Episode Summary
As Cui Wei closes in on the truth, Cui Ye scrambles to cover his tracks, only to fall deeper into a trap set by his own brother. Jin Xiasheng and Yi Zhi Er execute a risky heist, while Gao Shuhua and her son are kidnapped. A buried body is discovered near the family grave, sending shockwaves through the Cui family.
Spoiler Alert
"Playing Go" has officially hit the gas—Episode 18 is a full-throttle descent into betrayal, blackmail, and a botched brotherhood. Buckle up.
TL;DR
This episode is pure chaos: kidnappings, fake heists, self-inflicted head wounds, and family drama that ends at a literal graveyard. If you thought "Playing Go" was just a slow-burn crime drama, Episode 18 just flipped the board.
The Past Comes Back Swinging (Literally)
We open with a flashback that explains how Jin Xiasheng got tangled up with a gang of thieves. Turns out, it was his older brother, Jin Chunsheng, who introduced him to the crew—and was clearly more chummy with them. One of the gang members, Yi Zhi Er (yes, that’s his name—literally “One Ear”), doubles as a security guard at a local credit union. He tried to talk the crew out of robbing it, saying the place was swarming with nearby police stations. No one listened.
So what did Yi Zhi Er do to save his own skin? He smashed himself in the head with a hammer to fake an injury and bail out. Yeah. That happened.
️♂️ Game of Wits: Cui Wei vs. Wang Hongyu
Cui Wei is back at the detention center, grilling Wang Hongyu about the blackmail case. Wang? Cool as ice. He dodges the question and drops a cryptic line: “Sometimes the wolves wear sheep’s clothing.” Subtle jab? Definitely. Cui Wei can feel the trap tightening, and as he walks out, it’s clear he suspects his little brother, Cui Ye, is in this way deeper than he imagined.
Secrets in the Film Roll
Meanwhile, Cui Ye is on a mission. He breaks into the Masterclass office and digs through mailed packages until—bingo—he finds a roll of film. He rushes it to a photo lab, demanding a rush order. But just as he’s waiting, he spots his brother’s car outside. Before he can bolt, Cui Wei casually walks in, playing dumb. Small talk. Smiles. Leaves.
But the photos? Total nightmare. They're stills of Cui Ye being kidnapped by the gang—proof he was there. Panicked, he burns them. Then his phone rings. Unknown number. No words—just a text: “Meet me 6:30 PM at Zhongshan Road. Bring hush money.”
The Kidnapping Nobody Saw Coming
On the other side of town, Gao Shuhua is picking up her son Yanyan from school, planning to take him back to her mother’s place. They hop in a cab, unaware a white van is tailing them. Inside? Yi Zhi Er, again. He’s got a drugged towel ready to go.
Next thing you know—they're kidnapped and locked in some creepy underground tunnel. Yes, this is that kind of episode.
Family Tensions & A Shocking Discovery
Cui Ye drags himself home only to get scolded by his mom. She wants advice from Cui Wei about Shuhua taking Yanyan away, but Cui Ye snaps. Mom is confused and heartbroken—something’s clearly off.
So what does Mom do? She heads to her late husband’s grave to vent. But there, she spots a dog digging—and what’s in the hole? A corpse. Just casually buried next to Grandpa.
A Dream Life, Interrupted
Jin Xiasheng is sitting by Xia Yu’s side, dreaming about taking her to Hong Kong for treatment, getting married, opening a little shop. Peaceful stuff. He plays her favorite song through her headphones. But then Yi Zhi Er calls—it’s go time.
Xiasheng sprays flower pollen in the kitchen to trigger Uncle Yi’s asthma, while Yi Zhi Er keeps watch from the window. When the coast is clear, Xiasheng sneaks into the study, opens the safe, and grabs everything inside—ledgers, IOUs, the works.
The Trap Is Sprung
Cui Ye shows up on Zhongshan Road with the hush money. Cui Wei is watching from his car, heart sinking. He realizes it's true—his little brother’s in deep. The kicker? The credit union surveillance footage was useless. Cui Wei had staged a fake reenactment with Xiao Ding and the crew, even using Photoshop to superimpose Cui Ye’s face onto a fake robber.
He didn’t expect this to work. But it did. Cui Ye took the bait.
♂️ One Last Body Drop
As Cui Wei processes the betrayal, a call comes in: Qin Xiaoming’s body has been found. He rushes to the scene. Their mother is there too—shaken to the core. The body was buried right next to Dad’s grave. Seriously, this family can’t catch a break.
️ Endgame in Sight?
Now armed with the stolen ledger and IOUs, Jin Xiasheng jumps into Yi Zhi Er’s van. Cui Ye calls, telling them to meet in front of the Mazu Temple.
The pieces are moving fast. The brothers are on a collision course. And with bodies stacking up and secrets unraveling, it’s only a matter of time before everything explodes.
