Age of Legends Episode 26 Recap
> Age of Legends Recap
Han Jin presented the case's progress to the special task force, suggesting that the "Angel" case and Hou Sihai's case could be investigated together, which the leaders of the task force approved. Han Jin then hesitantly asked Director Song if Hu Rong could join the task force, given she was the lead investigator for the Hou Sihai case. Director Song and Hu Yuejin were both taken aback.
Just then, Hu Rong entered the meeting room and formally requested to join the task force herself. Later, Hu Yuejin called Hu Rong and Han Jin into his office. Han Jin advocated for Hu Rong to be allowed into the task force, after which Hu Yuejin asked him to leave. Hu Yuejin then listened to Hu Rong's analysis of both the Hou Sihai and "Angel" cases.
Finding her analysis very reasonable, Hu Yuejin granted Hu Rong's request to join the special task force. Hu Rong subsequently reported to Han Jin, who solemnly introduced her to Huang Zhenwu, whose photo was on the wall. Han Jin explained that Huang Zhenwu had gone undercover in M Country to investigate "Angel," and sadly noted that he was now missing. Hu Rong gazed at Huang Zhenwu's photo, feeling a sense of familiarity.
Police later discovered that Hou Sihai's lighter originated from the Golden Splendor Resort in Jiangnan City. The Jiangnan City Bureau quickly sent surveillance videos from the resort, in which Hu Rong and Han Jin indeed spotted Hou Sihai. They traveled to the Jiangnan City Bureau and attended a case meeting, where they were briefed on the local investigation. The city bureau reported that Hou Sihai had been hiding at the Golden Splendor Resort before his death.
Mei Jie, the resort owner, had been acting mysteriously, leading them to suspect a significant connection between her and Hou Sihai. As Hou Sihai was involved in the transportation aspect of the "Angel" case, the current focus was to trace the origin of "Angel." Therefore, they recommended deploying a young, experienced female officer to infiltrate the resort as an undercover agent. Hu Rong suddenly rose and walked to the podium, volunteering for the undercover mission.
The leaders of the Jiangnan City Bureau were pleased, but Han Jin immediately stood up in opposition. After returning to Jiangbei, Hu Rong remained steadfast in her determination to go undercover. Director Song consistently objected, so Hu Rong eventually deferred the final decision to Hu Yuejin. Hu Rong looked at Hu Yuejin expectantly.
After a long moment of contemplation, Hu Yuejin agreed to Hu Rong's request to take on the undercover mission, much to her surprise and delight, and to the disbelief of Han Jin and Director Song. Hu Yuejin and his wife, Mei Jie, made dumplings with heavy hearts to see Hu Rong off. Hu Rong tried to appear cheerful, and her parents also tried to maintain a calm demeanor.
However, with Hu Rong embarking on such a dangerous mission, none of them could truly feel at ease. Later, Hu Rong unexpectedly called Liu Ziguang, inviting him to spend the weekend together. Liu Ziguang was overjoyed. They spent a fun-filled day at an amusement park. Liu Ziguang boldly put his arm around Hu Rong, and she didn't push him away, as they enjoyed themselves like a normal couple in love.
Meanwhile, at "Daodao Cuisine," Liu Ziguang was detained, prompting his friends to worry. Guo Da Ye believed they still needed Li Wan's help. He asked her to find a way to get Liu Ziguang back. Li Wan assured Guo Da Ye not to worry, promising to definitely think of a way to bring Liu Ziguang back. At the police station, Officer Zhao informed Hu Rong of new evidence.
The coroner had found skin flakes and blood under Hou Sihai's nails, suggesting Hou Sihai had scratched the killer's hands. Zhao proposed a DNA match with Liu Ziguang. Other officers were discussing Liu Ziguang's misunderstanding and Hu Rong's sadness, but Han Jin reminded them to focus on the Hou Sihai case. Hu Rong then went to the interrogation room to inform Liu Ziguang about the DNA test, and he silently cooperated with the blood collection.
Han Jin, concerned for Hu Rong who hadn't eaten all day, urged her to eat some porridge, even giving it as a command, but she still refused. Later, Han Jin received a call announcing the DNA results were ready. Hu Rong joined him to hear the findings. The forensic report confirmed that the skin flakes and blood from Hou Sihai's nails, along with fingerprints and hair from the crime scene, all belonged to the same person—the killer.
However, Liu Ziguang's DNA and fingerprints did not match those found. This unequivocally excluded Liu Ziguang as the murderer. Officer Zhao noted that the killer's DNA and fingerprints were not in their existing database. Hu Rong, relieved and determined, declared she would immediately inform Liu Ziguang of the results. As she prepared to do so, Li Wan arrived at the police station, demanding an update on the case and when Liu Ziguang could be released.
Hu Rong confirmed that the matter had been thoroughly investigated and Liu Ziguang could leave at any time. Li Wan insisted on joining her to see Liu Ziguang, but Hu Rong told her to wait outside the station. Inside, Hu Rong informed Liu Ziguang that his DNA did not match the killer's and he was cleared to go home. Liu Ziguang simply thanked her. As he stepped out, Li Wan rushed to him, expressing her relief and concern.
She chided the police for detaining him, but Liu Ziguang clarified that he had willingly cooperated with the investigation. Li Wan noticed a wound on Liu Ziguang's hand and worriedly inquired, but he brushed it off. Hu Rong then asked Liu Ziguang if he had anything else to say to her. He remained silent. Li Wan then linked arms with him and they walked out together.
Hu Rong watched them leave, disheartened, and later, Han Jin found her, asking if she was okay. She insisted she was fine, though her sorrow was evident. Meanwhile, Hai Ge, Nie Wanfeng's subordinate, expressed concern about the police discovering the crime scene by the riverbank where Hou Sihai was murdered. He asked Nie Wanfeng if he should go into hiding. Nie Wanfeng dismissed the idea, stating that hiding would only make him appear guiltier.
He calmly instructed Hai Ge to be careful about the hand Hou Sihai had scratched. It was then revealed that Hai Ge was indeed the one who killed Hou Sihai, having lured him to the riverside, drowned him, and then taken all evidence related to Nie Wanfeng's drug trafficking. In a police meeting, Hu Rong re-emphasized that the focus should be on tracing the origin of the lighter found among Hou Sihai’s belongings.
She explained that "Welcome" was engraved on it, indicating it was custom-made for an entertainment establishment, likely the last place Hou Sihai visited before his death, which could provide a breakthrough in the case. Han Jin supported her suggestion and directed his team to investigate the lighter's manufacturer and to check high-end clubs for similar customized lighters. Back at "Daodao Cuisine," Liu Ziguang was having dinner with Guo Da Ye and Li Wan.
Li Wan tearfully recounted to Liu Ziguang how she had woken up in Bei Xiaoshuai's bed with her clothes changed after a night of heavy drinking, expressing regret and fear that Bei Xiaoshuai had "seen every part of her body." She apologized and pleaded for another chance. Bei Xiaoshuai, who had just walked in, tried to explain. An argument ensued as Li Wan angrily accused him. Liu Ziguang, seemingly upset, received a call and abruptly left.
Bei Xiaoshuai then clarified to Li Wan that he had called Auntie Zhang from next door to help change her clothes after she vomited, and that nothing untoward had happened between them. Relieved, Li Wan quickly called Liu Ziguang to assure him of her innocence, proclaiming she was "still his." Hu Rong, alone on her bed, reflected on her growing feelings for Liu Ziguang, regretting her earlier coldness towards him.
She picked up her phone to text him, typing a message asking him to dinner, but hesitated, ultimately deciding not to send it. At home, Liu Ziguang, still visibly angry, smashed an egg at the dinner table while eating with Guo Da Ye. Guo Da Ye observed Liu Ziguang's mood, knowing he was upset with Hu Rong.
He gently urged Liu Ziguang to understand Hu Rong's special role as a police officer, explaining that bringing him in for questioning was standard procedure, not an act of suspicion. Guo Da Ye, ever trusting of Liu Ziguang, reaffirmed his belief in his good character, asserting that even during his eight years of amnesia, Liu Ziguang could not have done wrong.
He noticed a message from Hu Rong on Liu Ziguang's phone, but Liu Ziguang refused to look at it, stating he hadn't "figured out how to face her." Guo Da Ye advised him to apologize to Hu Rong. Concerned about Hu Rong who still wasn't eating, Han Jin saw her at the police station. He then went to a boxing gym to see Liu Ziguang, whom he found training intensely.
Han Jin commented on Liu Ziguang's boxing skills, humorously suggesting he might have been secretly practicing during his missing eight years. He challenged Liu Ziguang, asserting his own advantage in winning Hu Rong's affection due to their shared history, family connections, and the general perception that they were a couple, with everyone seeing him as Director Hu's son-in-law.
Han Jin conceded that Liu Ziguang was a caring person but questioned if that alone was enough for Hu Rong, especially given his unknown past. He admitted that he thought he had lost when he saw Hu Rong's profound sadness as Liu Ziguang left the police station earlier. However, observing Liu Ziguang's current state, Han Jin declared that he now believed Liu Ziguang was "still insufficient," and he still harbored hope.
Just then, Li Wan arrived at the gym with soup for Liu Ziguang. Liu Ziguang, without a word, abruptly rushed out. Han Jin, seemingly admitting defeat in a momentary lapse, told Li Wan he had just done "something really great," which was giving up the woman he liked to his opponent. Li Wan angrily called him a fool and tried to run after Liu Ziguang, but Han Jin stopped her. Instead, he took her to a bar.
Drunk, Li Wan complained that while their sweethearts were together, they were left alone. Han Jin responded that he was suffering, but unlike her, he wasn't selfish. He argued that true love meant wishing for the other's happiness, not destroying it. He criticized Li Wan's love for Liu Ziguang, suggesting it was merely an obsession stemming from him being the one thing she couldn't have, rather than genuine affection, which he defined as "self-control, understanding, making each other whole."
Meanwhile, Liu Ziguang found Hu Rong sitting alone on a basketball court. He apologized for his previous anger, acknowledging that he should have understood the extraordinary nature of her profession and that he had wronged her. Hu Rong, touched, thanked him for his understanding. As she prepared to leave, Liu Ziguang blurted out that he liked her and asked if she would be his girlfriend. With a shy smile, Hu Rong immediately agreed.
Liu Ziguang then said his hands were cold and asked to borrow hers to warm them, which she sweetly allowed. They held hands, silently enjoying the moment. The next day, Han Jin reported to Director Hu (Hu Yuejin) via phone that the "Angel" drug had been found in Hou Sihai's company warehouse, and that Hou Sihai's company had close financial ties with a "Tiger" company in T Country, involving a huge sum of money.
He suspected the "Tiger" company was also connected to "Angel" drugs. Director Hu tasked him with investigating this. Mei Jie, Hu Rong's mother and Director Hu's wife, overheard him mention "Angel" and questioned him, but Han Jin evasively replied that he and Director Hu were discussing donations to the "Angel Charity Group." Mei Jie, sensing his evasiveness, told him to leave so she could eat.
Later, Liu Ziguang and Guo Da Ye prepared dinner at "Daodao Cuisine" and invited Hu Rong, but she called to say she had a case and had to work overtime, so she couldn't make it. As they settled to eat, Li Wan unexpectedly arrived and asked to speak privately with Liu Ziguang. Guo Da Ye, concerned about Li Wan's intentions and recalling her past unpredictable actions, discreetly pulled Bei Xiaoshuai aside to watch them, worried she might cause trouble. He remembered her once saying, "If she can't be with him when he's alive, she can be with him in death."
