Episode Summary
After identifying the victim as Zheng Meiyun, a horror story manuscript leads Xia Mo and Tang Zhenyun to an abandoned mental hospital and its former patient, Zheng Zukang.
Spoiler Alert
Rosefinch Episode 8: The Killer Unmasked
The investigation into the grisly murder takes a significant leap forward after Xia Mo, upon completing the skeleton's assembly, identifies the victim as Zheng Meiyun. The case takes a bizarre turn when Xia Yingqi finds a story titled "Mama" in the "Tales of the Strange," which details a boy murdering his mother and hiding her body—a plot that chillingly mirrors their current case.Xia Mo becomes convinced the story is the killer's written confession, making the search for its author, Ke Hua, their top priority.
With a lead from Gao Ying, Xia Mo and Tang Zhenyun track down Zhang Zhiqiu, a former publisher editor. He informs them that the manuscript's return address was the "Ci'ai Mental Hospital."
Meanwhile, the "Movie Queen" beauty pageant is in full swing, with Song Shi among the spectators. During the swimsuit competition, contestant Zhu Yuhe, desperate for the spotlight, alters her conservative swimsuit into a revealing "three-point style" bikini. The move successfully captures Song Shi's attention but infuriates Gao Ying.Gao Ying later scolds Zhu Yuhe, telling her she will never measure up to Li Huimin and that her reckless ambition will only lead to disaster.
Discovering the mental hospital is long abandoned, Xia Mo and Tang Zhenyun locate the former head physician, who confirms that the patient in ward 109 was none other than Zheng Zukang. At the same time, the pageant reaches its final stage, but only eleven of the "Twelve Golden Hairpins" are announced. Zhu Yuhe has mysteriously vanished, forcing a last-minute replacement to take her spot.
Later that night, Xia Mo and Tang Zhenyun sneak into Zheng Zukang's old room. Their search leads to a horrifying discovery: a drawing on the wall of the "Corpse Puppet Mask," identical to the pattern on the cloth found with the victim's skull. With this evidence, they finally confirm that Zheng Zukang is the serial killer they have been hunting.
