Reset Episode 13 Recap
> Reset Recap
Five years ago, Tao Yinghong rode Bus 45 and approached a young woman, asking if she had been harassed, touched, or taken advantage of by men on the bus. Frightened, the young woman called the police. Officers arrived, expressing their frustration that this was the third time they had responded to a complaint about Tao Yinghong's self-conducted investigations disturbing passengers.
Despite the police urging her to trust them and stating that Wang Mengmeng's case was closed, Tao Yinghong remained unresponsive, believing the police were unreliable and that she had to find the truth herself. Her husband, Wang Xingde, tried to calm the police, promising she wouldn't cause trouble again. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Xiao Heyun received treatment for his arm wound. The doctor noted his significant blood loss and admitted him for rest.
Jiang Feng, reeling from Zhang Cheng's severe injuries, tried to question Xiao Heyun about how he knew there was a bomb on the bus but was prevented by hospital staff and a call from Chief Du, who emphasized Xiao Heyun's critical role. Xiao Heyun told Li Shiqing he felt that some issues remained unresolved after Wang Mengmeng's accident. He asked Li Shiqing to search online for news about the Bus 45 cross-the-bridge car accident on May 13th, 2014.
Li Shiqing found numerous harsh and judgmental online comments about Wang Mengmeng, which Xiao Heyun observed must be heartbreaking for her parents, suggesting that "living might not be true salvation" for them. He concluded that they hadn't yet reached the core of the matter. Chief Du began his investigation into the five-year-old accident, calling in Captain Qin, the original investigating officer, and Driver Zhu, who was driving Bus 45 that day.
Captain Qin explained that the original case was straightforward, ruling it an accidental traffic accident. He mentioned that the bus driver was held primarily responsible, with the dump truck secondarily, and the bus company handled compensation, with no lawsuit filed by the family. Driver Zhu, visibly agitated, recounted Wang Mengmeng's desperate demands to get off the bus and her physically grabbing his arm, forcing him to pull over on the bridge to prevent a worse accident.
He lamented that no passengers helped him at the time. Driver Zhu said he believed Wang Mengmeng had simply missed her stop and was mumbling incoherently. He expressed resentment for losing his job and being subjected to repeated questioning, sarcastically offering to be executed as compensation for the girl's life. Chief Du reviewed the bus surveillance footage and noticed Wang Mengmeng looking back as she exited the bus.
Captain Qin explained that this particular section of the route often led to disputes because it was the last stop before the bridge, making it inconvenient for passengers who missed their stop as they would have to travel across the bridge and back. He speculated that Wang Mengmeng was one such impatient passenger.
Captain Qin also revealed that Tao Yinghong initially refused to accept the official findings and spent over a month conducting her own investigation, riding Bus 45 daily and interrogating young female passengers. Due to Tao Yinghong's emotional instability, Wang Xingde ultimately signed the accident liability report. Further inquiries revealed that Tao Yinghong's personality had drastically changed after Wang Mengmeng's death, becoming easily angered and even physically aggressive with students, leading to her dismissal from teaching.
Wang Xingde, in contrast, became withdrawn and acquiesced to Tao Yinghong's decisions, including their move to Jialin despite his initial reluctance. The devastating news reached Xiao Heyun and Li Shiqing when Jiang Feng burst into their hospital room, distraught. He angrily demanded to know how they knew about the bomb, revealing that Zhang Cheng had died. Xiao Heyun and Li Shiqing were shocked and deeply saddened by Zhang Cheng's sacrifice. Jiang Feng was then escorted away by his colleagues.
During her interrogation, Tao Yinghong, disheveled and defiant, claimed sole responsibility for the bombing. She stated that she made the bomb herself and brought it onto Bus 45, asserting that Wang Xingde was coerced by her because she wanted him to die alongside her so they could reunite with their daughter. She accused the police of constantly monitoring her but failing to diligently investigate the true cause of Wang Mengmeng's death.
Overcome with emotion, Tao Yinghong experienced breathing difficulties and fainted. Wang Xingde initially remained silent during his interrogation, only asking about Tao Yinghong's condition. After Chief Du promised to reopen Wang Mengmeng's case, Wang Xingde expressed his profound grief and anger over the online defamation of his daughter, stating that Wang Mengmeng, at twenty years old, had never harmed anyone and didn't deserve such insults. He regretted missing her last phone call.
Taking responsibility to protect his wife, Wang Xingde claimed that he had planned the entire bombing, forced Tao Yinghong to make the bomb, and threatened her into moving from Jiaodao to Jialin. He explained that they sought closure for their daughter, unable to let her death remain a mystery. Chief Du confronted him, emphasizing that their hatred could not justify harming innocent people and ruining their families. Wang Xingde lowered his head and apologized.
A flashback to five years ago, on May 13th, showed Wang Xingde working as a truck driver and missing Wang Mengmeng's repeated phone calls while he was in his manager's office. Later, at the police station, a distraught Wang Xingde learned of Wang Mengmeng's death and collapsed. Tao Yinghong was already there, seemingly calm, refusing compensation and insisting on knowing the truth about why Wang Mengmeng suddenly got off the bus.
Days later, while using a public restroom at the bus company, Tao Yinghong overheard two men discussing a "pervert" on Bus 45 who specifically harassed young girls. This conversation solidified her conviction that her daughter had been threatened. She embarked on a relentless quest, riding Bus 45 repeatedly and confronting young female passengers, eventually being labeled as mentally unstable and refused entry by drivers.
Wang Xingde tried to reason with her, telling her that surveillance footage had already disproved her restroom theory and explaining the futility of their search. He urged her to sign the papers and "bring Mengmeng home," but Tao Yinghong, covering her ears, silently wept on the bridge, unwilling to let go of her desperate search for answers.
