Age of Legends Episode 21 Recap
> Age of Legends Recap
Hu Rong calmly tended to a wounded gangster, even as the other held a gun to her head. Suddenly, the gangster discovered a hidden security guard trying to contact the police with a walkie-talkie. He dragged the guard out, and Hu Rong was surprised to see it was Liu Ziguang, wondering how he had managed to get inside. Seeing the situation escalate, Director Sun ordered an immediate operation.
While delaying the gangsters to lull them into a false sense of security, Han Jin was instructed to infiltrate through the back door. Inside, events took a rapid turn. Liu Ziguang and Hu Rong teamed up to take down one gangster, but the other immediately opened fire on Hu Rong. Both Liu Ziguang and Han Jin instinctively lunged forward to shield her.
Han Jin bore the brunt of the bullet, collapsing gravely wounded and unconscious, while Liu Ziguang was also injured. Han Jin was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. Hu Rong waited by the room, consumed by guilt. A sigh of relief escaped her when she learned Han Jin's surgery was successful. Later, Liu Ziguang and Hu Rong sat together on a bench outside the recovery room.
Liu Ziguang explained he had originally come to deliver takeout to Hu Rong and, realizing the danger, had quickly donned a security uniform to help. He regretted that his intervention had led to the current situation. Hu Rong blamed herself, saying both Liu Ziguang and Han Jin were injured because of her. Liu Ziguang sourly suggested that Han Jin shielded her because he liked her. Hu Rong then asked, "And you?" but Liu Ziguang remained silent.
At the police headquarters, Director Hu formally announced that with irrefutable evidence, Hou Sihai had been confirmed to be using his sand transport business for drug trafficking, and an arrest warrant was issued. However, when police raided Hou Sihai's home, they found it empty. Hou Sihai had fled prematurely, leaving behind many important belongings, suggesting a frantic escape.
Following the kidnapping of Nie Chengcheng, Director Song invited Nie Wanfeng to the police station for questioning about his business dealings and any grievances with Hou Sihai. Nie Wanfeng, inwardly startled, maintained a calm demeanor, claiming he had only purchased sand and gravel from Hou Sihai. He then launched into a detailed accusation of Hou Sihai's domineering and unscrupulous business practices.
Nie Wanfeng, a seasoned manipulator, left Director Song with no apparent flaws in his story, and the director politely escorted him out. In the hospital room, Liu Ziguang sat quietly by Han Jin's bedside, his mind racing. Han Jin's selfless act had saved both him and Hu Rong. He recognized Han Jin's profound affection for Hu Rong, evident in his willingness to risk his life for her.
This realization intensified Liu Ziguang's internal conflict about whether to confess his own feelings to Hu Rong. Upon learning that Hou Sihai was wanted by the police, Nie Wanfeng ordered his subordinate, Tiger, to deploy all their men to prevent Hou Sihai from falling into police hands. Meanwhile, Hou Sihai's downfall led to a boom in business for Sunshine Sandpit, much to Bei Xiaoshuai's delight. In contrast, at the Zhicheng Group office, General Manager Yin was extremely agitated.
With Hou Sihai's collapse, the sand and gravel supply to the Riverside construction site had dried up, and other sandpits were hesitant to supply. General Manager Yin, frantic, rushed to find Li Wan, who was racing, to seek her help. After some playful teasing from Li Wan that nearly gave him a heart attack, he urgently proposed signing a sand supply contract with Sunshine Sandpit. In the hospital, Liu Ziguang watched over the unconscious Han Jin, speaking softly to him.
He acknowledged Han Jin's deep love for Hu Rong and confessed his own feelings, declaring that once Han Jin recovered, he would compete fairly for Hu Rong's affection. Just as he finished his heartfelt declaration, Hu Rong stepped into the room, overhearing everything. Leaning against the wall, a mix of emotions washed over her. Fortunately, at that moment, Han Jin stirred and regained consciousness, bringing a wave of celebration to the room.
Later, when Liu Ziguang and Hu Rong were alone again, Hu Rong, feeling awkward, tried to slip away, but Liu Ziguang gently took her hand. Later, Liu Ziguang was packing his belongings, preparing for discharge from the hospital. Li Jianguo entered and asked what he was thinking about, guessing he was thinking of Officer Hu. Li Jianguo encouraged him to express his feelings, advising him not to keep it to himself and regret it later.
Liu Ziguang confessed that his old self, "a questionable person without a past or future," would "never had dared to think" of liking Hu Rong, feeling he had no right to love. However, the near-death experience had given him a "coming back to life" feeling, making some things clearer to him, as "in front of life and death, some things seem trivial, while other things seem larger than life when we are alive."
Li Jianguo approved, and Liu Ziguang decided to visit Zhuo Li. After completing the discharge procedures, Liu Ziguang, accompanied by Li Jianguo and Bei Xiaoshuai, went to the detention center to see Zhuo Li. Initially, Zhuo Li, not seeing Liu Ziguang, cried uncontrollably, believing his brother had died. Bei Xiaoshuai quickly brought Liu Ziguang forward, and Zhuo Li’s tears subsided once he saw Liu Ziguang was alive and well.
Speaking via phone, Liu Ziguang asked how Zhuo Li was doing inside. Zhuo Li, wanting to reassure him, quickly claimed to be doing well and "even gaining weight from eating." Zhuo Li then confided that before Liu Ziguang returned, he and Bei Xiaoshuai "were living like trash," Bei Xiaoshuai wasting money on a live-streaming anchor and he himself running an unqualified boxing gym. They had no direction.
But Liu Ziguang's return had changed everything, making them feel like "everything was about to change" and "Our days were about to get better." Zhuo Li confessed that from the moment he saw Liu Ziguang, he decided to follow him, not just for his fighting skills, but because he believed Liu Ziguang would give them "something to live for" and help them "lead decent lives."
Zhuo Li explained that seeing Liu Ziguang "lying on the bed unconscious" had shattered his world, driving him to confront Hou Sihai, feeling it was the only way he, as someone less clever or strong than the others, could help. Liu Ziguang advised Zhuo Li that "who you are now doesn't matter," reminding him that everyone has a past, but "the most important thing is we must remember that at this very moment, we are good people."
He stressed that "revenge will not solve the problem" and promised to await Zhuo Li's safe release. That evening, Liu Ziguang visited Uncle Guo, who appeared dejected. Uncle Guo, drinking heavily, recounted the story of Mrs. Zhang, a widowed neighbor he had grown close to, as many friends tried to set them up. He admitted that his pride and selfishness prevented him from taking the initiative to express his feelings, always waiting for her to speak first.
He lamented that he "should have taken the initiative and made things clear to her earlier. Then, I wouldn’t be in this situation today," as Mrs. Zhang eventually married Mr. Wang's older brother through a matchmaking effort. Liu Ziguang tried to comfort him with platitudes about finding other partners, but Uncle Guo clarified his true intention: to warn Liu Ziguang about his own situation with Hu Rong.
He urged Liu Ziguang not to be like him and "be brave and take the initiative" with Officer Hu, emphasizing that a "beautiful, and educated" woman like her wouldn't make the first move. Uncle Guo also warned Liu Ziguang about Han Jin, describing him as a tall, handsome team captain with whom Hu Rong seemed to have an "unordinary relationship," and that their professional proximity provided Han Jin with more opportunities.
He stressed that if Liu Ziguang remained passive, he would "end up exactly just like me." Liu Ziguang promised Uncle Guo that he would not make the same mistake. Inspired by Uncle Guo's advice, Liu Ziguang went online to buy a gift for a confession. Bei Xiaoshuai, finding him, eagerly offered advice, suggesting flowers and a ring with a direct proposal, claiming Hu Rong had confessed her feelings for Liu Ziguang when he was unconscious in the hospital.
Liu Ziguang, however, was still worried that Hu Rong might be upset about his coma trick. Despite Bei Xiaoshuai’s suggestions, Liu Ziguang settled on an "outdated" voice recording doll. He then invited Hu Rong to a barbecue restaurant. His attempt at a surprise entrance startled Hu Rong, who jokingly asked if the food would give her diarrhea again, but Liu Ziguang assured her the meat was fresh.
While they ate, Liu Ziguang awkwardly retrieved the doll from the kitchen, explaining "It has something to say to you." He tried to activate it, but it malfunctioned, repeatedly failing to play its message. As Hu Rong warned him against breaking the doll's hand, she received a call summoning her back to duty. She left in a hurry, still curious about the doll's message. Moments after she departed, the doll finally activated, softly uttering, "I like you."
At the police station, Hu Rong proposed using Sun Wei as a key to dismantling Hou Sihai's criminal organization, reasoning that as a core member, Sun Wei surely held critical information. Han Jin strongly agreed, suggesting that if Hou Sihai suspected Sun Wei of disloyalty, he would undoubtedly act first, revealing crucial leads. The chief commended the strategy and ordered comprehensive surveillance of Hou Sihai and Sun Wei, placing Han Jin in charge. Hu Rong was reassigned to active duty.
At Hou Sihai's villa, Sun Wei and Anna knelt before him, their affair exposed by photographs. Sun Wei desperately tried to deny the pictures, claiming they were photoshopped. Hou Sihai, unmoved, menacingly threw a knife onto the floor in front of Sun Wei. Anna, however, brazenly stood up to Hou Sihai, demanding the villa in the west. She threatened to reveal his "too many things" to her friends or the police if anything happened to her.
Outside Hou Sihai's villa, Han Jin and Hu Rong, monitoring the premises, saw Sun Wei leave, clutching his hand, and rush toward the hospital. They concluded that Hou Sihai had already acted against him, but Han Jin believed they needed to "step up the pressure." They decided to question Meng Zhiqiu, who might know more.
Meng Zhiqiu provided a critical lead, informing Han Jin that Liu Yong and Zhu Xingyu, arrested for Nie Chengcheng's kidnapping, had been at Hou Sihai's house the day before the abduction. He vividly recalled Hou Sihai instructing them to "Be efficient in carrying out the job. Don't give the game away," and declaring his intent for "this Nie fellow to know that Jiangbei is not his territory." This testimony provided significant evidence linking Hou Sihai to the kidnapping.
Liu Ziguang and others visited Wenxian at the hospital, where she was preparing for surgery. Liu Ziguang encouraged a conflicted Li Jianguo to propose to Wenxian, emphasizing that his deceased comrade-in-arms would be touched by his meticulous care for his wife, and that marriage would strengthen their bond. As Wenxian sat, surrounded by well-wishers, Li Jianguo, after much hesitation, entered the room and proposed with a ring. Wenxian, tearfully, accepted, agreeing to travel and marry after her successful surgery.
Li Jianguo promised to get her a better ring once he became rich. Everyone celebrated, joyfully addressing Wenxian as "Sister-in-Law." Wenxian’s surgery was later successful, bringing relief and celebration. Sun Wei later went to the "D-ONE" nightclub to meet Hou Sihai. Hou Sihai confronted him, questioning whether Hu Rong had contacted him and expressing concern that the police were now aware of their activities.
He warned Sun Wei that they were "grasshoppers on the same string," and any leaks would have severe consequences for both of them. Sun Wei tried to reassure Hou Sihai and offered to investigate the police’s movements. After Hou Sihai left, his confidant, Monkey, casually remarked to Sun Wei that it had been lively that day, with Hu Rong having just left before Hou Sihai arrived. Sun Wei was greatly alarmed, realizing he had fallen for Hu Rong's counter-espionage trick.
Meanwhile, Tiger reported to Nie Wanfeng, expressing concern that if Hou Sihai were caught, the investigation would lead back to Nie Wanfeng. Seeing the situation take a sharp turn, completely beyond his expectations, Nie Wanfeng couldn't help but sigh that Liu Ziguang was too ruthless. Hou Sihai returned home, and as soon as he got out of the car, he found Hu Rong and a group of police officers blocking his doorstep.
The police arrested him on suspicion of instigating Nie Chengcheng's kidnapping. In the interrogation room, Hou Sihai vehemently denied any knowledge of the kidnapping and arrogantly threatened to have his lawyer speak with Hu Rong. At this point, Han Jin received instructions from Director Song that further investigation into the core secrets of Hou Sihai's criminal group was needed, and the time for Hou Sihai's summons had expired, so the police had to temporarily release him.
Hou Sihai walked out of the police station, and in the car back, he deliberated, concluding that Sun Wei must have betrayed him, filled with resentment. When Sun Wei called, wanting to explain the misunderstanding, Hou Sihai, having already made up his mind, grimly interrupted him, instructing him to meet at the pier that night. He then called two habitual criminals and viciously ordered them to eliminate Sun Wei.
Sun Wei, waiting in the warehouse, saw Hou Sihai's SUV arrive and ran over, but was unexpectedly met by dark muzzles. The two gangsters shot and killed Sun Wei, then drove away, pursued closely by Hu Rong and Han Jin. The two gangsters, having nowhere to go, finally broke into a used car dealership, took hostages, and confronted the police. With numerous hostages held by the gangsters, the police hesitated to act. Han Jin proposed negotiations.
One gangster aggressively demanded a medic to bandage his wound and for the snipers to be withdrawn. Hu Rong volunteered to impersonate a medic to engage with the gangsters. Given the urgent situation, Director Hu and Director Song had no choice but to reluctantly agree. Dressed as a nurse, Hu Rong entered the room and prepared to bandage the injured gangster. However, the other gangster grew suspicious and demanded she remove her mask.
Hu Rong reluctantly complied, and the gangster immediately recognized her as the police officer who had been pursuing them earlier. He instantly turned hostile, pointing his gun at Hu Rong and threatening to kill her.
