Episode Summary
Su Muxin reveals his tragic past to Qu Tong, including his mother's suicide and his brother's attempt to murder him. Meanwhile, the police investigation takes a turn when Shi Muxian is found dead by suicide. Xue Xiaoling, following Su Muxin's instructions, confesses to the police and implicates him in two murders, making him the prime suspect. The police attempt to trap Su Muxin during a monitored phone call, but he escapes. The episode concludes with a tense meeting between Qu Lijun and Shen Jing, raising more questions about their motives.
Spoiler Alert
Su Muxin's Big Confession
The Whole Tragic Backstory
Qu Tong finally gets Su Muxin to talk about his nightmare. It's a big one. He asks her why she never questioned why he didn't look for her all these years.
Here's the story. After the identity swap, he was injured. His plan was to go to the supply store and call her. But his mother, Chen Li, stopped him. She was terrified the university scam would be exposed. They had a huge fight. He told her he would live as Su Mufan for the rest of his life, but he had to make that one phone call.
The argument broke her. She was filled with regret for her decision. So, she drank pesticide and killed herself. Su Muxin blames himself completely. He feels his mother did everything for his sake, and he was the reason she died.
But that's not all. Later, the real Su Mufan found him by the river. Without a word, he pushed Su Muxin into the water.
Hiding in Fear
Su Muxin tells Qu Tong he's been hiding in a massage parlor ever since. He was too scared to go out or find her. He only resurfaced after hearing news about her. As he breaks down crying, saying it's all his fault, Qu Tong just holds him.
The Police Investigation Gets Messier
A Dead End and Another Body
The cops are digging into Chen Shuncai's connections. They find out he bought a junked van with fake plates. While detective Zhou Mi is clarifying his statement, Chen Shuncai drops a bomb. He tells her Qu Tong is dead. He says someone pushed her into the river and she never came back.
Zhou Mi is stunned. She immediately leads a team to Shi Muxian's house. They get there too late. They find Shi Muxian has already committed suicide using charcoal fumes.
A Confession That's Not a Confession
Zhou Mi is frustrated. Her partner, Zhang Dongliang, tries to offer some hope. He points out that even though they found one of Shi Muxian's gloves at the scene, it doesn't prove Qu Tong is dead.
Then, Xue Xiaoling walks into the police station. She confesses to driving Su Muxin away. She tells them he's hiding in a dormitory at an abandoned factory. She then accuses Su Muxin of two murders: the original Su Muxin and Shi Yue.
Of course, the police rush to the factory. They find signs that someone was living there, but Su Muxin is gone.
We then learn this is all part of Su Muxin's plan. He had coached Xue Xiaoling the night before. He made her memorize everything and told her to go to the police and report him for the murders. He even told her this wasn't technically perjury. Following her statement, the police find a bag of sodium cyanide under a bed at the Xue house. Su Muxin's fingerprints are all over it. Just like that, he becomes the number one suspect.
The Cops' Next Move
Zhou Mi's Gut Feeling
Gao Bo, a higher-up, arrives in town. Zhou Mi immediately asks for a transfer back to Dongjiang. The reason she gives is that Qu Lijun is on a hunger strike, demanding to see Shen Jing. Zhou Mi has a bad feeling about that couple.
Gao Bo asks for her real thoughts. Zhou Mi admits she's confused. The personality of the killer in Shi Yue's case feels completely different from the killer in Su Muxin's case. It just doesn't add up for her. Gao Bo denies her request. He tells her to stay and focus on capturing Su Muxin. Someone else can go to Dongjiang.
The Phone Booth Trap
Qu Tong takes Su Muxin to a phone booth. He asks to borrow her 200,000, and she agrees. He then asks her to stand guard outside while he makes a call. She doesn't suspect a thing.
Su Muxin calls Xue Xiaoling. Zhou Mi is on the other end, listening to the whole thing. Su Muxin uses pre-arranged code words. He tells Xiaoling to get the money he stashed at Chen Shuncai's house. He says he needs it to get out of town. He gets emotional, crying and saying he'll repay his debts in the next life. He gives her a time and place to meet. This is too much for Xue Xiaoling. She breaks down and hangs up the phone.
By the time the police get to the phone booth, Su Muxin and Qu Tong are gone. Zhou Mi orders her team to lock down and search the entire area.
The episode ends with another monitored conversation. Wu Dong is listening as Qu Lijun meets with Shen Jing. Qu Lijun says he knows exactly why she married him. He was willing to give her anything, but it was never what she truly wanted. He's still grateful she never left him. He also says he understands her strictness with Qu Tong came from a good place. His final question is chilling. He looks at Shen Jing and asks, "You can protect Qu Tong, right?"
