Episode Summary
Ning Zhen receives a mysterious USB drive from Qiao En and, with Lu Fan's help, infiltrates Jiang Yan's company disguised as a new employee. Inside, she uses the USB to access Jiang Yan's computer but is discovered by Mo Bei, who orders a lockdown. A fight ensues, and Ning Zhen is stabbed. Lu Fan helps her escape, but they are pursued by Mo Bei in a car chase. Ning Zhen copies the data before passing out from blood loss. Mo Bei captures Lu Fan and uses him as leverage, calling Ning Zhen and threatening to kill Lu Fan unless she delivers the USB drive/data to him. Despite Lu Fan's pleas to take the evidence to the police, Ning Zhen agrees to Mo Bei's demands to save Lu Fan's life.
Spoiler Alert
(Spoilers Ahead for Episode 18!)
The episode kicks off with Ning Zhen tracking down the enigmatic Qiao En. Turns out, Qiao En was expecting her and casually offers a USB drive, calling it a "gift" that will help Ning Zhen get what she's after. Ning Zhen's Spidey-senses are tingling – she suspects Qiao En might be the mysterious "Shen Yuan" (Abyss) or at least connected to them. Qiao En plays dumb, denying he knows anyone by that name. Ning Zhen initially wants nothing to do with the USB, but as she leaves, Qiao En pulls a sneaky move and slips it into her pocket anyway. Classic shady gift-giver.
Later, Ning Zhen connects with Lu Fan. They discuss the USB (seems useless at first glance?). Lu Fan, ever resourceful, manages to get his hands on the blueprints for Jiang Yan's company building. Time for some heist planning! They analyze the security layout and figure out Ning Zhen needs an employee ID card to slip inside unnoticed. Lu Fan works his magic and sets Ning Zhen up with a cover identity as a new hire. She gets inside Jiangshi Group smoothly, even getting the company uniform. Seeing it triggers a poignant flashback – her own mother used to wear the same uniform. Oof, the feels.
Meanwhile, Lu Fan is anxiously waiting outside. Things go sideways when Mo Bei unexpectedly returns to the company. He quickly learns someone's in Jiang Yan's office and, wasting no time, orders a full building lockdown. Uh oh.
Inside, Ning Zhen finds Jiang Yan's computer, but it's password-protected. Guess what she's forced to use? Yep, Qiao En's mysterious USB drive. Little does she know, Mo Bei is watching her every single move via the security cameras. Lu Fan realizes Ning Zhen's cover is blown and frantically tries to call her, but it's too late.
Mo Bei confronts Ning Zhen. It's not just talk; things get physical fast, and Mo Bei actually stabs Ning Zhen during the fight! She's clearly outmatched and knows sticking around means certain doom. She looks for an escape route. Her employee card works for a bit, but Mo Bei, always a step ahead, anticipates this and has her keycard access revoked remotely. Trapped!
Just when things look hopeless, Lu Fan, worried sick, uses his police credentials to get inside the locked-down building. He manages to find Ning Zhen just as she's trying to get out, scoops her up, and they make a break for it in his car. But freedom is short-lived – Mo Bei is hot on their tail in his own vehicle.
During the intense car chase, Ning Zhen, despite bleeding, manages to copy the data from the USB drive. She tries to buy Lu Fan time to escape by stalling Mo Bei, but the stab wound and blood loss are too much – she passes out. Lu Fan frantically calls Tao Zi. Cao Jin gets wind of their desperate situation and starts mobilizing police backup.
The chase continues, but ultimately, Mo Bei catches up, rams their car, and knocks Lu Fan unconscious. Smartly, Lu Fan had hidden the injured Ning Zhen before passing out. When she comes to, she's alone. Lu Fan is gone.
Mo Bei, having captured Lu Fan, correctly guesses Ning Zhen copied the data and escaped with it. He tries to intimidate Lu Fan into giving up the evidence, but Lu Fan is defiant, basically telling Mo Bei he'd rather die. Threats don't work. So, Mo Bei resorts to dirtier tactics. He pulls out Lu Fan's own phone, which visibly rattles Lu Fan.
Mo Bei calls Ning Zhen using Lu Fan's phone. The threat is chillingly simple: bring the evidence (the USB) to him immediately. If she even thinks about calling the police, Lu Fan dies. Hearing this, Lu Fan desperately yells into the phone, telling Ning Zhen not to give in, to forget about him and take the evidence straight to Cao Jin.
But Ning Zhen knows Mo Bei isn't bluffing; he's ruthless. Faced with an impossible choice and unable to abandon Lu Fan, she caves. Ignoring her own serious injury, she agrees to Mo Bei's demands, grabs the USB drive, and heads out to meet him, even flagging down a random car on the road to get there faster.
And that's where Episode 18 leaves us – hanging off a massive cliff! Ning Zhen is injured, desperate, and walking into a trap to save Lu Fan, armed only with the very data Mo Bei wants. Will the police arrive in time? Can Ning Zhen survive? We'll have to wait for the next episode to find out! What a nail-biter!
