Detective L Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Detective L Synopsis
In 1930s Shanghai, when people were asleep, bizarre cases were quietly unfolding in a corner of the city.
A beautiful girl, Qin Xiaoman, who has just graduated from the police academy, arrives in the British Concession with the ambition of becoming an outstanding police detective.
She lives in Shaliwen flat and becomes neighbors and colleagues with Luo Fei, a police detective who has made a name for himself by solving many strange cases.
They are at odds with each other at first, but by chance, they are forced to work together to solve crimes...
Detective L Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Ma Boyuan was about to drive his car to Paramount for entertainment, but his wife, Ruan Mengzhu, blocked his path. When he threatened to run her over, she challenged him to do so. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoman, a recent top graduate from Hua Dong Police Academy, arrived in Shanghai. After finding a rented room at Sullivan Apartment, the landlady, Mrs. Wang, showed her around.
Mrs. Wang mentioned the apartment was a gift from her husband, Sullivan, and even Dou Ma Li, Chairman of the China-Western Chamber of Commerce, enjoyed visiting. Qin Xiaoman discovered a body outline under the carpet and a bullet hole in the window, excitedly deducing that a murder had occurred. Despite Mrs. Wang's attempts to downplay it, Qin Xiaoman, thrilled by the prospect, immediately signed the lease.
That night, Qin Xiaoman, while writing a letter to her aunt (with whom she had a close relationship, as her parents were deceased), heard gunshots from the adjacent room. She knocked on the door, but a disheveled man curtly dismissed her, claiming she was mistaken. Suspicious, Qin Xiaoman attempted to climb onto his balcony from hers, almost falling. The next day, Qin Xiaoman reported for duty at the police station.
Impressed by her academic achievements, Detective Superintendent Savoy listened as she requested a search warrant for her suspicious neighbor, whom she described as a Chinese male, around 1. 8m tall and 30 years old. She specified hearing three gunshots from a modified Colt M1911. Unexpectedly, the very neighbor, Luo Fei, appeared in the station and fired a gun towards Detective Superintendent Savoy. Qin Xiaoman instinctively pushed Savoy to safety and tackled Luo Fei.
It was then revealed that Luo Fei was actually a special consultant to the police station, known for his extraordinary investigative skills. He explained he was demonstrating how to create "ghost bullets" using warheads made of materials matching the target, such as sawdust for wood, which was why he had shot the wooden board behind Savoy. He also confirmed that the gunshots Qin Xiaoman heard the previous night were part of his experiments.
Luo Fei, through observation of a letter Qin Xiaoman had mailed to her aunt, accurately deduced details about her family background and character, much to her astonishment. Luo Fei reviewed recent case files and found the disappearance of Ruan Mengzhu, reported by her husband, Ma Boyuan.
Luo Fei found Ma Boyuan's overly detailed description of his wife's attire on the day she vanished (a ginger-yellow Duoyun crepe cheongsam, golden heels, pearl earrings, a jade bracelet, and Ricou red nail polish) highly suspicious. He concluded Ma Boyuan was either a genius or lying, especially when Qin Xiaoman mistakenly recalled the landlady's nail polish as brown, when it was in fact wine-red.
Luo Fei chose Qin Xiaoman as his partner, as Detective Superintendent Savoy insisted he work with a detective. At the Ma mansion, Luo Fei noted signs of the family's decline, such as patches of cheap sand on the pathway, only one elderly servant, and repetitive antique vases used merely for display.
Ma Boyuan’s mother claimed her son was heartbroken, but Luo Fei observed evidence of expensive meals from Richard Restaurant, and the mother constantly interrupted Ma Boyuan when he tried to speak. Luo Fei asked to see Ruan Mengzhu's farewell letter. While Ma Boyuan went upstairs to retrieve it, Luo Fei quickly searched the room. He spotted sweepstake tickets and freshly polished dancing shoes, suggesting Ma Boyuan was planning to go dancing at Paramount.
Luo Fei examined the letter and deduced it was a year old, using the paper, ink, and a reference to the film "New Woman," which was released a year prior. He confronted Ma Boyuan about presenting false evidence. Ma Boyuan, agitated and drinking, began to confess about his wife's controlling behavior and impulsively spoke of wanting to kill her.
Just as he was on the verge of revealing more, the family lawyer, Wu Qing Feng, arrived, having been called by Mrs. Ma. Wu Qing Feng challenged Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman's presence without a search warrant and forced them to leave. Before departing, Luo Fei whispered something to Ma Boyuan, leaving him visibly shaken. Luo Fei noticed Ma Boyuan's car in the courtyard and decided to return that night.
Later that night, Qin Xiaoman followed Luo Fei to the Ma mansion. Although she claimed to be investigating a suspicious person rather than trespassing, she joined Luo Fei in sneaking in. Luo Fei inspected Ma Boyuan’s car, noting its recent polish despite the overall neglected state of the house, which suggested an attempt to cover something up. Inside a scratch on the car, he found a broken fingernail with red polish, and a piece of ginger-yellow Duoyun crepe cheongsam fabric.
Luo Fei reconstructed the event: Ruan Mengzhu had clung to the car window to prevent Ma Boyuan from driving off to seek entertainment. As the car sped up, her grip failed, her nail broke, and she was struck. Luo Fei also discovered replaced sand on the driveway and the scent of gasoline, confirming a car accident. He theorized that Ma Boyuan had faked the disappearance report to divert attention.
Qin Xiaoman asked about the body, and Luo Fei initially suspected it was buried in the garden, having noticed disturbed earth near the doghouse earlier. However, he quickly changed his mind, realizing Ma Boyuan's unusual visit to his father's remote grave, rather than searching for his wife, meant the body had been moved there. As if on cue, Ma Boyuan drove out, and Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman swiftly hid in the trunk.
Ma Boyuan drove to a cemetery, shovel in hand. They secretly emerged from the trunk and followed him into the graveyard. Luo Fei found fresh soil and what appeared to be Ruan Mengzhu's hair. However, Luo Fei then questioned whether Ma Boyuan was truly the murderer or merely a victim, considering that Ma Boyuan’s emotional confession might have been based on his perceived reality, not the actual truth.
Episode 2 Recap
Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman followed Ma Boyuan deep into a cemetery, where they discovered him digging in his mother, Mrs. Ma's, empty grave. Luo Fei explained to Qin Xiaoman that Ma Boyuan wasn't acting out of madness, but was actually exhuming his mother's pre-arranged empty burial plot. He deduced that Mrs. Ma had secured this empty grave in advance, concerned her "unfilial son" might not properly bury her after her passing.
However, this grave now contained the body of Ma Boyuan's wife, Ruan Mengzhu. Luo Fei revealed that earlier in the day, he had deliberately misled Ma Boyuan, implying he knew the body's location and would reveal it the next morning. This was a tactic to force Ma Boyuan to come to the cemetery at night to move the corpse.
Luo Fei recounted that Ruan Mengzhu’s body was initially buried in their garden but had to be moved due to their dog's highly sensitive sense of smell, which led it to try digging up the remains. He concluded that Mrs. Ma must have suggested this "ingenious" hiding place in her empty grave.
This explained why Ma Boyuan and his mother visited the cemetery three days prior, not for traditional reasons like a tomb-sweeping day or an anniversary, but as a cover to move the body into the empty plot. Ma Boyuan, realizing he had been tricked, spotted Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman. Luo Fei instructed Qin Xiaoman to arrest him.
Ma Boyuan, however, pulled out a gun, insisting he "didn't kill anyone" and refusing to go to jail, not even for a day. He threatened to shoot if they came any closer. Luo Fei calmly warned him that while running over Ruan Mengzhu might have been an accident, killing them now would be premeditated murder. Qin Xiaoman, seizing an opportunity, lunged at Ma Boyuan. A struggle ensued, but he managed to escape, running to his car parked by the road.
Luo Fei, not carrying his customized Colt M1911, which he uses only for experiments, chided Qin Xiaoman for expecting him to stop the car with his "brain." He confidently stated that Ma Boyuan wouldn't make it out of the Shanghai French Concession. As Ma Boyuan drove frantically away, he experienced a vivid hallucination of Ruan Mengzhu standing in front of his car. Terrified, he swerved, crashing his car into an electric pole on Praia Road.
Despite his injuries, he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, repeatedly muttering, "I didn't kill anyone." Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman returned to the cemetery and, as predicted, found Ruan Mengzhu's body in Mrs. Ma’s empty grave. They then had to walk back home. Qin Xiaoman, exhausted, complained about Luo Fei's occasional miscalculations. Luo Fei, however, dismissed her concerns, stating that physical discomfort was minor compared to the satisfaction of solving a case.
He even jokingly told her that "a wrong route will always bring you to the right point," when they got lost. While Luo Fei was bathing, he reflected on Ma Boyuan's words and suddenly realized the case was more complex than it appeared. Later, Qin Xiaoman, having knocked without response, entered his room through the window, much to his irritation. She read aloud the police's preliminary forensic report.
The report stated that Ruan Mengzhu's body, highly decomposed and bloated, was found five days after her disappearance, making fingerprint extraction impossible. The cause of death was head trauma from being run over, consistent with a car accident. Her clothing and jewelry—a cheongsam with yellow flowers and crepe-sewing, golden heels, pearl earrings, a jade bracelet, pink ring, and red nail polish—matched the informant's description, confirming the identity as Ruan Mengzhu.
The police had found Ma Boyuan's crashed car on Praia Road, but he remained at large, despite extensive searches of hotels and other locations within the French Concession. Luo Fei, already anticipating Ma Boyuan’s hideout, asked Qin Xiaoman to leave so he could dress. While tidying up Luo Fei’s room, Qin Xiaoman discovered old case files, including one detailing the capture of a major crime syndicate leader known as "Captain" ten years ago.
She excitedly realized that Luo Fei was the legendary detective she had heard about at the Police Academy. Luo Fei downplayed his past, urging her to focus on Ma Boyuan. He then asked her to get dressed for an outing. Sensing her usual attire wouldn't suffice, he had the landlady, Su Su, help Qin Xiaoman into a more suitable gown.
As Qin Xiaoman emerged, elegantly dressed and calling him "brother," Luo Fei stared, lost in a flashback of his deceased younger sister. He remembered her excitedly showing off a new dress, only to be tragically killed by a bomb planted by Captain, a memory that remained a deep wound. Luo Fei explained that they were going to the Paramount ballroom, which he believed was Ma Boyuan's most likely hideout, being a familiar and open-all-hours place for a man in distress.
Qin Xiaoman, unfamiliar with such places and unable to dance, felt out of place. Luo Fei, a skilled dancer himself (taught by Su Su, his landlady, a former famous dancer), patiently guided her. He then instructed her on how to efficiently search a crowded space: "demarcation, classification, exclusion, and filtering." By ruling out dancers, performers, and those actively seeking attention, they narrowed their focus to the scattered customers and waiters, particularly searching for a drunkard.
Qin Xiaoman soon spotted Ma Boyuan in a private booth. As they approached, Ma Boyuan tried to flee, firing his gun into the air, causing panic among the patrons. Qin Xiaoman gave chase through the chaotic ballroom, eventually tackling and arresting him outside. Back at the police station, Detective Superintendent Savoy chastised Qin Xiaoman for the public disturbance caused by the shooting at Paramount, which had made newspaper headlines and angered the chief of the Municipality.
Detective Ye Changqing mocked Qin Xiaoman's choice of attire. Qin Xiaoman sharply retorted, criticizing Ye Changqing for initially dismissing Ruan Mengzhu's disappearance as a simple runaway case, and stating that his failure to address serious crimes in uniform made him the greater joke. Savoy, after further admonishing Qin Xiaoman, assigned her to assist Ye Changqing in Ma Boyuan's interrogation.
Luo Fei, unable to directly participate as he wasn't an official police employee, instructed Qin Xiaoman to record every detail for him. Savoy then told Qin Xiaoman she could pick up her service pistol, as she was now performing field duties. During the interrogation, Ma Boyuan continued to maintain his innocence, insisting he didn't kill anyone and claiming he saw Ruan Mengzhu's ghost the previous night, which caused him to crash his car. Qin Xiaoman found his "ghost" story outlandish.
She pressed him on the details of the car accident: if Ruan Mengzhu was clutching the right side of the car door, why did he continue to drive to the right? Just as he was about to answer, Ma Boyuan’s lawyer, Wu Qingfeng, arrived and secured his immediate bail.
Wu Qingfeng argued that the "murder" was merely a traffic accident, the "hiding of the body" was done by the gatekeeper, and the "assaulting of police" was self-defense because Qin Xiaoman initiated physical contact without showing her badge. Qin Xiaoman returned home infuriated, venting her frustration on a punching bag. Luo Fei, however, remained calm. He told her he believed Ma Boyuan might not be the actual murderer but a victim himself.
He pointed out two major inconsistencies from Ma Boyuan's account. First, the road was supposedly blocked by a gardener's trolley, forcing Ma Boyuan to drive on the right. Yet, Luo Fei knew the Ma family had long dismissed their servants, and their neglected garden showed no signs of a gardener's recent work.
Second, recreating the accident, Luo Fei demonstrated that if Ruan Mengzhu fell backward from the passenger door as Ma Boyuan described, her legs, not her head, should have been run over. Her head being "badly mutilated" while her legs were "good" was a significant anomaly. Qin Xiaoman then recalled Ma Boyuan's "nonsense" about seeing Ruan Mengzhu's ghost on Praia Road before the car crash. This detail immediately galvanized Luo Fei.
Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman revisited the accident scene on Praia Road. Luo Fei discovered that the section of the streetlights where the accident occurred had its wires recently and deliberately cut, creating a dark zone. He explained this was done to impair drivers' vision as they transitioned from a brightly lit area. Coupled with the strategically placed gardener's trolley forcing traffic to the right, he deduced these were deliberate actions.
Luo Fei pointed out a dense bush nearby, suggesting it was used to hide a third person who was present during the car accident, not as a witness but as the true killer. He stated that Ruan Mengzhu's death was not an accident or suicide but a meticulously planned murder. To support his theory, Luo Fei revealed male footprints in the bush, size 40, with a distinctive pattern that didn't match Ma Boyuan, the gatekeeper, or Mrs. Ma's small feet.
These footprints confirmed the presence of an unknown assailant. Luo Fei declared his intention was to "catch a ghost." He then confronted Detective Superintendent Savoy, revealing that the male footprints in the bush, size 40 with a distinctive pattern, exactly matched the shoes Savoy was wearing. Luo Fei also recalled that on his first visit to the Ma residence, he noticed the living room wall was filled with family photos, but none of Ruan Mengzhu.
Episode 3 Recap
Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman arrived at Lawyer Wu Qingfeng's residence, only to find him packing his belongings. Wu Qingfeng explained that he was moving to Nanjing for a new position, as the Ma family had exhausted their funds bailing out Ma Boyuan and could no longer afford a private lawyer. Luo Fei suggested they discuss Ma Boyuan's case, which he believed held a deeper truth. Luo Fei began by recounting a story.
He described Ruan Mengzhu's unhappy marriage into the prominent Ma family, where her status was very low. She repeatedly tried to escape, but her own family, prioritizing their business ties, always sent her back. Luo Fei noted the absence of Ruan Mengzhu's photo in the Ma family home and the oppressive atmosphere created by Ma's domineering mother and ineffective son.
Wu Qingfeng admitted to having heard these rumors but maintained that, as a lawyer, he couldn't interfere in his client's family matters. However, Luo Fei revealed that he found Ma Boyuan's IOU and a book titled "Fate in Tears and Laughter" in Ruan Mengzhu's nightstand – Ruan Mengzhu had the second volume, while Wu Qingfeng possessed the first, and both had matching bookstore stamps, suggesting a connection.
Ignoring Wu Qingfeng's attempts to dismiss this as mere gossip, Luo Fei asserted that Wu Qingfeng had developed feelings for Ruan Mengzhu and sympathized with her plight. He believed Wu Qingfeng decided to help her escape, knowing that a simple departure would lead to Ma's family forcing her return. Thus, faking her death became the only way out.
Luo Fei elaborated on the scheme: Wu Qingfeng ordered an identical cheongsam and jewelry to Ruan Mengzhu's, cut the street light wires in the Ma family garden, and blocked part of the road with a gardener's trolley. On the night of the "accident," Ruan Mengzhu faked a struggle with Ma Boyuan, clinging to the car door before "falling" into the bushes.
At that moment, Wu Qingfeng, hidden in the bushes, placed a pre-prepared corpse, dressed identically to Ruan Mengzhu, under Ma Boyuan's car. The car then ran over the body's head, mutilating it beyond recognition and convincing Ma Boyuan he had mistakenly killed his wife. Luo Fei concluded that Ruan Mengzhu had already fled to Nanjing, waiting to reunite with Wu Qingfeng. Wu Qingfeng, though initially stunned, quickly regained his composure and challenged Luo Fei for evidence.
Qin Xiaoman presented records from Bao Da Xiang tailor showing two identical cheongsams being ordered, one of which was ordered by a man wearing glasses matching Wu Qingfeng's description. She also revealed a leather shoe print found in the bushes at the crime scene, matching Wu Qingfeng's shoe size and pattern, and a broken lens from his glasses, found at the scene and matching his prescription.
Wu Qingfeng dismissively explained away each piece of evidence, claiming he merely ran an errand for Ruan Mengzhu, that many people wore similar shoes, and that his glasses broke when he "peed" in the bushes. He then demanded to know the source of the substitute corpse, pointing out that no young women had been reported missing or dead recently. Luo Fei acknowledged that without the corpse's identity, his case was indeed incomplete, and he and Qin Xiaoman left.
Back home, Luo Fei pondered Wu Qingfeng's challenge about the corpse's origin and finally had a breakthrough. The next morning, Qin Xiaoman found a note asking her to meet at Jessfield Road at 10 AM. Upon arrival, she found Wu Qingfeng, who was about to leave, along with Superintendent Savoy, both having received similar mysterious notes.
Luo Fei then appeared, finishing a bowl of wontons, admitting he sent the notes to gather everyone and declaring that he had found the crucial evidence. Though initially hesitant due to his impending train to Nanjing, Wu Qingfeng agreed to give Luo Fei ten minutes inside his house. Inside, Luo Fei dramatically broke a teacup and called for a servant to clean it. When the maid, Xiang, entered, Luo Fei immediately addressed her as "Mrs. Ma" (Ruan Mengzhu).
He pointed out that her delicate hands were ill-suited for handling sharp porcelain fragments. He then explained how he knew: during their previous visit, he observed "Xiang" intently scrutinizing his name card, despite his intelligence from neighbors that the real Xiang was illiterate. This confirmed that the person masquerading as Xiang was actually Ruan Mengzhu. With the truth exposed, Wu Qingfeng confessed.
He explained that he had accidentally killed the real Xiang after she overheard his phone call with Ruan Mengzhu and attempted to blackmail him. In his panic, he didn't know how to dispose of the body, but upon realizing Xiang's physical resemblance to Ruan Mengzhu, he conceived the elaborate fake death plot.
Luo Fei clarified that he initially thought Wu Qingfeng's plan was "killing two birds with one stone" (faking Ruan Mengzhu's death and framing Ma Boyuan), but it was actually "killing three birds with one stone" as it also involved the murder of the real Xiang. Superintendent Savoy promptly arrested both Wu Qingfeng and Ruan Mengzhu.
Qin Xiaoman felt disheartened by the outcome, struggling with the irony that Ma Boyuan, a cruel and abusive husband, was ultimately innocent of murder, while Wu Qingfeng, who sought to liberate Ruan Mengzhu from her suffering, became a murderer himself. Luo Fei offered a philosophical perspective, stating that the world isn't black and white, and people cannot be simply classified as good or bad. He noted that even criminals can have sympathetic motives, and victims aren't always innocent.
He asserted that while absolute justice might not exist, it is the police's duty to ensure everyone believes in its presence. Qin Xiaoman later wrote a letter to her aunt, reflecting on the case and her commitment to upholding the law to ensure justice. Later, Qin Xiaoman discovered Luo Fei's method of crime scene reconstruction, observing ink spatters on the ceiling that mimicked blood and an outline on the floor marking the victim's initial position.
Excited, she joined him in an experiment to simulate a murder. As Luo Fei dragged Qin Xiaoman, who was playing the role of a struggling victim, out of the room, they were interrupted by their landlord showing the apartment to a prospective tenant. The horrified tenant immediately fled, leaving the landlord infuriated. Meanwhile, the Jin Chamber of Commerce was organizing a donation drive for 150,000 displaced refugees. A death threat letter was sent to the chairman, referencing "the mysterious murder of Han Wei Wei" and a "locked-room mystery," hinting at their next case.
Episode 4 Recap
Recent headlines proclaimed the devastating Yellow River flood, prompting the Jin Chamber of Commerce to organize a large-scale donation drive for disaster relief. Within the Chamber's finance department, finance group leader Chen Xiangdong introduced a new colleague, Han Wei Wei, to the team. Later that night, as Han Wei Wei walked home, she felt followed, and upon returning to her apartment, she was tragically murdered.
The following day, her neighbors discovered her body and alerted the police, leading Qin Xiaoman and her colleagues to the crime scene. Luo Fei, arriving at the scene, conducted a meticulous examination. He discovered dog hair in the victim's mouth and concluded that she had been attacked with a ceramic object. While no weapon was found, two decorative items were missing from her desk.
Noting that Han Wei Wei was from Wuxi, Jiangsu, Luo Fei surmised the murder weapon was a pair of clay figurines, a local specialty. He also found that three pages of the deceased's notebook had been torn out. By rubbing a pencil over the remaining pages, he uncovered a series of numbers, "720900," and the character "Dong" (东), alongside mentions of the "Jin Chamber of Commerce" and the "Yellow River."
Han Wei Wei's books indicated a keen interest in finance, though at a basic level, raising questions about her employment at the powerful Jin Chamber of Commerce. Luo Fei also retrieved shredded photographs from the trash, suggesting the killer knew Han Wei Wei intimately, likely as her boyfriend, and sought to conceal their relationship. The absence of the victim's fierce hound's bark during the attack further supported this theory.
Luo Fei further deduced that the killer was right-handed, contrasting with Han Wei Wei's left-handedness, and estimated the assailant's height to be at least 1. 8 meters, based on a stool found at the scene. Overwhelmed by Luo Fei's rapid deductions, Qin Xiaoman struggled to keep up. Suddenly, Luo Fei declared they needed to meet someone.
They proceeded to the police station's autopsy room, where they met Benjamin, the French Concession's sole Western-educated forensic pathologist and a good friend of Luo Fei. Despite his handsome appearance, Benjamin exhibited a strong aversion to women. Luo Fei explained Benjamin's troubled past: his mother was a prostitute, and he grew up in a brothel before being abandoned at St. Mary Hospital at age three, eventually adopted by Professor Benjamin.
This upbringing, Luo Fei suggested, contributed to his discomfort around living women. Luo Fei then played a prank on Qin Xiaoman, making her believe the steak he was eating at the autopsy table was human flesh, causing her to vomit in disgust. Benjamin, unperturbed, confirmed it was merely beefsteak. During the autopsy, Benjamin revealed Han Wei Wei died from blunt force trauma, with no rib fractures, and identified elements of steamed fish in her stomach.
Given the Jin Chamber of Commerce's influential background, the Detective Superintendent assigned Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman to investigate discreetly. They were to pose as a wealthy married couple making a substantial donation of five thousand silver dollars and ten thousand legal tender to gain access to the Chamber's high-ranking finance personnel. Luo Fei explained he acquired the large sum as a reward for assisting a Northern Warlord.
At the Jin Chamber of Commerce, Luo Fei was recognized by a staff member who informed Secretary Chen. While Qin Xiaoman proceeded to the finance office, Secretary Chen invited Luo Fei to his private office. Secretary Chen, admiring Luo Fei's investigative prowess, sought his help with a sensitive matter: Chairman Tang had received death threats from the notorious Japanese assassin organization, the Black Dragon Society, ahead of a major fundraising event.
Luo Fei immediately spotted that the envelope containing the threat had been swapped, revealing the original was an internal Chamber document. Secretary Chen confessed to the switch, fearing the negative publicity. He then revealed the most perplexing detail: these threat letters did not arrive via mail but mysteriously appeared in Chairman Tang's office whenever he stepped out, even for a mere minute or two, creating a "locked-room" mystery. Luo Fei's curiosity was piqued by this enigma.
Meanwhile, in the finance office, Qin Xiaoman encountered Lu Xiangdong, the finance group leader. She inquired if he knew Han Wei Wei, describing her as a left-handed woman in her twenties with basic financial skills who used to work there. Lu Xiangdong denied any knowledge of Han Wei Wei and redirected Qin Xiaoman to Secretary Chen. As Qin Xiaoman prepared to leave, Lu Xiangdong shook her hand and subtly slipped her a note containing the numbers "720900" and an address.
Recognizing the numbers from Han Wei Wei's notebook, Luo Fei suspected Lu Xiangdong knew more than he let on and instructed Qin Xiaoman to press him further the next day. Later that evening, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman visited the address provided by Lu Xiangdong, finding it to be a closed Western restaurant.
Luo Fei decided they would return to Han Wei Wei's apartment at the approximate time of her death, believing observing the scene at that hour could offer new insights. He speculated that Han Wei Wei, a journalist for Shenbao, might have been investigating a major scandal, possibly involving Lu Xiangdong misappropriating Chairman Tang's relief funds, and had obtained a black ledger, leading to her being killed to silence her. However, he also believed there could be a third, unexplored possibility beyond Lu Xiangdong being the sole killer.
Episode 5 Recap
Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman returned to Han Wei Wei's apartment under the cover of darkness. As they walked down a dimly lit street, a route Han Wei Wei would have taken home, Luo Fei speculated that this might have been the initial ambush site rather than the apartment itself. Qin Xiaoman then noticed lights on in Han Wei Wei's apartment, prompting them to rush upstairs, where they found two women.
The women introduced themselves as Chen Hui Yan and Zhao Su, reporters from "Shenbao" and Han Wei Wei's colleagues, who were there to keep vigil. They explained that Han Wei Wei, previously a supplement editor, had been transferred to the main section two months prior.
Through his questioning, Luo Fei deduced that Han Wei Wei was indeed a reporter who had been working undercover in finance for about a month and a half, collecting evidence to expose a major scandal in Shanghai Beach. She had called her colleagues the previous day to arrange an editorial meeting to serialize the news, but sadly, she was murdered before she could.
Qin Xiaoman suggested the scandal might be connected to the Jin Chamber of Commerce's Yellow River disaster relief fund, and that Han Wei Wei was silenced after uncovering the truth. Luo Fei refined this, proposing it was more likely certain individuals within the Chamber, driven by self-interest, who had Han Wei Wei killed. Concerned about Luo Fei's worsening cold, Qin Xiaoman prepared chicken soup for him. However, the taste was so unpleasant that Luo Fei immediately spat it out.
The following day, the Jin Chamber of Commerce hosted a grand donation event. Due to threats from the Black Dragon Society, the police department deployed all available officers, including forensic doctor Benjamin, for security. Benjamin complained about being pulled from his regular duties, noting that the Black Dragon Society's threats were still a mystery, even to Luo Fei, who had thought about it all night. As Chairman Tang began his speech, gunshots rang out, instantly plunging the event into chaos.
Qin Xiaoman rushed to the building where the sniper was hiding to pursue him. Upon reaching the vantage point, she found only spent bullet casings, realizing the killer had already blended into the fleeing crowd. Remembering Luo Fei's advice on crime scene analysis – dividing areas, classifying, eliminating, and filtering possibilities, as well as imagining the killer's mindset to pinpoint the best sniping location – Qin Xiaoman managed to identify the killer's position.
However, as she prepared to engage, a terrified horse-drawn carriage veered towards a child. Qin Xiaoman instinctively moved to protect the child, saving him but losing her target, though she did manage to recover a sniper rifle. Meanwhile, the killer continued to attack the police protecting Chairman Tang, driving them inadvertently towards a gasoline truck. Luo Fei quickly noticed the impending danger and shouted a warning, but it was too late. The gasoline truck exploded, sending everyone flying.
Amidst the devastation, Lu Xiang Dong was shot and critically injured. Qin Xiaoman rushed to his side, pleading with him to reveal the meaning of the numbers "720900" from the note he had given her. With his last breath, Lu Xiang Dong whispered "Huifeng" before dying. Enraged, Qin Xiaoman chased the killer into an underground passage, where they both became trapped in a basement.
The killer, a Japanese man, revealed that Lu Xiang Dong was killed for betraying the Black Dragon Society. He then attempted to execute Qin Xiaoman, but she quickly dodged the bullet, sustaining only a minor graze before Luo Fei arrived and rescued her. Later, at the hospital, Qin Xiaoman informed Luo Fei of the killer's words.
Benjamin arrived, reporting that investigators found evidence of Lu Xiang Dong's embezzlement of Yellow River disaster relief funds at his home, and importantly, the handwriting on these documents was consistent with Han Wei Wei's. They also found a clay figurine whose base matched Han Wei Wei's head wound and dog hairs consistent with those at her apartment. Benjamin concluded that Lu Xiang Dong was Han Wei Wei's murderer.
Luo Fei, however, immediately rejected this theory, highlighting the absence of the torn photos and the fact that Han Wei Wei's killer was estimated to be over 1. 8 meters tall, a height inconsistent with Lu Xiang Dong. He further argued that a single, fatal blow suggested a professional killer, which Lu Xiang Dong might not be capable of.
Luo Fei then proposed an alternative theory: Lu Xiang Dong had hired the Black Dragon Society to kill Han Wei Wei but then double-crossed them, leading to his own assassination as an act of revenge. He then asked Qin Xiaoman to vividly recall the height of the killer when he stood behind her in the basement. After concentrating, she concluded he was at least 15 centimeters taller than her, which, when added to her height, matched the 1.
8-meter-plus height of Han Wei Wei's killer. Luo Fei then concluded that "this killer" (the Japanese man from the Black Dragon Society) was indeed the one who killed Han Wei Wei. However, Luo Fei immediately proposed a "third possibility", questioning why such a highly skilled killer, capable of a single fatal blow, had chosen to spare Qin Xiaoman. As Luo Fei pondered these revelations, his gaze fixated on Qin Xiaoman's shoes, triggering a sudden insight.
He immediately dashed out, heading back to Han Wei Wei's apartment, with Qin Xiaoman close behind. At the apartment, they encountered Huo Wen Si, the newly appointed police psychological consultant, who offered his assistance. Luo Fei, however, stated his policy of never cooperating with others and expressed his skepticism towards psychological analysis.
As they examined the apartment, both Luo Fei and Huo Wen Si observed the extreme cleanliness and meticulous arrangement of items, concluding that Han Wei Wei was a severe mysophobe. Huo Wen Si pointed out a missing pair of shoes from the shoe rack, an anomaly for someone so particular.
Luo Fei, recalling his earlier argument against the killer taking trivial personal items to hide identity, then questioned why a killer "would" tear up photos, suggesting that the missing shoes might hold a vital clue for a different reason. With a new direction in mind, Luo Fei instructed Qin Xiaoman to retrieve all travel magazines and newspapers from the last three years, including foreign publications, from the police station for further investigation.
Episode 6 Recap
Benjamin, leaving the police station after his shift, noticed a suspicious car parked outside. As he paused to observe, a person inside the vehicle drew a pistol, preparing to act. Fortunately, a police officer approached the car at that moment, causing the assassin to redirect his aim, kill the officer, and then drive away. Luo Fei eventually located the original image of Han Wei Wei's photograph in a magazine.
The full picture revealed only a landscape, with no trace of a boyfriend beside her. With this crucial evidence, Luo Fei headed home, only to find himself pursued by the same assassin. He sought refuge in a corner, narrowly avoiding capture, when Qin Xiaoman appeared just in time to save him. The two found a place to rest, where Qin Xiaoman revealed that before his death, Lu Xiang Dong had uttered the words "HSBC."
Luo Fei decided to investigate HSBC Bank for further clues. Their search led them to discover that Han Wei Wei had opened a safe deposit box using a colleague's name, Chen Hui Yan, and the sequence of numbers, 720900, was indeed the password. Inside the safe, they found numerous ledgers filled with fake names, detailing vast sums of embezzled money. The ledgers prominently featured the characters "Liang" and "Shu."
Connecting this to earlier findings, Luo Fei deduced that the initial "Dong" written in Han Wei Wei's notebook was actually a partial "Chen," leading him to suspect Chen Han Liang, Chairman Tang Ji Yu's secretary, was behind the embezzlement.
Luo Fei believed that Tang Ji Yu himself was not involved in the corruption, as he had many other ways to make money and his properties were near the Yellow River, indicating his sincere interest in flood relief rather than personal gain. However, without concrete evidence linking the fake names in the ledgers directly to Chen Han Liang, an arrest seemed impossible.
To uncover the truth, Luo Fei gathered everyone who was present on the day of the assassination attempt at the Chamber of Commerce and reconstructed their positions when the incident occurred. He pointed an accusing finger at Chen Han Liang, identifying him as the mastermind who hired the assassin. Chen Han Liang vehemently denied the accusation, asking if Luo Fei was joking and asserting he had no need for embezzled funds.
Luo Fei then presented a newspaper photograph from the Shanghai News. He explained that although Chen Han Liang claimed to have seen the assassin and pointed him out to protect Chairman Tang Ji Yu, the number of banners and people at the event made visual identification impossible from his position. Chen Han Liang quickly changed his story, claiming he had heard the assassin.
To test this, Luo Fei instructed Qin Xiaoman, who was positioned in a nearby building, to fire a single shot. The area, surrounded by tall buildings, created an echo chamber, making it difficult to pinpoint the source of the gunshot. Chen Han Liang struggled to identify the location, confirming Luo Fei's suspicion that he was lying. As Chen Han Liang’s defense crumbled, he was suddenly struck by bullets and collapsed, bleeding profusely.
In his dying moments, Chen Han Liang crawled toward Mrs. Tang Ji Yu, whispering "I'm sorry," while Mrs. Tang Ji Yu shed tears, a scene witnessed by Luo Fei. Police immediately swept the surrounding area, identifying a suspicious former military academy student named Zheng Yi Xiong, who had studied in Japan. They visited his home, only to find him in a wheelchair, seemingly a disabled veteran of the Second Revolution.
Luo Fei and the others left, but not long after, Luo Fei realized something was amiss. He noticed creases on Zheng Yi Xiong’s shoes, which was inconsistent with someone who used a wheelchair. Recognizing Zheng Yi Xiong was faking his disability, Luo Fei immediately dispatched officers to arrest him. Zheng Yi Xiong engaged the police in a fierce gun battle, killing the officers guarding his door before fleeing.
Qin Xiaoman and Savoy relentlessly pursued him through a restaurant and into an alley, where Zheng Yi Xiong had set a trap. To protect Qin Xiaoman, Luo Fei shielded her from a bullet, sustaining an injury to his hand, but Zheng Yi Xiong managed to escape.
To force Zheng Yi Xiong out of hiding, Luo Fei intentionally wrote an article for the Shanghai News, explicitly stating that Zheng Yi Xiong was impersonating the Black Dragon Society to commit murders and implicating them in his crimes. He even insisted on including Zheng Yi Xiong’s photograph in a prominent position.
As predicted, Zheng Yi Xiong, already wounded from his escape and now targeted by the Black Dragon Society for damaging their reputation, was captured, severely beaten, and eventually delivered to the police station. Luo Fei and his team interrogated Zheng Yi Xiong. The police found a white wig and heart medication at his residence.
Luo Fei explained that Zheng Yi Xiong had used these items to feign a heart attack on the street, leading Han Wei Wei to invite him unsuspecting into her home. After killing Han Wei Wei, Zheng Yi Xiong took the evidence, tore the photos to create the illusion of a missing boyfriend, and later killed Lu Xiang Dong, placing the murder weapon in Lu Xiang Dong's house to frame him as Han Wei Wei's killer.
He then used Karabiner 98k sniper rifle bullets to kill Lu Xiang Dong and Chen Han Liang. Zheng Yi Xiong then asked for a glass of water. Savoy complied, but as Zheng Yi Xiong drank, he bit down on a hidden poison capsule, dying instantly. The question of how he managed the "locked-room" threatening letter remained unanswered. At the graves of Chen Han Liang and Zheng Yi Xiong, Luo Fei encountered Mrs. Tang Ji Yu.
As Luo Fei suspected, she was indeed involved in the events. To his surprise, however, she placed flowers first at Zheng Yi Xiong's grave, not Chen Han Liang's. Luo Fei confronted her, revealing his understanding: Mrs. Tang Ji Yu, whose maiden name was Li Shu Fen, had a shameful secret and sought financial assistance from Chen Han Liang.
Chen Han Liang, who oversaw the Yellow River flood relief fund, embezzled funds for her and created false ledgers, which were later discovered by finance director Lu Xiang Dong. Lu Xiang Dong then anonymously enlisted the ambitious reporter Han Wei Wei to investigate. When Chen Han Liang realized this, he introduced Zheng Yi Xiong to Mrs. Tang Ji Yu, and together they plotted to eliminate both Lu Xiang Dong and Han Wei Wei.
Luo Fei concluded that Zheng Yi Xiong was Mrs. Tang Ji Yu’s true lover. He killed Chen Han Liang to protect their affair from being exposed, and his subsequent suicide was also for her sake. Mrs. Tang Ji Yu, upon hearing Luo Fei’s entire recounting, simply burst into laughter. Returning to the office, Luo Fei reviewed Han Wei Wei's ledgers, still determined to trace the exact destination of the embezzled money. The mysterious "locked-room" threatening letter also remained an unsolved puzzle, both issues continuing to preoccupy Luo Fei.
Episode 7 Recap
Xiao Lu stealthily approached Teacher Xiao's room, drawn by the sound of the piano. Suddenly, the music ceased, and Teacher Xiao lay motionless on the floor. Frightened, Xiao Lu rushed out to seek help. Meanwhile, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman were engaged in recreating a past crime scene. Luo Fei directed the reconstruction, explaining that the victim had lunged onto the bed, intending to retrieve a pistol from under the pillow, when the suspect fired a shot into the pillow.
As the victim turned, the suspect fired a second fatal shot. Luo Fei pointed out that the feather patterns on Qin Xiaoman's body, who was playing the victim, contradicted the suspect's claim of self-defense, proving the suspect had lied and it was murder. After their deduction, Luo Fei instructed Qin Xiaoman to tidy the room, remarking that the task suited her "brainless" nature. As they were cleaning, they stumbled, falling onto the bed in an awkward position.
At that moment, Xiao Lu arrived, interrupting the delicate atmosphere. Xiao Lu, having heard of Luo Fei's reputation, claimed his deceased grandmother had left a locked diary with a four-digit password that he couldn't crack. He was testing Luo Fei. Luo Fei quickly deduced that the grandmother, an avid Mah-jong player nicknamed "Queen of Mah-jong," must have used a memorable number related to her house, "Route Ferguson, 123, 45-505."
By removing the zeroes as there are none in Mah-jong, the numbers became 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, leading to the password. Luo Fei then revealed that the diary was blank and did not belong to Xiao Lu's grandmother, stating that Xiao Lu was actually there to present another case. Xiao Lu confirmed this, explaining that he was the assistant to the conductor Xiao Lang, who had died suddenly the previous night.
Despite newspaper reports attributing Xiao Lang's death to a heart attack, Xiao Lu believed it was linked to a mysterious musical score titled "Higanbana," which he said was a "Flower of Hell," cursed to kill anyone who played it. Qin Xiaoman dismissed this as superstition, but Luo Fei, recalling an article about a melancholic Hungarian song causing suicides, was intrigued, viewing it as a psychological phenomenon rather than magic. He agreed to investigate.
Upon arriving at Xiao Lang's villa, they found a memorial ceremony in progress, attended by Xiao Lang's fans and members of the Municipality Western Orchestra, including violinist Guan Er, cellist Guo Rong, violist Zheng Dong, and the concertmaster, who was also the brother-in-law of the president of the Municipality. Luo Fei instructed Qin Xiaoman to stay downstairs and observe the guests while he and Xiao Lu went to the piano room.
There, Luo Fei noticed several rolls of tape on a bookshelf, finding it odd. Xiao Lu then noticed that the "Higanbana" music score, which had been on the piano, was now missing. He confirmed he hadn't touched it since Xiao Lang's death. Downstairs, an argument erupted between Guan Er and Zheng Dong over their playing, causing a disruption to the memorial.
During this commotion, reporter Zeng Shuai approached Luo Fei, offering information on Xiao Lang's social circle in exchange for details on a previous case. Zeng Shuai revealed that many attendees, including Xiao Lang's ex-girlfriend who harbored resentment, the concertmaster whom Xiao Lang owed money, and the quarreling musicians (Guan Er, Zheng Dong, and Guo Rong, whose girlfriend Xiao Lang had stolen), all had reasons to hate Xiao Lang, making everyone a potential suspect.
As Luo Fei, Qin Xiaoman, and Xiao Lu were discussing these revelations, the violin version of "Higanbana" suddenly emanated from the second floor. They rushed up to find Guan Er dead in the piano room, his violin beside him, and the missing music score near his body. Qin Xiaoman noted that Guan Er always carried his violin. The windows were secured with protective frames, ruling out an outside intruder.
The Superintendent, however, attributed Guan Er's death to a coincidence and psychological confusion, and despite Luo Fei's protests about the presence of high-ranking officials and their potential flight risk, ordered the release of all guests. Luo Fei later discussed the possibility of music as a murder weapon with Dr. Huo Wen Si, who, while acknowledging music's psychological effects, dismissed the idea of it directly causing organ failure and death.
Luo Fei, though he disliked Huo Wen Si, considered the expert's professional opinion. Back at Luo Fei’s home, Xiao Lu speculated, based on a British mystery novel, that the "Higanbana" tune could be a signal for a trained animal to kill, similar to how a snake responds to a bell. To test this theory, Luo Fei decided to play the saxophone version of "Higanbana" himself.
Qin Xiaoman vehemently objected, concerned for his safety, but Luo Fei assured her that the attacker would only target the musician. The experiment yielded no results, leading Xiao Lu to depart, leaving the score with Luo Fei for further study. Qin Xiaoman, still worried, insisted on staying in the same room to protect Luo Fei, prompting him to joke about calling the police for harassment.
The next morning, Qin Xiaoman woke to check on Luo Fei, relieved to find him alive. Later that morning, Luo Fei and Benjamin secretly transported Guan Er's body to the morgue for a proper autopsy, distracting the police with playful antics involving mint candies. Benjamin’s initial examination concluded that Guan Er died of sudden heart attack, with symptoms like a dark purple face, bleeding from the nose, and swollen feet consistent with metabolic poisoning due to hypoxia.
However, Benjamin found no signs of poison in the stomach or blood, nor any injection marks. Luo Fei, suspecting a hidden entry point, asked Qin Xiaoman to shave Guan Er’s head, revealing a small injection pinhole at the back of his skull. Benjamin recalled Qin Xiaoman’s description of the deceased—a happy expression with tears in their eyes—and identified a new, high-purity white powder drug called "Tears."
This drug induced illusory happiness, but an overdose led to fatal heart overload, always accompanied by tears. Benjamin stated that "Tears" was never injected unless for suicide, making Guan Er's concealed pinhole particularly suspicious. Luo Fei then dispatched Qin Xiaoman to the funeral home to collect Xiao Lang's blood sample for testing. Luo Fei returned to Xiao Lang’s piano room with Xiao Lu. Luo Fei observed that Guan Er had played his own violin before death.
He discovered a record album containing "Higanbana" played by various instruments, including the violin. This suggested that Guan Er might not have played live, but rather the record was played. However, when they first entered the scene, no record was on the gramophone. Xiao Lu then accidentally knocked over Xiao Lang's music score case, which Xiao Lang always carried and prohibited others from touching, believing it brought him good luck.
Inside, Luo Fei found multiple copies of the "Higanbana" score, indicating Xiao Lang had received it repeatedly. A secret compartment within the case contained suspicious white powder. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoman returned with Xiao Lang's blood sample, which Benjamin confirmed also contained traces of "Tears." The drug was additionally discovered in both Xiao Lang’s music score case and Guan Er’s violin case.
The recurring theme of "Higanbana" and the drug "Tears" in both deaths prompted Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman to consider if the music was a coded message, similar to those used by spy syndicates in novels. Luo Fei then had a realization, connecting the current deaths to previous victims and suspects. He recalled an old case involving a pianist named Xia Lu Na, who was beautiful and skilled.
The night before her death, her room resonated with the piano music of "Higanbana." Luo Fei muttered the names of the deceased and suspects – Xiao Lang, Guan Er, Zheng Dong, Guo Rong – as if a missing piece of the puzzle had clicked into place.
Episode 8 Recap
Xiao Lu revealed that Xiao Lang never allowed anyone to touch his music score case. Luo Fei, finding this suspicious, examined Guan Er’s violin case and, as expected, discovered powder in a secret compartment there as well. The two immediately went to the library to investigate further. Their research uncovered that whenever the orchestra performed in a new location, the drug "tears" would appear there, and there were even reports of related criminal incidents.
Luo Fei deduced that Xiao Lang’s orchestra was, in fact, a drug trafficking organization, using their high public profile to conceal their activities and reap illicit profits. Qin Xiaoman found this theory hard to believe. Luo Fei also speculated that an underground factory in the French Concession produced the drug, which the orchestra then sold overseas. Qin Xiaoman went to the police station to request an arrest warrant for the orchestra members, but the Chief refused.
He argued that the alleged drug dealing did not occur within their jurisdiction in the French Concession, and therefore, it was not their responsibility. Furthermore, the Municipality Orchestra represented the concession internationally, and revealing such a scandal would have severe repercussions, which the authorities would not permit. Frustrated but not deterred, Qin Xiaoman returned, and Luo Fei assured her that the Chief’s reluctance was a tacit allowance for them to continue their investigation independently.
Back at home, the three continued to discuss the case. Xiao Lu recalled reading a spy novel where drug organizations embedded messages within music that only insiders could understand. He suggested that the "Higanbana" music score might be conveying a similar message. Luo Fei agreed, remembering that when he played the score, he noticed several sections were off-key compared to the original composition.
He commented on Qin Xiaoman’s lack of musical sensitivity, remarking that she was tone-deaf and would only hinder their analysis, which angered Qin Xiaoman, prompting her to declare she would solve the case on her own. Luo Fei and Xiao Lu continued working on the score. Luo Fei explained that each "Higanbana" score found in Xiao Lang’s case contained six specific wrong notes. For someone familiar with the music, these deviations would be easily recognizable upon playing.
He pointed out numbers written by Xiao Lang on previous scores, which were the decoded passwords. Luo Fei and Xiao Lu then realized that converting the numbered notation of the wrong notes to an octal system, then to a decimal system, matched Xiao Lang's handwritten numbers. With the code deciphered, Luo Fei concluded it must be the password for a safe where the "tears" were stored, and he predicted someone would soon lead them to it.
At Guan Er's funeral, Luo Fei orchestrated a plan. He instructed Xiao Lu to publicly place the "Higanbana" music score into Guan Er’s grave during the ceremony, knowing it would attract the killer. Later that night, Luo Fei and Xiao Lu staked out the cemetery. As expected, Zheng Dong appeared, dug up the score, and headed straight to the Chelus Hotel, a high-end establishment. There, Zheng Dong used the deciphered password to open a safe.
Inside, he found only a photograph of a woman with "I'll wait for you at home" written on the back. Xiao Lu accidentally knocked over a vase, startling Zheng Dong, who immediately dropped the photo and fled. Xiao Lu gave chase but was involved in a car accident. Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoman, pursuing her independent investigation, went to the library.
She discovered an old newspaper article about Xia Lu Na, a pianist who had died five years prior after playing "Higanbana," with a death similar to Xiao Lang and Guan Er. The librarian confirmed knowing Xia Lu Na and her residence at Charles Apartment. Coincidentally, Luo Fei also arrived at Charles Apartment. Qin Xiaoman informed him that she had seen Zheng Dong sneaking into the house earlier and decided to wait for potential accomplices before taking action.
Suddenly, the distinct melody of a music box version of "Higanbana" played from within the apartment. They rushed inside and found Zheng Dong dead in a chair, clutching a music box. Qin Xiaoman observed that the doors and windows were securely fastened, suggesting the killer might still be in the room. They meticulously searched the apartment but found no one. Just then, Guo Rong, the orchestra’s cellist, walked in. He was horrified to see Zheng Dong’s body.
Qin Xiaoman attempted to arrest him, accusing him of the murders and drug trafficking, but Guo Rong, after claiming innocence and demanding to confront Zheng Dong, seized an opportunity to escape. Qin Xiaoman pursued him, managing to wound him but ultimately failing to apprehend him. Simultaneously, Luo Fei returned to retrieve the music box as evidence.
He discovered an open window, confirming that someone had indeed been hiding in the room and had escaped through the window during their pursuit of Guo Rong. Luo Fei later dismantled the music box, which he had noted was unusually heavy, and found a roll of film hidden inside. He developed the photographs, revealing an image of five individuals from the orchestra engaged in drug trafficking. The fifth person was none other than Uncle Cao, the orchestra’s logistics staff.
At the same time, Qin Xiaoman went to the Municipality rehearsal hall, searching for Guo Rong. She found Uncle Cao alone, sweeping the floor. In a backstage room, she discovered Guo Rong’s dead body. As she prepared to call the police, she noticed inconsistencies in Uncle Cao’s demeanor, particularly his knowledge of Zheng Dong’s death, which had not yet been made public. Realizing he was the fifth drug trafficker, Qin Xiaoman confronted him.
Uncle Cao immediately attempted to flee into an inner room. Qin Xiaoman chased him, but he activated a mechanism, causing a sandbag to fall and knock her unconscious. When Qin Xiaoman awoke, she found herself bound to a chair. Uncle Cao confessed that he had accidentally killed Guo Rong during an argument that morning, after Guo Rong accused him and brandished a gun.
However, he denied responsibility for the deaths of Xiao Lang, Guan Er, and Zheng Dong, stating that he didn't know who took the "goods" from the safe. He had initially suspected Qin Xiaoman had taken the drugs from the safe but now realized a third party was involved. He bizarrely claimed Xia Lu Na’s ghost was seeking revenge for her death five years ago, which Qin Xiaoman immediately connected to their drug ring.
As Uncle Cao prepared to kill Qin Xiaoman to silence her, Luo Fei dramatically appeared. He presented Uncle Cao with the developed photograph, proving his involvement in the drug ring, and demanded an explanation. Uncle Cao then confessed the full story. He explained that Xiao Lang, known for his philandering, was dating Xia Lu Na. One day, she unexpectedly walked in on the orchestra members distributing "tears," mistaking the drug for washing powder. She secretly took a photograph of them.
Later, when Xiao Lang tried to break up with her, she used the incriminating photo to blackmail them, demanding a sum of 10,000 silver dollars, and even threatened to expose Xiao Lang's sister if they didn't comply.
Episode 9 Recap
Uncle Cao, bound and confronted by Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman, finally confessed the full story behind Xia Lu Na’s death. He explained that after Xia Lu Na obtained the money from the gang, they considered her a loose end that needed to be eliminated. They went to her house to retrieve the negative. During their search, they discovered a ferry ticket for Xia Lu Na’s younger sister, indicating she was due to study in the USA.
They planned to use Xia Lu Na's sister to coerce Xia Lu Na into handing over the negative. Xia Lu Na desperately tried to protect her innocent sister, pleading with Xiao Lang to leave her alone and offering to return all the money. She cried out to "Xiao Wen" to run and not return, pretending he was outside to draw attention away from his hiding place in the closet.
However, Xiao Lang callously disregarded her pleas, declaring it was too late for her to realize her mistake and mocking a fellow gang member who suggested giving her another chance. Xiao Lang warned the gang member that defying Captain's orders would lead to the same fate as Xia Lu Na, and then proceeded to inject her with "tears," a drug that would supposedly bring immense pleasure rather than pain.
As he administered the lethal dose, he played Xia Lu Na’s favorite song, "Higanbana," for her "last trip." Uncle Cao further elaborated that the drug, "tears," was always supplied by Captain, who never appeared in person but communicated with Xiao Lang via phone calls and later, only through music scores. After Xia Lu Na’s death, her younger sister vanished completely. As Uncle Cao finished his confession, he seized an opportunity to escape from Luo Fei.
Luo Fei pursued him, and their chase led to a struggle on the second floor of the theater. Just as Luo Fei was about to be pushed over the railing to his death, Xiao Lu unexpectedly appeared. Xiao Lu, who had been hospitalized after a car accident while chasing Zheng Dong the previous night and had come looking for Zheng Dong at the theater after being discharged, swiftly pushed Uncle Cao from the second floor.
Uncle Cao died instantly upon impact, saving Luo Fei’s life. With Uncle Cao’s death, all known members of the drug trafficking organization were gone, rendering further investigation seemingly impossible. Luo Fei reassured Xiao Lu that since it was in self-defense to save his life, the police would not press charges, and Qin Xiaoman could also testify. Despite the apparent resolution, Luo Fei remained unconvinced that Captain was the true mastermind behind the current drug operation.
He suspected the real Captain was not the one orchestrating the recent events. Xiao Lu, believing the case to be closed, announced his intention to relax by enjoying Italian operas and French ballets. However, Luo Fei suddenly had a breakthrough regarding the locked-room murder of Guan Er. He insisted that Xiao Lu and Qin Xiaoman accompany him back to Xiao Lang’s house. At the crime scene, Luo Fei explained his new theory.
He asserted that Guan Er was already dead when the music was heard. The music had, in fact, emanated from the gramaphone. The record itself mysteriously disappeared due to an elaborate mechanism. Luo Fei recounted how he had felt something was missing in the room during his second visit. He then pointed to a spring tape as the key to the setup.
He demonstrated the intricate mechanism: a spring tape with a short thread hooked to the gramophone’s stylus and taped to the record’s edge, with the other end of the tape tied to a bookshelf leg. A five-meter fishing line was taped to the door’s latch, and its other end was wrapped around the record’s fixed spindle, with the middle section trailing on the floor.
After killing Guan Er and playing the record, the killer fled while the music provided a diversion. He asked Xiao Lu to step outside the room. Luo Fei explained that as the door closed, the fishing line would pull the latch, locking the door from the inside, while the spring tape would retract, pulling the record away from the gramaphone and into a hidden spot. Once the mechanism completed, the room became a locked room with no record in sight.
Luo Fei then instructed Xiao Lu to kick open the now-locked door, just as they had done on the day of Guan Er’s discovery. He then asked Xiao Lu to retrieve the "missing" record for fingerprint analysis at the police station. Xiao Lu, who had been outside and should not have known the record’s location, immediately walked to a corner and picked it up. This action betrayed him, confirming Luo Fei’s suspicions.
Luo Fei accused Xiao Lu of being the murderer of Xiao Lang, Guan Er, and Zheng Dong, and revealed his true identity as Xia Xiao Wen, Xia Lu Na’s younger sibling. Faced with undeniable evidence, Xiao Lu confessed. He explained that his parents died young, and his sister Xia Lu Na raised him. Because of his delicate features, Xia Lu Na often playfully dressed him as a girl, leading people to mistake him for her sister. Their bond was deep.
He was hiding in the closet on that fateful day and witnessed his sister's murder, experiencing the "terrible melody" of "Higanbana" as a knife piercing his heart. He promised his sister he would survive and avenge her. After leaving Shanghai and studying abroad with money his sister gave him, he returned seven years later, determined to exact his revenge.
He became Xiao Lang’s assistant, secretly observing the gang and learning about their "tears" trafficking and Captain’s use of music scores for communication. He overheard Xiao Lang discuss diverting from Captain's plans, mentioning Xia Lu Na's death and Captain's power. It was then he realized Captain was also involved in his sister's death.
Xiao Lu admitted that his impatience led to Xiao Lang discovering his identity when he was caught trying to look at music scores and Xiao Lang recognized his striking resemblance to Xia Lu Na. Xiao Lang tried to kill him with "tears," but Xiao Lu fought back and killed Xiao Lang instead.
To lure Luo Fei into the investigation and use his intellect to decipher the music score's password, which would give him access to the "tears" to attract Captain, Xiao Lu orchestrated Guan Er's locked-room murder using the gramaphone mechanism. He then killed Zheng Dong after Zheng Dong retrieved the drugs, also to keep Luo Fei involved.
Xiao Lu confessed that his ambush of Uncle Cao at the hall and saving Luo Fei was also part of his plan, as he only sought revenge against those involved in his sister's death and did not wish to harm the innocent. Qin Xiaoman insisted that murder was still murder and prepared to arrest him. However, Xiao Lu refused to surrender, stating he couldn't rest until Captain, his sister's true killer, was apprehended.
Luo Fei, to make Xiao Lu give up his obsession, made a deal with Xiao Lu: he would take him to see Captain, on the condition that Xiao Lu would then willingly surrender. Luo Fei, Qin Xiaoman, and Xiao Lu traveled to the prison. Luo Fei revealed that ten years prior, he and the police had indeed captured Captain and his entire criminal organization.
Captain had been shot in the head while attempting to escape, leaving him in a state of mental incapacitation. Seeing the now elderly, white-haired, and seemingly senile Captain, Luo Fei urged Xiao Lu to release his hatred, emphasizing that his sister wouldn't want him to become a criminal for revenge. Xiao Lu, after a moment of reflection, agreed to surrender, thanking Luo Fei for everything and lamenting that he would no longer have the chance to solve cases with them.
Xiao Lu was then escorted into a police car. As the car drove off, Luo Fei noticed that its license plate number was a new registration, which was unusual for police vehicles. Alarmed, he and Qin Xiaoman immediately gave chase. They found the police car abandoned on the outskirts of the city. Inside, Xiao Lu was dead. Beside his body, written in blood, was the name "Captain."
Luo Fei, puzzled by Xiao Lu’s dying message, began to suspect that the Captain in prison might have been feigning his mental state. Luo Fei reflected in a letter to his aunt about the case, noting how fate can bring misfortune, and how being blinded by hatred only leads to darkness, while a righteous and kind heart helps overcome adversity.
Episode 10 Recap
Luo Fei, lost in thought during a game of billiards with Benjamin, couldn't shake the previous case from his mind. He expressed deep regret, believing that Xiao Lu's death was his own oversight, that he had unwittingly sent him to Captain. Luo Fei questioned if Captain, long deemed to be suffering from dementia, might have recovered and was secretly controlling an underground organization, especially after Xiao Lu wrote "Captain" before dying.
To address Luo Fei's persistent doubts, Qin Xiaoman brought in Dr. Huo Wen Si, a top psychologist. Both Benjamin and Dr. Huo affirmed that structural damage to the nervous system, like Captain's gunshot wound, was irreversible, making recovery a medical miracle with no known precedents. However, Luo Fei wasn't convinced.
He pointed to the unidentifiable fake police car and the two fake police officers who had disappeared without a trace after taking Xiao Lu, solidifying his theory that Captain was not only mobile but also commanded a secret syndicate. If recovery was impossible, Luo Fei speculated, then there was only one other explanation: Captain had been faking his dementia for ten years.
Dr. Huo dismissed this, arguing no one could maintain such a facade for so long without succumbing to genuine dementia. Despite the professional opinion, Luo Fei remained steadfast. Dr. Huo conducted another thorough examination of Captain, reaffirming that the dementia was indeed real. Unwilling to accept this, Luo Fei attempted to force his way into the prison, believing Captain would be most vulnerable to exposure when he felt safest.
Qin Xiaoman and the prison guards intervened, restraining him and preventing his unauthorized entry. Detective Superintendent Savoy summoned Luo Fei, scolding him for causing a disturbance at the prison. Qin Xiaoman tried to intercede, explaining Luo Fei’s actions were driven by the Xiao Lu case, but Savoy cut her off. Savoy then reminded Luo Fei that he had smoothed over the prison incident and now Luo Fei owed him a favor.
He needed Luo Fei's help to solve a high-rise theft involving the ambassador's wife's stolen jewelry, "The Tears of Venus," which he promised to resolve within three days. Luo Fei reluctantly agreed, despite accusing Savoy of cheating at their chess game. Luo Fei explained the thief was not human, but a highly trained macaw.
He cited a blue feather found at the crime scene, which his men had dismissed as belonging to the ambassador's wife's hat but was actually from a macaw. Savoy immediately recalled that the ambassador's wife had visited the Dumas Circus the day before the theft and promptly issued a search warrant for the circus. Luo Fei, seeing the case resolved, then suggested solving a more "interesting" case, rather than just theft.
Just then, Qin Xiaoman burst into Savoy's office, reporting a murder on 4th Road that required police support. Savoy quickly assigned the case to Ye Chang Qing, telling Qin Xiaoman it was "not suitable" for her as 4th Road was not a place for "girls." Qin Xiaoman argued vehemently, asserting her identity as a "lady cop" and emphasizing that "ability is important in crime-solving, not seniority."
Luo Fei, amused, jokingly praised Qin Xiaoman's fighting prowess before deciding to head to the crime scene himself, with Qin Xiaoman following, ignoring Savoy's stern warning not to interfere with Ye Chang Qing's investigation. At the Tian Xiang Hotel, Ye Chang Qing was already on the scene, confidently declaring the case a typical burglary homicide, based on visible signs of a struggle and a missing wallet.
Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman arrived, and Luo Fei immediately contradicted Ye Chang Qing, pointing out that valuable items like the victim's rings and jade bangle were still present. Ye Chang Qing fumbled for an explanation, suggesting the killer fled prematurely. Luo Fei then dramatically found the "missing" wallet hidden under a bag, exposing the inadequacy of the initial search.
Undeterred, Ye Chang Qing revised his theory, claiming the victim must have been an unlicensed prostitute killed over a dispute about payment. Luo Fei again refuted this, highlighting the victim's expensive, tailor-made cheongsam contrasted with her old shoes, cheap jewelry, and inexpensive cosmetics, indicating she was not a typical prostitute. Feeling undermined, Ye Chang Qing angrily accused Luo Fei of being drunk and speaking nonsense, urging him to show some respect.
Luo Fei offered a deal: if he and Qin Xiaoman were allowed to participate, Ye Chang Qing would take all the credit. Seeing the benefit, Ye Chang Qing agreed, but warned them never to question him in front of his subordinates again. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman then examined the body more closely, noting a triangular cut on the right carotid artery, suggesting a small knife as the weapon.
Luo Fei also observed that the killer had intentionally slashed the victim’s face after death, possibly indicating deep-seated hatred or an attempt to send a message. At the hotel, the manager informed them that Room 201 had been registered by a "Mrs. Wang." She arrived alone in the late afternoon, but a "Mr. Wang" appeared around 6 PM, just as a singing competition featuring Zhou Xuan was playing on the radio.
He left quickly, before the first song concluded, within approximately three minutes. Qin Xiaoman suspected Mr. Wang, but Luo Fei dismissed him as a suspect, reasoning that three minutes was insufficient time to commit a murder. He concluded that the victim must have already been dead when Mr. Wang arrived, placing the time of death between 4 and 6 PM.
Luo Fei then decided to investigate the unique, tailor-made imported serge fabric cheongsam worn by the victim, believing it held a key clue. After visiting several tailor shops in the French Concession, they located Wang's Tailor on Tong Fu Road, which used the distinctive fabric and stitching. The shop assistant's records initially listed only three customers for the specific material, whose sizes didn't match the victim.
However, Luo Fei, calculating the fabric remnants, deduced that a fourth cheongsam had been made. The assistant then remembered it was made for the owner's wife, Mrs. Wang, which perfectly explained the discrepancy between the expensive qipao and her modest accessories. They requested to speak with the owner. They found Wang Jia De, the tailor, who was initially dismissive.
He said his wife, Zhao Qi Meng, had gone to Mrs. Li's house across the street to play mahjong yesterday after receiving a phone call and hadn't returned. An assistant confirmed that Zhao Qi Meng frequently played mahjong and often won money. Wang Jia De angrily yelled at his assistant and cursed his wife, saying she was always out and it would be good if she died outside.
Luo Fei confirmed Zhao Qi Meng's attire with him—the green cheongsam, gold necklace, jade bangle, and white handbag. When questioned about his whereabouts between 4 PM and 6 PM yesterday, Wang Jia De stated he was making clothes at his shop and saw no need for proof. Luo Fei then bluntly informed him that a female corpse matching his wife's description had been found, and he needed to identify it at the police station.
Qin Xiaoman suggested to Luo Fei that Wang Jia De might be the killer, but Luo Fei doubted it, noting Wang Jia De's current behavior didn't appear to be deceitful, and no murderer would brandish a weapon in front of detectives. They then visited Mrs. Li, Zhao Qi Meng's mahjong partner, who expressed sorrow over Zhao Qi Meng's death. Mrs. Li described Zhao Qi Meng as kind, beautiful, and soft-spoken, making it unlikely she had enemies.
However, Mrs. Li revealed that Zhao Qi Meng had stopped playing mahjong recently due to the tailor shop's poor business, directly contradicting Wang Jia De's claim about her playing yesterday. Mrs. Li then confided, "secretly," that Wang Jia De was not a good man, frequently drinking, beating his wife when business was bad, and even threatening to kill her with scissors, which Mrs. Li had personally overheard.
At the morgue, Wang Jia De was overcome with emotion upon seeing Zhao Qi Meng's body, crying out her name and demanding the police find her killer. He became agitated when officers tried to question him, violently resisting and protesting his innocence, shouting that he couldn't have killed his wife. He was ultimately restrained and taken into custody. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman consulted Benjamin, who had conducted a toxicology report on Zhao Qi Meng.
The report showed traces of strychnine, but in a dose too small to be fatal. Benjamin also detected musk in her stomach. Luo Fei quickly recognized the combination as a cheap contraceptive commonly used by prostitutes on 4th Road, leading him to conclude that Zhao Qi Meng was an unlicensed prostitute, or "dark whore," operating secretly without her husband's knowledge. Luo Fei advised Qin Xiaoman to get some rest to be energetic for further investigation.
Meanwhile, Ye Chang Qing brought Wang Jia De from his cell for interrogation, having instructed his subordinate to keep him awake all night. Wang Jia De, exhausted, pleaded for sleep, insisting he hadn't killed anyone. Ye Chang Qing presented Wang Jia De's own pair of tailor's scissors, demonstrating how they could be separated into two blades, approximately three inches long and half an inch wide, which created a triangular cut precisely matching the victim's wound.
He then accused Wang Jia De of murdering his wife with the scissors after tracking her to the Tian Xiang Hotel on 4th Road, where she was supposedly meeting a lover. Wang Jia De was visibly shocked by the mention of a lover and dating on 4th Road, vehemently denying any knowledge of an affair, though he cursed his wife, saying he wanted to kill her for such betrayal.
Ye Chang Qing left, telling his subordinate to continue the relentless interrogation and prevent Wang Jia De from sleeping until he confessed. Later, Ye Chang Qing returned and told Wang Jia De that they had made a mistake, and his wife did not have a lover. Wang Jia De seemed relieved but was still held for questioning. Ye Chang Qing then presented Zhao Qi Meng's autopsy report, which revealed she had been taking contraceptives.
Wang Jia De reacted with disbelief, asserting they were trying to have a child. Ye Chang Qing probed about their home telephone, which Wang Jia De explained was for tailoring business but was mostly used by his wife's mahjong partners, specifically Mrs. Li, who called every Wednesday and Friday afternoon. He confirmed Zhao Qi Meng always won at mahjong, bringing money home to supplement their income.
Ye Chang Qing then delivered the crushing truth: Zhao Qi Meng had not played mahjong in years, and the calls were from a contact for a syndicate of unlicensed prostitutes. His wife had been secretly working as a "dark whore" under the guise of playing mahjong.
Ye Chang Qing then painted a scenario where Wang Jia De, suspicious of her late nights, had followed her to the hotel, and in an uncontrollable rage after discovering her secret, killed her with the scissors. Wang Jia De's face transformed, a mixture of profound shock and immense anger washing over him.
Episode 11 Recap
Qin Xiaoman awoke suddenly to find Luo Fei sitting beside her, which startled her. Luo Fei informed her that Wang Jia De had injured an officer and stolen a pistol before escaping. They decided to return to the police station to understand the situation. At the station, Ye Chang Qing attempted to conceal his incompetence by fabricating a story about being ambushed from behind by Wang Jia De.
He claimed Wang Jia De had hit him, causing him to faint, and then made off with his pistol. However, Luo Fei quickly saw through the lie, noting Ye Chang Qing's physiological tells like dry mouth and darting eyes.
Luo Fei pointed out the inconsistencies in Ye Chang Qing's story, questioning why Wang Jia De, a stranger, would specifically seek to confess to him, why Ye Chang Qing accompanied the prisoner to the washroom personally, and most crucially, why his injury was on his face if he had been attacked from behind. Interrogated by Det Sup Savoy, Ye Chang Qing was forced to admit the truth.
He recounted how he had pressured Wang Jia De, accusing him of killing his wife, Zhao Qi Meng, after revealing she was an unregistered prostitute. He had even brandished his gun, threatening him with execution. Enraged, Wang Jia De grabbed the gun, vehemently declaring his and his wife's innocence, and fled the station.
Det Sup Savoy, frustrated by the mess and reprimanding Ye Chang Qing for his misconduct, ordered him to re-arrest Wang Jia De and retrieve the stolen pistol within twenty-four hours to make amends. He then assigned Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman to find the mysterious "Mrs. Li" who called Zhao Qi Meng, giving them a two-day deadline, while challenging Ye Chang Qing to solve the case in one day. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman visited the telephone company.
They discovered that while outgoing calls were recorded for billing purposes, incoming calls were not. This made it impossible to trace the number of the "Mrs. Li" from past call records. Luo Fei devised a plan: he had a second phone installed at Wang Jia De's house. When the next call came in, Qin Xiaoman would impersonate Zhao Qi Meng to keep the caller on the line, while Luo Fei would notify the phone company to trace the incoming number.
Luo Fei explained that Wang Jia De's testimony indicated calls typically came in around 3 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays. As it was Friday, they expected a call. Qin Xiaoman found it challenging to adopt Zhao Qi Meng's supposedly soft and enchanting voice, but Luo Fei insisted, reminding her of Zhao Qi Meng's profession. At precisely 3 PM, the phone rang. Qin Xiaoman answered, imitating Zhao Qi Meng's voice.
The caller, "Mrs. Li," noted a change in voice, which Qin Xiaoman attributed to a cold. " Mrs. Li" instructed her to meet "Mr. Zhang" at the Little Hibiscus Hotel at 5:30 PM. Qin Xiaoman tried to delay the call, expressing her desire to quit the business because her husband was growing suspicious and she feared he might kill her. "
Mrs. Li" reassured her, reminding her of past struggles, but when she heard Luo Fei's voice in the background, she claimed someone was at her door and abruptly hung up. Luo Fei confirmed he had successfully traced the call. Armed with the address, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman rushed to "Mrs. Li's" residence.
Inside, they found "Mrs. Li," whose real name was Qian Qi Yue, dead in her bed, murdered with the same method—a triangle knife cut to the right neck—as Zhao Qi Meng. The killer was still in the house and attempted to flee. Qin Xiaoman gave chase, pursuing the individual, who was dressed in a suit, into a nearby cinema.
Ye Chang Qing, having tracked Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman, arrived with his team and ordered the cinema to be sealed off, though he worried about the short time before the movie ended. In the dimly lit cinema, Luo Fei quickly identified the killer as a woman, despite her disguise.
He noted her running posture, the creases on her hair indicating she had worn a hat, the folds in her shirt suggesting she had just taken it out of her pants, and the visible sweat on her forehead and body. He found her discarded suit under her seat. The woman was revealed to be Sister Qi from 4th Road, a notorious figure.
Sister Qi vehemently denied the murder, stating she had only come to collect protection money from Qian Qi Yue and had fled in panic upon discovering the body and then the police. When Benjamin's autopsy report confirmed that both victims had fatal stab wounds to the right side of the neck, indicating a left-handed killer, Luo Fei immediately cleared Sister Qi.
He pointed out that Sister Qi only had two fingers on her left hand, making it impossible for her to wield a knife in such a manner. Furthermore, while there was blood on the soles of her shoes, there were no significant bloodstains on her clothing, which would have been unavoidable if she had committed such a bloody murder. With her name cleared, Sister Qi divulged that there was a third member of the unlicensed prostitute ring: Sun Qi Xue.
Luo Fei concluded that Sun Qi Xue was either the true killer or the next potential victim. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman went to Sun Qi Xue's home. Qin Xiaoman had previously learned that Sun Qi Xue was well-regarded, and her husband, Zheng Song, was a respected school teacher, making her doubt the unlicensed prostitute claim. When they arrived, Sun Qi Xue appeared agitated upon hearing the names Zhao Qi Meng and Qian Qi Yue, denying any knowledge of them.
Her husband, Zheng Song, then entered, explaining that he suffered from severe lung disease and that Sun Qi Xue worked diligently as a private tutor to support their family, often returning home late. Qin Xiaoman felt conflicted about revealing the truth, not wanting to destroy the couple's relationship. Luo Fei, seeing their plight, offered a pretext.
He claimed to have a nephew in need of a tutor and suggested meeting Sun Qi Xue outside to discuss the matter further, so as not to disturb Zheng Song. Meeting privately, Sun Qi Xue tearfully recounted the tragic history of the three women. She revealed that she, Zhao Qi Meng (whom Madam Qi had named Qi Meng), and Qian Qi Yue (named Qi Yue by Madam Qi) were orphans who grew up together in a Suzhou orphanage.
At the age of sixteen, a woman named Madam Qi adopted them, but instead of providing a home, she brought them to a brothel called Man Ting Fang, forcing them into prostitution. Madam Qi also named Sun Qi Xue as Qi Xue. Despite becoming popular due to their beauty and youth, they endured constant abuse and exploitation, becoming "top cards" at Man Ting Fang. Eventually, they could no longer bear the suffering.
They wrote suicide notes and attempted to drown themselves in the Wei Qing River but were rescued by kind fishermen who then helped them reach Shanghai. In Shanghai, they started new lives, taking on various jobs like babysitting and factory work, and eventually found love. They changed their names and kept their past a secret from their new partners, claiming they had come to Shanghai as refugees. However, their newfound happiness was short-lived.
Qi Yue's partner left her, Qi Meng's husband became an abusive drunk, and Sun Qi Xue's husband, Zheng Song, contracted severe lung disease. Driven by financial hardship, they were forced to secretly return to their old profession. Qi Yue, who lived alone, became the contact person, arranging clients and assigning tasks to Qi Meng and Qi Xue, using aliases like "Mrs. Li" (a mahjong friend) and "student's parent" to disguise their activities.
Sun Qi Xue explained that Qi Meng was tragically murdered in a small hotel room while waiting for a client, a "Mr. Wang." She added that the real Mr. Wang, her client, arrived too late, and the murderer must have known the room number and followed Qi Meng. Qin Xiaoman then showed Sun Qi Xue photographs of Zhao Qi Meng and Qian Qi Yue's bodies, noting that their faces had been severely disfigured post-mortem.
Upon seeing the photos, Sun Qi Xue immediately identified Madam Qi as the killer. She recalled an incident at Man Ting Fang where Madam Qi had brutally scarred the face of another girl named Begonia who had tried to run away with a student, issuing a chilling warning that the same fate awaited any of them who dared to defy her.
Sun Qi Xue believed that if Madam Qi knew they were alive, she would "definitely give us a hard time." Luo Fei then concluded that Sun Qi Xue herself was the next target. He assured her that they would provide police protection for her family but Sun Qi Xue pleaded with them to keep her past a secret from her husband.
After she left, Luo Fei confirmed she couldn't be the murderer as she was right-handed, while the killer was left-handed. Meanwhile, Ye Chang Qing and his team located Wang Jia De, who was found drinking alone. Still reeling from the news of his wife's secret life, Wang Jia De was agitated and attacked a man, believing him to be a "shameless customer." Ye Chang Qing swiftly arrested him, retrieving his stolen pistol.
Convinced that he had captured the true murderer, Ye Chang Qing celebrated his success with his officers, drinking heavily. Upon learning that two of his officers, Ah Bin and Ah Hao, were guarding Sun Qi Xue's house at Luo Fei's request, he scoffed, believing Sun Qi Xue was no longer in danger since the "real culprit" was caught. He ordered the officers to return to the station.
Unaware of Ye Chang Qing's premature celebration, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman boarded a train to Suzhou, determined to find Madam Qi and the now-defunct Man Ting Fang brothel from Sun Qi Xue's account. They arrived at the former brothel, now dark and deserted. Inside, they found several suicide notes which indicated there were "sisters four," not three, revealing that Sun Qi Xue had concealed the existence of a fourth person.
Luo Fei then immediately called Sun Qi Xue, requesting her to come to the police station for further questioning as she had not told them the entire truth about their past.
Episode 12 Recap
Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman arrived in Suzhou, where they had travelled to locate the brothel mentioned by Sun Qi Xue. Upon finding the Man Ting Fang, they discovered that Madam Qi, the former proprietress, was now completely insane and unable to provide any coherent information. With this avenue closed, they headed to the local police station to review old records.
Meanwhile, in Shanghai, Sun Qi Xue received a phone call from the police, asking her to come to the station to identify a suspect they claimed to have apprehended. Sun Qi Xue told her husband it was about a student's family issue, but on her way, she was met by an acquaintance, causing Sun Qi Xue to react with visible fear.
At the Suzhou police station, Qin Xiaoman contacted Huo Wen Si, who confirmed Madam Qi's condition was typical insanity and offered to come assist. Luo Fei, however, felt that investigation, not interrogation, was the key. As they began sifting through dusty archives, Luo Fei expressed his suspicion that Sun Qi Xue had not been entirely truthful about her past.
He noted that her hands, despite her claims of being a factory worker and maid when she first arrived in Shanghai, were too soft and well-maintained. He believed the old files would expose her deception. Through their overnight search, Luo Fei eventually unearthed a crucial will. To his surprise, it referred to "four sisters" instead of the three Sun Qi Xue had spoken of.
Furthermore, the bottom edge of the document appeared to have been deliberately cut, suggesting information had been removed. Luo Fei concluded that Sun Qi Xue had intentionally concealed the existence of a fourth person. Just as he made this discovery, a long-distance call from the Shanghai police arrived: Sun Qi Xue had been killed. Luo Fei was overcome with self-reproach, regretting not staying to protect her.
Huo Wen Si soon arrived in Suzhou and offered to collaborate with Luo Fei, but Luo Fei, still reeling from Sun Qi Xue's death, vehemently refused, stating he never works with others. Luo Fei then took Qin Xiaoman to the stretch of the River Wei Qing where the sisters had supposedly attempted suicide. He observed that the river was remarkably shallow and unsuitable for navigation, making Sun Qi Xue’s story of being rescued by passing fishermen highly improbable.
To test his theory, they constructed a weighted figure and tossed it in, confirming it would be carried downstream, past the shallow section, towards a deeper river more suitable for boat traffic. This strengthened his belief that the suicide attempt was a pretense. Huo Wen Si, meanwhile, revisited Madam Qi at the Man Ting Fang. Employing psychological techniques, he pretended to be a former client, Mr. Zhang, and gently coaxed her into conversation.
Madam Qi, in her confused state, recalled how the arrival of the "Four famous actresses" had made her business flourish, but then rambled about them all jumping into the river because of Mr. Li. Huo Wen Si eventually extracted a key detail: Mr. Li had given one of the four sisters, Qi Yun, a significant sum of money for her redemption, but this money mysteriously vanished after the apparent mass suicide.
When Huo Wen Si relayed this to Luo Fei, Luo Fei immediately sensed danger, realizing Madam Qi was likely the murderer's next target. They rushed back to the Man Ting Fang. They arrived just as Madam Qi was violently pushed from a balcony. Qin Xiaoman quickly gave chase and apprehended a disfigured woman, a fishmonger.
The woman identified herself as Qian Zhao Di, or Ah Di, and claimed she had only accidentally pushed Madam Qi during an argument over payment for fish. However, Luo Fei, examining her, deduced that she was, in fact, Qi Yun, the fourth sister. He pointed out that the triangular blade she carried, typically used for gutting fish, was the same weapon that had killed Zhao Qi Meng and Qian Qi Yue.
He also mentioned the fingerprints left at previous crime scenes, which would confirm her identity. Confronted with the evidence, Qi Yun asked for a cigarette and began to recount her story. She had grown up in an orphanage, sold to Man Ting Fang at sixteen, and endured a miserable life until she met Mr. Li. He promised to buy her freedom, sell his possessions, open a small grocery shop in Lower Street, and marry her, hoping for a son.
However, before he could fulfill his promise, Madam Qi and her three "sisters"—Zhao Qi Meng, Qian Qi Yue, and Sun Qi Xue—informed her that Mr. Li had died in a car accident on Gui Yun Road. Devastated, Qi Yun confined herself to her room for three days, refusing to eat and contemplating suicide. The three sisters, claiming eternal sisterhood, stayed with her all night, ultimately convincing her to join them in a suicide pact to escape their wretched lives.
Together, they penned the will. Qi Yun explained that Mr. Li had left her 10,000 silver taels, which she intended to send, along with the will, to his family via a newspaper, as the money held no meaning for her without him. She entrusted Sun Qi Xue to mail the envelope. Unbeknownst to Qi Yun, Madam Qi had instructed the three sisters to prepare two envelopes. Sun Qi Xue swapped the envelopes, keeping the money.
The three sisters then faked their suicide attempt in the shallow River Wei Qing, secretly swimming back to shore, leaving Qi Yun to be swept away. She was severely injured by rocks, her face scarred, and eventually rescued by a fisherman. Over time, she recovered, married the fisherman, and embraced the harsh life of a fisherwoman, transforming into an unrecognizable old woman. Years later, while selling fish in Shanghai, Qi Yun encountered Zhao Qi Meng.
Terrified, Zhao Qi Meng confessed everything: the sisters' betrayal, the theft of the money, and how Qi Yue and Sun Qi Xue had orchestrated the deception. Overwhelmed by hatred, Qi Yun meticulously planned her revenge. She killed Zhao Qi Meng, then used a contact book found on Zhao Qi Meng to locate and murder Qian Qi Yue and Sun Qi Xue. Finally, she returned to Suzhou under the guise of a fishmonger to confront and kill Madam Qi.
She stated that she felt no remorse for her actions against those who had ruined her life, only regret for the life she sacrificed and the pain it would cause her husband and daughter. After hearing Qi Yun's confession, Qin Xiaoman remarked that she almost wished the case hadn't been solved, expressing sympathy for Qi Yun's plight and calling Luo Fei cold-blooded.
Later, however, Luo Fei anonymously sought out Qi Yun's husband, purchased two bass fish, and gave their daughter a box of cookies, instructing her to keep it safe until she started school and not to let anyone take it. Upon opening the box, the father and daughter found it filled with money, a gesture of profound compassion from Luo Fei. Qin Xiaoman learned of this act, leading her to gradually reconsider her perception of Luo Fei.
Amidst these events, Luo Fei continued his investigation into the embezzled Jin Chamber of Commerce funds. He discovered that a massive sum of money had been siphoned off and was now in the hands of "Captain," who was apparently using it to establish a Black Dragon Society within the French Concession, and an imminent large-scale operation was expected.
Back at their residence, their landlady, Su Su, jokingly told Qin Xiaoman that she would arrange a blind date for her, remarking that a woman of Qin Xiaoman’s age should already have two children. Luo Fei listened with a noticeable look of annoyance.
Episode 13 Recap
A sentinel at the lookout tower spotted a fire on Pike Road, which resulted in three deaths and five injuries, and immediately sounded the alarm. This marked the third fire that month. Superintendent Savoy and the head of the fire department held a press conference, attributing the cause of the latest blaze to a resident’s careless smoking.
However, reporters pointed out the striking coincidence that all three fires occurred around 10 PM on Sunday evenings, pressing Superintendent Savoy for an explanation beyond mere chance. Just then, Luo Fei interrupted the conference, systematically dismantling the official explanations. He highlighted that Zheng Yuan, the resident of No. 18 where the latest fire started, had publicly spoken against smoking just days before, claiming he quit a decade ago.
Luo Fei also noted that a previous fire attributed to a chimney downdraft occurred on a windless day, and an earlier fire blamed on an electrical short-circuit took place during a blackout. His sharp critique publicly embarrassed Superintendent Savoy, who then abruptly ended the press conference. Back at the office, Superintendent Savoy confronted Luo Fei, chastising him for undermining the police department's image.
Luo Fei, undeterred, pressed to investigate the case, suggesting that failure to acknowledge a serial arsonist would only lead to further public distrust if another fire occurred. Under pressure and with less than three days until the next Sunday, Superintendent Savoy reluctantly granted Luo Fei authorization to investigate under the police department's name, providing him with victim information, witness testimonies, and scene reports. Luo Fei also requested additional manpower, and Superintendent Savoy assigned Qin Xiaoman to assist him.
Qin Xiaoman initially bristled at being "borrowed" like an object but became enthusiastic upon learning it was a new case. At the Pike Road fire scene, Luo Fei immediately identified the likely location of a body, noting the relatively less burned floor where body moisture had hindered the flames. He detected the distinct aroma of human fat, specifically aromatic compounds from the heat breaking down body fat, which had seeped into the floor.
He also found remnants of melted vodka bottles scattered throughout the room. Qin Xiaoman speculated that the victim, a drunkard, had accidentally started the fire while drinking and smoking. Luo Fei quickly dismissed this, pointing out the widespread distribution of broken bottles throughout the room. He noted the presence of various other liquors in the wine cabinet, such as red wine, whiskey, and Three-Star Brandy, yet only high-alcohol-content vodka had been used.
Luo Fei then drew Qin Xiaoman's attention to a window, explaining that it was positioned to create an air current with the door, intensifying the fire. He observed that the window was covered in ash and its latch was rusted, indicating it hadn't been opened in a long time, suggesting it was deliberately opened by the arsonist.
Luo Fei concluded that the culprit was highly intelligent, having avoided conventional accelerants like gasoline or kerosene to obscure the deliberate nature of the fire. He described the arsonist as cunning and inconspicuous, like a "cold-blooded chameleon," capable of blending into crowds while setting fires in different locations for three consecutive weeks without detection. Luo Fei expressed excitement at finally facing such a formidable adversary.
In an effort to gather more leads, Luo Fei placed a small advertisement in the newspaper, offering a reward for information on the serial arsonist. This led to a flood of reports, including one from Wang Ji Fu's wife. She reported that her husband had become increasingly anxious since the first arson case was published three weeks prior. He had been plagued by nightmares of fire, fearing a major incident.
He started piling sand, setting up a large water tank in their yard for fire prevention, digging and refilling pits, and constantly muttering "Mr. Jin, spare me" in his sleep. Luo Fei, after sifting through the numerous calls, identified ten potentially valuable leads and assigned Qin Xiaoman to investigate them, including Wang Ji Fu's household.
Upon arriving at Wang Ji Fu's house, Qin Xiaoman noted the unsettling atmosphere, with numerous talismans hanging and a strange shrine, all meant for protection against fire and evil spirits. Wang Ji Fu's wife explained that her husband, a quiet newspaper editor with no known enemies or debts, was now terrified of a "Mr. Jin" from his dreams. She also mentioned he was now afraid to sleep at night or turn off the lights, only resting during the day.
While Wang Ji Fu's wife went to fetch water, Qin Xiaoman explored the house and discovered an altar. Suddenly, Wang Ji Fu emerged from an inner room, brandishing a Peach Wood Sword of Exorcism and attacking Qin Xiaoman while repeatedly shouting "Don't kill me!" Qin Xiaoman quickly subdued him. His wife rushed in, explaining that the attacker was her husband. As Qin Xiaoman left, she advised Wang Ji Fu's wife to seek psychological help for him.
Outside the house, Qin Xiaoman was intercepted by Luo Fei, who was disguised as a fortune teller. He revealed he had already investigated the house, explaining that his disguise allowed him to approach a superstitious person more effectively than a detective. Qin Xiaoman recounted her observations, labeling Wang Ji Fu as superstitious, violent, and a "pervert" due to an "erotic painting" she saw.
Luo Fei corrected her, explaining that the talismans were "talismans of fire avoidance," the altar's dragon-head statue was Chi Wen, a "fire avoidance beast," and the wooden sword was for exorcism. He further clarified that the "erotic painting" on the beam was, in fact, a "fire avoidance painting," based on a legend that the female fire god would be embarrassed by it and flee.
Luo Fei added that Wang Ji Fu, though anxious, showed clear reasoning, indicating he wasn't mentally ill but genuinely believed a "ghost" was targeting him. He deduced that the "traps" Qin Xiaoman saw—floor nails and a net in the patio, along with filled-in pits—were originally designed to capture a human arsonist, not a ghost. Luo Fei believed Wang Ji Fu was concealing a connection to the serial arsons, and his prediction of an attack that night was credible.
Later, as Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman staked out Wang Ji Fu's house, they overheard a heated argument between Wang Ji Fu and his wife, during which she called him crazy and left him, taking her luggage. Luo Fei speculated that Wang Ji Fu might have deliberately driven her away to protect her.
Soon after, all the lights in the house went out, an unusual occurrence given Wang Ji Fu's fear of the dark and habit of not turning them off. Sensing imminent danger, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman rushed to the house, kicking down the door. They found a black-clad assailant attempting to kill Wang Ji Fu. Qin Xiaoman immediately gave chase, pursuing the figure through the streets and into a crowded theater, where he ultimately escaped.
However, during the struggle, the assailant dropped a small medicine bottle. Luo Fei brought the broken bottle to Benjamin, who identified its contents as TSD, a new and potent sedative known to induce hallucinations and diminish self-preservation, earning it the nickname "honest potion." Benjamin explained that the drug was expensive, produced by Edwards Pharmaceuticals (a German company with a local branch in Shanghai), and only supplied to high-end private clinics due to Shanghai's lax drug regulations.
The bottle's batch number, E608, allowed them to trace its origin. They discovered that Dr. Huo's clinic was the sole buyer of that specific batch of TSD. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman immediately went to question Dr. Huo. Dr. Huo confirmed the bottle contained TSD and acknowledged his clinic had purchased that batch.
When questioned about his whereabouts the previous Sunday night, Dr. Huo provided an alibi, stating he was treating Mr. Ma Tian Li of the Municipality for severe insomnia at his clinic between 9 PM and 10 PM, offering Mr. Ma's testimony and his registration records as proof. Despite the alibi, Luo Fei pressed Dr. Huo for a list of patients who had been prescribed TSD.
Dr. Huo refused, citing patient confidentiality, stating that revealing Mr. Ma's identity was already a breach. Luo Fei threatened to obtain a search warrant to access his patient records, but Dr. Huo remained firm, instructing them to proceed if they wished. Luo Fei later presented a map, marking the previous three fire locations, Wang Ji Fu's house as the fourth, and then pointed to a new, unsettling location. He exclaimed that a major disaster was imminent, predicting a fire at a cinema.
Episode 14 Recap
Qin Xiaoman pleaded with Huo Wen Si, emphasizing that the serial arson case had already claimed nine lives and more could die if he didn't cooperate. Moved by her words, Huo Wen Si reluctantly agreed to provide his patients' medical records, stipulating that Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman could only review them at his clinic and not take them away. He handed over the files, requesting their confidentiality.
Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman sifted through the records, first noting that twelve patients had been prescribed TSD, the same sedative found at the crime scene. They quickly eliminated elderly patients, women, and physically unfit individuals, narrowing the suspects down to three men. As Luo Fei was about to leave, Huo Wen Si stopped him, entrusting him with a personal request.
Huo Wen Si was attending a dance the following week and wished to invite Qin Xiaoman as his partner, but he feared she would be too polite to refuse him directly. He asked Luo Fei to relay the invitation on his behalf, and Luo Fei assented. Later, Luo Fei subtly asked Qin Xiaoman about her impression of Huo Wen Si, noting that a psychologist's profession carried little risk, suggesting he would be a safe companion for her.
Qin Xiaoman then outlined the three primary suspects identified from the medical records. The first was Chen Shun Chang, an associate professor of chemistry at Hua Tong University, skilled in various chemicals and suffering from persecutory delusions, constantly fearing harm. The second was Du Jin Bao, a fireman afflicted with sleepwalking, known to wander to fire-damaged locations in his dreams.
The third suspect was Jiang Cheng, a modern painter recently returned from France, whose paranoia led him to believe the world's end was imminent and that the guilty would face "hellfire." Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman first visited Chen Shun Chang. Upon their arrival, an experiment in his lab caught fire, which Qin Xiaoman promptly helped to extinguish.
When they introduced themselves as police detectives and questioned him about his whereabouts last Sunday night, Chen Shun Chang initially claimed to have seen the movie "Blue Angel," only for Qin Xiaoman to point out it hadn't been released. He quickly corrected himself to "Tender Is The Night" but admitted to having watched it alone, lacking an alibi.
Overwhelmed, he attempted to flee, mistakenly believing they were syndicate members sent to silence him, assuring them he would not betray their secrets. Next, they went to the fire station to speak with Du Jin Bao, who was being hailed as a hero for being the first on the scene of last night's fire and rescuing five people, earning him a first-class merit.
The fire chief explained that Du Jin Bao was off-duty on Sunday and, like other firemen, had rushed from home upon hearing the alarm. When Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman inquired about any unusual behavior or strange comments from Du Jin Bao, the chief became indignant, accusing them of suspecting a hero of arson and ordering them to leave. Finally, they interviewed Jiang Cheng. His studio was filled with fire-themed paintings.
When asked about his alibi for Sunday night, he claimed he was on the street "finding inspiration for fire painting," to which Qin Xiaoman retorted, "You mean fire-setting inspiration?" Jiang Cheng then launched into a discourse about fire being a mysterious, living entity.
During their visit, Qin Xiaoman inadvertently splashed water on one of his paintings, but instead of being angry, Jiang Cheng declared it a "God's fist punching over the sin of the world," believing it had miraculously enhanced the artwork's artistic merit. All three suspects lacked a solid alibi, and each exhibited some form of mental instability, though no clear motive for arson was evident.
Luo Fei acknowledged that while all three suspects lacked alibis and exhibited mental issues, none had a clear motive for arson. Qin Xiaoman speculated that the painter was the most suspicious, given his physical condition, but Luo Fei countered that physical attributes and injuries could be faked. He emphasized that accusing a university professor, a decorated fireman, or a famous artist without solid evidence would severely damage the police station's reputation and prevent them from obtaining a search warrant.
Luo Fei then articulated his belief that the culprit's targets were not random; by uncovering a common thread among the victims, they could predict the next target. Qin Xiaoman suggested simply monitoring the suspects, but Luo Fei insisted that was the police's duty, not a detective's. She offered to help, but he humorously rebuffed her, stating that some tasks, like reading or playing music, aren't made faster by two people.
Despite his dismissal, Qin Xiaoman's parting words—"Time waits for no one"—struck a chord with Luo Fei, sparking a crucial insight. Later, Qin Xiaoman found Luo Fei in his apartment amidst scattered papers, reminding him he was standing on a victim's file. She presented him with the daily surveillance reports on the three suspects, confirming they had shown no suspicious activity. Officers also confirmed Chen Shun Chang and Jiang Cheng were not committing arson, merely personal indiscretions or eccentricities.
Qin Xiaoman updated him on Wang Ji Fu, who had been discharged from the hospital and remained holed up at home, despite increased police patrols in his neighborhood. Luo Fei seemed uninterested in Wang Ji Fu's situation. Before she left, Luo Fei relayed Huo Wen Si's invitation for her to be his dance partner, claiming he didn't know why Huo Wen Si asked him to do it.
Meanwhile, Luo Fei had a large safe delivered to his apartment, signaling his deep dive into the case's complexities. During surveillance of Du Jin Bao, officers heard a brick fall and discovered his second-floor door ajar. Upon entering, they found him gone, but located flammable materials like kerosene and cotton yarn, and noted his firefighter uniform was missing.
A map on his wall clearly marked the locations of the three previous fires, as well as Wang Ji Fu's house and the Grand Cinema. Qin Xiaoman immediately called Luo Fei, confirming that Du Jin Bao was the arsonist and had escaped. She informed him that the Grand Cinema was identified as the next target, prompting the entire police force and fire department to mobilize there due to a night show with potentially thousands of attendees.
Luo Fei, however, grew suspicious of the sudden shift from residential fires to a major public venue. He inquired about Wang Ji Fu's house and learned it was unmonitored as all resources had been redirected to the cinema. Realizing this was a classic diversion tactic, Luo Fei urgently instructed Qin Xiaoman to go to Wang Ji Fu's house at once. They rushed to Wang Ji Fu's residence, which was already engulfed in flames.
Despite being warned to stay out, Qin Xiaoman bravely forced her way inside, finding Wang Ji Fu disoriented and trapped in the inferno. She tried to guide him out but became ensnared herself by falling debris. In a dramatic turn, Du Jin Bao suddenly appeared and, leveraging his skills as a fireman, rescued Qin Xiaoman from the burning house. After rescuing Qin Xiaoman, Du Jin Bao was arrested and taken to the police station.
There, he confessed to being the arsonist, claiming all his actions were performed while sleepwalking. He recounted his story: his father was a heroic fireman who tragically died saving lives in a massive fire. Following in his father's footsteps, Du Jin Bao became a fireman but secretly harbored a profound fear of fire, often retreating during emergencies.
This earned him the disdain of his colleagues, who called him "Not brave as my father," causing him immense psychological pressure and chronic insomnia. One morning, he awoke in his firefighter uniform with no memory of the night, prompting him to seek help from a psychologist. Dr. Huo Wen Si diagnosed him with sleepwalking disorder due to stress, and after a period of treatment, Du Jin Bao believed he was cured and ceased his visits.
However, the sleepwalking and arson symptoms returned. He described how, after one fire, he realized he was the one who had set it. Terrified, he considered turning himself in but feared tarnishing his father's heroic reputation. Instead, he was hailed as a hero for being the first responder and saving multiple lives, leading to his promotion as captain of the first team.
This newfound validation, coupled with his fear, made him conceal his secret, allowing the cycle of sleepwalking and arson to continue, ultimately resulting in four fires and ten deaths. Overcome with guilt, he begged to be shot. Luo Fei, however, remained unconvinced, particularly by the discrepancy between the map in Du Jin Bao's home, which marked the Grand Cinema, and his actual target, Wang Ji Fu's house.
Du Jin Bao could only state he did not know, claiming it was all part of his dream. That night, Qin Xiaoman found Luo Fei still awake, drinking coffee. He explained that if timed correctly, coffee could aid sleep by dilating brain vessels and reducing breathing frequency. He then confided in her that he did not believe Du Jin Bao was the true arsonist, citing too many unanswered questions in the seemingly concluded case.
Luo Fei explained that his initial approach of finding horizontal connections among the victims proved fruitless. However, Qin Xiaoman's casual remark, "Time waits for no one," had redirected his focus to the longitudinal aspect of time, prompting him to investigate their past. He discovered a remarkable pattern: in each of the four arson cases, one victim—including Wang Ji Fu—had, exactly ten years prior, resigned from their respective jobs and simultaneously relocated.
He identified these individuals as Zhao Da Tong, formerly a manager at Richard's Company and now a senior translator for the Municipality; Fang Li Bin, who transitioned from an engineer at Yong He Confidential Machinery Factory to one at New Nanyang Mechanical Factory; Zheng Yuan, a former security guard at Union Bank of Shanghai, now a security manager at the Grand World; and Wang Ji Fu, previously a business manager at Union Bank of Shanghai, now an editor for the social news column at Xin Lin Press Publisher.
Their synchronized career and residential changes strongly suggested a significant event from a decade ago. Luo Fei realized this pointed to the Union Bank of Shanghai diamond theft, his first unsolved case as a detective ten years ago. He recounted the details: Charlie Jin, a compradore at Richard's Company, invested his life savings in invaluable diamonds to speculate in Shanghai's real estate. He deposited these diamonds into Union Bank of Shanghai's vault, reputedly the safest in the Far East.
Yet, the very next day, the diamonds vanished without a trace from the highly secured vault, leaving the police with no clues. Overwhelmed by the loss, Charlie Jin suffered a mental breakdown and tragically self-immolated in his office.
Luo Fei revealed the connection: one of the arson victims was Charlie Jin's manager (Zhao Da Tong), two were Union Bank of Shanghai employees (Zheng Yuan and Wang Ji Fu), and the fourth, Fang Li Bin, a seemingly unrelated engineer, possessed expertise in safes. He concluded that these four individuals had conspired to steal the diamonds.
Thus, the "Mr. Jin" Wang Ji Fu mentioned in his nightmares was not Du Jin Bao but the vengeful spirit of Charlie Jin from ten years past. The arsonist, Luo Fei deduced, was a living person, whose true motive was the recovery of the priceless diamonds. Qin Xiaoman found this theory compelling, though Luo Fei acknowledged it was currently just a hypothesis, lacking concrete evidence, making a ten-year-old cold case exceedingly difficult to solve.
Qin Xiaoman, intrigued, pressed him for more details about the baffling case. Luo Fei then took Qin Xiaoman to the Union Bank of Shanghai, explaining that a box of priceless diamonds disappeared from this very vault ten years ago. He described his previous inference on how the four thieves, leveraging their professional expertise, managed to open the safe without anyone, including Wang Ji Fu (who remained in the vault), leaving the bank.
This intricate crime had remained an unsolved mystery for him, a puzzle he could never quite complete. When Qin Xiaoman asked who the killer was if Du Jin Bao wasn't, Luo Fei admitted he always got stuck at that critical juncture. An officer then interrupted them, stating, "Time's up."
Episode 15 Recap
Luo Fei brought Qin Xiaoman to Huiqi Bank to reenact the diamond theft that occurred ten years prior. He explained that Charlie Jin, a comprador from Richard's Company, and Zhao Da Tong, the company's manager, had entered the bank that day. Charlie Jin carried an imported coded briefcase from the USA, which contained priceless diamonds. During the reenactment, Luo Fei assumed the role of Charlie Jin, while Qin Xiaoman played Zhao Da Tong.
Luo Fei demonstrated how Zhao Da Tong, being an inside accomplice, would have subtly influenced Charlie Jin, who was known to be superstitious, to choose safe number 168, which signifies "good luck." Luo Fei clarified that if Charlie Jin had not chosen the predetermined number, the plan would have been abandoned without any losses. They proceeded to the safe room, noting that the German Krupps Company safes were equipped with the most advanced anti-theft systems.
Luo Fei highlighted that while the safes were impenetrable from the outside, the inner steel plate, which allowed for password resets, was secured by only four easily removable screws. This was the only step that required the safe to be open, creating a critical vulnerability. Luo Fei detailed the elaborate plan: Wang Ji Fu, the bank’s director, would have provided the original safe key and password to Zheng Yuan, a security guard, the night before.
Zheng Yuan, leveraging his duty, would then allow Fang Li Bin, an engineer highly skilled in safe mechanisms, to enter the vault. Fang Li Bin would replace the original lock cylinder of safe 168 with a specially made fake one, which could be opened with the original password. Charlie Jin, unfamiliar with such advanced safes, would not have noticed the swap when he reset his personal code, effectively falling into their trap.
However, the portable diamond briefcase also had an advanced alarm system with mercury sensors, which would trigger a loud alert at the slightest vibration. Only the box's password could deactivate it after it sounded. This detail had always puzzled Luo Fei. The following morning, Wang Ji Fu discovered safe 168 empty. The bank was immediately locked down, and a thorough search by police yielded no diamonds, leading the case to become an unsolved mystery.
Luo Fei dismissed the idea of Charlie Jin accidentally revealing his password, as he was cautious and had gone straight home after depositing the diamonds, meeting no one until the theft was discovered. As Luo Fei was describing how the alarm system on the briefcase seemed to make the theft impossible, a bank staff member informed them that their allocated time was up.
Luo Fei had a sudden realization about the significance of "time" in the case and rushed back to the police station. Luo Fei urgently informed the Captain that Du Jin Bao was not the true arsonist, requesting a 27-day delay in his judicial transfer. The Captain was reluctant, citing immense public pressure and even a theatrical play already dramatizing Du Jin Bao’s execution.
Luo Fei argued against sacrificing an innocent person to public opinion and vehemently asserted his deductions were based on inference, not mere conjecture. Although still skeptical, the Captain agreed to try and delay Du Jin Bao's case, but Luo Fei would only reiterate that "time is key" when pressed for more details. Twenty-seven days later, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman were staking out the Huiqi Bank vault when Huo Wen Si arrived and accessed safe number 167.
Huo Wen Si feigned surprise at their presence, suggesting they were there to store items, but Luo Fei stated they were there for him. Huo Wen Si tried to deflect, suggesting they speak at his clinic, but Luo Fei insisted their conversation was urgent and had already arranged with the bank manager for their presence.
Luo Fei questioned Huo Wen Si about the decade-old diamond theft, which Huo Wen Si claimed to know nothing about, stating he was in Austria at the time. Luo Fei then revealed his breakthrough: the alarm on the diamond briefcase was battery-powered, and the battery had a lifespan of exactly ten years. He had confirmed this by calling the American manufacturer.
He then played a recording of Huo Wen Si's voice, seemingly from a past phone call, also inquiring about the "Donnine safe" battery life and confirming it was "ten years, right?" Luo Fei explained that the diamonds had never actually left the vault. Instead, Charlie Jin had been tricked into depositing them into safe 167, not 168, due to the number plates being swapped. A skilled person could switch these plates in under ten minutes.
Luo Fei deduced that the four conspirators had rented safe 167, swapped the plates before Charlie Jin’s arrival, making it appear as 168, and the fake lock cylinder prepared by Fang Li Bin was for the actual safe 168. To prevent discovery, Zhao Da Tong had scheduled Charlie Jin's deposit right before closing hours. After Charlie Jin left, Wang Ji Fu halted all further safe transactions.
Later that night, Zhao Da Tong, Wang Ji Fu, Fang Li Bin, and Zheng Yuan returned to the vault, restored the original number plates, and reinstalled the original lock cylinder on safe 168. To maintain their pact over ten years, the safe’s password was divided into three parts, known by Zhao Da Tong, Fang Li Bin, and Zheng Yuan, with Wang Ji Fu holding the key.
The next morning, Wang Ji Fu simply opened the (real) empty safe 168 and triggered the alarm, making everyone believe the diamonds were stolen, while the priceless gems remained in the adjacent safe 167. The conspirators then dispersed, changing jobs and residences, planning to reunite in ten years to retrieve the briefcase, whose alarm battery would by then be depleted.
Luo Fei had verified with the current bank manager that safe 167 had an anonymous, ten-year lease expiring that very day, with a unique clause prohibiting access for the entire decade. Luo Fei then confronted Huo Wen Si about possessing the key to safe 167, which Huo Wen Si vaguely claimed to have rented through an intermediary. Luo Fei, maintaining a composed demeanor, laid out his full deduction.
He revealed that a month prior, during a visit to Huo Wen Si's clinic, he and Qin Xiaoman had noticed a missing patient record number. Luo Fei suspected Huo Wen Si was hiding a specific name, like Zhao Da Tong. He theorized that Zhao Da Tong, seeking treatment for insomnia, had unknowingly revealed the diamond heist’s details and his segment of the password during hypnotherapy.
Luo Fei further explained that Huo Wen Si had used a drug called TSD, extracted from poisonous mushrooms. While small doses were calming, an overdose induced hallucinations and compromised psychological defenses. A month ago, Huo Wen Si had infiltrated Zhao Da Tong’s home, forced him to overdose on TSD to extract the password, then set the house ablaze to destroy evidence and divert attention, resulting in the deaths of ten people.
When Huo Wen Si tried to claim Du Jin Bao had confessed to the arson, Luo Fei dismissed it, stating Du Jin Bao was merely a scapegoat whose sleepwalking condition Huo Wen Si had exploited by intensifying his symptoms to ensure he was out of his house every Sunday night. Huo Wen Si himself had set the fires, then planted incriminating evidence in Du Jin Bao's home, leading Du Jin Bao to believe he was responsible upon waking.
Huo Wen Si had systematically eliminated Zhao Da Tong, Fang Li Bin, and Zheng Yuan using the same TSD overdose method to obtain each segment of the password and the key. His plan was to kill Wang Ji Fu, secure the final key, burn the evidence, and frame Du Jin Bao. However, Huo Wen Si made a critical error: he overlooked Wang Ji Fu's profession as a newspaper editor.
Wang Ji Fu, with access to raw news, discovered Zhao Da Tong's death in the first fire, causing him distress and fear that the safe would remain locked forever. Seeing Fang Li Bin's name in the second fire's casualties escalated his fear, making him believe Zheng Yuan was eliminating them to keep all the diamonds. He booby-trapped his home to capture Zheng Yuan. When Zheng Yuan's name appeared among the third fire's victims, Wang Ji Fu's panic turned into terror.
As a superstitious man, he concluded Charlie Jin's ghost was seeking revenge, leading him to cover his house with protective spells. His wife, witnessing his erratic behavior, reported him to the police, inadvertently drawing Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman into the case and disrupting Huo Wen Si’s meticulous plan.
Luo Fei recounted how he and Qin Xiaoman had interrupted Huo Wen Si’s attempt to kill Wang Ji Fu, forcing Huo Wen Si to flee and leave behind an item (presumably a TSD vial) that led them to his clinic. Undeterred, Huo Wen Si concocted an alibi and provided misleading clues to buy time.
He then used the fabricated cinema fire as a diversion, intending to kill Wang Ji Fu, secure the key, burn the evidence, and frame Du Jin Bao. Qin Xiaoman had witnessed Wang Ji Fu in the fire, "laughing loudly," a tell-tale sign of TSD overdose. Huo Wen Si attempted to use his alibi of treating Ma Tian Li, a client with insomnia, every Sunday evening.
But Luo Fei had checked Ma Tian Li's home and found his clocks had no working mechanisms, confirming that Ma Tian Li, who required absolute silence, couldn't corroborate the exact time of the treatments, exposing Huo Wen Si's fabricated alibi. Qin Xiaoman then pushed Huo Wen Si aside, and she and Luo Fei opened safe 167, revealing Charlie Jin's diamond box inside.
With no further room for denial, Huo Wen Si attempted to flee but was apprehended by the Captain and his team, who had been lying in wait. In prison, Huo Wen Si requested to see Luo Fei. He expressed deep regret, admitting that his greed had blinded him and ruined their potential friendship. He promised to reflect on his actions while incarcerated. Luo Fei pressed him about inviting Qin Xiaoman to a non-existent dance.
Huo Wen Si confessed it was a deliberate ploy to "disturb" their investigation, specifically Luo Fei, as he was aware of Luo Fei’s feelings for Qin Xiaoman. He asked Luo Fei to apologize to Qin Xiaoman on his behalf. Luo Fei, however, sensed that Huo Wen Si was still concealing something. Later, Huo Wen Si was brutally beaten by other inmates. The Captain, now in a wheelchair, passed by, and Huo Wen Si stared at him with an intense gaze.
Qin Xiaoman playfully teased Luo Fei about Huo Wen Si’s assessment of his feelings for Qin Xiaoman, causing Luo Fei to become flustered. In a reflective letter, Luo Fei contemplated how personal choices define one's path, noting how some succumb to greed while others, driven by justice and faith, persevere through darkness. The narrative then transitioned to a new case where victims were found with smiles on their faces, having died from laughing and subsequent oxygen deprivation.
Post-mortem whipping marks were also noted. A star-shaped earring, previously mentioned by Luo Fei, was found in one victim's stomach, linking it to a five-year-old serial murder case. It was revealed that Ouyang Xun had previously disbanded the special task force for that case, and the murders had ceased, suggesting a "dirty deal" between him and the killer. Qin Xiaoman, having learned about hypnosis, attempted to hypnotize Luo Fei to try out her new skill, but Luo Fei, despite claiming no fear, humorously dodged her attempts.
Episode 16 Recap
Mr. Zhao, a client, came to Luo Fei for help after his grandmother's heirloom gem went missing. He explained that his mother, who was already in poor health, would be devastated if the gem couldn't be recovered. He also mentioned that the thief left a note, signing off as "The Great Theft, Lu Bu Ping." During this exchange, Luo Fei received a call from Ouyang Xun's wife, Mrs. Ouyang.
His tone was dismissive, stating he would not see Ouyang Xun and denying receipt of any letter, before harshly telling her not to call him again. Disturbed by the call, Luo Fei's mood was unsettled, and he tried to dismiss Mr. Zhao, but Mr. Zhao insisted on staying. Qin Xiaoman, present at the time, tried to engage in some amateur deduction. After Luo Fei noticed dog hairs on Mr. Zhao's pants, she speculated that his dog might be ill.
However, Luo Fei swiftly corrected her, explaining the distinct differences between cat and dog hair, and asserting that the hairs were actually cat hair. He then calmly deduced that Mr. Zhao had a large, ferocious watchdog that would have barked if an outsider had entered. Since only Mr. Zhao and his mother lived there, Luo Fei concluded that his mother must have hidden the gem.
Luo Fei further revealed that Mr. Zhao’s puffy eye bags, smoke-stained teeth, and his habit of rubbing his thumb against his index finger—a common gesture for gamblers examining cards—indicated a severe gambling addiction. He theorized that Mr. Zhao's mother feared he would pawn the gem for gambling and had hidden it to prevent this, even suggesting that any recent violence towards his mother could be attributed to him. Ashamed, Mr. Zhao left without a word.
Shortly after, the landlord, Su Su, delivered a letter to Luo Fei, who immediately set it ablaze without opening it. Qin Xiaoman, observing this, quickly extinguished the flames. She recognized the letter was from Ouyang Xun, the former superintendent of the police station, and asked Luo Fei why he burned it. Luo Fei then recounted a harrowing case from five years prior.
Five women were abducted, and four of them died from what appeared to be incessant laughter, a method of torture recorded in ancient Roman and Han Dynasty history. Luo Fei had been determined to solve the brutal case, but Ouyang Xun abruptly disbanded the special investigation team, appeased the victims' families with compensation, and suppressed the case. Ouyang Xun claimed the fifth victim had been rescued, but Luo Fei had never seen her.
Luo Fei believed Ouyang Xun had made a "dirty deal" with the killer, which fueled his deep resentment. Just then, Benjamin rushed in, informing Luo Fei that Ouyang Xun was on his deathbed and wished to see him one last time. Reluctantly, Luo Fei, accompanied by Qin Xiaoman, went to Ouyang Xun's home. Ouyang Xun, frail and weak, asked to speak with Luo Fei alone, but Luo Fei insisted Qin Xiaoman stay.
Ouyang Xun then asked Qin Xiaoman to retrieve a black pouch from his cabinet and hand it to Luo Fei. He apologized to Luo Fei, confessing his actions five years ago. He explained that the killer had forced him to publish a statement in the newspaper, promising to cease the murders if Ouyang Xun stopped the investigation. This "deal" was to last for both their lifetimes.
The killer, Ouyang Xun explained, gained a perverse "stimulation and pleasure" from controlling a police superintendent and had been waiting for him to die before resuming his crimes. He urged Luo Fei to reopen the case, find the truth, and bring justice to the victims. Ouyang Xun revealed that the fifth victim, whose real name was Wang Xue Ru, had been secretly recuperating at a mental hospital under the alias An Ping.
Upon hearing this, Luo Fei decided to reopen the case. Luo Fei responded that his decision not to join the police force was for other reasons, unrelated to Ouyang Xun. Shortly after Luo Fei left the room, Mrs. Ouyang announced that Ouyang Xun had passed away. Overnight, Luo Fei, Qin Xiaoman, and Benjamin painstakingly reorganized the old case files, spurred by Ouyang Xun's dying wish.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Sha Wei was informed of two university students recently gone missing, with the same "laughing death" method, one of whom was the daughter of a prominent bank president. The next morning, Luo Fei, Qin Xiaoman, and Benjamin visited the mental hospital to see An Ping. Dr. Han greeted them, stating that when An Ping was admitted, her eardrum was severely damaged, leaving her unable to hear, requiring written communication.
Dr. Han also mentioned that the best ear doctors in Shanghai had examined her, all concluding she couldn't be cured. Luo Fei suspected this detail, pondering if the killer had disguised himself as an ear doctor to approach her. After observing "An Ping," Luo Fei quickly discerned she was an impostor. He noted the deep ring mark on her right ring finger, indicating long-term wear, whereas the real Wang Xue Ru was unmarried.
He also observed her long hair, which contradicted the hospital's policy of short hair for female patients to prevent self-harm, and critically, the patient's identification number starting with "17" suggested she was admitted two years ago, while Wang Xue Ru would have been admitted five years prior, hence her number should have started with "14".
Furthermore, Luo Fei suggested that her long hair might also be used to cover her earlobes, as the real Wang Xue Ru had pierced ears, while the impostor did not. When confronted, Dr. Han initially claimed that the real An Ping had died two years ago, attempting to excuse his deception by claiming he was "blinded by love" and found a look-alike to replace her. Luo Fei, disbelieving, had him taken to the police station for further questioning.
Back at the crime scene of the two recently murdered university students, Luo Fei confirmed that the killer's method was identical to the five-year-old case. Benjamin then discovered a star-shaped earring in one of the victim's stomachs. Luo Fei recognized this as the killer's signature: leaving an item from the previous victim at the next crime scene to mark his involvement. He identified the earring as belonging to Wang Xue Ru, the fifth victim.
Realizing Wang Xue Ru was now in grave danger, Luo Fei confronted Dr. Han again. He stressed that while Han might hide her from the police, he couldn't hide her from the killer, who had held onto her earring for five years. He argued that the killer, having been bound by the agreement with Ouyang Xun, would now come for Wang Xue Ru.
Luo Fei further suggested the killer's strong reconnaissance skills meant he likely knew Wang Xue Ru's whereabouts and might have been monitoring her for years, perhaps even disguised as an ear doctor previously. Convinced, Dr. Han finally revealed that Wang Xue Ru had actually recovered two years ago and he had secretly transferred her to a new location, pleading for her protection.
Following Dr. Han's directions, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman found Wang Xue Ru, now living under her true name and married to a university teacher named Lin Zhong Heng. Her husband was very attentive, providing her with a hearing aid. Qin Xiaoman directly explained the recent murders to Wang Xue Ru. The mention of the "weird smiles" on the victims' faces triggered a severe panic attack in Wang Xue Ru, who began to cry out about "whips, ropes, and blood."
Just then, Lin Zhong Heng returned home. Seeing his wife's distress, he quickly administered sedative medication and asked Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman to leave, explaining that Wang Xue Ru couldn't handle such stimulation. As they departed, Qin Xiaoman noted Lin Zhong Heng's thoughtful gesture of bringing jasmine flowers, known for their calming effect, hinting at Luo Fei's less "caring" nature. Back at the police station, Qin Xiaoman reported to Superintendent Sha Wei.
Before leaving for a meeting, Sha Wei asked Qin Xiaoman to answer his office phone. When she picked it up, a strange voice on the other end addressed her by name.
Episode 17 Recap
Qin Xiaoman received a phone call at the police station, and the caller immediately recognized her voice, prompting her to become alert. The mysterious caller, identifying himself as the murderer, proposed a deal: if Qin Xiaoman would let him go, he would release the girl he currently held captive and cease his killing spree. The desperate cries of a kidnapped girl were audible in the background, reinforcing the urgency.
The killer suggested that Qin Xiaoman could facilitate his escape by making key evidence disappear or by creating confusion in the investigation. However, Qin Xiaoman, remembering the late Detective Ouyang’s words, adamantly refused to negotiate, stating her duty was to personally apprehend him. Qin Xiaoman recounted the unsettling call to Luo Fei, expressing her fear that her refusal might cause the kidnapped girl to suffer.
Luo Fei reassured her that she had done the right thing, emphasizing that they would not make deals with a murderer. Later, their landlady, Su Su, brought them sweet soup and mentioned her friend's daughter, who was supposed to move in with Qin Xiaoman, hadn't arrived yet. The next morning, a new victim was discovered, hanging with the same eerie smile, a signature of "tickle torture."
Qin Xiaoman was deeply remorseful, believing the girl's death was her fault for not compromising with the killer, but Luo Fei firmly stated it was not her responsibility and urged her to focus on catching the perpetrator. Luo Fei quickly deduced from the victim's rashes and peeled skin that she was an international student recently returned from a long sea voyage. He instructed an officer to check the passenger lists of recent large cruise ships.
Simultaneously, Su Su decided to visit the English Far East Cruise company to inquire about her friend's daughter. Upon seeing a photograph of the girl, Qin Xiaoman horrifyingly recognized her as the latest victim, leaving Su Su devastated. During a team meeting, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman analyzed the killer's past and present body dumping sites. Qin Xiaoman theorized that the killer's familiar activity zone, from where he'd confidently make calls to the police, was likely in the southern concession.
Luo Fei agreed, noting that the killer's ability to dispose of bodies efficiently suggested he owned a car. He then pointed out a significant change: unlike five years ago when the killer abducted one person at a time, he had recently taken two female university students simultaneously.
Luo Fei found it improbable for a single person to kidnap two victims from a well-lit street without struggle, also dismissing the possibility of the killer being a casual acquaintance from the Paramount nightclub. He argued that the victims, being cautious and conservative, would not easily enter a stranger's car, leading him to believe the killer possessed a unique level of familiarity or authority over his victims.
Qin Xiaoman, still struggling with guilt, was comforted by Luo Fei, who reminded her not to blame herself for the killer's actions. Late that night, as they continued to review case files at the police station, Qin Xiaoman fell asleep at her desk. Upon waking, she instinctively complained about the discomfort, longing for "the place where I belong." This seemingly innocuous remark sparked a profound realization in Luo Fei.
He concluded that the killer would choose a familiar environment where victims would naturally lower their guard. For the recently abducted university students, this place was Hu Dong University itself, with its dormitories, classmates, and teachers. Given the strict campus security, Luo Fei deduced that the killer must be an internal staff member of the university.
He instructed Qin Xiaoman and Ye Chang Qing to immediately investigate all university personnel with car access, and they soon returned with a list of individuals who owned vehicles. Reviewing the list, Luo Fei noticed the name Lin Zhong Heng, the husband of Wang Xue Ru, was listed as a chemistry teacher at Hu Dong University. He immediately suspected Lin Zhong Heng, speculating that Wang Xue Ru, in her fragile mental state, might have married her abuser without recognizing him.
To gather concrete evidence, Luo Fei, Qin Xiaoman, and Benjamin staked out Lin Zhong Heng's residence. During their surveillance, Qin Xiaoman spotted a pendant around Wang Xue Ru's neck that was identical to one worn by a previous victim. This crucial discovery prompted Luo Fei to instruct Sha Wei to immediately arrest Lin Zhong Heng, while he and Qin Xiaoman took Wang Xue Ru to the station for questioning.
Under interrogation, Lin Zhong Heng, an esteemed professor, vehemently denied any involvement in the murders, dismissing the necklace as a common style and claiming a friend had bought it for his wife but was currently in America. Wang Xue Ru, meanwhile, defended her husband as a kind man but was unable to recall how they had met, confirming Luo Fei’s earlier assessment of her unreliability.
Sha Wei then received an urgent phone call reporting that another female university student from Hu Dong University had gone missing the previous night, sparking widespread concern. Luo Fei immediately directed Sha Wei to investigate Lin Zhong Heng's car entry and exit records at the university, while he took Qin Xiaoman to Lin Zhong Heng's house to search for new clues.
They found several photographs of Lin Zhong Heng and his wife on a boat, leading Luo Fei to suspect he owned a vessel that could serve as a secluded crime scene for its excellent soundproofing. They also discovered a gramophone that would activate when the house lights were off, playing a calming recording of Lin Zhong Heng's voice.
Luo Fei deduced this elaborate system served two purposes: to create an alibi for Lin Zhong Heng while simultaneously trapping his mentally fragile wife in the dark with the unsettling sound, preventing her from leaving. Luo Fei believed Lin Zhong Heng intended to kill the newly disappeared student on his boat that very night.
When Ye Chang Qing reported no boats registered under Lin Zhong Heng or Wang Xue Ru, Luo Fei asked him to check for a boat registered under the name "An Ping." Ye Chang Qing's investigation soon revealed a boat registered under the name "An Ping." Confronted with this, Lin Zhong Heng denied owning any boat, claiming it had been stolen.
Luo Fei, realizing Lin Zhong Heng's indifference to the victims, threatened to show the gruesome autopsy and victim photos to Wang Xue Ru, knowing it would provoke a reaction from him regarding his wife. Lin Zhong Heng instantly became agitated, warning them not to upset her.
Luo Fei retorted, highlighting Lin Zhong Heng's detainment and the imminent starvation of the girl on the boat, and reiterated his threat to expose the truth to Wang Xue Ru, finally eliciting a strong emotional response. Just as the interrogation intensified, an officer reported that another female body, consistent with the killer's method of suffocation, had been discovered in the eastern district that morning.
This new murder presented a serious problem: Lin Zhong Heng and Wang Xue Ru had both been in police custody overnight, providing them with an alibi. Meanwhile, when Sha Wei questioned Wang Xue Ru again, she unexpectedly claimed to be "An Ping" and asserted she did not recognize him as "Xue Ru," exhibiting a dramatically altered demeanor.
Observing this, Luo Fei theorized that Wang Xue Ru might be suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder and instructed that she be closely observed for this "An Ping" personality. Despite these perplexing new developments, Luo Fei remained convinced they were close to the truth.
Episode 18 Recap
During an interrogation, Lin Zhong Heng defiantly proclaimed his innocence, pleading with Luo Fei not to distress his wife, Wang Xue Ru, as she was "pathetic." Sha Wei, the detective, expressed his concern to Luo Fei, questioning if they had apprehended the wrong person given Lin Zhong Heng's stubbornness and emotional plea.
Luo Fei, however, stood by his initial deduction, asserting that after thorough checks of all suspicious individuals at East Shanghai University, Lin Zhong Heng remained the primary suspect, and he believed Lin Zhong Heng's composure was merely a facade. Their discussion was abruptly interrupted when Benjamin rushed in, reporting that another female body had been discovered in the public concession, east of the town, that morning. She had also died of suffocation. Authorities wished to merge the investigations.
The victim was identified as a missing female student from National East Shanghai University. This news shocked Luo Fei, as it meant his previous theories were flawed; Lin Zhong Heng and Wang Xue Ru had been in police custody overnight, providing them with an undeniable alibi. Sha Wei pointed out that the same distinctive pendant found on previous victims was also at the new crime scene.
Qin Xiaoman wondered if it was an imitation, but Sha Wei dismissed this, explaining that only the true killer would know such specific details as the victim being whipped post-mortem. Overwhelmed, Luo Fei secluded himself for two days, refusing food or water, convinced, "All my speculations are wrong. It was wrong from the beginning."
His landlady and Qin Xiaoman worried deeply, though both expressed unwavering faith in his deductive abilities, with the landlady even suggesting someone might be trying to frame him. One day, Qin Xiaoman encountered Wang Xue Ru at the market. Observing her arguing loudly, Qin Xiaoman intervened to help, only to find Wang Xue Ru's demeanor starkly different from before. The woman introduced herself as An Ping and claimed no knowledge of Wang Xue Ru or Qin Xiaoman.
Qin Xiaoman relayed this unusual encounter to a still-despondent Luo Fei, proposing they consult Huo Wen Si, the renowned psychologist, who was currently incarcerated. Luo Fei initially refused, suspicious that Huo Wen Si, despite his wealth, had secretly kept a stash of diamonds, believing he was still withholding information. However, Qin Xiaoman persuaded him, emphasizing the urgency of solving the case to prevent more victims.
At the prison, Huo Wen Si listened attentively to Qin Xiaoman's account of Wang Xue Ru's altered personality. He suggested that Wang Xue Ru might be suffering from a personality disorder, where two distinct personalities, Wang Xue Ru and An Ping, coexisted, each unaware of the other. He advised them to stimulate Wang Xue Ru to bring out the An Ping personality, as An Ping might possess crucial memories unknown to Wang Xue Ru.
Though Luo Fei was reluctant to put Wang Xue Ru through more distress, Huo Wen Si insisted that uncovering these memories was key to solving the mystery and ultimately helping Wang Xue Ru herself. He suggested Qin Xiaoman subtly re-engage with her. Following Huo Wen Si's advice, Qin Xiaoman found An Ping at the market again and invited her for coffee.
An Ping spoke of living in a large house with many friends, and when asked about her husband, described him as "wicked." Later, Qin Xiaoman urgently called Luo Fei, claiming she was close to finding evidence of the murder and asking him to meet her at the police station. However, when Luo Fei arrived, Qin Xiaoman was nowhere to be found. Moments later, a call came through, which Luo Fei answered.
The caller, the killer, offered a deal: Qin Xiaoman's life in exchange for Luo Fei ceasing his investigation. Luo Fei, however, strategically hung up the phone multiple times, deliberately frustrating the killer to gain leverage in their negotiation. When the killer finally called back, Luo Fei counter-offered to solve one of the killer's unresolved cases if Qin Xiaoman was returned unharmed, emphasizing that he would not tolerate her being treated as Wang Xue Ru had been.
Meanwhile, Qin Xiaoman regained consciousness on a boat, her suspicions confirmed when she realized her captor was Lin Zhong Heng. He informed her that Luo Fei had compromised for her safety but that he would not save her, intending to let her perish as the boat sank. Facing death, Qin Xiaoman demanded to know his motives.
Lin Zhong Heng revealed a tragic past: his father, a circus clown, died in an accident when he was five, but the audience laughed, believing it was part of the act. This callous response fueled a deep-seated hatred in him and his mother. He admitted that his mother was the first to commit similar "tickle torture" murders against the audience members. Back on shore, Luo Fei and Benjamin confronted Wang Xue Ru at her home.
Despite her initial denial of knowing anyone named An Ping, Luo Fei provocatively splashed alcohol on her, recalling Huo Wen Si's explanation that such stimulation could trigger a personality switch. An Ping emerged, immediately asking about Qin Xiaoman. She recounted her coffee shop conversation with Qin Xiaoman, remembering that she complained about her husband, Lin Zhong Heng, frequently changing his belts—an observation that led Qin Xiaoman to suspect the belts were the murder weapon.
An Ping said she had taken Qin Xiaoman home to show her the belts upstairs. She then vaguely recalled a door chiming before losing consciousness and waking up to find Luo Fei and Benjamin. Benjamin noted the numerous needle marks on An Ping's arm, confirming she had been drugged with sedatives, quantities of which were found at Lin Zhong Heng's house. Luo Fei then asked An Ping if anyone visited her regularly.
She mentioned a Dr. Han Ning Sheng, a doctor who frequently called on her but couldn't explain how they knew each other. Luo Fei quickly pieced together the puzzle, deducing that Han Ning Sheng was Lin Zhong Heng's accomplice, especially since neither man had ever mentioned the other over the five years, despite their connections to Wang Xue Ru/An Ping.
He also reasoned that Han Ning Sheng might be responsible for the consistent whipping pattern found on the victims, a detail the killer used to mark their crimes. Luo Fei immediately contacted Sha Wei to arrest Han Ning Sheng. During interrogation, Luo Fei attempted to coerce Han Ning Sheng into revealing Qin Xiaoman's location by offering him a chance to see An Ping again.
However, when efforts to re-stimulate Wang Xue Ru to bring out An Ping failed, Luo Fei pleaded with Wang Xue Ru to impersonate An Ping. Initially hesitant, Wang Xue Ru agreed, but her act was quickly exposed by Han Ning Sheng, who recognized that the real An Ping would never plead with him, only command. Nevertheless, Luo Fei's continued pressure on Han Ning Sheng, suggesting An Ping was too disappointed to appear, ultimately broke him.
Han Ning Sheng disclosed Qin Xiaoman's location, leading to a swift rescue operation by the Coast Guard and Maritime Department, with Luo Fei personally leading the team to save Qin Xiaoman. Days later, with Lin Zhong Heng apprehended in Suzhou, Luo Fei remained troubled by a seemingly minor detail. During her impersonation of An Ping, Wang Xue Ru had called Han Ning Sheng "Ah Sheng"—a nickname unknown to anyone else, including the investigators.
Remembering Huo Wen Si's earlier explanation about distinct memories in true dual personalities, Luo Fei confronted Wang Xue Ru. He accused her of faking her personality disorder, revealing his belief that "Wang Xue Ru" and "An Ping" were merely parts of a meticulously staged monologue. Cornered, Wang Xue Ru confessed.
She admitted that the childhood story shared by both Lin Zhong Heng and Han Ning Sheng was actually her own traumatic past, starting with her mother accidentally killing her boss after being assaulted while seeking compensation for her father's death. Her mother, finding the act "exciting," became the first killer, sending young Wang Xue Ru away to live a normal life.
Wang Xue Ru, however, manipulated Lin Zhong Heng and Han Ning Sheng, who were drawn to her vulnerability, turning them into her puppets by recounting her tragic story and convincing them to commit murders. She also revealed that the five-year-old serial murder case was orchestrated by her previous lovers, whom she had similarly manipulated, and she had staged herself as the fifth victim to evade detection and gain sympathy.
Luo Fei, refusing her final attempt at a deal, handed Wang Xue Ru over to Sha Wei. Still, a chilling detail lingered: the existence of Wang Xue Ru's mother, a proven killer from her past. Luo Fei resolved to find her, and it was shockingly revealed that Wang Xue Ru's mother was none other than Detective Ouyang's wife. Separately, Huo Wen Si, now imprisoned alongside a mysterious figure known as "Captain," offered to investigate Captain's syndicate for Luo Fei. However, Luo Fei remained wary, sensing an ulterior motive behind Huo Wen Si's sudden offer of cooperation.
Episode 19 Recap
Luo Fei and Benjamin were enjoying expensive Cuban cigars, a gift from a previous case’s victim, when their landlady, Su Su, arrived with exciting news. She had received an invitation from the renowned wealthy adventurer, Charlie Wang, to attend a party at his exclusive Hilltop Mansion. To make a grand entrance, Su Su wanted Luo Fei and Benjamin as her handsome escorts, hoping to impress socialites like Mrs. Kim and Mrs. Kou.
Intrigued by rumors that Charlie Wang possessed a Spanish painting containing a hidden treasure map, Luo Fei readily accepted the invitation, and Benjamin also decided to join. The next day, as they approached the Hilltop Mansion, they encountered Detective Superintendent Savoy and Qin Xiaoman. Savoy explained that Charlie Wang, a highly influential figure in Shanghai, had personally extended an invitation to him. Qin Xiaoman clarified that she was accompanying Savoy because his wife was home tending to their sick son.
Luo Fei seized the opportunity to inquire if Qin Xiaoman had solved the riddle from their recent jewelry store case concerning a stolen jade necklace, reminding her that only one day remained on their wager. Initially, Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman were momentarily held at the entrance for lacking invitations, but Charlie Wang's assistant, Lin Zai Chong, quickly intervened to grant them entry.
Inside the bustling mansion, Luo Fei elaborated on the legend of Charlie Wang's Spanish painting to Savoy and Benjamin. He explained that it was not a masterpiece in the traditional sense, but rather a creation by a then-unknown Spanish painter who, after surviving a shipwreck, recreated a pirate's treasure map he found on a wooden plank. This map eventually found its way into Charlie Wang's possession, supposedly costing him more than half his fortune.
Luo Fei surmised that Charlie Wang had invited Savoy precisely to secure official police protection for this invaluable piece, further noting the presence of art dealer Chen Shuang, a man known for acting only where profit lay, indicating widespread interest in the artwork. While Su Su attempted to introduce Qin Xiaoman to eligible bachelors, Charlie Wang’s younger brother, Wang Da Shan, brazenly approached Qin Xiaoman and asked her to dance, complimenting her beauty.
Luo Fei intervened, stating that Benjamin was looking for her, allowing Qin Xiaoman to politely withdraw. Wang Da Shan then disparaged the police, leading to a heated exchange with Savoy. Luo Fei defused the tension by suggesting they relocate to an outer hall for a private chat.
There, Wang Da Shan vented his frustration, complaining about his brother's stinginess and his conspicuous favoritism towards Lin Zai Chong, who had, in half a year, ascended from a low-level salesman to a special assistant and was now even residing in the family villa. Soon after, Butler He summoned all guests for a significant announcement. Charlie Wang declared his official retirement from adventuring, stating his intention to establish an art foundation dedicated to supporting young local artists.
He entrusted the management of this foundation to Lin Zai Chong, a distinguished graduate of the China Academy of Art. Charlie Wang then announced that his remaining financial assets, including stocks, property, and deposits, would be inherited by Wang Da Shan, but with a stringent condition: Wang Da Shan must reform his ways and abstain from breaking the law; failure to do so would result in the forfeiture of his inheritance to the newly established foundation.
This revelation enraged Wang Da Shan, who publicly accused Lin Zai Chong of manipulating his brother and attempting to seize their family's wealth. The resulting public altercation escalated until Charlie Wang intervened, calling his brother drunk, slapping him, and forcibly removing him from the hall. When questioned by a guest about the famous painting, Charlie Wang dismissed it as nothing more than a "rumored joke."
Luo Fei quietly commented to Benjamin that Charlie Wang’s public assets were likely his "least valuable things," implying the true prize, the treasure map, could "buy the whole of Shanghai." Later, as Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman danced, Luo Fei noticed Savoy in conversation with Charlie Wang. Charlie Wang appeared surprised to see Luo Fei, but they exchanged pleasantries.
Charlie Wang, smoking a cigar, reflected on his younger days of ceaseless activity, noting that while people thought he was merely treasure hunting, the "real treasure can't be measured in terms of money." When Luo Fei directly asked if he was referring to the painting, Charlie Wang ambiguously responded, "Hope so," and later added that "Everyone has a right to keep the secret in their heart" before excusing himself.
Art dealer Chen Shuang then approached Luo Fei, expressing curiosity about his conversation with Charlie Wang regarding the painting. Immediately after this, the drunken Wang Da Shan caused another disturbance in the hall, again arguing with Charlie Wang. A sudden and severe rainstorm made the cable car inoperable, forcing all guests to stay overnight at the mansion.
Butler He arranged for guests to share rooms, leading Benjamin to seek refuge in Luo Fei’s room, unable to sleep due to Savoy’s loud snoring. That night, Su Su pressed Qin Xiaoman about her feelings for Luo Fei, but Qin Xiaoman insisted they were merely professional partners, despite Su Su’s observation that Luo Fei's eyes betrayed a deeper affection for her.
The following morning, with the cable car still out of service, Luo Fei was about to inquire about the cable car when Butler He's frantic screams pierced the quiet. Qin Xiaoman, Savoy, and Benjamin rushed to Charlie Wang's study, where they discovered him dead. Benjamin, arriving swiftly, performed a preliminary examination, noting Charlie Wang's bluish face and lips, and concluding that he had died of myocardial infarction sometime between 10 PM and 12 AM.
Butler He expressed surprise, stating that Charlie Wang had no known history of heart disease, though he had recently been visiting the hospital for general health maintenance in preparation for retirement. With everyone trapped in the mansion, Savoy immediately declared all attendees suspects and imposed a strict no-exit policy until the killer was identified.
Luo Fei learned that Lin Zai Chong was the first to discover the body, having received the study key from Butler He that morning as the butler was busy preparing breakfast. While Wang Da Shan, still in a drunken sleep, appeared to have a strong motive given his public altercation with Charlie Wang, Luo Fei dismissed him as a likely murderer, believing a drunk person incapable of executing such a precise crime without leaving obvious traces.
Luo Fei instead found Lin Zai Chong's early discovery of the body suspicious, wondering if he harbored ambitions for the legendary painting. Observing the ransacked desk drawer in the study, Luo Fei deduced that the killer had likely searched for the fabled treasure map but found nothing, concluding that Charlie Wang would never keep such a valuable item in plain sight. Qin Xiaoman then discovered a hidden photograph of a woman tucked inside a picture album.
Luo Fei noted a striking resemblance between the woman and Lin Zai Chong, speculating she might have been Charlie Wang's former girlfriend, someone with whom he shared a "painful memory." As the investigation intensified, Luo Fei instructed Lin Zai Chong to hand over the study keys to seal the crime scene, and Lin Zai Chong complied, confirming his availability for questioning downstairs.
Episode 20 Recap
Benjamin completed the autopsy on Charlie Wang's body, identifying an injection pinhole on his left inner ankle. He concluded that Charlie Wang died from asphyxiation caused by a blood and air embolism, confirming a premeditated murder without any signs of external trauma. Qin Xiaoman, after interrogating all the guests, discovered that only Lawyer Liu Ming Xu did not have an alibi. Luo Fei took over his questioning.
Lawyer Liu claimed that at 11:00 PM the previous night, he had gone to deliver documents to Charlie Wang but was intercepted by a heavily intoxicated Wang Da Shan. Wang Da Shan, who had just been harshly scolded by his brother, insisted that Charlie Wang was unwell and already asleep, advising Lawyer Liu not to disturb him. Luo Fei, noticing Lawyer Liu's pronounced dark circles and his constant need to smoke, accurately deduced that he was lying about having slept.
Confronted, Lawyer Liu confessed that he had spent the entire night with the courtesan, Jin Miao Ling, after they had a romantic encounter during the dance. Detective Sha Wei allowed Lawyer Liu to leave for the moment but planned to verify his alibi with Jin Miao Ling later. Next, Lin Zai Chong was interrogated. He stated that he had remained in his room throughout the night.
He explained that he and Charlie Wang typically held a meeting before Charlie retired for the night, a routine established two months prior for work communication. However, Charlie Wang had explicitly canceled last night's meeting due to Wang Da Shan's disruptive behavior at the dinner party, instructing Lin to prepare documents for an art foundation instead.
Lin also revealed that Charlie Wang had long expressed a desire to establish an art foundation and had wanted Lin to lead it, an offer Lin had tried to decline due to his perceived inexperience, almost incurring Charlie's wrath. When Luo Fei inquired about the legendary famous painting, Lin admitted he had once asked about it when Charlie was in a good mood.
Charlie Wang had only responded cryptically, "Only because one is on this mountain," and offered no further details. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman obtained a detailed blueprint of the villa from Security Captain Huang, who expressed deep self-reproach over Charlie Wang's death. The villa was designed in a triangular layout, with Charlie Wang and Wang Da Shan each owning a private wing, and the guests accommodated in a third building.
Luo Fei, believing the famous painting was key to the murder, aimed to locate it using the map. He recalled seeing a copy of "Xu Xia Ke's Travels" in Charlie Wang's study, alongside a notebook filled with riddles and poems, suspecting these held clues to the painting's whereabouts. While they were in Charlie Wang's study, a sudden noise outside prompted them to give chase, but the person quickly vanished.
Luo Fei inferred that the perpetrator was deliberately guiding him, wishing him to uncover the famous painting's location, and decided to cooperate with this hidden agenda. Through a meticulous analysis of the villa's layout, Luo Fei identified an unmapped, triangular-shaped space, a secret room situated at the highest point connecting the three main buildings. Inside this hidden room, they discovered a safe.
Leveraging Charlie Wang's personal diary, which was styled as a travelogue mimicking Xu Xia Ke's and contained numeric clues corresponding to specific entries, Luo Fei successfully decrypted the safe's combination. As they were about to open the safe, Chen Shuang entered the secret room. Qin Xiaoman swiftly apprehended him. Chen Shuang vehemently denied killing Charlie Wang. He explained that he had proposed buying the famous painting from Charlie Wang, even offering a 50-50 profit split, but Charlie had refused.
That morning, intending to approach Charlie Wang again, Chen Shuang witnessed Lin Zai Chong hastily exiting Charlie's room. Upon entering, he found Charlie Wang already dead. Seized by greed and believing them to be keys to a hidden treasure, Chen Shuang took a string of keys from Charlie Wang's neck. He then searched the drawers for a map before fleeing when he heard noises in the hallway. Chen Shuang handed the retrieved key to Qin Xiaoman.
Luo Fei then opened the safe, but to their disappointment, it contained only an ordinary painting of an island, clearly not the legendary masterpiece. Luo Fei realized that the key found on Charlie Wang's neck was unrelated to this safe. This indicated that the killer's true motive was not the famous painting, but rather to specifically take Charlie Wang's life. Luo Fei decided to re-examine all the evidence and reconsider their approach.
As Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman continued their investigation, they encountered the landlady, Su Su. She complained bitterly about the villa's many broken items, specifically mentioning a wall clock that was perpetually stuck at 11:30, making it impossible to tell the correct time. Su Su's frustration sparked a crucial realization for Luo Fei. He immediately inspected the clock outside Charlie Wang's room and confirmed it had been tampered with.
Luo Fei deduced that when Butler He had initially checked on Charlie, it was actually before 11:00 PM, and Charlie Wang was still alive. However, the clock had been manually advanced to 11:30, misleading Butler He about the actual time. After Butler He departed, the clock was reset to the correct time. When Lawyer Liu arrived punctually at 11:00 PM, he was turned away by Wang Da Shan, who claimed Charlie was asleep.
Luo Fei theorized that by this point, Charlie Wang was already dead, making Wang Da Shan the primary suspect. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman immediately rushed to Wang Da Shan's room, which reeked of alcohol and was in disarray. Qin Xiaoman discovered a syringe and needle in the trash can. Soon after, Butler He urgently informed Luo Fei that Wang Da Shan had gone to the rooftop and appeared distressed.
Fearing the worst, they hurried to the rooftop, where they found Wang Da Shan dead, with a suicide note beside him confessing to Charlie Wang's murder. However, Luo Fei quickly observed that the ink on the suicide note was completely dry. This indicated that the note had been prepared well in advance, suggesting that Wang Da Shan's death was not a spontaneous suicide but another meticulously orchestrated murder, with him being framed.
Benjamin, upon examining Wang Da Shan's body, revealed that while Wang Da Shan had a large tumor in his abdominal cavity that would have eventually been fatal, his immediate cause of death was poisoning. With both Wang brothers now deceased, their entire fortune would be transferred to the art foundation. This made Lin Zai Chong, who was slated to be the foundation's head, the biggest beneficiary and a highly suspicious individual.
Just as Luo Fei decided to locate Lin Zai Chong, he learned from Detective Sha Wei that the cable car had been repaired. Before anyone could react, Butler He revealed that Lin Zai Chong had already taken the repaired cable car and descended the mountain.
Episode 21 Recap
Luo Fei concluded that Lin Zai Chong was the primary suspect in the murders. Detective Supervisor Savoy confirmed this suspicion, stating that Lin Zai Chong was indeed the most suspicious individual, and informed Luo Fei that he would lead a team down the mountain to gather forces and apprehend Lin Zai Chong.
Luo Fei, however, decided to remain at the villa with Qin Xiaoman to continue investigating the connection between the mysterious painting and the deceased, emphasizing the need for concrete evidence to secure a conviction. They agreed to split up, with Luo Fei reminding Savoy to be cautious. Meanwhile, Su Su approached Qin Xiaoman, intending for them to leave together.
Qin Xiaoman, however, expressed her desire to stay and assist Luo Fei with the investigation, explaining it was her mission to do so. Before leaving, Su Su pulled Luo Fei aside, asking him to protect Qin Xiaoman, a remark that caused both Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman some awkwardness. Luo Fei assured Su Su that he would take care of things and wished her safety as she departed.
As Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman continued their investigation, they found a servant, Lao Wang, weeping in one of the rooms. The butler introduced Lao Wang as a distant relative of Charlie Wang and explained that he was distraught over the tragic end of the Wang family line. Luo Fei then presented Lao Wang with a photograph he had found tucked inside Charlie Wang's notebook. Lao Wang immediately recognized the woman in the picture as Lin Yuan, Charlie Wang's fiancée.
He described Lin Yuan as a kind and educated woman who was set to marry Charlie Wang. However, when Charlie Wang left for an expedition, Lin Yuan and his younger brother, Wang Da Shan, developed a relationship, and she became pregnant. Upon Charlie Wang's return, enraged by the perceived betrayal, he expelled Lin Yuan from the family during the New Year.
Luo Fei closely examined the photograph, noticing a strong resemblance between Lin Yuan and Lin Zai Chong, which led him to believe they were mother and son. He theorized that Lin Zai Chong’s actions against the Wang brothers might have been an act of revenge for his mother. Qin Xiaoman added that she had previously found documents for the Art Foundation in Liu Ming Xu's room, which stated Lin Yuan was pregnant when she was driven out.
Returning to the study to search for more clues, Luo Fei's gaze fell upon an unsmoked cigar in the ashtray. A realization struck him: it was Charlie Wang who had returned to his room that night, and Wang Da Shan had been the first victim. He concluded that the twin brothers, Charlie Wang and Wang Da Shan, looked so similar that Charlie had impersonated his brother.
His motive, Luo Fei posited, was to ensure that his entire inheritance would go to his son, Lin Zai Chong, and Lin Yuan. Charlie Wang, knowing his own imminent death, aimed to protect his loved ones from the wicked Wang Da Shan, who would have surely taken all the inheritance if it were left through legal means.
Luo Fei then received a phone call from Detective Supervisor Savoy, who informed him that Lin Zai Chong had visited his mother's home and both had hastily left, their current whereabouts unknown. Luo Fei deduced they were likely heading towards the villa, and Savoy informed him that he had already sent more men to prevent their escape from Shanghai. Luo Fei immediately led Qin Xiaoman to the underground ice cellar. There, they discovered Lin Zai Chong and Lin Yuan.
Lin Zai Chong admitted that he had rushed down the mountain to confront his mother after seeing the photograph and realizing Charlie Wang’s unusual kindness towards him, including leaving him the Art Foundation. He had just learned the shocking truth that Charlie Wang was his biological father. Luo Fei revealed to Lin Yuan and Lin Zai Chong that Charlie Wang had been diagnosed with a large, life-threatening tumor, explaining his drastic actions.
Knowing his days were numbered, Charlie Wang had orchestrated a "switch-body" murder, meticulously planning everything, including imitating Wang Da Shan's handwriting to draft a suicide note that absolved his son and Lin Yuan and shifted all blame to himself, before taking his own life.
Luo Fei recounted the sequence of events, explaining how Charlie Wang had tricked Wang Da Shan into drinking drugged wine and then switched clothes with him, manipulating the perceptions of Butler He and Lawyer Liu to create the illusion that Wang Da Shan was the killer. Lin Yuan, deeply moved and heartbroken by the revelations, explained her true past. She stated that she had never had an affair with Wang Da Shan.
Instead, Wang Da Shan had attempted to assault her while Charlie Wang was away, but he did not succeed. To cover his heinous act, Wang Da Shan maliciously accused her, leading to Charlie Wang’s tragic misunderstanding and her expulsion from the family, despite her being pregnant with Charlie's child.
She had kept this painful secret for twenty-two years, telling Lin Zai Chong that his father had died, until the discovery of the photograph and Charlie's death brought the truth to light. Lawyer Liu recalled an incident two months prior where he overheard an argument between Charlie Wang and Wang Da Shan, with Charlie accusing Wang Da Shan of egregious behavior, which suggested that Charlie had only recently learned the truth, leading him to plan his revenge.
With the truth finally laid bare, Luo Fei had Benjamin bring in Charlie Wang’s body from the temporary processing room. Lin Yuan, with Lin Zai Chong by her side, encouraged her son to acknowledge his father. Lin Zai Chong, overcome with emotion, called Charlie Wang "Dad" and promised that he and his mother would live good lives for his sake. Luo Fei then unveiled the true secret of the famous painting.
It contained no treasure map; rather, its scenery depicted a mysterious island between Spain and North Africa where Charlie Wang and Lin Yuan had once vacationed. The island held cherished memories for them, including Charlie’s proposal to Lin Yuan and the conception of Lin Zai Chong. Charlie Wang had acquired the painting and kept it hidden not for a literal treasure, but to preserve their private memories and prevent others from intruding upon their special island.
Qin Xiaoman was deeply moved by this profound demonstration of Charlie Wang’s enduring love for Lin Yuan. Luo Fei commented on the difficulty for a man to apologize and Charlie’s decision to spare Lin Yuan the pain of a brief reunion followed by another painful separation due to his terminal illness. Days later, Lin Zai Chong organized a painting exhibition.
He and his mother jointly decided to publicly display the famous painting, choosing to share Charlie Wang's love for his mother and the island with the world, rather than keeping it secret. Luo Fei and Qin Xiaoman received invitations to the event. Soon after, Detective Supervisor Savoy, Luo Fei, and Qin Xiaoman held a meeting. Savoy informed them of a prison report indicating a recent increase in visitors for Captain.
Luo Fei confirmed that the significant sum embezzled by the Jin Chamber of Commerce had indeed been transferred by Captain's organization, with direct evidence to prove it. This raised suspicions that Captain might be feigning his dementia. They decided to seek Huo Wen Si's assistance in monitoring Captain within the prison. Huo Wen Si readily agreed to help, viewing it as an opportunity to atone for his past actions.
Through his network, Huo Wen Si soon learned that Captain had a new successor named Jin Bu Bai, who was reportedly planning a major operation to establish his authority. While talking on the phone, Huo Wen Si was brutally attacked by Captain's subordinates, sustaining injuries that led to a concussion and his hospitalization. Luo Fei visited Huo Wen Si and found a small, crumpled note in his hand, bearing a stark warning: "Be careful of Captain Jin."
Episode 22 Recap
Jin Bu Bai dramatically tore down his own wanted poster before surrendering himself to the police station, where Ye Chang Qing immediately apprehended him. Sha Wei, the detective, visited Jin Bu Bai in jail, finding him surprisingly calm. Jin Bu Bai casually requested a gramophone to listen to music. When Ye Chang Qing scoffed at the idea of a gramophone in a death row cell, Jin Bu Bai retorted, "You're going to listen to me."
He then rattled off intimate details about Sha Wei's son studying in Japan, including a recent test score and a minor error. Jin Bu Bai also disclosed personal information about Ye Chang Qing's family in Anhui and Qin Xiaoman's upbringing as the first female police officer. Faced with such alarming knowledge, Sha Wei reluctantly agreed to Jin Bu Bai's demand, instructing Ye Chang Qing to retrieve the gramophone.
Ye Chang Qing complied, but not without a furious threat to Jin Bu Bai if his family were harmed. Jin Bu Bai then expressed a desire to meet Luo Fei. Initially, Luo Fei was reluctant, stating he was busy investigating a murder case and having dealt with Jin Bu Bai before, knew him to be "insane."
However, his interest was piqued when Sha Wei informed him that Jin Bu Bai claimed to have prepared three cases that would occur simultaneously, specifically for Luo Fei to solve. Upon meeting Jin Bu Bai, Luo Fei immediately pinpointed his true intentions for surrendering. Luo Fei asserted that Jin Bu Bai had two primary motives: Firstly, his trusted second-in-command, Wei Feng, had recently betrayed him, possessing a wealth of secret information about Jin Bu Bai's operations, men, and strongholds.
Jin Bu Bai feared an unstable situation and sought refuge in jail. Secondly, Luo Fei had just solved a case involving a female teacher's murder, and information suggested a chemistry professor, recently returned from America and known for smoking Camel Cigarettes, would soon be imprisoned there. Luo Fei deduced that Jin Bu Bai was interested in this professor. Jin Bu Bai confirmed, stating he wanted to discuss a "powerful virus formula" with the chemist.
He then added that while he once admired Luo Fei's crime-solving prowess, Wei Feng had recently overshadowed him in the newspapers. Jin Bu Bai made it clear that Wei Feng knew too much and that the "game is getting more fun now," indicating his intent to eliminate Wei Feng. Luo Fei, attempting to divert the threat, told Jin Bu Bai to target him instead, as Wei Feng was always with him, and then tried to leave.
Jin Bu Bai stopped him, producing a newspaper clipping with a photo of Wei Feng. Jin Bu Bai observed that Wei Feng was not a person who liked to smile, yet in the newspaper photo, he was beaming, not at the camera. He deduced that the photographer must be a beautiful woman with whom Wei Feng shared a deeply intimate relationship. He questioned if Wei Feng's betrayal was "because of this girl."
Luo Fei, realizing the danger, rushed to Wei Feng, urging him to bring his wife, Fu Yuan Yuan—a reporter for Hu Jiang Daily—to safety. Luo Fei explained that Jin Bu Bai knew about Fu Yuan Yuan and their relationship, believing she was the cause of Wei Feng's defection, thus putting her in grave danger.
Wei Feng, in a brief flashback, reflected on his undercover mission when he accidentally shot and paralyzed Lu Wen De's wife while trying to capture a criminal, earning Lu Wen De's lasting enmity. Luo Fei also speculated with Wei Feng and Qin Xiaoman that a note found earlier, mentioning "Captain Jin," might refer to Jin Bu Bai.
Wei Feng, meanwhile, received a call from an informant claiming to have a lead on Jin Bu Bai's virus plan and wanting to meet that night. Luo Fei immediately suspected a trap, pointing out the 1. 5-hour gap between his departure from the prison and Wei Feng's call, giving Jin Bu Bai ample time to arrange something despite being incarcerated. He advised Wei Feng to avoid the meeting, but Wei Feng felt the intelligence was too important to ignore.
Luo Fei found Fu Yuan Yuan on the street and tried to convince her to hide at his home, but she insisted she couldn't stop working and live "like a rat," promising to be careful. Wei Feng regretfully noted her stubbornness but vowed to protect her discreetly. Later, Qin Xiaoman joined Luo Fei and Wei Feng, bringing dumplings. Luo Fei instructed her to accompany them to meet Wei Feng's informant.
Wei Feng reiterated that the informant only wanted to meet him alone. Luo Fei agreed, telling Wei Feng to go up by himself while he, Qin Xiaoman, and police reinforcements waited downstairs. Shortly after Wei Feng entered the building, a gunshot echoed. Luo Fei, Qin Xiaoman, and the officers rushed upstairs. They found a man, identified as Tian Baichuan, dead inside the room.
Wei Feng stated he kicked the door open after hearing the shot and saw no one else, confirming the window was closed but unlocked. Luo Fei calculated that less than ten seconds passed between the gunshot and their discovery of the body. Ye Chang Qing then found a pistol under the bed. Wei Feng admitted the gun was registered to him, making him the prime suspect.
Luo Fei vehemently protested, insisting it was a setup by Jin Bu Bai, but Sha Wei, bound by the evidence, reluctantly arrested Wei Feng. Wei Feng, understanding the situation, pointed out other evidence against him, such as muddy footprints in the kitchen, and apologized to Ye Chang Qing. Luo Fei pleaded with Sha Wei for Wei Feng's release, or at least a single cell, which Sha Wei granted.
In prison, Wei Feng urged Luo Fei not to focus solely on his predicament, suggesting it might be a diversion by Jin Bu Bai. He reiterated his concern about the virus and recalled Tian Baichuan’s warning to "watch out for severe influenza." Luo Fei promptly instructed Qin Xiaoman to visit all major hospitals in the concession, collecting data on any severe influenza patients.
Soon after, Qin Xiaoman called Luo Fei (who was back at the crime scene with Benjamin), reporting three severe influenza patients at St. John International Hospital. Luo Fei rushed to the hospital. Dr. Hao, the doctor in charge, reassured them that the patients were stable and not in immediate danger, and their families resisted isolation. Qin Xiaoman had recorded the outbreak times and scattered locations of the first three patients. Sha Wei confirmed two more cases from other hospitals.
Luo Fei, mapping the points and calculating the time intervals between each case (30, 15, 25, 20 minutes), deduced that the perpetrator was "walking," concluding that these were "man-made continuous poisoning" incidents. He theorized that Jin Bu Bai was conducting a "test" on individuals of different ages, genders, and physiques to assess the virus's effects and contagiousness, possibly also testing the hospital's response capabilities. He warned that more severe cases were imminent.
Luo Fei then instructed Sha Wei to deploy half the police force to search for the walking poisoner. Amidst these developments, Sha Wei received an urgent call from the prison: Lu Wen De, a Director from the Public Concession Bureau, had ordered Wei Feng's immediate execution, citing "major crimes against public safety." Sha Wei explained to Luo Fei that Lu Wen De was acting on a long-held grudge after Wei Feng accidentally paralyzed his wife during his undercover work.
They now had until that evening or the next morning at the latest before Lu Wen De would proceed with the execution. Luo Fei declared he must find evidence to crack the sealed room murder before Wei Feng was killed. Sha Wei left to confront Lu Wen De, leaving Luo Fei and Benjamin to return to the crime scene. At the murder scene, Benjamin confirmed no new traces besides those of the victim and Wei Feng.
Luo Fei speculated that the killer might have hidden in a secret compartment within the room, but previous checks had found solid walls. He then revisited the idea of the killer escaping through the unlocked window within ten seconds.
He considered the possibility of two killers working together, one to kill and throw the gun, the other to assist in the swift escape, but Benjamin argued that even with two, the actions, including the muddy footprints in the kitchen, were too complex for such a short timeframe. Fu Yuan Yuan arrived, distraught about Wei Feng's impending execution, and sought an update from Luo Fei.
Luo Fei reassured her, sharing his new theory that the sealed room was a "psychological" illusion. He suggested the killer had pre-arranged the scene and fired the shot from an adjacent room on the same floor to frame Wei Feng. They decided to question the neighbors.
However, Benjamin later reported that all other apartments on the floor were occupied by long-term residents with no suspicious activity around the time of the murder, thus ruling out the "shooting from next door" theory and leaving Luo Fei baffled about what truly transpired on that floor.
Episode 23 Recap
The order to execute Wei Feng was delivered to the prison, and Lu Wen De personally oversaw the guards preparing for the task. Superintendent Sha Wei pleaded for more time for Luo Fei, but Lu Wen De was adamant that the execution proceed immediately. Meanwhile, Luo Fei, whose eyes were red from sleepless nights, was too distraught to eat the wonton soup Qin Xiaoman brought him.
He was struggling with the case, but a comment from Qin Xiaoman about opening a window for "ventilation" suddenly sparked a realization. Luo Fei remembered the vent in the crime scene room. Investigating it further with Qin Xiaoman, he discovered tobacco ash and firecracker fragments inside. Understanding the killer's modus operandi, Luo Fei frantically called the police station to stop the execution. However, Lu Wen De was determined to proceed.
As Wei Feng was being led to the firing squad, Sha Wei attempted to intervene. Lu Wen De furiously threatened to execute Sha Wei as well, but the prison's Chief Chen insisted on taking an incoming call. This momentary distraction allowed Sha Wei to physically shield Wei Feng from Lu Wen De’s gun, taking a shot in his arm.
Chief Chen then arrested Lu Wen De on the orders of the Municipality, who had been informed of Lu Wen De's disruption of prison order. Luo Fei arrived and explained to Lu Wen De how the killer had murdered Tian Bai Chuan beforehand with a silenced pistol, then removed the silencer and hid the gun.
The killer then used a cigarette with a firecracker fuse inserted into it, throwing it into the narrow vent, which acted as a natural amplifier, to simulate a gunshot. This ruse allowed the killer to escape through a pre-designed window before Wei Feng and Luo Fei arrived, controlling the timing with the length of the cigarette. Lu Wen De, though arrested, defiantly declared that if the real culprit wasn't caught, Wei Feng would remain imprisoned for life.
Convinced by Luo Fei that keeping Wei Feng jailed would only aid Jin Bu Bai's larger scheme, Superintendent Sha Wei decided to release Wei Feng. Wei Feng's informant, Tian Bai Chuan, had hinted at a more terrible plan involving a virus, and the incident at St. John Hospital was just the tip of the iceberg.
Shortly after Wei Feng's release, his wife, Yuan Yuan, came to pick him up and joyfully informed him that she was pregnant, a revelation that left Wei Feng overjoyed. However, Luo Fei soon received grave news: one of the five severe flu patients at St. John Hospital had died. The situation was escalating, and Luo Fei grew increasingly concerned when he learned Yuan Yuan had received an anonymous letter and photographs, which she intended to report.
Luo Fei suspected this was Jin Bu Bai's doing, believing he had discovered Yuan Yuan's identity and was targeting her due to Wei Feng's perceived betrayal. Benjamin's examination confirmed Luo Fei's fears; the letter and photographs were coated with a potent, mixed poison powder. Yuan Yuan was poisoned, and only an antidote could save her. Luo Fei delivered the grim news to Wei Feng, who was devastated, regretting that his actions had endangered his loved ones.
To find a cure, Luo Fei decided to pursue two avenues simultaneously: a team of experts from the Concession Medical Association would work on developing an antidote, while Luo Fei and his team would investigate the hospital patients for clues. They began by questioning Dr. Hao about the deceased patient, Guo Yong Qiang, who had suddenly deteriorated despite showing signs of recovery. Benjamin's autopsy revealed Guo Yong Qiang died of poisoning, not flu, between 10:00 PM and 10:30 PM.
Given that no strangers had entered the ward, the killer was likely an acquaintance. The next day, shocking news arrived: Dr. Hao had apparently committed suicide in his office. At the crime scene, Dr. Hao was found slumped over his desk, a suicide note in his hand, and blood on his mouth and the note, with the door locked from the inside. Benjamin's initial assessment pointed to suicide, with cyanide found in his water glass.
However, Luo Fei quickly deduced it was murder. He pointed out the suicide note was written with black ink, but no black pen was found in the office. He revealed that the killer had added cyanide to Dr. Hao's water using ice, and then, after the doctor drank it, called him to prompt him to pick up a pre-prepared suicide note, faking his death.
Luo Fei further theorized that the killer precisely timed the call by observing Dr. Hao through a small cutout in the frosted glass office door, confirming the killer was present in the hospital, and likely one of the remaining four patients or their family members. During this intense investigation, Yuan Yuan suddenly collapsed at the hospital. Wei Feng immediately called for a doctor.
President Ouyang of the expert panel explained that the synthetic virus was incredibly complex, and the small amount of poison found on the photos was insufficient for analysis. They desperately needed a fresh sample of the poison powder to determine its composition. Desperate, Wei Feng went to the prison to confront Jin Bu Bai, demanding the antidote. Jin Bu Bai, philosophical about love and death, claimed he never created antidotes, only poisons.
However, he offered Wei Feng a deal: if Wei Feng would deliver a fake message to Luo Fei—that a truck with a false license plate would attack the water plant two days later at 8:00 AM—he would provide Wei Feng with a sample of the poison. To ensure Wei Feng's compliance, Jin Bu Bai injected him with a virus, promising an antidote in seven days if Wei Feng followed his instructions.
Wei Feng, thinking of Yuan Yuan and their unborn child, agreed. Luo Fei and Wei Feng began questioning the remaining four patients and their families. Their attention soon fell on Old Huang, Xiao Hu's father, who seemed suspicious. When they arrived at Old Huang's house, they found him dead. Qin Xiaoman discovered a packet of the virus powder in the house. Wei Feng immediately grabbed the car keys, intending to rush the sample to President Ouyang for analysis. Luo Fei, however, insisted on accompanying him. As they drove, Luo Fei confronted Wei Feng, questioning him about Old Huang's death, implying Wei Feng might be responsible.
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
In the car, Luo Fei confronted Wei Feng, accusing him of killing Lao Huang. Luo Fei pointed out Wei Feng’s immediate and certain declaration of Lao Huang's death, even before a coroner's examination, as an unnatural reaction. He directly questioned Wei Feng, suggesting such certainty could only come from being the killer. Wei Feng confessed that he had gone to Lao Huang’s house to forcefully obtain the poison needed to save his pregnant wife, Yuan Yuan.
He claimed he was unaware of Lao Huang's heart condition and that Lao Huang died during the confrontation despite Wei Feng's attempts at resuscitation. However, Luo Fei observed cigarette burns on Lao Huang’s arm, which Wei Feng admitted were from his "lightest" interrogation methods. Luo Fei further deduced that Wei Feng had known about Lao Huang and the poison through Jin Bu Bai, implying a secret meeting between them.
He surmised that Wei Feng hadn't taken the poison directly to the experts because he had made a deal with Jin Bu Bai, which required him to maintain his cover and perform additional tasks. Luo Fei then challenged Wei Feng to choose between trusting Jin Bu Bai or him.
Wei Feng admitted that Jin Bu Bai had unnerved him by asking if he wanted to see his child again, a manipulation that resonated deeply after Jin Bu Bai had injected him with a poison set to take effect in seven days. Luo Fei, however, reassured Wei Feng that the injection was likely fake, as Jin Bu Bai would have no need to implicate Wei Feng in Lao Huang's death if the poison was genuinely lethal.
After their discussion, Luo Fei and Wei Feng rushed to the hospital. There, President Ouyang informed them that the virus's components had been analyzed, and an antidote could be produced within half a day. However, Yuan Yuan's condition was worsening. Wei Feng then shared critical information with the police, revealing that Lao Huang, a rickshaw driver working for Jin Bu Bai, was responsible for poisoning four initial victims, including Guo Yong Qiang and Chen Da Li.
Wei Feng clarified that Lao Hu, Lao Huang's son, was accidentally poisoned by touching residual powder on his father's rickshaw, not intentionally. Lao Huang, a cautious man, had taken his son to a smaller, different hospital to avoid detection, but the police's consolidation of all patients inadvertently brought them together. Guo Yong Qiang was killed because he recognized Lao Huang and questioned him about suffering a headache after riding his rickshaw, which alerted Lao Huang.
Wei Feng explained that Lao Huang then used a second type of poison, also from Jin Bu Bai and the same as the one affecting Yuan Yuan, on Guo Yong Qiang. The combination of the two poisons proved instantly fatal. Dr. Hao was murdered because he discovered Lao Huang's poison bottle during a ward check and asked about its contents, warning Lao Huang not to give strange things to children.
Panicked, Lao Huang created a diversion by having Xiao Hu dance in the ward to attract attention, then killed Dr. Hao. Luo Fei concluded that Wei Feng had been manipulated by Jin Bu Bai. Lao Huang's unauthorized poisonings and self-exposure made him a liability. Jin Bu Bai, aware of Lao Huang's severe heart condition, used Wei Feng to confront him, knowing Lao Huang would likely die from the stress, thus eliminating a rogue subordinate and framing Wei Feng for murder.
Wei Feng then relayed Jin Bu Bai's "fake" message: a truck with a fake license plate would attack the water plant tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM to poison the city's water supply. Luo Fei immediately recognized that while the attack was real, the timing was a misdirection. He deduced the actual attack would occur now, during the day's peak water usage between 4:45 PM and 5:45 PM, when residents were cooking dinner.
Luo Fei urgently instructed Sha Wei to contact the Municipality and demand an immediate shutdown of all water plant pipes before 4:45 PM. Moments later, Sha Wei confirmed the water plant was indeed under attack with an explosion and perpetrators attempting to poison the pool. Fortunately, the pre-emptive pipe shutdown prevented the poisoned water from spreading, and Ye Chang Qing's team successfully apprehended the culprits.
However, a critical oversight meant a small pipe supplying water to the staff accommodation was not shut off. As a result, 325 residents from 139 families in the staff accommodation drank the poisoned water. Facing this new crisis, Luo Fei decided to confront Jin Bu Bai directly. During their meeting, Luo Fei declared he had fully understood Jin Bu Bai's plan.
He stated that Jin Bu Bai’s voluntary imprisonment was not to meet the chemistry professor or to obtain the virus formula, but to kill the professor—his accomplice in creating the poison—to prevent anyone from fully deciphering the virus's characteristics. Jin Bu Bai, amused, implicitly confirmed this.
As a "reward" for Luo Fei’s cleverness in solving his puzzles and foiling the water plant attack, Jin Bu Bai announced he had created 200 "antidotes" for the 325 poisoned residents, with each of the 139 families receiving one. He specified that the "antidotes" could not be divided, or they would cause a terrible death, calling this a true test of love.
Jin Bu Bai then recounted a traumatic childhood experience: at eight years old, he was tricked by his stepmother into believing his biological mother was a "bad woman" and killed her, leading him to believe "love" was the greatest lie. Suddenly, Luo Fei, connecting Jin Bu Bai's strict condition for the "antidotes" to Guo Yong Qiang's rapid death, realized the horrific truth: the "antidotes" were, in fact, poison.
He reasoned that Jin Bu Bai's two separate poisons were not fatal on their own, but when combined, they became highly toxic, as seen with Guo Yong Qiang. Thus, Jin Bu Bai's twisted game was designed for those who took the "antidote" to die from the combined toxins, while those who selflessly gave it up would survive. Luo Fei immediately instructed Qin Xiaoman to alert Sha Wei and prevent anyone from consuming the supposed antidotes.
With Jin Bu Bai's entire scheme exposed and thwarted, Luo Fei informed him that Wei Feng and Yuan Yuan had safely left Shanghai, leaving Jin Bu Bai defeated and imprisoned. Shortly after, Luo Fei received news that Huo Wen Si had awakened. He and Qin Xiaoman rushed to the hospital. There, Huo Wen Si, who was being transferred back to the prison ward, revealed that he had been closely observing Captain and discovered that Captain was not insane.
He stated that Captain was incredibly intelligent and had maintained his facade of dementia with astonishing willpower, even fooling Huo Wen Si himself. Huo Wen Si explained his suspicion arose after overhearing Captain mumble "Xiao Lu" in his sleep. Huo Wen Si further revealed that Xiao Lu, a name linked to a previous tragedy, had died due to Huo Wen Si's own oversight, having personally sent him into Captain's hands.
Shocked by this, Luo Fei rushed to the prison to interrogate Captain about Xiao Lu’s death. However, Captain continued to feign madness, repeating, "I lost my stuff." Just then, Jin Bu Bai, who was being brought in by the police, taunted Luo Fei, suggesting he ask Captain what he had lost.
Jin Bu Bai then revealed that Captain was the leader of a powerful criminal organization called the Green Dragon Society, which he had tried to pass on to Jin Bu Bai when lucid. He also mentioned that Captain possessed an ancient jade pendant, a Ming emperor's artifact, which was the ultimate symbol of authority within the Green Dragon Society. As Captain continued to babble about losing his things, Luo Fei realized the immense danger this implied.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Huo Wen Si, having feigned illness, attacked and killed his attending physician, stole his clothes, and escaped. When Luo Fei returned to Huo Wen Si's ward, he was gone. Police initiated a citywide manhunt, eventually cornering Huo Wen Si on a bridge. Luo Fei ordered everyone back and confronted Huo Wen Si alone.
Luo Fei revealed he understood Huo Wen Si's entire scheme: his imprisonment, his pretense of helping to investigate Captain, and his intention to stimulate Captain's memories to find the jade pendant, thereby usurping leadership of the Green Dragon Society and becoming the new Captain. Luo Fei also linked Huo Wen Si to the missing funds intended for the Yellow River disaster, which he had used to establish authority within the organization.
Huo Wen Si confirmed he already controlled Captain's resources but needed the jade pendant to secure the loyalty of the old guard, necessitating his imprisonment to retrieve it from Captain. Luo Fei expressed his disappointment, questioning why a brilliant psychologist would pursue such a path of power. Huo Wen Si responded that even the best psychologist cannot change the world without power. He defiantly stated that Luo Fei would not get a testimony from him.
Huo Wen Si then produced a detonator, threatening to blow up the bridge, which he claimed was rigged with explosives, if Luo Fei didn't let him go. Sha Wei, fearing for Luo Fei's life, urged him to comply, but Luo Fei refused.
Luo Fei had already deduced Huo Wen Si's true intention: not to destroy the bridge, but to use four strategically placed bombs to collapse the road surface, allowing him to escape by falling into the river at a pre-designated safe spot. Luo Fei noticed a critical flaw in Huo Wen Si's plan: Huo Wen Si himself was not standing in the safe zone, while Luo Fei was.
Gambling on his deduction, Luo Fei asked Qin Xiaoman if she trusted him, then instructed her, Benjamin, and Ye Chang Qing to move to a specific "safe" location, and detonated one of the bombs himself. They were unharmed. Luo Fei then revealed he possessed another detonator and pointed out that the remaining two bombs were directly beneath Huo Wen Si's feet. He challenged Huo Wen Si to detonate them. Huo Wen Si responded with a bitter smile, his expression filled with despair, and detonated the remaining bombs. Simultaneously, back in prison, Captain suddenly displayed a chilling, enigmatic smile.
