Episode Summary

In "The Perfect Suspect" Episode 9, Fang Qinchun, persuaded by Liao Boyan, reveals a key left by her late husband engraved with "026," a crucial piece of evidence. In retaliation, Zhao Qian has Fang Qinchun's home burned down and her son threatened, forcing her to back off. Meanwhile, Liao Boyan struggles with his Alzheimer's, lashing out at his daughter's classmate before apologizing and revealing his inner turmoil to Zhong Ning. A flashback shows the root of the conflict: Zhao Yinghong discovered his daughter Zhao Qian's corruption and her role in Qian Cheng's "suicide," which caused him to have a debilitating stroke that Zhao Qian deliberately failed to prevent. The key is now in the hands of Liu Renkai, who plots to use it against Zhao Qian.

Spoiler Alert

"The Perfect Suspect" Episode 9: Recap & Spoilers

A Key, A Fire, and a Family's Collapse

The web of deceit tightening around Zhao Qiangrows more complex as those she wronged begin to close in. In a pivotal episode, a long-lost piece of evidence surfaces, threats escalate to a dangerous new level, and a family dynasty begins to crumble under the weight of its own corruption.

The episode opens with Liao Boyancontinuing his campaign to convince Fang Qinchunto testify against Zhao Qian. He hints at his own quest for vengeance, and Fang Qinchun, noticing the medication he carries, correctly guesses the severity of his illness. Under his persistent questioning, she finally recalls a crucial detail: a key her late husband, Qian Cheng , left behind just before his suicide. On its back, the number "026" is engraved.

Meanwhile, Liao Boyan's personal struggles boil over. When his daughter's classmate, Zhong Renxi , reads a prize-winning essay praising him, he is unexpectedly enraged. In a moment of anguish, he tears the essay to pieces, leaving the young girl in tears. When Zhong Ningvisits to offer help with his deteriorating memory, Liao Boyan flatly rejects her, asking only to be left alone.

Acting on Liao's persuasion, Fang Qinchun goes to the special task force and accuses Zhao Yinghongof forcing her to commit perjury. However, the investigation, led by Zheng Gang , hits an immediate wall: Zhao Yinghong suffered a debilitating stroke a year ago and is completely paralyzed. The company is now fully under Zhao Qian's control. When the police visit his home, they find him confined to a room plastered with photos of his deceased wife, unable to move or speak for himself.

Realizing Fang Qinchun is a threat, Zhao Qian dispatches her subordinate, Ah Long , to silence her permanently. He breaks into Fang Qinchun's home to steal the key and sets the house on fire. As Fang Qinchun and Zhong Ning rush to the scene, they are met with a horrifying sight. Her son, Qian Dong , who had been taken by a stranger, suddenly appears with a chilling message from Zhao Qian: "Stop causing trouble, or you won't live to see another day." Terrified, Fang Qinchun begs Zhong Ning to drop the investigation.

At the fire-gutted home, Zhong Ning finds a broken picture frame, deducing that Zhao Qian's henchman successfully retrieved the key. Unbeknownst to them, the key has already been passed to Liu Renkai , who plans to use it to orchestrate Zhao Qian's downfall and seize power for himself. To comfort the distraught Fang Qinchun, Zhong Ning brings her son a new schoolbag and gently presses for details about the key. Fang Qinchun, having committed it to memory, expertly draws the key, revealing she has sketched it many times.

Racked with guilt, Liao Boyan finds Zhong Renxi at school to apologize, treating her to a day at an amusement park. On their way home, they run into Zhong Ning. Liao confesses that his Alzheimer's diagnosis was initially a relief, a chance to "forget the past." Yet, the memory of his own daughter remains painfully clear. He poses a haunting question to Zhong Ning: "If Renxi hadn't survived her surgery all those years ago, what would you have lived for?"

The episode culminates in a flashback that reveals the source of the Zhao family's implosion. After seeing news reports about an investigation into defective ambulances his company purchased, Zhao Yinghong confronts his daughter. Zhao Qian denies everything. When he declares he will get the truth from Qian Cheng, she coldly informs him that Qian Cheng is already dead from an apparent "suicide." The shock and betrayal trigger a massive stroke, and Zhao Yinghong collapses. As he lies helpless, Zhao Qian stands over him, medicine in hand, deliberately delaying medical help while the silent photos of her mother bear witness to her treachery.

Highlights from Episode 9

  • The Key Emerges: Fang Qinchun remembers the key left by her husband, Qian Cheng, with the number "026" on the back, providing a tangible clue to unraveling the conspiracy.
  • Arson and Intimidation: Zhao Qian escalates her tactics by ordering an arson attack on Fang Qinchun's home and having her son temporarily abducted to deliver a death threat.
  • Father and Daughter at War: In a dramatic flashback, Zhao Yinghong learns the truth about the ambulance corruption scandal and Qian Cheng's "suicide," leading to a stroke that Zhao Qian willingly allows to happen.
  • Liao Boyan's Inner Struggle: After lashing out at Zhong Renxi, Liao apologizes and reveals the complex nature of his battle with Alzheimer's—a desire to forget his pain while desperately holding on to the memory of his own daughter.
  • A Three-Way Fight for Evidence: The key is now a hotly contested object. While Zhong Ning uses a hand-drawn sketch to track it, Liu Renkai has the real thing and plots to use it to ruin Zhao Qian.

What's to Come

The secret behind the number "026" is on the verge of being unlocked, promising to expose the full extent of Zhao Qian's crimes. Liu Renkai's scheme is set to detonate, but whether it goes according to his plan remains to be seen. From Liao Boyan's cryptic warning, Zhong Ning begins to sense a chilling connection between the current case and a seven-year-old incident from her own past.