Episode Summary
Fang Yangtian's collapse triggers a series of schemes. Dong Youwei and Kwong Wai Leung's plot to use striking goldsmiths to oust Lin Cheng is foiled by a counter-plan from Fang Yangtian, Gao Shen, and Lin Cheng's father. Meanwhile, Jiaxin tries to use the collapse for her own gain, while Fang Zhijun uncovers Jiaxin's pre-surgery photos. Jiaxin is then blackmailed by her former mentor, Mary, revealing her vulnerable past to Gao Shen.
Spoiler Alert
The Office Coup
A Calculated Collapse
The episode kicks off with Fang Yangtian suddenly collapsing in the middle of a meeting. While Lin Cheng panics, our two main villains, Dong Youwei and Kwong Wai Leung, are casually playing pool. They don't have a single worry.
It turns out the mass resignation of the company's goldsmiths was all Dong Youwei's doing. She went to them, listened to their complaints about a difficult design, and heard how Lin Cheng kept rejecting their proposed changes. So, she "encouraged" them to stand up for themselves and just quit. It was a classic setup.
Lin Cheng Steps Up
Facing the Press and the Smiths
Lin Cheng has to deal with the fallout. She holds a press conference with Gao Shen by her side for support. She tells everyone the family's legal mess is being handled and the new trust isn't changing.
Then, she has to deal with the smiths who walked out. Gao Shen goes with her but makes her handle it. He says she needs to learn to deal with these problems on her own. But he's not leaving her completely high and dry. He secretly slips her an earpiece so he can coach her from the background.
The Contract Is the Contract
Here's where it gets good. The oldest goldsmith is just three months away from retirement. Following Gao Shen's advice, Lin Cheng calmly tells him he can leave immediately. No problem.
But for everyone else, she gets tough. She says that according to their contracts, they have to give proper notice. If they break their contracts, they will owe the company money. The smiths are furious. They start yelling at her. Lin Cheng doesn't back down. She just slaps the contracts on the table and tells them to read them carefully before they make their final decision.
The Family Schemes Get Uglier
Jiaxin's Next Move
The family drama is not taking a break. Fang Ziyin's boyfriend breaks up with her because of all the fighting. She's devastated and wants her dad to cancel the trust. That's when she finds him passed out on the floor, with Lin Cheng giving him medicine.
Lin Cheng tells a relative about the collapse, but Jiaxin overhears. Jiaxin decides this is the perfect piece of information to leak to the press and cause even more chaos. She tells her husband, Fang Xueqin, and he tries to confirm it by visiting his dad at the office. He doesn't see anything wrong, but Jiaxin is convinced. She suspects it’s related to his old car accident and decides to dig up his hospital records.
Fang Zhijun's Undercover Op
While Jiaxin is scheming, Fang Zhijun starts a plot of her own. She goes to Jiaxin's parents' little restaurant and fakes a fall. She pretends she hurt her nose and claims she also had a nose job. She asks for the name of Jiaxin's plastic surgeon and complains about being dizzy. Jiaxin's kind parents take her home to rest.
This was all a trick. Once inside, Fang Zhijun snoops around the house. She finds exactly what she was looking for. a photo of Jiaxin before her plastic surgery. She looks very pleased with herself.
Blackmail and Backup Plans
An Old Mentor Returns
Remember Mary? She's the woman who "packaged" Jiaxin to help her marry into the Fang family. Now she's back and wants more money. She tries to run the same play by having another girl seduce Fang Xuexian, but Gao Jing ruins the plan.
A furious Mary confronts Jiaxin. She threatens to post the old pre-surgery photos online. Jiaxin tries to stay calm. She reminds Mary that she's already paying her every month and warns her not to get too greedy.
The Big Reveal
Kwong Wai Leung thinks his plan to oust Lin Cheng is working perfectly. He brings a huge client, Mrs. Li, into the workshop. He points to the oldest goldsmith and smugly explains that all the craftsmen have quit. Her big order will not be finished on time.
Right at that moment, Gao Shen and Lin Cheng's father walk in. They are holding the client's repaired diamond crown, which looks perfect. Mrs. Li is thrilled. It turns out Fang Yangtian knew Kwong Wai Leung was plotting against him. He secretly asked Lin Cheng's father to talk to the goldsmiths and get them to finish the job on the side. The trap failed. Lin Cheng officially lets the oldest smith retire and keeps the rest of the team.
Later, a panicked Jiaxin asks Gao Shen for money to pay off her blackmailer. She's too flustered to give a good reason. Gao Shen immediately guesses what's happening. He asks her if she was part of Mary's "training camp," and Jiaxin can't even look him in the eye.
