Are You Safe Episode 12 Recap
> Are You Safe Recap
Qin Huai and Zhou You infiltrated a factory, climbing over a wall and using dog food to distract the guard dogs before entering the courtyard. Zhou You complained about the difficult journey and hinted at reimbursement for his taxi fare, while Qin Huai simply asked if he brought the necessary items for their mission. Inside, Qin Huai immediately noticed large piles of bottle caps, meticulously collected and sorted, suggesting a unique business operation.
He explained that his investigation into the money laundering accounts from Ding Ding's nude chat scam and his godmother's fraud revealed a strong connection between them, ultimately leading him to this suspicious location. Zhou You wondered if it implied the same criminal syndicate was behind both schemes. As they continued their covert operation, Zhou You's phone rang, causing a tense moment.
He quickly answered, learning that Ding Ding was calling with good news: Sister Guo had successfully located the nude chat scammers' hideout and recovered his money, prompting Ding Ding to invite them for a celebratory meal. Zhou You promptly ended the call and silenced his phone to avoid detection. Soon after, a truck arrived, laden with more bottle caps.
Qin Huai and Zhou You ingeniously hid themselves in plastic boxes, which were then loaded onto a forklift, allowing them to gain deeper access into the factory. They observed a large-scale assembly line dedicated to sorting the bottle caps, and workers discussing the unusual separation of bottles and caps, with one remarking on the "beyond imagination" profit margin of the caps. The duo was puzzled by the extensive operation for seemingly simple bottle caps.
Later, Qin Huai met with Lin Shuo, inquiring about Mr. Zhou, the owner of Fizzy Frenzy Beverage Factory. Lin Shuo was curious how Qin Huai knew she had represented Mr. Zhou in a previous case, to which Qin Huai replied he found the information in publicly available legal records.
Lin Shuo provided Mr. Zhou's contact details but cautioned that he was currently in distress due to issues with a bottle cap prize redemption campaign and might not have time for a meeting. Qin Huai surprised her by revealing he was already aware of Mr. Zhou's predicament, hinting that he might be able to offer assistance.
Qin Huai and Zhou You then met Mr. Zhou, who shared the severe financial losses his company, Fizzy Frenzy, had suffered from its recent prize redemption campaign. He explained that an earlier promotion, where "One more bottle" was printed under the caps, resulted in over a million more caps being redeemed than actually produced, indicating widespread forgery. To counter this, they switched to QR codes for redemptions, but the problem only escalated, with the redemption rate soaring past 100%.
Mr. Zhou revealed that while they had initially allocated ¥20 million ($2. 7 million) for prizes, the actual expenditure had already exceeded ¥45 million ($6. 2 million). He suspected a systemic flaw in the prize redemption platform and had already reported the issue to the police, now seeking Qin Huai's expert help. Zhou You questioned Qin Huai's decision to take on a corporate client, as their company typically served individuals.
Qin Huai explained that their core mission was to prevent harm, and by acting swiftly, they could minimize the client's losses. Back at their office, Zhou You diligently analyzed the backend data from the prize redemption platform. He discovered multiple IDs that had each claimed prizes over 10,000 times, accumulating hundreds of thousands of yuan in winnings.
Qin Huai immediately recognized this as blatant fraud and noted the striking similarity to the scam that had targeted his godmother, even down to the underlying code. He observed that the scammers were becoming more adept and increasingly greedy. Determined to bring them to justice, Qin Huai encouraged Zhou You and offered to buy him dinner as they continued their late-night work. Zhou You jokingly requested expensive meals, but Qin Huai settled for two steamed buns.
Meanwhile, Qin Huai overheard Aunt Ding questioning Zhou You's unusual work ethic, wondering if Qin Huai secretly paid him or had cast some kind of spell. Zhou You, referencing Qin Huai's philosophy, defended his dedication.
Qin Huai then stepped out, dismissing the idea of a pay raise but suggesting that working overtime might become a new company policy, arguing that as an internet company, they should embrace a "996" (9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week) schedule to stay competitive. Separately, Chen Mo, undercover at a courier station, observed the frequent updates to the identity verification system. He noticed couriers complaining about how these system upgrades often caused delays and frustration.
Leveraging this, Chen Mo revealed he had developed and successfully injected an auto-run script onto the criminal syndicate's overseas server. This script continuously edited the uploaded ID card photos, making them appear legitimate while simultaneously allowing Chen Mo to monitor the server for crucial evidence without alerting the scammers. He explained that since the server was located overseas and all registered information was fake, simply reporting it to the police would be ineffective without more solid evidence.
Chen Mo was determined to personally apprehend the criminal organization. He was also actively searching for an individual who possessed a specific phone from the black market, suspecting them to be involved in the theft of ID cards. For now, he concluded, they could only wait for more information. At home, Mu Tong took Chen Mom out for a pleasant outing, during which Chen Mom expressed her gratitude for the company and wistfully wished Chen Mo could join them.
She understood, however, that he was busy with a new job in "internet logistics," which Mu Tong clarified was essentially express delivery. Upon returning home, Chen Mom tried to pour herself a glass of water but accidentally dropped and shattered it. Mu Tong quickly rushed to clean up, urging Chen Mom not to move and to ask for help next time. Chen Mom, feeling useless and a burden, expressed her sorrow, believing she was only causing trouble.
Mu Tong gently reassured her. Later, to address Chen Mom's feelings of inadequacy and to enhance her comfort, Chen Mo and Mu Tong surprised her with a new wheelchair and showcased various modifications they had made to the house. They installed corner bumpers on table edges and door frames, added support handles in the washroom, and placed a pager in her room so she could easily call for assistance whenever needed. Chen Mom was deeply touched by their thoughtful gestures.
Chen Mo, however, felt a pang of guilt, realizing that Mu Tong had taken on so much responsibility for his mother, while he himself felt largely helpless. He expressed his thanks, but felt that mere words were insufficient to convey his profound appreciation for Mu Tong's dedication. Meanwhile, Xu called Ma Pingchuan into his office, informing him of a new assignment as a senior consultant at Hupo Academy.
Xu explained the company's growth required not only technological breakthroughs but also a new generation of capable management talent, which Ma Pingchuan would now be responsible for training. To alleviate Ma Pingchuan's "workload" and make the transition smoother, Xu proudly announced he had poached Hu Dezheng (Vincent), a brilliant internet engineer under 30 from the USA, to handle the technical director responsibilities.
Xu then subtly underscored the intense competition and the "extremely high demands" on technical directors in the IT industry, encompassing "state of mind, capability, energy, stamina, and even creativity," subtly implying that Ma Pingchuan, at 40, was no longer fit for his current demanding role. Ma Pingchuan, despite his reservations, understood the underlying message. He acknowledged Xu's judgment and accepted the company's decision, respecting the company's decisions during its current challenges.
That evening, Ma Pingchuan returned home to find his wife distraught. She recounted how their daughter, Qing Qing, had felt inferior at a friend's birthday party compared to other children her age, fearing Qing Qing was already "losing at the starting line." She passionately advocated for sending Qing Qing to Mingde High School, even suggesting she might ask her own mother for financial help.
She sternly warned Ma Pingchuan not to engage in any illegal activities to acquire money, no matter the pressure. Ma Pingchuan promised to uphold the law and agreed to research the costs of Mingde High School, even considering a loan from his mother-in-law if necessary to secure Qing Qing's education. In a brief public safety segment, a person recounted an incident where ¥200 ($27) was deducted from their account before they even scanned a QR code for payment.
The other person explained that this occurs when individuals open their payment QR code in advance, allowing scammers to secretly photograph and use it. In another instance, a fake QR code for a traffic fine was found to direct payment to an individual's account instead of the official authority.
The message urged everyone to exercise caution when using QR codes, always verify the payee's information, and use official applications (such as "12123" for traffic fines) for all utility bills and official payments to ensure security.
