Because of Love Episode 21 Recap
> Because of Love Recap
Dr. Dong visited Sun Ping at home for a follow-up check-up. Pingping was recovering well from his surgery, taking his medication on time, and his health and mental state were good, with Dr. Dong noting he had even gained weight. As Dr. Dong was leaving, Pingping expressed his disappointment that Nie Yusheng hadn't visited him, and Dr. Dong reassured him that Nie Yusheng was busy with many surgeries. Downstairs, Nie Yusheng was waiting to hear about Pingping.
Dr. Dong confirmed Pingping was doing well and mentioned the boy had asked about him. Nie Yusheng also learned that Tan Jing had been fired from her company and was now looking for a new job. That evening, as Tan Jing read a story to Sun Ping, he again brought up Nie Yusheng's absence and also asked about Grandpa Nie. Tan Jing explained that Nie Yusheng was busy and promised to ask him to visit.
After fixing his toy engine, Sun Ping proudly told his mother he could now protect her like Superman. Meanwhile, Nie Yusheng, back at his own home, gazed at a ring. He recalled a past moment when he had promised Tan Jing a "real" ring, hinting at a wedding where they hadn't worn one. The next morning, Nie Yusheng went to Changpu Hospital as usual, only to find himself embroiled in a public scandal.
Online news accused the hospital of colluding with a medical company over the CM Program and implicated Nie Yusheng in accepting bribes. In a meeting, Mr. Fang passionately defended Nie Yusheng, asserting that the CM Program had been approved by a panel of experts and that no one had received commissions. He argued that suspending Nie Yusheng would ruin the hospital’s reputation, especially during its bid to be recognized as one of the top 100 hospitals.
He even challenged the accusation of conflict of interest, pointing out his own long-standing connection to Nie Dongyuan. Overhearing the discussion, Nie Yusheng entered the meeting and willingly accepted a suspension for investigation. He stressed that while the Cardiology Department could manage without him, it could not afford to lose Mr. Fang, reminding him of his earlier teaching that patients are paramount.
After handing over his duties to a colleague, who assured him of their trust, Nie Yusheng left the hospital. Later, Tan Jing, accompanied by Attorney Xu, met with Nie Dongyuan and Nie Yusheng to discuss Sun Ping's custody.
Attorney Xiao, representing the Nie family, presented three demands: Sun Ping’s custody be transferred to Nie Yusheng, with his name changed to Nie Ping; Tan Jing would have weekly visitation rights; and Nie Yusheng would pay Tan Jing three million yuan for past child support and medical expenses. Attorney Xu vehemently rejected these terms.
He explained that Tan Jing was forced to break up with Nie Yusheng by Nie Dongyuan and subsequently discovered her pregnancy, but could not inform Nie Yusheng due to Nie Dongyuan’s demands. He argued that disrupting the deep bond between mother and son would be detrimental to Sun Ping's health. Attorney Xiao countered by highlighting Tan Jing’s unemployment, lack of income, and her inability to pay for Sun Ping's critical heart surgery, which Nie Yusheng ultimately funded.
He contrasted this with Nie Yusheng’s stable income and double doctorate from Belgium. Attorney Xu maintained that love was immeasurable and that Tan Jing’s temporary unemployment did not equate to an inability to raise her child. Attorney Xiao then brought up Tan Jing's past statements about using Nie Yusheng for money, her arrest for assault, and her association with Sun Zhijun, questioning her moral suitability as a mother.
Nie Dongyuan cut the lawyers short, stating the true objective was to secure a better future for Pingping. He declared his non-negotiable terms: full custodial rights and Sun Ping must bear the Nie surname as the future heir of Dongyuan Group. Under Attorney Xu's discreet instruction, Tan Jing remained silent while her attorney, in turn, made extensive demands: five million yuan for past expenses and emotional damages, plus a five percent stake in Dongyuan Group for Sun Ping.
Nie Dongyuan angrily accused them of being overly ambitious, but to everyone's surprise, he conceded, agreeing to all demands and instructing his lawyer to amend the contract immediately, promising to transfer funds and shares within five working days if Tan Jing signed. Tan Jing, horrified, refused, stating this was not her intention and she didn't want their money.
She passionately argued that Pingping was her child, whom she had raised for six years, and accused Nie Dongyuan of trying to snatch him away. Nie Yusheng then intervened, proposing marriage to Tan Jing. He declared it the only solution to provide Sun Ping with a complete family, stating he was serious. Nie Dongyuan dismissed it as nonsense. At that moment, Sun Zhijun burst into the room carrying a portrait of Tan Jing’s father, Tan Shaohua.
He publicly accused Nie Dongyuan of being a murderer who caused Tan Shaohua's death, ruining his reputation and destroying his family. An enraged Nie Dongyuan ordered security to remove Sun Zhijun. Amidst the chaos, Tan Jing received a phone call. She announced in a horrified voice that Sun Ping was missing, instantly silencing everyone. Panic ensued, and everyone scrambled to find Sun Ping, with missing person alerts quickly spreading online.
Nie Yusheng and Tan Jing, driving together, received a message about Sun Ping's disappearance. Tan Jing, distressed, confided that Pingping had recently asked about both Nie Yusheng and Nie Dongyuan, indicating his awareness of the family tensions. After searching all their usual spots without success, Nie Yusheng received a phone call with a lead. They rushed to a soccer field, where they found Sun Ping sitting alone.
Tan Jing tearfully embraced her son, asking why he had run off, while Nie Yusheng comforted them both. After bringing Sun Ping home and putting him to bed, Nie Yusheng confessed his sincere desire to protect Tan Jing and Pingping, reiterating his marriage proposal to provide them with a family. Tan Jing, still overwhelmed, told him that Pingping was her only remaining blood relative, and her priority was to keep him by her side.
Unable to get an immediate answer, Nie Yusheng placed a ring on the table, stating it belonged to her regardless of her decision, and left. Tan Jing stared at the ring, memories stirring in her mind. Shortly after leaving, Nie Yusheng received a call from Chubster, which was abruptly followed by a car accident, leaving him unconscious.
At the hospital, doctors informed Nie Dongyuan that Nie Yusheng's injuries were primarily external and not severe, but he would need further, more extensive tests the following day after an overnight stay in the emergency room. Nie Dongyuan was heartbroken seeing his son lying in the observation room and refused to leave the hospital, despite encouragement to rest. The next morning, at breakfast, Sun Ping apologized to Tan Jing for running away, fearing she was angry.
Tan Jing reassured him she was merely worried. Sun Ping then expressed missing Nie Yusheng again, asking if there would be any soccer games where he might see him. Tan Jing, still processing the day's events, called Sheng Fangting to discuss Nie Dongyuan's unexpected offer of company shares for custody. She confided her overwhelming anxiety about the uncertain future and her sole desire to keep her child.
Sheng Fangting advised her to remain calm, noting that Nie Dongyuan's eagerness for custody meant Tan Jing held the strategic advantage as long as Sun Ping was with her. Later, Nie Yusheng awoke in the VIP ward, exhibiting a changed demeanor. He immediately asked for spicy hot pot, claiming he hadn't eaten anything spicy in a long time, which confused Nie Dongyuan as his son had avoided spicy food for years.
Nie Yusheng then spoke of continuing his postgraduate studies in Belgium and going with Tan Jing, even referring to Mr. Fang as "Uncle Fang," a term he hadn't used in years. These remarks revealed a startling shift in his perception. Doctors conducted further tests, explaining that while a CT scan showed no brain damage, a functional MRI indicated blocked microvessels near his brain cells due to the impact, causing transient amnesia.
More significantly, his symptoms pointed to psychological regression, a defense mechanism where individuals facing immense stress revert to earlier, often happier, life stages. In Nie Yusheng's case, his cognitive age had regressed to his university days. Nie Dongyuan, stunned by the diagnosis, asked if his son could recover.
