Be Reborn Episode 22 Recap
> Be Reborn 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.
