Episode Summary
In this episode, Dong Yi Yan's attempt to bribe an official fails, so she pivots to a public relations strategy by announcing a massive donation at her husband's memorial. This nearly works, but an enemy, Ke Yongcheng, crashes the event and challenges her authority. To fight back, she needs more allies on the board. After saving a board member's life, she thinks she has the vote secured, but is betrayed at the last minute in a shocking twist.
Spoiler Alert
Family Problems and Failed Plans
The episode kicks off with Hai Chun returning home alone. She’s immediately annoyed. Her stepmom, Chen Li Xue, was blowing up her phone. Hai Chun didn't take the flight she was supposed to. This made her feel like her mom was tracking her, which she hated.
Chen Li Xue tries to explain. She says she wasn't trying to be controlling. She was just worried when Hai Chun didn't show up. So, she had someone look into it. You can tell Hai Chun really dislikes her stepmom. She sees all this concern as totally fake. But Chen Li Xue stands her ground. She says with Hai Chun's father gone, it's her job to look after her.
At the same time, Wen Yi Jia is just trying to deal with her grief. She lost her son and her husband. It's a lot.
Over in the business world, Dong Yi Yan hits a wall. The painting she sent as a gift gets returned. She knows what this means. The government is serious about putting the contract up for re-bidding. Xing Fang hears about this and basically calls Dong Yi Yan a joke. She thinks trying to bribe an official was the dumbest possible move.
A New Strategy
Dong Yi Yan knows her first plan was a disaster. So, she has to switch things up fast.
The Tulip and the Truth
She goes to see Xing Fang. She puts a bouquet of tulips on her desk. Dong Yi Yan knows Xing Fang's late husband used to buy them for her. It's a smart, personal touch. It works.
Xing Fang finally opens up. She says the hospital is full of snakes. Someone probably reported the bribe on purpose. They wanted to force a re-bid. She tells Dong Yi Yan that if they want to save Minglang, they have to find the people working against them in the shadows. Xing Fang is hesitant but agrees to help Dong Yi Yan get a meeting with an important official.
The Press Conference and the Big Gamble
Dong Yi Yan sets up a press conference at her husband's memorial. She tells Chen Li Xue that they need to do something big. They have to create a scene to shut down all the bad rumors.
And she delivers. At the memorial, Dong Yi Yan announces she is donating 500 million to start a foundation. Just like that, public opinion flips to their side. It's a brilliant move. It even gets Director Mo to agree to finally sign the contract.
The Memorial Gets Crashed
For a second, it looks like Dong Yi Yan’s plan worked perfectly. Director Mo is ready to make a deal. But then Ke Yongcheng shows up. He doesn't come alone. He brings a whole crew with him, and they look like they mean business.
Dong Yi Yan immediately suspects her stepdaughters are behind this. Ke Yongcheng gets right in her face. He tells her she only owns 1% of the company's shares. He says she has no power to make decisions. She isn't even qualified to speak to him. It's a brutal public takedown. Chen Li Xue has to step in and tell Ke Yongcheng to get lost.
Scrambling for Allies
Dong Yi Yan is on the ropes. She knows she needs more power on the board to fight back.
Courting the Family
Her new plan is to convince Wen Yi Jia to join the board. That's her only path to having a real chance. She also knows the family has to stop fighting among themselves if they want to save Minglang.
Later, she sees Hai Chun and Wen Yi Jia arguing. She takes Hai Chun for a drive. Dong Yi Yan opens up to her. She says she was rebellious when she was young, too. She admits that even though she's a world-famous doctor, she isn't really happy. It's a rare moment where she connects with one of the daughters.
The Boardroom Showdown
Meanwhile, Ke Yongcheng is already making moves. He tells Wang Qi Cheng he plans to merge the two companies once he takes over. His ambition is huge. Wang Qi Xin is disgusted by his greed and walks out. Her brother, Wang Qi Cheng, tells her to calm down. He says Ke Yongcheng is just a simple man who wants money.
Dong Yi Yan focuses on winning over a board member named Mrs. Wan. Her timing is perfect. Mrs. Wan suddenly has a medical emergency. Dong Yi Yan, the doctor, rushes her to the hospital for surgery. Mrs. Wan is grateful and tells Dong Yi Yan she's a good doctor. It seems like Dong Yi Yan has secured her vote.
But then Chen Li Xue calls an emergency board meeting. Dong Yi Yan races to get there. She bursts in just as the vote is happening. To her complete shock, Mrs. Wan casts her deciding vote for Wang Qi Cheng. He said something that changed her mind at the very last second. Dong Yi Yan never saw it coming.
