Episode Summary
Teacher Wang kidnaps Xiao Tang and Anna, setting a trap for Gu Zhen. Gu Zhen rescues them from a fire, but they are critically injured. Teacher Wang escapes. Later, he ambushes Gu Zhen at his home, intending to cause a gas explosion. Gu Zhen subdues him, saving himself and the building's residents. Gu Zhen is hospitalized, and both Xiao Tang and Anna eventually recover.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with a tense setup. An hour prior, at Xiao Tang's home, a matchmaking attempt orchestrated by Su Qian's and Xiao Tang's father for Gu Zhen and Su Qian is underway. Uncle Su steps out to pick up a cake, leaving Xiao Tang alone. This is when Teacher Wang, a shadowy figure, sneaks into the house and kidnaps an unconscious Xiao Tang. She awakens to find herself bound and in an unknown location, alongside another captive, Anna.
Teacher Wang, using Xiao Tang's phone, lures Gu Zhen into a trap, intending to avenge his daughter's death, which he blames on Gu Zhen. He douses both Anna and Xiao Tang in gasoline. Gu Zhen, already en route, senses something is amiss at the location Xiao Tang mentioned. He alerts Su Qian, who advises him to wait for backup while she investigates.
Ignoring the advice, Gu Zhen, armed, enters the building. Teacher Wang, seeing Gu Zhen arrive, ignites the gasoline. Gu Zhen rushes into the flames to rescue the women. Teacher Wang revels in Gu Zhen's anguish, finally feeling a shared sense of pain.
In the aftermath of the fire, Gu Zhen and Su Qian find themselves at the scene of a candlelit dinner prepared by Xiao Tang. Although Gu Zhen saved both Xiao Tang and Anna, their severe injuries leave them in critical condition at the hospital, and the perpetrator, Teacher Wang, has escaped again. Gu Zhen reads a letter from Xiao Tang, in which she expresses her brotherly affection for him, acknowledging his stoic nature but also his right to pursue love. Moved to tears, Gu Zhen reflects on Xiao Tang growing up, having always followed him around. He and Su Qian tearfully eat the meal Xiao Tang prepared, unaware that Teacher Wang is watching them through a hidden camera.
Gu Zhen discovers the surveillance camera in Xiao Tang's home. The police quickly trace the signal, but Teacher Wang vanishes once more. Gu Zhen, in low spirits, is with Su Qian, who is tidying up Xiao Tang's room. Gu Zhen collapses from exhaustion. Su Qian takes him to the hospital, where the doctor diagnoses him with severe malnutrition and orders rest. Gu Zhen senses Teacher Wang's presence nearby, believing he won't give up as long as Gu Zhen is alive. He urges Su Qian to leave for her safety, but she believes they should stage a scene to deceive Teacher Wang.
After two days in the hospital, Gu Zhen asks Su Qian to buy some滷味 (braised snacks) on her way to pick up him. Upon entering his home, he discovers the natural gas system has been tampered with. Teacher Wang appears, stabbing Gu Zhen twice with a knife. Gu Zhen, unable to shoot without risking an explosion that could harm the entire building, drops his weapon. As Teacher Wang forces Gu Zhen to light a lighter, Gu Zhen musters his remaining strength to knock him out and handcuff him before collapsing. He is not only Xiao Tang's brother but also a police officer.
Su Qian rushes Gu Zhen to the hospital. During the emergency treatment, Gu Zhen has a vision of his deceased comrade, Kong Yingsong, allowing him to resolve long-standing emotional burdens. After the surgery, both Anna and Xiao Tang are out of danger.
