Episode Summary
The investigation into Xiaoxin's murder intensifies. Xiao Tang is cleared by DNA evidence and surveillance footage. Focus shifts to the expensive clothes of Liu Ang and Xiaoxin, leading back to a high-end store and Xiaoxin's wealthy fiancé, Xu Dongyang. Bai Chang, who found the body, is questioned. Secrets and rivalries surface, including Liu Ang's history of filming girlfriends and a conflict with the bar owner. A crucial piece of evidence, a short knife, is found in the bar's sewer. Anna is shown behaving very suspiciously with her boyfriend.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Kong Rubai visiting a high-end clothing store, a place frequented by kept women. The store owner clearly dislikes Liu Ang, a known playboy who relies on women for financial support. Kong shows the owner a picture of Xiao Tang, who confirms she's been in the store, but wore a mask and pathetically begged for a discount using her living expenses. Meanwhile, Gu Zhen calls Kong to report that the DNA evidence clears Xiao Tang – the person Liu Ang scratched wasn't her. Surveillance footage also confirms her movements after leaving the bar, largely eliminating her as a suspect. However, Gu still needs to clarify a few things with her.
Gu Zhen then visits Xiao Tang in the holding cell, berating her for getting involved in a murder case after her recent obsession with chasing stars. Xiao Tang claims she only dated Liu Ang for two weeks and never bought him clothes. She breaks down, wanting to go home, and Gu Zhen, softening after his tirade, offers her a tissue. Simultaneously, Anna is shown trembling beside her boyfriend, worried about Xiao Tang being framed for murder. Her boyfriend ominously remarks that Anna's brother-in-law is a cop, implying everything will be alright. When Anna questions how he knows this, he smiles creepily, strokes her hair, and says she told him. This scene strongly suggests Anna's boyfriend is involved in the crime.
Bai Chang, the young man who discovered the victim Xiaoxin's body, is brought in for questioning. He explains he'd organized a drinking party the previous night and had his eye on Xiaoxin, but she left before he could talk to her. Bai Chang got heavily drunk, couldn't get a ride, and passed out in the alley, waking up to find Xiaoxin's corpse.
The investigation shifts to the expensive clothes worn by both Liu Ang and Xiaoxin. Liu Ang's suit costs tens of thousands, and Xiaoxin's shoes alone are worth thousands. The clothing tags lead back to the same high-end store. The owner provides customer information, revealing Xiaoxin's wealthy fiancé, Xu Dongyang. He had brought Xiaoxin to the store last year when his company was about to go public. The owner implies Xiaoxin's affection for Xu Dongyang was questionable, but Xu Dongyang seemed genuinely intent on marrying her.
Anna is relieved to hear Xiao Tang is safe, but expresses sadness that she'll never see Liu Ang again. Her distress seems to go beyond just Xiao Tang's situation, and her boyfriend hints at a secret she's hiding. Anna, overwhelmed, screams and runs away.
Gu Zhen meticulously reviews the bar's surveillance footage from the night of the murder, but finds nothing conclusive after hundreds of viewings. The police question another woman connected to Liu Ang. She reveals he's a "kept man" who's been known to secretly film his girlfriends. One of his ex-girlfriends tragically committed suicide after a video of her leaked online. It's also revealed that Liu Ang and the bar owner are rivals, often competing for women. Kong Rubai then messages Gu Zhen: a short knife has been discovered in the bar's sewer. This discovery strongly points towards the bar being the scene of the crime, and implicates someone connected to the bar. The episode ends with the suggestion that the knife will be a key piece of evidence. The main suspects are still Liu Ang, because of his history and connection to the victim and the bar. Xu Dongyang, because he's the fiance and has the money. And Anna's boyfriend, because of his creepy behavior.
