01x03 - Episode 3

[bunniefuu]

SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

-Good morning.
-Good morning.

-Good morning.
-Good morning.

-Okay.
-Good.

Morning.

You keep pushing this hard.

Not afraid of a heart attack?

Right back at you.

Weren't you sending files
in the group chat until 2 a.m.?

Coffee?

Sure.

I can't compete with you.

You're the only newbie
who's landed a project on your own.

It's just project initiation follow-up,

writing technical specs and proposals.

Once the contract is signed,
a project manager will take over.

We grunts just get to do the scut work.

What else?

You want to take over the whole project?

I just got the Bolo Culture project.

Quit being snarky
first thing in the morning.

Aren't you aiming to be a partner?

Why take an interest
in my small-scale project?

I'm heading down.

Of course I don't care.

But don't act weak.

Doesn't fit your image.

Bring out that k*ller instinct you used
to poach Lin Long's project.

I like it.

You two…?

Go on.

I'm grabbing breakfast downstairs.
Need anything?

-She likes the chicken breast panini.
-Got it.

Thanks.

What do you get
out of spilling my private business?

At least it makes people think
we're friends.

Keeps the Deng Anran types off my back.

Work itself is exhausting enough.

I don't have the energy
for office drama dumber

than a soap opera.

Smart.

But let's get one thing straight.

I'm keeping you as my right hand,

not my friend.

Okay by me. Right hand means trust.

Actually, I've always wondered.

We only met when we joined the company,
so why have you always been

so nice to me?

Because I like you.

You really don't remember?

Remember what?

Back in the day, by Daming Lake,

you were Xia Yuhe.

Oh my God. You actually tell jokes.

Are you okay?

Hello?

Did you zone out?

No.

I was just thinking

about how many newbies

will actually show up
for the weekend outdoor challenge.

How many?

All that overtime fried your brain?

Didn't you see both newbie teams are gone?

The three-month mark is the first hurdle.

New colleagues,

the rules for this new hire challenge
are straightforward.

Use your strategy and your courage.

First team to reach the finish line wins.

The winning team

gets a two-week training
at the North America HQ at year-end.

Great!

You each have a hand-drawn map.

Mountain route, water route,
and forest route.

Each team can choose their own path.

The goal is to reach
the destination fast and efficiently.

Each team has a professional
outdoor guide for safety.

Lu Le and I will supervise
to ensure fairness.

Other than that, you're on your own.

-Move!
-Good luck.

-Go!
-Go!

MAXMISE CONSULTING STORM CHALLENGE CAMP

Want to race?

If you lose, we switch places.

I'll be the partner,
and you're the right hand.

You know, your name is pretty good.

"Chi" means being late. Great omen!

See you at the finish line.

-Off we go!
-Let's go.

Sorry.

Tianna!

Hurry!

Thanks.

This trekking pole is non-slip. Take it.

I'm fine. I just didn't see
the path clearly.

Aren't you trying to win?

If you slip and get hurt, you can't win.

I'm not on the team. I don't have to walk.

Okay.

I'll return it in a bit.

No need to be so formal with me.

You're not going to hold
the whole team back, are you?

No need.

I know first aid. I'll do it myself.

Come on.

You know first aid for helping others.

Not so easy when it's yourself, is it?

Here.

Seriously, why are you so guarded?

You really think everyone
is after your dad's money?

Red team!

-Coming.
-Coming.

Let's talk it over.

I just checked the map.

Why don't we take the mountain route?

The water route is shorter,

but the current's too strong.
It's kind of dangerous.

There's a bridge up ahead
that leads to the mountain path.

It adds about three kilometers.

But I think we might
actually be faster that way.

What do you all think?

-Sure. It's fine with me.
-Sounds good.

The red team excels at analyzing materials
and has strong command over projects.

I took a look.

Everyone on the team has to reach
the finish line together to win,

but my foot's injured. I can't go far.

The water route is tough,
but it's the shortest.

Everyone, get your ropes out.

-Okay.
-Okay.

The blue team has strong leadership

and is good at handling pressure
and working together.

The yellow team has great team spirit.

I've posted everyone's scores
in the group chat.

Check them out.

The blue team's taking
the shortcut across the stream.

Tell them to stay safe.

Don't worry. The guide said
Bu Tianna looks professionally trained.

It should be fine.

They've all secured their safety ropes,
bu Tianna's bringing up the rear.

Most of the team
has already crossed safely.

-Keep going!
-Go!

-You got this!
-Here, drink some water.

Almost there! Come on!

-Nice work.
-Keep going!

-Almost there!
-Where are they?

-Zhao Heng. Tianna.
-Keep going!

-Come on!
-Come on!

-Keep going!
-Almost there!

Su Su, come on!

-Su Su, go!
-Go!

-Su Su, come on!
-Su Su, come on!

-Go for it!
-Go for it!

Zhao Heng, Tianna, come on!

Su Su!

-Come on!
-Go!

-Come on!
-Go!

Su Su, come on! Su Su, you've got this!

-Go!
-Go!

You got this!

Come on.

Get on my back. Hop on.

This isn't for you.
It's for the whole team.

Come on!

Go!

-Let's go!
-Let's go!

-Su Su, come on!
-Su Su, come on!

-You got this!
-You got this!

Almost there!

-Go, go!
-Go, go!

-Go for it!
-Go for it!

MAXMISE CONSULTING STORM CHALLENGE CAMP
FINISH LINE

Nice.

Are you okay? You did great.

Well done.

Congratulations to our champions,
blue team!

This event is officially a success.

Thanks to everyone for giving it your all!

Did you make this?

This looks like a commercial. Nice work.

It's not that I did anything amazing.

It's just that everyone's emotions
were so real.

They call it building team spirit,

trust, and courage.

But really,

they just want us to get high
on that sense of satisfaction

from overcoming challenges.

And you know what? We totally fall for it.

Hey,

I took some photos of you back there.

Let me add you on WeChat
and send them over.

ZHAO HENG, ADD TO CONTACTS

ADD IMAGE TO REMARK

Nice shots.

Free for lunch? My treat.

So good!

Fancy restaurants really are different.

Great atmosphere. Great food.

How did you know I love lamb chops?

It's perfect for me!

When I was a kid, I herded sheep
on those Northwestern hillsides.

Blue skies. Green grass.

Very pastoral.

But even the best view
can't fill your stomach.

Back then, my family didn't have much.

All I had for lunch every day
was a dry mantou.

No way that was enough.

So from then on,
I'd stare at those little bleating sheep

and swear that once I got to college,
I'd eat all the lamb I wanted.

Well? Pretty good story?

Pretty good.

But the better part is still coming.

Let me borrow your phone.

Unlock it.

{\an8}CHOOSE PICTURES

{\an8}DELETED

Last time I borrowed
your ice pack and bandages

and you carried me.

So today I bought you lunch
and kept you company.

Materially and emotionally, we're even.

And I already deleted those photos of me
on your phone.

Stop sneaking photos of me from now on.

If you do it again,

I'll report you to the company
for harassment.

Bye.

I've sent you the 3,000
for the lunch bill.

Wait, I wasn't sneaking photos of you.
I wasn't!

Sir! Sir, you haven't paid yet.

Come on.

Is paying really that important?

I wasn't taking sneaky photos.

They were just event photos.

Besides, we're colleagues.

Why make it so awkward?

-We're just colleagues.
-Exactly.

Don't be so tense. Relax.

It's such a nice afternoon.

Let's talk about something fun--

Is there anything fun
to talk about with you?

Every word you say is calculated.

I've met plenty of people like you.

Stop following me.

What are you doing?

When I was hurt,

you started with that blunt confession
to throw me off.

Your last name is Bu.

Marrying you would save me


Anyway, I don't have
much to do outside work.

So why don't I give it a shot?

You helped me and praised me

just to create contrast
and leave an impression.

You really think everyone
is after your dad's money?

You're pretty and capable.

Can't I just be drawn to your personality?

Then you laid out your sob story,

making your past
sound romantic and pitiful.

Any soft-hearted girl
would've fallen for it.

You turned Hejun Management's
six client-attraction tactics

into a pick-up routine.

Not bad at all.

You saw right through me.

This is embarrassing.

Don't sell yourself short.

These moves are more than enough
for a simple, love-first girl.

Too bad I know exactly
the plays and agenda

of scheming guys like you.

You've been hurt before?

-None of your business.
-The trick doesn't have to be new.

What matters is,

did it work on you?

I came to Maxmise to be a partner,
not to date.

You're already thinking about dating?

Wait.

Stop.

Stop laughing.

You're like a bobblehead.

He used all six of Hejun's tactics on me.

He's something else.

Su Su?

Sha Sha told me

my client interface
hasn't been proactive enough.

My performance under pressure at
the challenge camp was also just average.

She suggested I transfer
to the visualization team.

The visualization team?

It's the team
that just does PowerPoint slides.

Sounds fancy,

but it's basically
a demotion to back-office support.

You can never come back to consulting.

Isn't the challenge camp
just a team-building thing?

They actually use it
as an evaluation tool?

And what does
"average under pressure" even mean?

Su Su was sprinting while crying.

You didn't know that?

Using the challenge camp
as a simulated test for the staff

has always been a Maxmise tradition.

The problem might be that she cried.

In consulting, the last thing you want
is to be emotional.

It is what it is. Reality's harsh.

It all comes down to ability.

Oh, keep a close eye
on the Bolo Culture project.

You only get credit
once the contract is actually signed.

Do you think she'll quit?

I'm guessing she will.

Support departments
are way behind business units

in both status and pay.

Within a week,
someone new will take her place.

Not bad.

I approve of this proposal.

So when can we sign?

Send me the contract first.
I'll have Legal review it.

Okay.

By the way,

Maxmise isn't going
to let a young girl like you handle

a project this big alone, are they?

Of course not.

We'll set up a project team
right after signing.

With a project manager leading it,

plus partners, consultants,
data folks, and analysts like me.

You're playing me.

Payment is due after signing.

So far,

you've only come to our office
for a few interviews

and written some papers.

All using your public templates.

You don't even know
what Qingyi Literature looks like

or how many IPs they have.

When our board asks me
about the project's viability,

what do I say?

I've read a lot of Qingyi's iconic works,

and I have all the IP library materials.

But you're right.

I'd love to join you
for a site visit if that works for you.

Perfect.

I'm heading to their HQ tomorrow anyway.

See you early tomorrow.

Early tomorrow?

Yeah. Flight leaves at 7 a.m.

You have two hours to get ready.

Hey, Zhao Heng.

Got a sec to talk?

Did you see my WeChat message?

I have to take
a last-minute business trip.

I already applied through the system,

and Ms. Lin approved it.

Can you find the company
travel reimbursement policy for me?

I couldn't locate that file. Sure.

Thanks. I know.

NO VEHICLES AVAILABLE NEARBY

YOUR ORDER HAS TIMED OUT
PLEASE REQUEST A NEW RIDE

Xu Chi!

What's going on?

Well, can you drop me
at the subway station?

I need to get to the airport.

-Get in.
-Great.

Aren't you here on a business trip?

Why are you driving yourself
to the airport?

Who said I'm on a business trip?

-Thank you.
-I'm based here from now on.

I'm going to Hong Kong, China.
Back tomorrow afternoon.

Parking at the airport is convenient.

Saves me from having
an unreliable assistant

pick me up wrong again.

Where are you going?

Guangzhou.

I am doing research with a client.

With your mentor?

She told me to go alone.

Didn't Maxmise assign you a new mentor?

You can't become a consultant
by figuring it all out on your own.

This isn't a task for a newbie.

I know.

But I still want to try.

By the way, I saw your suitcase earlier.

It's cute.

Really?

I bought it in college.

Let me give you some advice.
Consultants should stick

to a few well-known business brands
for their suitcases.

For women, go with a lightweight
zippered fabric suitcase.

It holds more and doesn't look bad
if it gets scuffed.

Stick to black, navy blue, or light brown.

No bright colors. No cartoon stickers.

Nothing over 20 inches.

It must be carry-on size.

It saves you from lost luggage

and saves half an hour at check-in.

A consultant charges clients 25,000 a day.

Over ten hours,

one trip saves you 2,500.

But a carry-on is too small.

What if the trip's over three days?

Standard consultant setup
is a canvas duffel

on top of the suitcase,

plus a backpack for your laptop.

If you have time,
go swap it out at the airport.

Let me get it.

Thank you so much.

Let's add each other on WeChat.

Your mentor's ignoring you anyway.

If you have questions,
I can be your off-site coach.

Sure.

Let me scan yours.

YE THE LEGEND

Ye the Legend?

You give people nicknames
this over-the-top now?

It's not over-the-top.

You're my idol.

Oh nice, now you're laying it on thick.

I'm not. I mean it.

I…

I've been trying hard to become
a qualified consultant as soon as I can.

Not just for the money
and my mom's old apartment.

I also hope that one day,

I can be as strong and smart as you,

stay calm, and handle anything with ease.

With all that praise,

you'll definitely make it.

And this is your first business trip.

So, don't expect
to wow the client right away.

Lower your expectations.

Try to understand their real situation
and what they truly need.

I'm in a hurry to board. Bye.

QINGYI LITERATURE

That's not how you go about this!

I don't agree with this plan. No way.

We haven't even spoken yet,

-and you're already jumping in?
-All these rules and regulations…

Just because you spoke first
doesn't mean you're right. Right?

I'm telling you,
either you make it work, or forget it!

I don't have much time!

Whatever happens…

-I don't care anymore.
-Look what time it is!

I'm going to miss my flight. That's it!

Alright. Everyone, sit down!

Are you done yet?

This is a business negotiation,
not a wet market.

I have two more meetings this afternoon.

I don't have time to do financial reports.

-No, no. I don't have time.
-Just let me see your previous ones.

Mr. Li. Liu from our department
will go to your office later

{\an8}to coordinate on the project.

{\an8}QINGYI LITERATURE

So, what did you learn from this trip?

I just went to see
their senior management.

They're not very willing to talk to me.

I paid real money to acquire the company,

and they're still
paying lip service to me.

You're a rookie who just showed up.

And you asked their CFO
for payroll reports.

You think they'd give them to you?

In my earlier proposal,

I focused heavily on the senior executive
compensation reform plan

for Qingyi Literature.

It emphasizes consistency,
alignment, and granularity.

-Once the project manager takes over--
-Hold on.

Why are you talking like Lin Long
with all that meaningless jargon?

Are you trying to dazzle me
with buzzwords?

I'm telling you, that's what I saw
internet investors do years ago.

No. Bolo is a major internet company,

so I wanted to use some industry terms.

Enough. Stop explaining.

I'm paying you consultants big money

to help Qingyi Literature
integrate into us smoothly.

Yes, your arrangements
for regular employees are not bad.

But what I want
is a more effective overall solution,

not some simple compensation reform deck.

Hello?

Hold on.

Alright. Let's leave it here for now.

We'll catch up in Beijing
when we have time.

Go ahead.

They have a lot of demands.

Maxmise isn't helping much either.

This acquisition is going to be tough.

Your baby is fine,

but you really need to rest and relax.

Your spasmodic abdominal pain is
closely linked to your emotional stress.

Rest?

Just wait a little longer.

Ms. Lin, are you busy?

Could you get back to me when you can?
It's something urgent!

Please get back to me
as soon as you see this.

LIN LONG

MS. SHA SHA AT MAXMISE

{\an8}VOICE CALL

Hello, Ms. Sha. This is Xu Chi.

Sha Sha is on a video call
with US headquarters.

She asked me to take her call. What's up?

It's about the Bolo Culture project.

There are some things
I don't understand and want to ask.

You should be asking your mentor,
not jumping the chain to Sha Sha.

She doesn't have the obligation
or time to mentor you.

But Ms. Lin isn't answering my calls

or emails or WeChat messages.

Are you tattling
like a grade-schooler now?

Maxmise's policy is that everyone
owns their own work.

You took the Bolo Culture project
from Lin Long.

So you are fully responsible
for its success or failure.

The moment you chose to go solo,

you lost the right to complain
that your mentor isn't holding your hand.

Good luck.

XU CHI: MS. LIN, I HAVE AN URGENT ISSUE
WITH BOLO CULTURE

Check it now.

No need.

We agreed.

Tonight I'm all yours.

I've been taking the meds
to keep the pregnancy safe.

I'm in a much better place now.

I really shouldn't have argued
with you before.

Honey. I'm sorry.

I know you've been under a lot of pressure
since I got pregnant.

That day you came to the restaurant,
you were thinking about the baby and me.

But I don't know what came over me.

I just can't control my emotions.

-Sometimes I feel like I'm--
-Alright.

Don't blame yourself.

It's normal to have mood swings
during pregnancy.

I just hope you don't
put too much energy into work.

Don't worry. I won't anymore.

I've already talked to the company.

I'm pregnant.

From now on,
I'll avoid overtime as much as I can.

I'll start my maternity leave 30 days
before my due date.

And after the baby's born,
I'll make more time for family.

I promise to raise him to be
as smart as you.

Honestly, I've never been
against you working.

A second income is a good thing.

But consulting is exhausting.

And you're always working late.

Why not switch to something easier?

What's more important, family or work?

Family, of course.

What matters most is that we build
a good life together.

Right?

Come on. Have some fish.

This is your first business trip.

So, don't expect
to wow the client right away.

Lower your expectations.

Try to understand their real situation
and what they truly need.

Can you just tell us straight up
what we actually need to do

to get the veteran Qingyi employees
to integrate into our group,

fall in line,

and most importantly,
stay motivated at the same time?

We haven't even spoken yet,

-and you're already jumping in?
-All these rules and regulations

don't fit our company's growth!

-I have two more meetings this afternoon.
-Just because you spoke first…

-I don't have time for financial reports.
-I'm telling you,

either you make it work or forget it!

Your arrangements for regular employees
are not bad,

but what I want
is a more effective overall solution,

not some simple compensation reform deck.

MIDDLE AND LOWER MANAGEMENT

What was it that convinced him last time?

Since your company isn't short on cash,

and all you care about is Qingyi's IPs,

why not start fresh?

Go on.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Keep the senior executives for now.

MR. SHEN, BOLO CULTURE

{\an8}CALL

{\an8}VIDEO CALL, VOICE CALL

YE THE LEGEND

Richard. Can I ask you something?

It's about the project
I'm on during this business trip.

Maxmise is helping Bolo Culture
with organizational efficiency.

We had good communication
with their leadership before,

but their boss just blew up
and rejected the whole proposal.

See image.

So, as my interviewer,

teach me how to land
a big deal like Tianhe Air.

Our firms are competitors.

That's confidential.

Can I just tell you that?

Then why did you teach me
how to pick restaurants?

Most people don't need to be taught that.

Wait.

If I ask him every time I hit a problem,

isn't that just cheating
with a walkthrough?

RECALL THE MESSAGE

MESSAGE RECALLED

COULD I ASK YOU FOR SOME ADVICE, RICHARD?

Who are you texting?

One second you're frowning,
and the next you're smiling.

Got a crush or something?

Just a young lady

in the same industry as us.

She sent me a long WeChat message earlier.

Probably felt something
she said wasn't right,

so she recalled it and went to revise it.

A young lady?

I… I've seen her before.

Right here.

You sat here, and she sat there.
The one I saw.

Oh my goodness, Ye.

You're really something.

Such a young girlfriend.

Stop it.

I genuinely think she's talented.

And her work style

and the problems she runs into
remind me of myself back then.

I took a lot of wrong turns.

I don't want her
to make the same mistakes.

So, when are you starting your plan?

Just say the word
if you need anything from me.

That's actually why
I asked you to come today.

{\an8}FOLIC ACID TABLETS

Sure enough. Got him
a new graphics card and he's happy.

He's downloading games like crazy now.

That's good.

Couples shouldn't stay
in a cold w*r forever.

And think about it.

When you're in the delivery room,

if he makes a decision while angry,

you'll be the one suffering for life.

It's fine now.

He's happy, and you're happy.

But I'm not happy at all.

I actually feel kind of sad.

Tactics like playing weak
and pleasing people

are what I used to use on clients.

But now?

Now I have to use them
on a man I once loved.

Don't overthink it.

But I'm not giving up.

Once this phase is over,

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

You still want Xu Chi out?

Take it easy.

I already gave her low scores
in the newbie challenge camp.

Don't worry. I've let it go.

If she wants to fight, fine by me.

But I'm not giving her
any useful guidance or advice anymore.

At most, I'll reply to her emails
with a "You can try."

Does she really think making slide decks
is all it takes to be a consultant?

This industry runs on experience.

Without a mentor walking you
through real-world projects,

even a genius
is all theory and no practice.

Mr. Shen.

What are you doing here?

I was afraid it'd be too late
by the time I got to Beijing.

So now's a good time to talk.

This is the second version
of the proposal I rushed out.

Please take a look.

"Streamline the HR structure."

"Hollow out Qingyi Literature's
existing senior management?"

If I'm not mistaken,

you're looking to address not just
Qingyi's middle and lower management,

but also the senior level.

So your consulting needs have changed.

Have a seat.

You acquired Qingyi Literature
just for their IPs, right?

But because Qingyi has too many employees,

you're worried they'll affect
Bolo's corporate culture.

That's why you brought in Maxmise.

You want them to integrate
without causing you any trouble.

My initial plan to lay off all
of Qingyi's middle and lower management

appealed to you

because it offered
a clean, quick solution.

Keep the senior executives for now.

Let all other former
Qingyi employees leave

with the market's best severance package

of 2N plus 10.

But gradually, you realized

that Qingyi's senior management
is also a liability.

You want to deal with them too.

-You're already jumping in?
-All these rules and regulations…

-I am telling you…
-Nonsense!

Either you make it work or forget it!

But on a conscious level,

you might not have been able
to articulate what you actually needed.

That's why you blew up
at me this afternoon.

I'm paying you consultants big money

to help Qingyi Literature
integrate into us smoothly.

Not some simple compensation reform deck.

Looks like you know me better
than I know myself.

In the future, you could not only
do management consulting,

but also moonlight as a shrink.

Either way, consulting is essentially
a personal service.

We use our own experience to help clients

analyze problems
from an outside perspective.

To help you see the elephant
in the room you couldn't see before.

But regardless,

I owe you an apology
for that outburst this afternoon.

But as the client,

I'm allowed to be a little temperamental.

-You can forgive that, right?
-Of course.

Set up an overseas
business unit headquartered in Singapore.

Transfer all of Qingyi's
senior management there.

If they can't integrate
into Bolo's culture,

just ship them all overseas.

First, Bolo is expanding
its overseas business.

Second, most of Qingyi's senior managers
have kids in primary or middle school.

If you offer a good title, solid pay,
and great benefits,

their families will push them to go.

It's an overseas degree, after all.

Third, if they actually
make something of themselves over there,

it's a win for Bolo too.

-Interesting.
-Of course,

the formal proposal
won't be written exactly like this.

You just need to understand the real
purpose of this consulting engagement.

Mr. Shen, I promise

Maxmise will put together
a top-notch consulting team.

We'll craft a solution
that covers everything,

from potential restructuring
and vision-driven strategy

to scaling your ecosystem
and business model overseas.

We'll make sure most
of Bolo and Qingyi's employees

are on board and happy with the outcome.

That way, your consulting fees
are money well spent.

I like your big words this time.

Tell me more.