Yang Guang fell right into Zhao Yaru’s “beauty trap.”
This was James’s arrogant conclusion.
“There are a thousand plans in a person’s mind, but heaven has one plan; scheming against others is ultimately scheming against oneself.” This proverb perfectly fits James, who fancied himself a master strategist.
Confidence is good, but blind confidence is a recipe for disaster — a lesson life repeatedly teaches.
What James desperately wanted was for Zhao Yaru to capture Yang Guang’s loyalty. In his eyes, men were nothing more than greedy and lustful. If Yang Guang wasn’t tempted by money, then perhaps desire was the key. If Zhao Yaru could just use her allure to seal the deal, the cost would be far lower.
But James was too overconfident. He forgot the age-old truth that there’s always someone better — not just in scheming but in resilience.
The Two Fatal Mistakes James Made in “Top Secret Confrontation”: The Real Reason Yang Guang Turned Zhao Yaru
James’s failure boiled down to two critical errors:
1. Secretly filming Yang Guang accepting money and reporting him
There’s been debate over whether Yang Guang truly trusted Zhao Yaru. Some think he’d been captivated by her; others say he was playing along, using the situation to his advantage.
Yang Guang’s feelings toward Zhao Yaru were complicated from the start. He always suspected her, especially since she appeared suspiciously close to accident sites or security zones under his watch. Although initial suspicions were eased, a single photo reignited doubt — which Zhao Yaru cleverly manipulated to earn his full trust.
In truth, Zhao Yaru staked her life on this gambit; how could Yang Guang continue to doubt her?
Up to this point, Zhao Yaru and James should have stopped any extra moves — their careful maneuvering had already earned Yang Guang’s confidence. Yet James, driven by paranoia or overreach, secretly filmed Yang Guang taking money and reported him. This created a rift with the investigators.
The money was Zhao Yaru’s arrangement. When Yang Guang returned it, he was caught on camera and reported, and then he found fifteen thousand yuan mysteriously deposited into his account. Naturally, suspicion fell on Zhao Yaru and James.
Zhao Yaru’s principle was straightforward: help first, then pay. But James’s behind-the-scenes spying and reporting felt like “taking off your pants to pee” — utterly unnecessary. Without that foolish act, Yang Guang and Director Zhang might never have questioned their true intentions.
Even if investigations later cleared Zhao Yaru, she was James’s subordinate. How could she not maintain vigilance? This was James’s most basic, careless blunder — one he truly should have avoided.
2. Underestimating Yang Guang’s awareness and self-control
“The greatest heroes have trouble resisting a beauty’s trap.” This well-known saying holds truth: even the strongest and bravest can be vulnerable to temptation. For someone like Yang Guang, a sharp and capable professional woman like Zhao Yaru was a potent lure.
James believed in Zhao Yaru’s charm and was confident Yang Guang would fall for her. So he ordered Zhao Yaru to seduce Yang Guang at any cost, even if it meant letting him taste some sweetness to win him over.
Frankly, roles tied to national security aren’t given lightly. The temptations are endless; enemies probe deeply — investigating family, interests, weaknesses — tailoring their approach for each target.
Some yield to love, others to power, and many to lust. If money and scheming fail, seduction is the last weapon. Failing that, family threats seal the deal. The goal: ensnare at any cost.
James saw money fail with Yang Guang, so he pinned hopes on Zhao Yaru’s seductive power. He thought if Zhao Yaru was willing to sacrifice her body to secure Yang Guang’s loyalty, turning him would be a breeze. He fancied himself brilliant but overlooked crucial facts.
Yang Guang’s rise to a deputy director role in National Security Bureau’s Third Division wasn’t accidental. These roles demand those who withstand relentless tests and temptations. If he were so easily won over, why did he resist the temptations in earlier episodes? He’d already been tempered by years of such challenges.
Sure, Yang Guang might feel some attraction toward Zhao Yaru, but he knows what truly matters. James severely underestimated Yang Guang’s discernment and discipline — or, more broadly, the caliber of those entrusted with vital state roles.
This overconfidence reflects James’s flawed judgment, but it doesn’t explain why Yang Guang managed to turn Zhao Yaru.
The Enigmatic True Identity of Zhao Yaru
Zhao Yaru’s identity remains murky, but two possibilities stand out:
1. Our side’s undercover agent
Notice something strange? Whether cooperating with Sander or following James’s orders, Zhao Yaru completes tasks methodically but never ruthlessly. She always leaves room to salvage situations.
This contradicts her tough, decisive persona. Regarding Sun Yaokuan’s death, her greatest reaction was surprise and back pain — she truly didn’t know. She even hints to Yang Guang about being monitored.
All signs point to Zhao Yaru being our undercover agent embedded in enemy ranks. She must blur the lines between truth and falsehood to confuse foes.
Previously, Director Zhang tried to stop Yang Guang from digging into Zhao Yaru — perhaps fearing exposure.
But is Zhao Yaru really our agent? Or is there another explanation?
2. Enemy agent later turned by Yang Guang
Some fans think it’d be less predictable if Zhao Yaru wasn’t our agent initially but was later flipped by Yang Guang. That twist would add depth — though it would lessen the romantic tension between them.
True, even if Zhao Yaru isn’t our agent, she doesn’t seem evil. Her patriotic declarations feel genuine. So her eventual defection isn’t impossible.
Zhao Yaru’s turning would be a major plot highlight, catching James completely off guard.
What do you think? Would you prefer Zhao Yaru to be our agent from the start, or to be turned by Yang Guang later? The second scenario seems more compelling.
James’s management style helped Yang Guang flip Zhao Yaru
James gave orders without question. Zhao Yaru did everything she could to fulfill them, regardless of difficulty.
Perhaps James, an outsider, believed ends justified means and ignored Zhao Yaru’s hardships. Worse, he used and distrusted her simultaneously — hardly fair.
Chinese wisdom says, “Trust those you employ; if you doubt them, don’t use them.” After all this time, James still doubted Zhao Yaru — his trusted aide. But that’s not the main issue.
James repeatedly hinted Zhao Yaru should seduce Yang Guang — literally “use her body” to win him.
Using any means necessary is one thing, but sacrificing a woman this way is disgraceful. Maybe foreigners don’t mind the stigma of exchanging women for power, but to many Chinese, this sounds shameful. Our country’s foundation wasn’t won through such methods — it was built with blood and sacrifice.
James’s repeated pressure for Zhao Yaru to sleep with Yang Guang ultimately pushed her away, driving her heart closer to Yang Guang and the motherland.
Later, James even tampered with Yang Guang’s drink — crossing a line that triggered Zhao Yaru’s fury. From then, she lost faith in James and his faction, making it easier for Yang Guang to win her over.
How do you feel about this plot? Which direction do you hope it takes?
