Reset Episode 11 Recap
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At the bus company, the general manager, Mr. Yang, was interviewed by two reporters about a driver who had returned lost money. He tried to call Wang Xingde, the driver, who was scheduled to be there, but Wang Xingde repeatedly refused to show up. Mr. Yang, unable to get Wang Xingde to appear, held up the commendation banner himself and told the reporters about Wang Xingde's past good deeds, asking them to photoshop Wang Xingde into the picture later.
Meanwhile, back in the loop, Li Shiqing woke up first, while Xiao Heyun was still in a painful "standby" state. When she finally roused him, he looked exhausted but quickly pulled himself together. Li Shiqing apologized for her previous emotional reactions, explaining her deep trust in Wang Xingde, whom she had known for over two years as a kind driver. She found it hard to believe he was an accomplice.
Xiao Heyun, however, reasoned that Wang Xingde's long tenure on the route suggested meticulous planning for the explosion. They decided that in this loop, they would get off the bus at the next stop, Yanjiang East Road, to re-evaluate the situation. Soon after, the bus exploded on the bridge at 1:45 p. m. , as they had observed in previous loops when no one intervened.
To gather clues about Wang Xingde, Li Shiqing and Xiao Heyun went to the bus company, posing as student journalists from Jialin Normal University. They claimed to be researching Wang Xingde's "good deeds" for a school program. Initially, the manager was hesitant, but then a colleague rushed in with news of the Bus 45 explosion. Amidst the chaos, Li Shiqing and Xiao Heyun managed to quickly photograph Wang Xingde's personal file.
They discovered he wasn't a local, had previously been a truck driver, and his reason for leaving his previous job was "spouse relocation." This led them to suspect that the woman with the bomb, Tao Yinghong, might be his wife. However, they found it perplexing that he would be living in the company dorm if he had a spouse. Believing Wang Xingde's dorm might hold more clues, they went there.
Finding the door locked, Xiao Heyun was about to call a locksmith when Wang Xingde's roommate unexpectedly arrived. Xiao Heyun quickly improvised, claiming to be Wang Xingde's nephew who had lost his key and needed to retrieve a household registration booklet for a family matter. While Xiao Heyun searched the room, Li Shiqing played along, pretending to be Xiao Heyun's girlfriend and nervously asking the roommate about Wang Xingde and his wife.
The roommate revealed that Wang Xingde's wife was "mentally unstable" and "a tormentor," implying they were getting a divorce. He mentioned that Wang Xingde's home was in Gangwu New Village, nearby, but he preferred living in the dorm to avoid his wife, who would frequently call him, including a bizarre incident last month where she called him to come home because the house was on fire. Inside, Xiao Heyun found an old, broken cell phone but couldn't access its contents.
Later, at a convenience store, they discussed their limited findings. Xiao Heyun further clarified the consistent 1:45 p. m. explosion time, which he had confirmed from news reports, a phone ring, and direct observation. They speculated if the couple was acting under orders, possibly a terrorist attack, but realized they, as ordinary citizens, couldn't investigate such deep connections.
They decided their best strategy was to involve the police by providing specific, leading clues to quickly focus the investigation on Wang Xingde and Tao Yinghong. This, they hoped, would shorten the police's investigation time and allow them to gather more information for future loops. They presented themselves to Zhang Cheng, the deputy captain of the city detective unit, and his colleague Jiang Feng, as witnesses who had gotten off Bus 45 early.
They claimed to have gotten off at Gangwu New Village because a "mentally unstable" woman (Tao Yinghong) boarded the bus. They described her wearing a gray outfit, being skinny, carrying a red plastic bag containing what looked like a pressure cooker, and emitting a strange chemical smell. They testified that she muttered alarming phrases like "everyone will blow up," "not a single one will be left behind," and "1:45 p. m. , all will die."
They also mentioned she spoke to the driver, calling him "Wang Xingde" and talking about "dying together." They explained that other passengers likely didn't hear her due to the bus noise and their focus on the knife she was holding. Zhang Cheng, finding their precise and leading testimony suspicious, nevertheless noted the accuracy of their information. Forensic evidence later confirmed residues consistent with a pressure cooker on the bus.
To test Xiao Heyun's capabilities and their intentions, Zhang Cheng asked him to map out the bus seating and describe the passengers from memory. Xiao Heyun, a game designer, accurately drew the layout and described various passengers in detail. Impressed, Zhang Cheng then asked him to draw the layout of the police station itself. Xiao Heyun, despite a few minor omissions, successfully drew a detailed map.
While looking at blurry photos of the victims, Li Shiqing became visibly distressed, clutching Xiao Heyun's hand. Xiao Heyun quickly explained that she was overwhelmed by seeing the victims' faces after feeling guilty for not preventing the tragedy. Zhang Cheng suspected she was suffering from survivor's guilt, while still viewing their overall demeanor and the specific details they provided with suspicion. Meanwhile, Jiang Feng’s investigation confirmed that Tao Yinghong and Wang Xingde were indeed married.
Tao Yinghong, 56, from Jiaodao, lived in Gangwu New Village and worked in the quality inspection department of a chemical plant. She was previously a chemistry teacher in Jiaodao, possessing extensive theoretical and practical chemical knowledge, and had even written textbooks. Wang Xingde, originally from Jiaodao, was a highly experienced and commended transport squad leader at a factory.
He specifically applied to drive the Bus 45 route in Jialin and repeatedly declined promotions, determined to stay on that route until retirement. Tao Yinghong's position at the chemical plant provided her with direct access to chemical products and raw materials, making it plausible she could obtain materials to construct a bomb herself. The police concluded that Tao Yinghong and Wang Xingde were likely involved in a premeditated crime.
They initiated a broader investigation with Jiaodao police for more background information. Back in the resting area, Li Shiqing expressed her worry about being unable to help and possibly slowing them down. Xiao Heyun reassured her, stating that they still had a chance. Their immediate goal was to remain within the police station to acquire more valuable information for the next loop, as leaving would mean starting over with minimal knowledge.
