Episode Summary
The investigation into Wang Xiaoquan stalls due to a lack of direct evidence linking him to foreign spies, despite the public and diplomatic fallout from his actions. While Xie Rujun recovers from cyanide poisoning, Liang Sihan remains critical. It's revealed Wang Xiaoquan's wife and daughter were likely murdered at sea by Duke, who orchestrated their disappearance. Investigator Yang Guang becomes suspicious of Zhao Yazhu, a woman repeatedly appearing at key locations and linked to Lide Public Relations and Moss Trading Group. Wang Xiaoquan's recent employment at the Shiji Hotel and a mysterious bank deposit suggest an early intelligence leak. Yang Guang and Li Jian surveil Zhao Yazhu meeting Moss Trading executives (Sander Bowie, Shirley) and Lide's President James, unaware they are also being watched by Duke. Zhao Yazhu hires a translator, Xie Xiaoman, and is warned by Shirley about Yang Guang. The upcoming Asian Nuclear Energy Summit in Yanping becomes the new focal point, with both national security and the foreign operatives (led by Sander) viewing it as a critical event, after Wang Xiaoquan's actions only temporarily halted nuclear cooperation.
Spoiler Alert
The Mess Gets Messier
So, remember Wang Xiaoquan, our supposed eco-extremist? Turns out, the National Security Bureau is still scrambling. They've got him pegged as an environmental nut, sure, but a direct line to any foreign spy agencies? Nada. Zilch. The evidence just isn't there. Meanwhile, that video he unleashed has caused an absolute meltdown on social media. We're talking full-on security paralysis in both Yanping and Jiangcheng. And just to pour salt on the wound, some European representative, Dai En, seized the moment to publicly slam China for "security loopholes" and yanked the plug on crucial tech cooperation talks. Naturally, the international rumor mill is now working overtime.
Victims, Vanishings, and Villains at Sea
On the human front, there's a sliver of good news: Xie Rujun, who took a nasty hit, has been pulled back from the brink and is out of immediate danger. Liang Sihan, however, is still in critical condition, and it’s touch and go.
But here's where it gets really shady. Investigators digging into Wang Xiaoquan's life uncovered a massive red flag: his wife and daughter? They vanished into thin air right before the incident, and no one knows where they are. Spoiler alert: they were lured onto a fishing boat, and the puppet master behind this, a nasty piece of work named Duke, orchestrated a little "accidental" shipwreck out in international waters. Duke, being the thorough villain he is, then meticulously erased any trace of his land-based operations. Cold. Blooded.
The Poison Puzzle and Frustration Mounts
Back to the lab, where they've confirmed Xie Rujun was hit with cyanide. The scary part? If it was specially treated, it could have been colorless and odorless, making it virtually undetectable before it's too late. When Xie Rujun might wake up is anyone's guess. Our guys, Yang Guang and Li Jian, are understandably feeling the pressure. They're convinced Wang Xiaoquan wasn't acting alone – his methods were too sophisticated – but they're hitting a wall trying to find concrete proof of this powerful backing.
A Familiar Face in the Crowd: Enter Zhao Yazhu
Just when things seem bleak, Yang Guang spots someone: Zhao Yazhu. This woman popped up twice during that Jiangcheng conference, and now, here she is again. Yang Guang's cop senses are screaming that this isn't just some random coincidence. He tries to tail her into a mall, but she gives him the slip, disappearing into a fitting room like a ghost. A little digging reveals Ms. Zhao Yazhu checked into the Shiji Hotel under the guise of Vice President of Lide Public Relations. Yang Guang, not wanting to spook her, quietly arranges for some discreet eyes at Yanping International Airport.
Meanwhile, in Jiangcheng…
Section Chief Yao in Jiangcheng gets a ping: Wang Xiaoquan's wife and daughter's last known location was the Donghai Fishery Wharf, thanks to cell tower data. They've looped in the Coast Guard, but so far, nothing. Adding another layer to the mystery, it turns out Wang Xiaoquan ditched his ride-hailing gig a month ago to start working at the Shiji Hotel. Oh, and a cool 50,000 yuan mysteriously landed in his bank account around the same time. This stinks to high heaven, suggesting that foreign spies had intel on the conference a whole month early. A leak that big could only have come from two places: someone involved in the negotiations or someone high up at the hotel.
Stakeouts, Secret Meetings, and a Hidden Camera
Yang Guang pays a visit to Liang Sihan, who's still unconscious, before heading back to Yanping to report to his superior, Zhang Baiqing. His request? Put Zhao Yazhu under surveillance to see if they can clear her or confirm his suspicions. Soon enough, Yang Guang and Li Jian are on Zhao Yazhu's tail, tracking her to a fancy Western restaurant. Li Jian gets his camera out and snaps pics of Zhao Yazhu meeting with the top brass from Moss Trading Group – we're talking President Sander Bowie, Vice President Shirley, and even Lide Group's President, James. But here’s a kicker: while they're focused on Zhao Yazhu, they completely miss Duke, Moss Trading's other VP, lurking in a corner and snapping photos of them. Oof.
The Translator and a Midnight Payday
After her big meeting, Zhao Yazhu meets up with a foreign language translator named Xie Xiaoman. Small world – Xie Xiaoman lives in the same apartment complex as Yang Guang. Yang Guang, playing it cool as her "ball game buddy," casually asks about it. Xie Xiaoman, who seems like a sweet, unsuspecting girl, gushes about how she aced an initial interview to translate a novel called "Embrace" by an author named Luca Mori, and she's clearly impressed by Zhao Yazhu. Later that night, Zhao Yazhu has a clandestine rendezvous with Shirley to collect her payment. Shirley gives her a stark warning: watch out for Yang Guang and Li Jian, and don't screw this up.
The Cat-and-Mouse Game Intensifies
The next morning, it's back to the stakeout for Yang Guang and Li Jian's team, still blissfully unaware that Duke is watching their every move. A trip to the chemical research center brings confirmation from Director Qu: the poison used on Xie Rujun definitely contained cyanide. On the drive back, Yang Guang spots a tail. Thinking fast, he ducks into an underground parking garage, manages to clock the license plate, but – surprise, surprise – it’s a fake. Duke and Shirley report their surveillance adventures to Sander, who, for now, tells them to back off from tailing Yang Guang and Li Jian.
A Tragic Pawn in a Larger Game
The Jiangcheng team uncovers more about Wang Xiaoquan's sad backstory: he and his wife, Hu Shufen, were both orphans, and their daughter suffers from a congenital disease. All these pieces – his frequent phone number changes, his family's disappearance – lead the investigators to a chilling conclusion: Wang Xiaoquan was likely a pawn, manipulated by spies. During a case analysis meeting, Li Jian meets the team's new network technician, Tian Ziwei, whose blunt honesty leaves Li Jian a bit bemused.
The Plot Thickens: Nuclear Secrets in Play
Things take another sharp turn when Zhao Yazhu introduces Xie Xiaoman to the author, Luca, who seems quite taken with the young translator. And remember James, the Lide Group President? Before heading back to headquarters, he arranges for a file to be delivered to Zhao Yazhu. She opens it, and BAM! It’s detailed information on the Asian Nuclear Energy Conference. Simultaneously, Zhang Baiqing gets an urgent dispatch: the Asian Nuclear Energy Summit is officially happening at the Yanping Conference Center. This is huge – top nuclear scientists will be attending, and it involves the nation's most advanced nuclear technology. National Security and the police are tasked with coordinating air-tight security with the organizers.
High Stakes and Hidden Agendas
The weight of this isn't lost on Yang Guang and Li Jian, who assure Zhang Baiqing they're on it. But they're not the only ones making plans. Sander, the Moss Trading Group president, is also gearing up. It seems a previous operative, Liu Lijing, was too reckless and got exposed. Fortunately for them, they had a backup: Wang Xiaoquan. His actions, and ultimately his death, managed to temporarily derail the nuclear power cooperation they were trying to stop. But that was just the prelude. The upcoming Nuclear Energy Conference? That’s the main event they’ve been waiting for.
