Episode Summary
Ah Jie attempts suicide after losing everything in a rigged stock market crash. Junsheng discovers his boss, Manager Wang, orchestrated the crash with a black market dealer. The Shenzhen Stock Exchange officially opens, Manager Wang is arrested for his crimes, and Ah Jie survives his injuries.
Spoiler Alert
Ah Jie's Risky Gamble
Ah Jie is desperate for a win. He lives with his mother, who scrapes by selling rice rolls. He wants fast money from the stock market. It goes wrong immediately. He buys fake stocks and loses everything. He has nowhere to turn. He begs his childhood friend Junsheng for help. Junsheng is a manager at an exchange. He tries to say no, but Ah Jie wears him down. Junsheng takes him to the black market to meet a dealer named Wu Ge. Ah Jie is reckless. He uses his family's savings and borrows more cash from Junsheng. He buys "East Development" stock at 160 yuan per share.
The Crash and the Jump
The game is rigged. Someone is manipulating "East Development." The price tanks. Ah Jie panics. He sells at the bottom to save what little he has left. Then the cruel twist happens. The stock rockets up to 260 yuan. Ah Jie watches his fortune vanish. He is broken. He decides to end it. He pays Junsheng back the borrowed money. Then he jumps off a building.
Junsheng Takes the Blame
Liang Ying breaks the news to Junsheng. She blames him for the tragedy. She breaks up with him right there. Junsheng visits Ah Jie's mother. She has already sold her rice roll shop. She looks hopeless. Junsheng feels the weight of it all. He gets angry. He goes to confront Wu Ge. It doesn't go well. Wu Ge beats him up and walks away.
Following the Money
Junsheng isn't done. He grabs a brick and follows Wu Ge. He wants revenge. He plans to ambush him. Instead, he sees a meeting. Wu Ge is handing cash to Manager Wang. They are partners. They rigged the "East Development" stock to wipe out small investors. They got rich while people like Ah Jie lost everything. Junsheng is stunned.
Clearing the Air
Junsheng rushes to the hospital. Ah Jie is in critical condition. Liang Ying is there too. She tries to leave when she sees Junsheng. He stops her. He explains the scam. He tells her Manager Wang and Wu Ge are behind the crash. Liang Ying realizes he is telling the truth. She takes this information straight to Group Leader Yu.
The New Exchange Opens
Group Leader Yu gets the official word. The Shenzhen Stock Exchange will open on December 1, 1990. The office erupts in cheers. Liang Ying is emotional. Meanwhile, Manager Wang is in Hong Kong. He is spending his dirty money on his family. He gets the news and rushes back to Shenzhen. He holds an emergency meeting. He refuses to lose his market share. He vows to fight the new exchange for clients. Junsheng quietly notes all of this.
Justice is Served
Group Leader Yu prepares for a fight. He knows the old guard won't give up easily. December 1 arrives. The market opens. The first trade goes through smoothly. The team relaxes. Junsheng makes his move. He reports the illegal trading ring. Police arrest Manager Wang. In the hospital, Ah Jie finally wakes up. Junsheng and Liang Ying patch things up.
