Be Reborn Recap, Plot, Synopsis

> Be Reborn

Be Reborn Synopsis

When the ancient painting “Shui Lian” is stolen, the criminal investigation team leader Luo Jian is ordered to investigate, so he befriends a special talented college student Zhuang Wenjie. They cooperate to solve many strange cases.

Be Reborn Recap

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• 23
• 24
• 25
• 26

Episode 1 Recap

A theft occurred at the Qingcheng University Art Gallery. The stolen painting, "Water Lily," a masterpiece by the Republic of China painter Li Chengyi, had been previously stolen in the late 1980s and was only returned to public view in 2001 after an anonymous collector donated it to the museum.

Zhuang Wenjie, a senior law student at Qingcheng University with a deep passion for painting, especially "Water Lily" which he had copied seventeen times, discovered the painting on display had been swapped for a counterfeit after an 18-second power outage. He immediately reported it to the security staff, but a physical altercation ensued when they did not believe him, leading them to call the police. Criminal Investigation Department Captain Luo Jian and his team began a meticulous investigation.

Initial forensic examination of the scene revealed that the dozens of footprints belonged to museum staff and visiting students, with no signs of external intruders. When Luo Jian questioned Zhuang Wenjie, the student explained that the authentic "Water Lily" was painted from the edge to the center, with leaf veins outlined as the paint was drying, whereas the fake exhibited the opposite technique.

He also pointed out a one-centimeter deviation in the scroll's hanging position and suspected the thief used a four-way hook to switch the paintings. When Luo Jian questioned Zhuang Wenjie about his alibi for the night of the theft, Zhuang Wenjie stated he was sleeping at a rented apartment he lived in off-campus, but had no one to corroborate his alibi. Officer Pang Dazhi, however, considered Zhuang Wenjie the prime suspect.

Pang Dazhi cited a past incident where a classmate's laptop was stolen from their dorm and later returned. Although there was no concrete evidence or surveillance footage in the corridor, and Zhuang Wenjie denied involvement, he was the only one observed entering and exiting the room during that period, leading to lingering suspicion among his classmates. Pang Dazhi further revealed Zhuang Wenjie’s family history, noting that his great-grandfather and grandfather were infamous bandits.

Twelve years prior, his father, Zhuang Yaobai, along with an accomplice named Ding Shenghuo, stole the famous painting "Luoshen." Zhuang Yaobai's car subsequently crashed into a river during his escape, and though his body was never recovered, he was presumed dead. During their technical analysis, the police discovered the name "Zhuang Wenjie" written on the counterfeit "Water Lily" using invisible ink, only visible with a polarizer.

Despite this incriminating detail, Luo Jian, acknowledging the discrepancy in the handwriting, decided not to detain Zhuang Wenjie, as the signature closely resembled his but was not an exact match. He chose to speak with Zhuang Wenjie away from the station, urging him to disclose any suspicious people or events he might have encountered. Zhuang Wenjie, however, denied seeing anything unusual, concealing the fact that he had recently found his window at home open.

Luo Jian, aware of Zhuang Wenjie's challenging past after losing both parents (his mother to illness, his father in the river accident), assured him that his family background did not prejudice the investigation. He warned Zhuang Wenjie to be cautious, as ill-intentioned individuals might target him because of his father's past. Luo Jian concluded their conversation with a profound piece of advice: "To truly escape the darkness, one must strive to stand in the light."

Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenjie’s girlfriend, Lin Zhiyue, firmly believed in his innocence but was worried about the rumors. When she confronted him, he responded with coldness, stating he didn't care what others thought, which left her perplexed. Later, Zhuang Wenjie's good friend, Fatty Sun, expressed concern about the rumors circulating in their department regarding Zhuang Wenjie's alleged theft. Zhuang Wenjie, unfazed, reassured him that the truth would eventually come out.

Luo Jian, accompanied by officer Liao Shuang, revisited the Qingcheng University Art Gallery. Their investigation uncovered a section of ceiling glass directly above where "Water Lily" had hung that appeared to have been recently tampered with. They also found surveillance footage from the night of the theft with an 18-second blank segment. This blank segment coincided with an 18-second power outage confirmed by the gallery's security staff, which was attributed to the system switching to a backup power supply.

The police, however, suspected deliberate interference caused the surveillance system's protective shutdown, as it operated on an independent power source. The team, using a four-way hook as Zhuang Wenjie had suggested might have been used, simulated the theft, demonstrating that the painting could indeed have been stolen and replaced within the 18-second window, highlighting the precision and coordination required.

Driven to prove his innocence and uncover the truth, Zhuang Wenjie sought out Luo Jian, requesting another look at the fake painting. He explained his extensive experience with "Water Lily," having copied it seventeen times and discussed techniques with other artists online. He believed that by closely examining the counterfeit, he could deduce information about the forger. Despite Pang Dazhi's skepticism, Luo Jian agreed and invited art expert Teacher Fang to assist.

Upon examining the painting, Zhuang Wenjie suggested the forger might have used a projector to trace the original onto Xuan paper, then copied it, noting the remarkable color accuracy despite potential issues with projectors. Teacher Fang initially considered high-tech printing but found no ink reflection. He then detected the distinct smell of Xukang grass, a plant pigment historically used in Thangka painting to enhance richness and dimension.

Zhuang Wenjie quickly identified this as a characteristic of street artists who often use Xukang grass to boost color saturation in portraits, employing traditional methods as a gimmick to attract customers. Teacher Fang agreed with Zhuang Wenjie's theory, noting the direct and decisive brushwork on the fake was typical of street artists rather than master painters like Li Chengyi.

Following this lead, Luo Jian interviewed street artists, discovering that a painter known as "San" (Ma San) was renowned for his landscape work and had been absent from his usual spot for several days due to a "big gig." Luo Jian located Ma San and presented him with a picture of "Water Lily" on his phone. Ma San immediately panicked and attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended.

At the station, Ma San confessed that a young man, who introduced himself as "Wenjie," had contacted him by phone about a month prior.

This mysterious individual offered a substantial sum to copy "Water Lily" and provided a bag containing a cash deposit, traditional materials for a scroll painting (rollers for the top and bottom, raw Xuan paper, paraffin wax, and Shu brocade—all old, Republic of China-era items), and specifically requested that the name "Zhuang Wenjie" be signed on the finished painting using invisible ink.

Ma San was instructed to dispose of the phone after the job, but he kept it, only discarding the SIM card, and gave the phone to his girlfriend. Returning home from school, Zhuang Wenjie found an item he had placed on his door was undisturbed. Reassured, he entered, only to be surprised by three strangers in his house.

Episode 2 Recap

Zhuang Wenjie confronted three unfamiliar men in his apartment with composure, realizing they were the same individuals who had previously entered his home and deliberately left behind the photo of him and his mother. One of the men introduced himself as Ding Shenghuo. Zhuang Wenjie accused Ding Shenghuo of stealing the "Water Lily" painting and framing him. Ding Shenghuo denied the accusation, claiming that Ma San had identified Zhuang Wenjie as the prime suspect.

However, Zhuang Wenjie, observing the subtle gestures and habits of the other two men, quickly deduced their respective roles in the theft. He pointed out that the man sitting behind him, who frequently pressed his left purlicue, likely suffered from tenosynovitis and was a technical expert, probably responsible for the power outage at the art gallery.

The other man, who consistently sought out dark areas, was likely skilled in exploiting security blind spots, having checked out Zhuang Wenjie's apartment in advance. Ding Shenghuo was impressed by Zhuang Wenjie's sharp insight, noting it was as keen as his father Zhuang Yaobo's. Ding Shenghuo then asked Zhuang Wenjie for a favor, but Zhuang Wenjie firmly refused, stating he would not become a thief, and insisted that the actions of his ancestors had no bearing on him.

Ding Shenghuo then called out a young man, Ding Wei, who had been hiding in the restroom. Zhuang Wenjie recognized Ding Wei as the person he had seen talking to Lin Zhiyue earlier that day and warned him to stay away from her. Ding Shenghuo countered, asserting that Zhuang Wenjie cared deeply for Lin Zhiyue and threatened her safety if Zhuang Wenjie did not cooperate.

Ding Shenghuo then revealed that he had hidden the real "Water Lily" painting in Zhuang Wenjie's apartment and had used Zhuang Wenjie's fixed-line telephone to contact Ma San for forging the painting. He informed Zhuang Wenjie that Ma San had been arrested and that the police would arrive within 20 minutes, urging him to find the painting and consider his proposal. Ding Shenghuo and his associates then departed.

After they left, Zhuang Wenjie frantically searched his apartment and finally found the genuine "Water Lily" hidden in the kitchen ceiling. Just then, Luo Jian arrived at Zhuang Wenjie’s apartment, feigning a casual visit. Startled, Zhuang Wenjie quickly hid the real painting underneath a stack of his own imitation paintings, as Luo Jian looked around the room, intending to inspect them. Zhuang Wenjie quickly diverted his attention.

Luo Jian inquired about Zhuang Wenjie’s whereabouts during two specific times, as Ma San's phone records showed two calls originating from a fixed-line phone at Zhuang Wenjie's rental apartment: one on the 24th of the previous month around 4:10 PM and another on the 9th of the current month around 2 PM.

Zhuang Wenjie confirmed he was not home on either occasion: on the 24th, he was at a rock climbing club activity with his teacher, who could verify his presence, and on the 9th, he was at Xiaoyi Art Gallery buying drawing paper and pigments, where the owner could also confirm his purchase. Luo Jian then asked about a fixed-line phone in the apartment, but Zhuang Wenjie was unaware of having one.

He called his landlord, Mr. Zhou, who explained that the old landline had been removed due to age, but the phone jack remained. As Luo Jian prepared to leave, he noticed the faint smell of smoke. Zhuang Wenjie quickly lied, claiming a plumber had been there to fix a clogged toilet and was smoking. Luo Jian, finding no further anomalies, left the apartment. The next morning, Zhuang Wenjie went to school and noticed Ding Wei following him persistently.

Frustrated by the harassment, Zhuang Wenjie ordered takeout from Xiangzikou restaurant, where he worked, to be delivered to Luo Jian. The package contained detailed sketches of Ding Shenghuo and his three associates, along with a note explaining they were the real thieves and the original "Water Lily" painting. Luo Jian received the package and immediately sent Liao Shuang to have Mr. Fang, an expert, authenticate the painting.

He also dispatched officers to investigate the takeout platform and ascertain the true identities of the four individuals in the sketches. Separately, Ding Wei offered to sponsor Lin Zhiyue's Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, and she gladly exchanged contact information with him. After Ding Wei left, Zhuang Wenjie warned Lin Zhiyue not to trust him or have any further contact. Back at the station, the delivered "Water Lily" was confirmed to be genuine by experts.

Luo Jian learned that Zhuang Wenjie had indeed been to Xiangzikou that day and that the delivery rider had brought the package directly to the Criminal Investigation Department. Pang Dazhi quickly identified three of the four men from the sketches: Ding Shenghuo, a notorious organizer of art heists, who was arrested for the Luoshen case in 2007 with Zhuang Yaobo and served ten years, released a year ago.

Lei Xiaofei, nicknamed "Flea," specialized in high-rise thefts and was released a year ago after serving four years. Wang Sixing, known as "Crow," hacked company financial systems using Trojan viruses, served three years, and was released six months ago. All three had served time in the same prison cell block. Ding Wei, however, had no criminal record, and his identity remained unconfirmed. Pang Dazhi was convinced that Zhuang Wenjie was a thief trying to clear his name.

However, Luo Jian theorized that Ding Shenghuo, Lei Xiaofei, and Wang Sixing had colluded to steal the painting and then framed Zhuang Wenjie. Luo Jian also noticed a peculiar detail: the "Water Lily" was first donated to the museum on September 21, 2001, which was Zhuang Wenjie's birthday. Later, Zhuang Wenjie went to the restroom, where Ding Wei was waiting for him.

Ding Wei pressed Zhuang Wenjie about his decision to cooperate with Ding Shenghuo, reminding him that he had no other option after the painting was left in his home. In a moment of urgency, Zhuang Wenjie secretly called Luo Jian. Over the phone, Luo Jian overheard Ding Wei threatening Zhuang Wenjie. Realizing the phone was lit, Ding Wei became suspicious and demanded to see Zhuang Wenjie's phone.

Zhuang Wenjie quickly deleted the call record and switched his phone to music mode before handing it over. Ding Wei examined the phone, found nothing, and seemed convinced that Zhuang Wenjie was ready to cooperate. Zhuang Wenjie then agreed to meet Ding Shenghuo. Ding Wei blindfolded Zhuang Wenjie and confiscated his phone before driving him away.

Luo Jian, having heard parts of the conversation, immediately requested school surveillance footage, which confirmed Zhuang Wenjie leaving with Ding Wei in a white car. Luo Jian ordered his officers to follow the vehicle. The police pursued Ding Wei’s car to an underground parking garage at a shopping mall. However, due to Ding Wei’s anti-reconnaissance skills, the car disappeared within the garage. Officers guarding the exit also reported no sighting of the vehicle. Concerned for Zhuang Wenjie's safety, Luo Jian instructed his team to check all underground garage surveillance footage, but they found no trace of the car.

Episode 3 Recap

Luo Jian instructed Dazhi and Hao on the current situation, then told Liao Shuang to contact nearby security patrols to search the underground parking lot for the car. He noticed a large truck exiting the underground garage and quickly confirmed its exit time was two minutes after Ding Wei's car entered, deducing that Ding Wei's vehicle was hidden inside. Luo Jian immediately dispatched officers to track and intercept the truck.

As Luo Jian suspected, Ding Wei drove his car into the truck, which then departed the underground garage undetected by the police. The truck arrived at a car workshop located at the intersection of Kunming Road and Gehong Road. Ding Shenghuo was already waiting there. Upon Zhuang Wenjie's arrival, Ding Shenghuo welcomed him, saying he didn't expect them to meet again so soon. Zhuang Wenjie expressed his frustration at the complicated procedure.

Ding Shenghuo explained that "Every trade has its own rules," implying Zhuang Yaobai might not have taught him this. Zhuang Wenjie clarified that he and his father were different individuals. Ding Shenghuo praised Zhuang Wenjie's "talent" in successfully evading the police the previous night.

Luo Jian, still tracking the situation, asked for clarification when Dazhi mentioned Ding Shenghuo had previously offered Zhuang Wenjie a painting and was now going to such lengths to pick him up, wondering about his true intentions. Ding Shenghuo revealed his target: Liao Detong, the president of Deyao Group.

Liao Detong was obsessed with collecting rare treasures and had invested heavily in a highly secure vault, equipped with advanced security measures like face recognition and motion capture, accessible only by him. Ding Shenghuo intended to breach this vault. Zhuang Wenjie questioned how they would enter if only Liao Detong held the key. Ding Shenghuo explained that the "special key" was the "Water Lily" painting, and their plan was to sell it to Liao Detong.

He emphasized, "We don't need to enter the vault. We just need the painting to enter the vault." Zhuang Wenjie was skeptical, pointing out that "Water Lily" wasn't a rare treasure and questioning if Liao Detong would dare to acquire it given the widespread publicity surrounding its theft. Ding Shenghuo confidently stated that Liao Detong would buy it "because of you." He revealed that Liao Detong trusted Zhuang Yaobai, and thus, by extension, Zhuang Wenjie, as Zhuang Yaobai’s son.

Ding Shenghuo had already sent Zhuang Wenjie's photo to Liao Detong, which led to an immediate arrangement for a meeting. Zhuang Wenjie agreed to the plan but set a condition: after the operation, Ding Shenghuo must explain the story behind a particular photo, after which they would be even. Ding Shenghuo accepted the deal. Ding Wei expressed concern about retrieving the painting alone, recalling Zhuang Wenjie's earlier trick of mixing real and fake versions to deceive the police.

He feared being framed if something went wrong. Ding Shenghuo agreed that Zhuang Wenjie should accompany Ding Wei and warned Zhuang Wenjie not to "try anything funny." Ding Wei then drove Zhuang Wenjie to his home. Inside, Zhuang Wenjie noticed a corner of the tablecloth on a table was folded, a subtle signal left by Luo Jian. He used a stool to reach the ceiling panel and retrieve a box containing the real painting.

Ding Wei, growing suspicious, secretly pulled out a pair of scissors. Zhuang Wenjie took out the painting to confirm it. Ding Wei, seeing only one painting, angrily threatened Zhuang Wenjie with the scissors for supposedly deceiving him. Unfazed, Zhuang Wenjie reminded Ding Wei that harming him would lead to trouble with Ding Shenghuo.

Zhuang Wenjie then deliberately went to close a window, providing an opportunity for Luo Jian, who was waiting outside, to signal him to put on a miniature bone-conduction earpiece from the box. Luo Jian later told his team that he was relieved Zhuang Wenjie had understood his subtle hint and chosen to cooperate, indicating he was now "on the side of justice."

Luo Jian, despite having lost the truck, believed Ding Shenghuo had an ulterior motive for returning the painting to Zhuang Wenjie's home. He decided to use the painting as bait. He didn't fully trust Zhuang Wenjie but decided to "believe in his ability" and authorized the next phase of the operation, emphasizing the need to ensure both Zhuang Wenjie's safety and the painting's integrity.

While Ding Wei was distracted, Zhuang Wenjie discreetly retrieved the earpiece from the box, put it on, and placed the painting into a bag. Ding Wei, unaware, then drove Zhuang Wenjie away from his home. Luo Jian's team resumed tracking their car. As they drove, Luo Jian lost contact with Zhuang Wenjie's earpiece. Su Ying suggested two possibilities: either powerful electrical equipment nearby was interfering with the signal, or the criminals had installed a jammer in the car workshop.

She explained that without a direct connection, Zhuang Wenjie’s device could not be reconfigured. Concerned for Zhuang Wenjie, Luo Jian ordered his team to stake out the car workshop. Back at the workshop, Ding Shenghuo examined the painting and confirmed its authenticity, dismissing Ding Wei's earlier suspicions. Zhuang Wenjie, feigning impatience, asked how the painting would help them enter Liao Detong's vault. Ding Shenghuo unveiled a miniature device called "Beetle," a new German-invented electromagnetic signal jammer.

He explained it was undetectable by security scanners and, once activated, would disable all security systems within a 30-meter radius, including the vault’s electromagnetic sensors. Ding Shenghuo predicted that Liao Detong would immediately place the notorious "Water Lily" painting in his vault. Zhuang Wenjie, to further gain trust, pretended to be very careful with the painting and offered to help install the device into the scroll if Ding Shenghuo's men were not delicate enough.

Ding Shenghuo expressed confidence that the painting would be handled carefully and ordered Zhuang Wenjie and Ding Wei to proceed to meet Liao Detong in half an hour, stressing the need for haste as the painting was a "hot potato." Before they left, Ding Shenghuo gave Zhuang Wenjie some "tricks" for bargaining with experienced "veterans" like Liao Detong. Ding Wei then drove Zhuang Wenjie in a Jetta, license plate Qing K32518.

As they moved out of the jamming zone, Luo Jian re-established contact with Zhuang Wenjie. Zhuang Wenjie, subtly relaying information to Luo Jian while appearing to question Ding Wei about Liao Detong's relationship with Zhuang Yaobai, mentioned the "Beetle" device hidden in the painting's scroll. Luo Jian immediately ordered a background check on Liao Detong. Luo Jian explained to Zhuang Wenjie that they needed to wait for an opportunity to "catch them red-handed" to ensure a solid conviction.

Zhuang Wenjie, feigning impatience and concern for the painting's fate, expressed frustration over the police's cautious approach. Misinterpreting this as genuine worry for the painting, Ding Wei promised to steal it back from the vault for Zhuang Wenjie. Luo Jian’s team quickly discovered that Liao Detong was the chairman of Deyao Group, a prominent entrepreneur and collector in Qingcheng City, who owned a private auction house specializing in artifacts and paintings.

Su Ying elaborated on the "Beetle," confirming it was an electromagnetic jammer that would produce high-frequency electromagnetic waves to disrupt electronic devices, acknowledging that their earlier signal loss might have been due to such a device, and expressed surprise at its miniature size. Zhuang Wenjie and Ding Wei arrived at Deyao Group. A security guard insisted on a body search as a standard procedure. Ding Wei reacted angrily to being touched, leading to a physical altercation with the guard.

Luo Jian's team worried that Zhuang Wenjie's earpiece might be discovered. The security guards found no suspicious items on Zhuang Wenjie, and he was allowed to enter alone, as only he was invited to meet the boss. Ding Wei warned him to be careful and waited at the entrance. Inside, Liao Detong greeted Zhuang Wenjie warmly, remarking on how much he had grown and how he resembled his father, Zhuang Yaobai.

He recalled seeing Zhuang Wenjie as a newborn when he sought an item from Zhuang Yaobai, lamenting Zhuang Yaobai's passing. Liao Detong also mentioned Zhuang Wenjie's law studies and pondered what his father would think. Zhuang Wenjie, cutting through the pleasantries, insisted on discussing business, stating, "He's already dead." Liao Detong agreed and asked Zhuang Wenjie to name a price for the painting.

Following Ding Shenghuo's instructions to name a price that was neither too high nor too low, Zhuang Wenjie declared "Five million yuan." Liao Detong, referencing his past acquaintance with Zhuang Yaobai, questioned if Zhuang Wenjie was trying to take advantage of him. Zhuang Wenjie reiterated that he was there for business. Liao Detong then stated that the painting's industry valuation was "one million five hundred thousand yuan," demanding to know why Zhuang Wenjie was asking for so much.

Zhuang Wenjie replied that "The painting itself is worth 1. 5 million yuan. However, my craft is worth 3. 5 million yuan." Liao Detong dismissed his "craft" as "worthless" and offered "one million yuan" as his final price. Zhuang Wenjie held firm at "three million yuan," declaring "Not even a single cent less." Observing Zhuang Wenjie's apparent greed at such a young age, Liao Detong asked if he wasn't afraid that he "will turn on you."

Episode 4 Recap

Ding Shenghuo had meticulously instructed Zhuang Wenjie to project an aura of unyielding confidence when dealing with Liao Detong to secure his trust. During their meeting, Liao Detong attempted to assert dominance, questioning Zhuang Wenjie, "As a student, do you need that much money to spend? You don't need to worry about it. As a young kid, you're pretty greedy. Aren't you scared that I'll betray you?"

Guided by Ding Shenghuo's earlier counsel via a hidden earphone, Zhuang Wenjie met the challenge with a bold "You can try." This defiant response visibly impressed Liao Detong, who remarked on the striking resemblance to Zhuang Yaobo, saying, "You're just like him. When your father made a deal with me for the first time, that's how he was. Even your intonation is the same."

Satisfied, Liao Detong agreed to the three million yuan, instructing his subordinate, Mr. Hua, to prepare the cash. He then noted Zhuang Wenjie's apparent indifference to the large sum, to which Zhuang Wenjie replied, "Since you trust me, I should be able to do the same." Luo Jian, observing from the command center, commented on the legal risks of acquiring the painting, stating, "The police force is looking for this painting. He's really taking lives and the law for granted."

Luo Jian and his team also noted Zhuang Wenjie's remarkable transformation in demeanor. Upon successfully completing the transaction, Zhuang Wenjie exited Deyao Group with two large bags of cash. Ding Wei was waiting in the underground garage with a different vehicle, explaining that Ding Shenghuo had arranged the car switch to evade surveillance. Luo Jian's monitoring team immediately reported losing contact with Zhuang Wenjie.

Regretting the peril Zhuang Wenjie was in, Luo Jian swiftly instructed his officer, Hao, to closely track the new car and ordered Team B to maintain tight surveillance on the car workshop. He also arranged for a report to be made to Chief Zhao regarding the evolving situation and potential plan adjustments. Later, Liao Detong deposited the painting into the vault.

A team member called Ding Shenghuo to confirm that the Beetle device hidden within the painting's scroll had been activated. Ding Shenghuo noted it was 6 PM and declared they would initiate the heist once Zhuang Wenjie and Ding Wei returned. Simultaneously, Luo Jian received news that Liao Detong had placed the painting in the vault, indicating Ding Shenghuo's plan was underway.

Meanwhile, Liao Shuang reported on the police's preliminary investigation: Gongde Auction House occupies the first five floors of Block B in Deyao Group's twin towers, with the vault located in the southeast corner of the third basement. Liao Detong had confessed to illegally purchasing the artifact and agreed to cooperate with the police to apprehend the thieves.

Technical analysis of the vault's security system revealed a recent upgrade with a German Parker system designed to counteract electromagnetic radiation, rendering Ding Shenghuo's supposed "electromagnetic jammer" useless. Further examination of the device itself confirmed it was not a jammer but a timed igniter, containing flammable white powder, an electromagnetic coil, two lithium batteries, and a timer set for 1 AM. At the precise moment, the coil would heat, igniting the powder, and triggering a small fire.

This, in turn, would activate the vault's emergency protocols: an automatic power cut and the release of carbon dioxide to suppress the flames, temporarily disabling the security system for six minutes. Luo Jian's team deduced that Ding Shenghuo intended to exploit this brief window, recalling the 18-second "Water Lily" theft. They also questioned why Ding Shenghuo had misled his subordinates about the device's true nature. Luo Jian concluded that the cunning thief trusted no one, not even his own crew.

After handing over the money, Zhuang Wenjie reminded Ding Shenghuo that he had fulfilled his part of the agreement. However, Ding Shenghuo insisted, "Your mission isn't over yet. Tonight, you're coming to the vault with us." Zhuang Wenjie firmly refused to participate in stealing. Ding Shenghuo countered that his presence was indispensable for a critical task.

To persuade him, Ding Shenghuo promised to reveal the full story behind the mysterious photograph Zhuang Wenjie sought, and then disappear from his life forever if he cooperated with the night's plan. After some hesitation, Zhuang Wenjie reluctantly agreed. Ding Shenghuo, pleased, reassured him, "You're a good kid. Relax. Everything will be fine after tonight." Luo Jian orchestrated the police deployment, commanding from a surveillance vehicle.

He reiterated to all units the paramount importance of Zhuang Wenjie's safety and instructed them to apprehend Ding Shenghuo's team immediately upon their entry into the vault. Ding Wei, driving the new car, engaged in a series of evasive maneuvers, circling the Deyao Group buildings twice before driving away. Luo Jian, recognizing this as a diversion tactic from Ding Shenghuo's usual elaborate counter-surveillance, dispatched officers to the car workshop.

Posing as stranded motorists, they found the workshop deserted, confirming that Ding Shenghuo's main operation was not centered there. After successfully drawing away police attention, Ding Wei made a phone call, engaging in a fabricated personal conversation to mask his real activities. He then confirmed his diversion to Ding Shenghuo before stepping out of his car for a breath of fresh air, where police officers moved in and arrested him.

Luo Jian pressed Ding Wei for Ding Shenghuo's whereabouts, but Ding Wei feigned ignorance, repeatedly claiming he didn't know "Ding Shenghuo" and had committed no crime. Frustrated, Luo Jian ordered him to be taken into custody, stating that the police were fully aware of their activities. Meanwhile, Ding Shenghuo, Zhuang Wenjie, Lei Xiaofei, and Wang Sixing had gained entry into Block A of the twin towers.

When Ding Shenghuo attempted to call Ding Wei and received no response, he realized Ding Wei had been captured and promptly removed and discarded his phone's SIM card to prevent tracking. The police, meanwhile, managed to narrow Ding Shenghuo's potential location to within a two-kilometer radius of the buildings and also discovered a hidden underpass at the car workshop leading to the main street. Ding Shenghuo led his team, including Zhuang Wenjie, to the rooftop of Block A.

Zhuang Wenjie, upon seeing the setup, asked, "Are you guys planning to ride across with a zip line?" Ding Shenghuo corrected him, "Not 'you guys'. It's 'us'. We'll cross it together." Wang Sixing and Lei Xiaofei then swiftly rigged a steel wire between Block A and Block B, and were the first to traverse it. When it was Zhuang Wenjie's turn, Ding Shenghuo told him to secure a rope around his waist.

However, Wang Sixing deliberately tampered with the mechanism, leaving Zhuang Wenjie suspended midway across the wire. Forced to unclip, Zhuang Wenjie, relying on his climbing skills, laboriously pulled himself hand-over-hand along the wire, eventually reaching Block B. Lei Xiaofei then assisted Ding Shenghuo in crossing. Ding Shenghuo hastily apologized to Zhuang Wenjie, explaining that Wang Sixing had merely wanted to test his abilities and that he shouldn't take it personally.

Throughout this precarious crossing, Luo Jian's monitoring teams continued to report no unusual activity within the buildings, further intensifying his confusion about Ding Shenghuo's actual target. At precisely 1 AM, the timed igniter in the painting's scroll activated, triggering a small fire and setting off the vault's emergency system. The alarm blared, and the security systems temporarily shut down.

A team member quickly reported to Ding Shenghuo that the system was down and they had five and a half minutes, urging them to switch the surveillance feed. With the security compromised, Ding Shenghuo, Zhuang Wenjie, Lei Xiaofei, and Wang Sixing promptly entered the vault. Simultaneously, alerted by the alarm, Luo Jian immediately issued the command, "Attention, everyone. They're here. Operation begins now," and he, along with the SWAT team, converged on the vault, taking up positions just outside its entrance.

Episode 5 Recap

Luo Jian and the SWAT team waited outside the vault for six minutes until the security system restarted. Liao Detong then used his fingerprint to open the vault door. Luo Jian led his team inside, but they found the vault empty, with no signs of forced entry or exit, and the "Water Lily" painting had burned to ashes. Luo Jian pondered the situation, realizing that Ding Shenghuo’s true target was not the auction house vault itself.

He considered that Ding Shenghuo wouldn't have gone far and questioned Liao Detong, who confirmed that the entire corporate group used the same security system. Luo Jian ordered a blanket search of the building's vicinity. Meanwhile, Ding Shenghuo, accompanied by Zhuang Wenjie, Wang Sixing, and Lei Xiaofei, had made their way to Liao Detong's office on the 37th floor of Block A.

Ding Shenghuo explained to them that the building consisted of twin towers, with the auction house vault located on B3 of Block B, and Liao Detong's office on 37F of Block A. He revealed that both vaults were connected to the same security network, and the device he had placed in the painting scroll was not an electromagnetic jammer but an ignition device, designed to cripple the security system in both vaults.

He also mentioned that "Crow" had discovered a loophole in the system. Wang Sixing then informed Ding Shenghuo that he had successfully replaced the real-time monitoring footage in the office and its internal vault with their own and could also disable the vault's access control. While Ding Shenghuo was occupied with cracking the secret room's password, Zhuang Wenjie secretly picked up a jade ornament from the desk, hoping to open a window and drop it to signal Luo Jian.

However, Wang Sixing quickly intervened and closed the window, forcing Zhuang Wenjie to abandon his attempt. Ding Shenghuo swiftly cracked the password, gaining access to Liao Detong's secret room. Wang Sixing effortlessly bypassed the computer’s security and began decoding files. Ding Shenghuo instructed Wang Sixing to send all the files from the computer to a specific email address, after which he immediately burned the paper containing the email address.

He then had Lei Xiaofei destroy Liao Detong's computer hard drive using chemical corrosive to ensure no data could be recovered. After completing his tasks, Ding Shenghuo used an electric device to stun Zhuang Wenjie. As Zhuang Wenjie lay unconscious, Ding Shenghuo revealed his true motive: revenge. He claimed that twelve years ago, Zhuang Yaobo had deliberately left him in a vault, causing him to serve ten years in prison.

Since he couldn't exact revenge on Zhuang Yaobo, he intended for Zhuang Wenjie to pay his father's debt. Ding Shenghuo then activated the vacuum pumps in the secret room, intending to suffocate Zhuang Wenjie. As Zhuang Wenjie semi-consciously awoke, he struggled to crawl to the door and desperately pounded on it, but there was no sound from outside.

With his remaining strength, he removed the metal pendant from his necklace and inserted it into a security system switch, triggering an alarm. Ye Jia quickly traced the alarm to Liao Detong’s office in Block A. Upon receiving the alarm, Luo Jian realized the gravity of the situation and immediately ordered everyone to Block A. Around this time, he received information about two security guards missing from the unit next to the twin towers.

This, combined with his knowledge of the team’s skills, including Lei Xiaofei's ability to navigate high-rise buildings and use skylights, made him suspect that Ding Shenghuo might have used unconventional entry or escape methods to avoid detection. Shortly after, Ding Shenghuo, Wang Sixing, and Lei Xiaofei were apprehended by the police as they exited an elevator, having just received a payment. Luo Jian urgently interrogated Ding Shenghuo about Zhuang Wenjie’s whereabouts, but Ding Shenghuo refused to answer.

Luo Jian then rushed to Liao Detong's office and ordered him to open the secret room's door. They discovered the vacuum pump system activated. After a difficult struggle, they managed to force the door open, finding Zhuang Wenjie barely alive due to severe oxygen deprivation. Luo Jian promptly had him rushed to the hospital.

Following intensive emergency treatment, Zhuang Wenjie's condition stabilized, but his heart and lung functions were severely weakened due to prolonged oxygen deprivation and damage from electric shock. He required placement in a hyperbaric pod and would need approximately ten hours to fully regain consciousness. Luo Jian assigned Dazhi to stay at the hospital and guard Zhuang Wenjie. Meanwhile, Liao Shuang and her team meticulously examined Liao Detong’s office.

They confirmed that the computer’s hard drive had been completely destroyed by chemical corrosive, making data recovery impossible. Liao Shuang informed Luo Jian via phone that Liao Detong claimed the computer contained numerous important documents, including business contracts, bookkeeping records, collection lists, and digital authenticated documents, but he did not know why Ding Shenghuo would target and destroy them.

Luo Jian deduced that destroying the hard drive was to destroy evidence, and that Ding Shenghuo had indeed stolen crucial data, implying Liao Detong was likely concealing more. However, Liao Shuang also reported that Liao Detong’s lawyers were present, arguing that he was a victim in this incident and that the police lacked concrete evidence to bring him in for further interrogation. Luo Jian acknowledged the legal constraints and decided to focus his efforts on interrogating Ding Shenghuo.

Later, Zhuang Wenjie finally regained consciousness. Luo Jian visited him in the hospital, explaining the full extent of the operation. He revealed that the "Water Lily" painting placed in the vault was actually a fake, one that Zhuang Wenjie himself had painted. Luo Jian's team had discovered the ignition device in the original scroll, placed it in a counterfeit painting, and then had Liao Detong hang this fake in the vault.

Furthermore, they had swiftly replaced all the precious artifacts in the vault with counterfeits. Zhuang Wenjie expressed his admiration for Luo Jian's meticulous planning, noting how he had even predicted Ding Shenghuo would send him home for the painting. Luo Jian then offered his friendship to Zhuang Wenjie, expressing his immense relief that Zhuang Wenjie was safe.

Zhuang Wenjie, in turn, informed Luo Jian that Ding Shenghuo had indeed transferred files from Liao Detong's computer to an email address, but he hadn't managed to see the address or the contents of the files clearly. Luo Jian then interrogated Ding Shenghuo, who remained uncooperative and feigned ignorance. Luo Jian attempted to provoke him, suggesting that Ding Shenghuo was merely a "lapdog" working for someone else and was covering for his boss.

Ding Shenghuo dismissed the taunt, implying Luo Jian wasn't a worthy adversary like Zhuang Yaobo, whom he deemed worthy of such tactics. Luo Jian then questioned Ding Shenghuo's decision to trust Zhuang Wenjie and attempt to kill him, bringing up the concept of "the son pays for the father's debt." Ding Shenghuo calmly asserted that it was fair, as he couldn't get revenge on Zhuang Yaobo.

Luo Jian, in response, scoffed at the "father's debt, son's repayment" idea, suggesting it was just Ding Shenghuo's way of taking revenge on the son because he couldn't defeat the father. Finally, Luo Jian revealed that Zhuang Wenjie was alive, which visibly startled Ding Shenghuo. After a moment, Ding Shenghuo declared that he was willing to disclose everything, but only to Zhuang Wenjie, and that it had to be that very night, otherwise it would be too late.

Episode 6 Recap

When Luo Jian revealed that Zhuang Wenjie was alive, Ding Shenghuo responded with surprise and disbelief. Luo Jian then pressured Ding Shenghuo to confess, dismissing Ding Shenghuo's outdated belief in "making a son pay for his father's debt." Ding Shenghuo asserted that Zhuang Wenjie's thieving instincts were inherent, flowing in his blood, predicting that he would eventually succumb to them.

Luo Jian vehemently disagreed, highlighting Zhuang Wenjie's role as a hero in catching criminals and envisioning a future for him filled with friends, love, and a respectable career, asserting that Zhuang Wenjie's destiny was his own to decide, not dictated by others' judgments or "cliches." Ding Shenghuo refused to sign his confession.

After hearing Luo Jian's impassioned defense of Zhuang Wenjie, he claimed to have an "urge" to reveal the recipient of the stolen documents, but insisted on telling only Zhuang Wenjie. Luo Jian rejected this demand, accusing Ding Shenghuo of toying with them and threatening to return him to the detention center.

Ding Shenghuo warned that if his request wasn't met that night, it would be too late, explaining his true motive was to see if Zhuang Wenjie would indeed choose the ordinary life Luo Jian described. Luo Jian immediately reported the unusual demand to his chief, who, intrigued by Ding Shenghuo's potential schemes, approved the meeting. Luo Jian then called Zhuang Wenjie, explaining the urgent situation and Ding Shenghuo's request. After careful consideration, Zhuang Wenjie agreed.

Before the meeting, Luo Jian emphasized to Zhuang Wenjie that his safety and health were paramount and that he had the right to refuse at any point. Later that night, Zhuang Wenjie arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department. Luo Jian reiterated that Zhuang Wenjie's only task was to ascertain the recipient of the documents and then leave, without getting entangled further.

Inside the interrogation room, Ding Shenghuo remarked on their unexpected reunion and Zhuang Wenjie's apparent good fortune, but warned that luck doesn't last forever. Zhuang Wenjie pressed him for information about the documents. Ding Shenghuo, however, deflected by asking if Zhuang Wenjie was more concerned about the documents or the item he had left at Zhuang Wenjie's home. Observing from outside, Luo Jian noted that Ding Shenghuo still believed the painting had been burned.

Zhuang Wenjie insisted Ding Shenghuo answer truthfully. Ding Shenghuo claimed he had never met the individual, communicating solely through VoIP, and feigned forgetfulness when asked for the email address, attributing it to old age. This infuriated Zhuang Wenjie, who accused Ding Shenghuo of playing games.

Ding Shenghuo finally offered a single clue: an auction held by Sotheby's from the UK three months prior, promising "clues that interest the police" and stressing the urgency of acting "tonight" as it would be "too late after tonight." When pressed for more, Ding Shenghuo began singing a Chinese opera excerpt, "I'm sure that the east wind will come on the day of Jiazi, Nanping Mountain. Set up an altar, step on the Dipper."

This enraged Zhuang Wenjie, who shouted at Ding Shenghuo. Luo Jian, observing Ding Shenghuo's strange behavior and Zhuang Wenjie's agitation, decided to terminate the interview. He drove Zhuang Wenjie back to the hospital, assuring him that he would investigate the auction lead immediately to determine its reliability. On the drive back to the hospital, Luo Jian, noticing Zhuang Wenjie's troubled demeanor, tried to get him to open up.

Zhuang Wenjie remained silent, his mind replaying Ding Shenghuo's earlier coded message, conveyed in Morse code, from the interrogation room. Ding Shenghuo had hinted that Zhuang Yaobai was still alive and that the photo of Zhuang Wenjie and his mother was the basis of his 12-year collaboration with Zhuang Yaobai. The photo's existence was presented as proof of Zhuang Yaobai's survival, implying his father, being so clever, could not have died by drowning.

Ding Shenghuo had given Zhuang Wenjie a specific task, to be completed within 48 hours, in exchange for the full story behind the photo. Back at the Criminal Investigation Department, Liao Shuang confirmed Ding Shenghuo's Sotheby's lead. Three months ago, on June 12th, Sotheby's from the UK held a summer auction where only one item related to China was sold: a six-million-dollar pendant called "Tears of Moon Goddess."

This legendary piece, made from ancient jade and lost during the war against Japan, had been bought by an anonymous Chinese buyer. Luo Jian instructed Liao Shuang to uncover the buyer's identity, acknowledging the difficulty of this task due to its anonymous nature and the need for international police cooperation. Luo Jian, still suspicious, also requested a copy of the interrogation video to analyze Ding Shenghuo's and Zhuang Wenjie's reactions.

Coincidentally, the Criminal Investigation Department received a report of a safe theft at writer Jia Jinyan's residence. Luo Jian and his team, including Forensic Specialist Ma, rushed to the scene to investigate. The investigation revealed that while the state-of-the-art smart lock on the front door had been remotely hacked, the safe inside had been pried open. Strangely, no cash or valuable jewelry was taken; the thief had exclusively stolen the original manuscript of Jia Jinyan's upcoming novel, "Frozen Love."

Jia Jinyan, who composed on a highly valuable antique Chinese typewriter from the Republic of China era, never used a computer or kept digital backups, making the manuscript irreplaceable. She was extremely protective of the typewriter and scolded Luo Jian when he attempted to touch it without permission. Footprints and surveillance footage indicated the suspect was a skilled male, around 170-180cm tall, with expert lock-picking abilities. It was also suspected that more than one individual was involved in the theft.

Jia Jinyan's husband, Sun Tongfang, was noted to be a department head at a technology company. Meanwhile, Liao Shuang arrived at the hospital to care for Zhuang Wenjie, a task assigned by Luo Jian due to his suspicions about Zhuang Wenjie's unusual behavior during the interrogation. Luo Jian had explicitly instructed Liao Shuang to monitor Zhuang Wenjie closely.

Zhuang Wenjie, attempting to get Liao Shuang to leave, complained about the hospital food and asked her to buy him wonton soup from a famous restaurant on Jinbao Street that did not offer delivery. Liao Shuang, seeing through his ploy, cleverly offered to get him hot wontons from the hospital cafeteria instead, ensuring she remained by his side. That night, Zhuang Wenjie lay awake.

Ding Shenghuo's 48-hour deadline for completing the task loomed, and with Liao Shuang stationed vigilantly outside his ward, all his attempts to find an excuse to leave proved futile, leaving him consumed by anxiety.

Episode 7 Recap

Technical expert Ma released surveillance video from outside Jia Jinyan's home, showing a van with no license plate. Luo Jian immediately noticed the person in the co-driver's seat holding a Bluetooth detection antenna extended out the window. Ma explained that this type of device could remotely sniff all unlocking data, then easily crack Jia Jinyan's safe password through replay attacks.

Luo Jian noted that this meant the thief was highly skilled in networking systems, and the equipment itself was expensive, questioning why they would go to such lengths for a novel. Ye Jia explained that Jia Jinyan's novel, "Frozen Love," had high market demand and was uniquely written on an old-fashioned typewriter, leading her publisher to insure it for 10 million.

Ye Jia suspected piracy publishers, competing platforms, and enthusiastic fans as potential beneficiaries, and even considered Jia Jinyan herself for insurance fraud to claim the high compensation. Jiang Hao dismissed the idea of Jia Jinyan committing fraud, stating that she possessed basic knowledge of such things and had also heard from a prominent figure in their circles that Shi Lei, a known habitual thief, had been missing for three or four days.

Luo Jian and Jiang Hao subsequently located Shi Lei's residence. Shi Lei was not home, so the landlord opened the door for them. Inside, Luo Jian and Jiang Hao found washed clothes in the washing machine that had gone sour, indicating that Shi Lei had not returned home for several days. All of Shi Lei's seasonal clothing was gone, suggesting a hasty escape. Luo Jian concluded that Shi Lei was certainly involved and hiding.

Meanwhile, Liao Shuang called Luo Jian to report that Jia Jinyan had publicly disclosed the theft of her "Frozen Love" manuscript on Qingcheng News, tearfully pleading for its return and offering to meet any demands. Watching the news, Luo Jian realized their investigative approach was flawed. The thief's actual target was not the manuscript; they intended to exploit Jia Jinyan's social influence to escalate the situation, thereby diverting police attention and securing their own safety.

Zhuang Wenjie, having also watched the news, reached the same conclusion. He discussed with Liao Shuang that if the thief had merely intended to steal the manuscript, they would have also taken other valuables to make it appear as a routine safe theft, thus complicating the investigation. By exclusively taking the manuscript, the thief deliberately drew attention to it, manipulating both law enforcement and the public.

Zhuang Wenjie speculated that something even more valuable had been stolen, though it remained undiscovered. Luo Jian meticulously re-watched the surveillance video of Ding Shenghuo and Zhuang Wenjie's meeting. He instructed Ye Jia to extract all numerical scores from Ding Shenghuo's opera singing segment and Jiang Hao to disassemble and re-arrange the Pinyin of the lyrics to form new sentences. Pondering the lyrics, "I predict the east wind shall come down on Jiazi Day. Nanping Mountain. The altar.

Disaster shall be upon us," Luo Jian realized that "Water Lily" was indeed stolen on Jiazi Day, and a Level 2 eastern wind had occurred that day. He was delighted, believing Ding Shenghuo had embedded the exact time of the "Water Lily" theft in his song, and sought to uncover Ding Shenghuo's next move.

After further review of the video with sound, Luo Jian noticed Ding Shenghuo discreetly tapping his pinky finger while singing, a subtle action hidden by his other hand. Recognizing this as Morse code, Luo Jian immediately decided to replace Liao Shuang with Pang Dazhi to ease Zhuang Wenjie's caution. Unable to sleep, Zhuang Wenjie recalled a childhood incident where he had broken a crystal vase.

He and his father, Zhuang Yaobo, had used Morse code to communicate, successfully deceiving his mother about who was responsible. Police officers, having tightened their cordon, finally apprehended Shi Lei, whom Luo Jian immediately subjected to an intense interrogation. Jiang Hao called Liao Shuang away, providing Zhuang Wenjie with an opportunity to discreetly leave the hospital. Pang Dazhi promptly reported Zhuang Wenjie's movements to Luo Jian.

Zhuang Wenjie, realizing he was being followed by Pang Dazhi, intentionally took a circuitous route, walking two kilometers to a convenience store to buy snacks before returning to the hospital. Luo Jian called Pang Dazhi, who reported Zhuang Wenjie's seemingly mundane activities. Luo Jian, however, deduced that Zhuang Wenjie had detected Pang Dazhi's tail and reprimanded Pang Dazhi for his lack of covertness, telling him to remain vigilant and report any new developments.

Shi Lei, under interrogation, confessed that four or five days prior, he had been assaulted by a person wearing a pig-head mask. This individual had strapped a timed collar bomb to his neck and demonstrated its power by detonating a similar bomb on a mannequin, causing its head to explode. Terrified, Shi Lei was coerced into breaking into Jia Jinyan's safe.

He specified that a collaborating technical engineer had instructed him on how to copy data from a "phone-like" black device with a screen and buttons found in the safe, using a duplicating machine. He claimed not to know the device's function but noted that the thieves did not want the jewelry or money.

Shi Lei then disclosed that he had placed Jia Jinyan's manuscript in locker #9527 in the men's dressing room of Zhulang Swimming Pool, accessible with password 2077, as instructed by the masked individual. This message also included a detail that someone would come to him to retrieve the item, and only then would he learn a secret.

With Shi Lei's confession, Luo Jian and Liao Shuang went to Zhulang Swimming Pool and successfully retrieved Jia Jinyan's manuscript from the men's dressing room locker #9527. Meanwhile, after being spotted by Pang Dazhi, Zhuang Wenjie, having been instructed by Ding Shenghuo via Morse code to retrieve an item from the same locker at the swimming pool, returned to the hospital. He then used the nurse's station phone to call his classmate, Sun Zhijian.

Pang Dazhi reported this call to Luo Jian, who immediately ordered an investigation to identify the recipient of Zhuang Wenjie's call. The next morning, Liao Shuang arrived at the hospital with breakfast for Zhuang Wenjie and found Sun Zhijian in the room. Sun Zhijian had arrived overnight after Zhuang Wenjie's call, bringing a large, heavy suitcase. Liao Shuang sent Pang Dazhi back to rest and entered to deliver breakfast.

Sun Zhijian, deducing that Zhuang Wenjie was a police informant, curiously inquired about the contents of the locked suitcase. Zhuang Wenjie evaded the question, prompting Sun Zhijian to assume it contained props needed for a new mission. Later, Zhuang Wenjie massaged Sun Zhijian until he fell asleep, then secretly retrieved Sun Zhijian's phone, unlocking it with his fingerprint.

In the bathroom, Zhuang Wenjie was about to call Luo Jian, but the image of Ding Shenghuo's cunning face flashed in his mind, and he felt compelled to complete the task. He instead used the phone to search for the address of Zhulang Swimming Pool. Luo Jian and Jiang Hao returned the manuscript to an overjoyed Jia Jinyan. They then asked about the black, phone-like device with a screen and buttons found in the safe.

Jia Jinyan confirmed it belonged to her husband, Sun Tongfang, and that he had taken it to work that morning. Jiang Hao discovered that Sun Tongfang worked for Qing'an Group, a company specializing in security equipment and system upgrades, where Sun Tongfang was in charge of technical R&D. Luo Jian suspected the stolen information was related to security. Luo Jian later met with Sun Tongfang, who identified the device as an encrypted key distribution terminal.

He explained that this device was essential for distributing updated keys to client companies, enabling their smart security systems to function. For security, Sun Tongfang carried it daily and locked it in his home safe. He was visibly shocked upon learning that the thief had replicated all the information from the device. A doctor informed Zhuang Wenjie that he could be discharged after one more pulmonary function test, which Sun Zhijian accompanied him to do.

Seizing the opportunity, Liao Shuang covertly entered Zhuang Wenjie's room, attempting to open his suitcase, but failed after several password guesses. As Sun Zhijian obtained a number for Zhuang Wenjie, Zhuang Wenjie suddenly remembered Liao Shuang in his room and feared she might discover the suitcase's contents. He urgently rushed back to his room, still carrying his IV drip.

Episode 8 Recap

Zhuang Wenjie rushed back to his hospital room, feigning a stomachache when he found Liao Shuang there, peeling an apple for him. Liao Shuang, seeing his feigned urgency, offered to step out, allowing Zhuang Wenjie to quickly enter the bathroom and check that the device hidden in the ceiling tiles was undisturbed, which brought him a moment of relief.

Liao Shuang later remarked that Zhuang Wenjie was too stubborn, returning to his room for the toilet when there was one much closer at the checkup ward. Meanwhile, Luo Jian convened a case analysis meeting, where Ma demonstrated the dire consequences of the Qing'an Security System’s key being compromised. All security measures designed and installed by Qing'an would become obsolete, rendering them useless against the thieves. This included door security, alarm systems, and even long-distance conference systems.

Ye reported that Qing'an's partnerships spanned financial services and foreign trade, encompassing numerous businesses. Luo Jian learned that Qing'an was undergoing a full system upgrade to nullify the stolen key terminal, a process estimated to take twelve hours, with only seven remaining. Worried the thieves would strike during this window, Luo Jian outlined a two-pronged approach. He tasked Ye with tracing the hackers’ attack path and urging Internet Security Management for assistance.

He also instructed Pang Dazhi to obtain a comprehensive list of Qing'an's clients to identify potential targets. Luo Jian stressed that given the elaborate effort involved, the thieves' objective must be significant. Liao Shuang reported back to Luo Jian that she hadn't found any clues, initially dismissing Sun Zhijian as too carefree to provide useful information.

Luo Jian, however, having learned from Liao Shuang that Zhuang Wenjie was emotionally unstable, and also aware of Sun Zhijian’s computer expertise and previous academic scholarship, instructed Liao Shuang to speak with him. Back in the hospital room, Ding Shenghuo's coded message urged Zhuang Wenjie to reach a designated location by midnight, making Zhuang Wenjie anxious. Sun Zhijian, meanwhile, expressed his suspicion that Liao Shuang was assigned to Zhuang Wenjie because she liked him.

He then tried to call Lin Zhiyue, questioning why Zhuang Wenjie preferred his company over hers, and teasing Zhuang Wenjie about being shy. Zhuang Wenjie desperately tried to stop Sun Zhijian from making the call, concerned about putting Lin Zhiyue in danger. Just then, Luo Jian arrived, returning Zhuang Wenjie's mobile phone and necklace, items previously held as evidence.

Luo Jian took the opportunity to commend Zhuang Wenjie's talent in criminal profiling, gleaned from his quick assessment of Jia Jinyan's case, and subtly invited him to join the police force, emphasizing his unique ability to understand the criminal mind. After Luo Jian left, Liao Shuang pressed Sun Zhijian further, hinting that she had seen surveillance footage from their dorm.

Sun Zhijian, nervous about the recorded conversation, confessed that he had stolen a computer from Zhuang Wenjie's roommate, intending to swap its hardware components with his own. Zhuang Wenjie discovered this and secretly returned the computer, but was then wrongly suspected of the theft himself. Liao Shuang reported Sun Zhijian's confession to Luo Jian, expressing her belief that Zhuang Wenjie had a strong moral compass and wouldn't collude with Ding Shenghuo, even if he understood Ding Shenghuo's coded messages.

She also inquired about the status of Ding Shenghuo's code decryption, to which Luo Jian indicated it was ongoing. Luo Jian, however, insisted that Liao Shuang remain with Zhuang Wenjie until his discharge, much to her dismay. Zhuang Wenjie, having overheard parts of Liao Shuang’s conversation with Sun Zhijian, became alert to the fact that his actions were being scrutinized. Following Luo Jian's instructions, police compiled a facial composite of the engineer mentioned by Shi Lei.

Shi Lei immediately identified the man as Xu Wei, the one who assisted him in opening Jia Jinyan’s safe. Ye quickly uncovered Xu Wei's identity as a renowned software architect. His wife had reported him missing after he left on a business trip a week prior, initially calling daily but then falling silent. This confirmed Luo Jian’s suspicion that Xu Wei was being coerced by the thieves.

Indeed, Xu Wei was shown held captive by the man wearing a pig-head mask, with a timed explosive device strapped to his neck, forcing him to crack the Qing'an system's key. With less than two hours remaining before Qing'an's system upgrade completed, Luo Jian and his team meticulously reviewed the twenty-eight client companies provided by Qing'an, eliminating targets one by one.

During this time, Zhuang Wenjie, independently working in his hospital room, also methodically analyzed the security systems of these companies, finally identifying Longhu Department Store as a likely target. The team discussed various businesses, such as Xuri Jewelry, which despite having a blind spot in its air vent, was protected by automated IR sensors, close proximity to a police station, and frequent patrols.

They also dismissed Fuxinyuan Jadeite, which, despite its lack of conventional security, was protected by a community of the owner’s friends and family who acted as informal security, and Depu Capital, where money was electronic and not physically present. Ma then informed Luo Jian that Qing'an’s technical personnel had roughly pinpointed the hacker's attack location to a triangular area within Shuikumen, Haihua Street, and Qingyun Pier.

To further narrow it down, they needed to insert analyzers into server rooms for detection. Luo Jian immediately dispatched Pang Dazhi, along with a team and Ma, to investigate that area and apprehend Xu Wei. As Luo Jian continued to evaluate the remaining two potential targets, Baoyun Jewelry and Longhu Department Store, Qing'an announced the successful completion of their system upgrade.

Despite this good news, Xu Wei, under extreme pressure, failed to crack Qing'an's main key system within the allotted time. However, he did manage to implant a Trojan into the security system of Longhu Department Store. The masked man, pleased with this partial but critical success, acknowledged Xu Wei's speed, saving his life for the moment. Luo Jian's team still hadn't definitively identified the thieves' ultimate target among the two remaining possibilities.

Luo Jian probed Zhuang Wenjie for his perspective, asking which of the two he believed the thieves would choose. Concurrently, the masked individual, pleased with Xu Wei’s success, made a phone call, stating simply, "It's done. The rest is up to you."

Episode 9 Recap

A person wearing a pig mask confirmed with Xu Wei that the Baoyun Jewelry system's key had been cracked. He then contacted his subordinates, instructing them that all surveillance cameras and electronic equipment would be disabled tonight, and he would send the access code to their phones. The team, also donning pig masks, promptly set off to execute their task. Meanwhile, Luo Jian and a colleague were reviewing potential targets for the theft, considering Baoyun Jewelry and Longhu Department Store.

His colleague informed him that Baoyun Jewelry, located in a high-class office building, had a robust security system and had never experienced a theft. Luo Jian theorized that targets heavily reliant on the compromised Qing'an security system were now more vulnerable, speculating that a thief could hide in the building, disable the system, commit the theft, and then exit disguised as a technician the next morning.

However, his colleague countered that Baoyun Jewelry typically only displayed samples and suggested Longhu Department Store, which had a daily cash turnover exceeding one million yuan, was a more likely target. Luo Jian instructed Hao to notify both companies to enhance their security as a precautionary measure. While Luo Jian deliberated, Zhuang Wenjie called him, sharing his own analysis.

After researching online, Zhuang Wenjie had also narrowed down the potential targets to Longhu Department Store and Baoyun Jewelry, considering geographical location, value of items, and escape difficulty. He explained that although Longhu Department Store had a significant daily cash flow, often accumulating three days' worth over a weekend, its accountants worked until the early morning, and supermarket deliveries began as early as 2:30 AM, leaving too narrow a window for a successful robbery.

He thus dismissed Longhu Department Store as a likely target. Regarding Baoyun Jewelry, he noted that as an office, it typically stored only samples. He concluded it would only be a target if it were temporarily holding something extremely valuable. After a brief exchange where Zhuang Wenjie asked if Luo Jian was on a case, Luo Jian abruptly hung up. Prompted by Zhuang Wenjie's insight, Luo Jian immediately investigated Baoyun Jewelry.

He discovered they had upgraded their security system for a second time within half a month, a fact that intensified his suspicions. Hao contacted the person in charge of Baoyun Jewelry, who confirmed that a batch of South African uncut diamonds, valued at over 10 million yuan, had been imported a week ago and was securely stored in the company's finance room safe. Hao had already arranged for local patrol officers to be deployed to the location.

Luo Jian then mobilized all available police personnel, including calling Liao Shuang, to converge on Baoyun Jewelry. Back at the hospital, Zhuang Wenjie, whose legs had grown numb from sitting in the toilet for an extended period while researching, finally emerged when Sun Zhijian urgently needed to use it. Later, after Sun Zhijian had fallen asleep, Zhuang Wenjie disguised himself, arranged his bed to appear occupied, and discreetly left the hospital with his equipment.

The four pig-masked individuals arrived at the Baoyun Jewelry office building. They swiftly located the finance room. One of the thieves, feeling uneasy about a ceiling surveillance camera, used a chair to adjust its angle. Shortly after, local police officers and building security guards arrived. The thieves quickly hid, and the officers, finding no immediate signs of disturbance, left the finance room without detecting them.

The thieves then proceeded to open the safe, successfully taking the cash and the precious uncut diamonds. Ma soon located the source of the cyberattack to a residential unit in Fukang Garden, Lianhua Road. He informed Luo Jian, who instructed Pang Dazhi and his team to stake out the location and apprehend the mastermind. Luo Jian, along with Mr. Huang and Property Manager Cai, arrived at the Baoyun Jewelry building.

Luo Jian learned that the building had eight exits, four of which were emergency exits that were closed at night. He deployed his officers and the building's security team into four groups to seal off all remaining exits. Luo Jian, with Mr. Huang, proceeded to the finance room. Mr. Huang, confident in the building's recently upgraded, state-of-the-art security system, assured Luo Jian that it would detect even a mouse.

However, upon reaching the finance room, Mr. Huang immediately noticed a surveillance camera had been tampered with, confirming his earlier confidence was misplaced. He lunged towards the safe room, but Luo Jian, wary of potential booby traps, held him back, entering with Hao to assess the situation. They discovered the safe empty, the diamonds and cash gone. The corrosive fluid used to open the safe was still wet, indicating the thieves had only just departed. A distraught Mr. Huang collapsed.

Luo Jian, observing a diamond near a ventilation shaft, deduced it was the thieves' escape route. He immediately radioed all teams to thoroughly search every possible hiding spot connected to the building's extensive ventilation system, including the underground parking lot, power distribution rooms, and material rooms. Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenjie took a taxi to Zhulang Swimming Pool and, following Ding Shenghuo's instructions, retrieved a password box from locker 9527.

As he was leaving, a heavily disguised woman confronted him, demanding the box. Zhuang Wenjie, suspecting she was Ding Shenghuo's emissary, demanded to know the truth behind a photograph and whether Zhuang Yaobai was dead or alive. The woman cautioned him that some truths were better left unknown and that excessive knowledge would endanger him and his loved ones. She insisted that his agreement was with Ding Shenghuo, not with her, and tried to snatch the box.

During their struggle, Zhuang Wenjie, physically exhausted, was pushed into the swimming pool. The woman made off with the password box. Undeterred, Zhuang Wenjie immediately hailed a taxi to return to the hospital. Luo Jian led his team to the underground parking lot, where they spotted three pig-masked individuals emerging from a ventilation shaft. A chase ensued, and the three thieves were quickly apprehended. The fourth thief found himself trapped inside the ventilation shaft.

Luo Jian positioned himself at the exit, and with no other options, the trapped thief eventually surrendered. After apprehending the thieves and recovering the stolen goods, Luo Jian called Ma to inquire about the Morse code message from Ding Shenghuo. Ma explained that due to Ding Shenghuo's subtle movements and attempts to avoid the camera, only fragmented messages could be deciphered. Luo Jian asked Ma to send him all available partial messages.

Piecing together phrases like "12 years ago," "your father," "12 PM on the 1st of the month," "dressing room," and "48 hours," Luo Jian suspected Ding Shenghuo had given Zhuang Wenjie a mission. Realizing that "12 PM on the 1st of the month" had already passed, Luo Jian, accompanied by Hao and Liao Shuang, immediately rushed to the hospital to check on Zhuang Wenjie.

Simultaneously, Zhuang Wenjie, injured from his encounter at the swimming pool, sped back to the hospital in a taxi. As he arrived, he saw Luo Jian, Hao, and Liao Shuang about to enter the elevator. At the same time, a nurse at the hospital attempted to call Zhuang Wenjie's room, confirming his absence.

Episode 10 Recap

Zhuang Wenjie urgently returned to the hospital by taking another elevator to the rooftop and rappelling down a rope to his ward, aiming to be back before Luo Jian and his team. Nurses, discovering his ward door locked, went to retrieve a spare key. Luo Jian, along with Liao Shuang and Jiang Hao, arrived shortly after.

Luo Jian grew suspicious when the door was still locked, and upon entry, found Sun Zhijian sound asleep on the sofa and Zhuang Wenjie absent from his bed. Luo Jian woke Sun Zhijian, who, bewildered, explained he had been sleeping and had no idea where Zhuang Wenjie was. Zhuang Wenjie then emerged from the bathroom, claiming he was showering and hadn't heard the knocking. The nurse reminded him that hospital policy prohibited locking ward doors.

Luo Jian noticed the bathroom window was open and moved to close it, but Zhuang Wenjie quickly intervened, preventing him from seeing the rope he had used. As the nurse measured Zhuang Wenjie's blood pressure, she noted his elevated heart rate and high blood pressure. Zhuang Wenjie attributed this to the hot shower water. Though Luo Jian harbored doubts, he lacked solid evidence and eventually left with his team.

After Luo Jian’s departure, Zhuang Wenjie quickly retrieved the rope and concealed it in his suitcase. Later that night, restless, he took out the palm print and iris data he had retrieved from the swimming pool locker room. He recalled the incident: hearing the mysterious woman’s high heels approaching, he had quickly removed the valuable items from the strongbox, presenting her with an empty one.

Only after she snatched the empty box did he retrieve the crucial palm print and iris data. Liao Shuang and Jiang Hao expressed their frustration, believing Zhuang Wenjie was concealing information. Luo Jian concurred that something significant transpired between Zhuang Wenjie and Ding Shenghuo, but without Zhuang Wenjie’s confession or concrete evidence, they couldn't proceed.

Just then, Pang Dazhi called Luo Jian, informing him that the five men wearing pig masks had been arrested and brought to the Criminal Investigation Department for an immediate interrogation. Luo Jian brought Xu Wei to the interrogation room to identify the person who coerced him into cracking the key. Xu Wei, however, did not recognize any of the five suspects, insisting that the true culprit was shorter than 170cm and very thin.

He revealed that he had secretly recorded his phone calls with the mastermind and uploaded the audio to his cloud drive. Luo Jian instructed Ye Jia to recover the original voice from the altered recording. The five suspects, meanwhile, provided consistent testimonies: they were hired to steal rough diamonds but had never seen the mastermind. Separately, the mysterious woman, Li Shuting, reported to her superior that the strongbox was empty, suspecting Ding Shenghuo had betrayed them.

She highlighted that "Fly," the expert in palm print and iris technology, communicated only with Ding Shenghuo. Her superior, confident in Ding Shenghuo’s loyalty, dismissed the idea of betrayal. He prevented Li Shuting from attempting to recover the items from Zhuang Wenjie and instead directed her to activate their backup plan, reassuring her that their earlier agreement would be honored upon success. Li Shuting reluctantly agreed to this new course of action.

Ye Jia successfully processed the recorded audio, removing the voice-changer effect, and confirmed that the mastermind was indeed a woman, corroborating Xu Wei's description. Luo Jian, connecting Jia Jinyan’s manuscript theft, the Baoyun Jewelry theft, and the Qing'an security system intrusion, concluded that these three cases were likely the work of the same individual or group. He merged the cases for a comprehensive investigation. Luo Jian suspected the diamonds were not the ultimate goal.

He pointed out that Xu Wei had mentioned the woman operating the computer alone, suggesting she might have tampered with critical data. Ye Jia volunteered to return to Qing'an Group to investigate this further, with Luo Jian instructing her to take Xu Wei, as his experience as the attacker would be invaluable in identifying intrusion paths. Zhuang Wenjie was cleared for discharge from the hospital. Liao Shuang informed Luo Jian, who ordered her back to duty.

Zhuang Wenjie then convinced Liao Shuang to drive him and Sun Zhijian back to school, explaining that getting a taxi with their luggage would be difficult and expensive. Liao Shuang teasingly agreed, remarking on his charm. During the drive, Zhuang Wenjie steered the conversation toward the recent cases. He revealed that Baoyun Jewelry’s security system was provided by Qing'an Group.

He also recalled the news about the theft of writer Jia Jinyan’s safe and highlighted the coincidence that Jia Jinyan’s husband, Sun Tongfang, was a senior executive at Qing'an Group. He proposed that the manuscript and jewelry thefts were diversions, with the true target being Qing'an Group itself, possibly involving advanced retina scanning technology.

Liao Shuang found his theories far-fetched, but Zhuang Wenjie urged her to convey to Luo Jian the importance of investigating Qing'an Group’s core business operations, suggesting the thieves' true objective was far more valuable than the stolen jewelry. Meanwhile, Luo Jian, accompanied by Ye Jia and Xu Wei, revisited Qing'an Group. General Manager Sun Tongfang welcomed them and provided a company brochure.

Luo Jian learned that Qing'an Group comprised three subsidiaries: Qing'an Intelligence Tech Co., Qing'an Save Guard, and Qing'an IOT Tech Co. Qing'an Save Guard, founded in 2010, specialized in armored transportation, including special items, security training, securities, and valuable goods for high-end clients. Sun Tongfang proudly detailed their security measures: Type 97-1 anti-riot guns, steel helmets, bulletproof vests, and a new armored escort truck with inch-thick bulletproof steel and heavy-duty magnetic locks.

Opening the truck required a specific card, the accompanying supervisor’s fingerprint uploaded to the cloud, and a remote command from their monitoring center. Sun Tongfang declared it the safest and most robust tool in their security arsenal. Luo Jian then asked if any escort missions were scheduled for that day. Sun Tongfang hesitated, citing commercial confidentiality, but Luo Jian pressed him, asking if such information would be shared if the mission was linked to a criminal case.

At that moment, Sun Tongfang was called away to address a concern from Mr. Wen, a client who had learned about the system intrusion and was worried about the mission's timely completion. Sun Tongfang instructed his assistant to reassure Mr. Wen that the system was updated and the hacker arrested, dismissing his concerns as unwarranted, though he quickly retracted the "unwarranted" part.

Observing Sun Tongfang’s reluctance and the nature of the client’s call, Luo Jian realized that the information he had received about Qing'an Group’s client list might be incomplete. He recalled Zhuang Wenjie’s earlier theories, concluding that the jewelry theft was indeed a red herring. Luo Jian strongly suspected that the real target was Qing'an Group itself, or specifically, Qing'an Save Guard.

He speculated that a thief might have already disguised themselves as an escort personnel and infiltrated one of the armored trucks, poised to strike. Simultaneously, Li Shuting, under her fabricated identity as Su Ziyi, a Qing'an Save Guard supervisor, embarked on an escort mission. She flawlessly passed identity verification with her custom-made card and oversaw the loading of the cargo onto the armored truck, surrounded by armed security personnel.

Episode 11 Recap

Luo Jian reviewed the gathered intelligence, and he and Jiang Hao concluded that the mysterious woman's objective in hacking into the Qing'an Group system was to tamper with the identity information of the escort personnel. When pressed by Luo Jian, Mr. Sun disclosed that the day's escort mission, commissioned by Wen Yuanzheng, the owner of Wenhua Group, involved transporting the "Tears of Moon Goddess" necklace to a wedding ceremony.

Luo Jian immediately recalled Ding Shenghuo's past mention of this particular piece of jewelry. Xu Wei meticulously reconstructed the entire attack process on the system, uncovering two tampered data packets. One of these contained the information sheet for Su Ziyi, a supervisor at Qing'an Weida Company. However, the photo on the identity information did not match the real Su Ziyi.

A staff member confirmed that the person in the photo, who was impersonating Su Ziyi, had already passed identity verification and was currently on escort vehicle number three. Mr. Sun, realizing the gravity of the situation, broke into a cold sweat and ordered the vehicle's location to be tracked, which showed it was en route to Tonghe Building.

Luo Jian, noting that the escort personnel were prohibited from carrying phones during a mission and Wen Yuanzheng's phone was off, immediately drove with Mr. Sun to intercept the vehicle. He also observed Li Shuting's unusual behavior in this case, where she seemed to deliberately expose herself to surveillance, unlike her previous secretive actions, which he found unsettling.

Mr. Sun reassured Luo Jian that the custom-made safe, constructed of titanium alloy with a biometric palm print lock, would sound a 120 dB alarm if tampered with forcefully, preventing anyone from opening it without authorization. Luo Jian called Liao Shuang, instructing her to head to Tonghe Building. Liao Shuang, who was driving Zhuang Wenjie and Sun Zhijian back to school, had to drop them off midway.

Zhuang Wenjie, telling Sun Zhijian to take their luggage back to school, hailed a taxi and also headed to Tonghe Building. Upon arrival at Tonghe Building, Li Shuting, disguised as Su Ziyi, entered the building with the safe, leaving her handbag containing a signal jammer inside the escort vehicle. This jammer prevented Qing'an Group from contacting the escort driver.

Li Shuting, introducing herself as Su Ziyi, the special supervisor from Qing'an Weida Company, proceeded with the handover procedures, verifying Wen Yuanzheng's identity and identification code. She then invited Miss Shang, Wen Yuanzheng's bride, to open the specially customized safe using her palm print. Miss Shang was captivated by the "Tears of Moon Goddess" necklace, exclaiming how beautiful it was and how it resembled a tear.

Li Shuting, after a moment of internal reflection wishing for a normal life away from her current activities, offered to help Miss Shang put on the necklace, noting its hidden clasp. While assisting, Li Shuting swapped the original "Tears of Moon Goddess" necklace. She then mentioned that the "Tears of Moon Goddess" emitted a unique glow.

When Miss Shang, eager to see it, requested the room be darkened, Li Shuting volunteered to switch off the lights and instructed staff to draw the curtains. As the room plunged into darkness, Li Shuting locked the door from the outside and slipped away. Wen Yuanzheng and Miss Shang, realizing the necklace wasn't glowing, asked for Miss Su to turn on the lights, only to discover she had vanished and the door was locked.

Wen Yuanzheng immediately ordered his staff to find her. Li Shuting went to the restroom, changed into clothes she had placed there beforehand, and confidently left by elevator. Liao Shuang arrived at Tonghe Building and instructed the guards downstairs to apprehend Li Shuting (still in her Su Ziyi disguise) if they saw her. Zhuang Wenjie arrived shortly after and, seeing Li Shuting exiting an elevator, recognized her as the mysterious woman from the swimming pool and immediately pursued her.

Luo Jian's team arrived, and Luo Jian himself spotted Li Shuting speeding out of the underground garage on a motorcycle. He ordered her to stop, but she defiantly accelerated away. Luo Jian, confirming from his team that the "Tears of Moon Goddess" had been stolen, immediately got into his car to chase her. Zhuang Wenjie, seeing Luo Jian's pursuit, quickly flagged down a taxi and joined the chase.

Li Shuting raced through the streets, making a sudden turn into a maze-like urban village to evade her pursuers. Zhuang Wenjie, in his taxi, consulted a map to anticipate her escape route. As Li Shuting sped through an intersection, she was struck by a car that had the right of way. Injured but determined, she threw her helmet in the opposite direction to mislead the police, then stumbled into a nearby construction site.

She quickly changed into worker's clothes to blend in. Luo Jian and his team initially followed the helmet, only to realize they had been fooled. They redirected their search to the construction site, fanning out to find her. Zhuang Wenjie, however, quickly located Li Shuting on a stairwell. He offered to give her the palm print and iris scans he possessed if she would explain what happened twelve years ago.

Li Shuting, telling him that what was in his bag was no longer important to her, bluntly refused as police sirens grew louder. With the police closing in, Li Shuting scrambled to the rooftop, with Zhuang Wenjie relentlessly pursuing her, urging her to surrender. On the rooftop, realizing her capture was inevitable, Li Shuting confronted Zhuang Wenjie.

She urged him to abandon his quest for revenge for his father, Zhuang Yaobo, revealing that his father was murdered rather than dying in an accident, a fact Zhuang Wenjie was unaware of. As Luo Jian and his officers approached, Li Shuting, taking them by surprise, seized Zhuang Wenjie, holding him hostage. She implored him to stay away from the mastermind and cease his investigation, warning that he would otherwise meet the same fate as her and his father.

Seeing a crane slowly nearing the edge of the rooftop, Li Shuting abruptly pushed Zhuang Wenjie away and dramatically leaped, catching hold of the crane's hook, and swung away into the air.

Episode 12 Recap

As Li Shuting, the female thief, clung desperately to the crane hook, her strength quickly failed. Just as she was about to fall, Zhuang Wenjie rushed forward and grabbed her hand. Moved by his actions, Li Shuting whispered, "No one ever tries so desperately for me. Thank you." However, determined to die, she struggled free from his grasp and plummeted to her death. Luo Jian, who had been nearby, swiftly pulled Zhuang Wenjie back from the precipice.

Enraged and concerned, Luo Jian scolded Zhuang Wenjie, asking, "Do you want to die? Did you see how she fell? Do you want that too?" Zhuang Wenjie tried to explain that he had realized the thief's true target was not Baoyun Jewelry but the Qing'an Security System, and he had come to warn the police.

He admitted he had overheard Luo Jian's phone call with Liao Shuang on the way home, which prompted him to rush to the construction site, hoping to help. Luo Jian retorted, questioning if he needed Zhuang Wenjie's assistance or reminders. Liao Shuang, observing the scene, remarked that she had never seen Captain Luo so furious, while Pang Dazhi realized Zhuang Wenjie must have indeed overheard their conversation.

Officer Ma reported that a thorough search of Li Shuting's body yielded no trace of the stolen "Tears of Moon Goddess" necklace. Luo Jian immediately ordered a comprehensive search of the construction site. He divided the approximately thirty officers from his team and the security brigade into three groups: one to search the building, another to comb the surrounding ground, and a third to investigate anyone Li Shuting might have contacted.

When questioned, Zhuang Wenjie denied receiving anything from Li Shuting or seeing her hide anything. He then underwent a search, which also came up empty-handed. Later, both Pang Dazhi and Liao Shuang reported similar results; no one on the construction site had come into contact with the suspect, and the necklace remained unfound. Luo Jian wondered in frustration if the "Tears of Moon Goddess" had simply flown away.

That night, Luo Jian met with Chief Zhao to report on the situation. Chief Zhao criticized him severely, citing the car accident, the criminal's death, and the still-missing jewelry. Luo Jian pledged to recover the jewelry as soon as possible. When Chief Zhao brought up his teacher, Fang Haizhong, Luo Jian, visibly annoyed, asked him to refrain from mentioning his teacher so frequently, then left abruptly.

Liao Shuang and Pang Dazhi later speculated that Luo Jian's somber mood was a result of Chief Zhao's reprimand over the unrecovered necklace. The following morning, Zhuang Wenjie was called back to the police station for further questioning by Jiang Hao, who needed to clarify details from his previous testimony. Zhuang Wenjie recounted how he ended up at Tonghe Building.

He explained his concern about the Qing'an Security System, which he had already shared with Liao Shuang on their drive, and overhearing Luo Jian and Liao Shuang’s phone call mentioning Tonghe Building, spurred him to go there. He described his encounter with Li Shuting in the lobby: he was waiting for an elevator when she exited one.

He suspected her after overhearing security guards discussing a missing female escort whose description matched Li Shuting's build and, crucially, noticing a distinct ligature mark on her right wrist. Zhuang Wenjie explained he recognized this mark from a Qing'an Group promotional video about their electronic handcuffs, which are used to secure escorts to safes and are only unlockable by the hirer’s fingerprint, with prolonged wear causing such marks. Jiang Hao confirmed his deduction.

When asked why he didn't notify the police or building security, Zhuang Wenjie claimed there was no time as Li Shuting immediately ran towards the underground garage. He admitted seeing Captain Luo pursuing her, and out of concern for the captain, who had been kind to him, he wanted to help. He conceded that he hadn't thought through his actions and simply wanted to assist in catching the woman. Meanwhile, Luo Jian meticulously reviewed the hotel surveillance videos.

He noted that the fake Su Ziyi had changed her clothes and even her hairstyle inside the Tonghe Building, which complicated her identification. He instructed Liao Shuang and Pang Dazhi to determine the exact time and location of her change, including checking the seventh-floor restroom where the suspect had been seen entering and exiting for five minutes. Luo Jian found it strange that Li Shuting, who seemed familiar with the building's blind spots, would then enter a heavily monitored staircase.

He also questioned why she took an indirect route through the lobby to the underground garage instead of a more direct escape. Puzzled, he decided to retrace her steps in the lobby. Pang Dazhi urged him to focus on surveillance blind spots, but Liao Shuang advised silence, not wanting to interrupt Luo Jian's thought process. In a hidden spot within a large water pool in the lobby, Luo Jian discovered the "Tears of Moon Goddess" necklace.

He was baffled by her decision to leave it there and its uncollected state after so many hours. He speculated she might have intended to transfer it to an accomplice, but the necklace’s continued presence negated that theory. He then concluded she meant to retrieve it later. Unknown to Luo Jian, a mysterious accomplice had secretly taken the necklace from the water, photographed it in a restroom, and then returned it to the pool before Luo Jian found it.

With the "Water Lily" painting successfully retrieved and returned to Qingcheng University for continued exhibition, Zhuang Wenjie’s name was cleared. He was no longer a suspect but celebrated as a hero. Lin Zhiyue was delighted and, with her friend Xue, went to visit the painting at the university’s art gallery. Xue teased Lin Zhiyue about her deep concern for Zhuang Wenjie. Lin Zhiyue confided that she had known Zhuang Wenjie since childhood.

She recalled how, after his father Zhuang Yaobo's disappearance, Zhuang Wenjie was ostracized by classmates, labeled the "son of a thief." Despite this, he endured, developing into a stronger, kinder, and upright person, which made her admire him even more. Lin Zhiyue organized a surprise welcome for Zhuang Wenjie's return to campus; he was warmly greeted by students, and a "Welcome Back to Campus" message adorned a blackboard. Later, Zhuang Wenjie thanked Lin Zhiyue for her unwavering trust and support.

She, in turn, asked him to share both his joys and sorrows with her, promising that happiness would double and pain would halve when shared. Zhuang Wenjie agreed. That weekend, Luo Jian arrived at Mrs. Zhou's Xiangzikou restaurant, where Zhuang Wenjie was working. He had ordered many dishes and waited patiently for Zhuang Wenjie, treating him like a good friend. Luo Jian explained he had specially requested a day off to spend time with him, and then offered three toasts.

First, he apologized for his anxious and hot-headed reaction at the construction site. Zhuang Wenjie humbly accepted, admitting his own recklessness. The second toast celebrated the successful recovery of the jewelry and the cracked case. For the third, Luo Jian praised Zhuang Wenjie as smart, kind, handsome, righteous, and brave, confessing his fondness for him.

However, he sternly reminded Zhuang Wenjie that as a student, his primary duty was to study, and he should not involve himself in dangerous police work or overestimate his abilities, recalling how close Zhuang Wenjie came to death at the construction site. Luo Jian emphasized that solving cases was the police's responsibility and wished Zhuang Wenjie success in his studies. Sensing that Luo Jian had another reason for his visit, Zhuang Wenjie pressed him.

Luo Jian finally admitted he wanted to know what Li Shuting had whispered to Zhuang Wenjie just before she fell at the construction site. Zhuang Wenjie hesitated, seemingly reluctant to disclose her words.

Episode 13 Recap

Luo Jian pressed Zhuang Wenjie about what Li Shuting whispered to him at the construction site before her death. Zhuang Wenjie hesitated, falsely claiming he couldn't recall and remaining silent. Luo Jian, observing that it's normal for the mind to go blank in dangerous and stressful situations, explained this phenomenon, hinting at his skepticism about Zhuang Wenjie's complete memory loss. Luo Jian, leaving money for their meal, departed.

The restaurant owner, Mrs. Zhou, praised Luo Jian as a kind person who genuinely cared for Zhuang Wenjie, advising Zhuang Wenjie to cherish such a friend. Feeling conflicted, Zhuang Wenjie asked Mrs. Zhou hypothetically what she would do if a trusted friend was secretly doing many bad things. Mrs. Zhou unequivocally stated she would distance herself from such a person, making Zhuang Wenjie's guilt palpable as he knew he was hiding crucial information from Luo Jian.

Later, Zhuang Wenjie looked at an old photo of himself with his father, Zhuang Yaobo. He recalled the painful memories of his childhood, specifically being taken from school by police and then to an orphanage shortly after his father's disappearance twelve years prior. He also remembered Li Shuting’s ominous warning echoing in his mind: "What you're getting close to is what I'm trying to stay away from. Stop investigating.

If you don't want to end up like your father, stop investigating. Stay away from him." As he was reviewing files related to his father's old case, a student named Xue approached him. She inquired about his involvement in the "Water Lily" theft case and his relationship with the police, observing that officers frequently visited him. Zhuang Wenjie downplayed his connections, stating his involvement was accidental.

Xue, after a moment of hesitation, denied needing police assistance and claimed she was merely asking on Lin Zhiyue's behalf, worried he might be in trouble again. Zhuang Wenjie, however, sensed something was amiss with her behavior. Meanwhile, Ye Jia consulted a jewelry expert, who confirmed the necklace found in the pool was indeed the genuine "Tears of Moon Goddess" and was completely undamaged.

Luo Jian found this perplexing, pondering why the suspect would abandon a valuable stolen item and whether it was related to something "else" connected to the "Tears of Moon Goddess," not just the jewel itself. Pang Dazhi reported Li Shuting’s true identity: a 35-year-old ethnic Chinese woman with a Philippine passport, wanted by Thai police since 2015 for stealing the top diamond ring "Earl." She was also a suspect in numerous other unsolved jewelry thefts across Southeast Asia.

She had been in Qingcheng for at least three months, residing in an apartment in Hongfu Community, Building 3, Unit 3710. Luo Jian instructed Pang Dazhi to investigate Li Shuting’s movements in the month leading up to the incident. Ye Jia also reported discovering old scar tissues on Li Shuting’s body, indicating severe abuse she likely suffered during her teenage years, over a decade ago.

While acknowledging Li Shuting's strong anti-reconnaissance skills which might stem from her past, Luo Jian redirected their focus to how the initial clues for the case came to them, suspecting Ding Shenghuo. Luo Jian and Liao Shuang proceeded to interrogate Ding Shenghuo. Luo Jian remained silent for an extended period, making Ding Shenghuo uneasy until he broke the silence himself.

Luo Jian then thanked Ding Shenghuo for the Sotheby's auction lead and revealed that the thief had been caught, and was now dead. Mistaking the reference, Ding Shenghuo expressed satisfaction, believing it was Zhuang Wenjie who had died due to his own actions, driven by a grudge against Zhuang Wenjie's father. Luo Jian, realizing Ding Shenghuo’s misunderstanding, clarified that it was Li Shuting who was dead. Ding Shenghuo was visibly shocked.

Luo Jian then pressed him for details about his relationship with Li Shuting, how they met, their collaboration, their plans, and the identity of any accomplices, particularly the person who instructed him to send an email in the vault. Ding Shenghuo, however, feigned a headache and refused to cooperate further with the investigation. Elsewhere, Zhuang Wenjie visited the Civil Affairs Bureau to inquire about his father’s belongings.

An official informed him that after twelve years of no news, his father was presumed missing, and as an adult, Zhuang Wenjie could apply for an official declaration of death to inherit his father's properties, including real estate. Zhuang Wenjie said he needed time to consider this. The official then directed him to the Jiangbei branch of the Public Security Bureau for his father's personal effects.

At the Jiangbei branch, an officer explained that Zhuang Yaobo's car had plunged into a river twelve years ago. Despite extensive search efforts by a large number of water police and professional underwater rescuers for a month, his body was never recovered. Technical analysis concluded his survival was highly improbable due to the high-speed impact. Zhuang Wenjie completed the necessary paperwork and received two non-critical items that were all that remained of his father's belongings.

A secretive phone conversation took place between a man and an unknown "Monsieur." The man assured "Monsieur" that the plan was successfully executed using only one of the prepared options, and the others were not needed. " Monsieur" cautioned him to be careful, emphasizing that his actions were crucial to "my big plan," and instructed him to await definitive news before proceeding to the next step. The man expressed his honor in serving "Monsieur."

Later that evening, Zhuang Wenjie returned home to find Sun Zhijian waiting, hoping to play a new game since the school dorms had power and internet cut off at night. Lin Zhiyue called Sun Zhijian's phone, unable to reach Zhuang Wenjie, and expressed frantic worry about Xue, who hadn't returned to the dorm. She couldn't reach Xue on her phone or messaging apps, which was unusual as Xue always kept her phone close.

A classmate had seen Xue leave the school around 10 PM, agitated and on the phone. Zhuang Wenjie, recalling Xue’s earlier strange visit to the library, immediately suspected something serious. Lin Zhiyue mentioned Xue had been in a bad mood recently, possibly after an argument with her online boyfriend. Zhuang Wenjie and Sun Zhijian quickly left to search for Xue. Xue, despairing, had gone to the top of the Oriental Times Tower. Lin Zhiyue finally got through to her.

Xue's voice was distant and chillingly calm as she spoke, assuring Lin Zhiyue she was fine but making cryptic remarks about having "thought about it," hinting at a final decision. Lin Zhiyue desperately pleaded with her not to "take things too hard." Xue tearfully expressed how happy she was to have Lin Zhiyue as a friend, then abruptly hung up. Lin Zhiyue's attempts to call back were met with a powered-off message.

Zhuang Wenjie, during the call, had noticed a distinct clock chime and strong wind in the background. Realizing that the Oriental Times Tower, near their school, had a large clock on its rooftop that chimed on the hour, he deduced Xue’s location. The three rushed to the tower, but as they spoke to a security guard at the entrance, Xue tragically jumped from the rooftop, her phone shattering upon impact. Medical personnel arrived quickly but could not save Xue.

Lin Zhiyue was inconsolable. The tragic incident quickly became headline news for Qingcheng TV, with reporters swarming Qingcheng University to question the principal about the student's death. The principal, clearly uncomfortable, deflected questions, stating the school aimed to prevent further escalation and would only comment after a full investigation.

Zhuang Wenjie, seeing Lin Zhiyue’s grief and disbelief that Xue would commit suicide, finally confessed that Xue had visited him in the library the previous day, asking about his connections with the police. He admitted he found her odd at the time but now understood she was likely seeking help, regretting his missed opportunity.

Soon after, nude photos of Xue began circulating on the campus network, shocking students and Lin Zhiyue, who vehemently denied Xue would ever take such pictures, initially believing them to be malicious fakes. Luo Jian intervened, calling Lin Zhiyue, Zhuang Wenjie, and Sun Zhijian for questioning. He inquired if Xue’s family faced any financial hardship or if Xue had recently spent large sums. Lin Zhiyue denied both, highlighting Xue’s frugal nature due to her family’s humble background.

Luo Jian then revealed that their technical department had confirmed the nude photos were genuine and not synthesized. He explained that Xue was one of several victims whose photos were leaked from the backend data of a "nudes trap loan" software. Furthermore, Xue had taken out a loan of nearly three million yuan. Lin Zhiyue was stunned, questioning why Xue needed such an immense sum.

Luo Jian added that Xue's bank accounts showed no large transactions, leading him to believe Xue was forced into the loan and, unable to repay the high debt, took her own life. Lin Zhiyue then remembered that Xue had been in a bad mood for days, possibly due to a quarrel with her online boyfriend, whom she had only met in person that month after two months of online interaction. Luo Jian noted this detail.

Later, Ye Jia, working late, managed to recover data from Xue's shattered phone, preparing to report her findings to Luo Jian. Luo Jian, still anxious about the phone's data, stayed at the office, joking with Ye Jia about his need to learn more technical skills beyond Morse code.

Episode 14 Recap

Following Wang Xue's suicide, Ye Jia successfully decrypted Wang Xue's phone data. Although she couldn't find any photos of Wang Xue with her boyfriend, Ye Jia did uncover their chat history through Wang Xue's social media account. Luo Jian reviewed the conversations, noting the couple's relationship had deteriorated this month.

He suspected that Wang Xue's boyfriend had forced her into sexual relations, taken nude photos, used them to secure a 3 million yuan "naked loan" in her name, and then absconded with the money. Luo Jian instructed Ye Jia to investigate Wang Xue's boyfriend's online presence. Ye Jia attempted to log into Wang Xue's social media account to trace him but discovered that someone else had already accessed it from the Qingcheng University library.

Quickly, Ye Jia identified the users as Zhuang Wenjie, Sun Zhijian, and Lin Zhiyue, who were using Wang Xue's computer. Enraged, Luo Jian took Liao Shuang to confront them. Zhuang Wenjie and his friends were trying to uncover the reason behind Wang Xue's suicide. Sun Zhijian found chat records between Wang Xue and a man on Doulai Net, a platform where they had only recently met. The man quickly gained Wang Xue's trust by discussing her interests.

Sun Zhijian couldn't find the man's address or personal details, so Zhuang Wenjie asked him to retrieve the man's email address. Zhuang Wenjie meticulously sifted through the man's emails but found nothing of value except spam. However, he suddenly noticed a registration receipt for a Zhulang Swimming Pool membership, which reminded him of Ding Shenghuo's instruction for him to retrieve palm and iris scans from the same location.

Zhuang Wenjie chose not to disclose this information to Sun Zhijian and Lin Zhiyue to avoid further complications. Luo Jian and Liao Shuang arrived at the library, ordering Zhuang Wenjie to stop interfering with Wang Xue's case. Zhuang Wenjie explained that the suspect was skilled in social engineering, using big data to analyze Wang Xue's preferences and habits to win her affection. He suggested starting the investigation from this angle.

Luo Jian dismissed his advice and threatened to arrest all three for obstructing justice. Zhuang Wenjie took full responsibility, leading Luo Jian to take only him and Wang Xue's computer back to the police station. Using Wang Xue's account for backward tracing, Liao Shuang discovered that Wang Xue was not the only victim; the perpetrator's methods were identical across multiple cases, indicating a single offender.

Luo Jian observed that the suspect's chat with Wang Xue contained clear intentions of inducing her suicide, and the link to her nude photos was distributed via an online mass message sender. Anxious to solve the case and prevent more victims from suffering the same fate, Luo Jian sent officers to gather evidence from three other female victims of naked loans. However, they were hesitant to cooperate, fearing public exposure and further harm.

Luo Jian called Zhuang Wenjie, hoping Lin Zhiyue could provide more information about Wang Xue that might lead to clues about the suspect. Lin Zhiyue stated she had already shared everything she knew but offered to speak with the other three victims. Zhuang Wenjie quickly obtained their contact information. Lin Zhiyue met with the three other victims of naked loans, who described the perpetrator in detail.

One victim recalled him as tall, skinny, wearing shades, and dressed in branded clothing, though not ostentatiously. He used a lot of hair wax. Another described him as having a stubbly face, messy hair, bangs covering his eyes, and a melancholic, squinting expression. He wore faded but clean work clothes, often hunched over, and was quiet except when discussing literature, which excited him. He didn't seem confident.

A third victim remembered his elegant hands stirring coffee with a tiny spoon and a distinctive, pleasant scent, not perfume, but like pine and burnt caramel, with a sweet, faint popcorn note. Zhuang Wenjie then visited the bar and coffee shops where the suspect had met the victims. He attempted to give the owners money for CCTV footage, but they initially refused until Luo Jian arrived. Luo Jian intervened, using his authority to obtain the surveillance videos.

He noted the suspect's strong anti-reconnaissance skills; the man consistently sat in hidden spots with his back to the cameras, obscuring his face. The coffee shop owner, observing the man's precise coffee-stirring technique, identified him as a professional barista. Luo Jian, delighted by this clue, realized it significantly narrowed the search. Liao Shuang then used the locations of the three dates to pinpoint the most probable coffee shop.

Luo Jian and Liao Shuang, posing as regulars, visited the identified coffee shop. They subtly inquired about a former barista, learning his name was Li Anfu. Zhuang Wenjie arrived shortly after, but Luo Jian warned him not to get involved in Wang Xue's case, and Zhuang Wenjie reluctantly complied. Luo Jian took Li Anfu's staff ID, and the three victims identified him as the scammer.

Luo Jian located Li Anfu's rented apartment but was informed by the building manager that Li Anfu had returned his keys two days prior, claiming he was leaving for a trip. Investigators found an Excel spreadsheet on Li Anfu's computer containing detailed user information from Doulai Net, a list of his potential victims. Liao Shuang could not find any long-distance travel records via public transport, vehicle rentals, or hotel registrations for Li Anfu, suggesting he was still in the city.

Luo Jian dispatched Pang Dazhi, Liao Shuang, and Jiang Hao to search bath centers, internet cafes, massage parlors, and foot spas throughout the city for Li Anfu. Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenjie, suspecting a connection between Li Anfu and Li Shuting, went to Zhulang Swimming Pool. He mentally re-enacted a scenario where Li Anfu and Li Shuting might have met there. After careful consideration, he decided to inform Luo Jian.

As he dialed, Luo Jian received a phone call from Jiang Hao, announcing that Li Anfu had been found. Luo Jian immediately hung up and rushed to the location. Li Anfu, traveling by taxi to Yujiang, received a phone call from Ms. Hong, instructing him to return to Qingcheng and wait at a designated hotel. Jiang Hao confirmed Li Anfu and three accomplices were in room 1311 of the hotel.

Luo Jian meticulously planned the arrest, ensuring fire exits were covered, nearby guest rooms on three floors were evacuated, and middle-floor elevators were stopped. As they prepared to use a key card to enter, the elevator began to ascend, prompting Luo Jian to halt the operation and observe who would emerge.

Episode 15 Recap

Luo Jian, waiting by the elevator, was surprised to see Su Ying, the head of the Provincial Public Security Department's Criminal Investigation Headquarters, step out. He remembered her from the police academy, where he was her senior, though now they held the same rank. Su Ying informed him that the individuals were suspects they had been monitoring for a long time and warned him not to arrest Li Anfu now, as it would alert them.

Luo Jian disagreed, emphasizing that Li Anfu was involved in a murder case, which he considered a serious matter that his team should handle. Su Ying countered that the cases involving Li Anfu's associates were even more significant. As they debated, Chief Zhao called Luo Jian, instructing him to comply with Su Ying's orders and withdraw his team. Reluctantly, Luo Jian conceded and left, ordering Jiang Hao to drive directly to Qingcheng University.

Enraged by the forced withdrawal, Luo Jian confronted Zhuang Wenjie at Qingcheng University, berating him for acting independently and not trusting the police in Wang Xue's case. Realizing his outburst was uncalled for, Luo Jian quickly apologized and asked what Zhuang Wenjie had called him about. Still hurt by Luo Jian's words, Zhuang Wenjie, sulking, ignored him.

Luo Jian then returned to the police station with Liao Shuang, Pang Dazhi, and Jiang Hao, where they were immediately called into a meeting with Chief Zhao, chaired by Su Ying. Su Ying reiterated that the Provincial Public Security Department had been investigating several cultural relic and art theft cases over the past year, all linked to a transnational artifact smuggling ring.

Two months prior, burial goods from the tomb of the queen consort of King Yufu of the ancient Shu at Mawangpo surfaced in Yujiang City. A group of tomb raiders, hired by the smuggling ring, had stolen the coffin and other artifacts. She identified three members of the smuggling ring—Ma Youfang (Lanky), Zhang Meng (Cook), and Yu Tian (Candy)—who were commanded by a person known as Ms. Hong, whose true identity remained unknown.

These three had recently arrived in Qingcheng from Yujiang and were staying at the Jiali Hotel, where they met Li Anfu. Su Ying suspected Li Anfu would be involved in their next plan to sell the valuable artifacts, which they had yet to locate.

Luo Jian expressed concern about the Wang Xue case, which involved a death, and the need to provide an explanation to the victim's family, but Chief Zhao instructed him to fully cooperate with Su Ying and not to alert Li Anfu, assuring him that Li Anfu was under surveillance. Su Ying also revealed connections to cases Luo Jian's team had previously handled.

Li Shuting, a suspect in the Moon Goddess case, had met with the three smugglers in Yujiang City, leading Su Ying to believe Li Shuting was either working for or cooperating with the ring. Additionally, an art forger nicknamed Fly, who had been arrested the previous week, confessed to making a palm print model and a cut bionic iris for Ding Shenghuo.

These items were reportedly left in locker number 9527 in the men's locker room of Zhulang Swimming Pool in Qingcheng City. Liao Shuang then confirmed that Li Shuting's motorbike was seen by a camera on Huayuan Road, near Zhulang Swimming Pool, the night before the Moon Goddess case.

Su Ying concluded that the palm print and iris were likely intended for Li Shuting, possibly as tools to open the password box for the "Tears of Moon Goddess," which was opened by a palm print. However, Luo Jian raised two doubts: if Li Shuting had the palm print, why didn't she act earlier during transport, and why was an iris needed when the case files had no mention of it?

Su Ying then requested to interrogate Ding Shenghuo immediately to clarify these points, and Luo Jian agreed to cooperate, though he cautioned her about Ding Shenghuo's difficult nature from their previous interrogations. Su Ying also asked to meet Zhuang Wenjie, acknowledging his significant role in the Water Lily and Moon Goddess cases. Luo Jian reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenjie visited his old home, recalling the painful memory of being taken away by the orphanage.

He wandered to Xu Zhengqing's clock repair shop, where he saw Xu Zhengqing fixing a customer's watch. Zhuang Wenjie then received a phone call and stepped outside to answer it. Luo Jian went to the men's locker room at Zhulang Swimming Pool and found fragments of a broken phone screen on the floor.

Remembering Zhuang Wenjie's unusually high heart rate and blood pressure while in the hospital, and a message from Ding Shenghuo about retrieving an item from locker 9527 at 12 AM on the 1st (which was past), Luo Jian deduced that Zhuang Wenjie had gone to the swimming pool and taken the palm print and iris. Luo Jian waited outside Zhuang Wenjie's residence.

When Zhuang Wenjie returned late, Luo Jian confronted him, asking which side he was on and why he was helping Ding Shenghuo. Zhuang Wenjie, still upset by Luo Jian's earlier accusations and feeling he didn't trust the police, retorted that his future was none of Luo Jian's concern. He vehemently denied taking any palm print or iris and challenged Luo Jian's logic, stating the broken glass fragments weren't necessarily his.

Luo Jian warned Zhuang Wenjie that he would keep a close eye on him, stating that if Zhuang Wenjie chose the path of darkness, he would not spare him, but if he chose the light, Luo Jian would support him. Zhuang Wenjie insisted he was an adult and could handle his own affairs.

Separately, Lin Zhiyue lost her wallet and phone on a bus and immediately informed Zhuang Wenjie and Sun Zhijian to be wary of any fraudulent requests for money. Zhuang Wenjie suggested contacting the bus company for surveillance footage, while Sun Zhijian offered to try and locate her phone if it was turned on, using his computer.

Sun Zhijian also confided in them about a girl he met at a digital mall a few days prior, for whom he had developed feelings. He sought their advice on dating for an upcoming "very important date" where he was helping her find a graphics card. Su Ying's team continued to monitor Ms. Hong's associates. They observed that the team was helping Li Anfu pursue Liang Luohuan, whose father was a renowned antique collector.

Ma Youfang forged a new, "rich person's" identity for Li Anfu. Ms. Hong's people, including Yu Tian (Candy), strategically befriended Liang Luohuan's friends, praising Li Anfu and creating a flawless image for him. Liang Luohuan and Li Anfu quickly fell in love. Li Anfu then began to manipulate Liang Luohuan's emotions by using intimate photos of her and her ex-boyfriend to create conflicts, employing tactics like threats of breaking up, cold violence, and belittling her.

This manipulation led Liang Luohuan to threaten suicide, begging for reconciliation, eventually putting her under Li Anfu's complete mental control. Su Ying's team suspected Ms. Hong intended to use Liang Luohuan's father to sell the stolen antiques. During a meeting, Pang Dazhi and Jiang Hao questioned the relevance of Su Ying's findings to their fraud case, pointing out that Li Anfu was also involved in "naked loans" with other girls.

Su Ying then brought up Zhuang Wenjie, revealing that Yu Tian had recently contacted Sun Zhijian, and Zhang Meng had followed Lin Zhiyue onto a bus, leading to her phone and wallet being stolen. Su Ying asserted that Ms. Hong's group was targeting Zhuang Wenjie and his friends, suspecting they wanted something from him, especially since he was fully involved in Ding Shenghuo's case.

Luo Jian defended Zhuang Wenjie, highlighting that Ding Shenghuo had tried to kill him, making it unlikely they were working together. Su Ying, however, suggested it might be a tactic by Ding Shenghuo's group to gain the police's trust in Zhuang Wenjie by appearing to be at odds.

Reflecting on Wang Xue's death and the strange incidents involving Lin Zhiyue and Sun Zhijian, Zhuang Wenjie felt responsible and concluded that he was endangering his friends by keeping the palm print and iris. After careful consideration, he decided to turn them over. He sent an email to the address Li Anfu used, proposing a location and time for the exchange: Qingcheng City Pier, Zone A, in three days.

Episode 16 Recap

Zhuang Wenjie sent an email indicating he possessed the desired item and arranged for its retrieval three days later at Zone A of Qingcheng City Pier. Meanwhile, Captain Su Ying, convinced that Zhuang Wenjie was connected to the smuggling syndicate and the mastermind behind previous cases, initiated remote surveillance on him.

She explained that given Li Shuting's contact with Zhuang Wenjie before her death, it was plausible he gained information or items from her, making him a critical lead in their investigation. Su Ying then assigned specific tasks: Officer Jiang was to conduct a field survey in Zhuang Wenjie's jurisdiction, Officer Pang was to deploy personnel for monitoring, and Officer Liao was to handle the technical reconnaissance handover.

Luo Jian, despite disagreeing with Su Ying's assessment of Zhuang Wenjie, offered to personally oversee his surveillance due to his familiarity with Zhuang Wenjie and his neighborhood, an arrangement Su Ying accepted. That night, as Luo Jian prepared to sleep in his office, he realized his old pillow was missing. A subordinate informed him that Su Ying had it replaced with a new one.

Later, Su Ying sent Luo Jian a message, playfully chiding him for sleeping in the office every day, likening him to a "wild man" who lived without a proper home. Luo Jian mused that a wild man also possessed a generous heart. Later that evening, Zhuang Wenjie called Sun Zhijian, asking him to bring the suitcase containing the palm print and iris from his dorm.

Sun Zhijian, who was busy playing games and had morning classes, told Zhuang Wenjie it was too late to go out and promised to deliver the suitcase to him at noon the next day. The following day, Luo Jian visited Zhuang Wenjie at his home. He sincerely apologized for his previous harsh words, explaining his concern that Zhuang Wenjie might get entangled in dangerous affairs again. Luo Jian proposed they have lunch together to mend fences, even ordering takeout.

However, Su Ying, monitoring remotely, saw Luo Jian at Zhuang Wenjie's house. She immediately called him, expressing her irritation and accusing him of potentially alerting the target by abandoning remote surveillance. Luo Jian defended his presence, stating his close relationship with Zhuang Wenjie was an advantage in getting information, but Su Ying warned him against disrupting her plan and causing the syndicate to become aware, threatening him with disciplinary action.

Luo Jian questioned her sudden appearance with a police van, suggesting she too was being transparent, but Su Ying simply stated that everything was under control. Just as Sun Zhijian was about to deliver the suitcase, he received a call from Yu Tian, who invited him to lunch at the university gate.

Sun Zhijian, after some persuasion from Yu Tian who claimed she would meet other friends if he was busy, agreed to join her and informed Zhuang Wenjie that he would be delayed. Unable to reach Sun Zhijian by phone and seeing Luo Jian finally leave the neighborhood, Zhuang Wenjie decided to go to the university himself to retrieve the suitcase. As he stepped out, Ma Youfang ambushed him, forcing him into a nearby cafe.

Ma Youfang asserted that Zhuang Wenjie had sent them an email and demanded the item, while Zhuang Wenjie demanded his identity. Ma Youfang refused to disclose his identity, but threatened the safety of Lin Zhiyue and Sun Zhijian, mentioning their current activities (Lin Zhiyue looking for her phone, Sun Zhijian on a date), indicating they were being watched. Inside the cafe, Zhuang Wenjie tried to learn more about his father, Zhuang Yaobai.

Ma Youfang revealed that Ding Shenghuo wanted Zhuang Wenjie to "pay his father's debt." He also recounted that Zhuang Yaobai, upon trying to retire from his criminal life, had informed the police during the theft of the "Luoshen" painting and trapped Ding Shenghuo in a vault, which ultimately led to Zhuang Yaobai's death at the hands of the police. Ma Youfang cut short Zhuang Wenjie's questions and pressed for the item.

Zhuang Wenjie admitted he didn't have it on him and needed time to retrieve it. Ma Youfang warned him not to try to pass off a fake iris, like one bought from an optical shop, further proving they had been monitoring him.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Zhuang Wenjie disclosed that the item was in a black suitcase in Sun Zhijian's dorm and instructed Ma Youfang to have a roommate deliver it to a silver Jetta parked at the school gate. When Zhuang Wenjie attempted to call Sun Zhijian, the call wouldn't connect. Ma Youfang admitted they had jammed Sun Zhijian's phone signal and told Zhuang Wenjie to try again in three minutes.

Yu Tian then disabled the jammer, allowing Zhuang Wenjie to successfully contact Sun Zhijian, who agreed to have a roommate send the suitcase to the university gate. After confirming the suitcase's delivery, Ma Youfang demanded Zhuang Wenjie accompany him to verify the item's authenticity. Zhuang Wenjie protested, concerned for his friends, but Ma Youfang assured him they were thieves, not kidnappers, and would not resort to killing unless absolutely necessary. Zhuang Wenjie had no choice but to comply.

Su Ying, observing Zhuang Wenjie's ability to make calls and move freely during his interaction with Ma Youfang, remained convinced that Zhuang Wenjie was an accomplice and ordered his vehicle to be tracked, authorizing capture if necessary. However, Luo Jian, having rushed back to the cafe and reviewed the surveillance footage, spotted Zhuang Wenjie tapping Morse code on the chair, signaling that his two friends were in danger.

He immediately dispatched Liao Shuang and Pang Dazhi to confirm the safety of Lin Zhiyue and Sun Zhijian. Luo Jian then urgently informed Su Ying that Zhuang Wenjie was being coerced and was now a hostage, urging her to intercept Ma Youfang before they left. Su Ying, however, dismissed his concerns, suspecting Zhuang Wenjie was feigning coercion to create a diversion, and ordered continued pursuit of the vehicle.

Ma Youfang's car entered the Qingcheng inter-district tunnel, and during their passage, Zhuang Wenjie was transferred to another vehicle to shake off the surveillance. When Ma Youfang's car exited the tunnel, Su Ying's team realized Zhuang Wenjie was no longer inside. A furious Luo Jian seized the walkie-talkie, ordering Ma Youfang's immediate arrest, while Su Ying instructed her team to meticulously check all vehicles that entered and exited the tunnel during that critical timeframe to pinpoint Zhuang Wenjie's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenjie was taken to Ms. Hong. Upon meeting him, Ms. Hong remained calm and collected, noting his composure despite being bound. She acknowledged knowing his father, Zhuang Yaobai, whom she respected as a senior, and promised no harm if he cooperated. Zhuang Wenjie, with his hands cuffed behind him, calmly asked how she knew he possessed the iris.

Ms. Hong dodged the question and asked him what an "extra item" found in the suitcase was, but Zhuang Wenjie claimed ignorance, stating it was simply what "they" wanted. After Ms. Hong left him locked up, Zhuang Wenjie, using a technique his father had taught him, skillfully managed to loosen his restraints, but the movement inadvertently alerted his captors. After Zhuang Wenjie was taken away, Su Ying interrogated Ma Youfang.

Ma Youfang lied, claiming he and Zhuang Wenjie were friends who had planned to eat at a farm restaurant. He stated that Zhuang Wenjie had an urgent matter while passing through the tunnel, got off, and took a taxi. Luo Jian, however, vehemently disbelieved this, insisting that Zhuang Wenjie was coerced. Su Ying suspected Zhuang Wenjie was more involved than he seemed, believing he was connected to the criminal group.

Luo Jian countered that he suspected the iris was indeed in Zhuang Wenjie's possession, which led to his coercion, and expressed his firm belief in Zhuang Wenjie's integrity. Their differing views led to a heated argument.

Episode 17 Recap

Zhuang Wenjie, using the knot-tying and untying skills he learned from his father, Zhuang Yaobo, quickly freed the ropes from his hands and legs. Shortly after, Ms. Hong's subordinates came upstairs for a check. Zhuang Wenjie, feigning an urgent need for the washroom, asked them to open the door. The guards, realizing neither had the key, exchanged words. One guard remarked, "I don't have the keys. You open it." Another questioned, "Didn't Cook pass the keys to you?"

The first replied, "I thought he passed the keys to you." They decided the situation was safe, reasoning, "Forget it. I think the kid has simmered down. It should be fine. His hands and feet are tied up. The door is locked as well. Can he even escape from this?" Feeling uncomfortable, one suggested, "The ventilation in here is terrible. Let's go out and take a breather." As they left, one of them complained about Zhuang Wenjie being troublesome.

Meanwhile, Su Ying's team received an update on Ma Youfang's black Audi. Its movement trajectory was traced, revealing it was driven from Yujiang City to Qingcheng three days prior, parked in an underground lot, and then taken by Yu Tian, a member of Ms. Hong's group, that morning. Investigators suspected the car had a signal jammer, causing surveillance interruptions in the tunnel, making it difficult to pinpoint where Zhuang Wenjie might have been transferred.

They were still scrutinizing eleven vehicles that passed through the tunnel during the relevant time. Separately, their surveillance on Li Anfu indicated he had remained at his hotel throughout the day. As the two guards went downstairs, Zhuang Wenjie made his escape through the roof. From a window, he observed workers loading large wooden boxes labeled as "load-bearing bricks" below. Circling around to the front, he overheard the same two guards discussing Ms. Hong's "last time" working for Monsieur.

One guard revealed that Ms. Hong planned to betray Monsieur and claim the "Luoshen" painting for herself. The other added that anything Monsieur desired must be "extremely valuable." Feeling uneasy about Zhuang Wenjie, they decided to check on him. Just as they headed upstairs, Zhuang Wenjie seized the moment to descend the stairs, but another guard spotted him and shouted, "Our hostage has escaped!" Zhuang Wenjie fled in a panic, darting through the warehouse, pursued by three men.

Suddenly, an unknown individual appeared, effortlessly opened a back door, and allowed Zhuang Wenjie to escape. As his rescuer vanished, Zhuang Wenjie called out, "Who are you? Who exactly are you?" Outside, Ms. Hong, Zhang Meng, and Yu Tian were waiting. Upon receiving news of Zhuang Wenjie's escape, Ms. Hong deduced he would alert the police. She sternly questioned her subordinate, "You can't even hold a student captive?"

She then immediately ordered, "It's very likely that Zhuang Wenjie went to the cops. Tell Li Anfu to act in advance." Meanwhile, a police officer reported to Su Ying that Li Anfu had left his hotel, picked up by a luxury car. The officer confirmed, "Li Anfu has left the hotel. He was picked up by a luxury car. I've already sent my men to investigate its license plate and details."

Su Ying surmised that Ms. Hong and her group were initiating their plan, adding, "The key is that we still don't know where they will use the iris." She instructed her team to tail Li Anfu and assess his destination. Luo Jian concurred, noting his own concern, before another officer announced Zhuang Wenjie's arrival to surrender. At the police station, Su Ying interrogated Zhuang Wenjie about his escape and the iris.

Zhuang Wenjie, withholding the detail of being rescued, explained he was hooded, his phone confiscated, and held in a large warehouse. After his escape, he hailed a taxi, and the driver identified his location as the Side Dock Warehouse. Zhuang Wenjie warned that Ms. Hong's group had likely begun their operation and urged the police to quickly identify their target. Su Ying dismissed his involvement, instructing him to focus on his confession, a sentiment Luo Jian echoed.

Zhuang Wenjie then recounted the conversation he overheard between Ms. Hong's subordinates, suggesting they investigate Monsieur. He added, "I was in a hood when I went in. My phone was taken too. But when I escaped, I heard honking. After I had escaped from them, I realized I was somewhere along the river. I kept running. . . for around six or seven minutes. I passed through a small forest before I reached the main road.

After that, I stopped a cab driver. The cab driver told me that I was at Side Dock Warehouse. You guys can retrieve the renting details of Side Dock Warehouse. Oh, yeah. When I was inside, I overheard the conversation of Ms. Hong's lackeys. They said they were working together with a man called Monsieur. You guys should look into him too."

An officer then reported that Li Anfu had boarded the King of Ships Yang Yong's yacht in Qingcheng City. Su Ying promptly ordered an investigation into Yang Yong and Liang Luohuan's relationship, instructing her subordinate, "Check the relationship between Liang Luohuan and Yang Yong. Be quick. Send it to my phone once you have any news." Separately, Zhuang Wenjie informed Luo Jian about seeing workers loading large wooden boxes labeled "load-bearing bricks" at the warehouse.

Luo Jian, connecting this to news of grave robbers using hollow materials for coffin reliefs, speculated if Ms. Hong's group planned something similar. He emphasized that the iris must be related to their transportation method. Su Ying soon received information that Liang Luohuan's father and Yang Yong were close friends, and that Yang Yong, being childless, treated Liang Luohuan as his own daughter.

Luo Jian immediately deduced that Li Anfu's motive for approaching Liang Luohuan was to utilize Yang Yong's ships for transporting stolen artifacts. He urged Su Ying to quickly identify which of Yang Yong's ships had departed that day. Their investigation led them to the Jinliang. Su Ying informed Luo Jian that Yang Yong regularly used the Jinliang to transport valuable art and exhibits for legitimate auction houses across Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

These items were stored in a special vault on the ship, accessible only by Yang Yong's iris scan. Luo Jian instantly realized that the forged iris was indeed Yang Yong's. Su Ying confirmed their analysis: Ms. Hong intended to use the forged iris to secretly place the coffin and grave goods into the vault, allowing them to be transported undetected. She detailed, "He approached Liang Luohuan to gain access to the vault on Jinliang.

Besides the coffins, I'm sure they would transport all of the grave goods across the sea in one go. The vault on Jinliang is their best cover. As long as the customs clearance is over, they can use the iris to unlock the vault in secret and hide the grave goods inside the vault. This way, they would be able to manipulate a proper cargo ship to ship their illegal goods for them legally." Luo Jian fully understood the scheme.

At the pier, Ms. Hong, accompanied by Zhang Meng and Yu Tian, met Li Anfu and Liang Luohuan. Liang Luohuan confirmed she had changed the Jinliang's route to ensure the timely delivery of the cargo. Ms. Hong assigned Zhang Meng and Yu Tian to escort the goods, instructing them to act once onboard.

To explain their presence, Ms. Hong told Liang Luohuan that their presence was not due to a lack of trust in the ship's safety, but to facilitate a quicker handover with the client upon arrival. Shortly after they boarded, crew member Luo Yue noticed a hazard light blinking and went to investigate with a colleague. Seizing this distraction, Yu Tian and Zhang Meng used the forged iris to open the vault and hide the coffin and grave goods inside.

With her plan seemingly in motion, Ms. Hong departed with Liang Luohuan and Li Anfu. Yang Yong arrived and Ms. Hong thanked him for his help, promising to hasten the marriage preparations for Li Anfu and Liang Luohuan, which pleased Yang Yong. Just as they were leaving, Luo Jian and Su Ying, leading a police force, surrounded them. Realizing the jig was up, Ms. Hong surrendered.

Police officers on the Jinliang found the coffin reliefs disguised as building bricks and the grave goods hidden in the vault. Su Ying personally interrogated Ms. Hong, confronting her about the "Tears of Moon Goddess" case. Ms. Hong feigned ignorance, prompting Su Ying to question her connection to Ding Shenghuo. Ms. Hong admitted to knowing him and occasionally seeking his help to connect with "craftsmen of our trade."

Su Ying presented evidence that Ding Shenghuo commissioned the iris and a palm print from a craftsman named Fly, indicating Ms. Hong was the true client. Ms. Hong denied ordering the palm print, asserting she only requested the iris. Su Ying pointed out that both items were found together and that Li Shuting was meant to retrieve them, with the palm print being crucial for the "Tears of Moon Goddess" theft.

When Su Ying questioned how Ms. Hong targeted Zhuang Wenjie after Li Shuting's death, Ms. Hong realized she was manipulated. She confessed that Ding Shenghuo deliberately bundled the iris and palm print to frame her for the "Tears of Moon Goddess" case. She also revealed that Monsieur had orchestrated Li Anfu's collaboration with her and his subsequent creation of a murder case to draw police attention to her, effectively selling her out.

Luo Jian simultaneously interrogated Li Anfu, pressing him for Monsieur's identity. Li Anfu feigned ignorance, then accused Ms. Hong of divulging information. He reluctantly admitted that both he and Li Shuting were Monsieur's disciples. Li Anfu claimed Monsieur had saved him from a meaningless life, teaching him "charming skills." He described Monsieur as elusive, capable of predicting thoughts, and manipulating people to do his bidding without their awareness, asserting that Luo Jian would never find him.

Luo Jian countered that Monsieur's methods were a form of manipulation, turning Li Anfu into a pawn for telecom fraud. He presented evidence of Li Anfu's chat logs with Wang Xue, containing clear incitement to suicide, which directly led to Wang Xue's death. Luo Jian explained how Monsieur used Li Anfu and Ms. Hong as cannon fodder to divert police attention.

Li Anfu then recounted his initial encounter with Monsieur five years prior, when he was working in an underground club. Monsieur, who contacted him online and never revealed his face, taught him "charming skills" that proved consistently effective, giving him a sense of dignity and unwavering loyalty to Monsieur. Ms. Hong also independently confessed that Monsieur, whom she also knew only online, had repeatedly helped her out of dangerous situations, leading her to trust his sincerity as a partner.

After the cases concluded, Zhuang Wenjie confessed to Luo Jian that he had withheld information earlier. " Captain Luo, it's my fault that I'm only telling the police about the situation by now. I would like to apologize to you guys." He admitted his desire for revenge against his father's perceived killer led him to be deceived by Ding Shenghuo. Luo Jian acknowledged his apology but also firmly stated the consequences of withholding information.

He then encouraged Zhuang Wenjie to learn from his mistakes and focus on a brighter future. Zhuang Wenjie playfully remarked on Luo Jian's "uni counselor" tone during their conversation. Luo Jian then pressed him, "You're not hiding anything else from me, aren't you?" Zhuang Wenjie reassured him he was not. Luo Jian said, "I'm sure you've learned your lesson, huh?"

He advised Zhuang Wenjie to embrace his student identity and focus on studies and work, hoping to avoid seeing him in legal news again. Zhuang Wenjie also slyly mentioned having left a more complex coded message, beyond Morse code, suggesting Luo Jian should learn such methods. Luo Jian, feigning exasperation, said, "Morse code is already tough enough for me. Do all law students have to study such a broad range of knowledge?

Back then, we had to study even more things than you guys." Luo Jian then offered to treat Su Ying to a celebratory farewell dinner for her and her team. Su Ying thanked him, initially agreeing. However, she expressed her intention to stay and pursue Monsieur, sparking a heated argument with Luo Jian. Luo Jian vehemently refused her assistance, insisting on investigating Monsieur independently to avoid being controlled by her. He asserted, "You're my old classmate, you know?

I know exactly who you are. . . The person in charge should investigate the case and arrest the culprit. You can't just take our case from us just because we're a family!" Su Ying, amused by his reaction, admitted she was teasing him, and Luo Jian reciprocated the playful jabs. He then tried to deflect her questions about his personal life, particularly about visiting his teacher's wife.

Su Ying, relenting from their argument, still advised him that Zhuang Wenjie could be a crucial breakthrough in uncovering Monsieur's identity. Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenjie went to his old family home, which was now Xu Zhengqing's clock shop. He confronted Xu Zhengqing, convinced he was the person who rescued him at the Side Dock warehouse.

Xu Zhengqing initially denied it, claiming to be just a watchmaker, but Zhuang Wenjie pressed him, revealing his knowledge of Xu Zhengqing's unique lock-picking techniques, which he had observed during a previous visit, and even quoting Xu Zhengqing's own words from the chase, referring to his tools and a black windbreaker. Cornered, Xu Zhengqing admitted, "How did you recognize me?"

Zhuang Wenjie further explained that the shop was his former family home, stating it couldn't be a mere coincidence that Xu Zhengqing, who possessed such specific skills, was related to him. Xu Zhengqing finally conceded, "You're just like Yaobai. Both of you have great intelligence and sharp eyes. Seems like I couldn't hide it from you." He then identified himself as Xu Zhengqing, Zhuang Yaobo's martial arts brother, explaining that by seniority, Zhuang Wenjie should call him "Uncle." However, he expressed profound guilt, stating, "But my child, I didn't dare to acknowledge you. Wenjie, I'm sorry. Your father died because of me."

Episode 18 Recap

Zhuang Wenjie had recently confronted Xu Zhengqing, suspecting him to be the one who rescued him from the warehouse. Xu Zhengqing admitted to it, revealing that he and Zhuang Wenjie’s father, Zhuang Yaobo, were fellow apprentices, learning lock-picking skills from Zhuang Wenjie’s grandfather in their old family home. As young men, they ventured into the world together, committing numerous crimes, the first of which was stealing the "Water Lily" painting.

This masterpiece, previously owned by a returned overseas Chinese and hidden in a villa safe, required a specialized "dotting method" that only two people could execute. Xu Zhengqing confessed that he felt responsible for Zhuang Yaobo's fate, which was why he hesitated to acknowledge Zhuang Wenjie. Xu Zhengqing continued his account, explaining that his partnership with Zhuang Yaobo ended in late 1998 when Zhuang Yaobo met Zhuang Wenjie’s mother, Xiaoyu.

Zhuang Yaobo decided to leave his criminal past behind for a peaceful life. Zhuang Wenjie was born later, and Xu Zhengqing and Zhuang Yaobo never met again, though they occasionally heard news of each other. This separation lasted until 2007, twelve years prior. It was in 2007 that Ding Shenghuo approached Xu Zhengqing, seeking his expertise to steal the "Luoshen" painting from the highly secure Chayuan Vault.

Ding Shenghuo promised to handle all external security, requiring only that Xu Zhengqing open three vault locks within ten minutes. Doubting his own ability to accomplish this, Xu Zhengqing recommended Zhuang Yaobo to Ding Shenghuo. Zhuang Yaobo vehemently refused the offer, leading Xu Zhengqing to believe the matter was closed, and he subsequently left Qingcheng. However, Ding Shenghuo did not give up. To coerce Zhuang Yaobo, he kidnapped Xiaoyu.

Tragically, Xiaoyu, who suffered from severe asthma, had a sudden bronchospasm, leading to her accidental death. When Zhuang Yaobo returned, he desperately tried to administer her medicine, but it was too late. He kept the truth of her death from young Zhuang Wenjie, telling him that his mother was simply away for medical checks.

Ding Shenghuo, despite Xiaoyu's accidental death, pressed Zhuang Yaobo, offering an additional million yuan for him to steal the "Luoshen," promising a peaceful life for him and Zhuang Wenjie. Xu Zhengqing, distraught by the unintended consequences of his recommendation, urged Zhuang Yaobo to flee with Zhuang Wenjie. But Zhuang Yaobo refused, revealing that the group behind Ding Shenghuo was a powerful crime syndicate led by a figure known as Monsieur.

He also mentioned that the "Luoshen" painting held a significant secret related to the Zhuang family, which could not fall into the wrong hands. Zhuang Yaobo believed that escaping was futile due to Monsieur's vast influence. He foresaw his own demise. On June 12, 2007, Xu Zhengqing saw the news: the "Luoshen" had been stolen, and Zhuang Yaobo’s car plunged into a river, making him the prime suspect.

Police reports confirmed the car was recovered but Zhuang Yaobo’s body was not found, likely swept away by the strong current. Terrified, Xu Zhengqing decided to lay low. He initially wanted to take in Zhuang Wenjie, but seeing him safely taken to an orphanage, he left Qingcheng. Five years ago, after the case had cooled down, Xu Zhengqing returned, renting the Zhuang family's old house and opening a watch shop, while discreetly investigating the past events.

Zhuang Wenjie informed Xu Zhengqing that the "Luoshen" painting had reappeared and that Monsieur was actively seeking it. This revelation shocked Xu Zhengqing. He confirmed that Monsieur was indeed the powerful leader of the crime syndicate behind Ding Shenghuo. Xu Zhengqing described Monsieur as a formidable figure who sustained a leg injury during his youth and now relied on a black cane.

Monsieur was an elusive figure, never revealing his true face or age, always operating through online directives to his subordinates. Xu Zhengqing surmised that Monsieur meticulously planned the 2007 "Luoshen" theft, including Xiaoyu's death, as a display of ruthless power to force Zhuang Yaobo's cooperation. Xu Zhengqing recalled an incident from six months prior.

Chang Le, a skilled appraiser in the black market antique scene, who operated an antique shop as a front, discreetly told Xu Zhengqing that he had encountered the "Luoshen." Chang Le, known to be a teetotaler due to a severe liver condition, was found dead a few days later, officially ruled as drunken drowning. Xu Zhengqing believed Chang Le was murdered by Monsieur or Ms. Hong to silence him.

This re-emergence of the "Luoshen" led Xu Zhengqing to consider several possibilities: either the painting Chang Le saw was a fake (unlikely given Chang Le's expertise), or it was the genuine painting Zhuang Yaobo stole, which Monsieur had somehow lost possession of and was now trying to reclaim. He also entertained a more remote possibility: that Zhuang Yaobo was still alive and held the "Luoshen."

However, he struggled with this idea, questioning how a father could be so heartless as to not contact his son for twelve years. Meanwhile, Su Ying and Luo Jian reported to Chief Zhao on their progress. Chief Zhao lauded their combined efforts. Su Ying declared her intention to remain in Qingcheng to pursue the Monsieur case, which Chief Zhao enthusiastically supported, emphasizing continued collaboration. Luo Jian, however, was inwardly frustrated.

After Su Ying left, Chief Zhao pulled Luo Jian aside, attempting to play matchmaker, mentioning a previous "pillow incident" and their police academy past. Luo Jian vehemently deflected, joking that the Chief should consider working for the Civil Affairs Bureau instead. Later, Su Ying convened a special crime investigation meeting to strategize the apprehension of Monsieur.

Liao Shuang presented a profile of Monsieur, noting his mysterious nature, reliance on online communication with distorted voice and hidden face, and a distinctive limp in his left leg, often using a black cane. Luo Jian then proposed revisiting the "Tears of Moon Goddess" case. He suspected that Li Shuting intentionally placed the necklace near the pool for an accomplice, possibly Monsieur, to retrieve. Ye Jia presented surveillance footage from the hotel lobby and surrounding areas.

The team identified a suspicious individual who deliberately evaded cameras, last seen heading towards a crowded commercial street, making further tracking difficult. Su Ying pondered why Monsieur, if he was the suspicious individual, didn't take the "Tears of Moon Goddess" when he had the chance. Luo Jian, in agreement with Su Ying's observation, instructed Liao Shuang to arrange for Wen Yuanzheng to bring the "Tears of Moon Goddess" back for further examination.

Simultaneously, Lin Zhiyue's lost phone and wallet were recovered. Sun Zhijian, however, was upset because Yu Tian had stopped contacting him and blocked his calls, fearing his computer plan wasn't good enough. He tried to invite Zhuang Wenjie to a social gathering, but Zhuang Wenjie politely declined, citing urgent matters. Zhuang Wenjie, calling the housing authority using his identity, confirmed that Xu Zhengqing's watch shop was located in his old family home.

Seeking more information about the "Luoshen" painting, Zhuang Wenjie consulted Professor Fang, a renowned expert. Professor Fang explained that the painting displayed in the museum was merely a modern replica, based on old photographs. The original, a precious cultural relic from the Tang Dynasty by Zhou Fang, depicting the Luoshen goddess, had been stolen twelve years ago.

He recounted its tumultuous history, surviving the Republic of China era as a southward-migrating cultural relic when many others were destroyed and their escorts sacrificed. Professor Fang lamented that such a historical treasure was ultimately lost to a thief decades later, suggesting that only those directly involved in the theft knew the full truth. Determined to uncover the truth, Zhuang Wenjie once again sought out Xu Zhengqing, who advised him against taking further risks.

However, Zhuang Wenjie remained resolute, asserting he could no longer live in fear. He presented his theory to Xu Zhengqing: Monsieur, recognizing Ms. Hong as a competitor also interested in "Luoshen," orchestrated the recent cases to eliminate her by exposing her to the police. With that avenue of investigation now closed, Zhuang Wenjie believed that only Ding Shenghuo possessed knowledge of Monsieur's entire plan.

He revealed witnessing Ding Shenghuo stealing data from Liao Detong's computer and argued that this information was crucial to understanding Monsieur's next moves and ultimately, the truth behind his father's death. He stressed the importance of accessing Liao Detong's data, despite Ding Shenghuo's uncooperative nature. Meanwhile, Luo Jian's re-examination of the "Tears of Moon Goddess" necklace revealed a series of Arabic numerals on its back.

An expert confirmed that these were not engraved recently but were applied using a lost traditional method from the Republic of China era, designed to embed information without damaging the artifact. Luo Jian shared Zhuang Wenjie's suspicion that Monsieur's true objective in stealing the "Tears of Moon Goddess" was to acquire these specific numbers.

He aligned with Zhuang Wenjie's strategy, instructing his team to intensely monitor Liao Detong, aiming to extract information from him and unravel Monsieur's scheme, thus finally bringing closure to the mystery of Zhuang Yaobo's fate.

Episode 19 Recap

Since the "Water Lily" case, Liao Detong had significantly enhanced the security of the twin towers and kept a low profile, always surrounded by bodyguards. Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing explored various methods to approach him, but Xu Zhengqing dismissed many of Zhuang Wenjie's suggestions, such as luring him out with items he was interested in, as Liao Detong no longer frequented shady underground markets.

Sneaking into Liao Detong's company was also impossible due to the upgraded security, and directly confronting his bodyguards was deemed futile. Zhuang Wenjie suggested they might catch him when his bodyguards weren't around, perhaps at home, but he quickly rejected the idea, stating he didn't want to involve Liao Detong's family. Xu Zhengqing concluded that their only option was to follow Liao Detong when he left the company and look for an opportunity.

Zhuang Wenjie then questioned why Xu Zhengqing, as his father's senior, didn't directly seek Liao Detong's help. Xu Zhengqing explained that he was a vulgar and greedy person in his youth, always stealing valuable items for money, unlike Zhuang Yaobai, who collected items with historical value. Liao Detong and Zhuang Yaobai were kindred spirits, but Liao Detong held no regard for Xu Zhengqing. Following Liao Detong, Zhuang Wenjie discovered he was preparing for his daughter Liao Shishi's birthday.

Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing decided to utilize the birthday party, planning to secretly infiltrate it via a magic show to find an opportunity to approach Liao Detong. Zhuang Wenjie pretended to book a Mid-Autumn Festival class reunion at the Neverland Botanical Restaurant and managed to obtain the birthday party's program schedule.

Meanwhile, Luo Jian attempted to visit Liao Detong at his company but was informed by Secretary Hua that Liao Detong was on a fishing trip and would return the next day for Shishi's birthday party at the Neverland Botanical Restaurant. Luo Jian decided to meet him there. Zhuang Wenjie expressed to Xu Zhengqing his hesitation about disrupting a child's birthday, but Xu Zhengqing insisted they were running out of time and this was their best opportunity.

Later, Lin Zhiyue called Zhuang Wenjie to invite him to a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, but Zhuang Wenjie politely declined, citing some minor matters he needed to handle. Lin Zhiyue assured him that she would always be there for him if he encountered any trouble. Liao Shishi's birthday party commenced, filled with many young guests.

Liao Detong arrived early, and staff guided him through a VIP passage to a dressing room to change into a Winnie-the-Pooh costume, a surprise for his daughter. In the dressing room, Liao Detong found another person in a mascot costume. His bodyguard immediately expressed concern, but Liao Detong dismissed it, explaining that the event supervisor had suggested having multiple mascots so Shishi wouldn't easily guess his identity.

As Liao Detong's bodyguard was called away by event staff to discuss the program flow, the "staff member" (Zhuang Wenjie in disguise) tried to leave. Liao Detong stopped him, noticing he hadn't put on a cooling vest. He insisted Zhuang Wenjie wear it to avoid dehydration and asked someone to help him. The magic show began, and Xu Zhengqing, disguised as a clown magician, invited a "brave warrior" to be transported to a "world of magic."

Liao Detong eagerly volunteered to get a gift for Shishi. Xu Zhengqing placed Liao Detong into a magic box, effectively abducting him as the program continued. The host announced that the magician was a crook who had captured Shishi's father and that only by finding Winnie-the-Pooh in the "City of Magic" could he be saved. Children, including Shishi, excitedly rushed into the maze to find Winnie-the-Pooh. Zhuang Wenjie, in the Winnie-the-Pooh costume, was soon found.

Shishi pulled him, wanting him to take off the head for a picture. Fearing exposure, Zhuang Wenjie feigned a stomachache and fled back to the dressing room. Meanwhile, Luo Jian arrived at the party, observing the scene. A staff member informed him that Liao Detong was playing hide-and-seek in the maze. In the dressing room, Xu Zhengqing interrogated Liao Detong about what Ding Shenghuo had stolen, threatening to break his fingers if he didn't speak.

Liao Detong defiantly claimed his computer's hard drive was destroyed and he knew nothing. Xu Zhengqing insisted he only wanted the information to investigate his junior's case, not to harm Liao Detong. Liao Detong, however, refused to trust him, citing Xu Zhengqing's methods. Zhuang Wenjie entered, interrupting Xu Zhengqing's threats, and pleaded with him to stop, reminding him that Liao Detong was also a father and that it was his daughter's birthday.

Zhuang Wenjie expressed his regret for their actions, stating he didn't want Shishi to suffer like he did. He sincerely apologized to Liao Detong, explaining his desperate search for the truth about his father's death. He then offered to accept any consequences, including being handed over to the police, if Liao Detong could not forgive them.

Moved by Zhuang Wenjie's words, Liao Detong retracted his previous negative opinion of Zhuang Wenjie, acknowledging his bravery and loyalty, saying he did not disgrace his father. Liao Detong then revealed that he had a backup of the stolen files hidden in a microchip inside his spectacle frame.

As Xu Zhengqing retrieved the chip, Liao Detong warned Zhuang Wenjie to be wary of Xu Zhengqing, revealing that he had betrayed Zhuang Yaobai to Ding Shenghuo for two million yuan years ago. Xu Zhengqing and Zhuang Wenjie then quietly left. Shortly after, Luo Jian, having observed the Winnie-the-Pooh in the maze and its reluctance to remove its head, arrived at the dressing room. He found Liao Detong emerging, without his spectacles and with a cut hand.

Liao Detong claimed he had accidentally scratched his hand while changing due to the heat, but Luo Jian did not believe him. He went back into the dressing room and found a piece of black tape on the floor, which he took for analysis. Later, Pang Dazhi reported that human skin tissue had been found on the tape, confirming Luo Jian's suspicions that something was amiss. Luo Jian and Liao Shuang returned to the Neverland Botanical Restaurant.

They learned that a young man had tried to book the venue for a class reunion on the same day. After obtaining permission to review the security footage from the front desk, Luo Jian identified the young man as Zhuang Wenjie. Luo Jian then theorized that after the magic show, Liao Detong was immediately taken to the dressing room and possibly restrained (with the tape), while Zhuang Wenjie impersonated him in the maze, implying the existence of an accomplice.

Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing reviewed the "Undercurrent list" from the microchip. Zhuang Wenjie questioned why Ding Shenghuo would risk so much for this list, and why Xu Zhengqing, being an old acquaintance of Ding Shenghuo, didn't know about its significance. Zhuang Wenjie then confronted Xu Zhengqing about Liao Detong's accusation.

Xu Zhengqing confessed, admitting that he was indeed blinded by greed and took two million yuan from Ding Shenghuo, recommending Zhuang Yaobai for the job, which ultimately led to the tragedy of Zhuang Wenjie's family. He expressed deep regret and guilt, stating he had been tormented for twelve years and didn't expect such consequences. He clarified that Zhuang Yaobai knew nothing about the payment.

Luo Jian, after connecting the cut hand, the black tape, and Zhuang Wenjie's presence in the surveillance footage, went to Zhuang Wenjie's home that night for answers. He believed that Zhuang Wenjie was likely involved in Liao Detong's "kidnapping." Xu Zhengqing, seeing Zhuang Wenjie's anguish, offered to turn himself in to the police, believing it was the fate he deserved, especially considering Zhuang Yaobai's tragic past.

Episode 20 Recap

Xu Zhengqing confessed his past actions to Zhuang Wenjie, acknowledging his fault and expressing no expectation of forgiveness. As Luo Jian unexpectedly arrived, Xu Zhengqing quickly hid in the bathroom. Luo Jian greeted Zhuang Wenjie, asking if he had a girlfriend or a guest. Zhuang Wenjie replied that it was just a guest, introducing Xu Zhengqing as "Mr. Xu," his tenant who had come to discuss the lease renewal.

Xu Zhengqing, emerging from the bathroom, attempted to leave, claiming they had agreed on a rent increase, but Luo Jian insisted they all chat. Luo Jian introduced himself as Luo Jian, the captain of the criminal investigation department, and asked Xu Zhengqing his full name and profession. Xu Zhengqing identified himself as Xu Zhengqing, a watch repairer, and admitted to being nervous around a police officer.

When Luo Jian inquired about his five-year tenancy, Zhuang Wenjie explained that the Residents Committee had managed the rent for his old house while he was in an orphanage, and he had only recently taken over, which was how he met Mr. Xu.

Xu Zhengqing corroborated this, adding that he had come to propose a rent increase because Zhuang Wenjie's house had the lowest rent in the area, and he felt sympathetic for the young man's difficulties, but Zhuang Wenjie had refused. Luo Jian found their rent dispute unusual and then abruptly questioned Zhuang Wenjie about his activities yesterday afternoon. Zhuang Wenjie, annoyed, accused Luo Jian of excessive prying, especially after the Li Anfu incident.

Luo Jian clarified he was there to discuss Liao Detong and pressed Zhuang Wenjie on whether he went to Neverland Botanical Garden because of him. Zhuang Wenjie denied any connection to Liao Detong, finding Luo Jian's questions baffling. Luo Jian then turned his suspicion to Xu Zhengqing, asking if he was truly a tenant. Zhuang Wenjie vehemently defended Xu Zhengqing, asserting that not everyone he associates with is problematic. Luo Jian, frustrated, declared he would investigate and left.

After Luo Jian's departure, Xu Zhengqing expressed concern that Liao Detong might have betrayed them, but Zhuang Wenjie believed Luo Jian's suspicion stemmed from his own discoveries. Zhuang Wenjie then confronted Xu Zhengqing, stating that he could not forgive him for his past actions but was determined to uncover the truth behind his father's death. He proposed they continue to work together, demanding complete transparency from Xu Zhengqing. Xu Zhengqing agreed.

Later, while reviewing the list, Xu Zhengqing recognized a name, Dai Mengde, and initially hesitated to meet him due to past history, but Zhuang Wenjie reminded him of their agreement to be honest. Xu Zhengqing eventually conceded. Meanwhile, Luo Jian and Liao Shuang visited the community office and confirmed Xu Zhengqing's tenancy from the lease contract. However, Luo Jian remained suspicious of Xu Zhengqing, despite Liao Shuang suggesting that Zhuang Wenjie’s classmate, Sun Zhijian, was a more likely suspect.

Luo Jian also had his colleague, Ye, investigate the English suffix found earlier, learning it was unrelated to any known entities. Zhuang Wenjie suggested they approach Liao Detong again, but Xu Zhengqing warned against it, believing Luo Jian's visit indicated the police had already uncovered something, making contact with Liao too risky. Xu Zhengqing then led Zhuang Wenjie to meet Dai Mengde. Dai Mengde greeted Xu Zhengqing like an old friend, expressing how long he had been looking for him.

He inquired about Zhuang Wenjie, noting his surname. Dai Mengde asked Xu Zhengqing where he got the list, and after Xu Zhengqing refused to say, Dai Mengde deduced it was from Liao Detong, the middleman for an illegal auction house called Undercurrent. He explained that all member information was confidential for security, and only the middleman would have such a complete list. Xu Zhengqing confirmed he and Liao Detong were business partners.

Dai Mengde informed them that the list was outdated as Undercurrent had shifted to "virtual auctions" two weeks prior, with the next one scheduled for two days later, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival. He explained that fake auction lists with QR codes were sent, which, when scanned, would reveal the real items. These auctions were held under the guise of masquerade balls to maintain buyer anonymity. Dai Mengde displayed a fake auction list with corresponding images of real items.

Xu Zhengqing immediately pointed out that a golden qilin figurine on the fake list corresponded to the "Luoshen" painting. Zhuang Wenjie realized Monsieur’s true objective was the "Luoshen." He then reviewed an invitation video attached to Dai Mengde's email. A masked man instructed attendees to reply with their location in Qingcheng City so that transport could be arranged to take them to the undisclosed auction venue. Zhuang Wenjie, determined to attend but lacking the exact location, meticulously re-examined the video.

He noticed a reflection of a hotel's WiFi name and password on a kettle behind the masked man. Realizing hotel WiFi names are often abbreviations, he deciphered it as "Qingtan Holiday Hotel." Without using his own mobile phone, he immediately sent an anonymous network message to Luo Jian, alerting him that an auction for the "Luoshen" would be held at the Qingtan Holiday Hotel in two days.

Receiving the anonymous message, Luo Jian's mind was immediately drawn back to the painful memories of the 2007 Luoshen case. Twelve years ago, Luo Jian, then a junior officer, often chafed under his mentor Fang Haizhong's practice of handling minor cases, yearning for major investigations to prove himself. One day, a mysterious paper with "Chayuan Vault" written on it was slipped into Fang Haizhong’s wife’s pocket.

Fang Haizhong suspected something was amiss and personally visited the vault, but the person in charge assured him everything was fine. Despite this, he insisted Luo Jian accompany him for a re-check, believing it was more serious than it seemed. However, the note had been accidentally washed by Fang Haizhong's wife, making it illegible. Luo Jian dismissed it as a prank or a threat from someone Fang Haizhong had offended during his time in the anti-theft squad.

He urged Fang Haizhong to pursue major cases instead, leading to a heated argument where Luo Jian was thrown out of the car. He defiantly went to eat, ignoring a phone call from Fang Haizhong. He later answered, but his phone died, which he convinced himself was "God's will" preventing him from getting involved. That night, Luo Jian returned to the police station to the shocking news that Fang Haizhong had fallen from a building and was in critical condition.

He rushed to the hospital, where he learned that his mentor had died despite their best efforts. Overwhelmed with regret, Luo Jian felt responsible for Fang's death, especially upon hearing a news report confirming that the "Luoshen" painting had been stolen from Chayuan Vault at 5 PM that day, and the suspect had crashed into a river with the painting, which was presumed lost.

Driven by the new information, Luo Jian asked his colleague, Ye, to trace the anonymous message about the Qingtan Holiday Hotel auction. Ye reported that it was a network message sent via an IP scrambler, making real-time location impossible. Meanwhile, Luo Jian drove to the Qingtan Holiday Hotel to investigate, finding nothing overtly suspicious. At the same time, Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing, also disguised, arrived at the hotel's underground parking.

Zhuang Wenjie noticed they were being followed by four individuals. He quickly decided they should split up, cleverly leading their pursuers away by blending into a large tourist group entering the hotel. Later, back at the station, while reviewing Fang Haizhong’s old case files, Luo Jian observed Liao Shuang accidentally getting a document wet and tucking it into a book to absorb the water.

This seemingly trivial incident triggered a profound realization in Luo Jian – perhaps Fang Haizhong had done the same with the soaked "Chayuan Vault" note. He immediately returned to Fang Haizhong's wife's house. She confirmed that she had given the wet note to Fang Haizhong and had not seen it since, but she also stated that she had not moved any of his belongings since his passing. Luo Jian requested to search for the note himself. He entered Fang's study and, after a thorough search, finally found the soaked and dried piece of paper hidden within a book.

Episode 21 Recap

Luo Jian found the soaked paper note and brought it to Madam, Fang Haizhong's wife, asking her to confirm if it was the one. She confirmed it was, asking him where he had found it. Madam then told Luo Jian that so many years had passed and he needed to let some things go, asking him if he could.

She invited him and Su Ying to visit her often and urged him to be safe, giving him an apple and requesting that he tell her the final investigation result once he found it. Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenjie safely returned to his residence from Qingtan Hotel. Xu Zhengqing followed, having gone through great lengths to shake off pursuit, with his clothes sleeve slashed by a blade as a warning.

Xu Zhengqing suspected they had alerted the auction organizers, but then speculated it might be a warning from a "colleague" with a double-edged blade, not Monsieur, as Monsieur would have been more aggressive. Zhuang Wenjie, however, wondered if it was Monsieur. Luo Jian then suspected the paper note was torn from a restaurant menu or a flyer. He took the note to Old Ma and Ye Jia.

Old Ma recognized it as a menu from a restaurant called "Great Taste of Golden Valley." Luo Jian, unsure if the restaurant still existed after at least twelve years, instructed Ye Jia to investigate immediately. Old Ma questioned the difficulty of tracing it, given how many restaurants in Qingcheng might have changed names or closed.

Luo Jian firmly instructed them to find out everything about the restaurant—its original owner, current name, or new address—as long as it led them to the truth. Ye Jia later confirmed to Luo Jian over the phone that the restaurant, formerly known as "Great Taste of Golden Valley," was now called "Old Taste of Golden Valley." Its registered address, product logo, information, and menu style were consistent with Luo Jian's clues.

Luo Jian visited "Old Taste of Golden Valley" and showed the owner a blurry picture of the paper note. The owner confirmed it was their old menu from over a decade ago. Luo Jian then showed him a photo of Fang Haizhong, and the owner remembered a police officer investigating an incident 12 years ago, specifically on June 12, 2007. He recounted that three men had a dispute, with one splashing water on another's face.

The owner recalled that the splashed man frequented the restaurant. During Fang Haizhong's visit, the owner pointed out a man across the street who resembled the splashed individual, prompting Fang Haizhong to immediately pursue him. Before leaving, Fang Haizhong instructed the owner to make a copy of the surveillance footage of the incident, intending to retrieve it later. The owner did burn a disc, but Fang Haizhong never came back for it, so the owner put it away.

While searching the messy storeroom, Luo Jian helped the owner find the disc case but couldn't locate the specific disc. He instructed the owner to seal the area for further investigation. Just as Luo Jian was leaving, a restaurant worker rode in on a motorbike with a disc covering his license plate. Luo Jian stopped him, and the owner confirmed it was indeed the missing surveillance disc that the worker had "grabbed from the warehouse as he passed by."

At the restaurant, Luo Jian noticed many students passing by and learned from the owner that Renmin Road Elementary School was nearby. He immediately called Jiang Hao, who confirmed that Zhuang Wenjie had attended that very school. Back at the station, Ye Jia played the surveillance disc, explaining that despite her best efforts, severe scratches meant she could only retrieve a few seconds of blurry footage.

Luo Jian, however, recognized Zhuang Yaobai and Ding Shenghuo in the recovered frames, identifying another person from their back. Guided by Fang Haizhong's old investigation notes, Luo Jian traced the pursuit route to the rooftop, where he mentally reconstructed Fang Haizhong's fatal fall while chasing a suspect. The painful memory of Fang Haizhong's last, unanswered phone call and his subsequent death resurfaced, deeply distressing Luo Jian.

Xu Zhengqing received a call from Dai Mengde, so he and Zhuang Wenjie hurried to meet him. Dai Mengde arranged for Xu Zhengqing to participate in the auction on behalf of his friend and re-uploaded the participant list to Undercurrent. Dai Mengde had also found a map of the Qingtan Hotel. Xu Zhengqing inferred that the masquerade ball, held on the top floor and exhibition hall of the hotel, was likely where the auction would take place.

Dai Mengde explained that Undercurrent's auctions are "non-physical," meaning items are not displayed at the venue, and bidders are blindfolded before being taken to a separate collection point. Winning a bid is the only way to get to the collection point. Xu Zhengqing devised a plan with Zhuang Wenjie: they would pose as customers to enter the hotel and bid competitively on the first two items, specifically the "Golden Qilin" which corresponded to the "Luoshen" painting.

This would allow the organizers to lead Zhuang Wenjie to the "Luoshen" while Xu Zhengqing would find an excuse to stay at the hotel to remotely locate Zhuang Wenjie and determine the "Luoshen"'s storage location, then find an opportunity to steal it. Dai Mengde provided a ceramic tracker, Undercurrent-registered mobile phones, and mini-intercoms for this purpose. When Zhuang Wenjie expressed concern about escaping under surveillance, Dai Mengde assured them that with the map, escaping wouldn't be an issue.

Dai Mengde shared his past experience with the place where the items are stored, describing it as a villa with high security measures, including infrared scanners around it and 24-hour security with four shifts. He revealed that each auction item was stored in an individual electronic safe with a combination of fingerprint and mechanical locks.

Xu Zhengqing proposed that he and Zhuang Wenjie would have to work together: they would cut off the power supply to deactivate the electronic lock, leaving only the mechanical unlocking function as an emergency contingency. Dai Mengde concluded that their success would ultimately be up to fate. Luo Jian brought Ding Shenghuo in for questioning, presenting him with new clues.

Luo Jian accused Ding Shenghuo of being involved in a larger scheme, linking him to Liao Detong, Li Shuting, "Tears of Moon Goddess," and Li Anfu. Ding Shenghuo denied knowing Li Shuting or Li Anfu, and claimed he was merely a middleman for the "Tears of Moon Goddess" case.

When questioned about "Luoshen," Ding Shenghuo maintained that the real painting was lost in the river with Zhuang Yaobai, and that any current appearance must be a fake, as he claimed to have seen news about it in prison. Luo Jian pressed him, asking why Monsieur would be so keen on acquiring a fake. Ding Shenghuo feigned ignorance about Monsieur.

Luo Jian then asked about the "Great Taste Restaurant" and the identity of the third person present with him and Zhuang Yaobai 12 years ago. Ding Shenghuo continued to pretend he didn't understand, even after Luo Jian showed him the blurry video footage of the third person's back. Seeing Ding Shenghuo's reaction, Luo Jian declared that he had his answer, implying he believed the third person was Monsieur.

Xu Zhengqing offered Dai Mengde a bank card as thanks, but Dai Mengde refused to accept it, recalling how Xu Zhengqing had saved his life 12 years prior by lending him two million yuan when he was in trouble for selling fake cultural relics. Dai Mengde insisted he still owed Xu Zhengqing a life debt. Xu Zhengqing brushed off the past, but Dai Mengde adamantly refused the money, prompting Xu Zhengqing to throw the bank card to him and leave.

Observing this exchange, Zhuang Wenjie realized that Xu Zhengqing had used the two million yuan from Ding Shenghuo to save Dai Mengde's life. He later asked Xu Zhengqing about it, questioning if he regretted it. Xu Zhengqing confessed he was still unsure if his actions were right or wrong, lamenting that he saved one friend but lost another. He affirmed that he owed Zhuang Yaobai a life and would repay it even if it cost him his own.

Zhuang Wenjie, however, told him not to, stating that Monsieur should be the one to pay. Luo Jian suspected that the third person with Ding Shenghuo at the restaurant was Monsieur, but lacked definitive proof. He told Su Ying that he believed the anonymous online tip-off about Qingtan Hotel was a deliberate hint for the police to pay attention.

Su Ying, however, was skeptical, pointing out that "Luoshen" was believed to be destroyed 12 years ago and the anonymous tip might be a distraction, questioning the reliability of information sent from a network spoofing base station.

Despite her doubts and the upcoming commendation conference, which Director Zhao insisted everyone attend due to the detachment winning a collective third-class merit for a smuggling case, Luo Jian insisted on going to Qingtan Hotel, reiterating his teacher's advice not to overlook any clue, no matter how small. Meanwhile, Xu Zhengqing received the auction notification from Dai Mengde and immediately called Zhuang Wenjie, who then changed into a suit in preparation.

Episode 22 Recap

Xu Zhengqing and Zhuang Wenjie arrived at the designated meeting point, disguised as Dai Mengde and his nephew, to attend the auction. Their identities were verified via OTPs, 77569 and 52882, sent to their registered phones. Their phones were then confiscated, and they were blindfolded before being driven to the Qingtan Holiday Hotel. Inside a private room, staff were already waiting, and they were asked to remove their blindfolds and were welcomed to "Undercurrent's auction venue."

An attendant informed them that it was a virtual auction, and floors 22 to 24 of the hotel had been booked by the organizers to ensure security, with rooms available for members to rest. The auction was scheduled to begin on the top floor in 15 minutes. While reviewing the auction catalog, Zhuang Wenjie quickly located the Luoshen item, a golden kirin, and was stunned to see "Jiang Taigong" listed as the seller.

He recalled a childhood memory of playing chess with his father, Zhuang Yaobo, who had used the tactic "When Jiang Taigong fishes, the willing will be ensnared" to win. Zhuang Wenjie had playfully nicknamed his father "Jiang Taigong." This confirmed his belief that his father was still alive and was the one consigning Luoshen for auction. Xu Zhengqing cautioned him not to overthink it. Meanwhile, Luo Jian was driving towards the Qingtan Holiday Hotel.

He tried to call Zhuang Wenjie, but his phone was off. He then called Chief Zhao, who questioned the authenticity of Luoshen, which was believed destroyed twelve years ago. He urged Luo Jian not to go alone, reminding him of an upcoming award ceremony for solving the 910 Smuggling Case. Luo Jian insisted that the situation mirrored one his mentor faced years ago and that recent intelligence suggested an authentic Luoshen had been seen.

He asked Chief Zhao to accept the award on his behalf, stating he was already too far to turn back and that the investigation was more critical. The auction commenced, and Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing, wearing masks and assigned numbers, were led into the venue. During the auction, Zhuang Wenjie scanned the masked guests, hoping to find his father, but couldn't identify anyone. The first item was an ancient Roman coin, with a starting price of 800,000 yuan.

Xu Zhengqing intended to bid for it to pinpoint the vault's location, expecting to win it for no more than 2 million yuan, as Dai Mengde hadn't provided more funds. However, a "Number 48" bid 810,000, then a "Number 10" immediately countered with 820,000, eventually raising the bid to a shocking 2. 5 million yuan. Xu Zhengqing, unable to match the price, remarked that "Number 10" must be insane.

Zhuang Wenjie observed "Number 10," who walked with a cane, reminding him of Monsieur, whose leg was injured and still required a cane. Believing this was Monsieur, Zhuang Wenjie left the auction floor despite Xu Zhengqing's protests. He congratulated "Number 10" on acquiring the item he loved and subtly slipped the ceramic tracker, which Xu Zhengqing had prepared, into the pocket of Monsieur's assistant.

Xu Zhengqing quickly intervened, dragging Zhuang Wenjie away and faking a heart condition to be taken to a room to rest. The staff kindly offered medicine and assured them of privacy. In their room, Zhuang Wenjie activated the tracking watch. He noted that Monsieur and his assistant had left the hotel in an Undercurrent vehicle but then spent about ten minutes driving in circles nearby before returning to the hotel.

Zhuang Wenjie deduced that the vault must be within the hotel itself, and the circling was a deliberate attempt to create an illusion that the vault was far away. After a five-minute stop at the hotel, presumably to collect the item, Monsieur's vehicle departed again, heading towards the city. He then noted that Monsieur's vehicle stopped briefly at a highway exit before returning towards the hotel.

Zhuang Wenjie speculated that Monsieur likely switched to his own car at the highway exit and was now driving his private vehicle back to the hotel, wanting to avoid using Undercurrent's car for the return trip. He expressed his desire to track Monsieur directly to uncover his next moves and determine the vault's exact location, believing his father might have set up the auction to lure Monsieur out for revenge.

He mused why his father hadn't contacted him, despite their presence at the auction, while Xu Zhengqing, however, doubted Zhuang Yaobo's presence at the venue. Xu Zhengqing reluctantly handed over the tracking watch and agreed to meet him at the first basement floor. Meanwhile, Luo Jian discovered that the top three floors of the Qingtan Holiday Hotel, where the masquerade was held, were "booked" by the organizers and inaccessible by guest elevators.

He also found all fire exits locked, raising his suspicions. Later, while investigating inside the hotel, Luo Jian again contacted Chief Zhao, expressing suspicion that the masquerade was an underground auction. Before calling Liao Shuang, Luo Jian had ridden an elevator down to the basement, hoping to follow auction attendees to the venue.

In the underground parking lot, he saw a car speed away, prompting him to call Liao Shuang, asking her to investigate three things: information on a car with license plate K31218 and its owner, shareholder and legal representative details of Qingtan Holiday Hotel, and any unusual network check-in records for the past few days.

Liao Shuang soon reported that the car owner was not suspicious, but the entire 12th floor was booked that afternoon, yet only five people had registered their IDs, which was indeed unusual. She also mentioned that the elevator circuits on the 12th floor seemed deliberately cut, not just worn. Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing attempted to use the fire exits but found them locked.

Noticing Monsieur's car was within 500 meters of the hotel, Zhuang Wenjie changed into a maintenance worker's uniform. He took a guest elevator to the lobby, where he deliberately brushed past Monsieur and subtly took his card. He then asked the front desk about the room number for "the old mister" whose card he supposedly found, hoping for a tip. He learned that Monsieur had "booked" the entire "12th floor."

Zhuang Wenjie made his way to the surveillance room, locking the door behind him. From there, he tracked Monsieur and was surprised to see Luo Jian getting into an elevator. As a security guard frantically tried to get back into the locked surveillance room, Zhuang Wenjie discreetly used the elevator's floor display to transmit a message to Luo Jian using numbers.

Episode 23 Recap

After Luo Jian deciphered Zhuang Wenjie's Morse code message from the flashing elevator lights, a security guard with the keys returned to the monitoring room. Zhuang Wenjie quickly hid as the guard, grumbling about being the sole person on duty during the Mid-Autumn Festival and suspecting the 12th-floor elevator was sabotaged, noticed that Elevator #1's hazard light was also on. He and his colleague rushed off to fix it, fearing guest complaints.

Seizing this opportunity, Zhuang Wenjie went downstairs and reunited with Xu Zhengqing by the back stairs. Xu Zhengqing, concerned, asked about the situation upstairs. Zhuang Wenjie explained that he had encountered Monsieur near the elevators and discovered that Monsieur’s subordinate had rigged the computer in the elevator control room by injecting an unknown program code. He had recorded a video of this activity. Zhuang Wenjie immediately called his friend Sun Zhijian for help.

Sun Zhijian, in the middle of a game at an internet cafe, answered, chastising Zhuang Wenjie for his disappearance, which had greatly distressed Lin Zhiyue. He urged Zhuang Wenjie to call her and assure her of his safety. Zhuang Wenjie, however, stressed the urgency of his own situation and asked Sun Zhijian to analyze the program code, promising to take full responsibility if anything went wrong and to keep it a secret from Lin Zhiyue.

Sun Zhijian, worried that Zhuang Wenjie was involved in something dangerous, reluctantly agreed to help. As they awaited Sun Zhijian's findings, Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing, noticing security personnel on the stairs, hid in a restroom. Meanwhile, Monsieur's operatives successfully infiltrated the hotel's central management network, gaining control of all surveillance cameras and elevators, preparing for their operation. Sun Zhijian called back to report his findings: the program code contained two commands.

One could temporarily overwrite elevator surveillance footage, and the other, more unusual, allowed an elevator to stop at a specific floor while displaying any chosen floor number. Zhuang Wenjie then analyzed the hotel layout, concluding that the vault was not on the top three floors, which housed the banquet hall and guest rooms.

He noticed that the 13th floor, home to the hotel’s central ventilation system and central air-conditioner equipment room, was conspicuously absent from the structural map and elevator buttons. Xu Zhengqing confirmed that guest elevators lacked a 13th-floor button. Zhuang Wenjie deduced that maintenance workers would access this floor via a cargo lift, which Xu Zhengqing then remembered was undergoing renovation and guarded by Undercurrent personnel in the B2F parking lot.

This confirmed Zhuang Wenjie's suspicion: Undercurrent was using visual and temporal illusions to mislead buyers. Buyers would enter the auction from B1F, purchase their item, then take the guest elevator to the B1F car park. Blindfolded, they would be driven around for twenty minutes before being returned to a modified B2F car park. Upon removing their blindfolds, they would believe they were in a new location to retrieve their items.

From there, they would take the cargo lift to the 13th floor, use their card to verify information, and collect their item, before being blindfolded again and driven away. Zhuang Wenjie concluded that Monsieur had likely foreseen Undercurrent's scheme and was preparing his own theft. He questioned Monsieur's motive for booking the entire 12th floor, directly below the actual vault, convinced it was part of a larger plan involving the manipulated elevator codes, rather than a mere ceiling breach.

Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing then ascended to the 12th floor, finding all passages locked. To observe the area, Xu Zhengqing ingeniously tied a phone to a mop handle, lifting Zhuang Wenjie to record the scene. They were astonished to discover Monsieur’s men extensively modifying the corridors, which no longer resembled a hotel, and, critically, changing the floor number display to "13F." This revealed the full scope of Monsieur's plan.

Zhuang Wenjie immediately called Sun Zhijian for instructions on how to utilize the elevator code, which Sun Zhijian provided, not without another warning for Zhuang Wenjie's safety. Zhuang Wenjie then sought out Luo Jian, meeting him at the back stairs. Luo Jian asked if Zhuang Wenjie had sent him the Morse code message. Zhuang Wenjie, emphasizing the urgency, explained that the hotel was hosting an illegal auction by an organization named Undercurrent, selling rare cultural relics, including Luoshen.

He stressed the need for police deployment to prevent the artifacts from leaving Qingcheng City. Luo Jian acknowledged the situation but ordered Zhuang Wenjie, who was not a police officer, to leave the dangerous hotel. Zhuang Wenjie refused, revealing that Monsieur was also in the hotel and about to steal Luoshen, warning that if Monsieur succeeded, he would be impossible to find.

Luo Jian, shocked and demanding to know how Zhuang Wenjie knew about Monsieur's presence and identity, again ordered him to leave. Zhuang Wenjie remained firm, insisting he had to stop Monsieur and urged Luo Jian to immediately call the police. Reluctantly, Luo Jian called Chief Zhao, detailing the Undercurrent's illegal auction at Qingtan Resort Hotel, the presence of illegal cultural relics, Monsieur’s involvement, and, critically, Zhuang Wenjie's presence. He requested immediate deployment of a SWAT team.

Zhuang Wenjie reiterated to Xu Zhengqing his unwavering resolve to stop Monsieur. He believed his father, Zhuang Yaobo, was still alive, having sent a "Jiang Taigong" coded message through Luoshen, and had likely been hiding for twelve years to seek revenge. Zhuang Wenjie felt he could not let his father face danger alone again.

He also reminded Xu Zhengqing that the secret within Luoshen, as his father once told them, was of immense significance and could not fall into the wrong hands. Xu Zhengqing, worried that if the police obtained Luoshen and reopened the twelve-year-old case, Zhuang Yaobo’s safety would be jeopardized, agreed that neither Monsieur nor the police should acquire the painting; Zhuang Wenjie had to retrieve it himself. Zhuang Wenjie, disguised as a cleaner, returned to the hotel.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhengqing went to the equipment room, incapacitated Monsieur's operative who was manipulating the codes, and then informed Zhuang Wenjie that the bronze cauldron had already been auctioned, meaning Luoshen was next. As Zhuang Wenjie was about to make his move, he was suddenly intercepted by Luo Jian in the underground car park.

Luo Jian, urging Zhuang Wenjie not to act recklessly as police reinforcements were on their way, was then fully briefed by Zhuang Wenjie on Monsieur's intricate theft plan. Zhuang Wenjie explained that the vault and the hotel's equipment room were on the 13th floor, accessible only by the B2F cargo lift. The auction participants, blindfolded when entering and exiting, were deliberately misled to believe the vault was a separate location from the auction hall. Monsieur exploited this information error.

By booking the entire 12th floor, directly below the vault, and manipulating the elevator's programming to display "13F" on the 12th floor, Monsieur had created a fake transaction venue. When the buyer of Luoshen entered the elevator, they would unknowingly be taken to the fake 13th floor (actually the 12th floor), where they would receive a counterfeit Luoshen.

Concurrently, Monsieur's subordinate would access the hotel's terrace via the cargo lift, then use the elevator shaft to descend to the 13th floor. There, in coordination with accomplices on the 12th floor, they would obtain the buyer's room card. This operative would then use the card to retrieve the real Luoshen from the actual 13th-floor vault.

Finally, the operative would place the real painting in the elevator, which would make a brief stop at the 12th floor to pick up the actual buyer, who would leave with the fake painting, oblivious to the deception. This entire operation would leave no trace. Zhuang Wenjie stressed that only a master of precise timing like Monsieur, responsible for previous high-profile thefts (such as Liao Detong's vault and the Tear of the Moon God), could execute such a plan.

He urged Luo Jian not to delay, or it would be a repeat of twelve years ago when his father, Zhuang Yaobo, had warned the police about Luoshen's impending theft, only for the painting to be stolen due to their slow response. This reminded Luo Jian of his fallen mentor, Fang Haizhong, who had died tragically during the investigation of Luoshen. Recognizing the gravity and the striking parallels to the past, Luo Jian could no longer hesitate.

He acknowledged their limited options and the tight timeline, agreeing there was only one way forward. At the same time, the Golden Kirin, the item corresponding to Luoshen, was successfully auctioned off for 26 million yuan, and the buyer was being driven around by Undercurrent staff for retrieval. Luo Jian once again warned Zhuang Wenjie to leave once he brought him to the top, insisting it was police business. Zhuang Wenjie acknowledged.

Luo Jian and Zhuang Wenjie began climbing through the ventilation ducts. After reaching the 22nd floor, Luo Jian, exhausted, realized they were moving too slowly to intercept Monsieur. He remembered seeing suspension ropes left by window cleaners outside the stairwell, potentially leading to the terrace. As they searched for an exit, Luo Jian cautiously extended his phone to check the corridor below, but he accidentally dropped it. Zhuang Wenjie, seeing no immediate reaction, declared it safe to proceed.

However, as they jumped out of the ventilation shaft onto the 22nd floor corridor, Luo Jian stepped on the fallen phone, crushing it. Luo Jian then told Zhuang Wenjie to take the guest elevator to the lobby, as police reinforcements would arrive in twenty minutes, while he intended to go to the terrace alone using the suspension ropes. He assured Zhuang Wenjie of his professional training.

However, as Luo Jian began climbing a rope, he momentarily lost his grip and nearly fell, saved only by Zhuang Wenjie’s quick action of grabbing his hand. Just then, Undercurrent personnel arrived on the 22nd floor. Zhuang Wenjie quickly hid outside the window as the staff entered the room and locked the window, trapping him. From his precarious position outside the 23rd floor window, Zhuang Wenjie called Xu Zhengqing, briefly explaining his and Luo Jian's predicament.

Initially considering letting the police handle the situation now that Luo Jian was involved, Zhuang Wenjie changed his mind after Xu Zhengqing reminded him that if the police obtained Luoshen and reopened the twelve-year-old case, it could endanger his father. Deciding to continue his mission, Zhuang Wenjie and Luo Jian began climbing up the ropes together. Luo Jian eventually reached the terrace just as a firework performance began in the Tanhu Scenic Area, illuminating the night sky. Monsieur's men, who were preparing to descend into the elevator shaft to steal Luoshen, noticed Luo Jian's presence.

Episode 24 Recap

On the rooftop, Luo Jian grappled with Monsieur's assistant, quickly overpowering him and knocking his walkie-talkie to the ground. As Zhuang Wenjie climbed up the rope, he heard a voice on the fallen walkie-talkie instructing "Number three assistant" to prepare for descent. Zhuang Wenjie seized the device, and with Luo Jian's help in restraining the struggling assistant, he donned a safety harness and descended into the elevator shaft.

As Zhuang Wenjie slid down, he heard an update on the walkie-talkie that the buyer had entered the main hall. Wasting no time, he stripped off his work uniform and put on a mask. Meanwhile, the buyer was led to the 12th floor, which Monsieur's men had set up to mimic a vault, knowing the buyer would only spend eight seconds there.

The buyer, believing it was the 13th-floor vault, presented his authentication card, which was then discreetly discarded in the elevator lobby by Monsieur's men after he was led away to collect a fake item. Zhuang Wenjie, in a sharp suit, appeared in the elevator lobby and retrieved the discarded authentication card. He took the elevator to the real 13th floor, using the card for verification. The staff presented him with the Luoshen painting.

Zhuang Wenjie expressed doubt about its authenticity, citing rumors that it was destroyed twelve years prior and fearing potential trouble if the police were involved. The staff reassured him of Undercurrent's credibility, explaining that multiple experts had verified it as the authentic Luoshen. They revealed that the consignor, Jiang Taigong, was an Undercurrent member who had obtained the painting twelve years ago, and it had never appeared on the market since.

Zhuang Wenjie then inquired if Jiang Taigong had other collections and requested an introduction, which the staff agreed to arrange. With the authentic Luoshen secured, Zhuang Wenjie exited through the elevator ceiling and began climbing back up the rope towards the rooftop. On the 12th floor, the buyer was given a fake Luoshen and escorted away via the cargo lift.

Shortly after, Monsieur's men discovered the authentic Luoshen was missing and immediately reported the theft to Monsieur, stating that someone had run away with the painting. Luo Jian, still in a fierce struggle with the assistant, managed to handcuff himself to his opponent. As Zhuang Wenjie ascended the elevator shaft, Luo Jian unlocked his handcuffs and rushed to assist, guiding Zhuang Wenjie with his phone's flashlight. However, Zhuang Wenjie was torn.

He remembered Xu Zhengqing's warning that if the police knew his father, Zhuang Yaobai, was alive, the twelve-year-old case would be reopened, placing his father in a dire situation. Zhuang Wenjie weighed his options repeatedly and decided he couldn't hand the painting over to Luo Jian. Luo Jian pleaded with him, saying that taking the painting would make him no different from the thieves, but Zhuang Wenjie was resolute.

He contacted Xu Zhengqing via his smartwatch, apologized to Luo Jian, explaining he had his own reasons, and then resolutely departed with the Luoshen. Back in the hotel, the event organizers realized the buyer hadn't arrived on the 13th floor for the transaction. They initiated a search, quickly spotting suspicious individuals on the 12th floor and the rooftop. When confronted, Luo Jian revealed his police identification, causing the Undercurrent staff to disperse.

Monsieur, receiving a call about their exposure, made a swift escape. Su Ying and her police team arrived, apprehending numerous Undercurrent members. Liao Shuang, however, could not find Zhuang Wenjie, only a button. Jiang Hao, who had been staking out Zhuang Wenjie's rental, reported to Luo Jian that Zhuang Wenjie had not returned, and Luo Jian instructed him to maintain the stakeout.

Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing returned to Zhuang Wenjie's old house and meticulously examined the Luoshen painting throughout the night, but found no hidden messages, interlayers, or signs of tampering. During this time, Luo Jian reviewed hotel surveillance footage, which showed Zhuang Wenjie and a helper leaving, though the driver's face was not visible.

Ye Jia traced their vehicle, a car with a fake license plate, to an alley about a kilometer from Zhuang Wenjie's old house, leading Luo Jian to deduce that Zhuang Wenjie had returned there. Xu Zhengqing suggested they might be overthinking it, and Zhuang Wenjie decided to wash his face to clear his head.

Recalling how Ding Shenghuo had used invisible ink on the Water Lily painting, Zhuang Wenjie hypothesized that his father might have used similar ink on the Luoshen. He asked Xu Zhengqing for a polarizing pen. Under the special light, a chess game appeared on the painting. Zhuang Wenjie remembered his father making him memorize that exact chess game, but noticed four additional pieces on the Luoshen that were not in his memory.

He questioned if his father intentionally added these pieces, connecting it to a plastic dropper he found in his father's old keychain. Xu Zhengqing observed that some pieces were from twelve years ago, and others from twelve years later. Pondering the meaning of this secret code, Zhuang Wenjie and Xu Zhengqing agreed that at least the secret was safe from both the police and Monsieur for now. Zhuang Wenjie then decided to cooperate with Luo Jian to apprehend Monsieur.

Xu Zhengqing offered to act as bait to lure Monsieur out, despite Zhuang Wenjie's concerns for his safety. Xu Zhengqing insisted, saying he had been a coward his whole life and wanted to do something for the Zhuang family and for Zhuang Wenjie and his father.

Zhuang Wenjie began composing a message on his phone to Luo Jian, apologizing for his deception and explaining he took Luoshen to lure Monsieur, who would never give up the painting easily due to his extensive preparations. However, before he could send the message, Zhuang Wenjie sensed something was amiss with Xu Zhengqing. Suddenly, Xu Zhengqing struck him from behind, knocking him unconscious. Luo Jian and his team arrived at Zhuang Wenjie's old house, finding it deserted.

Liao Shuang detected a brief activation of Zhuang Wenjie's SIM card and located its signal moving in a truck on Jiufang Street. Luo Jian immediately gave chase and intercepted the truck, only to find Zhuang Wenjie's phone inside the cargo compartment, but no sign of Zhuang Wenjie himself. Meanwhile, Su Ying interrogated Monsieur's assistant, who claimed that the ceramic tracker found on him was placed there by Zhuang Wenjie at the elevator to pinpoint their location.

Luo Jian, in a call with Su Ying, quickly realized that the signal receiver was likely Zhuang Wenjie's smartwatch, not his phone. He instructed the technical reconnaissance team to reverse-track the ceramic tracker to locate the smartwatch's signal. Xu Zhengqing, having bound Zhuang Wenjie in the trunk of a car, drove to a riverside.

He placed a large rock under one of the front wheels, retrieved the Luoshen painting, started the engine, removed the rock, and watched as the car slowly rolled into the river. He then departed in another vehicle.

Episode 25 Recap

Ye Jia successfully reverse-tracked Zhuang Wenjie's location using a ceramic locator, pinpointing him on Linjiang Road. Although Jiang Hao expressed doubts about the location's accuracy, noting the area was mostly wasteland or an unfinished building, Luo Jian dismissed his concerns, convinced that Zhuang Wenjie would not intentionally mislead them and might be in danger. Luo Jian, after opening Zhuang Wenjie's phone and seeing an unsent message, decided to call Zhuang Wenjie's positioning watch, taking full responsibility for the action.

Zhuang Wenjie, gagged and bound in the trunk of a car sinking into the river, desperately answered the call. Unable to speak, he made sounds that Luo Jian interpreted as "distress" and "water entering." Luo Jian heard the water sounds through the phone and immediately directed his team to search the riverside near Shiyan Bridge on Linjiang Road.

Remembering his father, Zhuang Yaobo's, childhood training about holding his breath underwater and conquering fear, Zhuang Wenjie calmed himself and, with his last strength, kicked out the car's taillights. The floating fragments alerted Luo Jian, who bravely jumped into the river. He managed to open the submerged car door and rescued the unconscious Zhuang Wenjie, administering emergency first aid before he was transported to the hospital.

Upon regaining consciousness, Zhuang Wenjie requested to see Luo Jian and was taken to the interrogation room by Liao Shuang. Meanwhile, during an earlier case analysis, Su Ying and Luo Jian discussed the situation. Jiang Hao reported discovering a secret room in Xu Zhengqing's clock shop, filled with forged IDs and two Central Asian passports, suggesting Xu Zhengqing planned to flee the country.

Su Ying theorized that Xu Zhengqing used Zhuang Wenjie to steal Luoshen from Monsieur, but their exact relationship remained unclear. In the interrogation, Zhuang Wenjie urged Luo Jian to find Dai Mengde, owner of Jinbaozhai, who arranged their auction identities. Zhuang Wenjie confirmed Xu Zhengqing was his father's senior and that they conspired to steal Luoshen, believing Monsieur killed his father 12 years prior.

He explained Xu Zhengqing claimed Luoshen contained a message from his father, which, if given to the police, might expose his father's whereabouts. Luo Jian, frustrated by Zhuang Wenjie's distrust, reasserted that his father was dead. He then showed Zhuang Wenjie hotel surveillance, revealing Monsieur deliberately waited at the elevator, checking his phone, before encountering Zhuang Wenjie. Luo Jian suggested Monsieur received information and precisely timed the meeting.

Zhuang Wenjie realized Xu Zhengqing was the only one who could have known his elevator timings, leading him to suspect Xu Zhengqing was working with Monsieur. Jiang Hao reported Dai Mengde's company was empty and he was unreachable, confirming him as Xu Zhengqing's accomplice, prompting Luo Jian to issue a wanted notice.

Zhuang Wenjie, connecting the dots, proposed his "absurd guess": Xu Zhengqing and Monsieur were a team, and their elaborate plan was not just for Luoshen itself, but for something more. Su Ying's team later identified Jiang Taigong, Luoshen's consignor, as Monsieur via convenience store surveillance. Luo Jian showed Zhuang Wenjie a 12-year-old video from the Old Taste of Golden Valley restaurant, taken three days before the Luoshen incident.

It showed Zhuang Yaobo arguing intensely with a person whose back was to the camera. Luo Jian theorized this individual, not Ding Shenghuo, forced Zhuang Yaobo to steal Luoshen and kept the painting. Combining this with Su Ying's findings, Luo Jian concluded this person was Monsieur. Zhuang Wenjie, observing the video closely, recognized a subconscious wrist-turning habit, confirming the person was Xu Zhengqing. This revelation—that Xu Zhengqing was the true Monsieur and had misled him—caused Zhuang Wenjie to collapse.

After recovering, Zhuang Wenjie discussed the incomplete chess game on Luoshen with Luo Jian. He believed Luoshen had always been with Xu Zhengqing, who, with Monsieur, used him to uncover its secret before silencing him. Xu Zhengqing, in a separate conversation with Dai Mengde, confirmed this, explaining he overheard his master Zhuang Yaoting confiding in Zhuang Yaobai about southern migration cultural relics hidden in Luoshen.

Xu Zhengqing suspected the Zhuang family, despite Zhuang Yaoting's public donation of Luoshen, intended to keep the secret for themselves. He described how Zhuang Yaobai foiled him by rigging the painting, necessitating this elaborate plan involving Zhuang Wenjie. Zhuang Wenjie further revealed that after he was sent to an orphanage, Xu Zhengqing visited the old Zhuang residence and found materials for invisible ink, realizing Zhuang Yaobai had added four pieces to the chess game on Luoshen to obscure the truth.

Zhuang Wenjie recalled his father forcing him to memorize a chess game a week before his death; this version had four more pieces than the original on Luoshen but four fewer than the eight pieces revealed by a polarizer. He deduced his father added four pieces to mislead Xu Zhengqing and protect the real information. Xu Zhengqing confirmed he used Zhuang Wenjie to discern which pieces were original and which were added to unlock the secret.

Luo Jian then speculated that Xu Zhengqing also desired the Tears of Moon Goddess necklace for a hidden secret, not the jewel itself. Zhuang Wenjie agreed, noting the necklace was "stolen" but returned intact. Luo Jian mentioned finding numbers behind the Tears of Moon Goddess but couldn't decipher their meaning, similar to the Luoshen chess game. Xu Zhengqing, reflecting, realized Zhuang Yaobai outsmarted him.

He recalled seeing young Zhuang Wenjie arranging chess pieces at Zhuang Yaobai's house, suspecting Zhuang Yaobai had passed the secret to his son. He found it odd only the layout, not its meaning, was conveyed, possibly due to Zhuang Wenjie's age, which allowed him to execute his elaborate scheme. He also credited Ding Shenghuo for reminding him of Luoshen's secret after his prison release, preventing him from letting the secret sink with Zhuang Yaobai. Luo Jian pondered the deeper connection between the two artifacts.

Episode 26 (Ending) Recap

Luo Jian and Zhuang Wenjie discussed the "Tears of Moon Goddess" necklace and the "Luoshen" painting, recognizing that Xu Zhengqing desired both and that there must be a connection between them. Luo Jian noted that both masterpieces were lost during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

Xu Zhengqing, recalling what he had overheard from Zhuang Heting, explained that during the war, several warlords had plundered priceless treasures and attempted to transport them to Shu along three different routes to avoid conflict. Zhuang Heting was part of one such group, and his team got separated. The Japanese discovered the escort operation and deployed forces, including reconnaissance aircraft, to intercept the artifacts.

With their whereabouts exposed and unable to break through the blockade with the treasures, the commanding officer decided to hide them in a natural cavern. Cultural experts were instructed to mark the location on both the "Tears of Moon Goddess" and "Luoshen" to facilitate their retrieval after the war. Xu Zhengqing clarified that this method of marking was chosen because it was wartime, and paper could easily be destroyed.

Inscribing the information separately on the artifacts ensured both concealment and preservation, as the items themselves were valuable and would likely be kept even if captured by the enemy. He also suggested that the value of these two items was far less than the hidden treasures, signifying a strategy of making minor sacrifices to safeguard major interests. The officer then ordered the cave entrance to be sealed and the treasures hidden.

For security and confidentiality, the "Tears of Moon Goddess" was given to one expert, and "Luoshen" to Zhuang Heting, with instructions to meet at an agreed location after breaking through enemy lines. Zhuang Heting led his team, watching his companions fall protecting the artifacts, until he was the sole survivor.

When he arrived at the rendezvous point, the team carrying the "Tears of Moon Goddess" never appeared, leading him to conclude they had been annihilated and the necklace's whereabouts and its hidden message lost to time. Luo Jian then deduced that the numbers on the "Tears of Moon Goddess" and the pattern of the chess pieces on the "Luoshen" painting, once deciphered by Zhuang Wenjie, were location coordinates.

Zhuang Wenjie realized that by using a Cartesian coordinate system, with the top-left corner as the origin, he could convert the chess pieces into numbers: 24, 28, 33, and 38. Luo Jian questioned the order of these four numbers, prompting Zhuang Wenjie to recall his father's teachings on chess strategy. He then understood that the specific order of the pieces was crucial for the unique solution.

When combined with the numbers from the "Tears of Moon Goddess," Luo Jian confirmed they formed geographical coordinates, which he quickly calculated on his phone to point to The Devil City of Yadan in Lenghu Town. Meanwhile, Xu Zhengqing and Dai Mengde had calculated the same location.

Dai Mengde questioned why Xu Zhengqing went through such elaborate efforts to steal the "Luoshen" painting, suggesting he could have simply approached Zhuang Wenjie as his master's apprentice to gain trust and extract the secret. Xu Zhengqing explained that Zhuang Yaobai's death was connected to "Luoshen," and directly approaching Zhuang Wenjie with the painting would raise suspicions, making it impossible to obtain the secret if Zhuang Wenjie acted like his father and misled him.

He felt fortunate that circumstances had put Zhuang Wenjie in his path, enabling his scheme. Xu Zhengqing called a car rental service, complaining that their driver, supposedly arriving at 3 PM, was late. He was informed the driver was new and would arrive soon. A short while later, Luo Jian, disguised as their driver, apprehended Xu Zhengqing and Dai Mengde. The police successfully recovered the Southern relocation artifacts.

At a case summary meeting, Director Zhao praised Luo Jian for his success, while Luo Jian credited Zhuang Wenjie for providing crucial clues. Luo Jian also requested leniency for Zhuang Wenjie, explaining his actions were influenced by Xu Zhengqing but he later cooperated actively with the police. Director Zhao assured him the situation would be considered. Luo Jian's primary task was now to interrogate Xu Zhengqing and Ding Shenghuo to uncover any other crimes.

Su Ying and Liao Shuang re-interrogated Ding Shenghuo. Upon learning that Xu Zhengqing had been captured, Ding Shenghuo, who initially feigned ignorance, confessed all his crimes after Su Ying confronted him about Meng Xiaoyu's murder and his long history of covering for Xu Zhengqing. Concurrently, Luo Jian interrogated Xu Zhengqing, who initially admitted only to the attempted murder of Zhuang Wenjie and denied further involvement.

Luo Jian pressed Xu Zhengqing about a restaurant named Old Taste of Golden Valley, which was called "Good Taste" twelve years prior. He presented surveillance footage from June 9, 2007, showing Xu Zhengqing in the restaurant. The footage captured Xu Zhengqing threatening Zhuang Yaobai, using a photo from Zhuang Yaobai's house to menace Zhuang Wenjie. Luo Jian explained that Xu Zhengqing had stalked Zhuang Wenjie to use him as leverage to force Zhuang Yaobai to steal "Luoshen."

Zhuang Yaobai had reacted angrily but, fearing for Zhuang Wenjie's safety, eventually agreed to steal the painting. After Meng Xiaoyu's unexpected death, Xu Zhengqing offered Zhuang Yaobai an additional million, claiming her death was an accident. Luo Jian then exposed Xu Zhengqing's involvement in Fang Haizhong's murder. He revealed that on June 12, 2007, the day "Luoshen" was stolen, Xu Zhengqing was seen following Zhuang Wenjie near the same restaurant.

However, Xu Zhengqing himself was being followed by Fang Haizhong, a police officer and Luo Jian's former teacher. Xu Zhengqing led Fang Haizhong to a rooftop, where he deliberately spilled oil on a wooden plank between buildings, causing Fang Haizhong to slip. When Fang Haizhong desperately clung to the plank, Xu Zhengqing pushed him to his death. Luo Jian further unveiled Xu Zhengqing's role in Meng Xiaoyu's death.

Xu Zhengqing initially blamed Ding Shenghuo for suffocating her with a handkerchief, but Ding Shenghuo had confessed that Xu Zhengqing provided the handkerchief. Su Ying then presented the handkerchief, which was found in the bedroom on the second floor of Zhuang's old residence. It contained traces of beta-blockers and Xu Zhengqing's DNA, conclusively proving that both he and Ding Shenghuo were responsible for Meng Xiaoyu's murder.

Finally, Luo Jian confronted Xu Zhengqing about Zhuang Yaobai's death, rejecting Xu Zhengqing's claim that it was an accident. Luo Jian explained that traces of leaking brake fluid were found along the accident route, leading to Fucheng Road. Although the car's front was destroyed, preventing direct inspection of the brake lines, the police realized that the previous investigation was incomplete because they were unaware of a third party's involvement.

With this new information, they deduced that "Luoshen" must have exchanged hands, requiring a stop. Road surveillance from the north and south ends of Fucheng Road showed Zhuang Yaobai's car stopping for at least two minutes. During this time, "Luoshen" was transferred, and the brake fluid line was sabotaged. Luo Jian concluded that Xu Zhengqing, having received "Luoshen," was the only person who had the opportunity to tamper with Zhuang Yaobai's car.

Faced with irrefutable evidence, Xu Zhengqing finally confessed, admitting he severed the brake line after Zhuang Yaobai handed over "Luoshen," then tricked Zhuang Yaobai into driving the damaged car to an old parking lot to be destroyed, resulting in his fatal crash. Luo Jian visited Zhuang Wenjie in the hospital and relayed the full truth of how Xu Zhengqing orchestrated his family's tragedy.

Zhuang Wenjie was deeply pained, questioning why his father, knowing the secret behind "Luoshen," didn't simply tell Xu Zhengqing instead of risking his family's destruction. Luo Jian clarified that Zhuang Yaobai was a righteous man who aimed to live an honest life. He knew Xu Zhengqing was after the national treasures, not just "Luoshen."

Therefore, Zhuang Yaobai covertly tipped off Fang Haizhong, hoping the police would intervene, thwart Xu Zhengqing's plans, and protect his family, making a difficult but selfless decision. Luo Jian encouraged Zhuang Wenjie to let go of the past, look forward, and start a new life. He also told Zhuang Wenjie that he would be gone by the time he was discharged from the hospital.

Zhuang Wenjie reflected on Luo Jian's words, remembering his father's lifelong desire to live a righteous life in the sunlight. Ding Shenghuo received life imprisonment for theft and intentional homicide. Xu Zhengqing, found guilty of theft, intentional homicide, and leading a criminal organization, was sentenced to death. Zhuang Wenjie, though found guilty of obstruction of justice, was pardoned for his cooperation with law enforcement and good behavior.

With the truth finally revealed, Luo Jian visited Fang Haizhong's tomb, offering a long-overdue apology and finding closure after twelve years. Su Ying joined him, and they shared a knowing smile. Zhuang Wenjie returned to school, where Lin Zhiyue waited for him at the entrance. As if reliving their childhood, he put a necklace on her. As they walked hand in hand towards the school, Zhuang Wenjie received a mysterious text message: "Congratulations. You persisted and you did it." He was visibly shocked.