Storm Eye Episode 24 Recap
> Storm Eye Recap
An Jing's mother initiated a conversation with her daughter, reflecting on how many years had passed without them properly discussing her father's accident. She asked An Jing for her thoughts on the matter. An Jing admitted that she, like her mother, had never accepted the incident as merely an accident. She reassured her mother that she believed in her keen intuition and her persistent reasons for questioning the official conclusion over the years.
An Jing promised not to give up investigating, emphasizing that clues, no matter how hidden, eventually surface, and justice, though it may be delayed, is never absent. Later that night, Ma Shang called An Jing, having heard about her mother's emotional distress. An Jing explained that her mother had become agitated after discussing her father with Uncle Wang.
An Jing confessed that while she told her mother she believed her, she privately felt a degree of uncertainty, wondering if her own strong feelings prevented her from accepting her father's death as an accident. Ma Shang reassured her that it's natural for family members to struggle with objectivity in such situations and promised they would uncover the truth. They then wished each other goodnight. Meanwhile, Department Chief Song, Ma Shang, and Du Meng were analyzing their current case.
Song mentioned that the hair sample report had been sent to Director Qin and that they needed to find other breakthroughs while awaiting the results. Ma Shang updated them on Dinghua, explaining that the company was fully focused on launching a new product. Its final data was about to be verified before proceeding to clinical trials. Du Meng questioned why the espionage organization would act so early if Professor Zou's research wasn't complete.
Ma Shang clarified that once the final data is announced and patented, no buyer would bid for already registered technology, which would incur huge fines and lawsuits. Ma Shang also noted that Yu Haoran, backed by Pang Yishan and possessing considerable ability, had a 90% chance of becoming Professor Zou's special assistant. He added that if Professor Zou cooperated, Yu Haoran would be forced to make a move.
After the meeting, Ma Shang spoke privately with Department Chief Song about An Jing's father's ten-year-old case. He revealed that the charity which had assisted Fan Dewei's daughter was backed by Hermes Group. Song was surprised, stating he had overseen the original investigation and couldn't have missed such a detail.
Ma Shang clarified that the charity's initial sponsor was a small northern European company, which Hermes only acquired two years "after" the incident, making it impossible for Song to have discovered it then. Ma Shang explained that this lead alone wasn't enough and they needed help locating Fan Dewei, the driver, who had been released from prison but had vanished. Song agreed to assist, understanding that Ma Shang and Du Meng were preoccupied with the special operation.
Yang Xun, desperate for money, reached out to Fu Dayong about his daughter's overseas study. He urged Fu Dayong to pay the deposit quickly, warning that delays could mean waiting another year. Fu Dayong asked Yang Xun to postpone it, citing difficulty in getting such a large sum of cash quickly, and also mentioned hearing about Yang Xun's resignation from Dinghua.
Shortly after, debt collectors from the casino arrived at Yang Xun's home, asserting they wouldn't leave until he paid his debts. They dismissed his pleas for more time and even joked about acting as his "free bodyguards." Yang Xun, at his wit's end, desperately sought help from President He. He initially refused to lend money for gambling debts, reminding Yang Xun that he also owed Dinghua, who would call the police if he fled.
Seeing no other way out, Yang Xun proposed a partnership with President He, stating he now understood the "way" He had shown him before—if others could profit, so could he. He desperately pledged to do whatever He asked. At Dinghua, Lin Xiaolan announced the completion of the R&D Department's data calculation, with the product soon to enter clinical verification. She publicly thanked Professor Zou for his immense support, even at the cost of delaying his own projects.
Lin Xiaolan then instructed Miao Fei to organize overseas team-building trips for all departments to help staff relax. Pang Yishan seized the opportunity to recommend Yu Haoran for the special assistant position to Professor Zou, praising his contribution to the data calculation. Professor Zou, indifferent, stated he had no preference, finding all young R&D staff capable. Lin Xiaolan then confirmed Yu Haoran's promotion. Colleagues congratulated Yu Haoran, who offered to treat everyone to a celebratory dinner.
Miao Lu, observing the scene, was visibly upset. Cheng Lei, having lost the position, retreated to the rooftop. Ma Shang found him there. Cheng Lei confessed his disappointment, feeling he had lost not due to a lack of professional skill, but due to a lack of "background." He declared his intention to resign, disillusioned with Dinghua's internal politics where Pang Yishan sidelined him for not taking sides.
Miao Lu arrived and tried to dissuade him, explaining that she herself came to Dinghua for its superior technology and opportunities, not because of her sister. She urged Cheng Lei to see the bigger picture and offered to resign with him if he truly left, though she genuinely hoped he would stay. Later, An Jing and Ma Shang discussed the ongoing investigation.
Ma Shang confirmed Yu Haoran's promotion meant they could proceed with their next probe, informing Department Chief Song to liaise with Professor Zou, who was usually cooperative on security matters. An Jing, however, expressed doubts about Yu Haoran being their target, noting his recent actions didn't seem consistent with a long-term dormant agent. Ma Shang admitted he'd observed Cheng Lei for a long time but found nothing suspicious, especially as Cheng Lei had nearly resigned over the assistant position.
An Jing then inquired about Miao Fei's recent state. Ma Shang found Miao Fei to be "especially tranquil," which he considered unusual given the betrayals by Jia Changan and Zhou Lian, coupled with her father's past mishap. He admitted he wasn't sure about Miao Fei's situation and had had little contact with her. He suggested that Miao Lu, who was less adept at hiding her emotions, might be a more accessible source of information.
An Jing assured him that her mother was doing well. Yang Xun brought his "friend," Mr. Zhang, a study-abroad advisor, to meet Fu Dayong and his daughter, Fu Mengyao. Fu Dayong, worried about the complexity of arranging his family's overseas study, appreciated the help. Mengyao, however, was rebellious and walked away mid-conversation. Yang Xun apologized, promising an even more reliable friend.
He then revealed to Fu Dayong that he had resigned from Dinghua and was now vice president of a new company called "Xingchuang Technology," which also dealt with DS materials. He suggested future collaboration, but Fu Dayong expressed hesitation, fearing disapproval from Pang Yishan and Dinghua. Unbeknownst to Fu Dayong, President He was orchestrating these events from behind the scenes.
He later advised Yang Xun not to rush Fu Dayong, promising to handle Mengyao's study abroad himself without revealing his involvement, so Fu Dayong would feel indebted to Yang Xun. He also clarified that his earlier intervention with the debt collectors was merely to buy Yang Xun time, not to repay his debt, emphasizing their equal partnership. Yang Xun, understanding He's shrewdness, vowed to focus on their collaboration.
Suddenly, Miao Fei called Ma Shang, sounding distressed, informing him that the medical devices sent for clinical verification had problems, signaling significant trouble for Dinghua. They rushed to an emergency meeting. Lin Xiaolan sternly confronted Yu Haoran about the medical accidents occurring in multiple hospitals, highlighting that he was responsible for verifying the core design parameters. Yu Haoran vehemently denied any fault, insisting the prototypes passed all tests and his data verification was flawless, blaming the production side instead.
Lin Xiaolan pointed out the core manufacturer's impeccable record. Yu Haoran still denied responsibility. Lin Xiaolan asked him to return to his office, acknowledging it was premature to assign blame, but also instructed him to keep the matter strictly confidential. Pang Yishan interjected, stating it was too late as the news had already leaked to the media, causing a significant backlash. Ma Shang and An Jing watched a news report about Dinghua's medical device products causing accidents during clinical testing.
Miao Fei, speaking to Ma Shang on the phone, described the chaotic situation, with Lin Xiaolan dealing with reporters. An Jing suspected a conspiracy targeting Dinghua, noting how all reports immediately blamed Dinghua's products before any investigation. Ma Shang agreed, speculating it was a follow-up to the key theft, and Yu Haoran's leaked information might be related to the medical device data.
An Jing questioned Yu Haoran's motive, as such an incident would undoubtedly ruin his future as Professor Zou's assistant. Ma Shang proposed they investigate Dinghua's cooperating manufacturers and the hospitals where the accidents occurred. An Jing confirmed she would begin collecting information on the relevant parties. Meanwhile, Yang Xun and President He discussed Dinghua's predicament. Yang Xun gloated, calling it a "big stumble."
He observed that Dinghua's downfall presented an opportunity for them, suggesting it was time to re-contact Fu Dayong, who would surely seek a new path if Dinghua faltered. Yang Xun, suspicious, asked if He had known Dinghua would face problems, noting his calm demeanor when Fu Dayong initially refused their partnership. He then stepped away to take a call from Jeffrey, confirming his plan to wait until Dinghua's shares plummeted before making his move.
Yang Xun, overhearing the conversation, grew more convinced that He's true agenda extended far beyond mere ore smuggling. He, sensing Yang Xun's probing, warned him against greed, reminding him of his past losses at the gambling house, and reiterated that they should focus solely on "this business." Later, Department Chief Song, Ma Shang, Du Meng, and An Jing continued to discuss Dinghua's crisis. Ma Shang described the impact as catastrophic.
While Professor Zou and Cheng Lei were examining the cause, Ma Shang suspected a link to Yu Haoran's data leak and the key theft. Du Meng and Song, however, questioned Yu Haoran's motivation, arguing that such an action would destroy his career and prevent him from accessing the DS materials technology. Song considered if it was a tactic to "play for time," believing that Dinghua's failure would severely impact all their R&D, including the DS artificial synthesis technology.
Du Meng countered that the strategic value of DS Materials was immense, and even patented, it would still be a target. Song clarified that their opponent was not a national espionage organization, meaning their ultimate goal was profit, which would be greatly reduced if they stole patented technology. An Jing confirmed she had identified the liable parties from the hospitals and manufacturers. Song reiterated the importance of quickly determining the accident's cause to plan their next move.
Ma Shang returned home to find shattered glass on the floor. He saw his father sitting sullenly and asked if he had argued with his mother. His father, in a sarcastic tone, denied it, saying his mother was "very capable now." Ma Shang then asked where his mother was, but his father didn't know. Ma Shang called out for his mother.
