Episode Summary
Wei Jinghai , deeply troubled, plots his next moves, including eavesdropping on Zhao Jiadi and Li Zhijin while setting a dinner table for scarecrow representations of his parents. Meanwhile, Zhao Jiadi and Li Zhijin share a romantic sunrise kiss, and Li Zhijin plans to introduce him to her father, Li Minxian , who is unaware of Zhao Jiadi's true identity. Fan Longquan investigates Wei Jinghai , linking him to Chen Zhuhe and a shell company. Wei Jinghai advises Chen Zhuhe on dealing with a lawsuit from Cai Yanzhi and manipulates events concerning mining rights, aiming to leak information to Zhao Xin . Zhao Jiadi prepares to meet Li Zhijin's family with advice from his friends. At the Li residence, a business meeting about a joint venture and its leadership turns tense as Fan Longquan pushes to investigate Wei Jinghai . Wei Jinghai then announces Jinhai will compete for the mining rights. Just as Li Zhijin introduces Zhao Jiadi to her father and the assembled group, Wei Jinghai interrupts them.
Spoiler Alert
We kick things off with Wei Jinghailooking like he’s been through the wringer. His driver, Xiao Lin, is so incensed by his boss's suffering that he’s ready to gather a crew and basically ruin Zhao Jiadi . But Wei Jinghai, ever the strategist even in his pain, puts a stop to that plan. Instead, he retreats to his old place. And here’s where it gets a bit unsettling: he’s cooking dinner, all while eavesdropping on a phone call between Li Zhijinand Zhao Jiadi . When the food’s ready, he sets the table… for two scarecrows dressed up as his parents. Yeah, let that sink in. This guy is definitely teetering on the edge.
Meanwhile, in a completely different emotional universe, Zhao Jiadiand Li Zhijinare having a picture-perfect romantic moment. He accompanies her to a mountaintop to watch the sunrise . Li Zhijinis clearly smitten and ready to take the next big step: introducing him to her parents. She even casually asks if Zhao Jiadi’sfamily will be making a trip to Jufeng. He confirms, and his thoughts drift to Fan Longquan, someone he seems to genuinely respect. As the sun finally makes its appearance, Zhao Jiadiand Li Zhijinshare a kiss, silhouetted against the dawn. It's sweet, but you just know this bliss can't last with everything else brewing.
The next morning, Li Zhijintries to act all casual as she comes downstairs, pretending she just woke up. But her father, Li Minxian , sees right through her, noting she doesn't look like she slept well . He starts the inevitable interrogation about the new boyfriend: his age, who he is, how they met. Li Zhijinexplains they’ve known each other for over three years, but it’s clear Li Minxianhas no clue about Zhao Jiadi’sreal identity and insists on meeting him.
Elsewhere, the net seems to be tightening around Wei Jinghai . Fan Longquan has a private meeting with Xu Lao and hands him a file. He’s discovered that the owner of a shell company is none other than Chen Zhuhe , which pretty much confirms Wei Jinghaiis up to something shady. Xu Lao, however, is more cautious, suggesting that a single loan doesn’t prove anything and that perhaps Li Minxianis already aware of the situation. But Fan Longquan is tenacious and dead set on thoroughly investigating Wei Jinghai .
Speaking of Chen Zhuhe , he’s in hot water because Cai Yanzhiis determined to sue him. Panicked, Chen Zhuheruns to Wei Jinghaifor a solution. Wei Jinghai’sadvice? Keep your mouth shut and let him handle the rest. Classic Wei Jinghai . Then, Xiao Lin reports that Sang Ke is getting impatient about the progress of the mining rights. Wei Jinghai , always playing 4D chess, instructs Xiao Lin to contact Fu Fangand have him leak the mining rights bid price to Zhao Xin . As if that wasn't enough plotting for one day, Jiao Ye delivers information on a man deeply in debt with a family to support. Wei Jinghaiclearly has a new scheme in mind and orders his men to keep an eye on Chen Zhuheas well. The man is a master manipulator.
Back with our leading man, Zhao Jiadiarrives home to find Ma Xiaotiao and Shang Baoengrossed in a video game. Ma Xiaotiao is both surprised and delighted to hear that Zhao Jiadihas a girlfriend. With the big "meet the parents" event looming, Zhao Jiadiasks his buddies for some advice. Ma Xiaotiao and Shang Baoput their heads together, and their earnest efforts genuinely seem to touch Zhao Jiadi .
The next day, it’s D-day for meeting the family. Zhao Jiadigets all dressed up, and Li Zhijinpersonally picks him up, even stopping to buy a gift on the way. Smart. Over at the Li residence, it's a full house. Xu Lao, Fan Longquan, and others are meeting with Li Minxianto discuss a joint venture expansion. Xu Lao brings up that the crucial general manager position for this venture is still vacant and asks for Li Minxian’sopinion.
Li Minxian , however, is being evasive and states he won’t be involved in selecting the candidate. Fan Longquan, never one to beat around the bush, jumps in. He argues that the mining project is enormous and that the management and operations have too many potential areas for corruption if left to a single coordinator. He proposes a complete overhaul of the management structure and, significantly, calls for an audit of the old company's accounts – a move clearly aimed at Wei Jinghai . Just then, Wei Jinghaihimself walks in and drops a bomb: Jinhai is now going to compete for the mining rights. Since no formal contract has been signed yet, the rights could still change hands.
Wei Jinghaithen presents his "solution" to this new development, and most people in the room seem impressed. He even feigns willingness to cooperate with Fan Longquan’s audit, stressing that dealing with Jinhai is the immediate priority. Fan Longquan, however, isn't buying it for a second. He suspects this is all a convenient coincidence orchestrated by Wei Jinghai . The two of them have a tense exchange, which Li Minxianhas to interrupt. And just as things calm down a notch, Li Zhijinwalks in with Zhao Jiadi . Talk about an entrance! Fan Longquan is visibly stunned, and so is Wei Jinghai . As Li Zhijinstarts to introduce Zhao Jiadito her father, ready to show him around, Wei Jinghaisuddenly calls out to them.
And… scene! What a cliffhanger! What does Wei Jinghaiwant? How will this incredibly awkward family-meets-business-rivals introduction go down? We’ll have to wait for the next episode to find out!
