Love Song in Winter Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Love Song in Winter Synopsis

Lu Yan, an anaesthesiologist, accidentally encounters her long-deceased friend Deng Man during a night shift. 

Since then, many strange things have happened around her. As the investigation deepens, Lu Yan's ex-boyfriend, police officer Jiang Chengyi, is also involved.

Together, they uncover the truth that has been hidden for eight years...

Love Song in Winter Recap

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The dormitory of Jiangcheng People's Hospital. During her lunch break, Lu Yan, an anesthesiologist, dreamt of setting off fireworks with her ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, she was notified of an emergency case. Lu Yan quickly put on her white coat and rushed out of the dormitory. She performed two surgeries in a row and then received a notification from Director Han to discuss the surgical plan with the patient's family.

Upon arriving at the meeting room, just as Director Han was about to introduce the patient's condition, Lu Yan noticed that the family members were none other than her ex-boyfriend Jiang Chengyi and his mother. Both felt a bit awkward upon meeting each other, but Director Han, unaware of their relationship, proceeded with formal introductions. Director Han explained in detail the condition of Jiang Chengyi’s father.

Although the tumor was benign, timely removal was undoubtedly the best treatment, and now was the optimal time for surgery. Lu Yan followed up by emphasizing the potential risks of the surgery, which were within the normal range. Jiang’s mother hesitated, torn between wanting her husband to avoid suffering and hoping for a quick recovery. Suddenly, Jiang Chengyi firmly objected to the surgery, reasoning that his father’s high blood pressure made him unlikely to withstand it.

He insisted on resorting to medication unless absolutely necessary. Seeing the strong resistance from the family, Director Han asked Lu Yan to escort them back to the ward and explain the benefits of surgery along the way. Lu Yan told Jiang Chengyi that if he had any issues with her, he could request a different anesthesiologist. Jiang Chengyi replied that he didn’t consider her significant; he simply refused to accept the surgery.

Back in the ward, Jiang’s father inquired about his condition. Jiang Chengyi and his mother refrained from mentioning the surgery. Jiang’s father then told his son that during his short hospital stay, his wife had added nearly all the single female doctors in the hospital on WeChat, hoping to find him a match. At this point, Jiang’s mother recalled Lu Yan, who had just explained the anesthesia risks.

She remarked that Lu Yan was not only beautiful but also had high emotional intelligence, adding that a future daughter-in-law like her would eliminate potential mother-in-law conflicts. She even encouraged Jiang Chengyi to get to know Lu Yan better. After work that evening, Lu Yan received a call from her friend Tang Jie. Tang’s fiancé, Da Zhong, had invited Jiang Chengyi to be the best man at their wedding, meaning the two would inevitably meet.

Tang Jie wanted to inform Lu Yan in advance. Lu Yan responded nonchalantly, saying it didn’t matter to her. The next day, a man behaving strangely suddenly ran into the hospital lobby. He rolled on the floor, clutching his stomach and shouting in pain. Jiang Chengyi happened to pass by and noticed that the man’s abdomen was abnormally swollen. Lifting his shirt, Jiang Chengyi found a timed bomb strapped to the man.

The man, now on the verge of unconsciousness due to the pain, prompted Jiang Chengyi to grab a passing nurse, instruct her to notify the director immediately. Simultaneously, he reported the incident to the police and informed hospital leadership of the situation. The bomb disposal experts were on their way, but the timer showed only 14 minutes left, far too short to wait for their arrival. Director Han diagnosed the man with a ruptured spleen, requiring immediate surgery.

Jiang Chengyi, who had a year of bomb disposal training during an internship, was asked to assist in performing surgery and defusing the bomb under expert remote guidance. To minimize the number of doctors near the patient, Lu Yan volunteered to join. The surgery began. After the patient was anesthetized, Director Han quickly removed the spleen. Jiang Chengyi asked the medical staff to leave, staying behind to dismantle the bomb himself.

Lu Yan insisted on remaining to monitor the patient’s blood pressure. Under remote guidance, the experts instructed them to cut two wires simultaneously; otherwise, it would trigger an explosion. Lu Yan picked up surgical scissors again, ready to work alongside Jiang Chengyi. Although Jiang Chengyi didn’t want Lu Yan to take the risk, her determined gaze convinced him. Besides, it would be difficult for him to cut both wires alone.

The two of them held surgical scissors and, with only 10 seconds left on the timer, successfully cut the wires. Jiang Chengyi removed the detonator and took it outside the hospital for disposal. Meanwhile, Director Han led the team back to the operating room to continue treating the patient’s wounds. After the surgery, Lu Yan hurried outside to find Jiang Chengyi.

Lu Yan ran outside the hospital, looking around anxiously. Suddenly, she heard Jiang Chengyi’s voice greeting her. She was about to respond when she saw Jiang Chengyi heading directly toward a group of colleagues. One of them, Liu Hao, informed him that Chief Xing would be arriving soon and that the emergency had been resolved. The group then returned to the ward. Chief Xing took the opportunity to visit Jiang Chengyi’s father, as they were old colleagues.

He thanked Jiang’s father for raising an excellent police officer. After seeing Chief Xing off, Jiang’s father suddenly announced his decision to undergo surgery. Jiang Chengyi analyzed the potential risks of the operation, but his father argued that everything in life comes with risks and that hesitation would lead nowhere. Moreover, conservative treatment would likely result in a relapse. After hearing his father’s decision, Jiang Chengyi scheduled a new discussion with Director Han about the surgical treatment plan.

Later that evening, while Lu Yan was out for a run, her close friend Tang Jie called, reminding her to be on time the next day as a bridesmaid. Tang Jie also asked if she had already seen Jiang Chengyi, but Lu Yan did not answer. On the day of Zhong Wenxuan and Tang Jie’s wedding, the bridesmaids gathered in the dressing room to help Tang Jie adjust her wedding gown.

Old classmates Ding Jing and another female classmate arrived, presenting an expensive gift for the couple. However, the bridesmaids didn’t seem to welcome them. Ding Jing, dressed to impress, asked if Jiang Chengyi was attending the wedding. Tang Jie quickly confirmed and suggested Ding Jing chat with him outside. After Ding Jing left, the bridesmaids began gossiping, calling Ding Jing insincere and mocking her for chasing Jiang Chengyi unrequitedly for four years during university.

Jiang Chengyi, leaving the hospital, was about to start his car when he noticed Lu Yan waiting for a ride nearby. He offered her a lift. During the drive, Zhong Wenxuan called to inform Lu Yan that Jiang Chengyi would also be at the wedding. Since Jiang Chengyi had previously inquired about Lu Yan a few times, the two felt awkward sitting together in the car. Jiang Chengyi quickly clarified the situation with Zhong Wenxuan, who promptly hung up.

Glancing at Lu Yan, Jiang Chengyi admitted that he had asked about her and believed she owed him an explanation for their sudden breakup back then. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, Lu Yan got out first while Jiang Chengyi went to park the car. Meanwhile, their old classmate Wen Peng also arrived at the hotel. As soon as he stepped out of the car, he spotted Lu Yan.

Wen Peng purposely slipped a piece of branded chocolate—Lu Yan’s favorite—into his pocket. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wen Peng handed her the chocolate, explaining that he had also sponsored Zhong Wenxuan’s wedding favors. As they prepared to take the elevator upstairs, Jiang Chengyi joined them, handing Lu Yan the lipstick she had accidentally left in his car. Wen Peng asked Lu Yan about their mentor, Director Han, and suggested they schedule a dinner with him sometime.

The three arrived together at Zhong Wenxuan and Tang Jie’s side, drawing surprise from their old classmates at their joint appearance. Jiang Chengyi explained it was just a coincidence. During the wedding ceremony, Zhong Wenxuan became so nervous that he completely forgot his vows. Standing behind him, Jiang Chengyi quietly prompted him line by line. Facing the groom, Lu Yan couldn’t help but notice that Jiang Chengyi’s words seemed directed at her. Jiang Chengyi, in turn, was reminded of the time he had proposed to Lu Yan for the first time.

When it was time to take their seats, Jiang Chengyi deliberately saved a spot for Lu Yan but didn’t explicitly mention it since she hadn’t come out of the dressing room yet. When Lu Yan came out with Tang Jie, Ding Jing quickly took the seat next to Jiang Chengyi. Seeing this, Wen Peng immediately invited Lu Yan to sit beside him. Jiang Chengyi barely interacted with Ding Jing, giving only perfunctory answers to her questions.

Eventually, he arranged for a few classmates to drink with Ding Jing, distancing himself by a few seats. Some female classmates asked Wen Peng about his newly opened talent agency, expressing admiration for his thriving career. Lu Yan suddenly remembered the popular celebrity Yu Baifeng, whom one of her colleagues was eager to get an autograph from.

Wen Peng mentioned that Yu Baifeng was signed to his agency and that it would be easy for him to get an autographed photo for Lu Yan. Jiang Chengyi kept his gaze fixed on Lu Yan. Seeing this, Zhong Wenxuan and Tang Jie, knowing Jiang’s feelings, encouraged him to be more courageous.

Tang Jie, observing the subtle rivalry between Jiang Chengyi and Wen Peng over Lu Yan, recalled a video stored on her computer of a legendary basketball match between the engineering and medical schools during university—essentially a showdown between Jiang Chengyi and Wen Peng. She decided to play it on the screen in the wedding hall. The video showed Jiang Chengyi and Wen Peng competing fiercely for the ball, with the game reaching an intense climax.

During a break, a cheerleading team of female students performed to boost morale. Both Jiang Chengyi and Wen Peng’s gazes were fixed on Lu Yan. Meanwhile, Ding Jing forgot her moves and struggled to keep up with the routine. To help Ding Jing out of the awkward situation, Lu Yan and Tang Jie spontaneously led the group in an improvised dance, turning it into a lively folk dance.

The video ended on a freeze frame of Zhong Wenxuan and Tang Jie’s wedding photo. Someone suggested that Tang Jie recreate the cheerleading dance. Without hesitation, Tang Jie pulled several bridesmaids onto the stage, leading them in a performance. The men in the audience joined in, creating a lively atmosphere. As the photos continued to loop on the screen, a picture of Lu Yan, Tang Jie, and Deng Man suddenly appeared, causing the crowd to fall silent.

Tang Jie explained that she had asked for Deng Man’s photo to be deleted in advance but didn’t know why it was still there. Feeling suffocated, Lu Yan ran to the hotel entrance for fresh air, with Wen Peng quickly following her. Wen Peng offered to take Lu Yan home, but she said she could manage on her own.

At that moment, Jiang Chengyi also came running out of the hotel and firmly grabbed Lu Yan, insisting on taking her home. After walking her to her door, he draped his coat over her shoulders, left his phone number, and told her to contact him if she needed anything. Back home, Lu Yan couldn’t help but think about Deng Man. During university, when Jiang Chengyi was her boyfriend, Deng Man and Tang Jie were her close friends.

One day, Lu Yan accidentally discovered that Deng Man also liked Jiang Chengyi and begged Lu Yan to give her a chance. Lu Yan firmly refused to step aside. That very night, Deng Man attempted suicide. Believing that Deng Man had taken such an extreme step out of resentment, Lu Yan broke up with Jiang Chengyi. In the middle of the night, Lu Yan received a call from a colleague, asking her to rush to the hospital for an emergency case.

As she hurried out of the house, she accidentally bumped into someone on the street. Looking up, she was stunned to see Deng Man, whose pale face stared at her unblinkingly. Deng Man said she would never forgive her and walked away. Just then, Lu Yan’s phone rang again, with her colleague informing her that the emergency case had been canceled. When she looked back, Deng Man was already walking farther and farther away.

After a restless night, Lu Yan felt unwell at work the next day. A colleague invited her to lunch, but before they left, Jiang Chengyi came to her office to discuss his family member’s condition. The colleague left early, leaving Lu Yan and Jiang Chengyi alone. They talked on the balcony, and Jiang Chengyi accidentally mentioned Deng Man. Lu Yan became visibly upset, saying she didn’t need any comfort. She then cut off the conversation and returned to her office alone.

Jiang Chengyi’s mother approached Lu Yan to request a surgery for Jiang Chengyi’s father. She explained that during a previous arrest operation, Jiang’s father was accidentally injured. When he was taken to the hospital, it was discovered that he had a pre-existing condition. Since the situation was urgent, surgery was necessary, but complications like excessive bleeding arose during the procedure.

The ordeal caused Jiang’s mother to faint several times, worrying both Jiang Chengyi and his father to the point that they became reluctant to pursue surgery again. However, for the sake of her husband’s recovery, Jiang’s mother wanted Lu Yan to schedule the surgery as soon as possible. Jiang Chengyi happened to walk by as Lu Yan sought his opinion. He encouraged her to focus on her work and agreed to the surgery for his father.

Jiang’s mother also asked to add Lu Yan on WeChat to consult her if needed, and Lu Yan agreed. Back in the hospital room, a nurse explained the precautions for the next day’s surgery. Jiang’s father noticed that his wife was no longer asking the single nurses for their contact information and asked why. Jiang’s mother replied that she had found the ideal daughter-in-law: Lu Yan. Hearing this, Jiang Chengyi blushed with embarrassment.

With nothing else to do that evening, Jiang Chengyi decided to go home and rest. After work, as Lu Yan passed through the alley where she had previously encountered Deng Man, she intentionally rang her bike bell and hummed a little tune to give herself some courage. However, as she turned a corner filled with electrical parts, she accidentally fell off her bike. Someone immediately helped her up, scaring her so much that she trembled.

Looking up, she realized it was Jiang Chengyi, who had just climbed down from a ladder after replacing a lightbulb in the alley. Shortly afterward, a neighborhood committee member came by to thank Jiang Chengyi for volunteering to help. Lu Yan then learned that Jiang Chengyi had replaced the light because he saw her injured arm and wanted to ensure her safety.

Jiang Chengyi, trying to keep the conversation going, suggested that Lu Yan accompany him to buy some fruit for his father. At the fruit stand, the vendor, who was familiar with Lu Yan, asked if she had started dating. Embarrassed, Lu Yan quickly clarified that she was simply helping a patient’s family member buy fruit. Afterward, Jiang Chengyi insisted on escorting Lu Yan home. Lu Yan was still riding the bike Jiang Chengyi had gifted her long ago.

When asked, she mentioned that the bike was in great condition and throwing it away would be a waste. This made Jiang Chengyi reminisce about the time in college when he gave her the bike during their passionate relationship. Knowing she still kept it filled him with warmth. That night, Lu Yan heard her doorbell ring. When she opened the door, no one was there. She closed the door and returned to bed, but the doorbell rang again.

She asked who was there, but no one responded. Quietly, she approached the door and peeked through the peephole, only to see a strange man wearing a black face mask. Terrified, Lu Yan stepped back and immediately called the property management. The security team checked the area but found no suspicious individuals. The property manager suggested it might have been a drunk person knocking on the wrong door and reassured her not to worry but to report any further incidents.

The next morning, as Lu Yan was leaving for work, she found her bicycle dismantled. She immediately reported the incident to the police. Jiang Chengyi came to pick her up for work and noticed the police on-site. On the way, Lu Yan mentioned the late-night doorbell incident. Jiang Chengyi firmly told her to call him first next time. At the hospital, Jiang Chengyi and his mother accompanied his father to the operating room.

Lu Yan, along with the medical team, pushed Jiang’s father into surgery. The operation went smoothly. Soon, Director Han came out with a smile, delivering the good news. He praised Lu Yan for effectively managing the patient’s blood pressure, which ensured the procedure’s success. Jiang Chengyi looked at Lu Yan standing by the operating room door, his eyes filled with gratitude. After Jiang’s father regained consciousness, Lu Yan explained some post-surgery precautions.

As she left the hospital room, Jiang Chengyi followed her, fetched a bottle of water from the dispenser, and thanked her once again. He then mentioned that his decision to attend the police academy back then was inspired by his desire to protect her.

Jiang Chengyi recalled the first time he met Lu Yan. He was playing basketball at the gym when a group of girls started running laps around the court. Among them, one girl caught his eye because her movements were stiff, and she even fell before finishing a single lap. At the time, he found it amusing. Sometime later, while buying food for a classmate on a pedestrian street, he saw the same girl shouting to catch a thief.

Her running was still slow, and she couldn’t catch up. Jiang Chengyi decided to help, chased down the thief, and subdued him. Only then did he learn that the brave girl was Lu Yan. After introducing themselves, they discovered they were schoolmates. From that moment on, Jiang Chengyi, who had been idling his days away in the engineering department, was inspired. He started training on the track daily and preparing early for the police academy’s postgraduate exams.

He often saw Lu Yan at the track memorizing her books. Her memory wasn’t great, and she would sometimes spend a whole week trying to memorize one chapter. He also heard she frequently failed exams. When Lu Yan heard him recounting these memories, she felt a little embarrassed since they weren’t her proudest moments. She quickly stopped him from continuing. Jiang Chengyi walked her home and noticed Officer Qin Yue waiting for them at the entrance of the neighborhood.

Since Qin Yue and Jiang Chengyi were alumni from the same school, Qin Yue had brought along a set of video surveillance equipment to install on Lu Yan’s door to prevent further late-night disturbances. At the hospital duty room, Wang Qianqian received a call from the delivery driver about her food order. When she went to pick it up, she noticed her boyfriend Zhang Xiaohui’s name on the bag.

After the delivery person left, she saw through the reflection on the glass that Zhang Xiaohui was hiding behind a pillar. She confronted him, asking why he didn’t deliver it directly. Zhang Xiaohui, being overly suspicious, often doubted Wang Qianqian’s loyalty and used petty tactics to monitor her. Furious, Wang Qianqian told him they were incompatible. Things escalated when Zhang Xiaohui accidentally mentioned wanting her to quit her job, further angering her.

As Zhang Xiaohui continued to pester Wang Qianqian, Lu Yan passed by the lobby on her way to her morning shift. She immediately intervened, pushing Zhang Xiaohui away and scaring him off by threatening to call security. Despite Zhang Xiaohui’s departure, Wang Qianqian remained upset. She had been considering breaking up with him but worried he might bother her parents since he knew their address. Lu Yan suggested consulting a police officer.

Wang Qianqian suddenly thought of Jiang Chengyi and asked Lu Yan for help. Lu Yan encouraged her to speak to Jiang Chengyi directly, as face-to-face communication would be more effective. To cheer up Wang Qianqian, Lu Yan called Wen Peng to ask about an autograph. Wen Peng promised a surprise that evening, leading Lu Yan to guess he had secured the autograph. She invited Wang Qianqian to dinner, mentioning the surprise.

At the time, Wang Qianqian was asking Jiang Chengyi for advice on how to safely break up with Zhang Xiaohui. Upon hearing about the surprise, Wang Qianqian immediately agreed to dinner, and Jiang Chengyi refrained from asking further questions. Back at the hospital room, Jiang Chengyi couldn’t help but wonder who Lu Yan might be meeting. His mind wandered as he imagined various scenarios. That evening, Wen Peng brought Lu Yan and Wang Qianqian to his private club.

Since he had a meeting, he let them order food freely. While Lu Yan was in the restroom, Yu Baifeng suddenly approached Wang Qianqian and invited her to dinner. Overwhelmed, Wang Qianqian realized this was the surprise Lu Yan had planned for her. Yu Baifeng even thoughtfully cut her steak and handed it to her, leaving Wang Qianqian feeling like it was all too surreal. She stepped outside to compose herself.

As Lu Yan was eating, she suddenly heard Wang Qianqian screaming for help. Running out, she saw Zhang Xiaohui had found them and was violently pulling Wang Qianqian’s hair. Lu Yan instructed Yu Baifeng to call the police and stepped forward to push Zhang Xiaohui away, but Zhang grabbed her by the throat instead. Wen Peng quietly approached Zhang Xiaohui from behind, forcefully pulling him away. Using a napkin-wrapped hand, he seized the knife Zhang was holding.

The police arrived quickly and took Zhang Xiaohui into custody after Wang Qianqian explained the situation. Lu Yan bandaged Wen Peng’s injured hand. Once Wang Qianqian calmed down, the two women went home together. The next day, Wen Peng brought coffee for all the doctors. Around noon, he asked Lu Yan to accompany him to the cafeteria for lunch. Jiang Chengyi, also in the cafeteria to buy food, saw the two eating together at the same table and felt uneasy.

Back in the hospital room, he secretly used his mother’s phone to text Lu Yan, asking her to visit. When Lu Yan arrived at the room, Jiang’s mother immediately picked up on her son’s feelings. After checking on Jiang’s father, Lu Yan noted that his blood pressure was slightly high but found nothing unusual.

Jiang’s mother then started asking about Lu Yan’s dinner the previous night, advising her not to casually interact with strangers and hinting that someone familiar and reliable, especially someone from within the system, would be a better choice—all indirectly referring to Jiang Chengyi. That evening, Jiang Chengyi found an old phone filled with photos of him and Lu Yan during their relationship. As he reminisced, Director Huo called to inform him that he had only one day of leave remaining.

Jiang Chengyi made a banner to thank Lu Yan and brought it to her office. However, Lu Yan insisted that the banner should acknowledge the entire medical staff. If he wanted to thank her personally, she suggested writing a commendation letter instead. Hearing this, Jiang Chengyi pulled out a prepared letter from his pocket and teased her for being fame-driven. They exchanged a few playful jabs before Jiang Chengyi offered to treat her to dinner that evening.

Just then, the emergency room called Lu Yan for assistance, and she had to leave in a hurry. Jiang Chengyi returned to his father’s hospital room, where his mother mentioned that Ding Jing was coming to visit. Reluctantly, he went to the elevator to meet her. Meanwhile, Lu Yan, after finishing her work in the emergency room, remembered Jiang Chengyi’s dinner invitation and went to his father’s room to see if he was still there.

Jiang’s mother warmly welcomed Lu Yan and introduced her to Ding Jing. Lu Yan recognized Ding Jing as her university classmate, and the two greeted each other. Jiang’s mother then realized that Lu Yan and Jiang Chengyi must have been classmates as well. Ding Jing quickly clarified that she and Jiang Chengyi had known each other since middle school and had grown up together. Sensing Ding Jing’s subtle hostility, Lu Yan checked on Jiang’s father’s condition and left the room.

Ding Jing then asked Jiang Chengyi to have a meal with her. Jiang’s father encouraged the idea, but Jiang’s mother looked unimpressed. After leaving the room, Jiang Chengyi told Ding Jing not to waste her time on him and postponed the meal, walking away before she could respond. Back in her office, Lu Yan found a note left by Jiang Chengyi inviting her to dinner. After work, she happily left the hospital with him.

Wen Peng called to invite Lu Yan to dinner as well, but she explained she had plans. Just as she hung up, Wen Peng saw Lu Yan getting into Jiang Chengyi’s car. The two returned to their university campus, where they saw a boy jogging with his girlfriend on the track. The scene reminded them of their past relationship. They later went to a nearby street to eat spicy hotpot.

Jiang Chengyi still remembered Lu Yan loved wide noodles and gave her all the noodles from his bowl. After dinner, they stopped at the school gate, where Jiang Chengyi brought up the time when Lu Yan confessed her feelings to him at the same spot. Back then, Jiang Chengyi hesitated to acknowledge his true feelings, fearing that his police academy studies might limit their time together.

Lu Yan, however, believed that true love didn’t depend on how long they could be together. She had asked him to wait for her at the finish line of the 3000-meter race during the school sports day if he wanted to be with her. Coming out of their shared memories, Jiang Chengyi finally mustered the courage to ask Lu Yan why she had initiated the breakup back then. Lu Yan didn’t answer, and Jiang Chengyi didn’t press further.

Instead, he told her that his leave had ended, and he would be returning to work the next day. The next day, before boarding his flight, Jiang Chengyi thought Lu Yan might come to the airport to see him off. However, Lu Yan got caught up with an emergency case. By the time she finished, the flight was about to depart, but she still rushed to the airport.

Running into the terminal, she learned that Jiang Chengyi’s flight had already taken off. Feeling a wave of disappointment, she suddenly heard someone call her name. Turning around, she saw Jiang Chengyi standing behind her. Jiang Chengyi explained that eight years ago, he had waited for her but hadn’t had the courage to take the next step. This time, he wanted to try again. He then revealed that he had received a transfer order to return to Ninghai. Overwhelmed with both excitement and nervousness, Lu Yan listened as Jiang Chengyi asked to officially exchange contact information with her.

When Lu Yan returned home at night, she noticed a strange man following her. Sensing someone behind her, she quickened her pace and ran to a familiar fruit stand near an alley, shouting that someone was following her. The fruit stand owner grabbed a stool and ran to the door but saw nothing unusual.

Left with no choice, Lu Yan bid farewell to the fruit stand owner and returned home alone, while the strange man hid behind a large tree, watching everything. Wang Qianqian was already waiting at the door for Lu Yan to come home. To thank Lu Yan for letting her stay in the rental apartment, Wang Qianqian had prepared a delicious meal. Lu Yan took a photo of the meal and sent it to her mother.

Wang Qianqian mentioned that she had already checked out a place that Wen Peng helped her find and planned to move in a few days. Bringing up Wen Peng, Wang Qianqian couldn’t help but ask Lu Yan if she had feelings for him. Lu Yan didn’t hide anything, admitting that Jiang Chengyi was her ex-boyfriend, and seeing him again brought back memories of the past. When Wang Qianqian asked why they had broken up, Lu Yan avoided elaborating.

Wang Qianqian guessed it was a painful memory and didn’t press further but reminded Lu Yan that if she had emotional scars, she needed to face them to heal completely. Avoiding problems forever would only make her weaker. Meanwhile, the Ninghai sub-bureau had located the suspect behind the timed bomb incident. The suspect was hiding in a nearby residential area, and due to the dense population, firearms couldn’t be used. Jiang Chengyi led the team to apprehend the suspect.

During the arrest, the suspect, Liu Yuming, attempted to jump from the balcony but accidentally fell from a great height, resulting in injuries to his neck and brain. He was quickly taken to the hospital by several police officers. Head Nurse Qiao Rui felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing the suspect. During surgery, Jiang Chengyi asked Qin Yue to guard outside while he went to the duty room to inquire about Liu Yuming.

Qiao Rui remembered that Liu Yuming had visited the hospital with his mother a year ago for an examination and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. His mother insisted that Liu Yuming was highly intelligent and couldn’t possibly have such an illness, but the diagnosis was irrefutable. After taking some sedatives without further treatment options, Liu Yuming stopped visiting the hospital. Jiang Chengyi’s successful capture of the suspect earned him recognition.

The team leader suggested celebrating with dinner, inviting everyone to bring their families. Qin Yue casually mentioned that Jiang Chengyi would probably bring Lu Yan, prompting colleagues to inquire about their relationship. Jiang Chengyi explained that they were university classmates and were now just ordinary friends. Wang Qianqian’s leave ended, and she returned to work at the hospital. Lu Yan asked about Zhang Xiaohui’s situation, and Wang Qianqian revealed that Zhang Xiaohui had been detained.

She also discovered that Zhang Xiaohui’s ex-girlfriend hadn’t broken up with him due to infidelity but because she couldn’t tolerate his controlling behavior. Even after their breakup, Zhang Xiaohui had stalked her for over six months, making Wang Qianqian grateful to have recognized his true nature early on. While passing by the hospital, Jiang Chengyi brought two portions of noodles for Lu Yan and Wang Qianqian.

Wang Qianqian suggested holding a dinner to thank everyone who had helped her with the move, inviting Jiang Chengyi to accompany Lu Yan. That evening, Wang Qianqian, Tang Jie, and others arrived early. Head Nurse Qiao Rui led a discussion about Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan’s relationship, which Wen Peng didn’t want to hear, so he stepped out to buy drinks for everyone.

Jiang Chengyi hadn’t planned to attend due to overtime but left work early and headed to the restaurant, where he ran into Lu Yan at the door. They entered together, with Wen Peng following behind them after returning with drinks. During dinner, Head Nurse Qiao Rui couldn’t resist asking about Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan’s relationship. Zhong Wenxuan, after having too much to drink, blurted out that the two had dated in university. Tang Jie quickly tried to stop him, and Wang Qianqian raised her glass to toast, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

When Wang Qianqian proposed a toast, she mentioned how Wen Peng had helped her and Lu Yan out of a difficult situation. It was the first time Jiang Chengyi heard of it, so he asked Lu Yan for the details. During the meal, both Wen Peng and Jiang Chengyi vied to serve Lu Yan food, each unwilling to back down. After dinner, the two competed over who would escort Lu Yan back to the hospital.

Jiang Chengyi mentioned that he was heading to the hospital to visit his father and could take Lu Yan along. Wen Peng wanted to argue further, but Tang Jie intervened, asking Wen Peng to take her and Zhong Wenxuan, who had drunk too much, back home instead. Her true intention was to give Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan some time alone, and Wen Peng had no choice but to agree. On the way home, Tang Jie suddenly brought up Deng Man.

She mentioned how Deng Man's suicide had caused a lot of pain to many people, leading her to leave the country for a few years, while Lu Yan also fell into a period of depression. Wen Peng, aware of the close bond between the three, could only offer a few comforting words. Meanwhile, as Jiang Chengyi drove Lu Yan home, he inquired about her relationship with Wang Qianqian. Lu Yan shared how she and Wang Qianqian became close friends.

While they were talking, Lu Yan noticed a woman who looked very much like Deng Man passing by. She immediately asked Jiang Chengyi to stop the car and searched the area but found no trace of her. Jiang Chengyi got out of the car and told Lu Yan that she had probably mistaken someone else for Deng Man. Lu Yan firmly denied it, explaining that she had also run into Deng Man half a month ago in an alley.

At that time, she thought it was just her imagination, but this time she was certain it was Deng Man. She also shared that she had been followed several times recently. Alarmed, Jiang Chengyi took Lu Yan's phone and set his number as her emergency contact, instructing her to call him immediately if it happened again. That night, Tang Jie couldn’t stop thinking about how Jiang Chengyi and Wen Peng were competing for Lu Yan's attention.

Determined to help Lu Yan sort out her feelings, she invited Lu Yan out for a meal the next day with Zhong Wenxuan. During the meal, Tang Jie asked about Lu Yan's thoughts on the two men. Lu Yan hesitated and couldn’t give a clear answer. Zhong Wenxuan revealed that Jiang Chengyi had visited Jin Du several times before returning to Ninghai, during which he seemed lost and burdened, clearly unable to move on from Lu Yan.

Zhong Wenxuan added that since Jiang Chengyi reunited with Lu Yan in Ninghai, his entire demeanor had changed. Tang Jie quickly pointed out that during the eight years after their breakup, Lu Yan wasn’t happy either, suggesting that the two were still well-matched. Seeing that Lu Yan still had feelings for Jiang Chengyi, Zhong Wenxuan met with Jiang Chengyi for a meal and told him that Lu Yan went jogging at Seaside Park every morning.

Although Jiang Chengyi appeared indifferent, he showed up at the park the next morning, where he indeed ran into Lu Yan jogging. Hoping to run and listen to music with her, Jiang Chengyi was surprised when Lu Yan handed him both of her earphones and left him to listen to a news report about animal heart transplants the entire morning. Back home, Zhong Wenxuan offered Jiang Chengyi advice on dating, suggesting he invite Lu Yan to a classy restaurant for dinner.

While Jiang Chengyi was debating whether to text her, Lu Yan unexpectedly sent him a message. Both hesitated, typing and deleting their invitations several times before finally sending each other a message at the same time suggesting a weekend dinner. Jiang Chengyi even called to confirm, and after the call, both were thrilled. When the weekend arrived, Lu Yan tried on nearly all her clothes, reminding herself that it wasn’t an official date, just a casual dinner.

However, she couldn’t suppress her excitement. As she was picking an outfit, Dr. Huang called, asking her to help with an emergency case. Lu Yan had no choice but to rush to the hospital, calling Jiang Chengyi on the way to explain the situation. Jiang Chengyi assured her he’d wait for her to finish her work, even if it meant having a late-night meal.

Just after the call, Qin Yue rang Jiang Chengyi to report that a long-surveilled hideout was ready to be raided that afternoon. Jiang Chengyi had to head to the police station, leaving a message for Lu Yan that they’d have dinner once they both finished their work. By the time Lu Yan completed her surgery, it was already evening.

She went to the agreed restaurant to wait for Jiang Chengyi, but her phone had run out of battery, and the restaurant eventually closed for the day. Lu Yan stepped outside to wait at the door. Meanwhile, Jiang Chengyi, having wrapped up his tasks, rushed to the restaurant, repeatedly calling Lu Yan but unable to get through. Arriving at the closed restaurant, he was feeling disheartened when Lu Yan suddenly called his name from behind.

Surprised, Jiang Chengyi turned around, and the two ended up enjoying barbecue at a nearby food stall. The next day, Jiang Chengyi applied for an investigation permit for the area where Lu Yan lived. Reviewing surveillance footage, he indeed saw a woman who closely resembled Deng Man. That evening, as Lu Yan retrieved her repaired bicycle and rode home, she once again noticed a strange man following her through the alley.

At the same time, Jiang Chengyi called to share the investigation results. While they were on the phone, the man suddenly pushed Lu Yan from behind.

Jiang Chengyi heard the sound of a phone hitting the ground and guessed that Lu Yan was being followed again. He immediately ran toward Lu Yan's neighborhood. After being pushed to the ground by the stranger, Lu Yan took advantage of a brief moment of distraction to stand up and run away. She hid behind a shelf and dared not make a sound. Jiang Chengyi found Lu Yan's bicycle and her phone on the ground and continued searching nearby.

Meanwhile, the stranger found Lu Yan and used ether to knock her unconscious. He dragged her to a corner, unbuttoned her clothes, and took a photo of the unconscious Lu Yan in disarray. Just as he was about to leave, Jiang Chengyi spotted him. Jiang Chengyi shoved the man away, and the two got into a fight. The stranger pulled out a support rod, causing plastic pipes to fall from above.

Jiang Chengyi shielded Lu Yan with his body, and the man used the opportunity to escape. Jiang Chengyi rushed Lu Yan to the hospital. Wen Peng, who happened to be there looking for Lu Yan, saw her unconscious and stayed with Jiang Chengyi by her bedside. After an examination, it was confirmed that Lu Yan was physically unharmed, and she woke up a while later. Jiang Chengyi and Wen Peng escorted Lu Yan back home.

While Lu Yan rested in her bedroom, the two men stayed in the living room, neither willing to leave first. Wen Peng even had his driver buy ingredients to cook porridge for Lu Yan. Hearing their conversation from the bedroom, Lu Yan told them that Tang Jie would arrive soon and suggested they leave so she could get some rest. As they went downstairs, they ran into Tang Jie.

Jiang Chengyi gave her a few instructions and watched her go upstairs. The next morning, Lu Yan had fully recovered and got up earlier than Tang Jie. While Lu Yan was tidying up, Tang Jie woke up and, seeing that Lu Yan was fine, felt relieved. Lu Yan told Tang Jie to get some more rest while she left for work. At the entrance of her neighborhood, Lu Yan saw Jiang Chengyi's car.

When she approached, she found him asleep in the car and realized he had kept watch all night. Warmth surged through her heart. Embarrassed, Jiang Chengyi made an excuse, claiming he was patrolling nearby. Qin Yue called Jiang Chengyi with updates on the stalker. Jiang Chengyi hurried back to the station and learned that the man was named Wang Qiang, a non-local with a history of theft.

Wang Qiang sometimes sold private photos of women online for profit but had been evicted from his rental due to six months of unpaid rent. Jiang Chengyi concluded that Wang Qiang would need a place to sleep at night and ordered officers to increase their search efforts in local internet cafes and cheap inns. That evening, as Jiang Chengyi prepared to eat at home, his mother asked about his progress with Lu Yan.

Jiang Chengyi explained that Lu Yan had been dealing with some issues, so they hadn’t interacted much. His mother pointed out that girls need companionship during difficult times and urged Jiang Chengyi to stop eating at home and go be with Lu Yan. Jiang Chengyi drove to the hospital and waited outside, not wanting to disturb her if she was busy.

Lu Yan, heading to the lobby to get some water, noticed Jiang Chengyi's car and went over to greet him. Jiang Chengyi had brought her a cake. When Lu Yan learned he hadn’t eaten yet, she shared the cake with him. They chatted like a couple in love, but their moment was interrupted when Qin Yue called to inform Jiang Chengyi that Wang Qiang’s hideout had been located.

Jiang Chengyi left in a hurry, asking Lu Yan to return to the hospital. In the underground parking lot of an internet cafe, Ding Jing met with Wang Qiang. She threw 50,000 yuan in cash from her car, but Wang Qiang complained it was too little. Ding Jing promised that if Lu Yan’s reputation was completely destroyed, she would pay him more afterward. In a corner of the parking lot, a woman resembling Deng Man secretly photographed their transaction.

Shortly after, Jiang Chengyi spotted Wang Qiang heading back to the internet cafe. Calling out his name, Jiang Chengyi startled Wang Qiang, who fled. The Deng Man lookalike stopped following and slipped out through a backdoor leading to a busy street, where Wang Qiang disappeared into the crowd. Jiang Chengyi and Qin Yue returned to the internet cafe to investigate Wang Qiang's personal information. Wang Qiang had moved to another budget inn.

That evening, a woman with an alluring profile picture sent him a friend request. After Wang Qiang accepted, the woman suggested meeting in person. Without hesitation, Wang Qiang agreed. A few days later, at a bar, the woman, dressed in a revealing short skirt, caught Wang Qiang’s attention. Unable to resist, he secretly took photos of her from another table. To his surprise, the woman boldly walked over and asked to have dinner with him.

Wang Qiang invited the woman to order whatever she liked, but she expressed interest in seeing the photos he had secretly taken of her. As Wang Qiang retrieved the photos, Jiang Chengyi and his team suddenly appeared at the bar and swiftly subdued him. After Wang Qiang was taken away, Jiang Chengyi approached the woman to thank her. It turned out she was Yu Zheng, a professor at the police academy.

At Jiang Chengyi's request, she had agreed to help lure Wang Qiang. In the interrogation room, Qin Yue presented video evidence, but Wang Qiang initially denied everything. Jiang Chengyi then revealed records of Wang Qiang purchasing ether and the photos of women saved on his computer. Only then did Wang Qiang admit to profiting by selling private photos of women. However, regarding the repeated stalking of Lu Yan, Jiang Chengyi suspected Wang Qiang was working under someone’s orders.

Wang Qiang denied this, claiming he only followed Lu Yan because she was attractive and intended to sell her photos online. Seeing that Wang Qiang’s confession seemed sincere, Qin Yue asked how they should handle him. Jiang Chengyi believed Wang Qiang was somehow connected to the woman impersonating Deng Man and decided to have him detained in the holding facility for further investigation. At the hospital, Wen Peng brought two premiere tickets for Lu Yan and Wang Qianqian.

During lunch, Wang Qianqian lost interest upon learning that her idol Yu Baifeng wouldn’t be attending and suggested giving her ticket to Jiang Chengyi. Though Lu Yan was hesitant to accept, Wang Qianqian encouraged her. She pointed out that Lu Yan clearly liked Jiang Chengyi but was too shy to show it.

She advised Lu Yan to be braver, reminding her that doctors and police officers live high-risk lives, and a missed opportunity to express her feelings could lead to lifelong regret. That evening, Lu Yan called Jiang Chengyi, intending to invite him to the movie but too shy to be direct. She first asked about the stalker case before awkwardly bringing up the movie tickets. Jiang Chengyi happily agreed. The next day, Wang Qianqian helped Lu Yan apply light makeup. Dr.

Huang, nearby, noticed Lu Yan’s unusual behavior and curiously asked about it. Both women ignored him, knowing he was a gossip. Before leaving, Wang Qianqian advised Lu Yan to stop by the mall to buy a new dress. As soon as Lu Yan entered the mall, Jiang Chengyi, who had arrived early, spotted her. Embarrassed, Lu Yan turned and went downstairs to shop for a dress.

Jiang Chengyi quickly followed and paid for the dress while Lu Yan was chatting with the sales assistant. When the two arrived together at the ticket checkpoint, Wen Peng looked surprised. During the movie, Lu Yan rested her hand on the armrest between their seats. Noticing this, Jiang Chengyi placed his hand on the same armrest and gradually inched closer until their hands naturally intertwined. Meanwhile, Wen Peng reminisced about the first time he met Lu Yan during their university days.

At the time, his parents had just divorced, and his father took out his bad temper on him. Wen Peng had even contemplated suicide. On one rainy day, as he prepared to jump into a river, Lu Yan suddenly appeared behind him, held an umbrella over him, and spoke about how many younger students admired him. Her words gave him the strength to keep living.

Later, during a long-distance running test, Lu Yan was about to give up, but Wen Peng stood on the track cheering her on. They supported each other, providing one another with a lot of positive energy. After the premiere ended, Wen Peng gave an interview in which he mentioned how the film paid tribute to his university days and the naive feelings of first love. Many were touched by his deep affection.

Lu Yan, however, didn’t say much and simply wished Wen Peng great success at the box office. Jiang Chengyi offered to drive Lu Yan home. At the entrance to her neighborhood, he used the excuse of checking the surveillance cameras to follow her upstairs. Inside her apartment, Jiang Chengyi confessed that he had never gotten over her in the past eight years.

He explained that his anger at not being able to say goodbye to her after graduation was why he refused to transfer back to Ninghai. Lu Yan revealed that she had also been in love with him all along. The two shared a sweet kiss, finally rekindling their feelings for each other.

As Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan were kissing, the sudden ringing of a phone interrupted them. Qin Yue informed Jiang Chengyi that a report had come in about a body found in the artificial lake, preliminarily identified as Wang Qianqian. Lu Yan overheard parts of the conversation and froze in shock. Jiang Chengyi comforted her, saying there was no need to worry yet and that he would check the scene himself. The visibility at night was poor.

A cleaner passing by after work spotted the body floating in the lake and reported it to the police. Qin Yue and Liu Hao arrived at the scene but couldn’t locate Wang Qianqian’s phone. The next morning, the forensic report confirmed that Wang Qianqian had died from mechanical asphyxiation. Her phone was later found at the bottom of the artificial lake. Only a few footprints were discovered at the scene, and no additional leads were available.

Jiang Chengyi stressed the importance of acting within the golden 72-hour window to uncover more clues. At the hospital, Director Han held a meeting with the anesthesiology department, urging them to cooperate fully with the police investigation while also supporting Lu Yan emotionally. As he was speaking, Lu Yan unexpectedly walked into the office, looking deeply troubled.

Concerned that she might overthink things while home alone, Director Han felt somewhat reassured that she came to work but prohibited her from performing any surgeries for the time being. Jiang Chengyi and Qin Yue visited the hospital to take statements. Other than Head Nurse Qiao riding the same bus as Wang Qianqian after work that day, no one else had contact with her the night of the incident. Despite her poor state, Lu Yan also agreed to answer questions.

She explained that she had silenced her phone while watching a movie and missed two calls from Wang Qianqian that night. Wang Qianqian’s final message, asking for help, was only seen after Jiang Chengyi received the phone call. Overcome with guilt, Lu Yan regretted not discovering the situation earlier, believing she might have prevented the tragedy. At the station, further forensic analysis revealed that Wang Qianqian had been drugged with a non-controlled substance that left her unconscious.

Approximately ten minutes later, the incident was reported, giving investigators a clearer timeline of her death. Jiang Chengyi assigned officers to investigate different leads while he personally retraced the bus route Wang Qianqian had taken that night. The limited surveillance footage available presented significant challenges to the investigation. Liu Hao interrogated Zhang Xiaohui and discovered that he had transferred 1,000 yuan to a man before Wang Qianqian’s death.

Zhang Xiaohui admitted to purchasing a collectible knife from the man but denied the amount was sufficient to hire a killer. He tried to mislead the investigation with false accusations, providing no useful information. After a long day, Jiang Chengyi called Head Nurse Qiao, asking her to look after Lu Yan. That night, Lu Yan didn’t return home, so Head Nurse Qiao stayed with her in the hospital’s duty room.

The next day, Qin Yue sought Yu Zheng’s help to analyze the case. After their review, they concluded that Zhang Xiaohui was timid and lacked the courage to commit murder. Meanwhile, Wang Qianqian’s phone records were restored, revealing a call with Wen Peng the night of her death. The following day, Jiang Chengyi brought Yu Zheng, Qin Yue, and others to Wen Peng’s company. Coincidentally, Yu Baifeng was also there. Yu Zheng and Liu Hao interviewed Yu Baifeng separately.

When Wang Qianqian was mentioned, Yu Baifeng had no memory of her, explaining that he had countless fans and couldn’t possibly remember everyone’s name. He stated that he had been attending a company celebration that night, with both his assistant and the company’s owner able to vouch for him. Jiang Chengyi and Qin Yue spoke with Wen Peng, who said his relationship with Wang Qianqian was merely casual.

She had once asked Lu Yan to help her find a rental, and that night, she had also been at the company celebration. Wen Peng inquired about what had happened to Wang Qianqian, but Jiang Chengyi didn’t disclose any details. After leaving Wen Peng’s company, Jiang Chengyi called Lu Yan and informed her that Wang Qianqian’s body was being transported to the funeral home. He suggested she see her one last time to avoid regrets.

At the funeral home, memories from eight years ago seemed to resurface for Lu Yan. Overwhelmed by the thought of her shared moments with Wang Qianqian, she collapsed in the hallway, sobbing uncontrollably. After leaving the funeral home, Lu Yan told Jiang Chengyi not to see her anymore. She explained that each meeting with him reignited her guilt over Wang Qianqian. Without waiting for his response, she turned and ran away.

Lu Yan began frequently dreaming of Wang Qianqian dragging her into the depths of the lake, blaming her for not saving her in time. This brought back memories of college, when Deng Man had appeared deeply troubled. Upon asking, Lu Yan learned that Deng Man also liked Jiang Chengyi. Lu Yan explained that feelings were beyond her control and that she would never share her boyfriend with Deng Man.

Deng Man begged Lu Yan to give her a chance and briefly break up with Jiang Chengyi, but Lu Yan refused. Shortly after, Deng Man took her own life. Qin Yue and Liu Hao investigated all the cars passing through the alley that day but found nothing suspicious. Jiang Chengyi reviewed the footage and noticed a cleaner pushing a garbage bin through the area.

Given Wang Qianqian's size, it was plausible that her body could have been placed in the bin. Jiang Chengyi decided to track down the cleaner who appeared in the surveillance footage that night. Tang Jie, unable to reach Lu Yan, called Jiang Chengyi. He briefly explained Wang Qianqian’s murder, and Tang Jie, worried that Lu Yan couldn’t handle the situation, packed her belongings and went to Lu Yan’s house to stay with her.

Jiang Chengyi located the cleaner, who revealed that a garbage bin had indeed gone missing that night. Since it wasn’t valuable, they hadn’t reported it. This confirmed that the person who stole the bin was likely the suspect. However, the killer hadn’t disposed of the body in any lakes within a five-kilometer radius but instead drove 20 kilometers to dump it in the artificial lake, a perplexing detail.

The next day, Tang Jie called Jiang Chengyi, telling him that Lu Yan was blaming herself for both Deng Man’s and Wang Qianqian’s deaths. This gave Jiang Chengyi an idea. He instructed Liu Hao to reinvestigate Deng Man’s death site, which turned out to be the West Suburb Pond, now known as the Xiangsong Artificial Lake. This suggested that the killer had a specific attachment to the location.

Given that both victims were closely connected to Lu Yan, it became clear that the killer was targeting her. The following morning, Lu Yan woke up feeling rejuvenated, thanks to Tang Jie’s attentive care. She felt as though she had experienced a spiritual rebirth and believed things would get better. Sitting alone on the balcony, she enjoyed the scenery. When Tang Jie woke up and saw Lu Yan’s improved state, she was overjoyed.

The two chatted on the balcony, and Lu Yan told Tang Jie to pack her things and return home since she no longer needed company. While they were talking, they kept hearing noises from the next-door apartment. Curious if someone had moved in, Lu Yan opened the door and saw Zhong Wenxuan standing there with two large bags of breakfast. He explained that he had been drinking the previous night and had mistakenly hit the wrong door, causing the commotion.

Lu Yan then asked Zhong Wenxuan to escort Tang Jie home. Head Nurse Qiao found Lu Yan at the seaside park, where she was relaxing. Qiao Rui shared that before Wang Qianqian officially joined the anesthesiology department, the operating room had also wanted her on their team. However, Wang Qianqian had always regarded Lu Yan as her role model and insisted on staying in anesthesiology.

Qiao Rui reminded Lu Yan that if Wang Qianqian were alive, she wouldn’t want to see her so defeated. Finally regaining her resolve, Lu Yan returned home and discovered a heartfelt note left at her door, along with a gift of several goldfish. Grateful, she brought the fish inside.

What she didn’t know was that Jiang Chengyi had arranged for Zhong Wenxuan and Da Zhong to prepare a room for him in the apartment next to hers, intending to become her neighbor. Unaware of her new neighbor’s identity, Lu Yan left a note of her own as a greeting.

Jiang Chengyi's father noticed that his son hadn’t been home for several days. Jiang Chengyi's mother explained that their son had rented an apartment next to Lu Yan's. While Jiang Chengyi's father outwardly complained about his son being unreliable with house chores, he secretly felt delighted. Lu Yan went online and discovered that Wang Qianqian's incident location was the same as where Deng Man’s tragedy occurred ten years ago, finding it highly suspicious.

The next morning, she reported this to the criminal investigation team, only to learn that they had already identified this connection. Qin Yue asked if Deng Man had any other family, but Lu Yan replied that she had almost none. Jiang Chengyi sensed a possible link between Deng Man’s case and Wang Qianqian’s case, so he sought out Officer Yang, who had been in charge of the Deng Man case and was now retired.

Officer Yang explained that Deng Man had left a suicide note, which was confirmed to be in her handwriting after analysis. There was evidence of strong emotional distress before her death, and without additional clues, the case had been closed as a suicide. However, five years later, an anonymous letter claimed Deng Man hadn’t died from drowning and requested the case be reopened. Attempts to contact the sender failed, as the address provided was fake.

To gather more information about Deng Man’s incident, Jiang Chengyi visited Tang Jie’s home. Although Tang Jie had been on good terms with Deng Man, she hadn’t noticed her being involved with anyone romantically and had never seen the suicide note. However, Zhong Wenxuan eagerly provided some information. He shared that a classmate from a neighboring class, Wu Qiang, had once had a crush on Deng Man and had asked Zhong Wenxuan to help get her contact information.

Zhong Wenxuan found Deng Man in the library, seemingly waiting for someone. Mistaking him for the person she was expecting, she looked disappointed when she realized otherwise. After hearing his purpose, Deng Man expressed that she had no interest in dating at the time. Wu Qiang later went abroad as an exchange student for two years, returned as a director, and now had a girlfriend, likely having forgotten about Deng Man.

However, Zhong Wenxuan had also noticed that Deng Man seemed to have feelings for Jiang Chengyi, as she often watched him play basketball. Jiang Chengyi planned to investigate Deng Man’s borrowing records at Ninghai University and had Director Wu notify the school in advance. Lu Yan also went to Ninghai University to apply for access. The librarian initially refused to disclose the records due to privacy regulations.

Just then, Jiang Chengyi arrived and took Lu Yan with him to review the records. They discovered that Deng Man had borrowed the same book multiple times within a year. Yet, as her roommate, Lu Yan had never heard her mention it. Leaving the library, Jiang Chengyi speculated that the repeatedly borrowed book must have had some special significance to Deng Man and encouraged Lu Yan to free herself from guilt.

At the same time, Wen Peng, who had returned to the university for a lecture, spotted the two chatting together. Jiang Chengyi received a call about a new lead and returned to the investigation team. Qin Yue questioned a seller of ether, who had a vivid memory of the buyer. While most of their customers were men, the seller had found it peculiar when a woman had purchased from them.

Qin Yue showed the seller a photo resembling Deng Man, and the seller confirmed it was her. Lu Yan wandered around the university and saw Coach Zhou teaching a sports class. Recalling that Deng Man had once taken volleyball as an elective with Coach Zhou, Lu Yan thought he might remember something and approached him. Coach Zhou, in a rush to get home to care for his wife, invited Lu Yan to follow him to his house.

At his home, Coach Zhou explained that his wife had been in a car accident while buying medicine for him, leaving her bedridden ever since. After feeding medicine to his wife in the bedroom, he shared his memories of Deng Man. He recalled accidentally seeing Deng Man chatting with Jiang Chengyi but didn’t catch their conversation. After Jiang Chengyi left, Deng Man seemed very upset.

When Lu Yan left, Coach Zhou sent a message to a contact, saying he had shared everything as instructed with Lu Yan. As Lu Yan walked to the playground, she ran into Wen Peng. He offered to take her out for a meal, but seeing that she wasn’t in the mood, he instead offered to escort her home.

At the entrance of her apartment complex, Wen Peng shared that he had learned about Lu Yan’s recent situation from Director Han and Tang Jie. He encouraged her to stop blaming herself and to let go of the past so she could embrace a new chapter in life.

Jiang Chengyi, holding the book Hiroshima Mon Amour, which Deng Man frequently borrowed, went to Yu Zheng to seek insights into the emotions of its readers. Yu Zheng explained that the book tells a story of an unconventional love affair. She suggested that Deng Man's repeated borrowing could indicate a similar experience, perhaps falling in love with someone she shouldn’t have. Lu Yan carefully recalled people connected to Deng Man who might have written the anonymous letter.

She consulted Director Gao at the school for details about the letter and then browsed through Deng Man’s Weibo account. There, she discovered what seemed to be a secondary account linked to Deng Man, where posts described her frustrations with being bullied—washing volleyball shoes for others, being unable to attend volleyball classes, and more. Lu Yan suddenly remembered a time when she returned to the dormitory to find Deng Man washing basketball uniforms for Ding Jing.

When she asked if Deng Man was being bullied, Deng Man denied it. Later, when picking up a delivery, Lu Yan overheard some classmates gossiping about Ding Jing abruptly transferring abroad. Ding Jing woke up at noon at home, complaining to her mother for nagging her to get up. She asked her mother to give her some dignity during the upcoming dinner with Jiang Chengyi’s parents.

While unboxing a package, she found a hairpin that Deng Man used to wear and was so frightened that she immediately threw it aside. That morning, Ding Jing went shopping at the mall. As she prepared to get into her car, she noticed a photo of Deng Man clipped to the car door. On the back was a note that read, "I know what you did to Deng Man.

" Nervous and unsettled, Ding Jing began recalling incidents from her university days. She later sought out Liu Yujie, explaining that she was being threatened and asking Liu Yujie to contact Wang Qiang to arrange some self-defense tools. Though Liu Yujie wanted to refuse, she remembered that her family relied on Ding Jing financially and reluctantly agreed. During their conversation, Lu Yan, seated nearby, overheard everything.

When Ding Jing went to the restroom, Lu Yan secretly followed her and placed Deng Man’s hairpin on the sink in advance. Ding Jing, seeing the hairpin, thought Liu Yujie was playing tricks on her. Furious, she stormed into the restaurant and lashed out at Liu Yujie. She demanded to check the restaurant’s surveillance footage, but when her request was denied, she left in a huff.

Back in her car, Ding Jing made a phone call, threatening to expose everything from the past if someone continued stalking her. She also demanded an investigation to identify who was harassing her. Meanwhile, Lu Yan returned home, changed out of the black clothes she had worn to follow Ding Jing, and casually placed Deng Man’s hairpin on her vanity.

Determined to uncover the truth behind the deaths of Deng Man and Wang Qianqian, she browsed Ding Jing’s Weibo account again. Jiang Chengyi, back in his apartment next to Lu Yan’s, saw her hanging laundry on the balcony but didn’t notice anything unusual. The next day, Lu Yan resumed work at the hospital. Her first surgery went smoothly, and she seemed to have returned to her former self. After work, she encountered Wen Peng at the hospital entrance.

Wen Peng mentioned that he had just invested in a medical drama featuring a female anesthesiologist as the protagonist and asked Lu Yan for help refining the plot. Lu Yan agreed but declined his offer to drive her home. Ding Jing hosted a dinner for several business partners, gifting each one collectible porcelain from her company. However, when they opened the boxes, they found notes inside demanding that they confess to harming Deng Man.

Enraged, Ding Jing stormed out of the private room, only to find another note waiting for her. After Ding Jing and Liu Yujie left the restaurant, Lu Yan quietly left and headed home. Returning to her apartment complex, Lu Yan entered the elevator dressed in black. Jiang Chengyi, who saw her, found it odd but said nothing. Despite living next door, he continued to keep a low profile, avoiding any obvious interactions.

The next day, Jiang Chengyi secretly followed Lu Yan when she left home. At the gate of the complex, Wen Peng was waiting for Lu Yan with breakfast. Wen Peng invited her to serve as a consultant for his company’s scriptwriters after her shift. Lu Yan arrived on time at Wen Peng’s company and was revising the script when Jiang Chengyi sent her a message asking to meet. She didn’t reply or answer his calls.

On her way home, she pulled out her phone, trying to draft a response to Jiang Chengyi but couldn’t find the right words. Each time she wrote a message, she deleted it again and again.

Yu Baifeng asked Wen Peng if he had been confirmed as the male lead in the newly planned suspense drama. Wen Peng replied that two idol dramas had invited Yu Baifeng to play the lead, but Yu expressed a preference to take a year off for further training and to choose a more challenging script. Seeing Yu Baifeng's ambition, Wen Peng said he had already arranged for experts from the police academy to provide professional guidance in a few days.

Zhong Wenxuan prepared some daily necessities for Jiang Chengyi, and the couple drove to deliver them to his apartment complex. As they were moving the items, Lu Yan happened to return from work and arrived at the complex entrance. Jiang Chengyi quickly carried the items upstairs to his room. Lu Yan asked Tang Jie why they didn’t give her a heads-up, and Tang Jie gave an offhand excuse.

Zhong Wenxuan, holding an electric hotpot in his hand, directly suggested they have a meal together in Lu Yan's apartment. When they started preparing for the meal, Zhong Wenxuan stood by the window on purpose, teasing Jiang Chengyi. During dinner, he opened the window and asked Lu Yan what her attitude toward Jiang Chengyi was. Lu Yan replied that Jiang Chengyi wasn’t to blame for Wang Qianqian’s death, but she needed time to accept the reality.

Zhong Wenxuan deliberately shouted this out loud toward the window. While Lu Yan found Zhong Wenxuan’s behavior odd, Jiang Chengyi, on the other side, was thrilled. Meanwhile, the criminal investigation team detected frequent communication with Wang Qiang recently, and upon investigation, it turned out to be Liu Yujie. Jiang Chengyi, surprised to hear Liu Yujie’s name, instructed Qin Yue to continue monitoring her and to impersonate Wang Qiang in arranging a meeting.

Ding Jing called Jiang Chengyi, informing him about the planned family dinner the next day and asking him to pick her up. Jiang Chengyi bluntly replied that it wasn’t on his way, but Ding Jing was still pleased. She was also satisfied with the new outfit Liu Yujie had picked for her and once again urged Liu Yujie to contact Wang Qiang as soon as possible.

After Ding Jing left, Liu Yujie received a message from "Wang Qiang" inviting her to meet. Yu Baifeng attended classes at the police academy, and the director specifically introduced him to Yu Zheng, asking her to provide guidance. Since Wen Peng had donated a lab to the school, the principal felt compelled to accept the arrangement. However, Yu Zheng was uncooperative, as she already had a negative impression of Yu Baifeng due to the previous incident involving Wang Qianqian.

Despite Yu Baifeng lowering his stance, Yu Zheng dismissed him as a celebrity merely going through the motions and felt it wasn’t worth wasting her time. Liu Yujie waited to meet Wang Qiang but saw Jiang Chengyi approaching the restaurant with a group of people. Initially, Liu Yujie denied knowing Wang Qiang. When Qin Yue mentioned that Wang Qiang had been arrested, she changed her story, claiming they were middle school classmates.

Jiang Chengyi reminded her of the severity of assisting in a crime. Liu Yujie then revealed that Ding Jing had hired someone to take photos of Lu Yan but insisted she hadn’t participated herself. In the end, she was also taken to the criminal investigation team. While Lu Yan was on a night shift, Wen Peng came to the hospital to deliver an invitation to Ding Jing’s company’s porcelain exhibition, which Yu Baifeng was endorsing.

He invited Lu Yan to attend, but Lu Yan, uninterested in such events, politely declined. At the family dinner with Jiang Chengyi and Ding Jing’s families, Ding Jing’s mother brought up the topic of the two children’s marriage prospects. Jiang Chengyi’s mother, who didn’t favor Ding Jing, quickly replied that the children had their own opinions and that parents shouldn’t force things.

Ding Jing then handed everyone in the Jiang family an invitation to the porcelain exhibition, inviting them to attend. After the meal, Jiang Chengyi stayed behind to chat with Ding Jing. Ding Jing, thinking Jiang Chengyi might finally have feelings for her, was overjoyed. However, Jiang Chengyi suddenly mentioned that he and Lu Yan had both seen Deng Man recently, which made Ding Jing nervous. Jiang Chengyi then returned the invitation card to her.

Frustrated, Ding Jing questioned why Jiang Chengyi wouldn’t accept her. Jiang Chengyi explained that he didn’t want her to waste her time. As Ding Jing walked into the underground parking lot, Lu Yan appeared and directly confronted her, asking if she was responsible for Deng Man’s death. Ding Jing denied it and sarcastically labeled Lu Yan a jinx, saying every close friend of hers seemed to end up in trouble.

After Ding Jing left, Lu Yan became increasingly convinced that there was more to Deng Man’s death than met the eye. She decided to attend Wen Peng’s porcelain exhibition to investigate further.

Ding Jing arranged to meet Liu Yujie and asked about Wang Qiang purchasing self-defense equipment. Liu Yujie lied, saying that due to the heightened attention, Wang Qiang needed more time. Ding Jing then instructed Liu Yujie to tarnish Lu Yan's reputation as soon as possible. Liu Yujie subtly suggested that targeting Lu Yan might not be a good idea. Sensing that Liu Yujie was no longer on her side, Ding Jing angrily humiliated her by making her clean her shoes.

Yu Zheng visited the criminal investigation team to help Jiang Chengyi analyze the case. Jiang Chengyi believed that the motives for Deng Man’s and Wang Qianqian’s deaths were different, indicating that the killer was not the same person. He reasoned that if Ding Jing wanted to harm Lu Yan, she had the financial means to hire a professional killer with strong counter-surveillance skills. This suggested that someone besides Ding Jing might also be targeting Lu Yan.

Jiang Chengyi suspected that this mastermind's relationship with Ding Jing was worth investigating. As they were discussing the case, Qin Yue reported receiving a tip that a female tenant near West Mountain resembled the suspect in Wang Qianqian’s murder. Jiang Chengyi quickly led a team to investigate. While Liu Yujie was on her way to the porcelain exhibition, Lu Yan stopped her midway to discuss some matters, causing Liu Yujie to arrive a few minutes late.

Ding Jing scolded her for being tardy and then asked about Wang Qiang. Liu Yujie made up some excuses while secretly recording their conversation. Tang Jie brought Da Zhong to the signing ceremony for the porcelain spokesperson. When Ding Jing saw Tang Jie, she mocked her for acting as a "third wheel" for Lu Yan. Tang Jie sarcastically retorted, calling Ding Jing a "bootlicker.

" After Ding Jing walked toward the exhibition area, Tang Jie signaled Da Zhong to adjust some data in the surveillance room. After the signing ceremony, a promotional video was about to be shown on the big screen. However, instead of the intended video, footage of Ding Jing bullying Liu Yujie was played. Ding Jing urgently demanded that the video be stopped, but the big screen continued playing.

It then broadcasted a recording of Ding Jing cursing Lu Yan in an underground parking lot. The audience was shocked and began questioning Ding Jing's character. Lu Yan emerged from the surveillance room and confronted Ding Jing, demanding she confess to what she had done to Deng Man. Ding Jing attempted to push Lu Yan, but Lu Yan preemptively shoved Ding Jing instead.

Just as Ding Jing steadied herself, Tang Jie slapped her, giving them both a sense of justice for Deng Man. Yu Baifeng immediately announced his intention to terminate his contract with Ding Jing, citing her breach of contract, which freed him from any liability. That evening, a woman resembling Deng Man was apprehended near her rented apartment by the police, who had been lying in wait.

Upon interrogation, she revealed her name as Zhou Fang and admitted to being a secondhand dealer involved in smuggling artifacts. Although her activities were unrelated to the current case, the police contributed to solving a matter for another department. Qin Yue reminded his colleagues to handle future tips with more caution. As Tang Jie and Lu Yan left the hotel, they both felt vindicated but began to question another matter.

They speculated that even though Deng Man was gentle, she wouldn’t have kneeled to Ding Jing unless Ding Jing had some leverage over her. Ding Jing, frustrated, decided to move out of her family home. Her father scolded her for her arrogant behavior, which had caused such a scandal and led many partners to sever contracts with him. Ding Jing retorted that her father had never cared for her and only prioritized business.

Driving away from home, Ding Jing replayed in her mind how Lu Yan and Tang Jie had exposed her in public, fueling her anger. She received a call from an unknown man and told him they both shared responsibility for the events of the past. She warned him that if anything happened to her, he wouldn’t escape unscathed. After hanging up, she vowed to destroy Lu Yan.

The next day, Liu Yujie went to the police station to hand over the recordings of her conversations with Ding Jing. She urged Jiang Chengyi to protect Lu Yan, stating that based on her understanding of Ding Jing, she wouldn’t let this matter rest. Lu Yan spent the night at Tang Jie’s place, and the next morning, her phone ran out of battery. Tang Jie left early for work, leaving Lu Yan alone.

That day marked the anniversary of Deng Man's death. Lu Yan decided to visit Deng Man’s grave in the countryside by taking the subway. Jiang Chengyi called Lu Yan, but her phone was off, so he called Tang Jie. After learning the route, Jiang Chengyi immediately drove to the subway station. Lu Yan was indeed being followed by Ding Jing. However, another woman was also tailing Ding Jing.

As the subway train approached, Ding Jing quietly positioned herself behind Lu Yan. Jiang Chengyi arrived just in time and shouted Lu Yan's name from the stairwell. The moment Lu Yan turned around, Ding Jing pushed her onto the subway tracks. Jiang Chengyi jumped down immediately and carried Lu Yan back onto the platform.

After Jiang Chengyi carried Lu Yan back onto the platform, she told him that it was Ding Jing who had pushed her. Jiang Chengyi first asked if she had any other injuries. Upon learning it was just a twisted ankle, he picked her up and took her out of the subway station. Ding Jing, in a disheveled state, ran out of the station but was stopped by a woman in black.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chengyi brought Lu Yan home, thoughtfully prepared a warm compress for her to reduce the swelling, and admitted that the incident earlier that day had left him shaken. He expressed concern that Ding Jing, being narrow-minded, might act out again. Jiang Chengyi suggested he sleep outside her door to protect her, but Lu Yan directly pointed out that he could just stay in the rental unit next door.

It turned out that Zhong Wenxuan had accidentally let it slip while eating hot pot, and Lu Yan had confirmed it through surveillance footage—she already knew Jiang Chengyi was secretly living next door. Grateful for him saving her life, Lu Yan sincerely thanked Jiang Chengyi. Ding Jing was too afraid to return home. Qin Yue went to Ding Jing’s house with an arrest warrant.

Upon hearing of Ding Jing’s actions, her mother was so distraught that she clutched her chest in pain. That night, Jiang Chengyi, to protect Lu Yan, made a bed on the floor of her room. Lu Yan thanked him once again, and Jiang Chengyi mentioned that he had long promised to always protect her.

This reminded him of their university days when Lu Yan once said she felt like she was being followed, and he had taught her some self-defense techniques. They had a carefree moment back then, laughing as they hugged each other. The next morning, Jiang Chengyi woke up early to make breakfast for Lu Yan. During breakfast, Lu Yan noticed a large scrape on Jiang Chengyi’s arm, likely from saving her the previous day.

She peeled a boiled egg to help him apply heat to the wound. After breakfast, Jiang Chengyi took Lu Yan to work and told her that, for the foreseeable future, he would pick her up and drop her off every day. At the police station, Jiang Chengyi reviewed surveillance footage of Ding Jing near the subway station.

He found that she had entered an alley and stayed there for about ten minutes before leaving through another exit and taking a rideshare to Jifu Village. There, she made two unanswered calls to Liu Yujie and later had several conversations with Yu Baifeng. Jiang Chengyi immediately called Yu Zheng, asking her to agree to professionally mentor Yu Baifeng.

To help Jiang Chengyi, Yu Zheng instructed Yu Baifeng to meet her at her teaching building within twenty minutes, warning that if he was late, he would lose the opportunity. Excited by the chance, Yu Baifeng rushed out of the recording studio and, unable to wait for a rideshare due to morning traffic, grabbed a shared bicycle and pedaled toward Ninghai University. When Yu Zheng saw a breathless Yu Baifeng arrive on a bike, she was slightly astonished.

Noticing that he had no sense of celebrity airs, she took him to her office to fill out a résumé. She then briefly asked why he was so eager to learn criminal psychology from her. Yu Baifeng explained that he wanted to challenge himself by portraying a serial killer, hone his acting skills, and that, after unilaterally canceling his contract with Boya Porcelain, he needed to secure a new role to explain himself to his company.

Yu Zheng tasked him with watching some course materials and writing a 5,000-word reflection. Yu Baifeng took the assignment seriously, staying up all night in the office to complete the essay. Impressed by his dedication, Yu Zheng agreed to let him attend her classes. Jiang Chengyi picked up Lu Yan after work and personally cooked her dinner. He even learned the recipe for her favorite spicy hotpot from a local vendor.

After dinner, Lu Yan told him to rest early and go home, but Jiang Chengyi claimed he didn’t have a washing machine and needed to borrow hers. He returned to his rental unit to fetch a pile of clothes, some of which still had tags on them, and insisted on washing them all to spend more time with Lu Yan. While the laundry was running, he helped her with her thesis.

When he asked for the Wi-Fi password, Lu Yan gave him the date of their official relationship. Jiang Chengyi was delighted, but Lu Yan quickly explained that she had a poor memory and used the same password for everything. Qin Yue continued investigating around Jifu Village and discovered that Ding Jing had visited a hotel, paid for a room, but didn’t check in. At the hospital, a patient named Lin Xiaoman was too scared to undergo surgery.

Lu Yan went to the ward to counsel the patient, and Wen Peng, who had come to see Lu Yan, followed her in. Lu Yan coaxed Lin Xiaoman out of the bathroom, but suddenly, Lin Xiaoman’s father began beating the child. When his wife tried to intervene, he roughly shoved her aside. Unable to tolerate it any longer, Wen Peng stepped in and forcefully reprimanded the father, questioning why he would also hit his wife. Lu Yan was stunned by Wen Peng's loss of composure.

Lu Yan helped Wen Peng bandage his wound and casually asked why he had been so angry. Wen Peng explained that seeing Lin Xiaoman’s father reminded him of his own father, who was equally unreasonable. Growing up, both Wen Peng and his mother endured his father’s bad temper. Even minor things would provoke a brutal beating. Later, his mother could no longer bear it and remarried. After that, his father vented all his frustrations on Wen Peng.

One day, Wen Peng saved up some pocket money and went to look for his mother, only to find a boy about his age by her side. When their eyes met briefly, Wen Peng’s mother didn’t even recognize him. These memories surged to the surface when he saw Lin Xiaoman’s father being abusive, and he couldn’t control himself from intervening. The police got involved to mediate the medical dispute, but Lin Xiaoman’s father refused to take responsibility.

The police pointed out the consequences of domestic violence, and Wen Peng volunteered to cover Lin Xiaoman’s medical and postoperative care expenses. However, Wen Peng warned that if Lin Xiaoman’s father ever hit his son again, he wouldn’t let it go. On the way home, Jiang Chengyi noticed that Lu Yan seemed troubled and asked her what was wrong. Lu Yan recounted what had happened earlier in the day and admitted she felt some sympathy for Wen Peng.

Jiang Chengyi felt a little jealous. Once they reached their apartment building, Lu Yan insisted on seeing Jiang Chengyi’s room. Inside, she found only a bed and a table, and he admitted that he always showered with cold water. Feeling sorry for him, Lu Yan took Jiang Chengyi to the mall to buy some furniture. At the mall, Lu Yan picked out a set of dishes, and Jiang Chengyi grabbed an identical set, saying he wanted to host her.

He also chose a lazy sofa chair that cost nearly 2,000 yuan. Seeing the price, Lu Yan suggested leaving it, but Jiang Chengyi insisted on buying it, saying it would be reserved for her use in his room. During Yu Zheng’s lecture, a group of Yu Baifeng’s fans gathered outside the window, loudly cheering for him and disrupting the class. Yu Zheng gave Yu Baifeng five minutes to deal with it before resuming the lecture.

After the commotion, Yu Baifeng promised that next time he would have his agent guard the door to prevent any interruptions. Yu Zheng asked him about his thoughts on the prison experiment discussed in class. Yu Baifeng used some textbook terminology but failed to give the answer Yu Zheng was looking for. She advised him to stop obsessing over the role of a serial killer, implying he wasn’t suited for it.

Yu Baifeng thanked her for her guidance but left feeling disheartened. Later, Yu Zheng messaged Jiang Chengyi, confirming that after observing Yu Baifeng for a few days, she was confident he wasn’t involved in Ding Jing’s case. Meanwhile, Qin Yue reviewed surveillance footage from the day Lu Yan was pushed onto the subway tracks. He noticed a woman in black following Ding Jing closely.

After Lu Yan was pushed, the woman quickly left the scene and later entered a small alley from a different direction than Ding Jing. Based on her build, she resembled the suspect in Wang Qianqian’s murder. Jiang Chengyi instructed Qin Yue to continue investigating and gather more evidence. In an abandoned warehouse in Jifu Village, Ding Jing was tied up by the woman in black.

Ding Jing speculated that the woman was acting on behalf of Deng Man’s killer and promised to pay double in exchange for her freedom. The woman in black was unmoved and used ether to render Ding Jing unconscious. Meanwhile, Wen Peng showed great concern for Lin Xiaoman, paying for all his hospital expenses and promising to take him skating after the surgery. Lu Yan was deeply moved.

Wen Peng explained that he had to be out of town on the day of the surgery and asked Lu Yan to look after Lin Xiaoman. While they were talking, Jiang Chengyi arrived at the hospital to see Lu Yan. Wen Peng tactfully excused himself. Jiang Chengyi showed Lu Yan a photo of the woman in black, but Lu Yan didn’t recognize her. Later, Lu Yan dragged Jiang Chengyi to the mall to buy a basketball for Lin Xiaoman.

When Jiang Chengyi dropped Lu Yan off at home, he gave her a stuffed animal that he had secretly bought earlier. Qin Yue visited a small convenience store near Jifu Village to inquire about the woman in black. The store owner recognized her from the photo and said she had bought some supplies but left in a hurry without waiting for her change.

She had headed north toward an abandoned factory, which Qin Yue thought was an ideal hiding place for criminals. He drove there and found tire tracks inside the factory, prompting him to call Jiang Chengyi immediately. While Lu Yan was at work, she heard that Jiang Chengyi’s colleague Liu Hao had been sent to the emergency room. She went to the hospital to visit him and asked about Jiang Chengyi. Liu Hao recounted their search of the abandoned factory.

He described coming face-to-face with the woman in black, who ambushed him with a knife. Jiang Chengyi and Qin Yue arrived just in time to send Liu Hao to the hospital. During their search of the factory, they discovered Ding Jing’s body, strangled to death.

Jiang Chengyi applied to the bureau to issue a wanted notice and set up checkpoints at border crossings for thorough inspections. When he returned to the criminal police unit, the director was furious about the two consecutive murder cases and demanded the formation of a task force. Jiang Chengyi was assigned to lead the team, with a deadline of seven days to catch the culprit.

Based on Liu Hao’s account, it was confirmed that the suspect who killed Ding Jing was the same person who murdered Wang Qianqian. Yu Zheng was entrusted by the bureau to assist in analyzing the case. Lu Yan hadn’t seen Jiang Chengyi for two days and brought him lunch during her midday break. She was relieved to see that he wasn’t injured.

The two began expressing genuine concern for each other and agreed to meet again at home in the evening. The woman in black, Li Ruonan, relocated to another hideout and sent a message to a mysterious individual, reporting what had happened. The mysterious person demanded she quickly find what they were looking for or face the consequences. Jiang Chengyi and Yu Zheng jointly analyzed the circumstances of Ding Jing’s death.

Before her death, Ding Jing had been starved for several days, suggesting that the suspect was trying to force her to reveal some kind of evidence. Ding Jing’s death seemed to have been accidental due to the suspect panicking when discovered by the police. This contrasted with Wang Qianqian’s murder scene, which had been meticulously cleaned. At Ding Jing’s scene, many items were left behind in haste, with water poured on the floor to confuse investigators.

If this theory were correct, the suspect would likely resurface to retrieve what they were searching for. While they were discussing this, a report came in that someone had smashed the window of Ding Jing’s parked car but fled when discovered. Qin Yue rushed to the scene, and based on the security guard’s description, it was confirmed to be Ding Jing’s killer. Yu Zheng developed a new theory: the culprit wasn’t targeting just Lu Yan but also Jiang Chengyi.

During the eight years they had been apart, neither faced significant threats. Yet, as soon as they reconciled, danger began to surround them. Jiang Chengyi found this plausible but couldn’t immediately recall any instance where he and Lu Yan might have harmed a third party’s interests together. That evening, Jiang Chengyi returned home and told Lu Yan about Ding Jing’s murder. Exhausted, he fell asleep on the sofa without eating.

The next day at work, Qin Yue retrieved some packages Ding Jing had received. Among them were several ribbon hair clips that seemed unusual and didn’t match Ding Jing’s usual style. Jiang Chengyi remembered seeing similar clips in Lu Yan’s room but dismissed it as a coincidence. Later, he received information about Ding Jing’s memorial service. Yu Zheng insisted they attend, noting that funerals are often the best opportunity to investigate a person’s social connections.

Wen Peng also received an invitation to the memorial but stated he would be out of town and asked Yu Baifeng to attend on his behalf. Meanwhile, Li Ruonan returned to her hideout, where the mysterious individual called to threaten her, warning that if she didn’t find the item, she would never see her mother again. On the day of the memorial, Li Ruonan sneaked into Ding Jing’s house. Lu Yan also attended the memorial to pay her respects.

During the event, Ding Jing’s mother suddenly fainted, prompting Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan to take her home. While upstairs getting water, Jiang Chengyi discovered Li Ruonan hiding in a room. A brief struggle ensued before Li Ruonan jumped out of a window and escaped. Jiang Chengyi immediately called Qin Yue to intercept her en route. Li Ruonan fled to the memorial site, where she took Yu Baifeng hostage while he was talking with Yu Zheng.

Yu Zheng offered to act as a hostage in exchange for Yu Baifeng, but Li Ruonan refused. She then suggested driving Li Ruonan out of the police's line of sight. Just as they were getting into the car, Yu Zheng swiftly stepped on the gas, throwing Li Ruonan aside, and she was immediately apprehended. The police quickly uncovered Li Ruonan's background. Her father passed away early, leaving her to grow up with her mother.

She studied martial arts at a martial arts school but struggled to find stable employment after graduation, becoming a drifter. Three years ago, she appeared in Ninghai, handling "special tasks" for others. Regarding the deaths of Wang Qianqian and Ding Jing, Li Ruonan adamantly denied involvement. However, when her mother was mentioned, her carefully maintained composure faltered slightly. Jiang Chengyi instructed Qin Yue to investigate Li Ruonan’s social relationships and her mother’s current situation in their hometown.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team focused on reviewing surveillance footage from Ding Jing’s house and identifying people Ding Jing had interacted with in the days before her death. During the investigation, Qin Yue discovered that two weeks before Ding Jing’s murder, Lu Yan lingered near Ding Jing's house for a long time, seemingly searching for something. Additionally, it was found that Lu Yan had an argument with Ding Jing at a signing event.

Jiang Chengyi immediately went to the hospital to meet Lu Yan. At midday, Jiang Chengyi patiently waited for Lu Yan to finish work. When they returned to her apartment, Jiang Chengyi asked if she was hiding something from him. Initially, Lu Yan denied it, but when Jiang Chengyi revealed the evidence pointing to her, she confessed the reason for following Ding Jing.

Eight years ago, Deng Man had confessed her feelings for Jiang Chengyi and asked Lu Yan to break up with him. After Lu Yan refused, Deng Man committed suicide the next day. Lu Yan had blamed herself, believing that her refusal led to Deng Man’s tragic decision. For years, she felt guilty and dared not explain her feelings to Jiang Chengyi.

Recently, while looking through Deng Man's old social media posts, Lu Yan discovered that Deng Man had been threatened by Ding Jing, implying that her suicide might not have been related to love. Determined to uncover the truth and reconcile her guilt, Lu Yan began following Ding Jing to find answers and clear the way for her relationship with Jiang Chengyi.

She even caused a disturbance at the event to expose Ding Jing's true nature and seek justice for Deng Man. Hearing this, Jiang Chengyi was deeply moved and pulled Lu Yan into a tight embrace. Tang Jie discovered she was pregnant and decided to surprise Zhong Wenxuan with the news. When she handed him the pregnancy test, he initially thought she had caught a cold, leaving Tang Jie exasperated but amused.

After discussing it, they were eager to share the good news with Lu Yan. Tang Jie asked Zhong Wenxuan to drive her to Lu Yan's house. That night, Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan slept in the same bed. The next morning, Lu Yan woke up first, reminiscing about their growing closeness during college. She recalled how she sprained her ankle during a run, and Jiang Chengyi had brought homemade medicinal wine to help reduce the swelling.

He would check on her recovery daily with such care that both Tang Jie and Deng Man could see that Lu Yan was falling for him. Lu Yan believed Jiang Chengyi felt the same, but when she asked him directly, he didn’t dare admit it, fearing his plans to attend graduate school at the police academy would affect their relationship. After eight years of twists and turns, they were finally together again.

Immersed in her memories, Lu Yan was interrupted by Tang Jie's knock on the door. Jiang Chengyi groggily opened the door. Tang Jie and Zhong Wenxuan were surprised but delighted to see him. After sharing the news of her pregnancy, Tang Jie teased Lu Yan for reconciling with Jiang Chengyi without receiving a proper confession.

As soon as Wen Peng got off the plane and heard about Yu Baifeng’s injury, he immediately called to express his concern. However, Yu Baifeng was still focused on the role of the serial killer in the film. Wen Peng informed him that the audition had already ended but promised to help secure other opportunities in the future.

Wen Peng also offered to visit him at the hospital, but Yu Baifeng, aware of Wen Peng's busy schedule with a new project, told him to prioritize company matters first. Yu Zheng, on behalf of the special investigation team, visited Yu Baifeng in the hospital. Yu Baifeng was very touched. When Yu Zheng asked why he hadn’t informed his family, Yu Baifeng confessed that he had falsified information on his resume.

He explained that his parents had passed away from illness when he was very young, and he had been raised by a kind neighbor, an aunt, who tragically died in an accident when he was 17. Since then, he had been on his own. Yu Zheng appreciated his honesty, and Yu Baifeng asked Yu Zheng to help him catch up on lessons during his hospitalization. Wen Peng’s assistant reported recent events to him.

Director Chen Chang, who had just transitioned to directing films, expressed interest in collaborating with Yu Baifeng. However, Wen Peng believed that Chen lacked resources due to his recent career shift and declined the collaboration. The assistant also mentioned that actress Liu Ruke had thrown a tantrum on set, causing dissatisfaction among collaborators. Additionally, Yu Zheng had spent some time alone with Yu Baifeng at the hospital, raising concerns about its potential impact on him.

After the assistant left, Zhong Wenxuan visited Wen Peng's office, bringing two bottles of fine wine. He earnestly asked Wen Peng to give him an opportunity, explaining that Tang Jie was pregnant and he needed extra income. During their conversation, Zhong casually mentioned that Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan had reconciled, causing Wen Peng’s expression to turn serious. Oblivious to this, Zhong continued talking until Wen Peng excused himself for an urgent meeting, prompting Zhong to leave.

Later, Liu Ruke came to see Wen Peng. He sternly listed her recent negative behaviors, leaving her speechless with fear. Wen Peng reminded her that he had the power to make or break her career, warning her to follow the rules moving forward. Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan began living openly as a couple, enjoying meals, sleeping, and playing games together—relishing the happiness of being in love. Meanwhile, the investigation team completed their inquiry into Chengzhou.

They discovered that Li Ruonan’s mother, Yan Mei, had mysteriously disappeared. Because the area was remote and lacked communication infrastructure, the locals were unaware of Yan Mei’s disappearance. Jiang Chengyi deduced that such a remote location made it unlikely for her to vanish without reason and suspected someone had deliberately taken her away. He instructed Qin Yue to contact the local police and thoroughly investigate the incident.

Lin Xiaoman was about to be discharged from the hospital and felt upset that Wen Peng hadn’t fulfilled his promise to take her to an ice-skating rink. As Lu Yan comforted her, Wen Peng entered the room, handing her tickets to the rink. After leaving the room, Wen Peng invited Lu Yan to dinner. However, Lu Yan explained that Jiang Chengyi might pick her up from work soon, so she probably couldn’t go.

As they walked toward the meeting room, Jiang Chengyi was already waiting for Lu Yan. They listened to Director Han’s tips on dating, and Jiang’s mother called to ask about his relationship with Lu Yan. Jiang Chengyi turned the camera toward Lu Yan, causing his mother to stop asking out of embarrassment. Wen Peng, seeing their affectionate interaction, excused himself, claiming he had other matters to attend to, and left the hospital.

That evening, Jiang Chengyi invited Lu Yan to visit his family over the weekend. Lu Yan thought it was too sudden, pointing out that they were skipping a step before meeting the family. Jiang Chengyi guessed that Lu Yan wanted a formal confession of love, so he awkwardly strung together some romantic words. However, Lu Yan wasn’t satisfied. Frustrated, Jiang Chengyi pulled her into his arms and onto the bed, where they shared an intimate night together.

On Wen Peng’s father’s birthday, only Wen Peng went to the restaurant to celebrate. His father complained that Wen Peng was becoming increasingly dismissive of him. Wen Peng, now more independent, sarcastically remarked that his father had no friends or close family and warned that one day, he too would leave him. After saying this, Wen Peng left, leaving his father alone in the restaurant to reflect.

Back at the villa, Wen Peng received a message from his mother asking when he would return to the country. It turned out she was unaware that he had already come back. Wen Peng decided not to reply.

Jiang Chengyi and Qin Yue reported to the Criminal Bureau about the renewed investigation into Chengjiang, but they still found no leads. Neighbors claimed that Yan Mei was reclusive and didn’t interact much with others, so no one even noticed when she suddenly disappeared. Jiang Chengyi theorized that the two recent murders were related to Deng Man’s suicide eight years ago.

After Wang Qianqian’s accident, her body was thrown into the same lake where Deng Man committed suicide, as if to remind everyone not to forget the past. Ding Jing, who bullied Deng Man, bore undeniable responsibility. Yu Zheng agreed that Jiang Chengyi’s overall reasoning was on the right track. Wen Peng visited Yu Baifeng in the hospital, and the two discussed Liu Ruke’s situation. Wen Peng cautioned Yu Baifeng to be mindful of his influence and avoid discussing other artists.

Yu Baifeng, treating Wen Peng as an older brother, promised to speak freely but responsibly. While they were chatting, Yu Zheng entered to deliver books to Yu Baifeng—research materials on serial killers—but quickly left. Although the role audition had long ended, Yu Baifeng continued using it as an excuse to get close to Yu Zheng.

Wen Peng discerned his intentions, and Yu Baifeng didn’t deny it, assuring Wen Peng that he would remain professional and not let it affect the company. Jiang Chengyi had dinner at home and mentioned bringing Lu Yan to meet his parents next weekend. Both Jiang’s father and mother were delighted but reminded him to first explain the nature of his job to Lu Yan to avoid her feeling worried in the future.

Holding the materials Yu Zheng provided, Yu Baifeng found many of the logical relationships incomprehensible. One particular question seemed especially bizarre. Wen Peng glanced at it briefly and immediately provided the answer, leaving Yu Baifeng even more impressed by Wen Peng’s meticulous logical thinking. Tang Jie invited Lu Yan out for a meal. For the sake of Tang Jie’s pregnancy, Lu Yan insisted on preparing the meal herself.

While eating, Tang Jie told Lu Yan that Zhong Wenxuan had decided to work with Wen Peng. Although she acknowledged Wen Peng’s extensive resources, she couldn’t help worrying that Zhong Wenxuan and Wen Peng might not be compatible in their working styles. Zhong Wenxuan and Yuan Dalu waited in Wen Peng’s reception room for more than half an hour for their business partner, Mr. Ke. Zhong Wenxuan felt that Mr. Ke did not value their collaboration.

Wen Peng explained that since Mr. Ke held a valuable intellectual property (IP), it was necessary to approach him with humility. When Mr. Ke finally arrived, Wen Peng introduced everyone and mentioned sharing part of his investment stake with an old classmate. During the conversation, Mr. Ke smiled and engaged with Wen Peng but didn’t even glance at Zhong Wenxuan or Yuan Dalu. When he left, the two stood up to bid him farewell, but Mr.

Ke acted as if he didn’t see them. Zhong Wenxuan left with a poor impression of Mr. Ke, but Wen Peng explained that business had no moral boundaries—sometimes, tolerating such behavior was unavoidable if the partnership was profitable. Back home, Tang Jie asked about the progress of the collaboration. Zhong Wenxuan admitted that his long break from business had led to differing perspectives, but he believed the partner was still reliable. Jiang Chengyi brought Lu Yan home to meet his parents.

Jiang’s father, excited, put on a suit and joined Jiang Chengyi in the kitchen to prepare his signature dishes. Meanwhile, Jiang’s mother showed Lu Yan the study, filled with childhood photos of Jiang Chengyi, and happily shared stories of his upbringing. When she mentioned that Jiang Chengyi had only experienced one deeply emotional relationship during university, Lu Yan revealed that she was his first love. This revelation made Jiang’s mother even happier.

At the dining table, Jiang’s mother shared the story of Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan being each other’s first love. Jiang’s father was unsurprised, admitting that he had noticed their mutual affection during his hospital stay but chose not to comment since his son hadn’t mentioned it. On the day of Lin Xiaoman’s discharge, she insisted that Wen Peng take her ice-skating again.

Knowing Wen Peng was busy, she asked Lu Yan, who was doing rounds at the hospital, to accompany her instead. Yu Zheng visited Yu Baifeng in the hospital again and checked the homework she had previously assigned. With only a vocational school education, Yu Baifeng struggled to comprehend most of the material. Cleverly avoiding all the correct answers, he managed to get only one analytical question right. Yu Baifeng admitted to Yu Zheng that the one correct answer had been provided by Wen Peng.

Lu Yan took Lin Xiaoman to the skating rink. The two were having a great time when Wen Peng showed up, saying he had specifically flown back to Ninghai. Lin Xiaoman was thrilled, holding Lu Yan and Wen Peng’s hands, creating a harmonious and joyful scene. After Lin Xiaoman returned home, Wen Peng invited Lu Yan to dinner. However, Lu Yan explained that Jiang Chengyi would soon pick her up. Wen Peng's demeanor immediately changed.

He questioned why Lu Yan always treated him like a senior but acted more natural with Jiang Chengyi, even though both of them were one year her senior. Unable to explain, Lu Yan simply stated that she had reconciled with Jiang Chengyi. After leaving the stadium, Wen Peng’s expression turned gloomy. Qin Yue found the hiding spot of Li Ruonan but only discovered a power bank and some insignificant daily items. The phone was clearly taken by someone.

After reporting this to Jiang Chengyi, Jiang Chengyi ordered the withdrawal of all officers. Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan returned to the rental house, where Lu Yan recounted the day’s events. She explained how Wen Peng, claiming to be too busy, had asked her to take Lin Xiaoman skating. However, Wen Peng suddenly appeared at the rink, clearly intending to join them. Later, he made vague remarks hinting at his feelings.

When Jiang Chengyi asked about Lu Yan’s response, she said she walked away without looking back. Back at his office, Wen Peng fumed over Lu Yan's statement about reconciling with Jiang Chengyi. In anger, he smashed the glass cup in his hand. Shortly after, Yu Zheng visited the company, mentioning that Yu Baifeng’s celebrity status and irregular attendance had caused dissatisfaction among some students. Yu Zheng suggested stopping the lessons.

However, she also noted that Yu Baifeng had shown significant improvement, even solving a particularly complex logical question. Wen Peng immediately claimed credit, saying he had encountered the same question during a college course on criminal psychology. Yu Zheng did not press further. Zhong Wenxuan and Yuan Dalu came to Wen Peng’s company to finalize their collaboration. The assistant had already prepared the contract.

After glancing at it, Yuan Dalu noted that filming was scheduled to start next month, feeling the timeline was tight. Wen Peng explained that the film’s release date was already set, so filming must be completed on schedule. Both Zhong Wenxuan and Yuan Dalu agreed and signed the contract. Liu Hao, recently discharged, returned to the Criminal Investigation Team. Jiang Chengyi suggested celebrating with a team dinner.

During the event, Yu Zheng asked Jiang Chengyi if he knew much about Wen Peng, noting that Wen Peng’s meticulous thinking made it hard for others to read his mind. Jiang Chengyi revealed that Wen Peng had suffered abuse from his father as a child, which might have left deep psychological scars. However, he acknowledged that Wen Peng was connected to Deng Man, Wang Qianqian, and Ding Jing and wanted to talk to him face-to-face.

Yu Zheng felt that Jiang Chengyi’s direct approach would put Wen Peng on guard and suggested she continue engaging with Wen Peng through Yu Baifeng. On the day of Yu Baifeng’s discharge, his assistant informed him that Wen Peng wanted him to report back to the company first. However, eager to meet Yu Zheng, Yu Baifeng decided to take a half-day off without permission. He candidly told Yu Zheng that the role of the serial killer had already been cast.

Yu Zheng responded that she had known this all along and also knew that Yu Baifeng liked her. However, she stated they were not compatible and would not work out. Despite feeling like a child in front of Yu Zheng, Yu Baifeng couldn’t help but like her. In the end, he invited her to dinner. During dinner, paparazzi secretly took photos of them. That evening, Wen Peng received news that the photos of Yu Baifeng had already spread online.

He immediately ordered the PR department to work overtime to intercept all the photos. While Lu Yan was at work, Liu Yujie suddenly came to the hospital and revealed that she planned to move with her parents to another city. She thanked Lu Yan for saving her life and shared some details about Deng Man. She recalled that during university, Ding Jing often ordered Deng Man to go to the gym to watch Jiang Chengyi play basketball.

She even instructed Deng Man to tell Lu Yan to give Jiang Chengyi up to her. Deng Man, intimidated, always complied. When asked why she obeyed, Deng Man revealed that Ding Jing held a compromising video of her. After Deng Man’s suicide, Ding Jing became terrified and immediately went abroad. Liu Hao expanded the investigation into Ding Jing’s phone records and found frequent contact with Zhou Zhicheng, a coach at Ninghai University.

After work, Lu Yan relayed what she had just learned to Jiang Chengyi. Meanwhile, Wen Peng managed to suppress the news about Yu Baifeng. Yu Baifeng quickly returned to the company to apologize to Wen Peng, but Wen Peng didn’t reprimand him harshly. He only instructed Yu Baifeng not to contact Yu Zheng again for the time being. Wen Peng confiscated Yu Baifeng’s phone and ordered the assistant to keep a close watch on him.

Lu Yan asked Director Deng to help investigate Zhou Zhicheng’s hospital records. She discovered that Zhou had been using expensive imported cancer drugs, costing a significant amount of money annually. Jiang Chengyi approached Zhou Zhicheng and brought up the case of Ding Jing’s murder. Zhou claimed he had already heard about it but denied having recent contact with her. He even added that their relationship in university wasn’t close.

When Jiang asked if Zhou had witnessed Deng Man confessing her feelings for him, Zhou became flustered. Jiang revealed that he had evidence showing several phone calls between Zhou and Ding Jing shortly before the latter’s death. Just as Zhou was cornered, his wife suddenly rang the emergency bell in the bedroom, providing him an escape from the conversation. The PR team at Wen Peng’s company contacted Yu Zheng, asking her to record a video clarifying the situation with Yu Baifeng.

They said she could casually mention anything to clear his name. Yu Zheng found it laughable. She hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she was being framed as the one at fault, even though it was Yu Baifeng who invited her to dinner. Realizing Wen Peng was behind all this, Yu Zheng went to confront him at his office. After their previous conversation about analyzing the criminal psychology exam question, Wen Peng was reluctant to engage further.

Yu Zheng bluntly stated that she found Wen Peng increasingly intriguing, as his meticulous thinking, strong mind, and personality traits matched those of a potential serial killer. Lu Yan uncovered Zhou Zhicheng’s recent treatment records, showing that he had spent millions on imported cancer drugs over the past few years. Knowing that Zhou’s family was not well-off and had relied on fundraising efforts during his college years, she shared this lead with Jiang Chengyi.

That evening, Yu Zheng arranged a meeting with Jiang Chengyi, and Lu Yan tagged along. Yu Zheng explained that she had re-evaluated the evidence and found discrepancies between Deng Man’s suicide note and earlier theories. She also discovered that Zhou Zhicheng had visited Deng Man’s grave multiple times over the past eight years, suggesting their relationship was not merely teacher and student. Lu Yan decided to meet Zhou again, and Jiang insisted on accompanying her.

Yu Baifeng borrowed a phone to message Yu Zheng, but she immediately blocked him. Meanwhile, Zhou Zhicheng was feeding his wife, who refused to eat. Frustrated, Zhou smashed the bowl and went out for a walk. Left alone, his wife recalled Zhou’s affair with Deng Man and how he once justified his actions by claiming he had "male needs. " She remembered how Zhou used his role as a model husband to create a public persona of loyalty to his wife.

Feeling increasingly wronged, she began to cry. When Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan entered the room, they found Zhou’s wife sobbing. They helped clean the spilled food from her clothes, and she hinted they should check the bookshelf. Jiang found a book titled Hiroshima Mon Amour. Suddenly, Zhou returned home and saw Jiang holding the book that Deng Man had borrowed. Zhou began recounting a story from the past.

When Deng Man was a university student, she once fainted from low blood sugar during class. Zhou happened to be teaching at the time and took her to the infirmary. He only left after ensuring she was okay. Deng Man was deeply grateful. During winter break, when most students had gone home, Deng Man stayed at school. Zhou noticed her passing by the dance studio one day and stopped to ask why she hadn’t gone home.

Deng Man revealed that her parents had passed away and she had no family to return to. Feeling sorry for her, Zhou invited her to his home to make dumplings and celebrate the New Year. For Deng Man, it was a rare experience of familial warmth. As they spent more time together, Deng Man, who lacked a father figure in her life, became infatuated with Zhou. Realizing this, Zhou chose to reject her directly.

After the new semester began, Zhou once saw Ding Jing and Liu Yujie bullying Deng Man in the equipment room. After they left, he helped Deng Man clean up the mess. Unable to contain her emotions, Deng Man suddenly threw herself into his arms.

Faced with the affection of a younger admirer, Zhou Zhicheng could no longer restrain himself and tightly embraced Deng Man. From that point on, their relationship grew closer. They frequently went to the library to read together and communicated happily even though they could only use their phones. A book, Hiroshima Mon Amour, became a must-read for them both. On Deng Man’s birthday, Zhou Zhicheng invited her to meet by the riverside and prepared a cake in advance.

Having celebrated her birthdays alone for over twenty years, Deng Man was deeply moved by Zhou Zhicheng’s thoughtfulness. Overwhelmed with emotion, they hugged tightly, unaware that Ding Jing, who happened to be at the riverside, secretly recorded a video of them. Back at school, Ding Jing showed the video to Deng Man. Fearing it would ruin Zhou Zhicheng’s reputation, Deng Man agreed to help Ding Jing sabotage Lu Yan and Jiang Chengyi’s relationship.

Zhou Zhicheng also supported Deng Man’s decision, suggesting they play along for now and retrieve the video before explaining the situation to Lu Yan. Deng Man waited for Jiang Chengyi on his way home from school but found herself unable to speak when she saw him. Watching from a distance, Zhou Zhicheng felt distressed but didn’t dare approach to comfort her. After this incident, Deng Man told Zhou Zhicheng she no longer wanted to do anything against her conscience.

Zhou Zhicheng disagreed, worrying that if their relationship were exposed, he would be condemned as a morally corrupt hypocrite, and Deng Man’s reputation would also be ruined. Seeing Zhou’s anxiety, Deng Man reassured him that she had a solution to resolve everything perfectly. Two days later, Zhou Zhicheng went to the library to meet Deng Man, only to receive news of her suicide. It was then he realized she had sacrificed herself to protect his reputation.

Later, Zhou was named a role model of morality, which only deepened his guilt and fear of revealing the truth. After hearing Zhou Zhicheng’s account, Lu Yan harshly scolded him. Filled with remorse, Zhou admitted he had already faced retribution, as he was diagnosed with cancer three years ago. He even sent an anonymous letter to the police, claiming Deng Man’s death was not a suicide because she couldn’t bear to leave him.

On their way home, Jiang Chengyi felt that Zhou Zhicheng’s story was too neatly crafted, as though he were telling a fictional tale. Meanwhile, at the entrance to the residential complex, Jiang met with Wen Peng, who confirmed that he had instructed Zhou Zhicheng to tell this version of the story. Wen Peng then handed Zhou a large sum of money. That night, Lu Yan dreamt of Deng Man apologizing to her for not sharing her secrets.

Deng Man explained that she was too young back then to understand true love and regretted hurting two people. She expressed joy at seeing Lu Yan reconcile with Jiang Chengyi. The next day at work, Jiang Chengyi received a heart-shaped lunchbox delivery from Lu Yan, prompting Qin Yue to teasingly ask Jiang for relationship advice. After work, Jiang returned home to find the lights on. As he and Lu Yan puzzled over it, Lu Yan’s mother emerged from the bathroom.

She asked if they were living together, prompting Lu Yan to quickly explain that they only occasionally had meals together. However, seeing Jiang Chengyi’s clothes in the washing machine, Lu Yan’s mother quietly saw through the situation without saying much. Jiang hastily prepared a few dishes and later took his clean clothes back to his rented apartment. That night, Lu Yan confided in her mother, revealing that Jiang Chengyi had been her boyfriend in college.

Due to a misunderstanding, they had broken up but later reconciled after clearing things up. For the past eight years, neither of them had forgotten the other. After Lu Yan’s mother fell asleep, the couple sneaked out to the balcony to chat. Hearing her mother deliberately cough a few times, Lu Yan quickly returned to her room. The following day, Lu Yan took her mother to the hospital for a check-up.

From Director Han to every doctor and nurse, they all spoke highly of Jiang Chengyi, putting Lu Yan’s mother at ease. At the end of the workday, Wen Peng waited for Lu Yan at the hospital entrance. As Lu Yan escorted her mother out, she noticed Wen Peng and waved to him. Just then, Jiang Chengyi pulled up in his car, and Lu Yan and her mother got in. Watching them leave together, Wen Peng felt a pang of unease.

On the way home, Lu Yan's mother asked Jiang Chengyi some questions about his job, mainly wanting to understand what kind of life her daughter would have after they got married. Upon learning that his work hours were relatively flexible, she began to worry about the dangers of being a police officer and remained gloomy throughout the ride. Once home, Lu Yan was still working late.

Her mother started analyzing all the inconveniences Jiang Chengyi's job might bring to their life. Lu Yan firmly expressed her love for Jiang Chengyi, explaining that after eight years, they had reconciled and she had thought through everything carefully. She assured her mother that they would face life’s challenges together. Seeing her daughter's determination, Lu Yan's mother decided not to say anything further.

The next day, as Lu Yan's mother was about to board her flight, she realized she had left her ID card at Lu Yan’s house. She urgently called Lu Yan, who scolded her a little but explained she had a surgery coming up and couldn’t leave. She then called Jiang Chengyi, who arranged for a temporary ID card to be issued and delivered it to the airport, promising to mail the original card later.

While waiting for the flight, Lu Yan’s mother had a brief chat with Jiang Chengyi. Lu Yan's mother revealed that she had divorced early and knew all too well the hardships of raising a child alone. She didn’t want her daughter, who had already grown up without a father’s love, to face more pain after marriage. Although she personally disapproved of her daughter dating a police officer, she chose to support her daughter’s decision.

She made only one request—that Jiang Chengyi treat Lu Yan well in the future. Zhou Zhicheng, having received money, proposed taking his wife on a world tour, explaining that it had always been her dream. Now that he was terminally ill with cancer, he decided to fulfill this promise while they still had time. Jiang Chengyi brought up Zhou Zhicheng’s claim that he received 300,000 yuan annually and mentioned Zhou’s suspicion that Deng Man’s death wasn’t a suicide.

Zhou believed Ding Jing was involved and suspected she had been giving him hush money every year, deposited in a safe under his name. However, surveillance footage didn’t show Zhou retrieving the money, but it did reveal Li Ruonan visiting the safe several times, hinting at a potential transaction between Ding Jing and Li Ruonan.

When Li Ruonan was interrogated, she shifted all the blame onto Ding Jing, confessing that Ding Jing had hired her to kill Wang Qianqian and ruin Lu Yan’s reputation. After everything was done, Ding Jing reneged on the deal, prompting Li Ruonan to kidnap her in anger. When the police intervened, Li Ruonan accidentally strangled Ding Jing to death. After a month of silence, Li Ruonan finally spoke, echoing Zhou Zhicheng’s suspicions.

Jiang Chengyi concluded that there was a common mastermind behind both Zhou Zhicheng and Li Ruonan. Liu Hao was sent to Zhou Zhicheng’s neighborhood to summon him, only to find Zhou preparing to leave with his wife, Lin Chunmei. As Liu arrived, Zhou drove off, and Liu followed, attempting to stop the car while informing Jiang Chengyi of the situation. Approaching a traffic checkpoint, Zhou suddenly sped up and ran a red light.

Liu, following closely, was struck by a large truck while turning. Believing he had evaded pursuit, Zhou was blocked at the next intersection by Jiang Chengyi’s car. Zhou Zhicheng was brought back to the criminal police unit, claiming he was merely taking Lin Chunmei to the hospital for a check-up and refusing to discuss anything else. Meanwhile, Yu Baifeng, enraged by online attacks against Yu Zheng, ignored his assistant Xiao Hao's advice and insisted on seeing Yu Zheng.

When he found Yu Zheng relatively unaffected at school, he felt somewhat relieved. Yu Zheng, however, suspected that she had been followed a few days ago during a meal. She took Yu Baifeng’s phone and found it had been tracked by Xiao Hao. Yu Zheng shared this with Wen Peng, who lightly scolded Xiao Hao before firing him. After being dismissed, Xiao Hao felt dejected and went to a familiar restaurant to drink alone.

Wen Peng joined him and stayed by his side as Yu Baifeng drank heavily. Wen Peng ended up carrying Yu Baifeng home. The next morning, during breakfast, Wen Peng’s secretary called to inform them that someone had posted online rumors accusing Yu Baifeng’s guardian, Aunt Wang, of being a thief. Furious, Yu Baifeng reflected on the origin of this rumor.

Years ago, Aunt Wang had picked up money dropped by a customer in a restaurant to pay for his medical treatment. The customer, thinking she was stealing, chased her, but Aunt Wang suffered a sudden asthma attack and couldn’t be saved. The police officer responsible for handling the case was Yu Zheng. Feeling she hadn’t handled it well, Yu Zheng requested a transfer from active duty to become a professor at the police academy.

Yu Zheng tried calling Yu Baifeng, but his phone was unreachable. Shortly after, the Bureau Chief called Yu Zheng, requesting her to return to the criminal police unit. Yu Zheng and Jiang Chengyi went to the Bureau Chief's office together. Feeling apologetic about the negative impact on the criminal police unit, Yu Zheng expressed her regret. However, the Bureau Chief did not blame them and only reminded them to coordinate well with the Cyber Investigation Department.

After leaving the office, Yu Zheng admitted that although she thought she had moved on from the events of the past, discovering that Wang Dan was Yu Baifeng's adoptive mother brought back unresolved feelings. Lu Yan visited Tang Jie’s home to showcase her cooking skills, thoughtfully making a chicken and fish maw soup. Both Tang Jie and Zhong Wenxuan praised her efforts.

During their meal, Yuan Dalu called Zhong Wenxuan, informing him that due to the negative news surrounding Yu Baifeng, the production of the new film had been delayed. He suggested discussing a solution with Wen Peng’s company. Wen Peng stated that he would try his best to suppress the negative news about Yu Baifeng, but if that failed, they might need to replace him with another actor.

Zhong Wenxuan accused Wen Peng of being irresponsible, arguing that with the new film about to start production, the company couldn’t find an actor of Yu Baifeng's caliber. Moreover, their collaborating producer, Mr. Ke, seemed inexperienced, making things far more challenging than expected. That evening, Tang Jie brought out baby items she had bought while shopping with Lu Yan, but Zhong Wenxuan appeared preoccupied.

Ever since Tang Jie’s pregnancy, Zhong Wenxuan had been obsessed with upgrading their house and car, unintentionally putting immense pressure on himself. Tang Jie reassured him, emphasizing that they could share their burdens together. Wen Peng visited Yu Baifeng at his home and mentioned the hefty penalty fees caused by the negative press. Determined to pay off his debts, Yu Baifeng decided to sell his villa.

Wen Peng wasn’t upset but instead agreed to meet with Yu Zheng on Yu Baifeng’s behalf to gauge her attitude. When Wen Peng met Yu Zheng, he asked whether she felt any guilt about the past events. Yu Zheng admitted she felt uneasy emotionally, though legally she believed she hadn’t done anything wrong.

Wen Peng requested that she record a video clarifying that Wang Dan wasn’t a thief, but Yu Zheng explained that, from a legal standpoint, Wang Dan had indeed taken the money, and the case’s conclusion couldn’t easily be overturned. Secretly, Wen Peng recorded their conversation and played it back for Yu Baifeng at his company. After hearing Yu Zheng’s stance, Yu Baifeng was furious. To him, nothing was more important than clearing his adoptive mother’s name.

After Wen Peng left, Yu Baifeng stormed out of the company, determined to demand justice from Jiang Chengyi and Yu Zheng in person. As Jiang Chengyi and Yu Zheng were leaving work, Yu Zheng realized she had left her charger at the criminal police unit. She asked Jiang Chengyi to wait for her in the underground parking garage. While waiting, Yu Baifeng arrived and confronted Jiang Chengyi, demanding to know why he wouldn’t clear his adoptive mother’s name.

He accused Jiang Chengyi of causing a death over just 500 yuan. Jiang Chengyi tried to explain the legal aspects of the situation, but Yu Baifeng, losing patience, began shoving him. Jiang Chengyi didn’t retaliate and only defended himself. A passerby captured the altercation on video and reported it to the police. Yu Baifeng was detained for assaulting a police officer.

At the Limin Police Station, Yu Zheng explained the situation to the officers, but Yu Baifeng remained in custody and refused to forgive Yu Zheng. The Bureau Chief, after learning about the incident, consoled Jiang Chengyi, advising him not to feel burdened. Jiang Chengyi expressed his willingness to write a letter of forgiveness to release Yu Baifeng from responsibility. The Bureau Chief then sent Jiang Chengyi home to rest for a few days until his back injury healed.

Jiang Chengyi was taken to the hospital, where Lu Yan, hearing about his visit to the emergency room, immediately went to check on him. Upon learning that an old injury had flared up, she urged Jiang Chengyi to rest and even asked Qin Yue to help keep an eye on him. Wen Peng’s assistant informed him of Yu Baifeng’s detention, suggesting he intercede with Jiang Chengyi.

However, Wen Peng sternly told his assistant never to mention Jiang Chengyi in his presence again and promised to find other resources to resolve the issue. On her way home, Yu Zheng thought about how Yu Baifeng had once ridden his bicycle to school on time and later made a heartfelt, innocent confession to her. Feeling a pang of guilt, she called Jiang Chengyi and asked him to let the matter go.

Jiang Chengyi reassured her that he wouldn’t make things difficult for Yu Baifeng. Back at home, Lu Yan took great care of Jiang Chengyi and even prepared breakfast for him the next morning before heading to work. Yu Zheng asked the Bureau Chief to intercede with the Limin Police Station. The Bureau Chief explained that he had already sent the letter of forgiveness and had done everything he could without crossing disciplinary boundaries.

Meanwhile, due to the negative press surrounding Yu Baifeng’s assault charge, the new film’s production remained stalled. Zhong Wenxuan and Yuan Dalu met with Wen Peng to discuss salvaging the project. Wen Peng suggested replacing Yu Baifeng with another top-tier actor, but noted that many had raised their prices after hearing about the situation. With the company struggling to pay off debts, affording a high-priced actor was out of the question.

Zhong Wenxuan and Yuan Dalu were left at a loss, as no one had anticipated such developments. After leaving Wen Peng’s company, Zhong Wenxuan began to suspect issues with the project itself. Typically, project timelines align with the actors’ schedules, but in this case, the start date was inflexible. He also grew suspicious of Mr. Ke and asked Yuan Dalu to investigate further.

Yu Baifeng’s injury incident was not severe, and with Jiang Chengyi’s letter of forgiveness, he was placed under administrative detention at the Limin Police Station for five days. Meanwhile, Yu Zheng spent several days at the criminal police unit watching dramas produced by Wen Peng’s company and researching online for information related to Runying Company. Jiang Chengyi’s father, upon hearing about his son’s injury, called and asked him to come home.

Learning that Jiang Chengyi had written a letter of forgiveness, his father recounted a similar incident he had experienced years ago. He reminded Jiang Chengyi that certain situations require firmness and that being overly lenient or protective could be a flaw. Though it may appear to help the perpetrator, it ultimately harms them. Zhong Wenxuan and Yuan Dalu brought the signed contract to Jiang Chengyi for analysis.

Jiang Chengyi found that the contract was poorly drafted and heavily favored Wen Peng’s side. Zhong Wenxuan explained that he trusted Wen Peng as an old classmate and didn’t think much of it initially. However, now he found himself trapped and dared not consider the consequences. Additionally, they discovered that Mr. Ke had a criminal record and was not a professional film investor. They suspected that Wen Peng had colluded with Mr. Ke to scam them.

Jiang Chengyi suggested investigating Wen Peng’s company further. Yu Zheng visited the detention center to check on Yu Baifeng, but he refused to meet her. She left a letter with the guards to pass along to him. She then returned to the criminal police unit and continued watching Runying Company’s productions. Suddenly, she spotted Li Ruonan on the film set in one of the clips and immediately called Jiang Chengyi.

The behind-the-scenes footage featured Li Ruonan, but her name wasn’t listed in the credits. Yu Zheng sought out the film’s martial arts director, Liu Lin, and showed him a photo of Li Ruonan. Liu Lin vaguely remembered her, noting that she had used a fake name and kept to herself on set. She seemed highly money-conscious and had a dispute with the assistant director over her payment when the film wrapped. Wen Peng eventually stepped in to resolve the matter.

This connected Wen Peng to everyone involved, yet he always had an alibi and never directly took action. Jiang Chengyi deduced that Li Ruonan was likely Wen Peng’s "hands," and Wen Peng might have manipulated Yan Mei to ensure Li Ruonan’s loyalty. He instructed Yu Zheng and Liu Hao to go to Chengzhou to investigate Li Ruonan’s background and Yan Mei’s whereabouts. Qin Yue was tasked with thoroughly checking Wen Peng’s household registration.

Qin Yue quickly retrieved Wen Peng’s registration information and showed it to Jiang Chengyi. When Jiang Chengyi saw that Wen Peng’s mother’s name was He Yan, he was startled. Further checking the ID number, he confirmed it was his own mother. Jiang Chengyi rushed home to confront his mother directly, asking if she was also Wen Peng’s mother. He Yan was surprised and admitted she had never mentioned Wen Peng to Jiang Chengyi.

Jiang Chengyi recounted Wen Peng’s activities in recent years, noting that they had been in the same year in university. Wen Peng had left school without graduating to go abroad and returned to China after two or three years. However, He Yan had always believed Wen Peng was still overseas and couldn’t understand why he had hidden the truth from her. Overwhelmed, she retreated to her room in distress.

Jiang Chengyi’s father comforted him, reminding him to uphold his principles as a police officer and assuring him that his mother would eventually understand. Wen Peng visited the detention center to see Yu Baifeng, deliberately inciting hatred toward Jiang Chengyi. Naively, Yu Baifeng agreed, vowing to confront Jiang Chengyi once he was released. Jiang Chengyi returned home late at night to find Lu Yan still awake.

He told her about the revelation that Wen Peng’s mother was also his own mother. He finally understood why Wen Peng had always held animosity toward him, recalling the tension he had felt since they joined the university basketball team. Now, the real reason was clear.

He Yan looked through every message she had sent to Wen Peng, feeling deeply guilty. Wen Peng had been in Ninghai all along but refused to reply to even one message. The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. Jiang Chengyi’s father comforted her, explaining that he had once gone back to look for Wen Peng, but Wen Peng’s father had moved with him to a new place, making it impossible to stay in touch.

He suggested waiting for the right time to explain everything to Wen Peng together. He Yan found the address of Wen Peng’s company and waited outside the building, hoping to see him. Wen Peng saw his mother from the office window and instructed his assistant to send her away. Yu Zheng and Liu Hao arrived in Chengzhou and first met with Li Ruonan’s martial arts coach. The coach praised Li Ruonan’s talent, saying she was his most accomplished student.

However, Li Ruonan had dropped out of school to care for her mother, who suffered from uremia. Yu Zheng speculated that Wen Peng had noticed Li Ruonan’s skills and paid for her dialysis in exchange for her loyalty. He Yan found Lu Yan at the hospital and asked her to pretend to invite Wen Peng out for a meal so she could meet her son. Lu Yan called Wen Peng, who readily agreed. Lu Yan then informed Jiang Chengyi.

When Wen Peng arrived at the restaurant and saw Lu Yan, he was delighted. However, when He Yan appeared, his face immediately darkened. Jiang Chengyi also showed up, and Wen Peng prepared to leave, but Lu Yan pleaded with him to stay and talk. Wen Peng sat with He Yan at one table, while Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan sat a little farther away. He Yan recounted how, after her divorce, she had tried to find Wen Peng.

However, Wen Peng’s father had threatened to beat him to death if she came looking again. He Yan had even reported the threats to the police but, fearing for Wen Peng’s safety, chose not to return. Later, she heard Wen Peng had gone abroad after graduation and continued sending messages, assuming the lack of response was due to the time difference. Wen Peng said that he had once visited his mother’s new family and saw her caring for another son.

The way she spoke to him with concern made Wen Peng realize he was the “extra one. ” He added that he chose to study medicine in university because his mother had often been injured by domestic violence when he was a child. After saying this, Wen Peng walked out without looking back. Jiang Chengyi chased after him and urged him to treat his biological mother better. Wen Peng, however, accused Jiang Chengyi of setting him up to feel humiliated.

Jiang Chengyi explained that he had only rushed to the restaurant out of concern for his mother’s health. Wen Peng sarcastically asked if Jiang Chengyi considered him a threat. Before Jiang Chengyi could respond, Lu Yan informed him that He Yan had fainted. Jiang Chengyi quickly rushed her to the hospital. After much commotion, the hospital diagnosed He Yan with a sudden spike in blood pressure that caused her to faint.

Once she regained consciousness, Jiang Chengyi went out to buy water, and Lu Yan followed him out of the room. Lu Yan asked how Jiang Chengyi would handle things if Wen Peng were behind everything. Jiang Chengyi said he wouldn’t waver on his principles. Lu Yan expressed concern about how his mother would cope, and Jiang Chengyi could only ask for understanding. The task force analyzed the connections between Wen Peng and the various incidents.

Jiang Chengyi believed that Wen Peng was meticulous, extreme in personality, and skilled at manipulating people. He was certain Wen Peng was orchestrating events behind the scenes, but it was unlikely he acted alone. Jiang Chengyi instructed Qin Yue to investigate Wen Peng’s frequent contacts among colleagues or friends. On the day Yu Baifeng was released from prison, the prison guard handed him the letter left by Yu Zheng.

Holding a grudge against Yu Zheng, Yu Baifeng threw the letter into the trash. Wen Peng was waiting for him at the prison gates. On the way home, Yu Baifeng vowed to make Jiang Chengyi and Yu Zheng pay, and Wen Peng subtly encouraged his hatred while advising against directly confronting the police. Wen Peng’s assistant called to inform him that police officers had come to the filming set to investigate.

Wen Peng rushed to the site and arranged for the crew to wrap up early, deliberately opposing the police. Despite this, Qin Yue remained friendly, stating they might return the next day. Wen Peng later visited Yu Baifeng’s home and blamed the police visit on Yu Baifeng, further deepening his hatred toward Jiang Chengyi. Lu Yan’s mother’s medical report came back, and Director Han informed her that a polyp in her stomach had doubled in size compared to last year.

He recommended immediate surgery. Lu Yan called her mother and insisted she return to Ninghai for hospitalization. Yu Zheng discovered that Yan Mei had been hospitalized in Chengzhou and went to inquire the next day. The attending doctor said Yan Mei always visited the hospital alone and once mentioned that her daughter worked in another city. Yan Mei’s condition had progressed rapidly, and she had left the hospital when she needed a kidney transplant.

Yu Zheng and Liu Hao found out that Yan Mei had been cared for by the same nurse, Ma Cheng, during her hospitalization. After Yan Mei was discharged, Ma Cheng also resigned from the hospital. When Wen Peng returned to his villa, he found his father at the door. It was the first time his father had seen where he lived and declared his intention to stay with him.

Wen Peng felt only disgust and mocked his father by mentioning how happy his mother seemed after remarrying. He said she looked over ten years younger than his father, deliberately provoking him.

Wen Peng was severely beaten by his father again. Although he now had the strength to fight back, he still instinctively didn’t dare to resist. Fortunately, he had left a message for his assistant in advance. The assistant arrived with others at the villa and managed to send Wen Peng’s father away.

Wen Peng went to the basement where he kept his photo collection and smashed the photo wall he had built over the years, as though he were tearing down his beliefs one by one. At this moment, the only thing keeping him going was Lu Yan. He thought back to when he was about to jump into the river to end his life during his school days, and it was Lu Yan who pulled him back under an umbrella.

Unable to control himself any longer, Wen Peng ran straight to the hospital to find Lu Yan, who was on the night shift. Covered in blood, he let her tend to his wounds first. Then he recounted being punished by his father and begged her to pity him for having no family. He pleaded for her to leave Jiang Chengyi and be with him, even if only for a day.

Lu Yan asked if Wen Peng was involved in the deaths of Deng Man and Wang Qianqian. Misunderstanding her question as a condition for being together, Wen Peng thought Lu Yan was offering a trade: if he told the truth, she would agree to be with him. Lu Yan quickly explained that she had no such intention. Wen Peng became agitated and forcefully pulled her into his arms.

At that moment, Jiang Chengyi arrived at the hospital to take Lu Yan home. Hearing her shouting, he approached the duty room and shoved Wen Peng aside. Wen Peng got up from the ground and once again asked Lu Yan if she would be with him. Frightened, Lu Yan hid behind Jiang Chengyi, shaking her head. Seeing this, Wen Peng had no choice but to leave.

As he walked out of the hospital, he drank from a bottle of alcohol, hoping to get drunk but remaining painfully sober, drowning in his anguish and despair. Yu Zheng and Liu Hao tracked down Ma Cheng at a mahjong table in Chengzhou. Ma Cheng admitted he had been Yan Mei’s caregiver back then. He had only met the employer once when he took the job.

Afterward, all communication was over the phone, and the payment was always made to his bank account on time. When Yan Mei’s condition deteriorated to the point where recovery was impossible, the employer arranged for her to be discharged and sent home. Ma Cheng claimed he didn’t inquire about what happened afterward. Ma Cheng took the two to Yan Mei’s home, which was covered in dust. Liu Hao found a cigarette butt under the refrigerator.

Ma Cheng stated he didn’t smoke, suggesting someone else had been in the house besides the three of them. The bite marks on the cigarette butt were unusual, prompting Yu Zheng to instruct Liu Hao to prepare two packs of cigarettes and offer them to anyone suspicious nearby. Following Yu Zheng’s lead, Jiang Chengyi interrogated Li Ruonan again, but she still refused to say anything.

When Jiang Chengyi mentioned Yan Mei’s hospitalization, the worsening of her condition, her discharge without further treatment, and the absence of any travel records, Li Ruonan seemed to grasp the implication but refused to believe her mother was dead. She stammered that someone had shown her photos of her mother. Observing her emotional reaction, Jiang Chengyi felt more confident in his investigation's direction. Zhong Wenxuan and Yuan Dalu posed as university students looking for jobs to meet with Manager Ke.

Manager Ke fell for the trap and claimed he could arrange a job as long as they paid him. Zhong Wenxuan secretly recorded the conversation. When they met Manager Ke in person, Zhong Wenxuan threatened him with the recording. Manager Ke had no choice but to admit he had no IP rights and that Wen Peng had instructed him to scam Zhong Wenxuan into investing. Because he owed Wen Peng money, he had to comply.

Zhong Wenxuan confronted Wen Peng, demanding to know why he had played him. Wen Peng replied that Zhong Wenxuan had done too much for Jiang Chengyi, including helping to bring Lu Yan and Jiang Chengyi together, which Wen Peng found intolerable and felt he needed to teach him a lesson. Furious, Zhong Wenxuan grabbed Wen Peng by the collar, ready to retaliate.

However, noticing the red bracelet on his wrist that Tang Jie had bought him and remembering he was about to become a father, he calmed down and let go. When Yu Zheng returned to her hotel room, she sensed someone was following her. She discreetly called Liu Hao, who went outside but didn’t spot anyone suspicious. They immediately checked the hotel surveillance footage and discovered the stalker was Yu Baifeng.

Liu Hao speculated that after being released from prison, Yu Baifeng had come to Chengzhou and, given his animosity toward Wang Dan, was likely planning revenge. Yu Zheng and Liu Hao continued their investigation at the crematorium, searching for any cremation records of Yan Mei. They found none, but the manager showed a particular interest in their inquiry. After a brief chat, Yu Zheng offered the manager a cigarette. The manager bit down on the cigarette in a manner that matched the unusual marks on the cigarette butt found at Yan Mei’s house.

Tang Jie went to the hospital for a prenatal checkup, accompanied by Lu Yan. After completing all the tests, Lu Yan asked Zhong Wenxuan to handle the payment. Zhong Wenxuan had just hung up a phone call and seemed distracted. It took Tang Jie several calls to get his attention. After he left to pay, Tang Jie confided in Lu Yan that Zhong Wenxuan had been acting strange lately, frequently going out to meet friends and taking constant phone calls.

She suspected he might be having an affair. Lu Yan advised her not to overthink. Yu Zheng called Jiang Chengyi to inform him about being followed by Yu Baifeng. Jiang Chengyi asked if she wanted the local police to intervene and detain him. However, Yu Zheng felt it wasn’t necessary, suggesting that if Yu Baifeng was serving as Wen Peng’s informant, they could use the opportunity to uncover Wen Peng’s plans. Jiang Chengyi reminded her to stay safe.

At the hospital payment counter, Tang Jie overheard Zhong Wenxuan on another phone call, mentioning the low-price liquidation of assets. Zhong Wenxuan even instructed Yuan Dalu to delete their call records to avoid worrying Tang Jie. When he turned around, he was startled to see Tang Jie standing nearby. Back at home, Zhong Wenxuan revealed everything to Tang Jie, explaining that he was preparing to sell the company and lay off employees.

Tang Jie believed the long-term employees who had supported him since the start of his business didn’t deserve such treatment. She took out the savings from her dowry to help Zhong Wenxuan through the crisis. Despite the help, the financial shortfall was still significant. Tang Jie decided to sell their house. Lu Yan, worried about Tang Jie’s pregnancy, expressed concern about where she would live. Tang Jie assured her that she could stay at her mother’s house for a while.

Her mother had been urging her to move back home since she got pregnant, so it would work out perfectly. Moved by the situation, Lu Yan transferred 100,000 yuan from her savings to Tang Jie to help. Yu Zheng visited the Chengzhou criminal police team to verify that the unclaimed corpse was not Yan Mei. She then inquired about Wang Yifan, a temporary worker at the funeral home.

The liaison officer mentioned that Wang Yifan was idle and even had a criminal record. However, due to his father’s former position as a formal employee at the funeral home, Wang Yifan was reluctantly given the job. He Yan went to the hospital again to find Lu Yan, asking her to deliver a letter to Wen Peng. Feeling awkward but unable to refuse, Lu Yan agreed. After He Yan left, Lu Yan called Jiang Chengyi to explain the situation.

Jiang Chengyi told her to give the letter to him so he could deliver it personally to Wen Peng. Jiang Chengyi handed the letter to Wen Peng, who tore it up on the spot. Jiang Chengyi then pleaded with Wen Peng to stop targeting Zhong Wenxuan. Wen Peng, however, provocatively replied that as long as Jiang Chengyi refused to leave Lu Yan, everyone around him would suffer.

Jiang Chengyi, angered by Wen Peng’s blatant provocation but unable to refute him, decided to wait until there was concrete evidence to take action. Yu Zheng and Liu Hao followed Wang Yifan to a pool hall. Liu Hao went inside, hoping to obtain a cigarette butt from Wang Yifan, while Yu Zheng waited outside. Unbeknownst to her, Yu Baifeng was also following her. Wang Yifan didn’t stay long at the pool hall.

When Yu Zheng saw him leave, she quietly followed him. Yu Baifeng, thinking this was his chance for revenge, followed Yu Zheng. Suddenly, Wang Yifan emerged from an alley and strangled Yu Zheng from behind. Terrified, Yu Baifeng hid in the shadows. Using his strength, Wang Yifan knocked Yu Zheng unconscious, locked her in a car, and turned on the gas to cause her to die from oxygen deprivation.

Seeing this, Yu Baifeng approached the car, intending to open the door. However, Wang Yifan overpowered him, seized the electric baton he was holding, and knocked him out as well. Meanwhile, Liu Hao exited the pool hall but was immediately accosted by two thugs. After a brief fight, Liu Hao managed to injure them. The police arrived quickly, but Liu Hao rushed to Yu Baifeng’s side, opened the car door, and rescued Yu Zheng, taking her to the hospital.

While lying in the ambulance, Yu Zheng gradually regained consciousness. Yu Baifeng sat beside her, showing genuine concern. He admitted that he initially intended to take revenge but couldn’t bear to see a stranger bullying her. What hurt him the most was overhearing Wang Yifan call Wen Peng after using the electric baton on him. Wen Peng had ordered Wang Yifan to get rid of him, allowing Yu Baifeng to see Wen Peng’s true colors.

Liu Hao reported the incident to Jiang Chengyi, who immediately instructed Qin Yue to investigate all of Wang Yifan’s recent call records.

Before undergoing surgery, Lu Yan’s mother was found to have high blood sugar levels during a pre-surgery checkup. When the doctor asked a few questions, it came to light that she had been secretly taking medication for her condition, not wanting to worry Lu Yan. Lu Yan urged her mother to take better care of her health. However, Lu Yan’s mother was more concerned about the upcoming meeting between the two families.

Lu Yan reassured her that arrangements had already been made with Jiang Chengyi, and both parents would meet that evening. Excited, Lu Yan’s mother planned to buy a new outfit and get her hair done. Lu Yan had to leave early due to other commitments. Meanwhile, Wen Peng's assistant, Wu Di, secretly recorded their conversation and sent it to Wen Peng. Displeased with the idea of Lu Yan and Jiang Chengyi getting engaged, Wen Peng began scheming to stop it.

After leaving the office, Wen Peng was discreetly followed by Qin Yue and Liu Hao, who saw him enter a shopping mall. While shopping for clothes, Lu Yan’s mother got into a dispute with two middle-aged women. Wen Peng stepped in and quickly resolved the matter. Grateful, Lu Yan’s mother introduced herself. Wen Peng also introduced himself, and she remembered that he had visited Lu Yan in the hospital during their university days.

Realizing he and Jiang Chengyi were also alumni, she mentioned the evening’s meeting with Jiang Chengyi’s parents and explained that she was shopping for a new outfit. Wen Peng cheerfully continued chatting with her and even offered to drive her home. On the way, they talked extensively about Lu Yan. When Lu Yan’s mother mentioned that Jiang Chengyi’s mother was particularly eager about the marriage, Wen Peng felt a mix of emotions.

His biological mother cared deeply for Jiang Chengyi but seemed entirely oblivious to his own preferences and feelings. As Lu Yan’s mother got out of the car and prepared to cross the street to a restaurant, a van suddenly appeared from behind and hit her hard, knocking her aside. Jiang Chengyi, who had just arrived, rushed over. Bystanders called for emergency services, and Jiang Chengyi immediately took Lu Yan’s mother to the hospital. ---While trying to flee, Wang Yifan was apprehended.

Liu Hao presented a fabricated confession, claiming that Wen Peng had been arrested and had implicated Wang Yifan in the murder of Yan Mei. Falling for the ploy, Wang Yifan angrily revealed that Wen Peng had orchestrated everything. Wen Peng had offered 300,000 yuan to ensure Yan Mei’s body was cremated.

Tempted by the money but unable to navigate the process as a temporary worker at the funeral home, Wang Yifan had secretly transported Yan Mei’s body out of the funeral home and buried it under an octagonal pavilion in the Western Hills. Qin Yue investigated the driver who had hit Lu Yan’s mother and discovered a connection to a previous truck driver, with both having been instructed by Wu Di.

Sensing the police had gathered substantial evidence, Wen Peng instructed Wu Di to take all the blame. However, Wu Di, grateful for Wen Peng’s years of care for his family, refused to betray him. Wen Peng then asked Wu Di to find him a second-hand car. ---Lu Yan’s mother underwent emergency surgery for extensive brain hemorrhaging but needed to be moved to the ICU for further observation.

Overwhelmed with grief, Lu Yan struggled to cope, while Jiang Chengyi, guilt-ridden, couldn’t find the words to comfort her. He blamed himself for everything, recalling Wen Peng’s warning that as long as he stayed with Lu Yan, more people would get hurt. Despite his efforts to protect her, even her mother had now been dragged into the mess. Liu Hao informed Jiang Chengyi of Wang Yifan’s confession. Jiang Chengyi immediately ordered Wen Peng’s arrest.

When officers arrived at Wen Peng’s company to deliver the warrant, his secretary revealed that he hadn’t shown up all day, and his whereabouts were unknown. A search of his villa also turned up empty, though they discovered a hidden room on the second floor. The Chengzhou police retrieved DNA from the remains buried under the octagonal pavilion and confirmed a match with Li Ruonan. This identified the victim as Yan Mei.

Upon learning that Wen Peng had deceived her for two years, Li Ruonan could no longer stay silent and disclosed all details of her dealings with Wen Peng. Wen Peng admitted that he had been willing to do anything for his mother, who had received the best medical care he could provide. He had once pretended to scare Lu Yan by impersonating Deng Man and later kidnapped Ding Jing.

Ding Jing had evidence that Wen Peng had plotted against Deng Man. When Wen Peng tried to retrieve this evidence, he accidentally killed Ding Jing. He later used Yan Mei to coerce others into retrieving the evidence for him. Jiang Chengyi informed Li Ruonan that this would be her final interrogation and offered to fulfill any wishes she had. Li Ruonan requested to be buried alongside her mother after her death.

Qin Yue was unable to find the evidence Ding Jing had hidden. Jiang Chengyi believed it was still in her house, so he led a team back to search Ding Jing’s home. Ding Jing’s father pleaded with Jiang Chengyi not to overlook any corner, while her mother, having been hospitalized several times since Ding Jing's incident, was preparing to sell the house and move to a new environment for a fresh start.

The team split up to search thoroughly, leaving no area untouched, including the living room, hallways, and basement. Finally, they found the evidence on Ding Jing’s bedroom vanity. The USB drive was taken back to the criminal investigation unit. When they played the files, they uncovered a video of Zhou Zhicheng and Deng Man’s secret meeting and a recording of a conversation between Wen Peng and Ding Jing.

It turned out that the video had been filmed by Wen Peng, who had given it to Ding Jing to threaten Deng Man. Everything had been orchestrated by Wen Peng. Lu Yan’s mother finally showed signs of independent breathing and was transferred to a specialized ward in the evening. Jiang Chengyi went to the hospital to help care for her and asked Zhong Wenxuan to take Tang Jie home to rest.

That night, Jiang Chengyi saw Lu Yan sleeping by her mother’s bedside and felt deeply pained. He went out to buy some bread for her to eat. The two of them sat outside the ward to eat. Feeling guilty, Jiang Chengyi spoke cautiously, but Lu Yan reassured him not to blame himself. She said she now had the strength to care for her mother.

In the past, she would habitually avoid problems, but this time, she wanted to face everything together with Jiang Chengyi. Deeply moved, Jiang Chengyi held Lu Yan tightly in his arms. After being arrested, Zhou Zhicheng saw the video evidence provided by the police and confessed everything he knew. Three years earlier, he had been diagnosed with cancer.

His family had already depleted their savings treating his wife’s illness, and he had initially planned to let his disease run its course. However, he felt immense guilt over Deng Man’s death and anonymously reported it. Wen Peng later approached him, offering to help pay for his chemotherapy on the condition that he stop making anonymous complaints. For the sake of his treatment, Zhou Zhicheng had no choice but to comply with Wen Peng’s demands.

When he tried to leave Ninghai, the police pursued him, and during the chase, he called Wen Peng, who arranged for a truck to ram into the police car. After the interrogation, Liu Hao informed Zhou Zhicheng that, considering his family’s special circumstances, they would apply for medical care on his behalf. After Wu Di was taken into custody, he confessed everything he had done for Wen Peng.

He admitted that Wen Peng had threatened him with his family’s safety, leaving him no choice but to comply. He also revealed that Wen Peng had installed miniature surveillance devices in his apartment, which could serve as evidence. Wu Di further disclosed that Wen Peng’s last request was to contact a used car dealer. When Qin Yue and Liu Hao led a team to the second-hand car market, they found Wen Peng driving a car, seemingly waiting for the police.

Jiang Chengyi, upon learning this, immediately rushed to track him. Wen Peng drove to an abandoned factory. Qin Yue followed him but stayed in his car at first. Inside the factory, Wen Peng set up electrical switches and prepared a large quantity of dust. Worried about losing track of Wen Peng, Qin Yue got out of his car to search.

As he neared Wen Peng, Qin Yue suddenly stepped on a weak spot in the floor and fell from the second floor. A pile of steel pipes fell on him, with one piercing through his leg, leaving him immobile. Wen Peng began dumping large amounts of dust. Jiang Chengyi quickly located Qin Yue’s trapped position. Seeing Jiang Chengyi trying to rescue Qin Yue, Wen Peng shut off the electrical switches, causing a fire to spread rapidly. Jiang Chengyi sped up the rescue, pulling Qin Yue out of the factory just as an explosion erupted behind them.

While Lu Yan was caring for her mother by the hospital bed, she heard that several police officers had been injured in an explosion and rushed to the hospital. Upon hearing the word "police," Lu Yan immediately became anxious and ran outside to see what had happened. When the ambulance arrived, Jiang Chengyi and Qin Yue were carried out. Seeing Jiang Chengyi unconscious, Lu Yan was once again emotionally devastated.

After some time in the emergency room, Jiang Chengyi was diagnosed with a mild concussion and external injuries, and he was declared out of immediate danger. The head of the criminal investigation department visited both officers in the hospital. Qin Yue was still undergoing emergency treatment, and the department head immediately ordered a lockdown within a ten-kilometer radius to prevent Wen Peng from leaving Ninghai. Qin Yue soon passed the critical stage.

Once the steel rod was removed from his leg, his condition improved quickly, and he even started joking with the nurses. However, he felt guilty for disobeying Jiang Chengyi's orders and acting on his own, which led to Jiang Chengyi getting injured. Jiang Chengyi insisted on being discharged, and though Lu Yan knew she couldn’t stop him, she made him promise to return for follow-up appointments on time.

Yu Zheng believed that Wen Peng's motives for committing crimes had evolved and that he would likely target Jiang Chengyi again. The department head instructed Yu Zheng to remind Jiang Chengyi to be cautious. Yu Zheng apologized on behalf of Yu Baifeng to Jiang Chengyi. While the two were talking, Wen Peng deliberately caused a minor collision at a traffic intersection while driving his car and presented his license to the traffic police.

After recognizing Wen Peng, the traffic police attempted to apprehend him, but Wen Peng fled immediately. The on-duty officers reported the situation to their superiors, and a pursuit began. Jiang Chengyi received the notification and left the hospital to join the operation. After a lengthy chase involving substantial police forces, they discovered three identical vehicles. Upon stopping the cars, they found that none of the drivers were Wen Peng.

It turned out that Wen Peng had bribed three individuals to impersonate him, while he himself was near the hospital. Later that evening, after hospital visiting hours, Wen Peng sneaked into the room where Lu Yan’s mother was staying. Lu Yan, who came to care for her mother that night, noticed a shadow moving behind the curtain. When she approached, she found Wen Peng.

He immediately used ether to render her unconscious and disguised as a doctor to take Lu Yan out of the hospital. Jiang Chengyi, upon receiving the report, reviewed the surveillance footage. He saw Wen Peng putting Lu Yan into a black Buick and used the public security system to locate the vehicle. The car was found abandoned on the outskirts of the city at an intersection, with a missing construction vehicle likely used to transfer her.

The next morning, Lu Yan woke up to find herself tied to a wheelchair. Wen Peng revealed that he had specially purchased a lakeside villa for her, claiming it was because Lu Yan once mentioned liking Lake Baikal. He had chosen a scenic lakeside area and begged her to live with him from now on. Lu Yan felt nothing but disgust. Wen Peng brought out a birthday cake, stating it was his birthday and insisting that Lu Yan celebrate with him.

When he tried to feed her cake, Lu Yan refused to open her mouth, which infuriated him. Meanwhile, a team of criminal investigators discovered the abandoned construction vehicle in a nature reserve. Jiang Chengyi immediately dispatched personnel to the area. Later, Wen Peng took Lu Yan to the villa’s entrance to set off fireworks. Even though Lu Yan refused to look, Wen Peng felt blissfully happy, believing that everything he had done was worth it for this moment.

Jiang Chengyi analyzed possible locations where Wen Peng might be hiding. He suddenly remembered a photo of a lake found in Wen Peng’s secret room. On the back of the photo were the words, “Please come with me to see Lake Baikal, Lu Yan. ” The connection clicked: Wen Peng might be at a lake near the nature reserve.

Jiang Chengyi analyzed Wen Peng’s possible hideout and concluded that it was likely a remote lakeside location in the suburbs. Wen Peng had switched vehicles multiple times, skillfully avoiding surveillance, and although he had the opportunity to leave Ninghai, there were no sightings of him at any checkpoints, indicating he had not left the area. While Wen Peng went out to buy food, Lu Yan found a fruit knife and used it to cut through the ropes tying her.

She attempted to escape but discovered that all the doors were locked from the outside. Hearing the sound of Wen Peng returning, she quickly hid in a wardrobe. As Wen Peng searched the house, Lu Yan took the opportunity to dash out of the wardrobe toward the door he had just opened. However, Wen Peng noticed and caught her before she could get far, dragging her back to the room and restraining her on the wheelchair again.

Jiang Chengyi drove around the vicinity to investigate and overheard two elderly fishermen discussing fireworks that had scared away their catch the previous night. Jiang approached them, and they mentioned that the fireworks had been set off across the lake. While Lu Yan struggled, she managed to stab Wen Peng in the abdomen. Wen Peng hastily treated his wound and questioned why Lu Yan would harm him.

Lu Yan retorted that Wen Peng didn’t truly love her but was instead trying to satisfy his possessiveness and defeat Jiang Chengyi. Wen Peng began to reveal his thoughts, admitting that he believed Jiang Chengyi had taken everything from him. Since Deng Man’s suicide, he had been meticulously planning his revenge step by step. Wen Peng confessed that he had deliberately given the video to Ding Jing, knowing she would use it to threaten Deng Man.

When Deng Man planned to commit suicide by jumping into a river, Wen Peng pretended to act out of goodwill by pulling her back from the riverbank. He suggested that she first write a suicide note and record a video blaming Ding Jing for driving her to death. Wen Peng convinced Deng Man to pretend to jump into the river, promising to rescue her after enough footage was captured.

However, when Deng Man actually jumped, Wen Peng stood by and watched her drown. He then kept the video as leverage against Ding Jing. After hearing Wen Peng’s confession, Lu Yan felt even more disgusted, telling him that he would eventually face retribution. Wen Peng responded that he had long been prepared to die but planned to take Lu Yan with him in front of Jiang Chengyi. He then brought up an incident from years ago.

On the day Jiang Chengyi graduated and left school, Lu Yan was bedridden with a high fever, and Tang Jie was busy working on her thesis. Wen Peng stayed by Lu Yan’s side, and when Jiang Chengyi sent her a message asking to meet one last time, Wen Peng unlocked her phone using her fingerprint and deleted the message, ensuring Lu Yan never knew Jiang had tried to contact her. Jiang Chengyi quickly located Wen Peng’s villa.

Wen Peng had taken Lu Yan to a rooftop terrace overlooking the lake. He called Jiang Chengyi and told him to come up to witness their deaths together. By the time Jiang Chengyi arrived, Wen Peng had already tied himself and Lu Yan together. Wen Peng taunted Jiang, claiming that he had ultimately outplayed him. Jiang Chengyi mocked Wen Peng, calling him a coward who had always avoided reality.

Jiang said that since Wen Peng had killed so many people out of hatred, he would now give him the chance to take revenge. Jiang pulled a dagger from his pocket and tossed it to the ground, daring Wen Peng to stab him and claim Lu Yan’s love as a victory. Wen Peng fell for the ruse and bent down to pick up the knife.

At that moment, Jiang Chengyi kicked Wen Peng into the lake and immediately pulled on the rope tying Lu Yan to free her. Jiang successfully rescued Lu Yan, while Wen Peng sank slowly into the lake. Three months later, Jiang Chengyi’s mother unexpectedly woke up. Upon seeing Lu Yan, she asked if Jiang Chengyi had been injured. Lu Yan, overjoyed, assured her that Jiang would visit after work.

The task force successfully solved the largest serial murder case in Ninghai and uncovered a homicide case from eight years ago. They were awarded the title of "Outstanding Collective. " Qin Yue, who had been discharged early, eagerly joined his colleagues to share the good news.

As the first snowfall of the year blanketed the city, Jiang Chengyi picked up Lu Yan after work. Seeing the snowflakes dancing in the air outside the hospital, Lu Yan insisted on enjoying the snow properly. Jiang Chengyi thought of a special place and decided to take her there. On the way, Lu Yan rolled down the car window despite the cold weather, fully immersing herself in the beauty of the white snow.

Jiang Chengyi brought her back to Ninghai University, to the plaza where they first met. Lu Yan asked Jiang Chengyi what he was thinking at that moment. Jiang Chengyi expressed his gratitude for having such a kind, courageous, and hardworking girlfriend. Lu Yan, knowing how much effort it had taken to be with him, couldn't help but reminisce about their university days.

Lu Yan once confessed her feelings to Jiang Chengyi through the campus broadcast platform while he was playing basketball, causing a stir on the court. She declared that if Jiang Chengyi fulfilled their agreement, she would agree to be his girlfriend. Zhong Wenxuan and Yuan Dalu asked Jiang Chengyi what the agreement was, but he only smiled without answering.

On the day of the school sports meet, Lu Yan heard that Jiang Chengyi would wait for her at the finish line of the 3,000-meter race. Overcome with excitement, she ran downstairs. However, Ding Jing, walking upstairs, deliberately tripped her. Lu Yan fell down the stairs, and Deng Man took her to the infirmary. The doctor advised her to rest for a few days, but while the doctor was preparing medication, Lu Yan remembered her agreement with Jiang Chengyi.

Ignoring Deng Man’s objections, she rushed to the track to compete in the race. At first, she managed to jog a little, but by the last two laps, she was barely holding on and walked for nearly an hour. True to his word, Jiang Chengyi was waiting at the finish line. Seeing him, Lu Yan joyfully threw herself into his arms, and all her pain disappeared.

Returning to the present, Lu Yan reflected on how their eight-year journey had been full of ups and downs, and she resolved to stay by Jiang Chengyi’s side for the rest of her life. Jiang Chengyi, in turn, presented her with a necklace adorned with a snowflake pendant. Meanwhile, Tang Jie and Zhong Wenxuan were having noodles on the street. Zhong Wenxuan felt guilty for being unable to provide a luxurious life for Tang Jie at the moment.

However, Tang Jie reassured him that mutual trust was enough for her, as building a family required teamwork through both good times and bad. Zhong Wenxuan proposed starting a short video venture with Yuan Dalu, and Tang Jie immediately supported the idea. Jiang Chengyi visited Wen Peng in prison. Wen Peng still viewed Jiang as his rival for having won Lu Yan's love.

Jiang Chengyi pointed out Wen Peng’s flawed understanding of relationships, explaining that love should be about respect and support, not treating women as possessions. Jiang further noted that Wen Peng’s perspective was heavily influenced by his father and ultimately urged Wen Peng to meet with his mother. As Jiang Chengyi left the prison, Lu Yan was already waiting for him outside. The two embraced tightly and kissed, leaving all the darkness of the past behind. Only happiness remained.

Wen Peng’s mother met him and was overwhelmed with guilt for abandoning her son in the past, repeatedly lamenting that no matter how difficult things were, she should never have left him. However, it was too late, and Wen Peng refused to forgive her. Wen Peng’s father also wanted to see him one last time, but Wen Peng flatly refused. Filled with regret, his father stood outside the prison in anguish.

Due to the severity of his crimes, Wen Peng received a death sentence and was soon executed. Tang Jie and Zhong Wenxuan began exploring the short video industry. Yu Zheng decided to return to teaching at the university. While taking a stroll in the park, she called the police bureau to ask for instructions.

After hanging up, she noticed Yu Baifeng playing guitar and singing in a corner of the park, surrounded by a crowd of young fans, some even taking photos with him. After the crowd dispersed, Yu Baifeng saw Yu Zheng and introduced himself again, just as he did when they first met. Though uncertain about his future, he confidently told her the one thing he was sure of: he liked her.

Touched by his simple and genuine confession, Yu Zheng hugged him and kissed him, and they got together. Jiang Chengyi and Lu Yan prepared for their wedding but struggled to find an ideal honeymoon destination due to their limited vacation time. Meanwhile, Zhong Wenxuan’s short videos became hugely popular. He decided to write more scripts to maintain the momentum, one of which was a romantic suspense drama titled "Love Song in Winter." Tang Jie predicted it would be a massive hit.

• Love Song in Winter - Huang Jingyu, Sun Qian
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• Sun Qian Dramas, Movies, and TV Shows List