Storm Eye Episode 2 Recap
> Storm Eye Recap
Ma Shang confesses to Hao Zixuan that An Jing is his first love. Hao Zixuan recalls Ma Shang once mentioned her as "missing," not "dead," and presses for more details. Ma Shang explains that they were high school classmates in the same class but didn't interact much. However, they both got into Peking University, in the same major, same class, and were from the same hometown, which naturally brought them together.
Soon after the second semester of their freshman year, An Jing suddenly disappeared. Ma Shang searched for her for three years, contacting everyone he could, but no one knew what had happened. Hao Zixuan then expresses concern about the potential awkwardness of their current collaboration. Department Chief Song and Director Qin meet, with Qin Ting commending An Jing's ability to almost pinpoint the target despite limited intelligence.
Song Ju, proud of An Jing, jokingly warns Qin Ting not to try to poach her. They then discuss the mission. The target is Chen Can, who has been operating overseas for years. His return to Shuangqing is motivated by the artificial synthesis technology for DS material, a critical project of the Dinghua Group. A technology conference is scheduled for the day after tomorrow, where Dinghua's chief technology researcher will present the latest progress, confirming Chen Can's objective.
Song Ju questions why they don't simply arrest Chen Can, but Qin Ting explains that Chen Can is not operating alone, and their superiors have instructed them to eliminate the entire network. They decide to apply calculated pressure on Chen Can, allowing him to believe he is successfully evading them. Qin Ting, who has only recently received much of the new intelligence and kept the need-to-know circle strict, apologizes for the previous lack of coordination.
Song Ju accepts this, and Qin Ting informs him that Chen Can's hotel has been identified and his team is monitoring him, awaiting his next move. Hao Zixuan takes Ma Shang to a pier, where he introduces Lao Han, a retired comrade from the pier management company who ensures safety. Inside, Hao Zixuan reveals their advanced action station, boasting professional satellite tracking, high-precision positioning, and seamless confidentiality.
Ma Shang expresses mild jealousy that Hao Zixuan is stationed in such a high-tech facility while he is assigned to work from home, to which Hao Zixuan playfully responds that living at home is advantageous. Ma Shang is impressed by the mobile station, and Hao Zixuan explains its necessity due to Chen Can's elusiveness and expertise in evasion. Monitoring Chen Can, Ma Shang notes that he remains in his hotel and has not made any direct contact.
Hao Zixuan confirms he is watching Chen Can via a connection to the monitoring system. Ma Shang deduces Chen Can is likely using a single-line communication channel, suggesting the situation is more intricate than initially thought. Hao Zixuan informs him that Director Qin has already secured the cooperation of Professor Zou from the Dinghua Group, and their strategy is to trace Chen Can's network to apprehend all involved parties.
An Jing and Du Meng are disheartened after the SkyEye system loses Chen Can, who appears to be familiar with their tracking methods, even adjusting his gait. Despite Du Meng's pessimism, An Jing insists on continuing to search. Their team's analysis points to the unpublicized Dinghua Technology Seminar as a potential target.
An Jing requests a mission from Department Chief Song, advocating for active investigation rather than passive waiting, proposing to deploy scouts to monitor potential targets based on Chen Can's profile as a professional commercial spy. Song Ju initially dismisses this as a wasteful, "blind cat runs into a dead mouse" approach. Du Meng, however, defends An Jing's strategy.
An Jing then requests a private conversation with Song Ju, where she candidly expresses her belief in his loyalty but questions his apparent lack of concern over losing the target. Song Ju challenges her, even threatening to remove her from the case for her perceived insolence. An Jing clarifies her intent, reiterating that technical means are currently insufficient and deploying scouts is their best course of action to put the case back on track.
Song Ju reluctantly approves the operation, but strictly warns her to remain covert and avoid exposure. An Jing understands the urgency, realizing Chen Can's stay will be brief, driven by the pursuit of valuable commercial intelligence. At the Dinghua Group seminar, Chen Can, disguised as a participant, prepares to act. Ma Shang observes him and reports to Director Qin, who confirms Professor Zou has made arrangements. Professor Zou then takes the stage, stating the relevant data is on his laptop.
Chen Can successfully obtains the data, which Hao Zixuan confirms, immediately initiating tracking. An Jing suddenly arrives at the seminar, causing concern for Hao Zixuan, and Ma Shang quickly informs Director Qin of her presence. An Jing instructs Du Meng to find a position at the back door. While on a phone call with Department Chief Song, who orders her to return for a meeting, Chen Can brushes past An Jing.
She immediately realizes she had a face-to-face encounter with the target, and because Du Meng had previously tracked him, their cover might be blown. Concluding that further pursuit would be pointless if exposed, An Jing reports to Song Ju that Chen Can is leaving and has likely succeeded in his mission, urging for his capture. Song Ju then orders the arrest. An Jing and Du Meng promptly apprehend Chen Can.
Hao Zixuan expresses frustration that capturing Chen Can might hinder their larger investigation, but Ma Shang explains that given their exposure, arrest was the best course of action. He confirms that Chen Can had already sent the data, advising them to now wait and observe the developments. Later, An Jing explains that she noticed Chen Can's habitual movement of loosening his tie when nervous, which helped her identify him.
Back at the bureau, An Jing is severely reprimanded by Department Chief Song for getting exposed. An Jing suspects she may have interfered with another operation. Song Ju confirms her suspicion, explaining that the provincial department had been tracking Chen Can with the intention of allowing him to lead them to his accomplices.
An Jing argues that since Chen Can had already obtained and possibly spread the data, his capture might have been necessary to prevent further damage, even questioning if the data itself was false. Song Ju dismisses her theories and scolds her for making such an amateur mistake. When Du Meng tries to take responsibility, An Jing quickly interjects, taking full blame, but Song Ju sees through it and instructs Du Meng to write a self-reflection.
Meanwhile, Ma Shang reports to Director Qin that a Trojan program previously implanted in Professor Zou's computer successfully identified Chen Can's associate. He clarifies that Chen Can only sent the stolen documents before his arrest and no other warnings. The associate is identified as Liu Baoqiang, a 35-year-old unemployed Shuangqing native with no criminal record, previously fired for misappropriation of public funds.
Ma Shang believes Liu Baoqiang is likely a low-level middleman, possibly unaware of the full scope of the operation, though he doesn't rule out the possibility of a disguise. During this report, Ma Shang's father calls, but Ma Shang quickly dismisses the call. Ma Shang then requests access to the city bureau's monitoring system to observe Chen Can's interrogation, which Qin Ting grants.
During interrogation, Chen Can remains uncooperative, denying any knowledge of the data-sucking disc or commercial espionage, claiming he merely delivered water. An Jing and Du Meng present conclusive evidence, including colloid residue on the water cup and the disc, residual skin tissue on his waiter's uniform, and recovered email records from his phone, yet Chen Can persists in his denial.
Meanwhile, Ma Shang and Hao Zixuan observe Liu Baoqiang's unusual inactivity, noting he hasn't delivered the data despite five hours having passed since he received the email, making Liu Baoqiang appear anxious. An Jing confronts Chen Can, revealing their knowledge of his associate, but Chen Can still claims ignorance about the buyer. Ma Shang theorizes that Chen Can, a hired commercial spy, is likely under threat, and prioritizes a reduced prison sentence over other considerations.
He notices Chen Can repeatedly checking a clock on the wall and recalls a previous case where specific contact times were set, after which transactions automatically terminated. Ma Shang deduces that Chen Can is deliberately stalling for time, attempting to secure leniency while avoiding repercussions from his clients, and Liu Baoqiang is anxious about missing the deadline and not getting paid.
Department Chief Song confirms this analysis with An Jing, stating Chen Can is intentionally delaying until the transaction is automatically canceled. An Jing re-enters the interrogation room, reiterating the potential for mitigated punishment for meritorious service. She then reveals their knowledge of Liu Baoqiang, directly asking Chen Can about "letting Liu Baoqiang deliver goods on time."
A surprised Chen Can attempts to deny it, but An Jing warns him that once Liu Baoqiang is arrested, he will lose all chances for leniency. Late at night, Ma Shang tries to call his father, but gets no answer. He explains to Hao Zixuan that his parents are unaware of his work with the National Security Bureau.
He describes the mental toll of his job, constantly playing different roles and remaining vigilant, admitting to feeling lonely and anxious, and at times, questioning his own normalcy. Despite the challenges, he asserts he has no regrets. Meanwhile, An Jing observes Chen Can subtly trying to keep track of time during his interrogation. She instructs her team to change guards and to subtly expose their watches to him, each time setting the watch once.
After an extended period, Chen Can finally breaks his silence. Believing it is already 6:10 AM, he asks An Jing if her offer for a reduced sentence in exchange for cooperation still stands. He then agrees to contact the courier. Chen Can explains that the buyer requires his email confirmation before contacting the delivery person.
He details his method: first a blank email to the delivery person, then a blank email to the buyer for confirmation, after which the buyer and delivery person handle the transaction without his further involvement. He provides the buyer's email address: `17663868699@yagu. com`. As An Jing and Du Meng prepare to leave, Chen Can stops them, concerned about the timing. An Jing then reveals that they "played tricks" on their watches and the actual time is only 5:30 AM.
She warns him that providing misleading information is a serious crime, and he will face severe consequences, leaving Chen Can enraged. An Jing details the deployment plan. She informs the team that the buyer has already contacted Liu Baoqiang, but the brief, three-second call prevented them from tracing the location. An Jing will oversee on-site dispatch and information monitoring.
Du Meng will lead Unit A, tasked with meeting Xiao Li and meticulously tracking Liu Baoqiang's route from his apartment, maintaining vigilance despite Liu Baoqiang's lack of anti-reconnaissance training. Unit B, under Lao Liu, will focus on securing the goods at the transaction site. Wang Zuo's Unit C will remain on mobile standby, monitoring the surrounding environment and reporting any changes. Department Chief Song then addresses the team, acknowledging their potential confusion or resentment regarding the concealed intelligence.
He assures them that the upper-level department has valid reasons for their actions, which will become clear once the mission is successfully completed. He instructs everyone to focus on their assigned tasks, reminding them that the provincial department will provide technical support.
