Episode Summary
Shu Xin successfully manipulates Guo Mingshan by pretending to be a frugal homemaker, getting him to spend lavishly on her as part of the Jinyu Liangyuan matchmaking scam. Meanwhile, Li Lefan and Cheng Xu confirm the agency's fraudulent tactics by observing a woman meeting multiple men with different identities. Qin Tianyue and Feng Qingming get Rong Tiejun drunk, learning he controls Wang Daan using hidden cameras planted in Wang's home, which they later find. Shu Xin brags about her methods to an envious Hao Tiantian, mentioning expensive lessons from "Boss Han." Li Lefan tries to warn Guo Mingshan about Shu Xin but is dismissed due to past issues involving Lin Kexin.
Spoiler Alert
First up, that Jin Yu Liang Yuan matchmaking agency? Yeah, it's looking shadier than ever. It turns out they've basically gift-wrapped Shu Xin specifically for Guo Mingshan. And Shu Xin, taking cues from Han Bing, is playing the role of a lifetime: the perfect, demure, traditional wifey material. We're talking hitting up cheap street food stalls for dates, browsing budget clothing racks – really selling that "I'm so sensible with money" vibe. And guess what? Guo Mingshan is totally buying it, hook, line, and sinker. He's already opening his wallet for her.
Meanwhile, our investigators Li Lefan and Cheng Xu are burning the midnight oil trying to expose Jin Yu Liang Yuan's scam. They finally catch a break when they stumble upon a "chameleon" dater – a woman meeting like ten different guys in a day, switching her identity each time. Ding ding ding! The matchmaking scam is practically confirmed.
Over on another front, Qin Tianyue and Feng Qingming decide the best way to Rong Tiejun's secrets is through his liver. They show up at his place with booze and food, playing the "sorry we bothered you before" card. Rong Tiejun sees the alcohol, and his eyes light up. Let the drinking games begin! After a few rounds, his guard drops. Qin Tianyue cleverly sends Feng Qingming away and starts playing the admiring student, asking for Rong Tiejun's wisdom. Feeling puffed up, Rong Tiejun starts boasting about potential deals with Wang Da'an and flat-out admits he's pulling the strings on Wang Da'an's marriage situation – winner takes all, apparently.
The drinking session works, maybe a little too well. Qin Tianyue ends up back home, hugging the toilet for dear life. Feng Qingming plays caretaker, getting her settled before rushing off to make some hangover soup (aww?). But the drunken night wasn't for nothing! The big bombshell? Rong Tiejun has Wang Da'an's place bugged with multiple cameras! That's how he knows everything and has Wang Da'an completely trusting him. Yikes!
Armed with this info, Qin Tianyue and Feng Qingming head over to Wang Da'an's. Remembering how Qin Tianyue helped him out at the police station, Wang Da'an welcomes them warmly. While he's busy getting snacks, Feng Qingming, covered by Qin Tianyue, does a quick search and – bingo! – finds four hidden cameras. Talk about manipulation!
Cut back to Shu Xin, practically dripping in "spoils" from Guo Mingshan, meeting up with Hao Tiantian. Hao Tiantian is green with envy, looking at all the fancy stuff and complaining about how Guo Mingshan was a total cheapskate when she was seeing him. Shu Xin, feeling smug, starts lecturing Hao Tiantian on how to handle men: figure out what they want, package yourself that way, and then you get their money. She even drops that this "wisdom" comes from some super expensive course taught by "Mr. Han." Hao Tiantian looks miserable – tens of thousands for a course fee is way out of her league.
Little do they know, Cheng Xu is lurking nearby and hears the whole exchange.
And to cap things off, Li Lefan, bless her heart, tries to warn Guo Mingshan that he's being played. But nope. Thanks to some past drama involving a Lin Kexin, Guo Mingshan just thinks Li Lefan is jealous and trying to stir up trouble. Her warning totally backfires and just causes more friction.
So, by the end of Episode 18, the matchmaking scam is confirmed, Rong Tiejun's creepy surveillance of Wang Da'an is revealed, and poor Guo Mingshan is digging himself deeper into Shu Xin's trap, pushing away the people actually trying to help him. Things are definitely heating up!
