Storm Eye Episode 15 Recap
> Storm Eye Recap
Professor Zou sternly reprimanded Yu Haoran for failing to correctly calculate the assigned data, demanding he redo it and return the corrected figures within two hours. He then reassigned Yu Haoran’s subsequent tasks, including retrieving a cryptographic key, to Engineer Cheng Lei. Feeling frustrated, Yu Haoran asked for Wu Miao and then angrily cursed him, convinced that Wu Miao had deliberately sabotaged his work. Engineer Cheng Lei, on his way to retrieve the key, discovered the archives door unlocked.
Concerned about the security of Dinghua's core information, he immediately reviewed the surveillance footage. While the initial playback showed only him entering the archives around 2 PM the previous day, further examination of the late-night hours revealed a suspicious light emanating from the door crack. Cheng Lei dismissed suggestions of mere signal interference or faulty equipment, insisting that core data was at stake.
He reported his findings to Professor Zou, Lin Xiaolan, and Pang Yishan, confirming that he had securely closed the door earlier. Lin Xiaolan praised Cheng Lei’s vigilance and, while assuring him the company would thoroughly investigate the incident and involve external departments if necessary, instructed him and the other staff to maintain strict confidentiality to prevent any internal gossip. Meanwhile, Department Chief Song learned that after Miao Fei left the archives, someone else might have entered.
He revealed that Miao Fei's surveillance footage had been intentionally erased according to their plan, but the mysterious light from the door crack still appeared. An Jing recalled that the reconnaissance vehicle had experienced two distinct periods of strong signal interference after Miao Fei departed, with the second occurring without any lightning, making it seem less like normal weather fluctuations. She realized that this artificial interference could explain why no one was recorded entering the area.
Department Chief Song concluded that the synchronized signal fluctuations and the mysterious light from the archives door confirmed a deliberate, man-made interference, meaning Xu He had likely obtained the key. Ma Shang immediately identified Wu Miao as the culprit, expressing frustration at how completely he felt fooled, despite his previous assessment of Wu Miao as a marginal figure.
He Zixuan’s investigation revealed Wu Miao was the last person to leave the office, taking an item believed to be the signal interference device. As Wu Miao lacked authorization for archives access, he must have acquired fingerprints. Initially, surveillance indicated Wu Miao remained at home.
However, when Wang Zuo and his team attempted to apprehend him there, they failed, as He Zixuan’s subsequent investigation revealed Wu Miao had already left his residential area on a motorbike disguised as a takeout delivery person. This disguise and pre-arranged escape vehicle indicated strong anti-reconnaissance capabilities. Wang Zuo eventually recovered the abandoned motorbike and uniform, but Wu Miao's trail went cold.
An Jing took Ma Shang aside, who was consumed by self-blame, believing his initial assessment of Wu Miao had misled the entire investigation. An Jing reassured him it wasn't his fault, as her own judgment, based on Wu Miao’s meticulously verified and seemingly ordinary resume, was identical. She acknowledged they were currently at a disadvantage but urged him not to concede defeat and to adjust his mindset.
Later, An Jing discussed with the team, highlighting Wu Miao's history of misappropriating Tianxing Technology's research budget and his agreement with Tianxiang Technology's boss, Zhang Jianqui, to steal Dinghua’s information to avoid a lawsuit. She questioned why Xu He, known for his thorough vetting of collaborators like Miao Huanyang, would partner with such a "blemished" and "full of loopholes" individual.
An Jing proposed that they temporarily set aside the assumption of a direct partnership between Xu He and Wu Miao, noting the lack of concrete evidence linking them or even definitively proving Wu Miao stole the cryptographic key. She admitted they might have narrowed their investigative focus too much. Ma Shang, apologizing for his earlier misjudgment, suggested contacting the Tianlin City bureau to investigate Zhang Jianqui’s monthly bank withdrawals and subsequent trips.
He hypothesized that Wu Miao, a commercial spy solely driven by money, likely hid his ill-gotten gains near these secret meeting locations. It was confirmed that Zhang Jianqui regularly drove to Sanfeng Town, a border town between Shuangqing and Tianlin City, after making his withdrawals. An Jing and Du Meng drove towards Sanfeng Town.
Along the way, Du Meng, impressed by Ma Shang's intellect, expressed his feelings of inferiority, noting that only An Jing could match Ma Shang's thought process during case discussions. An Jing encouraged him, assuring him she wasn't as capable at his stage and that recognizing deficiencies was an opportunity for growth.
An Jing then received a call from "Uncle Wang," a friend of her mother, informing her that he had been in a car accident and her mother sustained a slight concussion, becoming emotionally unstable. An Jing, torn between her duty and her family, asked Uncle Wang to stay with her mother, promising to come as soon as possible.
Du Meng, noticing An Jing’s distress and concern for her mother's fragile mental state, urged her to go to the hospital, offering to meet up with Wang Zuo instead. An Jing, however, refused to get out of the car, wiping away tears. She insisted they must continue the pursuit because if Wu Miao wasn't apprehended, they wouldn't confirm his connection to Xu He or the key theft, leaving the entire case unsolved.
She stated that this was her personal matter and she could handle it. An Jing then revealed that her father died while chasing a spy, whom she suspected was Xu He, and she bitterly resented him for using similar tactics to facilitate escapes years later. She vowed to catch the culprit. Meanwhile, Miao Fei visited Zhou Lian's shop, where Zhou Lian feigned concern about her recent absence.
Miao Fei confided that she struggled to trust anyone after discovering Jia Changan had another woman, catching Zhou Lian off guard. Elsewhere, Qiao Xichuan contacted Jeffrey, reporting his failure to obtain the key from Miao Fei, whom he suspected was cooperating with the National Security System. Jeffrey, however, revealed that his own operatives had already secured the key.
An enraged Qiao Xichuan attempted to withdraw from the mission, even forfeiting his final payment, but Jeffrey rebuked him, comparing him to a pet that must obey its master. Jeffrey insisted that Qiao Xichuan complete his original plan to receive his full payment and promised to send the key to him shortly. Zhou Lian then called Qiao Xichuan. National Security agents successfully tracked Wu Miao to Sanfeng Town.
An operative, "Lao Liu," disguised as a drunkard, managed to place a monitoring device on him. An Jing, now at the scene, decided against an immediate arrest after overhearing Wu Miao's commanding tone on a call, telling someone to "come over quickly." She opted to wait for Wu Miao's contact person to appear, hoping to apprehend both individuals simultaneously. Receiving updates, Ma Shang grew increasingly suspicious, finding Wu Miao's swift location too easy.
He noted that the previous night's heavy rain would have provided far better cover for an escape, making Wu Miao's morning flight puzzling. These observations led Ma Shang to increasingly doubt that Wu Miao was the actual thief of the cryptographic key, though he hoped he was simply overthinking the situation.
