Black & White Forest Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Black & White Forest Synopsis
The drama begins with a missing firearm, uncovering earth-shattering secrets buried in time. Young detective Wen Binbin, with the help of squad leader Xing Liang, embarks on a mission to recover his lost service weapon. Amidst relentless battles against criminal forces, Wen remains unwavering through trials and tribulations. Ultimately, he uncovers the truth, captures the mastermind, and eradicates the criminal syndicate in one decisive sweep.
Black & White Forest Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Binjiang PSB Director Tai Yongzheng asked who was leading the capture mission tonight. Captain Xing Liang replied that Liu Yong was taking Team No. 3, calling them the elite of Binjiang PSB. He described the target as a big fish he had pursued for years, adding that arresting him tonight would fulfill a six-year wish and mark a good start for him as the new captain.
Immediately after, Xing Liang received a call from Liu Yong, jumping up in shock and ordering Liu Yong to send someone to the hospital quickly. When Tai Yongzheng asked what happened, Xing Liang reported that Wen Binbin was attacked and his gun was lost. Two months later, at 6:00 a. m. , Wu, the Tuan Island Market Manager, was held captive in a large iron cage.
Chen Mingyuan, Chairman of Benniu Group and nicknamed Dian Lao'er, approached Wu, demanding to know the location of the account books belonging to the merchants on Tuan Island. Wu defiantly insulted Chen Mingyuan and told him to call him 'daddy'. Chen Mingyuan, angered, remarked that Bao Chenyan's subordinates were getting worse and lacked quality.
He threatened Wu, saying he would see if Wu's mouth was tougher than his dog Old Huang's teeth, and then let a large dog into the cage. Wu continued to yell insults at Chen Mingyuan. Elsewhere, Liu Yong reported to Captain Xing Liang that they had located the fugitive Zhou Yiwei, who was hiding at home. Liu Yong confirmed that the gun seen was indeed a police gun, as reported by the village mayor who visited Zhou Yiwei's mother.
Liu Yong added that Zhou Yiwei was alone, as the mayor had found a reason to call his mother out ten minutes prior. Chen Mingyuan arrived at the opening ceremony and charity auction at Birkin Paris Club. He attempted to sit at the main table but was told by Luo Tianyi, an employee of Tuan Island Trading Co., Ltd, that it was reserved for Bao Chenyan. Chen Mingyuan challenged him, asking if he wasn't worthy.
Another person quickly intervened and offered to arrange a larger table for Chen Mingyuan and his group, which Chen Mingyuan accepted. During the auction, Chen Mingyuan and Luo Tianyi engaged in a bidding war for an item. The tension rose until Bao Chenyan, Chairman of Tuan Island Trading, dramatically bid 880,000 yuan, immediately securing the item without further challenge.
Afterward, Bao Chenyan taunted Chen Mingyuan, calling him stingy and questioning why he accumulated so much money if he wouldn't spend it. Chen Mingyuan retorted. The exchange became heated, and Luo Tianyi grew agitated, while someone nearby received a text message stating that Wu had been caught by Dian Lao'er (Chen Mingyuan). Wen Binbin, who was in the restroom and overheard the commotion, emerged and tried to separate the two groups, urging them not to fight.
Bao Chenyan demanded that Chen Mingyuan release Wu and apologize to Wen Binbin as a condition for avoiding further conflict. Chen Mingyuan refused, stating his subordinates would not agree to an apology. The two groups erupted into a brawl. Amidst the chaos, a gunshot was fired, seemingly aimed at Bao Chenyan, but someone like Big Eye Chen intervened and was injured, later being sent to the hospital. Simultaneously, Xing Liang's team was moving in to apprehend Zhou Yiwei.
An explosion occurred at Zhou Yiwei's location. Liu Yong reported that according to preliminary analysis, Zhou Yiwei was dead before the explosion, which was caused by a gas leak. The police gun was not found. Xing Liang suspected a second person was present before Zhou Yiwei died and ordered an expanded search to find the gun. Wen Binbin called Xing Liang to report the fight and the gunshot at Birkin Paris, advising him to bring in riot police.
Xing Liang and his team arrived and brought Chen Mingyuan, Bao Chenyan, and Wen Binbin back to the station for questioning. After giving his statement, in which he said he only saw a vague silhouette of the shooter, Wen Binbin wandered around the police station, greeting his former colleagues, including Liu Yong. Wen Zixuan, President of Wen Group and Wen Binbin's sister, came to the station to see Xing Liang. She brought food, claiming it was for a dog.
She asked Xing Liang if the case involved Wen Binbin and urged him to treat everyone gently, especially if Wen Binbin was involved. Xing Liang later gave the food to Bao Chenyan, telling him it was from Wen Zixuan. Bao Chenyan ate it while Xing Liang questioned him about the gun. Bao Chenyan maintained that he was a victim and insisted Xing Liang should question the shooter. He recounted seeing someone raise the gun during the confusion.
He claimed many people wanted him dead, including Chen Mingyuan, who wanted to take over Tuan Island business, and surprisingly, also Xing Liang. Wen Binbin visited his former office and spoke with his colleagues, bringing them snacks. Liu Yong cautioned the others not to be influenced by Wen Binbin, who was currently suspended, leading to a tense exchange between Wen Binbin and Liu Yong.
Wen Binbin then provided a tip about a suspicious person seen sneaking out of Lian's house on the east side of Baisha Village shortly before the explosion, describing their height and dark clothing, noting they were likely not from the village and the description matched the shooter at Birkin Paris. Liu Yong found the information reliable and considered combining the Zhou Yiwei and Birkin Paris cases if concrete evidence linked them. He ordered further investigation based on the tip.
As Bao Chenyan and Wen Binbin were preparing to leave the station after their statements, a security guard stopped Wen Binbin, telling him Xing Liang wanted to speak with him. Wen Binbin went to Xing Liang's office. Xing Liang informed Wen Binbin that the ballistics analysis of the bullet fired at Birkin Paris confirmed it came from the police gun Wen Binbin had lost.
He emphasized that reporting information about the case was Wen Binbin's duty and crucial for his return to duty. Wen Binbin accused Xing Liang of targeting him and pretending to be righteous, especially towards his sister, and said he would have exposed him if not to spare his sister pain. Xing Liang reiterated that responsibility for the lost gun lay with Wen Binbin and that the ballistic report confirmed its use in the shooting.
Episode 2 Recap
Two months ago, Wen Binbin was deeply upset about losing his police gun and felt useless, wondering if he was cut out to be a cop. He apologized to his deceased father and his sister, Wen Zixuan. Bao Chenyan stopped him, urging him not to give up, saying he just needed to find the gun. Wen Binbin felt things were different now, with no turning back.
Bao reminded Wen Binbin that their father's dying wishes were for Wen Binbin to be a police officer and for Bao Chenyan to transform into a legitimate businessman and protect Tuan Island Market, the foundation of their family. Bao acknowledged their individual struggles but suggested Wen Binbin come to Tuan Island Market or the company. He explained that with so many people and a large flow of information, it might help Wen Binbin find his gun.
Meanwhile, Xing Liang discussed Wen Binbin's situation with Tai Yongzheng, emphasizing that even though suspended, Wen Binbin was still a police officer and shouldn't lose his professional aspirations. Tai Yongzheng agreed, thinking sending Wen Binbin to Bao Chenyan's company would be a good opportunity for grassroots experience to help find the gun quickly, but stressed he must not investigate as a police officer. Tai Yongzheng showed Xing Liang the ballistics report confirming the gun used was Wen Binbin's police weapon.
Tai Yongzheng called the situation a "big deal," warning that if they couldn't solve it, both their jobs were at risk. He asked Xing Liang if he could solve the case in ten days. At the emergency medical center, a man lay injured, having been shot protecting Bao Chenyan. He told Bao he was lucky the bullet didn't go through and it was just a scratch. Bao felt he owed the man his life.
Tu Manjiang arrived and told them they were brothers, no one owed anything, finding their conversation cheesy. Tu Manjiang reminded Bao that the Tuan Island project was at a critical stage and the gunshot was unwelcome trouble, urging Bao not to act rashly as the project was vital for their transformation into legitimate business. Luo Tianyi arrived, reporting they still hadn't found Wu. He immediately suspected Dian Lao'er was behind the shooting, asking Bao if they should confront him.
Tu Manjiang questioned if Luo Tianyi had any evidence, to which Luo Tianyi replied they weren't police and didn't need evidence, arguing that no one else in the city would want to target Bao. He accused Dian Lao'er of using dirty tricks to compete for Tuan Island. Tu Manjiang thought Dian Lao'er was cunning but doubted he had the courage to hire a killer, though Luo Tianyi insisted he would even attack them on the street.
The two argued heatedly until Bao Chenyan stopped them, expressing frustration. Bao stated he was now a legitimate businessman but wouldn't stand idly by after being attacked, vowing to teach the attacker a lesson about the rules. Tu Manjiang worried Bao would ruin everything out of anger, but Bao dismissed his concerns, telling him to stay out of it. Xing Liang told Tai Yongzheng that ten days were genuinely not enough.
Tai Yongzheng reminded Xing Liang of how he helped him pursue and marry Wen Zixuan years ago during a relay race, implying Xing Liang owed him. Xing Liang still insisted ten days was insufficient, suggesting Tai Yongzheng try solving it himself. Tai Yongzheng emphasized the severity of the case—a police gun firing meant the procuratorate would get involved—and warned that with Wen Zixuan so anxious, Xing Liang's life wouldn't be easy if it wasn't resolved quickly.
He proposed that solving this case well was the key to Wen Binbin's return to the force. Finally, Tai Yongzheng relented and gave Xing Liang half a month. Wen Binbin visited the police station, bringing coffee for everyone. Liu Yong instructed the others to keep working and ignore him. Wen Binbin offered coffee to Fei Zai and asked how the investigation was going. Liu Yong tried to send him away, but Fei Zai suggested Wen Binbin might have a clue.
Indeed, Wen Binbin presented them with footage from a drive recorder. He identified it as showing the license plate Hai A73011, belonging to the shooter's vehicle. Liu Yong initially dismissed him but took the footage. Wen Binbin was frustrated by Liu Yong's attitude, pointing out he was providing clues voluntarily and felt like a "loser" who still managed to find something faster than them.
Liu Yong reviewed the footage, confirming it matched the basic characteristics of the suspect seen near Birkin Paris Club, and informed Wen Binbin that the procuratorate was coming for a meeting. Wen Binbin tried to follow Xing Liang to the meeting, feeling responsible for helping, but Xing Liang directed him away from the internal police briefing.
Later, police officers discussed whether they were being too hard on Wen Binbin, acknowledging that his finding the dashcam footage had significantly advanced the investigation and saved them considerable time. Back at the docks, Bao Chenyan's men searched for Wu, hearing shouts in a Shanxi dialect from a boat, which they believed was Wu. They asked an old man if he had seen a person matching Wu's photo, but he denied it.
Insisting, they pushed past the man and began searching the boats, stating Wu was their brother and they would compensate for any damage. One of them contacted "Gui," a subordinate of Dian Lao'er, reporting the search. Gui relayed the information to Dian Lao'er, who ordered him to stop them and said he was coming. Bao's men searched frantically, calling out Wu's name. Dian Lao'er arrived with his men, confronting Bao's group, claiming the area was not Bao's territory.
Bao's man stated they knew Wu was there and demanded his release or they would fight. Dian Lao'er responded with threats, and a brief fight ensued. When Bao's men realized they were outnumbered, they retreated. Dian Lao'er ordered his men to stop. Bao's man scolded his subordinate for not raising the alarm or running earlier and told him to go to the hospital. He vowed to return for Wu later.
Back at their base, Tu Manjiang's side worried about the police being aware of the incident, but Bao's man insisted they would make Dian Lao'er pay. Wen Zixuan confronted Bao Chenyan, asking why he was causing trouble and acting like a hothead, predicting his actions would lead to him ending up in the ICU or jail. Bao argued that Dian Lao'er had targeted his brother, making it impossible for him to tolerate.
Wen Zixuan reminded him of their father's deathbed wish for Bao to be a legitimate businessman. Bao claimed he was making an effort, even hiring a stylist, but Wen Zixuan insisted he needed to "do" legitimate business, not just look the part. She warned that his old methods wouldn't work now that he was trying to change and that the police were fully investigating the major incident involving the gunshot, urging him not to take unnecessary actions.
Bao agreed not to escalate if Dian Lao'er behaved, adding he was curious to see how the police would handle it. Wen Zixuan then expressed her worry about Wen Binbin, remembering he was nearby when the gun went off. Bao reassured her Wen Binbin was fine and thanked her for being there for him since his suspension. Wen Zixuan felt their father had favored Bao over Wen Binbin. Just then, Wen Binbin arrived and saw them talking.
Feeling unwelcome, he left angrily after Wen Zixuan said it was adult business. Wen Zixuan followed, asking what was wrong. Wen Binbin complained that Xing Liang had "kicked down the ladder," calling him a selfish hypocrite for not involving him in the case discussion despite him finding crucial evidence like the dashcam footage. Wen Zixuan defended her husband, telling Wen Binbin to retract his words and asking if he was guilty of something.
Wen Binbin denied it, blaming Xing Liang for screwing him over, and declared he would no longer help them and would investigate on his own. Wen Zixuan warned him not to cause trouble or make things worse. Wen Binbin explained he had no choice; the procuratorate was investigating because his lost gun was confirmed as the weapon used, putting his police career in jeopardy.
Wen Zixuan acknowledged the urgency, agreeing they had to find the gun quickly for him to regain his position. Wen Binbin promised he understood and wouldn't do anything foolish, reiterating he was a good man now. A female police officer informed Xing Liang that surveillance footage from Birkin Paris suggested a connection between Chen Mingyuan and the shooter.
Simultaneously, the shooter called Chen Mingyuan, demanding payment for the "work" and arguing about whether the goal was merely to scare or to kill. The shooter threatened to get double payment from Bao Chenyan and demanded a total of 500,000 yuan, including "moral damages," setting a time and place for the exchange that night and warning Chen Mingyuan of the consequences if he failed to show up.
Xing Liang learned that Chen Mingyuan had just withdrawn 500,000 yuan from the bank. He found Chen Mingyuan eating and joined him, showing him the Birkin Paris surveillance video. Xing Liang pointed out the shooter, identifiable by a long red scarf, was consistently looking at Chen Mingyuan throughout the incident and was at least ten meters away, indicating they must know each other for Chen Mingyuan to track his movements visually. Chen Mingyuan denied knowing the shooter, claiming poor eyesight.
Xing Liang questioned why Chen Mingyuan was carrying such a large amount of cash and threatened to show the video to Bao Chenyan. Faced with this pressure, Chen Mingyuan immediately confessed he was being blackmailed and asked for police assistance. Wen Binbin's team had developed a sketch of the suspect, noting a mole on his neck and a necklace.
Luo Tianyi ordered all available men to search the entire city for the man based on the sketch and to check the car associated with the license plate Hai A73011. Xing Liang instructed Fei Zai's team, who had located the suspect, to proceed carefully as the person was armed and highly dangerous. Police units were alerted to the suspect's location in Changwei Alley and were warned to be vigilant. They moved to apprehend the suspect.
The shooter briefly called Dian Lao'er, warning him not to involve the police. The call was cut off. Immediately after, the shooter called Xing Liang directly. He warned Xing Liang that the police had broken the rules and would pay the price. Xing Liang spoke of the rule of law and the inevitability of meeting.
The shooter chillingly responded that the police gun, after being sealed for two months, was now unleashed and couldn't be stopped, urging Xing Liang to hurry. The police attempted to arrest the suspect, but the person they apprehended turned out to be a delivery man named Li Zhi, who had been paid 200 yuan to pick something up and only briefly saw the suspect, describing his height and build but not his face due to a hat. The police blocked off the area and began interrogating the delivery man while the true shooter remained at large.
Episode 3 Recap
Two months ago, Wen Binbin and his captain, Liu Yong, were part of an elite team from Binjiang Police on a mission to apprehend a major target. During the operation, Wen Binbin stepped away briefly and was assaulted, losing his gun. The Provincial Department contacted Liu Yong about the incident and Wen Binbin's status. Liu Yong recommended suspending Wen Binbin from duty. Chen Mingyuan was brought in for questioning by Xing Liang and his team.
He insisted that he had told the police everything he knew and that the people involved were dangerous outlaws. He expressed fear that since they knew he had betrayed them, and if the police didn't trust him, he would be caught in the middle with no recourse. Xing Liang urged him to calm down, explaining they needed his cooperation to catch the person quickly so he could be at peace.
Chen Mingyuan agreed to cooperate, explaining he contacted the individual only through online games, and the person would then call him back using disposable SIM cards, making tracing impossible. Seeing that Chen Mingyuan was not yielding more information, Xing Liang decided to release him, believing this might lead him to make a mistake, but instructed Liu Yong to keep him under close surveillance.
Liu Yong reported to Xing Liang that Wen Binbin had tried to come to the station but was stopped as instructed. Xing Liang expressed frustration, questioning why it was so difficult for Wen Binbin to just follow orders. Liu Yong defended Wen Binbin, noting that losing his gun was a significant blow to him, and his anxiety was understandable.
Xing Liang countered that he should have focused on not losing the gun in the first place, recalling that Wen Binbin was given a severe punishment precisely to temper his impulsive nature. Liu Yong acknowledged Wen Binbin could be reckless but highlighted his capabilities, quick thinking, extensive contacts, and skill in finding clues, arguing his involvement in the case was logical and that he might even bring unexpected success to the unit.
Liu Yong suggested that after the reprimand, they should offer some encouragement, perhaps by having Fei Zai talk to him, to prevent him from losing his motivation entirely. Xing Liang dismissed the idea, telling everyone to go home and rest after a long day. Meanwhile, Luo Tianyi returned to find his associate, Er'leng, visibly troubled. Er'leng was worried about Wu, one of their five brothers who came from Wujing, who hadn't been released yet.
He feared Wu would be upset about his neglected plants upon returning. Wen Binbin called Luo Tianyi, asking about Chen Mingyuan. Tianyi reported that Chen Mingyuan was under constant police surveillance, making direct contact impossible. Wen Binbin instructed Tianyi to pressure Chen Mingyuan, telling him to "test him." Seeking information on the shooter, Wen Binbin visited a shroud shop owner, a former thief with extensive contacts who claimed to have left the underworld.
The owner initially feigned ignorance but eventually shared some gossip. He mentioned a wanted criminal, Zhou Yiwei, who returned to Baisha Village with a gun and died a week later, specifically on the night of Bao Chenyan's incident, with the gun also missing. He implied the death was related to the gun and that only outsiders would dare to handle such a weapon locally due to the risk.
He described someone he saw who looked like Lei Da, known for being brutal and carrying a bag that might contain a gun, currently working security at the Thunder Game Room. Based on this information, Wen Binbin instructed Luo Tianyi and Big Eye Chen to take men and smash Dian Lao'er's places, including the game room, as a way to pressure him into releasing Wu. Later, Wen Binbin confronted the shroud shop owner again.
Under pressure, the owner confessed that a stranger wearing a hat and mask with a mole on his neck, resembling the shooter's portrait, had forced him to direct anyone asking about the gun towards Lei Da. He revealed the man had a slight Ninghai accent, similar to a friend of his, and confirmed the man had a distinctive tattoo he had seen years ago on someone hired for dirty work from Da An Alliance, an organization known for such activities.
He emphasized his fear of these people who seemed to know everything about him. Concurrently, police surveillance footage captured the shooter's car at an intersection. Though the face was obscured, a distinctive tattoo on the shooter's wrist was visible. Xing Liang sent Fei Zai to a local tattoo artist, Ling, known for her knowledge, telling them to mention Wen Binbin's name.
At the tattoo parlor, Ling amusingly mistook them for clients sent by Wen Binbin for a Snoopy tattoo on their backside before they clarified they were police investigating a case. They showed her the blurry image of the tattoo, which she identified as a specific pattern. The pressure from Bao Chenyan's side, specifically Luo Tianyi smashing Dian Lao'er's shops, escalated the conflict. Dian Lao'er called Bao Chenyan, complaining about the damage and demanding money.
Bao Chenyan responded that he wouldn't pay and instead demanded Wu's return. Dian Lao'er challenged Bao Chenyan to a fight at Julong Dock that afternoon at 4 o'clock, proposing that the winner would take Wu and the loser would leave Tuan Island. Bao Chenyan accepted the challenge, agreeing not to involve the police. Both sides prepared for the confrontation. Bao Chenyan privately instructed his men not to inform Wen Binbin about the meeting.
At the appointed time, Bao Chenyan and Dian Lao'er faced each other at Julong Dock with their respective groups of men. Xing Liang, however, arrived with a police presence before the fight could begin. Chen Mingyuan was also present. Xing Liang lightheartedly asked if they were having a square dancing contest, before pointedly questioning Bao Chenyan's age and suggesting he was still playing gangster.
He reminded Bao Chenyan not to let his "side business" interfere with his legitimate one, warning that if the "alpha dog" was gone, the rest would scatter. Understanding the veiled threat, both Bao Chenyan and Dian Lao'er agreed to stand down. Xing Liang ordered everyone to leave their weapons behind as "props." Dian Lao'er's associate, Er'leng, left with Bao Chenyan's group, indicating Wu was recovered. As the groups dispersed, police officers discussed the decision not to make arrests, stating that the law would eventually catch up to them when sufficient evidence was gathered.
Episode 4 Recap
Two months ago, Xing Liang returned home late and quietly entered, attempting not to wake Wen Zixuan. However, she was awake and waiting for him on the sofa. She suggested he wasn't afraid of waking her but rather avoiding facing her. Xing Liang stated he was merely following regulations and that the punishment for losing a gun, a serious mistake, was reasonable. He asked if she expected him to abandon his principles just because Wen Binbin is her brother.
Wen Zixuan clarified she wasn't asking him to violate principles but to speak up for Wen Binbin within the rules. Xing Liang felt the punishment was beneficial for Wen Binbin, describing him as someone who "never gets his work done," associating with questionable people and not behaving like a police officer. Wen Zixuan became upset, accusing Xing Liang of never saying anything positive about Wen Binbin and seeing him as "nothing."
She concluded he didn't consider himself part of the Wen family, echoing her father's past sentiment. Xing Liang countered, asking if she truly considered him part of the family. Their argument woke their daughter, Feifei, who asked them to stop fighting. Wen Zixuan quickly assured Feifei they weren't fighting, just speaking loudly. Later, Bao Chenyan confronted Wen Binbin, explaining that someone was intentionally trying to provoke conflict between their group and Dian Lao'er, and it was fortunate they didn't retaliate.
He suspected Wen Binbin had called Xing Liang about the situation. Wen Binbin was angered by the suspicion and lack of trust. Bao Chenyan asked who Wen Binbin was calling secretly in the car. Outside, Luo Tianyi observed someone handling chains, joking about them playing "the Ghost," who captures souls. The person replied they used the chains to "lock up traitors." Hearing a noise inside, they rushed in to find Wen Binbin had been knocked unconscious.
In the Captain's Office, Captain Xing received information from the Na Meng Public Security Bureau, combined with clues from Wen Binbin, identifying the potential suspect as Sun Changhai. They began tracking him but found his identity information showed no activity for seven months, suggesting he might have another identity. They also noted the voice on Dian Lao'er's phone sounded like someone not from the north, making them suspect the clue about Sun Changhai might be a deliberate misdirection.
However, they decided to prioritize tracking Sun Changhai. Wen Binbin, having recovered, called Xing Liang. He suggested Xing Liang should give him credit for the day's events. Xing Liang responded angrily, saying he should be disciplining Wen Binbin, not giving credit. He told Wen Binbin to continue associating with Bao Chenyan and questioned why Wen Binbin didn't report information today, reminding him of his duty as a police officer. Liu Yong asked Xing Liang if Wen Binbin was being framed.
Xing Liang reassured him, stating that Bao Chenyan's relationship with Wen Binbin meant he wouldn't make trouble for him. He also believed Wen Binbin was smart enough to figure out the police had tampered with Dian Lao'er's phone and could handle himself. Back with Bao Chenyan, Wen Binbin expressed his deep disappointment at their lack of trust after years of being brothers.
He felt if they couldn't trust each other, there was no point in continuing their brotherhood and it was better to part ways. As he tried to leave, he was forcibly stopped and knocked unconscious again. Liu Yong asked Xing Liang if they should send someone to check on Wen Binbin, concerned for his safety. Xing Liang initially dismissed the idea, suggesting Wen Binbin needed to handle such matters himself if he wanted to succeed.
However, Liu Yong pointed out that Wen Binbin was part of their team and had helped them. Xing Liang relented, instructing Liu Yong to send someone to check in thirty minutes. Xing Liang then discussed the volatile situation with Liu Yong, noting that while Bao Chenyan seemed relatively stable, Dian Lao'er was unpredictable, especially with the large financial interests involved in the Tuan Island renovation. He stressed the importance of monitoring both of them to ensure social stability.
Xing Liang also expressed a desire for Bao Chenyan to stay on the right path and avoid ruining his efforts by clashing with Dian Lao'er. Liu Yong commented on Bao Chenyan's apparent good fortune to have Xing Liang worry about his welfare. Separately, Chen Mingyuan received a call from his boss urging him to quickly finalize the Tuan Island matter. Chen Mingyuan confirmed he was handling it and was told to find all the shareholders.
Later, Chen Mingyuan told a subordinate that the list of Tuan Island shareholders was nearly complete. The subordinate asked if they were going to attack Bao Chenyan, but Chen Mingyuan dismissed the idea, giving him a strict deadline to deliver the list of all shareholders, threatening repercussions if he failed. Wen Binbin woke up for the second time and saw Bao Chenyan, who apologized for the day's events and had prepared a large meal.
Bao advised Wen Binbin to change his way of living, recalling how the "Old Master" (Wen Zixuan and Wen Binbin's father) had told him to be a decent person and do decent things before he passed away. Bao Chenyan admitted he sometimes found satisfaction in using force but felt Wen Binbin was naturally suited to be a police officer.
Wen Binbin voiced his frustration, explaining that while everyone expected him to wear a police uniform because of his father, no one considered if it suited him or made him comfortable. Bao Chenyan emphasized the vastness of the Wen family's business, noting Wen Zixuan was a woman and Wen Binbin was the only male heir.
Wen Binbin insisted he and his sister could manage and reminded Bao Chenyan that the Old Master had appointed him a "life-protecting minister" and made him promise to look after them, suggesting Bao Chenyan shouldn't go back on his word, despite Bao Chenyan calling himself an outsider. Li Xiangyuan called Xing Liang, inviting him to dinner at his family's canteen, which he jokingly described as a place for exploiting wealthy, naive individuals.
Arriving at the underground garage of the building, Li Xiangyuan encountered a drunk Wen Binbin and Bao Chenyan. Wen Binbin, clearly inebriated, recognized Xing Liang as his brother-in-law and tried to engage him, but quickly became aggressive, pushing Xing Liang and calling him a bad police officer for pushing him, whom he referred to as "the people." He also made comments questioning Xing Liang's relationship with the Wen family and how well he had looked after Wen Binbin.
Xing Liang became furious, and the situation escalated into a physical altercation. Wen Zixuan and her secretary, Na Fan, arrived just as things were heating up. Wen Zixuan intervened, telling the men to quiet down in public. She played down the incident, attributing it to Wen Binbin's loud voice attracting Xing Liang's attention. Li Xiangyuan commented on the spectacle and left the scene.
Wen Zixuan told Bao Chenyan she wouldn't get involved in their disputes but stressed that Bao Chenyan needed to keep Wen Binbin in line, as Wen Binbin only listened to him. Bao Chenyan assured her that Wen Binbin was extremely important to him, describing him as his heart, liver, and three-quarters of his life. Wen Zixuan and Na Fan departed, with Bao Chenyan encouraging Wen Binbin to leave with them.
While having dinner, Li Xiangyuan advised Xing Liang to stop letting his old neighbors treat him like a personal bank, urging him to save money for his own needs. He acknowledged the help Xing Liang received from them when he was young but cautioned against helping those in poverty indefinitely with his modest salary.
Li Xiangyuan offered to act as the one who would refuse future requests on Xing Liang's behalf, but Xing Liang declined, stating he couldn't turn away people who had helped him. Just then, Xing Liang received a call from Fei Zai reporting that Chen Mingyuan was arranging another transaction with the shooter. Fei Zai mentioned that securing Chen Mingyuan's cooperation again would likely be impossible. Xing Liang told Fei Zai he was returning immediately.
The police planned their surveillance operation for Chen Mingyuan's meeting with the shooter, scheduled for 10 AM the next day at the long-distance bus station plaza near the Binjiang Holiday Express Hotel. They recognized the challenges of the location, with limited surveillance coverage and high foot traffic. Liu Yong suggested involving Dian Lao'er for assistance, but Xing Liang believed Dian Lao'er was too afraid of the ruthless shooter and too focused on his Tuan Island interests to cooperate.
Xing Liang instructed Liu Yong to prepare a detailed operational plan based on the site conditions while he coordinated with other police departments. Unbeknownst to them, Luo Tianyi's group was also observing. One of Luo Tianyi's men spotted an individual matching the shooter's description. However, Luo Tianyi, having overheard bus station announcements during a call with Fei Zai, suspected the police were already setting up.
He decided their team would not intervene directly but would position themselves at nearby intersections to capture the shooter if he evaded the police, ensuring their hands were clean if the police operation failed. At 11:30 AM, Chen Mingyuan arrived at the bus station. Police teams were instructed to primarily track the target. Chen Mingyuan bought a bus ticket for Shenchuan. The shooter then appeared, cut in line, and bought multiple tickets for the same bus, causing a disturbance.
He boarded the bus. Liu Yong and Fei Zai followed him. However, the shooter quickly got off the bus at an earlier stop, claiming he had boarded the wrong bus. He then led Liu Yong and Fei Zai on a chase. The shooter called Chen Mingyuan, expressing impatience and instructing him to meet at the Tonight's Date Internet Cafe on Datong East Road in ten minutes, threatening to leave if he was late. The police continued the pursuit.
After running for some time, the shooter needed to use the restroom and announced he was going to the nearby Wallace. At 1:05 PM, the police tracked the shooter's phone to the Wallace on Xinghuo North Road. Xing Liang realized Fei Zai was already inside and warned him to keep eyes on the suspect but to avoid taking any action.
Episode 5 Recap
Twenty-two years ago, Wen Liangsong, the founder of Wen Group, looked at a paper given to him by a young Bao Chenyan. Wen Liangsong remarked that he knew the situation back home wasn't good, but he didn't realize how bad it was. He asked Bao Chenyan about his plans for the future, and the young man replied that his parents told him to follow Wen Liangsong's arrangements, stating he was strong, could endure hardship, and could do anything.
Wen Liangsong agreed to let him stay and asked if he could drive. Bao Chenyan confirmed he had gotten his driver's license back home. Wen Liangsong then assigned him the task of driving his younger brother to and from school. Wen Liangsong told Bao Chenyan not to be formal and to treat this place as his home, mentioning there were four people in the family, including a cleaning lady, whom he would introduce later.
Chen Mingyuan was waiting outside a Wallace restaurant with money when he saw police cars arrive. He immediately called his subordinates, urging them to hurry and pick him up, sending them his location. Xing Liang and his team arrived at Wallace and found Fei Zai lying on the ground. Wen Binbin urgently wanted to see Fei Zai but was initially prevented from entering until Xing Liang allowed him past the other officers.
As Chen Mingyuan was about to leave, Xing Liang apprehended him and took him to his car to talk. Chen Mingyuan immediately claimed poor health and warned Xing Liang not to provoke him. Xing Liang informed him that a shot was fired at Wallace, and the gunman was the person who came to collect money from Chen Mingyuan. Chen Mingyuan feigned ignorance.
Xing Liang pressed him to reveal everything he knew, emphasizing that cooperation wasn't essential as the police would catch the person eventually, but he was giving Chen a chance now. Chen Mingyuan then pretended to have a medical episode and lay down. Xing Liang initially reacted with concern but quickly realized Chen was faking. Xing Liang tore open a packet of instant noodle seasoning and sprinkled it on Chen Mingyuan's face. Chen sneezed and sat up, declaring he was fine.
Xing Liang demanded to know the contact person's identity. Chen Mingyuan revealed it was Uncle Long in Gang City and offered to help them connect, but doubted they could catch the person. Xing Liang ordered him to contact Uncle Long immediately. Chen Mingyuan expressed fear, describing the people as ruthless and worrying that Xing Liang was pushing him into danger. Xing Liang dismissed his concerns, stating that Chen was involved from the start as he had brought them in.
He told Chen that his only option was to cooperate with the police to catch the suspect quickly. Chen Mingyuan agreed to help but insisted on police protection for his safety. Just then, Chen Mingyuan's phone rang; it was the shooter. Xing Liang instructed Chen on what to say. Chen answered, demanding the person's whereabouts and complaining that he was practically begging to give the money.
The shooter, identified as Dian Lao'er, told Chen Mingyuan he had guts for cooperating with the police and should save the money for his coffin, threatening to kill him within a month before hanging up. Chen Mingyuan became frantic, declaring he was finished and repeatedly pleaded with Xing Liang to guarantee his safety. On the way back, Chen Mingyuan was furious, complaining that he couldn't even give the money away.
He called it the most absurd thing he had ever experienced and grumbled about the police constantly monitoring him, likening them to dogs with sensitive noses. Chen Mingyuan's subordinate suggested the phone might have been bugged during the call. Chen Mingyuan immediately turned off his phone. Xing Liang asked Fei Zai what happened.
Fei Zai explained that he had received a message and was watching the suspect when the person likely discovered him and opened fire as Fei Zai prepared to leave. Xing Liang asked if he noticed anything unusual.
Fei Zai mentioned that the person seemed to be a food enthusiast, noting that he was eating burgers intensely and had three or four empty burger boxes and two cups of orange juice on his table, suggesting a preference for sweet and sour flavors like ketchup. Wen Binbin and Xing Liang considered the food clue, thinking it could be a lead. Wen Binbin suggested investigating single-item orders with large quantities.
They followed leads from food delivery services and located a potential hideout, which the suspect Sun Changhai had used. However, when they arrived, the person had already escaped. Wen Binbin and another investigator later sought out Lei Da, hoping for clues. They confronted him, asking about the suspect. Lei Da was referred to by the nicknames "Wolf" and "Coyote." Lei Da admitted knowing him, having met him in Shenchuan where they were from the same hometown and chatted briefly.
He didn't know his real name but confirmed the nicknames. He denied being close to him but acknowledged meeting him in Binjiang about a week prior. Lei Da described Coyote as having unsettling eyes and being intimidating, stating that people generally avoided talking to him. Lei Da revealed that Coyote had been spreading rumors blaming him for the incident at Birkin Paris Club. He pleaded that he only sold fake guns and wouldn't dare commit murder.
When asked why Coyote would frame him, Lei Da claimed ignorance but mentioned selling him a single fake gun. The investigators indicated they believed Lei Da but stressed the seriousness of the matter as the gun was used to shoot a police officer. They told him the only way to clear his name was to find Coyote, but Lei Da insisted he had no contact information.
Lei Da also received a call from his cousin in Ninghai, who was checking in on him and told him to wear warm clothes as it was getting cold there, mentioning the weather forecast. This call gave the investigators a new lead: the suspect, Coyote, had a cousin in Ninghai. Wen Binbin went to Wen Zixuan's home to find Xing Liang and inquire about the case progress. The discussion turned into another argument.
Wen Zixuan intervened and asked them both to leave. Outside, Wen Binbin commented that Xing Liang didn't seem like his sister's type. Xing Liang revealed that Wen Zixuan had considered divorcing him when he was suspended. Wen Binbin argued that Xing Liang wasn't to blame for his suspension, calling it an accident due to carelessness. Xing Liang then proposed a chilling possibility: what if losing the gun wasn't an accident, but a deliberate setup?
Xing Liang received updates on the investigation. A hamburger wrapper found in the trash bag at the hideout had the suspect's saliva, allowing for genetic extraction. This information, along with other details from Wallace, was being sent to a colleague named Na Meng. It was noted that Wen Binbin had found this clue, and Xing Liang acknowledged Wen Binbin's ability in solving cases.
Xing Liang then instructed that all materials on the suspect should also be sent to the Beichun police for assistance. Meanwhile, Chen Mingyuan and his subordinates discussed acquiring shares from small shareholders, calling them "flies" but still valuable. They decided to start with Li Ping, who held a 0. 2% stake. They planned to offer between 250,000 and 300,000 for his shares, resorting to violence if he refused. They proceeded to Li Ping's location.
Xing Liang and his team searched the suspect's hideout but found it empty. Xing Liang observed that the person was clearly experienced, having left quickly and leaving minimal useful clues behind. Fei Zai brought Xing Liang an item that Wen Binbin had found at the scene, which Wen Binbin believed might have been left by the suspect, asking if it could help. Fei Zai mentioned that Wen Binbin had already left.
Late at night, Wen Binbin confronted Xing Liang, demanding an update on the case within five minutes, citing the information he had provided. Xing Liang questioned Wen Binbin's confidence and right to make such demands. Wen Binbin claimed he could find information that others couldn't. Xing Liang was dismissive, saying he thought Wen Binbin had matured but his true nature was unchanged.
Wen Binbin expressed confusion about why they couldn't cooperate, emphasizing he didn't want his job back but only wanted to recover his gun. Xing Liang interpreted this as merely wanting to save face and stated he wouldn't seek Wen Binbin's help if he couldn't find leads. Wen Binbin retorted by mentioning how the shooter had repeatedly evaded Xing Liang right under his nose, questioning Xing Liang's competence and reminding him who had lost the gun initially.
Chen Mingyuan's men attempted to pressure Li Ping into selling his shares, increasing their offer to 280,000. When Li Ping refused, they began to beat him. Police arrived at the scene and stopped the assault. Later, Wen Binbin and Xing Liang were still outside Wen Zixuan's place after being asked to leave. Wen Binbin remarked on Xing Liang's apparent fear of his wife at home despite being a leader outside.
He reiterated his earlier point that Xing Liang did not seem like the type of person Wen Zixuan would like and wondered why she hadn't divorced him after so many years. Xing Liang admitted she had considered it when he was suspended. Wen Binbin argued that the suspension was an accident and not Xing Liang's fault. Xing Liang then pressed the possibility that the loss of his gun wasn't an accident but a setup.
He urged Wen Binbin to consider if he had offended anyone or if someone might have deliberately sabotaged him and stolen his gun. Wen Binbin replied that his conflicts were minor disputes, but pointed out that the gun went missing on Xing Liang's second day in office, questioning if it might be connected to him. Xing Liang emphatically denied any connection. Wen Binbin then questioned why he, of all people, would be specifically targeted.
Xing Liang commented that the gun had been sealed for two months and once it was used, it would be difficult to stop. He suggested Wen Binbin needed to quicken his pace in his investigation.
Episode 6 Recap
Thirteen years ago, Wen Binbin was held captive by Wild Jiang, the leader of the Binjiang gang. Bao Chenyan arrived with two million yuan and a contract offering ten percent of the Tuan Island market's management fee as negotiated with Mr. Wen. Wild Jiang was unsatisfied, questioning if Bao was giving orders and refusing to adhere to "rules" with a "useless driver," especially after they had called the police.
Bao argued that they had simply called the police, not anticipating interference. Wild Jiang agreed to release Wen Binbin but insisted Bao drink a large amount of wine as he found Bao displeasing. Bao drank the wine under duress while Wen Binbin pleaded for help. Later, Wen Binbin spoke with Xing Liang about his suspension after losing his gun. He asked if proving he was set up and recovering the gun would lead to his reinstatement.
Xing Liang, surprised by his apparent change in attitude, reminded him he was responsible for losing the gun but offered that his punishment could be adjusted based on the circumstances and if he made positive contributions while investigating. Wen Binbin confessed his previous despair, feeling the situation was hopeless and that he was unable to face his father's grave because failing to become a policeman, his father's only wish, made him feel like a failure.
Xing Liang conveyed a message from Tai Yongzheng: despite being suspended, Wen Binbin was still a police officer with duties, and he needed to seize the opportunity presented in Tuan Island and live up to the organization's trust. Wen Binbin asked about a recent phone call Xing Liang received. Xing Liang revealed that Ninghai had provided information: a fingerprint match identified a suspect as Sun Changhai, originally named Sun Hao, who had flown to Beichun that afternoon.
Wen Binbin immediately expressed a desire to go to Ninghai. Xing Liang cautioned him, reminding him of his suspended status and stating that the police would handle the arrest, emphasizing it was a capture mission, not an investigation. Xing Liang questioned his eagerness, noting Wen Binbin's lack of familiarity with Ninghai.
Bao Chenyan intervened, demanding Wen Binbin stay home and explaining that he had only been to Ninghai four times, the last being seven years prior, and that his presence would only be a hindrance. Wen Binbin insisted he would go regardless of their permission. Bao was equally firm, declaring Wen Binbin would not go anywhere and instructing Luo Tianyi to keep a constant watch over him, specifically forbidding him from setting foot in Ninghai.
Luo Tianyi took Wen Binbin to a bathhouse and tried to reason with him, explaining that Bao Chenyan was acting out of concern for his safety and recounting how Bao had given strict instructions to protect Wen Binbin. Luo Tianyi questioned the point of Wen Binbin going to a dangerous place like Ninghai where he was outmatched and couldn't do anything. Wen Binbin insisted he had to go for peace of mind.
He reiterated that being a police officer was the only thing he had ever truly cared about, having been directionless his whole life. He emotionally recounted his father's dying wish, made in front of his mother, sister, annoying brother-in-law, and Bao Chenyan, for him to become a cop.
He described the effort he put into getting into the police academy and the crushing shame of being suspended just two years later, which made him feel he had no face to see his father again. He challenged Luo Tianyi, asking if he could do nothing if given a chance to resolve the situation, and wondered how he could face his father's memory if he missed this opportunity. Despite Bao Chenyan's orders, Luo Tianyi accompanied Wen Binbin to Ninghai.
Before boarding the plane, Wen Binbin called Bao Chenyan to inform him they were leaving. Meanwhile, police officers, including Liu Yong and Fei Zai, were at a restaurant in Ninghai where Zheng Haotian, a leader within the Da An Alliance and effectively Sun Changhai (Sun Hao)'s father figure since his parents died young, was holding his 70th birthday banquet.
They discussed the low likelihood but familial obligation that might bring the fugitive Sun Changhai back, acknowledging the lack of other leads meant waiting was their only option. Back in Binjiang, Bao Chenyan reacted angrily to Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi's defiance. He then received a call from Dian Lao'er, who, surprisingly, proposed settling their conflict over Tuan Island not through violence but through a financial competition, to which Bao, after initial skepticism, agreed.
Bao's associate expressed concern about Dian Lao'er's unusual behavior, prompting Bao to decide to investigate him. The birthday banquet for Zheng Haotian began, and most of the regular service staff were dismissed. Sun Changhai, disguised as a waiter, approached Zheng Haotian to offer a toast and birthday wishes. Zheng Haotian expressed concern for Sun Changhai's safety, urging him to be careful. Sun Changhai briefly spoke with a man named Changhe.
Wen Binbin, also present at the restaurant with Luo Tianyi, observed the disguised waiter and felt something was wrong. Despite Luo Tianyi's dismissal, Wen Binbin followed Sun Changhai towards the kitchen area. Alerted by the increasing police presence and Fei Zai warning him, Sun Changhai attempted to escape. Wen Binbin pursued him, but Sun Changhai produced a gun and fled through a kitchen window, evading the police cordon. Following Sun Changhai's escape, police assessed the scene.
Liu Yong reported to Xing Liang that the suspect was likely prepared, entering through the kitchen window and escaping through a route in a surveillance blind spot. Tai Yongzheng called Xing Liang and severely reprimanded him for the failure, especially after a shot was fired, reminding him of his promise to recover either the man or the gun and stating he needed to clean up the mess.
Wen Zixuan also called Xing Liang, expressing furious concern for Wen Binbin who was nearly shot, stating she had already sent Na Fan to Ninghai because she could not rely on Xing Liang to protect him. Xing Liang tried to calm her, confirming Wen Binbin was medically stable, but Wen Zixuan remained determined to go to Ninghai herself.
Later, Xing Liang received news that the escape motorcycle's license plate was identified, although the officer noted that fake plates are easily made. Xing Liang then contacted Bao Chenyan, asking for help with a matter. Wen Binbin was found injured after the incident, with Luo Tianyi by his side. Liu Yong ordered a tightened lockdown in pursuit of Sun Changhai.
Despite his wound, Wen Binbin was in remarkably good spirits, joking with Luo Tianyi about his injury and expressing happiness at seeing him, even as Luo Tianyi scolded him for his recklessness and for failing to catch the suspect and upsetting the police. Wen Binbin then called Bao Chenyan, assuring him he was fine and mentioning that Na Fan was also with him, which made him happy.
Bao, hearing Na Fan was there, mentioned the case was complicated but he had found a well-connected local contact named Da Lele and instructed Wen Binbin and Na Fan to stay put and wait for her.
After hanging up, Wen Binbin fabricated a story for Luo Tianyi, claiming Bao had said they deserved a reward and that Bao's friend was waiting for them, urging Luo Tianyi to leave with him despite Luo Tianyi's skepticism and reminder not to cause trouble, noting that the location, a bathhouse, was not suitable for Na Fan.
Episode 7 Recap
Bao Chenyan brought Wen Binbin home, where Wen Binbin's mother embraced him, expressing her fear and asking if he was hurt. Wen Liangsong told his wife to take their son upstairs to rest, saying he was just relieved Wen Binbin was back safely. Wen Liangsong then thanked Bao Chenyan for his help. Kneeling, Bao Chenyan told Wen Liangsong he could no longer stay by his side because Wen Binbin's kidnapping was his fault, and he felt he had lost face.
He declared his intention to go to Binjiang to kill Wild Jiang. Wen Liangsong pulled him up and went inside, returning with a document. He explained that Tuan Island was where he started his career and it was difficult to give it up, but he was old and lacked the strength to manage things. He offered Bao Chenyan the agreement, stating that if he could take back Tuan Island, it would belong to him.
Bao Chenyan initially refused, but Wen Liangsong insisted, saying he knew Bao Chenyan was determined and he couldn't stop him. He then shared three pieces of advice for the path Bao Chenyan was choosing: first, once he started down this road, there would be no turning back; second, heaven is watching, so he should never do anything that shames his ancestors; and third, being a leader requires more than just fighting; it requires understanding human relationships, righteousness, and responsibility.
He then gave Bao Chenyan the document, and Bao Chenyan promised to remember his words before leaving. Later, Xing Liang called Bao Chenyan, expressing that it was unusual for him to call so late and asking if he needed something. Xing Liang confessed he needed help with a matter, and Bao Chenyan immediately sensed it was related to the case in Ninghai.
Xing Liang clarified that it was about Wen Zixuan, who wanted to come to Ninghai upon hearing Wen Binbin was injured, as Binbin was her weakness. Bao Chenyan acknowledged her concern was understandable and reassured Xing Liang that he was also going to Ninghai and would look after Wen Zixuan. Still worried about Wen Binbin's safety, Xing Liang instructed Fei Zai to go and keep an eye on him and report immediately if anything happened.
Meanwhile, in an unfamiliar city, Wen Binbin felt supported by Luo Tianyi, whom he considered like a sister (though Luo Tianyi is male). They visited a place, and Luo Tianyi expressed confusion, saying this wasn't where "Dalee" could be found but rather women named Nancy, Lily, Vivian, Sweetie, Yao Yao, and Peach. Luo Tianyi commented that Wen Binbin seemed to have a special value in such places, but Wen Binbin dismissed the comment.
Separately, Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi were trying to find contacts. They encountered someone who seemed connected to the "coyote," presenting themselves as potential clients with valuable cargo needing transport to Da'an League by tough individuals. The person was dismissive and ordered them to leave, asking why they were there so late. Luo Tianyi argued they had a big deal, but the man insisted they leave.
Wen Binbin then stopped the man, asking if he knew the coyote and where he had been, as Wen Binbin had to come personally because he couldn't reach him by phone in this place. The man, recognizing them from an earlier encounter with his brother, quickly signaled his associates to attack. Fei Zai, who was following Wen Binbin as instructed by Xing Liang, intervened, fighting off the attackers.
Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi learned that the coyote's contact person, known as Gu San or Gu Dadao, a relative of the coyote, was in Ninghai. Based on this, Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi arranged to meet with Gu Dadao, pretending to be traders from Snow City needing people to transport thirty cars. At first, Gu Dadao was cautious, but after drinking together, he became more trusting.
Wen Binbin mentioned a friend from Snow City had used "Tulao" (the coyote, Sun Changhai) before and found him efficient, implying they wanted to work with the coyote. Gu Dadao dismissed the coyote, saying he couldn't even handle his own problems and caused trouble. Wen Binbin subtly pressed for the coyote's whereabouts, asking if he was at his hometown or "Baigouzi."
Gu Dadao corrected him, saying the place was called Shaba and asked why they were asking about this instead of just drinking. Fei Zai was present and relayed the conversation to Xing Liang via phone. Hearing the mention of Shaba, Xing Liang immediately instructed his subordinates to search for clues there and also contacted Captain Zhou's team, who had already located Sun Changhai three hours prior on a dirt road in Majiatun.
Xing Liang told Fei Zai that support would take twenty minutes and they should not act yet. Wen Binbin sent a message to Fei Zai saying he had a plan and they should stand down. While getting more skewers, Wen Binbin noticed a small package of medication fall from Gu Dadao. He then called over a woman to keep Gu Dadao company and continue drinking. Later, Gu Dadao was brought to the police station.
Initially uncooperative, he began to speak when Xing Liang used emotional appeal, talking about family and highlighting that Sun Changhai exposed him for his own survival because his uncle was family, while Gu Dadao was protecting someone who didn't seem to value him as much. Xing Liang mentioned Gu Dadao's three-year-old son and the potential consequences of his actions on his son's future, relating it to his own experience as a father.
He emphasized that while adults are responsible for themselves, families are their weakness, and children, despite appearing oblivious, understand and remember everything. Touched by this, Gu Dadao confessed. Gu Dadao revealed that their contact point was the Jinshuiwan Bathhouse. Those in the business knew the rules; they never met the boss directly. A middleman would place the information of potential clients into specific cabinets.
Those interested would check the cabinets at fixed times, take the information, and lock the cabinet if they took the job, or destroy the information and leave the cabinet open if they didn't. Gu Dadao confirmed that Sun Changhai, originally named Sun Hao and known as the coyote, used his services because Gu Dadao took a small cut, allowing Sun Changhai to earn more.
He described the coyote as ruthless, cautious, and someone who never put all his eggs in one basket, using various intermediaries like himself. When asked if he could contact the person who directly passed information to Sun Changhai, Gu Dadao agreed to try. Based on Gu Dadao's information and phone records, police located a number in Shaba that had been in frequent contact with Gu Dadao and tracked its location to Shaba.
Xing Liang instructed his team to apply for a precise location of the number and sent two officers to Shaba to stay in contact. At a restaurant in Shaba, officers showed a photo of Sun Changhai to staff and were told he was eating in room 205 on the second floor. Police evacuated the customers and prepared for an arrest. Meanwhile, Xing Liang and his colleague reviewed call details from Gu Dadao's phone.
They noted a call made minutes after they entered the bathhouse area to a number that had been repeatedly contacting Sun Changhai for the past week and whose location tracked from Binjiang to Ninghai. They speculated this person could be the mastermind. Separately, Bao Chenyan received information that "Crazy Er's" company had received investment three months prior, explaining his increased confidence. Bao Chenyan suspected Crazy Er might use this money to acquire shares from smaller business owners.
To counter this, Bao Chenyan planned to tell the old merchants and friends that he would buy all shares they wished to sell, or he would lead them to make money together if they didn't want to sell, ensuring Crazy Er could not acquire their shares. In another scene, a man who had cheated at a game was being threatened.
Someone suggested that his mother had shares in Tuan Island and could use those shares to save his hand, presenting it as a worthwhile trade. Meanwhile, Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi were walking through a snack street. Luo Tianyi questioned why they were looking for someone there. Wen Binbin explained that people's eating habits don't change easily.
He reasoned that since he, coming from Binjiang, would crave claypot rice in Ninghai, Sun Changhai, also from Binjiang, would likely crave fried chicken. Wen Binbin theorized that Sun Changhai would prioritize safety during this critical time and choose a less conspicuous place like a Ken De Xiang fried chicken shop over a chain restaurant, where mobile ordering could be avoided.
He suggested they should investigate potential locations and wait for him, acknowledging that while finding him might seem like a long shot like in a TV drama, it was a logical approach.
Episode 8 Recap
Seven years ago, Xing Liang sat alone, seemingly upset, when Wen Zixuan came to sit with him. She asked about the arrangements for Liu's funeral, scheduled for the day after tomorrow when his parents arrived. Wen Zixuan sighed, lamenting what a good kid Liu was – smart, reliable, and polite. She recalled planning to introduce him to someone just the previous week when he had dinner at their home.
She felt fate was cruel but was thankful he wasn't married, or his wife and children would be devastated. Wen Zixuan expressed frustration with Xing Liang's career, noting he always said being a policeman was his dream, but it hadn't seemed to reward him. She pointed out that after ten years as a police officer, he had been stuck in the same position for seven.
She described his demanding schedule, getting up earlier than chickens and sleeping later than dogs, to the point that their daughter, Feifei, still couldn't properly call him "Dad." She urged him to compare himself to Tai Yongzheng, who graduated and joined the police force on the same day but was now a Deputy Director. She questioned what he was sacrificing for.
Xing Liang humbly replied that Tai Yongzheng was more capable and that he himself was slower and needed to work harder. Wen Zixuan countered, asking how much more effort was needed, pointing out that Liu was also hardworking and younger, but his life was still gone in an instant. She revealed how much she worried every day, unable to imagine losing him if he were the one who died, leaving Feifei fatherless.
She acknowledged her bad temper but said she could at least yell at him because he was alive; if he died, she could only yell at his grave. Xing Liang apologized for making her worry. Wen Zixuan shared her exhaustion from handling all the family business alone since her father passed away two years prior. She asked him to quit and come back to help her.
Xing Liang told her he had never wanted to do anything else since becoming a policeman ten years ago and had decided to dedicate his life to doing this one thing well, asking for her understanding. Meanwhile, Ah Zhi's mother, Aunt Chen, was sitting in Bao Chenyan's office, comforted by Tu Manjiang who promised they would get Ah Zhi back safely.
Ah Zhi had been kidnapped by Chen Mingyuan to force his mother to sign over her shares in Tuan Island. Bao Chenyan sent Wu and Xi to negotiate with Chen Mingyuan's group. Wu stated their purpose was to get Ah Zhi back, emphasizing that Bao Chenyan would take responsibility and they were prepared to pay, but the Tuan Island shares were non-negotiable.
Chen Mingyuan's group was dismissive, demanding the shares as the only condition for Ah Zhi's release and threatening violence. Wu and Xi's group retreated calmly. Later, Chen Mingyuan brought out Ah Zhi, who cried for his mother's help. Chen Mingyuan pressed Aunt Chen to sign the shares, threatening to harm Ah Zhi and make her life miserable if she refused. Ah Zhi begged his mother to sign or offered his own hand to be cut instead.
Chen Mingyuan reiterated that Ah Zhi would pay for his mistake with his hand if the shares weren't signed. Seeing her son's distress, and with Bao Chenyan's reluctant agreement relayed through someone, Aunt Chen signed the shares. Chen Mingyuan released Ah Zhi, who reunited with his mother, and he taunted Bao Chenyan as they left, claiming he had gotten the shares. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi were on a stakeout, waiting for Sun Changhai to appear.
Elsewhere, Xing Liang's team observed someone opening Sun Changhai's locker, which led them to apprehend Sun Changhai's cousin. Wen Binbin, observing a fried chicken stand, noticed a young boy paying with cash for a large bag of chicken, which aroused his suspicion. He informed Luo Tianyi and went to investigate, quickly locating Sun Changhai. He relayed this information to Fei Zai.
Back with Xing Liang's team, Sun Changhai's cousin was being questioned in a car, claiming ignorance of his cousin's whereabouts. Sun Changhai then called his cousin, and their coded conversation alerted Sun Changhai that his cousin was with the police. Sun Changhai attempted to flee. Luo Tianyi arrived in a car and pursued him, but as Luo Tianyi attempted to apprehend Sun Changhai, he was struck by a motorcycle, allowing Sun Changhai to escape once more.
Xing Liang arrived at the hospital and found Wen Binbin, who confirmed he was unharmed but Luo Tianyi was injured. Wen Binbin insisted on being included in all future operations. Wen Zixuan called Xing Liang and overheard Wen Binbin's demand. She told Xing Liang it was safer for Wen Binbin to participate in the team's actions than to go off alone.
Despite Xing Liang's initial reservations about violating protocol, Wen Zixuan firmly stated that she would participate in every future operation and no one could stop her. She reasoned that since Xing Liang couldn't stop Wen Binbin from acting independently, joining the team offered more safety than being a lone wolf. She even jokingly suggested tying Wen Binbin up and keeping him under guard. Xing Liang agreed to consider it.
Later, the team lost track of Sun Changhai in the northern suburbs at a T-junction with no surveillance. Based on analysis, they believed he had likely headed towards the Da An Alliance area due to a large forest there providing potential hiding spots. They identified two roads leading there and considered two possible stopover points with gas stations: Pingling Town on 197 National Highway and Tumuji. Fei Zai thought Tumuji was more likely, assuming Sun Changhai would avoid the highway.
Xing Liang argued that Sun Changhai might believe the most dangerous place was the safest and ordered Officer Liu Yong to contact the Pingling Town police station to search the area. Police in Pingling Town located Sun Changhai at a lodging house, having arrived at 3:00 AM. Xing Liang's team moved in to apprehend him. During the arrest, Officer Wang was injured but expected to recover after surgery. Sun Changhai was successfully captured.
Tai Yongzheng met with Xing Liang and congratulated him on the arrest, expressing confidence that obtaining information about the gun would now be possible within the remaining seven days. While Sun Changhai was recovering in the hospital, Xing Liang questioned him about the missing police gun. Sun Changhai claimed he threw it off the cross-sea bridge the day he left Binjiang.
When asked about the middleman, possibly Uncle Long, Sun Changhai denied meeting him but described him as a "tough guy," adding that the police would never catch him. Xing Liang stated they had come for Sun Changhai and would find the gun with or without his cooperation. He then asked if someone had instructed Sun Changhai not to shoot Wen Binbin during the pursuit in Hegu.
Episode 9 Recap
Nine years ago, Wen Liangsong lay on his deathbed. He reminded Wen Binbin of his promise to become a police officer, stressing that Wen Binbin was his greatest worry. He told Wen Binbin that after he was gone, he couldn't rely solely on his sister Wen Zixuan and Bao Chenyan. He urged Wen Binbin to learn responsibility and become a man, believing the police force was the best place for him, where wearing the uniform would make him fearless.
Wen Liangsong called being a police officer an honor and asked Wen Binbin to promise to carry on this legacy. Wen Binbin promised he would work hard to get into the police academy and become a police officer. Soon after, Wen Liangsong passed away. Xing Liang and his team traced a contact number found on Sun Changhai's phone. The subscriber information indicated the person had died two years prior, though the account remained active.
Fei Zai reported a new development from Dian Lao'er's side: Uncle Long had reappeared. A recording revealed that Chen Mingyuan had broken their rules and if he didn't pay them one million, the next threat would be more severe than killing a dog. Chen Mingyuan and his men were hiding, afraid to go outside. They discovered their dog had been killed, and a bullet was sent to them.
Xing Liang found this increasingly interesting, noting that Uncle Long's call demanding payment came within four hours of Sun Changhai's capture, without public announcement, indicating a direct threat and a signal. He theorized that causing trouble in Binjiang at this crucial time was a tactic to distract the police. He suspected their opponent was sophisticated and that both Bao Chenyan and Dian Lao'er could be mere smokescreens.
Deciding Sun Changhai would no longer talk, Xing Liang instructed Liu Yong to gather information on Dian Lao'er and contact Captain Zhou to arrange a dinner, after which they would release the news and return to Binjiang the next day. That evening, Xing Liang, Fei Zai, and Wen Binbin joined Captain Zhou for dinner.
Wen Binbin questioned his presence, but Fei Zai explained Xing Liang specifically asked him to come, adding that while Xing Liang valued his image, he cared about Wen Binbin. Captain Zhou, not recognizing Wen Binbin, was introduced by Xing Liang, who explained Wen Binbin arrived earlier to gather information and was present during the Hegu arrest. Captain Zhou praised Wen Binbin's appearance and shared a drink with him.
Xing Liang informed Captain Zhou that their task was largely complete and they would return to Binjiang the next day. He requested Captain Zhou keep Sun Changhai in custody until he recovered and they could arrange for his transfer. Captain Zhou assured him Sun Changhai would be safe. Xing Liang mentioned the missing gun had a lead in Binjiang, which was why they were eager to return to avoid complications. Captain Zhou congratulated them on successfully completing their mission.
Wen Binbin visited Luo Tianyi in the hospital. After a brief chat, Na Fan arrived and offered to book tickets for them to return home together the next day. Fei Zai also arrived, and Luo Tianyi jokingly asked if his injury was a work injury, which Fei Zai denied. After Na Fan left, Luo Tianyi and Fei Zai urged Wen Binbin to follow her, teasing him for acting timid around his sister.
Wen Binbin, persuaded by their teasing, went after Na Fan. Wen Binbin caught up with Na Fan and confessed his feelings for her since the moment he first saw her, asking for a chance. Na Fan responded that he was a good friend to Luo Tianyi, and therefore also her good friend, suggesting they were better suited as friends.
Wen Binbin countered that many couples start as friends and he could sense her concern for him was more than just platonic. He declared he wouldn't give up. Na Fan revealed she had never considered marriage and advised him to find someone suitable for marriage and family. She explained that a relationship between them would not work out.
Wen Binbin proposed they not marry but date forever, stating he wouldn't care about anything as long as he could be with her, and asked for a chance for them. Na Fan gave him a condition: if he could get his position back, she would agree to be his girlfriend. Wen Binbin readily agreed, promising it would happen soon since the suspect was caught and the gun's location known.
Na Fan accepted his promise, and they sealed it with a pinky swear. While Fei Zai went to wash his face, someone covertly entered Sun Changhai's hospital room. The person gave Sun Changhai what appeared to be a necklace. Sun Changhai affirmed he would not forget. Chen Mingyuan contacted Xing Liang, detailing the threats and requesting protection. Xing Liang already knew about the dog being killed and something being left behind. Chen Mingyuan confirmed a bullet was found.
Xing Liang examined the bullet and determined its serial number matched the gun Wen Binbin had lost. Luo Tianyi learned about the threat to Chen Mingyuan and, upon hearing a gun was involved, became silent when Wen Binbin commented on it. Xing Liang pondered why the opponent, if only after money, would reveal the gun, concluding it was a deliberate provocation of the police.
Chen Mingyuan met with Qi Hanchen, the chairman of Qi Investment Group, and informed him about the one million demand. Qi Hanchen agreed to provide the funds but only after the Tuan Island project was successfully completed. Drunk and distressed, Wen Binbin went to Wen Zixuan's home, crying and demanding to see Xing Liang. He questioned if he was useless, citing his suspension and feeling tricked after Na Fan's condition. Wen Zixuan comforted him.
Tu Manjiang discussed the situation with Bao Chenyan, expressing frustration that if Bao Chenyan had been more decisive, the Tuan Island matter would be resolved. He acknowledged his own part in the mess but pointed out that Uncle Long, who introduced him to the operative, was introduced by Bao Chenyan himself. Qi Hanchen stated he would cover the cost but only after the project was finished, which Tu Manjiang accepted as the only option for now.
Meanwhile, Tu Manjiang informed Bao Chenyan that the situation with Aunt Chen's shares served as a lesson; even a small percentage could be crucial. He warned they faced challenges from both within and outside the company and the only viable solution was to attract investment quickly. Tu Manjiang was particularly worried because Dian Lao'er had a powerful backer whose financial strength was unknown but significant. Bao Chenyan seemed hesitant, likely concerned about the impact of external funds on tenant rents.
Tu Manjiang urged him to reconsider, stressing the fast-approaching bidding meeting in ten days. He proposed the Wen family as potential investors, but Bao Chenyan rejected the idea, suggesting Haicheng as an alternative, which Tu Manjiang agreed to contact immediately. Tu Manjiang expressed the high stakes, with all their assets invested and the old vendors relying on them; if Dian Lao'er took over, the vendors would face hardship.
He maintained that bringing in external funds was the only way he saw forward. Chen Mingyuan called Uncle Long, agreeing to pay the one million. Uncle Long expressed satisfaction he had reconsidered, noting that money could be earned as long as he was alive. Chen Mingyuan affirmed he understood.
Police discussed the person who visited Sun Changhai in the hospital, noting the item left behind seemed to be a necklace, possibly a token between them, suggesting their relationship was more complex than initially thought. They discussed the conflicting description from the nurse: a body type like a woman but a voice like a man, considering possibilities like a voice modulator or a man with a feminine physique.
Chen Mingyuan informed Xing Liang that the person demanding the money planned to pick it up at his house that night. Xing Liang instructed Liu Yong to take a team to observe the situation. Wen Zixuan visited Bao Chenyan, stating her intention to join the Tuan Island project. Bao Chenyan was surprised, citing the project's deep complexities, risks, and Dian Lao'er's unpredictable nature. Wen Zixuan acknowledged the risks but stated her experience in business.
She explained that although the Tuan Island market was no longer officially connected to the Wen family, it was her father's starting point and he had entrusted it to Bao Chenyan to develop. Seeing it on the verge of being taken over by someone else, she felt compelled to act. She planned to withdraw her involvement after the bidding concluded.
She presented a draft cooperation agreement, urging Bao Chenyan to sign without delay, emphasizing the long-standing loyalty of the vendors who depended on them to secure the project and prevent Dian Lao'er and his associates from disrupting their lives.
Episode 10 Recap
Thirteen years ago, in a confrontation, Bao Chenyan informed Wild Jiang that he intended to establish his company's presence and gain a foothold in the market in that very location, telling Wild Jiang to understand and leave. Wild Jiang retorted with a defiant threat, suggesting he would build a tablet for Bao Chenyan there and perform mock funeral rites, which escalated into a physical fight between their groups.
Later, Wen Binbin told Xing Liang that people from the Sun family might be coming to make trouble, possibly related to the missing gun. Wen Binbin wanted to follow them for clues, but Xing Liang insisted he just stay put and not interfere, promising to share information when necessary. Frustrated, Wen Binbin complained that he was always told to stay put, feeling like an idiot who could only brag because of the situation with the gun.
Xing Liang blamed him for losing the gun and getting into this mess. Wen Binbin declared he couldn't handle Xing Liang, but someone else could, implying his sister, Wen Zixuan. Xing Liang immediately reacted strongly, warning Wen Binbin not to threaten him with his sister. Wen Binbin clarified that his sister was too busy working with Bao Chenyan on the Tuan Island project to deal with them.
Hearing this, Xing Liang grew angry, slamming his teacup down, puzzled by Wen Binbin's reaction. Wen Zixuan and Bao Chenyan had just signed the contract for the Tuan Island project. Na Fan suggested taking a photo to commemorate the occasion, and despite having just signed, Wen Zixuan smiled for the picture. Na Fan congratulated them, wishing them success with the project. As Wen Zixuan and Bao Chenyan were leaving to eat crayfish, they encountered Xing Liang in the parking garage.
Xing Liang immediately brought up the Tuan Island matter. Wen Zixuan tried to postpone the discussion, suggesting they talk about it later as she got into the car with Bao Chenyan. They drove away. Meanwhile, two men sent by the Sun family arrived at Chen Mingyuan's house to collect money. Chen Mingyuan, observing the situation, gave a prearranged signal to the police via surveillance camera. The police then moved in and arrested the two men.
During interrogation, the men, carrying a bag containing bloodied objects, claimed they were just collecting a debt. They eventually confessed to a "killing" but clarified it wasn't a person. A police report confirmed the blood was from a chicken. The police realized the Sun family, having already lost Sun Changhai and knowing they were being watched, wouldn't risk sending people for a real confrontation but likely just wanted the money. Back at the parking garage, Wen Binbin called Bao Chenyan.
While they were talking, a masked man stabbed Bao Chenyan. Wen Binbin heard the struggle over the phone and rushed to the scene, where security also arrived. Wen Binbin urged them to call an ambulance. Bao Chenyan, injured but conscious, told Wen Binbin he was okay and ordered him to chase the attacker. Na Fan called Wen Zixuan to inform her about the stabbing in the Banshantang parking garage, causing Wen Zixuan and Xing Liang to turn back immediately.
Wen Binbin and another person chased the attacker but did not catch him. Xing Liang reviewed surveillance footage, concluding the attack was a planned ambush but found it strange that the attacker chose the Banshantang location, which Bao Chenyan visited less frequently than other places like Tuan Island or Birkin Paris. Bao Chenyan was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. Luo Tianyi immediately suspected Dian Lao'er was responsible and wanted to confront him.
Tu Manjiang stopped him, demanding evidence and warning him not to cause trouble, especially given Bao Chenyan's condition and the importance of the Tuan Island project. Luo Tianyi insisted he didn't need evidence and would take responsibility for his actions. Tao intervened, suggesting they wait until Bao Chenyan woke up before acting. Quietly, Wen Binbin asked Luo Tianyi why he had such strong negative feelings towards Tu Manjiang, who had funded their orphanage.
Luo Tianyi expressed that he wished Tu Manjiang hadn't helped them, describing him as too cunning and manipulative. Bao Chenyan survived the surgery and was moved to a ward. Tao stayed by his side, expressing relief and telling him that after following him for so many years without needing any formal recognition, her only wish was for him to live a long and peaceful life. Xing Liang came to interview Bao Chenyan in his hospital room.
Bao Chenyan claimed he didn't see the attacker clearly, even when Xing Liang pointed out they were face-to-face. He insisted he had no impression of the attacker's features and didn't want to cooperate with the police. After Xing Liang left, Bao Chenyan immediately asked Tao to call Wen Binbin to come to the hospital. Hearing about Bao Chenyan being stabbed, Chen Mingyuan was pleased and told his men to find out details, remarking that it was good news.
Xing Liang later called Chen Mingyuan, discussing various issues like the Sun family, money, and the gun. Chen Mingyuan claimed he had told the police everything he knew. Xing Liang then warned Chen Mingyuan that if he didn't come to the police station by 4 p. m. , officers would visit him repeatedly. Wen Binbin met with Tu Manjiang, asking about the Tuan Island project's status.
Tu Manjiang revealed that Chen Mingyuan had a funder, making their competition stronger, and expressed concern about the project's prospects, especially with Bao Chenyan injured. Wen Binbin also worried about the possibility of failure and disappointing Bao Chenyan. In the hospital lift, Chen Mingyuan encountered a man who asked if he was Dian Lao'er.
Episode 11 Recap
Thirteen years ago, Xing Liang was sitting outside on steps when Wen Zixuan came out and asked why he wasn't inside. He asked her to sit down and told her he had submitted a job application the previous week, and it had just been approved. He was starting his new job the next day. Wen Zixuan asked if he was changing positions, and he said he was going to the front line.
She questioned if the foreign affairs office had a front-line unit and asked where it was. He replied it was in Binjiang, under the jurisdiction of the Nanhai Criminal Investigation Unit. Wen Zixuan noted that Bao Chenyan had just gone to Binjiang and now he was going too, asking if it was for the same reason. Xing Liang said he was the last to know about Wen Binbin's kidnapping.
As a police officer and her boyfriend, he felt ashamed and believed there was no point being a policeman if he couldn't protect those he cared about and if his own family didn't trust him. Wen Zixuan insisted no one didn't trust him, reminding him he was a clerk and Bao was more suited for dangerous work. Xing Liang felt that deep down, her family, including her, hadn't truly accepted him, otherwise they would have told him about the kidnapping.
He wanted to prove to himself that he could overcome this hurdle, for himself and for her, asking for her support. Wen Zixuan refused, telling him it was an extreme method and he was gambling with his life, which she considered hers too, so he had no right to decide alone. Xing Liang admitted he knew she would object, which was why he hadn't told her initially, but now it was approved.
He felt he would lose his dignity if he backed down, stating that sometimes people need a "second birth," and asked for this chance. Wen Zixuan told him that no matter what, he was her man and she would wait for him to come back, even if he returned injured. Chen Mingyuan called someone, saying Xing Liang insisted on seeing him and he was heading back. After hanging up, a killer got out of Chen Mingyuan's car.
Meanwhile, Qi Hanchen told his secretary he would be going to Binjiang in a couple of days. Bao Chenyan, describing the assassin's physical features to Wen Binbin, asked him to get a sketch done quickly and pull personnel from the hospital to focus all efforts on finding this person. Wen Binbin worried the assassin might return to the hospital, but Bao was more concerned about Wen Zixuan's safety.
Wen Binbin then understood, realizing the attacks were targeting everyone involved in the Tuan Island project, including his sister. Bao blamed himself for not strongly refusing Wen Zixuan from joining the project, but Wen Binbin acknowledged his sister's stubborn nature meant no one could change her mind once she decided. Bao stated that the Tuan Island Market was where their family's business began and he had to protect it no matter what.
Later, two debt collectors, Sun Changhe and another man, harassed Dian Lao'er. Chen Mingyuan arrived at the police station and was immediately confronted by Sun Changhe and the same man, who threatened him for money. Chen Mingyuan met Xing Liang, who urged him to share everything he knew, but Chen was evasive and tried to avoid the conversation. Xing Liang allowed him to leave.
As Chen Mingyuan reached the door, he saw Sun Changhe and the other man waiting for him. They demanded he make arrangements. Chen Mingyuan led the two men to an underground parking garage where some of his subordinates were waiting. However, his men were easily defeated by Sun Changhe and his companion. Cornered, Chen Mingyuan called Qi Hanchen for money, but Qi didn't answer, deeming Chen too greedy to help further.
Meanwhile, Dian Lao'er messaged someone needing money, asking for a million. Bao Chenyan discussed the Tuan Island project with Tu Manjiang and Wen Binbin. Bao asked Tu Manjiang to arrange a meeting with the investors from Haicheng again. Wen Binbin argued against this, stating they already had enough funding from Wen Zixuan and didn't need external investment, which would dilute their share and was a major taboo after they had unilaterally ended previous talks.
Bao explained the recent incidents – a lost gun, a shooting, injuries, and his own stabbing – weren't random but part of a larger scheme likely revolving around Tuan Island. He believed the Tuan Island acquisition might not be purely commercial and they needed to disperse the risk, not putting all their eggs in one basket. Bao admitted he was worried about Wen Zixuan and their family. Tu Manjiang agreed to try and negotiate with Haicheng.
Xing Liang met with Wen Zixuan again and told her the Tuan Island project was dangerous and not a simple commercial activity. Wen Zixuan said she had already invested the money and was halfway through; she couldn't pull out now. She promised to inform him if she felt endangered. Xing Liang questioned if she was doing it for the project or for Bao.
Wen Zixuan explained the Tuan Island Market was their father's legacy, and Bao was also part of the family. She recalled how Bao came into their family young, saved her father during a car accident, and saved Wen Binbin, going through much danger. She felt this project was a chance for him to "get out," and if she didn't throw him a lifeline, who would?
Xing Liang seemed to accept her explanation, though he sarcastically referred to himself as the one at the bottom of the family. Wen Zixuan promised to be careful and tell him immediately if anything felt wrong. Separately, Luo Tianyi contacted Wen Binbin, saying a friend, a masseuse at Tianshuige, had seen the person Luo Tianyi was looking for (the assassin). The masseuse had a strong impression because the man acted properly in a place like Tianshuige.
At Tianshuige, Wen Binbin confirmed with the masseuse that the sketch matched the man she saw. She said he had a 498 service, paid cash, didn't stay overtime, and didn't drive. After prompting, she remembered finding a key tag in his pants pocket that said "Xingyu something" with numbers. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi realized the key tag pointed to Xingyu Pier, known territory of Dian Lao'er. Luo Tianyi planned to investigate.
Wen Binbin told him not to act impulsively as the situation was unclear and Bao was still in the hospital. Wen Binbin decided to join Luo Tianyi at the pier with two other men, Er'leng and Big Eye Chen. Meanwhile, Qi Hanchen had dinner with Uncle Gong and Director Wang. They praised Qi's talent and bright future, thanking Uncle Gong for his support and connections. Qi mentioned managing Dian Lao'er.
Qi then received an urgent message from Dian Lao'er asking for a million. Qi dismissed him as greedy but instructed someone to monitor Dian Lao'er to ensure he didn't disrupt the Tuan Island project. At the parking garage, Chen Mingyuan was playing cards with Sun Changhe and the other man while trying to raise money.
His attempt to get a million RMB from his company's account as a legal person loan was blocked by the finance person, who stated the funds were designated for the Tuan Island project and he needed approval from their boss. Chen Mingyuan became frustrated, realizing his usual tactics weren't working against the finance person who wasn't his direct employee. Sun Changhe and his companion grew impatient and demanded to be taken out for food since it was late.
Luo Tianyi, Wen Binbin, Er'leng, and Big Eye Chen arrived at Xingyu Pier. Finding it deserted, they suspected the person was hiding on a boat. Wen Binbin suggested searching the boats, but Luo Tianyi, exercising caution, believed someone who stabs people wouldn't hide so obviously. He assigned tasks, sending Er'leng to search one area while he and Wen Binbin waited to observe. Hearing the commotion, someone on a boat came out, complaining about the noise. The police spotted him, and Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi immediately gave chase, with Er'leng blocking a potential exit. The chase led them through the boats along the pier.
Episode 12 Recap
Following an escape from Xingyu Pier into the sea, a killer fled the scene by car. Unseen by him, someone captured his escape on video. This video was sent to Fei Zai, who then reported it to Xing Liang. Xing Liang promptly ordered the retrieval of all nearby surveillance footage from Xingyu Pier. Seeing Wen Binbin send the video to the police, Luo Tianyi questioned his actions, calling the police unreliable.
Wen Binbin countered that the police had more resources for capture, and that Bao Chenyan also insisted on catching the culprit at all costs. Upon reviewing the surveillance, the police noted that although coverage was extensive, some remote paths near the pier were not monitored. The local police station was already out searching, but the suspect was not found in the immediate area. Liu Yong and another officer discussed the limited surveillance coverage in some areas.
Meanwhile, Bao Chenyan, injured in the hospital, called Chen Mingyuan, identified as Dian Lao'er. Bao accused Chen of orchestrating the attack, stating that he was still alive. Chen denied involvement, claiming he was dealing with his own severe problems. Bao challenged Chen to meet him at the crematorium. Chen accepted the challenge, exchanging threats before hanging up. In the hospital, Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi were with Bao Chenyan. Luo Tianyi felt Bao's conflict with Chen Mingyuan was final.
Bao expressed deep concern about the Tuan Island market project, noting that he was stabbed only after becoming involved. He feared someone might target Wen Zixuan. Wen Binbin mentioned that his sister, Wen Zixuan, and Xing Liang had also advised her to withdraw from the project, and Bao agreed this was the correct course, stating he had even found a new investor. However, Wen Zixuan had refused to withdraw, viewing them as family who should support Bao.
Bao felt the stabbing and related events were part of a larger, complicated scheme, noting that he, Luo Tianyi, Wen Zixuan, and Xing Liang were all now entangled. He told Wen Binbin he had informed Xing Liang about the pier situation and that Xing Liang had agreed to use any method necessary to solve the problem. Separately, Chen Mingyuan was confronted by two men, including Sun Changhe, demanding repayment of a debt.
Chen claimed he had no money at the moment but promised to pay in a month. He pleaded with them to protect him because someone was trying to kill him, warning that they wouldn't get paid if he died. The men agreed to protect him only if there was no danger. Chen Mingyuan went to the bathroom and used a hidden phone to call Qi Hanchen, asking for 1 million yuan as a lifeline.
Qi refused, citing their prior agreement that payment would be made after the Tuan Island project succeeded. Qi stated he wasn't obligated to simply give Chen money. Chen pleaded, mentioning his debt and Bao's threats, and claiming he would take the blame for the stabbing to protect Qi. Qi revealed that the person who stabbed Bao had actually told him that Chen had hired them to assist Qi.
Qi disavowed hiring a killer, stating he was a businessman who used money to solve problems. Since Chen wasn't responsible for the stabbing, Chen said he wouldn't take the blame. Chen again begged for the loan to handle his debt before meeting someone named "Uncle Long." Qi called Chen useless now that he was no longer reckless and refused to invest in him. After the call, Qi Hanchen instructed his secretary that Chen Mingyuan was no longer valuable.
He ordered the secretary to gather all documents related to the Tuan Island project, declaring it was time for him to personally take over. The secretary questioned why Qi would handle such a significant project himself. Qi explained a deep history between the Qi family and the Wen family, stating that Tuan Island was a lingering issue for his late father that he intended to resolve. Back at the police station, Fei Zai received a package requiring a signature.
Inside was a photo of the suspect at Xingyu Pier, entering a car. The delivery person didn't know the sender, who had used an anonymous service and a locker. Fei Zai gave the photo to Xing Liang. Using the car's license plate from the photo, the police tracked the suspect to an unfinished building in the eastern suburbs.
Xing Liang organized a large deployment of police and SWAT teams to surround the building, giving instructions to officers like Liu Yong and Captain Wu. Seeing the significant police presence outside the station, Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi followed, assuming the police had located the suspect. Wen Binbin told Luo Tianyi to call their own people for backup. Inside the building, police used drones but initially found no trace of the suspect.
The suspect, hidden inside, saw the police outside and prepared to escape. As Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi were searching the area near the building, they encountered the escaping suspect, later identified by police as Wu Ajin. A struggle ensued. Luo Tianyi was quickly subdued. The suspect began choking Wen Binbin. Just as Wen Binbin was losing consciousness, a person on a motorcycle arrived and shot Wu Ajin, killing him.
At the police station, Director Tai Yongzheng was furious about the failed capture and the unresolved issue of a missing police gun, reprimanding Xing Liang. Frustrated, Xing Liang took off his police badge and placed it on the desk, challenging Tai to take over if he was dissatisfied and telling him to quit if he couldn't solve the case. Tai expressed his own frustration at being blamed and ridiculed by other departments.
Police questioned Wen Binbin about the person on the motorcycle. He stated he was dizzy and couldn't see their face clearly, even without a helmet. He recalled the person having a "good shape" or "good body proportion," speculating it might have been a woman. He also remembered the motorcycle having thick tires, appearing expensive, and having the loud sound of a large engine. He clarified that his presence at the scene was purely accidental.
Police investigators discussed the deceased suspect, Wu Ajin. They confirmed his identity as a man from Hong Kong with no record of legal entry, likely a stowaway. They found his call history had one unknown number besides familiar ones, belonging to Wei Jia, a man closely associated with Chen Mingyuan and previously questioned by police. They concluded Wu Ajin was likely Chen Mingyuan's contact.
Xing Liang believed Wei Jia was a mere "firewall" and interrogating him wouldn't lead to Chen Mingyuan directly. Analyzing the situation, they reasoned that if Wu Ajin stabbed Bao and was hired by Chen Mingyuan, then Wu Ajin's killer was from a previously unknown party. Given that the main conflict between Chen Mingyuan and Bao Chenyan was the Tuan Island project, they concluded that Wu Ajin's killer was also likely targeting this project.
The decision was made for full surveillance on Chen Mingyuan, pending Director Tai's approval. Liu Yong was tasked with drafting the necessary report. Wen Zixuan visited Bao Chenyan in the hospital. Despite his injury, Bao insisted she withdraw from the Tuan Island project immediately, offering to cover any resulting costs. Wen Zixuan refused to quit or accept compensation.
Bao pleaded with her, offering to kneel, stressing his fear for her safety and asking her to listen to him this one time after so many years of him listening to her. Wen Zixuan pointed out that if he had truly listened to her advice in the past, he wouldn't be in this situation. She stated she was no longer a child needing his protection, referencing their father's teaching that business involved risks.
She argued she couldn't have built the company if she feared such things. She insisted she wouldn't back down. Bao expressed frustration that he couldn't convince her. He then asked about Na Fan, demanding that she stay with Wen Zixuan constantly for protection, revealing Na Fan was downstairs. Wen Zixuan reassured him she was careful because she had a daughter.
Meanwhile, Sun Changhe and the other debt collector continued to pursue Chen Mingyuan, demanding their money, ignoring his pleas to stop bothering him. Chen Mingyuan received a call, and was told not to engage in further conflict with Bao Chenyan at this critical juncture and to focus on the ultimate objective. The caller seemed aware and approving of the recent death of the hitman.
Bao Chenyan received a large bouquet of flowers at the hospital with a card signed "Dian Lao'er." His associate, Man, was surprised. Bao speculated it was an attempt at reconciliation. Man suggested considering it if their interests regarding the Tuan Island project aligned, emphasizing the need for stability. Bao agreed to meet Chen Mingyuan in person but instructed Luo Tianyi to bring men, prepared to make peace if sincere or act decisively if it was a trap. Man commented on Bao, a cultured person, becoming involved in dangerous affairs, noting that associating with such people changes one.
Episode 13 Recap
Eight years ago at Xingyu Pier, Bao confronted Dian Lao'er, saying they shouldn't fight because Dian Lao'er had worked the pier for twenty years and wanted to leave it for his men. Bao accused him of charging vendors from the Tuan Island market thirty percent higher prices for seafood. Dian Lao'er asked his men, who denied it. Bao insisted that from that day forward, Tuan Island vendors must get seafood at the same price.
Dian Lao'er agreed, explaining that he is called Dian Lao'er because he never wanted to risk his life fighting for the boss position, which allowed him to survive there for twenty years unharmed. He stated he would go along with whatever Bao decided, and they departed. Later, Wen Binbin asked Xing Liang if the recent troubles were related to the Tuan Island project. Xing Liang confirmed it was likely the reason.
Wen Binbin asked if he had concrete evidence or was just speculating, and Xing Liang replied, "Both." Knowing Wen Zixuan's stubborn personality and her decision to get involved, Wen Binbin admitted he was worried about his sister too. Xing Liang explained that was why he came to Wen Binbin, admitting he needed Wen Binbin's cooperation on an idea he had, although he wasn't sure how feasible it was.
Wen Binbin agreed to try for his sister's sake, stressing his cooperation was only for her. At the police station, Xing Liang visited Liu Yong, bringing him steamed vermicelli rolls he had waited over thirty minutes for. Liu Yong reported that he had checked all the CCTV footage from the crime scene based on Wen Binbin's description but found nothing, concluding the suspects were prepared. He mentioned that Fei Zai was currently watching Dian Lao'er.
Liu Yong also informed Xing Liang that Mr. Tai required him to personally report on the full-scale surveillance. Xing Liang acknowledged this and later visited Tai Yongzheng's office. Tai Yongzheng confirmed that the Provincial Department had granted them another week to handle the case themselves. Xing Liang then theatrically searched for his police ID, asking Tai Yongzheng if he had taken it and if he should check his drawer.
Tai Yongzheng watched him, then produced the ID, calling Xing Liang shameless. Xing Liang gave Tai Yongzheng the steamed vermicelli rolls, seemingly in exchange, and took some fruit from Tai Yongzheng's desk on his way out. Returning home, Xing Liang was making dumplings when Xuan arrived. She expressed surprise that he was making them himself and offered to have the cook or order takeout instead.
Xing Liang explained that the cook, being from the South, couldn't replicate the taste of Beijing dumplings. He admitted to watching an online video to learn, amusing Xuan as he tried to follow instructions on adding water to the filling.
They reminisced about a senior's dumpling shop near their university, called "Changfa," which they initially thought meant "long hair" but turned out to mean "prosper," with the fitting surname "Jia" (fake), as it closed down after graduation because juniors never paid. Xuan noted she had gotten used to eating dumplings because of them and acknowledged his hard work over the years. Xing Liang advised her not to overwork herself with both family and business.
Their conversation was interrupted by Wen Binbin arriving with takeout, explaining he brought it in case Xuan didn't like the dumplings. Xuan quickly realized they were both hiding something and directly asked if their unusual behavior was about the Tuan Island project, noting their nervousness. Xing Liang's attempt at a subtle approach failed. Wen Binbin was blunt, stating his disagreement with her participation in the project. Xuan countered that he had no say as she held the money.
Wen Binbin made a dramatic threat about jumping from her window, a tactic he used as a child. Xuan responded with a more extreme threat of sterilization, citing their father's dying wish for Wen Binbin to continue the family line. Xing Liang, unaware of the deathbed wish, dismissed the sterilization threat from someone without a girlfriend, suggesting his future children could carry the Wen surname instead.
Wen Binbin revealed that Bao had also approached Xuan, advising her to withdraw from the project for her safety. Xuan confirmed Bao visited her yesterday and she refused. They reiterated their concern for her safety. Xuan explained that the project chose her, not the other way around. She contrasted herself, a pure businessman, with them (police) and Bao (gangster), seeing Tuan Island as a crucial commercial opportunity.
She questioned if they had ever cared about the company's struggles since their father's death, stating that given the current situation, Tuan Island was the best option. Xing Liang still disagreed, calling the project too dangerous and suggesting they abandon the industry and return to Hugang, assuring her they wouldn't starve. Xuan said she understood their worry and would consider it carefully, and Wen Binbin joked that his sterilization threat must have had some effect.
Xuan noted this was the first time they had discussed family business at the dinner table since their father passed away. Evidence connecting Dian Lao'er and Wu Ajin was later obtained. Xing Liang instructed someone to contact Fei Zai and initiate an immediate arrest of Dian Lao'er. A team was sent to Dian Lao'er's house. Inside, Dian Lao'er and Datou were hiding. When asked where Dian Lao'er was, Datou initially said nothing, but then made dog sounds, revealing a code.
Dian Lao'er, hidden, asked if they couldn't hear the dog's footsteps, confirming the 'Erhuang' sound was the code. Dian Lao'er was getting medicine from Datou, who noticed a foul smell that Dian Lao'er attributed to his feet. Datou complained about how long they would have to hide, mentioning "two crazy dogs" were looking for them.
Dian Lao'er told him to stop talking nonsense, saying he had a plan, and instructed Datou to prepare the bed as they would stay there for a few days. Meanwhile, in the hospital, Bao received visitors who brought a cake to celebrate. Despite his injury, Bao insisted on drinking wine, saying he had just gotten rid of the nurse, Tao, and had faced too many setbacks recently.
He mentioned that if it weren't for "those two jerks" (presumably the brothers from the earlier incident), he would have caught Dian Lao'er the previous day. They celebrated Dian Lao'er having run away and being out of the Tuan Island project, considering it an early celebration. During the toast, Bao thanked "Man" for his hard work on the Tuan Island project, and Man credited Wen Binbin for his significant help and business talent, noting he inherited it from his father.
They discussed Wen Binbin needing to become more responsible and learn management, as the project was originally Wen family business. Tao returned and scolded them for drinking in the hospital, confiscating the wine and ushering Bao's visitors out, telling Bao to rest. Back at the dinner table, Xuan commented on Wen Binbin's punctuality for meals and bringing the cake, which he said he felt they needed. Xuan wanted to have a quiet meal without surprises.
Wen Binbin agreed and turned off his work phone, which Xuan protested, leading to a brief humorous exchange about the difference between people. Xuan announced that their competitor had disappeared, making the Tuan Island project practically settled, and suggested a toast. Wen Binbin toasted Xuan, calling her a "lucky general" because Dian Lao'er, who had caused trouble for so long, withdrew after she joined. Xuan corrected him, saying Xing Liang deserved credit first.
Wen Binbin then toasted Xing Liang for the "top merit" of potentially having a second child with Xuan, reminding Wen Binbin of his earlier sterilization threat. The conversation shifted to Wen Binbin needing to find a girlfriend, mentioning Na Fan as someone beautiful and capable. Xuan told Wen Binbin that since he created this situation, he needed to handle finding a partner himself, which Wen Binbin acknowledged.
Qi Hanchen had dinner with Director Xu from the Binjiang District Investment Promotion Bureau and Mr. Wang from the Dawan District. Director Xu welcomed Qi Hanchen's investment interest. Mr. Wang highlighted the potential of the area as part of the Dawan District plan. Qi Hanchen explained his company had evaluated the Tuan Island upgrade project and found it promising due to its location, high traffic, and existing businesses, believing it had strong potential for growth.
The officials praised his business acumen and vision, and they toasted to the success of the Tuan Island project. Later, on the way back, Qi Hanchen received a call from Dian Lao'er. Dian Lao'er asked if there was news about "Uncle Long," and Qi Hanchen confirmed arrangements were made for him to arrive soon.
Qi Hanchen then told Dian Lao'er that his current situation made it difficult to handle things, but the Tuan Island project couldn't stop as bidding was imminent. He instructed Dian Lao'er to sign an agreement transferring his shares in Tuan Island and his company to Qi Hanchen, who would manage them and assign someone to continue the project. Dian Lao'er protested, saying he had risked everything for this and Qi Hanchen was abandoning him and trying to steal his company.
Qi Hanchen sternly warned him about his tone. Dian Lao'er quickly apologized, saying he was flustered and pleaded with Qi Hanchen not to abandon him given how much he'd invested in the project. Qi Hanchen assured him that his assets would remain his, just handled by someone else. Dian Lao'er agreed. After the call, Qi Hanchen instructed his assistant to prepare documents to obtain Dian Lao'er's Tuan Island and company shares.
The assistant questioned why they needed the company shares as well. Qi Hanchen explained that Dian Lao'er's company name was used for bidding, and in his current state, Dian Lao'er was a liability who could not remain a shareholder. The assistant expressed concern about getting involved with Dian Lao'er, an veteran. Qi Hanchen replied that business inevitably brings trouble, which must be solved, and if it can't be solved, the person creating the trouble must be eliminated.
Separately, Xing Liang discussed the case, believing there was more to the situation than just Dian Lao'er. Someone agreed, noting that the gun was stolen two months before any incident occurred, which seemed suspicious and suggested something significant beyond the Tuan Island project was at play. They concluded that finding Dian Lao'er was necessary to uncover leads.
Fei Zai reported that their investigation into Dian Lao'er's finances revealed a fund company invested in his company shortly after the Tuan Island project began, and this company had also acquired a small stake in the project from peripheral sources. Fei Zai mentioned the main investor was from Gang City with a clean record, suspecting them to be a "front man". In a derelict building, Dian Lao'er and Datou were hiding.
Datou complained about being hungry, having found only instant noodles after searching the entire place. He hadn't eaten meat in three days and threatened to quit if he didn't get some. Dian Lao'er initially got frustrated, reminding him they had spent all their money getting there, but then seemed to get an idea from Datou's complaints. Following the sound of a dog barking, Dian Lao'er found his dog. He asked the dog how it had found them there and where it came from.
Episode 14 Recap
Fourteen years ago, Jiang met with Chen Mingyuan. Chen Mingyuan asked Jiang what he had been doing lately, and Jiang replied he was just dawdling. Chen Mingyuan said with a convoy and connections, he wasn't just dawdling, but Jiang told him he was annoyed and didn't want to talk about it. Chen Mingyuan asked if it was about the Tuan Island market and warned Jiang not to interfere with it.
Chen Mingyuan explained that Jiang didn't know the boss behind it was Wen Liangsong, a powerful figure from Yang City with extensive business and connections in both the legitimate and underworld, stating that even the two of them combined were insignificant compared to him. Chen Mingyuan advised him not to waste his effort, but Jiang insisted he liked challenges. After Jiang left, Chen Mingyuan's subordinate questioned why he was speaking so politely.
Chen Mingyuan explained that talking like that would provoke Jiang and make him bolder, leading to a conflict that would benefit him, as he felt it was time to change his "number two" position. Sun Changhe and his partner located Chen Mingyuan by tracking his dog. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi secretly followed them to the abandoned building. Wen Binbin recorded a video on his phone and sent it to Fei Zai.
When the dog approached Wen Binbin, Sun Changhe saw Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi. Sun and his partner cornered them, but Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi managed to escape skillfully. As Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi left the building, they saw Liu Yong and his team arriving, but by the time Liu Yong went inside to apprehend Chen Mingyuan, he had already disappeared.
Qi Hanchen instructed his assistant An Zhihui to meet with Chen Mingyuan to get him to sign a share transfer agreement for Tuan Island. Qi Hanchen emphasized that he needed the signed agreement regardless of the method used. Chen Mingyuan, driven by his subordinate, went to meet An Zhihui. Chen Mingyuan asked where Uncle Long was, and An Zhihui pointed to a car behind him.
Chen Mingyuan approached the car, and the window rolled down revealing a man wearing glasses inside. The man identified himself as Uncle Long. Chen Mingyuan urgently asked about the identity of the person who hired the killer to harm Bao Chenyan, explaining that everyone now believed he was responsible and he was forced to hide.
Uncle Long stated he could not reveal the client's identity due to the rules of his profession but promised to clear Chen Mingyuan's name within a week. After the conversation with Uncle Long, An Zhihui presented Chen Mingyuan with a thick share transfer agreement for Tuan Island, stating that Qi Hanchen expected him to sign it immediately. Chen Mingyuan protested, saying the agreement was too long, and he needed time to read it, especially in the dark location.
An Zhihui insisted that the signing had to happen that day. Chen Mingyuan became angry, declaring he had never read so much text in his life and that Tuan Island was his life's work, refusing to sign. An Zhihui then resorted to violence, attacking Chen Mingyuan. Sun Changhe and his partner, who were also at the location, saw the conflict and questioned why such methods were needed for a contract.
An Zhihui told them to leave and that they would receive the money promised by his boss. Sun and his partner demanded the money on the spot. A fight broke out between An Zhihui and Sun Changhe and his partner. An Zhihui killed both Sun Changhe and his partner. During the chaos, Chen Mingyuan seized the opportunity and escaped. Liu Yong and Fei Zai went to MorningStar Group to find An Zhihui.
They were directed to wait in a tea room. After a considerable wait, Fei Zai asked when they would be able to see An Zhihui, but the receptionist, Wang Leilei, repeatedly asked them to wait. As Fei Zai and Liu Yong prepared to leave the waiting area, they saw four individuals standing outside the door. Shortly after, someone arrived to escort them to see An Zhihui.
An Zhihui was brought to the police station for questioning, with Xing Liang and Fei Zai present. Fei Zai asked him about his whereabouts the previous night between nine and eleven o'clock. An Zhihui claimed he was at home participating in a remote video conference. Fei Zai then showed him a photograph that captured him driving on a highway near Nanshan.
An Zhihui changed his statement, claiming he had misremembered and that the video conference was the night before, while the previous night he had gone to a farm near Nanshan to pick vegetables. While the interrogation was ongoing, a man arrived at the police station and confessed to killing Sun Changhe and his partner, claiming he did it for money and did not know An Zhihui.
Despite the police's suspicion that the man was a scapegoat, Tai Yongzheng instructed Xing Liang to release An Zhihui, citing the lack of new evidence against An Zhihui and the confessor's surrender with evidence. Tai Yongzheng emphasized the need to focus on solving the murder case and recovering the weapon during this sensitive period. Chen Mingyuan called Bao Chenyan, stating he knew what happened the previous day.
He told Bao Chenyan that another group, who also wanted Tuan Island, was actually targeting him, not Chen Mingyuan. He warned Bao Chenyan that he was exposed while his enemies were hidden, giving him no chance of winning. Chen Mingyuan informed Bao Chenyan that he was leaving Binjiang that night and offered to meet him alone at the same number if he wanted to learn more. Bao Chenyan expressed surprise at Chen Mingyuan's call and questioned if he was trying to implicate him before leaving.
Episode 15 Recap
Twenty-one years ago at the Binjiang Child Welfare, Na Fan brought medicine to Luo Tianyi, who was sick with a fever. Luo Tianyi felt disliked by adults because he wasn't good at studying and wasn't obedient. He asked Na Fan if she was only there because the director told her to be, suggesting she wouldn't want to play with him otherwise. Na Fan admitted that was the reason at first, but it wasn't later.
When asked why, she suggested it might be because she wasn't an adult either. Luo Tianyi then proposed that when they grew up, they would still play together and be the best friends in the world. They made a pinky promise. As the clock struck past midnight, Luo Tianyi excitedly realized it was Na Fan's birthday.
He said he had been saving snacks for a long time just for this day and pulled her away to share them, seemingly forgetting he still had a fever. Later, Xing Liang showed Sun Changhai photos of the deceased Sun brothers, asking if he was surprised. Sun Changhai replied that he was not surprised, believing it was inevitable.
Xing Liang described the crime scene as far more gruesome than the photos, stating even their veteran coroner had never seen anything so shocking. He commented on the brothers' toughness, saying they hadn't shamed the Sun family, but noted Sun Changhai's calm demeanor, not seemingly in a hurry to catch the killer. A flashback showed Sun Changhai's uncle assigning him the task, stating they needed a capable person and he was chosen.
The uncle explained this job was special; he was to do and say whatever the other party instructed. This was because they owed a favor from years ago when his little uncle was almost killed in Shenchuan and needed their help. He instructed Sun Changhai not to bring weapons as everything would be arranged there. Sun Changhai questioned this, but the uncle insisted it was the master's special instruction.
The contact person was a middleman named Uncle Long who would handle arrangements on the ground. The uncle warned Sun Changhai that if anything went wrong, he should only reveal information up to Uncle Long. Back in the present, Xing Liang offered to wait until Sun Changhai was ready to talk. Sun Changhai confirmed the contact was Uncle Long, stating he had only spoken to him by phone and never met him, offering to provide the number.
Bao Chenyan received a call from Chen Mingyuan, who wanted to meet but insisted Bao come alone. Their conversation was tense; Chen Mingyuan accused Bao of trying to trap him by bringing others and sending scouts, while Bao called Chen Mingyuan a "mad dog" given his current situation. Despite the animosity, they agreed to meet, with Chen Mingyuan instructing Bao to drive alone with his phone on speaker for directions.
Bao Chenyan asked Luo Tianyi to return home, but Luo Tianyi insisted on accompanying him, suggesting Wen Binbin would also come. Bao refused any negotiation, firmly stating the decision was final. He allowed Luo Tianyi to inform others but stressed that no one should appear until after his meeting with Chen Mingyuan was concluded. Meanwhile, Xing Liang and Liu Yong were monitoring Bao Chenyan, following his location via his phone that was left in his car.
Xing Liang directed surveillance units to keep track of Bao's movement. Bao Chenyan drove in circles under Chen Mingyuan's guidance, growing frustrated as his car's fuel ran low. He questioned how much longer it would take, calling it a "giant wheel of fortune." Chen Mingyuan, visible on the street with injuries on his face, told Bao he was almost there and instructed him to turn right. Bao pulled over and told Chen Mingyuan to get in.
Upon seeing his injuries, Bao asked what happened, to which Chen Mingyuan responded, "Pathetic." Feeling unsafe there, Chen Mingyuan directed them to go to Xingyu Pier. They drove to the pier, where Chen Mingyuan got out, intending to leave. Bao called out to him, got out of the car, and gave him a hug. Chen Mingyuan's parting words were "Hope we'll meet again," followed by "Take care."
Observing from a distance in a car, Wen Binbin commented that it looked like they were making peace. Suddenly, a motorcycle sped towards Chen Mingyuan, and the rider fired a shot, killing him instantly. Witnessing this, Wen Binbin reported that Bao was heading towards Chen Mingyuan's territory and urged speed. Xing Liang, informed of the killing, immediately ordered a citywide search for the murderer, emphasizing they must find the killer even if they had to dig three feet deep.
Bao Chenyan was taken to the police station for questioning. Xing Liang pressed him to reveal what Chen Mingyuan had told him. Initially, Bao claimed Chen Mingyuan had just wanted to make peace and asked to be spared, stating he hadn't plotted against Bao. Xing Liang found this evasive, asking if Chen Mingyuan had offered evidence of his innocence, or why he would run otherwise.
Bao speculated that perhaps Chen Mingyuan had no choice and felt someone was after him, seeing Bao as his last hope due to their long relationship and Bao's perceived reasonableness. Xing Liang accused him of not being honest, noting the killer's strong counter-surveillance skills and successful escape into an urban village with poor surveillance. At the station, police reviewed blurry surveillance footage of the motorcycle killer, noting the outfit seemed different from a previous killer.
They discussed the difficulty of the search. They also identified a modified caliper on the motorcycle, noting it was an expensive part, suggesting the owner was likely someone with resources. Back home, Bao Chenyan was in a complex mood, unresponsive to Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi's attempts to talk to him or cheer him up. Wen Binbin suggested taking a bath to wash off bad luck.
Bao dismissed it, saying he was just annoyed, not scared, as he hadn't committed a crime. While alone, Bao remembered Chen Mingyuan's final words about finding "Hai" for a "souvenir" if something happened. He decided to visit Hai. Meanwhile, police continued their investigation. Xing Liang and Yang discussed the possibility that a parental location tracking application on Chen Mingyuan's father's phone might have inadvertently led the killer to him. They visited the nursing home where the father resided.
The staff confirmed the elderly man had dementia and always kept his phone with him because it showed him his son's location, even sleeping with it. They noted no recent visits from strangers or unusual incidents, as visitors were required to register. The police also reviewed the visitor log for a recent volunteer event at the nursing home. Out of the fourteen volunteers registered, only twelve were noted leaving later.
A staff member recalled seeing two men leaving earlier around 1:30 PM, wearing hats and keeping their heads down, making them difficult to identify. They hoped volunteers' photos might help. Police received photos from the volunteers and reviewed them, but the faces were blurry.
They also analyzed the volunteer event itself, noting an anonymous donation requested more volunteers before noon, delivery by noon, and keeping the elderly active for at least an hour, which staff found suspicious and believed was targeting the father. They concluded the person behind it must know Chen Mingyuan well. Separately, Tian identified the modified motorcycle from vehicle inspection records as matching one brought by 'Hu', the boss of 'Yiwei'.
Tian found it strange that Yiwei, a company with resources, would outsource this, though Hu claimed his shop was short on a specific caliper and the client was in a hurry. Police initiated a facial recognition search based on the blurry volunteer photos. Liu Yong provided information on Qi Hanchen, noting his wealthy family background and extensive connections, but also the strange fact that he held only honorary positions in companies for consulting fees, with no shares under his name.
Xing Liang assessed Qi Hanchen as an expert who had built a strong defense, making him difficult to investigate, and ordered close surveillance. Bao Chenyan arrived to meet Hai. Hai explained that Chen Mingyuan had entrusted him to give Bao the transfer agreement for all shares of Benniu Trading Co., Ltd., transferring ownership to Bao Chenyan.
Hai relayed Chen Mingyuan's last thoughts: after a lifetime of schemes and being schemed against, Chen Mingyuan realized he had never cultivated a trusted confidant. He felt he could only rely on Bao. Chen Mingyuan reflected on helping Hai when he was crippled years ago, seeing it as fate and them being mutual benefactors. He spoke of not wanting violence and attempting to hide, but if he couldn't escape, he would die.
However, he couldn't leave his elderly father with dementia alone. Chen Mingyuan believed only Bao had the ability and loyalty to take care of his father. Hai confirmed Chen Mingyuan's last request was for Bao to care for his father after receiving the company shares. Chen Mingyuan had gambled one last time, believing that in the Tuan Island project, only Bao was capable of confronting Qi Hanchen.
Episode 16 Recap
Qi Hanchen instructed An Zhihui to thoroughly clean up everything related to Dian Lao'er's involvement to prevent it from affecting the upcoming Tuan Island bid. An Zhihui confirmed they had organized Dian Lao'er's company files and everything else was fine, but noted the company's current share was only 0. 2%. He was told to try and secure at least 2% before the bid opens.
Qi Hanchen emphasized that any trace of Dian Lao'er's involvement must be removed from the project to avoid problems. An Zhihui asked about Xing Liang, wondering if he might cause difficulties, but Qi Hanchen described Xing Liang as cautious and principled, unlikely to directly hinder the plan, adding that sometimes his actions could even be beneficial as they prepared to engage in the bid. Meanwhile, Xing Liang's team continued investigating Chen Mingyuan's death.
Based on their findings, they suspected Qi Hanchen was Chen Mingyuan's superior and that Qi Hanchen and An Zhihui were likely involved in the death. Xing Liang hypothesized that Qi Hanchen and Dian Lao'er had a falling out, and Qi Hanchen, fearing exposure, arranged for two people to infiltrate the nursing home and locate Dian Lao'er via his father's phone before killing him.
However, Xing Liang stressed they needed solid evidence against An Zhihui before taking direct action, as a premature move could alert them. Fei Zai reported that the killer's motorcycle was modified with an unusual caliper, a sign of the "gray industry" that operates underground, making it difficult to trace.
He predicted Wen Binbin would investigate this lead, as Wen Binbin had left in a hurry after photographing the suspect's photo, which Fei Zai jestingly suggested was a low-profile effort to gain recognition. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi were indeed pursuing the modified motorcycle lead, visiting various shops. They found Jiang Hu, who ran a motorcycle shop and was personally working on a modified bike. Jiang Hu claimed his shop was legitimate and the modification was a hobby.
Fei Zai reported back to Xing Liang about finding Jiang Hu. Xing Liang suspected Jiang Hu might be working for someone else, finding it odd for a potential boss to do manual labor unless it was a peculiar hobby. He found it even more suspicious that a motorcycle enthusiast would ride that specific type of motorcycle, suggesting it was likely not his personal bike. Xing Liang instructed Fei Zai to investigate who Jiang Hu was truly working for.
Bao Chenyan showed Wen Zixuan a share transfer agreement from Dian Lao'er, transferring all his company's shares to Bao. Wen Zixuan expressed surprise, given their previous rivalry. Bao suggested that compared to the person behind Dian Lao'er, he might have seemed more appealing. The agreement required Bao to give 5% of the annual dividend from the Tuan Island project to Dian Lao'er's father and relatives if he secured the project, which Wen Zixuan viewed as essentially a gift.
Bao confirmed the person behind Dian Lao'er was Qi Hanchen, describing him as a powerful figure with extensive connections. Wen Zixuan stated they should focus on their own capabilities, noting that with Bao's shares, they now held over 50% and had a good chance of winning the bid. They agreed to compete against Qi Hanchen. Xing Liang received a call from his old classmate, Li Xiangyuan, who insisted on having dinner together that night at Banshantang.
Xing Liang initially declined, citing work and his dislike for socializing, but eventually agreed after Li Xiangyuan's persistence. The investigation into the motorcycle continued. Luo Tianyi learned from Jiang Hu that someone named Chen had the motorcycle taken away that noon, just before the police arrived. The bike's last known location was Wenhui Avenue, but surveillance didn't track it further. Wen Binbin received a tip about a warehouse near Wenhui Avenue possibly hiding the motorcycle.
They located the bike in the warehouse. However, they decided not to move in immediately, believing the motorcycle was bait and their target was the person who brought it there. Xing Liang arrived at the large private room for dinner, expecting only Li Xiangyuan, and was about to leave due to his aversion to socializing. As he opened the door, Qi Hanchen arrived.
Li Xiangyuan introduced Xing Liang as the captain of the Crime Investigation Unit and Qi Hanchen as a successful young businessman. Xing Liang inquired about Qi Hanchen's business, who stated he only engaged in profitable ventures. Qi Hanchen then revealed he had also invited Tai Yongzheng, who turned out to be Xing Liang's college classmate. They all noted the unexpected connections.
Qi Hanchen mentioned hearing about Xing Liang being a good son-in-law to the Wen family and being old friends with "Sister Xuan," expressing interest in a business cooperation with her. Xing Liang clarified that he didn't handle business matters, which were entirely Wen Zixuan's domain. Qi Hanchen then stated his primary interest in Binjiang was the Tuan Island project and asked Li Xiangyuan about his prospects, which Li confirmed were good given his strength.
Qi Hanchen reiterated his desire for a business cooperation with the Wen family, viewing the Tuan Island project as a potential opportunity. He dismissed concerns about the project's complexity, claiming to understand its basic situation and being ready to fully intervene. At Dian Lao'er's memorial, Hai paid his respects. Xizai was also there, regretting he couldn't protect Dian Lao'er.
Hai observed the world's tendency to abandon those who fall, but recognized Xizai's loyalty, noting Dian Lao'er had helped him when his daughter was ill, providing a means to support his family. Hai was the only one who came to see Dian Lao'er off, offering thanks to Bao Chenyan for his visit and stating he would not meet Dian Lao'er again, thanking him on behalf of his family. Wen Zixuan returned home and found Xing Liang looking troubled.
He mentioned meeting Qi Hanchen and being bothered by his familiar address of "Sister Xuan." Wen Zixuan explained Qi Hanchen had pursued her years ago but she had rejected him due to his arrogance and narcissism, which she found off-putting. Xing Liang admitted to being jealous. Wen Zixuan assured him she would not cooperate with Qi Hanchen and that their combined shareholding with Bao in the Tuan Island project was sufficient.
She revealed that Dian Lao'er had transferred his shares to Bao before his death. Xing Liang expressed concern about the situation. Xizai was seen drinking with someone, discussing the disarray among Dian Lao'er's former subordinates. The person claimed Dian Lao'er had designated Shuigui as the new leader before his death, which Xizai disputed. The person suggested Xizai confront Shuigui about "the contract," hinting that Shuigui's ignorance of it would expose him as problematic.
He claimed Dian Lao'er had shown this contract to Bao Chenyan. The person criticized Shuigui for not attending Dian Lao'er's funeral, unlike Xizai who was in the hospital. Angered, Xizai vowed to deal with Shuigui. The person further manipulated Xizai by portraying Shuigui as cunning but lacking the strength needed in their world, suggesting it was an opportunity for Xizai to take control.
He proposed that finding Dian Lao'er's killer would rally the other brothers behind Xizai, especially the principled Hai, securing widespread support against Shuigui. The person then offered Xizai a photo from a motorcycle enthusiast near the eastern suburbs, suggesting it might be the suspect's motorcycle from the police bulletin. Xizai took the bait and left to search. Xizai and his men searched Dongxing Street without finding the motorcycle and decided to expand their search area.
Hai advised Xizai to be careful and treat his injury. The police were monitoring the warehouse where they found the motorcycle. Noticing the commotion from Xizai's search, they realized the person who left the bike might be observing from nearby, concerned about its discovery. They decided to use the motorcycle to lure the observer. Xing Liang instructed the junk man, Wang Dali, to pretend to proceed with scrapping the bike and cooperate with the police.
The junk man recounted how he was contacted by phone by someone who wanted him to scrap a motorcycle, giving him a deposit and the key, and telling him to pick it up from the warehouse on Wenhui Avenue's backstreet, promising the remaining payment later. The junk man reluctantly agreed, sensing the vehicle was tied to illegal activities and worrying about the risks and potentially not receiving the full payment.
The unknown person called the junk man to check on the motorcycle's disposal. Following police instructions, the junk man said he had just picked it up and was heading back. The person urged him to scrap it that night. The brief call provided only a rough location linked to the base station on 5th Street. The junk man confirmed his yard was on 5th Street, indicating the observer was likely nearby.
Xing Liang instructed the junk man to act naturally and not scrap the bike. Based on the base station's range and visibility, Xing Liang identified potential observation points near the junk yard. Liu Yong contacted the SWAT team. The plan was to surround the area and arrest the observer once the SWAT team was in position. The police prepared to execute the plan.
Episode 17 Recap
Twenty-six years ago, a young Zhan Xiaoman saw a young Zeng Zhijiang sitting by a sports field. Zhan Xiaoman ran over, and Zeng Zhijiang offered him many taro cakes, explaining his mother made them and they wouldn't taste good cold. Zhan Xiaoman noticed the large amount and realized Zeng Zhijiang had given him his own portion.
Zhan Xiaoman told him he knew he had done this before and he shouldn't do it again, expressing concern that Zeng Zhijiang was neglecting his studies for him. Zeng Zhijiang replied that he wasn't good at studying and their family would rely on Zhan Xiaoman in the future, saying that if Zhan Xiaoman did well, they wouldn't be bullied.
Zhan Xiaoman pointed out his surname was Zhan, not Zeng, but Zeng Zhijiang insisted that since Zhan Xiaoman grew up in their family after his grandparents passed away, they were family. They agreed they would always be family, and Zeng Zhijiang offered to share the taro cake, which Zhan Xiaoman reluctantly agreed to eat all of to prevent him from throwing it away or giving it to a dog.
Zeng Zhijiang mentioned he had to deliver goods that afternoon to cover Zhan Xiaoman's next semester's tuition and reminded him to bring the lunch box back after school. In the present day, police led by Xing Liang were setting up to apprehend a killer on a motorcycle. The killer observed their movements from a distance. As the killer prepared to flee, Liu Yong spotted him and gave chase. The suspect escaped by sliding on a wire between rooftops.
Xing Liang, watching from below, ordered his team to catch him and not let him get away. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi also joined the pursuit and managed to capture the suspect, who was revealed to be Chen Yiming, an associate of Bao Chenyan. Chen Yiming was taken to an interrogation room. He repeatedly looked at a clock on the wall.
Xing Liang noted the clock was inaccurate, an hour fast, but then corrected himself, stating his clock was accurate and the clock in the next room was the one that was slow. Chen Yiming asked if the Tuan Island bidding meeting had ended. After confirming that it had, he refused to speak further about anything else. Liu Yong and the team began investigating Chen Yiming's background.
They discovered he regularly sent large sums of money to an account belonging to Cai Jinhua over the past year. Cai Jinhua was his mother, who had stage 6 Alzheimer's and required 24-hour care in a nursing home. The investigation revealed that Cai Jinhua's nursing fees were paid by a young woman, not Chen Yiming or any other known relatives.
Further checks into Cai Jinhua's bank account showed suspicious transactions, primarily from merchant refunds and overseas online gambling platforms, indicating possible money laundering. Liu Yong noted that Chen Yiming had no other living family besides his mother, as his father died young and his brother in a mining accident, and he had divorced his wife seven years prior. Xing Liang decided to speak with Bao Chenyan about Chen Yiming.
Bao Chenyan initially offered little information but called Wen Binbin and Er'leng in at Xing Liang's request, particularly when Xing Liang mentioned Wen Binbin and Wen Zixuan. Xing Liang asked if Chen Yiming had a girlfriend named Hui. Er'leng, after hesitation and a glance at Bao Chenyan, confirmed that Chen Yiming had a girlfriend from Fuchang named Hui, who Chen Yiming referred to as his "true love."
Er'leng recounted that Chen Yiming had borrowed money from him because this girlfriend was pregnant and wanted money to get a house. Er'leng identified the woman from a photo Xing Liang showed him. Wen Binbin had earlier expressed disbelief that Chen Yiming could be the killer, citing past incidents where Chen Yiming seemingly helped him, but the discovery of the police gun at a crime scene linked to Chen Yiming was highly suspicious.
He felt someone close by might have set them up. The police identified the woman as Luo Jiahui, a 26-year-old server at Xiyuehui KTV and Chen Yiming's lover. Medical records showed she was 36 weeks pregnant. Luo Jiahui was deemed a critical figure in getting Chen Yiming to talk. They located her address in Kaitai Community. Before the police could reach her address, Luo Jiahui was taken away.
Liu Yong, Wen Binbin, and Luo Tianyi arrived at the community and checked the surveillance footage with the property manager. The manager mentioned the parking lot cameras were broken, but the main gate camera worked. Er'leng identified Luo Jiahui as the woman in the passenger seat of the vehicle in the footage. Despite Xing Liang warning Wen Binbin to avoid violating discipline, Wen Binbin insisted on helping search the community.
They traced the vehicle's license plate information, identifying it as belonging to Benniu Group, Chen Mingyuan's company, and located its general direction towards the West Suburb Shantytown near Lianhua Intersection. Meanwhile, Wen Zixuan and Bao Chenyan were planning to meet with Mr. Wang when Qi Hanchen and An Zhihui unexpectedly arrived. Qi Hanchen remarked on having liked Wen Zixuan years ago but seeing her with Xing Liang.
He alluded to himself and Bao Chenyan being "in the same boat," though Bao Chenyan disagreed, calling himself just a driver and a "toad" compared to Wen Zixuan, acknowledging his past feelings for her. Wen Zixuan emphasized the emotional significance of Tuan Island, where their family business began, and questioned if Qi Hanchen could heartlessly try to take the project.
Qi Hanchen confirmed his determination to secure the project, mentioning that business rarely offered certainties, but hinted that gaining shares from Chen Mingyuan had increased their advantage. Wen Zixuan countered that two parties claiming to have received Chen Mingyuan's shares required verifying authenticity. Liu Yong drove as they searched for Luo Jiahui. They discussed the involvement of Chen Yiming, Ajin, and Dian Lao'er.
Wen Binbin suggested seeking help from an old associate of Dian Lao'er's named Uncle Hai, who had shown loyalty at Dian Lao'er's wake. Wen Binbin met with Uncle Hai, who initially complained about repeated police questioning. Wen Binbin showed him a photo, and Uncle Hai identified the person as Scar Liu, one of Dian Lao'er's former subordinates from Shenchuan. Uncle Hai provided information about him.
Wen Binbin relayed the information to Xing Liang, who used it to trace Scar Liu's phone number and confirm his location in the West Suburb Shantytown. The vehicle used to kidnap Luo Jiahui was also located there. Xing Liang alerted local police for backup and contacted emergency services, requesting an ambulance be on standby due to the pregnant woman's condition. They apprehended Liu Sixi, identified as the kidnapper, after a brief chase.
He led them to the room where Luo Jiahui was being held. Luo Jiahui was rescued and taken to the hospital, where she gave birth to a healthy baby girl weighing five jin and seven liang. However, Luo Jiahui was in critical condition, having suffered severe shock, beating, and abuse during her captivity, which led to excessive bleeding during labor. She remained in a coma.
Xing Liang and his team informed Chen Yiming about Luo Jiahui and their baby, using her critical state to pressure him. They highlighted his past criminal record and the severity of intentionally harming a pregnant woman. Chen Yiming, seeing the consequences of his actions laid bare, finally confessed to killing Ajin and Chen Mingyuan. He also revealed the location of the missing police gun: in a ditch near Dawang Village, approximately 300 meters north of the bridge.
Episode 18 Recap
Twelve years ago, Wild Jiang told his companion that the Wen family was cunning and vowed to get revenge, believing that revenge is a dish best served cold. He planned to escape but first wanted to say goodbye to his father, as he didn't know when he would return. However, Xing Liang and police were waiting. As Wild Jiang was about to enter his home, his father yelled for him to run, but it was too late.
Police moved in, and in the ensuing chaos, Wild Jiang was captured, and his father died. Years later, based on information from Chen Yiming, Xing Liang and his team searched for a gun in a muddy, stagnant stream. Despite the difficulty, Xing Liang insisted they find it at all costs, confident Chen Yiming hadn't lied this time. Their persistent search paid off; Liu Yong located the gun, and Xing Liang immediately ordered it sent for identification.
While awaiting the results, Fei Zai expressed his certainty that the gun belonged to Wen Binbin, worrying about the consequences if it wasn't. Xing Liang urged him to stay calm. The technical comparison confirmed it was indeed Wen Binbin's police gun, service number 952776. Fei Zai wanted to take a photo to send to Wen Binbin, but Xing Liang reminded him that doing so would violate discipline.
Fei Zai argued that Wen Binbin was suspended, so it shouldn't count, but Xing Liang asked if he wanted to be suspended as well. Fei Zai backed down. Xing Liang then mused if there was another way to inform Wen Binbin without a photo, prompting Fei Zai to make a hand gesture of a gun and send it. Wen Binbin called Fei Zai upon receiving the gesture, playfully asking if he should see a doctor for a hand injury.
Fei Zai confirmed the gun had been found. Wen Binbin was ecstatic, leaping up and exclaiming that his gun was back and his father wouldn't call him an unfilial son in his dreams anymore. He shared the good news with Luo Tianyi and Bao Chenyan, deciding they needed to celebrate. Bao Chenyan told Luo Tianyi to arrange it.
Later, over a celebratory meal, Bao Chenyan commented that despite Wen Binbin's outward appearance, he deeply cared about his police uniform and clearing his name. Tu Manjiang offered words of wisdom, saying that challenges build resilience and what is meant for him will always be his. They toasted to Wen Binbin's success. Luo Tianyi was praised for his youth and drive.
Bao Chenyan and Luo Tianyi also jokingly urged Wen Binbin, with Luo Tianyi's help, to make progress with Na Fan, who is Luo Tianyi's sister. Meanwhile, Na Fan informed Wen Zixuan that Qi Hanchen, acting for Benniu Group, was submitting documentation to validate their version of the share transfer agreement. Wen Zixuan called Bao Chenyan with the news. Bao Chenyan, Wen Binbin, and Tu Manjiang met with Wen Zixuan to discuss their strategy.
They acknowledged that if Qi Hanchen's agreement was proven legal, theirs would likely be invalid. They examined their own handwritten agreement, noting its lack of specific details made it legally weak compared to Qi Hanchen's seemingly formal document. They discussed the possibility that Dian Lao'er might have been coerced by An Zhihui into signing another agreement before giving them theirs, which would make it hard to prove their version was legitimate.
Wen Zixuan questioned if they could instead prove their agreement was legal. Bao Chenyan agreed this was the right approach, as even if both were legal, it would allow room for negotiation. Wen Binbin asked Bao Chenyan if Uncle Hai, who had given Bao Chenyan the agreement at Xingyu Pier, had seen the contents when he received it. Bao Chenyan confirmed Uncle Hai had seen it clearly. Bao Chenyan and Wen Binbin went to Xingyu Pier to find Uncle Hai.
Bao Chenyan explained the importance of getting Dian Lao'er's shares to control the market, and particularly mentioned that five percent of those shares were for Dian Lao'er's father's retirement, connecting this money to Chen Mingyuan. He reminded Uncle Hai of Dian Lao'er's past kindness in giving him a job when he was injured. Uncle Hai understood his debt of gratitude but was worried about the potential negative impact on his daughter's future job prospects if he testified.
Bao Chenyan fiercely promised to protect his daughter, warning that anyone who dared to harm her would face his wrath. Reassured and convinced, Uncle Hai agreed to be a witness. On the day scheduled for the hearing on the share transfer agreement, which industry leaders and government officials were invited to attend, Uncle Hai was missing. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi searched for him, contacting Xingyu Pier and his home without success.
They learned he had taken his boat out the previous night. Wen Binbin recalled Uncle Hai owned a fishing boat and they found him on it, having towed it back to the pier. Uncle Hai, seeing them, knelt down in distress, pleading that he couldn't risk the lives and futures of his wife and daughter. An Zhihui and others then emerged from the boat's cabin, revealing they had coerced Uncle Hai.
An Zhihui began to provoke Bao Chenyan, comparing him unfavorably to Dian Lao'er and mocking his background while people recorded on their phones. Bao Chenyan became enraged by the taunts and struck An Zhihui. He told the person recording to get a good shot, identifying himself and stating he hit An Zhihui. He declared himself different from Dian Lao'er, warning An Zhihui that if he had crossed him in the past, An Zhihui would be dead.
He called An Zhihui a dog that bullies others through others' power. He told Uncle Hai he understood his choice to protect his family. Shortly after Bao Chenyan returned home, police from Haihu police station arrived. They had received a report that he had assaulted someone, causing minor injuries, and had video evidence. Bao Chenyan argued it was self-defense, but the officers insisted he come to the station to explain.
As he was taken away, Wen Binbin observed that An Zhihui already had the injury report and realized they had fallen into a trap from the moment they boarded the boat, concluding it was designed to prevent the hearing from proceeding. He suspected someone close to them was orchestrating these events, knowing their plans intimately.
Wen Zixuan had to inform the hearing attendees that due to an emergency and the absence of a key witness, the meeting would be postponed until a later date. Meanwhile, in detention, Chen Yiming urgently requested to see Xing Liang. When Xing Liang arrived, Chen Yiming asked if Bao Chenyan was about to be incarcerated. He then claimed that the mastermind behind all these events was "him," implying Bao Chenyan. Chen Yiming expressed deep concern for the safety of Luo Jiahui and his child, stating he needed assurances they were safe before he could reveal more.
Episode 19 Recap
Wen Binbin remarked to Xing Liang that it was rare for him to be invited to dinner. Xing Liang told him not to overthink it, as they would be seeing each other often soon and he wanted to get used to it and adapt early. Wen Binbin asked what he meant and if his return time was set.
Xing Liang commented that Wen Binbin seemed happy living with Bao Chenyan, but Wen Binbin clarified that once the Tuan Island project was settled, Bao would be on track, and his presence wouldn't make a difference. Xing Liang then said that Wen Binbin and his sister Wen Zixuan were quite something, stating he believed one person could influence a project but questioned if Wen Binbin believed a project could change a person. Wen Binbin affirmed that he did.
Wen Binbin found Xing Liang interesting, understanding his comments on familiar topics but not on things he didn't understand. Xing Liang asked if Wen Binbin's understanding of Bao Chenyan came from a family member's perspective or a police officer's. Wen Binbin noted that Xing Liang's way of speaking was very rigid, emphasizing that the world wasn't just black and white and that there were shadows even under the sun.
He shifted the topic from Bao to his father, Xing Liang's father-in-law. He mentioned his father's successful venture into international trade years ago when many failed, questioning Xing Liang's perspective on this. He also brought up his father's handling of the Tuan Island market, where he never took protection fees and even paid out of pocket for construction, asking for Xing Liang's perspective on that as well.
Xing Liang replied that when there were things he couldn't change, he viewed them as an objective observer. Wen Binbin countered that he wasn't objective, given that his sister was Xing Liang's wife and his niece was Xing Liang's daughter. Xing Liang felt they couldn't talk if Wen Binbin was going to play dumb, and suggested they just eat. Wen Binbin said he understood Xing Liang's point; while black-and-white thinking was a fundamental police attitude, it wasn't a survival rule.
He compared the world to a farm where each person was a tree, and the dense trees formed a forest. As the sun moved, each tree changed between light and shadow. Ultimately, he said, it was all about survival. That's why he and his sister firmly believed the Tuan Island project could be Bao's lifeline, capable of completely dispelling the darkness around him from a survival perspective.
Xing Liang found his "black-and-white forest" theory interesting but limited to theory, asking if he had considered that the perceived light might be nourishment for darkness. During an interrogation, Chen Yiming was warned by Xing Liang that perjury carried legal responsibility. Chen Yiming stated he wouldn't dare speak if it weren't for the safety of Luo Jiahui and their children. He claimed Bao Chenyan was behind everything.
When asked what "everything" meant, Chen Yiming said the police gun was the start. He admitted he didn't know who grabbed the gun and had never seen it, nor did he know about the gunshot at Birkin Paris or Sun Changhai's appearance initially. He said Bao later told him about Sun Changhai just before Xing Liang went to Ninghai, instructing him to either help Sun escape or silence him, emphasizing not to harm Wen Binbin.
Chen Yiming confirmed the phone used to alert Sun Changhai was from Bao Chenyan. Xing Liang questioned Chen Yiming further, noting the same phone number that called Sun Changhai also appeared on Wu Ajin's phone. He asked why Wu Ajin would try to kill Bao Chenyan if Bao hired him, or how Chen Yiming got Wu Ajin's contact if Bao didn't know him.
Chen Yiming insisted he only used the phone Bao gave him to contact Sun Changhai and didn't know Wu Ajin at first. He later revealed he met Wu Ajin before going to Xingyu Pier. He recounted Bao telling him to bring someone to Xingyu Pier and mentioning that Wen Binbin would call both him and Er'leng as he wouldn't go alone.
Chen Yiming's task was to kill Wen Binbin there, though Bao noted it was just a matter of time, not necessarily at the pier due to many eyes. He then described a setup where Bao asked him to have someone hide in an alley to watch a car, which later turned out to be part of Bao's plan, which Chen Yiming found terrifying.
He related how someone drove the car away and took photos as instructed by Chen Yiming, who told him to print the photos and send them by courier to the Crime Investigation Unit. Chen Yiming explained he had a spare phone in his car's trunk used to contact Bao and send the package, which should contain payment records. The bar phone Bao gave him was also in the car.
He identified the person who took the photos as Zheng Liu, who recycles electronics. Chen Yiming also confirmed Bao Chenyan knew about Luo Jiahui and their child because Bao had introduced them. He believed Bao had intentionally set a trap for him through Luo Jiahui, making him feel trapped because he loved Luo Jiahui and their child and couldn't risk their safety. He confessed he was being controlled by Bao's threats.
When asked if Dian Lao'er's death was also planned by Bao, Chen Yiming said it was part of the scheme. He described how Bao called him to the company to discuss meeting Dian Lao'er. He was surprised to see Luo Tianyi there, as he usually didn't work with him. Later, he received a message from Bao during the meeting, realizing Bao wanted him to slip away in the chaos to kill Dian Lao'er.
Regarding the money in his mother Cai Jinhua's account and the goods Luo Jiahui sold, Chen Yiming explained they came from Wu Tong, a chip exchanger from Ao City brought back by Bao, who had fled to Southeast Asia and was running a large online gambling operation. The money was wired from Wu Tong, and the goods were from the company warehouse. Bao never gave him money directly.
Chen Yiming concluded he didn't know Bao's ultimate motive but knew whatever Bao wanted, he would achieve it. After a fight, Bao Chenyan was brought into a holding room. He was approached by a lawyer sent by Wen Zixuan. The lawyer informed him he was detained for five days due to the fight, despite attempting reconciliation and offering a fine. The other party was firm, had a video record, and sought justice, not compensation.
Bao's previous fighting record made things difficult. Five days of detention meant he would miss the hearing in five days. While postponements were possible, a prior delay and concerns about credibility and providing leverage to opponents made it unlikely. The lawyer estimated Bao could be released around noon in five days. Bao saw this as a chance with two weeks until the rebid, urging them to recover the lost time for the Tuan Island project.
Meanwhile, Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi went to Hai's place, trying to convince him to testify. Hai was afraid of getting involved and refused to open the door. Wen Binbin appealed to his past words about connections, calling him indifferent. Luo Tianyi pulled Wen Binbin away, saying it was useless to keep talking. Xing Liang and his team reviewed Chen Yiming's testimony, noting the difficulty in determining its authenticity. They decided to organize clues and verify them before further questioning.
During their investigation, they interviewed Zheng Liu, the man who took the photos for Chen Yiming. Zheng Liu admitted Chen Yiming paid him 5,000 yuan for the photo. He didn't recognize a clear photo of a person but immediately recognized a sketch of a person wearing a mask. Security footage showed neither person at his location.
When told the person in the sketch was dead, Zheng Liu confessed Chen Yiming paid him 20,000 yuan to direct anyone asking about the photo subject to Xingyu Pier. Police confirmed a local delivery order number on Chen Yiming's spare phone matched the courier's timeline. The phone number used matched the one found on Sun Changhai's and Wu Ajin's phones. Technical analysis recovered deleted message fragments, including instructions to go to Yiwei Motor, get a tool, and kill Dian Lao'er.
While this pointed to Bao Chenyan, the message was a network pop-up on the old bar phone, not a standard text. Further investigation found the owner of the SIM card had died ten years ago, but the card was never deactivated. It was a cloned card, making it possible for one number to be used on two phones, which supported Chen Yiming's claim of not contacting Wu Ajin directly while the number appeared on Wu Ajin's phone.
Qi Hanchen called Uncle Long, expressing thanks for his friend's effective suggestion. Uncle Long conveyed another message from his friend: kidnapping the witness wouldn't solve the real problem, and focusing on the result was key. He likened the situation to fishing, where the crucial part wasn't the bite but the balance of tight and loose during reeling, advising Qi Hanchen that he was currently too tight.
Qi Hanchen found the friend interesting and was curious about him, despite his background being unclear. He instructed his subordinate to prevent any issues, especially with the witness. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi returned to Hai's place, but he was gone. Wen Binbin asked people nearby if they knew where Hai went. They mentioned seeing a "Jinzai Seafood" minibus at Hai's place earlier that day. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi decided to check the seafood markets.
Days later, just as Bao Chenyan's detention was ending and the hearing for the Benniu Group share transfer was about to begin, police discussed the mounting evidence against Bao Chenyan based on Chen Yiming's testimony. They considered applying for an arrest warrant but also noted the oddity of Bao exposing himself so easily if he was the mastermind. Despite doubts, the evidence pointed to Bao, requiring action. Xing Liang decided to report the findings.
Bao Chenyan was released from detention just before the hearing and was rushed to the location. The hearing commenced, and the moderator announced that based on current evidence, Wen Group could not prove the validity of the share transfer agreement signed by Chen Mingyuan. Just then, Wen Binbin arrived with Hai, stating their key witness had arrived. Hai was brought forward and presented with a handwritten agreement.
Hai confirmed it was the document Chen Mingyuan asked him to give Bao Chenyan, stating Bao read it in front of him. Hai also confirmed he was present when Chen Mingyuan wrote it. He quoted Chen Mingyuan saying that the previously forced agreement was invalid and only this handwritten one was real. Chen Mingyuan had given this to Bao, betting the company shares for a promise to his father, believing Bao was righteous and trustworthy despite being in the underworld.
Hai confirmed Chen Mingyuan said this document was his will if anything happened to him. Later, Wen Binbin, Wen Zixuan, Bao Chenyan, Luo Tianyi, and others celebrated the hearing outcome. Wen Binbin and Wen Zixuan playfully argued about who paid for the expensive meal. Wen Zixuan thanked Wen Binbin for his efforts in finding Hai, acknowledging he was more important behind the scenes.
Wen Zixuan joked that if selling his sister could get him a wife, Wen Binbin would have sold her long ago. Wen Binbin retorted that he should be toasted first for spending a night at the seafood market. They drank together. Just as they were enjoying the moment, police officers arrived and announced they were arresting Bao Chenyan based on someone accusing him of hiring a killer and investigations linking him to two murders.
Wen Zixuan protested, asking if Xing Liang sent them and how Bao could be involved when he was also attacked. The officer stated that all evidence pointed to him, and they would investigate, but he had to be detained immediately. Despite Wen Zixuan's objections and Bao's claims of innocence, Bao Chenyan was taken away with an arrest warrant. Wen Zixuan tried to contact Xing Liang, whose phone was dead. Unbeknownst to her, Xing Liang was also being led away by members of the Inspection team.
Episode 20 Recap
Eighteen years ago, Xing Liang attended Wen Zixuan’s birthday party. He overheard guests discussing Wen Zixuan picking up her boyfriend from the subway, noting his poverty and humble background as a farmer’s son, and expressing surprise that someone of Wen Zixuan’s status would choose him. The guests also compared their expensive gifts, with one lamenting her 900-yuan scarf was the cheapest. Xing Liang, observing the gift list where his 66-yuan present was noted, quietly took it back and left.
Years later, Wen Binbin was on the phone with Fei Zai, expressing confusion about Bao Chenyan’s situation – arrested by them, released, and now accused of hiring a killer and taken again. Fei Zai said it was complicated. Wen Binbin then mentioned that Xing Liang wasn’t answering his phone. Fei Zai revealed that Xing Liang had been taken in for investigation and warned Wen Binbin that things were not as simple as they seemed, advising him not to inquire further.
Inside, Wen Zixuan pressed Tu Manjiang for the truth about Bao Chenyan’s involvement in the murder case, but Tu Manjiang insisted he only handled business matters. Wen Binbin came in, confirming Bao had been taken for questioning. Seeing Wen Binbin’s hesitation, Wen Zixuan and Tu Manjiang urged him to speak. Wen Binbin revealed Xing Liang was also under investigation. Wen Zixuan immediately recognized this as a calculated move by their adversaries, starting to "take people down."
Wen Binbin reasoned that Xing Liang being taken meant Bao Chenyan was safe. Wen Zixuan agreed the logic was sound but worried that if Bao were indeed guilty, Xing Liang would inevitably be implicated. She stated their enemies' ultimate goal was Tuan Island, and if the accusations against Bao stood, the focus would shift to Dian Lao'er's shares, benefiting Qi Hanchen. Wen Zixuan directed Tu Manjiang to contact Haicheng, anticipating they would demand a high price given the circumstances.
She drew a stark contrast, saying Haicheng wanted money, but Qi Hanchen wanted their lives. Anticipating negative public opinion being manufactured, Wen Binbin offered to handle it, but Wen Zixuan said he had more pressing matters and that they needed to split up and act separately. Meanwhile, Qi Hanchen discussed Xing Liang's investigation with An Zhihui. He noted that a mere report wasn't enough.
An Zhihui added that another crucial factor was the shooter accusing Bao Chenyan of hiring him, claiming Xing Liang knew this yet released Bao, potentially violating regulations. Qi Hanchen received a call from Uncle Long, who confirmed that the accusation against Bao Chenyan for hiring a killer was the work of his friend, describing it as a "skill of tightening the net."
Intrigued, Qi Hanchen expressed interest in meeting this friend to discuss "fishing tips" at Guanhai Tea House in two days. Later, Qi Hanchen told An Zhihui that this individual was highly ambitious, aiming not just for Tuan Island but also plotting against both Bao Chenyan and Xing Liang. He described the man as cunning and ruthless, cautioning An Zhihui to be extremely careful when dealing with him.
Despite An Zhihui's concerns about the risk, Qi Hanchen insisted on meeting him to gauge his depth, viewing the enemy of his enemy as a potential ally. He then instructed An Zhihui to apply for an administrative review, citing Bao Chenyan's suspected hiring of a killer and potential unjust enrichment related to Tuan Island. During an interrogation, investigators presented Xing Liang with a real-name report letter written by his cousin, Xing Jian.
The report alleged that Xing Liang had engaged in a money-power exchange with Li Xiangyuan, helping him resolve problems in exchange for Li Xiangyuan handling Xing Jian's debt crisis. Xing Liang vehemently denied the allegations, stating that throughout his decades as a police officer, he had never acted as anyone's protection umbrella or engaged in any form of power-for-interest exchange. He explained that before releasing Bao Chenyan, Chen Yiming had made accusations, but none were supported by solid evidence.
Therefore, he had no legal basis to continue detaining Bao, who was initially arrested for a minor security incident (fighting), not a criminal case. He also noted that Bao attended a crucial business hearing for Tuan Island the day he was released. He dismissed the idea he released Bao for business interests, saying if that were the case, Wen Zixuan would already be wealthy.
Wen Binbin arrived at the station, accusing the situation of being a trap targeting Tuan Island and trying to drag them all down, but also a trap specifically designed to permanently harm Xing Liang. Xing Liang asked what he meant. Wen Binbin asked if he knew Li Xiangyuan, his middle school classmate.
Xing Liang confirmed he did and had helped him years ago with a labor dispute case that was transferred to the local police station, reiterating there was no benefit exchange. A flashback showed Xing Liang and Wen Zixuan visiting Xing Jian and his wife, Lili. Wen Zixuan brought gifts. Xing Jian spoke of needing a "bridge loan" to save his factory, otherwise he'd have to run away.
Wen Zixuan gently told him Xing Liang was just a police officer, not as capable as Xing Jian thought, although he always tried to help family within his means. She recounted how Xing Liang had given Xing Jian all his personal savings when Xing Jian had previously asked him to borrow from Wen Zixuan, because Xing Liang knew Wen Zixuan's company was struggling and didn't want to burden her.
Xing Jian clarified he wasn't asking for a loan but for Xing Liang to introduce him to businessmen, promising to pay full interest. Wen Zixuan told him Xing Liang avoided such connections. Xing Liang arrived with Li Xiangyuan and introduced them. Xing Jian soon left, asking Xing Liang to remember his request. Xing Liang and Wen Zixuan then discussed Li Xiangyuan bringing them gifts previously when Qi Hanchen and Mr. Tai were present.
Wen Zixuan urged Xing Liang to stop associating with such people. Wen Zixuan later spoke with someone over the phone about Xing Liang's situation. The person advised her not to worry too much, to trust the police and Xing Liang, stating "a clean hand wants no washing," but acknowledged the complication of the real-name report requiring investigation. They suggested she focus on her own affairs.
Back with Wen Binbin, Wen Zixuan expressed worry for Xing Liang, noting that despite his sometimes unpopular nature, he was family, and the accusations attacking his career ideal must deeply upset him. She declared she had to help him. Wen Binbin asked if she intended to confront Qi Hanchen directly, recalling how she had previously dismissed him as someone who "didn't deserve it." Wen Zixuan met Qi Hanchen for tea at Guanhai Tea House.
Qi Hanchen commented on the occasion, mentioning his father's expertise and influence on his own occasional tea habit. He shared that his retired father left the family group entirely to him, which was demanding but also enjoyable. Wen Zixuan advised him about moderation, warning that overdoing anything could spoil its enjoyment. Qi Hanchen responded by quoting her supposed philosophy about reaching a goal at all costs.
Wen Zixuan countered that excessive persistence became an "obsession," leading to suffering and difficulty escaping greed. Qi Hanchen agreed but redirected her advice back to her, noting he had previously advised Xing Liang to balance work with family and rest, and since Xing Liang hadn't listened, she had seemingly taken it upon herself to teach him how to rest. Wen Zixuan asked how long this "lesson" would last and if payment was expected.
Qi Hanchen replied that as old friends, she knew what he wanted, implicitly referring to Tuan Island. Wen Zixuan refused to surrender Tuan Island, stating they had lost the competition fairly. Qi Hanchen remained confident. A child briefly interrupted their conversation. Shortly after, Qi Hanchen's father called, explicitly telling him to stay out of the Wen family's business, particularly Tuan Island, and to compete fairly. Qi Hanchen agreed to his father's directive.
After the call, he commented on Wen Zixuan's effective maneuvering to influence his father but maintained that he was now the sole decision-maker for his family's business. Wen Zixuan suggested cooperation on Tuan Island as a more beneficial path than destructive competition. When she asked about Xing Liang, Qi Hanchen stated he would no longer interfere in that matter, leaving it to them, but offered a final cryptic warning that betrayal often comes from those closest to you.
Wen Zixuan conveyed Qi Hanchen's warning to Wen Binbin, suggesting the person who framed Xing Liang was likely someone close. They considered his colleagues or old classmates. Wen Binbin asked if any of them had connections to or were reliant on Qi Hanchen. Wen Zixuan recalled Xing Liang attending a dinner hosted by Li Xiangyuan where Qi Hanchen was present, identifying Li Xiangyuan as a businessman and Xing Liang’s closest classmate.
Wen Binbin tried calling Li Xiangyuan but his phone was off. Wen Binbin and others tracked down Li Xiangyuan, who was making travel arrangements to leave. Wen Binbin informed him the police were looking for him and told him to turn himself in. Li Xiangyuan denied writing the report, blaming Xing Jian and calling him a rascal who was slandering him and making him a scapegoat.
He claimed he couldn't go to the police because he had promised someone, citing an "underworld code." Wen Binbin suggested Qi Hanchen was behind it, pointing out how quickly they found Li Xiangyuan despite him trying to hide. He warned Li Xiangyuan that by running, he was accepting responsibility.
Wen Binbin offered a deal: Li Xiangyuan should keep his phone off, remain in hiding, and follow Qi Hanchen's instructions, and Wen Binbin would handle the police, assuring him everything would be resolved by the time he returned. Li Xiangyuan then asked Wen Binbin to find Xing Jian, insisting Xing Jian was unreliable and likely bribed by Qi Hanchen. Bao Chenyan was interrogated. He refused to cooperate unless he could see Xing Liang, but was told Xing Liang was unavailable.
He eventually agreed to answer questions. The officer asked if he had ordered Chen Yiming to steal Wen Binbin's police gun. Bao vehemently denied it, stating everyone knew his relationship with the Wen family, and he was more worried than anyone when Wen Binbin was suspended. He called the idea that he would harm Wen Binbin illogical. The officer then asked if he had ordered Chen Yiming to kill Chen Mingyuan and Wu Ajin.
Bao again denied it, saying he had fought openly with Dian Lao'er for nearly twenty years and could have killed him long ago if he resorted to playing dirty. He also stated he himself had been looking for Wu Ajin and was unhappy he had died so easily without settling their accounts. When shown a picture and asked if he knew Luo Jiahui, identified as Chen Yiming's mistress, Bao claimed he only knew "Tao Jie" and no other women.
He insisted he didn't know Luo Jiahui, emphasizing that Chen Yiming was his "brother," and they had trusted each other for decades, so he never inquired about his private life. Wen Binbin, posing as Xing Liang’s brother-in-law, visited Xing Jian and Lili, bringing gifts. Lili welcomed him warmly, praising Wen Zixuan for being a good wife to Xing Liang and providing help to their family. She mentioned their house needed repairs and Xing Jian had no job.
Wen Binbin said Xing Liang had heard about their difficulties and sent him. He then revealed his "mission" was to recruit guards for his sister's company, as Xing Liang believed family members were reliable. He offered 6,000 yuan a month with insurance, acknowledging there were no holidays but offering overtime pay. Xing Jian asked if he qualified. Wen Binbin clarified that Xing Liang had actually said Xing Jian was closer to the family and should manage the recruitment.
Xing Jian then asked if another relative who was skilled in free combat could also get a job. Lili urged Xing Jian to call this relative, Ye, telling him it was urgent and there was good news. Wen Binbin then spoke privately with Xing Jian, directly asking about the report letter. Xing Jian denied writing it initially. Wen Binbin pressed him, threatening to expose his lies and turn family members against him.
Xing Jian then confessed that Li Xiangyuan had introduced him to a boss named "Director An," whose full name he didn't know. Director An had paid him 500,000 yuan to write the letter, and the contents were completely false. Wen Binbin expressed disgust at his relatives attempting to exploit his sister and frame her husband, calling them shameless. Xing Jian suggested they leave, as it wasn't safe there anymore, mentioning Director An had promised to show him other opportunities.
Wen Binbin told him to go back and wait for instructions. Xing Jian thanked him and confirmed again that he was paid 500,000 yuan by Director An to write the false letter. Wen Binbin contacted Fei Zai, informing him he was returning and asking him to arrange the timing for delivering the video evidence to the disciplinary inspection commission. Fei Zai was relieved, believing this would save Xing Liang.
Later, Li Xiangyuan complained to Qi Hanchen about being kept waiting despite needing to return to his business. Qi Hanchen casually offered to buy him a bag and told him to get a taxi and wait. Li Xiangyuan then called Qi Hanchen, explaining his difficulty handling Wen Binbin, calling him "nasty," but assured Qi Hanchen he had taken full responsibility and wouldn't implicate him.
Qi Hanchen acknowledged his effort, told him not to worry, and confirmed their planned collaboration project would proceed. Li Xiangyuan thanked him. Qi Hanchen instructed someone to monitor Wen Binbin's actions. The subordinate questioned if this violated Qi Hanchen's promise to his father. Qi Hanchen stated he didn't intend to seriously harm Xing Liang, just teach him a lesson, and instructed caution to avoid going too far.
Qi Hanchen and An Zhihui met Uncle Long and Mr. Jiang at Guanhai Tea House. Uncle Long introduced Mr. Jiang as the friend he had mentioned. Qi Hanchen immediately recognized Mr. Jiang, stating they already knew each other.
Episode 21 Recap
Wen Zixuan asked her brother, Wen Binbin, if her husband Xing Liang was truly safe. Wen Binbin confidently told her he was handling it and assured her that in a few days, Xing Liang would be back home. Worried, Wen Zixuan pressed him, asking what he had done and if he had caused any trouble.
Wen Binbin insisted he hadn't done anything, claiming to be a law-abiding citizen and joking that his relationship with Xing Liang wasn't close enough for him to risk his life. He explained he only told her to ease her anxiety and stressed she should keep it secret to avoid complications. Just then, Na Fan entered to announce that Wen Zixuan's guests had arrived, and Wen Zixuan said she would go alone.
As Wen Binbin was leaving, Na Fan asked about Mr. Xing, mentioning how worried Ms. Wen had been. Wen Binbin replied that things would be resolved soon. He then presented Na Fan with a French perfume, saying Wen Zixuan had mentioned she liked that specific scent. Meanwhile, Wen Binbin had taken Xing Jian into custody earlier that morning. He instructed Luo Tianyi and Er'leng to keep a close watch on him.
Luo Tianyi expressed frustration with Xing Jian, who kept asking when he could leave after providing a video statement. Separately, Qi Hanchen was giving instructions, stating that Mr. Jiang was right: to achieve great things and succeed, one must not be soft-hearted and must be thorough. He specifically ordered that the person who wrote the letter should be taken care of to eliminate any hidden dangers.
Later, while Luo Tianyi and Er'leng were watching Xing Jian in a building, a fire broke out, forcing an evacuation. In the chaos of residents fleeing, Xing Jian momentarily slipped away. He tripped and was nearly trampled but managed to find a corner to hide in. Wen Binbin arrived, initially concerned that Xing Jian was lost, but Luo Tianyi led him to a car where Xing Jian was safe, along with Fei Zai and Yellow.
Wen Binbin commented on the commotion and thanked Yellow for his efforts. Taking a phone call, Wen Binbin confirmed arrangements for Xing Jian, promising cooperation would be rewarded. They brought Xing Jian to meet with officials from the DIC. When asked to recount the situation, Xing Jian immediately claimed that his previous video confession was false and that the people outside (Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi) had threatened him into making it.
Wen Binbin and his group then entered, revealing that they had anticipated his attempt to backtrack and had set a trap. Wen Binbin mocked Xing Jian, offering him grim choices like dismemberment or being bled out to emphasize their seriousness. Realizing he had been outmaneuvered, Xing Jian begged for mercy, confessing he was wrong for being greedy and framing Xing Liang, and wrong again for trying to betray Wen Binbin's group.
He pleaded for forgiveness, admitting he couldn't afford to offend either side. Wen Binbin offered him a chance to redeem himself by cooperating on "other things," not just clearing Xing Liang's name. Following this, Xing Jian desperately called the person who had hired him, demanding the promised 500,000 yuan immediately, threatening to retract his testimony at the police station if he didn't receive the money.
The other party initially hesitated, citing the risk, but Xing Jian's insistence and threats forced them to agree. Wen Binbin, Liu Yong, and Fei Zai anticipated this contact. Wen Binbin explained his reasoning: since the other side didn't take Xing Jian during the fire incident, they must control him through money, ensuring they would contact him afterwards. They arranged to meet the contact. At the meeting spot, as Xing Jian approached, a large truck sped towards him.
Liu Yong quickly pulled Xing Jian out of the way, saving him. Wen Binbin realized the enemies intended to kill Xing Jian to eliminate evidence and frame his own group, a strategy more effective than simply paying him off. He blamed himself for not foreseeing this greater risk.
Liu Yong reassured him, saying it wasn't his fault and adding that at least Xing Jian's testimony about being coerced had helped clear Xing Liang's name, even though they hadn't caught the mastermind behind the truck attack. Xing Liang, now back at the police station, spoke with Tai Yongzheng, reflecting on the incident and emphasizing the need for caution in work and life. He also stated his belief that Chen Yiming was the key to revealing the hidden enemy.
Later, Wen Binbin was at the hospital and encountered Liu Yong, who informed him that Chen Yiming's wife, Luo Jiahui, was refusing to see anyone connected to Bao Chenyan, per instructions from Xing Liang (referred to as "the boss"). Wen Binbin tried to use their past history to persuade Liu Yong but was politely refused. Wen Binbin then gave Liu Yong something to pass to Luo Jiahui.
Wen Binbin, speaking to someone (implied Fei Zai), joked about his colleagues being hard to fool. He then set up a distraction using Yellow to draw Liu Yong away while Luo Jiahui was taken to see her child in the ICU. During this brief moment, Luo Jiahui became frantic, thinking Wen Binbin was trying to take her baby. Wen Binbin denied it, and Luo Jiahui was escorted back.
Later, Wen Binbin told someone he was returning to the station now that Xing Liang was back and safe, betting that Xing Liang would go to the station before going home to avoid Wen Zixuan's potential anger. Wen Binbin concluded from Luo Jiahui's reaction that Chen Yiming had not told the truth and Luo Jiahui knew something, although, as his companion noted, she was as stubborn as Chen Yiming.
Xing Liang arrived home, where Wen Zixuan rushed to embrace him warmly, fussing over his shoes. She had made dumplings and invited Wen Binbin over. During dinner, Xing Liang sincerely thanked Wen Binbin for his crucial help in clearing his name quickly. Wen Binbin humbly said everyone had helped. Both Xing Liang and Wen Zixuan commented on Wen Binbin's maturity, reflecting on their past strictness and Wen Binbin's youthful troubles.
Wen Binbin acknowledged his past mistakes and expressed gratitude to his sister and brother-in-law, toasting them. Wen Zixuan emphasized that as a family, they didn't need such formalities and wished for their family to be safe and sound in the future. Xing Liang later visited Bao Chenyan in detention. He thanked Bao Chenyan for informing him about Luo Jiahui and her child.
Xing Liang then questioned Bao Chenyan extensively about Chen Yiming's suicide after seeing him, theorizing that Chen Yiming's death was a planned event, triggered by their interaction, designed to frame Bao Chenyan and protect the real mastermind. Xing Liang suggested the mastermind might have targeted Chen Yiming through his family, finding his "weak spot."
Bao Chenyan denied knowing about Chen Yiming's private life or family, stating their brotherhood was based on loyalty, not control, and he never interfered in personal matters. They discussed possible masterminds; Bao Chenyan suggested Qi Hanchen, as he benefited the most from Bao Chenyan's arrest. Xing Liang dismissed this, pointing out that the scheme seemed to have started earlier when Wen Binbin lost his gun, before Qi Hanchen was involved in the project.
Bao Chenyan then speculated that Dian Lao'er might have initiated the plan to harm Wen Binbin due to his closeness with Xing Liang, with Qi Hanchen potentially taking over after Dian Lao'er's death. Xing Liang noted that Dian Lao'er's death made this impossible to verify. Xing Liang stated the project was unfinished, and the perpetrators would likely make another move. Bao Chenyan asked when he would be released, expressing concern for his associates outside. Xing Liang replied that the decision would be made after the investigation was complete, clarifying that their conversation was an informal chat, not an official interrogation requiring evidence.
Episode 22 Recap
Five years ago, Na Fan informed Luo Tianyi that she was joining the army, as her application had been approved and she would be leaving in two days. Luo Tianyi was surprised, asking why she would join the army when she was doing so well in college and planning to go abroad, and why she hadn't discussed it with him beforehand.
Na Fan claimed she was discussing it then, but Luo Tianyi countered that it was an announcement, not a discussion. He pressed her for a reason, reminding her of her dream and planned future. Na Fan explained that for her, a dream was too luxurious; there was something more important. Luo Tianyi suspected it wasn't a sudden decision and asked if Uncle Jiang had influenced her.
Na Fan confirmed that Uncle Jiang had told her something important that reminded her of her past experiences, suggesting that joining the army might be the only way to achieve her goal. Luo Tianyi questioned what could be so important that it would make her abandon years of effort. Na Fan revealed it was about her father's case, stating that after so many years, there were still no clues, so she had to rely on herself to find the truth.
Luo Tianyi questioned why Uncle Jiang would bring this up now, calling him calculating and cunning. Na Fan became serious, telling Luo Tianyi that she had never spoken to him so solemnly before. She emphasized that Uncle Jiang was their benefactor and forbid Luo Tianyi from slandering him in front of anyone. Luo Tianyi clarified he wasn't slandering, just trying to understand, and Na Fan stated she didn't care about anything else as long as she could achieve her objective.
Wen Binbin confronted Fei Zai for ignoring his calls and messages, accusing him of trying to block him. Fei Zai claimed he had accidentally pressed the wrong buttons. Wen Binbin demanded a more believable excuse, sensing something was wrong with the case. Fei Zai reluctantly revealed that Chen Yiming had attempted suicide but was saved, although his condition was still unstable. Wen Binbin connected this to Xing Liang abruptly leaving dinner the previous night, realizing something significant had happened.
Wen Binbin suspected his advice might have played a role in Fei Zai's situation. Fei Zai denied it was Wen Binbin's fault and admitted he had made a mistake, having faced consequences. Fei Zai asked Wen Binbin for a favor if he felt guilty: to stop inquiring about the case. Wen Binbin agreed to help if he could, but when pressed for a firm promise regarding the case, he deferred the matter and left, citing another commitment.
Back at the company, Luo Tianyi overheard colleagues discussing how Tu Manjiang refused to lend money to help Liu Shu, who was ill, while others had contributed. Luo Tianyi called Tu Manjiang heartless and intended to confront him for money. He went to Tu Manjiang's empty office but soon heard him on the phone arranging a meeting. Luo Tianyi and Wen Binbin followed Tu Manjiang to a place, but a woman at the entrance stopped them.
They attempted to gain entry by claiming to be meeting a Mr. Wang and then Mr. An, who they said invited them previously, but the staff refused, citing a rule against admitting anyone claiming to be Mr. An's friend. While still outside, Luo Tianyi received a call reporting trouble at Tuan Island. Luo Tianyi and Wen Binbin rushed to Tuan Island.
They found people causing a disturbance, led by Mouse Zhou, who was damaging property and spreading negative rumors about Bao Chenyan. Mouse Zhou taunted Luo Tianyi, claiming Bao was finished due to a "murder case" and questioning how they could protect Tuan Island without him. Luo Tianyi and his group retaliated, driving the troublemakers away. Afterward, the vendors on Tuan Island expressed concern about the impact on their business and whether Bao Chenyan would return.
Luo Tianyi insisted they should fight back against anyone causing trouble, while Tu Manjiang urged caution and patience. An argument ensued between Luo Tianyi and Tu Manjiang about how to handle the situation, with others trying to mediate. Tu Manjiang explained he had been meeting with someone from the bank. Luo Tianyi remained skeptical of Tu Manjiang, voicing distrust and suggesting he was hypocritical.
They discussed the implications if Tu Manjiang were to leave and the chaos that might follow in Bao's absence. Shops were closing early due to fear and the damage caused. When the cost of repairs came up, someone mentioned the vendors couldn't afford renovations and could only make minor repairs. Wen Binbin offered to pay for the necessary upgrades to potentially attract new customers.
They also discussed Qi Hanchen's strategic attempts to buy shares from individual vendors while exploiting their current upset by spreading rumors about Bao and offering favorable terms. Wen Zixuan arrived, and she and Tu Manjiang discussed the need to cooperate with Qi Hanchen under the current circumstances, agreeing to arrange a meeting. Xing Liang was reprimanded by his superior, Director Tai, for Chen Yiming's suicide attempt happening under their watch.
Xing Liang took full responsibility and requested to continue investigating the case instead of being suspended. Director Tai informed him that, based on existing evidence and statements, including a report submitted to the Provincial Department, the gun case was being formally closed. Xing Liang strongly objected, highlighting numerous unresolved doubts. Director Tai acknowledged the pressure they were under but allowed the task force to remain active and continue investigating informally.
He cautioned Xing Liang to proceed carefully and avoid getting himself into trouble again, referencing a previous incident. Wen Zixuan met with Qi Hanchen. They reminisced about their fathers' friendship and shared love for a particular wine. Qi Hanchen brought up cherishing old connections and offered an apology for any past issues, presenting a gift, a cooperation agreement with MorningStar Investment.
Wen Zixuan accepted the gift but proposed delaying further discussions about full cooperation and celebratory drinks until Bao Chenyan was released, suggesting they could all drink together then. Qi Hanchen expressed anticipation for Bao's release and agreed to wait. Later, Bao Chenyan was released from the detention center. He met with Wen Zixuan and Tu Manjiang. They discussed his release, attributing it to a lack of sufficient evidence. They planned another meeting for that evening.
Tu Manjiang made a phone call to Director Li, reporting Bao's release. Director Li explained their strategy: releasing Bao was a tactic to lure out the true mastermind, as Chen Yiming was in a coma and could not provide further information, halting progress in the case.
Director Li stressed the importance of the operation's success, emphasizing that Tuan Island would serve as bait and that Bao, while not necessarily the mastermind, was a crucial figure whose release could lead to new discoveries. That evening, Bao Chenyan, Wen Zixuan, and Tu Manjiang met with Qi Hanchen again. They shared a drink.
Bao outlined his conditions for cooperating on the Tuan Island project: the stall rent for vendors must not increase, and all decisions affecting the vendors' interests must be approved by them. Qi Hanchen found these terms unacceptable and felt they showed a lack of sincerity. Seeing that an agreement could not be reached, he ended the meeting and left. As he departed, Qi Hanchen made a remark about Bao drinking too quickly, which Bao perceived as a veiled threat.
After Qi Hanchen left, Bao, Wen Zixuan, and Tu Manjiang discussed Qi Hanchen's significant influence and the uncertain path ahead. Bao contrasted Wen Zixuan's calm strength with Tu Manjiang's caution, remarking that despite appearances, people like Qi Hanchen might be similar to others they dealt with. He also mentioned relying on Tu Manjiang and the Lin family for support. Subsequently, Bao Chenyan, Wen Zixuan, and Tu Manjiang met with Sheng, from the Lin family. Sheng appeared busy and somewhat detached.
Tu Manjiang introduced everyone. Sheng praised Tu Manjiang's discernment in projects and stated he had reviewed the plan and was ready to sign the agreement immediately. Bao expressed gratitude. They attempted to persuade Sheng to stay for a meal and drinks, emphasizing the importance of building rapport as partners, but he politely declined, citing an urgent meeting in Gang City and promising to meet "next time."
After Sheng left, Bao, Wen Zixuan, and Tu Manjiang discussed their impressions of both Sheng and Qi Hanchen, noting similarities in their underlying motivations despite their different outward styles. Tu Manjiang provided background on the Lin family's company, Guotai Group, describing it as low-profile but expansive, focusing on financial leverage rather than specific industries. He explained that Sheng's interest in the Tuan Island project likely stemmed from its potential as a cash flow source to utilize their financial strategies.
Bao, impatient with the detailed analysis, stated his only concern was whether Sheng would invest real money without causing complications. Wen Zixuan urged Tu Manjiang to gain a deeper understanding of Sheng's business logic. Wen Zixuan called Luo Tianyi, inviting him and Wen Binbin over for dinner. At dinner, they engaged in playful banter.
Xing Liang arrived with news: the gun case was formally closed, and Wen Binbin's suspension had been lifted and replaced with a major demerit, with no criminal charges, due to his significant contributions. However, the task force would continue its investigation due to remaining doubts in the case. Luo Tianyi pressed Xing Liang for a timeline on when the case would be fully closed and Wen Binbin completely cleared and reinstated. Xing Liang admitted it was uncertain.
Wen Binbin realized that pursuing the investigation would involve the Tuan Island project, potentially requiring him to recuse himself as his wife and sister were involved. He questioned if his reinstatement hinged on him withdrawing from the investigation or on finding who was truly responsible for framing him regarding the lost gun. Xing Liang confirmed that someone was indeed using the lost gun incident to cause trouble.
Luo Tianyi argued with Wen Binbin, still expressing strong suspicion of Bao Chenyan based on Chen Yiming's earlier statement that Bao ordered him to take Wen Binbin's gun and knockout and also suggesting Bao had ordered Sun Changhai not to harm Luo Tianyi during a previous arrest attempt. Wen Binbin was visibly conflicted by these accusations. Later, Xing Liang took Wen Binbin to meet with Director Tai and Commissar Sun.
They formally presented Wen Binbin with the official decision: the revocation of his suspension, replacement by a major demerit, and exemption from criminal punishment due to his service. They welcomed him back to duty. Wen Binbin expressed feelings of inadequacy for losing his weapon, recalling his father's pride in his becoming a police officer and his wish for Wen Binbin to uphold that honor. Na Fan comforted him, urging him to focus on finding the gun.
Luo Tianyi countered, accusing Wen Binbin of being solely motivated by personal pride and blaming him for the complications that arose after the gun's disappearance. Na Fan reminded Luo Tianyi of her promise: she would become his girlfriend if he got his job back. Wen Binbin grasped that uncovering the truth about who framed him by using the gun was critical for his full vindication and reinstatement. Chen Yiming was believed to know the gun's location.
Subsequently, Xing Liang successfully located the gun, and technical analysis confirmed it was Wen Binbin's missing service weapon. Wen Binbin was relieved, feeling he could now face the memory of his father without shame.
Episode 23 Recap
Xing Liang informed Wen Binbin that his reinstatement to the team was not to be announced publicly yet. He explained that Wen Binbin's first assignment upon returning would be to work undercover, immediately joining the Tuan Island Special Task Force investigation, reporting directly to him. Xing Liang also cautioned Wen Binbin that while being influenced by emotions is normal for an ordinary person, it could become a significant obstacle in the pursuit of truth for a police officer.
Later, Wen Binbin was in a sauna with Bao Chenyan and Luo Tianyi. Bao suggested they steam, then take a bath, and afterwards go to Tao's place in the evening to relax. Luo Tianyi was delighted, saying he had been waiting for Bao to say that, noting that everyone had been down while Bao was away but felt energized with him back. Luo Tianyi then noticed Wen Binbin seemed preoccupied and asked if something was on his mind.
Wen Binbin denied it, claiming he hadn't slept well and had a headache. Luo speculated if Wen Binbin had been reinstated by the police station. Wen Binbin quickly denied this, asking how it was possible. Bao mentioned the gun had been found and asked why Wen Binbin wasn't back on the team yet. Wen Binbin explained that Xing Liang said the case wasn't closed, so he still had to wait, adding that it was up to the police to decide.
Luo then suggested that since his sister went to bed early the previous night, the only thing that could keep Wen Binbin up was either the police matter or his sister, calling him a love-stricken fool. Wen Binbin warned Luo to stop teasing or he'd make sure Luo couldn't sleep that night. Bao announced he was going to take a bath and told Luo Tianyi to stay with Wen Binbin.
Wen Binbin then asked Luo Tianyi where Luo Jiahui worked, saying he wanted to go see her. Luo asked why, reminding Wen Binbin that he had scared her last time and implying Luo Jiahui wasn't someone to bother. Wen Binbin insisted he just wanted to apologize and didn't mean anything else. Later, Luo Tianyi confronted Er'leng, asking what he was doing that afternoon, reminding him that he had initially said he went to the hospital with a stomach ache.
Er'leng changed his story, claiming he went to restock supplies. Luo Tianyi accused Er'leng of secretly meeting with Luo Jiahui and betraying Bao Chenyan. Er'leng vehemently denied being a traitor, emphasizing his long-standing loyalty to Bao and the group. He eventually admitted that Bao Chenyan had sent him to give Luo Jiahui some money, though he didn't understand why.
Luo Tianyi and Wen Binbin were skeptical, pointing out Bao's troubled history with Chen Yiming and that Luo Jiahui was Chen's wife, questioning why Bao would send her money. Er'leng insisted he was telling the truth and pleaded with them not to mention it to anyone. Wen Binbin located Luo Jiahui near a market. He approached her and tried to give her some money from his pocket.
Luo Jiahui saw the money and accused him of resorting to bribery after coercion failed. Wen Binbin denied this, saying he and Chen Yiming were brothers and that giving her some money was the right thing to do. She refused the money and told him not to seek her out again if he still cared about his relationship with Chen Yiming.
As she walked away, Wen Binbin followed her but lost sight of her briefly when a large truck passed by. While he searched, she reappeared from behind him, asking if he was following her. Wen Binbin went to a convenience store, hoping to review surveillance footage. He asked the owner to see the camera recording, explaining he lost something nearby. The owner seemed reluctant.
Wen Binbin offered to buy two boxes of beer, then five, and finally offered to buy all the beer in the store. The owner quoted him 2,000 yuan. Wen Binbin paid the money, but the owner then claimed the camera was broken and refused to return the money. When Wen Binbin insisted, the owner described a male, approximately 1.
75 meters tall and weighing 75 kilograms, wearing all black, who had passed by the store about half an hour before Wen Binbin. He indicated only this person had passed by during that time. Wen Binbin arrived at the entrance of Tao's KTV with the beer he bought. He instructed Luo Tianyi to help him carry all the beer inside and then pay for the ride. Luo Tianyi complained but eventually agreed, grudgingly paying the driver.
Later, Wen Zixuan discussed the Tuan Island project's issues. A colleague informed her that the qualifications of their subsidiary construction company were set to expire and didn't meet requirements, a detail they had overlooked. They admitted they had contacted other qualified construction companies, but they all refused to cooperate, saying they already had agreements with another party. They suspected this was due to pressure from Qi Hanchen. Wen Zixuan suggested meeting with Qi Hanchen.
Wen Zixuan and Bao Chenyan met with Qi Hanchen, who arrived late and stated he only had about ten minutes. Wen Zixuan offered concessions, including adjusting stall fees based on previous performance with only a small fluctuation and discussing other details. Qi Hanchen interrupted, asking who would have primary control. Wen Zixuan stated they would. Qi dismissed their offer as lacking sincerity and prepared to leave before the ten minutes were up.
Wen Zixuan mentioned they had a backup plan for the worst-case scenario. Bao Chenyan then spoke, telling a story from thirteen years ago about coming to the city and facing a man named "Wild Jiang." He recounted how, after defeating Wild Jiang, he honored the dying man's request to spare his relatives and the small vendors on Tuan Island, who were honest people just trying to make a living.
Bao compared their current situation to that past event, acknowledging Qi Hanchen's power as a "legend" compared to himself, saying the vendors' combined earnings were like a single bite of food for Qi. He pleaded with Qi to "put down his chopsticks" so the vendors could survive, warning that forcing them would make him return to his old fighting ways. Despite the plea, Qi Hanchen left.
Later, it was announced that the Tuan Island Trading Center renovation and upgrade project would be jointly undertaken by Wen Group and MorningStar Group. Following the bid announcement, Qi Hanchen instructed An Zhihui to acquire all the scattered shares from the individual vendors on Tuan Island. An Zhihui reminded him that Mr. Jiang had advised maintaining the current situation, but Qi insisted he needed to have full control and would not do anything without certainty, stating he doesn't trust anyone.
A celebration was held at the KTV. They were drinking heavily. Wen Zixuan announced she would give her shares of the Tuan Island project to Bao Chenyan, causing Tu Manjiang's expression to change noticeably. Wen Zixuan left, finding the noise too much. Wen Binbin helped a heavily intoxicated Tu Manjiang. In his drunken state, Tu Manjiang mentioned that Bao Chenyan had introduced Chen Yiming to Luo Jiahui. Wen Binbin later discussed the case with Xing Liang.
Wen Binbin expressed his belief that Bao Chenyan was not the mastermind. Xing Liang agreed that Bao likely wasn't the ultimate boss, deeming him not smart enough. They considered Qi Hanchen as a potential suspect, acknowledging that his departure after the investment conference could be a tactic to lower their guard before making a bigger move. Wen Binbin maintained that based on his long-standing understanding of Bao, he didn't seem like the person they were looking for.
Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi returned to Tao's KTV to assist a still very drunk Bao Chenyan. As they helped him, Bao mumbled, asking if the money had been delivered to Ah Hui's house. Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi confirmed they had gone but she refused to accept it. Luo speculated that she might have borrowed money from relatives or friends, but based on her reaction, he didn't think she had resorted to loan sharks.
Seven months later, at the Tuan Island Marketing Center, Tu Manjiang addressed the crowd of vendors, presenting the plans for the renovated Trading Center. He highlighted the project's advantages, including its favorable location and improved infrastructure, and announced preferential policies for old merchants, such as priority placement, discounted stall prices, and the right to choose their locations first, attributing these benefits to Bao Chenyan's efforts.
Separately at the Marketing Center, vendors were discussing a financial product called "Make Money," advertised for turnover and savings, with high interest rates. They mentioned that the product was reliable and endorsed by Mr. Lin, who they understood to be a partner introduced by Bao. Wen Zixuan visited the Marketing Center and saw banners promoting the "Make Money" project. She sought out Lin Yisheng and asked him if Bao Chenyan was aware of the project.
Lin admitted he hadn't had a chance to tell Bao yet, explaining that he needed to show results with this project to convince his family to confirm their investment in the Tuan Island project. Wen Zixuan found it concerning that he made such a major decision without consulting their partners, although she acknowledged the project proposal seemed procedurally correct and the company, Guotai Group, was professional in finance.
Lin insisted the project was designed to help vendors with funding issues and would ultimately benefit everyone by increasing market occupancy. Bao Chenyan visited the Marketing Center site. He spoke briefly with An Zhihui about An's father's health. Bao then instructed Tu Manjiang to make sure he looked after the vendors and helped those with difficulties, emphasizing that despite funding being tight, the vendors' needs were more pressing.
Bao asked Tu Manjiang about the status of Mr. Lin's funds, urging him to follow up quickly. In a car, Luo Tianyi expressed his anger about Tu Manjiang, calling him an ingrate for hiding things and keeping Bao busy, suggesting it was to buy time for others. Wen Binbin stated that Bao was aware Tu Manjiang had hidden more than just this.
Wen Binbin mentioned a photo of Tu Manjiang at Guanhai Tea House which Tu Manjiang had never explained, noting that Tu's attitude had seemed strange since then, although he hadn't revealed his suspicion at the time because he lacked substantial evidence and the company was relying on Tu while Bao was absent.
Episode 24 Recap
Eleven years ago, Bao Chenyan angrily confronted Wu and Er'leng, frustrated by their inability to handle accounting. He recounted how they had worked for three months, producing twelve different numbers without a single duplicate. He contrasted their failure with a professional accountant who solved the problem in two hours for 200 yuan, calling Wu useless and reminding him of past failures before Bao helped him. Er'leng argued that he was better at finding fighters than accountants.
As Bao expressed his exasperation, a man entered, presenting a resume from Gang City University with a Master's degree, applying for a job. Bao gave him an account book, challenging him to complete the calculation in two hours. To Wu and Er'leng's astonishment, the man finished instantly, explaining it was simple mental arithmetic. Impressed despite the man's bluntness, Bao asked about his requirements.
The man, Tu Manjiang, asked only for a basic salary and a small share of future company profits. Pleased with this, Bao declared Tu Manjiang was now working for him. In the present day, Xing Liang and Fei Zai discussed the current situation. Fei Zai found it strange that Tu Manjiang, an educated man capable of finding a better job, would choose to work for Bao. Xing Liang agreed, noting that such inconsistencies often indicate a problem.
He ordered Fei Zai and Yu to investigate both Tu Manjiang and Lin Yisheng, especially Lin Yisheng, and their parent company in Haicheng, given the complexity and covert nature of financial crimes. Elsewhere, Luo Tianyi and Wen Binbin brought Mr. Lin, Lin Yisheng, to a restaurant under the pretense that Tu Manjiang had arranged a meeting for him. Lin Yisheng was surprised, as Tu Manjiang hadn't contacted him.
Luo Tianyi and Wen Binbin insisted that Tu Manjiang had personally sent them to pick him up, explaining that Tu Manjiang was already meeting with a client interested in Lin Yisheng's project and was waiting for him. As Lin Yisheng realized he had been tricked and attempted to leave, Luo Tianyi and Wen Binbin stopped him, demanding he talk about the "Make Money" project and how much money he intended to steal.
Lin Yisheng became angry, calling them unreasonable and threatening consequences if they didn't let him go. Luo Tianyi retorted that he was less patient than Wen Binbin and wouldn't let him leave until he got answers, even taunting Lin Yisheng about disposing of his body. Faced with their threats, Lin Yisheng relented and claimed that the "Make Money" project was legitimate and healthy.
Meanwhile, Bao Chenyan confronted Tu Manjiang, offering him a drink and asking if he viewed Bao as a brother after eleven years. Tu Manjiang affirmed his loyalty, stating he had always seen Bao as the reliable older brother he had longed for. Bao then expressed his trust in Tu Manjiang, placing him within his inner circle alongside Zixuan, Wen Binbin, and Er'leng, and expected complete honesty in return.
Tu Manjiang admitted he didn't always reveal things he was certain about but insisted he never concealed anything that would harm the company's interests, understanding the rules of loyalty to his employer. He defended the Tuan Island project, stating it was legal and beneficial, not a scam. Bao remained unconvinced and produced an account book, confronting Tu Manjiang about a five-million-yuan transfer to a shell company.
He mentioned Wen Binbin had suspected Tu Manjiang, but Bao hadn't believed it until seeing the accounts. Tu Manjiang admitted the money went to Qi Hanchen. Bao accused him of colluding with Qi Hanchen to set him up. Tu Manjiang denied this, claiming his actions were for Bao, the company, the vendors' interests, and the welfare of their brothers. Tu Manjiang explained that while Bao was a successful gangster leader, he was a poor businessman.
He stated that he had to cooperate with Qi Hanchen and transfer the money for the "Make Money" project to obtain a proper financial license, which is legally required for small and medium-sized lending activities. Without it, the project would be deemed illegal. By processing Lin Yisheng's funds through a licensed company via Qi Hanchen, the vendors' interests could be protected even if Lin Yisheng's project encountered problems. Wen Binbin questioned why such a seemingly beneficial plan was kept secret.
Tu Manjiang explained that Lin Yisheng's funds were delayed, and they urgently needed capital. Given Bao's reputation after taking over Tuan Island, legitimate investors were hesitant, and past rivals were unwilling to help. The "Make Money" project was the only way to quickly raise the necessary funds to keep the Tuan Island project operational. He added that Qi Hanchen was the only person left with the required qualifications.
He hid it knowing Bao would likely disagree and lacking the time to persuade him. Tu Manjiang asserted that business prioritizes profit over brotherhood, and enemies can cooperate if it's profitable. He admitted concealing the plan was wrong but did not regret it because it benefited the company and the community. Lin Yisheng supported Tu Manjiang, stating Tu's actions were a last resort due to his own financial issues and were not driven by selfish motives.
Wen Binbin still felt the secrecy was wrong. Tu Manjiang reiterated that he didn't regret it because the project was beneficial. He also warned Bao about the complexities of financial fraud. Lin Yisheng added that Tuan Island was losing money, with only stall rents providing income. If vendors couldn't pay rent, the project would fail, making "Make Money" crucial for their survival and the vendors.
Tu Manjiang acknowledged Bao's distrust of Qi Hanchen but argued that as a major shareholder, Qi Hanchen's interests were aligned with theirs, and as a businessman, he understood the need for profit. To address Bao's concerns, Tu Manjiang personally guaranteed the "Make Money" project, offering a three-day refund period: loan recipients only had to return the principal without interest, and depositors would receive immediate cash refunds or IOUs if necessary, with Tu Manjiang backing them personally.
Bao agreed to the project. Luo Tianyi expressed his displeasure. Later, a vendor named Hui expressed surprise at the number of people investing in the "Make Money" project. Bao urged Hui to get his money back, warning him about financial fraud and noting that even he wasn't fully informed about Lin Yisheng's project. Hui defended the project, citing Tu Manjiang's investment and expertise.
He revealed that Tu Manjiang had secretly lent him money when he needed it, asking him to say it was from a relative to avoid trouble with other vendors. Hui considered Tu Manjiang a good person and credited the project with helping him. He reasoned that a scammer wouldn't voluntarily offer refunds. Hearing this, Bao apologized to Tu Manjiang in front of Wen Binbin and Luo Tianyi for doubting him.
Tu Manjiang accepted the apology, admitting his initial secrecy was wrong but stating he had no regrets since Bao now understood. Bao asked if they were still brothers, which Tu Manjiang confirmed, adding that while the project was feasible, he still didn't trust Lin Yisheng. Bao asked Tu Manjiang to keep a close eye on Lin Yisheng, and Tu Manjiang promised to ensure the vendors' interests were protected. They then shared a drink.
Luo Tianyi pulled Wen Binbin outside, complaining about Bao being easily fooled and Tu Manjiang's perceived manipulation. Wen Binbin questioned if his dislike of Tu Manjiang was personal or project-related, and Luo Tianyi dismissed Tu Manjiang as untrustworthy. Luo Tianyi saw his sister, Na Fan, with a man and called out to her. Na Fan introduced the man, An Zhiqiang, to Luo Tianyi and Wen Binbin. Wen Binbin suggested it was late and they should leave.
As Na Fan prepared to go with them, Luo Tianyi warned An Zhiqiang not to be physically aggressive towards his sister. Walking away, Luo Tianyi criticized Wen Binbin for being timid around Na Fan and not confronting An Zhiqiang. Wen Binbin responded that he had no claim to Na Fan's actions. Luo Tianyi pressed him on their relationship status, noting things seemed to be going well and he thought they were close to success.
Wen Binbin expressed uncertainty, wondering if her hesitation stemmed from his lack of police reinstatement. Luo Tianyi dismissed this, calling him foolish and stating that Na Fan clearly liked him and his reinstatement was inevitable; such a thing wouldn't be a decisive factor. He argued that even if it were the reason, Wen Binbin should still intervene when another man was involved, referring to An Zhiqiang as a "pretty boy." Wen Binbin appeared intoxicated from earlier drinking.
Meanwhile, Yu provided Xing Liang with an update on their investigation into the recording of Chen Mingyuan and Uncle Long. They identified Heyue Supermarket on Heliu Road in Shenchuan based on the timestamp and a 5th-anniversary event, and had narrowed down 19 vehicles within the probable range based on sound analysis.
Xing Liang showed Yu a new car and they briefly discussed the former racer, Big Eye Chen, expressing sadness about his current state and mentioning a racing video of him recently posted online. Later, Luo Tianyi received a call from his contact, Da Pao, who couldn't reach Wen Binbin and had news for Luo Tianyi.
Da Pao reported seeing a motorcycle rider resembling the person in Wen Binbin's photo, following him to a building, and seeing the person enter, leaving the motorcycle outside. Da Pao requested 1000 yuan for the information, and Luo Tianyi agreed, asking for the location. Luo Tianyi rushed to the address. Da Pao called again, saying the person had left.
However, Luo Tianyi spotted a distinctive motorcycle matching the description ("red motorcycle, black leather jacket, red helmet, last two digits 48") and confirmed to Da Pao that he saw it, arranging to meet him later. Luo Tianyi approached the motorcycle and found Na Fan there. He questioned why she was there and what was happening. She demanded his phone. He refused, thinking she was acting strangely. She insisted, and as they struggled, Tu Manjiang emerged from behind Luo Tianyi and stabbed him.
Episode 25 Recap
Five years ago, Tu Manjiang brought Na Fan to a cemetery to pay respects. He told her the people buried there were his family, and like her father, they had been killed by others. Na Fan asked why he hadn't told her sooner. Tu Manjiang said he was afraid it would bring her pain, but Na Fan clarified it wasn't sadness but an inability to face it.
She acknowledged his willingness to avenge her but felt powerless to help him or even know who to seek revenge against. Tu Manjiang then suggested there was an opportunity now. In the present day, Luo Tianyi followed a person on a motorcycle and discovered it was Na Fan. He started recording her on his phone, but she spotted him and demanded his phone. Luo Tianyi questioned her motives and refused to hand it over.
During their struggle, Tu Manjiang emerged and fatally stabbed Luo Tianyi from behind. Seeing Luo Tianyi dead, Na Fan was furious. She held a knife to Tu Manjiang's throat, demanding to know why he killed Luo Tianyi, stating he shouldn't have died. Tu Manjiang dismissed the idea of "should or shouldn't," arguing that if Luo Tianyi hadn't died, Na Fan herself would have.
He expressed regret for previously agreeing not to harm Wen Binbin based on her wishes, as her focus had shifted entirely to Wen Binbin. Tu Manjiang claimed their plan couldn't be completed with Luo Tianyi alive, but Na Fan retorted that she didn't care about the plan anymore. Tu Manjiang insisted that if she didn't continue, someone else would, and that Wen Binbin's life depended on her continued involvement; if she stopped, Wen Binbin would die.
He even suggested that killing him and turning herself in would still keep Wen Binbin safe. He reminded her that neither of them had the right to die before their revenge was complete. He promised to bring her father's killer before her to fulfill her final wish before she could kill him. Separately, someone (later identified as being involved with Xing Liang's investigation) was looking into Tu Manjiang's past in South Korea.
They found he had taken a long leave from university due to a car accident and recovery. A caregiver, Ms. Jin, who looked after him for months, confirmed his recovery but found him boring, mostly reading. She recalled no visitors during his recovery. The investigator speculated the accident might have changed Tu Manjiang's personality and asked for help in finding any close friends from his school days. Ms. Jin's account suggested he had no close friends at that time.
Tu Manjiang called Qi Hanchen, who reminded him their relationship was strictly business, not friendship. Qi Hanchen expressed frustration that Tu Manjiang causing a death in the backyard of the Guanhai Tea House made things difficult for them and that cleaning up wasn't part of their agreement. Tu Manjiang explained it was sudden but he had handled the cleanup to prevent police from directly involving Qi Hanchen.
Tu Manjiang admitted the situation would lead to Xing Liang and Bao Chenyan eventually investigating him, but he planned to use it to divert their attention and accelerate his plans, asking for Qi Hanchen's cooperation. Qi Hanchen reiterated his priority was ensuring his company's interests were protected in the upcoming plan and instructed Tu Manjiang to coordinate specific details with An Zhihui.
Qi Hanchen then told An Zhihui to go to Binjiang immediately to audit contracts and payments related to a certain party, clearing up any issues, and to quickly separate their financial company, keeping only the part involving the Tuan Island merchants' share pledges. Regarding the crime scene, Qi Hanchen ordered it secured for an hour before police were called, strictly forbidding their own people from entering. Wen Binbin received a phone call from Na Fan.
Simultaneously, Bao Chenyan, who was in a meeting (with Wen Binbin and Tu Manjiang present, as he dismissed everyone but Tu Manjiang), also received a call. Bao Chenyan then questioned Tu Manjiang about his relationship with Na Fan, demanding the truth. Tu Manjiang claimed she was an orphaned child he had sponsored anonymously since she was twelve. He explained she had later found him herself by gathering clues from the orphanage.
(A flashback showed Na Fan finding Tu Manjiang, thanking him for his anonymous kindness that gave her hope, while Tu Manjiang explained he sponsored her after hearing about her plight, hoping to offer warmth, and used anonymity to avoid influencing her. He told her to focus on her studies and opportunities to help would come later. ) Tu Manjiang told Bao Chenyan Na Fan had always wanted to repay him and they had been in contact since.
Bao Chenyan then asked if Tu Manjiang arranged for Na Fan to work at Wen Zixuan's company. Tu Manjiang admitted suggesting it but maintained Na Fan got the job on her own merit and that he wasn't close to Wen Zixuan before the Tuan Island project. Bao Chenyan revealed Na Fan had kidnapped Tao and claimed it was because of Tu Manjiang. Tu Manjiang denied it, insisting Na Fan wouldn't do such a thing.
Wen Binbin took the phone and spoke to Na Fan, urging her not to act impulsively. Na Fan demanded one million cash for Tao's safe return, stating she only wanted money. She implied her actions were related to Tu Manjiang and that Luo Tianyi's death was also connected to him. Bao Chenyan and Wen Binbin were shocked by the news of Luo Tianyi's death and pressed Na Fan for his location.
Na Fan promised to reveal where to find him after she received the money. Tu Manjiang vehemently denied any connection to the kidnapping or Luo Tianyi's death, but Na Fan accused him of being a bad person, telling Wen Binbin and Bao Chenyan they could believe her or not. Na Fan set the meeting point at the unfinished building at Xingyu Pier in two hours, demanding one million cash and that Tu Manjiang come alone.
Wen Binbin updated Xing Liang on the situation. Tu Manjiang prepared the money, stating it was his life savings, and headed to the pier. Wen Binbin and Bao Chenyan also went, coordinating with the police. Xing Liang also departed for the location. At the pier, police surrounded the area. Na Fan instructed Bao Chenyan and Wen Binbin to stay outside and only let Tu Manjiang enter alone. Tu Manjiang entered the building.
Inside, Tao was found unconscious with a device on her. Police were warned the device was a bomb and to await a bomb disposal expert. Tu Manjiang delivered the money to Na Fan. He asked about Tao, and Na Fan said she was just unconscious. Na Fan explained she refused police monitoring equipment to talk freely, calling Tu Manjiang's behavior "disgusting" but acknowledging it ensured her safety and his freedom. She expressed regret about not seeing him again.
Tu Manjiang urged her to take the money and leave to live her own life. Na Fan refused, stating she would stay and watch him until he fulfilled all his promises. She demanded the remote control for the device after getting the money, assuring him it wouldn't detonate if she was safe. Tu Manjiang then reminded her of August 26th, twelve years ago, a rainy night.
(A flashback showed Na Fan's father making dinner, answering a knock, and being attacked as Na Fan's mother looked on, her father urging Na Fan to run. ) Tu Manjiang told Na Fan he had promised to bring her father's killer before her and had done so, revealing he was the one who killed her father.
He explained he did it because her father was a "traitor" who betrayed his nephew, Wild Jiang, leading to the destruction of Wild Jiang's family, including Tu Manjiang's sister and brother-in-law. He declared her father deserved death and added he killed him with the very knife her father had given her. Emotionally overwhelmed, Na Fan stabbed Tu Manjiang with the knife. A sniper, fearing her actions, shot and killed Na Fan.
The bomb device was later found to be fake, and Tao, the hostage, was sent to the hospital in stable condition. Xing Liang questioned the injured Tu Manjiang about what he said to provoke Na Fan. Tu Manjiang claimed he asked her why she framed him and suggested it was because he discovered her secret relationship with Qi Hanchen.
He alleged he saw her at Guanhai Tea House with An Zhihui's younger brother, a confidant of Qi Hanchen, and overheard them discussing Ms. Wen's involvement in the Tuan Island project, which he considered a dangerous sign. He claimed he warned Na Fan not to betray Ms. Wen, leading to her sudden attack. Discussing the case, Xing Liang mentioned the caregiver's account of Tu Manjiang's past car accident and a severe mango allergy.
Wen Binbin noted he had seen Tu Manjiang consume mango juice without issue, raising suspicions about his identity. They decided to continue investigating Tu Manjiang, expanding the scope, though Xing Liang emphasized the need for evidence over speculation. Wen Binbin mourned the deaths of Luo Tianyi and Na Fan, finding it difficult to believe Na Fan killed Luo Tianyi. He felt the events were too coordinated and suspected someone else was behind it, likely connected to Tu Manjiang.
He highlighted the need to understand Na Fan's true relationship with them. Xing Liang mentioned the forensic report from Luo Tianyi's death scene showed only signs of a struggle between him and Na Fan, no third party evidence, but indications the scene had been cleaned. Luo Tianyi's phone contained a photo identifying Na Fan as the motorcyclist who shot Dian Lao'er, adding to their questions about her actions and motivations.
They found it suspicious that Na Fan would kill Luo Tianyi after being discovered, especially by stabbing him from behind, and questioned her choice of location if she was truly involved with Qi Hanchen, given the difficulty of cleaning up Guanhai Tea House. They were increasingly suspicious of Tu Manjiang. Xing Liang and Wen Binbin reflected on the loss of their friends. Xing Liang stated the only way to honor them was to find the truth.
While the scene investigation didn't find direct third-party evidence, the signs of cleaning provided a direction. Wen Binbin reiterated his suspicion of Tu Manjiang but was troubled by the uncertainty surrounding his identity, making it hard to grasp the underlying connections. Xing Liang confirmed Tu Manjiang's identity was being thoroughly investigated. He noted Bao Chenyan was enraged by Tao's kidnapping and wouldn't let the matter rest.
Xing Liang observed that surface clues pointed towards Qi Hanchen but proposed a strategy: Xing Liang's team would focus on investigating Tu Manjiang, while he and Bao Chenyan would confront Qi Hanchen, hoping to pressure him into revealing any involvement with Luo Tianyi or Na Fan's deaths. He cautioned maintaining careful control during this confrontation.
Episode 26 Recap
Nineteen years ago, Zhan Xiaoman sat outside, preparing to tear up his Gang City University admission notice. He explained that the annual cost of 50,000 yuan was too much for his family to afford, and he didn't want to burden his sister and brother-in-law. Zeng Zhijiang, who had come looking for him because his parents were worried, stopped him. Zeng Zhijiang expressed a desire to attend university himself but said he couldn't.
He showed Zhan Xiaoman injuries on his hand and arm, revealing he was involved in risky business where getting hurt was necessary to receive large compensation. Zeng Zhijiang insisted that they had money now and Zhan Xiaoman should go to school. In the present, police investigator Xing Liang received a report from officer Xiao Yu that the financial manager of Guotai Group was frequently meeting with An Zhiqiang, identified as Qi Hanchen's manager.
Xing Liang instructed officer Liu Yong to retrieve bank statements for Guotai Group and Qi Hanchen's companies and mentioned seeking a joint investigation with the Economic Crimes Detection branch. Meanwhile, Wen Zixuan asked her assistant to use her identity to register on an application and transfer 10,000 yuan into it, directing the assistant to track the money's final destination through bank statements. Bao Chenyan called Qi Hanchen, urging him to meet quickly.
Qi Hanchen stated he was in Gang City working on a project and couldn't return immediately, dismissing Bao's concern about the Tuan Island Market project's importance. He reminded Bao that he had initially insisted on the management rights for Tuan Island. Qi Hanchen explained that his focus regarding Tuan Island was solely on receiving his due profits based on his shares and evaluating Bao Chenyan's management abilities, explicitly stating he would not be responsible for or inquire about anything else.
He called this the "rule of the business game" and even offered to send someone to help Bao understand. Bao Chenyan then mentioned that Tu Manjiang had been hospitalized and many accounts were unclear, expressing concern about the Tuan Island funds. Qi Hanchen agreed to send An Zhiqiang, his manager and an Ivy League graduate, to examine the accounts and alleviate financial pressure, granting An Zhiqiang full authority on the Tuan Island project matters.
Wen Binbin, having spoken with Qi Hanchen, reported to Xing Liang that Qi Hanchen was acting evasively, which suggested he had something to hide, and recommended pressuring him further. Following up, Xing Liang called Qi Hanchen, stating he needed him to return for a case. When Qi Hanchen asked if they could discuss it over the phone, Xing Liang revealed a murder had occurred at the Guanhai Tea House, which is registered under Qi Hanchen's name.
He added that their investigation indicated the suspect had a close relationship with someone associated with the tea house, necessitating Qi Hanchen's questioning. Qi Hanchen responded that while the tea house was his investment, he was not directly responsible and offered to arrange for the person in charge to speak with Xing Liang.
Xing Liang stated they had already informed the person in charge, An Zhiqiang, but found he was also unavailable, claiming to be out of town for a project. Xing Liang warned that if they did not appear in person the next day, he would arrange for notifications or summons to be issued to the tea house and their company headquarters. Qi Hanchen agreed to arrive by noon the next day and stated An Zhiqiang would come with him.
Later, An Zhiqiang was questioned by Deputy Team Leader Yang at the police station. An Zhiqiang was asked about the surveillance monitors at Guanhai Tea House being broken and where he was at the time of the murder. An Zhiqiang acknowledged the broken monitors as a technical or security failure but noted they had been broken since the previous day, not just at the time of the incident. He denied responsibility for the murder, stating he was upstairs hosting guests.
He also confirmed he knew the victim, Na Fan, describing her as a good friend. Separately, Qi Hanchen arrived at the police station. Deputy Team Leader Yang informed him that Xing Liang had a last-minute meeting and couldn't be there. Qi Hanchen expressed annoyance at being called back from Gang City only for Xing Liang to be absent, but Yang explained it was unexpected. Qi Hanchen then asked if he was free to leave.
Bao Chenyan visited Tu Manjiang in the hospital, expressing concerns about the company's operations and risks related to the Make Money project, mentioning An Zhiqiang's recent visit and his worries about equity being lost if the project failed, especially since many small merchants were involved. Tu Manjiang dismissed the concerns, claiming it was impossible for the project to have issues because the financial company had thoroughly vetted the company and loan project before providing their license.
He offered to handle discussions with them but Bao told him to focus on recovering. After Bao left, Tu Manjiang's expression shifted to a calculating glare. After being released from the hospital, Tu Manjiang made a phone call, stating he was free and instructing the other party to proceed. Subsequently, Qi Hanchen was shown on a phone call, instructing An Zhiqiang to immediately cut all ties with the related financial company, dismiss all associated personnel, and withdraw all funds.
He further ordered An Zhiqiang to begin collecting payments and logistics fees from the Tuan Island merchants starting the following day, threatening to involve the police for anyone unable to pay. Qi Hanchen remarked that he would teach Bao Chenyan a lesson on how to operate in the business world.
Around the same time, the finance department at Wen Zixuan's company reported that the accounts were empty, the funds having been transferred to the Tuan Island project's special account and then fully withdrawn that morning, leaving no working capital. Wen Zixuan instructed them to delay payments to suppliers. Learning the extent of the financial loss involving Lin Yisheng and Tu Manjiang, Wen Zixuan confronted Xing Liang, who had returned.
She accused him of knowing the danger and watching her fall into the trap, stating she was very upset and wanted to live separately. Xing Liang attempted to calm her, explaining that police discipline and confidentiality prevented him from disclosing information during an ongoing investigation and assuring her that his salary could support them even if the money was lost.
Wen Zixuan remained firm, stating it wasn't about the money but about his apparent disregard for her family's business and reiterating her desire to live separately. Wen Zixuan, Bao Chenyan, and Wen Binbin discussed the situation. Wen Zixuan explained that she had suspected something was wrong with Lin Yisheng's project but his background was clean.
She used the app and traced the funds to a financial company in Huqing, which was not part of Guotai Group but had the Lin family as a shareholder. She described the company as having little visible activity but numerous risk warnings and being rumored to be a high-interest loan operation.
She realized Lin Yisheng's malicious intent when the Tuan Island project funds were moved, concluding that Lin Yisheng was the visible player, Tu Manjiang was operating from the shadows, and Qi Hanchen was facilitating the scheme. They noted that Tu Manjiang was now gone, but Lin Yisheng remained, and the stolen money was likely with either him or Qi Hanchen, leaving the case's resolution dependent on the police. Bao Chenyan mentioned he might have a way to secure funds.
Separately, someone warned Lin Yisheng that he was exposed as the public face of the scheme and the money had been laundered, making him a target for both Bao Chenyan and the police. The person advised him to flee abroad temporarily, but Lin Yisheng refused, stating he had important unfinished business. Downstairs, a crowd of Tuan Island merchants gathered, demanding answers from Bao Chenyan about their investments in the Make Money project, which they could no longer access.
They explained they had trusted him and their life savings were at stake. Bao Chenyan appeared and told them to calm down, acknowledging that he too had been deceived. He promised to find their money and get it back, offering a strong guarantee: if he failed, they could take anything from his company. He instructed them to form a line and register the exact amounts they had lost. Wen Binbin helped manage the crowd.
Bao Chenyan discussed the financial crisis with Wen Zixuan and likely Wen Binbin, reporting that over six million yuan was needed to cover the merchants' losses. He confirmed his company's funds were gone and his personal resources were insufficient, noting that even mortgaging his company might not cover the total. Wen Zixuan suggested they pool their resources. Investigating further, Zhan Xiaoman reported to Xing Liang his conclusion regarding "Big Eye Chen's mistress."
Based on his findings that Bao Chenyan had not introduced her but that she was very familiar with Tu Manjiang, Zhan Xiaoman believed Bao Chenyan had been deliberately framed. He concluded that Tu Manjiang was likely the mastermind behind all the recent events, including Zhan Xiaoman's lost gun and the company's financial collapse.
Episode 27 Recap
Sixteen years ago, Zhan Xiaoman spoke with Wild Jiang, acknowledging Wild Jiang's hard work over the years and how Wild Jiang, despite being his nephew, had taken care of him. Wild Jiang dismissed the idea of who took care of whom, emphasizing they were family. Wild Jiang stated that all his current success, including his large office, was partly due to Zhan Xiaoman's advice.
Zhan Xiaoman then asked if Wild Jiang wanted to expand his company and make more money, prompting Wild Jiang to agree, but admitting that some aspects of his current business were not legitimate. Zhan Xiaoman explained that for the company to last, the 'shady businesses' needed to be legitimized. Wild Jiang didn't fully understand the concept of shifting from a "gray economy" to a "positive color," but trusted Zhan Xiaoman.
Zhan Xiaoman proposed an operational model he'd developed, aimed at becoming a multinational corporation by breaking through industry and regional limits without directly breaking the law. To refine this, he planned to visit South Korea and Japan, where the gray economy was established, to study their models and implement them upon his return.
Wild Jiang was impressed and agreed to the plan, adding that while Zhan Xiaoman was focused on expansion, he intended to take over the Tuan Island market, suggesting the local toughs wouldn't submit without a fight. Zhan Xiaoman cautioned against relying solely on violence, and Wild Jiang agreed to follow his lead, giving Zhan Xiaoman money for his trip. Wen Zixuan confessed to Bao Chenyan that she wanted a divorce from Xing Liang.
She felt that Xing Liang knew about the risks involving Lin Yisheng but allowed her to get involved without warning her. She expressed frustration that Xing Liang consistently prioritized his work over her and their family, even over Wen Binbin at times, especially regarding the Tuan Island situation and the merchants' money. She felt tired and unable to understand his ideals of protecting the greater good before ensuring their family's safety.
Bao Chenyan sympathized, noting Xing Liang's deception could lead to mistrust and potentially betrayal or infidelity, though Wen Zixuan quickly dismissed the idea of cheating. Bao Chenyan tried to comfort her and assured her he would find a way to handle the money problem, urging her to go home and be okay. After Wen Zixuan left, Bao Chenyan remarked on Xing Liang's good fortune. Bao Chenyan, with assistance from Tao, located Lin Yisheng's mistress, Lexin.
Bao Chenyan and Wen Binbin subsequently found Lin Yisheng and Bao Chenyan took him into custody. Wen Binbin relayed this information to Xing Liang, who instructed him to keep a close eye on Bao Chenyan and prevent him from causing any major incidents, and to contact him if anything happened. Meanwhile, Tu Manjiang contacted Qi Hanchen, informing him that Bao Chenyan had apprehended Lin Yisheng.
Tu Manjiang saw this as a perfect opportunity and instructed Qi Hanchen to immediately send people with mortgage documents to the Tuan Island market to force the merchants to pay or seize their shops, thereby consolidating control of the entire market. He also told Qi Hanchen to ensure the blame for this action was directed towards Bao Chenyan. After speaking with Qi Hanchen, Tu Manjiang called Zheng Haotian, Sun Changhai's uncle.
Tu Manjiang claimed to have found the people responsible for the death of Sun Changhai and his brother and sent Zheng Haotian a photo of Bao Chenyan, requesting tough men to be sent his way. Zheng Haotian agreed to come himself with men the following morning. Later, Zheng Haotian and his men launched an attack targeting Bao Chenyan.
Er'leng bravely shielded Bao Chenyan during the assault but suffered severe leg injuries, resulting in a comminuted fracture, severed nerves, and damaged blood vessels in his knees, which ultimately required amputation. In the aftermath, Bao Chenyan called Qi Hanchen, demanding an explanation for his actions. Qi Hanchen merely told him to repay the money.
Tu Manjiang then called Bao Chenyan, stating that Er'leng's life was not enough to settle their debt and that he wanted all of their lives, demanding blood for blood. Confused, Bao Chenyan asked for clarification. Tu Manjiang revealed his identity as Wild Jiang's uncle, accusing Bao Chenyan of causing the destruction of his family, including Wild Jiang, his sister (Wild Jiang's mother, Zhan Xiaotu), and her husband (Wild Jiang's father).
He declared that he had waited and plotted for twelve years for this revenge. During his investigation, Xing Liang discovered that Tu Manjiang was indeed Zhan Xiaoman. He learned that Zhan Xiaoman had gone to South Korea twelve years prior, undergone plastic surgery to resemble his university classmate Zhuang Wentai, assumed Zhuang Wentai's identity, and upon returning to the country, changed his name to Tu Manjiang to execute his long-planned revenge.
Xing Liang shared this information with Wen Zixuan, Bao Chenyan, and Wen Binbin at Wen Zixuan's office. Wen Zixuan was struck by the depth and scale of the twelve-year plot. Bao Chenyan had Lin Yisheng placed in a large water barrel as he spoke to him. Using Lin Yisheng's phone, he called Lin Yisheng's father.
He made Lin Yisheng speak to his father, demanding the return of the money that had been scammed from him and also the medical expenses for his injured associates. Bao Chenyan gave Lin Yisheng's father three days to transfer the money, threatening to harm Lin Yisheng if he was late.
Concurrently, at the Tuan Island market, men led by someone surnamed An, acting on behalf of Qi Hanchen, arrived with documents demanding money from the merchants and attempting to seize their shops. This quickly escalated into a physical confrontation between the merchants and Qi Hanchen's men. Bao Chenyan was informed about the situation and headed to the market to intervene.
Bao Chenyan once again spoke to Lin Yisheng, reiterating his demands for the return of the scammed funds and the medical costs incurred due to his injured men. Lin Yisheng pleaded with his father to comply. Lin Yisheng's father transferred the money, begging Bao Chenyan to spare his son's life and promising not to target him again.
Episode 28 (Ending) Recap
Tu Manjiang stood before the graves of Zeng Zhijiang, Zhan Xiaotu, and Zeng Guolong. He spoke to them, saying it had been a long time and wondering if they recognized him. He explained he had changed his appearance and taken a new name, Tu Manjiang, choosing characters from their names. He swore he would make those responsible pay the price and that he would dedicate his remaining life to revenge.
He recalled events over the past year, including sending Sun Changhai to steal Wen Binbin's police gun and planning to use it on Bao Chenyan, using Big Eye Chen to take photos, and threatening Chen Yiming with his family to frame Bao Chenyan. Bao Chenyan brought Lin Yisheng to a steam room. Lin Yisheng complained about the temperature changes and asked what Bao intended to do with him. Bao replied that using the facility was expensive.
He told Lin Yisheng to leave Binjiang as soon as possible and never come back, threatening to harm him if he ever saw him again, mentioning he would take a body part each time. Lin Yisheng questioned if Bao was serious about letting him go. Bao confirmed he had arranged a driver and booked a flight for him, urging him to leave quickly to catch his plane.
Wen Binbin arrived, and Bao gave him the driver's license plate number, stating Lin Yisheng was heading to the airport. Wen Binbin then called Xing Liang. Later, Lin Yisheng was stopped by the police. Xing Liang interrogated Chen Yiming, who was recovering from his coma. Xing Liang informed him that Tu Manjiang's true identity had been revealed and he was wanted. He urged Chen Yiming to confess, asking if he didn't want to see Luo Jiahui and their child.
Chen Yiming claimed Bao Chenyan was innocent and that Tu Manjiang had forced him to handle the car and gun, confess to the crimes, and frame Bao, by threatening Luo Jiahui and their child. He revealed the location of the gun was in a ditch near Dawang Village. Wen Binbin located Zheng Haotian. Bao Chenyan asked Wen Binbin not to immediately inform Xing Liang, stating he needed to meet with Zheng Haotian to talk.
Bao met with Zheng, who initially brought up the broken leg of one of his men. Bao countered by mentioning his three nephews, two dead and one imprisoned, asking how they should settle the account. Bao said he came alone and without police because he believed Zheng was someone worth talking to. They sat down, and Bao explained the death of Zheng's nephews was related to An Zhihui and Qi Hanchen. Zheng admitted he was foolish and had been misled.
He promised to provide an explanation. Bao then inquired about Tu Manjiang's whereabouts. Zheng said he didn't know where Tu Manjiang was but had his phone number, which he gave to Bao. In return, Bao told Zheng that Qi Hanchen was likely at the Guanhai Tea House and suggested he could intercept him in the underground parking garage. Zheng took the information. Following Bao's information, Zheng Haotian and his men went to the Guanhai Tea House.
They located Qi Hanchen heading towards the lift for the garage and immediately attacked him. Police arrived shortly after, finding only Qi Hanchen standing by the open lift doors. Later, Bao Chenyan was with Wen Binbin where Tuan Island merchants were gathered. Bao told Wen Binbin he had something else to do. Bao addressed the crowd, acknowledging they had lost money because they trusted him.
He expressed his sorrow but stated he could face them because their people had recovered the money. The recovered funds were then distributed to the merchants. Bao sat alone, reflecting on Wen Zixuan's past advice about doing legitimate business. He thought to himself that ever since he kidnapped Lin Yisheng, he had been on a path of no return. Just then, he saw Wen Zixuan's phone ring and she answered it, but the voice was Tu Manjiang's.
Tu Manjiang demanded Bao come alone to a specific location, threatening to kill Wen Zixuan if he didn't comply. Bao agreed and, before leaving, sent the location to Xing Liang. Xing Liang called Wen Binbin upon receiving the address and realized Bao had disappeared from where he was sitting. Bao arrived at the location provided by Tu Manjiang and saw Wen Zixuan tied up.
Tu Manjiang revealed that the area was rigged with bombs and he had the remote control, stating that one press would turn the place into ruins. Bao argued that their conflict was between the two of them and should not involve Wen Zixuan. He offered to exchange himself for her. Tu Manjiang dismissed his request, reminding him he was not in a position to negotiate. As they spoke, Wen Binbin arrived.
Seeing him, Tu Manjiang presented Bao with a choice: either Wen Binbin or Wen Zixuan would live. Bao knelt before Tu Manjiang, begging him to target him instead and saying he would sacrifice himself. He then pulled out a knife and stabbed himself in the chest. Xing Liang arrived shortly after. As Tu Manjiang raised his gun towards Xing Liang, Xing Liang shot and killed him. Bao Chenyan died from his injury.
Later, Wen Binbin was seen back in uniform at the police station. Following the conclusion of the cases, investigations confirmed that Bao Chenyan's provided recording was crucial to the investigations. The contract of Morningstar Group was confirmed as a scam, and the money was to be returned. Qi Hanchen was processed and sentenced to seven years for financial fraud, while An Zhiqiang received three years. An Zhihui was deceased. Chen Yiming, who made contributions, was sentenced to twelve years.
Lin Yisheng was sentenced to seven years for multiple crimes. Although Bao Chenyan was involved in group brawls and recovered money through extreme means, he died while assisting the police, and related violations would not be pursued.
