All language subtitles for The Early Spring Episode 16

SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

ADAPTED FROM THE EARLY SPRING ON JJWXC.NET
AUTHOR: GU NIANG BIE KU

Luke!

Look. Just look at what you've done.

Have you lost your mind?

Don't move.

I'm gonna smack you.

Take that.

Let's see if you dare do it again.

Next time you trash the place,

I'll throw you out and let you be a stray.

Playing pitiful now?

Just like your mom.

Come here!

Don't give me that.

All right.

Have a treat.

Paw.

And this one.

NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED
DURING THE FILMING OF THIS PRODUCTION

What happened to your paw?

Does it hurt?

Does it hurt, Luke?

It's okay.

Hello?

Has your dog's paw ever lost fur?

Will it kill him?

Oh no. It's terminal.

What should I do?

Which hospital should I take him to?

I'm messing with you. Relax.

Ms. Shang's dog is a lucky one.

How could anything happen to him?

It's probably just inflamed.

Put some iodine on it
and keep an eye on it.

Don't worry.

You'll be fine. Come on.
Let's put some medicine on your paw.

Let's go.

Over here.

THINKING OF YOU THIS SECOND
SEEING YOU THE NEXT

Sit. Come here.

Sit.

Sit.

Come on, let's put some medicine on it.

You can eat after we're done.

Give me your paw.

Come on.

Hold still.

Good. Almost done.

Let me see.

All done. Here.

Eat.

Sit.

Sit.

Eat.

ZANG YAO

I'm leaving.

Want to meet?

Sure.

The meat here really is different.

It smells amazing.

Need a hand?

No.

Your window is held together with tape?

It seals the gaps.

What made you suddenly decide
to come see me?

Wasn't I in Inner Mongolia
looking for investors?

I figured I wasn't that far from you.

Just a train ride away.

So I came to see you.

Twelve hours by train
isn't exactly nearby.

True enough.

It was so last minute.

The sleeper tickets were sold out.

I sat the whole way here.

My back is killing me.

Is there a hotel nearby?

I'll settle in for the night first.

The nearest guesthouse
is three hours away.

Three hours?

Then what do we do?

- You sleep here.
- I'll sleep over there.

- You take the bed.
- You…

I'll take the couch.

- I'll take the couch.
- I'll…

Let's eat first.

Okay.

Try this.

Sit.

Weren't you planning to stay
in Beijing for another two years?

Not anymore.

Whose dog is this?

Mine.

I've known you for years.

You'd never get a dog.

If you were going to get one,
it'd be a Tibetan Mastiff.

It's Shang Zhitao's dog, isn't it?

Yeah. It's her dog.

When are you leaving?

The day after tomorrow.

So soon?

Beijing isn't interesting anymore.

I'm going back to the UK.

At this point,

Beijing doesn't really have anything
to do with me anymore.

Have you made up your mind?

Whether I have or not,
would it change anything?

I came back for you.

But if you're no longer
the person you used to be,

how could I force you?

Or are you saying that to make me stay,

you'd give me what I've always wanted?

He's pretty loyal.

Keeping an eye on you for his owner.

Then I wish you a safe journey

and that everything
goes your way from now on.

Luan Nian.

Won't you give me one last hug?

All right.

Let's go.

Go.

Go.

Go.

Luan Nian.

Goodbye.

Keeping an eye on me for your owner, huh?

What are we now?

Why would you do that?

Let's go home.

Come on.

Yuanzhu.

Are you sleepy?

I'm a little scared.

I can't fall asleep.

I thought nothing ever scared you.

Listen.

Listen to the wind
rustling the window paper.

Then start counting.

One, two, three.

You'll be asleep before you know it.

Give it a try.

I still can't sleep.

How about you keep me company for a while?

Go ahead.

When you're away on business by yourself,

do you miss home?

Of course I do.

Your hometown is up
in the mountains, right?

After this business trip,
I'll go back with you and take a look.

I meant my home in Beijing.

Aren't you, Lei, and Tao my family?

Of course we are.

Yuanzhu.

Mr. Genius.

Do you think I'm a good person?

You are.

You're my best friend and family.

Look.

We've been living under the same roof
for over three years.

I really like your cooking.

And I don't think you dislike me either.

Honestly…

When friends and family come to see me,
it makes me really happy.

Especially you. You're my best friend.

How about this?

Tomorrow afternoon I'll take you
for lamb with Mongolian chives.

It's our most authentic local specialty.

Then I'll take you to the station.

Or I can book you a hotel
for tomorrow night.

You can stay
a couple more days if you want.

It's just that I have work
these next two days,

so I probably won't be able
to keep you company.

Don't be mad at me.

Don't say things like that.

It doesn't sound sincere.

If anyone should apologize,
it should be me.

Don't be upset that I suddenly showed up
and caused you trouble.

You don't need to worry about me tomorrow.

I'll just look around on my own.

And I'll…

I'll… I'll buy my own ticket back.

You don't have to worry about me.

I'll get the ticket.

It's late. Get some sleep.

You've had a long day.

I'm a little tired too.

Good night.

The wind really is strong.

Let's count.

Didn't you say

counting helps you fall asleep?

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

How's Luke?

Is his paw still inflamed?

Not good.

How could it not be?

Let me see him.

Here.

See? He's perfectly fine. You're lying.

Luke.

That silly dog does nothing but bark.

He's so noisy.

Well, how are you?

Still alive. Getting by.

How about you?

You are calling this late.

Are you working overtime?

How's the work environment in Hangzhou?

Getting used to the new team?

Do you want the truth or a lie?

The truth.

I think Dony
is a very clear-headed leader.

The instructions he gives everyone
are always very clear.

You'll be sold down the river
and still thank them for it.

Look at you. You asked for the truth.

I'm just trying to know my opponent
before the battle.

What battle?

He's your boss.

You seem pretty hostile toward him.

Do you two have history?

No.

From now on, when you call,

don't sound like
you're reporting to your boss.

Just tell me when you're coming back.

I'll be waiting for you.

I'll come back as soon as I'm done.

I just meant that in the workplace,
no one's doing anyone a favor.

There's no need to act
like you're above everyone else.

Don't catch a cold.

You should head back.

These are your New Year's gifts.

How about I treat you?

Let's go see a movie tonight.

You said it.

It wasn't easy for the four of us
to become friends.

We'll always look out for you.

Every gathering must come to an end.

People come and go.

That's just part of life.

What do you think of Dony's abilities?

DONY'S CV

I've heard he's pretty capable.

He's very clear-headed
and has a clear strategy for the division.

Are you complimenting him?

At the meeting last time,

I thought you were pretty hard on him.

Did you know each other before?

Yes, but I'd rather never meet him again.

You don't think he came
to Lime because of you, do you?

Let's hope not.

I've worked in HR
at Lime for so many years.

He's the first person
who didn't go through

our HR department
before being assigned here.

And as soon as he arrived,
he took over your New Media team.

I don't think it's that simple.

Did you do a background check on him?

He was hired directly by the board.

How was our department
supposed to do a background check?

Then I suggest you do it.

You might find a surprise.

Don't worry.

I'm already looking into it.

Come eat.

Here.

The meat pie's hot. Eat slowly.

Don't burn your mouth.

Slow down. I'm not
going to take it from you.

Have some vegetables.

Silly dog.

Hello?

Your silly dog is eating the meat pie.

Have you eaten?

What are you having for dinner?

I'm going to stir-fry a couple of dishes.

And make some osmanthus milk.

Why?

You want some?

Then come back soon if you do.

You'll have to wait for me.

Why are you back?

I came back to report something for work,
then I'm leaving.

I missed you.

Everyone,

to more efficiently advance
the New Media campaign

for Xizi Cultural Tourism Group,

the company has decided
to form a dedicated project team

to be stationed on-site
for in-depth operations.

The team members are as follows.

Kitty.

Claire. Leo.

Kangkang. Sunny.

Kami. William.

Lucy. Flora.

Dony.

I've always been responsible
for the Beijing New Media team.

I won't be going this time.

I'll stay in Beijing
and support all of you.

Anyone can opt out, except you.

You'll be leading
this dedicated project team.

Let's wrap up the meeting here.

Flora.

Come have a seat.

I've read your report on this project.

You did an excellent job.

You identified the key issues
very accurately.

And the three core client concerns
you raised

are exactly what we need
to address first at the workshop.

Well done.

Thank you, Dony.

Do you trust Luke?

Luke is very capable,
and he's strict with all of us.

We've learned a lot from him.

We all respect him.

Flora, you need to understand this.

Anyone in that position,
with the resources it comes with,

would appear highly capable.

Anyone in that position
would have that halo.

Don't be blinded by it.

I looked into your background.

You earned your place
in the New Media Division

through open competition.

This project is another opportunity.

You can learn just as much
by working with me,

and you'll be promoted much faster.

Dony is clearly trying to poach people
and expand his team.

Are you sure you want to take leave
at a time like this?

So you're saying
I should fight for it too?

Have two opposing pawns
fight tooth and nail,

so the board can sit back
and enjoy the show?

I guess you're retreating to advance.

But you've retreated too far,
letting your opponent seize the advantage.

It won't be easy
to turn things around after that.

Senior,

thank you for putting up with me
all these years.

And no matter what,
you've always been on my side.

But I'd also ask you
to keep an eye on the new guy.

If he really goes too far,

we'll be the ones
left to clean up the mess.

Exactly.

That's what I'm worried about.

Today the board can bypass us
and bring in Dony.

Tomorrow they could easily
send us an HRBP.

Hurry up and process my annual leave.

I'm taking some time off to clear my head.

If I'm in a good mood,

I might even help you prepare
for what's coming.

Thanks, Junior.

You're welcome.

Thank you, my dear Senior.

Dony's a really nice guy.

He doesn't put on airs at all.

Yesterday, he even asked me

if work was going smoothly
and whether I lived far away.

He really is easy to get along with.

He asked me yesterday too.

He wanted to know what I like to do

and what I usually do on weekends.

He even asked if I had a boyfriend.

He said there are a lot of outstanding
young men at headquarters

and that I should get
to know some of them.

Tao.

Dony's way of winning people over
is really straightforward.

I heard the board
sent him to replace Luke.

The board isn't happy with Luke.

They think he's too hard to manage.

Where did this young golden boy come from?

Excuse me. Who's Lumi?

I am.

And you are?

What's going on?

I don't know
where HR found this old academic.

What kind of so-called
marketing expert is he?

Why do I have to report everything to him?

Even Luan Nian couldn't control me.

Now he's setting all these rules
for me to follow.

Why should I?

What's going on?

Luke just went on leave,

and the company brings in
this marketing expert.

This Will…

Could Dony have sent him
to make things difficult for me?

No, wait.

Dony can even interfere
with HR's responsibilities now?

On this business trip,

you have to keep a close eye
on things for Luan Nian.

Don't worry.

No.

I can't just sit back and do nothing.

I have to find out
where this old academic came from.

HANGZHOU

- Dony.
- You're here.

Have a seat.

Flora. Don't sit by the door.

Sit over here.

Dony.

This fish
is this restaurant's signature dish.

Please, try some.

You first.

Thank you.

I think the key visual
for this project is extremely creative.

Kangkang did a great job.

Thank you, Dony. Just doing my job.

No need to be so polite.

Now that our dedicated project team
has been formed, we're one family.

We're one team.

Just call me Dony.

Treat this like you're at home.

Relax, everyone. Don't hold back.

Come on. Cheers.

I… I can't drink.
I'll toast with water instead.

I don't drink much either.
I'll use tea instead.

It's just wine. One glass won't hurt.

It's even good for your skin.

Just one glass.

Here.

This toast is to wish
our dedicated project team

great success here in Hangzhou.

Cheers.

To a great success.

Kangkang, it's okay.

If you don't want to drink, don't.

At Lime, we have a tradition.

We drink, but we never pressure anyone to.

Especially not our female employees.

Dony, you were just excited, right?

He was only asking us to take a sip.

Flora's right.

Just a sip is enough. Don't drink anymore.

Flora. Do you have a boyfriend?

That's a private matter,
so I'd rather not say.

Why keep it a secret?

I don't mind saying it. I'm single.

Dony,

this toast is for you.

Thank you for bringing us here to learn.

Take your time. I'll finish mine.

Look at Kitty.

That's what I call bringing energy to work
and passion to life.

Everyone should learn from her.

Come on.

I need to take this. Excuse me.

A stroke?

When did it happen?

Is it serious?

They caught it in time.

He's not in any danger.

I'm calling because

I've got an urgent job
that has to be submitted today.

You worked on this project before,

so I was hoping you could help me.

Don't worry.

I'll take care of all the work for you.

Can you handle everything
at the hospital by yourself?

I think so.

My mom and I are taking shifts,
and we'll hire a caregiver.

I'll be at the hospital
the next couple of days.

I'm just worried
that jerk Will won't approve my leave.

He can't be that unreasonable.

You never know.

He just chewed me out
at yesterday's meeting.

For clocking in and out on time
and being irresponsible.

What an old fossil.

What's wrong with clocking
in and out on time? What's wrong?

Exactly. He doesn't know
how good our Lumi is

at managing her time.

Now I'm completely convinced
he's Dony's plant.

They're trying to drive away
that stubborn mule's right-hand men,

and once they do, they've won.

How are things on Dony's side?

Busy?

Not at all. Everything's going well.

If you need anything, just let me know.

I'll handle it for you remotely.

It won't affect work at all. Don't worry.

Okay.

Then I'll take you up on that.

I'll go ask for leave.

I'm sure that old fossil
is only going to ask one thing.

The reason?

My father was hospitalized after a stroke.

Submit your leave request
through the proper process.

Make sure your work
is properly handed over.

That's it?

What else?

Thanks.

Close the door.

I feel there’s still a bit of an issue.

Check this line.

I think there's a problem.

I'll check it.

Just leave it here.

Flora.

Kitty.

Flora.

Why does this budget
have to be approved by Luke?

Lime's budget management
has three core components.

They include the approval process
and time limits.

They're all clearly defined.

Dony, you should know that, shouldn't you?

All right.

I'll follow the budget approval process.

I'll get going.

None of the top MCN resources
from our Beijing office can be used.

Everything has to go through
the Hangzhou headquarters now.

Isn't that basically
starting from scratch?

The client just asked me
why this New Media campaign

was suddenly moved
from Beijing to Hangzhou.

They think the Beijing team
is more experienced

and has better resources.

They're concerned about the results.

I didn't even know how to explain it.

Just tell them
Hangzhou is an emerging city

with enormous potential
that's poised for rapid growth.

Potential?

Based on the data,

how does Hangzhou's new media ecosystem
or top-tier resources

compare to Beijing's?

The resources aren't there.

The client's concerned.

And the team's working themselves
to the bone.

Where's Dony?

I heard he's out
doing market research again.

I saw Dony

downstairs this morning
carrying a pot of orchids.

They were beautiful.

You could tell they were expensive.

Yeah. Yesterday it was an art gallery.

The day before, a tea house.

So what came of all that research?

How are we supposed
to explain it to the client?

Tell them our boss went off
to drink tea and admire flowers?

Let's just focus on our own work for now.

When Dony gets back,

ask him to give us clearer instructions
as soon as possible.

BUDGET REQUEST APPROVED

Why does this budget
have to be approved by Luke?

Hello?

- Did I interrupt you?
- No.

I was walking Luke.

What's up?

Did you receive
the two budget requests from Dony?

No.

Is Dony in a rush
and asked you to follow up with me?

No.

According to the process,

those two budget requests need your
signature before they can take effect.

But somehow they skipped you.

I've already received
the payment notification.

I don't think the system
would miss something like that.

Got it.

Has he given you
a hard time anywhere else?

No.

He's hardly ever in the office.

By the way, give me Sun Yu's number.

A friend of mine in investment banking
wants to meet her.

Maybe they'll invest in her.

Thank you.

I mean it.

All right, then.

Let's go. Luke.

Coming.

- Kitty.
- Flora.

Sorry to bother you so late.

Could you do me a favor?

Sure.

Could you report to Dony for me?

Me?

Yes.

I… I still have some backend data
to finish processing.

I'm a little pressed for time.

But I've already finished the proposal.

No problem. I'll go.

Great. Thanks.

No problem.

Flora.

If anything comes up later,
call me anytime.

I'll be around. I can come over.

Don't you need
to finish processing the data?

Yeah. But Dony
can be pretty particular about work.

When you report to him,

pay attention to how you approach it.

Don't worry.

Okay.

Why haven't you left yet?

Let's go together.

Flora.

Kitty.

Kitty.

Are you afraid of Dony?

The background check results are in.

During his time at his previous company,

Dony came under strong suspicion
of embezzlement.

And it involved
a substantial amount of money.

Specifically?

He skimmed money through price differences
in supplier contracts.

It wasn't a particularly
sophisticated scheme,

but the investigation was quietly dropped.

He left the company on the grounds
of personal career development.

That does fit his usual style.

I don't get it.

How could someone with such
a serious black mark on his record

be parachuted in by the board
to keep you in check?

Who was it on the board
that brought Dony in?

Mr. He. He Qiming.

Last year, He Qiming strongly backed
that Southeast Asia project.

I joined forces with several shareholders
to vote it down.

I guess he felt humiliated.

Divide and balance power. Create chaos.

He just wants to see me fail.

It's obvious.

So, Dony works for him?

More like a puppet.

A puppet who's willing
to go head-to-head with me.

Dony, we're here
to give you a work update.

Could he be laundering money for Mr. He?

Send Lumi to Hangzhou.

Follow the trail back to the source.

No.

Lumi is known to be your right hand.

If you do that, won't you tip them off?

That's exactly the point.

I want Lumi to openly investigate
the cash flow, ownership structure,

and beneficial owners
behind those companies.

Peel back the layers,

and eventually we'll expose
the person behind it all.

You're good at this.

You're still up?

Sun Yu's project
isn't performing very well.

I'm helping her revise her business plan.

Sun Yu's making a dating app?

Take a look at this proposal for me.

You're the expert
when it comes to investments.

The business plan isn't strong enough.

The data isn't convincing enough.

And the key selling points
don't stand out.

Then,

how can a proposal attract investors?

Shang Zhitao, I'm on leave,
and you're still making me work.

It's not like
you've got anything else to do.

Help me polish the business plan.

Now you're pushing your luck.