Episode Summary
In this episode, Ye Meng and Li Jinyu uncover the full extent of Li Lingbai's schemes, including a plot that gets Ye Meng's father suspended from his job. To fight back, Li Jinyu seeks help from the powerful Li Changjin, which triggers a major power shift at Hanhai Group and leads to Li Lingbai's downfall. Amidst the drama, a side plot involving a missing child resolves with a heartfelt apology, and the episode concludes on a hopeful note with the success of Grandma Dou's surgery.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a secret: Ye Meng has discovered a damning recording on a USB drive that implicates Li Jinyu's mother, Li Lingbai. The audio reveals that Li Lingbai conspired with a man named Wang Xingsheng to set up Ye Meng's own mother in the past, promising him a hefty reward for his part in the scheme. Unsure how to tell Li Jinyu, Ye Meng first confides in her friend, Fang Ya'en.
Meanwhile, Grandma Dou is preparing for a major surgery. She and her grandson, Li Jinyu, share a tender moment, with Grandma Dou encouraging him to be strong, acknowledging that they both have their own difficult paths to walk.
Li Jinyu reassures Ye Meng that if his mother is truly connected to her mother's suicide, he will not shield her from the consequences. Bolstered by his support, Ye Meng confronts Li Lingbai with the recording. The confrontation is cut short by devastating news: Ye Meng's father, Ye Kang, has been suspended from his job at the bank pending an investigation into irregularities. The family learns that a contractor Ye Kang had approved a loan for has vanished with the money. Ye Meng confesses everything to a shocked Li Jinyu, and they both realize Li Lingbai has orchestrated this entire crisis to frame her father.
Determined to fix the situation, Li Jinyu decides he must seek help from one person: Li Changjin. With Grandma Dou's help, he gets the contact information and travels abroad to meet him, finding the courage to finally face the family history he has long tried to avoid.
While Li Jinyu is away, a new crisis erupts. Fang Ya'en's son, Chen Jiayu, goes missing. A frantic search involving Ye Meng, Fang Ya'en, and their friend Cheng Kairan begins. Cheng Kairan eventually finds the boy in a park with an injured arm. Chen Jiayu tearfully admits he got into a fight at school to defend his mother's honor against classmates who were spreading rumors that she was having an affair with Cheng Kairan. Overwhelmed with worry, Fang Ya'en initially lashes out at Cheng Kairan, blaming him for teaching her son to fight. However, after a heartfelt conversation with her son, she realizes her words were too harsh and sends Cheng Kairan a message to apologize.
Soon after, good news arrives. The contractor who fled turns himself in, and Ye Kang is cleared of all charges and released. Li Jinyu returns, and Ye Meng eagerly picks him up. He explains that his meeting with Li Changjin was a success, resolving many of his personal conflicts. He also reveals that Li Changjin is even wealthier than Li Lingbai.
The focus then shifts back to the hospital, where Grandma Dou is undergoing her surgery. At the same time, Li Lingbai is facing a reckoning. Chairman Wang confronts her at the Hanhai Group, revealing that her recent actions at Hailan Port caused the company's stock to crash, angering the board. He informs her that Li Changjin has been buying up shares and has won the support of key stakeholders. Combined with Li Jinyu's own 15% stake, Li Lingbai has lost her power. Chairman Wang advises her to resign to save face before the board inevitably ousts her.
As Li Lingbai's corporate empire crumbles, the doctor emerges from the operating room with a smile. Grandma Dou's surgery was a complete success, bringing a wave of relief to her waiting family.
