Episode Summary
A human head is purchased for "artistic" purposes, leading to an investigation into a suspicious death in a village. Villagers are evasive, and a cover-up is suspected. Meanwhile, Xiao Tang deals with heartbreak, and Gu Zhen observes suspicious activity.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a shocking discovery. Er Jiu reveals that someone paid 2000 yuan for a suspicious package from a junk collector. Peeking through a window, Er Jiu is horrified to see it's a human head. He immediately calls Yu Yue. The buyer, a painter, claims he purchased the head for artistic purposes, stubbornly insisting it's not a crime due to his artistic obsession.
Meanwhile, Gu Zhen, relieved to see Xiao Tang safely get in a car, notices a strange vehicle parked near the school. Before he can investigate, Anna appears, providing cover for Teacher Wang by claiming she's going to meet her boyfriend for a movie. Gu Zhen, suspicious, notes the car's license plate. Xiao Tang receives a call from her sister, who reveals she has a new boyfriend and that her relationship with Gu Zhen is over. Her sister had tried to salvage the relationship, but Gu Zhen was always too busy with work. Xiao Tang is heartbroken, and also feels sad for Gu Zhen, acknowledging he's a good person. She insists she's happy for her sister and that, as a college student, she can live independently. Despite her brave words, Xiao Tang cries alone after the call. Teacher Wang, watching the surveillance footage, sees Xiao Tang crying on the sofa, and a dark look crosses his face.
Yu Yue and Kong Rubai track down Liu Xiangui. Liu Xiangui confesses to stealing the head from the grave of a recently deceased villager who had no family. He says he was always a disliked outcast, and that no one cared. The police exhume the body, observed by curious villagers, hoping the deceased can finally rest in peace. The villagers confirm the deceased, Liu Tianci, died of an illness, claiming he was pitiful and should be buried quickly. They also mention that Liu Tianci wasn't well-liked. Despite this, the police take the body for examination.
The autopsy reveals no foul play with the body itself, but Liu Tianci's cause of death is strange – he was perfectly healthy. The police suspect that someone deliberately damaged the head to conceal the true cause of death. The villagers become anxious, fearing they might be in danger. The village chief plans to visit every household the next day, instructing them to remain silent if questioned by the police.
The next day, the police return to the village, but the villagers are evasive and avoid them, indicating something is amiss. Gu Zhen suspects they've been threatened. He questions the village chief, Liu, about Liu Tianci's relationships, but the chief is evasive, further suggesting that Liu Tianci's death is suspicious.
