Episode Summary
Mai Boyuan forces his wife Zhao Xin to sleep with a client to secure funding, destroying their marriage. Zhao Xin secretly works with Zhuang Mingcheng and steals a crucial USB drive, but Xu Jingzhi catches them on video. Xu Jingzhi forms a shaky alliance with the villain Hou Liangyuan, trading Zhuang Mingcheng for evidence. Zhao Xin drugs her husband and violently attacks Xu Yi's wife to steal more data.
Spoiler Alert
Mai Boyuan Wins the "Worst Husband" Award
We need to talk about Mai Boyuan. He watches the news about Hou Liangyuan and that password-protected USB drive. He is stressing out. He figures Hou killed Xu Yi to keep all the profits. But instead of handling it himself, he turns to his wife, Zhao Xin. He shuts off the TV and puts on a pathetic face.
He wants Zhao Xin to go "please" Boss Gao. He needs her to smooth things over. Zhao Xin reminds him they were trying for a baby. This feels wrong. But Mai pushes her. He is relentless. She eventually agrees, but the look on her face says everything. She is cold. She is done.
The Aftermath of the Meeting
Zhao Xin comes back from meeting Boss Gao. She feels violated. It’s obvious she had to do something terrible. But Mai Boyuan doesn't care about her feelings. He doesn't comfort her. He only scans her words for clues about Gao’s attitude.
He calls Gao their "lifeline." He actually asks her if she "did her best." It is disgusting. Zhao Xin is broken. Mai tries to pivot. He blames Hou Liangyuan for their mess. He swears he will make Hou pay. He talks about having backup plans. Zhao Xin listens to him ramble. She realizes this man is dead to her.
Secrets and Leaks
Mai is paranoid. He thinks Liang Xinyue led the police to Hou Liangyuan. He worries the cops will trace it back to him. Zhao Xin just closes her eyes. She knows he is just using her.
But Mai is missing a big piece of the puzzle. He doesn't know Zhao Xin is the mole. She is the one feeding info to Zhuang Mingcheng. That is why everything is falling apart for him.
Meanwhile, Xu Jingzhi and Zhuang Mingcheng are playing 4D chess. They are analyzing every move. Xu Jingzhi decides to get his hands dirty. He goes straight to Hou Liangyuan. He points out that Hou is surrounded by enemies. He suggests they work together to survive.
The USB Handoff
Hou Liangyuan is interested. He tells Xu to bring Zhuang Mingcheng to him. He doesn't trust the cops, but he thinks they can keep each other in check. He even offers to hand over Xu Yi’s death certificate.
Elsewhere, Zhao Xin makes her move. She gives Xu Yi’s USB drive to Zhuang Mingcheng. She wants him to crack the password. But they aren't alone. Xu Jingzhi is lurking nearby. He films their entire conversation.
Breaking Points
Zhuang Mingcheng warns Zhao Xin. He tells her she is digging a hole she can't get out of. She goes home to Mai. He pretends to care about her again. It’s all an act to get info. She sees right through it. She spikes his milk with drugs. Then she texts a stranger.
Xu Jingzhi is not doing well either. Zhuang finds him drunk in the room. Xu is mumbling about his past. He tells He Ya he only became a cop because of his wife. He is spiraling. He Ya tries to help. Xu teaches her breathing exercises to calm down. She falls asleep, but he stays awake. He is anxious. He is hiding too much.
The Final Betrayal
Zhao Xin hears Mai on the phone begging Boss Gao for more chances. Mai tries to get intimate with her after the call. She is repulsed. She pushes him away.
Xu Jingzhi makes his big play. He drags Zhuang Mingcheng to meet Hou Liangyuan. He is trading his partner for evidence. Zhuang is furious. He calls Xu a despicable scumbag who uses people.
While the men argue, Zhao Xin goes rogue. She tracks down Xu Yi’s wife. She knocks the woman unconscious. She breaks into the car and steals documents. She is not playing the victim anymore.
