Episode Summary
Mo Bei is released due to lack of evidence, though Lu Fan notes his special forces background. Ning Zhen and Lu Fan investigate the Jiang siblings' past rivalry and Jiang Xiao's fear of Jiang Yan. They also link a series of unsolved disappearances of women with psychological issues (including Ning Zhen's mother) to the time of the Cangbei Naked Corpse Case. Their investigation leads them to Qiao En, whose sister disappeared after a Jiang Group drug trial, and reveals his connection to psychologist Luo Yin, raising suspicions about the doctor, especially when his travel dates align with the Cangbei case. Meanwhile, Wu Keran is discharged, raises Cao Jin's suspicions with her attitude towards Jiang Xiao's fate, and is later attacked by Mo Bei. Cao Jin rescues her and takes her to his home. Wu Keran overhears Lu Fan's theory about Jiang Yan and realizes Jiang Yan likely sent Mo Bei. Tormented, she secretly messages Shen Yuan. Ning Zhen and Lu Fan suspect Jiang Yan's laptop holds crucial evidence about the drug trials, but Cao Jin blocks their immediate investigation for safety reasons.
Spoiler Alert
Mie Zui - Episode 17 Recap & Spoilers: Twists, Turns, and Rising Suspicions
Alright, first things first: Mo Bei walks free. Yeah, you heard that right. Despite everything, there's just no hard evidence linking him directly to... well, anything concrete enough to hold him. The police have to let him go. But don't think our guy Lu Fan is letting it slide. He's done his homework and found out Mo Bei has a past as a special forces soldier overseas. File that under "definitely important later."
Meanwhile, Ning Zhen and Lu Fan are digging into the complicated relationship between Jiang Yan and her brother Jiang Xiao. They chat with some folks who knew the family back in the day. Apparently, the siblings were thick as thieves until their father, Old Mr. Jiang, got sick. Then, the battle for who would take over the company started, and things got... let's just say "delicate." Interestingly, these sources also mention that Jiang Xiao seemed genuinely afraid of his older sister, Jiang Yan.
Over at the hospital, Wu Keran is finally getting discharged, and Cao Jin is there being the helpful guy, sorting out the paperwork. Wu Keran tries to subtly ask about the "incident" at the hospital the previous night (you know the one!), but Cao Jin clams up – it's classified police business, and he's not breaking protocol. What really piques Cao Jin's suspicion, though, is Wu Keran's reaction. She doesn't seem too bothered about whether Jiang Xiao was apprehended, just that he faces some kind of justice. She even seems to low-key approve of Shen Yuan's methods (remember Shen Yuan, the mysterious figure meting out their own brand of justice?). This definitely puts Wu Keran on Cao Jin's radar as someone potentially... complicated. Once she's home, Wu Keran insists on treating Cao Jin to dinner as a thank you, laying out a specific time and making it pretty hard for him to wiggle out of.
Lu Fan hits a potentially huge lead while reviewing cases around the time of the "Cangbei Naked Corpse Case." He notices a disturbingly high number of women went missing during that period. Chillingly, Ning Zhen's own mother, Li Fengzhen, disappeared back then too. Five of these missing person cases were never solved. Ning Zhen decides this is their new angle. They discover a common thread: many of these women suffered from psychological issues. As they decide which cold case to tackle first, Lu Fan almost picks Li Fengzhen's file before they settle on another one. Phew, close call!
Their investigation takes them to the home of a man named Qiao En. He studied electronic engineering abroad and his skills lean towards hacking. Ning Zhen picks up on this. Qiao En shares a tragic story: his sister, who had health problems, participated in a drug trial run by the Jiang Group. Instead of improving, her health deteriorated rapidly, and then she vanished without a trace. The plot thickens when Ning Zhen learns from Lu Fan that Qiao En regularly sees a psychologist – none other than Dr. Luo Yin.
Naturally, Ning Zhen makes a beeline for Luo Yin, hoping to get some insight into Qiao En's situation. But Luo Yin shuts her down professionally. Citing patient confidentiality, and noting that Ning Zhen is currently suspended and lacks a warrant, he refuses to share any information. However, just as Ning Zhen is leaving, Luo Yin gives her a small, cryptic clue. This only makes Ning Zhen more suspicious of the good doctor. She immediately asks Lu Fan to check Luo Yin's travel history for the past two years. And guess what? Lu Fan finds a pattern: Luo Yin travels at the exact same time every year, and some of those travel dates align perfectly with the timeline of the Cangbei Naked Corpse Case. Coincidence? Probably not!
Things get messy for Wu Keran when she learns that Luo Yin reported her (likely related to the hospital incident), which could lead to her practice or hospital privileges being shut down. Feeling adrift, she goes to see Luo Yin. He plays the concerned friend, telling her she can always come to him for support, not just as a patient, but as a friend. Hmm.
Analyzing everything, Ning Zhen and Lu Fan start to suspect serious issues with the Jiang Group's drug development program. They recall seeing Jiang Yan with a laptop at the sanatorium – could vital evidence be stored on it? They start thinking about finding someone to hack into Jiang Yan's computer. Coincidentally, Cao Jin's own investigation into potential hackers leads him to Qiao En.
The danger ramps up significantly when Wu Keran gets home, only to be ambushed and drugged by Mo Bei! Just as he's leaving, Cao Jin arrives on the scene. Thinking fast to ensure her safety, Cao Jin takes the groggy Wu Keran back to his own apartment. Lu Fan happens to show up there too, and shares their working theory with Cao Jin: Jiang Xiao must have some serious leverage or dirt on Jiang Yan. Despite the potential breakthrough, Cao Jin puts his foot down, forbidding Ning Zhen and Lu Fan from pursuing this lead directly for their own safety.
However, Wu Keran overhears Lu Fan's theory. It clicks: the person who attacked her must have been sent by Jiang Yan. She even remembers Jiang Yan threatening her previously at the hospital. Later that night, clearly conflicted and tormented, Wu Keran secretly sends a message... to Shen Yuan. This is getting complicated!
The episode ends with Lu Fan messaging Ning Zhen to let her know Cao Jin has blocked their immediate investigation path.
