The Negotiator Episode 2 Recap
The story shifts to China with all the characters starts to focus on their life and mission. Xiao Fei now has a goal in his mind and it seems Tong Wei will cross path with him. New characters show up and proves that the world sometimes is not that big.
Episode 2:
Tong Wei apologizes to Xiao Fei for barging into the room and leaves. Tiantian is making a ruckus outside the room as the security guards (3 guards!😨) struggle to keep her down. Tong Wei asks Tiantian to come with her but Tiantian refuses and grumbles to leave her alone.
Xiao Fei grabs the stun baton from one of the guards and shoves it veeery near to Tiantian's face (oh no, no physical violence, please, show). Xiao Fei threatens Tiantian and claims that US is different, this kind of violence is acceptable as a self-defense for trespassing the property. Tong Wei tries to calm the situation and assures Xiao Fei that Tiantian and her will leave immediately.
Xiao Fei says his mother is resting inside and he doesn't want anything to bother her. Tiantian annoyingly complains they are all Chinese, he shouldn't treat his people like this. Xiao Fei nearly explodes in anger, but Tong Wei repeatedly apologize to diffuse the tension. Ho ho, a great mediator. Xiao Fei goes into the room, while Tiantian is being escorted by the guards. Tong Wei takes a long look to the closed room while following behind Tiantian.
Tian Yu drives the ladies and berates Tiantian for coming to New York without proper plan. He is worried because NYC is such a big city. Tiantian is still in stubborn mode and says she could make it to NY Fashion Week if only Tong Wei didn't stop her. Tong Wei scoffs at her and Tiantian is angry at Tong Wei's reaction. She asks Tian Yu to stop the car. Tong Wei goes with the flow and sarcastically says Tian Yu can stop so that Tiantian can go to the show. Tian Yu calms both ladies down.
Xiao Fei is at his luxurious apartment when a fax comes in. He checks the papers and is in delight. Xiao Fei gets a call from his friend in China, Luo Bin (anyone know his real name?) whether the info is confirmed or not. It seems for two years, there's a land in remote area in China that Xiao Fei has been keeping his eyes on. Luo Bin is updating the land's news to Xiao Fei all this time.
Luo Bin adds there's an old lady there who owns the land. She refuses to sell it or move out thus the developer is having continuous trouble to proceed with the development. Xiao Fei expresses his gratefulness to Luo Bin and requests Luo Bin to hold on to the land for him. Luo Bin however says the old lady is really stubborn, it's not easy to acquire the land. Xiao Fei notes that.
Dad Xie is having a meeting at X-Group. He says there is a plan of collaboration with China-based Ke Wan Corporation's owner. Mr. Song. Dad Xie says that since this involves two big corporations, there is a need of thorough negotiation. Uncle Xie adds that since X- Group is planning to return to China, this is to be expected. However since X- Group is not familiar with China, they need a negotiator. He wonders who should they hire for the negotiation. Cough cough.
Xiao Fei continues that the government is planning to develop the land for a commercial use and is looking for suitable developers. Xiao Tian asks whether his brother plans to buy the land and Xiao Fei says yes, adding that his plan is to develop the land into an eco-resort with Chinese traditional culture, which is completely different to X- Group's usual modern and luxurious plans.
Uncle Xie asks Dad Xie to give Xiao Fei a chance to prove himself but also making a snide remarks that they can just use another plan if Xiao Fei's proposal fail. Xiao Fei clearly is dissatisfied with his uncle's opinion. Uncle Xie insults even further by asking whether Xiao Fei is confident since he never takes on a big project like this.
Xiao Fei admits that he rarely shows effort regarding to the company but he assures that he is serious about this project and says that this project will be significant to company's plan to return and establish them in China. Dad Xie clears his throat and dismisses the meeting and asks Xiao Fei to follow him.
In Dad Xie's office room, Xiao Fei makes it clear to his dad that he is serious as he explains that he's keeping tab on that land for 2 years. His father is all ears. Xiao Fei has been visiting China few times before and he notes that China's development industry is booming in recent years. He also has been making few acquaintances there. Smart boy.
His plan for the land is focused on young people because X- Group's project before this only caters to rich people and modern luxurious buildings. He sincerely asks Dad Xie's support. He adds that he knows the land is his mom's hometown. Dad Xie cuts him short to not talk anymore. Xiao Fei clenches his fist and disappointedly remarks that Dad Xie doesn't think highly of him and his plan.
Upset, Xiao Fei walks outside and Xiao Tian knows that the discussion didn't go well, so he calms his brother down. Xiao Fei think there's no use in talking while Xiao Tian defends their dad. Xiao Fei knows all Dad Xie ever care is X- Group and his reputation. Xiao Tian cautiously reminds Xiao Fei is the only heir and Xiao Fei says everyone knows that Xiao Tian is more suitable for the title. He plays down the traditional thinking where the eldest must take on the title and assures Xiao Tian to not think he's not worthy because Xiao Fei sincerely accepts Xiao Tian as his younger brother.
A confident young woman heads to Dad Xie's office room. Dad Xie is pleased to see the woman, Zhao Chen Xi ( Yang Feixiang) and welcomes her in. She is the step- daughter of Mr. Song of Ke Wan Corporation.They discuss about the collaboration plan and Dad Xie says he will give the task to Chen Xi and Xiao Fei to handle. Chen Xi is unfamiliar with Xiao Fei's name and Dad Xie shows the family picture on his table and introduces his son to her.
Heading to the airport, Xiao Tian questions why Xiao Fei going to Shanghai few days earlier than planned. He worries because Xiao Fei is leaving Manager Li and the team behind. Xiao Fei convinces Xiao Tian to not think too much because he is serious this time and will do a good job to prove to Dad Xie.
In the airplane, Chen Xi is looking for her seat in business class and sees Xiao Fei. She remembers him from the picture and greets him. She introduces herself and wonders why Xiao Fei is there. He shushes her and jokes that he's going to China to play around. He asks her to keep his whereabouts a secret because he doesn't want his dad to scold him for not working.
A doctor is treating her and asks her to rest but given the limited small space, the old lady has trouble to feel comfortable and the CA regretfully says all the seats are fully occupied. Xiao Fei offers the old lady his seat in business class and the CA and him accompanies the old lady to his seat. The old lady is thankful to him. This leaves deep impression to Chen Xi as she notes that even though Xiao Fei comes across as irresponsible, he has his kind and sensible qualities.
At the office, Xiao Tian is wondering why Dad Xie hesitates to go forward with Xiao Fei's plan. Dad Xie agrees that Xiao Fei's plan is great but since this is a big company and involves many people, he cannot make an easy decision just like that just because Xiao Fei is his son. Dad Xie laments that ever since what had happened to Mom Xie, Xiao Fei rarely comes home and refuses to talk to him. Xiao Fei is blaming him but Xiao Tian ensures that Xiao Fei will understand Dad Xie some day. However, Dad Xie worries he doesn't have enough time as he's getting older now.
Cui Xi greets Tong Wei at CAEA's entrance. She delivers sudden news that their Negotiations Department is separated to two groups, Team A and Team B. Tong Wei already aware about this. Cui Xi is dissatisfied because the split is unfair to them. Team B's manager from the same department, Xiao Xiang, manages to take all the competent and experienced staffs to his side, leaving behind inexperienced newbies for Team A, Tong Wei's team.
Once at the office, Tong Wei and Cui Xi nearly bump into one of the newbies, Jiang Ke. He grumbles but then compliments Tong Wei's perfume. He still doesn't know that Tong Wei is his manager. Cui Xi cuts short his antics and introduces Tong Wei as his boss. Jiang Ke is so happy and super excited because his boss is so beautiful and stylish. ( 😂I thought he's going to freak out because of his behaviour. So it seems hierarchy doesn't come into his mind).
Just when Tong Wei and Cui Xi able to take a breath after Jiang Ke walks away excitedly, an old lady comes in and compliments the workplace. A young woman walks arm in arm with the old lady. Puzzled, Tong Wei asks which team is the young woman belongs to, and Cui Xi whispers, "Your team." The old lady is the mom. (😱WHAT? Your mom accompanies you into your workplace? How old are you?).
Cui Xi calls over that young lady, Kiki. She's also a newbie like Jiang Ke. She is introduced to Tong Wei and Kiki's mom compliments Tong Wei and asks her to take care of her daughter, lol. The mom also promotes her wonton restaurant around the area, 😂 talk about killing two birds with one stone. Once Kiki's mom leaves, Tong Wei asks whether Kiki's mom will come again and Kiki assures her boss it won't happen in the future. (Sigh, Tong Wei is so nice as a boss, she talks gently and she's so calm 😍)
Cui Xi expresses her worry for their team. Tong Wei is worried as well and excuses herself to see Director Zhou about this situation. Director Zhou is delighted to see Tong Wei and welcomes Tong Wei in to her office room. Director Zhou is updating the split news where Tong Wei and Xiao Xiang will each lead the team. Tong Wei straight-forwardly asks how did the questionable newbies pass the interview 😁.
Director Zhou notes that Tong Wei already met those two new recruits. She elaborates that since business negotiation already gained a place in overseas for a long time, it is still relatively new in China. Director Zhou emphasizes that business negotiation is still in small scale in China because the public has low-awareness about it and also due to the lack of talents in the field.
Tong Wei realizes that Director Zhou wants Tong Wei to mentor the newbies, however Tong Wei says she's worried she will disappoint Director Zhou. Director Zhou says she chooses Tong Wei because even though Xiao Xiang is the most experienced in the department, Tong Wei has a sincerity which makes her a standout negotiator. Tong Wei nods, understanding her boss's intention.
At the meeting afterwards, Director Zhou brings the news about their new client, (drumrolls 😝) X- Group. She gives the details about X- Group; it is a Chinese- America based company and is preparing to break into China market. Thus the company currently plans to do a joint venture through joint investment. Since the company is oversea-based, Director Zhou stresses the importance of this negotiation project. She adds that X- Group already planned to collaborate with China- based Ke Wan Corporation, an established real-estate developer.
Hearing Ke Wan's name, Xiao Xiang is shocked and Tong Wei smiles and says people are aware that the said corporation is very well known and many are dying to work with them (including Xiao Xiang). But she adds it is not easy to work with because of its difficult president, that only few have succeeded. Director Zhou agrees, that's why X- Group is hiring CAEA as the negotiator.
Xiao Xiang is confident that Director Zhou will give the negotiation project to Team B but Director Zhou chooses Team A instead. Xiao Xiang disagrees as he complains Team A seems inexperienced to handle such large project since there are newbies in the team. Director Zhou explains that's why she gives the task to Team A, for them to gain experiences and to mature through the project. She adds that Team B needs to assist Team A too.
Xiao Xiang is clearly hesitant to accept. Director Zhou continues, the X- Group's representatives will arrive soon and Team A needs to work them to come up with negotiation plan within two weeks. Then, they will start negotiating with Ke Wan's representatives at early next month. Tong Wei assures Director Zhou that the team will do their best.
Later, Tong Wei thanks Director Zhou as she now understands why Director Zhou just let Xiao Xiang took all the experienced staffs, so that he will unable to objects Tong Wei's team for handling this project. Director Zhou promises that if Tong Wei succeeds, Tong Wei will be guaranteed to get a spot in year-end CAEA Board Annual Meeting. The director reminds Tong Wei to take care of her subordinates, to not let them drags her down and Tong Wei replies not to worry.
Team A hold a brief meeting regarding their client, X- Group. Kiki updates the team about the information she found online about X- Group but Tong Wei says it is useless because online information is generic and not detailed. She wants them to focus on X- Group's representative, Xie Xiao Fei. Cui Xi hands her a resume of Xiao Fei but Tong Wei sighs that it is also useless since what she wants is his personal information. Jiang Ke is in glee because it seems they are acting like a paparazzi 😂. Tong Wei explains that when doing negotiation, they need to know what type of person they are dealing with. She gives the task on finding Xie Xiao Fei's information to Kiki and Jiang Ke.
After the meeting, Tong Wei gets a call from her best friend, Xia Shan Shan (Mao Linlin). She's asking Tong Wei to hang out with her after work, no excuses. After work, they arrives at the elite area where there is an opening club event. Heading to the club, Tong Wei grumbles about her two newbies who are incompetent at their job. Shan Shan laments that it seems CAEA has been lacking in talent ever since she left the company. Tong Wei agrees and adds that Xiao Xiang also has been targeting her.
Shan Shan goes to greet the club owner, Mr. Luo/ Luo Bin (ah, drama world, such a small world 😂) while Tong Wei is getting a drink. Shan Shan congratulates Luo Bin for the club opening. She gives a present to Luo Bin, a bracelet (for praying, a type that monk use), explaining that the gift is from Master and Master had asked Qi Ruhai (Shan Shan's boyfriend) to give it to Luo Bin. Luo Bin wants Shan Shan to relay his thank to Qi and asks when Qi can bring him to meet Master (who is he?) but Shan Shan says it's not easy to meet Master. She instead wants Luo Bin to make use of the bracelet, and he can meet Master when the fate allows him to.😀
Shan Shan waves to Tong Wei who watches them from afar and Luo Bin compliments Tong Wei's beauty (lol, again). Shan Shan warns Luo Bin that Tong Wei is off-limit as her friend is out of his league 😁. Luo Bin complains that he doesn't get hardworking women and them making men feel useless (pfft). He gets a call and excuses himself to go pick up his friend who comes from New York (guess who🙊).
A drunk foreigner guy tries to hit on Tong Wei but she's clearly disinterested and ignores him. Tong Wei plans to leave the club early because it's too noisy, plus she has a meeting tomorrow. Shan Shan joins her and off they go. Walking outside, Tong Wei notes that it is not easy to gain access to that elite area. Shan Shan says the club is only for the club members and she got the member card from Qi as he is a close friend of Luo Bin.
Their talk shifts to Qi and Tong Wei wonders when will Shan Shan and Qi get married but Shan Shan sadly says she doesn't have high hope for it. Qi is a divorcee and she thinks he probably doesn't want to do the grand event again. Tong Wei disagrees and she hopes at least the two will get a marriage license but Shan Shan defends Qi is too busy. Tong Wei is worried as she clarifies that she saw Qi and his ex-wife last week. Shan Shan dismisses the talk and Tong hides her disbelief smirks and playfully says she believes Shan Shan. Shan Shan calls Tong Wei out for expressing her disbelief as she defends Qi.
They forget to watch the road while they are busy talking, . A speeding black supercar suddenly brakes in front of them. Xiao Fei gets out from the car, obviously angry at the two ladies.
Thoughts:
Ahaha, these two, they always meet at the wrong time.
This episode is focusing more on the early plan for the collaboration between X-Group and Ke Wan Corporation. I am satisfied with how the plan is laid out as my mind usually shuts off when it comes to business talk 😂 and so far I manage to follow it.
As usual, you can't have a business drama without villains. Xiao Xiang seems clearly unsatisfied with the way Director Zhou favoring Tong Wei but I can say Director Zhou acts reasonably. I think Xiao Xiang will do something just to get the negotiation project and I'm worried on how he will proceed.
Uncle Xie (I still don't know his character's name) also seems to be on evil side. He seems nice at first but then he starts being snarky and sarcastic and downplay Xiao Fei's effort which is not nice at all. I'm glad Xiao Fei admits he used to play around but now he wants to prove to people that they are wrong.
I can see that the land that Xiao Fei wants so much is something that holds sentimental value to him (since it's his mom's hometown) and his move to China proves that it's not just a talk and once again confirmed that he indeed treasures his mom dearly. I'm also curious on his plan to develop the land for eco-tourism.
I cannot utter more adoration to Tong Wei. The way she tackles all the problem is mature and rational. She's an optimistic person and when something troubles her mind, she's not afraid to talk it out. And now, I wonder will she change when she meet Xiao Fei? Hopefully she's able to maintain her calm personality.
So far Chen Xi as Ke Wan Corp's representative seems capable and sharp-minded. Her character intrigues me the most in this episode and I can't wait to see her in next episodes. Also, I'm glad Tong Wei has a BFF, she seems to loosen up a bit and being playful when she's with Shan Shan.
Stay tuned for next episode. Thank you for reading 😅.
Please post for the rest of the episodes as well😀😀😀
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