Lohankuo

Thanks for this. I agree that HongMei needs to learn to get on her own two feet, and maybe falling hard would be an opportunity for her to learn up climb up.
That would be great to watch her journey.

What was Cong Rong's role in the book and contribution to the story? He just seems like a wallflower in the drama. Doesn't really serve a purpose.

They don't spell it out in detail, but it's implied.

It is.
Success isn't sweet when attained by inglorious means.

I think HM looked pretty lonely after SX left. The apartment looks great. New, clean and expensive. But she doesn't look very happy still.

Yes. Saw the last episode.
At her new apartment, SX looks at her friend in disappointment after HM honestly tells her that she should have just pretend to not see things and let things in the company slide. SX realised that HM didn't change, she just has a different prospect.

The affair is not detailed but it is implied that they are in cahoots with each other since the car ride.

This one?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=olg9y_92bd4

Company committs to greater social responsible with the view to provide for their retired employees.

And I'm going to interpret the ending that the two main characters are rekindling their relationship.

Very ideal.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0BqJyEqlCTtLU9OKnhJFXO?si=5le93a4mRySxH8IrWk_BXg&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1

So true!! CEO does look like Humphrey Bogart.

I really enjoy the debates too. Love reading different perspectives, and having civil discussions.

Love that song!! I never knew there was a Chinese band that produced this type of music. So happy i found it!

Yes. Love this episode. So well acted.

I think for me the theme of this show is that you are the author of your destiny. Yes sometimes life throws grenades at you. But the best thing to is to pick yourself up, learn and move on.
SX demonstrated that so well. She was made a scapegoat of something she didn't even do. Lost her job, betrayed by her fiance, blacklisted in the industry because she got sacked and couldn't get her certificate.

She could easily be crushed. Fall into depression and pick up unhealthy habits of dealing with grief. But she didn't stay down. She got up and moved on with it and took up every opportunity she could get. She has a warrior's heart and thrived.

I cried when in her drunken stupor after her punk karaoke rendition, she ran to XM thinking he was her ex fiance and she confessed her sadness that he left. And reminded him that they swore to fight for life together. But he gave up. That scene always gets to me because it is so raw.

In contrast, HongMei is stuck in victim mentality. She hates work and despises her living conditions and low status at home, work and in society.
She wants a flashier life, but reality is that it costs money. She whines and complains because she knows she can't get it in her own ability.

Xiao Bei may not be refined and does speak in ways that does not bring out the best in her, but she didn't do much to bring out the best in him either. You can't change another person, but you can change yourself. She could set the tone in the relationship by modelling positivity to XiaoBei and teach him how to treat or speak to her better. Communication is key.

I say she is using the CEO because mentally i think she targets him as the one person to get her what she wants. Everytime she sees him, her heart skips a beat. She's cheating in her heart... while married to XiaoBei. And I'm not sure if CEO if married with children/ grandchildren, but if he was, then that's worse. He is taken.

It takes two to tango. He has flaws but so does HongMei.
He may be a devoted gamer because that's how he unwinds from a hard day of work.
Life is tough. But he is faithful, he's been with her through the thick and thin, he is always on her side, he is good a saving, thinks about their future.
HongMei enjoys it when he gives her attention, but complains that he doesn't add to the facade of success that she wants to project to the world. That's why i say she is hollow.

She has been with him for years. She knew what she eat in for when she went in the relationship with him. So why is she surprised now that she unhappy? Her boyfriend didn't change.... she moved the goal post. The way she went about breaking up was brutal. Reveals a lot about her.

Look at SX and XM's breakup? Logical, calm, civil, mutual understanding.

She wants to be at the top and sees the old CEO as her ticket to get there. Such a user!

Thank you for explaining! I have a better understanding of the corporate structures now.

XM is a brilliant strategist... even the CEO and the loanshark boss think so.

Yeah, Wang MingYu is the "last master" to defeat before game over. He's so cunning, never really reveals his true intentions publicly until now. This is his last take for the top job. Just in it for himself. Typical.

My personal thoughts given that there's only one episode left is that this is a ruse that CEO, SX and XM are in. They are setting up a trap to get Wang MingYu to reveal himself. Then when the cat's out of the bag, they'll come out and strike him.
He's like a weed that needs to be uprooted.

She just didn't want to fight her feeling of dissatisfaction anymore. And she feels weighed down by her boyfriend/ husband.
It's sad she gave up on him, she didn't even explain much. She caught a ride home with the CEO, and went home, packed her things, said a brief goodbye and left. Her husband desperately ran after her taxi.
I can imagine him be super depressed after she leaves.

I wonder if she is freeing herself up so she can get with the CEO with no baggage attached.
I don't like HongMei character. I know she feels crushed by being in the state of lower middle class. I pity her that she has low self esteem. Put down at work and not regarded highly in her family either.
But she didn't really put up a fight. She drifted and let the currents of life take her along. She's not all there at work. Not very bright and no convictions.
She doesn't seem to stand for anything... She keeps has her head in the clouds, wanting a better life, prettier living conditions, nicer clothes, to be liked by her peers.
She's become a "wannabe", with no substance to to show for.

Sorry for scrutinising this character so badly... but i just think she has become hollow.

No hard feelings at all.

You're the real macoy! Thanks for the link and fleshing out the ramifications of XM's move. Surely, if i was XM I'd lawyer up and cover up all my bases before venturing to this corporate espionage.

Legally speaking this all comes down to semantics and the drafting of XM's employment contract.
I think XM was employed to manage the company. His personal innovation/foresight is his own. The company owns his abilities to manage, but not his brains/plans/visions.

Hey DKCZ, nice bantering with you today. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your views and giving you a rebuttal :)

I don't think XM is stealing from YingHai.
He is just not declaring his vision for the land that can potentially make them millions if not billions. His vision is his own personal intellectual property. He is legally required to do his job - that is run the company, and look after the employees.
YingHai knows they own that land, but they do not have the foresight to see its potential. That is their loss.

What's XM's mistake is that he bloated the loss to make it look like they are going belly-flop. That is a flat out lie.
But again, he did this so YingHai has to cut them out to look good enough for the IPO. His scheming is brilliant! Yes, he's shady, but which (save SX) in YingHao board are not shady??

YingHai would not be much worst off cutting TianKe off.
They want the IPO, they'll get it without TianKe. The issue is that they will not get a slice of millions/billions from the land once it's developed.

I agree. I love this drama!