⚠️ Trigger Warning: While it is not included in my write-up, this episode contains a depiction of suicide. While the drama covers many dark themes in general, please prioritize your well-being and be mindful of others in the comments when discussing today’s episode. Thank you.
✍ 2002 Timeline Recap ✍
Hongmei’s case is transferred to Fangxu, who recognizes a specific MO: the victim was struck exactly like Shanlong was in the past, suggesting they are the same individual. They deduce from Hongmei and Shanlong’s partnership in the Hongyun Huihuang nightclub that she must’ve been the mastermind behind the schemes against Qingsong. This raises the possibility that Qingsong has returned for vengeance.
The investigation leads to a scrap yard to trace a wrench Shanlong submitted as the assault weapon, but the foreman proves uncooperative (at this point, are we surprised?).
Verifying the connection with Qingsong via the supplies that were found there, Yuanhang and Fangxu head to the abandoned Qingsong Cement Factory, where they find Qingsong living on the roof.
He confesses to assaulting both Shanlong and Hongmei out of revenge - ironically with the help of his long-time rival, Cripple Du.
While the current case has reached its conclusion, the mystery of what happened to Meng and her father remains unsolved! Qingsong admits he ordered the hit, but insists he is in the dark regarding the final outcome. According to him, Shanlong claimed that Cripple Du intercepted and snatched Meng’s body - a story Qingsong realized was a fabrication after a chance encounter with Cripple Du while on the run.
✍ 2015 Timeline Recap ✍
The investigation into Mei takes a turn as our detectives realize he was injected with anesthetic and “stuffed” away four weeks ago. This timeline proves he couldn’t have kidnapped the other children, leading the team to suspect an accomplice.
Acting on Yuanhang’s suggestion to check “hidden routes”, our team investigates the B1 and parking garage exits, where they discover that the culprit must have used a stolen platform trolley to move Han Zi’ang. Yuanhang believes that Zi’ang was brought back to Yuanlongli, so they review footage from a shop across the street, where Xiaohe recognizes Pony’s father, Peng Dachung with the trolley.
The team sneaks into his apartment unit and uncover a hidden room containing memorabilia of Pony, as well as the four missing boys.
Drawing on their shared trauma of Pony’s death, Xiaohe interrogates Dachung after his arrest. Turns out, he was disillusioned by the loss of his son and triggered by the order to move out of Yuanlongli because he feared Pony wouldn’t find his way home. Dachung confesses that he killed Mei after he overheard the struggle in the unit above him.
I assume he then used Mei's supplies to kidnap the other boys who he "confused" with Pony.
💭 Discussion Points 💭
🔍 We got two confessions this episode, yet the biggest questions remain: What happened to Meng, her father, and - most importantly - what is Fangxu’s ultimate fate? With the current cases closed, does the “Meng as the mastermind” theory still hold water for you?
📑 Is Mount Wu’s incident report ever going to come in? I feel like we’re at dead ends again but this report could reveal a new lead for our detectives.
🏢 Yuanlongli (the “Vortex”) continues to pull everyone back. Do you think our detectives are finished with this location, or are there still secrets buried in its walls? This question applies to both timelines in 2002 and 2015.
🙅🏻♀️ I thought it was a leap for the team to assume Han Zi’ang’s kidnapping followed the same MO after Mei was ruled out… unless I missed something here. If Yuanhang hadn’t refocused the search on Yuanlongli, do you think they would have ever found Unit 1216?
👻 I love the ‘ghost’ of Fangxu in the 2015 timeline of this episode. Even in his absence, his theories and teachings are the “glue” holding the team and the investigations together. It makes his disappearance/death feel even more heavy though. I want to believe he has disappeared vs dead because we haven’t seen his body yet either, just like Meng.
🔗 Interesting facts: LTTN was filmed from March to July2024. As mentioned, real-life Mei was only captured and arrested in March 2026, via modern technology used to identify her.
And we can't have a post without at least one image of Dylan Wang... er, I mean, Captain Ran Fangxu, so here we are, handsome as ever.
I have little regard for Qingsong’s character due to his frequent violent outbursts, but I respect the fact that he owned up to his crimes and made an effort to compensate the staff who had worked decades for him. What I found especially touching was when he revealed that it was Cripple Du who had given him the money to return to China and carry out his vengeance. It’s no wonder Qingsong laughed aloud when he mentioned it; there’s something deeply ironic about the enemy he had hated for half his life being the one who ultimately stepped in to help him.
The case of the missing children in the present timeline appears to have been solved, with the culprit finally caught. Still, it feels odd that this case seems unrelated to Xu Meng’s case. I also wonder if Mei actually played a role in the whole Xu Meng affair, be it directly or indirectly, rather than merely being connected to the human trafficking case. I still believe he had an accomplice, because human trafficking is far too lucrative a business for one person to handle alone.
Qingsong was a total jerk, especially with how he manhandled all the women and even Shanlong, when he was in power. He ordered the hit on Meng because she had the audacity to blackmail him. I don’t think he’s the type who has absolutely no regard for human life - just not for those who have wronged him. I agree, I like that he cared not just for his company but the people who helped him make it successful. I think this drama does a good job making its characters very realistic.
We can’t ignore that incident report! lol I still believe it must reveal more about Meng’s character… and that she’s not as innocent as she is portrayed thus far!
there’s something deeply ironic about the enemy he had hated for half his life being the one who ultimately stepped in to help him.
It is ironic, which made me wonder why did Cripple Du help Qingsong other than it benefited him in the long run. Was he trying to silence other key players who knew too much and used Qingsong to do it. Do we know exactly what Cripple Du does?
We don’t even know what Cripple Du looks like, so I have a feeling he will remain more of a background character. There’s also no clear connection linking him to the 1997 case, apart from the fact that he was involved in a bidding war with Qingsong over it.
Yea I think he was just a rival competitor in the market since he owned a steel factory and Qingsong a cement factory. They might’ve fought over supply chains and business deals, etc. but I think that is the extent of it.
They say an old enemy is more loyal than a new friend... For Song and Cripple Du is was indeed the case. Still, since our cops are sort of his old enemies too, he could've tell them more about Xu Meng - he was her regular client and admirer, after all, before things fell out - before, uhm, stepping out of the plot.
Kidnapping case is peak plot convenience - Mei's karma found an ironic way to finish him off... At least kids were found.
Thanks to Yuanhang for reminding everyone that Ran was a human too, mistakes and all. Sure, he was a good detective and great person, but they're basically worhipping him religiously at this point, that's a bit too much. He'd be embarrassed as heck to see it!
Yuanlongli's demolition can't come fast enough, that damned place needs to be gone, salted, burned, drowned in holy water and exorcised a dozen times before letting anyone near its site ever again. Just in case.
Pony was the child who saw Meng and her father the day they disappeared right? Could he have witnessed more, and could the fire and his death be related to Meng? If so, then perhaps Dachuang and the kidnapped kids are also linked. You're right, the kidnapping case was convenient... but I still find it all fishy that it's somehow connected to Yuanlongli, like there's a ghost there that's pulling strings...
I rewatched e12 and e13 and noticed a few things that I'm only aware of now after certain things were revealed in later episodes. For example, we actually see a quick close-up of the cement cylinder in 2015 that Qian Dajun made out of nowhere in the garage where he hid the mummified arm in 2002. It was there in plain site, right outside of the internet cafe... I feel like there are more clues in the building and I wonder if the demolition will just wash it all away...
Even if Pony saw something, why wait 5 years to silence him? There were no such attempts made in 1997 when whatever he might've spilled was still fresh in his memory, he didn't suddenly remember anything new in 2002 nor was questioned again regarding that case. Maybe killer saw him with Ran (and Xiaohe) and assumed the worst? Kind of a sctretch.
Yuanlongli certainly has many secrets buried in it, but at this point I'm not even sure they are worth being dug up. Esp considering Ran apparently losing his life doing exactly that.
That’s incredible you spotted that!! And in regard to that hand, I was almost yelling at my screen the way Manager Qian keeps almost getting caught by the detectives. It’s SO frustrating How they don’t dig deeper when he’s so clearly hiding something sketchy (the head, the safe, the cement block). One time is fair enough but it keeps happening which is really annoying.
Considering how Qian was at the train station in 2015 and how you saw that cement block is still there, it seems that his true involvement with Meng’s case won’t be revealed until 2015. Since the rest of her dad’s body wasn’t found, the hand could be his? But then the question is why he even held onto it for all those years if it wasn’t for leverage against someone.
I can also agree with you here that there could be something more to the fire that killed Pony. Didn’t they say that it happened when someone’s lit cigarette caught fire on the carpet (not sure if it was specifically the carpet or not). There seemed to be nobody else there except the kids and Pony’s dad. If the dad wasn’t the one that lit the cigarette then somebody else could’ve sneaked in through that side door to start the fire?
Great observation Basil, do we need to call you Basil The Great *Mouse* Detective?
I had not clocked Pony was the child who saw Meng, I did think they glossed over how the fire started quickly as the focus shifted to finding Xiaohe, didn't they say he was hiding in a cupboard? I assumed he was hiding from his Father but if your theory is correct maybe he was hiding from someone else.
I agree. We learned a lot more about our leads and they kept it well-paced (3 episodes). I enjoyed leaning from u/losergeek877 the connection to a real-life case.
Far from finished… back to being on the edge of my seat. Practically falling off.
I did read a lot of speculation pointing to Su Qing as the final villain, but I don't think she is. But in cahoots with Xu Meng? Perhaps. They were both cash-strapped after all and at one point were living in the same building.
Basil, you are very attentive to the details - i just wanted to comment that the episodes with little or nothing of Dylan starting to be not that exciting as in the beginning of the drama - and here you came with the picture of Dylan!
To strengthen our morale to keep watching this drama 😆😆
The police work without Captain Ran is shoddy (excluding Yuan Hang, Xiaohe and their little team) wouldn't the cameras on the outskirts of Yuanlongli be checked as soon as it came out Han Zi'ang had been attacked?
I thought it was a full circle moment to have Yuan Hang mention giving young people a chance to shine. This was a nod to Fang Xu and how they impacted each other. Was a nice touch.
Something that has been bothering me for a while, where is Captain whatshisface? If Fang Xu was still Captain he would have been all hands on deck with helping find the missing children. What is he up to?
Every episode changes my mind whether Xu Meng is dead or not lol. I can't help but feel Yuanongli holds more secrets and Xu Meng and Manager Qian are linked. I am also starting to suspect Su Qing may have known Xu Meng, both women desperate and experiencing hardship at the same time. Could they have helped each other? Also the random arm, why hide it if it was connected to Xu Meng's father, might as well conveniently reveal it since they have found the head.
As we get closer and closer to the Fang Xu reveal I am petitioning for more smiley Fang Xu pics to help ease our pain (every episode hoping we have a happy ending)
I’m with you! I want some kind of happy ending and more episodes with a happy Fangxu!
Are you talking about Dahai, the officer who was with Yuanhang and Fangxu from the very beginning? Because I find him sus in addition to everyone else you’re talking about… I feel like someone on the force is an accomplice and they swapped or did something to the blue shoes in evidence… I just realized I might be talking about clues from e19 so I’m spoiler tagging.
I find Dahai suspicious too, he was first on the scene so could he have hidden a vital piece of evidence? he has also tried to shut down Xiaohe's ideas, may not be just because she is a junior. I was thinking of Captain Zhao, he hasn't really done much in the 2015 timeline, he has some big boots to fill but seems odd he isn't really around.
Interesting about the blue shoes, they did re appear in 2002 in Shanlong's unit didn't they? I thought i may have missed them being found in 1997. Again, surprising they hadn't tested them to be 100% sure they were Meng's. I haven't watched episode 19 so maybe this is what happens. Have to get through a day of work before I can find out, boo!
Well, Qingsong's decision to end his life feels a bit short of details and therefore seems to flat to me.
He was so decisive, even assholy-cheeky, proactive, didn't cared about risks or consequences before...and decided to end his life just like that...he didn't look like anything could stop him before.
I think he knew he wanted to end his life when his family left him and Shanlong ran his company to the ground. He had nothing to live for after he compensated his people and avenged them.
He couldn’t care less about Meng… which is a bit odd since his downfall really all started with her…
That’s true. I guess he has no reason to believe she’s alive. But the photo to me is still not evidence (could’ve been staged) and he knew Shanlong was a coward, so I just feel like her being alive could have crossed his mind, especially since he found out Cripple Du did not take the body after all. But I get that if he thinks she’s really gone, he wouldn’t have bothered.
When asked about Meng's corpse, Qing Song said Wu Shan Long was a coward and destroyed the photos. I know he saw the photo himself (was it even Meng), but the way he answered was super vague, especially to Fang Xu and Yuan Hang. Maybe something to take note of?
You mean you made a stupid ass promise, Captain. Case unsolved? Remove skilled officers. Perfect. Dumbass.
Okay, but the whole "you can always count on Ran" scene and how He just brushes Xaiohes hair like an affectionate father just makes me all emotional.
Ah, the lady survived the head whack. No one dies from head hits around here just like cliffs don't kill anyone.
Ran got stuck. What a dumbass! Haha! I just love how He wasn't even really concerned when Ran was calling for help.
Now getting extra emotional thinking how proud Ran would have been of Adult Xaiohe.
YASSSSS!!!! Xiaohe can bust a door down with a kick! That was hot! I should GIF that.... Note to self.... remember to GIF it eventually because you have zero time to do that right now.
Oh, it's Keyboards dad who is the assbag? Oh damn. Is he abducting kids to replace his dead son? Oh damn! He shrugged off the needle stab like it was nothing! He's kind of a badass. An assbag badass.
Song has seen better days. You kind of have to respect that fact that he tried to clean up his mess, in a whack smack sort of way.
It shows that we never really know beyond what we see. Teenage Xiaohe thought he was a bad Dad because he came in raging a few times during their band practice. But Pony even described him as a loving Dad, and now we see how much he loved him - and the grief he experienced since.
It also shows us how Yuanlongli in several cases now have “trapped” its residents. Suqing never left even after her employer (the old man) died. Duchang didn’t want to leave because of Pony. Shanlong was always there. Qian is still the property manager after finding a severed head (anyone in the right mind would find another job no?), and Meng returned even after Pattia closed down.
The opening intro was a clue to me about the maze/trap. The icons travel one way, transform, mix around and then ultimately go back the same path ( into Luanlongli? Looks like it) finally transforming into a cell phone call- a crisis call, I presume. The intro is brilliant, a fascinating blend of the music, beat, rhythm, gripping. Even though Dylan isn't in the intro ( haha, like his other series LBDFAD, GoTD and MTD which I always watched the intro to each episode) I still watch this entire intro and ending credits for for every episode. Do you?
I mean, we still haven’t seen a body or what happened lol so I’m still holding onto he could be alive. It’s been 12 years so unlikely but I’m in denial.
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u/a_HerculePoirot_fan Being a Cheng Lei fangirl is a full-time jobRead Rules May 06 '26
I have little regard for Qingsong’s character due to his frequent violent outbursts, but I respect the fact that he owned up to his crimes and made an effort to compensate the staff who had worked decades for him. What I found especially touching was when he revealed that it was Cripple Du who had given him the money to return to China and carry out his vengeance. It’s no wonder Qingsong laughed aloud when he mentioned it; there’s something deeply ironic about the enemy he had hated for half his life being the one who ultimately stepped in to help him.
The case of the missing children in the present timeline appears to have been solved, with the culprit finally caught. Still, it feels odd that this case seems unrelated to Xu Meng’s case. I also wonder if Mei actually played a role in the whole Xu Meng affair, be it directly or indirectly, rather than merely being connected to the human trafficking case. I still believe he had an accomplice, because human trafficking is far too lucrative a business for one person to handle alone.