Storm Eye Episode 3 Recap
> Storm Eye Recap
The National Security agents initiated an operation targeting Liu Baoqiang. After Liu Baoqiang deposited the goods, he contacted his go-between. He Zixuan successfully located the buyer's position at the Qiaodong high-speed entrance, approximately three kilometers away, and immediately relayed this information to An Jing. However, the target, Zhou Lian, had already discarded her phone and left the scene after receiving a phone call from Qiao Xichuan, who warned her that the police were tracking her.
An Jing directed her team to continue monitoring the buyer's potential movements while Du Meng was tasked with following Liu Baoqiang. After two hours, with no sign of the buyer, An Jing ordered the team to recover the goods and apprehend Liu Baoqiang. Ma Shang noted a crucial detail: the buyer's choice to wait at a highway ramp, a location with no immediate turnaround options, suggested they hadn't anticipated Liu Baoqiang being under surveillance.
This indicated that someone had alerted the buyer in advance. Ma Shang and Director Qin went to a building overlooking the transaction site, which offered the best vantage point. There, they discovered that the monitoring system at the observation point had been damaged.
From this, Ma Shang deduced that the suspect was a male, likely over 180 centimeters tall, between 30 and 50 years old, and in good physical condition, due to the monitor's height and lack of nearby stepping points. The suspect must have used the emergency stairs to avoid the elevator's monitoring system. Given the distance, the suspect must have used a professional high-power telescope to observe their deployment.
Director Qin agreed that the suspect's ability to see through their operation and strong anti-reconnaissance skills indicated extensive professional training. Ma Shang concluded they were facing a well-organized criminal organization, not just an isolated buyer. All leads were lost, making it clear that Ma Shang would not be returning to Beijing anytime soon. He requested Director Qin to combine the teams for a larger investigation. Meanwhile, An Jing and Du Meng interrogated Liu Baoqiang.
Compared to Chen Can, Liu Baoqiang seemed amateurish, denying any knowledge of his contacts or the goods he was delivering. He became emotional and cried, insisting he was merely an errand runner who followed instructions after receiving money. Du Meng was frustrated, puzzled by the operation's failure. Later, Director Song called An Jing and Du Meng to a secret location at a pier.
He stressed that their meeting must be kept in strict confidence, even from other colleagues at the City Bureau. To An Jing's surprise, Ma Shang was waiting there. Director Song led An Jing and Du Meng inside, where Director Qin was also present. Director Qin introduced Ma Shang, highlighting his experience in solving major cases, and He Zixuan as an information master.
He emphasized that the identities of Ma Shang and He Zixuan, who were assigned by Headquarters, must remain strictly confidential. An Jing was designated as the liaison for any coordination with the City Bureau. The team gathered in a specialized mobile station on a yacht at the pier. It was equipped with a high-power signal station to ensure communication and could also conceal nearby signals. The yacht would periodically go to sea to avoid drawing attention.
Ma Shang reiterated his discovery at the transaction site, explaining how the opponent's strong anti-reconnaissance capabilities and use of a high-power telescope indicated a large-scale, organized crime that had likely observed the site a day in advance. Director Qin then officially announced the launch of "Operation Storm Eye," stressing that failure was not an option, as they could not afford the consequences. Simultaneously, Zhou Lian contacted Qiao Xichuan, expressing her concern about the compromised operation.
Qiao Xichuan instructed her to proceed with her "plan B" and continue the mission, reassuring her that she had not been exposed. Zhou Lian, however, was hesitant, stating that she loved money but didn't want to get further entangled. She offered to provide more information if Qiao Xichuan would arrange for her to leave China, but he rebuffed her, reminding her of the rules of their work.
Later, Qiao Xichuan spoke with an unknown foreign associate who confirmed that clients had already paid, emphasizing the severity of the situation and the need to avoid any mistakes. Outside, An Jing expressed her surprise to Ma Shang about his involvement in such important National Security cases, acknowledging the rarity of such opportunities. Ma Shang, in turn, wondered why An Jing, a woman, had chosen the demanding and dangerous path of reconnaissance.
An Jing calmly explained that after dropping out of college, she attended the police academy and had been in this line of work ever since. Ma Shang didn't press for details, recalling his fantasy of running up to hug her if they ever met again. They both recognized that the upcoming mission was complex and required their full cooperation, ensuring no personal feelings would compromise the investigation.
Later, while An Jing was working late, Du Meng came to join her for dinner. Du Meng, having heard from He Zixuan, hesitantly asked An Jing if she and Ma Shang had been in love. An Jing admitted that they were college classmates and had been together before a past "accident." She reminded Du Meng that he was the only one in the reconnaissance section who knew about her personal history, to which Du Meng promised to keep it secret.
An Jing clarified that their current relationship was strictly professional and asked him to stop gossiping. Ma Shang met with Director Qin and An Jing to discuss the investigation. Ma Shang, reflecting on Chen Can's direct target of Dinghua's seminar, suspected an internal leak within the company. An Jing confirmed that she had already investigated Dinghua's executives. She provided details: Lin Xiaolan, the CEO, was an "iron lady."
Miao Huanyang, the Executive Vice President, was a founder and held significant power despite his title. Pang Yishan, another powerful Vice President in charge of R&D, was known for his bureaucratic and old-fashioned approach. An Jing also discovered that Miao Huanyang's daughter, Miao Fei, was a director at Dinghua and was engaged to Jia Changan, the CEO of Changan Science & Technology.
An Jing found it suspicious that Changan Science & Technology had overlapping projects with Dinghua and received large allocations of DS ore annually. An Jing proposed investigating Changan Science & Technology as a breakthrough point. However, Ma Shang disagreed, arguing that the core technology resided within Dinghua, not Changan, and investigating the latter would be a detour. He suggested infiltrating Dinghua for an undercover investigation, as the opponents were already aware of National Security's involvement.
Director Qin intervened, asking them to accompany him for a walk. He revealed an old gunshot wound on his left arm, explaining it was sustained during an undercover operation where a fellow agent shot him to maintain his cover after their rapid progress led to suspicion. Director Qin emphasized the critical importance of tacit understanding and trust in their line of work, especially with increasing threats of framing rather than direct combat.
He concluded by acknowledging their shared past, suggesting it provided a foundation for trust, which made An Jing visibly uncomfortable, leading her to question if Ma Shang had divulged their history. Meanwhile, Miao Fei was preparing for her wedding to Jia Changan and went with her best friend, Zhou Lian, to try on wedding dresses. Unbeknownst to Miao Fei, Zhou Lian secretly sent a threatening message to Jia Changan, demanding he meet her that afternoon.
Jia Changan, angered by the message, called Miao Fei, fabricating an excuse about an urgent company meeting related to financing, and asked her to go to the bridal salon alone. He later met Zhou Lian, who possessed intimate photos of them and demanded he delete them. Zhou Lian accused him of leading a double life. However, she insisted her primary reason for the meeting was to discuss "official business."
That evening, Miao Fei was visibly upset at dinner but deflected her father, Miao Huanyang’s, inquiries, claiming she was preoccupied with work. She expressed a desire to replace an employee, Yang Xun, for mishandling contracts, but Miao Huanyang advised caution, as Yang Xun was allied with Pang Yishan, a powerful figure, and suggested Miao Fei first find a way to balance her relationship with Pang Yishan.
