Episode Summary
Shen Ye's attempt to celebrate Xu Tongsheng's birthday backfires, triggering painful memories for Xu Tongsheng. The investigation team deals with internal conflict while a new case arises: a fatal fire at a "script murder" game establishment. Evidence suggests the fire may have been intentionally set, and tensions remain high between Xu Tongsheng and Shen Ye.
Spoiler Alert
This episode opens with Shen Ye attempting to create a celebratory atmosphere for Xu Tongsheng's birthday. He enlists Jin Chun to help, despite Jin Chun's warnings that Xu Tongsheng doesn't like to be reminded of this particular time. Shen Ye is determined to try and lift Xu Tongsheng's spirits, having Jin Chun cook while he decorates with balloons. However, when Xu Tongsheng returns home and sees the decorations, he's furious, popping the balloons one by one. Shen Ye tries to reason with him, urging him to move on from his past trauma, but Xu Tongsheng angrily rebuffs him, stating that his affairs are no one else's business. Feeling rejected, Shen Ye storms off, dragging Jin Chun with him.
The scene triggers a flashback for Xu Tongsheng, transporting him back twenty years to the day before his birthday. We see his parents returning home from work as usual, and a young Xu Tongsheng happily spending time with He Xi. They go to pick up photos, but Xu Tongsheng suddenly needs to use the restroom, leaving He Xi to collect the pictures and head home first. In those few minutes, Xu Tongsheng's world is shattered.
Back in the present, the special investigation team is being commended for their quick work on a case. Gu Nuo buys milk tea for everyone, but Shen Ye makes sarcastic remarks, criticizing the team's lack of unity. Gu Nuo pulls Shen Ye and Jin Chun aside to inquire about the tension. Shen Ye complains, while Jin Chun assures Gu Nuo that the two will reconcile soon. Gu Nuo scolds Shen Ye for acting childishly, emphasizing the need for the team to function effectively.
Meanwhile, at the Fire Investigation Department, a meeting is underway. Deputy Director Chen of the publicity department wants to feature a "Most Beautiful Firefighter" in a special column, and Zhao Zhiyuan intends to nominate Xu Tongsheng. Just then, a call comes in reporting a murder in the city center.
The report comes from Zhen Qiang, the owner of a "script murder" (a type of live-action role-playing game) establishment. He explains that a group of university students were playing a game when a fire broke out in one of the rooms. By the time the police arrived, a female student, Yu Fan, had been burned to death. She was a senior at Binhai University. Jin Chun observes that the victim's eyelashes are burned, an unusual phenomenon.
Xu Tongsheng, investigating the fire scene, notes that the owner was operating illegally, with inadequate fire safety measures.
Shen Ye questions Zhen Qiang and then calls in the four other girls who were playing the "script murder" game with Yu Fan. They all point to Gao Yarui as the organizer of the game, "The Missing Classmate," where each participant represented a different emotion. They explain that each player entered different rooms in turn, and the fire started suddenly after Yu Fan entered one of the rooms. They only realized what was happening when Zhen Qiang appeared with a fire extinguisher.
Gao Yarui is questioned again, claiming to have considered Yu Fan a good friend, but her words are laced with a strong sense of superiority. Jiang Li informs Xu Tongsheng that the candles at the scene contained paraffin wax and magnesium powder, which may have been the source of the fire. Xu Tongsheng relays this new information to Shen Ye, but they exchange few words.
Realizing he may have been too harsh, Xu Tongsheng tries to apologize to Jin Chun. Jin Chun, however, brushes it off and encourages Xu Tongsheng to reconcile with Shen Ye.
