Detective L Episode 21 Recap
> Detective L 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."
