Being a Hero Episode 12 Recap
> Being a Hero Recap
After Hao Dong, surprisingly, allowed him to leave the grave site, Wu Zhenfeng returns to his lodging, still shaken by the near-death experience. Looking at his disheveled appearance in the mirror, he recalls Chen Yu's words about cooperation and realizes the vast power imbalance in his solo fight against Hao Dong. He contemplates calling Chen Yu but ultimately decides against it. After a prior conflict, Hao Dong offers a conciliatory apology to Wan Heda.
Wan Heda earnestly advises Hao Dong against a perpetual standoff with Mengka, arguing that it offers no long-term benefits. He emphasizes the unchangeable bond of neighborhood, stating that Mengka cannot be moved and neither can they leave Yunhe. He points out how "a small fry like Wu Zhenfeng" has already caused significant disruption in Yunhe, questioning what good a larger conflict would bring and reiterating that a prolonged stalemate is unsustainable.
Despite this, Hao Dong suggests they should "touch base" with Mengka first. A disheveled Wu Zhenfeng appears before Chen Yu, who presses him about his whereabouts the previous night and why he didn't answer calls. Wu Zhenfeng claims he was involved in a fight around seven or eight o'clock at a Deashan Street food stall, possibly in retaliation for the boxing ring incident.
When Chen Yu pushes for more details, Wu Zhenfeng initially resists, asserting his right to privacy outside police authority. However, under threat of being taken to the police station for a statement, Wu Zhenfeng reveals he was taken to meet someone who has a "very close relationship" with the Public Security Bureau. He then names Jiang Lei, identifying him as Liu Kaihua's nephew and his "boss."
Chen Yu, recalling He Jiashu's earlier statement about Jiang Lei, does not press for more details, though Wu Zhenfeng deliberately omits his encounter with Hao Dong. Later, Liu Kaihua confronts Jiang Lei about his injuries and whereabouts. Jiang Lei fabricates a story about a fight with a recruitment boss over a job, denying any involvement in a Deashan Street incident that Liu Kaihua mentions.
Chen Yu asks Wu Zhenfeng if he trusts him, then urges him to abandon his path of revenge if his involvement with drugs is still minimal, reminding him of his past warnings that continuing to investigate could lead to his death and asking if he wants to ruin himself. Chen Yu assures Wu Zhenfeng that he is trying to help him.
Wu Zhenfeng, in turn, asks Chen Yu if he trusts him, pledging that if he has any contact with drug criminals and obtains concrete evidence, he will immediately inform Chen Yu, just as he did with A Shu previously. He also promises that if he is found to be involved in drugs, the police can arrest him at any time. Wu Zhenfeng then hands Chen Yu a USB drive containing all the data from his father's company.
Chen Yu immediately instructs his colleague, Bowen, to analyze the vehicle records from August 28, 2016. Bowen reports that a vehicle from Wanlutong Logistics Company was used on that date, and that most of the company's transportation records are linked to this firm. Chen Yu identifies Wan Heda as the rapidly rising boss of Wanlutong and orders an investigation into him.
At the police station, Chen Yu approaches Lin Dezan, speculating that Wu Zhenfeng met with K's people and might be a key contact for K and Mengka's collaboration. Liu Kaihua, also present, scolds Chen Yu for his impudence. An officer informs Lin Dezan that Wu Zhenfeng returned that morning, but the officer admits he hadn't inquired about Wu Zhenfeng's whereabouts, a lapse Lin Dezan criticizes as a failure to gather important information.
Chen Yu then elaborates on his strategy: gaining Wu Zhenfeng's trust through a thorough investigation of Wu Gang's case, with the ultimate goal of leveraging his cooperation to dismantle K. Lin Dezan challenges Chen Yu's assessment of Wu Zhenfeng's drug involvement, reminding him of past mistakes. Chen Yu defends his stance, asserting that Wu Zhenfeng's primary motivation is revenge for his father, whose framing now appears evident.
When challenged by Liu Kaihua about He Jiashu's statement being one-sided, Chen Yu reiterates that he needs to investigate further. He emphasizes Wu Zhenfeng is their sole lead to K and that he trusts him. Chen Yu requests permission to investigate Wanlutong Company and Wan Heda, whose company's vehicle was used when Wu Gang was killed crossing the border.
Lin Dezan grants permission but sternly cautions Chen Yu to be deferential when dealing with the influential Wan Heda and strictly forbids him from revealing any investigation details to Wu Zhenfeng or reporting to anyone beyond his immediate superior. After Chen Yu leaves, Liu Kaihua voices concerns to Lin Dezan that Chen Yu, being young, might be exploited by Wu Zhenfeng. Liu Kaihua then adds that Chen Yu reminds him of a younger Lin Dezan.
Lin Dezan instructs Liu Kaihua to maintain close surveillance on Wu Zhenfeng and to ensure Chen Yu's safety if Wu Zhenfeng is definitively identified as a drug trafficker. Hao Dong instructs Wang Yikun to head to Kundu and meet A Can to formalize logistics for upcoming drug shipments, asserting that the existing routes, established by Wan Heda, will continue to be used under their new arrangement.
He offers Wang Yikun a share of the profits and has set up an overseas account for him. Wang Yikun, however, stresses that his loyalty to Hao Dong is not motivated by money, having joined him three years ago for reasons other than wealth. Hao Dong dismisses this, arguing that Wan Heda's long-standing disapproval of Wang Yikun's relationship with Wan Mengmeng is rooted in his lack of wealth.
Hao Dong tells Wang Yikun that without confronting Wan Heda, he will never achieve anything, making an eventual confrontation inevitable. Meanwhile, Chen Yu and Lan Anran arrive at Wan Heda's office, directly asking if he knew Wu Gang and requesting driver information related to the case, clarifying it's not about his daughter, Wan Mengmeng, a topic they had previously discussed. As Wan Heda tries to evade their questions, his nanny calls, reporting that Wan Mengmeng is experiencing another drug relapse.
Distraught, Wan Heda dismisses the police, instructing a subordinate to handle them. However, the subordinate inadvertently hands over sensitive driver documents before Wan Heda can intervene. Shortly after, Wan Mengmeng desperately calls her father, demanding her "Xiao Ma" (likely a drug). Enraged by the documents falling into police hands, Wan Heda berates his subordinate for being unable to prevent it and orders reliable individuals to immediately retrieve the materials, warning that their ruin depends on it.
Chen Yu and Wu Zhenfeng are reviewing the salvaged company documents. They discover that the entry for August 28, 2016, involving a jade shipment transported by Wanlutong, has a conspicuously blank driver column, leading them to suspect deliberate concealment linked to Wu Gang's death. As they work, a group of assailants, acting on Wan Heda's orders to retrieve the documents, bursts in. They forcibly restrain Wu Zhenfeng and seize the documents.
Despite Wu Zhenfeng's desperate struggle and Yang Ling's quick call to the police from downstairs, the attackers set the documents ablaze and flee. Chen Yu and Wu Zhenfeng frantically try to extinguish the flames, managing to salvage only a few burnt fragments. Wan Heda's subordinate later confirms that while the documents weren't retrieved, they were successfully destroyed. Separately, Wan Mengmeng, suffering severe withdrawal, frantically begs her father for her "Xiao Ma."
Wan Heda brings Dr. Yu, but Mengmeng rejects the doctor, demanding her drug. Wan Heda asks Dr. Yu to inject tranquilizers. After Mengmeng falls asleep, Dr. Yu confronts Wan Heda about his cyclical pattern of calling for help then doing nothing, strongly advising him to send Mengmeng to a rehab center. Wan Heda refuses, citing his daughter's youth and his refusal to acknowledge having an addicted daughter, fearing for his reputation.
Dr. Yu vehemently condemns Wan Heda as selfish, accusing him of prioritizing his image over his daughter's life, and bluntly states that without rehab, Mengmeng is completely ruined. Stunned, Wan Heda extends his hand in thanks, which Dr. Yu rejects due to germs. Wang Yikun finalizes a drug deal with A Can in Kundu, arranging the delivery of "yellow capsules" and "Ma Gu" for the day after tomorrow.
He emphasizes that the specific transporter doesn't matter as long as the goods arrive safely. Simultaneously, Ghost Hand contacts Wu Zhenfeng, instructing him to pick up someone in Waling Town early the next morning, claiming the person is from K and already knows Wu Zhenfeng. Wu Zhenfeng expresses suspicion about the arrangement. Back at the police station, Yang Ling asks Chen Yu if the recent attack was targeting Wu Zhenfeng.
Chen Yu clarifies they were after the leads on his father's case. Lin Dezan reprimands Chen Yu for bringing sensitive documents to an unsafe location instead of the police station, deeming it a serious violation. Chen Yu apologizes, explaining his urgency to verify the USB data, which he believes led to Wan Heda's involvement and the attack. Lin Dezan acknowledges Chen Yu's conclusion but stresses that the power behind Wan Heda remains unknown. He orders continued surveillance on Wan Heda.
Later, police surveillance indicates Wu Zhenfeng has crossed the border, his whereabouts unknown, without informing Chen Yu. Liu Kaihua expresses concern over Chen Yu's judgment. Bowen then reports that Wan Heda also crossed the border just ten minutes after Wu Zhenfeng. Liu Kaihua orders continuous monitoring of both Wu Zhenfeng and Wan Heda's movements, including their return times and whether they return together.
He also instructs strict, covert surveillance and investigation of all vehicles belonging to Wanlutong Transportation Company, emphasizing caution to avoid alerting them. Meanwhile, Jiang Lei meets with Ghost Hand and asks him to find fifteen individuals for an operation, then declares his intention to kill Wu Zhenfeng.
