Episode Summary
Unable to contact Qian Hongming, Liu Jun discovers his friend's company in chaos and his life in ruins. The mystery deepens with a creditor's suicide and the sudden return and subsequent arrest of Qian's wife, Shen Jiali. The truth is revealed through Qian's sister: a massive real estate project, funded by powerful figures and illegal loans, has collapsed. The episode culminates with Qian Hongming exposing the entire conspiracy online just as his sister turns herself in to the authorities, leaving Liu Jun to witness the fallout.
Spoiler Alert
"Created in China" Episode 32: The Walls Close In
The episode kicks off with Liu Jun in a state of panic. After a brief update from Cui Bingbing on the dire situation at Hongsheng Real Estate, he finds he still can't get in touch with his friend, Qian Hongming. The next day, Liu Jun and Cui Bingbing go to Qian's office, only to walk into a scene of pure chaos. Creditors are swarming the place, hauling out whatever they can grab.
The moment someone recognizes Liu Jun as Qian Hongming's close friend, the mob turns on him, screaming and demanding their money back. Fortunately, Cui Bingbing steps in, calming the crowd by showing them her call logs, proving they are victims too. The police arrive just in time to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Back home, Cui Bingbing pieces together Qian Hongming's recent strange behavior. She speculates that his disappearance was a carefully orchestrated plan, questioning why else he would have been in such a rush to send his wife and daughter abroad. Desperate for a lead, Liu Jun calls his father, Liu Shitang, to ask about Qian Hongming's sister, Qian Hongying. But Liu Shitang claims he hasn't spoken to her in a long time.
Meanwhile, Qian's wife, Shen Jiali, calls Liu Jun from Australia. She's distraught, unable to reach her husband. Liu Jun offers what little comfort he can before quickly ending the call. It's Cui Bingbing who suggests they check Qian Hongming's house, thinking he might be hiding there. Their search takes a dark turn the next morning when they learn that one of Qian's creditors has committed suicide by jumping from a building. A horrified Liu Jun rushes to Qian's apartment. He doesn't find Qian, but he does see footprints on the balcony, confirming his friend had been there recently but hadn't jumped.
The search for answers hits a wall. Cui Bingbing's friends, who might know something, are all stonewalling her, with one even cryptically warning her to stop digging. Her friend, Chen Qifan, points out the obvious: this silence means they know where Qian is, and whatever he's done, he has crossed a serious line.
As predicted by Cui Bingbing, who noted Shen Jiali's stubborn streak, Qian's wife decides to return to China against all advice. Despite Cui Bingbing's pleas, Shen Jiali is determined to stand by her husband. Liu Jun, meanwhile, gets a strange feeling about his father's behavior. Acting on this hunch, he goes to his father's house and finds exactly who he was looking for: Qian Hongying.
Qian Hongying finally lays everything bare. The Tianmao Building renovation was Qian Hongming's passion project. He poured all his own money into it and was also holding shares on behalf of several powerful, unnamed figures. A disastrous loss in the stock market last year crippled his finances, forcing him to take out high-interest private loans to stay afloat. He was betting on a favorable policy change to save the project, but it never came.
The situation spirals further when Cui Bingbing goes to the airport to meet the returning Shen Jiali, but she never appears. She is informed that Shen Jiali was taken away for questioning by an investigation team right after she landed. Before being taken, a tearful Shen Jiali had to leave her child with her parents. Seeing the news of her sister-in-law's arrest, Qian Hongying is overwhelmed with grief and fears how her brother will react.
Lu Huadong provides Liu Jun with a crucial analysis, suggesting Qian Hongming should surrender. He also brings a sliver of hope: the team investigating the case is not affiliated with the powerful people Qian has angered. Their real target is the "big tiger" at the top, meaning if Qian cooperates and turns state's witness, his situation might not be as hopeless as it seems.
However, Qian Hongming has his own plan. He emails his sister, telling her to turn herself in to the police. He intends to publish a detailed account of the entire conspiracy online to force the issue into the public eye. Liu Shitang is furious, refusing to let Qian Hongying become a scapegoat for her brother.
Soon, Liu Jun himself is brought in for questioning by the authorities. His friend Luo Qing remains cool and reassures him. Cui Bingbing, fearing the worst, is prepared to lose their house as long as Liu Jun is safe. The investigation ultimately clears Liu Jun, confirming his property dealings with Qian were legitimate. Just as this happens, a massive, detailed post exposing the entire conspiracy appears online—Chen Qifan is certain it was written by Qian Hongming himself. As Liu Jun walks out of the police station, a free man, he sees Qian Hongying walking in to surrender.
