Episode Summary

The investigation into Xiao Dade's murder reveals he was killed with an adrenaline injection, identical to a previous victim, Yang Youmo. Detective Zhong Ning suspects his former mentor, Liao Boyan, based on circumstantial evidence, leading to a painful confrontation witnessed by Zhong's son, Renxi. However, during interrogation, evidence such as an eyewitness description and DNA exonerates Liao. Zhong later follows the grieving Liao to a cemetery and sees his profound trauma over his daughter's death, clearing him of all suspicion. The episode's climax reveals the true killer: the ruthless Zhao Qian, who ordered her subordinate, Liu Renkai, to murder Xiao to silence him. Liu kills Xiao, stages it as a serial murder, and secretly keeps the incriminating evidence for himself, unknown to Zhao Qian.

Spoiler Alert

The Perfect Suspect: Episode 6 Recap & Spoilers

Recap: The Mastermind Is Finally Revealed

Just when the task force thought they had their man, Episode 6 of "The Perfect Suspect" ripped the rug out from under them, clearing their prime suspect and exposing the chilling puppet master who has been pulling the strings all along.

The episode kicks off with the investigation into the murder of Xiao Dade. The case takes a sharp turn when the forensics report comes back: just like Yang Youmo, Xiao was killed by a lethal injection of adrenaline. The time of death is estimated to be 10:30 PM. This identical M.O. immediately puts the police on high alert, suggesting they are dealing with a serial killer.

A crucial piece of information comes from a man at Xiao's electronics shop. He tells officers that just two days earlier, Xiao was about to sell some old live-streaming equipment when he found a specific video camera. After looking at it, Xiao abruptly changed his mind, boasting that he was going to register a new account and "get famous." This suggests the camera contains incriminating evidence.

The timeline leads detective Zhong Ning to a startling conclusion. He recalls seeing his former mentor, Liao Boyan, near the crime scene at 11:00 PM on the night of the murder. A quick test by his team confirms that the walk from Liao's home to Xiao's place takes about 25 minutes, giving him a sufficient window to commit the crime, especially since Liao knows the neighborhood's shortcuts.

Armed with this, Zhong Ning and his partner Zheng Gang move to arrest Liao Boyan. In a heart-wrenching scene, Zhong Ning's own son, Zhong Renxi, arrives to see his teacher just in time to witness his father putting the esteemed professor in handcuffs. The boy is devastated, creating a deep rift between father and son. Back home, Zhong Ning tries to explain his motivations to his crying son. He reveals a personal connection to an older, seemingly unrelated case: the "accidental" death of Yang Yan, Renxi's middle school classmate. Yang Yan had once helped Zhong Ning find his lost watch, and he had noticed she never used color in her drawings of rainbows. He always meant to ask her why, but she died in a reservoir flood before he got the chance. This unsolved mystery has haunted him and fuels his relentless pursuit of the truth.

In the interrogation room, however, the case against Liao crumbles. He steadfastly denies any involvement, and the lie detector test shows no deception. Furthermore, an eyewitness reports seeing a heavyset man fleeing the scene, a description that doesn't match Liao's build. The final nail in the coffin for the prosecution's theory is the discovery of another person's skin tissue in the victim's mouth, completely exonerating Liao.

Though the official case against him is dropped, Zhong Ning and Zheng Gang remain suspicious and decide to tail Liao. They follow him to a cemetery, where they witness a tragic scene. Liao wanders aimlessly, completely unable to remember where his own daughter, Liao Yifan, is buried. He eventually collapses in tears, a man broken by grief. Zhong Ning watches from a distance, overcome with guilt for having put a traumatized father through even more pain.

Spoilers: The Real Killer's Vicious Game

With Liao Boyan cleared, the episode pivots to reveal the true killer. In a flashback, we see Liao's side of the story. He had seen Xiao Dade's livestream, where Xiao threatened to expose the chairman of the powerful Green Cloud Group. Liao had privately warned Xiao to hand over the evidence to save his own life, but Xiao didn't listen. When Liao went to Xiao's home on the night of the murder, he found him already dead.

The real mastermind is Zhao Qian.After seeing Xiao's threatening livestream, she coolly orders her subordinate, Liu Renkai, to "handle the trouble." Liu and his associate, Ah Long, break into Xiao's home, forcibly take the camera, and inject Xiao with adrenaline, expertly staging the murder to look like the work of a serial killer to mislead the police.

In a final, chilling twist, Liu Renkai lies to his boss. When Zhao Qian asks if he found the video evidence, he tells her he didn't, secretly keeping the damning camera for himself. Unaware of his betrayal, a triumphant Zhao Qian returns home. In a deeply disturbing final scene, she dances gracefully in front of her father, Zhao Yinghong, who sits silently in a wheelchair, his face etched with pain, which she completely ignores. The identity of the true, cold-blooded killer is no longer a secret.

Lingering Questions:

  • What explosive secret is hidden on the video camera that Liu Renkai is now holding?
  • How will the task force connect the meticulously planned murder back to the calculating Zhao Qian?
  • What is the tragic story behind Yang Yan's "colorless rainbow," and how does it connect to the larger conspiracy?