Black & White Forest Episode 17 Recap
> Black & White Forest 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.
