Hot Girl Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Hot Girl Synopsis
The sexy beauty Guan Xiaodi enters the bodyguard training center by coincidence, where she befriends the arrogant teenager Liang Dawei and the three other beautiful girls who have their own skills.
During the unusual devil training, Guan Xiaodi and her buddies’ bodies are broken, their self-esteem is shattered, and their personalities are reshaped, gradually growing from rebellious girls to qualified female bodyguards.
After the ordeal and rebirth, Guan Xiaodi passed the final examination with her buddies with the first ranking and became a real bodyguard.
A legend about a “hot” female bodyguard started.
Hot Girl Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Liang Dawei, an unrelated sibling to Guan Xiaodi, along with his friends, was waiting at the beach, intent on challenging Guan Xiaodi for the leadership of the Youth Union. He declared that after nearly a year, the Youth Union needed a clear leader, and he was ready to compete for the position. His friends questioned his audacity, reminding him of Guan Xiaodi's reputation as the "Undefeatable Goddess," but Liang Dawei confidently stated she hadn't met her match yet.
Meanwhile, Guan Xiaodi was engaged in a fierce boxing match with Zhang Yan, who was making her fifth attempt to challenge Guan Xiaodi. Guan Xiaodi offered Zhang Yan ten minutes to fight, mentioning she had another challenger waiting. Zhang Yan, however, was determined to defeat Guan Xiaodi and was not interested in joining the Youth Union. At the beach, Liang Dawei grew impatient, expressing frustration that Guan Xiaodi hadn't arrived and accusing her of being afraid.
His friends tried to reach her through texts and calls, but she wasn't responding. As time ticked away, Liang Dawei announced that if Guan Xiaodi didn't arrive within five minutes, he would automatically become the leader. Guan Xiaodi's friends attempted to stall him, but they couldn't compete in a jet ski race, which was the chosen challenge. Eventually, Guan Xiaodi's friend Emma managed to get through to her on the phone.
Guan Xiaodi, still at "AK" after her fight, told Emma she would be there in ten minutes and to tell Liang Dawei to wait. Back at the boxing gym, Guan Xiaodi realized she needed to leave for her appointment with Liang Dawei. She told Zhang Yan that their fight remained unresolved, but she couldn't stay. She took Zhang Yan's bicycle keys and sped off, with Emma calling her again, urging her to hurry as she had just passed Zhonghai Road.
Guan Xiaodi arrived at the beach just as Liang Dawei was about to declare himself the leader. She taunted him, reminding him that she, Guan Xiaodi, was there to prevent that. The challenge was to retrieve a beer bottle placed further out in the water using jet skis. Guan Xiaodi playfully delayed the start while her friends took photos, much to Liang Dawei's annoyance.
The race was intense, but Guan Xiaodi ultimately knocked Liang Dawei off his jet ski, secured the beer bottle, and won the challenge. Later, feeling bored, Guan Xiaodi called her friend Cui Tianqi. Cui Tianqi, an extremely intelligent but severe internet addict, had been secluded in her home for a long time, playing computer games. Guan Xiaodi, unable to get her out, found herself still bored.
Liang Dawei, feeling dissatisfied after losing to Guan Xiaodi, decided to challenge her to another competition, and Guan Xiaodi agreed to face him. Ju Liang, Guan Xiaodi's male best friend, who secretly harbored feelings for her, went to a nightclub with Guan Xiaodi's friends where he met Liang Dawei. Liang Dawei tried to persuade Ju Liang to join his side, but Ju Liang refused, stating he wasn't interested. L. H. S. D.
is a top international bodyguard agency currently recruiting talent. Zhang Yan, needing to earn money for her family, decided to participate in the selection process and asked Liang Dawei to help her inquire about L. H. S. D. Liang Dawei confirmed it was an elite program. Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi arranged to compete in pool. However, both were highly skilled, and after many rounds, no winner was determined, so they decided to leave.
As they were leaving, Liang Dawei noticed a young girl, Yang Yang, whom he had briefly encountered earlier in an elevator with her mother, being led away by a strange man. He immediately recognized the man as a human trafficker and urged Guan Xiaodi to pursue him. Guan Xiaodi, initially confused, soon realized the seriousness of the situation as they gave chase in a car.
Liang Dawei relentlessly pursued the kidnapper, whose car eventually crashed and quickly caught fire, threatening to explode. Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi worked together to rescue the trafficker and the child. However, as Guan Xiaodi tried to exit the vehicle, her foot became stuck. The fire intensified, preventing Liang Dawei from reaching her. Just in the nick of time, Xiong Kuohai, the head of L. H. S. D. and Liang Dawei's adoptive father, arrived.
He swiftly pried open the car door, freeing Guan Xiaodi and helping her to safety. Later, Guan Xiaodi received a video call from her father. She initially complained about the flowers he sent her, finding them unattractive. Her father then gently reminded her that her mother's death anniversary was in two days, and the flowers were for her. Guan Xiaodi immediately fell silent, remembering her mother, a ballet dancer.
When she was little, Guan Xiaodi often watched her mother dance, finding great joy in her graceful movements. But one day, her mother collapsed during practice, and Guan Xiaodi never saw her mother's beautiful dancing or her mother again.
Episode 2 Recap
Guan Xiaodi's adoptive father underwent a medical examination, where he received grim news: his cancer had advanced, spreading to his lymphatic system. Without immediate surgery, he had only a year to live. Mr. Guan decided to keep his deteriorating condition a secret from Xiaodi. Upon returning home, he prepared a sumptuous dinner for Xiaodi. During their meal, they chatted happily.
Mr. Guan also spoke of his unwavering love for her mother, explaining that silent protection is also a form of love. After dinner, they went to the boxing gym for practice. Meanwhile, the Liehuo Shendun agency was actively seeking recruits, and the young members of the Youth Club caught their attention. Liang Dawei, after a check-up at an outpatient clinic, spoke with Instructor Qin, expressing his desire to join the Liehuo Shendun team.
Instructor Qin confirmed that a selection process would begin soon. One evening, Guan Xiaodi gathered with her friends, including Ju Liang and Emma, at a nightclub. Her friends considered her the happiest among them. Xiaodi, however, shared a more somber memory, revealing that her mother passed away when she was three, leaving her feeling isolated throughout her childhood.
That night, Xiaodi and three of her friends, as well as Liang Dawei, Ma Li, and Zhang Yan, all received an identical text message: "Challenge begins tomorrow." Xiaodi and her friends dismissed it as an old-fashioned prank, but Liang Dawei and the others recognized it as the start of the Liehuo Shendun selection. Later, at the nightclub, Xiaodi noticed a man intentionally force-feeding Sun Lanlan alcohol.
When the man attempted to lead a drowsy Sun Lanlan away, Xiaodi intervened, discovering he had drugged her friend's drink. Enraged, Xiaodi severely beat the man. The incident led to her being taken to the police station. Mr. Guan arrived to pick her up, expressing his frustration over her repeated arrests for fighting. He was helpless, as Xiaodi always had her own justifiable reasons and he couldn't persuade her to change.
Xiaodi, however, remained unrepentant, asserting she had no choice but to defend her friend. The Liehuo Shendun agency began their challenges. Liu Sha, a Liehuo Shendun representative, systematically confronted selected candidates in their areas of expertise. She defeated Emma, a rock-climbing expert, by completing the most difficult climbing wall in Nanqing City in less than one minute without protection, a feat that Emma herself needed three and a half minutes to accomplish without protection.
Liu Sha then easily bested skateboard expert Cong Ling and parkour expert Ju Liang. After each victory, she left them a note. Liu Sha then decided to challenge Guan Xiaodi, the "Undefeatable Goddess," the following day. Xiaodi's friends, having witnessed Liu Sha's formidable skills, realized her strategy was to defeat individuals in their strongest domains. They urged Xiaodi to reconsider and avoid the confrontation.
However, the unyielding Guan Xiaodi did not listen to them and decided to have a showdown with Liu Sha. The boxing match between Guan Xiaodi and Liu Sha began at the AK International Club. Liu Sha proved to be an overwhelming opponent, repeatedly knocking Xiaodi to the ground. Despite the blows, Xiaodi stubbornly refused to admit defeat, only yielding when Liu Sha beat her to the point where she could no longer stand up.
Seeing this, Liu Sha knew Xiaodi had lost, so she left a note and walked away proudly. A disheartened Xiaodi eventually picked up the note. Later, from her home, Cui Tianqi, an intelligent and internet-addicted girl, watched footage of Liu Sha and Xiaodi's fight. She attempted to find information about Liu Sha online but found nothing, concluding that Liu Sha was a mysterious and formidable lady. Cui Tianqi then received a mysterious phone call. The caller informed her about the Liehuo Shendun agency organizing a training camp and instructed her to join it, also tasking her with helping Guan Xiaodi complete the subsequent trials.
Episode 3 Recap
Liang Dawei invited Guan Xiaodi out, claiming he wanted to check on her recovery. Guan Xiaodi suspected he was there to gloat, especially after their recent confrontation with Liu Sha. She questioned Liang Dawei about his knowledge of Liu Sha, whose name he had accidentally mentioned.
He admitted Liu Sha was a "secret" and proposed a bet: if Guan Xiaodi could extract a banknote from under a bottle without touching it or tipping it over, he would reveal what he knew. Guan Xiaodi confidently accepted, but she failed. Liang Dawei then demonstrated the trick, using a subtle vibration, and reminded her that a winner makes no excuses. Later, while Guan Xiaodi was still with Liang Dawei, Liu Sha called her.
Guan Xiaodi, undeterred by her recent loss, challenged Liu Sha to another fight, but Liu Sha scoffed at her, asserting that Guan Xiaodi had no right to challenge her again without improving her strength. Guan Xiaodi defiantly vowed that she would one day defeat Liu Sha. Meanwhile, Zhang Yan was on her way home from work when her ex-husband, Wang Dafang, cornered her.
Having lost everything in stocks, he desperately begged her for 100,000 yuan to help him recover his fortune. Zhang Yan reminded him that they were divorced and that she had no such money, calling him crazy for his persistence in the stock market. Despite his pleas and attempts to grab her, Zhang Yan firmly refused to help and rode away on her bicycle.
Determined to confront Liu Sha, Guan Xiaodi gathered her friends, including Cui Tianqi, to decipher the mysterious notes Liu Sha had left for them. Ju Liang realized he had lost his note, prompting the group to retrace his steps. Cui Tianqi, nicknamed Pink Panther, a renowned computer geek, skillfully determined the wind direction on the day of the last challenge and quickly located Ju Liang's missing note. With all the notes collected, they tried to make sense of the letters.
Cui Tianqi initially analyzed them as a potential password, concluding it would take a century to crack. However, Guan Xiaodi wondered if it wasn't a password at all. After a remark from Ju Liang about ordering food online, Guan Xiaodi had a breakthrough, suggesting the letters might form a web address. Cui Tianqi then successfully combined the letters to create a URL, which led them to the L. H. S. D. website.
A video from Liu Sha appeared, revealing that their previous encounters were part of L. H. S. D.' s "training grounds with no walls" and challenging them to continue their training. Despite the humiliation of her previous defeat, Guan Xiaodi felt it was a chance to reclaim her honor and declared that they must accept. The group rallied behind her, agreeing to take on the challenge. Their next hurdle was a formidable firewall protecting L. H. S. D.' s systems.
Cui Tianqi, needing absolute silence to concentrate, requested her friends to leave as even their "brain cells" were affecting her performance. She explained that the firewall allowed only ten attempts before permanently locking them out, and they were down to their last chance. With Guan Xiaodi's encouragement, Cui Tianqi took a gamble by interfering with the firewall's traffic flow and successfully cracked it, earning her friends another chance to compete.
A message appeared, praising Pink Panther for her accomplishment, and Cui Tianqi revealed that she leaves a "digital signature" on systems she hacks into. Unbeknownst to Guan Xiaodi, her father met with Xiong Kuohai, the head of L. H. S. D. Guan Xiaodi's father praised L. H. S. D. as the country's top security company, to which Xiong Kuohai humbly attributed their establishment in Nanqing to friends like him.
Xiong Kuohai passionately explained his vision for the bodyguard business, not merely as a commercial venture, but as a calling to protect families, relationships, dreams, and businesses, emphasizing prevention over punishment. He proudly described L. H. S. D.' s role: "to be the most agile shields and to protect like fire." Guan Xiaodi's father then asked Xiong Kuohai to keep secret the fact that he was the one who recommended Guan Xiaodi's Youth Union to L. H. S. D.
, fearing his daughter's strong reaction if she found out. He expressed concern for the current generation's lack of hardship and entrusted Xiong Kuohai with transforming Guan Xiaodi, to which Xiong Kuohai promised that she would become a new person after completing L. H. S. D.' s training. L. H. S. D. then issued new missions.
Guan Xiaodi's group was assigned to protect a briefcase carried by a man named Chen Siqing for 24 hours, who would arrive in Nanqing in two days. They were tasked with discovering all other information themselves. Simultaneously, Liang Dawei and his group received an opposing mission: to steal the same briefcase from Chen Siqing within 24 hours, also needing to gather intelligence independently. Liang Dawei's group was permitted to use any method they deemed necessary.
Later, Cui Tianqi expressed her unease to Guan Xiaodi, suggesting L. H. S. D. might be a "dark organization" similar to those depicted in TV shows, but Guan Xiaodi dismissed her concerns, stating she was only focused on winning. Guan Xiaodi then invited Cui Tianqi to join her and her friends in the one-year private training program. When Chen Siqing arrived, Guan Xiaodi and Cui Tianqi quickly located him.
At the same time, Cui Tianqi sensed they were being followed and soon spotted Zhang Yan, who was driving a taxi. Quick-witted, Guan Xiaodi immediately got into Zhang Yan's taxi, thus securing Chen Siqing and simultaneously realizing Zhang Yan was on an opposing L. H. S. D. mission. Guan Xiaodi explicitly told Zhang Yan she wouldn't let her succeed.
Cui Tianqi followed Chen Siqing to his hotel, where she noticed Liang Dawei, disguised as a service worker, deliberately approaching Chen Siqing. Cui Tianqi quickly followed them into the elevator and continued to track Chen Siqing until he entered his room. She then took an adjacent room to observe his movements, also noticing the sneaking Liang Dawei. After Chen Siqing left his room, Cui Tianqi began to follow him and deliberately struck up a conversation with him.
Episode 4 Recap
Cui Tianqi engaged Chen Siqing in conversation and discreetly managed to take his room card. As she scanned it and prepared to return it, Ma Li intervened, posing as Cui Tianqi's older sister. Ma Li sent Cui Tianqi away, then stayed to drink with Chen Siqing, intending to use the room card to take the briefcase herself. This entire maneuver by Ma Li was a diversion tactic orchestrated by Liang Dawei's team.
Guan Xiaodi spotted Ma Li heading towards Chen Siqing's room. Recognizing Ma Li as Liang Dawei's third team member, Guan Xiaodi gave chase. However, halfway through the pursuit, Guan Xiaodi realized she had fallen for Liang Dawei's diversion. She urgently contacted Cui Tianqi by phone, instructing her to return to room 2012 immediately. Despite the warning, it was too late for Cui Tianqi.
Liang Dawei had already successfully taken the briefcase from room 2012 and found Cui Tianqi, whom he then tied up in the room. Guan Xiaodi arrived shortly after, chasing Liang Dawei. They confronted each other in the elevator, where they fought over the briefcase. Guan Xiaodi discovered the briefcase was not with Liang Dawei. Liang Dawei had secretly handed the briefcase to Zhang Yan before entering the elevator.
Liang Dawei, convinced he had succeeded, and his team later presented their retrieved briefcase to Liu Sha, only to find it was a fake. Moments later, Guan Xiaodi arrived, also declaring "Mission complete" and presenting her own briefcase. She was certain that Liang Dawei's was fake because she had replaced the original with a decoy. However, Liu Sha revealed that Guan Xiaodi's briefcase was also a fake.
A flashback revealed Guan Xiaodi's initial plan: to exchange the real briefcase with a substitute to mislead Liang Dawei's team. Liang Dawei, upon discovering his briefcase was fake, accused Guan Xiaodi of cheating. Guan Xiaodi retorted that they won through intelligence and challenged Liu Sha, insisting her team had successfully protected the briefcase for 24 hours. However, when both teams opened their briefcases, they were empty. Chen Siqing then stepped forward, revealing he held the real briefcase.
He explained that both teams had failed because he had swapped the briefcase himself during Guan Xiaodi's taxi ride. He challenged Guan Xiaodi's assertion that she never took her eyes off the briefcase, showing a replay of the moment in the taxi where he subtly swapped the briefcases during a brief stop. Therefore, from the very beginning, both teams had been vying for an empty box.
Frustrated and feeling lectured, Guan Xiaodi decided to leave, stating she had no further interest in them. However, Liu Sha stopped her, and Chen Siqing elaborated, inviting them to a place that could alter their destinies and provide the answers they sought, emphasizing that perseverance is meaningful unless one gives up due to fear. Intrigued, Guan Xiaodi agreed, wanting to discover what awaited them. They were then led to L. H. S. D.
, "The Aegis International Bodyguard Agency: The Shield," which Cui Tianqi recognized as a highly-ranked international safety training school. Soon, Xiong Kuohai appeared, introducing himself as the founder of L. H. S. D. and the head instructor of the training camp. Guan Xiaodi recognized Xiong Kuohai as the man who had previously saved her life, realizing he was the founder and head instructor.
Xiong Kuohai explained that the challenges they had faced were part of the training camp, designed to select the most capable individuals for China's top security company. Guan Xiaodi, seeing herself as an elite, questioned the necessity of the training camp, believing her existing skills were already sufficient to be a bodyguard. She alluded to her past heroic actions, with Liang Dawei chiming in that he was also involved. Both suggested they should be able to bypass the training.
Xiong Kuohai took Guan Xiaodi aside and inquired about available tasks. Liu Sha informed him of a newly accepted mission to protect stray dogs, commissioned by an online animal lovers' organization. This group suspected dognappers were operating in Yulin's industrial zone, targeting both strays and pets for the black market. Guan Xiaodi confidently volunteered for the task, asserting it would be simple to expose the culprits.
She proposed a condition: if she successfully completed the mission, she should be allowed to bypass the training camp and directly join L. H. S. D. Liang Dawei, who had been listening, also volunteered to join Guan Xiaodi on the mission. Xiong Kuohai agreed to let them undertake the task, secretly assuring Liu Sha that he would personally follow them to ensure their safety. Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei arrived at the vast industrial zone.
Guan Xiaodi ingeniously used a dog-attracting sound on her phone to locate the dognappers' hideout, where they found numerous dogs held captive. They began taking photos to document the crimes but were discovered by the leader. A fight broke out, and in the chaos, the leader ordered his subordinates to flee in a car. Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei, too engrossed in the fight, realized the escape too late.
They gave chase, only to witness Xiong Kuohai, who had been following them, single-handedly intercepting the getaway vehicle and effortlessly overpowering the dognappers. Watching Xiong Kuohai effortlessly subdue all the dognappers, Guan Xiaodi was deeply impressed by his incredible skills, as Liang Dawei affirmed Xiong Kuohai's status as one of L. H. S. D.' s strongest.
Xiong Kuohai then sternly enumerated their three critical mistakes: first, rashly confronting the criminals without proper assessment, thereby endangering themselves; second, becoming so engrossed in fighting that they lost sight of their primary objective; and third, exhibiting slow reactions to unexpected developments, which resulted in mission failure. When Guan Xiaodi attempted to offer excuses, Xiong Kuohai firmly told her that those who rationalize their failures can never achieve success.
He then shared the first crucial lesson for any bodyguard: in the face of genuine criminals, the immediate action should always be to contact the police. Humbled by their shortcomings, both Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei expressed their earnest desire to join the training camp. That night, Guan Xiaodi, elated, returned home to inform her father. He had been drinking alone, seemingly troubled, and asked if her late-night visit brought bad news.
However, Guan Xiaodi joyfully announced her decision to join the L. H. S. D. training camp. Her father, who had previously met with Xiong Kuohai and sought his assurance to train Guan Xiaodi without mercy, expressed his profound happiness and full support, believing this opportunity would transform her. He had already told Xiong Kuohai that he was handing his daughter over to him, trusting he would teach her to become better and that Guan Xiaodi's performance would not disappoint.
Episode 5 Recap
Guan Xiaodi spoke with her father, expressing her desire to join the L. H. S. D. training camp, which she described as a significant opportunity for self-improvement in the budding security industry. Her father, after some thought, agreed, emphasizing that she must persevere to the end and not give up. Guan Xiaodi thanked him, acknowledging his consistent support throughout her life despite her stubborn nature.
She reminisced about his unwavering care, from apologizing to classmates for her fights to cleaning up her messes and even discreetly paying for her meals with friends. Her father assured her that a father's love for his daughter is natural and told her to do well, hoping for her successful and happy future. Later, the participants gathered at the airport, under the assumption they would be flying. Liang Dawei clarified it was merely a convenient meeting spot.
They boarded a bus, where they speculated about the upcoming training. One participant, an arrogant student, expressed impatience, eager to leave on time despite Guan Xiaodi not having arrived. When Guan Xiaodi finally appeared, the arrogant student made a rude comment about her clothing choice, suggesting she was dressed for a fashion show, but Guan Xiaodi countered that women should always maintain their best appearance. Liang Dawei remained unusually quiet, stating he was saving his energy.
During the ride, Guan Xiaodi questioned Liang Dawei about his connection to Liu Sha, the instructor they previously encountered. She suspected he knew more than he let on, especially since he knew Liu Sha’s name. Liang Dawei, however, dismissed it as a coincidence and claimed they weren't close. The bus stopped about ten kilometers from the training camp. Liu Sha ordered everyone off, instructing them to carry their luggage and run to the camp before sundown.
Those who failed to meet the deadline would be disqualified, and the last person to arrive would face punishment. Liu Sha then drove off, leaving the trainees to their task. Ma Li, struggling with her high heels and heavy luggage, quickly fell behind. Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei initially tried to help her, but Liu Sha reappeared, warning that anyone helping another participant with their luggage would be disqualified.
To help Ma Li, Guan Xiaodi broke the heels off her shoes. Liang Dawei suggested leaving the luggage in the bushes, but Ma Li refused, determined to carry all her belongings, which included thirty outfits and five pairs of high heels. As they continued, Cui Tianqi also struggled, so Guan Xiaodi helped her by carrying her bag. Upon reaching the camp, Liu Sha confronted Guan Xiaodi again about helping Cui Tianqi.
Guan Xiaodi cleverly argued that Cui Tianqi had latched onto her due to a survival instinct, and she couldn't simply punch her away. Liu Sha accepted the explanation but announced that the last person to arrive would perform one hundred push-ups. Knowing Cui Tianqi would struggle, Guan Xiaodi feigned a cramp, urging Cui Tianqi to cross the finish line first. Guan Xiaodi then completed the one hundred push-ups with ease, declaring it a "warm-up."
Afterward, Liu Sha gave the recruits three minutes to contact their families, announcing that all cell phones would be confiscated for the next month. Guan Xiaodi called her dad to reassure him. Liang Dawei handed in his phone without making a call, stating he had already discussed it with his father. The arrogant student protested vehemently, accusing Liu Sha of being unreasonable and calling his boss, but was forced to comply. Next, Instructor Qin Sheng introduced himself.
He asked if everyone was thirsty and, without waiting for a response, turned a fire hose on them, knocking them down with the powerful stream. Guan Xiaodi quickly suggested they link arms to form a human wall, which effectively withstood the water pressure. Qin Sheng smiled, acknowledging Guan Xiaodi’s ingenuity, and playfully asked Liang Dawei if Guan Xiaodi was his girlfriend, which Liang Dawei denied. Qin Sheng warned them that this was just the beginning of their nightmare.
The next task was to crawl through a muddy pit. The arrogant student again complained, questioning the relevance of such training to becoming a bodyguard. Qin Sheng silenced him, reminding him that L. H. S. D. had its own rules and that his boss sent him there for training. Zhang Yan was the first to jump in, followed by Guan Xiaodi, Liang Dawei, and others. Ma Li hesitated, worried about her clothes, but eventually plunged in.
Guan Xiaodi, Liang Dawei, and Zhang Yan quickly navigated the pit. Liu Sha, observing, remarked that Guan Xiaodi was "interesting, but too much of a smart aleck," while declining to comment on Liang Dawei. Liu Sha ordered them to repeat the crawl, which drew protests from the arrogant student, but he was told to leave if he couldn't handle it. During the third round, Cui Tianqi's energy waned, and she nearly fainted.
Qin Sheng suggested a break, and Liu Sha allowed them thirty minutes in a rest room. Cui Tianqi received a blanket and hot water, but when the arrogant student also requested a blanket, he was denied and told to huddle for warmth. Enraged, he threw a blanket at another student and attempted to attack Qin Sheng. Qin Sheng skillfully subdued him, stating that L. H. S. D. rules allowed instructors to use force only if a student initiated violence.
He then disqualified the student, emphasizing that L. H. S. D. trains professional bodyguards with good character, not street thugs. Qin Sheng acknowledged Cui Tianqi's willpower, allowing her to pass the round, but cautioned her that willpower alone was insufficient for a bodyguard. After the break, all students except Cui Tianqi returned to the mud pit for more rounds of climbing. The instructors pushed them relentlessly, motivating them with promises of food and hot showers.
In the cafeteria, the exhausted recruits expected a hearty meal but were served only a small bun and a bowl of extremely watery rice porridge. Despite their disappointment, they ate everything to replenish their strength. After dinner, they were allowed to take hot showers.
Episode 6 Recap
Guan Xiaodi noticed the familiarity between Liang Dawei and Liu Sha, prompting her to inquire about Liang Dawei's relationship with the instructors. Liu Sha, however, made it clear that they would only share what Guan Xiaodi needed to know, cautioning her against asking further. Instructor Qin observed Guan Xiaodi's keen observation skills and independent thinking, remarking to Liu Sha that she was someone worth investing time and effort in. The next morning, an emergency assembly was called.
Cui Tianqi struggled to rouse Guan Xiaodi, who was complaining about lack of sleep and concerns for her skin. Despite Cui Tianqi's repeated attempts, Guan Xiaodi remained in bed. With all other recruits present, Liu Sha personally went to Guan Xiaodi's dormitory and woke her by splashing cold water on her. Guan Xiaodi protested, but Liu Sha asserted it was the most effective method, challenging her to either comply or quit.
Instructor Qin then addressed the assembled recruits, apologizing for interrupting their sleep but emphasizing that bodyguards must always be prepared; a single minute of delay could be fatal for a client. He explained that the previous day's mud crawl was not just a test of willpower and physical fitness but also a means to weed out individuals with ulterior motives who joined the L. H. S. D.
training camp simply to elevate their social standing or meet VIPs, clarifying that such individuals were not welcome. Later, the recruits began combat training. Instructor Qin explained that basic combat skills were essential. When Zhang Yan and Guan Xiaodi engaged in a verbal spat, Liu Sha challenged them to fight one instructor. Instructor Qin stepped forward as their opponent. He then extended the challenge, adding Liang Dawei and Ju Liang to their team, making it four against him.
Despite their combined efforts, Instructor Qin defeated all four recruits in a mere 25 seconds. He told them that their past experiences, whether as boxing champions or combat-trained soldiers, meant nothing in his eyes. Instructor Qin emphasized that their poor performance stemmed from incorrect training methods, rendering their individual tricks worthless. He stressed that a bodyguard's skills are for real battle, not for display. After the combat training, Guan Xiaodi reflected on her defeat.
While others, like Cui Tianqi and Zhang Yan, complained about Instructor Qin's ruthlessness towards women, Guan Xiaodi acknowledged that Instructor Qin saw no gender distinction. She admitted to feeling terrible during the 25-second match but found a strange peace in being knocked down. Guan Xiaodi realized that Instructor Qin was right; there would always be stronger individuals, and acknowledging her weaknesses was crucial for improvement.
Meanwhile, Xiong Kuo Hai spoke with Liang Dawei, reminding him that in the training camp, his background was irrelevant, and he would receive no special treatment; instead, more would be expected of him. Liang Dawei asserted that Instructor Qin's tough approach was helping him become stronger. Xiong Kuo Hai reiterated that Liang Dawei had only one chance to prove himself and warned him to ensure he could persevere. Liang Dawei vowed to prove his worth.
The recruits then received an explanation of the point system for the training camp. Liu Sha detailed how daily performance would translate into points, with incomplete missions resulting in disqualification for subsequent training activities that day. The cumulative daily scores, combined with a final graduation test, would determine their eligibility to become a bodyguard at L. H. S. D.
Liu Sha assigned each recruit a unique code name for the duration of the camp: Ma Li became Devilfish, Guan Xiaodi became Firewolf Girl, Cui Tianqi became Pink Panther, Zhang Yan became Stinger Bee, Ju Liang became Giant Bear, and Liang Dawei became White Shark. Next, Instructor Qin administered a standardized bodyguard written test. Many recruits, having not eaten breakfast, struggled. Liang Dawei caught Guan Xiaodi secretly eating chocolate and demanded she share.
Guan Xiaodi "bribed" him with a piece of chocolate in exchange for an answer, receiving "United States Secret Service" as the correct response for the organization protecting the American president. Cui Tianqi joked that Guan Xiaodi might as well have Liang Dawei write the entire test for her. When time was up, Ju Liang, having fallen asleep, failed to submit his paper. As a result, all the recruits were punished collectively. Liu Sha explained that in L. H. S. D.
training, there was no individual heroism, only teamwork; one person's mistake led to the entire team's punishment. Cui Tianqi, discouraged by the intense training, expressed thoughts of quitting, but Guan Xiaodi reminded her of her code name, Pink Panther, and teased her about how the instructors seemed to know her online persona. Ju Liang, feeling guilty for causing the collective punishment, sincerely apologized to Guan Xiaodi and vowed to improve.
Instructor Qin then conducted a classroom debate on whether "loyalty" or "reliability" was more crucial for a bodyguard. Guan Xiaodi argued for loyalty, stressing the importance of protecting the client's life and belongings day and night. Ju Liang agreed, emphasizing the danger of a disloyal bodyguard. Liang Dawei, while acknowledging loyalty's importance, asserted that reliability was paramount, arguing that an unreliable bodyguard could not protect a client in critical moments.
Guan Xiaodi countered that without loyalty, a bodyguard couldn't give their all, and waiting until a critical moment was often too late. Liang Dawei maintained that without reliable abilities, a client would already be dead, and sacrificing one's life then would be futile. Zhang Yan supported Liang Dawei, adding that loyalty could be insincere, and without the ability to protect, loyalty meant nothing. Instructor Qin concluded that both qualities were vital.
He dispelled romanticized notions of being a bodyguard, stating that a true bodyguard sacrifices personal freedom, with not a single minute being their own. He criticized their poor test answers again, emphasizing that a bodyguard's pride comes from successfully completing missions and protecting clients, not from empty words. Instructor Qin then stated that impeccable physical fitness was essential for a bodyguard, as unreliable fitness was unacceptable, hinting at their next physical challenge.
Liu Sha then led them to a 400-meter track for a weighted run, divided into four parts. Each part required carrying an increasing percentage of their body weight (5%, 10%, 15%, then 20%). The last person in each section would be disqualified, and anyone who couldn't finish could choose to give up, but would also be disqualified.
Liang Dawei, now called "Xiao Bai" by Guan Xiaodi, taunted Cui Tianqi to quit if she couldn't continue, but Cui Tianqi insisted she could. Throughout the grueling run, Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei remained neck and neck. As Cui Tianqi struggled, her teammates, including Guan Xiaodi, encouraged her to persevere. The day concluded with the point board displaying their scores, with Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei's scores tied.
Episode 7 Recap
Trainees continued their heavy-load running, with everyone beginning to tire. Pink Panther (Cui Tianqi) struggled near the end, but with encouragement from her teammates and her own perseverance, she successfully reached the destination. Stinger Bee (Zhang Yan) went to Instructor Qin Sheng's office, asking for her phone back to make an important call. Qin Sheng refused to violate the rules unless she provided a compelling reason. Stinger Bee eventually confided in him, asking him to keep her reason confidential.
Later, Qin Sheng arranged for Stinger Bee to make her call discreetly, blocking Liu Sha from entering his office by feigning a work discussion, then resorting to personal conversation to make Liu Sha leave. Cui Tianqi, observing Devil Fish's (Ma Li) figure with envy, decided to use two silicone pads in her bra. However, Liu Sha discovered them and instructed her to remove them, which Cui Tianqi reluctantly did. During balance training, Liu Sha paired male and female trainees.
Liang Dawei was partnered with Cui Tianqi. Girls were required to do 10 push-ups and then stand on one leg; if a girl lost balance, her male partner would do push-ups in the water. Cui Tianqi displayed remarkable balance, remaining steady the entire time, which surprised Liang Dawei and impressed Liu Sha. Later, the trainees discussed Cui Tianqi's performance. Devil Fish thought it was unfair that Cui Tianqi only received 5 points despite her exceptional display.
Giant Bear (Ju Liang), seeing Devil Fish's points were at risk of being surpassed by Cui Tianqi, mocked her about potentially being eliminated and not being able to catch up to Firewolf Girl (Guan Xiaodi). Devil Fish retorted, asking Giant Bear why he couldn't catch up to Firewolf Girl in points or romantically. Giant Bear, visibly angry, walked away.
Qin Sheng then taught the trainees about "physical isolation," emphasizing the bodyguard's need to act as a firewall and always be three steps ahead. He explained the L. H. S. D. motto: "Perfectionism, Taking Full Responsibility, Exceeding Our Limits, Impenetrable." He demonstrated the correct bodyguard stance and how to protect a client from a single threat using White Shark (Liang Dawei's codename) as an example.
He further illustrated how to handle multiple threats, using Firewolf Girl as the client and White Shark and Pink Panther as approaching strangers, highlighting the importance of assessing the greater threat. That night, after everyone had fallen asleep, Qin Sheng and Liu Sha stealthily entered the dorms and set off firecrackers. This was a training exercise designed to improve the trainees' emergency response.
Some trainees complained about the noise and fear, but Qin Sheng explained that an emergency response is an instinctual reaction to outside stimuli and the ability to process information quickly. He criticized trainees who hid under their beds, stating that the correct response would be to run. He also noted that one room had covered the firecrackers with a blanket, an appropriate action, and instructed the person responsible to pay for the damaged blanket.
As training progressed, Liu Sha and Qin Sheng reviewed the trainees' performance with Xiong Kuohai. Liu Sha praised Cui Tianqi's exceptional memory, responsiveness, and balance. She noted Liang Dawei's consistently good grades and Ju Liang's recent improvement, suggesting healthy competition. Liu Sha also stated that Guan Xiaodi and Zhang Yan were comparable to Liang Dawei and Ju Liang. However, Qin Sheng maintained that boys had a strength advantage, leading to a dispute where Liu Sha accused him of gender discrimination.
Xiong Kuohai intervened, proposing a competition between the boys and girls. The competition involved a relay race where teams of two carried each other to a cage, then exchanged positions. The final group to reach the finish line then had to find a key hidden in the sand to open a box and raise a flag. The first team to raise their flag would win.
During the key search, Cui Tianqi used her smart bracelet to quickly locate the key, enabling the girls' team to open the box and raise their flag, securing their victory. The girls cheered enthusiastically. The boys were disgruntled by their loss, and some of them resented Cui Tianqi, finding her victory coincidental and undeserving of celebration.
Qin Sheng, having witnessed the girls' performance, conceded that the females in this batch of students were indeed stronger than the males, revising his earlier bias. Following the competition, Cui Tianqi faced bullying from two male trainees who resented her for their loss. As she was entering the dormitory, they poured cold water on her. Guan Xiaodi saw Cui Tianqi drenched and became enraged, immediately wanting to confront the boys.
However, Cui Tianqi stopped her, stating that Guan Xiaodi couldn't protect her every time. Understanding this, Guan Xiaodi offered to teach Cui Tianqi how to fight to empower her to protect herself. Guan Xiaodi demonstrated basic boxing techniques, emphasizing how to make a firm fist and aim for the chin. Cui Tianqi, having never fought in real life, was hesitant, but Guan Xiaodi encouraged her to be tough.
Later, one of the male trainees was eliminated from the training camp after taking a sick day, which caused his point total to be surpassed by Cui Tianqi. As his friends were seeing him off, they encountered Cui Tianqi. They stopped her, criticizing her for being rude and demanded an apology. They began to harass her, pulling her hair. Drawing on Guan Xiaodi's lesson, Cui Tianqi punched one of them.
As the other boy attempted to retaliate, Liang Dawei intervened, scolding them for bullying a girl and ordering them to leave. After the boys departed, Liang Dawei asked Cui Tianqi who taught her to punch, and she revealed it was Firewolf Girl. He then inquired about Firewolf Girl, and Cui Tianqi mentioned Firewolf Girl considered him a "defeated opponent" from previous encounters.
Liang Dawei dismissed these, declaring his intention to win first place in the training camp to prove his strength and worthiness for L. H. S. D. , even against Firewolf Girl, clarifying that his competition with her was separate from his interest in her. When Guan Xiaodi learned of the renewed bullying, she stormed into the male dormitory to confront the boys.
Liang Dawei intercepted her, stating that beating up the weak didn't prove skill, and challenged her to a one-on-one fight outside instead. Their fight quickly drew a crowd of onlookers. Ma Li tried to intervene to help Guan Xiaodi but was stopped by a male trainee, leading to a chaotic brawl between male and female trainees, including Ma Li and Zhang Yan. Liu Sha and Qin Sheng arrived and stopped the fighting.
As punishment for violating training camp rules, the implicated trainees were made to repeat the L. H. S. D. motto while enduring a strenuous physical exercise. Guan Xiaodi protested, arguing that the punishment was unfair. Liu Sha, losing patience, suggested that if they were unhappy, they should quit, as L. H. S. D. had no need for such individuals. In a fit of defiance, Guan Xiaodi pushed Liu Sha into the sea.
Episode 8 Recap
Guan Xiaodi, Cui Tianqi, Zhang Yan, and Ma Li faced punishment for a recent altercation and for Guan Xiaodi pushing Liu Sha into the sea. Guan Xiaodi declared that she alone was responsible and that her friends should not be implicated. Liu Sha, frustrated with their attitude, declared that L. H. S. D. had no need for people like them and suggested they all quit. Guan Xiaodi defiantly responded by announcing her intention to quit.
Qin Sheng announced that Guan Xiaodi would lose all her earned points, while Zhang Yan, Cui Tianqi, and Ma Li would lose half of theirs for the day. Guan Xiaodi, lacking sufficient points, chose to take a physical punishment instead: standing for 12 hours, representing 3 hours for each of the four.
Cui Tianqi insisted on joining her, but Guan Xiaodi persuaded her to return to training, clarifying that she had only been joking about quitting and urging Cui Tianqi not to let Liu Sha look down on them. During a subsequent weight training session, Ju Liang and others complained that only Guan Xiaodi was being punished while Liang Dawei, who was also involved in the fight, remained unscathed due to his perceived connections.
Liang Dawei, however, was unaware of Guan Xiaodi's specific punishment or her earlier declaration of quitting. When he approached her, Guan Xiaodi curtly dismissed him. Later, Cui Tianqi, Zhang Yan, and Ma Li pleaded with Liu Sha to lift Guan Xiaodi's punishment. Liu Sha's sole condition was a simple apology from Guan Xiaodi. Knowing Guan Xiaodi's stubborn nature, Cui Tianqi and Ju Liang tried to cheer her up with a comedic dance, then gently urged her to apologize.
But Guan Xiaodi adamantly refused, stating she couldn't tolerate Liu Sha's condescending attitude. As a heavy rain began, Zhang Yan and Ma Li tried again to reason with Guan Xiaodi, standing with her, but she stubbornly sent them back to the dorms. Seeing Guan Xiaodi suffering in the rain, Liang Dawei went to Liu Sha himself, who reiterated that an apology was all it would take to resolve the matter.
Liang Dawei then returned to Guan Xiaodi, confessing his own part in their previous conflict and offering to endure the punishment alongside her. He was on the verge of revealing his true identity when Guan Xiaodi suddenly fainted from a high fever. Liang Dawei rushed her to the infirmary. Upon hearing the news, Xiong Kuohai immediately visited Guan Xiaodi.
He then punished Liang Dawei by deducting a day's points and issued a stern warning that any similar incidents would result in immediate expulsion, a decision Liang Dawei struggled to understand but could not defy. When Guan Xiaodi awoke, Ju Liang confronted Liang Dawei, blaming him for Guan Xiaodi's illness, but Guan Xiaodi asked Ju Liang and Cui Tianqi to leave so she could speak with Liang Dawei alone.
During their conversation, Guan Xiaodi revealed that she already knew Liang Dawei was Xiong Kuohai's son. Liang Dawei admitted defeat in their ongoing rivalry, and a more amiable understanding began to develop between them. Cui Tianqi, having overheard their conversation, realized Liang Dawei's background and his apparent affection for Guan Xiaodi. She urged Ju Liang to intensify his efforts, fearing he would lose Guan Xiaodi to Liang Dawei.
Meanwhile, Qin Sheng, learning of Liang Dawei's affection for Guan Xiaodi, grew anxious, fearing Guan Xiaodi might develop feelings for the consistently excellent Liang Dawei. Ju Liang later confronted Liang Dawei, warning him to stay away from Guan Xiaodi. Liang Dawei acknowledged Ju Liang's feelings but asserted his right to pursue Guan Xiaodi if Ju Liang was unwilling or unable to make her his own. After recovering, Guan Xiaodi left the infirmary and noticed Chen Siqing with Qin Sheng.
Curious about Chen Siqing's presence, she discreetly followed him to a coffee shop he owned. Chen Siqing explained that he operated the shop rent-free on Xiong Kuohai's property in exchange for participating in the "acting" of the training camp's entry exam. He shared a story about an ox that only moved when it heard familiar commands, illustrating the power of habit and how Guan Xiaodi's boredom stemmed from her unfamiliarity with routine.
He then told her the story of the "Catfish Effect," inspiring her to become a proactive force, a "catfish" among the sardines, a "king among its kind." Reinvigorated, Guan Xiaodi returned to the training grounds, playfully challenging Cui Tianqi to a competition for leaderboard position. As Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei's relationship deepened, they went for a walk, discussing their personal histories.
Both had lost their mothers at a young age and were raised by their fathers, creating a strong sense of shared experience. Guan Xiaodi had initially assumed Liang Dawei’s life as Xiong Kuohai's son was idyllic, but he confessed the constant pressure of feeling inadequate in his demanding father's eyes. The trainees, growing weary of conventional methods, craved new training experiences.
After discussions between Xiong Kuohai, Liu Sha, and Qin Sheng about the trainees' potential and habits, Xiong Kuohai approved a real-life simulation. Qin Sheng announced a "bodyguard vs. killer" real-life training exercise, to be conducted outside the training camp. Trainees were divided into three groups: "good guys" (bodyguards) and "bad guys" (killers) who would use "poison or bomb stickers" to eliminate a client.
The good guys could win by neutralizing all stickers, physically isolating the client from attackers, or identifying all the bad guys beforehand, with a double-point reward for victory. Concerns about fairness arose, as trainees knew each other, making it seemingly easy to identify the "bad guys." Qin Sheng then revealed the existence of an "unknown assassin," who could be anyone, adding an element of surprise. Guan Xiaodi's team was assigned to a monitoring room, where they observed the unfolding simulation.
Guan Xiaodi declared her intent to "teach that she-monster" (Liu Sha) a lesson and pressed Ju Liang for any secret information, but he claimed to have none. The first team, protecting a client, navigated a bustling mall. The client, a civilian, expressed discomfort at the intrusive protection, feeling like an exhibit. From the monitoring room, Guan Xiaodi's team diligently analyzed the mall layout and the movements of the simulation participants, but they soon realized they had missed a crucial detail.
Episode 9 Recap
The training camp initiated a practical field exercise, taking all students to a mall for a real-world simulation. In an earlier round, one team failed to protect their VIP, and during a shopping scenario with Instructor Liu Sha and three female students, her credit card was subtly tagged with a danger label at checkout, indicating a security breach. For the next round, students were divided into Bodyguard and Assassin teams.
Guan Xiaodi, Ma Li, and Zhang Yan were assigned to the Bodyguard team, tasked with protecting their VIP, Chen Siqing. Meanwhile, Ju Liang, Liang Dawei, and Cui Tianqi formed the Assassin team. Ju Liang initially expressed reluctance to be on Liang Dawei's team, but Cui Tianqi mediated, urging them to set aside their differences and work together. While Liang Dawei suggested waiting for an unknown killer, Cui Tianqi proposed a "borrowed knife" strategy, recruiting others to carry out the attack.
They successfully enlisted a cleaner and a security guard, promising a shopping trip in return for the cleaner's cooperation. Guan Xiaodi's Bodyguard team, observing from the control room, noted that Liang Dawei and Ju Liang were unusually patient, leading Guan Xiaodi to suspect Cui Tianqi was devising a clever plan. Her suspicions proved correct when the recruited cleaning crew attempted an attack.
However, Guan Xiaodi's team swiftly intervened, realizing that the assassin team had employed two attackers instead of the single "unknown killer" the rules implied. Cui Tianqi, communicating via earpiece, admitted her failure. Confident in their success, Guan Xiaodi's team brought Chen Siqing back to Instructor Liu Sha, expecting double points.
To their dismay, Liu Sha revealed that Chen Siqing was merely a decoy, and the true VIP they were meant to protect was the security captain, meaning Guan Xiaodi's team had protected the wrong target all along. The results of the field training left Instructor Liu Sha highly unsatisfied, and she declared zero points for all students, pointedly criticizing their overconfidence and carelessness, especially their failure to identify the true VIP.
However, Instructor Qin Sheng acknowledged the Assassin team's innovative approach, particularly Cui Tianqi's "borrowed knife" strategy, which he felt created an opportunity. Despite Liu Sha's reservations, Qin Sheng awarded Cui Tianqi three points and Liang Dawei and Ju Liang one point each as a symbolic recognition of their efforts. Liu Sha concluded by explaining that the setbacks were intended to temper their conceit and prepare them for the realities of security work.
She announced that the Head Instructor, Xiong Kuohai, would oversee the next lessons. Xiong Kuohai began with a theoretical lesson on car security, emphasizing its critical role in bodyguard work. However, Liang Dawei was distracted and unable to answer questions, instead boasting about his driving skills. Xiong Kuohai sternly reprimanded him, deducting half of his points for the day and stressing that bodyguards need security skills, not just driving prowess.
During the subsequent driving drill, where students had to navigate a Y-shaped route at high speed, Liang Dawei performed flawlessly and earned full marks. Yet, Xiong Kuohai again scolded him for his boastful demeanor, reminding him to remain humble. Guan Xiaodi earned three points in her turn, while Cui Tianqi also achieved full marks, showcasing her excellent driving. During lunch, students discussed Xiong Kuohai's harshness towards Liang Dawei, especially after deducting points for showing off.
Ma Li revealed that Liang Dawei was Xiong Kuohai's son, explaining that Xiong Kuohai had to be stricter to avoid accusations of nepotism. Guan Xiaodi, however, believed Xiong Kuohai was deliberately provoking Liang Dawei to build his willpower and promote equanimity. Cui Tianqi then teased Guan Xiaodi, suggesting she harbored feelings for Liang Dawei, which Guan Xiaodi denied. In the afternoon, the driving training shifted to a pylon course.
Liu Sha clarified that, unlike the morning, braking was permitted in this initial phase. Ju Liang demonstrated this by driving cautiously and braking, earning full points. Liang Dawei, determined to prove his skills without braking, sped through the course, completing it perfectly. Despite this, Xiong Kuohai once again gave him zero points, accusing him of arrogance and showing off, comparing him to Usain Bolt racing to shoot a hawk.
To underscore his point, Xiong Kuohai and Instructor Jimmy then demonstrated an incredibly skillful high-speed pylon maneuver, leaving everyone, especially Liang Dawei, in awe. Later that evening, Guan Xiaodi, still wanting to master high-speed cornering, found Liang Dawei looking dejected. She challenged his earlier boasts about his driving skills, leading him to agree to demonstrate them immediately. Guan Xiaodi then playfully suggested they steal a car from the training camp.
Liang Dawei was initially hesitant, fearing Xiong Kuohai's wrath, but Guan Xiaodi's taunts about his bravery eventually convinced him. Unbeknownst to them, Xiong Kuohai and Qin Sheng were observing their every move on surveillance. Xiong Kuohai, intrigued by their audacity, chose not to stop them, instead instructing Qin Sheng to discreetly follow them to ensure their safety. Liang Dawei impressed Guan Xiaodi by skillfully hot-wiring a car, and they sped off the training grounds.
They spent the night driving freely, enjoying the music and the open road. During their joyride, they spoke openly about their lives, discovering shared experiences of growing up with only their fathers. Liang Dawei confided his desire to defeat Liu Sha and how his father's encouragement led him to the camp, admitting that being a bodyguard now seemed "pretty cool." Their conversation deepened their bond, with Liang Dawei expressing his desire for them to always be together.
As dawn approached, they returned to the camp, and an excited Guan Xiaodi hugged Liang Dawei goodbye, a tender moment witnessed by a heartbroken Ju Liang who was unable to sleep. Back in her dorm, Guan Xiaodi was met by her roommates, who were still awake and questioned her late return, suspecting she had been on a date with Liang Dawei.
To deflect their questions, Guan Xiaodi presented an iPad to Cui Tianqi, claiming she had gone out to buy it for her after her computer was confiscated. She also offered to share her network connection so they could go online, successfully putting an end to their inquiries.
Episode 10 Recap
Xiong Kuohai summoned Liang Dawei to his office to question him about the car theft that occurred the previous night involving both Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi. Liang Dawei took full responsibility, claiming he acted alone, leading Xiong Kuohai to deduct a day's worth of points from him. Liang Dawei felt his father was unfairly targeting him and expressed his frustration, but Xiong Kuohai challenged him, asking who was at the top of the leaderboard.
When Liang Dawei named "Stinger Bee" (Guan Xiaodi's nickname), Xiong Kuohai used it to remind him that he wasn't the best. Meanwhile, Cui Tianqi received an iPad that Guan Xiaodi had bought for her. Cui Tianqi happily connected it to the internet using her high-tech bracelet. Seeing this, Zhang Yan asked Cui Tianqi to teach her how to make calls.
Once she learned, Zhang Yan told Guan Xiaodi and Ma Li to leave the dorm so she could make a private call. As Guan Xiaodi and Ma Li left, they saw Liang Dawei looking dejected. Guan Xiaodi decided to join him for a walk on the beach. Cui Tianqi, who came out shortly after, saw them leaving together and looked saddened.
While walking, Liang Dawei confided in Guan Xiaodi that he wanted to leave the training camp because he felt he could never be good enough in his father's eyes, believing there was no point in staying. Guan Xiaodi tried to convince him that Xiong Kuohai's harshness was a test of willpower, urging him to prove himself. When Liang Dawei still expressed his desire to leave, Guan Xiaodi asked him to stay for her.
Liang Dawei interpreted this as a sign that they could now officially date, and Guan Xiaodi simply smiled and ran off, leaving him happily calling after her. Later, Ju Liang confronted Liang Dawei, warning him to stay away from Guan Xiaodi. Liang Dawei dismissed the warning, but when Ju Liang persisted, Liang Dawei revealed he knew Ju Liang had reported their late-night car excursion to Xiong Kuohai.
Ju Liang admitted to it, stating his intention was to have Liang Dawei expelled and thus kept away from Guan Xiaodi. Their argument escalated, but Guan Xiaodi intervened. She asked Ju Liang why he had reported them. Ju Liang reiterated his desire for Liang Dawei to be kicked out and away from her. Guan Xiaodi then openly told Ju Liang that she liked Liang Dawei.
Ju Liang, visibly shocked and hurt, lamented that his long-standing care for Guan Xiaodi seemed to mean nothing compared to Liang Dawei. He told her that one day she would understand that he was the only one who could truly be by her side. The training camp entered its final week with a test and drill focusing on client protection in a hotel room.
Instructor Liu Sha and Qin Sheng presented the trainees with a picture of a hotel room and asked them to identify potential dangers. After some initial, unhelpful suggestions from other students, Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei correctly identified the possibility of bombs or listening devices. That afternoon, the trainees went to a real hotel room, with three minutes to find all dangerous items.
Despite everyone searching, only Liang Dawei found a listening device hidden in the phone, and Guan Xiaodi discovered a camera concealed in the showerhead. However, they only found two of the four hidden dangers. Liu Sha expressed extreme disappointment in their performance, stating that a single mistake could be fatal for a bodyguard's client. She then revealed the two remaining dangers: a remote-controlled bomb disguised as a book and poison in a seemingly ordinary bottle of water.
For their failure, all students had their points deducted, with Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei receiving a smaller deduction (3 points) compared to the others (5 points) but still being penalized for not finding all dangers. As punishment, Liu Sha ordered all students to run four laps of 400 meters on the track. During this time, Liu Sha discovered that the training camp's network firewall had been breached.
Xiong Kuohai called in Fang Shu'an, who traced the originating IP address to the girls' dormitory. Qin Sheng was dispatched to investigate and found Guan Xiaodi with an iPad. When questioned by Xiong Kuohai, Guan Xiaodi took responsibility for hacking into the system, despite Xiong Kuohai expressing doubt about her technical skills. She insisted she was the hacker, prompting Xiong Kuohai to give her one day to reveal the truth, or she would be expelled.
Confiding in Cui Tianqi, Guan Xiaodi explained that she was taking the blame for the hack to protect Cui Tianqi, who was the actual culprit. Guan Xiaodi encouraged Cui Tianqi not to confess, wanting her sacrifice to mean something. Feeling frustrated, Guan Xiaodi left the training camp without permission and went to a bar to vent with her friends.
Meanwhile, back at the camp, both Ma Li and Cui Tianqi overheard conversations about Guan Xiaodi's impending expulsion due to the hack. Upon learning this, Cui Tianqi immediately went to Xiong Kuohai's office and confessed that she was the one who hacked into the system. Xiong Kuohai revealed that he already knew she was the hacker, being the only student capable of such an act.
He explained that he was not punishing the hacker but rather punishing Guan Xiaodi for concealing the truth and not telling him who was responsible. He left Guan Xiaodi's future up to her. Guan Xiaodi returned home from the bar, still determined not to return to the training camp. Her father, witnessing her distress, revealed that he was the one who recommended her to L. H. S. D. and pushed her through the rigorous tests. He then revealed a long-held secret: Xiong Kuohai, also known as Xiong Tao, was Guan Xiaodi's biological father, who had abandoned her and her mother fifteen years ago.
Episode 11 Recap
Upon learning that Xiong Kuohai was her biological father, Guan Xiaodi's mind flooded with memories of her childhood with her mother, and she wept. Her father asked her about her biggest regret, to which she replied, "Not having a complete family as a child." He then asked who ruined her family, and she named "Xiong Tao," admitting her hatred for him.
Her father confirmed that Xiong Kuohai was indeed Xiong Tao, her biological father who had been missing for fifteen years. He recounted how, fifteen years ago, when Guan Xiaodi was not yet four, Xiong Tao, also known as Xiong Kuohai, heartlessly divorced her mother and abandoned them. Her mother then left their hometown with a young Guan Xiaodi, enduring many hardships before they arrived in Nanqing City.
Guan Xiaodi asked if Liang Dawei and his mother were the reason for their abandonment, but her father dismissed the question, stating its importance didn't matter. She vowed to make him pay for the hardships her mother faced.
Her father then told her that the best revenge would be to prove to Xiong Kuohai that she was the best, to beat him, and then, once he recognized her efforts, tell him she was the daughter he abandoned, making him regret his decision. Guan Xiaodi agreed, determined to show him she could live well and beautifully despite his abandonment. She also reaffirmed to her father that he was her only father. Guan Xiaodi, resolved, then returned to the L.
H. S. D. training camp. Guan Xiaodi attempted to take the blame again for the system intrusion, refusing to betray her comrades. She asserted that she would not leave and would become the person L. H. S. D. needed most, emphasizing that mistakes were opportunities for growth. Xiong Kuohai, however, informed her that Cui Tianqi had already confessed to the hacking and, acknowledging her talent, he had awarded her three points.
He told Guan Xiaodi that while he appreciated her loyalty, everyone in a team must shoulder their own responsibilities, and she should not casually take responsibility for others. Cui Tianqi later confronted Guan Xiaodi, asking why she had taken the blame and expressing her fear that Guan Xiaodi would be expelled for protecting her.
As punishment for her admitted wrongdoing, Xiong Kuohai deducted ten points from Guan Xiaodi, leaving her with seventy-seven points, making her goal of achieving first place significantly harder. Guan Xiaodi, undeterred, declared she would quickly earn those points back. Xiong Kuohai announced a surprise for the tired trainees after three weeks of camp, which turned out to be a challenging hike.
Guan Xiaodi, known by her codename Firewolf Girl, and others reached the mountain summit first, earning the chance to go hang gliding. Liang Dawei tried to talk to Guan Xiaodi during the hike, but she told him to address her by her codename and reiterated her focus on training and earning points, dismissing his questions about "them." When it was her turn for hang gliding, Guan Xiaodi hesitated, revealing her fear of heights, a psychological obstacle.
Xiong Kuohai urged her to overcome it or quit if she was too scared. Remembering her father's words about revenge and her resolve to live beautifully despite being abandoned, she refused to quit, facing Xiong Kuohai's challenge that giving up was not an option. She then successfully launched into the air, overcoming her fear and feeling a profound connection to her mother. After the exercise, Guan Xiaodi was called to speak with Xiong Kuohai.
Before their conversation, Liang Dawei, noticing Guan Xiaodi’s sudden coldness towards him since her return, spoke to Cui Tianqi, who said she didn't know why Guan Xiaodi had changed or if she had mentioned him. Liang Dawei expressed his concern, wondering if Guan Xiaodi no longer liked him. During her conversation with Xiong Kuohai, Guan Xiaodi subtly probed into his personal life, asking about his past as a special forces soldier and the importance of L. H. S. D.
to him. She asked if Liang Dawei had looked up to him and if he truly loved Liang Dawei, to which Xiong Kuohai responded that every father loves his own kids. She then directly asked, "Is White Shark your only child?" Xiong Kuohai confirmed, "Yes. He's my only child." This answer deepened Guan Xiaodi's resentment. Unaware of Guan Xiaodi's true identity or her recent discovery, Xiong Kuohai continued their conversation. She then asked whether his child or L. H. S.
D. was more important, and he replied that both were important. Later, Liang Dawei confronted Guan Xiaodi, asking why she was avoiding him and if their past connection meant nothing. He recalled their closeness and his hopes for their future. Guan Xiaodi, however, coldly told him, "I don't like you." When he refused to believe her, she firmly stated, "Everything is over now."
Despite his plea that he would keep waiting for her, she replied, "I don't need you to wait for me," and walked away, leaving him visibly heartbroken. The trainees then embarked on a foot training exercise, a trek through a geographically diverse and vast area where the linear path alone was at least 20 km. They had a ten-hour time limit. The first to reach the meeting point would earn five extra points.
Guan Xiaodi, determined to win, declared the points were hers and rushed ahead of the group. Meanwhile, Ju Liang, who had gotten lost, encountered Cui Tianqi and decided to follow her, believing in her "sixth sense" for direction. He inquired about Guan Xiaodi, and Cui Tianqi explained that Guan Xiaodi was too focused on winning first place to join them. Near the finish line, Ju Liang shamelessly sprinted ahead, abandoning Cui Tianqi to claim the five bonus points for himself.
During the trek, Guan Xiaodi was bitten by a funnel-web spider and began to feel unwell, her vision blurring. Fortunately, Liang Dawei found her. Despite her pain, he urged her to move, quickly identifying the spider bite and treating her wound. As her condition worsened, he insisted on carrying her back to the meeting point, overcoming her initial resistance. As other trainees started arriving at the meeting point, concern grew for Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei, who were still missing.
Liang Dawei eventually arrived at the infirmary, carrying an unconscious Guan Xiaodi. The doctor assured them that the spider's poison was not strong and had been cleaned from her blood; she was now fine. Xiong Kuohai commended Liang Dawei, telling him that he did a good job and that Guan Xiaodi would have been in danger if he hadn't carried her back.
Liang Dawei responded that he was simply following Xiong Kuohai's own teaching: never abandon or give up on comrades. As Guan Xiaodi recovered in the infirmary, flashbacks to Liang Dawei's heartbreak and her cold rejection, as well as her conversation with Xiong Kuohai about his "only child," played in her mind.
Meanwhile, the trainees discussed the updated point standings, noting that Liang Dawei had fallen out of the top three and Guan Xiaodi out of the top ten, raising concerns about her chances of joining L. H. S. D. With only one week of training camp left, Guan Xiaodi, feeling better, resolved to catch up on her points.
Xiong Kuohai delivered a final lecture on the three "forevers" of a bodyguard, emphasizing vigilance, self-control, and logical organization of life, which triggered more flashbacks for Guan Xiaodi about her father's abandonment.
Episode 12 Recap
After receiving treatment for her spider bite, Guan Xiaodi recovered while Liang Dawei anxiously waited outside her room. Xiong Kuohai also expressed deep concern for her. Fortunately, the wound was treated promptly, and her condition was not severe, requiring only a couple of days of rest. Upon waking, Guan Xiaodi recalled Liang Dawei's worried demeanor when he learned of her injury.
She felt a pang of guilt for treating him harshly, but she believed it was necessary as she couldn't reveal the truth to him about their relationship. Xiong Kuohai announced the next phase of training: a week-long survival exercise in a desolate wilderness with no instructors or rules, only the imperative to survive. He explained that successful completion would lead to a chance to join L. H. S. D. , while failure meant elimination.
Each trainee was given a backpack containing a day's worth of food and water, along with a note guiding them to a survival tool. They were informed that their wristbands contained GPS trackers, and losing or having a wristband snatched would result in failure. When a trainee asked how they could survive seven days with only one day's rations, Instructor Qin stated that any means were permissible as long as no one was seriously harmed.
Wristbands also featured an emergency button for immediate rescue. Backpacks were assigned based on the leaderboard, with the contents and tools varying by luck. Guan Xiaodi, known as Firewolf Girl, received a tool for starting a fire. As night fell, Firewolf Girl lit a fire, which attracted two male trainees who attempted to seize her equipment. Cui Tianqi, or Pink Panther, who was hidden nearby, threw stones at the attackers, causing them to flee.
Pink Panther noted the abrupt change in attitude among trainees, from training together to stealing from each other. Firewolf Girl questioned whether joining L. H. S. D. was worth such desperate measures. Pink Panther explained that worth was subjective, but the reality was that they might need to steal supplies to survive as food and water would soon run out, turning the exercise into a "Hunger Games Battle Royale."
Firewolf Girl declared that if it became a Hunger Games, she would be a "flaming firebird" and vowed to find a way for everyone to pass. On the second day, Ma Li, codenamed Devilfish, faced a similar ambush from two male trainees. Fortunately, Zhang Yan, known as Stinger Bee, intervened. Devilfish successfully defeated one attacker, pressing their emergency button and eliminating them from the training, while Stinger Bee scared off the other.
Instructor Liu Sha reported two eliminations within the first 24 hours to Xiong Kuohai, who instructed her to bring them back. Guan Xiaodi, Pink Panther, Liang Dawei (White Shark), and Ju Liang (Giant Bear) later converged. White Shark and Giant Bear were fighting when Firewolf Girl arrived and stopped them. She proposed an idea to gather all trainees to combine resources and equipment, and to band together to pass the trial.
Giant Bear initially resisted working with White Shark, but after Firewolf Girl explained that they could survive without stealing by finding wild berries, and a unanimous vote confirmed the team-up strategy, he agreed. Pink Panther then used her wristband's GPS-like function, similar to social media "people nearby" features, to locate other trainees within a two-to-three-kilometer range.
They successfully regrouped with other trainees, including Stinger Bee and Devilfish, and set up camp at a freshwater source that Firewolf Girl remembered from the first day. They decided to collect and share all supplies. As the day ended without any further eliminations, Xiong Kuohai, surprised by this, sent Liu Sha to investigate. She found the trainees happily singing and dancing around a campfire.
During their celebration, White Shark suggested singing a duet with Firewolf Girl, but she chose Giant Bear instead, leaving White Shark visibly disappointed. Pink Panther, who was playing music for them, noticed White Shark's sadness as he walked away. Later, White Shark shared his feelings with Pink Panther, admitting that he gives Firewolf Girl the power to hurt him because he loves her.
He and Pink Panther also reflected on how quickly the four days had passed, and the uncertainty of seeing each other again after the training concluded. Meanwhile, Instructor Liu Sha and Qin Sheng, observing the trainees' unexpected cooperation, decided that since they were no longer competing against each other, they needed to increase the pressure. They ambushed the trainees' campsite and stole all their food and supplies.
The trainees returned to find their camp ransacked and their provisions gone, leading to immediate despair and accusations, with some blaming Red Shadow. Firewolf Girl, however, deduced that Red Shadow wouldn't intentionally make enemies of everyone, and that the theft was likely an act by the instructors, Qin Sheng and Liu Sha, to create pressure and test their survival capabilities.
She reasoned that if the instructors truly wanted to eliminate them, they would have pressed their emergency buttons while they slept. Despite the setback, some trainees wanted to split up, fearing further ambushes. Firewolf Girl rallied them, explaining that instructors Liu Sha and Qin Sheng would not openly confront them but would use stealth tactics. She convinced them that staying together offered a chance to counter-attack.
On the fourth day, Firewolf Girl, White Shark, Pink Panther, and Giant Bear ambushed Liu Sha. They managed to subdue her, showcasing their improved skills. However, Liu Sha warned them that while they were busy with her, their unguarded campsite had likely been attacked by Qin Sheng. Rushing back, the trainees found their camp destroyed and all remaining supplies gone.
Despair threatened to set in again, but Firewolf Girl urged everyone to remain hopeful, reminding them that they only had two more days until victory. On the fifth day, Liu Sha and Qin Sheng observed the trainees, noting their unwavering determination despite the dire circumstances.
Episode 13 Recap
The trainees celebrated together at their makeshift camp, singing and dancing. Liang Dawei hoped to sing a duet with Guan Xiaodi, but she instead invited Ju Liang to join her. Disheartened, Liang Dawei left, and Cui Tianqi followed to comfort him. Liang Dawei confided that his affection for Guan Xiaodi gave her the power to hurt him.
To increase the pressure on the trainees, Instructor Xiong Kuohai dispatched Liu Sha and Qin Sheng to their camp under the cover of night. Liu Sha eliminated a trainee named Hong Ying, while Qin Sheng discreetly stole all their food supplies. The next morning, the trainees awoke to discover their food gone and Hong Ying missing.
Ju Liang initially suspected Hong Ying of the theft, but Guan Xiaodi analyzed the situation and deduced that an external force was responsible, correctly identifying Liu Sha and Qin Sheng as the culprits. Liu Sha, anticipating their need for food, planned to attack anyone venturing out. Indeed, one trainee was eliminated by her. Learning this, Guan Xiaodi devised a plan to ambush Liu Sha, hoping that defeating her would secure their safety.
They successfully led Liu Sha into a trap, but even with four trainees against one, they failed to subdue her, and another trainee guarding the camp was eliminated. With only two days left, they faced severe challenges: no food and constant sneak attacks from Liu Sha and Qin Sheng. The trainees were hesitant to venture out for food, fearing sneak attacks from the two instructors, and expressed a wish for food to magically appear.
Despite the hunger, Ju Liang managed to find some chocolate, offering it to Guan Xiaodi, who insisted they share it among the group, though Liang Dawei refused his portion. On the seventh day, the trainees successfully completed the wilderness survival test and celebrated their achievement. Liu Sha, observing them, remarked that their happiness was premature, hinting at further trials. Instructor Xiong Kuohai also mentioned postponing the announcement of the next stage until they returned to camp.
Upon returning to the training camp, Xiong Kuohai explained that the outdoor survival training tested not only their individual survival skills but also their teamwork and adaptability, crucial for future bodyguard work. He specifically praised Guan Xiaodi’s leadership in facing challenges and awarded her 10 extra points. While all trainees successfully passed this trial, their hopes of joining L. H. S. D. immediately were dashed when Xiong Kuohai announced that one more trial was required.
The trainees voiced their frustration, questioning the integrity of the instructors, but Xiong Kuohai reminded them of his earlier promise to conduct a week-long survival course in a deserted place, without instructors or rules, as the ultimate test for L. H. S. D. entry. The trainees then gathered in the conference room, where Xiong Kuohai announced the next mission, a high-stakes operation under the Mayor's strict requirements that could lead to all trainees passing or all being eliminated.
Instructor Liu Sha then detailed the "real-world test," where the eight trainees would act as a single Bodyguard Team, protecting their client, Mr. Chen. Their opponent would be Liu Sha herself, acting as an assassin. Guan Xiaodi, recognizing the challenge, expressed her readiness to finally defeat Liu Sha without restraints. Liu Sha outlined Mr. Chen's itinerary for the following day: a shopping trip to the mall, followed by a visit to a Western restaurant.
Their mission was to safely escort him to these destinations, with Liu Sha threatening to employ any means—including surprise attacks, poison, or even suicide—to prevent them. Guan Xiaodi quickly intercepted Mr. Chen as the briefing concluded, recognizing that their protection mission had already begun. She stressed the importance of their immediate vigilance, suggesting they could have been eliminated if Mr. Chen had left with Liu Sha.
Mr. Chen agreed to their request for immediate protection and asked for a single room in their training camp. Guan Xiaodi then assigned specific roles: Pink Panther to monitor Mr. Chen, Ju Liang (codenamed Giant Bear) to scout outside, White Shark and Clouded Leopard to remain with Mr. Chen, and Stinger Bee and Guan Xiaodi (codenamed Firewolf Girl) to inspect the interior. While securing Mr. Chen's room, Ju Liang reported discovering a suspicious device outside the window.
As Guan Xiaodi moved to open it, Ju Liang intervened, cautioning her to follow proper procedure during a real-life test, as it could be poisoned. Liu Sha, observing remotely, noted that their plan had been seen through and praised Ju Liang's quick thinking, which prevented Guan Xiaodi's elimination. After ensuring the area was secure, they invited Mr. Chen into his room to rest. Later, the trainees discussed the protection plan for the following day.
Liang Dawei noted the suspicious proximity of the planned destinations, suspecting an ambush. He identified a particular u-turn after exiting the highway as a potential choke point due to slow traffic, an ideal place for an attack. At the same time, Liu Sha and Qin Sheng were discussing the same u-turn as a primary ambush location, planning a forced stop and a gun assassination, with Liu Sha confirming that police would manage any chaos and suicide attacks were permitted.
To counter this, Liang Dawei proposed an alternative route using a double highway to approach the mall from the south, avoiding the bottleneck. Guan Xiaodi approved this revised route, reminding Liang Dawei to use her codename, Firewolf Girl. Liu Sha and Qin Sheng also discussed backup plans, including preventing the team from entering the mall. Liu Sha revealed she had booked a room in a building across from the mall, providing an excellent sniper position overlooking the parking lot entrance.
She also mentioned having secured control of the mall's elevators with security officers and planted simulated "bombs" in specific shops, ready for a head-on attack if other plans failed. Qin Sheng expressed concerns about the appropriateness of such extreme measures for a training mission, but Liu Sha stressed that high standards were for their own good, emphasizing the dire consequences of failure in real-life bodyguard work. The trainees then reviewed complex mall blueprints, discussing strategies for navigating the open environment.
Liang Dawei initially suggested elevators for safety, but Guan Xiaodi countered, warning that Liu Sha might have tampered with them, making escalators potentially safer in an open area. They acknowledged the difficulty of planning without knowing Mr. Chen's exact shopping intentions or the restaurant destination. They identified various danger zones, including escalators, fire escape routes, restrooms, fitting rooms, and especially garbage bins, which could hide explosives. Ju Liang was jokingly assigned the role of "human shield."
They planned to prepare for each mall level and refine their route once Mr. Chen's exact destinations were known, with one trainee offering to memorize the details of all 168 shops. Recognizing another potential sniper threat from a building across their dorm, Liang Dawei took it upon himself to address it, even encountering Xiong Kuohai during his late-night reconnaissance.
The next morning, Mr. Chen expressed surprise that the trainees had known his exact departure time and guarded him through the night, commending their thoroughness. After confirming the safety of their vehicles, Guan Xiaodi instructed everyone to board. Shortly after their departure, Liu Sha was informed via walkie-talkie that the target had left, and she confirmed her own sniper position, directing her team to continue tailing the convoy. En route, Ju Liang and Pink Panther reported normal conditions.
Guan Xiaodi then directed their lead vehicle to exit the highway, deviating from the initial, presumably more dangerous, path. Liu Sha was informed of this route change and that the target had moved onto the double highway. Adapting quickly, Liu Sha confirmed she had already caught up and instructed her team to continue tailing while she rushed to her pre-arranged hotel sniper position.
Mr. Chen, noticing the change, inquired about it, and the team reassured him that the new route was safer and would only cause a minimal delay. Meanwhile, Liu Sha attempted to check into her pre-booked hotel room for the sniper attack, but was dismayed to discover that her reservation for a sea-view room on the tenth floor had been changed to a windowless economy room on the third floor.
The front desk informed her that "Ms. Guan Xiaodi from her company" had made the alteration. Liu Sha, speaking with a colleague, acknowledged the trainees' "cleverness" and "preoperative preparations," remarking that it was the first time she had praised them, and reiterated that this real-life test meant she could not go easy. At the mall, Mr. Chen, conscious of the disruption their presence caused, decided to quickly purchase his items and proceed to the restaurant.
He requested to be taken to the aromatherapy section, Area C, Number 19. A trainee first entered to inspect the shop before Mr. Chen followed. Mr. Chen selected a limited edition Bulgarian Rose oil as a gift. As he prepared to pay with his card, he paused, observing the new POS machine. He recalled seeing another customer hesitate at an older machine with faded numbers and deduced that the new machine was a trap.
A trainee confirmed his suspicion, revealing that the item had already been paid for and implying that pressing the button on the machine would have triggered a "bomb." After the close call at the shop, a trainee prematurely declared the mission complete, but was quickly reminded of ongoing dangers. Mr. Chen then requested to use the restroom, and Ju Liang decided to accompany him inside while the others guarded outside.
Within the restroom, Liu Sha confronted Ju Liang, questioning his assumption that her actions were excessive and stating that in a real scenario, he would already be dead. Sensing trouble, trainees outside heard commotion and one went to investigate. Ju Liang declared he would "get rid of" Liu Sha. As the situation escalated, other trainees quickly escorted Mr. Chen away from the restroom.
Guan Xiaodi, informed of the fight, prioritized Mr. Chen's safety but dispatched Clouded Leopard and Sable to assist Ju Liang. She then realized there must be more than one killer and instructed Pink Panther to get Mr. Chen to the car. Meanwhile, Qin Sheng appeared, confronting Ju Liang's group, stating they weren't "ferocious enough" despite their training.
After a struggle, the trainees decided to leave the mall quickly, having apparently subdued Qin Sheng, who they believed would recover after a while. Ju Liang instructed someone to guard Qin Sheng until the police arrived, then went to catch up with the others. Two trainees later recounted how terrifying Ju Liang was during the fight, even comparing his ferocity to Liu Sha. The trainees successfully escorted Mr. Chen to his meeting point with Xiong Kuohai.
Liu Sha reported that her trainees had completed their mission, bringing Mr. Chen back safely. However, Guan Xiaodi, still on high alert, confronted Xiong Kuohai about the possibility of a third assassin and his suspicious presence at the sniper spot the previous night, questioning if the mission would have failed without her intervention. Liu Sha intervened, praising the trainees. Xiong Kuohai then congratulated them on successfully passing a year of training.
As he was about to proceed, Qin Sheng unexpectedly attacked Liu Sha. The trainees were shocked, with Liang Dawei threatening Qin Sheng if Liu Sha was harmed. A doctor later confirmed Liu Sha was stable, having been brought in time, and conveyed her message: the recruits had performed exceptionally well, and she bore no ill will for the "small incident," acknowledging her past "roughness."
Xiong Kuohai instructed Qin Sheng to let the matter rest and to stay with Liu Sha, while the rest returned to camp. Liang Dawei later apologized to Ju Liang for his previous misunderstanding. Finally, Xiong Kuohai announced the results of the cumulative test. Five trainees had successfully passed: Guan Xiaodi in first place, Liang Dawei in second, Zhang Yan in third, Ma Li in fourth, and Cui Tianqi in fifth. Ju Liang was visibly devastated, shocked at his elimination.
Episode 14 Recap
Guan Xiaodi and her team diligently guarded Chen Sijing’s room through the night for their final assessment. Later, as they prepared to transport Chen Sijing to the mall, they altered the planned route, taking a more secure road instead of Liu Sha's predetermined one. This unexpected change foiled Liu Sha’s initial ambush plan, forcing her to rush to a pre-booked room where she had set up a sniper point.
However, Guan Xiaodi had already anticipated this and secretly changed Liu Sha's reserved room to one without windows, much to Liu Sha's surprise. Faced with this setback, Liu Sha prepared for a direct assault. Chen Sijing, wanting to avoid a large commotion, opted for a quick shopping trip before proceeding to the meeting point. Guan Xiaodi meticulously inspected a perfume shop before allowing Chen Sijing to enter.
Her sharp observation skills quickly identified a suspicious card machine, which she successfully neutralized, ensuring Chen Sijing's safety. Liu Sha later launched an attack when Chen Sijing went to the restroom. Ju Liang accompanied Chen Sijing inside while the others waited outside. Liu Sha ambushed Ju Liang. Hearing the commotion, Liang Dawei rushed in and managed to evacuate Chen Sijing, while Ju Liang engaged Liu Sha.
He used a taser on her, then, unable to control his anger and seeking personal revenge, continued to assault her. As Liang Dawei, Guan Xiaodi, and the others hurried Chen Sijing to the parking lot, they discovered Ma Li and Zhang Yan unconscious, realizing there was another assailant. Qin Sheng then appeared and attacked them. Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei engaged Qin Sheng in a fierce fight, but they were no match for him.
Cui Tianqi swiftly intervened, using her taser to stun Qin Sheng, which allowed the team to escape with Chen Sijing. Qin Sheng, after regaining consciousness, overpowered the two trainees guarding him and Liu Sha. He found Liu Sha still unconscious and immediately took her to the hospital. Upon successfully delivering Chen Sijing to Xiong Kuohai, the team celebrated their achievement, believing they had completed the final assessment.
News of Liu Sha's injuries quickly spread, prompting everyone to rush to the hospital. Thankfully, she was admitted in time, and the consequences would have been unimaginable otherwise. Despite her injuries, Liu Sha chose not to hold Ju Liang accountable. Xiong Kuohai announced the list of trainees who had officially entered L. H. S. D. : Guan Xiaodi, Liang Dawei, Zhang Yan, Ma Li, and Cui Tianqi.
Ma Li expressed her relief, admitting she was "so scared" but glad she passed, calling it a "last minute save." Cui Tianqi, however, expressed surprise that Ju Liang was the one eliminated. Ju Liang, devastated by his elimination, loudly questioned how it was possible, citing his excellent grades throughout the training camp and flawless completion of the last mission.
Xiong Kuohai explained that while Ju Liang possessed many excellent qualities, his inability to control his emotions was a fundamental flaw for a bodyguard. He stated that bodyguards losing their composure could jeopardize a client's safety, which was unacceptable. Ju Liang angrily retorted, accusing Xiong Kuohai of making up rules and implying favoritism. He then confronted Liang Dawei, accusing him of securing his spot because he was Xiong Kuohai’s son.
Liang Dawei tried to intervene, but was told to let Ju Liang go. Ju Liang then urged Guan Xiaodi to leave L. H. S. D. with him, asserting that there was no fair treatment there and "nothing here for us." Guan Xiaodi refused, stating, "I can't leave." Ju Liang pressed her, asking if she was staying for Liang Dawei. She denied it, but he remained unconvinced, speculating it was still because of him.
Guan Xiaodi attempted to reason with him, suggesting that not entering L. H. S. D. didn't mean the end of his opportunities. However, Ju Liang, still seething, yelled, "Enough!" and accused her of staying because she was "taken a fancy to Liang Dawei!" Guan Xiaodi retorted that he was "sick" and reiterated that she wasn't staying for Liang Dawei, but couldn't explain her true reasons yet.
Ju Liang expressed his disappointment, feeling he had "trusted the wrong person" after coming to the training camp for her and striving for first place out of fear of not being good enough. Guan Xiaodi apologized to him. Later, Liang Dawei warned Ju Liang to stay away from Guan Xiaodi, claiming he was "letting [him] off because [he was] Guan Xiaodi's friend."
Enraged, Ju Liang declared he would get repaid for all the unfair treatment he had received and vowed to make "you all pay for it!" Addressing concerns about Ju Liang’s psychological state, Xiong Kuohai reiterated his decision, explaining that while they also made mistakes in the incident, Ju Liang's case was different. He explained that after several people had him under control, Ju Liang still couldn't control his emotions, a "deadly" trait for a bodyguard.
He believed that keeping Ju Liang would lead to greater problems in the future. Qin Sheng gathered the newly accepted interns for a photo, marking their official entry into L. H. S. D. He then informed them that they were now interns and would be taken to headquarters. Cui Tianqi optimistically dreamt of earning a high salary, but Qin Sheng quickly brought her back to reality, stating that interns weren't paid. He also explained the L. H. S. D.
ranking system, comprising Elite Guards, TE-Guards, and Tian-Guards, revealing that he and Liu Sha were both TE-Guards. When Cui Tianqi expressed aspirations of becoming a Tian-Guard, Qin Sheng tempered her expectations, pointing out that even he and Liu Sha, after years of service, were still TE-Guards. He then showed them a picture of Ah Yong, the only Tian-Guard. Qin Sheng then led them to their new office.
There, Qin Sheng introduced Fang Shuan as their Mission Supervisor for the internship period. Fang Shuan, despite being younger than Qin Sheng, emphasized his significant influence on their internship grades, even if he wouldn't directly participate in their missions. Fang Shuan then assigned their first missions, giving them new codenames. Liang Dawei, codenamed "Devilfish," was assigned to protect an eight-year-old boy whose parents were overseas. Ma Li, "Pink Panther," was tasked with protecting a lottery winner.
Cui Tianqi, now "Steel Rose" (formerly "Stinger Bee"), was assigned to protect a woman going through a divorce, while Zhang Yan was to protect a 15-year-old rich girl. Guan Xiaodi, "Firewolf Girl," was given the task of "protecting love," which she found ridiculous, questioning if dating now required a bodyguard. Fang Shuan firmly stated that L. H. S. D. protected clients as long as there was a need.
Liang Dawei accused Fang Shuan of favoritism in the assignments, which Fang Shuan readily admitted, stating that he favored women. Liang Dawei met his client, Le Le, who, despite initially mistaking Liang Dawei for an "older sister," challenged his protective abilities. Liang Dawei quickly demonstrated his skills, impressing the boy, who then asked to be taught. Cui Tianqi encountered Ms. Han, her client seeking divorce protection.
Ms. Han proved to be demanding and paranoid, insisting on bottled water and refusing to disclose details about any threats, considering Cui Tianqi's inability to protect her without full information as "incompetence." Zhang Yan’s client, Zhou Ying, a 15-year-old, mocked Zhang Yan’s attire, expecting a suit like in "Kingsman," and then had her friends take selfies with Zhang Yan to ridicule her.
Ma Li, meanwhile, was frustrated by her lottery-winning client, Jiang Jangmo, who repeatedly changed meeting locations before finally revealing himself as the client in a hotel room. She later called Liang Dawei, complaining about her "paranoid" client and wishing to switch missions, but Liang Dawei declined, telling her to rely on her own skills. Zhang Yan also attempted to flirt with Fang Shuan to get a different assignment, but he politely refused, adhering to L. H. S. D.' s rules.
Guan Xiaodi’s "protecting love" mission involved a client named Xiao Tong, who was trying to reconcile with his girlfriend, Xiaoya. Xiao Tong expressed insecurities about his looks and wealth, wondering why Xiaoya wouldn't reconcile. He revealed they had only been together for eleven days but stressed the passion of their relationship.
Fang Shuan later asked Liang Dawei about his relationship with Guan Xiaodi, to which Liang Dawei admitted he was equally unsure, describing their relationship as fluctuating between siblings and strangers, lacking their former closeness due to Guan Xiaodi's recent indifference. Liang Dawei then reflected on love, suggesting that sometimes a different approach is needed, which is less about meeting needs and more about creating new feelings, even if it brings both sweetness and coldness.
When Xiao Tong spotted Xiaoya, he urged Guan Xiaodi to intervene gently. Guan Xiaodi confronted Xiaoya, who was dismissive of Xiao Tong and called Guan Xiaodi "older sister," which Guan Xiaodi found irritating. Frustrated by the client’s triviality, Guan Xiaodi sarcastically told them they were "perfect for each other" and should "just hurry and break up." Xiao Tong angrily threatened to complain, but Guan Xiaodi, equally frustrated, retorted that she "didn't want this job anyway."
Later, Liu Sha confronted Guan Xiaodi about the complaint, pointing out that L. H. S. D. had never received one and calling Guan Xiaodi "an embarrassment." Guan Xiaodi retorted that Liu Sha was no longer her instructor and had no right to lecture her, defiantly stating that she enjoyed seeing Liu Sha's frustration. Their argument quickly escalated into a near physical fight until Xiong Kuohai intervened, ordering Guan Xiaodi to follow him.
In his office, Xiong Kuohai gave Guan Xiaodi one minute to explain herself. Guan Xiaodi complained about the absurdity of her "protecting love" mission and criticized Liu Sha's constant lecturing, suggesting she was "wasting resources." Xiong Kuohai then delivered a stern lecture, explaining that her actions showed a lack of composure, critical thinking, and emotional control.
He emphasized that complaining was a sign of weakness, and excuses revealed incompetence, while her disrespectful attitude towards Liu Sha indicated a lack of discipline. He concluded that respect must be earned before one could gain the dignity of a bodyguard. Guan Xiaodi, however, remained defiant, telling Xiong Kuohai that he had not earned her respect and therefore had no right to lecture her.
Episode 15 Recap
After successfully completing their assessment, Guan Xiaodi, Liang Dawei, Zhang Yan, Ma Li, and Cui Tianqi officially became interns at L. H. S. D. Their administrative supervisor, Fang Shuan, then assigned them unique missions. Ma Li's task was to protect an eight-year-old boy named Le Le, whose parents were abroad for business. Guan Xiaodi was tasked with protecting a romantic relationship. Zhang Yan's mission involved safeguarding a woman going through a divorce.
Cui Tianqi was assigned to protect a fifteen-year-old wealthy girl. Lastly, Liang Dawei's mission was to protect a lottery winner. These unconventional assignments left the interns perplexed, causing them to question the true meaning of being a bodyguard. Liang Dawei was particularly displeased with his mission but had no choice but to accept it. Ma Li arrived at her client Le Le's home.
Initially, Le Le was skeptical of her abilities, but after Ma Li demonstrated her skills with a toy sword, he became impressed and asked her to teach him, to which she agreed. Meanwhile, Guan Xiaodi, unable to forget Liang Dawei, looked at the car they had once "stolen" together, reminiscing about their time. Liang Dawei then arrived, taking her hand and wanting her to express her true feelings.
Their conversation was cut short when Cui Tianqi arrived, causing Liang Dawei to quickly release Guan Xiaodi's hand. Liang Dawei then took both of them into the city to meet their respective clients. Cui Tianqi met her client, Zhou Ying, a 15-year-old girl who immediately criticized Cui Tianqi for not wearing a bodyguard uniform. Cui Tianqi realized that Zhou Ying was a young girl influenced by too many movies and treated her more like a personal attendant, even a maid.
Liang Dawei faced a challenging start with his client, Zhang Xiaomu, a security guard and lottery winner, who kept changing their meeting location, causing Liang Dawei much frustration. When they finally met, Zhang Xiaomu explained his predicament. He expressed his weariness since winning five million yuan, citing numerous relatives and acquaintances who had badgered him for loans. He recounted how 38 people asked for money, and he only lent out 17,000 yuan, claiming he held onto 8. 3 million yuan.
He detailed how various relatives fabricated severe illnesses, from liver and bone cancer to AIDS and even "foot cancer," in an attempt to borrow money. Overwhelmed by this constant pressure and paranoia, Zhang Xiaomu admitted he was living in hotels, too afraid to go home or let his family know his whereabouts, constantly feeling watched and fearing for his life and money. Liang Dawei noted that this constant stress would drive him mad, a sentiment Zhang Xiaomu echoed.
Zhang Yan visited her client, Tan Li, a woman going through a divorce, to apologize for their previous encounter. Tan Li accepted the apology but remained evasive about her reasons for seeking a divorce, only stating "irreconcilable differences" and that her husband "didn't agree." Zhang Yan pressed her to reveal more, explaining that full disclosure was essential for complete protection, but Tan Li insisted some matters shouldn't be discussed and simply wanted protection during the divorce proceedings.
Guan Xiaodi met her client, Xiao Tong, who wanted her to help rekindle his 11-day-old relationship with Xiao Ya. Guan Xiaodi found Xiao Tong's love issues childish, particularly after Xiao Ya casually stated she didn't want to date him anymore because "it's no fun." This insensitive exchange prompted Xiao Tong to file a complaint against Guan Xiaodi with L. H. S. D.
Upon hearing this, Liu Sha confronted Guan Xiaodi, leading to a heated argument and a near physical altercation in the office, which was thankfully interrupted by Xiong Kuohai. After Xiong Kuohai intervened and stopped their altercation, the interns gathered at Chen Siquing's coffee shop, venting their frustrations about their seemingly meaningless assignments. Guan Xiaodi bemoaned her mission to protect an 11-day-old romance, finding it absurd that young people could claim such intense love so quickly.
Cui Tianqi complained about being treated like a maid by her 15-year-old client, despite her status as an L. H. S. D. trainee. Zhang Yan expressed her helplessness with her client, Tan Li, an 80s independent career woman divorcing her husband, who refused to provide any details or answer questions, making it impossible to protect her effectively. Liang Dawei articulated their collective desire for more "passionate" and "challenging" missions, such as protecting politicians, celebrities, or wealthy individuals.
Chen Siquing listened patiently and then offered his perspective. He asked Guan Xiaodi if love was important, to which she agreed, but dismissed Xiao Tong's relationship as merely a "game." Chen Siquing countered that for Xiao Tong and Xiao Ya, it "was" love, and they had no right to judge its validity. He then advised Zhang Yan that her client's overly protective and paranoid behavior was a clear indication of her need for protection.
To Cui Tianqi, he pointed out that her client's requests for her to dress appropriately, follow closely, and remain cautious were simply fundamental duties of a bodyguard. Chen Siquing concluded by explaining that these "seemingly ordinary missions" for "seemingly ordinary people" were crucial for L. H. S. D. to uphold its purpose. He emphasized that the role of a bodyguard extended beyond violence, involving constant vigilance, companionship, and genuine care for their clients.
Inspired by Chen Siquing's words about appreciating love once it's lost, Guan Xiaodi devised a plan to save Xiao Tong's relationship: find a beautiful girl to pretend to be Xiao Tong's new girlfriend, hoping to make Xiao Ya jealous and win her back. She first approached Cui Tianqi for help, complimenting her appearance, but Cui Tianqi firmly refused, stating she needed to focus on her own mission.
Undeterred, Guan Xiaodi then sought out Qin Sheng, hoping he could convince Liu Sha to play the role. Qin Sheng reacted incredulously, calling Guan Xiaodi crazy for even suggesting Liu Sha, citing her "demonic instructor looks" as unsuitable for the role. Guan Xiaodi argued that girls with attitude weren't bad, but Qin Sheng vehemently denied any personal connection to Liu Sha, despite Guan Xiaodi's teasing. Qin Sheng quickly departed, leaving Guan Xiaodi to find another solution.
Suddenly, Tan Li's husband, Lü Zitao, arrived. He angrily accused Tan Li of hiring a bodyguard and threatened to "get even with her tonight." Zhang Yan immediately stepped in, questioning his intent, prompting Lü Zitao to try and call Tan Li, who hung up on him. He then called Zhang Yan "Stinger Bee" and further threatened Tan Li.
As Lü Zitao grew aggressive towards Tan Li, Zhang Yan positioned herself between them, declaring she was "about to hit someone" if he continued. Lü Zitao initially resisted, but Zhang Yan asserted that "a civilized man doesn't fight with women," eventually making him back off. After Lü Zitao left, Zhang Yan directly asked Tan Li if her husband frequently hit her. Tan Li confirmed that he did not agree to the divorce and they had fought, admitting her fear.
She explained that Lü Zitao would always apologize tearfully the day after an incident, getting down on his knees, pleading for forgiveness and swearing to change, which made it difficult for her to leave him. Zhang Yan realized that Tan Li had hired L. H. S. D. specifically to protect her from her husband's domestic abuse.
Later, Zhang Yan confronted Lü Zitao in his home, instructing him to move out immediately and forbidding him from re-entering the house without Tan Li's permission. Lü Zitao indignantly claimed it was his house and a "household matter," dismissing Zhang Yan's authority. Zhang Yan firmly reiterated her role as Tan Li's personal bodyguard and her right to ensure Tan Li's safety. Lü Zitao, calling her "nonsense," ordered her to "get out of the way or I won't hold back."
Zhang Yan challenged him, asking if he only dared to hit his wife. When Lü Zitao attempted to strike her, Zhang Yan expertly blocked his attack and retaliated, leading him to threaten a lawsuit. Still needing a "pretty girl" for her plan, Guan Xiaodi approached Ma Li, who was with her client Le Le.
Guan Xiaodi flattered Ma Li, calling her the most attractive in their group, and desperately begged her to pose as Xiao Tong's new mixed-race girlfriend to ignite Xiao Ya's jealousy. Ma Li, however, declined, citing her ongoing mission. Unexpectedly, Le Le, Ma Li's young client, enthusiastically declared he wanted to go and participate in the "acting." Ma Li quickly told Le Le he must stay home for his own safety and not be led astray.
Guan Xiaodi then gently explained to Le Le that he was too young for the act but promised to play with him another time. Despite Guan Xiaodi's pleas, Ma Li maintained her refusal. Eventually, Cui Tianqi informed Guan Xiaodi that she had convinced Ma Li to help with the plan. Le Le was also present, having insisted on being brought along to find his "Goddess Sister" (Guan Xiaodi) after throwing a tantrum, though he later claimed it was "just acting."
With Ma Li confirmed as the "lead actress," Guan Xiaodi prepared Xiao Tong for his role. Xiao Tong expressed concern that Ma Li might be "too beautiful," potentially scaring Xiao Ya away, but Guan Xiaodi and Cui Tianqi reassured him that increased competition would only make the plan more effective. The group, consisting of Guan Xiaodi, Cui Tianqi, Le Le, Ma Li, and Xiao Tong, set the plan in motion.
Le Le acted as lookout, and soon, Xiao Ya was spotted. Xiao Tong and Ma Li walked together, hand in hand, with Ma Li openly complimenting Xiao Tong. Xiao Ya noticed them and was visibly shocked. When her friend tried to pull her away, Xiao Ya defiantly claimed she and Xiao Tong hadn't broken up and that he would never leave her.
Her friend pointed out that Xiao Tong might be a "spare tire" to Xiao Ya but a "treasure" to his new companion, further fueling Xiao Ya's resolve. Xiao Ya called Xiao Tong, who, following Guan Xiaodi's instructions, ignored the first two calls and answered the third. On the phone, Xiao Ya furiously demanded to know the identity of the woman beside him. Xiao Tong admitted he was being courted by a "very nice girl."
Xiao Ya accused him of "two-timing," but Xiao Tong reminded her that she had claimed they broke up. Xiao Ya then confessed that she had only said that to anger him and never truly wanted to end their relationship, insisting she wanted to see him "right now." Xiao Tong celebrated the success with Guan Xiaodi, who quickly quieted him. Later, Guan Xiaodi, Ma Li, and Cui Tianqi toasted to the successful completion of Guan Xiaodi's mission.
Despite the success, Guan Xiaodi expressed her distrust of such "shallow" love, stating she only believed in herself. Ma Li then inquired about her relationship with Liang Dawei, but Guan Xiaodi reiterated that they were merely "ordinary friends," dismissing any possibility of a romantic connection due to a lack of feelings on her part.
Liang Dawei's client, Zhang Xiaomu, received a phone call from his sister who frantically reported that their mother was gravely ill and urgently needed money, urging him to return home. Zhang Xiaomu was immediately suspicious, questioning if it was a ploy to extort his lottery winnings. His sister insisted she wouldn't joke about their mother's illness, explaining that their mother was in the hospital and longed to see him.
Despite this, Zhang Xiaomu remained unconvinced, wondering why his mother hadn't called him directly and pondering if the sudden illness was a convenient fabrication by his relatives. Liang Dawei, observing his sister's anxious tone, suggested the news might be genuine. He then pressed Zhang Xiaomu, asking if he would truly choose to risk losing his mother over his money, especially given his past experiences with poverty, emphasizing the profound regret he would face.
Swayed by Liang Dawei's words, Zhang Xiaomu agreed to return home, even offering to double Liang Dawei's pay. However, Liang Dawei informed him that the decision rested with L. H. S. D. Separately, Zhang Yan received a call from her former store owner, who informed her that her "husband" had visited the store looking for her. Zhang Yan clarified that he was her "ex-husband" and thanked the owner for not giving him her phone number.
She then instructed the owner to tell him she was out of town if he returned. At the AK Boxing Club, Guan Xiaodi looked at a photo of her mother, deep in thought. Liang Dawei joined her, remarking on her mother's beauty and her own striking resemblance. When he asked why she seemed upset, Guan Xiaodi brushed it off. Liang Dawei then inquired why she joined L. H. S. D.
, prompting her to vaguely state it was "something to do while we're young" before mirroring his cryptic "I will tell you later" remark. Guan Xiaodi then asked Liang Dawei when he thought she could defeat Xiong Kuohai. Liang Dawei estimated "in 10 years' time," jokingly adding it would be when Xiong Kuohai was old. Guan Xiaodi then announced her intention to find Ju Liang, whose phone had been off since he left L. H. S. D.
Liang Dawei expressed concern, acknowledging that the incident had taken a heavy toll on Ju Liang, but Guan Xiaodi insisted she had to find her "buddy" and talk to him. Guan Xiaodi eventually found Ju Liang in his disheveled apartment. Shocked by his appearance, she described it as "worse than a break-up." She tried to motivate him, telling him that one failure shouldn't defeat him and urged him to prove Xiong Kuohai's decision wrong by showing his strength outside L.
H. S. D. However, Ju Liang declared he had no interest in L. H. S. D. or anything else. Guan Xiaodi pushed him to "act more like a man" so she can look highly upon him. Ju Liang confessed he didn't want to be in that state but couldn't help it, explaining that he had forced himself to work hard solely to be with her.
Guan Xiaodi encouraged him to "stand up again" for her, but Ju Liang felt it was pointless, believing they would never be together regardless of his efforts. He told her she had other friends, but he had no one else in his life, and confessed that he "really, really" liked her. Guan Xiaodi, unsettled, asked if they couldn't just be "bros" again, admitting she wasn't used to his current demeanor.
Ju Liang sadly replied that things were different now and they couldn't return to the past, explaining that by finally expressing his feelings and receiving her implicit rejection, their relationship had fundamentally changed. He asked her to leave, assuring her he was fine and needed to be alone. Reluctantly, Guan Xiaodi left, urging him to take care and promising to visit again.
Later, at the cafe, Liang Dawei approached Guan Xiaodi, informing her that Fang Shuan wanted her to accompany him in escorting Zhang Xiaomu home the following day. Guan Xiaodi questioned why she was chosen. Liang Dawei explained that since she had completed her own mission and this new assignment carried significant risks, her presence would enhance safety. Guan Xiaodi's friend interjected, confidently stating that Guan Xiaodi would certainly agree because Liang Dawei was "so handsome." Guan Xiaodi then accepted the mission, declaring it "business" with "no other options."
Episode 16 Recap
Upon being persuaded by Lele, Ma Li finally agreed to help Guan Xiaodi with her mission, bringing Lele with her to L. H. S. D. Guan Xiaodi then shared her plan. To resolve Xiaotong’s love life, Guan Xiaodi orchestrated a situation where Xiaotong and Ma Li would appear openly affectionate in front of Xiaotong's girlfriend, Xiaoya. Ma Li's striking looks and figure were sure to outshine Xiaoya, and the plan unfolded smoothly.
Seeing Xiaotong embracing Ma Li, a furious Xiaoya chased after them. Ma Li, however, ignored her and drove away with Xiaotong. Xiaoya then repeatedly called Xiaotong, eventually leading to their reconciliation at their usual meeting spot. With this, Guan Xiaodi successfully completed her mission. Guan Xiaodi later thought of Ju Liang, who had left L. H. S. D. with deep resentment. In a flashback, he was seen shouting, "Why do I have to leave while you get to stay?
It's all because you're Xiong Kuohai's son." Others tried to calm him down, telling Guan Xiaodi that fairness did not exist there. Ju Liang harbored a grudge against Guan Xiaodi for choosing L. H. S. D. over him, despite his constant protection. Mustering her courage, Guan Xiaodi visited Ju Liang at his home, finding him in a state of self-destruction. She felt pity for him but also believed he was too fragile to handle setbacks.
Ju Liang took the opportunity to confess his profound feelings for Guan Xiaodi, telling her, "No matter how hard I work, I can never be together with you," and "I really, truly like you." However, Guan Xiaodi rejected him, leaving him to realize that they could never return to their past relationship, and she departed feeling helpless. Separately, Liang Dawei's client, Xiao Mu, received a call from his sister informing him that their mother was hospitalized.
Xiao Mu was hesitant to return home, suspecting his sister might be tricking him to get money. He decided to have Liang Dawei accompany him back to his hometown. As Liang Dawei couldn't make this decision independently, he brought Xiao Mu to L. H. S. D. for approval. Fang Shu'an then decided that Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei would escort Xiao Mu together.
Later, while Emma and others were celebrating Guan Xiaodi's successful first mission at a bar, Liang Dawei appeared to inform Guan Xiaodi of Fang Shu'an's arrangement. Guan Xiaodi agreed, considering it official business. Ju Liang, observing them from the side, became very angry seeing Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi together, but felt helpless, knowing Guan Xiaodi had clearly rejected him.
Later that night, after leaving a bar where he had been drinking, Ju Liang was confronted by a group of men who tried to rob him. Despite his protests, they forcibly took his money after a struggle. Reflecting on his life, Ju Liang felt that his current relationship with Guan Xiaodi was "all thanks to L. H. S. D. and Liang Dawei," fueling his desire for revenge. Soon after, he received a mysterious phone call.
The caller asked if he was Ju Liang but refused to identify themselves, stating, "Who I am is not important." Ju Liang threatened to hang up, but the caller taunted him, saying, "L. H. S. D. not wanting you is correct it seems," and calling him "a self-pitying weakling" who greatly disappointed them. Provoked, Ju Liang demanded to know who it was and how they knew about him.
The caller reiterated that their identity wasn't important but offered to meet "anytime, anywhere" if he truly wished to know. Ju Liang agreed to the meeting, intent on retaliating against L. H. S. D. and Liang Dawei. Meanwhile, Zhang Yan's client, Tan Li, was beaten by her husband, Lü Zitao, who refused to grant her a divorce. Upon learning this, Zhang Yan immediately went to Tan Li, realizing that Tan Li had sought L. H. S. D.'
s protection specifically from her husband's abuse. Enraged, Zhang Yan confronted Lü Zitao, who responded by slapping her. Without hesitation, Zhang Yan retaliated, beating Lü Zitao before taking Tan Li away. Lü Zitao subsequently demanded ¥500,000 in compensation and threatened to sue L. H. S. D. and Zhang Yan. Liu Sha confronted Zhang Yan with Lü Zitao's medical report, pointing out the serious consequences of her impulsive actions.
Zhang Yan defended herself, stating she "hates men who abuse women the most." She offered to resign, asserting that the matter had nothing to do with L. H. S. D. and that Lü Zitao should sue her alone. However, Xiong Kuohai reminded her that she was part of L. H. S. D. and questioned how she could take responsibility by leaving. He then asked her to recite L. H. S. D.'
s motto: "Perfectionism, Taking Full Responsibility, Exceeding Our Limits, Impenetrable." Xiong Kuohai admitted he admired her for beating such a "scum," but urged her to fulfill the "Taking Full Responsibility" part by not abandoning Tan Li or allowing Lü Zitao to continue his abusive ways. He proposed that he would help her resolve the situation. Back at the L. H. S. D. office, the team gathered to devise a plan.
Pink Panther presented Lü Zitao's profile, revealing him as a highly educated, wealthy entrepreneur planning to go public with his company. The team, led by Guan Xiaodi, proposed leaking his domestic violence to the media to destroy his reputation and financial prospects, thus forcing him to agree to a divorce and leave him with no assets. However, Tan Li refused, stating she didn't want to hurt him and still had feelings for him, despite his abuse.
Zhang Yan expressed her frustration, unable to comprehend Tan Li's loyalty. Guan Xiaodi then intervened, pressing Tan Li to consider if Lü Zitao still had feelings for her or if he had already betrayed their marriage. Tan Li insisted there were no "ifs" in reality. Guan Xiaodi then presented Tan Li with irrefutable photographic evidence of Lü Zitao's affair. Seeing the truth, Tan Li was devastated, realizing she was "the most foolish person in this world."
Zhang Yan encouraged her to seek a divorce immediately to regain her assets and start anew. Guan Xiaodi added that it was not too late, advising her to be glad they had no children and could still start over. Tan Li finally agreed to follow their advice. Guan Xiaodi instructed her to call Lü Zitao and demand a divorce. During the call, Lü Zitao angrily refused the divorce, threatening to sue L. H. S. D.
Guan Xiaodi took the phone, telling him he "deserved it" for his actions. She then sent him the evidence of his affair. Seeing the photos, Lü Zitao's demeanor changed. He called back, trying to negotiate peacefully. Guan Xiaodi, still on the phone, presented him with divorce papers, demanding 60% of his assets for Tan Li due to his domestic abuse and adultery. Lü Zitao agreed to the divorce on the condition that the photos and negatives were returned and destroyed.
Guan Xiaodi also made him sign an admission to absolve Zhang Yan and L. H. S. D. of any responsibility for damages. Lü Zitao complied. Afterwards, Tan Li expressed her pain and confusion, but Guan Xiaodi consoled her, telling her to treat it as a bad nightmare, look ahead, and embrace a new, happier life. Tan Li thanked L. H. S. D. for their help.
Following the successful resolution of Tan Li's case, Xiong Kuohai called a meeting to discuss Zhang Yan's future. He confirmed that Lü Zitao had dropped the charges, safeguarding L. H. S. D. for now, but Zhang Yan's impulsive actions remained a concern. Liu Sha argued that young people make mistakes and that Zhang Yan should be given another chance. Qin Sheng agreed, praising Zhang Yan's performance during training and calling it a shame to dismiss her.
Xiong Kuohai acknowledged Zhang Yan's potential but expressed concern that her impulsiveness, demonstrated even in a simple task, could be a "fatal time-bomb" for L. H. S. D. Qin Sheng countered that problems could be fixed and growth was a gradual process. Xiong Kuohai ultimately decided to extend Zhang Yan's probation period for further observation, stating L. H. S. D. would not give up on anyone, but also wouldn't tolerate unchecked actions.
Separately, Liu Sha asked Pink Panther to trace a phone number, revealing that Zhang Yan had made numerous calls to it during training, under Qin Sheng’s supervision. Pink Panther, later confiding in Guan Xiaodi, said she was looking into it to stay "a step ahead." Their investigation revealed that Zhang Yan had a four-year-old daughter named Xiao Yu, living with her grandmother, and Zhang Yan's financial situation was dire.
Xiao Yu's grandmother explained that Zhang Yan had been forced into becoming a bodyguard after being domestically abused by her ex-husband, Wang Dafang, who was displeased that she bore him a daughter. Zhang Yan secretly called Xiao Yu every night, as her daughter was her most private secret. Pink Panther reported these findings to Xiong Kuohai and Liu Sha.
Qin Sheng added that Zhang Yan's past abuse explained why she identified with Tan Li and acted so fiercely against Lü Zitao. Liu Sha, however, maintained that Zhang Yan's personal struggles did not excuse her actions, and questioned why Qin Sheng had kept Zhang Yan's history a secret, implying a lack of transparency. Qin Sheng admitted he had known about Zhang Yan's situation all along and allowed her to make calls because he had promised to keep her secret.
Liu Sha accused him of lying and being a hypocrite. Xiong Kuohai interrupted their heated exchange, reminding them to focus on Zhang Yan's case, not their past. Liu Sha then stormed out, telling Xiong Kuohai that whatever decision they made about Zhang Yan was up to them. Xiong Kuohai urged Qin Sheng to follow her. Later, Qin Sheng confronted Liu Sha, trying to explain his actions by saying he understood Zhang Yan’s feelings as a mother missing her child.
Liu Sha vehemently rejected his apology, saying, "I hate liars the most" and that concealing the truth was the same as deceit to her. She concluded by telling Qin Sheng, "In my heart, you are a killer." Qin Sheng later reflected on her words, contemplating the contradiction of being seen as "Adonis" by some, yet a "killer" in Liu Sha's heart.
Episode 17 Recap
At a bar, Guan Xiaodi's friends and colleagues, including Emma, gathered to celebrate her successful first mission. Liang Dawei also arrived, informing Guan Xiaodi that Fang Shu'an had assigned them both to escort their client, Zhang Xiaomu, back to his hometown. Zhang Xiaomu's sister had called him about their mother's illness, but he was hesitant, fearing it was a trick to get his money.
While Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi were talking, Ju Liang was watching them from afar, feeling angry and helpless as Guan Xiaodi had clearly rejected him. A very drunk Cui Tianqi expressed her deep friendship for Guan Xiaodi, declaring her best friend forever, and also openly called Liang Dawei her "Adonis." Ma Li instructed Liang Dawei to take care of Cui Tianqi.
Guan Xiaodi then told Ma Li that her relationship with Liang Dawei was not serious and that she was "just playing around with him," adding that she wished Cui Tianqi happiness. After the celebration, Liang Dawei escorted Cui Tianqi home. She clung to him, expressing her fear that if she let go, he would never come back. She asked why he wouldn't find anyone else, especially since Guan Xiaodi had clearly moved on.
Liang Dawei admitted that he wanted to move on and forget Guan Xiaodi, but he just couldn't. Cui Tianqi then silently acknowledged her unrequited feelings for Liang Dawei. Meanwhile, Zhang Yan was confronted by her ex-husband, Wang Dafang, who had been waiting for her. He urged her to return to him, claiming that he had started from scratch and become a multimillionaire, believing he would make a comeback and asking for another chance.
Zhang Yan firmly rejected him, telling him to go back and live his own life and to stop harassing her. She asserted that she was no longer the Zhang Yan of the past. Zhang Yan had gotten into trouble for hitting Lü Zitao, who demanded 500,000 yuan in compensation or threatened to sue Zhang Yan and Fire Shield. To avoid implicating Fire Shield, Zhang Yan considered resigning. However, Guan Xiaodi persuaded her to stay, promising to help resolve the issue.
Guan Xiaodi, Ma Li, and Cui Tianqi investigated Lü Zitao. Cui Tianqi's efforts revealed him to be an utterly despicable man. They decided to "deal with him." When Guan Xiaodi and her team informed Tan Li, Lü Zitao’s wife, of their plan to ruin his future, Tan Li surprisingly opposed it, despite being a victim of his abuse. Guan Xiaodi and Zhang Yan were both surprised by Tan Li's reaction.
Seeing that Tan Li was unwilling to cooperate, Guan Xiaodi decided to confront Lü Zitao with the information they had gathered, hoping to "threaten" him into divorcing Tan Li and dropping his lawsuit against Zhang Yan and Fire Shield. Cui Tianqi, concerned that Guan Xiaodi might act impulsively, accompanied her. Together, they discovered Lü Zitao's extramarital affair, managing to track and photograph him with his mistress. Lü Zitao, discovering their investigation, then escalated his threats and officially sued Fire Shield.
To quickly resolve the matter, Xiong Kuohai instructed Guan Xiaodi and Ma Li to speak with Tan Li, explicitly telling Zhang Yan to step away from the case. Guan Xiaodi and Ma Li met with Tan Li, who remained reluctant to harm Lü Zitao. Ma Li then showed Tan Li the undeniable photographs of Lü Zitao's affair.
Seeing the proof of his betrayal, Tan Li broke down, realizing the man who professed to love her had been deceiving her all along. She agreed to cooperate with Guan Xiaodi’s plan. Following Guan Xiaodi's advice, Tan Li called Lü Zitao to inform him of her decision to divorce. Realizing Tan Li had evidence of his infidelity, Lü Zitao agreed to meet them, consented to the divorce, and promised to drop all legal actions against Zhang Yan and Fire Shield.
Though Tan Li was now free from her abusive marriage, she was deeply hurt by the experience. As for Zhang Yan, her handling of the situation was deemed unsatisfactory and resulted in significant errors, leading Xiong Kuohai to extend her internship period. Earlier, Zhang Xiaomu’s mother, Huang Li, met with a doctor at a clinic. While her illness's progression was slower than expected, she was informed that her condition had not improved and that dialysis treatment could slow its worsening.
Huang Li expressed her unwillingness to let her daughter see her after the dialysis treatment. Meanwhile, Guan Xiaodi made preparations for the escort mission with Liang Dawei. While trying on dresses, she spoke with her father on the phone, informing him that she would be escorting Zhang Xiaomu to Baofeng City with Liang Dawei. Her father, concerned for her safety, warned her to be cautious and not careless.
Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei, dressed as bellhops at Zhang Xiaomu's request, began the escort mission. Zhang Xiaomu carried a briefcase full of money for his mother's hospital fees, explaining that direct bank transfers were not possible in his remote hometown as there wasn't a single bank within the vicinity.
During the journey, Guan Xiaodi probed Liang Dawei about his feelings for Cui Tianqi, suggesting he give her a chance, but he responded dismissively, stating that his affections were his own business. Zhang Xiaomu confided in them, expressing his longing to be filial to his mother, whom he hadn't seen since the New Year.
He worried about his relatives trying to steal his lottery winnings, though Guan Xiaodi noted that his recent win seemed to have made him reflect on his filial duties. They encountered locals who deliberately caused trouble, picking fights and trying to rob Zhang Xiaomu. Guan Xiaodi demonstrated her formidable fighting skills, quickly fending off the attackers, but Zhang Xiaomu's briefcase of money was stolen in the chaos.
Distraught, he initially wanted to abandon the mission and return to Nanjing, convinced that his family was using his mother's illness as a trick to get his money. Though injured from the skirmish, Guan Xiaodi passionately argued for the importance of filial piety. With tears in her eyes, she spoke of her own regret at losing her mother at a young age and the lifelong pain of not being able to show her devotion.
Moved by Guan Xiaodi's heartfelt words, Zhang Xiaomu agreed to continue to his hometown. They then managed to recover the stolen briefcase. As Zhang Xiaomu, Guan Xiaodi, and Liang Dawei neared his mother's location, they went to the hospital where she was supposed to be. However, Zhang Xiaomu discovered her room was empty. A nurse informed him that his mother had late-stage liver cancer but had left the hospital, refusing further treatment to avoid financially burdening her family.
Soon after, they encountered a group of scammers at a local clinic, claiming Zhang Xiaomu’s mother owed them 50,000 yuan for medical fees. Guan Xiaodi quickly chased them away, calling them out for their blatant lies. Shortly after, a local gang leader known as Third Master Ma, whose previous ambushes had failed, orchestrated another, blocking their path. After a fierce confrontation, Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei overpowered the gang.
Third Master Ma confessed that he was deeply in debt from gambling and had hoped to "borrow" money from Zhang Xiaomu. Guan Xiaodi sternly lectured him on the destructive nature of gambling. Finally, they arrived at Zhang Xiaomu's house. However, their relief was short-lived when Zhang Xiaomu’s sister informed him that their mother had passed away. Uncle San confirmed the heartbreaking news. Zhang Xiaomu was devastated, collapsing in grief.
In his anguish, he attempted to burn the money he had brought for his mother, but Guan Xiaodi intervened, stopping him and urging him to honor his mother's memory by using the money to help others in need. Zhang Xiaomu, overwhelmed with regret, tearfully reconciled with his sister. Following the emotional mission, Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei reflected on their experiences.
Guan Xiaodi expressed her profound sadness and regret over her own mother, who died too young for Guan Xiaodi to be truly filial. Liang Dawei shared her sentiment, acknowledging that some regrets leave a lifelong pain. Guan Xiaodi showed him a ring she wore on a necklace, revealing it was her mother’s wedding ring, a precious memento.
Then, with a pained expression, she told Liang Dawei that they could not be together, stating that he would understand why in the future. Separately, Liu Sha discovered that Qin Sheng had frequently covered for Zhang Yan while she made phone calls during training. Liu Sha tasked Cui Tianqi with tracing the number Zhang Yan had called.
Guan Xiaodi, using the address obtained by Cui Tianqi, quietly went there and discovered Zhang Yan had a four-year-old daughter and had divorced her husband, Wang Dafang, due to domestic violence. This revelation helped Guan Xiaodi understand the deep, personal reasons behind Zhang Yan's impulsive and sometimes irrational reactions when dealing with Lü Zitao, as she saw a reflection of Zhang Yan's past in Tan Li's suffering.
Guan Xiaodi reported Zhang Yan's situation to Xiong Kuohai and the team, urging them to be understanding and give Zhang Yan another chance. However, Liu Sha was critical of Zhang Yan’s intentional concealment of her personal circumstances and became furious with Qin Sheng for helping her, leading to a big argument between them.
Qin Sheng, feeling dejected after his big argument with Liu Sha, expressed his unhappiness to Guan Xiaodi, lamenting that while some viewed him as an Adonis, to someone else (Liu Sha), he felt like a killer. To help him vent his frustrations, Guan Xiaodi took him to a boxing gym. There, they discussed Xiong Kuohai's formidable fighting style and strength, with Qin Sheng describing Xiong Kuohai as the strongest person he'd ever met.
Guan Xiaodi expressed her ambition to one day challenge Xiong Kuohai, and Qin Sheng encouraged her, though he also reminded her of the immense hardship, requiring strength, faith, and determination, to achieve such power. Qin Sheng thanked Guan Xiaodi for helping him feel much better, further confiding that his issues with Liu Sha weren't merely discord, but that she 'hated' him. Guan Xiaodi countered that 'hate only comes out of deep love,' but Qin Sheng felt their feelings were too complicated and couldn't be forced.
Episode 18 Recap
Guan Xiaodi finds Qin Sheng upset after an argument with Liu Sha and takes him to her boxing club to help him vent his frustrations. Later, at a bar gathering for Liehuo Shendun interns, a very drunk Cui Tianqi declares Liang Dawei her "male god." Noticing Cui Tianqi's feelings, Guan Xiaodi deliberately asks Liang Dawei to take Cui Tianqi home, hoping to set them up.
Zhang Yan and Ma Li observe this, wondering if Guan Xiaodi will later regret her actions. En route, Cui Tianqi confesses her feelings to Liang Dawei, but he rejects her, stating his heart belongs to Guan Xiaodi. Meanwhile, Wang Dafang attempts to reconcile with Zhang Yan, but she firmly refuses and easily fends him off when he tries to use force. Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi then escort Zhang Xiaomu to his hometown.
Zhang Xiaomu carries a large sum of cash, as there are no banks in his village, intending to give it to his sick mother. At a supermarket stop, a deliberate distraction leads to Zhang Xiaomu's cash box being stolen. Guan Xiaodi chases the two robbers, successfully retrieving the money, but sustains a knife wound to her arm during the struggle.
Zhang Xiaomu, only concerned with his money, is indifferent to Guan Xiaodi's injury and initially refuses to go home, convinced his family set up the theft. Guan Xiaodi, reminding him that his sister called him and urging him to cherish his mother, persuades him to continue. While Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi are on this mission, a distraught Cui Tianqi, upset about their pairing, is assigned to protect Zhou Ying.
When Zhou Ying's tablet is stolen, Cui Tianqi quickly recovers it, impressing Zhou Ying, who asks to become her apprentice. Meanwhile, San Ye, the mastermind behind the earlier theft attempts, has more people ambush Zhang Xiaomu at the hospital, attempting to scam him out of money by claiming it's for his mother's treatment. Liang Dawei intervenes, and San Ye's men flee.
Learning of his mother's late-stage liver cancer, Zhang Xiaomu's mother discharges herself from the hospital to avoid burdening her family. Rushing home, Zhang Xiaomu, Liang Dawei, and Guan Xiaodi are intercepted by San Ye and his men in a final ambush. Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi easily overpower the attackers. Liang Dawei stays to await the police, while Guan Xiaodi escorts Zhang Xiaomu home. Tragically, Zhang Xiaomu arrives too late; his mother has passed away.
His sister, resentful of his delayed return and perceived lack of financial support for their mother's treatment, initially bars him from entering the house. Zhang Xiaomu collapses, weeping at the door. Seeing his profound grief, his sister forgives him, and they embrace. Overwhelmed by regret, Zhang Xiaomu contemplates burning his money, but Guan Xiaodi stops him. His sorrow deeply resonates with Guan Xiaodi, reminding her of her own mother, and she steps outside to grieve alone.
Episode 19 Recap
Upon learning about Zhang Yan's personal struggles, Xiong Kuohai reassured her that Firewolf Shield would not only keep her employed but also take responsibility for her mother's living expenses, freeing her from worries. This compassionate gesture deeply moved Zhang Yan. Following the successful completion of their previous assignments, all members of Firewolf Shield were urgently recalled. Xiong Kuohai revealed that Firewolf Shield's secrets had been compromised, as a new company, Rock Security, had emerged with identical training methods.
While he identified several initial suspects, including Red Shadow, Ninja, and Giant Bear, Guan Xiaodi strongly defended Ju Liang when his name came up, believing he was being unfairly accused. Disregarding her protest, Xiong Kuohai assigned Liu Sha and Qin Sheng the task of investigating the leak. Unbeknownst to Guan Xiaodi, Ju Liang, whom she trusted, had already joined Rock Security. There, he met the company's boss, Wu Fei, an old comrade and rival of Xiong Kuohai.
Wu Fei founded Rock Security specifically to oppose Xiong Kuohai, and seeing Firewolf Shield as his own enemy, Ju Liang chose to collaborate with Wu Fei. However, Ju Liang claimed he was not the one who leaked the secrets, asserting that Wu Fei had already planted an insider within Firewolf Shield.
Meanwhile, Fang Shu'an assigned Guan Xiaodi's team of five a new mission: to protect a client named Wang Rongyuan and his girlfriend, Peng Lulu, who came to Nanqing City for travel. Guan Xiaodi was appointed team leader. The team escorted the couple to their residence and meticulously inspected the premises. Liang Dawei checked the exterior but did not notice someone covertly observing the villa. After the team found no anomalies, the couple moved into the villa.
Wang Rongyuan was divorced, and his wife and daughter lived abroad. One evening, Wang Rongyuan's video call with his daughter was discovered by Peng Lulu, leading to a dispute between them. The team had already installed surveillance cameras around the villa and maintained constant vigilance. Shortly after, Guan Xiaodi, Ma Li, and Zhang Yan accompanied Wang Rongyuan to a travel agency.
Guan Xiaodi noticed someone tracking them and gave chase, but a vehicle blocked her path, preventing her from catching the individual. Later, Wang Rongyuan received a mysterious letter. A bodyguard carefully opened it to reveal a bloody handprint. Guan Xiaodi questioned Wang Rongyuan and Peng Lulu about its meaning, but they feigned ignorance. Discussing the incident, the team members speculated about the sender's motives, with Stinger Bee suggesting Wang Rongyuan's wealth might stem from illicit activities, attracting enemies.
Guan Xiaodi acknowledged the possibility that they might have been watched for some time. She emphasized the need for vigilance, assigning various team members – Stinger Bee, Devilfish, Pink Panther, and White Shark – specific surveillance and tracking duties. Later, a crossbow bolt was fired at the villa.
While discussing it, a team member noted such a bolt could be lethal, but Guan Xiaodi posited it was likely a warning rather than an assassination attempt since Wang Rongyuan was still alive. She suspected Wang Rongyuan was withholding information. Guan Xiaodi decided to confront Wang Rongyuan directly. She asked him to identify his hidden adversary, explaining that knowing would better enable them to ensure his and Peng Lulu's safety.
Peng Lulu interjected, revealing that Wang Rongyuan had been receiving threats for some time. Wang Rongyuan dismissed them as mere harassment, describing anonymous phone calls, empty envelopes, and packages containing unsettling items like knife blades or dead bugs. He explained that he hadn't reported it to the police because the threats lacked concrete evidence and he didn't want to delay his upcoming overseas trip to Hawaii with Peng Lulu.
Concurrently, Liu Sha and Qin Sheng continued their surveillance of Ju Liang. After observing him enter the Rock Security building, Liu Sha deduced that merely seeing him enter wasn't enough; they needed stronger evidence. She suggested they infiltrate the building. Posing as a couple seeking bodyguard services, Liu Sha and Qin Sheng entered Rock Security. Liu Sha subtly gathered information, observing that Rock Security's training methodology closely mirrored that of Firewolf Shield.
When a staff member mentioned their classified training, Liu Sha feigned needing to use the restroom, allowing her to briefly explore the premises and overhear an instructor echoing Firewolf Shield's philosophy about successful bodyguard missions avoiding direct combat. After leaving, Liu Sha expressed her suspicion that Rock Security held other secrets and was deliberately countering Firewolf Shield. She proposed they use Ju Liang as a point of entry to uncover Rock Security's true agenda.
Back at Wang Rongyuan's villa, another package arrived, this time containing mud stained with what appeared to be blood. Guan Xiaodi, recognizing it as another threat, pressed Wang Rongyuan, insisting that he reveal everything to guarantee his safety. He agreed to cooperate, stating they needed to "draw them out." During the ongoing protection, Guan Xiaodi spotted a man in his twenties following Wang Rongyuan. She instructed White Shark to secure the car while she pursued the individual.
She apprehended him, questioning his motives. The man, identified as Yang Deng, claimed he was "upholding justice." He accused Wang Rongyuan of being a black-hearted profiteer and corrupt real estate developer who resold construction sites for profit, colluded with construction companies to dupe the government, tricked banks, paid bribes, and used gangsters for forced demolitions, resulting in many people losing their homes and his own father's death due to imprisonment and heart disease.
Yang Deng explained that the bloody handprint and mud packages were symbolic of Wang Rongyuan's blood-stained hands and filthy land deals. When Guan Xiaodi questioned his illegal methods, Yang Deng asserted that he lacked sufficient legal evidence and that authorities were unwilling to believe him. He clarified that the crossbow bolt was intended as a warning shot, aimed at the window frame, not to kill Wang Rongyuan. Subsequently, Wang Rongyuan called the police, leading to Yang Deng's arrest.
Returning home later, Guan Xiaodi confided in her father about her internal conflict: having to protect a client who might be an evil person, questioning if it would make her a bad person too. Her father responded that it would depend on her ultimate choices and affirmed that wrongdoers must eventually pay for their actions. Peng Lulu interrupted Wang Rongyuan's video call with his young daughter, Wang Jiajia, leading to a heated argument.
Peng Lulu spitefully informed Jiajia that she was Wang Rongyuan's girlfriend and that he had divorced Jiajia's mother because of her, deeply upsetting the child. Wang Rongyuan grew enraged, hitting Peng Lulu and demanding she leave. Peng Lulu, in turn, threatened to expose his "dirty secrets" online and send him to prison if he abandoned her.
Amidst the chaos, she revealed to the bodyguards that Wang Rongyuan owed the bank over 100 million yuan and was planning to flee the country using fake IDs and passports. Guan Xiaodi intervened, preventing Wang Rongyuan from further assaulting Peng Lulu. Guan Xiaodi confronted Wang Rongyuan again, asking if Yang Deng's accusations were true and if Peng Lulu was worth the consequences. Wang Rongyuan expressed deep regret for abandoning his family for Peng Lulu, feeling his life was ruined.
Guan Xiaodi then revealed her own painful past, sharing that her father left her when she was five and never returned, leaving her with the sole memory of him walking away. She told Wang Rongyuan that her wildest wish had always been for her father to have turned back to look at her, relating her experience to his daughter's current situation. Overwhelmed by reflection, Wang Rongyuan tearfully asked if he could still "go back now."
Guan Xiaodi replied that it depended on his choices. Finally, Wang Rongyuan decided to turn himself in, asking Guan Xiaodi if this act would be considered "looking back" in his daughter's eyes, to which Guan Xiaodi responded with a heartfelt "Yes." Separately, Liu Sha confronted Ju Liang again. She directly accused him of leaking Firewolf Shield's training regimen. Ju Liang maintained his denial, stating that the regimen did not come from him and that he no longer had anything to do with Firewolf Shield.
Episode 20 Recap
Liu Sha and Qin Sheng continued their investigation into former L. H. S. D. trainees suspected of leaking information to the newly established Rock Security. Liu Sha investigated Hongying and Ninja, finding no suspicious activity from either of them. Despite Ju Liang's outwardly normal life, Liu Sha harbored deep suspicions, believing that his past anger might lead him to betray L. H. S. D.
Meanwhile, Cui Tianqi, Liang Dawei, and Peng Lulu returned to their villa after a shopping trip when Cui Tianqi suddenly fainted. She attributed it to low blood sugar, prompting Peng Lulu to offer her some brown sugar water. Later, Cui Tianqi secretly contacted Wu Fei, Rock Security's boss, informing him that her medication was losing effectiveness and that she needed a new drug, arranging a meeting.
Cui Tianqi then met with a doctor at a private hospital, arranged by Wu Fei, where she was informed about a rare, net-shaped brain tumor that had spread throughout her brain. This tumor was temporarily enhancing her senses, granting her heightened hearing, smell, and a strong sixth sense. However, the doctor warned that as the tumor grew, it would crush her brain nerves, and surgery was extremely risky, potentially leading to dementia, paralysis, or even death.
Separately, Guan Xiaodi delivered a letter to Wang Rongyuan, which contained nothing but a bloody handprint. Both Wang Rongyuan and Peng Lulu were visibly terrified. When Xiaodi questioned them about previous similar threats or the meaning of the handprint, Wang Rongyuan denied any knowledge, suggesting it might be a prank. However, Xiaodi noticed his evasive demeanor, sensing he was concealing the truth. Xiaodi called a team meeting to discuss the threat.
Ma Li speculated that the individual Xiaodi had pursued earlier might be connected to the incident. With the full truth still unknown, they decided to enhance Wang Rongyuan's protection. Later that night, the team detected unusual activity on the surveillance monitors. Xiaodi immediately dispatched team members to protect Wang Rongyuan upstairs while she pursued the suspicious activity. An intruder fired at Wang Rongyuan while he was on the balcony, but missed.
Xiaodi and her team chased the assailant but failed to apprehend them. Convinced Wang Rongyuan was withholding information, Xiaodi confronted him. A timid Peng Lulu admitted that Wang Rongyuan had been receiving continuous threat letters. Wang Rongyuan then reluctantly confirmed this, downplaying the threats as mere harassment and expressing his disinterest in pursuing the matter further, as he and Peng Lulu were leaving for Hawaii soon. The following morning, Wang Rongyuan received another package, this time containing blood-stained soil.
Realizing the difficulty of combating an unknown enemy, Xiaodi devised a plan to use Wang Rongyuan to lure the opponent out. Liu Sha and Qin Sheng continued their surveillance of Ju Liang, eventually following him to Rock Security. There, they confirmed he was working as an instructor. To gather concrete evidence, they posed as a couple seeking security services.
When they were told the facility wasn't officially open for training, Liu Sha feigned needing the restroom and secretly recorded Ju Liang teaching trainees. She confronted Ju Liang, accusing him of leaking L. H. S. D.' s training regimen and betraying them. During their heated exchange, an unknown man in black intervened, attacking Liu Sha. Ju Liang urged Liu Sha to leave while he distracted the assailant.
Qin Sheng arrived and engaged the man in black in a fight, who, during the confrontation, hinted at Liu Sha's pre-existing heart condition before escaping. Qin Sheng rushed an injured Liu Sha to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she had suffered a severe heart attack triggered by congenital heart disease and aplastic anemia—conditions she had kept secret, believing they were cured. Qin Sheng stayed by her bedside, pledging his unwavering support.
Ma Li later recounted the complex history between Liu Sha and Qin Sheng to their teammates: Qin Sheng, as a young sniper, had inadvertently contributed to the death of Liu Sha's parents during a hostage crisis years ago due to a delayed shot. Overcome with guilt, he had looked after Liu Sha, leading to a romantic relationship.
However, when he proposed and confessed his past, Liu Sha, though not blaming him for the initial mistake, broke off their engagement, heartbroken by his years of deception. Meanwhile, Xiong Kuohai learned of Liu Sha's condition and the incident at Rock, suspecting a powerful individual was behind Ju Liang. Upon seeing the video of Ju Liang at Rock, Guan Xiaodi impulsively rushed out to confront him.
Guan Xiaodi found Ju Liang at a boxing club, where he had been summoned by Wu Fei. She accused him of joining Rock, betraying L. H. S. D. , and betraying her. Ju Liang countered that L. H. S. D. had been unfair to him and had betrayed him first, thus he felt no loyalty, though he insisted he never betrayed her personally. Xiaodi demanded he quit Rock, offering to quit L. H. S. D.
if he did, but neither was willing to concede. Ju Liang then challenged her to a match in the boxing ring to settle their grievances. During their conversation, Ju Liang explained that he joined Rock because it offered him the position and respect he deserved. When Xiaodi questioned him about Rock's identical training regimen, he denied leaking it, claiming he only trained new recruits as assigned by Wu Fei.
Xiaodi expressed her disbelief, to which Ju Liang responded that his answers were meaningless without her trust. Xiaodi warned that their paths would inevitably lead them to become enemies, but Ju Liang declared that L. H. S. D. would always be his enemy, while Xiaodi would always be his. . . (leaving his feelings for her unspoken). Xiaodi later discussed the encounter with her father, who viewed it as a professional rivalry.
Xiaodi noted Ju Liang's significantly improved fighting skills, attributing them to a skilled mentor. She reported back to her team that Ju Liang considered L. H. S. D. his enemy. The L. H. S. D. team successfully completed their probationary period. Xiong Kuohai commended their integrity and effectiveness, officially declaring them L. H. S. D. Elite Bodyguards. Liu Sha, having returned to work, praised the team's determination and growth. However, she then announced her intention to leave L. H. S.
D. , explaining that her doctor had warned her about the risk of relapse for her congenital heart disease, making it unsafe for her to continue active duty. Qin Sheng, along with Xiong Kuohai and the team, tried to persuade her to stay, highlighting her valuable experience in danger prevention. Xiong Kuohai proposed a one or two-month trial period, assuring her that if she still wished to leave afterward, he would respect her decision. Liu Sha accepted.
The team then engaged in lighthearted gossip about Liu Sha and Qin Sheng's apparent reconciliation, noting Liu Sha's softened demeanor. Liang Dawei playfully teased Cui Tianqi about her own developing relationship with him, causing her to feign a stomach ache and quickly leave the room to avoid the topic, a move Ma Li immediately recognized as an attempt to escape their teasing.
Episode 21 Recap
Guan Xiaodi's plan successfully leads to the capture of an assailant targeting Wang Rongyuan. The assailant confesses that Wang Rongyuan is a corrupt businessman responsible for his father's death, due to land dealings and collusion with thugs, and that his previous attempts at justice failed. Guan Xiaodi sympathizes with the assailant but fulfills her duty by taking him to the police station.
Meanwhile, Wang Rongyuan gets into a heated argument with Peng Lulu, who interrupts his video call with his daughter and curses her. Enraged, Wang Rongyuan slaps Peng Lulu, who then threatens to expose all his misdeeds online, including his forged identity, owing over 100 million to the bank, and his plan to escape, presenting fake passports and documents as proof. Guan Xiaodi, overhearing the dispute, later talks to Wang Rongyuan.
She shares her own story of being abandoned by her father, urging him to take responsibility for his daughter's sake. Overcome by guilt and concern for his daughter, Wang Rongyuan decides to surrender to the authorities. Separately, Liu Sha suspects Ju Liang of leaking Fierce Fire Shield's training plans to Rock Security. She confronts him, leading to a fight where Ju Liang is easily defeated. Wu Fei intervenes, sending Ju Liang away and fighting Liu Sha himself.
During the fight, Liu Sha, who unbeknownst to others suffers from congenital heart disease and aplastic anemia, has a heart attack. Qin Sheng promptly arrives, rushes her to the hospital, and saves her life. He stays by her side, becoming deeply worried upon learning about her severe conditions. Liu Sha, seeing his concern, no longer pushes him away.
Xiong Kuohai, Liang Dawei, and Guan Xiaodi visit Liu Sha at the hospital but see Qin Sheng holding her hand and being intimate with her, so they wait outside. Guan Xiaodi learns from Xiong Kuohai about Liu Sha and Qin Sheng's complicated past: Qin Sheng, a special forces soldier, caused the death of Liu Sha's parents during an operation against drug dealers by missing his first shot, which allowed the criminals to detonate a bomb.
Qin Sheng's guilt led him to frequently visit Liu Sha, and they fell in love. However, when he proposed, he confessed the truth, and Liu Sha, upon learning it, broke off their relationship.
Episode 22 Recap
Cui Tianqi's reticular brain tumor has worsened, rendering her medication ineffective. Wu Fei takes her to a specialist, who reveals that surgery is too risky due to potential paralysis or dementia, and she will soon lose her sight. The doctor adds that her lifespan is limited, unlikely to extend beyond thirty years. Devastated, Cui Tianqi drinks heavily and is found by Liang Dawei, who takes her home, accidentally bumping into a small box in the process.
Meanwhile, Qin Sheng and Liu Sha's investigation yields a video of Ju Liang working as an instructor at Panshi Security. Guan Xiaodi, initially believing Ju Liang would never betray Liehuo Shendun, is furious upon seeing the evidence. She arranges to meet Ju Liang at the AK Club to confront him. Guan Xiaodi accuses him of betraying Liehuo Shendun and her.
Ju Liang insists he never belonged to Liehuo Shendun, thus could not betray it, nor did he betray her or leak any training plans, stating that Panshi offers him the respect and importance he deserves. Guan Xiaodi uses boxing to resolve their dispute, aggressively fighting and defeating Ju Liang, all while her father watches. Ju Liang is deeply disappointed by her lack of trust. He maintains his stance, asserting that his heart will always hold Guan Xiaodi, before leaving.
Liu Sha, having recovered from her injury, is discharged from the hospital. Her past with Qin Sheng is revealed: he was a young sniper whose error led to the deaths of her parents years ago. Qin Sheng, guilt-ridden, cared for Liu Sha, and they fell in love. Their relationship broke down when Qin Sheng confessed his past on the day he proposed, but her recent hospitalization led to their reconciliation, much to Xiong Kuohai's relief.
Upon returning to Liehuo Shendun, Liu Sha proposes to quit, feeling she failed her mission to catch the traitor and that her relapsing illness prevents her from fighting. Qin Sheng is shocked, while Xiong Kuohai, Guan Xiaodi, and others try to persuade her to stay. Liu Sha expresses concerns about being a burden. Xiong Kuohai eventually agrees to let her stay for another month, promising not to stop her if she still wishes to leave then. Liu Sha accepts. Separately, Guan Xiaodi and four other individuals successfully complete their internship, officially becoming elite bodyguards, receiving congratulations from the instructors.
Episode 23 Recap
Liang Dawei took Cui Tianqi home and discovered many photos of himself in her room, with loving messages on the back. He was touched but could only thank her. The next morning, Liang Dawei called Cui Tianqi, who was embarrassed that he had seen the photos. Guan Xiaodi overheard the call and told Liang Dawei to treat Cui Tianqi well.
Feeling bored, Guan Xiaodi asked for a task and was assigned to protect Le Xin, helping her with her departure preparations. A Yong discovered that Wu Fei, the head of Pan Shi Security, was the one who injured Liu Sha, which Xiong Kuohai had suspected. Xiong Kuohai revealed that Wu Fei was his former comrade from training in Israel. They were close friends, but before graduation, a competition was held for a chance to compete internationally for a prize.
Wu Fei, who was favored to win, fell ill and asked Xiong Kuohai to let him win. Xiong Kuohai agreed, but the coach chose Xiong Kuohai to compete instead, due to Wu Fei's gambling debts and poor character, leading to a grudge. Le Xin, the daughter of an official, was secretly booked a flight to Melbourne by her father. She reluctantly went to school to complete the withdrawal procedures.
Then, as Guan Xiaodi requested, Le Xin brought Guan Xiaodi back to her large rented house, which was messy, and Guan Xiaodi began helping her clean and settle in her pet. Cui Tianqi and Liang Dawei went on a date, reminiscing about their first meeting and experiences in the training camp. Cui Tianqi was thrilled and happy. Liang Dawei took her home later.
Episode 24 Recap
Guan Xiaodi and Le Xin sent Xiao Qi to a pet park. Guan Xiaodi received a call from Fang Shu'an, who told her that Le Xin's father, Le Datong, had committed suicide and asked Guan Xiaodi to prevent Le Xin from accessing the internet or watching TV. Guan Xiaodi disabled the internet at home. Le Xin was bored, so Guan Xiaodi told her stories, including her own background.
Guan Xiaodi took Le Xin to a bar, where she drank too much, and Guan Xiaodi took her home. Zhang Yan's ex-husband, Wang Dafang, came to Lie Huo Shen Dun, requesting Zhang Yan to be his bodyguard. Zhang Yan was angry and warned him to stop bothering her. Wang Dafang claimed he had made a comeback and needed her protection. Shang Na, a famous actress, sought protection from Lie Huo Shen Dun due to a stalker.
Liang Dawei, being a fan, was assigned the task. He was excited but was stopped by Fang Shu'an from asking for an autograph. Cui Tianqi, after a date with Liang Dawei, realized his feelings for Guan Xiaodi. She asked Guan Xiaodi about her feelings for Liang Dawei, so she could confess her love to him. Guan Xiaodi revealed that she was Xiong Kuohai's daughter.
Liang Dawei asked Xiong Kuohai for advice on his love life, mentioning his feelings for a girl and another girl confessing to him. Xiong Kuohai advised him to follow his heart. Le Xin was about to go abroad, unaware of her father's death. Guan Xiaodi took her to Lie Huo Shen Dun, where Fang Shu'an gave her a letter from her father. Later, at the airport, news of Le Datong's suicide broke on television.
Episode 25 Recap
Lexin learned of her father, Le Datong's, suicide by sleeping pills from an airport news report while waiting to board a flight, devastating her. She cried with Guan Xiaodi before trying to contact her mother, whose phone was off. Lexin then called Uncle Wang, who reluctantly revealed that her mother had suffered a mental breakdown and was hospitalized.
A teenage girl now without a father and with a hospitalized mother, Lexin felt helpless but decided to stay, face the truth, and care for her mother, finally understanding a story Guan Xiaodi had shared with her earlier. To encourage Lexin, Guan Xiaodi returned Lexin's pet, Xiao Qi, providing comfort. Lexin confessed to Guan Xiaodi that she initially hated her father for abandoning them but now understood his love and forgave him.
She decided to donate his substantial inheritance to the state as atonement. Later, Guan Xiaodi reported to Xiong Kuo Hai, who praised her for her growth and for successfully encouraging Lexin. Although Guan Xiaodi expressed frustration over Le Datong's abandonment, Xiong Kuo Hai reiterated that Lexin's donation proved she didn't blame her father at heart. Meanwhile, Zhang Yan sought Guan Xiaodi's advice regarding Wang Dafang, who was persistently bothering her.
Guan Xiaodi suggested Wang Dafang was using the guise of protection to harass Zhang Yan and advised her to ignore him. However, Chen Siqing, who overheard their conversation at his cafe, intervened. He urged Zhang Yan to bravely face the situation, emphasizing that avoiding it went against the principles of Liehuo Shendun. Convinced, Zhang Yan decided to confront Wang Dafang. When Wang Dafang called, claiming he had been assaulted, Zhang Yan immediately rushed to his aid.
Upon arrival, Wang Dafang was unharmed but deliberately made things difficult, constantly demanding things and insisting she stay in his room. Zhang Yan dutifully fulfilled her responsibilities, tolerating his behavior. Wang Dafang became increasingly paranoid, believing someone was trying to kill him, and repeatedly demanded to switch hotel rooms, which Zhang Yan accommodated. Despite Wang Dafang's efforts to apologize, admit his mistakes, and seek her forgiveness, even mentioning his daughter Xiaoyu, Zhang Yan remained resolute, refusing to forgive or accept him.
Episode 26 Recap
Wang Dafang sincerely apologizes to Zhang Yan and expresses his desire to co-parent their daughter, Xiao Yu. He also hopes to reconcile, but Zhang Yan, hurt by his past actions, rejects this. Zhang Yan consults Guan Xiaodi, who advises her to consider Xiao Yu's need for a father, drawing on her own experiences. Zhang Yan decides to trust Wang Dafang for Xiao Yu's sake and takes him to meet Xiao Yu at school, where Xiao Yu's grandmother is also present.
After five years, Wang Dafang meets Xiao Yu, gives her a plush toy, and plays with her; Xiao Yu quickly warms to him. Xiao Yu's grandmother believes Xiao Yu needs a father's love, and Zhang Yan's mother also suggests Xiao Yu should acknowledge Wang Dafang for additional care. Zhang Yan decides to allow Wang Dafang to co-parent and later confirms his commitment to child support, which he promises to provide.
Zhang Yan is touched by his care for Xiao Yu during a family meal. However, her friend Ma Li is skeptical of Wang Dafang's sudden change, reminding Zhang Yan of his history of domestic violence, but Zhang Yan prioritizes Xiao Yu's well-being. Meanwhile, Shang Na is disturbed by a stalker, Tian Xiaofei, who tracks her online and makes perverse requests.
Liang Dawei enlists Cui Tianqi's help to locate Tian Xiaofei, an obsessed fan whose room is covered with Shang Na's posters. Liang Dawei and Cui Tianqi confront Tian Xiaofei, tricking him into opening his door by pretending to be a delivery person. They warn him and make him apologize to Shang Na via video, extracting a promise that he will stop harassing her.
Later, Shang Na invites Liang Dawei to her home to thank him, making him pizza and confiding in him about her difficult past, including the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend from a filming accident. Cui Tianqi becomes jealous when Shang Na invites Liang Dawei to dinner. Shang Na then asks Liang Dawei to go for a walk. Liang Dawei ignores Cui Tianqi's calls, but she tracks him down.
Shang Na asks Liang Dawei to take Cui Tianqi home, wanting to walk alone, but Tian Xiaofei continues to follow her. The next morning, a false fire alarm goes off in Shang Na's building. Shang Na suspects Tian Xiaofei, who is present in the crowd, of triggering it, but he denies it. Separately, Liu Sha tells Qin Sheng she wants to return to her hometown in Yunnan to visit her parents' graves and rest.
She asks Qin Sheng to accompany her, but he refuses, stating he has painful memories there. Liu Sha leaves angrily and disappointed. Qin Sheng tries to persuade Xiong Kuohai to stop Liu Sha, but Xiong Kuohai states he has no reason to intervene.
Episode 27 Recap
Qin Sheng initially misinterpreted Liu Sha's decision to return to Yunnan as an attempt to escape him, believing she hadn't forgiven him despite his earlier rescue. Xiong Kuohai confronted Qin Sheng, taking him to a beach and sharing his own past story of abandoning his wife, Lu Lin.
This was to impress upon Qin Sheng the importance of not abandoning his love due to temporary confusion, and Xiong Kuohai clarified that Liu Sha informing Qin Sheng of her departure was a sign of forgiveness, urging him to pursue her. Liu Sha, reflecting on her past harsh treatment of Qin Sheng, initially thought his reluctance to accompany her was due to her past actions, but then decided to let go of the past and not delay their future.
Qin Sheng caught up with Liu Sha, expressing his willingness to accompany her to Yunnan to visit her parents' graves and promise to care for her forever. Touched, Liu Sha confirmed she had already forgiven him, and they reconciled, embracing happily. Later, Xiong Kuohai gave them a "special mission" which turned out to be a grand leave for their wedding.
Qin Sheng, preparing to marry Liu Sha at "Blazing Shield," was taken to a training base where he had to roll in a mud pit as a challenge set by Guan Xiaodi and others, expressing his sincerity before successfully proposing and marrying Liu Sha. Meanwhile, Xiao Yu was growing closer to Wang Dafang, unaware that he was her biological father. During an outing with Zhang Yan and Xiao Yu, Wang Dafang's creditors suddenly appeared.
In a panic, Wang Dafang grabbed Xiao Yu and fled to a rooftop, using her as leverage. Zhang Yan, realizing the gravity of the situation, immediately contacted Guan Xiaodi (also known as 'Fire Wolf Woman'). Guan Xiaodi arrived with the police and successfully persuaded Wang Dafang to release Xiao Yu. As Wang Dafang was implicated in an illegal fundraising case, the police moved to arrest him.
Wang Dafang attempted to jump from the building, but Guan Xiaodi intervened just in time, saving his life. In another development, Tian Xiaofei continued to harass Shang Na. He triggered a fire alarm at her home, drawing the attention of neighbors, then appeared as an innocent bystander. Shang Na confronted him, an incident that was filmed and uploaded online, making her a media focus.
Liang Dawei, after finding Shang Na's phone off, rushed to her home, dispersed the surrounding reporters, and learned of the situation. His investigation revealed that Tian Xiaofei came from a divorced family, raised by his father, and Shang Na bore a resemblance to his mother. Liang Dawei engaged Tian Xiaofei in a heart-to-heart conversation, sharing his own experience of losing his mother to build trust, and explained that personal suffering doesn't justify harming others. Tian Xiaofei realized his error.
Liang Dawei arranged for Tian Xiaofei to see a psychologist, who diagnosed his psychological issues as a result of a lack of parental love during childhood. With Shang Na's help, Tian Xiaofei gradually recovered, and they both moved past their previous conflict, with Shang Na even apologizing for her impulsiveness.
Episode 28 Recap
Qin Sheng proposed to Liu Sha, who, touched by his dedication, accepted his ring. Guan Xiaodi and the students of Liehuo Shendun offered their heartfelt blessings. Meanwhile, Wu Fei tried to arrange experimental treatment for Cui Tianqi's illness at a Japanese hospital, but she refused to go. Despite local doctors also recommending overseas treatment, Cui Tianqi expressed her desire not to leave and hoped for other recovery options.
Cui Tianqi then bravely confessed her feelings to Liang Dawei, asking him to be her boyfriend. However, Liang Dawei rejected her, explaining that he couldn't forget Guan Xiaodi and was waiting for a chance to be with her. Heartbroken and angry, Cui Tianqi blurted out a shocking truth: Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi are siblings. Devastated, Liang Dawei furiously confronted Guan Xiaodi.
Under his questioning, Guan Xiaodi confirmed her true name was Xiong Xiaoyue and revealed that he was an illegitimate child. Liang Dawei struggled to accept this reality. Cui Tianqi, witnessing their pain, felt even worse. She apologized to Guan Xiaodi, acknowledging that her actions stemmed from her desire for Liang Dawei. Despite Liang Dawei repeatedly stating his heart belonged only to Guan Xiaodi, Cui Tianqi selflessly followed and attempted to comfort him, but he ultimately could not accept her.
Later, a valuable gambling stone, whose recovery had garnered significant media attention, required protection. Mr. Wang, the owner, hired bodyguards from Liehuo Shendun. Fang Shu'an assigned Guan Xiaodi and Cui Tianqi to the mission, their first collaboration since the truth about Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi's relationship came out.
Their relationship was noticeably strained; Guan Xiaodi's words to Cui Tianqi were cold and sarcastic, and they argued during the mission about Guan Xiaodi's comments on the stone and their respective roles, leaving Cui Tianqi feeling uncomfortable.
Episode 29 Recap
Guan Xiaodi and Cui Tianqi collaborate on a mission, despite some underlying tension between them. They are tasked with protecting a gambling stone for Wang Zilin. Cui Tianqi installs a security system that alarms if anyone approaches the stone. During their watch, an alarm sounds, revealing a security guard who claims curiosity. Guan Xiaodi suspects foul play, noting surveillance cameras were off when the guard approached, leading Wang Zilin to dismiss his current security and hire new personnel.
The next day, while escorting Wang Zilin and the gambling stone to the Hilton Hotel to meet Boss Cui, Guan Xiaodi and Cui Tianqi are followed by a van. Cui Tianqi, an excellent driver, manages to shake off the pursuers. Upon arrival, Wang Zilin immediately calls the TV station to report being followed, rather than the police, which raises Guan Xiaodi's suspicions.
She also notices Wang Zilin secretly meeting with the "kind person" who initially found the gambling stone, suggesting a hidden agenda. With no security guards hired, Guan Xiaodi and Cui Tianqi guard the stone overnight. Cui Tianqi reveals that Wang Zilin's former assistant had leaked information about the stone's loss to the media. She suspects Wang Zilin is deliberately hyping the stone. Further investigation by Cui Tianqi reveals that experts hired by Boss Cui were bribed by Wang Zilin.
Guan Xiaodi concludes that Wang Zilin is not just promoting his stone but is involved in fraud. While Guan Xiaodi briefly leaves for the restroom, several masked men attack Cui Tianqi. She sustains a minor arm injury fighting them off until Guan Xiaodi returns to scare them away. The incident prompts Guan Xiaodi to call the police.
However, Wang Zilin's lack of fright and eagerness to be interviewed by TV stations after the attempted robbery deepens Guan Xiaodi's suspicion that he is orchestrating a fraud of significant value. Guan Xiaodi wants to investigate Wang Zilin for fraud, but Cui Tianqi prefers to stick to her role as a security consultant. They decide to investigate separately: Cui Tianqi focuses on the suspects, while Guan Xiaodi tracks Wang Zilin.
Guan Xiaodi secretly follows Wang Zilin and records him meeting and interacting with the very men who attacked Cui Tianqi, confirming he hired them. Meanwhile, Cui Tianqi discovers discarded gloves left by the suspects, containing their fingerprints, which will aid the police investigation. Concurrently, Liang Dawei, burdened by his family mystery, travels to Xiong Kuohai's hometown to investigate his past. He questions Xiong Kuohai directly, but receives no answers.
In the hometown, he speaks with an old neighbor who confirms Xiong Kuohai had a wife named Lu Lin and a daughter named Xiong Xiaoyue, but no son. This revelation reinforces Guan Xiaodi's previous assertion that Liang Dawei is an illegitimate child, leaving him deeply upset.
Episode 30 Recap
Xiao Di and Cui Tianqi met at No. 3 Yongle Road, where Cui Tianqi presented gloves containing a criminal's fingerprints. Xiao Di, in turn, showed her a secretly recorded video. Cui Tianqi vehemently opposed handing the evidence to the police, arguing it would violate their professional ethics as bodyguards from Liehuo Shendun and negatively impact their business, as it involved betraying their employer. Conflicted, Xiao Di and Cui Tianqi sought advice from Qin Sheng.
Qin Sheng supported Xiao Di, emphasizing the principle of prioritizing integrity over rules. He assured them that Xiong Kuohai would only deduct their salaries, not fire them, and would secretly admire their actions, also noting their complementary personalities made them good partners. Convinced, Xiao Di and Cui Tianqi decided to submit the evidence to the police. Subsequently, Wang Zilin was arrested for commercial fraud and confessed, but publicly slandered Liehuo Shendun.
The incident was widely covered by news media, with interviews of Xiao Di and Cui Tianqi. Xiong Kuohai praised their actions but, as Qin Sheng had predicted, deducted one month's salary from each of them as a penalty for the impact on the company. Meanwhile, an unnamed boss, aiming to acquire the prime location of AK Combat Club and convert it into a catering club, hired Wu Fei.
Wu Fei planned to negotiate peacefully first, then resort to violence if unsuccessful. Guan Xiao, the owner of AK Combat Club and Xiao Di's father, who had dedicated decades to the club, steadfastly refused all offers, infuriating the developers. After being threatened, Guan Xiao angrily expelled them. Wu Fei then dispatched two combat experts to challenge the AK Club, simultaneously hacking into its surveillance system, with Ju Liang observing.
The challengers swiftly defeated Emma and arrogantly demanded to fight Guan Xiao, dispersing the club members. Guan Xiao, returning from a medical check-up (he was also battling cancer), arrived to find the commotion. Despite his age and illness, he bravely accepted the challenge to defend the club's honor. Although he initially held his own, the two opponents eventually fought him together, overwhelming him due to his condition. Seeing Guan Xiao severely beaten and struggling, Emma secretly alerted Xiao Di.
Xiao Di, who had just been warned by Chen Siqing of a significant life change, immediately rushed to the AK Club. She arrived to find her father, Guan Xiao, severely injured but still defiantly protecting the club's reputation. Just as an opponent was about to deliver another blow to the fallen Guan Xiao, Xiao Di intervened, stopping the attack, enraged by her father's injuries, and vowing to avenge him.
Episode 31 Recap
Guan Xiaodi quickly defeated two challengers at the AK club, coming to her injured father Guan Xiao's aid. Wu Fei, observing her fight, identified Guan Xiaodi as AK's most formidable opponent. Ju Liang, though pleased by Guan Xiaodi's performance, warned Wu Fei against harming her. Guan Xiaodi learned from Guan Xiao that Wu Fei had orchestrated the challenge as part of a plan to acquire AK.
Impulsively, Guan Xiaodi wanted to confront Wu Fei, but Guan Xiao, citing AK's financial struggles and his own limited time and poor management skills, proposed selling the club to secure funds for Guan Xiaodi. Guan Xiaodi fiercely rejected the idea, vowing to overcome the difficulties with him. Wu Fei decided to exploit Ju Liang against Guan Xiaodi.
Initially reluctant, Ju Liang was swayed by Wu Fei's manipulation, who claimed women are attracted to powerful men and conquering Guan Xiaodi would win her love. Wu Fei personally trained Ju Liang, fueling his resentment towards Liehuo Shendun and Liang Dawei by recounting his grievances with Xiong Kuohai, and tapping into Ju Liang's desire to impress Guan Xiaodi.
Meanwhile, Emma uploaded the video of Guan Xiaodi's fight, which quickly went viral, making Guan Xiaodi an overnight internet sensation known as "Goddess of War." Recognizing Guan Xiao's past contributions to Liehuo Shendun, Xiong Kuohai proposed that Liehuo Shendun fully support a mixed-gender free combat competition at AK. This event, leveraging Guan Xiaodi's newfound fame, aimed to boost AK's visibility and alleviate its financial crisis.
Guan Xiaodi shared the news with her friends; Zhang Yan eagerly volunteered to compete, and everyone else committed to promoting the event, successfully attracting numerous sponsors. For Guan Xiaodi's training, Xiong Kuohai assigned Ayong, Liehuo Shendun's top bodyguard and Guan Xiaodi's idol, much to her delight. Xiong Kuohai also cautioned Guan Xiaodi that Wu Fei would likely train Ju Liang to fight her.
Separately, Liang Dawei furiously confronted Xiong Kuohai, accusing him of deceit and demanding to know his true parentage. Xiong Kuohai revealed that Liang Dawei was not his biological son, but the son of his late comrade Fang Congtian and Liang Shanshan. Fang Congtian had died protecting Xiong Kuohai during a mission, entrusting his family to him. Tragically, Liang Shanshan died in a car accident, leaving Liang Dawei. Xiong Kuohai then raised Liang Dawei as his own son, keeping the truth hidden until now. Stunned by the revelation, Liang Dawei bowed to Xiong Kuohai and left.
Episode 32 Recap
Liang Dawei is distraught after learning that Xiong Kuohai, who raised him for over two decades, is not his biological father, making him an adopted son rather than an orphan as he initially thought. He confronts Xiong Kuohai, who explains the truth and provides a family photo. Realizing he had misunderstood, Liang Dawei bows apologetically and leaves in a state of shock.
Concerned by Liang Dawei's distraught appearance, Cui Tianqi finds him by a lake and also shares news about the AK free-fighting competition, but he is too upset to listen. Cui Tianqi then informs Xiao Di, who goes to comfort Liang Dawei. He shares his story, expressing initial resentment towards Xiong Kuohai. Xiao Di defends Xiong Kuohai, stating that he gave Liang Dawei all the love meant for himself.
Before they part, Liang Dawei hopes to reconcile with Xiao Di, but she does not respond, choosing to focus on the upcoming free-fighting competition. Cui Tianqi secretly observes their interaction. Liang Dawei's emotional state distracts Xiao Di during her training until A Yong reminds her to concentrate. Meanwhile, Ma Li's father, Ma Huiye, arrives in Nanqing City for an academic seminar, worried about his research data. He hires bodyguards from Liehuo Shendun, specifically requesting Ma Li for his protection.
Initially, Ma Huiye withholds his identity, leading Fang Shu'an to suspect his intentions towards Ma Li. Upon learning he is Ma Li's father, Fang Shu'an happily makes the arrangements. Ma Li is reluctant to take on the task, believing her father is looking for trouble, but agrees when Cui Tianqi volunteers to assist her.
Ma Huiye, initially skeptical of the bodyguard profession and Cui Tianqi's abilities, is impressed after Cui Tianqi demonstrates her computer expertise, which changes his perception of the industry. During the seminar preparations, Ma Li discovers her father's computer is on. Cui Tianqi investigates and finds that someone is attempting to steal data from it. She quickly stops the transmission. Simultaneously, Ma Li spots a suspicious individual, later identified as Wu Fei, and pursues him, but he manages to escape.
Cui Tianqi checks the surveillance footage, confirming that Wu Fei was the one attempting to steal the data. The free-fighting competition officially begins at the AK club, with 16 participants, including Xiao Di, Zhang Yan, Liang Dawei, and Ju Liang. Xiao Di wins her first match with strong fan support. Ju Liang also competes, aggressively striking his opponent even after the opponent surrenders, raising concerns among his friends like Emma.
Episode 33 Recap
The first round of a free combat competition concluded with Xiao Di, Zhang Yan, Liang Dawei, and Ju Liang successfully advancing to the semifinals, for which they continued to train diligently during their breaks. For the second round, Zhang Yan drew Ju Liang as her opponent. Xiao Di, knowing Ju Liang’s formidable skills, warned Zhang Yan to be cautious.
Wu Fei, aiming to ensure Ju Liang's smooth progression to the finals, orchestrated an attack on Zhang Yan's home, leaving a note demanding her withdrawal. Zhang Yan rushed home upon learning of the incident, missing her match against Ju Liang, who consequently won by default. Discovering her vandalized home and the note, Zhang Yan was enraged. Liang Dawei then competed against Ju Liang. It was evident that Liang Dawei was no match for Ju Liang, who quickly defeated him.
Xiao Di, unable to watch him continue, urged Liang Dawei to concede and helped him off the stage. Next, Xiao Di faced an opponent, Li Xiaonan, from Panshi Security. Knowing he couldn't beat Xiao Di directly, Li Xiaonan employed a strategy of constant evasion to deplete Xiao Di’s stamina, hoping to give Ju Liang an advantage in their potential final match.
Xiao Di, however, saw through his tactics, feigned a relaxed state to make Li Xiaonan drop his guard, then quickly used a decisive move to end the match. Ju Liang eagerly anticipated his long-awaited face-off with Xiao Di, hoping to win and earn her admiration. Meanwhile, Cui Tianqi discovered suspicious activities related to Ma Huiye's research data but initially chose not to inform Ma Li, even preventing Ma Li from reporting it to Liehuo Shendun headquarters.
Upon learning from Ma Huiye about the critical national importance of his research, Cui Tianqi took a proactive measure by installing a firewall on his computer to protect the data, ensuring that only fake information could be copied if an attempt was made. Wu Fei, unaware of this firewall, executed a diversion plan: he hired individuals to create a disturbance, which drew Ma Li and Cui Tianqi away to confront them. Ma Huiye, hearing the commotion, also left his room.
Wu Fei seized this opportunity to infiltrate the room and copy the data from Ma Huiye’s computer. However, his efforts were thwarted by Cui Tianqi's firewall, as he only managed to copy empty or dummy data, leaving him furious. Following this incident, Ma Huiye expressed his profound gratitude to Cui Tianqi for safeguarding his lifelong research. He realized that had the information been stolen, he could have become a "national sinner."
This experience completely changed his perspective; he now fully supported Ma Li’s career as a bodyguard and vowed not to interfere with her choices. He personally visited Liehuo Shendun to thank Xiong Kuohai and to express his newfound appreciation for the bodyguard profession and for Liehuo Shendun's training of Ma Li. Cui Tianqi later met with Wu Fei, warning him to cease his attempts to steal Ma Huiye's research, stressing that such actions involved state secrets and were illegal. The seminar proceeded successfully, with Ma Huiye submitting his valuable research data to the relevant national authorities.
Episode 34 Recap
Guan Xiaodi emerged victorious in a crucial boxing match. After first defeating Li Xiaonan, she faced Ju Liang in the final. Despite Ju Liang's fierce initial attacks, which put Guan Xiaodi at a disadvantage and worried many, Xiong Kuohai and A Yong remained calm, confident in her ability. Guan Xiaodi used unexpected moves and spin kicks to turn the tide, ultimately defeating Ju Liang and winning the championship. Wu Fei was angered by Ju Liang's defeat.
Guan Xiaodi offered Ju Liang her friendship, though he refused her help initially. As Guan Xiaodi's 20th birthday approached, Guan Xiao gave her a box left by her mother, Lu Lin. The box contained Lu Lin and Xiong Kuohai's wedding photo and a letter. Guan Xiao, facing his own declining health, revealed the truth about Lu Lin and Xiong Kuohai's divorce.
He confessed he had initially lied to Guan Xiaodi, making her hate Xiong Kuohai, because he believed Xiong Kuohai had heartlessly abandoned Lu Lin and Guan Xiaodi after listening to rumors of Lu Lin's infidelity. He now urged Guan Xiaodi to give Xiong Kuohai a chance, as Xiong Kuohai deeply regretted his past actions and wished to make amends. Guan Xiaodi, though deeply affected, affirmed Guan Xiao as her only father who raised and taught her, and they embraced.
Meanwhile, Xiong Kuohai privately grieved, missing Lu Lin and Guan Xiaodi, feeling immense guilt and hoping to spend the rest of his life making amends. Wu Fei arranged advanced radioactive treatment for Cui Tianqi, offering her a chance at life. However, Cui Tianqi hesitated, unwilling to accept treatment because of Liang Dawei. Wu Fei reminded her that she was an undercover agent and urged her not to make unworthy sacrifices.
Cui Tianqi believed any sacrifice for Liang Dawei was worthwhile, wishing to cherish her remaining time by his side. Liang Dawei wanted to speak with Guan Xiaodi face-to-face, but she avoided him, choosing friendship over their relationship, which left him feeling dejected. Guan Xiaodi felt sympathy for his sadness. Cui Tianqi then asked Liang Dawei to accompany her to Tibet for her birthday, making it difficult for him to open up.
After much contemplation, Liang Dawei finally confessed his true background to Cui Tianqi, revealing that Xiong Kuohai was his adoptive father, not his biological one. He also admitted that he could not forget Guan Xiaodi. Heartbroken and realizing her efforts were in vain, Cui Tianqi left in tears.
Episode 35 Recap
Cui Tianqi is heartbroken after being rejected by Liang Dawei once more. Wu Fei comforts her and advises her to accept the situation, then accompanies her to the hospital for treatment, during which Cui Tianqi cuts off contact with everyone. Xiao Di and Liang Dawei are worried when they cannot reach her.
Xiao Di visits Cui Tianqi's home, using a spare key, and is shocked to find Cui Tianqi's room adorned with Liang Dawei's photos, realizing the depth of her feelings for him. Witnessing Cui Tianqi's distress, Xiao Di becomes hesitant to resume her own relationship with Liang Dawei. Meanwhile, Guan Xiao meets Xiong Kuohai at the AK club to discuss Xiao Di.
Xiong Kuohai admits he has known Xiao Di was his daughter since he rescued her from a fire, recognizing her by the necklace (or wedding ring) she wore. However, he is consumed by guilt for abandoning Xiao Di and her mother, Lu Lin, and feels unworthy to acknowledge her. Enraged by Xiong Kuohai's continued hesitation, Guan Xiao beats him. Xiong Kuohai does not resist and is injured, falling unconscious, and is subsequently hospitalized by Guan Xiao.
Xiong Kuohai recovers, and Guan Xiao, whose own time is limited, tells the recovering Xiong Kuohai that he resents him for the pain he caused Lu Lin and for his reluctance to acknowledge Xiao Di. Guan Xiao wishes to entrust Xiao Di to Xiong Kuohai before he dies, believing Xiong Kuohai, as her biological father, is the one who can truly care for her.
Xiong Kuohai explains to Guan Xiao that he is grateful for Guan Xiao's care of Lu Lin and Xiao Di but feels too unworthy and self-loathing for his past actions to act as Xiao Di's father. Despite his anger, Guan Xiao vows to create opportunities for Xiong Kuohai and Xiao Di to reconcile. Xiao Di learns of Xiong Kuohai's hospitalization and visits him.
She has also opened a box left by her mother, Lu Lin, on her 20th birthday, and read a letter detailing Lu Lin and Xiong Kuohai's past. During her conversation with Xiong Kuohai, Xiao Di acknowledges him as her father but states that she still cannot fully forgive him for abandoning her and her mother, who spent many years in sadness because of him. Xiong Kuohai, filled with guilt and regret, loves Xiao Di as his only child, despite their estranged past.
Episode 36 Recap
Wu Guopeng, president of Huiyu Group, is a prominent businessman embroiled in an intellectual property lawsuit with Zhongxin Technology. He emerged victorious, leading to Zhongxin Technology's bankruptcy. Its former boss, Qiao Dajiang, holds a deep grudge, blaming Wu Guopeng for his company's ruin, which forced him to sell his house, caused his daughter Xiaoxi to transfer schools, and left his wife struggling to find employment. After his lawyer, Wang, withdrew from the case, Qiao Dajiang resolved to seek revenge.
Fang Shu'an assigns a team from Liehuo Shendun, including Xiao Di and Liang Dawei, to protect Wu Guopeng. Wu Guopeng expresses trust in their capabilities and accepts their security arrangements. Meanwhile, Xiao Di, reflecting on a conversation with Xiong Kuohai, realizes her personal growth and increased maturity beyond her previous recklessness. During the mission, Liang Dawei attempts to discuss his feelings with Xiao Di.
However, Xiao Di rejects him, stating she cannot betray Cui Tianqi, whose love for Liang Dawei she discovered by seeing his photos in Cui Tianqi's room. Liang Dawei is left feeling hurt and helpless. The team begins investigating Wu Guopeng's background. Liang Dawei and Xiao Di uncover that he accumulated his wealth through illegal means, suggesting he has numerous enemies. Ma Li's separate investigation confirms his dubious history, prompting a reassessment of potential risks.
Simultaneously, Xiao Di diligently searches hospital records for Cui Tianqi, whose whereabouts are unknown. Liang Dawei offers to assist Xiao Di in her search, urging her to prioritize rest for the upcoming mission. Driven by his desire for vengeance, Qiao Dajiang spots Wu Guopeng's car in a TV interview. He then goes to the hotel where Wu Guopeng is staying and uses high-tech equipment to remotely control the vehicle's brake system, planning a car accident for the following day.
However, Xiao Di persuades Wu Guopeng to ride in the Liehuo Shendun's vehicle for enhanced safety, effectively foiling Qiao Dajiang's plan. Witnessing his scheme fail, Qiao Dajiang becomes furious. Zhang Yan notices Qiao Dajiang's car and his unusual behavior but dismisses it. A dejected Qiao Dajiang returns home and argues with his wife. She expresses concern over Xiaoxi's school transfer and implores him to find a stable job instead of fixating on lawsuits. Qiao Dajiang disagrees, and in a fit of anger, slams the door and leaves.
Episode 37 Recap
Qiao Dajiang, consumed by a desire for revenge against Wu Guopeng, leaves his home after an argument with his wife, Li Mo, causing concern for their daughter, Xiao Xi. He reassures Xiao Xi that he will return and instructs her to care for Li Mo. Aware that he is embarking on a dangerous path, he writes a letter to Li Mo and leaves his savings for her.
His family life deteriorates as Li Mo struggles to find work and Xiao Xi is rejected from her elite school. When Li Mo suggests he find a job for the family's well-being, Qiao Dajiang misinterprets her words as a lack of support for his legal battle, leading to another outburst and his departure. Qiao Dajiang prepares a micro-bomb in a rented warehouse, intending to detonate it at Wu Guopeng's company's press conference.
He successfully smuggles the bomb into the venue, hidden beneath his clothes. As Wu Guopeng distributes red envelopes, causing a chaotic scramble, Xiao Di and Liang Dawei attempt to protect him. Qiao Dajiang prepares to detonate the bomb but halts his plan upon seeing his daughter, Xiao Xi, standing close to Wu Guopeng. He abandons the assassination and leaves the scene. Wu Guopeng, oblivious to the danger, boasts about his red envelope stunt.
Meanwhile, Xiao Di tracks down Cui Tianqi at a private hospital. After persistent efforts, including charming a male doctor, Xiao Di gains access to Cui Tianqi's room. There, she is shocked to find Wu Fei tending to Cui Tianqi. Suspecting a secret relationship and that Cui Tianqi might be a mole for Wu Fei within Liehuo Shendun (Fire Shield), Xiao Di leaves without entering but learns from the doctor that Cui Tianqi has a brain tumor.
She reports her findings and suspicions to Liang Dawei, who is stunned by the sudden turn of events. They decide to investigate Cui Tianqi further after their current mission. Later, Xiao Di and Liang Dawei secretly visit Cui Tianqi at the hospital, hiding their intentions from Ma Li and Zhang Yan. Liang Dawei poses as Cui Tianqi's cousin to gain entry.
Cui Tianqi reacts with intense emotion, refusing to let them see her in her current state and angrily forcing them out, accusing them of hypocrisy. After their departure, she breaks down in tears, feeling helpless and burdened by a secret she cannot share. Realizing her time is short and that her upcoming surgery has only a 10% success rate, Cui Tianqi decides to meet Xiao Di before the operation.
She courageously calls Xiao Di to arrange a meeting and inform her of the surgery time. Liang Dawei, believing the situation critical, reports everything to Xiong Kuohai at Liehuo Shendun. Still consumed by rage over his failed revenge, Qiao Dajiang sees Wu Guopeng on TV boasting about his unwavering swimming schedule. Qiao Dajiang decides to strike again, planning to attack Wu Guopeng during his swim.
However, Xiao Di's team has already identified Qiao Dajiang as a suspect and uncovered his motive: Wu Guopeng had caused his company's downfall. To lure him out, Liang Dawei disguises himself as Wu Guopeng and goes to the swimming pool. Qiao Dajiang falls for the trap and attempts to assassinate Liang Dawei but is caught in the act.
Episode 38 Recap
Qiao Dajiang attempted to attack Wu Guopeng in a hotel changing room, mistaking Liang Dawei for him. Xiao Di intervened, ensuring Wu Guopeng's safety and persuading Qiao Dajiang to surrender to the police, who were promptly notified. While Qiao Dajiang was seen as pitiable, his methods were deemed wrong. Liang Dawei, Ma Li, and Zhang Yan later visited Qiao Dajiang's wife, offering her 500,000 yuan from Wu Guopeng to fund her husband's legal defense.
However, feeling guilty about her husband's unlawful actions, she rejected the money. Meanwhile, Xiao Di met Cui Tianqi at the hospital, where Cui Tianqi revealed that she was the real mole within Liehuo Shendun, and Ju Liang had mistakenly taken the blame for her. Cui Tianqi confessed that her father had embezzled public funds for stock trading, leading to heavy debt and a suicide attempt.
Wu Fei, impressed by Cui Tianqi's computer skills, offered her an irresistible five-year contract to repay her father's debt. Although the debt was cleared, her father was still sentenced for embezzlement. Cui Tianqi had entered Liehuo Shendun under Wu Fei's instruction to aid in the preparation of Panshi Security. Before Cui Tianqi's surgery, she and Xiao Di shared heartfelt words. Xiao Di, no longer resentful, wished for Cui Tianqi's recovery.
The surgery was successful, and Xiao Di stayed by her bedside. Wu Fei visited with flowers but quietly left them at the door after seeing Xiao Di present. Xiong Kuohai and Liang Dawei also visited Cui Tianqi. Despite Cui Tianqi's shame, her friends pleaded with Xiong Kuohai to give her another chance, which he agreed to, knowing her true nature was not bad. Xiong Kuohai later confronted Wu Fei at the hospital, explaining the truth about past events between them.
However, Wu Fei refused to believe him, threatening future repercussions. Wu Guopeng's protection mission concluded with Xiong Kuohai informing him that Liehuo Shendun would no longer protect lawbreakers. Wu Guopeng, on his way to Beijing, was unaware that prosecutors had already gathered evidence of his infringement and would arrest him upon his arrival.
Dr. Hua, Cui Tianqi's attending physician, expressed fear for his safety to Xiao Di, having received stolen photos of himself, found his office desk disturbed, and a blade in his clothes. He sought protection from Liehuo Shendun. Cui Tianqi's initial post-surgery check-up was positive, but Dr. Hua explained that the tumor's growth was only temporarily inhibited, and further treatment in a US hospital would be necessary for a complete cure.
The next day, Dr. Hua officially hired Liehuo Shendun for protection. Xiong Kuohai assigned Liang Dawei and Xiao Di to the task, with Liehuo Shendun agreeing to cover all of Cui Tianqi's future medical expenses.
Episode 39 Recap
Liang Dawei and Guan Xiaodi are tasked with protecting Dr. Hua. Guan Xiaodi discovers Wang Jianwei tracking Dr. Hua, follows him, and takes photos. Dr. Hua identifies Wang Jianwei as a truck driver whose son died in a car accident with Dr. Hua, caused by Wang Jianwei's traffic violation, for which Wang Jianwei blames Dr. Hua.
Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei visit Wang Jianwei's home, where his wife, Gui Zhi, tells them Wang Jianwei is consumed by grief, constantly talking about his son, threatening Dr. Hua, and stating he will bring his son back. Guan Xiaodi deduces that Wang Jianwei's true target might be Dr. Hua's son, Hua Xiaodong, believing Wang Jianwei has mentally fixated on replacing his deceased son.
They rush to the kindergarten but are too late, as Wang Jianwei has already taken Hua Xiaodong. Wang Jianwei calls Dr. Hua, instructing him to go alone to Dongsen Beach and to avoid contacting anyone else, which Dr. Hua reluctantly agrees to. Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei split up: Guan Xiaodi goes to Gui Zhi for more information, while Liang Dawei heads to the hospital to find Dr. Hua. Liang Dawei eventually locates Dr. Hua at Dongsen Beach.
Meanwhile, Guan Xiaodi learns from Gui Zhi that Wang Jianwei intends to bring Hua Xiaodong to the park, possibly to celebrate a birthday and make noodles at home for his son. Guan Xiaodi heads to the park and notifies Liang Dawei. At the park, Guan Xiaodi attempts to convince Wang Jianwei that his son is already home to rescue Hua Xiaodong, but Wang Jianwei, believing Guan Xiaodi is trying to take his "son," becomes agitated and wields a knife.
To protect Hua Xiaodong, Guan Xiaodi intervenes and is stabbed by Wang Jianwei. Wang Jianwei attempts to flee but is apprehended by Liang Dawei and the police. Liang Dawei rushes the severely injured Guan Xiaodi to the hospital, where she undergoes emergency surgery and is reported to be in a coma. Liang Dawei feels immense guilt for her predicament. Zhang Yan and Ma Li visit Guan Xiaodi in the hospital. Guan Xiaodi's father, Guan Xiao, is distraught upon hearing about her injury and asks Xiong Kuohai to reconcile with Guan Xiaodi and care for her.
Episode 40 Recap
Xiao Di, severely injured while saving Dr. Hua's child, was visited in the hospital by Qin Sheng and Liu Sha, who encouraged her swift recovery. Dr. Hua also personally thanked Fierce Fire Shield for Xiao Di's actions. After several days in a coma, Xiao Di finally regained consciousness, having dreamed of her childhood with her mother. Guan Xiao, by her side, revealed that Xiong Kuohai had given Xiao Di a blood transfusion, urging her to forgive her biological father.
Xiao Di affirmed that no one could replace Guan Xiao's position in her heart. Later, Guan Xiao accompanied Xiao Di to the seaside to "visit" Lu Lin. Xiong Kuohai also arrived to express his remorse. At this moment, Xiao Di finally reconciled with Xiong Kuohai, calling him "Dad," and the three stood hand-in-hand on the beach. Meanwhile, Fierce Fire Shield, short-staffed but having secured a major contract, was hired by the DEC Ecological Institute to provide security.
Professor Wang Lei, the chief research scientist, specifically requested protection for an upcoming collaborative exchange meeting with MIT professors. Fang Shuan assigned this critical mission, which involved safeguarding both American and Chinese professors and securing vital research documents and experimental results, to Liang Dawei, Zhang Yan, and Ma Li. Wu Fei, determined to sabotage Fierce Fire Shield's new business, gathered his Panshi Security team and planned to disrupt the agreement.
He dispatched Ju Liang and his team to infiltrate the DEC building. While Ju Liang's team triggered the security system and narrowly escaped detection, Wu Fei successfully infiltrated the institute. He ambushed Professor Wang Lei, knocking him unconscious, stealing his confidential room key, and replicating his fingerprint. Using these, Wu Fei gained access to the confidential room and stole a critical password box containing irreplaceable research reports without backups.
Fang Shuan immediately notified Liang Dawei's team after discovering the anomaly at Professor Wang Lei's office. Liang Dawei, after ensuring the American scientists' safety and waking the unconscious Professor Wang Lei, rushed to the confidential room but was too late. Professor Wang Lei was furious about the stolen password box and threatened to terminate the contract, demanding compensation from Fierce Fire Shield.
Xiong Kuohai intervened, assuring Professor Wang Lei that Fierce Fire Shield would take responsibility and recover the lost documents, thus buying time for reconciliation. Wu Fei was frustrated, unable to open the password box due to its self-destruct mechanism. He was later approached by the McKinney Company boss, who bought client data from both Fierce Fire Shield and Panshi Security. The boss also offered to buy the password box, but Wu Fei refused, unsure of its contents' true value.
Upon learning of Liang Dawei's team's mission failure, Xiao Di, now fully recovered, promptly returned to work. She began investigating at the DEC, reviewing surveillance footage from the night of the incident, where she spotted a masked figure resembling Ju Liang. She decided to conduct further investigation before making a conclusion to avoid falsely accusing Ju Liang.
Episode 41 Recap
Xiao Di and Liang Dawei deduce that Wu Fei is connected to the password box theft. Recognizing they cannot confront him directly, they infiltrate the heavily guarded Pan Shi Security after observing Wu Fei leave without the box, believing the item is still inside. Meanwhile, Wu Fei meets Hassan, who is involved in illegal dealings and offers a substantial sum, including an additional $100,000, for the password box.
However, Wu Fei, wary of potential complications as he hasn't opened the box yet, refuses the offer. Inside Pan Shi Security, Xiao Di and Liang Dawei encounter another group of masked individuals attempting to steal the password box. They strategically trigger the security system, causing an alarm and diverting most Pan Shi Security personnel to pursue the other intruders. Seizing the opportunity, they follow Ju Liang, who has gone to check on the password box.
After a brief struggle where Ju Liang is defeated, Xiao Di and Liang Dawei successfully retrieve the password box. They then reveal their identities, provoking Ju Liang's fury, especially towards Liang Dawei due to past grievances. Ju Liang, now armed with a gun, pursues them. When Xiao Di attempts to de-escalate the situation, she is taken hostage by Ju Liang. Ju Liang, overcome with rage, compels Liang Dawei to choose between his own life and Xiao Di's.
Liang Dawei, without hesitation, takes the gun and aims it at himself to save Xiao Di, only to discover it's unloaded. Seizing this moment, Xiao Di incapacitates Ju Liang and they carry him to their car, also taking the password box. Xiao Di expresses her desire to help Ju Liang reform and save him from Pan Shi Security. Ju Liang, upon regaining consciousness and overhearing their conversation, is moved by Xiao Di's words and decides to mend his ways.
Instead of surrendering, he chooses to return to Pan Shi Security to covertly collect evidence against Wu Fei, wanting Wu Fei to believe Hassan's men were responsible for the theft. Xiao Di and her team promptly deliver the password box to Wang Lei, who confirms the documents inside are perfectly intact, much to everyone's delight. Ju Liang, however, underestimates Wu Fei's vigilance.
Wu Fei soon discovers Ju Liang's hidden recorder, has him beaten, and, upon learning he works for Xiong Kuohai, becomes enraged. Wu Fei then contacts Xiong Kuohai, demanding he come alone to a designated location (Pan Shi Security) with the password box, threatening Ju Liang's life if he doesn't comply. To save Ju Liang, Xiong Kuohai prepares a password box with fake documents. He departs alone, strictly warning Xiao Di and the others against involving the police or following him. However, Xiao Di, concerned for Xiong Kuohai's safety, decides they cannot stand idly by and prepares for an ambush to support him.
Episode 42 Recap
Wu Fei, anticipating Hassan's pursuit, copied Hassan's network and company information onto a USB drive as leverage. He then waited at Pan Shi Security for Xiong Kuohai. Hassan's subordinates, noticing Wu Fei's actions, alerted Hassan, who rushed to Pan Shi Security. Xiong Kuohai arrived at Pan Shi Security and gave Wu Fei a box (or password box) to secure Ju Liang's release.
However, Wu Fei, holding a grudge, not only refused to release Ju Liang but also beat him and demanded Xiong Kuohai kneel. Xiong Kuohai knelt without hesitation, surprising Wu Fei and deeply impacting Ju Liang, who realized his mistake and immediately apologized after being released. Wu Fei, somewhat satisfied, then freed Ju Liang. As Xiong Kuohai and Ju Liang prepared to leave, Hassan arrived, demanding the box.
Wu Fei insisted on payment, but Hassan pulled out a gun and fired at Wu Fei. Xiong Kuohai quickly shielded Wu Fei, taking the bullet himself. At this moment, Guan Xiaodi, Liang Dawei, and others arrived, distracting Hassan. Wu Fei seized the opportunity to knock Hassan's gun away with the box. Despite his gunshot wound, Xiong Kuohai ordered Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei to retrieve the box and deliver it to Officer Du.
They left Xiong Kuohai in Ma Li's care. Seeing Xiong Kuohai's self-sacrifice and hearing him say he always considered Wu Fei a brother, Wu Fei was moved to tears. He admitted his mistakes, handed over the USB drive containing Hassan's criminal evidence, and shook hands with Xiong Kuohai. Hassan, realizing the box was gone, chased Guan Xiaodi and Liang Dawei, unaware they were luring him into a police ambush.
Guan Xiaodi contacted Officer Du, guiding Hassan into the heavily policed AK Club. Hassan, finding himself surrounded, was forced to surrender. Hassan's subordinates were also apprehended. Wu Fei surrendered and confessed his dealings with Hassan. However, Hassan refused to cooperate. Officer Du informed the hospitalized Xiong Kuohai and gave him the encrypted USB drive. The USB had a special sensing system, automatically encrypting itself if it left Wu Fei, making it unreadable even to him.
Guan Xiaodi's team then sought out Cui Tianqi, who had designed the system and had recently recovered from brain tumors. Cui Tianqi successfully decrypted the USB drive, providing conclusive evidence that forced Hassan to confess his crimes. Wu Fei was taken into custody for his past actions, and Ju Liang was also brought in for investigation. With the mission successfully completed and national secrets protected, Xiong Kuohai hosted a celebration party by the sea for the team.
Reflecting on their transformations and the experiences with "Fire Shield," they embraced new memories and looked forward to new missions and journeys, as Fire Shield launched a "seed plan" a month later, urgently recalling Guan Xiaodi and others for their next assignment.
