Episode Summary
Wu Shi successfully passes intelligence to Wan Jingguang at a banquet despite being under heavy surveillance from Gu Zhengwen. However, the military operation the intel was for fails, causing Wu Shi to collapse from stress. A replacement communist agent is compromised and jumps into a river, leading Zhu Feng to volunteer for the dangerous mission to Taiwan. Wu Shi and Nie Xi both struggle with the immense strain on their family lives.
Spoiler Alert
The Shell Game
A Not-So-Secret Party
The episode kicks off with Wu Shi throwing a banquet. This isn't for fun. It's his one shot to pass critical intelligence to his contact, Wan Jingguang. The problem is, Gu Zhengwen knows something is up. He's not just watching. He has the entire hotel crawling with his agents. They're disguised as waiters, cleaners, you name it.
Nie Xi gets his hands on the staff list and spots the obvious. A dozen new hires all started within the last three days. They're practically wearing signs that say "secret police." Wu Shi knows he's walking into a trap.
The Hand-Off
The main event begins. Wu Shi is on stage, and Gu Zhengwen is in the crowd, pretending to be a reporter and snapping photos of Wu Shi's every move. This is where it gets good. Wu Shi uses a total classic spy move. He attaches the intel to the bottom of a wine glass. In the middle of the crowded party, Wan Jingguang casually picks it up and walks away. Clean and simple.
Gu Zhengwen is left with nothing. He develops all his photos, searching for a clue, but finds zero evidence of a hand-off. He knows, with absolute certainty, that the intel is gone. He just can't prove how. You can feel how furious he is. He's convinced Wu Shi is a master spy and now he's obsessed.
A Mission Gone Wrong
The Aftermath
Shortly after the party, Wu Shi hears a radio broadcast. The news is bad. The Kinmen landing, which relied on his intelligence, was a catastrophic failure. The PLA forces were hit hard.Wu Shi has no idea what went wrong. The shock and guilt are too much for him. He collapses on the spot from a massive spike in blood pressure.
His people rush him to a hospital, but he refuses to stay. He needs to get back to Taiwan.He's consumed with regret, blaming himself for the military losses and wishing he had provided more strategic advice to Wan Jingguang.
A Broken Link
The organization tries to send a new agent, a woman named Deying, to make contact with Wu Shi in Taiwan. It goes wrong from the start. She's flagged by military police while boarding the ship. Realizing she's cornered and her identity is blown, she jumps into the river to escape capture. Zhu Feng, who was on her way back to Shanghai, witnesses the entire event.
This forces Zhu Feng to make a choice. She reports what happened to Wan Jingguang. They figure out the issue was with Deying's identity papers. Seeing the urgent need, Zhu Feng volunteers to take her place. Wan Jingguang warns her to think it through. A mission to Taiwan is incredibly dangerous. If she gets caught, there's no coming back.
Desperate Connections
Hiding in Plain Sight
While all this is happening, Wu Shi is on a ship called the Taikang. Chiang Kai-shek, pleased with the "victory" at Kinmen, orders Wu Shi to hold a press conference on board. The irony is suffocating. Wu Shi has to publicly celebrate a battle that feels like his personal failure.
During the press conference, Wan Jingguang shows up in the crowd, posing as a reporter. He even asks Wu Shi a question directly. It's an incredibly bold move. Later, Nie Xi manages to secretly pass Wan Jingguang a letter from Wu Shi. The message is simple: he needs a new contact in Taiwan, immediately.
Trouble at Home
A Family Divided
The episode also gives us a look at the personal toll of this life. Wu Shi finally gets home to his wife, Wang Bikui. She's worried sick about his health, but he lies and tells her everything is fine. All she can talk about is how much she misses their children, who are still back in Fuzhou.
A Crumbling Marriage
Nie Xi's home life is even worse. He gets home to find an American guy waiting outside for his wife, Gao Xiumei. Nie Xi tries to give her a new dress, but she's cold and dismissive. She says she just wants to go back to Fuzhou to be with their kids.
She gets ready to leave for her night shift. The American guy starts honking his car horn for her. Nie Xi tells her she shouldn't be getting rides from him, and she just snaps. He's left apologizing as she walks out and leaves with the other man. It's clear the secrecy and separation are destroying their relationship.
