Love Me If You Dare Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Love Me If You Dare Synopsis
A mysterious criminal psychologist, Bo Jinyan, recruited a senior student, Jian Yao, as a translator and life assistant.
On the one hand, he taught Jian Yao with his high intelligence and professional knowledge and trained her to be a detective assistant. They worked together to solve difficult murder cases such as the serial disappearance of teenagers.
On the other hand, Bo Jinyan gradually developed feelings for Jian Yao as they spent time together. The huge contrast between his high IQ and low IQ also added a lot of twists and turns to this relationship.
While their affection gradually deepened, the danger was also quietly coming.
A few years ago, as the youngest professor of criminal psychology at the University of Maryland, Bo Jinyan pursued the sensational “Flower Ogre” case when he was in the United States. In order to protect the hostages, he also became a victim and was imprisoned for six months, suffering from torture.
In order to escape, he disguised himself as a second personality who loves crime and gained the trust of the criminals.
Because the “ogre” Xie Han left a message in the first case he solved after returning to China, he set a trap in the second case and almost caught him.
As a result, it annoyed Xie Han, who took advantage of the weaknesses of Bo Jinyan’s friends and abducted Jian Yao, all for the purpose of forcing out Bo Jinyan’s so-called second personality.
In order to save Jian Yao and with the help of his friends Li Xunran and Fu Ziyu, Bo Jinyan maneuvered with Xie Han. At the risk of losing his reputation, he pretended to reveal his “second personality” to gain Xie Han’s trust again, finally saving Jian Yao and punishing this psychopathic murderer.
Love Me If You Dare Recap
Episode 1 Recap
University student Jian Yao returned home for summer break and decided to take on a translation job introduced by her professor. Her younger sister, Jian Xuan, and childhood friend, Li Xunran, picked her up at the train station. Jian Xuan was surprised to learn about Jian Yao’s new job, as the workplace was a villa located remotely in the suburbs, appearing deserted even in daylight. The following day, Jian Yao prepared for her interview.
Li Xunran, a police officer with a strong sense of safety awareness, urged her to stay in constant contact, emphasizing that the villa owner was unknown and the location was isolated. Jian Yao agreed with a smile. Jian Xuan, still trying to dissuade Jian Yao, shared rumors from a friend who claimed to have seen a "skeleton ghost guy" on the villa's balcony.
Li Xunran reiterated his concern to Jian Yao, telling her to notify him before and after her interview the next morning, especially given the ongoing missing persons cases. At the police station, Deputy Officer Li Xunran discussed a troubling series of missing person cases, with five already reported and more continuing to occur. He noted the increasing frequency and similarity of the missing persons, all underage, suggesting a possible connection and advising a combined investigation.
His captain shared this view, though agreed that more supplementary investigation was needed as the evidence for a combined case was still insufficient. Jian Yao arrived at the secluded villa for her interview. A man introduced himself as Bo Jinyan and offered her a drink. He mentioned that her professor, Zhang, spoke highly of her.
He then presented her with two papers to translate, along with graphic accompanying pictures of a murder victim that he stated he had forgotten to remove. Jian Yao calmly and quickly translated the disturbing content. The man expressed surprise at her speed and asked about her career plans. Jian Yao revealed she had already secured a job with an import-export company in Jiangzhou, where she attended university.
The man, stating that his research was merely a side job, then challenged her to guess his main profession. Jian Yao, observing his unsteady hands (seen when making tea and scattering leaves), his lack of meticulousness (mixing up tea lids), his "mouse hand" indicating extensive typing, and his creative thought process, deduced that he was not a surgeon, as many might assume due to the antiseptic smell and medical papers, but rather a computer software developer.
Impressed by her deduction, the man admitted she was right and revealed his true identity: Fu Ziyu, a friend of the real Bo Jinyan. Jian Yao explained that she had initially only guessed, but then confirmed his identity after seeing an interview with him in a magazine downstairs. Fu Ziyu, now no longer posing as Bo Jinyan, confirmed that the translation job was hers.
After Jian Yao left, Fu Ziyu went upstairs to speak with Bo Jinyan, questioning why he would set up such an elaborate test for a mere temporary translator. Bo Jinyan revealed that he had deliberately left the magazine downstairs, stating he needed "observant eyes" to translate his works properly, as a "stupid" or "not detailed" person would only translate words, failing to grasp the "exquisite details and the soul" behind them.
When Fu Ziyu asked if Jian Yao could understand his soul, Bo Jinyan replied that no one could. Jian Yao subsequently received her contract, confirming she had secured the translation job. Jian Xuan teased her about the "monster-like" signature on the contract, to which Jian Yao retorted that even if he was a "monster," he was one with character.
Hearing Bo Jinyan's name, Li Xunran found it familiar and jokingly wondered if he had a criminal record, which Jian Yao dismissed, noting Bo Jinyan had recently returned from America, implying any such record would be beyond a local police officer's reach. Fu Ziyu informed Bo Jinyan that Jian Yao would start work the next day, and he would be returning to Jiangzhou.
He also mentioned Bo Jinyan’s high standards, including the expectation of typed rather than handwritten translations because Jian Yao's handwriting was difficult to read. Meanwhile, the police continued their investigation into the missing person cases, with the latest victim identified as Fu Mingyi, a 15-year-old and the sixth case reported.
Despite the city bureau's reluctance to combine the cases, Li Xunran, still convinced they were linked, hypothesized that Fu Mingyi might have traveled directly to Tong City without getting off the bus midway. He also discovered that a path leading up the mountain, usually quiet and isolated, contained only one villa, making it suspicious in connection to the disappearance locations. Jian Yao began her work at the villa.
Fu Ziyu had advised her to treat the first floor as her own, but explicitly warned her not to venture upstairs or disturb Bo Jinyan, who he described as having a "weird and annoying temper." One day, Jian Yao, an avid angler, was walking near the villa and discovered a high-end fishing rod by the river bank.
Assuming Bo Jinyan might have left it there and forgotten, she used it to catch several fish, then brought both the rod and the catch back to the villa, sending Bo Jinyan a text message to explain and apologize for the liberty she took.
Separately, Li Xunran continued his investigation, and during dinner with Jian Yao and her mother, he subtly probed Jian Yao about the villa's other residents and a locked room on the first floor, hinting at his growing suspicion about the mysterious villa owner. Jian Yao playfully suggested Bo Jinyan could be a "pervert killer," dismissing his concerns, but Li Xunran remained serious, examining old documents related to the villa.
Later that afternoon, a sudden thunderstorm caused a power outage at the villa. Frightened, Jian Yao called out to Bo Jinyan, who came downstairs. He calmly explained that the outage was due to an overloaded electrical grid and a burnt transformer, stating he wouldn't repair it himself and that she shouldn't disturb him, telling her to make herself at home.
When Jian Yao asked to borrow a shirt because it was cold, Bo Jinyan refused, stating he didn't like others wearing his clothes. Hungry, Jian Yao found only frozen fish in the refrigerator and prepared it. However, Bo Jinyan criticized her cooking, calling the fish "nasty," "meat too old," and "too salty," before demonstrating how to make proper "boiled fish slices" himself.
As they finished eating and Jian Yao was clearing the dishes, a sudden, loud clap of thunder shattered a window. Jian Yao, startled and disoriented by the darkness, was at a loss and attempted to navigate the broken glass scattered on the floor with only faint candlelight.
Without hesitation, Bo Jinyan lifted her into his arms, carrying her safely over the shards to the sofa, remarking that she couldn't have managed it herself without night-vision goggles, given her slow reaction time. Jian Yao admitted his fish was superior but pointed out his overly harsh words. He then clarified that the shirt she had asked to borrow earlier belonged to Fu Ziyu. He then bid her good night.
Episode 2 Recap
When the power suddenly went out at his villa, causing the fish in his freezer to spoil, Bo Jinyan called Fu Ziyu, demanding he arrange a new supply. Fu Ziyu, interrupted mid-game during a live-action CS event, begrudgingly agreed, entrusting Jian Yao with the task. He explained Bo Jinyan's particular fondness for fish. Coincidentally, Jian Yao was already at the Wu Xing Fish Market with her mother.
Her mother suggested they visit Uncle Wang, a former colleague of Jian Yao's father, who runs a fish stall there and always provides the freshest catch. Jian Yao greeted Uncle Wang and his son, Xiao Jin, who had recently arrived from the countryside. When Fu Ziyu called Jian Yao and discovered her location, he seized the opportunity, urging her to buy a "case" of fish for Bo Jinyan, emphasizing his large appetite.
Jian Yao arranged with Uncle Wang to have two fish delivered daily to Bo Jinyan's Banshan villa, a service Uncle Wang readily agreed to, stating Xiao Jin could handle the deliveries. Later, Jian Yao discovered a high-end fishing rod at the villa. Fu Ziyu called, explaining Bo Jinyan had sent it as a thank-you gift for the fish, recognizing Jian Yao's excellent fishing skills.
Jian Yao, uncomfortable with the expensive present, attempted to refuse it, pointing out Bo Jinyan already owned a similar rod and she didn't fish. Fu Ziyu, however, insisted she keep it, warning that Bo Jinyan would simply discard a rejected gift, likely leaving the "poor red tiger" (the fishing rod brand) in the trash. Jian Yao reluctantly accepted. The following day, Xiao Jin disappeared after his fish delivery to the villa.
When Jian Yao arrived for her part-time job, she found Uncle Wang and a group of agitated villagers, armed with sticks, angrily demanding to find Xiao Jin. Jian Yao, recognizing Uncle Wang, quickly intervened, attempting to calm the crowd and urging them not to trespass. She immediately called Li Xunran, her police contact, to report the situation. Jian Yao then called Bo Jinyan, informing him of the commotion outside.
Bo Jinyan, claiming to be too busy to receive visitors, reluctantly agreed to allow them access to the first floor to search, but only if they left him undisturbed. The group, believing the villa's occupant to be a "strange, crazy person" who had abducted Xiao Jin, rushed into a first-floor room that Bo Jinyan had previously forbidden Jian Yao from entering. They were met with a horrific sight: jars containing human body specimens.
Terrified, Uncle Wang and the villagers shrieked, yelling "Murderer!" as they stumbled out of the villa in a panic. Li Xunran, who had rushed to the scene, found Jian Yao calmly observing the jars. She explained to him that they were anatomical specimens, likely borrowed from a university or hospital for Bo Jinyan's research, which she knew from translating his papers was related to human anatomy.
Despite her explanation, Li Xunran found the presence of human specimens, coupled with Xiao Jin's disappearance and a recent missing person case nearby, highly suspicious. He insisted that Bo Jinyan be questioned. Li Xunran attempted to speak with Bo Jinyan, who remained upstairs, refusing to come down and stating he was busy. Moments later, the Chief, Li Xunran's father, unexpectedly arrived at the villa. Li Xunran voiced his strong suspicions about Bo Jinyan's involvement in the disappearance case.
However, the Chief quickly dismissed his son's concerns, revealing Bo Jinyan's true identity as the youngest postdoctoral student from Maryland University, who later became an assistant professor in criminal psychology at the People's Public Security University of China. He explained that Bo Jinyan was merely in their small town for rest and recuperation. Both Jian Yao and Li Xunran were astonished by this revelation.
Upon learning of Bo Jinyan's esteemed academic background, Jian Yao, a self-proclaimed "brain-dead fan" of criminal psychology dramas, excitedly asked Li Xunran to get his autograph, but Li Xunran jokingly refused, mimicking Bo Jinyan's likely sarcastic response about his hand breaking from signing for too many people. Li Xunran later called Jian Yao to his office, initially teasing her about Bo Jinyan's specific request for her as an assistant for the missing teenager case.
Jian Yao was baffled, questioning why a renowned professor would need her, a non-police officer. Li Xunran explained that after he left the villa, the Chief spoke with Bo Jinyan, who agreed to assist in the investigation but only on the explicit condition that Jian Yao serve as his assistant. Li Xunran himself had offered to help but was rejected by Bo Jinyan, who stated he had no interest in strangers.
Li Xunran then asked Jian Yao to "secretly learn" from Bo Jinyan, urging her to remember and relay all his theories, analyses, and thought processes regarding the case. Jian Yao, though still surprised, ultimately agreed to Bo Jinyan's request. Back at her home, Jian Yao's sister, Xuan Xuan, expressed her excitement that Jian Yao's idol wanted her as an assistant.
Bo Jinyan then surprised Jian Yao by appearing at her house, claiming to be there to "check out her plain upbringing." He immediately deduced intimate details about her life, including her harmonious family relationships, her young age when she lost her father, and the psychological reasons she might choose to work at an old, abandoned villa, suggesting her inner world was not as cheerful as her outward appearance. He also critiqued her collection of romance novels, which she passionately defended.
Jian Yao then directly asked Bo Jinyan why he wanted her as his assistant. He explained that he dislikes being disturbed during work and requires someone to handle "tedious and inefficient tasks." Furthermore, she was the only person he knew in the city, and he added her fishing skills as a final reason.
Bo Jinyan informed her that the case would take no more than a week, which would be the duration of her employment, and instructed her to arrive at the villa by 8 AM the next morning. The following morning, Bo Jinyan introduced Jian Yao to his smart car, Andy, an advanced AI system designed by Fu Ziyu.
Andy, initially greeting Jian Yao as Bo Jinyan's "lover" before being corrected, proceeded to provide an unsolicited health assessment based on her height, suggesting she needed to gain weight, prompting Bo Jinyan to admonish Andy for being "naggy," just like Fu Ziyu. Jian Yao, however, found Andy quite cool. Bo Jinyan then revealed his initial assessment of the seven missing persons cases, asserting that, contrary to the police's suspicion of a human trafficking ring, there was only one local criminal.
He cited the consistent modus operandi, stable skill level, and distinct personal style across all cases as evidence. When Jian Yao asked if he minded her reporting his findings to Li Xunran, Bo Jinyan dismissed it as a "meaningless" concern. They then visited the home of Fu Ming Yi, a 15-year-old middle schooler who disappeared on his way to a tuition class at his aunt's house.
Inside Fu Ming Yi's room, Bo Jinyan challenged Jian Yao to use her "brain" to find clues. Jian Yao observed a hen coop in the yard and deduced that Fu Ming Yi must have brought a basket of eggs to his aunt, a detail confirmed by his mother.
Bo Jinyan was delighted by this insight, calling her a "genius" and even embracing her briefly in his excitement, noting that Fu Ziyu had been right about her ability to "complement" him with her understanding of "basic human interaction." Through her interactions with him, Jian Yao began to realize that while Bo Jinyan was undoubtedly a genius, he often lacked social graces and could be harsh and sharp-tongued.
Using Jian Yao's deduction about the eggs, Bo Jinyan theorized that Fu Ming Yi, who liked games but lacked money, wouldn't have carried a basket of eggs to an internet cafe. Instead, he likely sold the eggs at the nearby farmers market before going to his aunt's, as the internet cafe was close to both locations.
Based on this, and his meticulous profiling of the suspect—a local, average-looking individual aged 25-30, slender, living and working within three kilometers of the farmers market, without a car, good at communication, and frequenting internet cafes and arcades—Bo Jinyan instructed the police to immediately search the forest east of the farmers market. Jian Yao, piecing together the implications, hesitantly asked if the children had been killed. Bo Jinyan confirmed her fear, stating that he only pursues the "most vicious and evil criminals" and that serial killers, unlike "trivial" human traffickers, were his "specialty."
Episode 3 Recap
Following the disappearance of Xiao Jin, the son of a fish vendor, and the police's request for Bo Jinyan's assistance in a suspected human trafficking case, Bo Jinyan, a highly specialized criminal psychologist, asserted that he exclusively pursued the most heinous and evil criminals, dismissing human traffickers as "trivial" and deeming serial killers his true "specialty."
When his new assistant, Jian Yao, relayed the police's request for a briefing on the case, Bo Jinyan reacted with incredulity, scoffing at the idea of presenting a report on State Road No 108's toll station, contrasting it with his previous presentations at prestigious universities. Jian Yao, however, diplomatically assured the police that Professor Bo would provide a comprehensive explanation upon their return to the office, although Bo Jinyan cynically remarked on her "lies."
Jian Yao later tried to advise Bo Jinyan against his usual sarcasm when dealing with the police, suggesting he answer their questions patiently. Bo Jinyan, however, dismissed her concerns, claiming his sarcasm stemmed from intellectual disparity, not professional arrogance. Despite initial skepticism from some officers, Li Xunran, who had received training from America, found Bo Jinyan's theories plausible and relayed them to others.
Bo Jinyan then elaborated on the suspect's profile, describing him as intelligent and detail-oriented with specific victim preferences. He explained that the perpetrator, a single man likely living near a farmer's market, possessed strong communication skills, luring victims with meals or job offers to a prearranged location within a small, defined comfort zone.
He also noted that for disappearances over two weeks, the probability of murder exceeded ninety percent, and the killer's internal desires would ultimately be reflected in the victims' bodies. Li Xunran supported this by pointing out that all victims were adolescent boys under 160 cm tall, suggesting the suspect was not physically strong and thus chose weaker targets.
A significant breakthrough occurred when a fruit shop owner in Jiaozi Street identified Victim 3, recalling an interaction with the suspect on November 5th, her wedding anniversary, a full month before the boy was officially reported missing. Bo Jinyan had already identified these discrepancies, realizing that in rural areas, fifteen and sixteen-year-old boys are often treated as adults, leading to less stringent supervision and delayed missing person reports.
He then re-estimated the victims' actual disappearance times, confirming that Victim 3 had in fact disappeared before Victim 2, requiring their sequence to be swapped. Jian Yao initially struggled to believe it was a serial murder case, expressing her doubt about such a case happening in their city, but a police officer explained that unlike typical abduction cases targeting younger children or females, these victims were all male adolescents, with no witnesses or transportation evidence, ruling out trafficking.
The deepening investigation increasingly validated Bo Jinyan's assessments. Based on his analysis, Bo Jinyan provided three most probable burial locations, instructing the police to immediately begin their search for the bodies. As night fell, Jian Yao attempted to leave Bo Jinyan's villa, but he insisted she stay. He argued it was impractical for him to drive to pick her up in the middle of the night if a case broke, despite not offering her a bed.
Jian Yao was amused by his apparent lack of gallantry. Later that night, Jian Yao received an urgent call from Li Xunran: a body had been found. Rushing to wake Bo Jinyan, she heard him mumble "Chen Mo" in his sleep, leading her to briefly believe it was the name of his girlfriend.
At the crime scene, Li Xunran urged Jian Yao to leave due to the horrifying nature of the discovery, suggesting it was too much for her to witness. Bo Jinyan, in an uncharacteristic display of concern, also told her to return to the car, which Jian Yao perceived as a sign of his unexpected tenderness. Six bodies were eventually discovered at the site, some already badly decomposed, others more recent.
Forensic preliminary examination revealed the longest death five months prior, the shortest around a week. The cause of death was suffocation, with the weapon identified as a common nylon rope. Each victim had been severed into six pieces—limbs, head, and torso—after death, then meticulously reassembled and buried. Bo Jinyan deduced that this unusual practice wasn't for ease of disposal, but rather indicative of the killer's true enjoyment: pure massacre, not sexual gratification or pleasure from torture.
Based on the freshest victim, who died a week prior, and the shortest interval between deaths being three weeks, Bo Jinyan inferred that Xiao Jin, having been missing for less than a week, might still be alive, though likely not for long. Shortly after, Jian Yao brought new autopsy reports to Bo Jinyan's room and was startled to find him simulating the dismemberment process.
She almost stepped on a turtle, prompting Fu Ziyu to explain that the turtle's name was "Chen Mo," finally clearing Jian Yao's earlier misconception about Bo Jinyan having a girlfriend. Bo Jinyan justified his self-experimentation by explaining the urgency, stating that waiting for official forensic reports would waste precious time to save potential victims. He sought to understand the killer's tools, methods, sequence, and psychological state.
In a subsequent briefing to the police, Bo Jinyan presented his findings: while early victims showed multiple hack marks, the latest victim was severed into six pieces simultaneously. He explained that a lone individual could not perform such precise, simultaneous cuts without assistance. This led him to conclude that the killer had evolved, creating a specialized tool, a "killing machine," to perfectly realize his violent fantasies.
He suggested that the killer's desire to murder might have originated from childhood animal torture, escalating to human victims after a specific stimulus half a year prior, such as a business failure or personal loss. Bo Jinyan then unveiled a model of the crude but effective dismemberment device, confirming it was similar to what the perpetrator must have constructed. Li Xunran quickly noted that such tools were controlled items in China, making their acquisition traceable and a vital lead.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jin’s distraught father, Uncle Wang, approached Jian Yao, begging her to apologize to Bo Jinyan for his earlier rude behavior, fearing it might jeopardize his son’s rescue. Jian Yao reassured him of Bo Jinyan’s dedication. Reports of the "killing machine" spread, causing widespread fear. Soon after, another body was discovered a kilometer from the previous burial site.
This victim, also a male adolescent, was determined to be the very first, having died between January and February of the previous year. However, despite the possibility of DNA identification, a lack of a comprehensive database meant his identity remained unknown.
Episode 4 Recap
Li Xunran informed Bo Jinyan about the discovery of a child's corpse in the suburbs, believed to be the killer's first victim. Bo Jinyan expressed deep interest in this initial victim, explaining that understanding the first one could reveal the perpetrator's motives and psychological needs.
He theorized that such a killer, lacking experience in abduction, would likely choose a victim they knew, someone familiar and easy to target, suggesting the victim and murderer had a pre-existing connection, such as being neighbors, acquaintances, friends, or even relatives. The identity of this child remained unknown.
At the burial site, only a severely rusted pencil case was found, along with a pair of pants that were too long for the victim, suggesting the pants did not belong to the victim. Autopsy results indicated the victim was around 154cm tall. Jian Yao photographed the rusted pencil case, and later, her sister Jian Xuan recognized it as a prize issued by a local school.
Jian Yao visited the school, where Uncle Guo, a school staff member, confirmed the pencil case was a third-place prize from the previous year's autumn sports festival, awarded to only fourteen students. Jian Yao interviewed these students, who variously reported giving the pencil case to relatives, still using it, or having lost it. Jian Yao felt disheartened, believing the lead was unhelpful, but Bo Jinyan insisted it was crucial.
He pointed out that the victim possessed a school-issued pencil case and ill-fitting uniform pants, indicating a definite connection to one of the fourteen students. He instructed Jian Yao to gather the current and past addresses of all fourteen students.
Using a digital map of the suspect's daily activities, combined with records from hardware stores regarding the purchase of materials for a "killing machine," Bo Jinyan deduced that the serial killer was likely the owner or an employee of a specific hardware store located within the Dong Zhang Road Farmer's Market, after cross-referencing with a student's address near that area. Bo Jinyan drove directly to the hardware store.
Upon Bo Jinyan's arrival, a middle-aged man named Sun Yong, who was working at the hardware store, dropped the bag he was holding and immediately fled upon seeing strangers outside his shop. Bo Jinyan pursued him, and just then, Jian Yao arrived from the other end of the street. Witnessing the chase, she grabbed a nearby wooden stick and struck Sun Yong, attempting to incapacitate him.
Due to her limited strength, Sun Yong was only stunned and quickly snatched the stick to retaliate. Fortunately, Bo Jinyan reached them in time, subdued Sun Yong, and knocked him unconscious. The police arrived at the hardware store shortly after and located Xiao Jin, hidden inside a box in the back warehouse. They had arrived just in time, and Xiao Jin was found alive.
Inside the warehouse, Bo Jinyan lay down on the makeshift "killing machine" crafted by Sun Yong, stating he wanted to personally experience and understand the killer's criminal psychology. Jian Yao watched in astonishment, finding Bo Jinyan's boldness incredible. Bo Jinyan then questioned a man, Uncle Wang, who was the relative of the first victim and whose son attended City First Middle School.
Uncle Wang revealed that about a year prior, he had taken in a distant relative named Xiao Gan, who was roughly the same age as his son and was the first missing victim. Xiao Gan, having lost his parents, helped out at the store, and Uncle Wang had given him his son's old clothes and even the school-issued pencil case.
Uncle Wang explained he hadn't reported Xiao Gan missing because he believed Xiao Gan had simply left to work elsewhere, not realizing he had been kidnapped and killed by Sun Yong. In the killer's warehouse, police discovered several groups of red numbers painted with oil paint. During interrogation, Sun Yong confessed to a total of nine murders, including Xiao Jin's, but claimed complete ignorance regarding the painted numbers.
Li Xunran insisted the numbers must contain vital information and pressed for further investigation. Meanwhile, Jian Yao informed Bo Jinyan that her translation work was concluding and she intended to proceed with her pre-arranged internship in Jiang Zhou. Bo Jinyan then offered Jian Yao a three-year contract to become his long-term assistant, suggesting she break her current contract and offering to cover any breach fees.
Jian Yao respectfully declined, stating she could not violate a contract, as it was a matter of personal integrity. She added that she also liked her chosen profession. Despite turning down Bo Jinyan's offer, Jian Yao felt a sense of loss and confided in her sister, Jian Xuan, that the past few days had been a profoundly meaningful period in her life.
Jian Xuan, while supporting Jian Yao's decision not to work for him, suggested Bo Jinyan was too "high-end" and perhaps lonely, describing him as a "playboy" whose inner world might be "passionate and corrupt," and advising caution. Jian Yao, however, disagreed, stating that human interactions should be simpler and one should trust their instincts. She described Bo Jinyan as a unique individual with a "halo" around him, not because of his appearance but his thought process.
She acknowledged his eccentricities but emphasized his inherent kindness and simplicity, cherishing their shared experience of saving a child's life, an experience she felt might never happen again. She implicitly admitted that a calm, ordinary life might not suit her. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Director Li, a close friend and former colleague of Jian Yao's deceased father, planned for him and Li Xunran to celebrate at Jian Yao's home.
Director Li, who had looked after Jian Yao and her mother since her father's passing, encouraged Li Xunran to actively pursue Jian Yao, warning that she might otherwise find someone else. Later, Uncle Wang and Xiao Jin arrived at Bo Jinyan's place, bearing a box of fireworks as a thank-you gift for his help. Unsure what to do with them, Bo Jinyan called Jian Yao, asking her to drive over and take the fireworks away.
Episode 5 Recap
Jian Yao and Jian Xuan lit off numerous fireworks by the sea, which were leftovers from Fu Ziyu's company anniversary celebration. Bo Jinyan, after some persuasion from Jian Yao, joined them. Jian Xuan, captivated by Bo Jinyan's striking appearance as he moved through the fireworks, was visibly smitten. Bo Jinyan confidently stated he was not afraid of the simple mixture of sulfur charcoal powder and potassium nitrate, claiming he had dismantled explosives a hundred times more powerful.
Jian Yao, recalling his previous gaunt appearance, asked why he had been so thin. Bo Jinyan bluntly replied he had been sick and if he hadn't recovered, she would be seeing a corpse. Concerned, Jian Yao invited him to her home for dinner to celebrate the holiday. Bo Jinyan accepted, and Fu Ziyu also arrived, making for a lively and warm family evening at Jian Yao's house.
During dinner, Director Li praised Bo Jinyan for his rapid assistance in solving a recent case, though Bo Jinyan insisted he merely completed his job without personal feelings, stating there was no need for gratitude. Li Xunran then approached Bo Jinyan, mentioning red numbers found at a crime scene related to Sun Yong.
Li Xunran explained that Sun Yong’s killing spree began a year ago due to an unknown trigger, despite extensive investigation revealing no financial, personal, or conflict-related incidents in Sun Yong's life. He sought Bo Jinyan’s help in deciphering the numbers, which police experts had failed to break. However, Bo Jinyan dismissed the numbers as meaningless, stating his job was to find and stop criminals, not to delve into their "crazy thoughts."
Later, Mrs. Jian expressed her admiration for both Bo Jinyan and Fu Ziyu but privately told Jian Yao that Bo Jinyan’s dangerous profession as a criminal investigator made him unsuitable for her daughter. Separately, Fu Ziyu, in a private conversation with his AI assistant Andy, remarked that Jian Yao was not his type, preferring "hot, mature women."
He also argued that Mrs. Jian's negative assessment of Bo Jinyan was illogical, a point Andy affirmed by noting Bo Jinyan's superior attributes compared to Fu Ziyu. After the dinner, Fu Ziyu explained Jian Yao's tragic past to Bo Jinyan, revealing he had obtained her detailed file under Bo Jinyan’s name after Jian Yao declined the assistant position.
Fu Ziyu shared that Jian Yao's father, a deputy team leader in the police, along with her grandfather and grandmother, were murdered in a retaliatory attack by criminals when Jian Yao was six years old. Jian Yao and her younger sister narrowly escaped by hiding in an adjacent bedroom until the police arrived. Fu Ziyu urged Bo Jinyan to keep this information from Jian Yao.
Despite Bo Jinyan’s wishes, Jian Yao remained firm in her decision to work for an international trade company instead of becoming his assistant. Her commitment to her chosen career was unwavering, describing her new job as involving buying, selling, translating customs declarations, and engaging in business negotiations. Bo Jinyan, however, dismissed it as "boring, mediocre, a waste of life."
Meanwhile, Bo Jinyan's sister, Yin Ziqi, called Fu Ziyu to inquire about Bo Jinyan's travel plans and schedule in Jiangzhou, requesting that Fu Ziyu have Bo Jinyan call her as soon as he settled in. Jian Yao eventually moved out of her family home to Jiangzhou, settling into a rented apartment that Fu Ziyu had helped her find.
He had even secured a two-month rent-free period due to the lack of furniture, allowing Jian Yao to decorate the space according to her own taste. Coincidentally, Bo Jinyan also resided in the same building, in a much larger unit upstairs, a fact also arranged by Fu Ziyu. Upon settling into her new apartment, Jian Yao received a mysterious international express package addressed to "Simon," leaving her puzzled.
At work, she learned she had been transferred from the planning department to the 2nd marketing team. Pei Ze, her welcoming department guide, greeted her with an enthusiastic and charming demeanor, praising her name. However, the office environment felt uneasy, with one colleague even warning her not to follow the path of her predecessor. Jian Yao soon discovered a photograph on her desk: a young woman’s smiling face next to a blacked-out figure.
A colleague named Xue Qing informed Jian Yao that the woman in the picture was Wan Wei, who previously held Jian Yao's current position and had not resigned. Xue Qing also ominously asked Jian Yao if she knew about the "Hong Ye resort" incident, adding to Jian Yao's confusion and the unsettling atmosphere. That evening, Jian Yao returned home to find Bo Jinyan already inside her apartment, absorbed in research.
He had let himself in, casually explaining that knocking was bothersome and claiming the key he used was "his." Jian Yao, though exasperated, cooked dinner for him. Bo Jinyan commented on her chosen rice, claiming he had tested twenty types to find the best, and expressed his bewilderment at her spending hundreds of hours decorating her small apartment, a pursuit she defended as her "persistent pursuit of quality of life."
Later that night, Li Xunran called Jian Yao, informing her that new numbers had been discovered by provincial experts, providing a new lead in the numerical code case. He promised to update her and Bo Jinyan on further developments.
Episode 6 Recap
Jian Yao has recently started her new job at an international trade company and moved into a new apartment, which she is diligently decorating. After being transferred to the marketing department, she is introduced to her colleagues by Pei Ze, who serves as her entry-level reception person. Later, Old Zhou informs Jian Yao that a new marketing director, an "airborne" appointee, is moving his office to their floor, supposedly to appear more approachable.
Soon after, Manager Lin Yuxuan, a seemingly serious middle-aged woman and manager of Marketing Department 2, gathers the team for a meeting. Jian Yao, a new business assistant, introduces herself and is in turn introduced to her colleagues, including senior business manager Old Zhou and Mai Chen. During the meeting, the new Marketing Director, Bo Jinyan, makes a surprising entrance, much to Jian Yao's shock as she recognizes him.
Bo Jinyan immediately clarifies that his tenure is temporary, and he expects everyone to simply follow his instructions without attempting to curry favor, promising an "A" evaluation when he leaves. Manager Lin then assigns Jian Yao as Bo Jinyan's temporary secretary, as his permanent one has not yet been hired. Disturbed by this development, Jian Yao confronts Bo Jinyan in his office, demanding he not ruin her first job.
She questions if his presence at the company is merely a cover for a case investigation, which he indirectly confirms. Jian Yao expresses her dismay, fearing that this situation will ruin her professional life and make her appear like a "two-faced spy" to her colleagues after he leaves. Bo Jinyan dismisses her concerns, stating he thought she was willing to help him. Despite her protestations, she reluctantly accepts his instructions to review case files.
Later, during afternoon tea, Bo Jinyan reiterates that this assignment won't take much of her time, comparing her job in "circulation of commodities" to mere "porter" work and boasting about how quickly he solves cases, which Jian Yao vehemently refutes. Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao then meet with Yin Ziqi, the company president. Jian Yao learns that Yin Ziqi is Bo Jinyan's stepsister; their parents divorced and remarried, leading to a familial connection despite having no blood relation.
Yin Ziqi reveals the reason for Bo Jinyan's presence: an employee named Wang Wan Wei allegedly committed suicide by cutting her wrists in her room's bathroom at Hong Ye Resort during a semi-annual report meeting, leaving a suicide note.
Although the police ruled it a suicide with no signs of attack and the family refused an autopsy, Yin Ziqi has been receiving anonymous emails alleging foul play and a company cover-up, claiming one hundred thousand yuan was paid to the family for their silence. Yin Ziqi vehemently denies any company involvement, explaining the payment came from an anonymous overseas account traced to her fiancé, Lin Yiyang.
Yin Ziqi asks Bo Jinyan to investigate and clear the company's and Lin Yiyang's names, stressing that Lin Yiyang has been in Hong Kong and is likely innocent. She also asks Bo Jinyan to ensure Jian Yao's reputation at the company remains untarnished, and that she can continue her job as a normal employee after the investigation, avoiding labels like "workplace detective" or "two-faced white-collar worker."
Bo Jinyan agrees, and Jian Yao, after a moment of consideration, accepts his renewed invitation to be his assistant for the case. Bo Jinyan then surprises Jian Yao by suggesting she decorate his newly rented apartment just like her own, even proposing she move into the apartment he rented upstairs for increased efficiency, reasoning that her skills would free him up for his own work.
Jian Yao firmly rejects the idea, preferring a peaceful environment, a refusal Bo Jinyan dismisses as a "wrong decision." Later, Bo Jinyan analyzes Wang Wan Wei's suicide note. He concludes that the note is authentic, citing its fluent cursive handwriting, consistent flow, and lack of coercion signs (like pen errors or pauses). He notes its use of metaphors like "defeat of the general," "shell," "bottomless pit," and "abyss," as well as repeated phrases such as "Mom, don't be afraid."
He explains that genuine notes, unlike fabricated ones, often contain such stylistic nuances and minor imperfections because truth-tellers do not worry about inconsistencies, unlike liars. This leads him to believe Wang Wan Wei was not coerced and that the note truly reflects her state of mind. With the authenticity confirmed, they decide to investigate the reasons behind Wang Wan Wei's suicide, starting with her background.
At a department dinner, Jian Yao appears distracted, observing her colleagues with suspicion, as if everyone could be a murderer. Old Zhou subtly warns her about Manager Lin's strictness, especially towards pretty girls like Jian Yao. Bo Jinyan calls Jian Yao away from the dinner. They discuss Wang Wan Wei's blog, which Jian Yao notes was deleted. Bo Jinyan reveals he has retrieved the content.
Reviewing the blog entries, they deduce that the "he" Wang Wan Wei often wrote about, describing him with words like "dim light," "clean," and "clear stream," is Mai Chen, whose temperament matches these descriptions, unlike Pei Ze. Bo Jinyan then muses about what metaphor a woman would use to describe him, to which Jian Yao quips, "An arrogant and arrogant Labrador," prompting Bo Jinyan to comment on her less-than-stellar use of metaphors compared to Wang Wan Wei.
Episode 7 Recap
Li Xunran was transferred to the Jiangzhou police force, where he would serve for at least a year, opening up new opportunities for promotion. He obtained Jian Yao's new address from her mother and visited her on a weekend to share the good news. Jian Yao invited him up to her apartment, where he showed her a series of numbers, 8, 9, 9, 13, 14, 15, 19, that experts had deciphered from a previous case.
Jian Yao found them meaningless, noting that without a "key," deciphering encrypted information was like searching for a needle in a haystack, leading either to a terrifyingly simple answer or total confusion. Li Xunran mentioned he had sent these numbers to Professor Bo Jinyan, hoping he might find significance in them, but Bo Jinyan had shown no reaction. Just then, a delivery arrived for Bo Jinyan.
Jian Yao explained that she often received his mail because he was frequently away or didn't open his door. She then revealed that Bo Jinyan lived on the floor directly above hers, making them not only colleagues but also neighbors. Li Xunran, who had been close friends with Jian Yao since childhood, expressed concern and support, asking if she was dating Bo Jinyan.
Jian Yao denied it, clarifying that she was merely his assistant, and he had simply become accustomed to delegating tasks to her. She admitted to being curious about Bo Jinyan's "closed world" but acknowledged it was dangerous and she lacked the courage to fully approach it. Reassured by Li Xunran's unwavering support, Jian Yao offered to treat him to lunch.
Their conversation was interrupted by a call from Bo Jinyan, who instructed Jian Yao to immediately come to Nanshan Cemetery, unit D. She initially ignored the call. Later, Bo Jinyan took Jian Yao to Wang Wanwei's gravesite, where they encountered Mai Chen, a colleague from Wang Wanwei’s company. Bo Jinyan confronted Mai Chen directly, questioning whether his presence was an act of mourning or guilt after committing a crime.
He accused Mai Chen of going to Wang Wanwei’s room on the night of her death to take advantage of her, implying that her rejection led to her demise. Mai Chen vehemently denied the accusation, explaining that he had gone to confess his long-held feelings for Wang Wanwei, having loved her since she joined the company but previously feeling too insecure due to his low salary and lack of property.
He recounted how he finally mustered the courage to visit her room late that night. Mai Chen described Wang Wanwei as happy but also nervous, telling him she was pleased but needed time to consider his confession and would call him. He returned to his room, fell asleep from drinking, and only learned of Wang Wanwei's death the next morning from other colleagues.
Bo Jinyan challenged Mai Chen's easy acceptance of her suicide given her seemingly positive reaction to his confession. Mai Chen admitted he had expressed his doubts to Manager Lin, but Manager Lin had dismissed them, attributing his concerns to drunkenness and citing Wang Wanwei's recent work pressure and emotional instability.
Bo Jinyan then warned Mai Chen that his recent moodiness was affecting the office and that he hoped Mai Chen wouldn't discuss their conversation with anyone else, so as not to affect department morale. Jian Yao then asked Bo Jinyan if he believed Mai Chen's story.
Soon after, Fu Ziyu contacted Jian Yao, informing her that he had successfully decrypted a hidden file on Wang Wanwei's computer: a secret online diary with an entry dated March 22nd, the day of her death. Bo Jinyan listened as Jian Yao read a passage from the diary: "He actually came to my room to confess. The one I love. . . The clean, pure and handsome young man. Why do you only come now?
Thank you, for making my life not so despairing. But do I even have the chance to turn back? Do I still have the chance to be redeemed?" Bo Jinyan concluded that the diary entry confirmed Mai Chen's account and, crucially, that Wang Wanwei’s suicide note had been written "before" this diary entry.
He reasoned that while the suicide note reflected extreme despair, the diary entry showed hesitation, indicating that Mai Chen's confession had made Wang Wanwei reconsider her suicide and make "another decision" which ultimately led to her death. Bo Jinyan further explained that Wang Wanwei’s depression in the months leading up to her death was not due to work or relationship problems, but rather her involvement in a "shady business."
He reconstructed the timeline: Wang Wanwei returned to her hotel room at 10 PM after the banquet, wrote her suicide note before midnight, received Mai Chen for about 20 minutes, then wrote her last diary entry for approximately 30 minutes. Since police determined her death occurred between 2:30 AM and 3:30 AM, the killer must have entered her room during that specific window.
Jian Yao then brought up Li Xunran's earlier concern about the deciphered numbers, asking why Bo Jinyan had ignored them. Bo Jinyan dismissed them as pointless, stating that the case now presented many "loopholes"—such as the black dress, earrings, her roommate, and autopsy results—that all indicated a murder committed by one of Jian Yao's colleagues. He then tasked Jian Yao with taking the lead on the investigation, urging her to think things through.
Following Bo Jinyan's directions, Jian Yao focused on Wang Wanwei's roommate at Hong Ye Resort. She determined that due to company policy, only Assistant Managers or higher could have single rooms, meaning Wang Wanwei and Xue Qing, being the only other women apart from Manager Lin, must have shared a room. Jian Yao confronted Xue Qing about her whereabouts on the night Wang Wanwei died.
Xue Qing confessed that she had spent the night in the room of an Assistant Manager, with whom she had been having a long-term affair. She expressed guilt but also hope that he would divorce his wife, and anxiously asked if Bo Jinyan would fire her.
Jian Yao reasoned that individuals involved in a secret affair would likely not have the time or presence of mind to meticulously plan a murder, thus temporarily excluding Xue Qing and her lover as suspects. Despite this progress, Jian Yao expressed frustration over their continued lack of understanding regarding the "shady business" Wang Wanwei was involved in, to which Bo Jinyan reminded her that the case was now hers to solve.
Bo Jinyan then advanced his theory, suggesting that Wang Wanwei's diary entry hinted at a drug addiction, which someone had exploited to control her. He questioned why the initial investigation treated it as a suicide without thoroughly examining evidence of foul play, and why 100,000 dollars were paid to the family to suppress further inquiry. He proposed that the killer might have given Wang Wanwei a sleeping pill before the wrist-cutting, fearing a drug's detection during an autopsy.
Bo Jinyan then prompted Jian Yao to interpret a cryptic passage from Wang Wanwei's writings: "Deceased body, stuck in deep mud, could not withdraw herself. Enjoy the emptiness after relaxing for the last time. The beginning and ending of the everlasting darkness." Jian Yao, grasping the implications, deduced that Wang Wanwei had a drug addiction, which explained her despair when Mai Chen confessed.
Bo Jinyan believed a drug trafficking network existed within the company, and the hush money was paid to prevent discovery of Wang Wanwei's addiction, which would expose the network. He also indicated that he knew who sent the emails that brought attention to the case, but he could not yet confirm their identity, assuring Jian Yao he would handle it. He then instructed her to report their findings to the police.
Simultaneously, Police Officer Huang Dui informed Li Xunran that Cheng Yu Company had officially reported the case, and Professor Bo had agreed to assist. Given Li Xunran's previous collaboration with Bo Jinyan on the "Killing Machine" case in Tong City, Huang Dui assigned him to lead the investigation. Back in her apartment, Jian Yao pondered the numbers Li Xunran had initially shared. She suddenly realized that by rearranging the letters corresponding to the numbers, they spelled "Simon."
Excited, she called Bo Jinyan to tell him, confirming "Hi Simon" was the message. Bo Jinyan then revealed that the numbers were not written by Sun Yong. He explained that someone knew Sun Yong was the "Killing Machine" murderer even before the case was solved, or perhaps this person had triggered Sun Yong's murderous desires.
This individual, Bo Jinyan elaborated, harbored an "abnormal interest" in him, intentionally provoking cases he might take and leaving their mark before he could solve them, seeking the "sense of accomplishment of staying ahead." He confirmed this pattern applied to the Cheng Yu case and the emails sent to Jian Yao's sister. Jian Yao, now realizing the danger, expressed fear for Bo Jinyan, noting that this "psycho" was tracking his every move and could attack at any time.
She pressed him, asking if he knew the identity of this person. Although Bo Jinyan didn't verbally confirm it, a chilling voice echoed in his mind, saying, "Hi Simon. I'm so scared. . . Come catch me if you can. Hi Simon. Are you my next meal?" confirming his awareness of the individual. Bo Jinyan further explained that this stalker intentionally leaves clues about himself before he solves a case, striving to achieve the satisfaction of being one step ahead.
Jian Yao, visibly worried, reviewed the materials Bo Jinyan had organized, summarizing their preliminary findings. She noted that Hong Ye Resort, the crime scene, was a private resort booked entirely by Cheng Yu Company, with no outside visitors. Given Wang Wanwei's position, the resort records showed her sharing a room with Xue Qing. No one outside her department knew she would be alone that night.
The meticulous arrangement of the crime scene by the killer, performed without apparent concern for the roommate's return, strongly suggested the crime was committed by an "internal personnel." Bo Jinyan then made a call to Susan, presumably an FBI contact, regarding the "Flower Cannibal" case. Susan confirmed that Tommy, the "Flower Cannibal," was still incarcerated in Bay Area Prison, one of the most secure facilities in the U. S.
, confined to his cell for over a year with no visitors. She hinted that Bo Jinyan's inquiry seemed a "waste of time." However, Bo Jinyan insisted that while the stalker was not Tommy, their patterns and characteristics were identical, strongly suggesting a "close connection." He requested a joint investigation with resource sharing and insisted on his participation. Susan initially resisted, citing Bo Jinyan's loss of security clearance after returning to China.
Bo Jinyan countered that no one understood Tommy better than him, and his involvement was essential to officially close the case. Susan agreed to forward his request to her superiors. When Li Xunran asked Jian Yao how Bo Jinyan had deduced that Wang Wanwei had left her room after writing the diary, Jian Yao explained Bo Jinyan's reasoning. She stated that Bo Jinyan had focused on the "black dress."
Wang Wanwei had worn a blue dress to the banquet and when Mai Chen saw her, yet her body was found in a black dress. Bo Jinyan reasoned that if she changed clothes after midnight, she would logically have put on sleepwear, not a black dress, indicating she intended to go out again.
Jian Yao further clarified that the blue dress held special significance to Wang Wanwei, being her loved one's favorite color and a dress Mai Chen had complimented her in. Therefore, she wouldn't have wanted to wear it for whatever she intended to do next. Susan later called Bo Jinyan back, informing him that while the FBI would not authorize him as a consultant due to confidential internal information, the U. S. government, under the Sino-U. S.
joint task force agreement on international violent crimes, would permit a "victim" to assist in an ongoing investigation. Susan revealed that Bo Jinyan had been a victim in the "Flower Cannibal" case, which granted him the right to participate. Bo Jinyan accepted. Susan offered to handle the paperwork and contact the Chinese police.
She then attempted to profile Bo Jinyan, trying to discern Jian Yao's identity based on his subtle micro-expressions, but Bo Jinyan, recognizing her profiling, told her to stop. Bo Jinyan then instructed Jian Yao to excavate and collect all the soil beneath a specific section of the wooden floor where Wang Wanwei had been found, for lab analysis. He theorized that Wang Wanwei's suicide note was genuine, indicating she had planned to expose what killed her by overdosing on drugs.
He deduced that her first action after deciding to start a new life with Mai Chen would have been to discard all her drugs. Believing the killer was unaware of this discarded evidence and that the drugs originated from the killer, Bo Jinyan concluded that finding them could lead to the killer's identity and solve the entire mystery.
The following day, Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao found the drugs Wang Wanwei had buried under a tree at Hong Ye Resort, confirming Bo Jinyan's theory and giving them a crucial lead to the killer. Later, Li Xunran invited Jian Yao to a welcome party for new employees at his house the following evening, emphasizing that everyone would be there for her. Jian Yao readily agreed to attend.
Episode 8 Recap
Following Bo Jinyan's instructions, Jian Yao pretends to attend a casual department event, which is actually a covert operation to identify Wang Wanwei's killer. Bo Jinyan, who has arranged for surveillance, reminds her of the risks. Believing she will be safe in a crowd, Jian Yao proceeds with the plan. Bo Jinyan provides her with a safety signal: if she feels she is in danger, she must say, "It's raining," and he will immediately intervene.
At the dinner hosted at Pei Ze's house, Jian Yao observes her colleagues, focusing on the primary suspects she and Bo Jinyan previously identified: Pei Ze and Manager Lin. During the meal, she playfully takes a picture of Pei Ze, provoking a defensive reaction from him. Later, Jian Yao excuses herself to the bathroom to search for evidence.
Guided by Bo Jinyan via an earpiece, she finds empty liquid vials in a cabinet, identical to the ones Wang Wanwei had thrown away. She also discovers a waterproof plastic bag filled with cash hidden in the toilet cistern, which Bo Jinyan immediately suspects is drug money. Her search is interrupted when Pei Ze speaks to her from outside the bathroom.
After she emerges, he engineers a power outage by shutting off the circuit breaker and pretends he cannot find his car keys, preventing her from leaving. Trapped, Jian Yao listens as Pei Ze reveals he orchestrated the entire evening to be alone with her, commenting on her resemblance to Wang Wanwei. His demeanor suddenly turns menacing, and he lunges at her. As he corners her, Jian Yao screams the code phrase, "It's raining!"
prompting Bo Jinyan to burst in and incapacitate Pei Ze with a sedative dart. Before leaving, Bo Jinyan instructs Jian Yao to tell Pei Ze that she used a taser on him. When Pei Ze awakens, he accepts Jian Yao's fabricated story. In a bizarre turn, he insists she stay and cut a birthday cake he specially ordered for her, revealing he knows it's her birthday.
As a strange apology, he gives her a lock of his hair and insists on taking her to lunch the next day. With Bo Jinyan's guidance, police interrogate the other employees. Manager Lin is confronted with phone records showing an 18-minute call between his room and Pei Ze's on the night of the murder. He confesses he knew about the drugs and intended to fire Wang Wanwei, but denies any involvement in her death.
Under pressure, Shen Yidan admits he saw Wang Wanwei enter Pei Ze's room around 1 a. m. This testimony, combined with Pei Ze’s fingerprints on the recovered drug vials, solidifies him as the prime suspect. Bo Jinyan confronts Pei Ze, who admits to controlling Wang Wanwei with drugs. However, he claims she committed suicide. Bo Jinyan refutes this, deducing that Wang Wanwei, empowered by her love for Mai Chen, had decided to confront Pei Ze and expose his drug network.
Fearing exposure, Pei Ze drugged her, placed her in the bathtub, and slit her wrists to stage a suicide. After Pei Ze is arrested, Bo Jinyan explains to Jian Yao that the case is not over. He reveals that during his last case in the U. S. involving a serial killer nicknamed "The Flower Cannibal," he encountered a psychopath with a similar profile who is still at large. Bo Jinyan believes this mastermind has been manipulating events from the shadows.
To catch him, Bo Jinyan has the police keep Pei Ze's arrest a secret, setting a trap for the true culprit to reveal himself. Shortly after, Bo Jinyan's attention is pulled to a cold case by the company chairman, who is desperate for answers about his late fiancée's death and a related "hush money" account. To solve it, Bo Jinyan decides to reconstruct that crime scene, gathering everyone involved to retrace their steps from the night of the incident.
Episode 9 Recap
During the investigation into the murder at Hong Ye Resort, Bo Jinyan had everyone from the 2nd Marketing Team stand at the door of their rooms from that night. He first questioned Pei Ze about his actions after Wang Wan Wei left, and Pei Ze detailed watching the Champions League group stage match between Atletico Madrid and Rubin Kazan, brushing his teeth, showering, and washing his underwear before going to bed.
Next, Bo Jinyan questioned Mai Chen, who claimed he was too drunk and slept on the sofa, while Old Zhou tended to him by giving him water and wiping his sweat with a towel. When questioned, Manager Shen, outside whose room Wang Wan Wei's earring was found, stated he knew nothing and was with Xue Qing.
Bo Jinyan asserted that there was sufficient evidence someone entered her room that rainy night, stating that a girl wouldn't run outside in such heavy rain without being forced, and her earring was found right outside Manager Shen's room. Manager Lin also denied knowledge, despite several strands of Wang Wan Wei's hair being found in front of her room, suggesting a physical struggle occurred there.
\n\nBo Jinyan then instructed everyone to return to their rooms to simulate the night's events, while he, Jian Yao, and Li Xunran monitored the Hong Ye Resort from their car. Bo Jinyan explained that this psychopath was skilled at hiding his tracks and very sharp, so a large presence would create flaws in their trap.
He was confident the \"Flower Cannibal copycat\" would come, driven by Bo Jinyan's investigation, knowing that the copycat had been lurking and observing him, perhaps even installing listening devices in their office. Mai Chen, still remorseful, lamented that if he had known earlier, Wang Wan Wei might not have died. \n\nSoon, a delivery person appeared, followed by four individuals, one of whom was a suspicious janitor.
Jian Yao noticed the janitor was unusually discarding all empty water bottles, unlike typical cleaners who would collect them for money. Bo Jinyan urged her to keep a close watch on him. Suddenly, the words \"I miss you so much buddy\" were projected onto the wall opposite them, revealed to be from a projector placed on the grass.
As Bo Jinyan and Li Xunran immediately exited the car to pursue, an explosion occurred on the nearby grass, allowing the janitor to escape. Simultaneously, Yin Ziqi received a text message from \"Bo Jinyan,\" telling her to come downstairs alone within five minutes. Upon reaching the agreed-upon location, someone posing as Bo Jinyan kissed her in the darkness, causing her to lose consciousness. \n\nBo Jinyan found Yin Ziqi unconscious in the resort.
Fu Ziyu then called him, informing him that Yin Ziqi's car had just been driven out through the west entrance, as security, seeing it was her car, did not stop it. Bo Jinyan realized the perpetrator had escaped. Later, in the dark, narrow path, Bo Jinyan accidentally leaned in and kissed Jian Yao, who became visibly flustered. During subsequent conversations, it was revealed that this was the first kiss for both of them.
The two developed mutual affection, and those around them quickly noticed their sweet dynamic, teasing them. \n\nThe following day, Bo Jinyan identified Old Zhou as the main culprit in the Hong Ye Resort murder and the primary controller of Jiangzhou's drug trafficking network, with Pei Ze acting as an accomplice, primarily responsible for luring women. He explained that Wang Wan Wei, like many others, had fallen into their control, forced into prostitution and drug distribution, leading a hellish life.
Bo Jinyan then detailed the sequence of events on the night of the murder: after Cheng Yu Company's banquet ended at 10 p. m. , Mai Chen returned to his room. Around midnight, he attempted to confess to Wang Wan Wei, but he fell into a deep, unconscious sleep on the sofa until morning. This was because Old Zhou had given him water laced with sleeping pills, ensuring Mai Chen would not know Old Zhou left the room.
\n\nWang Wan Wei, now awake and desperate, tried to seek help. She first tried to rouse the comatose Mai Chen, then loudly called for help in the hallway, but no one came to her aid. Old Zhou, who had earlier injected her with drugs, then subdued Wang Wan Wei in front of Manager Lin's room and, with Pei Ze's help, brought her back to her own room.
It was there that they discovered her suicide note, which gave them the idea to frame her death as a suicide. Bo Jinyan revealed that the pearl earring found outside room 104 (Manager Shen's room) was evidence of Wang Wan Wei being forced or struggling there. \n\nBo Jinyan further presented his evidence, explaining that Wang Wan Wei had not carried a knife with her as her planned method of suicide was not cutting her wrists.
However, a fruit knife was found at the crime scene. Bo Jinyan produced a photograph from the 2nd Marketing Team's picnic, clearly showing Old Zhou holding an identical fruit knife with a distinctive Z-shaped nick and small crack that matched the one at the scene.
He also revealed that initial hair samples he collected from all members of the 2nd Marketing Team showed positive drug test results for everyone except Mai Chen and Xue Qing, indicating widespread drug use among the group. Soon after, the members of the 2nd Marketing Team confessed, admitting Old Zhou was the mastermind and Pei Ze was an accomplice.
Bo Jinyan informed them of the potential sentences: indefinite or death penalty for the main culprit, and three to five years for accomplices, while also warning them about charges for not reporting the facts and covering up the murder and drug network.
\n\nJian Yao, still finding it difficult to reconcile Old Zhou's actions with her perception of him as a good person, especially given his son was in elementary school, asked Bo Jinyan for a detailed explanation of how the events unfolded and when he first suspected Old Zhou. Bo Jinyan explained that the murder was not premeditated, as the villa was newly renovated and the group was unfamiliar with its layout.
He recounted that after giving up on her suicide, Wang Wan Wei actively sought out Pei Ze, asserting her desire to escape their control and live a new life. Pei Ze, realizing he couldn't control her, immediately called Old Zhou, expressing fear that Wang Wan Wei would expose everything the next day. Old Zhou assured him she wouldn't get the chance. He then confirmed that Wang Wan Wei attempted to call Mai Chen's room at 1:27 a. m.
from her room, but the call went unanswered because Old Zhou was with her. Old Zhou dismissed her calls as mere resort promotions when confronted. \n\nLater, Yin Ziqi regained consciousness, and Bo Jinyan visited her. She asked Bo Jinyan if he had found the murderer, and he confirmed that Old Zhou was the mastermind and Pei Ze the accomplice. Back at the police station, Jian Yao confronted Bo Jinyan about their accidental kiss, asking if it was his first kiss.
He responded lightheartedly, asking if it wasn't hers. Bo Jinyan then used Jian Yao's phone to delete a photo she had taken earlier. He showed her calligraphy brushes from Pei Ze's home, explaining that strands of hair found on them belonged to different women with whom Pei Ze had romantic or sexual relationships, referring to them as his \"trophies,\" which made Jian Yao visibly uncomfortable.
Yin Ziqi, acting as President, then informed Bo Jinyan that he had been dismissed from the company due to his department's poor performance. She offered Jian Yao a position in any department, including the executive office, based on her contributions, starting from a foundational role.
Bo Jinyan immediately interjected, declaring Jian Yao was \"his person\" and would no longer work for Yin Ziqi, to which Jian Yao promptly replied that she didn't belong to him and requested a few days to consider Yin Ziqi's offer. \n\nLi Xunran later informed them that Yin Ziqi's stolen car was found at the bottom of a hill, where it had exploded, leaving a burnt corpse. However, DNA extracted from the body did not match anyone in the national database. Bo Jinyan requested a copy of the DNA report to send to Susan. The episode concluded with Bo Jinyan suggesting they find a place to eat and include Jian Yao.
Episode 10 Recap
Following Zhao Zheng's advice, Bo Jinyan goes to Jian Yao's university, where he finds Zhao Zheng already waiting. Zhao Zheng teases Bo Jinyan about visiting a girl's place for "fresh air" and correctly suspects they are in a "cold war," noting Jian Yao has been avoiding Bo Jinyan for two days. Given Jian Yao's patient nature, Zhao Zheng insists Bo Jinyan must have upset her.
Bo Jinyan clarifies that Jian Yao is deliberating between his job offer and a more flexible one from his sister, Yin Ziqi. He admits his line of work is bloody and exhausting, and the pressure of the choice is causing her to act out. Zhao Zheng advises him to "coax" her, suggesting they treat her like a "queen" for the next two days, as emotional gestures can be very persuasive.
Bo Jinyan and Zhao Zheng then pick up Jian Yao from her graduation photoshoot. Bo Jinyan offers to take her for fish, and at the restaurant, Zhao Zheng playfully addresses her as "Queen," a moniker that irritates her. He persists, claiming he is pampering her willingly and without expectation. They follow her to a supermarket, where Zhao Zheng continues his "Queen" charade. Overwhelmed by their persistence, Jian Yao eventually relents.
Later, when Zhao Zheng asks if she has formally accepted the assistant role, Bo Jinyan admits he only inferred that she would. That evening, Jian Yao has a drink with her friend, Fu Ziyu. Ziyu encourages Jian Yao to pursue Bo Jinyan, but Jian Yao is convinced he doesn't like her, citing that he once told her to find a boyfriend.
Ziyu explains that while Bo Jinyan has a high IQ, his emotional intelligence is virtually zero; he is extremely arrogant, narcissistic, and clueless about relationships. She suggests Jian Yao might need to be the one to "take an extra step," just as Ziyu herself had to do to become his only friend. Ziyu expresses her hope that Bo Jinyan won't lose Jian Yao and declares her support for their "alliance."
Bo Jinyan has a video conference with Susan to discuss the "Flower Cannibal No. 2" case. While DNA comparisons in China yielded no results, Susan found a match in her database: Jiang Hao, a 30-year-old former serviceman. Bo Jinyan recognizes Jiang Hao as one of the twenty-seven victims he helped rescue from the original Flower Cannibal, Tommy, after Jiang Hao had endured 20 days of torture.
Bo Jinyan speculates that severe trauma can lead victims to become perpetrators, either by reenacting their abuse or attacking those related to the trauma. However, he also considers a more disturbing possibility: Jiang Hao may have been an accomplice all along, only pretending to be a victim when Tommy's lair was raided. Since Jiang Hao is now deceased, they may never know the truth. Bo Jinyan proposes they keep the joint investigation open, and Susan agrees.
During his discussion with Susan, Bo Jinyan decides not to tell Jian Yao his suspicion that Jiang Hao was merely a "pawn" for a hidden mastermind, wanting to spare her the worry unless new evidence emerges. Later, he correctly deduces from Jian Yao's uncharacteristic silence after meeting a friend that their conversation must have been about him, much to her annoyance at his narcissism.
After Huang Dui informs him that Jiang Hao had rented an apartment in the city, Bo Jinyan formally offers Jian Yao the position of his assistant. He argues that while his sister's offer is generous, she doesn't truly understand Jian Yao's passion for uncovering the truth, positioning himself as her "true mentor." Jian Yao accepts, revealing she has also been accepted into the People's Police Force and asks to be called "Police Officer Jian" from now on.
In the car, Bo Jinyan smugly tells Zhao Zheng he knew she would agree, and Jian Yao retorts that he isn't the only one who can analyze people's behavior. Bo Jinyan takes Jian Yao to Jiang Hao's now-empty apartment, confirming the threat is over. He then invites her to move into his guest room, but she declines, asserting her need for personal space and mentioning she couldn't be on call 24/7 if she were in a relationship.
Later that evening, a flashback reveals that Bo Jinyan was rescued after six months of captivity, during which he secretly fed the FBI intelligence that led to Tommy's capture and saved 27 other victims. Jian Yao asks to see his scars from the ordeal. He hesitates but relents when she insists it's her right as his assistant. As she touches his back, he remarks that it's ticklish and playfully scolds her for getting emotional, though she denies crying.
Afterward, he quietly calls Fu Ziyu to say, "She cried. I was comforting her," and asks her not to tell Zhao Zheng. The next morning, Zhao Zheng arrives at Bo Jinyan's home with breakfast, having known they would wake up late. He notes that Bo Jinyan showing Jian Yao the sensitive case files is a sign of immense trust, as not even his own family has seen them.
They drive to the police station for Jian Yao's first day, and she is shown to the new criminal psychology research room. She admits she is happy with her decision. A short while later, her friend calls to give her a simple piece of advice for all future dilemmas: "follow the handsome man." In a separate scene, Jian Yao's friend is with her cousin, Xiao Ran, who is meeting a potential date.
Episode 11 Recap
Following their successful resolution of the Red Leaf Villa case and establishment as a team, Li Xunran arranged an exclusive office for Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao. Just as Jian Yao inquired about new cases, her best friend, Han Juan, called in distress, explaining that Han Juan's sister, Xiao Ran, who was Ruan Ming Huai's dormitory roommate, was terrified.
A female body had been discovered on the school's back hill, and the victim was identified as Ruan Ming Huai, a 19-year-old first-year student in the Economics and Management Department. Bo Jinyan, Li Xunran, and Jian Yao arrived at the crime scene. A dagger, identified as the lethal weapon, lay two meters from the body. Bo Jinyan assessed it as a hasty, immature murder.
He noted the killer continued to stab Ruan Ming Huai even after a fatal cut to the throat and lingered at the scene, showing no fear. He deduced that the excessive violence, fueled by hatred, also brought the killer pleasure, suggesting a nascent antisocial personality that would likely lead to more murders if not stopped. The police notified Ruan Ming Huai's parents, who were ordinary textile factory workers and had already struggled to send her to Jiangzhou University.
Ruan Ming Huai's death occurred between 9 and 11 PM the previous night. Her backpack contained meal cards, some money, makeup, tissues, and keys, but her phone was missing, which was unusual for a girl her age. Jian Yao immediately concluded the murderer was from within the university, as coercing someone on campus would be difficult, and there were no signs of a struggle on the path leading to the crime scene.
She deduced that Ruan Ming Huai came to the secluded spot willingly, likely for a date, a common meeting place for young couples. Bo Jinyan agreed, labeling it a "date of death." Li Xunran was tasked with tracking Ruan Ming Huai's missing phone and checking her communication records. The police then interviewed Ruan Ming Huai's three roommates: Xie Xiao Ran, Huo Xiao Lu, and Zhao Ying Zi.
They revealed that Ruan Ming Huai frequently stayed out overnight, and they had covered for her the previous night. Huo Xiao Lu recounted meeting Ruan Ming Huai and Xie Xiao Ran at 7 PM outside the administrative building, where Ruan Ming Huai intended to deposit the class's meal fees, amounting to over 40,000 yuan, but the office was closed.
Huo Xiao Lu then returned to the dorm, went to sleep around 8 PM, and woke up around 9 PM to find her roommates gone. Ruan Ming Huai had received a text message around 9 PM and left the dorm. Xie Xiao Ran and Zhao Ying Zi returned separately around 11 PM. At 11:30 PM, they covered for Ruan Ming Huai during a dorm check.
The roommates shared that Ruan Ming Huai had fallen in love with Su Bei upon entering school. While Su Bei initially seemed uninterested, his attitude shifted, and they began dating, though the roommates were unsure of the exact nature of their relationship. The 40,000 yuan in meal fees was confirmed to be missing from Ruan Ming Huai's cabinet. The investigation shifted to Su Bei, whom Jian Yao acknowledged as handsome, though Bo Jinyan dismissed his looks as superficial.
Su Bei claimed he was watching a soccer game alone in his dorm at the time of the murder. He admitted Ruan Ming Huai had texted him, "I'm here. Where are you?" to which he replied asking what she meant and stating his location in the dorm. She never replied. Su Bei expressed regret for not calling her back, acknowledging she could be "a little bothersome" but he never anticipated such a tragedy.
When asked about potential suspects, Su Bei mentioned Ruan Ming Huai's high school classmate, Wei Si Yuan, who had always liked her and even followed her to Jiangzhou University. Su Bei observed Wei Si Yuan watching him play basketball with what he described as "murderous" eyes. Li Xunran's team confirmed Ruan Ming Huai sent only one text and made no calls during the time of the incident, and her phone was still located within Jiangzhou University.
The signal led them to a locker belonging to Wei Si Yuan, confirming Su Bei's suspicion. Wei Si Yuan, described by the roommates as introverted, had a close relationship with Ruan Ming Huai in high school, though not a "true" romance. When interrogated, Wei Si Yuan vehemently denied killing Ruan Ming Huai. He recounted seeing her leave her dorm dressed up just before 10 PM on the night of the murder, assuming she was meeting Su Bei.
He followed her to the foot of the hill but hesitated to go further, waiting about 30 minutes. When she didn't reappear, he returned to his dorm, only learning of her death at noon the next day. He claimed no knowledge of her phone.
Bo Jinyan, however, believed Wei Si Yuan was being framed, arguing that a murderer who carefully cleans a crime scene and uses larger shoes to disguise footprints wouldn't carelessly leave a blood-stained phone in their own easily accessible locker, especially since the phone contained no direct evidence against Wei Si Yuan. Bo Jinyan stated that the case's complexity was perfectly suited to develop Jian Yao's investigative skills, despite her inexperience and emotional nature, assuring her he would adjust his pace.
Jian Yao suggested checking surveillance footage for anyone else who might have accessed Wei Si Yuan's locker, but Bo Jinyan dismissed this, noting that school locker rooms do not have cameras. He redirected the focus to other admirers of Su Bei. Meanwhile, the roommates discussed Wei Si Yuan's release, having heard police found evidence proving his innocence and now suspected another girl. Guo Xiao Ling, a classmate of Su Bei and another fervent admirer, was then questioned.
She admitted to pursuing Su Bei and dismissed Ruan Ming Huai, claiming Su Bei was merely "playing around" with her and that Ruan Ming Huai had "nothing but money." For the night of the murder, Guo Xiao Ling stated she was in the study room until 9:30 PM, then took a walk, returning to her dorm alone at 10:30 PM.
Jian Yao found Guo Xiao Ling's comment about Ruan Ming Huai having "nothing but money" particularly suspicious, given Ruan Ming Huai's average family background. This raised the possibility that Ruan Ming Huai either falsely claimed wealth or was excessively generous with money towards Su Bei. Further forensic analysis revealed numerous wounds on Ruan Ming Huai's body, inflicted during the frenzied act of her throat being cut, and Su Bei's fingerprints were found on the zipper of Ruan Ming Huai's backpack.
Surveillance also showed Guo Xiao Ling confronting Su Bei, accusing him of being on the back hill and trying to use this as leverage to keep him, but Su Bei dismissed her, telling her to report him to the police if she wished. Later, Su Bei was observed meeting Brother San, a debt collector, to deliver blood-stained money. Police apprehended Su Bei and the others present. Su Bei confessed that Ruan Ming Huai had been consistently giving him money.
He admitted he had lost a bet on a soccer game that ended at 12:20 AM and could not repay his debt. His phone's built-in GPS function, which he had accidentally activated through an app, indicated his location on the back hill at 10:30 PM on the night of the murder, coinciding with a missed call from the gambling company demanding payment.
He confirmed that Ruan Ming Huai's text message earlier, combined with his knowledge that she was alone on the hill and had collected the 40,000 yuan in meal fees, prompted him to go there to take the money, leveraging her affection for him to approach her. However, he insisted he did not kill her, claiming she was already dead when he arrived at the hill.
He admitted only to taking the money, including the public funds, and denied planting the phone in Wei Si Yuan's locker. Jian Yao, despite the mounting evidence, believed Su Bei was telling the truth. She pointed to the nature of Ruan Ming Huai's wounds—her disfigured face and extensive skin damage—as unlikely actions for a male killer primarily motivated by robbery. She speculated such injuries indicated female jealousy.
Jian Yao also noted mud on Ruan Ming Huai's skirt, despite the hard ground, suggesting someone had deliberately brought mud from nearby and poured it on her, reinforcing her theory of a female perpetrator. Bo Jinyan concurred that the killer was female. Jian Yao then suspected Guo Xiao Ling, but questioned how she would have known Ruan Ming Huai's location on the hill without receiving a text. Bo Jinyan implied he knew the killer's identity but lacked the necessary legal evidence, suggesting they would need Jian Yao's friend to help.
Episode 12 Recap
Following the ongoing police investigation into Ruan Ming Huai's murder, a student shared gossip she overheard from her cousin about the case. She claimed the police had identified Su Bei as the murderer, stating a witness saw Su Bei and Guo Xiao Ling going up the hill together, suggesting one of them was the killer or they were accomplices.
She added that Su Bei had confessed, stating he acted alone to protect the woman he loved, and Guo Xiao Ling had been released. Jian Yao, present during this discussion, questioned the validity of this information and then asked Bo Jinyan why he suspected Ruan Ming Huai's roommate, Huo Xiao Lu. Bo Jinyan then stepped in, revealing that his criminal psychological analysis pointed to Huo Xiao Lu as the prime suspect.
He presented three key points: First, regarding the distance, the victim, Ruan Ming Huai, had her throat cut in a single fatal strike. As arterial blood would spray widely if the attack was frontal, the killer must have attacked from behind at close range. The isolated platform offered no concealment, meaning the murderer had to have been sitting very close to Ruan Ming Huai, likely her good friend, to avoid suspicion.
Second, concerning the money, Ruan Ming Huai was found lying diagonally on the ground, with blood spraying forward. Her backpack, containing the money, was behind her. For the blood to saturate the money and bag, it would take at least half an hour, according to forensic reports. However, the murder itself was a quick, frenzied attack lasting no more than five minutes.
The killer had no reason to linger for half an hour, indicating that the person who killed Ruan Ming Huai and the person who took the money were two different individuals. Third, Bo Jinyan concluded that Huo Xiao Lu's testimony was full of inconsistencies and flaws. He then declared it was time to observe how such a young psychopath developed. Huo Xiao Lu, seeing Guo Xiao Ling leave, followed her to the back mountain with a knife.
Suddenly, Su Bei appeared and accusatorily asked if she had killed Ruan Ming Huai. Huo Xiao Lu admitted to the murder, explaining she did it because Ruan Ming Huai constantly flaunted her relationship with Su Bei, showing off their dates and photos. She confessed her obsessive love for Su Bei, convinced they were destined to be together, and believed killing Ruan Ming Huai merely helped Su Bei get rid of a troublesome woman.
It was then revealed that Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao's presence, along with the confrontation, was part of a trap designed to lure Huo Xiao Lu out. Su Bei reacted with shock, stating he didn't even know Huo Xiao Lu. Huo Xiao Lu insisted that they were destined to be together and that Su Bei's true love could only be her.
She angrily questioned why Su Bei had called the police and why he was turning against her, emphasizing that everything she did was for him. Su Bei called her a psychotic madwoman, but Huo Xiao Lu maintained that Su Bei also disliked all the women who pestered him, and she had silently loved him without being a nuisance. She reiterated that she cleared Ruan Ming Huai out for him. Huo Xiao Lu then recounted her crime in detail.
She described how easy it was to kill the "stupid woman" by setting up a fake meeting between Ruan Ming Huai and Su Bei at "the old place" at 10 PM. She then pretended to offer to accompany Ruan Ming Huai, knowing Ruan Ming Huai suspected her of trying to steal Su Bei. After everyone else left the dorm, Huo Xiao Lu secretly followed Ruan Ming Huai.
She confronted Ruan Ming Huai, telling her that Su Bei was just playing with her. When Ruan Ming Huai insisted on her love for Su Bei, Huo Xiao Lu attacked and killed her. After the murder, Huo Xiao Lu cleaned up the scene and hid in the woods. She recounted observing Su Bei from a distance as he discovered Ruan Ming Huai's body.
Su Bei appeared shocked but not sad, returning later to take the money, which confirmed Huo Xiao Lu's belief that he never truly cared for Ruan Ming Huai. Huo Xiao Lu admitted to handling her bloodied clothes and framing Wei Si Yuan. When Jian Yao interjected, telling Huo Xiao Lu that Su Bei loved none of them, Huo Xiao Lu became enraged, believing Jian Yao was lying and that Su Bei loved her.
She then lunged at Jian Yao with a knife. Jian Yao slipped, hitting her head and spraining her ankle, before police officers quickly intervened and subdued Huo Xiao Lu. Bo Jinyan swiftly carried Jian Yao princess-style from the back mountain to the car. Bo Jinyan brought Jian Yao back to her home to tend to her injuries. He carefully examined her forehead and ankle, providing detailed medical advice before offering to ice her injuries.
Jian Yao, downplaying her discomfort, joked about becoming stupid from the head injury, to which Bo Jinyan humorously replied that her IQ wouldn't matter much given his own 180 IQ. Jian Yao then mused that the "killer" who had seemingly been "stalking" her, or rather, the feeling of being in danger, had now passed since the criminal was caught, admitting she might have been overthinking things.
Bo Jinyan responded by proposing a new rule: going forward, Jian Yao would need to stay by his side 24 hours a day during case investigations. He even suggested she move in with him, which Jian Yao politely declined. Later, Bo Jinyan elaborated on the flaws in Huo Xiao Lu's testimony.
He referenced a previous case involving Wang Wan Wei's suicide note, explaining that real documents often contain minor errors or a distinctive writing style, while fake ones tend to be overly concise, rigorous, and flawless. Applying this to oral testimony, he highlighted two points. First, human memory is guided by emotion, not chronological order. He used Jian Yao's recent fall as an example: when recounting it, she first focused on the emotional impact (being chased, the pain) before the time.
In contrast, Huo Xiao Lu, despite the traumatic murder of a friend, described the events in strict chronological order, which indicated she was reiterating a prepared statement rather than genuinely recalling. Second, Huo Xiao Lu's testimony was filled with dull and irrelevant details, such as drinking brown sugar water, which liars often add to make their stories seem more authentic and to feel secure. Bo Jinyan found himself increasingly drawn to Jian Yao.
He called her, attempting to arrange a dinner, but she was at school with Han Juan and Xiao Ran, feeling nostalgic for the canteen. Undeterred, he called Fu Ziyu, who arrived quickly. Bo Jinyan then confessed to Fu Ziyu that he had fallen in love with Jian Yao. Fu Ziyu, who didn't seem surprised, congratulated him. Bo Jinyan revealed he already had a plan to pursue her.
He later went to a flower shop, asking about the meaning of various flowers before selecting moth orchids, which signify "I love you" and "may happiness come to you." He called Jian Yao again, but she was at the supermarket and would be another hour. He told her he would come over to her place. That evening, Bo Jinyan arrived at Jian Yao's apartment, carrying his turtle, Silent, only to find Li Xunran opening the door.
Li Xunran explained he was there to comfort Jian Yao after her recent ordeal. Hearing that Jian Yao and Li Xunran planned to go to a bar, Bo Jinyan insisted on joining them, stating Jian Yao's friends were his friends. As they walked, Li Xunran probed Jian Yao about her relationship with Bo Jinyan, jokingly asking if wedding bells were in their future. Jian Yao admitted she was unsure of Bo Jinyan's feelings, mentioning his focus on work.
Li Xunran then suggested they subtly provoke Bo Jinyan to get a clearer sense of his emotions, but Jian Yao refused, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. Li Xunran also mentioned other police officers interested in Jian Yao, but Bo Jinyan interjected, stating that for a good woman, quality over quantity matters in suitors, and offered to introduce "outstanding young men" if Jian Yao ever needed. Jian Yao quickly changed the subject, stating she wasn't looking for a boyfriend.
At the bar, a woman openly approached Bo Jinyan, expressing her deep admiration and attraction, confessing her heart was already "controlled" by him. Despite this, Bo Jinyan's attention remained on Jian Yao. Later, Li Xunran went on stage and dedicated a song to Jian Yao and "her friend," wishing them both happiness. Meanwhile, in a secluded room, a mysterious man used a match to ignite a pool of gasoline on the floor.
Episode 13 Recap
Li Xunran's term in Jianzhou concluded, and he was due to return to Tong City. He called Jian Yao to ask if she needed anything brought to her family. At the time, Jian Yao was injured from rigorous police training, and Bo Jinyan was massaging her. Fu Ziyu answered the phone, explaining playfully that Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan were "a match made in heaven" and that they were "busy" and unavailable.
Li Xunran relayed his message through Fu Ziyu, noting he would be returning to Tong City. Fu Ziyu, in turn, offered to purchase gifts himself for Li Xunran to take back. Jian Yao went to the train station to see Li Xunran off. She arrived a bit late due to traffic.
She presented four gifts: a new cellphone for her mother, emphasizing its improved signal; medication for Uncle Li, with instructions for use; a slim-fitting outfit for Jian Xuan, jokingly warning her against gaining weight; and a gift for Li Xunran himself. Before boarding, Li Xunran unexpectedly hugged Jian Yao, calling it a one-time embrace, and they agreed to meet again during the New Year.
Later, Bo Jinyan called Jian Yao, instructing her to prepare immediately and don her finest attire, as a car would arrive to pick her up for an undisclosed "activity." Jian Yao, confused, changed into an evening gown. While en route in a luxurious vehicle, Bo Jinyan called again. Jian Yao pressed him for details, and he revealed that he was taking her out on a date, to her surprise.
Jian Yao arrived at a top-floor luxury suite, specifically reserved by Bo Jinyan. The suite was adorned with romantic candlelight and beautiful flowers, with a violinist providing music during dinner. It also boasted a 270° unobstructed panorama view of the city and an open-air swimming pool on the balcony. Bo Jinyan complimented Jian Yao's beauty, emphasizing the importance of an unforgettable romantic atmosphere for their first date, a strategy he attributed to Fu Ziyu's advice.
After their meal, he encouraged her to close her eyes, revealing the city's National Day fireworks display, visible from the suite's prime vantage point. Bo Jinyan thanked her for coming, saying he simply wanted her to feel the romantic atmosphere. When he asked why she was avoiding him and if she wanted him to kiss her, she admitted she did. He kissed her, then playfully declared, "What's wrong with kissing my own girlfriend?"
Jian Yao clarified she hadn't agreed to be his girlfriend yet. Bo Jinyan formally confessed his feelings, stating he was the most suitable match for her and that their prior relationship had been wrongly defined. He urged her to be his woman, emphasizing their undeniable mutual feelings. Jian Yao, whose feelings resonated with his, naturally agreed to be his girlfriend. Bo Jinyan then asked for a kiss on his cheek, since he had initiated the first.
The next morning, Fu Ziyu called, congratulating Bo Jinyan and asking about the previous night. Bo Jinyan, noting Jian Yao's shyness, proudly declared the experience "felt really good," thanking Fu Ziyu for his advice. He then confided in Jian Yao that if he had known "connecting with you in body and soul would cause such joy, I would have asked for your love on the first day we met." Jian Yao expressed her happiness as well.
Meanwhile, a delivery worker attempted to deliver a package to apartment 302 but received no answer. He left the package with the building's gate guard. Moments later, apartment 302 exploded, everything inside instantly incinerated. This incident marked the fifth arson suicide case recently, seemingly unconnected, yet Bo Jinyan suspected a link to Flower Cannibal no.2. He had been intentionally misleading Jian Yao, telling her Flower Cannibal no.2 was dead, to spare her worry.
Fu Ziyu confronted Bo Jinyan about this deception, arguing that Jian Yao, as an insider, had the right to know the dangers she faced. Bo Jinyan admitted that the current peril far exceeded his initial expectations when he asked Jian Yao to be his assistant, and though he was inseparable from her due to her intelligence and resilience, he didn't want her entangled in this mess. Fu Ziyu countered that she was already involved and couldn't simply escape.
Bo Jinyan conceded, admitting, "I don't know," a rare admission for him. Jian Yao observed that the suicide notes left by the victims seemed genuinely written and not coerced. Bo Jinyan concurred, suggesting that a mastermind must be using psychological manipulation, possibly including hypnotism, to induce hallucinations and emotional fluctuations, compelling the victims to write sincere suicide notes and commit arson.
He highlighted the improbable coincidence of five individuals choosing the same method and tools within a few days, indicating a clear, escalating criminal pattern. The five victims, all aged 35-45, shared similar profiles: poor financial conditions and minor criminal records, such as petty theft or public altercations, which had resulted in police intervention but no imprisonment. Bo Jinyan suggested that the perpetrator understood behavioral analysis and selected victims who fit this profile.
He then directly raised the possibility that this individual could be Flower Cannibal no.2, though he quickly reassured Jian Yao, repeating that Flower Cannibal no.2 was dead. Separately, Jian Xuan was returning home from shopping when her items were accidentally knocked from her hand, and a passerby helped her retrieve them. Li Xunran, who had come to pick her up, then drove her home. Once there, Jian Xuan discovered an unfamiliar flower mixed in with the bouquet she had purchased.
Later, she saw her neighbor, Qi Qi, talking to her father, Uncle Qian, and overheard Qi Qi mention that Uncle Qian was "sick." Jian Xuan noted that Uncle Qian's temperament had grown increasingly irritable. During a police briefing led by Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan, they explained that while the crime scenes and casualties varied, the amount of fuel used in each arson was identical.
Crucially, the computers of all five victims had been remotely accessed and their hard drives wiped clean. However, Bo Jinyan explained that a significant oversight by the suspect occurred: one victim's regularly used computer had been sent for repair, and while the laptop he was using at the time of the incident was destroyed by the remote virus, the repaired hard drive survived. This hard drive contained evidence. Fu Ziyu successfully accessed an encrypted forum the victim frequented.
Upon logging in using the victim's email, a series of "bloody numbers" appeared on the screen. Fu Ziyu deciphered the code, which read: "Say hello to Jenny." Jian Yao, realizing her name was Jenny, became anxious, but Bo Jinyan calmly dismissed it, suggesting it was merely the perpetrator's way of acknowledging her.
Episode 14 Recap
Following the unsettling message "say hello to Jenny" displayed in blood-red numbers on a forum, Jian Yao confronted Bo Jinyan, questioning why he had not told her the Flower Cannibal had not died. Bo Jinyan explained his grave concern, stating that while he understood the original Flower Cannibal's danger, he was still trying to understand the new killer, who had been observing him.
He believed the killer's understanding of him might be flawed due to the distance of observation, and he feared the killer would discover Jian Yao's importance to him, identifying her as a friend he deeply cared for and ultimately, his weakness. He had even considered arranging for her to leave for a period, believing there was no longer a need for her to know about the killer's existence.
However, Jian Yao insisted on honesty, asserting her role as his girlfriend and expressing her belief that he could protect her. Meanwhile, Qi Qi arrived at Jian Xuan’s home in distress, having discovered her father, Qian Jun, had disappeared after leaving a will. She pleaded with Jian Xuan for help in contacting the police. Li Xunran happened to be there and offered to drive Jian Xuan and Qi Qi to find Qian Jun.
Simultaneously, Fu Ziyu delved into a suicide forum frequented by the recent victim. He discovered a user identified as "MidnightBlueLight" was actively encouraging others to commit suicide. Fu Ziyu quickly pinpointed the most recent user "MidnightBlueLight" had contacted: an ID named "GraySky." Within seconds, "GraySky's" IP address was traced to Jian Yao's neighborhood in Tong City.
Bo Jinyan recognized this as a customized message specifically for Jian Yao, indicating that the next related victim would be someone of special significance to her. Jian Yao immediately called her mother to ensure her safety, learning that her mother was at home, while Jian Xuan was out with Li Xunran, helping look for Qian Jun.
Understanding the grave danger, Jian Yao contacted Li Xunran, informing him of the situation and instructing him to ensure her mother and Jian Xuan were taken to the police station for protection. Later, Bo Jinyan observed that the ease with which Jian Yao’s mother and sister were protected suggested they might not have been the true targets.
He pressed Jian Yao to consider who else important to her might be in Tong City, leading her to realize the potential target was Li Xunran. Li Xunran and the police arrived at Qian Jun's workplace. Witnesses reported that Qian Jun had entered a warehouse. To buy time for the evacuation of people from other workshops, Li Xunran bravely volunteered to enter the warehouse himself.
Despite his superior trying to stop him, Li Xunran went inside to try and calm Qian Jun. Jian Yao repeatedly called him, but he couldn't answer. Moments later, the warehouse violently exploded, engulfing the entire structure in flames. Upon her return to Tong City, Jian Yao was devastated to learn about the warehouse explosion and Li Xunran's presence inside. She broke down in tears as she saw his burnt personal belongings, including his watch, found at the scene.
Recognizing the Flower Cannibal's pattern, Bo Jinyan immediately called Fu Ziyu, urging him to be vigilant and prioritize his own safety. That evening, Jian Yao spoke with Bo Jinyan, confiding in him about a traumatic childhood experience. She was seven when her father, a detective, was tracking a vicious murderer. On her grandfather’s birthday, her father had taken her and her younger sister, Jian Xuan, to celebrate, while their mother worked overtime at the factory.
A group of unknown individuals then arrived at her grandparents' home. Her father quickly hid her and Jian Xuan in a cupboard, barricading it with a sofa, and turned up the television loudly to shield them from the chaos outside. When other police officers later rescued them from the cupboard, her father, grandfather, and grandmother had all lost their lives.
In the aftermath of that day, Li Xunran was Jian Yao's constant companion, becoming her best friend during that difficult time. The explosion left the warehouse severely damaged, with no identifiable human remains found. However, Bo Jinyan observed Li Xunran’s watch, noting its strange burn marks that indicated it had been taken off Li Xunran's wrist before the explosion.
Jian Yao desperately asked if this meant Li Xunran was still alive, but Bo Jinyan cautioned her against optimistic assumptions without evidence. He reasoned that if Li Xunran was taken away before the explosion, transporting a conscious young man from such a chaotic scene would require a vehicle. He immediately instructed the police to review CCTV footage for any suspicious dark-colored vehicles that left the scene within ten minutes of the explosion.
Indeed, a dark-colored car was spotted leaving just five minutes after the explosion, though its license plate was unclear. At the scene, the killer had left a chilling message: "Now it begins." Fu Ziyu successfully located "MidnightBlueLight’s" address and urged Bo Jinyan to return to Jiangzhou immediately to discuss the findings in person. Bo Jinyan initially suggested Jian Yao remain in Tong City under police protection, but she insisted on accompanying him, stating her trust in him to protect her.
They left for Jiangzhou together. Meanwhile, Fu Ziyu realized he was being followed. He subdued the tracker and discovered it was an individual hired by Yin Ziqi. Fu Ziyu confronted Yin Ziqi in her office, who admitted to having him followed, explaining she wanted to know what Bo Jinyan was doing since he was unwilling to tell her anything. She had hoped to find paper documents by tracking Fu Ziyu, knowing Bo Jinyan would seek his help on major cases.
Fu Ziyu pressed her on how the psychopathic killer knew Bo Jinyan's secret address, as only he and Yin Ziqi knew it after Bo Jinyan returned for his recovery. Yin Ziqi confessed she had only told her fiancé, Lin Yiyang. Fu Ziyu then revealed that "MidnightBlueLight’s" real IP address was in Hong Kong, located at one of the villas under Lin Yiyang's name. Fu Ziyu suspected the Flower Cannibal's disciple was connected to Lin Yiyang. Upon his arrival, Bo Jinyan learned this information and decided they would go to Hong Kong to investigate.
Episode 15 Recap
Jian Yao expressed her conviction that Lin Yiyang could not be the true culprit behind the recent horrific crimes. She argued that if Lin Yiyang were indeed the person responsible, his fiancée, Yin Ziqi, who had been kissed by the "Flower Cannibal" and had been in a relationship with Lin Yiyang for years, would have undoubtedly noticed a significant difference during a kiss. Bo Jinyan found this an intriguing, albeit unusual, premise for identifying a criminal.
To test the theory that a person's unique kissing habits could reveal identity, Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao shared a kiss in front of a visibly uncomfortable Fu Ziyu. Afterwards, Jian Yao secretly told Bo Jinyan that he habitually hooks her tongue from bottom to top, a subconscious action he had just performed. Bo Jinyan conceded that this intimate detail made Jian Yao's argument more convincing regarding Lin Yiyang's distinctiveness.
However, he warned that while this might suggest Lin Yiyang was not the "Flower Cannibal," it did not rule out a connection, especially considering the possibility of a dual personality. Bo Jinyan then delved into the psychological profile of the current perpetrator, whom he believed to be Tommy's spiritual guide and the actual "Flower Cannibal Number One," with Tommy merely being "Number Two." He concluded that Number One, being extremely conceited, would never allow anyone to be on equal footing.
His mind control techniques far surpassed Tommy's, solidifying his role as a spiritual mentor. Bo Jinyan theorized that Number One’s primary objective was no longer mere revenge for Tommy's imprisonment but a deep-seated desire to conquer him. This shift in motivation meant they could now take proactive measures. Shortly after, Team Leader Wu reported that the suspicious vehicle from the recent arson case had been tracked onto the Hai Yue expressway, heading towards Hong Kong.
Bo Jinyan swiftly deduced that Hong Kong was Number One's next intended "slaughterhouse." He dispatched Fu Ziyu to Hong Kong to coordinate with Interpol and investigate Lin Yiyang’s villa, while he himself, accompanied by Jian Yao, headed to the prison to interrogate Tommy. Upon their arrival, Tommy, sensing a woman's scent on Bo Jinyan, playfully demanded to meet her, promising to reveal Number One's identity in return.
Bo Jinyan feigned departure, prompting Tommy to quickly retract his demand and agree to cooperate. Bo Jinyan presented Tommy with evidence from Number One's recent cases, including intricate numerical codes. Tommy admitted Number One's fondness for number games but claimed he couldn't recall seeing this specific coding pattern. After further prompting, Tommy translated a code revealing "Hi, Simon," and then claimed Number One's ultimate goal was to kill Bo Jinyan as revenge for him.
Despite Tommy's words, Bo Jinyan later told a visibly shaken Jian Yao that Tommy was lying from their first interaction; Number One was Tommy's spiritual pillar, and he would never betray him. Bo Jinyan observed that Tommy's reaction to Number One's codes was not one of pleasure but rather a strong, albeit controlled, emotional fluctuation, indicative of jealousy and anger.
He deduced that Tommy feared being replaced, and thus, Number One's true objective was to have Bo Jinyan become his new criminal partner. In Hong Kong, international police units searched Lin Yiyang's villa, finding no one but intricate miniature scene simulations crafted from previous cases, along with various unsettling figurines, and a VCR.
Among the setups, Bo Jinyan noted a display of two men standing together with a sign that read, "You will be with me," which he recognized as Number One's direct challenge and an indication that he was ready to confront Bo Jinyan. The VCR displayed five rooms. The first three showed victims who had disappeared two weeks prior: a young real estate agent, a retired literature professor, and an architect. The fourth room featured a large dog and a doll.
The fifth room was too dark, showing only the back of a man sitting in a chair. Fu Ziyu confirmed Bo Jinyan’s suspicion that the seemingly still images at the end of each video were actually encrypted footage, which he had successfully decoded. Seeing the decoded images, Jian Yao was overcome with fear for Li Xunran, who she worried might be in Number One's clutches. She ran out, crying uncontrollably.
Bo Jinyan followed, comforting her and urging her to be strong, explaining that her defeat would also mean his. He understood that attacking Jian Yao was Number One's strategic way of declaring war on him, targeting his perceived weakness. Later, the bodies of the three confirmed victims were discovered scattered across Hong Kong's mountains and suburbs.
Forensic analysis revealed that Number One had taken "souvenirs" from each: a piece of skin from the female victim's back, a lock of silver hair from the elderly man's head, and the heart of the male victim, which had been removed while he was still alive. Bo Jinyan, combining these findings with the VCR footage, began to construct Number One's psychological profile.
He deduced that the female victim, who had been severely whipped but not sexually assaulted, suggested Number One's deep hatred for women, possibly stemming from childhood abandonment or sexual assault by an adult female. The removal of the young man's heart symbolized the most profound "robbery of dignity," indicating that Number One likely grew up with an abusive father figure whose values he vehemently rejected.
The elderly victim, subjected to no physical abuse other than having air injected into his vein, symbolized death itself; the act of taking only a lock of hair meant Number One believed old age and natural death were the ultimate torments, requiring no further physical suffering. The doll with severed hands, found with the male victim, suggested a traumatic childhood where the child's hope was stolen, representing Number One himself.
Bo Jinyan directed his team to search the American Central Bureau for graduates from advanced psychology schools who matched this complex profile. Meanwhile, Fu Ziyu reported that Yin Ziqi had officially filed a missing person report for Lin Yiyang in Hong Kong. Bo Jinyan reiterated that while Lin Yiyang was certainly not Number One, he might be a victim himself, as a serial killer invariably seeks new prey after a kill.
Despite the progress, Bo Jinyan spent the night contemplating, realizing that the detailed psychological profile he had meticulously constructed was precisely the one Number One "intended" for him to find. He understood that while the profile was real, it was a deliberate misdirection, a tactic by Number One who was confident that Bo Jinyan would not be able to find him using these clues. Bo Jinyan concluded that Number One had already begun his second wave of crimes, and he himself had, for now, lost this intricate round of their game.
Episode 16 Recap
Bo Jinyan, clear-headed, understood that the psychopathic killer, Number one, would not easily provide clues. He deduced that the three victims must be connected. To uncover this, he returned to his initial analysis of the victims' behavior and invited all their family members for interviews. The roommate of the female victim, Hua Xiao, described her as having an excellent temperament, being gentle and patient with others.
The family of the elderly male victim, Zhou Lin Po, stated that he was a teacher who lived righteously and selflessly, dedicating his savings to charity. Yang Yu Zhe's brother revealed that his sibling possessed great literary talent, but due to their parents' objections, he had to study architecture. Despite this, Yang Yu Zhe never abandoned his passion for writing and frequently produced literary works.
Combining the victims' personalities and the killer's previous actions, Bo Jinyan analyzed that Number one was constructing his idealized family. This imagined family featured a kind, elderly father (Zhou Lin Po), young parents (Hua Xiao and Yang Yu Zhe), and a doll representing a child. Zhou Lin Po, the elder, was not subjected to abuse, signifying his role as Number one's idealized father figure, implying the killer never had a father in reality.
Yang Yu Zhe, the young man, represented a reflection of Number one himself. Bo Jinyan concluded that by killing these three, Number one was attempting to break free from his fantasy, return to his deep-seated hatred, and then construct a new family to begin a new cycle of fantasy. Bo Jinyan further deduced that abusive murder was the peak of the suspect's pleasure, as he reveled in the victims' screams and pleas.
He noted that while the other two victims' mouths were not covered, Yang Yu Zhe's mouth was sealed with tape. This led Bo Jinyan to believe that Yang Yu Zhe either knew the culprit or was aware of him using different identities. He then focused on the Hong Kong Annual Chinese Fantasy Awards Ceremony held in 2015, two days after the killer arrived in Hong Kong. Yang Yu Zhe had been an invitee to this ceremony.
The killer, identified by the fake name Mei Jun Yuan, was also investigated as one of the participants. Mei Jun Yuan, a Chinese American from a single-parent family, was a prime suspect. Further investigation revealed that Mei Jun Yuan's passport was fake. Subsequently, two new disappearances occurred, including a sales assistant from a jewelry store. Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao went to the jewelry store where the sales assistant worked, knowing it would have CCTV footage.
The surveillance showed Number one approaching her as a customer and leaving his contact information. After exiting the store, Number one did not immediately leave but lingered outside, surveying the surroundings. Bo Jinyan deduced he was scouting for his next victim. He instructed Fu Ziyu to investigate primary schools near the jewelry store. This search uncovered Xu Zixi, a third-grade student who had won a special award in a recent literature competition.
The awards ceremony was taking place at the Hong Kong Astronomy Museum. Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao rushed to the museum. As Xu Zixi ascended the stage to receive his award, a fire alarm suddenly blared, and the power went out, plunging the venue into chaos. Bo Jinyan immediately located Xu Zixi. Number one, seizing the opportunity, attempted to abduct the child. Bo Jinyan directly confronted the killer, firmly holding onto Xu Zixi and saving him from the assailant's grasp.
Thwarted, Number one fled the scene. Police identified the perpetrator as Mei Jun Yuan, whose real name was Xie Han. Raised by a single mother, Xie Han suffered sexual abuse by a woman when he was nineteen. After his mother's death, Xie Han inherited a substantial amount of money, giving him a solid financial base to support his psychopathic acts.
Meanwhile, Xie Han held three known hostages: Fan Wei Zhi, He Ai Wen, and the unidentified fifth victim from the earlier case, whom Jian Yao strongly believed was Li Xunran. Xie Han, in room five, taunted the severely injured Li Xunran, claiming no one cared for him and that his fiancée, Jian Yao, had likely abandoned him, just as she would eventually be eliminated by Xie Han himself.
Li Xunran fiercely retorted, ridiculing Xie Han for his failure to capture the child, Xu Zixi, which proved he was not as clever as he imagined and had lost to Bo Jinyan. Jian Yao, convinced it was Li Xunran in the video, repeatedly analyzed the footage with Bo Jinyan. They observed Li Xunran subtly moving his finger to his hair, leaving a Morse code message: 33767.
Bo Jinyan recognized this as a lamp post ID number, a common feature in Hong Kong. The police, acting on this information, located a large villa belonging to Xie Han. Based on the light penetration captured in the victim's footage, Bo Jinyan precisely identified the basement entrance. As police prepared to breach the villa, Xie Han called Yin Ziqi, claiming to be Lin Yiyang's friend and requesting a meeting, feigning an effort to save Lin Yiyang's life.
Episode 17 Recap
In the villa's basement, police discovered two barely conscious survivors, identified by their features as Fan Hai Zhi and He Ai Wen, both in critical condition and in urgent need of medical assistance. Upon hearing the news, Bo Jinyan exchanged a grim look with Jian Yao, sensing the gravity of the situation. At the same time, Yin Ziqi, Bo Jinyan's older sister, frantically arrived at the scene, appearing anxious. Soon after, Xie Han contacted Bo Jinyan via the police.
Recognizing the call as the next step in Xie Han's twisted game, Bo Jinyan ordered everyone to evacuate the villa immediately, having realized there was a bomb. He then proceeded alone into the yard as instructed by Xie Han. Xie Han informed him that bombs were set on the third floor of both the main building and the side building, each bound to a person: Li Xunran in the main building and Lin Yiyang in the side building.
Bo Jinyan had three minutes to run to either room, which would take two minutes, and disable one of the bombs using only his right thumbprint. He could only save one person, and Xie Han eagerly pressed him to choose whom he would kill. Without hesitation, Bo Jinyan ran directly to the side building on the third floor, successfully disabling the bomb and saving Lin Yiyang.
Xie Han's voice erupted in fury over the phone, demanding to know why Bo Jinyan chose to save an addict, abandoning Li Xunran, a dedicated police officer with whom he had worked on three cases. Bo Jinyan calmly explained that he had seen through the trap from the beginning.
He deduced that Xie Han, as a perverted madman, intended to manipulate him into rushing to the main building, which would be empty, thus ensuring Lin Yiyang's bomb would detonate, causing Bo Jinyan to "kill" someone without saving anyone. Bo Jinyan concluded that Li Xunran was never in that room.
Upon realizing his plan was foiled, Xie Han's anger turned into exhilaration, declaring Bo Jinyan the only person in the world who truly understood him, and expressed his eagerness for Bo Jinyan to become his partner. Jian Yao was consumed by guilt, lamenting that if she had only understood the subtle message Li Xunran tried to send earlier, things might have been different. Bo Jinyan comforted her, assuring her that they would rescue Li Xunran eventually.
Xie Han, meanwhile, successfully escaped the police encirclement again and returned to his secret residence, intent on brainwashing Li Xunran to obey his commands. That evening, Fu Ziyu spoke with Bo Jinyan about Jian Yao. Bo Jinyan described Jian Yao as a very strong girl. Fu Ziyu commented on their unique connection, noting they had only spent a short time in the same city. This conversation sparked a realization in Bo Jinyan.
He deduced that Xie Han's seamless operations in Hong Kong pointed to a deeper network of connections, not merely relying on power gained through Lin Yiyang. He believed the key to uncovering Xie Han's identity still lay with Tommy. Acting on this new lead, Bo Jinyan requested Susan to re-investigate Tommy. Meanwhile, Xie Han, disguised as a fish store worker, located an old acquaintance named Uncle Cai at the docks.
Xie Han reminded Uncle Cai of a past incident where he assisted in a murder to retrieve diamonds by cutting open the victim, using this leverage to demand Uncle Cai help him leave Hong Kong within three days. As Bo Jinyan intensified the investigation into Tommy, recognizing the urgency if Xie Han attempted to leave Hong Kong, Xie Han also began hypnotizing Li Xunran, attempting to mold him into his "work of art."
Concurrently, Captain Liang received a report stating that Lin Yiyang's cellphone had been found on a mountain and had only made one call: to Yin Ziqi. Captain Liang did not overly doubt this report and encouraged his officers to spare no effort in searching every corner of Hong Kong to find the suspect and the missing victim.
Bo Jinyan found a crucial clue in a newspaper article detailing how Hong Kong police had solved a jewelry smuggling case involving animal carcasses. This immediately prompted him to re-interrogate Tommy. During the re-interrogation, Susan pressed Tommy, recalling that in 2009, while working at a freight dock, he had killed three jewelers. She then brought up a colleague who supposedly died accidentally, falling into the ocean, whose body was then transported to his hometown, Hong Kong.
Susan challenged Tommy, asserting that his colleague's death was no accident but rather a fourth murder, and the body was intentionally used to smuggle stolen jewelry. This time, Tommy failed to successfully hide his words and actions, revealing his true colors.
Episode 18 Recap
A Hong Kong police task force received a crucial lead from Tommy, who revealed that the individual he collaborated with bore a distinctive black lotus tattoo on one side of his neck. Tommy explained his confession stemmed from a need to remind this person of his existence, feeling he had been forgotten. Based on this, Hong Kong police searched their databases for individuals with such a tattoo among triad members, eventually identifying Uncle Cai as the primary suspect.
Uncle Cai was known for his involvement in the blood diamond trade, as well as dealings in precious jewels and artworks, though past investigations had failed to incriminate him. That night, the police encircled the fourth dock, intending to apprehend Uncle Cai. During the operation, a motorcyclist suddenly appeared and shot at Uncle Cai. Police promptly returned fire, killing the motorcyclist. However, the deceased was identified as Mr. Mei, not Xie Han, whom they had been pursuing.
The water unit was deployed to seal off the sea. A subsequent search of Uncle Cai’s ship led to the discovery of a severely injured and unconscious Li Xunran in a container. Li Xunran was rushed to the hospital. Jian Yao, overjoyed by his rescue, credited Bo Jinyan’s efforts. When Bo Jinyan visited Li Xunran, he inquired how he managed to survive.
Li Xunran explained that a perverted killer like Xie Han derives pleasure from tormenting his victims; by consistently resisting and denying Xie Han any satisfaction from his suffering, he inadvertently ensured his own survival, as Xie Han prolonged his life in pursuit of the desired pleasure.
Meanwhile, Uncle Cai’s confession revealed that the yacht prepared for Xie Han had been detonated, and its sinking prevented police from recovering any of Xie Han’s DNA, thus making it impossible to confirm whether he died in the explosion. Later, Jian Yao was disturbed by a nightmare where Xie Han presented Bo Jinyan’s heart on a plate. Bo Jinyan, hearing her distress, entered her room to comfort her. Li Xunran’s severe injuries necessitated complex surgery.
His doctor advised that the procedure would be best performed in America, given Li Xunran’s previous exposure to a large amount of neural injections and the critical location of the surgery near a high concentration of spinal nerves. Therefore, it was recommended to find an authoritative expert in this field. Jian Yao convinced Li Xunran, and they firmly decided to go to America for his treatment. Bo Jinyan visited Yi Yang, who was undergoing drug abstinence treatment.
Bo Jinyan showed him Xie Han’s photograph, and Yi Yang identified the man as Mei Jun Yuan, though he claimed to know nothing more about him. Later, while eating, Bo Jinyan discussed Xie Han’s psychological profile with Jian Yao. He explained that Xie Han approaches men with a desire to conquer, so Li Xunran’s resistance was correct, as it prevented Xie Han from rushing to kill him.
However, Xie Han’s attitude towards women is starkly different; he has no patience for them, and even a little resistance can provoke him to kill. Yin Ziqi frantically called Bo Jinyan, reporting the discovery of a bouquet of flowers in Yi Yang’s hospital room. Attached was a card with a message from Xie Han: “Dear Simon, I’m currently preparing a gift for you. I hope you like it.” Yin Ziqi expressed grave concern that Xie Han might target Yi Yang.
Bo Jinyan dismissed her immediate fears, asserting that if Xie Han intended to demonstrate his capability to infiltrate, his primary target would have been Li Xunran, who was under heavy police guard. The fact that he chose Yi Yang, combined with the non-lethal nature of the act (mere flower delivery), suggested that Xie Han’s current capabilities were limited, and he could not approach Li Xunran.
Under the arrangements made by Officer Liang of the Hong Kong Police, Li Xunran, Bo Jinyan, and their group departed for the United States under police escort. Upon arriving in America, Bo Jinyan met with colleagues, including Susan, and learned of Tommy’s prison escape. During his escape, multiple hackers and mercenaries accepted money to assist him. Despite extensive pursuit by American police, it was in vain.
Bo Jinyan analyzed the situation, correcting his earlier assessment of Xie Han’s relationship with Tommy. He concluded that Xie Han was not Tommy’s spiritual mentor, but merely a pawn in Xie Han’s eyes.
Episode 19 Recap
As Jian Yao remained by Li Xunran's side in the hospital, Fu Ziyu came to comfort her, assuring her that Li Xunran's injuries were not as severe as initially feared and that he would recover quickly if the surgery was successful. Meanwhile, Yin Ziqi arranged for Lin Yiyang to check into a high-end drug rehabilitation center. Yin Ziqi urged Lin Yiyang to seriously commit to overcoming his drug addiction.
Lin Yiyang questioned if his failure to do so would provide Yin Ziqi with a clear reason to end their engagement, to which she vaguely replied they would discuss future matters later. Bo Jinyan, concerned for Jian Yao's safety, called her at the hospital. He emphasized the importance of her safety, urging her to stay in the FBI-prepared companion ward at the hospital and not leave casually.
FBI agent Susan discovered through video surveillance that Xie Han had entered the country. The customs officer who privately facilitated Xie Han's entry was later found shot dead by Xie Han. Next to the officer's body, Bo Jinyan discovered a bouquet of flowers with a note simply stating, "Allen, I miss you." Susan, who had reviewed all of Xie Han's files, found no mention of anyone named Allen, leaving her puzzled. Bo Jinyan then revealed Allen was his brother.
On the hospital rooftop, Bo Jinyan met Jian Yao and informed her of his plan to leave the city for a small town to visit an old friend. Concurrently, Tommy successfully reunited with Xie Han, and they embraced tightly. Still confused about "Allen," Susan called Fu Ziyu, noting that Bo Jinyan's files indicated no biological brother. Fu Ziyu explained that Bo Jinyan's mother had been expecting twins, named Simon and Allen in English.
While Simon (Bo Jinyan) was born successfully, Allen was stillborn. Fu Ziyu concluded that Xie Han's knowledge of Allen implied a deeper understanding of Bo Jinyan than they had previously believed. Separately, Susan received intelligence linking the gun used to kill the customs officer to a previous court robbery. She immediately connected the two cases and decided to investigate the files stolen in that juvenile court robbery.
After questioning those involved, Susan discovered that these stolen juvenile files belonged to Bo Jinyan. Meanwhile, Bo Jinyan sought out his former mentor, Evan, an old man. Bo Jinyan discussed with Evan a period of his youth memory that he had lost, hoping Evan could help him recall it. However, Evan told Bo Jinyan that he would have to rely on his own memory to recover it.
Susan then went to interview Mrs. Bo, Bo Jinyan's mother, hoping to understand what happened in Bo Jinyan's youth and why his files were in the juvenile court. Mrs. Bo revealed that Bo Jinyan's birth father died early, and his stepfather was an alcoholic and abusive, frequently hitting both her and young Bo Jinyan.
One time, in an attempt to protect Bo Jinyan, she had planned to shoot the man, but instead, Bo Jinyan picked up the gun from the ground and shot his stepfather. Having recovered this memory, Bo Jinyan believed that what he did to protect his mother was not wrong, though he remained unsure why Xie Han was investigating this part of his past.
Bo Jinyan concluded that Xie Han was psychologically twisted, and his perspective on things differed from his own. Separately, Susan's investigation inadvertently revealed that Flower Cannibal No. 1's ex-girlfriend, Colleen Yang, worked at the very hospital where Li Xunran was recovering. Greatly alarmed, Susan immediately rushed to the hospital with FBI personnel. However, upon arrival, Colleen Yang had already used hypnotism to control Li Xunran. She then commanded Li Xunran to shoot at the approaching FBI agents, who repeatedly shouted for him to drop his weapon, as he raised his gun towards them.
Episode 20 Recap
Kailin, under hypnotic influence, orders Li Xunran to open fire and kill. As police urge Li Xunran to drop his weapon, Fu Ziyu discovers the music device controlling Li Xunran and rushes to disable it. In the ensuing chaos, multiple assailants appear and open fire on the police. Fu Ziyu is shot but struggles to disable the music player.
Despite Kailin's repeated commands, Li Xunran shows signs of struggle, turns his gun on himself, and shoots his own right hand, refusing to harm Jian Yao. Li Xunran desperately protects Jian Yao during the shootout, but the numerous assailants cause heavy casualties among FBI personnel. Jian Yao is knocked unconscious and abducted. Bo Jinyan expresses profound guilt and regret, lamenting his absence during Jian Yao's abduction. Susan reassures him it's not his fault and takes charge of the scene.
Bo Jinyan and Susan interrogate Kailin, who was left behind at the crime scene. Kailin, being Flower Cannibal No. 1's ex-girlfriend, is hostile towards Bo Jinyan. However, her relationship with Xie Han is purely one of employment, so she knows little, only informing Susan that Xie Han has a house somewhere. Fu Ziyu and Li Xunran are both rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, and Bo Jinyan stays by their bedside, refusing to leave.
Meanwhile, Jian Yao regains consciousness lying on a large bed, hearing a strange melody. She wakes startled to find Xie Han standing nearby. Xie Han has already killed Tommy and is solely obsessed with obtaining Allen. Bo Jinyan and the FBI team arrive at the location Kailin mentioned, but Xie Han is nowhere to be found.
The only things left in the room are Tommy's corpse and a flower containing a note with a classical poem: "No way to send you my love and greetings. Because how can I find you in this vast expanse?" Xie Han intends this as a message to Bo Jinyan, signifying that he cannot find Jian Yao's current location. Susan believes Bo Jinyan is withholding information about Tommy's case, especially concerning Allen, and demands to know everything.
Bo Jinyan confirms that he has indeed deduced Xie Han's ultimate goal. He promises Susan that Xie Han will soon make his next move, and if Susan still chooses to trust him then, he will reveal everything. Xie Han administers a hallucinogenic drug to Jian Yao, causing her to experience a series of hallucinations. While Jian Yao is affected, Xie Han watches her and reveals his intention to systematically destroy everything Simon possesses: his reputation, his woman, and his status.
He states that only after Simon is completely ruined can he achieve his own desires. Soon after, Susan receives a USB drive containing a video. In the video, Simon (Bo Jinyan) is bound by chains, covered in blood and wounds, claiming he is not Simon but a distinct personality named Allen. Allen tells Tommy, who filmed the video, that he has killed far more people than Tommy and urges Tommy to kill Simon, the primary personality, to become his ally.
Xie Han believes that the Allen personality awoke when Bo Jinyan's stepfather was killed, and it was Allen who committed the murder. He also theorizes that when Bo Jinyan was previously held captive by Tommy, Allen again emerged and took over the primary personality. Xie Han explains that this split personality, Allen, has been hiding from the primary personality, preventing Simon from discovering his existence, which is why Bo Jinyan has lost certain memories.
Xie Han is deeply fascinated by this split personality, Allen. He believes Allen is the only one worthy of standing by his side as a partner and friend, unlike Tommy. For this reason, Xie Han has painstakingly worked to eliminate Simon, hoping to erase Simon's existence and allow Allen to fully occupy the primary personality. The video shows Bo Jinyan with a cruel and rebellious gaze, starkly different from his usual demeanor.
Despite seeing this video, Susan insists on protecting Bo Jinyan and rejects her colleagues' request to investigate him. Xie Han, in what appears to be a projection or monologue during Jian Yao's hallucinatory state, addresses Allen, saying, "My dear Allen, I know where you are. Don't you miss moments like this? I understand how you feel; I know that once you've killed someone, that wonderful feeling never leaves you. You can no longer tolerate this mundane world."
He foresees the moment they destroy Simon as "magnificent" and declares his intent to free Allen, stating, "I cannot tolerate you being constrained like this; I want to set you free. I want to give you freedom, and that will be the most spectacular confrontation, the most perfect victory." He also states that the ultimate "destruction" will not involve Tommy.
Episode 21 Recap
Bo Jinyan visits a bedridden Fu Ziyu, revealing that Xie Han's ultimate goal is to bring out Allen, Bo Jinyan's darker persona. Bo Jinyan explains Xie Han is willing to pay any price to destroy everything belonging to Simon, including his lover, friends, reputation, and work. He asks for Fu Ziyu's help, but Fu Ziyu, sensing Bo Jinyan's dangerous intentions, tries to dissuade him, cautioning that some things, once lost, can never be recovered.
Meanwhile, Xie Han is already executing his plan. He tells Jian Yao that while Bo Jinyan is seen as a hero for stopping the Flower Cannibal, the public and the FBI's internal affairs are eager to believe in his alleged dissociative identity disorder, like "mosquitoes seeing blood." Xie Han gloats, anticipating that "poor little Simon" will soon be "utterly deserted" and have "no way out."
Xie Han's actions ignite public outrage, as a news report confirms that Professor Bo Jinyan's "multiple personality incident has left the public utterly shocked." While his university colleagues and family view him as a "victim of justice," others condemn an ex-Chief of Police becoming a murderer as a grave "insult to the law." Under immense pressure, Susan, though still believing in Bo Jinyan's innocence, is compelled to issue a warrant and dispatch numerous agents to search for him.
Agent Block and Detective Evans are also involved in the pursuit. Despite her efforts, Susan's differing views on Bo Jinyan's innocence put her at odds with other agents, though she insists on maintaining control over the investigation. In the hospital, Fu Ziyu, having seen the alarming news, cunningly asks a doctor to help him adjust his bed to distract him, then manages to acquire a key card.
Bo Jinyan, with the key, makes a swift exit from the hospital, narrowly evading the pursuing agents who storm the building, searching for him. Susan later confronts Fu Ziyu, urging him to reveal Bo Jinyan's whereabouts. She explains that if Bo Jinyan cooperates, he will only be questioned, but if he hides, it will be considered "evading the law." However, Fu Ziyu staunchly maintains his ignorance.
Simultaneously, the public's outrage intensifies, with over two hundred marchers demonstrating at FBI headquarters, demanding Professor Bo Jinyan's arrest, as the general public now believes he has dissociative identity disorder. During her captivity, Jian Yao is subjected to Xie Han's cruel psychological games, including repeated injections of hallucinogenic drugs that cause her immense suffering. He offers her a choice between coffee and an injection.
When Jian Yao opts for the coffee, Xie Han reveals he "forgot to tell" her he "added something in there," causing her distress. He then mockingly discloses that he merely added "milkshake," highlighting his manipulative nature. Xie Han forces Jian Yao to record a video message for Bo Jinyan, taunting her about her tears and urging her to support "little Simon." He asks her if she will publicly declare Bo Jinyan's dissociative identity disorder.
Despite her initial resistance, Jian Yao is ultimately compelled to speak. In a heartfelt address to Bo Jinyan, she confesses her unwavering love, asserting that even if the entire world disapproves of his dissociative identity disorder, she still loves him. She reflects on her dream of becoming like her father, maintaining justice, a dream that became real when she met Bo Jinyan.
Jian Yao admits to having doubted him in the past, fearing he would be consumed by darkness while confronting psychopaths. However, seeing the footage of Allen brought her a sense of calm, as she realized that whether he is Simon or Allen, he remains her "only love." She reaffirms her belief that he will conquer both Allen and Xie Han, rescue her, and bring her home.
She speaks of their shared memories, wishing for him to hold her ashes by the river, and expresses her sole regret: not being able to grow old with him. She implores him not to be lonely, promising to remain in his eyes, heart, and life, stating, "We will never be apart." Jian Yao's deteriorating condition plunges Bo Jinyan into profound anguish, reinforcing his resolve to rescue her.
His increasingly brutal and cold demeanor raises suspicions about a possible shift in his personality. Meanwhile, Yin Ziqi, deeply worried about her brother, insists on leaving the hospital despite her unhealed wounds, having signed a disclaimer. She questions Fu Ziyu's actions, noting that the FBI and police are now extensively searching for Bo Jinyan. Yin Ziqi adamantly defends her brother to Susan, reminding her that Bo Jinyan is an exceptional individual who has saved many lives, including Susan's own.
Bo Jinyan, now a wanted fugitive, continues to evade authorities. Meanwhile, Xie Han publishes a cryptic message in a newspaper, "We are waiting for you," which Bo Jinyan quickly deciphers, understanding Xie Han's next move. Now seemingly fully under the influence of his Allen persona, Bo Jinyan arrives at an abandoned villa, having successfully deciphered Xie Han's cryptic message.
Inside, he is greeted by Xie Han's representative, who confirms that Xie Han, his "master," is not present but has sent a "present"—Jian Yao. Adopting Allen's chilling demeanor, Bo Jinyan speaks disparagingly of Simon's naivety, believing that releasing Allen would lead to Jian Yao's rescue. He demands to know Jian Yao's location, eager to proceed.
Xie Han's representative informs Jian Yao that Allen has arrived and is her "good news," adding that "Jenny" (referring to Jian Yao) has been specially prepared for him. The representative explains Xie Han's ultimate test: for Allen to kill Jian Yao. This act, he believes, will cause "poor little Simon" such profound guilt that he will be utterly destroyed, allowing Allen to achieve complete dominance. Jian Yao protests, asserting that he is Simon, her Simon.
However, she is trapped, standing on a floor rigged with "300 kilograms of dynamite," which will detonate, destroying the house and basement if Allen does not commit the act. The representative cruelly reminds her of her video message, suggesting her love for Simon will turn to ashes like dust, and congratulates her on dying in a "meaningful manner."
Episode 22 Recap
Xie Han observed Jian Yao’s prison cell through video surveillance, delighted to see Bo Jinyan appear outside with a cold, ruthless gaze. Believing Bo Jinyan had fully transformed into the Allen persona, Xie Han announced through the network that Jian Yao was about to meet Bo Jinyan's other personality. As Bo Jinyan entered the cell, Jian Yao, still believing he was Simon, murmured his name. Xie Han then ordered Bo Jinyan to kill Jian Yao.
Maintaining his cold demeanor as Allen, Bo Jinyan lamented having to kill "Simon's woman" before getting to "taste" her, calling it a waste, but acknowledged it was a necessary milestone for their alliance. He then brutally kissed Jian Yao, whispered for her not to be scared, and fired a shot into her chest, causing her head to slump. Turning to the camera, Bo Jinyan demanded to know where he and Xie Han would meet.
Xie Han, pleased, called it a "perfect kill" and a "perfect test," instructing Bo Jinyan to take a car from the garage, promising to provide a precise location via GPS. Xie Han was ecstatic, believing their shared triumph was imminent. Immediately after Bo Jinyan exited, the cell exploded into a fiery inferno. However, this entire scene was an elaborate deception. Jian Yao had not been killed, and Bo Jinyan did not possess a second personality.
The "Allen" persona was a ruse Bo Jinyan had initially created to deceive the Flower Cannibal, Tommy. To rescue Jian Yao, Bo Jinyan reactivated his Allen disguise and feigned her murder using specially designed bullets that would not harm her. Once Bo Jinyan left, FBI agents swiftly entered the building, extracting Jian Yao moments before the explosion. Fu Ziyu explained the intricate plan to a recovering Jian Yao, assuring her that Bo Jinyan's complex scheme was successful.
Han Yu Meng, Fu Ziyu's assistant, revealed that the rescue, including sophisticated surveillance and tracking devices, was meticulously pre-planned. In a flashback, Bo Jinyan had determined that only the re-emergence of Allen could save Jian Yao. Susan, an FBI agent, was initially skeptical but was ultimately convinced by Bo Jinyan’s mentor, a retired FBI agent named Evan. He testified that Bo Jinyan’s past confession to three murders was a fabrication meant to fool Tommy.
Susan then recalled that all files related to the Allen persona had been stored separately and sealed by her personally, confirming Bo Jinyan’s innocence. With this understanding, Susan led the FBI in assisting Bo Jinyan. The police had already secured the location, and after Xie Han departed, they took control of the surveillance feed to stage the explosion for him to witness.
Susan also revealed that Xie Han had left a black tulip on Tommy's corpse, a signature he used for a specific victim: Mary Collins, a brave art teacher who once escaped his clutches. Xie Han was sending a message as Bo Jinyan prepared to meet him at Woodland's Preparatory School. Bo Jinyan and Xie Han met at a lavish estate, with their every move monitored by the police.
Jian Yao watched anxiously from a remote location, even managing to speak to Bo Jinyan through a hidden communicator to give him strength. To test him, Xie Han offered Bo Jinyan red meat, which he typically avoided. Bo Jinyan ate it without hesitation, further convincing Xie Han that the Allen persona was in control. Xie Han suggested they travel to other countries, and Bo Jinyan proposed Russia, describing it as a haven for military ammunition and drug dealers.
Xie Han approved, and they toasted to their new partnership. Growing impatient, Bo Jinyan warned Xie Han to stop the childish tests, as his patience was limited. Amused, Xie Han admitted he simply enjoyed watching him eat the meat. The next day, Xie Han invited Bo Jinyan to a shooting range on the mountain, showing off a powerful L115A3 sniper rifle. Bo Jinyan asked to take the first shot, unaware that Xie Han had already removed the bullets.
As Bo Jinyan aimed, Xie Han called him "Simon." Bo Jinyan snapped, declaring that Simon was dead, but immediately betrayed himself by asking if Jian Yao was okay. Noticing the slip, Xie Han revealed that the gun was empty, asserting that a true soldier would have felt the difference in weight. He then attempted to corrupt Bo Jinyan, claiming they were similar, both possessing "sinful souls."
He accused Bo Jinyan of using justice as a facade to indulge his enjoyment of "slaughter" and "blood," and dismissed his career and reputation as "bullshit." He urged him to embrace his true nature and abandon meaningless emotions, provoking him by stating that all the lives lost in their "game" were Bo Jinyan's fault and challenging him to commit suicide if he truly believed in justice. Bo Jinyan defiantly rejected Xie Han's twisted philosophy.
He declared that he had never lost himself and that the Allen persona was merely a tactic used to capture Tommy. He scorned Xie Han's self-proclaimed status as a criminal mastermind, asserting that in his eyes, Xie Han was merely "a dog that hides everywhere," no different from any other psychopath or serial killer.
Bo Jinyan admitted to enjoying his work, but what he truly savored was the anticipation of seeing the "shame and fury" on a criminal's face when handcuffed. His only regret, he stated, was not capturing Xie Han sooner. Realizing his efforts had failed, Xie Han addressed him one last time as "My Bo Jinyan," declared his life would end there, and promised to wait for him in hell. He then plunged off the cliff, which subsequently caught fire below.
FBI agents descended the cliff and found a body they believed to be Xie Han, concluding he had committed suicide. However, the team found it strange, noting that suicide did not align with Xie Han's psychological profile. Furthermore, all the staff members from the manor had mysteriously vanished. Despite the reassurances, Bo Jinyan felt a deep unease, convinced that a man like Xie Han would not simply take his own life to avoid capture.
His premonition proved correct when his team discovered that all the sensitive files related to the Allen case had completely disappeared from the archives, as if they, and the persona, had never existed.
Episode 23 Recap
Late at night, Susan arrived at Ewan Stan’s house, only to discover him shot dead. Meanwhile, Fu Ziyu continued his investigation into Xie Han's identity. He explained that although Xie Han's files initially appeared complete, a deep dive into the digital timestamps revealed that every entry was created at the same time, confirming it as a fabricated identity.
Fu Ziyu surmised that the true individual behind the "Xie Han" persona, based on the initial fingerprints, was a writer named Mei Jun Yuan. However, Mei Jun Yuan's passport number also proved to be fake. Susan believed someone was actively working to erase all evidence of Bo Jinyan’s innocence, citing the missing files and Ewan’s murder.
An FBI colleague, however, presented an alternative theory: that Ewan had known about Bo Jinyan's dual personality since he was a child but kept it secret. The colleague claimed this personality re-emerged when Bo Jinyan was tortured by the Flower Cannibal, leading him to commit murders. He then presented a video purportedly showing Bo Jinyan discussing the murder of a blonde girl, whom he claimed to have buried in an abandoned softball field in Riggs Park.
Bo Jinyan later asserted to Jian Yao that the video was a fake intended to lure Tommy. Despite Susan's defense, the FBI obtained a warrant to formally investigate and arrest Bo Jinyan. Distraught by Ewan’s death, which he likened to losing a father, Bo Jinyan saw it as part of a calculated plot to push him into an abyss.
He insisted that he could not be arrested, as losing his freedom would mean losing the ability to defeat the true mastermind. He also sent a message to Jian Yao, promising to return to her as long as he drew breath. Fu Ziyu’s investigation revealed that Mei Jun Yuan was in an Alaskan prison during Tommy’s most active period, definitively proving that "Xie Han" could not have been Tommy's mentor.
Soon after, Susan's colleague informed her that a body had indeed been found at the Riggs Park softball field. A silver pendant belonging to Bo Jinyan was also discovered with the body. When questioned, Bo Jinyan’s mother identified the pendant as a family heirloom he had worn constantly until his rescue from captivity, after which he never wore it again. While Jian Yao refused to disclose Bo Jinyan’s whereabouts to the FBI, she was approached by Dr. Barnes.
He revealed that Li Xunran’s medical transfer documents from Hong Kong, which cited a critical condition, were inconsistent with his actual health. Suspecting deliberate manipulation, Dr. Barnes explained that his computer had been hacked and the data deleted, but he had a backup which he provided to Jian Yao on a USB drive. He was helping because Bo Jinyan had once saved his sister, Christina, convincing him that Bo Jinyan was not a killer.
Bo Jinyan later had Fu Ziyu ask the Hong Kong police to investigate the medical history discrepancies. Dr. Barnes subsequently met with Yin Ziqi, Bo Jinyan's sister, to arrange a secret meeting for them, providing her with an address. Meanwhile, Fu Ziyu told Susan that his contact had identified the hacker who breached Dr. Barnes's computer, but it was a dead end as the hacker had never met their employer.
That night, Bo Jinyan went to Ewan's house to investigate, simulating the murder and collecting evidence. He later met Yin Ziqi, giving her a blood sample and instructing her to deliver it to Fu Ziyu for analysis. As he was leaving, an unseen assailant shot him in the arm, but he managed to escape. Dr. Barnes treated Bo Jinyan's wound. When Bo Jinyan called Fu Ziyu, Fu Ziyu assured him that Jian Yao was safe and under FBI protection.
Noticing Bo Jinyan's weak voice, Fu Ziyu expressed concern, but Bo Jinyan evaded the question. Later, Bo Jinyan was startled awake by an intruder, knocked unconscious, and awoke to find himself bound by iron chains. A figure emerged from the shadows, revealing himself to be Lin Yiyang, who declared that he had designed an "impasse" for Bo Jinyan, one from which he would never escape.
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
Having revealed his true identity, Lin Yiyang gloated to the captive Bo Jinyan, declaring that both Tommy and Xie Han were merely his "creations." He expressed profound disappointment in Xie Han for failing to defeat Bo Jinyan and sculpt him into a masterpiece. Lin explained that he had been by Bo's side unnoticed for a long time, viewing him as the most beautiful material for his art.
He revealed that Xie Han, who held a blind worship for him, had committed suicide after sensing Lin's waning interest. Lin then detailed his master plan: to frame Bo Jinyan for murder with fabricated evidence, creating an inescapable situation. His ultimate goal was to shatter Bo's psyche, allowing the "Allen" personality—whom Lin considered his most perfect creation—to take over completely. To break Bo's will, Lin falsely claimed that Allen had already killed Jian Yao.
In a final act of cruelty, Lin Yiyang stabs Bo Jinyan's wound, but as he does, a small recording device falls out. At that moment, FBI agents storm the room, stunning a bewildered Lin Yiyang, who cannot believe he was ever a suspect. Bo Jinyan calmly explains the numerous flaws in his "perfect" plan.
First, he had Yin Ziqi provide a testimony and a blood sample from the sanatorium, which proved Lin Yiyang was not a drug addict and that his condition was a ruse. Second, he deduced that only Lin, who was inside the hospital, could have meticulously identified and manipulated Dr. Qin to become Li Xunran's doctor—a feat impossible for the fugitive Xie Han.
Bo then reveals the recorder was his ultimate trump card; he had purposefully instructed Dr. Barnes to sew the device into his wound, correctly anticipating that Lin would be baited into a full, recorded confession. Lin Yiyang makes one last move, using hypnosis to compel FBI agent Sam to take Yin Ziqi hostage. However, Bo Jinyan had anticipated this as well. He reveals that he had previously retrieved blood evidence from his mentor Ewan's cabin.
DNA testing proved the blood belonged to Sam, exposing him as the mole who had killed Ewan and shot Bo Jinyan. Prepared for this contingency, the FBI team swiftly subdues Sam and rescues Yin Ziqi. With Lin's recorded confession of abetting murder and orchestrating the frame-up, Bo Jinyan is unequivocally cleared of all charges. Once safe, Bo Jinyan apologizes to his sister, Yin Ziqi, for knowingly putting her in danger. She warmly forgives him, stating they are family.
Jian Yao, who had been protected in another room, is released and reunites with Bo Jinyan in an emotional embrace. Later, while on a yacht, Bo Jinyan holds Jian Yao and proposes, vowing to love her with all of his life and intelligence. Deeply moved, she accepts with a kiss. A month later, wedding invitations are sent to their friends and colleagues. Li Xunran, now recovered from his injuries, receives his invitation and smiles, happy for the couple.
Dr. Barnes asks Yin Ziqi to attend the wedding with him, hinting at a new romance. However, the story concludes on an unsettling note. As Jian Yao happily cooks in their mountain villa, Bo Jinyan stands on the terrace, gazing into the distance with a faint smile on his face, disturbingly reminiscent of his alter ego, Allen.
