Episode 14 recap: Gu Yi Ran Learns About Zheng Bei's Childhood
In Episode 14, Er Jin is captured but remains uncooperative, refusing to confess to his crimes. Zheng Bei and Gu Yi Ran are at a loss for how to proceed. The special investigation team is puzzled by Er Jin's loyalty, and Zheng Bei notes that winning people's trust is Qin Yi's specialty; otherwise, he wouldn't be their leader. He believes that by finding the criminal's weaknesses, they will eventually get him to talk.
The team discovers several boxes of gold bars at Qin Yi's residence, revealing that he has made a significant amount of money from drug trafficking over the years. Gao Lin Sheng arrives to inform the team that the police have set up traffic checkpoints across the city, affirming that Qin Yi won’t be able to leave. On a positive note, the entire network of Blue Aurora's ecstasy pills has been dismantled, and even the Snow Angels have been confiscated. He advises everyone to rest and prepare for the tough battles ahead.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xue Yao, injured during the arrest of Er Jin, worries about her parents’ concern and asks Zheng Bei to inform them, lying that she is on a business trip. Gu Yi Ran is puzzled as to why Zheng Bei doesn’t just call but insists on visiting Zhang's home. Curious, she follows Zheng Bei with some canned fruit to a bustling small town.
Outside a rundown old apartment, Zhang Xue Yao's parents are selling snacks like popcorn and candied fruit. They communicate with customers using sign language. Gu Yi Ran realizes that Zhang Xue Yao's parents are hearing impaired. Just then, two thugs appear, trying to take food without paying. As Zheng Bei steps in to intervene, local vendors rally together to help drive the thugs away.
Later, while enjoying street food, Zheng Bei shares with Gu Yi Ran that when no one understood Zhang Xue Yao, they found her intimidating. He later realized that her toughness was to protect those around her. Zheng Bei then asks if Gu Yi Ran has someone she protects, but she remains silent.
That night, Zheng Bei takes Gu Yi Ran to try northeastern street food. While playing a balloon shooting game, Zheng Bei expresses that he doesn’t want Gu Yi Ran to return to Huazhou, making her smile. Soon, Zhang Xue Yao returns from the hospital, her injured leg not serious. Everyone suggests celebrating her recovery, but Zheng Bei stays quiet.
Zheng Bei’s parents prepare dumplings and pour drinks, but Gu Yi Ran notices Zheng Bei heading out into the rain. She follows him to a hall where he watches elementary school performances, where she learns about a hidden chapter of Zheng Bei’s childhood through Xin Tie Gang’s narration.
Zheng Bei was kidnapped by human traffickers and met a boy his age named Lele, who was small and clever. Compared to Lele's quick wit and charm, Zheng Bei was stubborn and refused to cooperate with the traffickers to beg for money, leading him to be beaten frequently. They even threatened to cut out his tongue to disable him.
At a critical moment, Lele knocked out one of the traffickers with a stick. Seeing this, Zheng Bei grabbed Lele and urged the other children to flee. The two boys trudged through the snow for several days, both freezing and exhausted. Lele, being smaller and weaker, relied on Zheng Bei’s encouragement to keep moving forward, eventually being dragged along.
However, when they reached a village, they spotted the traffickers chasing after them. In a panic, Zheng Bei hid Lele in a garbage bin and tried to divert the traffickers’ attention. It was then that he encountered Xin Tie Gang. Although Xin Tie Gang saved Zheng Bei, he fell into a coma for two days. When he finally revealed there was another child, the police could not find Lele in the bin; instead, they unearthed the body of a 12-year-old boy from the traffickers.
From that day on, Zheng Bei felt responsible for Lele's death, believing that if he hadn’t hidden Lele in the garbage bin, things would have turned out differently. Every year on that day, he would bring two bottles of mixed soda, remembering how Lele used to ask the traffickers for soda to drink. In his mind, Lele repeatedly questioned why Zheng Bei had abandoned him, causing him great pain.
In his memories, the night was filled with heavy winter snow, while in reality, it was a summer night with icy rain. Gu Yi Ran brought Zheng Bei home, telling him he had done nothing wrong and didn't need to carry the burden of past sorrows; life was still long. Meanwhile, Zhao Xiao Guang took Zheng Nan to buy videotapes, unexpectedly encountering a raid on illegal activities.
The investigation team found themselves at a standstill, but Zheng Bei and Gu Yi Ran thought of Jiang Xiao Hai, Qin Yi's godson, believing he might lead them to Qin Yi's whereabouts.
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