Song Hongyu went to find Qiu Feng but instead encountered Zhen Zhen. Song Hongyu suggested taking Qiu Feng out for a seafood feast and insisted on inviting Zhen Zhen as well. Qiu Feng agreed, thinking it was a free meal, but Zhen Zhen declined, sensing something unsettling about Song Hongyu, who seemed as if she had just walked out of a morgue. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Director Jiang summoned Peng Zhaolin, informing him that Liu Liang had filed a complaint, demanding closure before it was too late. Peng Zhaolin expressed concern that the criminals would strike again and proposed bringing himself and his team back onto the case, as they were familiar with the details. When asked how confident he was, Peng Zhaolin replied with certainty, “100%.” Director Jiang chose to trust him.
The team resumed their work on the case, with Peng Zhaolin racking his brain daily. Meanwhile, Qiu Feng attended a dinner with Song Hongyu and Deng Ligang. When Song Hongyu noticed that Zhen Zhen hadn’t come along, she didn’t hesitate to leave and personally invite her. Qiu Feng, preoccupied with socializing with Deng Ligang and the others, didn’t think much of their interest in Zhen Zhen. Song Hongyu knocked on Zhen Zhen’s door to invite her to dinner, but Zhen Zhen repeatedly refused, pointing out that she didn’t know Song Hongyu well. Back in the private room, Qiu Feng continued mingling with the group, agreeing to go elsewhere after dinner, while Zhen Zhen carried on with her odd jobs. Meanwhile, Zhen Zhen’s mother became increasingly distressed, deeply regretting losing her daughter.
After dinner, Deng Ligang and Song Hongyu took Qiu Feng home, where Dashun and Shi Bi forced her to drink heavily. Before long, Qiu Feng passed out. When she woke up, she was tied up tightly. The group forced Qiu Feng to call Zhen Zhen and lure her over, leaving Qiu Feng no choice but to comply. However, Zhen Zhen was already asleep and didn’t answer the call. Frustrated, Deng Ligang tightened a rope around Qiu Feng’s neck but stopped short of strangling her. Concerned about Zhen Zhen having seen Song Hongyu before, the group feared she could become a threat and plotted to trick her into coming over. Song Hongyu returned to Zhen Zhen and asked her to come pick up Qiu Feng, but Zhen Zhen firmly refused.
Deng Ligang’s piercing gaze sent chills down Qiu Feng’s spine. Enraged, Song Hongyu dragged Qiu Feng out and forced her to call her family to transfer money to her account. Meanwhile, Peng Zhaolin had another nightmare about Deng Ligang, though he was now more composed upon waking. Zhen Zhen, who worked washing dishes in a restaurant, was intrigued by a high-paying job advertisement posted by Dashun. Dashun offered to drive her to an interview, and after some hesitation, Zhen Zhen agreed. However, when they stopped at a gas station and Dashun went to the restroom, Zhen Zhen sensed something was off. She quickly got out of the car and ran. Dashun chased her in his car, but Zhen Zhen fled to a riverside, where Dashun eventually lost her and left.
Shaken by the incident, Zhen Zhen called home but hung up before the call connected. Determined to capture her, Deng Ligang and his group broke into her place at night while she was asleep and kidnapped her.
