Episode Summary
Episode 8 throws us right into the frantic search for nine-year-old Cheng Yunhao, kidnapped for an 8,000 yuan ransom. An initial police ambush at the ransom drop-off fails due to bad weather and communication issues. As detectives Liu Ziming, Cao Lei, and Liu Yang investigate, they explore leads like a recently fired driver of the victim's parents, Cheng Xianglin and Li Jia, but hit dead ends. The parents grow increasingly desperate as days pass with no word, leading to emotional breakdowns and even a suicide attempt by the father. A confused elderly man provides a false lead. Just as the investigation into Cheng Yunhao's disappearance stalls after 72 hours, another boy, Wang Xiaoyong, is kidnapped, this time for 110,000 yuan. Liu Ziming assists Wang Xiaoyong's father, Wang Dongfeng, through a tense series of changing ransom drop locations. Finally, the police, led by Zhao Dali, apprehend a suspect, Zhao Hui, a former employee of Wang Dongfeng, at a phone booth. The episode ends with Liu Ziming and Cao Yang searching Zhao Hui's home and delivery truck for clues.
Spoiler Alert
Things kick off with a heart-stopping kidnapping: nine-year-old Cheng Yunhao has been snatched, and the kidnappers are demanding a cool 8,000 yuan. His dad, Cheng Xianglin, plays ball and heads to the drop-off point, with detective Liu Ziming cleverly hidden in his car. Captain Captain Huang and Zhao Dali have their teams staked out nearby, ready to pounce. But, of course, because this is a TV drama, it’s pouring rain, and just when they need it most, their walkie-talkies go on the fritz! Captain Huang has to text Liu Ziming to shout when he sees the bad guys. The kidnapper shows up, Liu Ziming yells, and poof! The kidnapper vanishes into the downpour before anyone can grab him. Smooth.
So, Captain Huang gets everyone on high alert, even looping in Yalin to notify local police stations. Meanwhile, Liu Ziming, Cao Lei, and Liu Yang are at Cheng Xianglin's place. It's been nine agonizing hours, and the kidnapper hasn't called back. Cheng Xianglin and his wife, Li Jia, are understandably a wreck, and soon enough, they're at each other's throats. Liu Ziming has to step in and tell them to chill and think: anyone they've ticked off recently? Ding ding ding! Li Jia remembers she fired a driver last month.
Off go Liu Ziming, Liu Yang, and Cao Lei to chat with this driver. Turns out, Cheng Xianglin suspected Li Jia was having an affair and had the driver tail her. Li Jia found out and, well, you can guess who got the boot. The driver seems to be in the clear, so Liu Ziming sends Liu Yang and Cao Lei to dig around for other leads.
Next stop for Liu Ziming: Cheng Yunhao's school. The teacher says the kid usually walks home alone but was with a classmate, Wu Yanyan, on the day he disappeared. Cao Lei questions Wu Yanyan, who says they split up at an alleyway. Just then, an eyewitness pops up at the station, claiming he saw the whole abduction. But hold your horses – Liu Ziming recognizes the old fella as someone who was messing with phone lines earlier. The poor guy, clearly not all there, starts rambling. Liu Ziming’s hopes? Dashed.
Twenty-four hours tick by. Li Jia is frantic and wants to pay the ransom, terrified for her son. Cheng Xianglin tries to stop her. Adding to the chaos, that same old man shows up again, this time accusing Captain Huang of being the kidnapper! Liu Ziming learns the man’s name is Chen Jianjun, and he’s been struggling ever since his own grandson went missing years ago. The police call his family to take him home.
Back at Cheng Yunhao's home, Liu Ziming, Cao Lei, and Liu Yang try to get more info from Cheng Xianglin and Li Jia, but the parents are too distraught to offer anything useful. Seventy-two hours. Still no word. The stress becomes too much for Li Jia, and she collapses, rushed to the hospital. Cheng Xianglin, in despair, tries to overdose on sleeping pills but is thankfully found by Liu Yang and also taken to the hospital. Later, the desperate parents actually sneak out of the hospital to look for their son themselves before the police find them and take them home.
Just when you think things can't get wilder, Liu Ziming and Cao Lei are staking out Cheng Xianglin’s building when Captain Huang calls. Another kidnapping! This time it's a boy named Wang Xiaoyong. The kidnapper wants 110,000 yuan. Wang Xiaoyong's dad, Wang Dongfeng, has a sick wife in the hospital and works long hours, so his son usually walks to school alone. He left for school at 7:30 AM, and soon after, Wang Dongfeng got the ransom call. Captain Huang orders Liu Ziming to stick to Wang Dongfeng like glue while other officers investigate.
Liu Ziming shadows Wang Dongfeng as he scrambles to borrow money, eventually scraping together the 110,000 yuan. Liu Ziming hides in Wang Dongfeng's car as they head to the rendezvous. Zhao Dali and his team are lying in wait. But the kidnapper suddenly calls, changing the drop-off to a park. Liu Ziming quickly relays this to Zhao Dali. They get to the park, and guess what? Another call, another change – now it's a bus station.
At 6 PM sharp, Wang Dongfeng arrives at the bus station. Liu Ziming is nearby, disguised on a tricycle, while Zhao Dali and his crew watch from a nearby hospital. It doesn't take long for Zhao Dali to spot their guy. They tail him to a public phone booth where he calls Wang Dongfeng with the final meeting point. Busted! Zhao Dali nabs him on the spot. The suspect, Zhao Hui, used to work for Wang Dongfeng and now delivers for a building materials store. But he's not talking, denying any involvement in Wang Xiaoyong's kidnapping. Zhao Dali isn't fazed; he’s ready to play the long game.
The episode wraps with Liu Ziming finding Zhao Hui's address. He and Cao Yang (yes, a different Cao, or maybe our Cao Lei got a name change for this scene!) head over to search the place. They find Zhao Hui's driver's license and then move on to inspect his delivery truck.
