Stealth Walker Episode 5 Recap
> Stealth Walker Recap
Cao Yongming was deeply concerned, having not heard from Lin Qiang for days, fearing she was in danger. He decided to issue a BOLO despite Li Yan's protestations that it would expose Lin Qiang's identity and make catching Qiu Hu much harder. Cao Yongming insisted, prioritizing Lin Qiang's safety. Meanwhile, Lin Qiang awoke in Chu Jiaojiao's home.
Chu Jiaojiao explained that after Lin Qiang passed out at the hotel, Lei Jie wanted to take her, but Chu Jiaojiao intervened and brought Lin Qiang back to her own place, knowing Lin Qiang wouldn't want to see Lei Jie. Lin Qiang thanked Chu Jiaojiao for speaking up for her to Qiu Hu and for saving her, vowing to return the favor.
Chu Jiaojiao helped Lin Qiang choose a flamboyant disguise, emphasizing that changing styles would make her unrecognizable, even to her own mother. Lin Qiang learned that Qiu Hu had agreed to let her stay, assigning her to work in the hotel’s billiard room, playing with guests and serving drinks. Lin Qiang expressed disappointment, lamenting the loss of her 200,000 and the low earnings as a billiard girl, reminding Chu Jiaojiao that she was with Qiu Hu for a specific purpose.
Chu Jiaojiao advised patience, assuring her that Qiu Hu would give her more important tasks when the time was right. Lin Qiang later found a public phone and called Cao Yongming. Cao Yongming, relieved, paused the BOLO. During their conversation, Lin Qiang joked about Cao Yongming thinking she was dead and criticized the Narcotics Control team for being ruthless. She confirmed that Cheng Ji was indeed killed by Cong, and she had heard Cong and Qiu Hu discussing it.
However, the real mastermind behind Cong's actions was not Qiu Hu; Cong was merely paid to kill, unaware of who was truly behind it. Lin Qiang also informed him that Qiu Hu had killed Cong, whose body was buried near G43 National Road, roughly four to five kilometers south of Linyan Road. She apologized for the vague location, explaining the dark and dangerous circumstances.
Cao Yongming acknowledged her hard work, and Lin Qiang reassured him she would complete her mission despite her injury. Cao Yongming then reported Lin Qiang's findings to Director Xu and Commissioner Gao. He confirmed Cong's death at Qiu Hu's hands and that Cong was Cheng Ji's killer, but reiterated that an unknown force was behind Cong, framing Qiu Hu. Director Xu announced the formation of the "10.
27 task force" for the case, with himself as head, Commissioner Gao as deputy, and Cao Yongming as the head of the command team. He emphasized the need for a contact person for Lin Qiang, someone not deeply entrenched in the criminal investigation system to ensure her safety and the mission's long-term success. Cao Yongming considered Cheng Jingsong. Cheng Jingsong had been persistently waiting outside the Narcotics Control team office for days, hoping to join.
Cao Yongming confronted him, and Cheng Jingsong admitted his personal desire to investigate Cheng Ji’s case and find Lin Qiang, but also expressed a genuine aspiration to become a front-line anti-drug officer like Cheng Ji and Cao Yongming. Cao Yongming informed him that he wouldn't be on the front lines but offered him a more challenging mission, requiring unconditional acceptance. Cheng Jingsong readily agreed, becoming Lin Qiang's new contact.
As part of her new cover, Lin Qiang was given a fitness VIP card at the billiard room, supposedly from a customer. She used it to go to the gym, where she met Cheng Jingsong, who was working as a fitness coach. Lin Qiang was surprised to find him as her contact, and Cheng Jingsong explained his role, expressing his concern for her safety but also his commitment to helping her complete the mission.
He then showed her files on Qiu Hu and Ma Hongtao, revealing that Qiu Hu, whose real name is Qiu Zhiming, uses the Haoting Hotel as a front for heroin trafficking, sourcing it from Hongwa as Ma Hongtao’s trustee in the Lingnan area. Lin Qiang was astonished by the scale of the drug network.
Cheng Jingsong tasked her with finding a batch of goods Qiu Hu had stolen, believing this large quantity of heroin triggered the turf war and would lead them to a larger drug trafficking network. He told her her new codename was "Rose" and that her identity would be strictly confidential. Cheng Jingsong then took Lin Qiang to Wang Shanshan’s house, which would be her safe house.
He gave her Wang Qian’s personal belongings, explaining that Wang Ye had replaced all of Wang Qian's online information with Lin Qiang's. He also handed her a passport with her photo replacing Wang Qian's, explaining that Wang Qian had been repatriated after testing positive for tetrahydrocannabinol. Lin Qiang was also instructed to learn English and harmonica, as Wang Qian was an American and a harmonica expert.
Lin Qiang, now fully immersed in her new identity, suspected Qiu Hu would hide the stolen goods in the one part of the Haoting Hotel she hadn't explored yet. Lin Qiang attempted to access the top floor of Haoting Hotel, but was stopped by a guard and turned away.
She later questioned Shaobin, a hotel employee, about the top floor, learning it housed Qiu Hu’s office and was only accessible to Qiu Hu, his confidants like Lei Jie and Hei Pi, and important guests. Back in the billiard room, Zhang Xianhe, who was looking for Qiu Hu, spotted Lin Qiang and challenged her to a game of billiards. If he won, she had to explain why she had hit him previously.
Lin Qiang feigned ignorance, claiming it was their first meeting. Zhang Xianhe pressed on, suggesting she was pretending, but Hei Pi interrupted, summoning him to Qiu Hu's office. Inside the office, Qiu Hu presented Zhang Xianhe with a H. Upmann cigar, explaining he remembered Zhang Xianhe didn't smoke cigarettes and assumed he'd appreciate cigars. Qiu Hu then apologized for the previous misunderstanding caused by his men.
Zhang Xianhe, being diplomatic, said he was forgetful and didn't want the issue brought up again. Qiu Hu inquired how Zhang Xianhe knew Si Shu, and Zhang Xianhe explained he had helped Si Shu with "bad accounts" or "unclean goods" the previous year, and Si Shu had been grateful, introducing him to various contacts. Qiu Hu implied Si Shu's tea house didn't generate enough legitimate income to warrant such a service.
He then invited Zhang Xianhe to his birthday party on the top floor next week, which Zhang Xianhe readily accepted. Shortly after, Hei Pi entered, handed Qiu Hu a key, and informed him that a batch of wine was stored in the warehouse. After Zhang Xianhe departed, Hei Pi reported to Qiu Hu that Hong's network was no longer buying from them, having found a new seller.
Qiu Hu was enraged by this encroachment on his territory and instructed Chu Jiaojiao to investigate Hong. Later, Lin Qiang observed Lei Jie harshly scolding Dingding, a KTV waitress, and commented on Lei Jie's tyrannical behavior. Chu Jiaojiao dismissed Lei Jie as a mere "door keeper" who only showed aggression to subordinates. Hei Pi then arrived, directing Chu Jiaojiao to investigate Hong and find out who her new supplier was.
In the car ride, Chu Jiaojiao reminisced about her dream of being a big star, realizing it was now replaced by the reality of wanted notices. She instructed Lin Qiang not to ask questions or speak much when they arrived. At Hong’s mahjong parlor, Chu Jiaojiao and Lin Qiang found Hong playing. Chu Jiaojiao introduced Lin Qiang as a new friend from Qiu Hu’s hotel.
Chu Jiaojiao subtly tried to extract information from Hong about her new business partners, implying loyalty to old connections like Qiu Hu. Lin Qiang quickly deduced Chu Jiaojiao's true intention: to uncover Hong's new supplier. Hong, however, was sharp and called out Chu Jiaojiao for being a "little girl" sent by Qiu Hu to gather information, reminding her of past favors and warning her to know her place. Seeing Chu Jiaojiao getting nowhere, Lin Qiang whispered instructions to her.
Lin Qiang then provoked Hong, causing a commotion, and Chu Jiaojiao created a diversion. In the ensuing chaos, Lin Qiang swiftly snatched Hong's wallet, explaining later to an angry Chu Jiaojiao that this was a strategic move to access Hong's phone to find the new seller's information. Chu Jiaojiao was impressed by Lin Qiang’s ingenuity, and they successfully identified the new seller.
Lin Qiang also, as part of her 'greedy' cover, mentioned using the money from the stolen wallet to buy a new album, even at an exorbitant price from fans. Lin Qiang's repeated successes unsettled Lei Jie, who voiced her suspicions about Lin Qiang (Wang Qian) to Hei Pi.
She pointed out that Wang Qian had not only saved Chu Jiaojiao but also retrieved Hong's phone and discovered the new seller, gaining favor with Qiu Hu and potentially threatening their own positions. Hei Pi, however, dismissed Lei Jie's concerns, arguing that Wang Qian was a known cheat and liar who used "dirty tricks" and therefore couldn't possibly be a cop. Despite Hei Pi's reassurance, Chu Jiaojiao herself began to sense an ulterior motive behind Lin Qiang's helpfulness. She confronted Lin Qiang directly, asking if she was "looking for something," startling Lin Qiang and revealing her growing suspicion.
