Subtitles by DramaFever
[Game of Hunting]
[Episode 1]
Your loud enthusiasm is taking me back.
Back to an age of burgeoning youth.
Back when I was about to take my college entrance exams
I came down with a terrible cold.
That wasn't the worst thing.
I had to bike 20 miles to take the exam.
That still wasn't the worst.
I persisted and persevered.
And yet in the end, I was three points short.
Three points!
This is a regular cold medication.
If I had taken it a day earlier, I might have gotten those three points.
I didn't pass the exam.
I griped about how unfair God was.
I was stuck in the darkest stretch of my life for a long time.
Was this still not the worst?
No, it should be.
"To be, or not to be: that is the question."
This phrase was first heard in my heart, not from Shakespeare.
After that abysmal and miserable summer
I began to believe in fate.
Fate led me to join Shi Xin Corporation.
Shi Xin's corporate spirit
selfless diligence, and ideals of building a future
called to my forlorn mind.
Fate suddenly showed me a picture of a completely different world.
I saw my existence clearly
and understood the profound meaning of wild lilies in the spring.
Life is like flowers blooming throughout the year.
Some bloom in the spring
while some bloom in the winter.
Our endeavors are a lifelong undertaking.
As long as you don't give up hope...
Editor Liu, Editor Liu.
This guy's speech is plagiarized.
Check which speech he's plagiarizing.
No, it's not from Obama. It sounds awfully familiar.
Who pushed me? Do you want a fight?
Asshole.
I have left this big, warm family
but the enduring memories at Shi Xin were enlightening.
CEO Sa gave me the secret key to entrepreneurship.
Director Guo gave me the code to life.
Those were all gems of wisdom.
They are the riches of my life.
I beseech you all now.
In your hands, Shi Xin Corporation must become even more magnificent!
Yes, yes!
Mr. Zheng Qiu Dong's speech today was absolutely marvelous!
Let's give him another round of applause.
He's just an impoverished stray, not some successful figure.
Why would they spend money to hire him, with an online live broadcast to boot?
His personal success doesn't matter.
What matters is his silver tongue.
That's what best serves their interests.
He sells his spiel
and the company lets the employees drink the Kool-Aid.
That's called cohesion.
This is a driving force for productivity.
Don't rush, everybody! Be mindful of safety.
Look. He's quite popular with the ladies.
He's such a smooth talker.
Did he also once capture your heart in this way?
Are you serious?
It's all in the past.
Let's not talk about it. I'm not who I once was either.
You said it hasn't been easy for him. What was difficult for him?
That is just speaking complete nonsense.
The nonsense isn't difficult. What's difficult is speaking.
Actually, speaking isn't difficult. What's difficult is taking the lead.
To be clear, taking the lead isn't difficult either.
What's difficult is being a pioneer.
Thank you.
Yi Ren.
Thank you.
Thank you for staying by my side.
If you thank me, that would be unfair to you.
As if I'm doing this for charity.
Didn't you say he's a fraud? How could he be a pioneer?
Don't push, don't push.
He...
He is a fraud.
When I said pioneer, I wasn't talking about him precisely.
It's one of the highest levels attainable.
A public speaker who inspires others.
Dinner will be on him tonight. He's sure to have raked in money.
You're all just so adorable.
Let me pose one more question.
What are personal prospects?
They're a tendency toward improvement.
They sometimes happen by chance, and sometimes inevitably.
What's by chance?
By chance is when a lucky lady sees you as you're striving for your goals.
By chance is when a lucky lady sees you as you strive for your goals.
Do they all have experience as housemaids?
One has done the job before.
Now, what is inevitable?
What's inevitable is
you see the lucky lady by means of your endeavors.
You see the lucky lady by means of your endeavors.
- Does anyone know how to massage? - How did you two...
That's just nonsense.
He's our chairman.
Ladies, come here.
Each of you will fill out a form and pay 50 yuan for the registration fee.
50 yuan? That's expensive. Can it be cheaper?
Boss, I know how to massage.
Boss, if the landlord doesn't pick me, will I be refunded?
No refunds.
That was a brilliant speech. I've doubled your compensation.
Thank you, CEO Sa.
Chickens that listen to music supposedly lay more eggs.
Can that be trusted?
Of course, absolutely.
Qiu Dong, your speeches are so well-reasoned and persuasive
leading my employees to love the company like their own family.
You're an excellent public speaker.
You're such an expert at tricking others.
So how come your own career...
is in such a sorry state?
CEO Sa, if you must humiliate me before paying me
then I'd rather not have the money.
What do you mean by in such a sorry state?
As in doing so poorly.
I don't mean to humiliate you.
I'm just curious.
If you place that money on the table
I'll tell you the truth.
Tell me first.
I spoke on stage for 90 minutes and not one person walked out the door.
You can't achieve that even though you're the boss.
Do you know why?
Why?
A lot of the things I said in my speech were made up or copied
but the mental drive for advancement is genuine.
Every word comes from the heart and is unpretentious.
More importantly, I feel the same way they do.
Mental drive?
Nice words.
Mental drive.
But do you know what my employees talk about the most?
Mental breakdown. Isn't that strange?
I pay them to work.
What kind of mental breakdown are they worried about?
Qiu Dong, what is a mental breakdown?
That's your mental breakdown.
What are they looking at?
A drunk.
This is new. Bai's interview is in it.
[Bai Talks Literature: Interview with prominent literary critic, Bai Li Qin]
Look at this title. "Prominent literary critic."
I think your Bai's hairstyle is becoming so intriguing.
Whose is it like?
Goebbel's?
Why would your Bai say something like this?
Do you never learn? Why do you keep saying "your Bai"?
You make me sound like an old lady.
Actually, I don't like saying it either.
I think Bai shouldn't keep bringing up his illness.
He also mentioned it in his last interview.
It feels like he's begging for pity.
Let's talk about something else.
We watched your broadcast this afternoon.
Really? What did Bai have to say?
You care so much about what he thinks?
Isn't he a critic?
Can we eat here?
It's too expensive. How much were you paid?
A lot this time, 20,000 yuan.
Really?
Is that enough to pay rent?
More or less.
How's your thesis coming along? Did you pass?
I can't graduate. I failed too many times.
I checked with the school yesterday. I flunked five classes.
Let's eat here. It's Hunan. You both like spicy food.
Sure, pull over. I'll grab a private room and you can pick up Bai.
What's wrong?
Bai's illness...
has turned me into a chauffeur.
And duck blood in spicy soup.
Oh, and change the mandarin fish to bass.
Okay.
Put in the order but don't cook until everyone's here.
Okay.
Hello, this is Qiu Dong Recruitment Agency.
I am Agent 002.
How can I help you?
It's me. How were things today?
The same as usual.
I have good news.
So...
Yes, World Arcade in Zhongguancun needs 15 sales representatives.
It's through a referral by Manager Song's housemaid.
15! We'll be paid 120 yuan each.
15 will be... it'll be...
I got it.
Did the landlord come by?
He didn't come by, but he called.
He asked for the rent.
Do you know Lan Mei Mei left?
She left today without saying goodbye. She only sent a text message.
Left? She doesn't want this month's wages?
She said she's not holding out any hope, seeing as we can't even pay rent.
She said, "Boss is a clay Beddha fording a river. Can't even save himself."
Buddha! It's Buddha, not Beddha!
How can you have such an unfortunate life?
You don't even know who is watching over you!
How can that be, missy?
Your advisor must have been mistaken.
He must have mixed up Eagleton and Jameson.
Eagleton's arguments rely more heavily on the meanings behind historical incidents.
He has completely different concepts from
philosophers like Alain Badiou or Derrida.
Is that how it is?
Qiu Dong is waiting for you to tell him what you think.
Bai, Yi Ren said you watched my speech. What did you think of it?
Very good, very good.
Your current stage presence has reached a level of perfection.
You exude strong charisma.
You're now... larger than life.
However, there's one thing.
Wasn't the content a bit unrealistic?
CEO Sa wouldn't allow me to stick to reality.
He explicitly said to follow three things.
Exaggerated, melodramatic, and touching.
It had to be as sensational as possible.
All capitalists wish their employees could be like caged chickens
laying eggs without any rest.
He's just using you to keep the spotlight on them.
You wouldn't be here if you were so capable.
You'd be in airport bookstores speaking about success.
By the way, Zheng, my uncle owns a health and wellness store.
His store's grand opening is in two days.
Could you speak there?
Is it the type of job where I stand on stage to promote the opening?
He's really good at that. He does about 20 of those a year.
Qiu Dong, show them what you can do.
Don't do that. It's like putting on a monkey show.
How can you say that?
I'll just do a short one.
Customers, aunties and uncles who come by every day
and brothers and sisters who happened to pass by
our store has a special fall promotion on household appliances of all sizes.
From hand warmers, electric heaters, to central heating and air conditioning
we have everything you could possibly need.
This sale only lasts for three days, with up to 88 percent off.
We have all you need.
It's going to be a long winter.
Hurry in to Jiu Jiu Appliances
to pick out for you and your family a warm bathroom, romantic bedroom
and a living room that you won't need to be bundled up in!
- Come on in! - Excellent!
Zheng, your promotion will definitely be able to help my uncle's store.
I'm his manager. How much can your uncle pay?
You're really doing this?
Let's eat.
Bai.
It's getting late. I won't be coming in with you.
All right. Yi Ren, take Qiu Dong home. I'll go on in first.
That's okay. I can just catch a cab.
There aren't many taxis around here. Don't be so courteous with me.
Yi Ren?
I thought you stopped taking jobs where you stand and shout.
What's off limits when it comes to making money?
You're not destined to be wealthy. Don't be so stubborn.
When I first met you, you only cared about earning money.
- You're still the same now. - I'm not the same.
Back then--
Back then, I had dreams.
Dreams?
Did you?
What do you think?
I even had a girlfriend.
The years were like a knife, while I'm like dill.
Time is much too horrible.
You still remember.
Of course.
Of course I remember.
After these years of hard work...
My dreams have finally turned into dust.
My life sure turned out to be lousy.
Don't say that. Your life isn't over yet.
Keep at it.
There's still a long road ahead of you.
How did you get to be so eloquent now?
The words come out of you sound like you're reading a newspaper.
Now? Wasn't I before?
You didn't speak much in the past.
If you were good with words
would I call you Watanabe, the character in "Norwegian Wood"?
I remember.
I still haven't read that book.
Thank you for remembering.
Why would you say thank you?
I'm thankful I met you freshman year of college
and learned of so many things outside of school.
I just never expected that you would suddenly show up now.
I never thought I would see you again either.
Or that you and Bai...
Let's change the topic.
I had the song I mentioned to Bai recorded.
I'll tell the singer to send it to you now.
Who sang it?
A young guy who lives next door to me.
I don't believe he can sing well.
Don't say that. He does sing quite well.
Is there a better treatment option for Bai's bone cancer?
That type of cancer is more easily controlled in early stages.
The doctor said he's stable now.
That's good.
Is his name Xiao Liu?
You received it?
I got it.
"A Love Affair"?
That's an amusing song title.
Bai is my senior.
He's also well-connected.
There are some things I'm not sure how to bring up.
What is it?
Go ahead.
Can you help me ask him something? He has so many friends in business.
Is there any work I can do that will pay well?
Is there anything else?
That's it.
Qiu Dong.
If he finds a job for you, what will happen to your recruitment agency?
I'll close it down.
I should've closed it a long time ago.
This is 14,000 yuan. What about the advance payment?
How about next month, Qi?
Even if I pay you a little more, it wouldn't be enough.
I have several others relying on me.
All right, then. Next month.
S is for security and safety.
H.S. rest is for healthy and safe rest.
Our health and wellness store was opened for mothers and fathers.
You can now come in for free
to experience the world's most advanced Res micro-electrotherapy
for detection and recuperation.
Cures aches and pains in the back, prostate, or elsewhere
constipation, insomnia, and so on.
Detection and therapy for life.
Your happy homes will no longer be at senior activity centers
but at our healthy experience store.
Sons and daughters, we welcome you to bring your parents home!
It's absolutely free!
Welcome in!
All exams are free!
A full experience!
The world's most advanced high-tech therapy apparatus.
Absolutely high-tech!
You'll absolutely be the best children!
Best children...
Thank you so much. You did a great job.
You persuaded everyone to come in. That was no easy feat.
You're welcome, Uncle. As long as you're pleased.
[Receipt: 1,000 yuan]
Bastard.
How's it going, Zheng?
What did you tell your graduate student? How much does this job pay?
What's the matter? I told him CEO Sa gave you 20,000 yuan.
I said to have his uncle be generous as well.
How much did he give you?
Only 2,000 yuan! Are they messing with me?
It is a bit little.
But it's enough to get by.
Not everyone can be as foolish as CEO Sa.
What does that mean? Am I not worth the money?
This guy gave me 1,000 yuan cash
all in 10 yuan bills.
It was sealed up so I couldn't see
but felt like a deceptively thick stack.
He even gave me a box of health supplements from 2006
with a receipt that showed 1,000 yuan.
So the total comes out to be 2,000 yuan. Who does that?
Absolutely shameless.
Where's that idiot graduate student of yours? Let me talk to him!
I'll throw this garbage in his face!
Absolutely ridiculous.
Zheng, don't be mad. I will give him a tongue-lashing for you.
Is your uncle a miser?
My uncle said that's the price this job is worth.
I'm going back to the dorm tonight.
Isn't it noisy there?
Nobody's there anymore. I'll be alone.
Okay.
["Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami]
Long hair, tendrils of loneliness
as if you are gazing at me.
Reminiscing recounts ["A Love Affair"]
eyes resembling the clouds.
Nepal is so far away, and just for cordyceps?
Do you have to go? [Beijing man smuggled cordyceps in Nepal]
Do you know how much a kilogram of cordyceps goes for in Hong Kong?
In a few years, it'll all have been harvested.
The girl I await
her crystal-clear silhouette translucent and sparkling helplessly.
This love affair, past and present.
No matter how shattered the clarity, a moment to turn round waits ahead.
[Zheng Qiu Dong]
Hey.
How come you're quiet?
Weren't you going to bed early?
The song your neighbor wrote is quite amusing.
Have you seen that girl?
No, there's no such girl. She's just from his imagination.
I don't think I'm like Watanabe at all.
Really? You're reading it?
If you say so.
Where's Bai?
You're being cautious for nothing.
Aren't you tired?
I'm at the school dorms.
I'm transferring tomorrow and there are a bunch of formalities to go through.
There's a kebab place by the north gate of your school. Is it still open?
I don't know. I've never been.
You live so close but you've never been there?
Do you like the song?
I do.
You still like eating shish kebabs?
The food isn't important. It's the company that matters.
I found it. Chi Ji Skewer Bar is still open.
Is it?
It's so late. You shouldn't come.
By the time you get here, they might be closed.
No, it's only 10 p.m. right now. They're open until 1 a.m.
Really?
You've been back for over three months. How come you suddenly called today?
I found a book at the bottom of my closet today.
It's a book you gave me freshman year of college.
My bookmark was only three pages in.
I felt I needed to keep reading.
Take your time reading.
Is it fun running a recruitment agency?
You're asking about that?
No, it's not. It's nothing glamorous.
Do you know about headhunting agencies?
I've heard of them.
They specialize in recruiting high-quality talent for big corporations.
I originally wanted to slowly expand to the scope of a headhunting firm.
That's not happening.
I can't even support myself anymore.
Back then, you and Bai--
If there's nothing to talk about, let's just sit in silence.
This school gave me many dreamlike memories.
All this time, I've refused to admit I was a fool.
You know how foolish I was.
I don't know.
I just know you don't understand women.
Was that a sore spot?
I'm full of sore spots.
It's a sore spot no matter what the topic is.
Luo Yi Ren, I can tell you it's not that I don't understand women.
I was merely too ignorant in the past.
I never truly thought about what women meant to me.
Women aren't just companions.
They can smooth out my rough edges.
In short, women can change my life.
That is what I realized when I had no women in my life.
When it comes to you
I understood this a bit late.
Having missed my chance means I lost you.
There's nothing I can say. It's my own fault.
Fortunately...
Fortunately, there is a future.
In the future, I won't miss another chance.
Do you have regrets?
My insides are curling with regret.
Do you still remember the first movie we watched together?
According to popular mockery
liberal arts girls have a good memory for sappy past events.
"Chungking Express"?
Do you still remember that quote?
"If memories are to be canned, I hope this can won't expire."
"If there must be an expiration date, I hope it will be in 10,000 years."
That's why I'm full of regret.
Have you always regretted it or only after you returned?
Always.
It's just that I later found out you and Bai were together.
I couldn't face it.
Expressing love is a difficult thing to do.
You always seem to be slacking off.
I still don't know how to express love, much less confess.
I think my dad was the same.
I have his genes. I can't change anything.
When I like someone, she becomes my everything.
But I just don't know how to tell her.
I keep it inside and wait forever.
That's pathetic.
We're about the same.
- Just as pathetic? - Just as lazy.
We don't like to express ourselves.
I really like this part.
This love affair, the girl I await.
Her crystal-clear silhouette translucent and sparkling helplessly.
- There's a feeling of wild abandon. - This love affair...
Past and present.
It's like a dream.
It's not like a dream.
It's within reach.
Are you sure?
We can try.
What about Bai?
What?
I want to hug you.
Right here?
I'm going upstairs.
I'll go up with you.
No.
I'll leave after a bit.
The supervisor won't allow it.
Fine, fine.
We can see each other tomorrow.
Bye.
Hi, Ma'am.
What are you doing?
Hey, young man! Stop there. This is the girl's dormitory.
I'm helping her move.
Oh, save it. It's past 1 a.m.
You'll hurt your back moving things at this hour.
Leave, leave.
Where are you going?
Bai Li Qin keeps saying
he doesn't want to be a burden on me.
He says I can leave him when I want.
When he says that, you don't know what to do.
Actually, before you returned...
He and I already had issues.
I've thought about breaking up with him.
If I had just bit the bullet and broke up with him
this would be fair for everyone.
You wouldn't be stuck in the middle now, feeling awkward.
This sort of situation is bound to be awkward.
Cold-blooded.
What?
Wasn't that woman Cold-Blooded of the four famous dorm guards?
How come she still hasn't retired?
Cold-blooded has already retired.
That's Heartless.
Heartless is better than awkward.
Boss, how come you're so early?
I'm going to nap for a bit.
Can you even understand this?
Of course, Watanabe.
That's all, then, Mr. Bai.
As I said, we'll continue to observe.
Okay, thank you.
Let's go.
Let's go back to the studio together.
I have something to do back at the school.
Here are the car keys.
Let's have lunch tomorrow, then.
Don't stay up late anymore. Look at the bags under your eyes.
What were you about to say?
I'm not sure yet.
I don't know how to say it.
Take your time. You can tell me later.
Subtitles by DramaFever