Episode Summary
Cao Xiaojun and Xu Qingli's fight ends with Xu's surrender, but not before Meng Chao is critically injured. In custody, Xu Qingli and Wu Ximei give conflicting stories about Ni Xiangdong's death. Key lab results reveal Ni Xiangdong was Tianbao's real father and another man was murdered. This pressure leads to Wu Ximei's full confession; she admits to killing not only Ni Xiangdong but also her first husband.
Spoiler Alert
The Episode Kicks Off With a Fight
The show doesn't waste any time. We open with Cao Xiaojun and Xu Qingli throwing down. It's a brutal, messy fight. You can tell these two have a lot of history boiling over. Cao Xiaojun is not a fighter, though. He gets beaten down pretty quickly.
A Desperate Plea
Xu Qingli stands over him, ready to finish the job with a brick. But he hesitates. He's furious, yelling about how they ended up in this mess. That's when Cao Xiaojun says something completely gut-wrenching. He begs Xu Qingli to just kill him. He wants his son, Tianbao, to get the money for his medical treatments. It's a truly desperate moment.
A Surrender and a Child's Heartbreak
Hearing this completely changes things for Xu Qingli. He lowers the brick. He knows it's over. He decides to call the police and turn himself in. But before he does, he does one last thing. He intentionally leads the cops to where Tianbao is playing. When the police show up, Tianbao doesn't understand. He just asks them to let his "Uncle Ni Xiangdong" go. He says the uncle showed him the most beautiful fireworks. It’s a tough scene to watch. The kid has no idea the man he thinks is his uncle is really Xu Qingli.
The Aftermath at the Police Station
Back at the station, things are grim. Meng Chao was seriously injured in the takedown. He's been rushed to the hospital, and nobody knows if he'll make it.
Tong Hao's Guilt
Tong Hao is taking it the hardest. He's just sitting on the floor, completely wrecked with guilt. He feels like he walked his team right into a trap. His superior comes over to talk to him. She tells him this is the job. Danger is part of being a cop, and he needs to find a way to be strong and face it.
A Veteran's Story
To get her point across, the superior tells Tong Hao a story from when she was young. She and three partners were arresting a criminal in an old building. They caught him, but he managed to escape. One of her partners, a man named Old Meng, tackled the criminal. They both fell from the building. Old Meng died saving the team. She explains that she never really got over it. But she used that pain to become a better cop. It's a classic "pep talk from the boss," but it feels earned here.
The Confessions Start Rolling In
With Xu Qingli and Wu Ximei in custody, the interrogations begin. This is where the whole house of cards starts to fall.
Xu Qingli's Version of Events
Xu Qingli starts talking. He tells the police he saw Wu Ximei and Cao Xiaojun burying a body. He says the man, Ni Xiangdong, was already dead. The body's face was also damaged beyond recognition. So, he saw an opportunity and stole Ni Xiangdong's identity. He tries to play innocent during his interrogation with Tong Hao. He claims he was just trying to buy time and never meant for anyone to get hurt. Tong Hao doesn't buy it for a second. He's convinced Xu sabotaged the equipment that injured Meng Chao.
Wu Ximei's Side of the Story
Wu Ximei also gives her first statement. She says the real Ni Xiangdong came home hooked on drugs. He was violent and unpredictable. One night, he was looking for a gun, saying he was going to kill someone. She tried to stop him, and he nearly strangled her to death. She claims that's why they killed him. It was self-defense.
The Lab Drops Two Bombshells
Just as the police are trying to sort through the conflicting stories, the lab results come in. They change everything.
First, a paternity test confirms that Ni Xiangdong is Cao Tianbao's biological father. This is a huge shock for everyone involved.
Second, the autopsy for Liu Chengan comes back. He's the man whose body was in the box Xu Qingli was moving. We learn he didn't just suffocate. He was also hit in the head multiple times. He was murdered.
The Truth Finally Comes Out
Armed with the new evidence, the police go back to the interrogation rooms. They're ready to break Xu Qingli and Wu Ximei for good.
The police confront Xu Qingli about Liu Chengan's murder. He admits he was shocked to find a different person in the box that night. He insists he only covered the man's mouth. He denies hitting him. The police call his bluff. They tell him they found gloves at the scene. They're testing them for his DNA right now.
At the same time, the police talk to Wu Ximei. They gently tell her that Tianbao is safe and doing well at his kindergarten. This small kindness seems to break through her defenses. She finally starts telling the whole truth. She admits that Ni Xiangdong was the one who killed Bao Desheng. Then, the police hand her a bracelet that Cao Xiaojun had bought for her. She completely breaks down.
Wu Ximei Confesses to Everything
This is where it all comes out. Wu Ximei confesses that she was the one who killed Ni Xiangdong. Cao Xiaojun was just helping her cover it up. She's flooded with guilt, remembering how much she hurt Cao Xiaojun by being with Ni Xiangdong.
But there's one more horrible secret. She also confesses to killing her first husband. She explains her entire life has been spent obeying other people. She listened to her parents, her uncle, and her husbands, hoping it would lead to a peaceful life. It never did. She thought finding Cao Xiaojun was her one chance at happiness. Now, she knows she's the one who destroyed him.
