Episode Summary
Zhao Jiadi successfully negotiates a fair demolition price with Liu Zong using his financial expertise, temporarily easing tensions. His recent success in futures trading makes him popular at work, attracting a new, mysterious client: Pei Luoshen, who insists he manage her funds despite his suspicion. Meanwhile, Risheng Capital thrives while Jufeng struggles. Wei Jinghai investigates Risheng's trading success, discovering Zhao Jiadi's involvement and suspecting a larger conspiracy possibly involving Zhao Jiadi and his father, Zhao Xin, linked to a past smuggling incident. Zhao Jiadi reconnects with old friend Ma Xiaotiao and later rescues a drunk Tong Xia from Zhu Hongzhi. However, he's intercepted by Liu Zong, who reveals Shang Bao and Fang Jie have been taken hostage, and Liu Zong's boss demands to see Zhao Jiadi.
Spoiler Alert
Zhao Jia Di Season 2, Episode 14 Recap: Deals, Debts, and Dangerous Damsels
Alright, so the episode kicks off right where things were getting tense. Remember Liu Zong and his crew trying to strong-arm the demolition deal? Well, they brought backup – a whole crowd of extras trying to look intimidating. But our guy, Zhao Jiadi, isn't easily rattled. He steps up personally to negotiate with Liu Zong. Instead of shouting, he whips out his financial knowledge, breaking down the numbers and hitting Liu Zong with a demolition price so professionally calculated and reasonable that it leaves the guy stunned. Liu Zong, clearly outmatched in the brains department, mumbles something about needing to talk to his boss.
Seeing an opening, Zhao Jiadi smartly switches gears. He tells Shang Bao and Fang Jie (remember them?) to whip up some food in the kitchen and even pours Liu Zong a drink. It's a classic "let's smooth things over" move. Liu Zong takes the olive branch, and suddenly the tension drops. For now, at least, things are looking surprisingly chill between the two sides.
Meanwhile, elsewhere... Biao Ge is busy trying to save his own skin with Pei Luoshen, claiming his underlings went rogue and whatever happened wasn't his fault. Classic move. Interestingly, when Pei Luoshen finds out that Zhao Jiadi is actually Zhao Xin's son, instead of backing off like Biao Ge probably hoped, her interest is seriously piqued. She's intrigued, not deterred.
Back at the office, Zhao Jiadi's little adventure in futures trading has turned him into an overnight sensation. Remember how everyone used to give him the cold shoulder? Now, people are practically lining up, looking for any excuse to chat him up and hopefully absorb some of his financial wizardry.
Then, things get really interesting. A brand new client walks into Risheng Capital, specifically asking for Zhao Jiadi. Lin Peng, just following procedure, leads Zhao Jiadi to the VIP meeting room. Zhao Jiadi walks in, and boom – guess who it is? None other than Pei Luoshen. You could practically feel the air freeze. Zhao Jiadi snaps back into professional mode instantly, trying to keep things strictly business and maintain a clear distance. His tone is firm, basically telling her they need to keep their boundaries.
But Pei Luoshen isn't one to back down easily. She plays it cool, insisting their previous run-in on the street was pure coincidence and that she's only here on business. Yeah, right. Her proposal? She wants Risheng Capital to manage her funds and hold stocks for her (a stock proxy deal). The catch? She doesn't care about the operational details, except that Zhao Jiadi must be the one handling her portfolio. Zhao Jiadi totally smells trouble and knows she's likely up to something, but hey, a massive client just landed in his lap. Can he really refuse? Nope. Deal accepted, suspicion included.
The show gives us a quick glimpse of the contrasting vibes between companies: Risheng is buzzing with business, while Jufeng Company is dealing with low morale. Xu Ziqi mentions to Li Zhijin that a big shot, Old Mr. Huang, the founder of the famous Honghu International from Canada, is back in the country. Xu Ziqi suggests Li Zhijin try and get him to invest in Jufeng.
Just as a meeting wraps up at Risheng, Jin Zong comes looking for Lin Peng. Apparently, Jin Zong's department has landed a meeting with a major potential equity investor and they need Zhao Jiadi to come along – basically to look impressive and add prestige. Lin Peng, ever the opportunist, sees a chance and negotiates a cut if the deal goes through. They haggle and eventually settle on a 60/40 split (with Lin Peng's side getting the 40). And who should walk into Risheng right then? Zhao Jiadi's old classmate, Ma Xiaotiao! It's been ages, so naturally, they make plans to catch up properly.
Now, let's check in with Wei Jinghai. He's started digging into that Risheng futures trading miracle, trying to figure out if there was some hidden expert pulling the strings. Surprise, surprise – he finds out the legendary "intern" behind it all was Zhao Jiadi. Thinking back on things Chen Hongxiong and Cai Yanzhi said, Wei Jinghai gets lost in thought, connecting dots. He also reflects on Chen Zhuhe's "lost" shipment that mysteriously reappeared. Turns out, it was a smuggling operation – high-value amber hidden within worthless gravel ore, declared as scrap. This whole operation was Wei Jinghai's way of proving his worth (like a pledge of allegiance, or "tou ming zhuang") to Sanko, the local bigwig in the Karpunia Mining Area. Wei Jinghai initially thought losing that cargo was just Sanko testing him or trying to squeeze money out of him. But now, with Chen Zhuhe's goods back and knowing Zhao Jiadi's involvement in Risheng, he starts suspecting something much bigger. Could the whole lost cargo incident, which forced Wei Jinghai to scramble for funds and dive into the risky futures market, have been orchestrated by someone else? He even starts to wonder if Zhao Xin and his son, Zhao Jiadi, set the whole thing up. Oof, the plot thickens!
Later, Ma Xiaotiao makes good on his promise to help Zhao Jiadi find clients, taking him to a club full of his buddies. There, they run into Zhu Hongzhi and also meet a young woman named Tong Xia. Something about her reminds Zhao Jiadi of "the fox" (likely referring to another character or a past encounter). As the night wears on, Tong Xia gets completely wasted. Zhu Hongzhi and his pals bundle her into a car, clearly with bad intentions. Zhao Jiadi, seeing this, immediately jumps into his car and gives chase, ready to play the hero.
He manages the rescue, but just as he's heading home with Tong Xia, his path is blocked. It's Liu Zong again, and this time he's not looking for friendly negotiation. Liu Zong tells Zhao Jiadi that both Shang Bao and Fang Jie are now their hostages. And the real kicker? Liu Zong's boss, the one pulling the strings behind the demolition hassle, specifically wants to meet Zhao Jiadi.
And that's where Episode 14 leaves us – hanging off a cliff! Zhao Jiadi's got a powerful, mysterious new client he doesn't trust, old enemies resurfacing with hostages, and deeper conspiracies swirling around him and his father. Can't wait to see how he gets out of this one!
