Episode Summary
The episode kicks off with Cao Xiaojun burning Ni Xiangdong’s clothes. He looks absolutely wrecked. He stares at an old photo of the three of them. It was taken right after he got out of the police station. A happier time, I guess.
Boss Liang corners Cao Xiaojun later. He asks if Ni Xiangdong was the one who killed Bao Desheng. Cao Xiaojun plays dumb. He lies and says he has no idea. He claims Ni is just at home, sick.
Spoiler Alert
The Aftermath of a Murder
Cao Xiaojun's Suspicions
The episode kicks off with Cao Xiaojun burning Ni Xiangdong’s clothes. He looks absolutely wrecked. He stares at an old photo of the three of them. It was taken right after he got out of the police station. A happier time, I guess.
Boss Liang corners Cao Xiaojun later. He asks if Ni Xiangdong was the one who killed Bao Desheng. Cao Xiaojun plays dumb. He lies and says he has no idea. He claims Ni is just at home, sick.
But Cao Xiaojun is starting to put things together. Ni Xiangdong has been hiding out for days. It just feels wrong. He searches Ni's closet and finds some of Bao Desheng’s stuff. That pretty much confirms it for him. He confronts Ni, wanting to know why. Cao Xiaojun reminds him he’s always been his loyal muscle. He would help him through anything. He would even raise his kid as his own. Ni Xiangdong just shuts him down. He says he doesn't need his help.
Ni Xiangdong's Downward Spiral
Word on the street is that Bao Desheng was killed by a love rival. The guy's last name is supposedly Xu. This rumor gives everyone a convenient story.
Wu Ximei tries to pull Ni Xiangdong back from the edge. She offers to teach him how to cut hair. She just wants a quiet life with him. She doesn't want their child to grow up without a father. That's when Ni finds out she never had the abortion. He gets cold. He demands she get rid of the baby.
Ni Xiangdong finally snaps from being cooped up. He takes some money and goes out to have a good time. He ends up at a mahjong game and loses round after round. Boss Liang shows up. He offers Ni a sample of some drugs. It's the good stuff. Liang tells him to stop thinking small. He says if they do this deal once a week, Ni will be rich. Ni agrees right away.
He leaves the place with some woman on his arm. Cao Xiaojun sees him and tries to talk some sense into him. He tells him to cool it. He reminds him that Ximei is pregnant with his child. Ni doesn't care. He says he's in his prime and refuses to settle for a boring life.
The Point of No Return
The Confrontation
Cao Xiaojun's words do nothing. He goes back to working hard by the sea to support Wu Ximei. He even brings her nutritional supplements. Ximei just focuses on running her hair salon. But Ni Xiangdong is already too far gone. A huge gap forms between him and Cao Xiaojun.
One night, Ni comes home in a panic. He's tearing the place apart looking for his gun. Ximei tells him she hid it. She tries to talk to him about their future. Ni just says he likes his new way of making money. She pleads with him, using the baby to appeal to his better nature. Cao Xiaojun also begs him to let the child live. He even offers to raise the kid himself so Ximei can still be a mother.
Ni Xiangdong completely misreads the situation. He assumes Cao Xiaojun is in love with Ximei. He explodes with rage. He starts choking Wu Ximei. To save her, Cao Xiaojun grabs the nearest object and hits Ni. This only makes Ni angrier. He turns on Cao Xiaojun and beats him savagely.
A Secret Burial
Wu Ximei sees that Ni is about to kill Cao Xiaojun. She makes a hard choice. She kills Ni Xiangdong.
That same night, she and Cao Xiaojun take Ni's body. They drive to the back mountain of Yafen Village. They bury him in a hurry. They have no idea someone is watching from a distance. Xu Qingli sees the entire thing. After burying the body, the two of them leave quickly.
Back to the Present
A Final Twist
The show then snaps back to the present day. We see Cao Xiaojun attacking the fake "Ni Xiangdong" again. He realizes the man didn't die. He's been having nightmares about it ever since.
Wu Ximei and Cao Xiaojun decide they have to leave this place. But Cao Xiaojun feels guilty. He believes he's a murderer and doesn't want to ruin her life.
Then Wu Ximei drops a bomb. She tells him she is pregnant with his child. She wants their family to be together, no matter what.
