Episode Summary
A 2011 flashback reveals Annieee’s violent past defending Xu Man, leading to her imprisonment. Present-day investigations link Nu Na’s death to a decade-old fire, with Liao Siyuan racing to stop a killer targeting survivors—but clashes with Shu He and Xu Man’s sinister schemes escalate, exposing buried traumas and hidden alliances.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a harrowing 2011 flashback revealing Nu Na’s traumatic past. While working at a bar with her sisters Xu Man and others, a violent patron attempts to forcibly take Xu Man away. When a fellow hostess intervenes, the patron brutally assaults her. In a shocking act of defense, Annieee impulsively rams her car into the attacker, then finishes him off with a metal rod. Her impulsive rage lands her in prison for vehicular manslaughter—a secret that will ripple into the present day.
In the present, forensic expert Qi Xia discovers female DNA under Manni’s fingernails, prompting suspicions about Annieee’s potential involvement. Detective Nick zeroes in on Annieee’s criminal record, while Liao Siyuan narrowly escapes being ambushed by her in his apartment—a tense moment defused only by police intervention. During interrogation, Annieee shockingly confesses to Manni’s murder with unsettling calmness. However, Shu He later uncovers her alibi, exposing her false confession as a desperate ploy to frame Liao Siyuan, whom she believes responsible for her past misfortunes.
Meanwhile, wedding shop owner Chapong discovers crucial evidence: Nu Na’s suspicious cash withdrawals and decade-old fire photographs. Before he can share these with Liao Siyuan, a shadowy assailant attacks him and steals the photos. This theft triggers a chain reaction—Annieee is released, Chapong suffers memory loss from his head injury, and Liao Siyuan discovers four missing wedding dresses from Nu Na’s shop, suggesting three remaining targets linked to the unresolved fire case.
The investigation intensifies as Liao Siyuan tracks down bar owner Madam Li, who manipulates him into paying for fabricated “spiritual advice” about Nu Na’s ghost. He learns Xu Man—now a reclusive heiress—has mysteriously returned to Buhe City. Racing against time, Liao deduces the killer’s pattern and rushes to protect next target A-Lin, only to find her corpse in a rooftop water tank. A violent confrontation erupts between Shu He and the emotionally volatile Liao Siyuan, culminating in Liao collapsing and reliving fragmented memories of the fatal fire that killed his brother Liao Sibai—though the arsonist’s face remains hauntingly obscured.
Post-collapse, Dr. Bian Ming subtly pressures Liao about his worsening hallucinations during a hospital checkup, hinting at deeper psychological instability. Meanwhile, Shu He receives toxicology reports connecting the current murders to the decade-old fire, fueling theories about a calculated revenge plot. Defying orders to stand down, Liao and tech-savvy ally Li Zhi bait Xu Man by sabotaging her mansion’s security. During their confrontation, Xu Man serves drugged wine to Liao Siyuan—her chilling smile suggesting she’s not just a target, but possibly the puppeteer behind the carnage.
The episode closes with Xu Man’s mansion surveillance cameras capturing every move, leaving viewers questioning whether Liao has walked into a trap—or finally cornered the mastermind.
