Episode Summary
Li Heng cleverly retrieves a hidden list of enemy agents while pretending to be drunk and on a date. A new, cautious Communist contact named Yu Tong arrives and clashes with a desperate Jia Yunying. Zhou Sihai's life hangs by a thread, leading to a tense hospital standoff where Li Heng's true past and motivations are finally revealed in a flashback.
Spoiler Alert
What to Do with a Drunken Spy
A Suspicious Ride Home
The episode kicks off right where we left off. Jia Yunwu finds Li Heng passed out drunk at his house. His son, Jia Chang'an, is the one who finds him. Jia Yunwu decides to drive Li Heng home himself. This is not an act of kindness. During the car ride, he casually brings up the Sichuan Investigation Office. He's fishing for information. Li Heng, ever the pro, pretends to be shocked. Then he complains about a headache from the booze and clams up. It's a classic move to dodge the questions. He plays the drunkard role perfectly.
Morning Reports and Stakeouts
The next morning, Shen Yihe gets the report about Li Heng's little adventure. Jia Yunwu plays it all down. He says it was just a small gathering for his father's birthday. Old friends had a few too many drinks. Nothing to see here.
At the same time, Tang Meng is doubling down on his surveillance. He has his eyes glued to the Sullivan Hotel. He's convinced he can track down Zhou Sihai's contacts. He's not wrong to look, but he's looking in the wrong direction.
The Real Mission
A Date with a Purpose
Li Heng needs a cover to get out of the house. He uses Lu Shufen, taking her out for a meal. It's a smart play. He takes her to a nice Western restaurant first. Then, he says he needs to buy some flowers. This is his excuse to slip into Zhou Sihai's hotel.
While this is happening, another agent, Lu Wenlu, is also searching Zhou's room. He finds nothing. Li Heng, however, is much more effective. He quietly knocks out a guard. He checks a calendar and finds a hidden mark on the 20th. Back at his own place, he uses a chemical to reveal the secret message. It's a full list of undercover agents from the enemy KMT bureau. This is a massive win.
New Faces and Old Dangers
A New Contact Arrives
The Communists send in a new liaison to take over. His name is Yu Tong. He works undercover as a rickshaw driver. He makes contact with Jia Yunying. They exchange a code phrase to confirm they're on the same side. Yu Tong tells her his plan. He's going to buy the wonton shop across from the Wangjiang Teahouse. It will become their new secret communication hub.
Jia Yunying is desperate. She immediately asks him to help rescue Zhou Sihai. But Yu Tong is calm and strategic. He tells her a prison break is almost impossible. He also suspects Zhou Sihai was captured because of a traitor within their own ranks. He orders Jia Yunying to do nothing and wait for instructions. Any rash move could get them all killed.
The Hospital Showdown
A Familiar Face on the Operating Table
Things take a bad turn for Zhou Sihai. His injuries from the torture are getting worse. He's close to death. Hearing this, Li Heng immediately orders him sent to the hospital.
And who is the surgeon on call? Of course, it's Jia Yunying. As she preps for surgery, she asks Li Heng for the patient's name. He just says his last name is Zhou. After the surgery, she confronts Li Heng. She tearfully asks him why he joined the Central Investigation Bureau, the KMT's secret police. Li Heng can't tell her the truth. He just stands there in silence.
The Backstory We Needed
We finally get the flashback that explains everything. Years ago, Li Heng was just Xiao Heng, a patriotic student. He and Jia Yunying were classmates and in love. During a protest, they saved an injured Communist party member. Li Heng was seriously wounded while creating a diversion so Jia Yunying and the others could escape. It was Zhou Sihai who found him and saved his life.
While Li Heng recovered, Zhou Sihai saw his potential. He saw a young man with a strong will and a love for his country. The party was looking for promising youths to send to the Soviet Union for training. Zhou recommended him. Li Heng passed the tough selection process and became a fully trained underground agent. He changed his name and began his dangerous undercover mission.
Guns Drawn in the Hallway
Back in the present, the tension explodes. Tang Meng and his men burst into the hospital. They want to take Zhou Sihai away by force. Jia Yunying stands in their way. Li Heng steps in front of her, protecting her. He pulls his gun on Tang Meng, warning him not to cause trouble in a hospital.
Tang Meng is furious but tells his men to fight Li Heng without guns. Li Heng thinks about Zhou Sihai being tortured. All his pent-up rage comes out. He fights them brutally. Just as Tang Meng is about to join the fight himself, Shen Yihe and Jia Yunwu arrive. They shut the whole thing down. Tang Meng has no choice but to leave.
Shen Yihe checks on Zhou Sihai and posts his own guards. The situation is under control for now. But Jia Yunying is still on edge. She secretly contacts Yu Tong again. She tells him tonight is the perfect chance to rescue Zhou Sihai. She even has a plan. Yu Tong shuts her down again, and this time he's firm. He tells her the situation is too unstable. With a possible traitor on the loose, her plan is a suicide mission. He orders her back to her post. She is not to make a move without direct orders from the top.
