Episode Summary
Liang Jingyuan, a traitor and former colleague of Gu Yangshan, takes over the station and puts Joseph Needham under watch. Ding Yi forgoes an escape plan to fight from within, motivated by recent losses. Luo Han becomes the new liaison after successfully passing a message to Needham. Xian Biyun, after being publicly shamed by students, seeks comfort from Needham at a tense dinner party where Ding Yi is disgusted by the new recruits' betrayal.
Spoiler Alert
The New Boss is an Old Traitor
So, Kondo is out. The new man in charge is Liang Jingyuan. His first job is to keep Joseph Needham under a very polite form of house arrest. This gets complicated fast. We learn Liang Jingyuan used to be Gu Yangshan's colleague in the military intelligence Shanghai station. The fact that he's here now tells you two things. The Shanghai station has fallen. And Liang Jingyuan is a traitor, plain and simple.
This guy is not like Kondo. He is extremely suspicious and careful. One wrong move and you know he'll catch it.
Ding Yi's Dangerous Decision
Liang Jingyuan does a quiet sweep of the property. He finds a potential escape route for Ding Yi through a back bathroom. He probably expects him to take it. But Ding Yi decides to stay. He's not running anymore. He's going to stay and fight from the inside.
The recent deaths of Hong Yu and Old Gu really got to him. He realizes that this fight needs more than just brave soldiers on the front lines. It's going to be harder this way. But he's all in.
New Roles and Secret Messages
Luo Han gets a new gig. He's now disguised as a tea house waiter. During the hustle and bustle, he "accidentally" bumps into Joseph Needham. It’s the perfect cover. As he helps Needham with his clothes, he slips him a secret message.
Luo Han's New Job
Gu Yangshan's first instinct is to send Luo Han back to Shanghai. He wants him to rebuild their station there. But Luo Han pushes back. He thinks he can be more helpful right here. After some thought, Gu Yangshan agrees. Luo Han is officially their new liaison.
A Favor and a Farewell Gift
The theater is now empty. The whole staff has been sent away. Ye Yin stops by to see Xian Biyun. She wants to thank her for all her kindness. Then she drops a bomb. She mentions her husband is Liang Jingyuan, the new head of the cryptography station. Xian Biyun is visibly surprised by this news.
Just then, Ding Yi arrives. Liang Jingyuan politely excuses himself. Ding Yi tells Xian Biyun his decision to stay. He's sharp. He notices she gave her favorite bracelet to Ye Yin. He correctly guesses she's asking Ye Yin for some kind of help. Ding Yi tells her he also plans to use his position as a cryptography expert to do something real for the country. Before leaving, he gives Xian Biyun a small, elegant ring.
The Setups and the Takedowns
Ding Yi moves into the courtyard prepared for him by Liang Jingyuan. Ye Yin waits for him outside. Their meeting does not go unnoticed. Cao Yuanzhong's brother-in-law sees the whole thing and files it away.
Moving In and Sweeping for Bugs
Gu Yangshan gets to his new room. The first thing he does is a thorough search. He checks every single corner for listening devices. He's not taking any chances. On another note, Cao Yuanzhong has to plead with his superiors to let him stay at the station.
Xian Biyun's Public Humiliation
Xian Biyun is at a train station, playing her part as a pro-Japanese ambassador for a film shoot. It goes horribly wrong. A group of furious students ambushes her. They throw paint all over her. The entire scene descends into chaos.
A Dinner Party from Hell
That night, Liang Jingyuan hosts a dinner party. As the new director, he warmly introduces Joseph Needham to all the colleagues. He's gone to great trouble to recruit a number of Chinese math experts for the project.
A Room Full of Turncoats
Ding Yi is seething. He can't believe these famous, respected experts have become traitors. The new recruits waste no time trying to get on Needham’s good side. They all try to flatter him.
Liang Jingyuan then brings out a bottle of very nice red wine. He uses it as an excuse to try and get information out of Gu Yangshan. But Gu Yangshan was ready for this. He handles the questions smoothly and reveals nothing.
A Shoulder to Cry On
Xian Biyun arrives at the party late. She is still completely shaken by the paint attack. She walks right up to Joseph Needham and breaks down, crying in his arms. He immediately steps in to comfort her.
