Be Reborn Episode 3 Recap
> Be Reborn 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."
