Episode Summary
A fire and explosion scene is revealed to be a staged murder, with two victims: Ying Youchang and Zhang Yulan. The investigation focuses on their relationships, particularly Zhang Yulan's son, Hao Chengcai, who is caught on surveillance footage at the scene despite claiming to have left earlier. Meanwhile, a connection between Xu Tongsheng and Shen Ye is hinted at through a shared childhood memory and a distinguishing characteristic. The episode ends with Hao Chengcai being called in for further questioning.
Spoiler Alert
The investigation into the explosion kicks off with both the Fire Investigation Unit and the Criminal Investigation Unit entering the scene. Shen Ye discovers a biscuit tin in a drawer containing two IDs: Ying Youchang (male) and Zhang Yulan (female), matching the initial report. The positioning of the bodies suggests a meticulously staged scene. The male victim, Ying Youchang, was found bound and appeared to have struggled fiercely before his death. The female victim, Zhang Yulan, had been stabbed through the abdomen with a sharp knife.
Jin Chun orders Yuan Zhoulu to transport the bodies to the forensics department. Meanwhile, Xu Tongsheng begins piecing together the burnt remnants of the front door, and Mao Mao follows, snapping photos for publicity materials. Shen Ye checks the surveillance footage at the neighborhood entrance, but only a blurry figure is visible. He instructs Li Dangui to take the footage to the technical department for enhancement. A key moment occurs when Shen Ye notices Xu Tongsheng looking at his arm outside the restroom, mirroring a similar action during the pursuit of Wang Xi. Shen Ye deduces that Xu Tongsheng has difficulty distinguishing left from right and marks Xu Tongsheng's sleeve with a pen as a makeshift indicator.
Back at the Criminal Investigation Unit, Shen Ye analyzes the victims' relationships. They weren't married but lived together for a long time. Ying Youchang was a retired construction worker who used a wheelchair. Zhang Yulan's son, Hao Chengcai, works as a salesman at a foreign company, and her daughter-in-law, Wang Yingying, is an office clerk. Zhang Yulan usually lived with her son's family, and both victims rarely interacted with outsiders.
Shen Ye calls Xu Tongsheng to inquire about the surveillance footage restoration. Xu Tongsheng reports that the accelerant used at the scene was alcohol, suggesting a spur-of-the-moment, passionate arson. Just as the analysis meeting concludes, a woman claiming to be Zhang Yulan's close friend of 40 years, Lin Jingxiang, arrives to see Shen Ye. However, Lin Jingxiang rambles on without providing any concrete information.
Hao Chengcai and Wang Yingying arrive at the morgue to identify the bodies. Wang Yingying is visibly distressed by the charred remains, while Hao Chengcai expresses regret for not spending enough time with his mother. He mentions wanting his mother to move in with them, but she refused. The couple claims to be unfamiliar with Ying Youchang. Li Dangui questions them about their whereabouts the previous night, and Hao Chengcai's gaze becomes vacant.
Lin Jingxiang, still at the station and having consumed two bowls of instant noodles, continues to talk about irrelevant matters. Shen Ye receives the restored surveillance data, revealing that Hao Chengcai was the figure seen at the neighborhood entrance on the night of the incident. A photo provided by Lin Jingxiang confirms this.
Shen Ye immediately tries to locate Hao Chengcai. Li Dangui informs him that Hao Chengcai admitted to visiting Zhang Yulan's home but claims it was just a routine visit that ended with a minor argument before he left.
Xu Tongsheng receives a call from the Xiangyang Nursing Home, where He Xi's grandmother is demanding to see her grandson. It turns out Xu Tongsheng has been impersonating He Xi to comfort the elderly woman, believing she had lost her memory. Mao Mao sends Xu Tongsheng some photos to choose from, and the grandmother reacts strongly to a photo of Xu Tongsheng and Shen Ye together, repeatedly calling out He Xi's name.
Xu Tongsheng is taken aback. He suddenly recalls a childhood memory where he stood up for He Xi, who was afraid of dogs, and used a pen cap on his sleeve to help him distinguish left from right – traits identical to Shen Ye's.
Mao Mao sends Shen Ye an additional 30 minutes of restored surveillance footage. Shen Ye discovers that Hao Chengcai was present at the explosion site, despite his statement claiming he had already left. To confirm the truth, Shen Ye instructs Li Dangui to summon Hao Chengcai for further questioning.
