Original subtitles

[Respect Copyright; Everyone's Responsibility]

♪Data is screaming♪

♪Proposals are burning♪

♪I deconstruct the world's algorithms♪

♪Only never counting the heartbeat♪

♪Whose perfect smile is reflected in the glass?♪

♪Treading on shadows as I run ahead♪

♪There's no time to fall♪

♪They say gears should be obedient♪

♪Yet I insist on being the offbeat stopwatch♪

♪Planting my own pride in the cracks of the rules♪

♪Waiting for the night to grow its dawn♪

♪I am my own irreplaceable coordinate♪

♪No claimed ground, no comparison♪

♪I won't be anyone's footnote♪

♪Though there are thousand of templates♪

♪I choose only the sharpest second♪

♪Answering life as my own thinking question♪

♪I am my own never-landing beacon♪

♪No borrowed light, no offered prayer♪

♪I won't believe in anyone's castle♪

♪Even if the world is an exam hall♪

♪I'll hand in early and run away♪

♪Writing in one single line for the answer♪

♪"I dare to claim it!"♪

♪I am my own irreplaceable coordinate♪

♪No substitute, no imitation♪

♪I won't trade for anyone's glory♪

♪Though there are thousands of echoes♪

♪I listen only to the loneliest second♪

♪Walking life into my own exclamation mark♪

♪I am my own never-extinguishing lamp♪

♪No wind‑borne drift, no shore‑bound rest♪

♪I won't linger in anyone's course♪

♪Even if there are millions of scripts♪

♪I'll tear them up and rewrite today♪

♪Signing the signature at the end with only♪

♪"I create it!"♪

[Irreplaceable]

[Episode 18]

[Hezong Consulting]

Hi.

How do I set up the fingerprint

for clocking in?

Tap here.

Morning, Richard.

Morning.

Morning.

Richard helped you.

How come you didn't even

say thanks?

He

is the youngest partner

at our firm.

And he's about to become

a senior partner.

I just started.

It's a little awkward.

Morning.

Adjusting okay?

Morning.

It's fine.

I'm just getting familiar

with the OA system. [*Office Automation]

Here,

only partners

and above

get a fixed desk.

Everyone else

shares desks.

So seating's random.

That's different from Maxmise.

You

can book earlier

on the OA system going forward.

But

there are so many empty seats.

That's because you just started.

Once you're on a project,

a lot of people here

don't come into the office

for a whole month.

Oh,

have you checked out the projects in the pool?

Any you're interested in?

There are dozens of projects.

Can't get through all of them at once.

Sit.

Sit.

Let me recommend

my project.

It's the Huaxin overseas project

for efficiency optimization.

It has a short timeline.

Three to four months.

And it's in the IT industry

you're familiar with.

Remember I told you

I'm always hungry for talent?

I'll check it out right now.

You got this.

One, two. One, two.

One, two.

One, two, three.

Not hard enough. Again!

One, two, three.

Again.

I can't.

Again.

I can't do it.

I barely used any strength.

Are you okay?

Where did I hit you?

I really didn't use any strength.

Speed beats everything.

This is a public place.

It's late. Nobody's here.

Let's

grab dinner together later.

Before your work at Hezong

officially starts,

how about we

take a few days off and go on a trip?

Otherwise,

I'm failing pretty hard at being a boyfriend.

I told you,

I'm

in no mood for a trip lately.

Hey, Yuan.

Sure. No problem.

Let me drive you.

Sorry.

Have you looked through the projects

in the company pool yet?

I filtered some for you.

Mingzhang Petrochemical and...

I picked the Huaxin one.

You already picked?

Yes.

I registered it

on the office system before I got off work.

Wang Yuan said this project has a short timeline.

Only three months.

If I pick it,

I can move up

to project manager faster.

I went back

to that meeting just for this.

Chi.

Didn't you say

you were gonna do the Huaxin project?

I thought about it a lot last night.

Why don't you

reconsider?

Why?

Yes, the Huaxin project

has a short timeline,

but it's based in the Middle East.

It might not be convenient.

Besides, as nice a guy as Wang Yuan is,

he still lacks that decisive edge.

Otherwise, he wouldn't still

be unsigned.

You just joined the company.

You should pick

a project you can easily ease into

and make a splash.

Right?

You've got a point.

But I already talked it over

with him last night.

And I spent all day looking

into Huaxin's materials.

Wouldn't it look bad

if I backed out now?

You can always switch once you've picked

a project in the consultant pool.

People come and go all the time

when a project just starts.

Then

let me figure out how to tell him.

Okay.

[Huaxin Saudi Arabia Drone Project Landing & Efficiency Optimization Support]

Yuan.

Hello.

Yuan.

Uh,

about the Huaxin project,

I might...

I heard from HR

we just onboarded a new female powerhouse?

Yes.

Let me make a proper introduction.

This is Mr. Kai, President of our China Region,

a senior partner.

He just

closed a huge deal in South America.

Hi, I'm Xu Chi.

Hello.

Wang Yuan's an old hand.

Just ask him if you have any questions.

Don't worry about that.

She's already on my Huaxin team.

I'll take good care of her.

That's great.

On the flight back,

I happened to see

the last proposal

Huaxin rejected on the cloud drive.

Personally, I think

some parts could still be improved.

We've got an hour.

Wanna come

discuss it together?

What an honor.

Yu... Yuan.

Hurry up and follow.

Sorry.

I didn't expect

the meeting to run so long.

It's fine.

You just joined.

Why are there so many meetings?

It was the full Huaxin team meeting.

I know

I promised you this morning.

But the second I walked into the office,

I ran into Wang Yuan and...

It's fine.

Eat first.

I ordered

your favorite black cod.

Just let me explain.

No need.

Want some pepper?

No, thanks.

Sorry.

I was silent just now

because I was scared I'd lose control

of my emotions.

Nothing else meant by it.

So just because I didn't listen to you

and still joined the Huaxin team,

you're giving me the cold shoulder.

Of course.

I know

you must have your reasons.

But why do you

trust Wang Yuan so much?

I don't trust him.

Why won't you just hear

my suggestion?

I can explain.

No,

I told you,

the Huaxin project

really has a lot of

built-in problems.

I'm not ignoring your advice!

You're the one who won't hear my explanation!

You have no idea,

but the second I got to the office today,

I got put on the spot.

Okay, okay.

Alright then.

We're both in a bad mood

right now.

I'll go get some air.

Cool off.

Okay?

♪I can forget you♪

♪When the storm has finally passed♪

♪When my heart no longer carries your trace♪

Xu Chi!

Chi!

♪The red light stops me at the crossroads♪

♪Yet I still wish to linger in your eyes♪

♪Back to the days gone by♪

♪Nothing can replace♪

♪The heartbeat you stirred within me♪

♪It still has no expiration date♪

Have you no shame?

Don't give me that!

Are you out of your mind?

This isn't the first time!

I'll go get some air.

Let's both cool off.

♪I am the ruins you left behind♪

We're both in a bad mood

right now.

Cool off.

Your dad doesn't want us anymore.

He found

some young, pretty woman to replace me.

Chi, I've got nothing left.

You've got me.

You've got me.

♪How could another name ever replace yours♪

♪Back to the days gone by♪

♪Nothing can replace it♪

♪A butterfly's wings begin to flutter♪

♪Where waves remain deep beneath the sea♪

She hasn't replied to your messages either?

Miss Bu,

if you get through to her,

please let me know she's okay.

Thanks.

♪Time has turned to ruins♪

♪I keep you deep within my heart♪

♪Forever beautiful through all eternity♪

[Xu Chi] Sorry.

I got a little worked up just now.

I accidentally turned my phone off.

I'm downstairs at my apartment.

Don't worry.

Sorry.

I shouldn't have done that.

Just now...

Actually,

my dad said

he just wanted to get some air,

and then he never came back.

So I...

It's my fault.

I'm really sorry.

I promise

it won't happen

a second time.

Well, I was planning to

tell Wang Yuan today.

But Mr. Kai suddenly showed up.

He wanted to discuss the Huaxin project.

Wang Yuan just went ahead

and said I was already on the team.

You know, I had no way to just say no

in front of the boss.

Mr. Kai just got back from abroad.

He doesn't know you're my girlfriend,

so that's how he arranged it.

But none of that matters.

I was the one in the wrong.

I shouldn't have

taken my emotions out

on you.

I was just

so scared you'd leave me.

Chi.

Even when hurting this bad,

you still reached out first.

‌I'm nowhere near as good as you at that.

I...

You don't have to say it.

Sorry.

It's okay. Let's drop it.

You really want to

drop out of the Huaxin project?

I'm really sorry.

I only realized it last night

while I was working overtime.

The head of the Chinese review panel

for the Saudi project

Huaxin is bidding on

is my mentor, Professor Yu.

In a situation like this,

the rules say

I have to recuse myself.

Honestly, I really

wanted to join this project.

But...

This is the material I put together

these past few days.

See if it's useful.

Is it really a coincidence?

Woody, is now a good time?

Sure.

It's really a coincidence.

Yuan,

if you ever need me to do anything else,

just say the word.

Okay.

Were you going to see Wang Yuan just now

because you were worried I couldn't bring it up?

You wanted to talk to him privately

and get me off the team?

No.

I figured

since you already joined the project,

I'd dig up some material for Wang Yuan

and see if I could help.

Xinzhi,

from now on, I'll come to you

when something big happens.

Then just

treat me like everyone else.

That way, your team

won't gossip,

and they'll recognize what I can do.

My team?

Tianna chewed me out all night yesterday.

She said

the way I deliberately kept my distance from you

was, just like you said,

a bit too rigid.

Since we're

already together,

and the company doesn't ban couples,

why should I

put myself through the hassle of starting

over with a new supervisor?

Chi.

Hey, honey,

can you

do a private consultation for me?

Tell me

which of the projects under Ye the Legend

fits me best?

All Buy.

They are pivoting

and looking for market consulting services

in the Belt and Road Initiative countries.

I wanna land it.

Then I'll be your best assistant.

And I'll win

my first battle at Hezong.

Welcome.

Chi.

I'm sorry. Before...

Save that line for me.

Maybe joining your team

will cause you a ton of trouble.

It never will.

You're my best assistant.

Irreplaceable.

No.

I wanna be your best partner.

You definitely will be.

Mr. Ye, let me be straight with you.

Your firm's proposal

is actually pretty solid.

And Hezong

is top-tier in consulting.

But a lot of my colleagues

feel Hezong

wouldn't really help us

that much.

Let me put it this way.

We're in

a niche vertical market.

Outside consultants

have a hard time really understanding it.

They'd actually lean more toward

boutique consulting firms

that specialize

in e-commerce solutions.

Mr. Su,

let me be straight with you too.

Consulting

is all about data and experience.

Right now,

your company is focused

on the Southeast Asian market.

But our firm

partnered with major Japanese trading houses

back in the 1990s.

So when it comes to

supply chain resilience

and local food safety regulations,

we understand far more

than these domestic

e-commerce consulting firms do.

I believe that.

How about this?

After I get back,

I'll try to talk them into it.

Alright?

Mr. Su.

Can I add one more thing?

Of course.

Go ahead, Miss Xu.

Actually,

my moniker used to be Junior Wind-Piercer.

Really?

My moniker

was White Dragon Horse.

What a coincidence.

So I've run into an old colleague.

Back before

I spun off

from Youpin Yanxuan,

everyone in the company used

monikers from Journey to the West.

The point I wanna add is that

both Mr. Ye and I have deep

retail experience.

I worked at Youpin Yanxuan.

When Mr. Ye was in charge

of operations at P&J,

he dealt mostly

with warehouses and logistics.

We've both personally

unloaded goods in freezer units,

dealt with

suppliers showing up demanding payment,

and handled goods

ruined by power outages.

When fresh food e-commerce goes overseas,

warehousing, logistics,

and freight management have to be the first things to land.

White Dragon Horse,

Hezong can give your company

the best experience and data.

And our industry background means

we can communicate with you

most efficiently.

Consulting managers

at other firms

might be more familiar

with KOLs, [*Key Opinion Leaders]

ad spend,

and ROI. [*Return on Investment]

But they definitely don't know

how to set fairer performance standards

for the fish-gutting station.

And I'd bet

their pitch deck

is just the same one they gave

other e-commerce clients years ago.

It's been polished to death by now.

Don't say that.

What if they

got someone to repackage it?

Let me guess.

Is it the steady, cool blue,

or the energetic red-white-black?

Red-white-black.

Mr. Su,

the All Buy overseas project

is actually a lot like

the Tianhe Airlines project I did before.

Both are about AI efficiency.

So what Chi and I

can guarantee is that

during the project,

we definitely won't

cut so deep we hit a vital artery.

Chi.

You're today's

MVP. [*Most Valuable Player]

You taught me that.

You told me

a consulting manager's ultimate weapon

is peer talk.

You gotta have common ground

with the client.

Honestly, I only worked at Youpin Yanxuan

for one winter break.

But while browsing

the news online,

I found out that Mr. Su

also came from there.

I figured

that had to be a way in.

That's amazing.

It's probably Mr. Su.

Hello.

Okay.

That should be fine

by 6 PM tomorrow.

Thank you, White Dragon Horse.

Why aren't you asking me?

Because I thought

you couldn't hold it in for 30 seconds

before telling me.

We closed it, Xinzhi!

Mr. Su called and said

their legal director's taking annual leave

this weekend.

So they want

the draft contract sent over ASAP.

We did it!

That's amazing.

It's all thanks to you.

No.

I'm so happy.

I actually did it!

Let me take you somewhere.

You've got some skills.

Give it to me. I'll go.

See? Told you.

I'm really athletic.

That's about all the athletic talent

I've got.

Why did you bring me here?

This is my high school.

I used to come here to play ball all the time.

I want us to know

each other's lives better.

♪Orange sky at dusk; the evening breeze is waiting♪

♪The crowd at the crossing♪

Have you ever seen a shooting star?

You?

When do you think

a shooting star will come?

No idea.

Why are you looking for one?

That's what they do in idol dramas.

Make a wish.

♪Strolling among the clouds, waiting for the sky to clear♪

I don't think we need to make a wish.

Because we're already happy right now.

♪Why did you stop again?♪

♪We keep moving like the stream, never resting♪

♪Through the muddy fields, rushing toward the sea♪

♪I know you'll be waiting there♪

♪Together with me♪

♪The lights are peeking in♪

♪At your shadow and mine♪

♪Stretching and shrinking, our nervous hearts♪

[All Buy Overseas Project & Hezong Consulting]

[Strategic Partnership Signing Ceremony]

Xu Chi's really something.

She just joined and already landed

an eight-figure project.

But...

Wang Yuan.

Wang Yuan!

Didn't you recommend her for the job?

Who?

Xu Chi.

Yeah.

So what if I recommended her?

I can't beat Richard anyway.

Don't tell me Ye Xinzhi and her are...

Don't talk nonsense.

You quietly

poached Ye Xinzhi's girlfriend

into the company.

You just wanted to use him

to finally crack the Huaxin project

you could never close, right?

You wanted a free favor.

Too bad.

Ye Xinzhi knows to recuse himself.

But the girl

doesn't play by the rules at all.

She's just boldly riding your connections

to get ahead.

Some people

miscalculated.

Slow down when you eat.

I'm not gonna fight you for it.

I have an interview

and research session with a client in Hangzhou later.

Our project team

only has six people.

Ye Xinzhi said

that since the client wants

a lean, streamlined setup,

our team this time

can't be bloated.

How much longer do you have to do this?

Three months.

Three months?

I really miss those days

of leading troops into battle.

I'm practically going moldy from boredom now.

Is Siwei's finance department

that chill?

Not really.

It's just that the accounting department

is doing the annual audit right now.

My mom was worried

that if something got flagged,

I'd get thrown under the bus,

so she had my dad

move me to the R&D department.

But I don't have a STEM background.

They did some kind of

naked-eye 3D stereoscopic test.

Made me so dizzy.

See, I threw up for two days,

took leave, and came to eat with you.

Gotta go. I'm out.

Hello, baby.

Tianna,

I'm calling you from my watch.

Are you being held hostage?

Where are you?

I'm not being held hostage.

I just took first place in my

roller skating competition.

I video-called Dad,

and suddenly

I saw Heng

flash by in the frame.

I was afraid Dad

called him over to yell at him again.

So I got in the car

and rushed to give you a heads-up.

Dad's at the equestrian center.

Hurry over and check!

Heng?

Dad, you've gone too far.

Zhao Heng is just my boyfriend.

He's not your employee.

Is there something so huge

that you had to

call him all the way here

to talk to him alone?

Well,

you should ask him yourself.

Tianna.

Actually,

I came to see Mr. Bu on my own.

Why?

Here's the thing.

I'm on a break

after wrapping up the project.

So I wanted to use Maxmise's database,

my analysis

of Siwei Group,

and my understanding and observations of you

to put together

a small business plan

and succession analysis

for Mr. Bu.

Your observations of me?

So you're saying

you talked to my dad

about my future

at our own company

without my permission.

Is that right?

You could see it that way.

Tianna,

you and Mr. Bu definitely know Siwei Group

better than I do.

But look,

ever since you went back to Siwei Group

a month ago,

you haven't been in a good place.

You've even been a little down.

So I figured

sometimes

I can observe and analyze

from a third-party perspective,

which is better and more objective...

Get lost right now.

Get out!

Mr. Bu,

I'll leave the USB drive here for you.

You can use it as a reference.

Dad, I hope

you can show me a little more respect

from now on.

He's an outsider. You...

Have you thought about

what an outsider gets

out of doing this?

He's just trying to butter you up.

He already admitted he loves you and loves the benefits.

What's wrong with buttering up his future father-in-law?

He... he can't just go over my head like that.

You think

he could keep it a secret that he came

to see me privately?

Na,

you work at the company now.

He's an outsider.

Since you wanna take over,

I suggest you

calm down

and really think this through.

Why would he

come to me privately

knowing it'd make you angry?

And why is he

sticking his nose

into Siwei Group's internal affairs this early?

Isn't he afraid of crossing me?

Isn't he worried you'd be mad?

Maybe

he just

genuinely wants to help you with something.

Honestly,

I still don't like

this kid.

Too calculating.

But even so,

I have to admit

this proposal of his

is pretty good.

A lot of thought went into it. Take a look.

Zhao Heng,

do you know what I hate most?

It's when the person I trust most

goes behind my back

and makes decisions for me.

Who do you think you are?

Yes.

Right now you're my boyfriend.

But so what?

Tianna,

when you left Maxmise,

didn't you hand in your resignation letter

before you even told me?

No...

What I mean is,

if we weren't together,

doing that would've been totally fine.

But we are together.

I was

already your boyfriend then.

Is that why

you decided to get back at me?

You've got some nerve.

Have you been binging those

kept-husband stories?

If I were to break up

with you right now, you'd be...

you'd be a complete nobody.

I'm still me.

Even if we break up, I'm still me.

♪Hey, long time no see♪

Anyway, I came here today

prepared to end things

with you.

♪You don't seem to have changed at all♪

You're threatening me?

I'm not.

I'm trying to survive.

I know

I'm a schemer.

I wanted to climb the ladder

through connections.

But when we

actually got together

and even went through a month of fighting

and the cold shoulder,

I realized I really love you.

♪Though I could never tell what was true♪

But I really can't take

those hurtful words

like "you're flattering yourself"

and "kept man."

I just want equality!

Is that so hard?

You're dead set

on mooching off me.

You're in no position to talk equality.

Bu Tianna!

Your guard's up

way too high,

and you're way too paranoid!

Do you think

that as long as I don't obey you,

I don't love you?

What happened to basic respect

between people?

If I were really

just using you to get ahead,

then I'd...

I'd just lie through my teeth

and keep you happy!

But that kind of love

won't last.

It's exactly because I really love you

that I did this, even knowing

you might break up with me.

I don't wanna wait five years, ten years,

until maybe

I don't even like

or love you anymore,

and then end up

sad and heartbroken!

♪Hey, long time no see♪

I'm gambling, you know?

That USB drive

is my parting gift to you.

I really put

serious thought, real effort,

and a professional eye

into helping you plan

your career

and Siwei's overall future.

♪I'm still wearing it close to my heart♪

But I lost the bet.

♪I miss all the things you used to say♪

Also,

in the year I've been with you,

have I ever spent a single cent of your money?

♪Maybe a joke♪

Have I ever done a single thing

to wrong you?

♪Somehow ended up being taken seriously♪

♪One street, then another♪

♪I didn't know what to do♪

♪Suddenly, the whole world fell silent♪

♪And I was left feeling uneasy♪

♪Only the sound of rain was left to touch me♪

♪Even sorrow grew quiet♪

♪Leaving only a role that smiles while it cries♪

♪May your blessings be worth it♪

What am I supposed to do?

Is Zhao Heng genuinely heartbroken

and wants to break up, or

is he just backing off

to force me to cave later?

Your whole situation is a little

too complicated.

With the little relationship experience I've got,

I'm not sure

what to do either.

Sorry, I...

I knew

you just started a new project,

and I still called you out.

What are you saying?

Nothing matters more than you.

[Lin, Maxmise]

Lin.

I don't know

if you and Tianna know about this, but...

Hang on.

Go ahead.

I just heard from Lu Le

that Zhao Heng joined

her Haiji Petroleum project.

He's heading to

the Venezuela project site today.

And with this project,

he'll be in South America

for at least two months.

South America?

Lin,

can you check

the OA system

and see

when Zhao Heng booked his ticket?

Sure, hang on.

He booked it three days ago.

But two hours ago,

he changed it

to tonight's 8 PM flight.

Eight.

Got it. Thanks, Lin.

I'm hanging up.

So he really was gambling.

He had already made his decision.

He just finally gave up just now.

Venezuela.

Halfway across the world. Two months.

Isn't that a perfect

breakup cooling-off period?

I don't think

that's what he meant.

He...

It's fine.

It's just a breakup.

Who hasn't been through one?

He chose to break up with me

this way.

If I drag it out,

I'd be so pathetic.

It's fine, really.

♪Orange sky at dusk; the evening breeze is waiting♪

♪The crowd at the crossing suddenly scatters♪

♪This world moves too fast, yet you walk slowly toward me♪

♪We're like the evening breeze tangling with the clouds♪

♪Strolling among the clouds, waiting for the sky to clear♪

♪Last time you had something left unsaid, right?♪

♪Why did you stop again?♪

♪We keep moving like the stream, never resting♪

♪Through the muddy fields, rushing toward the sea♪

♪I know you'll be waiting there♪

♪Together with me♪

♪We're like the evening breeze tangling with the clouds♪

♪Strolling among the clouds, waiting for the sky to clear♪

♪You steal glances at me. You like me, right?♪

♪Stop running away♪

♪The sky slowly brightens, falling into our eyes♪

♪The wind gradually stops, and finally it clears up♪

♪The evening breeze brushes past your shoulder, and you turn your head♪

♪You're irreplaceable♪

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