Episode Summary
Yang Guang attended a dinner with James, attempting to gather intelligence on Moshi Trading. He feigned extreme drunkenness to access James's study but was nearly caught. Later, he successfully snuck back into James's villa, disabling surveillance and recording a call where James received orders from the "Big Boss" for Zhao Yazhu to "take down" Yang Guang within a week, or face elimination herself. After a close call, Yang Guang rushed home just before Zhao Yazhu arrived, sent by James to verify his whereabouts. Though Yang Guang maintained his drunken act, Zhao Yazhu discovered his torn jacket from the infiltration, raising her suspicions. Meanwhile, James instructed Luka to begin constant surveillance on Yang Guang.
Spoiler Alert
Dinner, Deception, and a Dash for Secrets
We kicked off with Yang Guang at a seemingly casual dinner, but James wasn't just there for the food. He was trying to subtly pry into how Yang Guang figured out something was fishy with Moshi Trading. Yang Guang, ever the smooth operator, just fed him some vague, already public info, masterfully sidestepping the real intel. Then, in a classic move, he played the "too much to drink" card and excused himself to the restroom. With Taylor conveniently occupying the first-floor facilities, Yang Guang saw his chance and made a beeline for James's second-floor study. You could just feel he was on a mission to unearth some serious dirt.
Close Call Number One: The "Drunk" Diversion
But wait! James and Zhao Yazhu weren't born yesterday. They heard something, got suspicious, and rushed upstairs. Thinking on his feet, Yang Guang went full method actor, pretending to be so incredibly drunk that he just stumbled and fell. It was a convincing performance, and for a moment, his cover was safe. Zhao Yazhu even played along, personally escorting him out and arranging for a driver to take him "home" so he could "sleep it off."
Not Going Home Just Yet...
Of course, "home" was the last place on Yang Guang's mind. The minute he was in the car, he spun a tale for the driver about having another drinking engagement, getting himself dropped off conveniently nearby. You just knew he was planning a return trip to James's villa, didn't you?
James's Paranoia and Zhao Yazhu's Power Move
Back at the villa, things were getting tense. Taylor and Li Taiheng reported to James that while Yang Guang seemed to have a soft spot for Zhao Yazhu, the man also possessed an iron will. This sent James into a spiral of suspicion. What if Zhao Yazhu was actually falling for Yang Guang? Could she be turned? Zhao Yazhu, understandably furious at his lack of trust, dramatically declared she was quitting the mission. James, however, knew he couldn't afford to lose her, especially with the crucial Huaze and Taiyu cooperation about to enter its next phase. He quickly tried to smooth things over, reminding her that getting tangled in emotions is a cardinal sin for spies, and history is littered with agents who let their fake feelings become all too real.
Round Two: Infiltration and a Chilling Order
Meanwhile, Yang Guang wasn't wasting any time. After confirming Zhao Yazhu had left the premises, he stealthily made his way back to the villa. Using his very cool spy-watch (seriously, where can I get one?), he disabled the surveillance cameras. Inside, James was in his study, retrieving a secure phone from a safe to call the "Big Boss." And the orders from the top were bone-chilling: Zhao Yazhu had precisely one week to "take down" Yang Guang. If it turned out she had genuinely fallen for him, she would no longer be considered an ally but an enemy – one that needed to be eliminated. Talk about pressure!
The Recording, a Noise, and Another Narrow Escape
Our hero, Yang Guang, having expertly infiltrated the villa again and made it to the second floor, was actually in the process of recording James's highly incriminating phone call! But then, a slight sound, a tiny mistake, and James was instantly on high alert. Yang Guang managed to make a swift exit just in the nick of time, but James was definitely onto him. His immediate reaction? Order Zhao Yazhu to get to Yang Guang's apartment right now and confirm if he was actually home. As an extra measure, he also messaged Luka, instructing him to start round-the-clock surveillance on Yang Guang starting the very next day. The walls were closing in!
The Mad Dash Home and Hiding the Evidence
Yang Guang, meanwhile, was practically flying back to his apartment, all while listening to the recording he'd snagged. The audio confirmed that James was planning a "pickup" operation very soon. Just as he reached his apartment complex, he spotted Zhao Yazhu's car pulling into the underground garage. Code red! He scrambled into his apartment, tore off his jacket – which had conveniently gotten ripped during his hasty escape – and shoved it deep into the washing machine. To complete the picture, he quickly downed a few more gulps of alcohol to really sell the "I'm completely wasted" act.
Zhao Yazhu's Arrival and the Telltale Jacket
Knock, knock. Zhao Yazhu was at the door. No answer. She called his phone. Still no answer. James, on the other end of her line, urged her to find a way to see Yang Guang. She even tried calling Xie Xiaoman to get property management to open the door, but Xie Xiaoman informed her that wasn't possible. Finally, Zhao Yazhu dialed Yang Guang again. Realizing things could get out of hand, he answered, slurring his words and claiming he'd been asleep. He opened the door, putting on an award-worthy performance of someone who'd had way too much to drink.
Zhao Yazhu stepped inside, her eyes meticulously scanning every inch of the place. She made her way to the washing machine, offering to "help" with his laundry, and then she pulled it out: the torn jacket. The suspicion on her face was undeniable. Yang Guang played dumb, pretending not to know what she was talking about. Zhao Yazhu didn't press him further right then, but you could practically see the gears turning in her head as she took a quick look around his bedroom.
