Storm Eye Episode 38 Recap
> Storm Eye Recap
An Jing and Ma Shang remained at the dock throughout the night. As a dedicated member of National Security, An Jing was mentally prepared for many difficult situations, but she struggled to accept Du Meng's death. She spent the night reflecting on her time with him, remembering every operation where he was always the first to charge forward.
She recalled how he would quietly stay late with new dossiers and how, despite having a sick mother and a younger sister in college, he always brought laughter to his colleagues. An Jing vividly remembered Du Meng's first day in National Security when he expressed a desire to be a hero.
She had playfully teased him about watching too many crime dramas, but he explained that they were ordinary people whose duty was to protect national security, emphasizing that "hero" was just a label and every National Security warrior was an "unknown hero." He wanted to be such a hero. Both An Jing and Ma Shang were determined to arrest Cheng Lei and ensure justice for Du Meng.
An Jing, Ma Shang, and He Zixuan reported to Director Qin and Director Song. An Jing explained that Cheng Lei's willingness to risk being killed to retrieve the data copying device indicated the transaction was crucial to him, suggesting he didn't believe he was at the end of his rope. Fortunately, Du Meng had struck the device, preventing immediate data leakage, and without specialized equipment or expertise, Cheng Lei was unlikely to repair it.
The data copying device was Cheng Lei's only "ticket" to escape, as he couldn't do so alone, needing a shield and support. With his identity exposed, he had become an abandoned pawn, making the device his sole bargaining chip. An Jing inquired about Qiao Xichuan's interrogation results for further analysis. Director Qin revealed that Qiao Xichuan had disclosed Jeffrey's employment by the Hermes Group. Based on previous evidence and pressure on Hermes, the group would not easily let Jeffrey off.
This meant both Cheng Lei and Jeffrey faced similar predicaments: failure to obtain the data would lead to significant trouble. An Jing theorized that Cheng Lei, now highly distrustful due to his experiences, would demand Jeffrey appear in person. They had learned Cheng Lei stole a private vehicle and was fleeing towards Shuangqing, which the provincial and municipal bureaus were now tracking. Director Qin acknowledged their grief over Du Meng's sacrifice but stressed that it wasn't anyone's individual responsibility.
He reminded them that all National Security agents were prepared for sacrifice and that only by successfully completing the mission would Du Meng's sacrifice hold true meaning and bring comfort to their fallen comrade. He then instructed An Jing and Ma Shang to take the fastest flight directly to Shuangqing. Back at the city bureau, An Jing brought He Zixuan, introducing him to the team as their technical support for the task force.
Xiao Li, seeing An Jing, tearfully asked if Du Meng had returned with her. An Jing, holding back her own emotions, simply said he was with Director Song and would arrive later. The familiar environment intensified An Jing's grief, reminding her of their past operations together. Xiao Li, having confirmed Du Meng's death, broke down, crying uncontrollably.
An Jing tried to comfort her by reminding her that Du Meng used to tease her, saying her smile was uglier than her crying face, but Xiao Li wished Du Meng was there to see her cry now. An Jing then urged Xiao Li to focus on the arduous tasks ahead. Xiao Li had already notified Du Meng's family, and his sister, Du Ling, was waiting in the meeting room.
An Jing met Du Ling and, filled with guilt, confessed that Du Meng had sacrificed his life to save her when she was controlled by the criminal. Du Ling confirmed that she knew the secret reason why her brother would go to such lengths for An Jing. An Jing offered to cover Du Ling's university fees and their mother's medical expenses, but Du Ling refused, stating that her brother had always taught her to rely on herself.
Du Ling shared that their mother was unaware of Du Meng's death, and she planned to tell her in person the next day, fearing how she would react. Du Ling started crying, and An Jing embraced her, repeatedly apologizing. Leaving the meeting room, An Jing could no longer suppress her own tears. Ma Shang later received his documents from An Jing, who asked if he was confident in completing the mission.
Ma Shang affirmed that he had to complete it, for the duty to national security and for Du Meng. Cheng Lei was observed heading towards Shuangqing City. Wang Zuo, Lao Liu, and Xiao Li joined "Operation Storm Eye." The team carefully tracked Cheng Lei, who eventually abandoned his vehicle and proceeded on foot into a residential building. Inside, he drew the curtains and retrieved a suitcase filled with cash and several fake identification documents from under a bed.
After setting the suitcase ablaze, he quickly departed. Wang Zuo and Lao Liu, smelling the smoke, immediately entered to extinguish the fire and recovered the remaining items, which included eight fake passports for various countries, five fake Chinese IDs, along with some clothes and cash. An Jing and Xiao Li, waiting outside, observed Cheng Lei leaving the complex and continued their pursuit. An Jing remarked that Cheng Lei was too arrogant, but would not be for long.
Meanwhile, Professor Zou learned of the recent events and felt deep remorse, lamenting that he would have rather not pursued the project if he had known the human cost. He reflected on how cold data had led to so much bloodshed, questioning if science was not meant for all mankind, and worried about how many "sleepers" were still active in the world.
Lin Xiaolan, having been briefed by Director Song the previous night, visited Professor Zou, assuring him that it was not his fault and that the country's economic and security breakthrough from this technology would ultimately make the nation stronger. She also met with Miao Fei, expressing her sympathy for what she had endured. Miao Fei was concerned about her suitability to remain at Dinghua, especially as she would need to testify in court and felt she had made mistakes.
Lin Xiaolan, however, reassured her, emphasizing that Dinghua's doors would always be open to her, even if the legal process required a temporary separation. She also advised Professor Zou to keep the matter confidential for national security reasons. Ma Shang reported to Director Song that Cheng Lei had checked into a hotel on Xize Road.
This hotel was strategically chosen for its complex environment and numerous exits, ideal for escape, and Cheng Lei had purchased a large quantity of living supplies, suggesting an extended stay. He had also employed multiple anti-tracking methods, moving between different hotels, in an attempt to shake off his pursuers, but An Jing and her team had successfully maintained surveillance. Director Song and Ma Shang then proceeded to interrogate Qiao Xichuan, whom Director Song had brought back from the provincial department.
Qiao Xichuan recounted his background, stating he was a second-generation immigrant, born and raised abroad, whose parents were businessmen who frequently moved countries. In 1997, when he was around twelve or thirteen, his parents' business went bankrupt during the financial crisis, making it impossible for them to afford his prestigious school fees. During this difficult time, someone approached him and convinced him to enroll in a "special private school," which he described as an underground organization.
There, he underwent five years of intense special training, emerging as an "employed spy." He explained that the "school" changed locations every three months, and he genuinely didn't know who the orchestrating figure behind it was, adding that he was managed like an internment camp, only seeing his fellow students for five years. Qiao Xichuan expressed genuine surprise upon learning that Cheng Lei, a technical engineer from Dinghua, was the "sleeper."
He confirmed his multiple identities, including Simon Lau, Xu He, and He Ping, but preferred to be called Qiao Xichuan. An Jing's team observed Cheng Lei attempting to establish contact with someone, and she instructed her team to reduce noise and try to intercept the communication signal. Xiao Li was sent plug-ins to wall off fixed audio sounds, and He Zixuan was asked to help distinguish signals among the many sources.
Cheng Lei then made a phone call to Jeffrey, accusing him of shifting all the blame onto him and affecting his situation. Jeffrey responded with irritation, telling Cheng Lei not to contact him again. Jeffrey, located abroad, could not be directly positioned. Cheng Lei pressed Jeffrey, stating he had the data and Jeffrey needed to retrieve it personally, warning that Hermes would be in serious trouble without the data, putting Jeffrey in a position no better than his own.
Jeffrey, however, maintained he would handle his own problems and ended the call. An Jing, while confirming Cheng Lei's location, noted Jeffrey's inability to be located due to being overseas, and his apparent reluctance to enter the country. Despite this, An Jing analyzed that Jeffrey was also under pressure, suggesting that the situation could still take a favorable turn.
She asked He Zixuan to attempt to simulate the voice characteristics of the two callers, though He Zixuan noted the difficulty due to limited dialogue, noise interference, and its impact on simulation accuracy. Meanwhile, Jeffrey found himself being pursued by Hermes agents. In a desperate attempt to save his life, he offered the complete synthesis technology data as leverage to his pursuers, asserting that even if China patented it, the technology's inherent value remained unchanged. He pleaded for his life, stating he had something to negotiate with.
