Episode Summary
Luo De is forced to bomb a chemical plant. Luo Shanshan suspects Huo Min is hiding his skills. A mole leaks information about a system upgrade, leading to the bombing. The National Security Department investigates, suspecting internal sabotage.
Spoiler Alert
"Secret Files of XSA" Episode 5: Explosions, Espionage, and a Whole Lotta Suspicion
Okay, things are seriously heating up in "Secret Files of XSA"! Episode 5 throws us right into the thick of it with some major plot twists and reveals.
We start with Luo De , who arrives at the shore only to find no pickup waiting. A shady figure known as Huogonginforms him that there's no boat, and his final mission awaits him in the woods. Failure isn't an option – for him or his family. Luo De finds a bag containing a bomb, setting the stage for some serious danger.
Meanwhile, Luo Shanshanis on the hunt for Huo Minat an event. She compliments his fighting skills and asks for a recommendation for a good free combat gym. Huo Min deflects, asking Lao Wanfor help, who admits he taught him a style called free combat. Luo Shanshan jokes about sparring sometime, but then her bag gets snatched! Huo Min gives chase, but during the fight, he realizes his opponent is a skilled woman. He quickly pretends to be defeated, allowing her to escape. Luo Shanshan isn't fooled; she sees through his act, recognizing his exceptional reaction time, observational skills, combat abilities, and analytical mind. This Huo Min guy is definitely hiding something.
Luo Shanshan, being the clever operative she is, plants a monitoring device on Huo Min's phone while borrowing it. Before Huo Min heads to Li Ge'soffice, he cleverly sticks chewing gum over the phone's front-facing camera. Han Yaothen sneaks in, confirming the coast is clear, and accesses the computer. He informs someone called "firer" about a ten-minute system upgrade happening daily at 3 AM. After he leaves, Huo Min emerges from under the desk. Luo Shanshan intercepts a SAD mission: an attack on Shoulon Petrochemical on September 10th, using the ten-minute monitoring upgrade window at 3 AM. Later, Lao Wan meets Huo Min at a restaurant, sensing his work isn't going smoothly. He doesn't pry but emphasizes that he's someone Huo Min can trust.
Back home, Luo Shanshan notices her shoes are arranged too perfectly in the shoe cabinet. Just as she's about to sneak out, her mom stops her. Her mom, Tang Maimai , is a meticulous producer at Jincheng TV station, who throws away all the expired food in Luo Shanshan's fridge and urges her to clean up. Luo De plans to use a remote-controlled drone to carry the bomb into the chemical plant, but it loses signal. With his family's safety in mind, Luo De makes a desperate decision: he grabs the bomb and runs into the factory, detonating it.
The explosion causes casualties and injuries. At a Shoulon Group meeting, Jin Chuan , a director and vice president, points out the loss of "Azure No. 1" and suspects foul play. Gao Jianguo , another director and vice president, remains silent. Lin Shoulongblames foreign agents, but Jin Chuan disagrees, noting that the server upgrade time is internal knowledge. Gao Jianguo and Jin Chuan start arguing. Lin Shoulong stresses the importance of "Azure No. 1," a nationally commissioned, top-secret scientific project set to be announced at the international summit on December 20th. Deputy Mayor Jiang has given them a strict deadline. If they fail, Shoulon Group is finished. Lin Shoulong orders the activation of emergency protocols. After the meeting, a new lawyer, Zheng Qi , greets Lin Shoulong.
The National Security Department gets involved in the Shoulon Group explosion investigation. They identify Luo De from the security footage. Luo Shanshan points out that Luo De's drone operation coincided with Shoulon Group's system upgrade downtime, information only known by high-level insiders. However, they received intel beforehand and notified Shoulon Group to change the downtime, preventing the drone from flying. Zhao Jizhenglearns from an actor that the plan was supposed to happen a week later. Zhao Jizheng decides to wait and see who is trying to stir up trouble.
Turns out, the explosion was orchestrated by Matt, who has overstepped into Li Ge's territory, making her furious. She gathers her core members, suspecting a mole within the company. Both Han Yao and Huo Min appear nervous. News of the explosion spreads rapidly online, causing panic among residents due to the toxic fumes. Huo Min and Han Yao help relocate people to a safe location. Han Yao, as an ambassador for the Xinchuan Public Welfare Association, tries to reassure everyone. Lin Yasheng , the general manager of Shoulon Group's public affairs department, delivers relief supplies to the resettlement site. When a conflict arises, Han Yao makes a point of emphasizing that Lin Yasheng is the "crown prince" of Shoulon Group and publicly opens a carton of supplies, pulling out a pack of cigarettes to incite the affected people. Huo Min immediately seeks out Luo Shanshan in a nearby command vehicle, and together, they catch an old man stealing during the chaos.
Spoilers and Thoughts:
- Internal Sabotage: It's clear someone within Shoulon Group is leaking information, making them vulnerable to attack. The question is, who? Jin Chuan and Gao Jianguo seem to have a tense relationship, and Zheng Qi, the new lawyer, could be a wild card.
- Huo Min's True Identity: Huo Min is definitely not who he seems. His fighting skills and quick thinking suggest he has a hidden agenda. Is he working for or against Luo Shanshan?
- Luo Shanshan's Mission: Luo Shanshan is playing a dangerous game, infiltrating Shoulon Group and investigating the explosion. Her methods are risky, but she's determined to uncover the truth.
- The Bigger Picture: The "Azure No. 1" project is clearly a major target, and the attack on Shoulon Group is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Who is Matt, and what are his motives? What does Li Ge know?
Overall, episode 5 is packed with suspense, intrigue, and action. The stakes are high, and the characters are all playing their own games. I can't wait to see what happens next!
