Subtitles by DramaFever
[The Way We Were]
[Episode 20]
This is VP of Hualong Group's North American headquarters, Tony.
This is Shu Che, CEO and founder of Field Technology.
You're quite talented. It's nice to meet you.
- Thank you. - And this...
President Cheng's daughter, and Weiye's future successor.
I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you.
Please call me Miao Ying.
Let's sit and talk.
First, I'd like to thank you guys for taking an interest in my company.
However, we currently only have a handful of employees.
Such a widespread upgrade should be left to
a team that specializes in large-scale OA upgrades.
The core of their job focuses on office automation software...
and helping companies establish a unified, collaborative OA environment.
For example, Fanwei and Zhiyuan in China.
My company is small, and we aren't fully-equipped yet.
We likely won't be able to accomplish this task.
You can outsource the tasks beyond your abilities to other companies.
What Hualong needs is a trustworthy contractor.
Due to the nature of their business...
they're not familiar with the tech industry.
Tony doesn't know which software companies are good are which are bad.
That's why they're looking for a team to be a dedicated gatekeeper for them.
This team has to be one that Hualong can trust.
So Shu Che, you're the prime candidate.
Frank has expressed all of my sentiments.
I must first do my research and choose a company
that's trustworthy and holds significant shares of the market.
Upgrading OA systems can get complicated
and will require the efforts of more than one company.
Hualong hasn't been able to find a leader
familiar with every component of this job.
But thankfully, Frank introduced me to you.
You don't need to worry about the extent of your company's capabilities.
To put it bluntly, we're not looking for a team that can do everything.
We're looking for an engineering supervisor.
Although of course, we'd like to sign a one-on-one contract with you.
We don't want to deal with too many parties.
How much money you give them and how much you keep is none of our business.
We'll also send you a one-time payment to cover the upgrade fees.
That makes things easier for everyone.
Then let me discuss this with my team and draw up a feasibility report.
- I'll give you an answer afterwards. - Then I shall await your response.
Shu Che, Tony is being very sincere.
Hualong's faith in you comes from their faith in Weiye.
You should just accept the job and not think too much.
Even if you outsource the entire job, that won't be a problem.
I want to know if Mr. Cheng knows anything about this.
I mentioned it to him. He knows.
- What did he say? - He says it's a good thing.
If Field Technology and Hualong start working together...
it can be considered a founding gift from Weiye.
Outsourcing the entire job?
So I don't have to do anything?
That's like making money with my eyes closed.
Do you think I should take the job?
It's your company. You should decide.
You're not going to give me any opinions?
I have faith in your judgement.
But doesn't this thing concern your dad?
All the more reason for me not to give any input.
Because I know you don't like to do this kind of thing...
but you can make money.
And it's a gift from my dad.
It's a good thing.
Miao Ying.
I want you to know that some things are already underway.
And some things will inevitably happen.
I can't ask you to sacrifice even more for me and for the family business.
But at the very least, I hope you can keep your silence.
Let me introduce everyone to Xiao Qing, our legal advisor.
It's really nice to meet everyone.
This is William, you've met him.
- Hi. - This is Peng Yi.
This Robin, Xiao Wu, and my assistant, Annie.
- Hi. - They all have various jobs.
For example William, he's mainly in charge of HR.
Peng Yi is in charge of developing technology.
Marketing is Robin, and Annie is not only my assistant...
she's also our treasurer.
Xiao Wu's job is to take care of herself and everyone else.
- Roger that. - All right, let's get back to work.
Here, come with me.
You don't currently have to come into the office, but I left you a workspace.
This place has good lighting and there's good ventilation.
You're mainly in charge of drawing up and editing business contracts.
You'll also be following me to some business negotiation meetings.
The company is still in its startup phase, so we have no earnings yet.
Your starting salary is $2,000 per month. You can think about whether that's okay.
It's not a problem.
I've promised everyone that as soon as we start making money
I'll raise everyone's salaries.
Okay.
You should stop doing illegal work off-campus.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Do you need me to introduce the specials for you?
Waiter!
Is my order ready? Hurry up, hurry up!
Move faster, otherwise the customers will complain.
Okay.
Sorry, sorry! Sorry to keep you waiting.
Do you need me to introduce the specials for you?
Why does it take so long to order here? We've finished two pots of tea!
You guys are from China?
- What, do we look Japanese? - No, no! No, what I meant was...
You had to wait too long just now, right?
Why don't I let you beat me up?
Or... you can order first and then beat me.
- Let's order. - I'm so sorry, it's been crazy today.
What would you like?
[Alarm]
Mentor!
Kisses!
I knew you'd be here!
Sorry.
You're so easy to find, mentor.
- I knew you'd be here! - Keep your voice down!
You honor students are either at the library or on the way to the library.
Or at work, or on the way to work.
What do you need me for?
I came to see you today to ask for some guidance.
I want to know if I'm going in the right direction in life.
You want me to point you towards the right direction in life?
Are you serious?
Look, don't say it like that.
I really got an epiphany at that party.
I genuinely started feeling ashamed of my leisurely, expensive lifestyle.
I seriously thought about it, and I feel like in the 20-some years I've been alive
I haven't produced anything other than trash and bowel movements.
Are you laughing at me?
Your ridicule will become my motivation.
I'm not mocking you.
You're pretty adorable.
As a result of my ignorance, which makes it such a joke.
Considering all the things you just said, you're not that ignorant anymore.
Really?
You really think it's not too late for me to change?
You're like uncut jade. It's not too late to carve something out of you.
Really?
- Mentor, I love you! - This is the library, be quiet!
Then... how should I proceed?
What do you want to do?
I don't want to do anything.
What do you know how to do?
I don't know how to do anything.
- Well, then we can't keep going. - No! Let's start over.
Um...
I only know how to spend money. That's all I want to do.
There actually is a job where that's your main task.
It's called a buyer.
Lane Crawford! I'm a VIP there. I can do that.
Yeah, except being a buyer isn't as simple as just buying things.
First you have to turn into a professional buyer...
or open your own store.
And you wouldn't be shopping for yourself.
You'd be shopping for wealthy clients with particular tastes
who are fashion trendsetters and followers.
Also, you wouldn't be doing it for the sake of spending money, but earning it.
That changes things.
So it's not that simple.
You at least have to learn some professional buyer skills first.
How do I go about learning them?
You can go to a special school that trains you.
Then, how do I attend these schools?
Get a GED.
A GED?
I came here to avoid the Chinese college entrance exams.
You want me to take the American ones now? No way.
But how do you apply for schools without any test scores?
Are there any schools that you can just pay for and don't require exams?
They exist. Short-term training classes.
That sounds doable. I'll do that for a bit until I gain some skills
and then keep going until I'm an expert.
Hush, this is the library!
All right, all right.
[Xiao Qing]
I'm surprised you're calling me voluntarily.
Your sister told me about the things you said after I left the party that day.
I didn't say those things for your sake.
I said them for myself.
I'll remember those words. Thank you, Cheng Ran.
Actually in all the years I've been here...
I haven't had a single friend I could stand.
So I'm going to treasure our friendship.
Don't worry. I've thought things through.
Ning Ming, put that down. Immigration is coming. Hurry and go!
Everyone, listen up! Immigration is on their way to check everybody!
Get all your documentation ready and head to the front for inspection!
- Why haven't you left yet? - They blocked the back exit.
- Hello! Welcome. - Thank you.
Is he an employee here?
No, no! He's one of our customers.
- Customer. - Yes.
Okay.
I'm an immigration officer. Please come out.
Yeah, coming out, coming out!
- Come on, follow me. - Okay.
Hello everyone.
Does... Does he work here?
Sorry. He is one of our customers.
Yeah. I just finished eating and was about to leave after using the bathroom.
I see.
May I see your passport?
Thank you.
What table did you sit at?
Table nine.
Table nine...
Sir, let me see the bill for table nine.
Just a moment.
Table nine.
What did you eat?
Kungpao chicken...
Poached sliced beef in chili oil...
Poached sliced beef in chili oil.
Green beans with ground vegetables and meat.
Boiled cabbage.
Bamboo shoots with scallion.
And a dish of Meizhou fried rice.
Wow.
How can you eat all of this by yourself?
Is it illegal in America to have a good appetite?
No. Bon appetit!
- You may go now. - Thank you.
- See you. - Sorry, sorry!
Boss Hao, thanks for taking care of me these past few days.
You're really leaving?
Where are you going to go?
Not to mention it's so late now. Where are you going to sleep tonight?
I don't know.
Yeah... we can't have you working out front anymore.
- Can you drive? - Yeah.
Why don't you deliver food? You can just use my car.
Really?
Thanks boss!
Is this your car? Is this your car?
Yes, my car!
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
- I'm going to be late because of you! - I'm so sorry!
Look, you put your car there and now I'm going to be late.
Sorry, sorry! I'm so sorry, I'm leaving!
Tomorrow at five? Okay, I'll come by myself.
- Who was that? - Tony.
He wants to meet?
And he seemed to subtly imply that he wanted us to meet alone.
- Just you two? - Yeah.
I find it strange too. I wonder what he wants to discuss?
Why not go? See what he has to say.
Wasn't I going to shower? I have no idea why I came back out.
Please have a look.
- This is a contract. - Sorry. I'm less patient that you.
I don't have the patience to wait for your feasibility report and decision.
Thus, I decided to draw up a blanket contract.
Hualong's demands and plans are all included in it.
Here's the thing, our work is still in-progress.
We got in touch with a software management company called Hotspot.
The founder of this company is a senior of mine from Standord.
They've been around for three years and are well-known on the market.
They have over 100 employees.
As such, they possess the resources to handle your company's OA upgrades.
You want to introduce this Hotspot to me, right?
Except I told you before
that I don't want to communicate directly with any software company.
Then... I can bring them into Field Technology's plan.
At present, both our teams are coming up with a feasibility report
and an estimate for an overall budget.
We need their team's expertise in this industry's market.
The reality is they're more experienced. I'm also awaiting their budget results.
Because I truly can't predict how much such a large-scale upgrade will cost.
I'll let you in on something.
We're preparing to invest three million into this project.
I'll put a rush on this matter and prepare all the materials for you.
We can discuss things from there.
If your estimations surpass Hualong's predicted budget...
that's okay. You can add the extra into your report and contract.
We'll reimburse you.
What I mean is... it's not that it won't be enough, but that it's way too much.
You don't need to save money on our behalf.
Hualong wants the best. Materials, employees, and technology.
There are only two points in the contract regarding payment.
We get 80 percent after signing the contract.
The remaining 20 percent will be paid after the work is complete.
I personally think the other party is taking a huge risk like this.
They may not accept such terms.
I suggest changing it so that they pay in multiple installments as we progress.
They're the ones that came up with this payment method.
I'd thought these were our ridiculous terms.
They drew up this entire contract. I didn't change a single word of it.
That's strange.
This is my first time seeing a contract so biased towards the other party.
Well, all right. There's nothing to complain about then.
Then let's leave it at that. Our company will accept their terms.
Come in.
Shu Che.
I have the feasibility report ready for you.
I emailed it to you. Check it out when you're free.
Hotspot's team and I went through the calculations carefully
and we plan on asking for an investment of 1.5 million.
Of course, realistically, we'll be able to keep our budget within 1.1 million.
The remaining $400,000 will be profit for us and Hotspot.
We can each earn $250,000 in accordance with our agreed contract.
Okay. Then edit the $1.5 million estimate into the contract
and hand both that and the budget report to Tony.
Okay.
For efficiency purposes...
I've asked Hotspot's rep for this project to join us today.
Andy Cross.
Field Tech and Hotspot have worked together to come up with a work plan.
We've included precise calculations pertaining to every aspect of the job.
We have no objections to the contract.
However, we've changed the previously determined budget.
Please look it over.
[$1.5 million]
Let me have our lawyers take a look.
It's already noon. The company has prepared lunch for all of you.
Let's head downstairs to eat.
Please have a seat.
Our lawyers have finished looking over the contract.
We have no objections either to the report and calculations you've made.
President Shu, please have another look. If there's no issue, we can sign today.
[$3 million]
- Regarding the overall budget... - We have no objections.
- But... - It's settled.
$3 million... did you see this?
It's not like I'm blind, how could I not have seen it?
What's going on here?
Tony had it changed.
While we were having lunch.
Why did he double the estimated budget?
I have no idea.
So then Hotspot's and our profits from this project
will exceed $1.9 million.
That's insane.
Tony pulled me aside as we were heading out.
He told me that it wasn't necessary to report this to Hotspot.
That we should split the profits in accordance with our original agreement.
He also said that Hualong wouldn't be disclosing
the details of our contract with them to Hotspot.
They'll only be interacting with Hotspot on the technology front.
He told me not to worry about it.
So according to him, out of the $1.9 million we're earning...
we only need to give Hotspot $250,000, and the other $1.7 million is all ours?
That's right.
What are you thinking?
- Can I be honest here? - That's what I want.
This is Hualong covertly pandering to Miao Ying's dad.
It's also a founding gift from your father-in-law, right?
To a larger, more comprehensive software company, this is a huge opportunity.
They knew our team wasn't equipped for this, yet gave it to us anyway.
It's because of everyone's connections, right?
Connections...
Hey, Mom? I need your help with something.
I bought the wrong size for the stuff I got from Vipshop.
I just scheduled for an exchange with the deliveryman.
Remember to do it when he comes!
- Okay! - And bring it when you visit again!
You've learned to do exchanges now?
All right, I'll be your international delivery woman.
Thanks, Mommy!
Green Card?
What's up with you?
Come in.
I brought cake my sister made from scratch and this amazing wine.
- How about it? Let's drink some. - Why don't we talk in the bedroom?
Why... Why not the living room? The living room is great.
What in the world are you doing?
Are you trying to become a fashion editor?
I'm doing homework!
Homework? For what?
For school! Move it, I have to investigate this winter's fashion trends.
School? What school?
What school looking for death decided to take you in?
Are you trying to go for a Guinness world record of oldest graduate ever?
I said this to Mentor Xiao Qing.
All of your ridicule will become my motivation.
Xiao Qing became your mentor?
Yup. I'm her student now. Mocking me is mocking her.
Women flip 180 faster than the pages of a book...
You're... like a squad now?
So then what kind of school is this?
A year of training courses from a fashion school.
From this moment on, I'm slowly ambling my way towards
becoming a professional buyer.
Are you for real?
Let me tell you, I could only understand
a tenth of the professor's words in the first class.
I just realized that my English is only good for shopping and playing.
So I have to go back to language school to learn professional English!
I'm super busy now, and every night I have homework.
Do you need anything or not? If not, get the hell out of here!
You're really trying to make yourself a better person...
Of course. This is the only thing I've decided to do in my entire life.
What was the reason you wanted to improve again?
To turn into someone you loved so I could meet the better you.
Then why do I feel like I'm being ignored?
Because improving myself is so hard! It's harder than anything in the world!
I have to put all my effort into it.
I don't have the time to worry about whether you love me or not.
Do you need anything or not? I don't have time to waste chatting!
- Go already! - Wait, I'm really here for something.
Really! I have proper business.
Go on.
The second Shu Che's company opened, my dad gave him this insane freebie job.
Guess how much its net profit is?
Over a million dollars!
It's like my dad is trying to carry him up to the sky or something!
What does that have to do with you?
What does it have to do with me? My wind is carrying someone else into the sky!
I... I can't even get myself a little breeze to help me out.
What do you want to do then?
The wind has started up.
We have to create opportunities for ourselves to be carried with it.
We invest in Shu Che's company, become one of its original shareholders.
Wait for it to get huge, rich, and go on the market.
We do nothing except sit and wait for profit, then cash out and leave.
"We"?
"We" who?
You or me?
Is there a difference?
- Aren't you trying to divorce me? - We still have six months left.
During this time, let's first earn that easy money.
We can't let the opportunity to earn 300 to 400 percent cash back
just pass us by like that, right?
We have to hop on this favorable opportunity.
How much are you planning on having me invest?
It's important to be bold when looking forward.
Invest as much as you're capable.
How much are you investing?
I... I only get like $10,000 a month...
Right?
Basically, you have no money and want me to do the investing.
Then do the earnings count as mine or yours?
Ours.
How? Have you contributed at all?
Why can't I contribute? I can provide inside information and resources.
Besides, without me, who knows if Shu Che would let you be a shareholder?
He doesn't need any money right now. We're investing in an intangible asset.
Then... does this joint-investing have any effect on our divorce?
There's still six months to go. Let's discuss things then.
Then what happens if we divorce and we have to split our shares?
Then...
Then we'll put off the divorce.
What happened to your principles?
All my principles disappear in the presence of money.
Shouldn't you grab two glasses so we can celebrate?
[Vipshop app]
Hold on, so what about it?
Sorry, Vipshop just updated their stock. I have to go shop now.
You were just going to do homework. Now you're shopping?
Shopping is part of my homework!
You really chose a pleasurable career to pursue.
What do you know? Hurry and go, stop bothering me already!
Then it's a deal, okay? We can't let a money-making opportunity pass us!
Here, let's toast with coffee over the successful signing of the contract!
Excuse me, let me grab this call.
Say... do you think Shu Che is happy about this contract?
I think...
he's... not really.
Why, though?
Because he knows it's a handout from your dad.
It's just a personal favor.
He didn't earn it with his own skills.
But sometimes, personal favors are a part of doing business.
Right?
You don't agree.
I can only say...
whether I agree or not, it exists.
Whether I accept it or reject it, it won't disappear.
You and Shu Che are quite similar in this aspect.
Even if he can't change it, he's determined not to let it change him.
Subtitles by DramaFever