(My True Friend)
(Episode 31)
Look at this.
The ratio of apartments for youth...
in 13 of the main cities in the US to 30...
Isn't it too long?
You know,
the words have to be concise.
When you talk to the directors,
you have to be succinct.
Otherwise, they won't get you.
You know, I think...
Isn't that the interview you did with me?
An apartment with a childcare center, as well as social welfare.
Have a look. How is it?
I'm planning to get resources from the headquarters.
You have my support.
Hurry and get the project going.
Then he and I...
I'll be the first to apply for it.
With an apartment like this,
who'd still buy houses?
Being a yes-man just to buy a house,
it's just not worth it.
You know,
you're really our target client.
Don't worry, she'll handle this for you then.
- Okay. - I'll handle it.
Then take your time.
I'll go get you some ice cream.
- Thank you. - All right, thank you.
We got our target client.
Yes.
How do we change this? This project.
I think what he's referring to...
is the relationship...
between different levels of income...
and the existence of apartments for youth.
The ratio of apartments for youth...
in 13 of the main cities in the US...
to the people in the age group of 20 to 40,
and the relationship of the increase in income...
- Look. - of the white-collar group.
The relationship between per capita income growth.
Which means to say...
that the higher level of income, the more they're willing to rent.
Is that it? No wonder I want to buy an apartment.
Stop messing around.
All right. The higher the income, right?
I think it has to reflect the age group, right?
Yes, I think so.
Thank you, Ms. Luo.
For giving me a ride.
I'll get going.
As for the money,
I'll send it over tomorrow.
It's nothing much. Don't worry.
Thank you.
Hold on.
This is for you.
You want me to give it to Shao Peng Cheng?
I... At this hour,
Peng Cheng should still be at the office.
Why don't you take it to him?
This is for you.
I'm not giving it to Shao Peng Cheng.
I can't accept this.
Shao Peng Cheng...
He doesn't appreciate what I give him.
Why should I spend money and upset myself?
Who is he? You'll look great in it.
This is too expensive.
I can't have it.
Just take it.
If you don't take it,
you'll hurt my feelings.
All right then.
I'll keep it for Peng Cheng.
Just take it.
Here are two more.
All right, Ms. Luo. Thank you.
I'll get going.
All right, bye-bye.
- Stay safe. - All right.
Sir, give me two ice creams.
All right.
Bye-bye.
Hey, why did you leave so quickly?
You should have treated me to a bowl of wanton.
Sure.
When the report for the headquarters...
is completed,
I'll buy you some.
It's a promise then.
Xi Shan.
Where did she go?
Xi Shan.
Are you still angry?
Didn't I explain things last night?
Have you been standing here the whole night?
Xiao Ning.
I thought about it the whole night.
I wondered...
if I'm just a burden to you here in Shanghai.
What are you talking about?
I couldn't be happier that you came to Shanghai.
Why would you think so?
I also wondered...
if it would be better for you to date Ms. Luo.
No.
I only have you in my heart.
I don't have any feelings...
for her at all.
I know.
I have given you a lot of pressure after I came to Shanghai.
I should be more understanding.
But every time I see you...
be so attentive to her,
I feel really upset.
I'm sorry.
I tell myself every day...
that I have to work harder.
Because I haven't been working hard enough.
Because I didn't come from a rich family.
I don't have connections either.
So I can only depend on myself to fight for things.
So that I can give you a better life.
A better life.
A better life is not about earning more money.
Or living in a bigger house.
It's about both of us being humble...
and taking things step by step.
I never asked that you work so hard.
You don't give me any sense of security.
But I am a man.
I can't allow my girlfriend to keep living in a place like this...
for the rest of our lives.
Cold in the winter, and wet in the summer.
Do you feel safe in a place like this?
And so just because you want to earn more money,
you're all right to curry favour with the clients...
and make me feel bad?
You're making me feel like I'm the third party.
Zhen Zhen.
It's the weekend. Why are you up this early?
What's the matter?
I just wanted to buy you a meal.
Sit down.
We're eating here?
This place is great.
Have a seat.
When I was still in school,
I used to come here twice a week. Thank you.
Thank you.
Have a seat.
Okay.
Thank you.
- Enjoy your meal. - Thank you.
Here.
Try some.
Zhen Zhen.
You said you're free today. Why didn't you tell me earlier?
It was last-minute.
The company said there's nothing on today.
What's the matter?
If you had told me earlier,
I'd have prepared something.
We're both so busy at work.
Since we had the time to meet up,
we could have found somewhere...
with a better environment, right?
Trust me. This place is good.
Try it. Quickly.
I'm not very hungry.
Actually, I came from an ordinary family,
and I'm a real estate agent with a boring life.
This is how I live.
And this is the place where I usually eat.
What's the matter?
Why are you telling me these?
Ms. Bai showed me an interview...
about your ideal partner.
I feel like I'm not the ideal woman...
that you're looking for.
All right.
If you don't like it here, let's go somewhere else.
No.
It's not that I don't like it here.
Zhen Zhen.
I'll take you somewhere.
Let's go.
You know I'm a night owl,
but you still asked me out this early.
Are you trying to kill me?
But coming out at this hour...
is pretty refreshing.
Have some breakfast. It's good for you.
Ms. Luo.
I'm returning this 1,000 dollars.
Thank you for yesterday.
You have helped me and Xi Shan a lot.
You're at it again.
I told you that it's not urgent.
And besides, you could have transferred the money to me.
I feel like it's still better to thank you in person.
Also,
I have something to discuss with you.
I knew there was something going on.
Tell me.
Have a drink first.
All right, just tell me.
Let me ask you a question, Ms. Luo.
You said you're smart and beautiful.
You have a good personality, and you're rich.
Shao Peng Cheng and you...
grew up together.
But why is Shao Peng Cheng...
always following Zhen Zhen around?
And why does he like her so much?
Shao Peng Cheng is blind and doesn't know what's good for him.
What else could it be?
I'll be honest. Don't be angry.
Stop beating around the bush.
I think Cheng Zhen Zhen has her own merits.
She's hardworking and most importantly,
she's self-reliant.
Are you trying to say...
that I'm just lazing around and doing nothing?
That I am dependent on my family?
No, no, no.
I understand...
that you're smart and capable.
But your family is so rich...
that you don't have to work.
When it comes to hard work,
if you even try to work a little harder,
you'll easily...
beat the other ladies.
Fu Xiao Ning, what is it that you're trying to say?
What I'm saying is, you have the capital.
It's so easy for you to earn money.
Why don't you...
make use of this advantage...
and prove to Shao Peng Cheng your worth?
Do you know how hard it is to make money?
I only know how to spend money.
I have never thought of making money.
There are many opportunities to make money.
It's just that you never paid notice.
For example, investing in houses in suburban Shanghai.
For instance, Song Jiang District.
A two-room apartment in Song Jiang...
costs about 145,000 dollars.
Buy one and then sell it in half a year's time.
It's not difficult to earn 20 to 30 percent profit.
But you're so rich,
you shouldn't just buy only one.
You don't have to buy much, just one unit.
Wait for a year or so, then sell it.
Earning 20 to 30 percent profit...
won't be a problem.
Wait a minute.
You have been going on and on.
If I agree to invest,
how does it benefit you?
It's quick money.
But it can also be cumbersome.
For example, looking at properties.
It's a tough job.
A rich princess like you...
shouldn't be going around by yourself.
And there are also complicated procedures.
I'm a real estate agent,
I can do these things for you.
I get it.
So you're advising me to invest in property,
so that you can earn the commission.
No, no, no.
I'm not getting a commission.
We're a partnership.
You invest, and I do the work for you.
If you don't make any money, I don't get anything.
But when you do,
I'll get 30 percent of it.
I understand what you mean.
But my dad told me before...
that no matter what a man says,
I can't invest in him.
You're not investing in me.
I'm helping you make money,
as well as for myself too.
Let me think about it.
I was actually afraid you'd turn me down.
Shao Peng Cheng has told me before...
that I'm just lazing around and doing nothing.
I want to prove him wrong.
Also, we have known each other...
for some time already.
During this period of time,
I've seen that you're a hardworking person.
I also see your drive today.
You're different from those who have come to me.
Thank you, Ms. Luo.
I hope you'll consider it.
I won't disappoint you.
But honestly,
when it comes to investing in property,
it's all about the timing.
You shouldn't miss the timing.
It's been a long time since I've been here.
It hasn't changed.
Yes.
Do you still remember...
that every weekend, there'd be a dance party here?
Yes.
Do you remember when we first met?
I was standing there...
watching you dance.
You looked like a white swan...
dancing on the stage back then.
A white swan?
So Zhen Zhen,
don't doubt yourself.
No matter what you look like,
you're always perfect in my heart.
I don't think I'm perfect at all.
I have a lot of imperfections.
I lead an ordinary life.
I work an ordinary job.
But I feel its value.
Zhen Zhen.
There are many ways to reflect values.
Here, sit down.
Zhen Zhen, let me tell you a story.
I have never told anyone about it.
When I was in fourth grade,
my dad fell ill and passed away.
Back then, my mom...
couldn't take the blow.
She lied in bed for a whole month.
Whenever I get back home from school every day,
I'd cook noodles for both my mom and myself.
One day,
which was a month later,
my mom came back to her senses.
She told me,
"Son, you can't have noodles every day."
It's not nutritious.
From then on,
my mom worked hard to live her life.
I was her world.
She did her best at everything.
So that we could live the same life...
as when my dad was still around.
Ever since I was young,
I studied very hard...
and I worked really hard.
I was very demanding on myself.
I hoped that whatever I do,
I would do it impeccably.
So I have always hoped...
for a complete and warm family.
I hope that when I get home every day,
I can see my loved one...
every single minute and second.
I know and I admit that...
this idea...
is not very modern.
But...
but this is really...
my ideal family.
Jing Ran.
Since I was young,
I have always been an independent and strong person.
After graduating from Chengji University,
it was my wish to stay in Shanghai...
to continue working hard.
I have changed jobs countless times.
I have been negated. And I have been fired.
There were times when things got really difficult,
but I never gave up.
And I never thought of giving up.
I hope that I can prove myself...
by working hard.
I have ideals and burdens.
I want to do what I like to do.
I understand what you have just told me.
But I ask that you understand me as well.
I do.
I really do.
But that's because you were alone.
Now you have me. We're together.
I really don't wish to see you...
experience that again. Trust me.
I'll take care of you, all right?
But Jing Ran...
Bai Lun.
Recently, many of our outstanding...
employees and managers at my company, Love and Family,
have left for other companies through you.
I see that they're doing quite well.
Well,
it's the job of a headhunter.
But honestly.
Now,
there are companies who wish for us to headhunt Mr. Mu.
Your capabilities are well-known.
Have you considered...
joining other companies for better prospects?
Mr. Mu.
I don't really agree with something you said earlier.
What?
You said, "my company, Love and Family".
"My" doesn't seem to be the right choice of word.
Love and Family belongs to Shao.
Previously,
Mr. Sun, the director of Song Shi Real Estate,
looked for us.
He wishes that Mr. Mu can join them.
Besides, Mr. Sun is very generous.
He said that as long as Mr. Mu is willing to join them,
you'd be the Deputy Chief.
Your salary will definitely be no lower than what you have now.
And you'll get five percent of the equity.
Equity. Not options.
Oh, right, he also said...
that you'll definitely get a bonus at the end of the year.
Mr. Sun thinks too highly of me.
Mr. Mu, think about it.
Once you have shares in hand,
your identity will be different.
You'll be a senior staff and a shareholder.
It's a huge difference.
Thank you, Bai Lun.
Thanks for your kindness.
But I have been working at Love and Family...
for the past 20 years.
And I have been working for Mr. Shao for over ten years.
I'm already attached to Love and Family, as well as Mr. Shao.
I cherish everything I have now.
Well,
does that mean you're rejecting us?
Or are you judging the situation and waiting for the right offer?
It's all right.
If you have any opinions or conditions,
you can tell me.
I can convey it to Mr. Sun.
I have gotten used to Love and Family.
And I'm over 40 years old now.
I don't want to challenge myself in a change of environment.
Say, Mr. Mu.
You sound like you're making an excuse.
I heard that recently,
you have worked personally...
on a huge project, a real estate development.
And you're full of confidence in entering a new era...
with Love and Family.
How could you say you're old...
and don't want challenges?
How did you know?
The industry is too small.
There are no longer secrets.
Here.
All right, Mr. Mu.
I know you're very busy.
Why don't we end here today?
Let's meet up again sometime soon.
- All right. - Okay.
If you change your mind,
you can call me anytime.
Goodbye.
See you.
I knew you were here all along.
But I was with my friend, so I couldn't come over.
Why are you eating alone?
I'm too lazy to cook alone at home.
So I thought I'd come here for a simple meal.
But I didn't expect...
to see a headhunter talking to my boss.
He's not headhunting me.
We're just friends having a meal together.
You know Bai Lun too?
You don't have to be so anxious.
It's normal that headhunters look for you,
especially someone as talented as you.
I know him.
I have talked to him before about career planning...
before you transferred me to Hua Yuan Store.
Why didn't you tell me?
Based on that alone,
when I transferred you to Hua Yuan Store,
you could've stated your conditions.
It was my own choice not to go to Hong Shi.
Staying in Love and Family and transferring to Hua Yuan Store...
has benefited me a lot too.
How is it?
His standards aren't low.
Do you feel particularly stressed out?
I raised him very strictly.
I asked too much of him.
Therefore, any common girl can't be of his liking.
I think that you...
In terms of the standards that Jing Ran has set,
you somewhat fall short of it.
Of course, it's not by much.
It's just a little bit.
I'm not very hungry.
Jing Ran.
The distance between us...
isn't small.
You asked if I liked the real you.
But I'd like to ask you,
is the one you love...
the real me?
Hello. I'm about to go and report to the headquarters.
Aren't you going to give me a few words of encouragement?
You have been rehearsing a lot for our project.
I believe you will succeed.
I'll wait for your good news at the office.
There are two reasons for the meeting today.
Firstly, I'm going to introduce to everyone...
Mr. Jing Ran,
the interior designer that our company has headhunted.
I'm not done speaking.
Mr. Jing...
just came back from Italy not long ago.
Today is his first day of work...
at Love and Family.
Thank you.
Please give me your guidance.
Mr. Jing,
we have all heard about you.
It's Love and Family's honour...
to have you join our company.
Thank you for your compliment.
I heard...
Yun Ping and Lie Pin...
put in so much effort to hire you.
It was tough on you, Yun Ping.
No, it wasn't.
The most important thing is that we got him on board.
All right.
Now, for the second matter...
For the second matter,
everyone knows that Peng Cheng has been training as an employee.
I think everyone is aware of it.
Recently, he's shared with me...
some ideas on the rental market.
I think it's pretty interesting.
So I told him to come up with a proposal.
He'll talk about it next, all right?
All right. All right.
Then I'll begin.
Please give me your guidance.
The project is called Big Love City.
This is an idea...
that I came up with recently.
In modern society,
buying a house...
is something that worries most ordinary families.
The purpose of this project...
is to avoid the status quo of having to buy a house.
We're not buying houses. We're renting.
Big Love City...
is an apartment on a long-term lease.
Say, Xiao Shao...
has been there for so long. I wonder how it went.
Ms. Zeng.
It's the first time that we have seen you...
so concerned.
Looks like Xiao Shao, I mean,
Shao Peng Cheng is different.
What do you mean?
Don't you all know?
Well, actually,
I don't mean anything else.
What I mean is...
you don't have to worry for Xiao Shao.
He'll definitely succeed with his proposal.
Even if he succeeds, the credit goes to him.
It has nothing to do with our office.
Even if he fails,
he just needs a bit more experience.
But sooner or later,
Xiao Shao will succeed.
Don't worry, Ms. Zeng.
Shao Peng Cheng is very well prepared this time around.
I have never seen him...
become so serious about work before.
I think...
he'll likely be successful.
I think he really put in a lot of work.
I have faith in him.
Xi Shan.
Xi Shan, what are you thinking about?
Why haven't we seen Fu Xiao Ning today?
Aren't you going around with Fu Xiao Ning?
Xi Shan.
Did something happen?
Nothing.
What I have talked about...
is the current state of affairs of the rental market in our country,
as well as national policies...
and what the younger generation thinks about housing consumption.
And also, the four major impacts...
undertaking this project...
of long-term lease and an apartment for youth...
will have on our enterprise.
Thank you.
The project, Big Love City,
is just an undeveloped idea by Peng Cheng.
So all of you here...
should give him your opinions and suggestions...
to help him complete this.
Chairman, I think...
Peng Cheng has justified his case well.
And it's very comprehensive.
This project...
has enlightened us, the older generation.
Yes, Love and Family...
has been in the traditional rental business...
for many years.
We have been trying to look for a breakthrough.
That's why we have planned...
to enter the first-hand real estate market.
Peng Cheng studied abroad for many years.
Your visions are certainly different.
In recent years,
the country has come up with various policies...
to restrict purchases.
If we still go ahead...
and enter the first-hand real estate market right now,
I think it's certainly not very wise.
But the rental model that Peng Cheng...
came up with seems to have better prospects.
How about this?
The few of you young people,
get out of the room,
while the rest of us...
discuss it, okay?
Where's Fu Xiao Ning?
He's not here. Why are you here?
Ms. Luo, Fu Xiao Ning is out.
If you want to buy an apartment...
or rent one,
any one of us here can help you.
It's fine.
I'm going to do business with Fu Xiao Ning.
Cheng Zhen Zhen.
I have the capital,
the connections,
and the brain.
When it comes to being independent,
why would I lose to you?