Zhao Hui and Tao Wuji were both admitted to the hospital after the accident, although their injuries were not serious. To avoid worrying his daughter, Zhao Hui made up a story on the spot to appease her when they returned home. Tao Wuji confided his troubles to Zhao Hui, mentioning the financial difficulties at Henghui Company and their attempt to borrow money from Xia Ning. Coincidentally, Zhao Hui was familiar with Xia Ning, describing her as a well-known player in the financial industry who excelled at using cunning tactics. He explained her modus operandi: providing loans to clients in need, creating a promising future for them, but withdrawing funds at critical moments if the situation turned unfavorable, without considering the fate of the company.
Despite Zhao Hui’s warnings to be cautious, Tao Wuji believed that caution was not his strong suit. He cited the example of securing the Fukang Building project, suggesting that factors other than caution were at play. This led Zhao Hui to recount his own reasons for securing the Fukang Building project, and Tao Wuji also revealed how his family had suffered losses due to loans, showing their shared distrust of banks.
As Zhao Hui pointed out, success in banking relied not only on ability but also on principles and ethics, as well as the ability to balance personal emotions, which could either drive progress or become fatal weaknesses. Encouraged by Zhao Hui’s advice, Tao Wuji mustered the courage to present a recommendation letter written by Dai Qiye to Zhao Hui, revealing how much he resembled the young Zhao Hui. This encounter left Zhao Hui feeling conflicted, seeing his past self reflected in the young man who wished to become his apprentice.
Meanwhile, at the behest of Xie Zhiyuan, Wu Xianlong and his son arranged a dinner meeting with Su Jianren. The next day, when Zhao Hui went to buy bread at the store, he coincidentally met Zhou Lin and her son Xuanxuan. Observing their strained relationship, particularly Zhou Lin’s submissive attitude towards her mother-in-law, who took the child away in front of her, Zhao Hui realized the truth behind Zhou Lin’s lies and the heartbreaking past she had endured. This realization led to a heartfelt conversation between them.
At the same time, Su Jianren bought a cake to visit Zhou Lin’s home, but Zhou Lin used the excuse of having guests to politely decline the meeting. She also intentionally hinted to Zhao Hui that Su Jianren was pursuing her, trying to gauge his reaction.
Witnessing this scene, Su Jianren felt furious, accusing Xie Zhiyuan of using Zhou Lin’s beauty to manipulate two men. He was frustrated that both women he liked were taken away by Zhao Hui. Although Xie Zhiyuan wanted to explain himself, Su Jianren hung up the phone without listening to his words.
Wu Xiaofei treated Tian Xiaohui as his confidant and took her to various social events. During their conversation, they discussed their work experiences, and Wu Xiaofei expressed his concern to Tian Xiaohui about the shady practices in the real estate industry.
They both dreamed of saving money to buy a house in Shanghai. However, Tian Xiaohui felt disappointed when Tao Wuji suggested buying a cheaper house in the suburbs, as she had hoped for a larger house in the city. The next day, Tian Xiaohui overheard her colleagues gossiping about her rapid promotion and speculated that she had used her relationship with Wu Xiaofei to achieve it. Despite feeling distressed by the rumors, Tian Xiaohui had to endure the criticism silently.
Meanwhile, Cheng Jiayuan expressed his feelings for Hu Yue to Tao Wuji, hoping he could help them get together. However, knowing that Hu Yue had feelings for him, Tao Wuji always found excuses to avoid eating with them. During this time, Tao Wuji received a call informing him that someone had come to Henghui to collect a debt. Hurriedly, he rushed over with Cheng Jiayuan, only to discover that it was his senior brother Jiang Rui who had come to collect the debt.
Seeing Jiang Rui’s face, Tao Wuji knew he couldn’t hide the truth any longer and had to report to Su Jianren about Henghui borrowing 20 million yuan at a high interest rate. He hoped Su Jianren would give them a chance, as he didn’t want to see such a promising company destroyed due to a lack of funds.
Understanding the situation, Zhao Hui believed that Henghui indeed had a mature team and excellent technology. If they could overcome their financial problems, they had the potential to become a dark horse in the industry. Therefore, he decided to buy some time for Professor Xia and arranged for Tao Wuji to prepare a report. As for the financial issues, he would try his best to find a solution. Touched by Zhao Hui’s actions, Tao Wuji bowed deeply to him.
During their break, Tian Xiaohui shared all the information she had learned with Shen Jing, who had already learned everything beforehand. Shen Jing needed Tian Xiaohui to enter a core position and provide more valuable information. Seeing Tian Xiaohui’s hesitation, Shen Jing instilled in her the idea of doing whatever it takes to achieve her goals, reminding her that seizing the opportunity was crucial for establishing herself in Shanghai.
