The Knockout Episode 7 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Accompanied by Tang Xiaolong, Gao Qiqiang uses Tang Xiaolong's phone to call Xu Jiang at the Platinum Palace. Gao Qiqiang informs Xu Jiang that he was present at Xu Lei’s death and is the person Xu Jiang has been searching for, proposing a business deal. Realizing Gao Qiqiang is inside his own club, Xu Jiang furiously threatens to kill him. Gao Qiqiang counters by threatening to hand Huang Cuicui’s criminal evidence to the police.
To secure Tang Xiaohu’s release and avoid further complications, Xu Jiang agrees to meet. Knowing they don’t actually possess the evidence, Gao Qiqiang and Tang Xiaolong quickly depart before Xu Jiang arrives. Meanwhile, Gao Qisheng secretly acquires various components and assembles a handgun, preparing for unforeseen circumstances. Meng Yu prepares to fly to Beijing.
Her mother attempts to arrange for a man named Xuan Xuan to drive her, but An Xin rushes over, insists on driving Meng Yu himself, and transfers her luggage to his car. Meng Yu’s mother, still wanting Xuan Xuan to assist, instructs him to follow An Xin’s car to the airport to help with the bags. En route, Meng Yu presses An Xin to choose between staying in Jinghai as a police officer or accompanying her to Beijing.
An Xin repeatedly deflects the question, infuriating Meng Yu. She pulls the car over and starts hitting him. A traffic police officer, Yang Jian, intervenes due to the illegal stop. An Xin, having forgotten his driver’s license, attempts to show his police ID for leniency. Yang Jian, however, insists on impounding the car, stating that adherence to the law is paramount, even among colleagues.
Meng Yu, desperate to catch her flight, suggests accepting a fine and leaving, but An Xin refuses to compromise his principles. Frustrated by An Xin's unwavering stance, Meng Yu gets out of his car and into Xuan Xuan’s car, leaving An Xin behind. Xu Jiang later appears at Gao Qiqiang’s Qiangsheng PHS Store, confronting him. Gao Qiqiang remains composed, and Xu Jiang eventually leaves with his men, choosing not to cause a scene.
Shortly after, An Xin and Li Xiang apprehend Xu Jiang outside the store and take him for questioning. Xu Jiang mocks An Xin about his ongoing investigation. An Xin confronts Xu Jiang directly, accusing him of submitting the anonymous report against him. During the interrogation, An Xin and Li Xiang relentlessly question Xu Jiang, presenting a detailed account of his alleged involvement.
An Xin outlines Xu Lei’s gambling dispute with Bai Jiangbo, Bai Jiangbo’s threats of retaliation involving the Tang brothers, and surveillance footage placing the Tang brothers near the crime scene. He further highlights the suspicious disappearances of Tang Xiaohu and Bai Jiangbo, whose families feared reporting them, strongly implying Xu Jiang's culpability in both. Just as Xu Jiang shows signs of cracking, officials from the procuratorate arrive, interrupting the interrogation.
They announce a new investigation into An Xin, alleging he accepted bribes from Bai Jiangbo to suppress Xu Jiang. Despite Cao Chuang's vehement protests against their interference, An Xin is compelled to comply. After his investigation, An Xin is enraged to discover that Xu Jiang has been released. Li Xiang tries to calm him, and An Xin suddenly remembers a crucial detail from their earlier conversation.
Meanwhile, Tang Xiaolong, unaware that Xu Jiang has been released, rushes to inform Gao Qiqiang about Xu Jiang’s arrest. Gao Qiqiang invites him home. There, Gao Qisheng, having independently deduced the truth, reveals his knowledge of Tang Xiaohu's kidnapping by Xu Jiang. Concerned for his brother and hoping to protect him from the dangerous conflict, Gao Qiqiang offers his recent earnings to both Gao Qisheng and Tang Xiaolong, urging them to leave Jinghai.
However, Gao Qisheng, deeply committed to his PHS store, refuses to abandon it, proclaiming it his life’s work and vowing to retaliate if Xu Jiang harms it. Gao Qiqiang promises that Xu Jiang will not trouble the store again. That night, the front door of the Qiangsheng PHS Store is burned. Gao Qisheng immediately accuses Xu Jiang, but Gao Qiqiang dismisses it as a possible accident.
Later, Gao Qisheng privately admits to Tang Xiaolong that he deliberately set the fire himself. He explains that this was a calculated move to force his involvement in the struggle against Xu Jiang, as he knew his brother would never allow him to participate otherwise. He emphasizes that while the store is important, his brother’s safety and well-being are paramount. An Xin and Li Xiang travel to Bobei to locate Chen Shuting, Bai Jiangbo's wife, hoping to gather information.
Upon their arrival, Chen Shuting is uncooperative and hostile, refusing to provide any details. Her young son, Xiaochen, playfully points a toy gun at An Xin. Before leaving, An Xin provides Chen Shuting with his contact information. Soon after, An Xin receives a phone call from Meng Dehai, who reprimands him for traveling outside Jinghai without authorization and orders his immediate return.
Despite Li Xiang's advice to comply, An Xin disregards the order and returns to Chen Shuting's location, determined to persuade her. He appeals to her sense of responsibility, arguing that Xiaochen should not be forced to live a life in hiding due to adult conflicts. Chen Shuting states that she will only return to Jinghai if An Xin can apprehend Xu Jiang, implicitly confirming her belief that Xu Jiang is responsible for her husband’s disappearance and her family’s precarious situation.
While An Xin attempts to convince Chen Shuting, Xiaochen wanders off and goes missing, causing immense panic for Chen Shuting. An Xin and Chen Shuting search frantically. An Xin eventually spots Xiaochen emerging from a shop, where he had gone to buy colorful candies as a surprise birthday gift for his mother. Relieved and remorseful, Chen Shuting embraces her son and tearfully apologizes for her earlier harshness. Later that night, Chen Shuting calls An Xin.
She agrees to return to Jinghai and cooperate with the police investigation, provided An Xin can guarantee the safety of both herself and her son. An Xin promises that he and his colleagues will protect them with their lives.
