Original subtitles

"Bittersweet Love"

Where are you going?

I'm gonna take you to see quite the show.

(Episode 12)

The Year 1990.

It really was because of him?

No kidding.

I was in the office that day.

I saw his dad kneel begging the director.

Didn't work.

What he did crossed the line.

Lu Xiaofan never even messed with him.

Still, expelling him's way too harsh.

Don't let me see your face around here again.

All the stallholders here owe me fees, no exceptions.

Think you're hot stuff just 'cause you're in college?

And you got expelled.

Let's go.

Thanks.

I don't need your pity.

Shen Zhiqin.

I didn't tell my brother to hit you.

I never thought it'd go this far.

Get lost.

["Economic Outlooks"]

Shen Zhiqin.

Shen Zhiqin.

At least take the magazines back.

You're Zhiqin's classmate?

Mm-hmm.

Come in. Come in.

Hello, sir.

Put that down and get out.

Zhiqin...

You're always so hot-headed.

When will you ever learn?

Don't stoop to his level.

You're the first classmate to visit Zhiqin.

You're a good kid for that.

What's your name?

Now you're ashamed of yourself?

You didn't care about shame

when you fought and bullied others?

Sir.

My name is Lu Xiaofan.

Back in the day, Zhiqin

always had excellent grades.

I don't know why

he failed the college entrance exam.

Back when colleges were expanding junior-college enrollment.

That year,

I got my leg crushed by a truck.

The payout was just enough for his tuition.

And you know college

is full of rich kids.

Zhiqin

is prideful,

always needs nice clothes.

He had no money, so he sold magazines for work.

Xiaofan.

Do not stoop to Zhiqin's level.

He just hates looking bad.

Zhiqin...

He is not a bad person.

I hope you

can come visit Zhiqin more often.

I will. Uncle.

Uncle. Xiaofan.

You've misunderstood me.

I couldn't possibly take your money.

Who asked for your charity?

I'm just paying for the magazines.

I don't need your pity.

Xiaofan.

So?

Did I stand up for you okay?

Lüqing was never this flashy during his time at school.

Lu Xiaofan.

Can you stop dragging junk in the building?

Xiaofan.

There is another cardboard box over there.

During those years at school,

Lu Xiaofan was always scraping together money.

But he knew

this help was just a drop in the bucket

for Shen Zhiqin.

All he could do was keep Shen Zhiqin's father company,

even if they only talked.

Lu Xiaofan, are you ever gonna stop?

Can't you just buzz off?

Oh, Zhiqin.

You're the one who won't stop. Dad.

He's just here to gloat.

You've already won, Lu Xiaofan.

We're not from the same world.

I know.

You don't need to humiliate me like this.

Sit down.

Xiaofan has had such a tough life.

Lu Xiaofan is one of those people in this world.

The point of their existence

is not purpose,

nor grand meaning,

but simply to be alive.

So

who knows, I may wind up

back in my mountain village.

Don't you hate Bei Lüqing?

Don't you hate the Bei family?

The first priority is to survive,

afterwards one can strive to live a good life.

So tell me, how is one supposed to survive,

and then build a good life?

Zhiqin.

Zhiqin.

I know you've been slipping the old man money

for his medicine.

But it's not your responsibility.

I didn't know it was bone cancer.

You never told me.

What if

there's another way?

Zhiqin.

What are your plans now?

You were right.

China's future lies in its economy.

I believe you.

So I plan

to sell this ancestral home

and go make my mark.

This house is all you've got left.

And you're going to sell it?

I will make something of myself.

What I want,

I have to earn myself.

Xiaofan, come on in, take a seat.

This guy doesn't even have an account.

Why read stock papers all day long?

"Securities"

Hello?

Xiaofan, it's me.

Got a minute?

Yeah, yeah, of course.

Lost again?

No losses this time.

It's still climbing.

I don't know whether to sell.

You didn't pour all your cash into it, did you?

Mm-hmm.

Maybe I'll sell some to cover rent.

Rice is due for a rally.

Rice is going up?

Wheat will probably follow suit.

I've seen that in the papers lately too.

I think it still has room to rise.

Stick with it.

Your address hasn't changed, right?

I'll mail you an IOU.

That's really not necessary.

Keep the IOU safe.

I will definitely pay you back.

You finally showed up.

Hey.

Xiaofan.

This is your fiancé Bei Lüqing's

brother-in-law.

Hello.

I'm Bei Lüqing's

brother-in-law.

Over the years,

Shen Zhiqin's career has blossomed.

After Xiaofan moved to Lingang,

he thrived in the securities market

behind Bei Lüqing's back.

What's going on? Had to be in person?

Lovers' quarrel?

If Bei Lüqing finds out you've been seeing me...

Li Wenxi...

Did he go to your firm today?

Li Wenxi is teaming up with Lu Tao

to take over Bei Lüqing's interests.

You'd spill this to me that easily?

They only floated the idea today.

I would've told you anyway.

I know what I owe you, Lu Xiaofan.

Maybe I shouldn't have told you.

I figured you must hate Bei Lüqing.

Now that I've told you, this'll weigh on you.

The choice is yours.

If you hate that man, keep quiet about it.

If you don't hate him,

go tell him Li Wenxi's out to get him.

I don't hate him.

But I

really wish I could hate him.

I even wish he hated me too.

Then don't tell him.

But...

Li Wenxi can't take down my brother,

even with Lu Tao on his side.

Don't put Bei Lüqing on a pedestal.

Li Wenxi has capital,

and he plays dirty.

Why can't he take down Bei Lüqing?

Just wait till Bei Lüqing is broke.

Last time Lu Tao and I talked,

he brought up a possible scenario.

That is, if they can figure out

his futures contracts, lots and the price levels where he's building positions,

they could wipe him out

with limited capital

in a short window

and trigger a full margin call all at once.

Okay.

It's not just a possibility.

He's planned this all along, right?

He wants to watch my brother crash hard

and lose everything.

Give him a taste of his own medicine.

What does this have to do with me?

Futures are just big fish eating small fish nonstop.

Anyone in this market is nothing but fish.

As luck would have it, Bei Lüqing's one very fat fish.

No surprise Lu Tao's set his sights on him.

If Lu Tao gets exact intel

on his futures contracts, lots and topping-up price levels,

can you two wipe him out in one go?

Are you serious?

Is my brother still trading?

You mean Lu Xiaoping?

It seems Bei Lüqing isn't letting him get up to speed merely

out of consideration for your brother's reputation.

He just wants your brother to keep trading.

The young master's got money to burn.

Dropping over ten grand a month

just to watch your brother strut around

and it's well worth the entertainment.

Lüqing's not that shallow.

He's never trusted Li Wenxi.

You're too much.

So Lüqing and Wenxi go way back, huh?

We grew up together.

No wonder they're in business together.

It's all for you, you know.

Careful.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Let's head in first.

Okay.

If Xiaofan finds out,

you gotta explain it to him.

Li Wenxi met with Lu Xiaofan today.

So what does Li Wenxi know?

He probably hasn't found out yet.

But I can't bring myself to tell Xiaofan either.

I fear Wenxi'll dig something out of him.

Then...

He'd be so heartbroken.

Why does it have to be Song Qianyu?

Couldn't it be anyone else?

Does it have to be Li Wenxi's friend?

This's just twisting the knife in Xiaofan.

Li Wenxi is too clever for that.

If it's not his friend,

he won't trust a word of it.

After all of this is over,

I'll tell Xiaofan then.

I believe in him.

Xiaofan.

I might need to go back to Yunjing.

I'll come back after the New Year.

Uncle.

I still have to go back to Lingang.

So I'll take my leave now.

Do you have urgent business back in Lingang?

If Bei Lüxin doesn't want a divorce...

What will you do?

What can I do then?

Then don't bring up divorce.

After Mr. Bei moved to Lingang,

you're also in charge of cleaning his place.

Like where things are kept in the house.

You never put anything in the wrong place.

Our housekeeper has great manners.

She never meddles with our belongings.

Everything stays right where she puts it.

But my brother isn't that stupid.

You gotta use Wenxi as bait first.

Lüqing's the smartest. Alright?

Can you stop going on and on...

I trust Xiaofan's judgment.

Look,

the tiny camera's right in here.

But are you sure

we'll pick up the signal for sure?

As for the plan Bei Lüqing and the rest agreed on,

only the final version would be the right one.

If you can't guarantee it

stays where Bei Lüqing sits,

we won't see a thing.

Here's the deal.

Once you're abroad,

send me your account details.

Once this is done,

I'll transfer your commission for this deal.

I'm sure

you'll live a cushy life abroad.

No need.

Zhiqin.

Close out all my positions.

I want to withdraw all the money.

You really want to close all positions?

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The millions you earned from corn

could roll into tens of millions.

One more thing.

Once you pull this off,

find a way to get out of here fast.

You're overthinking this.

Do you really think they hold all the power?

Besides, the Songnan Gang and the Yunjing crowd are locked in a fierce battle.

We've got backing.

Taking down Bei Lüqing first.

Just a show of respect for the higher-ups.

Even if CSRC oversees futures,

Bei Lüqing's dad doesn't hold all the sway.

Mr. Lu.

Promise me.

After this job,

you'll take Zhiqin and leave the north.

Otherwise,

I'll walk away.

Okay.

I promise.

Zhiqin.

If Lu Tao stays,

you have to leave no matter what.

Xiaofan, trust me.

Bei Lüqing isn't that powerful.

Actually,

Even if we pull this off,

it won't shake my brother at his foundations.

Then what did you do all this for?

You're not even making money from it.

But it will definitely hit him hard.

He's never tasted failure in his entire life.

This loss

will stay with him forever.

So you did this to... I don't know either.

Maybe... I just wanted him to remember me.

I don't expect

much of a future with him.

All I want is for him

to carry my memory forever,

even if all he feels is hate.

Lüqing.

Isn't this too risky?

After all, Li Wenxi's no small player.

You talked me into this market,

yet you're bailing out now?

Lüqing.

You've never been such a risk-taker.

What's really going on?

Lu Xiaofan is dead set on divorcing Bei Lüxin.

That's completely unrelated.

I'm going to marry Lu Xiaofan.

Bei Lüqing.

Have you lost your mind?

Your parents are going to...

This is the only way I'll have leverage

to properly protect Lu Xiaofan.

I can't really explain this.

So I sent them to see for themselves.

Ah?

Why are potatoes going up?

It's Lu Xiaofan.

Flight YG1213

to Porto,

attention.

Your flight...

Lu Xiaofan doesn't believe for a second

he can take down Bei Lüqing in one blow.

He's less optimistic than Lu Tao and Shen Zhiqin.

He is almost constantly on the move,

desperate to get away.

And he knows he'll never come back.

Without Bei Lüqing,

Lu Xiaofan would just be

a regular farmer like his dad.

Not all good,

not all bad.

He would've married a thrifty,

feisty woman like his mother,

had one child,

then two extra kids.

And lived poor yet lively.

Lu Xiaofan doesn't hate that he's abnormal.

Yet he hates

being different,

and he's alone.

He won't hate his mother,

barely hates Lu Xiaoping,

and never Bei Lüxin.

But he has to hate the man who repeatedly gave him dreams,

only to snatch them all away.

When he thinks of him...

Just thinking of him stirs hatred.

It makes his legs tremble.

Thinking of him...

He cannot stop thinking about him.

He wants him to never forget him.

Hello? Who is this?

No words? I'll hang up.

Zhiqin, it's me.

It's me, Lu Xiaofan.

You...

[Bank transfer to Shen Zhiqin]

Mr. Lu Tao,

you are under formal arrest

for market-manipulation.

Please come with us.

I did all of this on my own.

No one else was involved.

Following a court trial, Lu Tao was sentenced to 5 years in prison for market-manipulation.

Bei Lüqing was also investigates for the same case and had all his gans confiscated.

What can I get for you?

I will have one bone soup

and one seafood porridge.

Sure.

No scallions.

Would you like some celery then?

Tell me, are you really that stupid?

You wired money to Shen Zhiqin from your Portuguese account.

You're basically telling us exactly where you are.

So what's the point of running?

He started it.

You've got quite a memorable method for me.

Hey, Lüqing.

No more talking to him.

Just finish him off.

Where are my soup and porridge?

Bro... the porridge...

Well now, Lu Xiaofan.

First you nearly bankrupted us

and scared us half to death.

Then you wore us out searching everywhere for you.

And now you're going around calling everyone “brother,”

acting all chummy.

But have you ever thought

with all the people you've offended,

with this huge mess you've created,

what's become of your Lu family now?

Bro.

Is what Ziyang was saying true?

Your bro isn't pursuing this,

but that doesn't mean the rest of us...

A man must take responsibility for his own actions.

I'll answer for the trouble I've caused.

Lu Xiaofan, calm down!

Let's get married.

You really are going to be the death of me.

We were just teasing, but you took it seriously.

If we were really here for revenge,

why would we be wasting our time here with you?

Honestly...

Bro.

You...

Weren't you getting engaged?

If Lüqing hadn't been trying to earn enough money to get away,

why else would he have agreed to trade futures?

He was just polite to that woman for a few days

to fool his mom and Li Wenxi.

And you threw quite the tantrum.

You nearly made us tag-alongs lose our shirts.

Even my old man's secret stash

almost got wiped out because of you.

If you hadn't run off so fast,

you'd be dead meat.

Your cooking hasn't changed.

From now on, you'll make me porridge for the rest of my life.

Are you willing?

I am.

Let's go.

Bei Lüqing.

Do you take Lu Xiaofan to be your partner?

In the presence of God, to love and cherish him from this day forward,

and to take care of him,

to respect him in health and sickness,

to respect until the end of your life?

I will.

Lu Xiaofan.

Will you take Bei Lüqing as your partner?

In the presence of God, to love and cherish him

in health and sickness, to respect...

I will.

Congratulations. You two may kiss each other.

Lu Xiaofan.

I just realized

this might be the first time I've ever looked at you like this.

Bro.

Why are you up before the alarm even went off?

Bro.

You need to strip the tough fibers off the celery,

otherwise it'll get stuck in your teeth.

Like this.

Then you do it.

Oh, by the way, bro.

You need to boil the water first, then add the rice.

Otherwise it'll stick to the pot.

And the rice needs to be soaked in advance too.

So it cooks softer and more tender.

Looks like I'll have to work a little harder then.

From now on, just tell me what you want to eat.

I'll make it.

If I'd worked a little harder last night,

you wouldn't have so much to say today.

This New Year, let's go to France.

To see the Eiffel Tower you've been dreaming about.

Bro.

I need to tell you something.

Don't get mad.

Okay.

My mom said

she wants us both to come home this New Year.

My mom said

a new couple must pay respects to the ancestors together,

only then are you truly recognized.

Okay.