Episode Summary
Yang Guang and Li Jian investigate James and Luca. Yang Guang's team successfully plants a bug in James's hotel room, initially undetected. Li Jian tracks Luca, who is given a new mission by James involving Xie Xiaoman. Luca and Xie Xiaoman are directed to a boat by James after receiving a chip and passport. However, Luca alerts James to possible surveillance, leading James to discover the bug. James then briefs Zhao Yaning on "Operation Dove of Peace," his final mission, while Yang Guang's team suspects their bug has been found.
Spoiler Alert
So, we kick off with Yang Guang trying to talk Li Jian off the ledge of guilt over what happened to Tian Ziwei. Yang Guang's all like, "Dude, not your fault, let's focus on catching the bad guys." Li Jian then has a lightbulb moment, remembering Luca's usual routine, which totally matches James's sketchy behavior hanging around the hotel garden. This pretty much confirms Luca has already passed something to James, and you just know the next phase of whatever they're plotting is about to kick off.
Yang Guang, being the master planner, decides they need to split up. Li Jian and Tan Yaoduo are on "Team Find Luca," coordinating with the Lianhai Bureau. Meanwhile, Yang Guang, Ma Jie, and Chen Qiu are gearing up for a little spycraft: planting a bug in James's room. Ma Jie keeps eyes on James and Zhao Yaning in the hotel lobby. When Xiang Taisheng conveniently calls James and Zhao Yaning for a meeting, it's go-time! Yang Guang slips the bug into a fire sensor, with Chen Qiu making sure the audio is coming in loud and clear.
Just as Yang Guang makes a stealthy exit down the stairs (smart!), James and Zhao Yaning return. They do a quick once-over of the room but don't spot the bug... yet. James is still getting weird vibes from Xiang Taisheng. Zhao Yaning, clearly antsy, tries to get James to spill the beans on her "ultimate mission," but he's still keeping his cards frustratingly close to his chest.
Meanwhile, Li Jian is hot on Luca's trail, confirming the vehicle he's using. Luca gets a message from James – surprise! – there's a new mission. James says the situation's changed, and Luca needs to nail this new task to finally be in the clear. Oh, and Xie Xiaoman's passport? All set. Just as Li Jian is zeroing in on the vehicle, he gets a gut-wrenching call: Tian Ziwei is in critical condition. Thankfully, she pulls through after emergency surgery, but Li Jian is a mess. He calls Yang Guang, who tells him to stay calm – easier said than done, right?
Back with James, he tells Zhao Yaning to deliver a chip and that passport to Luca. Apparently, Luca needs to install some kind of device. What they don't know is that Yang Guang and his team are listening to every single word. Gotcha!
Li Jian's detective work leads him near the Lianhai Wholesale Market, just in time to see Luca and Xie Xiaoman making a break for it. Luca decides to create a diversion so Xie Xiaoman can handle the meet-up. Next thing, Xie Xiaoman is at a mall, with Luca guiding her via earpiece. And who shows up? Zhao Yaning, who managed to shake Yang Guang. Zhao Yaning seems surprised to see Xie Xiaoman and asks if she has any regrets. Xie Xiaoman says that even though Luca's got a "special" kind of job, he's been genuinely good to her, and she's just looking forward to a quiet life in the US, away from all this chaos.
Xie Xiaoman gets the package and heads back to the car, where Luca promises her they'll have a peaceful life. James then tells them to open the package: inside is Xie Xiaoman's passport, the chip, and an address. They head to the location, and James orders them onto a boat, telling them not to get off – he's stocked it with enough food and water. Sounds a bit like a five-star prison, if you ask me.
Then, Luca warns James that State Security was breathing down their necks all day and he suspects they (James's crew) might be under surveillance too. This definitely pings James's radar. He goes back and checks that fire sensor again, and this time, he finds the tiny bug. Smoothly, he puts it right back. Busted! Zhao Yaning returns to the room, learns about the bug, and they decide to head to the restaurant to talk, you know, "privately."
And this is where James drops the bombshell on Zhao Yaning: the big one, "Operation Dove of Peace." Her mission for tomorrow? Meet Xiang Taisheng at the Pengze Hotel and scope the place out – layout, security, the whole nine yards. James is all in on this; it's his last mission before retirement, and he wants it to be perfect. If she pulls this off, Zhao Yaning's looking at a promotion party back at HQ.
