Be Reborn Episode 7 Recap
> Be Reborn 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.
