Episode Summary
Zhao Jiadi's job interview goes south due to his English skills and Lin Peng's attitude, but he impresses with his market analysis. Shang Bao finds a job at a restaurant. Jiang Tanle bets her marriage on a chess match and enlists Zhao Jiadi to play against Lin Peng, leading to a surprising reveal of Zhao Jiadi's online chess identity.
Spoiler Alert
"Zhao Jiadi Season 2" Episode 8 Recap & Spoilers: Chess, Jobs, and Online Identities
Episode 8 throws us right into Zhao Jiadi's (Zhao Jiadi) job interview at Risheng. It's a rough start, to say the least. Lin Peng, the interviewer, wastes no time in grilling Zhao Jiadi about his less-than-stellar academic record. Turns out, Zhao Jiadi bombed his English exams in school. Lin Peng is visibly annoyed, but Zhao Jiadi doesn't back down. He admits his English wasn't great in school, but he emphasizes his strong performance in other subjects. He also explains that he's been working hard to improve his English, confident that he can handle any reading required for the job.
But Lin Peng keeps pushing, and that's when Zhao Jiadi drops a bomb. He claims he could manage Risheng's funds and that if the company's traders had listened to him earlier, they could have avoided a loss. Apparently, Zhao Jiadi overheard the traders discussing coal sales and advised them to sell everything. He even had a prepared analysis to back up his claims.
Zhao Jiadi came into the interview hoping this analysis would impress Lin Peng, but he's completely turned off by Lin Peng's attitude. He points out that an interview should be a two-way street. He prepared thoroughly for the position, but Lin Peng's behavior is below his expectations, and he doesn't want to waste his time.
Meanwhile, Shang Bao (Shang Bao) is still struggling to find work. He finally gets a lead from a contact, but he needs to pay a "fee" to secure the position. He heads to Fang Jie's (Fang Jie) restaurant to pay for his meals. Fang Jie, seeing that Shang Bao is broke, only charges him 50 yuan and offers him a job at the restaurant. Shang Bao accepts and even leaves 100 yuan on the table as he leaves.
Back home, Shang Bao excitedly shares his good news with Zhao Jiadi, dreaming of opening his own restaurant someday. Zhao Jiadi is genuinely happy for him. Shang Bao then suggests that Zhao Jiadi ask Li Zhijin (Li Zhijin) for help with his job search, but Zhao Jiadi is reluctant to ask for favors. In a surprising twist, we see Li Zhijin transformed into the chairman of Jufeng Capital, a far cry from the bubbly online persona she previously presented.
The episode also delves into Jiang Tanle's (Jiang Tanle) strained relationship with Lin Peng. Exhausted by Lin Peng's attempts to win her over, Jiang Tanle proposes a bet: a chess match. If Lin Peng wins, she'll fully commit to their marriage. If she wins, they'll remain just friends. Lin Peng reluctantly agrees.
Jiang Tanle then seeks out Zhao Jiadi's help to play against Lin Peng in the chess match, telling him to do his best. With Jiang Tanle's arrangement, Zhao Jiadi and Lin Peng meet on an online chess platform. The night before the match, Jiang Tanle reflects on her childhood chess lessons.
The next morning, Jiang Tanle's grandfather is upset that she's gambling with her marriage. Lin Peng sits at his computer, feeling hurt and confused, believing he's given Jiang Tanle the best life possible, only to be rejected.
The chess match attracts a lot of attention. Initially, Lin Peng dominates the game, and it seems like he's about to win. Jiang Tanle's friend updates her on the game's progress. But suddenly, Zhao Jiadi makes a surprising move, turning the tables.
Lin Peng is thrown off, and Mu Qingyuan (Mu Qingyuan) suggests a move, but Lin Peng looks away. Mu Qingyuan then takes over the game for Lin Peng, gaining an advantage. Just when it seems like Lin Peng is about to win, Zhao Jiadi makes a strategic retreat, trapping Lin Peng's pieces. It's revealed that Zhao Jiadi is actually the legendary online chess player "Guoshi Wushuang." Mu Qingyuan asks Zhao Jiadi about his identity, and Zhao Jiadi doesn't deny his online alias.
