Episode Summary
Zhuang Mingcheng and Xu Jingzhi engage in a psychological battle, with Zhuang using fake fingerprints to hide his identity while Xu collects his trash for DNA. A new murder involving a suspicious fridge links to past crimes. Xu Yi's wife suspects her husband's business dealings, while Zhuang orchestrates a plan to have Jiang Yongquan killed by a vengeful associate.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 6 Recap
Mind Games and Fake Prints
Zhuang Mingcheng is staring at a photo in his room. He looks lost. Xu Jingzhi cuts some fruit and breaks the silence. Zhuang points to the photo on the wall. He says it’s a friend he lost in a lab explosion. This hits home for Xu. He reveals a massive piece of information. He is the brother Lu Ran always talked about. Zhuang acts surprised. They sit down for a board game. The vibe shifts. Zhuang gets intense. He quotes his father. He says you have to go all out. You have to win.
Zhuang keeps pushing the "nice guy" narrative. He says he was close to Lu Ran. He claims he always wanted to meet this brother. Xu feels guilty. He admits he neglected Lu Ran. He says he would do things differently if he could go back. Zhuang leaves with a smile. But the second he gets home, the smile vanishes. He rushes to the bathroom. He scrubs his hands. He washes off a set of fake fingerprints.
Xu isn't buying the act either. He tests the prints Zhuang left behind. They don't match anything.
A Smelly Fridge and Old Ghosts
A new murder case pops up. Xu investigates the scene. Something feels off. There is a refrigerator sitting alone in the living room. It’s out of place. He opens it. The smell is awful. This setup feels weirdly familiar. It might link back to the previous cases.
Xu starts digging into Zhuang’s life. He questions Zhuang’s colleagues. Zhuang catches him in the act. He doesn't run. He walks right up and eats the rice cakes Xu brought. Xu gets direct. He tells Zhuang he looks just like Lu Ran. He adds a sharp comment. If his brother were alive, he wouldn't let him go down the wrong path. Zhuang’s hand pauses. He doesn't say a word.
Later, Xu is back in his room. He draws diagrams of an old crime scene. Zhuang sees the drawings. He gets a strange look of excitement. He remembers his mother’s murder. He remembers demanding the truth. Meanwhile, He Ya sees the fingerprint analysis. She also notices something worrying. Xu has Lu Youliang’s contact information. She hates that he is digging into the past again.
Marriage Troubles and Trash Bags
Xu Yi’s wife pays Zhuang a visit. She wants him to spy on her husband. Zhuang laughs it off. He says he doesn't fix marriages. The wife pushes back. She knows Xu Yi isn't running his business alone. There is a secret partner. Zhuang gives her a warning. She needs to check their charity projects. If she doesn't, things will get ugly.
Xu visits Zhuang’s apartment again. Zhuang invites him in. He even lets him look around. He gives Xu a silk banner as a gift. It’s a bold move. Xu gets distracted by a jumping frog toy. It reminds him of his brother.
Elsewhere, Xu Yi is furious. He yells at his wife. Her actions made him look weak in front of Mai Boyuan.
Back at the apartment, Xu leaves. He offers to take out the trash. It’s a classic move. He wants to collect DNA. Zhuang knows exactly what is happening. He plays dumb. They are both pretending.
The Puppet Master
He Ya hunts for evidence left by the victim, Wu Xinxin. The police suspect a love triangle. Xu shuts that theory down. They look at a suspect named Zhao Chunzhi. She doesn't seem to care that her son is in trouble. Liu Wanyao remembers her. The impression wasn't good.
The episode ends on a dark note. Zhuang is on the phone. He talks about Jiang Yongquan. He plans to let Jiang die at the hands of a partner. The woman on the other end of the line is full of hate. She wants Jiang dead.
