Justice in the Dark and the Art of Translating Vibes (or: Why the drama's kabedon (ep. 18) is actually the novel's car kiss (ch. 75-76))
I've been mostly burying myself in the material rather than reading what anyone is saying on social media but @lunarriviera said I should share this, so here goes.
I really like the way the creators of Justice in the Dark worked really hard to translate emotional beats and preemptively plan for censorship, and I think it does something interesting because it moves parallel moments around to where they need to be given the exercise in translation that an adaptation must perform.
Spoilers for both Modu and Justice in the Dark versions below!
The main one I want to talk about here is the kabedon/wall slam that takes place when they go to investigate the crime scene where Feng Bin was killed.
Obviously, the scene as it appears in the book at that moment in the plot would not have made it into the drama in a million years, even if censorship wasn't the way it is:
So it is a given that there was not going to be an interrupted wallfuck in the drama, and the creators were well aware of that. In many dramas, the usual thing to do would be to say "well, we'll try and do as much as we can, perhaps a generous shove would be allowed."
But JitD didn't do this. Instead they looked into the origin of the interaction and considered where the characters stand at this point.
Previously, a similar divergence already occurred at the point of the car kiss/Fei Du passing out at the front door that happens in episode 13 after having gotten dehydrated and low blood sugar from being sick in the aftermath of Zhou Huaixin's stabbing. The kiss, likewise, could never have been shown in this particular reality. To compensate, the creators of the drama made Fei Du's state during the car ride worse, and likewise heightened the severity of the reaction when it happens.
First with the car ride, in which Fei Du is arguably worse off in the drama. (And I really recommend rewatching this bit, both for the filming and the incredible music they gave this little mini-montage):
Then when Fei Du collapses, in the drama they make him actually fully fall unconscious:
The novel version, Fei Du IS out of sorts, and the general progression is the same, but they do also make out in the car before Fei Du gets out and I think it is reasonable to say on that basis that he's not quite as obviously out of it as in the drama. Likewise, he never fully passes out:
So what happened here is that the creators turned it to their advantage; recognizing they can't have the kiss, they decided to crank up the angst/whump and make Fei Du even more messed up (which, let's be honest, is almost as good). What's more, it is an option that was not available if they had been able to do the kiss. So, in a sense, they have adapted to their constraints and provided us with a "two cakes" option.
This is a good example of what I mean by the translation/substitution. Another one is the way they substitute the flashback childhood fever scene since they cannot do the forehead kiss in the very next set of scenes. But I think folks have probably talked about that already, and it's not the one I really wanted to get to.
So now for that: the kabedon at the start of case 4 (or Verhovensky/Doestoevsky/the Yufen School case, whatever we're calling it). This was the passage I quoted at the start of this post, and it, like the car kiss, could never have appeared in the drama.
And here the drama team again did a translation, but in this case it takes into account not just the novel parallel at this moment in the case/plot, but also the relationship progression for each the novel and drama.
Specifically, in the drama, as stated, there was no car kiss. In addition, the novel sequence puts two other important and relevant sequences between the car kiss and this scene: Fei Du's first and second nights out of the hospital. The first night is the one that involves blanket-burrito Fei Du being handcuffed to the bed and the non-consensual hairdrying (glorious moment), the second involves their first fuck, which takes place the next night, after Fei Du has gotten up for water and interrupted Luo Wenzhou reading Lao Yang's testament, and Luo Wenzhou telling Fei Du that he can't explain everything to him yet, so please give him a few days. I won't go into the excellent translations that do occur in the drama condensed single night of that sequence, but suffice to say, when drama Luo Wenzhou wakes up covered in photographs from Luo Guosheng's crimes 20 years ago and Tao Ran's urgent call, in the novel he's waking up in Fei Du's arms. And so later when Zhoudu are going to the Lovers' Mirror on the crime scene date, this is the first date after the first fuckâin the novel.
Meanwhile, in the drama, there has instead been much yearning and a sleepless night where I am certain they were both horribly desperately wishing they were in bed with the otherâbut they weren't. (Aside: yes I do also love the other interpretation that the filmmakers were gesturing towards them being together with overlapping cinematic effects, but I'm setting that aside for now, what can I say, I like multiple interpretations, I contain multitudes etc.) Thus this moment is not the same moment as it is when it happens in the novel.
What moment is it?
It's the car kiss.
As far as the relationship beats, Zhoudu are still at the heightened point of tension without much physical contact that their novel versions were at during the car kiss.
And thatâthat kiss was initiated by Fei Du.
(Aside: yes, I also agree with the perspective that Fei Du was trying to get rid of him so he could go have some quality basement time, and he knew that kissing him would make Luo Wenzhou aroused and flustered and furiousâand probably he'd storm off. But people can have multiple motivations and he DID want to kiss him too.)
Anyway it is here (apologies for the long screencap):
What does that sound like?
Yep. This is actually the car kiss.
Tbh I don't care at all who tops and I think it is a boring thing to argue about, but I started thinking about this because I was wondering what the writers in the drama were doing and at first glance this was a surprising scene if watched with the novel equivalent in mind. I was convinced that there's no intentional choice made to invert/reverse anything, because in all other matters the creators have been paying an incredible amount of attention to trying to follow the novel in spirit and vibes even when they cannot do so literally. So why would this suddenly be an outlier?
And thus my proposed answer: It's not. It's absolutely in line with the translation strategy they've been pursuing in other scenes previously, but it is complicated by the divergence in relationship progression between drama and novel, the consequence of which its equivalent emotional/horny moment falls at a different plot moment.
The drama kabedon is the novel car kiss, not the novel kabedon.
âCaptain Luo, please don't pretend to be innocent at your age. Don't you know that this conduct of staring into someone's eyes usually means you're asking to be kissed?â
The Unbelievably Intricate Timeline of âJustice in the Darkâ
Because I have a lot of respect for Priest and none for my sanity, I decided to chronologically map out everything that happened in âJustice in the Darkâ. The show is a confusing masterpiece of interweaving storylines that I have attempted to meticulously unravel (With color coding and pictures - dark mode recommended)
This is drama-only so if there were any changes from the book, that wonât be acknowledged.
And Spoiler Warning for the entire show!
Code:
Red = dead (unaffiliated to a group)
Orange = The Sunshine Fund
Green = The Janitor Group
Blue = SID & Ministry of Supervision
Purple = Other Law Enforcement
Pink = Pei Suâs supporters
[[]] = No clear date for the event so I made my best estimate.
BEFORE THE SERIES
35+ Years Ago
Zhou Yahuo makes donations to Heng An Orphanage in Dongyue in order to have access to young girls.
One night, Su Fei, Zhang Zhao Jin and Zhang Zhao Lin tried to escape from the orphanage but failed. Zhang Zhao Lin will later go on to create the Sunshine Fund with Su Fei while Zhang Zhao Jin joins the police service.
33 Years Ago
In December, a 20 year old Zhang Zhao Lin commits his first crime by murdering the director of Heng An orphanage, Hao Zhen Hua, at his home near Marina Bay. He robs the house of all its valuables. As a result of the director disappearing, Heng An orphanage eventually shuts down
With the stolen money, Zhang Zhao Lin subsequently acquires 3 properties in the span of one month.
32 Years Ago
Zhang Zhao Lin gains funding from various powerful families in Xinzhou including Pei Chengyu and Wei Zhanhong creating his Zhaonan Group. The Sunshine Fund officially begins.
Meanwhile, Su Fei is adopted by Zhou Yahuo for 2 months and begins trafficking young girls, making connections with Zheng Kaifeng, an overseas trader in Dongyue, and a high ranking member at the Zhou Group.
Zheng Kaifeng helps Zhou Yahuoâs distant relative Zhou Junhuo (then Zhou Da Long) murder him to take over the company and bring it into the fold of the Sunshine Fund. Zheng Kaifeng takes over Zhou Yahuoâs villa (where he kept young girls). Su Fei begins to follow Zheng Kaifeng acting as the intermediary between him and the Fund. Zhou Yahuoâs widow, who wanted to escape from her husband, marries Zhou Junhao and has two sons; Zhou Huaijing and Zhou Huaixing. She keeps the heart medication with a secret address in Dongyue in a safe as security against Zhou Junhao.
Less than 30 Years Ago
Meanwhile, Zhang Zhao Jin forms strong friendships at Xinzhou University with Yang Zhengfeng (Lao Yang), Pan Yunheng (Lao Pan), Chief Du, and Huo Xiao. They take the graduation photo and begin serving as police officers in different regional districts.
Huo Xiao does a Masters Degree and is mentored by Fan Si Yuan.
Zhang Zhao Lin routinely props up Zhang Zhao Jinâs career by helping him find easy criminals.
More than 20 Years Ago
[[SID is created. One by one Zhang Zhao Jin, Chief Du and Huo Xiao sign up. Lao Pan returns to Univeristy and is also mentored by Fan Si Yuan. Huo Xiao would also pursue a post-graduate degree under Fan Si Yuan after joining SID.]]
[[Kong Wei Chang works under Chief Du at Xi Ling Police District before Chief Du joins SID]]
Already angered by her first husbandâs 'infidelity' with Su Fei, when the Widow finds out she is now following Zheng Kai Feng, she has Su Fei sent away. Zheng Kaifeng spreads rumours that Zhou Huaijing isnât Zhou Junhaoâs child out of petty revenge.
At some point, Zhang Zhao Lin fathers two children; Zhang Donglan and Zhang Ying.
[[Zhang Zhao Lin uses car accidents to help cover up the Sunshine Fundâs other murders. To this end, The Seine is created under Zhang Zhao Linâs name to house murderers that the Sunshine Fund deem useful for the future.]]
Pei Chengyu uses the Fundâs car accidents to murder his father-in-law (Pei Suâs maternal grandfather) for inheritance benefits while Shi Nan is pregnant with Pei Su.
Zhou Ying Chun - also from Heng An Orphanage - marries a disabled man but he dies a few days later. She then marries his cousin and has Yang Bo.
21 Years Ago
On December 1st, Yu Bin, Zou Fengâs husband, takes his students on an art field trip to Marina Bay. When his student Li Chun Sheng loses his camera, Yu Bin goes back for it.
While driving, he hits Su Fei and Zhang Zhao Linâs car. Yu Bin draws a portrait of them to pay them back later.
20 Years Ago
In January the following year, Su Fei and Zhang Zhao Lin kill Yu Bin by manipulating a local, the mentally impaired Qian Cheng. Yu Binâs belongings (including the portrait) are given to his student Li Chun Sheng.
Heng An Orphanage officially closes 12 years after Hao Zhen Huaâs death.
Using the Fundâs car hit squad, Zheng Kaifeng and Zhou Junhao murder the entrepreneur Yang Qing in a car accident. This is for the business interests of the Zhou Group so that they can acquire the Chuanguang Corp. through a shell company. Dong Xiaoqingâs mother/Dong Xianâs wife, Xiao Qingya, is killed in the same crash.
A young Zhou Huaijing overhears this being talked about by Zhou Junhao and Zheng Kaifeng.
[[Wei Zhanhongâs competitors mysteriously suffer bad luck making him a Lucky Star in Xinzhou. He owns two properties; Long Yun City & Feng Qi City.]]
16 Years Ago
Su Feiâs trafficking business routinely exports successful girls to Dongyue and kills the âunsuccessfulâ ones. The Pianist is one of her clients.
Su Fei coerces her daughter, Su Lingnai, to help lure in young girls for trafficking such as Xi Zi. Although initially coerced, after not having a floral dress for a dance performance, Su Lingnai becomes infatuated with the murderer Wu Guangchang - after he buys her a floral dress. Su Fei takes him as client and Su Lingnai becomes jealous of the attention other floral dressed girls get from him.
She begins targeting floral dressed girls. Meanwhile, Xu Dongyu becomes smitten with Su Lingnai. After taking sick leave one day, he sees her with Guo Feiling.
Su Lingnai leaves Guo Feiling to be assaulted and killed by Wu Guangchang. On the way to dump her body, the two argue and Su Lingnai leaves the screaming voicemail with the bells for Guo Feilingâs father - Guo Shinan.
Xu Dongyu later sees Su Lingnai with Wu Guangchang through a window.
Xu Dongyu then finds out that Su Lingnai murdered Guo Feiling. He begins helping the Su family cover up their crimes (including the 5 other Mt Lianhua victims) and taking peep show photos for them (including one of The Pianist).
The number of missing girls sparks public outcry and the police move all Child Abduction Cases to the SID. Lao Yang joins the SID to work on the case after meeting Guo Shinan.
Guo Shinan tracks down his daughter and sees Wu Guangchang and Su Lingnai. Xu Dongyu still believes that she is being manipulated and so wants to rescue her. Guo Feilingâs father walks in on what he thinks is an assault and he kills Wu Guangchang.
The girls are never found much to Lao Yangâs despair. In honour of Guo Feiling, the Feiling Alert is created in the event of missing children.
Su Fei dies shortly afterwards. Su Lingnai and Xu Dongyu are officially out of the trafficking industry.
[[To solve their cases, the SID recruits Lin Tao (under the name Lao Mei Zha) to become an informant. He works closely with Huo Xiao.]]
15ish Years ago
Huo Xiao starts caring for a young Xiao Hanyang.
More than 10 Years Ago
Zhou Ying Chun (another girl from Heng An Orphanage)âs second husband is killed in another collision orchestrated by the Sunshine Fund. He hits a van killing 7 white collar workers. The business proposal the workers had is scrapped and a company indebted to the Sunshine Fund swoops in to steal the bid.
Zhou Ying Chun emigrates away with Zheng Kaifengâs help.
Zhang Zhao Lin and Zheng Kaifeng recruit Zhou Ying Chun to replace Su Fei and use her son Yang Bo as a hostage to ensure her compliance.
10 Years Ago
Du Guosheng murders three people (including Du Jiaâs brother) on Route 327 and is recruited by the Sunshine Fund. Huo Xiao leads the investigation making a young Xiao Hanyang aware of it.
Six months later, Du Guosheng leave a fingerprint at a bar leading Huo Xiao close to the organisation.
Lin Taoâs twin brother Lin Ming grows scared that his twinâs role as an informant will bring trouble for his family. So he murders his brother and temporarily assumes his identity with the help of the Fund.
Huo Xiao goes to The Seine but is murdered and the place is torched. Lin Ming pretends to be his brother and helps frame Huo Xiao as a corrupt officer. Lao Yang investigates the corruption allegations and reluctantly concludes that theyâre true.
Zhang Zhao Jin confronts Zhang Zhao Lin who persuades him to keep quiet about his wrongdoings claiming he didnât know what his business was doing and that he had nothing to do with Huo Xiaoâs death. Zhang Zhao Jin is persuaded to keep quiet due to their relationship and how Zhang Zhao Lin has boosted his career. Zhang Zhao Jin covers up that Zhang Zhao Lin owned The Seine and aids in framing Huo Xiao as a corrupt officer.
9 Years Ago
Huo Xiaoâs university mentor, Fan Si Yuan, is distraught over his studentâs death and begins compiling the 1st Zero Degree Project. One of the cases leads him to Zou Feng.
He begins creating the Janitor Group.
He tells Zou Feng that if she visits Qian Cheng and he dies, Qian Cheng was killed by the Sunshine Fund for his silence. In actuality, Fan Si Yuan has him killed to ensure Zou Fengâs allegiance.
Fan Si Yuan comes to the conclusion that apaths are dangerous because of their genes and announces his genetic determinism theory.
The first Genetic Testing Bill is proposed.
The backlash is extreme and a huge scandal for SID.
Fan Si Yuan finds out about The Sunshine Fund through Huo Xiaoâs case and begins spying on them. The Janitor Group is created.
8 Years Ago
[[Wei Zhanhong establishes The Beehive to replace The Seine.]]
[[Pei Su overhears Pei Chengyu talking about building residential accommodations for The Beehive when he goes in the Basement for the first time.]]
7 Years Ago
In January: Fan Si Yuan kills six people and flees from the law to attract the Fundâs attention. He jumps from a cliff near Marina Bay paralyzing him from the waist down and is presumed dead.
The Sunshine Fund finds him and takes him in. Fan Si Yuan pretends to work for them but plants his Janitor Group members within the Fund. He meets Pei Chengyu during this time.
Lao Yang begins mentoring Luo Weizhao and Tao Ze as they come to join the SID.
To try and gain control of their donators dirty secrets, the Sunshine Fund encourages the families to sponsor Marina Bay to hide their bodies. Pei Chengyu becomes suspicious that the organisation isnât under his control as he has been led to believe. Fan Si Yuan visits him to gain funding for the Enlightened Reading broadcasts that will help undermine the Sunshine Fund and keep them in check.
In April: Pei Su sees the papers and overhears Fan Si Yuan meeting his father when he sneaks into the basement but loses this memory.
Pei Chengyu tortures Pei Su and Shi Nan with the Strangling-Collars in front of Fan Si Yuan who concludes Pei Su will be the perfect monster apath in the future.
In May: Pei Suâs mother, Shi Nan, kills herself after years of abuse at the hands of Pei Chengyu and to prevent her husband using her to âtrainâ their son. But the abuse on Pei Su continues after her death.
Pei Su meets Luo Weizhao and Tao Ze. He spends a lot of time with them before one day cutting off contact with Luo Weizhao. This includes moments such as: Pei Suâs 15th Birthday; getting his game console; Luo Weizhao chucking his police badge in a bin; rescuing the cat from Pei Chengyu and giving it to Tao Ze; breaking and replacing the tile in Tao Zeâs bathroom etc.
[[The Sunshine Fund expands into drug trafficking with the Hong Fu Club owned by Jin Zaihong. He forms connections with Cui Hongliang, a minister in Xiaxi District to coverup his activities.]]
[[Over the next few years, Miao Xiaowei and Nuobing are recruited into the Janitor Group. Fan Si Yuan promises them that they will get revenge for their familiesâ deaths caused by the Sunshine Fund.]]
5 Years Ago
Luo Weizhao catches Pei Su tracking Pei Chengyuâs work schedule and becomes suspicious of him.
4 Years Ago
A high number of trafficking cases and abductions as a result of Zhou Ying Chunâs human trafficking ring occur but arenât linked to the Su Family or the Mt Lianhua Seven.
More than 3 Years Ago
[[Zhou Fengnian becomes Zhou Hongchuan and briefly returns to Ex-Island to murder his parents.
He starts using Chengguang Club to store various trinkets from his journey up the social ladder including trophies from his murders]]
[[Yang Bo starts working for the Zhou Family Corp. as Zheng Kai Fengâs secretary. His fast rise in the company leads many to speculate that he is Zhou Junhaoâs bastard son]]
[[Wu Ning (Xiao Wu) joins SID]]
3 Years Ago
Fan Si Yuan anonymously contacts Lao Yang encouraging him to learn the truth about Huo Xiaoâs case using the broadcast network. However this is a trap because Fan Si Yuan hates him for posthumously convicting Huo Xiao.
Fan Si Yuan leaks photos of Lao Yangâs investigation to Zhang Zhao Lin who arranges for Lao Yang to be murdered.
Pei Chengyu is assassinated by the Sunshine Fund and left in a vegetative state after the Pei Group stops funding the Sunshine Fund. Du Jia was approached to be the assassin in exchange for Du Guosheng but rejected the offer.
After his partner/puppet Pei Chengyu is left vegetative, Fan Si Yuan abandons the pretense of working for The Sunshine Fund and disappears underground.
Pei Su begins investigating his own memories and to uncover truths of the Sunshine Fund and the Janitor. Su Cheng runs the Pei Group company trying to conceal all of their previous dealings with the Fund. (Unsure if Su Cheng is a member of the Fund or not)
[[Pei Su begins electroshock therapy]]
Pei Su befriends Zhang Donglan and by extension Zhang Ying and Zhou Hongchuan. (Zhang Donlan is saved as âPhilosopherâ in his phone)
Pei Su meets and recruits Du Jia after he reveals that the Fund tried to hire him.
[[Pei Su meets and recruits Wei Lan]]
Pei Su begins acting as amoral and apathetic as possible to try and lure the Sunshine Fund into contacting him.
Less than 3 Years before the Start of the Series
[[The Widow dies and gives Zhou Huaijing the key to the lockbox with the heart medicine]]
Zhou Junhao has a health scare and begins to talk about writing a will.
[[Lan Qiao joins the SID (based on her presumed age)]]
[[Yang Xi, (Lao Yangâs daughter after they failed to recruit his wife) becomes part of the Janitor Group at some point close to the start of the series.]]
Zhou Hongchuan then starts dating Zhang Zhao Linâs daughter Zhang Ying.
At Yufen International College (a boarding school), the online ID âSay Hello to Shatovâ advises Wei Zhanhongâs son, Wei Wenxuan, on how to create the Saman clique. Wang Xiao is targeted by the Samans as the yearâs bully victim.
One Year before the show starts
Pei Su begins seeing his therapist, Bai Qian, to get closer to Lao Pan. (Her husband)
Roughly six months before the show starts, He Zongyi, a man from Zhou Hongchuanâs hometown, encounters him, recognises him and asks for 100,000 Yuan for his motherâs dialysis treatment.
Several months before the show starts, Chen Yuan takes a video of a girl being drugged (and possibly assaulted by Jin Zaihong) at Hongfu Nightclub during a party and sends it to her roommate, Cui Ying. Two weeks later, Chen Yuan is also drugged and killed by Jin Zaihong. This makes three bodies who died of overdose and were dumped at The Golden Triangle by the drug trade.
Cui Ying shows the video to Zhou Hongchuan while at university. Although Zhou Hongchuan briefly visits Hongfu Club to see whatâs happening, he gets harassed by some drug addicts and decides to stay out of it. He tells her to not to report it to the police.
Chen Zhen, Chen Yuanâs brother, investigates Hongfu Nightclub with help from a server - Hu Xuechun. At some point, he comes into contact with The Janitor Group and becomes a member.
Two months before the show starts, Su Lingnai dies leaving her daughter, Su Ruowan, in Xu Donyuâs care. (Given Su Ruowanâs age, thereâs a high possibility that Wang Guangchang is her father but I donât think this is ever confirmed). Xu Dongyu hides Su Lingnaiâs Diary and his photos in her urn.
Due to the Janitor Groupâs manipulations and funding, âThe Genetic Screening Billâ is resubmitted for debate in parliament.
Su Cheng proposes that the Pei Group and Hongfu Real Estate go into business together to renovate The Golden Triangle.
Case 1: The Red and the Black
The Janitor Groupâs first efforts to expose the Sunshine Fund lead them to target very close to the Zhang Family by manipulating Zhou Hongchuan into thinking He Zongyi is a drug addicted blackmailer.
Enlightened Reading begins broadcasting âThe Red and The Blackâ. Their broadcast also implicates Pei Su by Zhou Hongchuanâs placard for him being âWith Whom Did I Dineâ which Enlightened Reading says is the crux of the story. (Or possibly the Janitor Group planted this particular item in the collection as part of the long term plans against Pei Su)
The Ministry of Supervision become aware of The Janitor reactivating. Luo Cheng and Chief Du begin working together secretly.
The first vote on the Genetic Screening Bill fails to pass.
Roughly six months ago, He Zongyi, recognised Zhou Hongchuan and asked for 100,000 Yuan to help his sick mother.
Miao Xiaowei, He Zongyiâs drug addicted roommate, sticks at He Zongyiâs side and sells the narrative that he is also a drug addict like him. The Janitor Group also send a text about the Golden Triangle drug trade site to his phone that Zhou Hongchuan sees and takes as confirmation that He Zongyi is a drug trafficker.
He Zongyi approaches Zhang Ying to try and find a way to give to 100,000 Yuan back to her boyfriend. Zhang Donglan attacks him for approaching his sister. Zhou Hongchuan thinks heâs being extorted and gives him a new phone.
After meeting Pei Su in a coffee shop, who gives him directions to Chengguang Club, He Zongyi approaches Zhou Hongchuan who takes it as a humiliation and decides to kill him for fear that He Zongyi will keep âextortingâ him.
The Janitor Group arrange for the confrontation to happen at the Golden Triangle drug site that links to Jin Zaihongâs drug trade. After He Zongyi is murdered and dumped at the Golden Triangle, Miao Xiaowei steals his new phone and pawns it so the police will find it.
Cui Hongliang tries to cover for Jin Zaihong by steering the Xiaxi Police on the âacquaintance killerâ angle.
Pei Su investigates He Zongyiâs murder himself.
Miao Xiaowei become a key witness to bring all of the attention onto the drug aspect of the case. He gives the hint that He Zongyiâs new phone came from someone from his hometown. And that the person who attacked He Zongyi had an accent from his hometown.
Because Zhang Donglan attacked He Zongyi, suspicion is thrown on the Zhang Family. Zhang Donglanâs questioning leads Zhang Zhao Jin to step down as Chief of SID and the role goes to Chief Du.
Pei Su provides an alibi for Zhang Donglan since they were both at Chengguang Club.
Cui Hongliang arrests Miao Xiaowei as the prime suspect. He lies that he overheard a fight in the Golden Triangle while stealing the phone to bring even more attention to the drug angle.
Chief Du gives Luo Weizhao âanonymousâ tips about the Golden Triangleâs other murders that actually came from his father.
Under hypnosis, Pei Su sees the Marina Bay agreement proposal in the basement.
Chen Zhen gives Luo Weizhao his sisterâs information file containing Cui Yingâs details.
Zhang Donglan is released due to lack of evidence. Zhou Hongchuan narcissistically approaches Luo Weizhao and gives away his hometown cigarette-wish custom. He Zongyiâs mother shows up at SID.
The Janitor Group betray and murder Chen Zhen at Hong Fu for the larger goal of exposing one of the Sunshine Fundâs key subsidiaries. He calls Luo Weizhao in a panic leading him to the nightclub.
Nuobing ensures that Luo Weizhao will survive whatever happens by forewarning him and giving him a room with a window to escape from (she is unaware that Fan Si Yuan has betrayed Chen Zhen). After realising Chen Zhen is dead, Jin Zaihong tries to kill Luo Weizhao escapes with Hu Xuechun thanks to Pei Su.
Zhou Hongchuan fabricates evidence to blame Zhang Donglan since he sees him as an obstacle to marry into the Zhang Family.
Miao Xiaowei is transported into SID custody by Xiao Hanyang.
Luo Weizhao and Tao Ze see He Zongyi doing the cigarette-wish custom on CCTV and realise Zhou Hongchuan is the murderer.
Meanwhile, Zhou Hongchuan tries to murder He Zongyiâs mother fearing she will be able to identity him by pushing her towards suicide but she is rescued by SID. Because Zhou Hongchuan took some railing as a trophy, SID realises he must have a trophy collection.
Cui Ying gives Chen Yuanâs video of Hongfu Nightclub to SID.
The collection is found at Chengguang Club.
Xiao Hanyang leaves Xiaxi District to join SID.
Case 2: Lolita
The Janitor Group inform Su Ruowan of the details about the Mt Lianhua 7.
Pei Su remembers seeing the Marina Bay project in Pei Changyuâs office during a hypnosis session.
Su Ruowan begins acting like her mother and finds her way into meeting The Pianist from Xi Ling club. The Pianist helps her kidnap Qu Tong. Su Ruowanâs behaviour interests Xu Dongyu who becomes an accomplice to her crimes by posing as a creepy blind man to scare girls into Su Ruowanâs arms.
At Tao Zeâs housewarming party, the SID meet Tang Ning and her niece, Zhang Yuchen.
A school bus is attacked by a kidnapper but the culprit is shot dead. Qu Tong, a student who flees the scene, is kidnapped and later murdered by Su Ruowan.
The Pianist says that Pei Su and Zhang Donglan should help search for the missing Qu Tong.
Su Ruowan drops off the audio of Guo Feilingâs pencil case bells and screaming to Qu Tongâs father.
After asking Su Cheng to inquire about Marina Bay with the Pei Group Board members, the Sunshine Fund sends a truck to kill Pei Su but the hit fails and he survives.
Su Ruowan then targets Zhang Yuchen but she is rescued in time.
Luo Cheng and Chief Du, aware of the Janitor since the beginning, approve the backing of the 2nd Zero Degree Project to try and draw out both The Sunshine Fund and The Janitor Group.
Pei Su becomes an intern at SID through a masters program under Lao Pan.
The testimonies of Xu Dongyu and Su Ruowan uncover what Su Fei and Su Lingnai were up to. Pei Su and Luo Weizhao find the photos and diary in Su Lingnaiâs urn and Xu Dongyu directs that to Marina Bay.
The case brings to light the horrors of the Su Family human trafficking ring and the Marina Bay dumping site.
Case 3: Macbeth
The Janitors pounce on rumors to manipulate Zhou Huaijing into believing he isnât Zhou Junhaoâs son with a fake paternity report. He is also given evidence of the Zhou Groupâs corruption.
Zhou Huaijing decides to use the rumors surrounding Yang Bo to make him think he is actually Zhou Junhaoâs bastard. He hopes to drive a wedge between Zheng Kai Feng and Zhou Junhao.
Zheng Kaifeng and Yang Bo plot to kill Zhou Junhao as a result of him talking about making a will.
The Janitor Group show Dong Xian evidence that Zhou Junhao is responsible for the death of his wife, Xiao Qingya, and that Zhou Huaijing wants to kill his father. They arrange for Zheng Kaifeng to hire Dong Xian as the assassin in this matter.
Zheng Kaifengâs shell company is set up to pay Dong Xiaoqing if Dong Xian goes through with killing Zhou Junhao for them.
Yang Xi begins as an intern for SID and as a spy for the Janitor Group.
Too late to kill his father, Zhou Huaijing stages his own kidnapping with Wu Zhengyuâs help and Zhou Huaixing as a minor (but not fully in on the plan) accomplice. His goal is to expose Zhou Junhaoâs shady business dealings and use the Heng Da Group to frame Yang Bo in one fell swoop. Yang Boâs driver is also in on it.
Zheng Kaifeng attempts to have Zhou Huaijing killed by refusing to capitulate to the âcaptorsâ demands.
The Janitor Group manipulate Dong Xianâs daughter, Dong Xiaoqing into attempting to kill Zhou Huaijing. The Courier drops off a package of âevidenceâ to her that Zhou Huaijing manipulated her father into driving the truck. They also make her believe she and her father have the Apath gene.
A Janitor hires Wang Li - a Sunshine Fund murderer - to kill Dong Xiaoqing.
[[Yang Xi bugs Tao Zeâs bag]]
The Courier sends a text to lure SID to Dong Xiaoqingâs apartment before burning it along with all the evidence.
The murder attempt fails when Zhou Huaixing takes the knife for his brother. Wang Li murders Dong Xiaoqing in another road collision.
The Janitors set it up to look as though Zheng Kaifeng personally kills Wang Li while giving payment for Dong Xiaoqingâs death on the same day. In actuality, a Janitor murdered Wang Li and planted the gold and photos in his apartment.
Luo Weizhao finds out about Pei Suâs electroshock treatment.
The series of car accidents lead the SID to uncover how the Sunshine Fund uses car accidents to commit homicide.
The Janitor Group, through the bug on Tao Ze, leak that Zheng Kaifeng is being exposed to the SID for multiple homicide and money laundering.
Zheng Kaifeng tries to flee with his hostage Yang Bo using the Fundâs resources. But to protect their interests, the Sunshine Fund instead have the pair blown up in the van explosion that puts Pei Su in a coma.
Wealthy investors claim conspiracy against foreign business owners and try to blame the SID after Zhou Group ceases business activity. (Unclear if this is the Sunshine Fund directly trying to obstruct the SID or just a ripple effect)
Luo Weizhao begins to suspect that Pei Su might be The Janitor.
Months later, the dismembered body of Wang Li is found with gold and photos of Dong Xiaoqing.
Pei Su moves in with Luo Weizhao.
Case 4: Demons
The Janitor Group uses their online handle âSay Hello to Shatovâ to manipulate both Wei Wenxuan and Feng Bin.
At Yufen International College, the students have formed a clique of âSamansâ. They use a game to pick students to either join the clique or become the target of the yearâs bullying.
After Xia Xinnan is picked as the potential target by a jealous Liang Yujin, Feng Bin - with guidance from âShatovâ breaks out of the school with her and three other students ready to expose the Samans (Wang Xiao, Zhang Yifan & Liu Yanwen). Meanwhile, âShatovâ leaks the plan to Wei Wenxuan and encourages him to have someone beat Feng Bin up.
A13, a Janitor Group asset hidden at the heart of the Sunshine Fund, arranges for specifically Du Guosheng to kill Feng Bin while lying to Wei Wenxuan that he will just be beaten up. Du Guoshengâs reappearance will then bring attention to Huo Xiaoâs case.
October 16th: During Wei Wenxuanâs birthday dinner at his fatherâs property - Long Yun City restaurant, Duo Guosheng comes to get photo ID of Feng Bin.
[[A member of the Janitor Group deletes and restores the CCTV footage to keep the Wei Family off the trail but then later guide the SID in the right direction.]]
A conversation between Liang Yujin and her friends about the meeting is recorded by a Janitor. Zou Feng plays it so Wang Xiao will overhear it.
Before the students flee the school, Wei Wenxuan gives a tracker to Xia Xinnan to ensure that everything goes to plan. A13 tells Du Guoshang to spare Xia Xinnan by claiming she is a member of the Fund.
Pei Su is made aware of Huo Xiao through Du Jia.
Yang Xi takes a leave of absence from SID to care for her sick mother.
Feng Bin is murdered by Du Guoshang. The confusing point of the case (why they fled a safe hiding spot and hung up the emergency call) is due to the tracking device on Xia Xinnanâs phone. After ditching it, they try to escape but Duo Guoshang has already caught up to them. Xia Xinan is so traumatized and guilt ridden by her part in Feng Binâs death that she clams up.
Luo Weizhao is given Lao Yangâs notes from The Janitor through Tao Ze and Lao Yangâs widow. He finds out about the Route 327 murders and Huo Xiao.
Luo Weizhao suspects Xiao Hanyang because of his knowledge of the Route 327 case.
Zhang Yifan tells Luo Weizhao and Pei Su about the Samans, how they bullied Wang Xiao, and how Xia Xinan was chosen.
[[Luo Weizhao works out Xiao Hanyang and Huo Xiaoâs connection]]
Pei Su hears from his secretary about a mysterious new assistant under Su Cheng rapidly rising in the Pei Group. Itâs implied this is a member of The Sunshine Fund preparing to infiltrate and make contact with him.
Wanting to investigate what happened to Huo Xiao through Duo Guosheng, Xiao Hanyang briefly considers leaking evidence to the press but changes his mind. He reveals everything he knows to Pei Su and Luo Weizhao.
Xiao Hanyang is temporarily suspended from SID.
Xia Xinanâs testimony reveals Wei Wenxuan is connected to Feng Binâs death. She also tells them about âShatovâ.
Pei Su decides to move out of Luo Weizhaoâs house because of the trust issues. Luo Weizhao brings him back and meets Du Jia. They both reveal to each other all the information they each currently have about the Sunshine Fund and The Janitor.
Luo Weizhao officially stops suspecting Pei Su of having any involvement with either group.
Xiao Hanyang returns and he and Pei Su go to Wang Xiao. Wang Xiaoâs testimony helps leads them to Long Yun City.
Xiao Hanyang, Pei Su, Tao Ze & Luo Weizhao find the bug in Tao Zeâs bag.
Wei Lan steals and sends the CCTV of Wei Wenxuanâs meeting with Du Guosheng at Long Yun City to Pei Su.
The group track him to The Beehive. Du Jia gets information while undercover and Pei Su remembers Pei Chengyu talking about the residences. Xiao Hanyang stalls Wei Zhanhong while Du Jia, Pei Su and Luo Weizhao infiltrate the murderersâ residences.
[[A13 previously 'recruited' One Eyed (another murderer of the Sunshine Fund) to ensure that Du Guosheng isnât murdered by the Fund for his silence.]]
The Sheepdog spots Pei Suâs drone. A13 is positioned to kill The Sheepdog if SID are too slow. The Ministry of Supervision arrest the murderersâ but The Sheepdog still blows up the residences. This is a huge blow to the Sunshine Fund by removing their hit squad and arresting a Key Member - Wei Zhanhong.
Du Guoshengâs confession posthumously exonerates Huo Xiao.
Case 5: Huo Xiao
Du Guoshengâs confession leads to an internal investigation of SID by the Ministry of Supervision. The SID team reopens several old cases including The Seine.
Pei Su begins forming a plan with Chief Du and Luo Cheng to expose both groups at once by using himself as bait. Du Jia investigates the Dongyue address on the heart medication that was given to Zhou Huaijing.
One-Eyedâs confession reveals that The Janitor Group have infiltrated the Sunshine Fund.
Pei Su realises that a discrepancy in Liang Yujinâs testimony means that Wang Xiao could never have heard her conversation. Luo Weizhao sees Zou Feng with a tape recorder on the school CCTV playing the conversation recording for Wang Xiao.
[[Yang Xi plants a bug on Xiao Wu after he visits her mother in the hospital]]
Luo Weizhao reads the confidential 1st Zero Degree Project containing Zou Fengâs case and tells Xiao Hanyang to investigate Yu Bin. He also sees that Fan Si Yuan was the original author - not Lao Pan as previously believed.
Lin Ming is exposed as having fraudulently taken his brotherâs identity to frame Huo Xiao. Xiao Wu, Tao Ze and local policeman Kong Wei Chang - who formerly worked under Chief Du at Xi Ling Police District - pursue him. The bug on Xiao Wu tips off the Janitor Group.
The Janitor Group try to take out Lin Ming to make it seem like he has high connections in the Sunshine Fund.
The ensuing crash kills Kong Wei Chang and seriously injures Tao Ze.
Xiao Hanyang suspects Chief Du because of a phone call between him and Kong Wei Chang before the pursuit of Lin Ming.
Pei Su and Luo Weizhao retrace from CASE 1: THE RED AND THE BLACK to present to identify all the Sunshine Fund and Janitor members theyâve encountered.
Under hypnosis, Pei Su remembers that he and Pei Chengyu met Fan Si Yuan in person and Fan Si Yuan manipulated Pei Chengyu to turn against the Sunshine Fund and invest in Enlightened Reading claiming it was a way to bring the Fund entirely under his control.
With the hidden address on the heart medicine box, Du Jia tracks down one of the Zhou Familyâs old housekeepers who gives the evidence that Zheng Kaifeng and Zhou Junhao murdered Zhou Yahuo to Zhou Huaijing. (The evidence is a pen from the crime scene - with an audio recording of Zhou Yahuoâs death - and photos of Zhou Ying Chun and Su Fei)
When Lin Ming survives the crash, Yang Xi spreads rumors that he is close to waking to motivate the Sunshine Fund to try and murder him. She then alerts Xiao Hanyang to the rumor so he and Lan Qiao can save Lin Ming in time and catch an important member of the Fund.
The Janitor Group manipulate Zhang Zhao Jin into a situation to make him seem culpable for bribing Lin Mingâs assassin.
Chief Du lies to Zhang Zhao Jin to make him think neither of them approved the naming of the â2nd Zero Degree Projectâ. Yang Xi is exposed as planting bugs on the SID team and flees with Zou Feng.
While fleeing, Yang Xi kills Xiao Wu.
In order to get the SID to focus on Zou Fengâs husband Yu Binâs case and hone in on Zhang Zhao Lin, the Janitor Group allow the pair to be captured as Nuobing swaps the getaway car keys.
Pei Su meets with A13 to seem like a dangerous apath to them. With Luo Weizhaoâs help, he fully unlocks his memory of Pei Chengyu torturing him and his mother, and that Fan Si Yuan was alive after his supposed death.
Pei Su manages to recruit Su Cheng into his plan to hand over all of the Pei Group finances to the SID to prove his loyalty and the connections to Zhang Zhao Lin.
Meanwhile, the Sunshine Fund set up Pei Su to take the fall for the Sunshine Fund by pretending that Pei Chengyu was the owner of The Seine not Zhang Zhao Lin. The Janitor Group kidnap the vegetative Pei Chengyu to frame him as well and in preparation for their final plan.
Zhang Zhao Lin sends Zhang Donglan to Dongyue ahead of his own escape. Zhang Donglan calls Pei Su telling him about this.
Pei Su is âarrestedâ by SID and The Ministry of Supervision as part of his plan to destroy both groups at once.
Zou Fengâs testimony lead the SID to uncover Zhang Zhao Lin and Su Feiâs origins at the orphanage and how they killed Yu Bin when he saw the two together.
The Grand Finale:
Du Jia, Wei Lan & Su Cheng go to Dongyue for the final stages of Pei Suâs plan.
Lan Qiao gets Yu Binâs portrait of Su Fei and Zhang Zhao Lin from his former student Li Chun Sheng.
Xiao Hanyang tracks Zhou Ying Chunâs origins. She used to be nicknamed âXiao Hua Aoâ.
Luo Weizhao confronts Zhang Zhao Jin about his complicity in covering up Zhang Zhao Lin's crimes and betraying fellow SID members as a result. Zhang Zhao Jin confesses their origins at Heng An Orphanage and his role in covering up Huo Xiao's murder.
The Trio âkidnapâ Zhang Donglan to prevent Zhang Zhao Lin from fleeing the country. Su Chengâs âdisappearanceâ handily gives Pei Su an excuse to both groups as to why heâs been set free.
His plan is to have both groups clash since the Janitors will vanish once the Sunshine Fund is destroyed, but A13 unexpectedly abducts him before Zhang Zhao Lin and removes the tracking device.
Luo Weizhao realises that the Ministry of Supervision and SID let Zhang Zhao Lin go to catch both groups at once and that Pei Su is using himself as bait.
Pei Su is brought to Hao Zhen Huaâs ancestral house at Marina Bay. The Janitor Group have been using it as a base of operations for some time.
Fan Si Yuan plans to have Pei Su murder a vegetative Pei Chengyu with the Strangling-Collars to be the final Apath Murderer that will push the Genetic Testing Bill to finally be passed.
Meanwhile, the SID work out where Pei Su is as The Janitor told Zhang Zhao Lin to meet âat the beginningâ and Hao Zhen Huaâs murder was his first crime.
However, Pei Su points out that the Janitor Group are just as murderous as the Sunshine Fundâs Apaths. He is able to resist killing his father in time for Zhang Zhao Lin to arrive with reinforcements from the Sunshine Fund. Fan Si Yuan and Zhang Zhao Lin confront one another via intercom about their various crimes.
Both the Janitor Group and the Sunshine Fund wipe out most of their remaining members in the ensuing battle. Fan Si Yuan tries to have Zhang Zhao Lin burned to death replicating the manner of Huo Xiao's death but he manages to escape and burst into the main room. He kills A13 and demands that Pei Su free his son.
A standoff soon ensues; Zhang Zhao Lin kills Nuobing and is shot by Fan Si Yuan. Miao Xiaowei realises how Fan Si Yuan betrayed members of their group and hits him. Fan Si Yuan kills Miao Xiaowei.
Pei Su is shot twice by Fan Si Yuan, first when he challenges the Janitor Group for being as murderous as the Sunshine Fund and second, when he refuses to comply with the Strangulation-Collars. Zhang Zhao Lin dies believing that Zhang Donglan has been killed.
SID arrive and Luo Weizhao non-fatally shoots Fan Si Yuan to rescue a critically injured Pei Su. Fan Si Yuan and the remainder of the Janitor Group are arrested by SID and the Ministry of Supervision.
After the Chaos
Pei Su survives his injuries but his friendship with Zhang Donglan is shattered. He leaves the Pei Manor behind.
Luo Weizhao tells Yang Xi the truth about how Fan Si Yuan orchestrated her father's murder much to her disbelief and dismay.
Tang Ning and Tao Ze start dating officially (as do Lan Qiao and Xiao Hanyang - possibly) and the four spend New Year's Eve together at Tao Ze's apartment.
The Genetic Testing Bill fails to pass.
Luo Weizhao and Pei Su watch the fireworks of the New Year celebrations.
[Note: The show makes one error that throws its timeline out of whack and I had to find a PDF version of the novelâs final chapters to work out what happened. I therefore went by the book timeline to resolve the issue, but here it is.
Essentially, the show is doing great until it tries to be a bit too clever in Episode 30 by linking two unrelated events into one moment.
Up until Episode 30, Yu Binâs death is said to have happened 20 Years Ago - given Zou Feng is in her forties, this makes sense. However, while searching for Zhang Zhao Linâs first crime (33 Years Ago) , and finding the three property acquisitions in December, Lan Qiao suddenly shows that Yu Binâs portrait of Su Fei and Zhang Zhao Lin was dated December 1st.
Implying that Yu Bin witnessed Su Fei and Zhang Zhao Lin fleeing from the crime so, in her own words, they killed him the following January.
This would date Yu Binâs death as 32 Years Ago. (Zou Feng would also be only 14 at the time)
So this obviously doesnât make sense. And the show uses the 20 year counter in every other circumstance.
On reading the chapters in the book, hereâs what the show missed out:
The Sunshine Fundâs original HQ was in Marina Bay in an old lumber mill. The area was originally very busy so they could conceal both crimes and body dumping. - on Zhang Zhao Linâs profile in Episode 30, it even says he worked in a lumber mill so the showrunners were aware of this detail.
So Zhang Zhao Lin and Su Fei would have come into contact more often. However the area started to fall into decline. What Yu Bin actually saw was the two together near their HQ. So they silenced him.
When Marina Bay completely fell into decline, it couldnât conceal the active crimes anymore, so the Sunshine Fund moved elsewhere and only used it for body dumping.]
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