Detective Chinatown Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Detective Chinatown Synopsis
In Thailand, a series of strange cases occur one after another.
Lin Mo, the disciple of Tang Ren, the first detective in Chinatown, and Ye Tian Hao's brother, Ye Tian Hao Er, are caught up in the mystery of the case.
Behind the intricate clues, the truth behind the "darkness" is slowly emerging.
Detective Chinatown Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Lin Mo, a detective at the Tang Ren Detective Agency in Chinatown, Bangkok, found himself embroiled in a series of bizarre cases after his master, Tang Ren, departed for America. This began with A Wen, a bar singer, who reported a strange incident. One Wednesday night, while waiting for the last metro, she distinctly heard chanting that became louder than her music. As she checked her phone, an invisible force brutally shoved her onto the tracks.
Unable to scream for help as a train approached, she was saved just in time by Mr. Su Tai. However, police CCTV footage showed no one behind her, leading them to disbelieve her story. A week later, a woman named Shui, a wealthy Chinese-Thai owner of a hotel chain, tragically jumped to her death from her apartment building. Her husband reported that she too had been hearing similar chanting before her death.
The police chief, despite initially dismissing such claims as superstitious, found the cases unsettling enough to call for a detective. He himself had recently visited Zhengwang Temple and bought roasted corn, a detail Lin Mo deduced through his acute sense of smell and observation, much to the chief's surprise.
Lin Mo, a former chemistry teacher known for his keen senses, was brought in by Officer Kun Tai, the chief's subordinate, to take on the cases, as Tang Ren was in America and still owed the police department 19 free investigations from a previous case. On a video call, Tang Ren casually dismissed the current cases as trivial, advising Lin Mo to merely "deal with them."
Lin Mo was partnered with Officer Sasha, a capable female detective who had transferred from headquarters specifically to work on these cases. Despite Sasha's initial enthusiasm for teamwork, Lin Mo's focused and somewhat aloof demeanor, along with her attempts to hold his hand as a "partner," created immediate friction. Their first stop was Shui's apartment.
CCTV footage showed Shui performing a "wish dance" to invoke blessings from the Brahma, also known as the Four-Faced Buddha, on the rooftop at 2 AM before her jump. The autopsy confirmed suicide, but the presence of amitriptyline, an antidepressant, in her blood raised questions for Lin Mo, who found a wealthy woman's suicide suspicious, especially given the peculiar dance.
They then interviewed Shui's husband, Qin Jun, whom Lin Mo identified as a dentist due to the scent of disinfectant on him. Qin Jun described Shui's rapid decline over three weeks: she began hearing chanting nightly, often waking him up. He initially dismissed it as stress-induced hallucinations and started giving her antidepressants. One night, Shui, agitated and feeling misunderstood, threatened herself with a knife.
Qin Jun later recounted a terrifying incident at a shrine where Shui's arm spontaneously caught fire, which was quickly put out by bystanders. On their way home, Shui became frantic, claiming the incidents were the Brahma's revenge on "us," a pronoun Qin Jun found odd but didn't question given her emotional state. Qin Jun expressed deep regret for falling asleep the night Shui died, believing he could have saved her.
While investigating Shui's apartment, Lin Mo discovered a new cabinet and a plastic bag from "Kameng Mental Health Clinic." More significantly, he found a high school photo showing Shui with three other girls, including A Wen. This revelation connected the two seemingly unrelated cases, as A Wen was the girl who nearly died at the metro station. Sasha mentioned that the video of Shui's arm catching fire had even been uploaded to "Crimaster," a detective game, for players to solve.
At the Kameng Mental Health Clinic, the eccentric psychologist confirmed Shui had two sessions, but remained guarded. He diagnosed her with depression due to her reports of hearing chanting, but stated she never mentioned the Brahma. He dramatically speculated that Qin Jun could be the killer, motivated by inheritance. The psychologist then attempted to "hypnotize" Lin Mo, claiming he could see Lin Mo's deep-seated childhood trauma and need for affection, which inexplicably caused Lin Mo to experience a seizure.
Sasha, disturbed by the doctor's bizarre behavior and her partner's sudden collapse, quickly ended the interview. Lin Mo, upon recovering, dismissed the psychologist's murder theory, insisting they seek answers from someone still alive. Their investigation led them to the Sura bar where A Wen worked. The bar owner recounted an incident from a week prior when A Wen was performing. The bar's air conditioning failed, and A Wen suddenly became ill on stage.
A visible red handprint appeared on her neck, causing her to faint. The owner, believing it to be a paranormal attack, called a Buddhist Master instead of the police or an ambulance. When A Wen finished her performance and joined them, Lin Mo offered her chocolate, explaining its calming effect.
A Wen, touched by the gesture, identified the other two girls in the high school photo as Di Nan and Zha Ya, confirming they were all close friends and dorm mates from Luming High School. She expressed disbelief at Shui's suicide, insisting Shui was the happiest among them. When Sasha tried to question A Wen about the strangling incident, A Wen vaguely claimed she had choked on food.
Sensing A Wen's reluctance to reveal more, Lin Mo abruptly ended the conversation. Outside, Sasha confronted Lin Mo, accusing him of favoring A Wen. Lin Mo calmly explained his actions were for the investigation. Just then, Sasha received a phone call from Siam Station: Di Nan, the fourth girl from the high school group, had just reported a similar mysterious incident. The case was far from over.
Episode 2 Recap
The episode opens with Lin Mo's voiceover, identifying himself as a former chemistry teacher, now a detective at the Tang Ren Detective Agency in Bangkok's Chinatown. He recalls a childhood memory where his mother, holding a younger "Xiaowen," makes him promise not to make a sound, no matter what he sees. She reassures him that his parents will always love him. Later, Lin Mo and Officer Sasha arrive at Dinan's modest apartment.
Sasha remarks on the stark difference in living conditions among the classmates. Dinan, finding them there, offers them drinks and laments her bad luck, stating she wants to move out of the "shithole." She initially expresses frustration with the police for dismissing her previous report, but Sasha apologizes on behalf of incompetent officers and introduces Lin Mo as "the No.1 detective in Thailand." Dinan, intrigued, questions if she needs a detective or a Buddhist master.
Dinan leads them to a handprint on her ceiling, which she discovered about a week prior. She explains that it matches her own hand size and that she couldn't have placed it there without a ladder. She recounts being lifted while asleep, accompanied by chanting sounds. Lin Mo notes the absence of incense smell, deducing the handprint was made from joss stick ashes, a type only found in temples.
When Lin Mo asks if she dreamt of Brahma, Dinan questions why, and he reveals that their high school classmates, A Wen and Shui, also experienced strange incidents. Dinan, worried, exclaims that Zha Ya is in trouble, and the three immediately rush to the hospital. At the hospital, A Wen is already with Zha Ya. A Wen warns them that Zha Ya is fragile due to her eye condition and asks them not to mention Shui's death.
Lin Mo and Sasha are shocked to learn that Shui is dead. Inside the room, Zha Ya recounts hearing marble-like sounds from upstairs, which she initially attributed to structural vibrations. This escalated to encountering prayer beads appearing in her home, even bursting from the plumbing. She was terrified as countless hands from behind her wrapped around her. Her landlord investigated the plumbing but found no source for the beads.
A Wen reveals that Zha Ya's ex-husband was abusive, and she now considers the hospital safer than her home. A Wen has been paying for Zha Ya's hospital stay, as Zha Ya has no other family. When asked about the last time they saw Shui, Dinan and A Wen recall their ten-year class reunion a few months prior, a normal, happy gathering where everyone, including Shui, got drunk. Sasha then directly asks about their connection to Brahma.
Zha Ya, overwhelmed, says she's tired, and A Wen asks Lin Mo and Sasha to leave. Sasha stresses the importance of them revealing the truth for their own safety. Lin Mo observes the four women's deep bond despite their vastly different lives, searching for a common thread. Outside the hospital, Dinan and A Wen head to a bar for drinks. Sasha, feeling competitive, comments on Dinan's flirtatious behavior toward Lin Mo.
She suggests the Brahma might be responsible and jokes that they deserve it. Lin Mo responds with the proverb, "Although I did not kill Boren, Boren died because of me," emphasizing that understanding the underlying causes is more crucial than just the supernatural occurrences. He dismisses Sasha's confusion about "Boren." Later, as Dinan drives A Wen home, the car radio suddenly plays unsettling Buddhist chants. The car accelerates uncontrollably, and the brakes fail.
Dinan frantically tries to stop the car, but it plunges into a river. Dinan claims she saw a golden Brahma statue underwater. The next day, Dinan is interrogated. Sasha reminds them that only the truth can protect them. A Wen agrees, and Dinan starts to reveal their secret. They explain that they were best friends in high school, and facing their college entrance exams, they decided to all apply to Bangkok University to stay together.
They visited a Brahma altar, wishing for success and vowing to perform a "wish dance" after the exams. However, weeks later, all four fell severely ill with typhoid fever, missing their exams. They believe Shui was the first to get sick. One day after recovering, angry and frustrated at their missed opportunity, they confronted the Brahma statue, accusing it of betrayal. Heavy rain then began to fall.
Ten years later, they came to believe these incidents were punishment for disrespecting Brahma. Dinan expresses fear, believing she will be the next victim after Shui. After the interrogation, Dinan demands police protection. However, the police officers, including the chief, are dismissive of their claims, finding them "too complicated" and beyond their capabilities.
Influenced by officers speculating about ghosts and demons, the chief decides to immediately fund a religious ceremony for the women to appease the spirits and close the case, advising them to seek help from a Buddhist master and call 1691 for an ambulance if further incidents occur. Disheartened, A Wen leaves the police station, only to be narrowly missed by a large billboard falling from above.
Lin Mo rushes to the rooftop but finds no one, though he detects a strange, familiar odor on the broken wood. The religious ceremony proceeds with media coverage and public attendance. While the women pray, Lin Mo again catches the faint, familiar scent from the broken wood. This recurring detail gives him a crucial lead, and he decides to continue his investigation at Luming High School.
Sasha questions his persistent belief that a human is behind it, but Lin Mo asserts that "Gods don't harm people; only people do." He notes that Shui's husband, Qin Jun, is absent from the ceremony, and they plan to attend Shui's funeral the next day.
Episode 3 Recap
During Lin Mo's time as a substitute chemistry teacher at Luming High School, which he considers the origin of his "nightmares," he was warned by a colleague about the notoriously difficult students. On his first day, after a student feigned illness to lure him to the infirmary, he was locked in the infirmary by the class. Unfazed, Lin Mo used his chemical knowledge to blow open the steel door, instantly earning the respect and awe of the students.
He became known as "Black Dog Teacher" and taught them there were many ways to solve problems beyond the obvious. Lin Mo recalls his dual life back then, being a chemistry teacher by day and a "scavenger" at night, walking the line between law and crime, before becoming a detective for the Tang Ren Detective Agency in Chinatown. Months later, Lin Mo returned to Luming High School with Officer Sasha.
The principal was ecstatic, offering him triple his former salary to return and mistakenly assuming Sasha was his girlfriend. Lin Mo clarified Sasha's identity and explained they were there to inquire about four former students involved in a recent case. The principal remembered Shui as an excellent student and Wen as academically average, but couldn't recall the names of the other two girls, Dinan and Zhaya.
He recalled that all four girls had collectively fallen ill with a severe, contagious typhoid fever just days before their college entrance exams, causing them to miss it entirely. Shui, from a wealthy family, subsequently went abroad, while the others faced tougher paths. The principal also recounted a dramatic incident from their second year: Wen publicly confessed her feelings to a boy named Pei Shan, who rejected her.
Shui, in a show of support for Wen, ended up splashing water on Pei Shan. This led to Pei Shan being ostracized by classmates and losing touch with them after graduation. After taking a photo of Pei Shan from the principal's files, Lin Mo noticed two students whispering outside the window. Suddenly, the school broadcast announced "Black Dog Teacher's" return, urging students to "keep him" and speculating that the girl with him was his girlfriend.
Realizing they were about to be swarmed by hundreds of adoring students, Lin Mo quickly pulled Sasha away, escaping the school as the students enthusiastically chased them. At a restaurant, Lin Mo demonstrated his keen sense of smell by identifying a dish as beef curry, not lamb, before tasting it. He explained to Sasha that the most suspicious aspects of their current case came from the varying accounts of the involved parties.
He theorized that much of what they had seen and heard was likely a deliberate "illusion" designed to conceal a single truth: the real cause of Shui's death. Convinced that clues might surface at the memorial, he decided they should attend Shui's funeral. At the funeral, Qin Jun delivered a seemingly heartfelt eulogy, describing how Shui had transformed his life and taught him the meaning of existence, making him no longer fear death.
However, his composure wavered when Lin Mo informed him that, despite the case being officially closed, the investigation would continue. Lin Mo noted a change in Qin Jun's scent, remarking on the absence of disinfectant typically found on him, which Qin Jun attributed to being busy with funeral arrangements and not going to his clinic. Lin Mo then confronted Wen, observing that her scent was remarkably similar to Qin Jun's, leaving Wen bewildered.
Sasha later commented that Wen's "normal" reaction was "too normal to be true." As they spoke, Pei Shan suddenly rushed forward, attempting to stab Qin Jun with a knife. Lin Mo quickly intervened, tackling Pei Shan to the ground. Pei Shan, after mumbling an apology, dropped the knife and fled into the bustling market, quickly disappearing among the crowds.
Sasha noted that Qin Jun denied knowing Pei Shan, and Wen and the others were equally confused by Pei Shan's aggressive actions. Sasha informed Lin Mo that an arrest warrant for Pei Shan had been issued. Lin Mo, however, dismissed Pei Shan as the actual murderer, believing his impulsive nature didn't align with a meticulously planned crime.
He recounted smelling disinfectant on the broken wood of the billboard that had almost struck Wen, a scent he previously associated with Qin Jun due to his dental practice. This earlier observation, combined with the fact that Qin Jun had been unavailable at his clinic that day, had first raised Lin Mo's suspicions about him. Lin Mo concluded they were still missing "the last piece of the puzzle."
He deduced this missing piece might be found with Pei Shan, whose home they then visited. Breaking into Pei Shan's house, Lin Mo and Sasha found numerous Brahma statues and old Luming High School photos. Among Pei Shan's high school memorabilia and Brahma statues, Lin Mo discovered an ancient perfume test strip, which he found in a gift list belonging to Wen, Dinan, and Zhaya.
Despite Sasha's skepticism about any remaining scent, Lin Mo discerned a distinct rose top note with a unique lemongrass base note. Sasha recognized this as "Salome," a rare, limited-edition perfume by Jean-Patou, known for its unusual and memorable fragrance profile, which translates to "unspoken love."
Lin Mo connected Pei Shan's retention of this old gift from Shui to his deep, enduring affection for her, and theorized that Pei Shan, who hadn't attended the funeral during the day, would visit Shui's grave at night. As predicted, Lin Mo and Sasha apprehended Pei Shan at the graveyard that night.
They brought him to a food stall, where Lin Mo confronted him with the "Salome" perfume strip, explaining its meaning: Shui had indeed loved him, but had hidden her feelings to support Wen. Pei Shan confessed that Shui wouldn't have committed suicide, firmly believing Qin Jun had murdered her. He also expressed his belief that Wen was not an innocent victim, but rather the most cunning among them.
He recounted how, during a three-month reunion, Shui, after being taken home drunk, had waited for him, leading to them rekindling their romantic feelings. Shui later expressed regret for letting him go for Wen and asked if he would marry her if she divorced. Pei Shan willingly agreed. Shui had confided that her marriage was unhappy, and she suspected Qin Jun was having an affair.
Pei Shan explained that Shui had called him one day, saying she frequently heard chanting at night and feared someone was trying to harm her. He believed Qin Jun was the culprit, as he would inherit Shui's wealth and be free to be with his lover. Pei Shan told Lin Mo that he had tried to report his suspicions to the police, but they dismissed him, presenting video evidence that indicated suicide.
Unable to accept this, especially given Shui's plans to divorce and travel to China with him, Pei Shan had resolved to seek revenge on Qin Jun himself. He then recalled that Shui, being the wealthiest among her friends, had brought gifts for everyone at the reunion, including Dinan, Zhaya, and Wen. He remembered going to the restroom later and overhearing the three sisters discussing Shui, with comments like "showing off?"
and "insulting us," even mentioning throwing the gifts into the trash, and some talk about "redemption." Pei Shan couldn't remember the specific gifts Shui bought, but mentioned a dress for Dinan. Lin Mo contacted Kiko, a master hacker, who quickly retrieved Shui's purchase records. These confirmed Shui had bought a perfume, a dress, and a necklace for her friends. Following this new lead, Lin Mo and Sasha returned to the restaurant where the reunion was held.
Lin Mo, attempting to search the ladies' restroom, was confronted by the cleaning lady, who mistook him for a pervert and threatened to call the police. Sasha intervened, showing her police badge. The cleaning lady denied finding any valuable items in her thirty years of working there. However, Lin Mo's attention was drawn to the expensive YSL MON PARIS perfume worn by a waitress, which he knew cost half her monthly salary.
The waitress confessed she had received three gifts from Shui: a perfume (which she was wearing), a dress, and a necklace. She mentioned having sold the dress and necklace. She also recounted overhearing Wen in the restroom telling Dinan and Zhaya that she was "going to reveal some truth." Just as they were leaving, Sasha received an urgent call, informing her that Dinan had died.
Episode 4 Recap
Lin Mo, in an attempt to understand the sisters' experiences, mentally recreated the mysterious events they had encountered. The outcome was shocking: Dinan had fallen to her death, her demise mirroring Shui’s. At the scene, Lin Mo detected only Wen’s scent on Dinan’s body, prompting him to question if Dinan truly fell by accident. He felt a symbolic presence of Dinan, expressing regret over their karma and asking for revenge. Sasha was immediately tasked with examining Dinan’s phone.
Wen was brought in for interrogation. She recounted that Dinan had called her, distraught and claiming to hear chanting again. Wen rushed to Dinan’s apartment, finding her in a state of mental breakdown. Dinan then grabbed Wen, attempting to pull her to their deaths together, before accidentally losing her footing and falling from the balcony. Wen expressed her willingness to take responsibility for Dinan's death but believed she, too, would soon meet the same fate as Shui and Dinan.
Lin Mo, however, saw through her fabricated story, accusing her of acting. He revealed his knowledge of Shui’s true fate and Wen’s intricate schemes, stating that the trap was set by Wen, Qin Jun, Dinan, and Zhaya. He then directly accused Wen of eliminating Dinan because Dinan had threatened her. Wen vehemently denied everything, maintaining her victim facade and pleading with Lin Mo not to inflict further harm upon them.
Unmoved, Lin Mo declared he would continue to watch her, because she was guilty. Despite Lin Mo's accusations, the Police Chief expressed sympathy for Wen. He accepted the handprints on Wen’s neck as irrefutable proof of self-defense and ordered her immediate release. Other officers voiced their disbelief at the hasty decision, pointing out that someone had just died and recalling the ominous billboard incident that nearly crushed Wen.
The Chief, however, dismissed their concerns, demanding concrete evidence which Lin Mo could not yet produce. He then formally removed Lin Mo from the case. As Wen walked free from the interrogation room, Lin Mo’s gaze remained fixed on her retreating back. Sasha informed Lin Mo that Dinan’s phone contained no unusual data. Lin Mo, unwilling to abandon the investigation, vowed to continue and instructed Sasha to safeguard Zhaya, their last remaining lead.
Lin Mo and Sasha rushed to the hospital to find Zhaya, only to discover she had been discharged earlier that morning and her whereabouts were unknown. Police inquiries revealed Zhaya had booked a flight to Singapore. Lin Mo and Sasha knew that Thailand lacked an extradition treaty with Singapore, meaning that if Zhaya reached Singapore, bringing her back would be extremely difficult. Despite their urgent race to the airport, they arrived too late; Zhaya had successfully escaped.
Defeated but not deterred, Lin Mo and Sasha stopped at a beef noodle shop near the airport. Lin Mo, now having pieced together the entire puzzle, began to explain his deductions to Sasha. He asserted that the entire series of "supernatural" events, including Shui’s supposed suicide, was an elaborate scam orchestrated by Wen, Dinan, and Zhaya to cover up Shui’s murder. He detailed each illusion: Shui’s apparent self-immolation was achieved by applying phosphorus powder to her clothes.
Wen’s terrifying “ghost choking” incident at the bar was a staged performance. She had pre-applied phenolphthalein solution to her neck. With the bar's air conditioning conveniently broken, her sweat, being alkaline, reacted with the solution, causing red handprints to appear, creating the illusion of being choked.
Her near-fatal fall onto the subway tracks was also an act, as there was a spacious gap beneath the platform where she could safely hide, ensuring no real danger even if no one had come to her rescue. Dinan and Wen’s harrowing car crash into the river was a premeditated stunt. The car was driven into a tree first, significantly reducing its speed before it plunged into the water.
Dinan, a skilled swimmer (a detail noted in her graduation yearbook), had agreed to this dangerous act under certain undisclosed conditions, likely involving insurance money for her old car. The fact that Dinan’s non-waterproof phone remained undamaged after the supposed plunge further cemented the staged nature of the event. Qin Jun played a crucial role in Shui’s psychological torment. He used low-frequency bass speakers to play eerie chanting sounds in their home.
The low frequency made the sounds disorienting and impossible to pinpoint their source, driving Shui into a state of paranoia and mental breakdown, making her believe she was suffering from hallucinations. Lin Mo then revealed the shocking truth of Shui’s death: she did not commit suicide; she was murdered. On the afternoon of Shui's death, Qin Jun had purchased a new cabinet. This cabinet was not for storage, but to smuggle Wen into Shui's apartment undetected by surveillance cameras.
Once inside, Wen, disguised as Shui (wearing her pajamas and a wig), performed a "wish dance" on the rooftop to further mislead any potential witnesses or cameras. Simultaneously, Qin Jun administered a large dose of Amitriptyline, a sedative Shui was already prescribed, rendering her deeply unconscious. He then threw the real Shui from their apartment balcony, meticulously staging her death to appear as a "possessed" suicide.
Wen, after completing her rooftop act, simply jumped to a concealed flat roof below, making her apparent "fall" vanish from sight. Finally, Lin Mo concluded that Dinan’s death was a direct consequence of her discovering Wen and Qin Jun’s murderous secret. Dinan had likely attempted to blackmail Wen, leading Wen to kill her to silence her. Sasha presented Lin Mo’s comprehensive analysis to the police, but the Chief, adamant about hard evidence, dismissed it as mere speculation.
He begrudgingly granted Lin Mo one week to find irrefutable proof, assigning two officers to assist him. Three days passed with no significant breakthroughs. Qin Jun, meanwhile, began liquidating Shui’s assets, transferring vast sums overseas, and initiating the auction of her hotels—clear signs of an impending escape.
However, a diligent officer, whom Lin Mo had requested to track all movements, discovered a critical detail: Dinan had rented a new car after her accident, and the night before her death, she had followed Qin Jun to the Yalan shopping mall in Chinatown. Qin Jun’s financial records also showed a transaction at the same mall that night, marking their only overlapping location. Lin Mo and Sasha immediately went to the Yalan mall.
Reviewing surveillance footage, they saw Qin Jun waiting alone in a cafe, repeatedly checking his phone, indicating he was waiting for someone. Dinan, however, never entered the mall; instead, she parked in the underground garage. Further footage showed Qin Jun eventually leaving the cafe and getting into his car. Dinan’s car did not follow him. Lin Mo deduced that Qin Jun was indeed waiting for Wen, but Wen, cautious, did not meet him in the public cafe.
Instead, she met him privately in his car in the parking garage. Dinan, having followed Qin Jun, had captured this clandestine meeting on her phone. This video on Dinan’s phone was the crucial evidence they needed. Police technicians confirmed that the phone’s data had been manually deleted, but recovering it from the old model would take several hours.
At the same time, police received urgent news: Qin Jun and Wen had booked the same flight to Singapore, departing in less than three hours. The Chief, still lacking concrete evidence, refused to issue an immediate arrest warrant. With time running out, Lin Mo, taking matters into his own hands, booked a ticket for the same flight, declaring he would personally "send them off."
At the airport, Lin Mo orchestrated a fake bomb threat, causing widespread chaos and forcing the immediate delay and diversion of the flight. During the ensuing pandemonium and delay, the police technicians successfully recovered the deleted data from Dinan's phone. The evidence included not only the video of Qin Jun and Wen's secret meeting but also an audio file of Dinan confronting Wen and Qin Jun about Shui’s murder.
With the irrefutable evidence in hand, Sasha apprehended Qin Jun and Wen at the airport. Zhaya was subsequently extradited back to Thailand. Faced with overwhelming proof, all three—Wen, Qin Jun, and Zhaya—confessed to their crimes. Their confessions painted a grim picture of human vice: Wen was driven by insatiable greed. She resented Shui’s privileged background, despite Shui’s genuine kindness, which included sacrificing her own overseas study opportunity and abandoning Pei Shan for Wen.
Wen’s jealousy festered into hatred, leading her to desire all of Shui’s possessions. She cunningly seduced Qin Jun and conspired with him to murder Shui and inherit her vast wealth. In her chilling confession, she admitted to merely using Qin Jun, planning to dispose of him in Singapore after securing the money, convinced that men were fundamentally unreliable. Zhaya was consumed by anger.
Her life was a series of misfortunes: a failed career, a broken marriage marred by domestic violence, and deep-seated resentment. Shui’s seemingly perfect life intensified Zhaya’s bitterness, fueling an uncontrollable malice that led her to participate in the plot. She claimed, however, that she would never have cooperated if she had known about Wen and Qin Jun’s affair. Dinan represented ignorance and folly. Naive, lazy, and somewhat arrogant, she was easily manipulated by Wen.
She was swayed by Wen’s deceptive story that Shui had secretly prayed to Brahma to steal their luck, intensifying their collective resentment over missing their college entrance exams due to Shui’s alleged typhoid infection. The sisters' bond was a fragile illusion, broken by their individual vices.
Qin Jun's confession later revealed that the "shitty gifts" Shui gave them at the reunion were, in fact, the very items each sister had wished for and written in their graduation yearbook, highlighting Shui's thoughtful nature. However, the other three, consumed by envy and hatred, had dismissed the gifts, gossiping about Shui behind her back and discarding her thoughtful gestures, a fact Pei Shan had witnessed.
The full truth of Dinan’s death also emerged during the confessions: Dinan had indeed discovered Wen and Qin Jun's affair and their conspiracy to murder Shui. Armed with the video and audio recordings from her phone, Dinan confronted Wen, demanding 500 million baht from Shui's inherited assets, threatening to expose them. Wen, initially denying her involvement, eventually agreed to Dinan's terms. However, upon realizing Dinan had also recorded their blackmail conversation, Wen desperately struggled with Dinan for the phone.
In the violent struggle, Dinan fell from the balcony to her death. Lin Mo later visited Wen in prison. Now mentally unstable, Wen taunted him, accusing him of being responsible for Dinan’s death, claiming his earlier line of questioning had inadvertently prompted Dinan to investigate Qin Jun. She remarked that his scent had changed, now resembling Qin Jun’s, and accused him of punishing others to atone for his own past sins, calling him a "wild dog."
Lin Mo, embracing the moniker, retorted that a wild dog, once it bites, never lets go. Wen then challenged him to reveal his own story, especially about the "terrifying woman" who had so profoundly shaped his distrust of women. Lin Mo, with a somber expression, agreed to recount his long story.
Episode 5 Recap
The Name of the Rose: In the past, roses were famous for their names, but people now only hold the name of a rose. Buddha has four faces, and humans have dual aspects; the meaning of disguise may be to bury inner secrets. Everyone seeks the thrill of sharing secrets, but at the moment of uncovering the truth, they often do not get the satisfaction they deserve. On the contrary, they only get annoyed, feel bored, and eventually collapse.
Years ago, Lin Mo lived a dual life, outwardly working as a chemistry teacher at Luming High School, but secretly operating as a crime scene cleanup specialist. His nocturnal job involved meticulously erasing evidence and staging scenes to make murders appear as suicides. One stormy night, Lin Mo arrived at room 516 of Pade Apartment. With practiced ease, he put on gloves and opened his toolkit, then began analyzing the details of the room and the deceased, Gade.
He noted the strangulation marks and rope print, initially thinking it was a typical murder. However, he expertly manipulated the scene, making it appear as if Gade had hanged himself from a fan. He even released Gade's cat, Rice, from the apartment, reflecting on how cats typically begin to interact with a corpse within 24 hours, unlike dogs which take longer (three to four days). Lin Mo then returned to his humble abode.
He was not merely a cleaner; he was also a detective for the Tang Ren Detective Agency in Bangkok's Chinatown, meticulously studying suspicious deaths, seeking patterns and clues to find "Smiley," the person responsible for his master's death. He often revisited a past memory, where his master warned him not to seek revenge against "them" because he was no match.
In the mornings, Lin Mo prepared noodles for Xiao Ai, his adopted "cat-whisperer" daughter who had a knack for understanding stray cats. Xiao Ai, who had adopted many cats, often used them for various pranks, like putting a dead rat in a bully's drawer or making shoes disappear. She expressed her disdain for school and her "childish" classmates, suggesting she become Lin Mo's assistant instead.
Lin Mo gently refused, warning her he would send her back to the orphanage if she didn't attend school. Before leaving for school, Xiao Ai warned Lin Mo to be careful, as her cats had detected "strange things" frequently appearing near their home, hinting at impending trouble, especially when he next encountered the dead. Later, at school, bullies confronted Xiao Ai about Lin Mo giving her money, accusing him of being a "weirdo" and demanding to know her secrets.
Xiao Ai, unfazed, reminded them of the cats' past antics, scaring them away. Meanwhile, the Thai police force appeared calm, and Detective Dulang was celebrating his imminent promotion to Deputy Chief, needing only five more crime-free days. However, a report of a strange death soon shattered his hopes. Arriving at Pade Apartment, Dulang was quick to declare Gade's death a suicide, citing the locked room as evidence.
But his certainty was challenged by the arrival of Deputy Detective Sasha, Superintendent Julie's daughter, who immediately questioned the hasty conclusion, arguing that such rash decisions would tarnish the police department's reputation. Sasha highlighted inconsistencies, such as Gade, a private detective, buying a week's worth of groceries the day before his death, the absence of a suicide note for his family, and his missing cellphone, which often contained crucial clues.
Dulang, feeling his authority undermined, dismissed her points and declared the case closed, branding Sasha an "amateur" and a product of "nepotism." Despite Dulang's arrogant dismissal, Sasha remained suspicious. That night, she ventured into the archives, where she met the wise and humorous archivist, Wen Song. He immediately recognized her and understood her interest in Gade's case.
Wen Song, recalling his own early days, empathized with her investigative drive, even as he playfully compared her to a diligent but inexperienced rookie, unaware that she had graduated top of her class for five consecutive years from the police academy. Supporting her, he left Sasha to examine the files and went to buy them both late-night snacks.
Sasha expressed her opinion that Uncle Wen was more deserving of the Deputy Chief position than Dulang, and Wen Song, while flattered, cautioned her against saying such things publicly and mentioned his current administrative role prevented such promotions. Sasha then proposed that he be her partner on future cases, a suggestion he readily accepted.
Wen Song also shared that Sasha strongly resembled her father, contrasting her with her mother, Superintendent Julie, who was known as "the No.1 beauty in the entire police force of Thailand" and "the glory and pride of us Chinese." Back at Luming High School, Lin Mo continued teaching chemistry, illustrating its principles through engaging demonstrations, comparing chemical reactions to the "lustrous, dazzling, and full of the unknown" nature of life itself.
He hoped his students would fall in love with the subject, though many seemed more drawn to him. When a new, shy student named Angie was wrongly accused by her classmate Meixin of stealing money and hiding it in her locker, Lin Mo intervened. Meixin demanded a public apology and repayment. Lin Mo, however, used his chemical knowledge to expose Meixin's deceit.
He pointed out traces of Meixin's unique hand cream in Angie's locker and deduced that Meixin had swapped her locker's lock with Angie's earlier that morning, placed the money inside, and then switched the locks back, all while using a third lock to facilitate the scheme. When Meixin denied it, Lin Mo threatened to call the police to check for Angie's fingerprints on the lock. Meixin quickly confessed and apologized.
Lin Mo then used the incident to teach his students that chemistry could not only save lives but also "protect the innocence of good people and punish those who deserve it." Angie thanked him, and Lin Mo, ever the observant teacher, advised her to change her nail polish brand due to high formaldehyde content contributing to her acne. Later, Lin Mo received a message containing a "Smiley" image, indicating a new case.
He rushed to Shanghai Mansion, where a writer named Kunta had been murdered by "Smiley." The blood was still warm, suggesting the killer had left less than ten minutes ago. The marks on Kunta's body were distinct and recognizable, characteristic of a killer known to the police as "Sushimaker," who had committed previous murders. Lin Mo observed two obvious stab wounds in crucial areas of Kunta's neck and back, noting the uneven depths, which indicated an attack from behind.
He also detected a very rare, specially formulated perfume on Kunta. As Lin Mo questioned the deceased, trying to understand why "Smiley" had targeted him, Dulang and his police force arrived. Lin Mo narrowly evaded capture, escaping into the night. Dulang was furious, realizing this murder had occurred just hours before his promotion was finalized. He cursed the killer, wondering what he had done in a past life to deserve such sabotage.
While Dulang vented, he was informed that Kunta's wife, Ivy, had arrived to identify the body. Initially dismissive, Dulang's mood instantly changed upon seeing Ivy, who was dressed in a striking red gown. His subordinates noted her beauty, but Dulang, feigning artistic appreciation, described her as "full of stories," praising the "lighting and framing."
He then approached Ivy, introducing himself as a "Senior Detective in the Bangkok Police Bureau, the only candidate for Deputy Chief," and offered platitudes about moving on from grief, before accompanying her to see her husband.
Episode 6 Recap
Lin Mo, a chemistry teacher at Luming High School, has a past rooted in an orphanage. As a child, he witnessed a scavenger, Old Fish, and a killer disposing of a female corpse. The killer tried to eliminate Lin Mo, but Old Fish stopped him. Lin Mo later found a missing earring near the train car. His keen senses impressed Old Fish, who took him in as his apprentice.
Lin Mo learned to clean up crime scenes for a mysterious boss known only as "Smiley," who he suspects murdered his master. Now, Lin Mo works as a detective for the Tang Ren Detective Agency, seeking to uncover Smiley's identity. The murder of Kunta, a prominent writer, sends ripples through the Bangkok police force. His wife, Ivy, arrives at the morgue, heartbroken, urging Detective Dulang to find the killer and avenge her husband.
Dulang is eager to take on the case to get a promotion. Sasha, a newly appointed deputy, requests to investigate Kunta's murder along with the Gade suicide case from five days prior and Wen Song is appointed as her assistant. Despite Dulang’s objections, Sasha presents evidence from Gade's dashcam showing he regularly visited Lang Ting Mansion, where Kunta resided. She argues Gade’s purchase of a week’s worth of groceries before his "suicide" is highly suspicious.
The Chief allows Sasha and Dulang to investigate separately. Through surveillance footage and informant tips, Sasha’s team identifies Lin Mo as a suspect. Dulang, upon learning Lin Mo is a chemistry teacher, pressures for an arrest warrant. Fingerprint analysis confirms Lin Mo's prints on the murder weapon. Unaware of the police closing in, Lin Mo uses a business card found on Kunta to visit Ivy's flower shop.
He recognizes the unique fragrance "Love At First Sight" on her, the same one he detected on Kunta. Ivy notes his sensitive sense of smell and offers to sell him a bottle of the perfume if he leaves his contact information, though she claims it’s her private blend not for sale. Sasha and Wen Song visit Ivy's shop, presenting Lin Mo's photo. Ivy feigns ignorance, claiming she’s never seen him. Sasha suspects she’s lying.
Wen Song's research unearths Ivy's true identity: Jin Qiwen, 31, who immigrated from Taiwan at 14. She has used aliases like Jin Mei and Wan Hong, and Kunta was her fourth husband. All her previous wealthy husbands died under mysterious circumstances—two by suicide, one in a car accident.
Sasha explains to the Chief her theory about "Smiley," a rumored organization that uses beautiful women to lure rich men into marriage, then disposes of them through hired killers, staging accidents to transfer their assets. While Dulang remains skeptical, Sasha's statistics on unnatural deaths among the wealthy convince the Chief to allow a deeper investigation, though discreet. Ivy texts Lin Mo, inviting him to pick up the perfume.
Upon his arrival, she offers him a cup of rose tea, laced with a colorless, odorless sedative. Lin Mo quickly succumbs, waking up bound. Ivy confronts him about Kunta's murder, but Lin Mo explains that he is a "scavenger," a crime scene cleaner who only disposes of bodies, never takes lives. He states that Kunta was already dead when he arrived at the Broadway Mansions Hotel.
As Ivy is momentarily distracted by the arrival of a customer, Lin Mo escapes his restraints and ties Ivy up instead. The customer is revealed to be Angie, Lin Mo’s student, whom the school reported missing. She is a "Smiley" killer and declares she must kill Lin Mo before he can clean up her corpse. She stabs him. Ivy helps Lin Mo escape.
Angie pursues them through Bangkok's alleys, until they manage to elude her and find refuge in Lin Mo's hidden base, a network of secret passages. On the rooftop of his base, Lin Mo confronts Ivy about her true identity. She confesses to being a "professional con artist" and a member of the "Smiley" organization. Her painful past unravels: sexual assault by her stepfather, her mother's death, and a life of relying on her looks for survival.
She was tricked by a director, drugged, gang-raped, and filmed, then blackmailed into joining Smiley. Her role was to approach wealthy men, gain their trust, marry them, and then allow Smiley’s assassins to kill them, facilitating the transfer of their assets. She admits to hating this life and yearning to escape Smiley's control. She shows Lin Mo a scar behind her ear, covering a tattoo left by Smiley.
Lin Mo, revealing a similar scar, shares his own vendetta against Smiley for his master's murder and his desire to clear his name. Recognizing their shared enemy, they form an alliance, agreeing that their goals are, at least for now, aligned: to find Smiley, bring him to justice, and seek their revenge.
Episode 7 Recap
In a rainy night, private detective Gade, carrying bags of groceries, hurried home. He bumped into a stranger's cigarette in the corridor before being ambushed and murdered in his apartment. The black cat in his home witnessed the entire event, its mysterious eyes reflecting a smiling mask. After their heart-to-heart conversation on the rooftop, Ivy had nowhere to go and accompanied Lin Mo back to his private residence.
Lin Mo, a former chemistry teacher and "scavenger" who now worked as a detective at Tang Ren Detective Agency, tended to his wound while sitting alone on the balcony. He hoped Ivy could provide information about Gade, but Ivy claimed she knew nothing about him. Lin Mo deduced that Gade, a private detective, had been secretly investigating Kunta before his death, linking Gade's murder to Kunta's case and suggesting they both pointed to the same central figure.
Lin Mo remained hesitant about Ivy's true intentions. To bridge the gap, Ivy revealed how "Smiley" meticulously orchestrated her encounters with wealthy men. Among her wealthy "husbands," she had developed genuine feelings for Kunta. His death deeply affected her, and to expose "Smiley" and bring him to justice, she expressed her willingness to collaborate with Lin Mo on the investigation.
The next morning, Xiao Ai arrived at Lin Mo's apartment, visibly displeased by Ivy's presence and questioning her identity and whether she had spent the night with Lin Mo. As the three prepared to leave amidst their bickering, Sasha arrived downstairs, having informed Wen Song of her location. Wen Song cautioned her not to go up, fearing danger if Lin Mo was there, but Sasha ignored his advice.
Sasha then encountered Lin Mo and his companions at the elevator entrance, where they were simultaneously confronted by the pursuing Angie. Chaos ensued, and Lin Mo saved Sasha from falling, only to be handcuffed himself. Ivy quickly grabbed Sasha's pistol and scared Angie away, then urged Sasha to release Lin Mo. Lin Mo asserted his innocence, explaining he was framed and that a larger conspiracy involving "Smiley" was at play.
Recognizing the complexity of the case and Lin Mo's sincerity, Sasha agreed to give him time to find the real killer, then discreetly removed the handcuff key and threw it away, allowing Lin Mo and Ivy to escape before other officers arrived. She told Xiao Ai to go to school. Lin Mo led Ivy to his secret hideout in a shipping container by the docks, revealing years of evidence from previous crime scenes he had processed.
He explained "Smiley"'s recurring pattern: a "performer" (like Ivy) seduces a wealthy individual, a "killer" commits the murder, and a "scavenger" (like Lin Mo) disposes of the body to make it look like an accident, facilitating asset transfer. He detailed the progression of "Smiley"'s assassins: Lao Mo, who used firearms, the "Strangler," who enjoyed slow suffocation, and the "Sushimaker," who used a fish-cutting knife and toyed with victims.
Lin Mo theorized that the Gade case didn't fit any of these established killer profiles. He inferred that "Smiley," known for meticulous planning, would only kill personally in an emergency where he couldn't contact his usual assassins, making Gade's murder a direct lead to "Smiley." He believed this was their only chance to find "Smiley."
They quickly returned to Gade's apartment, only to find it completely empty, as Du Lang had already ordered all the furniture moved to the police station for investigation. Despite arriving late, Lin Mo noticed wet soil footprints on the floor, indicating Gade had recently returned home and then left again in the rainy night.
Checking Gade's supermarket receipt for a bag of rice, Lin Mo deduced that Gade’s phone likely got wet, prompting him to buy rice to dry it out. His immediate second departure meant he urgently needed to make a call. Based on this, Lin Mo concluded Gade must have used a nearby public phone.
Their search led them to the building's manager, an elderly woman (who Ivy, posing as an insurance agent, interviewed) who confirmed Gade borrowed her old public phone for an urgent call shortly before his death. She found his behavior suspicious. Lin Mo reasoned that Gade wouldn’t need to consult a phone book, meaning he called a number he knew by heart, like the emergency police line.
He deduced that Gade was murdered less than half an hour after calling the police, suggesting "Smiley" either had an informant within the police department or was a police officer himself. Meanwhile, Sasha and Wen Song investigated Kunta's house, finding no immediate leads but retrieving a notebook for the technical department to decode. They learned Kunta was adopted, and his adoptive parents resided in Penang, Malaysia.
At the police station, officers tirelessly sifted through Gade's belongings, unaware that his water-damaged phone was hidden in a bag of rice. Lin Mo sought Xiao Ai's unique abilities. She had adopted Gade's black cat, Rice, and could discern emotions from its behavior. Rice's reactions conveyed a sense of an "evil smile," strengthening Lin Mo's theory about "Smiley." Lin Mo also recalled two distinct cigarette scents on Gade's body: Gade's usual brand and a cheap Thai menthol cigarette.
He deduced that the menthol scent belonged to the killer, and combined with other clues, concluded that the killer was likely a police officer who smoked menthol cigarettes. Lin Mo then asked Xiao Ai to find Sasha at the police station. Xiao Ai located Sasha and, believing Sasha was a good person (a belief confirmed by Sasha’s cat, Curry, whose habits Xiao Ai surprisingly knew), confided in her about Lin Mo's hidden past.
She revealed that Lin Mo, from a privileged family, witnessed his mother's murder from inside a closet at age four in Thailand. He vividly remembered a unique aroma left by the killer. This indelible scent became his lifelong obsession, driving him to study chemistry to recreate it and to sharpen his sense of smell, even working as an airport porter to identify luggage contents by odor.
Moved by Lin Mo's tragic story and his goal to eliminate crime, Sasha agreed to help him retrieve Gade's phone from the police station. Later that evening, Ivy found Lin Mo lost in thought and joined him on his balcony for a drink. Lin Mo recounted the painful story of his master's death.
During his first assignment as a "scavenger," he was overwhelmed by the sight of a deceased child and instinctively tried to warm its body to relieve rigor mortis, losing precious time. His master sacrificed himself to protect Lin Mo from being discovered. Since that day, Lin Mo had gained the ability to see the spectral images of the deceased.
Witnessing Lin Mo's vulnerability, Ivy felt a fleeting connection and suggested they cherish the present, given the unpredictable nature of their lives. Lin Mo then used his chemical knowledge to concoct a special alcoholic beverage for Ivy, and under the moonlight, they shared a deep, intimate kiss.
Episode 8 Recap
Ivy reflected on her darkest moment, a harrowing experience in a dim hallway where the Smiley organization branded her with a tattoo. The memory still made her feel nauseated. Meanwhile, Lin Mo, who had been a chemistry teacher by day and a scavenger by night, now embraced his new identity as a detective at the Tang Ren Detective Agency in Chinatown.
One evening, while Dulang's subordinates were out drinking, Officer Nosetip realized he had left his phone at the police station. Upon returning to the deserted office, he encountered a figure dressed in black rifling through Gade’s belongings. After a struggle, Nosetip was knocked down, and the assailant escaped. Nosetip then discovered Gade’s mobile phone hidden in a bag of rice. The following morning, Dulang convened an urgent meeting.
He grandiosely presented his "master plan": to lure out a mole by moving Gade's evidence to the station, hoping the suspect would help locate key evidence and expose the mole. This strategy indeed led to the recovery of Gade's phone. However, when the data was retrieved, the phone contained nothing but numerous photos of Ivy, leading Dulang to dismiss the case as a simple affair and murder.
Sasha challenged his hasty conclusions, pointing out inconsistencies like the original 191 call, the mole, and the mysterious "Smiley" organization. Dulang, however, was adamant there was no such organization and reiterated that Smiley only targeted the wealthy, which Quinta, as a struggling writer, was not. The Chief, growing impatient, demanded that they focus on finding Lin Mo. During this time, a technical officer informed Sasha that Quinta's personal computer had been breached.
The only valuable information found was in his email, which was booby-trapped with a Trojan virus. Upon opening it, the email was automatically sent to over a dozen major Thai media outlets. The email revealed that Quinta was the illegitimate son of Zheng Suming, Thailand's wealthiest Chinese-Thai businessman and former Central Group chairman. Zheng Suming had died of lung cancer six months prior, and his only daughter had perished in the 2004 Indonesian tsunami.
Consequently, per Zheng Suming's dying wish, his lawyer had located Quinta, making him the sole heir to an estimated fortune of 40 to 60 billion US dollars. The news quickly spread across Thailand. Sasha sent the investigation results to Lin Mo, warning him about Ivy. Lin Mo confronted Ivy, presenting her with the photos from Gade’s phone.
He accused her of always knowing Quinta's true identity, of informing Smiley when Gade started following her, and of orchestrating events, including framing him, to remove Smiley and rightfully inherit the vast fortune. Ivy expressed deep hurt at Lin Mo's lack of trust, asking him to believe her, but he refused, calling her words a "Flower of Lies." She questioned if he would believe her if she claimed ignorance of everything, but Lin Mo remained unconvinced.
Heartbroken by Lin Mo's distrust, Ivy arrived at the police station to speak with Dulang. She offered to cooperate fully and disclose everything she knew, provided Dulang arranged a press conference for her. News reporters gathered outside, speculating about her involvement in Quinta’s murder and her imminent status as Thailand's wealthiest woman. Ivy stepped forward and, to everyone's shock, announced her decision to relinquish all inheritance.
She stated that money was merely a number, and she would rather give it up if it caused misunderstanding with "the person I care about the most" and made her unhappy for the rest of her life. Lin Mo, watching the broadcast, was moved as he recalled their shared moments and their dreams of building a home together.
Inside the station, Ivy told Dulang that the real culprit was Smiley, and even suggested Smiley might be within the police force itself. Since there was no legal grounds to detain her, she walked out. Lin Mo, having followed the news at a noodle shop, was deeply concerned for Ivy's safety, knowing that by renouncing the inheritance, she had disrupted Smiley's plans and would now be a target. He called Sasha, urging her to keep Ivy at the station.
However, before he could finish, Sasha received a call from Wen Song, informing her that Ivy had already left. Ivy returned to Quinta's home, where she was ambushed and kidnapped by Angie, who held her captive on the rooftop. Lin Mo arrived, only to witness Angie stab Ivy. In a desperate attempt to save her, Lin Mo offered himself in exchange. Angie, a sadistic killer who murdered for the sheer "pleasure" of the knife tearing flesh, reveled in the moment.
Just as Angie prepared to deliver another blow, Sasha arrived and shot her, saving Ivy from further harm. Ivy was rushed to the hospital and, after emergency surgery, was out of danger. Resolved to find Smiley and prevent further harm, especially to Ivy, Lin Mo decided to work with Sasha. Lin Mo devised a plan to expose Smiley. Dressed as a deliveryman, he infiltrated the police station and strategically placed several Molotov cocktails.
The ensuing fires triggered the fire alarm, forcing a general evacuation. In the chaos, Lin Mo re-entered the station to search for clues. He was eventually apprehended, but not before he detected the distinct scent of menthol cigarettes on Wen Song's desk. Lin Mo, now in police custody, demanded a private, unmonitored meeting with Wen Song. During their confrontation, Lin Mo meticulously laid out his deductions.
He recounted Wen Song's police career, from his graduation in 1996 to his position as Deputy Police Superintendent, responsible for Bangkok's population data. He described Smiley's modus operandi: "actors set the traps, the assassins kill the victims, and the scavengers clean the scenes." He then directly accused Wen Song of being Smiley. Wen Song initially denied it, but Lin Mo pressed on, detailing two critical mistakes that exposed him. First, the rushed, fake fingerprint report on Gade's murder weapon.
Lin Mo explained that fingerprint analysis usually took several days, implying Wen Song acted on the false assumption that Lin Mo's prints would be present, suggesting Wen Song had witnessed the event (perhaps as the old man in the wheelchair Lin Mo encountered earlier). Second, Lin Mo revealed the specific fiber found in Gade's fingernails, not from Gade’s clothing but from the killer's vintage car cushions.
He also identified the unique killing technique as an Israeli "gamma combat" move, a specialized skill taught at the police academy. He linked these clues, along with the menthol cigarette smell, to Wen Song. Wen Song then attempted to frame Lin Mo by pulling a fruit knife from his pocket, hoping to stage a scene where Lin Mo threatened him, allowing Wen Song to kill him in "self-defense."
Lin Mo, having anticipated this, simply stated that he had already smelled the knife and was aware of the plot. Wen Song, recognizing Lin Mo’s genius, expressed reluctance to kill him. Lin Mo then revealed that he had deliberately orchestrated the seemingly private meeting with the cameras off, only to have planted a hidden bug, broadcasting their entire conversation.
Exposed, Wen Song admitted that he and Lin Mo were "the same kind of person," both having loved Ivy and willingly been used by her, before taking his own life. In the aftermath, Sasha negotiated with Dulang to drop the charges against Lin Mo. To legitimize Lin Mo’s presence at crime scenes and account for his unusual behavior, Sasha proposed that he officially become a private detective. Lin Mo approached Tang Ren, offering to become his apprentice.
After some initial resistance, Tang Ren was swayed by Lin Mo’s perceptive deductions about his habits and by an irresistible financial offer: Lin Mo would work for no salary, give Tang Ren all his profits, and pay him 10,000 baht monthly. Tang Ren gleefully accepted. Later, in the car, Lin Mo pondered Wen Song's dying words about them being the same. Sasha then revealed that Wen Song never smoked, contradicting Lin Mo’s earlier assumption about the menthol cigarette smell.
This detail troubled Lin Mo. They rushed to the hospital, only to find Ivy's room empty. The doctor informed them that Ivy had been discharged and was two months pregnant. It was then that Lin Mo fully realized the extent of Ivy's manipulation, understanding that Wen Song's last words—that they were "the same kind of person" because they both loved and were used by Ivy—were true.
On TV, news spread that Zheng Suming’s vast fortune, despite Ivy’s public renunciation, would be inherited by her unborn child. Tang Ren, watching the report, marveled at Ivy’s beauty and wealth. With a lucrative $5 million case awaiting him in the United States, Tang Ren departed, entrusting Lin Mo with the detective agency. Shortly after, a new client named Kuntai arrived, seeking help with the investigation into A Shui's suicide.
While Lin Mo was playing a game, a pattern on his screen triggered a sudden realization: it matched the tattoo on his parents' killer's wrist, which was identical to the symbol of the Smiley organization.
Episode 9 Recap
Noda Koji, originating from a wealthy family and well-versed in military strategy, often highlighted his profound understanding and refined heritage by referencing Sun Tzu's principles of warfare. He regarded his elder brother, Noda Hiroshi—a renowned Japanese detective and Crimaster's second-ranked—as a formidable rival. Unable to surpass Hiroshi in the detective world, Koji shifted his focus to the classic shooting game, Rise Again, determined to demonstrate his exceptional talent and prove his superiority.
The "Ghost Invitational" was billed as the ultimate tournament, taking place just before Rise Again's servers were permanently shut down. To secure a wildcard entry, Koji first gathered four friends—Liu Feng, Lu Jingjing, Yamamoto Yuta, and Chen Tianshun—each bringing various resources to the team. He then used a combination of coercion and incentives to recruit five twelve-year-old gaming prodigies.
These young talents had previously triumphed over many professional players, earning them the title of "Japan's Five Child Prodigy" team at the top of the Japanese servers. Koji, by successfully impersonating the captain's identity of this acclaimed team, obtained the coveted invitation, then flew with his friends to a secluded island in Southeast Asia. Despite its remote location, the island offered beautiful scenery and fresh air.
The designated Rise Again battleground was a visually dilapidated castle, yet the fans' enthusiasm remained undiminished. The main competing teams were introduced: Vintage Cars, comprised of various esports coaches, notably Lao K, a former H5 head coach; the feared Tyrant team, currently ranked world number one, who were revealing their full lineup of five attractive women for the first time; and H5, six-time world champions who had been dethroned by Tyrant five years prior.
H5 had disbanded after their legendary sniper, Ghost (also known as Ah Ji), mysteriously disappeared. His absence from the esports scene lasted five years. Now, H5 was back with its core members: team leader Boss, Lord C, Diao, and Big Goose. However, the introduction of Xiao Fei as their new sniper, replacing the beloved Ghost, drew visible disappointment from the fans.
Koji, brimming with self-assurance, declared his intention to first win the tournament and then solve Ghost's disappearance, aiming to establish his team as the strongest detective duo globally, surpassing even his brother. As the game began, Koji's Child Prodigy team initially adopted an unorthodox tactic. Yamamoto Yuta, in a cross-dressing costume, performed what Koji called a "bullet avoidance dance," though Koji later admitted he was joking about its effectiveness.
This chaotic start nearly resulted in a team kill and elicited laughter from the audience, with commentators humorously suggesting that Child Prodigy's unique "suicide skills" were their path to the finals. Recognizing that passive "hiding" was only leading to a slow drain of their health, Koji decided to abandon their defensive stance in favor of aggressive action. The five Child Prodigy members then boarded a single small boat, a move that commentators immediately identified as a critical tactical error.
As they cautiously proceeded into Vintage Cars' territory, they spotted a blood bag. Koji, needing to restore his health, disembarked to collect it, finding its isolated placement suspiciously convenient. Suddenly, a cannon shot from a distance obliterated their boat, instantly eliminating four of Koji's teammates. Koji, having been off the boat, was the sole survivor of his team, a shocking turn of events that stunned the commentators. Meanwhile, the Tyrant and H5 teams were engaged in a fierce confrontation.
Boss of H5 took a hit, losing half his health, while other H5 members were cornered and subjected to a poison gas attack. With his team teetering on the brink of elimination, Boss quickly found a safe room. However, he ruthlessly locked Lord C out, leaving him to succumb to the gas and be eliminated from the game. Lord C, enraged by the betrayal, confronted Boss, asking if he would have abandoned Ghost in the same situation.
Boss coldly retorted that while they once sacrificed four to save one, their priority now was the "bigger picture," a response that left Lord C feeling utterly disillusioned. As Lord C's elimination was confirmed, an ominous message flashed across the screen: "The sinner has been shot." With only Koji remaining on the Child Prodigy team, he found himself hiding in a wooden crate, trying to survive against the formidable Vintage Cars.
Lao K, the veteran coach from Vintage Cars, easily anticipated Koji's movements and cornered him. Just as Lao K was about to deliver the final shot that would eliminate Koji, all the game computers abruptly shut down. A jarring sound filled the arena, and the image of the long-missing Ghost slowly materialized on the giant screen above. Ghost's appearance was accompanied by a chilling declaration: this was no mere competition, but an ultimate judgment.
He proclaimed that for anyone to leave the island alive, the "innocent" must identify and eliminate the "guilty." Failure to comply would result in everyone present being buried together in the "ruins of hatred" on the island. Panic erupted among the audience and event staff. Organizers attempted to cut the power, but their control systems were entirely unresponsive, and all mobile phone signals disappeared.
Ghost's voice continued, warning against any attempts to halt the game, asserting that no one could escape before its conclusion. Amidst the escalating chaos, the screen displayed a live image of Lord C, who had just been eliminated from the game, now physically bound and desperately pleading for his release, confirming that the "Ghost Invitational" had transformed into a deadly, real-world ordeal.
Episode 10 Recap
Following the dramatic appearance of Ghost at the "Ghost Invitational"—the final tournament before the "Rise Again" game server closed—the screens in the arena continued to display his image, a masked figure emanating an ominous aura, reminiscent of a specter from hell. The audience, once fervent fans, were now gripped by fear, amplified by the sudden death of Lord C.
On screen, Lord C was shown tied to a wooden chair in an empty room, struggling and crying for help as he was slowly poisoned to death by gas, a demise eerily similar to an in-game death. Chaos erupted in the venue. Players reacted differently, while some audience members attempted to flee, only to be electrocuted by high-voltage door handles.
Ghost's voice announced that everyone was surrounded and no one could leave until the true sinner was found; any attempt to break the rules would result in the death of everyone present. He then instructed them to look under their seats, revealing that bombs were strapped beneath each one, confirming the deadly seriousness of the situation.
For the players, he offered a reward of fifteen minutes for each "sinner" killed, which could be used for a pointless escape or to find the next sinner. If the final sinner was not found by the end of the game, players and audience alike would perish. With fourteen minutes remaining before the game officially started, the audience expressed their panic and confusion, demanding the "sinner" to step forward. The Spirit Child team quickly transformed into a detective squad.
Noda Koji took charge, assigning tasks: Yamamoto Yuta was to restore cell signals and contact the police, Cheng Tianshun was to attend to the electrocuted audience member and confirm the authenticity of the bombs, Liu Feng was dispatched to find alternative exits, and Lu Qingqing was tasked with calming down the agitated men in the crowd.
As they began their coordinated efforts, the leader of the Tyrant team provocatively accused H5, sparking an argument among the teams about who was responsible for Sniper Ji's disappearance and who the real sinner was. The Tyrant leader claimed H5 was responsible for the mess, while an H5 member retorted that Ji was no longer with their team and blamed Boss for a critical tactical error five years prior that cost them a championship.
Noda Koji intervened, emphasizing that they were all in the same perilous situation and needed to work together. Cheng Tianshun confirmed the bombs were indeed real, and Liu Feng reported that all other exits were blocked by a wall of TNT, enough to destroy the entire stadium. As the first reward period ended, the second round of the game commenced. The Boss of H5 immediately entered the game, eliminating two Tyrant team members.
Noda Koji, identifying himself as a detective and referencing his brother, Noda Hao, a top-ranked detective, urged everyone to stop fighting. He suggested they gather to discuss and analyze the situation to identify the sinner and uncover Sniper Ji's whereabouts, arguing that mutual slaughter was unnecessary. However, his proposal was met with derision, and the other players largely ignored him, returning to the game. H5 soon found themselves cornered by the Tyrant team.
Noda Koji dramatically drove into the scene, rescuing H5 and even sharing his blood pack with a wounded Big Goose. Questioned about his motives for helping them, Noda Koji stated he wanted to win, then pressed them for details about Ji’s disappearance, implying they were hiding something. The Boss recounted the "vital fight" five years prior, where Sniper Ji, playing as Ghost, almost single-handedly reversed the game's outcome with a single bullet.
He noted that the current game map and even the airdrop locations were identical to that infamous match, suggesting it was no coincidence but a deliberate recreation. Noda Koji agreed, suspecting someone within H5 was intentionally recreating the past events, possibly concealing the truth. The Boss went to retrieve an airdrop but found it empty, realizing someone had already taken the weapons. He was then ambushed by a sniper. Xiao Fei attempted to provide cover but was wounded.
In a critical moment, Big Goose mistook a napalm bomb, which Noda Koji had given him, for a smoke bomb and threw it toward the Boss, causing his in-game elimination. The screen then displayed "The sinner has been shot." Enraged by his in-game death and the accident, the Boss ignored Noda Koji's warnings about the dangers outside the game and stormed off to the restroom. Moments later, the main screen showed live footage of a raging fire in the restroom.
Panicked, the remaining players rushed to the scene, finding only carbonized remains on the floor. While some believed it was the Boss's body, others noted the lack of definitive evidence and the mysterious disappearance of the body itself. Noda Koji explained that while there were ways to achieve such rapid, high-purity carbonization, the concept of spontaneous human combustion was unheard of, and the vanished body only heightened the mystery.
With two "sinners"—Lord C and the Boss—having died in real life in ways that mirrored the game, despair began to set in. Noda Koji urged everyone to set aside their differences and cooperate, reiterating that Ghost's objective was to find the true sinner, not merely to exact revenge. He hypothesized that Ghost, likely Sniper Ji, was alive and monitoring them through the arena's cameras and recording devices, providing clues to uncover the truth behind his five-year disappearance.
He asked for just ten minutes to solve the case, believing that if they exposed the real criminal, Ghost would release them. He then began questioning the players about Sniper Ji's personality and any unusual events leading up to his disappearance. They described Ji as quiet and focused on winning, but mentioned he had fallen ill the day before the pivotal five-year-old match.
He was hospitalized, and doctors found traces of a "nitrate" commonly used in "photographic studios" in his stomach. Noda Koji quickly identified the substance as silver nitrate, a colorless, odorless, water-soluble, and highly toxic chemical. He pointed out that Ji’s survival implied he had ingested an insufficient amount to be lethal. Noda Koji then requested a detailed diagram of their old training base.
After careful consideration of the layout, including the placement of surveillance cameras, he deduced that the kitchen was the only unmonitored area. He concluded that Ji was poisoned by consuming water from his cup, as Ji had no habit of eating breakfast, and only he among the H5 team had fallen ill. He reasoned that Ji, a self-absorbed and unkempt genius, would never clean his own cup, delegating such tasks to someone familiar enough to bypass his guard.
This person would also need knowledge of photography to be aware of silver nitrate as a potential poison. Most crucially, Ji’s poisoning would have benefited only one person: Xiao Fei, his nominal substitute and actual "life assistant," who stood to gain Ji’s position as a main player. Noda Koji dramatically declared Xiao Fei as the sinner Ji was seeking.
Episode 11 Recap
As Noda Koji had suspected, Xiao Fei did not deny the accusation. He admitted that he was indeed the one who poisoned Ji five years ago. He explained that he trained tirelessly day and night, but as long as Ji was around, he felt there would never be an opportunity for him to play.
He wanted to secure his own position as a main player, to fulfill his esports career, and to ensure his years of effort weren't wasted living in Ji's shadow as a mere backup. He questioned why he alone should suffer that fate while others streamed, raced, or gambled. He only wanted to prove that he was just as good as Ji and refused to be his backup any longer. Xiao Fei then plunged into the game to prove his skill.
He was indeed a formidable player, capable of fighting off multiple opponents with his refined techniques. While acknowledging Xiao Fei's talent, Lao K remarked that Ji was irreplaceable. He recalled the game five years ago when Ji, despite being poisoned and hospitalized, returned to play just half an hour before the match, nearly turning the tide despite his condition. Xiao Fei pursued Ghost to the rooftop within the game.
Back in the real world, Xiao Fei, appearing disoriented, stood at the edge of the arena's real-life rooftop. When confronted, he described Ghost as someone who seemed like Ji but also not, someone even more powerful, like a terrifying ghost that appeared out of nowhere. He claimed that everyone would die, warning, "No one can escape from this." He then raised a gun to himself and pulled the trigger, collapsing.
On his computer screen, a message appeared: "Wanna know the truth? Come and find me." His death cast a shadow over the competition, leaving the once-famous H5 team with only two members. Noda Koji examined the game map, which was identical to the one from the "Battle of Tennozan" five years ago. He immersed himself in the scenario, reconstructing the fateful match in his mind.
He recalled how the H5 team had sacrificed themselves to cover Ji and Big Goose as they sought supplies, hoping Ji, the sniper, could get ammunition to turn the tide. Their plan failed because Big Goose claimed there were no bullets in the supply box, forcing Ji to retreat into a bomb shelter. Noda Koji pointed out that the current game map, being identical, should also have the same supply.
Since Big Goose had confirmed earlier in the game that the supply box contained guns and bullets, it proved he had lied five years ago. Confronted with this deduction, Big Goose broke down, kneeling before the screen, confessing his sins to Ghost. The clock stopped, signaling a moment of truth. Big Goose recounted the events of five years ago: Diao had accumulated debts at a casino, and the money Big Goose brought was insufficient.
The casino boss, Brother Bao, threatened Diao and Big Goose, pressuring them to throw the upcoming match. Diao instigated Boss and Lord C, convincing them that this was their only way to secure their future, as their esports careers were peaking, and younger players would soon surpass them. They decided to fix the match, without consulting Ji. After the fixed match, Ji called Diao and Big Goose to an old internet cafe, which was slated for demolition.
Ji revealed he knew about their match-fixing and had a recording of it, demanding they quit esports. A heated argument ensued. In the chaos, Diao, in a drunken rage, hit Ji with a bottle, knocking him unconscious. Big Goose panicked and wanted to leave, but Diao suggested they return to the cafe to kill Ji, eliminating any future threats. Big Goose refused this "shitty idea." Diao, calling Big Goose a coward, decided to go back alone.
Big Goose claimed that after Diao left, Ji was never seen again, accusing Diao of murder. Diao vehemently denied this, calling Big Goose a liar and stating that Big Goose himself was the villain. Diao offered a different account: after their pub drinks, Big Goose insisted on driving Diao home, despite Diao being heavily intoxicated. It was Big Goose who knocked Ji out at the internet cafe. Worried Big Goose would escalate, Diao pulled him away.
On the drive back, Diao admonished Big Goose not to harm Ji, but Big Goose shockingly suggested killing Ji to avoid future complications. Feeling nauseous, Diao asked Big Goose to stop the car. When Diao finished throwing up, Big Goose had driven off. Diao accused Big Goose of going back to kill Ji. The two exchanged accusations, with Diao bringing up Big Goose's infidelity with his girlfriend.
Amidst the escalating conflict, Big Goose revealed he had dashcam footage from that night. The video showed Diao getting out of the car, seemingly heading towards the internet cafe, which Big Goose presented as proof that Diao was the killer. As the safe zone in the game began to shrink, Diao and Big Goose, consumed by their real-life feud, started attacking each other in the game, blocking other players from entering the safe zone.
Despite their deaths, the game did not end, and Noda Koji and Lao K realized that the TNT bombs in the basement and under the audience seats were synchronized with the game timer. Frustrated, Noda Koji challenged Ghost directly. He declared he was there to compete, not to play a guessing game. He proposed a one-on-one duel with Ghost, offering his own life if he lost. Ghost appeared and accepted the challenge, stating that killing him would free everyone, otherwise, all present would become their "funeral companions."
Episode 12 (Ending) Recap
With the "sinner" still unidentified, the virtual "Ghost Invitational" continued as a desperate race against time between Noda Koji and the mysterious Ghost. The game had shifted to a dark, stormy night mode, mirroring the growing tension, with thunder and lightning. Ghost declared that he had brought them to the site of his past defeat not to win, but to expose the true culprit behind the match-fixing.
When Noda Koji, frustrated by the cryptic messages, challenged Ghost to a one-on-one fight for their lives, Ghost accepted, extending the same offer to all remaining players: kill him and be set free, or everyone would perish. During the intense gameplay, Ghost moved like a phantom, eliminating the Tyrant team. Ghost eventually cornered Noda Koji, but in a dramatic turn, Lao K appeared and defeated Ghost. Noda Koji was declared the sole winner, proudly proclaiming his role in saving everyone.
Just as the game concluded, international police arrived. Due to the victims being Taiwanese, officers from the Linyuan Precinct of Kaohsiung Bureau requested Noda Koji and his team's cooperation in the investigation in Taiwan. Enticed by the promise of local delicacies like spicy hotpot, beef noodles, and braised pork rice, the team eagerly agreed, only to find themselves in cold interrogation rooms, undergoing tedious questioning.
Noda Koji reassured his teammates that they wouldn't be held for long, indicating the true suspects were in an adjacent room. During their interrogations, Big Goose confessed to hitting Ajie but vehemently denied murder, accusing Diao instead. The officer noted that both Big Goose and Diao remained primary suspects. As Big Goose signed his statement, his coach ominously warned him that Ajie would seek revenge upon his release.
Big Goose, admitting his involvement in match-fixing but maintaining innocence regarding the murder, was then taken away. Late that night, a power outage plunged the police station into darkness. Panic ensued as news spread that Big Goose and Diao had been found dead in their cells, their deaths eerily mirroring the game. On television, Master Hongjue attributed the deaths to vengeful spirits, suggesting the only way to appease them was to cremate the ghost's physical remains.
Shaken, Lao K returned home and found his front door ajar. Sensing an unseen presence, he was then startled by Ghost appearing behind him with a dagger, only to wake up from a nightmare. Following Master Hongjue's advice, Lao K drove to a secluded forest, unearthed Ajie's long-buried skeleton, and attempted to cremate it. His lighter failed, and a spectral voice, revealed to be Noda Koji imitating Ajie's voice, asked why Lao K hadn't spared him.
Overcome with guilt, Lao K tearfully confessed his past wrongs, begging for forgiveness and promising to pray for Ajie, noting that Ajie had already taken their other teammates. Suddenly, Noda Koji's voice cut through the silence, telling Lao K that begging Ajie was futile and he should beg him instead. Noda Koji revealed his long-standing suspicion of Lao K.
He pointed out that Lao K had known the final safe zone in the game, an impossibility given that the actual match five years ago never reached that point, indicating Lao K had used a map hack and was involved in the match-fixing. Noda Koji also recalled Lao K's words during the game, "watch your back," uttered when he "killed" Ghost, which reminded him of Ajie's death.
Further investigation by a hacker friend revealed Lao K had placed a hefty 1. 2 million USD bet on the Tyrant team through an underground bookie, much of it borrowed from loan sharks at exorbitant rates, a debt he could never repay. The odds of 1:2. 5 for the underdog Tyrant team provided a powerful motive. Confronted with the evidence, Lao K confessed. He admitted to planning to fix the match for H5, as the team was struggling.
He overheard Boss and Diao discussing fixing the game to secure five years' worth of earnings. After the match, Lao K, wanting to ensure everything was settled, secretly followed Diao and Big Goose to an abandoned internet cafe where they brutally attacked Ajie, searching for something before fleeing. Lao K found Ajie injured and bleeding. He asked Ajie about a recording, pleading with him not to report the match-fixing and to spare their careers.
Ajie, however, accused Lao K of being equally complicit, if not the mastermind, realizing Lao K had also bet on the Tyrant team. Feeling betrayed, Ajie decided to report them. In a fit of rage, Lao K, feeling unappreciated despite having trained Ajie to "become a god," shoved Ajie and fatally stabbed him from behind.
Noda Koji rebuked Lao K, stating that Ajie was surrounded by selfish individuals: Diao, a gambler; Big Goose, greedy for money; Xiao Fei, who resented being a substitute; and Lao K, who feigned benevolence. They all collectively drove Ajie to his death. Lao K, defensive, accused Noda Koji of being a murderer too, for "killing" Lord C, Boss, Xiao Fei, Diao, and Big Goose. Noda Koji simply stated, "He's not like you!"
When Lao K incredulously pointed out that he saw them all die, Noda Koji calmly replied, "Don't believe everything you see." Noda Koji then revealed the truth: the entire "Ghost Invitational" was an elaborate charade. A month prior, Kiko had approached him on behalf of Ajie's terminally ill mother, whose last wish was to know her son's fate. Inspired by Sun Tzu's stratagems, Noda Koji orchestrated the elaborate "Ghost Invitational" as a trap.
His friends, concerned for Ajie, willingly joined the "performance." The "bombs," "deaths," and ghostly encounters were all special effects and carefully planned theatrics. Kiko, an elite hacker, was instrumental in creating the illusion of "Ghost Ajie." The team systematically eliminated suspects: Xiao Fei, who didn't participate in the original match-fixing and was willing to "die" in the game, was ruled out. The continued denials of Big Goose and Diao in the police station solidified Lao K as the prime suspect.
Even the TV reports featuring Master Hongjue's advice on vengeful spirits were fabricated to guide Lao K to Ajie's burial site. Lao K, shocked by the revelation, accused Noda Koji of making a movie, to which Noda Koji responded with Sun Tzu's "All warfare is based on deception." He concluded that it was Lao K's guilt, the "ghost in his heart," that led to his confession.
Lao K and the other H5 members, who were all alive and acting, expressed their profound apologies to Ajie, acknowledging that their greed five years ago had led to the tragedy. Noda Koji reflected on Ajie's earlier sentiment that "life is just a game," interpreting the "Esports spirit" as a commitment to being serious and fully engaged in every moment of one's life.
After the case was closed, Noda Koji and his friends visited Ajie's mother in the hospital, whom Noda Koji affectionately called "Happy Girl," his card-playing friend. Qin Feng was also present. Noda Koji, introducing himself as Liu Feng to Ajie's mother and stating that he was Noda Hiroshi's younger brother, declared that any enemy of his older brother was his friend.
He showed Ajie's mother photos, claiming Ajie sent them from his extensive travels to places like Antarctica, Africa, and the Sahara. Qin Feng, noticing the obvious Photoshop manipulations in the photos, discreetly let Noda Koji's compassionate lie stand. Noda Koji then played a fabricated voice message, supposedly from Ajie, apologizing for his long absence, expressing his love, and describing his adventurous travels.
The message concluded with a poignant reflection: "The life and death of a mortal seem so insignificant against the immensity of the universe. Take every moment of your life as eternity." As Ajie's mother wept, Qin Feng observed Noda Koji, acknowledging a shared sentiment regarding their mothers. With only two minutes left before the server permanently shut down, Noda Koji and his friends re-entered the game "Rise Again," Noda Koji's former favorite.
They gathered, erected a tombstone for Ajie with the inscription "Here awaken, here rest in peace. Dedicated to God of War Ajie," and shared an emotional farewell embrace by the virtual seaside as the countdown and dazzling fireworks filled the sky. Days later, at an awards ceremony for the "Ghost Cup Performance Award," Lu Jingjing won Best Actress for her brilliant performance. In her acceptance speech, she mused about leaving her family's mafia business to pursue acting.
Noda Koji, expected to win Best Actor for masterminding the entire elaborate scheme, was surprisingly beaten by "Spectator A," an extra who delivered a remarkably convincing performance of being electrocuted. Outraged, Noda Koji accused the committee of a "backroom deal," but his friends and even Lu Jingjing agreed his acting was "stiff," "unemotional," and "a little bit greasy." Vowing to perform better next time, Noda Koji promised to show them all his true acting prowess.
