Episode 13 recap: # Code
In Episode 13, Shen Xing is increasingly comfortable working alongside Cai Shu, running errands and feeling fulfilled in his busy routine. Cai Shu values Shen Xing more and even brings him along to meetings with Ai Suo. During his free time, Shen Xing visits Jin Cui Ge, but he refrains from disturbing her.
On the day of Cai Shu's birthday, many of his subordinates come to celebrate, including Xia Wenjing from the D Fan and Yan Bai Mei, who operates three of the five main venues. Yan Bai Mei is troubled because he’s been reported by Lei Ming and now faces a temporary shutdown for restructuring.
Cai Shu learns about the situation and asks Yan Bai Mei for his thoughts. Yan Bai Mei expresses a desire to acquire two additional venues and asks Cai Shu for a loan. Although Cai Shu has the funds, he originally intended to use them to upgrade the D Fan. Ming Ge, either intentionally or not, suggests that instead of lending money, Cai Shu could invest in Yan Bai Mei’s venture.
Realizing Cai Shu's intention, Yan Bai Mei immediately welcomes him to invest in the D venue. Cai Shu calls over Shen Xing and introduces him to Xia Wenjing and Yan Bai Mei, indicating that Shen Xing will manage the D venue and the D Fan, while also learning from both of them.
Shen Xing feels this approach is somewhat uncharacteristic of Cai Shu and raises his concerns. Cai Shu explains that the D gambling industry is in decline, but this also presents an opportunity for diversification. With Cai Shu's support, Shen Xing gains confidence in handling this new responsibility.
When the time comes, Shen Xing goes to collect rent from the D Fan, which actually belongs to Cai Shu but is leased to Xia Wenjing. While Xia Wenjing pretends to respect Shen Xing, he quickly reveals he has no money. Shen Xing doesn’t mince words and sets a deadline: if the rent isn’t paid, he will sit at the entrance and ask each arriving guest for money, leaving only when he receives the owed rent.
Xia Wenjing quickly realizes that Shen Xing is not easily manipulated, and soon pays the rent in full. Cai Shu goes to the restricted area to retrieve a car for Shen Xing to drive. Having secured two venues at the D venue, Cai Shu encourages Shen Xing to use this car.
Carrying two bags of cash, Shen Xing heads to the D venue and is surprised by its much larger scale compared to the D Fan. Using the money Shen Xing brought, Yan Bai Mei acquires the other two venues. While Shen Xing learns from Yan Bai Mei, Lei Ming is causing trouble, and Guo Li Min becomes a victim.
Noticing something is wrong, Shen Xing rushes to the restroom, but it’s too late; Guo Li Min has already been bullied. Yan Bai Mei picks up the money Lei Ming threw and offers it as compensation to Guo Li Min. Shen Xing protests, but Guo Li Min snatches the money. It's enough for him to cover a quarter's salary as a server at the D venue, and refusing compensation out of pride would be foolish.
Shen Xing insists that Guo Li Min take two days off, and he takes him to the D Fan to relax. Shen Xing also realizes that Xia Wenjing has reverted to his old ways, using extreme measures to pressure people into repaying debts, which is quite ruthless. Wang An Quan, Xia Wenjing’s accomplice, specializes in tricking customers into losing all their money, only to borrow more from the D venue.
Originally, Shen Xing planned to have Guo Li Min work at the D Fan, but seeing the presence of loan sharks and violent debt collection, he decides to find a better opportunity for him. Inspired by Wang An Quan's words, Guo Li Min recalls the bully who tormented him and thinks that dealing with such people might require extreme measures. Even if it means enduring some humiliation, the ultimate satisfaction would be worth it.
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