China’s stock market experiences significant fluctuations, but informal financing activities, such as reverse mortgages, corporate internal fundraising, and crowdfunding for TV dramas, remain highly active. Investment always comes with both opportunities and risks. News outlets warn the public to safeguard their finances. However, in Puhang City, many companies aggressively push citizens to mortgage their homes.
Xie Linhui, the chief editor of Zhongshang Wave’s finance section, goes undercover at Dingfeng International, posing as a job applicant. From her handler, Manager Sun, she learns valuable information and even witnesses a university professor signing a contract. This company operates by investing funds from elderly individuals’ mortgaged properties and using the returns to pay their pensions, claiming no deception in the process. As for the staff, they are reassured they’ll earn comfortable commissions.
Xie Linhui remains skeptical about the risks, questioning the consequences of financial losses. Manager Sun confidently asserts that losses are impossible. Using a hidden camera inside her bag, Xie Linhui records her interactions with Manager Sun and the company’s operations.
Meanwhile, investment manager Jiang Yidi of Yuxiang Investments learns that industry veteran Xiao Yue is shifting his investment focus toward the healthcare sector. Jiang has repeatedly failed to meet with Director Meng of Renxin Hospital. So, he devises a clever plan during an upcoming conference. He has his driver circle around until Xiao Yue and Director Meng coincidentally cross paths at the venue. Jiang seizes the opportunity, handing Xiao Yue a business card while his assistant escorts Director Meng inside. Jiang convinces Xiao Yue to attend the seminar, leaving him pleased with the arrangement.
Workplace Tensions
Xie Linhui misses an important interview scheduled by her company due to her undercover investigation. The company president is furious and summons her for a reprimand. However, Xie Linhui, deeply committed to her journalistic principles, defends her decision. She argues that she isn’t a celebrity and has no need to partake in promotional interviews; her job is to chase real news.
It’s well-known in the office that the president prioritizes management, while the chief editor focuses on content, leading to frequent disagreements between the two. Xie Linhui refuses to engage in superficial tasks, holding firm to her integrity.
In her leadership role, Xie Linhui values professionalism and competence. When team member Wu You, who has connections but lacks skills, fails to perform, Xie Linhui unflinchingly fires her. She insists on accountability within her team, believing irresponsible people cannot succeed in journalism.
Family Dynamics
Xie Linhui’s husband, Zhou Hang, returns from a business trip to find out she went undercover at a fraudulent company. Concerned, he questions her decision, but Xie Linhui explains it was unavoidable due to Wu You’s last-minute withdrawal. Zhou Hang, a workaholic himself, empathizes with her challenges. Despite their busy lives, their relationship remains stable and understanding. That evening, they head to Xie Linhui’s mother’s house for dinner.
Zhou Hang arrives early and helps in the kitchen, earning praise as the “perfect son-in-law.” Xie Linhui’s stepfather, Uncle Chang, works in government but is nearing retirement. He advises Xie Linhui to reconsider her career, warning that once he retires, she may face challenges without his indirect protection. Zhou Hang also hopes to leverage Uncle Chang’s connections for his own career, which irks Xie Linhui.
To cheer her up, Zhou Hang takes her out for drinks after dinner. However, Xie Linhui remains upset, not because of the earlier conversation but due to the looming possibility of being replaced at her company. Officially, the reasoning is the organization’s push for a younger workforce, but Xie Linhui knows the real motives run deeper. Zhou Hang sees this as an opportunity, suggesting she take a break and rethink her future. After all, print media is in decline, and her 15-year tenure at Zhongshang Wave could naturally transition into a new chapter.
First Impressions
The episode sets the tone for an intriguing mix of professional ethics, personal dilemmas, and industry realities. Xie Linhui emerges as a determined and principled character, ready to challenge corporate and societal issues despite the personal cost. This dynamic start promises a captivating story arc blending investigative drama with emotional depth.
