business owner illegally selling stock led the police to uncover that Gao Zheng, her father's most trusted friend, was embezzling from the company.
Episode 13 Recap
Yue Shan recounted to Jiang Hu the events that led the police to Gao Zheng after the arrest of an individual business owner. She explained that Jiang Qisheng never suspected his trusted friend, Gao Zheng, was embezzling company funds. Though uninvolved, Jiang Qisheng was fired from the factory due to the association. He did not complain; instead, he sold his assets and raised money to help Gao Zheng cover the deficit, hoping his friend would receive a reduced sentence.
In a contrasting account, Gao Zheng had told his son, Gao Yi, that it was Jiang Qisheng who had led him astray and had knelt, tearfully begging Gao Zheng to take all the blame. Jiang Hu thanked Yue Shan for sharing this history, acknowledging that she now understood why her father had trusted Yue Shan so deeply. Jiang Hu then asked Yue Shan to return to Teng Yue to help her rebuild.
Moved that Jiang Qisheng had considered her family and wanted his daughter to do the same, Yue Shan agreed. Later, at her parents' tomb, Jiang Hu reflected that she had always relied on her father's influence and felt she was nothing without him, admitting that even Yue Shan would likely not have agreed to help her otherwise.
Yang Jian invited Jiang Hu for wontons, where she was surprised to see an award-winning design from the St. Laurent competition by Xiang Zhaoyang. Jiang Hu then learned that Xiang Zhaoyang is Yang Jian's non-blood-related sister. This revealed that when Yang Jian had previously approached Jiang Hu about her debts, he had already known she and his sister were classmates with a strained relationship.
A flashback showed Xiang Zhaoyang confronting Jiang Hu for obtaining and then forfeiting a guaranteed admission spot to Nanjing University, for which Xiang Zhaoyang had also competed. Xiang Zhaoyang felt it was unfair, as Jiang Hu's father was a sponsor for the university's scholarship.
In another flashback, Jiang Hu told her father she was giving up the spot because she didn't want people to think she got it through his influence, to which he replied that there is no absolute fairness in the world. Back in the present, Jiang Hu told Yang Jian their issues were complicated. Yang Jian showed Jiang Hu his sister's shoe designs, highlighting her passion.
He admitted his previous hesitation to partner with Jiang Hu stemmed from his need to be responsible to everyone involved, including his sister. Jiang Hu then pitched a "two-plus-three" year partnership, making his team Teng Yue's exclusive online agency. She shared her vision to make Teng Yue a top-10 brand again, starting with a goal of 20,000 pairs a month. Yang Jian agreed, convinced not by her pitch but by her character and loyalty.
He added that Xiang Zhaoyang was willing to move past their history and supported the collaboration. With a CFO and an e-commerce lead, Jiang Hu needed a designer. She visited a top design firm but found their fees—120,000 yuan per design with a ten-design annual minimum—prohibitive. Her request for a smaller, two-design contract was rejected. Zhang Wenshan, also present, cynically remarked on her ambition and offered to put in a good word.
Back at the factory, Jiang Hu found worker Huang Xiaolin doing food delivery to supplement her halved wages, a consequence of the factory's minimal workload. Yue Shan confirmed their dire finances, noting a bank loan was unlikely. Jiang Hu decided to pursue an OEM deal with Free Unicorn, a strategy her parents had once envisioned to support Teng Yue.
At Free Unicorn, Zhang Wenshan acknowledged Teng Yue's reliable production history but stated his board found the 28-yuan-per-pair processing fee too high. He demanded a reduction to 22 yuan per pair in exchange for a guaranteed monthly order of at least 100,000 pairs. Jiang Hu argued the current price barely covered rising material costs, but Zhang Wenshan threatened to find a cheaper OEM in Southeast Asia, and the negotiation collapsed.
Meanwhile, Xu Si instructed Wu Guanglei to bring Jiang Hu to a presentation by FW, a creative design company. Wu Guanglei worried this would provoke Jiang Hu, but Xu Si was adamant. At the meeting, FW's founder, Alan, and designer, Alex, presented a strategy to build "international popularity to boost local popularity" by leveraging global fashion weeks. After, Xu Si asked for her thoughts. Jiang Hu acknowledged that FW had the design, marketing, and funding she lacked.
She then angrily accused Xu Si of trying to replace her before the first quarter was even over and stormed out. Immediately, she called Zhang Wenshan and accepted his offer of 22 yuan per pair for 100,000 pairs monthly, on the condition that Free Unicorn pay 50% upfront and the rest within five days of delivery.
When Zhang Wenshan pushed for the old annual settlement, she countered by noting the high cost for him to find a new OEM quickly, and he agreed. As Jiang Hu left, Xu Si intercepted her. She tried to run, but he calmly followed in his car, telling her he was hungry, until she cooled down and got in.
At dinner, Jiang Hu apologized, acknowledging that Xu Si had arranged the FW meeting to broaden her perspective, but also that they remained her potential replacement if she failed. She critiqued FW's proposal as too Westernized and lacking Teng Yue's "gene" and history, arguing that she understood the brand and its products better. She clarified that her deal with Zhang Wenshan was a pragmatic, temporary measure to secure 2.
2 million yuan in monthly revenue, not the key to Teng Yue's revival. She promised to deliver her own operations plan soon, intending to prove its superior return on investment through practical results. At the factory, workers complained about their fixed wages, demanding piece-rate pay now that the large Free Unicorn order provided more work. Jiang Hu called a meeting and announced that they were officially starting production of Teng Yue's own products.
When Master Zhang noted their only remaining style was an outdated white shoe, Jiang Hu unveiled her first, simple initiative: adding colorful, rainbow shoelaces to the white shoes. Acknowledging it was a small step, she framed it as the beginning of Teng Yue's evolution. To boost morale, she also announced she had hired a new chef to improve their meals.
In a financial meeting, the team identified high raw material costs as their biggest problem, as they no longer benefited from the low-cost materials they had access to when they were part of the same group as Free Unicorn. Raising prices was deemed impossible with their limited sales channels and lack of new designs. The conclusion was that to survive, they had to find a way to control costs, likely by changing materials.
Episode 14 Recap
Teng Yue is struggling with outdated designs, relying on colored shoelaces to refresh an old model. Limited sales channels and rising prices are adding pressure. Production director Liu Jun proposes switching to new suppliers for raw materials to save 5%. Pei Zhiyuan, another production director, hesitates, preferring the reliability of existing suppliers. Jiang Hu approves the switch, stressing the importance of quality control. Jiang Hu discusses the need for a new designer with Yue Shan.
Yue Shan's suggestions don't align with Teng Yue's brand identity. Jiang Hu wants someone with a unique style and deep understanding of the brand's history, and suggests Xiang Chaoyang, a popular freehand painting blogger, who she's observed painting Teng Yue shoes at Lidu Department Store. Yue Shan acknowledges Chaoyang's talent, including her St. Laurent Design Competition win while at Aneda, but reminds Jiang Hu of the two-year non-compete agreement Chaoyang signed after working with Free Unicorn, which complicates things.
At Lidu Department Store, Xiang Chaoyang's collaboration is successful. Song Zhi tells Xu Si that Lidu's general manager, Gao Yi, creatively integrated Chaoyang's on-site painting with the store's redecoration. The event is generating online buzz, and Song Zhi predicts Chaoyang's video will get over a million likes. Xu Si rarely compliments Song Zhi, making her jokingly feel that she might be fired.
Xu Si asks Song Zhi about Teng Yue, and Song Zhi says that sales have decreased and that Jiang Hu is using colored shoelaces as a temporary solution. Xu Si notes Jiang Hu's busy schedule, working long hours doing market research. Xu Si also confirms the Free Unicorn payment has been sent to Teng Yue. Jiang Hu visits Lidu and sees Xiang Chaoyang, exchanging a look with Gao Yi before leaving.
Fang Lan confronts Jiang Hu, making condescending remarks about her current factory life, and mockingly asks her to tie her shoelace. Gao Yi takes Xiang Chaoyang to dinner. He orders her favorite dishes, mentioning Jiang Hu told him about their shared love of strawberries from a high school trip. Gao Yi discusses Chaoyang's design background and suggests her Chinese-style designs didn't suit Aneda's European-influenced sneaker style.
He advises her not to blame Jiang Hu for her departure from Aneda, explaining that Jiang Hu has a flamboyant personality but no malicious intent. Gao Yi asks about the pressure Jiang Hu is facing from Baoxing investors. At home, Yang Jian finds his mother, Zhou Suqing, preparing a large dinner for Xiang Chaoyang. He's upset when he learns Chaoyang is out on a date. Zhou Suqing thinks Chaoyang is in love and hopes she finds a good man.
Yang Jian waits outside Chaoyang's building and sees Gao Yi dropping her off. Gao Yi meets Jiang Hu outside the Teng Yue factory. He offers Teng Yue a booth at Lidu's Sports Festival Fair. Jiang Hu refuses, accusing Gao Yi of trying to destroy her family, saying she would never accept help from him. Jiang Hu goes to the C Club and drinks heavily. Xu Si intervenes when a man bothers her.
Drunk, Jiang Hu mistakes Xu Si for Gao Yi, confessing her feelings for "Gao Yi" and regretting not confessing sooner. She kisses Xu Si and passes out. Xu Si helps her into his car and calls her a "little drunkard." Yue Shan calls Jiang Hu's phone, and Xu Si answers, saying he's taking her home. He takes Jiang Hu to Yue Shan's place. Yue Shan apologizes for the trouble and warns Xu Si against troubling her work partners.
Xu Si dismisses it and leaves. The next morning, Jiang Hu doesn't remember the night before. Yue Shan suggests she drink less and exercise. Meanwhile, at the factory, Pei Zhiyuan finds Liu Jun and others playing cards during work hours and stops them.
Episode 15 Recap
At the Teng Yue factory, Liu Jun was found playing cards with other workers during work hours. The factory director, Pei Zhiyuan, reprimanded him and threatened to fire him on the spot. Liu Jun retorted, pointing out that Pei Zhiyuan himself played the stock market at work. Jiang Hu intervened, addressing Pei as "Uncle" and de-escalating the situation.
While acknowledging that gambling was wrong, she reasoned that the workers needed relaxation and that Pei's threat was made in anger, convincing everyone to return to work. Shortly after, Xu Si from Baoxing Investment arrived to see Jiang Hu and review the factory's finances. During their conversation, he subtly alluded to the previous night, teasing her about her poor behavior when she drinks.
Confused and having forgotten the events, Jiang Hu admitted to having only a little to drink with Yue Shan. Furious that his authority was undermined, Pei Zhiyuan confronted Jiang Hu for not firing Liu Jun. He accused her of being a fence-sitter and avoiding problems, declaring that if Liu Jun stayed, he would leave permanently, calling the man a "menace" who would bring down the factory.
Jiang Hu met with the finance director, Yue Shan, to discuss a new salary and performance bonus structure, which Yue Shan was already preparing. Yue Shan also raised a cash flow issue: their best insole supplier, Mr. Qian, required full payment upfront for large orders. To solve this, Jiang Hu asked her friend Yang Jian to vouch for her with Mr. Qian, promising to pay the full amount as soon as she received a payment from another client, Zhang Wenshan.
Yang Jian agreed to help. Following this, Jiang Hu held a factory meeting to announce two new policies: first, all inventory movements must now be pre-approved by the accounting department, and second, Zhang Sheng, a 40-year veteran worker, was promoted to deputy director. The new inventory control policy directly threatened Liu Jun's illicit activities, prompting him to start poaching workers by promising them significantly higher wages at other factories.
Xu Si, back from a business trip, invited Jiang Hu to dinner, and she accepted. However, as she was about to leave, she received an urgent call from Wu, a security guard at the factory, and rushed over. Meanwhile, Xu Si waited for her at the restaurant, Bo's. He tried calling her repeatedly but couldn't get through, growing increasingly frustrated as he waited alone until the restaurant was closing.
At the factory, Wu told Jiang Hu that a tricycle had entered the premises. They hid and watched as Liu Jun attempted to leave with a tricycle full of stolen raw materials, which he claimed was garbage. Jiang Hu confronted him, and as Liu Jun became aggressive, Yang Jian and his friends arrived and started recording the incident on their phones.
Caught red-handed, Liu Jun tearfully begged for forgiveness, citing his family's financial hardship, including a son with cerebral palsy, and his twenty years of service. Jiang Hu decided not to call the police but fired Liu Jun, telling him to be gone by morning. As Yang Jian's friends celebrated catching the thief, Jiang Hu suddenly remembered her dinner with Xu Si.
Realizing Xu Si would be much harder to appease than Liu Jun, she apologized to Yang Jian's group, promised them a meal another time, and rushed off to find him. She found Xu Si waiting outside the now-closed restaurant. Guilty, she took him to a convenience store and made him a custom meal from a pineapple bun, sausage, and crab sticks, along with a handmade milk tea.
While she was preparing the food, Xu Si noticed a cut on her hand, and he immediately bought bandages and carefully dressed the wound for her. Suddenly, a nearby garbage bin caught fire. The sight of the flames sent Xu Si into a panic, his face turning pale. Noticing his distress, Jiang Hu tried to calm him.
Later, he confided in her that the incident had triggered a traumatic memory from when he was five: he had witnessed a massive fire at his family's factory where his father and uncle were trapped and killed. Jiang Hu comforted him, assuring him that new, happy memories would eventually help ease the pain of the past. Meanwhile, Song Zhi took designer Xiang Chaoyang to a meeting with Ren Bing, the marketing director of Free Unicorn.
Ren praised Xiang Chaoyang's work but said it lacked "vision" and showed her designs by an Italian designer. He suggested she "draw on" their work, which Xiang Chaoyang correctly interpreted as a request to copy them. Ren then reframed his suggestion, calling it "homage and reference."
Episode 16 Recap
Ren Bing from Free Unicorn pitches a collaboration to Xiang Zhaoyang, suggesting she "learn from" and "pay tribute to" foreign designs. Xiang Zhaoyang dismisses this as a euphemism for plagiarism, pointing out their proposed app is merely a tool for laundering content. Ren Bing defends the practice as common, but Xiang Zhaoyang, feeling nostalgic for the old, non-plagiarizing Free Unicorn, firmly rejects the project, refusing to compromise her principles despite the high offer.
After she leaves, Ren Bing criticizes Xiang Zhaoyang's professionalism to Song Zhi and asks her to find a different, more "modest" artist. Song Zhi sarcastically declines, suggesting they should just copy designs directly and use the resulting lawsuits for free publicity. In a separate meeting, Xu Si rejects a team presented by Du Botao. After hearing their app proposal, Xu Si bluntly calls it plagiarism and a waste of time.
While Du Botao argues for the quick returns of the entertainment industry, Xu Si states his core investment principle is not to harm the industry's ecosystem, a matter he considers professional ethics. Realizing the project is doomed, Du Botao leaves. Later, while dining at the C Club, Xu Si notices his favorite stewed pork dish tastes different. The waiter informs him that the chef, Master Lin, was poached by Jiang Hu to cook for the Teng Yue factory staff.
She not only offered a higher salary but also helped the chef's relatives with their pork business. Xu Si muses that the club should reflect on why it can't retain top talent. Meanwhile, Song Zhi meets with Du Botao to discuss the Shangchun Art Project. She questions why his company, Baoxing, is involved, as it had already exited her company, TT Media. Du Botao vaguely cites personal connections and Baoxing’s commitment to post-investment service.
He then probes Song Zhi about whether their project collaborations are reported directly to Xu Si, which Song Zhi confirms, noting Xu Si’s thorough oversight. While Xu Si is on a call approving Xiang Zhaoyang for the Shangchun project, Wu bursts in with news: Jiang Hu caught the production director, Liu Jun, stealing materials and fired him on the spot. Worried, Xu Si rushes to the Teng Yue factory and questions Jiang Hu for confronting Liu Jun alone.
She clarifies she had backup and dismisses his concern, slightly irked that he, the boss, is meddling in minor management issues. To placate him, she takes him to the factory cafeteria. Following Liu Jun's dismissal, many workers loyal to him submit their immediate resignations, leaving the factory critically short-staffed for a major order.
Jiang Hu is moved to see Master Zhang and a few other senior workers voluntarily staying late to catch up, citing their loyalty to her for treating them well during difficult times. Overwhelmed, Jiang Hu steps away to cry, but Xu Si appears and offers her a tissue. She quickly composes herself and urges him to leave, insisting she is not alone. The situation escalates when the in-laws of Huang Xiaolin, a skilled needleworker, storm the factory.
They demand she either return to her abusive husband or repay the 200,000 yuan dowry her mother took. Huang Xiaolin tearfully recounts how she was sold into the marriage and abused before escaping. Yue Shan advises Jiang Hu not to get involved in the complex private matter, but Jiang Hu feels compelled to protect the young woman's chance at a new life. She brings in Lawyer Qin, who announces he is representing Huang Xiaolin in her divorce.
He unnerves the in-laws by mentioning a three-year-old injury report and the impending lawsuit, effectively neutralizing their threats. As the disloyal workers exit the factory, Pei Zhiyuan, Jiang Hu's uncle, arrives, leading a large group of new employees. Jiang Hu then addresses the remaining staff, thanking the veterans for their loyalty and welcoming the new hires. Yue Shan announces a new compensation system: a seniority wage, a base-plus-piecework salary to reward productivity, and a more frequent bonus structure.
Later, Wu explains the full picture to an impressed Xu Si. The entire crisis was a "chain stratagem" orchestrated by Jiang Hu and Pei Zhiyuan. They staged a conflict to provoke Liu Jun into resigning and taking his disloyal faction with him, thus cleaning house without paying severance. The timely arrival of new workers and the revised salary structure were designed to increase efficiency without raising overall labor costs.
Xu Si concludes that to survive in business, one has to be formidable. The plan's success is confirmed when Huang Xiaolin calls Liu Jun to inform him she is staying, citing Jiang Hu's kindness and the new factory policies. When she mentions that Pei Zhiyuan has already brought in new workers, Liu Jun finally realizes he was completely outmaneuvered. In the office, Jiang Hu, Pei Zhiyuan, and Yue Shan celebrate their victory.
Yue Shan admits she was unaware of the risky plan, observing that Jiang Hu is becoming as bold and resourceful as her father. With the staffing issue resolved, Pei Zhiyuan turns to the next challenge: they must urgently find a real designer, as gimmicks like colored shoelaces are not a sustainable strategy.
Episode 17 Recap
After filming, Yang Jian prepared wontons for Zhaoyang and her colleagues, who praised his kindness. Meanwhile, Zhaoyang's mural at Lido remained a huge success, with brands offering extra budget to keep it up for live broadcasts. Mr. Gao instructed his team to support these brands, recognizing their importance during Lido's transformation.
Zhaoyang gave Yang Jian a pair of unreleased Aneda sneakers for user experience research, asking him to wear them for a week and fill out a detailed questionnaire on their feel. Yang Jian was thrilled to receive them. Zhaoyang wistfully remarked that she still wants to design shoes, but questioned the point of just wanting something. Later, Jiang Hu arrived with groceries for hotpot and, learning the shoes were from Zhaoyang, suggested they invite her to join them.
During dinner, Zhaoyang bluntly told Jiang Hu that she has been the person she hated most since middle school. Jiang Hu apologized for her past actions, stating she has moved on and hopes they can start over, formally reintroducing herself. As they reminisced, Zhaoyang mentioned her fondness for a scallion pancake vendor from their school days whom she can no longer find. Jiang Hu, unaccustomed to alcohol, quickly became drunk.
Xu Si called and immediately recognized from her voice that Jiang Hu was intoxicated. Annoyed that she was encouraged to drink, he came to Changle Restaurant to pick her up. As he helped the unsteady Jiang Hu leave, Zhaoyang observed that it was good for Jiang Hu to have someone to care for her. In the car, a drunk Jiang Hu repeatedly called Xu Si "scum." Overcome by her drunken charm, Xu Si kissed her passionately.
The next morning, Jiang Hu was startled to find a man's tie on her wrist. Xu Si called, teasing her about the previous night. He joked that when drunk, she either wants to kiss him or strangle him, and claimed she did "indescribable and unspeakable" things to him. A mortified Jiang Hu, who couldn't remember anything, pressed him for details, but he ended the call, reminding her to bring his tie when she came to the office.
Later, Xu Si was in an excellent mood during a meeting with Gary, a business partner visiting from the UK. Gary offered to introduce him to an outstanding female executive, but Xu Si declined, revealing he has a girlfriend. Wu Guanglei later questioned if his relationship with Jiang Hu was real or just a convenient shield, but Xu Si dismissed him as nosy.
Jiang Hu went to Baoxing to discuss work and return the tie, but Xu Si insisted they only talk business during work hours. She pitched her plan to hire Xiang Zhaoyang as Teng Yue's designer. Xu Si pointed out the obstacles: Zhaoyang's contract with TT Media and a two-year non-compete clause with Aneda. Jiang Hu argued Zhaoyang's design talent and influencer status made her the perfect choice to quickly open up markets for Teng Yue.
Xu Si evasively said he would "think about it." Frustrated, Jiang Hu retorted that without Zhaoyang, Teng Yue's quarterly targets would be impossible to meet. Xu Si maintained that for now, "influencer Zhaoyang" was more valuable to him than "designer Zhaoyang." Waiting until the lunch break, Jiang Hu cornered Xu Si for a private talk. She took him to a convenience store, and after eating quickly, she again asked what "unspeakable" things happened.
Instead of answering, Xu Si asked if she would mind if they had crossed a line. When she claimed she wouldn't, he pressed her to consider why she was so insistent on knowing, urging her to find a clear answer for both of them. Later, Jiang Hu met with TT Media's CEO, Song Zhi, to negotiate Zhaoyang's contract. Jiang Hu, having consulted a lawyer, was confident a one-million-yuan termination fee was feasible.
Song Zhi laughed this off, declaring Zhaoyang was worth tens of millions and threatening to drag the case out in court for years. As Jiang Hu was leaving, she noticed a photo of Song Zhi at Cambridge and asked who else from their circle attended. Song Zhi revealed that not only was Xu Si an alumnus, but he was also her ex-boyfriend. Subsequently, Xu Si sent a cactus-like plant to Jiang Hu's office, leaving her to ponder its meaning.
Episode 18 Recap
Yue Shan explained that the plant Xu Si sent was an orchid cactus, so named because its flat stems resemble a cactus and its flowers resemble an orchid. She noted its symbolic meaning of "reminiscence." While the plant itself wasn't valuable, she pointed out that the large, rectangular Yixing clay flowerpot appeared old and could be quite expensive.
Yue Shan cautioned Jiang Hu about Xu Si, describing him as a strong wind that Teng Yue could use to its advantage, but also as a sophisticated man skilled in various schemes. She advised Jiang Hu to maintain a careful distance if she didn't like him, warning that a falling out could be disadvantageous for her. Jiang Hu, however, insisted her sole focus was on revitalizing Teng Yue and finding a designer, prioritizing selling shoes and making money.
With permits for three flagship stores nearly approved, she knew they needed new designs to stock them and planned to find ways to boost online sales, possibly through influencer livestreams. Later, as Jiang Hu was about to message Xu Si to thank him for the flower, he happened to place a voice call to her. After a brief exchange, she abruptly ended the call, leaving him annoyed.
Jiang Hu met with an influencer known as Lord Cat to discuss a livestream collaboration. The influencer quoted a high price, the same rate offered to major corporations, and dismissively implied they shouldn't waste time if Teng Yue couldn't afford it, making it clear the collaboration would not happen. Shortly after, a Mr. Li, who owed Jiang Hu's father money, contacted her.
He explained he was having financial difficulties and couldn't repay the three-million-yuan principal, offering to repay it with interest in a year. Recalling that his "Micro Dance Club" app had recently launched a shopping feature, Jiang Hu proposed an alternative to interest payments: a week of splash screen advertising space on his app and the right to sell Teng Yue shoes in the app's mall.
She reasoned that his app's users, primarily from the dance community, were a perfect match for Teng Yue's target customers. Mr. Li agreed. Mr. Li then advised Jiang Hu that her shoe styles were too old-fashioned for his app's users and that she'd need a new approach to boost sales. He mentioned his app was launching a nationwide dance competition promotion that night and suggested she could participate if she sent her materials by nine p. m.
Inspired, Jiang Hu immediately called Yang Jian, instructing him to retrieve Zhaoyang's hand-painted shoes from her home within thirty minutes. Yang Jian hesitated, worried about the negative impact on Zhaoyang, but Jiang Hu reassured him their shared goal was to help Zhaoyang become a designer again. Though still uncertain, Yang Jian agreed. When Yang Jian arrived at Zhaoyang's house to get the shoes, he was interrupted by her mother, who pulled him aside for a long chat.
He awkwardly tried to evade her while secretly attempting to take the shoes, nearly getting caught before she was distracted by her own thoughts. Jiang Hu enlisted her colleague Wu to host a livestream, promoting the shoes with a "Lord Zhaoyang's Lucky Bag" gimmick. The event was a huge success, selling 3,237 pairs of shoes in just two days.
Meanwhile, Song Zhi saw news of Zhaoyang's collaboration with Teng Yue online and confronted her, accusing her of taking on private work in violation of her contract with TT Media. A completely unaware Zhaoyang realized she had been used. Later, Xu Si arrived at Teng Yue, accompanied by Yue Shan. Apologizing for Jiang Hu's absence, Yue Shan explained how hard she had been working on sales.
Xu Si replied that as an investor, he and Teng Yue were in the same boat. While they waited, they overheard an announcement celebrating the sales success. When Jiang Hu returned, she immediately began eating in front of Xu Si, explaining she hadn't eaten all day. Xu Si noticed a crumb on her face and gently wiped it away, causing Jiang Hu to become flustered, though she quickly denied being shy.
When Xu Si tried to discuss their relationship, Jiang Hu deflected, reminding him he was her boss and she needed to focus on work, such as packing and shipping orders to ensure a good customer experience. Separately, Zhaoyang was furious with Yang Jian for taking her hand-painted shoes without permission. Yang Jian apologized profusely, explaining that it had generated significant market interest in her designs.
He promised to take full responsibility if TT Media pursued the matter and assured her that Teng Yue would cover any compensation. Despite his attempts to frame the exposure as a positive step for her career, Zhaoyang remained angry and ordered him to leave, stating her affairs were none of their business, especially his. Xu Si received a call informing him that his mother, Fang Moping, was heading to the factory again.
He instructed his assistant, Hong Die, to delay her, then rushed home and forcefully took his mother to the hospital for a check-up, ignoring her protests that she was needed at the factory and her accusations that he and Hong Die were conspiring against her. Song Zhi spoke with Zhaoyang again, reminding her of her contractual obligations.
While acknowledging that Teng Yue had paid for the usage rights for that specific design, she emphasized that Zhaoyang must report any future external collaborations to TT Media in advance. Citing the past incident at Aneda as a lesson, she warned Zhaoyang to maintain her professionalism and focus on her primary work, stating she would be held accountable for any future breaches.
Feeling conflicted, Zhaoyang sought advice from Gao Yi, discussing the competing invitations from Teng Yue and another company, Free Unicorn, while feeling trapped by her TT Media contract and a non-compete agreement from her previous job at Aneda. Gao Yi encouraged her not to give up on her dream, recognizing her talent and passion. He suggested there were ways to resolve her contract issues and introduced her to Wang Peng, a lawyer specializing in contract litigation.
Later, Yang Jian brought food to Zhaoyang's apartment and overheard her on the phone with Lawyer Wang. He listened as the lawyer advised that the non-compete agreement could likely be nullified by returning the compensation she had received. However, terminating the contract with TT Media would be far more difficult, as they had not breached its terms and had provided her with lucrative opportunities. The lawyer estimated the penalty for breaking the contract would be "at least a million yuan."
Yang Jian was visibly shocked by the figure. Jiang Hu took Xu Si to the Teng Yue employee canteen for a meal, where they chatted casually. She took the opportunity to ask him for a favor: to help mediate with Song Zhi at TT Media regarding Zhaoyang's contract. She pointed out that since Xu Si was an investor in both companies, a legal dispute would be detrimental to his interests, and also subtly referenced his past relationship with Song Zhi.
Xu Si acknowledged her shrewdness but did not give a clear answer. As he was leaving, Xu Si accidentally stepped in dog poop. A canteen worker cheerfully congratulated him, calling it a rare sign of good luck. Unamused, Xu Si told him to be quiet.
Episode 19 Recap
Yang Jian offered Zhaoyang a bank card, knowing she was in need, but she declined it and told him he didn't need to visit so often. Disappointed, Yang Jian left, sensing her intent to create distance. Later that evening, Zhaoyang found he had left her scallion pancakes, recalling a conversation where she had told Jiang Hu how much she missed the ones sold by an elderly vendor near her old school, a detail Yang Jian had remembered.
Meanwhile, Xu Si met with Song Zhi to discuss Zhaoyang's potential collaboration with Teng Yue. Xu Si advocated for a lenient strategy: incubating influencers at the front end while building long-term brand partnerships at the back end. Amused, Song Zhi realized that the person who had ended Xu Si's four-year romantic hiatus was not the popular influencer Zhaoyang, but Jiang Hu, an heiress from a fallen family. Xu Si did not deny it.
At Teng Yue, a meeting between Pei Zhiyuan, Jiang Hu, and Yue Shan was interrupted by a call that left Pei Zhiyuan looking grim; the Market Supervision Administration had found excessive levels of Phthalates in their shoe eyelets. The eyelets came from a supplier introduced by Liu Jun. Although there was no official announcement yet, negative comments were already spreading online, which Yue Shan was certain was Liu Jun's doing.
Jiang Hu took immediate action, ordering the destruction of the nearly six-thousand-pair batch and a formal explanation to be written to the bureau. She accepted responsibility for her inexperience in vetting suppliers, though Yue Shan reassured her. Despite concerns about the financial loss and the newly rehired workers, Jiang Hu was determined they would overcome the crisis together. Seizing the moment, Zhang Wenshan called Jiang Hu.
Though his company, Free Unicorn, used a different supplier, he claimed their brand was also affected and that he would deduct a "fine" from their final payment to appease his board. He also paused all future orders until Teng Yue resolved the issue, prompting Jiang Hu to accuse him of taking advantage of their misfortune. Dedicated to helping, Xu Si discussed the situation with Du Weiye, stating it was not yet time to give up on Teng Yue.
Using a chess metaphor, he revealed he had already built a "bridge" for them to succeed and that Jiang Hu’s identity as the daughter of Jiang Qisheng, the former "King of Apparel," could be a compelling story for the market. He then instructed Wu Guanglei to inform Teng Yue that their next quarter's performance, particularly the profit margin, would be temporarily excluded from assessment.
Xu Si explained this would allow them to increase marketing expenses without penalty, admitting he was also doing it to convince himself to look at their overall performance at year's end. Master Zhang informed Jiang Hu that Baoxing had suspended their quarterly KPI review. Realizing Xu Si was behind it, Jiang Hu called to thank him. He replied that a verbal thanks was insufficient and she must accompany him to a dinner that evening.
Overruling her excuse of a factory meeting, he insisted that as her boss, it was an order. For the dinner, Jiang Hu wore her only remaining dress, having sold the rest to support Teng Yue. In the car, Xu Si listed the attendees: a business reporter, several finance and industry bloggers, and a venture capital podcast host. Before they arrived, Yue Shan called, advising Jiang Hu to be mindful of her interactions with Xu Si.
At the dinner, Jiang Hu confidently presented Teng Yue's philosophy of handling all design, R&D, and production in-house. She spoke of her belief in acting first and learning from mistakes rather than being paralyzed by preparation. She sincerely apologized for the recent supplier issue, promising it wouldn't happen again and announcing a new tracking system for supply chain transparency. She also teased the upcoming "Revival Series," designed by someone who would surely make headlines.
Simultaneously, Xiao Wu from Xixingji E-commerce, Yang Jian's store, posted a video guaranteeing no faulty shoes would remain on the market, announcing a product upgrade, and promising to send a pair of the new Revival Series to customers. After the dinner, Xu Si saw a wedding celebration with a violinist outside the restaurant and pulled Jiang Hu into a dance. He noted her hesitation, and she acknowledged their professional compatibility and his personal tolerance.
Xu Si then asked if she was afraid he would kiss her, confessing he wanted to. Jiang Hu admitted that if he did, she wouldn't know how to face him afterward and quickly left, saying it was late. That night, neither could sleep. Unable to wait, Xu Si drove to the Teng Yue factory early the next morning, surprising Da Cheng with his arrival. He went straight to Jiang Hu's office.
As Jiang Hu was coming up the stairs, Xu Si met her, pulled her into a hug, and kissed her. Flustered, Jiang Hu apologized for any misunderstanding, but Xu Si dismissed it, stating he had made his intention to pursue her clear. He asked her to consider him, but she said she couldn't think about it right now and asked him to leave. Xu Si agreed, promising to wait for her answer.
Episode 20 Recap
Jiang Hu negotiated with Zhang Wenshan about resuming their collaboration, which had been affected by a shoe quality issue. Despite the issue being resolved without any negative impact on Free Unicorn, Zhang Wenshan cited a loss of trust in Teng Yue and demanded a two-yuan reduction per pair on future orders.
Arguing that they had already paid a penalty and that a continued shutdown would cause morale at Teng Yue to collapse, Jiang Hu successfully negotiated the price reduction down to one yuan per pair. Zhang Wenshan agreed, claiming he had always been supportive of her and Teng Yue. Later, Jiang Hu explained her compromise to Yue Shan, stating it was necessary to protect Teng Yue's only capital chain, and Yue Shan affirmed her decision.
Inspired by Xiang Zhaoyang's successful collaboration with Shangchun Art Project on a series of Chinese-style bottle art videos, Jiang Hu became more determined than ever. Seeing the growing consumer demand for traditional Chinese-style products, she decided that Zhaoyang was the perfect designer to help Teng Yue create a new national trend and achieve a true breakthrough.
At a Baoxing Investment meeting, the team discussed the success of Zhaoyang's "Chinese-style women and flowers series" videos, which had garnered over a million interactions and exceeded expectations on overseas platforms. The collaboration led to a tenfold increase in orders for Shangchun Art Project's new beauty line. Song Zhi noted that Shangchun's previously sluggish stock had boomed and would likely hit the limit-up price.
However, Xu Si was cautious, pointing out that this was not necessarily good for Shangchun due to its internal problems, including discord between the founding couple, poor management, and a lack of new products. He instructed Song Zhi to investigate the company's other shareholders. Jiang Hu arranged to meet Xu Si, clarifying it was a "meeting," not a date, to ask about Shangchun Art Project's stock surge.
Suspecting that such an abnormal fluctuation pointed to a larger business maneuver, she asked if Baoxing was involved. Jiang Hu worried that if the surge was a natural result of Zhaoyang's market influence, her value would become too high for Teng Yue to afford. But if it was a "capital game," she knew Zhaoyang's principles wouldn't allow her to participate. Xu Si confirmed the stock fluctuation was temporary.
He then shifted to personal matters, asking Jiang Hu if she had considered his romantic pursuit. Jiang Hu repeatedly apologized, taking the blame for any misunderstanding. When pressed, she gently rejected him, stating he was her boss and as adults, they shouldn't dwell on it. The next morning, Zhaoyang's mother, Zhou Suqing, excitedly told her that a neighbor had made a fortune from Shangchun's stock, which had doubled in price due to what she learned were "influencer concept stocks."
Eager to profit, Zhou Suqing announced her plan to invest her savings. Zhaoyang, though not understanding stocks, felt uneasy, recalling Xu Si's instruction to Song Zhi to monitor Shangchun's stock, and suspected he was hiding something. She rushed to her company, where news broke that Shangchun's actual controllers, Chairman Hua Wenhai and shareholder Cao Jing, had divorced.
Details were released that Hua Wenhai would remain the actual controller through a voting rights agreement with other shareholders, including one who was a proxy for a Mr. Du. Just as the stock hit a two-year high, it plummeted. Enraged investors who lost money directed their fury at Zhaoyang, vandalizing her painting at Lidu Department Store with the word "liar."
Xu Si met with Mr. Du, acknowledging his strategy of using the divorce and an influencer-driven stock bubble to his advantage. Mr. Du explained the goal was to end the long-running internal strife and allow the company to resume normal operations. When Xu Si raised concerns about the damage to TT Media's reputation, Mr. Du dismissed it as a minor loss, stating the consensus was to let the "most important person" achieve the "maximum benefit."
Using a golf metaphor, he declared the situation irreversible. Xu Si countered that his principle was to ensure a win-win situation for all companies involved. Later, Xu Si confronted Hua Wenhai and Cao Jing at their factory, reminding them of Shangchun's hard-earned reputation and provocatively offering to help them give their own brand a "grand funeral." Zhaoyang told Song Zhi she felt used as a tool for market manipulation and had not been warned of the risks.
Song Zhi dismissed her concerns as overly sensitive, but Zhaoyang insisted she would not earn money unethically and expressed a desire to terminate her contract. Song Zhi reminded her of her burgeoning career and top-tier rates, urging her to reconsider. Zhaoyang remained firm, stating she had to walk her own path. Gao Yi later found Zhaoyang at Lidu Department Store, upset about the vandalized painting.
He insisted it wasn't her fault and advised her to stay home until the situation calmed down. Meanwhile, Jiang Hu watched the stock market, contemplating if Teng Yue could seize an opportunity from the chaos. Zhaoyang's taxi broke down, forcing her to walk home. She soon realized she was being followed and called Yang Jian for help. Yang Jian, who was in the shower, immediately dressed and rushed to find her, arriving just as the stalker fled.
Blaming himself for being careless, he was comforted by Zhaoyang, who insisted it wasn't his fault. Worried he would catch a cold, she took him to her apartment to finish his shower. Afterward, she applied lotion to his face, gently chiding him about his past fights and urging him to value himself more. As she cared for him, Yang Jian's deep affection for her was evident, though Zhaoyang remained oblivious.
Episode 21 Recap
After leaving Zhaoyang's place, Yang Jian called his friend Jiu, asking him to work overtime. Jiu agreed without asking for details, knowing Yang Jian wouldn't call him in the middle of the night unless it was urgent. Yang Jian instructed Jiu to pick up his car from a friend named Qi and meet him downstairs at Zhaoyang's place in half an hour, also asking him to bring a change of clothes.
The next day, Yang Jian and Jiu found the man who had been tracking Zhaoyang. They confronted him using surveillance footage they had obtained. The man admitted he was following Zhaoyang because he wanted to scold her; he had lost over 300,000 yuan on "influencer concept stocks" and believed she and the president of Baoxing Investment, her alleged boyfriend according to online news, had conspired to inflate the stock price and defraud investors.
Yang Jian warned him not to follow Zhaoyang again, telling him to address his complaints to Shangchun Art Project or Baoxing Investment instead. From this incident and the man's explanation, Yang Jian suspected Xu Si was behind a scheme involving Zhaoyang. Meanwhile, Jiang Hu met with Song Zhi from TT Media.
Jiang Hu presented her proposal to resolve TT Media's issues, which involved terminating Zhaoyang's contract without a monetary termination fee and establishing a partnership where TT Media would receive a percentage of Teng Yue's sales. Song Zhi was initially hesitant, questioning the terms. Jiang Hu argued that Zhaoyang's 30% commission was just a sample price, and her future value was questionable after the recent scandal.
She also revealed she had already handled the crisis PR for TT Media and noted that Song Zhi wouldn't have received a message from Xu Si if she hadn't been open to a deal. Song Zhi was surprised by Jiang Hu's approach, commenting that Jiang Hu made her "boyfriend" negotiate with his "ex-girlfriend" for business, mistakenly believing Jiang Hu was Xu Si's girlfriend. Jiang Hu corrected her.
Song Zhi then stated she understood why Xu Si treated Jiang Hu differently—because Jiang Hu was sharp and daring enough to take risks for her business. As part of her plan, Jiang Hu also intended to buy back the copyright for Zhaoyang's "Flowing Scenery" design from Aneda, explaining to Xu Si her admiration for the design, which extracted traditional Chinese painting elements for canvas shoes.
Jiang Hu followed up by meeting with Tang Ya, an Aneda representative, to discuss purchasing the "Flowing Scenery" copyright. Jiang Hu articulated why the design was perfect for Teng Yue, explaining how Zhaoyang's unique style didn't fit Aneda's overall product line, which was why the design was never produced despite Zhaoyang being sent to competitions. Impressed by Jiang Hu's detailed understanding, Tang Ya agreed to consult with Zhaoyang's former design director before providing a definite answer.
Jiang Hu knew that producing a non-serialized design from a former employee carried supply chain risks for Aneda, but she remained resolute. Believing Xu Si had harmed Zhaoyang, Yang Jian bypassed security at the Baoxing Investment building by claiming to be a relative of the boss needing the restroom urgently. He stormed into Xu Si's office and punched him.
A shocked Xu Si demanded to know what was happening as Jiang Hu arrived and intervened, pulling the two men apart to de-escalate the situation. Yang Jian called Xu Si a "bastard," blaming him for Zhaoyang being tracked and targeted. Jiang Hu took Xu Si home to his apartment. Xu Si immediately began complaining of pain and asked Jiang Hu for water, despite only having a facial injury.
He insisted she help him because her "partner", Yang Jian, had caused the injury. Jiang Hu tried to explain it was a misunderstanding, stating that Yang Jian is Zhaoyang's protective brother and thought Xu Si had trapped Zhaoyang in the stock scheme. When Jiang Hu tried to leave, Xu Si stopped her, demanding she arrange his dinner every day until his face healed and joking that it wasn't too late for her to call the police on his "blackmail."
Jiang Hu reluctantly agreed. Xu Si then claimed he couldn't attend the upcoming press conference due to his injury and left Jiang Hu in charge, expressing confidence that she would secure Zhaoyang's participation. Jiang Hu muttered that he was a "nuisance." Wu, the manager of the Teng Yue flagship store, gave Zhaoyang a tour of the Teng Yue factory.
Wu admitted that while Jiang Hu's management methods might seem "amateurish," she was exceptionally responsible and had managed the factory effectively on her own. They met Master Zhang Sheng, the factory's deputy director and a master shoemaker specializing in shoe lasts, who was preparing posters Jiang Hu had designed. Master Zhang praised Zhaoyang's reputation and highlighted his own expertise in creating lasts specifically suited for Asian feet, a key feature of Teng Yue's legacy "Free Unicorn" products.
Later, Jiang Hu met with Zhaoyang at the factory and gave her the officially stamped contract terminating her agreement with TT Media. When Zhaoyang asked how she achieved this, Jiang Hu simply said she "talked business." Jiang Hu also informed Zhaoyang that the non-compete clause with Aneda required a 200,000 yuan termination fee, which Teng Yue would cover. Surprised that Jiang Hu had arranged all this without consulting her, Zhaoyang questioned her certainty.
Jiang Hu reminded Zhaoyang of her childhood fondness for Teng Yue shoes and her habit of drawing them, appealing to her desire to see the brand revitalized. When Zhaoyang dismissed this as a "naive emotional trick," Jiang Hu revealed she had spoken with Tang Ya at Aneda about acquiring the "Flowing Scenery" copyright for Teng Yue to produce.
Jiang Hu gave Zhaoyang until noon the next day to decide if she would join Teng Yue, prompting a stunned Zhaoyang to call her "crazy." The next day, Shangchun Art Project and Teng Yue held a joint press conference. A livestreamer reported from the event on the stock volatility and quality issues. A Shangchun representative apologized for their marketing errors.
Off-stage, Xu Si's assistant, Wu Guanglei, explained to Jiang Hu that Xu Si had persuaded shareholders Hua Wenhai and Cao Jing to stop selling their shares to ensure stability. He added that Xu Si had personally handled negotiations to convince all key shareholders to cooperate with Teng Yue, noting that despite his difficult demeanor, Xu Si's investment principle was always mutual benefit.
Jiang Hu took the stage and explained that the partnership with Zhaoyang was a strategic event marketing campaign to help the "outdated national brand Teng Yue" re-enter the market, not market manipulation. She publicly took responsibility for the stock volatility, linking it to Teng Yue's instability during its transformation. Onlookers commented on her bold, "suicidal" move, noting she was putting all the blame on herself like her father would have, but acknowledged the immense market attention it gained.
They also recognized that Xu Si had played a crucial role behind the scenes, using his connections to secure shareholder support, and that Teng Yue's success ultimately depended on Zhaoyang. The press conference was set to conclude with Zhaoyang, introduced as Teng Yue's chief designer, hand-drawing the joint logo on stage. However, she was late, causing Jiang Hu visible anxiety. Someone mentioned that Jiang Hu had told them to call Yang Jian if Zhaoyang couldn't be reached.
Just as suspense peaked, Zhaoyang appeared and walked onto the stage to enthusiastic applause, successfully concluding the event. Later, Zhaoyang and Jiang Hu sat on the factory rooftop. They reflected on the unexpected turn of events that made them partners. Zhaoyang spoke of her passion for drawing canvas shoes, musing on the universal desire for comfortable, beautiful footwear that bridges social divides. She stated her commitment to continuing her parents' legacy of serving the needs of ordinary people.
When Jiang Hu asked how she remained so confident, Zhaoyang quoted a saying: "Cowards never set off. The weak die on the way. Only we're left advancing forward." She then accepted her role as Jiang Hu's employee, and Jiang Hu called this her "employment gift." That evening, Yang Jian helped Zhaoyang pack. She explained she had to move because she terminated her contract with TT Media.
Yang Jian asked for her honest opinion of the Teng Yue factory, and she admitted it was surprisingly better than Aneda's OEM factories and that she was impressed by Jiang Hu's management. Relieved, Yang Jian then revealed the full extent of Jiang Hu's sacrifices: she had not only taken the blame for the Shangchun issue but had also signed a sales commission agreement with TT Media and purchased Zhaoyang's design from Aneda to free her.
Zhaoyang was shocked by the weight of this debt. Yang Jian invited Jiang Hu over for a hotpot dinner. He awkwardly offered her a bank card as compensation for the financial losses she incurred helping Zhaoyang. Jiang Hu refused the money, stating their friendship was separate from business. She argued that Zhaoyang was a designer hired by Teng Yue, making her contract a personnel matter for the company, and Yang Jian, as their proxy operator, shouldn't bear the cost.
She insisted she could earn the money back. When Yang Jian persisted, Jiang Hu shut him down, explaining that if Zhaoyang knew he had paid for her freedom, it would negatively impact her view of them both. Jiang Hu then asked Yang Jian directly if he had romantic feelings for Zhaoyang. He initially denied it, but Jiang Hu saw through him. Yang Jian admitted he "dared not have that kind of thought" about Zhaoyang.
Calling him timid, Jiang Hu advised him that Zhaoyang is a straightforward person who is "consistently cold inside and out." She told him he needed to be direct ("hit a straight ball"), as roundabout tactics wouldn't work, pointing to their years of awkward interaction as proof that his long-term, indirect approach was ineffective.
Episode 22 Recap
Yang Jian shared that his father had only two skills: making wontons and heavy drinking. When his father was drunk, he would become violent. To escape this, Yang Jian stopped going home often after the age of thirteen, leaving Zhaoyang and her mother to become his father's new targets. He later felt a deep sense of guilt for not being there to protect them.
Believing Zhaoyang would never truly accept him because she hated his father, Yang Jian's sole desire is to take care of her for the rest of his life. He also explained that he avoids alcohol, fearing he might lose control and become violent like his father. Meanwhile, Zhaoyang’s mother expressed her displeasure with having to move out of their nice house and Zhaoyang quitting her job.
Yang Jian pacified her, explaining that Zhaoyang was pursuing her dream of being a designer and assured her that their living conditions would not worsen, as he and Zhaoyang would continue to provide for her. For Zhaoyang's first day as a designer at Teng Yue, Jiang Hu immediately assigned her a task: to film a promotional video and start a weekly one-hour livestream. The livestream would showcase her design process and the factory's operations until the new product launch.
Jiang Hu explained this was a marketing strategy by TT Media to maximize Zhaoyang's value, turning "Lord Zhaoyang's" transformation into a designer into a major selling point. Despite Zhaoyang's reluctance, Jiang Hu insisted, asserting her authority as the boss who doesn't run a losing business. They filmed a video where Zhaoyang introduced herself as both "Lord Zhaoyang" and "Xiang Zhaoyang," announcing her new journey at Teng Yue and promising to unveil a brand-new version of the company.
Zhang Wenshan saw the video and was angered that Jiang Hu had used his large order to support her factory only to then poach the designer he wanted for his own brand's crisis management. He noted that Jiang Hu's new, higher-end positioning for Teng Yue seemed poised to compete directly with Free Unicorn's casual shoes, a move his predecessor, Jiang Qisheng, had foreseen but deliberately avoided. Zhang Wenshan decided he needed to confront Jiang Hu.
Jiang Hu made several attempts to contact Tang Ya at Aneda but was repeatedly blocked by the front desk. Shortly after, news broke that Aneda was launching a new line of canvas shoes using the 'Flowing Scenery' design, marketing it as a "Chinese-style revolution" led by a St. Laurent award-winning designer. At the Teng Yue factory, the director was dismayed, as the design they were promised was now being used by a competitor.
Jiang Hu took full responsibility, admitting her mistake was not signing a contract with Tang Ya immediately, as she had underestimated how quickly Aneda would react and capitalize on the opportunity in the canvas shoe market. Mei Shaowang, an investor in Aneda, noted that distributors were rapidly increasing orders for the 'Flowing Scenery' shoes, thanks to the market buzz generated by the Shangchun Art Project and Teng Yue.
He acknowledged Jiang Hu's marketing skill but was surprised by Aneda’s rapid supply chain response. He explained that Aneda was seizing a market opportunity and that Jiang Hu's event had highlighted the power of influencer traffic, though he considered not retaining Xiang Zhaoyang at Aneda a misstep. When Zhaoyang went to Aneda to speak with Tang Ya, she was turned away with the message that Tang Ya was busy but that her bonus would be settled regardless of her resignation.
Later, Jiang Hu went to see Xu Si and met Ms. Li, a pregnant co-founder of the app 'Fanyue.' Ms. Li explained that her partners had forced her to sign a stock withdrawal agreement, and she felt her years of effort were being erased. Xu Si promised to help her seek maximum compensation for being terminated during pregnancy.
However, he also advised her that the smartest approach was to cut her losses, pointing out that her proposal to feature maternal and child products was ill-suited for the app's current focus. He suggested this idea had great potential as an independent project and offered to review her business plan, stating his interest in supporting promising founders. After Ms. Li left, Jiang Hu teased Xu Si about his reputation for investing in ex-girlfriends, implying the pregnant woman's visit was suspicious.
Xu Si countered that she should see him as a noble investor supporting female entrepreneurs. Jiang Hu noted he had advised both her and Ms. Li to retreat. Xu Si explained this was a strategy of "retreating to advance"—avoiding unproductive disputes to focus on a clearer future. As Zhang Wenshan called to discuss production, Xu Si advised her not to talk business on an empty stomach.
At a cafe, Zhang Wenshan questioned Jiang Hu's plan to develop new, higher-end products for Teng Yue, arguing she should stick to the lower-end positioning her father favored. Jiang Hu firmly stated that Teng Yue needed to evolve. Zhang Wenshan then issued an ultimatum: if she proceeded with her new products, he would terminate Teng Yue's OEM orders for Free Unicorn.
To his surprise, Jiang Hu immediately agreed to give up the OEM orders, reiterating her refusal to abandon Teng Yue's new direction. At a product meeting, Zhaoyang presented her new design for Teng Yue. Incorporating high-quality materials like New Zealand wool and advanced treatments for durability and comfort, the shoe was well-designed but very expensive, with a projected retail price of over 500 yuan.
Jiang Hu rejected it, declaring that Teng Yue's target customers could not afford shoes in that price range and that she needed a quality, comfortable, and lasting shoe priced under 200 yuan. The factory staff murmured that they had hired a demanding "diva" and not just a designer. Upset by the rejection, Zhaoyang went home and began painting on the wall. Yang Jian learned from Wu that her design had been vetoed.
At dinner, he comforted a disheartened Zhaoyang, reminding her of her childhood habit of painting on the wall to solve problems, like when she figured out how to make red shoes for her school choir. He encouraged her to take her time, assuring her that she could overcome this challenge. Later, Jiang Hu was at Xu Si's place. Having failed in her attempt to cook, they were having takeout. She complained about the food and sat far from him, calling it the appropriate social distance between an investor and a founder. Amused, he then proposed another collaboration.
Episode 23 Recap
As Xu Si's hand pain returns, Jiang Hu helps him apply ointment. They discuss their partnership's future, with Jiang Hu expressing concern that all business partners eventually separate, using the infighting at Fanyue as an example. Xu Si affirms his serious intention to change their relationship to a personal one, assuring her their bond would outlast any corporate structure.
They both acknowledge their worries over Teng Yue's new product plan, especially after their marketing campaign with Shangchun Art Project drew significant attention, which Aneda then capitalized on. Jiang Hu likens entrepreneurship to constantly digging and filling pits, confident she can overcome their current challenges, and Xu Si affirms his trust in her. The situation at Teng Yue grows more precarious when word arrives that Free Unicorn is halting all their OEM orders, leaving the workers distressed.
To build momentum, Xiang Zhaoyang begins her first livestream. She shares her personal connection to the brand, recalling how she loved drawing on the affordable shoes as a child. She details her plan to redesign a classic 100-year-old Teng Yue shoe, preserving its spacious toe box while modernizing the shape for a sleeker look and improving comfort. However, she candidly admits to her audience that there is internal disagreement and that the high cost of materials remains an unresolved challenge.
Meanwhile, Xu Si learns of a shoemaking technology founder, Zhou Qing, who will only discuss his project with him personally. At Teng Yue, Pei Zhiyuan notes the livestream's high viewership of forty to fifty thousand but questions how many will convert to actual sales. Impatient, he complains that Xiang Zhaoyang has made no progress on the design in a week, though another colleague urges for patience.
This pressure mounts on Xiang Zhaoyang, who fears she has hit a creative bottleneck and may never design anything better than her previous success, "Flowing Scenery." Sensing her struggle, Jiang Hu takes her for a run around the factory, which ends in a tie. Jiang Hu proposes a compromise: Xiang Zhaoyang will create two distinct lines.
One will follow Jiang Hu's marketing-driven, low-cost strategy (under 200 yuan), while the other will embody Xiang Zhaoyang's own vision of a comfortable, durable, premium shoe (at 599 yuan), with sales figures deciding the winning approach. Jiang Hu stresses their dire situation—with Aneda ahead and OEM orders gone—framing this launch as their only path to survival. As Xiang Zhaoyang requests the special fabric she needs, Jiang Hu promises to send over her market research to help.
Reinvigorated, Xiang Zhaoyang returns to her livestream and begins brainstorming color palettes, suggesting "Twilight Mist." At the factory, Master Zhang praises the new design but worries that the required fabric is too expensive. He mentions that a rival, Cloud Footwear, possesses a patented, high-tech fabric but is run by a notoriously grumpy director, Ye Guoming, who holds a grudge against Jiang Hu's father. Undeterred, Jiang Hu goes to Cloud Footwear to meet him.
After a long wait, Ye Guoming appears and immediately accuses her of trying to steal his patent. Jiang Hu refutes this, questioning why his patent was stolen before. Recognizing her as the daughter of his old rival, Jiang Qisheng, Ye Guoming flatly refuses to do business, stating his responsibility to Cloud Footwear is precisely why he must avoid any entanglement with Teng Yue, leaving Jiang Hu confused by his deep-seated hostility.
Xu Si meets with Zhou Qing but declines to invest in his smart shoe production line, as the R&D and implementation costs are far too high. He then meets with Du Weiye, who warns him that with Aneda's move and the loss of OEM orders, Teng Yue is doomed if the new products don't launch on time. Xu Si reassures him that the launch is a key performance metric and that he has a backup plan to ensure it happens.
While babysitting a young boy named Fei for his mother Mo Xiangwan, Xu Si decides to bring him to the Teng Yue cafeteria for dinner, using the child as an excuse to see Jiang Hu. At the factory, Fei gets excited by a large dog. Xu Si, who is afraid of dogs, nervously warns him away, and Jiang Hu has the dog led off.
Fei cleverly sees through Xu Si's ruse, telling Jiang Hu that Xu Si wanted an excuse to see the "pretty sister" and make her his girlfriend. Jiang Hu is amused and surprised to learn Fei's mother is the famous CEO of Qingyuan Culture. When Xu Si mentions he's flying to Germany, Jiang Hu's initially brief well-wishes displease him, so she offers a more elaborate blessing. He then complains of a stomach ache, prompting Fei to ask if he's whining for Jiang Hu's attention.
Episode 24 Recap
Yang Jian worked through the night in his studio, only finishing in the morning when his mother arrived. Concerned he hadn't slept, she asked what he was secretly working on. Yang Jian explained it was a surprise for Xiang Chaoyang but playfully refused to show her. His mother then lamented how hard Xiang Chaoyang was working for Jiang Hu, worrying about her well-being and even considering asking Jiang Hu for a raise on her daughter's behalf.
Yang Jian gently reminded her of her morning tea appointment to usher her out. At the factory, with the month's orders completed, the atmosphere grew tense. Huang Xiaolin questioned if Xiang Chaoyang was a "fake" designer, as the new designs were yet to appear. Master Zhang defended her, trusting Jiang Hu's judgment. Pei Zhiyuan, however, paced anxiously, panicked by the quiet factory, which reminded him of the brink of failure six months prior.
He complained to Jiang Hu about the lack of new designs and fabrics. Jiang Hu calmly explained she had sourced a Xinjiang cotton fabric and acquired a patent for an anti-odor, anti-sweat agent. Unconvinced, Pei Zhiyuan fixated on the urgent need for a new product for the next quarter, fearing the factory's collapse. Jiang Hu argued that establishing the product's core style was more critical than price, but he dismissed her concerns.
She asked him not to pressure Xiang Chaoyang, who was already working hard. Pei Zhiyuan retorted by questioning what she would sell on the next livestream, warning that if she failed, workers, distributors, and investors would hold her accountable. He concluded that if the factory failed, it would be Xiang Chaoyang's fault. Overhearing Pei Zhiyuan's harsh words, Xiang Chaoyang felt crushed by the pressure and doubts about her ability.
She wandered aimlessly and ran into Gao Yi outside the Lidu Department Store. Sensing her distress, he drove her home. Xiang Chaoyang confessed to having a creative block, feeling she was a failure as a designer. Her guilt was compounded by the fact that Jiang Hu wasn't pressuring her, making her feel she was only worsening Jiang Hu's difficult situation. Gao Yi encouraged her, noting her resemblance to Jiang Hu in their shared stubbornness and deep love for shoes.
He observed that Jiang Hu had evolved from someone who loved buying shoes to someone who loved making them. He expressed his admiration for their perseverance and assured Chaoyang their collaboration would succeed, urging her to have faith in herself. As Gao Yi dropped her off, they met Yang Jian. Gao Yi felt a sense of familiarity, but Yang Jian claimed they had never met and excused himself.
However, he then decided to let someone else handle his delivery and led Xiang Chaoyang inside. He showed her a collection of their childhood photos and his own drawings of her, using the memory of her passion for drawing to reignite her confidence. This heartfelt encouragement and walk down memory lane broke through her creative block, providing the inspiration she needed. Within a week, Xiang Chaoyang produced several new drafts.
Meanwhile, Ren Bing arrived to collect the final OEM shipment for Free Unicorn, officially ending their manufacturing contract with Teng Yue. Afterwards, Xiang Chaoyang excitedly presented her work to Jiang Hu, who, in a powerful display of trust, handed the drafts directly to Pei Zhiyuan for sampling without even looking at them. Later, Xu Si examined the samples, praising the craftsmanship, the high-quality fabric, and the new anti-odor technology. He correctly deduced the high price point of 599 yuan.
Jiang Hu revealed that a more affordable series, priced under 200 yuan, would be unveiled at their first livestream. She also outlined her marketing strategy: selling the advanced insoles separately for 59. 9 yuan, or for only 9. 9 yuan with a shoe purchase. After Huang Xiaolin tried on a pair and praised their comfort, Jiang Hu instructed Pei Zhiyuan to contact distributors. Master Zhang, observing the scene, praised Jiang Hu's growth into a composed and strategic leader.
In her office, Xu Si asked Jiang Hu about Yang Jian's frequent presence at the factory. She explained it was partly for e-commerce advice and mostly to shuttle Xiang Chaoyang. Relieved, Xu Si commented, "That's good," which annoyed Jiang Hu. She teased him for overthinking and brought up his past physical advances. Xu Si playfully admitted he was intentionally pursuing her but promised to act like a gentleman until she officially confirmed their relationship.
Jiang Hu accused him of being contradictory—sometimes strategic, sometimes impulsive—and of acting on his feelings without admitting them. Xiang Chaoyang began livestreaming her design process, incorporating traditional Chinese aesthetics like the color "Tianqing" and the concept of Tai Chi. Her audience grew steadily, stabilizing between 100,000 and 150,000 viewers. Ren Bing reported this growing engagement to Zhang Wenshan, recognizing it as a clever "emotional appeal" strategy.
He finally understood that Jiang Hu kept the factory to control R&D and maintain secrecy. He warned Zhang Wenshan that Teng Yue's upcoming 189 yuan shoe would directly compete with Free Unicorn. Concerned, they planned to use their influence to block Teng Yue's access to distributors. Their plan worked. Pei Zhiyuan tried to contact offline distributors but was met with excuses and rejections. It became clear that distributors were siding with the established power of Free Unicorn.
Pei Zhiyuan returned disheartened and suggested asking Xu Si, a Teng Yue shareholder, for help. Separately, Xu Si remarked to an acquaintance that Jiang Hu's pride would never allow her to ask him for help, recalling how she once sold her only luxury item rather than ask him to help secure a loan. Just as they hit a wall, Gao Yi visited Xiang Chaoyang.
Impressed by her livestream, he extended a formal invitation for Teng Yue to participate in the Lidu New Chinese Fashion Festival, a major national event. Xiang Chaoyang was stunned, doubting Teng Yue was qualified. Gao Yi clarified that his invitation only opened the door; their success would depend on a strong marketing proposal evaluated by a project team. Noting this was Jiang Hu’s specialty, he asked Xiang Chaoyang to pass on the message, inspiring her with a renewed sense of purpose.
Episode 25 Recap
Jiang Hu deliberately waits for Mr. Fang of Fang Trader's Circle to personally invite him to Teng Yue's new product launch. She explains that she waited until Teng Yue was back on track before formally discussing cooperation. She asks him to attend the event in two days to witness Teng Yue's rebirth through online pre-sales and offline orders, emphasizing that his presence would make the event more meaningful. Mr. Fang, impressed, agrees to do his best to be there.
Yue Shan discusses Lidu Department Store's New Chinese Fashion Festival with Pei Zhiyuan, unsure if Jiang Hu will agree to participate. Seeing an opportunity, Chaoyang asks Yue Shan about the apparent rift between Jiang Hu and Gao Yi, noting their lifelong friendship seemed to end after her father's death. Yue Shan curtly replies that Gao Yi no longer has any connection with the Jiang family.
Later, Pei Zhiyuan pitches the Lidu event to Jiang Hu, suggesting she use her close relationship with Gao Yi, who has influence at the department store, to secure a spot for Teng Yue. Jiang Hu flatly rejects the idea, stating it's impossible and that there are other promotional avenues, effectively closing the discussion. On the day of the product launch, the atmosphere at Teng Yue is tense. Jiang Hu is visibly nervous, suffering from a swollen face and a fever.
Initially, Xu Si offers encouragement after she dismisses her appearance as unimportant, telling her that the entire team is behind her for Teng Yue's first big battle. Meanwhile, Pei Zhiyuan grows anxious when none of the distributors he contacted show up, though Song Jiali manages to bring a few guests. Seeing Jiang Hu's condition worsening, Xu Si insists on taking her to the hospital immediately, arguing that others can manage the livestream.
Jiang Hu resists, stressing the day's importance, but Xu Si's persistence wins out. At the hospital, a doctor diagnoses her with a high fever from an inflamed lymph node, caused by an erupting wisdom tooth. As Jiang Hu is being treated, Xu Si answers a call from Chaoyang.
Informing her that Jiang Hu is resting and won't be back, he uses his authority as a Teng Yue shareholder to put Chaoyang in complete charge of the livestream, instructing her not to call again. Chaoyang confidently accepts the responsibility, and the broadcast begins. While Jiang Hu receives an IV drip, Xu Si gently feeds her porridge.
She opens up to him, sharing that her father called her "Little Butterfly" as a child and "Jiang Hu" as she grew up, which she sees as the essence of Teng Yue's culture. Back at the factory, the livestream is a huge success. The "Blooming with Each Step" series gains massive attention. After seeing pre-sales exceed 10,000 pairs in the first hour, Mr. Fang admits he underestimated Jiang Hu and postpones his meetings to go directly to the factory.
He is greeted by Pei Zhiyuan, who explains Jiang Hu's emergency absence and offers him a tour. Later, Chaoyang visits Jiang Hu at the hospital and concedes defeat in their competition. The "Blooming with Each Step" series, made at Jiang Hu's request, sold over 62,000 pairs, while Chaoyang's preferred high-end "Victory 1920" upgrade sold just over 1,000.
Jiang Hu explains that she deliberately tied their earlier race not to win, but to let Chaoyang see the market's response firsthand, hoping to build trust for future decisions. Acknowledging that Jiang Hu's strategy worked, Chaoyang pledges her full support for upcoming designs. Just as Chaoyang is about to mention Mr. Fang's arrival, Xu Si returns with toiletries sent by Jiang Hu's uncle, interrupting her. Chaoyang decides to postpone the discussion until Jiang Hu returns to work.
Meanwhile, a frustrated Zhang Wenshan at Free Unicorn, seeing Teng Yue's sales, orders his team to accelerate their own product launch and to identify and poach key talent from Teng Yue. Xu Si drives Jiang Hu from the hospital, refusing to take her back to Teng Yue and instead bringing her to his nearby apartment to recover. She hesitates, feeling it's inappropriate since they aren't close, but he insists, presenting it as part of his sincere effort to pursue her.
He gives her his bedroom and prepares to sleep in the study. The next morning, Jiang Hu awakens to find Xu Si has made breakfast. She notices they are wearing matching sweatshirts, and he playfully admits he chose them on purpose. As they share a quiet, close moment, Xu Si's aunt, Hong Die, unexpectedly enters with food. Flustered by the intimate scene, Hong Die quickly leaves. Embarrassed, Jiang Hu retreats to the bedroom, and a moment later, a scream is heard from upstairs.
Episode 26 Recap
Hong Die introduced herself to Jiang Hu as Xu Si's aunt, warmly insisting Jiang Hu, who had a fever, eat the breakfast she had brought while fussing over her and mostly ignoring Xu Si. During their conversation, Hong Die learned about Jiang Hu's family factory, Teng Yue, and its recent successful online launch. Mentioning that she and Xu Si's mother also run a factory, Hong Die expressed interest in visiting Teng Yue and exchanged WeChat contacts with Jiang Hu.
Before leaving, she playfully warned Jiang Hu that Xu Si is a calculating investor, and then privately remarked to Xu Si that the orchid cactus in his home seemed to have successfully brought him a romantic prospect. After Hong Die left, Jiang Hu commented on Xu Si's seemingly close relationship with his aunt. Xu Si clarified that it's superficial, as his aunt and mother view him as a ruthless investor.
He then asked if she wanted to be one of the people truly close to him, leading to a tender moment between them. Meanwhile, Ren Bing sincerely invited Zhaoyang to join Free Unicorn, offering competitive terms equivalent to an Italian designer's, plus a sales commission. Zhaoyang immediately declined, stating that Teng Yue was too busy. At the Teng Yue factory, workers were busy fulfilling orders.
Pei Zhiyuan celebrated their online success but emphasized the need to secure offline distributors, a decision he left to Jiang Hu. After learning she was with Xu Si, he noticed Xiaowu's reaction and dismissively commented that Xu Si was only a "barely good match" for Jiang Hu, adding that their family didn't "need such genes." On her final day of IV therapy, Jiang Hu saw Gao Yi emerge from the Therapeutic Radiology Department at the hospital.
Concerned, she started to follow him but was stopped by Xu Si, who had returned with water for her. She said nothing about seeing Gao Yi. Later, Xu Si noticed Gao Yi in the parking lot wearing a jacket similar in style to one Jiang Hu had gifted him, though in a different color. Yue Shan came to the hospital to accompany Jiang Hu and drove her home.
Jiang Hu confided that she wanted to stop suppressing her feelings and try a relationship with Xu Si. Yue Shan encouraged her to follow her heart but gently expressed reservations about whether Xu Si was the most reliable support for her, given her circumstances. At her home, Zhaoyang's mother offered her some strawberries, but Zhaoyang declined, saying she had to go out.
Elsewhere, Xu Si visited his mother, who reminisced about meeting Jiang Hu’s father, a capable industrialist, and expressed sympathy for Jiang Hu’s current burden. She urged Xu Si to treat Jiang Hu well and warned him against having any ulterior motives. Gao Yi informed Zhaoyang that Lidu was prepared to offer Teng Yue a dedicated, financially supported counter at their upcoming Chinese Fashion and Culture Festival, in a joint shop with the Shangchun Art Project.
He explained the Lidu executive team had approved it, pending approval of their marketing plan and the event's overall sales. Zhaoyang was worried about convincing Jiang Hu, but Gao Yi encouraged her to try, stressing his sincere desire to help Teng Yue. Later, Yue Shan presented the Lidu proposal to Jiang Hu, who immediately refused. Yue Shan argued that her father would have prioritized the business opportunity over personal grudges and that the event was crucial for their offline expansion.
She urged Jiang Hu to reconsider with a clear head. Taking matters into her own hands, Jiang Hu arranged a late-night meeting with Mr. Fang of Fang Yuan Trading. She boldly requested four of his prime retail locations in major cities, revealing her true competitor was Aneda. To secure the deal, she offered him all Teng Yue shoes at ex-factory cost. Impressed by her audacity, which reminded him of her father, Mr. Fang agreed to have a contract drafted.
Unsettled by the gifted jacket, Xu Si sought advice from Song Zhi, framing it as a hypothetical about a friend. Song Zhi saw through the ruse and advised that it could be a coincidence or simply a matter of taste, but what truly mattered was who was in Jiang Hu's life now. That night, Zhaoyang confronted Jiang Hu at the factory, presenting the two potential paths: Fang Yuan Trading or the Lidu/Shangchun partnership.
Zhaoyang argued that Lidu was a better long-term strategic fit and that Gao Yi genuinely wanted to help. Jiang Hu remained immovable, refusing to forgive Gao Yi. In response, Zhaoyang declared that if Jiang Hu partnered with Fang Yuan, she would leave Teng Yue. When Jiang Hu accused her of hypocrisy, Zhaoyang tearfully revealed the truth: Mr. Fang had previously sexually harassed her, and she could not bear to have her designs associated with him. After the difficult conversation, a distraught Zhaoyang called Yang Jian and asked him to take her sailing.
Episode 27 Recap
Zhou Qing stood outside an office, pleading with the receptionist to let him see Mr. Xu. He insisted he could wait for their meeting to finish, explaining he only needed five minutes. He revealed that he had sold his house and put everything on the line for his project, prompting Xu Si to instruct his assistant, Wu Guanglei, to bring Zhou Qing in.
At Teng Yue, Yang Jian noticed Jiang Hu seemed troubled despite a good sales day, with over 800 pairs of shoes shipped. He tried to reassure her by mentioning that offline distributor orders were strong and she was hiring a consultant. He asked if she had argued with Zhaoyang, who had also been moody the previous night. Jiang Hu deflected, saying he couldn't help, and borrowed his car.
Zhou Qing presented his project proposal to Xu Si, who pointed out that, as his colleague Joey had previously stated, only an industrial park with an annual output value exceeding one billion yuan could fully absorb the project. Zhou Qing acknowledged this but passionately defended his venture, citing his background in mechanical engineering and twenty years of experience in production line manufacturing.
He expressed his firm belief that intelligent manufacturing is the future for China and that the real economy is the nation's foundation. Impressed by his conviction, Xu Si agreed to keep the materials and review the project carefully. Xu Si went to Teng Yue to find Jiang Hu and, seeing her drive away, followed her to the hospital. There, Jiang Hu witnessed Gao Yi caring for an ill young woman. Later, outside, Xu Si comforted a distressed Jiang Hu.
She opened up about her childhood, explaining how Gao Yi was a constant presence from her eighth to her eighteenth year, helping her with homework and always being there for her when her father was busy. She admitted she used to think she was the only one who mattered to him and revealed that Zhaoyang also used to have a crush on Gao Yi.
Jiang Hu confessed that while she used to yearn for adulthood, she now often wished to return to her childhood, when her father was at least physically present. Xu Si embraced her, assuring her that he would always be there for her and that he prefers the present moment with her. Yang Jian brought dinner to Zhaoyang, who was working late. When he asked again about Jiang Hu's mood, Zhaoyang promised to explain later.
After Xu Si drove Jiang Hu back to the factory, he stole a kiss before his taxi departed, telling her it was the only ending that would satisfy him. Yang Jian witnessed the moment, realizing their relationship was serious, though he privately admitted his dislike for Xu Si. The next morning, learning that Jiang Hu had gone to meet Mr. Fang, Zhaoyang assumed she had agreed to partner with Fang Yuan Trading and left a resignation letter on her desk.
When Jiang Hu returned, Zhaoyang announced her intention to resign but offered to stay until a replacement was found. Jiang Hu clarified that she had met with Mr. Fang only to formally reject his offer. In a flashback, Jiang Hu is shown telling Mr. Fang that since Zhaoyang is Teng Yue's chief designer, her creative vision must be respected. Despite Mr. Fang's warning that partnering with him was the best commercial choice for the struggling factory, Jiang Hu stood firm.
Moved by this gesture of trust, Zhaoyang apologized and promised to dedicate herself to the upcoming New Chinese Fashion Festival project. Later, Jiang Hu informed Yue Shan that the quarterly sales goal would remain unchanged and that she was establishing a sales department with a director already in mind. Meanwhile, Zhaoyang met with Master Zhang to learn about Teng Yue's heritage for her designs.
He recounted the brand's popularity in the 80s and 90s, noting how its eagle-like logo was beloved and that old customers still returned out of nostalgia. Jiang Hu invited Fei to the factory canteen for dinner, and Fei brought along her "godfather," Xu Si. Jiang Hu used the dinner to subtly gather information, asking Fei about the celebrity agent-focused variety show her mother, Mo Xiangwan, was filming. Fei confirmed the participation of stars like Fan Mei and Lin Xiang.
Xu Si correctly guessed Jiang Hu had a plan, but she simply stated that she now knew what to do, alluding to Teng Yue's status as a childhood memory for many. Later, Zhaoyang's mother called to remind her of Yang Jian's upcoming birthday. She criticized Zhaoyang's job and praised Yang Jian as a kind-hearted man willing to atone for his father's past mistakes, advising Zhaoyang to treat him well until she could find a better man to marry.
Zhaoyang was irritated by her mother's manipulative view of Yang Jian. In his office, Xu Si dismissed Wu Guanglei's unsolicited dating advice and, noting his lack of experience, assigned him overtime. As Wu Guanglei complained, Xu Si took a call from Zhou Qing, arranging to discuss his project proposal later that evening at the office.
Episode 28 Recap
Xiang Chaoyang planned to discuss a proposal that evening and would wait at the company. Separately, she went to a cake shop looking for a specific salted butter butterfly pastry, but the assistant informed her the day's batch was sold out and she would need to return the next morning. Jiang Hu brought Yang Jian to a store, revealing it was his birthday and she wanted to buy him a gift. She had him try on a suit.
Yang Jian felt awkward in the formal wear, but Jiang Hu insisted he looked handsome and that "clothes make the man." She told him this style was necessary for future formal occasions and could give Xiang Chaoyang a fresh impression. Yang Jian expressed concern about the expense, given Jiang Hu's financial situation, but she wouldn't take no for an answer, stating he'd be looking down on her if he didn't accept. He relented, and she paid for the suit.
Zhang Wenshan met with Gao Yi regarding the upcoming New Chinese Fashion Festival project for Free Unicorn. Zhang Wenshan indicated he had special requirements and wanted their presence at the event to be unique, mentioning they were "doing something big" and didn't want to reveal all their plans publicly. Meanwhile, Xu Si arrived at the Teng Yue factory, having heard about a company team-building event. He spotted Yang Jian in his new suit.
Jiang Hu quickly intercepted Xu Si, telling him that Wu was waiting for him elsewhere and trying to get him to leave, fearing he might accidentally reveal the surprise party they had planned. She later admitted to Xu Si that he had almost spoiled the surprise. Jiang Hu led Yang Jian to the center of the factory floor where the entire Teng Yue team appeared and sang "Happy Birthday."
Jiang Hu announced they were also celebrating the birthdays of other employees born that month and invited all the birthday celebrants to make a wish together. Yang Jian gave a short, heartfelt speech, thanking everyone for their hard work and expressing hope that they could all work together to ensure a better future for Teng Yue. They then blew out the candles. After his meeting with Zhang Wenshan, Gao Yi met with Xiang Chaoyang to discuss the festival booth design.
He welcomed her, offering her the butterfly pastry he knew she liked. He praised her design for the exhibition booth, recognizing her style, and stated he believed it would attract consumers. However, he inquired about any additional promotional plans, suggesting the current proposal was slightly lacking.
He then informed her that Free Unicorn had secured three-quarters of the venue space and was collaborating with a model management group to feature international models in a runway show, urging her to discuss potential adjustments with Jiang Hu given this new information. Song Jiali attended the birthday celebration at Teng Yue. Jiang Hu approached her, saying she didn't consider Song Jiali an outsider.
Noting Song Jiali's years of experience as a textile middleman in Suzhou and the fact that her daughter was now married and living nearby, Jiang Hu extended an invitation for her to join Teng Yue. She explained that working locally would allow Song Jiali to continue her beloved career without constant travel, adding that inviting her was also her late mother's wish. Song Jiali was moved and accepted the offer.
Pei Zhiyuan and Master Zhang observed the lively scene at the factory, remarking on how much better things were now compared to the past, especially with the company celebrating employee birthdays. They felt a sense of continuity with the younger generation taking over. Xu Si noticed that Yang Jian's new suit was the same brand as one Jiang Hu had previously given him.
He semi-jokingly told Jiang Hu that for his own birthday, she was not allowed to buy him the same brand, as he didn't like wearing matching clothes with others. He then claimed today was his birthday, though Jiang Hu didn't believe him, stating she knew all her employees' birthdays. Xu Si countered that this gave her ample time to think of a gift.
As Dacheng brought out cake, Xu Si subtly held Jiang Hu's hand under the table, preventing her from taking a slice. Embarrassed and annoyed, Jiang Hu struggled to pull her hand free as people were watching, but he denied it before she finally managed to get a piece of cake. Xiang Chaoyang arrived at the factory, apologizing for being late and complimenting Yang Jian on his suit.
She then urgently informed Jiang Hu about the issues with the festival exhibition booth. She revealed that the booth map showed Teng Yue sharing a space with Free Unicorn, but Free Unicorn had been allotted three times their stage time and planned to bring in international models for a runway show.
Xiang Chaoyang recognized this arrangement—placing the formerly related Free Unicorn and Teng Yue in direct competition—as a shrewd strategy by Gao Yi that would benefit Lidu by generating significant buzz regardless of the outcome. Xiang Chaoyang said she would focus on overseeing the booth construction and urged Jiang Hu to devise better promotional ideas.
Jiang Hu, though taken aback upon hearing Gao Yi was behind the arrangement, declared that as a shareholder, she would not lose, emphasizing the event's importance for establishing Teng Yue's offline presence. Yang Jian gave Xiang Chaoyang a small box, explaining it was a return gift for the birthday noodles she had made him, as he didn't want to feel indebted.
The gift was a box of the fresh milk shortcakes she loved, which he knew because she had once told him her mother used to buy them. She thanked him, surprised he remembered. Later, Jiu visited Yang Jian and saw the cakes, remarking that Xiang Chaoyang’s gift had been the same for over a decade, a consistency he contrasted with Yang Jian's efforts to cook her different meals every year.
Jiu called their dynamic a "childhood sweethearts' tacit understanding" but urged Yang Jian to "wake up," concerned that with Gao Yi's return and success, Xiang Chaoyang's "old love" might rekindle. Yang Jian admitted he knew, having even seen Gao Yi drive her home, but stated it was fine as long as she was happy. Jiu called him stubborn. In a business discussion, Xu Si noted that Aneda's progress on a merger was faster than anticipated.
He instructed a colleague to schedule a project meeting with Mei's secretary. When a colleague suggested giving Teng Yue a heads-up about their future plans, Xu Si decided against it for the moment, stating that Teng Yue had not yet developed to a level that would interest Aneda and dismissed the suggestion as a personal opinion. Jiang Hu went to Studio City and fell asleep in her car.
Xu Si went to Teng Yue looking for her but was told by Pei Zhiyuan that she had left the previous afternoon and hadn't returned. Pei Zhiyuan expressed his approval of a potential match between them. Xu Si tried to call Jiang Hu, but her phone had a poor signal. She managed to tell him she was at Studio City before her phone died. Worried, Xu Si couldn't reach her. Meanwhile, Jiang Hu's car broke down.
She searched for a place to charge her phone, eventually finding a public toilet where she could plug it in. When her phone rang, the attendant helped her retrieve it. She called Xu Si back and sent him her location. When Xu Si arrived, he expressed his frustration over her not answering his calls or informing him of her whereabouts.
She explained she had fallen asleep and her phone died, playfully calling him fierce before telling him they needed to go somewhere else before heading back. Yang Jian offered to accompany Xiang Chaoyang to the Lidu site to help set up the exhibition booth. Xiang Chaoyang declined, explaining that the booth setup was already arranged and didn't require assistance from the operations team, as Wu could handle it. She reiterated that they should stick to their respective responsibilities at work.
Jiang Hu had Xu Si drive her to Lidu, where they found Xiang Chaoyang nearly finished with the booth setup. Jiang Hu apologized for being late, and Xiang Chaoyang noted that the next day's success now depended on her. Knowing Xiang Chaoyang hadn't eaten, Jiang Hu sat with her on the stairs outside Lidu to share a meal. Jiang Hu expressed surprise that they were finally sitting there calmly, working towards the same goal.
Xiang Chaoyang admitted she once considered Jiang Hu the person she hated most. Jiang Hu acknowledged she hadn't intended to snatch the direct university admission spot from her back then. They reminisced about their childhood rivalry over everything from class president to Gao Yi. Jiang Hu then deduced that Xiang Chaoyang and Gao Yi's estrangement was due to Free Unicorn.
Xiang Chaoyang reflected on how people and relationships change over time, and Jiang Hu agreed, adding that some things change because they never truly belonged to them. Xiang Chaoyang then teased Jiang Hu that while she had changed, her large appetite hadn't, prompting Jiang Hu to recall Xiang Chaoyang's own habit of buying out the entire stock of scallion pancakes from a stall near their school. They both fondly remembered how good those pancakes were.
Episode 29 Recap
That night, Xu Si called Jiang Hu, sensing her anxiety about the upcoming event. She confessed her desire to win but also her fear of failure. Xu Si comforted her, explaining that failure is a part of success and that even he experiences losses in his investments. He promised to stand by her, no matter the outcome.
The next day, at the Lidu Department Store, Free Unicorn launched its campaign with a dazzling show featuring international supermodels, drawing a large crowd. In stark contrast, the Teng Yue staff struggled to attract visitors with flyers, and a sense of discouragement began to set in. Xu Si arrived at the department store but was surprised to find Jiang Hu absent, even though it was past the ten o'clock start time.
Observing the scene, Zhang Wenshan and Ren Bing from Free Unicorn noted Teng Yue's apparent lack of budget and nostalgic approach, confidently predicting their defeat. Realizing it was the anniversary of her father's death, Xu Si deduced where Jiang Hu was and left to find her. Xu Si found Jiang Hu at the cemetery, standing before her parents' graves.
She confided in him that since taking over Teng Yue, she had felt constantly troubled, finding peace and clarity only at the cemetery. She drew strength from her late father's words—"Running against the wind, beginning with Jiang Hu"—expressing her resolve to face challenges head-on and make her family proud. Moved, Xu Si quietly promised her parents' spirits that he would take good care of her. Back at the department store, Free Unicorn's event was in full swing.
Zhang Wenshan, feeling certain of victory, remarked that a good idea is useless without a sufficient budget. Just as the noon lunch rush began, Jiang Hu returned, transformed in a striking white outfit that radiated confidence. Xu Si questioned her about a secret "trump card" he suspected she had from her trip to the film city, beyond the 1980s-style design and Xiang Zhaoyang's livestream. Jiang Hu remained mysterious, telling him he would soon find out. Her strategy was then revealed.
A large screen at the Teng Yue booth began playing video messages from a host of celebrities and industry figures, who offered heartfelt endorsements for Teng Yue, praising its history, craftsmanship, and their personal connections to the brand. The spectacle immediately captured the attention of the large lunchtime crowd, successfully redirecting foot traffic to Teng Yue's booth. As Zhang Wenshan's team tried to drown them out by cranking up their music, an older man allied with Teng Yue intervened.
He seized the microphone from Free Unicorn's booth, silencing their sound system. Immediately after, a live band at the Teng Yue area began playing nostalgic, classic songs that resonated deeply with the audience, stirring emotions and solidifying the brand's connection with the crowd. Meanwhile, Tang Ya from Aneda noted Teng Yue's official social media account had exploded in popularity, with one post garnering over 100,000 comments. Amidst enthusiastic cheers and chants of "Teng Yue!"
, Jiang Hu was called to the stage. The event's success marked a triumphant victory for Teng Yue, a testament to Jiang Hu's immense effort. Xu Si watched proudly from the audience as she shone on stage. The offline buzz immediately boosted the online store's sales, and Wu, stationed at the factory, was swamped with inquiries. He finally understood Jiang Hu's foresight in having the team ready for the surge in online traffic.
Later, Xu Si picked Jiang Hu up from work, and when asked why he was there, he openly referred to himself as her boyfriend. That evening, Teng Yue held a celebration party. Jiang Hu gave a brief, heartfelt speech of thanks, and when pressed to say more, she chose to sing an uplifting song instead. During the party, Yue Shan approached Xu Si to thank him for his unwavering support of Jiang Hu when others had lost faith.
She explained that Jiang Hu had grown up as a pampered princess under the protection of her father, her "protective umbrella." Now that her father was gone, Jiang Hu was facing tremendous pressure alone. Yue Shan urged Xu Si to be a true partner who could share her burdens, and Xu Si firmly assured her that he would always stand by Jiang Hu.
Episode 30 Recap
Zhaoyang went to see Gao Yi at work late one evening, where he unexpectedly announced he was getting married to a woman named Hai Lan and hoped Zhaoyang could attend. Devastated by the news, Zhaoyang returned to Changle Restaurant and drank heavily by herself. Yang Jian found her and expressed his concern, at which point Zhaoyang drunkenly proposed marriage to him.
When Yang Jian asked if she would ask the same of any other man in his place, Zhaoyang admitted she would. After a moment of silence, Yang Jian agreed, reasoning it was better him than a stranger. In sharp contrast, Xu Si and Jiang Hu shared an affectionate moment, reaffirming their love for each other. Following Teng Yue's recent success, a surge in online and offline demand created a severe stock shortage.
Song Jiali and others pressed Master Zhang to increase production, but the current workforce couldn't keep up. Yue Shan concluded that finding an OEM partner was the only solution. Pei Zhiyuan, who had connections in the field, initially suggested a former employee named Liu Jun, but the idea was immediately rejected. However, Pei assured them he had another, more suitable candidate in mind. The next day, Zhaoyang and Yang Jian officially registered their marriage.
When Zhou Suqing discovered the marriage certificate in her daughter's closet, she was furious. The news also shocked Jiu and Wu, who questioned if the certificate was even real, while Yang Jian remained silent. At a weekend meeting, the Teng Yue team planned a grand celebration for the company's 100th anniversary. Afterward, Zhaoyang received a call from her mother and nonchalantly told Jiang Hu that she had married Yang Jian.
A stunned Jiang Hu pulled her aside, questioning if she was sincere and had truly moved on from Gao Yi. When Zhaoyang gave an evasive answer, Jiang Hu revealed that she had long known about Gao Yi's deep and unwavering love for his childhood sweetheart, Hai Lan. She explained that neither of them had ever truly held a significant place in his heart.
Later, Zhaoyang had a tense conversation with her mother, who harshly criticized her decision, comparing it to a "good cabbage" she had raised for over twenty years rotting in her own home. Zhou Suqing listed her objections to Yang Jian: his low education, his status as a small business owner, and most significantly, her fear that he would end up like his abusive, alcoholic father.
Zhaoyang explained she was simply accustomed to Yang Jian after so many years and didn't want to adapt to someone new. Separately, Yang Jian promised Zhaoyang that she would hold the power in their relationship and he would wait patiently until she was ready to fully accept him. Jiang Hu visited Hai Lan in the hospital to give her a wedding gift and was surprised when Hai Lan recognized her from childhood.
Hai Lan urged Jiang Hu not to blame Gao Yi, explaining his difficult past and his insistence on marrying her despite her advanced breast cancer to give her "a complete life." During the conversation, Hai Lan mentioned that Gao Yi's father, who went to prison when Gao Yi was young, is now suffering from many illnesses. This shocked Jiang Hu, who had always been told by her own father that Gao Yi's parents were both deceased.
Disturbed, Jiang Hu asked Yue Shan to investigate the true circumstances of Gao Yi's parents and his adoption. Yue Shan agreed to look into it. Meanwhile, Mei Shaowang met with Xu Si at Baoxing Investment, stating that their client Aneda's next acquisition target was Teng Yue and that their contact, Tang Ya, wanted to accelerate the process. When Yue Shan later arrived at Baoxing to deliver financial reports, she saw Mei Shaowang and realized a corporate takeover was imminent.
She directly asked Xu Si about Baoxing's partnership with Jingyang Capital, and he confirmed it was for Aneda. Yue Shan then asked if he had warned the inexperienced Jiang Hu about the implications of such M&A activities, and he admitted he had not.
Episode 31 Recap
Yang Jian is intimately familiar with Zhaoyang's preferences, such as her dislike for too much salt or soy sauce, her habit of eating only the wrappers of steamed buns, and her love for hot milk. However, he is surprised to learn that she dislikes wontons. Zhaoyang explains this aversion stems from her childhood: when she was six, her mother's second husband, a wonton seller, forced her to wash dishes in his shop.
After her mother incurred a large debt from stock trading, the man divorced her and evicted them, leaving Zhaoyang and her mother to live in a rundown hostel for months. Later, her mother met Yang Jian's father, who owned a boxed-meal restaurant. She shared her wonton recipe with him, and they married. Zhaoyang admits Yang Jian's father's wontons were delicious, but the painful memories associated with them have made her genuinely dislike eating them now.
Meanwhile, Xu Si is troubled, confiding in a friend that he has not yet told Jiang Hu about Aneda's plan to acquire Teng Yue. He knows how invaluable Teng Yue is to her and worries she will refuse to sell. His friend advises him to communicate with her, but also notes that Baoxing holds the controlling stake, giving Xu Si the final say. Xu Si, however, fears underestimating Jiang Hu's attachment to the company.
Separately, Yang Jian discusses his unconventional marriage with his friend, Lao Jiu, who notes they married without a ceremony and still sleep in separate rooms. Lao Jiu suggests that Yang Jian should reveal the truth—that it was he, not Gao Yi, who saved Zhaoyang when she nearly drowned. He believes this would win her affection. Yang Jian, however, is content with their current progress, as Zhaoyang is beginning to open up to him.
Jiang Hu takes her large dog, Boss, to the veterinarian. The vet notes Boss's poor appetite, reduced water intake, and a serious wart, informing Jiang Hu that at thirteen, Boss is considered extremely old for his breed and she should be mentally prepared. Later, Jiang Hu speaks to Boss, regretting not spending more time with him. She recalls her father adopting him from a circus when she was in high school.
Boss was only loyal to her father and hostile towards her, so he was kept at Teng Yue. She expresses sorrow that his past aggression prevented them from spending more years together. At Gao Yi and Hai Lan's wedding, Hai Lan appears with a shaved head, wearing a wig and veil. Jiang Hu and Zhaoyang both arrive at the venue.
Jiang Hu, who wasn't invited, watches from a distance, remarking that she came to say goodbye to the past and finds it amusing that she and Gao Yi were once jealous of each other. Zhaoyang philosophizes that they must accept change and move on. Jiang Hu agrees, adding that their youth is over and they should cherish the good people in their lives, mentioning that both Yang Jian and Xu Si are good men.
As the newlyweds appear, Zhaoyang goes to offer her congratulations, wishing them a happy marriage, while Jiang Hu leaves. Xu Si surprises Jiang Hu on a weekday, insisting that her time belongs to him beyond just the weekends. He takes her to a restaurant across from his family's old cup factory, a place filled with childhood memories of his father buying him milk tea. For his upcoming birthday, Xu Si requests a unique gift: a home-cooked meal from Jiang Hu.
She agrees, challenging him to eat whatever she makes. Jiang Hu's attempt at cooking is a disaster. Her plans are further complicated when Mo Fei, a young boy, arrives for an overnight stay, as his parents are on a business trip and Xu Si had apparently agreed. To save the meal, Jiang Hu calls Yang Jian, who arrives with fresh ingredients and quickly prepares several delicious dishes.
During dinner, Xu Si, recognizing Jiang Hu's intent to mediate, acknowledges Yang Jian's close bond with her and suggests they should be friends. Later, Xu Si playfully teases Jiang Hu for using their date to mend his relationship with Yang Jian but reminds her that she still owes him a proper home-cooked meal as his gift. Xu Si continues to pursue Jiang Hu, showing up again to cook for her. He playfully presents a dish he has been practicing.
They banter while eating, and Jiang Hu teases him about his handyman skills after discovering he fixed her speaker, which he confirms. Their evening grows affectionate as they cuddle on the sofa, watching a movie and kissing. Xu Si mentions Teng Yue's upcoming team-building event and says he will miss her, asking her to grow her hair long like a doll's, a suggestion she laughingly dismisses.
Jiang Hu secretly commissions a custom gift for Xu Si, asking a craftsman, Master Zhang, to source old-style waterproof fabric for a pair of shoes that she intends to personally embroider. Elsewhere, Xu Si discusses his relationship with his mother, who is surprised by his seriousness. The conversation shifts to Teng Yue, and Xu Si admits that Aneda plans to acquire it.
His mother astutely guesses he hasn't told Jiang Hu, sympathizing with the deep emotional connection an entrepreneur has to their creation, comparing it to a mother raising a child. She questions if the acquisition is truly necessary and challenges Xu Si on whether he can separate business from personal feelings, and if he can expect Jiang Hu to do the same.
Xu Si insists his actions are for Jiang Hu's benefit, but his mother wisely counters that his good intentions might not be what Jiang Hu wants and could deeply hurt her.
Episode 32 Recap
Tang Ya meets with Xu Si regarding Aneda's acquisition of Teng Yue, noting the lack of progress despite Baoxing's controlling interest. Xu Si presents two conditions: preserving the Teng Yue brand and retaining the entire original team. Tang Ya readily agrees to the first condition, as acquiring established brands is Aneda's goal. However, she expresses reservations about the second, questioning if all of Teng Yue's current personnel meet Aneda's standards.
She does, however, acknowledge the team's vital role in Teng Yue's resurgence. After inquiring if Xu Si is dating Jiang Hu, Tang Ya assures him that Aneda highly values Jiang Hu and wants her to remain, respecting her management decisions for other staff. Tang Ya also proposes that Xiang Zhaoyang not only continue as Teng Yue's chief designer but also create an independent product line for Aneda.
Xu Si is doubtful Xiang Zhaoyang will accept, citing her unpleasant experience when she left Aneda. Understanding this, Tang Ya offers to persuade her personally, emphasizing the need to accelerate the acquisition. Later, Tang Ya meets with Xiang Zhaoyang and extends the offer, reminding her of a past conversation where she said they would work together again differently and framing it as Xiang Zhaoyang's chance to return to Aneda.
The Teng Yue team travels by bus for a team-building trip to a suburban hotel. On the bus, Jiang Hu reflects on her childhood, recalling how she used to wait for her father to return from business trips. Moved by this memory and her father's principle of treating workers well, she decides to adjust holiday schedules to give employees more time with their families.
Upon arrival, Jiang Hu notes the hotel is of a high standard, the same one Free Unicorn used for its own team building. Xu Si arrives later without a reservation and suggests sharing a room with Jiang Hu to save company funds. Jiang Hu is about to agree but changes her mind after seeing Xu Si add Ms. Leng from a partner company, Star Gravity, on WeChat.
Feeling jealous, she asks the manager, Mr. Wu, to book a separate room for Xu Si. Later, in Jiang Hu's room, Xu Si teases her about her jealousy. Jiang Hu denies it but admits she's frustrated and feels abnormal for reacting this way, which Xu Si finds amusing and delightful. Yang Jian, Wu, and Xiang Zhaoyang arrive later, having arranged for two rooms between the three of them, with Yang Jian and Wu sharing one.
Knowing Xiang Zhaoyang works late, Yang Jian brings her food he prepared, accessing her balcony from his room to find her awake and designing shoes. That evening, Jiang Hu and Xu Si's playful argument in her room touches on old grievances, like the hundred yuan he once owed her, and reveals the long-standing nature of their feelings for one another. They are interrupted by Jiang Hu's uncle calling them to dinner.
Later, they prepare to spend the night together, but Jiang Hu, having had too much to drink, falls into a deep sleep and rolls off the bed. The next morning, Jiang Hu wakes up apologetic, while Xu Si playfully tells her to get ready. During the team's barbecue, Xu Si finds Xiang Zhaoyang sitting alone and asks if she has considered Tang Ya's offer.
Xiang Zhaoyang says that being a designer is her dream and she will seriously consider it, though she is surprised Jiang Hu agreed to the sale. Xu Si admits he hasn't told Jiang Hu yet but believes she will agree. Acknowledging that their relationship is now more than just business, Xiang Zhaoyang advises him to tell her soon.
During an archery activity, Xu Si tries to gauge Jiang Hu's opinion on a merger by suggesting that joining a powerful company could lead to a more glorious future. Jiang Hu counters that maximizing interests isn't just about profit and that she prefers Teng Yue to remain a focused, "small but beautiful" brand, making it clear a merger is not what she wants. Xu Si drops the subject.
Jiang Hu then orchestrates a surprise marriage proposal for Xiang Zhaoyang from Yang Jian. In front of the team, Yang Jian kneels and proposes, promising to give her all the special moments she deserves and more. A tearful Xiang Zhaoyang accepts. Watching from a distance with Xu Si, Jiang Hu also becomes teary-eyed, moved by witnessing her friend's milestone for the first time.
Xu Si expresses his happiness at sharing the moment with her, promising they will face many more significant events together. Jiang Hu softly tells Xu Si she loves him, and he says it back. Following the trip, Teng Yue celebrates its 100th anniversary with the simultaneous opening of five new stores in Lidu Department Store, bringing its total to thirty. At the event, Du Botao wonders if they sold Teng Yue too cheaply.
Mei Shaowang remarks that the price is negotiable, but the real question is whether the sale can even happen, looking pointedly at Xu Si. Du Botao then asks Xu Si when he plans to reveal the truth to Jiang Hu, and Xu Si replies that he has arranged to have lunch with her that day.
In a speech and a later interview, Jiang Hu expresses gratitude to consumers and outlines her vision for Teng Yue's next century: to be a brand with social responsibility that can export the beauty of Chinese culture, declaring this is just the beginning of the next hundred years.
Episode 33 Recap
News of Aneda's impending acquisition of Teng Yue circulated widely, though Jiang Hu remained unaware. Pei Zhiyuan expressed enthusiasm, believing the new buyer, Aneda, would elevate Teng Yue. Yue Shan echoed this sentiment, estimating that the merger could increase Teng Yue's market value by at least 200 million yuan, a scale that would take Jiang Hu five or more years to achieve independently.
Aware of Teng Yue's deep significance to Jiang Hu, Xu Si intended to find an opportune moment to tell her. However, Jiang Hu went to his office to wait for him and discovered the plan prematurely by reviewing financial reports and other documents on his desk. Initially disbelieving, she grasped the full situation upon seeing the financial data.
By the time Xu Si returned from a meeting, Jiang Hu had left a note saying something urgent came up at the factory. Later, while driving Pei Zhiyuan and his pet dog, Boss, to the pet hospital, Yang Jian learned from Pei Zhiyuan that Xu Si was planning to sell Teng Yue and that Xiang Chaoyang was also aware. Returning home, Yang Jian confronted Xiang Chaoyang, who confirmed the news.
Yang Jian, seeing it from Jiang Hu's perspective, argued the plan considered everyone except Jiang Hu. Xiang Chaoyang countered that it was a private matter between Xu Si and Jiang Hu, a stance Yang Jian criticized as being emotionally detached. Xu Si went to Teng Yue to find Jiang Hu, who embraced him, showing her vulnerability.
She explained that her impulsive decision to acquire Teng Yue after her father's death and her own company's bankruptcy had saved her, giving her hope and the courage to start anew. Teng Yue had become part of her, representing a national brand's legacy she felt capable of leading independently, free from the influence of capital. She asked Xu Si what Teng Yue meant to him, and he replied that only she was meaningful to him.
Jiang Hu gave him a final chance, asking if he had anything to tell her, but Xu Si deferred, saying it could wait. Deeply disappointed, Jiang Hu discarded a pair of shoes she had made for his birthday. That evening, at Teng Yue's 100th-anniversary celebration, a visibly intoxicated Jiang Hu took the stage.
After a brief opening, she invited Xu Si up and launched into a public denunciation, calling out Yue Shan, Pei Zhiyuan, and Xiang Chaoyang for knowing about the sale and keeping it from her. She accused Xu Si of orchestrating the entire plan from the beginning and deceiving her with a carefully laid scheme. Her emotional outburst turned the event into a public spectacle, with videos of the incident quickly circulating online, which troubled Tang Ya of Aneda.
Jiang Hu left the venue alone, walking unsteadily. As Xu Si drove around searching for her, she received a phone call that made her panic and start running. Back at Teng Yue, Yue Shan directed staff to manage the negative online fallout and organize a search. Meanwhile, Jiang Hu arrived at a pet hospital, where the veterinarian informed her that her dog, Boss, was too old for aggressive treatment, which would only cause suffering.
The kindest option was for her to comfort him in his final moments. Overwhelmed by betrayal and now facing the loss of her beloved pet, Jiang Hu felt she had lost everything and broke down, weeping uncontrollably.
Episode 34 Recap
Unable to find Jiang Hu, Xu Si returned to the Teng Yue factory. Master Zhang informed him that Jiang Hu had been gone all night and that Pei Zhiyuan, Yue Shan, and Yang Jian were out searching for her. He had heard she was at a pet hospital the previous night after its owner passed away, but she left before anyone arrived.
Master Zhang pleaded with Xu Si not to pressure her further, highlighting the immense responsibility she carries at such a young age, to which Xu Si apologized. Meanwhile, Jiang Hu isolated herself at a guesthouse. After repeated calls from Yang Jian, she finally answered, assuring him she was fine and asking him to tell the others to stop looking, as she needed time alone.
Yang Jian respected her wish but insisted on knowing her location for her safety, promising to keep it secret. Jiang Hu agreed and sent him her location, feeling as though she had returned to the dark period following her father's death. Aware that Yang Jian and Zhaoyang had argued, Zhou Suqing tried to mediate by having them eat breakfast together. Zhaoyang remained distant, interested only in her art.
Yang Jian admitted to his mother-in-law that he and Zhaoyang were not on the same wavelength but promised to be the bigger person and accommodate her. After a meeting, Du Botao offered to help Xu Si move forward with Aneda's acquisition of Teng Yue, noting that public perception of a conflict between the founder and investor was damaging the project.
Xu Si replied that he needed time to resolve Teng Yue's internal issues and would report back to Du Botao’s father when ready. Unwilling to let the project fail, Du Botao decided to contact Jiang Hu himself, reasoning that while she was avoiding Xu Si, she would likely still be in contact with others. Zhaoyang learned during a visit to her store that Gao Yi's wife, Hai Lan, had passed away that day.
She went to the hospital and saw Gao Yi packing his wife's belongings but chose not to disturb him. Jiang Hu received messages from Pei Zhiyuan and Yue Shan. Pei Zhiyuan explained that the Aneda acquisition was meant to be a surprise from Xu Si. Yue Shan apologized for her part in the secret and shared a significant discovery: Jiang Qisheng had been making regular payments to a nursing home, which might hold the answers Jiang Hu was seeking.
Following the lead, Jiang Hu went to the nursing home and found Gao Yi's father. Though his mind was frail, he clearly recalled how Jiang Hu's father had knelt and begged him to take the fall for a crime, promising to support his family. However, he also remembered hearing that Jiang Hu's father had been the one to report him to the authorities first. Gao Yi arrived and spoke with Jiang Hu.
She confessed that she had always wrongly believed he was the one who leaked Shen Gui’s disappearance to the media. Gao Yi denied it, explaining he had only intended to use the Peace Loan to teach Free Unicorn a lesson and that things had spiraled out of his control. He had tried to find Shen Gui, but the news broke before he could.
Apologizing for the trouble he caused her, Gao Yi reflected that everyone pays for their mistakes, and he was still paying for his father’s. He urged Jiang Hu not to carry the burden of others' faults or give up on Teng Yue, and informed her that Hai Lan’s funeral was on Sunday. Xu Si went to Changle Restaurant to find Yang Jian. An acquaintance there urged them to have a good talk, and the two sat down together.
Later, Yang Jian visited Jiang Hu, bringing her food and telling her she couldn't keep hiding. To inspire her, he shared the story of Ye Guoming, the owner of Cloud Footwear, who had rejected Aneda's acquisition attempts 28 times, encouraging her to find her own strength. Motivated, Jiang Hu visited Ye Guoming at the Cloud Footwear factory. He was dismissive, stating there could never be cooperation between their companies because of her father.
When Jiang Hu pressed for the real reason, Ye Guoming revealed that thirty years ago, her father had worked at Cloud Footwear as a salesman. Standing in the exact spot where Jiang Hu now stood, he had listened as Ye Guoming detailed the proprietary formula for their anti-slip rubber sole. Jiang Hu was stunned to learn of her father's past with the company.
Episode 35 Recap
Ye Guoming recounted to Jiang Hu the history between Cloud Footwear and her father, explaining that his first job after returning from the countryside was as a salesman there. Ye Guoming highlighted the significance of the anti-slip rubber sole, a rare material at the time, stating that whoever developed it first would gain a critical market advantage. He said he had shared his production methods for the sole with Jiang Hu's father before he could file a patent.
However, two years later, Teng Yue launched cloth shoes featuring that same sole. Soon after, Jiang Hu's father married the factory director's daughter, and the patent became Teng Yue's property. Ye Guoming asserted that this was not just theft but a robbery. Separately, Xiang Chaoyang informed Yang Jian that Du Botao of Baoxing Investment wished to meet Jiang Hu, noting that she was refusing contact from everyone except him.
Yang Jian speculated it was Xu Si who wanted the meeting, but Xiang Chaoyang insisted it was Du Botao's initiative, as he could mediate the stalemate between Xu Si and Jiang Hu. She urged Yang Jian to arrange the meeting, arguing that Jiang Hu could not avoid the reality of Teng Yue's acquisition by hiding. Yang Jian contacted Jiang Hu, and she agreed to meet Du Botao.
At the meeting, Du Botao stated that the Baoxing-Aneda deal was proceeding and required her cooperation for the best outcome. He presented three conditions: she must publicly apologize for her disruptive actions at Teng Yue's Centennial Celebration, facilitate the merger, and leave Teng Yue. When Jiang Hu asked if this was Xu Si's wish, Du Botao replied that any rational person, including Xu Si, would not object.
He revealed that Aneda had initially agreed to keep her on but changed their minds after her outburst. Jiang Hu cited her significant shares, but Du Botao countered that her stake could not prevent Aneda from dismissing all of Teng Yue's employees post-acquisition. He added that the factory's land was already slated to be sold to Yuanfeng Logistics. Du Botao stressed that the fate of the production lines and employees depended entirely on her compliance.
Accepting her defeat, Jiang Hu returned to the factory to pack her belongings. Pei Zhiyuan found her, initially assuming she was just taking a temperamental break. When he realized she was leaving permanently, he became distraught, questioning why she would abandon Teng Yue just as it was improving. Jiang Hu simply stated that her time there was over and she had no choice. The employees gathered, pleading with her to stay.
She tearfully thanked them for their support, saying she was most reluctant to leave them, and insisted they must stay because Teng Yue could not function without them. Xu Si arrived as she was leaving, asking if she was truly going. She reiterated that she had no other option. Xu Si remarked that he thought her goal was to make Teng Yue bigger, but she dismissed further talk and sarcastically congratulated him on his victory.
When he said her actions were unlike her, she coldly replied that people change and pulled her hand from his grasp, telling him to let go. The fallout continued as Yang Jian left a signed divorce agreement for Xiang Chaoyang, admitting that after more than a decade together, he realized he didn't truly know her and had been pursuing an impossible dream.
He then instructed his subordinate, Jiu, to have all materials for the Teng Yue online store project transferred to Pei Zhiyuan, explaining that the project was for Jiang Hu and was no longer necessary. Later, Xiang Chaoyang's mother found her preparing to move out and questioned the sudden end of her long-term relationship with Yang Jian. Deciding to make a fresh start, Jiang Hu had a troublesome wisdom tooth removed, a symbolic act of shedding the past to move on.
The next day, Xu Si presided over a meeting at Teng Yue as interim CEO. He announced he had received resignation letters from Financial Director Yue Shan and Sales Director Song Jiali but had persuaded them to stay on temporarily out of responsibility to the company.
Later, Xu Si confided in Pei Zhiyuan that although Jiang Hu relied on older staff, their experience was the reason for Teng Yue's success, and perhaps only she had the right to decide its future. Pei then told Xiang Chaoyang that Xu Si was preparing an office for a new general manager, fueling fears that Xu Si would fire the veteran staff.
Xiang Chaoyang confronted Xu Si, who confirmed he had hired Shi Jialun, an e-commerce expert, because Teng Yue could not afford to wait for Jiang Hu. He explained Shi's team would take over the online store from Yang Jian's team. Xiang Chaoyang emotionally asked how a sentimental person like Jiang Hu could love someone so cold-blooded, to which Xu Si pensively echoed the question, "Yes, how could she love someone like me?"
Jiang Hu went to Cloud Footwear to apply for a job. Ye Guoming scoffed at her audacity but was intrigued by her proposal: he would set her salary, but she would define her own position. She boldly claimed that Cloud Footwear needed her to drive its revival. Ye Guoming challenged her to sell 30,000 pairs of shoes in fifty days.
In less than a day, Jiang Hu returned with proof of sale for 30,000 pairs to Youjia and Baihui Shoes, two distributors she had strong relationships with from her time at Teng Yue. Stunned by her speed and admitting he had overlooked her connections, Ye Guoming hired her as Market Director. Wary of her, he secretly instructed his staff to monitor her finances and keep her away from their core technology.
On her birthday, Jiang Hu sat alone in a convenience store, placing a candle on a small pastry and blowing it out. Meanwhile, Xu Si stood by a river with her red sports car, which he had kept. Looking at the car, he softly wished her a happy birthday, calling her his "Little Butterfly."
Episode 36 Recap
Jiang Hu outlines Cloud Footwear's issues to Ye Guoming, pointing out its outdated styles, narrow product range, and over-reliance on state-owned department stores. She argues that despite holding patents, these factors stifle market expansion and e-commerce growth. Ye Guoming dismisses her concerns, comparing her to her father, Jiang Qisheng, whose business failed because he chased quick profits instead of focusing on product development.
He accuses Jiang Hu of prioritizing sales and design for fast returns rather than genuinely improving the product, insisting that within the factory, she must follow his directives. Jiang Hu visits Song Jiali, who reveals she is resigning from Teng Yue next month. Jiang Hu expresses guilt, but Song Jiali reassures her that the decision is not entirely because of her, as she has reached retirement age and her daughter is pregnant.
She had planned to stay until a new sales director was found, but Xu Si has already hired a team of professionals, including a new managing director and marketing director. Believing in Jiang Hu's talent, Song Jiali encourages her and promises to stay in touch. Zhaoyang receives a call from her mother, Zhou Suqing, who is exhausted after viewing five rental properties and pressures her to make a decision. Still at work, Zhaoyang defers the conversation.
Meanwhile, Yang Jian is fishing while his friend Jiu complains about the strain of helping Zhou Suqing move. Yang Jian, having accepted their decision to move out, reflects on his decade-long relationship with Zhaoyang. He admits he never truly understood her or gained access to her inner world and concludes he must change his own habits and let go.
Later, Zhou Suqing urges Yang Jian to reconcile with Zhaoyang, emphasizing their family-like bond and asking him to tolerate her daughter's temper. Yang Jian calmly replies that Zhaoyang is strong and has always cared for her mother, even indulging her. He asserts they will be fine without him, as long as Zhou Suqing avoids causing more trouble.
Xu Si is now deeply involved in Teng Yue's operations, managing everything from human resources to the production line and exploring concepts like a Smart Shoe Production Line. Zhaoyang observes his hands-on approach and correctly infers that Aneda's personnel will not be joining Teng Yue in the near future.
Xu Si confirms his commitment, explaining that as someone who deeply hurt Jiang Hu, he feels he has no right to ask for forgiveness; instead, ensuring Teng Yue's success fulfills his initial promise to her and is the best form of closure for everyone. Zhaoyang notes they still cannot contact Jiang Hu, but Yang Jian has assured them she is well. Pei Zhiyuan finds Jiang Hu's apartment by following Song Jiali.
He arrives with new cotton bedsheets, knowing her preferences, and expresses frustration over how difficult she was to find. He harshly criticizes Xu Si as a ruthless traitor who forced Jiang Hu out and is now marginalizing him, an act he calls "kicking down the ladder." Pei Zhiyuan announces his plan to resign and join Jiang Hu at Cloud Footwear, confident they can repeat their past successes.
Jiang Hu bluntly rejects him, stating that Cloud Footwear already has enough older staff and that at nearly 65, he should retire. He persists, insisting he can still offer valuable advice. Jiang Hu meets a designer she admired at a Baoxing meeting. Noting he did not join his partner at Teng Yue, she proposes he design new styles for Cloud Footwear, showing him the current, poorly designed products.
The designer is intrigued and remarks on her enduring reputation in the industry. Jiang Hu also regularly visits Gao Yi's father, bringing him comfortable Cloud Footwear shoes. During one visit, Gao Yi expresses his happiness that she has returned to the industry. Jiang Hu confides in him about her struggles with the stubborn factory director and the lack of marketing funds.
Gao Yi offers to help by recommending her for "The Age of Entrepreneurship," a high-profile variety show connecting founders with investors, which would provide significant exposure. Jiang Hu gratefully accepts. While preparing for a store inspection with Zhaoyang, Xu Si encounters Jiang Hu and Gao Yi. Jiang Hu walks past without acknowledging him. Xu Si abruptly cancels on the inspection, telling Zhaoyang to go alone as he gets into a taxi to follow Jiang Hu.
He later arranges to swap cars with Wu Guanglei, planning to observe Jiang Hu discreetly. Despite his fear of dogs, Xu Si buys a French Bulldog puppy that resembles his late dog, Boss. He tells Mofei he will raise the puppy, Kid, on his behalf, citing Mofei's schoolwork and his parents' busy schedules. A frustrated Mofei accuses Xu Si of tricking him and threatens to complain to Jiang Hu.
Mofei later calls Jiang Hu, telling her about his new dog, whom he calls his "little Boss," and complaining that Xu Si has taken him. Alone, a tearful Xu Si cradles the puppy, telling it, "You're the first dog I've ever raised in my life." At Cloud Footwear, Jiang Hu investigates the company's finances, trying to determine if design fees can be covered by the meager marketing budget. At his shop, Yang Jian has her try his new wonton noodles.
She tells him honestly that his talent is for wontons, not noodles, as some skills are innate. He then asks for her hoodie size and correctly guesses it's a medium, revealing he still pays close attention to her. Jiang Hu informs Ye Guoming she has registered Cloud Footwear for "The Age of Entrepreneurship." Ye Guoming is furious, viewing it as a personal insult since he already rejected Aneda's investment and believes the company is self-sufficient.
Jiang Hu explains her goal is to secure a prominent advertising spot for an upcoming e-commerce festival and that she will use her own connections, not the factory's budget. Disregarding his continued protests, she returns to her work. Separately, Xu Si is asked by his company to be a guest judge on the same show, humorously selected for his good looks to represent the firm. While reviewing the program materials, he is stunned to see Cloud Footwear listed as a participant and realizes Jiang Hu will be there.
Episode 37 Recap
After Mei Shaowang mentioned that Jiang Hu had joined Cloud Footwear, Xu Si decided to participate in the entrepreneurship program as a mentor, reasoning that since his senior was involved, he couldn't be outdone. Wu brought Jiang Hu her scooter and a scarf as a gift, noting the cold weather. Jiang Hu declined the gift but affectionately put the scarf around Wu's neck instead, thanking him for the scooter.
Unseen by them, Xu Si witnessed this interaction from his car, growing concerned that Jiang Hu might truly be moving on from him. Later, Xu Si had dinner with Mei Shaowang and Tang Ya. After Xu Si left, Tang Ya remarked on the dinner's inefficiency, noting that despite much talk, key issues regarding the acquisition were not discussed, leading her to suspect Xu Si had other motives. Jiang Hu visited her father, Jiang Qisheng's, grave, where she met Yue Shan.
Yue Shan, who was there to mark her official departure from Teng Yue and Free Unicorn, asked if Jiang Hu still blamed her. Jiang Hu assured her she didn't and expressed sincere gratitude for Yue Shan's thirty years of dedication, acknowledging that neither company would have succeeded without her. Yue Shan, having watched Jiang Hu grow up, felt confident in her ability to handle future responsibilities, believing her father would be proud.
Yue Shan then announced her decision to retire and travel the world, a move that greatly impressed her younger colleagues. Jiang Hu and Xu Si both attended the entrepreneurship program's initial interviews. While Xu Si had joined as a mentor specifically because he knew Jiang Hu was participating, she only learned of his involvement on-site. She drew the number for Tutor 3, who turned out to be Xu Si, and mentally braced for a tough interview.
However, due to a delay, she was redirected to Tutor 4, Mei Shaowang. During her interview, Jiang Hu presented Cloud Footwear's history, craftsmanship, and her experience revitalizing Teng Yue. Mei Shaowang, playfully calling her "Miss Shoe Dog," went easy on her and passed her through. By the time Xu Si finished his session, he discovered that Jiang Hu had already completed her interview and left. Later, Xu Si was walking his dog, Kid, when a neighborhood boy joined him.
Having heard from his father that Xu Si was sad about Jiang Hu, the boy offered him a beer and suggested that Kid could stay with Xu Si to keep him company. A video of Xu Si playing with Kid by the river was later posted online. When Jiang Hu saw the video, she became visibly emotional and cried, as the scene reminded her of her own deceased dog, Laoban.
Gao Yi suggested that Zhaoyang reconcile with Jiang Hu, but Zhaoyang felt she had caused too much harm. During their conversation about their first meeting, Zhaoyang was shocked to learn that it was Yang Jian, not Gao Yi, who had saved her from the river as a child. Gao Yi explained that Yang Jian had pulled her out and confronted her bullies, while he was merely the one present when she awoke.
Later, Zhaoyang discovered her mother preparing to repay a debt to Yang Jian, realizing he had also quietly covered her mother's financial troubles. Overwhelmed with guilt, Zhaoyang recognized the depth of Yang Jian's silent support over the years. At Cloud Footwear, Jiang Hu used the remaining 180,000 yuan marketing budget to hire an award-winning designer for the new "For Young" collection, creating designs for hoodies, coats, and shoes.
Factory director Ye Guoming was initially furious at this unapproved expense, but he relented and signed the reimbursement form after other employees praised the new designs as modern and beautiful, and Jiang Hu confirmed she had already registered the copyrights. To delay their divorce, Zhaoyang used asset distribution as a tactic, demanding ownership of both Changle Restaurant and Xixingji. Yang Jian agreed to consider her request for a week, much to his subordinate's disapproval.
One evening, Wu walked Jiang Hu home and confessed his feelings for her. He acknowledged their age difference and her unresolved feelings for Xu Si but asked for a chance to be with her. Xu Si, who happened to be walking Kid nearby, witnessed the confession, which heightened his sense of urgency. On the first day of the televised entrepreneurship show, Xu Si acted as a stringent mentor, rejecting the first two projects.
When it was Jiang Hu's turn, she began not with her project, but with a moving story about her father, Jiang Qisheng, and her difficult journey to save Teng Yue. Before she could continue, the host asked the mentors for initial questions. When prompted, Xu Si simply stated, "Miss Jiang, I am very much looking forward to your presentation."
Episode 38 Recap
Jiang Hu and Wu stepped onto the stage to present Cloud Footwear's latest "For Young" collection. They wore the brand's T-shirts and shoes, and viewers back at the factory commented on how well Jiang Hu and her "boyfriend" looked together in their company wear. The investors asked targeted questions, some quite challenging, including one about Jiang Hu's previous disagreements with investors while at Teng Yue.
Jiang Hu addressed the question directly, explaining her belief that a product should not be rushed into capital operations before it is fully developed, a principle that often conflicts with investors seeking short-term gains. Based on her statement, two of the four investors turned off their lights, signaling they would not invest. According to the show's rules, Cloud Footwear did not secure funding. However, Jiang Hu remained upbeat.
She stated her primary goal was not to secure investment, but to showcase Cloud Footwear's new "For Young" series to a wider audience and gain recognition for the brand, factory director Ye Guoming, Wu, and their intergenerational team. Watching from the factory, Zhaoyang smiled and explained to Master Zhang that this was Jiang Hu's real purpose: turning the show into a product launch event.
The comments section exploded with viewers asking where to buy the "For Young" series, indicating her promotional goal was a success. Even before the show ended, Ye Guoming received a call from Mr. Wang of Hetian Trading, who placed an immediate order for 50,000 pairs. Following the broadcast, Cloud Footwear's sales soared, with orders booked until the end of the year. After the show, Mei Shaowang encouraged Xu Si to go after Jiang Hu.
Xu Si attempted to catch up with her but saw her leaving with Wu. Wu was waiting for Jiang Hu near her home and suggested a celebratory seafood dinner. Jiang Hu gently turned him down, explaining that she saw Yang Jian and Jiu Ye as older brothers, and him and Qi as younger brothers—all as cherished friends, but not romantic partners.
Later, Jiang Hu met with a platform representative to discuss securing a homepage ad spot for an upcoming shopping festival. Although Cloud Footwear's sales had increased fivefold, they still didn't meet the platform's minimum sales requirements for the premium spot. As she finished her conversation, Shi Jialun, the new Managing Director of Teng Yue, approached her.
He expressed admiration for her past strategies, noting that Teng Yue's sales had increased significantly and they were opening new stores according to her plans. Jiang Hu, mistakenly believing Teng Yue had already been acquired by a large group like Aneda, responded coolly. Shi Jialun was puzzled by her remark, as the acquisition had not yet happened. Meanwhile, Xu Si deliberately stalled the Aneda acquisition of Teng Yue, eventually halting the process entirely.
Du Botao confronted him, questioning if his decision was influenced by personal feelings for Jiang Hu. Xu Si denied it was about emotion and stated he would provide a satisfactory explanation to his superiors, Du Weiye and Baoxing. To boost sales, Jiang Hu met with top livestreamer Tao Xiaoying. Citing Jiang Hu’s past help as a reason for her own current success, Tao Xiaoying was firm on her now-high fees.
Despite the cost, Jiang Hu accepted the terms without yet consulting Ye Guoming. Yang Jian remarked that Jiang Hu was going to extreme lengths to make the sales target. Later, Mei Shaowang met Xu Si at a bar to discuss the stalled acquisition, but their conversation was interrupted by a call from Du Weiye, who was also pressing Xu Si. Using a chess analogy, Du Weiye warned Xu Si that failing to complete the acquisition would ruin his career.
Xu Si's conflict was entirely tied to Jiang Hu. The next day, he spotted her and followed her taxi. Annoyed, Jiang Hu got out to confront him, and Xu Si pulled her into his car. After dinner, Xu Si forced Jiang Hu to choose between him and Teng Yue. Angered, she immediately chose Teng Yue. Visibly hurt, Xu Si drank heavily that night.
Elsewhere, Yang Jian agreed to Zhaoyang's terms for the divorce but added a condition of his own: that Wu and the others could continue living at Changle Restaurant. Zhaoyang refused, revealing her real goal was not the restaurant. She then offered a counter-condition: he must tear up the divorce agreement. Later, during a meal, Zhaoyang learned that Yang Jian loves to drink but avoids it, fearing he inherited his father's negative traits and might hurt her or trigger bad memories. In response, Zhaoyang took a drink of liquor and then kissed him, transferring it to him mouth-to-mouth to show she was not afraid.
Episode 39 Recap
After waking up on the Teng Yue rooftop, Xu Si discovered his hand was cut by a broken beer bottle and his phone was dead. He borrowed a colleague's phone to call Wu Guanglei. Before leaving for work, Qi instructed Jiu and Wei not to wake Yang Jian, revealing he was sleeping in her room. The two were visibly shocked by the news. Later, when Yang Jian met Qi after work, she confessed her long-held feelings for him.
She admitted she had used her affection for Gao Yi as a way to cope with the internal conflict she felt due to her dislike of Yang Jian's father, allowing herself to live a lie for years to ignore her deep dependence on Yang Jian. Now wanting to stop deceiving herself, Qi told him that he, not Gao Yi, was the true bright light in her life, regardless of his father's past.
A happy Yang Jian saw his unspoken affection finally reciprocated. Following the departure of Teng Yue's founders, Xu Si formally submitted his resignation to Du Weiye and proposed to personally buy back Baoxing's shares in Teng Yue. He confronted Du Weiye, revealing he knew Baoxing had leaked the news of Shen Gui's disappearance, an act Xu Si considered a violation of his professional bottom line.
To ensure his departure would not harm Baoxing, Xu Si presented a complete, pre-arranged alternative for the Aneda deal: the acquisition of Hero Fly, a century-old brand whose major shareholder needed to sell. He had discussed the strategic rationale for this choice with Gao Yi, noting it was more cost-effective for Aneda and a better market story. This move protected the interests of Baoxing, Jingyang Capital, and Aneda, with Xu Si having considered everyone on the "chessboard."
While calling the decision "ridiculous," Du Weiye granted Xu Si one week to raise the funds for the buyback, framing it as a chance for Xu Si to prove his immaturity. Wu Guanglei expressed his loyalty and readiness to follow Xu Si, but when he learned Xu Si planned to mortgage all his personal assets for the buyback, he was shocked and called him crazy, unable to understand the sacrifice.
At Cloud Footwear, factory director Ye Guoming adamantly refused to do a livestream, insisting any profit should be passed to customers directly. To his surprise, Jiang Hu seemingly obeyed his order to cancel the event without argument. At home, Xu Si reconciled with his mother, Fang Moping, admitting his previous views on valuing a company like Xufeng were too narrow. He acknowledged that his father would not have repaired the factory's machines if he had truly wanted to sell.
He presented her with a professional e-commerce operations plan for Xufeng, impressing her with his newfound understanding. She assured him of the family's full support in his future decisions. As a result of the cancellation, Tao Xiaoying livestreamed an apology to her fans, explaining that Cloud Footwear was unwilling to offer the lowest possible price. Her fans flooded Cloud Footwear's social media with angry comments.
Observing the situation, Xu Si believed this was exactly what Jiang Hu intended and instructed Wu Guanglei to hire media outlets to amplify the negative attention, much to Wu Guanglei’s disapproval. Internally, Cloud Footwear employees debated their response until Ye Guoming, frustrated with the deadlock, gave Jiang Hu full authority to handle the crisis.
Jiang Hu then issued an official apology letter, framing the cancellation as a commitment to upholding the brand's quality and century-old craftsmanship over making a sale at a compromised price. The controversy propelled Cloud Footwear to trend online, generating massive public discussion and free publicity.
Wu Guanglei praised Jiang Hu's brilliant marketing, noting it was a "triple win": Cloud Footwear gained a better reputation, Tao Xiaoying solidified her top-streamer status with a surge in followers, and their investor Mei Shaowang would now have more confidence in Teng Yue.
Xu Si then revealed his full plan to a stunned Wu Guanglei: he had secured investment from the Chengnan Economic Development Zone to fund Teng Yue's new smart production line and would mortgage all his personal assets to buy back the shares. Jiang Hu and Tao Xiaoying met to discuss a new collaboration. Tao Xiaoying accepted Jiang Hu's terms and commented that Jiang Hu was now easier to work with.
Jiang Hu, in turn, pointed out that Tao Xiaoying was being less strategic, as her immediate need was not money but maintaining her popularity amid growing competition. Jiang Hu proposed a partnership to help Tao Xiaoying maintain her public "heat" and positioning, which was more valuable than a single commission. Tao Xiaoying understood that Jiang Hu's goal was mutual benefit by linking the Cloud Footwear brand with her name. Meanwhile, Ye Guoming led his staff on an unusually long and silent tour of the factory, leaving everyone wondering what he intended to announce.
Episode 40 (Ending) Recap
Director Ye Guoming gathered the factory workers, explaining that Cloud Footwear, a century-old national brand, needed to continuously innovate its styles to keep up with market demands and develop a forward-looking vision to compete with international brands. The workers enthusiastically agreed, stating this was a direction they should have pursued earlier and expressing confidence in their ability to compete. Jiang Hu later questioned Director Ye about a sum of money transferred to her account.
He explained it was her sales commission, and it was all he could offer. Jiang Hu refused the money, but when she provocatively suggested he consider it compensation for her father Jiang Qisheng's past patent infringement, Director Ye firmly rejected the idea, stating the debt her father owed was far too great to be settled by such a small amount. Frustrated by his stubbornness, Jiang Hu asked what she could do to resolve the matter between him and her father.
In response, Director Ye led her to his office chair and asked her to sit. He declared that to truly clear her father's debt, she must take on the role of director and lead Cloud Footwear to greater success. He announced that he had already informed the factory staff and shareholders of his decision to step down, citing his age and outdated ideas.
Despite Jiang Hu's protests that her expertise was in marketing, not factory management, he insisted it was too late to back out. He urged her to prevent Cloud Footwear from suffering the same fate as Teng Yue, which had become a relic of the past. He wanted her to build it into a proud, century-old national enterprise.
Jiang Hu acknowledged that her time at Cloud Footwear had taught her the fundamental importance of R&D and technology, a lesson she hadn't fully grasped at Teng Yue. Director Ye then handed her the key to the director's office, solidifying the transfer of leadership. Meanwhile, Teng Yue began vacating its original factory for demolition, a somber event for the staff.
Jiang Hu was not present, with one employee remarking it was better for her not to witness the scene and become more upset. At a later time, Cloud Footwear's success in a shopping festival was celebrated, with its growth rate second only to Teng Yue's. After a business meeting, Jiang Hu had an emotional, chance encounter with Xu Si.
They saw each other from a distance and both shed tears, but Jiang Hu turned and left first, and Xu Si did not stop her. Back at the Cloud Footwear factory, Jiang Hu was surprised to find Wu Guanglei waiting for her with a message from Xu Si.
Wu Guanglei presented her with an Equity Gifting Agreement, revealing that Xu Si had personally repurchased all of Baoxing's shares in Teng Yue and was now gifting his entire ownership of the company to her, free of charge. Stunned, Jiang Hu asked about the planned sale to Aneda. Wu Guanglei confirmed that Teng Yue had rejected the acquisition and that Xu Si had made these major decisions without telling her.
He defended Xu Si's silence, explaining that a man as proud as him would not use such a gesture to beg for her favor. Wu Guanglei also informed her that Teng Yue had relocated to a modern industrial park with a smart production line and that the entire staff remained. Furthermore, Xu Si had found her beloved car for her.
When Jiang Hu desperately asked for his whereabouts, Wu Guanglei could only say that Xu Si was tired and needed to rest. Her repeated calls to Xu Si went straight to a powered-off phone. Seeking answers, Jiang Hu visited Xu Si's aunt, Hong Die, who revealed that Xu Si had gone abroad without telling anyone his destination.
Hong Die shared a childhood story about Xu Si and remarked how much Jiang Hu had changed him for the better, helping him face his past. Jiang Hu agreed that he had changed her as well, causing their perspectives to align over time. She reflected that, like business, relationships also require sacrifice and dedication. Hong Die advised them to give each other time. Later, at a restaurant, the owner gave Jiang Hu a package left by Xu Si.
Inside was the unique, hand-painted pair of high heels she had designed, which he had recovered for her. Jiang Hu subsequently returned to manage Teng Yue. However, she did not sign the transfer contract. With the unsigned Equity Gifting Agreement still in his aunt's possession, Teng Yue legally remained under Xu Si's name. Under her guidance, a collaboration between Cloud Footwear and Teng Yue, featuring Zhaoyang's design, became a massive success, selling 100,000 pairs during pre-orders.
In other developments, Yang Jian and Zhaoyang arranged a blind date for Zhou Suqing. At Teng Yue's new factory, where Cloud Footwear was also set to move, Yang Jian teased Jiang Hu for investing funds in Cloud Footwear but not Teng Yue. Jiang Hu firmly stated that in her heart, both companies were equally important.
In a final encounter, Xu Si asked Jiang Hu a series of pointed questions: if Teng Yue was more important to her than anything, if she would have loved him without Teng Yue as a motive, and if forced to choose between him and the company, whom she would pick. This time, without hesitation, Jiang Hu looked at him and answered, "You." They then moved towards each other, reunited.
