Episode Summary
Lin Zhi Tao discovers the children's "nanny" is actually their paternal grandmother, forced by Tu Huai Wei to hide her identity. The grandmother reveals Tu Huai Wei abused the children previously, fracturing Xiao Hu's arm. After Tu Huai Wei's arrest, Lin Zhi Tao and Bai En Yu, dressed as bears, help the traumatized Xiao Hua recall how Tu Huai Wei instructed them to unbuckle their life vests before throwing them into the water. At the trial, Tu Huai Wei denies guilt, but Xiao Hua's testimony and evidence corner him. His partner, Yang Xiao Ying, initially covers for him but confesses after learning he deceived her and planned to frame someone else. Both Tu Huai Wei and Yang Xiao Ying are found guilty of intentional homicide and sentenced to death. Finally, Lin Zhi Tao reflects on her past trauma and finds renewed purpose in protecting children through her work.
Spoiler Alert
"Endless Protection" Episode 9 Recap & Spoilers: The Truth Comes Out
Alright, picking up where things were getting intense, Lin Zhi Tao has a major breakthrough. Following a lead from a nurse, she tracks down the old woman who's been acting as a nanny for little Xiao Hua and Xiao Hu. Remember that drawing Bai En Yu found earlier – the one showing the kids with 'Grandma'? Well, Lin Zhi Tao puts two and two together. The "nanny" is none other than Tu Huai Wei's mother, the kids' actual paternal grandmother! Why the secrecy? Papa Tu Huai Wei basically blackmailed his own mom, telling her she could only see the kids if she pretended to be a hired nanny and kept her real identity hidden. Yikes.
The floodgates open, and Grandma spills the horrific truth: the injuries on Xiao Hua and Xiao Hu? They were inflicted by their father, Tu Huai Wei. Apparently, sometime earlier, Yang Hui Hui (remember her?) snitched to Tu Huai Wei that the kids were being naughty. His reaction? To brutally beat them, going so far as to fracture poor Xiao Hu's arm. Hearing this, Bai En Yu races off, grabs the medical records confirming the injury, gets an arrest warrant, and Tu Huai Wei is finally detained.
But getting Tu Huai Wei arrested is one thing; getting traumatized little Xiao Hua to testify is another. Lin Zhi Tao and Bai En Yu wisely consult a child psychologist. The advice? Create a safe, relaxed environment. Use games and storytelling to gently coax out the memories without re-traumatizing her. Kids often reveal things naturally when they feel completely at ease.
So, how do our protagonists create that safe space? By renting bear costumes! Seriously. Lin Zhi Tao and Bai En Yu dress up as big, friendly bears and just hang out, playing games with Xiao Hua. And it works wonders. Feeling safe with her furry friends, Xiao Hua finally explains the terrifying events on the boat. She reveals that Tu Huai Wei, framing it as part of a game, told her and Xiao Hu to unbuckle the clasps on their life vests. Being kids, they listened. That's why the vests were useless when they ended up in the water. The most damning revelation? She confirms it was Tu Huai Wei who physically threw them off the boat. With this devastating testimony, the evidence chain is solid. Lin Zhi Tao and Bai En Yu accompany Xiao Hua to the police station, where she bravely identifies Tu Huai Wei.
Fast forward to the trial. Tu Huai Wei and his current partner, Yang Xiao Ying, are both in the defendant's box. Initially, Tu Huai Wei flat-out denies throwing his children into the water. But facing Xiao Hua's identification, surveillance footage (presumably linked to her ID), and perhaps Lin Zhi Tao's expert analysis or reenactment, he starts looking guilty. Yang Xiao Ying tries to cover for him at first.
However, Lin Zhi Tao has another ace up her sleeve. She presents evidence that while locked up, Tu Huai Wei tried to pin the blame on Yang Hui Hui, claiming she was the one recklessly rocking the boat, causing the children to fall in.
This is the breaking point for Yang Xiao Ying. The lies unravel. She realizes Tu Huai Wei deceived her about the "nanny" actually being his mother (and made her pay the salary!), and it becomes clear he was likely after her demolition compensation money. Seeing his true, manipulative nature, Yang Xiao Ying cracks. She confesses to the court that Tu Huai Wei had told her the park lacked surveillance cameras, making it seem like the perfect place for the children to drown "accidentally" without anyone knowing.
Desperate, Yang Xiao Ying begs the judge for leniency, pleading that she has her own daughter to think about and offering all her money to help with Xiao Hua's recovery. Lin Zhi Tao calls out the hypocrisy – easy for her to remember her own daughter now, but where was that concern for Xiao Hua?
The verdict comes down hard. The court finds both Tu Huai Wei and Yang Xiao Ying guilty of intentional homicide. Both are sentenced to death.
Justice is served for Xiao Hua and Xiao Hu, thanks to Lin Zhi Tao's relentless pursuit. In the aftermath, Dean Zheng Yan Lai takes Lin Zhi Tao back to her hometown. It's a place heavy with Lin Zhi Tao's own past trauma – a childhood marked by fear and domestic violence until Zheng Yan Lai intervened, helping send her abusive father to prison. Zheng Yan Lai had encouraged a young Lin Zhi Tao to study hard, to use knowledge ("pen and paper") as a weapon to protect her mother and brother. Now, returning years later, they see progress – education levels are up, domestic violence is down. Zheng Yan Lai expresses immense pride, saying Lin Zhi Tao inspires her to keep fighting.
Lin Zhi Tao reflects on her own journey. She admits she used to handle major criminal cases and perhaps looked down on the work of the juvenile prosecutor's office. But now, after fighting for Xiao Hua and Xiao Hu, she deeply understands the significance of this work. She sees the vital importance of helping vulnerable children, of being a protective "umbrella" (as the original text puts it) over their young lives.
