Episode Summary
Following the death of Hirata Kiko, Liang Shuo becomes the primary suspect of the intensely suspicious Director Cui. As political alliances shift with the appointment of the arrogant Takagi Yugi, a recovering Xie Nianci decides to return home to avoid implicating Liang Shuo. This move backfires when Director Cui places her apartment under surveillance, trapping both her and her protector, Jiang Feiman. The episode culminates in a tense standoff as Liang Shuo arrives just before Cui, forcing him to hide Jiang Feiman in a closet and gamble everything on bluffing his way out of the surprise search.
Spoiler Alert
"Abyss Dweller" Episode 17 Recap: Treacherous Undercurrents
The aftermath of Hirata Kiko's assassination sends shockwaves through every faction, and in the center of the storm is Liang Shuo. Episode 17 is a masterclass in tension, weaving together political maneuvering, deep-seated suspicion, and a desperate gamble that puts everyone's lives on the line. As Director Cui's investigation closes in, a cornered Liang Shuo must navigate a minefield of lies and shifting allegiances, culminating in a heart-pounding standoff where a single misstep could mean death.
Key Spoilers & Highlights:
- A New Power Player: With Hirata Kiko gone, the ambitious and arrogant Takagi Yugi is appointed as her successor, shaking up the existing power dynamics.
- An Alliance of Suspicion: Lu Xijian meets with a furious Mizuho Genxin. Both are convinced Hirata Kiko was betrayed by someone on the inside and vow to uncover the truth.
- A Dangerous Return: To protect Liang Shuo, a recovering Xie Nianci insists on returning to her apartment, unknowingly walking into a trap.
- Cornered: Director Cui, convinced of Liang Shuo's involvement, places Xie Nianci's apartment under surveillance, trapping Jiang Feiman inside with her.
- A Desperate Gamble: Faced with a surprise search by Director Cui, Liang Shuo is forced to hide Jiang Feiman in a closet, betting everything on his ability to bluff his way out of a seemingly impossible situation.
The episode opens with Liang Shuo returning to Agency Headquarters, walking directly into the lion's den. He feigns complete ignorance regarding Hirata Kiko's death before the Director and the intensely suspicious Director Cui. Meanwhile, Lu Xijian has a tense meeting with Mizuho Genxin, who is enraged by the death of his protégée, Hirata Kiko. They both agree the assassination was an inside job and decide to investigate what she was working on before her death. Director Cui later presses Liang Shuo for leads, but his suggestion to start with a sweep of the crime scene is met with a skeptical gaze. Cui is already convinced Liang Shuo is connected to the incident.
Elsewhere, Xie Nianci awakens to find Jiang Feiman brewing medicine for her. Though she understands they are not who they seem, she is grateful and asks no questions. Her primary concern is becoming a liability to Liang Shuo. Knowing that Director Cui is familiar with her, she fears her prolonged absence will draw unwanted attention. She decides her only path is to follow her heart, as Liang Shuo advised via Jiang Feiman, and return home. Jiang Feiman agrees, carefully restoring the apartment to its original state before departing.
The political chessboard is reset when Mizuho Genxin taps Takagi Yugi to fill Hirata Kiko's vacant position. Despite Takagi's arrogance, his powerful uncle makes him a strategic choice. Liang Shuo and Director Cui are caught off guard when they attend the inauguration ceremony, with Cui muttering that Takagi's face doesn't bode well. The situation grows more complicated as Lu Xijian activates a secret email channel to communicate with Xie Jun'an, who is furious that Liang Shuo and Lu Xijian acted without orders in killing Hirata. He decides to risk a face-to-face meeting that very night.
The threads of suspicion converge on Xie Nianci's apartment. Director Cui, zeroing in on her as Liang Shuo's weak point, dispatches agents to watch the building. Liang Shuo overhears the order and is instantly alarmed. After escorting Xie Nianci home, Jiang Feiman discovers the agents lurking below and realizes she is trapped, forcing her to retreat back inside the apartment.
Liang Shuo rushes to the scene, arriving just before Director Cui himself knocks on the door. With no way out, Liang Shuo makes a desperate choice: he shoves Jiang Feiman into a wardrobe, gambling that he can outwit Cui. As Cui's men search the apartment, Liang Shuo adopts a defiant, all-or-nothing posture, ready for a fight to the death. The tension is palpable as Jiang Feiman holds her breath in the closet.
Cui, ever the sly operator, pretends to leave, telling Liang Shuo he'll wait for him downstairs. As a final test, he sends an agent to deliver savory snacks to Xie Nianci, a ploy to see if she is genuinely ill. Though enraged by Cui's manipulative games, Liang Shuo knows he isn't safe yet. Cui may have left the apartment, but he hasn't relinquished his suspicion, leaving a secret watch post to monitor their every move. The noose tightens, leaving Liang Shuo and his allies in a precarious position with enemies closing in from all sides.
