Be Reborn Episode 16 Recap
> Be Reborn 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.
