Episode Summary
Jiao Ye's attempts to woo Pei Luoshen fail, leading him to violently attack Zhao Jiadi out of jealousy. Meanwhile, the corporate battle between Jufeng and Risheng intensifies over oil market speculation. Zhao Jiadi advises Risheng to short the market, a risky move against the prevailing trend. While Zhao Jiadi is unreachable after the attack, Qi Dongcao provides crucial financial backing from Switzerland based on his instructions. Despite immense pressure and opposition, Lin Peng trusts Zhao Jiadi. Just as Jufeng and Wei Jinghai seem poised to win by going long, the market crashes as Zhao Jiadi predicted, leading Risheng to a dramatic, profitable victory. Elsewhere, Li Minxian tests Wei Jinghai's loyalty, and Li Zhijin develops a clearer interest in Zhao Jiadi.
Spoiler Alert
Zhao Jia Di Season 2, Episode 12 Recap: High Stakes and Rough Tumbles
The episode kicks off with Jiao Ye trying way too hard to impress Pei Luoshen. We're talking gifts galore and even a suitcase stuffed with cash. Yeah, subtle. Unsurprisingly, Pei Luoshen isn't biting. When Jiao Ye finds out she might actually be interested in some younger guy (guess who?), his bruised ego immediately starts plotting some payback. You just know this won't end well.
Meanwhile, the real battleground is heating up between the companies Jufeng and Risheng. The corporate games are officially on. Song Mingjian, despite being on the opposing side (or at least in a different camp), finds himself genuinely impressed by Zhao Jiadi's financial acumen. He even asks Zhao Jiadi for pointers on short selling. Listening in, Lin Peng is clearly banking on Zhao Jiadi's well-reasoned analysis, telling him to keep a laser focus on the market.
Over at the Li residence, things are less about stocks and more about swords. Li Minxian decides to "spar" with Wei Jinghai. It's less friendly practice and more of a test. Li Minxian feels the sheer aggression and killing intent behind Wei Jinghai's moves, quickly disarming him and getting two blades right up against his waist. Wei Jinghai, realizing he showed too much of his true, dangerous self, immediately concedes defeat. After Wei Jinghai leaves, Li Minxian cryptically tells his trusted aide to deliver something to a "Manager He." Hmm, wheels within wheels.
Elsewhere, Li Zhijin clearly can't get Zhao Jiadi off her mind. She quizzes Xu Ziqi about how guys think when it comes to women. Later, she takes the plunge and calls Zhao Jiadi directly. After a barrage of questions, she suddenly asks if he misses her. Zhao Jiadi is momentarily stunned, then amused. They make plans to meet up over the weekend. Awkward? Maybe. Intriguing? Definitely.
Our girl Qi Dongcao has jetted off to Switzerland. She meets up with her Shixiong (senior fellow apprentice/student), who clearly still carries a major torch for her. She lays out her plans, but it's obvious the feelings aren't mutual. She's there for business, likely related to helping Zhao Jiadi.
Back home, Zhao Jiadi is heading to the office for a night shift when disaster strikes. Jiao Ye's goons ambush him, give him a brutal beating, and dump him out in the middle of nowhere. Classic gangster move, fueled by jealousy.
This couldn't happen at a worse time. At both Jufeng and Risheng, everyone is glued to the oil market screens. The price is climbing, and Li Qian at Risheng is panicking, thinking shorting now is basically financial suicide. Lin Peng has put all his faith (and maybe the company's future?) on Zhao Jiadi, wanting to wait for his signal, but Zhao Jiadi is completely unreachable, thanks to Jiao Ye's thugs.
Just when a brief dip in the price offers a glimmer of hope, the market surges upwards again. Jufeng and Wei Jinghai keep pouring money in, going long. The atmosphere at Risheng's trading department is thick with tension. One analyst ("Glasses Guy") furiously confronts Wang Qihan, yelling that the entire world is going long, and only Risheng is crazy enough to be shorting. Wang Qihan, however, remains cool as a cucumber, trusting Zhao Jiadi implicitly. Li Qian begs Lin Peng to make a decision, cut their losses, but Lin Peng, under immense pressure, decides to gamble and wait for Zhao Jiadi.
Luckily, Pei Luoshen figures out Jiao Ye was behind Zhao Jiadi's disappearance. She speeds off and finds Zhao Jiadi, battered but determined, running along the road. His phone is busted, so he uses hers to contact Qi Dongcao in Switzerland. The message: start shorting now. Qi Dongcao's Shixiong advises caution, but she's resolute – she's backing Zhao Jiadi.
With Qi Dongcao's financial muscle joining the fray and Zhao Jiadi's precise market prediction finally relayed, Lin Peng makes his call. He's following Zhao Jiadi's lead, consequences be damned – he'll take the heat if it goes wrong.
Interestingly, over at Jufeng (or perhaps her own operation?), Li Zhijin is also watching the market intently. While everyone around her is celebrating the rising prices, she suddenly orders her team to stop buying and close their long positions. Seems she has her own read on the situation, or maybe just good instincts?
Wei Jinghai is still riding high, confident he's mastered both market trends and human greed. But Zhao Jiadi has already set his trap. While Lin Peng and the Risheng team are still looking grim, Zhao Jiadi is the picture of calm. Lin Peng has a sudden realization: this is no ordinary kid.
Right on cue, the market tanks. International oil prices plummet. Wei Jinghai's smug confidence evaporates as his strategy crashes and burns. Thanks to Zhao Jiadi's bold short position, amplified by Qi Dongcao's support, Risheng turns a massive potential loss into a stunning profit. The trading floor erupts in cheers. Against all odds, they pulled off an incredible comeback. Lin Peng finally cracks a relieved smile. Zhao Jiadi, the underestimated genius, just won the day.
