Episode Summary
Freshly released, Jiang Xiao narrowly escapes an attempted murder thanks to his sister Jiang Yan's bodyguard, Mo Bei, who also prevents Tao Zi from tailing Jiang Xiao. Ning Zhen discovers Jiang Xiao's preference for women in professional attire. A search of Jiang Xiao's apartment yields no evidence. Ning Zhen identifies the cleaner, Liu Yi, who possesses crucial information but refuses to cooperate due to her granddaughter's serious illness (leukemia). The situation converges at the hospital where Liu Yi's granddaughter is being treated, the same hospital as Wu Keran. Jiang Yan pressures Wu Keran there, and Wu Keran approaches Liu Yi's vulnerable granddaughter.
Spoiler Alert
Mie Zui Episode 11 Recap: Close Calls and Closing Walls
Alright, so Jiang Xiao is fresh out of the police station – again – and what's the first thing he does? Naturally, he hits the club to celebrate his "freedom," surrounded by a crowd of admirers. While soaking it all in, he spots a woman in the middle of the dance floor, dressed sharply in professional attire, and bam, he's instantly interested. Classic Jiang Xiao. He's about to make his move, but wouldn't you know it, big sister Jiang Yan calls, cockblocking him via phone. By the time he hangs up, Ms. Business Suit is gone. Poof.
Leaving the club, Jiang Xiao has already called for a driver (like a ride-share). Meanwhile, Tao Zi, who's been staking the place out, tries to tail him. But just as he's about to pull out, another car suddenly cuts him off. By the time that car moves, Jiang Xiao's ride is long gone. Surprise, surprise – the blocking car belongs to Jiang Yan's driver, Mo Bei, clearly running interference. Slick move. Tao Zi immediately calls Xiao Yu, hoping to use traffic cameras ("Sky Eye" system) to track Jiang Xiao's car route.
Inside the car, a drunk Jiang Xiao starts to drift off but notices the scenery outside doesn't look like his usual route home. Then, his phone rings – it's the actual ride-share driver he called earlier. Uh oh. Jiang Xiao realizes the guy currently driving him is an imposter. He tries to play it cool, saying he needs a bathroom break, but the fake driver isn't buying it. When Jiang Xiao tries to resist, the driver knocks him out cold.
Next thing Jiang Xiao knows, he's being dragged out of the car in the middle of nowhere. The fake driver pulls out a knife. Terrified, Jiang Xiao desperately tries to buy his way out, flashing his wealth, promising anything if the guy lets him live. But money's no object here; this guy is dead set on killing him. Just as the driver is about to make his move, who appears out of the shadows? None other than Jiang Yan's bodyguard, Mo Bei, scaring the would-be killer away. Talk about having connections!
Following the route Xiao Yu provided, Tao Zi arrives on the scene just in time to see Mo Bei helping Jiang Xiao up. Now Tao Zi understands exactly who blocked him earlier. It was Mo Bei, cleaning up another mess.
Meanwhile, Ning Zhen and Cao Jin, having finished their drinks, swing by the police station. They see Lu Fan is still on duty. Ning Zhen tries calling him, but Lu Fan ignores it. He's still torn up inside. Lu Fan gets that Ning Zhen wasn't technically wrong in the past actions that indirectly led to his father's situation, but he can't quite forgive her yet. Ning Zhen, feeling incredibly guilty and being a victim herself in the original case, is determined to help Lu Fan find the real truth.
Burning the midnight oil, Ning Zhen pores over evidence and stumbles upon a potentially crucial detail: Jiang Xiao seems to have a specific fixation – a fetish, maybe? – for women dressed in professional or business attire. Lu Fan overhears her analysis and, despite his reservations, agrees they should check the security footage at Jiang Xiao's place.
However, Jiang Xiao lives in a high-end complex with serious privacy protection – no cameras directly outside his door. Bummer. Even without footage, Cao Jin takes a team to search Jiang Xiao's apartment anyway. Coincidentally, Jiang Yan is there. When Ning Zhen sees Jiang Yan, she has a sudden flashback to her childhood in the orphanage when Jiang Yan visited for charity work. Small world, huh? The search yields nothing concrete. Later, Jiang Yan confronts Jiang Xiao, now fully aware he did kill someone, scolding him for being reckless. But Jiang Xiao? Totally cocky and unafraid, because he knows big sis Jiang Yan always has his back and will cover for him. Ugh.
Back at the station, Ning Zhen is reviewing security footage again and spots that old lady who came to the station entrance earlier. Tao Zi recognizes her too! She's Liu Yi, the cleaner, who almost certainly cleaned Jiang Xiao's apartment after the crime. Bingo!
Ning Zhen and Lu Fan rush over to the cleaning agency, only to learn that Liu Yi called in sick and is on leave. They track down her home address. When they meet Liu Yi again, she completely shuts down, refusing to answer any questions, no matter how much they press.
Playing it cool, Ning Zhen and Lu Fan pretend to leave but secretly follow Liu Yi. They trail her to a hospital. After some discreet inquiries, they discover the heartbreaking truth: Liu Yi lives alone with her granddaughter, who is currently battling leukemia.
And here's where things get really tangled. In a major coincidence, Liu Yi's granddaughter is being treated at the same hospital as Wu Keran. Wu Keran actually overhears Ning Zhen and Lu Fan talking about Liu Yi and her situation.
Just then, Jiang Yan arrives at the hospital with Mo Bei to meet Wu Keran. The implication is clear: they're still leaning on Wu Keran to help exonerate Jiang Xiao. And what does Wu Keran do? She finds an excuse to deliberately approach Liu Yi's sick granddaughter.
Spoilers & Thoughts:
- Okay, so Jiang Xiao is definitely guilty, and Jiang Yan is pulling out all the stops (interference, intimidation, maybe bribery?) to keep him safe. Mo Bei is her loyal muscle.
- The fake driver trying to kill Jiang Xiao is a huge loose end. Who sent him? Was it someone trying to silence Jiang Xiao permanently, or someone trying to frame him further? Or maybe someone seeking revenge?
- Ning Zhen's discovery about the "professional attire" fetish seems like a key psychological insight into Jiang Xiao's victim selection.
- Liu Yi, the cleaner, clearly knows something crucial but is terrified to talk. Her granddaughter's illness makes her incredibly vulnerable.
- The hospital is now ground zero. Wu Keran overhearing the cops and being pressured by Jiang Yan and approaching the sick child? That screams trouble. Is Wu Keran going to use the child's illness to manipulate Liu Yi into silence or false testimony? This feels like the next major pressure point.
Looks like things are about to get even more complicated as the police try to get Liu Yi to talk while Jiang Yan and potentially Wu Keran work to keep her quiet. Stay tuned!
