Episode Summary
A major bus accident on Route 301 requires a massive EMS response. Paramedic Zhang Chi and his new partner Qi Ji work together, facing a chaotic scene and a life-or-death situation. The episode flashes back to Zhang Chi's challenging first day at the Jiangdong Emergency Center a year earlier, where he struggles to adapt to the fast-paced environment and clashes with the strict but dedicated Qi Ji. Zhang Chi, a skilled cardiac surgeon, is revealed to be at the emergency center due to a past mistake, and he longs to return to his former specialty.
Spoiler Alert
The series premiere of "The Top Speed" plunges viewers into the high-stakes world of Jiangdong's Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The dispatch center is a whirlwind of activity, with operators fielding a constant barrage of calls. Paramedic teams race against the clock, becoming the lifeline for citizens in distress across the city.
The episode's central crisis unfolds on Route 301, where a catastrophic accident occurs. A bus carrying 38 passengers overturns, leaving a large portion of the vehicle precariously balanced on a bridge support. Firefighters arrive promptly, launching a desperate rescue operation to free trapped passengers. The Jiangdong 120 Emergency Center dispatches five ambulance crews to the scene.
Zhang Chi, already returning from a previous call, receives the urgent dispatch. He and his team quickly gear up and rush to the accident site, immediately immersing themselves in the chaotic rescue effort. Qi Ji and her team are also notified and speed to the location.
Zhang Chi focuses on a female passenger pinned beneath the bus, her leg trapped under a wheel. Simultaneously, a pregnant woman trapped in the front of the bus goes into labor. The bus is unstable, threatening to plunge into the water below. Qi Ji, displaying incredible courage, climbs onto the bus to deliver the baby. Zhang Chi, concerned about permanent nerve damage for the pinned passenger, coordinates with firefighters to use airbags to lift the wreckage. Qi Ji, assessing the bus's stability, gives Zhang Chi the go-ahead to prioritize freeing the trapped woman.
Qi Ji coaches the pregnant woman through labor, and the successful delivery of a baby girl brings a moment of joy amidst the chaos. Exhausted but fulfilled, Qi Ji hands the newborn to Zhang Chi, and they share a smile of mutual respect and accomplishment.
The episode then flashes back to Zhang Chi's first day at the emergency station a year prior. He arrives to find the team eating breakfast. Zheng Bo recognizes Zhang Chi as a highly touted young cardiac surgeon from North of the city Hospital, known as "the youngest scalpel." Xu Chengyuan, however, is suspicious, suggesting Zhang Chi may have gotten into trouble at the cardiac unit. Director Lu arrives and introduces Zhang Chi to the entire team. It's revealed that Secretary Liu personally requested Zhang Chi's transfer. However, the other paramedics make excuses to avoid partnering with the rookie. Qi Ji steps up and volunteers to team up with Zhang Chi.
No sooner does Zhang Chi try to settle in than the emergency calls start flooding in. Five teams are dispatched to different locations. Qi Ji brings Zhang Chi to their ambulance and briefs him on their first patient: 69-year-old Lin Guangwen. Zhang Chi, eager to impress, immediately diagnoses Lin with cardiovascular disease, but Qi Ji cautions him against jumping to conclusions. She introduces the rest of their team: driver Che Ming, stretcher-bearer Huang Hao, and nurse Dong Xiaoqiu, explaining each member's role.
They arrive at Lin Guangwen's apartment, which is stuffy and filled with takeout containers. Lin is unconscious on the sofa. The team works together, each performing their duties, but they find no immediate abnormalities. Lin suddenly wakes up, demanding to go to the hospital. He refuses his son's takeout and insists on eating traditional Beijing breakfast foods. Qi Ji calls Lin's son, who is working far away and can't come immediately. It turns out Lin frequently calls 120.
Lin is insistent on going to the hospital. Qi Ji starts him on a glucose drip. Zhang Chi, inexperienced with IVs, misses the vein on his first attempt, causing Lin pain. Qi Ji expertly inserts the IV. Lin berates Zhang Chi, calling him an incompetent intern. Zhang Chi endures the criticism silently.
Qi Ji takes Lin to the nearby North of the city Hospital. The attending physician, Doctor Xiao, is surprised to see Zhang Chi, who explains his transfer to the emergency station. Doctor Xiao recognizes Lin, who was at the hospital just yesterday. Doctor Xiao performs routine checks, finding only slightly low blood sugar.
Doctor Xiao advises Lin to rest at home, but Lin refuses. He admits he's lonely because his son is too busy to visit. He just wants someone to talk to. Zhang Chi tries to reason with him, but Lin is resistant. Qi Ji finally coaxes Lin into cooperating, and they take him home in the ambulance.
On the way back, Zhang Chi spots a young man collapsed on the roadside. He immediately stops the ambulance and rushes to provide aid. Qi Ji and the team assist. The patient has stopped breathing. Qi Ji instructs Huang Hao to perform CPR. The patient revives. An ambulance from a nearby hospital arrives, and Qi Ji transfers the patient.
Afterward, Qi Ji severely reprimands Zhang Chi, emphasizing that an ambulance can only transport one patient at a time. Zhang Chi argues that he couldn't ignore someone in need, but Qi Ji is unyielding, highlighting the seriousness of his actions. Their argument escalates, with Qi Ji threatening to have him fired. Zhang Chi is internally frustrated, but Zheng Bo advises him not to take it personally, explaining that Qi Ji is extremely dedicated to her work. Xu Chengyuan tells Qi Ji not to be so hard on Zhang Chi, revealing that Zhang Chi's father, Zhang Beihai, founded the Jiangdong Emergency Center.
Zhang Chi receives a call from his father, Zhang Beihai, who urges him to work hard at the emergency center. Zhang Chi, uninterested, hangs up abruptly. He sees the emergency center as a temporary assignment and has no intention of staying long-term. Qi Ji receives another emergency call before finishing her meal, and Zhang Chi immediately joins her. After the call, they return to eat. Zhang Chi hadn't left a note for the cafeteria staff, so his leftover food was cleared. Qi Ji shares her portion with him.
It is revealed that Zhang Chi was suspended from North of the city Hospital's cardiac surgery department due to a patient complaint. Secretary Liu arranged his transfer to the emergency center. Feeling unsuited for the job, Zhang Chi wants to pursue an observership at a foreign cardiac research center. He calls his mentor, who agrees to help him apply.
