Episode Summary
Zheng Hao and Xiong Yi investigate a case of invoice fraud involving two elderly women, following them to identify their addresses and uncover a network of shell companies. Meanwhile, Zhao Mingda's family returns to China for his daughter's medical treatment, and Chen Xiaoxing has a traumatic encounter at the airport when he recognizes his parents' murderer. Zheng Hao learns that his arranged date is with Xixi, and he seeks her professional advice regarding Chen Xiaoxing's psychological state.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off at Xixi's restaurant. When Xixi, the owner, hears from Liang Jinqiu that Zheng Hao doesn't eat lamb, she quickly adds a signature fish dish to their order. Meanwhile, Xiong Yi notices two elderly women who have been fraudulently claiming invoices for multiple companies. He tries to help them, but they're wary, clutching a bunch of IDs. They're on their last run and want to finish quickly.
Gao Shubo casually asks about Zhao Mingda and his wife taking their daughter, Zhao Wan'er, abroad for medical treatment. Zheng Hao is also awaiting news. Gao Shubo, expressing his admiration for Zhao Mingda's family, takes the opportunity to confess his feelings to Liang Jinqiu, catching her off guard. Xiong Yi then calls Zheng Hao with an update, and Zheng Hao rushes back to the office.
Gao Shubo wants to compete fairly with Zheng Hao for Liang Jinqiu's affections. He also sees that Liang Jinqiu still has feelings for Zheng Hao. Liang Jinqiu is reminded of a painful past. She knows Zheng Hao is not at fault, but her father, Liang Zhongwei, was arrested, and her mother is heartbroken. A future with Zheng Hao seems impossible. Zheng Hao, realizing he left his car keys at the restaurant, returns to retrieve them. He overhears Liang Jinqiu's words, leaving him deeply conflicted. Xixi calls out to Zheng Hao, snapping him out of his thoughts. He grabs his keys and leaves.
The two elderly women finish claiming their invoices and leave. A van is waiting for them outside. Xiong Yi, seeing them depart, follows on his motorcycle. Zheng Hao, having just arrived, joins the pursuit in his car. The women suddenly switch vehicles mid-route. The van arrives at the neighborhood of one of the women. They both get off. One of the women enters the neighborhood, and Zheng Hao follows her. Xiong Yi follows the other woman, who takes another taxi to a vegetable market. Xiong Yi calls Zheng Hao for instructions, and Zheng Hao tells him to keep following her.
Zheng Hao follows the first woman upstairs, confirming her address. He texts his team to return for a meeting. Xiong Yi watches the second woman at the market, where she meticulously shops, haggling over prices. Xiong Yi grows impatient, fidgeting with a radish until the stall owner forces him to buy it. The woman eventually finishes shopping and goes to play mahjong. Xiong Yi patiently waits and finally gets her address as well. Xiong Yi rushes back to the office for the meeting. Zheng Hao proposes a joint task force between the police and the tax bureau to thoroughly investigate the invoice fraud.
Zheng Hao calls Zhao Mingda to check on Zhao Wan'er's condition. Zhao Mingda is still waiting for the specialist's report and expresses his lack of confidence. Zheng Hao encourages him and promises to face the situation together. After the call, Zhao Mingda sees his wife crying in the hallway. He comforts her, suppressing his own pain. He calls Director Wang, who suggests they return to China for treatment in Nan Hang. Zhao Mingda's wife, distraught, can't eat or sleep, and he tries to bolster her spirits.
Zheng Hao and his colleagues work overtime, investigating shell companies. They discover a connection between Lu Lutong Furniture Sales Company and Wei Yi'an Coal Trading Company. Lu Lutong, based in Linzhou, was deregistered last month. Zheng Hao suspects that Lu Lutong's owner, Liu Erzhang, is actually Da Fei, the fugitive from Donghe Industrial. Zheng Hao proposes the joint tax-police task force, and Song Minghong agrees. Zheng Hao wants Li Dongjie's team to join the investigation, and Song Minghong asks Director Chen to inform Li Dongjie.
Zhao Mingda's family returns to China today. Zheng Hao brings Chen Xiaoxing to the airport, and Gao Shubo and Liang Jinqiu also come to welcome them. While Chen Xiaoxing is in the restroom, he sees Zhan Yi, the man who murdered his parents. He recognizes him from a tattoo on his wrist and is overcome with fear. Zhan Yi leaves quickly. Chen Xiaoxing rushes out to find him, bumping into Liang Jinqiu and knocking her down.
Liang Jinqiu is injured, and Gao Shubo takes her to get bandaged. Zheng Hao discreetly buys her a pair of slippers. Chen Xiaoxing is about to reveal what he saw, but Zhao Mingda's family exits the gate. Chen Xiaoxing and Zheng Hao rush to greet them, with Liang Jinqiu and Gao Shubo following shortly after. Chen Xiaoxing gives Liang Jinqiu the slippers Zheng Hao bought.
Zheng Hao drives Zhao Mingda's family home and invites them to dinner at his place the next day. Zhao Mingda advises Zheng Hao to let go of his feelings for Liang Jinqiu, but Zheng Hao brushes it off. Chen Xiaoxing is drenched in sweat from fear, but Zheng Hao doesn't press him and drives him home. Song Minghong is going to the tax school for training, leaving Xiao Yilin in charge of the bureau.
That night, Zheng Hao, worried, checks on Chen Xiaoxing, who pretends to be asleep. Liang Jinqiu suddenly calls Zheng Hao. He steps out to take the call. Liang Jinqiu feels something is wrong with Chen Xiaoxing, noting his cold hands and trembling. She advises Zheng Hao to take Chen Xiaoxing to a psychologist. Zheng Tianchou reminds Zheng Hao about his blind date tomorrow. Liang Jinqiu overhears this and quickly hangs up.
Zheng Hao doesn't want to go on the blind date, but Zheng Tianchou mentions the woman is a psychological counselor. Zheng Hao, thinking of Chen Xiaoxing, gets her contact information. Zheng Hao calls the woman immediately, unexpectedly discovering it's Xixi. He clarifies he's not calling for the date but to consult about Chen Xiaoxing's condition. Xixi invites him to her restaurant tomorrow to discuss it.
Zheng Hao goes to Xixi's restaurant. Xixi reveals that she, too, is an adopted child. She studied psychological counseling in university, and her parents run the restaurant.
