Episode Summary
Shen Ye investigates the fire's origin, facing obstruction from Plant Manager Gao. Key evidence is found in surveillance footage, initially pointing to a spark from outside. Suspicions arise about Wu Yong's potential involvement. With police help, Shen Ye re-enters the plant, only to be presented with a fabricated lightning strike explanation by Wu Yu. Meanwhile, Xu Tongsheng becomes engrossed in lightning research. The episode ends with a personal emergency when Shen Ye's father collapses.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Plant Manager Gao stressed about the restaurant fire and the factory's liability. Wu Yu, who has obtained surveillance footage, is working on restoring it when Shen Ye unexpectedly arrives. Gao, nervous about Wu Yu's findings, locks him in a room and greets Shen Ye and his colleagues. During their meeting in the conference room, Gao is evasive, especially when Shen Ye shows photos revealing burn marks on a wall where a surveillance camera was previously located. Just as the tension peaks, Wu Yu emerges from the office with a backup of the restored video. After Shen Ye leaves, Gao expresses his fear of being implicated, but Wu Yu reassures him.
At the task force headquarters, Xu Tongsheng is working on enhancing the video clarity. Meanwhile, Shen Ye visits Wang Yuxi at the hospital to inquire about the fire. Wang Yuxi, frightened and overwhelmed, reveals that some workers were secretly drinking alcohol on the day of the fire. She confiscated the alcohol and placed it in the kitchen, within her sight. Later, while preparing to cook, she heard a bottle break, followed by a rapid fire. She breaks down, worried about her responsibility and the loss of everything, especially with her husband needing care.
Back at the task force, Xu Tongsheng has been poring over the surveillance video. He makes a crucial discovery: the broken bottle was facing a different direction than expected. Upon slowing down the footage, a spark can be seen flying from the window into the wok, igniting the oil. As they discuss this, Wu Yong stands behind them, and after a polite greeting, Shen Ye and Xu Tongsheng leave to re-investigate the Ducheng Processing Plant.
Plant Manager Gao, having been tipped off about the police visit, rallies the workers to block the entrance, preventing Shen Ye and his team from accessing the premises. During the drive back, Mao Mao and Li Dangui note that Ducheng Processing Plant seemed to know they were coming. This raises Shen Ye's suspicions, particularly remembering that Wu Yong was present during their case analysis.
Back at the Criminal Investigation Team, Gu Nuo is chatting with Wu Yong, joking about Shen Ye always forgetting to take her to get her reading glasses fitted. Shen Ye reports the obstruction at Ducheng Processing Plant to Wu Yong. Wu Yong advises caution to avoid public unrest and suggests alternative approaches. Just as Shen Ye is about to voice his suspicions, Wu Yong steps out to take a phone call. Shen Ye confides in Gu Nuo, who promises to arrange support from a nearby police station for their next visit.
The following day, with the local police's assistance, Xu Tongsheng and Shen Ye finally gain entry to Ducheng Processing Plant. Plant Manager Gao is overly apologetic. Shen Ye explains that the fire's origin might be traced back to the plant and requests further inspection. However, Wu Yu claims to have already found the source. He then paints over a distribution box, revealing Lichtenberg figures (lightning strike patterns), suggesting that a lightning strike caused the fire. He points out that the nearby lightning rod was not perfectly vertical, rendering it ineffective. Supported by this evidence, Gao becomes confident and, with his workers, sarcastically apologizes to Shen Ye.
Back at the task force, Xu Tongsheng is silent, immersing himself in books about lightning-induced fires. Director Zhao instructs Xu Tongsheng to visit Wang Yuxi, partly as a formality. After the visit, Xu Tongsheng continues his research obsessively.
The episode concludes with a personal storyline. It's Shen Yi's (Shen Ye's father) birthday. Shen Ye, working late, forgets until Shen Yi video calls him. Shen Ye apologizes profusely. A flashback shows Shen Yi's early days adopting Shen Ye, who was initially reserved due to the unfamiliar environment. Shen Yi's efforts to cook different meals gradually brought them closer. One year, Shen Ye gifted him a drawing of them together, promising to always celebrate his birthday with him. Now grown up, Shen Ye can't always be there.
Despite the late hour, Shen Ye rushes home, only to find Shen Yi collapsed on the floor. Fortunately, he's rushed to the hospital in time, saving his life.
