01x04 - Episode 4

[bunniefuu]

SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

Lu Le told me

that the Bolo Culture project
is having some issues.

Relax.

You just joined not long ago,

and things with Lin Long didn't end well.

It's inevitable that the project
is moving slowly.

They approved my proposal.

If you lead it personally

and bring in Mr. Pi,
plus some foreign global partner

for show,

this project should be good to go.

Well done.

By the way, have you gotten confirmed yet?

-Still a few days to go.
-Sit.

Congratulations.
Your probation period is ending early.

Once the contract is signed,

you'll be promoted to SBA,

Senior Business Analyst.

Thank you, Ms. Sha.

So, will Ms. Lin still be my mentor?

Mentors are only for junior analysts
who just joined.

You no longer "qualify" for that.

You're on my team from now on.

I'll do my best not to let you down.

CONSULTING PROJECT TEAM CONFIGURATION

A typical Maxmise

consulting project team
has about five people.

One partner. Shows up once a week.

One project manager. Three consultants.

On-site every day.

For this Bolo Culture project,
I'll be the project manager.

Cindy and Du Wen
will be the two consultants,

plus one business analyst as team members.

But because
the client specifically requested it,

Xu Chi will join as an exception
for the SBA role.

Now let Xu Chi give everyone
an overview of the project.

Sure.

Xu Chi's k*lling it.

It's only been a few months,
and she's already an SBA.

She's the first among us, right?

Honestly, the one who should feel
most embarrassed is Lin Long.

She gave Xu Chi such a hard time before.

Now Xu Chi has started her own project.

She doesn't even report
to Lin Long anymore.

-Hello, Ms. Lin.
-Hello.

I'm not giving up.

Once this phase is over,

I'm taking back everything I've given up.

Pregnant women can't drink coffee.
Don't you know?

I knew something
would go wrong the moment I heard.

Can't you have held out a little longer?

You were doing
such a good job playing along

with your husband and Sha Sha.

You've gotten this far,

and now you're going to blow it all?

How can I hold out?

The Bolo Culture project
was mine from the start.

But Sha Sha didn't even ask me

before putting
Cindy and Xu Chi on the team.

Anyone but them.
Why does it have to be those two?

This project will take
another three or four months.

You can't just go on maternity leave
halfway through, can you?

Besides, Xu Chi is the one
who closed this deal.

And Cindy just finished
the Sato Pharmaceuticals project.

She's on break now and available.

If I were Sha Sha, I'd make the same call.

Whose side are you on?

Don't turn your fire on me.

I'm telling you this
because I actually care about you.

Xu Chi's really come into her own now.

All we can do is stay calm, right?

There are so many people in the company.
Don't let them enjoy the show.

Just focus on having your baby safely.

Six months later,
you'll be back in the game.

That's what you say to someone
going to the execution ground.

You have to hit rock bottom
before you can bounce back.

Congratulations.

It's nothing.

All thanks to your guidance.

Lin, there's a new
infant insurance plan recently.

I think it'd be perfect for you.
Let me send it over.

PENGCHENG WANLI CHILDREN'S
OVERSEAS FURTHER-STUDY ENDOWMENT PLAN

I'm interested. Run the numbers for me.

If I start from birth and aim for college,

what's the premium?

If you start from birth,

I'd recommend a 15-year payment plan.

About 120,000 per installment.

Hundred and twenty thousand?

TRANSFER TO JIANG YONGGE -500,000.00

It's been this long.

Why didn't you ever tell me?

I forgot, okay?

It's not a big deal.
Do you have to blow up like this?

That's 500,000, Jiang Zhiwen.

Are you out of your mind?

I'm about to give birth any day now.

We're about to have another money pit.

You didn't even discuss it with me

before lending that much money to someone?

Someone? They're my parents!

Stop making a scene.

The postnatal care center
is already paid for.

How much could diapers and formula
possibly cost?

The baby's not even born yet,

and you're already thinking
that far ahead?

Why don't you save up
for his bride-price too?

Legal has finished the review.

We accept Maxmise's team and quote.

Ready to sign anytime.

Done!

Look at you all worried now.

Where was that energy
when you went drinking with others?

Jiang Zhiwen!

Didn't we agree?

This is over and done with!

I threw that drink
in that scoundrel's face,

and you yelled at me
in front of your colleagues.

I will never get over that!

Yes. It's in that Bolo Culture file.

Xu Chi?

WANGJING SOHO

Richard?

What's wrong?

Are you drunk?

A little.

Hey,

you sent me a WeChat message earlier

and then recalled it, right?

MESSAGE RECALLED

COULD I ASK YOU FOR SOME ADVICE, RICHARD?

THAT'S THE SITUATION. I DON'T WANT
TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME

Why didn't you send it again later?

I waited for you for a long time.

I…

Do you need a tissue?

Forget that for now.

I can't get a designated driver.
Can you drive?

-Yes.
-Can you take me home?

I…

The car's navigation system
has my home address saved.

Okay.

Where's your car?

-The first black one.
-Okay.

Steady yourself. I'll be right there.

Thanks.

Oh my God. This car is way too tall.

Easy there.

I'm fine.

Let me recite it for you. Three point
one four one five nine two six

-three two three eight four six two…
-Stop reciting.

{\an8}Do it in the car. Stop it. Easy.

-Thanks. Thank you.
-Careful.

-Thanks.
-Head.

Richard.

Are you okay, Richard?

I'm fine, thanks.

You sure?

Yeah.

-Drop me off here.
-Alright, alright.

-Message me when you get home.
-Easy.

-I'll treat you to a meal sometime.
-Watch it.

You okay?

Which finger was it?

I just moved in.

Do you have a backup password?

I'm heading out now.

I'll close the door for you.

Are you okay?

Richard. Are you alright?

Don't sleep here.

You'll catch a cold.

Get up.

Easy there.

Easy.

Careful.

Easy there.

Wait!

Here, here. The bed.

TAKE A PICTURE AND SEARCH

{\an8}2023 RAINER LIGHT RED
FROM RAINER SAUER ESTATE, 4,988 YUAN

-Glad that got sent.
-You're awake.

What are you doing here?

I… I didn't mean to stay.

I got an urgent request

right as I was about to leave last night.

Xu Chi, I'm in London right now.

Once you get this email,
update the following data

in the low-altitude economy report
you compiled last time

and send it to me immediately.
I need it right away.

I figured I'd just reply
to the email here.

Not sure how I fell asleep.

-Xu Chi?
-Richard?

Can you take me home?

I'm so sorry.

I blacked out last night.

I put you through…

I'm not some naive little girl.

It's just getting drunk.

I used to take my ex-boyfriend
back to his dorm.

Drunk people all act pretty much the same.

By the way,

there's a bottle of wine
broken in your bathroom.

You knocked it over yourself.
I cleaned it up for you.

{\an8}2023 RAINER LIGHT RED
FROM RAINER SAUER ESTATE, 4,988 YUAN

No worries. Thanks.

What are you laughing at?

-Last night… You don't remember?
-What did I do last night?

"Which…? Which finger was it?

This one? This one?

I… I just moved in."

You okay?

Which finger was it?

I just moved in.

"I… I just moved in."

You want some water?

No thanks.

You seemed more like
a real person last night.

Usually, you look serious. Thanks.

So elite and high-end.

I once described you to Bu Tianna.

She said you're just a poser.

A few days ago, I was your idol.

Now I'm your joke.

So, learn from my mistake.

Even for work, don't drink that much.

Such a vibe…

Please don't use that word.
I'm more like your big brother at best.

Fine. Ye. Ye the Legend.

I have to go.

I have to be at work in two hours.

-Let me drive you.
-Don't bother.

I live really close.

Just turn the corner over there.
It's a white three-story building.



Yeah.

The room
isn't even a tenth the size of yours,

but it's the same neighborhood.

So I've got the same good taste as you.

I need to hurry back
and wash my lucky outfit.

I finally landed my first deal.

Let me wash it for you!

I… I didn't mean anything by it.

It's a serviced apartment.
They have 24-hour room service.

They can have it done within an hour.

Red wine stains are hard to get out.

This is your first deal.
It's important to you, right?

It's fine. I can wash it myself.

We can have breakfast while we wait.

Just think of it as my thank-you
for driving me home last night.

Alright?

I've been in Beijing so long,

but I've never seen
a view like this before.

Isn't Maxmise's office building
taller than this?

It's different.

The view may be the same,

but the mood you bring to it isn't.

You live in a place this big
all by yourself.

It must be pretty expensive.

I don't know. The car and the apartment
are both company rentals.

Once you make partner and get global pay,

Maxmise will offer you the same perk.

You know how our industry is.

You barely spend
a few days at home a month.

Home is just a place to store your stuff.

I appreciate the comfort

and encouragement.

Richard,

I landed this project with Bolo Culture.
But that's just the first step.

I will become who you are now.
I definitely will.

What am I like?

I'm not as great as you think.

All that glamor and sophistication

is just a facade
for getting by in this world.

You're right. A lot of people buy into it,

so it fools some people.

But behind the emperor's new clothes,

I'm just an ordinary person.

I boil water
and make instant noodles myself.

I have plenty of weak
and useless moments too.

Like yesterday.

I got wasted
because I had to entertain a client.

You're already a partner.

You still have to do
that kind of social drinking?

Of course.

Our whole lives
are about trading what we have

for what we want,

tirelessly, and unremittingly.

Outdated inspirational quotes. So cheesy.

Anyway, I'm going
to buy my mom's old apartment,

drink the same fine wine as you,

and become a partner just as great as you.

And I'll make every client fear me.

They won't dare question
a single word of my proposals.

Good. Then I'll be the first
to congratulate you.

Zhao Heng says I'm just lucky.

That I somehow pull through
at every critical moment,

and that's how I landed
the Bolo Culture project.

Don't be too modest.

Even a lucky break
requires strong foresight.

With Bolo Culture,
you at least grasped one key point.

Sometimes,

consulting isn't about plotting
grand blueprints for companies.

It's about getting paid
to be the client's mouthpiece.

The client wants something
but doesn't want to say it,

so we propose it.

The client wants to do something
but doesn't want to take the blame,

so we push it forward.

If it works, everyone's happy.

If it fails, it's all on us.

And the client is always right.

When you put it that way,

I do seem pretty professional.

No wonder Sha Sha promoted me so quickly.

She must really see my potential.

Don't get c*ck
just because I praised you.

-Bye.
-Bye.

Morning.

Same outfit.

I pulled an all-nighter
working last night.

He's that polished scumbag poser
you were talking about?

I ran into him while buying breakfast
and he gave me a ride.

Turns out his building
is right across the street,

-and our parking garages--
-I didn't ask anything,

but you explained all that yourself.

Are you feeling guilty,
or are you feeling guilty?

Why are you so interested in me today?

Don't tell me you're jealous
I got promoted to SBA before you?

Jealous of you?

There's a better chance

of Zhao Heng getting with me
than me being jealous of you.

Probably this week, Ande Energy

will come in and sign
the project cooperation agreement with me.

Not a huge deal.

Just twice the size of your project.

Congratulations. Warmest congratulations.

Don't worry. I'll be super jealous of you.

Alright. Stop pretending you don't care.

Ande Energy's CEO
used to work under my dad.

Many say

even if he makes this project happen,
it's nothing but a favor-based deal.

Connections are part of the resources.

Why else would Maxmise bother
with the alumni network

and keep former employees happy?

Because former employees bring in
about half of our business.

Sha Sha said even if Su Su quits,

she'll get N+6 severance

and a personal recommendation letter.

And

it's not like Ande Energy's money
belongs to the CEO personally.

If your proposal wasn't good enough,

would their internal
feasibility analysis pass?

Risk assessment? Legal compliance?

You had better resources

and a broader perspective
than me from day one.

But I'm not going to dwell
on what I can't change.

After all, I've got things
I'm better at than you.

Like rapid analysis and luck.

So as long as we're strong enough,
our weaknesses won't become flaws.

No. Our flaws won't become weaknesses.

Who taught you that?

Sha Sha or that poser?

I figured that out myself
from all the times

I went up against Lin Long.

This one.

Yeah, thanks.

-Morning.
-I'm looking for our packages.

Hold on. Let me find them for you.

Morning, Ms. Lin.

She's wearing
yesterday's outfit too, right?

Is something going on with her family?

-Xu Chi, let's go.
-Coming.

Don't be upset. We'll strike back later.

You blocked me?

Why?

Anyone with a shred
of emotional intelligence

wouldn't ask that question.

How can I hold out?

The Bolo Culture project
was mine from the start,

but Sha Sha didn't even ask me

before putting
Cindy and Xu Chi on the team.

Anyone but them.
Why does it have to be those two?

Dear,

what project is Richard Ye working on now?

LIN LONG, CELINE

Tianhe Air.

He's helping them transition from
a low-cost differentiated service model

to a full-service strategy.

This kind of transition is gonna take
a ten-figure investment, right?

Otherwise, why would our boss
have directly poached him as a partner?

I heard he's been getting close
to some girl lately.

That gossip doesn't sound right.

Isn't his wife a lawyer?

Even if a girl wanted to steal him away,

she'd need the time and guts for it.

You want to blow things up, do you?

Let me make this clear.

Know what you should do
and what you shouldn't.

Got it.

Why did you speak
without my permission just now?

You joined Maxmise just to replace me.

Yes, it's been signed.

Yes, yes. This is all
thanks to you, Richard.

Okay. Send the documents over
by courier then.

I'll review them right away.

Let's have lunch, Zhao Heng.

Okay.

Come on, Senior Business Analyst.

Time to eat.

-Be right there.
-Alright.

Signee…

FIRST COPY-CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT
ACKNOWLEDGMENT-OF-RECEIPT FORM

Ye Xinzhi?

Sha Sha!

I want to report something.

Xu Chi has seriously violated
company employee standards

and professional ethics.

The Bolo Culture project
wasn't secured by her alone.

It was all C&C Consulting's partner,
Ye Xinzhi, helping her.

-Ye Xinzhi?
-Think about it.

How long has she been out of school?

How could she have landed
such a big deal on her own?

And Ye Xinzhi even gave her
his projects of C&C Consulting to work on.

C&C Consulting. That's our competitor.

Lin Long,

-those are serious accusations--
-I have proof, Sha Sha.

Xu Chi is very likely
a corporate spy sent by C&C Consulting.

She's here to steal our trade secrets.

Step by step,
she's been trying to push me out

and replace me.

This was all planned
from the very beginning.

Ms. Lin, what are you talking about?
I don't understand at all.

Still playing dumb even now?

Don't tell me you don't know Ye Xinzhi.

I do know him.

But I met him

at the consulting industry summit
that you took me to.

You even told me
to take the chance to network

with more people in the industry.

Mr. Pi is giving a speech
at the summit tomorrow afternoon.

I'll bring you along.
You can meet some people in the circle.

Alright. Thanks, Ms. Lin.

Hello, everyone. I'm Ye Xinzhi
from C&C Consulting.

What are you talking about?

I never introduced you two,
and I never said any of that.

Why are you lying
through your teeth like this?

Lin Long, calm down.

Get to the point.

You said you have proof

that Xu Chi worked
on Ye Xinzhi's C&C Consulting projects.

Can you show it?

Here it is.

Ye Xinzhi just landed the Tianhe Air
digital transformation project.

It's huge news in the industry.

But he handed Tianhe Air'
internal confidential documents

over to Xu Chi.

Xu Chi, how do you explain this?

What proof do you have
that this came from Ye Xinzhi?

Don't you remember?

The confidentiality sign-off section
has Ye Xinzhi's signature on it.

Can I take a look? I don't remember
there being a signature on this.

See for yourself.

{\an8}CASE FILE

{\an8}There's nothing.

{\an8}SIGNEE

RECEIVED BY

This is impossible.

CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT
ACKNOWLEDGMENT-OF-RECEIPT FORM

Ms. Sha, you know I always like
to collect industry information

to practice my analytical skills.

This month, I chose the aviation industry.

The information in this file
includes not only

Tianhe's publicly-available annual reports
over the years,

but also compiled analyses
from other think tanks.

There are other airlines' data
in the back too.

It's not internal documents at all.

And it has nothing to do
with confidentiality.

I see.

This was all your plan.

You set me up, didn't you?

Ms. Lin, your condition
is really concerning.

Sha Sha, I have more evidence.

Look at these photos.

That day…

I saw Ye Xinzhi
drop her off at work in the morning.

She's his mistress.
You can scroll further.

Lin Long.

Ye Xinzhi has been divorced
for a long time.

He and I were in different class years
at Huaou Business School.

He admitted it himself
at the last alumni gathering.

But Xu Chi,

while the company doesn't get involved
in employees' personal lives,

these photos…

A senior tripped.
I passed by and lent a hand.

Am I really being framed for this?

We're all women here.

You should know how vicious
this kind of slander is.

And

if this photo
were taken from a wider angle,

you'd see Bu Tianna right there
in the elevator lobby.

Am I really so brazen
that I'd carry on in front of a colleague?

Sha Sha, believe me. Don't listen to her.

All of this… It's all part of her plan.

-She just wants to replace me!
-Enough!

I've held back
because you're pregnant and my senior.

How much longer
am I supposed to take this?

This file was in my drawer.

How did it end up with you?

Isn't snooping through

someone else's drawer theft?
Doesn't reading someone else's files

violate the company's
confidentiality policy? So,

I'm requesting the surveillance footage
from our work area.

Let's get to the bottom of this.

Xu Chi.

Sometimes,

young people can be too rigid.
I understand that.

But this isn't as serious as you think.

-There's no need to escalate it to…
-I know.

I'm a newbie,
so I should lie low and be tolerant.

Especially since Ms. Lin is pregnant.

For a long time before this,
I never told you

what she did to me.

But please put yourself in my shoes.

As my mentor, she never guided me
on the Bolo Culture project.

Once we get to Bolo Culture,

don't say a single word
without my permission.

-Got it?
-Got it.

As my supervisor,

she tricked me
into drinking with an old man.

Ms. Lin, I told you
I'm allergic to alcohol.

So what do we do now?

There you go. Right?

As my colleague,

she slandered my reputation
and questioned my integrity.

All of that…

-isn't serious enough?
-Enough!

You're setting me up!

I…

I know Ms. Lin is in a special situation,

so this must be hard for you,

but let me make my position clear.

Whatever you decide
to do about this, I'll accept it.

You're very good
at controlling your emotions.

I take back what I said earlier.

You're more mature than I thought.

More mature…

-May I go back to work now?
-Go ahead.

Thanks.