My Roommate Is a Detective Episode 2 Recap
> My Roommate Is a Detective Recap
At Nie's Mansion, Lu Yao meticulously demonstrated how Dr. Zhao used a sleight-of-hand trick to murder Chen Qiusheng. He explained that He Kun had strategically positioned himself in front of the two bodyguards, Long and Hu, allowing them to only witness the stabbing through the mirror's reflection, not the actual act. Lu Yao revealed that the mirror was movable, concealing a space where Dr. Zhao had hidden.
After the murder, He Kun deliberately misled the bodyguards into believing they saw an assailant emerge from the mirror. Though Dr. Zhao believed his plan was flawless, Lu Yao discovered his un-wiped fingerprints on the mirror's reverse side. Cornered, Dr. Zhao confessed that his motive for killing Chen Qiusheng and Nie Chengjiang was revenge for his mother, an old lady who died of fright during the forced demolition to construct the mansion.
He Kun then admitted his complicity, driven by jealousy of Qiao Chusheng's success and his own desire to rise beyond being Chen Qiusheng's secretary. He confirmed that Dr. Zhao, risking everything, had offered him a large sum of money, convincing him that only Chen Qiusheng's death could secure his future.
Dr. Zhao further revealed that Nie Chengjiang and Chen Qiusheng were partners in selling opium, and Nie Chengjiang had framed Lu Yao to quickly close the murder investigation and prevent it from exposing their illegal activities. Dr. Zhao also admitted to poisoning Nie Chengjiang, ensuring he would not survive much longer. Upon returning to the Bank of Sassoon, Lu Yao was confronted by his boss, Sassoon, who was furious after reading Bai Youning's sensational newspaper report.
The report accused Lu Yao of being the prime suspect, scratching the victim's car, and using Sassoon's name for intimidation. Enraged, Sassoon immediately fired Lu Yao. Outside, Lu Yao encountered Qiao Chusheng and, still fuming, asked him to relay a message to Bai Youning, wishing her to be a spinster for the rest of her life. Qiao Chusheng then invited Lu Yao to work for him as a consultant, offering payment per case.
Lu Yao refused, citing his dislike for the dark nature of murder cases and expressing a preference for a conventional office job. That night, Lu Yao's landlady, Ms. Yun, pressed him for overdue rent and utility bills. Unexpectedly, Bai Youning arrived. Ms. Yun, asserting her authority as the landlady, promptly announced Bai Youning would be Lu Yao's new roommate to help cover the rent, stating Lu Yao could either accept or be evicted.
Left with no choice, Lu Yao reluctantly agreed. Despite his annoyance, Lu Yao found himself living with Bai Youning. His frustration mounted, but Qiao Chusheng soon arrived, seeking Lu Yao's help with a new case and offering substantial payment, which Lu Yao, after some negotiation, accepted. Qiao Chusheng took him to the scene of a bizarre incident: a tram full of women workers from a textile mill had vanished into thick smoke at an intersection the previous night.
A local resident recounted hearing strange, animal-like howling and seeing a dense fog that obscured everything. Lu Yao, upon examining the scene, noticed unusually large footprints but quickly dismissed them, deducing that the entire scene, including the pavement, track, and footprints, was a deliberately staged deception. He collected blood-stained bricks as evidence, while Bai Youning arrived to conduct interviews.
Lu Yao suspected the large-scale operation meant it was not a simple kidnapping, especially as the victims were likely unable to pay ransom. An elderly woman at the scene recounted a past incident from three years prior, where an alcoholic named Sun Peng was electrocuted at the same intersection by a falling wire, and the tram company paid for his burial. Lu Yao confirmed the details of Sun Peng's death from his memory of old newspaper articles.
Qiao Chusheng then brought Lu Yao to Donghai Power, urging them to quickly restore electricity to Huakang Tram to prevent public panic. Lu Yao, impressed by the power company's luxurious office, expressed a desire to work there. The company's president, Mr. Wu, met with Qiao Chusheng and promised to expedite repairs. During the meeting, Qiao Chusheng noticed President Wu smoking a rare, limited-edition Dannemann's handmade cigar. Meanwhile, Bai Youning's newspaper continued to sensationalize the tram disappearance case with dramatic headlines.
Qiao Chusheng warned her about the negative repercussions. Lu Yao, seeking financial advice, visited his former colleague at the Bank of Sassoon to inquire about shorting Huakang Tram Company's stock. His colleague strongly advised against it, revealing that Huakang had secured a huge insurance payout prior to the incident and that the company had mafia members among its shareholders.
Simultaneously, a group of people, posing as the missing workers' families, staged a protest outside, which Qiao Chusheng immediately recognized as a well-organized demonstration. Lu Yao informed Qiao Chusheng of his suspicion that Huakang Tram Company might be involved in insurance fraud. They visited George, the president of Huakang Tram Group's China division.
George confirmed the large insurance policy, explaining it was purchased after a previous electrocution incident three years ago involving a scrap collector, whose family had inexplicably managed to hire a lawyer and garner media attention, forcing the company to pay hefty compensation. George mentioned an upcoming shareholders' meeting where he expected Mr. Bai to approve using the insurance payout to compensate the families. Suspicious, Qiao Chusheng visited Bai Qili, who was indeed a shareholder.
Bai Qili clarified that he had invested in Huakang not for profit, but to use his influence to negotiate with the power company to drive down electricity prices, which was crucial for the growth of China's national industry. During their conversation, Bai Qili inquired about Bai Youning. Qiao Chusheng reluctantly admitted that she was co-renting an apartment with Lu Yao. Bai Qili, furious, flipped a table over.
Later, Bai Youning pressed Lu Yao for updates on the case and revealed that Hu Zhuxuan, a prominent figure in the rickshaw business, had previously ordered his men to smash trams. She then took Lu Yao to meet him. When Lu Yao questioned Hu Zhuxuan about the incident, he became enraged, and his men threatened Lu Yao with knives. Bai Youning quickly intervened, using her father's influence to calm the situation, but Lu Yao was visibly shaken.
Learning of Bai Qili's intense anger about their living situation, Lu Yao tried to pack his bags and move out. However, Bai Youning stopped him, threatening to accuse him of molesting her if he left. She promised to move out herself if he solved the case. Faced with this ultimatum, Lu Yao demanded all of Huakang Tram Company's contracts and financial records. He meticulously reviewed them and, convinced he had found a crucial lead, immediately instructed Bai Youning to prepare a car to go to Donghai Power.
