Be Reborn Episode 19 Recap
> Be Reborn 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.
