Storm Eye Episode 18 Recap
> Storm Eye Recap
Miao Lu tearfully confronted Miao Fei, demanding to know why her resume was rejected and accusing her sister of abusing her power. Miao Fei maintained that the decision was not negotiable. Miao Lu expressed her deep desire to join Dinghua, believing it was the only way to prove her father, Miao Huanyang, was not a bad person, even if he had made mistakes.
She aspired to become a chief researcher, just as her father had built Dinghua with his own skills, and felt that if their father were still present, Miao Fei would not dare to treat her this way. Miao Fei later met Zhou Lian at her restaurant, who had arranged lunch for her. Miao Fei explained that she had a private matter to discuss with someone.
Ma Shang soon arrived, and Miao Fei introduced him as Dinghua's head of personnel to Zhou Lian, her best friend and the restaurant owner. Miao Fei then asked Ma Shang to help re-recruit Miao Lu. She admitted her initial reluctance stemmed from a fear that Miao Lu would be bullied due to their family's recent troubles and her own unstable position within the company.
Ma Shang noted Miao Fei's overprotective nature, and Miao Fei agreed, concluding that she should respect Miao Lu's personal wishes. Despite the re-recruitment being against company regulations, Ma Shang promised to find a way to navigate the process. Zhou Lian joined them for the meal. Ma Shang inquired about how long Miao Fei and Zhou Lian had known each other, expressing curiosity about their seemingly different personalities.
Miao Fei suggested Ma Shang and Zhou Lian add each other on WeChat for potential future business collaborations. After dinner, Miao Fei drove Ma Shang home, thanking him for his help, which Ma Shang stated was his duty. Ma Shang's mother, Hu Yuping, observed Miao Fei dropping him off and questioned him about their closeness. She warned him about potential gossip, given Miao Fei's fiancé's recent death and the unresolved issues surrounding the Miao family, fearing he might become implicated.
Ma Shang insisted their interactions were strictly professional, but his mother firmly instructed him to maintain a clear boundary in his personal life, especially since Miao Huanyang's reputation was declining. Ma Shang reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, An Jing was spending time with her mother, who was recovering from a recent illness. An Jing received a text from Ma Shang asking for her home address, as he wanted to send a gift for her mother's recovery.
An Jing initially resisted, concerned about exposing their connection, but Ma Shang assured her he could handle it discreetly. Still, An Jing refused to accept any undeserved gifts. Ma Shang countered that the gift was for her mother, who would surely appreciate it. An Jing then complained to her mother about her "unique colleague."
Her mother, learning the colleague was male and had insisted on sending a gift after An Jing mentioned her illness, approved the gesture and asked An Jing to convey her thanks and happiness to him. An Jing sent a message to Ma Shang as requested. Separately, Du Meng called Ma Shang, informing him that he had gathered additional clues regarding the ten-year-old case and would send them over.
He stressed the importance of carefully reviewing the information, given the scarcity of leads over time. Ma Shang acknowledged his efficiency. Miao Fei requested and received a large volume of data, less than ten percent of the Administration Center's three-year records, to conduct an audit herself, declining offers of assistance from the Finance Center. Miao Lu then arrived at Miao Fei's office for her interview, happy that her sister was finally paying attention to her.
Miao Fei reminded Miao Lu not to disclose anything about their father's situation and cautioned her that the workplace was far more complex than she imagined, contrasting it with Miao Lu's past dismissal of their father's and her own worries about company matters. Miao Lu affirmed her understanding. Ma Shang invited Cheng Lei to Zhou Lian's restaurant, where Cheng Lei quickly realized Ma Shang needed his help.
Ma Shang explained that Miao Lu, Miao Fei's recently graduated sister, would be joining the Technology Department. He expressed concern that Pang Yishan's faction might ostracize her and sought Cheng Lei's assistance. Cheng Lei playfully asked if Ma Shang and Miao Fei were romantically involved, which Ma Shang denied, stating he simply felt sympathetic towards Miao Fei's family after their recent hardships and hoped Cheng Lei could support Miao Lu as a newcomer.
Zhou Lian then approached Ma Shang, asking for his help to promote her restaurant's new menu. Ma Shang offered to connect her with a friend who worked at a TV station. Miao Lu officially started her position. Cheng Lei showed her to her desk and assigned her data to audit, instructing her to familiarize herself with the environment.
Miao Lu questioned the efficiency of segmenting the data, but Cheng Lei explained it was a security measure, assuring her that he and another engineer would handle the final consolidation. He then departed for a regular meeting. At the meeting, Pang Yishan elaborated on a crucial new project for Dinghua, emphasizing its substantial investment and potential to transform the medical device market. He stressed the need for thorough planning, risk assessment, and contingency measures.
Miao Fei volunteered to lead the project, offering to collaborate with the R&D department. Professor Zou and Lin Xiaolan approved, assigning Miao Fei the responsibility. Professor Zou then announced that his synthetic technology project was nearing completion and required a special assistant due to the increased workload and prior confidentiality. He specified the need for someone with an excellent professional background, who was safe, reliable, and could quickly integrate into the project.
Pang Yishan advocated for an internal candidate from the R&D department, a sentiment supported by Lin Xiaolan. Lin Xiaolan then assigned Ma Shang to oversee the recruitment process. An Jing encountered Ma Shang's mother, Hu Yuping, at a supermarket. An Jing thanked Hu Yuping for her help during her mother's illness and offered to treat her to dinner.
Hu Yuping suggested An Jing bring her boyfriend to dinner, to which An Jing, forgetting Ma Shang's earlier fabrication, replied that she did not have a boyfriend. This delighted Hu Yuping, who then offered to treat An Jing instead and mentioned Ma Shang's desire to catch up. An Jing, realizing her mistake, quickly excused herself for an urgent meeting. Later, at a meeting held on a yacht, An Jing arrived late.
Ma Shang disclosed his suspicion that Miao Fei was doubting his identity, citing her intentional probing and her introduction of Zhou Lian to him. An Jing took responsibility, recalling that during her interrogation of Miao Fei, when Miao Fei suspected Ma Shang, Du Meng had interjected to tell her not to doubt him, which likely fueled Miao Fei's suspicions. Du Meng, present at the meeting, expressed remorse and offered to report his error to Department Chief Song.
Ma Shang acknowledged the "hidden danger" but reassured Du Meng that it was not a major issue he couldn't handle, urging An Jing to comfort him. They discussed Miao Fei's shifting attitude towards Zhou Lian. An Jing theorized that with her fiancé's death and her father's arrest, Miao Fei's emotional support system had narrowed to her best friend.
An Jing believed Miao Fei was not protecting Zhou Lian out of loyalty but out of self-preservation, grappling with rational suspicion and emotional denial, and potentially using Ma Shang to approach Zhou Lian to alleviate her own uncertainties. Ma Shang found this psychological assessment plausible. An Jing then recounted her awkward encounter with Ma Shang's mother and her accidental revelation that she did not have a boyfriend, invalidating Ma Shang's earlier lie.
Ma Shang dismissed it, stating his mother would persist in encouraging him to pursue An Jing regardless. At An Jing's home, her mother admired the "Anshen tea" sent by a colleague. Du Meng arrived to collect some clothes for An Jing. An Jing's mother, connecting this to An Jing's earlier comment about a "unique colleague," questioned Du Meng about any new colleagues taking special care of An Jing, hoping to thank them.
Du Meng vaguely replied that An Jing was popular and everyone looked out for her. An Jing's mother then asked Du Meng if he had considered transferring positions, noting the demanding nature of their work. Du Meng stated he was committed to his chosen path. She then inquired about the danger level of their current case, knowing she couldn't ask for specifics. Du Meng admitted it wasn't entirely safe but promised An Jing would be protected with him around.
Misinterpreting his words, An Jing's mother, expressing her constant worry for An Jing's safety and future, urged Du Meng to persuade An Jing to transfer out of the reconnaissance section. Du Meng was initially excited, thinking she was entrusting An Jing to him, but quickly realized her true intention. He hesitated, pointing out the inappropriateness of a team leader telling his section chief to transfer, anticipating a reprimand.
An Jing's mother then appealed to his friendship, reminding him of An Jing's unwavering support for him and stressing her concern for An Jing's well-being and her ability to lead a normal life. Ma Shang discussed Professor Zou's special assistant recruitment with him, advocating for recruiting a technician from a national scientific research institution to ensure security and efficiency. Yu Haoran overheard this conversation and reported it to Lin Xiaolan and Pang Yishan.
Pang Yishan expressed strong disapproval, deeming Ma Shang's decision rash for not consulting them first. He argued that hiring an outsider would demoralize internal staff, emphasizing that internal competition was crucial for employee vitality and growth, and questioned how an unknown external candidate could be more secure than a thoroughly vetted internal employee. Lin Xiaolan supported Pang Yishan's stance, agreeing that opportunities for advancement were the "source of all vitality" within a company.
Yu Haoran was pleased with the outcome, telling Yang Xun that Lin Xiaolan had decided on an internal campaign for the position, and expressing confidence in his own qualifications and connections. Yang Xun inquired about Miao Lu's work performance. Yu Haoran stated her work was adequate but subtly mentioned that she was initially rejected for the role and only recruited later by Ma Shang through a separate interview, implying special treatment.
Yang Xun worried that Cheng Lei, Yu Haoran's main competitor, might form a clique with Ma Shang and Miao Lu. Yu Haoran concurred with this concern. Later, at the office, Yu Haoran deliberately brought up Miao Lu's family background, mentioning her father, Miao Huanyang, prompting discussions among colleagues about her identity and her seemingly humble role in data accounting. Cheng Lei intervened, assigning a new data accounting task to the group that needed to be completed meticulously by the end of the day.
