Episode Summary
Koo Chiu-wah discovers and reveals that Yuen Suet-kuen is Man Wai-sam's adoptive mother, causing a public spectacle. Yuen Suet-kuen decides to stay in Hong Kong, creating constant conflict with her daughter while planning a shake-up at SNK News. Meanwhile, Man Wai-sam investigates her mother's suspicious award and uncovers it was a bribe. The episode ends on a cliffhanger during a live broadcast, where Koo Chiu-wah interrupts Man Wai-sam's planned exposé with a mysterious old photograph.
Spoiler Alert
The Mother of All Secrets
A Dinner Party Disaster
The episode kicks off with Koo Chiu-wah getting curious. He wonders about the connection between Man Wai-sam and the legendary journalist Yuen Suet-kuen. So he has his guy, Siu Tin, do some digging online. The search pays off big time. We learn Yuen Suet-kuen adopted Man Wai-sam from the Social Welfare Department years ago.
Later, the news department throws a big dinner party. It's to celebrate Yuen Suet-kuen winning the "Wells Torch Award." Yuen Suet-kuen gives a speech. She poses a question to the room. The answer is a clear jab at online media for being sloppy. Man Wai-sam doesn't let it slide. She immediately fires back. The two of them trade verbal blows right there in front of everyone. It's intense.
Koo Chiu-wah sees his chance. He jumps in and announces to the entire room that they are mother and daughter. The place goes silent. Everyone is stunned. Man Wai-sam and Yuen Suet-kuen just turn and walk out.
Yuen Suet-kuen's Takeover
An Unwelcome Houseguest
Chan Tsz-kit drives Man Wai-sam home. But the drama follows them. Yu Ying-fei and Yuen Suet-kuen get into the car, hoping to mediate. The silence is thick. Yu Ying-fei tries to break the tension with a joke. It completely backfires.
This just starts another argument. Man Wai-sam and Yuen Suet-kuen clash over the value of traditional news versus online media. Yuen Suet-kuen thinks her daughter is short-sighted. Man Wai-sam thinks her mother is totally out of touch with society. The fight ends with Yuen Suet-kuen deciding she's not leaving Hong Kong. She tells Chan Tsz-kit to find her an apartment.
Back at home, Man Wai-sam is still fuming. Chan Tsz-kit tries to calm her down. He says they're just too similar. Both are incredibly strong-willed, which is why they can't get along. He points out how much Yuen Suet-kuen has influenced her. Man Wai-sam then remembers being a little kid, tagging along with her mom on reporting assignments. She realizes he's right.
Shaking Things Up at SNK
Yuen Suet-kuen decides to tour the SNK News office. She looks at their trophy case and dismisses the awards as worthless. She even tells Koo Chiu-wah that putting her awards in there would give the place some class. In his office, she tells him her plan. She's staying in Hong Kong to clean up the online media scene. Koo Chiu-wah immediately tells her he has an office ready.
She then walks out and crashes a story pitch meeting led by Keung Lik-hang. After listening for a bit, she tears it apart. She says the story ideas are weak. They have no vision. She also criticizes their terrible security, since they let her just sit in. She puts the blame squarely on the director. Koo Chiu-wah is annoyed but can't really argue.
Next, Koo Chiu-wah takes her to see Mrs. Fong. Mrs. Fong asks Yuen Suet-kuen to join SNK as a cross-media consultant. Yuen Suet-kuen says she'll think about it. But she has a suggestion of her own. Man Wai-sam should come back to SNK as president. Mrs. Fong worries Man Wai-sam will say no. Yuen Suet-kuen promises she can persuade her.
The Award Investigation
Man Wai-sam Smells a Rat
The news department decides to run a special feature on Yuen Suet-kuen. Hui Sze-ching suggests they let different media outlets cover it from various angles.
Man Wai-sam, though, is busy with her own investigation. She looks up her mother's award online. She finds something strange. Yuen Suet-kuen's name wasn't even on the nomination list until the very end. Her recent work also hasn't been that impressive. Man Wai-sam is convinced there's a conspiracy behind the award. Chan Tsz-kit thinks she is just overthinking things.
Man Wai-sam digs deeper. She confirms Yuen Suet-kuen was a last-minute addition to the nominee list. She wants to fly to the US to find out why. Yu Ying-fei tells her it's too risky. But Sin Man-chi secretly gives her a tip. Wong Wai is currently stationed in the US for work.
Then, a rumor starts spreading online. It says Man Wai-sam is returning to SNK to take over the TV department. She goes straight to Mrs. Fong. Mrs. Fong admits she wants her back. But she says Yuen Suet-kuen was the one who leaked the news.
A Bombshell from America
Man Wai-sam confronts her mother. Yuen Suet-kuen says she just wants her daughter to do "real" journalism. Man Wai-sam says she won't be controlled. The argument gets personal. Yuen Suet-kuen brings up an old wound. She once got Man Wai-sam a great job offer in the US, but Man Wai-sam turned it down to join SNK.
Then, Man Wai-sam gets a call from Wong Wai in the States. He has dirt. He discovered that Yuen Suet-kuen's award nomination was essentially hush money. A member of the award committee gave it to her to stop her from investigating something. He doesn't know what the investigation was about yet.
The Live Broadcast Showdown
The episode ends with Hui Sze-ching and Yuen Suet-kuen on a live broadcast. It's time for questions from other journalists. Man Wai-sam is there. She's ready to expose the truth about the Torch Award nomination.
Just as she's about to ask her question, Koo Chiu-wah interrupts. He holds up a photo. It's a picture of a little girl from twenty years ago. He looks at Yuen Suet-kuen and asks if the girl in the photo is Man Wai-sam.
