Detective Chinatown Episode 5 Recap
> Detective Chinatown 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.
