Episode Summary
The episode begins with a flashback showing why An Lan joined Mo Ma, revealing her personal connection to neuron repair research for her mother. In the present, Ding Qi's team prepares for two high-risk events on Mo Yuanzhi's schedule: a university lecture and a wedding. The lecture becomes chaotic with protests and two separate, failed attacks on Mo Yuanzhi, leading Ding Qi to believe the threat is neutralized. However, this was a misdirection. The real attack occurs at the wedding, where an explosion kills two of Ding Qi's officers, leaving him devastated just before the day resets at midnight.
Spoiler Alert
A Look Back
The episode opens with a flashback to two years ago.We see Mo Yuanzhi interviewing An Lan for the job at Mo Ma.He promises her the best of everything.An Lan is straight up with him.She says she's interested in the RAN gene project for neuron repair.Her mother is in a vegetative state, and she wants to help her.Mo Yuanzhi tells her he'll give her everything she needs for her research.She agrees to join the company right then and there.
The Calm Before the Storm
Back in the present, it's been fifteen days since the threat.Nothing has happened. Mo Yuanzhi actually feels a little bad about the constant police protection.He sends his schedule to Ding Qi.Ding Qi tells him to cancel two things: a university lecture and the Zhao family wedding.But Mo Yuanzhi refuses to cancel the wedding.He says the Zhaos are a huge client he can't afford to offend.
Upstairs, Yu Shiya watches them leave.Ding Qi has his team on high alert. He tells Fang Lu to get more security for the university lecture.He also has Yu Peishan start checking the guest list for that wedding.
Later, Mo Yuanzhi has a private meeting with An Lan.Ding Qi hangs around outside, clearly curious about what they're discussing.After the meeting, An Lan tells Ding Qi that Mo Yuanzhi is promoting her.She has a bad feeling, like something big is about to go down.Ding Qi tries to reassure her.Suddenly, they hear a glass shatter in Mo Yuanzhi's office.Ding Qi runs in, but Mo Yuanzhi just says he accidentally dropped a cup.
The University Lecture Goes Sideways
On the way to the university, there's a massive traffic jam.Mo Yuanzhi tells his driver to find another route.At the same time, An Lan is back at the office.She tries to log into the company's internal website, but her access is denied.
A Calculated Risk
The lecture starts, and the hall is completely full.Ding Qi gives Mo Yuanzhi a quiet warning.He tells him not to drag other people into it if something dangerous happens.Mo Yuanzhi gets it.He knows that if he stays perfectly protected, the killer known as "Squid" will never make a move.Everyone, on both sides, is getting tired of the stalemate.
Mo Yuanzhi walks on stage and immediately tells the audience he's received a death threat.Just then, a group of students protesting gene technology shows up outside.Security stops them, but you can hear them chanting from inside the auditorium.Mo Yuanzhi launches into this big speech about mastering life and death and changing fate.The crowd loves it and gives him a huge round of applause.A female student is chosen to go on stage and give him flowers.She reaches into her bag, and Ding Qi completely loses it.He sprints onto the stage to cover Mo Yuanzhi while his partner, Da Kai, tackles the student.It turns out she was just getting a photo for him to sign.
Chaos Erupts
During the question-and-answer part, a guy asks if Mo Yuanzhi's technology will bankrupt traditional medicine companies.Mo Yuanzhi says every business has to face being replaced.
Then the doors to the auditorium fly open.The protestors rush in, and the whole place descends into chaos.Ding Qi grabs Mo Yuanzhi and gets him out of there.Outside, the protestors surround them.A former Mo Ma employee named Fu Jun pushes forward, demanding compensation money.The police slap him in handcuffs.While this is happening, another man, You Yuxiang, quietly gets close to Mo Yuanzhi with a syringe of neurotoxin.Ding Qi spots him at the last second and takes him down.To get control of the crowd, Ding Qi fires his gun into the air.Everything goes silent.
The Real Trap
With two potential attackers in custody, Ding Qi thinks they've caught Squid.He lets Mo Yuanzhi go to the wedding and heads back to the police station himself.
The investigation quickly shows they have the wrong guys.You Yuxiang is a researcher who lost his job and organized the protest, but he insists he's not a killer.Fu Jun just hates Mo Ma's bosses and wanted his severance pay.Neither of them is Squid.
Ding Qi realizes the wedding is the real target.He races to the venue, but he's too late.Just as he arrives, a massive explosion goes off.The scene is horrific.Da Kai and Fang Lu, his teammates, are killed in the blast.
Duan Zheng finds Ding Qi in the aftermath.She's crying and screams at him, blaming his arrogance for getting everyone killed.
And We're Back...
Ding Qi completely breaks down, holding his head and sobbing.
Then the clock hits midnight. The loop starts all over again.
