Episode Summary
Chen Jianghe uncovers Liu Yingying’s sacrificial past as a top student who abandoned medical school for her brother. Her college life unravels with rumors of infidelity and a mysterious breakup. Police find sedatives in multiple suspects linked to a suspicious roast chicken. Liu’s murdered father and wrongful conviction of Ding Baoyuan deepen the mystery, while Sun Caiyun flees after Luo Yingwei’s accusation.
Spoiler Alert
"Sandstorm" Episode 6: Family Secrets, Mysterious Exes & a Midnight Escape
Our detective duo Chen Jianghe and Luo Yingwei are still combing through Liu Yingying’s tragic past this episode—and boy, does this girl’s backstory keep getting messier. Let’s unpack the tea.
The Girl Who Chose Sacrifice Over Success
Chen visits Liu Yingying’s high school, where her homeroom teacher drops a bombshell: Liu was a straight-A student destined for a top medical university… until she chose a vocational college instead to support her brother Liu Dafu. Cue the collective gasp. While her teacher pushed for student loans to finish undergrad, Liu insisted on graduating early to work. "But why stop there?" you ask. Well, in 90s China, climbing the social ladder often required a master’s degree—something Liu’s poverty-stricken family couldn’t afford. Oof.
College Romance Gone Rogue
Swing by Liu’s vocational college, and her former professor gushes about her academic dominance (valedictorian alert!) and that rich boyfriend from the city. Things got juicy: Mr. Perfect planned to hook her up with a cushy hospital job… until they mysteriously split six months pre-graduation. Rumor mill says Liu was "two-timing" and "living loosely"—though Chen’s interview with the ex reveals zilch except that post-breakup, Liu became "neurotic." Suspicious? You bet.
The Midnight Chicken Conspiracy
Meanwhile, police lab results reveal everyone at the heating station—including Wang Liang (Liu’s childhood friend turned suspect)—had sedatives in their blood. Security footage shows Wang bringing a very suspect roast chicken to Liu’s nurse station before hauling it to the heating crew. Did he spike the food? The show’s playing coy, but here’s the kicker: Wang later had bite marks on his hand—likely self-inflicted to stay awake. Heroic sacrifice or guilty panic?
Daddy Issues & Framed Mentors
Liu’s father Liu Sancheng? Murdered the same night he vanished into a camera blind spot at 8 PM. But wait—security tapes show Liu Yingying and Wang Liang chilling in the nurse lounge until 11 PM. Plot twist: Chen discovers the lounge window leads to a climbable wall. Did either of them sneak out to off dear old dad? And let’s not forget wrongly convicted Ding Baoyuan—new evidence clears him, meaning Chen’s late mentor botched this case. Cue mentor’s widow dropping a clue: the old man obsessively sifted through coal ashes at home. Symbolism alert!
The Runaway Lover
Luo Yingwei plays 4D chess by taunting Sun Caiyun (Ding’s possible accomplice/lover?) with news of Ding’s impending release. Sun’s poker face cracks—she bolts awake her writer boyfriend to flee town. Nothing says "guilty conscience" like a midnight escape, amirite?
Final Thoughts
This episode serves up more questions than a philosophy exam: Did Liu Yingying kill her dad to escape family burdens? Is Wang Liang a lovestruck patsy? And why was Chen’s mentor sifting coal? The answer’s probably buried in those ashes—but for now, we’re left screaming at the screen: WHO BROUGHT THE SLEEPY CHICKEN?!
Spoiler Zone
Next episode: Flashbacks reveal Liu Yingying’s darker college days. Also—will Sun Caiyun’s sudden escape plan finally crack this decade-old case wide open? Grab your popcorn, folks.
