Episode Summary
Huo Min is framed for Jia Tenglongqi's murder and the cleaning lady's death. He escapes with Luo Shanshan's help while evading the police. They track down Shi Qian, a suspect bodyguard, only to be attacked by the SAD.
Spoiler Alert
"Secret Files of XSA" Episode 3: Double Crosses and Bathhouse Brawls
Okay, things are getting seriously twisty in "Secret Files of XSA"! Episode 3 throws Huo Min right into the deep end, and it's a wild ride from start to finish.
The episode kicks off with Chief Ban Kun of the Ying Zhou Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division dropping a bombshell on Huo Min. That towel Huo Min handed to Jia Tenglongqi? Turns out it was laced with poison, and guess what? Huo Min's DNA is all over it. To make matters worse, the water found on Jia Tenglongqi's body contained a substance that, when combined with the towel's poison, becomes deadly. Huo Min realizes his presence at the hotel wasn't just a coincidence; he's a prime suspect!
Meanwhile, Zhao Jizheng is pulling the strings, ordering Luo Shanshan to assist the Ying Zhou police in sniffing out a mole and uncovering the truth. Huo Min is stuck under house arrest, and Luo Shanshan fills in Hu Feijiang and Lu Chen on the situation. Meng Li, using a game as their secret code, notices Huo Min's gone offline and senses something is wrong. Later, while Meng Li is choosing wine, Zheng Qi, Meng Li's senior brother and a lawyer from Ying Zhou Qiming Law Firm, comes up to greet her, wanting to celebrate her birthday with her, but she declines.
Then, things escalate. Ban Kun discovers the cleaning lady dead in her apartment, the cause of death being mechanical asphyxiation four hours prior. Huo Min, under constant police surveillance and without his phone, uses his wits. He pretends to use the bathroom, locks the door, and turns on the faucet, blocking the peephole. Flashbacks reveal the bodyguards blocking him at the time of the incident. Huo Min removes his short sleeves, which have traces of the drug. Ban Kun barges in, throws photos of Huo Min taking pictures of Jia Tenglongqi onto the bed, and accuses him of the cleaning lady's murder, demanding to know who his accomplices are. Huo Min suspects the bodyguard. He hands Ban Kun the short sleeve, but Ban Kun says the evidence is there, the motive is certain, and the murderer is Huo Min.
Huo Min makes a daring escape out the window, only to be snatched up by Luo Shanshan and her crew. Because of their covert operation, they can't reveal their identities. Huo Min assumes they're with Shoulong Group and spills the beans about the cleaning lady's death and his suspicion of the bodyguard. Ban Kun is hot on their trail, using the electronic handcuff on Huo Min to track Luo Shanshan's vehicle. Lu Chen's driving skills come in clutch, and they manage to lose Ban Kun. Luo Shanshan removes the electronic handcuff from Huo Min, and has Hu Feijiang attach it to a bunch of hydrogen balloons. Ban Kun splits his forces in two, but both groups come up empty.
Huo Min reveals the bodyguard's name – Shi Qian – and uses their tablet to log into the game, only to find his teammate's account compromised. He quickly borrows a phone to call Meng Li, who's now in police custody, cuffed by Ban Kun. Ban Kun claims they found the same poison from the towel in Meng Li's home, accusing them of conspiring to kill Jia Tenglongqi. Huo Min wishes Meng Li a happy birthday, to which she cryptically replies, "Don't worry." Huo Min wants to go to the police station, but Hu Feijiang stops him, leading to a brawl. Luo Shanshan steps in, saying their goal is the same – to uncover the truth – and suggests they work together.
The bodyguard, Shi Qian, has vanished from the hospital. The trail leads to a bathhouse in Ying Zhou. Since it's a men's bathhouse, Luo Shanshan waits outside with Huo Min while Lu Chen and Hu Feijiang go in to search for Shi Qian. Huo Min then goes in to help. He notices a scar on Shi Qian's right hand, quickly identifying him. Shi Qian is a formidable fighter, and Huo Min is no match for him until Hu Feijiang arrives. Shi Qian warns Hu Feijiang that if Lu Chen and Huo Min want to survive, they need to run.
Sure enough, the SAD (Southeast Asia Democratic Frontline Alliance) shows up. Lu Chen and Huo Min take Shi Qian and flee, while Hu Feijiang stays behind to cover their escape. He turns off the lights, uses a wet towel as a weapon, and manages to escape the bathhouse. But the SAD is relentless. Shi Qian, fearing for his life, reveals who's after them: the Southeast Asia Democratic Frontline Alliance (SAD).
