Episode 16 recap: # Ding Jiansheng's Death
In Episode 16, Xiao Ruo Tong presses Hu Zhiping for information about Ding Jiansheng's whereabouts. Hu Zhiping deflects her questions, citing mission confidentiality. Zhou Zhen Wu wants to join them but is turned down by Hu Zhiping, who claims that too many people would complicate things. However, Xiao Ruo Tong volunteers to join the mission.
Hu Zhiping meets Zhou Zhi Fei alone, leaving Xiao Ruo Tong and Ding Jiansheng waiting in the car. Once they arrive, Hu Zhiping demands "Haidi" in exchange for Ding Jiansheng. Zhou Zhi Fei only provides an interrogation recording and attempts to persuade Hu Zhiping to continue their collaboration. Hu Zhiping remains noncommittal, destroys the recording, and leaves.
After parting ways with Zhou Zhi Fei, Hu Zhiping deliberately exposes Ding Jiansheng, attracting the attention of the military intelligence agent Eagle Eye, who swiftly eliminates Ding Jiansheng. By the time Gu Yizhong arrives, Eagle Eye has already fled, but the discarded sunflower seed shells indicate a long wait. Gu Yizhong also discovers fragments of the destroyed recording, raising his suspicions.
When Xiao Ruo Tong and Hu Zhiping return, they find an impatient Zhou Zhen Wu, who draws his gun on Hu Zhiping, accusing him of being an undercover agent for "Cell 8." Hu Zhiping plays innocent, showing a note about his commitments to the provincial leadership, but this does not fully reassure Zhou Zhen Wu.
Zhou Zhen Wu decides to report back to base immediately. Before leaving, he instructs Xiao Ruo Tong to stop what she's doing and find a safe place to hide. They even hang a "Closed" sign as a precaution.
Gu Yizhong takes the recording fragments to Kondo Masao, suggesting that the standard interrogation recordings from Cell 90 may be linked to Ding Jiansheng's death. Just then, Zhou Zhi Fei interjects, disputing Gu Yizhong's theory. At that moment, a bullet extracted from Ding Jiansheng is delivered, and Zhou Zhi Fei mentions that it belongs to the military intelligence agents, revealing that Eagle Eye has infiltrated Suzhou and could very well be the killer. This complicates matters further.
Huang Xinzai notices Zhou Zhi Fei trying to shirk responsibility, so he deliberately mentions that military agent Quanshui has also arrived in Suzhou and has a connection to her.
Zhou Zhi Fei becomes anxious, using his son as leverage to pledge loyalty to Kondo Masao. However, Kondo remains skeptical and orders Zhou Zhi Fei to capture Quanshui.
Upon returning home, Zhou Zhi Fei pretends to care for Quanshui while secretly plotting against her. He warns her about Eagle Eye's troubles and advises her to leave quickly. Without much thought, Quanshui buys a train ticket and even agrees to deliver a letter to Old Xu for Zhou Zhi Fei. Gu Yizhong, keeping an eye on Eagle Eye, realizes there's an ambush when he sees Eagle Eye enter a small building. Sure enough, Eagle Eye remains alert and senses danger.
A chase ensues, with Gu Yizhong joining in. Eventually, Eagle Eye is captured by Li Jiu Zhao from Cell 90. Gu Yizhong attempts to save Eagle Eye for interrogation, but Li Jiu Zhao kills him and steals the letter. Furious, Gu Yizhong informs Huang Xinzai that Eagle Eye saw a woman before his death, likely Quanshui.
Huang Xinzai understands that capturing Quanshui will undermine Zhou Zhi Fei. Zhou Zhi Fei retrieves the letter, only to find it blank, blaming Quanshui for involving outsiders. Quanshui, now aware that Zhou Zhi Fei killed Eagle Eye, is shocked.
Zhou Zhi Fei tries to send Quanshui away, but she insists on a new mission: to rescue Jiang Boxian. She pleads for Zhou Zhi Fei's help, but he advises her to align with Li Xiansheng. At that moment, Gu Yizhong appears, stating he needs to find Quanshui, creating a tense standoff.
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