Episode Summary
Li Lin attempts to steal company data but is caught by Liang Jinqiu and apprehended by Zheng Hao. Gao Shubo steps aside, supporting Liang Jinqiu and Zheng Hao's relationship. A tax investigation begins into Duoyuan Food Company for suspicious activity. Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie's teams uncover evidence of inflated losses at Duoyuan.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Qu Ning putting the pressure on Li Lin to quickly deliver crucial data and materials. Li Lin, however, finds himself in a bind as he witnesses Liang Jinqiu and Sister Zhang working late into the night, compiling the very information he's been tasked to obtain. He has no choice but to bide his time. As Sister Zhang, exhausted, heads home for some rest, Liang Jinqiu, aware of Chen Xiaoxing's knee injury, buys him knee pads. Knowing she'll be pulling an all-nighter and that Chen Xiaoxing has a competition the next day, she calls Zheng Hao to pick up the knee pads.
Suddenly, Liang Jinqiu hears someone in the office. Investigating, she discovers Li Lin secretly copying company data. She immediately calls the police, then uses a mop to barricade the office door, trapping Li Lin inside. A desperate Li Lin smashes the glass door to escape, but Liang Jinqiu tries to stop him, shouting for Sister Zhang's help.
Zheng Hao arrives just in time to subdue Li Lin, and the police soon arrive to arrest him. Gao Shubo also rushes to the company, witnessing Zheng Hao's protective actions towards Liang Jinqiu, leading him to decide to let go of his feelings for her. Zheng Hao takes Liang Jinqiu home, warning her to be careful as Li Lin's accomplices might retaliate. Back at the office, Gao Shubo discovers a backup of the cooperation agreement while cleaning up and immediately informs Liang Jinqiu.
The next morning, Zheng Hao calls Liang Jinqiu, relieved to find her safe. Gao Shubo takes the cooperation agreement to the Inspection Bureau, clearing his name and resulting in Qu Ning being penalized for false accusations. Meanwhile, Feng Dakai uses a business trip as an excuse to send Zhao Mingda to Kebao Company to meet with Manager Zhao. Zhao Mingda gives a tour of the company.
Liang Jinqiu hands over the compiled documents to Gao Shubo, who expresses regret for not being there during the crisis, and solidifies his decision to step aside, supporting Zheng Hao and Liang Jinqiu's relationship. Feng Dakai successfully acquires Kebao Company, and Wu Yudong congratulates him, questioning the decision to entrust the company to Zhao Mingda. Feng Dakai explains that he's aware of Zhao Mingda's pride and anticipates Kebao Company running into trouble, which will allow him to control Zhao Mingda.
The focus shifts to Duoyuan Food Company, a subsidiary of Duobaoyuan, which has become a leading producer of self-heating hot pots in Xindong City within just three years. However, Duoyuan's tax burden rate is only 2%, significantly lower than its competitors. Xiao Yilin assigns the case to the Second Inspection Team and the First Inspection Team for a joint investigation.
Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie arrive at Duoyuan Company, where the financial manager, Hao Ren, is prepared with all the account books. Li Dongjie requests a tour of the production facility, but Hao Ren claims it's too far and sends Factory Manager Sun to meet them. Li Dongjie and Zheng Hao split up to inspect the warehouse and workshop, while Li Xinxin, Xiong Yi, and Zhang Lu examine the accounts. Finding nothing unusual, Zheng Hao requests a roster of all employees from Hao Ren.
Li Xinxin discovers that Duoyuan Company purchased three million fuel packs but only produced two million hot pots. Factory Manager Sun provides smooth answers, claiming quality issues caused significant losses, and is well-versed in financial matters. Li Xinxin wants to question him further, but Li Dongjie, sensing Sun's deception, pulls her away, deciding to launch a thorough investigation into Duoyuan Company.
After Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie leave, Hao Ren reports to General Manager Yang Zhiyuan, who isn't concerned about the employee roster being taken, having already made arrangements. Zhao Mingda is tasked with investigating Kebao Company and reports his findings to Feng Dakai, who puts him in full charge.
Li Dongjie buys Duoyuan's self-heating hot pots for a late-night snack. Xiong Yi, Li Xinxin, and Gao Peng enjoy the meal, but Zheng Hao notices inconsistencies in the stated raw material weights, suspecting they are inflating losses. He instructs Li Xinxin and the others to re-verify the loss figures. Afterward, Li Dongjie stays behind to organize the clues, and Zheng Hao learns that Li Dongjie has been sleeping in the office for the past two days.
Li Xinxin and the team quickly confirm that Duoyuan Company is overstating its losses. Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie split up their teams. They will investigate the sales of the self-heating hot pots. Li Dongjie wants to know how many sales personnel Duoyuan Company has, and Zheng Hao gives him the company's roster. Li Dongjie hands over the data he compiled overnight to Zheng Hao, who sends people to supermarkets and convenience stores to check hot pot sales.
