Episode Summary
Xiong Yi is investigated for disabling a company's warning system but denies it, claiming identity theft. Zhao Qi, increasingly paranoid, fakes a divorce to protect his family. A bookstore encounter reunites Liang Jinqiu and Chen Xiaoxing. Zheng Hao figures out how Xiong Yi's credentials were stolen, and the repaired surveillance footage implicates Zhao Qi. Zhao Qi confesses in a letter, revealing he was bribed and blackmailed, leading him to contemplate suicide, but Xiong Yi intervenes.
Spoiler Alert
This episode throws us into a whirlwind of suspicion, betrayal, and desperate measures. Xiong Yi finds himself in hot water, accused of disabling the early warning system for Donghuan Electronics. The Disciplinary Inspection Team has solid evidence against him, but Xiong Yi vehemently denies the charges. He claims someone forged his signature to log into the system, but conveniently, the hallway surveillance cameras were malfunctioning. Xiong Yi, seemingly unfazed, decides to make the most of his interrogation, ordering takeout and taking a nap right in the meeting room. He insists he's been working tirelessly on upgrading the risk control system, leaving Huang Xiaofeng, the lead investigator, utterly exasperated.
Meanwhile, Zheng Hao tries to smooth things over with Song Minhong, believing Xiong Yi is being framed. Song Minhong advises patience, assuring him that the Disciplinary Inspection Team will handle the situation fairly. Zhao Qi, who had dinner plans with Xiong Yi, grows concerned when Xiong Yi doesn't show up. He goes to the bureau and runs into Zheng Hao, who covers up Xiong Yi's investigation, claiming he's busy with other matters. Zhao Qi, however, senses something is amiss.
In a side plot, Liang Jinqiu is looking to buy a used car. Yu Dana's husband, Lao Tang, who owns a car dealership, helps her find a reliable seller. Liang Jinqiu quickly finds a car she likes and wants to thank Yu Dana and Lao Tang with dinner, but Yu Dana is focused on trying to have a second child and is avoiding all social engagements. Liang Jinqiu decides to visit her father, Liang Zhongwei, who is in prison, and her mother asks her to bring him some books.
A chance encounter at a bookstore brings together Chen Xiaoxing, Zhao Wan'er, Liang Jinqiu, and Zheng Hao. Chen Xiaoxing recognizes Liang Jinqiu, remembering her kindness after his father, Chen Dajun, died. He hesitates to approach her, and Zhao Wan'er leaves after receiving a call from her mother. Chen Xiaoxing finally faces Liang Jinqiu, but she doesn't recognize him at first. After a stray ball knocks over Chen Xiaoxing's drawings, Liang Jinqiu helps him pick them up and recognizes a familiar style from Chen Xiaoxing's childhood. They reconnect, and she drives him home. Chen Xiaoxing, emboldened, asks if Liang Jinqiu is married. Learning she's single, he subtly mentions that Zheng Hao is also unmarried, leaving Liang Jinqiu at a loss for words.
The pressure mounts on Zhao Qi, who hasn't seen Xiong Yi for two days. He's increasingly anxious, fearing his own involvement will be exposed. He proposes a fake divorce to his wife, claiming it's to buy a better school-district house. His wife reluctantly agrees, and Zhao Qi leaves with nothing, giving the house and child to his wife.
Xiong Yi, feeling wrongly accused, refuses to cooperate with the investigation. Huang Xiaofeng reports this to Song Minhong, suggesting Zheng Hao try to reason with him. Zheng Hao, convinced of Xiong Yi's innocence, urges him to cooperate to clear his name. Xiong Yi slightly relents, asking Zheng Hao to treat him to hot pot.
Feng Dakai has Da Fei hidden in a safe place and sends Xiao Si and a confidant of Lu Wangshui to Linzhou. The two are secretly in love and plan to elope. With Zheng Hao's encouragement, Xiong Yi starts cooperating. Huang Xiaofeng suspects someone used Xiong Yi's password and digital signature, but Xiong Yi insists he never shared his login information.
Zhao Qi is increasingly erratic and paranoid, staying late at the office. Li Xinxin reports to Zheng Hao, and while watching her modify files on the computer, Zheng Hao has a breakthrough. He takes Li Xinxin to Xiong Yi's workstation, and with Zhao Qi secretly watching, they realize how someone could have easily obtained Xiong Yi's credentials. Zheng Hao, Li Xinxin take pictures of Xiong Yi's workstation from seven different angles. Zheng Hao reports his findings to Song Minhong and Huang Xiaofeng. The IT department fixes the broken surveillance camera, revealing Zhao Qi entering Xiong Yi's office at the crucial time.
Realizing the game is up, Zhao Qi sends his wife and child away. Zheng Hao arrives at work to find Zhao Qi absent and a confession letter on his desk. The letter reveals that Zhao Qi met Da Fei years ago, who bribed him with 100,000 yuan to disable Donghuan Electronics' warning system. Zhao Qi, fearing Da Fei's retaliation, helped him once, but Da Fei kept demanding more. Zhao Qi eventually resorted to using Xiong Yi's credentials to disable the system.
Zhao Qi, after settling his family, contemplates suicide at Shanghe Bridge. Xiong Yi, informed by Captain Pan, rushes to the scene. He desperately pleads with Zhao Qi not to do anything rash, and Zhao Qi apologizes, regretting his greed and the path it led him down.
