Love Together (Trial Marriage) Episode 7 Recap
> Love Together (Trial Marriage) Recap
Ye Chengshu arrived early at the hotel for his meeting with investor Ming Nianqiang but was mistakenly led into an adjoining training hall, a front for a pyramid scheme. He tried to leave and make a phone call, but he was told that calls were prohibited during the confidential meeting, and his attempts were blocked.
As the scheme leader, Mr. Qiang, began his lecture on "Success Science" and introduced a project, "The Development Plan of Sunshine Ranch in Mulin Town," Ye Chengshu became interested. When Ye Chengshu introduced himself as being from Future Group, Mr. Qiang was visibly surprised and immediately had his staff research Ye Chengshu's identity, instructing them to disable the signal blocker in the room. Confirming Ye Chengshu's background, Mr. Qiang invited him to a VIP room, praising his talent.
Mr. Qiang then presented a contract for the "Sunshine Town Project." Ye Chengshu, trying to stall, requested to consult his secretary and retrieve his company seals, but Mr. Qiang pressed him to sign, questioning why he was so cautious over a mere five million yuan contract. Ye Chengshu attempted to negotiate for more funding, but Mr. Qiang abruptly demanded the money be in his account that very day.
He confiscated Ye Chengshu's phone, threatening to take him to another city if he refused to comply. Ye Chengshu warned Mr. Qiang about the rule of law, but Mr. Qiang retorted that he had nothing to lose and that no one, "not even the king of heaven," could save Ye Chengshu. Ye Chengshu confidently replied that while the king of heaven might not, the "business devil" could.
At that critical moment, Gu Lingse arrived, introducing herself as being from Dingzhuang Group. She confronted Mr. Qiang, referring to him as a "big shot" and engaging in a physical altercation. She then instructed Ye Chengshu to go meet Ming Nianqiang, who was waiting for him, and left her bodyguard, Bei Chen, to handle the fraudsters until the police arrived. Meanwhile, Gu Huaiheng met with Mr. Zhao's assistant, referred to as Jie, on a boat.
Gu Huaiheng mentioned a previous attempt to discuss something with Jie via Dongtang. Jie explained he was only an assistant and not authorized to make decisions, but acknowledged that in the industry, he was seen as Mr. Zhao's representative, calling himself Mr. Zhao's "fishing rod." Gu Huaiheng presented "bait" to Jie, who accepted it, implying their conspiracy would proceed to "hunt for a big fish."
Ye Chengshu finally met Ming Nianqiang and presented his Mulin Town project plan, highlighting its potential to attract tourists and foster coordinated development with the Shizishui project. Ming Nianqiang, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the project's annualized return and deemed the ideal final stage difficult to achieve, stating his company was too small to confront such risks, even with Dingzhuang Group's support.
Instead, Ming Nianqiang offered Ye Chengshu a challenge: design a comprehensive commercial body for Jiangnan Town, which had more mature infrastructure, within 24 hours. If Ye Chengshu succeeded, Ming Nianqiang would then invest in the Mulin Town project. Ming Nianqiang confirmed his promise to invest in the Mulin Town project if Ye Chengshu completed the task. After Ye Chengshu left, Ming Rixin questioned if the 24-hour deadline was too challenging, given Ye Chengshu's background in toy design.
Ming Nianqiang then revealed that Ye Chengshu had also pursued architectural design at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, where he earned degrees in architecture and mathematics under the master of design, Malzahar. Later, Gu Lingse found Ye Chengshu working intensely on the Jiangnan Town design. She and Jiang Han offered their assistance, discussing specific regions and aspects of the plan. Gu Lingse lauded his brilliant ideas.
With their help, Ye Chengshu managed to complete the demanding design challenge within the deadline. Ye Chengshu presented his completed Jiangnan Town design to Ming Nianqiang. Ming Rixin asked if her father would now cooperate. Ming Nianqiang then revealed his true identity: not only was he Ming Rixin’s father, but also a friend of Ye Chengshu’s late father, Ye Nanchuan, and a previous investor in the Shizishui project.
Ye Chengshu recalled his father humorously describing Ming Nianqiang as an "investor as cruel as a gangster," a label Ming Nianqiang found fitting. Ming Nianqiang expressed regret at not having bid farewell to Ye Nanchuan. He stated that Ye Nanchuan had solved a problem he had given him years ago, and now it was Ye Chengshu's turn to do the same and uphold his father's legacy.
Ming Nianqiang promised to fully support the Mulin County project, affectionately calling Ye Chengshu a "silly boy." To celebrate this success, Ye Chengshu, Gu Lingse, and Ming Rixin gathered in a wine cellar. Ming Rixin revealed that the earlier charade was her father’s doing, as he enjoyed being mysterious, and she had cooperated. She explained the cellar was built by her father for her mother's love of wine. They toasted to Ye Nanchuan’s romantic gesture and the new investment.
Ye Chengshu, showing a Lego set his father had given him, made a playful, drunken comment. He eventually passed out from drinking too much. Meanwhile, Gu Huaiheng contacted his men, who reported that they did not find the "Floating Island blueprint" at Ye Chengshu's house but instead found Ye Nanchuan's stamp. Gu Huaiheng, deeming it likely useless, instructed them to keep it anyway.
The next morning, a bodyguard informed Gu Lingse that Chairman Gu (Gu Huaiheng) had ordered them to continue searching for the blueprint at Mulin County. Gu Lingse expressed her anger at the directive, but the bodyguard, while reiterating his loyalty to her, hinted that a raise would make him even more loyal. Gu Lingse was upset but chose not to disclose these events to Ye Chengshu. Later, Ye Chengshu presented his Mulin County plan to other managers.
They questioned the project's long payback period and profitability. Ye Chengshu clarified that the project's profits would steadily rise once a virtuous cycle was established and provided detailed materials on the return rates. Jiang Han seemed unwell during this meeting. Jiang Wenbin then publicly announced that Ye Chengshu would be in full charge of the Mulin County project, urging him to be bold and not make any mistakes, thereby removing his own involvement.
