Episode Summary
Yang Guang's suspicion of Zhao Yazhu lessens after a DNA test, but a sudden car brake failure, which Yang Guang heroically averts, raises alarms. Zhao Yazhu emotionally confronts Yang Guang, who reveals the MSS believes Sander had a local contact. It's later revealed Zhao Yazhu orchestrated the car incident to gain Yang Guang's trust, though her operative nearly made it fatal. She then skillfully uses Yang Guang at a business lunch to dispel doubts from potential partners. Meanwhile, a lead on Sander's contact goes cold. As Lide Group secures a new partnership, Zhao Yazhu is instructed to make a significant move on her target, telling Yang Guang she now considers him a true friend.
Spoiler Alert
So, Yang Guang was this close to taking Zhao Yazhu off his suspect list, especially after the lab came back with a big fat "no female DNA found" on that piece of evidence. You could almost hear him breathe a sigh of relief. But hold onto your hats, because just when things seemed to be calming down, disaster struck – literally!
Zhao Yazhu is cruising along when suddenly, her car's brakes decide to take an unscheduled vacation. Total brake failure! In a heart-stopping moment of pure action-hero instinct, Yang Guang yanks the steering wheel, makes a daring (and probably illegal) move into oncoming traffic, and somehow strong-arms the car to a halt. Phew! Catastrophe narrowly averted. The traffic cops show up, and their initial once-over points to a busted oil pipe, but they're not closing the book on potential sabotage just yet.
Yang Guang, ever the gentleman, escorts a thoroughly rattled Zhao Yazhu back to her place. Now, we all know Zhao Yazhu as the epitome of cool, calm, and collected, right? Well, not this time. She completely unravels, unleashing a torrent of fear and anger on Yang Guang. She accuses him of never truly trusting her, of always seeing her as a potential villain. Yang Guang, bless his heart, doesn't argue. Instead, he quietly heads to the kitchen and whips up a comforting bowl of noodles (aww!). Then, he drops a bit of a bombshell: the MSS (Ministry of State Security) had discovered that Sander, our previous baddie, had a local contact, and that's what likely triggered this terrifying incident.
Once the noodles have worked their magic and Zhao Yazhu has calmed down a bit, she really opens up to Yang Guang. She recounts her experiences working overseas, battling discrimination at every turn, and how she fought her way to a high-level executive position through sheer talent and hard work. But even when she finally earned respect, she was savvy enough to know it was mostly respect for her position, her power. That’s why, when Lide Group decided to establish its Greater China division, she jumped at the chance to return and contribute to her country, passionately insisting she’s always been a true patriot.
Little do they know, their heart-to-heart is being broadcast live to Section Three's action team, who are listening in. Tian Ziwei is practically swooning, declaring she can "smell love in the air" and predicting their relationship is about to level up beyond just colleagues. Li Jian, ever the cynic, pretty much scoffs at the idea.
Back in the command vehicle, Yang Guang theorizes that the attack was likely a revenge hit from one of Sander’s accomplices who managed to slip through the cracks. But here comes the twist, folks, and it’s a doozy: that whole terrifying brake failure incident? It was orchestrated by Zhao Yazhu herself! Yes, you heard that right. It was a calculated "self-inflicted wound" ploy designed to solidify Yang Guang's trust. The only snag? Even she didn’t anticipate her operative, a guy named Luca, would take things to such an extreme, nearly getting them both killed for real. Yikes! Shaken, she immediately gets on the line with James. Learning from the whole Sander fiasco, James tells her to pull back on any risky moves and concentrate all their efforts on the main objective: securing that nuclear power intelligence.
Following this, Yang Guang removes the listening devices from Zhao Yazhu's apartment. Once he's gone, she meticulously checks her place and, satisfied, confirms to herself that she has well and truly earned his trust. That very evening, she invites Yang Guang to dinner. She’s perceptive, noticing he’s not a huge fan of Western cuisine. Over drinks, she casually floats the idea of a food tasting for lunch the next day, subtly setting the stage for her next maneuver.
Meanwhile, the tech team is combing through surveillance footage from the underground parking garage. Yang Guang spots a suspicious figure – a man in a hat and mask – and recognizes him as the target they'd been tracking earlier. This sighting firms up Yang Guang's belief that this is Sander's elusive contact.
Come lunchtime the next day, Yang Guang arrives for the food tasting, only to walk into a bit of an ambush. Zhao Yazhu has also invited Ou Qihong and Xiang Taisheng. Smooth move, Zhao Yazhu, smooth move.
During the meal, Zhao Yazhu expertly guides the conversation, stressing that Lide Group and Moss are merely business partners and that neither company really knows the ins and outs of the other’s operations. Then, with everyone’s attention on her, she turns to Yang Guang and essentially asks him to vouch for her. Put on the spot, Yang Guang has little choice but to confirm that Zhao Yazhu did indeed assist the MSS, and that the details of the Moss case were already public knowledge thanks to media reports. This testimony finally seems to dispel Xiang Taisheng's lingering suspicions.
After the lunch party breaks up, Yang Guang notices Zhao Yazhu looking particularly pleased with herself. He calls her out, saying he knows she orchestrated the entire lunch setup, but his tone is more observant than accusatory.
At the same time, Section Three, using surveillance, identifies a suspicious location. Yang Guang and Li Jian lead a team to investigate and find a white sedan – completely devoid of license plates. A closer inspection reveals that the car, both inside and out, has been professionally scrubbed clean of any and all forensic evidence. Another frustrating dead end.
With the Huaze Group and Lide Group partnership now official, James gives Zhao Yazhu new orders: it's time to move forward and apply some "substantial inducement" to their target. To celebrate the successful collaboration, Zhao Yazhu invites Yang Guang out again. Yang Guang is genuinely happy for her success and even remarks on how much warmer and more approachable she’s become. Zhao Yazhu’s response is loaded with unspoken meaning: she tells him she already considers him a true friend.
