Episode Summary
In this intense episode, Zhao Jiadi and Fan Longquan are ambushed in their car. Fan Longquan is murdered, while Zhao Jiadi is severely injured but survives. Zhao Jiadi is convinced that Wei Jinghai orchestrated the attack, a suspicion that hardens when Wei Jinghai behaves defiantly at Fan Longquan's funeral. Fan Longquan's widow, Shen Yulan, asks Zhao Jiadi to join Fan Long Group to help protect her late husband's legacy, especially as Zhu Fengping is being blackmailed by Jiao Ye to take control of the company. After contemplation, Zhao Jiadi resigns from his current job, ready to take on the new challenge at Fan Long Group, receiving an emotional farewell from his colleagues.
Spoiler Alert
So, we kick off with Zhao Jiadi and Fan Longquan cruising home, blissfully unaware that a certain "Xiao Lin" is tailing them. In the car, they're deep in conversation about Wei Jinghai, with Zhao Jiadi suspecting that the notorious Jiao Ye might also have his fingers in this messy pie. Fan Longquan is pretty convinced Wei Jinghai is bad news, but he's a bit bummed by Li Minxian's lukewarm attitude. Zhao Jiadi, ever the strategist, figures Li Minxian probably thinks Fan Longquan is too high-profile, making him an easy target for a metaphorical (or, as it turns out, literal) shiv in the back.
And just as they're dissecting the situation, BAM! A small truck comes out of nowhere and slams into their car, sending it flipping. It's brutal. Zhao Jiadi is seriously injured, lying there helpless as he watches the truck driver finish off Fan Longquan. The driver then turns his attention to Zhao Jiadi, clearly intending to leave no witnesses. But just in the nick of time, some passersby show up, forcing the driver to abort his murderous mission and pretend to call for an ambulance. Smooth, psycho, real smooth.
Meanwhile, Li Zhijin is waiting for Zhao Jiadi at Fang Jie's restaurant. The wait turns agonizing when she gets that call from the hospital. The news is grim: Zhao Jiadi and the driver, Wang Bing, are out of critical danger, but Fan Longquan didn't make it. He was pronounced dead after attempts to revive him failed. When Li Zhijin and the others, including Fan Longquan's wife Shen Yulan, rush to the hospital, the scene is heartbreaking. Shen Yulan, completely undone, clutches her late husband's hand and just wails.
When Zhao Jiadi finally wakes up, Li Zhijin is there with the official accident report. He takes one look at it and calls BS. He’s adamant that this was no accident; it was a hit, and the only person with a motive strong enough is Wei Jinghai. Li Zhijin can't quite wrap her head around it, believing that even with business rivalries, Wei Jinghai wouldn't stoop to something so monstrous. But Zhao Jiadi lays out the grim reality: the truck driver, with a DUI and a staged call to emergency services, would probably get a maximum of three years even for causing a death. Fan Longquan's life, reduced to a mere three-year sentence for his killer. It’s a gut punch.
Fast forward to the wake, and who has the audacity to show up and offer condolences? Wei Jinghai, with Xiao Lin in tow. Shen Yulan, understandably, loses it. She slaps Wei Jinghai right across the face and screams at him to get out. Then, making a dramatic entrance, Zhao Jiadi appears. He locks eyes with Wei Jinghai and vows to dig until he uncovers the truth and makes everyone involved pay for this "blood debt". Wei Jinghai, arrogant as ever, isn't fazed. He just scoffs, throws a wad of spirit money (joss paper) in the air, and struts off. The nerve of this guy!
After the burial, Shen Yulan pulls Zhao Jiadi aside. She tells him she’s filed an appeal, finally believing his suspicions about the "accident". More than that, she's worried about her late husband's company, Fan Long Group. She thinks Zhu Fengping is a decent guy, but his business philosophy is totally different from Fan Longquan's. She’s terrified that without Fan Longquan at the helm, the company will lose its way and crumble. So, she makes a big ask: she wants Zhao Jiadi to come work for Fan Long Group. Zhao Jiadi, however, doesn't give her an immediate answer.
With Fan Longquan out of the picture, Zhu Fengping is a shoo-in for the chairman position. But, plot twist! His son is drowning in millions of debt, and Jiao Ye's goons conveniently have the IOUs. They use this to blackmail Zhu Fengping, forcing him to comply with their demands. Jiao Ye then warns Wei Jinghai that Zhu Fengping will likely figure out who’s really pulling the strings behind him. Wei Jinghai couldn't care less. He wants Fan Longquan's death to be a chilling message to anyone who dares to cross him: mess with me, and you'll meet a nasty end.
Back at the Li household, Li Zhijin confronts her father, Li Minxian, about Fan Longquan's death. Li Minxian, after a moment of silence, cryptically says he'll sort things out bit by bit and do what needs to be done. Always the politician, that one.
After a long night of soul-searching, Zhao Jiadi makes his decision: he’s joining Fan Long Group. He hands in his resignation to Lin Peng, who is clearly heartbroken to see him go but gifts him a sharp suit and a pen, expressing his belief that Zhao Jiadi will succeed no matter what. As Zhao Jiadi packs his things, his soon-to-be-former colleagues, led by Song Jianming, gather for an incredibly moving and grand farewell. It’s a testament to the impact he’s made. Ming Gu watches Zhao Jiadi walk away, tears streaming down his face as he recalls some profound words Zhao Jiadi once shared.
And that, my friends, is where Episode 22 leaves us – reeling from the loss, furious at the injustice, and on the edge of our seats to see what Zhao Jiadi does next. This season is not pulling any punches!
