Episode Summary
The investigation into Xie Wuqiang's death deepens, pulling detectives Zhong Ning and Zheng Gang into a vortex of false confessions, hidden masterminds, and a revenge plot years in the making. What begins as a straightforward case quickly unravels, revealing that nothing is as it seems.
Spoiler Alert
"The Perfect Suspect" Episode 5 Recap: A Web of Revenge
A Shifting Investigation
The episode opens with the police zeroing in on the cause of Xie Wuqiang's death. Zhong Ning and Zheng Gang, reviewing hospital surveillance, deduce he was injected with a fatal dose of adrenaline. Their search for evidence leads them to a bloody rock near Xie's home, and security footage points them toward a prime suspect: Liu Renkai, a debt collector who was seen visiting Xie on the day of his death.
However, the case immediately hits a wall. When brought in for questioning, Liu Renkai presents a solid alibi, corroborated by his mistress, Xu Lina, who confirms they were together drinking at the time of the murder. During the visit to Liu's home, Zhong Ning observes a tense family dynamic, noticing bruises on the arm of Liu's daughter, Liu Xiaoxuan, hinting at troubles within the household.
With Liu Renkai cleared, the investigation pivots to the victim's wife, Wu Ping. The police uncover a disturbing fact: Xie Wuqiang had signed a contract to sell his son's cornea, treating the boy as a source of income. This discovery casts a dark shadow over the family's life. Initially, Wu Ping offers no useful information. But when Zhong Ning confronts her again, recalling a strange burnt smell from their home, Wu Ping breaks. Under pressure, she confesses to killing her abusive husband to protect her son, Xie Xiaohua.
The Mastermind Revealed
Just as Zheng Gang prepares to take her official statement, a call from the station changes everything: surveillance footage proves Wu Ping was shopping at a supermarket when the murder occurred. She has a perfect alibi. Realizing she's caught in a lie, and urged by Zhong Ning to tell the truth for her son's sake, Wu Ping finally breaks down. She reveals the whole story: a man in black orchestrated the entire event. He stopped her from killing Xie herself, instead instructing her on how to create an alibi while he carried out the murder.
The man, she reveals, is Liao Boyan—a respected figure who had once saved her son's life. Wu Ping's confession is a bombshell, transforming her from a suspect into a pawn in a much larger game. Before being taken into custody, she prepares a final meal for her son, with Zhong Ning promising to find her the best lawyer in Xingang City to argue for a reduced sentence.
Connecting the Dots to a Five-Year-Old Grudge
The focus shifts entirely to Liao Boyan. The tech department recovers a blurry security video from the art studio of another victim, Yang Youmo, showing a physical altercation between him and Liao. When confronted, Liao calmly explains the fight was over a damaged painting. In his home, Zhong Ning spots medication for Alzheimer's disease, seemingly confirming he isn't faking his diagnosis.
This presents a paradox for Zhong Ning. The meticulous planning behind the murders suggests a sharp, unimpaired mind, not one suffering from Alzheimer's. Yet, the deeply personal and psychological nature of the killings screams of a revenge motive. Zhong Ning begins to connect the dots to a tragedy from five years ago: the death of Liao Boyan's daughter in a car accident. She theorizes that the accident, caused by a woman named Zhao Qian running a red light, is the key to Liao's motive. If Zhao Qian was responsible, Liao's actions could be a calculated, long-simmering plan for vengeance.
Zhong Ning decides to test her theory. She tails Liao Boyan and carefully probes him, asking if he has found the person responsible for his daughter's death. Liao's emotional reaction is palpable. As Zhong Ning warns him not to take justice into his own hands, he delivers a heartbreaking response: "Losing my daughter was the ultimate line being crossed."
The episode culminates in a tense, poignant cliffhanger. Zhong Ning arrives late to her daughter Renxi's parent-teacher conference. As she walks in, she hears her daughter reading a heartfelt essay, praising the kind and caring Liao Boyan. In that moment, as her personal and professional worlds collide, Zhong Ning's phone rings. The voice on the other end delivers chilling news: another person, Xiao Dade, is dead.
