Episode Summary
The investigation into Zhao Hongxia's murder intensifies. Liu Jun is interrogated after a large sum of money from Zhao is discovered, but he provides an alibi involving a prostitute named Tongtong, which checks out. A new lead emerges: an insurance policy on Zhao Hongxia benefiting Fei Bin. However, Fei Bin and his associate Xu Chen also have solid alibis, claiming they were in Macau. A key clue is that Zhao was found wearing black stockings she didn't own, and Liu Jun admits a fondness for stockings but denies Zhao ever wore them. The case stalls as all suspects have alibis. Personal subplots include Liu Ziming's son Diandian having nightmares, his father Liu Jianlin showing signs of dementia, and officer Xia Yu being hospitalized due to poor eating habits. A new lead arises when it's discovered someone sent Zhao Hongxia flowers before her death, prompting a search of local florists.
Spoiler Alert
So, the episode kicks off with Li Yugang digging up some serious dirt: Zhao Hongxia had transferred a whopping ten million-plus to Liu Jun. This totally lines up with what Lai Hongchuan had spilled earlier. Wasting no time, Liu Ziming, along with Xia Yu and Li Yugang, storms into Liu Jun's company for a little chat. Liu Jun, cool as a cucumber, isn't even shocked to hear Zhao Hongxia's been murdered. He admits they used to date and that she hit him up after hearing he was back in town starting a business. Liu Ziming hauls him down to the station, but Liu Jun tries to buy time, saying he’s got urgent work. Smooth, dude, real smooth.
Naturally, he makes a break for it, but Xia Yu and Li Yugang are all over him. Under the bright lights of the interrogation room, Liu Jun starts singing. He says he and Zhao Hongxia got back together, but she was pushing for marriage, and he wasn't having it. According to him, that’s when she went off the rails, got tight with someone named Chenchen, started doing drugs, and gambling in Macau. Of course, she came crying to Liu Jun for cash. He claims he tried to get her to clean up her act, but she wouldn't listen. He even bought her a commercial property for over seven million.
But wait, there's more! About three months later, she's back, demanding another three million, claiming her initial ten million was an investment she wanted to cash out. Liu Jun says he only agreed to two million, but she hounded him until he sold another property. After that, he swears he never saw her again. Now, here’s where it gets juicy: Liu Ziming finds out Liu Jun was at Zhao Hongxia’s place the night she was killed. Liu Jun denies offing her, claiming he was with a prostitute, nickname Tongtong. Liu Ziming has to call in a favor with Captain Huang to track this Tongtong down, and Huang points him to Wen Jun in archives. Wen Jun, being super helpful, actually comes to the criminal police team with Tongtong's real identity. Liu Ziming finds Tongtong, who confirms Liu Jun’s alibi. So, Liu Jun walks. For now.
On a softer note, poor little Diandian has a nightmare, crying for his mom. Liu Ziming rushes to comfort him, with Liu Jianlin watching the tender moment.
With Liu Jun temporarily in the clear, Liu Ziming uncovers another lead: Zhao Hongxia had a massive accidental death insurance policy, and the beneficiary? Some guy named Fei Bin, who apparently wasn't even a close relation. Sketchy! Liu Ziming calls Fei Bin in, and Fei Bin brings along his buddy Xu Chen, who was close to Zhao Hongxia. Xu Chen’s profession? Entertaining rich older women. Fei Bin admits Zhao Hongxia owed him a hefty sum, which is why he took out the insurance. He insists he didn't kill her. Xu Chen backs him up, saying Zhao Hongxia was a mess with booze and drugs, nearly dying a few times. Fei Bin supposedly bought the insurance because he was worried about her. Xu Chen even says he gave Zhao Hongxia the policy, and she signed it herself. And the kicker? Fei Bin and Xu Chen were in Macau the night of the murder. Solid alibi. So, they walk too.
Just when you think Liu Jun is off the hook, Liu Ziming remembers a crucial detail: Zhao Hongxia was found wearing black stockings, but there were no stockings in her apartment. Ding, ding, ding! Liu Ziming recalls Liu Jun’s computer wallpaper was a picture of women's stockings. So, it’s back to Liu Jun’s place for Liu Ziming, Xia Yu, and Li Yugang. Liu Jun cops to having a thing for women's stockings but insists Zhao Hongxia never wore them, especially not black ones. He even provides a detailed itinerary to prove he couldn't have been the killer.
Meanwhile, Liu Ziming and Li Yugang try to grab a late dinner at Cao Lei’s restaurant, only to find it shut down. They track down Cao Lei (with Liu Yang) and find out he lost over two million in the stock market, sold his restaurant, and is now thinking of selling his house to try and win it all back. Liu Ziming firmly warns him not to even think about touching the house.
The murder investigation is officially stalled – everyone’s got an alibi. Frustrated, Li Yugang gets a mannequin to recreate how Zhao Hongxia was tied up. Wen Jun chimes in, suggesting it might be something specific to certain... uh... "special interest groups." Food for thought!
Then, things take a personal turn for Liu Ziming. He gets a frantic call from Diandian. Turns out, Liu Jianlin went out for four hours and forgot to turn off the stove – disaster narrowly averted! Liu Ziming realizes something’s off with his dad and takes him to the hospital. The diagnosis: early signs of dementia. It's a lot for Liu Ziming to handle. He asks Wang Xuanxuan, who’s now a successful model, to help look after Diandian and Liu Jianlin.
Just when the case seems cold, the property manager drops a new tidbit: someone sent flowers to Zhao Hongxia before she was murdered. Liu Ziming questions the building security guard, but his memory is fuzzy. So, Xia Yu and Li Yugang are dispatched to canvas local flower shops.
While the cops are working, Wang Xuanxuan takes Diandian for a fun photoshoot at a friend’s studio, and Diandian even gets paid! Liu Ziming tells her to use the cash to treat Diandian. Back on the flower trail, Xia Yu and Li Yugang initially come up empty. Xia Yu, ever the dedicated cop, keeps searching and grabs a street pancake (a jianbing!) for a quick bite. Big mistake. He’s soon rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pain. Turns out, his irregular eating habits finally caught up with him. Poor Xia Yu!
While visiting Xia Yu, Liu Ziming picks up Liu Jianlin’s new medication. When Liu Jianlin sees it’s for dementia, he flat-out refuses to take it. Liu Ziming has to carefully portion out the doses and instruct his dad to take it every six hours.
