Spiraling Upward

[After living this way for thirty years, the tower finally comes crashing down. She turns the tide when all seems lost and props up the crumbling edifice.] Luo Xuan, head of Red Star Garment Factory, finds herself pursued by two men with ulterior motives. The bad news: one is cold and arrogant, offering her love but no marriage. The other is refined and calculating, offering marriage but no love. The good news: one has the connections to help Red Star upgrade its industry. The other has the money to invest in the factory and expand its operations. Luo Xuan thinks through her tears: Can things really get any better? In 2008, the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis triggered a global financial storm, leaving Luosang County’s garment and textile industry cluster on the brink of collapse. Everyone else is going down, but Luo Xuan is going up. Her uncle: “So what if I took over Red Star? Get lost!” Then: “How did you manage to sideline me?” The local kingpin: “Red Star owes twenty million. Get lost!” Then: “Oh, my moneybags, I was wrong!” The Luosang factory director: “It’s time Red Star went bankrupt.” Then: “Hey, wait, why are you sitting in my chair?” Foreign investors: “Chinese labor is cheap.” Then: “Please come back! Don’t all walk off the job!” Europe and America: “We’ll use trade barriers to keep China in line.” Then: “Wait, China isn’t letting us play anymore!” Unscrupulous businessmen: “Luo Xuan is as sly as a fox and as ruthless as a wolf, a tyrant who crushes us!” The workers: “Luo Xuan is honest and kind, fair and upright, a wonderful factory director who cares about the people!” Luo Xuan considers herself an honest, straightforward person. Until one day, she realizes everyone is reading her moods and trying to cater to her preferences, including the two men.