Episode Summary
Chengrui and Shuang Yuan team up to bid on a major project against Shengyuan. Sheng Xingjie mocks Lin Yusen and Xiguang during a site visit but gets shut down. Vicious rumors circulate at Huaya Bank about Zhuang Xu using Kevin to get ahead. Zhuang Xu learns the truth about the past misunderstanding with Xiguang, but she has moved on. Xiguang uses red beans to secretly confess her love to Lin Yusen.
Spoiler Alert
Big Business and Petty Grudges
Shen Shu brings her crew down to Suzhou. She pitches a bold plan to the Shuang Yuan leadership. Her company, Chengrui, is bidding on the massive Fengteng project. The competition includes industry giants like Shengyuan. She wants to take the technology from the photovoltaic garden and scale it up. Nie Xiguang loves the collaboration. She worries about the size difference though. A massive commercial project is not a small garden. Mr. Hua steps up to the plate. He agrees to draft a technical proposal to make it work.
Later, the group grabs tea in the lounge. Mr. Zhang gets sentimental. He hates that Lin Yusen is leaving the company soon. He feels better knowing Xiguang can handle the workload. He shares his own change of plans. He intended to retire to America. His wife went first and hated it. She could not connect with their son's life there. So, Zhang is staying put. He plans to keep working at Shuang Yuan.
The Rivalry Heats Up
Shen Shu worries about the conflict of interest. She knows Lin Yusen has history with Shengyuan. Lin Yusen is honest about it. He tells her Sheng Xingjie is running the Fengteng project for the other side. They hate each other. Lin Yusen actually wants to make things difficult for him. Shen Shu warns that Chengrui cannot control the bidding outcome. Xiguang jumps in. She says winning is not the only point. Just getting Shuang Yuan involved in a bid this size is a win.
They head to the site for an inspection. They run right into Sheng Xingjie. He is there with his designers. He looks smug. He mocks Lin Yusen for letting Xiguang make all the decisions. Lin Yusen stays quiet. Shen Shu tries to be polite. She compliments Sheng Xingjie. He ignores her completely. He turns his attention to Ye Rong. He points out she was Xiguang’s classmate. He speaks to her with total contempt. Xiguang snaps back. She insults his skills and his character. Lin Yusen joins in. Sheng Xingjie gains no ground here. He gets suspicious though. He thinks Chengrui is weak. He worries Lin Yusen is plotting something. He orders Ye Rong to spy on Xiguang.
Toxic Office Rumors
Things get ugly at Huaya Bank. A nasty rumor spreads about the Changbai Mountain trip. People say Zhuang Xu and Kevin fought over Kris. They claim this fight caused Kevin’s fall. The gossip says Zhuang Xu only stayed behind to nurse Kevin because of Kevin's rich family connections. Even Sheng Bokai hears it. He warns Zhuang Xu to stop climbing the social ladder.
Kevin feels terrible. He knows his own clumsiness caused this mess. Zhuang Xu tells him to focus on work. He says ability will prove them wrong. Kris hates it too. She feels like a trophy in a made-up war. She hates being treated like an object.
Too Little, Too Late
The rumors hit Zhuang Xu hard. He finally understands how Xiguang felt years ago when she was misunderstood. He goes drinking with Jiang Rui. Jiang Rui calls Xiguang. He confirms that Zhuang Xu did visit her house that summer. He confirms her mom lied about the study abroad plans. Xiguang hears this. It changes nothing. She tells Jiang Rui the past is dead. She prefers Lin Yusen. His love is clear and warm. She has no time for Zhuang Xu’s complicated mind games.
Lin Yusen picks Xiguang up from work. They hit the supermarket for hot pot ingredients. Xiguang sneaks a bag of red beans into the cart. They cook together at his place. She goes to his study to pick some books. She pulls a switch. She replaces the soybeans on his desk with the red beans. She hands him the last one before she leaves. It is a clear message of love.
