Are You Safe Episode 15 Recap
> Are You Safe Recap
Big Zebra bringing Qin Huai and Zhou You to the bustling Sanjiang Human Resources Market. Big Zebra boasts that most people there are his employees, constantly recruiting more. He explains that individuals can register an account with just an ID card to perform various tasks like deal hunting, ghostwriting, cryptocurrency mining, and stress testing. Offering them food, he proposes a lucrative business deal.
Playing along, Qin Huai expresses his own desire to get rich before revealing his true identity as someone working in cybersecurity. Big Zebra and his men immediately react aggressively, restraining Qin Huai. Qin Huai insists he wants to negotiate a genuine business deal, complaining that the cybersecurity industry often involves exploitation and threats of revenge. Big Zebra dismisses his concerns, emphasizing the difference between Qin Huai's educated background and his group's necessity to exploit loopholes to make a living.
Qin Huai then proposes writing a program and forming a partnership to "exploit the wealthy," suggesting Big Zebra gather existing deal hunter leaders and their teams, with Qin Huai handling the technology while Big Zebra manages the manpower, and profits split 50/50. Big Zebra counters with a demand for a 70/30 split in his favor, insisting they only use his existing deal hunters.
Qin Huai argues that 30% wouldn't be worth his effort in developing the program and managing and paying his existing deal hunters. To demonstrate his sincerity, Big Zebra offers to provide 200 group administrators to start the collaboration. At this moment, Lin Shuo arrives with A'Ming, one of Big Zebra's group members. A'Ming immediately begins eating buns, remarking that business has been slow lately.
Big Zebra quickly intervenes, highlighting that while the financial gains may not be huge, the job offers invaluable freedom. A'Ming shares his personal journey, recounting a difficult life of unstable jobs such as washing cars, delivering water, and working construction, where he lived hand-to-mouth with no hope for the future. He credits Big Zebra for giving him a sense of purpose, a dream, a future, and a true understanding of freedom.
Hearing A'Ming's words, Qin Huai realizes that Big Zebra has been deceiving these people. A'Ming sees his work as more than just a job; it's a form of companionship and faith, and he asserts that their activities are not illegal, merely "helping people." Lin Shuo clarifies that "stress testing" involves malicious attacks designed to overwhelm target websites and render them inaccessible. She directly questions the legality of using such methods against shopping sites, game platforms, and financial institutions.
A'Ming, visibly concerned, asks Big Zebra if it's illegal, but Big Zebra quickly dismisses the notion, claiming it's not serious and that he wouldn't be openly discussing it if it were illegal. Later, Zhou You receives a message from A'Ming, containing the accounts for over 200 deal hunter groups controlled by Big Zebra. Lin Shuo is bewildered as to why A'Ming would willingly disclose such sensitive information to a stranger.
Zhou You proudly explains that he employed "psychological attack" and "social engineering" techniques. As they play cards, Qin Huai asks Zhou You how he managed to persuade A'Ming. Zhou You explains that A'Ming and Big Zebra had fundamentally different values: A'Ming prized loyalty, while Big Zebra was solely motivated by money.
Zhou You posits that when a loyal person realizes they are merely a tool for profit, their initial trust transforms into intense anger, especially when the actions are illegal and harmful. Qin Huai observes Zhou You's emotional agitation, suggesting he is deeply empathizing with A'Ming. Zhou You admits that encountering A'Ming brought back memories of his own past when he ran away from home, feeling lost and yearning for his mother's cooking and the comfort of his bed.
Qin Huai lightheartedly teases Zhou You, telling him he just "lacks love." With the evidence provided by A'Ming, the police successfully apprehend Big Zebra and his entire group. A'Ming expresses profound remorse to Lin Shuo, realizing the gravity of his actions and the harm he caused, and asks her to convey his apologies to the victims. Qin Huai later speaks with Lin Shuo, suggesting she reconsider filing a lawsuit against A'Ming.
He shows her data compiled by Zhou You, which indicates that many members of the deal hunter groups, like A'Ming, are either disabled or merely opportunists who may not have fully understood the illegal nature of their involvement. He leaves the final legal decision to her. Lin Shuo then discusses the case with Shen Yizhang, reflecting on her altered perspective.
She acknowledges that while Big Zebra and other leaders who exploit illegal resources are genuinely malicious, the members are often brainwashed ordinary individuals struggling to survive, who need guidance rather than condemnation. Shen Yizhang notes Lin Shuo's changed stance from her previous zero-tolerance approach to crime. Lin Shuo confesses that she used to view issues from an arrogant, "top-down" perspective, realizing she had been dogmatic and narrow-minded.
Shen Yizhang reassures her, affirming her as the best and encouraging her not to doubt herself or change for "insignificant ants." Subsequently, Lin Shuo calls Qin Huai to inform him that President Zhou has decided not to sue A'Ming, acknowledging him as a victim. Lin Shuo then states her new priority is to develop software that can quickly identify deal hunters, helping companies cut their losses and prevent crime at a technical level.
Meanwhile, Zhou You's "Shepherd" system development faces a significant obstacle. Struggling with coder's block, and too proud to ask Qin Huai for help, he secretly seeks advice from a netizen, Gray Egret, online. Zhou You shares his code designed to identify malicious prize claims. Gray Egret, identifying themselves as "white hat hackers," generously shares a similar code they had written, which provides Zhou You with new insights and ideas.
Concurrently, Qin Huai is also grappling with programming difficulties and openly expresses a wish for Chen Mo to be there to assist him. Zhou You teases Qin Huai about his "double standards," noting Qin Huai's own struggle despite earlier criticizing Zhou You. Qin Huai confesses he misses Chen Mo's unique skills and "graceful bearing," prompting Zhou You to muse why Qin Huai's eyes always light up when he talks about Chen Mo.
Earlier that morning, Chen Mo had prepared breakfast for his mother, promising to spend more time with her once his current project was completed. As he leaves the house, Mu Tong reminds him to take care. Later, Chen Mo's mother's phone malfunctions, preventing her from watching her drama. Mu Tong, unable to fix the phone, offers Chen Mo's laptop for her to use instead. Chen Mo's mother begins using the laptop and discovers something on the screen that leaves her visibly shocked.
