Episode Summary
The investigation into Qike Company intensifies. A staged gas leak interrupts the audit, and Zheng Hao realizes it was a diversion to steal account books. Despite finding no obvious financial irregularities, minor discrepancies remain. Xiao Yilin orders the investigation to be halted, but Zheng Hao and his team are determined to continue. Personal struggles emerge as Shi Haifeng's mother is hospitalized, and Zhao Wan'er battles illness and depression. Li Dongjie faces marital problems. The team is working overtime without any results.
Spoiler Alert
The investigation into Qike Company continues, with Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie leading a team to re-examine the company's accounts. Manager Zhao, anticipating their scrutiny, has prepared extensively. She assigns her assistant, Xiao Fang, to guide Xiong Yi and Li Xinxin to the financial department, while she personally shows Zheng Hao and Zhao Mingda her office, detailing Qike's client information.
Li Xinxin notices a crumpled Dawei shipping document stuck under a box of account books, but dismisses it. Xiao Fang, witnessing this, panics and discreetly makes a phone call. Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie remain puzzled after reviewing the materials provided by Manager Zhao. The smartphones sold by Qike have unimpressive specs, yet are priced at around four to five thousand yuan. Manager Zhao explains this caters to Southeast Asian customers, as the phones come with a pre-installed "Yitong" software, allowing users to switch between local networks seamlessly.
Suddenly, alarms blare throughout the building. Workers in protective suits rush in, claiming a toxic gas leak. They forcibly put gas masks on Zheng Hao, Manager Zhao, and Li Dongjie, escorting them outside. Xiong Yi, Li Xinxin, and others are also evacuated. Xiao Fang whispers something to Manager Zhao, who then explains the alarm was a malfunction, inviting Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie to resume their audit.
Xiong Yi discovers some account books are missing, immediately reporting it to Zheng Hao. Zheng Hao realizes the alarm was a diversionary tactic and decides to take the remaining books back to the bureau for review. Manager Zhao updates Feng Dakai on the Tax Bureau's audit. Zhao Mingda, wanting to avoid complications, suggests limiting the monthly capital flow to a single cycle, to which Feng Dakai reluctantly agrees. Zhan Si approaches Zhao Mingda for collaboration, but Zhao Mingda firmly declines. Zhao Mingda has been using the company to bid on crafts and engage in financial investments, intentionally creating a chaotic cash flow to siphon off his and Manager Zhao's share.
Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie work tirelessly, reviewing the accounts. Shi Haifeng receives a call from his father, learning his mother is hospitalized with uremia. Distraught, Shi Haifeng is comforted by his colleagues. Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie report their findings to Xiao Yilin. While the accounts appear normal, some minor discrepancies need further investigation. Xiao Yilin, however, refuses to waste more resources, ordering a halt to the investigation. Zheng Hao, unwilling to give up, offers to take full responsibility, but Xiao Yilin pressures him with the potential consequences, leaving Zheng Hao torn.
After the meeting, Zheng Hao sits alone, lost in thought. Li Dongjie, learning about Shi Haifeng's mother, allows him to go home and promises to cover for him. Seeing Zheng Hao's distress, Li Dongjie pleads with Xiao Yilin to give them more time, confident they will catch the mastermind.
After work, Xiong Yi, Li Xinxin, Zhang Lu, and Gao Peng continue to examine Qike's documents. Zheng Hao urges them to rest, but they insist on helping. Touched, Zheng Hao agrees to continue the investigation with them. Zheng Hao transfers 5000 yuan to Shi Haifeng, and the others send messages of support, moving Shi Haifeng to tears.
Zhao Mingda visits Zhao Wan'er in the hospital, asking Shen Yue to rest. Shen Yue senses Zhao Mingda's worries, but he reassures her, planning for her and Zhao Wan'er to go to Switzerland, promising to join them later. Shen Yue agrees to wait for him.
Zhao Wan'er, unable to sleep, secretly video calls Chen Xiaoxing. She's pessimistic, feeling like a burden, but saddened by the thought of never seeing Chen Xiaoxing again. Chen Xiaoxing encourages her, promising to visit during his break and making plans to watch fireworks together. He paints his wishes into a picture.
Li Dongjie works late and visits his mother-in-law's place, seeing the lights on. He calls Ren Li, but she ignores his call, leaving him disappointed. Xiong Yi, Zhang Lu, and Gao Peng separately investigate Qike's logistics, finding nothing unusual.
