Episode Summary
Ma Weiguo gets blackmailed into an antique hunt by Jin Tong. Li Lianbao and Dong Qian put aside their differences to win a school race for their daughter. The plan to discourage Wang Fei from livestreaming backfires when he becomes a success in the countryside. Corporate rivals in New York suspect Ma Weiguo is plotting something big. The four friends fight over the restaurant business, realizing they are stuck together because of money.
Spoiler Alert
Shopping Bags and Blackmail
Ma Weiguo finds himself in a classic trap. He is stuck shopping with Tong Qiu’s father and Jin Tong. It is not a fun trip. Ma Weiguo ends up carrying all the bags for Jin Tong. She enjoys this way too much. She teases him relentlessly.
Jin Tong wants a favor. She needs Ma Weiguo to help her elder find some old antiques. Ma Weiguo tries to say no. Jin Tong plays her ace card immediately. She threatens to tell Tong Qiu’s father that she and Ma Weiguo knew each other back in the United States. Ma Weiguo panics. He has no choice. He agrees to the demand.
The Parent Trap
Li Lianbao gets a call from his daughter. Her school is hosting a parent-child sports day. She wants both her dad and Dong Qian to attend. She specifically asks Li Lianbao to convince Dong Qian.
Dong Qian has other priorities. She is busy texting Ma Weiguo. She wants him to ditch his friends. She wants him to invest in Penglexuan with her instead. She sends the text. Then Li Lianbao calls. They start bickering instantly. It is their default setting.
Dong Qian didn't know about the sports day. She feels terrible. The guilt works. She promises to clear her schedule and show up for the kid.
The Plan Backfires
Night falls. Ma Weiguo visits Wang Chunsheng. Wang Chunsheng is aggressively polishing his motorcycle. He is desperate to pick up his son, Wang Fei, the next day. He is still angry at Ma Weiguo. He hates that his son was sent to the countryside to suffer. Ma Weiguo tells him to stick to the script. They need to set an example so the kid focuses on college. Wang Chunsheng agrees to endure the pain.
The next day brings a surprise. Ma Weiguo and Wang Chunsheng arrive at the village. They expect a broken, humbled child. They find a local celebrity. Wang Fei is hosting a livestream. He is helping farmers sell green vegetables. The villagers love him.
Wang Fei feels useful. He is making money for himself and the locals. He has found his calling. Wang Chunsheng is furious. The plan to scare the kid straight failed completely. It only convinced Wang Fei that livestreaming is a viable career. Wang Chunsheng blames Ma Weiguo for this mess.
Race Day Redemption
Dong Qian and Li Lianbao show up for the sports day. They are on the same team. The race starts. Li Lianbao takes a nasty spill. He hits the ground hard.
Time seems to stop for him. He flashes back to the moment he got fired. He remembers the struggle. It is a heavy moment. But he shakes it off. He stands up. He finishes the race with his daughter. They take first place.
Corporate Spies and Broken Brotherhoods
Back in New York, people are watching. Ma Weiguo’s old corporate rivals are tracking him. They notice that Mr. Yang, a competitor, went to Beijing right before Ma Weiguo quit. The headquarters is paranoid. They think Ma Weiguo and Mr. Yang are teaming up.
In Beijing, the "brotherhood" is crumbling. Ma Weiguo gathers the guys to talk about the roast duck restaurant. It goes poorly. Wang Chunsheng refuses to do his paperwork. He is still sulking about his son. The group starts fighting.
Li Lianbao wants to walk away. He wants to start the business without Ma Weiguo. Then reality hits. He has no capital. Without Ma Weiguo’s money, the restaurant is dead in the water.
Lonely Nights
Ma Weiguo gives Tong Qiu a break. He sends her to Xi'an to visit Zhang Xiaoshi for two days. Li Lianbao is still fuming about Ma Weiguo’s insults. He wants to prove he can succeed without Ma’s cash.
Dong Qian sits alone at home. She listens to an old recording of Li Lianbao teasing her. She clearly still has feelings for him. Wang Chunsheng swallows his pride. He goes out to study and learn, despite his anger. Tong Qiu arrives in Xi'an. It is a bust. Zhang Xiaoshi is too busy working. Tong Qiu is left bored and alone.
