Episode Summary
Shen Yiqun enlists Cheng Ao's help to peacefully resolve a crisis with refugees in a shantytown, where Cheng Ao finds an unexpected intellectual connection with their representative. Later, an attempt by both men to help Lin Siyun find an investor goes horribly wrong when their chosen contact, Deputy Director Dong, assaults her. Lin Siyun injures him to escape, forcing Shen Yiqun and Cheng Ao to bribe Dong heavily to protect her from legal retaliation.
Spoiler Alert
The Shantytown Problem
So, the Shen family won their lawsuit. They're getting ready to buy Lin Siyun's house. Shen Yingying is already there, measuring the drapes in her mind. She loves the place and is pushing her aunt to buy it immediately.
But her brother, Shen Yiqun, has bigger problems. A huge number of refugees have poured into Shanghai. They have nowhere to go, so they're living in shantytowns. The government hates how this looks. It's bad for their image. They keep telling local officials to clean it up. Shen Yiqun's men try to drive the refugees out, but more just keep arriving. It's an endless cycle that solves nothing.
Cheng Ao Steps In
Shen Yiqun is out of ideas. He goes to get Cheng Ao. He doesn't just ask for advice, though. He drags Cheng Ao straight to one of the shantytowns to see it for himself.
Cheng Ao has heard about how bad the conditions are. Seeing it in person is a whole other level of shock. But he also notices something else. The people here are poor and desperate, but they aren't ignorant. They've even chosen a representative to negotiate with the government. Shen Yiqun is worried the guy will do something crazy. He makes Cheng Ao handle the meeting alone.
A Meeting of Minds
The representative invites Cheng Ao into his small room to talk. Cheng Ao is surprised to see the room is full of books from all over the world. This guy knows his stuff. He's an expert on social politics.
They talk for hours, from daytime until evening. They analyze the entire political situation. The two of them just click. They find a deep respect for each other. While they were talking, someone arranged for all the refugees outside to receive relief money. This simple act solved most of the immediate conflict.
On the way back, Shen Yiqun is very pleased with how Cheng Ao handled things. He offers him a job again. Cheng Ao turns him down. He can't get on board with Shen Yiqun's political style. They might work together sometimes, but Cheng Ao still has lines he won't cross.
The Search for an Investor
Cheng Ao has been taking Lin Siyun to high-society parties. The goal is to help her find an investor for her business. These events are full of powerful bosses and bankers.
Shen Yiqun also has a crush on Lin Siyun. He tries to help by introducing her to a man named Deputy Director Dong. Dong is very powerful and could easily fund her project. The problem is, neither of them knows that Dong is a total creep.
A Dangerous Introduction
Soon after the introduction, Shen Yiqun and Cheng Ao hear about Dong's nasty reputation. They immediately panic and run to find Lin Siyun. They get to the room just in time to see Dong limping out the door, clutching his leg in pain.
Here's what happened. Dong used the meeting as an excuse to get Lin Siyun alone. He quickly dropped all pretense of talking business. He wanted a "transaction" and even got physical, grabbing her. Lin Siyun couldn't get away. Thinking fast, she grabbed a steel plate off a table and stabbed him in the thigh with it.
The Aftermath
Lin Siyun just injured a very powerful man. Cheng Ao and Shen Yiqun go into damage control mode. Shen Yiqun first offers Dong three gold bars to make it go away. Dong refuses. So, Shen Yiqun sweetens the deal. He offers to get Dong's son a great job, plus a bunch of other perks. Finally, Dong agrees to drop the matter.
Cheng Ao rushes into the room. He finds Lin Siyun huddled in a corner, shaking uncontrollably. It's obvious she's been through a terrifying ordeal. He feels a pang of sympathy and sits next to her, completely at a loss for how to comfort her.
