Episode Summary
Facing the Fan family's financial crisis, Zhao Jiadi organizes an auction for their assets, seeking support from Risheng and others. Li Zhijin actively helps, distancing herself from a desperate Wei Jinghai, whose business ambitions are crumbling. At the auction, Li Zhijin outbids Cai Yanzhi for a clubhouse significant to Zhao Jiadi. Wei Jinghai attempts to sabotage the auction by alleging shareholder disputes. Zhao Jiadi counters by offering a stake in his joint venture and mining rights to Fanlong Group. The auction takes a dramatic turn when Qi Dongcao appears, making a massive investment offer and announcing a betrothal gift from the Zhao family to the Li family, effectively for Zhao Jiadi and Li Zhijin. Afterwards, Qi Dongcao has a poignant farewell with Zhao Jiadi, returning a family heirloom bracelet meant for Li Zhijin. Meanwhile, Wei Jinghai plots his escape by sea, and his associate Xiaolin begins to tail Li Zhijin.
Spoiler Alert
So, the episode kicks off with the Fan family in deep trouble, forcing them to auction off assets. Our guy, Zhao Jiadi, steps in, trying to get a decent deal for some of Fanlong Group's holdings by approaching Risheng. He's basically asking them to do him a solid and offer a fair price. It's not just him hustling; Shen Yulan has a seemingly positive chat with Old Xu, and Li Zhijin is pulling strings behind the scenes, making connections. Everyone's scrambling. Meanwhile, the ever-scheming Wei Jinghai is trying to rally the Nanshan Chamber of Commerce bosses, promising them big returns if they invest. The pressure is ON.
Speaking of pressure, Li Minxian finally wakes up, but he's not the man he used to be, physically. Wei Jinghai, bold as ever, pays him a hospital visit. Li Zhijin gives him the iciest of cold shoulders, pretty much telling him that once her grandpa is back on his feet, she's done with Wei Jinghai and his company. You'd think he'd get the hint, but no, Wei Jinghai is still dreaming that Li Zhijin's support will magically make his mining ambitions come true. Honey, she's so not into you (or your plans) anymore.
Realizing he's basically hit rock bottom, Wei Jinghai drowns his sorrows in booze at home, whining to his loyal right-hand man, Xiaolin. Xiaolin, who's been with him through thick and thin, even offers to take the blame for all of Wei Jinghai's dirty deeds. Just as things are looking grim, Wei Jinghai gets a call: Shen Yulan and the gang are holding an auction. His "friend" invites him to come watch the "fun." Oh, this can't be good.
While Li Zhijin is devotedly taking care of Li Minxian, Zhao Jiadi pops by for a visit. He drops some news: Huang Hu, despite signing an agreement, wants to use the investment money for his own startup. This means less cash for the mining area than anticipated. Zhao Jiadi, ever the pragmatist, actually gets it. Plus, Cai Yanzhi has joined a new joint venture, Risheng and Jufeng are in the mix, and even Zhu Fengping is planning to auction off his own clubhouse to raise funds. The upcoming auction is clearly make-or-break.
Auction day arrives! Wei Jinghai, true to his current pathetic state, stays home, drinking and listening in on the auction, while Xiaolin is his eyes and ears on the ground, lurking in a corner. The first big item is the clubhouse, and boy, does it get heated. Cai Yanzhi and Li Zhijin go head-to-head in a fierce bidding war. The price skyrockets from 18 million all the way to a staggering 100 million! Li Zhijin snags it, and it's clear she did it because she knows how much that place means to Zhao Jiadi. Talk about a power move.
Hearing that Li Zhijin just dropped a fortune for Zhao Jiadi sends Wei Jinghai completely off the rails. Staring at a picture of Li Zhijin (creepy much?), he gives Xiaolin an order. Next thing you know, a lawyer representing Wei Jinghai crashes the auction, claiming Fanlong Mining Company is caught up in a shareholder dispute and demanding the auction be stopped. Classic Wei Jinghai, always a flair for the dramatic sabotage.
Zhu Fengping and the others insist the company is clean, but it's obvious Wei Jinghai is just trying to throw a wrench in the works. Zhao Jiadi, cool under pressure, sends Zhu Fengping and Liu Xin to the court to verify everything. With them gone, Zhao Jiadi himself takes the stage. He gives a heartfelt speech about his journey in Hangcheng, thanking everyone who's helped him. Then, he makes a stunning announcement: he's personally giving up 15% of his shares in the joint venture, with a starting bid of 10 million, AND he's handing over the mining rights for the area to Fanlong Group! Just as one of Wei Jinghai's goons tries to call bluff, saying Zhao Jiadi can't get mining rights without the Li Shi Group's backing...
Plot twist! Qi Dongcao makes a grand entrance. She calmly offers a jaw-dropping 3 billion to invest in something called the "Kalpurnia project." And then, as if that wasn't enough, she announces she's adding another 1 billion in her own name as a betrothal gift from the Tangcheng Zhao family to the Hangcheng Li family. The entire room is floored. Mic. Drop.
After the auction madness, Cai Yanzhi and the others head out. Qi Dongcao and Zhao Jiadi have a quiet moment by the sea, taking a walk down memory lane. Li Zhijin, however, stays behind at the auction venue, completely unaware that Xiaolin is now watching her. This has bad news written all over it.
Meanwhile, Wei Jinghai is busy plotting his escape. He meets with someone to arrange a boat trip out to international waters. The boat owner is hesitant, saying the route is under heavy surveillance, but a hefty bag of US dollars and Wei Jinghai's promise to pay triple the usual price quickly change his mind. Looks like Wei Jinghai is making a run for it with his people.
In a poignant scene, Qi Dongcao gives Zhao Jiadi back a bracelet. She explains it was a gift from her grandmother – a Zhao family heirloom meant for the future granddaughter-in-law. With a heavy heart, she says it now belongs to Li Zhijin. Qi Dongcao then bids Zhao Jiadi farewell, reciting a beautiful poem by Cangyang Jiacuo. With tears in his eyes, Zhao Jiadi watches her leave. It's a bittersweet goodbye, heavy with unspoken emotions and sacrifices.
